Well today I am at Matlock Lights in Derbyshire selling my stuff. An annual event at Matlock bath, a small town in a turn of the river Derwent. Every autumn they have lights, like Blackpool, with fireworks some nights. This week it begins so I am looking forward to that. Did most of my prep work last night.

Also today, off to my friend N's to help set up some shelves we nearly killed ourselves collecting from Ikea on Thursday. N. is a good friend who has supported me with my writing. She is so brainy and yet so down to earth. We like the same sort of books too.

I won't be checking in until tomorrow now, so have fun without me.

LLLC

Got a whole list of stuff to do today. I still have my IPR to write, I think I will do that first as I don't want to do it. Some phone calls, a trip to the PO with stuff I sold on Ebay. I am clearing my bookshelves and junk so I can clear my mortgage early, part of a big plan. Got a lot of cleaning to do, did two nights and the whole place has gone to pot. My friend is coming to do more gardening for me, for a fee and I am still going to do some writing as I have found that I can fit it in if I try. Finally I have been given a load of books for bookcrossing, so I need to register them to release them. Check it out on www.bookcrossing.com

So adious for now and have a good day, I'll check in tonight. Another part of the plan is to no spend hours being nosey in blogland.

WW last night and at last moving in the right direction. I have lost exactly half a stone in 21 weeks, not a good average, but better than nowt all the same. The points counting is easy this time around so I am hopeful that it will bring good results.
Swimming tonight and a long dog walk will also help.

having been on the receiving end of the results.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5389864.stm

having been on the receiving end of the results.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5389864.stm

having been on the receiving end of the results.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5389864.stm

My friend with mental health probs is much improved now they have sorted out her medication. She was almost a drooling wreck. They have stopped her morning meds altogether and the difference is amazing, like flicking a switch, and she had started to become the person I was friends with in the first place.

I haven't seen her for a few days as she is away visiting hr mum, this is the thing that triggered a look at her meds as she was not safe to drive. We had a run out two weeks befoehand and it was a white knuckle ride.

I haven't seen her since the meds were changed but her voice is so different on the 'phone. Not emotionally high,or low, just normal.

For the first time in ages I can't wait to see her.

Well I must have racked up a few points for WW this afternoon. I had plenty of time to pick Littl'un up and decided to have acuppa and clear a draw out. Unfortunatly when I looked at the clock again it was half past 3 and I should be at the school gates. So I ran. I can't say it was a pretty site but I tell you what, a few months ago I wouldn't have been able to do it, and even better, I could still breath at the end.

I am not by nature a runner and probably won't be getting into the habit. Always been built for comfort not for speed.

Not doing too bad with the points counting on WW either. I still feel bad that I am cheating if I have a choc bar, but I have only gone over my points allowance once, yesterday, so maybe things are onthe up.

I popped into Tesco this morning to grab a few items for Son no 2's lunch as he has work for a few days. No prob apart from the delicious looking and smelling bakery treats which I had to walk past. Cakes and cookies were calling like sirens, it was so hard to resist, but I managed. My WW leader will be pleased and so will my heart.

Woohoo, and what am I going to do? Not housework you can be sure of that. I have a little list of jobs that include phoning people and stuff, should take half an hour and then I am going to write 'til 12.30 ish, followed by a session in bed, asleep, as I am working tonight.

Just finished the first of the Earthsea cycle, A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K Le Guin. Wow, what an imagination that woman has got. I have read some of her sci fi fantasy and she seems to come up with new ideas all the time.

Started Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, a weight and word tome, second in a series about the settling of Mars. Easier to read than the first on 'cos it isn't all new.

Right,no more procrastination, off to do those jobs NOW.

So the first full day of the new way with WW. I plan food for work and thats Ok, I eat properly and to plan at home. I ge to wrok and there are boxes of chocolate biscuits, trays of sweets and a box of chocs.

I managed to save myself by hiding it all though I was hungry when I left and nearly succumbed. Just thinking about the choc bics is making my mouth water.

I am off to bed to dream now. Going for a swim with litt'un later while C goes weight training.

I had lunch with friends today and was very restrained. Had goats cheese tartlet made with filo pastry, very nice and I estimate at lease 6 points, but the spuds were boiled and tasty and the salad was just nice.

Not over run my points allowance yet, halfway through but working tonight so we'll see.

I put on half a pount this week, though i know why, I am cheating again and again. There are two sides to the WW diet. The first is where you count points for nearly all food eaten, I am allowed 22 points a day and is called Full Choice. The other side, the one I have been following, is called No Count. There is a list of foods that you can eat and not count and this includes sjimmed milk, low fat youghurt, most fruit and veg, crackerbreads etc and then you are allowed 21 points of naughties and more points if you excercise.

