Help! I’ve got a spare tyre around my tummy

THE boys have spent so much time in swimming pools over the years that we’re used to the occasional verruca. After school the other week, we visited our GP surgery, as Aiden’s latest one was persistent. Before we left, he was asked by the nurse if there was anything else wrong. He replied: ‘I’m worried that Mum has a verruca on her lip!’

I laughed and reassured Aiden that, in fact, it was a cold sore, probably brought on by a lingering cold. But a runny nose has been the least of my health worries recently. A pre-Christmas trip to Dubai made me all too aware that I have to get my eating habits under control.

Believe it or not, I weigh more than Rod at the moment, and I’m almost 3st heavier than before I had children.

While wedged in the middle of a transparent rubber ring at a Dubai water park, I couldn’t help but notice that I appeared to have grown my own rubber ring around my midriff. Afterwards I YOU COULD EVEN TRY GOING TO THE GYM, MUM went to a gift store and bought a onepiece swimsuit, with a hidden tummytightening waistband. Pleased with myself, I said to Alastair: ‘This works, doesn’t it?’ With an arched eyebrow he replied: ‘Going to the gym would work too, Mum.’ Ouch.

Alastair is at that age where is he starting to test how far he can push us. At Christmas he asked if he could have a small glass of wine with dinner. After some discussion (Rod was worried that it might encourage him to drink heavily in the future – perhaps he was speaking from experience!), we agreed that as it was a special occasion, we’d allow him a sip or two. We poured a small amount of chardonnay into a port glass and explained the importance of sipping rather than gulping it, and how good wine should complement a meal. He listened, sipped and said: ‘Um, that’s nice.’

At this point Aiden asked to have a glass too. We said he was far too young but that he could dip his finger in our glass to try the taste. As soon as he licked his finger, his face contorted into a look of revulsion and he quickly asked for his water glass to be refilled. I think it’s safe to say he’ll stick to apple juice when he celebrates his birthday next month.

Penny’s column will appear monthly.