Let's get started
Replies
-
Oh BM you really have been through it haven't you? I know how awful it can be when you feel you are alone and, as you say you and your OH are both worrying about each other too. I don't think that the bully boy will do anything because he is on very dodgy ground - he won't want to escalate it further as he might find himself in all sorts of trouble if the dog is supposed to be muzzled and under control. Its not nice feeling you can't walk out of your home in peace and safety. I've been there too - I finally did sort it out but it took a few months before I found the strength so don't worry about resolving things too quickly. Whatever else happens you shouldn't feel that you are being pushed out of your home. Like MITM and LMV I'm in your corner - so take care of yourself and try not to let them get you down - and remember, revenge is a dish best served cold and they will get their comeuppance!
-
Lots of Love
PB xxx0 -
Thanks PB, hope you had a lovely time in Norfolk. Yes, the dog incident has upset me no end. Thank you for your kind words and support. I just can't help but worry over the GSD though. It really is a beautiful dog which I fear will eventually end up being destroyed through no fault of it's own. I think the owners should be severely punished for the way they have the dog. I also think that the performance to get a dog registered here (You have to apply to the government!) then it being law to microchip, have yearly shots and the pet passport kept up to date etc is a farce when absolutely nothing is done to uphold the laws these conditions are supposed to enforce. OK off my soap box now!
I expect you are getting all settled in to your new job, hope you are really enjoying it x x
LMV, sorry to hear you are poorly again. Maybe you were up and about a bit before you were fully recovered? Look after yourself!! hope Hubby is much better too. My OH has man flu at the moment, he is driving me nuts! x x
MITM, you are also working hard after recently being poorly, take time to rest when these shifts are over! (bear with me here, I have no one else to nag! lol x x)
Bracken, thank you so much also for your kind words and support over the dog incident. I too fear the GSD will be the ultimate victim of this through absolutely no fault of his own. Hope you and Nellie are both well x x
I am quite amazed and a bit puzzled how easy it has been not to drink alcohol. I always thought I really enjoyed a few glasses of wine and what was a weekend without it? However I can honestly say I haven't missed it at all. This was my 3rd weekend alcohol free and it wasn't easier or more difficult than the first two because it has not been a problem. It has admittedly probably been easier because OH has also abstained, but last night I could have cheerfully made him a very strong hot toddy or hit him over the head with a mallet. His man flu is getting right on my nerves. It's not as if he moans.....oh no, he sits there suffering in silence with a pained look of martyrdom on his face. practically counting down the hours til he is "allowed" his next dose of paracetamol. What is it with men and colds? He had a very nasty bout of shingles a couple of years back and honestly did not complain. A bout of the sniffles and I want to check into a hotel! Bless him(!!!) he has the cold and I do the moaning.......
Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday, hope it is a day you can all relax a little.
Love BM x x
0 -
Sorry!! me again. I just read back my post once I had pressed reply. How small is the writing on our new forum???? I even checked if the zoom was correct on the lap top. I am not happy with this new MFP at all. I appreciate I dislike change, but I don't even feel any of this was necessary. Even the new way to try to prevent spam has not worked in the slightest, and really that was the only thing I thought maybe should be looked at. It just must be my day to stand on my soapbox...............0
-
Hi Ladies, I have just used my spiralizer for the first time. I first heard of them on MFP and wondered what all the fuss was about, but now I have used it I understand! lol x I used it for zucchini tonight which I had instead of spaghetti. I sauted the zucchini using a squirt of Pam then drained the liquid that came off it. I added 2tsps green pesto and some natural yoghurt, I stirred this through until it was hot. I then put a few halved cherry tomatoes with this, a squirt of fresh lemon and accompanied it with a piece of baked salmon. I used 150g of fresh zucchini which was only 24cals and it was a huge dishful! I can see I am going to have great fun with this little machine. I bought it off Amazon.com as the UK one would not deliver here. I really do recommend it. I think it was about 30gbp, unfortunately the postage to here was twice that but definitely still worth it. (I have the Paderno one). Once I finish this mail I am ordering one each for my children. I know my eldest son has said he wants to use it for fruits with my grandson to encourage him to eat a bit more fruit. My daughter, like me is a big lover of pasta, although just like me she suffers with upset stomachs after it if it has not been boiled to death! So I am sure she will be using it for the zucchini "pasta".
Oops! just read this back and it sounds like I am on commission for selling this wonderful little gizmo! lol x I assure you I am not. I am a very nervous and not too good cook, so anything that makes the food look good on the plate is a winner in my book.....
I have had 3 good walks today, actually going over my 10,000 steps goal. (I love my fitbit zip, another gadget I have recently purchased, it has encouraged me no end to increase my walks etc). I have also swum, I am enjoying all this healthy eating and exercise, I hope if I keep doing it for long enough it will just become second nature. I have noticed my tastes are changing. I seem to have gone off Starbucks lattes. Or rather I have one then can only tolerate a few mouthfuls before it becomes "too heavy". I have also stopped having a piece of toast for breakfast as it was making me feel uncomfortable for a while after eating it. So maybe my body is slowly adjusting to this way of life. As long as I never go off wine it's all good in my book
Ok, I have rambled on enough, Hope everyone is well.
