New newbies be reading and stuff here; Our heroine had successfully battled her way throuh the pit of snakes, and is moving through the undergrowth armed with only a machete and a pout. Shocked at the shocking state of her, she resolves to do without sugar for 100 days.

And that you all should hear about it, you lottery winning so and so’s.

Now read on…

Wednesday 16th July 2014

So in the pool this morning, I suddenly remembered Diane Nyad. Remember her? She was and is the endurance swimmer who completed the  swim from Cuba to Florida, a swim of 100 miles. Here is a little clip to put that into perspective.

Not only was Diane Nyad’s swim extraordinary in of itself, it is also amazing that she kept going. This was her forth attempt at it. Each time she did it, various conditions of the water got in the way. The jellyfish were too much. The sharks were too much. She and her team solved each problem as she went and came back for more. She finally completed the swim about ten months ago. I remember hearing about it and then forgetting about it, as she had tried and failed four times before.

The entire thing was visible online, in that she was tracked by GPS and you could trace it on her website.

There were also updates on Facebook and on Twitter.

I heard about it on Saturday, and when I got into work on Monday she was still at it. Twitter gave more and more excited updates, and on the end of the day, after 53 hours in the water, she came to the shore at Key West. She was dehydrated, but otherwise okay. She was, amazingly, okay. Tired, but okay.

And just one other thing? She was 63 years old at the time.

It does somewhat put things into perspective, I think. Have a good day.

New newbies be reading and stuff here; Our heroine had successfully battled her way out of the jungle, but has slowly eased herself over a waterfall. Shocked at the shocking state of her, she resolves to do without sugar for 100 days.

And that you all should hear about it, you random chance delightful vanilla favoring people.

Now read on…

So, I was having lunch with a clever friend called Naomi. And she suggests that I should go off carbs for two days and then revert back for the five.

This pleases me very much, mainly because it will mean I get to eat and not cry at the same time.

If you hate this idea put that hate in the comments, people. Gwan gwan gwan, my life is empty and I am really shallow.

This has more depth, for instance.

Damn and blast it, I’ve had dessert.

New starters read here; Our heroine had successfully lost over 60 lbs, but has slowly gained back a stone. Shocked at the shocking state of her, she resolves to do without sugar for 100 days.

And that you all should hear about it, you lucky people.

Now read on…

Pool done; a thousand metres only because I have a busy morning ahead.

Plus, Himself has hit it out of the park by coming home with four boxes of sugar free biscuits from Dunnes. Maybe I was going on a bit. Maybe?

New readers start here; Our heroine had successfully lost over 60 lbs, but has slowly gained back a stone. Shocked at the shocking state of her, she resolves to do without sugar for 100 days.

And that you all should hear about it, you lucky people.

Now read on…

Sunday, 25th May; I woke up dreaming of Cable ties around lampposts. I’m pretty surprised by the election results, depressed, even. Mary Hanafin? Really? On your own head be it. I did vote, so I have the right to complain, at least.

The little man is up at 8am and we go, after breakfast, for a long walk that ends up lasting for an hour and a half. We pet every dog we pass, pick all the daisies and collect all the interesting leaves and stones we see along the way. The estate here is perfect for this in that it has long walks that have no access by car, so there is no need to worry about a car knocking a little person down. It also has a tiny stream that allows for frogs, etc, and he is still young enough to be delighted by it.

We get home, and he is tired. Matter of fact, so am I, so after his lunch he settled down for his nap and I have a snooze. And I end up dreaming of sugar; egg whites whipped to a creamy frothiness, with coconut added and sweetener. I wake up thinking that surely that must be possible?

In any case, while he is still asleep I have made this;

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/magical-peanut-butter-cookies-recipe.html

Sugar free peanut butter cookies. I’ve just pulled them out of the oven and we’ll see how they are shortly. They are here to serve that difficult, after-dinner period when I hate to say no to myself. Will let you know how I get on!

Don’t know how they taste yet…

New readers start here; Our heroine had successfully lost over 60 lbs, but has slowly gained back a stone. Shocked at the shocking state of her, she resolves to do without sugar for 100 days.

And that you all should hear about it, you lucky people.

