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"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

Breakfast: a slice of h/m sausage, refried with a fried egg on top. Tea.
2nd meal will be fried haddock (a lot of frying today) with lemon and a tomato salad.

BG is behaving itself at the moment - been in the 4's and 5's most of the time in the last couple of days.
 
Sardines in olive oil on crackers for breakfast with tea.
2nd meal will be more fish - the second haddock fillet made into a kind of chowder with a few bits of vegetable and some double cream.

Neil has decided to take some old wardrobe doors to the dump. We bought them from IKEA years ago when we fitted our bedroom with wardrobes. Some of the doors were mirrored but they didn't survive the journey from Glasgow and both of them had cracks in the mirrors, so we bought 2 replacement doors, which also cracked in transit - just small cracks across the corner. We just glued the cracks together and used the doors, so the finish has never been perfect in the bedroom. I hoped to be able to take the broken mirrors off the original doors and have new mirrors put on but Neil reckons it will never get done. It would be too difficult to do. I have to agree with him so the dump it is. Plenty of cardboard to go again as well.
 
Just had breakfast - delayed due to some admin needed to switch from one ISP (BT) to another - it was 4 low carb crackers with 2 very thin slices of my h/m pork sausage. Insulin to cover the carbs. Tea.
2nd meal is a bit problematic - I'll just have to have a lucky dip out of the freezer.

Have to bake this morning - there's a possibility of a visit from an acquaintance who is visiting the Island on business so I have to have something available and my digestive biscuit supply has been diminished by a couple of very low BGs recently. Lemon drizzle usually goes down well - I'm never happy with my efforts at digestive, or any other, biscuits.
 
It looks like my carrots and swedes are surviving the frosts very well, I'm leaving them in their pots and hopefully can harvest them over the longer term in winter. It may not work but we'll see! The Red Russian kale is doing really well, it seems to love the frosts. Lettuce is surviving well too, but one or two are actually bolting. There are some bits of sprouting broccoli on the summer plant that bolted, I'll eat those this week. It looks like all the other brassicas are going to be spring harvests.

Still eating carbs, nearly finished the antibiotics and feeling fine now. Bgs are not too bad, I've managed to keep moving around rather than sitting on my bum too much. I totally failed at using up the freezer stocks, so I'll have another go at that soon.
 
It looks like my carrots and swedes are surviving the frosts very well, I'm leaving them in their pots and hopefully can harvest them over the longer term in winter. It may not work but we'll see! The Red Russian kale is doing really well, it seems to love the frosts. Lettuce is surviving well too, but one or two are actually bolting. There are some bits of sprouting broccoli on the summer plant that bolted, I'll eat those this week. It looks like all the other brassicas are going to be spring harvests.

Still eating carbs, nearly finished the antibiotics and feeling fine now. Bgs are not too bad, I've managed to keep moving around rather than sitting on my bum too much. I totally failed at using up the freezer stocks, so I'll have another go at that soon.
Glad you're feeling better now. How do you grow carrots and swedes in pots? Are they very big pots and how many plants in each pot? I'd like to try that since I can't access the garden any more.
 
Been out of touch a whole day and it seems like ages. We switched to a different ISP and then found that the router we intended to use (BT wanted their one back) was not sufficiently up-to-date so Neil had to go to town to buy another one - not one that he wanted, but the only one available. It does work though, but won't connect the telephone - we need another gadget for that. Anyway, we are up and running again, so that's fine.

Breakfast: sausage, cabbage and apple stew (left-over) with a touch of tomato puree added.
2nd meal will be a slice off of a lamb breast roast with some Brussels sprouts, shredded and gravy. I asked Neil to get it for me and he could only get a joint which was on its use by date, so had to cook it yesterday.

The snow has melted away, but it is very cold - I'm in 4 layers of clothing despite the radiators being on. Maybe I'm just under the weather - arthritic flare-up going on, which may also make me feel the cold.
 
It's not me! The radiators are turned on but the water is off. That means the water pressure is too low in the system and, power or not, it won't work. That's why I'm chilly. Usually, when the water goes off (maybe once or twice a year), we have water after everyone else runs out because we are at the bottom of a little hill, so what is left runs down into our pipes. We didn't notice that it was off today and so didn't collect water and it has run right out. Neil manage to get the last couple of litres before it became just the odd drip coming out of the tap so we can still have hot drinks tonight.
 
Glad you can still have hot drinks @Annb!

Glad you're feeling better now. How do you grow carrots and swedes in pots? Are they very big pots and how many plants in each pot? I'd like to try that since I can't access the garden any more.

