Author: Maria Runs

It seems like ages since I have done any baking, but on Sunday I finally got my fix. We were up early to watch the Grand Prix (not actual time, as that was something silly like 4am!- and Go Button!) so I sat at the table and made some little roses to decorate them with.

I had to colour the icing first, so I used the grape/violet colour I was given for Christmas. I could not quite 100% remember how to make the roses. I had to roll the icing into a sausage shape, then cut it into 7 pieces (or 9- they have to be an odd number of petals). They were then rolled into little balls, and then squashed flat into petal shapes. You start by rolling one into a tube, for the centre, then carefully adding petals around the outside, making sure they overlap.

I was quite pleased with how they turned out anyway.

I made some cupcakes- chocolate ones from the Hummingbird recipe. Although the recipe said it made 12, some of them were very small and even once risen did not go half way up the cases! Usually those recipes make too much.

I did cheat and didn’t make the icing- I had a tub of stuff which I bought before I went into hospital (as I thought I would not want to make it!) so I swirled some of that on, and then added the roses.

I think they look very pretty anyway!

We were going over to Andy’s parent’s for Sunday tea, so I took them along, and they all got eaten- must be a good sign. Sort of Mother’s Day themed with the flowers too.

The weather today has been beautiful and I had not one but two walks! Only short ones, but it was so lovely being outside in the fresh air. I really do think that I need fresh air- I go a bit stir crazy if I don’t get any for a day or two. I saw some pretty birds (jays) and also a rabbit! Nearly as good as seeing one when I am out running. Nearly.

What is your favourite fresh air activity? Flying a kite? Walking by the sea? Opening the living room window? (I might be joking about that one).

Hello everyone.

The other evening me and Andy walked down to our allotment to see how the bulbs were coming along. By the time we took over the allotment last year (late summer) it was too late to plant anything (well, except cabbage as I kept being told, but I don’t like cabbage so wasn’t going to grow it for the sake of it) so in the autumn we planted lots of daffodil bulbs.

Well, lots of them were already flowering, so we picked quite a few, and might get some more at the weekend. Every now and then I get a lovely whiff of their fragrance, it really is fab. I love the fact that we have grown these, and they really smell so strong- I suppose ones from the shop are a week old by the time you buy them, so that may explain it.

Andy is going to do some digging (and my Dad has offered to help too, seeing as I can’t be doing that just yet) so we will hopefully start to get a few things going there. I am feeling excited about it for this year.

I have also been spending time entering competitions! I saw on TV a few weeks ago a story about people who enter loads of competitions- one person had won a fancy treadmill (which she could not even have because it was too heavy for her flat or something) but she was the only person who entered. I won some Dove’s Farm bars as they were celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight. The day before they came I saw that Lucy reviewed them on her blog, so I am looking forward to trying them.

I also won some Montezuma’s chocolate. A whole kilo– not sure how to even start eating it! Think I need to save this until I can start running again.

And some vanilla munchy seeds! These were all free facebook competitions 🙂  I have decided you have to be in it to win it! I get a lot of emails and usually ignore them, but I have also entered things like The Food Network competition (you only have to answer one question) and just cross my fingers.

I have also found that I can while away quite a bit of time on the Dorset cereals site- they have little competitions and mini games and things.

Don’t worry, I have not spent all my time glued to the computer- I have managed one or two short walks each day (and often an afternoon nap!). I have a doctor’s appointment next week and as we have 2 weeks before the Easter holidays I think it is safe to say that I will be returning to work after those, which I am really looking forward to.

Do you ever enter competitions? Have you ever won anything, and if so what did you win?

It seems Spring might finally be on it’s way. I hope so.

On Sunday I started at home while Andy went off to run at Silverstone- it turned into a very hot day and he said he had never seen so many paramedics at a race before. I suppose the day was warm compared with the rest of the week, and he pointed out that there was no shade because it was all on the track, which I had not even thought of.

He got quite a nice goody bag too (and a better than normal t-shirt; only cotton but black with a chequered flag on it)- samples of flax-seeds, pistachios, fruity flakes, spa-tone iron water, and a nice medal (although it says “Addidas half marathon” on the front, and “Silverstone” on the back. Those sponsors are creeping in.  He was glad he packed a banana and a clif bar as he had to drive home and there was only lucozade when he finished, no food, which I thought was more unusual for a race of that distance.

I have been adding to my patchwork quilt. I only have two more strips to sew together, sew on, and then I have to work out what to do with it next! I feel the colours are quite spring-like and it has been quite relaxing getting on with it.

