What a great night last night. Ages since I'd been on the underground. £5.90 for a daily ticket. Well worth it may I add. Went shopping along Oxford Street for some bling (If you need bling, go to Oxford Street) This morning I headed up to Mary le Bone High Street (As I've heard it called) and spent the morning looking at a computer screen (Just like I'm doing now) Broke for lunch and went to a little cafe for soup (Spinach and lemon) I was asked if I would like small or large? (Why is there never an in between) I ordered a large, when it arrived I would have described it as a trough of soup (Enormous) it was gorgeous....
Back to the training room to finish then on to Heathrow for the flight back. Got an earlier flight back (Thanks BMI) Now, this time it was an Airbus A319, got an aisle seat at the very rear of the plane (I thought, happy days, as you never hear of planes reversing into mountains) The only problem about sitting at the back, by the time I got the refreshment trolley passing it was 10 minutes to landing. I had asked the air hostess to pass a lemonade to a friend who was sitting about 6 rows in front of me (I could not do it as I was blocked in by the trolley. She nearly ate the bake off me "We'll be out of your way in a minute" -"Yeah I said and landing in 9" she did it for me..... Bless her

An Eye Full

Had to go to London today. What a surprise I had when I boarded the BMI Airbus A320 at the Belfast George Best City airport to Heathrow flight and sat down. Seat 14F was the online allocated seat, I sat down and thought I'd been beamed up to business class. It's the first time since I've lost my weight that I've had to take a flight (On a plane)

The room I had was so unbelievable, I'd about a foot of strapping left on the seat belt, I had to pull the fold away table towards me and I wasn't elbowing the passenger beside me when I moved. It made me feel so good.

Anyway, I'd never been on the London Eye, so I ventured to the Westminster area and boarded. I wasn't disappointed even though the weather was dull. Compared to the Belfast Wheel ...... ahh ...... no comparison, the London Eye was brill. With a couple of friends, off to wagamamas we went for a nose bag, had so much great food, class of wine and good craic .... what else could one want?

"When it's not always raining etc etc"

On The Road Again (Motorway)

After last weeks stop of the weight loss, I decided to go back to the start again. In the words of the Willie Nelson song I'm "On the road again" I had to go to a different Slimming World class tonight to be weighed as I'm off to England's capital tomorrow (Work) for that reason I will be unable to attend my usual Wednesday night FF class. (Sorry Sharon)

Tonight at Ann-Marie's class I had 3 lb off

5 st 12 lb (Nearly at my 6 st Target)

Moderate Comments

Is there any knowledge brother (Or sister) out there that can tell me how to delete comments? Until I find out I will have to moderate the comments.....

Hello Ducky

In my blog on the 11th May I had a photograph of a duck on my neighbours roof.
Now another duck came to visit my roof. No idea where it was looking for but I live in a rather built up area so the only thing I can think of is it stopped for a rest before heading off to some sanctuary down the coast.

Checked the gutter's but no sign of eggs.

Something For The Weekend (7)

Michel's Jamaican Jerk Chicken (Really spicy)

What you need:

12 x Pieces of Chicken – Thighs, Legs or Breast
6 x Peppers – 4 Med/ 2 Hot, De seeded and Chopped
12 x Stalks of Spring Onions, Chopped
1½ tsp Cinnamon Powder
4 x Garlic Cloves, Crushed
2 tbsp Salt
1½ tsp Thyme
2 tsp Ground Ginger
2 tsp Black Pepper
½ tsp Ground Cloves
2 tbsp Allspice
1 tsp Ground Nutmeg
2 tbsp Olive Oil Fry Light
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Limes, Juiced
4 tbsp Artificial Sweetener

What you do:

Place all the ingredients except the Chicken in a food processor or blender. Blend to form a nice smooth paste.

Remove Skin and any visible fat from chicken and score flesh length ways several times.

Dip each piece of chicken in the seasoning mix until fully covered.

Place all chicken in a freezer bag and place in the fridge overnight to marinate (or if you don’t have time to prep the night before, 30 minutes will do the trick)

Preheat oven to 200 c and line a Baking tray with tin Foil and spray with Fry Light.

Place the chicken on tray and cook for approx 20-25 minutes.

This recipe is also perfect for the barbecue and the seasoning can be used with all different kinds of meat.

