Wii Fit

I'm back on track after yesterday.

This morning I managed 10 minutes freestyle stepping which means I can watch the TV and step to the beat on the Wii remote, managed to answer the phone which luckily was near me and still step. Go me! Then did a long distant jog which is probably about 5 mins and then managed the 2 minute hula hooping. 20 minutes of exercise clocked up before coming to work. I am the woman. Last week I could only do one of these activities before feeling like I might pass out.

Still haven't had a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar/chocolate biscuit and I'm not really missing them now, it has only been 6 days but it just shows how your cravings subside, although I have eaten my way through a massive box of Rice Krispies instead. I still feel tired when I wake up but then I have had a sore throat and pressure headache for a few days so perhaps that will go eventually and I'll get out of bed like the girl in the Adios advert (I think it's for Adios!!), only I won't have wee short knickers and a vest top on, I'll be the one with the fleecy pj's and bed socks skipping down the street.

I'm on the top of the world.

'Today I feel normal'

It's a strange saying but that is how I feel, normal, quite uplifted and happy, well not so much happy but content, at peace with the world. I get very few days like this, I very often have an underlying sadness which I've spoken about before and when it lifts I feel good.

Perhaps it's the change in the diet and the little bit of exercise. I haven't had a packet of crisps or a bit of chocolate since I tried on those bikinis and I have cut out my breakfast & supper toast and replaced it with cereal, with a sprinkle of sugar as I might murder someone without a little sugar in my diet. I know sugar is not something that should be taken while trying to improve ones figure but I know from experience it is the stodge that makes the belly.

I did 20 minutes on the Wii Fit this morning, 10 mins stepper and 3 minutes hula hooping and then I had a few games of the table tilt, couldn't resist and it's all in the aid of fitness, I love the Wii Fit. Couldn't face a wee jog on the spot after the hula, I used to be great at the hula but these love handles must be affecting my swivel. Thought I should vary the exercise daily and the good thing about the Wii Fit is being able to weigh yourself and I am lighter on the Wii Fit than I am on the house scales, but then it's not actually about weight on this occasion it's about being firmer and more toned and about others on holiday looking at me and saying 'Wow, I wish I was so toned and sexy and had those huge pert boobs and flat belly' and making heads turn..... and not having people thinking 'oh look she must be on a second marriage with older children and now she's having another' or 'bet that wasn't planned!'

Hope the motivation keeps up because I like it and the world is a brighter place when you are 'normal' I have held my head high, I have smiled at people and they have smiled back, I had a laugh with a man in the queue at the post office. Isn't it usually the case when we feel like this that something comes BANG and you're brought back down to earth.

When are you due?

We went on holiday to Fuertaventura in June 2007 and we are returning in June 2009. Now in 2007 it had been 5 years since we had been abroad and we had to buy everything, holiday clothes, cases, swim wear, renew the passports - everything. I did not have one item of summer clothing, namely due to the fact I sell school uniforms and work all summer in a cool unit in jeans and a polo shirt. It was not cheap. I bought new white bras so that when the straps showed they would be pristine as there is nothing worse than a greyish bra on show, especially if you play these games in the hotel where the kids run back to the entertainer with items such as straws, shoes, socks, bras, I like my kids to win you understand!

Anyway I have this issue which costs me more money than most and that is my bra size, I am very thin under the bust, taking a 30" bra, however with that comes the hindrance of FF cups, I can't just nip to Asda and buy a bra at £5.00, my bra's have to be Clyde built and cost in the region of £20-£24, so you can imagine a couple of new bras not to mention the bikini which has to be under wired to stop my boobs from falling out underneath and you're spending a hundred pounds easily. So in 2007 I was like the poor relation and only had 2 bikini's with me compared to the then 7 year old who had about 5. So this year now that I have an array of summer clothes and only need to buy some new tops and of course kit out the growing kids, maybe some new shoes and then there's the case that will have to be replaced as it broke last time, anyway now that I have summer clothes I thought I would treat myself to a couple more bikinis and of course the white bras need replacing. I went to my favourite place...... eBay, where I can get Panache separates at competitive prices, so I ordered myself a fuchsia pink bikini, a jade and pink halter neck bikini and a tankini top with hidden bra, that matches the bottoms that I already have, sorted.

