OK then,
after a few attempts at contacting the counsellor in my area that appealed to me, (out of a choice of about five in my area, within ten or so, miles of me) i decided that since she's not got back to me, i should try a different one. I'm itching to get on with it now I've made up my mind.

Anyway, back to the phone call. Immediately the other counsellor, lets call her Venus, (as in the goddess of Love - lets hope she has plenty of love to spare for frazzled dieters!) answered the phone and took me by surprise as i expected yet another answerphone message.

I wanted to know which days and times she runs the groups. She talked around it every time as if she really, really didn't want to answer my question, which i thought was odd. She waffled on about coming down to watch a DVD to see whether it was for me or not. I told her, "look, i've read a lot about it, i've made up my mind i want to do it, thats not the problem, I know that it is powders and soups and group counselling and that there are three phases to go through, starting with foundation phase" - [I've been reading other lighterlife blogs, you see reader, and got all the info] "the only problem is", I continued, "is that i have only certain days when i can attend such a group, and i need to know when are the days and times that you run the groups. Can you let me know the day and time that the group would be running please?".

In response to that statement she told me that I'd be joining a new group that would be starting in 'about two weeks' (humm, it's the word 'about' that made me suspicious - i've heard this kind of thing before, haven't you reader? - lets have a bet that its at least three weeks?)
anyhow, she said i'd need to start by coming into a new group and that she'd have to set one up, therefore i wasn't to worry as she could run that new group on the day and time that was convenient for me (and her, obviously!).

So, all well and good then?

I hope so. Finally i understood what her peculiar tone was about as she confessed that she was, at that exact moment, in session with another client and could she phone me back? I asked her at about what time she would call me back and she sad, "Ten minutes" and so i said, "Yes"" and i am now awaiting that call.

Oh and she mentioned that i'd have to get the go-ahead from my GP, [ I also knew about this from reading on the internet]. Here's hoping that I'm healthy enough in my docs opinion to withstand such a shock to the system.
Musing...."I wonder whether the doc will charge me a fee for the check up?"...

(Drums fingers)|-| I'm still waiting for the call back. Its now been twenty minutes.

I feel tetchy, irritated, on edge. Goodness me, if I'm like this already, then what..... (oh lets not go there!).

Well, two hours has gone by and eventually she did phone me - when i was on the phone to someone else!!! AAAArgh! :## I knew that would happen. I waited and waited for her to phone me but eventually had to take other calls. How annoying is that? She left a message saying that she would be back on that number at 5 oclock. Lets see whether she answers the phone then at that time. I guess she's very busy ... hopefully doing interviews for the next new group, i.e. the one that i will be joining :DD

Well, we have finally spoken. I got no further information over the telephone, she wants me to come in to see her (shes very forceful about this!). We've made an appointment to meet for a session on Thursday. At this session she will answer any questions i have, including those about which days and times the groups will be running. It does feel annoying not being told straight, but haiving to wait until we meet to find out, but I will go along with it because i want to find out. I do, though, hope that it isn't going to be like this all along!!! WATCH THIS SPACE to find out.