I hate the cold, and the dark, I'm at work, and looking out over a very dark Salford Quays.

I am doing well. As some know, I have a new boyfriend. No one is more shocked than me!

It's all a bit weird, we met on the bus about a year ago, and we're transport buddies, and things have moved on from there.

He's taking me out to meet his work colleagues tonight, gulp. We're having Indian (yuck) and we're off to a Christening on Sunday, and I get to meet the whole extended family. He's related to nearly everyone in Ramsbottom.

He's got the strongest Northern accent, he should come with subtitles.

He's also gorgeous

Kyk We miss you I miss you everyone misses you.

Congrats Kykaree . I hope things are taking a turn for the better for you now.

I've just got back from shopping on my lunch hour (well, erm, it kinda turned into a lunch hour and a half, oops). We're going to some formal dinner/cocktail awards thing tomorrow night. It promises to be incredibly boring and stale however, I'm going to be getting glammed up and get to wear this lovely dress I bought in the summer. It's a deep peacock purple jersey wrap dress which falls to the knee and has sleeves that go just past the elbow. I've bought some lovely silver strappy heels and a sparkly silver clutch to go with it. I also finally invested in some Bobbi Brown makeup. Infact, whilst picking it out I got a mini makeover too and the girl did a fantastic job. The last time I got one done I went to Clinique and came out looking like a circus clown whore (get that image round your head!).

So, I'm very excited about getting glammed up tomorrow evening, even if I do have to spend it in the company of various military and govt people (my husband works in missile defense zzzzzzzzzzzz).

Three hours till home, I envy those of you back home who have already said goodbye to their work week!!

the dress and outfit sounds yummy. I wore a prom dress back in summer that was a very peacock teal. it was yummy.
i had a job interview today, turned up at the wrong store (youd think getting a call from the store u handed in the application for would mean you have an interview there ) apparently not, so i ended up walking halfway across town to my interview, turned up late, then i waited 20 mins, to get in and find a very hot guy interviewing, and first thing he said, right your here for the 20hour replenishing job? and i was like.....NO i wasnt told what housrs u#you needed just apparently the wrong building....GAH
so no job. but i looked good in my new black trousers and a black shirt with heels sturting through town LOL, when i came out of my interview, the shop was playing, bad my m jackson, so i strutted out head held hiugh......
WHERE AM I GONNA WORK :-(

Lynne, your outfit sounds very glam, hope you enjoy yourself at your function tomorrow..

Kyk, nice to have you back, like Veggie said, we do miss you. Sounds like you're getting back on track, good for you. Hope you're more settled now

Free, sounds like a right cock up, but at least you felt and looked good... you'll find what you want soon enough

It's still feeling mighty cold here even though the sun is out, there's def a Nov chill going on. I lit the fire early, and it's been going very nicely ever since, so it's all cosy indoors.

Sarah, please tell me you take your cell phone when your traipsing over the moors with frozen peat and such.... you've got me worried.

Hannah's car is parked outside and even though we had a frost this morning, which wasn't a really heavy one, her car was covered in ice, being the nice Mum that I am, I went out and started it up early for her to clear it all off. Supposed to be colder tonight, so she will be doing it again tomorrow if she needs to go out somewhere.

Don't know what we're doing for dinner, I need to do a veggie run this weekend, and I don't want to cook... Dave is putting the plastic on the windows, so I don't think he'll be offering, it might have to be take out

Afternoon all.

Just got finished raking leaves. Good exercise I think. Lots to do tomorrow as well.

Well Chris I went back and listened to see what they said about the sex. Didn't really make it clear. I did hear him say as long as you were getting sleep it was OK.

Pizza night tonight. Have extra points saved up.

Bought some breath strips today. I'lll let you all know if they curb my appetite

Toys - sorry to hear about your interview, sounds like a right balls up. Persistence pays off though and I know you will find something right for you.

BritinNJ - it is freezing here too, 30 this morning my car was frozen up!

Clydegirl - I should rake some leaves in my garden too, but it's a bit on the large side so I think I'll just let them compost themselves where they fell .

I'm making a nice meal for dinner, one of my "mess in a pan" dishes. Sounds nasty but I've got some leftover ground venison which I'm going to cook in a skillet with some onions and garlic, then add a can of baked beans, half a can of tomato paste and maybe a splash of bbq sauce. It's yummy comfort food and even though the baked beans aren't great for you, I'm using a small can so the damage will be small. I'll serve it with steamed broccoli. Perfect for cold weather.

