Saturday, 1st March

St Patrick's day this month so I've chosen shamrocks as a theme. Somewhere along the line, there is a bit of Irish in me, although it is mainly Scottish and Huguenot refugees from France to Scotland, many hundreds of years ago. There is actually a family tree going well back and my family motto was the Latin confido, a very strong version of I trust. There's also some connection to Elizabeth I, but I can't remember what it was. Fascinating, but I don't have the time or patience to pursue such things and am happy to read the finished work.

I find it amazing to think it is now March. I don't really seem to be out of January mode yet. As to eating, I have been doing much better this week and seem to have lost 2 kilos in about ten days. I've had lots of seafood, and I'm told that really helps. I've been more attentive to eating so that probably helps too. LOL Today has been a bit scrappy, but I am well under points and have plenty for dinner which will be a BBQ. I might have one thin sausage and some bread and a pile of salad. My husband has others here, so I can't really serve myself prawns etc while they eat sausages, now can I?

Had my hair cut yesterday and a new colour and some blonde foils as well. Also an eyebrow wax. Looks good. Curly hair doesn't look as long as it really is, until it is very long.

The next thing to work on is some exercise. I would like to swim some laps and the pool is very close. However, I need to buy a cap to protect the hair colour. Excuses, excuses. While I was away at Forster, I tried swimming overarm and could hardly use the right arm. Even breastroke hurt quite a bit. I wonder if I haven't actually injured my shoulder somehow as well as the arthritis. Perhaps I'll just get a kickboard and use that. I still walk a fair amount but need to add some structure to that too. One thing at a time.

On second thoughts, I might not get that sausage after all. My husband supposedly had a meeting here of the organisation for which he is the State president. Only one man turned up and another that he brought home with him. It is now 4:15 and they are cooking the sausages! I've only just had lunch, or so it seems. Not only that, but husband is obviously very cranky about turnout. At least, that's what I'm putting it down to. I made some pointed remarks this morning about the courtesy of letting me know who was coming. Others haven't told him. I'm not surprised. I don't usually find a high level of politeness in the organisation. I can think of two who are lovely. The rest haven't heard the word "politeness".

Sunday, March 2nd

St David's Day, March 1, and here I am with shamrocks all over the page. Perhaps I should have a look for some leeks, Wales' symbol. (Later) Found a picture, so have added that.

I woke up to what seems like an autumn morning. It's lovely and cool and the sun is bright in a clear sky. Just lovely, although we still need some follow-up rain to last week's lot. We also really need a lot more just to fill dams etc. There are still water restrictions in place here. However, a relief from the humidity is great.

I have been keeping to points quite easily. However, yesterday wasn't as balanced as it could have been. This just fits in with what the whole day was like. A bit all over the place. I had a lot of fruit, which is good, but missed out on some protein. I also probably had a bit much carbohydrate, so the diet wasn't as balanced as it should have been. Better today, I hope.

I'm going out to a meeting just after lunch today. It's a planning meeting for the conference I go to in July. I've already made lunch, so husband has no excuses. It also means I can get home from church and not worry about what I am going to do. I don't think his mother will appreciate it, but that's just too bad. I've made an onion slice. The recipe has a base which is very similar to a pizza dough. I roll it out thinly and put on a well greased and papered biscuit tray. The recipe actually uses leeks (St David's Day again, fortuitously,) but they are too expensive at the moment so I'm using onion. Slice these finely and add some pancetta or bacon or ham. Yesterday I used some shaved lite ham. Cook till translucent and allow to cool. Spread over the pizza base, along with whatever fresh herbs you like. I've used rosemary, parsley and chives and they are all nice. Pepper and salt to taste. Then over the top goes a custard made with some sour cream, two eggs and a bit of milk. This is a very thin layer. It really just holds the onion together. It doen't turn out like a quiche at all. Cook for 35 minutes at 190 degrees. Lovely hot or cold with some salad. The first time I made it, I didn't have any sour cream, so I used some no fat Jalna yoghurt and diluted it a bit. That was good too. Now I make sure I have the extra-lite sour cream. I make the dough base in the breadmaker, so the whole thing is quite easy to prepare. This will give at least six medium serves. It could also be used as an entree where it would serve more.

