This is a dieters nightmare, it's the syn of sins, the point breaker, a willpower wobbly moment. The window of temptation. It's that moment when you have bought a treat for another member of your family and happily leave them on. the side in the kitchen and you clock sight of them. The beautiful contents, siting there quite innocently, saying eat me!!! You know you want to!!!

I'm not picking on any supermarket at all as from a point of sale side it's the magic window that draws that same temptation in for the public to buy the product so hats off to marketing because it does the job. To those people, well ok me then, who process very little willpower at all this is just cruel. It happened to me the other day, that's why I'm writing about it. I am hoping in some cathartic way that I can get it all out of my system and never repeat this act again. Two lonely jam doughnuts just sat there looking at me, I kept passing them saying to myself 'no I can't eat you because you contain gluten and you are not part of my slimming world diet'. Like that would help, it should because I really cannot tolerate gluten very well and I really want to lose some more weight. 

I went off and drank pints of water because when your about to binge it is not proper hunger but the slight chance that you maybe thirsty, that's what they say isn't it? I have to admit that most of the time this does work but not at this particular moment, I was already in stage two, after setting a visual I was thinking, well one won't hurt. Yes it will hurt Sue from the Brew, it will make your tummy ache, give you massive wind and probably stop you from being able to poo! Sorry too much information. No even this wasn't enough, I was thinking of the major health impact, but I didn't think very hard. Honestly I have spent more energy and more time thinking about what bleach to use in the toilet to extinguish the build up of limescale, there you go, I think more about the toilet bowl and it's insides before my own insides. 

I could break a bit off and eat it but a bite turned into half and then half turned into the whole lot!! Do you know what? It was gorgeous! About a million syns but I didn't care for a moment. The sugar rush was making me feel goooood! I was in sugar heaven, if there was a festival from the swinging sixties based on people just eating loads of sugar it would be called 'Sugarstock'. Love, Peace and Sugar and this would have been the line up:

Def Leppard singing 'Pour Some Sugar on Me'
Robbie Williams with 'Candy'
The Rolling Stones 'Brown Sugar'
The Rubettes 'Sugar Baby Love'
The Searchers 'Sweets for my Sweet'

I came down from sugar land and felt a little disgusted and not very good about myself, only a little bit though. Life is way too short sometimes, you only pass by this world once, unless you believe in reincarnation that is but sometimes the cake just needs to be eaten. I totally blame the little window on the packet but then we blame everything else except ourselves. A day or so later my insides have survived although I haven't felt great but that serves me right and don't feel sorry for me as I don't deserve it. Pardon? You weren't going to anyway? Quite right.

I give in way to easy to temptation, it's just one of many flaws I have but hey we all have them and eat the blooming cake if it makes you feel happy but if you're like me probably taking the gluten free option may be the safer bet. A brew and cake, it's just the best ever! And with that advice I will leave you go forth and eat doughnuts and cake. The moral of the story - there were two doughnuts left and I only ate one!!!

Thanks for reading, will be back tomorrow for more cake, NO I mean I will be back for A Verse for Thursday......bye for now. 

Yes it's approaching, that time in life, the next stage........Menopause!!!!
I'm definitely in the perimenopause stage and just waiting for graduation to the big 'M' level. Promotion to maturity I like to call it, I'm like a fine wine just waiting to mature enough to become vintage. I wish someone would tell my moods swings that, blimey I'm up and down with emotions I could design a whole new catalogue of emoji's just for the menopause.

I'm trying to look on the bright side and remain positive, that's when I can remember what I'm trying to be positive about. My memory at the moment is scaring me, or lack of it should I say. I have to write lists now for everything, not just for shopping but to put the bins out and other silly things that I should just remember. Alexa (the amazon echo dot device thing) has just lost her patience with me on my 'to do' list. I expect her to reply with 'really?' 'are you that stupid?' or 'you should really remember to feed your children', 'I am not reminding you to poo'. I even asked my friend, who is coming up to her wedding anniversary, how long she had been married......I went to the blooming wedding last year so how stupid did I feel?

Hot flushes just come on when you least expect, usually when I am in a meeting or talking to someone, could be right in the middle of one of my autism support group meetings. I'm trying to reassure a stressed out parent that things will be fine and I'm looking like I've been dragged out of hormonal sauna. I can feel it rising up from my tippy toes to my head and blush like mad, it's like someone turning my internal central heating on, wooooosh Just as I think I'm going to spontaneously combust my memory suddenly has no problem reminding me that I'm of a certain age and I've had it coming for years. I can hear my soul laughing at me, and saying 'ha ha, remember adolescence and pregnancy? Well you ain't seen nothing yet love!!'. It's ok I'm not really hearing voices, I've not gone completely mad, .....not yet anyway.

