People who eat sushi do not pack and get the leftovers home

I have been out a bit. I see peoples' eyebrows change shape if I mention I have been busy. "But didn't you quit your job?"

"So I did. I had gotten tired of too much rest in office." That's what it seems like now, when I think of my days of slumping on the same chair for 9 hours a day and eating delicious hot meals at my desk, going out for walks, for coffee, or to Crosswords if I got bored. AND getting paid for it.

Now, there is plenty of running around, little odd things to do, watch movies, read a bit, go out, meet friends and no cheque coming in at the end of the month. But I am not complaining. Yet.

The hubby is still sticking to his busy schedule. We had plenty of family and friends around so it was a lot of eating out and later trying to balance the calories at the gym. Yes, trying really hard. When I cycle and my calves burn with the weight, I think of my 120 kilo aunt on the little cycle rickshaws back home. Poor guys, it must be a challenge for them, for their slim tyres. And I pant my way to redemption.

By the way, the gym owner is really impressed and wants me to join his taekwando (I don't even know how to spell the word!) classes. I am planning to convince him to start tai chi and kick boxing. That I would join. I have also been thinking of buying a sandbag to punch. But of course there is no place to hang it and it would punch us more in our little house, than the other way round.

Since with the busy schedule guy, we cannot go out too far or for too long, we do a lot of meals out. Trying out new restaurants. Eating at old favourites.

The other night, we went out to this really chic place. We sat on kitch sofas and peered at each other in the light of a little floating candle while Buddha Bar pulsated. The hubby sniffed a bit and declared he's feverish and would like a nice hot soup first. I scoffed and asked for chilled apple cider.

He looked at his large soup and saw pieces of egg floating. Did I mention he's allergic to eggs? "Can I have something without eggs in it?" he asked for another. As I looked at the pushed aside soup, the right side of the menu flashed in my mind. Over 300 bucks. I reached for the miserable bowl and alternated a chilled sip and a steaming spoonful. There goes half my appetite.

I asked the man before ordering each of his favourite dishes. And when they arrived he had a bite of each. When we were done, I surveyed the leftovers. The right side of the menu disturbed me again. I asked for the leftover sushi and barbequed spare ribs to be packed.

"Hey, that was really nice. We must come here more often."

"Yes. But you hardly ate. You must feel like high society ordering sushi and then just pecking at it."

"I almost did, untill you asked for it to be packed."

I learnt my first lesson on seaweed wrapped rolls filled with rice and pieces of sea food and veggies.