Now I know I haven't blogged for some considerable time, I've been terribly busy with a new job (I may blog about that another time) but, I am at a loose end tonight and it's winter. I just want to feel summery again so here's a summer memory......

It was August 1994, I remember it well because it was my last single girly holiday. I was off to Cyprus with my sister Sam and my friend Nicola for a fortnight of sun, sea, sand and squid. We were in our 20s, worked hard and were really excited at the prospect of a summer holiday.

Now there are certain things that ladies must do in order to become bikini ready. In my case, lose several pounds, tone up (a lot), deal with patches of unsightly dry skin, try to make toenails...

What a glorious week last week was!! Deciding that it was time to shed my winter woolies for the week, I dug out last years summer clothes. After all, I didn't get much wear out of them last year, I distinctly remember it being a bit parky at times.

Donning a short sleeved top and 3/4 length pants made me notice how pale I looked. I have the type of skin that doesn't tan easily, a blueish shade of white usually associated with people of a Celtic background....

In order to rectify this and try to make me look like I wasn't in need of a lie down on a mortuary slab, I decided to invest in a fake tan. I was out shopping at the time so instead of taking the time to have a professional fake tan at the Beauticians, I...

I was going to go on holiday this week. For a couple of weeks I'd been eyeing up an all inclusive to Cape Verde. It wasn't bad value for money really but I never got around to booking it. I would have been on my own for the week as Sparks has no time off. Being on my own has never stopped me before, I've travelled all over the place on my own and never bothered about it.

I'd been looking at this holiday when I was off sick then, I went back to work and forgot all about it. When I got back to work, I was reminded that it is my colleague's 50th this week, so we're all going to Blackpool for a night out. I've found a nice little hotel to stay at because I am going to go on the train and stay over. I might as well, what with the...

I am literally on gardening leave now.....

Every nice day in the last week, I have pottered about in the garden. Trimming bits off bushes, pulling out the odd weed, sweeping paths and planting my veggies in small pots to get them going. I'm back at work this week so felt the need to get moving again. I haven't done anything too strenuous though, I mean, I haven't tackled cleaning out the shed yet..... That'll be a mammoth task when I get around to it..

I do love the garden though, it's generally quiet out there. The railway runs along the back of our house, but it is down a gulley which muffles the sound of the trains somewhat. Our old house had the railway running beside it, but it was up on the embankment....

The next day, I took my prescription order round to the GP Surgery. I was told that I would be able to pick the prescription up later that day, which I duly did.

I was more than a bit sceptical about whether this tablet would actually work but figured that I had come this far and may as well give it a chance.

The beauty of Champix, to any smoker, is that you continue to smoke as normal whilst taking it. When the drug starts to kick in you will start to want fags less and less. It has well publicised side effects, especially pertaining to mental health and becoming suicidal. I asked Sparks to keep an eye out for me displaying any odd behaviour etc......... That was a challenge for Sparks, sorting out my normal behaviour...