I love talking about growing things so I don't need asking twice :hilarious: I'm growing carrots in 12" round plastic pots that are about 12" deep - there are probably about 10 carrots in each pot. You can sow way more than that and eat the thinnings as they start to grow and crowd, the thinnings are lovely in salads. You get loads of seeds in a packet so it's not really a waste to eat them very small. They vary in size but are easily as big and clean as the ones in the supermarket. The variety I grow is Early Nantes, it's very sweet and crisp. I'm very happy with how they worked out so will carry on with that.

The swedes are in wider oval plastic pots that were my mum's flower pots, I think about 20 litre size. There are 3 swedes in each pot. I also have large round plastic pots that are 35. 40 and 50 litres for various things - they have brassicas in at the moment. I don't know if it's beginner's luck but the swedes and carrots I've grown are just in a different league to the ones in the shops for taste and texture.

Pots also work for beetroot, garlic and onions as well but they need a bit more thinning out and space to grow, so I'll use troughs or wider pots for those next time. Those all don't need much depth so troughs are ideal.

It's very easy to grow in pots because you can get a cheap garden table or two and grow them at a convenient height - this helps me tremendously. I also have two small raised beds for beans and peas, and I'll add a couple more next spring. I grew some lovely peas in a 35 litre pot a couple of years ago - they grew great up a little obelisk I got very cheap on Amazon.

I use just normal garden centre compost, it works out quite expensive but you can re-use spent compost by mixing it with a bit of new, and add some fertiliser (I'm starting to make my own compost but it takes a while!)

I hope you'll have a go and we can compare our crops! I think sometimes it looks like I don't have failures, but I do. I just don't let it put me off, and many things like carrots and peas are great for succession growing, so you can always start over if you lose some.
 
Glad you can still have hot drinks @Annb!



I love talking about growing things so I don't need asking twice :hilarious: I'm growing carrots in 12" round plastic pots that are about 12" deep - there are probably about 10 carrots in each pot. You can sow way more than that and eat the thinnings as they start to grow and crowd, the thinnings are lovely in salads. You get loads of seeds in a packet so it's not really a waste to eat them very small. They vary in size but are easily as big and clean as the ones in the supermarket. The variety I grow is Early Nantes, it's very sweet and crisp. I'm very happy with how they worked out so will carry on with that.

The swedes are in wider oval plastic pots that were my mum's flower pots, I think about 20 litre size. There are 3 swedes in each pot. I also have large round plastic pots that are 35. 40 and 50 litres for various things - they have brassicas in at the moment. I don't know if it's beginner's luck but the swedes and carrots I've grown are just in a different league to the ones in the shops for taste and texture.

Pots also work for beetroot, garlic and onions as well but they need a bit more thinning out and space to grow, so I'll use troughs or wider pots for those next time. Those all don't need much depth so troughs are ideal.

It's very easy to grow in pots because you can get a cheap garden table or two and grow them at a convenient height - this helps me tremendously. I also have two small raised beds for beans and peas, and I'll add a couple more next spring. I grew some lovely peas in a 35 litre pot a couple of years ago - they grew great up a little obelisk I got very cheap on Amazon.

I use just normal garden centre compost, it works out quite expensive but you can re-use spent compost by mixing it with a bit of new, and add some fertiliser (I'm starting to make my own compost but it takes a while!)

I hope you'll have a go and we can compare our crops! I think sometimes it looks like I don't have failures, but I do. I just don't let it put me off, and many things like carrots and peas are great for succession growing, so you can always start over if you lose some.
I grow tomatoes mainly in pots and also did peas in a pot this year. Planning to try more next Spring. I once tried carrots and they were not good must try again in pots. My old raised beds are mainly raspberries these days - slugs now seem to eat any thing like lettuce or beans that I used to grow successfully in them. Inspiration for next Spring.
 
Glad you can still have hot drinks @Annb!



I love talking about growing things so I don't need asking twice :hilarious: I'm growing carrots in 12" round plastic pots that are about 12" deep - there are probably about 10 carrots in each pot. You can sow way more than that and eat the thinnings as they start to grow and crowd, the thinnings are lovely in salads. You get loads of seeds in a packet so it's not really a waste to eat them very small. They vary in size but are easily as big and clean as the ones in the supermarket. The variety I grow is Early Nantes, it's very sweet and crisp. I'm very happy with how they worked out so will carry on with that.

The swedes are in wider oval plastic pots that were my mum's flower pots, I think about 20 litre size. There are 3 swedes in each pot. I also have large round plastic pots that are 35. 40 and 50 litres for various things - they have brassicas in at the moment. I don't know if it's beginner's luck but the swedes and carrots I've grown are just in a different league to the ones in the shops for taste and texture.

Pots also work for beetroot, garlic and onions as well but they need a bit more thinning out and space to grow, so I'll use troughs or wider pots for those next time. Those all don't need much depth so troughs are ideal.

