Thursday 15 November 2018

Picking Up


It felt a while since I'd hung out in this little space, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, in reality, it was only just over a week ago. I've been a bit under the weather, you see and feeling generally meh! One of the 'perks' of my job is that I am susceptible to any germs which may be flying around at any given moment  and a cold which had been threatening for a couple of weeks turned into full blown laryngitis almost overnight. My cough lasted only a day or so, leaving me with a sore throat, then my voice, which was initially just a bit hoarse, all but disappeared. It became more of a squeak, much to the amusement of some of my colleagues. I have been drinking plenty of fluids and easing my symptoms with some hot lemon and honey with a generous kick of ginger and turmeric and now, thankfully, I am slowly recovering. I may have also partaken of the occasional brandy in an evening - medicinal, of course.




Life has been quiet this week and aside from the usual work, school and home routine we haven't really been up to much. A walk on Sunday was much welcome. Fresh air and intermittent sunshine took my mind off my sore throat for a while as we experienced all kinds of weather in one afternoon. As we walked along, the rainfall looked quite dramatic in the valley, briefly allowing for a beautiful rainbow. Most of the trees are looking quite bare now, with the exception being this one, which was such a beautiful shade of gold I just had to take a photograph.


Recently, my thoughts have begun to turn towards the end of the year. Christmas (yes I've said it!) is only 40 days off now and although I don't like to start planning too early, I confess to treating myself to a festive magazine and feeling a little bit of excitement stir within. With the increasingly dark days I can't help but feel a little gleeful at the prospect of fairy lights, sparkle and glitter, although I've yet to start writing any lists or thinking about food. I'm going to try my very best to strike a balance between peaking too soon and leaving things until last minute. Maybe this will be the year I will crack it.

For anyone else who is suffering like I was.

Lemon and Honey Remedy

The juice of half a lemon
2 teaspoons of honey
1 large pinch of turmeric
1 inch of freshly grated ginger
Put it all in a mug and pour in hot water. Stir well. Add a shot of brandy or whisky if necessary.

J.X

54 comments:

  1. Oh so sorry, that you have been sick!!!!!!! "Oh bother" as Pooh says. No fun! But glad you to hear, that you are on the mend.

    Aren't those pure gold leafed trees, gorgeous...? Even without sun, they seem to radiate their own glow!

    Gorgeous photos, all...

    Oh yes, I have "dipped my blogging toe," into Christmas! Not the frenzy part, the sparkles✨ and glitter and more faerie lights and etc. part! ,-) November needs all the help it can get, as far as I'm concerned. So thinking about sparkle✨, is ok, in my book. :-)

    'Cause what we do at home, isn't buying into the Holiday Merchandise Machine. What we do at home, isn't making people guilty, about not buying enough. What we do at home, is just fun✨ for us. Or so I say, anyway!!!!! ,-)

    Some sparkles hugs...
    ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

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    1. I've felt worse, but I become rather grumpy when I'm not well. I get infuriated at the inconvenience of it all :D
      After this next week, I need to sit down and have a think about Christmas. We don't go overboard and our focus is on spending time together, but there are still things to be organised. X

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  2. Glad you’re feeling a bit better. Like the sound of your remedy! Beautiful photos, the light is perfect. B x

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    1. Thank you Barbara. My throat is still a bit sore but at least my voice is returning. X

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  3. Glad to hear that you are feeling better, Jules.
    Thank you for the recipe. I was having a bad cold and sore throat several days ago, and I drank coriander and ginger tea, and lemon and honey. Didn't think to add turmeric. Now I'm alright, but I'll remember your recipe for the next time.

    Take care and stay warm.

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    1. Thank you Nil. I'm glad you're feeling much better. The added turmeric is great for inflammation. X

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  4. Beautiful pictures - even the lemon and honey! I actually look forward to lemon and honey but can do without the sore throat! Hope you feeling better soon.
    It is frighteningly close now - I can feel a mild panic if I think about it too much. We do our Not so Secret Santa draw this weekend whilst all the family are together.

