Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We're not big on Valentine's Day, but I like the idea of celebrating being together. We normally save our celebrations for our 4 year anniversary, which is in a few days time. However, I have always celebrated it with Tyla and so we've decided to make Daddy a little present and I'm going to make her a little something too. Time is pretty limited, as we only have the time when Nina sleeps to really get the craft stuff out. We are going to make him a little heart shaped cushion and I haven't decided what I'll make Tyla yet.
We find one of his old shirts and I unpick the sleeve. I have drawn a heart template and Tyla traces it twice, on two pieces fusible web. Now, I have the idea of a hanging heart, but I still can't figure out how you stitch in the ribbon to make it hang. A few clicks later and Google shows me the technique. We cut a small piece of ribbon, I stitch the two pieces and the ribbon together, leaving a small gap to turn it inside out and then it's time to get the baby up. I'll finish it tomorrow, when Tyla's at school.
I am hungry today. Probably not really, but I am craving sugar quite a lot. I didn't think I was so carb addicted, but it turns out I was wrong. I am trying to hold it together, but when I am subject to a normally manageable stressors, today I am really snappy. Poor kids!
We head out to the library and Tyla entertains Nina in the kiddies' section, while I get us library cards. It takes me about 20 minutes or so, and Tyla is just an angel, running around after Nina the whole time! They want proof of address for me and the kids, so I have brought all of my chequebook (with my name and address on it) our passports, Tyla's school insurance letter and our application for Nina's childcare confirmation letter. We all find some books, albeit with Nina head butting and squealing her way round. There is a good little English section here for Ty's age group and also for Nina. I find some sewing books in French, which have lovely pictures. We check them out and, phew, we have achieved something. It's never the enjoyable, heart warming day out you expect it to be, but it's something! I pick up my prescription for my homeopathic stuff and some more dressings and I collect Ed's parcel from the Newsagent collection point round the corner.
Today, life is good - stressful, but successful!
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
The sun is out - hallelujah! I had not realised how badly affected I still was by the lack of sun. I was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder many moons ago, but as I haven't felt depressed for a long time, I assumed it had kind of gone away!
Today is Day 3 of AIP. I am having my sautéed courgette, mushroom and onion breakfast again and then I am prepared to take on mother and toddler group, the Mairie and shopping. I feel alive, energised and able to take on the world. And all because the sun is shining.
Lets hope it doesn't rain!
Ok , I'm back and it's raining. Still, I think a morning's sunshine has given me the boost I needed. I did see some daffodils out -another thing that always cheers me up. On the Isle of Wight, there's a bend coming into Havenstreet where hundreds of daffodils are planted on the bank. For all the years I worked in Newport, my spirits would be lifted to see the first ones peeping out of their lush green beds. It was more symbolic for me - spring, depression lifting and new beginnings.
Tyla has a day off today, as the teachers are on strike. They are being made subject to reorganisation of the system, which could involve longer hours, a different schedule and for Primary School teachers to work Wednesdays. One of their reasons for striking, as written on the letter we were given, is that proposing primary school children attend school on a Wednesday will interfere with their "biological rhythms". Now as an English mother, who worked pretty much all of Tyla's early years and where all children aged 4 and up attend school daily, I'm not sure how I feel about such a claim. Also, I am not sure that we have any po-school biological rhythms, whatever age we are. I certainly didn't!
Whilst I've been at playgroup, Tyla has folded away all the washing; hung out the wet washing and completed all kitchen cleaning duties. People say we are lucky that we have a well behaved child. Lucky??! It most definitely is not luck! It has been months of blood, sweat and tears to get her this disciplined! If it weren't for Ed, I would still be struggling on, doing all the chores myself, not wanting to "burden" my child with anymore duties. However, now the hard work is done and she does most chores with little/no grumbling, I can totally see the benefits of making your child independent and a team player around the house. In fact, Tyla will often say she is proud of the fact that she can clean up a kitchen and do the washing. We're playing the long game here!
