Tutti frutti - all booty - 10/ 10 club BOOT CAMP - all sign in and line up for parade

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page

It takes an hour, sorry, should have said that amongst my other witterings about it. It's nice really...

Indeed! And even then, it needs plenty of proddings just to make sure.

There is nowhere to buy one.

SK, your tea sounds lovely and warming.

LL, the dalek - he would love it but I fear it would upstage my crocheted one, so thank you but no thank you

Boiler chap came today. Needs a new part which, if still available, should come next week.

It was! But it has not sorted out my ears or tonsil. Gah. Does anyone know if sticking a clove of garlic in one's ear actually works before I make a twat of myself. I wanted to go on the expedition to clear out bird nesting boxes in the forest tomorrow.

I am going to the GYM now. And don't try and stop me

SK, dd1 had a v. painful ear recently - on and off for a couple of weeks - and on the recommendation of the homeopath, she put a warm cooked clove of garlic in it. It is now fine!

Did you make the tea yourself SK?

Tatties, the only reason I am not talking to you is because you are not here. You are at the gym.

Excellent, thanks, I'll throw one in the steamer with the dcs' broccoli!

Yes, I did. You put 6 slices of root ginger, half an orange and half a lemon (preferably organic), sliced and unpeeled, 6 crushed cardamom pods, 3 cloves, a smallish piece of cinnamon stick and a star anise (which I don't like so I don't use) in a pan, boil a litre of water separately, pour on, stir well and infuse for at least 10 mins, depending on how spicy you like it, even longer. Strain, guzzle!

started a thread elsewhere but it is doomed to failure so: anyone got any lovely recipes involving chestnuts? (not stuffing). I have the urge to eat them and eat them

Ooh, thanks SK

Sorry fmf, I had some last year and wondered and deliberated for so long that they went sort of mouldy looking

Dd1 and ds1 have just had a band bust-up. A band they formed less than an hour ago. The argument was like something out of a play - I think they were quite enjoying the theatricalness of it. I couldn't help smiling as ds1 said, in his most rockin' voice, "'Scuse me pet," as he squeezed past the cat on his way to the garden.

Ds is admiring their style!

Hello.
I had my hair cut, lots of it. It's now kind of shoulder length and layered so it's gone very curly. I'm not totally sure but i think it's ok. I do actually feel less crazy, so that is good.

DD1 had a funny turn this morning - she went very white and sweaty and shaky and thought she was going to be sick and has been wiped out again.

Have friends arriving soon for the weekend. Friend coming with her brand new boyfriend - having just split up with long term partner. We love the exboyf very much so are trying to be positive about there being a different one. But dd1 is furious. She totally hearts ex. She says she will NOT look at or speak to the new person. She says he is boring and there is no way he will be as nice. I'm hoping she'll come round.

Friend left a message about coming the other day, but accidentally texted it to the landline. It would have said 'i would like to come with C, but am unsure.' But when the computer lady voice read it out to dp, he thought it said 'i would like to come with Seabert Emshaw.' He asked me who the hell was coming to stay and bringing someone called Seabert!' I do hope Seabert Emshaw is nice and we can get past the guilt of having him come and stay.

I've eaten so badly today, worse even than yesterday. I think i'll just have one more day in the nice pit with all the brownies. I've had 4 crackers. Just really not felt like eating anything today. Dp is cooking nice pasta bake though.

PMSL at Seabert Emshaw. I do love that text lady and the way she says very frivolous or even very serious things in her terribly posh voice.

3and, hello!! It is very nice to see you. Were you busy with anything nice, or just work and interviews and so on?

absolute at putting warm cooked garlic in your ear. I loathe big garlic and I loathe having things in my ear.

Tatties are you at the gym? [suspicious] Are you listening to Depeche Mode?

Littlerach I can see you are trying. Try harder

Zippi your post about the iron body and FK's post about the 19cm girth carrot have got muddled in my mind. I think we need a few details, it is only fair to the gentleman concerned, if he has made you happy

Lully great news about the nursery

Lionheart I think it will be wonderful for the children. And if it is dreadful and you hate it, you can think "never mind, when I get back I can tell MN ALL about it." This is what I do in extremis. I can't work out if it is useful or just utterly sad.

Supper time chez FK has turned into an episode of Butterflies.

DH away so off to get DS ready for bed. No bath because I can;t be bothered after the tea fiasco

DS is scattering choc brownie crumbs on the floor for a "little bird"

Well I'm currently stalking round the house with a HUGE one sticking out of my left ear, so there.

I didn't do any veg with lunch, so am struggling now I reckon to make 10. I should take my own advice. For dinner have had kidney beans, hummus, avocado, red pepper, sugar snaps, cucumber, beetroot with tortilla wraps. It was probably about 3 portions? I think you have to eat such a lot of raw veg to get a portion, don't you?

Sounds familiar, FK. Mine are sitting round the table trying all kinds of ways of getting out of eating their trees.

Oh heck that is making me feel peculiar SK

oh bleeugh it's awful. I was on LSD one time with someone who kept sticking is finger in my ear and I have never got over it. It's repulsive to put things in your ear, and as for garlic in your ear.... [wobble]

Ok, I'll go and sulk down the pit. Sorry, actually- I can identify with your feeling only it's all about bellybuttons for me. Dh once made me ill by putting parsley in his

oh lord i can imagine that

don't go in the pit, just put a bag over your ear