Where Are The Snogs Of Spring?

Daylight savings starts Sunday! I've been telling anyone who'll listen. People, dogs, garbage bins. Wind back them clocks!*

It said so in my diary, and it seemed like the right time as the sun has been out and about lately. There's still light in the sky when I leave for work. There were robins hopping around on our lunchtime walk, not to mention a three-legged cocker spaniel that was moving way faster than us.

(* UPDATE - Melissa pointed out that it's clocks FORWARD. Is it any wonder I don't know what day it is!?)

I finally remembered today that I bought my bloody diary in America. So daylight saving only starts over there this weekend; the UK has to wait until the end of March. D'oh! I'll have to remember to go to work on the 4th of July.

It feels close enough to Spring anyway. I'm itching to throw things away, to try something new, to reorganise and refresh. Maybe get a really ill-advised haircut.

Another sign of impending spring is the wavering between soup and salad at lunchtime. Which way to go?! I think my thermostat is totally tuned to Scotland now because it was a sultry 8'C (46'F)the other day and I thought, SALAD TIME! Growing up in Australia I used to listen to the weather report every morning, hoping for a maximum temperature of 15'C (59'C) or below because that was my personal Tracksuit Threshold - cold enough that I could wear tracky dacks (aka sweatpants, joggy bottoms) to school and hide my much-loathed legs.

In other news, the Moonwalk (marathon walk) training is finally back on track. There's three of us meeting up for an eight miler tomorrow morning. When I joined the office walking team I thought, YES! Accountability and commitment! And now all I can think is, ARSE! Accountability and commitment! These things always sound good and noble on paper, don't they? But then you have to actually do the bastard training instead of sleeping in til noon.

Comments

[1 · Posted by Marshmallow · March 07, 2008 at 10:58 PM]

Bah to Spring. I saw a tree going orange today. I felt happier than I've been in months. ^_^

[2 · Posted by AndrewE · March 08, 2008 at 12:25 AM]

Bah to Spring indeed. Here's to a glorious winter and not many people in the gym!

[3 · Posted by kathryn · March 08, 2008 at 12:25 AM]

Accountability + commitment is character building :) I can say that cos I just finished my run so it's veg out time.

[4 · Posted by WundaLucy · March 08, 2008 at 12:45 AM]

Ahh the great Salad vs Soup divide. To me 8 degrees sounds too nippy for salad, but then again perhaps not. Perhaps a roast vege salad!

Shauna I read your book on the weekend and it was so great, and there were so many LOL moments - you just get it! Hurrah for you!

[5 · Posted by artant · March 08, 2008 at 01:28 AM]

This week, I have been opting for salad but sitting huddled by the radiator to eat it. Plus, I make very BIG salads!

[6 · Posted by Red · March 08, 2008 at 02:04 AM]

Sleeping until noon is tiring, anyway.

I don't have that kind of endurance.

[7 · Posted by Kek · March 08, 2008 at 03:51 AM]

Enjoy your Spring - and the daylight saving, whenever it starts. Boo to autumn and the impending end of daylight saving here, I say!

You're obviously in desperate need of a trip home if you think that 8 degrees is salad weather. It's 30 degrees here and I still had a hot lunch. In air conditioned comfort, of course. :o)

Joggy bottoms? JOGGY BOTTOMS??

[8 · Posted by LBTEPA · March 08, 2008 at 06:03 AM]

Go the salad

[9 · Posted by Laurie Anne · March 08, 2008 at 07:53 AM]

Regarding the weather report and the clothes, I sooo remember going through the exact same thing when I was younger and would be getting ready for school...tragically, I think that is going to be the state of things for me this spring also! And speaking of salads, that is certainly the remedy I have in mind. If only it would warm up here!

[10 · Posted by MizFit · March 08, 2008 at 11:25 AM]

ok now I feel guilty about all my JOYJOYJOY over this weekend.

duly noted :)

M.

[11 · Posted by K · March 08, 2008 at 12:14 PM]

Last time I saw your hair it looked really nice...

I agree with you about the daylight. The Darkness is definitely on its way out - I've been able to cycle home from work in daylight a couple of times now, even.

[12 · Posted by Wendy · March 08, 2008 at 01:34 PM]

I can tell spring is coming, I am wearing make up, straightening my hair, and shaving my legs. You can't get more reliable signs that those!

