Monday 5th September
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| 248/365: one more from the bouquet! |
I'm focusing on batch cooking this week. I'm fed up of eating odd meals, the result of using up the odds and ends in the freezer, so it's time to get my act together and do something about it. Today's task is to tackle the first lot of shopping and pick up enough ingredients for the first lot of batch cooking ... over the next three days I'm cooking up some hidden veg pasta sauces, fish pies, shepherds pie, vegetable soup, chicken curries, and a couple of quiches. I also want to buy and cook a couple of chickens and a gammon joint so I can slice and portion them ... a useful addition to the freezer stock and particularly useful for lunches ... plus pick up the bits and pieces I need for the week.
I'm hoping to get the shopping over and done with this morning because, if the weather forecast is accurate, the rain starts at midday and carries on for the rest of the week. Please, please, let it be accurate this time! Anyway, apart from the shopping trip, I don't have any other plans to go out today so will try to get as much of the cooking done as possible while I'm still feeling enthusiastic. I'll set the laptop up on the dining table and in between will carry on listing the adverts for the decluttered items.
L and P are travelling back from London so will call in to see me late this afternoon. They'll be staying overnight which means they will eat with me and spent the evening at mine but will sleep in their motorhome, then back to mine for breakfast before they continue their journey home tomorrow.
I've decided to put the choir on hold for the time being. I'm not sure why, but I feel anxious about joining. Maybe it's still the lingering lockdown lethargy but I feel that I want to wait for now. I also won't be going to the photography group I'd selected mainly because of an existing member who is very active in the group but who I made the decision some years ago to exclude from my life and I don't want to get involved with her again, so it's back to the drawing board for that one and I'll be looking for another group. I'm a bit disappointed about them both, but also a bit disappointed in myself for not facing up to the challenges both options would present ... at least I haven't burnt my bridges with either option and can always change my mind!
If you feel anxious about the choir, there's probably a good reason that you haven't quite put your finger on yet - always follow those instincts, that's what I feel. At least you know about why the photo group is a no-no for not.
ReplyDeleteChallenges are one thing, situations where your mental health might be compromised is quite another.
That really is a stunningly lovely bouquet, isn't it? xx
Thanks Joy. Something doesn't gel so I will keep looking.
DeleteThe bouquet is beautiful xx
I don't altogether trust the weather forecasts but I do hope we have some rain this week. Using up the freezer odds and ends is all well and good but I understand your needing to start on some batch cooking and those are ideal meal choices for the coming autumnal weather.Maybe it's for the best not to join the choir and photography group as both are valid reasons but as you say yu can always change your mind. Enjoy your time spent with your guests.
ReplyDeleteWe had heavy rain during the night, and there have been a couple of showers during the day so at least we've had some.
DeleteI've made a good start on the batch cooking and will carry on with it tomorrow... the freezer is gradually filling up again.
I'll keep looking for other options for the choir and photo group. There's bound to be something suitable.
L and P are running late but should be here by 7pm so there'll still be time to have a good evening together.
To enjoy activities you need to be comfortable, so your decision is right, I have backed off one of my activities I enjoy because of one person, it's better to quietly retreat and leave the door open.
ReplyDeleteThat's my approach too. I can still go along to both groups and see whether I like them but for now I think it's better to try to find alternatives.
DeleteI've heard doing things like making all the plans and preparations for meals and freezing them as 'being kind to your future self'.
ReplyDeleteI think that you sound really sensible about the choir and photography groups. There's no point getting entangled with negative stuff when you are already busy with so many things.
That's a nice way of looking at it ... it makes the effort of batch cooking worthwhile!
DeleteI will do my best to find alternatives because, although I already do a few other things, I do need a couple more regular social activities in my life.
Another really lovely close up of such a pretty pink flower. I've never done such on mass cooking before, I do some meals that I put into the cook once, eat twice category. It's nice that you have the freezer(s) to stock up with. I think postponing the choir is a good idea, we this side of the pond are already being "warned" that once we go indoors again, we'll have another wave of COVID. Alas we'll be rolling up our sleeves again for another (sigh) vaccine jab. The right photography group will show up for you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary-Lou.
DeleteBatch cooking significantly lowers my food budget so it's worth the effort and it also means that I always have a home cooked meal to eat.
I have my flu jab booked in for next month but haven't heard anything about another Covid jab yet.
It's funny but like you I can't bring myself to go back to singing. Part of me really misses it but I can't quite muster the enthusiasm and there is such a question mark over the winter (COVID-wise, finances-wise etc etc.) I must admit that the deaths of two friends in the group have made a difference too, in that their absence could tip the balance further in favour of a couple of difficult characters whose presence was not an unalloyed joy for me! I hope you find a couple of activities to suit. I would like to be in a photography group too (I don't think you need one, but I know it's not necessarily about need in that sense!) What happened about that little group your friend was organising, following a certain book?
ReplyDeleteHope you got your shopping done and that the forecast was/is correct. We have had overnight rain the past couple of nights and the grass around here is greening up quickly. Forecast wet for the rest of the week, including thunderstorms. Hoping for a few dry hours to walk though! Have fun with your friends! I love breakfast dates!
Covid issues are part of my concern but I've worked out what I want from this sort of activity (see tomorrow's post) and can now see that both of these options wouldn't provide what I am wanting. I don't really need a photography group for anything on the technical side but it offers a shared interest, safety in numbers, an opportunity to learn from others an just enough of a challenge to push me out of my comfort zone. The group H was organising seems to have fizzled out but I'm not too worried about it as I completed the books when it was first released a few years ago.
DeleteWe've had lots of lovely rain! I managed to get the shopping finished between showers and I need another dry patch on Thursday so I can do the next lot of shopping. Breakfast with L and P was great!
I do batch cooking and it saves a lot of time. :)
ReplyDeleteI eat much healthier meals when I make the effort to batch cook, and you're right, it does save a lot of time.
DeleteLovely flowers! I hope you received all the rain you were expecting, was able to purchase all the items you needed for your batch cooking, and have had a lovely visit with your friends. I wouldn't join a choir or photography group if I didn't feel quite right about it. Keep your options open and maybe you'll find a different group with a better fit or maybe circumstances will change and you'll discover that your initial misgivings have changed and you feel the time is right to join. Covid is still too rampant over here for me to do more than stick my nose out of the door from time to time! :D
ReplyDeleteYes, we've had plenty of rain thanks and it's raining hard right now as I type this reply, so no complaints from me. I was able to get the first lot of shopping and have started the batch cooking (will finish it tomorrow) so will shop for the next lot of ingredients on Thursday.
DeleteI've been doing quite a bit of thinking about the group thing and am now clear about what I am hoping to get from any group activity I take up, so that should help with finding the right group for me. Covid numbers are still high here which is one of the negatives against joining a choir at the moment.
If the thought of choir is making you that anxious it's probably best to wait. It is an activity that is supposed to bring you joy and if it isn't then it's best not to go. I know how horrible that sort of anxiety can be. Sorry about the photography group too. I hope you can find another one. I must admit that I am not much of a group person. I find it easier to interact with groups online where I can dip in and out.
ReplyDelete