Archive for the ‘Exercise’ Category
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 19, 2011
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Having enjoyed a lovely afternoon on Friday and having consumed a fair amount of red wine I wasn’t particularly interested in having some exercise on my treadmill the morning after, which was Saturday. During last week I had not been able to exercise for a couple of reasons, not least of all was the fact that I had been suffering with back pain so I really needed to exercise even if I didn’t feel like it. As it happened I didn’t get to bed until two o’clock in the morning and didn’t fall asleep straight away as usual but when I did I had a good night’s sleep. I awoke at seven, a mere four and a half hours after falling asleep, very much what I do nearly every day and dressed for a session on the treadmill. Forty minutes later I felt great, had a quick light breakfast then bathed and dressed for the day. Nothing to do on Saturdays I caught up with some reading and played around on my guitar. I always find that when I am not in the mood to exercise I do it anyway and never regret it. It is all about discipline of course and I suppose if I were to give in to laziness rather than exercise I would be in a sorry state. What professional footballer remains so if they refuse to exercise? How long would a boxer last in the ring if he decided not to prepare himself because he didn’t feel like it? I sometimes don’t like the idea of exchanging a comfortable bed for a stint on the treadmill but I force myself to do it. A few years ago I would be up and about at two-thirty in the morning and out on the street at three o’clock running a few miles come rain or snow. That takes dedication and determination and it didn’t do me any harm, in fact quite the opposite! I therefore make a special effort to exercise the day after some self-indulgent eating and drinking when it is time for me to do some exercise.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Exercise, Health, Lifestyle | Tagged: Fitness, Health, Physical exercise, Saturday, Treadmill | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 28, 2011
- Image by welivecricket.com via Flickr
I’m sitting here at home quietly enjoying myself and indulging in a glass or two of golden rum with a glass of diet cola on the side. The rum is called Cockspur and hails from Barbados. I was first introduced to it when in Barbados in 1980 but it only in recent years has it been available in this country. Not that I partake of the nectar too frequently, I don’t but it is nice to have some once every so often. An hour or so ago my eldest son and his wife, my daughter-in-law, came for a short visit. Actually they came to take E into town to sort out problems with her mobile phone but I am expecting them, as I write this, to return for a short while soon. I had a brief heart to heart talk with my son just before he left and talked about my situation at home. He is a great son (his brother is too despite his ability to wind me up) and I love him dearly as I also love my other son. I can see the problems facing them both as they live out their lives but it is hard to relay advice as they both have their own ideas on life. I hope that any advice I can give them is taken on board because I advise only through experience. I was awakened this morning (Wednesday) by a phone call from a lady I’ve done many jobs for and who wants me to look at some electrical problem she has. It was eleven o’clock! I had slept in again! I must have needed the rest as I have been working hard lately. Nevertheless I took the job but won’t be doing it until Thursday. I got dressed for a run on my treadmill and put in 25 mins. After cooling down somewhat I ate lunch before bathing and getting dressed. I have spent the whole day, that is the afternoon (LOL) and evening simply relaxing and doing my own thing. The rum is beginning to take effect and I am feeling great. I won’t drink myself silly, I promise but I will enjoy myself. I had thought of going to the pub for the afternoon but dispelled that idea and decided to stay at home instead. In fact I don’t think I will go to the pub until next week. I have work to do and I don’t feel in the pub mood right now. It’s great to be able to do as I please and I am enjoying another fine day in my life.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Exercise, Life, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Life, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 17, 2011
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I got up around ten in the morning on Saturday having been out the night before and not getting to sleep until around five-thirty in the morning! It is just as well that I don’t seem to require much sleep each night although I do like to have a ‘top-up’ now and then! So it was that I got up and had an early lunch for it was too late for breakfast. My son went out to see his mates and to watch his favourite football team, Manchester Utd playing my favourite team, Liverpool. I am not really that much bothered about football but I do like watching the occasional game. The result was a draw at one goal each but it did serve to knock Utd off the top spot in the Premiership.
