11/04/2011 by Aileen.

I think that’s the expression. Anyway, we had a great week with the grandchildren. I know I’m biased, but they are so good. They really entertain each other. Giggles all round. We have two three seater settees in the Swinton (don’t ask) and we put them close together facing each other. Three big blankets and they had a camp. Or an office sometimes. I thought their best memory would be The Deep, as they were fascinated by the sea creatures. But when we met mum and dad on Saturday they said the best bit was seeing Hop (film about the Easter Bunny) and the chinese in Mr Chu’s afterwards.

For the handover we met at the Rheged Centre, Penrith.

http://rheged.com/

Had a surprisingly good meal there, and sat in the sun while the kids played in the adventure playground. The previous week, we met in The Black Swan,

http://www.blackswanculgaith.co.uk/

and I was treated to a slapup meal for Mother’s Day. Life is good.

Monday now, and I have my usual New Week’s Resolutions. But this time I have a serious intention to slim. So has John. I’m just under 11st 7 and it’s too fat. I’m living in stretchy trousers. A while ago I went through all my clothes and put away the ones I can’t get in to. Well, I’m going to get into them soon. I don’t intend to buy a whole lot of new summer clothes when I have some perfectly good ones hanging up in the spare bedroom.

Still haven’t bought my sandals. Think I mentioned that the ones I live in are coming unstitched, so I’m having to wear smarter ones when going out in case they break. I did look for a replacement in Sheffield, but I don’t know the town well enough and couldn’t find a good shoe shop. In the end I bought a quite high pair of open toed heels, but I still need SANDALS. So that’s on my list, but probably not for this week.

John has ten clients this week. Think that’s the highest ever. He has two a day, so we can’t ‘do’ anything together. Well, I mean we can’t go out anywhere. Gardening is high on the agenda. At last I’ve got myself psyched up for it. I’ve cut all four grass sections and wed and fed them. John’s powerwashed the top patio, and weeded this section along the north side of the house that we never use, so are inclined to forget about it. The side along the south is used as garden access, and I have my eye on it. There’s a narrow strip of earth there, and there are some violets growing again, but the hebes seem to be dead. Nettles doing well though!

The gardeners have cleared one of the three slopes out the back, and I’ve gone for a yellow and red theme there. That’s cos there are orangey daylilies there already, also alstoemaria if it comes back, and I think some irises. A lovely creamy rose too. And at the back is a wisteria, so hopefully that will survive. There’s lots of muscari out at the moment. Daffodils on their last legs, but some nice tulips (although I don’t like tulips particularly) Anyway, when I said I’m going for a yellow and red theme I mean to have little bits of blue there too, as a contrast. I’ve bought and put in some baby daylilies in a gold colour, yellow potentilla and doronicum, and orange geums. Still need to put in some pulsillata and a white rock plant whose name escaped me at the moment.

This woman who’s meant to have really unusual plants in her nursery came round, and is meant to be bringing round ten to twelve shrubs to put in (she said perennials were hard work) but she hasn’t been back and that was well over a week ago, so she’s toast. I’ll get my own ordinary shrubs.

Well, yesterday I finally planted up two large tubs for outside the french windows. Centrepiece of butterfly plant (for the butterflies!) surrounded by three pinks (for the smell) and three trailing ivies. Think I might have crammed too much in. We shall see. Today, I need to finish weeding the veg plot (started it with the kids last week) and put in my King Edwards and Charlottes. Hope they behave better than Basil and Rosemary when they shared a bed.

Bye, foks. Will upload some photos soon.

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04/10/2010 by Aileen.

