It was. It was slightly marred by the birthday boy popping into the loos before making his grand entrance... but he made it, and he was surprised.
It was the best night ever. Nick and I took advantage of the left over glasses full of Cava that we had poured for the guests, so had a pretty much free night.
We danced most of the night. The DJ was a bit of a stereotype, and wasn't great at not leaving a gap between tracks - nor did he have the greatest selection of music, but he played a lot of oldies, which we loved.
I was slightly shocked that none of the little children knew "Nelly the Elephant", so I decided to spare their embarrasment at being left exposed on the dance floor, and led them in a kind of Ring a Roses crossed with the Hokey Cokey style dance.
There was no hangover, but there was a stack of food left. I think my goats cheese and onion tartlets were a bit too much for the Cheshire lot, but it meant we got a whole load leftover for us! There were leftover brownies and cookies too, so I have brought some into work, all gratefully received.
Today, my mantra is: "I want to be slim and elegant"... I have spent the last 3 weeks eating and making merry, and not doing any exercise. I am half a stone heavier, and feel like a heifer. I also have a major spot outbreak, not seen since the days of my adolescence.
Gym tonight: I will run as far as I can. And when I can't run anymore, I shall do some weights and sit ups. I have just under 4 weeks to get back up to half marathon fitness. And it's the toughest race too, with the appropriately named Long Hill Road on mile 8 to 9.
Rheinfels Castle:
Keukenhof:
Having decided that this year's road trip through a small corner of Canada and Americky would be our last 'big' (i.e. expensive) holiday, with a view to having a family... we have now decided that next year we definitely want a beach holiday.
And if we're going to do a beach holiday, we might as well do it right, right?
So we've been looking around, and have pretty much decided to save and save and save and go to the Maldives for our 3rd Wedding Anniversary...
Any recommendations of locations and holiday companies would be gratefully received - we want to go all inclusive as I have visions of lying by the pool with an endless supply of cocktails.
When I joined WW again last year, I drew up a spreadsheet, with my target losses and to track it ongoing. On the schedule, if I lost 2lb a week, I would have got to goal by September last year.
That didn't happen. The holiday set me back, and I was actually only averaging 1lb or so a week. So I readjusted, and would get to goal early November.
How I look back now and laugh. I'm the same weight now as I was back in July last year. Any normal person who could stick to a weight loss programme and not give into the sheer greed and insatiable appetite that I have would have lost between 1 and 2 stone since the beginning of the year. Me, well, I've stayed exactly the same as my first weigh in after New Year.
I've readjusted my targets, and if I can lose 1lb a week ongoing (this is not, of course, realistic, given holidays, parties and general weekend plans)... then I might just get to goal before Christmas this year.
I have to laugh really. Because if I didn't, I'd go insane.
I have increasing scepticism about my therapy as well, because I don't feel like I have any more memories to dredge up, and I haven't the faintest clue what we are looking for. My therapist assures me that this type of resistance is normal because my conscious self is trying to suppress whatever it is.
I could write about how I am determined to stick to it, and carry on, but at the moment, my main priority is to get back to the gym and get running again - I have a race in 4 weeks time, and it's the toughest one I'll do, so I need to be fit for it.
Post the race I may well re-evaluate and see where I am. Personally I'm still inclined to think that it just comes down to greed, and I need to learn how to control that. I am a glutton. I'm not proud of it. At all. In fact I am incredibly ashamed.
I will be spending my mornings reading and summarising other people's reports and presentations and the afternoons in meetings.
Was I really on holiday last week?
What'd I miss? Quite a lot from the appearance of things...
Kate - I hope your back improves. Sending you healing thoughts...
Gamba - hope the flat purchasing is going through okay, and that the damp problems don't cost too much to fix.
Bobble - I hope you find somewhere nice and affordable to move to, and that you make a big fat whopping profit on the flat from hell.
KatieBell - am in awe of your commitment to running a marathon - good for you!
To the PMK fan club - well done all of you!
Me? Well...
Sun, rain, driving wind, and snow... 5 countries in 8 days, and 4 in one day... Nearly 2,000 miles in total.
Cheese and ham virtually every day (not very imaginative on the continent!)... cocktails.
Failed miserably: at having a Gaufre Liegeois in Belgium.... ironically had seen some in Heidelberg, but decided to wait for Bruges.. and couldn't find any - not fresh and hot anyway, only cold and reheated.
Couldn't find a hypermarket anywhere - despite Google directing us to one in Lisse, Netherlands - it was about the same size as a Somerfield. So we didn't get any nice bread.
Couldn't find the winery on the Rhine - or one that looked open, so didn't get any Riesling etc.
However - explored the most awesome castle ever - but want to go back with a good torch! Burg Rheinfels in St Goar on the Rhine.
Stayed in the most beautiful B&B - the Manoir de Charmes in Ay in the Champagne region.
Bought some delicious Champagne from the Chauvet vineyard - 12 bottles in total...
Stocked up on my lovely Coup de Soleil dessert red wine from the Caves de Beauvent in Switzerland...
