Egypt - Friday 2nd July 2010

Today we had a day trip - it was Ras Mohammed boat trip which included 3 snorkelling stops. I expected a trip to the boat and then a lazy day sunbathing on the boat with the occasional stop to jump in the water.

Hmm...wasn't quite like that...it was a full coach and we had to stop off at a shop to loan snorkels and masks. There was a huge queue and in typical 'our family' tradition, we ended up at the back. Me and Andy took our own masks and made the mistake of not taking our own fins...if you take a tiny shop area and 50 people trying on fins, you are looking at a disaster waiting to happen! If you have tried to get fins on, or walk in them you will know what I mean! Andy got quite stressy as the fins wouldn't fit and he had no room to move and we were last one's in there...but eventually we got sorted and were herded like sheep back onto the coach to the boat.

We got to the boat and amazingly managed to get on first and get a good seat. With no exaggeration it truly was the first time ever we have managed to do that!! We chugged off to Ras Mohammed and then we had a professional diver take us off snorking - the group had to stay with him. We all jumped in and the scene literally made me think of Titanic...the panic of a large group of people in the water, some grown adults crying 'I don't like it', and 'my mask is leaking' and 'Oh my god there's fish in here!'. I thought, Oh my actual god!! what is wrong with people!! I got kicked with fins more times than I can remember. The guide was shouting to everyone to swim to him and the boat was causing waves. There were ropes in the water that some people were trying to get under and some people were trying to get over. Lissa was having trouble with her mask and Connor was wondering if he should have worn the life jacket. AArrgghhhh! It was hectic! and not the idyllic experience I was expecting.

Then - we swan over to the coral and - wow - it was all worth it! We saw more fish than we had diving the previous day! We even saw sharks! Andy described them as big as a human - I would say they were as big as a large cats! lol - he also described sea slugs as as small as your finger nail - whereas I would say they were the size of your whole thumb! I am pretty sure it is me that has the right sense of scale and not him. If the sharks had been as big as me I would not have thought - wow look at them - I would have thought arrgghhhhhh get me outta here NOW!

The second and third bouts of snorkelling were even better - less people went out and the sea was calmer and clearer. We saw a small manta ray, and a large trigger fish - although we had no idea what it was when we saw it. Basically the four of us were swimming along constantly pointing urgently about, thinking 'LOOK AT THAT' 'LOOK AT THAT'!!

It made me even more excited about going diving again.

Egypt Thursday 1st July 2010

Egypt - Thursday 1 July 2010

We got picked up at the hotel at 7.40am and taken to the dive club. The twins were taken off and taught some theory about diving and we started to kit up. Andy got quite stressed, which is normal for him - travelling and diving - other than that I cant think of much that phases him...he gets quiet and stressy, and I know he will be fine once we get going!

We had to carry all the equipment on our backs down to the beach. It is very heavy and was very hot!! We walked into the water and swam out a bit - we did a check of our buoyancy and the amount of weights on us. We both got another couple of KG added to us and then before we could change our minds, we went down. It was so cool!!! (apart from the fact that my mask kept steaming up and when I let water in to clear it, it got into my eyes and boy did it sting!!). It was just so cool to be diving and be able to see where you are going, see ech other and see so many cool creatures!!

It was really good near the end of the dive - we saw the twins and got our pic taken underwater with them - altho it didn't come out well! My buoyancy was pretty pants and I couldn't keep still because we were really shallow (something I'm glad to say I got sorted out on the other dives we ended up doing).

Afterwards we all soooo knackered!! we had the chance to do another dive and it was only me that was up for it - albeit I was really tired too... in the end we opted for going home and coming back another day.

Egypt -Wednesday 30th June 2010

We discovered we had a rep...so met up with him and listened to him trying to flog us the day trips - he could have saved his breath we already knew what trips we were or were not going to do! We had decided this way before we got to Egypt. Andy haggled the prices down...not as much as I would have liked but much more than I would have got! we booked to go on a boat trip to Ras Mohammed and do 3 snorkling stops, and we booked to go to Cairo on an internal flight, we also booked quad biking and a Star gazing evening. I'm not gonna mention how much that lot cost us for 4 people - but it was £90 cheaper due to Andy's haggling!!

After we had finished booking all that - we got a taxi to Naama Bay and headed to the diving place recommended by Surrey Police Diving Club. I was told to ask for Nick or Corrie - and we walked straight into them! They had heard of us also and expected us! we arranged with them to go back the following day and do a beach dive. It was scary as we had qualified just before we went to Egypt but it suddenly seemed very real!

We decided to go and look for the Hard Rock Cafe...it was BOILING hot!! we found it because Andy turned his phone on and got google maps to show us we were a street away!! HRC was lots of fun and yummy!!!!

We got a taxi home afterwards and it was bedtime....we had to get up early for the diving!

Egypt - Tuesday - 29th June 2010

We stood outside the airport at about 05:30 with quite a few people asking if we wanted a taxi and I could see Andy’s stress levels rocket. He has a thing about journeys – they stress him out – and we were in a foreign country and we had read that Taxi drivers will really try it on, and a price needs to be haggled and agreed on before you get in. I decided I would take over and take the stress away from him. I approached a taxi driver got the price down from 50 LE each to 150 LE for the four of us and I was pretty sure this was way too much but for the sake of just getting there I agreed. He cheekily helped himself to another 20 or 30 LE tip too so we paid about 180 LE and I now know that it should have been about 50 LE altogether. Oh well, we live and learn!

We got to the hotel and we got our rooms and we were really pleased! The rooms were in a good position and our rooms we close to each other. The only problem was the tiredness…it was about 6am (4am in England) and we had travelled thru the night. Lissa decided to go to bed and we decided to jump in the pool and get breakfast – then we too went to bed. I hate doing that – you wait for your annual holiday for a year, you have anticipation as you count down the weeks, you have the last couple of days packing and getting excited…you travel all the way there, and….you go to bed!

Anyway – when we were all rested we decided to get the hotel taxi to the sister hotel as that is where there is access to the beach. I was surprised how close it was but waaaaaayyyy to hot to have walked it!

Every year we have this competition – who will be first in the sea (fully emerged not just a paddle) and Connor had boasted lots about how he would be the first this year. I joke about it and claim I’ll be the first but in reality I am massively competitive and desperately wanted to be this first in!! As it happened Connor wussed out and didn’t want to jump in – so I easily did it – followed by Lissa and eventually Connor got himself down the steps. I put on my mask and put my head into the water – and WOW!!!! I couldn’t believe it – the water was so clear and there were huge Parrot fish of green and blue, and Zebra fish and Angel fish etc.. It was like pressing your face up against a tropical fish tank! It truly was everything I had hoped it would be! We were all amazed!! I couldn’t wait to get diving!