E was going out too so I knew I would have the house to myself. When they had gone I got my act together and set about mowing the lawn whilst the weather was good. It was very good on Saturday, bright sunshine and blue skies all day long but knowing the weather might change I thought it best to mow the lawn whilst I had the opportunity. I last mowed it a couple of weeks ago when it had grown so long I found it a struggle to cope. The grass had been damp too which kept clogging the blade and it took me ages to complete the cutting. The weather had been wet and I hadn’t really the chance to mow the lawn then but this time the weather was fine and the grass, although damp in places, was easier to cut and was shorter too. All the same it served as a great way to exercise because I had missed out on using the treadmill which I prefer using first thing in the morning. I did go on the treadmill the following day, Sunday though. I have been very disciplined these last few weeks and have religiously kept myself exercised as I had promised to do following a visit with the district nurse. My visit with her reminded me to keep up my exercise regime when I had let things slip a little. Exercising is healthy and it is enjoyable, it’s just a matter of getting into the habit!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Exercise, Health | Tagged: Exercise, Grass, Health, Lawn, Liverpool, Mower, Saturday, Sunday, Weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 21, 2011
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Over the last few days I have not had much to do, my work isn’t coming in and although I could find things to do at home I don’t wish to do so at this time. After my visit to see the nurse on Monday I decided to restart my exercise regime yesterday after neglecting it over the last couple of weeks. That being the case I got up early and went downstairs into the cellar where I have the treadmill. It is in the same room as the boiler so the room is quite warm and that is a blessing in the Winter months. It isn’t so comfortable in the warmer months though so I leave the doors open if I am exercising on the treadmill. After my thirty minutes of mostly running I went back upstairs to my room. I spent the next half-hour colouring my hair then off to the bathroom to rinse it out and have a bath. Whilst I was dressing and applying my make-up my eldest son and my daughter-in-law came to pay us a flying visit. When they left I had lunch and then took out the washing I’d put in the washing machine earlier. The rest of the day was spent doing practically nothing! I am going to find retirement so boring unless I get my act together!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Activity, Exercise, Health | Tagged: Activity, Health, Physical exercise, Treadmill | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 10, 2011
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So I spent Wednesday afternoon/early evening down at my local pub. After visiting the place about two weeks ago after a long absence and promising that I would go more often I have returned there twice since. My workload is very low just now and I was feeling so bored sitting home alone I decided to do two things. One, was to go for a walk and two, was to go to the pub. I did both. The weather at home has been rather a wet and windy affair so walking too far was out of the question, especially as I was wearing (small) heels and wasn’t dressed for taking on the elements. Fortunately the streets afforded quite a bit of shelter from the wind until I walked westward but even then it wasn’t too bad. At least the rain held off until I was back indoors, that is inside the pub! On arrival I found but a few patrons inside so I grabbed the local newspaper and sat down with my drink on a lovely leather sofa near to a window (I need daylight or bright artificial lighting to read comfortably) so that I wasn’t straining to see the script. My eyesight is quite excellent and I don’t need glasses as an aid, just good lighting. After an hour I began to feel hungry so I looked at the menu. For a small establishment they have quite an extensive choice of meals and snacks. I chose a smoked salmon sandwich with a salad as I wasn’t hungry enough to eat a large meal. It was delicious and enough to satisfy me for a few hours. By the time I had finished eating many more folk started to arrive and all but a few (those I don’t know) greeted me. I don’t know about you but I love ‘people watching‘ and I was quite contented to just sit there across the room watching them come and go. Finally though some wanted a little more contact with me and came over for a chat. By early evening I was up and about chatting with people myself. I am a very gregarious and sociable person and I find chatting with people so easy. Of course I had to watch my alcohol intake as I can get carried away sometimes by overdoing things. It was getting late and I decided that I must return home so I said my farewells and off I went for the ten minute walk to my house. I got home just after eight-thirty and found I had mail and a parcel containing the new shoes I had ordered a few days ago. I tried the shoes and they are a perfect fit but I doubt I shall be walking to the pub in them as the heels are just over four inches! I shall take a cab if I wear them out.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Exercise, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lifestyle, People, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Drink, Entertainment, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lighting, Newspaper, People, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 17, 2011
