Jigsaw 3 - La Fromagerie

 The next one

Took a lot of sorting into sections to complete this one, but it was nice to complete the sections and see it develop.

Already

 I totally understand that nowadays, with the cost-of-living etc, that people need to prepare and plan and organise, but Easter eggs in January seems a little far from Easter?

Is chocolate at Easter really that big a deal that people will need to start buying it 3 months in advance, so they have it, or is it just that it is chocolate, and people will buy it in a different shape to eat at any time of the year?

Jigsaw 2 - Floral Compass

 And so, the trend of completing jigsaw puzzles continues.

Number 2 for the year, although not getting through them so fast this year as out and about more, and walking more but still always got one on the go

I liked this one as it was different and I thought it would be a bit of a challenge, which it was, due to the different size pieces and the shape.

Despite a few moments, I enjoyed completing it and it looks so cute

Blood Donation

 My journey to supporting blood donation and other products has been long and slow. I am British, although have now spent half my life in New Zealand.

Unfortunately, back in 1999 the blood service decided that the risk of mad cow disease from anyone who, at one time or another, had lived in Great Britain for longer than 6 months during 1980-1996 could no longer donate due to the threat of contaminating the blood product and their lack of being able to test for it and ensure the products were not contaminated (which takes out more people than you realise and definitely takes me out, as I was born there and lived there in some capacity util Feb 1998) which lead to me be unable to donate for the last 24 years!

Before I moved to NZ, I had donated about 10 units of blood, at some stage for a small while, they decided I needed it more than they did! So, whilst I was a regular donator, there was the odd year where I didn't donate. With red blood cells, you can donate once every 3-4 months, so not many times in the year.

Once the ban was lifted this year, I ventured back and gave some blood. I also noticed that they did plasma donations and after some enquiries I decided to give it a go. You can donate plasma every 2-3 weeks, yes, weeks. This is due to them filtering your blood to remove the plasma and returning the red blood cells back to your body, thereby not depleting your body of them and allowing you to not have to make new red cells (the part that takes the time and the reason you can only donate blood so infrequent)

So, here I am, allowed to donate again and happy to donate plasma every 3 weeks or so. I could do it every 2 weeks but felt that was just not suitable, so 3 weeks minimum between donations is my setting and it is achievable and works for me. I think you should do what works for you and not always what they would say, this then makes it work for your life, your body and allow you to sustain it, which I feel is better than not at all.

Transport

 Now that I have moved back to the family home, I have realised that using the car to get to work each day is becoming expensive.

By the time I have paid for the daily parking ($6), not always guaranteed either! The petrol and wear of the car then I am looking at about $7-8 a day.

Now I only live about 5-7 minutes (about 4 km) drive away from work, in the morning it is quicker to get there as I leave before all the traffic but in the evening I end up taking maybe 10-15 minutes due to traffic, which for the city I live in is not bad, so I really have nothing to complain about, compared to some others around the world (joys of living in NZ with only 4.5 million other people and only 180,000 in my city).

I am happy to walk, which would take me about 30-45 mins but I usually have a heavy bag to carry and I found that this just wasn't suitable and then I had to take other shoes to wear once at work plus you needed a coat/jacket when you start out, because it was cold or raining, but by the time you got there you had taken it off as you are now warm. I decided that I didn't need that amount of crazy stress at 7.30am just to get to work.

So, I took at the bus

It is a 1 min walk to my choice of 2 bus stops and both buses run every 30 minutes. The price per journey is alright and I actually save $1.20 per day on parking costs and guess I save all the wear and tear on the car, plus petrol costs, so a win win all round.

Does it mean I can do a quick stop at the supermarket on the way home? Yes, if I want to walk there and then catch the bus from there, which is totally do able but carrying 6L of milk is not such joy, so someone else can grab the milk!

The extra steps I get in the day walking to the bus stop and getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking up a large flight of stairs to work is also good for me, especially as I am trying to maintain my steps per day.

Guess I will be taking the bus more often. It will take some good planning and ensuring my calendar is up to date and correct, nothing like realising that you forgot an appointment and then realising that you don't have the car to get there! But I don't have appointments too often, well apart from on a Thursday, so I guess I can take the bus 4 days a week, which I will be happy doing, even in the rain (I have several umbrellas)

Dragon Fruit

 I have always wondered about this fruit.

What is it, where does it come from, what does it taste like, what do you do with it?

So, I did what any good person does nowadays, I googled it....

Dragon fruit, or pitahaya, is a tropical fruit from a cactus native to Mexico and Central/South America. It has a bright, scaled skin (often red or yellow) and white or pink flesh dotted with tiny, edible black seeds. The teste is often described as a mild, slightly sweet mix of kiwi, pear, and watermelon. It is a source of fiber and can be eaten fresh, or used in juices, jams, and other dishes.

And then I bought one from the supermarket (they were on special) and gave it a go.

Verdict: Don't bother, no taste or flavour. Weird texture and what you would do with it then I do not know. If a good source of fiber, then maybe it would work in a smoothie, but only so you got some extra fiber as I don't think it will affect the flavour or taste in any way.

Google suggested: How to use it

Eaten fresh on its own, added to fruit salads, blended into juices or smoothies, used in jams and ice cream, and can be used to make wine.

So, next time you see this in the supermarket and have that moment of wonder. If it is on special, then give it a go. You might just like it, or not! Me, not so much, I'll pass thanks.

Life is about trying things.

Nowadays, I am all for trying things, pushing myself, finding happiness in the odd places and appreciating everything I see and do.

Jigsaw Time - Wizard of OZ

 Well, it wouldn't be the new year if I didn't start it right without a jigsaw!

Received this one for my birthday last year and just fancied doing it whilst unwell for a day, about all I could manage. Started it yesterday lunchtime and finished it this morning. Yes, I did parkrun in the morning, starts at 8am, but sadly by lunchtime I was not feeling well.

It was easy to do, as lots of main colour areas to pick out and then it all just fell together very quickly.

Happy New Year

 Happy New Year 2025

Welcome to a new year. A year where things are exciting and I have plans, not that I didn't have plans in 2024, but they went a little square and sideways and the year didn't go to plan, quite!!

I don't have too many set plans for 2025, just a few things that I want to achieve, and I am happy to go with the flow. If they don't happen then I won't beat myself up about it, but I do want to do them, so will try my hardest to achieve everything.

Looking back on 2024 then it was hard!

My marriage being officially put to rest, although we were both happy about this.

My work got out of hand, and I let it! It caused trouble in the middle of the year and stress leave is not fun at all. But I survived, I went back, and I tried again and finished the year but there are many changes being made and I am stronger, and I am actually looking forward to work in 2025 and being able to have the time and space to achieve what I know I can do and offer.

So how did 2025 start?

I am not a midnight person. I was actually in bed by 11pm. Yes, I know, that is only 60 minutes from midnight, but did I really want to stay up an extra hour, just to say 'Happy New Year' and then go to bed? I only had Steve to say it too and it was not needed, so to bed I went.

However, I did get up at 7am to go and complete parkrun at Cambridge.

It was a special event for me as it marked my 50th event 🎉

This means I have walked at 50 parkruns, which is an achievement to be celebrated. Majority of them have been at the same event each week but a few have been elsewhere.

At parkrun we celebrate all achievements, the next is my 100th event, obviously with parkrun only happening weekly then it will be December at the earliest that I can achieve this and that will mean attending every Saturday! I already know that won't be happening as I have a few Saturdays when I can't attend so it will be the beginning of next year for sure.

Whenever it happens, I will be celebrating it.