Well... I don't think we've ever had such an eventful couple of weeks.

It all started the weekend before easter when I tore down the utility room wall and the kitchen ceiling to make a big through kitchen. I installed spotlights etc.etc. and was generally having lots of fun demolishing half of the house.

Then G's mum called to tell us she had breast cancer. We were shocked to say the least and G was particularly surprised by her own response to the news. Treatment was this week (Monday) and she should be home by Thursday but she'll need some looking after. G's brother (being closer to his mum geographically, and not having three young kids running around) will take her in for a few days before she goes home. G and her aunties spent the whole of Monday cleaning her mum's house.

Diet-wise I've given up - I have too much to think about at the moment. I'm delinquent at work and need to catch up (although I've drafted to completion today) and I have an exam to study for in November (sounds far off but it isn't!!).

Needless to say I've put all that weight back on (and probably more).

So, G needs comforting, G's mum needs looking after, and I need to finish our bombsite of a kitchen. I might post some photos of it when it's done.

So I've had a bad diet week this last week - it even got to the point where I was eating pretty much whatever I liked whenever I liked. I had ice cream, McDonalds, sweets, chocolate, sandwiches (with butter!) and full meals.... That said, I was always on diet coke and low fat yogurts etc. I also didn't exercise for a whole week.

In view of this, I couldn't expect my weigh-in to be particularly impressive, but it was!! I lost 2lbs (my weekly target). The problem is that I may pay the penalty this coming week and not lose anything (or gain weight!).

But for now I'm back to my stricter diet regime, and rowing.

With my current weight at 15 stone (210 lbs) I should be at 14st 12lbs (208lbs) by next Wedensday to stay on track. If I can achieve this it will be the first time I weighed less than 15 stone for years. That gives me the encouragement to continue!

On another front, I've made the scary decision to revamp our kitchen. It all started with a phone call to a plumber friend to ask for his help with some radiator removal in the kitchen... anyway, things snowballed somewhat and now I'm planning a complete kitchen overhaul! I've bought new worktops, a new sink and taps (thanks to ebay!) and some fancy low voltage spotlights with transformers etc. It's costing an arm and a leg at the moment (money which I don't really have!) but it'll be worth it I'm sure!! I'm planning to fit a new ceiling (!!!!) with spotlights, knock down a wall, tidy up (plaster!) the botched walls, fit a new ceramic tiled floor (!!!!) and replace the worktops and sink. I'll also spray paint the cupboard doors, fit new handles and paint the pelmet and exposed unit sides, fitting a new painted plinth in with the mix. I might even buy a new oven and hob to finish off the look. I hope I'm not taking on too much....

My colleague at work has got a lorry and she's helping me transport loads of 8ft plaster boards for my new ceiling and 8ft plywood for my new floor. I hope we can manage it together!

Had a pretty crap weekend all told on the diet front. I've pretty much stopped caring this weekend, although this morning I weighed myself (impromptu - and at the wrong time of the week!) to find that I'd lost 2lbs since Wednesday!!

I need to start rowing again from Monday (haven't rowed since Wednesday - but have had a bad neck and right arm, so that is my excuse). I'll also stick to the diet again from now on. I truly do want to keep my weight off, and lose more.

We've had a pretty bad time of it lately. We're pretty much overwhelmed on all fronts: financially since G quit work; emotionally since G got post-natal depression; anxiety since G was summonsed to court for some work-related stuff before she left work; stress from looking after three children under 5 years old; exhaustion; and overwork. It's pressing us on all fronts. It makes us snappy and confrontational. I've been an awful dad this weekend, especially to little H who is going through his terrible twos. He's just very hard work, and I am very intolerant. I don't want to do any damage to him emotionally so I need to sort myself out.

These aren't all excuses for my bad diet this last couple of days, but I need to get things sorted out before we crack-up and do some serious harm!

prey it all gets better.