Life before MS

Posted on by Lynne Jarrett

IMG_5233I didn’t have MS when I used to come here as a child. Nowadays it’s hard to remember what that was like.  Sometimes I daydream that if I moved back here I might not have it anymore.

And even though I know that’s not in any way possible, I still love dreamily watching my little family explore the rock pools in the distance whilst I sit and contemplate the ancient castle ruins behind me, without a single MS symptom to spoil my view.

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It’s good to come home.

And it’s great to have a few quiet moments to re-feel how it felt all those years ago before MS started to attack my poor nervous system.

I love holiday daydreaming.

Now where’s that chocolate?

Happy Easter everyone x

Happy Mothers Day

Posted on by Lynne Jarrett

IMG_4812There aren’t many days that go by when I don’t feel guilty about something:

Every school morning I find myself bellowing “shoes”, “teeth”, “bookbag” at about 8.30am and then by 8.55 I’m apologising for being grumpy and wishing I’d stayed calmer as your little face goes into school.

“Yes you do have to go to nursery this morning. Mummy is working”. (I will also be cycling, drinking a peaceful coffee, tidying downstairs so I can work with a clear head and loving the fact that it’s still that way for the rest of the day without the usual splattering of toys and cheerios )

“Mummy, run with me. Run faster”. Well I could try, but I would probably fall on my face. So I don’t do anymore than an occasional jog. And I wish I could. With you. Every day.

“Mummy, are you going to hospital again this year? I don’t want you to” “No I’m not. It’s all done”.

Phew.

I wish I had more time, energy and patience. And I sometimes wonder whether I’m doing a good job. I know that I’m not the only one thinking this.

Apparently my little girl thinks I’m doing ok. In fact she thinks I’m amazing. This little family of mine is the best thing I’ve ever done.

So just for today I won’t feel guilty, and I will happily text my husband to bring me a  large cup of tea in bed without a hint of guilt or trying to do it myself because he’s been up with the  kids since the new summery 7am. Which is of course is actually 6 bloody am.

Happy Mothers Day you amazing lot

Lynne xx

 

 

 

Forget 5 a day – 10 a day is where it’s at

Posted on by Lynne Jarrett

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I’ve tried all sorts to try and stay on top of my health. Ayurveda, The Jelinek plan (Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis), Deliciously Ella, Clean Eating, all different types of fasting and The Wahls Protocol (way too meaty for me).

After many a month of trying to stick to these really awkward diets cutting out this and that for a bit and undoubtedly sounding like an obsessive nutter and a total pain in the arse to socialise with,  I always ended up feeling stressed, exhausted and in need of a large pizza.

But they all had a common and totally brilliant and simple message.

Eat more fruit and veg. Cook from scratch. Avoid processed food like the plague.

So this is what I’ve taken from all those books and articles I’ve read. And these little nuggets above are what gives me the most energy and the fewest MS symptoms, without the faff. If I am feeding my body with stacks and stacks of vitamins and nourishing food it makes sense that my body will thank me for it and I will feel better.

So here’s to scrapping the idea of “5 a day” and replacing it with “as much as you can fit into your day” a day. I have definitely had it with counting portions of anything, weighing chia seeds and only eating oil from a farm that guarantees the freshest of flax (although I will probably keep this one up when I can as it’s healthy and local and great).

This article has some great ideas on how to add a few more fruit and veg into your diet.

Meet the people who eat 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day

It’s Sunday. Get chopping healthy people.

Lynne

xx

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on by Lynne Jarrett

IMG_3565.JPGI’m a big believer in taking great care of yourself, not just with what you eat and how you keep your body fit, but also allowing yourself time to do stuff that makes you truly happy and relaxed.

So for those of you who are feeling that today is just one big annoying money making exercise, or that it’s a bit unfair on those of us that are not in a happy relationship, then please please please do something lovely for yourself today anyway.

As my hubby has just come down with a very serious case of “man flu”,  I will be the one to make sure that we have an evening full of romance (at a distance of course – I really don’t want to catch man flu. It seems much worse than any common cold I’ve ever had).

So in the interest of taking good care of myself, after I have cooked us a delicious meal, I am going to tuck hubby up into bed with a hot lemon, remove all the brightly coloured plastic toy-tat from our bathroom, run myself a bubble bath, light candles, play a bit of George Michael and relax. For ages. Till I’m wrinkly from the hot water. I will then get into bed early to read my book. Amazing.

