Oh dear (oh well), lovely pastry and losing weight

 Husband came home from the gym yesterday and announced he'd suspended his membership for 4 months - seems they're allowed to do that once a year.  He said he just doesn't feel like going at the moment, which I'd gathered anyway.  Hopefully, he'll have his interest renewed when the weather is better.  He needs to continue to be active - as do I, although I'm certainly more active than he is - so on good weather days I'll suggest we take Betty and go to Blue Anchor bay for a walk along the prom, followed by a coffee in our favourite cafe there.  The only thing is we have to go by car, the bay is only about 2 miles away but it's down a long and winding road that's narrow and single-tracked in places, with no pavement, so not very safe when vehicles go past.  In any case, 2 miles of walking there and the same back is too far for both of us with our various ailments, Betty would be none too keen either, she's not fond of long walks now she's in her dotage.

I made the apple pie with the oil pastry yesterday, it was lovely, nice and crisp and a lovely taste.  The pastry was very easy to roll out, very soft, it did tear in a couple of places but was simple to patch up.  So I'll always make pastry with oil from now on.  Six portions of the pie so some will be frozen.  

My sister has now finally shaken off her respiratory and chest infections and feels well again, she said yesterday it almost feels like she's just woken up from a coma.  She lost a stone in weight whilst she was unwell, poor thing, now she's got her appetite back she'll no doubt put some of that back on, but says not all of it hopefully!  I'm pleasantly surprised to see that I've lost 8lbs since just after Christmas - no diet as such, just good healthy homecooked food, having cut back drastically on UPFs.  I've also been eating smaller portions.  Husband is bemoaning the fact that he hasn't lost any weight, but then he's got an appetite like a horse and isn't very active, so what does he expect?!  He buys himself big bags of nuts from the Grape Tree shop, he claims they're healthy snacks and good for you.....well, yes, but not in the quantity he eats of them, between meals.  But, again, there's no telling him, he's a law unto himself.

I'm starting to think about meals and things to do when husband's relatives come for a visit - his brother and sis-in-law for a weekend next month, then the same bro and sil plus two more sisters for a longer weekend in April.  They're staying in Air BnBs locally but will be having most meals with us.  I think I'll suggest we go out for at least one meal each visit, and probably do buffet-style meals the rest of the time, the guests can bring some of the food.  I'll have to plan a couple of trips out too, these things are always down to me, husband never has any ideas.  We haven't seen the two sisters for a few years, it'll be nice to catch up.  Husband's family are all very loud, it comes of being a big family (10 siblings) and so having to shout to be heard above each other.  So, whilst it will be lovely to see them, with lots (and lots!) of chat and laughter, it will be equally lovely to enjoy the peace and quiet once they've gone!

So nice to see the days getting longer, we opened the curtains at 7.30 this morning and have been closing them around 5.30 pm.  And more of my Spring flower bulbs are opening up, wonderful!