Hi Peacock! Any good tips for the London trip then? I can't say that I am terribly enthused about going August Bank holiday week, but there is no other way! Do you think I could get time off for good behaviour and plead mitigating circumstances if I ...er...threw the children to the pirhanas in the Aquarium???

HI Teel!

Unfortunately you are adsking the wrong person. I am hopeless in my own city! If I find somewhere it is usually by accident and I never find it again. II rarely go up to town now but went before Christmas to Old COmpton Street t get some booze as pressies for peope I thought while I was up there I would go to China Town. Would you believe I could not find Gerrard Street! I wanted to go to a supermarket but gave up it the end. I am completely hopeless.

If there is anything you particularly want to know do ask. If I cannot help maybe someone with common sense can tell you!

The problem is, when I lived in Peckham I would go up regularly on a number 12 bus but now I cannot take the crowds. I am getting to old I guess.

teel go online to the london tourist board and find things on there theyll also have details of any special offers that are on hope this helps
kirsty

Peacock~ Nice to see you here!!! don't shrivel too much!! I told the DD maybe when it gets hot I can go out and sweat and lose some weight!!! Hope all is well!

Teel~ Nice to sewe a post finally got here!! Thanks for the sympathy as I spent that night crying for an hour inm frustration before getting washed up and fighting back!! I have a refit in Friday. Hope the back just finally accepts the swimming laps!! Good luck. Great exercise! 13 laps! Your flowers and trees sounded wonderful! I used to love gardening!!

Shad~ Hope those pesky viruses giv up and you got some drugs! How are your silverbells and cockleshells? Growing I hope!! I see a lot of avocados in the diets descriptions. Have you looked into their calories and fat content? I remember a Dr telling me to stay away from avocados, coconut and olives of any kind as the fat content is too high and they do not count as veggies in a balanced diet. Catrrots have too much natural sugar as well as corn and celery has salt. I think I was doing betgter when I was on a stricter plan. I may switch back to that!!

Well chicks, gotta go the phone man just called and he's winding up and needs access to the offices now so he can finish!!!Hmmmmm who scheduled this for after 4 PM!!! And told him to ring MY BELL?!?! Have a great night!! OBTW........the mammogram was perfect with no repositioning of the calcified tissues. Everything almost a perfect match to last timne. Now I don't have to go for a year!!! YAY!!!!

PS~ Teel, I hope all goes well for the trip and there is no MURDER ON THE MEWS....like the Agatha Christie book!!!! Hope you all have a great time!!

Teel, The Original Bus Company is the one we used first time we were in London. It certainly shows you the sights and you can just hop on and off wherever you fancy. It will be crowded in London at that time, doubt that you will find many British amongst the tourists. If you decide to see a show, don't forget the half price tickets up at Covent Garden just off the tube station. The Brit Museum is a good place for a while too. Loved the Greek and Roman and Egyptian stuff. St Pauls is definitely worth a visit - as is Westminster Abbey. I nearly fell over laughing at the graffiti on the British Throne - 300 year old graffiti I might add. And there was a plaque to a long dead wife of someone who raved on and on about how wonderful, how beautiful, how sweet and true and she was etc etc etc. Chris and I both read it, looked at each other, and said wonder what (or who) he's been doing.
I found it quite fascinating to just sit quietly on the Lambeth Walk and watch the people and the boats on the river (not to mention the comings and goings at the restaurant across the river at Parliament)
Take the rail down to Greenwich as well. Stand on the meridian line. There is a good museum on Time and weather and the navy down there as well as the space dome thingy. No it's not about space, it looks like a spaceship. There was also a lovely fan museum down there. Fans from all over some of them gorgeous.
We also went to Kew Gardens which are well worth a visit. Lots of walking there tho.
Hope that has given you some ideas.

Mel, I am getting all emotionally prepared for my boob squish this afternoon. Glad to hear that yours has gone okay. I'm about to go down to the doc this morning to see what he has turned up with all those blood tests last week. Better find a good book since the magazines are pretty weird down there.

