So my doctor wants me to keep a food log because I have been having some digestive issues. I had increased my fiber way too fast and had to cut back, but the problems have not resolved in like a month now. So we are trying to see if something else is causing me issues or not. If this doesn't work, then I need an ultrasound and an appointment with GI and GI is super backed up for appointments at the moment.

I also have an appointment in June with Preventive Health about my weight so I am hoping to maybe get some help through them. Fingers crossed. My BP has been slowly creeping up and my LDL is too high. So if I can make some changes to help those, I think I will feel so much better.

”oh Yooly - we are having that for tea too! & with cauliflower rice! Half way across world & ”

Great minds think alike Creamtea!

Yup Athijade- got to nip that BP and LDL in the bud before it becomes a medication issue. And does some irreversible damage too.

There was only a dusting of Parmesan on the chicken cacciatore so all good there. And homemade- very little oil - in the sauce. Hubby is very happy to cater to my needs. However he did spaghetti on the side with globs of ricotta.
The smoked turkey bbq was plenty without any add on cole slaw. Pickles - tasty but too much salt. Hubby glommed on extra pickles. No issues for him!

I’m hanging in there. The meds are a form of steroids so lots of water retention and weird weight fluctuations. Overall I’m higher than I want to be but basically no longer gaining trend wise. The trick will be losing the extra pounds while on the evil meds. 😵‍💫

Good on you for getting that second opinion Laurie ….. re the weight loss - maintaining - gaining - our bodies are so strange aren’t they? Losing here, but well over cals some days, with daily weights fluctatin + / minus 4 lbs - would have found this very triggering a year or two back- nowadays haven’t got the mental energy!

MIL very sprightly and sparky this evening … got well & truly told off for trying to help her drink her tea!

Hello! Internet very spotty to nonexistent lately, we were warned that the satellite connection can do that on the seas around Norwegian fjords and while crossing the North Atlantic to Iceland. Happy to report the sea was like glass and the journey incredibly smooth. Weather GREAT and above seasonal norms pretty much every port, and then reverts when we leave!

A couple of pics from Norway:

First one is in Geiranger, at the head of the Geiranger fjord, which is a deep narrow gorge finger of the sea going miles and miles inland - breathtaking. I'm standing on a platform following a waterfall trail. You can see our ship at the edge of the water in the distance, and for perspective it is a huge ship, 18 stories high.

The second & third is the city of Alesund, taken from the ship where we docked, a really pretty city situated on what has become like a long peninsula, but is really several islands connected by bridges and tunnels. We were so fortunate to be there on May 17, which is Constitution Day (think 4th of July or Canada day, not sure what would be British equivalent?) and everyone was very jolly with many dressed up in traditional attire, especially the young adults out in full force!

We are arriving at our first port in Iceland today - gliding through the harbour now. What a great voyage!

Food wise I am trying hard to curb the calories, but not doing the best job I'm afraid. I am at least wrangling myself to a maintenance level and keeping very active so although weight jumped up maybe 4 lbs initially it seems to be stable there, thankfully not more.

Cheers everyone! Glad to read your updates and cheering you on from here 😘

The colors are beautiful!

This sounds like a really kick kittens😛 trip!

Maybe you could even make a little limited time album we can have a look at when you're back and have some time!

Have fun!

Oh, CosmoBug - looks amazing. I've always dreamed of fjords….! Thank you for sharing.

Car update: Yesterday the father of the boy who I gave my old car to came and took a look at the bumper situation on the new car. He crawled underneath and after a few seconds said:

Oh, darling. I'm so sorry.

Said that a few times - poked around a bit - then started handing me chunks of rusted metal.
Seems the back half of the frame is completely rusted out. Think swiss cheese. Rest of the car is rust-free. :( Not repairable. This lovely little SUV with only 40,000 km on it (that is verifiable even!) is now only good to be stripped for parts and sent to the scrapyard. :(

I will post updates on my dealings with the person who sold it to me.

look at these beauties … my sweet little blue car and my dear friend no longer in BC

would she be annoyed if she found out it was posting this photo with her in it! 🤣

And the relatively cheap Amazon full face mask/respirator was worth every penny … and at $34.95 about $150 less than the least expensive one at the local safety supply store the least expensive one at the local safety supply store

and very flattering I think 😁

Laurie- not sure what your recourse is up there in Canada. If you paid by credit card or check, maybe a stop payment? Cash wouldn’t be easy to get back. Maybe the car is worth more as parts than whole? What a miserable situation! Although I can’t say because something similar happened to me years ago. I learned the hard way to have a mechanic or reliable person join me for looking at used cars.

Oh Laurie :( Oh Laurie :( On the flip side I love the mask and if you could maybe post a quick link to it ? What are you creating in addition to the new doorway?

For sure if you're patient enough to part a low km car you could make more than you paid but…. it is work. To begin with I think that scrap metal has gone up again. I keep forgetting about the rust levels back east… it has been quite long since this was a major concern west of the Rockies! In the late 80's my first own bought car was a Renault "le car" of the "flintstones" variety. I had a nice clear view of the roadway between my seat and the pedals … I suppose just so that I could optionally assist in case of emergency braking needs!!!!

Laurie- is there mechanic school or high school automotive program that might take on Chicky Blue as a semester project? I have several nephews and grand nephews who are car and big equipment mechanics. I remember they would work on volunteer cars as part of training. Of course that won’t be a speedy fix ….

It’s a thought in case your seller is less than cooperative.

I know PAV - I was just being dramatic. :)
She is a unibody :( which I think is a big problem when you got this kind of problem. A lovely, mature Chicky from 2009. Ford Escape XLT. I like your questions, PAV - you made me look at more things. It is just the rear subframe I think. That seems kind of positive - like maybe it can be replaced???????

That's a very interesting idea, Yooly! Tonight the pup and I are watching Thelma and Louise - really LOUD because there are so many fireworks here and they terrify her so I'm trying to drown them out. But the movie is making me feel a bit feisty :) Now I want Jack (the seller) to give me my money back - and to leave Chicky Blue in my care.

Search ford escape 2009 subframe… there is lots of chatter apparently. Including pictures (some of which were sent my way)

For values of safety that you would have to self evaluate, you can apparently stop the rust (cleaning and rust stop painting and similar) as long as you have a good % of the metal left. If you can see through what's left… not much to discuss. And all this assumes that we are not talking about the front.

Front deals with steering. A sudden break of the front would be too likely to result in loss of control for it to be the subject of any discussion. In any case, high speed bumps would not be your friend… (I'm adding the last little bit on my own!)

How could someone with any conscience sell you that? Hope you can work this out!