And a big Merry Christmas to you, too, Peacock.

Ouch, OUCH - RSG - That must have hurt dreadfully. I hope the larger boy apologised profusely!!!

@ telling the male nurse you should have shaved your legs - he probably hadn't noticed until you mentioned it.

Well, I'm in to my Christmas survival eating plan - porridge (oatmeal) for breakfast and Greek Salad and/or fruit planned for lunch depending on how hungry I feel. This evening I'm cooking this with broccoli - should be very windy round here later.

My christmas survival plan is basically enjoy it and don't be too bad. Because I always combine christmas with an actual holiday, where I know that my eating is worse than normal (my mother tries and meals in the house aren't too bad, but eating out can be a nightmare, and we eat out a lot more), I try not to worry about it too much. I've got a half coming up in January and probably another in February, so at least I'll be back into the swing of things when I get back.

Only 3 hours or so at work, then I'm free. I think I've worked out my run home, I live about 4.5 miles away if I run the short route, but I've been trying to pad my route up to around 10 miles (or possibly more if I fancy a detour at the end) so I can get a decent run in before my holidays. Then lunch, come back to the gym to shower and change (yes, I have a shower at home but my clothes will be at the gym from when I take them off between work and the run!), and over to see my grandparents.

I might treat myself to some mulled wine or Baileys tonight. Or maybe both

I don't think I'll get much work done today. I've not really got much left to do, and I've got something I need to sort out for my mum, she wants to complain about a flight that she booked on which has been rescheduled by two days (not a fog issue, it's next September). On the subject of fog, everything's looking good for my flight tomorrow, as far as I know there are no problems at Manchester other than flights to Heathrow etc. I've got my train ticket so I can get over there (and a reserved seat) and I'm all set.

Well, apart from packing, once I've seen how much room I have left in my case once my grandparents have given me another pile of stuff.

Only Heathrow is affected - even luton and Stanstead are fine! I was out that way last night and you couldn't see a thing! Everyone was still driving like a maniac, so I was glad I caught the tube!

I went to M&S yesterday and bought my Chrimbo goodies! I got the last cranberry and orange turkey and a huge tub of luxury custard and some luxury mince pies and some crackers for our Wensleydale and cranberry cheese and I got some real cranberries since they were half price but I don't really know what to do with them... I might have to google some recipes! I also got some Baklava There are TOO MANY calories in it, and I woke up at 4am this morning and ate a piece too

Mr Frus is away in Manchester visiting his Gran, he's not coming back till Saturday and strangely I can't sleep without the snoring bed-hogging lump... You'd think I'd be glad of the peace and the space...

Last day at work here - not 100% sure of the arrangements, but I think we might all go home at lunch, in which case I shall go to the gym

Frus - this is the nicest cranberry recipe that I've ever cooked - and its dead easy.

Baklava - YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

Helen - Good luck with the run but be careful, those pavements are a bit slippery.

I'm just back from a fab walk - I walked with a bloke who has got a beautiful young Dogue de Bordeaux called Arnold whose about the same age as Ellie - it was lovely for Ellie to have someone her own size to hurtle round with. When they ran past together you could feel the earth move! She was exhausted when we got home and now she's flat out on the hall rug snoring her head off.

We're off out this evening to DH's works 'do'. Its arranged by the 'Co-Workers' Social Club' and normally its just for the staff and their other halves - but DH has been invited (he's the only manager so has!) so we're going along for just an hour to say hello and show willing and then stop off for a drink (and maybe a snack) in our favourite country pub on the way home. Trying to think what to wear..... I need to wear something party-ish for the 'do' but the pub is very countryside-ish.

Good morning everyone

Well thank god its Friday its not been the best of weeks. My heating packed up Wednesday night, engineer called yesterday but eldest son sent him away long story!!! Just sat here waiting for him to arrive but the heating miraculously returned last night.

My brother has moved out but this morning my husband was woken to find my brother and his drunken mate in the outhouse. Last night my brother and his mate couldn't get a taxi so they decided to come back to mine. He still has a key anyway came in through the side door and since the door that joins my kitchen is locked and he doesn't have a key they decided in their infinite wisdom to sleep in the outhouse and not bother to bang the door and wake us up, they didn't have a phone between either the big eejits. Consequently this morning my hubby sees someone through the window in the outhouse and thinks someone has broken in for a split second until he realised it is my brother. Hubby says he thinks the big eejits were still drunk. My brother and his mate said they thought they would die with cold. Anyway I sorted them out with hot drinks and food this morning. Hubby says he is glad they didnt make it indoors as they were both so drunk!!! I think thats a bit much but there you go. Lovely to have our house to ourselves again.

