Day 32 of 183. 151 days to go.
Week 5 coming to an end. Less than 22 weeks to go.

Today my trusty handyman turned up again, and i shot out of the door at about the same time as his arrival. My friend was having a garden party for her daughter, and i had offered to collect two of her family members (who happen to live near me) and bring them along in my car.

This meant that i had to be there at the start of the party (10-30 am). Getting back would be no problem, my friend had assured me, because they would be able to drive them back afterward after everyone had gone home. "Good", i thought, "That means that i can leave after an hour".

Not that i don't like my friends, or even that i have an allergy to childrens parties. Both not so. Its just that the thought of my handyman at home on a daily rate of pay was nagging me. Surely it might be tempting for him to sit and read the papers instead of doing the sanding of the floor?

I'm sure he's stalled for time when i went out once before. I decided at the last minute to ask him to do the garden instead. There are a few paths and a couple of patios that neeed weeding. If he does these he knows that i will know exactly how much he has done whilst i have been away. He agreed to do the garden. I went away happy.

The party turned out to be great. A couple of my dearest friends, whom i hardly ever see these days, were there. As was my friends brother. I've always loved my friends brother. He's a great guy. One of these creative types. Few words said in groups but when he comes over to talk to just one person, the conversation flows profusely. We talked about everything from gun crime to Big brother contestants via foreign trips and the merits of having a TV when one lives alone.

Eventually i retuned home at about 4pm. Handy Andy had kindly almost finished the garden and had done some sanding too. When i walked into the house, however, he was inside there and not in the garden! He wasn't inside the room in which he was sanding, either. He appeared from the room which does lead outside, yet i know that he wasn't outside. I'm happy with what he achieved though. Even if he had an hour or two sunbathing, so what. Its a sunday and he's just on his regular rate.

My bedtime reading has been todays Observer. An article in 'Observer Woman' caught my eye. It is an argument put forward by Rachel Cooke, that our prejudices regarding obese people amount to something akin to racism. Rachel donned a fat suit to gain insight.

You can read that article here...
(you will have to cut and paste the link into your browser - the whole url not just the blue underlined bit).
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/woman/story/0,,1813081,00.html

I particularly liked the mention of the mega-rich and powerful drug companies having influential involvement in the American version of the British National Obesity forum. It reminds me of that similar conclusion that i drew when i read this article...

British National Obesity Forum comment on drug compainies article here... (you will have to cut and paste the link into your browser - the whole url not just the blue underlined bit).
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1676038,00.html

Happy reading.