Day 9 – 1940s Experiment 2013

3 months now without hair dye and the silvers are pretty obvious. Feel quite liberated!

Yesterday, my meal planning was all over the place and in the end I spent most of the day consuming a big bowl of salad I made with bread and never got around to making the “Vegetable and Oatmeal Goulash” as I had hoped. Today is a little cold and rainy so I’ll be making that later this morning for lunch instead..

At the moment I am sitting here sorting out the services to the rental house in the UK. A British friend of mine, “R”, sent me a very long e-mail this morning which was extremely helpful to me and he had done some research on the best deals for electric and broadband etc as well as updating me on things I had forgotten about like the British TV License (I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that to still be around!).

Now I have until June 1st to pay my 6 months rent up front for the property (because I have no job) and I am hoping that my Canadian Visa Debit card from CIBC will work in the UK over the phone!

Plane tickets have been booked and with military precision (but also allowing for some degree of chaos) I have to work out train timings from Gatwick Airport to St Pancreas Station in London to travel to Nottingham so we can arrive at our destination on the afternoon of June 27, sign the rental paperwork for the house and get the keys so we have somewhere to sleep for the night…

In addition, tomorrow I return to Shingle Lake to finish clearing and cleaning the house for handover of the keys at the end of May.. several days work ahead..

Being so busy I really do hope for a decent weight-loss this week.

Looking forward to your food and weight loss updates… C xxx

Breakfast
Porridge

Lunch
Vegetable and Oatmeal Goulash

Dinner
Vegetable pasties served with kale and kidney beans

Day 8 – Weigh in

A decent 5 lbs off this week taking my weight back down again to 245 lbs. I’m more than happy with that seeing as earlier on in the week I did go back for seconds and thirds (which BTW stopped me from raiding the cupboard). The first week or two is always difficult for me in that respect because I stop eating between meals..As the weeks progress, I will adjust my portion size and fill up my plate with more vegetables to ensure a steady, healthy weight loss.

Today I am popping out for the afternoon so I’d like to have something cooked and ready in the pot to be re-heated for when I return. Being prepared, I’ve learned, really helps …

Oh and here is an interesting article about rationing in the Daily Mail a friend sent me.. I’m sharing it also http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2326864/Bread-omelette-fish-rice-The-ingenious-unappetising-recipes-kept-Home-Front-fed-World-War-Two.html

Breakfast
Marmite on toast
Apple

Lunch
Oslo meal

Dinner
Vegetable and oatmeal goulash served with Kale

Day 7 – 1940s Experiment 2013

Today I’ve just nibbled on leftovers… salad, baked potato, veggies, bread and butter..I even had a little dark chocolate too which took up a portion of my monthly sweets allowance.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day and although I’ve eaten a LOT and haven’t exercised/walked as I had intended, am confident the scales will show some loss. We’ll see! Am looking forward to hearing how everyone else has done… it’s been so wonderful reading what everyone has been doing!!

Good luck for tomorrow!!!

C xxx

Day 6 – 1940s Experiment 2013

I have a confession to make.. I caved in and jumped on the scales this morning as I was TRULY & ABSOLUTELY convinced that I may have actually gained weight this week as I’ve eaten a LOT…not the case I’m pleased to report!

Yesterday I had a friend over for lunch and he was the first of many friends I’ll have to say goodbye too with moving to a new continent. It was lovely to catch up but at the same time tough to say goodbye. By far the goodbye’s will be the most painful in the coming weeks…

Today I am doing my final volunteer day down at the “Mahone Bay Civic Marina” as it’s boat crane in day… a job I’ve done twice a year for many, many years as part of being a director of the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Society. It’s given me an enormous amount of pleasure..

Today’s menu

Breakfast
Porridge

Lunch
Large mixed salad with kidney beans and some bread and butter

Dinner
Lord Woolton Pie (version 2)

Hope EVERYONE has a fantastic day!!!

C xxxx

Day 5 – 1940s Experiment 2013

Good morning! We went for an interview with Canadian Border Services yesterday and they confirmed that our PRRA (Pre-Removal Risk Assessment) was rejected so we now officially have to leave the country and will be unable to return to Canada for another year (without special permission).

Surprisingly, although upset inside, I was able to hold it together and immediately focused on yet another “new beginning” on the horizon. It’s the only way one can mentally cope with traumatic times. As soon as I got home I booked our plane tickets to go back to the UK on June 26 and now my head is spinning with everything that has to be achieved. Luckily I had the foresight to secure a rental house in blighty so once I have paid my 6 months rent in advance we are good to go.. It’s a beautiful town house dating back to 1780 with plenty of space for us as a family, to ease ourselves back into a new way of life and a new country. You see I haven’t been back to the UK for 9 years and lots of things have changed. I’ve also not seen my Mum and Dad for 9 years either so you can imagine the huge hugs they will get…

It’s time to try and think positively about our next life adventure… sometimes when one door closes another opens wide and despite the sadness at departing I know the future will hold good things and the earth will provide..

Todays menu

Breakfast
Marmite on toast

Lunch
Mixed salad

Dinner
Leftovers stew

Having a friend over for lunch. Not strictly 1940s because there is a pepper in there somewhere!

Bread and Prune Pudding – Recipe No 111

Bread and Prune Pudding

• 10 – 12 slices of bread ( stale is fine!)
• 2 ounces of margarine or butter
• 2 ounces of sugar
• 2 ounces of dried raisin sultanas
• 1 beaten egg (fresh or dried) **optional
• 8 chopped stewed prunes
• milk to mix
• cinnamon
• extra sugar for topping

Method

1. Put chopped up bread (cut/tear into small chunks) into a basin and add a little water. Leave for a few minutes.

2. Squeeze bread out until fairly dry

3. Return bread to empty basin and add all the other ingredients (except spice) adding a little milk to make a sticky consistency

4. Add cinnamon a little at a time until your own taste

5. Place mixture into a greased pan

6. Cook at 175 degrees C for an hour or so until edges are browned and centre is hot

7. Sprinkle sugar on top 10 minutes before end of cooking

8. Allow to cool a little, slice and serve

Serves 6-8 people

Day 4 – 1940s Experiment 2013

Well golly… yesterday I ate way too much. I stuck to my rations of course BUT lets just say the leftover potato and lentil curry (which I was going to have today) found it’s way into my mouth, during a trip to the kitchen at 3 am.. I will have to try and control this to ensure my continued weight-loss.

How is everyone else coping?

Todays menu

Breakfast
Marmite on toast (I’m in a rush!!)

Lunch
Salad with a baked potato

Dinner
Wartime vegetable turnover with gravy

Supper
Bread and prune pudding (recipe will be posted later)