July 24 - Quick Dinner Wins Out

  I woke up early, deprived of the warm cocoon of my bed by the need to drop a sample at Dorevitch on the way to work.  I didn't get out of bed immediately on being alarmed into consciousness though, first I turned toward my bedside table and pricked my finger.  My blood sugar was 5.4!!  The normal range is between 4.0 and 6.0 so what I'm eating is already having an effect.
  Breakfast was youghurt, berries and fibre toppers.  I thought I'd mention too.. All Bran list the serving size as a half a cup of fibre toppers, but I have always only had a quarter cup.  Half a cup and the yoghurt just wouldn't be enough moisture to combat the blandness.
  Work was work.  It was my invoice entry deadline today so I was furiously keying away most of the day.  Normally I do it week by week but this month my desk just seems to be getting buried.  I just can't keep up at the moment.  Partly that's been unexpected absences like the lawyer thing and medical stuff but I think it's also partly that once things get messy, I'm never sure where to start.  This can be a big blocker to starting anything.
  I had a passionfruit at morning tea and then, since I'd not prepared lunch and didn't feel like assembling anything, I opted for Sushi Sushi at lunch time!  I tried to cut down on the amount of white rice by only having one hand roll (crispy salt and pepper squid) and salmon sashimi with a small tub of mayonnaise, and I did eat all the carrot too.  I had a tamarillo after the fishy course and then a small lightly ripe banana for afternoon tea.

   When I got home from work, pretty much straight on the cross trainer and sweated away the annoyance of a desk that never clears itself.  Then I was ready to think about dinner.  Now I bought all the ingredients for making a big batch of broccoli soup but by the time I got off the cross trainer I was ravenous.  So I made a quick dinner instead.

  Dinner was a corn wrap with low-joule chutney, one slice of Bega Tasty cheese, two slices of rindless short cut bacon and two fried eggs (fried with no oil in my super non-stick mini pan) then I finished it off with 20g of Lindt 85% Cocoa dark chocolate.  My dad is currently visiting so rather than just the food I thought I'd show you him eating his wrap, since I made the same for us both.
  After dinner I had every intention of making the broccoli soup ready for tomorrow but instead I ended up making some healthy snack packs.  Each snack pack contains one dried apricot half, two brazil nuts, two hazelnuts, two pecan halves and four almonds.  I think they will make a longer lasting afternoon snack that a piece of fruit.  I also ran the dishwasher so that I'd have clean equipment for broccoli soup making tomorrow night!

  Two hours after dinner I took my blood sugar reading again, it was 6.9!! The normal range for two hours after eating is anywhere under 7.0 so I was really pleased with that.  It does make me wonder if maybe the high reading I got that kick-started all this was maybe anomalous due to my consumption the day prior but we shall see as we go on.  Apologies if the photo grosses anyone out but I think it's a very cool machine and I thought you might like to see a test strip in action!  You only need to touch a droplet of blood to it and it sucks it straight on.  It's very quick and very clever.
Thanks to Dad for wielding the camera.

  That's it for today, tune in tomorrow for more adventures in attempted healthy living!
  Jess

July 23 - By The Pricking Of My Thumbs

  Something healthy this way comes!
  Ok, I'm paraphrasing, but liberties with The Bard aside, I have a cool new toy!  Sure it stabs me twice a day, but it does allow me to have live updates on my blood glucose levels.  The pen thing, that's a 6-needle cartridge wielding Multiclix Lancing Device and the little doohickey with the screen is the Performa Blood Glucose Meter.  The little bottle with the cap on contains Test Strips.  One end speaks to the Meter, the other end is where you stick your droplet of fresh squeezed blood!
   So obviously I saw the diabetic educator today and she was really helpful.  She gave me the whiz bang handy-dandy monitor and lots of information on how the particular type of diabetes I'm looking at works (Type 2).  Essentially, my pancreas is a bit sluggish.  It is therefore producing low-quality or defective insulin leaving too much sugar in my blood stream.
She weighed me and, assuming the scales at her clinic are out as much as my doctor's, confirmed I have lost 3kg since the start of July. Yay me!
They also checked my vision in both eyes and that's all good too.
  The only thing that came up weird was my blood pressure... They got 180/120 with a heart rate of 84.  Now the heart rate seems possibly right but there is no way that my blood pressure was that high.  I was calm, collected and only slightly worried about being two and a half hours late for work (I had no idea it would take that long).  In a resting state like that the highest it's ever been was 130/90.  The nurse who took it felt that it was inaccurate too so I'll get my doctor to check it on Wednesday night.
  The good news is, she's very pleased with all the changes I've made so far especially the exercise as it apparently 'wakes up' a sluggish pancreas.  And she is helping me understand further changes I can easily make with what I'm eating.
  One of the cooler pieces of printed information I got today is this life-sized representation of my ideal dinner plate and what food groups should be on it.  The diameter of the white circle is 21.5cm.  On the back it also has suggested foods and daily food plans.  I find it very helpful and I'm going to find some way of keeping it in the kitchen.  With that in mind, I have laminated it to keep it clean.
  I got home, pottered about a bit then convinced myself to get on the cross trainer.  Today Buffy was attacked by parasitic mind-controlling bug baby things.  They looked suspiciously like larger versions of the parasitic mind-controlling bug alien things in the Star Trek TNG episode 'Conspiracy'.  So... now that you've all been made even more aware of my nerdiness, on to the day's consumption!
Breakfast: Yoghurt, berries and fibre toppers.

