a nojomo reality check. in The Wind it Doth Blow...

WHERE: oh, you know. I'm in the bath wallowing in citrusy, green water! (Lush Avobath).

WEARING: what I usually wear in the bath with the addition of a yellow hairband.

FITNESS UPDATE: pretty good, actually. My chocolate addiction has been gaining hold again and as it does, so the asthma suffers (chocolate is a trigger for me). I've been doing a bit of word association and been linking the word 'chocolate' with 'consequences'. I know, it sounds a bit daft but, as with any addiction, once I get a craving I completely forget why I shouldn't be eating it. It's only half an hour later when reasoning settles in and I think "oh shit, Kate you idiot!" So now, when I'm in the shop and I'm gravitating towards the chocolate aisle the word consequences jumps up too and helps me to remember.

It doesn't always stop me, but it does more often than not!

Also, I joined a local gym this week, at the Marriott hotel. They're doing a '12 days of fitnessc' deal in November and December where twelve days costs £12. The way I figure it its that two/three swimming sessions at one of the local pay as you go pools would cost £12 and, with this deal I'm going four mornings a week, that makes 8 swims per £12. Also, as my swimming sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I can buy a pass on Monday, use it until a week on Friday then not have one that weekend and buy one on Monday again which means two twelve day passes make 28 days rather than 24.

Bloody hell, I got a bit waffley there didn't I?! Anyway, I've done my four swimming sessions this week and, by George, I've loved it! It's a small pool so not easy to fit a lot of people in if they're all upping and downing, and there's a regular crew of people there at six in the morning so it's just a case of slotting in and slalom-ing my way around the others. But they're all lightweights (said with tongue firmly placed in cheek) because I usually get the pool to myself by the end as they all converge in the stream room or sauna.

I've been swimming half an hour non stop this week of mainly breaststroke. I chuck in a length of back crawl when my arms get tired (back crawl was what I used to swim for the school and I'm bloody good as it!) but as the week progressed I was doing less of the back crawl without even realising!

I'll still be cycling on Saturday mornings and, hopefully today, I'll figure out what's going on with my brakes as both seem to be wedged on the wheels which does NOT make for fun cycling!

IN THE NEWS: a huge typhoon is heading over the Philippines. I'm really feeling for the families over there and hope it isn't as bad as expected.

What else? ELC (british toy store) has outdone itself. Let me explain though, when Tal was little they had toys arranged by age of child. In recent years those toys have been separated into boy/girl so, fofor example, the car garage that we bought Tal for her second birthday which is green, red, yellow, orange and blue. A couple of years ago they brought out a pink version "for girls", as they did with all their toys. Tal never questioned the colour of her garage, she just played with it (still does to be honest!) Well, now they have also done it to their doctor kit. In the boys section is a blue doctor kit and in the girls section us a pink NURSE kit!!! Insensed? Me? Of hell yes! Maybe I should get my cousin, Dr Becca, to have a word! It's the frileaking 21st century! I think we were more equality advanced in the 80's than we are now!!!

READING: some Spanish magazines I've ordered.

ACTIVITIES TODAY: Toy library and mending my bike brakes! Going out for dinner as a family (as we usually do on Friday).

THINKING ABOUT: being frustrated at the lack of TA jobs to apply for!

PLANNING: to make Christmas presents this year... I really ought to get off my arse and do it!