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    1. Thank you Vivien. I still have a bit of a sore throat but I'm feeling much better than I did. I will probably have some more of the honey and lemon drink this evening. X

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  5. My Dad is 91 and he swears by that lemon drink (brandy IF necessary!) Guess what, he likes to STIR it with a peppermint stick! Hope you are better soon. x (He does the drink like you but he would not use ginger or turmeric, he doesn't have those spices!)

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    1. It is a very soothing drink. The turmeric has the added benefit of reducing inflammation. X

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  6. I adore the sunshine over the fields photo, you've certainly captured that gorgeous moment well. Sorry to hear you have been unwell and I'm glad you're on the mend. I'm sure the brandy helps. Isn't brandy always medicinal? :) xx Susan

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    1. Thank you Susan. The brandy is definitely just medicinal. I don't think I could drink it ordinarily. X

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  7. As always, wonderful photos.
    I'm so sorry you've been unwell - it sounds really nasty so, please, take it easy!
    Of course brandy is medicinal. Maybe that's why I don't like it! :-)
    xx

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    1. Thank you Joy. I'm feeling much better now, just a bit of a sore throat. In my opinion brandy has only two purposes, medicinal, or in a Christmas cake - and I no longer bother making one of those. X

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  8. Sunday was definitely a day of all weathers, your pictures capture it perfectly.
    Good to read your lemon and honey has helped to ease your symptoms and you are on the mend. I'll have to recommend your drink to friends who are suffering with this nasty little germ.

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    1. It really was! Good to get out in the fresh air though. The drink is great if you have a sore throat, and there are quite a few about just now. X

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  9. Sorry to hear you've been poorly,the remedy sounds perfect
    The leaves look to have fallen from the tree all at once - such a thick carpet.
    I dreamed I had lost my voice last night - hope it's not a premonition!

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    1. Thanks Sue. I'm feeling much better, although my throat is still a little sore. Fingers crossed you keep your voice. X

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  10. Having Laryngitis Is such a strange feeling. I am glad to read that you are feeling better.

    We had that strange storm also and then all of a sudden the sky lit up to a beautiful golden color and a full double rainbow appeared. It was magnificent.

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    1. Thank you Arleen. It's the time of year for all those germs flying around, although it was lovely to get out for some fresh air and enjoy the last of the Autumn colour. X

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  11. Glad you're on the mend Jules and your remedy sounds just the job to make you feel better. Yes, I heard someone else say Christmas was just forty sleeps away!

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    1. Thank you Eileen. Hopefully I will be able to see out the rest of the year germ free.
      Christmas organisation is on my agenda for next weekend. There are still things to organise even though we usually spend it quietly. X

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  12. Sorry to hear you've not been well but it's good you're feeling better now. The grey cloud over the hills makes a very atmospheric shot, and the golden tree is just beautiful :)

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    1. Thank you Eunice. I couldn't resist the tree with it's gorgeous colour. X

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  13. I'm sorry to hear you've been under the weather, there's so many bugs flying around at the moment, we need a proper cold snap to kill them all off. Christmas has reared its head here over the last week or so, I really need to get myself into gear and get some present shopping done, I'm hoping to make a start this weekend.

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    1. I'm feeling much better now, thank you Jo. We're off out on a bike ride today so that should hopefully see off any lingering germs.
      I have been trying not to think too much about Christmas and although there has been Christmas produce in the Supermarkets for a while now, I still got a shock when 'All I want for Christmas' began playing on the radio the other day. X

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  14. Hope you feel better soon. Tis the season of lurgies; BLEUGH! Lovely photos. Take care, best Jane x

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    1. Thank you Jane. We're off out in the sunshine and fresh air today, so that should help rid me of any lingering germs. X

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  15. Hope you are feeling better and the remedy did its stuff, which sounds perfect with the added medicinal brandy. I have been thinking of Christmas for awhile as we are hopeful of getting away to visit all of our family.

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    1. The remedy has really helped and I'm going to have some more this evening. You are always so well organised for Christmas and I expect you will need to be more so if you are going away. Your makes are always so inspiring. X

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  16. Sorry to hear you have been under the weather Jules, stay warm, they say the temperatures are really going to drop next week. xx

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    1. Thanks Marlene. I'm feeling a lot better already. I never thought I'd say this but some cold weather would be most welcome. It doesn't feel very Novemeber-ish as it's turned quite mild again. X

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  17. A hot toddy-my late father’s cure for everything! I make it now but without alcohol and the soothing sensation is wonderful! Lovely autumn colours but dreich here today-I wore my bright red boots to compensate!

