bbq Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

For once I’m actually writing this a little early. It’s Sunday night and tomorrow I’m going on Megan’s school trip with her and we won’t be back till quite late. I know I’ll be exhausted so I figured I may as well get this done now and scheduled if possible. It’s been a nice week, the kids back at school and life returning to its usual routine – though I’ll admit to feeling sad when they go back as I actually love school holidays these days.

I didn’t go into school any days this week as I decided I needed to focus on things for me. Monday I spent the day catching up – as I often do on a Monday. There is blog stuff to be done, housework, jewellery orders etc. I meant to get some things listed on Ebay too but time just escaped me. I also went back to really trying with my diet. Ever since returning from Florida I’ve struggled and I’ve been far from perfect this week, but I have at least tried. Having put on a few more pounds in the last few weeks, its definitely time to make an effort. I got back on MyFitnessPal and so far it seems to be working out – bar the odd moment of weakness.

I don’t honestly remember what I did most evenings in the week but I’m pretty sure Monday night Chris and I watched TV. The following day Chris was off work and we finished watching the first series of The Flash and I cried! In the afternoon Chris and I both went on our computers and I went for a bath. Then I lay on the bed reading until the kids got home. We watched TV that evening too, almost caught up on everything we watch now!

Wednesday I waited in as I knew I had a few parcels to be delivered but also because Nat was coming around. We spent majority of the day chatting and catching up, whilst also watching Fifty Shades of Grey for this month’s From Page to Screen. After all the was done, we both headed off to get the kids from school. The evening was spent blogging – I had my From Page to Screen to write – and then I caught up on some of my TV.

On Thursday I took the girls to school, came back briefly to see Chris before he went to work and then took a wander into town. I needed a few bits but mostly I just wanted to look around. I got a few charity shop bargains, including a Doctor Who tardis that I’ve placed my business cards in.

I spent the afternoon working on my new business venture, I ordered business cards and tried to sort out a website. Its a long process and sadly I get distracted by blogging, house DIY etc etc and there always seems to be something else I should be doing! Anyway mum had the kids overnight so it meant I had the whole afternoon and evening to work on things.

On Friday morning I tried for a lie-in but sadly due to Chris getting up for work and next door being noisy (as usual) I didn’t get one. Instead I got up and started working on a murder mystery party idea and also continued looking into a website. My belated present from Amy arrived – which is Mrs Potts and Chip – and since my brother had given me £20 for my birthday, I treated myself to a new Disney Couture necklace from my wishlist. I headed over to mum’s to pick up the girls’ iPads and then picked the girls up from school. We headed home and relaxed, since in our eyes it was now officially the weekend.

The next day Chris was at work early and I held out hope for a lie-in as its much easier to get back to sleep the earlier he goes. Sadly it was not to be the case though as a combination of Lily, next door and the postman woke me this time. I got up and managed to lose myself in an app on my phone before killing my battery. I then walked down to Aldi to get some food for lunch and then came home and the girls and I got food. My brother called to see if we wanted to go to a BBQ that evening and also my new necklace arrived!

After popping back to Aldi to get a few bits (a food and drink contribution for the BBQ), the girls and I headed out to get Chris from work and then headed over to my brother’s. We spent a nice couple of hours there before coming home and the girls going to bed. Chris decided he was going on the computer for the evening so I just chilled out in front of the TV until we went to bed.

Finally it was Sunday (today as I’m writing this) and while we did lie-in a little while, I was still woken by next door. Chris and I got up and mooched around for a bit. He played on the Xbox while I did some tidying (Lily helping too) and then before I knew it, it was lunch time. I made lunch for us all to sit down and have together and that was lovely. The girls then spent the afternoon on their computers, while Chris went upstairs on his computer. I spent some time taking pictures of things for Ebay and then more tidying. Eventually I sat down to do some sewing only to find the foot for my sewing machine was missing and after a thorough look for it, had to order a new one. With sewing out the window I sat down to make a few hair bows before giving up and going back to the lounge. In the end I made everyone dinner and Megan and I packed our lunches for the next day (school trip). I packed Lily off to bed early and then Megan only an hour after that (though Lily was still awake) and then went for a bath. Randomly I decided to make flapjack while the bath was running so that delayed me somewhat but after my bath I then came on my computer and made this blog post while Chris watched Little Shop of Horrors. It’s now just gone 11pm and we’re heading to bed. I have to set the alarm for 6.30am – boo!

