Sunday 3rd August2003, 12:37pm

Week 23, Day 131

I am in possibly one of the best moods I've been in a while. And I owe it to my first weekend off since I started work. It hasn't been too lazy, but lazy enough. It's nice to be able to do things in your own pace, even if it involves cleaning and washing.

The last 10 days have been reasonably eventful. Last Friday saw Andy, Dave and Amit's old flatmate, visit us after returning from his wonders around Australia. Dave and I actually met up with him and his girlfriend in Sydney just before we left. Sadly, he has split from her since, but seemed in good spirits when he was in town.

We went out on Saturday night, which I was most excited about as I had Sunday off. We went to the boys' fave chinese restaurant, Wong's (but for some nostalgic reason they call it Mr. Wong's) and stuffed ourselves with delicacies such as Aromatic Duck Pancakes (Peking Duck), Pork and cashew nuts, Prawns in spring onion and ginger sauce, Satay Chicken, and the classic, Sweet and Sour Pork.

We rolled over to Mojo just up the road for some cocktails. Though the music gets a little too loud to be able to hear proper conversations with your mates, and there's a period where it's gets crowded, it's worth the trip for the cocktails and good music. I managed to hear Soulwax, Coldplay and get this, the original Kenny Rogers version of the Supergrass B-side cover called "Condition" - I was stoked!

Overly happy and sufficiently happy with our alcohol intake, we moved on to the Hi Fi Bar and it's funky beats. I was somewhat exhausted that day after a morning walk and then busy shift at work, so I didn't get down and groovy quite as much as I would have liked, but the place was pumping and I want to go back.

The following day, Dave's mother visited and the three of us ventured to Ilkley for a walk up to the Cow and the Calf (which is just a big bunch of rocks that look nothing like a cow or a calf). On the way back we managed to rumage through lots of foilage, discover a building Dave hadn't known about though he had been there many times, and then window shopped through the town. Dave's mother bought some Hershey's chocolate and we all agreed that the plain variety is absolutely disgusting - it's all in the vomit-aftertaste.

Monday, Dave and I signed up to L.A. Fitness, a gym in town, after I got a decent deal. Let the workouts begin! More on that later.

Tuesday saw me heading down to London with Les, the other training Assistant Manager at Nando's who will be working with me in opening and working at the Castleford restaurant. I slept most of the way down, and while trying to get to East Putney from Kings Cross, Les and I managed to take two wrong tubes, and arrived an hour after we should have. We had Chinese at the restaurant not far from the hotel (Peking Duck again!) before heading back. I was zonked. It also gave me time to ponder over the money I spent on magazines with Radiohead on the cover. Sad, I know.

The next day we had our Basic Health and Safety course. It was mostly boring but as I already knew most of the people there (they were at my induction when I went to London the last time), it was good to catch up and see how everyone is going with their training. As an introduction we had to write down three animals that came to mind. And then draw them. Apparantly the first is what you think you are (dolphin), the second what you wish to be (tiger) and the third, what you really are (elephant). Hmmm, the latter didn't fill me with great confidence until I remembered that the elephant is the most respected animal in the jungle, that not even lions will attack them.

That night when Dave picked me up, we passed by to see Cassie and Antony to wish them congratulations on their engagement! And also caught up with Si and Caroline there.

At work the next day I had to sit a test which I passed with 70/78 and as a result learned that if you get caught smoking or eating in the kitchen areas, you get fined £20 000, or get 3 months imprisonment. Nasty!

Friday was a shocker. After getting up extra early to attend the fitball class (and yes, I can still feel the effects of it) and shop at the markets, I spent most of my shift trying to fight a splitting headache from lack of sleep. At the end of the day, while putting through an order, the cashier I was at decided to malfunction. Then, when Andy, my manager, tried to fix it, the whole system crashed. Not happy Jan! So that probably puts in to perspective why I am so happy with my free weekend.

In other news, I have been accepted by the UK Social Security and have a National Insurance Number, and tomorrow am going to try (for the fifth time) to open up a bank account. Between my mother and I, I have also booked my flights to Australia so you can all expect to see me between November 12 - 20. I am making plans for a party as I type.

It must be said that I have been struggling with any kind of motivation to improve my health and weight. Though two weeks ago I was down to the lowest I've been for sometime now, I hit a bad week of craving sweets and plain overeating (so what's new?!). Why am I writing this at all you wonder, it is afterall, no one's business but my own what I shove in my mouth. However, I need to feel accountable for my actions as it will make me think before I eat. I am convinced that while other people in my family inherited horrible diseases and ailments, I have somehow picked up an eating disorder that is not widely recognised. I say that in jest of course, but it is partly true. I have an obsession with food that will never leave me, and while some people don't give a shit about what they put in their mouths, it is something that I will always have to keep an eye out for. Not just for health's sake, but because if I don't, it is very easy for me just to keep eating. I don't think I have the normal communication between stomach and mind that sparks up the light indicating "I'm full" when I've stuffed myself. And I think many of my friends will stand testament to the fact that I can be a porker when I want to be! ;) So in telling you all this, now I have to be honest with you and with me which makes things a little easier next time I reach for another slice of bread.

Ah, the mind works in mysterious ways.

My top ten of the moment...

1. The english words 'minging' and 'mankey' to describe disgusting and vile things.
2. Faux Jamais - thanks to Lauren at work who introduced me to the term. In the same way as Faux Pas, Fauz Jamais is used when you see people wear things they should NEVER have even thought about putting on.
3. "Shadow of the Hegemon" by Orson Scott Card - I don't think I picked up the politics in this the first time I read it and so, am enjoying it must more second time round.
4. Qadbury's Highlights drink sachets - Yummy hot chocolate (or toffee or mocha) that's good for the hips!
5. Markets - In going through my finances since moving to Leeds, I've cut food bills by half just by buying most of the groceies at the markets. And, the fruit is much better too.
6. English Heatwaves - They're just like a normal day back home. Awwww...
7. Swimming - there's a pool at the gym and I'jm grateful because it really does get rid of the stress when you take a quick dip.
8. Portuguese - The fact that I can maintain a conversation in Portuguese with our Porko customers.
9. Cooking - though food is my arch enemy, you all know how much I enjoy getting in the kitchen and whipping up a few meals.
And last but not least...
10. Kids - No I'm not getting clucky. But we've had a lot of cute kids come into the restuarant lately and it makes me smile when I'm able to make them smile.

x
Vanessa