Quite possibly - or did she enquire after the person who sang it. So there is another of our little bunch with a problem or two. Wish she would come back and let us know how she is getting on.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shad
[B], as teel said, when one door is slammed in your face, another window of opportunity arises.

:D Goodness me! Did I really say that? It seams rather too sensible for me to even think along those lines...heee heeee!!!:lol:
Oh and I think it was Gloria Gaynor who sang "I Will Survive".:encore: :encore: :yes: :yes: :yes:

Where is Annie?Has anybody heard from her at all recently....:( :no: :no: :mag:

I am now off to town to get weighed...mmmmmn.See you all later!

Dunno, teel, I thought it was Donna Summer, but then music and I should not be thought of in the same sentence. You're the musical bunny among us!

It was Gloria Gaynor who recorded the song "I will survive".

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I was trying to do my Fly Lady thing cleaning up the house, getting laundry done, buying groceries and cooking and then I had homework. I was trying to participate in an online chat to finalize one of our class assignments and DH was rolling his eyes because he's got a new toy and he wanted me to help him. Too bad I didn't have 2 heads and 8 arms.

He found this neat software that allows you to drop your pictures into what looks like a photo album. You can change the background pages, add text and pictures and even play background music. I think you'd really like it Shad. It's very cool. He's arranged the family pictures we brought back when we went out east and wanted help with graphics and music. It really came out nice and he's going to make a CD for each of his siblings and give it to them for Christmas. So I stopped what I was doing and helped him. Then he went to bed and I was up until 2am finishing up my stuff.

Tonight I'm back again doing homework and he rambles in here. He's watching the football game and now he wants me to build him a website so he can start a business scanning photos and arranging them into albums or just providing digital copies from prints. It is no short task to create a website. He's trying to pout with me so I will help him but I told him I just can't right now with all this homework. And with the added pressure of what's going on at work I'm about to explode from stress and lack of sleep. I just can't feel guilty, I can't. Gotta do what I have to do and hope the others understand that I can't be everything to everyone.

Ok, sigh, deep breath. I'm better now. I am sneaking in a few minutes to post and then back to the books again. Can't have DH walking in here when I'm posting after I said I was too busy to help him :devil: :o

I hope you all are having a better day today, especially because at this time, you are all about to start your Tuesday. Lovely charms to all of us today and let me win the $150 million dollar lottery tomorrow, ok? I will share....

Shaker, do hope we have not lost you like Annie and Leuelu. Would love to hear from both of you again. In the words of another disco queen - "Don't leave me this way...."

Poor happy, you really are having a hard time of it aren't you. You are right though, you can not be everything to everyone. You have already taken on more 'children' with the class group. Sounds like you are more than just the leader and the rest are swinging on your drive and knowledge.
The job will do what the job will do. It's a worry but honey it is out of your hands, your stressing and pressuring yourself will not help. Just do your job the very best you can and forget about what lies in the background. Easy for me to say - hard for you to do, but for your own sanity you have to let it be. It is not your decision to make!
I think I have seen a prototype of DH's new program. They do look good when finished and you can put some really yummy music to the slideshow. What a cool idea. However, if he wants a website, do a quick plan and cost it out, that should fix the I want it now bit. He either gets it now and pays for it, or he waits for the discount!!! Life's not fair, get used to it. You can not neglect the paying jobs for the freebies - that's business and if he is going to have his own e-business, he better get used to the idea.
Teel, little buddy, how did the weigh in go?
I'm going to the theatre tomorrow night. I got a couple of freebie tickets to a show which (wait for it) is about a rugby union game between the All Blacks (NZ team) and Bunratty Social Club (Ireland). It is based on a true story about the time (back in '78) that the Irish beat the New Zealanders at rugby. It was a shock defeat let me tell you. Anyway the show should have some good lines in it since the main actors will be playing either an Irishman or a Maori. I do have two tickets so if either of you want to come along, just get on down here!
Best go, I'm trying to upload some Irish pictures onto the website and then will have a go at Canada and US. I'm also trying to do the ironing and file away a stack of papers which should have been filed yonks back. See you later. Chin up.

Well someone else won the $150 million dollar lottery so I guess God wants me to figure out my own problems. :( But I did wake up alive and kicking this morning and that's always a good sign.

I have been released from my podiatrist and physical therapy. Foot is 90% better, just a tender spot and I know the things I have to do to get things to 100%.

Had a talk with one of my teammates at work today. She said some nice things about me, made me feel good and I had quite a productive day. :D Also tonight I picked up the phone and called a dear friend I haven't heard from in months. She had some good news and we had a nice long chat. I really enjoyed it. To heck with the homework for one night. And I was able to sort out some papers and put some things into the mail that needed sending out while I was chatting. 2 tasks at once.

