Good/Bad

Good:

I have just under an hour left to work

I have 4 weeks until my holiday to NYC

I'am going to visit my best friend tonight (and i havent seen her for ages)

I have a bottle of red in the fridge and a take-away planned for tonight

Bad:

I have 4 weeks left until my holiday

Its not payday until next friday

Think thats it!

Oo, good luck with the job then SLD. How was the choir practice btw?

Good: MrSun and I still getting on really well, we've booked our summer hols which is something to look forward to, running is coming along nicely and i've lost a stone in weight.

Bad: MissSun has thrown a couple of tantrums recently, we're not used to it and I hope it doesn't last. I'm also skinter than a skint thing and feel like a social leper (sp?) because I haven't been anywhere, we're dieting to not eating out or eating takeaways and we're not drinking either.

But the Good is definitely outweighing all bad at the moment [touch wood icon]

Hello.

Good.....running's going OK, I'm off for a spa day on friday, small boy is lovely, Mr I cooked me a marvellous pigeon breast salad yesterday

Bad.... early mornings. Mr I's month off the booze has ended, I am also dangerously skint. Oh and fat and seemingly unable to lose weight.

Good:

The woman in work who when she sneezes sounds like she's being attacked with a pick axe has a cold. You can hear her from miles away and it makes people jump.

I can make balloon animals.

Bad:

I am fat and unfit and I'm not doing anything about it.

I have random aching limbs which keep me up at night.

I also have the start of a cold (probably explains the random aches).

Good: Mr is away so I can watch soaps and rubbish on tv, and dodge marital unpleasantness.

Bad: haven't slept properly for 4 years and last night was one of the worst. Also both children are royal pains in the arse these days.

Bad

H was made redundant 3 weeks ago with no redundancy payout as he's been there less than 2 years

H has been turned down for 2 jobs last week - just pipped for one of them. There is very little else out there.

H is very depressed and me telling him he's got to stop eating so much whilst stuck at home didn't go down well - see next point below

My salary won't cover all the bills, let alone buying luxuries such as food & toiletries. We're going to have to live off savings, which aren't going to last that long. It's very scary to go from comfortable to scraping.

Neither of us can afford the stag & hen dos at the end of this month

We can't afford to go to my sister's 30th birthday party or buy her a present

Good

Sort of - H has his appeal against his redundancy tomorrow - we havea fairly solid case of unfair dismissal but who knows how long it will take to settle

The rugby is on

We have a backlog of wine from our Laithwaites orders so at least we're not short of booze considering we can't afford to buy any!

Thanks Sun, fingers crossed! It went really well and I really enjoyed myself but I'm feeling pretty grotty today (it took all of my energy to be enthusiastic this morning I guess!) so I'm really tempted to knock it on the head and go next week.

Good:

H is off work this week
The children have been relatively good this afternoon
My H proved to me today just how fab he is by being really supportive with my photography
My 3 year old son was doing maths yesterday and I'm unbelievably proud of him
My H has just ordered a laptop to take away with him - which is good enough for me to edit photos on so I'm having it when he gets back.

Bad:

When H goes back to work next week it will only be 2 months til he goes to Afghanistan - and most of that time is taken up with courses so he wont be around much.
The state of my house!
My post-baby jelly belly and my never satisfied apetite!

I love your good points! Mine are:

Good: I'm getting my new bedframe, mattress and washing machine next week.

I'm off work today and my cold is getting better.

Bad: Argos won't deliver on a Saturday even though they said they would last week so now I'll have to use up holiday time. Twunts.

I'll have to back to work tomorrow because I'll be well enough by then ☹️.

And the skinter you get, the quality of your drinking goes up as you scrape the back of the cupboard and fine 12 year old Havana club...on the day we thought we were going down (financially) we cracked open the vintage Bolly, My heart goes out to you, it's so scary xx

Good:
Have joined my local council gym and it's fantastic - brilliant value, and I had a great workout there this morning
Looking forward to hols in Paris and SA in April
Going to drink wine with the lovely STBC ladies tonight

Bad:
Legs are playing up terribly so can't run
Am feeling fat as consequence of not running
Have not had sex for a zillion years as we are both so tired from running training we pass out as soon as head hit pillows
Running is taking over life ?