Lunch: Homemade pumpkin soup and a Coles Bakery Rustic Roll lightly buttered (same as yesterday's dinner but without the sour cream as that was going to be messy to transport to work) and a passionfruit.  My blood glucose two hours after lunch was 9.0 which is higher than I though it would be as after my breakfast I was only 6.4 but I guess that might come down to the bread roll.

Afternoon snack: A small slightly green banana.

Dinner: Homemade pizza of a wholemeal Khobz flatbread, Leggo's Pizza Sauce, shredded ham, six slices of beef salami, mushrooms, broccolini, red capsicum and Mainland Finely Shredded Light Tasty cheese.  I know I've photographed the pizza's about a billion times already but they all look different!  Pizza: Now with red blobs!

  I think that's it of significance today.  I'm still finding dinners are my weakest spot, mainly because I really don't feel like cooking when it's sometimes 8:00pm by the time I've done my exercise.  Thank you Jodes for the Broccoli Soup recipe though, will try that one out soon I think!

  I just want to say too what a big support this has been and how great you all are for reading and sending me your ideas and even just telling me you enjoy reading.
  It's all really helping and here's hoping that I can keep my momentum going!

  Jess

July 22 - Replacing and Renewing

   I got my hair cut today.  It was getting a bit long and shaggy.  I got it cut around the end of May but the problem was that they had cut it wet.  Curly hair really needs to be cut dry.
  When they cut it wet they either don't take enough length off because they are worried about how much it will spring up when it dries, or they completely forget about the spring up and take to much off.  Also they never thin it out enough when it's wet because they can't tell where the fluffy bits are.  So here's the re-cut, thinned, layered and curls as bouncy as ever.

  My day was a relatively lazy one.  I spent the better part of the morning on the internet playing Teddy's new email game "You so totally would" in which I'm presented with pictures of two aging rock stars and directed to choose which one I'd least object to shagging.  He only got me to pick Iggy Pop by placing him opposite Joseph Merricks (The Elephant Man).  It makes me laugh when he creates these odd little games.
  I did venture out of the house in the afternoon obviously, if only to go to the hairdresser, although it ended up being more.  I went to Target after my haircut as they've had all of their homewares marked down this week.  I bought a VS Sassoon Hair Dryer which is actually for drying a difficult piece of my food processor, though now that I have one I might also use it for my hair.  I also bought a 6 cup muffin pan (the really large kind) and a new bed sheet/quilt cover set and some extra plain pillow cases.
  What I had actually gone looking for, but they did not have, was a new slow cooker.  About three weeks ago, my slow cooker died a death.  That picture is of the base of the crock pot through which delicious chunky pea and ham soup had seeped.  Though to be fair, I think the slow cooker was older than me!  It was a hand-me-down from my parents and even after I washed it, I could still put my head over it and smell the spicy fragrant waft of decades of Dad's curries.  So alas, time to get a new one.
  The frontrunner at the moment is the Breville Fast Slow Cooker.  It can slow cook, pressure cook and steam! I think the steam function in particular would be very useful going forward.  It is also a Choice award winner.
  After Target, I went to Woolworths and did a spot of grocery shopping which came to rather more than I'm used to!  I think it was due to some of the extra-ordinary items I got this time.  I got some Bundaberg Diet Sarsaparilla and Bundaberg Diet Ginger Beer and some Carman's Classic Fruit Muesli due to my parents upcoming visit; I got some new plastic storage containers for organising a few piles of outgoing objects and also a whole heap of different nuts for making up into little snack packs.  Apparently nuts make a good between meal snack GI-wise.  Hopefully the diabetic educator confirms that at my first appointment which is tomorrow at 9am!
  I did manage to do a little more laundry today and I'm gradually tidying the kitchen one item at a time.  Progress is slow, but finally visible.  I also had a quick video chat to my granny in her nursing home room courtesy of my Dad and his laptop which was a bit of a bright spot.  And I did a spot of proof-reading for Mr Smart which I always enjoy.  I didn't exercise today but that's ok, I'll get back on it tomorrow.  I did eat pretty well today and here is the summary:

