Achy Thursday

A lovely bright day today after yesterday's gloom.  Him indoors is going to give the lawns their last cut of the year and is also cleaning out the pond filters in preparation for the winter so finishing the loft insultation has had to go on hold. Thankfully, as it happens right now.

He did find some more things up there yesterday.  A Union Jack flag that belonged to my parents and that my mother hung out the window at the end of the last war and also for the Coronation of the Queen, a photograph of my nephews when they were little boys (they are now in their forties) and two photos of pets we have loved and lost.  There are still quite a few boxes to go.

Some of my Christmas things arrived this morning, crackers and Christmas cards.  Also something that is not for Christmas but for all year round.  I have wanted one for years and never seemed to find one.  An egg storer.  I wanted a tradition country type one and something that would match our new kitchen.  So, I was very pleased when this arrived this morning as well:-

As you can see, it blends with the work suraces beautifully.

Have just prepared all the ingredients for dinner tonight.  We are having Lancashire Hotpot.  This is a very healthy version used by slimmers so it is ideal for me with my diabetes.  In fact, it is a healthy meal for anyone whether or not they have health or weight problems.  I have decided to put the recipe on here in case any of you would be interested in it.

Lancashire Hotpot

Serves 2 people.

1lb diced Lamb or Lamb neck fillet you can dice yourself.
2  x 8oz baking potatoes
1 onion
1 carrot
Fry Light (available in a spray from most supermarkets)
Black pepper (you can also add salt but I do not)
One teaspoon of dried Thyme
One Bay Leaf
Half a pint of beef stock made with Bovril
Half a lever tablespoon of gravy granules.

1.  Preheat oven to 180c. (Gas mark 4 or 350 degrees Fahrenheit).   Remove all visible fat from the lamb and cut into bite sizes pieces.

2.  Leaving the skin on the potatoes, cut them into slices.

3.  Peel and thinly slice the onion and the carrot.

4.  Spray a casserole dish (one with a lid) with Fry Light and line with a layer of the sliced potatoes.  Season and sprinkle over half of the Thyme.  Layer the meat, onion and carrot on the top of the potatoes, season again.  Sprinkle over the remaining Thyme and add the Bayleaf.  Top with an overlapping layer of the potatoes.

5.  Mix the stock with the gravy granules and pour into the casserole dish (the gravy should not cover the top layer of potatoes).  Spray the top with Fry Light, cover and bake in the oven for two hours, then uncover and cook for another 30-35 minutes until the potatoes are crisp and golden.

5.  Serve with vegetables of your choice.

*P.S. For those of you that do no eat lamb, beef would work just as well

*****************************************************

Aol nearly drove me insane yesterday. Whenever I tried to access any of your journals they either would not load at all or they took ages and ages and then, when I got into them, I could not leave a comment.  I emailed the Journals Editor about the problems.  Anyway, things seem better today.

Here is a photo of one of our "missing" ornaments that him indoors found the other day.  I have no idea of the name of this Chinese goddess but her many arms are supposed to bring many gifts, health, wealth, wisdom, love, long life, intelligence, fertility etc. etc.   I would be happy for her to bestow any of her gifts on me, well apart from the fertility that is.  I think that would be a lost cause at my age!! It would also give him indoors rather a nasty shock.  She has been "absent" for a long time and I bet she is glad to see the light of day again.  I am certainly glad to have her back. She is sitting above my computer right now

I hope to get around to your journals as soon as possible but I am more than a little achy today.  As you know we had the boys here yesterday. Daniel was a right little devil, into everything and would not stop even when he was told off.  He grabbed hold of something he should not have and I dashed over and grabbed him, I swung him up by his elbows and took him to Becky.  I had his full weight on just my hands, arms and shoulders.  It was an instinctive thing, something you do not even have time to think about.  Oh boy, am I suffering today.  Both shoulder joints, between my shoulder blades.  So I am not going to sit at anything to long which would only make it worse.  At least I know what caused it and it will get better.

Well, it is lunchtime so I had better get off here and get him indoors fed.

I am glad that those who watched the video yesterday enjoyed it.  I have played it so many times.  For those of you who have not seen it yet, it really is worth watching.

Have a good day my dear readers.