The bikini's arrived and I was excited to try them on, getting in the holiday spirit 3 months in advance. Well there is nothing like trying on a bikini to start you on a healthy eating and exercise regime! I have now and have always had a rather nice pregnant shaped belly, about 5 months I'd say and comes from eating far too much bread/wheat. When ever I shed my layers of winter clothing and wear a tight fitting top which shows off my voluptuous bust, clings to my thin torso and then bang, out sits this belly. When are you due, you're such a lovely shape? one very nice lady asked me. My response was polite but none the less embarrassing for the other party! And you know I am ok with strangers thinking I am pregnant because that's exactly the shape I am. However, after pulling out the full length mirror to have a look at myself in the new bikinis I realised I have also gone and gotten myself a pair of love handles, my daughter well she just laughed at the sight of her mother in a bikini and trailed with me to see what the hubby and 11 year old son thought, the hubby God bless him was just happy to see a bit of flesh and my son, he raised his eyebrows with a hint of 'Oh my God' in his eyes. I was then glad I bought the tankini at least it'll cover me up a bit, that's a laugh, took me and the 9 year old about 5 minutes to get me into it. I'm sot sure if you're all familiar with these but they have a mess lining which forms the fully under wired bra and have a bra style clip inside at the back for secure fastening, no chance of wobbling about in this baby. Being a 30" fit it's great but that's equivalent to about a size 6 and trying to get that over these knockers wasn't the easiest, we decided the best plan of action was to haul the bra bit down first, done and what a sight, turquoise mess covered massive mamma's, fastened the back, done and now all to do was get the rest of the top over the mamma's so with the daughter pulling down the back and me at the front we managed, being this tight should keep the belly in, POP not a chance just emphasized all the thin bits and made the belly even more pregnant pod shaped!

So in disgust with immediate effect I will not eat 7 slices of bread a day, all those cakes I have eaten on those lonely winter nights have definitely had an effect and must be stopped and then of course there's the chocolate, I don't drink, unless I'm going out which is rare at the moment, so the hubby will buy himself some beers and buy me chocolate to have with my nice cup of tea, oh no, no more, I will not let this belly take over my life. I am fit, I am healthy, I have a flat stomach that is going to be my positive mindset for the near future.

I only started yesterday and even managed 15 minutes on the Wii fit this morning before coming to work, 5 minutes step and 10 minutes jog on the spot, nearly passed out when I finished as I have done no physical exercise for months and months, obviously, think perhaps I might need to do some sit ups, or if you know of any other painless methods for achieving a flat stomach please do share with the groups

I may take some pictures!! If I can face it.

Jen The Fish

Lovingly picked on the 18th May 2002 by a five year old for his birthday we have spent years thinking it’s about time she popped her clogs, my mum and I joked on Sunday with some friends about the goldfish I have had for nearly 7 years, her water is changed rarely and she often lives in 2 inches of completely manky water. I am not ashamed, however, as I had visitors coming to my house for the first time** last Sunday I felt it only right to change the water, really only so that wouldn't talk about me after they left. My mum saw fit to announce 'I see the fish has fresh water!' We laughed about the time the fish had a near death experience and I decided to change the water and let it die with dignity, albeit a bit late after living for years without any, I discovered a 5p had dropped into the bowl and had obviously been poisoning the poor girl. She came back to life within minutes of being placed in new fresh non toxic water. I knew changing the water would one day kill her, a shock to the system, although I expected a heart attack and to find her floating on her side at the top of the water. I did not expect to get up one morning and find her missing completely! Today was that day.

My version of events
It was a morning like any other but as soon as I entered the kitchen I knew instinctively that something wasn’t right, the splatter cover (being a splatter cover used to cover a frying pan, a clean, unused one, a temporary measure you see) that had protected Jen from the cats was lying on the worktop and as I looked through bleary eyes there was no sign of the fish, the bowl was empty. After putting in my eye drops and having slightly clearer vision I checked again, definitely no fish. I assumed the worst, TIA (the 11 month old kitten) had eaten the fish. But amusingly she was still looking in the bowl for the fish, I always thought she was a bit thick! After a phone call with the hubby I discovered Tia had not eaten the fish – Phew I hear you say, but no, it’s worse than that.

