Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Eek. End of January already

I am still contemplating the end of 2016 and we are 8% through 2017 already. Argh!
So I was super frugal through January. I paid all of my money to the Greek bank account as soon as I got it so that I didn't weaken. We have been pleasantly creative with food and eating from the freezer and larder and I experimented with a lovely cheap and healthy lentil dish which everyone was fighting over, so win:win.

  1. Heat a little oil in a large pan and cook the onion and garlic over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Tip in some chopped potatoes, carrots and parsnips, turn up the heat and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring, until the vegetables are golden.Stir in a teaspoon each of ground coriander  ground cumin and ground turmeric. Add a couple of points of chicken stock ( i used Knorr stock cubes)and then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, add the lentils, cover and simmer for around 45 minutes until the lentils and vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened. I topped up again with stock as I dont like lentils to be too bitey
I was working a on list of fifty thinngs I did in 2016 but somehow havent got to 50 but here it is anyway.
  1. Finally started legalisation of Crete House
  2. Changed Greek water account to my name
  3. Opened a Greek bank account (and therefore circumvented capital controls, ssssh!)
  4. Went to the Borough Market
  5. Went to Camden Lock (and drank it dry!)
  6. Taught to cook Thai Curry by Thai cook in my house
  7. Started dancing classes
  8. Walked to work on a regular basis (thats two hours a day of soliday walking and listening to the radio, right there)
  9. Seriously de-cluttered
  10. Went to the casino (twice). Avoided gambling asi ts dull but ate very good value dinner :)
  11. Lost 25kg
  12. Bought lovely new bedding
  13. Visited Newcastle and ate in a cave!
  14. Visited Liverpool for the first time
  15. Learned to make risotto
  16. Got a fitbit
  17. Had a book published and sold some copies
  18. Arranged a Christmas breakfast event at work
  19. Went to Ventnor fringe, music and arts event
  20. Saw The Mousetrap at Shanklin theatre
  21. Reduced diabetic medication by 2/3
  22. Lowered blood pressure and cholesterol without meds
  23. Attended pilates  for 6 months (and then got bored with it)
  24. Went LED on 90% of lighting
  25. Fixed boiler (but made plans for its replacement)
  26. Had a cheese fondue 'party'
  27. Went to aerobics lessons regularly but got bored with it.
  28. Held a Greek Themed dinner party
  29. Priced up and investigate wood burning stove for the sitting room
  30. Made perfect (yes, perfect) pavlova!

7 comments:

  1. Wow, love your list. I get bored with slow exercise I like to move. If you walk to work this should be good.

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    1. The Bollywood dancing would suit you then. Its amazing. Even though i was 53 when I first tried it I am thoroughly hooked. I wish I had learned more about dance when i was younger but hey, too late to worry about it now xx

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  2. oh my that's awesome. love new beddng - that's one of my most important things to have -lovely bedding.. bloody well done on the weight loss and diabetic meds reduction too. and keep up with the decluttering (do you still have loads of stuff left - I do! how is that possible!!?)

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    Replies
    1. Turns out that I am more fussy about bedding than one might imagine. So i usually wash, dry and back on again as I love it better than all the other sets! Thank you :) I dont know but its so true!

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  3. Thanks for the recipe! Going to give it a try as soon as I pick up lentils next.

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