Always happy to oblige Mel. I didn't know either so DH and I went out and bought new bicycles today with shiny new odometers just so we could tell you.

Actually I'd been thinking about a bike for several months now. I have one that has set unused up in the garage for several years. I hated that bike from the day I got it. The gears slipped, I could never get the hang of it. And I tried a few times but got frustrated with it. DH could ride it just fine so it was me. Too many fangled gears I suppose.

Anyway, the treadmill is still under wraps in the basement and I'm not getting any skinnier as the days roll by. And like today it's been beautiful day that is too much a shame to waste sitting in the house. I saw an advertisement for some bikes on sale and figured this was an omen.

Then I was reading through my local library newsletter and noticed that they have 4 display cases in which you can put exhibits for a month. I told DH this would be a nice showcase for his pictures. We went over to the library to check out the display cases - DH could display MANY pictures :lol: and stopped at the local bike shop on the way home. Geez Louise. :yikes: I did not intend to spend quite the amount of money that they were asking for the bikes. I'm no Lance Armstrong here. The man at the shop was very nice and he showed me several to try. Being short, I have never been too fond of bikes because they usually are quite uncomfortable in the legs and the butt--tocks (as Forest Gump would say). I don't understand when you have enough rump roast in the behind to supply an entire family - why a bike seat cuts right through the bone - but he did show me one bike that was not only pretty, it was comfortable too.

I felt guilty about so much money - 3 times what I intended to pay so to be good, DH and I left the shop to go and check out prices elsewhere. Why didn't I just get my old bike repaired you say? Well, after sitting in an overly hot and freezing cold garage suspended by hooks for at least 15 years, the tires would have been shot and who knows what else. The service call just to fix the errant gears was a minimum of $50. Would have cost me at least half the price of a new bike just to get it fixed and no telling that I would have been satisfied with it. Mum and my sister gave me money back in April for my birthday and said to get something special. I had been waiting to find just the right thing and I felt this was it. I can take short rides, enjoy the weather, get some much needed movement each day and get some exercise to boot. And DH got a new bike too because we're so lovely dovey we do everything as a couple *** ugh, gag, phffft, ptooey **** Ok, ok. :rofl: Actually it would help us both to work out together.

So I'm a happy chickie. 2 mile walk today to the bike shop to pick up the bike, 2 and a half mile ride home (we detoured through some streets). I'm making dinner now and we'll go for a short ride afterwards. Got to get the muscles all conditioned again and believe it or not, I was a bit wobbly. I was so scared I tell you trying to sit on the bikes in the shop. I am not as graceful as I once was, well downright getting clumsy here and as I was swinging my leg over the bikes (they are doing away with girl's frames) I had these horrible visions of falling over and with a not so elegant domino effect, knocking each and every bike over in the shop. Thank heavens that didn't happen.

So, long winded answer here Mel but... it appears that pedalling at a comfortable pace is about 8 miles per hour. If you're sweating or grunting, I'd place you at 10 miles per hour. So for 30 minutes, figure you are doing 3.5 to 5 miles. We can have races or challenges if you like. I can calculate both time and distance travelled. I do much better when I can track things like that. I told DH to go take a picture of the bikes (minus us of course) so I can post it for you.

Got to go get supper on the table, be back later...

Hi Shad, I see you are logged in right now. :wave: :wave: :wave:

Yep I am here, all showered and changed since I got back from the gym. Had a decent breakfast and am now all ready to seize the day. Problem is, I am not sure what bit of it to seize!!! Cat's gone one way, one son another, the next son is doing his thing in the shower and I have no idea what his plans for the day are.
So today, and probably this week, I will just take life as it comes and decide what next to do. I'm rearranging my cv to take in temporary office work stuff and see if that will push anything along. Not what I want to do, but hey it would be work.
Another glorious day down here. The sun is shining, I haven't gone out the back yet this morning to see whether the tomatoes have turned into trifids or such life. I have done two loads of washing, and I still can't see where it all comes from. I must be such a dirty character. I suppose I should wash and vacuum the car as well , it's getting a bit grubby looking with dust and dirt. I guess I will just see if Brendan comes up with any suggestions although he just seems to want to swan around home at the moment.
Anyway, there's not much news from here. I did weights this morning - 1 hour, 4 sets of 10 reps each for the arms and sit ups, and 20 for the legs. It gets easier (I think).
I'll catch up later as well - oh and Teel, thanks for the call. It was great to hear from you.

You sound like a bit of the blahs Shad, doing ok?

Yeah I am fine, just trying to set the day in order. You know how I like to get the day in order.

I'm still trying to get my arse in order! :rofl: so 3.5 - 5 miles!! :yikes: It will take me a loooong time to get there. I must be in NYC tonite though! LOL I practically live inside the Lincoln Tunnel! :rofl: (cough, cough)

Happy~ Loved the bike story! Never saw anyone so agonized over spending $$! :rofl: But I really do understand with the hobs etc. It will be good for you guys to get out and exercise those new clean lungs of yours!! sitting at the PC makes for shallow breathing. I did find exericising helpful with the craving part. Even food cravings:D Have fun and hope ypu enjopy them.

Shad~ Is something already lined up from the other day for work on the house?! Hope when I get there you're not too busy for chin wagging and celebrating! :rofl: I can read in between your lines and send ((((((((HUGS))))))))) from me to you. You're always in my thoughts my Sister. Maybe DS1 will have ideas to move things along. Maybe he'll have new contacts now too! Hmmmmm...... Have a good Monday no matter what you do!

Well girls, I am bushed and ready for bed. My legs and shoulders are really giving me some trouble. I think it's the chair I borrow from downstairs. It isn't made for me and I'll have to stop using it in the day and only at night. But last night I forgot to charge the other one! :faint: god knows how I forgot!!! Off to dreamland for me and my books!=========================

Get out of the sandbox Mel..it's my turn!!! :devil: :D
It was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! Carmen, I am referring to. And the weather was ok too. Having rained on and off for most of the day the evening turned out to be dry, if a trifle over cast and a bit chilly at times. There was a bit of confusion as we arrived 'cos we had been saved a wheelchair space and a seat next to it, in the middle of row 2. But when A. tried to go and off load the picnic basket she came back and said there wasn't an opening or gangway in row 1 so we could get to it. So we "parked ourselves!" sort of next to a space on the seating area in front of the chairs and to the side and waited for a programme seller to wander in our direction and give us some assistace. And so she did. She went over to see why we couldn't get to our places and while she was gone A. and I thought we would do just as well in the space just in front of us. So A. went over to tell her and we secured the space before anyone else saw it! :cool: ;) By the time we were sorted the orchestra of 10 had already started the overture. It was a good spot to be in. We were able to surrepticiously eat some of our picnic...something we had planned to do on arrival but time had run away with us. The helpful programme seller saw I was intensley embarressed with all the fapping around and gave us a free programme.
The "OPERA BOX COMPANY" was extremely talented and the audience of about 400 was enchanted. I got (I hope!) a good picture of a peacock that was standing about 2 foot away..he was so funny...when the camera clicked he sort of puffed himself up and straigtened his neck out as if to say ooooh I'm having my picture taken...do it again...go on, pleeeease do it again!! The house cat was also great. It wandered on to the set and sat down with its back to the audience looking at the house that was used as a back drop and an integral part of the play andstayed there for 5 minutes or so. You could see the wheels turning in that great little brain....this is my house and MY garden and I AM going to sit here and you lot can just like it or lump it!!!Hee hee it came over to see us and inspect our picnic and A. gave it a piece of chicken.:chicken: ..yummy..... :T We staggered in about midnight..I am SO BUSHED!!! :tired: :tired: :faint: Thank goodness I don't have anything planned for this week apart from the blind man....no I don't mean he is blind...he is coming to put up a vertical blind in the kitchen. Today he said. At about lunch-time.What time is that d'you reckon?? :lol: And the house needs a good sort out and of course there is a pile of ironing to do. Last week it was a small pile. Now it is more of a medium pile!!! :rofl:
Shad it was good to finally have a chat on the phone yesterday. I really hope things are a bit better for you soon my friend. Thoughts and hugs and prayers flying down to you RIGHT NOW!!!( even if you are I hope, asleep!)
And just for Shad, to remind her of where she was just over a year ago, here is a picture of The Abbey Grdens in Bury St. Edmunds.....though Shad, you may not recognise it....it's not raining!!!!! :lol3: :lol3:

How could I forget those ruins. Remember the strange bloke ranting and raving and the guardian fellow who ran to your rescue to get rid of the twit. And it did stop raining about halfway through our visit as I remember - well enough not to have to use the umbrellas anyway. A good time was had by all.
So good to hear that the concert went off well and the cat took centre stage for a while.
I was actually looking at some of those photos of BSE on the web yesterday with DS1. He spent a lot of time in London and knows the city well, but didn't see a lot else of England while over there, but he really does love Edinburgh as I do and the rest of Scotland. That was DS1 you spoke to on the phone. He tells me he didn't think you were English!!!! I asked him where he thought the precise vowels came from he sorta said - uh yup well, not from an Aussie anyway - nor a Kiwi by the sound of that!
Very quiet day at the Shad house, but I enjoyed it anyway. DS1 went out to get a haircut and go to a camera shop and I didn't want to go, so I stayed home and worked in the garden and stayed in the sun. Good day as such. I've started thinking about extending the vege garden and putting in different veges like snow peas and zucchini and such. Maybe some chinese vegetables as well.
I discovered yesterday that my Seek job search is not working as it should. I hadn't received notification of new available jobs for a day or so so thought I should check it out. I found several jobs that I could apply for that the search hadn't picked up. I've now sent in a cv to three more places and will be checking the sites every morning in case the search decides not to work again. I'm not depressed about not working although thank you all for thinking of me and feeling for me, but I am feeling that it is time I went back to work. Don't know if I have explained that properly. It's not the money issue, although that will become an issue as I don't have limitless resources. It's simply a need to work.
Happy, those bikes sound good fun. Now you have to make sure you get the most benefit out of your investment. You should be out riding now, not sitting here listening to my rambles. Is DS putting his photos in the showcase in the library? It would be nice to be able to say I know someone who has exhibited his work!!!
Linus how nice of DH to be so concerned about your back and make sure you are doing the right thing or maybe he doesn't want to have to do the laundry or housework any more!!
Anyway, I think it is time I prepared for bed. I haven't done much today really, but for some reason I feel knackered. Maybe it is the fact that I haven't done much. So I may well go make myself some tea, get changed and go to bed and read.
Hey just realised that the end of the month is coming up fast and it will be time for weigh and measure again soon. Hmmmm that could be interesting........I think the weight will be the same, don't think it has moved any, however the work jeans get looser and the stretch jeans fell off so maybe there is shrinkage in the butt or hips. We will find out end of the week I guess.
Meantime, nighty night all.

Good morning everyone. I hope your Monday is a good one. I am in the middle of doing 2 wash loads. Dryer is done in 10 minutes :D
Clara is having her blood done in the afternoon this week so I had a lie in or 2 days now. Felt good too. But now the day seems so short!!:faint:

Teel~ Your story about the entertainment was wonderful. Cat, peacock and all. What a lovely way to spend and evening. I'm glad you had such a good time.

Shad~ your garden will be growing by leaps and bounds with all the new veggies you're thinking of. DS1 will love it! :lol:
Glad you found the program had a problem. Guess we can't trust things to just do what they're supposed to! LOL good luck with the cv's.

I am off to the laundry room and but maybe I should send my ironing to teel!!
Have a lovely day doing whatever pleases YOU!!

shad we call bse mad cows disease over here it took me a while to work out you where talking about bury st edmonds and not some very nasty germs {unles you where talking about my kids????}still sore and getting worse docs tomorrow so welle see what he has to say speak later
kirsty
ps shad i know what you mean about having to work when i feel really bad thats when i have to try and do something just to prove to myself that i can hope you dont have to wait to long now my freind or ds,s might have you commited or a certain trainer might mysteriously disappear

Another day and I truly think the tomatoes are starting to ripen. They should do, they are big enough. Maybe I should cover them at night, I think it is the cold nights that are causing them to stay green. Otherwise it will be green tomato pickles for the next 2 years or so. There's enough on the bushes to keep me going for that long.
DS1 is going to have lunch with a friend today so I am going to do some work around the house and ring a whole bunch of floor sanders for quotes for the floors of DS2's house. DS2 has finally seen sense and decided to get a professional in to polish the floors!!!! It took some persuasion tho'. Men!!!!!!
I have to stop procrastinating in the bathroom too and get on with that. Problem is that there are only problems left so I have to solve problems to do the work. My brain hurts again.
Okay, time to get on with it. Two loads of washing are on the line. The third is moving along. Dishes are done and I've been to the gym for my treadmill/cardio work this morning. Rest from gym tomorrow - Yee Haaaaaaaaaaa.

:coffee: :coffee: And good morning to everyone...finally, I have to admit, 'cos I overslept this morning and woke at 09:00hrs to a knocking at the door.It was my gardener. I was expecting him but the last time I had woken up it was only 04:40hrs...Blessed new pills from my psychiatrist!! Love him to bits!! Actually they are not new but an increased dose...:faint: The only trouble is that ,as I am sure Linus will concurr, when I sleep well I wake up as stiff as a board and really siezed up all down my back and pelvis. Sometimes it is so difficult to get moving I wonder whether the good nights sleep is really worth it!! :devil: :kickcan: :kickcan: The gardener has a hard job today...he forgot we had agreed on a different day for one of the fortnightly sessions 'cos of me being on respite and not here, so it is a month...well 4 weeks...since the lawn was last cut, and boy...it's being a monster of a job this morning. He is having to strim it before mowing. I managed to put the little child gate across the kitchen door before madame Holly got out there to help and join in the fun, so at least I won't have a green dog to cope with this time!! :lol3: :lol3:
Shad, I too know what you mean when you say it is time for you to get back in the rat race of happy employment again..(did I really say "happy"?) There comes a time when the novelty of being at home, not having to get up at the crack of dawn, the only pressures and deadlines to reach are the ones of your own making, wares rather thinner than a pencil line and the individual KNOWS it is time to be back with the masses. I am sorry your seek job search is not up to scratch. That is very annoying. Hope your new batch of c.v.'s prove fruitful. May one of them fly out of the in-post tray and hit the resruitment manager right in the eye....although NOT too severely otherwise he won't be able to read your c.v.!!!:lol3:
I'd forgotten about the twit in the Abbey Gardens!:lol: Coo he was a prize twit, was he not?I tried to put some different pictures in but I kept being told I'd already used them in FOCUSSED 5. :lol3: with Kirsty thinking we were talking about BSE....bovine spongiform encephalopathy....that would make a very interesting picture...all those viruses mutating at the speed of light!! :dizzy:
I wonder where DS#1 thought I came from! He obviously didn't hear me shouting "England calling! England on the line!" down the phone at him as he went to get you. I didn't think he had heard me! :coach:
Linus..I hope the doc has been of some help this morning...got to have you right for when Miss Mel arrives!!! Talking of which...Mel, how far have you got? Are you nearly here yet? Cos if you are, I had better go and get dressed....hee hee!!
Happy, how is that new toy of yours? Glad it is comfortable...start rolling those miles...soon you will have caught up with Mel...perhaps you will both arrive together!!!
I looked at my diary this morning...for the first time in a month I have absolutely nothing booked in and nowt to do till Friday evening when a few friends and myself are meeeting in a local pub for a meal. I have never been to this place before...hope it has a garden and that it is nice enough for us to sit out and eat!
Aha, I hear the mower going now...I think Holly is sulking 'cos I won't let her out in the garden yet....he he he he!!!!! :devil:

:D Gosh it has taken me about 2 hours to sort out c.d. 2 of my holiday photos! :devil: For some reason the folder didn't behave like the previous one did...but hey ho! The photos from Wolfgangsee have at last been safely installed so I thought you may like to have a quick viewing session!!!! :smug: Sadly it was this film that got water on the lens..(better than water on the brain, I suppose! :( )
Come on Happy and Mel...I think it is far time America was awake on this lovely sunny day!!