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    1. I'm sure that like a cup of tea, a hot toddy can cure most things. I hope we get some more seasonal appropriate weather soon. It feels strangely mild for the time of year. X

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  18. Lovely photographs.
    Thank you for the recipe./ My daughter in law has gone down with a cold today so I shall pass the recipe on to her.

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    1. Thank you Pat. I hope your daughter in law feels better soon. There are so many germs around at this time of year, it is hard to avoid them. X

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  19. So sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Glad to hear that you are recovering. The hot lemon and honey drink sounds wonderful (I'll skip the brandy, though, as I don't take anything alcoholic). Love photos, too, as always. I especially liked the one with the yellow leaved tree. :)

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    1. Thank you Bless. I'm beginning to feel much better and at least my voice has returned, even if my throat is still sore. The only time I have brandy is if it's medicinal. X

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  20. Your pictures are lovely - and it sounds like you've had the full spectrum of weather. Colour is just about hanging on here in the Midlands, but the drabness that comes after the leaves have fallen is taking over. There are a lot of colds about - I've just over one - I hope you feel better soon.

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    1. Thank you Jacqui. Most of the Autumn colour has disappeared now and I'm sure any which is still clinging on will be gone within a week or two. I'm hoping plenty of fresh air this weekend will see an end to my cold symptoms. X

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  21. I sure hope you are feeling much better by now. I am very excited for Christmas! I've already hung a few strands of fairy lights around the house.

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    1. I'm feeling a lot better, thank you Julia. Christmas is such an exciting time but I'm trying hard to not start planning too soon. I really need to get the advent chocolates sorted, however. I always forget about those. X

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  22. Everytime I hear Christmas countdowns it always reminds me of the sheer panic I would be in as Evies due date was just after Christmas!

    I still love Christmas but love it even more now (if that could be possible/believable) :)

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    1. I can understand your nervous anticipation. All worth it in the end though. X

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  23. So sorry you haven't been feeling too good, many thanks for sharing your remedy.

    Once again a huge thank you for sharing your fantastic photographs with us, I have to agree the colour of the leaves on that tree are majestic, a wonderful golden glow.

    I always look forward to Christmas and I fear the countdown is on :)

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. I've been trying my best to capture some of the beautiful Autumn colour, as it will disappear before much longer.
      I'm holding out for another week before I begin to think about Christmas properly, I don't want to start too soon. X

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  24. hope you are feeling much better now Jules. Colds are miserable things, no matter what the time of year.

    Bit of festive prep has been going on here. Not much, just enough. Gorgeous photos as always, feels as if Autumn has been and gone now, barely a leaf left on the tree. As always, the season was too short. xx

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    1. I'm definitely feeling much better, thank you Sadie. My voice is back, although I'm not sure everyone is thankful for that ;)
      I'm really looking forward to feeling all Christmassy but not just yet. Plans will start next weekend and I will start acting on them the following week. Lets just enjoy Autumn for a little while longer. X

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  25. Sorry you've been under the weather. That tree is glorious. The colours have been amazing this autumn. I've done some crimbo shopping- can't bear having to go when the towns are heaving so I tend to be ahead of the game. xx

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    1. I'm feeling a lot better now, thank you CT. It has been a glorious Autumn hasn't it. The leaves are all but gone here now, but we saw some beautiful displays in the Lakes at the weekend.
      Well done on the Christmas shopping. I will be making a start once my list has been finalised and I'll definitely be doing my best to avoid the crowds. X

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  26. Ooh Jules...hope you’re perking up a bit now...yes Christmas...this year I feel I may well be just coming in on Twelfth Night! xx

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    1. I'm feeling a lot better now, thank you Jackie. X

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  27. Sorry I have been AWOL and you have been poorly. Also been having trouble staying signed in to facilitate commenting. Your ‘remedy’ looks and sounds delicious :).

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    1. I'm feeling much better, thank you Jayne. I'm sure the remedy helped, or maybe it was just the brandy ;)

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