I don't like the heart palpitations and panic attacks. I have never had these before so when I experienced this for the first time I thought I was having a heart attack. I even got carted away in an ambulance whilst on the school run. I know! how embarrassing. Nice staff though at A&E, one particular who made my heart beat even faster, that didn't help! They tend to pop up unexpected, the panic attacks not dishy hospital staff unfortunately. There again I can be meeting with people and just feel like my heart is going to burst out of my body like something out of an Alien movie. Not a nice feeling at all but I've found some techniques to help relax, that and some good beta blockers to try if I just can't get into my calm place. My calm place, it's supposed to be taking nice breaths and focus but all I want to focus on is a the local pub garden and a pint of cider!! Hey if it helps the panicking it's all good.

And what has happened to my old bladder, yes ok I have had two children and the pelvic floor as never been the same since. I've tried all those exercises, the ones that they say you can do whilst catching a bus or doing your shopping. Trouble is my face follows my movements so when I clench and hold the pelvic floor, I also clench and hold my face which then makes me look like I'm entering a gurning contest. That goes down well in Tesco's I can assure you. Fluids just go straight through and I have to go as soon as I get the feeling, no holding on. I NEED THE TOILET NOW!!! When I go out I'm forever checking to see if there is a toilet close by and if I go out for a walk I have to think whether there is a public toilet on the way. If I programme a sat nav I don't take the scenic route and pin loads of local attractions on the way to my destination, I'm programming the quickest route with all the local amenities. 

I'm not moaning by any means, it's part of life and I will just have to learn to embrace it. For some it's a time of life that is denied so I should just be thankful that I can hit the menopause and I am. If anyone is looking down on me though could I possibly roll into maturity with less sweaty bedsheets and a free supply of Tena lady would be fabulous! Sue from the Brew sponsored by Tena Lady! Sounds good.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave me a comment with your menopause stories. Don't scare me though I'm just a newbie.

Catch you tomorrow for a Verse for Thursday......

It can be quite a complex thing owning a handbag. Some have one bag, the same one, all the time and never think about changing it unless on a night out or changing over to pull along luggage on an annual holiday to the Costa del Sol.

Not bothered novice

I would name this person a 'not bothered novice' as their interest and understanding of handbags is absolutely zilch. They are numb from the crossover bag down. For them there is no ping of excitement when passing a  bag shop and owning a bag is purely functional. There heart is flatlined at the pure thought of which bag to use for which event and have no organisation within their present bag of choice. It will look like someone has fly tipped life's little essentials into one rubbish sack. I sympathise with these people.

I 'kind of get it' intermediate

These people have a little more knowledge about handbags, know the difference between a Radley and a Kipling and would change regularly for any occasion. They may visit the odd Cath Kidston shop to update a tired shopping tote bag or buy a tea towel to match their current floral delight. I like these people as they are on the brink of bag heaven, just a slight nudge and they are your new recruit to a better life and handbag graduation is imminent. 


Absolutely 'and totally handbag obsessed' advanced 

This is BOD, bag obsessive disorder. It's when a person has to have a different bag on the turn of a season, a change in the weather, or depending on where the new day is going to take them. they know all different styles, designers, shops, sizes and their present hand bag will look so tidy and organised there will be a pocket for everything.

This is me, only last week I had to make the transfer from my Harris Tweed bag (on left of picture) to a little blue number (on the right) because the weather had gone from chilly to very warm. As we were stripping our jumpers and cardigans off even my handbag became to woolly for the warm weather. The light blue one seemed a bit more summery in my opinion. So when Monday morning came and every morning so far this week I have had to revert to another bag as the rain didn't seem right pounding on the summer blue option. I also have to have the right size bag, now these bags are not very practical in a meeting or a situation where a folder may be used. I had to progress to big bag for that and that's where I am now. An old faithful from Marks and Spencer's which I have dug out and is living up to all my expectations. 

That's until I need to dump the meeting bag and then have moments where I just need to take out purse, phone and keys and then it will be back to small bag. If I just go out locally for a walk I'll even revert to exercise type waist belt, bum bag type bag as this is all I need. If your American this is referred to as a fanny pack I believe. Only across the Atlantic could we be confused about our fanny's and bums in regard to the old baglopedia. 

So you see, there is a lot more to owning a bag that you might have first thought. I have to feel comfortable with a bag, it has to practical and comfy. yes I said comfy, when buying a new bag I try it on like I would a new top or pair of trousers. I don't necessarily need a changing room but just a mirror and have to see what it looks like. This is something my mum thought was amusing and now when we are in shop and she sees me with a bag she'll say 'have you tried that on?' I also have to feel it, not like a spiritual way but a physical touchy way. Buying bags from the internet is tough for me as seeing it on the hook is very important in the buying process. 

Sometimes I can change my handbag like I change my underwear, even that seems practical nowadays but we won't go into that. It depends on the day whether you put on a nice fancy one or a something Bridget Jones would approve of, I'm talking about bags now not undies. There is such a choice, I find it impossible to pass any bag shop without going in. I'm really surprised I don't own a bag shop but then some people love a beer but  don't necessarily feel the need to own a pub. It's my little vice, I don't smoke now and don't drink so a girls got to have something to make her feel good. 

Someone asked me which bag I would like to own and if I had the choice I would love the bag Mary Poppins had as she just got everything in that. I was amazed when I was younger, thought it was real and you could get all those things in that bag, maybe that's where my fascination of handbags came from. Not found a magical one like that though, well not yet!!

