Sarah, welcome back luv, sounds like a fantastic time. Sorry to hear about your fall, that hip doesn't sound good, they're really not supposed to make those grinding popping noises...get a thorough check up my woman, don't take any guff in a ten minute appointment.

Happy Birthday Steph....where are you then?

I still can't find my core ball so am going after curves tomorrow to get another, the lady at curves who is one in charge was talking to me yesterday and asked if I was sweating, I was, and told her so, and she told me that was good, but if I didn't think I was sweating enough, she could work me harder? I didn't quite get what she meant, the machines are worked by oneself, but I felt I was sweating enough, so I shan't worry to much about it.

It's been beautiful weather here of late, today I was VERY BRAVE! We have some stone steps down to the basement from the outside of the house, they have one of those open outwards upwards set of doors on them, ( a bit like the ones you see on Twister at the beginning) and then the main proper door to the basement. Well the area with the steps was all manky and cobwebby ( I hate spiders) and I spent 45 minutes sweeping, hoovering and bug spraying and now I can walk in and out without worry to hang the washing out I'm proud of me. It was a pretty good workout too, as I was constantly leaping up and down the steps incase there was still a living spiddy.

Ok, time for a cuppa and a bit of telly with hubs before he heads to his pit.

Later taters.

Morning! I am like a zombie this morning. I went to bed at 8pm last night and slept right through. I have never felt so diet. Darn this nasty virus!

Work has been manic. I don't know, I go off for two weeks and the place falls apart. No one has done any of our boring work, so I sat there being a lowly clerk all day yesterday manipulating figures and sending snipey emails.

I start my new job next week instead of this week, which has annoyed me, because the only reason I went back this week is because I thought I would be in training for my new role. I should have had this week off as the doctor said and not worry about the training being mucked up. I hate that I always think of other people.

I am craving pears! What does this mean??? I don't recall ever really liking pears!!!!

G'morning!

I took some ibrufen and walked the dogs for an hour and I feel a bit better (not sure if its the ibrufen or the walk). The popping, grinding and banging seem a bit less today after a night in my own bed so I'm putting the doctor's appointment on hold. I'm hoping this is just a temporary thing and it'll wear off. TBH, I can't remember exactly what happened just before I fell - pretty much like last time really - one minute I was standing at the top looking down and the next minute I'm in a heap at the bottom. I don't remember feeling giddy or tripping over anything. This time it was the full length of a flight of stairs in a pub - no... I wasn't tiddly - we'd only just got there and the loo was upstairs.

I still haven't plucked up the courage to get on the scales but I'm setting myself a target of getting in to a pair of Next size 14 jeans by Christmas (I bought them at a Next clearance outlet for £5!)

Kylie, I'm glad you're feeling a bit better - I wonder if the pear craving is anything to do with your illness. Maybe your body needs something thats in pears?

Helen, you beanpole you!!!! Does your trainee know how much weight you've lost and how hard you've worked to get as fit as you are?

Chris, you are a braver person to face those spiders than I could ever be! Yuck!!

Michele, I hope you have a better day today

Peacock, does your Mum know what's causing her balance problems?

Veggie,

Frus, hope the binge monster hasn't gotten to you today!

I think I'm getting cheese withdrawal symptoms!!

Hi Sarah Ann - I still think you should go to the Docs - mind you - my mum has trouble being seen. One of those places where every week they change the rules about whether you phone first, turn up or what. SHe has mentioned the balance thing. They told her to go to Physio and she had to wear something around her foot but it was too uncomfortable. I think she needs to see a specialist but no one will listen. She has high blood pressure (how is yours?) and has had a mini stroke apparently. She has an annoying feeling that her throat is blocked and keeps coughing so everytime she goes to the docs they put her on different blood pressure pills - but with similar side affects! I know she is worried she had a growth in her throat.

I do get giddy feelings and I know my balance is not good but I am working up the enthusiasm to go back to the docs (haven't been over a year!) but I am feeling 'funny' to day so I guess I should go back.


Kyk - at least your craving is for pears and not sometihing naughty!

