Iron-pumping; tofu; waterborne hazards

Have resigned my membership of revive in the hope of getting a better value gym experience at Caversham Health and Fitness. CHF doesn't have a pool, unfortunately – but then in fairness I’d hardly used the pool in the last six months. On the up side, it’s half the cost and offers a number of different classes, including things with intimidatingly energetic names such as 'Pump' and 'Body Combat'. Had an induction last week from Frazer, an enthusiastic young lad who uses the term "awesome" a lot. We have established that I need core muscle strengthening and have thus been sentenced to a round of squats, lunges and planks 2-3 times a week as well as cardio.

Have resolved not to invest in any serious gym kit until I’ve been at it for a month, so for the time being am wearing a baggy black T-shirt and a pair of stripey leggings (see right), which according to Ruth make me look like a jester.

Earlier this week stir-fried, as I often do, some Cauldron marinated tofu pieces, and was amused to read on the back of the packet an invitation to visit Cauldron’s website and ‘share your tofu experiences’. Naively, I would have thought there were limits to the range of experiences one can have with tofu, but perhaps it has applications I’ve not thought of. Here’s what Cauldron, producers of ‘mouth-watering vegetable based foods’, to quote their website, have to say about tofu. You can even read the story of tofu, if you’re keen enough.

A minor barney with one of the construction workers under the railway bridge last Thursday led to a pithily-phrased complaint to both the construction company and to Reading Borough Council. Was somewhat surprised to receive an apologetic phone call from the council later that afternoon, who gave me a slightly over-detailed explanation of the various issues with the works. By the evening, there was improved signage and a contraflow under the bridge. Felt briefly all-powerful, before discovering that evidently others had been complaining too.

We went for a lovely dinner on Ray’s boat on Saturday night – pleasing that it was actually warm enough to sit outside, although the downside is that we were mobbed by mosquitoes. Am lucky in not reacting too badly to mosquito bites; one of Ruth’s legs swelled up on Monday to - so it was claimed – almost twice its normal thickness. She diagnosed Skeeter syndrome and hurried off to Boots, who sent her to the Reading Walk-in Health Centre in the Broad Street Mall, who advised that it would be an hour’s wait before triage, so she decided to skip that and self-medicate with a glass of Pinot Grigio. The swelling seems to have subsided now.

While at the marina we were able to observe the savagery of waterfowl hierarchy, as a goose couple and their cute fleet of seven or so goslings were mobbed by one of the two resident black swans, who apparently are undeniably top dog. One of the adult geese nobly sacrificed itself and led the swan away allowing the young ones to feed. Almost brought a tear to the eye.

As often happens at the start of months where I've vowed to go on an economy drive, seem to have already found myself going out for a couple of substantial feeds. On the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend, went for Sunday lunch with Ruth and her aunt at The Bear at Hungerford - never eaten there before but was dead impressed, though it isn't cheap. Although I seldom order roasts, ordered roast beef on a whim, which was excellent, with a pleasing absence of overcooked everything and dark brown Bisto-style gravy. On Tuesday we had a team lunch at LSQ2 to celebrate Ann's sixtieth birthday, and had squid stuffed with chorizo - not a combo I've tried before but most pleasing. Rumour has it that the restaurant isn't doing too well, which is a shame although not entirely surprising - it's probably a bit upmarket for its setting. Intend now to eat baked beans for a few days.

Have decided to further embrace whiteness in the garden in a probably misguided attempt to achieve a Mediterranean look - thanks to Ruth's efforts at the weekend, the supporting wall around our tiny patio is now also white. Harley assisted by climbing into the chimenea and then trampling ash over the ground floor.