I Passed!

It's Saturday 5th February, just around 9.30am and I'm here in my usual Starbucks currently filter coffee-less as it's not ready, I've already stripped my bed, put a wash load in, jogged for an hour, food shopped ingredients to make spag bol tonight and now I'm here eager to chat to you! Mr Regular has just asked if I'm the next J K Rowling, I've promised to buy him a coffee when I publish!

Tuesday was MOT day and I got to the garage at 7.25am only to discover another car in front of me! How dare they! Garage doesn't even open until 8. Around 8, the owner came over to tell me that there had been a breakdown on the bridge and the tester was stuck the wrong side of it with no idea when he would make it over, sod's law. Still, an hour and a half later I'd passed! Such a relief as it failed last year and lets be honest, it's getting on a bit now. The only thing that needed tweaking was a rather apologetic squeak which was supposed to be the horn. G very kindly then did a service and in total, after 5 hours, it was running like a dream.

Last weekend I uploaded around 40 DVDs and Cd's onto Amazon to sell. I've sold two DVDs so far and it was so exciting and so much less boring than doing a car boot sale and I feel better for de-cluttering, even if it was only by two DVDs!

The plant that can't be destroyed, also known as; honeysuckle, has new, pale green, Fleur De Lis shaped shoots sprouting from where it was savagely, (and deservedly,)cut down to last summer and it's making a break for the top of the patio wall as we speak. It never ceases to amaze me. Speaking of the patio, it's in a pretty dire state, it's been left to it's own devices for too long and needs gutting really.

I've been driving myself nuts every evening this week, trying to perfect an "opposite" triple barrel sliding knot. I can do a triple barrel knot on a bracelet but can't do the opposite and essential one! It's like trying to do the hardest cryptic crossword and I hate cryptic clues, my brain just doesn't work that way. Anyway, I will perfect as I think the friendship bracelets look better with the triple knot... watch this space.

Work was not great, I was only in for three days this week and expected them to be easy breezy. Instead, I returned to work and got thrown in at the deep end picking up the pieces of a sickness absence since early Tuesday. By Thursday I was feeling unappreciated and on Friday, one of my friends provided "stress relief," in the shape of a bottle of pinot gregio, my friends know me so well.

Thursday I donated blood successfully, first time since last May as my iron is usually too low to spare any. Speaking of which madam, you need to include some of the following in your diet if you don't already do so; http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/healthy_diet/iron_rich_food.htm

I only jogged for 10 minutes on Wednesday as arms and legs felt heavy and uncooperative, I gave myself Thursday off due to blood donation and I gave myself Friday off because, well, it was Friday. I was however up at 6.15 this morning and I managed an hours jogging before disaster struck and iPod became unresponsive, didn't have time to investigate so need to sort and hopefully fix on my return home.

I've started doing "the plank" every night as my arms, never that impressive in the first place are starting to look like two pieces of wet string hanging by my sides, and I want them to look strong and shapely ready for summer! Also doing press ups against the wall and yes...I have headbutted the wall a few times.

Do you get The Biggest Loser US over there? I love the trainers Bob and Jillian but I lurve Bob. Bob's website; www.mytrainerbob.com is packed full of useful information and brilliant videos demonstrating exercises and correct form. I've visited the site quite a bit this week and there are lots of interesting articles and form tips, I'd love for Bob to shout at me in a gym one day. Back to The Biggest Loser and I do of course have my favourites, I think we're on Season 9 and I'm rooting for cousins, Koli and Sam who've impressed me from episode one.

I loved your email reminiscing about "the old days." I vividly remember T's Russian hair extensions and I truly believe she was possessed by the previous owner while she had them in! While I don't think this would happen to you, you have a high hairline and I'm sure you could keep it looking good during that painful growing out phase without the extensions, what other treat could you use the money on? As for me and mine, at present it's about 5cm past shoulder length with very long layers, I haven't had layers around my face this long since, well...can't remember! Also have a heavy, full fringe which I'm trying to cultivate a little as hairdresser got a little carried away on last visit and one side of the fringe ended up shaped differently than the other. Seems wavier than it used to be but maybe that's just because I don't have the time to blow dry and flat iron it straight anymore. GHD's packed up months ago and the new ones just don't cut the mustard.

I go to work each morning looking like a cross between Heidi and Hilda Ogden. Picture me having blasted head dry, dividing into two bunches then outwardly twisting bunches and pinning to top of head then applying woolly hat. I know... gorgeous. Thank goodness it's pitch dark when I'm walking to work, not sure what I'll do when clocks spring forward, suggestions on a postcard please. One morning, I also accidentally carried a clementine in my hat while I was wearing it, can you imagine if I'd been run over? The shame.

Anyway, I get to work and unleash the twists and I have 1970's Charlie's Angels-Farrah Fawcett hair going on. It's unpredictable and sometimes I unpin, shake and think oh dear but hey, who's looking? I'm using Pantene Smooth and Sleek shampoo at present as it's doing it's darnedest to resemble wire wool, they really need to invent and release an industrial version for the folically challenged.

I'd better stop for now with the chat but I've had a ball! I'll be back soon, love you x