Monday 5th July 2010

Today at work, we were talking about not being able to burn tyres to get rid of them and looking up how they can be re-used. As well as using them in children's play areas, some people use them to make sandals. If you are into your designer stuff, would you only have Pirelli ones?

My new dress arrived this morning, via DHL. I only emailed them on Saturday afternoon with the alternative delivery address so I was pleased with them. I tried it on when I got home. I think it is possibly a bit too long and will need taking up. I tried it on with new black boots as they have got a platform sole and high heel. If I can find some shoes or sandals like this, it might not need any adjustment, as long as I can walk in them too. When I tried to take the boots off, I found that they were firmly stuck to my bare legs. I struggled for a while and then had to give in and ask Dan to help me remove them. He wasn't impressed being woken up by his silly mummy. They took some shifting! We nearly stuck me in the freezer. We didn't have a ruler so we used a kitchen spatula thing to try to free them. With a little bit of wriggling and tugging, I was free. It was just as well that Dan was home or I would have had to wear them to the training meeting but I don't think I could have driven in them.

I went to another Partylite meeting this evening, this time it was our Unit meeting in Sittingbourne. Two new girls came along. I hope we didn't scare them off.

Sunday 4th July - Partylite Training

Having set the alarm for 6.45am, I guess I was so worried about being up late that I was awake at 5 past 5. I did manage to get back to sleep, sort of! I got up at quarter to 7, and was in the car and on my way by 8pm. I got to Sam's on time, and arrived before Karen. Sam and I joined Karen and we set off for Middlesex. The journey was mostly uneventful and we arrived about 5 past 9. The meeting wasn't due to start until 11 so we had plenty of time to sit in the garden and enjoy the sun. We were disappointed to find out that there was no tea/coffee provided before the meeting.

We made our way to the Music room where the meeting was being held and we started on time. It was very good, informative and entertaining. The morning flew past and it was soon time for dinner. This was a buffet served outside under the gazebos. Dessert was lovely but a strange mixture of sickly chocolate cake and fruit. I had a slice of melon. We had to rush back to the afternoon session, where tea/coffee was being served as we went back to our seats. In the raffle draw, I got a pumpkin melt warmer, and I was lucky enough to buy a “Partridge in Pear Tree” for just £3. We had another fun afternoon training and we were soon finished and able to get on our way home. We had a good run back and I got home about 5. Dave was still out. I got some food out of the freezer defrosting, got changed and then it was time to go bowling.

I was trying to curve bowl and it didn't work out too well. I was below my average on all 3 games but I did show a bit of improvement.

Sunday 3rd July 2010

As I have a meeting in Middlesex tomorrow, Batty and I did our pre-bowl today in case I don't get back in time. I can't get to bowling on Monday as I will be at Unit Training Meeting. We had a good time and didn't do too bad. Just have to wait now until Monday to see how well our opponents get on. After bowling, we joined the smelly pond clearers at the pub for a lovely ploughman's lunch at the Kings Head, Shadoxhurst. It was still warm and we sat in the garden again. I had a pint of the Neame's Mild.

At Chris's we watched “Get Smart” and “D.E.B.S”. I hadn't seen Get Smart before. It was funny. We're going to try the spin off film one day. “D.E.B.S” is another of our favourite films that we have seen a few times.

Friday 2nd July 2010 - Appledore Walk

Just before lunch time today we had a power cut. I got my filing done. About 2 pm, we didn't know if it would come back on again and as the offices were getting hotter, we were told that we could go home. Unfortunately, I didn't run fast enough. The power came back on and I stayed until 5. We did get icecreams though. There were only about 20 of us left. I was on my diet again today, much the same as yesterday. A different note appeared on the fridge this afternoon. “Standing on one leg hopping about increases the risk of falling over. Please be careful”. As there were less people in the office, the mystery note leaver might well be found out.

After work we went for a walk in Appledore. We were able to get away before 6pm. The plan originally was just to walk along the canal and back again but the navigator found us a circular route up into Stone in Oxney. By the Royal Military Canal we saw a slow worm, some wood peckers and a very strange fruit tree. The fruit looked like black berries but this was definitely a tree and not a bush. We soon found a place to cross the road and went up the hill into Stone In Oxney. At the top, we found the foot path through the farm, shouted “orses” at the beasts there. The horses came to say hello. We headed up for the church and followed the road and stopped at the “pink” pub, the Crown. We had beer and crisps sitting in their lovely beer garden. It looked like it had all been decorated out recently. Apparently it re-opened in April 2009 after being closed for 3 years. We got an evening menu before we left in case we wanted to go back again. They recommended a phone call to check before turning up mob handed. A short walk on from here, and we found the next pub, The Ferry Inn. We sat in the garden again. Someone came up to say hello to me. We had a chat. It was the voice that I recognised most but it was half an hour later when we had left the pub that I remembered her name. I used to work with her years ago when she was at Planit. I wonder if she remembered my name straight away? Usually I'm really good with names, etc. We followed part of the Saxon Shore Way and soon got back to the car, ignoring the 3rd pub.

