Thursday 25 May 2017

1984

I read 1984 when I was about 11 and remember loving it and my English teacher at upper school (current year 9 old year 3 lol) being surprised and impressed that I'd read it (only 2 of us out of our class had read it)and knew what it was all about. We were just about to start studying Animal Farm at the time. 

I've always wanted to read it again so when I saw it on Audible I I had to get it. 

It was interesting to listen to it again as a grown up and when even more time had past and to realise just how accurate a lot of what Orwell wrote about is. 

Love 
Lupin Girl x


#ThrowbackThursday 25 May 2017

So here's my second #ThrowbackThursday for you. 

I haven't made this for ages, but it is delicious and so I'm going to have a go next week once my degree is finished eeek.

Gluten Free Bakewell Tart



I hope you enjoy it as much as I remember enjoying it!

Love
Lupin Girl x



Tuesday 23 May 2017

Tempting Tuesdays

As summer appears to be here this week I thought I'd share a tempting summer pudding with you all.

It is a bit of a twist on the Eton Mess.

You need fruit.  I used blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.



I used shop bought meringues this time, but we have made our own meringues in the past when making Eton Mess, and if I'd had more time I would have done this time too. 

Then instead of cream, I used mascarpone cheese (as I'd got some left over from making the Birthday tiramisu) and honey.

 
 
I'd love to hear if you enjoy this,,
 
Love
Lupin Girl x




Sunday 21 May 2017

Tesco Free From Battered Chicken Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce

Foodie Sunday is what it says on the tin really. A post about food, because what is better than enjoying food on a Sunday surrounded by your friends and family?

I used to love a Chinese Takeaway as a treat now and then, but can't have it any more because of my allergies.
 
Then I saw these in Tesco


 


Tesco Free From Battered Chicken Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce.

They were delicious. 

They reminded me of the 'real deal' except maybe the sauce wasn't quite as fluorescent lol.



The chicken balls had a nice thick amount of batter around them and a nice chunk of chicken in them.  We both enjoyed them. 

My only complaint, and it's a common one for allergy friendly food. It wasn't a big enough packet. You only get 12 balls, so R and I had 6 each, but we could have done with a few more!

Love 
Lupin Girl x


Saturday 20 May 2017

An update and Vitamin D

I have realised that I haven't updated you on how things are with me recently, so here is a very quick update on my migraines

After a couple of nasty migraine attacks I went back to my Dr's to see if I could get some different medication to try.  She was a bit concerned as one of the new symptoms was facial numbness on one side.  So she referred me urgently to a Neurologist.

I got seen within 2 weeks, and although he agreed that I did have some facial differences on one side of my face - a different level of feeling was the main one, he pronounced the rest of my medical exam as 'unremarkable'! 

I had him stumped on the numbness though, so he said he would send me for an MRI scan and some blood tests, which I had taken there and then, and he put me onto Gababentin along with the Pizotifen I was already taking.  The dose for the Gababentin was increased slowly, so for the first week I was taking 1 tablet 3 times a day, the second week 2 tablets 3 times a day, and after that 3 tablets, 3 times a day (which on my next repeat they put into one higher dose tablet so I only have to take 1 tablet, 3 times a day again)

My appointment for the MRI came through quickly and so I had to dash to the tattoo and piercing shop to get my daith piercings changed over to plastic holders.  The MRI scan itself was fine, I have had one before, about 5 or 6 years ago.  The results came through showing nothing sinister going on - which was a huge relief.

I had assumed that my blood test results were all normal as I hadn't heard anything, then I received a letter at the beginning of May telling me everything was ok, except my Vitamin D levels which were 18.9 (I have no idea what the normal range is though!)  The letter said that he was leaving it up to my GP to decide what to do about it, so I waited.  After about 10 days, when I still had heard nothing from my GP, I phoned them, and they hadn't received the letter, so I had to take it to them so that they could photocopy it. 

