My fitness regime has begun. Last week I began a weekly yoga class ,worked out at the gym twice and went out walking every second day. Pendragon is astounded at my fortitude and self discipline.I am not sure that I would have any resolve but for the fact that I want to fit in to a smaller betrothal gown.Faery gowns are very revealing shapewise,and use light materials - gossamer,lace,silk and muslin - these materials are not too kind to the undeniably flabby.My gown will be medieval in style,have long narrow sleeves,be slim in the body, but with a wider skirt. I hope the top will be a dark red over tunic, with a full white satin skirt billowing out beneath it.I can see it in my mind's eye,,I just have to find a pattern for it,or at least something like my dream gown.The search must begin very soon, to allow time for the sewing to be done.I am unsure as to how many silkworms will be required to supply the silk needed, but a suitable time must be given for them to do their best work.Pendragon and I are going to write our own words for the service in Dingley Dell Faery Ring.This must be carried out in the presence of Queen Brighid the Bright,,she being our officiating dignitary,to be legally binding. Since she seems a little put out at my lack of interest in her on-going community projects at the moment, I have told Pendragon maybe we need to organise a fall-back option, though who that could be in this small community,remains to be seen.Pendragon thinks I should just bite the bullet, and go along with her for a while,but he does not know what he is asking. She is the sweetest of faery queens most of the time,but her dark side(and all faeries have one) is both manipulative and controlling.I am going to hold my ground for now,as I have many other commitments to consider in both Dingley Dell and Brigantia. maybe i am just as thrawn as she is. I mentioned all this to Mandolini, in the garden this morning, so it must have been preying on my mind. He looked at me with his usually wrinkled brow,wiped his forehead with his red and white spotted hanky,and I'm sure I heard a softly whispered sigh in the gentle breeze. Mandolini is very non-commital,being a very diplomatic gnome,but I feel sure he sympathises with my position. He has had a busy week so far,trying to keep the other garden gnomes busy.Normally they are out and about,carrying out their chores,but whenever it rains they tend to disappear.And it has rained a lot.They love an opportunity like the rest of us wee folk to have a bit of rest and relaxation. Pianolo loves to read,Basso Profundo loves to sing among the gorse bushes, and Verde likes to catch a few zzzzs as often as he can,beside the garden shed. Meanwhile Foreman Mandolini does a never ending circuit to rev them up and get them back to work. He is an indomitable force,and indispensable in the development of the toadstool back garden. I planted some cineraria and salvia plants before the rain came on this afternoon. Rain with big lumps of snow in it to be exact. It was a short shower, and nothing lay, but it has left the air outside very cold.The seasons seem to be going backwards at the moment. I have laid out some beautiful faery garments in the hope that it will soon be warm enough to wear them .They will have to gather dust at the moment,though, as a beautiful blue diaphonous skirt and thick woolly tights is not an attractive look. Tomorrow I am meeting up with Piccallilli Peasegood in the Jolly Woodman tearoom for a scintillatingly gossipy lunch. She may well have some idea of how I can handle the malevolent machinations of Queen Brighid,as Piccallilli is a fearless sprite,who has weathered many a critical phase in her own elfen history. Fearless without doubt,but not reckless, so I shall give due consideration to her thoughts on the matter. Till then,take care,my friends, and have much bravery in all you do. From Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.