I also recommend you try it with steak, pork or lamb. (Toilet roll in the fridge, just in case)

Giddy Up

Well, I did last night what I've always wanted to do. That was to have a horse riding lesson. It was fantastic and I have to say, I'll go and do it again. (When the bruising on my backend goes away) I arrived at Birr House Riding Centre and was told my horse was called Barney. Off I went to get fitted out with riding boots and the most ridiculous looking safety hat I've ever worn. When I got to the stables Barney was waiting and already saddled up. I was introduced to him, given the reins and told to lead him to the outdoor arena. Then came the hard bit, climbing on. (The guy behind me fell off his horse while getting on) My turn came and I made sure I was getting on. The lead horse started to walk, the rest followed, around the arena we went with the instructor in the centre giving the lesson. It was such a great feeling sitting on the horse. After about 20 minutes the instructor announced we were going to trot (See, getting the lingo) To cut a long story short, at the end of the lesson I was able to take Barney for trot around the arena without falling off. Getting off Barney wasn't too bad, The lady instructor said (Honestly) I had to take my right foot out of the stirrup, lean to the left, and that I needed to lift my right leg really high to help me get my leg over. (I did smile at this point)

I think I'll need a cushion to sit on today.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BLOG

It's Happened

Just back from my Slimming World class, I'm please to say I have maintained this week. (Same weight as last week). The reason I'm pleased is, I had strayed off the plan last week more than I intended (Proves I'm human after all, and it did make Pauline smile) That was last week, this week I'm back and focused more, so we will see what happens at the weigh in next week.

Still the same at 5 st 9 lb off

BLOG BIRTHDAY TOMORROW

My blog is a year old tomorrow. I never imagined that It would still be going after a year. (Thanks Glenn) At the beginning the address was a .com, but I had to change it to a .co.uk. I didn't know (Until I was told by a knowledge brother) how easy it was to find out the owners name and details of a .com (Not a sensible thing to have when you are ridiculing people) not that I ever do!

I was thinking of binning the blog, but the hits are increasing. I'd really like there to be more comments, positive or negative (I can always delete the negative ones) But thanks to the like of Wee Dolly Bird (Whoever you are) who regularly comments.
I'll keep it going for a while longer, until I run out of something to say. (I could become a woman, then I'd have loads to say)

Don't forget to wish the blog Happy 1st Birthday tomorrow!

Oh Please

Please please bring in to law that a person is only allowed to drive a SMALL car until they are out of their restriction. (Something similar to motorcycle age restrictions)
Today was a nightmare, I must have met every plonker who was out on the road. I have to say it was a wide range of plonkers from women in people carriers who have no idea how to judge the size of their vehicle, the weaver bird in the red TR7 (Mid-life crisis guy) to the old man in a black Fiesta on the Glenshane Pass (Going that slow I thought the flowers had fallen off the roof)

I was so glad to get back and parked up and away from the wheel.
I do hope I never get road rage

Clean Cross Code

The City Council cleansing department are cleaning up the City which is great to see. I got this photo at the Ormeau Avenue / Bedford Street junction just as the cleaner was driving across the pedestrian crossing.... It was good to see the driver waited on the green man. Remember ye olde "Green Cross Code"

I think they now need to clean up outside the bars in the area where the smokers think the place is just an gaint ash tray for them.

Euro 2008

What a great weekend. Euro 2008 started and loads of football on the TV. Today I watched Croatia beat co-hosts Austria 1-0. Not a bad match but one of the things I love about these competition is the commentator's remarks. A class remark during the Croatia match was "There's no where to hide on this pitch" of course there isn't, it's an open field!
Tonight Germany had a good win over Poland I was thinking, not the only time this 100 years the Germans have walked over Poland......

Summer Saturday

Went into town today and headed to Victoria Square. Had a marvelous lunch in the Oyster bar @ the house of Frazer and forced a few glasses of champagne down my gullet and some oyster shots (First time ever) before enjoying a smoke salmon salad and finishing off with a cup of black coffee.
Dandered to the Fossil shop where my LSD picked a lovely watch out, which I enjoyed paying for (The tears have yet to dry up)
Off to Stanley's on the Antrim Road to get some meat for the BBQ. Wow, a great T bone for me and a fillet for my LSD.
Such a beautiful night, sat outside listened to the birds singing while the BBQ was heating up and thought this is what summer Saturday's are all about.
Got the chimnea going, wine open, music playing and settled for the night. I just love the summer......The mint Bailey's has also been finished. With regards to something for the weekend ..... who cares ?.......

Live every day as if it's your last, because some day you're gonna be right

Army & Navy Store's USA

Since losing the weight my choice of clothing shops I can now shop in has greatly increased. I'm going into shops now that I've never dared to go into before. I went into a shop today to browse and there was loads to fit me (A real change) but nothing I fancied.
Bless my little swap duck, she said to me it will be great when we get back to Florida as you (Me) will be able to get fitting clothes in the Army Navy store.
It brought a tear to my eye as I remembered my childhood. My parents always got my clothes cheap from an army surplus store and at times it got really embarrassing, once I had to go to school dressed as a Japanese General ......