Lynne your "mess in a pan" sounds good. When it's cold there's nothing better than comfort food.

That's my excuse... I've just been down to the bonfire and fireworks in Roundhay Park and worked my way through a toffee apple and some bonfire toffee. At least there was some fruit involved

I did get a decent walk out of it too.

Oooooooo, bonfire night, I used to love going as a kid and my kids loved it when we lived there too...nothing like that over here, but of course they don't have Guy Fawkes, so that's why

Lynne, your dinner sounds very nice, don't know about the venison though, can't bring myself to eat it...beans my have a high sugar content, but at least they have high fibre too, so it evens itself out

CG... more leaves? It's a good workout, I'm going to have to tackle ours on the ground this weekend, and then of course the others will all fall off and we'll start all over again, 14 bloody trees in one front garden... I ask ya!

Have been naughty tonight, it was take out, chinese, and it was lovely, bang on head, kick in the bum from someone please.... will be super good tomorrow though

Time to settle down with the family and dogs and watch the fire and telly.

Chris did you figure out your points? Remember you have those flex points you can use. Don't beat yourself up. A new day tomorrow.

We had pizza, probably had too much. Figured out my points - 20. Oh well nothing tonight except water and tea.

Oh I was OVER the points, believe me... but I won't beat myself up to badly, like you say, tomorrow is another day.... and I will be going to curves first thing and then the garden should work off a few points as well... time for bed said Zebadee.....night all.

Morning! Its a gorgeous sunny day here - cold, but not so frosty as yesterday.

Hi, Kylie We miss you. I hope everything goes well on Sunday.

Chris - yes, I always take a mobile phone with me (wrapped up in a plastic bag because my last one drowned in my pocket when it rained hard!) I haven't gotten lost on the Moor since last winter but the fog comes down very quickly sometimes. I'm not too worried about the bogs and such anymore - they're okay if you just start running as soon as you feel yourself starting to sink.

Lynne - your mess in a pan sounds lovely. (I've written the recipe down.)

Venison is nice - very lean and low in cholesterol and calories - we get given it when they cull on the Moors. Yes... I know.... I love seeing the deer and it seems strange that I'd eat the meat but English Nature rangers tell us that culling is essential otherwise all the males would injure or kill each other and they don't have a natural predator on the Moor. The rangers won't (can't?) sell the meat and they consider it morally wrong that an animal loses its life to no purpose so they prefer that its eaten - they share it out between those rangers and volunteers who aren't veggie.

We had that sweet potato and chickpea stew again last night (leftovers from Thursday night - I've frozen the rest). This time, because the stew was already made, I thought I'd make some wholemeal bread to go with it - and it turned out like a house brick. Never again. I just can't make bread.

We're going to a fireworks display tomorrow evening and in with the price of our ticket is a bon-fire supper of sausages, jacket potatoes and beans. TBH I've just about had enough of fireworks - the local kids have been driving us nuts with setting off random fireworks virtually every evening for the last two weeks. George is okay but Fred is a nervous dog and used to get really upset. We tried to make him feel better about it by giving him (and George) a doggie choc drop each time there was a loud bang and now Fred just goes and fetches the bag when the fireworks start - so I suppose it worked! I think I'll still give him a tranquilliser when we go out tomorrow evening though.

Chris... as requested.... (I haven't had Chinese for years .... )

I've finally forced myself to go out for a run this morning, it felt very hard and I don't think I'm quite right yet, but at least I got out there and did something. Today I'm going to attempt some cleaning and tidying, and washing before my holiday. Tomorrow I'm doing a 10 mile race and going out for lunch with running club people once I've finished. I might struggle in the pub though, the thought of alcohol still turns my stomach, which is most unusual!

Sending best wishes to 2Frus today.

Bet you're really excited about your hols YP.

I set my target of 10 1/2 stone as it's a stone lighter than I was on my wedding day (8 1/2 years and 4 births ago) and I felt I was a bit too big then. I'm now 11st 6lbs so counting down that final stone, I got to 11st3lbs last year before the IVF for my latest surrogate baby, she's 4 months old on Tuesday so I'm happy with progress.

I find it scary how many websites suggest I ought to be about 135lbs (9st 9lbs) - that's 25lbs more to lose and I'm already a size 12 in about half the clothes I try so that's make me about a size 8 at 5'7" - I think being that thin would affect my fertility and I need that!