BM x x
0 -
Evening Crackers,
Well firstly my apologies for not posting for over a week - I've been extremely busy or at least my fingers have; making endless schlipfkrapfen and I have another hard day ahead....
This morning waiting for my husband before we started work, I filled in time ironing his chef whites - horrible job! Before we moved permanently to Austria, this was a chore unknown to me as all the top 5 star hotels have huge laundries filled with staff pressing uniforms like on cruise ships. This in turn then reminded me of a hotel I worked at in London, Dukes' Hotel around the corner from The Ritz overlooking Green Park. As a member of the Front of House team I had the honour of a made to measure navy suit - I was just 21 and it was probably the most expensive item of clothing I'd ever come into contact with! We had white stiff shirts which were starched and ironed for us. Oh the shame! I was so homesick at this time that I did what I always do when unhappy I ate and ate and I ballooned gaining over 2 stone in a matter of months. Fortunately there was a strict staff policy you could never take your jacket off whilst on duty - thank goodness as I soon could no longer do the waistband of the skirt up and it was held together with a long string of safely pins. I remember this all too well and the daily fear of being found out.
Anyway last night (because I'm so tired and fed up at the sight of potatoes) feeling sorry for myself, I succumbed and I ate so much rubbish (usual suspects for me; ice-cream, crisps and dark chocolate) that I woke in the night and had to get up to put a bowl beside my bed! I wasn't sick, however this incident combined with my vivid memories whilst ironing reminded me why I'm not going down this path ever again on a daily basis.
It's back to basics for me.... Be good Crackers!
0 -
Oh MITM, what a lovely and sad at the same time memory. (The first part!). I also think one of the worse feelings ever is the feeling of needing to vomit! Ugh. It's a testament to you though that you can firmly put it behind you and move on. Until the next time........I say that with love and respect because at the end of the day you are human, and if all we ever did was to follow the "rules" and never slip up I think the world would be a sadder place. One of my all time favorite sayings is " what doesn't kill you will make you stronger". That saying has helped me through so much. We fall down, we pick ourselves up, and we bloody well move on!
I also think it is so lovely we can share our downs as well as our ups with each other and never be judged. In fact the support of this group as helped me through so much in the past few years especially with being away from friends and family. We are a perfect cyber family! Lol x x
Hope you are able to relax today, look after yourself, love BM x x0 -
Evening BM!
I've just completed my packing and in 5 short hours time I'll be getting up again!! However I just wanted to let you know I will be absent until the 11th November - so as it's been 17 long, quiet days since Bracken checked in, 15 for LMV, 13 for NEW8 and 7 for PB thank goodness you've got SAFFY to keep you on the straight and narrow!!! And as I will be away, I'm sending you now early birthday greetings and wishing you a fantastic break in Bali and I hope that the dress fits perfectly and remember '50! You can't turn the clock back... but you can wind it up again!' And when I return no doubt with a little excess baggage, I'm aiming to be very, very good until Christmas!! And I do hope all the Crackers will be back in force soon....0 -
Aw, thank you MITM, so lovely of you to think of me when you are so busy yourself x x I hope you have a wonderful time, and if you do come back with a little extra pound or two, so what? you are more than able to shift it/them in a couple of weeks....job done!
It is so quiet without the other's isn't it? I am sure they are all fine, but it is just so nice to have that confirmed with a quick post!
I am still increasing my calories slowly but surely and have also put on weight this week. I am strangely not panicking or upset by this though. I just know it is what needs to be done to reset my metabolism. So my run up to Christmas when I am usually frantic trying to lose weight for the dresses/parties etc has a different feel to it this year as I will be eating more and probably gaining on purpose! I absolutely loved the clock analogy, I shall remember that one!
Take care and safe journey,
BM x x0 -
Hello Crackers - my apologies for the silence - a new job involves so much extra work as you try to catch up with everything - add 2 hours travelling per day and I'm afraid I get home at 6.30pm (ish) and after a supper I tend to crash out - before going to bed at just after 9.00pm! No exercise is not good. Food is middling as I eat a healthy breakfast and lunch - but Mum keeps leaving cake and biscuits as well as cabbage and carrots for me. I get back to Suffolk and find bottles of wine, cake and crisps all waiting for me. I think she thinks she is helping!
-
Never mind. As far as the job is going - its going well - although as I say they do have some somewhat unreasonable expectations that I'm going to work miracles in my first 6 weeks - but I'm slowly getting there I think so hopefully they won't want to get rid of me.
MITM I know you won't get to read this for a while - but I know exactly what you mean - part of my problem at the moment is my sugar cravings. I did lose these for a while when I was really motoring on the weight loss but they have crept back in. Mind you, I think after a day working with food I might be less interested, having said that crisps and dark choc are never easy to resist.
Bailey, good to see you are having a less frantic time running up to Christmas. I still have a faint hope of losing some weight before Christmas but with so little time for exercise I'm more concerned about feeling flabby than putting on weight (perhaps I should be worried about both).
Well must go now as due at Hunter Trial to judge this morning and still need to pack to go back to Mums tonight.
take care all and i'll try and come online again during the week.
PB xx0 -
Dear Crackers. Another apology for being away so long. Now I am uncertain with this new format if this is even going to work. Above this I am seeing a red banner that says body is required. I have no idea what this means so I am going to post this and see what happens and then hopefully will be able to return.0
-
Hello Bracken - are you well? What is the weather like in Canada?