DH's new program crashed so that buys me some time to avoid having to build him a website. (thank you Lord for small favors) :o

Shad, hope you have a great time at the movie tonight. It sounds like the exciting, feel good kind of movie that is just what you need for relaxation and entertainment. Hope you cheer along with the crowd!

Hope you did well at the weigh in Teel. If not, consider it the upcoming week's personal challenge. I will try to be good also and we can all cheer each other on.

The theatre was excellent even if I did go by myself because the friend I thought would go with me decided not to go at the last moment. Oh well I still enjoyed it. Fairly thin sort of a story line but some of the gags were funny and the exaggerated Kiwi and Irish accents were hilarious and even funnier once you worked out what they said. Only 4 actors in it in all and they all did very well. Well worth going to and even better for being free. However you could have knocked me down with feather when the man said $7 for parking!!!! 3 hours??? Still I would rather pay that and be able to walk to and from the carpark in safety than park in some dark alley and have to be prepared to run and/or defend myself from some jerk on the street.
Gee you sound happier happy. It's so good to ring and chat with old friends from time to time. They are always such a blessing. Ooooh what happened to the DH program. Was this his new one for photos???? Oooooh bet he is stomping around saying the odd thing or two? He might have been right when he said that he would send me a cd when he got it all today (if we are both still alive at that time)!!!!
Well it is now way past my bedtime. The dog is coming and going out the door. Always happens when I sit at the computer. Doesn't matter that the door at the other end of the house is open of course - uh huh Mum get up, open the door. Cat is good at it too!!!
So I had best go see if I can stay awake long enough for a short journal entry. Journalling my food for the day seems to help me I think.

Hi girls!!!Sorry to have been awol for a few days...I seem to be having a lot of problems getting onto the net. I wanted to get on after my weigh-in on Monday, to rant and rave and send you a non-too cryptic message that went something like this:

:shrug: :sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :rollpin:

Yes you have guessed it. After being very good and even feeling thinner...I have not lost a single pound of the 5 I put on after my steroid injection.I am gutted but someone reminded me that I have had to snack in the middle of the night for 5 nights in 14 'cos of hypo-ing.I am gutted all the same. I hope things are better in that direction for you guys, although Happy dear, you seem to be going through a really rough time at the moment. I think a good old :grouphug: should be booked in for everyone's welfare.
Mum and dad are coming on Sunday for a few days...until Wednesday.....quite long enough.....I haven't seen them for a couple of months and I sincerely hope I don't have a "discussion" with father like I did last time!!!:bomb: Better get the sellotape :tape: out ready!!!:devil: :stress: :foot:
Glad you enjoyed the theatre, Shad.Strange sort of story line, as you say. I just can't imagine a maori/Irish accent though!!

Well I had better keep this short and sweet tonight. Besides having nothing to say, I have used up my smilie allocation on sumo stomps and you know I cannot possibly post without a couple of dozen little things running up and down the page!!
Ta ta for now....take care and be safe everyone.
Love from Teel xx

Hello again. Sorry Shad, you did say Theatre, didn't you. As in play not movie. Sounds entertaining none the less. Glad you had a good time. I really have to get back to your site and check on your pictures.

I had a pretty decent day today. Drummed myself up some more work, got my performance review today. Raises are on hold for the time being but my review was good. I am loved.
:dance: Not a bad thing.

Teel, so it's time for a visit with the parents again? Hope this exceeds your expectations and is a sunny enjoyable visit lasting just the right amount of time. Were you able to work with your dietician and find some happy medium for keeping the blood sugar stable?

I'm off to bed now, keep smiling - makes people wonder what you're up to :D :D :D

:lol: :D Hi all!Happy thank you for your last sentance,it mad me laugh!
How are things going in your neck of the woods now? I hope things are calming down a lot:cool:

I heard my first Christmas song in a shop yesterday....bleh!!Coo its only just October for goodness sake.:mad:
Today is a really gray Autumnal day and does not inspire anyone to go anywhere or do anything. Besides which I didn't get to sleep till about 02:30 so I feel like a flagging lettuce leaf that has been left in the bunny rabbit cage for a fortnight....I never did take to lettuce .Yeugh!
:dancer: well done on your appraisal, pity no pay rise but perhaps your fears of being made redundant are much less to the fore after your good praises.Hang on in there..... :smug:

Hiya all,
Just a quick hello because I am going to bed early. I'm tired. Guess too much of burning the candle at both ends and I'm not as youthful as I was!
Finished the class today with good accolades all around. Apparently I did okay according to one of my students who gave me a selection of cheeses and some crackers. She had overheard me saying to someone that I don't eat chocolate often so decided on the cheeses. Lovely thought, deadly results. However we are having a morning tea at work tomorrow and we will all have a bit or two there along with the birthday cake.
Okay, I'll be back tomorrow with some more scintillating stories. Happy, I am sorry you did not win that lotto. Now wouldn't that have been nice!!!
Yeah, that's a good saying of happy's. Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to! I have always liked that one!!