Tyla tells me there is a new girl and tells me she is "out there". Tyla has already taken a dislike to her, especially as the new girl has befriended Ty's current bestie, Maelise. She explains that this girl has what the French call an "air du mal". It's a good opportunity for discussion baout how new starts are hard for all of us and that we express our nerves in different ways. Some people come across as overconfident, others are shy and then some pitch it just right, but are no doubt still feeling just as nervous as the others. Tyla gets this, but I know she is still not convinced!
Tyla tells me that today she misses her friends and can't wait to see them Thursday so they can chat about Valentine's Day and see who has been given what. This confirms three things: 1) Tyla does have friends; 2) her French is good enough for her to be bitching about the new girl and 3) bitching at any age, in any language brings people closer together!
So, the sun is back out, I have a ton of stuff to do and I'm ready for it - wooohoooo!
Today is Day 3 of AIP. I am having my sautéed courgette, mushroom and onion breakfast again and then I am prepared to take on mother and toddler group, the Mairie and shopping. I feel alive, energised and able to take on the world. And all because the sun is shining.
Lets hope it doesn't rain!
Ok , I'm back and it's raining. Still, I think a morning's sunshine has given me the boost I needed. I did see some daffodils out -another thing that always cheers me up. On the Isle of Wight, there's a bend coming into Havenstreet where hundreds of daffodils are planted on the bank. For all the years I worked in Newport, my spirits would be lifted to see the first ones peeping out of their lush green beds. It was more symbolic for me - spring, depression lifting and new beginnings.
Tyla has a day off today, as the teachers are on strike. They are being made subject to reorganisation of the system, which could involve longer hours, a different schedule and for Primary School teachers to work Wednesdays. One of their reasons for striking, as written on the letter we were given, is that proposing primary school children attend school on a Wednesday will interfere with their "biological rhythms". Now as an English mother, who worked pretty much all of Tyla's early years and where all children aged 4 and up attend school daily, I'm not sure how I feel about such a claim. Also, I am not sure that we have any po-school biological rhythms, whatever age we are. I certainly didn't!
Whilst I've been at playgroup, Tyla has folded away all the washing; hung out the wet washing and completed all kitchen cleaning duties. People say we are lucky that we have a well behaved child. Lucky??! It most definitely is not luck! It has been months of blood, sweat and tears to get her this disciplined! If it weren't for Ed, I would still be struggling on, doing all the chores myself, not wanting to "burden" my child with anymore duties. However, now the hard work is done and she does most chores with little/no grumbling, I can totally see the benefits of making your child independent and a team player around the house. In fact, Tyla will often say she is proud of the fact that she can clean up a kitchen and do the washing. We're playing the long game here!
Tyla tells me there is a new girl and tells me she is "out there". Tyla has already taken a dislike to her, especially as the new girl has befriended Ty's current bestie, Maelise. She explains that this girl has what the French call an "air du mal". It's a good opportunity for discussion baout how new starts are hard for all of us and that we express our nerves in different ways. Some people come across as overconfident, others are shy and then some pitch it just right, but are no doubt still feeling just as nervous as the others. Tyla gets this, but I know she is still not convinced!
Tyla tells me that today she misses her friends and can't wait to see them Thursday so they can chat about Valentine's Day and see who has been given what. This confirms three things: 1) Tyla does have friends; 2) her French is good enough for her to be bitching about the new girl and 3) bitching at any age, in any language brings people closer together!
So, the sun is back out, I have a ton of stuff to do and I'm ready for it - wooohoooo!
Monday, 11 February 2013
Today is Day 2...again. I am back on paleo, stricter than ever and following the autoimmune protocol - or what I know of it at least. I have no excuses left, just pain and more pain. I feel stressed, anxious, broken, but weirdly motivated. I have given up dairy, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, chilli and all types of peppers, certain other spices and all refined sugars. I have reread Primal Girl's blog http://www.primalgirl.com/2012/03/10/primalgirl-opens-up-hidradenitis-suppurativa-part-2/ and am determined to see if I am eating anything that triggers it. I know that it has improved in terms of lower inflammation and the spots leaking much quicker than before. This is partly down to my diet, but hey, it could be the homeopathic treatment?? Who knows?
