I had to share this awesome tie-dye jumper I bought from NikRik’s Workshop on Etsy. It’s a fairly light jumper so it’s perfect for Spring, chilly Summer evenings (when you don’t have a bloke around who will lend you theirs) and Autumn or layering up in Winter.
I love Cyan and light green as I find them to be the most uplifting colours, especially together. You can imagine how chuffed I was that my hair turned out Cyan, rather than the darker blue I aimed for lol
I ordered takeaway from Palestinian restaurant Baity in Didsbury, Manchester. As soon as the weather gets this hot, this kind food of food is all I ever fancy.
I ordered…
Bata Hara (like tater tots),
Falafel
Halloumi (solid cheese) fries
Humus
Baclava (light pastry, layered with nuts and syrup).
Some of the portions were small for the price.
The humus was a tad lacking so I added more olive oil, smoked paprika and a tiny bit of garlic salt.
The sauce accompanying the falafel was heavenly!
I added salt to the halloumi fries, which were surprisingly bland!?
I’m not used to having sauce, instead of seasoning on Bata Hara. Delicious but makes them soggy, rather than crispy. Hmm, undecided…
The Baklava was desperately in need of more syrup.
Simple food, which would be fine, if the price reflected the small (takeaway) portion size. 💸
It’s Disability Pride Month Which, I have to admit, I’ve only just discovered! I’m not ‘proud’ to be disabled but I’m certainly not ashamed or awkward about it either. I am proud of how I’ve learned to deal with being Dyspraxic and and having Hypermobilty Syndrome over the past 40 years (with an astounding amount of ignorance and attitudes bordering on ableism from Dr’s).
Here is the awesome super lightweight, fold-up chair (even the back folds down) which I bought for car travel. It’s sparkly electric blue ✨💙✨
To be independent I need to be given an electric wheelchair. Because of my disabilities I have muscle weakness and chronic fatigue, so the GP gave me a self propelled chair which I’m unable to use BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITIES. How’s that for sick irony? Apparently this is ‘a very common mistake if it’s a GP who’s made the referral’ the man told me as he was delivering it and taking it away again.
I’m having another phone consultation with a GP on Tuesday and (after arranging this myself) I’m being properly assessed by a Physio from Social Services Neuro Team soon. I must mention that Manchester and Thameside Social Services have been more understanding, knowledgable, kind and professional over my disabilities in just four months, than most Dr’s have been in four decades!
I’m chuffed to bits that these are all still alive and thriving, several weeks after planting. I’m doing my best to water but not over-water them. Difficult when I’m only awake for around twelve hours a day so I don’t know how sunny or shaded it’s been earlier on.
Remember in my first post I told you I wasn’t happy with my first ‘fix’ and so Stitch Fix said they would try again for free? Well, prompted by the site asking ‘Is there anything your wardrobe is missing?’ this time I left a note saying that I’d been trying to find tapered cargo pants and joggers that were long enough but not baggy for ages! 34” to be exact.
A Note from Molly the Stylist
What Was in the Box
CROPPED JOGGERS NOT PICTURED
Keeping
I absolutely love these shorts because they can be dressed up or down but more importantly, they are the first shorts I’ve worn in decade which don’t cut into my chunky thighs when I sit down! Hurrah!
The two long joggers/cargo pants are exactly what I’ve been searching for, comfortable and luxurious, the perfect street style!
Returning
I liked the idea of simple black lacy top but I already have quite a few similar items so I returned it, along with the cropped (mid-calf) cargo pants as the cuffs were too tight and there wasn’t a zip.
Result
I’m so pleased with this fix as it did everything I needed.
If you have been looking all over for particular items (one’s that are either basic or in fashion and not too alternative – long sleeve mesh top – ahem), then it’s a lot easier to let a stylist pick out different ones for you to try on.
Easier than paying for delivery from different websites and if the items aren’t suitable, having to retrieve return labels online and if, like me, you don’t have a printer, having to print them out at the library/a friends/work. Plus, everything is packaged in paper and card so no endless chain of plastic bags either.
You could also be pleasantly surprised by an item you might not have considered, like I did with those awesome shorts!
Here’s a very simple veggie ‘ch!cken’ burrito I made, which tastes amazing! I stuffed so much in I could hardly hold it – hence the action shot, hehee!