Peacock good to see you back again. And Happy how goes it?
Best I get out of here and get ready for the latest medical intrusion. See you

short post tonight ladies theres a wee man hitting my spine with a hammer shad they sold the dome last year mel thank god somethings going right for a change good for you happy how goes the no smoking ? good i hope teel glad to see the pooter is behaving now peacock glad your here ROSE where the heck are you woman????
sleep well ladies
kirsty

Thanks for the shout Linus....I have been so tired at night when I get home I haven't spent any time here at all...... I quick read the posts in the morning then I am off and running. Only one I have talked to is Mel.... can't stand that unnecessary BS that effects her life. We just always need to look for better ways to improve service for those with special needs. the paper work alone is a nightmare and full time job..... Mel is a saint and I admire her for her tenascity. Well, Ladies you continue to amaze me in your wonderful ideas and support you give to each other. I haven't been doing my part.
On Saturday I had our luncheon and it turned out so good.... I performed my sign again ...not a dry eye in the house.... I especially wanted my mom and aunt to see it for themselves.
I am so dreading my Dr.'s appt next week as I read you all posting about the doc. My family is ready to have them cut me open and get this fibroid out but I know the answer to that before I even go.......no menopause will take care of it.... but lately it has caused me some problems. I will let you know the out come of the appointment. THink good thoughts for me.
I heard an interesting personality description the other day and it fits me to a T I think..... the statement was Attend and Befriend personality..... I found that interesting. That is definitely where my interest lies and not with myself.
Hmmmm live and learn.
So nice to see some of our friends post again. Shad I am going to write down every place you mentioned to see....my dream is to go to england one day. I had a past love who would have gone but now life is taking its toll on him. So someday I want to get over there to look around.
My oldest son and his girlfriend are coming home for the weekend so I am very excited to have more company.... it will be great to see them. I am taking some time off next weekend so I won't be home.
I do hope everyone is well.
Take Good Care,
Nae

Well ladies, I'm afraid this won't be very long as I got hung up on a post on another thread and it's quite late right now. So many things going on here.

Peacock good to hear from you again. I can relate to you being lost in your home city. I am the same way. When Shad came to visit us last year, I talked my DH into taking some time off so he could be our driver since I would have gotten us lost in a heart beat. He knew exactly what I intended tho I never phrased it quite like that, but he was a good sport about it - turn me 'round 3 times and I'm lost I've always said. Can darn near spit on the highway but can't find the road that leads you to it.

Teel, I'm so proud of you with not only all the work you've done about the house but also for all that swimming you've been doing. That's really impressive! Have fun planning your trip to London. Perhaps Fergie will show you around if she's not busy promoting the Weight Watchers plan.

Miss Mel and the calcified boobies. I had those too, quite the scary thing the way they present it to you. Glad to hear you got an all clear on SOMETHING finally. Now you can devote your attentions to getting your custom fit chair custom fitting you.

Shad, I have read your journal and comments about the job situation. I am in the same place as you tho at this point I am trying to ignore it. But as I got the paper on Sunday, DH said we (both he and I) should look into alternatives for income - and like you, possible career change choices. It is frustrating to see what the world had come down to. But I hope you can enjoy your time and it sounds as if you are - as long as possible.

Nae is good to hear from you again, tho not good news with the fibroids which can cause all kinds of problems. Don't ignore them for too long And it sounds like you will have a lovely weekend with your son - always nice to have something to look forward to. Hopefully the snows have abated out your way and you can be enjoying spring.

Linus, hope you took a bat to the wee man banging on your spine and knocked him out and away.