Good

My car passed it's MOT today thank god

I have a job interview with my ex employer who first took me on when I was 16. At the time I was on an apprentice scheme but when that ended no full time roles were available. One has just come up in my old department and my old manager has emailed me and told me to go for it.

It's my OH's birthday on Friday and we're spending a long weekend away together, combining his birthday and our 5th anniversary

I finish work tomorrow for 6 whole days!

I've finally reached my target weight of 10st 3lb and can now fit in slinky size 12 jeans which didn't even fit me when I was 16.

I just bought some vertical blinds for our window from Netto for a bargainous £5, the cheapest we could find prior to that was £40.

Bad

My SIL is a twunt and still expects the whole family to gather round a table in a restaurant when it's someones birthday. OH doesn't want to do anything but she isn't having it.

My washing machine has died again

I'm still waiting for my bin to be emptied by the council, if they don't turn up tomorrow we'll have 6 weeks worth of rubbish to take to the tip instead

You know, I don't think I've felt this positive about things going on in my life for a looooonnnnngggggg time ?

Good

I have the rest of a pear and almond tart to scoff tonight

I am alone and still in my Pj's-I couldn't get away with such sloth if H was here!

The weekend will soon arrive

I don't believe in Valentine's as a concept, but H and I will see a play/film and go for a nice dinner on Saturday-nowt different really to a usual night out, but sometimes an excuse to put glad rags on when it's cold and spend enforced time together is good!

I am going to get my hair coloured something rich, vibrant and exciting-ooer! And I have a 30% off coupon.

Bad

I have a horrible case in Court from tomorrow-Fri.

H is working late shifts this week-which means no cosy evenings together involving rich dinners, wine and watching films-and no lifts to the station for me! (although I could gather up his shirts and drench them in the shower in his absence....whaddya think?! lol)

I had to cancel my colcoscopy yesterday as bleeding heavily-now I have to wait another week...just need it over with

My feet are in dire need of a pedicure-I feel like the grinch.

I hate work.

I am not married to CBH's husband!

Legs playing up, so not running = not so tired = have sex instead for exercise! ??

Good

Foot mending really well, and despite still being non weight-bearing, I'm getting around ok with my knee-caddy thingamejig.

Bad

Had a spectacular fall off said knee-caddy thingamejig yesterday morning which resulted in me bending my toes back when I landed, which caused immense pain and I saw stars while the room span. Also have large gash on leg from the fall.

Good:

I'm going out for dinner to my favourite restaurant on Friday.
Off to Ascot on Saturday for some good pre-Cheltenham Festival racing.

Bad:

I don't seem to be able to loose weight despite cutting out all the bad foods and taking up running.
I'm sick to the back teeth of winter which is a real shame because I usually love winter. I think I have SAD.
Oh, and my MIL informed us yesterday she's booked her flight back for Christmas!

Chicken - can you send me a balloon animal?? Pretty please.....

Oh alison, I'm so sorry that sounds really difficult. I hope that there is something fab just around the corner for him. Any news on the rescheduling of his work meeting (seem to remember it was cancelled due to some guy not being able to fly over on the snow day?) ?

That's a good point - we've got 2 bottles of havana club especial and one of the havana club blanco in the cupboard that we brought back from honeymoon. Plus some bombay sapphire gin and some rather nice champagne - hadn't thought of those!

Good

Our dog seems to be recovering well from his leg op and we can up his daily exercise this weekend by a whole 10 mins a day

I am working in an office 35 mins or so away from home instead of the usual 1hr 45 min drive (see point in the 'bad' category)

I have just eaten half a KitKat and it felt soooooooooooooooo good

Bad

Like everyone else we've very little in the way of ££££ and Mr GMT has not found any work. Not hat he has looked very hard. I am tired of making suggestions.

Mr GMT rang me at lunchtime to say he was walking the dogs on the common and had lost his car keys (again). I had to leave work, drive to the nearest town to get a set of house keys cut (Mr GMT had not twigged that he had these on the same ring as his car keys), then drive home to find his spare key, then drive over to the common where he was walking the dogs (up narrow snowy and icy roads in my little Honda - he's got a 4x4!) and hand over the keys ... he didn't seem very appreciative of all my efforts and hardly acknoweldged that fact I'd bothered to get new keys done for him ... and then ignored me while I drove off (he started talking to someone else, something he often does and ignores me which really pi££es me off!). I then had to go all the way back to the office and catch up on a shedload of work (and will now have to stay late in order to do so).

