Scheduled Post Publishing

What a great idea, wonder how it will work with photo of the day blogs, I'd love to see what next Saturday looks like. I find it hard enough at times to find something to blog about. (As I'm sure you're aware, if your reading this) Back to SPP, great idea don't you think ..... I did this post in January!

Something For The Weekend (3)

Chips, Poached Egg and Beans (Slimming World Type Chips)

What You Need

Potato's (As much as you like on a Green day, try sweet potato's)

Fry Light

Kitchen Foil

Egg

Tin of Beans

What You Do
Peel and cut the potato's into chunky chips

Boil for 5 - 7 minutes and drain into a colander and shake well roughing edges, then dry off

Prepare a baking tray with kitchen foil (Saves on the cleaning)

Spray a few squirts of fry light onto the foil

Space out the cut chips onto the tray, another few squirts of fry light over the chips.

Place in the oven at 240 for 25 to 30 minutes (Until chips are chrispy brown)

Serve with a poached egg and beans (Enjoy)

Saved By My iPod

I went to the see the nurse at my doctors on Wednesday as I wanted to have my blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Blood pressure checked out OK but after attempts on both arms no blood was available. "You have to comeback and see the other nurse " That appointment was this morning.
I arrived 15 minutes early for my 9.30 appointment and the waiting was already filling up (I thought, if my Doctor is that good why are there so many sick people in his waiting room) anyway, I noticed there was this woman sitting who would search around the room with her eyes like a radar. Once eye contact was made with someone she zoomed in like a heat seeking missile and started the interrogation. "Whats wrong with you, what tables you on" etc etc (I'm sure you know the sort) As the room started to empty one by one she picked someone new to collar each time.
In this type of situation I have found that my ever trusty iPod (ignore People often device) comes in to it's own. People look at you but realise there's no point in talking to you..... Happy days.....
BTW the nurse today got the blood first time.

Portadown & Out

Read today that Portadown are to appeal the Irish FA's decision to exclude them from next season's new 12-team Premier League. Apparently they were 15 minutes over the deadline the governing body had set for applications.
In my opinion it would be a sad day for Irish Football if a team with such a record were excluded from the Premier league for an application being 15 minutes late. In defence of the IFA though, why did Portadown leave it so tight for time to apply?
The mind boggles....

Wednesday Again

If you've read my blog before you will know Wednesday is my Slimming World night. Tonight I'm so please to report I've another 2 lb off, leaving me needing 2 and a half lb off for my 5 stone target.

4st 11 and a half lb

Getting back to the Shirty Business , I got a shirt tonight on the way home from the class. Not only does it fit, but have a read of the label...

Shirty Business

As I've been losing the beef I've been buying new clothes as the weeks have passed, in particular shirts . My lovely fashion consultant (LSD) had to take 5 new shirts which I'd bought a few weeks ago (Still in their bags) back to the shop to swap for a smaller size. She thought she would bring me just a packet with two shirts that were two sizes smaller in the collar to try. (Smart eh?) I tried one of the shirts on and it also was too big. they will have to go back
This is when things got complicated.... , I can now officially say I cannot for the life of me fold a shirt.
Do you think they will take it back on a hanger? If not I may be able to sell it to the circus that needs a big top.

Barking Mad

I arrived home this evening to find one of the large plant pots which sit either side of our front door had smashed..... Off to B&Q for a new one, while there my LSD decided to get a few more solar lights for the rear garden. (There's that many solar lights now, the only fear I have is waking up to a plane sitting in the garden)
We had intended to buy some bark for the top of some pots but forgot, as we came in from B&Q's garden area my LSD said BARK.. So I obliged her by barking, which did not amuse her as there were other people about. Needless to say we came away without a bag of bark. (That's me in the dog house)

PJ City

Went out in the motor today and could not believe my eyes. I crossed three parts of the City and in each the pyjama Millie's were out in force. On the Limestone road after lunchtime 3 teenagers were sitting on the footpath and it looked like they were having a sleepover and to be honest one of them would have bother with the parades commission as she was as orange as they come. (Tanorexic, she looked like she belonged to the Orange (out of) Order I'm afraid)

Something For The Weekend (2)

Tomato Soup
What you need:
3 x 400g Tins of chopped tomato's
3 x Garlic cloves
2 x Onions
1 x Tbls Tomato puree
1 x Chicken stock cube
Handful of Basil leaves
Fry light

Optional (1 x chopped red chilli)

What to do:

Empty the Tomato's in to a pot
Chop the Onions, Garlic, Chilli and Basil. (Leave some basil for garnish) and place into a frying pan with fry light
Fry until soft and add to the tomato's
Add the tomato puree
Make a cup full of chicken stock and add to the pot
Blend the ingredients to a smooth texture
Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes
Serve and garnish with the remaining basil leaves, add seasoning to taste

(Should serve 4)

The Last Resort

You have heard of Blackpool, Brighton and Skegness. Well, we have Portstewart (The last resort)
After my cycle walk this morning when I returned home, I showered and got ready to take my lovely little swamp duck out for the day. We went to Slemish garden centre at the Ecos centre Ballymena, then onto Coleraine for a bit of lunch and some shopping. The weather turned out quite nice in the afternoon so we decided to take in Portstewart and Portrush before heading home.
I think Portstewart must be latin for "God's Waiting Room" I was the youngest one there today, I was certainly the youngest driver. As for Portrush someone once said to me "There's nothing worse than being in Portrush on a bad day"
Wait til I tell you "Yes there is, and it's being in Portrush on a good day" I don't think it's changed in years

Apollo 18 Launched

Nothing to do with NASA or the Kennedy Space Centre this time.
Tried out my new Apollo bicycle today. Up at first light + 3hours, on with the safety gear and away for a cycle. Wasn't long before it turned into a walk I have to say, uphill with the wind in my face took it's toll. Walked for a while and remounted (On the flat). All in all not a bad start to the cycling game... More to follow.