The hubby's version
I got up, bleary eyed like the wife, glasses in hand and felt something wet and slimy underfoot at the top of the stairs, for your information I’m no lightweight, I assumed the cat had been sick, again – but after closer inspection realised it was the fish, yes at the top of the stairs!! I collected it in a food bag, it had a little slit on its tummy and no tail, cause of death appears to have been lack of water. I put it in an empty ice cream tub for inspection by the wife and weans.

Tia’s version
Oh what a night!!! Been stocking the gold moving thing in the clear water for about a week now, there has been a lot of talk about a ‘fish’ It has amused me darting back and forward, teasing me with it’s big eyes, I waited until all was quiet, the big cat had gone out for the night and I finally managed to get the cover off ‘the fish’ took me ages to get it out of the water and onto the worktop, the place was covered in water by the time I was finished, it flapped and flipped and what a great time we had playing together, I took it into the hall to play some more but it wasn’t much fun to play with now as all the flipping and flapping had stopped and it had no tail to grab onto, think I might have swallowed that! Not sure what the traces of red are on the floor but Windy will clean that up later, she's always cleaning. I know what I’ll do, I’ll leave it at the top of the stairs for the fat man to stand on and he can put it back in the bowl and we’ll start the game again.
Everyone is up now, nobody is speaking to me and making a fuss like normal, murderer seems to be the word of today, keep dipping my paws in the water and I’m not even getting a row. Where is that bloody fishy thing!

I was frightened to look in the ice cream tub, but there she was wrapped carefully in a food bag, the only evidence was a little slit along her tummy, presumably from a claw, I didn't notice her tail was missing the way the bag was wrapped. I thought she might have been half eaten, but she obviously wasn't to Tia's taste. My daughter wanted to bury her, but we have mono block everywhere, then she suggested flushing I wasn't keen as that would involve taking her out the bag so I said she might not flush, they didn't want to bin her as she might get squashed - I hadn't told them about the 'fat man incident' so they decided we could bin her if she remained in the ice cream tub, this would save her from being squashed you see. So that was it.

Must let the cat out more.

**I would like to point out that it is not the first time I have had visitors, but the first time these particular visitors have visited!!

Only one more moan - I promise

I was going to fill you in about my loft ....but....I have one more moaning, feeling sorry for myself post and then I promise to move on! I have to say I feel better today than I did yesterday. Today is my Gran's birthday and she would have been 87, which worryingly means I'm going to be 37 on my next birthday, did I tell you we have 25 years exactly between our generations, I don't think I've shared that before. My Gran was 25 when she had my mum, who is an only child, my mum was 25 when she had me, an only child and I was 25 when I had my son and then buggered up the proceedings by having a second child at the age of 27. So when my Gran's birthday comes around it's always a reminder that in 3 months time, all be another year nearer to 40!

Anyway, I'll tell you a sneaky wee bit about the loft, we have had it converted into a room, well really an office for me and with the hubby being made redundant I decided we would use what paint we had in the house rather than spending money that we didn't have to. We had a huge bucket of Dulux white, which was nearly empty and a huge unopened bucket of B&Q value white, so I decided white it was, I started with the dulux to use it up and when it was finished went onto the value paint, well that didn't go down to well as I quickly realised I would need at least 4 coats to match up with the Dulux coated walls, none the less I soldiered on and thought that would do an undercoat. I spent the weekend glossing and emulsioning. Yesterday when the kids came home from school I took them to their favourite place, B&Q, NOT and we purchased descend Dulux paint. After our rapid B&Q visit we went to visit Granny's grave. The ground was covered in snow, I am delighted to report we had our snow on Sunday/Monday, I bit more descend this time and the kids were off school with colds. sore throats and upset stomachs, but I made them go out and play in the snow, so out they went like Michelin men and had a great time. So anyway the kids decided to clear the snow from the ground over Granny and by the time they had walked around and shovelled snow with their hand the graveside looked like a dogs dinner. My mum is going to visit today and I can imagine her face when she sees the state of the ground, thinking someone has been prancing over her mother! In days gone by my Granny would have raised her eyebrows at such a 'mess' but if her great-grandchildren had done it then that would be absolutely fine, they could do no wrong! Granny's aaahhh

