Flew out of the house without breakfast.. very unusual for me!  I knew I was going to be late… that is why the fuel gauge chose that moment to ping at me – a reminder that I was once again neglecting its needs.  It was probably just as well.. it gave me something to focus on… not running out before I got there.  I have had an unhealthy fixation on fuel gages ever since I was stranded on a deserted coastal highway with my partner despite having harped on and on about pulling in to get fuel.

I was preening happily with a couple of minutes to spare as I pulled into the forecourt of the Forest Glen Organic Food emporium.  Jenny was already there, bright and sunny, ready to weave her magic on my less than pert torso.  So was her lovely camera man… my heart sank as I realised exactly what I had agreed to … that nice camera man was going to catch my Rubenesque curves for posterity and Jen was going to cut and paste my hips across her video presentation for the world of shrinking waistlines to see.

Oh well… what better incentive could there be to stick to the programme!

The shopping was the easy part… I love to shop, shoes, clothes, shiny things, food, I rarely discriminate…I am sure I have been genetically programmed to shop.. I just wish I could do it with someone else’s credit card.

With baskets burgeoning with lush leafy green stuff and an inspired purchase of goat’s neck we headed home to start me on the path to a new healthy way of eating.

I made a pot of tea for myself and Jenny,  Peter was happy with an espresso.. lucky he didn’t take milk.. it is in the not allowed box!!  The snack queen had brought her protein power balls with her… show off!  They were delicious… I eyed the recipes she had given me and decided that was going to have to be a priority!  I wondered deliriously if I could live on balls for 30 days.

With the hard work of shopping and pantry cleansing over,  Jenny introduced me to the portion sizes I would be living with for the next 30 days.   My eyes have frequently been bigger than my stomach.. but not recently… we wolfed down a huge salad and hand sized portion of salmon.  I must admit, I wasn’t hungry afterwards.

I have a lovely network of supportive friends who are happy to take me in hand from time to time and show me the wisdom of doing things their way.  Janet was keen to help me in my pursuit of a healthy heart and svelte body, so she suggested she would teach me to swim… properly.  Having grown up in the freezing wasteland of europe… young nippers was not part of my cultural heritage. The concept of “bubble, arm, breathe” seems incredibly simple doesn’t it.  Sadly my brain and my lungs don’t share the same neurological pathways. We spent the late afternoon in the pool spluttering and giggling.. I am sure it is going to work out in the long term.. It has to I have already bought goggles and a cap!!!

Dinner was line caught snapper baked in a foil parcel with sliced ginger, fennel, leeks, tomatoes and lemon  served with steamed zucchini and asparagus.