I'm normally quite good at diets. My family would say that's an understatement and that once I set my mind to something, it's going to get done! The problem I have is other people's opinions. I'm fine eating anything Ed or I prepare, but eating at other peoples' houses is a whole new minefield. Most people will not accept a polite 'no' to their offerings. They might say, "Just a little bit won't hurt" or "you should stop that diet before you get too thin - have some of this". Even the 'taste my wares' guy in the supermarket looks offended when I don't want to try his delicious je ne sais quoi! Now, I have started saying that I have a skin condition which is affected by food, but this is fairly complicated and may lead to further discussion. I'm sure that when they're eating, people don't want a full rundown of the pus and inflammation that comes with HS - especially down in your nether regions. So, I'm learning how to pitch it right. 'I've just eaten' or "no, but I'd love some more of that salad - did you make it?' or any other diversionary tactic I can think of!
I am ever hopeful, as I believe you have to be with any kind of long term condition. I will stick to my diet and see how it goes. Failure is not an option!
I'm normally quite good at diets. My family would say that's an understatement and that once I set my mind to something, it's going to get done! The problem I have is other people's opinions. I'm fine eating anything Ed or I prepare, but eating at other peoples' houses is a whole new minefield. Most people will not accept a polite 'no' to their offerings. They might say, "Just a little bit won't hurt" or "you should stop that diet before you get too thin - have some of this". Even the 'taste my wares' guy in the supermarket looks offended when I don't want to try his delicious je ne sais quoi! Now, I have started saying that I have a skin condition which is affected by food, but this is fairly complicated and may lead to further discussion. I'm sure that when they're eating, people don't want a full rundown of the pus and inflammation that comes with HS - especially down in your nether regions. So, I'm learning how to pitch it right. 'I've just eaten' or "no, but I'd love some more of that salad - did you make it?' or any other diversionary tactic I can think of!
I am ever hopeful, as I believe you have to be with any kind of long term condition. I will stick to my diet and see how it goes. Failure is not an option!
Friday, 20 July 2012
Today is day Hell. It is my time of the month and I am feeling ru-ubbish! I am well and truly devoid of carbs and I am feeling the comedown. Ed is going to Agen to meet a customer, so will drive to work by himself, to get there on time and leave the key with his secretary. I have little planned today apart from getting the girls on a bus to Ed's work, picking up the car from there, taking it to the house and wait for the telephone people to install the telephone line. Easy.
I get the girls ready and out and to Ed's work, all without a hitch. We have food packed and we are picking up a fruit hamper from Ed's work. We are on time and whilst driving to the new house, I say to Ty over my shoulder, "We've done really well so far Ty, I...oh". I have forgotten the key to the new house. Various thoughts go through my mind, like, where is Ed when I need him? Why is this happening today? Why don't we all have a set of keys, instead of one stupid garage door key? None of these are helpful, so I drive the last few hundred metres to the house and park up. There is definitely no other way of getting in there. I call the estate agent, just in case she has the actual front door key, but of course, she is off for her 2 hour shutdown lunch break. There is nothing for it, but to turn around. Poor girls are starving and bored, as am I.
We head home.
I do a drive by run in and grab the key off the side by the computer. Ed must've taken the annoying bit of plastic the electrician put on it. I also collect the keys to the filing cabinet - bonus! Get back to the house, try the key - er...no freaking way! It's the wrong key. Turns out Ed hadn't taken the plastic "keyring" off; I had just picked up the wrong key. Off we go, back to the apartment. Leave car outside, girls in it, run in, pick key up and head back.
We get there in time. Thank goodness I'd set out early. Get girls in the house, which is covered in dirt. The telephone guys arrive - brill. We are getting somewhere. They fanny around for a while looking at various things outside and then come in to tell me that the cables are laid about one metre away from the place they should be in and there is nothing that they can do about it.
I should have known this was not going to be a good day.
I get the girls ready and out and to Ed's work, all without a hitch. We have food packed and we are picking up a fruit hamper from Ed's work. We are on time and whilst driving to the new house, I say to Ty over my shoulder, "We've done really well so far Ty, I...oh". I have forgotten the key to the new house. Various thoughts go through my mind, like, where is Ed when I need him? Why is this happening today? Why don't we all have a set of keys, instead of one stupid garage door key? None of these are helpful, so I drive the last few hundred metres to the house and park up. There is definitely no other way of getting in there. I call the estate agent, just in case she has the actual front door key, but of course, she is off for her 2 hour shutdown lunch break. There is nothing for it, but to turn around. Poor girls are starving and bored, as am I.