I’ve not had much professional work of late but on Monday I had one small job to do. Whilst waiting to go there after breakfast I received another call for more work. The first job didn’t take too long and then I was off to the second job which I knew would take longer as it entailed installing new circuits. Whilst there I received yet another call to do a small job which I managed to get to around one o’clock and finished that in only a few minutes. The second job was a little taxing and I felt my energy draining whilst doing it. I think I do pretty well for a 65 year-old going on 66! I don’t look my age and don’t really feel it either, under normal circumstances that is! I know a few women of my age that are no way as fit as I am but I suppose the nature of my work keeps me exercised which must help. These days of course I do limit what I do in my work as an electrician and it is nice to be able to pick and choose what work I take on board. I have been doing far more work at home over the last year or so although over the last two weeks I haven’t done anything at home. Previous posts will reveal the reasons for that but I hope to resume further work that needs to be done in and around the garages over the next couple of months. I am quite an active person most of the time but I do like to relax as well. The weather at home hasn’t been that good lately and it has been raining quite a lot. This meant that I couldn’t get out into the garden but on Monday afternoon it was fine and sunny with hardly a whisper of wind so I took the opportunity to sit outside playing my guitar for an hour or so and then did some reading. With a drink or two of course! It’s getting harder but I manage…LOL
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Enjoyment, Exercise, Garden, Lifestyle, Music, Rest and relaxation, Work | Tagged: Activity, Leisure, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 28, 2010
………….is never done so they say but I love ‘women’s work’. I always have. When I was young I would often help my mom do her chores, go shopping, vacuum the floors, mop the hard surfaces, do the ironing and especially wash the dishes! I really like washing dishes. I know, I know it is odd but I like having my hands in water and I cannot stand seeing unwashed dishes lying about. These days they go in the dishwasher but I do the pots and pans by hand because it may be two days before we switch on the dishwasher as there are usually only two of us filling it! Today I arose late; I’ve been doing too much of that lately. After lunch (I missed breakfast) I was sitting doing something on the computer and I glanced down at the floor. Crumbs! It needed vacuuming. I got off my backside and proceeded to clean it; then I remembered that I needed to do my bedroom so after I did the lounge (the other two lounges didn’t need vacuuming) I went upstairs to do my room. Now our house has three floors on top of cellars. The top floor has three bedrooms and a fairly spacious landing from which another little staircase leads to what was going to be an observatory. Those rooms are seldom used unless the occasional guest visits and although we do clean them it is very infrequent. So that leaves the floor below it where there are four bedrooms and the same sized landing and a few steps down on a half-landing is the main bathroom and toilet. One of the larger bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom. Of those rooms I only needed to do my bedroom, the landing and the bathroom then it was down the stairs, cleaning it on the way and then vacuuming the hall and passageway. I followed that with the kitchen and dining room then put the vacuum away. Once I start cleaning I find it hard to stop. It’s the way I am. E had gone out to her moms place and presumably on to do some shopping together. I wanted to use the treadmill today so I chose to get on it after I’d done my work. Whilst cooling down before having a quick bath I sat in the back lounge for a while and played my guitar. It is now just after four-thirty in the afternoon and I am writing this and checking my mail. I have the tv on in the background, mainly for company I suppose. They are showing ET yet again! Soon I will retire into the kitchen to prepare our evening meal. A woman’s work is never done…………LOL
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Exercise, House and Home | Tagged: Bathroom, Bedroom, Dining room, Dishwasher, Dishwashing, Vacuum, Vacuum cleaner | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on December 17, 2010
