Thanks captain. I've had no carby temptation at all up until now, but the next week is full of the bastard things.
Please she's 11 next week.
Thanks Helium, yes she will have a fantastic time. He took her two years ago for 3 weeks and although she missed me, she had a fantastic time. Skype made all the difference last time actually - being able to see her was somehow so much more comforting than just hearing her voice. The time difference makes it tricky but we'll manage.
Grumpy and Googoo thank you. It's hard knowing that she's so far away. It's not such a wrench when she goes to stay with my mum, although obviously that's not for as long a time.
Steel thanks, the home ed inspector lady is lovely, but I'm always a little bit nervous anyway! 
I'm actually looking forward to seeing her as this'll be the third year she's come and so she's seen how DD is developing. We had decided to try DD in secondary school in September but have had 2nd (and 3rd and 4th etc) thoughts and now probably aren't going to send her. I'm interested to hear this lady's thoughts about what the best thing would be (she was a teacher for years and then has been doing this for some years too). Home ed can be fantastic (it can also drive you up the wall 
). I hope you get some children to home ed! 
Gravity Arsebiscuits is our very favourite curse in this house (and definitely one of the least offensive 
DD is a big Father Ted fan - I let her start watching it before I remembered that there's a lot more swearing than just feck!
Miss hope you feel better.
Welcome Library, of course you can join us.
Chester if I'm frying something that's likely to spit a lot of fat, I put a lid or baking tray over the top of the frying pan so everything doesn't get covered in grease. Do you have an extractor fan? Alternatively, get a dog or cat, as according to most mumsnetters your house will then always stink of animals. No one will then notice the grease.
I wish I could offer some useful advice for those who aren't losing. I would find it very disheartening too. Those of you craving sweet stuff, DON'T DO IT!. It just isn't worth the momentary pleasure for all the pain of triggering more cravings and seeing the scales stall.
I'm fighting the urge for a glass of red this evening. Am going to resist though.
L - cheese and tomatoes, half a packet of pork scratchings (nothing like enough)
S - cheese and olives
D - just about to have black farmer chipolatas with celeriac mash, roasted shallots and baked fennel.