Egypt - Monday - 28th June 2010

We had all the booking forms and paperwork so we got rid of our cases and throught the airport really quickly and found food, by the time we were done it was time to board! We had good seats and films to watch and it was late so the flight was fun and quick. I'll not dwell on my nervousness at take off and landing... But I survived - that's what mattered!

All we had to do once we got our cases back was get a taxi to the hotel...we knew we were close due to the reviews we had read about the hotel... Ppl had said you could wave to the pilots as they took off and landed!

Sent from my iPhone

EGYPT - THE HOLIDAY!! 28th June 2010

Well, we are going to Egypt today...I woke up thinking okay...what do I have to do today? I have to clean the house, get shopping in for Harriet who is staying here part of the time we are away...order shopping online for Yvonne and Stuart who are staying here the other part of the time we are away, get my hair cut, get Connor's hair cut, finish my packing, make sure the twins are packed okay...give the cats plenty of fuss and food......errrr that all seemed manageable as the taxi wasn't due to pick us up until 18:30

The day flew by...the hairdresser messed up Connors hair and cut it too short. I said "the most important thing for him is to keep the length so just trim it please" he heard "just cut all the length off and completely change the style to something of your choosing". Connor, took it better than I thought he would and I actually thought it looked better but I was still furious with the guy who did it!! Whilst I was doing this my phone was on silent, Andy was in Tesco where I was to meet him afterwards and by the time I checked my phone and realised...he was pretty mad! I tried to out-do him on the 'I'm really not happy level' in an attempt to shift the conversation away from 'I've been calling and I'm stood here not knowing what to buy and everyone else in tesco is over 80 years old and just shuffle along like the living dead....and you wont answer your phone...blah blah...."

anyway we mutually decided that we needed to chill and stop stressing so we bought 12 Krispy Cream doughnuts and stood outside Tesco and ate 3 each. After the sugar rush we carried on with everything we needed to do...and finally had everything organised, ordered, cleaned and packed by the time the taxi arrived!

27th June 2010

well I'm up...I woke up at 7.30am and I don't know how I managed it, with the heat, and the snoring and the massive amount of adrenalin in my stomach - but I got back to sleep until about 5 minutes ago. When I woke up again I knew I would never get to sleep again so I got up. I was surprised to find I was the only one in the house up! Although girl and boy twin are really tired - girl twin went to prom the night before last and had a party to go to last night - boy twin had a party on prom night (he didn't go to prom) and he apparently didn't sleep at all...literally.

I cant sleep because we are off to Egypt tomorrow...I am always like this when we go away - I have a mixture of nervousness and excitement. I get nervous thinking...will we remember everything?will we get the the airport okay? will the cats be okay and will the house sitters have any problems? will the cases weight too much? will the flight be okay? will we all die in a plane crash? providing we survive...will we get out cases back okay? will we get the hotel okay? will they be expecting us or claim we don't have a booking? will our rooms be okay? will be be close together in the hotel? If all that goes well, then I'll relax. But I still worry about whether it will be too hot? will we get ill? etc.. etc.. maybe I worry too much!

I do get excited as well...about having lots of fun and new experiences, about diving and snorkelling in the red sea and seeing the pyramids and having lots of fun and laughs with the twins and the OH etc..

Anyway...today is supposed to be the hottest day so far in the UK - it supposed to get to about 30 degrees, so we are having a BBQ and have invited the very kind people around who will be looking after my house and cats! So in a minute I am going to go and marinate some chicken and I also need to clean the WHOLE HOUSE! I always have to leave the house clean when I go away and even more so when other people will be staying here! I also have to make sure everybody is packed and all my camera's have chargers and their memory cards are clean etc..I am going to be taking 4 cameras with me! I know that sounds a bit mad - but I have my Canon camera - my big proper one, with the lens and stuff - I cant go to Egypt and not be prepared to take amazing pictures! Then I have my small canon camera - to take out if we go out in the evening and I just wanna take snaps and I don't want to lug about my big camera. Then I have my waterproof camera (to 3 metres) which we can mess with in the pool or snorkelling - and then I have my new camera which I can take diving as its waterproof up to 40 metres!! So with a bit of luck I'll have loads of brilliant pictures by the time I get back!

England are playing Germany in the world cup at 2pm too...so I dont really have that much time to get organised really - so why am I sat here writing this...?

Okay - I'd better go - hopefully - I'll keep you updated from Egypt!!!

18th June 2010

Hello! well today I got my BSAC Ocean Diver qualification!! (so did my OH) we went to Swanage and did a dive under the pier and then did a wreck dive - the Fleur de Lys - which is 13 metres down. 13 metres is nothing for experienced divers but it was out first wreck dive so that was far enough for me!! There have been so many challenges during the training - the first being the theory weekend that we did in March. I thought to myself, a whole weekend for the theory is overkill - surely we'll whizz through it and leave early. Ha! we only just fit it into a full weekend! Then we had 5 pool sessions which were fun and easy and the time flew by, but this time I didn't want it to. The difficult bit was lugging the air cylinder, the BCD (jacket) and your boots, fins, snorkle and mask - as well as towels etc. Its really hard to carry everything as the cylinder alone weights a ton!

Last weekend we went to Wraysbury for our first open water dive. Its a lake with camper vans and helicopters and stuff in the water. The first challenge here was getting kitted up! A wetsuit is sooooo difficult to get on as it is so tight fitting and thick - then I had a short wetsuit over the top and then hood, gloves, mask, boots and fins - it is so restrictive - by the time you have half of it on its really difficult to get the rest on and if I'm honest I was trying to get stuff on like the fins and having a mini tantrum about it, and swearing that I was NOT going to do this again!! It all felt okay once in the water though...

On the Saturday we failed as my ears were massively painful and the OH couldn't breathe...so the group went ahead without us. We were pretty gutted - but we went back on the Sunday and Jon (my boss and the trainer) took us separately from the rest of the group and we overcame our problems and we did 3 dives down to about 7 metres and it felt brilliant! The visibility was really bad but just getting under the water and not dying was ace! getting kitted up also got easier each time as we were getting used to it.

We decided to go to Swanage last night and stay over as our enthusiastic trainer wanted to be there by 7.30am, so we went last night and stayed in a really nice place called Clare House and we went out for a meal and had too much to drink! When I woke up this morning I felt a bit rough, but soon recovered when I had to think about getting all my kit and stuff on!

