Helloooooooooooooo!!
Thank you everyone for the advice/encouragement about the diet - v. much appreciated!
I've decided to keep going and will try to generate a bit more enthusiasm for it and do a bit better with the meal planning (which goes to pot a bit outside of term time). I think Blue and Swan are correct - it will be easier in summer and I will definitely regret it in Sept if I haven't given it a good go. First step is to try and coordinate with dh when he is here so that I can get out for good, long, fast walks.
DD had mahoosively long lie-in this morning until 9am 
(was starting to get worried!) - she's normally up with the dawn and raring to go, no matter how late she went to bed the night before - think she is finally throwng off the shackles of the school routine and getting in to holiday mode. I then let her (as special treat) watch the mornng film on Flemish kids tv here (TV is banned normally during the day) and eat Nutella sandwiches for breakfast (normally also banned) so she's like a pig in mud or whatever the expression is. Oh for simple pleasures and all that ...
All part of my cunning plan to get a big chunk of boudoir sorted before we go out this afternoon and doing more washing and ironing for suitcases. Unfortunately slightly thwarted as spent a good hour and a half back and forth talking to solicitor/accountant/sisters about my late mother's estate. Oh well.
Must re-group and start again and make proper plans for today and rest of this week or else time is going to drift away with nothing much accomplished.
Castlelough now why didn't I think of that (telling people you are free in July but not in August even when your plans are not as yet set in stone) - an eminently sensible and simple plan! (I always over-complicate stuff!!) Will remember that for next year!! Thanks for spot-on riding suggestion - dd and I already go regularly to local stable here and when we visit UK we are planning to inscribe dd in one of those "look after and ride your own pony for a week" programmes at fab stables near my sister (in fact must get on with making those arrangements). Well done on getting through mega-list yesterday.
Feetheart Great to hear your ds had such a brill time seeing Lewis Hamilton bless him 
Bet you will sleep well tonight!
Toffee yes, don't let the tutting of others influence your decision - as his mother you know what sort of education will suit your ds1 best. Good luck to your ds2 in his rehearsals and aw at his one line!! And well done re: your amazingly long list yesterday. Glad to hear your mil is well and truly settled in her new flat - can't believe it was a whole year ago since she moved in!
Hello again to Lettherebecupcakes take it steady [proffers comfy chair with footstool] Well done re: your shiny kitchen! Arf at doggy nose prints!
Maggie that's great to hear about your dh! Hope the course works out well for him. Ditto re: ironing "ishews" [SC looks slightly shifty at the mention of creases down the front of jeans]
Swan well done to your ds1 on his weight loss too (he has a very good role model in his mother!) So true about visitors etc. Can cope with bed and food provision and everything else - it's all the endless chauffering around that gets a little tiresome; especially in summer when Bxls is v. quiet and effectively closed for business. Some guests are great; pro-active, autonomous and just get on with things. Others just sit there and expect you to entertain them (and their dc) all day like my brother and his family. Need to follow your sister's example and develop some strategies I think.
Lauren have you got the new puppy yet??? [eager emoticon]
Oh no Carpe poor you - you have had a bad run with illnesses etc recently - hope you all feel better soon [proffers cream crackers and Lucozade]
Yay! Great to have you back Makingchanges!!
Whoknows well done on putting all the camping stuff away so promptly - always a challenging task here!!
Hope you are hanging in there Elliepac
Rabbits proving to have v. distinct personalities. One never wants to be caged and rushes out the door as soon as it is open, to roam and hide in the garden all day and only comes back in very reluctantly/when food is in the offing. It always dragged half of the garden back in with it too - twigs and seeds and bits of old leaves stuck in it's fur. The other doesn't want to go out very much, constantly grooms itself and follows us around indoors all day and/or sleeps in a nest it has made in my stack of clean and ironed table cloths ....
Off now to follow Clare Balding web chat do some tidying ...
Mahoosive waves to anyone I've missed!!