Monday morning early, 4:15 am, March 3

The forward spies had reported that all was in place for the attack. Prior reconnaissance had allowed the plotting of the target with a high degree of accuracy, according to reports emanating from the highest level. True, there was always the possibiblity of something not going entirely according to plan, but then some "collateral " damage had to be expected in such a campaign. The troops from the homeland and from allies over the water had been readied. They had been waiting the word for some time and were eager to move. They knew their target was expecting an attack, even if he was not entirely sure of its timing. No matter what he did, it seemed inevitable.

The attack was launched. Wave after wave of bombers sped stealthily through the night and pinpointed their target with a high degree of accuracy. Defence forces reacted as expected and there were some casualties. Still, what did they matter in a war like this? It was only to be expected with a tyrant such as this. After repelling the attack as best he could with normal means, the chemical counter attack was launched. This was again only to be expected.

Notes from the frontline in Iraq? No. A description of the nocturnal war between my husband and the mosquitoes which have sprung to light after some rain. He is convinced, in his insecurities, that they lie in wait for him wherever he goes. At night they wait till he is almost asleep and then launch their attacks. He is convinced he is their only target. They don't attack me generally. Even with screens on most windows, this old house still allows them in. Last night he finally got up and activated the chemical zapper after I had complained that he was causing more disturbances in the new bed than in our old waterbed, as he tossed and turned and made sudden sorties from beneath the sheets to hit wildly at what he saw were hordes of the enemy, intent on persecuting him.

Tuesday, March 4

I was planning on adding to yesterday's entry, but Angelfire was so slow all day that I could not be bothered trying to do anything. I also found it diffucult to access friends' Angelfire journals.

Congratulations to my friend Bel who announced a loss of 1.2 kg this week, despite still recovering from a particularly nasty bout of flu.

I went for a long walk before breakfast yesterday and had two eggs and some fruit when I returned home. Despite the protein in the eggs I was hungry not long afterwards. Then I realised that the day was much cooler than we had been having and I had also done some exercise. I filled up with water and had more fruit for morning tea. I would have walked again this morning but my hip is really sore and stiff. I might try again later. I've just taken some Celebrex so hopefully the pain will go soon. Catch 22 situation. Arthritis needs exercise but sometimes prevents it too. I'm going to the shops later and will look for a swimming cap, probably a Speedo or similar. I absolutely hate them, but I'm not putting my hair with a fresh colour into chlorinated water. Who knows, I could turn out green or something!

I've been pretty good lately at measuring portion sizes. I've even weighed my good cheddar cheese and the shaved smoked chicken I had yesterday to make sure I wasn't being too generous in portion sizes or allotting too few points to too big a portion. I'm making risotto for dinner tonight and will add prawns and other seafood to it. It's so easy and yummy too.

Wednesday, March 5

I tried to update yesterday but Angelfire was slow and I gave up in disgust. Did some walking yesterday and also went walking around shops. I know it's not striding it out, but at least it's movement.

I made pancakes for dinner last night - Shrove Tuesday, mardi gras, Pancake Day, whatever you want to call it. I used my pikelet recipe, without sugar, and thinned it down. I made eight, a bit larger than pikelets and smaller than normal pancakes. Then I threw the rest of the mix OUT, so I wasn't tempted to use it and put butter on them when they were hot. I made a sauce with some skim milk and lots of herbs and a bit of cornflour and added prawns I had in the freezer. Then I served pancakes in a stack with prawns in between and lots of salad. Different and it was nice too. I have sometimes rolled asparagus in them and put them in a baking dish with cheese sauce.

