Farewell Old , Hello New .. 2014 is Almost Done ...

Hello from cold England , I'm snuggled up in my fleece pajamas , bathrobe, and sipping a nice wine , to warm me up . The whole year has rushed passed us ,seriously where did those 365 days go ? One more day and we bid farewell to 2014 and welcome with open arms 2015 .We are always ready to bid goodbye and say hello . Tomorrow at midnight all around the world millions will be singing  "Should auld acquaintances be forgot , and never brought to mind ? "Echoing a sentiment penned a long time ago by Scottish poet Rab Burns . It is a rhetorical question , is it not ? For many these days , it is a symbolical gesture of disconnection to the past . But should we really move on from yesterday and  forget that the past ever happened ? Or should we consciously accept and forgive history as we now embrace the future .
If we really want to know the truth , atleast once in our life we should allow ourselves to doubt everything we ever thought we knew . Our story is never fully told , in 2015 we have a chance to once again, fully embark on our journey . By the time it is at the end ,we should feel like a different person and the world should watch with amazement and have new respect for us . We should embark on an adventure , that eventually facilitates the fulfillment of lifelong aspirations . Don't be bound by limitations , that you once accepted as inevitable . You always have a chance to dream and take the bull by the horns and move forward .
I always remember the words of French Philosopher Rene Descartes , "I think , therefore I am " I paraphrase him "  I intend .. therefore I will " simple but achievable , definitely my motto for 2015 .
Goals , Resolutions we all make a list of them somewhere soon in the first days of 2015 it is a topic to touch upon .
So my friends and other bloggers who read in case I'm so busy and don't have the time to pen a few lines , I wish you a very Happy New Year 2015 . If you party tomorrow night New Year's Eve, be responsible , don't drink and drive . Don't lose control of yourself and always be thoughtful , kind , helpful and gracious . Have a lovely night ! Goodnight and till 2015 . Be Good !
#Peace & Love

A Catalyst that Changes your Life's Path , Good or Bad ???

Hi everyone who religiously follow my blog .. I am deeply honoured that you like my writing and read my thoughts for that day . I know I have new people all the time reading from as far away as Mexico and Switzerland . India still seems to draw in 2/3 shameful .. what do those people do there ?? Guess they have stopped reading for a high flying , fast track lifestyle , presumably .. But thank you very much everyone else who does read the blog  . Please do feel free to comment if there is a particular topic you would like me to write about .I know most of the time my views don't follow convention and I am pretty open minded , sometimes wacky in my thoughts but always religious in my open minded beliefs .
Today was a thoroughly different day there were dips .. it went from a little excited high to a low to a high and a low .. But I am always sailing through it all ... The reason being I always keep my boat anchored securely close to shore so no matter how rough the waves are going to be , I know I am going nowhere !! We all need to have that secure spot within ourselves to conquer all that comes along in life ..
So shall I begin on that morning feeling ... I happened to find an old b/f on fb who I have not heard from in years approximately 26 yrs .. yeah that's a freeking long time .. So I sent him a friend request and he accepted .. well I don't know if he exactly remembered me ( it was a very short friendship !) but I enjoyed chatting for a bit and finding out how life had turned out for him !! He without knowing had been the Catalyst which had turned my whole life around when we met all those 26/27 years ago . I am today here,  because had I not split with my then b/f to start dating him , life would have been totally different for me !!!
Are we all smart enough to  realise what turns our life around at what point to take us on a complete different journey on our life path ?? Not many people have that perception but maybe we need to take better notice of things .. Not that I'm saying he ruined what would have been ,lol No !! I believe this , because whatever happens always happens for a reason , it teaches us valuable lessons , always .
My life was lovely I had a great boyfriend , he was tall handsome , with the most gorgeous eyes you could ever see , they changed colour and I was fascinated with them , my Mum often said Elizabeth Taylor had those eyes that changed colour ! But because he lived very far away , we only ever saw each other 3/4 times a year , and that made me unhappy . I being young ,had girlfriends whose boyfriends were taking them out all the time , I wanted a b/f close by , who could spend plenty of time with me . Now my B/f was a great , honest , loyal guy who I knew for forever , and had we stayed together , he would have married me and we would have been living in Aussie .. But I broke up with him , for this" other guy "also handsome and very close to looking like Sting ..I was so charmed .. But it didn't last !! Barely 2/3 months later , he moved away to another city and we lost touch , while he lived a fast busy life .. I lost the b/f who I knew for so long for this little romance and nothing could get my old b/f back he was hurt and unforgiving .. So my life changed completely .. I had another relationship which turned sour , after years together .. I eventually married a very controlling man had my 3 gorgeous children split up with him , and now I'm a single mother ..working hard to bring up my kids on my own .. Not an easy task but accomplishing it everyday !!
Then the dip of the day .. how many times do we get hurt as parents by our children but we ignore it .. Because they are our children and we love them so much .. Well we had all decided ,to go for a day out , tomorrow . Suddenly this morning I decided I wouldn't go with them tomorrow , they could just go with a relative of mine . But I in the evening changed my mind and said Oh what the hell, "I am going with them " I'm sure they will love having me " Mum " tag  along .. To my dismay my eldest child says No don't come , you don't care for that shopping Mall it's okay stay home .. I have never been so hurt in my life .. My Mum is no more and I would never in my life have told her , what my child told me ..I always wanted her to come everywhere with me .. I would give anything to have her come along with me .. Oh did I cry , yes as old as I am I cried , thinking OMG , my child doesn't want me .. But she saw she hurt me and apologised but it's okay I am going and I forgive , it's part of being a parent . So my day was up and down ..How was yours ??
Well whatever time it is now in yours make the most of it and give thanks for another day passed . Keep smiling , till tomorrow , stay blessed :)
#Peace & Love