Did I mention I have two coldsores they have been at me all week. I got this new cream called Fentisil instead of my usual Zoivrax and it was useless. I would try those little patches they advertise but the sores are on my skin rather than my lips. Anyway I am out tonight and I intend having a good drink
and dance loads.

I have a house full of goodies but I've been really restrained and just weighed myself and I am back to nine stone 7lbs and a bit.

Christmas blessings to you all


Michele

25 minutes to go... I've done no proper work all morning, I've just spent it reading a new case that's vaguely interesting.

The weather is looking good for the run. The pavements don't look too bad outside, and it's nice and bright so fingers crossed it will be OK. I'm currently taking on some energy for it in the form of mince pies and chocolate... I just want to get out there and start running now.

I'm trying to imagine 2 Ellie sized dogs running around, I bet that was worth watching!

Ooh, I just got an email from the woman at Eve saying "hopefully you've seen the magazine", not sure whether that means it's in the shops or that they've posted me a copy - I know at the shoot they had copies of the current issue a week or so before I saw it in the shops, so maybe they've posted them out. If so, fingers crossed that I see it before I go away. I'll look in the shops too just in case, although I'm sure it said 3rd Jan.

Helen - It was WONDERFUL! Arnold and Ellie were running around playing and boxing like the overgrown puppies that they are and it was so nice not to be forever yelling 'GENTLY' because there was no chance of them squashing each other. (My biggest problem with Ellie is her bouncing and jumping around and landing other dogs.)

The pavements outside my house look normal but they have a slight shimmer and are still slippery.

Michele - I'm so glad your heating sorted itself out but I must ask...why on earth did your son send the plumber away???? Your brother sounds a bit of a character! I find the Zovirax helps even when the coldsore has developed - it helps it heal quicker - so it might be worth your while to start using it now. I've bought those patches but I haven't had a coldsore for about a year - actually.... just thinking about it.... I haven't had a coldsore since I started this diet! Strange. (Bet I get that tingle tomorrow!) Anyway - have a good time tonight.

Looking forward to seeing the magazine Helen. You look fantastic in the photos the men will be chasing you madly!!!

Sarah the heating chap came early hubby and I decided to get a bit of lunch in a local pub, literally a couple of minutes in the car left Conor indoors. Now my Conor is hugely academic doing AS level early in History he is 15 but dear god he lacks common sense. The chap arrived and quite rightly said how old are you Conor said I am 15 so the chap says well I can't come in and says do you want to ring your parents they might be nearby, so Conor says ohhh I don't know where they are you had better go derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Anyway
I manged to get today off work and here I am sat waiting for the bloke.

Enjoy your evening also Sarah.

Michele

Ooooooooooooooooh my house is now as warm as toast.

I'm back, it was just over 10 miles in the end. i almost went further, I wasn't tired at the end, I was just hungry i've had a lovely omelette now and back to feeling alive, so time to head back into town for a shower and some grandparent visiting I think!

no magazine behind the door here (although my certificate from berlin was), so I'll have to check the shops while I'm out.

They sent us home early!

I'm pooped though.

I'm going to snuggle up in blankets and pillows and watch Cars, and I might just have to treat myself to a mince pie and Baileys... But I'm a bit full, so maybe I'll save it for later

I'm so happy I don't have to go to work for a while! :

Ooooh you must check - I would brave the cold again and pop to Smith's but it's BONKERS out there! The queue for Waitrose was about 3 miles long to get into the car park! SUCKERS!

Crikey! Just popped to Asda with a friend for a couple of things I'd forgotten - what a BIG mistake THAT was. The store was crazy but at least this time everything was in stock. It was getting out of the car park which caused problems - it took 1hr 22mins from the time on my till receipt to actually driving through the gates in to the road outside. I phoned the store while we were actually still in the car park to complain and they sent out half a dozen young girls in Santa hats who just stood around shivering, smoking and drinking coffee. After nearly an hour of gridlock some of the drivers got out their cars and started directing the traffic!

Well... if I haven't got something now then I'm going to have to manage without it... I always forget something - last year it was loo roll.

We're going to the seaside tomorrow

I nipped into tesco for some fresh pasta sauce after going to the library horrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible but I have to eat so it had to be done. I couldn't survive the festive season without arrabiata sauce.