I am not normally a scales addict, but I hopped on today and seem to have lost another kilo. Saturday is the day I have chosen for weighing so hopefully it might be more by then. Perhaps the extra protein really is helping. There's no way I could do something like the Atkins diet because I don't think it's healthy. Balance is important and it's not a balanced diet. I'm not cutting carbohydrates out, just being more careful and eating less bread and fewer rice cakes etc.

Doesn't seem like Thursday again. Babysitting again tomorrow. Husband is not now going to Gilgandra for the weekend. I think MIL complained that she would not be able to pig out at get to DIL's birthday party at the weekend. I could have gone by train but she couldn't do that. Actually, I had asked my friend to take me. I'm going out on Friday night to a meeting at Macquarie Uni by the Ancient History Teachers Association. That was arranged when I thought he would be away and I would be home for the weekend by myself again. Now he's grumpy because I am going out. The fact that he is very often out without me doesn't count.

I meant to add when I was talking about the pancakes: I cook mine on a cast iron griddle with a hoop handle which must be close on 100 years old but have used the electric frypan as well. I never use oil spray or butter or margarine on it. I heat it up slowly and then cut a potato and rub that over the surface. This gives a lovely shiny finish to the pikelet etc. When it dries out a bit, I cut a slice off it and continue. I never have problems with them sticking and have always done this no matter what utensil I use.

This is for a friend who's having a pretty hard time at the moment. I got it from another mutual friend. We're thinking of you. Hang in there. Love and hugs. Friends mean a lot to me and I am grateful to them. I know how wonderful friendship can be and how supportive true friends are.

Friday, March 7th

After some heavy rain here overnight and early this morning, it has turned into a beautiful day. I'm going to do some gardening in the back yard soon. Exercise points! Our whole backyard could do with a makeover but it's too much for me to do by myself. I outlined plans to my husband some time ago, but he swears he has never heard them before. The problem with his help is that it is inconsistent. He goes at things like a bull at a gate, then does nothing for three months. By that time, weeds have sprung up again and we have to start over. It's just like renovating our downstairs hall which he started at Christmas. This was unplanned and undiscussed and is still half-finished. I might push the hall cupboard in front of his TV chair. That might work. It's been in the middle of the lounge room since Christmas.

Took Miss Two to Softplay at Hornsby yesterday. She has always loved this and happily clambers around 2 metres in the air and slides down slides into the ball room etc. She learns social skills there too and how to avoid those children who are bullies. When shopping with her mother there on Monday, she had a nasty fall and split her lip. Gave herself quite a shock, apparently. When we approached where she fell, she asked me to pick her up. I couldn't carry her and my parcels, so told her to hold my hand and she would be safe. So she held tightly. She's pretty good with me, but hates holding mum or dad's hand. Very independent like most two year olds. I just tell her she is to do it and she does. Makes me sound like an ogre, but I find children do what grandparents tell them much more readily than if it is their parents. Mine were just the same. Kept the old ladies in the bus home amused with her commentary and questions. She also loves craft work, the messier, the better. She's quite good for her age at drawing. When she says, "I write," or "I draw," she means two quite different things and this shows in what she does. She sits on my knee when I do the crossword and draws little Arabic-like squiggles in each tiny square. No scribbling all over the page for her. She's also able to copy some letters and knows about 15 of them. Sounds as if I'd better start a new page, grandma's brag book!

I ate more bread yesterday than I have been eating and felt horrible. I felt quite bloated and also quite sleepy even though I had slept fairly well. I never know quite what to eat when I am babysitting. There is always food in the fridge but I'm never quite sure if Bec has plans for the ham, cheese whatever. I know she would feel dreadful if she knew how I felt, so I never say anything to her. Mya takes lunch to daycare on Friday and the two of them take lunch every day. Perhaps that was what the ham was for? Anyhow, all that aside, too much carbohydrate disagreed with me. I'm eating lightly today and have had some fruit for lunch.