-0 -
Here we go again. The post seems to have been accepted but I see no edit function as we used to have and which I always seem to need. I hardly know where to begin so I will begin at the most recent and then work backwards. Regrettably, there has been a lot that is distressing lately so this post does not begin in an upbeat way. (I will mention that I did read recent posts back to Sept.8, and there were a couple I don't recall at all- can I blame recent changes in format. In any case, they were a pleasure to read and I will respond to them). Last night I spent the evening at the hospital where my sister-in-law had been again admitted. (She was in only a couple of weeks ago and had to have blood transfusion and shortly before that for dehydration). Last night she was told that her colon cancer is developing rapidly, is effecting her kidneys, and her prognosis is perhaps a year. My poor brother was absolutely devastated. I think he has always thought that she would eventually make a full recovery despite her setbacks; she was initially diagnosed as stage 3. It was heartbreaking to see my brother. They have always been what I would call a very devoted couple, a word which seems rather uncommon now. My sister-in-law was extremely stoic, more than I could imagine being in the circumstances. Today, there will be a meeting with the surgeon who did her last surgery in July and they will discuss whether there will be any more surgery they can offer. My sister-in-law has hard such a hard time of it as the original surgery, another hospital and doctor, did not go well; the surgeon seemed to not have done the procedure for the colostomy bag properly so there was no drainage, and worse, no one noticed for 8 days that she was not eliminating waste. By the time that was caught, she was in a very bad way and had to have a second emergency surgery.
0 -
(I was not intending to post that last piece but I touched the shift key and suddenly it posted- what goes on?)
I was about to say that last Monday evening I ended up in the Emergency Department. This happened after my Creative Writing Class. I will fill you in on some details later (and hope not to bore anyone too much) but suffice to say for the moment that I did not return home until 1:30 a.m. so I seem to have been tired for a lot of the week.
Thursday and Friday I have been scrambling to deal with yard work, especially the many fallen leaves. There have been some absolutely beautiful trees in shades on deep gold, peachy orange and true red. There are many large mature maples in my neighbourhood; all maples do not have red leaves. One of mine has yellow leaves and two have a peachy/orange leaf but there are red maples nearby. We've had a couple of days of very high winds and the week before last a week of heavy rains. I usually like to mow the leaves right into the lawn but the after the rains there were so many leaves at once and they were so thick that I had to rake them up. So far I've raked 22 bags, really packed down too. On Friday I was able to mow both front and back lawns so those leaves were mulched into the lawn. Looking out the window today, the last of the leaves are now on the front lawn but it won't be mowed today- it's windy and only 6C. I have a couple of trees in the back that have not even changed colour yet and some of my neighbours have maples that are still a brilliant gold- it's interesting how the leaves fall at different rates. I have long thought that the large trees, the maples, elms, oaks, etc. that are such a part of Ontario are a redeeming feature. I love the beauty of our Rocky Mountains and the open prairie of Saskatchewan but I would not like to live permanently without big trees. I remember seeing some amazing trees in England, especially oaks. I still have some pots to empty and store and haven't planted a single bulb yet. (MITM, I recall you have been doing so.) I always like to plant a few fresh bulbs; it seems a hopeful thing to do. I also need to get my birdfeeder set up. At the moment there are few birds around. The summer birds have all gone south. I think the winter birds migrate into the towns as the weather gets colder. Many people feed the birds so I suppose I should not delay too much or they will settle elsewhere although I suspect they do go a bit from feeder to feeder.
Must leave off for now. I have a hair appointment this afternoon, always nice. Hoping all Crackers are well. Regards.0 -
Oh dear Bracken- I'm so sorry, you've really been through the mill haven't you. Sadly, your sister in law doesn't sound as though she has a good prognosis. Amazing how the people most affected can seem to cope better than the people around them. You will, I know give your brother all the support he needs.
-
I am doing OK although work is very very busy. We too have had some lovely displays of maples although ours seem to have variegated leaves to begin with - (red/yellow mix) - just beautiful, but they are losing their leaves now along with everything else. The weather has taken a turn for the colder as from today but my journey to and from work is very beautiful at times as a result. I too love the prairies and the Rockies - I need to be near water though.
Well that's me for now- hope your trip to the ED wasn't too serious.
PB xx0 -
Hello Crackers. I'm still feeling behind on everything including posting here which is a pleasure and not an obligation like many other things. However, I am still struggling to get all the yard work done. All the leaves are down from my front yard trees and I thought I had finished the last raking two days ago. However, today I looked out and there are again quite a lot of leaves - blown over from my neighbours lawn! He had yet to rake any leaves and always waits until all his trees are empty before he does anything. This would be fine if there was no wind ever. I have some bulbs I still need to plant but at 3C today is not the day to do so. PM, thanks for inquiring if I am well. I do have some problems which I have not yet detailed but would like to share but am a bit stretched at the moment.
I have spent a lot of time recently at medical appointments. I think I've already mentioned the endoscopy/colonoscopy (both clear for which I am grateful). There was also a mammogram (also clear) and I have a skin thing on the forehead- another appointment next week. The major event involved a holter monitor, a cardiologist and the trip to Emerg.
