The Big Momma Challenge & Pretty Woman

If I’m later and later with my Big Momma’s posts is not because I have given up on the challenge. It’s just se I’m Mrs Late par excellance. And Mrs Too Busy at the same time. I’ve lost count of the week I’m in as I’m not as well organized and diligent as notSupermum.
All in all I have been eating pretty healthily these last few weeks trying to avoid what triggers my IBS and the pain. Especially milk, an almost deadly food for me. Unfortunately, in spite of all my good efforts, I've managed to lose only approx 500g (please don’t ask me in lbs, I have no idea!) in about a week/ten days. I think that the main reason for very little weight loss is my complete lack of exercise, unless you consider exercise running up and down the stairs! And then, when I thought I was doing well, I got a couple of free cinema tickets for a screening of Pretty Woman in our local cinema sponsored by California Classics, Visit California, the home of film and when we got there we were surprised by free popcorn and free California wine.

I enjoyed the film immensely (and so the wine) and it didn't seem dated at all, even the dialogue sounded quite contemporary. Useless to say that when I left the cinema I didn't feel a pretty woman at all. Just bloated ...but somehow happy!

Silent Sunday ...and Minerva

Book Freebies

I don't know about you, but I spend a considerable amount of money in books every year. I've tried borrowing from friends, from the library, swapping etc. but I still spend too much in books. So I get terribly excited when I find book freebies like the ones below. They might not be the latest blockbuster novels, but a book is a book and a free book is even better...

F Scott Fitzgerald's Babylon Revisited will be free with The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, February 5, and The Beast In the Jungle by Henry James will be free inside The Sunday Telegraph on February 6. This special offer is to introduce Telegraph readers to Penguin's new series of Mini Modern Classics: short fiction by writers of lasting quality.

Also, just click on the link to Audiogo website to download a free copy of Graham Greene's "Brighton Rock", an unabridged reading by Samuel West.

http://www.audiogo.co.uk/BrightonRock

And for a free girlie’s reading, Radox are giving away free chicklits over the next few months. Please visit the following website sponsored by Radox and fill in the form:

http://be-selfish.co.uk/selfishreadinghour-mumsnet

First come first served, so hurry up to get your February book!

Big Momma Challenge - Disaster Week

It wouldn’t have been a bad week. I don’t know whether I’ve lost any weight or not as my new scales are still lost in some Amazon depot, but last Sunday my favourite black trousers felt quite confi and my stomach was peaceful. A great achievement so far. But then my friend made a delicious jam roly poly just for us on Sunday night, Monday evening was home-made curry night – how can you resist prawns and veg pasanda?

Yesterday it was Bolognese pasta bake and today my neighbour came back from holiday with these fantastic macaroons …

Disaster! Maybe it's just sheer luck that the scales are still AWOL. I’ll do better next week, I promise!

Silent Sunday ...and football

How do you tame a teenager?

I wish I knew. Until a few months ago my son was great. I cannot say I’ve never had any issues with him, but all in all it has always been possible to talk to him and make him see reason. In the last few months instead, that wonderful little boy with blue eyes and a lovely smile has turned into a green-eyed monster who loses his temper all the time, treats our house like a free hotel and expects more and more from us, especially from me. The fact that now he has a girlfriend has made things even worse. She is nice and kind but makes him feel strong and cocky as he knows that there is always someone on his side. It seems that he wants to rejects us, mother, father and sister but cannot and that makes him upset.

He cannot stand his dependence on us. I’m worried about his future. He doesn’t have the slightest idea of what he wants to do in life. He probably hopes he will win the lottery and spend his life in luxury without the need of working. Fat chance! He used to be excellent at school but now he’s lost any interest.

I’ve read somewhere that to tame a teenager you need unconditional love. You need to be firm but avoid arguing and shouting. I’ve tried all this but now I sometimes feel it would be better if I’d stop loving him. Because that way I wouldn’t feel hurt anymore. I've also read that difficult, strong-willed teenagers will likely one day be CEOs or other great leaders. If this is true, my son will soon become the President of the United States (without offense to dear Obama)!

Never Forget

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;

I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,

I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,

I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,

I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,

there was no one left to speak out.

(Martin Niemöller, 1946)