Every year I take a little break from my blog, usually if I am away in the sun!  Or like last year when my daughter was starting at university and I wanted to spend time with her.  This year it is for different reasons, if only I was away in the sun, but I need to deal with some personal issues ... I am okay but I am needed elsewhere for a few weeks.  And my husband and I then have a late summer break in Cornwall to look forward to.  I will be back in September with renewed energy and enthusiasm and I hope a better outlook with regard to the current Covid-19 situation.  Isn't it all so contradictory and confusing?

Many many years ago, when I was a PA at senior level working in the corporate world, an odd afternoon or day spent doing work at home was a bit of a treat, it meant I could attend an appointment or get my head down with a specific project.  Then when my children were pre-schoolers my husband did a one-off property development project and I did all the admin for him at home.  Finally we decided to set up our own business and I had a desk at home, taught myself bookkeeping and managed the admin from home whilst still being able to be a full time mother to my two children.  It worked, for a while!  Then as the business expanded my husband needed an office more, somewhere to do estimating, make phone calls and manage his own paperwork.

What do you have for breakfast?  Buttered toast just isn't good enough any more, the more we learn about nutrition and understand about the importance of protein with every meal, well we do need to up our game a bit!  I have a few 'go to' healthy breakfasts ...

Overnight oats (you can find my recipe here)
Poached egg and avocado on wholemeal toast
Smoothies
Banana pancakes with fruit and yoghurt
Granola or Muesli with yoghurt

I know that any of these fit in with my calories, I know they are quick and easy and I know they are healthy.  I have for many years only had Lizi's Granola, I've tried others but always go back to Lizi's and I serve it with a generous dollop of Fage Total 2% Yoghurt plus I add in some flaxseeds for their extra health benefits.  So when I was asked if I'd like to try Lizi's Super Muesli, recently launched, I guessed it would be as good as her Granola.  But how to serve it?  I researched and found out that this traditional Swiss breakfast should be served with fruit juice which I didn't have in the fridge so I used yoghurt - which still gives me the protein with every meal which is so important (to keep us fuller for longer).

Lockdown has meant we have all been coming up with new ways to socialise, to learn and to relax.  My friend last week was telling me about a wine tasting at home evening she had on zoom with her friends.  What a fabulous idea!  I was asked recently if I'd like to try out the service offered by The Wine List, of course I did, wine is my new friend during lockdown (don't judge me, a nice chilled glass of white in the garden with the sun shining reminds me of holidays)!

The Wine List is a new way to discover wine and learn new skills at the same time.  It is a monthly subscription service, and over 12 months you will learn all the principles for choosing and enjoying wine.  Every month you will be sent - two delicious and unusual bottles of wine, one wine principle and two tasting cards.  You do not need to commit to 12 months though - see later, the subscription can be cancelled at any time.