Return 2 Reality ...
Back to work today, return to reality after such a nice weekend. Have had some family members staying, brother no. 2 is a food fanatic, he created a culinary masterpiece from everything he could find - between him and the 2 teenagers our regular consumption was quadrupled!

One of them is quite obese, the other thin and muscular, yet they both eat similar amounts - interesting in light of the obesity "epidemic" they keep reminding us about? Seems a lot of people are on the "Atkins" diet, shunning carbohydrates for more protein and fat, I think. Some have lost quite a bit of weight, a colleague says 24 lb in 8 weeks. Will it stay off? I know someone else who lost 75 lb over 7 months going to WeightWatchers, no funny diets required for that.

Are we becoming obsessed with what we eat, how many calories is in everything, which food types, supplements, the additives, organic, natural, or no genetic engineering or modification? Interesting debates on GM / GE , I have to trust the scientists and the politicians, and not succumb to the hysteria of the "anti"crowd. But there is always a slight lingering doubt, as with any new "advance" over the ages. Astronomy, electricity, medicial discoveries were all resisted strongly, often by the religious hierarchy. Any examination of the human body after death was regarded as sacrilege, and forbidden in the middle ages. It took brave physicians and anatomists and "body-snatchers" or grave-robbers, to begin the process of finding out how we are assembled, and later how we function.

Actually my work involves healthcare so I have some professional interest in the subject, plus a small amount of personal interest too in that I am slightly overweight - not a lot, probably average for my age - the middle-aged spread! But I don't really believe in diets, just reasonably healthy foods in sensible quantities. Of course exercise too is stressed continually, but I have to admit I am a bit of an exerphobic - I don't enjoy it much. I have joined the gym 3 or 4 different times, but initial enthusiasm seems to wane after a few visits, or the "too busy" or "too tired" excuses take over and I go back to couch potato or armchair avocado mode - internet inertia, well not much physical, but mental activity in this case. We consume 20% or more of our calories just by thinking.

I believe a lot is in the genes, whether you will get fat, become diabetic, get heart disease, or depressed and so on. Hence my 2 quite differently shaped nephews, one must have escaped the fat gene, or it is dominant in the other. Depression, hmmm I can go on about that too, but will leave it for another day......

Top of the hill ...
I used to wonder if I would ever make it to this age, but 2 days ago, I did! It seemed such a long way away when I was 21, but time sure creeps up on you doesn't it? The top of the hill perhaps, all downhill from here - well it is easier going downhill anyways : ) I had so many phone calls, cards and flowers - even a few emails and a text message too! A bunch of nice presents, dinner out to two nice restaurants including a REAL chinese banquet with peking duck and all the trimmings. I thought that was it until I got home kind of late, around 8pm Friday , ready to collapse on the couch after a hectic week. I opened the door and "SURPRISE!!!" from 45 people .... a surprise party, how touching :) I was TOTALLY surprised - all credit to my partner of 17 years who organised everything so surreptitiously. He hired a fantastic chef who made the most amazing dishes, with great wine and champagne, it was alot of fun. There were a few people I haven't seen for years, we really should keep in touch better but the weeks and months just slip by, never seeming to have enough time in this crazy complicated world...