Something that I (shamefully) used to say to close friends and relatives was that I fully expected to die in the very near future, and that I was resigned to never reaching a pensionable age. The odds related to my weight seemed to support my often bleak approach to life and I was in retrospect … More Falling pianos
Well my week’s experiment has concluded. After a somewhat disappointing 1/2 a pound loss last week I had been looking at what I’d been eating and also what I’d been doing for exercise. Since the 22nd May I’ve been gardening in earnest – and because of the time involved there has been less walking in … More In the teens!
I do love a chilli. Probably too much actually. I tend to eat more of it than I really should (it tastes soooooooo nice though!) and yesterday was unfortunately no exception. The trick with chilli (I realised only within the last few months after a friend pointed it out) is to start cooking the spices immediately upon starting … More What I eat now vs what I ate before
The 26th and 28th of January are a big days for me – but for very different reasons. Whilst one is cause for celebration the other is not, and both have been playing on my mind for weeks. I need to get my thoughts about these out of my head and onto the page, despite their anniversary still being a few … More Anniversaries
Last night it was raining and as per usual I was worried about the scales. I was stressing (too much) about a lot of things – last night and I really wanted to go for a walk. Irritatingly many of the things on my mind I can change – so I’m not just focusing silly … More Stats, graphs and deviant cyclists
I can’t believe that it’s Wednesday already. I’m honestly not sure where the hell time is going at the moment. I’ve been ‘twalking’ with a friend around the park today and it’s been absolutely perfect weather for it. Whilst the breeze was undeniably cold the sun has been warm and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. … More Wait, what? Wednesday?!
A psychological victory is sometimes way more important than a physical result. To feel that you’ve done something that you believed not so long ago couldn’t be achieved or crossed a threshold that previously seemed insurmountable is a moment to be savoured. People who have known me for a long time will know that I often avoided … More Psychological victory
Back when I started writing my blog I had the twin objectives of getting myself a dog and getting fit. The latter has very much become the focus of my life but the former is like a niggling itch that for whatever reason I just can’t scratch. I talked myself out of it at the time for … More Puppy love
I woke up this morning with some real surprise when I looked at my calendar. It’s the 26th of October – and time has been moving fast lately. This week has been a little odd in terms of personal motivation. Saturday was a big day. The picture taken of me with a fridge freezer honestly … More 9 Months
I’m having a day of ‘rest’ today. Well at least from walking – it’s not really a day of chilling – but time to tidy my house. It’s become a bit of a mess in my recent prolonged outdoor absences. It’s no excuse I know but I have been trying not to sit indoors at all … More Counting the pile
There’s an advert I used to see on the television all the time for Disneyland in Florida. The children can’t sleep prior to their journey to the resort – and a little boy says ‘I’m SO excited!’ In such a way that it has stuck in my mind for years. It’s a clever commercial as … More A moment away from change
Normal service has been resumed in the UK it seems and sunny weather with soaring (indeed record breaking in some cases) temperatures have given way to more customary rain and cloud cover. This morning it’s been torrential. I’ve mixed feelings about this – and over the last few months my approach to the climate around … More Sharing my rings
I was up relatively early today for a walk around the park with a fellow Slimming World’er. 9am is not the time that we’d normally meet (we’re becoming ‘regulars’ now which is really nice) but for various reasons we’ve struggled to set a time that’s convenient for both of us this week. As it turned … More Diabetes WIN!