Well as of today I have been smoke free 30 days, have not smoked 879 cigarettes (THAT really amazes me), I have saved $217 and gained back 6 days, 16 hours of my life (only to be run over by a run away bus in the end - I just know it ) I'm down to probably only once a day when I still really, really, REALLY want to have a smoke but we are making progress. I wish it would get to the point that I hate them soon but being at home I'm not around them so I can't notice all the bad stuff about them. If I could feel about cigarettes the way I do about cigars (I DETEST cigars), it would make me quite happy. My sciatica is still bothering me though I am walking a bit better today. Sitting is still uncomfortable but I get up quite frequently during the day. It is easier to join in on the No Crap Challenge when you have decent food around the house and since we went grocery shopping yesterday, that is no longer an issue. I still have a problem with getting the munchies around 11pm. Ok, ok, don't be telling me then GO TO BED I did try walking a bit down the street today - went chasing after the postman as DH forgot he had a bill that was due and I wanted to make sure it got out in today's posting. Even though I went somewhat slow, I'm still not up to walking big distances outside. My 94 year old neighbor was out this afternoon with his caretaker and his walker. I was tempted to dig up DH's walker from his prior accident and go out and join them in the street for a bit of sun and chatting, tho my neighbor has a habit of spitting quite a bit which grosses me out. Though at 94 years of age, I suppose he's entitled to spitting on his own lawn if he so chooses.

And that's it for my side of the world. I am still working on finishing DH's website. When ready (soon, very soon) I will post the address for you all to have a look. Night now, have a pleasant one ahead of you.

How does Linus do that? The rest of us wonder where Roseblush is and Linus yells come out woman, and out she comes. How does she do it.

Well I have had a very busy day today. I went to my Dr only to find out he has taken today off. Aah well I suppose he's due a little me time as well. So I will go there first thing tomorrow.
Then I went around the Real Estate Agencies to look at some properties for the DS. I promised to weed out some of the good, bad and indifferent and the Real Estate Agents are very keen for me to spend or rather overspend my sons money. Despite me telling them the budget level, they seem to think we can pluck another 10 or 15K off the money tree growing in the back yard. So I told them that I would see the more expensive one tomorrow and I also wanted to see a couple of others. Must have made an impression because he rung me this arvo to say that he has found the perfect place for DS. Yes well, tomorrow we will see. I've had a good day bullying the blokes around.
Then I went to the gym and wore myself out on the rowing machine and treadmill. It is going well, but I'm not sure if we are seeing the results. I am probably too close to the problem to be objective. Actually come to that I am the problem. I am inside the obvious problem.
Following that I felt the need for a cool green garden but couldn't find one on the way to the boob squish so I went to the garden centre. Ooh I am so good I didn't buy a thing.
Boob squish went off okay. Never fails to amaze me how huge the boob looks when squashed out flat. I'm sure my lot are not that big!!! Odd sized tho they may be.

Then I came home and was about to get ready to do something in the house when the brother arrived and chatted. So that was a bit of a change to the day. He's invited himself for tea on Saturday so we can watch the footy final together. Yeehaa for the footy.
So its tea time and I have lots of veges which need to be used up and a few other bits in the fridge so tonight is risotto - yes I know I wasn't supposed to eat white rice on this NC Challenge, but its all I have apart from some Thai noodles to bulk out the food for DS. So be it. I had sushi for lunch today too. Although I was a little disappointed to pay 4.90 for those 4 tiny little bits. Water has been down as well. But there are days and there are days right? I haven't snacked apart from an apple. So I'll take the day.

Happy, you have done so well - you deserve a medal. All those ciggies and all that money. Have you been counted or did you just calculate the daily average? Whatever I wish I was there to take you for a celebratory coffee or something. You rock.

Best go and tend the risotto. Have a good nights sleep you lot and good morning to you all - time arrives

Although we have our share of fiestier than usual women here, perhaps Kirsty is the ring leader after all. Or maybe she is just so cute and appealing that no one can resist her?

