Afternoon Crackers,

It's been the most beautiful warm sunny day here today which really lifts the spirits. I had a one to one session with my Welsh tutor this morning to practice chatting in Welsh before the exam. That was fun and then I went to meet my husband for lunch. He was extremely late as he decided to go and order a new car. He's been humming and hawing about it, but he's gone and done it. His old car has gone in part exchange and he's been given a runaround by the garage to use until the new one arrives. It's a horrible green colour and known as The Green Goddess by the garage. Anyway he's pleased and I got a couple of hours of Welsh done whilst being plied with tea by the cafe owners. There was a craft fair going on as well with a glass blower (very interesting) and some ladies who had all sorts of fabulous things. I came home with 3 sets of floral buttons, really unusual and so pretty, and the name of an artisan wool maker in North Wales who make and dye their own yarn. She was knitting with some and it was so soft, so I'll be checking that out. Next Thursday, after my exam on Wednesday, my husband is taking me to the wool shop in Abergavenny as a treat and I am planning on getting some yarn for my next project. I shall think of you while I am there BM and will give your love to Nichols!

As it is so nice we having a BBQ again this evening. I'm sticking to my eating plan and will be having lemon chicken and vegetable kebabs. I've got a couple of sausages for my husband though. For those who are thinking of doing the sweet corn fritters, I would say make sure you have enough chilli to give it a kick, I didn't put enough in. It was a different sort of chilli to the ones I normally use and wasn't as hot as I thought. I would probably stick normal garlic in to give it more oomph as well as the wild garlic leaves are really mild. I cooked them on a medium heat for about the suggested time of 3 mins each side, but I think they would be better on a higher heat for shorter as they were a little bit tough. I think they would be crisper if on a higher heat. Really good idea for the calorie value and you could add all sorts of herbs and flavourings to the basic recipe. I have now signed up for the emails and am looking forward to them.

New8 - re my colourful wardrobe, you should see how much brown and cream I have! It was Andy who got me into red trousers last year when I went shopping with her. I actually really like them but tend to wear neutral shades with them. There is both red and turquoise in the top so it goes well with both colours. The top was on a mannequin with the turquoise trousers in the shop and as that sort of turquoise/peacock blue was one of my top colours when I had my colours done I decided to go for it. The husband really liked them on too, but that might have been because they were so tight around my bottom lol! The long top hides an absolute multitude until I've lost a few lbs from my hips again! I haven't really noticed a big change in my eating since doing 5:2, but that might be because I've had a few disruptions (Italy, North Wales) so I'm not quite as into it as you. I have also stuck to soup a lot in the cold weather. It has made me realize that we don't need nearly as many calories as we think and how far you can make them go.

I like your QOTW New8 but I need to think about it. I haven't planned much past June 5 (EXAM DAY) to be honest. I'll post an answer on that thread in due course.

Well look at the size of my waffle. Does my waffle look big in that?

Off to BBQ (well watch the husband)

xx

Afternoon Crackers,

How are we all? I am feeling on top of the world right now. Not only did I lose the extra lbs I so carelessly gained by being indisciplined, but my exams are over with and I can get my head out of my books and start enjoying life again. My husband took me to the university this morning so I wouldn't have to worry about parking and then picked me up and took me for a restorative cup of tea. I must confess to having a piece of cake with it, but apart from a small piece of dry toast I hadn't eaten anything else all day as I was so nervous. Not the best use of calories but I felt I deserved it. At some point, I am going to have to learn not to reward myself with with food!

Exams were OK this morning. In fact I was feeling very good about them and quite confident. Then came the oral and unfortunately the nerves got me and I didn't do myself justice. It was a bit of a shambles in all honesty. But never mind, I'm only doing it for my own entertainment so it really doesn't matter!

When we got home I could see the table is all laid for a meal and my husband says he has everything prepared ready to cook me an end of exam celebration dinner later (when I get back from Welsh class) and I can see champagne glasses as well! I'm a lucky girl, he's one in a million. I expect he will have prepared something healthy for dinner but the alcohol might take me a little bit over my daily allowance today. I'll be doing a lot of running over the next few days to get over it.

So, with no excuses now, I will be getting out into the garden. The veg patch is full of weeds as I've neglected it dreadfully over the last few weeks and have only done the minimum amount. I shall be doing a lot of bending to get it all ship shape. It might finally be warm enough to do a bit of planting out as well. I don't think I'm anywhere near as advanced as you are New8 so I've got some catching up to do. I've also had a new bed created around one part of the patio so that needs planting up and I shall enjoy thinking about and selecting the plants to go there. I'm looking for low maintenance, good "doers" and have my eye on a rather nice Hebe, a Euonymus, some Hostas for the shady bit, an Hydrangea and then one or two more easy perennials. Perhaps some Alchemilla and something with daisy like flowers maybe.

The Race for Life is creeping up too so I need to ratchet up the training. Hopefully that will help the lbs to keep moving. Saffy, not long until yours which I think is 30th June. I'm sure you will really enjoy it.

Tomorrow I'm off to Abergavenny to the lovely Wool Shop for a day out with my husband. I'm sure we'll find something he likes as well! I was due to have some wool as my birthday present, but the weather was so awful at the time we decided to wait and have a day out when it would be nicer to wander around. According to the forecast it will still be nice and sunny tomorrow so I'm expecting to be sitting in pavement cafes with my sunglasses and sunhat watching the world go by.

It's so nice to be wearing a Summer dress. It feels to me as if we've gone from the depths of winter to high summer in one fair swoop. I can't believe we were still using the log burner a week ago. Long may it continue.

BM - I'm so glad you have had a lovely time with your parents. I hope my talk of Abergavenny isn't making you homesick, but it sounds as if you will be back 'home' soon anyway. Will you be up to meeting me for a coffee? I know you've said on here that you sometimes find going out a bit of an ordeal, so no pressure if you don't feel like it, but I'd love to meet you in person if you can manage it.

Carole, you are doing so amazingly well and your continued impetus to do well is certainly helping me to get back in gear. I' Veblen sliding backwards and putting the same few lbs on and off. I have been much better recently and your exercise routine is definitely setting a very good example.

MITM - I have been completely amazed and staggered at the amazing amount of work you have done in your garden and the calories you have burned. Well done! It doesn't look as if those extra few lbs are going to hang around for long.

Well, look at the size of my waffle!

Bfn and lots of love to everyone
xx