I thought this would be good for me because you have don't have to count rice and pasta or spuds. Only I find I want ot eat more naughties than the points allowance allows.

I got to 7 lb loss ages ago and now am hovering there, putting some on, losing some. Of course the diet would work if it wasn't for me.

Anyway, I have changed the way I eat and think over the last three months and have decided to go points counting. I never thought I would do this but now I don't eat the huge portions I used to, I don't eat a whole meal plus 3 snacks at work and I am more likely to go for an apple than a choc bar, I think I am ready for it.

Wish me luck.

I had quite a productive day yesterday. Did stocktaking, which I have put off for a while. Finished clearing out my room which has took a week dut to all the rubish, and found my old IPR from last year. I needed it to complete this years and so i can get on with this years now.

Cleared more of downstairs too, an ongoing prject which I think will conclude in the next week or two.

Today a friend is coming to help with the garden, going to post some ebay sales and do a bit more clearing. I am out to lunch with my work colleagues and after that going to bed for a few hours as I am working tonight. Littl'un is picked up from school by the childminder on Friday.

Been doing some listing on Ebay as it was 5p day. Need the cash at the mo so worht the three hours spent. Got quite quick now.

Off to bed and sleepyland so I can do all the things tomorrow I didn't do today

Littl'un has her friend over for tea. In the past this girlie has come and said stuff like: 'Why is your house messy?'
So today, after a break of 6 months or so the first theing she says is 'Why is your AlWAYS so house messy?' I retorted that it was rude to menton the state of someone's house but she just looked at me blankly. Oh well, on with the vacuuming.

Regular readers of this blog may remember how my poor dog Sally, was unable to walk last week due to arthritis. The vet put her on some brufen like tabs and she is soooo much better. I took her today for a check up. She ran a mile ( or nearly) when we got to the vets as she pushed past me out of the car before I got her lead on her.

Anyway. She is on one tab a day now and to see how she goes. She has certainly got her appetite back, her energy and boy can she run. She has always been fast but has slowed down some. I thought it was just her age, nearly ten. I suppose it is after a fashion but I am glad it was treatable. back to th vet in a couple of weeks for a final checkup.

I have come to the happy conclusion that I have so little time without interruption, that every moment I get alone I should go for the writing.I can always clean the kitchen, vacuum etc when the kids are here. This has been a big mental change for me as I have been spending a lot of time trying to get myself in order and in the end couldn't do anything until certain tasks were done. Now I am over it and I don't feel too guilty.

I have been working on a story that I started a few weeks ago, a romance really. I looked at the Mills and Boons site for publishing, but I don't read their books and they need to know what series it willbe in. This si the first time I have even thought about a proper publisher, so obviously I need more research.
I think I may have already written too many words for a M and B anyway.

This afternoon it I will eb sorting out the conservation group prog, writing my IPR and painting the ceiling in the bathroom.

After reporting yesterday that I ha 'lost' my big sci ci story, I had a moment of inspiration and looked on my laptop. It is there in all its glory. We have one of those network thingy's so if it isn't on there I thought it might be lost forever.

Going to do some writing today though feel a bit sicky.

may have to lie in a dark room and think about it instead.

I decided to take a look at my book today, one I started writing 6 years ago. It has turned into a science fiction epic of needless proportions and too big for me to handle. It needed plenty of editing, character development, oh and an ending. I had written at least 60,000 words and another estimated 20,000 to be typed in that I did by hand.

So I haven't looked at it for a while but had some ideas so today I go looking for it and it has disappeared. I can't find it anywhere and my technical whizzkid husband is a way. Hope he can find it or produce a backup or I will have to start all over again. Waaaaa

Been working night shift and so should be in bed. Not working tonight so can stay up a bit.

Littl'un is now at school, C at work, just Son No2 in bed.

Had a rubbish day yesterday. Little'un had homework to do and she was NOT going to do it despite bribery, breaking it down to small sections, shouting. My God. It was maths in 5 sections and it took all day to do two.

She should have done some on Friday but was tired, should have done some with her dad on Saturday, but they both forgot, so I got up early to get her started and it was as if world wat three had broken out.

Any top tips would be good.

I am alone with littl'un for a few nights as C is away on a course. He has not helped by being excessively crabby and moaning ALL weekend about little things that don't matter. He made littl'un cry at least 3 times and I did once, so I am no better.

