Holiday in the New Forest

Hello there, just waving hello to you all, thank you for your lovely comments last time. Some holiday photos and health news at the end of the blog. 

 

In May this year, we went down south to Hampshire, we stayed in The New Forest. The boys and their partners camped with us for a few days. We celebrated Nat's birthday with a meal (it was back in April). It was a good to see my parents and the in-laws graves. Angus flew the plane in the campsite lol, it was an open event for the campsite - to celebrate 80 years Victory in Europe. Holmsley Campsite is set in the grounds of a disused airfield. It has a lot of wartime history with a book written about it too. 

Stalls set up for entertainment

Walks close to the campsite

A detour past the horses to...

a disused railway, nice and flat.

Leaving the track...

chatted to a German couple cycling, wondering about the 'cattle grid' signs. We said they stop any animal, horses, cows crossing. They are all free roaming in the forest and some roads.

The money tree, where people wedge a coin in for luck.

The play park back at the campsite.

                                                      

Travelling in the motorhome to...

"Oooh a pup cup, for me!"
 
"Yes Angus, it's for you"

Tall Trees Walk, I love it there. I've shared photos of the Tall Trees before.

 A stop in town for supplies. In the distance on the right, are two donkeys (right of red car) that tried snatching my 'ripped' bag! The animals are wild and free to roam. We aren't to feed them, they are however always inquisitive. It's hard to park with a huge motorhome (we hire one), so I walked down the road a bit. 

Next time, I'll put together some photos of our next stop before home. We visited The Peak District. 

Health Update.
My dietitian is appealing to my GP to refer me for testing of Histamine (& sibo), Salicylates and Hydrogen Breath Test. It's been a few months of emails back and forth... still waiting for news. 

Last month, a lady came to our WI to talk about her allergies. She's had them her whole life, she's 50 years old now and glad to be alive! Her allergies require an epipen and a trip to the hospital. I was amazed when she used the word diarrhea two or three times! I spoke to her afterwards and said - that's been my life, at least once a week for the past 30 + years.

Though I don't have allergies... life threatening emergencies. I do have intolerances that aren't solved through FODMAP testing alone. It's not Coeliac either. I've never known what causes my debilitating symptoms, and they are definitely debilitating. It leads to feeling washed out, fatigue and sometimes brain fog. I always say, if I knew what caused it, I'd stop eating it. 

Thanks to my dietitian mentioning Histamine intolerance, I've been investigating histamine, salicylates and glutamates. I purchased a cookbook called Food Friendly (Australia RPAH experts) the recipes are absolutely bizarre. They aren't just weird, they're completely lacking in 'normal food'. At the moment, I'm eating foods in the low and moderate column. Overall I feel lots better. I still get end up eating 'wrong things' though I'm working out what they are slowly. Bananas (not sure why), too many cashew nuts - that's a Fodmap issue - I have the Monash App tailored to my tolerances. It tells me that I can eat 2 cashew nuts per meal, so I could have 6 over the day. Some may think, well don't bother with the cashew nuts, but it's the only nuts in the low and moderate columns that are safe to eat. The other nuts and seeds are high or very high. It's nice to have a bit of variety.
 
The book recommends that you make 5 very basic recipes first' as you'll use these a lot. If I don't make these, then food will be very bland... no condiments, no dressing, no stock/gravy... nothing! I love 'all' the condiments, dressings, mayo and lashings of gravy drowning my food.

So I'll need to make the basics: mayonnaise (no lemon and made with rice bran oil, no olive oil, or veg oil),
pear jam 
pear chutney (pealed pear is low, peeled golden delicious is moderate), no onion, no spices and no black or white, cumin pepper is allowed.
The only ok herbs are parsley but only a pinch and chives. Spring onion and leeks are ok.
Stock & gravy is tricky due no onion, herbs, hvp and yeast extract.
Lastly 'Lemon Cordial' which hasn't any lemons in it at all. I've yet to try making the basic recipes as I've not felt great and at times low energy due to food issues eg realising that bananas and cashew nuts are an unrelated problem for me and eggs (except baked in a cake or brushed on pastry) are an unrelated problem for me.  
I made a stir fry one day, once I felt a bit happier with the 'idea of cooking from the book'. Soy sauce is out, as well as Chinese five spice. You just have to make it work with the ingredients allowed.

There's no use bleating about it, I've gone through a strange grieving process - realising that I just can't eat all the things that I want to. They don't do me any good anyway. I'm always hopeful and always trying different things in the hope that it may help. One day the dietitian will contact me, either with news about testing or she'll hopefully help with a proper elimination diet.

Well that's a lot of rambling, take care and have a lovely weekend. 
Cx

Taking a break

 Hello there, 

I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking a break from blogging just now. I hope to be back soon. I've not been well for a while (IBS type symptoms). 

I'm seeing a new dietitian, so feel hopeful for the first time in over 30 years... yes it's been a while. The potential new diet for the future, if it is Histamine intolerance and or Salicylate intolerance too, quite frankly is so restricting, it's left me overwhelmed with it all. 

For now I'm doing the Fodmap Diet again... to get stable (I wish), before a histamine test. I do need help though, as the last year has been the worst ever. 

