Getting into this mixing thing now!
My second mix is probably less approachable than my first one but I’m certainly happier with it as a solid hour of danceable house that I’d be happy to hear in a club environment.
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That’s better!
After the drama of day 3, yesterday seemed much more manageable. Granted I was a totally grumpy bugger for the first half of the day but I was more than capable of acting that way when I was a smoker so I’m not letting that discourage me. Continue reading
Let me start my round-up of day 3 with this:
So far I have not smoked a single cigarette since my quit date on Sat 25th June and considering the events of yesterday I deserve a bloody medal for that! Continue reading
2 days in to the freedom of no more cigarette dependance and I’m feeling really good about the process so far. Of course today is the first day back at work which brings a whole new range of associations and other challenges to the fore but I’m confident that these little niggles won’t pose any kind of problem.
Having chosen Saturday as my “Quit Date” I am happy to say that the first day has past without a single ‘orrible cigarette being smoked by your truly.
This morning I had my first meeting with the Help2Quit programme member – a very nice bloke by the name of Richard.
With his help I’ve set a timescale for quitting which starts first thing tomorrow. It was an interesting session and raised some points I didn’t know about the process. For example I was not aware that, chemically, a craving for nicotine only lasts for 6 minutes. Richard recommended that I look at setting up a series of “Six Minute Strategies” to handle these cravings in a positive manner. I’ve got a couple of days to come up with activities that can be used at home, at work and whilst I’m out and about.
I’ll be using Nicotine Replacement for the first few weeks (mostly for the benefit of those around me) but am already looking forward to the point where I can wean myself off these and go completely nicotine free.
I’ll also be using the tried and tested chewing gum (normal sugar free stuff not nicotine gum) technique to handle the first weeks worth of associated anxiety and to act as an apetite suppressant.
All in all I’m feeling positive and am almost looking forward to the challenge. I’ll be documenting my progress here (so apologies of you find it all rather dull) and am grateful for any messages of support you may wish to send my way.
So here’s to the beginning of the end of my life as a smoker!
In our ongoing quest to find interesting vegetarian meals I picked up a pack of puff pastry with a view to making some veg tarts.
We whipped up 2 fillings, Caramelised Red Onion & Goat’s Cheese and Spinach & Feta. The recipe is as follows:
Caramelised Red Onion & Goat’s Cheese
Ingredients:
Thinly slice the onions and fry in the butter in a heavy pan over a medium heat with the sugar. You’re aiming to caramelise the onions so keep them moving until all the liquid has evaporated. Deglaze with a few drops of balsamic and set aside.
Slice the goats cheese into 4 equal slice. We’ll whack a slice on top of each tart before cooking.
Spinach & Feta
Ingredients:
Wilt the spinach in a saucepan with a small knob of butter (I always add a pinch of ground nutmeg but that’s up to you). Once it’s wilted right down, stick it in a sieve and press as much liquid out as you can.
Wipe out the pan and melt the rest of the butter and soften the onion and garlic over a medium heat. Once the onion is soft, whack the spinach back in and mix.
Decant and let it cool for a bit before stirring in the feta.
The Tarts
This is the easy bit!
Roll out your puff pastry (unless you were sensible enough to buy ready rolled) in a square (approx. 10 inches square) and slice into 4 quarters.
Deeply score the pastry squares 1.5 inches from the edge to draw a square in the middle of the piece – this lets the pastry rise round the outside of the filling.
Pile your fillings inside the scored line.
Brush the outside with egg and bake for 20 mins at 180 degrees centigrade (that’s for a fan oven – if you don’t have a fan oven … it’s the fricking 21st century – what are you playing at?)
Enjoy!
I’ve been playing about with the awesome Tractor 2 of late and have also discovered Beatport (a great source for all types of dance music).
Yesterday I finally managed to combine the two into my first ever recorded house mix:
I’m pretty pleased with it. A few of the mixes are over long and I think I phased one of the transitions but it’s no worse than some “Dance Music” compilation CDs I’ve bought in the past.
Track listing is below and feedback is always welcome.
(Note: All content is © Copyright the respective label / artists.)
During a slightly drunken conversation towards the end of last year’s Big Birthday Bash I made a commitment to a friend of mine … that I would have quit smoking by the time my 31st birthday rolled around.
Well, my birthday is rapidly approaching (no need to send gifts by the way … unless you feel you have to) and I’m gearing up to give up.
A bit of history; I started smoking late (well compared to a lot of my friends) aged 18.5, mostly due to being at university and redefining boundaries.
I have previously managed to quit for approx. 6 months when I was 24.
This means that, based on an average of 20 cigarettes a day I have now smoked more than 90,000 ciggies at a cost that is easily in the £1,000s.
I’m not trying this on my own. The local government here in Jersey runs a campaign called Help2Quit which offers support (both financial in terms of free patches or other aids and mental) for 8 – 12 weeks … which should be sufficient to get me past the worst of the process.
Whilst I’d be lying if I said I was “looking forward” to it, I am feeling positive about finally kicking a habit that has really started to intrude on my lifestyle and am looking forward to meeting my 31st year as an ex smoker.
Wish me luck!
Minor comedy moment whilst waiting at the bus stop this evening. Dottie and I were approached by a group of French tourists carrying a map.
This is a pretty common occurrence at this time of year and I mentally prepared myself to not speak in an outrageous accent (you silly king) before thinking which of the many hotels or shops they might be preparing to ask directions to.
The ambassador of the group opened with a cheery ‘allo and then asked if I could direct them to the Millenium Park …
the new Jersey “Millenium Park”
the “Millenium Park” that is still being built and won’t be completed until December (at the earliest) this year.
I asked if she was sure that she meant the “Millenium Park” and, after a look of Gallic confusion pointed to her “free from the tourist department” map where, sure enough, an sweeping area of verdant green was proudly labelled as the “Millenium Park”.
Only in Jersey!