Oh Teel, I would have loved to stay at that hotel! What a view! :faint: living in a city makes me appreciate pics of GREENERY all the more:rofl:

Linus~ I too hope you find help at the Dr's office. Sorry it's paining you so badly and hope for a speedy get well. Good luck.

Shad~You reminded me of the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes". When it came out Jen asked me what they were and did people actually eat them! :rofl: My GGM pickled them and also learned how to fry them from someone. Not exactly English fare but we all loved them. Havent had either in years!

My toe had a small encounter with a disposable razor and a teeny tiny piece got knicked off. I'll have to keep it elevated today. Tomorrow is a retirement party for a friend of 17 years. I will miss her greatly. she is the one who showed me this apartment when I came looking for new digs. A lot of water under our bridge together. Well, better not to dwell on it. Her last day is Thursday and there will be plenty of time for tears them! :rofl:
Going to get some eats and do the sadly neglected checkbook!
Have a wonderful day and sweet dreams shad.

Teel, I think that any of those "houses" will do just fine for us here when it comes time to seek out a new home. I am partial to waterfront property I must admit. Enjoy a few relaxing days and the smell of newly cut grass. After not being cut for a month, I expect that Holly is protesting that the gardener is mowing down all her favorite hiding places.

Miss Mel, what are you up to that you are hacking off toe parts with a razor? I'm afraid that I will have to come and do a fly lady sweep on your apartment and remove all dangerous objects. Now that your friend is going to retire, hopefully you can make plans for a regular get together. Not the same as seeing her every day I know, but don't drift apart. Hopefully she is not moving out of state. Balancing that checkbook ought to keep you busy for the morning. That's one of those things you can't let go for too long or it really gets frustrating and out of hand.

Oh Shad, do I know the feeling of starting at the green tomatoes on the vine and willing them to turn red. I found that unless it gets sweaty hot here, the tomatoes refuse to turn. And then of course you have 3 dozen turning all at once. Yum, the idea of fresh garden tomatoes and lettuces is so appealing. :hungry:

Yesterday was a no-bike day as I had to do the grocery shopping last night and it kept sprinkling on and off. Also my bottom was rather sore from the bike seat - takes some getting used to before that gets comfortable again and I have no idea how you "condition" yourself to get used to a bicycle seat other than a little more each day. The seat itself is quite cushy, guess it's more like muscles you haven't used in a while.

Shad, good luck with the job hunt. Things are looking pretty dry here. We're looking into the possibility of buying a business. Just trying to consider all options here. Wish it was easy to just find the right path and stride boldly into things.

Busy day ahead for me, have a good one all. Hellos to Linus and Nae.

hi all just a very short post as im bloody sore apparently ive got a system wide infection and as ive had a lamanectomy and part of my spinal column is exposed they think the infection has got in there so if no improvement by monday to the hospital i go and im also being referred to the breast clinic to have a very long lasting cyst removed will try and get them to do a breast lift while they are at it :yikes: :rofl: well its worth a try teel that second pic is absolutly gorgeous im a sucker for strange light the way just that band of sunlight hits those mountains made me all gooey {that might have been the painkilllers}anyway craigs birthday tomorrow and im away to do battle with the killer wrapping paper speak tomorrow
kirsty

Morning all, just a quickie as I dash back and forth between DS2's place and mine. I'm getting quotes for him to have the floors polished - well the bedroom floors anyway. Two down so far this morning and 1 to go and then one more tomorrow. That should give him an idea about what he is about to fork out for sparkling, glossy polished floors. Funnily enough, they all have different opinions as to whether he should do the hall as well. One says yes and the other says no so far. How does one know what to believe?
Love the photos Teel. Seems like a really pretty place and I have to agree with MEL the real estate looks great, a wonderful place to stay and admire the views.
Linus, what can we say. I'm so sorry that your health is so bad. Hope they can fix it quickly - Breast lift as well. Well why not. NHS has plenty of money to play around with!!! I just hope it all comes right for you soon. Don't overdo the wrapping paper this time will you?
Happy, going into business? Good for you, will this be web designing or some such - or maybe a site for relaxation and beauty for the soul with DH's photos combined with NY Philharmonic or something soothing to reach out and touch our lives. Or is it the Soup Kitchen coming back to have another go? Give it time, don't panic, reduce spending and keep thinking. It will happen, so I believe.
MEL, toes getting in the road now. Why did you have to reach out and touch the razor??? One thing at a time old girl - bath or razor not both. Gotta keep up the concentration and look after yourself you know!!!
Anyway, gotta rush, time to go back down the road for number 3 today. Sometimes I think I should just go back to work for the rest!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :lol3: :lol3:

I cannot tell a lie. When I went into the bath and sat down, I realized it was darkish and should have turned on a light. I just didn't want to get off the bath chair and into the wheelchair all over again just to flip a switch and do it all again! so the razor went un-noticed! :rofl: :rofl:

My toe hurts and I am not a happy camper. The rosacea may be coming back and a call to the eye guy put me back on the antibiotics! :rofl:

Now is this around the world with 80 chicks or around the hospitals with 6 chicks?!?!?:lol3: :lol3: :lol3:

After the party I will spend time with Marilyn so I say hello and have a great Wednesday to you all today. I think the foot may be a bit bothersome tomorrow and will pass on the computer.

Linus~ I sincerely hope you will be better and no admission is necessary. Hugs and prayers for you Friend. Please get well soon.

Shad the contractor~ Nice job boss. You are missing your calling as the boss of a building crew!!! :rofl: Hope the job isn't big $$$$.
Must have been a tough decision after laying out $$$ just to get the HOUSE!!! :lol: How goes the vanity?

Happy~ hope your bottom feels a bit better too! I would have said fanny but I don't want Linus to end up in a fit of laughter and hurt her back anymore than it is!!! We have had nothing but rain and gloom for so long that I can hardly remember the sun! It only peeks out every so often. well....the other day was absolutely beautiful till the rains came. Hope you get to ride it soon. any pics??!! :rofl:

OK gotta go and hop into bed. Well maybe hop is a little exagerated! :rofl: Have a great day tomorrow and good morning Sunshine. See you all on Thursday!!!

:coffee: :coffee: G'day all!!
Now where to start? Linus, you poor dear friend...I feel for you..I wish I was up there in haggis land making you cups of tea and bringing you some sacks of comfort... :grouphug: :grouphug: Hope it doesn'r end up with you having to go to the hospital...you can catch some nasty things by just putting a toe in the front door :devil:
It is hot here today. :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: It was yesterday too. The dog simply crashes out whever she is lying and goes to dream land. I just looked at my pooter weather icon and it said it was 19degrees....in La Harvre, France! Usually it is set for the weather in Ipswich, U.K., so goodness knows how it got set to France...silly old me!! :dizzy: And now I have re-set it and it tells me it is 19 degrees in Ipswich too...something to learn there, I thinketh...would have hated to have spent loads of £££££ going to France for a holiday only to find England was basking in the sunshine as well!!! :lol: :cool:
I hear there is a new horror movie out..."Miss Mel and the Disposable Razor!!":lol3::lol3:Mel ! For goodness sake remember to put the light on, girl...you haven't eaten enough carrots to see in the dark yet!!! :p Sorry you are saying goodbye to a freind today. That is always hard work. Will you be able to keep in touch with her? :write: :write:
Shad I am glad DS has decided to get in professional floor polishers in the house. Just make sure you don't walk in there after they are finished and slip A over T ! :fr: :censored: :o Good luck again with the job searches... ;)
Happy I too loved the houses on the shores of the Wolfgangsee. Do you think we would have any trouble getting a window cleaner? It would be a lovely job with superb scenery and good weather.
Where is our Nae?? Wasn't she off to sleep in a tent for a few days? Hope at least she hasn't got to chase any racoons away...probably chasing bears instead!! :yikes: :yikes:
Ah well that's enough from me for this morning...lets see if there are any more photos to make you all jealous of my holiday...I've only been back three weeks but it seems an age ago....