So all in all it was a very cool experience today! The first dive under the pier was only about 2.5 metres deep but we saw massive spider crabs - as my OH was examining a spider crab I could see that there was another one right underneath him standing on it back legs with it claws opening and closing about an inch away from his erm...sensitive bits shall we say. It looked very comical. We also saw other fish - one was really unusual - I thought it was a snake - it was black and white and I realised it was a fish when I saw it had a long nose, apparently it was a relative of the seahorse.

The dive to the wreck was good - I saw a massive fish and Jon and the OH saw a massive shoal of bib fish which somehow I missed!

ANYWAY....

I have now finished in my current department at work and on Monday I start a week of shadowing people in Guildford - then I have next weekend and then we go to Egypt!! AArrgghhhh....scary!! I always get nervous going abroad - until I get there and know everything is okay it just stresses me out. We are also going to go diving and I cant wait!! (but that's scary as well)

On Monday I met my sister in London and we went to the London Bridge experience which was fun - not as scary and fun as I expected but still fun and really good to spend some time with her. She then came back to Sunbury and we went out for drinkies and a Chinese meal and again it was great to spend some time with her and catch up. I just hope I didn't waffle too much....

so - if anybody actually reads this I am sure you must be bored by now...

until next time...

8th June 2010

Hello!

I am on a training course this week - was hoping it would be fun as Yvonne is on the same course. Its a week long and its like being on earlies as I have to be in Guildford by 8am. I thought it would be fun because I forgot how boring these courses can be. I sat there today sooooo tired and was going cross-eyed trying to keep my eyes open. Luckily we finished at 2pm - and rather than go to the gym with Yvonne I came straight home and went to bed. I don't think Yvonne was very impressed with me and seemed to think that I would wake up once I got home. Basically, I think she thought I was making an excuse not to go, but I was so tired nothing could have got me to the gym!! Even after two hours sleep I felt as though I needed to go back to bed!

I am moving jobs soon - within the same company - but a different role and in Guildford rather than Woking. So this week I have training - next week I'm back in my usual department and the week after I am on attachments - then I'm off to Egypt!! woo hoo! when I get back I am working in Guildford and the journey is going to be a nightmare! I have to drive 20 miles and take my bike cos there is no parking - and I have to park about 1 or 2 miles away...joy. maybe I can jog, although I'll need to be able to get changed. HASSLE

I have my sister visiting next Monday. I cant believe how difficult it has been to arrange being available that day. It's because of this role change and training and finishing up in my current department and staff shortages etc. etc. First I had to get the day off (one of the three days I have left in that department) and I was nearly refused it...then I had an eye test (with work) that I had to have for the driving test I have to do the following day (so I can drive work cars) and I nearly had to rearrange the driving test and the eye test..and its basically been a pain in the butt. However, its all sorted now - which is a good job cos I've hardly seen my sister at all in the last few years and we used to be sooo close. I really miss what we used to have - although it was much easier when we lived around the corner from each other. Her husband went to school with my husband and they were best mates (I met my OH through them). We ended up falling out a few years ago which I was devastated about - and things have never been the same since cos we have all been awkward around each other - although much less so the last couple of times. We have only really met up at family parties and stuff. Anyway - Monday should be good as it will just be the two of us we should be able to do lots of catching up!

The new car we bought got picked up today! we got a Honda Insight - its a hybrid car, so we are very 'green' - with that and a Smart Car. I will probably end up using this car more than the Smart car as my bike will fit in the back...

anyway - this has been quite waffly...

speak to you soon!!!

just a couple o pics

The best 'before' picture I have (it was completely overgrown prior to this picture being taken) followed by the after picture

I'm so attractive!

1st June 2010

Evening!

I am aching tonight...I had a session with my personal trainer today - and it was my OH's first day at his new job and he took the car - so I ran to the gym (a mile). When I got there my PT said...we are going out for a run today! I must admit I was worried! I am not the best at running.

Off we went...we got about a mile down the road when a dog ran after us briefly...I had no control over my reaction and I just grabbed hold of my PT's arm, and if the dog had kept coming I would have used him as a human shield! LOL It was rather embarrassing as my PT isn't really somebody I would grab hold of...and even more embarrassing when I saw that the dog was a tiny little thing that ran off in the opposite direction anyway! Anyway, we ran 2.7 miles, which is a lot for me (and I had already ran a mile) and when we got back to the gym I went on the cross trainer for a while...then, when stood at the little desk trying to figure out our next appointment this old women said to me...I used to do a lot of running, and when I was new and not very good my face used to go bright red too. THANKS A LOT! make me feel good!! lol I then ran a mile home again. I had a shower did some washing then fell asleep covered in all the odd socks I was trying to sort out!

Tomorrow, will be my weigh in day...one week on the weight watchers diet. If this doesn't work I am going to give up and be a fatty. I am hopeful though, as i cant be this hungry all the time and not lose weight!

So, my OH had his first day at his new job today...I made him stand there and let me take a picture of him (like first day at school) despite the fact he's been working for 20 years and has put on a suit loads of times before lol

anyhoo....gonna go - c u soon x

29th May 2010

Well...I have neglected writing on here for some time!

I have been busy and have spent much less time sat at my computer. We decided to do some work on the garden and the sun has been out...we have made it look much nicer and bought new table and chairs. We have dismantled the old shed and today we are putting up a new one.

We found out that a neighbour of ours, whose son is a friend of our eldest, is a landscape gardener so we got a quote for the front garden and greed for it to be done. It took 4 days and was finished yesterday. It went from being really old falling apart crazy paving on one side and weeds and overgrown mess on the other - to the picture that I will post on here soon!. Made me realise that you can do all sorts of cool improvements if you have some money! Unfortunately we don't have the money to do everything we would want to do!

Work has been really busy and a little stressful but I suppose I like it like that - its just nice to have the occasional morning or afternoon where you can a chill-ax a little and I haven't been able to do that for a while. I move roles soon...I am just starting my 5 rest days, then I go back in for 2 days, have 2 days off then have 5 days training in Guildford, then I go back to my old department for a week, then do an attachment (or shadow ppl) with my new department, then go to EGYPT FOR TWO WEEKS (I would have that flashing in colour if I could) then I start in my new role properly. I am really worried that I wont like it as much as I like my current role...but I'll have to wait and see!

My twins left school yesterday...I am officially old!! All my children are no longer at school (my work here is done...) The twins still have revision and exams to do, but they don't have to go to school on a day to day basis any more. They both have places in different collages in September so that's gonna be a whole new load of stress I assume.

I decided to join weight-watchers on Wednesday - the on-line version I don't think I could stomach the group meetings, I've done it before and found them to be patronising and a money making scheme to sell as many weight-watchers products as possible. However, I needed a new incentive on my diet and I wasn't losing any weight and I have a personal trainer who weighs me every 4 weeks and its embarrassing when I don't lose anything! Plus I have just under 5 weeks until I go away and it would be good if I could lose 5-7lb or something (MORE) by the time I go away. However...I am STARVING.......it had better work for that reason alone.

