When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Not only are these words from a well-known song, but it is also a phrase that epitomises the challenges faced by many who live in the North of the UK this week. With frightening gales, fallen trees, cuts in electricity and freezing temperatures, it has been an unbelievably tough time for those who have been affected. Thankfully, and incredibly, in times of crisis we are designed to dig deep and survive, often ‘growing’ in character from the challenges that we face in our lifetime.
A perfect example of such fortitude became so evident when this week we heard of the sad passing of Formula One icon Sir Frank Williams, aged 79. In 1986, Frank Williams became a quadriplegic after being involved in a road traffic accident and would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. After defying death and surviving many weeks in a coma and months of rehabilitation, Frank Williams bounced back to head up one of the most successful and respected F1 teams and is described as ‘one of the nicest people in Formula One’. He never gave up, no matter how great the challenges that were presented to him. He wanted to be a winner – and he most certainly was!
I think we can all be inspired by those who show such extraordinary strength and fortitude. In our own lives, whether we are aiming to become fitter or lose a few lbs, we must try not to fall into the trap of making excuses and putting it off for another day. Let’s treasure every day right now and live each one to the full and enjoy it. It is in our power to make the effort to be as healthy as we possibly can. A good place to start is by taking ourselves off for a brisk walk in the cold and appreciating the warmth as we step back into our cosy home afterwards. The great bonus is that when we walk in really cold weather, we burn loads of extra calories!
This week we had a fun day filming some Christmas and New Year recipes that will be appearing over the next few weeks in our Newsletter. In this edition I show you how you can make your own super-healthy mincemeat which tastes yummy, is easy to make, and is fat-free and full of fibre and goodness.
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The origins of the mince pie are traceable to the 13th century when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits, and spices. Mince pies, at Christmastide, were traditionally shaped in an oblong shape, to resemble a manger and were often topped with a depiction of the Christ child. Typically the ingredients were a mixture of minced meat, suet, and a range of fruits, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. By the 1800s the recipe had become sweeter and the size of the pies markedly reduced. Today the mince pie, usually made without meat (but often including suet or other animal fats), remains a popular seasonal individual treat.