Morning
 

:coffee: :coffee: :coffee: Hi Teel, I will have a cup or two or three with you this morning...... I love the pics and the stories so much of your adventures. I wish I could have been a hankie in your pocket just travelling around. Now a wish of mine is to be in the audience some day when you play at a concert..... that would be so divine.
I made it out of the woods unharmed but the angels that surround my little van were working overtime to get me home I think. I was on some rough rough road getting into the lake and out. I was unloading my van and my front tire went flat.... I was so thankful I was home. Then when I had my oil changed yesterday the guy told me I barely had any water pump circulating in the engine...so $$$$$ that fixed now I should be good to go.
Ladies the place I camped was so beautiful and pristine I wish you all could have been there with me. I just relaxed and read the Davinci Codes and watched the lake and the birds. It was just what I needed to do to decompress and refocus. I don't have a scanner to share my photos maybe someday.
I am sending loving healing thoughts to all of you who are in need of some TLC and recovery. I hope you are resting and relaxing and getting all ready for the week. Let other people do the hard work and wait on you!!!!!
My tomatoes are ready to pick a few of them and my peppers are coming along too. But mainly the weeds everywhere in this wilderness plot are taking over. I may have to stay home this weekend and work..... :dizzy:
Thursday my boss is paying to take up all down river in a Jet Boat which is going to be so much fun....I have not seen any of the country and can hardly wait for the adventure of it all.
I hope you all have a good day or night.
Thinking of each of you!
Peace,
Nae ;)

hello ladies how are we all tonight hope you are all better than me still sore and getting worse but spirits good MEL my kids are calling you freddy now freddy the slasher :yikes: :rofl: :rofl: well just a quick post as im going to lie and watch forensic detectives {dh thinks im picking up tips}i got an old mug out of the cupboard today as we had lots of visitors and as usual it had a pig on it but oit also had the slogan "diets are not impossible hopeless but not impossible" so yes i did stand in the kitchen and burst out laughing the folks think im off my head adding to the fact i went looking for my baffys only to be informed they were on my feet so yes i am going round the bend well ive been told my times up speak later
kirsty

Linus will have to take a speed typing course so she can type faster and therefore get in more words in the allotted time frame.
I've been down to gym this morning and done weights. I get along alright with them and it may be getting to be time to up them again as they are getting easier to push, pull and press. Apparently I am not doing enough weights yet according to the torturer Jason. Maybe I will end up like some of those weight lifters.
Today I have one more quote to go although another sander rung this morning while I was out at the gym and left a message to ring him back. Maybe I will, maybe I wont. Then I am going to make one of those slider thingys to shift furniture on - I've had the timber and castors for ever and I want to shift the old metal filing cabinet out to the shed - it's going to become the home for the power tools. Then there are some other bits around the place that need wheels for me to shift them. All furniture should be made with retractable wheels for moving etc. in my opinion. Think how easy it would be for cleaning behind the fridge, freezer and stove!!!
Not much else to report here. Weather is fine, garden is growing, car needs washing, terrace needs a sweep and a wash down, house needs cleaning. As I said nothing new here.
Haven't stepped anywhere near the scales this week. It will be a surprise on Saturday to weigh and measure :yikes: Don't actually think much has happened, but will wait and see. The scale is in Brendans room which makes it difficult to weight early in the morning. May have to stick it back in the bathroom on Friday night.

Good to hear from Roseblush, teel, linus and MEL and sorry to hear that some of you are still not too good. 'Nae, sounds like a good weekend for you. All that nature. Teel love the photos. Keep them coming.

:sunny: :sunny: :cool: Phew the temperature is hotting up here today. In the town it was 28 degrees.
It has not been a good day for me. I managed to get an appointment with my G.P., and he was running late as ususal..rather supassed himself today though...he was 50 minutes late. Didn't help that I was sitting next to a moaning minnie who I heard book in at reception and say she was for my G.P., who kept looking at her watch and sighing and tut-tutting. I get on well with my doctor so I told him about this woman when I got in his room. He looked at his list and said was it the patient waiting to come in after me? When I said yes, he grinned and said hmmmn in a wise way!! :devil: :lol:
Anyway. Doc had my latest clinic letter up on his computer screen and said the pain consultant man was rather keen for me to swap the M.S.T. for the Oxycontin I used to be on.I said I wasn't keen :( but he explained that, as I knew, Dr. Munglani still doesn't agree with the diagnosis of the chest pain being costachondritis. Hence he thinks it is referred pain from my degenerating spine and the scoliosis between my shoulder blades. So if it is this, Oxycontin deals better with neuropathic pain so hence the change. I'm afraid I was so darn upset with the whole kit and kaboodle that I burst into tears and sat crying inconsolably for five minutes :cry: :cry: :cry: :kickcan: :kickcan: :censored: :stress:
So I change over tomorrow.I thought things were looking up in the direction of chest pain relief but since my holiday I seem to have gone right back to square one. It makes me wonder if going to Austria and having a good time was worth all the exhaustion and agonies I have had to put up with since.
Glad you all like the piccies. I have one more c.d. to download and resize and rename, then you can see a few more!!!
I am cross with my garden birds....before I went out I put the sheets and duvet cover and a few other items on the line to dry and yes, lo and behold, some little monster birdie has pooed down my clean sheet....No food for him tomorrow! :sumo: :rollpin:
Linus, how are you doing? Is it any better or do you think you will still have to go back to the hospital on Monday?
Nae... I don't use my scanner to put my photos on the computer. I ask for them to be developed onto a photo c.d. as well as normal ptints, and then download them and sort their sizes out with a photo-suite programme and there! You have copies of them all over the place...in a normal album, on a photo c.d., and in an album in you documents folder! I know we would all love to see where you put up your tent and wile away the hours, chilling out...:cool:
Well time for me to get out of the sandpit. Wonder where Mel and Happy have got to today??? :coffee:

Slow morning this morning. Woke with a dirty sinus headache and went back to bed instead of getting up and going to the gym. So today's run will probably not take place. Not to worry. I'm sure I can make it up later.
Yesterday I got two more quotes for DS2 and he will need to make up his mind over the weekend. Today I will try to get some information on the respective companies from the ruling body of sanding and polishing floors to try to ensure that we come up with anything dodgy that may have happened etc.etc. It pains me that I have to take all these precautions but there are so many scams and hustlers out there that you simply have to take all precautions. There was one lot yesterday that reminded me of Arfur and Terry in 'Minder'. The Americans among us probably won't know about 'Minder' - wonder if Teel and Linus are old enough to remember them?
Yesterday afternoon DS1 and I went to a place called O'Reillys in the Lamington National Park. O'Reillys have a guesthouse, shop, wildlife galore and bush walks and they are at least 11km from absolutely anywhere - straight up a mountain. It's an interesting drive I have to admit and somewhat challenging in parts. Anyway we saw lots of bush, did the treetops walk which wasn't quite as good as the one in SW Western Australia, but does not have the tourism $ funding it either. We also saw lots of colourful parrots, lots of brush turkey and on the way down the hill, a fairly large Kangaroo and an Echidna. Echidna are fairly rare in our neck of the woods so it was great to see one alive and moving. I've put a photo up of the birds, it was not possible to photograph the Echidna.
Today will be spent doing a bit of cleaning and housework, watering the garden and getting DS1 into town to meet his friends, with whom he will stay overnight. I am then going to lunch with an old workmate and then back here for a wine tasting session at 6.30pm. I have told her I am not buying, but she doesn't listen. Her problem not mine. She just wants to give me a gift she says!! Fine by me.