OOOOH! Choccie heaven (sorry girls and I ain't sharing!!)

One of the Docs (a nice one - they do exist) has brought in some chocs from Rococo - choccie almonds and caffe chocolat. All for me!! That is cos I brought him back soem chocs from Bruge. But the packaging is the thing!!! Wow! Like a cardboard tin - Provencal blue on white print. Gorgeous - and the chocs ain't bad!

Interesting, I have just looked at the nutritional info on pears and they are high in potassium and phosphorous, so perhaps that's it! It's just so weird, as I am not overly fond of them, but I love them at the moment!

I am meant to be busy, but the work's all disappeared, I even went looking for some, but no one seems to have any! I think I'll just sit here and look busy.

Sarah Ann, go to the doctor woman! At least they won't be playing with your teeth!

My knees are killing me, it's all part and parcel of the virus, according to doctor, but it hurts going up and down stairs. I feel like I'm never going to be able to exercise again!!!! I'm going to go swimming this week, my thighs still look scary (well they're always scary because they're enormous but I can live with that), the peeling skin is improving and not falling off in sheets anymore.

This was some virus!

Oh PLEASE share - even though I don't much like chocolate I do lurve choccie almonds.

Talking about chocolate, I had a choccie experience on holiday. We found a shop which sold specialist sweeties (I couldn't resist going in) - and we got chatting to the owner. He talked me in to trying a bar of 99% chocolate, I thought it'd be wonderful but it was pretty weird. I put most of it in to a chilli. If you want to try it, its called Noir Infini 99% cacao by Michel Cluizel.

Peacock - your Mum's surgery and mine sound very similar. Every time I phone up the rules have changed. Yup, I've got slightly raised blood pressure - the last time I had it checked I was borderline about needing medication, that was in April/May I think.. I didn't know it could cause a balance problem! The thing is, I don't have a balance problem on a day to day basis - I've just had these two falls but I didn't get an unbalanced feeling in advance - I just seemed to fall for no reason! I have had other falls but they've always been for a reason - either I've fallen over a dog or slipped on wet leaves, snow or mud.

Ky, what was your virus? It sounds awful.

Erk! I replied to that and it's gone!

The doctor described it as "tonsilitis and a nasty virus", no name given! It wasn't nice at all, vomiting the first week, turning bright red with a rash, headaches, joint pain, not being able to mobilise properly, not nice at all!

Chocolate is one of those substances that needs some sugar! 99% cocoa is a bit too strong even for me!

OMG - poor you! That sounds absolutely dreadful.

Well 99% choccie is alright in cooking so your chilli must hae been good Sarah Ann but is too much for day to day slobbering!

There you go Kyk - maybe you need more potassium and phosphorus.

This is what I'm thinking, I'll buy more pears today, I have discovered nice ripe ones at Marks and Spencer on the way to work.

I'm moving desks today, I'll be sitting by the window, right near the big boss, so no more playing on the internet during working hours. Shame.

Well even Big Bosses have to go loo sometime and go to meetings!

Mind you mine gives me a heart attack as we have a connecting door between us and he flies through it!

Very quiet here today!!

I love pears but only the sweet/soft type I don't like those hard ones which (IMHO) are only fit for feeding to horses.

I'm going to start swimming again next week whether this hip likes it or not. I just about managed another hour out with the dogs again this morning and while it was certainly enough for my blummin hip it just isn't enough for the rest of me. I really miss the sort of mind clearing meditation mode that I go in to on my two hour walks and I'm hoping swimming will give me back some of that.

DH got on the scales last night and he has gained half a stone on holiday (which suits him) but if he's managed to put 7lbs on his skinny then heavens only knows what lard I've put back on. I'm going to be brave and do my normal weigh in tomorrow. Blummin' Cornish food - I don't understand why the population of that entire county aren't enormous!

I'm FAMOUS! http://uk.geocities.com/shentiekickb...rofilejen.html

I was away yesterday - Independent living exhibition at Ally Pally, then of course we had to spend the rest of the day SHOPPING!