Cracking fingers, cringing and other pet hates

21 January 2016 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

So I was sitting on the train the other day and there was this girl sitting across from me. She was in her early 20s – I think – and sat for about a quarter of the journey – probably about ten minutes – cracking her fingers.

I hate that.

I hate it for two reasons: the sound sets my teeth on edge and I hate that folk who do it are probably damaging their fingers. Why would anyone do that to themselves? Why do they think it’s okay to do it in public. It’s a horrible habit.

Anyway, I won’t be sitting across from her again. I kept throwing her dirty looks in the hope she would stop, but she seemed oblivious.

My other pet hates on the train are people listening to music via earphones and having it up too loud so that all the rest of the carriage can hear is the bass and a tinny sound. The other one is folk talking loudly on their mobiles like the young guy yesterday who was a bit of a Yah. I think the entire train heard all about his exploits in his oh-so-full-of-himself voice.

There, that’s it. Over. That’s my moan for today. Well at least the cracking fingers (shudder) has given me my photo theme for this post…fingers.

So how’s your week been? Hope it’s been good. I’ve been really busy as usual working, cooking, swimming and looking after the family. We did go and see Star Wars last week and I thought it was a great film for action, but the story was too like previous films, the baddie wasn’t evil enough and what’s with the Han Solo thing??? I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say the film ends sadly, so sadly that my daughter sobbed all the way home. The thing that happened involved one of her fave characters. She’s a huge fan. She was inconsolable. If you’ve seen the film you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Still enjoying the swimming and losing weight. I lost 5 pounds last week and it was a lot easier than I thought. Giving up coca cola and wine helped (still off them!) and cutting out snacking also helped. I’ve also reduced portion sizes and, quite honestly, I don’t know how I managed to eat so much before. I was brought up to clear my plate, so I’m still struggling with stopping when I’m full. However, the chub is coming off and that’s the main thing. Hope I can keep it up! Anyway, one of the things that has helped me is The Body Coach Joe Wicks’ Lean in 15 book…really nice recipes in it and Joe is just so enthusiastic, his belief in good food and exercise is infectious.

Currently reading: The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott. I work in PR so it’s always good to keep up with how things are moving in Marketing and PR. This is great book if you want to find out more about social media and viral marketing. Okay having been published in 2010, it’s way out-0f-date but there’s still a lot of good advice in it. Am thoroughly enjoying it. Next book in the pile is Danny Baker’s Going to Sea in a Sieve which my work mate Alan leant me. Looking forward to it. It’s the first part of his biography about his life working as a journalist on the NME. It’s supposed to be a really good read.

Am about to start back writing. I’ve been procrastinating again, plus I haven’t had a lot of time (to be fair to myself). All this swimming and working doesn’t leave a lot of time (or energy) to get back to it. However, this weekend is looking pretty clear (yippee!) so I will just have to get on with it!!

Right am off. Got food shopping to do before I collect the kids from school.

Til next time!

Dawn xxxx

Rain…sigh!

24 September 2015 / darkislethebooks / Leave a comment

Well the lovely autumn weather has disappeared today as the rain (with heart-lifting spells of bright sunshine) hits the west coast hard. It was literally teeming down about five minutes ago. Winter is coming right enough!

So how’s things with you? Hope you are well. My week has be super busy at work and super busy at home. Today I’m taking it easier. I should be doing my housework right now, but I’ve got Grand Designs on the box (recorded last night) and I’m here talking to you and I’m just about to get another wee cup of tea. Life’s good.

Am a tad achy after swimming just over half a mile this morning in our local pool. I felt great after doing it, but am now starting to feel a little stiff around the legs. Think I should maybe have stretched a little afterwards. Am now in training for next year’s mini triathlon and Great Scottish Swim (haven’t yet signed up for this but I will).

