Yay!

This week its exactly a year since I joined Slimming World, weighing in at my all time heaviest of 11 stones 11 pounds (165 pounds) - not good when you're only 5' 2". At this week's weigh-in I finally hit my 3 stone target (123 pounds)! Fantastic, especially as I really wanted to make it within in the year and in time for the last class being held by our lovely consultant whose place will be taken by someone else from next week. I've gone from (UK) size 16 tops and 14/16 bottoms to size 10 and 8 respectively, still takes some getting used to - there's a fatter me still in my head! Of course a lot of it is vanity but also I do feel better for all the healthy food I've been eating (cooking from fresh every day as opposed to old habits of raiding the freezer for packets of ready-cooked meals) and him indoors has benefitted - he comes with me to SW (the only man in the class!) and is a pound away from losing 4 stones! Now I just have to keep up the good work.

Went to see mum last weekend with lovely daughter. Mum looked tinier than ever, she's walking again, doesn't need the wheelchair to get around any more, but she seemed tired and distant - didn't speak or respond much but she was pleased to see us. Hopefully she will have perked up a bit when we go again. I really must get round to putting all the paperwork generated since becoming Deputy in order - the Court of Protection will be wanting a report in a few months and I've got to demonstrate that I've been looking after mum's affairs properly. Is there ever a point in adult life when you don't get to be responsible for something and can just relax, dementia excluded?!

feh

Been a bit low, on and off, lately. I think its probably still linked to not feeling comfortable making decisions as mum's deputy - have spent a chunk of her money recently on getting the bungalow's electrics updated, a new bathroom fitted and a new gas fire installed. Had a mini meltdown when lovely daughter said the reproduction victorian fire she'd chosen looked too big in situ, its a gorgeous slate hearthed, cast iron coal effect fire with a chunky oak-like surround with a price to match. I think it will look ok once the rest of the room is decorated, sigh. Logically I know the alterations will add value to mum's property so if I do have to sell it, hopefully it will do well. Still finding it stressful though, doing this stuff 'behind her back'. Next expenses will be flooring (going to price laminate but may have to settle for carpeting if the price is extortionate) and decorating. Aaargh.

Yesterday I thought I was starting early with dementia - I couldn't remember what I'd done with the spare wheel on my car that I needed to replace a flat tyre. Today I discovered that my new car wasn't fitted with a spare, just a tyre inflator which does diddly squat when you've a puncture. Which bright spark came up with that one? (Apparently it saves car manufacturers money and decreases carbon emissions - small comfort if you have a blowout in the middle of nowhere but good news for the recovery services!)

Also I've had a chest infection for weeks so haven't been to see mum for a while. Haven't managed to get to the doctor's yet but have an appointment tonight. Back to work tomorrow after a week off to get the work at the bungalow done so I'll be playing catch up AND I've 5 big reports to complete before the first week in February as well as the daily stuff - more stress, and I'm waiting to find out where I'll be sent next - am moving to a new team around the end of March. Never thought I'd say this but roll on retirement!

Oh, and just to put the tin hat on it, having forked out £60 for a new tyre and consoled myself with lunch and a mooch round the charity shops with a friend, I got back to the car to find a £50 parking ticket (£25 if I pay up within 14 days). Grr. AND I've just discovered my friend left her shopping in the boot of my car.