We head home.
I do a drive by run in and grab the key off the side by the computer. Ed must've taken the annoying bit of plastic the electrician put on it. I also collect the keys to the filing cabinet - bonus! Get back to the house, try the key - er...no freaking way! It's the wrong key. Turns out Ed hadn't taken the plastic "keyring" off; I had just picked up the wrong key. Off we go, back to the apartment. Leave car outside, girls in it, run in, pick key up and head back.
We get there in time. Thank goodness I'd set out early. Get girls in the house, which is covered in dirt. The telephone guys arrive - brill. We are getting somewhere. They fanny around for a while looking at various things outside and then come in to tell me that the cables are laid about one metre away from the place they should be in and there is nothing that they can do about it.
I should have known this was not going to be a good day.
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
So today is like, day four or five or something. I am coping well without carbs. I have resisted the call of the refined carbohydrate and even had to get a 'Baguette de Campagne" (beautiful wholemeal, floured crusty baguette) from the boulangerie, which Tyla then passed to me saying, "Aaah, Mum, feel it, it's still warm." Nice.
No, eating is not a problem. I have felt a little icky in my stomach yesterday and today, but I think it's just the richness of the food being a little too much for me that early, plus being a woman, we have monthly occurrences which can throw you a little off, too. I have been sticking to tea with almond milk for brekkie and maybe a banana or a grapefruit, with a handful of nuts.
We went with Ed this morning, so we could take the car after we dropped him off and went to the new house. The electrician was there, as arranged, finishing off the sockets and lights. He had a generator going and the floor was covered with screws, tools, dust - just a building site really. So I am now not sure what to do. I load Nina in the buggy to go for a walk, but realise that if we go for a walk, once she's asleep we wont be able to come back to the house with generator blaring. I get her out of the buggy and put her back in the car. I decide to go straight to CAF in Pessac; I get the address from my iPhone and punch it into the sat nav. A 7 minute drive away. perfect.
We find it and park a few hundred metres down the road. I check that the parking bay for any "No parking" signs, find none, unload with the help of Tyla, check we have all our documents and head up to CAF. It is in a social housing building. Makes sense. We go into the building. it looks quiet. It's closed. of course it is. This is France after all, where everything is always bloody shut. This CAF is closed Wednesday (to stop all and sundry being there with there kids I suppose), Friday and for this week especially, it is closed everyday. Perfect.
We walk back to the car. Load up and I have a text from Ed telling me that the Orange Internet Box is ready for collection from a bar in Eysine, with the address. Now, I am not sure I can think of anywhere more random to pick up my Internet modem. Perhaps maybe a swimming pool or a strip club? But so long as it's there, I'm not really too fussed what kind of establishment it is. I call Ed to let him know my plans, but he tells me I need to go back to the house as there is another electric guy from ERDF installing the electricity boxes outside the two houses at 10. It's 10:05. I get going, arrive and the nice man is done. He gives me some paperwork and it all seems to have gone to plan.
Wrong again!
It turns out that now we need to wait up to 5 working days for an electricity provider to connect us from the street to the house. Once this is done, we need the home electrician to connect the box to house. Now this all seems like madness. I'm no electrician, but seeing as they've rigged the electrics up the front of the house, it would seem only logical that just a flick of a switch or two (I really don't know anything about electrics) and 'Voila!', we should be switched on?
Inevitably, I am left pretty frustrated and helpless to assist with resolving this due to the language barrier. Ed comes to the rescue and in between working, he badgers everyone possible until we finally get word that we will have electricity Saturday morning. This is good news, because our friends are coming to visit Sunday night and we were just beginning to work out the logistics of 'glamping' in the house!
I am struggling a little with the new diet and not being near a functional kitchen at all times. The heat is also wearing and all my snacks have to be eaten pretty quickly before they turn to mush or just plain yuk. I am grateful that I have Tyla with me and Ed on the end of a phone whenever I need him. Nothing is easy, but for now I am happy I have made it through another day without losing my sanity (completely).