My creative writing class is quite time consuming but very enjoyable. It is only an eight week course so there are not many more classes. The focus is on writing a short story. Numbers of years ago I had a story published in the Toronto Star; their short story contest is widely known and the year I was published (not the first place winner I might add) there were in excess of 3500 entries. I'd like to enter another story but I think it has become increasingly hard to place and most of the winners now are professionals or at least writers with a lot of experience. I am trying to prepare more food in advance and have also thought that I need to expand what I eat. I hate to be on a bandwagon but I have found that I do feel better eliminating the gluten in my diet. However, most gluten-free products here are not only full of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients but also very expensive. I have found a bakery that makes excellent g.f. bread and have been buying their quinoa bread. (They also do other baking but have no calorie counts except for the bread). I have bought some ingredients and am going to search for some recipes on the internet. I'd like to make some healthy muffins for a change and maybe some oatmeal cookies if I can find a suitable recipe. PB, I'm glad to see that your job is going well although you are crazy busy. I hope you enjoyed your time at the Hunter Trials. I used to do announcing for the local hunt here when they held the Hunter Trials- that was just a local hunt trials but there are larger trials held which involve members from all the Ontario Hunts (about a half dozen). The trials were formerly only open to riders and horses that had actually hunted
(I remember people scrambling to get their required number of hunts in. I actually rode some classes for two years- long ago now) but at some point the classes were opened to anyone who paid an entry fee. A lot of riders from the hunter/jumper show circuit entered; they were usually much more polished riders and took most of the placings. BM, good to hear about how much you have been doing exercise-wise (and those temperatures!) and will see if the spiralizer is available here- most interesting. Hope MITM is enjoying her trip and all Crackers are well. Nellie calls now.
0 -
I'm making up for not posting for awhile. Today I'm going to comment on Remembrance Day. I've attended Remembrance day services for a long time. For many years my Mom and I went to a nearby small city which had a very good program. When I taught, there was always a school service and on occasion I produced it. The day has always been associated with my father who served in WW2 and of course, I grew up with my mother's accounts of living through the war. The village where I live has always had a service but in all the more than 25 years I've lived here I've never attended it until yesterday. It was held around the very small cenotaph. There were a surprising number of people there, although perhaps predictable, as the media have been reporting on a great increase in poppies being sold- there is, of course, increased focus this year because of the recent killing of two soldiers here, the one standing guard at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa- I believe it made international news. Young cadets stood guard at the cenotaph and took their role very seriously. There was a piper, a military parade from the post office to the cenotaph, hymns and the anthems sung, a poem read, prayers said and many, many wreaths laid - one even by a Mountie in full scarlet dress- and the last post/reveille and minute of silence. It was orchestrated by the local servicemen's (women's) legion. Of course, these events are never without a moment or so of something not working out right. Here it was the sound system, a very primitive looking affair set up on the tailgate of a vehicle. A quite elderly legion member was working it and when it wouldn't operate as planned for a few moments, the look of complete bafflement on his face as he randomly twisted dials was really something to see. (I should talk by the way as my facility with technology needs something to be desired! I've also had some awful experiences when a film projector broke or a video wouldn't play and the class went instantly wild as I was desperately trying to get something to work) ) What was really needed was a youth who would probably have fixed it in seconds.
After the wreath laying, a troop of very young girl guides each put a small wooden cross around the cenotaph. I have often thought I'd like to attend Remembrance Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa but really this little local service was just as meaningful.
I had to reschedule my last hair appointment so I'm off now to the hairdressers. Regards all.0 -
A beautiful account of a very special day x x0
-
Morning Crackers!
At last... After 2 days my house is once more back in order and I'm feeling I'm 'home' again. It always takes me a few days after being in England to settle back into 'Austrian life' after the hustle and bustle and noise of cars and planes, all I hear here is the sheep, the church bells and the odd tractor at this time of year!
However what a lovely return to see that Bracken and PB have both posted. Such a treat although Bracken I'm very sorry to hear the sad news concerning your sister-in-law and I do feel for you and your family and I do hope your own medical problems are in order. PB I'm glad you're enjoying your job and the challenge ahead and I hope you can find a way around the tiredness to start losing weight again. Maybe you could persuade your Mother to make some healthy meals to freeze for you instead? My own Mother has this very annoying line every time she is offering something full of calories 'Oh it's only small, one won't hurt' - ha! Oh I beg to differ dear Mother I'm now wearing every little offering around my waistline!!
Well I spent half-term week with the daughter. Along with my Mother we went up to London staying overnight at Tower Bridge so we could see the poppies at the Tower which were awesome! I'm so pleased I purchased one earlier in the summer. We also visited the Imperial War Museum as my daughter wanted to see the Holocaust exhibition. Also very moving. And then as we do like a climb, we did the 311 steps up 'The Monument' which is the memorial to the Great Fire and was built between 1671 and 1677. Great panoramic views from the top 61 metres high! Mother stayed firmly on the ground.
After London the daughter and I went to Brighton for a few days. Beautiful weather so there were still people swimming in the sea! We walked the promenade lots, shopped lots and indulged lots! My second week whilst the daughter returned to my brother's and to school I met up with friends so lots of long lunches, lots of calories and not a lot of walking!