I'm going out with my friend to Macquarie Uni tonight. Cheese, wine and nibblies to start and then a "swords and sandal" film. This is an Ancient History type film in the style of a spaghetti western. Much fun had by all as it is laughed at, pulled apart etc. Some of them are truly dreadful films, historically inaccurate and very badly acted. Some even have big name actors in them, but that doesn't make them any better. Tonight's is The Revenge of Hercules. I looked this up on the net, and even there it was billed as "swords and sandals," so it must be pretty bad. The leading actor now teaches opera, a fact which seems quite funny to me. Still, I'm sure I'll enjoy the evening and have a good time. I'm leaving points and room for a couple of glasses of wine too. It might be a good end to what has been an unpleasant week for many of us.

Monday, 10th March

Another weekend over and a new week started. It's cool and raining today, not all the time, but frequently. We still need lots of rain. I was reading that warragamba Dam went up bu 0.9% after all that rain we had a couple of weeks ago. It's the first time the level has increased in well over a year, but it wasn't by much. Farmers need follow-up rain to ensure winter crops. Drought isn't just a lack of water for them, but a lack of stockfeed as well. Rain in winter fills dams but does not produce much feed because of the cold. Anyhow, at the moment the water is running noisily down the drainpipe next to my study.

The film on Friday was good. It was a good evening overall, actually. There was wine and nibbles before the film and I had two glasses of red and a few really nice bits and pieces. Usual sausage rolls etc, but there were some middle eastern meatballs and some really nice salmon sandwiches and lots of cheeses. I probably had more than I should have, but not by much.

Yesterday I was wondering what to do for lunh where we now ALWAYS have MIL on Sundays. I often have salad, but that's what she has for dinner every night. She doesn't like this or that and she's not fond of the other etc. I have decided to please myself as I won't please her whatever I do. So I made seafood laksa. I use low fat coconut milk and the seafood and the rice noodles are low too. Hopefully the seafood cancels out the coconut milk. It was really nice although I think it should have had more chili in it. She ate it. She'd eat anything with prawns in it. She's really very gluttonous about them. Reminded me of her mother. When Nana used to eat here, here standard response to a meal was "very tasty, dear." She usually had little idea what she was eating and as she had lost most of her sense of smell, I don't think she tasted much. MIL was saying that she never had things like the laksa before. She's the same vintag as my mother. Now mum might not have had laksa till recently, she served all sorts of interesting foods and was an adventurous cook.

It was DIL's birthday on Saturday. A 31st as she missed out when she turned 21. It went from 2:00pm on. Come when you want and go when you have to. That would usually mean we turned up at 2:00pm with MIL in tow and left about 10:00pm. Fortunately, Mark was able to convince my husband that she would be better back at the hostel for her regular meal at the regular time, as her blood sugar levels have not been good lately. He also put most of the food outside while she was inside and gave her a cup of tea or water when others had fizzy drink or something alcoholic. I don't think she was impressed but husband told her at the beginning that he was taking her back early and he did! Till tomorrow, (hopefully.)

Wednesday, 12th March

Another grey day here, although it's supposed to fine up later. I notice how much everything has grown since we had some rain, not just water from the hose or bucket. Absolutely tumbled down yesterday afternoon and evening. Very heavy.

For those of you who read Trish's journal, she is having computer problems. Angelfire makes computer freeze when she tries to update.

Am feeling pretty rotten at the moment. I had some sort of stomach upset last night and spent most of the night in the bathroom. It seems to have eased, but I can hardly keep my eyes open and am still feeling rotten too. Stomach is still churned up. I think I might have to have a snooze later. I'm supposed to be going out again tonight to Macquarie Uni. Won't be leaving till 7:00pm, so hopefully I will feel better by then.

