We don't go mad at Christmas, but there are still essential things which have to be bought - food for the Christmas period (I try and spread this over several weeks, especially with meat which can be frozen, and nibbly things, which will last anyway). Keith never over-eats and if it was left to him, would be happy to ignore Christmas entirely, and just have a normal meal. Obviously we have some extra goodies, make a special dessert - which is nearly ALWAYS fresh fruit salad (for Keith) and chocolate and raspberry roulade for the rest of us. A cheese board. A couple of good bottles of wine, and something fizzy for the girls.
The Christmas present shopping is just about done (just close family) and again, we don't go mad over this. I need to get some Amazon vouchers for family in East Anglia and then I'm about done.
Monday is the day we most often go into town to get groceries, and we left our trip until this afternoon as I had an appointment at the Cardiology department to get fitted with a portable ECG to wear for 24 hours to monitor my heart, and any irregularities. I am still getting some arrhythmia at night, though it is better since I have dropped back from 6 puffs to 5 of my Fostair inhaler. I don't use the strong one now, as that did seem to make me worse. I only ever get the blips at night, when it is scariest. Tomorrow I have an echocardiogram so they can see first hand if there is any obvious problem. I am hoping it is just the medication I am on as both things have arrhythmia as a side-effect.
Anyway, having done the grocery shopping, and the Hospital, we popped back into town as I needed new cords, and hadn't found any decent ones. M&S was a right-off as they had lovely ones but those in my size and length had already been sold, and I really DIDN'T want any in mustard or stone. So it was back down the road to check out the Edinburgh Woollen Mill (not my first choice I have to say), but when I got there they were having a sale (again - or is that STILL?) and I found two pairs which fitted well, and were half price, and I topped it off with a lovely Fuschia pink cotton jumper.
I came home to a letter from my Dutch penpal (I owed her a long-overdue one, truth be told). It is lovely to receive snail-mail and I am about to write back as soon as I have posted this.
Tea was of the bung-it variety (as usual). I had some mince to use up, so browned off a couple of chopped Shallots (on offer in Lidl this week, 39p a bag I think - I got two). They are just the right size for a small meal recipe. Then I browned off the mince (1/3 of a large pack), chopped up 6 fresh Lidl baby plum tomatoes, and a chunk of red pepper, and added about 1/2 cup of white rice (I know, but it cooks much quicker than brown, which I normally use). Salt and pepper to season, about a tablespoonful of tomato puree and a pint of beef stock. You can zizz this up with curry powder/paste, chilli powder, or BBQ sauce (or any sauce come to that) or add a tin of spicy mixed beans. It depends how many you are catering for too. It can be bulked out with frozen mixed veg. Anyway, with a big helping of cauliflower and green beans, that stuck to my ribs good and proper. No photo . . .
Right, this won't do. I had better write to Jeanette.
