Hi all of you lovely ladies,

I've been on my new :tread: just a few minutes ago. Hannah got me the new SUgarland C.D. as one of my pressies so I have let it rip on the computer while I walked. I've only done 15 minutes and stopped as my tummy was hurting, but I think it's cos I've not let my dinner go down as we had just finished eating. I'll add five mins extra each day, and that way I reckon I'll be on it over an hour at a time before I know it :carrot:

I took my car in this morning, they told me it would take two hours, one to sort out the window and one for the stereo, and they'd call me. So I had Hannah follow me in her car, and then we went off to a few shops and the mall. Mum got some late Christmas pressies that she's taking home for people and I got a few bargains ready for next year. The mall was horrendous, the amount of people taking things back was ridiculous, shame really, that people don't seem to like what they're given and end up taking it back and changing it :( I drove around for ages to find a parking spot and then had to glare at someone racing the other way as I went to pull in, as they had an idea that they were going to get it :devil:

After two hours I called the car place and it still wasn't ready, so I decided we'd have a little drive around the touristy bit of the town and of course got lost, but eventually found a road I knew...:D

We all had a lovely time at Christmas and we were all very spoilt. The food was lovley and I ate to much, but am trying to be good now. I have loads of veggies and made a nice bubble and squeak, so it'll be windy here tonight.

Veggie: :getwell: Hope your women troubles sort out soon.

Michelle, glad to hear your Dad is faring better, keep your chin up lovey and enjoy your nano. :hug:

Frus, you're as mad as me going out in the sales, but I've got so good over the past few years, and rather enjoy it.

Helen, sounds like you're having a nice holiday, we planned on a walk on the beach yesterday, but I couldn't find the road to the car park and Mum didn't want to walk on the boardwalk as it had no railings, so we gave it a miss, did pass a tea shop on the way back home and decided to call in, so ended up having a cream tea...it was bloody yummy... I've not had one in over ten years...:coffee2: It was a very Englishy place and by the decor we're thinking the owner is a Scot, but they weren't there, so I'll have to go back and find out more another day.

Tomorrow I have doctors appointments for H and I, and then I shall come home and clean....and walk with Pen and Lew and then do nothing....I feel the need for a rest after the past few days.

Ok, take care all, see you tomorrow. x

We went out for pizza last night :barf: I didn't really need THAT on top of all the Christmassy rubbish recently, but I did have a salad... Then was tempted by the white chocolate and cranberry cheesecake - to DIE for! :drool: So I guess it's ok! :)

I'm going to drag DH out for a run this morning, I think it's about time I got off my lazy backside and did something other than read or doze or surf the net! :lol:

Tomorrow we're off to Cornwall and I shall be using DH's parents' guest pass for their gym :D

Michele - I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad - and I'm glad he's on the mend. :hug:

Hi Veggie :wave: I hope you're feeling better - what horrible timing. You'll just have to go nuts at New Year instead. :hug:

Chris - Your Christmas sounds lovely - very peaceful! Go easy on that treadmill, I think they recommend you wait for at least an hour after eating. We had bubble & squeak last night - and we found out that Ellie likes sprouts - especially cold ones - so its been a bit windy round here as well!

Helen - Aren't there any other jobs you could do apart from bar work? 18000 steps! That was a LOT of pottering - its surprising how it all adds up - have a nice time with that wine and gnocci :drool: (yum!)

Jen - That cheesecake sounds totally fabulous :dizzy: - have a great time in Cornwall.

Ky - A turkey in a shopping trolley? :lol: Sounds like fun!

RSG - I'll have to print off that list and read it every time the scales go the wrong way for me. ;)

Phew - thank goodness thats over for another year. I've certainly been put off of ever having another Boxing Day bash which involves family AND friends - and next time I'm going to do a little more research in to whose been invited. This year there were about half a dozen long distance relatives turned up who I've never met before and among them was a pair of the most unpleasant people I've ever met! Opinionated, arrogant, rude... and worse.... THEY DIDN'T LIKE DOGS! (If you don't like dogs then why go to a household that has got three big 'uns??)

The people that stayed over (including the unpleasant couple) were rudely awakened at 6.30am by some idiot ;) making themselves a cuppa and 'accidentally' leaving the door to the dogs' room open. ;) ;) ;) ;) Ellie is very good at waking people up, especially when they are sleeping on the floor. :o Anyway, the last of them had gone by mid morning and it took another 4 hours to put the house back to rights.

The vegan relatives turned out not to be vegan any more :rolleyes: - but the food I cooked for them was yummy and it was the first to disappear, which was nice.