My OH had laser eye surgery just over a week ago. It was traumatic! He has always had bad eye sight and has had to wear glasses since being a kid and its a pain in the butt. I am always worried about his glasses getting broken and him being blind (not literally) and when we go diving he cant wear them so that must be annoying for him, he cant just pick out sun glasses like I can etc. etc. So he was brave enough to go through with the laser eye surgery and it was pretty awful afterwards, he couldn't open his eyes and it was quite painful. The surgery was fine apparently - no pain or anything. Each day got a bit better and now he can see really well and manages without glasses but still has a bit of blurriness, but only because his eyes are still healing. It is amazing really - he had an eye test and has better than 20/20 vision! Cool!

Anyhow, I need food badly....until next time....

16th May 2010

Its my birthday. I am suffering a little from last nights antics! The OH, Yvonne and Stuart and I went to Kingston Upon Thames. We went to an all-you-can-eat Chinese place and then went bowling. The food was good and plenty...Stuart made me laugh afterwards saying you never get enough to eat at these all-you-can-eat restaurants! We went bowling and had a good laugh and dance at the same time. Somehow we made 3 games last all night. I think we were the last ppl out of the place. I think I lost each game, but I can take it! I'm not very competitive...I'm only saying that so that the ppl that know me will think 'yeah right!'

My eldest picked us up from Kingston and put on his booming music in the car - there were no lyrics so me and Yvonne made our own...in gangster style...I think it is safe to safe that we totally embarrassed ourselves in front of my son! Its not very good is it, being a drunkard in front of my 18 year old - I'm not a very good influence! At least we were all laughing lots and not stupidly drunk!

We got home and played cards - I won!! hahahaha!!! - (just pretending to be competitive!) and we went to bed at about 5am!!

Today we all felt a little rough so I made a huge breakfast of egg, bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, beans and toast -which made us all feel a lot better!!

Then I got loads of pressies!! The OH got me a diving watch/computer, and diving weights, and wide angle lens for my camera, jewellery, a very special brandy, and fantastic massage thingy that you put on your chair which is truly special, a tripod and a bag for my camera, and cool bakery book, oh...a puzzle ball gamey thingy - and a sphere experience (where you roll down a hill in a big ball thing!! So basically I was completely spoilt!!!

The twins got me flowers and eldest got me chocolates! Yvonne and Stuart got me a bracelet and books (books that she claims she lent me and I lost - but really she never lent them to me in the first place and we argue about it all the time but I have no doubt whatsoever that she never lent them to me and I could slap her when she claims that she did!!)

My mum got me lots of spices and a container to keep them all in - mainly for Indian cooking cos she knows we love making curries!

Basically everything was ace!!

I went back to bed for a couple of hours this afternoon - and I still haven't recovered properly from last night...Its 20:49 and I am waiting for take-out to be delivered...

So - I now enter my last year in my thirties...sob...I am NOT looking forward to being 40!!

4th May 2010

Morning...well its actually afternoon - but morning to me as I haven't been up very long!

I have had a few busy days...I have been on my 5 days off - I went out on Friday night with my OH and Yvonne and Stuart - I had arranged to go out with the OH to celebrate the job offer he has just got (although not taken as yet) and I saw Yvonne at work who said that she and Stuart would come along although they were both working the next day so Stuart was driving. We had a good laugh and it was great to feel back to normal with Yvonne because last time I saw her at work she seemed like she was having a go at me, she was tetchy, and although I couldn't put my finger on what it was I got the impression she was annoyed at me.

Friday night was just fun and we had a few laughs...so that was great.

Saturday we decided to go to Westfield in Shepperds Bush, which is a massive shopping centre with all kinds of shoe and clothes shops from Gucci to Coast to Bench to Next... we spent a small fortune!! However it has been a long time since we bought clothes, and it was the first time ever we just bought stuff without worrying about how much it cost (although we didn't quite stretch to Versace and Prada - that's just silly money, and pretty yucky stuff if you ask me!!)

I did my usual thing and forgot that I cant whisper, which has got me into trouble a few times - like the time in Manchester when I was very drunk and 'whispered' OMG look at the state of her with all that gold on, she looks pathetic! (or words to that effect) and she turned to me and demanded 'WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???' and I said....'I said you look very nice....' and I got ready to be battered but my friends managed to get me away.

well, on Saturday we were in the Armani shop, and the OH nudges me and nods towards a couple that looked ridiculous. They were about 60 years old and she had blonde, red and green hair, and fur shawl thing on and all sorts of layers and weird stuff - he had what little grey hair he had left spiked up and looked as bad as she did. You could tell that what they wore was very expensive but they basically just embarrassed themselves...and I 'whispered', "Well they must have won the lottery because if they had been born into money they would have much more class" and then I realised that the man must have heard me...if looks could kill!!! he stared at me without blinking or looking away with this evil smirk on his face - he did this the whole time he was in the shop! I obviously hit a nerve. LOL

I just hope he took a long look in the mirror - I may have done him a favour.

Okay...I sound like a complete bitch now don't I?!

Anyway - we had such a good time spending money and buying stuff on Saturday that we went back and did it again on Sunday!! We wont be doing it again for a while though lol - I'll have to save up!

We went out with Yvonne and Stuart again on Sunday night and they were staying over so it was a proper night out - we only go locally so we can walk home. Yvonne was not herself at all, I think she is very stressed at the moment - she was laughing one minute then getting upset...I'm sure it will pass she just has worries at the moment. If she has a problem with me I'm very sure she will tell me soon...it wouldn't be like her not to. They stayed over and yesterday everything was fine and we had a lazy day and Sunday Lunch.

Today I am thinking Oopps, I haven't been to the gym, I have been drinking alcohol and I have a PT session tomorrow!! So I am officially RUBBISH at staying healthy and not drinking and sticking to my diet and going to the gym...but as usual I will just start over again. I am sat in my gym kit and will definitely go sometime today.

Anyway - gonna have the coffee that my OH has lovingly made for me - then we shall go to the gym!!

29th April 2010

G'day!

I was up really early this morning for work - thinking to myself, I have today and tomorrow on earlies and then 5 days off!! I get 5 days off at the end of every month on the shifts that i am on at the moment. I pondered about how I always strive to get to the end of the month to have 5 days off, and this made me think that really I am just wishing away most of the days and I should try and enjoy everyday! I read once that this is why time seems to go by much quicker for adults as it does for children - because children just take one day at a time. So I made a decision today to try and enjoy each day, and guess what? Work sucked!! no - I'm just kidding!! lol - I had a fun day.

