Wednesday 9 September

Wednesday morning 06.25 and the alarm goes off - oh god why can't it be Saturday! I stretch out my back in the hope of stopping the nagging pain I sometimes get. As I do I can feel the vertebrae straining like an old wooden stool when sat on by a heavy person. I drag my self out of bed and call Harry, "It's 20 to 7 Harry, time to get up. Why didn't you put your light out until after 11 last night? You will be tired today. I will have to take your laptop and iPod away at night if you don't get to sleep earlier!" Harry had already moved into teenager mode and liked to continue to chat online to friends until late into the night - even when he had to get up and out of the house by 7.25 for the school bus.

I went into Felicity's room and took a more gentle approach. She needed to be treated gently in the mornings or else the whole house would suffer! I sat on her bed and asked if she wanted me to open her blind - she shook her hand at me and pulled the covers over her head. I told her she could have 5 more minutes.

After a quick shower and dressed in my running gear I went downstairs to make breakfast. What would I have today? For the last two weeks I had followed Nerys and India's Idiot Proof diet but on Sunday that had fallen by the wayside and the 4 pounds lost in two weeks were slipping back on! I decided to have a protein and raspberry drink made with soya milk. This would keep me going for a few hours unless boredom got the better of me! After several more calls to Felicity and much moaning from her both children appeared downstairs with just 10 minutes to eat their breakfast. Harry had mislaid his biology book and needed this for school so another drama started to emerge!

Like probably half the population out there I have a dream to write a successful novel - but.. can't seem to get round to starting it. Today after forcing two children out of bed, dropping at school buses, taking uniform to my duaghter's old school for their second hand sale, dropping off some shoes my husband meant to take with him on his business tip but forgot - so asked me to take to his office for a colleague to take when he joins him! and returning home; I decided to start a blog.

Will anyone read or find this blog even remotely interesting? I don't know but well here goes, nothing ventured nothing gained. Perhaps I should start by introducing my family: I'm Jill, at 51 years old I still consider myself as youngish. I took early retirement from my job last year at 50 and would love to do something but I'm not sure what! I am slightly overweight and although still just within a safe BMI would love to lose 10 pounds or so but have failed miserably at dieting this last year or so. More about me as time goes on!

I am married to Michael who is 60. He passed that momentous hurdle in June this year and we had a party to celebrate. Michael works as an event organiser and is currently away running this year's Tour of Britain, a race his company owns. Check out the TOB web site for more info!

We have two children: Harrison (Harry to his mates) who is 13 and Felicity who is 9. I think their personalities will become clearer as I post a day to day blog!

Well that's all I have time for at the moment - will I continue? If I get feedback that suggests someone out there is reading this I will and I will try and make it funnier although as other mothers out there will agree it is sometimes difficult to see the funny side of family and dieting stress! Oh well out for a run now! Signing off Jill