So GP has signed my off sick for a week with instructions to rest and do only nice things.....

[Portofino]

So what shall I do?

I been feeling awful for a couple of weeks and gone down with a bad cold. Have been really stressed at work recently and having anciety attacks/feeling that everything is getting on top of me.

My lovely GP has told me that I have a throat infection and my blood pressure is a bit high - stress related. Therefore I am to have a whole week off at home to solely concentrate on looking after myself. (Fingers crossed of course that dd doesn't catch the lurgy) I am positively encouraged to go for a walk/go swimming/go shopping even . And to eat nice food.

Trouble is I cannot remember the last time I ever had this much time to myself - life is usually one big To Do list. So where do I start? And what healthy and delicious meals should i be making to make myself feel better?

Ohh how lovely (if not for a nice reason)

Can I come too?....I'll cook

You're more than welcome - i'm very stuck in a rut with recipes at the mo. I do have Mamma Mia and SATC on DVD and have had no time to watch them yet. So that is on the list.

I love these Belgian doctors. My GP in the UK would never have suggested shopping as a medical therapy! Luckily DH is being very supportive.

OK my favourites

Fry onions with garlic & coriander add mashed potato & mix well - make little cakes and fry them - serve with tomato salsa/relish

Grill chicken or fry steak - stir fry onion, tomato & peppers with soy sauce have tgether in a sandwich

Stirfry leeks, peppers, mushrooms & chicken (or lamb add a bit of ginger)

Heinz tomato soup & garlic bread

Bacon buttie

Ooh yummy!

read

sit down

go and see a film and enjoy the peace

The cinema! Thank you piratecat! I thought about going swimming ON MY OWN ie proper swmming, rather than faffing in the baby pool, and reading, but having very rarely done anything by myself for 5 years I had forgotten about going to the pictures! Ooh and I can go and eat lunch first!

I'm excited now. Mind you I feel absolutely shit today, so hopefully at some point next week i will feel well enough to do this....

Lucky you - make sure you rest.

Lovely quick and easy pasta dish:

1 onion
4 mushrooms
Creme Fraiche
Paste (Penne or Fusilli)
Smoked Salmon (or chick or ham as alternative)

Fry onion and mushrooms till soft (10 mins) whilst pasta boils. Chuck in salmon at last minute (chick/ham at beginning with onions/mushs if raw), add pasta and dollop plenty of creme fraiche in pan, warm gently until hot. Stick in a bowl and munch.

Gorgeous.

Go and have a massage/pedicure/your hair done or all 3
enjoy

Potter into to town late morning, do some window shopping. Then go for lunch somewhere only adults go - take a naff magazine.

Then make a plan for the rest of the day, buy at least one nice thing just for you - a new purse, handbag or make up, clothes etc.

Go and get your hair done! Nails? I am getting v now just thinking about it!

I had a week off work recently struck down with a horrid virus and chest infection.

And I discovered the delights of lying on the sofa with a blanket over me watching daytime telly.

I found project Catwalk to be most diverting. Hope you feel better soon.

My nails are crap - probably a sympton of being run down for a long time. Hairdressers is a good idea though! We're a bit skint so don't want to go overboard on splurgy stuff.

Actually these are all such good ideas - can't believe that i actually need assistance in how to have fun on my own! I managed for 35 years! I just seem to have forgotten....

Definitely treat yourself to a meal for one somewhere. It doesn't have to be expensive.

I feel so guilty though! It's like, if I am too ill to go to work, I SHOULD be on the sofa with a blanket watching TV.

My GP is looking at this in an holistic manner though. Ie work is making me stressed, stress is making me ill, if I don't stop being stressed I will get more ill etc.

So therefore i am prescribed Ibruprofen and shopping! I like it - but it makes me feel more guilty! I have to go back in a week to discuss whether the rest has sorted me out, or to see if something "else" is needed to sort me out.

Dh has thoughtfully warned me of the downward spiral of AD "addiction". Him and his Psychology degree. Cheers arse mate!

well ad's or not, some of us do rely on them it's true.

me for one, yet i struggled for about half my life without them. Tried everything, yet the ad's have given me back 'me'.

enjoy the weekend.xx