Back to the washing machine hey Teel. Maybe you should issue the garden birds with nappies (diapers) whilst in your garden. Menaces.

Okay I am off to do the aforesaid cleaning. Maybe catch up later tonight.

Whoops, forgot the birds

Teel~ I am truly loving the pics and the stories. Not being able to go to these places really makes me appreciat the shared vacations and travels of you all! :cb: sorry about the meds but guess you have to try it again. ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) and warm thought I send your way. Marilyn lives at the end part of my state. Far enough away that she won't be here much. she doesn't drive on the highways much any more and then by train it is a pain. Hust another person to add to the phone list! :rofl: Good luck with the meds!!! I cried when I read your post! Know the feeling of that kind of frustration. Sorry the birds shitz on your sheets!!! I almost fell out of the chair when I read that!!!:lol3: :lol3:

Nae~ The camping trip sounded so great too!!! I love the qquiet of the forest. Only the noise of nature!!! The gardening will be good exercise trying to rid it oif the weeds!!! Also....the jet boat sounds like a really good deal. Very nice freebie!!! Hope it is all you expect it to be. do come back and tell us all!!! :rofl: Inquiring minds NEED to know! :rofl: thanks for the good thoughts!! the toe is MUCH improved! :rofl:

Shad~ I will post results of weight and inches on my Sunday. Jen will be gone Sat. After 2 days of partying I must be gaining for sure! :rofl: I am drinking water and typing!!! LOL I will say a prayer for us! :rofl: and one for Jason as well! :rofl: I hope we have some progress of SOME KIND! :yikes: LOL

Linus~ So sorry to hear about pain increasing! Please keep us posted to what's going on there. Freddy the Slasher!!!??? :rofl: Good thing I didn't slash my fanny by sitting on it!!! :rofl: :rofl: :lol3: :lol3: Kiss the kids....I love them already!!!
Have a restful night!! Fingers aree crossed!

Marilyn is gone. Much tears and laughter and another party today. We all had a great time. The bus driver fought with his bus and won. He found a re-set switch that had somehow flipped and that is why the lift did not work! So today I got to go food shopping. Very happy Mel today. Monday is the Mall!! YAY ME!!! Have a great night and a wonderful Friday!! I may just go MORE food shopping just to get out!!!

:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: and 26 degrees today. I am tired :tired: might be something to do with me waking up at 05:00hrs and taking so long to get back to sleep I hung my washing out on the line whilst I was awake!! :devil:
Tomorrow I have 4 weeks to go till my trip to the big smoke...London!! I hope I am feeling a lot better than I do right now. So tomorrow is the start of my 4 week diet. Help me girls I do implore you :coach::coach::drill: :drill: :coach: :coach: I NEED to lose some weight...why is such a simply task SO darn difficult?
I have finished renaming, resizing and organizing my birthday bash photos, so here is a small selection of them to keep you on the tips of your toes and wheels till I get the rest of Salzburg downloaded...
See you soon.....Linus good luck for the approaching Monday....hope you are getting a lot easier now.....

Love it!!! Is that one of those drinking cups in the last one??? Even with my glasses on I have some probs with the PC at times!! The cake is terrific!!! :rofl: so glad you huffed and puffed and blew those 4 candles out!!! :faint: On the second one I thought there was a fireman's hat in front of you and got all excited!!! :rofl: Nice party you had!!! I also hope you are feeling much better for London. But if you decide to go swimming again PLEASE do not over do the exercise and spoil your trip!!! Sorry if I'm a nag but I would like to see you have another good time!!! Helps me to live vicariously! :rofl: How can we help with the diet?!?! Just say the word and we'll whip the crap out of you if you eat anything that's ot good for you!! Now get going and make and eat the right foods!!(how was that? stern enough?):rofl:

Everyone else is asleep or amongst the missing I see. I went food shopping and bought my usual "diet" fare and started cooking today. Meatloaf is in the oven, fruit salad in the fridge already cut up. tomorrow will make rice, potatoes and some veggies. I do much better when I prepare in advance and pre-package. The grand re-opening of the store save me some $$$$ and the sale continues to next week. I'll go back on Thursday too! :D

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and be happy!!!
Good Morning sunshine....have a great Saturday!!!:flow2:

Weigh and measure as promised
Weight - 75/75/75/74.5/74/73/ 74 Up 1kg or 2lb
Upper Chest 40/39.5/39/39.5/39 /39.5/ 39.5 Same
Bust 44/43.5/42.5/43.5/43.25/42.5/ 42.5 Same
Lower Chest 36/35.75/35.5/36/35/34/ 35.5 Up 1.5inches
Waist 36/36.5/35.5/35.75/35.5/34/ 34 5 Up 1/2inch
Upper Hips 42/41.5/41/42.25/41/40.5/ 40 Down 1/2 inch
Lower Hips 41/40.5/40/40.5/40/40/ 39.75 Down 1/4 inch
Top of Leg 22.5/22/21.5/22/21.75/21.75/ 21.75 Same
Top of Arm 12.5/12.5/12.5/12.5/12.5/12.5/ 12.25 Down 1/4 inch

Impress Rate - First thought - no, not impressed with that at all. Second thought - well the inches are moving. Third thought - this is just all too hard. Last thought - Tears.

Will I let it beat me - NO I BLOODY WILL NOT!!!


It’s time to try another track. Back to the drawing board and think again. Obviously the weight training, running and body balance has had a lot to do with the loss of inches - the weight must be controlled by other mechanisms in this contrary body. So it is necessary to embark on a series of eliminations this month.

Enough - want to know what I intend to do about it - read the journal. (maybe it has instructions for inserting zips in mouths)

Teel great photos. I take it you were drinking wine when the photo on the cake was taken?? As for getting rid of some flab, well join me in the search for the flab trigger. It's got to be there somewhere - just where is the question. What I want to know at this minute is - where is the justice - I'm beginning to think there is none in this cruel cold hard world. Also I am with Mel, take it easy on the exercise first couple of times - water is a great resister - so use the resistance to exercise the muscles gently. You don't have to go crazy to get a good workout - are there aquarobic classes at the pool? Try one of those but GENTLY please.
Talking of worlds - where is happy2bme?? Maybe she is halfway to MEL's place for a cuppa. Or maybe she wants some peace and quiet and is on the way to 'Nae's - who is also AWOL. Linus has an excuse. She is not well and has not yet perfected a way to lie down and type.

Time for me to disappear and get ready for Body Balance. Then it's back to the telephone to organise the floor sander for DS2. He's just so bloody tired at the moment he is totally and completely useless and has left the decision to me. It makes sense I suppose as I have done the meet and greet bit and asked the silly questions and yesterday I contacted the Building Services Authority to question the credentials of the 5 tradesmen. They pointed me in the direction of the Internet and search for the licences and indescretions or otherwise. 4 came up okay, but one doesn't even seem to have a tradesman licence. No prizes for guessing who that one might be. Yep, Arfur the Irishman. So he is completely out, if he wasn't before! One down, 4 to decide on. Okay, on to Body Balance. Catch up later.

