Our weekly meal plan! 19th - 25th October! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a lovely weekend! I had a lovely Saturday. Becky was home and awake which is a rarity for a Saturday. Usually she is sleeping after a night shift or before one, she had a week off and it felt like a treat for everyone. She helped with the jobs around the house, I annoyed her by listening to Christmas music and she caught up with her laundry. Yesterday we didn't do much at all. It was a day for watching movies and just relaxing. Just what Sunday's are made for.

Last week's meal plan went pretty well. We ate almost everything and on the day I had planned. We had to change things on Saturday and we didn't have the Pork Meatball Marinara Flatbreads because when I found out Becky's partner was coming, I knew there wouldn't be enough from the Gousto box so we just made pizza. Our favourite meal from the week was the One Pot Spicy Lamb & Sultana Stew! The flavours worked so well together and we will be having it again!

This week is going to be another quiet week for me. Ellie finished her temporary job and they said they will be back in touch at the beginning of November if there is more work but she's not hanging around waiting. She has 2 more job interviews this week!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - No idea!

Stu is doing the cooking tonight, so it will be a surprise. I don't think he knows what he's planning to cook either but I think it will be something out of the freezer. I like nights like this because I don't have to decide anything. I can just turn up and eat!

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Oven Baked Normandy-Style Chicken Thigh & Apple Casserole!

This is a new recipe for us and it sounds so fancy! It's a chicken dish with apples and a creamy sauce making it a bit different from the usual chicken casserole we normally have with gravy.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - One Pot Pork & Beef Cheeseburger Macaroni!

I saw this on the options of meals from Gousto and had to get it. Last time we had it my family loved it and it's one of those meals they have been thinking about ever since. It's basically pasta with pork and beef mince and all those cheeseburger flavours mixed in.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Meat-Free Sloppy Joe Loaded Fries!

We're trying these meat free Sloppy Joe loaded fries. I think it is the same sloppy joe mix that we had in buns last week but this time it is over chips!

Friday - A takeaway of some sort!

Friday night is an easy night for me. I don't cook and we order takeaway. It could be Chinese or Indian food or even ordering from the fish and chip shop. We will decide on the day what we fancy. Last week we has sausage, chips and curry sauce.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Toffee Apple, Pork & Cheddar Burger!

This is another new meal to try. The burgers are made with pork, apple and cheddar which sounds like an yummy combination. I like trying different burgers instead of just having plain beef burgers every time.

Sunday - A help yourself evening!

I have no plans for Sunday at all. Everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy and use up bits from the fridge, freezer and cupboards. There is always something that needs using up.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 11th - 17th October Week 42 of #Project365

Happy Sunday!! I hope you've all had a lovely week and are enjoying your weekend. We're getting through October really quickly now, aren't we? Even Ellie, who doesn't usually notice things like this, couldn't believe we are past the halfway point of the month. I already have Christmas on my mind and have planned when the tree and decorations are going up. The day after my birthday at the end of next month. hehehe

I have had a week of being mostly alone and I have been totally OK with it, I have actually enjoyed it but it was nice to have Becky back on Friday. She spent most of the week at her partner's place and I feel like I've hardly seen Ellie. She's been busy, busy, busy. She had her last shift at work on Friday and was told there could be another couple of months work at the start of November. Ugh. At least now she has a bit of money saved and the hunt goes on for full-time, permanent work. She has another couple of interviews next week, so onwards and upwards.

Now for a photo every day!

284/365 11th October

Sunday was spent doing a bit of housework before settling down in front of the TV to watch the F1 Grand Prix and then the latest Spiderman movie. The Spiderman film was fantastic!! Spider-Man is in my top five Marvel characters, along with Thor, Loki, Iron Man and Deadpool. Hehehe.

285/365 12th October

Stu and I were out in the garden doing a bit of pruning, weeding and tidying up. The garden always seems to need something doing. We managed to get quite a bit done and the best part was that we filled the brown wheelie bin just in time for it to be emptied the next day.

286/365 13th October

I got an iced caramel chocolate drink from Greggs. According to the description it's made with cocoa powder and semi skimmed milk, with caramel flavour syrup and a salted caramel flavour drizzle on top. To me it tastes not quite like a milkshake but more like an iced hot chocolate drink.

287/365 14th October

I finally got my provisional driving licence sent out to me! A good few weeks ago, the DVLA emailed me asking about the paper driving licence I had when I was 17 years old. I lost it, probably by the time I was 20 and hadn't thought about it since. When I applied for my provisional licence, I put it down as my first application because I'd completely forgotten about the old one. A few weeks later the DVLA wanted me to confirm a few details. My new provisional licence arrived on Wednesday. On Friday I received a cheque in the post for £34 which was a bit of a surprise. I wasn't expecting a refund. I paid £34 and as far as I understand it a replacement provisional licence costs £20. So, if they were treating this as a replacement I would have expected to only get £14 back. I think there has been a mix up somewhere. I am going to give them a ring on Monday.

288/365 15th October

This isn't my photo, I pinched it from Becky's partner, who took it. They were up one of the three big wheels at Hull Fair. My girls and their people went to the fair and had a fantastic time. They only went on a few rides, they were there for the food. Between them, they had hot dogs, noodles, Yorkshire Pudding wraps, corn dogs, doughnuts and brought me candyfloss back!

289/365 16th October

Friday was a lovely Autumn day, so I took a few photos on the way to my dad's. The sun was shining and it was chilly but not too cold. It was the sort of weather that made me glad I went out. The nice weather didn't last, by mid-afternoon it was absolutely chucking it down.