My GP rang me yesterday and I have to take Vitamin D3 for the next 3 months and then get a repeat blood test taken.  I have also been advised to try and get some sun exposure - although not too much, whenever possible.



 
 
The numbness in my face is a lot better than it was now, although, especially when I'm tired it still feels odd along my left cheek bone, but most of the time I don't notice it any more.
 
I will update on whether I notice an affect of taking the Vitamin D and on my repeat blood test when I have them. 
 
The sun is out as I write this, so hopefully I can get outside for a bit as well today.
 
Love
Lupin Girl x



Friday 19 May 2017

Reading

I love reading, but with the end of my degree in sight, unless it's a study book, I'm not getting much time to read for fun. 

So when I'm in the car on my own, usually on my way to and from work, I'm using Audible to listen to books I want to read.

These are not going to be a review posts, but  posts where I share books I've enjoyed listening to and later on, once my last assignment is out of the way, books I have enjoyed reading for fun.

I finally got around to listening to The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins and Narrated By Clare Corbett, India Fisher and Louse Brealey.

Image result for the girl on the train book 
 

 I thought it was an intriguing listen, and enjoyed trying to work out how everything fitted together and it definitely made my daily commute a lot more enjoyable.

Pop back next Friday when I'll share another book I've listened to on my journeys.

Please feel free to share recommendations of books you've either read or listened to.

Love
Lupin Girl x



Thursday 18 May 2017

Throwback Thursday 18 May 2017

Welcome to my second #throwbackthursday post. 

This post is from when R had his reaction and we ended up at the Dr's surgery and on the start of his #glutenfree diet.  You can read it here:

What a day

R is still on a gluten free diet and is doing really well.  He has shot up, and his stomach aches have stopped which is fab.

I hope you enjoy this #throwbackthursday come back next week for the next one.

Lupin Girl x

Wednesday 17 May 2017

#WordlessWednesday 17 May 2017

Welcome to my second #wordlesswednesday post.


I love this mug, it keeps my coffee warm at work :)

Lupin Girl x


Tuesday 16 May 2017

Gluten Free Beer

I can't believe I've been gluten free for this long before trying gluten free beer.

Recently we went out with friends to Prezzo for a child free dinner.  I didn't fancy wine, and we noticed that there was gluten free beer on the menu, so I decided to try it.


The beer I tried was Peroni gluten free. 

Now it has been a long time since I had beer or lager of any description, but this tasted just as I remembered.  I don't think I had ever had the original Peroni before going gluten free, but this tasted crisp and delicious. 

I will definitely buy the gluten free Peroni again, and have noticed that Tesco sell it, so it may well accidently fall into the shopping trolley next time we go shopping.

Love From
Lupin Girl x

Monday 15 May 2017

Birthday Month

We've had a busy month with 2 birthday's and lots of celebrations. BBQ, sleepovers, shopping and airsofting!

This has meant gluten free cakes and puddings.


C's Learner Driver Cake, and B's Sorting Hat - Man that was hard to make!



Birthday Tiramisu and Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding



Meals out and a spectacular Sunday roast with all the trimmings mmmmm.


Pulled Pork, Crackling and Homemade Apple Sauce

Gluten Free Yorkshire Puddings

Roast Potatoes
 

It has also meant presents. Lots of presents. 

Driving lessons for C! As well as a few bits to open - well everyone wants presents as well don't they?

B has gone back to the '80's with a record player and of course a record to go with it, and this meant J having to clamber about in the loft to find my box of records (from the actual '80's).  We have re-lived Backstreet Boys, Dirty Dancing, Bros, New Kids on the Block, Michael Jackson and many more. As well as listening to B's new record - Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Volume 1.

 

We've had a great month and it's only half way through!

Love from 
Lupin Girl x


Thursday 11 May 2017

Throwback Thursday

So it's the first Thursday of my return and I'm going to start a #throwbackthursday post every Thursday.