It's very easy to grow in pots because you can get a cheap garden table or two and grow them at a convenient height - this helps me tremendously. I also have two small raised beds for beans and peas, and I'll add a couple more next spring. I grew some lovely peas in a 35 litre pot a couple of years ago - they grew great up a little obelisk I got very cheap on Amazon.

I use just normal garden centre compost, it works out quite expensive but you can re-use spent compost by mixing it with a bit of new, and add some fertiliser (I'm starting to make my own compost but it takes a while!)

I hope you'll have a go and we can compare our crops! I think sometimes it looks like I don't have failures, but I do. I just don't let it put me off, and many things like carrots and peas are great for succession growing, so you can always start over if you lose some.
Sounds amazing. Well done
 
I grow tomatoes mainly in pots and also did peas in a pot this year. Planning to try more next Spring. I once tried carrots and they were not good must try again in pots. My old raised beds are mainly raspberries these days - slugs now seem to eat any thing like lettuce or beans that I used to grow successfully in them. Inspiration for next Spring.
I forgot to mention lettuce, I grow those in the 12" pots too, four per pot seems to be a good fit. If they're on a garden table it's easier to spot and evict any slugs or snails that manage to slither up there! You can also put deterrent mats on the table top but I didn't need those this year.

I definitely reccommend Early Nantes for carrots, they seem to be very easy and quick to grow - I was a complete carrot beginner this year but got really good results.

I found the peas and runner beans were not bothered by slugs or snails but that might have been because it was such a dry year. For pesky pigeons I put home made cages I made from some wire fencing over the raised beds while the plants are small, and that conveniently stops the cats from using them as a toilet too!

Looking forward to spring!
 
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I forgot to mention lettuce, I grow those in the 12" pots too, four per pot seems to be a good fit. If they're on a garden table it's easier to spot and evict any slugs or snails that manage to slither up there! You can also put deterrent mats on the table top but I didn't need those this year.

I definitely reccommend Early Nantes for carrots, they seem to be very easy and quick to grow - I was a complete carrot beginner this year but got really good results.

I found the peas and runner beans were not bothered by slugs or snails but that might have been because it was such a dry year. For pesky pigeons I put home cages I made from some wire fencing over the raised beds while the plants are small, and that conveniently stops the cats from using them as a toilet too!

Looking forward to spring!
Love the idea of raising pots on a garden table I've got a fairly empty gravelled bit of garden near my kitchen window that I could use and see them too. I've got an old but still sturdy mosaic garden table. Think I may ask for some vegetable seeds like early Nantes carrots as part of my Christmas present wish list.
 
Avocado on crispbread for breakfast. Tea.

2nd meal will be a stew of some kind made with the remaining lamb.

The water came back on about 10 pm last night. So that's when the radiators came back on. The house was warm last night, while we were in bed. Back to normal this morning.
 
Love the idea of raising pots on a garden table I've got a fairly empty gravelled bit of garden near my kitchen window that I could use and see them too. I've got an old but still sturdy mosaic garden table. Think I may ask for some vegetable seeds like early Nantes carrots as part of my Christmas present wish list.
In my experience santa does well with specific seeds named on a Christmas wish list.
 
Ham on crispbread for breakfast. Tea.

I didn't bother making anything with the lamb yesterday - I was busy on Zoom and then Em came in and then her Dad, so it was nearly 7 pm before I was free to do any cooking, by which time, I couldn't be bothered. I just had a slice of the cake I made a few days ago. It was a Mary Berry recipe for lemon drizzle cake, but it wasn't as good as my usual recipe, so I shan't be using that again. BG went crazy. Not surprised at that.

Anyway, 2nd meal today, as long as nobody stops me, will be a spicy lamb stew.

The only call on my time today is a phone call to my brother - he's 83 today and going out for a meal with his son and daughter in law, so I can only call him when he gets back from that. By that time I should have made my stew.
 
Usual brunch. Dinner was steak with cauliflower,broccoli and the first of our home-grown sprouts! Tiny and very flavoursome. 1 glass red wine, forgot the chocolate. How can you forget chocolate!
I couldn't forget to eat the chocolate I'd promised myself especially if I'd had a glass of red wine!
 
Usual brunch. Dinner was steak with cauliflower,broccoli and the first of our home-grown sprouts! Tiny and very flavoursome. 1 glass red wine, forgot the chocolate. How can you forget chocolate!
Oooh sprouts! I'm very envious. I didn't get my act together to have sprouts this year but will definitely do some next year! Are you growing anything else?

It really is amazing how much more flavoursome home grown vegetables are, I know it's a bit of a cliche but it's absolutely true. Today I had some of my baby potatoes that were meant for Christmas harvest but ended up looking like they might get blight so I harvested them a week or so ago and kept them in the fridge. They taste amazing!
 
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