I have now finished my KitKat - it was all over too soon!

Thanks SLD.

The appeal is tomorrow. I really want to go along with him (they've allowed a non work colleague/TU rep) but he doesn't want me. He's taking a friend instead. I've got all the legislation pretty much memorised and could happily jump in if (when) my H gets flustered.

So I'm spending tonight coaching him on everything - I got in to work very early this morning to print things off, photocopy things, highlight stuff etc etc.

Mate it sounds like you are doing everything that you can to support him, you really are. I know what you mean, it's frustrating not to be able to go along too when you've invested so much in this personally, but I guess he's wanting to fight his own battles (SB is exactly the same). Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Good:

• I am lucky enough to continue in my managers role for an extra 6 months as she has extended her maternity leave.
• It is OH's birthday on friday and we have a nice day planned.
• OH has started making curries from scratch and they are absolutey delicious and cheaper than the take-away.
• We have a doggy who is settling in nicely and the cat is now coming round to the idea.
• The ones I care about are all well and for that I am grateful.

Bad:

• Someone at work is getting on my nerves and I am struggling to know how to deal with it.
• Everyone asks me when we are having children - I don't want them yet and it is starting to upset me.
• OH still hasn't got a job after graduating in May 08 and is not entitled to JSA.
• Money is tight and I owe my dad about £2k now.

? to those having a bad time.

IPx

There were lots of tears last night. I'm shattered. He can't cope/doesn't want to face the reality of it all.

He was particularly upset as he had a waste-of-time phone interview first thing and then later one recruitment consultant he'd sent his CV to replied with "we've got nothing for you, good luck with your search". It utterly demoralised him.

The only other job he has been spoken to about is paying £15K less than he was on and is in Brighton - we're in SW London!

Good

The burn on my finger has finally healed so I am able to wear my wedding ring once more

I am doing 2 sessions of yoga this week. Love it

I am finally getting my head around what I need to do at work and have been really focussed these past 2 days, and quite enjoyed myself

Bad

I have had a right proper lardy week, and as a result will skive from the weigh in at fat club. I have been this weight for 5 months now & really need to make more of an effort

I have sparkly new trainers to learn to run in, but as yet have only been out once and that was 10 days ago. Need to bite the bullet and give it a go. Hopefully the weather will hold for me to go running this week

It's my dad's birthday on Saturday & I don't have a present for him, nor do I have time to get anything. Will have to badger my sister to buy a gift & will pay her back...

? it sounds awful. But from what you said you have a v strong case against the redundancy so here's hoping.

Thanks Sophie, and everyone else.

Here's hoping. Even if he is still out of work at least he'll be able to afford a travelcard to go out and about somewhere.

Good: I've just been offered a shiney new job (been out of work for 6 months). Don't start job for 4 weeks so I can make sure I have everything I'm working (around the house stuff) done and get into a work frame of mind. Had a fab weekend with lots of friends around playing board games.

Bad: Its my Grandads funeral next week. Not done any exercise this week (was getting into the habit of gym/DVD daily). H had a liver ultrasound which has shown up some fatty deposits - doctor wasn't very helpful about why/what to do (except loose some weight and get some exercise). He's having more blood tests done on Friday and will hopefully see a better doctor.

Bad: my new less stressful, less pay job is not as interesting as I'd hoped. I actually miss the stress a bit. I will speak to my boss about taking on more work.

Good: I have lost my honeymoon weight. Only took me 5 years but I'm thin again!

Good luck Alison ?

Good:

Have started doing lots of aerobics and it's making me feel good

Have made a decision not to drink Mondays or Tuesdays - didn;t drink last night and I am proud

Me & Mr G are getting on better than ever and he is taking me to Terre a Terre on Sunday

Going to Amsterdam with Mr G, my Bro & his gf in 4 weeks, hurrah!

Bad:

Work is v quiet and I am worried

I need a drink tonight and I know I will give in!!

House is a sh1t pit, but am too knackered to tidy

I am tired allllllllllll the time.

