Another weekend, another Saturday night in A & E. I was told not to wear my contacts for a week, so i left it 3. Saturday i put them in again for the first time, and after a couple of hours my eye was streaming and I was in pain again. So I have more drops, and a note to take to my GP. It's obviously not healing well.

I took my dry suit to the dive shop. They weren't very impressed and said that only children could wear it. I had to say "or a short person". I find that attitude very rude. And i am sorely tempted not to sell it to them. She didn't think she could take more than 30 pounds, but has to have a good look at it. And all i really want to do is just get rid of it.

posted by small 4:20 PM

I think i'm going to sell my dive suit. I've had it 10 years (!) and have never worn it. If i can get 50 quid from it i would be happy.

If i can't, i just don't know. There is little point me hanging on to it...

I had another tough session with Leanne last night. Because of my ankle it rather mucked up her plan, so i did 5 minutes bike and then 15 minutes on the cross-trainer. This is longer than ever and my back was very sore. But i did it.

Then i did squats and my legs just didn't seem to work properly, i couldn't get into the normal bent leg position and struggled to stand. When i was stretched out at the end it was very noticable that my legs were very tense and not flexible. This would explains why i just couldn't do the squats properly. I expect that they are tense because of the pain of my ankle.

We then did weights which was ok until i did a "fly". My right bicep simply wouldn't allow full range of movement with a weight. It was quite a different pain from normal workout fatigue. I guess i am just not used to it. I finished off with a horse stance, and Leanne says that she had noticed that my back is stronger. This is definately a good thing!

posted by small 1:18 PM

This is not starting out to be a good day. I fell over when i left home and sprained my ankle again. And when i fell over i hit my head, so i'm not feeling terribly good. Also Lotus Notes is not working, so I am unable to do the work that i need to do.

Some good news though, Lindsay is having another baby! I am thrilled for her. I am going to meet up with them on Saturday as they are travelling to Gorsley today. I have never been there, so it will be nice to both seem them and see the Flower Festival. Sunday i am visiting my Grandparents and Monday I will be doing TMA work with Mel.

So, another very busy weekend! Better than moping on my own though.

posted by small 4:39 PM

I had a bit of a scare this morning. I tipped hot chocolate all over myself, my desk and my Palm! At first it stopped working, then it worked a little but the pointer didn't work. I rang up Direct Link about making a claim, but was on hold for ages. I tried again, about an hour later, and now it seems to be fine. Thank goodness. I use it so much, that I would be lost without it. It seems to keep synching by itself, but i guess that's not a very bad thing.

I'm also coming up with a plan for the Big Push. I have made my first list of items which need to go. I will cross them off one by one. Maybe I should post them here as a side bar?

I found my prescription. I do need complex lenses, which is no surprise, but it looks as if a pair of sunglasses could be 40 pounds. This isn't bad at all.

Oh, it turns out the contact lens standing order has failed. The money was being taken out of someone elses's account, so I will have to pay the standing order and the extra too...

I cannot wait until my debt free day when 100 pounds can go towards things like that instead.

As i am going to be doing a short course over the christmas period again, i need to pay for this. I have decided i am going to put it on MNBA card, and simply pay the same amount that i am currently paying into my OSBA account for Latin (which finished in October), which will only leave me about 6 pounds down.

I guess I will just keep entering everything into MsMoney, try and live more frugally.

posted by small 4:25 PM

So how do i make that final push away? I have now moved all my videos to my house, so i guess the next step is to move the bookcase that holds them all. I will make this a task to do on Bank Holiday Monday (or Saturday if i have the time)

Next month i should buy a cat flap and try and fit it.

Mum bought Precious one of those enclosed litter trays, so I may be able to use the one she bought previously.

Then I should move everything out of my new bedroom in preparation for getting a new carpet. I have a lot to do, and it's probably best that I don't get a cat until after my exam in October. But it's not exactly a long way off!

I have also made a start on my Latin revision. I am going to do vocab this week, as after all if i don't know the vocab it won't make a bit of difference if i not what tense the word is in! Making a start on this really lifted me yesterday. I am now at the stage where all i want to do is pass! I no longer care about getting a pass 2 or 3 - just a pass!!