I think these chocolate brownies were the first recipe I posted to the blog.  You can see them here

 Chocolate Brownies

This recipe is soya free and nut free but isn't gluten free as we weren't following the gluten free diet back then, but we just substitute the ordinary flour nowadays for gluten free flour and a teaspoon of xantham gum and they are still a big favourite in our house, and for lunchboxes too.

I hope you enjoy my first #throwbackthursday

Lupin Girl x

Wednesday 10 May 2017

#WordlessWednesday 10-05-2017

#WordlessWednesday
 
 
 
So as I'm back to blogging, and it's Wednesday.  I thought I'd better post a #wordlesswednesday blogpost.
 
This one was taken on my phone, whilst out running, so it isn't the best quality, but I love it anyway.
 
 
 
 

Have a great evening
 
Lupin Girl x


Tuesday 9 May 2017

Tuesday

So here's a typical Tuesday in the Lupin Household.

My alarm goes off at 6.20am, and I may snooze it once or twice.  I am not a morning person!  Then my gorgeous husband appears like a hero with a mug of coffee.  I go and wake the girls, as they have to leave for their school bus early so need to hit the bathroom first, but C sneaks in and beats them.  I go back to bed to finish my coffee and wait my turn in the bathroom.  We really could do with another one!

We gradually all appear downstairs and the chaos of getting lunches made and breakfasts eaten - or prepared to have on the go, (or once at work in my case) - begins.

 

A lovely mixed berry smoothie was my breakfast today.  Milk, about 250ml, frozen mixed berries, about 60 grams and gluten free oats, 20 grams.  Whizz it all up, and enjoy.  It's so tasty and filling too.

We manage to get the right people to the right place with the right stuff  and everyone does there day of work/school/college, and then we have to get everyone back home again.

Once home I get the dinner on - J gets in later than us most nights. Tonight we were using up the left over burgers and sausages from the family BBQ at the weekend with some chips and sweetcorn.  Then L decided that she will have to have something else as she doesn't really like burgers or sausages! 
 
I've started running again recently and so when J got in and whilst dinner was cooking I went for a run.



I'm not a pretty sight when out and about lol, my face in this one is saying - 'Who's bright idea was this?' :)

A friend of mine has also started running but she's further ahead on the 0-10K program than me and I struggle to keep up with her.  Also my calf keeps hurting.  So today I started with her and her friend, but left them half way and just did a 3k which wasn't too bad. My calf was sore, but I thought it was easing off as I was almost home, so maybe if I'd kept going it would have been ok?  Also, I didn't feel too bad during the run (apart from my calf) and I feel pretty good now I've showered and stretched out a bit.

Then the tumble dryer had to be emptied and a wash put on so that my kit gets washed and hung up to dry tonight.  The dishwasher needed emptying and reloading, and then it will need emptying again!  I'm trying to help B with her math homework, but should really be working a bit more on my last ever Open University assignment, but my hair needs drying and straightening otherwise I'll look like I've shoved my finger in the electric socket in the morning!

So now it's nearly 10pm, and I need to go and hang up the washing and empty the dishwasher, sort my hair out, and fall into bed!

I hope your Tuesday was a good one. 

Sweet Dreams
Lupin Girl x



Monday 8 May 2017

Braces

So I've been off line for a while as I hadn't been able to work out how to update from my phone when the blogger app stopped working, but as I've got the day off I had time to figure it out and I'm back πŸ˜€

Today is a big day in the Lupin household. B is getting her braces fitted. She's not sure which colour bands she's going to get though and is a little miffed that it's all happening just before her birthday, but I'm sure she'll be okay. 

As I've got the day off of work I was able to take R to school so he was over the moon a he got to ride his bike 🚴🏻 and I may even get time to do some work on my last ever assignment for the Open University!!! 

I hope to be blogging more often again now, but can't work out how to get pictures in from my phone using this easyblog app. Any ideas?

Take Care
Lupin Girl πŸ’•