Peeping out of the shadows.....

I feel like I've let myself down by not blogging for the last two months but I've been so busy.  In any spare time I have been reading other people's blogs rather than focusing on my own.  So hello again and thank you to my 6 followers (yay me!) for sticking by me.

Firstly, I feel like I'm starting to get the knack of crocheting.  I have been using the online tutorials I've mentioned before (courtesy of Do You Mind if I Knit, Attic 24 and Julia Crossland).  I have recently started to feel a bit panicky that the tutorials will be removed so I've been frantically trying to write down the patterns in a little notebook.  Here's my attempt at the sisterhood blanket square from Do You Mind if I Knit:

I have also knocked up about 30 small granny squares and am proud to report that I can make them without looking at instructions or a pattern now (!)  Go Nicki.

I also ordered a bumper pack of lavender and got the sewing machine out:

My hand-sewing needs some work: I'm rubbish at it!  But I felt these were good enough to give to my Mum in a little goody bag for her birthday. (You can always rely on your Mum to appreciate your handiwork, however rubbish.)

The biggest thing that has been taking all of my brain space and energy is the fact that I'm on a diet.  I know that sounds very sad but when you love food as much as I do a diet can be all-consuming.  Until I met my husband, fast food was just not on my radar but he loves anything naughty:  cakes, ice cream, doughnuts, sweets, crisps, chocolate, you name it.

I love all that stuff too but would never buy it to keep in the house.  Until now.  So I've been joining in, having a thoroughly lovely time and my ridiculously tight Paige jeans are my come-uppance.  

I'm also a comfort eater.  I got married last year and it was a big expensive bash which I found quite stressful to organise.  Everyone told me the weight would fall off with the stress of planning a wedding but no, I put weight on.  My wedding day was the happiest day of my life and I loved every minute of it, but I do regret that I wasn't a tiny bit thinner.  Shallow, I know.  

So I've been dieting for two months and I've lost 9lb.  It's slow going and it's so blinking hard but I'm heading in the right direction.  Starting to feel better about myself.  With my excitement that the weight is finally coming off I have been buying clothes and make-up again.  I'll maybe share my purchases in another post - I have indulged in a couple of Mulberry handbags (eeeek!), some snakeskin shoes for work and I'm really loving the new tobacco/deep caramel colour that's around at the moment so a couple of silk tops may have sneaked their way into the wardrobe. 

So, that's my last few weeks in a bit of a nutshell.  We're going to my parents' caravan in Norfolk this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it.  We will be participating in the usual Great British Holiday activities:  fish and chips, seaside walks, amusement arcades and bingo.   I'll be packing my crochet and my Kindle too. 

Have a busy day at work first so I really must crack on.  What am I doing, faffing around with blogs?

Ciao for now! 

x