OOOh cheeses!!!Lovely and what a kind thought if, as you say, rather deadly but never mind, they are supposed to mature with age..(or is that wine) so you could have a nibble a day?:devil: :yes: :cheese: :cheers: but no, not as one of these... :cbg: !

Sleep well Shad. Summer is on its way.....:flow2: :dancer: :flow2: :dancer:

love from Teelxx

We were just at the bottom of page one and I thought I'd have a new image for autumn....a sheep instead of a butterfly....is there some deep psychological meaning in that?? :lol: :lol:

Teel is the sheep for BAHHHHH winter is coming or "time to pull out the woolies"? We've had a very cool autumn and a rather cool summer too (except for Shad's visit). Hope that's not a sign of a bad winter coming on us. The new furnace works quite well. We are able to keep the thermostat at a lower temperature than before and we are quite comfortable. We also got our telephone bill from the last 6 weeks when we were making many, many long distance calls to the rellies. I am glad I forced DH to use the calling plan we have - you have to dial 10 extra numbers but it's only 5 cents a minute. I was quite amazed at how little the bill actually was - thought we'd have to refinance the house to pay for it. Now, if we could have only gotten such a deal for the rest of our trip!

I have done quite well the last 2 days getting back on track with food, water and exercise. I did 40 minutes on the treadmill tonight because I had some good music on and was enjoying it. But my foot is saying, stick with 30 minutes for the time being.

And it's way past my bedtime so Happy Friday and Happy Birthday to my beloved Seester Smeester little sister.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Seester Smester little sister
Happy Birthday to you.

Oh no not the winter woollies. Oh thats not a sheep, thats Holly after her morning walk in the mud puddles.

Glad to hear that you are getting back on track happy. Better 30 minutes than none at all. I'm still doing my gentle exercises in the mornings but lately I haven't been able to walk much apart from taking the dog down to the park. So next week in Cairns I hope to fix all that. I will be about 5 blocks from the Esplanade and across the road is a large park. I should be able to take a brisk walk in one of those directions. There is also a swimming pool at the complex so I can swim as well.
I'm looking forward to the fruit up there again. It's coming into Mango season. Yeehaa.
Finished work early today and got my corporate card all up to date so am feeling virtuous. That card worries the life out of me. I collect all the receipts like they were precious gold. Hoard them until I get the statement and then staple the receipts to the statement, fill in the form as fast as possible and get rid of the thing. I really didn't want it in the first place but the company insisted I have one. Phooey. Blasted thing is more trouble than driving in USA.
Okay, best get off here and look at the list for the weekend. I need to be out of here by 2 on Sunday, there is heaps to be done yet. Catch up later.

Hi all,
Up to my eyeballs in the homework tonight. Have to go to the college tomorrow to do my lab experiments.

With the cold, dry air setting in - static electricity is in the air and I'm a magnet for it. So I'm already crackling here, perfect for a day at the labs.

Will get back to your tomorrow...

Hello..kiwi annie coming at ya with a big GIDDAY

Not much happening in my neck of the woods...DH is back from his business trip and maybe absense makes the heart grow fonder cos he had definitely been in a better mood since he got back..kinda squashed his hankerings for returnng to NZ too..must have been the rain and the wind and the fog and the dampness or maybe it was the MIL - im sure you guys remember that evil chick!!

So i am happily plodding along..have been through a difficult time lately..just the stresses of life getting on top of me..but have managed to sort myself out witha little help from Dr Phil and his book Self Matters..a truly inspiring book for taking a look at yourself and giving yourself priority in your life...(not that i am selling it of course..but it helped me).

We have had some warm sunny days here but just to remind us its not summer yet we have gone back to a few cool ones..its a long weekend here and the school holidays too. We went to a ten pin bowling birthday party for a couple of kids and the boys enjoyed that..tomorow there is an open day at the naval base and the boys and DH are keen on that..am not exactly keen as you may anticipate but will tag along for the ride..i think..maybe i could get dropped off at local shops instead...hmmmm.

Anyway, must be off am half way through cooking dinner..stick together and stay cool..love you all..annie!!