I decided not to go to the gym as I am aching in too many places from yesterday so I am giving myself a day off! Tomorrow straight from work I will go to the gym and then get ready and go to the pub with my OH. He has been looking for a job after leaving his last one after erm...he decided the negatives outweighed the benefits. He left a few weeks ago and he was offered a really good job this morning but hasn't said yes straight away as it might be that he has other offers! Nice to be able to be choosy!! So the future is looking a bit brighter...as I have a promotion from early June also, although I am thinking that I am not going to enjoy it as much as I am enjoying my current job - but that's a risk I think I should take.

My diet has gone quite well today - I am trying to resist weighing in until Monday as it depresses me too much to jump on the scales and see that its gone up slightly..but I am doing well and I am determined to make a difference this time!

My eldest is having problems with the Highways agency wanting loads of money. He left his broken down car on the motorway (cos he said his insurance company told he could!) and it was obviously towed away. He was told it would cost £175.00 if he wanted it back - I called and said - what if he cant pay? and they said they would scrap it. So we said - okay scrap it! He now has a letter saying they want £175.00 PLUS £320.00 storage costs PLUS £75:00 disposal costs! - so he could have paid the £175.00 got his car back and paid nothing more, but instead contrary to what I was told he has to pay £545.00 and he doesn't have the car! So I have been trying to sort that out with calls made to about 5 different departments. An 18 year old just wouldn't be able to be this assertive and determined - although my efforts might amount to nothing!! we'll see!!

Anyway I think that's enough waffle from me! See you soon!!

28th April 2010

HHhmmm Bourbon and Coke! Not something I would have liked not so long ago. I like a few things I never used to like, I used to really hate Brandy and olives and now I love them (not together) it is strange how your taste changes over time, although I cant think of anything I used to like and now don't...hmmm maybe it only works the other way around??

I had a PT session today - it was quite tough which is a good thing, I really feel like I am getting fitter and stronger. Actually I am eating healthily, going to the gym quite a lot and I gave up smoking 7 weeks ago and I am feeling really good. However, this must be a good day because I don't always feel so positive (maybe its the bourbon and coke lol). So, my PT session was tough...although I still had time/energy to worry about the red rash that came up on my legs and looked really silly. Just before I left to go to the gym I realised that I had hairy legs and didn't have time to do anything about it - other than a little dry shaving...then I got a really stingy red rash on my legs. At one point in the PT session at a time when I though it might be noticeable I decided to lie and said to my PT trainer, "look at that! I cut the grass this morning and I'm allergic to it!" hehehehe

Me and the OH went to our scuba diving lesson in the pool tonight. Every week I think I cant be bothered...and we have to get loads of stuff in the car (my tiny smart car) and its about 15 miles away and lugging cylinders and BCD's (the jackets) and regulators (all the 'pipes'), and the fins and masks and gym bag is a pain in the butt. But then we go and afterwards I always think That was cool!!! Tonight we had to do stuff like take your mask off in the deep end (3 meters) and put it back on and clear it, and use your 'buddies' air supply and other stuff. Fun fun fun...cant wait to dive in Egypt when we go in June/July.

It's not fair I need to go to bed because I have to get up early tomorrow and I don't want to!!!!

Oh btw the picture I added today is my collage! lol I did one of all the kids and my OH this morning - well the computer program I had did it really!

g'night!

26th April 2010

Evening!

Well - I worked a couple of earlies and now have 3 days off! well...2 now I suppose.

We went for a meal last night - an Indian not too far from home. We hadn't been there before and it was...well, average! The waiter was a bit rude as he leant right across girl-twin while she was still eating to remove plates off the table, and later nearly stuck a fork up her nose! lol

The food was average too...me and the twins opted for a buffet type thing and it wasn't too hot and was running out of stuff. Anyway, it was nice to have some red wine as i have been avoiding alcohol as part of my diet. I am not so used to it so I felt quite squiffy! I found it very funny on the way home - we commented on how it was a 3-quarter moon and how there would be

Were-woo's about! It still makes me laugh - hope you get it! (woo's instead of wolves as it was only 3/4 of a moon?)

Anyway, I started today off going to the dentist with girl-twin (who has nothing wrong with her teeth btw) and when we got out we had a quick shopping trip before she went back to school and we managed to get her prom dress (phew). I got a couple of holiday dresses too! I could have shopped for ages but had to be slightly responsible and get girl-twin back to school!

I was then like a real old person, I went to a garden centre and then did some gardening! I bought a cheap substitute for a green house (shelves with a clear plastic cover over the top) and I have strawberries and peas, and leeks and sprouts and other bits n bobs I don't remember in there! We also chopped so much of the garden down that I don't know what I am going to do with all the stuff we chopped off.

Anyhow, the TV is on pause again while I write this and I am too aware that my OH is waiting for me so I'd better go! Hope you like the picture of the chives growing in my garden! (I know I am a saddo).

22nd April 2010

hello,

Day off!! woop!

Yesterday our really expensive double De Dietrich oven arrived (order early March and told delivery within 5-7 days!). Then...it didn't work...sucky....

Today the engineer phoned and within the next half an hour it was working!! Then about an hour later I figured out how all the controls worked!! Then...after a trip to Tesco, we made scones, cake and olive, sun dried tomato and olive bread! (all weigh watchers too!!) It went so well!! Until the grease proof paper caught fire in the top oven!! LOL Big flames and everything! We put it out okay and then spent a while cleaning all the ash out of the kitchen...hey ho...

I had a PT session this morning, it was pretty gruelling. He told me that it was the training that was done by the actors in the film 300, although I think I used lighter weights hehehe

After the training we shopped then cooked and I have only just sat down and its 19:10hrs and I have a roast dinner to cook tonight too.

I looked forward to seeing the twins when they got back from school - and they said Hi...can I have food? then they disappeared back out. They got back in and said Hi...have you got anything to eat? then they disappeared upstairs! Oh, girl-twin did mention that she had ear ache, and a bit later she told me she had shampoo in her eye, I said that should take her mind off the pain in her ear....

Anyway we all sat down and had a roast dinner which was nice as I got to see and speak to them for 10 minutes!

Yvonne nipped in to the office last night when I was in work (we work at the same place but in a different office/locations) and I don't know if I was tetchy, or she was, or if it was both of us. She made a massive deal about how awful, abysmal, terrible etc. a program was that I recommended to her (cougar town) and she went on about it as if to say 'anyone who likes this must be really really stupid' and it annoyed me. I think there was other stuff too now but I cant remember what it was. Either way, I dunno if I was being over sensitive or she was secretly annoyed with me about something but it has annoyed/worried me. She is a very cool friend and I don't want any tension...I'm sure its not a problem!

anyway - the OH has TV on pause while he waits for me to stop typing...

byyyeeeee

21st April 2010

Hi!

