Head Games

I am having one of those dreadful diet days where I can't stop thinking about eating. I'm not even particularly hungry. Cold? Yes. Headachey? Yes. Fed up with having to listen to the rugby while dh snores his way through a frankly dull game? Heck yes. I know in my heart that a great big cheese and chutney sarnie isn't going to make any of that go away, but it doesn't stop me from dreaming!

I may have to resort to ironing as a distraction technique. I don't much love ironing, even with my new super duper steam machine, but at least it would get me out of the kitchen and away from the fridge. And it might warm me up somewhat too. I know some people swear by drinking a glass of water whenever they're tempted but I've already consumed enough water for three days and seem to be permanently needing the loo. All in all this has not been a good day - apart from the fact that thus far I haven't yet given in to the temptation so I suppose I'll have to comfort myself with that and remember that tomorrow is weigh-in day so it had better all be worth it!

Can I sneak back in here?

Someone (Harridan) made the point a few days a go that I haven't updated my blog in a while. And we all know why, don't we? Because I'd fallen off the dieting bandwagon and didn't wish to admit it. As much as I hate the idea, it seems as though I really do need the discipline of a food diary/diet diary to help motivate me keep the focus going. So this blog might be about to get a whole lot more dull than it already is - yup, I think any existing followers will be running away in droves once the weekly stat post starts! On Monday. I hate starting things when it isn't the beginning of the week. (Is it really any surprise that Kid-the-Eldest has aspergers? I found myself getting quite irritated in Starbucks the other day because people had mixed up all the coffee beans!)

In all honesty, I had given myself a bit of a kick last week. I was aware that I was sliding back "up" the scales again and given that, in a few short weeks, I'm going to be meeting up with some friends for a weekend away, it would be good not to be the blob at the party. I haven't regained everything that I had previously lost, but I had gained more than ten pounds of it, so something had to be done. I've been as good as gold this last week, even taking into consideration lunch out with friends, so I'm hoping for good things.

Meanwhile, family life continues around me. Mother is going into hospital next week for a hip replacement. I may have more to say about that when she comes out of hospital as she's due to come here to stay. That could be fun. Kids eldest, middle and at the bottom of the heap all providing the usual levels of laughter, tears, stress and mess, and the man I married has Man Flu. I don't think he appreciates the fact that Man Flu is an ironic term for a piffling cold, coined by women to illustrate the weakness of men. I know in fact that he believes it to be a higher, more potent strain of flu, the likes of which I could never possibly hope to suffer nor understand. Apparently, it's so bad that no-name paracetamol and a hot toddy can't possibly be the cure. Only a skipful of branded over-the-counter medicine (with the name "Extra" on the packet) could possibly be effective in the fight against the super-germs. I so need a rolly-eye smiley on this blog!!

Pale and Interesting

This has been a week for reflection and contemplation, gathering those we love dear, and dear memories for comfort and solace. I've been busy taking photographs of places and things I love and finding peace therein.

It has been a week since I took my part in the overnight vigil for my friend, an event that seemed strange at the time, but which has now left me feeling privileged to have been able to take part. Funerals are never "good" things, but this one was a fitting tribute for a much-loved man who will be sorely missed.

Blue, blue, lectric blue...

The internet is a wonderful thing. I posted my snaps and a friend was able to take them away and play with them. I love what she has done...have a look at these.






(I'm tempted to change that red door for a green one so that I can continue with my apparent theme of 80's pop songs.)

This clever lady is the person behind The Happy Snapper Chronicles (see my sidebar), and you can check out some more of her work by visiting her Glam Music and Media website which I've included with my "other stuff" over there on the left.

Take the Blues Away

The first single I ever purchased was Grey Day by Madness. I bought it from the record stall in the market square in Cambridge (Andy's Records anyone?) and no doubt the rest of my money went on honeycomb from the nearby (complete with pink and white awning) sweet stall. I'd have taken the bus home, torn between wanting to chow down on crunchy sugar and the need to keep my single in its pristine condition. Once home, I'd probably have asked permission to use the "hi-fi" which was situated in the front room and generally off limits to oik-like children. Oh, the hours I spent listening to that record...endlessly, over and over, until I'd learned the words by heart. I missed meals in order to get them down pat.



We've had a lot of grey days here recently. January is never a good month for me. The post-Christmas slump, coupled with uninspiring weather, the heavy sense of having to start the whole year again, always leave me prone to depressive episodes. I can usually recognise the signs. When a desire to cosy-in becomes a dread of leaving the house; when the ringing of the telephone stops heralding the opportunity to chat and instead causes me to hide in the bathroom; when all I want to do is sleep, then it's time to take action.



Exercise is supposed to be good for depression. It releases endorphins and improves your mood. So with that in mind, I set out for a walk around the village hoping to stave off madness.





I found lots of pleasing things while out and about; some natural, some manmade. Even some of the litter could be pretty if you looked at it hard enough. I took the camera out with me and snapped away at the things I liked the look of, scaring away one local dog-walker who was obviously concerned for her safety. Not many sane people were out swooping on bits of blue debris to make patterns in the sand. She clipped her dog back on its lead and marched swiftly in the opposite direction, away from the local nutter.



Anyway, I showed a few of these pictures to friends. They all seemed to quite like the results of my beachcombing efforts. Someone suggested a few tweaks, and it's interesting to see what photoshop can do. Take your pick - which blue does it for you?



The original, undoctored photograph.



With the background saturation reduced to virtually nothing



And with a bit of orange to bring out the blue.