Cream coloured parsnips and crisp apple strudel, Beetroot and bok choi and swiss chard with noodles - 10/10 thread,

[TooTicky]

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
here

yes please to pictures, they're not slides are they

Yes I think so Bee. I lived there for 23 years or so. I still go there because my mother and my grandmother live there now.

Oh she's back. Hurrah.

Sounds lovely. I have finished The Gathering in your absence [fast reader] let's talk about it when you're done.

Have eaten some vegetables and some fruit.

Avi - I don't think the fact that people have opinions on formal and less formal education means you should worry about expressing your views on it. Though I do see that perhaps you feel your mind is made up and you can't be bothered to argue with people who think differently. I think like this about most things.

We have had a shouty day. Also - most confusingly - we appear to be thinking about getting a dog. A dog? A dog! We even went to a pound this afternoon, a lot of scary and shouting dogs there. Then we all got in the car and shouted too.

I must scoop children up and put them to bed. I shall INSIST that we have a whispering bedtime, we must all whisper and smile gently at each other.

A dog! A dog? A dog!

Oh, no, not a dog

no it isn't worthy or anything like that TooT, I think you should watch it. I think everyone should watch it and then we can have a big debate thread about it

have had some red cabbage and some corn. Leftover meringue (it wasn't really done but nobody seemed to mind) with berries, a couple of satsumas, some lettuce and tomatoes and cucumber with lunch.

I've made some rather odd bread, with gluten free flour, and porridge oats

Construction is big chez FK. DS loves building / making things. As does his father. I am crap at making stuff and eternally frustrated by it so I am quite glad he might not face that frustration.

I would like to watch that film, Franny - what was it called again?

I am someway through The Gathering as well but I haven't picked it up for a while. It's good and I love it when I read it but I'm not longing to know what happens next and I don't get to read much as F is still in our room. I should try to finish it for when you talk about it unless Boco is nearly done.

I am eating asian pears. They are a bit peculiar but very nice.

We had a shouty day too. We got back at 4am this morning so i think our shouting was about being completely and insanely tired. The girls were wheeling their shared trolley along those flat escalator things at one in the morning being perky and excited. They were so good on the plane - i was amazed at how easy they were.

But now they're vile and dd1 especially so, lots of throwing herself on the floor and saying that everything is the worst whatever in the world and that she hates everything and wants to live on her own with the cat.

A dog?
I like the idea of a dog actually, but not really the reality. They also smell a bit and people with dogs have houses that smell of dogs but don't realise it. And you have to pick up poo a lot. You've just stopped having to deal with poo - you have to think hard about how you feel about going back to it.

I'm about half way through. I'm enjoying it, 100 she reminds me of you - it's her use of italics.

Glad you had a lovely holiday Boco. 24 sounds lovely.

Too much has happened on here today for me to keep up. Where's zippi been though?

2 bananas, raisins, grapes, 2 tangerines so far...

Poo, yes. And smelling, yes. And oh just bounce bounce take me for a walk in the rain. I don't know.

Couple who stayed over NY had a dog, and he came too. He was really rather nice and intelligent and had funny ears. And I liked seeing my dcs with him in the park. Ds1 especially - there is something about a boy with a dog, something about that relationship which is very moving.

Dh keen, dd keen, ds1 very keen, me and ds2 a little more wary. I don't know, we'll see.

MrsC we shall wait for you, and then we can gather for The Gathering.

Dh watching a film which is making me so tense I have had to leave. Oh and look at the time.

Having a dog can be really lovely though...

MrsC it was Together. Shall Boco let us send it round all of us?

I have had melon, the world's largest pear, and raisins

having a very sociable day after week of semi quarantine

100 you asked about bits of wood. If you go to B+Q or wherever and buy a 2 by 4 or something (tries to sound knowledgeable) they will cut it into any size bits you want. They won't be interesting shapes like the ones in the pack I guess - i think you could buy wooden wheel shapes from craft place perhaps?

we have been wavering over a dog, becausre the boys have been obsessed with having one for years. I am phobic about dog poo - just the smell....but one son particularly is so close to being a pup himself it's unreal. It would be such a great thing for him

My main thing is how doesonework and look after a dog adequatey. Dogs surely need to have a walk in the middle of the day too? And that isn't possible. Never mind the fact that we go camping such a lot and would have no-one to look after the dog. (Most campsites seem to be dog friendly or child-friendly, sledom both )

Our cat is very low maintenance...

I like cats very much. My cat likes company so sits quietly wherever I am in the house, and occasionally miaouws at me in a friendly way and kind of leans. And she sleeps on my feet. And I have no involvement in her pooing habits at all. My last cat could pee in the toilet, - but couldn't flush obviously.

my cat is a big handsome black beastie known locally as the beast of bodmin. He is of course to me, mummy's ickle soldier...He was my baby substitue before DH agreed we could start having children! Again, where he poos is no concern of mine as it is clearly not in my back yard...

salad for lunch

headache

can;t stand dogs

We once had a dog and 14 cats. We now have one cat.
Dd1 wants chickens.
Ds1 wants a dog and a leopard gecko.
Ds2 wants a monkey.
Dd2 quite likes furry things until they move near her, then she screams. She likes worms.

ds wants a rabbit
dp wants a cat
I want to be able to go on holiday when i want and not have to go through the misery of having any more animals die

I am mulling, this is what I have told dh and ds1 that I am mulling. And then when I say to ds1 'you'd have to be responsible, take it to the park after school, feed it, groom it' he looks all shiny behind his glasses and nods and agrees and says 'can we get one that can swim?' and I don't think he's really paying attention.

Thank you for wood tips Franny. I shall go in and say '2 be 4 please' and then say ' erm, could you cut it into triangles and things for me?' and see how we get on.

We had a dog growing up called Poppy, and my mum still has Poppy's son Ted - and he's such a wonderful dog - part sheep dog and highly clever and smart and kind - the children climb all over him and he looks a little bit embarrassed but won't move until they're done. You need a clever dog. One that can swim. And do tricks.

I'm off to see the wizard tonight, and actually i have a total respect for her now and will call her Mrs Homeopathicist instead of wizard because i have no rash at all! It's like a bleedin miracle and i love her and i am converted, it's so unbelievably great to have no itching and nasty red rash, proper normal skin!

ha yes, funny you should say that because on our way to the dogs home ds2 - wary and mulling - piped up and said 'do you remember that book Courtney? And they got a dog and he could play the violin and cook food and things, and he saved them from a death experience in the boat? Shall we get that one?'

Hurrah for Mrs H, goodness that must be such a relief Boco. Homeopaths have excellent rap here on 10/10 - they have sorted everyone.

I am going to concoct an illness and find a charlatan one, and then I can call him Rasputin because all other homeopaths are bloody marvellous. Grrr.

I am suing you lot!

Rhubarb this is a dangerous place for you, you may start court proceedings but then be blanched and boiled and served with a pear coulis before anyone is served with the thing that they serve you with when you're being sued, whatever that is.

I fart on your healthfood!