Anyway, the break should do us good.

Son No 2 I hope will be going up to Manchester to see his mum.

Spent this morning messing about on the computer and packing stuff to post for various reasons. Spent the last few hours waiting for people to come and pick up plants offered on freecycle and cleaning and fitting baseboards to the units in the kitchen after the floor refit the other day. We are putting our breakfast bar in, it separates the kitchen from a back room that is generally used for washing and dumping stuff. It looks so much better.
C. is away in the week so I am intending to finish off the bathroom e.g paint ceiling and walls. Together we will finish the kitchen which includes boxing in, repairing and painting the ceiling following leaks from bathroom, now fixed, and some tileing. We srtipped out and refitted the kitchen 5 years ago so it will be nice to get it finished. The final area will be hall, landing and stairs and I think it would be nice to get a proper painter and decorator in to do that. This will be th final thing to do in the house, and the first time I have lived in a completed house since I started owning them 20 years ago.
Off for a nap now, working tonight.

Managed to get an hour and a half writing done today, most of it planning my current story but feel a lot happier. It's great having the table in my room to do this on, it is all I needed but didn't realise it.

1. (x) Smoked a cigarette.
2. (x) Crashed a friend’s car.
3. ( ) Stolen a car.
4. (x) Been in love.
5. (x) Been dumped
6. (x) Shoplifted.
7. (x) Been fired/laid off.
8. (x) Been in a fist fight.
9. (x) Snuck out of your parent’s house. (To go to Highbury HAHA!)
10. (x) Had feelings for someone that didn’t have them back
11. ( ) Been arrested
12. ( ) Gone on a blind date.
13. (x) Lied to a friend
14. (x) Skipped school
15. (x) Seen someone die
16. ( ) Been to Canada.
17. ( ) Been to Mexico.
18. (x) Been on a plane.
19. ( ) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire
20. ( ) Eaten sushi
21. ( ) Been skiing
22. (x) Met someone in person from the internet.
23. (x) Taken pain-killers
24. (x) Love someone or miss someone right now.
25. (x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
26. (x) Made a snow angel
27. (x) Had a tea party.
28. (x) Flown a kite.
29. (x) Built a sand castle.
30. (x) Gone puddle jumping
31. (x) Played dress up
32. (x) Cheated while playing a game
33. (x) Been lonely
34. (x) Fallen asleep at work/school.
35. ( ) Used a fake I.D
36. (x) Watched a sunset.
37. (x) Felt an earthquake.
38. ( ) Touched a snake
39. (x) Slept beneath the stars
40. (x) Been tickled.
41. (x) Been robbed.
42. (x) Been misunderstood
43. (x) Petted a reindeer/goat
44. (x) Won a contest.
45. (x) Ran a red light.
46. ( ) Been suspended from school.
47. (x) Been in a car accident
48. ( ) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
49. (x) Had deja vu.
50. (x) Danced in the moonlight.
52. (x) Liked the way you looked
53. (x) Witnessed a crime.
54. (x) Questioned your heart
55. ( ) Been obsessed with post it notes.
56. ( ) Squished barefoot through the mud
57. (x) Been lost.
58. (x) Been to the opposite side of the country.
59. (x) Swam in the ocean
60. (x) Felt like dying.(came close)
61. (x) Cried yourself to sleep
62. ( ) Played cops and robbers.
63. (x) Recently coloured with crayons
64. (x) Sung karaoke.
65. (x) Paid for a meal with only coins.
66. (x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
67. (x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose.
68. (x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
69. ( ) Danced in the rain
70. (x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
71. (x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
72. ( ) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
73. (x) Blown bubbles.
74. ( ) Made a bonfire on the beach.
75. ( ) Crashed a party.
76. (x) Gone roller-skating
77. (x) Had a wish come true.
78. ( ) Worn pearls
79. ( ) Jumped off a bridge. (If I had done, I wouldn’t be doing this!)
80. ( ) Ate dog/cat food
81. ( ) Told a complete stranger you loved them
82. (x) Kissed a mirror.
83. (x) Sang in the shower. (Every day)
84. (x) Had a dream that you married someone.
85. ( ) Glued your hand to something.
86. ( ) Got your tongue stuck to a flagpole
87. ( ) Kissed a fish
88. ( ) Sat on a rooftop
89. (x) Screamed at the top of your lungs.
90. ( ) Done a one-handed cartwheel. (Hah! Couldn’t even do a 2 handed cartwheel!)
91. ( ) Talked on the phone
92. (x) Stayed up all night. Easy one, I work nights
93. (x) Didn’t take a shower for a week.
94. (x) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree.
95. (x) Climbed a tree that had a tree house.
96. ( ) Been told by a complete stranger that you’re hot.
97. (x) Ever had a one night stand.
98. ( ) Ever missed someone so much it still hurts to think of them.
99. ( ) Ever loved someone that you knew wouldn’t love you back.
100. (x) Ever been to a professional football, or tennis game in a stadium ground.
101. (x) Went hiking in the mountains.
102. ( ) Smoked a cigar.
103. ( ) Had a crush on someone you worked with but never told them.
104. ( ) Wished you had the chance to change your profession.
105. ( ) Ever cremated and kept the ashes of a pet you cared a lot about
106. ( ) Wished you could live your life over again beginning at age 21.
107. (x) Been baptized?
108. (x) Rode a horse (Just kicked by one)
109. ( ) Sent flowers to someone you never met

