"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

[Pipp]

Payday is very low on my list of priorities, this is much more about seeing if I actually can have a regular job without dropping into a deep depression again.
Yes, the payment is cool, and it may actually mean I'll be able to keep the house I love, which is a serious motivation!
But it's nothing compared to the things I fear, which, in short, is dying. Mental health takes precedence over money or even keeping the place I love.

The last time I did something more or less full-time was 9 years ago, I lasted 6 months even though I really liked doing what I did, and my neighbours discussed how large the risk was they'd find me on some unlucky day.
They weren't wrong, in hindsight I think it was a 50/50 % chance to come out alive.
I did, and it was only in the past year and a half my depression seems to have miraculously lifted for no clear reason.

I have a very good feeling about this job, and I also have a very good reason to be scared. I never want to go there again, the past year has been so much better than the 10 years before!

I gave you a winner, but it needs a hug too. Not a sympathy hug, but a congratulatory hug, for feeling the fear but doing it anyway. Now, don’t let impostor syndrome take over. Instead of thinking about what can go wrong, have in mind all that can go right.

 

[RosemaryJackson]

you have us too Antje, we are all here for you. And we all wish the best for you. x

 

[Antje77]

Thanks a lot everyone!

Very interesting morning.

I went for a very early swim before work for extra courage. Then I had to get the key for my bridge from the next bridge over (they provided me with the wrong key initially).

The brugwachter there is the one who's supposed to teach me the job, a different one from last week.
He coached me by telling me to man my own bridge and to give him a phonecall if I had any questions.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, six ships have passed already.

 

[Pipp]

Thanks a lot everyone!

Very interesting morning.

I went for a very early swim before work for extra courage. Then I had to get the key for my bridge from the next bridge over (they provided me with the wrong key initially).

The brugwachter there is the one who's supposed to teach me the job, a different one from last week.
He coached me by telling me to man my own bridge and to give him a phonecall if I had any questions.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, six ships have passed already.

View attachment 72162

Looks to be the ideal job for you! Just like being at home!

 

[Annb]

Thanks a lot everyone!

Very interesting morning.

I went for a very early swim before work for extra courage. Then I had to get the key for my bridge from the next bridge over (they provided me with the wrong key initially).

The brugwachter there is the one who's supposed to teach me the job, a different one from last week.
He coached me by telling me to man my own bridge and to give him a phonecall if I had any questions.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, six ships have passed already.

View attachment 72162

Very comfortable looking bridge. Almost home from home.

 

[Annb]

Bacon and eggs for breakfast.

2nd meal can't be any more veg - insides still churning from 2 days ago. Just fancy a plate of chips, but must resist that. There are a couple of hard boiled eggs in the fridge so might do something with those but they are not even remotely exciting. Not in an inspired mood today.

 

[Zhnyaka]

The last time I did something more or less full-time was 9 years ago, I lasted 6 months even though I really liked doing what I did,

It is not true. You were a moderator less than 9 years ago, and you did it well. This means that you are at least able to work in technical support, a call center, etc.
I liked the kind of moderator you were, and I don't remember you shirking that job, so don't downplay what you did.

 

[Annb]

Bacon and eggs for breakfast.

2nd meal can't be any more veg - insides still churning from 2 days ago. Just fancy a plate of chips, but must resist that. There are a couple of hard boiled eggs in the fridge so might do something with those but they are not even remotely exciting. Not in an inspired mood today.

Didn't bother with the eggs. Just had a couple of digestive biscuits with some butter and a cup of coffee. I've discovered that while a cup of tea makes my BG spike, a cup of coffee doesn't. Odd.

 

[Antje77]

I've discovered that while a cup of tea makes my BG spike, a cup of coffee doesn't. Odd.

Oh. I'll have to look into this. I switched to tea in the afternoon on the bridge and my bg was a bit higher than I'd have expected so I'll keep this in mind.
Not drawing conclusions on my first day of work though, so many variables added.

 

[Annb]

Oh. I'll have to look into this. I switched to tea in the afternoon on the bridge and my bg was a bit higher than I'd have expected so I'll keep this in mind.
Not drawing conclusions on my first day of work though, so many variables added.

That's so. Competent though you are, a first day at work is going to be stressful, to say the least. Stress doesn't lead to low BGs. It's taken me ages to realise that the tea spike was genuine and doesn't happen with coffee.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Oh. I'll have to look into this. I switched to tea in the afternoon on the bridge and my bg was a bit higher than I'd have expected so I'll keep this in mind.
Not drawing conclusions on my first day of work though, so many variables added.

@Annb & @Antje77 , tea in bags has a TINY little bit of sugar put in. If you open one up, you see little white flecks. That's so little sugar they don't have to mention it on the packaging. None of that malarkey in loose leaf tea though, but it might explain that?

 

[Annb]

@Annb & @Antje77 , tea in bags has a TINY little bit of sugar put in. If you open one up, you see little white flecks. That's so little sugar they don't have to mention it on the packaging. None of that malarkey in loose leaf tea though, but it might explain that?

That is interesting. What a cheek. It's like those tiny sweets (Tiktoks?) which claim to be sugar free when they are actually all sugar. It's just that under American food laws if the product contains less than a certain amount of sugar, they can claim to be sugar free. Each individual sweet contains less than that amount, so they are, officially, sugar free. I only ever had one of them and so my portion was "sugar free". Didn't like it anyway but that isn't the point. People who do like them tend not to stick to one.