Anyway, onwards and upwards, thank you so much for popping in to my blog each Friday. I love catching up with you all. 

Take care.

Cathy x

Easter :: Friday Catch Up

Hello there, I hope you had a lovely time at Easter. This week has flown by with lots happening in a short week. We had a lovely time over Easter... a 4 day break. Followed by Doctor's appointments for thyroid blood check (waiting results). Hospital for dietitian, very interesting but hard to understand (foreign accent), feeling hopeful but it's all going to take time. Doctor's today for an inflamed lump... antibiotics and a letter sent to the breast clinic. Always check and go see your doctor... it may be nothing.
My Nan passed away today, at 97 years old, she lived a good life. She had 10 children and numerous grandchildren. It's safe to say that she will be missed. Mum phoned and said that my uncle passed away 12 days ago as well. 
I feel all behind lately, so a quick Friday Catch Up blog today. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I'll try to catch up with visiting this week. 

Easter flowers and an enjoyable read. Set in wartime Britain, not children evacuees but pregnant woman. The WI are involved and plenty of cups of tea.  

Easter Cactus from Morrison's. I thought the flowers would open like the Christmas Cactus. These flowers open in the sun and close in the evenings. 

The mystery KAL (knit-a-long) for Lent, finished - all he ends have been sewn in now. It's 50% wool and acrylic, so nice and warm as a small lap blanket. The Kildalton Cross, Isle of Islay. 

Book read for the Bookclub. A very good read, not a psychological thriller (thankfully) but with twists and surprises, you'll definitely be entertained.  

A before and after of a 'clean & treat' garden bench 'Nancy Birtwhistle' style. Using home ingredients  to remove the algae and bird droppings and to preserve the wood. 

At the village coffee morning, a little girl handed out crochet flowers. Her Grandma made them. It was so sweet to be given a flower and have your cup of tea and scone order taken, by a little person :)
I think she was 7 years old. 

 Not a lot of birthday cake left over. Morris is his name. 

Happy Birthday to my son, first born, number 1 son... Nathanael / Nat... 25 years old! 

That's all my news for now, take care.
Cx

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Five Minute Gardening

Hello there, it's Angus here.

I've heard Mistress reminiscing about 'that cat QT', she told me that he used to write a few of her blogs. I thought I'd flex my muscles, blow on my paws and tap the key board... I mean, how hard can it be? I hear mixed stories about QT, Mistress says he was lovely, sweet natured and good company. Master says he was grumpy and swore a lot. To be honest I found him a bit stand-offish, the first time we met he took a swipe at me with a loud hiss. Not very friendly!

My personality is 'total devotion' to my people, I adore my all family, they are my world. Cats can be funny creatures, though Mistress says she loves all cats, she's thankfully found some love for me.
I've been with my family for nearly 5 years now. I knew QT for less than a year before he developed dementia, he was 21 years old when he left us. At the end he tolerated me and forgot to hiss at me.  

Whilst Mistress is catching up on the house work, follow me outside to see the garden. Ps I'm booked in to see the lovely groomer this month for a spa day, so don't mind the fluff.  

I always have a quick sniff around, then I like to sit or lay down on the grass. 

It's important to be comfortable. 

I find things look better upside down... you should try it :) 

Superman! I have a good stretch before finally getting up and going for a wander round the garden. 

Now where were we? Let's go, this way.

I remember QT used to keep an eye on the birds outside, my people won't put out bird food here, they say I'm an animal eating 'everything'... they accuse me of eating bird poo! Me? I'm a Golden Retriever! Golden by nature, Retriever by tidying up. Say no more, they don't listen to me anyway.

Oops! You've caught me eating something I shouldn't.

And again! I'm not trusted to be outside for long on my own... I eat 'all sorts' including twigs and branches. My people always panic when I go near the fruit trees, it seems many things upset my tummy, plums are definitely one of them.

This pink blossom belongs to the lady next door, later the blossom will be all over the garden. Mistress will get fed up with it being trodden inside on my paws, but I can't wipe my own feet. 

 

Lots of birds sit in this tree and bomb the swing seat, the Master built a permanent canopy over the seat. The fabric one didn't stand up to the wind.

The leaky water fountain, I've seen a few frogs hopping around here. QT would've loved those. 

The garden needs lots of weeding and tidying, at 5 - 15mins a day. I'm pleased about this, as it means I can go for lots of wanderings around the garden. I like to 'help' outside. 

Last week I was taken to the Vet lady for a check up and a weigh in, my food is weighed and biscuits are restricted here. That's the only downside, my previous house kept me settled (in my puppy days) with copious amounts of treats and food. To be fair I feel healthier now and can jump in the car for trips out. It's just hard when all I think about is my next tasty bite to eat. 

Bye for now, I'm being called in for Lunch. Another favourite meal of mine. A chunk of cucumber and  carrot, sometimes I have half an apple. 
Angus x


 
Hello there, I gather Angus has been keeping you entertained. If you want to see QT's blogs, they're in the cloud on the right. Tap on QT to see which ones he wrote and which were about him.
Take care and please send inspiration for the garden weeding & tidying. 
Cx