The Valley Effect

We said our goodbyes with the sun beating down on us, and I got choked up when I thought about being back in England in about 6 hours time. The car was quiet as we took in our last views of the Valley. Anyone would think we didn’t want to leave the beauty that is Cortijo Grande.

The first day back to work was horrible. There was a moment in the living room where Jim said it was like we are in mourning.

“I am!” was my reply.,br>
I asked Dan yesterday if he’d cried yet. “No haven’t properly cried. I done a lot of teary eyed looking at nothing though.”

Yep, that about sums up how me and Jim have been acting too.

I’ve kept myself distracted by cleaning the fridge, watching The New Statesman as a tribute to Rik Mayall, searching Spanish blogs and listening to Spanish radio while getting ready for work.

Things that I don’t like about England:
1. People going into shops with either their top off, or dressed in pyjamas
2. The thick, smoggy air
3. How many cars are on the road
4. The parking rules and restrictions
5. The fact that people drag their feet when they walk
6. Crap customer service and pubs shutting early.

Bee made a silly suggestion to me last night.

“Seeing as we’re painting my flat instead of shopping on Saturday morning, we can go up to the Peel Centre in the afternoon if you want.”

Do you not know me at all?

Shopping in Lorca has just amplified the fact of just how busy Bracknell gets at weekends. Lorca was great, no one appeared randomly from around any corners to get in my way, no one ran at me with their buggies, no mums’ swore at their child and dragged them along for just talking to them…I can feel my stress levels rise just thinking about the Peel Centre. Horrible place.


We didn't go shopping in the end. It's too rainy and grey outside. So I'm sat here watching Bottom and laughing instead.


The reason I don't want to be in the UK

Oh we'll be back.

Dog Walking in the Valley

Dan made this little video of our time in Spain.



TAKE ME BACK!

A vintage style dress isn't for me

Especially this one my mum wore!

Looking forward to this bad boy tomorrow

Peanut Butter Cup Rocky Road

Damn spine!

I don’t think I have mentioned my scoliosis on my blog before so I guess I’ll just talk about it from the beginning.

A lady I used to work with noticed that one side of my back stuck out more than the other, I suppose I must have looked wonky. Then I asked Jim to check- he took a photo of my back while I was bending over and showed me- oh yes I was wonky!

I went to the doctors about it, as I had been aching too. She diagnosed me with ‘Acute Scoliosis’ and then spoke to me as if I was supposed to know what it was. What the hell is scoliosis? I’d never heard of it before. When I got home, it was googled and it made sense after that- scoliosis meant curved spine.

I started going to Pilates for a while, to try and better my posture. I can’t remember how long I went for, but then I went to a new class with a different instructor at lunchtimes as the business park put on subsidised classes. Eventually this instructor recommended me to a Chiropractor (turns out they were friends recommending each other). My Chiropractor was very good, and helped to correct most of it. I had acupuncture, lots of adjustments and massages. Then she left to set up her own clinic in Birmingham (boohoo! ) and the one who took over was okay. She didn’t really seem to do that much each session and just spoke at me about what Scoliosis was. Both her and the GP thought I had it since birth, and that it was strange no one had spotted it before.

Anyway, my new Chiropractor wanted me to get referred for an X-ray. When I went to see my GP, she didn’t think I would need to have an x-ray. I quit the Chiropractor sessions because it was too awkward to get to on weekdays and weekends, but I did mean to book one in the town that I lived. I just kept putting it off but lately I’ve been so so wonky and aching like a b**** so I went to this new one. 50 quid later, I had my x-rays and went back last week to see the results. I wasn’t looking forward to it when he said “yours is the worst Scoliosis I’ve seen,” and “you will make an interesting case study.”


Well there you go. My neck is curving the wrong way to what it should be, my coccyx should be in line with the rest of my spine (see how far out it is?!) and the rest is an 'S' shape. Woah. So now I’m going to have to go 3 times a week until things start improving. Eventually I’ll go less. He already did some adjustments on me and they felt good. Nice and relieving. My screen at work has been raised so I am actually in the correct position now, so that should help my neck! I'll let you know the progress.

Happy days

Yummy food this week

Red Pepper & Courgette Lasagna (only 7PP on WW!)


Sweet Potato & Spinach Curry with feta cheese


Tuna fishcakes, avocado, potato wedges and salad

Chuffed that I finally found a sequin jacket and dress both in the sales. Been looking for well over a year!

Today is another day

Quick update with the weigh ins - I am now 5lbs over goal. I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit miffed with myself yesterday, but today I browsed through twitter for some inspirational quotes, exercise ideas and recipes, and they put me in a better mood.

I know a lot of people are saying that people shouldn't worry about the number on the scales too much. I've changed my exercise routine but no way is all of that muscle! My jeans feel too tight so I think that's how I'm gonna keep myself in check. I've been taking my measurements for a while anyway, so I'm still keeping up with that too.

I read a couple of great blog posts yesterday by Snack Therapy and Keeping Healthy Getting Stylish. Snack Therapy wrote down what 'healthy' means to her, and Keeping Healthy Getting Stylish (sorry I can't remember their real names!) wrote about relationships with food, and that half of dieting is sorting your head out rather than changing diet and exercise. I think I'm more aware that I eat out of boredom while I'm at work. I don't like my job at all, it's just the money keeping me here, but after I get married I plan to change that.

Ultimate goal: move to Brighton if Jim can get a store transfer. Meet new, cool, interesting people and get a job even if it's a pay cut.

More realistic goal: stay in Bracknell, move to a nicer flat/house and apply to become an RSPCA inspector. Again, that is a paycut but at least it'll make me happy.

So for now, I'll live with what I've got and make the best of things. The sun is shining today, I am wearing my favourite orange dress, and I've heard a lot of songs I love today instead of listening to the news. My kitchen is clean and tidy and I don't have to do anything when I get home this evening except watch some TV and hang out with my best mates. Life is good.