hi all i wont ask how you all are as you sound just as pi**ed off as i am still sore but trying to be the hero and killing myself with painkillers just so i can be a half proper mum took craig shoppig for his longed for chain and ring if i had known which ones they were before i took him i might have had second thoughts the ring looks like something a rapper would wear its half an inch across gold with white gole shoulders{sides???}and is covered in diamonds if that thing catches me in the eye ill have to dictate what i want to say as ill be blind :love: :cool: :eek: :dancer: and to say the chain is big is an under statement its 8 grams of solid silver and looks like it should be on MR T and bless he thinks he looks brilliant ive tried to warn him that **** be walking at a stoop by saturday but he refuses to take it off made dh take it off when he was sleeping i was worried incase it strangled him in the night well dh has spent three hours away from his comp :censored: :faint: :rofl: :yikes: yes unheard of he thought i needed cheering up ?????? so he put craigs new billy conolly dvd on and yes i did laugh nearly wet myself so he thinks its safe to leave me for half an hour :lucky: dh and kids decieded to buy me the rest of the harry potter books as id got the prisoner one but hadnt read the rest we got them yesterday so yesterday i read the chamber of secrets{conner pinched the philosiphers stone first} and half of the goblet of fire and today i read the other half and all of the order of the phoenix so tomorrow ill read the philosiphers stone and then ill have to wait while j.rowling writes the rest :yikes: and as much as i liked the films im a self confessed book worm and definantly enjoyed the books better shad i think ive found the answer to your dietry problem my hubby if you have to eat his cooking more than once a week youll certainly lose weight i am but thats probably the fretting thats doing that i try and cram a whole days housework into the two hours peace and quiet i get before they get out of bed in the morning at least cleos stopped bleeding but this morning i went into the kitchen and discovered a horrid stench it took me nearly an hour to work out someone broke an egg in the egg bowl in the cupboard and left it there needless to say the house still vaguly smells of rotten eggs and as it was in the thitys here today you can just imagine actually dont your better not knowing well im getting grunts from the bedroom i must be on to long and hes just remembered stay good and ill speak to you tomorrow
kirsty

Hi girls,
I'm sorry I've been away - seems like I say that alot lately, don't I? But I am sincere no less. Here's what's been going on with me the last few days...

I have ridden my bike most every day. And I admit I do feel better - less achy in the body for getting some regular exercise again. The neighbor saw DH and I riding and said we looked so "cute" doing things as a couple. I am getting more used to riding and can go for longer times than when I first started but haven't made it to a full 30 minutes yet. I have eaten alot of salty foods the last 2 days - unusual for me and last night I noticed my foot felt "tight". When I looked at it, I almost fell over. Both feet were swollen, the left far more than the right - it was like a puffy balloon and the skin was so tight it felt like it was going to burst open. Sometimes when I've had a bit more salt, my rings get a touch tight but I have never encountered anything like this. It's gross!!!! I can't really sit around and put my feet up as they suggested other than sleepy time but I am sucking down the water, flexing and moving about. And really watching the salt in the foods. I'm hoping I just made a series of bad choices and it's nothing more serious than that. Odd for me as I don't like salt at all.

I did manage to obtain an interview with the new company that bought ours. It's across the country and I will be flying for a one day interview soon. If all went well it would mean selling the house and moving - a general pain in the butt but it does get us away from the cold winters. My Mom would be heartbroken. But no guarantees, just a chance and that is good. I sent out at least a dozen targeted resumes / CVs and didn't hear a thing. I am convinced you have to have someone personally present you in order to just get a smidgeon of interest. And I have just about run out of people to talk to. It's very sad and frustrating.

I woke up 3 days ago with my nose hurting so bad that it brought tears to my eyes to touch it. A big giant pimple or something buried deep on the tip of my nose. My nose is swollen and as red as Rudolph the reindeer's - in fact DH could not help but mention just that - bless him - NOT NOT NOT. So... I am at my highest weight, I can't fit into my business suits, my foot is swollen so badly that I can barely get a shoe on and even so my foot "spills" over the side of the shoe and I have a big red nose. I'd say I'm in perfect shape for an interview, wouldn't you? :cry: It's one of those times that you just have to dig deep to find something good in life....

... at least I didn't nearly cut my toe off with a safety razor or burn the shower curtain down with a candle ;) ;)

... I don't have a child who walking around imitating Mr. T with his jewelry (Linus you crack me up - you are so poetic with your writing) :lol3: :lol3:

... and I'm not brought to tears by working my bottom off, being good and seeing no results on the scale. At least I can account for each measure of the tape and if I wasn't the best for July, well... at least I enjoyed it. ;)

I have so much catching up with you ladies -
- Teel, it is so good to see what you look like. Such a pretty lady having fun on her birthday. Loved the picture on the cake too :hat: :cheers: I sure do wish we could all get together and vacation / holiday as a group. We could count the number of countries we'd be evicted from for being a silly giggly picture snapping band of laughing non stop chatting women!

Shad, I sense your frustration with the diet. I looked over your journals for a week. All I can suggest at this point is to cut the carbs out for 2 weeks and see what happens. The dried fruit has many times the sugar of fresh fruit. And you have several carbs a day - I know, low carb is extremely difficult to adhere to, and I hear you on the sandwich being a quick lunch alternative. I found myself the only way I can truly lose weight consistently is to measure out everything and cut the carbs and salt out almost totally. Fats I can cut as I get heartburn from them. The problem with me is that I need to lose a substantial amount of weight and I can't stick with the meal plan that will make it happen for more than 3 months. It's good to say - well eat the right things in moderation but while keeping you rather healthy and satisfied it doesn't always make the scale budge. I was going to ask if you are in a clothing size you are happy with - perhaps you are fighting your body's set point but I remember you talking about your concern over the weights for the judgemental insurance people :judge: and I can understand that.

And then there is always the option of letting Mr. Linus' husband cook up and ship our meals to us - :lol: My hubby's a pretty good cook but he only makes the main course and none of the fixings - that's my job so you'd have a good piece of fish, meat or some nice crispy bacon and scrambled eggs but not much else.

Mel, I'm glad to hear they got the lift on the bus fixed so that you can get out AND get some decent groceries. I know you do better when you can fix and cook away. I just bought some watermelon too - think I'll go have a slice. Anybody else want one?

Linus and Teel - I hope you both are feeling better. Teel, I will join you on a diet challenge for the next few weeks. Just healthy eating in the right portions and doing a bit of movement of some kind each day, ok? Is it a deal?

I think this would be easier if we could go over to Nae's place, raid her garden, go for long nature walks - I will be happy to push chairs for those who need a bit of an assist. Shad can get us up at sunrise and we can all stand out in the field doing yoga at sunrise, just like the videos. Then we can walk to the patio for some fresh coffee and breakfast. I will bring the camp stove and we can eat outside and listen to the birds. Nothing more lovely than the taste of bacon and eggs in the fresh morning air. Doesn't that sound lovely? :cloud9:

Enough rambling for me, I think I'm going to try the cool foot soak now. Have a lovely weekend everyone. I will try not to be such a stranger.

Happy~ Some doctors recommend epsom salts in the water for the foot soak. I'm not sure why but I have seen it work. Also they ask how many eggs do you eat as the whites hold salt.
Good luck with the feet and challenge. Hope you'll be ok for the interview!! OMG I almost fell over laughing! :rofl: Why do things like this always happen!! If we all go to Nae's I'll get a wagon and pull everyone. Sort of like a hay ride! :rofl:

Shad~ Nice to see the inches moving at least. I thought about the carbs in your diet too but you do so much physical work...how much lower could you go and not keel over from low blood sugar?!?:yikes::faint: Someday we will find the answer and probably be surprised it was right in front of us. I think you are the moost logical choice for picking the sander man too! LOL After all you know them all now!!:lol: Good luck.