How nice to hear from Annie and back from the brink too, so to speak. You ought to go on the boats Annie, then you can sit in a corner and ogle the lads! Good pastime. Doesn't always hurt to let the DH see you doing it either.
I have actually heard good comments about that book Annie, it seems very popular - will check it out at the bookshop in the airport tonight.
Now we need Shaker, Leuelu and Noah back here to make our lives complete again. Actually still I have Leuelu's email address, I might just give her a blast from the past one of these days.
Still have a lot to do to get ready for today and tomorrow :stress: :eek: :faint:, so I will catch you all from sunny Cairns manana, domani, a demain - tomorrow anyway.

Annie! How wonderful to hear from you! No evil MIL stories? Glad to hear that DH has calmed down (for the moment at least). And thanks for the recommendation on Dr. Phil. I personally find him annoying but if I ever have time to read a book for pleasure again, I will check it out.

Shad, Cairns looks lovely from your pic. Hope you have a nice time after work hours and don't overdose on the new mango crop.

I saw some lovely recipes from the Black Swan Wine website. Too bad I don't have Quandong, Warrigal Greens and Mountain Pepper in my kitchen. :T They did suggest substitutes for us on the other side of the ocean, but I'm not sure it would come out the same.

Teel, hope you have not posted because you are busy catching up with sleep (counting sheep perhaps?) instead. :faint: :faint: :faint: Pleasant dreams...

I tell you this schooling is something else. Spent all last night and today (Saturday) on nothing but school, school, school. October 19th starts another class. Both go until December 19. I am then signed up for another class that starts December 22. Who in the devil starts a class 3 days before Christmas????? That class will overlap into the end of January when the spring semester of college starts. 2 more college classes though and I will get my Web Development Certificate. Won't I feel the fancy one? Not really, just the tired one.

But... when I moan about this work, I think about how they carried true at work about cut backs. 4 people were laid off from my office this week. I'm sure if they had the chance, they'd go to school and keep their jobs. So I will not complain and will study and learn like a good employee.

I did start out the week better with diet and exercise and water. That was until last night when I got very busy with other things and my other good plans got laid aside. I think that's what bothers me most.

DH's problem with his software program has escalated to new heights. Replaced the video card in the PC, installed a new operating system and now he needs a bigger hard drive. He must REALLY like this picture book software to go through so much trouble to get it to work. Of course he leans over and keeps telling me about what he's doing - like I really understand or care at the moment, especially when I'm trying to take an online test for my class!

I shouldn't complain though. While I was at school today, he pulled out the tomato plants, cut down all the spent summer flowers and did alot of yard work that needed to be done before the first frost hits. He also did some work on the bathroom paneling.

The leaves are starting to turn here. In about 2 weeks if the weather cooperaties, we should have a lovely autumn color show. I'm hoping to get a bit ahead of my work so that we can take a weekend off in 2 weeks and take an overnight drive up north to admire the trees.

KIWI-ANNIE!!! Good to have you in our ranks again AND in home territory..
this post is a quickie.Mum an dad are coming to stay for a few days in about 1hrs time so I may be rather absent from the site.I'll get on when I can though.

Be good and wrap up warm..I wonder if anyone mkes wellies for dogs?????:lol: :lol:

:devil: :D :spin: :stress: :flow2: :dancer: :hyper: :hyper: :twirly: :drill: :grouphug:

Hello from Cairns.
Well here we are again back in the tropics and off course it has decided to be overcast warm and steamy although there is a bit of a breeze blowing as well.
Went for a walk this morning through the old pioneer cemetery and over the railway line and down a couple of blocks. There was a wee creek down there all covered in lily pads and wading in the creek were 2 white herons. It was very pretty and very peaceful. I'll have to wander back and see if I can get a photo of it for you all.
Class went reasonably well today. One not so good, but she will prevail (that 4x2 may come in handy) but we will get her over the line!
Well best go get a short journal entry in and I'll see you all tomorrow.

:D Hi everyone, seems very quiet here today...perhaps everyone has joined Shad in Cairns and you are all paddling in the water lilly pond....this is just a quick post 'cos mum and dad are here and I haven't got much to say...:lol:
mum and dad have bought me an early Christmas pressie...a slo-cooker and I tried it out today, cooking a sausage casserole in it for dinner:ink: it was SO nice to come back from town and have the house smelling of sausage casserole all ready cooked and NOT burnt to a crisp which is how my sausages usually end up.:devil:
Mum and dad are all free of cold now so can now have their flu jabs..:(
I have just realised that at 12:30hrs on the 07.10.03, I will have been posting on this site for a whole year, give or take a few months awol in Chelmsford:angel: :bravo: :cp: :cb: and I feel very honoured to have made so many cyber friends in that time...here's to another year :balloons: :encore: :cheers: :comp:thanks to everyone for all the well-needed support...please don't stop now!!!

