Wednesday 7th September
 |
| 250/365: yet another one from the bouquet! |
Yesterday ended up as a quiet sort of day in the end. L and P were here for breakfast, which was a lovely start to the day but I didn't really get going after they left! I had my personal training in the afternoon, concentrating on upper body strength, and I am aching across my shoulders and my upper arms this morning. And that was about all I managed to achieve yesterday, so I have to get on with things today.
As a priority I have to cook, portion and freeze the rest of the meals I bought the ingredients for. I'll start a veggie lentil soup in the slow cooker when I've finished this post and then sort out the chicken curry and the pasta sauce on the hob as soon as I've had breakfast (dippy egg and soldiers today!). That just leaves me with the quiches to make and I'll try to get them done after lunch. I'll take a break from the cooking from 10 - 11 am for the nutrition class ... no idea what the topic is this time ... and then decide on what I want to make in the next stage and check the shopping lists.
There's no piano lesson today but am hoping to resume them in two weeks time. It's definitely one of the things I want to continue with. I've been thinking about the things I do after hearing something on the local radio about an alternative to creating a bucket list. If you think of a bucket list as being all the things you want to do and achieve in life, the alternative list is all the things you no longer want to have or do in your life. It made me think about how I currently see myself and my life and, while I have no intention of writing out one of these alternative lists, I have been able to identify a couple of things that I have allowed to drag on that adversely affect my mental health and which it is time to resolve ... sorry, it sounds a bit vague but it's not really something I want to discuss in detail on this blog.
On the positive side I have a clear idea of which activities/hobbies I do want to continue with ... piano, Italian language, nutrition classes, personal training, blogging, photography, and the Ladies That Lunch monthly meal ... all of which sounds a lot when it's written out like that but actually only accounts for about 14 hours a week, leaving me with lots of hours to fill. Reading is also still on the 'continue' list but that's just part of life and I have no idea how much time I spend with my nose in a book! I also now know what I was wanting to find when considering the choir and the photography group and have reached the conclusion that I miss the camaraderie you find in these sort of groups and I realise that I want at least one activity that offers the potential for socialising and building friendships as well as giving the sense of a club. I don't know if I've explained that properly but I now understand what I'm looking for and am clear in my mind why the choir and the photo group I found weren't actually a good fit for me, but I'm sure there will be others that are more suitable. I just have to carry on looking and it doesn't even need to be a choir or a photography group, just something that interests me and has the potential to fulfil the camaraderie/socialising/friendship requirement.
The flowers are holding up nicely! Your batch cooking menu sounds delicious and includes several things I'd like to make for myself, when it is cool enough to turn on the oven! LOL.
ReplyDeleteAn alternative to a bucket list? Now that's something interesting! I don't really have a bucket list to begin with, but, I am going to give an alternative list some thought!
I'm glad you decided that blogging is something you do want to continue doing! And I'm glad that you've realized what exactly it is that you are looking for in a group to join. It's similar to what I was hoping to find when I joined the knitting group at the library but I didn't find it and so I stopped going. I did look to join other knitting groups, but, they were too far to drive to and I gave up on that idea. Now, after Covid, I am quite happy to be a hermit! :D
The flowers are lasting well and the three lilies have just started opening. I'm trying to add more variety so am cooking lots of different options that I know I like. I also looked for ideas of using up cooked chicken so will be trying out a few of those as well.
DeleteI've never thought of doing an alternative bucket list before and, although I didn't write anything down, the process of thinking about the things I no longer want in my life has been revealing. Yes, blogging is definitely staying and I know what I'm wanting to fill the gap. I've made a list (of course) of things I could do and a crafting group, similar to your knitting group, has made the list. The next stage is to find what's available close to home.
I'm glad you're happy with your choices. That's what's important at the end of the day, isn't it?
I wonder whether you belong to the Wiltshire FHS and have even been to any of their local meetings? I know they are monthly, my late Mum's family were from Wiltshire but sadly the meetings are a bit far for me to travel.