And if there are tickets available for Bebel when the 1st September comes, I am going to get one for Warwick the night before my exam. I'll save up and get her album in October, and put part of my expenses towards the concert ticket. The rest will go into my nationwide account.

posted by small 4:29 PM

Bebel Gilberto is on tour! Sadly the tickets are 17 pounds, and I have 8 pounds to last the rest of the month. Which ain't going to happen as i have to spend at least 50 pounds on petrol getting to work. But still, I believe that i will have done better than last month. So i guess, that i will continue to try and improve and improve.

I should get 32 pounds as expenses for my OUSA training weekend, but that won't be due for some time.

Sometimes I feel like i am wishing my life away, and this is one reason for seeing Bebel in concert. I a bit of happeness and joy. Opps. I have just realised it is the day before my Latin exam! Now, do i go or not? I would say yes, as by that point i may be very stressed, and this would be a good thing to take my mind off things. What if went elsewhere? London on the Saturday? Bristol on Sunday. I think i should wait until next payday. If there are tickets then it was meant to be. After all, it's not missing 3 hours of revision that will cause me to fail the exam, but not doing enough work now. This might be the incentive i need to actually knuckle down and get revising.

Just been doing some surfing and found a website that sells really, really cheap glasses. It might be worth it to get pair of new sunglasses. I need to find my perscription and work out how much they will cost. Even if they are around 150 quid, it will still be cheaper (i usually pay around 300 quid) and a nice treat for next year.

posted by small 4:01 PM

I had a tough session with Leanne (my PT) last night. I got weight and measured. I have still lost weight (YEY!), and have lost cm's from everywhere apart from my stomach and hips. Yup, that's right, I have basically lost around 1 stone and it has gone from everywhere apart from there!

We did CV work, and mor work on my back. We did squats again, but this time with a much bigger hand weight. I went down, and then couldn't get back up! I was in a lot of pain, unfortunately. My back is very weak. But this is one reason for getting a PT, so that I can improve these things. My posture is definately better.

Yes, it's definately worth the money. Although it would have to be the first thing to go if the money situation got worse. As it happens i think i have done very well this month. I shall continue in this way and do better next month. And so on...

posted by small 4:06 PM

I had a lovely cuddle this morning with Precious, who i firmly believe should be caleld Princess. It makes me want to make that final push and move out of Mum's and into my place permanently.

I am going to make that next months goal. I think the only thing that is now stopping me is my video recorder. How sad is that?

Yes, that is my goal, and buying and fitting a cat flap. The buying is the easy part...but fitting? Maybe i could get grandpa to help?

posted by small 4:15 PM

I'm not sure i agree with the comment that you shouldn't exercise until you've reached your target weight. As i have a lot of weight to lose (at least 7 stone) it's definately a good thing to exercise and tone up. Yes muscle does weigh more than fat, but that's a good thing.

Plus it means you can eat more!

Anyway, i went round to mums last night and there was a cat waiting at the door! I had told her about going to the Blue Cross, and Sam and showed her the Wellcat website. And there in front of me was Precious! She is like a little tabby princess. albeit are rather clawy Princess. Very dainty and incredibly friendly. Mum has bought her a basket, and litter tray and a brand new collar. She cannot go out yet, as she needs to have booster jabs in a month, but mum's has has lovely windows which are just right for sunning oneself on. If one was a cat...

posted by small 4:30 PM

I had the week off work. What have I accomplished? Well seemingly nothing, except that i put on a pound! I don't really understand how that happened, as i ate less that usual, and did more exercise! I will just need to be good this week. Although i'm supposed to be going n a training course the weekend coming up, which is always an incentive to me to eat and eat...

I went to the blue cross animal shelter in bromsgrove and nearly came back with 3 cats!

I am not doing too well with my budget, i have around 60 pounds to last until next pay day. This doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider that i can easily spend 30 pounds a week on petrol... so i may end up going overdrawn, but hopefully it will only be by a little bit and not by the 160 quid of last month. And slowly, but surely i will get things back on track. I have to say that MS Money is really useful. It shows all me all my bills and regular payments, and how much money i have left until i next get paid.

posted by small 4:24 PM

I have just found out that the Baebes are performing in Kings Norton.... TOMORROW.

I am so so so tempted.

But it's 15 pounds, and I have only just seen them in concert. They would be perfoming exactly the same material as the last concert...so no.

