 This week has been a bit quieter than usual, but somehow, it’s flown by. Despite the slower pace, I’m happy to say that I’ve nearly finished my Christmas shopping, with only a few small gifts left to buy for my daughter. It feels like a huge accomplishment to be this far ahead of schedule—especially when, in previous years, I’d often find myself scrambling to pick up presents right up until Christmas Eve. This year, I’ve managed to avoid that last-minute panic, and it’s such a relief to be organised. I’ll probably pick up a couple more bits over the next few weeks, but for the most part, I’m done. It’s nice to feel ahead of the game for a change.
The week itself has been pretty low-key. I’ve been sticking to my routine of daily workouts, following my seven-day home workout plan. Today, for instance, I focused on core and conditioning, which left me feeling pretty good afterward. I got an early start this morning, did my workout, and then treated myself to a relaxing bath. Afterward, I spent some time on Medieval Dynasty 2—I've been hooked on it ever since the big update released this week. It’s one of those games where you can easily lose track of time, and before you know it, hours have passed. I’ve also kept up with my usual breakfast of scrambled eggs and a bagel—it's simple, but I never get bored of it. Thursday was my usual food shop day, but this week, my Mom and I decided to pop into Tesco instead of our usual stores. While we were there, I came across something I didn’t expect: white eggs. In the UK, we mostly have brown eggs, so it was a bit of a surprise to see white ones. They were only £2 for 15 eggs, which is incredibly cheap these days, so I decided to give them a try. After cooking and tasting them, I can confirm they’re exactly the same as the brown-shelled ones, so no difference there. I found it funny when I told one of my American friends about it—they had no idea that white eggs aren’t as common in the UK. The real reason for our trip to Tesco was because my Mom had spotted a dinnerware set that she thought I’d like, so we went to check it out. I’ve been looking for a black dinnerware set for a while, and it turns out that the one she found was exactly what I had in mind. It was a nice surprise, and she insisted I take it home early as part of my Christmas presents. She also got me a beautiful black marble chopping board, which is part of my Christmas haul. It’s incredibly heavy, but it looks amazing in the kitchen, and I’m already looking forward to using it for all my chopping and prep work. It’s one of those pieces that adds a little extra style and sophistication to the kitchen. After picking up my presents, we stopped by Home Bargains and Sainsbury’s for the usual weekly shop. In Home Bargains, I stocked up on all the snacks my daughter loves for both home and college—things like crisps, chocolate bars, breakfast bars, and cans of pop. I also had the idea of putting together a Christmas Eve treat box for my Dad, filled with his favourite snacks: crisps, nuts, liquorice, pork scratchings, and a few other bits. I thought it would be a nice touch for him to have some snacks to enjoy on Christmas Eve while we all relax. At Sainsbury’s, I mainly picked up the essentials for my 90/10 whole food diet—fruit, vegetables, and meat. I was a little over my £100 budget this week, spending £110, but I don’t mind too much, especially since it’s the festive season and I needed to stock up on a few extra things. Friday night was super relaxed. My house tends to stay warm thanks to it being a new build, but the temperature really dropped last night, so I ended up getting into bed early just to relax. I’ve started watching Temple on Netflix, which I’m really enjoying so far. I’d never heard of it before Netflix recommended it to me, but it’s been an excellent find. I’m only a few episodes in, but it’s already hooked me. Dinner last night was simple but satisfying—steak with cheesy coleslaw. Coleslaw is something I never ate as a child, but I’ve recently discovered that I actually quite like it. I know it’s not exactly in line with my whole food diet, but that’s where the 10% of indulgence comes in. For tonight, I’m planning another relaxed evening. I’ll probably write up a couple of blog posts to schedule for the week and play some more Medieval Dynasty before winding down with Temple. Dinner tonight will be pork chops with sweet potato, and I’ll likely call it an early night. Tomorrow, I’m planning on a roast dinner for Sunday lunch. I usually go for beef or chicken, but this week, I’ve decided to switch things up and make a roast lamb. I’ve always wondered why lamb is so much more expensive than other meats, but I’m looking forward to the change. It should be a nice treat. That’s all for this update. If I don’t post tomorrow, I’ll do a catch-up in the coming week. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  It’s Monday again, and the weekend seems to have flown by in a blur of calm and quiet. Since my last post on Friday, I’ve not done much worth shouting about, but sometimes, those slower weekends are exactly what’s needed.
On Saturday, just as I was finishing up dinner prep, my dad turned up unexpectedly. I’d decided to cook a full roast beef dinner that evening—complete with all the trimmings—so it worked out perfectly. It was lovely to sit down and share a meal together. Sunday, on the other hand, was a complete contrast. I stayed in, fully embracing a relaxed day, which felt like a good balance after Saturday’s activities. This morning started early for me, as Mondays tend to do. I kicked things off with a home workout, focused on upper body strength. Beforehand, I had my usual black coffee, which always gives me that little nudge of energy. Post-workout, I treated myself to a quick bath and then sat down to my classic first meal of the day: scrambled eggs on a bagel, followed by some fresh fruit. It’s simple, but it never fails to hit the spot. Over the weekend, it dawned on me that Christmas is only five weeks away, and I’d yet to start my shopping. That realisation caused a slight panic—I hadn’t even begun thinking about what to get for anyone! However, I quickly came up with a plan. For my daughter, I transferred her some cash so she could pick out gifts for herself online. Once her items arrive, I’ll wrap them up and pop them under the tree. She’ll also get cash from me on Christmas Day to spend as she likes. At 17, she’s at an age where surprises aren’t always the most practical option, and I’d much rather she has things she truly wants. As for the rest of my Christmas shopping, Amazon truly came to the rescue. By Saturday evening, I’d managed to order gifts for everyone I usually buy for, and to my delight, most of the parcels arrived today. I spent a good part of the day wrapping them and placing them under the tree, which has really added to the festive feel at home. I’m just waiting on two more items, which should arrive tomorrow, and then it’ll just be a case of giving my youngest siblings their cash in cards on the day. I’m actually really pleased with the gifts I’ve chosen this year. I won’t spoil the surprise by mentioning what I’ve got my dad, but I’m confident he’ll love his main present. Over the next few weeks, I’ll pick up a few smaller bits to go alongside it. This evening, I’m planning to catch up on the latest episode of Yellowstone, but first, I’ll need to make dinner. Steak and mushrooms are on the menu tonight—nice and simple, just how I like it. After that, I’m aiming for an early night. Mondays always feel a bit full-on, so recharging sounds like the perfect plan. Here’s to a productive start to the week and the satisfaction of knowing the Christmas prep is nearly done! |