After not doing so well at the weekend, yesterday I did two short walks and that seemed much better. I rang the hospital to ask about the bandages (oh, and it turns out the things I can see that I thought were stitches are actually steri-strips, and the actual stitches are more inside and I can’t see them, which makes more sense)- I was not sure when the second lot could come off. I had a bit of a strange conversation- I didn’t give my name (she didn’t ask), the nurse asked me who my consultant was, I told her, and she said “oh you can take them off right away”. Maybe he only uses certain types of bandage? Anyway, they are off now and so I suppose a little more air will be getting to the cuts to help them heal. The foggy brain feeling has finally gone, and when I popped out for a short walk this morning, I had no dizziness at all, so I think finally the anaesthetic has worked it’s way out of my system.

When I got back from my walk in the afternoon yesterday I had a mango drink me chai (as they have kindly sent me some samples). This was lovely- quite refreshing (even though I added hot water) and sweet, but a good afternoon pick-me-up. I bet it would be fab as an iced tea/ chai too. Thinking about it, I liked the mango black tea from Whittards, so I suppose the flavours are fairly similar. Although Spring is here, I am still loving warm cups of tea. 🙂

And finally, on the news this morning they had an article about the price of food in cinemas. I agree that it is overpriced, but then you don’t have to buy it. There must be enough people happy enough to pay that amount for it (especially the popcorn which seems like it would have a massive profit margin). Years ago Andy and me used to sometimes share a kids box, which had a scoop of popcorn, a small drink and some smarties, but then they changed it to be bagged popcorn, fruit shoots and things like that. So now we never buy the food, and occasionally might bring in something small to share (shhh)- but usually we just go to watch the film. Even if you went to a really long film, it would only be a few hours to cope without food. Plus, how on earth do people eat things like nachos in the dark? And how does the ice cream make it to the film (past all the millions of adverts) without melting? And why is most cinema food the noisiest food ever???? Do you eat food in the cinema? 

So, I mentioned the other day that I was stocking up on the Alpro nut milks currently £1 at Waitrose/ Ocado. I also noticed in Waitrose the other week that there were some in the fridge section, and some on the ambient shelves.

The blue lid instructions say “keep refrigerated” and the white lid says “keep refrigerated once opened”. (And yes, I was a bit bored this morning so got them out to take photos). 

The hazelnut ones are the same. I thought that the shelf one would have more additives, or stabilisers, or something, but no, they have identical ingredients, identical nutritional information. When I went to the alpro website before, I found no mention of them, but today when I looked they have a little section. But still no mention of the two types of milk. I can only assume that they think they will gain bigger market share by being in two sections of the shop at the same time. We have gone back to ordering from Ocado, so I will be stocking up on the ambient ones while they are still on offer- I see no point in getting the fridge ones as we never have much space in our fridge anyway. I usually have them on cereal/ in porridge, but today I had a little glass of each (to finish one and start the next). I do prefer the almond one- it is milder in taste I think. The hazelnut one really does taste very hazelnutty (surprise!) but I bet it would be lovely warmed up with a little cocoa/ nesquick in there- nutella hot chocolate anyone?

After feeling so optimistic yesterday afternoon, the dizziness/ fogginess got a lot worse. I made some dinner (Andy was out for the afternoon), but a couple of hours after I started feeling sick, and by the time Andy got home I was a bit of a clammy mess. I was trying to stay awake to take my last lot of painkillers, but he made me go to bed and listen to the radio instead. Anyway, although I feel lots better this morning, I decided not to go to Silverstone today. I thought for one the car journey might make the dizziness worse, plus the 15 min walk from the car park is based on normal walking speed, not my current speed.

So anyway, Andy was off this morning, and I have been sewing more of my blanket together and watching the athletics on TV, which I think it more sensible. Trouble is, when I am sitting still I start feeling totally fine, so I think I should be a lot better than I actually am, so then I get annoyed. Makes sense?

Would you choose almond or hazelnut milk? And any idea why they have 2 carton types of each milk? I am sure you can tell I have plenty of time to ponder these things! 🙂

Also, where/how do you start pole-vaulting? I mean, when I was at school we did a lot of athletics- all the running, jumping and throwing things. But with those you can start slow/ low/ light, and work up. But surely with a pole vault, you can’t start off with a metre stick and gradually jump higher. Not that I want to do it at all (I really don’t) but I just don’t even know anyone who has ever done it.

Oh, and also, a little shout out to Tam who is organising a bloggie cookie swap. She did this before (I think when I had just started blogging) and I took part and of course it was fun. So if you fancied signing up then have a look here.