We got home soon after 9. The temperature had only dropped to 22 degrees, from 29 when we started our walk. I didn't even need my jacket all evening. It was a lovely walk and we'll probably do it again one day.

Thursday 1st July 2010

Day 2 of the diet. Special K for breakfast. I didn't drink as much water today as I should have done. Mid morning I had a low calorie snack with my tea. For lunch, another bowl of Special K. The banana and apricot one is really good. When I went for a walk at lunch time, I was picking and eating the cherries as I went. There are trees along the whole road down to the lake. During the afternoon, I munched on carrots and had another low calorie snack.

In the morning, the milk ran out while I was making my tea. I decided to tackle changing it on my own. I had to undo the box to find the spout thing. Tracy joined me. We wrestled with it together and then noticed that the box was leaking. I got milk dripped down my dress. When I told the girls later, Glynis put a warning note on it: “Box may leak when removed”. Later in the day, a note appeared on the fridge: “If you pull the handle, the door will open!” We haven't found the funny culprit yet!

This evening, I was invited to Heather and Andy's to meet baby Michael Andrew. He makes his Moses basket look enormous at the moment. We chatted and watched him for a while as he was still asleep and looking like he was dreaming. They pull some of the cutest faces when they are sleeping. When he woke up, I got to have a cuddle. He was also pulling some cute little faces while he was being cuddled too. He has lots of lovely black hair and deep blue eyes. It's so easy to forget that they start out so small. When it was time for his nappy change, I found the feet before they were wrapped back into the baby suit. When I left he was having his milk.

We didn't exactly eat healthy. Mr Brain's faggots (probably not on the Special K recommended meal suggestion list), mash potato (low fat margarine of course), sprouts and peas. It was good though and I'm not hungry... yet! I was planning on staying away from the alcohol but I had a small glass of port. It's Dave's fault!! At least he has eaten all of the smelly Camembert now that has been stinking our fridge out for ages. We watched “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”. I've seen it a few times but Dave hadn't. I then watched “Knowing” that I hadn't seen before. It was exciting. Another Nicholas Cage film to add to my collection one day. I might have to suggest it as one that we could watch at Chris's too.

Wednesday 30th June 2010

Diet Day 1, Special K and a cup of tea. During the morning I had a piece of birthday cake but only half the size that I'd usually have. Can't say no to Jeannine's cakes. For dinner I had the Special K again and munched carrots for the afternoon. I also had a low calorie snack. The guidelines say that
I don't think it's going to work with snacks of marmite, butter and bread, even if the butter is “light”.

At archaeology club tonight, we met in Lenham Square for 7 and then drove up to Wychling church. There was 22 of us tonight so quite a good turn out. Paula, who lives in Wychling, has been doing some digging to try to find the lost village. They found evidence of a dew pond and then further into the undergrowth, with a tree in the middle, they've been excavating another area and trying to make sense of what they think could be a dwelling. Then we went for a walk around the wood. I found a flint that feels like it was worked. It fits my hand very well.

This evening I found “While You Were Sleeping” film was on Sky 2. I'd forgotten how annoying it is watching a film with adverts but I suppose that time for drink breaks. I haven't seen it for ages and I had forgotten how good it was. I'm surprised it's not in my collection.

Monday 28th June 2010

It seemed that I couldn't get away from football talk today. When I flicked between the two breakfast shows it was football reviews and when I went into the kitchen at work to make a cuppa, more football talk, and even Dave's blog....but possibly for different reasons. I guess it will soon be forgotten.

We didn't do very well at bowling this evening. We lost 8-0. It was close though but we seemed to be playing to the same pace as the other team. If we had got our last game score in one of the first games, we might have got some points. We are now in 4th place. Only 2 points behind 3rd though and we are playing against that team next week.

I've ordered my dress for the conference gala dinner now from Ebay. I got it from the same place as last year and I've emailed them my measurements. Hopefully they will make the necessary adjustments before mailing it so that I don't have to, especially the length. Last year's dress was perfect. I'm a bit concerned that the measurements on this one said 12 L... I wonder if that means “long” and they are unable to shorten it. We'll see.