New swimming regime and new diet.

I continued my swimming regime (sounds like I've been doing it for ages - this is only the first week) of twice a week. I surprised myself by going before 9am, to get it over with, so that I could reward myself with the midday (£2) movie.

Well, it turned out to be marvellous - only a few folk there. Plenty of room for wild flailing and splashing. In fact, at the end, I had the whole 'slow' lane to myself after I pointed out the empty 'fast' lane to a woman who kept catching me up. She thought she wasn't 'fast'. Huh!

I did half an hour and kept going in that time - no sitting on the steps pretending to un-fog my goggles every length. I was fair puggled!

Truth be told, I was fair puggled and looked at the clock and I had only done 7 minutes! However, I did do several lengths. Well, almost lengths. But not consecutively. In between I did a bit of skulling on my back. That I can do. I will build up each week. Next week it will be 35 minutes.

This means several times putting shoes and socks on and off of a morning. It always makes me giggle as I recall an elderly acquaintance, who found bending down to lace up his shoes difficult, saying, 'Now, is there anything else I can do while I'm down here?'

My porridge and coffee never tasted so good when I got home, showered and dressed. And my cup was overflowing not just with delicious coffee, when a letter arrived from the Pensions People declaring that I was indeed entitled to the full UK pension, and they intended to start paying me forthwith. Mind you, I have a similar letter dated April 2012, and nothing came of that...

I went to get my watch battery at a shop that I hoped did not have a 'backlog'. It took him 2 minutes!! That means they must have had a 60 watch battery replacement in the two hour backlog yesterday. Wow!

On the way to the pictures I passed these two. I patted one of them and asked the other if I could take a photo. The Man with a Hat was not too keen (the cat didn't mind). I pulled out all my change from one pocket - my big bag of Maltesers money - and proffered it. That'll do!

I had wanted a front-on shot, but there were too many folk going along the pavement with trolleys and prams and big items, and I was in the way. A man came and stood behind them, getting money or phoning. I wanted to take another one when he had gone. No! My Man with the Hat (and Cat) was having none of it. I'd had my chance. He was NOT getting my movie money.

The cat was not held in any way, it was just sitting there, with a very nice red stole on. I have blurred out the name of the coffee company who don't pay any UK tax.

And so I was Malteser-less in the pictures - The Master. It was very long. More than two hours. I wouldn't recommend you all run out to see it - the trailers were the best bit, and I'd seen them. But I'm sure the two lead actors will be up for nominations, as they were superb.

I am pleased with my Man with a Cat (and a Hat). He has prompted my New Diet. I will forthwith go to the pictures Malteser-less.