Once in a while a good idea crops up. Our Government is always bemoaning the fact that our NHS (National Health System) is short on funds. It is often stated that there are too many demands on the system, too many people needing medical treatment and too few doctors and other staff. Medicines cost money and so do staff but there always seems too little money to fund it all. Whilst I take no part in what the Government do I often wonder why they waste money on other things, wars for example but that is another story. More money would be available to fund the equipment that many hospitals lack if the cash wasn’t wasted elsewhere. One of the main problems is the volume of patients; people don’t look after themselves, we are told that we are turning into a nation of couch potatoes. It is one thing being ill but when it is self-inflicted because of lifestyle perhaps they should levy a fee to offset the cost. That very issue has been discussed recently but as yet nothing has been decided. Maybe it never will, there are arguments both for and against the idea. It would encourage us all to take better care of ourselves should there be a charge for services. I suppose that these days there is really no excuse for not knowing how to look after ourselves, what to eat, how to exercise and so on. Many people just do not exercise or if they do they don’t do enough. Then along comes an idea that is admirably suited to such people and encourages them to take some form of exercise without them realising the good it is doing for their health. I am not suggesting that it is all that one should do to exercise but it gets even the most lazy off the couch! It is the Wii. It started as a simple games machine directed at children but it is becoming and is developing into an ideal tool for adult exercise regimes. Providing the software the machine uses is structured properly there are endless possibilities to encourage people to exercise. Perhaps one day we will be a more healthy nation by taking more care of ourselves and putting less strain on our NHS. Everyone will benefit from that and using a simple thing like the Wii is a step in the right direction. Personally I prefer using the treadmill and other gymnasium equipment but for those less able to do so or for simply marrying exercise with fun, the Wii is a good idea.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Exercise, Fun, Health | Tagged: Exercise, Fun, Health, Hospital, National Health Service, Wii | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 22, 2010
Last night before bedtime I spent some time on my treadmill. The exercise is always beneficial and especially so in the evening as I seem to be able to get off to sleep much easier. I don’t think I’ll have that problem tonight though because right now I am feeling rather tired after the days events. I had a job to do this morning which lasted until lunchtime. An old couple had asked me to do some installation work for them but the man followed me round like a shadow. I think he was interested in how the job was to be done, either that or he may have been intrigued at the prospect of having a female electrician because he was trying to help me at every conceivable chance! Actually he was more of a hinderance than a help and it slowed me down somewhat. He asked if I would like a drink and was all too pleased to go and prepare it. I was glad for the opportunity to be left to do the job. His wife was more sensible and kept out-of-the-way. After my visit there I had a couple of errands to run before visiting a guy who lives a short distance from my home. He was enquiring about some work he’d like me to do in a week or so. Eventually, after a trip to a filling station, I got back home. I’d not eaten so I prepared some lunch to eat with a glass of wine. It is now 4 in the afternoon. I have just awakened from a little ‘cat-nap‘, and am writing this entry. My weeks work is done and I can now relax, maybe! I am hoping my friend will be able to come over on Sunday to correct the faults with my new computer. In the meantime I continue with this old machine and I don’t just mean my computer!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Exercise, Work | Tagged: Activity, Exercise, Lunch, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 11, 2010
I got up quite early yesterday and went straight to the cellar/basement and had some exercise on the treadmill, about forty minutes worth and burnt off many calories. After doing that I went into the garden to browse around whilst at the same time cooling off. I was weighing up the size of the concrete decking we had constructed last month. I intend placing a large lean-to greenhouse there behind the existing small free-standing one, which incidentally was a good buy. We have had plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and celery from what we cultivated in that small greenhouse but to produce more requires a larger one. After I had bathed, dressed and come back downstairs it was too late for breakfast so I waited an hour and had a light lunch instead. I went on the Internet later and did some research on greenhouses, what was available and prices etc. E and I have decided on what we want so we will order that soon. If we order things now we won’t have to pay the increase in VAT which is scheduled for 1st Jan. It rises from 17.5% to 20% then. This country is getting worse, I mean adding an extra 20% on the price of goods to line the Governments pockets! I think I will EXERCISE my right to complain….LOL. Anyhow on a more mundane level whilst I was on my computer I browsed some sites which sell exercise machines. I would like a cross-trainer (elliptical trainer) to add to my growing collection of machines of torture. I do posses an exercise cycle and it isn’t the best but I found a machine that is two exercise machines in one, a cycle and a cross-trainer. If I can find some more pennies I think I’ll go for it, likewise before the tax goes up!
