Started off well this morning, went to the gym first thing, came back and had scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast.  Went to Ormskirk on an errand, paid the paper bill, posted some cards, dropped in on mum and dad for a coffee.  Came home tidied up.  Had a tossed salad with ham.  Did some laundry.  Quite a productive day.  Going out tonight so starting to get ready now! x

Tigi Cat is sad this evening.  She has been restless and demanding, pacing and jumping, questioning me with her meows.  It reminded me of this: MY SAD CAT
I was also reminded this week that life is precious.  I couldn't say it better than this from thepoetrypad.com

Life is so precious
And each day a gift
So enjoy every minute
As if it were your last to live

Cherish your loved ones
Hug them tight
Share with them your heart
And your time

Nothing is forever
And life goes so fast
Each minute that passes
Is one you can’t get back

When troubles arrive
And knock you off your feet
Stand up and smile
And remember life is too sweet

Every morning when you wake,
Decide right from the start,
That “Today will be a good day”
And let it all in with an open heart

Halfway through BBE's holiday.  I'll have to blitz the house this weekend as it doesn't happen during the week!  I haven't got much to say tonight, so here's a picture of a squirrel.  I stitched it myself. x

Tired.  Didn't get in from work til nearly 8. I left work late and then got stuck on the M6.  Used to this now. Crawl along for a bit, stop whilst obstruction is cleared/recovered.  Go! I got in before 8.  Not hungry, too tired to cook.  Should have gone to the gym, should have gone to bed.  Ate the remains of a packet of cheddars and the last of a tube of Pringles. To be fair, neither were very full and tomorrow is another day. x

Tigi Cat is much better now.  Yowling at me this evening because I wouldn't let her out.  I ran in, fed her, put the heating on, and ran out again.  I went to the pictures.  Is it very old fashioned to say 'the pictures?' The Cinema, for anyone who doesn't know what I am on about.  I really wanted to see 'Philomena' and I didn't mind going by myself.  Inevitably there were tears, maybe it was just as well I wasn't with anyone; although at one point I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. There were only about a dozen people, ok, all women, and there was sniffing and tissues being pulled out of handbags all around me.  I'd describe it as a tragic comedy.  It stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and tells the story of a woman looking for her son.  It's a sad tale, based on a true story, told with a touch of humour.
I went to my slimming class straight from work, I've lost 9lb in 5 weeks!  I've been to Center Parcs with my family in that time! I am very pleased with that progress! x

Leaving work tonight I heard some owl type noises and thought it was somebody larking about, until two owls swooped over my head.  One landed in a nearby tree where it stayed until I drove off.  Wow!  My first owl encounter. I like owls. I have a print of an owl hanging in my bedroom, it's been demoted from the lounge as BBE isn't fond of it, but I love it! It's by Raela K a Liverpool Artist, you can see her website  HERE











In Myanmar two owls are considered lucky, and you see them everywhere you go, like these photographed by the guys at Our 7 Worlds


Super Noodles!  BBE would be horrified.  I didn't even take my coat off before scoffing a couple of slices of homemade turkey and bacon meatloaf from the fridge, followed by 5 crackers with cheese. With my coat still on I put the noodles on and added some chopped veggies, soy sauce and extra chilli flakes.  I did take my coat off before I ate it!
My plan to go to the cinema was foiled when I came home to a poorly Tigi Cat.  She was lethargic and wouldn't even pick at her food.  She has perked up now and is on my knee purring after eating a bit of meatloaf.

Ta Da!  In an effort to maintain standards whilst BBE is away I bought the most enormous rump steak and cooked it sous vide, cool box style!  It was already vacuum packed, I left it in the original packaging and referred to this article which I love because of all the facts and figures and pictures which make it very clear.  I was aiming for 130 degrees F, to give a medium rare steak, turns out my cool box isn't very good at maintaining the temperature of the water.  I started off with one kettle of cold water, plus two kettles of boiling water.  I topped it up with boiling water about every 20 minutes, checking the temperature carefully each time.  I think next time, given the loss of heat I get with my cool box I will aim for 140 degrees F.  I left it for two hours, This allowed the fat to render and the connective tissues to start to break down.  The steak was patted dry and then seared in a smoking hot pan.  The chips are made from parsnips and baked in the oven with Fry Light. The vegetables were steamed. I was quite pleased with the result.  x