THE last few days have been a real, hard slog. I'm bored - bored of being a non-smoker.
I'm running out of ideas to keep myself occupied.
In truth, I've been craving a cigarette like there's no tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I've been quick to stuff anything into my mouth that's guaranteed to blur my curves.
Yesterday (Saturday), I drove friend Sarah and my daughter, Fern, to Dorchester. The aim of the mission was to spend loads of money, in my on-going quest to keep occupied.
Spend money I certainly did, but I also headed straight for a restaurant! As soon as I slapped a pay-and-display ticket on the windscreen of my car, I slapped a few centimetres onto my waist. I was suddenly 'starving'.
A chicken and bacon panini later (not to mention half my daughter's All Day Breakfast), I felt like a stuffed turkey as I waddled towards the town centre.
I optimistically bought loads of clothes in a size, I feel certain, I won't be able to fit into in a couple of weeks' time!
In a bid to overcome the 'old prune face' factor, I splashed out on yet more anti-wrinkle creams, loads of make-up and plenty of fake tan.
If I don't look like I've got that 'holiday glow' by tomorrow, I'll be gutted.
Special offers worth mentioning: I bought a Max Factor glitter-style mascara (for my daughter) for £9.99 in Boots and got a £5-off voucher for selected skin care products. I redeemed it immediately for a TIMEDELAY starter pack, normally priced £7-odd. I got it for £2-something. The creams are brilliant. I feel seven days younger at this precise moment in time but hope, with continued use, a few years will be knocked off by the end of next week! Stay tuned.
Rimmel Cool Matte 16-Hour Mousse Foundation is on offer in Superdrug for £5.99. I'm not sure it's heavy enough for my haggard old face but, for an 'in' product, the price is good. Stay tuned.
The real 'discovery' of the day was Max Factor's Lipfinity. It's around £8-a-go but, I'm so impressed with its staying power, I bought two! Brilliant for somebody like me, who's out the door at 7.50am and regularly not home again until 9pm. My handbag's bulging at the best of times (council agendas, notebook, pens and camera) so make-up is something I definitely can't be bothered to carry around. Mind you, I think it's about time I slipped in a hairbrush!
Bargain of the day: a fantastic print top (with back tie), reduced from £14 to £3 in Peacocks. I LOVE the New Season stuff in Peacocks, but was disappointed that many items in my size (10 to 12) had sold out. I'm going back for new stock next week - before I'm a size14 to 16!
Skin care: Clean and Clear 2-in-1 facial scrub and mask - BRILLIANT, for me and for my daughter. Well worth whatever I paid for it, around £4.
Brand names: Playboy duvet and pillowcase set for my daughter - £21.99 in Argos. The deep pink has lifted the look of her bedroom, although I'm not relishing the thought of buying the rest of Playboy's range... It's not cheap!
My daughter and I got loads of new clothes. Bargain basement make-up came from a cheap shop (not as good as This and That, in Bridport). It will keep us busy, experimenting with different looks, for a few weeks.
My mate, Sarah Tait, formerly of Charmouth, is only 23. She has been a fantastic help in steering us towards what's 'in' at the moment.
I finished off our trip to Dorchester with a visit to Iceland (the shop). I came away with so much stuff I struggled to carry it to the car (Sarah and Fern had already gone back with the clothes and make-up).
Dragging at the bottom of one of the freezer bags was a bottle of imitation Malibu (Palm Beach - £4). After dropping off Sarah's shopping, we went back to mine, ate quite a few pork chops (£2.50 for a whole tray) and polished off the Palm Beach.
It was such a lovely, warm day... The sun was out and we bought a lot of clothes only suitable for warm weather.
Today, the morning after the day before, my daughter is wearing crop, white jeans and a summer top - and I'm almost in a bikini. The sky's a sickening colour of grey and drizzle is virtually upon us...
I'm still desperate for a cigarette!