Last day of freedom!

This is what the last day of the summer holiday feels like! I forget that even during term time I actually do manage to do things like running, seeing friends and so on. Also I usually have a mini panic as it has been so long since I was teaching- have I forgotten how to do it?

Anyway, today started off with me doing some work, while a man came to clean our oven. A friend recommended it to me, and I decided to give it a try. We moved in 4 years ago, but the oven must be about 8 years old, and even though I do attack it with the cleaners, it is never sparkling.

The guy did an amazing job! He took the doors off, took the trays and the brackets they fix to, and cleaned it all. He even got the grease out from between the two layers of glass in the doors (no idea how) and replaced the bulb that had gone. I am so excited that now when I am cooking something I can see it!  Next time I bake I may well have to do an oven-cam pic!

After that it was run time, so I loaded up my mp3 with some podcasts (including an interesting one, medical matters from radio 4, about a man who lost his memory- very interesting)), took some water and headed out. I went up to the lakes, but after 20 minutes I was getting a pain in my side (right-front stomach). After ten more minutes I stopped and walked for a minute, tried some stretching, but it didn’t go away, so I decided to carry on as the quicker I got home (hopefully) the quicker it would go away. Well, it didn’t until I got home and say down for a bit. No idea what it was about, but looking on my Nike+ after, I think perhaps I set off too fast. My miles went 8.48, 8.48 (is that possible to have two identical ones??), 10.33 (I walked a bit during that mile), 12.11 (not sure what happened there but there is a big hill!) , 11.20 and then 10.34 (home is in sight!). All in all the 6 miles took me 59 mins, including a walk, so not too bad, but I think I need to start off a bit slower, although it didn’t feel that fast!

Once home and stretched I had my last Seed Stacked bar- this one is carob topped.  It was also super delicious- the seeds give it such a great texture, and the carob was a nice addition (I can never tell it apart from chocolate anyway!). For the 50g bar you get 214 cals, 5.2g protein, 20.5g carbs and 4.3g fibre. Not too shabby.

Then I took a pic of my cute tin:

which I keep my cereal bar stash in:

I am very tempted to order a box of the seed stacked bars (plain or carob are both gorgeous) but I am not sure where I will put them!

After a shower it was lunch which got more and more processed as I went on!  Home-made squash and carrot soup, cherry tomatoes, then rye bread and cream cheese, then some so crispy bites (I fancied something salty).

I then sat down to watch The Great British Bake-Off. I love this show! Although I am finding it hard to pick up tips as the guy seems to sometimes tell them, but is never specific enough. I wonder if there will be a book to accompany the series? Remember the good old days of BBC fact sheets?

Later on I am getting my hair cut as it is such a rush to get there after work. I am wondering if I fancy a bit of a change but I am not sure. Hmm.

Anyway, while checking emails I tried this:

as I fancied something sweet. I picked it up on a whim in the health food shop the other week, as I am always tempted by the nice sounding flavours of all the dairy free “milks” (almond milk always sounds good) but I have never seen a trial size one before. I would not want to buy something and then have to chuck the rest away if I didn’t like it. Anyway, this stuff is lovely, very creamy and rich tasting. A nice treat for my taste buds!

Then to continue with my clear out I have sorted out my underwear drawers. I had so many socks that the drawer would not actually close. So I have sorted them into rows of thick socks, medium socks and summer trainer socks. Anyway, I found this in my drawer:

I got it ages ago and had completely forgotten. It is 88% organic, and has a long list of stuff that it does not have, including formaldehyde. So then I was thinking about the products I normally use- do they have nasty stuff like formaldehyde in them? I am not so bothered about it being organic, but I don’t reallt want nasty chemicals being rubbed into my skin. So I think I will have to read the ingredients more closely from now on. Anyone got a good product / range that is more natural than chemical?

Anyway, off to get my hair cut now, then dinner tonight will be my last quinoa and black bean bake (defrosting now) with some butternut squash, maybe green beans too. I am hoping for a walk this evening, as the last few days, although it has been cooler, it has also been much sunnier. I was reading on JAG’s blog about how Autumn is her fave season, and I think I don’t have a favourite season. I like the fact that in the UK the weather changes during the year, but most of all I love the sunshine. A sunny autumnal day where the sun shines off the golden and orange leaves, is as perfect as a summer day with beautiful blue sky, or a crisp winter morning where the sun shines off the frost (or snow).

I just love the sunshine!

🙂

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6 thoughts on “Last day of freedom!”

  1. Well done for finishing your run, I’ve only had a bad stitch once while running and it was horrible! I love the chocolate oatly, is that what you tried? I wasn’t sure from the picture.

    1. Yes it was the chocolate oatly- very tasty 🙂
      Thanks about the run- I had 2 options- run home, or walk home, and running meant I was home quicker!
      🙂

  2. I use the plain Oatly instead of milk, and every week I consider buying some chocolate stuff too. Now you’ve said it’s good I’m just going to go for it! It can be a taper-treat!

    Good luck back at work tomorrow 🙂

    1. Yes go for it- you need a treat, and as treats go its not bad! Can you cook the oat milk? E.g. in porridge? I looked on the packet today of the big ones, and I couldn’t see anywhere.
      Thanks for that, work will be fine once I am in the swing of it again!
      🙂

  3. Just to let you know Sainsburys are doing a book to accompany the BBC ‘great british bake-off’ prog. I got it few days ago. All the recipes, tips etc. Have not had much of a chance to read it but seems quite good.

    1. Thanks for that- I did see it but then I realised it had recipes from the contestants, and didnt want to spoil who got to the end. Once it is over I will def have alook for it 🙂

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