I saw on my travels a card BM which for some reason or other made me think of you! Two very well dressed ladies, sunglasses on, sitting drinking wine and one glances down at her wrist and says 'Look at that! I've already done 10,000 sips on my pedometer.' I hope you are on the mend - how very annoying to be ill on the big 50. Did the dress fit? I purchased for the daughter a very similar little number to yours but with a higher neck line and shorter skirt length and much to my surprise and delight the Tom boy daughter loved it! Do you recall how I pondered long and hard (and decided against) her wearing a short dress for her confirmation on the grounds her thighs were too big?! Well 2 years on and my now size 10, fit daughter has slim toned legs (unlike mine!) and in Brighton she wore a bright cerise short skirt (a first), navy tights, cerise doctor martins (still an element of the Tomboy) but with pink lip gloss and blue eyeliner and hair down!! She is 16 next month and in her own good time she is finally becoming lady like and no longer wearing boys clothes! She is revising hard for her mocks at the moment so to get her exercise quota in she is shredding daily with Jillian! I'm very proud of her - her abs are amazing!
I'm not so proud of my own figure at present, it has turned to jelly. However I have got straight back onto my 'healthy diet' and whilst my friend is away visiting her own daughter in Vienna, I'm pounding up the hill behind which she hasn't the stamina to do, in a bid to fight the flab. I purchased for myself a figure hugging top to wear at Christmas which at present will not be coming out of the wardrobe and seeing the light of day ever, if I don't lose the pounds and inches! So I'm aiming for 6 pounds in 6 weeks! No messing about!
Well that is me up to date. I must now press on as like you Bracken I have lots of work in the garden still to be done before the real snow arrives and the snow markers went in yesterday... So off to work I go.
Be good Crackers!0 -
A nip in for a moment and so enjoyable to read your account of your time away, MITM. We have had a lot of press and television coverage of the poppies here so I am familiar with the installation. Also today I phoned a friend in England for a chat and she had seen the poppies and was likewise impressed. I love the idea that they are being sold to support a number of charities. How lucky you are to have purchased one. An impressive amount of climbing too MITM. Very cold here and possible snow by Saturday. We'll have to see who gets the snow first. Wednesday when it was very warm I heard and then saw a robin. It should have left for the south awhile ago. I've heard some do over winter but have not seen them then. I felt rather fearful for it as our robins are not seed eaters but eat worms and bugs and don't use a bird feeding station. Regards to all.0
-
Evening Crackers,
Well I'm feeling a little more in control now that I've seen a 2lb loss on the scales! Today and yesterday I have worked very hard in the garden; giving several bushes haircuts and tying them back, cutting back the climbing roses and raking lots of leaves but there's still lots more to do. And even though it was damp and grey with lots of low clouds which you can almost touch this high up, I felt far better for being outside.
Bracken - I'm quite happy to allow you the first snow! Just seeing it on top of the mountains is near enough for me, I can wait until the first Advent Sunday before I have to start clearing any that is soon enough!
BM - I do feel for you and I agree what a start to your 50's. Do take good care of yourself. My Mother caught pneumonia on a round the world cruise and ended up in the ship hospital.
Be good Crackers!
0 -
Oh how I envy you both with the thought of approaching snow!! It is Monsoon season here so it will be even more hot and humid now.
MITM, your ladies sipping wine made me giggle, which led to a coughing spasm! It really was funny, (and very like me too!). It sounds as though you and your daughter had a lovely time in the UK. I love the description of her outfit, I too love Dr Martens. My fave of mine being a flowery pair! I hope your Mum recovered well after her pneumonia. Such a shame to have it at all, but to have it on Holiday is just awful. If she is like me, I just wanted to be in my own bed. Thinking of your daughters new dress, mine fit well, but I never got to wear it as I was too unwell to go out. We had the chef cook every meal in the Villa (Breakfast and Dinner) except one, when I ventured 2 hundred yards to the restaurant! Hope she really enjoys wearing her dress, and that it will be first of many for her x
Bracken, I am thinking of you and you are in my prayers with all that your family is going through. It is heart breaking to watch someone you love so ill, and also to watch someone you love losing a loved one is more than can be bared. Sending you lots of love x x
I too thought the poppies were just fantastic and would have loved to see them. I know they looked amazing on the TV but I expect to see it and experience the atmosphere was incredible.
At least we know a little somebody who will enjoy the snow......Nellie! Please let us know what she gets up to,( I live vicariously through the crackers!). Missing seasons sometimes feels as bad as missing family. Strangely (or not) now I don't feel too good I am really homesick, so its a bit like a double whammy. Please look after yourself whilst you are looking after others x x x
I have to write a list now as OH is off to the shops.
Wishing all the crackers a good week.
Love BM xx
0 -
Morning Crackers!
Well I feel like I'm 'cheating' on the Crackers so for those observant ones amongst us who may have noticed I have acquired a new friend, I'm coming clean - I have taken up a seasonal challenge and joined the 'In Shape by Christmas' group. 'Live-laugh-love-strong' is my 'twin' and we are teamed together. I needed a kick and like me she only has 5 pounds to lose and wants to do so by Christmas, so I'm hoping she will spur me on and I likewise.
