Gym Habit , the extra belly a greyhound and an orange Rocha top

I used to have a regular Gym Habit . It seems to have slipped rather , to the extent that I now have an extra belly ( One ? Or is it Two ? ) So feeling energised this morning and not having managed to track the Mother down therefore scuppering my plans for coffee and scones at Kirkharle , seemed the ideal opportunity .

What a start to the day ! I managed to squeeze into my gear despite being a whole seven pounds heavier than the last time I did , so all well and good . I waddled myself in the direction of the cardio workout dept without too much trouble , and no they hadn't moved it and the changing area was just as ever , and the woman who cleans it just as friendly . But , shock horror , all the running / treadmill machines had been replaced . It was a higher step up for a start even just to climb aboard , and then , once up , all those new dials and buttons and attachments and things to clip on your t shirt . I balked at the idea of seeking out a member of staff . memories of my last " consultation " when , though I had lost half a stone through regular and diligent attendance , the boy ( I use the word advisedly) whom I was allegedly consulting ( though him telling me off was nearer the mark ) , having noted that I was attending four days a week , asked was there any particular reason why I was not able to attend more frequently . I stared at him in amazement wondering if he had misheard me , but no , he persisted . Well , I started , I do work full time , have a house and business to run , and I do have a Life ! he just entered a small cross on the form he was completing ( probably short hand for Dead Loss or Stroppy Customer or Not Committed to Fitness ) .....At this stage I was also well under nine stone in weight and considered myself to be in pretty good shape ( albeit a little hefty ....) so when I said " are you thinking I need to excercise more , lose weight perhaps , his stare said it all. I am guessing his target weight for me was somewhere in the region of seven stones .

Suitably energised by the exercise , I head for Debenhams . I have to report that the mirrors in that shop both on the shop floor and in the "dressing rooms " are very flattering . So much so that I , who always tries on colours then buys an exact replica of my last top in either Black ( 70%) , navy (10%) dark brown(10%) or grey ( 10%) , purchase a bright Orange Rocha top ( half price sale) and then head for a Danish [Pastry and coffee . As I sit wool gathering and thinking my thoughts , I come to the conclusion ( a propos of my rolls of flesh ) that everyone has a Tummy really , its what you do with it that matters " Feeding mine , at present " I think to myself and text my sister to tell her of my successful morning .

Later , back at home , I started thinking Dogs again . Recently someone at work mentioned that Greyhounds can be the ideal pets . Once they've had a walk , apparently , they like nothing better than to curl up and sleep . occasionally stirring to find a warmer spot , but other than that they are placid and cuddly and No Bother . Sounds ideal
I look up a few rehoming old racing greyhound sites and find some very appealing pictures and get quite excited wondering then how I can sell the idea to Nat ( who wants a Pug after all ) and D , who prefers to stick with the four cats and , though flexible as ever , says he is not wholly opposed to the idea of a dog as long as it will leave him alone when working and won't fight to get onto his desk the way the cats do .

I text him to let him know I have written a couple of e mails to rescue sites , and get a reply back when he is released from court for a break whilst the barristers squabble amonsgt themselves . He reminds me that though he will come around to the idea of a greyhound , he is less sure of Kitty's response and I remind him that Kitty does in fact like a challenge and that she had adjusted very well to his own presence after a few initial skirmishes over territory and house rules " You feed me whenever I ask or there's trouble "

No reply to my e mails yet . But there are wonderful greyhounds galore , all with trendy names like Diesel and Cher . I am slowly becoming obsessed . Of course they will need to be " cat tested" first but so far so good .

swarming Birmans ...and Kitty

The cats were swarming yesterday from my first appearance on the landing , where for some reason all four of them were lying on their backs taking the sun ( not that the sun was much in evidence ) . Running the gauntlet to the bathroom is no picnic as they all shift slightly as you pass and Jessie is capable of sticking a paw out to grab the dangling dressing gown cord or a passing toe just for the hell of it .

And by breakfast time , they are all gathered in the sitting room taking swipes at each other , rolling and tumbling and squabbling like demented cocker spaniels only quieter . They dont bark and groan and grumble at each other , but they do snuff and heavy-breathe as they nip and push .

And then finally , and unusually , they all decide that D's desk is the place to be .

Enlarge the shot to get a closer look at Kitty's face .....

( photo courtesy of D . Still no laptop . )

naked

Its wonderful to come home to

-an empty house - for once that is ! The tv is blaring as I walk in at 6 , as usual , though as I check all the rooms I realise , yippee I have the entire house to myself . Not that it isnt lovely most days to come home to find it occupied and ( usually ) dinner bubbling away somewhere in the background . But oh how nice for a change to come in , switch tv off ( why was it left on ? ) , and then pick up Nigella Express and start cooking .

- Nigella . What a thing it is to set in motion pork chops with a mustard sauce , get everything simmering then realise that thanks to Nigella there is a half bottle of dry cider sitting on the side juts waiting to be knocked back whilst e mails and blogs are checked ! Bliss.
And tomorrow is another Nigella night , and the planned recipe involves a bottle of dry white wine , so guess where at least a glass of that is going , as the cooking takes place . As you see I'm not a habitual drinker ( anything to avoid migraines ), so even a little bit gets me excited these days

- Lots of updated blogs , all waiting to be caught up on
and
finally
- A tele[phone call from John Lewis who Ive been chasing all week , to say they will start hassling the laptop company if it doesnt arrive tomorow , which theyre half expecting as they have a delivery due . This is the best news of all .
My blogging and photos will be so much easier .
Im sure I won't feel half as gloomy as I did , for example this morning , with no real reason .

And why is this post entitled naked ? Cos thats supposed to draw in loads of readers .
Ill keep you all posted !