Today was a 'hit the gym hard' day!! I ran to the gym, which is about a mile - rowed and lifted weights and did tricep dips and push-ups etc.. then ran home again! According to my Polar watch I burned 684 calories!! So I came home and treated myself to a luxury shower lol that included an Estee Lauder face mask to start...then in the shower I got the razor out and got my legs all smooth - then I used a body scrub, and an intensive conditioner on my hair. Then when I got out I used a luxury body lotion and lovely face stuff! I now feel great!

Actually...I did feel great...now I am starting to ache! I have 26 minutes before I need to leave for work. My hair is still wet and I need to put a little make-up on! Then I have 10 whole hours at work (if I'm lucky and I don't have to stay late AGAIN).

I really don't have anything interesting to say today do I?

Oh well...if girl-twin reads this - then Hi!! I haven't seen you since the weekend and I have no idea what you have been up to and if you are okay...what you up to, you okay? How is boy-twin? Has he forgiven me for not letting him to to the gig yet?

That reminds me - dozy boy-twin called me at work the other day and asked if he could stay out later so I told him to call my OH and ask him. I later found out that boy-twin was late in because 'the bus broke down!' I call him on his mobile and asked if he had spoken to my OH about staying out late and he hadn't so I then questioned him at great length about the bus..then I told him that I was going to call the bus company...I gave him an opportunity to change his story and he admitted he had lied about the bus breaking down!! That's twice in about a week he has been caught out lying to me! He is obviously not very good at it!! I still felt guilty not letting him go to some gig he wanted to go to last night...

Anyway - I better go get ready for work!

Sunday 18th April 2010

Hi again,

well I got up in a good mood today and then got on the scales. Instant bad mood! I know that i had take out and Pimms and a cocktail or two last night...but I've been good all week and been going to the gym - and I have put weight on again. No big deal for most people but I was gutted!!

So I went to the gym and was in there for an hour and a half slogging my guts out - and since then we have had yet another BBQ - all healthy and no alcohol!! I am going to eat and drink soooo healthily this week that I WILL get results!! I only have ten weeks now until I go away!!

Anyhowsy...going to watch Spartacus!

Saturday 17th April 2010

Hello!

Well its finally the weekend - and a weekend that I am not working woo hoo!! Hope you like the picture of my girl-twin... lovely aint she? lol

I just finished a few earlies which I hate! although it wasn't too bad - Stu who I work with keeps me entertained! We get on quite well and he makes me laugh - my only problem with him is that he has got a really high score on my phone on the game doodle jump and I'm never gonna beat it and its really annoying!

The weather has gone quite nice - so we decided to have a BBQ, we were gonna invite girl-twin and boyfriend, and eldests' girlfriend and Yvonne (even tho she insults me :-)) and Stuart...but nobody other than girl-twin and boyfriend could come so it was just the four of us but it was nice to get in the garden.

I bought insecticide to get rid of the pretty beetles on all of my plants today - felt a bit guilty spraying them and girl-twin called me a murderer, but they are killing my plants!

We somehow ended up to agreeing that girl-twin's boyfriend could stay over tonight, she is 16 and he is 15, so that is dangerous territory. He had better stay in eldest son's bedroom if he values his life!

I had a few too many Pimm's so I went to bed at 6pm-8pm, we are now ordering Chinese take-out. I was supposed to be good diet and alcohol wise but hey ho....

I did a fitness test at the gym the other day, It was 1000 meters on a rowing machine followed by 1.8 miles on an exercise bike, and then a 2km run on the treadmill - he said a good time would be 20 minutes, an average time would be 25 minutes and a rubbish time would be anything over 25 minutes! Immediately after the run you have to do as many push ups as you can do in one minute and as many sit ups as you can do in one minute. This nearly killed me - especially the running! I did the rowing, cycling and running in 21 minutes and 11 seconds. So I think that was quite good - but the object of the fitness test is to be able to beat the time in 4 weeks time as a sign that you are getting fitter. I cannot imagine being able to do it any quicker!!

I am a bit fed-up tonight because in Manchester all my family are having a get together because it's my Nan's 80th birthday. I wanted to go and was thinking of getting a last minute flight but all the flights have been grounded due to volcanic ash from Iceland. My eldest has gone and he called me earlier and I could hear all my family in the background having loads of fun! I am the only one not there and I really wish I was there! I wanna see my folks and brothers and sisters, and nephews and nieces - and my eldest! oh yeah and my nan, but apparently she went home at half eight! lol. My cousin is there too, and I don't know who else but maybe my aunt and uncle :-( It wont be the same without me there tho!

Just watching Britain's got talent - it should be called Britain is full of weirdo's!

Okay the OH just made me a cocktail so I'm off....

macro photograghy

This was a tiny tiny tiny insect, on my leg! its so small that you can just see a little black line near the back of it - thats a hair on my leg, and my legs had been shaved!

13th April 2010

The sun was out today! After my PT session - which I loved - as I always do, I came home and Yvonne said she was coming around for a coffee so we fired up the BBQ again. We had a lovely chat and catch up (other than her questioning why I was writing a blog cos I dont lead a massively exciting life!).

I took some more pictures - I managed to get me and girl-twin into a picture of boy-twins eye! I dont know if you can see that here but when it is enlarged it looks ace! My camera is very cool indeed and the quality is amazing! Its new and I haven't really had much time to play with it.

After Yvonne left and I recovered from her insult about my life being way too boring to write about (cheers mate!), me and the OH decided to go shopping and spent hours in...wait for it.............a very exciting place...somewhere that sells, clothes, shoes, gym stuff, soaps and bath/shower stuff and plates and pillows and everything!!.........TK Max!! and I almost bought all the of the above. It was so much fun because I haven't been shopping for ages!

I've just eaten a huge plate of nachos, cheese, sour cream and guacamole and chilli's and now I'm going to watch lots of good TV before getting to bed early ready for the early shift! And Yvonne says my life is boring!! lol

13th April 2010

Oh why oh why did I drink like that last night!!

I have just dragged myself out of bed feeling dehydrated and quite rough, and I have a PT session at 11am!! I feel pretty awful and I have to leave the house in an hour!

