MY MOST RECENT OVERSEAS HOLIDAY

So, my most recent holiday was in Fiji. I had 4 weeks off from work.

I have always wanted to go to Fiji. I was chatting to my parents, and they asked if they could also come. Of course, I didn’t mind! We had separate rooms, and although I said I didn’t want to “spend every waking minute” with them, we did spend a lot of time together! It was nice to have the company.

We stayed at the Hilton on Denarau Island. And it was warm! About 24-27°C and sunny.

I have not been overseas much, only twice before Fiji. Once to Vanuatu on a cruise, and once to China on a 1-month tour with my parents. I will do another blog at a later date on my China trip.

I just wanted a relaxing holiday this time! Reading, swimming and RELAXING. Which is exactly what we did. My parents had a room with a kitchen, so we had dinner there most nights. We had a BBQ, and pizza, and then we went to the restaurant the last night.

A buffet breakfast was included, so we mainly had fruit for lunch or a sandwich we bought at the resort Deli.

After breakfast, we all went to the pool with our books. We would swim and read. Mostly we went to the adults-only pool! I often spent a bit longer at the pool than my parents. I even did aqua aerobics two mornings!

Afternoons we didn’t do much. I would go back for happy hour in the late afternoon. Mainly reading, and some more swimming.

this was the view for happy hour

One afternoon we all went for a “cruise”. It was to see the outer Fiji Islands where they would drop people off for their holidays at the outer Islands! It was a 3 hour trip.We even saw the Island where they filmed “Survivor” aka Mamanuca Islands

Survivor Island

One afternoon I got a massage and a facial, which was so relaxing!

I didn’t want to come home.

I have 2 videos on my YouTube channel about my holiday if you want to check them out.

HOLIDAY BLOG https://youtu.be/y759tBaIzuo

ROOM TOUR https://youtu.be/37kD5e829ZI

so I got covid… AGAIN

This is my second experience with COVID-19. I had my first positive test in July 2022. This was a PCR test.

My second time was June 2024, basically 2 years to almost the day (well, a month off!) It’s crazy because I went to Fiji in May, spending 3-4 hours on a plane each way and I didn’t get COVID! And once I get back to work for a few weeks….. BOOM! Hello COVID! I don’t feel it was as bad as last time. It was like a bad flu, body aches, headache, and stuffy nose. I did lose my sense of smell this time though, which didn’t happen last time. And this was a RAT test!

3 positive RAT tests over a week

I had to have 6 days off from work.

When I went back to work, I had to wear a mask. And I was not allowed to take it off with other people around. It was only for 3 days. I even had to eat my lunch alone outside!

I am feeling a lot better now, but I have been getting tired, especially at the end of the day.

Nala did enjoy having me at home. She got plenty of pats and enjoyed sleeping with me on the lounge!

I am just feeling tired now, especially at the end of the day! Hopefully I won’t get COVID again anytime soon!

I have had 4 covid vax…. Not sure when and if I can get my next one!

roasted pumpkin salad with honey and balsamic dressing

Ingredients

·         1.75kg butternut pumpkin, deseeded, cut into 2cm-thick pieces

·         olive oil cooking spray

·         1/2 cup pine nuts

·         200g baby spinach

Honey and balsamic dressing

·         1/4 cup honey

·         2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

·         1 tbsp olive oil

Method

Preheat oven to 250°C. Line baking trays with baking paper. Place in a single layer on trays. Spray with oil and turn to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Roast pumpkin, turning once, for 20 minutes or until golden and tender. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, heat a small, non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring for 3 minutes or until golden.

Make honey and balsamic dressing:

Combine ingredients in a screwtop jar. Secure lid and shake to combine. Remove lid. Microwave on HIGH (100%) for 10 seconds or until honey is melted. Replace lid. Shake until well combined. Place and pumpkin in a large bowl. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Drizzle with dressing. Season with salt and pepper.

