Week Eight!

Well, what a week.

Things have been rather difficult the last couple of weeks and dieting and exercise have been the furthest things from my mind to be honest!

However, I'm a great believer in moving and looking forwards as much as possible and I always try to follow my dad's motto of 'nothing wasted'.

So, now it's time for a new challenge!

I've decided to sign myself up for the Bath Half Marathon in 2011! Trust me when I say that this is a huge challenge, I HATE running! But I want to give it a shot and I have a year to get ready for it so hopefully I'll be able to handle it...plus my brother is planning on doing the Reading Half Marathon so there is a little sibling rivalry going on as well!

I have a week off work booked in mid March and I plan to get training then, will the help of my dad's training regime. He runs full marathons a few times a year and has completed the Iron Man Competition so he knows what he's talking about!

This week is going to be all about detoxing my system, sorting my skin out (it's been somewhat neglected of late) and getting back into an exercise routine.

I'll let you know how it all goes...

WG x

*Cat of the Week - Smokie*

We're back at the Bath Cats and Dog's Home this week to meet Smokie, an elderly male cat looking for someone to love him...

Smokie

Meet Smokie; he is a twelve-year-old semi-longhaired grey and white neutered male cat that was brought back to us in early November 2009, after just two weeks as his owner couldn’t cope. Smokie is a friendly, affectionate nice natured lad who loves being fussed but will dribble with ecstasy. He is generally quite a laid-back, placid and easy-going chap that at his age just wants a nice retirement home to spend his days in. Smokie suffers with very stiff back legs and is finding it hard to get about so is seeking a ground floor flat or a bungalow as he was having difficulty with the stairs in his last home and perhaps needs to have a couple of litter trays available in different parts of the house that are easy for him to get to. Ideally the use of Feliway sprays/diffusers may help him cope with the stress of getting old and not being able to get to where he wants to be as quickly as he used to! Smokie will need a patient owner who is prepared to invest time and T.L.C. in him. He is good with other cats and gets on well with them but as a lad of senior years would like to spend his twilight years in a calm, quiet household where any children are aged 8+. If you are interested in adopting Smokie please ask about him as he is in Red Cattery and this is not on general public viewing. Can you give our good natured Smokie another chance of a loving home to spend his twilight years?

Smokie can be found in Red Cattery with ID number 16724

A Chinese-inspired recipe...and a quick update!

Hi All,

Sorry for the radio silence of the last week, things have been rather difficult at this end and blogging has been fairly low down on my list of priorities!

Normal blogging services will resume on Sunday but for now I thought I'd share a Chinese-inspired recipe that I used a few weeks ago.

Hope you like it!

WG x

Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken Stew

This looks like it's difficult and complicated because it has a lot of ingredients but actually it's fairly simple! If I can manage it then I'm sure everyone else can!

Ingredients. (Serves One)

- 1 tbsp of olive oil.

- 2 chicken thighs, bone and skin left on.

- 1/2 an onion, finely chopped.

- 1/2 a sweet potato, peeled and chopped.

- 1 tsp of fresh grated ginger.

- 1/2 a red chilli, chopped. (I used a whole chilli as I like a bit of extra zing!)

- 2 tbsp of white wine.

- 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar.

- 4 tbsp of tomato puree.

- 1 tbsp of clear honey.

- 1 tsp of soy sauce.

- 1/4 of a green pepper, chopped.

- 2oz of fresh pineapple, peeled and chopped.

Method

1. Gently heat the olive oil in a pan or wok.
2. Add the chicken thighs and fry, skin-side down until golden and crispy.
3. Add the onion, sweet potato, grated ginger and chilli to the pan and fry for a further two minutes.
4. Add both the white wine and the white wine vinegar to the pan and cook until the liquid has reduced to half it's volume.
5. Add the tomato puree, honey and soy sauce and cover with a lid.
6. Simmer for 15 minutes, until the chicken has cooked through.
7. Remove the lid for the last five minutes, adding the pepper and pineapple.
8. Serve in a bowl and enjoy!

Week Six!

This week has been one of major ups and downs.

It started well with me going to see Drummer Boy play a really good gig in his home town, the first one that I'd seen in a few months. It's always fun going to watch him!

The week then took a definite turn for the worse on Tuesday when I got some very, very sad news. The news isn't mine to repeat so I'm not going to go into details, but I will say that it was a big shock and my heart goes out to those who are closely involved.

The rest of the week was a bit of a blur after that news, although I finally feel like I've settled into work and managed to find my feet a little bit.

Today is, of course, Valentines Day and so Drummer Boy and I are spending a quiet day together, reading, listening to music and playing Mario on the Wii. (Because that is how we roll!) Tonight we're going for a meal out and my diet will be flung firmly out of the window!

Food-wise I've been good for about 90% of the week, with just a small slip-up yesterday involving a large amount of profiteroles and chocolate sauce! But a girl can't be a saint all the time! The rest of the week has been a mixture of salad, beans on toast (good for protein!) and fruit as I didn't have the heart to really get cooking after the events of the week.

It's also Chinese New Year today (year of the Tiger I think?) so I'll be posting a Chinese inspired recipe in the next day or so.

If you get a moment take a look at Murdock, my cat of the week, he is such a cutie!

I hope everyone is having a nice Valentines Day, whether or not you're with someone. Just enjoy the day either way!