No, eating is not a problem. I have felt a little icky in my stomach yesterday and today, but I think it's just the richness of the food being a little too much for me that early, plus being a woman, we have monthly occurrences which can throw you a little off, too. I have been sticking to tea with almond milk for brekkie and maybe a banana or a grapefruit, with a handful of nuts.
We went with Ed this morning, so we could take the car after we dropped him off and went to the new house. The electrician was there, as arranged, finishing off the sockets and lights. He had a generator going and the floor was covered with screws, tools, dust - just a building site really. So I am now not sure what to do. I load Nina in the buggy to go for a walk, but realise that if we go for a walk, once she's asleep we wont be able to come back to the house with generator blaring. I get her out of the buggy and put her back in the car. I decide to go straight to CAF in Pessac; I get the address from my iPhone and punch it into the sat nav. A 7 minute drive away. perfect.
We find it and park a few hundred metres down the road. I check that the parking bay for any "No parking" signs, find none, unload with the help of Tyla, check we have all our documents and head up to CAF. It is in a social housing building. Makes sense. We go into the building. it looks quiet. It's closed. of course it is. This is France after all, where everything is always bloody shut. This CAF is closed Wednesday (to stop all and sundry being there with there kids I suppose), Friday and for this week especially, it is closed everyday. Perfect.
We walk back to the car. Load up and I have a text from Ed telling me that the Orange Internet Box is ready for collection from a bar in Eysine, with the address. Now, I am not sure I can think of anywhere more random to pick up my Internet modem. Perhaps maybe a swimming pool or a strip club? But so long as it's there, I'm not really too fussed what kind of establishment it is. I call Ed to let him know my plans, but he tells me I need to go back to the house as there is another electric guy from ERDF installing the electricity boxes outside the two houses at 10. It's 10:05. I get going, arrive and the nice man is done. He gives me some paperwork and it all seems to have gone to plan.
Wrong again!
It turns out that now we need to wait up to 5 working days for an electricity provider to connect us from the street to the house. Once this is done, we need the home electrician to connect the box to house. Now this all seems like madness. I'm no electrician, but seeing as they've rigged the electrics up the front of the house, it would seem only logical that just a flick of a switch or two (I really don't know anything about electrics) and 'Voila!', we should be switched on?
Inevitably, I am left pretty frustrated and helpless to assist with resolving this due to the language barrier. Ed comes to the rescue and in between working, he badgers everyone possible until we finally get word that we will have electricity Saturday morning. This is good news, because our friends are coming to visit Sunday night and we were just beginning to work out the logistics of 'glamping' in the house!
I am struggling a little with the new diet and not being near a functional kitchen at all times. The heat is also wearing and all my snacks have to be eaten pretty quickly before they turn to mush or just plain yuk. I am grateful that I have Tyla with me and Ed on the end of a phone whenever I need him. Nothing is easy, but for now I am happy I have made it through another day without losing my sanity (completely).
Thursday, 12 July 2012
I have no plans today, other than to look after the lovely girls, wait in for the estate agent to come and collect the house keys from us and then meet Ed at work later, so we can go to the house. We are going to sign all the tenancy paperwork. We are pretty excited about this, as it makes our move finally seem like a reality. After many false starts, like our initial moving in date of June 1st, I am pleased 'real' moving day is actually upon us. Yes, not excited, just pleased. Excited came and went about 2-3 weeks ago.
I am feeling fine about not eating processed food, and am being optimistic about the impact this could have on my overall health and my life. I have eaten a large omelette and lardons for a late breakfast and had a grapefruit for lunch, still full from my morning big protein-fest. I like the feeling that I may be gaining some control over what I am putting in my body to nourish it and am not too worried that the fridge is looking decidedly bare of 'good' foods and in need of sorting out.
Nina has 2 epic naps today - overall sleeping for four hours. Now, I'm not one to monitor sleeping or plan nap times, so this doesn't really disrupt my day. Tyla has her iPod Touch back after a two day ban, so I'm happy to let her play on it for a while.