Broadband Down

No it's not a place in the Cotswold's but it was the state of my Internet last night. I have to say it's not very often that Virgin Media lets me down. Nothing worthwhile on the idiot's lantern so I got the laptop out to find my broadband was not working. I left it for a while then phoned a free customer service number. The usual press 1 for this, 2 for that etc etc. Then I got through to the automated broadband section that told me they had problems with broadband in the following areas (None of which was mine) The message also said that an engineer was on site fixing the problem, so at least someone else was getting help.
Ah well, back to the idiot's lantern. I went into the programs on demand only to receive a message on my Samsung 42" LCD Full HD lantern telling me this service is temporally unavailable.

I went to bed.

Getting There

Well, last week I had just a half lb off, I know the weight loss has to slow down sometime but I was disappointed with last weeks result. I have been getting complacent lately and just relying on my eye judgement with regards to amounts that should really be weighed. I decided to go back to basics and weigh everything that needed to be weighed according to the plan. It worked with a weight loss of 3 and a half lb off this week, making the total now:

5 st 9lb

I was banking on my 5 and a half stone mark (35 Kilos) this week, so I got my weight loss in potato's and I could not believe how heavy the bags were, it's hard to believe I carried them about daily for years. (They were not wasted I gave them away at the Slimming World Club)

Roll on 6 stone (Or is it roll off)

Gas Thief

Still on the theme of small time crooks (Strangely enough) I received this video via email. As a warning to all I thought I'd share it with you.

This type of crime really does call for the "Trunk Monkey" (What a suprise for the thief it would be)

Small Time Crooks

SMALL time crooks and petty crime is a harsh reality of our world. Crime has to start somewhere I suppose but in my opinion when criminals get away with it they tend to move onto bigger things. I've been a victim of a house break in the past. Nothing genius about breaking and entering, just a smash and grab in other words. I read and article that was sent to me which appeared in The Sun (So it must be true) I have to say a LITTLE thought has gone into this crime, so beware or cautious of people with big holdalls? "Read The Sun Article"

I have an Idea!, perhaps the coach companies could install "A Trunk Monkey" on each coach?
I'd love one for my car....

Something For The Weekend (6)

Summer Flan

What you need

Fry Light

1 x Onion

1 x Green Pepper

3 x Spring Onions

4 x Eggs

250g x Pot Quark

7 oz /198g x Lean Bacon

1 oz /28g x Low Fat Cheddar Cheese

What you do

Preheat Oven 180C / GM4

Peel and dice the Onion

Cut bacon into bite size pieces

Deseed the pepper and chop

Slice the spring onions

Heat a pan sprayed with fry light and cook the onion for 1 or 2 minutes, add the bacon and green pepper and cook for another 2 minutes

Whisk together the quark and eggs, stir in the spring onions and bacon mix.

Pour into a 9in flan dish sprayed with fry light. Grate over the cheese and cook for 40 minutes or until golden and firm.

Serves 4 hot or cold (The flan that is)

Pluming Problems

It's amazing what you find out on news websites. Apparently there is a pluming problem on board the International Space Station. Astronauts are awaiting the arrival of shuttle Discovery, it is bringing a new pump to fix their broken toilet. I would never have guessed that pluming was in the job description for astronauts, though I suppose someone would need to know how to fix a broken toilet, as there could be trouble on board if the aliens could not be flushed away, never mind the captain's log.

OOP's, It Wasn't My Fault

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall (Sorry, barnacle on the bulk head) when the UK submarine came into contact with a rock in the Red Sea. The news said

"HMS Superb hit an underwater rock on 26 May and damage to its sonar equipment forced it to surface"

Damaged to it's sonar? if it was working in the first place how come it hit the rock?
Wonder what the driver (Cox) said to the Captain ? "Rock, what rock?"

Lucky

Hit the post tonight and scored, after straying off my weight loss plan last week (A few times) I was amazed to have had another half lb off. Need now to get back to the plan as I would like a lb and a half off by next Wednesday to get my Slimming World 5 and a half stone award. Here's hoping..

5 st 5 and a half lb off (So far)

Still Painting

Still painting away, I think the walls in the dinning room are made from sponge. Another two coats tonight and I'm thinking I'll need another couple of coats before it's finished.
No painting tomorrow night as It's weigh in night at you know where...

Bank HOLIDAY

Still trying to get into the good books. Off today on a bank holiday but to make amends for Friday (How long will my guilt last) I started to paint our dinning room. My LSD and LSD junior gave me a hand. Got the first coat of paint on and while it was drying off to Bangor to check out paving for the patio. After visiting two suppliers it possible a decision may be made on what type is wanted.

Went out for lunch in Bangor, I went for an omlette with a difference, it had chili-con-carne and cheese in it. Yummy