We had peaches, we had plums, we had strawberries in the sun, but the peaches and the plums, like the strawberries are all gone - 10 / 10 thread

[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

Is it today, Idris, I thought it was tomorrow?

Yes, he will have to delay going. I wasn't looking forward to it but obviously I'd rather they weren't all ill for him not to go.

Your cinema sounds fun. What is the film? I went to see The Duchesse, it had just started when I went to see what was on. I really enjoyed it, more than I expected to. Yes, the Times said she didn't fully develop the character making it hard to care about her but I didn't find that. I thought she was very good and I'm not a Knightly fan. She didn't do that weird sneery smile that is normally so annoying. The costumes were good and Ralph Fiennes was funny. I found it quite moving at points.

Mostly I enjoyed being in the cinema on my own and not sharing the popcorn, even if I did leave most of it due to everyone around me being silent. There's only so much popcorn you can suck, it just leaves little hard bits of kernel that stick in youur teeth.

That's probably wise Bero, I think I should do the same, am sitting here while the children shout and trash things and I should have taken them out and done washing and baking and good things instead of messing around. Hope it works for you Bero and you come back when you feel more sorted.

Guad a friend of mine was in that film as the dealer of a card game. He was sitting with Ralph Fiennes or however you spell it, who was apparently moody and unfriendly. Sounded fun with all the costumes.

Sorry you're not feeling good Lully, everyone seems a bit low atm with all the rain and grey. I hope you feel better soon.

Bero i know exaclty what you mean. Having said that, I am queen of multitasking. dseepite having been on here al morning, I have also made apple cake, apple sauce to freeze, done a load of washing, hung other out to dry, tidied a boy room (ugh!!) and changed the beds. Oh and semi supervised boys making buns. Not TOO much mess.
DH however has had a lie-in and has been on pooter all morning. I feel another tantrum coming on....

Aaaaagh at more rain.

No wonder I am going mouldy

I have been industrious and cleaned the house.

It is tomorrow, isn't it, Idris?

I have made some fresh tomato soup with the billions of cherry toms and it tastes mighty fine

It is a soup kind of day, I think, but no crusty bread allowed

I think we might all feel better if we saw some sun and crispyness rather than damp fungalness.

I have just realized we have 1 sheet of toilet papaer left...perhaps I am spending too much time on here also...

D&V oh dear...hope you don;t get it too Guad.

I am glad to hear the Duchess was good because I want to see it.

Thank you all birthday wishes - it is tomorrow but will happily take any wishes in advance

I can't keep up!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for all glumness

MrsC, I hope you stay well!!

There was a very British barbecue here yesterday where we all stood around stoically under umbrellas. The children ran about and trampolined in the rain and ds2 did odd things with mud, wearing only his pants

So far today I have made gingercake, apple flapjack and dough for bread and malted fruit loaf.

Goodness Idris, you don't look 55
Have a wonderful day

Probably because I'm 66 tomorrow

Thanks Boco
lost a very dear friend this week & struggling with ds too

its hard atm

Sorry things are hard, Lully.

Have had a marvellous 2 hours making mud pies digging my waterlogged allotty over
Dinner will be chicken with home grown ; beetroot, carrots, broccoli, beans, peas, broadbeans and leek. And un-home grown sweet potatoes.

Blackberries and apple cake for pud.

Oh dear Lully that's really sad about your friend. What's up with ds?

DD1 had a major meltdown this afternoon. She lay on the floor throwing things at me, crying, tore up a tissue box, emptied toys everywhere and threw them, then just repeatedly pounded on the settee. I decided to totally ignore it, although I wanted to shout and yell too. She carried on and on, and then she started slowly picking the toys back up, sorted out the torn out box, started tidying the whole room, got out the hoover, hoovered, got a cloth, dusted, then came over and we had a big hug, all without a single word being exchanged. Was very strange, but good, no need for any crossness as she seemed to just decide. 6 is funny age, still capable of lying on the floor howling, but also capable of hoovering a room! Am proud of her though, was good to pull herself out of it.

I'm so sorry Lully {{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}

Boco, that is quite amazing!