Good

The souldestroying PMT of last week is but a distant memory and I feel like a silly moo now

Work is going really well and I'm pretty settled now and got any homesikness well under control

I'm going out for drinks wih friends tonight

I have a friend coming downfrom scotkland to stay from Friday to Monday and she is possibly more of a party animal than me- should be an interesting weekend!

The lovely Mr Peter Doherty kicks off his solo tour next week, so I'm going to see and hear lots of him over the coming weeks (his new album is completely amazing btw.)

bad

I know it's only 2 weeks now until the PMT returns and no amount of evening primrose, special diet or exercise seems to be helping- terrified i'm going to have to go back onto the wretched pil again. I've tried about 15 varieties of the damn thing and they all make me feel grim

Work are messing me about a bit- my H is coming down* to stay weekend (saturday to monday) after next, and yet they are now saying they need me to be in scotland for a meeting on the sunday night, which rather cuts across our plans and makes his weekend a bit of a wash out.

I seem completely unable to get back into a steady exercise routine and it is making me feel psychologically quite weak. i need to regain some strength from somewhere, but i seem to feel constantly fatigued

nowwithstanding the above, I will end up drinking too much and having a late night, meaning i am feeling to grim to go to body pump tomorrow night (you know what, I am going to MAKE myself go, come what may!)

My mad friend is going to want a totally high octane weekend and I all I really feel like doing is flopping out on the couch, drinking red wine, eating cheese and playing my guitar ?

Gah, the good soooo outweighs the bad. I'm going to give myself a slap!

? to those who aren't feeling so chipper for whatever reason.

* no news to report here, just a friendly visit because we are still top chums, notwithstanding the fact that some issues still need to be finalised, and he wants to visit some fo the lovely places i've been boasting about down here. ?

I have fatty deposits in my liver too - and I weighed 9st 2lb when they were found. It can be a very random thing, and apparently doesn't necessarily cause any harm. I hope that it turns out to be nothing serious for your H ?

Good:

Got second interview for very cool job! Also got an interview for another job which is a bit less pay, but much closer to home!

Have someone interested in renting our house, and they're viewing it tomorrow

OH passed his med school exams

My BFF's flat is available for us to rent if we want it - we wanted to buy the one next door when we thought we may be able to sell, so this would be a lovely compromise.

Mum has let me off quite a large sum of money she lent me to finish my studies

After 60-odd days, eczema around eyes has gone!

MAC have announced a Hello Kitty line, that will be mine, mine, mine!!!

Bad:

Thought of tenants in my pristine little nest scares me.

Not been running for 14 days and can feel my chest getting back to its normal astham-y state, and a spare tyre developing

My car is still poorly

I've been eating like a hog and feel lardy

Bad:

Boss is being a prick but doesn't seem to realise it, or make a decision

I'm still at work (see above)

Was woken up at 1am because one of the cats had brought in a mouse. I managed to corner it, then the ungrateful little bastard bit me and my thumb is stil sore

Will probably put back on the weight I've lost over the next 3 days (see Good)

Good:

I'm off to Ankara for 3 days tomorrow to speak at a conference, flying business class and staying in a posh hotel, which will be nice

Running is going well

My H is being surprisingly helpful around the house

Oh alison, how hard for you. i really hope things start to look up soon.

good:

i have started getting up early again and practising before cub wakes up, which always makes the day easier to deal with

we have lots of healthy food in and i am enjoying looking after my body and mind

we saw an absolutely beautiful house at the weekend which i would love to buy and we can afford

we have three parties interested in buying our flat

cub hasn't vommed since yesterday morning

bad:

despite the interested parties i feel less than hopeful about the flat selling, which will mean we can't put an offer in on the beautiful house

i have had WEEKS off a regular morning yoga practice, and as such am weak and inflexible

i have been drinking too much and eating too much rubbish recently, so am feeling flabby

MrF is still at work

cub has been ill since friday and vommed SO much over the weekend, including on me (repeatedly). despite lots of clothes washing, everything still smells faintly of sick

due to cub sickness she missed nursery on monday so i am way behind with work, and we missed toddler yoga today. i hate feeling so isolated but can't risk her passing on nasty viruses to other toddlers or babies.