So, we are back home!
And it was back to reality with a massive bump. First things first. My lovely friend, Mrs Jupiter, has given birth very, very prematurely. Like...three months early - well, 28 weeks to be precise. She is far away from family and friends. So, I hope you don't mind but I am going to ask you all to conjure up positive thoughts for her, her husband and, of course, her baby.
I got an email from her this afternoon and, in typical fashion, it was full of concern about others. She is very much on my mind so, even though you don't know her - personally - she's a girl who has overcome the big 'c', she understands all about our battles with food so please just think lovely, positive thoughts for my faraway friend.
Second, and believe me, it's a long way down the list - is my work news. I got the job. You know, the job I found out about...oooh, months ago before the recruitment process even started! The job (and interview) I felt I had fluffed and almost pulled out of before they could dump me! Lesley alluded to it in her comments so it's time to update the blog!
I'll save the ridiculous drama details for another post BUT I start on Monday. My husband is also starting HIS new job on Monday. How did we work that one out? Believe me, it was so NOT how we planned it - in fact, it was the opposite. My husband's fears for his new job have been totally and utterly eclipsed by my own fear and paranoia so I think he is feeling a tad marginalised!
Ironically, I shall be starting a commute (and Peridot's comments about commuting and acceptance were SOOO timely!) that will eat up almost 5 hours PER DAY - yes, per day - of my time. Let's not even go there!
Third - I nearly closed down the blog! Yes, I really did. I began to feel an overwhelming sense of failure about dieting/weight loss. I began to feel that it really served no purpose at all apart from my online whingeing and whining. One of the reasons I began this blog was because I couldn't really find anything about life AFTER a VLCD. All the blogs stopped at the critical moment ie when they hit those really low BMI figures! So it was utterly gratifying to have a comment from a new reader. It really made my day. Thank you, Emma.
Fourth - I had the long goodbye with the hound. My husband told my mother that there would be tears on the motorway! Well, of course, there weren't; there were car sweets instead! Go figure!
The mortgage - or, to be more precise, remortgage. Let's just say our bank - which boasts amazing customer service - has completely and utterly messed up our remortgage application. We came home a day early to sort out the paperwork to meet our August 1st deadline. Was the paperwork here when we got back? You already know the answer! In the great scheme of things, it SOOOO doesn't matter but it's amazing how these small things have such A BIG IMPACT!
And finally, I don't mean to be gloomy but I have been obsessed by death. My husband started his holiday with the friend's wife's funeral, which was heartbreaking. Then, much loved friends have been worried about their own parents' future. Porkchop's father-in-law has survived his triple bypass operation but her parents' best friend has been given less than a year to live. And she is a victim of the NHS postcode lottery funding. I don't understand it but there are drugs that could help her but...the funding authority isn't digging deep. My mother's neighbour has just survived a life-threatening incident. Her life, literally, hung in the balance. This time of year is full of bereavement anniversaries, too, which makes it (the thoughts about mortality) all the much harder to bear. We played some music on the way home and I just found myself sobbing. A lot.
So, what would have been the good thing to have done in the midst of all of this? Go easy on the food. What did we do? We drank far too many beers when we got home (we are a total no drink and drive household), went to our local and then had a Chinese takeaway. Errr. Hello?!?!? No sympathy vote needed. I am just thoroughly p**ved with myself.
PS - we have sky+. It's fantastic. I was looking forward to all the things that it will have taped. Except my husband turned it off. Aaggghhh! xxx
Do. Not. Even. Think. Of. Closing. The. Blog. I'm having to do some calming deep breathing at the very idea!
love
Peridot x
PS You can e me at either address - obviously check the work one more though! But not in the office after today until Monday so won't be checking either account over the weekend.
Posted by: Peridot | July 17, 2008 at 10:59 AM
AND - good luck for Monday! Congratulations on the job. It'll have to be good (and lucrative) to make up for that commute - 5 hours, eeek! Is is in Paris?!
love
Peridot x
Posted by: Peridot | July 17, 2008 at 11:01 AM