It was with great reluctance that I went back to work yesterday and I am finding it tough. It's not so much how physically draining I am finding it, more it is my desire to tell clients just to piss off, after all who gives a damn about their brochure/newsletter/book/magazine?! Having spent my whole working life as a dedicated career girl it is coming of something as a shock how little I actually care about it all in the face of our current situation - because it really doesn't seem important. I find it increasingly hard to switch into "client mode" and court people on the phone - something that I previously could have won medals for! I am hoping it is just a phase. ;-)
A has also gone back to work, albeit it in a very part time manner for the week. Yesterday he walked round the village (he is on strict 30 mins exercise a day orders) and then went and grabbed some bits from the supermarket and generally pootled about, spending just a couple of hours on work. The waiting game was far easier when we were both off at the weekend, but as results days loom even closer I think we can both feel the tension.
And as for food ...... last night's dinner, or Spaghetti Bolognese made with soy protein mince looked exceptionally unappetising in the skillet. Like a minced up aftermath of a horror film the soy mince turned everything a slaughterhouse pink .... yukk! In desperation, and hoping for some insightful food inspiration I chucked in a glass of red wine, mushrooms and a teaspoon of marmite along with freshly torn basil leaves and it went an almost respectable meat colour! Yay! Served with wholegrain tagiatelle and followed by organic fruit, actually, it tasted fabulous! I must stop being such a big cynic when it comes to the whole veggie/vegan specific foodstuffs, as they haven't let us down.
Currently reading a support book for cancer carers sent by a friend. Not sure about it quite yet but I'll let you know how it turns out.
T x
FormerMember
I had 6 months off with Laurence and then went back to work and felt exactly like you. I used to work all hours (unpaid too) Now just wish I could stay at home with him.
Hi T, I know what you mean about work. You would probably be better off losing yourself in a project rather than dealing with client's problems at the moment. We've all had times when we just wish clients would just stop whinging, but of course, they can't know what you're going through at the moment, and I'm sure you'll still put on your professional face when dealing with them.
You really are very determined with this new diet. I think I'd have chucked it in the bin at the pink stage. Is Quorn mince any good? I used to use it a lot. See you soon.
I take it you're going veggie for health reasons. Well, I used to be vegetarian because I just went off meat altogether (I was working as a cook in a residential home and 5lb tubs of liver and 10 chickens to be prepared at once can be overwhelming) and I found it was a waste of time trying to use soya prodcuts that taste like meat. It doesn't work. If you're not eating meat, why try to eat stuff that pretends to be meat? Just enjoy the actual veggies as they come and dress them up with herbs and spices and pine nuts etc.
Yep, despite the controversy around the issue and absolute lack of any concrete medical studies to confirm it does work we have decided that we have nothing to lose by going mostly the veggie/vegan route for optimum health, however we are still eating oily fish as it has many health benefits. I have to say I think you're right about the pretendy meat stuff, and our all veggie whole food meals have worked out much better. Shuddered at the thought of your tubs of liver - that would have been enough to put me off meat on my most sausage loving of days! :-)
I know they say there's no proof that cutting out meat can do any good, but I think too much meat is damaging, mainly because of all the hormones and crap and antibiotics they stuff it with. When I wasn't eating meat I felt a lot healthier and somehow lighter. I mean, I did lose some actual weight, but my body felt lighter and more comfortable. I also had more energy. It was the bacon butties wot done for me! I still don't eat a lot of meat, just a little. And always free range and not mucked about with.
And besides - whether there's any proof or not, the very fact that you're doing something positive, actually researching and cooking and experimenting, is a good thing. I think it puts you more in control. Does that make sense? If I thought that doing handstands in the middle of Tesco would somehow help to keep me well, I'd do it. And it would probably work because I believed it would.
Courgettes fried in olive oil and butter, cooked baby broad beans stirred in and the whole lot sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan... yummy. Try it.
