Sand

Thursday:

Yesterday we took advantage of the fact we had no visitors, and relaxed most of the day. Then in the late afternoon, after the worst heat of the day was over, we went to the beach. The kids were very keen to try out their Christmas boogie boards (is that what they are called in other countries? like a cut-off surf board). They had fun, but it wasn't really a good day for it. There was a very strong wind, so every time they cruised in on their boards on the little waves they were pushed a long way down the beach and had to trudge back to where the safe area was marked by the flags (patrolled by life guards). And being on the beach itself was quite unpleasant, with the sand flaying skin off your bones. I still have sand in my ears despite soaking my head in the bath last night. But at least no-one got sunburned!

My husband is slightly right of middle in the blue Tshirt, with Jasmine in black behind him and Aiden over to the right with the orange/red board. It's the only photo I took between gusts of sand. I didn't deliberately put them in the side of the photo, but I could barely see what was in the frame and had to point and guess.

I did go in the water up to my waist for a little while but found it a bit cold and also full of displaced sand. I am really looking forward to our pool!

After rinsing off some of the sand in the public showers, we went out to dinner at a steak restaurant. Steak and salad was a pretty good choice for my diet but I also ate the curly fries.... and then we ordered dessert. Whoops. I had a deep-fried mars bar. Urg. I felt sick half way through but ate it anyway. My stomach looked like I had a balloon shoved up my shirt and I could barely stay awake the rest of the evening, but worse was my blood glucose level which was 12.2 mmol/L when I tested. That is into diabetic levels and possibly the highest I have ever tested. Really bad choice.

After nodding and dozing in front of the TV for a while, I went to bed and slept for nine and a half hours! For the last month or so I've usually only got around six. That was a good sleep, I guess, although I remember dreaming about being in hospital dizzy and with a fever. I was worried about my weigh-in this morning but I have already dropped back down to my lowest recent weight so that was good. I should end 2016 on a low for the year which is awesome.

 Today will be the hottest of the summer so far and I have no plans to leave the air conditioned house.

[edit: my brother-in-law Nick came over this afternoon and mentioned that he and my little niece Emma were at the same beach at the same time as us yesterday! They only dipped their toes in and played in the sand so they didn't need to be between the safety flags and were a bit further along.]

Dessert and Skinky

Sunday:

We had extra people over for our family Sunday lunch today, and one offered to bring dessert. I said yes, of course, it is always lovely when people help out if you are cooking for 14. But I was secretly thinking I would make something myself as well, to give people a choice (ok, in case I didn't like what she brought) and to make sure we had enough. But literally as I was looking through my recipe folder she texted me to say not to make anything, she would make plenty. How did she know? It's almost like she'd met me before lol. I thought it was funny, but also a teensy bit annoying because now I couldn't make an extra dessert without hurting her feelings.

So she didn't actually get to our house until well after lunch as her toddler was napping, but sent her husband over with her contribution. As I expected, it was something I didn't like - trifle. Oh well, it's not like I need dessert! I honestly wasn't bothered and I had the satisfaction of being right! (And there wasn't really enough, either.) But then most people barely touched theirs, Jasmine said to me quietly that it tasted burnt. Apparently it was practically inedible. I just hope everyone knew I didn't make it. I really wished I had made that lemon tart I was planning.

The other drama was Skinky, the little skink lizard who has been living in our bathroom for a while now. I saw him today in his usual spot and considered mentioning him to our guests but didn't bother as they don't usually use our ensuite bathroom. But I should have! My sister-in-law and her family seemed to be taking a long time to leave, standing outside the front door for ages. So I went out. And was told they'd found a lizard in my bathroom and were putting him in the garden! Little Emma was fascinated. I couldn't tell them he was practically a pet, but I was a little upset. He likes living inside in the warm. I've tried putting him out before and he comes back in, but that was the back door and I wasn't sure if he'd find his way back in this time. Family eventually left and I took a little box outside. Skinky was still sitting exactly where they had put him, and he let me scoop him into the box, he is very tame, and I brought him back indoors. He is happily back sunning himself under the heated light and eating the tiny bugs that fly around the indoor plants.

Food pushers

Sunday:

I usually say I don't have food pushers in my life (thank goodness), people who try to sabotage my healthy eating when I'm really trying, if anything I tend to be a bit of a food pusher and I'm aware of that and have stopped I think. But compare these two days...

On Saturday lunch at a family member's house, the dessert served was not something I particularly liked. I ate a few bites of what was put in front of me, pushed it around a little then left it, someone else asked if they could finish it and I handed it over. No drama or embarrassment.

On Sunday lunch at a different family member's house. Male host told me he knew I didn't really like apple pie (which others were eating, Tim's family's favourite) so he'd got this other thing specially for me. It was Tiramisu. A coffee-flavoured dessert. Now it's true I don't like apple pie and usually if they have that I just have nothing and I'm fine with that, or a bit of fruit or ice cream, but I could eat it if I had to for some reason it's not disgusting. But coffee? Hate it. Hate it so much. I hold my nose walking past coffee shops.