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As you all know, last week I moved house. Amidst a disaster of illness, unfinished decorating and lack of time, we still (sort of) completed the move on time! However having already agreed to participate in Money Supermarket’s amazing “The Charcoal Challenge”, I knew I had a BBQ to fit in some time that same week!

The garden was a MESS! I’m sad to say I forgot to take any “before pictures”, but there was no concrete or paving slabs, just weeds as tall as people, rubbish and unwanted furniture out there. However my partner Chris and my brother Chris, both set to work on Friday night – strimming, weeding, cleaning and so on. By late Friday night the back garden actually had safe places to tread! Saturday morning the hard work continued – cleaning the gas BBQ along with the patio furniture, while I headed off to Tesco…

Honestly, my Tesco shop took me three times longer than normal. I checked and double checked all prices, picked up and put down certain items, looked for the biggest bargains and added it all up on my phone as I went along. Luckily the BBQ was bring a bottle so I wasn’t having to provide drinks within my budget, but everything else was covered.

As we’d just moved house and most things were upside down, cutlery and plates were a must. I also got napkins, tablecloths and glasses in case anyone brought wine. I bought sausages, burgers and pork, along with the ingredients to make pasta salad, coleslaw and rice salad. There was also baps, cheese slices, halloumi, garlic bread – and no BBQ would be complete without pudding. Chocolate Trifle, Tiramisu AND Vanilla cheesecake. Finally there was the ingredients for homemade Sangria – the perfect BBQ accompaniment.

All in all my shop came to £50.06. A little over budget you might say… but pasta was on 2 x 1KG for £2.50 and while I didn’t need that much for my BBQ, it seemed unthrifty not to pick up that bargain! This was my total shop though, all done in Tesco. Enough food to feed nine people, along with the ingredients for two large pitchers of Sangria.

I headed home to prep for my BBQ, while the men continues to clean and tidy. I made pasta salad first, with mayonnaise, spring onions and peppers – followed by coleslaw with white cabbage, carrots, onion and mayonnaise too. Next came the Sangria, with a bottle of red wine, some lemonade, a splash of brandy (luckily from my alcohol stash and not my budget!) some cinnamon plus loads of apples and oranges sliced up inside. I cooked rice and I sliced baps – but most importantly I made pork and halloumi skewers!

Halloumi is such an underrated cheese, but no BBQ would be right without some halloumi skewers. I usually use chicken but as the pork was discounted and I was working on a budget, that worked just as well. A few chunks of meat, along with a few chunks of halloumi, some mushrooms and my skewers were complete.

Finally the cleaning of the BBQ was done and people started to arrive. I set the Chris’ off cooking, so I could get everyone a drink and give a small tour of the house. I had already made up a homemade BBQ sauce recipe and this was lavished all over the cooking meat, giving off the most amazing smell.

It wasn’t long before everything was ready and everyone gathered outside. The food was amazing and the company was great too. In total there was nine of us, myself and my partner Chris – along with my two daughters Megan and Lily, my brother Chris, my mum Penny, my partner’s sister Nikki and her son Mason, and one of our friends Jon. There was plenty of food to go around and I think everyone had a good time. Though I didn’t make the puddings, they were a great hit too – however everyone was pretty full from the BBQ food and so I took it as a compliment when not all the pudding got eaten!

As I’m sure you can see from the bottom picture, all the rubble, weeds and refuse was piled up in the corner of our yard for the BBQ. This shows you just what a state it was in before!

Thank you so much to Money Supermarket who let me participate in this challenge. It was a lot of fun and a hell of a good excuse to get two strapping young men to clear my garden for me!

With regards to the rest of my blog, look out for more house renovations coming soon! We’re nearly done with the kitchen!

Week 23 – Monday Round-up

Money Supermarket’s – #TheCharcoalChallenge