This weekend I will be taking it easy. It’s the September weekend so I’ve got Monday off…yippee! That’s three long lies! Last weekend, me and the kids were up early to meet my mum at Braehead shopping centre in Renfrew. My parents always buys the winter coats for the grandweans as part of their Christmas (that’s on top of the pressies and/or money they also give them…they are so generous!). I hate shopping, but it wasn’t quite so painful when my mum treated us to tea and cake before we started and then we treated her to lunch a couple of hours later. The kids both got really nice winter coats from H&M. The girl is now so tall she needed a small adult’s coat, which she thinks is just fantastic. She looks great in the coat and just loves posing in it. It’s navy blue with a fur hood. The boy got a lovely charcoal grey jacket (no fur on the hood, but lovely none-the-less). He looks great in it too, really suits the colour.

Have just taken possession of Jenny Lawson’s (aka The Bloggess) new book, Furiously Happy. I have her first book Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, which was so funny I had tears streaming down my face and I snorted so much I eventually couldn’t breathe. Her blog is good too. I’ll let you know how I get on with it, although have just started a biog of E Nesbit and am about to start Jayne Williams’ The Slow Fat Triathlete having just finished (yesterday) Meredith Atwood’s Triathlon for Every Woman (which was excellent and very funny). Yes there is a bit of a theme going on here: not only the triathlete bit, but both ladies are larger athletes which is good because I am not a teeny wee stick of a wummin myself.

Apart from relaxing, I am also planning to search out a pair of waterproof overtrousers that I bought about two weeks ago and have now lost. I hope I didn’t accidentally post it back to Amazon with the other pair of the exact same trousers that I accidentally bought (in other words I ordered two pairs instead of one and sent one back…at least I hope it was one pair and not two!). Am such a ditz. Wonder where that other pair are? Sigh. I hate it when I misplace something. What’ll happen is I won’t find them, so I’ll order a replacement pair and on the very day the replacement arrives I will find the original pair I was looking for in the first place.

Right am off now. Last night’s recording of Castle calls and you know how much I love Castle! Hubby thinks it’s mince, but I like it…it’s not scary, it’s funny and it’s fun. Til next time.

Dawn xxx

This image doesn’t do the view justice!

18 September 2015 / darkislethebooks / 2 Comments

The view from the Ben.

I am shattered. We – myself, Tracy and Jane – walked up part of the John Muir Way again this morning…Ben Bowie…and what a view from the top. It was amazing. It was even better because the weather was fantastic. At the top, we chose a place to sit and take in the wonderful view. We ate mozzarella and sun dried tomato wraps, drank water and chatted. It was great. I felt on top of the world. You forget what a fantastic place Scotland is when you live here and you’re too busy with life to take in what’s around you…it’s beautiful, especially round where we live. Today the weather was perfect, the sun was splitting the sky, it wasn’t too hot (although it was cold in the shade – that’s autumn for you!) and the view at the top was more than worth it. That part of the walk isn’t too hard going so it’s a good starter walk. Am planning to take hubby and the kids up there next summer when he’s back to fighting fitness. I think we’ll have a picnic and enjoy the walk. 🙂

So how’s your week been? Work has been really really busy and hubby had another chemo session. He’s doing well considering, but is exhausted all the time. Looking forward to when it’s all finished and he can work at getting back to full health.

What else? Swam an half mile in the local pool yesterday. Am planning to start running next week. The triathlon isn’t til June, but I want to build up to it slowly but surely.

This week’s been taken up a lot with work and hospital appointments, so haven’t really done much else. Currently reading Meredith Atwood’s (aka swim bike run mom) Triathlon for Every Woman which is a great read even if you never plan to do a triathlon. She’s very funny – probably told you that before. Still reading John Forster’s biog of Dickens, nearly finished it.

Am about to embark on making some things for Christmas. Due to time constraints (etc) this year I don’t think I’ll be knitting as much. Time to dig out the ole sewing machine!! I’ve already got a few ideas on what I want to make some members of the family.

Tis a sad week for me telly-wise, am nearly finished the very last series of True Blood. Soon it will be adieu Sookie, Jason, Bill, Eric, Pam and the rest of them. Sigh. Just as well I have the books to read!! Hee hee (she cackles with devilish delight!).

Right am off. Am away to make a cup of tea (go team Tea Force – that’s our name for the Inverclyde team triathlon in August next year!). Til next time.

Dawn xxx