Breakfast: Yoghurt with berries and fibre toppers.
Lunch: A wholemeal Khobz wrap, microwaved a little, spread with about 30g of Danish Feta, baby spinach, the leftover lamb roast re-heated, a spoonful or two of the cold pumpkin soup (which is pretty much just pumpkin puree) and some pine nuts to finish it off.  It was delicious, and unlike other times, the Khobz wasn't too dry.  This was partially due to warming it up in the microwave but also because the feta and the pumpkin provided enough of a creamy texture within.
Afternoon drinkie: My last 200ml Aranciata Rossa (though they were on special at Woolies today so I did get a new six-pack.
I felt I needed it after such a long shopping trip!

Dinner: Homemade pumpkin soup served with a heaped teaspoon of light sour cream in the centre and garnished with a sprig of fresh thyme and a Coles Bakery Rustic Roll lightly buttered (yes, with real butter).  I must say, even though I'm only cooking for myself, it's kind of fun to use this as an excuse to garnish food and make it look all pretty.  Though clearly from the use of the fantastic plastic, I didn't see fit to use it as an excuse to make extra dishes!
Dessert: 20g of Lindt 85% Cocoa dark chocolate.

  So that's pretty much it for the day from me.  I got really stuck into my book last night so I'm keen to read on tonight.  I will be sure to tell you all about my first trip to the diabetic educator in tomorrow's blog.
  Until then!
  Jess

PS: A big Happy Birthday to my good friend Giggles and also a thank you for the Quesadilla Recipe.  It's certainly versatile and recipes for one are very helpful indeed!

July 21 - A Half Day

  Last night (and a good portion of today) were lost to a determined sleep.  I awoke groggily with only ten minutes of morning remaining.  Apparently my body doesn't like living on 6 or 7 hours sleep a night during the week, either that or the quality of the week night sleep has been poor.
  I didn't much feel like exercise when I woke but after a while sitting on the computer checking emails and things and wondering what I would do with the day I suddenly felt more like it, so I got on the cross trainer after all.  I figured that while it's ok to have the occasional day off, if I've any urge to do it at all I should grab that desire with both hands.  It is helping me develop a good exercise habit after all.

  After that of course I showered, got dressed etc. and by then it was 2:30pm so unsurprisingly I was feeling a bit peckish.  I had a toasted english muffin, one side spread with pate and one side spread with Vegemite and a slice of Bega Tasty cheese.
  Then it was on with bringing in the laundry from last week and balling up hundreds of pairs of socks!  While I was outside doing this I could here the sounds of children rather closer than normal.  I stood on tiptoes and spied some unfamiliar faces in my next-door neighbour's yard.

  When I got home last night I noticed that this sale board had been erected on their property (which adjoins mine), so I put two and two together and realised that it must be an open inspection!  So I pootled over to see what they'd done to the place and what the asking price was.  It's going to auction in three weeks time and they are wanting bids above $290,000.


  After that I went off to the local Super AMart furniture store.  I've been thinking about a new couch for a while and they had a corner lounge with a chaise that looked good.  It wasn't too bad; firm enough, wide enough, nice colour (raisin/brown).  The only thing that put me off was that the non-chaise seats aren't very deep, mind you that does mean my back is kept from slouching.  I was also looking at a new mattress since I've been sleeping on the same cheapy now for about 10 years and it's definitely seen better days.  The sales man Brian was very helpful and answered all my questions so I made sure I got his card so I could be sure to return to him when I'm ready to make my purchases.
  When I got back my new load of laundry was ready to put out so I got a little more sun time for the day.  I really like these cool sunny days.  I don't burn in them so readily and it's surprisingly refreshing to be outside.  I wish there were more days like today (and that I didn't sleep away half of them).
  I then set about getting ready to make dinner.  Seasoning my mini lamb roast (366g raw) with rosemary, lemon and garlic, peeling and slicing up pumpkin and sprinkling it with cumin seeds.  A granny smith apple cored and halved but not sprinkled with sugar though the urge was there.  I let that all cook away for about 50 minutes at 180°C (350°F).  The lamb was a perfect rare!