Saw snow. Thick snow coming over the Juras and the most amazing view over to Mont Blanc. Thicker snow falling on the drive back to Calais.
Enjoyed some great cocktails in Heidelberg and Koblenz, massive full glasses, not just filled with crushed ice, for 3,90 between 7-9... Cafe Extrablatt - we loved you! (Also collected the free glowy bangles that came with each one we ordered!).
Ate Flammekuche - delish!
Had the most amazing and best steak ever at Los Gauchos in Koblenz.
I really didn't want to come back to work this morning though.
Gamba's post made me think about our next house... in terms of what's on my wish list.
Well:
- Dining room
- High ceilings
- A fireplace or two
- A pantry
- Room in our kitchen for this baby:
which we spotted in John Lewis the other day - only £6,000 smacker-roonies, but it's beautiful, and has serious hob and oven space. And of course, it matches our Denby....
Today is my last day in the office. Tomorrow I am working from home on writing and submitting my PDP (personal development plan), finishing off my Stakeholder Plans and calendars, analysing the feedback on the Christmas debrief held a few weeks ago, tying up a few other loose ends...
And then... well, the adventure begins...
Saturday a.m. train to Calais.... on to the Champagne region for 2 nights - vineyards a go-go!
Then to Geneva to visit with friends for 2 nights.
On up to Heidelberg in Germany for one night, and then onto the confluence of the Rhine and the Meusel for castle-gazing and wine tasting.
Then finally, the last leg, to Keukenhof to renew my complete love of tulips.
Back home on Easter Sunday, all ready for Nick's birthday on the Monday - I am planning on getting up early to bake him a cake, he loves buttercream frosting, so it shall have that... other than that, I haven't really decided!
Can't wait!
1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
A. Yup, very happily married
2) What was your dream growing up?
A. To live in a house with a verandah and some land in America
3) What talent do you wish you had?
A. Entrepreneurship... so I could think of some great business idea, set it up and then sell it for millions.
4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
A. A cocktail - probably a Yellow Bird or a Junebug
5) Favourite vegetable?
A. It used to be cabbage, but I think it's probably celeriac at the moment
6) What was the last book you read?
A. Still reading the Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler
7) What zodiac sign are you?
A. Virgo
8) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where.
A. Used to have my ears pierced, but have let them close up.
9) Worst habit?
A. Picking my fingers
10) What is your favourite sport?
A. Baseball to watch, hockey or cricket to play
11) Do you have a negative or optimistic attitude?
A. Optimistic most of the time
12) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
A. Can't think of anything....
13) Tell me one weird fact about you.
A. Define weird. What's one person's weird might be another person's normal.
14) Do you have any pets?
A. 2 cats - Agnes and Maud
15) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
A. Kind of scary
16) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
A. It's a toss up between getting rid of my bingo wings or thunder thighs. Probably my bingo wings.
17) What color eyes do you have?
A. Blue/Brown/Grey
18) Ever been arrested?
A. Never
19) Bottle or can soda?
A. Can - a bottle can be too much in one sitting
20) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
A. Put it into savings for a luxury holiday next year.
21) What's your favourite place to hang at?
A. 'Hang at' - this is definitely American! Um. Home. With my husband.
22) Do you believe in ghosts?
A. Not sure, I'm interested in things like that, but not convinced they exist.
23) Favourite thing to do in your spare time?
A.Bake, read, watch movies
24) Do you swear a lot?
A. Not as much as some people, but more than I should.
25) Biggest pet peeve?
A. My own inanity
26) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
A.Monotonous
27) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
A. Absolutely!
28) Do you believe in God?
A. I believe in something, I just haven't decided what it is yet.
I honestly don't know where my fitness has gone.
I took December off.
My first run back in January, I managed 6 miles. The 2 days later, I managed 7 miles. Then 2 days later I managed 8 miles.
That's 21 miles in one week after 4 weeks of no running.
The second week, I did 9 miles, then 2 days later, I upped the incline and did 8 miles.
I managed to keep doing at least 2x8 mile runs a week for January.
I didn't think I was going to be fit enough for my first race, but I ran it, and I ran it well. The following week, I only managed a 4 miler, and then left it a few days, and then did a 9 miler.
I then managed a couple of 6 milers during the week. Then the week before the next race, I just about managed 2x3 mile runs, but had to walk for some of that.
Following the race, I did a 3 mile run that week, but was shattered for the rest of the week and didn't go running.
I wanted to start afresh this week.
I managed just about 6 miles on Monday, but really couldn't have done anymore. I went to the gym last night with every intention of running 7 miles, but only just managed 3 and that was a struggle.
I just don't get it. I really don't. This time last year I was running at least 20 miles a week, now I'm barely managing 9? What's that all about? True, I've upped my pace ever so slightly, but I just feel weak all the time.
I know I'm eating enough, because I'm not losing weight, so I must be. I'm eating plenty of vegetables, porridge for breakfast every day, lots of fruit (oranges, grapes), and having calcium through milk. I'm eating some carbs (sweet potato, tortilla wrap); so I honestly don't know why I'm not able to run the distances I used to be able to.