It’s sunny outside and I’ve just returned from a morning out. I’ve walked around the park, said hello to lots of ‘regulars’ and watched the world go by while talking with a friend. I’ve also been shopping at Aldi and filled my fridge with virtuous food of every description. The bank holiday has now passed … More Feeling vulnerable
The other day while we walked my friend said to me that the thing he enjoyed the most about exploring nature was the change of the seasons, and the subtle differences in colour or shade that resulted from the onset of Autumn or Winter. Truthfully I’m looking forward to this a lot. I can’t wait to … More St James The Great
The park this morning was a tough sell when my alarm went off at 5.30am. Although I didn’t really need to get up that early today I’d forgotten to re-set my wake up reminder to an hour or so later. I looked out of the window and it had been raining (with the threat of more … More Six month anniversary
I’ve spent some time today emptying the odds and sods from my drawers at work, so that when we finally leave the office for the last time in two weeks I don’t have a huge pile of crap to lug home with me. I’ve learned over the years (particularly after clearing out my mom’s bungalow) that keeping … More Gifted by the Pope or signed by Elvis
Breakfast today was a 600g punnet of cherry tomatoes, a pint of water and my pills. The tomatoes were nice. I was looking forward to them actually. I forgetfully left them on the work surface in the kitchen overnight instead of putting them in the fridge and when I came to eat them the morning … More 100
Some people are just selfish. Take my next door neighbour for instance. For a few weeks we have had an unspoken solidarity between us, and have been holding off mowing the lawn. Our grass was of equally shameful height and it was a clear and unspoken pact. ‘Screw the neat freaks – life is too … More Bro’s before mow’s
As tends to be the way when I have worries in the back of my mind I woke up today obsessing about something entirely different. Not unusually for me I had been dreaming of colourful video games and they were still clear in my head when I opened my eyes at 7.30am. I think I’m … More Flushing it all away
I wasn’t planning to post today as nothing much happened. Sunday has been chilled and mostly for cooking, washing up and the occasional video game. It’s been a day of relaxation. This would likely have been the only paragraph in my blog if I hadn’t been pointed toward something on television by a friend from work. ‘Are … More Watch it
Although I can hardly speak this evening I’m generally on the mend from being ill. I can live with croaking and coughing as long as I can sleep, and because I feel a bit more rested was back in the office today. It was actually a relief to get back into work and start ploughing through … More Little boat
I’ve decided to have a ‘me’ day on Friday and booked it off this afternoon. The last few weeks have been rewarding but long and I really wanted to just stop, take stock and have a coffee with someone disconnected from everything I’m doing. So I phoned a mate, made arrangements to do not much in particular … More Not one single person
The people who know me will probably be best placed to decide whether I suffer from stress or not. Previously I would have been 99.9% sure that I did not (outside of parental bereavement and funerals etc), but I’m beginning to question that now. I’m becoming VERY aware lately that my stress management (usually alcohol) in … More Moment of Zen
Several years ago after a friend’s wedding I gave up smoking. That event was about as hedonistic as they got, and as it was a Sikh celebration the booze flowed like tap water. Once one bottle of spirits was completed on the table another arrived. If your pint glass became empty another was placed in front of you. Because … More Three D’s
How would you describe your mind? For what amounts to little more than a collection of protein and electrical impulses we all give them very emotive descriptions depending on how we’re feeling. If he’s tired or ill my father often refers to his mind as being full of ‘mental chewing gum’. Similarly he imagines it packed … More Marbles and budgets
Well that’s the first week done. It’s not been easy and there has been a lot to think about and process. Again I’ve been amazed at how so many people can be so different but also so much alike in their feelings and resulting actions. Normally at this time I would be reflecting on the … More Labels and catalysts
Today nothing bad has happened. I need to be clear about that. I’ve had so far a relatively productive Wednesday, and have completed day three of my time on the program. I’ve been trying some mindfulness this afternoon, in an attempt to clear my head and just focus on whats important in life, but its … More They live among us
Day two of my self build course. A lot less people turned up today, maybe because they didn’t like the content or decided that being drunk or stoned was preferable. I suppose I’ll find out if they reappear tomorrow. The second day was more cordial. Lots more chatter on smoke breaks, and opportunities for those … More Warm burst
The radio is playing. Kylie Minogue is doing her level best to cheer me up, but despite my thoughts about her perky bottom and the sound of her chirpy voice it’s not working. I’m sitting in my car on a street full of dowdy looking industrial units and I’m 20 minutes early for my clinic … More Kylie and peas