I had two fairly decent walks yesterday. Had smoked salmon at lunch and then went out for dinner and had fish. Don't think this was the cause of the upset, because I think it was starting before dinner. I had only a small piece and some bread and salad. I need to go out to get some money today. Payday and if I rely on my husband to get money, it could well be Sunday before he does it, although sometimes it turns up on the Wednesday just to surprise me. I have given up asking or reminding him about it. It seems to make him not get it. Now I just sit and wait to see how long he spins this out. So I'm now getting it myself. Could always do this, but he used to insist on handling the money. I'm tired of that.

I made curry with lamb strips the other day. 400gm of lamb. I had a little bit and gave my husband a reasonable serve. Because I cooked extra vegetables, there was enough to do twice with few points for me. If I feel OK, I will have some of the leftovers for dinner tonight as my husband will be out, (and tomorrow night). Curry alwayss tastes better after a couple of days.

Must go to the shops. I probably should walk, but I risk getting caught in a downpour and I really feel too washed out to walk. Looks like the train, although I have to walk to the station and down to the shops. Better get going.

March 17th, Monday

I have the feeling I have used this illustration before for St Patrick's Day, but I thought it was a good one. I still haven't found my weightloss pot of gold, but am working towards it. Wouldn't mind finding a crock like this one though. More money can always be useful. When I had a coffee in Ashfield today, there was a shamrock formed in the crema on the top in honour of the day. The cafe was actually operated by Vietnamese, so the shamrock seemed somewhat incongruous.

I'm exhausted today. I've been babysitting again, this time the 8 month old who is not used to my house or my portable cot. She had only a total of one hour's sleep the whole day. I did quite a bit of walking, pushing the stroller which is quite tiring and also held her while she slept for 40 minutes. The stroller handle is really too high for me and pushing for any distance makes my arms and shoulders quite tense and aching. All exercise I suppose, but I'm quite sore tonight.

Eating yesterday was totally over the top. Sausage sizzle fundraiser for lunch at church yesterday for the youth group. At least I drank water not fizzy drink. Then at night...pizza. A new woodfired pizzeria has opened up on the other side of the trainline to us. Husband bought a marinara. It was quite nice, but as I discovered later, quite greasy. My stomach really rebelled at the unaccustomed cheese and whatever else, and I had to get ou of bed for an hour to let it settle. I think I'll still settle for the pizzeria just down the road on the few occasions we do buy it. It's really great and people come from all over the city to buy there.

Tonight's dinner was fairly plain. I made risotto with a lot of vegetables, no cheese or wine, just god stock. Sort of counterbalance to the pizza. Then at the very end, I stirred about 50 gm of smoked salmon through it. Makes it feel really decadent for relatively little cost in money or points. Half a cup of raw arborio rice does the two of us with a lot of vegetables. It was really nice.

Am off to bed for an early night. Might take a celebrex tablet in an effort to forestall tomorrow's anticipated stiffness. I can feel it in my wrists now.

Wednesday, 19th March

Another lovely autumn day here, although it became quite warm in the middle of the day when I was out walking to and from Ashfield. There was a breeze, so that helped. I've done some walking everyday lately, but not as much as I would like and not as far as I should. However, I also walked around shops, so that was extra movement and I carried home more than I had intended to buy, so I suppose that required more effort as well.

Husband's birthday today. Didn't know quite what to have for dinner, so we had roast lamb which I know he really likes. I sprayed the vegetables with oil and they were quite nice. I had a minute piece of meat, and two small pieces of potato, along with several other veges. Dessert was one each of those small pavlova nests which work out to be .5 point each. Lots of strawberries and a small amount of Pauls Extra-lite cream. Of course, he picked the cream as "not the real thing," but by then it was on his strawberries. This is 18% fat as opposed to over 50% for the really rich, thick, good stuff which he would prefer. I overheard him telling someone on the phone that he had a nice dinner, but he made no comment to me. Men!!