During the second nap, I am still in my bra and pants. I am on the computer with my clean clothes next to me, ready to be ironed and thrown on at some point during the nap and before the estate agent arrives at 2pm. She's 40 minutes early. Normally this would fill me with joy. Punctuality is not a known French trait and I always expect tardiness; in fact I'm partial to not being on time myself. This serves me well most of the time, because if I am on time and they are late, I am not disappointed. Also, if I am late, they are generally later than me. Conversely if someone is on time, when I am also on time, I am pleasantly surprised. If they are early and I am late, well, I imagine it is fairly annoying for them, but I try not to let it get me down.
I buzz her into the foyer and throw on my wrinkled clothes, grab the keys and run down to see her. I hand them over and that's task one out of the way. This is my cue to get off my backside and get everything ready before the wee one awakes.
Later on we get ourselves ready to meet Ed at work and head off to the tram. Nina is always a little pickle on the tram, so we have learnt to station ourselves at the very back, where there are usually two free seats, park the buggy by the non-opening doors, and let Nina 'sit' with us. This involves her climbing over everything, but also charming the pants off all the tram passengers. She waves at them and gives them her radiant toothy grin. She dances to the sound of the tram and any other repetitive noises around, which serves to remind us, there is beauty in everything.
We meet Ed at work and drive to the house. Once there, we wait for the (late) estate agent and admire the new letterbox that has been installed outside and the fact that the driveway has been levelled (although not finished) making the house look like less of a building site. She arrives and we go in. There is still work to be done, but the kitchen has been (mostly) installed and the garden has also been levelled with soil (er, looks like dust to me, but we have it on good authority that it is soil). The paintwork is not perfect and we know that the landlords have struggled to get it done, so we have long accepted that the finish will be less than perfect.
We are there for over two hours; the landlords turn up, as do the builders and it is a long drawn out free for all. Meanwhile I have a cranky baby and I am not much better; I am also distinctly aware that I did not pack enough food for one person, let alone enough to sustain this family for this long over dinnertime. I feel we are heading for a disastrous solution and as we near 8 pm, Ed says the magic words, "Take away pizza?". I am pretty down, but am trying to work with my life, not against it, so I agree.
We finally get home with pizzas, at about 8:45. I enjoy the food, have a beer for good measure and try not to beat myself up about it. After all, I knew starting under these conditions was not the perfect recipe for success. Ed tells me he has my Whole 30 book at work and I look forward to starting properly tomorrow. A shopping trip to put some good food in the fridge; some proper guidance in the shape of Dallas and Melissa Hartwig's It Starts with Food book; the prospect of being in my new house in just over a week; all postive, so I say goodbye to Day 2 and with renewed hope, I look forward to tomorrow - Day 1.
I am feeling fine about not eating processed food, and am being optimistic about the impact this could have on my overall health and my life. I have eaten a large omelette and lardons for a late breakfast and had a grapefruit for lunch, still full from my morning big protein-fest. I like the feeling that I may be gaining some control over what I am putting in my body to nourish it and am not too worried that the fridge is looking decidedly bare of 'good' foods and in need of sorting out.
Nina has 2 epic naps today - overall sleeping for four hours. Now, I'm not one to monitor sleeping or plan nap times, so this doesn't really disrupt my day. Tyla has her iPod Touch back after a two day ban, so I'm happy to let her play on it for a while.
During the second nap, I am still in my bra and pants. I am on the computer with my clean clothes next to me, ready to be ironed and thrown on at some point during the nap and before the estate agent arrives at 2pm. She's 40 minutes early. Normally this would fill me with joy. Punctuality is not a known French trait and I always expect tardiness; in fact I'm partial to not being on time myself. This serves me well most of the time, because if I am on time and they are late, I am not disappointed. Also, if I am late, they are generally later than me. Conversely if someone is on time, when I am also on time, I am pleasantly surprised. If they are early and I am late, well, I imagine it is fairly annoying for them, but I try not to let it get me down.
I buzz her into the foyer and throw on my wrinkled clothes, grab the keys and run down to see her. I hand them over and that's task one out of the way. This is my cue to get off my backside and get everything ready before the wee one awakes.