As for the smoking statistics, I have somewhat followed an online smoking cessation program as part of DH's health insurance benefits. You plug in your daily smoking allotment, cost of a pack of cigarettes, the day and time you quit and it keeps a running total of statistics for you. I daresay I would not be so ambitious to track this myself, yet I must say that on more than one occasion just looking at those numbers has helped me get past a strong urge to light up again. I keep saying just one puff would undo all of that and set me back to zero again. Now, if I could only take the same approach to food But thank you anyway Shad - yes it would be good to get together for a coffee or some garden consultations... now there's a career option - only trouble is to find the clients - but you could hire yourself out to do the things other people are too busy to attend to or don't know how to deal with. Like find me the best deal on a car, house, vacation package, home decoration, etc... I'm sure you'd be much more reasonably priced than the experts.

DH said it is time for me to write the book that all my life everyone tells me I should be writing. If only I could think of a subject Perhaps I should join you and Madcat writing "how to" manuals.

And Miss Shad, please explain your remark... You have been doing very well on the exercise and usually good on the food and water. Is it just that you are getting frustrated over (percieved) lack of results?

This morning I woke up and my first waking thought was... there is no reason that today has to be the same as yesterday. No reason why today can't be the start of something DIFFERENT. I have been in a bit of a rut, knowing I should be doing things differently but hanging back and not giving it even a bit of a kick So that thought was especially profound today, especially since it popped in my head with a feeling of hopefullness instead of hopelessness. So it's on to tackle the day and fight the good fight as I hope you all will. Check back with you later...

Girls have certainly been very busy! I think Kirsty would come and kick butt and we all know it so we respond! We'd be the grass and she'd be the lawnmower!
I amlosing speed fast today so I will cut this short.
Happy~ Kudos on the strength!!!! I am so proud of you. Doing a great job. I. like you, wish I did the food thing the same way as the ciggies! Ah well one out of two ain't bad!
Shad~ Already talked to you once today woman in the journals! LOL Think you could work with Happy and her DH and you grow the plants and he breeds the butterflies!! Nice combo dontcha think?

Kirsty~ Brings out her wand and we all reappear!!! Hope the little man gives you a break and you feel better. I am dragging my *ss today but that was from an overdose of carbs yesterday. How goes the house? any news at all?

Nae~ good to see you in great spirits except for the fibroid thing. jen and I were discussing her woes with them too the other day as we shopped. Her prob is muscle tone. If they remove all the fibroids and the uterus as well(they are imbedded in there) then she may have falling bladders etc and also more adhesions as she seems to be the type that grows them too! Fertile Myrtle. She grows everything in there!
I don't envy you your decision. If one more person tells her to wait till meno I think she too may become homicidal! LOL Good luck!

Teel~ Where are you little Chick? Hope the PC is ok. Maybe you're out there gardening too with the others?! or swimming across the big pond to visit us?! So that is what all this swimming is about! Cheap transportation to the States to visit the Yanks!!

I have cooking and cleaning as the re-fit for the chair is tomorrow evening. Wish it were earlier! Have a great day and take care!

I'm here...just can't get a word in edgeways with you chatterboxes!! HAPPY You are a star, my dear, very well done with stopping smoking...over 4 weeks now!! If I only could do as well as that with losing weight! I have not lost a single ounce...I think I am actually gaining it. I'm trying to convince myself that I am getting fitter with the swimming, but my back is so bad I am beginning to doubt even that.
Unfirtunately the few days of sunshine has come to an end in Suffolk at least. Today we have rain. Nice gentle refreshing rain, but wet stuff, all the same! At least I won't have to water the tubs tonight! Shame I forhot to bring the canvas chair in out of the garden..... I have spent a good day with my neighbour. We went into Bury St. Edmunds and bought some rather nice glass(!) flower shaped candle holders for the garden, and some gifty things like notepads for birthday pressies...and then went to browse around a computer/electrical store that is closing down. 25% OFF printer cartridges and paper and a scart lead I needed for my new DVD player. Shame they are going...Then to lunch...smoked chicken breast and melon salad with granary bread...I am trying to sort out a birthday bash for my 40th. Not having an easy time! I want to go for a Chinese buffet...but everywhere I ask, they don't do buffets on a Saturday night. I am beginning to think this was a bad idea in the first place I wondered fleetingly whether it would be easier to try and hire a large gazebo or a tent and get a Chinese takeaway in, but the thought of having 20 and more sets of crockery and cutlery and glasses and ...and...to wash up rather puts me off.I will try and ring the local carvery and a good pub that has been recommended. I'm beggining to wish I had never had this idea in the first place...
Tomorrow my benefits welfare rights officer is coming to go through the new benefit forms with me...I don't relish the thought of going through all that again....ta ta for now....back tomorrow if I am still alive after all the form filling.....

