At this time of year, there's not much going on in the garden - most is shoots and leaves. But craving a green soup, I took my bowl into the garden and filled it with whatever greens I could find - mint, coriander, cos lettuce, kale, spring onions silverbeet and beetroot tops.

This would form the base of my soup, along with a small fillet of snapper I had in the freezer, some fresh ginger and garlic, a mushroom, some miso paste, coconut milk, chilli, stock powder, a splash of tamari - and some water to bring it to the right consistancy in the pan.

What I was after was something high in nutrients and also protein - I need this to support my system which is suffering somewhat at the moment (a long story, but related to hormones) so it's one thing I can do to nourish myself. Coffee is out (again) so lots of water and good food is the best I can do.

As I simmered the soup with some corn and beans from the garden and the fish, I cooked the noodles. Sadly I only had quick noodles, but that's exactly why I keep them - for quick meals when I'm at the end of the week and haven't shopped yet. Some soba buckwheat noodles would have been nice!

Toppings were marigolds, spring onions, chilli, and pepitas.

After a seven k bikeride (yes, I'm cycling again!), some good food, lots of water, some yoga and some meditation, I'm feeling just about human again.

I've found a doctor who might be knowledgeable and sympathetic to women's issues, fingers crossed, so hopefully that'll provide some answers. But that's not til the end of May, so all I can do is keep nourishing myself and exercising as best I can.