When I was away ...

Jess and Pearl , fed up , allegedly by my absence . Taken by D ......

Without my laptop , its harder to put pictures on . Without my laptop ? Where is my laptop ?

A battered pound puppy

Found this morning . One battered pound puppy . The cats carry them around and treat them alternately like treasured kittens , or offending rodents . Take your pick .

Looking for the possible beach hut ....

To Holy Island again , this time in search of a possible beach hut . Sally , who does my acupuncture , told me her friend made a beach hut at Holy Island out of wood and assorted debris ( she s an artist ) , and English heritage came and took it down . then she built one from stone , and its been allowed .

We did also harbour a longing to see the causeway to the island flood over at High Tide , so checked the tides accordingly , and spent an hour at the island collecting crinoids ( as ever ) , then searching out , but failing to find , the alleged beach hut . We clearly need better directions . I was panicking too in case we were stranded , but even though we left after the safe time , there was no sign of water . As it looked like we would have to sit there waiting for the water for another hour , we retired to the hotel up the road for a coffee , and drove back , as we thought , with ample time . But , amazement ... the water was right across the causeway and had we been five minutes later we would have missed the entire spectacle .

The little boy in the photo right happily flew a kite and paddled in the water throughout , loving the way the water washed fast past him across the road .

There was no seals audible today . Everything silent save the bird cries .

Speed Fiends

Either I still have Immigran or Syndol in my system , or I am so laid back by the ending of the Day Job for the week . Whichever , I sleep again until the alarm at seven forty five . Well rested , I feel somehow that I have missed some of the day , slept the time away . No matter that given half a chance , or even quarter of a chance I will happily lay down my head wherever I can and sleep an hour or three , afternoons , early evenings , whenever the chance arises . But , in the mornings , it seems something has been wasted .

Still no laptop .


I fret this morning about the car .
The lettter from the Speed Fiends course ( organised by Drive Tech , and properly named a Speed Awareness Course ) makes it clear that those arriving late will not be admitted , indeed those arriving unfit to take participate properly by way of excess alcohol or drug consumption , will likewise be sent away and their file returned to the Police Authority . And the dreaded points added to the licence , no doubt . Thus , my agitation about being held up in trafic , getting lost ( despite checking the route yesterday ) etc etc , is increased last night , when , attempting to do a cat call at seven pm , the car will not start . A follow up to having to call out the AA a couple of weeks ago , pre Edinburgh , when it failed as I was driving . A coil pack , I am told , but no evidence for which one . Keep going till it happens again . And here we are , the night before Speed Fiends and its going to drop dead right when I need it most .
I turn the key enough times to flood the engine , decide to abandon it and push it out of the way so we can take D s car to the CatCall , and , one last turn and it takes off.

And , miracles , it starts first thing this morning , and due to my Lateness Anxiety Issues , I arrive at Speed Freaks with a good fifteen minutes to spare . I have brought a novel to read in the car , but as I approach the parking area , there are two smartly attired men waiting to greet me , and advise me about parking . This is a nice touch as they are polite and welcoming and let me know that once I have parked there is coffee waiting . I decide to forego my fourteen minutes reading and walk on into the waiting room . Shock , Horror ! I am not first there , as usual at such things , but the room is almost full . Of men . Sheepish , embarrased , pink cheeked , smiling and glancing furtively at the latest newcomer . But they are all men .
I can't face coffee . I sit and the man next to me smiles . Hard on my heels another man joins us , and breaks the silence , chuckling " well here we are then , the law breakers" . I try hard not to giggle myself and start to look around . I cannot believe that all of these people have arrived so early , many of them look as if they have been there quite some time .
The two welcoming men introduce themselves and check out our ID all the time smiling warmly and offering drinks . I start to relax though I still wonder , am I the Only Female Speeder in Northumberland . And then oh Joy , in walks another woman , and , would you credit it , someone I know slightly through work , from around thirteen years ago !

We all file up upstairs to computer desks and a special tutorial is arranged for a man who has never used a computer mouse before . Much of the initial part of the course involves an interactive test , the results of which are handed to you and you can see whether you have problems with speed generally , thrill seeking , reaction times to hazards , concentration , tiredness whilst driving etc .

I come out with good results on everything bar concentration and this is accurate . I decided to answer strictly honestly rather than massaging the results , and have to admit that though when aware of speed limits I always do slow right down to the limit , my problems arise when Im daydreaming . On the day I was caught on camera , doing 34 mph in Haydon Bridge ( like many of the others on the course , interestingly ) , I was never even aware of the camera , which caught me leaving the town . And though my road tests where I had to assess the rights speeds and distances etc were fine , I clearly need to concentrate more and drift off less.
I saw from my fellow Fiends that some of them had definite Issues of speeding , generally driving faster than average , closer to other cars , and in the case of some of them, using the car to " deal with emotional issues " . Now there's a thing . ( I scored low on emotion , which apparently is good . probably accurate , I'm not one to swear at other drivers , except D when he is frightening me with his Speeds , but thats another story ) .

The time flashed past , and fascinatingly some of the men started to get a little stroppy by the end , challenging the facilitators on the letters from Drivetech , and critisising the way they had not initially been offered the course rather than points on their licence . These points were all handled admirably and as a trainer I enjoyed seeing how they were manged , with a smile and a confident response .
As we all left , I joked with M about how we would all drive off at a much reduced speed , but in fact it took me several minutes to get any speed at all , thanks to my dodgy coil . Dead as a dodo. How embarrasing ......

Later in the day , I feel minded to make Rocky Road , a Nigella cake/ biscuit item which seemed fitting .
And now Im gearing myself up for more acupuncture .