Steak Sandwich to Balance all the Christmas Hearty Food :)

Good Evening England .. and the rest of the world, wherever you are in your day , I hope it's a good one and your smiling from ear to ear ! So Christmas day , Boxing day and a few more days have passed , how soon time does fly . I hope the festive days brought you much joy , good presents , family togetherness and peace in your heart ! For me it was joyous , with a beautiful Church service , Carols , mulled wine ,Christmas cake , gifts , scrumptious dinner , the Queen's speech ( which I never MISS !! ) and the other wonderful TV programmes to keep one so happy it's obscene .. well Eastenders makes sure they have some heavy subject on, and some drama to end all dramas to dent all that unending joy of the day ! But nevetheless Eastenders had such a gripping episode it was more than just good !! So it was a happy old, contented me who went to bed on Christmas day with a smile on my face  :)

Okay so today you must be tired from all those busy days , meeting up with friends , cooking for 21 people , shopping on boxing day .. hhhmm tiring for everyone , I'm sure .  You def . don't want to cook again !! But we all need to eat , and we all like good food cooked super quick . So I whipped up this and it went down so well , everyone wanted seconds and thirds but everyone was not so lucky . The Ribeye Steak Sandwich , really delicious .

My Quick Recipe for the Steak Sandwich :

Slices of Bread ,or a Baguette
Ribeye Steak , cut in slices
Mushrooms
Red Bell Peppers or Paprika ( whatever you call it )
Onions
Cheese slices ( Optional )

Cut your mushrooms , peppers ,onions put them on a grill pan and season with salt and pepper . Once they have softened add a little bit of sugar to caramelize it . When it's done in a few minutes get it off the heat .
Get your steak on and grill it for 3/4 mins on each side . season it with salt and pepper .
Get your bread , sprinkle it with some Olive Oil and put it on the grill . Toast it on each side and take it off once it looks a bit done .
Put your steak on the bread , you could add the cheese at this point , then add your grilled vegetables . Cover it with another slice of bread and cut it in half . Your Steak Sandwich is ready to eat ! Enjoy .. It's one of my favourite things .

Have a wonderful day and Enjoy whatever you set your heart on doing . Till next time , Keep smiling .. Bye for now .
#Peace & Love

Police !! Where Is the OutRage Now ??