Hmm I might even shave my legs.

Nah. That seems a bit too much like a job on my to-do list.

I think I’ll wait till it’s a bit warmer for shaving.

Happy Valentining everyone x

 

 

 

Sparkly New Year, where are you?

Posted on by Lynne Jarrett

I’m usually a big fan of January and February. In spite of the cold and dark, lingering Christmas belly, and terrifying lack of money, it still gives me that “new school year” feeling by encouraging me to (re)start doing the stuff I really enjoy.

I get the same at the end of the summer. I’ll walk into WHSmith and stare at the pencil cases hoping that a new batch of stationery will inspire an organised and creative new me. (Dear God, tell me I am not the only one who does this…?)

But it’s already February and I am gradually becoming impatient for some of the good bits of 2017 to appear. It all seems to have been a bit sad so far, not just for me, but also for some lovely and undeserving people around me. Not to mention the increasingly nobby political decisions being made around the world, seemingly just to make people’s lives much more awful than they need to be.

After a fairly shocking 2016 worldwide, this January I was (maybe naively) hoping for a bit more of the good stuff. I did not expect 2017 to already be feeling like 2016, but without the relentless cavalcade of celebrity deaths (although admittedly Renee from Allo Allo has hit me hard).

The saddest part of my year has been that our legend of a Grandad died in January, just over an hour before his 102nd birthday. He had always said that he wouldn’t spend a single night in a care home. The fact that he stuck to his guns and nipped off to the other side before they had a chance to tuck him in for his first night makes me feel strangely comforted. I miss you lots Grandad.

Of course, anyone who sees me knows the reality is that I’m not as entirely sad or overwhelmed as this blog suggests. I’m certainly not dragging myself around without a smile. I always have things to be happy about. It’s been a tough few weeks for me and a few of the important people in my life, but every day I am so grateful for my family, friends and wonderful life here by the sea. And at least Vicki Michelle is still with us.

Right-o, I’m off to buy some daffodils.

Come on Spring. Where are you?

My version of fast food – by Juliet Evans of My Family Home

Posted on by myfamilyhomeblog

One of the biggest issues of our busy lives is finding the time and energy to eat healthily. Eating nutritious food makes me feel so much better, giving me more energy and helping me feel more positive and happy. I’m sure I am not the only one to feel this way. So as a busy mum and someone who suffers from regular fatigue and general tiredness by dinner preparation time, I am always happy to receive lovely and easy recipes like the following from Juliet of My Family Home. If you would like to read more of Juliet’s recipes and various aspects of family life, why not follow her blog.

Tofu and Veggie stir Fry with Noodles

This has to be one of the easiest and quickest dishes to get on the table. My version of fast food; delicious, nutritious and one of my kids favourite meals. It’s win, win.

I prepare the veg first. Basically I don’t like too much variety in this dish and it really doesn’t need it. Keep it simple and the kids are far more likely to eat it!


Currently my fussy little wotsits love red peppers and broccoli but you can add any veg that you fancy; celery, baby corn, pak choi, carrot, the list goes on ..

I slice some broccoli florets and cut the pepper into fingers. I then whizz up in my processor some spring onion, root ginger and garlic and slice the tofu into chunks. I use this one, available from Waitrose or most health shops, it’s a really tasty firm tofu and works well in this dish. My kids love it, they call it ‘vegetarian chicken’ and will snack on it straight from the packet!


I pop some water on to cook some noodles (fine egg noodles, rice noodles or buckwheat – whatever takes your fancy) and chuck the veg into a wok with a couple of glugs of rapeseed or veg oil. Cook on a moderate heat with the onion garlic and ginger mix from your blender.


Don’t over cook the veg, a bit of crunch is great and nutritionally much better.  I dish up the noodles into a large bowl, place on table with the wok beside as my kids love to help themselves. Place soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and a squeeze of lime juice on the table for seasoning.


Note – sometimes I dish up the kids veg into a serving bowl and then add some heat (red chilli) into the wok, for the adults and sprinkle with some fresh coriander before serving. And, to make it a bit special for the kids I might add some veggie spring rolls, and fortune cookies on the side. (Just pick some up in your local Chinese supermarket).. they haven’t quite mastered the chopsticks yet but they do add a bit of fun..!

Enjoy,

Jules x