I wish their mailing list would keep me up to date.

posted by small 4:15 PM

After much decision i'm going to stay with the Chelsea. And i will pay a larger sum next time. I also found out that i have the option of making over payments of 20%. So i might think about doing that.

Dixons have just rung me up, and i have agreed to chat with them. They can find me a cheaper one, but there is an arrangement fee. But i could use part of that 2 thousand towards that instead..., but i would have to pay more as it couldn't be done in time for the 2nd september (which is when my current rate runs out)

posted by small 2:38 PM

I may not have much money right now, but i think that using MS Money is going to help. I have decided, I am going to pay off my Halifax card completely using 100 pounds from my isa.

Oh. Interest rates have been put up. And the mortgage i was going to sort out on Saturday has now gone up and it is 10 pounds more. I think i'm still going to go with it though, but it's really brought home that i need to sort it out.

posted by small 4:05 PM

I think things are going to be very tight on the budget front. I cheque i sent off some time ago has now been cashed. oops!

I got to the gym last night, but Aerobike was cancelled! In fact the class has been completely withdrawn. I didn't feel motivated to work on my own. Thank goodness i'm back with leanne on thursday.

posted by small 4:28 PM

As soon as the word BBQ is mentioned, you know what happens? It rains! And yesterday evening it did rain. So the BQ at Lindsay's was an indoor one, but it didn't matter. It was very simply, a burger, sausage, salad and jelly to follow. It was good to catch up, and to get sweet little boy hugs from Marcus.

And i will attempt to get to aerobike tonight (traffic not withstanding, but i have my kit in the car so if there are delays i may be able to just get off the motorway and head straight there. I do want to go home though, as I have mislaid my mobile, and i think it's there. hopefully.

I am hoping to go speedating on the 14th. An extra expense, but as i am off work next week, i should save some money on petrol.

posted by small 4:27 PM

And so to other matters. I have now set myself a weekly budget, and have decided i will just take 100 pounds out of my isa and use it to pay off one credit card.

Eating wise today, i caved and had two samosas. But no crisps or chocolate though. Tomorrow i won't have that temptation.

Do you know, i have successfully kept off a stone. OK so it's taken 7 months, but i've done it.

As a replacement for body balance, i think i might do aero-bike tomorrow. It starts at 7, so i could get all my stuff ready and go there straight from work. I think that would be a good thing, as i didn't go to the gym on Sunday.

posted by small 4:30 PM

I have had a very busy weekend. Saturday was Aunty Jenny's wedding, which was lovely. What i saw of it anyway. As i got something in my eye, and my eye was streaming and streaming and extremely painful. I did manage to get 2 photos though so i was pleased. I went to the reception with mum and Lucy, and i was in terrible pain, but determined to make it until the speeches. I managed to get whatever it was out, but my eye was still very painful. Lucy drove me home, and i decided to see an optican to see if they could recommend anything for the soreness. Boots couldn't see me, but Asda said that i would have to have an eye test and register, but they cold do it NOW. So i did. And they optician there told me to go straight to the Eye Hospital on Dudley Road, and bless them they didn't charge me for my test.

So my afternoon was spent in the Eye Hospital, and i found out that i have a scratch on my eyeball, but fortunately it was not infected. I got some eyedrops, and headed back for the evening reception. Lucy and Mum decided not to come, but I had a great time. Why did I ever lose touch with Joolz. Hopefully that won't happen again.

Sunday was spent quite lazily, but i found out that i am now under 14 stone! To celebrate this i had a breakfast and Weatherspoons in Sutton. Yes... i know... but as it was the only thing i ate that day, i don't feel to bad.

Today I'm back at work, but my eye is slightly sore again. I guess it's from staring at a monitor. But i'm putting in the eyedrops, and i will see how it goes.

I just had a call from Lindsay, she and Darren are having a BBQ and have invited me. How kind. I was going to go to Body Balance but starting a BBQ at 8:30 is just too late. So this week i will have to miss it. I cannot wait to catch up with Lindsay, and see Marcus too. I might suggest that we go out and do something next week, as i have the week off work.

I've also just arranged to go and see my grandparents next Monday, so i can see that I am going to have fun visiting!

posted by small 3:06 PM