:-(

12 April 2010

Hello,

I was really good yesterday and I did go to the gym. Today I got a trophy on my watch (it's a heart rate monitor and I program weekly targets into it - it's the first time I have actually met those targets) and Monday is my weigh in day - and I lost 2lb, which is the first time in a while I actually lost anything. However, I fear I have just messed up my good work! I got outta bed at 1pm - yes 1pm!!! cant believe I slept that late!! Then I lazed around all afternoon - then we went to the pub and I drank (almost) a whole bottle of wine and then we went for a Chinese meal, which was really yummy. I had a gin n tonic there - then I came back home and Andy made me a toffee vodka and baileys and then I had a brandy and a vodka and coke!!

Tomorrow I am seeing my PT at 11am and I am supposed to give him a diet sheet showing him what I have eaten all week - heheheh tonight will great wont it!! Maybe I'll lie.

My friend Yvonne texted me that she and her BF have got a flat together, and they move in together next month. I don't think she even realises how cool that is. She wanted this soooo much when she was single...is she taking it for granted now? I dunno I'll have to ask her!

boy-twin was funny tonight. He called me and said...can I sleep over at my mates house tonight? and I said...I cant see that being a problem - followed by the usual questions...who...where....why...etc... then he said he would be coming home to get changed and then we said byeee....then he didn't put the phone down and I heard him say...okay that should be fine...but nobody can tag me in any photo's. I heard somebody ask why and he said 'my mum is on facebook and she will see the pictures!

I called him back and found out it was a party he wanted to go to - with alcohol. He is such a numpty! lying to me and and getting caught within about 3 seconds! We let him go in the end anyway - no need to lie!!!

anyway...better go and finish that vodka and coke!

byeeee..........

11th April 2010

Morning..

I survived the late shift last night - I don't know how because I was so tired all night, I could easily have fallen asleep at my desk and really really wanted to.

When I got home I was looking at the picture of the beetle that I put on yesterdays post. We were in the garden having a BBQ and I usually put some rosemary on the BBQ because it smells so nice. I snapped a piece off and commented on how it was dying - we had a bad winter and it never recovered. Then I found the beetle on the piece I snapped off so I took some pictures of it. Last night I looked up what type of beetle it is and its a Rosemary Beetle!!! It kills Rosemary! And Sage and Theme which are the two plants I have next to the rosemary in the garden!! Anyway I don't wanna sound like some complete sad case talking about plants, but I am now not so happy about the lovely shiny beetle I found yesterday.

I have one last late shift then I have two days off work. I start at 2pm so if I want to go to the gym this morning I need to go in the next 20 minutes, or I wont have enough time. Dilemma!!! I could sit here and do nothing...or go to the gym....

Btw, I have to mention a game on my phone...its called Doodlebug and it is driving me mad. Its a silly bouncy bug thing that just bounces up levels and you have to avoid monsters and stuff. It is so addictive and annoying! The guy I work with has got the highest score, and I am not competitive or anything but I HAVE to beat his score, and I cant!!!

I have managed to stick to my diet for about 2-3 days which is an achievement for me these days...I hope I can keep it up, it would help me if I go to the gym...

A couple of school friends contacted me via facebook...we were quite good friends years ago when we were about 14-15 years old. Its weird as we all have children that age or older now and our lives have all gone in different directions, but I still really want reconnect with them and find out all about them. Strange how a couple of years of friendship during your life can stay with you for so long. Does that make sense?

anyway...to gym or not to gym that is the question...

:-)

BBQ

So, have had the first BBQ of the year - no doubt it will be followed by many others. No Pimm's however as I have work later...Eldest boy nipped in as he is home for the weekend but he is spending all his time 'pimping his ride'. He has a perfectly good car and he is doing that silly boy stuff to it like lowering the suspension, and putting spoilers on it and making it sound as though the exhaust has gone...and putting weirdy lights on it and god knows what else!
Girl-twin joined us for the BBQ but spent most of her time on the phone to her boyfriend...and no idea where boy-twin is - no doubt out skating somewhere!
Ooohhh Grand National is on - gonna go put a bet on!

10th April 2010

wow I am tired...ended up working until 3am this morning. I was at work and was seriously worried about being able to function because my eyes just wanted to close. I cant really talk about my job or say what I do as my employers advise against it. But I work 10 hour shifts and if something comes up and we are in the middle of it when its time to go home - its tough! I have to stay and see it to a conclusion. Its silly really cos then we have to try and drive home without the ability to focus your eyes properly.

I was woken up early by my OH's alarm clock as he had placed a Tesco food order...that was an hour and a half ago and it hasn't turned up yet...I could have been sleeping...I have to work until 1am again tonight.

Girl-twin is hurting all over today after yesterdays trip to the gym - she worked hard! She was embarrassed when trying to do 20 press up's on the power plate and she just about managed 3 when my PT came over and told her "good effort". She had already mentioned that he was really cute, and she assumed he was taking the mickey outta her...she went quite red! lol

She is like me and cant whisper...so he possibly heard her when she said he was cute...I hope not!

ohhh shopping is here!!!

9th April 2010

I survived the late shift last night at work...when I got in work there was a DVD left in my tray for me. I played it on my computer at work and it was from the try dive I did with the scuba diving lot. It was in the pool and I was wearing a swimming costume as opposed to a wetsuit so the images of me scuba diving by, past the camera with an attractive mask squashed on my face and the mouth piece in my mouth and my thighs wobbling as I swam...gawd it was embarrassing. I actually felt myself blush as I sat (on my own) watching at the computer. I have no idea how many people this DVD has been distributed to! My OH is also in this DVD and he just looks really funny - looks like his short hair is standing on end!

It is 10.50am and I am sat having a herbal tea and a yoghurt (that sounds nothing like me! its usually full strength filter coffee and left over pizza) with my girl-twin waiting to go to the gym with me as my PT gave me some free passes. I am trying to wake up enough to go...but I only woke up about half an hour ago. I am on a time limit though as I start work at 3pm...I need strength. Also - girl-twin looks great in Lycra, she is wearing my lycra leggings and makes them look baggy and she complains that she is fat! What I would do to look like her (although I would like to be taller lol she is five foot nothing!).

Right...got to go and torture myself (and girl-twin muh hahaha)...have a nice day!

8th April 2010

I have got to go and get ready for work. I need to leave the house in 30 minutes and I'm not dressed yet. Don't wanna go!! Ten hours I have to be at work and it's not fair!

I went scuba diving training last night - it was the first pool session. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be! We were mastering buoyancy - by putting air in and out of the jacket that you wear, and practising with the equipment. Unfortunately the OH didn't have as much fun as me due to a leaky mask and leaky jacket and today he has ear ache...but that aside...I had a great time! At least he doesn't have to go to work like me!

I weighed myself this morning and lost....nothing at all. Even after the gruelling PT session yesterday - the scuba diving last night - and being quite good on the diet front. If I had spent one day eating loads of chocolate and sitting on my butt I would have put on a few pounds...how easy it would be if it worked that well the other way around!