BM - my snow arrived overnight and as I look out of the window it has finally stopped falling. Luckily I got most of my garden chores completed including raking up all the leaves (from our tree) that were scattered in the field outside our house. So my exercise for today will be clearing a path and a space for my husband's car if he can't get it in the garage. I also have a letter to post so I will venture down to the village and then burn some serious calories climbing/clambering back up the hill! And I have a deep freezer which I've defrosted that needs mopping up so that will involve lots of bending!
My daughter is also at the moment experiencing huge homesick bouts, for her it is triggered off by Saints days! She remembers as a child for example St. Martin's day, last week, going around the village in the dark with a lantern after the church service and then an outside buffet. Coming up next is St. Nikolaus and she loved the grampus (the devils) who roamed the village with cow bells at night. I made up a little stocking as a joke as the chocolate is already in the shops waiting at my parents house! One of my Austrian sister-in-laws will Skype along with my young nephews on the Advent Sundays to light the candles, sing and say prayers. My daughter whilst my mother-in-law was alive had a very religious, traditional upbringing and living (with my brother) in what will soon be Santa's grotto seriously does her head in!! How are you coping?
Right I must step outside into the winter wonderland! Be good Crackers!
0 -
Another quick pop-in but I can't resist after reading your last post, MITM about stepping into the winter wonderland. Oh dear, I wish I could be so upbeat about it but our first snow, for the past three days, has not seemed like a wonderland. This is in part because it has come with viciously bitter high winds that almost take your breath away. Also the temps are very low, much below seasonal- being -8C with a wind chill factor of -17C yesterday and today seems the same. I am trying to find the bright side- one of which is that the weather here is not nearly as bad as in the States. Buffalo, New York had an almost unbelievable 2 metres of snow yesterday. Here my yard is covered in several inches but nothing like that. (Buffalo is only a couple of hours from me and not north either) I am also mindful of your 40C plus temps, BM, which are also daunting. However, on Monday night I set out for my writing class but turned around and came home when I realized the roads were quite treacherous. I was quite bummed out by that as I've enjoyed the classes.
I must say too that I enjoyed hearing about the Saints days traditions. The children particularly must love those days. Also, MITM, good for you taking up a seasonal challenge- good luck. Nellie has gladly taken to the snow again and runs around like a mad fool in it. Oh to be a dog. Regards.0 -
Evening Crackers!
Bracken I was only thinking of you when I caught the evening news and saw the headlines about the horrendous snowfall in Buffalo and was wondering just how far that is from you.
Oh I do feel for you with cold winds and treacherous roads that's no winter wonderland even if Nellie likes it. In comparison our first snow was a mere dusting and after a second glorious sunny day (and it's only when the sun disappears about 3pm it starts to feel cold), our snow has completely melted and disappeared. It's just on the surrounding mountain tops, looks beautiful and that is close enough for me!
Well sadly, I'm failing in spectacular fashion on my challenge! Today with a friend we were visiting our welsh friend in the next county and in our honour she had made a simply delicious, melt in your mouth chocolate cake - I could not be rude and refuse a slice but I dread to think about the calorie content and what the scales will say tomorrow!
Still there's 34 more days left until Christmas - so few!!!!
Be good Crackers!
0 -
Hello Crackers. Well the snow has completely gone thanks to torrential rains, record high temps for the past two days, and winds that reached 100 k per hour- yet another extreme. by tomorrow we'll be back to colder temps, around 2-3 C. A lot of damage was done by the winds according to news reports. I nervously watched trees swaying in my back yard but fortunately only some smaller branches came down. I've been trying to get my food organized again and have another glitch, one which I completely, though unintentionally created. I hope you don't mind if I detail it as that perhaps will help me feel less upset at myself. I was boiling some filtered water to rinse jars that I was going to fill with soup for the freezer. (I'm rather fussy about sterilization even for the freezer) The kettle was very full. The phone rang and I took the call in my den, talked longer than I anticipated, and forgot about the kettle. When I came to the kitchen, there was a lot of steam and condensation on the stove (the kettle was not completely dry). I cleaned that and then boiled more water, rinsed the jars, and put them in the oven to dry quickly. When I went to put on the oven, the digital control panel went amuk. I knew that unplugging the electrical connection might reset it. No luck. I left it for awhile and tried again- still no luck plus I heard sounds like wires sparking! Shut of the power again. An electrician friend has checked to see if it can basically be reset (no) but he is not trained in actual appliance repair.I've phoned a couple of appliance service workers and have been told that the cost of a new computer board for the stove is alone about half the price of a new stove, without taxes and without the cost of installation. To get someone to just come and confirm that it is indeed the board (likely they say but they can't absolutely say) is very costly also. Also my stove (and frig) is a bisque colour (between almond and white) and I really like it- it blends nicely with my cupboards and sets well with the backsplash tiles which accent the kitchen. Now I discover that almond or bisque colours are no longer available in any of the appliance brands- the only choice is stainless steel or white! ( I presume somewhere in Canada one could buy the colours I see in magazines for more specialized brands like Aga or other European brands).
At the moment I'm just not sure how to proceed from here. I know this is not the worst problem and am trying to keep it in perspective but it is really disruptive and I'm already tired of preparing everything in the microwave.
Must go for the moment but will try to have less complaining next post.
Regards all.
