Sunday 6 October 2019

Slimming









The new Philip Pullman book is here, in all its gold-tinged glory. I have been sighing and running my fingers over its beauteousness. I shall read it to the younger urchins just as soon as we have finished our current read, Cogheart by Peter Bunzl. The series has the most wonderful covers, and they are cleverly continued inside the cover, as if viewed from behind.

The dog is on a diet. Before the summer holidays he used to walk with his cocker spaniel friend every single morning. She would chase him all the way along, and wrestle with him and chase him again and if he ever tried to sit down for a rest she'd run faster and faster circles around him, jumping over him as she shot past, until he felt obliged to get back up again and join in. She was utterly unrelenting, in the manner of a particularly strict personal trainer, and looking back it was a hard full-body workout. He weighed in at 9.9kg. Then the summer holidays came and schedules changed and we no longer walk with her. A mere ten weeks later I was horrified to discover that he weighed 12 kg. That's an extra two kilos, 20 percent of his body weight. Like a person going from 10 stone to 12 stone in under three months. And the only difference has been the morning walk. We still do the same route, but no cocker spaniel chasing us down.

Needless to say he is on a diet. And I need to make the time to walk with his more energetic friends again, his whippet chum and his cockapoo mucker, as well as his personal trainer. It occurs to me I need something similar. Someone to force me into running about the place. Although right now I'm a bit snowed under with work so it will have to wait a while... I'll add it to my to-do list.

There are olives in the garden, but they're a bit on the small side - not much flesh (unlike me and Bert) so I'm not really inspired to do much with them. And I don't know how to tell if they're ripe. I suspect they're not, now that the chilly autumn mornings are here. The black tomatoes are still all hanging on the vine, not really ripening in any visible way either. We have mountains of windfalls, from the garden and from an aquaintance in Wales. I am trying to use them before the rot sets in, but I need to be fast. I am making ALL of the apple recipes.

The biggest boy scored a hat-trick at football today. A rare occurrence as he is a defender. I fear I have banged on about it too long and I have been declared embarrassing. Sigh. ('Remind me how many goals it was today again?' 'Three you say, and what do they call that?') Yes, I know, I know, I'll shut up now.

Now that the autumn term is well and truly under way there seem to be a hundred and one things to attend. Football, cross country, cricket (yes! it's indoors), parents' information evenings, helping out at open days, oh the list is endless. I am doubting my grammar now. Seems or seem? Sam would know, but she can't comment any more. I fear there is a blog glitch. I would ask if anyone else is unable to comment, but, you know... Anyway, I hope all is well out there, and the madness is held at bay. As with anything remotely stressful I am as ever adopting the head in sand approach. Except when it comes to dog chub, then I am ON IT.

18 comments:

  1. Dear CJ, it seems like I need to join that doggy walk and workout in order to lose a few kilos. It's hard work. At the moment, a 5-2 approach seems to be working very slowly, where I have two days a week fasting. That means I have a very, very small amount on those days and then you have 5 days of normal diet without trying to catch up on the two days that you ate very little. I never fast on two consecutive days. What food is on the dog's diet? I have just planted some yellow tomatoes last week so will see how they turn out this summer. One way you could use some apple is to slice it and fry a little till they are softer and then serve with some pork. I know you are vegan but maybe the rest of the family will enjoy them. Regards, Robyn

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  2. I was unable to comment on blogs for ages. I discovered it was a google v apples thing. I CAN comment if using chrome, but not if using safari. The doggy eyes melt my heart, so gorgeous. Good luck with all the apples. C N x

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  3. I have a hard time commenting on some wordpress blogs but not others and I have no idea why. Anyway I hope your sweet baby starts to lose the extra weight and good for your son with the hat trick! Well done by you Mom keeping it all running smoothly. Have a great week.

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  4. Such a lovely post. Always enjoy your ramblings and makes me happy. Thanks for the info on the books. Happiness is a good one. Thanks for sharing as a pleasure to read. (-:

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  5. Whoop! A hat trick - well done to your son. I love the phrase 'dog chub'! Whatever Bertie's weight, he looks adorable. I envy you your apples. Before we went on holiday there were lots on our trees. When we came home , nothing. It is the same with our pears. Maybe it was windy, they all fell off and the deer ate them? Maybe it was squirrels or jackdaws? It's a mystery! Enjoy the Philip Pullman. xx

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  6. Dog fitness classes, now there’s a thought. Aerobics for paunchy pooches. Got to be a winner. Seriously, good luck with that one. Hope he’s not like my neighbours dog who has an aversion to walking and she has to literally drag him along the pavement for the first five minute. Enjoy Philip Pullman, just from the cover it looks like a wonderful book. Have a good week. Walkies! B x

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  7. I think the hat trick is awesome so shout it from the rooftops! My girl is also a defender and last year she got ONE goal all season, and I couldn't stop talking about that. I meant to comment on your last post too - she's also started refereeing and I'm far more nervous watching her do that than playing. Luckily so far she's only had some good natured comments about VAR but she's still my baby and I'd be happy to make that quite clear to any criticising parent who thinks otherwise... Good luck to your lad with his and I think it's brilliant they're both putting themselves out there and helping other kids play. Vicky.

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  8. My cocker spaniel certainly kept me in shape, I need another woofer. Perfectly acceptable to mention son's footballing prowess, how many goals did you say? My boys were usually in goal so if they ever scored anything it was RED LETTER DAY, for sure. Don't olives fall from the tree if you shake it and they are ripe? Apples are wonderful, but they all come at once....

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  9. Lovely post and pictures, I especially like the second one, boy with book and Bertie. It sounds like Bertie has been eating too many treats.
    Happy reading, gardening and everything else. xx

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  10. Our little dog was on steroids for a year and piled on weight. Since coming off then she has lost 2.5 kg and much fitter. Does the vet think Bertie is overweight as it could be part of growing up.

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  11. Ohhh.. poor Bertie.. I don't wish dieting on anyone. Maybe it's just a passing phase. Hopefully his playful pal will work some of that chubbiness off. He's got the most beautiful eyes.. I love him. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  12. Don't put bananas in the fruit bowl with apples etc :)

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  13. Good luck to Bertie and his new regime. Now you have me pondering the seem/seems thing!

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  14. Mmmm now I need to know seem or seems? :) love your blog

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  15. Hahaha....seem/seems! Poor Bertie, it happens to the best of us!xxx

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  16. I haven't been able to comment for ages but have discovered I can if I use my laptop and not my iPad which is a pain because the laptop is so slow!
    And whoohoo... a hat trick!!!

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  17. Late as always, just checking in while holidaying.... hope Bertie doesn't find his diet too harsh. Jack was on a diet a year ago and has now kept his weight off. Poor thing gets kibble for neutered dogs/dogs with a tendency to get fat.... I should probably get something like that myself! I bet your biggest boy is secretly pleased that you have been bragging about his great football success :-)

    Have a lovely week xx

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