I've eaten and drunk FAR too much over the last few days - all my waistbands feel a bit snug and I had very bad tummy ache and indigestion yesterday :( so today I'm having a fruit and veg only day which I'm hoping will sort me out. I had a mug of hot water with slice of lemon first thing, a dish of blueberries, raspberries and chopped pear for breakfast, big green salad with an avocado and grapes for lunch and I've planned a baked sweet potato with lots of steamed spinach and char-grilled aubergine/courgette/peppers for dinner, then fresh pineapple for supper. Water or herb/fruit teas for drinks. Fruit for snacks if I need them. Nothing with caffeine in. I might do the same again on 2nd January to kick start getting back to normal eating.

I noticed the new Eve out today, but it's wrapped up (with a free book) so I couldn't peek to make sure its the right one. I might buy it tomorrow!

I hate working between Christmas and New Year, someone please remind me to book the whole period off next year!!!

I got it, this month's Eve (well February) and Miss Helen is there in all her glory looking suitably glam!

Buy it!!!

I don't think I can buy it in this village :(

Well... I've learned a lesson - never again will I end a 24 hour fruit & veg day by eating a slice of Christmas cake for breakfast - it has really upset my tummy.

What a miserable walk today - my tummy was doing a boogie and the weather was very cold and blustery... then the rain started. Torrential freezing cold rain being swirled around by the wind - and I didn't have my waterproofs on over my jeans. When I got home I found that my legs have turned a very fetching shade of very bright fuschia pink with a grey overtone due to the dye running in the new pair of black jeans I was wearing... which also stained my pretty pink hiking boots...

I think I'm going to have a cosy afternoon reading the Diet Doctors book and possibly a nap :) - then I'm making a yummy homemade pizza for dinner :drool: (I'm cheating with the base - I bought a packet of ciabatta bread mix.)

Hello everyone :wave:

I've just finished cleaning ready for the New Year, will just have to do a few bits now to keep up over the weekend :carrot: I still hate wood and tile floors....pigging thngs!

Sarah, I hope you've dried off and warmed up after your not so enjoyable walk this morning... I love walking in the rain, but not when it's got an icy blast to it :( that's not nice at all.

Michelle, glad to her your Dad is doing better...you're in my thoughts. :hug:

CG isn't well at the moment, :( she's been to the docs and has some mild pain relievers but it's not helping her....she needs :hug: sent her way.

Kylie... didn't write last time about how funny I thought you wheeling a turkey in a shopping trolley was, with neighbourhood dogs following.. had me in stitches. :D Thanks for the info on Eve, I shall have Mum buy one when she gets home.

Right, I'd better get the washing finished and then I think I shall have a little sit down and watch some telly for a bit.

have a lovely evening all.

I had a big clear out yesterday... still lots to do tomorrow! :) Maybe I shall stay offline and get it done!

Went to the cinema today to see Night at the Museum.... so funny.... I recommend it to everyone, had me in stitches! :D

Veggie I hope your feeling better!

Big :hug: to CG and lots of positive thoughts going in her direction. Get well and come back soon CG. :hug: :hug:

We had some amazing rain during the night - it actually woke us up hammering against the window but this morning the sky looks all scrubbed and bright blue - but its still blummin windy.

My tummy is better today. I'm planning another fruit & veg day on the 2nd January and, after my problems yesterday, :rolleyes: I shall be very careful what I eat the day after!

I'm not looking forward to getting on the scales next Thursday - I can't get my wedding ring off again which means I am either retaining a lot of water or I've put on about half a stone (or, more likely, a mixture of the two). It seems a lot for just a few days off diet but I've done it in the past. Anyway, we're off out to dinner tonight and tomorrow we're going to the formal dinner/ball thing which I am very much NOT looking forward to. I hate high heels and hot rooms.

Hello everyone

Chris please tell CG I am thinking of her and wish her well.

Sarah I am exactly the same I dread facing the scales but I know I shall have to. Once the New Year is here we will all be fine again.

Things have been hectic here again my father took ill again yesterday,
he had a bleed and ended up having four units of blood transfused. It was so scary. He is feeling much better now though but its still worrying. I've just been round to see my mother she saw him getting the blood but I didn't tell her what happened or she would just fret.

Sarah I chuckled when I read about you eating christmas cake for brekkie, I have been doing that with quality street.

This morning I got a package delivered to me I thought what is that
opened it up and its a sachet of SLIMFAST soup oh how I laughed. They must be sending it to the people who have been fat piggies over Christmas!!!