Night night from England
:bubbles: :bubbles: :bubbles:

Jeez teel and I thought that the folks were staying for a couple of days too!
Have you been around that long????!!!! Someways it feels like forever and others it doesn't seem very long at all. At lot has happened since then hasn't it?

Teel, hope you are enjoying your visit with the germ free parents. The slow cooker sounds wonderful. There's all sorts of websites with lots of recipes and now that it's cooler, the smells of something tasty cooking in the kitchen (and not burning) is very pleasant indeed. I made an Italian chicken dish tonight along with a pot of soup to take to work for our group luncheon tomorrow and a nice loaf of home baked bread. The kitchen smelled divine! :T :love:

It's been sweater weather during the day and 2 blanket weather at night but it's supposed to warm up tomorrow and be in the mid 70's (21c) all week long. Yippee - it's that long awaited last week of beautiful weather we usually get that makes you feel so glorious! I'll be outside as much as I can taking it all in.

Our town is going crazy at the moment. One of our baseball teams made the playoffs last night. Haven't come this far since 1908 so it's been a long wait. Go Cubbies!!! They have one more team to beat to get into the championship game but we have one of the most loyal, optimistic insane fan groups in the entire country. It's a rousing time to be in this city. Last night when they clinched their spot in the playoffs, you could hear cheering and fireworks all around. Even I got deterred from my usual stuff to watch the game.

Shad I am soooooooo very jealous that you can go for a nice swim after your classes. Cairns sounds wonderful... Enjoy!!!!

Umm didn't exactly go for a swim last night. Had a bit of a stroll around the new harbourfront and shhhh an icecream.....shhhh. But tonight will be in the pool for sure as the other trainer is going to the movies and so is getting something for his tea himself. I hold the corporate card you see.
Class is going quite well and am seeing a couple of light bulbs being turned on here and there. Tomorrow one of the project guys is bringing in a quote he has had to prepare for 56 units on the old system. We are going to see what happens to the same quote on the new system. Should be a test of ingenuity to ensure he really appreciates the benefits of the new one.
Anyway time to off again. I need to go buy some fruit for my snacks. Mangoes mangoes mangoes!!!!!

Howd y'all
Shad, Cairns sounds good..i keep forgeting about the sunny queensland weather and how you can nearly swim all year round!!..down her in New South Wales its not quite so toasty and we have actually had a little rain these last few days whch sure helps withthe water shortages and fire hazard danger..god bless australia..it is such a hard old place to live in..full of extremes..but i guess that seems to be a sign of the times..extreme weather patterns all over the world these days.

Its school hols at the mo but i have only beem able to have a few days off as very busy at work at the moment..its our first quarterly review and this new computer system is proving that peple can do so many quirky and exasperating things...plus our new reports need to be flushed down the loo and started again. In fact i am not sure that we should even contaminate the sewerage system with them..excuse me.

Am cooking DH a hot beef vindaloo for dinner..well one of those sauces and you just add meat and veges (shaker i am sure you have used them as you are about as skilled in the kitchen as me) except problem is every time i have a little taste to see if the meat is getting tender i have to drink a pint of water.is too spicy for me..annies lips are on fire..plus have to keep rushing to loo..hee hee..not helping for water shortage either..maybe Sydney water should ban all spicy food and that would save o water consumption.

Any way chickies..must go..will test the vindaloooooo on one of the kids..hee hee..evil annie..bye babes...Annie-on-fire.

Yo everyone!!And a special hello to our recently returned KIWI-ANNIE!!!! nICE TO CATCH UP (OH :censored: capital button!)
Shad how are you doing in Cairns? :cool: must be great to poop in for a swim on your way "home" after class....are there one or two students you would like to shove in before you test the waters?:devil: :lol: Now tell all..what size and flavour was the icecream??:T
The slo-ccoker is just marvelous:encore: it is so amazing what you can turn out of one. Apparently you can bake a cake!!!Haven't got to that page yet. I think I want to make a really yummy thick soup in it for lunches as it seems to be getting quite windy now and too cold for cereal. And no I have not re-weighed yet but I have this feeling that I will be renewing my "vows" in the near future :lol: :comp: :comp:
How are you all doing with your scale relationships?Mum took my photo on my camera today, all polished and tidy(!!!) for going out to a carvery for lunch. It hopefully will show a difference a year has made as my last piccie I posted on the pictures thread was taken 51 weeks ago in Derbyshire on a wet, windy day and I was all bundled up in my fleece....:rain:
The elders have returned home hopefully with inspiration in mum to use her new slo-cookpot also, watching me chuck in sausages, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a tin of baked beans and an onion and seasoning, go out and not lift the lid even for a milli-second but to return home to a super meal all ready to eat I hope has upped her confidence a mountain or so!!!It certainly made their visit this time FAR less exhausting than at any time previous.So I have slept very well during their stay....only tonight I can't switch off...hence the :comp::hyper: :comp::hyper:
Oh well I guess that's all for now.....so bye bye from the North :lol: :lol:

Hello again.