Fmv, you are showing off with your veg again.
I looked on your profile - aren't your boys lovely! And your boat is all big and real and boaty! Did I mention we are only 3 minutes from the K&A canal?

Oh Lully, that is sad news re your friend. I'm sorry. What's up with ds?

I just did an experiment, but results not as impressive as Boco's dd. DS2 wanted me to play a board game with him, and the others wanted to too. So when they started mucking about, and not taking turns and not remembering who had to pay what and when, rather than getting stressed which I usually do and saying 'It's YOUR turn' and 'STOP MESSING ABOUT WITH THE MONEY' I said nothing, and sat quietly while ds1 and ds2 arsed about in high voices, and dd rearranged her money and fell off her chair, and the noise was extraordinary. The upshot was the game collapsed halfway through. Not much of an experiment. Not a v. pleasant hour either. I hate board games. But I didn't ADD to the stress. So I suppose that's something, not sure it is though.

At one point I did say 'Ds2 you asked me to play, and so I am. So can't we just play the game?' like a rather churlish and difficult guest at a party. And he said 'You didn't have to' and that was that.

A rather tense and edgy day actually.

[tense]

[edgy]

FMV - your dinner sounds nice. The only dinner in this house is beans on toast for ds2. I feel a bit ropey myself now actually but I am sipping lemon water and telling myself it's psychological. Which it is. Yes.

There have been no behavoural experiments here today as they are all in bed, well apart from ds2 and he just plays with playdough and dances and watches bagpuss. No trouble really.

I am listening to Beirut's The Flying Club Cup recommended by Boco. It is very good.

Definitely psychological MrsC, yes

100x, I once played a game of Monopoly with dd1 and ds1, which always has its ups and downs, then they both got bored and wandered off and asked me to have their turns for them and I ACTUALLY DID IT. I sat there for some time playing Monopoly for three people by myself. Then I realised what I was doing, called, "I'm packing up now", and nobody answered. So I did pack up.

Oooh I'm glad you like it Guad, is good isn't it.

Sundays are a day of psychological experiments. All rather painful and frustrating usually. It's COLD too isn't it. I'm wishing it wasn't too early for heating. I'm not sure my just pretending I'm somewhere else will always have such startling results, but for today it was very successful. Sometimes dd scares herself I think, and then she decided to be amazingly good.

Am making borlotti bean stew with cheesy dumplings to make up for lack of heating.

We have a younger childs version of monopoly which is based around a theme park. Last time I played it I realised with horror that I'm dreadfully competitive, just like my dad used to be with me, and I used to hate it. They just didn't get the rules, and if one of them landed on the other ones ticket booth, dd1 would say,

'don't worry dd, you don'thave to pay, you haven't got much money left so you can stay for free, in fact, here, have some of my money, I have lots!'

and I would say 'NO she HAS to pay, those are the RULES!'

and they would get excited if they had ticket booths next to each other as they'd decide they were neighbours and plan outings to the fireworks etc, and I got all frustrated and realised that they're just not getting it and it would be NO FUN beating either of them as they weren't really trying.

can someone give me a really tasty recipe for bean stew which doesn't just taste like beans in stock cube...?

Toot, thank you, I do feel ds1 is particularly beautiful

We are watching Watership down and I have had to sneak on here to stop sobbing... Even thinking about that bright eyes song is making me leak some more.

Lol, Toot, that is making me laugh. The thought of you sittiing there playing yourself and then asking if you should pack up and no-one answers. I'm sorry but that is dreadfully funny.

my dad is 71 today. He hates birthdays so we all have to give him things but not mention his birthday - I did a 'oh i was in town and i thought you would like this frying pan adn then we had too many ground almonds and made you this cake.'

it was quite nice.

boco - your DD story is sad and happy at the same time.

I am also listening to flying cup club on boco recommendation to carrot.

DP is making supper - which I know shold be nice, but it is a lot of him using all the pans and saying "can oyu do the rice, I can't do rice, but rinse it first because you usually make it all sticky" and "I know you don't eat bacon but if I put a little bit in it will be okay won;t it"

Oh dear - we need a joint life coach happy injection don;t we.

FMV, I have one for a jamaican style black bean one.

Will try and find it.
May take some time!