Morning all, back again. It's just like I never went away. Nothing much has happened since yesterday either.
It was weighand record day this morning and after having a fairly good week and the scale doing a sharp downward turn last week, it is now back up another 500g or 1lb. Seems I can do it during the week but not at the weekend. Somethings gotta give somewhere. I thought I was doing so well too. Still I am down on what I was at the beginning of the challenge. Just have to suck it and see what happens next week I guess.
Mel congrats on the weight loss. What a good bonus. You must be happy with yourself and rightly so.
I would have thought that although a preventive maintenance program is expensive to set up, it saves a heap of money in the long run and as an added bonus alleviates the risk of legal action should someone hurt themselves on something that should have been fixed aeons back.
No Painter, I try to steer clear of Govt work. Although some of the big multinationals could give them a run for their money at times. The multinationals unfortunately or should that be fortunately have shareholders to answer to so they must have deadlines etc. Govts can extend way past the next election, then they don't give a darn because they may not be in power and it is then not their problem. The last Govt job I had, they extended my contract then took 3 weeks of committees to come up with something to fill my time, by which time I had already done it, so back to the drawing board they went. I finally resigned from there. Nothing to do = terminal boredom in my book.
Holly - you sound very busy doing all the pickles and preserves. I love relishes and chutney's but the salt............. aaaah the joys of getting old. Too much salt equals weight gain almost immediately.
Happy - you can have an accordion. I'll take you back up to the Ozarks to buy a Dulcimer if you like and you and DH can practise together.
I'm glad you had a good conversation with the Aunt. It's nice to be able to remember the fun times while she is still here and still functioning. I hope you will be able to speak to her again soon.
Meadow - it's not the money that drives me here on a Sunday. It's the amount of work needing to be done. To that end I have just told one of my people that his production rate is to increase 400%. I don't think he is a happy camper.
for ceejay celebrating a week long birthday. Good job the challenge doesn't start until September.
Gotta go. Duty calls.
I won't even tempt you with cake so here's a birthday smoothie for you - the strawberries are nice and fragrant 
Sorry to hear that you keep getting frustrated with the weight loss efforts. I know how dreadful weekends can be too - not severely off course but just enough to mess up the works. Just hang in there and keep doing the right things. You've probably avoided gaining 20 pounds because you've been so diligent in your efforts thusfar. I know that's not much comfort but, you are still doing the right thing. 
Fortunately people are not cake eaters here. I was able to buy a bag of nice chocolates which made the birthday people happy. 
Exchanged the stuff for DH. Got some dress pants for work for me. Bought a pair of jeans too. My first in a long time. There is nothing flattering about jeans unless you are very tall and slim. I am only tall and slim in my dreams 
I am also on a quest to find a bra that I like. Broke down and got measured today. I guess I am one of the few who is actually wearing the right size. That's pretty sad because I thought I didn't like the fit of much of anything because I was wearing the wrong size. Can't blame that one now. Stupid boobs. When I didn't have any I wanted them. Now that I have them I can't wait until I lose weight and they go away 
But that's nature as DH says. Hummingbirds are one of the most aggressive birds out there. 
on three pounds down!! See, you just think about eating properly and you start to shrink!!
and food porn and 
. 
I'll be back later, have a few things I must get to right now.
Funny - they were there last night... 
JUST SENT JOHN OUT TO GET MORE ICE TEA AND TO BUY 4 NEW TABLES. "THEY FORGOT". 
SEE YA LATER GATORS!