Great to see Annie posting again. Yes we are swimming up here every night. Teel, the swimming pool is in the back yard, don't need to go anywhere except in. Last course there was one student I would have cheerfully watched go under twice and come up once.
Tonight we are thinking of Indian for dinner. Will have to be real careful with that one.
My shhhhhh Icecream was a double decker. One of the flavours was lo fat (Irish delite) but the other was a full on wickedly creamy double double chocolate mud and I enjoyed every second of it.
Those slow cookers are great! I've had one for a long while. I also gave one to my mum years back (my sister has it now). Mum made an ox-tail soup in it and forgot about it for three days! When she finally figured out it was still there, the bones had all disintegrated and the soup was smooth as silk. Dad thought it was the best soup ever!!! Mum was delighted, because she told him it was a slow cooker and needed three days to develop! Didn't have to let on about the shady memory you see.
Okay, the driver is 'patiently' (not) waiting for me. Gotta go. Will be back

As I suspected,mum hasn't even got hers out of the box yet!!:dizzy: :p :lol: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :no: :no: :no:

However I was talking on the pkone to a freind earlier this evening and have convinced her that it would take some of the stress out of her life to bung a load of ingredients in the pot, turn it on and then ignore it for the next 8 hours or so....:idea: :yes: :yes: :yes: :bravo: :dancer:

I have been over-eating again.I MUST stop this slip to self destruction :rollpin: :rollpin:

Hey girls,
Sorry I haven't posted though been thinking of you. It's been a really, really hectic week with both school and work and unexpected things happening that mess up your otherwise careful plans. And I just found out my mom is coming to spend the night on Sunday so on top of all of this I have to clean the house for company too. My mom's a real sweetie and actually she would clean the house for me but I can't let her do that. I am trying to get ahead of myself so we can have a nice visit Sunday night since I talk to her all the time but don't get to see her as much as I'd like.

Teel you've got me thinking about dusting off the slow cooker again. We had a nice break in the weather this week but it's supposed to rain over the weekend and turn much cooler again. A kitchen filled with warm smells of tasty dinners sounds wonderful. Especially the no fuss kind of meals.

Annie and her famous vindaloo - sure have missed your wit. Have you saved the fire bucket I sent you from the hot cross buns incident? Might want to drag it and the fire hose out again.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Shad sounds like you are really committed with the exercise program now. When did you start Pilates? Have a lap in the pool for me too, will you?

I may not be able to get back here until Monday, if not have yourselves a very enjoyable weekend!!!

I haven't really started pilates. I was reading about some exercises in the local sunday paper and I decided to try them out. They come from pilates classes. I have incorporated them in with some exercises from Richard Simmons that I have remembered from way back when and add to those as I find myself getting bored or they get too easy. Most places I stay at don't have video machines so I can't take my tapes away with me. I tend to do about 20 mins to 1/2 hour exercising and then go out for a walk for another 20 - 30 minutes. I find because of this stupid knee, I can no longer walk at speeds which get the cardio moving along so I have to compensate with other things. Sometimes getting old is not much fun. The knee seems to really act up in the tropical climate. No idea why, I don't have this much problem at home!
Seems everyone is on the slow cooker bandwagon. I may just go get mine out when I get home. Does chicken bits nicely and beef bits and lamb bits. All sorts of bits actually.
Time to move on and finish the rest of my mail. I am using the Internet cafes again so have a limited time on line.
Look after yourselves. Teel, watch that cooker. It turns out stuff so good that you will be overeating!!!

Hello from Suffolk in the very early hours of the morning....or very late Saturday night!!

I did something rather stupid today...(moi??stupid??surely not possible!!):lol: :devil: :(
I have found that the reception for my mobile phone has been terrible lately and have finally found the bestest spot in the whole bungalow that I can use it. This happens to be in the middle of the floor to ceiling lounge window. You can sit or stand, but looooooong conversations need a sitting position...I pulled out the smallest of the nest of tables from easy reach and gingerley placed my gluteus maximus times two upon it. Fine....what a brave girl!! Disaster happened when Holly who had been barking at EVERYTHING all day so far,:rolleyes: :nono: :rolleyes: walked past me to get to a better barking position and I over-reached...and.. :nono: ..fell off the table!!!!:p :dizzy: It would have been quite a delicate landing for any normal accident waiting to happen, but as I went over and down I crunched my skull on the corner of the television table..:eek: .OWWW!!! And now I have felt rather nauseous ever since and feel like I may have a few bruises by the morning.Trouble is a fall of any magnitude can do quite a lot of damage to all those bits that are already rebelling and tonight I feel very stiff and achey. And so I am awake!Ha ha, at least this time I have a bona fide excuse!!!:s:
And on that painful end, I will go back to bed!!!!:yes: :yes:

Oh by the way...the table was unscathed.... :sumo: :sumo:

What????
No-one been to visit here in 14 hours.......it must be the weekend!!
Hop everyone is alright and op.