-0 -
Oh Bracken, I really feel for you. Nothing ever seems simple does it? I hope you can get it sorted without it costing a mortgage amount. Especially before Christmas, which is always expensive anyway and the time of year the cooker seems to have to work overtime! I always think a problem shared here with the crackers does feel like a problem halved, just to get it off your chest. Please keep us posted x x
Ps I watch the world news avidly to keep up with what is happening in your part of the world. Thinking of you, and stay safe! x x0 -
Bracken - it never rains but it pours.... what a dilemma for you.... complain all you like. I think if I were in your shoes and liked my bisque coloured appliances, I would follow my heart and although (if I've understood correctly) it's better value for money to acquire a new cooker, if it's the incorrect colour (and I know all about getting the 'right' colour after painting this year!) that would ruin the overall ambiance of your kitchen. Why not try and negotiate with the appliance service people, that if it is the computer board and you order the replacement part with them could they not offer a reduced call out fee? I second BM - keep us posted.
BM - how are you feeling? Are you fully recovered or still getting there? And as a matter of interest how many daily calories are you currently aiming for? My mother has just returned from a 2 week break in Tenerife and is now in bed with a heavy cold, cough, aches and pains, making me wonder if it's worth going away!
Well I have had 3 days in succession where I have stuck to my dieting plan and exercised. It's been quite awhile since that has happened! Could it have anything to do with the fact my daughter told me on Monday that in 4 weeks time it will be her birthday and I had visions of the chocolate birthday cake I'll have to make and eat whilst currently still carrying the pound gained from my last slice of chocolate cake! Nothing like having a bucket of cold water thrown over you to remind you of the mission in hand!
Be good Crackers!0 -
Evening Crackers!
Last week I met up with my ex pat ladies for coffee and in honour of my 'Joan Collins' friend I wore my bright, cerise pink, smart, sixties styled, 3/4 length swing coat! I actually purchased it last winter but never got the opportunity to wear it as the temperature dropped from an Indian summer to bleakest winter overnight. However this year after the wettest summer on record, we've had one of our warmest autumns and it's still too mild to even make artificial snow - so perfect weather for my coat. A slick of equally bright cerise lipstick, skinny jeans and my Christmas Day top. This is a navy, fitted shaped, wrap top, in a geo graphic print in cerise! I felt like a Christmas cracker!!
My new 'twin' has helped keep me on my toes because being part of a team, not only do I let myself down, I let her down if I don't stick to my plan. Sensible lady (Canadian and a teacher/vice principal Bracken) she is actually at target and losing extra pounds to compensate for Christmas/celebrations, very sporty, seriously so squash/1/2 marathons so we'd not be identical twins!! However seeing her post her exercise feats inspires me to do something/anything!
I've gone back to basics and I'm salsacising which I can fit into my day and it ticks the boxes whittles the thighs and waist! However my main calorie burner of late, as it's only me rattling around in the house alone all day, I have agreed to manually feed the central heating with logs (collected on my previous 'Biggest Loser' challenge) which involves running up and down to the basement, 2 flights of stairs, continuously throughout the day until thankfully the husband takes over late afternoon. I have time on my hands... but it's only because it's currently so mild and I don't require the heating on first thing in the morning but when my parents come for Christmas we'll be back on automatic pellets - have no fear! I need to wear my pedometer to see just how many steps I do!
I'm not sure how I come to be in this position but for once I'm ahead of myself for work, everything is under control so I won't be getting into a state just before my family descend. Plus I've wrapped all the Christmas presents and my daughter's birthday presents and I've written out my Christmas cards. I just have a few short letters to complete and enclose. I have a lovely stationary box full of trimmings, ribbons, adornments, gift tags, Christmas confetti which I've collected over many years. My walking friend makes old fashioned note books and one year she made a lovely hard back folder with a Christmas tree on the front, for me to keep my Christmas notes. I keep copies of my ramblings! Anyway I was reading one to a dieting friend and I had written 'I'm feeling old!! But at least I'm no longer fat - 9.11 at present, want to be 9.10 for Christmas!' This was 3 years ago, so how come I'm currently 9.11 my clothes fit why do I think I should be 9.7? How did this come about when did I move the goal posts?! Would I not be happy if I make it to 9.10 as 9.7 feels a long, long way away!
Bracken have you started decorating your house yet with your treasured Christmas items? I shall begin after the 8th which is a catholic bank holiday here. My godson/nephew and family are here this weekend and I don't want little hands breaking my precious ornaments! As children these days can just touch what they want. Not only am I feeling old, I'm now sounding old and turning into my late moaning Grandmother!! My daughter is currently living in Santa's grotto, with tree up since 1st December and bright coloured flashing lights inside and outside of the house. The only thing missing is snow, I'm surprised they haven't laid cotton wool on the lawn! I like the slow build up here with the Advent Sundays and the main Christmas tree not going up until Christmas Eve. There are outdoor trees up with dainty white lights sparkling over the mountainside. Anybody here seeing my box of wrapped presents would be shocked as most people haven't even started shopping in these parts! BM what is it like in Singapore and Wales?
Well I have rambled on long enough! Sadly I do feel the 'spark' seems to have vanished from this once lively little group and where once I'd have a cup of tea which catching up on the daily posts now it's just a mere sip!