A few months ago my kitchen floor all bubbled up due to a leaky pipe. Well today it was replaced and it looks FAB.

Dead chuffed. We had a breakfast bar we removed to have the floor put down, and I think we will leave it up as the place looks so much bigger.

We fitted the floor last time, and did a reasonable job, but boy they did a better one.

My poor mutt, Sallydog, had to go to the vet yeaterday because her back legs were giving out. She had walked a bit funny in the morning and seemed a bit reluctant to move but then in the evening poor thing couldn't stand up. The vet thinks it is arthritis bue couldn't do a full check because Sally was so tense. She hates the vet.

Anyway, she is walking now and I took her for a short walk this moning. She seems back to her normal self. Runns rather than walks.

She is a cross between a lurcher and a terrier and mostly black, medium sized and stocky. She is very swift on her feet as a rule despite being ten years old.

Had a quiet few days, thankfully. Monday was spent running aroung after sons No 1 and 2. Yesterday housework, today housework, visiting sister in her new office and clearing the kitchen floor in time for the flooring people to come and re lay it tomorrow.

Been feeling a bit at odds again lately. Everything is Ok though, maybe just tired a bit. Time of month has a lot to answer for. My heart is just not in it, it being anything at the moment.

Managed to do some writing yesterday. My initial plan was to go to the library after dropping littl'un in after school, and doing some there. But it was not meant to be. An elderly fella got talking to me for an hour, and I didn't write a bean, though got out a book called 'The Idiots Guide to Writing'.

Still struggling with the weight. Still not sticking to the diet very well, though am trying most days. I think it is all to do with my general low mood and my innate inability to stick to anything for any length of time.
I have stopped doing the fast walking. Not stopped actually, just fewer times a week. I am still getting pain in my hip joint which is not worst wih excercise, and keeping moving is the best thing to do.

I am just not puffed out anymore, don't even raise my heart rate, and I can't seem to walk any faster. I pulled out some old excercise vids the other day and hope to do soem of one of them today.

I had a lovely start to the day today. Went out at about 9am and my gardens was covered with lovely spiders webs, all dripping with dew and making it all look magical. The atmosphere was helped by the mist which was lifting. I have come back this afternoon and most are still there, but not with the quality of the morning. I am already getting that autmn feeling.:D

No, not what you imagine apart from the need to remove clothing whilst doing hard labour.

Today led the conservation task of raking at Forbes Hole, areserve in Long Eaton. It had been cut so we raked all that grass in strips, or rows, for speed as there were only four of us. Must have burnt off a few calories.

There was a bit of a frog frenzy as the little blighters tried to get away from us disturbing them, load of toads too, and dragonflies over the small but perfectly formed meadow.

Now about to have a nice hot cuppa and check out my phone which I dropped down the loo this morning.

Yes, today is the first 'task' on our conservation winter programme. We are grass raking a smallmeadow on a lovely nature reserve in the middle of a small an industrial estate. The site itself used to be an industrial wasteland, but now is the only site of a particular dragonfly and has a large pond, loads of trees and some lovely wood sculpture. My favourite is the dragonfly bench whic when you sit right in the middle, make it look as if you have wings.

Hi Ho Hi ho off, to make my flask.....

Yes, managed to sit and do an hour and half of writing yesterday, mostly copying and editing scribbles on the current story.

I think I have come to realise that if the first thing I do is write, then it is done and I won't keep putting it off for the more important stuff, like housework, blogging and suchlike.

Managed to do a little more catching up on my business paperwork too, so that is a relief.

If I keep plugging away, will get there in the end.