....:D :drill: :yes: :comp: :gossip: :sunny: :write: :write: :write: :cheers:


p.s. I have still got a :headache: after falling off the table yesterday...:sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :sumo: :rolleyes:

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Read your entry yesterday Teely, however the computer up in Yungaburra is so slow I decided not to waste my time or effort on trying to reply. Anyway I was laughing so hard I nearly fell off my chair.
It really is not funny because you could have damaged yourself quite badly and it seems you may have done because you still have the headache. Best get yourself seen to young lady in case you have concussion!
Happy is probably having a good chin wag with Mum and her DH will be producing bacon and scrambled eggs!! He's one of the few people in USA who can cook reasonable bacon! Bond Place in Toronto cooked it until it was crisp, then went back for a second go in case it was not black enough yet!!! Phoenix was similar. Waste of good bacon I say. Must say though their ham with eggs was much better!!!
Back at work for another 4 days. Go home Thursday night and am looking forward to that. Have several things to do on the Friday.
Went shopping on Saturday and have bought myself a Sari type red and black long wrap around skirt and a short red and gold one (very Chinese design) along with a red top which doesn't (even if I say so myself) look too bad although I think I will have to get a red bra to wear underneath (or maybe skin colour???) Then I picked up some three quarter length green pants and a matching green and white striped top because I forgot to pack some good casual walking clothes and only have my exercise stuff. Silly me. Don't really need any new clothes.
Yesterday I went to the botanical gardens and to the Atherton Tablelands. It is pretty up there but very dry at the moment. NO MANGOES for sale. Very disappointing. I did however see some wonderful opal rings at Yungaburra. Too pricey for the budget but I am allowed to drool right? This guy is heading to the States with these rings to sell over there. Watch out happy!!!!! He is in Chicago at some stage - can't remember exactly when!!

Hmmm, hope teel is ok with her headache. I know happy will be catching up on school, home and work after a weekend with Mum. Annie, back you come and bring Shaker in with you. What has happened to dear old Shaker. Has she achieved goal and is celebrating or has she hopped off the wagon for a time.
This class has only had a few lightbulb moments today. Hopefully the rest will sink in soon. Can't always have classes like the last two where things went in and stuck immediately and interest grew as understanding came.
Time to move out of here. Will have to go out to dinner tonight as I have finished all my salad stuff and am only left with the mueslie and a couple of bits of fruit. So dinner tonight will be something mediterranean or maybe something Thai or Vietnamese. Still working on it.

:dz: :yawn: :faint: :tired: :stars: :comp:

Hello!!

I am here really and hi to Shad 'cos her light's a-shining (or it was when I started!)
Not much news really except to say I am having a hard time with everything at the moment....not helped by my attemping a 12" bungi jump!! I have still got an underlying headache but the worse pain is of course my lower back/pelvic area. Couple this with a looooong session of oh :mad: my sleep is all over the place and you'll see why I am in a particular mess at the moment!!And I had to go to the dentists today 'cos it was postponed two weeks ago.It appears you cannot get a simple checkup these days...the dear man would insist on doing a clean and polish and said as a diabetic I should have one every three months....I should coco!!:mag: :rollpin:

Shad your new outfit sounds gorgeous...go on be a :devil: and send us a piccie...have you got shoes to match??:p

Okay I am off now...be good , 'cos someone has to keep the home fires burning...and perhaps the flames will attract Shaker back home....:D

Hi everyone. I am new to the boards and Shad was kind enough to respond to my first post and invite me to this thread. It is neat to read through and see the different countries represented. I live in Eastern Washington State but lived in England for 5 years in the 1980's. I loved it there and two of my children were born there so England holds a dear place in my heart.

I just finished my first week of WW and lost 3.8 pounds! I have about 30 pounds to go and consider that a good start. I know that I likely won't have such a big loss each week but am excited to see some success.

I mentioned in my bio that I have three kids (14, 13 & 9) and work outside the home. My job requires travel as I drive 2500-3000 miles per month. So my two biggest obstacles are eating well in the car and being accountable for my choices, even when I'm tired and bored in the car! I look forward to visiting here frequently and getting to know some of you.

Have a good night!