Be good Crackers!0 -
Oh MITM!! I saw your post, made a cuppa and sat down really happy until I came to the end of it. It is so sad but I fear you are right about our little group. I am guilty myself of not writing reams on this page anymore, but I must admit to thinking "who is going to read it?".
I am in a weird place with my weight this Christmas as it must be the first ever time I am not frantically trying to lose weight for the holiday season. I am just in the process of upping my calories 250 daily as I am not gaining weight on 1700 cals so my TDEE must be even higher than that. Whoo hoo. I am about 7lb heavier than the weight I seem to return to no matter what. Unusually my clothes are still fitting, so not too sure where the 7lb is but I can live with it. What I am really excited for is when I can actually drop my calories and then start losing, hopefully the right way too. I think it is great you have your twin to encourage you, anything that helps is good by me! Your outfit sounded absolutely fab, and if you felt as good as you looked in it maybe you are happy at 9.10 and don't need to drop to 9.7?
Christmas in Singapore is crazy. They place piped carol music in the stores from the end of October. The locals appear to ignore the holidays completely, I think it is just the expats who celebrate it. There are decorations up in the city and each mall is usually beautifully decorated. It doesn't last though...........We were at Raffles one Boxing night eating in the courtyard and men came through and proceeded to dismantle the beautiful swags and tree around us as we ate! They told us Raffles only hire them til boxing day and then the real festivities begin as everyone who is Asian prepares for the Chinese New Year. That and the Indian Hari Raya are by far the biggest holidays here.
Christmas in Wales, to me, is magical as all my family and friends are there. There is always the hope of snow as well as old cheesy Christmas movies on the TV. Just a lovely time. Aw I get all emotional just thinking of it. I can just picture your beautiful village with all the twinkly lights. If your tree goes up on Christmas eve when does it come down? I just wondered if you still followed the twelve days of Christmas? It must be amazing to see all the mountains with snow and to even have it on the ground yourselves. To me snow would make my Christmas complete! (Obviously if I didn't have to get to work in it!).
I am going to have another cup of tea now, I think we should try to keep our little group together. It has been literally a lifeline to me so many times.
Have a good week, and put your pedometer on!
BM x x x0 -
Greetings. How lovely to read your posts, BM and MITM, and scary to read your, correct at the moment, comment about the spark being dim here at the moment. But MITM, I absolutely second BM's comment about the value of this group and believe that sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a reminder that one has been remiss because like anything this too requires a degree of commitment. It is rather like Christmas cards- everyone enjoys getting them but people can become lazy about sending them out. I love getting cards but also enjoy sending them out. This week I have sent off my cards to England and France as well as the more distant places in Canada. I was thrilled yesterday when I received a card from a somewhat distant relative in Evesham who always kept up with my Mom. She is a link to my grandmother who was very dear to me. She is quite a lot older than I but writes that she is now on e-mail so I've suggested she practice on me. One of the tasks I have set myself this winter is to work on writing a family history. I have journals that my grandmother kept from the late 1930's until almost the time of her death. (They are not of the confessional, personal type but still give a good picture of her life/her families' lives). I also have the letters my father sent to her during the War- he was stationed in England for most of that time. I also have diaries of my mother's from various periods of her life. As for cards again, most of my family have now declared they are no longer sending them out.
MITM, I am picturing the pretty lights of your village; it sounds like a post card scene. I like your idea of a slow buildup to Christmas. I do like to take some decorations and such out quite early but gradually. This year I started with my harvest table as I found a very nice new runner with holly and ivy as a border and which isn't too Christmassy (I'll change it later for my Spode runner which has their traditional Christmas tree pattern on it). In the centre of my table I have three candlesticks (they are hard to describe but are three different heights, have a dark burnished bronze base and the cups are a kind of milky glass that glows a very mellow amber colour. I have artificial rings of holly and their red berries which I put around the base of the candlesticks) and I nestle my Spode Christmas teapot with them. I've put wreaths on the two outside doors and this week I put up my small village- it is one of my favourite decorations as all the buildings have a light inside and it looks very cozy, almost real at night. I keep it to a quite small size- a Church, a bookstore, a school house (with little people visible inside) and a family home along with some figures- a group of choristers, a family hauling a Christmas tree, a horse and carriage of churchgoers, and some riders and hounds chasing a fox (I always stage it so the fox is clearly out of danger!) The Christmas shopping rush is in full swing here and driving by the malls they seem always busy. Canada has jumped on the American Black Friday bandwagon- I definitely kept away from stores that day. I was surprised however to see in the paper that Britain is now embracing the madness and there was a picture of a woman and a man literally wrestling over a flat screen television. How would one feel to see a pictures of oneself in such a position in the paper? BM, I'm sure that Christmas in Wales would be delightful. (I had to laugh about the décor being ripped down before your very eyes at Raffles) Most Christmases we watch that very good version of a Child's Christmas In Wales. There are definitely some bad Christmas movies but I do like ELF, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation but nothing beats Alistair Simms version of A Christmas Carol to my mind.
I am very glad I came here to today. Part of the reason I have been remiss is that I kept thinking there was so much I wanted to say I couldn't think where to start. So this is just my start and I am now making a resolution that I will post something everyday from now until the 24! Take that, you 12 days of Christmas! Regards.0
This discussion has been closed.