alexist

That was definitely one of the less fun medical tests I've had. I fasted for 12 hours, got there at 9, waited a few minutes. Had blood drawn, then was forced to chug gross tasting glucose drink. I'd heard it described as "flat orange soda". It's not that good. Since it's glucose, not sucrose or fructose, it's not very sweet at all, just nasty and artificial tasting. Tried not to burp it back up.

Spent 2 hours, mainly reading (uncomfortable plastic chairs). Get more blood drawn, leave, suck down sandwich (brought with me) on the bus.

Then I did some errands (doctor's surgery, chemist's, supermarket) and came home.

I do not recommend having this test if you can avoid it. What annoys me is that I haven't had any sugar in my urine; I just have to have the GTT because all PCOS women have to get it. Yeah yeah, best to catch GD if I have it, I know. Just being grumpy. 15 hours of not eating (and 2 and a bit of burping up the aftertaste of the foul glucose; water does nothing to help) will do that to you.

I think I'll go have a nap. I didn't sleep well last night, and had just gotten comfortable when I had to get up. Perhaps sleep will improve my mood. I'm also going to bake cookies later to take down to the in-laws: not decided if I'm doing chocolate chip or triple chocolate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6089440.stm

Well, they're scrapping the bill because the Catholic Church agreed to voluntary quotas, and it's not worth going after the Jews (who comprise almost all non-Christian state funded schools; Muslims and Sikhs each have a couple). Jewish leaders did have a point--our schools are currently oversubscribed, so being forced to admit students of other faiths would deprive even more children of a Jewish education.

Speaking of which, there was an interview with Rabbi James Kennard, head of King Solomon High School in Barkingside, in Education Guardian on Tuesday:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/faithschools/story/0,,1929370,00.html

I largely agree with him, but he is wrong on a couple of points:
1) The admissions row about admitting non-Jews wasn't quite as he presented it. KS' roll is shrinking. They, and Redbridge council, decided that they should not drop to four-form entry. So under the rules, if there aren't enough Jews to fill available places, they have to accept anyone else who applies. (The school's proposed compromise was to give 2nd priority to children who were not Jewish by United Synagogue standards, e.g. children of Reform converts, which got it unfairly slated by many Orthodox Jews.)

2) Being forced to abide by the code of admissions is fair. Unfortunately, some schools have been using their interviews to select pupils, not just to ascertain their level of religious commitment. It does not strip you of the right to determine whether a family is "committed". Surely, the family and their rabbi could fill out a form (which would be standard and hence omit the possibility of asking other questions, or checking out how "posh" they looked, or whatever) to answer this? They might lie, but they might do so in interview too.

It was chocolate chip in the end. Neil said triple chocolate but I suspected he was choosing for himself ;) Choc chip is a safer bet if you don't know just how chocoholic people are. The first tray came out slightly darker (and hence crispier) than I like, but such are the perils of first-time oven use: you don't know exact timing. I did discover that there appears to be a nice hot spot at the back right, since the cookie at that corner got way darker than all the others.

Although I think British dark brown sugar (or at least the Waitrose stuff, which is unrefined) may be somewhat more molasses-y than the kind I bought in the US--these have more of a molasses/butterscotch flavour than usual. They also spread a bit more, which is interesting--usually spread is due to the fat you choose and I always use butter. Interesting how recipes change... flour probably made a difference too.

In other news, Zoe is being extraordinarily lazy today; she spent the entire afternoon/evening under the sofa! She doesn't know she's going in her cage tomorrow though ;) (Trip to Devon was at short notice, so she's coming with us.)