Now read on…

You would be so proud of me yesterday. When I got home after work I put out the bins, cut the grass and washed down the patio in the back garden, started and emptied the dishwasher and washed the kitchen floor as I headed down to the creche. As a reward, for dinner yesterday, I gave myself the biggest serving of lasagne. And it wasn’t bad lasagne either, Himself had made it with three types of meat and chilli powder, so it was delicious. I really couldn’t complain at all, so I’m not going to.

Gosh, what a long week. I’ve been at my desk at 7.30 am twice this week, and I’m working late tonight as well. I was so tired yesterday after my long day, my swim, everything, that I gave myself a break this morning and I didn’t go for my swim. I know, I know, the first faltering step is the first failing step, but I didn’t think I could function and still do everything I have to do today. I have seen the end of the first ten days without sugar, and some days were really, really hard. That’s why I have gone out and gotten this.

Nyom nyom, nyom nyom nyom.

It is a bar of chocolate, and shortbread biscuits, made with artificial sweeteners. I don’t think they can be regarded as very healthy, but they will do quite well as a fall back plan if I find I am weakening. I want to use the weekend to see if I can make up some substitutes using Splenda, etc. I have no trouble avoiding it during the day, it’s my cup of tea after dinner that sees the real temptation arrive. Wish me luck!

A woman opens a door to a room, and shows in a young man. He enters, stiff and just a little afraid.

“Paul,” she says, “This is the Reverend Mother. She’s going to observe you.” The woman looks at the nun-like figure in the chair. “Please…” she pleads.

“Jessica, you know it must be done,” replies the nun. The young man’s mother leaves, and he looks at the nun.

“Come here,” she says. He comes forward and kneels beside her. She gestures to the box beside her.

“Put your hand in the box.”

“What’s in it?” he said, putting his hand in.

“Pain. More specifically, pain that serves. In this box, is your baby’s bottle. It’s filled with formula, made with boiling hot water. The hot water is necessary to allow the power to properly dissolve, but the water is too hot for your child to drink. So you must hold on to the bottle while you carry your sleeping child up to bed. No!” she cried, as he tried to pull his hand out, and he froze.

“I hold at your neck the Gom Jabbar, the consequences of your actions. Move, and your child wakes. Move, and you drop the milk. Instead, you must balance your child, the milk and your pain all at the same time, and ensure that all three functions are retained and balanced. A son of humanity knows of many consequences. This one punishes animals.”

“Are you suggesting a son of humanity is an animal?”

“Let’s just say, I am here to see if you may be human. You may be powerful enough to control your instincts. Your instinct will be to drop the boiling hot bottle. If you do so, you wake the baby, ruin the formula, and all will be lost. Let us begin.”

She closed her eyes, and says quietly, “You will feel an inching… and the itching will become a burning…There! Silence! Or you will wake the baby!”

The young man’s eyes widen with the sensation of pain.

“You can’t drop it,  because that would wake the baby,” she whispers, as the pain floods though his hand. “But you must hold on to it, as your baby needs it. Keep holding! Keep holding on! You’re nearly at the top of the stairs, and safe, but you’re  not there yet. Not yet! Not yet!,…Now!”

The pain abruptly stops.

“Good. Well done. Take your hand out of the box, and look at it, young human.”

He takes it out of the box, and finds the skin smooth and untouched.

“Pain by nerve induction. Humans can resist any pain, our test is crisis and observation.” She looks at him, and smiles. “You can go now.”

Stiffly, he stands, then goes to the door. Confused, he looks back.

“In my mind, that test would be different.”

“Really? Did you imagine a fancy implement, one that conveys importance along with its threat? Did you believe that you would be tested in ways that ensured your dignity, as well as your status?”

He nods, still confused.

“Human you are, but this is still an uncaring world. We are taught our lessons not during  great battles and epic tales, or by witches by a fireside, but instead in every day affairs, when what we must do meets and clashes with what must be. You, human, overcame the facts of reality to do what must be done. You are a human of heroic proportions, certainly, but so are your parents, and their parents before them. And so are those around you.”

She shifts in her chair, as she dismisses him. “Remember this, if you call yourself grand hero or leader of man. So, frankly, is everyone else.”