How much lead in my pencil?

Have just discovered this neat little gimmick to keep a track on weight loss.
I am going to post this one initially and then update it at regular intervals, either fortnightly or monthly!


I put on 9.5kg last March with my pregnancy and didn't lose it after having the miscarriage.
I started the gym again just before Christmas, 4 nights a week for an hour, and at the same time began a healthy eating plan.
I walk to work every morning and walk the dog each night so hopefully I will start to lose the excess weight.

Watch this space!

Ellen's Ark!

Name...Flinn

Age...not too sure

Birthplace...errr!!!

Breed...male, adult, champagne/cream ferret.

Likes...Fizz's warm basket. Bits and bobs, I steal everything and anything and hide it in my den! Digging, especially under the new leather sofa!!! Doing a weasel war dance in the shower! Living in the house!

Dislikes...Fizz flinging me outta her basket. Ellen's mother, she chased me with a roll of Christmas wrapping paper after she found my newly constructed den under/in the new leather sofa.

Most embarassing moment...Ellen sending me for "the op". Being caught dragging a giant piece of chicken pie up the stairs by Granny!

Name...Fizz

Age...3 years

Birthplace...was found in a rubbish bag with my brother and sister near a disused railway line at 8 weeks old.

Breed...black/white whippet cross female poochie.

Likes...all human food. I have a passion for pizza! Sleeping with my owner Ellen. My daily mountain walk.

Dislikes...cold weather, rain, Flinn...when he sabotages my basket. Empty plates. Seagulls.

Most embarassing moment...being discovered upside down in the kitchen bin hunting for pizza crusts, and when I stole the turkey leg one Christmas Day.

I got the idea for these pet profiles from 0toleranz's recent blog. He has a great profile of his cats. He won't mind me stealing his idea!!!

C'mon People!

I just can't seem to get this track out of my head. It's by my favourite male artist Richard Ashcroft. I have just watched the video three times on the run and am mesmerised every time.

I am thinking of adopting it as my personal anthem. I have been playing it for years and when I do it's on full volume and I always feel better afterwards.

To see Mr.Ashcroft on top form please click on the link. Enjoy!!

http://www.singingfool.com/musicvideo.asp?publishedId=903556

C'mon People

Sometimes I Feel Like I Can't Move On
Nothing In Life Is Turning Me On
But I Still See Clearly, When I See You Smiling.

You Know Nothing Seems To Fit
I Couldn't See My Way Through This Shit
When Every Single Second Of My Waking Day,

Was Thinking Of You
Thinking Of You
You Never Know
That I Am Alive
I Am Alive
I Wanna Grow

There are so many things I can do
Just Like Falling In Love With You
So Take My Hand Now Understand Now
You Can Come Here Too

C'mon People We're Making It Now
yeah Yeah Yeah
C'mon People We're Making It Now
yeah Yeah Yeah

But Today I Worked It Out
I Got Something I Can Shout About
Someone Who Believes In All The Things I'm Thinking

But Where Have You Gone
Where Have You Gone
I'll Never Know
That I Am Alive
I Am Alive
I Wanna Grow
There Are So Many Things I Can Do
Just Like Falling In Love With You
So Take My Hand Now Understand Now
You Can Come Here Too

Chorus...

Me...a variety of angles.

Depression...are you still there?

Feeling a little low today...and am wondering whether this is "normal under the circumstances" ie: events in my life at present, or is it "depression" rearing it's ever so ugly head again. I took my last anti-depressant on Boxing Day after 13 years of being prescibed them and stopped benzodiazepines (Diazepam and Temazepam) last March, having taken them for the same length of time. I have reduced them slowly, over time, in accordance with my doctor's instructions.

I am tearful regularly, for no apparent reason and seem to have spent the last few weeks with a permanent lump in my throat. I have explained this to my nurse who visits every week and next week I have to complete an anxiety/depression assessment.

Maybe I am just overwhelmed with emotion. Having been drugged up for so long I think I have lost the ability to "feel".

So, I have a plan....

To continue my 4 times weekly gym sessions and long walks on the beach. This will raise my endorphins naturally.

To write regular poetry and prose. This is wonderful therapy and always has been for me.

To be consistent with my healthy eating.

To pray

To book a holiday...working on this as we speak!

and to postpone giving up smoking until I feel a bit more positive, as advised by Berenice who is a non-smoker with asthma!!! I have just stocked up on Nicotine chewing gum, but it will wait.

I think, by recently transforming my appearance, I am trying to move away from the past and become a new person although I do know that it's not as simple as that. (A picture is on its way I promise.)

If depression is rearing its ugly head again, then it has got a battle on its hands. I am ready and armed so let the battle commence.

A New Me!!

Good evening. I am feeling a little light-headed at the moment, because I had a rather drastic hair-cut this afternoon. After 5 years of growing my hair, I had the majority of it cut off. It was very long and very heavy and although some people say it's my best feature...it had to go.

On Friday, I am returning to the same hairdresser for some more drama! I am going to have it coloured. Firstly, the stylist is going to neutralise the very light blonde colourant on my hair and then match up the "new" colour as close as possible to my natural colour which is dark blonde. I haven't seen my natural colour for about 15 years so it is going to be interesting. My Mum is on holiday in Scotland at the moment so she is going to have a shock when she sees me at the week-end when she returns. I am sure a few other people will have to look twice when they see me.

I am sure the children in work at school tomorrow will notice straight away...as children do.

When my transformation is complete, I will post a picture, better still, before and after shots.

I assure you I haven't "lost the plot" or similar, just want to be more natural. This is a year for change in my life. I wonder what will be next?

Another haiga

Hi there
I hope you are all well. I am experimenting with haigas at the moment and would appreciate some constructive criticism on this one. I am not too sure about the ku.

Again, the picture is courtesy of Kenn Kiser, Ohio, USA.

A haiga

Good evening. It's not very often that I write a haiku although I love reading them and spend many a pleasurable hour or three looking at haigas. So here is my humble attempt. The beautiful photograph is courtesy of Kenn Kiser, Ohio, USA.

Hi Ho...It's Back To Work I Go.

Well, the holidays are finally over and the children return to school tomorrow. I also return to school, but in a working capacity. Lucky B is off on her holidays. I wish I was tagging along as I feel in need of a holiday after a holiday, if you know what I mean.

Fiona and I are going to call a "Friends of The School" meeting as soon as is convenient and we are going to announce our decision to step down after 4 years of hard but rewarding work.

I know the headmaster Mr.Jones will be disappointed but it is time for the younger mums to have a go! We have had a prosperous 4 years in which time, we have raised enough money to kit every one of the 9 classes out with an interactive white-board. Apparently, they are fantastic teaching aids and I think we can retire in the knowledge that all the children have benefitted.

After nursing, teaching was my second career choice and I often wonder how I would have got on!

So it's time for something new. I have been thinking about working for the charity "Childline", but I am not too sure whether I could cope with some aspects of the job. On the one hand I feel I have a lot to offer in light of my own life experiences, but maybe it's all a little too close to home and a little too early for me at this stage of my life.

When the girls have left home, and are safely installed in university(I hope) I am going to offer my services to the Christian charity "Tearfund" and work abroad but until then I am searching for something closer to home.!!!

Tomorrow, I am returning to the gym!!! I haven't been since I caught the mumps and have been too busy over Christmas. No excuses now, so I've aired my trainers and am ready for action....well sort of.

On that note, I am going to collapse in bed with exhaustion...yawn yawn.
Goodnight all.