Potatoes!

Yes, apart from the annoying, but curiously funny mobile phone message by Keith Lemon, I had a wierd experience after dinner last night.

Dinner was slow cooked stewing steak, with a carrot and onion, with a teaspoon of marmite in the stock for flavouring with boiled new potatoes. Yesterday I should explain was a fantastic day. Had gotten up early to start work and had really enjoyed myself tripping through the day. The extra milk thistle in the morning seems to be helping the shakes and vomitting feelings. Anyways to dinner....its one of my favourites. I love potatoes and when I decided, about 8 weeks ago, to minimise carbs potatoes, rice, pasta and bread all went out the window. The other half prefers oven chips and I'm not a big fan. So, I settle down to enjoy the meal. Well, by the end of Eastenders (which was quite dull by the way) my eyelids were getting heavy. I grabbed a snuggly blanket and stretched out on the sofa snoring away. I woke about 10.30pm and dragged myself up to bed. I felt foggy and drained. At some point before the alarm went off I woke up and I felt dizzy. 'Bugger' I say to myself. Still when the alarm goes off its hard to ignore the two dogs who want a wee and their breakfast. I will also mention the tom cat bouncing on me cause he wants feeding to. I think  used the word 'Bugger' a few times this morning. Especially when I realised I had to iron a shirt as well.

I drank a few glasses of water and did some slow breathing exercises and that seemed to help. I got a cup of black coffee and a couple of plain digestive biscuits. This helped even more.  When I got to my destination in London, after a fun trip on the top deck of a number 47 bus, I had an egg and beans. Feeling even better so I walked into the meeting feeling all bright and sparkly.

I can see a massive improvement in form from the begining of the year. My weight is going the right way. I'm sleeping rather than crashing. Mentally its been a bit harder. However, I seem to have turned the corner with that to. I'm not feeling brain fog and I'm getting a kick of the work I'm doing for the Olympics. I love a challenge especially when its something which has never been done before. Just for the record what I need to do to get stuff sorted for the Olympics is a peace of cake the real test is getting everything sorted afterwards. Everyone around me is only focused on the lead up and the main Olympics. I won't break the bad news to them just yet.

And its Saturday....

..woo hoo Hera woke me up way to early. She was also bouncy and wanting company. Jumping on the bed (Hera not me!)and waking the mrs up wasn't a great idea. So, if a fit of nervous panic I said c'mon we'll take the dogs over the field for a walk. Instead the mrs says nah lets take them to the woods for a proper walk.

Eventually, Mrs got up (I've never known someone take so long to get up) and off we went. Within a couple of minute Mrs has seen 3 deer. I missed them cause was mucking about with the dogs lead. The dogs tend to ignore the wildlife so any passing squirrels, rabbits or deer are left to take things at their own speed. We met a couple of horses and riders too. We're good dog walkers, we get the dogs to stand to one side and let whoever it is walk by. I make a point of saying hello and if we get a friendly response then the dogs are even more chilled.

The woods were a bit muddy and yes the dogs managed to find a few puddles. We met a bloke who just popped out from the trees. Bit wierd, I had sensed someone was there so got hold of Juno. As the chap was happy and friendly Juno made a cursory bark and let him get on with it.

We also met a couple of lads on bikes. I'm sure they weren't meant to be in the woods. Must admit I wouldn't have minded having a go on the scramblers. Ah joys of wishful thinking in old age.

On a more serious note. Today I heard someone commited suicide, from another of our work buildings, by jumping from a blacony. It happened during the day in front of people who were woring there. Scary stuff. bad enough seeing the people who get hits by cars etc crossing the lights in front of our building. I know things are rough for people at the moment but its horrible to thing someone felt that low and powerless.

Back to our saturday evening. Homemade KFC, chunky chips and a milkshake. Yum Yum

Da Joys!

Today we or rather I found out the department has had a stay of execution in the latest round of reviews.

Wonder how long they will leave us alone for?!

What have I been doing?!

Not a lot is the answer......walking the dogs on the beach. Which has led to trying to figure out how to stop Juno being such a grumpy/protective git. I've dug out the dog whistle and its seems to have the same effect as his vibrating collar. So we shall see. But just in case I'll be taking his muzzle with us next time we go out.

I've discovered the joys of a local meat wholesaler. Lovely meat at reasonable prices. We're still going to the farm shop but for the run of the mill week day dinners you don't really want to be spending loads.

We've decided to have a change of lifestyle and start eating healthier. Its hard!! But I've discovered a vegetarian shop at the bottom of Waterloo 'High Street' that does the most delicious salads. I've tried to other local to work cafes salads but they aint as good. The excellent salad even had pink grapefruit in it and I enjoyed it.....noting I hate grapefruit.

Glad everything seems to be getting back to normal in London again. Was horrible seeing empty streets and seeing shops close so early in the day.

Snot rags

Urgh I have the lurgies......really bad sneezing, coughing, wheezing chest....thanks be to whatever its a long weekend to recover.

The new manging director has issued a new bit of encouragement. Apparently with Retail its all in the detail. So we are being encouraged to go and challenge things we find wrong. Donkeys years ago thats what we used to do cause we had an immense sense of pride in what we did. The the big corporate took over and what we didn't wasn't good enough. Most of us are long timers committed to the job but without degrees etc. Now it feels like we're being asked to do more for less pay. Shame they destroyed the self created ethos when they did. But it does prove my research on the new md is correct.

Anyways cuddling the dogs and trying to feel better!

I'm spudgyin' back........

Ok, I deleted my other blog and a couple of weeks later am itching to write. The irony!

Life is fairly ok at the moment. I had a few months of my thyroid levels being low. Not fun...the pains, tiredness and anger issues (yes, I felt like ripping into people) were unbearable. I'm on a different dose of thyroxine now and its great. I don't feel like I'm permanently drunk and the pains in my legs have gone. Yes, it takes 3-4 weeks for the tablets to really level everything. Good start though.

I've set my potatoes. 3 lots in tubs and then 3 rows in the garden. I've also got butternut squash plants and onions on order. Still another patch of the garden to prepare for the plants. I'll post some photos when its looking a bit more organised. I've also been trying to re-grass the garden. Not the easiest with 2 large dog running round it.

The dogs are in great form. I've just had 11 days off and the bonding time was great. My first day back at work meant they sulked. Hera waited until I fell asleep before she decided it would be ok to have a cuddle. Minx woke me up!

Work is going on. Busy as ever. The restructuring is still going on but hopefully will be finished by the end of the year.