Right I'm off to the hospital.

Take care everyone

Love Michele

p.s. I am going to look for EVE at the hospital newsagent.

Morning all :)

I already stepped on the scales yesterday and it wasn't pretty. :( I had a doctors appointment on Thursday for a meet and greet as it's a new doctor for us. It was a very nice lady and we went over my weight issuses a bit, but she said for me to carry on what I'm doing and it'll slowly disappear...she has given me a referral for blood work though and they check the thyroid reading, so maybe this one will show something, although it'll prob be as normal as ever and once again, I'll know it's just me not doing things right. :o

I've just been on my lovely :tread: I've been on every day now since Christmas and I'm really enjoying it. It does help to have some music blasting away, makes you not really think what you're doing. Pen and Lew look at me oddly when I put my shoes on to get on, as they think it's me going to take them for a walk....:D which is their usual sign, but I'm putting my nice shoes with support on for the :tread: and I wear my ratty old trainers for walking so they should know the difference.

We're having another wood delivery this afternoon, we've only got a few logs left, so need more, so that will be some more exercise, lugging it from the pile in the driveway where the chaps dump it. It's supposed to snow a little too, so that should be fun.

Michelle, :hug: for you and your Dad. A blood transufusion hey? That should help sort him out again like you say. I wish I could donate over here, or whenever I come home, but they won't let me, because of being out of the country...and over here, they won't let me, because they're scared I have mad :moo: disease. Having lived or visited England.....it does drive me mad, and I can be a :moo: so maybe they're right.:getwell: for him though.

Well hubs has just arrived home after spending his gift certificates he got for Christmas, and it's something to do with this computer, of course....so I'll go and finish more bloody laundry... bedding day, and have a :coffee: with Mum.

Enjoy your day.

Hello everyone, it's been a glorious day here today, I've been really lucky with the weather this year. Usually Christmas can be a bit hit or miss with the weather (very like an English summer), but this year I've hardly seen a cloud. Hopefully next year will be as nice.

My jeans feel a little tight at the moment. I'm sure that's at least in part to *cough* waffles with hot cherries and cream, and having a three course menu del dia for lunch then going out again for two courses in the evening. That and drinking more alcohol than I'm used to. But I have been walking lots, honest, and went out for another run this evening. And I have at least been getting my fruit and veg in (even if it is on waffles...)

I'm very jealous that I can't get hold of Eve for another week, I'd like to know what I "said" ;)

Michelle, hope your dad comes through OK.

Chris, glad you're enjoying your treadmill, and tell CG I hope she gets better soon.

Michele :hug: It must be a very, very scary time for you, your Mum and your family. I hope the blood transfusion has done your Dad some good. :hug:

Chris :lol: I don't know whether to wish you luck about having an underactive thyroid or not. It seems a bit strange to wish an illness on someone! Your new doctor sounds nice - how different from mine! Do you ever watch that Dog Whisperer man - think his name is Caesar something or other - he has got dog size treadmills. Maybe you could get one to go on either side of your person size one for Lew and Pen.

Helen - GC sounds lovely - and the food sounds even nicer... waffles with hot cherries and cream....... :drool:

I think that Christmas has sort of triggered off my sweet tooth again - I thought it had gone away for good and that I only had to deal with my lust for cheese - but no, all these :censored: boxes of Thorntons have started up the old blood sugar thing again and, of course, the easiest way to deal with it has been to pop in another chocie.... :rolleyes:

I forgot to mention - I ended up with 23 boxes of Thorntons! I bought three, DH bought me a couple more and the relatives all phoned DH's Mum to find out what they should bring me on Boxing Day and MIL told them all that the only thing she could guarantee that I would like was Thorntons ..... I've told DH that I'm going to eat the truffles but he can have the rest. What was interesting was that the relatives brought chocolates - but the friends all brought red wine or cheese..... my neighbour said she could tell who was who by what they were carrying.

I have just opened another box of the Eden choccies by Thorntons oh they are yummy.

My father continues to improve thank god. That blood has done him the power of good. He telephoned from the ward not long ago and said he is allowed to eat light meals again. So could I bring him in his favourite dairylea cheese spread on wholemeal hovis and a flask of tea.

He said a female doctor was around this morning and asked him how his stools were. He said and I quote "sure you have me half starved girl there is not a thing for me to look at" He is surely on the road to recovery!!

My hubby has just come back from hi s mum's and was sick I hope he hasn't picked up some kind of bug.

Right I must go and get in the shower.

Happy New Year to you all

Michele