right chickies ive got to take the dogs out and then ill be back for a blether
kirsty

hello again im back and was only mauled once i have to teach that bloody dog im not for chewing HAPPY youve made my week me cute and appealing well thats one ive never been called before i showed dh and hes still laughing and craig has decieded your all mad but i feel good so thanx for that well ive flunked i never went to get weighed this week and i know ivw let myself down BIG TIME but i just didnt have the heart for it i know ive eaten terrible this week and could not be bothered having the whole class that ive gained again i think they think that because im bigger than they are i should be able to lose more than them but eating has been very good today and ive never sat down all day its been hectic mum was coming down to take me shopping after we took the car to the garage as when they resprayed the door they broke the black trim that runs around the car but as she was getting in to the car to come and get me she noticed that the car had been vandelised someone had scratched it from bonnet to boot right along the drivers side mum was devastated and she was in a bit of a state so i called the police to report it but as they were unable to do anything the first 4 times they would be unable to do anything this time but you have to report it to the police for the insurance then we went to her house to call the insurance company to let them know and as she has the car booked in for next week to have the damage on the door and sill fixed from the prang she had last week they managed to get the garage to have a look todat so it could all be fixed at the same time as mum is disabled they have to arrange curtosy cars and such for her so while she was on the phone to the insurance i called step dad on the mobile as hes at the caravan site working and he was livid hes really worried about the affect all this is having on mum as are we all so of to the dealers to have them look at the bust trim and then off to the garage to have the scratch estimated where this sweetheart of a man got there painter to have a look at it and the genius manged to polish them all out seemingly they were only laquer scratches so big relief and no insurance claim and no £75 excess to pay but mum has decieded to move she cant handle living there any more so a housing officer is coming to see her next week about this well craig announced to me that he ahsnt benn sent on call from any of his lessons for over five weeks and hes very proud of the fact and as his parents evening is on june the first ill find out if its making a difference with the taechers it certainly sounds like it well ive not done anything else today but tomorow conner and i are going swimming and ill really have to start drinking more water and hopefully the eating will stay good ROSE glad the signing went well isnt it amazing that your never too old to want your parents approval i still do MEL good luck with the chair refits lock the door and put the key down your cleavage and tell him hes not getting out until its done either that or youll make him find the key beleive me its better than a boob squish {and no im not telling you how i know just take my word for it and enjoy}actually just lock the door anyway SHAD is there a national park in new zealand with natural glaciers i ws talking about wanting too see one and my mum thinks there might still be some in new zealand its just one of a long list of things ill want to see when they invent a fast way of travel without having to sit in a tin can at 30,000 feet in the air HAPPY your doing so well on not smoking id be in jail for murder by now with dh being top of the list as hes a non smoker he can be quite condescending about it and sometimes i just want to strangle him but as of yet hes still alive what great restraint ive got TEEL use paper plates and plastic cutlery and just bin everything thats been used ipso no cleaning up either that or just get blind drunk and let someone else do the cleaning up after all its your birthday right girls im off to play with my wee men and ill speak to you all tomorrow and i thank my lucky stars i found you lot your my sanity {what little there is left of it }
kirsty