72 Baps Connie

So, I was full of a cold the week leading up to Sister's party, powered through with the help of cold remedy tablets and balm infused tissues.  I'd been drafted in months ago to assist with the room decorating and the food prep.  Being knee deep in snotty tissues is not the best situation to be in when you're on food prep duty but Thursday was very minimal chores like making room in the fridge for the prepped party food so not too contentious plus I was covered in hand sanitizer.  By Friday, day of the party, I was doing better.  Not great you understand but not dripping into anything I shouldn't be dripping into.

We, (sister and grown up nieces,) converged on function room around 10am to decorate and make tired room look pretty.  We got creative with the table cloths, scissors were involved, and the aged DJ was already there setting up for the night.

After the dressing of the room ceremony, my eldest niece and I headed over to eldest Sister's for serious food prep.  I mean serious Col, we're talking 4 solid hours, standing up, buttering bread ready for fillings.  Lea, (niece,) was in charge of fillings.  I was spreading like a pro.  I defy anyone to butter bread quicker or more diligently than me.

Anyway, eventually, everything was made or stabbed (sausages, cheese etc.)

As I'm about to leave Sister's, Cousin messages me to say she's in vicinity and ready to head over to mine where she'll be staying after the party.  We converge at mine, I make tea and then hit the floor, literally, I feel like I have a dagger between my shoulder blades after hours of buttering and so I hit the floor, laying on my rolled up length ways yoga mat and then my extra long, (yes I have a long body,) foam roller to stretch out my back and diligently remove the dagger from between my shoulder blades.

Ten minutes later and my back is feeling much less dagger stricken.  We lounge for an hour and then begin to get ready for the party.

I decide to wear the Coast dress that I got on sale a couple of years ago.  I've only worn it once, for Sheila's last big birthday and wondered if I'd be overdressed, (I was,) but aimed high regardless.  (Looks great standing up by the way, forgot how short it is once sitting.)

Not going to lie, was dreading party.  I, as you know, am Switzerland.  I'm neutral, I talk to everyone in the family, regardless of whether they have been a total bitch to me in the past, and I temper that with nostalgia and an unwavering regard of 'family', or, at least the Disney version of 'family', which of course is completely fictional.  Anyway, regardless of my outlook, the rest of the family are divided into camps, for reasons too numerous to mention.

The party was as much of a car wreck as I imagined but... it could have been much worse and on the bright side, it's over with.

Party wrapped at midnight.  After goodbyes, dear BIL was driving and we set out over newly opened, (at midnight,) local bridge, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, in Europe.  History and memories were made tonight which will be with me always.

Friday Hell

It's Friday evening and I'm sitting here in a bad mood with a glass of wine.  I actually got to leave work early for once, (they still owe me over thirty hours back so I think I can leave an hour early.)  Anyway, it took me almost two hours to crawl 18 miles through incessant roadworks, all of my plans arranged around being home early have been shot to pieces and so I'm frustrated and annoyed.

Did I tell you I was going to apply for a new job?  Since the ad went out last week, I've been pretty laid back about it, what will be will be, if I'm supposed to get it I'll get it etc.  Time is running out on me getting my application in and this morning, I woke with the thought... I need this job, this is supposed to be, this could literally change my life.  I'm not talking mega changes you understand, just small ones like, if you need a doctor's appointment, you don't have to wait six weeks to get one so that it fits in with work.  I won't need to get up at 4.26am, five days a week.  I won't have to drive through snow risking life and limb if I don't have to.  On days I work at home, I would be able to visit Everly for an hour on my lunch on the day's that Jan has her.  I won't be too exhausted to do anything, on my evenings or on my day's off.  I can do a proper workout because there will be spare hours in the day.  There is a lot banking on this new job.  Which isn't great is it?

Sweat and Stuff

I work on the 9th floor and Pete, my manager, young family man, started taking the stairs a couple of weeks ago and so I took his lead.  Colleagues are always 'popping out' for breakfast or a smoke in work time and so I decided, for the good of me and to benefit my employer, I too would start having mini workouts, also very concerned about invisible visceral fat.

Two weeks in and I'm aiming for two or three times a day, down to the ground and back up to the 9th.  I'm still fine running down all 9 floors and still panting my way back up to the 9th. My thighs, to the touch, feel like they're made of iron and the scale is going up but surprisingly, I feel like my work pants are looser.  

Despite the added poundage and the iron thighs, I'm convinced that the visceral is melting, and so... I shall continue with this regime.  What the hell, it's cheaper than the gym.

Today is Sunday.  I met Carol this morning for coffee, we're like therapists for each other, thank God.  We both believe that people are in each others lives for a reason and we appreciate each other and don't take anything for granted.

Supposed to pick up Sue for coffee at 11.15 but she wasn't up to it, fingers crossed for next weekend, and then I met Lee at 2.  Been a good day.

I told Carol yesterday that I'd be pressed for time and we would need to talk quickly, which we have no trouble with and indeed, we did.  Carol and I have a lot in common and while neither of us are particularly religious, we're both pretty... spiritual?  Is that the word I'm looking for? We both believe that people come into our lives for a reason and we're both open enough to attempt to embrace it and go with it and see what comes out of it.

I could go on about this but I won't, not just now anyway.

Love you x

Miss you x