Linus~ Poor Pet!! ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) for you and the pain and having to eat the DH's cooking!! Send some over here!! I could use some pounds gone!!! :lol: Eggs, kids, Cleo and God knows what else!! LOL No wonder Mum is worn out!!! :faint:
Hope you feel better soon. I loved the Harry Potter books!! I watch the dvd's all the time! :rofl: And is it the Sorceror's Stone? :rofl: Have a great read!! If you liked those books then you would love the series called The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. But they need to be read in the order they were written as it's a continuous story. I read them twice. He was like a Harry Potter but she wrote them many years ago. Feel better Miss Linus!!:encore:

I think I have the day to myself. Haven't heard from the bookkeeper. His wife has ovarian cancer now. They just told me last weekend. Sad. He is not holding up well either but both have a brave face on. So for today I think I may lounge around a bit and just make some foods in between rests. Feeling a bit worn out but I think it's from the soda/food combo and all the parties etc etc etc. I MUST behave myself eating and get that water in. I already started:D

Have a nice day. Ours is starting sunny for a change! :lol:

Morning
 

:coffee: Hurrah it is Saturday and I did try to sleep in but my Teeka had to get up and out the door at 6am. We also got up at 3 to see the moon lighting everything outside so awesome....the month of the blue moon it should be gorgeous tonight also. Last night I tried to get a pic of it as it first beckons over the moutains.
So nice to read about everyone and to know we are still around to fight the good fight and share our lives and laughs. So are you ready for another wilderness adventure? Thursday morning we met at 7:30 early for the rest of the work crew but not for me..... and we headed down river. Here is a little geography for you..... The Salmon is called the River of NO RETURN from the Lewis and Clark expedition....even though they named that a little too early future explorations found that statement to be so true. As the canyon narrows you have no option but to follow the river to its outlet to get off of it. Very daunting cliffs mountains hold it all the way to the border of Oregon and Washington. It flows North from its very start and turns at North Fork to the west. It is the largest river that begins and ends within its own state lines. The illusion of such a forceful river flowing due North is very odd and confusing when you first see it.
The river road is so narrow and has so many sites to offer. I had never taken the time or opportunity to drive down as far as you can go. There are fruit orchards down there so amazing is this country and the mountain sheep with their little ones are all over the road and cliffs beside you. One little guy dislogded a boulder as we went by and it came plunging at the car as we went by.... it did fail to hit us.... To float from the end of the road out to the rivers end at Riggins requires a permit by drawing so it is busy with guides and boats and people at the dock area.
We got on a Jet boat only a few permits for these guides. Off down the river after we loaded our cooler with lunch and of course I had to have some beer along.... We went through rapids and over boulders and torrent of water very exciting. stopped at the drivers lodge nestled in such thick brush you would miss it. Stopped and saw engraved rocks of previous explorers...one dated from 1892 and then they returned in 1905.... in those old wood boats amazing they floated that body of water in those days. We even boated over a section that are falls.... right a big drop off.... yee haw.... pulled over for lunch and some fishing... one of the guys onboard hooked a sturgeon those ancient giants that still are living in many waters around the world... didn't get to see it as the fight broke the line. it is of course barbless hook catch and release. sorry am I boring you all? So I was in the water with my life jacket and fins and just had a ball..... it was a thrilling day and we laughed alot and felt the awesome force of nature all around us with all the slides of masses of land and boulders that are a continuing effect of rain and wind upon the landscape.
Well I will leave you with that for now... sometime I will tell you about my bosses famous father. He is no longer on earth but made a dramic impact while he was here...... I wish you all a great day and good health. I had to escort a hummingbird out of the house this morning...it happens so much I have the technique down so they are not harmed.
Love to All My Buddies Around This Great World,
Peace,
Nae :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:
P.S. You are all invited to my house any time..... it would be so grand! ;)

Nae, can I come live in your yard? I won't be much bother, I promise. Loved the description of your yard. And when the fffffffffffffrreeeezzzzzing winter blows in, I'll just migrate over to Shad's place. I can't fathom the idea of a hummingbird in the house much less escorting it back out in the wild. It sort of makes me wonder, why do I stay here in the city? Oh... probably that little annoyance called a job and self doubt that anything other than the current rut is a foolish venture.

:cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9:

Okay...Day 1 of the 4 week weightloss challenge! Welcome aboard Happy! :cheers: and by the way that liquid in those glasses is either a diet coke or a no added sugar blackcurrant squash!!
I weighed on my scales just now and I am almost too embarressed to say it said ...79.4kg.That is fully clothed and late afternoon so probably not the best time to do it...but there we go..:o :o :o :stress: :stress: I feel so gross and fat fat fat beyond belief. Happy I think you needed to put your spectacles on when looking at the thumbnails...in no way am I in the least bit pretty...I feel very ugly and almost not fit to be seen in and allowed out in public. So today I have started my healthy eating plan. Breakfast was a few spoonfulls of muller light yoghurt (I was still full up after the Chinese last night ...I was out with a friend :devil: ) and lunch was a vanilla frappo. Un fortunately it came with cream on the top and a few lacings of chocolate sauce. I didn't think that was too bad though as I have only had a diet coke for the rest of the day. Dinner tonight will be a ready made low fat Ceasar salad with a peppercorn crust steak. Is that ok? And I bought some apples today and some grapes and cherries. Please feel free to ball me out on my lunch choice...I know it wasn't the best ....I even managed to fail on day 1. I really do feel an utter and complete failure. I have got to do this or it will literally be the death of me.I have done 3 20 minute walks with Holly this week and aim to go for another walk in the cool of the evening :workout: :workout:

Sorry this has been a bit of a depressing post. I think the blasted chest pain is getting me down. I started the new pills this morning...back to the Oxycontin...:kickcan: :kickcan: :sumo: :sumo: What concerns me is if the consultant is right and the chest pain is referred pain from my thoracic spine, then this is a new development (well 7 months now) for me and it means that my spine is starting to degenerate a lot faster and cause even more problems than it previously did. If he is right then I really want to know how far has it degenerated and when or if will it stop? And more important a question, what sort of a state will I be in? Will I sooner or later be wheelchair bound? And of course if he is wrong and the diagnosis is that of Costachondritis, then I suppose being on the wrong pills will mean I get more and more uncontollable pain and it will take an age to get back to where I was before the holiday. I have 4 weeks to get this sorted before my holiday in London...am I worried?....er....yes. Enormously :cry: :( :cry:

Ok, all of you go to the far corner and talk amongst yourselves for a minute as I would like a word with Miss Teel.

:nono: :nono: If you are ugly well then since I have similar features to you, that must make me ugly and unfit to be seen in public myself. And I'll be having none of that young lady - and you ARE a young lady compared to me. There are people who are beautiful in the face but ugly in the heart. And then there are people like you who have a kind and loving face that says I know how to be a friend to someone. People like Mel and Shad - in fact I'm sure all of us have that kind of face and a bit of a mischevious (sp???) twinkle in the eye at the right times just to prove that we are lot of fun. As for the weight - put it in perspective - I'd be delighted to be where you are and Shad is near what I might be satisfied as a goal weight - yet we all feel we need to shake off the pounds. So lets just agree that we all have some work to do, no tears, no gnashing of teeth, no calling ourselves blubber bags, ok?

I must also chastise you for you lunch choice. :no: :drill: where is the fruits, veggies and protein. The frappo was a treat and perhaps a bit much but in my opinion I think we do ourselves much more harm when we have something like this and then skimp on the stuff we should be eating just to save calories. Dinner sounds lovely and some fine choices.

Ok, the rest of you can come back now... I just popped in between household chores, back to scrubbing and laundry for now. I have some chicken breasts marinating for dinner, I think I'll add grilled vegetable kabobs and some cool watermelon. Lunch was a parfait of yogurt, blueberries, strawberries and a bit of cereal that has flaxseed and omega 3 stuff in it. Very healthy and tastes good. And I nibbled on a cheesestick for some extra protein. The foot swelling has subsided a bit.

Oh, and I checked my email and I have another interview to schedule for next week. It is all about managing large staffs of people - will be far away from my blessed one on one current job and back to all the :censored: :censored: hectic life of a big manager again :faint: but at least I am getting a bit of interest. :dance: :dance:

Right well Miss Teel - now don't forget I have seen you in the flesh. Happy is right, you must not judge yourself like that. You are definitely not an ugly, blubberbag, druggy fatso. Ok, so you are not Liz Hurley, but who amongst us is?? and you are a much more dependable person than Liz anyway. You are a nice person, a lovely person and a really good friend - with a skin that I envy and wish I had one like it!!!!!! Yes you have a few disadvantages and loosing weight would probably help a few of them. Yes you are carrying too much weight, but the problem can be solved (maybe not with frappicinos). Solve that one and maybe a couple of others may disappear, or at least abate.
BUT YOU AINT AN UGLY LADY!!!!!

GET IT??????
GOT IT??????
GOOD!!!!!!

