the work waits

[pensnest]

You'd think, wouldn't you, that people who are getting free stuff would come for it, but 'tis not always so. Over the weekend we succeeded in passing on two plug-in convection ovens, a large box of assorted fabrics, and an elderly iMac. The computer had originally been promised elsewhere but that recipient apparently dropped off the face of the planet, so I contacted one of the many others who had asked for it. Beast had looked up the value of the iMac and found it too tiny to be worth selling, but still, it was a working machine and a decent size. And free!

*

Spent quite a bit of Monday and Tuesday working on our doorbell, which has been silent for a while. At least, Beast was working, I was electrician's mate and sidekick. I usually figure out which screwdriver to hand over, and sometimes manage a helpful suggestion, though I couldn't even begin to do the work myself. It wasn't a difficult job, apart from the transformer in question being underneath a worktop-height bench, but the various steps took a while. Anyway, it now works, because Beast is generally competent at this sort of thing. Power tools, also helpful!

*

Today we had someone round to look at the garden with a view to designing something prettier. Unlike the last time (months ago but never heard a squeak out of the guy after his visit) she was interested in what I like and don't like, what is there already and what might go, etc. So I have hope! Also, there are two orange tomatoes now! Very exciting. (My life is a little staid, why do you ask?)

*

The children's house sale has gone through and they are moving at the beginning of next week. Boy has been given stern instructions (by me, so he won't take much notice) to get his stuff packed, and will be moving in here on Sunday; Bun and her chap are moving on Monday and Tuesday and have requested assistance. So we should be kept busy.

*

I am trying to track my blood sugars, which have been Too High for quite a while now. I don't suppose it helps that in the switch from regular to slow-release Metformin my total dose went down by 20%, though nobody at the surgery seems to care. Anyway, i got myself a little kit and have been poking holes in my fingertips for the past three days at semi-regular times, trying to build up a picture. I'm also trying to adapt my breakfasts, at least, to something that doesn't sent the blood sugars into the stratosphere (and to notice whether or not there's a difference on exercise days). Does anyone know if oats are better than wheat for diabetics? I didn't buy any Oatibix last time I was in Sainsburys, sing the Weetabix don't seem to upset my tummy, but perhaps I should have done.

Comments

[watervole]

Oats (especially jumbo oats) are good slow release food - which I believe is good from a diabetic angle?

If you have a shop locally that sells one, get a really good muesli - the kind that has big oat flakes, lots of seeds and nuts and dried fruit and no sugar/honey/milk/small dusty bits of grain.

We have a local whole food that sells their own premium brand in large sacks (which makes it very good value in spite of being the most expensive one they have when in small quantities).

There may well be something similar near to you. Look for the stuff that doesn't come in pretty branded boxes, but the stuff they pack themselves, either loose or in clear plastic packets.

'whole food' not 'health food'. Fibre is a plus for diabetics (and everyone else for that matter.)

I introduced my non-muesli eating friend to the good stuff a couple of weeks ago - total convert!

Another option if you aren't in a hurry is porridge. Not Reddibrek -that's designed to cook fast, so has small flakes. Buy jumbo porridge oats and make your own. Takes a bit longer, but tastes better and is better for you.

[pensnest]

I'll definitely keep a look out for jumbo oats. I had porridge this morning from a little pack - good for portion control, but not so good for slow release! However, it'll be interesting to see how the blood sugar goes. I need to settle on a different breakfast, possibly; I might try the Oatibix again, but it's quite possible porridge will be a better bet. When the little packets run out I'll go back to cooking it properly.

Oddly, although I put mixed seeds, chopped nuts and sultanas on my porridge (and no sugar or honey), I don't much like muesli. My husband eats the cheapest own-brand muesli from Sainsbury, as it has the lowest sugar of any supermarket brand he has tried. (Admittedly, at the moment that means Aldi or Sainsbury's, but we could at a push go to Tesco or Morrisons or Lidl.)

Thanks for the ideas.

[frausorge]

Yay for a working doorbell, and kudos to the electrician and assistant! And I hope you get a really nice and attractive design for your garden! And that all the moves go as smoothly as possible.

[pensnest]

The kids' moves are much facilitated by the fact that they sold their house to one of the house-mates, so although they completed the sale a few days ago, they are still living there quite comfortably! Much easier than the previous prospect of "everybody moves in with their parents until they can move into their new homes".

It's very useful to have a husband who can Do Stuff about the house, in the way of mending minor electrical faults and toilet flush mechanisms. He has a very logical mind, and might have done very well as an engineer had he known about it when he went to university.

I'm sure I shall keep my journal up to date with regard to garden progress. We shall see. In fairness, if I just brought in a gang of gardeners to rip out prune all the bushes and napalm root out the brambles, things would be very much improved.

[turps]

Your doorbell sounds complicated, I would have thought they would need a battery change only, but I guess not.

That sounds exciting about the garden, and the tomatoes. I've just picked some of mine to have as part of a salad dinner and there's nothing better.

[pensnest]

The doorbell is actually wired in rather than battery powered, and we think there must have been a loose connection, possibly in the transformer. Beast had actually bought a new transformer, but after he adjusted and rewired it, the old one still works.

Tomatoes! I would very much like some of the little Gardeners Delight toms to ripen, because they are sooooo good eaten straight off the vine, but we'll see. There's supposed to be some sunshine this week....

[turlough]

Congratulations to your working doorbell! I envy you your handy Beast :-)

Lots of good luck with the garden design! I'm looking forward to hearing all about it. Also, yay for ripening tomatoes!

Good to hear the house sale has gone through! I hope the moving won't be too streneous.