I’m playing catch up, so this post will have yesterdays food plus my interview by That British Woman. We’ll start with the interview, shall we?
1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
This is a really tough question as I’ve lived in several countries. I think each country has positives and negatives, but since my last jaunt of living in various places across North America over 2 years ago, I’ve come to really appreciate this wonderful country of England. There are things I really miss about Canada & the USA, the friendliness of the people, the enthusiasm for life, and I’d not be telling the whole truth if I don’t miss it occasionally. But, one thing I really notice now is that we are very tough on this little island called England. We moan about the weather, crime, NHS, how much you have to pay for University. But wow, when you go and experience other countries you see that actually in so many ways we have it very good. Our University fees are significantly lower than Canada, and well about 1/3 or 1/4th of the cost of fees in the US (of course it does depend on the University you go to in USA as they all have different fees), we have a free national health service, we have a heavily subsidized dental service, a cavity here cost me £44, in Canada it was nearly $1000!!! We complain about our weather, but wow, when you’ve been in MN and had months of -20 (or worse!) you realize that the fact we can pretty much enjoy the outdoors every single month of the year, well that’s pretty good. When you’ve had to work with only 2 weeks vacation/annual leave a year and you return home to a minimum of 28 days vacation/annual leave a year, you realize just how good we have it!! So I guess my latest stint abroad really taught me to have a more joyful heart towards this great country, to see the wonderful attributes and people it has, to embrace the fact that you are never more than 30 minutes from our beautiful countryside and really never more than around an hour from the seaside. Yes, there are days I have to remind myself to be joyful, there are days I miss that happy North American outlook on life (I think our media here is very much to blame for the demise in our faith in our country) but you know what? I’m pretty happy right where I am!
2. What would be a perfect day for you?
This is such a tough one as my best friends live on the other side of the Atlantic, so I’m going to write this answer as if there were no barriers. The perfect day? Waking up and enjoying a 40 minute swim, listening to Coldplay all the way to & from the pool. After my swim, enjoying a raisin bran muffin from Mmmm Muffins (a Canadian shop which I miss terribly!) with a Pukka tea, in a little cafe with a good book. Then meeting great friends (both in Canada) for lunch at a vegetarian cafe, Moroccan restaurant or Wagamama! With loads of chatter & laughter, followed by a Bible study in comfy chairs in a book shop. Saying good-bye to them and meeting the man I love, spending the rest of the afternoon walking with him along Dartmoor or the beach in Devon or Cornwall, stopping back in St. Leonards (Exeter) for tea in a little cafe while reading the papers (Guardian & NY Times). Heading back into town to a small & cozy restaurant (with fireplace!) for dinner with a glass of sangria either here in Devon or in NYC. And that in a nutshell is my perfect day :0)
3. If you had a choice what would be your ideal job?
Oh this is such a tough one, honestly wife & mother to me is the best job out there. However, I’m also very interested in photography and would quite like to one day have the skills to turn it into a job (this day may never come!) and I’ve mentioned before how much I would enjoy working in a book shop or Library. Any Devon bookshops or libraries after a very keen employee?? I’d also love to do pastoral care work for a school. And everyone knows I want to write!
4. What’s your favourite movie ever and your favourite band/musician?
Oh I can’t name just one. I really can’t! Favourite movies would be Shawshank Redemption, Love Actually, Notting Hill, Slumdog Millionaire (saw it today and it was f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.) and of course, Australia (sorry Deepali!) and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Favourite band – hands down Coldplay, followed by Death Cab for a Cutie.
Favourte musician – I’m loving Chris Martin…!
5. What is your favourite money saving tip?
Again, I can’t stop at 1, so here are my four!
a. No Spending Days – they seriously seriously work. Set yourself even 2 a week and it will change your spending habits, it stops you from impulse buys, makes you plan your purchases and think about what vs. need. If you can get to four no spending days a week, you will REALLY notice the difference.
b. Emergency Fund – I think one of the most important things to do is build up an emergency fund, with at least 3 months expenses in it, preferably 6 months. My biggest tip is to not think you even have this money, it is ONLY for emergencies like a loss of job, illness etc. It isn’t for holidays or buying presents etc.
c. Stop Shopping – It has been 9 months now since I’ve purchased clothes, books, DVD’s etc. Honestly, people think they’ve
only spend £3 here or there, but it really really adds up! By cutting out my shopping I’ve been able to give more to charities, get out of debt, save money and change my life. If you have debt and/or you don’t have an emergency fund simply stop buying!
d. Groceries – Change what you eat, cut out the processed food and ready meals, start ensuring you get fruits & veggies every single day and you will save money!