Later on we get ourselves ready to meet Ed at work and head off to the tram. Nina is always a little pickle on the tram, so we have learnt to station ourselves at the very back, where there are usually two free seats, park the buggy by the non-opening doors, and let Nina 'sit' with us. This involves her climbing over everything, but also charming the pants off all the tram passengers. She waves at them and gives them her radiant toothy grin. She dances to the sound of the tram and any other repetitive noises around, which serves to remind us, there is beauty in everything.
We meet Ed at work and drive to the house. Once there, we wait for the (late) estate agent and admire the new letterbox that has been installed outside and the fact that the driveway has been levelled (although not finished) making the house look like less of a building site. She arrives and we go in. There is still work to be done, but the kitchen has been (mostly) installed and the garden has also been levelled with soil (er, looks like dust to me, but we have it on good authority that it is soil). The paintwork is not perfect and we know that the landlords have struggled to get it done, so we have long accepted that the finish will be less than perfect.
We are there for over two hours; the landlords turn up, as do the builders and it is a long drawn out free for all. Meanwhile I have a cranky baby and I am not much better; I am also distinctly aware that I did not pack enough food for one person, let alone enough to sustain this family for this long over dinnertime. I feel we are heading for a disastrous solution and as we near 8 pm, Ed says the magic words, "Take away pizza?". I am pretty down, but am trying to work with my life, not against it, so I agree.
We finally get home with pizzas, at about 8:45. I enjoy the food, have a beer for good measure and try not to beat myself up about it. After all, I knew starting under these conditions was not the perfect recipe for success. Ed tells me he has my Whole 30 book at work and I look forward to starting properly tomorrow. A shopping trip to put some good food in the fridge; some proper guidance in the shape of Dallas and Melissa Hartwig's It Starts with Food book; the prospect of being in my new house in just over a week; all postive, so I say goodbye to Day 2 and with renewed hope, I look forward to tomorrow - Day 1.
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
That's it. I've finally had enough. I have endured this HS now for so long and after spending another weekend in pain so bad, I could barely walk, I need some help. Whilst eating Paleo may not be the answer, I need to get on it to find out either way!
With so many of my decisions, I hate doing anything new unless I am fully prepared. Its a trait that can be positive, but on the other hand it holds me back unnecessarily (did I mention I still haven't handed in my first unit of TEFL, just in case some of my answers are wrong). Now living in this one bed apartment, with no oven, one (damaged) small ceramic knife, two electric hobs and the cheapest pots and pans you could imagine and no Paleo books makes me about as far away from prepared as one can be, whilst still living in a civilised space. We also plan to go to bed earlier tonight, as I know that my random melt downs are lack of sleep related.
So, it's time to suck it up and just cut out carbs and grains, stick to what I know of the diet so far and make do. So far I have managed a whole day with no refined foods (apart from dried fruit and nuts, which I haven't read enough about). Served up rice to Ed and Ty for tea, with a chicken curry I made from scratch. It was weird not having the rice, but was so filling on its own, I don't know how I managed to stuff in a load of carbs with my curry before?!
So day one is a success. Ed has taken my 'before' body photos. Here's hoping it won't be long before I have some noteworthy 'after' shots...
With so many of my decisions, I hate doing anything new unless I am fully prepared. Its a trait that can be positive, but on the other hand it holds me back unnecessarily (did I mention I still haven't handed in my first unit of TEFL, just in case some of my answers are wrong). Now living in this one bed apartment, with no oven, one (damaged) small ceramic knife, two electric hobs and the cheapest pots and pans you could imagine and no Paleo books makes me about as far away from prepared as one can be, whilst still living in a civilised space. We also plan to go to bed earlier tonight, as I know that my random melt downs are lack of sleep related.
So, it's time to suck it up and just cut out carbs and grains, stick to what I know of the diet so far and make do. So far I have managed a whole day with no refined foods (apart from dried fruit and nuts, which I haven't read enough about). Served up rice to Ed and Ty for tea, with a chicken curry I made from scratch. It was weird not having the rice, but was so filling on its own, I don't know how I managed to stuff in a load of carbs with my curry before?!
So day one is a success. Ed has taken my 'before' body photos. Here's hoping it won't be long before I have some noteworthy 'after' shots...
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