  I sliced up all of the lamb and put about half into a plastic container with some of the juices and put that into the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.  I quickly steamed a pouch of Steam Fresh veggies and pulled the smallest bit of pumpkin out of the oven and added them to my plate. Then the finishing touch was a small dollop of Masterfoods Mint Jelly.  It's just not roast lamb without it.

  The remainder of the pumpkin had stayed in the oven with the apple to continue slowly cooking at  130°C (265°F).  Once dinner was demolished, the apple was removed and became dessert!
Baked apple with yoghurt and berries.  It was delicious and though ice cream might've been more decadent, I barely noticed the acidity of the yoghurt once it blended with the sweet self-caramalised apple.

  Dinner over, appetite well and truly sated, I returned to the kitchen once more to finish up the pumpkin.  With the addition of 500ml stock, half a teaspoon of crushed garlic and a generous sprinkling of dried rosemary it was whizzed into pumpkin soup in a manner of minutes.  That will be my dinner tomorrow night and lunch on Monday most likely!
  It's only 7pm now so I'm not sure what I'll do with myself for the remainder of the evening.  A load of dishes perhaps, cleaning up the spare room for the arrival of my parents during the coming week, pottering about my house and desk trying to sort out the various piles of crap that keep accumulating.  Or perhaps I'll just go to bed and read my book.  Only starting something will tell!
  Have a lovely night all, and a happy Sunday,
  Jess

July 20 - Nananananananana Nananananananana Batman!

  Up at 8 o'clock to get my exercise out of the way early.  It was my day off today so I didn't want to go out and have fun then have to come home and slog it out.  Also... I may have had a somewhat desperate urge to see part two of the Buffy episode.

  While I was cooling down I was craving a cooked breakfast so I decided the berries would keep in the fridge another day!  I toasted an english muffin while in my tiniest non-stick frypan I cooked up a single egg, a slice of Bega Tasty cheese and a little shredded ham.  It was a scrumptious improvement on McDonald's and really didn't take very long at all.
  After that I got showered, dressed and ready to head off for a day of fun with Mr Smart.

  Mr Smart made us a lovely lunch of prawn curry with rice and roti.  I had one of the roti and a bowl of rice with curry and just enough juice to make the rice flavoursome!  We ate and mused on possible modifications to future incarnations of the dish while half-watching Bargain Hunt with Tim Wonnacott.  I love the show but I'll admit I preferred it when David Dickinson was the host.
  Our appetites now sated, we set off for the city, walking to the nearest bus stop.  We'd no sooner left when we were detained by Mr Smart's neighbour which was a pleasant enough occurrence but it did make us almost miss the bus.  Luckily there was no other traffic about and Mr Smart was able to signal our intentions to the bus driver who was then kind enough to stop while we crossed the road.
  Off we went, o'er hill and dale and alighted on another hill to switch to a city bound tram.  I really like travelling by tram in daylight.  It clickity-clacks and hums and bounces it's way past interesting shops, restaurants and parks.  I have time to watch the world on a tram and the things you spy inspire conversations and ideas; like "Lets try that restaurant" as I point out the window which then leads to a discussion of why it's not really fair to lump so many cuisines under the one Middle Eastern label despite the similarities.
  Before getting to the IMAX to see The Dark Knight Rises, Mr Smart needed to drop into uni to grab a book for the coming semester so I got an intimate student-guided tour of the campus.  So many beautiful old buildings, so many statues and sculptures.  Did I want to see the most amazing entrance to a car park in the world? Why yes I did...
This is the pedestrian access to the faculty car park.

  Isn't it amazing!?  Isn't it a gothic masterpiece!? Complete with ivy covered wall and dark foreboding interior, tucked away in a corner.  The whole campus in fact, even including a couple of starkly ugly 1970s architectural black spots, is a secret oasis of art and green in the hubbub of the city.  Now obviously, being one of the foremost universities in Australia, it's not exactly a well-kept secret, but I'd never known and was delighted to see it all.
  We then wandered down towards the museum but strolled at a leisurely pace as there was still plenty of time before the movie.  Luckily, Mr Smart harbours the same dread hate of being late to anything as I do, so I know we'll always have plenty of time!
It's a comforting thing to know.