I just got back from taking DS1 into the airport. He is now in the air on his way to his new job in Adelaide. His new boss rung on Friday and was about 10 feet off the ground. He has given BJ a promotion and some customers of his own to deal with for a couple of months. Apparently some new work has come in unexpectedly which should take his business from a half million dollar turnover to around a million. Add to that he (the boss, not BJ) is getting married this weekend and he has yet to organise some bits of it. I suggested that he might think about getting a trainer in on the act. Not a lot of reaction to that I'm afraid!!!
Happy, I am glad to hear that somethings are coming out of the woodwork for you. Two interviews is great. Hope the nose comes right for the coming week. As for the feet, keep up the water, elevate the feet whenever possible and watch the sodium contents of food. Get out there and sock it to them - you can do this thing.

Nae, great to hear of the adventures in Idaho. It sounds like a lot of fun. Just think of me and I'll be there doing it all right alongside of you.

Morning Mel, hope you are having a relaxing day up on the 2nd floor, reading the map and deciding where to go next. Have you used up the butterflies yet and the stars??? I'll send over some more if you need more!

Linus I hope things come right very soon. You have put up with enough stuff, you and teel and Mel, time things went right for you all for a change.

Well I have calmed down somewhat from the scale monster. I will carry on and just be extra vigilant. Yesterday was no bread, actually this week is no bread. Now that BJ has gone away, I can get back to normal meals, not that we had anything particularly bad, but it is exceedingly frustrating to find that my 30 year old vegetarian son eating the same (but more) food than me can lose a kilo in a week (and has trouble getting over the 77KG mark) and I put on 1.5kg and difficulty staying under the mark. Life is definitely not fair!!!!. :cry: :cry: :cry: This kid, I might add, ate his way through 2 loaves of grain bread in less than 2 days. (I only got 3 slices of that lot) And he ate 3 square meals a day and polished off the packet of chocettes that Simon brought home last week (of the broken tooth fame). :censored: :censored: Oh and I might add he is not exercising and riding his bike at the moment either - lord knows what he might eat then!!!! :faint:

So I'm back at the drawing board and taking in the suggestions from the journal. I will have to draw up some sort of a meal plan - then join Happy and Teel on the challenge. Ho hum!!!!!

Oh yes and I forgot to mention. Jason the torturer is taking a group of people from the gym on the Bridge to Bay run this morning. Will be well underway now. I think they started around 6.45am. Anyway he wanted me to join them. :rofl: :lol3: :rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3::rofl: :lol3: :crazy:
Jason I said - I can manage 6.5 painful k's on the treadmill, if I did the 12k's from the Bridge I would be dead before I hit the beautiful seaside. Go away and stop tormenting me!!!!!
Can you lot imagine me in a crowd of around 14000 people, some go for the run and the prize, some go for fun in bathtubs, or in hospital beds being pushed by guys dressed as nurses and full of booze!!! There's wheelies racing, families held together with stretchy bands and mums with pushchairs. Some people have been known to take the family pooch. Maybe in another year or so I could get there, but definitely no, not this year.

Okay, laundry, clean the kitchen, tidy the lounge and change the beds. Then some cerebral work to try to spice up the resume, and work out the last couple of problems in the bathroom. Have a good weekend all of you.

hello ladies dh is at the pub and the clan have finally stopped phoning so i came for a blether but first everyone except teel put their fingers in there ears TEEL YOU BLOODY STUPID WOMAN HOW DARE YOU SAY THOSE DEGRADING THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF AS IF WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS IN LIFE WITHOUT BRINGING OURSELVES DOWN WAHT YOU ARE IS SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT NOT GROSS OR FAT OR ANY OF THE OTHER HORRIBLE THINGS YOU SAID I FOR ONE THINK YOU ARE A VERY LOVELY PERSON HAVE THOUGHT SO SINCE THE FIRST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU AND NOW IVE SEEN YOUR PICTURE I CAN ONLY SAY {for once} I WAS RIGHT YOU ARE A VERY LOVELY LADY AND GOD YOU LOOK SO YOUNG SO NO MORE OF IT OR IM SENDING ROSE TO GIVE YOU A WOMANS LIB TALK A VERY LONG ONE AND BY THE WAY DO YOU THINK YOUR FREINDS WOULD WANT TO STAY NEAR YOU IF YOU WERE GROSS OR DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT BE ALL A BIT DAFT ????? THOUGHT NOT right lecture over my goodness how are we all good i hope i feel {finally} a wee bit better i had to go and give dad his dinner today {dh would go but my dad doesnt like him says hes not good enough for his daughter considering im the only one who has had both my kids to the same man and have stayed with the same the whole of my married life he might have got used to him by now but as i chose him over university and my master he doesnt like him}so hes got himself a new telly god they just keep getting bigger my sister told him the next one will be to big to fit in her car even with the seats down so hed better keep this one my freind and her bh are away to turkey on monday thats the couple we went to tunisia with they keep trying to get us to go away with them again but i couldnt leave the kid again so we said no{and no its got nothing to do with the fact id have to get on a plane again} but dh said if i was meeting you lot i think id get on the plane and guess what i think he might be right so look out if a strange wee scots woman is sighted looking lost in your neighbourhood it might be me :censored: :faint: :yikes: :rofl: anyway im going to go and try and shave my legs as i havent been able to get down far enough to do it for over a fortnight and no way is dh getting near me with a razor speak later :rofl: :crazy:
kirsty

Linus - wear pants until you can shave properly, else we'll be sporting the bandages for the razor cuts on both you and Mel. :yikes:

How do we tell a wee scot's woman from the rest of the lot roaming around the area? :chin: give us a hint or two, will you - wouldn't be right me inviting just any old crazy in for tea on the pretense that it might be you come to visit.

As for trainers, they all think they can make runners out of us. Mine was pushing me too and I was like No Way Jack - hit the road. You should be happy I'm doing the dreadful bike. He had me do this exercise where you take big strides down the hall and dip down on the knee - a popular exercise to strengthen the leg. Well my knee was popping and ripping such sounds pow, click, eeeeeeeeee, followed of course by several oof-duhs and the sound of my giggling when I bent a bit too far and banged against the wall being a bit wobbly and perhaps drunk with the excitement of another fine workout :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: No, I told him, I am not a runner I am a dancer!!!!

Now Shad, I think with a little planning ahead, the lot of us could make one fine running bed for the race across the bridge. Is it downhill or would we be needing Mel to give us a pull once in a while? That I could get into... I've seen races like that - lots of fun, except if you are an actual runner trying to win the race.

Later chickies, the BBQ is blazin' here.

Actually the bridge itself is 1.1k uphill (5 degrees of slope I think) and then downhill and fairly flat to the city. The run used to go from the bridge out to the bay, but now apparently goes into town. Anyway they finish at a fairly pretty park just outside the city centre. There is a short course as well, but you would get knocked over in the rush for that one. You would certainly need Mel to pull you up the bridge if you are complete with bed. However, she could be a menace on the downhill side of the bridge. I'm not even sure I want to go there!!!!!!!!! :crazy:

:angel: Thank you my friends. For bunging up the hole I was diving headlong in to. Don't know what was wrong with my psyche yesterday except something that happened in my chilhood has been on my brain rather a lot recently and disturbs me a bit. Well, a lot actually. I cannot post anything about it here. Perhaps if I feel brave enough I will p.m. Shad with it at some future moment. :o :o
Well it is 02:23 as I :comp: :comp: I went to bed at about 22:45hrs as usual and felt it took ages for me to drop off to sleep, that I felt I still hadn't had any sleep and it was midnight. From experience I know that on occassions like these I usually am bordering hypoglycaemia so I took my blood sugar levels and yes, it read 4.2 mmol. So I had 1/3 of a glass of semi-skimmed milk (usually have skimmed but the gardener bought the half fat stuff when he came the other day... :cheese: we haven't got a moo cow smilie but you get cheese from the white stuff so I think you'll foolow my drift :) ) and went back to bed. I think I have been asleep but not for long and here am I at this VERY early hour of the 1st August in England, :gossip: and