For the past few weeks during the weekdays Andy has been off with the boys running around the mountains in Wales waking up to beautiful white winter mornings. I on the other hand, am still in Poole watching the rain fall and getting creative with how to fill my nights alone. Here are a few of the things one can do when found caught in England alone in the rainy season....
Get to know the Fitness TV and Active channels on SKY. They have been great! I now am getting my workout without struggling to run in a rain storm with gale force winds wondering how on earth it isn't snowing it is so cold. I have come across a few favorites on Fitness TV. Cardio Combat, gaining strength and muscles while learning to defend myself from late night pub creepers; Meditation Pilates, working the core while reflecting on the stress of life as a stay at home fiancé; and Island Grooves, getting some sun-shining dance moves listening to Bob Marley day dreaming of the chill-axing Florida beach life! Now there are a few I am not so keen on but none the less still do to keep the day rolling. Yoga for Seniors, painfully slow and helps you be about as flexible as steel bar; Yoga for Moms and Babies, dangerously flinging your arms and legs into the air as your baby is helplessly laying on the mat next to you; and Cheerleader Dance Workout, as if we all didn't get enough of this in high school!
My next keep busy activity, a favorite to get the minutes to tick by, is baking. Since it is 'Tis the Season to be Jolly, I thought I would bake some Christmas cookies decorated with festive frosting. Well in Poole there was not one Christmas cookie cutter to be found. Not a snowflake, Santa Clause or even star. Not to fear though, I was not giving up! So I got creative and made my own.... out of paper. I first tried a snowflake but soon gave up on this shape because my artistic skills are completely lacking when it comes to creating a shape with six evenly shaped sides. Instead I made a snowman, three circles... easy, a candy cane and a Christmas tree - by far the hardest to get right but a must Christmas cookie. Then it was on to the making of the dough. This I have found can be a bit of a struggle even with the easiest of recipes, since I don't have a mixer. After about an hour and a half of vigorously beating butter and sugar while mixing it with flour at the medium to high speed of my arm, I got sugar cookie dough. Next I rolled it out and began cutting my shapes. I simply put down my paper shape and cut around it with a knife. Worked perfectly and even better took up an entire night and next afternoon since every cookie was hand cut! The time is flying by!
Another way to keep time flying is to wander around town and I have become a pro at this. A great way to pass an afternoon is to pick a store and wander, usually looking a tad lost and out of place. I went into the Sainsbury’s grocery store the other day and memorized the entire store. I think I spent at least two hours just wandering with a basket looking at just about everything. I browsed the clothes, milks, foods of the world, crisps, frozen foods and meat and cheese delis to get a few samples to keep me going. I now know exactly what Sainsbury’s carries and what they don't. Don't go there if you are looking for Christmas colored sprinkles, Goldfish or chocolate covered peanuts because they don't have it. But if you are in the mood for a wide selection of booze, ale, beer, cider and wine they have it all!! As well as having an array of sausages, Yorkshire puddings and meat pastries. And best of all, I know where they all are down to the aisle and the brand. I have that entire store memorized like the back of my hand. Now all left to do is join Supermarket Sweepstakes!