I spent the rest of the day playing guitar, drinking red wine and generally annoying E….only kidding (I did lots of other things too! LOL). I hope you all had a nice day. Tomorrow it is E’s birthday and no doubt we will go out for lunch. I am taking her out for an evening meal together with our children later in the week.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Exercise, Garden | Tagged: Elliptical trainer, Exercise machine, Gardens, Greenhouse, Physical exercise, Treadmill | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 8, 2010
I got up late. I was having a problem with my left eye yesterday. E had wanted to go into town to buy her mum a birthday present. She did go but came back after about twenty minutes because she couldn’t find a parking space. She hadn’t taken her display cards showing her disability so couldn’t park in spaces allocated for such people. I told her that I would take her and then go and park somewhere whilst she did her shopping. So off we went back into town. I dropped her off and went off to find a parking spot. Whilst I was waiting I began to feel that something was in my eye. I couldn’t see anything and for the rest of the day the irritation continued. I washed out my eye and got some respite and it became bearable. Late in the evening I decided to have a workout on my treadmill and did that at 11.15, crazy girl that I am. Nothing unusual for me, I used to go running at 3 in the morning! Anyhow after cooling down and then having a soak in the bath it was around 1.30 before I hit the sack. I wasn’t feeling tired so I watched some tv. I finally got to sleep around 2.30. I was awakened by my son who had returned home from a night out with his friends. It was 4.20! Thanks son. So I eventually got up at 9.45 but by the time I got downstairs it was 10.30, too late for breakfast, too early for lunch so I decided to fill the washing machine with my dirty bed linen and some clothes. I asked E if she would like to dine out today, no argument there! So that’s what we’ll be doing sometime before 2 o’clock. I had planned on doing some work in the rear garden today, digging out the area we had cleared of overgrown trees and shrubs last week. We want to prepare the ground for the laying of concrete as an extension to what is already there. The new greenhouse stands on that concrete and we want to install a larger greenhouse behind it. Anyway not today, there’s plenty of time to do that job. So it looks as if I’ll be having a two-day rest this weekend after all. Well I deserve it!
Shirley Anne
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Posted by Shirley Anne on May 20, 2010
Things are going well with the facelift of the house and grounds after one or two little ‘hiccups’. Yet more bricks have been put into the walls and they are about finished. I am retaining the guys doing the walls because I now have more work for them to do, rebuilding another wall, pointing a long wall and constructing a new wall to form a flower bed. There are more jobs for them in the rear garden if they want the work. Yesterday we had all the high level guttering replaced. What a mess! It is surprising what finds its way into gutters. Each downspout has yet to be fitted. Delivery of the new windows should happen today and we have to find somewhere to store them all, sixty-four units in total. Thankfully we are enjoying good weather at the moment so the work outside isn’t being hindered. It’s all go, go, go here. I am waiting on delivery of a bookcase that I commissioned to be built and a new dressing table for my bedroom. I especially need the dressing table as my old one was removed when I replaced the carpet and I am finding it difficult applying my make-up using the mirror over my wash-basin. Maybe they will arrive this week. We’ll see.