  A particular pause had to be made at the corner of Grattan Street and Erskine Lane to capture an image of this flower.  The garden was full of native flora like proud fluffy deep yellow Banksias and spiky red Grevilleas so I'm assuming it's a native too, but I'd never seen it before and thought it was quite striking.  An image search on Google did not reveal its identity to me so if anyone happens to know what it is, please let me know.
  We arrived at the museum still with plenty of time and descended into the underground IMAX cinema.  We milled around for 20 minutes or so and were then seated.  Mr Smart has a knack for picking a good spot and had booked us tickets right in the middle of the row.  Not that it would've mattered too much I think, the screen is 7 storeys high!
  I will not reveal a thing about the movie itself, let it never be said that I've issued forth a spoiler, but I will comment on the cinema experience.  This was my first time ever at an IMAX and it was something to behold that's for sure.  We were in row D which is quite close to the front as you'd imagine, it was sometimes hard to know where to look when the screen pace was rapid!  The sound too was super-sized and reverberated throughout your mind, the bass shook your whole body at times!  I enjoyed the movie and it was an amazing, if exhausting experience.  I would love to go and see one of the nature documentaries they show on it.
  As we filed out of the cinema through the crowd of people awaiting the next screening, I overhead a merry band of trolls say loudly and clearly "Wow.. Superman showing up.  I didn't see that coming."  Luckily I don't think anyone was likely to believe them.
  We ascended into daylight, or rather twilight, and set off to catch the return tram.  I of course headed in the wrong direction momentarily due to not realising that we'd be catching a different tram back.  It was 5:15pm when we boarded the rush hour tram.  Sardines anyone?  Still, it didn't take long for the tram to get roomier and we clickety-clacked our way back.  I even managed to catch a sunset glimpse of the city from Ruckers Hill.  It's a beautiful view and one that Mr Smart made a special point of showing me some months ago.
  Once returned we had a rest, took in an episode of The West Wing, and once I knew rush hour was over, it was time for me to head home.  I had three pieces of leftover homemade pizza for dinner and a granny smith apple for dessert (thank you Jack).
  I have no particular plans for the remainder of the weekend and certainly no desire to rise early tomorrow so I shall head to bed, turn off my alarm clock, open my book and read until I get sleepy.
  Goodnight all,
  Jess

July 19 - A Blast From The Past

   I know!  I didn't think I'd photograph this breakfast again so soon either but I tried a new berry mix today.  This one was McCain Baby Strawberry Berry Mix.  I was excited but it seems to thaw slower than the other mix so some of the strawberries were a bit crunchy and as you can see from the still white yoghurt, there was less juice in this one.  I'll finish the pack I have but I don't think I'll get this mix again.  Also, Target has 50% off towels and bath sheets this week.


  I got to work at 7:40am this morning!  Normally I am just managing to slink out of the shower by then.  The phone upgrade at work went well.  The technician was great and coordinated it all so that we barely noticed any outages.  I didn't realise how much work was involved!  He was there from 7:40am to 3:40pm!  At least I don't have to worry about the photocopier upgrade tomorrow, it's my day off so I'm going to IMAX to see the new Batman movie with Mr Smart!

   Lunch was a corn wrap with Rosella fruit chutney, one slice of Bega Extra Light Tasty cheese and some double-smoked ham, lightly toasted in the sandwich press.  With cucumber sticks on the side and a tamarillo for afters.  The tamarillo was not friendly with my lips which must have a small split in them somewhere.
It stung for quite a while!


  I left work at 5pm and rushed home, got changed immediately and on the cross-trainer with Buffy.  It was a two part episode today.. curses!  I didn't have time to watch the next part today as I was expecting company for dinner.  A blast from my past.  His code name of choice, Jack Johnson.
  Jack and I were at high school together.  It's funny, we ran in the same circle of friends but were never really friends ourselves.  We'd say 'Hi', happily greet the other, hang out as part of the group but we never really did anything minus the group.  So why then would I invite him to dinner, this person who apart from occasional bumps into I have not seen in 17 years?  Because sometimes I do these things.  And I'm glad I do.
  There were many tales told of school, and our lives in between then and now.  Woes and joys we'd experienced separately but similarly.  It's not possible to catch up on 17 years in one short evening but the words flowed easily as did smiles and half-laughed groans.

   We had homemade pizza for dinner, a Khobz wholemeal flatbread with Leggo's Pizza Sauce, salami, shredded ham, mushrooms, bocconcini (half as much as the other times because I cut each bambini in half again) and broccolini stalk.  All washed down with 200ml of delicious sweet Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa.