O wow Kim, 3.8lbs that is super. :bravo: :cp: :cp:
It really gets the motivation going when one of us loses a good amount.
How are you going with the snacks in the car?

We are a bit quiet around here recently. But let me introduce you to those who are around

Teel is in England, she's been around for a year or so and lost quite a bit of weight. She is not in good health and needs to lose a bit more yet. She may not be very healthy, but she has a great English sense of humour and she has Holly the hound.

Happy2bme is in the States. She's very busy at the moment with study and work and home and family, but she pops in from time to time and we try to educate her to our way of thinking!!!! She is married

Kiwi Annie is from New Zealand but lives in New South Wales in Australia. She is also busy at the moment but will pop in from time to time. Annie is married with 2 young boys

Shaker lives in Auckland New Zealand. We haven't heard from her for a while and are a bit worried as to where she might be. She has a DH and boy and a girl. Could be school holidays over there so she might be enjoying life.

I'm also a New Zealander but I live in Brisbane in the subtropics of Queensland. I travel a lot, but mostly by plane. I keep in touch both through the work computers and the home computer, so am liable to be here at any old time. My children are well grown up at nearly 30 and nearly 28. One lives in Brisbane, the other in Wellington New Zealand.

Well that's just about us. Welcome to Focussed chicks, I hope you will be happy here on our little thread. We love having people around who come from all over. It's interesting to see how others live and love.

Catch up again soon.

Hello ladies of the world and a big welcome to Kimallen. So you are from the eastern part of Washington? That would be the dessert part of the state as opposed to the rainforests to the west, right? I've only been to Seattle and westward, but Washington is a very scenic area.

Teel, sorry to hear that you didn't do so well trying out for the tumbling team. :headache: Hope you are feeling a bit better. As for the dentists, they are really pushing the dental cleanings here, partly because there are more studies about the dangers of bacteria in the mouth and also too I think that most of us avoid the dentist and if we don't go every 6 months, they don't see us for years on end. Me, I'm a regular cleaner myself, tho I wasn't always.:o

Shad, sounds like you've picked up some sharp looking new outfits in your travels. I went on a shoe binge a few weeks ago, finally found some comfortable shoes after years of frustration and so I bought 3 pairs to get me through the winter.

Winter, ack! We did have quite a lovely week this week past. The weather warmed a bit and the colors were just bursting. DH got out and took some pictures, but I had things to do so I couldn't go with him. It rained on Tuesday and washed away our warm weather. Now we are back in the throws of rapidly cooler air.

This is always a hard time for me diet wise, I get more hungry as it gets colder and I have a problem with salt which is more of an issue when starting to cook the warmer meals. I sort of fell off the wagon with exercise too but things will calm down by the weekend and it's time to get focused again.

Had a nice visit with me Mum on Sunday. I asked her some questions about her grandparents, found out some interesting trivia I didn't know. It was good to sit and talk the evening away with her although when she went to bed at 11, I sat up until 2am catching up on my homework. I did score an almost perfect grade on my mid term exams which I was quite happy about. I have started another class this week, will have to use DH's computer for it so that will be an adventure prying him off. Most likely I'll have to wait until he goes to bed at 10:30 and do it then. He's almost finished with the bathroom Shad, only 2 more pieces to go. By his schedule that means at least he'll be done by Christmas. :lol:

Nothing very interesting going on in my life right now. I am worried about Shaker also. If she stays away too long, we might lose her like the others. At least Annie has been popping in.

Tah tah for now...

Hello and welcome to Kimallen.....phew back now after 10minutes trying to shut the hound up.Cor you did very well in your first week, well done!!:D
Avery quiet week here by all accounts, except for having a dentists appointment on Tuesday and going to see my g.p. on Wednesday.No particular problem had arisen, just the not getting to sleep till 02:30 and waking every one or two hours was driving me :cb: :cb:I had not meant for it to be an emotional upheaval, but g.p. knows me too well and before the end hot tears were silently tracking down my face. And so I have come away with a 40mg script for evening analgesia and the morning 30mg stays the same. He has also upped my sleeping pills by another half....:devil: Well last night I think thee was a minute movement in some direction or other (:nono: :nono: NOT in that direction you crazy lot)because I fellasleep pretty quickly but to my horror woke up within the hour and kept that up pretty well all night. Today I feel like...er....a drunk orangotan. Don't ask me how I know what one even looks like but TODAY I AM ONE!!:sumo: :sumo: Well I think as I am falling asleep in my chair I aught to mke some trecks in the direction of the kitchen...mmmmn eating???Gosh I think I'd rather be asleep right now. Brain is incapable of sensible synapses......bye bye......

:tired: :tired: :yawn: :yawn: :dz: