A Very Human Week at the Chickpea Hub 🌱

This last week has been full of ups, downs, and everything in between here at the Chickpea Hub — a mix of Pilates, haggis, chocolate, tiny wins, and a few surprises.

On Monday, I went to my first Pilates class at Origin Pilates in Walton-on-Thames. What a completely new experience for both my brain and my muscles! That evening, however, stress eating crept in. I discovered I’d been paying for two business seats when I only needed one — something I must have set up myself when I first created the website. Cue a rabbit hole of support calls, confusion, and a growing sense of overwhelm. Somehow, long-forgotten Maltesers and a few pieces of 100% chocolate from Coco Runners made their way into my hand. Sleep came late, and my left shoulder felt tense enough to drag me out of bed for Adriene’s neck hygiene yoga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3-gKPNyrTA

Dinner helped turn things around. A forgotten Gousto haggis recipe that initially felt like added pressure became a lovely family moment: sitting down at 5pm, preceded by the Burns poem read aloud on YouTube. My hospitality background clearly influences even my home life — Burns Night at the Chickpea Hub feels like tradition now.

Tuesday brought calmer moments, despite the wind and rain on dog walks. Lunch was leftovers: a HelloFresh Turkish breakfast with my husband (aka Black Bean), elevated by cheese he’d brought home from London and our homemade green tomato chutney from last year. In the evening, we had a spelt stew with chicken from Gousto. I quietly smuggled in some Riverford celeriac — completely unnoticed by the kids. Win!

The stress returned later that evening with more support calls about the second “seat” before the website renewal date. I did at least learn what a seat means in Google-speak (an owner or co-owner sharing your email). Every day really is a school day. The intensity got to me again, and I found myself reaching for leftover Malteser truffles, chocolate pieces, and even some forgotten movie munch with stale pretzels from the back of the laundry cupboard. Still, I made a plan for the next day — and that helped me sleep a bit better.

Wednesday was busy. Lunch was the now very-porridge-like spelt stew, upgraded with leftover haggis that my daughter (aka Lentil) had skilfully removed from her chicken roulade the night before. An accidental new recipe was born — comfort food perfection. I really hope I find time to put it on the website while the weather still calls for this kind of dish.

A lovely chat with Romi at Aveda https://www.maryannweeks.co.uk/walton-salon/ followed, then lunchtime yoga with Adriene once I got back — I’m oddly not feeling restless at the moment. Hormones, perhaps? Another book for the list. Roxy continues to have me completely wrapped around her paw, with constant door-opening and closing duties. I squeezed in a walk to the third-closest post box before the kids got home. It’s all about small wins.

Thursday involved sending the steam iron back to Philips for repair — one of those oddly annoying admin tasks.

I’m loving Unplugged more than ever. The way it lays out the challenge of eating well and living well is just beautiful. A visit to my (now officially decided) favourite coffee shop, Cacao Route, gave me a proper spring in my step — a true happy-place moment.

I bought four bags of chocolate hearts in M&S as Lentil discusses Galentine’s with her friends. Who knows — maybe there is a Valentine’s for boys too, while Black Bean and I quietly acknowledge Valentine’s Day. Peanut and Black Bean roll their eyes at all commercially exploited occasions. It’s us girls who make them work for us.

I also decided to turn handwashing into a mindful moment using a handwash with essential oils I bought ages ago. Mindful moments don’t have to be long — even short ones count, and that’s what matters.

Saturday’s Unplugged reading went into elite performance, the gardener, the farmer and the lineman, the specialist’s dilemma, and the pursuit of balance. Fascinating, not surprising — and deeply reflective. I already know I’ll return to this chapter again and again. I truly think anyone who reads it will learn something about themselves.

I also listened to Dr Will Bulsiewicz (Dr B) on a ZOE podcast — fibre, polyphenols, olive oil, fermented foods: his firm go-to’s for healthy eating.

Saturday night was the Golden Keys Gala Dinner at the Hilton Park Lane. A great chance to reconnect, dine, and dance — though whose idea it was to go to a nightclub afterwards remains a mystery. Packed like sardines is not my comfort zone. Sleep started a good four hours late, making Sunday short but still full.

Between house visits, I squeezed in an afternoon talk with Dr Wadoodii at The Fit Partnership in Esher: How to Live Well Over Forty. Honest, reflective, and trust-building. The first eight attendees get a free consultation. When the follow-up email came, I caught myself wondering: why wouldn’t I take it? What is there to lose? Unplugged says: make the first move. Hard — but I did.

Small wins continued: I spent time on the pull-up bar and am thrilled to report I can now do 8 red-and-yellow bungee-rope assisted pull-ups! My goal is an unassisted pull-up by the end of the year — something I never thought I might achieve in my entire life.

It’s been a week of chocolate, comfort food, tiny wins, reflective reading, and human messiness. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.