Hi Guys,

I did make my stew and SOOOOO looking forward to having some tonight with some nice fresh bread - Yum!!

Exercise is a good way to keep warm and is a great suggestion :) I was at the gym last night and got caught in the heaviest rain on the way home! So today I am feeling a bit extra chilly - I too love a good run but lets be honest when it cold and raining outside and you have arrived home after a long day and you have just put the kettle on its so so hard to put your running shoes on!

Any more warming recipes and keeping toasty ideas people? My next attempt might be something like a hot chicken noodle soup if any one has any suggestions on that front?

Your stew should arrive in Manchester tonight Glowworm :D I ended up here after applying to do my postdoc for what is possibly the nicest and kindliest professor in the world (I needed it after my first postdoc experience!) I will send a nice bit of bread and butter with your stew!

Hugs everyone!

B
xxx

Hi Chickpea!

Welcome to the discussion :) I have had a funny sort of day in that I did that thing where you think you are SO organised in the morning only to have to go back home through the day to get something you forgot :(

Problem is we have TORRENTIAL rain here so I have ended up getting soaked twice - a mug of hot tea is the only reasonable course of action now!

liking all the ideas people :)

warm hugs!
B

Hi Guys,

Another day of combating low temperatures - honestly I swear that the temperatures outside are warmer than my office!!

I couldnt make my stew last night as I forgot honey (an important ingredient!) So if you can wait another day glowworm I will get it to you haha! When I get the honey I will try the brownie in a mug because I cannot wait to try that - I think I will make it for my mum when I go home for christmas :)

My outfit today is comprising jeans, thick socks, boots a jumper and a scarf. I have also found an odd contraption here in portugal which is a like a footwarming plate. Its a heated metal plate with wooden slats over it and you put your feet on it and get them warm. Never seen anything like that anywhere else!

Keep the ideas coming guys!

hugs
B
xx

Wow PhDefault!

That sounds great! I like a choccie fix but not actually buying a chocolate bar (I will stuff the whole thing in my mouth) so a nice indulgent fix like that sounds perfect!

Well done!

hugs
B

No problem Glow! :D Consider it done!!

Thanks Tree and Glow,

The fingerless gloves sound great. Bizarrely I live in Portugal (not always sunny as many think and the temps are certainly dropping!) BUT I am a native Northumbrian (North East England) so pretty adept and knocking together a hearty stew and soups - Mackem Beefy will know what I mean!
After work I plan on going to the supermarket and getting the bits and bobs for a slow cooked beef stew that should keep me toasty.

hugs
B

Hi Ladies and Gents,

Its that time of year again when we are getting a bit chilly and as we all use this forum as a source of advice and comfort lets try to keep together for warmth!

My problem is my apartment is SO chilly so how about we swap ideas to keep warm or even our favourite winter recipes and hot drink ideas? Nothing like a warm feeling to pass a day?

WARMEST wishes to all!

B
x

Hi Tulip,

First of all I can say I totally understand! I can be like that too, I am super ambitious and driven BUT I am a perfectionist and that means it can manifest in procrastination of the worst kind!

I will help you out here :) First spend an hour or so (only a specified time!) and do anything you need to do to create a good work space if that means clearing your desk or living room or even the kitchen or laundry if it means you wont spend time being distracted by it!

Next make yourself a yummy coffee or tea or whatever you like and a small snack and make a to do list with ONLY two or three items on, something manageable. Use a timer or mytomatoes or something and work through the first of the items on your list. When you have done task one take a 15min break and then tackle number two on the list. Honestly the achievement you feel from that one item crossed off will spur you on :)
Chin up Tulip, if you want to PM me feel free :) I know exactly how you feel!

Cha
xx

Hi Satchi.

Thank you so much for your reply - oh my god that sounds so awful! I am so happy that you now feel much safer in your apartment. I think hiding things like that is a great idea to be honest. A friend of mine hides her jewelry in her fridge!

Thank you again for everyones emails - its a horrible experience but I am slowly starting to regain a bit of focus and perspective. I think what made it harder is that I am in this country on my own so it was a bit difficult without my boyfriend and my mum (I am almost 32 and I missed my Mum!)

thanks again guys - I know I can always rely on team PGF!

B
xxx

Hi guys,

Thank you all so much for your replies :) Lizzie and Incognito - I'm so sorry that you have both had such horrible experiences!

I still feel a lot of feelings of self reproach about the whole thing but that life I suppose - you live and learn :)

Hugs to all of you!

B
xx

Hi Timmy,

Thanks for your reply and offer to beat up the thief! I went to the police and they were really nice but said its so hard to catch them because all they actually do is go through the bag see if there is any cash and a phone worth taking (mine werent!) and dump everything else.
I am glad I wasnt hurt but it is a really rotten experience :(

Hugs
B

Hi Guys,

Could use some friendly words, was walking home from my uni on Monday night (I am British but do a PostDoc at a Portuguese Uni) and I was mugged on the street. Thief got away with my handbag containing purse, phone(s), lab book and memory keys. I have lost no data what so ever and all he actually got was a handful of euros but I am feeling really down about it. Finding it hard to focus now and just feel so miserable.

hugs to all
B
xxx

Hi,

On your previous thread I was the last person to post with what could have been to be interpreted as quite brutal advice and I do still stand by that.

However, I am extremely happy that you have been able to move on from what was a horrible situation. It sounds to me that you turned around not just your situation but also your ATTITUDE to it and I think that maybe was the key.

I am happy that you have also found joy outside of work - its very important to find things that you enjoy that don't involve work.

Remember bad times do not come to stay, they come to pass.

Very best wishes for your future and your family!
Bevcha

Hi there!
Well done you - fantastic news especially when you were expecting a battle - now I recommend a big bottle of bubbly or a hot bath then feet up! Entirely up to you :) well done!
B
x

Eugh, flopped into bed at 3.45am and crawled out again at 8.30 :D so could have been better!