  Mid-way through dinner we flicked on Bill Bailey : Part Troll, a stand-up comedy DVD.  It was well received and hearty guffaws emanated from both of us.  Bill Bailey is one of those comedians who just creates an alternate universe on the spot and takes you along for the ride.  I find him extremely entertaining.
  Jack had work in the morning so it was an earlyish night but a good one.  I see no reason to prevent it happening again sometime.  As he yelled out the codename 'Jack Johnson' over his shoulder on the way to his car I knew it sounded familiar, though he claimed to have no idea who it was.  Google was therefore called upon.
Here then for your optical and aural pleasure is 'the real' Jack Johnson.
  Until tomorrow friends,
  Jess

July 18 - Mixed Bag Day

  I'm happy with my day overall.  It was definitely and mixed bag and tomorrow already feels daunting before it's arrived, but I'll let you each judge by your own perceptions.  First off a little happy happy joy joy moment!  I stepped on the scales last night, 123.7kg which means I've lost 3kg since I started 18 days ago.  Eeeee!
  It was very hard to get out of bed this morning.  It was warm and toasty all cocooned in my doona with no sneaky doona thief to wrest me from it.  But still, that persistent 'beep beep beep' every eight minutes couldn't be ignored forever.  So it was up and into my daily marathon hot shower where there are no beeps to spoil the illusion of a warm eternity.  By that time though, consciousness intruded and reminded me I was actually expected to turn up at work occasionally if I wished to continue receiving a salary.

  Naturally I had forgotten to defrost my berries, so it was a toasted muffin with Nutella for breakfast.  I'm pretty sure Nutella should be on the naughty list but while it's in the house it will gradually get eaten and assist in the prevention of chocolate binges.  The urge to eat chocolate and roll up into a ball will be particularly strong this week so it's probably not a bad thing that I have Nutella as a fall-back position.
  Work was more resumes from 9am - 11am and then the horrible realisation that today was the cut off date for submitting my comments on my team's performance reviews.  Argh!  So three staff reviews full of glowing praise later I finally had an hour left to actually do something productive!

  Lunch was in there somewhere.  I had a corn wrap with double smoked ham, a small tomato and one slice of Bega Tasty cheese (the last slice of the full fat, next box will be the light stuff).  I toasted it in the sandwich press and that improved the quality and flavour of the corn wrap somewhat so there may be some hope for them yet.  A small banana and a passionfruit were also enjoyed.
  I also went shopping at lunch time.  It was unbelievably cold in the office today!  Only 16°C at 11:22am.. I know that because my right-hand gal had snagged a thermometer by this point to monitor our misery.  This of course meant that I needed a better coat!  So three tops and two cardi-coats later I was back and warmer for it.  I bought 5 items of clothing and spent less than $50!  Thank you Millers!
  Straight after work I got changed into cat-safe clothes and headed to Mr Smart's.  I realised two things last night, 1) if I don't splurge once in a while I will just find this all to hard and quit and 2) tonight was the night I needed to splurge.  Fortunately, Mr Smart is very supportive and suggested a great little Indian place on High Street called Maharaja Tandoori Cuisine.  They start you with a poppadum each with some tangy mint chutney and sticky sweet tamarind sauce while you peruse the menu.  Their poppadums had caraway seeds in which was a lovely added flavour boost.  The rest of the meal follow photographically:

Chicken Tikka and Samosa

Daal Makhani, Lamb Rogan Josh, Butter Chicken, Raita and Mango Chutney

See Mr Heinz!  This is what delicious chunky Butter Chicken looks like!!

Scrumptious tiny hot sweet Gulab Jamun.

  Mr Smart, ever the charming dinner companion, saved me from myself on several occasions and limited my walk home to mere waddling, rather than rolling.  That's right folks, I may not have got on the cross trainer today, but I did walk to and from the restaurant.  Sure, it's only 600m each way, but it's the principle of the thing!
  I was grumpy of course at having to leave Mr Smart's company but regrettably I have an early morning tomorrow.  Surely 6am should not be allowed to exist!
  So as you can see, a mixed bag.  On the one hand, I pigged out and didn't exercise.  On the other hand, I pigged out and didn't exercise.  Tonight certainly squished the cravings I've been fighting off for a week so I do feel like it will be easier to get back to business tomorrow.
  Jess

PS: I should explain the cat-safe clothes yes?
Meet Pizza Cat.  Isn't she adorable!  She's also very funny and happily meows at me whenever I arrive.  I'm informed it's because I fuss over her with unlimited pats.