We went to the Trafford Centre yesterday in Manchester and a good time was had by all. Here is a lovely pic of teen and his exchange partner outside Selfridges. They went to the cinema, went shopping and had KFC. Teenager heaven?

Other half and I went to Yo Sushi, bought some birthday presents and pottered around. It was very busy, very hot and very wet outside. Reminds me not to venture back on a Saturday now til after Christmas.

Teenager is proudly wearing his Newcastle United top. After all, they are top of the Championship table

Me complain?

( ps- this is not a picture of me!)

Busy Bee Suz mentioned in a comment that she hasn't heard me complain much about being on a diet.

Ask my family. I never complain about anything. Isn't that right mum?

Anyway, I have to say I have been pretty much of a stalwart so far. It's a tough programme: no alchohol ( six weeks no wine now folks). No food: only food packs. The programme is called LighterLife. It's very low calorie, but after the first week you don't feel hungry ( or if you do, it's emotional hunger based on unhelpful patterns.. boredom.... comfort...ritual.... habit etc).

The total abstinence idea is to help you explore why you eat the way you do, when you do, how you do, what triggers bad patterns etc. At each weigh in- in the class (which is a closed class, same people all the way through the foundation programme) we talk about some aspect of our relationship with food. It's pretty good, and interesting.

I have found out lots of things about myself. My weak times are weekends: Friday and Saturday night. I eat to reward myself after a good day's work, for getting through a tough week, for success and not success ( get the picture...). My portion sizes are far too big, and I love to eat the wrong things.

So what's tough about it? The food is boring. I miss wine. I miss eating out. Sometimes the amount I still have to lose is daunting. The results are fast .... but never fast enough ( why isn't it possible to lose two stone a week safely??)

Still I am in it to win it. Next update- Tuesday night. Next weigh in.

I am off to the Trafford Centre today to look at bedroom furniture for teenager, and spare room, and to look at skinny clothes to motivate myself. I might just have a little Jo Malone treat too- no calories in that!! And I can have a big black coffee in Starbucks. Heaven.

Theatre of Dreams

Other half and teenager are off to the Theatre of Dreams today. For the confused- this is the home ground of Manchester United which is called Old Trafford.

Other half, despite his origins ( born and bred North Easterner) is a glory boy, or prawn sandwich man, as fans from other clubs like to call Man Utd fans. I can't understand why he supports them and will enjoy tormenting him about it on a daily basis for the rest of our lives. As a proud Geordie girl, I will always be a proud Toon Army supporter. We may not have the silver ware folks but we have hearts of gold...anyway... I digress....

Since it is his 40th birthday shortly I was gracious and entered an auction to get him two tickets for today's game which is against Stoke. They are going to have eats and drinks in the Red Cafe and kick off is at three. I think it will be a real experience. Teenager is excited, and so is his dad.

Myself? I am off to continue my campaign of Christmas shopping at the Trafford Centre near the football ground. It has one of my favourite shops in it - Selfridges. This sells my favourite wonderful smelling treats- Jo Malone (if you haven't discovered their products yet you are missing a real treat).

Mum is coming with me and once we have deposited the boys at Old Trafford we will head straight to Starbucks for my favourite coffee before tackling the Christmas shopping once again.

* a footnote. Don't worry about teenager's allegience. He is a die hard Toon Army man. My dad and I worked very hard on this when he was a wee mite, and successful indoctrination was achieved. Other half tried hard, but the black and white army claimed another one for its own.