57 – Special, but not lucky (yet)

It’s my 57th birthday today, Tuesday 15th June.  Back in early 2009 when I was newly banded I had this fanciful idea that I had about 57kg to lose, which was exactly half what I weighed at the time, and wouldn’t it be just perfect and right if by my 57th birthday in June 2010 I had shed the same figure in kilos.  And this dear bandit friends is why I don’t set goals, because failing to meet them belittles the fact that actually I’m pleased that I’ve lost 23kg since being banded, even if it is less than half the way there. 

Back in September 2008 when I was deeply unhappy and didn’t know the band existed, if you had told me that I would be sitting here writing about having lost 23kg, I would have wondered if I had died and gone to heaven.  Now that I’ve put that feeling of utter despair behind me, I just wish I was stronger and could proceed a little faster. ..

I’m not complaining though – I think I’m probably as near the sweet spot as I’m likely to get.  The reason it feels different is because on weekday evenings as I work or play on my computer, I’m hardly aware that I haven’t eaten, and in the past I’ve always been a heavy meal after 9 p.m. sort of person.  All I’ve got to do now is to avoid the high calorie foods which go down easily such as biscuits and milky drinks.  (And not make lemon sponge with butter icing to take to work for my birthday, and lick the spoon too often).

My birthday dinner was last Saturday evening at a fish restaurant (I prefer steak, but I’m trying to de-programme) and I had lobster as a special treat.  (Actually in flavour it’s just a socking great prawn, isn’t it?).  I enjoyed it, but admit that the ice-cream with toffee and chocolate sauce and served in a brandy snap basket was even better.  Anyway, nuff said.

I wonder where on this essential journey I'll be on my 58th birthday.

-oOo-

Photo Finish -

from Lonicera's non-digital archive

Churches - always marvellous subjects to photograph, from stained glass windows up to dreaming spires, and back to shadowy corners.  I dislike using flash, essential though it is in certain situations, and enjoy the challenge of working out how best to use my camera to get an interesting picture without camera shake.  These images were slides which I have scanned, and I'm glad I kept the underexposed ones, because with the aid of the computer I have been able to lighten the darkness in a way I could never have foreseen back in the early nineties when they were taken.

Bristol  (I regret I'm not sure which church)

St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol

Church of St Peter & St Paul, Bristol

(Note - blue is stained glass, not electric light)

Bristol Cathedral?

Glastonbury Abbey ruins

Another church in Glastonbury, seen from the Abbey ruins

Bath Abbey

Selworthy church, Devon

ditto

-oOo-