Hi , everyone wherever you are in your day , I hope it's been a happy one and your smiling . Alot of things are going on in the world , and we can't pretend we didn't hear about it . As soon as children can read they see the news plastered all over the net ! Seeing as our children are so computer savvy .
The news about the 2 police officers shot , in NY was shocking . They are the first people who give us protection , the sense of having them around brings a more peaceful feeling . In times of trouble when things can't be controlled , often communities call on the police for help . How many of us ,knew children in our classes when we were young and at school , growing up who wanted to be a Police Officer . Nowadays not so many children want to join the Police Force , because it is fast becoming a very dangerous job . We need to give our Police Officers more support , respect and love . These Men work shift duties , long hours walking the streets keeping patrol .. They often do shifts on bitter cold nights to give the common people protection at the weekends in the big Cities .
I remember visiting San Diego on my own on Vacation , I booked a hotel before I left , and booked one completely on the outskirts of the town ! So everyday while I roamed around town it was often 1 am in the night before I was waiting to catch the bus to my hotel . I had to change in between from a red to a yellow line or something like that . At that time of the night I was a little afraid but every stop had an armed Policeman to make people like me feel safe . I always stood pretty close to him till I managed to catch my next trolley car . The Policemen taking on these jobs have to be brave because they know we depend on them . Often these hard working men are underpaid .. As in a lot of Service Jobs .. People give their time to Care about somebody else and they are undervalued and underpaid . Why is it if you play sport , suddenly you deserve an obscene amount of money !
I say we should Respect our Police , and give them more support . Also don't you think having a uniform job they also need to take care of their appearance , their clothes .  So even when they are not at work , they are getting their clothes organized . Keeping fit and always doing everything with work in mind . Okay so I am taking the time to write this , because I do think they can be charming, witty , caring but more important , they are also human beings, in case we forget . They are somebody's Father , Mother , Brother , Sister, Husband ,Wife , Son or Daughter . Yes I do like somebody who's a Police Officer and God bless him for the great Job he does , even if it's only me saying so !!
God Bless all our Officers in the USA , UK and all over the world .. They do a hard , thankless job .
Enjoy your day and RIP any Officer who has died anywhere in the world .. We love you xx
Peace & Love

Some Veggies have Protein !!!

Happy Sunday everyone !! Hope your Sunday was relaxed , and most of all the Christmas prep . is done and under control . I'm still short of having everything I need , but two more days at the shops will see me done dusted ,and ready to bring in the New Year :)
I've just got to make sure I've bought as many " Greens " as I have Meat and Seafood !!!
Did you know that, there are Six Veggies that contain a fair amount of Protein which we get from  meat . Vegetables are typically not known for being a source of Protein , but there are some with a sneaky amount of it ! Plant proteins are sometimes " incomplete " which basically means they don't contain a fair amount of amino acids !! To make sure you are getting the right amount of amino acids be sure to combine these veggies with whole grains !


Peas
Each half-cup contains three and a half grams of protein. Try them in a creamy fresh pea soup with mint .

Spinach
You'll find three grams of protein in a half cup of spinach. Get your fill with one yummy spinach smoothie.

Baked Potato
Another stealth source of protein? Potatoes! A medium-sized one contains three grams . Make delicious spinach- and goat cheese stuffed baked potatoes .

Broccoli
Broccoli's not just filled with fiber (2.6 grams per half cup)—it's also a great source of protein, with two grams per serving. Up your intake by cooking your favorite broccoli recipes.

Brussels Sprouts
These little green guys get a bad rap, but they're actually nutritional superstars: Each half cup packs two grams of protein, along with 247 milligrams of potassium and 110 micrograms of vitamin K. Luckily for haters , there are delicious Brussel Sprout recipes available . 

Corn
OK, we know that corn is technically a grain. But you can find it in the produce aisle—and you'll be glad to know that half a cup of kernels provides two grams of filling protein. Try this grilled corn with lemon-parsley butter  with dinner tonight.

Hope you find yourself eating more greens ,especially ones which have protein ! Have a good week and Merry Christmas xx

Four Simple Exercises to Give your Whole Body a Workout :)

Hi , We all need to get up , off our backsides  :) Yeah , off that couch , once we get home and be more active . Sounds too much of a chore ?? Four basic exercises to help tighten that core and give you a complete workout in your living room . Dumbbells not needed , sports bra not required and there's no reason not to get an amazing workout in the house . Twenty reps of each exercise , and your good to go .. A proper whole body workout !!