[13 · Posted by badmother309 · March 08, 2008 at 03:37 PM]

Just finished a whole bag of Thorntons Cappuccino's so need to burn off those 5 calories. It's the depth of winter here. Needed gloves and a hat to go out. I'd stick with the soup. The problem with salad is all the mayo. Great book, it's doing the rounds of family and friends now.

[14 · Posted by melissa · March 08, 2008 at 04:28 PM]

Um...don't our clocks go FORWARD? (ie Spring Forward/Fall Back?) Now I'm confused!?

[15 · Posted by Karine · March 08, 2008 at 04:59 PM]

Hey girl,
Just wanted to tell you I am so excited my copy of your book is on its way o me! I am in the US but go it through an Amazon seller. Too bad it won't have your signature or anything, but oh well. Have a great week end,
K.

[16 · Posted by ali · March 08, 2008 at 07:53 PM]

you had me excited there for a minute thinking that it was daylight savings time over here... doh... i cant comment i've got an aussie diary, so i'll have to remember to go to work the queen's birthday in june...
oh well the end of march is fast approaching...
i love spring, everythings just starting to spring back to life, and loving all the daffodils popping out all over the place.. though it still seems odd seeing them out when it's still cold..

[17 · Posted by Alison · March 08, 2008 at 08:21 PM]

I still haven't risked a salad for lunch yet this year in case I die of internal hypothermia but I think next week might be the right time to start. Maybe roast veg and couscous with a bit of smoked salmon or chicken - mmm! Thanks for the push out of my soupy comfort zone x

[18 · Posted by Isabelle · March 09, 2008 at 12:06 AM]

It wasn't so sultry today, was it? Hailstones crashing against the windows. Soup, soup, soup.

[19 · Posted by Jessie · March 09, 2008 at 01:32 AM]

*sigh*
The changing of the clocks (and associated switch to impending darkness for us "Southerners") always makes me a little nostalgic...Summer is filled with relaxed days at the beach and by the BBQ and spring is full of SO much new growth and promise.

Enjoy the excitement of Spring Shauna!

On the side, I just finished reading your novel - I LOVED it! SO full of wit and funny anecdotes that oozed so much honesty...you really should be proud of all you've achieved and continue to thrill us with Dietgirl's adventures please! :D

[20 · Posted by Lynise · March 09, 2008 at 03:02 AM]

So I hop up this morning and take a wander down to the shop to buy the weekend rag which I then casually read over 2 - 3 hours, consuming several cups of brewed coffee as I go, when all of a sudden I open up part of the paper and see your gorgous looking face steering back at me.
And there spread over three pages were several pic's and exerts from your book in our national weekend paper (The New Zealand Herald)
I've been reading your blog for what seems like ages so will have to go out and get the book and re-commit myself to this journey once more. I also want to lose around 1/2 my body weight.
Thank you so much for writing a blog, you probably have no idea how many people can relate to what you have done, and for those of us who are still sitting on the sidelines in despair at our super huge knickers its people like you who help make people like me see that it really can be done.

You are once awesome chick Ms Shauna.

[21 · Posted by Lynise · March 09, 2008 at 03:02 AM]

So I hop up this morning and take a wander down to the shop to buy the weekend rag which I then casually read over 2 - 3 hours, consuming several cups of brewed coffee as I go, when all of a sudden I open up part of the paper and see your gorgous looking face steering back at me.
And there spread over three pages were several pic's and exerts from your book in our national weekend paper (The New Zealand Herald)
I've been reading your blog for what seems like ages so will have to go out and get the book and re-commit myself to this journey once more. I also want to lose around 1/2 my body weight.
Thank you so much for writing a blog, you probably have no idea how many people can relate to what you have done, and for those of us who are still sitting on the sidelines in despair at our super huge knickers its people like you who help make people like me see that it really can be done.

You are once awesome chick Ms Shauna.

[22 · Posted by Wendy · March 09, 2008 at 03:54 PM]

I've just had homemade soup in a pressure cooker experiment.

My tummy is all warm and snuggly now...*licks lips*

[23 · Posted by Lyn · March 09, 2008 at 05:49 PM]

Am I the only one who doesn't know what a Snog is?