Babysitting again tomorrow. They have moved, so don't know quite what will be there. I am told there is a park nearby. Mya loves the swings and would stay for hours on one if I pushed her. She was sitting in the toddler swing with the safety belt one day. I had stoppped pushing and she was hitting herself on the bottom saying, "Push, higher!" This was some six months ago. I don't think there are tennis courts at this park, so we might not have too many of the young, well-to-do mums with their sleek hair sitting just right, their designer sportswear and expensive racquets.

I find the news about what seems like inevitable war, terribly sad. There are lots of things I could say, but won't. I'm disappointed that we seem to follow the USA without a second thought. I am sure there will be broken hearts on each side, and I'm not at all sure that this will achieve what it's supposed to.

Friday, 21st March

Another beautiful day here, although the morning was much colder than most mornings have been. Real autumn feel to it. Just lovely.

I spent last night at son's new place. It's a townhouse with three really big bedrooms. He didn't arrive home till nearly seven and I couldn't be bothered coming home then. We had salmon steaks for dinner which I had marinated with a little bit of lemon juice, some garlic and some ginger. They were great. Accompanied by some salad and fresh homemade grain bread, they made a healthy meal.

Miss Two seems to have settled in to the new place without much trouble. During the day, she "received" a phone call from the monster who used to bother her at the old place. The monster told her he didn't like the new place so was finding somewhere else to live. She was very happy about that. She had been upset by the thought of a monster for quite a while. No amount of sweeping them out or chasing them worked. Eventually, her father gave her the Captain Feathersword sword which she had from the Wiggles show. She tickled the monster's ear and he ran away. Looks as if he's now gone for good. The joys of a very intelligent two-year old with an extremely vivid imagination.

I really must do some cleaning and housework. This house was fine for quite a while, but has deteriorated rapidly. Husband regards dining table as a flat space, therefore a storage spot. Lots of letters and papers are dumped there at the moment. Also need to vacuum an to wash kitchen floor as well.

Sunday morning, March 23

Cool and grey here this morning. I'd like it to be fine later as we have visitors for lunch. I would rather sit outside on the deck. I've made a tuna, egg and pasta sort of bake. Smells nice. It's not very inspired but I think they are the sort of people who will enjoy it, rather than something like seafood laksa, or couscous and Moroccan lamb. Who knows? I just hope they don't stay too long. I want a rest this afternoon.

I know that doesn't sound very hospitable, but I'm tired from yesterday. I have finally managed to get husband interested in doing some work in the yard. I spent a lot of yesterday, digging a hole for a new pond. I carted lots of buckets of dirt and more of water as we emptied out a trial run from earlier. I didn't actually carry any, but I moved a lot of rocks from an old rockery which is now overgrown by a briar rose. Some large ones were embedded quite a long way in the ground. Husband actually carried them, but I got them out and rolled them to where he could pick them up. This morning, I am stiff. My shoulders aren't too bad, but the backs of my thighs are very sore and tight. I'm never very flexible there and am much worse today. As this job took most of the day, I think I did enough to counteract the pieces of chocolate honeycomb that I ate. I surprised myself. I almost never eat sweet things like that. The chocolate wasn't very thick, so there couldn't have been too much fat in it. Loads of sugar in the honeycomb. I think I was looking for some extra energy with the heavy work I was doing.

I could use another holiday right now. We do have a week away booked, but that's not till the first week of November. I had a few days away with mum and sister last month, but that's the first holiday in several years.

I think Trish is still having computer problems. Haven't heard much from her all week. IE keeps crashing and freezing computer when she tries updating. I've had a couple of minor irritations with XP Pro this week, but managed to sort them out myself. I installed an updated free version of Adaware by Lavasoft. This I run regularly. It finds all sorts of nasty spyware etc which attaches itself to your computer as you surf the net. It can then be deleted. It's now reasonably fast and updates are readily available. It looks hard to use, but once set up, it's just a couple of clicks. Highly recommended. You may get a surprise to see what's there.