These are the rules for this meme: Want to be interviewed by me? Here are the instructions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” Then send me another separate comment with your email address as to where I can send your questions.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link to it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” Then send me another separate comment with your email address as to where I can send your questions.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link to it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
And now for yesterdays activities & food.
Breakfast:
125 ml orange & mango smoothie with protein powder, Pukka Love tea, 1/2 Fage with flax seeds, blueberries and a large tablespoon of almond butter – delicious!!!
After breakfast, I did a bit of walking around Exeter
I love this street, dearly.
Ending up at a little cafe
And enjoying (!) my first BLT since I was about 14…..!
It was much easier than anticipated and enjoyed with a large bottle of water, followed by a lemon & ginger tea!
I was exceptionally full from this lunch, so dinner was a little eclectic mix
baked beans, 1/2 a carrot, a beet, 3 cherry tomatoes, a light baby bel, a clementine and a big glass of water!
Tomorrow I’ll share some yummy meals I made today – fruity meatballs, homemade coleslaw and mint bulgar wheat & feta salad. It was y.u.m.m.y plus the grocery shop I did! I’ll also get up the answers to the questions you’ve asked re portion sizes, food choices etc. And, I hope catch up on all your blogs!
And now, remember to let me interview you!
I look forward to tomorrow’s post! Recipes AND hearing about your portion sizes!
Interview Me!!
Love your interview with That British Woman.
I think this one should have my email included. Confusing I know.
‘Simply stop buying’ or spending
Great advice, it’s easier than you think once your mind is set
That street looks VERY familiar to me! I think it may be near where I used to live in Exeter.
Aha …. Chris Martin … a local lad I believe! He was born in Devon 7 days after my daughter was born there LOL
Frugal Dreamer – will do!
Living My Rich Life – I’ll email you later today or tomorrow! Thank you!
No More Spending – very very true ;0)
Sandie – it is in St. Leonards in Exeter!
Could you not have held on for 7 days?? Then you could have been room buddies and stayed in touch with his mum and then of course set me up with him ;0)
Your breakfast looks really yum. Might have to try that combination.
excellent answers, and very interesting, I feel I know you so much better now…..
Gill in Canada
That BLT does look good! I think the fact that you were veggie and accepted meat so quickly shows that you needed it, the protein anyways.
It’s really neat seeing how differently everyone eats, it has really made me think about what I eat – which is far too much bread, potatoes etc. Your food has a lot of variety which is really good.
That BLT does look good! I think the fact that you were veggie and accepted meat so quickly shows that you needed it, the protein anyways.
It’s really neat seeing how differently everyone eats, it has really made me think about what I eat – which is far too much bread, potatoes etc. Your food has a lot of variety which is really good.
Hi there-really enjoyed the interview, a lot of insightful information. Have a lovely weekend!
Good to hear nice things about the UK for a change:)
Just found your blog; enjoying it!
That street looks identical to my mom’s neighborhood in Cheltenham!
Your food looks yummy, and your portions so small – when I read you were full from your BLT, I felt ashamed that I would not have been!
I look forward to reading your posts!
Interview me!
you know my email
It’s good to see a positive blog about the UK, for once. I get fed up of people bitching about how crap the country is, how everything is so expensive, immigrants, the NHS, etc etc. Admittedly I don’t have a dentist ATM but a few years ago I had two operations that in the US would cost around $20,000+. I’m damn grateful for our NHS.
(That said, I adore Canada and plan on moving to BC one day)
interview me:)
(my email is in the sidebar of my blog)
your perfect day sounds wonderful, and I enjoy reading about what you are eating…it gives me ideas to try.
Not sure if you’ve read this blog before but it seems very much like something you’d enjoy:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/
I found your site while looking for low GI recipes.
Glad I found you. If you’d like check out my site. 
Interview me!
Hello FT….this is a long overdue comment….always good to find out more about someone, so thanks for sharing!
I think you know my email…..
Happy weekend!
Very damp and grey here in West Cornwall…
add me, i’d love to be interviewed!