ReplyDeleteI owe you a huge thank you. Your comment prompted me to renew my membership of the Wiltshire FHS, mainly to take advantage of the coach trips they organise. There isn't a local meeting in Trowbridge any longer so the nearest for me is in Westbury, which I tried for a while but they seemed at the time to be involved in a local history project rather than family history and in the end I stopped going. The WFHS now has online options so I may try that instead. I've applied for a place on their next coach trip to the National Archives as that's one of the places you can access the 1921 Census info for free.
DeleteWhere in Wiltshire did your Mum's family live?
Good to be able to view the 1921 census for free, hope you get to enjoy a trip to the National Archives. My maternal Gran's family lived in Pewsey for generations and my Grandad's family were from Calne.
DeleteI'm still waiting to hear back about the trip to the National Archive so fingers are crossed. I know Calne well. It's about 14 miles away and I used to teach in in two of the primary schools.
DeleteI hope your aching ease off so you can get on with your cooking. An alternative list sounds good to me and of course you would keep that private, get rid all the negativity that affects your well being, I've had to do it myself. You have a lot to keep you occupied and I hope you can find the perfect group to join.
ReplyDeleteThe aching has eased off over the morning, thanks Eileen. The cooking is mostly done and is cooling before I portion and freeze it, and the quiches are prepared but I'll cook them later when I use the oven for the casserole I'm having for dinner.
DeleteI think the alternative bucket list idea follows on from eliminating the things I have been tolerating, I just need to give some thought to how I intend to tackle the issues I have identified. I hope you are okay now?
I've always had lots of things on the go that interest me ... I don't suppose I'll change now! The quest to find the perfect group has begun!
I've heard it described as looking for your tribe - people you can share thoughts and ideas with and who will support you.
ReplyDeleteI love lentil soup. You sound like you have some great meals planned.
That sums up exactly what I am looking for, possibly more important to me now that I live and spend a lot of my time alone.
DeleteMy favourite soup is tomato but I'm still searching for the ultimate recipe. Lentil soup is a close second.
September, the new, New Year. Sounds like you know yourself pretty well . I no longer have a bucket list, it always made me feel like a failure when I wasn't able to mark any off. For me I know when something needs changing, removing or adding because I start to feel like I don't fit in my body anymore. Many people spend years not knowing what is the source of their unease & unhappiness is,so yeah for identifying & knowing what needs to shift/change. Do quiches freeze well? I never thought to pre-make.
ReplyDeleteYes quiches do freeze well. I've made crustless quiches this time, but have frozen the standard pasty case ones with no problems.
DeleteMy bucket list isn't one of the 'things to do before I die' type but more the 'things I'd like to do in the next year or two' type. The first option can be very demoralising if you can't mark any off but I tend to use the second approach and keep it updated. There are inevitably things on my list that I think I'd like to do but which, when I have the time and the money I still choose not to. Once that's happened a few times I just review the list and remove the offending items!
I am another one who loves lentil soup, I always add bacon to mine. Quiche is on my to do list and I want to freeze some soon, when I get some time.
ReplyDeleteI also have bucket list, I started it in 2012 after I came home after spending a month in Intensive care on life support. Mine is not only about places to visit but also about things I would like to learn to do. I added two things this morning, so not only do things get ticked off but things are still getting added. I also have things that I am no longer prepared to do, but wouldn't have a list of them. Helen S.
I've just made cheese and onion crustless quiches this time ... guess who forgot to buy any bacon?
DeleteA month in Intensive Care on life support sounds terrifying and I do hope you are fully recovered now. I have things I'd like to learn or try out as well as places to visit and like you I try to keep mine updated. I'm quite happy to remove any things that I lose interest in and will add new ideas as they come to me.
Sounds like a busy day of cooking. Your list sounds like a good idea. I think that sometimes we continue on with things just because we feel we should and not because they bring you joy. I was thinking about that and my walking friend. I enjoy walking with her but I'd like to be able to feel as though I can go by myself sometimes and not feel so obligated. I am not always enjoying walking as much as I used to. I want to be able to limit the days we meet without hurting her feelings, but I just don't like confrontation. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThat's the situation I'm in, where I've continued with things either through habit or a sense of responsibility and it's time to let those things go. But like you say, other people's feelings have to be taken into account and I don't like confrontation either. It's tricky!
Delete