The stuff trap

 

We work so hard to get the home we want.

Our first home, then the next one with the extra bedroom and the baby. Then, a bit more garden and a nicer neighbourhood. We stretch ourselves on the mortgage and go bigger, better, a spare room, renovate, decorate, debate style and colours, textures and space.

Update the beds and the sofas; gather paintings and photos, treasured gifts, assorted rugs, children’s creations and great finds. Memories kept safe in an object linked to a time and a place, a person, a moment past.

We gather the toys that collect dust, the exercise bike we absolutely need along with the tummy trimmer, the yoga mats, the balance ball, weights, oh and then there’s the cross trainer for goodness sake. We don’t use them but keep them because one day…

The books, there are so, so, so many books. Fiction galore, art and travel, then the many hundreds linked to work – every kind of mental health and therapy, every kind of diet and health, food, nutrition, recipes – and the collections resulting from the latest new hobby that help when asked what would you like for Christmas and are never used (wire jewellery making, fleecing, exciting pottery glazing, wild naked gardening etc).

The things we saved for or that friends passed on. Those we searched and searched to find the perfect one, the ones we could hardly afford and the ones we stumbled upon amazingly in a pile somebody left out for recycling.

How do we give them up? How do we choose?

How to part with the things that have meant so much, that you love and that you are proud of.

Maybe it’s a bit like losing the toned arms and tummy, the pert bottom and glossy hair and giving up the significant job.

Will I still be interesting looking older, without a beautiful house, without all our stuff?

Will we miss it all so much it’s another regret or will we feel free and lighter. Something tells me it’s the latter but dare we risk it?

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January clean up

Happy, healthy, balanced New Year to you!

After all that indulgent, caution to the wind eating and drinking it is time for a seasonal clean up for us.

There are so many bugs including the dreaded super flu going around , we need to boost our immunity, sleep better as well as lifting ourselves from the dark moods that can engulf people with the reduced sunlight and storms that leave us indoors for days on end.

So, braving the rain, wind and puddles I went shopping and stood wearing my private halo at the check out…

 

There is nothing worse though, when embarking on any kind of regime than the feeling of deprivation. I for one kick back badly at being told I “can’t” anything!

Healthy food must be tasty, filling, look good and do good.

We need multi-tasking dishes of the finest order.

Another thing, how about making your meals pretty?

I collect bowls and plates, it’s a bit of a thing, started at Jurby Junk on the Isle of Man when I lived there , a wonderworld, tables piled on tables and all piled with other people’s junk, somebody else’s treasure! I have never lost that love of bowls and cups, big or tiny with patterns inside as well as outside, huge jewel coloured bowls to pile with leaves and wide rustic plates to place lots of different tasting, textured and coloured morsels onto. Ideal if the food colours are slightly monotinous or dull but, when the food is bright and varied, let it tell it’s own story on plain white, as above.

Here is a recipe for you plus an alternative to show how easy it is to switch the flavours up…

Stir fry 1

I chopped …
1 onion
1 yellow pepper
1 handful runner beans
1/2 inch ginger and turmeric

I steamed the beans whilst I stir fried everything else (onions for a few minutes first) for ten mins.
Added the beans to the stir fry with …

 1 handful spinach ripped
Leaves torn from 6 leaves of purple Kale and ripped

Splashed with some Braggs (you could use soy sauce) and a few grinds pepper and tipped into a bowl.

I threw on top a palm full of Goji berries and lots of spiced pumpkin, chia and sunflower seeds.

SO good!

Stir fry 2 using similar basic ingredients …

I chopped …
1 onion
1 red pepper
1 handful runner beans
1 carrot into small sticks
3 largish mushrooms quartered
1/2 inch ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed

I steamed the beans whilst I stir fried everything else (onions for a few minutes first) for ten mins.
Added the beans to the stir fry with …

1 handful spinach
Leaves torn from 6 leaves of purple Kale

I sprinkled with …

1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 teaspoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons soya sauce

Stirred it all until all the leaves were wilted and served sprinkled liberally with lots of spiced pumpkin, chia and sunflower seeds.

Don’t think diet, don’t think deprivation think delicious, nourishing, light and bright. If you are used to drinking alcohol or hitting the chocolate bikkies slouched in front of the TV most nights think of indulging yourself in the evening instead, try doing something you don’t do when you drink – like make something, go out swimming or for a dark walk (watch those puddles – actually wear wellies and enjoy those puddles!), start a new hobby, read a new book, start learning something, do self massage, have long, early bubble baths and snuggle into bed early.

Find a turn around for yourself, turn what may feel negative (only because of habit and because you are saying no) into something positive and fun or indulgent.

Here is to a year of finding our best, happiest and healthiest selves.

Desri XX

Feeling heavy, slow, tired, down, stuck, unhappy, achy, old, “just not 100%”?
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO!
Come to us for a few days (or more) and lets look at what is going wrong, or just not going right, re-evaluate, find a way, make some changes and while we are doing that let us nourish you with the best and most delicious food and drinks. Be supported, be prepared, be changed.
We are now taking bookings from 16 March 2018!
15% discount on all bookings from March to end May as the indoor spa pool will be closed for maintenance and the outdoor pool may be a bit cooler than 28° – weather depending, late April and May should be fine!
Have a look around our site and contact us with any questions at all, for more info or to book your stay.

 

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