This is a super easy salad to make. I usually make this for big gatherings! Everyone really likes it!

my red curry recipe (slow cooker)

INGREDIENTS

·         195g red curry paste

·         Coconut Cream 400g (I used Ayam brand)

·         600g chicken, diced

·         1 can bamboo shoots

·         A few good “slurps” fish sauce

·         1 red capsicum, diced

·         1 zucchini, diced

·         1 carrot, diced

·         1 punnet cherry tomato’s

·         ½ juiced lime

METHOD

·         Sauté capsicum, add in curry paste and “cook off”

·         Add to slow cooker, and add fish sauce

·         Add chicken (uncooked), zucchini and carrot and lime juice

·         Add bamboo shoots 1 hour before serving

·         Add coconut cream 15-30 minutes prior to serving

·         Serve with Jasmine Rice

I cook on low heat in slow cooker, about 8-9 hours. I cook off capsicum etc the night before, put in fridge. I put in slow cooker before I go to work, adding chicken. I then do other steps when I get home. I also add rice to slow cooker about 1 hour before serving to pick up the curry flavour. You may need to add some extra water to cook the rice.

My Spag Bol

I wanted to share some of my favourite recipes with everyone.

I love to make my Bolognese sauce in the slow cooker.

This was the first meal I learned to cook for my family as a kid! Although I believe my Mum’s better, here is my version.

INGREDIENTS

·         500g lean mince

·         1 onion chopped

·         Clove of garlic chopped

·         2 tablespoons tomato paste

·         2 punnets of cherry tomatoes (could use canned tomatoes)

·         1 carrot diced

·         Stick of celery diced

·         A beef stock cube

·         2 bay leaves

·         Herbs-thyme, oregano. Chilli flakes optional

·         Dash of red wine (optional)

METHOD

My slow cooker has an insert you can put on a cooktop. So, what I do is brown off the onions and garlic. I then add the mince but don’t cook through- 50% browned off. I then add all the other ingredients and put it in the slow cooker. Low for about 8 hours. I occasionally stir occasionally to ensure all the ingredients are mixed.

Call me crazy, but I actually add the pasta to the slow cooker. Usually with about 30 minutes to go. You need to keep an eye at this stage, as you will need to add water to help the pasta cook. I usually add 500g spiral pasta.

how I got to my current weight…

This is my story as to how I got to my current weight.

About 17 years ago, my fiancé broke up with me 1 month before the wedding. Not sure of my exact weight, but thinking about 120kgs. We were both overweight. After the breakup, I hit the gym, and did Weight Watchers. The main motivation was to make him jealous, but then got the exercise “high”, which kept me motivated. I lost a staggering amount of weight, and got down to 80kgs. And I felt AMAZING!!

I was doing some 5km and 10km races, and even did a half marathon distance at my local Relay for Life during this time.

I stayed at that weight for about 6 or 7 years, and gradually started putting on weight. I didn’t put on too much, got to 90kgs. But 7 years ago, I started a job as a Community Nurse with more regular hours, and got my cat Nala. I stopped going to the gym and did no exercise at all! It’s no excuse, but I put all my energy into looking after Nala, and neglected myself. I was also assaulted by a neighbour, which didn’t help my self-esteem. I also started drinking to numb my feelings.

So, over the last 7 years of being a Community Nurse, my weight has gradually increased to my current weight of 130kgs.

As a side note, I also have epilepsy, which doesn’t contribute to my weight gain, but I needed to have regular hours, which is why I became a community nurse.

I’m still working on my mindset, but am getting there!! Each day I’m improving!

my first blog on my updated blog!

Hi!

Welcome to my new blog! It has been a long time coming. I don’t think I’ve posted a blog in 2 years, maybe more! I have changed my blog’s hosting so I can have more control over the blog!

I will post some of my older blogs, and continue to post new blogs!

I still have Nala as my Cat, she will be 8 in September.

Nala

Please stay tuned for more life updates. I will post more regularly here!

I have a YouTube Channel and Instagram which have been linked if you want to check those out!