Thank you so much for reading and please do come back tomorrow as I will have a Verse for Thursday. Take care for now.....

This is the flower from a marshmallow plant, yep you read it right, a marshmallow plant!. I didn't know there was such a thing. Unfortunately it doesn't grow little square parcels of soft spongy sugary delights that you can pop in your hot chocolate or toast on an open fire. Would be good though wouldn't it? No this plant is a herb and has many medicinal purposes. An extract from the plant is sometimes added to creams to treat dermatitis and eczema. Marshmallow has been used to treat certain digestive disorders, including heartburn, indigestion, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers and Crohn's disease. It can also be used to ease sore throats and coughs which is how we got to learn about it. My mum wanted some cough medicine and had been recommended this particular one containing marshmallow.. 

Amazing isn't it? I love the fact we can turn to plants for medicine. Do they work? Some people are skeptical and think it is a load of rubbish but I like to keep an open mind. There are so many prescription medicines today that come along with quite harsh side effects. I would rather give a plant ago first and have something natural going through my system than chemical rubbish. There has been a lot of discussion as to whether cannabis can help with pain relief and research is going into how mistletoe can help as a cancer treatment. Obviously cannabis is a little controversial but I just feel its it helps take away peoples pain then we need to look into it and find a way of using it safely and realistically. 

I suppose that's why I love my herbal teas so much, I got fed up with the hot drinks available for cold relief on the market and find ginger and lemon tea far better., or lemon tea with a spoonful of honey thrown in. I never have any luck with cough medicines, warm Ribena works for me and is a lot more tasty. 

I know call me a hippy but if I could have a herbal kitchen and solve everyones ailments I would. I do really love a herbalist, holistic way of helping to cure. I'll have to let you know whether the marshmallow solved my mums coughing problem but hey I've learnt a new thing today, everyday's a school day so they say. 

Thanks for reading, not sure those big mega packs of super sized marshmallows from the pound shop will have the same effect, you could always try, what's the worst that could happen? Sugar fix satisfaction? yum yum. If you have a skin problem you could try rubbing them all over your body, oh heck we''re onto a completely different subject and post there aren't we?? 

Behave and take care.....catch you tomorrow for a Verse for Thursday.  

So I visited the English seaside resort of Mablethorpe at the weekend and if you were also there you may have heard a bit of noise on bank holiday Sunday in the town centre. This my friends was no earthquake it was the glorious sound of motorbikes, absolutely loads of them. There is nothing quite like the sound, fills me particularly with excitement. I used to hop on the back of a motorbike myself back in the day and have to say it was some of the best times I ever had, I had a very warm nostalgic moment. Why were we here though Sue from the Brew? Amongst these lovely friendly bikers?

We all gathered as part of Ride to the Dunes which is a ride out for bikers from Nottingham to Mablethorpe raising money for The Maria Hanson Foundation - Me and Dee Charity. Maria Hanson is the founder of this lovely charity and it provides holidays within two caravans situated on the Haven site in Mablethorpe for anyone with a life limiting condition and also physically and emotionally injured service men and women. There is a real chance to help these families create some very precious memories when life is short or so desperately difficult to cope with at times. I've had the privilege of meeting some of the families whom have been helped by Me & Dee and I can tell you if makes a massive difference to their lives. Imagine for a moment that someone you loved and cared about had a short time to live or was struggling and finding it difficult to adapt to life outside of military life in some way. Would you like to give them a chance to just go and spend time with family and enjoy a holiday enabling them to hold on to some lovely memories to last for maybe, in some cases the short time they have left together? This weekend was just one of the many times we could all get together and help Maria and her charity, raise very needed funds enabling her to make this happen for these families.

The scene was quite emotional as the ride out made it's finale riding down the High Street in Mablethorpe. They draw a huge crowd who just love to watch them all take over the town for a little while. I spoke to one of the riders afterwards and he was just overwhelmed how people came out to see them and clapped as they rode through, he said ' they came out for us'. I thought it was lovely. There is always a warm friendly atmosphere when around the biker community, they are truly some of the best people around. 

They were all welcomed at The Dunes Complex in Mablethorpe where Paddy and Debbie Prince and the staff provided some very much needed food and refreshments. There was a chance to buy some Me & Dee merchandise from the stall, enter a raffle and to get a rest before the long ride back again. It was a fun packed day and a big well done goes to all the riders that took part, everyone that helped to collect money, bake cakes to sell, marshalls, and close friend of the charity Donna Batchelor and her family who work very hard to organise this event.

If you would like to see all that went off this year and you fancy coming along next year, there is information on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Ridetothedunes/

or.... if you would like to see more about the Me & Dee Charity you can find all the information you need at www.mariahansonfoundation.org.uk
Please take a look and especially at the testimonials as this will give you an idea of how important the work done by this charity really is and what it means to the families who have already received holiday's so far....

Thank you very much for reading. I will be back with a Verse for Thursday tomorrow.