It was an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot zucchini - 10 / 10 thread - all welcome

[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

I looked after 2 children today I'm exhausted!! I had my friends ds2 while she had her baby. YIPPPEEEEEE!!! She was due to go into hosp for induction tomorrow but got her homebirth today. Her little girl was 9lb 12 I've got another friend's ds2 tomorrow while she moves house. [weary]

Creeps in from pub quietly ashamed of having no useful advice to offer.

I didn't have any wine, just a whine.

F&V good today

butterbean salad with all sorts of added extras, pecorino salad with onions spinach sundried toms etc etc, artichoke hearts, stuffed peppers

cauliflower, chickpeas, peas, carrots, toms, onions

and a banana

More like 15/10 there.

boco

I know I feel like that too. Like if I don;t do it no-one will from nit combing to recycling to reading records to lunch boxes to pe kits and so on and so on and so on.

I resent the fact that the only time I get to do my work (for a job see - not fun!) is at 2am. I resent a lot of things. Sometimes it is worse than others - main things being not having had time for myself to let my head stop thinking about all the things I have to do and to float a bit. I did that in London for my birthday when I drew the bottle.

Also it is bad if I am plain old run down tired.

Drinking good red wine, eating cheddars and watching reliable comedies (mighty boosh, it crowd, black books) work as a temporary lift.

I think you need head space.

whoah ES - thats good going!

I have had banana, melon, chickpea and spinach soup and cabbage, broccolli, parnsip, carrots, mushrooms, green beans and onion with rabbit stew

also if a dc is cross with you it is sign that they are very secure in their relationship with you and feel able to express themself without fear of not being loved or you being unpredictable.

oh rabbit stew!

I have had tomato soup and an apple. I am going for an indian meal tonight. Any advice on choices?

ES are you going to study at your 'local' university?

Kinda. I'm going to Bath, they don't do nutrition at UWE (already been there and don't care to repeat the experience) and they only do the MSc at Bristol proper. It's only 20mins away by car, or about an hour if I do the cycle path (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!)

Curry - how hot do you like it? My favourite is hara chicken which is hot but not kill your tastebuds hot. I think thats a Kashmiri dish tho so prob not done everywhere. Can't beat a jalfrezi either - hot but sour too and with lentils in it to thicken the sauce. We have the most amazing curry place down the road from us, I'm dribbling thinking about it.

Bee you're very very good at being positive, you must be really tired, you are SUCH a sunshine filled person. Can't be easy though, you got big reserves of goodness.

I watched the whole first series of Black Books the other day - the episode when Manny gets an espresso machine and Sweeney dvds and becomes a wired 70's cop is the best.

Actually being in London without dp doing karate all night will probably do the trick. Sleep always helps. Thanks for the advice and general vegetable niceness.

Did I mention my friend's ds did crayoning on my wallpaper? [strained smile]

BBB I always have lamb tikka, the dry one with no sauce. It's yummy and low calorie compared to saucy ones (not that that's why I have it but it's an added bonus!)

I often feel like that, Boco. Quite definitely normal. It's like doing a job you quite like but sometimes you just wish you didn;t have to go to work and do it, then afetr a week or two things pick up again and you start to enjoy it again.

I do try to persuade DH that I need some time to slope off and be me for an hour or two when I feel like this.

DS and I have planted our seeds today - celeriac, toms, aubergine, some strawbs and some basil.

I ma going to do ruby chard, carrots and lettuces as well.

F&V good today, but just found a creme egg and wolfed it

Our washing machine is properly broken

Not sure when I will be able to do any washing again

chicken or veggie dansak for me all that heat and pineapple and lentils mmmm

I bloody love black books...have just downloaded loads from ch4 to watch again!

BTW this is my favourite title ever

I was inspired by last year's crap courgette harvest on my allotment - they were all itsy bitsy teeny weeny and spotty

boco it i difficult bringing up childrren..you always feel that you could have done things better if you were less tired, less hormonal, better supported, etc etc

you will be fine really

i ahave had loads of conversations with my dd2 saying what a failure i was and how i did everything wrong for her

and she says no you didn't/weren't she just did things and she is the one responsible

older of course but if you are a loving mum and im sure you are then that is going to be the winning thing

How does one become a sunshiny person? I would love to be a sunshiny person. At work I am bright and funny but it is all a mask. I feel low and drained most of the time.

Black Books - fab - smashing brother bought 3 series on DVD for dh and I one Christmas. Brilliant.

FrayedKnot I can smell you from here

i think its a nice title too

i am feeling a bit low tho so havent much to add

fmf makes a beautiful glamorous hippy

Zippi - is Evesham nice for a wander round?

well i havent really been there..i have driven there to drop off dd2 thats all

i dont think it is that intyeresting

like a little town

Tiger feet - no-one is sunshiney all the time.
People who appearto be are inane simpletons! Or fecking liars

AM glad womblings Dad is at home now.ES, are you having a tattoo removed?

Sorry about your friend Boco. It's never nice to have someone comment about things that are worrying you anyway. Make sure you have a bit of time for yourself though, won't you? The constant nagging and repeating oneself and being ignored can be sooo wearing.

Hope Mr Bee has a nice birthday. I assume there was cake?

Lully, I used to have pet rats and I became very allergic to them so it is quite possible your DS is sensitive to mouse wee. Can you block the holes round the pipes by the boiler? Even newspaper will slow then down a bit until you can get it done properly. I have a recipe for lemon & poppyseed cake, if you still need it.

Zippi, are you ok?

What is Feijoa?

I need gardening advice. My climate is different but would you grow these from seed (outside, straight in the soil) or buy seedlings?

Basil, Corainder, Tomatoes, beans of some sort, radishes.

Is it worth growing broccoli & celery?

basil is hard to grow from seed all the others should be ok

i dont know anything about celery

yes i am ok

i am just feeling insecure

it is my own fault for getting into something i know has a finite limit

because i failed to know that dp ever had plans to leave for a bout a year before he did i am now reading into evry little thing and word situation etc

Zippi is quite right, Boco.

Is the A30 in Shaftsbury a horribly busy road?

And can you help me with this?

Let's say a couple is seeing a marriage counsellor. They have agreed that 1 person will pay 2/3 and the other 1/3 of the bill.

When the bill arrives, it is itemised. The person paying 1/3 was 30 minutes late for one session. Should that person be entirely responsible for the cost of those 30 minutes or should it remain a 1/3 & 2/3 split of the final bill?

Does that make sense?

I would love to be an inane simpleton, just for a little while [wistful sigh]

Boco you sound much in need of a break - is there anyone who could have your dc's for a day or two so you could recharge?

Whaaat? He's leaving? Where's he going? Why aren't you on msn?

UR - depends on why they were late