Desperate Housewifes

Is back for a new series on Channel 4.

No cancer scenes to deal with this time I don't think. New family on the street. They are predictably mysterious. New twists. Various wife swapping. Possible attempted murder.

Worth watching. Although think that Wisteria Lane will be missing Edie this series. The baddies are always the best to watch in these things.

Fluctuating Energy Levels

My energy is so up and down at the moment. It's been "a bit of a week," what with one thing and another and I seem to be really tired generally. My routine of trying to nap in the day is helping, but sometimes I get it completely wrong and sleep for too long, and then I am all out of sorts.

I babysat for some friends last night and ended up snoozing most of the night on the sofa. Whilst this felt like a real treat at the time, I don't think it's great for routine when you have energy issues like myself. I woke up this morning and applied a large amount of make up to try and fill in the bags under my eyes in an attempt look less scary whilst I was helping to run a workshop. Hardly a great advert for the exercise if I look like I had done a couple of rounds with Frank Bruno.

It went well in the end I think. No one commented on my tired look. And my afternoon nap this afternoon was right on cue.

The frustrating thing with fatigue is when it hits, little things can seem a bit too much. I don't even get round to calling the people I mean to, and then I end up feeling bad (and tired) because I haven't. I find myself in this weird mix of meeting people for cups of tea, going to classes, doing my course, etc and yet being totally useless in other aspects of my life.

But maybe that is just life. We do some bits better than others.

And yes Anne. Tomorrow is all brand new with no mistakes in it. I'm going to add my own twist on that one. Tomorrow is all brand new with no mistakes in it and lots of energy too.

Tuesday Treats

Treats of the day today have been some of these:

And I had a friend over this afternoon to watch a lot of this:

Long Monday Morning

I left the house when it was still dark this morning. I never leave so early it is still dark these days. Felt a bit strange. But then I guess spending your morning having radioactive sugar put in you and then hanging out in a tube of lasers for an hour or so is not really normal either. My friend took me to the hospital. Having company makes these things so much easier to bear, and stopped me getting into a spiral of darkness in my head.

Things were delayed and so we chatted about lots of things. One of them is why having these scans is so traumatic. There are many reasons. But I find the fact I am stripped of my wedding rings and my underwear particularly tough. It's like for those couple of hours I'm not allowed to be me. My stomach is empty from fasting. And no matter how much make up I put on, it all seems to sink into my face through the stress of it. I emerge afterwards jaded and weak.

Whilst the rational part of the mind says that these scans are needed and good, the emotions of the process don't work like that. I don't want any of this. And whilst dressed in a hospital gown (although these days I get rather insistent that I can keep my clothes on as they have no metal on,) I am placed into a confined space while lasers take images of my insides, looking for the nasties.

I was trying hard today to think that whilst I was "there," I didn't have to actually "be there." Thanks Charlie Cruz. It works to a point. But not entirely.

But I was grateful for my friend and her words. It would have been a lot harder without her there. And when I got to my doorstep this is what I found:

And inside there were a couple of these:

Having been on sugar fast since New Year, with maybe a couple of blips, cup cake tasted so good.

How blessed I am to have the support and love that is around me.

Well done United

At last. I hear you had a good game.

Well done Wayne Rooney especially. 4 goals. The boy did good. And I am personally grateful to you for raising my husband's hopes for the league.

I am told we are big fans of Manchester United but not big fans of the Glazers. I don't understand the debt issues, but I hear they are not good. I haven't actually tried to understand them to be fair, but as a qualified, all be it not practicing, Chartered Accountant, I maybe should be able to get my head around it.

All I know is that if you are a true fan then you didn't wear your red and black United scarf to the match today. You wore green and gold.

Any one know the significance of green and gold?

Muscle Stabilising

I have learnt a lot about deep muscle stretching so far. Today I spent the day learning about deep muscle stabilising. A lot of it was similar to some of the pilates techniques, but with a slightly different focus. You see our muscles need to be strong AND flexible.

There is much stress on the course at the moment about assessments and demonstrations. I care and I want to do well. But with bigger "assessments" to face in the next few days or so, it kind of puts a new perspective on things.

Still a lot to learn and can't remember much of what we have been told it seems.

Strengthen. Stretch. Breathe.

Sweet Potato Mash

I realise I haven't posted any recipes for a while. This is a hearty healthy winter warmer.

Serves 2-3

2 Sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 white potato, peeled and chopped
Big knob of butter
Splash of milk
Salt and pepper
Cubed Pancetta (optional but lovely)

Boil the potatoes (sweet and white) in hot salty water for about 15 minutes, until soft but not falling apart.

Meanwhile fry up some cubed Pancetta in a small frying pan, ideally in some garlic oil.

Strain and return to pan with butter milk and seasoning.

Mash well. Stir in the pancetta. Check the seasoning again and serve while piping hot.

Great with fish or griddled poultry.