Must open up a tea bag. Then must try to get decaffeinated loose tea - nurse at the clinic says I should have decaffeinated tea to protect my bladder and (suspect) kidneys.

 

[Annb]

On the subject of drinks - does anyone know what is involved in the "Dutch process" for cocoa production? Neil couldn't get his normal cocoa (Dr Oetker's) and found that he couldn't take other ones available here (affect his chest and throat) so I bought a selection of smaller brands to see if they would help, but no, they didn't. Then I discovered that Dr O's was produced using this "Dutch process" which seems to involve using some kind of alkaline (possibly on the beans) to reduce the acidity of the cocoa. He has managed to get some tins of Dr O's online, so he's OK for the moment, but it's odd that he is more able to take the more processed cocoa rather than the ordinary less processed one. That's unusual to me. However, he can't take high fibre products either so has to use highly processed flour, so maybe it makes some kind of sense.

EDIT: Never mind - found it online. Apparently the cocoa powder is "washed" with potassium carbonate to reduce the acid content. I didn't realise that potassium carbonate was used in food production but apparently it is not unusual.

 

[Annb]

Just about to make bacon and eggs again for breakfast. The packet of bacon is open and on its use by date, so I'd better finish it off today.

2nd meal will depend on what Neil can get for me when he does my shopping this morning. Thursday is leg wrapping day so he leaves me at the clinic and does my shopping before coming back to collect me. I've asked for some pork, some lamb and some sausages as well as some of the more innocuous vegetables (innards still a bit unhappy), so we'll see what he comes back with.

 

[Annb]

Just about to make bacon and eggs again for breakfast. The packet of bacon is open and on its use by date, so I'd better finish it off today.

2nd meal will depend on what Neil can get for me when he does my shopping this morning. Thursday is leg wrapping day so he leaves me at the clinic and does my shopping before coming back to collect me. I've asked for some pork, some lamb and some sausages as well as some of the more innocuous vegetables (innards still a bit unhappy), so we'll see what he comes back with.

Radishes, minced lamb, pork sausages and pork belly slices. Nothing else that he could see was suitable. Fine, I'll use the mince and some north African spices and maybe some frozen potatoes out of the freezer to go with it. I'll keep the radishes for some other time.

 

[MrsA2]

Yesterday was a mix of dog walks, mild window shopping and getting very cold.
Lunch was in an Italian restaurant, pate to start then salmon on a cream tarragon sauce. Mint tea.
D: think it was cheeses and coleslaw.
A tub ice cream in the interval at theatre. Glass wine in the bar beforehand

Today
B: 2 scrambled eggs
Long sunny warm beach and dunes walk. Much busier than seen before. Assume school holidays have started.
Lunch. Shared some fried chicken and cheese bites with hubby. Glass wine and soda
Mid afternoon a scoop ice cream
D: another Italian restaurant. Glass red. A calzone (folded pizza) ate most of the rich and spicy meat and cheese filling. Left most of the crust.

2 hours later and bg rose 2 and is now going down. Result! I sometimes get so fed up with the limited lc choices and this seemed to be way of still enjoying Italian pizza but without too many carbs. I'd tried scraping the toppings off a pizza the other day but that was dry and not much topping. Today's calzone was really packed, more like a stew in a bread bowl and easy to separate the carby bits.

Libre about to end (as is our holiday). 96% time in range, even with near daily wine and ice cream. Lots and lots of walking. Will be interested to weigh myself when home again.

 

[Annb]

Breakfast: the last of the frozen potato mash made into a "cake" with some egg and cheese.

2nd meal: some more of the lamb mince with some savoy cabbage cooked down on top of it.

 

[Outlier]

tea in bags has a TINY little bit of sugar put in. If you open one up, you see little white flecks. That's so little sugar they don't have to mention it on the packaging.

That is the depressing news of the day. Thanks for letting us know, though - it's important to find these things out. Upon reflection, it doiesn't seem to have affected my BG, but - y'know - if I were going to eat or drink sugar, I'd like to do it deliberately.

 

[MrsA2]

Last full day of our holiday today.
B: a little cheese
Walk around town.
L: salad from bakery. Tuna mayo, was so big shared easily with hubby.
Then a lovely walk along a river and around another castle.
Mid afternoon . An ice cream at the farm that makes it. So glad we only discovered this place on our last day as it was gorgeous and we'd have come every day if we had known.
Then a 2 hour dog walk.
D: 90% sausages, mushrooms, courgettes and broccoli. A glass red. 2 sqs 90%
Later some full fat greek yoghurt with seeds and 5 chopped almonds

 

[Annb]

Sardines on RyVita for breakfast.

2nd meal will be sausages with cabbage. There's still some lamb mince left but I'll put that in the freezer rather than have it for another meal so soon. Not sure if the cabbage was a bit much yesterday - it usually is gentle enough on my insides but not sure today. I'll cook a little of it and see how it goes.

My friend's son was married last month in Macao to a Chines girl (his whole family from various parts of the world descended on Macao and have all only just got home) and he is bringing her home for a holiday in Stornoway in May and intends to have a 2nd "reception" for all his friends here. Food will be required and I'm trying to figure out what I could do towards it. I'll have to do something to keep in the freezer so that I can take my time and not exhaust myself. Some cakes, obviously but not sure what kind or what else. I made baked cheesecakes for his sister's wedding and they went down well but they aren't quite so easy as ordinary cakes. Something savoury as well. Thinking cap required.