And I mean that with a vengeance. I had a great day yesterday, fine-tuning the church website. You wouldn’t notice much difference, but I was experimenting with margins and padding, and getting to grips with what ‘collapses.’
Anyway, far too much sitting around, and when I weighed myself this morning I was 11st 9oz. I think that’s the heaviest I’ve ever been. I don’t particularly want to diet, but I intend to up the exercise. (and cut down a little on food) After all, weight depends on calories in and calories out. It’s as simple as that. (Simple to understand, not to put into practice)
Anyway, quick dance round the house for the housework this morning. Then, I know I’m soft, but John wants me to accompany him to the dentist in Hull for 11.30 (he’s having extensive treatment at the moment getting implants rather than a plate) So I shall probably hang out in the library for the hour and a half. Dare I treat myself to a latte? Maybe too fattening.
In the afternoon if we don’t go for a cycle I’ll go for a brisk walk of at least half an hour. I reckon half an hour’s exercise a day should lose me at least a pound a week. Not bothered about losing weight any quicker. I’d rather change my lifestyle.
This evening it’s Viewfinders, and it’s a practical session, photographing glass. I’l have to run around the house looking for objects to photo. A few more calories off by doing that.
Think I’ll post my weight up here each day to shame myself into losing it.

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03/04/2009 by Aileen.

Well, I only lost half a pound last week, but two and a half this week, so that’s ok.

Nice lunch last Friday with Creative Writing group, interesting talks on Photoshop at Viewfinders on Monday, no Birding this week as it’s Easter hols, last digital photography course which was too easy, but I knew it would be before I started.No Creative Writing this morning as it’s Easter.

Just as well as I was really sick during the night. Couldn’t actually get sick, but was retching and was sweating.We’d had a take away curry and red wine, but John was fine. I’m a bit washed out now (12.20pm) and have done nothing today. Well I was awake a lot last night, and didn’t wake up until 10am this morning. This is so not like me. I don’t ‘do’ sickness.

I’ve got a new project on the go… In Second Life I know the basics about making clothes, hair, and scripting, but it’s possible to make complicated things using only one ‘prim’ (Building block) You need to learn how to make 3d models - the sort that are used for video games etc. Well, I downloaded two free programmes - Wings 3D and Blender.

I had to give up on Blender temporarily, as it’s such a steep  learning curve, and I was getting the commands confused with Wings 3D. Also, I’m only using my touchpad laptop, and it’s best to have a swish 3 wheel mouse. Anyway, I’m getting along okay with Wings, although it’s much more limited that Blender. Also, Second Life only accepts objects that start out as spheres, so that’s probably limiting too.

Well, it’s creative, so I’m happy - only not today - today I’m sorry for myself. I’m getting a bit hungry, but not sure if I can face food. Maybe my darling husband will offer to make me something. (In my dreams)

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25/03/2009 by Aileen.

Blustery March morning at North Cave Wetlands. I’m attaching two photos. Then this afternoon I’m going to study, Slimming World this evening where I hope to confirm that I’ve lost 2lbs, and then maybe have fish and chips!

 View near North CaveWetlands

Redshank

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19/03/2009 by Aileen.

If we go cycling today it’ll be the fourth day in a row. And we will, only the sun has gone in so it’s not such an attractive prospect.

Had a lovely morning yesterday at a new Birding site (new for us) It was cold but sunny and my eyes were stinging with the wind for ages after. Here are a couple of photos I took.

Mute Swan

Guess what!

The best birds were the 17 ruffs we saw in the distance, and the most fun was getting stuck up to my ankle wellies in swamp. A few people managed to cross but others went round the edge of the field, and I had to opt out (gloop myself out) and join the wimps.

I’m really sleepy now after my Digital Photography course and shopping in Morrisons. It’s nearly 2pm so time enough to go out for a cycle. Ina way I wish John would forget, but I know I’ll feel better after it. I’ve only maintained weight at Slimming World for the last two weeks, so really must do something about it as if it’s not an incentive to lose weight I’m wasting my money.

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05/03/2009 by Aileen.

I feel like the secretary in that book, who was so proud of her high score at secretarial school. Well, I got 94% for my TMA (three poems and a commentary). I’ve had a super day. We looked at close up photos at the Digital Photography course, and I gardened in the beautiful sunshine this afternoon.

John is only allowed up for 4 hours a day, and he’s being very good about it, although he had four clients this week. He got himself a laptop for using in bed. That means we have a Mac, a PC, and two microsoft laptops in the house.