Friday, March 28th

I didn't realise I had neglected this for so many days. I'm back early tonight from babysitting. Son was home not long after 5:00pm instead of closer to 7:00, so I came home. Even got home before dark, but that's probably the last time this year for a while. Daylight saving ends on Saturday night and we go back to light mornings for a while.

I'm really tired tonight and looking forward to a good sleep. I did a lot of heavy gardening yesterday. Then today I have gone for one very long walk to the shops with Mya and also walked to the station again tonight. That in itself is almost 30 minutes and includes a very steep hill. I was up that hill earlier in the day with her, and also had another couple of longish but not so steep hills to walk. I went down a side street to get away from the noise of the traffic on Pennant Hills Road on the wayback. Fortunately, we were walking down it because it was quite steep. Only a rough grass footpath, so it was awkward walking. Every so often she would stand in front of me and want to be picked up. There's no way I can carry her for any distance, so I don't do it at all. Then I had to find something to distract her for another couple of hundred yards. When we returned home, she slept for well over two hours, which was a good break for me.

I told Mya that Moo,(my mother) and Margaret, my siter were on holiday at the beach. She asked if Moo was making castles with a bucket and spade! Mum turns 83 next month!

I keep forgetting to weigh myself in the morning, so have no idea what is happening. I did notice that the bottom button on a shirt can now be done up easily, so that's progress. I have some work to do on some conference studies tomorrow, so will be busy most of the day.

More babysitting today. This time for the other two. I really felt awful this morning as if I was getting a heavy cold. However it was too late to ring and say I wasn't coming. Fortunately Andrew slept for an hour and played the rest of the time and was no trouble. The baby has been teething and had only twenty minutes sleep this morning so was exhausted. Sam put her down before they went out and she slept for four hours. I was glad I didn't have to struggle with her. I actually felt better by the end of the afternoon, but am looking forward to an extra hour in bed. They've booked me for more babysitting in a couple of weeks time while they go to a wedding.

Eating seems to have been all over the place the last few days. Probably over points, but also probably not by much. However, meals have been at odd hours and I have had snacks sometimes instead of proper food. As a result, I feel all out of place. Need some more structure and discipline. Something for next week.

Monday, March 31

Another month gone. It's amazing and sometimes I feel as if it is still January! Quite cool here today and rather wet at times. I had lots to do inside, so I was glad it wasn't one of those days like last week, sunny and crisp. At least it didn't feel as if I was missing out on something.

MIL swears she put her watch and clock right before going to bed on Saturday night. However, she got dressed and fronted up for breakfast, only to be aggrieved - there was no one there. She was early. I just knew she would get things wrong. I can understand her getting either watch or clock wrong, but not both. The clock isn't the easiest thing to adjust.

At lunch here on Sunday, she announced she was no longer going to have toast at breakfast. She's put on a lot of weight. What she really needs to do is more exercise, but that's a lost cause, even without the walking stick etc. People at lunch raised eyebrows when she said this. It's not the bread which is the trouble. She uses more butter on one piece than I would use in a week. Not only that but we had to laugh.

Breakfast on Sundays is the full thing - bacon eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomato etc. She ate breakfast before coming to church with us. Church was cafe style with tables, good coffee etc. There was fruit and she had more than she should for the diabetes. Lots of Danish pastries. I saw her eat four. She finished off the half muffin little Andrew left. She had a croissant with jam and cream when they came aroud. I took the baby outside because she was tired. When Sam came out later, she said MIL was then eating a hot cross bun. Then she came home with us and ate lunch! So she's cutting out her piece of toast.

I made a very 70s dish tonight. It was cool and I wanted something easy. Had all the makings, so we had that old chicken dish with the French onion soup, apricots and apricot juice. It waas really nice as a change. I updated it by doing couscous, asparagus and Roma tomatoes baked in the oven with a spray of oil, some balsamic vinegar and a bit of pepper.

Now I'm off to find something for a page for April.