Month: October 2009

So Proud

Written by amanda on 13th October 2009. Posted in Things mothersome .... No Comments on So Proud

My children never cease to amaze me. I mean, I almost feel guilty writing this particular post because all four of them are constantly making me proud, but this one was a first and I think it definitely deserves a mention. Dealing with death is not something you wish on any child, is it? C lost her granny a couple of years ago and she really felt the loss for the very first time. Actually, my heart went out to her then if only because I think she was the only one who particularly grieved. Not...

Hamsters – what the books don’t say

Written by amanda on 10th October 2009. Posted in Anything goes. No Comments on Hamsters – what the books don’t say

If they’re still in 3D format, they’re probably hibernating. If they’ve reverted to an environmentally-friendly sort of flat-pack format, then they’re probably dead. So … Cute + flat = Dead. Harsh, but true.

Evolution – Hamsters next to go?

Written by amanda on 8th October 2009. Posted in Anything goes. No Comments on Evolution – Hamsters next to go?

Oh yes. If we’re going to talk about evolution in terms of survival of the fittest, then hamsters have just got to be on the hit list for forthcoming extinction. They have to be. ‘Oh no!’ I hear you shout. ‘Not the humble hamster?’ Well, I’d never have thought it either – until this morning. But to fully understand the situation we need to step back in time all the way to last night. It was ten o’clock, upstairs was in darkness, the TV was on downstairs...

Rowers – every prison should have one!

Written by amanda on 8th October 2009. Posted in Training/Challenges (various). No Comments on Rowers – every prison should have one!

Rowing machines – Yay! I’ve been introduced to them recently – by a friend. At least, I thought she was a friend, but then who can you trust these days, eh? Think about it! Do you torture your friends? Do you suggest they do unthinkable things? Do you encourage them to try killing themselves – albeit at the gym? Well, do you? You really need to rethink your idea of friendship. Rowing! Jeez! It’s not sport. How can it possibly be sport? It’s more like a kind of voluntary corporal...

Beat late-night snacking

Written by amanda on 7th October 2009. Posted in Weight to go. No Comments on Beat late-night snacking

Well, it was the subject of much discussion last night, so I thought I’d write it down and reinforce a few tips I picked up – see if I can actually incorporate them myself!! Naturally, this kind of discussion comes up frequently during weight loss meetings and I always tend to ask ‘What kind of snacker are you?’ As with everything, half the problem is recognising that there IS a problem. So if anyone out there wants to beat snacking … What time of day do you tend to snack the...

A laugh a day …

Written by amanda on 6th October 2009. Posted in Anything goes. 1 Comment on A laugh a day …

My laugh today comes from a post by a writer on one of my favourite sites: The Write Idea. The topic was about long and ridiculous words for phobias, etc. and his contribution was from Gary Larson. Seemingly, antidaeophobia (fictional) is the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you. There’s simply nothing I can add to that without detracting from its silliness.

Just a beautiful poem

Written by amanda on 5th October 2009. Posted in Anything goes. 1 Comment on Just a beautiful poem

Courtesy of Raymond Carver, here’s a poem that I would probably never have come across, save for being asked to read it at my brother’s wedding. I’m so glad I didn’t miss out. I hope you enjoy it, too. Cherish From the window I see her bend to the roses holding close to the bloom so as not to prick her fingers. With the other hand she clips, pauses and clips, more alone in the world than I had known. She won’t look up, not now. She’s alone with roses and with...

Countdown to Christmas

Written by amanda on 4th October 2009. Posted in Weight to go. No Comments on Countdown to Christmas

Oh yes, here it comes. It’s the dreaded C word – and with it all that that means (including lousy English, apparently!!?): expenses, expenses, expenses, food, flatulence, loss of will power, loss of motivation, loss of fitness diaries, etc. etc. etc. And I honestly think it all starts with food. The battle begins now and will continue over the next 11 weeks. Can I fit back into that LBD or will the expense start with buying a new one – a size or two larger? Will I lose the weight...

Oh, so cruel

Written by amanda on 4th October 2009. Posted in Training/Challenges (various). No Comments on Oh, so cruel

This training lark. It’s just so unforgiving, isn’t it? No respite – not even for an oldie-going-mouldy like me. I mean, you’d think you’d get a little bit of compassion, wouldn’t you? But no! I take a couple of weeks off after finishing the third and final triathlon of my first season and, well, do you think I’m just a little bit behind? Have just a bit of catching up to do to get back to my fitness level of three weeks ago? Oh, no! All the way back to bloomin’...

Live theatre – Great!

Written by amanda on 3rd October 2009. Posted in Anything goes. No Comments on Live theatre – Great!

Well, I thought it sounded good on the tiny blurb I happened to spy a few weeks ago, but I never expected the impact of The Pillowman. It was simply astonishing and I can’t believe I might have missed it. I don’t often go to the theatre – certainly not on my own, but if this is the standard of theatre at the Brighton Little Theatre, then I’m going to be going there a lot more often. Shocking, hard-hitting, it was wonderful that the director gave us this tale of child abuse and murder, brutality...