As I put on yet more weight this week I am really serious about losing it again. Well, I had a few chips tonight (with pizza and salad) but a girl has to eat!

Right! Now I have to do my writing for my Creative Writing class.I also need to catch up on reading (photo magazines, religious periodicals, library book on javascript)

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11/02/2009 by Aileen.

Just a bit ‘can’t be bothered at the moment. Had pleasant coffee with OU associates yesterday, and had good birding session this morning, but feel a bit odd. For several days I’ve been really tired and cold, and also ravenous so eating like a pig. So I put on 2lbs at Slimming World tonight. And I put on half a pound last week.

We’re going to Scotland for the weekend, so maybe that will help me snap out of my lethargy.

Oh well!

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21/01/2009 by Aileen.

… and a lot has happened. Yes, Obama is in! Hope it means a bright new future for the world. Some talk today about sorting out Guantanamo quickly. Great stuff.

On the home front.

Monday.

Really good talk at Viewfinders from a member who climbed a previously unclimbed mountain in Nepal. The photos were brilliant and his talk was so polished. A  pleasure to look at and listen to.

Tuesday.

Finished yesterday’s housework, made stuff on SL and attended an Obama party in the clothes I made.

Wednesday.
Best weather of the year so far at Sewerby Hall and the beach where we saw many different species including purple sanpipers. We kept hearing the g.s. woodpecker drumming, but no sighting.

Then this evening I found I had lost 2 and a half pounds at Slimming World. Last year I lost one and a half stone, but put back half a stone over the winter, so overall I lost a stone last year. I was 10.5 this evening, so need to lose 12lbs to reach my target weight.

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22/09/2008 by Aileen.

Tomorrow I’m 64 - nudge nudge, wink wink. All contributions gratefully received. M and F are taking me out for a meal to The White Hart somewhere in Oxfordshire. Poor old John is languishing in a hospital bed, so won’t be taking me anywhere. (Well, he’s taken me for a ride often enough) I have no problems about growing old - I see it as an achievement. I am in better nick than I was two years ago. On an impulse I joined Cannons Health club just before or maybe on) my birthday. I had high blood pressure then, and was quite overweight. (Just over what was acceptable for my height) I went to the gym religiously at least twice a week for a year, and really toned up, and got stronger. Then I unaccountably stopped. Well, I only really liked the swimming. Then this year I joined Slimming World and lost a stone. I still need to lose half a stone, but am just maintaining weight at the moment. It’s difficult to diet when I’m sitting round for hours and eating hospital food and Fiona’s lovely cooking.

My main problem is I have a really stiff shoulder/arm. Last summer I jumped from one wall to another in our garden, and half way across I froze. This jerked my arm and it’s been bad ever since. Yes, I know I should go to the doctors, but I keep meaning to do the exercises I got at Kingston Hospital physio when it happened before. Maybe tomorrow I’ll start a New Year’s Resolution for my birthday.

I’m going to have exactly what I want at the restaurant - damn the calories, and it’ll be nice to drink as I’m usually the taxi driver.

Here’s to another few years before I pop off.

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03/07/2008 by Aileen.

John went to the dentist yesterday and had a temporary tooth put in. It came out during the night, so he has to ring the dentist at 9.15 to arrange an appointment for (another method) I was going to treat him to a late birthday meal - only lunch at the Sandhills Garden Centre in Hedon - but I suppose he won’t be seen in public without his front tooth again. Men are so vain!

Why I have to go back to Hedon, about 20 miles away, is that when I went there last week to collect my coffee machine I chose the week the shop was closed for the summer holidays! I was going to ring beforehand to check opening times, but didn’t get round to it.

I think I’ve discovered why I can’t always upload photos to my blog. It depends on how I access the site. If I go through the shortcut on my toolbar I can’t. As I’ve accessed through my website today I’ll try to upload a couple of photos. Watch this space.

Nope. Didn’t work. I’ll have to contact the administrators.

Lost another pound at Slimming World last night. At least, I didn’t lose it there I shed it during the week.

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