BFree gluten free Wrap generously splashed with water and steamed in microwave. I’ve just discovered their Sweet Potato wraps which are wonderful.
Humus used to butter wrap, trust me, warm humus is ace
Quorn ‘chicken’ Style Pieces with…
Old El Paso Seasoning Mix to stir fry with sunflower oil
This time two years ago I posted the photo below to Instagram and said I was having a girly-night to myself and made it sound so positive.
What I didn’t say was that I’d had to go on Just Eat to find somewhere local which sold food and beer/wine because it felt like an overwhelming physical AND mental impossibility to go to the local shops. I was so hungry and really needed something to cheer myself up too.
I’d gotten into the habit of not getting (dragging myself) out of bed until 4.00pm (sadly after it had gone dark) so I hadn’t seen daylight for five days. I’d stopped being bothered to get dressed or comb my wildly frizzy hair or to tidy up.
The bloke had to be elsewhere and he was so stressed and busy he really needed to get on with it and I was trying to be as supportive as poss. But I was on my own all week, until weekend and felt really lonely. But I also felt guilty and silly bothering him.
I realise looking back that the Depression had crept back but at the time I was kidding myself that I was having fun enjoying not having any responsibilities or structure.
Ironically that is exactly what helps me, as it stops the endless days and nights all blending together. Plus someone to bounce my thoughts off so they aren’t swimming around in my head and growing more negative and repetitive is vital for me.
I wish I’d put an honest caption on Insta about how I was feeling at the time or told my Dad or my bloke how I felt. BUT I’d been fighting for decades to have my disabilities and chronic illness recognised and to get on ESA benefit so I could rest at home all day. I felt guilty that I wasn’t now happy and thought I must be being ungrateful or overly-dramatic. But actually, when you can’t or aren’t doing much, whole days and nights alone can seem like an eternity.
After doing this on repeat for about a month (literally just living for the weekend when my bloke would be able to come back basically) I phoned him in floods of tears.
We talked for an hour and worked out a better way of doing things and it made a vast amount of difference to my mental health.
———-
There isn’t always a reason though. Sometimes clinical depression can hit you for no reason at all and that’s perfectly normal, not your fault and just as valid.
If you are feeling crappy or apathetic to stuff you normally love doing or are struggling to keep your head above water, please don’t fool yourself you are ‘fine’. Admit to yourself that you aren’t feeling okay and then tell someone else, even if it’s just one other person (i.e. a considerate family member, a friend, an empathetic friend of a friend or your GP for instance) IRL or online.
You don’t have to be fine all of the time and forcing yourself to try can do more damage than good. Being open and honest about your feelings can lift a huge weight.
The Hip-Hop Chip Shop has gone mobile! They are parked throughout February at The Carlton Club in Whalley Range, Manchester.
We decided to book on their pop-up website (which I now think is mostly booked up) to make it easier ordering food from their pop-up van. You can visit the van but you might have a bit of wait so (as they advise) wrap up warm!
This is the Vegangstarr Sausage Meal
Skin-on chips; Mushy Peas; Battered Sausage and Tartare Sauce; with a side of Battered pickled gherkins and a Chocolate Brownie by Lush Brownies (Chortlon) for desert.
They also have a battered halloumi meal if that’s more your deal.
The fact that people peel potatoes when making chips now amazes me. Battered gherkins have some real bite to them in texture and flavour. The inside of the sausage has a soft consistency like sweet potato pakora but it tastes exactly like a chippy sausage – whaat?! The choccy brownie is perfection.
FYI This is enough food to last me for my tea tonight and breakfast and dinner tomorrow.
I was having a very Dyspraxic day (knocking everything over/dropping everything/getting stuff tangled up/bumping into stuff/tripping up/behaving more drunk than when I’m actually drunk!) so upon arrival to his flat, my Bloke surprised me with (gluten free, dairy free) Mac n’ Cheese to cheer me up.
I spontaneously dropped quite a bit of dosh (a rare thing for me) on these Docs ages ago but I have no idea what to wear them with with!
Some suggestions have been a) 80’s Hair-metal b) 90’s Girly grunge/Riot Grrrl teaming them with a floaty short dress c) Sexy grunge teaming them with a leather/denim mini or skinny jeans, which I guess plays into suggestion a.
