Went to have a beer on the lakeside with Colin. Needed a good bitching session.
Proof there’s a glitch in the matrix
This cup of coffee shouldn’t be there. I have no recollection of putting it there. I must’ve done. But I will swear I don’t remember doing so.
This morning, I made myself a cup of coffee. I went to the bathroom. I came out of the bathroom and went back to the kitchen, but my cup wasn’t there where I left it. I looked around. Nothing. Go to the office/guest bedroom. It was on my desk.
So, for this to have happened, I had to have walked across the flat, gone in the office, put it on my desk, left my office and gone to the bathroom. Except I *do not* remember that sequence of event.
I know that walking through a doorway makes you forget things. That’s a documented, scientifically proven and studied phenomenon. Somehow I managed to do it twice in one go and erase the fact I went into a room, did something, and left.
Either that or the flat is haunted by a coffee-maid. Or the matrix glitch. Or I’m nuts.
Pink Floyd
Seven years ago, there was promotion of Pink Floyd’s back catalogue, and this robot was one of the eye-catching images created. Love it!!
Moving things around
In all of the covid fun and games in the last year, I’ve been working from home quite a bit. During the first lockdown last year, I was WFH 100%, then we started alternating one week at the office, one week home. Then when the second wave started to get worse, even on the weeks we were supposed to be at the office, we were asked to WFH for a few days in those weeks.
From the start of 2021, I’ve been WFH all the time, and that’s going to be like that until after Easter now, based on the latest directives. Work has actually been very supportive, giving us a small allowance to buy office furniture and supplies. The major downside to all of this is the loss of the sense of separation between work and home. In essence, my office was snack in my bedroom. Also it meant that Katy didn’t have any chance of getting any quiet space for herself. To try and counter this, we’ve moved the office into the guest bedroom. We’ll see how that works in the coming weeks.
[recipe] Ajvar
4 medium-sized red bell peppers
Olive oil, around 1/3 cup
1 red onion
2 tsp white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 240°C (470°F)
Take a medium-sized baking tray and cover it with baking/parchment paper.
Cut the red peppers and onion into halves and arrange them on the baking tray.
Cook in the oven for around half an hour, ensuring that the peppers have gone a rather attractive shade of black.
Take the onion and peppers from the tray and place them into a large bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside for around 20 minutes.
Once cooled, peel the peppers.
Transfer the onion and pepper into a food processor, add the oil and vinegar and season to taste.
Pulse the contents of the food processor until a smooth consistency is achieved.
Take a medium-sized saucepan and empty the contents of the food processor inside the pan
Over a low heat, simmer the contents for around half an hour, ensuring that you stir constantly. The sauce should become thick as it simmers.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Notes:
If you want to make it spicier, you can add in a few roasted chilis, for a real kick!
When your cat has no concept of boundaries
Made Katy a chicken sandwich this morning. Tolstoy got very interested. To the point of sticking his face in it and nicking a piece of chicken.
They like me, they really like me
As part of a recent planning exercise, we had to talk about what we thought we were good at, what we liked about ourselves and what we’d like to change about ourselves. Then others gave us love bombs to say what they loved about us. A nice, feel-good moment. It’s nice to be appreciated.
It’s been a journey…
Facebook reminded me that I got my weight-loss surgery two years ago, just after Valentines 2019. Even before then, all the appointments and the prep started in 2018… The results kind of speak for themselves.
[recipe] carrot oat muffins
300 g all-purpose flour
160 g old fashioned rolled oats
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
230 g plain Greek yogurt
120 ml maple syrup
100 g golden caster sugar
120 ml milk
4 tsp vanilla extract
220 ggrated carrot
Preheat your oven to 350F/175C and prepare 2×12 muffin pans by lining the cavities with paper liners or greasing them with cooking spray or oil. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until they become slightly frothy before whisking in the yogurt, maple syrup, sugar, milk, and vanilla.
Mix until well combined before folding in the grated carrots.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling almost to the top.
Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for ~5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Wear a damn mask!
