Thank you all so much for encouragement and good wishes, it is such a boost and really helps!! xx
Well, yesterday didn't go exactly as planned -- but I'm not letting it get to me too much.
All day I did really well! I swear, I should have a halo as I sat patiently whilst my mum and sis tucked into some delicious looking fruit toast

Ordered myself some water, and had a giggle with them whilst sipping on that. In fact, I drank 4 litres of water during the day and, if you ignore the fact that wherever we went my first priority was assessing where the ladies' were, I didn't find it too hard. Had a fantastic day -- really enjoyed the shopping -- but clothes sizes in shops drive me nuts! Has anyone else noticed that? I bought a lovely pair of trousers from Monsoon -- size 20, a little baggy but the 18s were really too tight across my bum and I wanted to wear them next week, so didn't want to pre-empt being smaller than I am. Trousers from Evans (also size 20) fitted perfectly! Tops are my biggest problem -- oh my! Monsoon jumper - size 18. Fits lovely. Monsoon frilly top - size 18. Fits well across my bust and shoulders but a little tight at the bottom of my tummy. Monsoon cardigan -- size 20 -- fits how I like it (slightly big). New Look top -- size 16. Fits perfectly! Evans top -- size 16. Fits perfectly! Wallis jacket -- size 16 -- a little tight across the tummy but passable. Debenhams dress -- size 18. Fits lovely arund my tummy and hips but am going to have to take it in a little across the bust. So, in effect, I have no idea what size I am... somewhere between a 16/18 top and 18/20 bottom! Still, big improvement on the 24s I was busting out of wearing this time last year.

What shopping DID do was highlight how much I want to be able to go in ANY shop and try things on. I feel so limited sometimes, walking by shops that go up to a 14 and seeing really pretty clothes that I know I can't even entertain, and then always looking or the 'big' rails in the shops that do go up to those sizes.
Anyhoo, after the 5 hours ("!") of flexing the plastic, I went out. All good intentions flew away -- yep, I gave in and had drinkypoos. Probably 4 Bacardi Breezers, a WKD and more glasses of Archers and lemonade than I care to think about (although I wasn't too drunk -- go figure). But that wasn't the worst... drink weakened my resolve and I had a chicken drumstick, two bread rolls and two bags of Quavers. Oops! An early setback, but not showing on the scales... yet!
So, I gave myself a bit of psychological counselling this morning. It happened, I need to just keep moving forward rather than thinking I've blown it. It worked, and I'm really pleased with myself today -- feeling motivated, I have stuck to things 100% and feel great. And not at all hungry! I had a strawberry shake for breakfast, nothing else yet but am about to whip up a 'muffin'. That gives me a shake left to play with this evening (undoubtedly my worst time).
Anyway, sorry if the above doesn't read very well, it's kind of an outpouring of my thoughts

Lets see what Sunday brings...
xx