Oh well....better get ready for work....

Another day...

Morning,

I didn't go to bed until 3am last night so I set my alarm for 11am, and was wide awake at 9am! So no doubt I'll be tired later. I did try and get back to sleep but my PT texted me to remind me that we have a PT session later today at 12.30pm, and he asked me if I had been training this week. For a change I was able to say yes! I did a step class and followed his 'program' 3 times in the last week. I texted this back to him and waited for my "well done" reply...I'm still waiting. I get the impression he is not really that bothered, or impressed!

I have only had 2 sessions with this personal trainer - I have never fancied PT before, but I have been going to the gym for a couple of years and I'm not really achieving anything but injuries, so when I hopped off the running machine (mid-run) a few weeks ago, after hearing a 'pop' in my calf and he was there to stretch it out and 'sell' his services...I thought, what the hell! I'll give it a go.

I nearly threw up after our first session and could barely walk for a few days afterwards, or move my arms - then the last session was a bit easier...then there is today. Now he knows I have been training this week my betting is that he will make it harder still! He promised me I could lose over a stone by the time I go to Egypt in 12 weeks (now 11 weeks) but that was dependant on eating healthy and not drinking wine as well as the exercise - and I've failed up to now on that part.

I also have a pool session tonight for the scuba diving training...my boss at work is also the trainer, so its not good that I have to get in touch and admit that I lost the directions he kindly printed out as I don't know where the garage is where I have to meet him (to pick up some of the diving gear to take to the pool). Its also NOT good that I have to get into a swimming costume in front of my boss!

The worse news today is that it is the last of my 5 days off. Tomorrow I have to work from 2pm until midnight, then Friday and Saturday 3pm until 1am, then 2pm until midnight again on Sunday. Then I get two days off before I do 3 days earlies. I can handle the late's but the earlies kill me I HATE them!! At the end of every month I get 5 days off which is brilliant - but they go so quickly!

The kids today: girl twin - wants money for clothes, and has obviously assumed she is going to get it as she has already arranged to go shopping with her friends and I risk a major hormonal strop if I refuse (but she can pay me back); boy twin, has been out skating the last few days and desperately needs to get some revision done - that is guaranteed to a strop as soon as I mention it! Eldest boy - sent me a text to tell me he had got a tattoo on his ribs - a Chinese symbol. I got a picture of it and nearly fell off my chair as I assumed it would be the size of a few coins - not the size of a child's arm!! What can I do though - he is 18 and in the Army, he doesn't ask my permission any more! As you will see the picture has been added.

Anyway - better do something productive (like washing) before the gym!

Motivation

well...I am still sat in my dressing gown, at my computer contemplating going to the gym - which is less of a contemplation now I have eaten chocolate brownies from last night, and fresh bread and butter. Now, I have to go to the gym to undo some of the damage. My OH also mentioned going to the pub tonight and I'm pretty bad at saying no, once it has been mentioned and the idea has lodged itself into my head!

This is where I go so wrong - I will go to the gym but I undo all the good I have done by eating stuff I shouldn't or drinking stuff I shouldn't!

So....sometime soon I am going to get off my butt and get ready and go to the gym. I need to decide what to do at the gym cos I recently got a personal trainer and I discussed with him all about my goals and not reaching them - despite being an active member of the gym for the past two years. Its seems that just doing cardio isn't really that productive! Yeah, I got quite fit but I wasn't losing weight cos my body became accustomed to burning all those calories. My worst problem is not keeping to a healthy diet (and fooling myself that I actually am). So, I am trying to keep to the exercises my PT set me...

I have been on a diet for more or less 2 years without any results. This is because I am good for a couple of days then bad...or I am organised then have nothing in so get take-out. I don't drink any alcohol all week - then have a long weekend off work so go out a couple of nights managing a bottle of wine (or close to it) each night.

My trouble is - I want to be fit and healthy and slim - and have fun!! I need to be much more organised - food wise, and I need to set limits regarding alcohol!

Okay...enough...I'm gonna give myself half an hour (cos I ate the bread) then I AM going to get up and get ready for the gym - and I am NOT going to the pub tonight!

honest.........

Starting a blog

Hi,

well, I guess I am doing this so I have somewhere to dump my waffle, my moans, my 'yeah!'s, my thoughts etc. somewhere to simply to write everything down and giving me the ability to look back on it.

I always used to write a diary as a kid but there was never enough detail in what I wrote, so when I look back on it, it's not that interesting. Hopefully what I write here will be thoughts and feelings and not too similar to my old diary "today I went to school, then went swimming it was good"

I am currently sat in my dressing gown, drinking a not-very-nice-coffee, feeling tired and regretting all the cake I ate last night... I go away to Egypt in 11 weeks and have quite a lot of weight to lose in that time (I'd be happy with a stone), and I am very determined to lose it...until I fancy red wine or cake...which is quite often...then it all goes to ruin.

Last night, friends of ours, Yvonne and Stuart came around for a 'dinner party', I don't really know what constitutes a 'dinner party' but that's what I called it! We had beef in Guiness and Beef Stroganauf to choose from and rice, and oven roasted potatoes followed by chocolate brownies. It went okay but the Stroganauf tasted of Lemon (thanks to Jamie Oliver!). Anyway, we had a good laugh as we went through a couple of bottles of red wine and a few gin and tonic's!

Problem came today (my weigh-in day) and I am the same weight as I was last week (and I cheated mid-week and jumped on the scales and I had lost a bit of weight - obviously I put it back on again!) I subscribe to a diet website called Weightlossresources and I have a Diet buddy on there called Lola. We are supposed to offer moral support to each other but we tend to complain about how much chocolate we have eaten and how strange it is that we are not losing weight!

So...I want to lose weight... but I love cooking, eating and drinking red wine. Not a good combination.

I am married to Andy who I adore - even after 12-13 years (we cant remember exactly how long it's been) and we have 3 kids - I told them I would change their names on here and asked them what they would like to be called - my daughter said Barbara, lol (sorry anybody called Barbara) and my son said Rodney, hehehe (sorry anybody called Rodney!) and he also said blogs are for losers - then asked me what one was! Barb's and Roddy are 16 yr old twins who are about to take all their GCSE's so its great fun at the moment trying to get them to revise and avoid their strops! My eldest son is in the army - he is 18 yrs old - I don't know what his fake name is going to be yet!

I work shifts so I am often really tired, my husband is between (geeky IT type) jobs so is often at home - he also writes music for films. I am doing a photography course online - but whether I'll ever be any good at photography remains to be seen!

Okay - thats an introduction into my life! I hope to be back soon!