290/365 17th October

I guess it rained overnight. There were pretty little droplets on a table outside.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Alone!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is: 

I hope you've all had a good week! I've had a really great one. Don't worry about my word, I'm not using it in a negative way. I usually think of being alone as a bit of a negative thing but this week I've enjoyed every moment of being alone. I haven't had much choice in the matter as my family have all been off doing their own thing. lol! From 8am until almost 7pm it was just me in the house on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm not used to having that much time to myself, so it was a bit strange at first but I soon got used to it.

I love my family to bits and I love spending time with them but sometimes I do enjoy having a bit of time to myself. The last time I had time like this was before Ellie finished college. It's been nice being able to get on with things without having to think about anyone else and just do my own thing for a change. Stu has been at work as normal. Ellie has been working, doing her English course or spending time with her "friend". Becky has had a week off work and spent most of it at her partner's place. She went away on Tuesday and came back yesterday.

I'm quite happy in my own company until something happens and I have no one to tell. lol I've been waiting for my Provisional Driving Licence to be sent out to me for weeks. I was panicking thinking something had gone wrong as I applied for it at the start of September and it's taken its sweet time! I was so excited when the postman came and I opened the little brown envelope. Of course I had to message Becky and show her a photo of it. She said I look like a right criminal. Eesh! I don't care, I feel like a real person now that I can prove who I am. lol As much as I have been home alone, Becky has been there at the end of a message, I've been sent snaps, TikToks and lots of chatter through text.

Stu rang on Wednesday while he was on his lunch break and the funny about it was that it was the first time during the whole day I had actually spoken out loud! I didn't even realise until I answered the phone and couldn't speak properly. lol After that I made a point of talking to myself more out loud and singing along to music that I had been playing.

One of the things I have enjoyed this week has been doing things my own way. It sounds like such a small thing but I've had no one to answer to or explain things to. I've been able to throw the dirty washing down the stairs into a heap behind the front door without worrying if someone is going to come in. I could fill the slow cooker and not worry about cleaning up the mess. I went and did some blogging and then went back and tidied the kitchen. I went in the shower and left the bathroom door open so it didn't get all steamy in there and I had my music playing and there was no one telling me off about it.

Don't worry, I have had some family time this week. On Monday evening we were all home, ate together and had a good catch up. After us all being so busy, it was good to have that time. The girls and their people went to Hull fair during the week and Becky came home yesterday after her few days away. We have more family time tonight, which I am looking forward to. Becky's partner is coming over for an evening in front of the TV. We have Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice and some wrestling to watch.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 42. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you've all had a good week. I've had a nice one and have a few things that have made me smile so of course I am linking up with Erika and Andrea to share what I have loved this week!

Ted Lasso!

My biggest favourite from this week was the TV show Ted Lasso! I can't believe it has taken me so long to get into it. I kept hearing people talking about it but for some reason I never got around to watching it. Now that I have started, I can see why so many people love it. I was wondering if people who aren't from the UK know who Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara are? They were the guys who were presenters discussing the Premier League action with Roy Kent in Season 1. They're real football pundits and had an iconic moment on Soccer Saturday a good few years ago when Chris missed seeing a red card. In my opinion, they are the best pundits in the UK. I love little moments like this in TV shows, where you recognise someone or understand a reference that might go over the heads of people watching from other countries. Anyway! I love this show. It's heart warming and funny at the same time. Ted is such a positive character even when things aren't going his way. I think we could all do with a little bit of that attitude sometimes!

Peppermint Bark candle!

Milk and white chocolate layered with crushed peppermint candy cane pieces. It sounds good enough to eat! It smells pretty amazing too. I got it from TK Maxx who in my opinion, sell the best scented candles!

A tidy in the garden!

On Monday, Stu and I went out in the garden, we didn't want to as it was grey and cold looking but once we started working we soon warmed up. I pulled all the dead plants up, Stu trimmed back some thorny weeds and we ended up almost filling the wheelie bin with weeds. I also found a couple of peppers hiding under a huge tomato plant. They ended up being an extra ingredient in the sloppy joes that we had for tea. There's still plenty to do outside and I am still waiting for some tomatoes to ripen. Eesh!

A provisional driving licence!

I finally got around to applying for one at the start of last month and it finally arrived in the middle of this week. I was starting to get worried as they sent my documents proving I existed back a few weeks ago and said my licence should follow shortly. Over the past week, I have been working myself up to giving them a call to see where it was but now I don't have to. Phew! It doesn't mean I am going to learn to drive but at least I now have some photo ID. That was the main reason I wanted it and it will make things much easier when I need to prove who I am.

Sweet mince pie roll.

This is new on the menu at Greggs, the bakery shop. It is puff pastry filled with a sweet mincemeat and it is delicious! I think it would have been even nicer if I had got it straight from the shop instead of it being delivered and it almost cooling right down. I will be getting more of these in the run up to Christmas!

Birthday plans!

It was only this week that I realised that it is my birthday next month. Someone else with a birthday in November said next month and then I got excited. For the last couple of years I have gone to York Christmas market for my birthday and as nice as it is it now feels a bit samey, so I have come up with something else which isn't on my birthday but close enough. I will share more about it after it's happened but I am looking forward to it. I am also planning a meal out on my actual birthday because I have noticed all the pubs are serving up their festive meals and I am a sucker for roast turkey with all the trimmings!

What have you loved this week?