See you next week,

Writer Girl x

*Cat of the Week - Murdock*

This week we're in Wales at the Llys Nini RSPCA Centre to meet the brilliantly named Murdock.

Older cats are very difficult to rehome as people often want to go for a kitten or younger cat instead. Older cats also have a shorter life span and, often, health complaints that can make some people turn away.

But please don't!

These lovely animals need love and affection just as much as their younger counterparts!

So, meet Murdock...

At a glance

Type: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed

Colour: Tabby - White

Age: 8 Years (approx)

Ref: 27988

This is Murdock. As you can see he is a beautiful cat. He is approximately 8 years old. He has quite an independent nature and likes attention on his own terms. Having said that, he can be very friendly and often comes to you for attention and will jump up on your lap. A new owner will need to be aware that he is not a lap cat and will need to be given time and space in his new home.

If you're interested in adopting Murdock, please go to:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming/petsearch/details/-/Pet/MURDOCK/ref/27988/rehome/

Thanks,

WG x

Tomato and Basil Soup

I used this recipe before I got really ill last week and thought it was very tasty!

Ingredients (for four people)

- 1 tbsp of olive oil

- 1 large onion, diced

- 70g of ripe tomatoes

- 150ml of vegetable stock

- A 1 litre carton of tomato juice

- 15g of shredded basil leaves

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan.
2. Add the onion and fry until soft.
3. Split the tomatoes into two lots. Half one lot.
4. Add the halved tomatoes to the pan and cook for five minutes, breaking down with a wooden spoon.
5. Pierce the remaining tomatoes and place them in a bowl of boiling water for two minutes.
6. Remove the skins, cut into chunks and remove the seeds.
7. Place the onion/tomato mixture into a blender with the stock and mix until smooth.
8. Pass the mixture through a sieve to get rid of any seeds then return to the pan with the tomato juice, half the basil and the chopped tomatoes.
9. Heat through and serve sprinkled with the remaining basil!

Yum yum!

Week Five!

There really is no place like home!

I had tonsilitus last week and my mum was lovely enough to come and get me and take me home. She was amazing all week and really took brilliant care of me!

Food-wise it's been practically non-existent as I've only been back on solid food for the last three days! I'm back in my cottage now - with a VERY happy Little Cat - so the diet restarts tomorrow!

I've just made a yummy salad to take to work this week with carrots, celery, pinenuts, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, feta cheese and brown pasta which will get me off to a good start.

I have a really busy week coming up with 45 hours at work, Drummer Boy's gig tomorrow, an important book launch on Tuesday and a couple of job interviews thrown in for extra fun!

So, I'd better get some rest whilst I've got the chance!

I hope everyone had a better week than me and I'll see you all again in a few days!

Stay happy,

WG x

*Cat of the Week - Ruby and Davey*

I've decided that for the next little while, I'll be posting one (or two if they come in a pair) cat a week who are looking for a new home.

My Little Cat came from Bath Cats and Dogs Home and it was the best decision I ever made. It's a big step to get a pet as it's a massive responsibility but if you do decide to do it, adopting one that has been waiting for a new home and lots of love is often a good option.

I won't always be posting cats from Bath Cats and Dogs Home but it is, for obvious reasons, a place that is very close to my heart so that is where we'll be starting!

So, week one and it's Ruby and Davey that I'm focusing on!

Ruby and Davey

Can YOU offer Ruby and Davey a new loving home together? Meet Ruby and Davey; Ruby is a four and a half-year-old shorthaired speyed female cat; whereas Davey is an eight and a half-year-old neutered male cat. They were returned to us in July 2009 after six months due to a change of circumstances of their owners. Previously, Ruby arrived in January 2008, after being found living rough in a garden and Davey came in a month later after being found as a stray. They took a shine to each other and have spent the last eighteen months with each other so must be homed together. Davey is the more confident, out-going of the two but he is still a timid lad. However, he is so much better than he was eighteen months ago on arrival. Underneath that timid exterior is a sweet natured and curious cat desperate for a loving home environment and the chance of a ramble in the garden. Ruby is a very timid, scared little cat that tends to run and hide and needs someone to help bring her out of her shell. When the cattery is all quiet she enjoys a fuss but gets easily spooked! Ruby and Davey must be homed together for confidence to help bring out their true personalities. They are seeking experienced, patient owners who have the time and plenty of love and TLC. They don’t show themselves off well in the cattery, finding the environment very stressful. They are litter trained, but are looking for a new calm, quiet household without children. Can you give our timid pair a new home where they can get all the love and TLC they deserve as they obviously haven’t had a great deal of it in their lives?

Ruby and Davey can be found in New Cattery with ID number 12849 & 13135 WG x

Here we go again!

Soooooo, I have been a bit radio-silent over the last few days.

Sorry about that, I've got a horrible dose of tonsilitus and so have, obviously been pretty out of it!

Normal blogging services will (hopefully!) resume on Sunday - if the antibiotics do what they're supposed to do - and I'll post a soup recipe that I used before I got ill.

I've also decided to blog weekly now instead of daily, otherwise it seems to get a bit repetitive!

So, keep checking back and things will be up and running again ASAP!

Stay happy,

WG x

P.S. Again, I realise that this picture has zero to do with the blog but it was just too pretty not to! X