1. The Pull up Walk : This pike move works every muscle in your arms down to your calves .
1. Start in the press-up position, both hands on the floor, arms straight, feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Keeping your legs straight and knees locked, walk your feet in as far as you can towards your hands, stop for a beat, then reverse by walking your hands away until you're back in the press-up position.
3. This is one rep. Remember to keep your tummy pulled in throughout.

2 .The side Plank : This side plank is another good one for tightening , your tummy muscles but also gives your shoulders and back a good work out .1. Lie on your right side with your ankles, knees, hips and shoulders in line with each other and your right elbow on the floor under your right shoulder, hips lifted off the floor, weight supported on your foot and forearm .
2. Dip your hips down towards the floor before raising them back  to the start position; this is one rep. Do the same number of reps on each side.

3. The Lie-Down , Stand-Up :Yep, that's the actual name… but don't be fooled, this move is super effective.It strengthens your bottom and legs, as well as your core.
1. Lie on your back with your arms lying flat on the floor at your sides.
2. Extend your arms back behind your head, then throw them forwards, using the momentum to lift your body to a half-kneeling position before standing up straight.Try not to touch the floor throughout and to get up lying back down again, arms extended. This is one rep in one smooth movement.

4. The T- Press :This is a classic yoga move that really targets your core and tummy muscles.
1. Start in the press-up position with your feet shoulder-width apart,hands under your shoulders.
2. Perform a press-up and, as your arms straighten, pivot on your feet and lift your left arm until it's  pointing straight up and your chest is facing left.
3. Pause for a count of two seconds and then, with control, reverse the move until you're in the press-up  position again. This is one rep.  Do the same number of reps on each side.

Hope you find these four exercises helpful .. It is sure to make you feel ten times better about  yourself , without getting a gym membership !
Have a good weekend , and keep active :) 
#peace & love .

I Love Cooking Salt Meat ( Beef ) - My Recipe !!

Hello Everyone , the weekend is almost upon us and most of us at the weekend think about preparing, something really special for the family ( if you love to cook ! ) I have lovely memories of salt meat ( cooked with a large chunk of beef ) which was a staple around Christmas time , with all the people who lived in my town  . My grandma made this delicious dish , but this recipe is not hers , she never got around to telling me how it was done  . I learned to make it over time , checking the net and this is how I now prepare my own . I love it so much .  I don't generally wait for Christmas to prepare it for my children . It takes a while to make , needs to be soaked in brine . But lasts for sometime ,in the refrigerator . Great to be sliced and put in sandwiches . I am crazy about salt meat , it is super delicious and with Christmas around the corner , I know a lot of people want to prepare some special side dishes, for all your lovely relatives who just turn up on your doorstep to share the holiday spirit with you . I hope you enjoy making this and have tons of pleasure eating it !! Enjoy , the recipe is below :)

For the brine 
275 g  soft light-brown sugar
350 g  coarse sea salt
2 tsp black peppercorns
½ tbsp juniper berries
4 cloves
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs of thyme
55 g  saltpetre (optional)

For the beef 
2.5 kg  piece of beef brisket
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 celery stick, roughly chopped (optional)
1 leek, cut into large chunks
1 bouquet garni
½ head of garlic

Put all the ingredients for the brine into a very large saucepan, pour in 2.5 litres  of water and gradually bring to the boil, stirring to help the sugar and salt dissolve. Once it comes to the boil, let it bubble away for two minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool completely.

Pierce the meat all over with a skewer. Put it in a large, sterilised plastic box or bucket (something non-reactive) and cover the meat with the brine; it must be totally immersed. The best thing I've found for weighing it down is two massive bottles of vodka. Put them in on top of the meat and it will stay below the level of the brine. Leave in a very cool place ( a room that is always freezing cold – most houses have one). Leave it for seven days.

Take the beef out of the brine and rinse it. Roll and tie the meat and put it in a pan with the vegetables, bouquet garni and garlic, adding enough cold water to cover. Bring the water to simmering point, then leave to poach gently – I mean gently – for two and a half to three hours. Cook until the meat is completely tender (check with a skewer).

Serve in slices with pickles, horseradish sauce , English mustard or piccalilli. You can serve it hot (reheat it in the broth in which it has cooked) or cold. It will keep for a week in the refrigerator; wrap it well so it stays moist.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow and keep smiling ... 

Bye for now . #peace & love .