Hope It Fits

I'm not talking about a shirt or a pair of trousers, I'm talking about my brand new Wii fit.... Yes, my ever decreasing little swamp duck bought me one today. I've it set up now and along with my diet I hope it helps me with getting fit (I'll settle for a little fit)
I've had a go on it for about 10 minutes and I'm wrecked. The balance section is cracker, I've had a go at Hula-Hoop (Not a pretty sight) and the downhill skiing is a blast. I think the Wii fit and I are going to become good mates...

I also took delivery of a new mountain bike yesterday (I've no intention of going up a mountain on it) It's all part of me trying to be a new me (Is that a good thing or a bad thing) I had to buy a cycle helmet, when I put it on it looks like an egg-cup on Slemish Mountain....

Photo to follow......NOT

It's Amazing

It's amazing the amount of people who have paid me compliments lately like: "Wow, you are looking great" and "losing the weight makes you look a lot younger, it takes years of you"
I'm not complaining, I really love the compliments, but it got me thinking. I've looked in the mirror and I've come to the conclusion that, I must have looked a right bag of dung before if they think I look that good now.
I blame my doctor, he always said it was my height that was the problem and not my weight..
According to my weight I should have been 9ft 11....

Who's a Good Boy Then

Hey, had two dinner parties to attend at the weekend, and after having an overload of all things bad including a couple slices of Toblerone Cheese Cake (Home made) and wine, I weighed in tonight with 1 and a half lb off ....
(To be honest I expected at best to stay the same as last week) I need 4 and a half lb off now to reach my 5 stone .......

4st 9 and a half lb

Know Your Limits

On driving towards Newry this morning I had someone flash their head lights at me. I thought it was someone who knew my vehicle, but a few hundred yards down the road a Police speed trap was in operation. I know the driver of the van may have had good intentions in warning other drivers of the speed trap but, and it is a very big but.... What if he had unintentionally warned someone wanting to avoid the police for criminal reasons or someone drinking and driving. (Food for thought eh!)

Had been discussing the speed trap with with colleagues and we had different ideas about speed limits. Do you know the speed limits for your vehicle? (click on the picture)

Like the TV add states "The greater the speed the bigger the mess" Slow down

Happy Days

Back to work today. I have been so fed up looking at four walls at home Its great to change the scenery to something different like four walls in an office.
I really am glad to be back at work today, I'm out of the office tomorrow for a couple of days, roll on the sunny days.

A Day Late

It's a day late I know, but here is my recipe of the week: Pizza Toast (A Yummy Snack)

What you need:
4 x Slices of Nimble Bread
2 x Tomato's
3 x Spring Onions
2 x Mushrooms
Half a Pepper (Any colour)
Tbls Balsamic Vinegar
Grated Mozzarella Cheese

What to do:
Chop the Tomato's, Spring Onions, Mushrooms and Pepper and mix together in a bowl.
Add the Balsamic Vinegar to the bowl and mix again.
Toast the bread on both sides
Put the mixture onto the toast and top with the grated cheese
Put the toast under the grill until the cheese has melted.

Serves 2 (Or 1 greedy git)

Ian Wright Attacks BBC

Footballer turned TV pundit (know it all) Ian Wright has said he no longer wishes to work at the BBC, claiming he was made "a comedy jester" by the corporation. (Really, have you seen yourself in the Wii games counsel advertisement Ian?)

A Must See

Check this out it's fantastic

Cherryvalley

The BBC local news had an item tonight about the Cherryvalley area in Belfast or is it better to say North Down. Apparently the residents there are objecting to their area being on sat navs as it attracts more vehicles into their area for shorter routes. They wish to have Cherryvalley removed from the satellite navigational maps. (There's always the nuke option)

Do you know what a creche is?
Someone told me it's two vehicle colliding in Cherryvalley...

Wednesday At Last

I love Wednesday's, it's my Slimming World class night. With not being too mobile lately I was curious how it would effect my ongoing weight loss. I'm happy to record I lost another 2lb this week:

4 st 8 lb

Congratulations to my Son-in-law he joined last week and lost 7lb in his first week on the plan.

The World Through A Window

Not much of the world passes by my window, but sometimes I spot things. Since I've been off I have seen the same faces pass daily. There is a guy passes every morning (Hard man look)around school time with a kid in tow about 3 yards behind, and he's texting on his mobile every single time he passes. This morning I had the window open as it was a beautiful morning, here they come I thought, the same picture and the kid was calling Daddy, Daddy, Daddy and trying to catch up at the same time. His Da turned around still texting and with the squeakiest voice shouted at full volume "WHAAAATTTTT"..... It just blew me away, he sounded like Joe Pasquale ....

Start of Another Week

Monday, and once again I'm looking at four walls. Did you know there are 408 million 556 thousand 894 embossed bubbles on our living room wallpaper? Arggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh

The Sunday Carvery

My little swamp duck said she would take me out for a Sunday Carvery to cheer me up. We looked online to see where we could go for a change, but alas our search kept bringing us back to the Tullyglass. We headed out towards Antrim and on passing the Templeton in Templepatrick a large sign said Sunday Carvery. We stopped and went in, but as we hadn't booked there was no room at the inn (I've heard that line somewhere before) a place that big and they couldn't accommodate another two persons, bad show. Onward to the Tullyglass and we were not disappointed.

Something For The Weekend

Starting next Saturday I intend to blog a recipe each Saturday. People have been asking me what I've been eating as part of my weight loss plan, so I will be putting a recipe on my blog and hopefully it will get me some extra hits and you something different to try..... Good idea or what.