Now I am not adverse to painting I find it quite calming and therapeutic, however, it leads to thinking, I have spend hours and hours in that loft, painting and thinking, thoughts non stop running through my head and this makes me sad, empty and lonely. I am lonely and sad on the inside and I need a good laugh. On Saturday night the hubby and I are going to go for something to eat and then go to the pictures, something we haven't done for ages. Hoping mum will take the kids overnight to her house. Fingers crossed. A change of scenery that should do me good and perhaps a mad, rampant 5 minutes wouldn't go a-miss either!!!

SAD

I have to say I'm quite disappointed with our weather on the outskirts of Glasgow, while the rest of the country have struggled in inches of snow we had nothing more than a flurry, well perhaps at best 2 inches on Wednesday evening. I watched the weather warnings with delight and the thought of being snowed in and not being able to get to school and work did fill me with excitement, wrapping up warm and playing outside with the children, perhaps even sledging in the park, although we often have the weather bad the snow never lasts long enough and my children have never been on a sledge, well apart from in the back garden. And what did we get, a miserable 2 inches and a wind that would cut you in two!! What a sham.

I've needed a right good kick up the backside this week, I have done nothing all week, the hubby leaves at 8.30am and is not home until 10.30pm ish, the kids have been fine going about their business and I have drunk tea, watched TV and eaten cakes every night, I did put on a couple of washings and over 3 nights I managed to change 2 beds, I did it in stages you see! There wasn't anything in particular wrong with me, I thought perhaps I was coming down with something and I gave in straight away. But no I definitely think SAD has gotten hold of me and you should see the spots I've got with eating all these cakes, hell mend me! I was going to give myself a stern talking to but then I decided what the hell, I'm sure I'll come out of it in my own good time.

It's my Granny's birthday on Wednesday, her first birthday that she will not be with us for. My Granny now faces a retail park after being buried in the wrong plot and for years M&S have been trying to open a simply food store there, the problem being it is a retail park and the terms are you have to be selling ............, the word escapes me, but they sell large items i.e. carpets, white goods etc etc and M&S simply food did not qualify, however after years of battling it was announced last year that M&S had been granted permission and they would open early 2009, that then became early February and last week it was confirmed it will be opening on Wed 11th Feb, my Granny's birthday and I think she would approve, she always thought it would be great to have M&S close by, well she couldn't get one any closer.

While on the subject of dates, everybody has something that means something to them, be it a special number, colour and for me it's dates, is it a coincidence or does it have true meaning, take our special date 17th May;

I was born on 17th May 1972, I got engaged on the 17th May 1995, got married on 17th May 1996, these were planned obviously but then I spent my first wedding anniversary and 25th birthday on 17th May 1997 in labour from 6am in the morning, well that wasn't real labour, although it did appear so at the time being a labour virgin, before my son finally made his appearance at 1.08am on the 18th May, that was not planned, lazy bugger was due on the 7th!! my daughter was born in December 1999 and is always a little bit RAGING in May when we all have a connection and she has nothing. In our area the Holy Communions are always in June, either the 1st or 2nd Saturday but last year they brought them forward and of course you guessed it the 17th May, her day out shone our connections. We assumed they would now be in May as the local areas are all May, but no this year my niece is on 13th June! And now a 'Markies' is opening on my Gran's birthday. Coincidence or not?

I was actually going to tell you about my loft but I got side tracked so I'll keep that for next time. Duh!

There is hope!

I am delighted to say that the hubby has secured a job for 13 weeks with the same company. I am of course happy but what a carry on. Made redundant but at the same time advised that there was a vacancy for a 13 week project doing the same thing, with the same company but in Kirkcaldy which is 1hr & 15 min drive from our house. There was 8 guys put in for the job and fortunately the hubby secured it so he was made redundant on Friday and started the new project on Monday. We are hoping by the time this project ends that the company will have picked up and perhaps there will be more projects.

Fingers crossed.