Taking Inventory...

Ok. So I have to get down to business this week. By this I mean:

a) get used to being back in the workplace, and
b) start eating sensibly again.

I managed to get a flight out last Thursday night which got me into London on Friday morning. Although the news that I could unexpectedly get on a flight that night (Thursday night) was a bit of jolt, kind of like being asked if I’d like to be hooked up to a machine that was going to send electric shocks throughout my nervous system, and my brain shouted no! Well, actually I did shout no out loud; and if I’m being honest here, it was probably more like a wail. The poor Air Canada rep who went by the name of John must have thought I was a nutter - and he would have been right. But I had to be realistic - it was an offer I couldn’t really turn down as I needed to get back to England for work, if nothing else; my vacation days were rapidly depleting and I have a few other trips to try and sort out this year. (I knew my husband was coping well without me, even though we did miss each other loads.) Another plus of flying on the Thursday was that I had the whole weekend to recover and get my head around everything. So thanks John, for getting me onto a direct flight when every other rep told me I had to go via another route.

I was grateful for my extended stay in Nova Scotia as there are a number of issues taking place at the moment, besides my mom’s breast cancer and it was really good that I could be there with her and my sister the few extra days. But like all good things, it had to come to an end and I boarded the plane on Thursday night with minimal tears and looked forward to seeing my husband once I was airborne and plenty or promises that the three of us (mom, my sister and I) would meet again soon.

Now I’m just in the process of trying to sort through a mountain of work, and not doing a very good job at it. I’m sorry, but my head is still elsewhere; luckily enough I have a great boss who knows that sometimes you just need a bit of extra time, which is extraordinary really, as I have been off work for a whole month. One whole month.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed the pound tracker at the top of my page; I’ve copied this program from another blogger (hello Demeter :) in my quest to (seriously) sort my weight out. I’ve just been looking back at a few photos and although I don’t think I look so bad, I don’t feel so great. A month of eating whatever I felt like, despite going to the gym a fair bit, has left a mushroom top around the top of my jeans and that does not feel comfortable - at all. So rather than buy bigger clothes like many people do, I’m deciding to take control of things again, and rather than just try and lose the extra 6-7 pounds that have crept up on me, I’m going to take a serious stab at shucking 20 lbs. If it works great, if it doesn’t I will at least have lost something and have gotten that much fitter (because I am pretty fit, if not slender, if I say so myself).

Well enough about that – sorry to have bored you and I understand if I’ve lost at least have of you by this point.

Over the next few months Andy and I are going to try and plan a few getaways and various other enjoyable events; It’s been a hard year and it’s time to start enjoying life again. Here is a sneak preview of some tentative plans:

May – Andy and I want to spend the long weekend at the end of the month exploring the countryside in Berwick-upon-Tweed with Molly. Berwick is a beautiful part of the countryside just below the Scottish border that I have always wanted to see, especially Holy Island, a small island just off the coast that is host to a monastery.

August – Andy, Beryl and I are going to drive to Ireland; Andy and I will be going to for a family celebration with our friends Paul and Sophia as well as to explore the Irish countryside and we will drop Beryl off along the way with her family just outside of Dublin. Hopefully we will have Fern with us at this point but it is all dependant on Mom at the moment and how everything goes for her. Andy and I are really excited to have Fern stay with us for an extended period and Mom is behind her all the way. It will be a wonderful opportunity for her and besides, sometimes it’s just good to have family with you when you live so far away. Especially when you’ve had a tough year and just want your sister close, and she has worked so hard on a Science Degree and just wants to get away.

September/October: Because I won’t get to meet Clara this June, Andy and I are already looking at flights to go and spend time with the baby and her parents this fall, as well as a few friends that we haven’t seen in way too long. Added bonus here – my mom is fully intending on joining us for a few days whilst we are in Ontario.

And this is jumping the fence a bit, but mom is already talking about coming over again next spring which is fantastic and something for her to work towards.

Well I’ve said enough for one post.  I will try and upload some photos from my last few days in Nova Scotia as soon as I can - Fern and I had a great time messing around with the camera on my last day :)