It”s 9.50am on Saturday and I’m listening to Classic FM. I have my feet up on my POÄNG footstool and I’m in my POÄNG armchair, feeling very Swedish. I’m also feeling very frugal as – thanks to some patient bargain hunting – I managed to get both 2nd hand for a total of £14. This compares … More Swedishly frugal
It’s the early morning (just after midnight) and I feel wide awake! Although admittedly I had a coffee a couple of hours ago this time it’s got more to do with an invigorating brisk walk home in the pouring rain. When I arrived home and closed the front door behind me I stood quietly in my hallway … More Gold bra
In space no one can hear you scream. However in the cinema people can definitely hear you s**t yourself – and given that I’m usually the world’s biggest scaredy cat (who famously threw his popcorn all over the place in Jurassic Park and could only watch Scream from behind a pillow) I was expecting the … More Good result
My arms are still killing me after my inaugural attempts to do press-ups. I just looked in my cupboard and I’m 100% sure that anything currently contained within a jam jar is safe and secure from my lascivious culinary appetites. It’s annoying because I’d really like a gherkin – but they’re just gonna have to … More Moobs, bingo wings & duck sauce
I’ve rather enjoyed this week – and as well as my walk to Balsall Common and trip to Oxford on I treated myself to a first showing of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 at 12.01am yesterday. In retrospect, this ridiculously late showing (I got home at 3am) was probably a teensy bit past my bedtime … More Thirteen and a half stone later…
I had an inkling that things may be on the right track this morning when I put a recently purchased shirt on and could sit down in it without the waist tugging for the very first time. It’s a really really comfey top – and one that I bought in a sale at Debenhams for … More Sayonara 13 Stone
I’m waiting for 5.20. It’s almost 4pm. It’s been almost 4pm for about three or four hours. Or thereabouts. Maybe that’s just me being impatient. 5.20 is taking its time but it will (probably) arrive eventually. I don’t normally sit around drumming my fingers waiting for things – but I’m excited. When 5.20 finally arrives I’m … More No songs or Northerners
Something that’s surprised me lately is how I have begun to react to disappointment. I could easily have been criticised in the past for using failure as an excuse to give up. I also actively shied away from competition of any kind because I knew how I felt when I lost. It left me feeling diminished … More Determined
Day two of ‘operation salad’ is in effect and so far things are going very nicely, although last night I found myself to be incredibly peckish which was annoying. As well as trying to eat significantly less calories this week I’m also trying to eat less in terms of portion sizes. Usually this makes me … More Sixteen inches smaller
Today is a complete first. Since April 16th I’ve not slept properly on a Friday due to worrying about weighing in on a Saturday – but last night I had Primo Grade A Five Star Excelsior Class Luxury sleep (with bells on)! I woke up this morning feeling absolutely smashing and have been dancing around the … More Nine and a half stone gone
Although it’s a bit of an extravagance sometimes a film is sooooo good that it’s worth seeing a second time. Star Wars: Rogue One is (for me anyway) that film. Today was also doubly exciting because its the first time in quite a few years I’ve been to an IMAX screening of something – and it made my second … More Rogue Two
When I look back on 2016 I’m going to have extremely mixed feelings about it. Most of my blog posts so far have been about personal change and how I’ve been trying to turn my life around – but tonight it’s not. I never saw Star Wars at the cinema. When it came out my family … More Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?
Despite the dire weather warnings and promises of storm fronts ruining Christmas today has (so far) been quite nice! When I awoke this morning without a hangover (because I no longer drink) and without a sense that my trousers wouldn’t fit (because I’ve lost lots of weight) and without guilt (because I only ate virtuous … More Christmas Swanlings
As is now customary for a Friday my routine today has mostly revolved around quietly stressing about whether I’ve done enough to lose weight on Saturday morning. For this reason alone I don’t think I’ve slept properly on a Friday for about nine months. I’m always like a cat on hot bricks – simultaneously wanting … More That’s no moon…it’s a space station!
Rather then head for a walk in familiar territory today I decided to go closer towards where my friend lives in Coventry. I’ve never walked around Memorial Park before – but I have to say having done so today I’m a little bit in love with it. When we arrived the sky was still a bit grey … More Memorial Park
I love a slow burning film. No Country For Old Men style plodding noir is something I can get completely lost in. You have to be in the right mood for one though, and I woke up today feeling refreshed and ready to meet the world on my own relaxed terms. I wanted to go on a … More The Dalek and The Electric
It’s not my kind of weather today. It’s sunny and there aren’t many clouds in the sky. I know for most that this is the rare side of the British weather that they look forward to and wait all year for. To me it’s nothing but a long sweaty, burned and uncomfortable challenge. My motivation … More Walking in the real world
Well so far my reformed approach to portion control hasn’t been awful. I’ve been drinking the recommended volume of water, and becoming intimately familiar with visiting the toilet as a consequence. If someone asked me how I feel today the only (flippant) answer I could provide is ‘flushed.’ Last night (as planned) I started weighing … More And the water!
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way (no self deprecating pun intended). I lost weight. Yay! 2.5lbs according to the Slimming World scales. This means that I’ve lost 8lbs in total – so I’m on my way to my first stone and have passed the half way mark. Honestly I’m trying … More Nerd approval
I feel like there’s a snooker ball in my sinuses. I dont do ill very well, and I am exasperated that I can’t sleep at the moment. Every time I lie down it feels like my eyeballs are about to explode and its not a pleasant sensation. Whilst hoovering the other day I found two ‘Vocal … More Happiness is the way
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
While its absolutely great coming to terms with loads of heavy stuff in life and embracing change, its also nice to have a couple of days where you just begin to remember what the world is like when its uncomplicated and filled with family and friends. After some spring cleaning my house is now a nice … More Cleaning and Batfleck