I have been able to do a spot of exercise on my treadmill and am now getting back into it after the brief spell that it wasn’t available.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Exercise, House and Home | Tagged: Life | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on May 6, 2010
About a week ago I began to dismantle my treadmill to enable it to be taken downstairs into the cellar where we have several rooms one of which we use as a gymnasium, that is my sons do when they are at home. I disconnected the control panel frame from the base but the base was still too heavy to move. Today I separated the running platform/motor assembly from the frame which is used to raise and lower the running platform. this means the treadmill is now in three sections, two of which I have taken downstairs myself but the running platform is far too heavy for a woman to even attempt to move so now I am waiting for help doing that. When it is taken downstairs I have the job of re-assembling it all! In the meantime the only exercise I am getting is through hard work!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Exercise | Tagged: Exercise | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 27, 2009
At last, I got my lie in this morning! No interruptions, no phone calls, just me and my nice cosy bed. I had been awake since 5.30 though and was now nodding off every half hour or so and hating the thought of getting up. It was 11.30 before my feet finally touched the floor for the last time and stayed there! Missed breakfast but that was my intention. I planned to get some exercise on my treadmill and eating beforehand was out of the question so that’s what I did. One hour later with almost 400 calories burnt off I washed my hair then bathed. I much prefer bathing after exercise, it relaxes the muscles and is nicer anyway. Finally got dressed and went downstairs again for my ‘breakfast’, well lunch to be precise. I had prepared some salad yesterday, chopped onion, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, beetroot, small amount of cheese, tomato, sweetcorn and lettuce dressed in some oil, vinegar with a pinch of salt and black pepper. It has to be spooned onto the plate and goes great with chicken or other meats and fish. I always prepare a large bowl of this salad and leave it covered in the fridge. It lasts for two or three days. Today I had poached cod on a bed of lettuce leaves with the salad on the side. Very healthy meal without bundles of calories. I washed it all down with a glass of pure pineapple followed by a yoghurt. I feel so healthy and fit after all that. Running is a great exercise and dilates the blood vessels. You can still feel the sensation hours later. After lunch I went online and checked emails and other folk’s blogs then played some guitar for a while. Now I am back on my pc. An old Bond movie is on the tv in the background (mostly for company, I’m not really watching it). I have no further plans for today, no pub, no dining out, no meets with friends, just chilling out at home. Now all I need is for someone to call me to book a job for tomorrow! Ah such is life but I’m glad I got my lie in at last!
Shirley Anne
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Posted by Shirley Anne on September 13, 2009
Well I enjoyed my afternoon at the pub and my team won four goals to nil. I behaved myself and left earlier than I would normally do and arrived home around seven. This morning whilst lying in bed I was contemplating getting up and working out on my treadmill before having a bath and getting dressed. I’d had a good night’s sleep and I didn’t feel I had to continue to lie there so I got up and put on my sports clothes and running shoes. I went downstairs and did three and a half miles of training runs and walks over an hour. I felt great. Vigorous exercising and running really does get the blood flowing and the blood vessels dilating and makes you feel good all day. What prompted me to ‘get my finger out’ so to speak was looking at my profile in the mirror! Gosh, my tummy was beginning to get noticeably larger! Victim of the dreaded cider, lager and other weight increasing liquid comestibles. I do keep a close eye on my waistline but I am not a person who will deprive myself of things just to be a certain clothes size. Besides I am not slight in physique but more average. Neither am I overweight, normally that is. Weight problems do not weigh heavily on my mind but I am always aware of my weight increases. The first thing I notice, that is after I look in the mirror (something I do every day because I dress and undress in dront of one), are when my skirts begin to feel a little tighter than usual around the waist. I am a health conscious person too when it comes to food and I endeavour to eat healthily (see my links to the left) which I normally do. Today I can just relax and enjoy the lovely weather we are currently having, play my guitar, look at some blogs and generally chill out. My main meal was prepared earlier after I’d bathed and dressed. It is Chilli-con-carne and it will taste much nicer later when I eat it. I find that is always the case with spicy meals, the spices have time to permeate the food when left for a few hours. I will have it on a bed of boiled rice. Bon appetite eh? Have a nice day everybody!
Shirley Anne x
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