Regardless, I am also thrilled for spring to be here. I feel more like eating fruits and veggies and can kick the carb cravings to the curb :) Yardwork, here I come!

[24 · Posted by Pete · March 09, 2008 at 11:42 PM]

I'm so sad to see daylight savings coming to an end here in Oz. Twenty light-filled days to go until dreary soup-filled days arrive.

[25 · Posted by Ash · March 10, 2008 at 07:34 AM]

Hey there! I'm having the soup and salad debate and it's still in the 30s here!!

I hope you got my email (I haven't been at work to check!!). It basically said that your book ROCKED!! And has re-inspired me to get moving but focus on health not on the numbers!

Here's a yummy green soup to try.

1 onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 zuchinni, grated,
1/2 savoy cabbage, sliced
2-3 litres of chicken stock
1 bunch bok choy, sliced
big bunch of baby spinach

Basically throw it all together with some salt and pepper but leave the bok choy and spinach till the end as they are delicate.

MMMMMMmmmmMMMMM!

[26 · Posted by Ash · March 10, 2008 at 07:34 AM]

Hey there! I'm having the soup and salad debate and it's still in the 30s here!!

I hope you got my email (I haven't been at work to check!!). It basically said that your book ROCKED!! And has re-inspired me to get moving but focus on health not on the numbers!

Here's a yummy green soup to try.

1 onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 zuchinni, grated,
1/2 savoy cabbage, sliced
2-3 litres of chicken stock
1 bunch bok choy, sliced
big bunch of baby spinach

Basically throw it all together with some salt and pepper but leave the bok choy and spinach till the end as they are delicate.

MMMMMMmmmmMMMMM!

[27 · Posted by Serenity Maynard · March 10, 2008 at 10:30 AM]

I'm with Alison on the cous cous and roast veg salad - hedge your bets!! If you make a tub of it to take to work (with some feta crumbled in of course, cheese must be included in all meals), you can see how you feel at lunchtime and eat it cold as a salad or bung it in the microwave if you need warmth.

Mmmm...must make rast veg tonight...

[28 · Posted by Daisy · March 10, 2008 at 01:48 PM]

Being in Chicago, I was absolutely giddy about daylight savings starting Sunday. I definitely prefer running outdoors to running on the treadmill, so this means I can do my longer runs outside after work and still have light! Although, it was tough heading to work in the dark again this morning...

[29 · Posted by Red · March 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM]

Just wanted to share:

I remembered to change my clock to the correct hour, but got the whole AM/PM thing wrong.

grrr...

[30 · Posted by judy · March 11, 2008 at 04:53 AM]

Ahhhh dg! There is nothing like a pair of saggy bum tracky dacks. Teamed with a packet of Tim Tams on a cold night. Godszown comfort combination.

[31 · Posted by Margaret · March 11, 2008 at 06:44 AM]

Ah, I just finished your book, got it here at paper Plus in North Canterbury New Zealand Saturday Morning, finished last page this avo, only cos I hated the thought that I'd come to the end, still got a tear in my eye when your Pop died, reminded me so much of my near and dears. Anyway, thank you for sharing your story with us, a damn fine story it was too!!! As a long time reader of your blog, I was just abour hopping in the book store wanting to yell out " I know this girl!!!" lol, again, thanks, I wonder if you realise just how much you have done for so many out there!

Margaret

[32 · Posted by Laura · March 11, 2008 at 01:23 PM]

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only person with the soup/salad dilemma...I settled on homemade ratatouille as a compromise!

[33 · Posted by rand(om) bites · March 13, 2008 at 10:47 PM]

Ahh - to have Spring again. Our Summer was completely crap this year and now it's Autumn. Bah. Hope you get a nice Spring/Summer up your end this year!

[34 · Posted by rg · March 24, 2008 at 09:34 PM]

What exactly is a Snog? Is that like a snob? I'm a snob of spring, I think it's the best season and I will beat up anyone who thinks fall is better. Or did you mean Song?

[35 · Posted by dg · March 26, 2008 at 12:05 AM]

I think I've replied to these comments by email but about the snogs thing - a snog is a pash! a kiss! and not a typo in the entry title, I bastardised a line from Ode To Autumn by Keats which is still stuck in my head from high school :)

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too... blah blah blah :P