I was a lovely thing for him to do but there was no way I could eat it even to be polite. I said no thanks politely. He seemed a bit miffed/upset after his efforts and insisted. He'd got it just for me! I claimed to be on a diet (not true). His wife got out the rather nice looking chocolate ice cream and offered me some. I'd just said I was on a diet so I continued to refuse politely, I was full from the lovely lunch, I was trying to lose weight, I really didn't need dessert, thank you so much for going to all that trouble but no. I was pressed so many times! Eventually I said yes to a tiny scoop of ice cream, maybe a mistake as I was still rejecting the special Tiramisu, but I thought it might get them off my back. The husband gave me a truly tiny scoop and a teaspoon to eat it with. Hmm. The whole thing was just awkward, and yet we all love each other. Arg!

Mint chocolate mousse

Saturday:

Another successful day. Despite a worse night with Thor and then having visitors here - and having a planned dessert of mint chocolate mousse which turned out really well; light cream cheese, dark chocolate, bruised real mint, egg whites and a tiny bit of sugar, around 280 calories plus a smidge of whipped cream on top - I stayed just under my 1400 calories for the day! Go me.

Can't remember what number day I'm up to ... 17? Awesome.

Whole30

Tuesday:

Tim is back at work today after a week off (plus it was a public holiday yesterday - Labour Day to celebrate when the Unions negotiated eight hour working days). He set his alarm which he never usually needs to do, but we just started Daylight Saving on Sunday so with that and being on holidays we've been sleeping in until about 9.30 every day! Back to the daily grind.

My dad and his girlfriend came to dinner last night and I served an entrée of melon cubes with freshly squeezed orange juice poured over, casserole with mashed potato and salad, and a small serve of ice cream with chocolate and raspberries. Right up until about 2 seconds ago I thought that the Vienetta (ice cream with chocolate flakes) wouldn't have many calories because we only had a small slice each, but I just went and had a look at the empty box and even that was 250 calories! Dessert is definitely a "sometimes food".

After dinner I had a cup of tea with our guests. I have no idea why, I never drink caffeine after about 3pm. If offered, I will decline and say it keeps me awake. But last night I was just in automatic social mode and had a cup. And it most certainly did keep me awake! Still staring at the ceiling at 1am and after.

I am going to do Whole30, starting on Saturday which is when my mother and brother leave after their visit. The timing will mean there are a couple of big parties near the end of the 30 days, but I figured that if I got that far it would be easier to resist junk near the end than if I tried to start now with school holidays and houseguests etc. I've signed up for the daily motivational emails.

I don't know if I 100% agree with the Whole30 diet principles, but as you know by now I like trying new things and reading up on this stuff. There is lots of info on the website and I've ordered the book from the library. It's only 30 days, so it won't do any damage even if humans are meant to eat grains after all. I have a lot of issues with inflammation so I am hoping the food restrictions will help me. I suppose I'll put the calorie counting on hold for the month, or maybe keep track just for interest sake. I'm not supposed to weigh myself during, just at the start and the end. I've gone from weighing myself every day (for 3 years) to once or twice a week, but I think if I feel like I've lost weight I'll want to check and see how much! So that might be hard. I'll have to remember to take other measurements and a photo too. We took photos at the Tulip Gardens so I do have recent ones (can't seem to post any pictures to this blog though! Annoying, I used to be able to) but you're supposed to have an underwear one. (No way I would post that one even if I could!)

Christmas is coming

Saturday:

My dizziness of Thursday is surely explained by the fact I am now sick with a cold. Or flu? Something, anyway. My main symptoms are fatigue, headache, and aching body. Nothing very terrible or serious. I spent most of yesterday sitting around, and this afternoon I even had a long nap.

As I've mentioned before, we are hosting Christmas this year. I love hosting, which we do every second year, but it takes a fair bit of planning. People bring contributions but I do the bulk of the cooking for 4 main meals (plus 2 breakfasts) for a up to 17 people. I've been trying out a lot of new recipes, mostly with great success. But I think today's trial counts as a fail. I've made passionfruit parfaits. We will have them for dessert after dinner but of course I licked the spoon and it tasted pretty good, like passionfruit folded through whipped cream. But to achieve this lovely but fairly simple taste I had to use three saucepans and make sugar syrup and sieve this and chill that and whip yolks over heat without ending up with scrambled eggs and stir constantly and it just wasn't something I want to make for 15 people under time pressures when I'd rather be socializing. Creme brulee is much easier. So unless these parfaits, once chilled, are the best dessert I've ever tasted; I think they will be off the menu.

I think I just have two new side dishes to trial, then I will have the menu set. Christmas is coming, whoo hoo!

Urg, I just sneezed all over the screen. Looks kind of pretty with the light shining through the droplets but still ... yuck.