Morning. It's Friday and I'm still getting my days muddled. It will feel good to get back to what passes for a normal routine on Monday.
It was a jolly cold night - I was super-grateful for my electric blanket that stayed on all night. Very cosy! And this morning we have the thinnest ever sprinkle of snow. Most unusual around here. It won't stay around, of course.
On the Eighth Day or Christmas
I gave unto myself . . .
my favourite perfume
twenty gnomes to crochet
stuff for my hair
one book to read ................
one book to read ................
two smelly soaps
one reed diffuser
warm, fluffy socks
and a Jamie Oliver book
Jo Malone English pear and freesia, bought a while a go and tucked away for now.
Thankfully, I felt a lot more energetic yesterday. I think the post viral aches and tiredness are finally leaving. I did Lindsey's online SET without too much coughing and I didn't flake out afterwards. A great relief. I'm sleeping better too - three morn9ngs this week I have overslept and had a morning rush!
I got the other blog up and running. I'll post the link in here for a few days for those of you who said they missed the old one and I am super-grateful for the comments it has already had.
I got the other blog up and running. I'll post the link in here for a few days for those of you who said they missed the old one and I am super-grateful for the comments it has already had.
Today starts with Slimming World and I'm back on it. I've gained loads but it is what it is, as I am fond of saying, and now I move on. New blog, new SW book with all the changes, new year.
Then Alex is over for his cookery lesson. Sausage, bean and cheese mini pasties (using wraps instead of pastry) - I have everything needed and am trying to use up, use up, use up. I have less than I used to have but still wayyyyy too much!
Thinking out loud!
I got started on giving my freezer its more or less annual sort out a few days ago and finished it New Year's Eve. There wasn't that much waste, there rarely is, but it did set me thinking about what I really want out of my new freezer when I get it.
I'd prefer a frost free one, of course. That is very important. When I got this one, quite a long time ago now, the frost free ones were very expensive. Now they do seem to be more or less standard.
I've decided to go for upright, front opening rather than chest. In the past I have preferred chests - you can get more in and there's less 'wasted' space but as I get older and shrink a little bit (as you do), getting down to the bottom becomes more of a challenge - I keep imagining head in one bottom corner, little legs waving in the air! I already have everything organised in bags so it's not such a big organisational change to shelves, is it?
I've decided to go for upright, front opening rather than chest. In the past I have preferred chests - you can get more in and there's less 'wasted' space but as I get older and shrink a little bit (as you do), getting down to the bottom becomes more of a challenge - I keep imagining head in one bottom corner, little legs waving in the air! I already have everything organised in bags so it's not such a big organisational change to shelves, is it?
So I've started looking. Unless you are going for an 'American' fridge/freezer - which I am not - the double door ones tend to be catering standard and very, very expensive! You can get pretty tall single door ones but I don't want tall for the same reason I'm moving away from chests.
So - maybe I should look at a couple of smaller freezers - I've looked it up and you can put light things on top as long as there's circulation and the air vents are not blocked. After all, built-in freezers are fitted pretty snugly especially where the top is concerned.
Still pondering, there's plenty of time and I need to have a good look around as I hope whatever I get now will see me out. :-)
Well, I had better start the day given that I have to be out for SW some time after eight and, yes, I overslept. Have a lovely day, everyone, stay as warm as possible and, if you have snow or ice, be very careful. See you tomorrow. xx
I wouldn’t like to have a freezer that needed defrosting any more, the frost free are much easier.
ReplyDeleteI’ve gained loads of weight, and still have a tin full of Christmas cake to enjoy 😉
Alison in Devon x
I've sliced my Christmas cake and it's now in the freezer in single portions. They will make nice treats. xx
DeleteMy brother finally got a freezer from Mum's, that didn't need defrosting every couple of months, his old one was ancient. He's a changed man. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMine is the bottom half of my fridge and I have three drawers, they make life and scabbling around looking for things so much easier.
I have 'Followed' your new blog, just to help with numbers, but I doubt I'll be an avid reader, sorry. But I do have to ask what is a 'swip' ... my guess would be a new word for a 'syn' but I don't really know, it's many years since my Mum was a SW person.
Yes, it stands for Slimming World Individual Picks. Just as silly as Syns but all the sensible terms like 'points' are already taken.
DeleteLOL - good for your brother.
How nice to pop over and follow, thank you. I know it's not everyone's cuppa but you might be interested in some of the recipes . . . no need to read avidly! :-) xx
Busy day ahead for you and hope you can see a suitable freezer. Both our fridge and freezer are frost free but they do need adequate ventilation as you say. I’m now starting round two of entertaining preparation-I gave my daughter goodies home with her only to realise I need bream for tomorrow’s trifle!! Doh!! I’ll walk round to Sainsbury’s small shop very soon and get some. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOh, no. That's the sort of thing I would do. Easily done. xx
DeleteOur freezer is frost free, I can't imagine having an ordinary one now. I never have to think about it just pick a drawer every so often to empty by eating the contents and giving it a clean and then restocking, then move onto the next drawer. I hope your readership find you on the new blog - these scammers have a lot to answer for. x
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was upsetting but at least I didn't fall for it.
DeleteI like your description of checking and cleaning. Much easier. xx
I had chest freezers for 40-odd years, and then plumped for upright, for the same reasons you mention. Huuuge mistake, I never got used to it and found it very difficult to us - some of the drawers fronts broke off, and I found it so hard to fit things in. Needless to say I am now back with chest freezer.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your transition.
- Kate
Hmmm - that's the other side of the coin and I'm glad you said. Something to think about although I am fairly gentle with my stuff. Thanks, Kate. xx
DeleteHappy New Year Joy .Many thanks for posting the link to your new blog …I’m heading over forthwith ☺️
ReplyDeleteCarole xx
Aw, thanks, Carole. See you there. xx
DeleteI am hoping to get one of my freezers defrosted this winter. I can put things in totes and stick them outside in the cold.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I keep things sorted in bags so I can just lift them out and back in again. It reduces available space but makes finding food so much easier. Good luck with your defrost! xx
DeleteOh Catrina your post did make me laugh. When you wrote bream for a trifle I thought it must be a savoury trifle (is there such a thing?). It was only when you said you got it at your local Sainsbury’s I thought that’s strange, would a local Sainsbury’s sell bream? I reread it and realised it was cream! A friend gave me a recipe once which I cooked and then text her it was scummy, I meant scrumy! You’re not alone, thanks for making me laugh on a cold dark January morning. Happy healthy 2026. June
ReplyDeleteYou've both made me giggle. My typing is terrible and the amount of editing I have to do for posts and comments is ridiculous. I always miss something too . . .
DeleteYou Are Not Alone!! xx