Hi all. I’ve just done a bit of speed reading so apologise in advance for not including you all. I had another slightly longer walk today and it was wonderful. I’m back at home and no knee pain! I feel so lucky as we have lovely walks in our area. The sea is one block down the road and the bush just a stone’s throw away.
GL I’d say that your grandson has inherited the Scotts or Irish colouring. It’s sad that he has a heart condition. I used to work as a theatre sister n a paediatric hospital many years ago. We did lots of open heart surgery ( some of you may recall the name Professor Christian Barnard – first human heart transplant. ) the success rate was fantastic. It was so satisfying to see such sick kids recover so well. Hopefully up your grandson will do equally well.
Tuismum, I’ve been using Fat Secret and also prefer it to MFP.
We are off for some fish and chips for lunch and then been invited to a happy hour this arvo. Such lovely neighbours who include some of us old fogeys to their do’s.
FD again tomorrow. I’m going to try CG’s skipping brekkie plan. Yes CG It’s good to have the cricket back on. I hope NZ become more competitive though. So you remember when the Windies were such a formidable team. Every game was high drama. I loved it.

Hi, I have to add my voice of hope!
My sister is a paediatric surgeon. She works on the cutting edge in her field and actually lives overseas where she can work with other cutting edge people on amazing cases that also come from all over the world. Cutting edge wasn’t meant to be a pun but may as well run with it!

Apparently my sister recently walked into a meeting and got a standing ovation from the other staff. A child survived an operation that no one expected to live. My sister had asked for volunteers to work in theatre with her because of the expected outcome.

One of my own sons became deathly ill at 16 months. He now is 25. While he is on his second pacemaker, no one would even know and he frequently runs half marathons.

I am not suggesting that everything will be OK. I also worked with disabled children for many years, some kids really do draw the short straw. But, where there is life there is hope and who knows how techniques and technology will have improved by the time the next op is due.

Fit, glad things went well.

I am working for the next 2 weeks and currently going through a migraine cluster so if I am MIA, you’ll know why. I find the shock of going back to work exhausting! And early mornings!!!

I have been out gardening this morning and now it seems a storm is brewing. Can’t wait to see your photo CG. I will try and post a photo you may enjoy.

How do you delete a post. I tried to muck around with the photobucket thing and can’t delete it. I can edit it only so I edited it to this!

Wow. What a good day everyone is having and Fit….Go you girl!! There is no way I could stay op all night anymore..you’re a legend ????????.

Love the clip Sujen. So cute can’t wait to see the photos of Lexie CG. You seem to have the routine all down pat to fit in with your exercise. And you and Doggy are sure enjoying the cricket.

Doggy. Great news about the walks. Everything seems to be falling into place for you which is well deserved. ?????????. What a privilege working with such a renowned surgeon and at such a time. You must be very talented to have been on that team. And UP your sister sounds amazing. ??????.

Hope you are OK gyps! And you internet gets sorted soon GG.

A big Hi to all I have missed. ?????

Rainy day here today so lucky we made the most of the Sunny day yesterday. The “Dressmaker” was great. As Wes the coffee before hand. Then over to my daughters house to clean up a bit. OH went over while I was at the movies and lifted the old carpet and then a friend of D’s came and helped him move it out of the house and into the garage. I arrived with lunch and then OH vacuumed it and washed the floors with disinfectant while I wiped over the cupboards I could get into. Even made a start on cleaning the oven, which is a great height…so a very industrious day. Love these Magic Pills. Will be sad when they run out and I am back to my old self.

We are both planning a well deserved nap now so ????

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Crossing my fingers toes knees etc…this should be a movie of CG with her gorgeous little calf Lexie. I would NOT call that bottle of milk small though CG!! sj XX

Try Numero Uno not a success. Will give it another go. sj

Well success of a sort CG! You have to click on the link to get there but also……when I uploaded it, it’s rotated it &$%#, so you might all get a crook neck trying to watch it! Still cute but. sj XXXX

Suejen…success thank you for uploading movie and CG Lexie is just so cute and what a big bottle of milk. And cute boys also. Wonderful?????

Up. Great photo of the horse in SIL house. She must have had a hard time getting both the sheep and house out without damaging anything. ??

Hi All!
Doggy – so glad to hear you are making such progress with the walking. How wonderful that you worked with Christian Barnard….we are in very exalted company indeed! You must have taken part in some amazing and miraculous surgeries. Hope you enjoyed your fish and chip lunch xxxx
CG – that video is so cute, I just got to see Lexie, not your boys because it kept breaking down on me – my pc is useless!
Up – your sister must be very gifted and what wonderful work she is doing. It’s very hopeful to hear success stories like your son’s. My daughter also suffers from migraines and can’t seem to find either a trigger or effective treatment. I wonder did the impending storm you mentioned have anything to do with yours? I hope you are better soon. Those were great photos too – I hope the beautiful wooden floor wasn’t destroyed. Xxx
PH – sounds like you and OH are doing a great job at the spring-cleaning but don’t overdo things xx
SJ – well done on posting CG’s video – it was lovely to see. Hope all’s well with you.
I’m sure you are all busy with the four Ps in readiness for the week ahead. I’m delighted that I seem to be still the same weight as before my school reunion – so hope to get back on track tomorrow and maybe start losing again regularly. Best of luck for the week ahead 🙂 🙂

We are very lucky to be able to enjoy our little one. I am the last grandparent left. This is a brief summary for our medical people as to what he has had to cope with.

At his 20 week ultrasound Mihalis was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Ventricle, DORV, Common Valve, AVSD and TAPVD. He was born at The Royal Women’s Hospital on 20 September 2014 and was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne where it was discovered he had Right Atrial Isomerism which effects not only his heart but lungs, bowels, liver and spleen. He has since undergone three open heart surgeries. The first was when he was 5 days old for a BT Shunt and TAPVD Repair. Early January he had the BCPS and his Common Valve and LPA Repaired. (This came from the Heartkids Vic Tas Site. His photo is in the latest newsletter for the Melb PJ run. Bottom left hand side.)

His 4 day bowel surgery turned into a ten day stay. Dealing with something like this makes you take a step back and reappraise what is really important. That is why his first birthday was such a celebrated as we never expected him to be born. He is our little miracle. (With help from the Medical Staff)

Hi all. CG yes I worked for years as a scrub sister for Chris Barnard and his team. I can’t boast at being talented but loved the theatre and found the work very interesting. It always helps. It’s allowed me to always find work in other countries. GL your poor little grandson has certainly had more than his fair share of health issues. We are lucky to live in a country where we have such good facilities and trained doctors and nurses.
Up your sister’s work sounds wonderful. I’ve worked in both adult and paediatric hospitals but enjoyed the kids more. I also was lucky to work with very talented plastic surgeons who did great repairs on kids who were born with both harelips ans cleft palates. The results were so much better than in earlier years.
I had another slighty longer walk this morning and I really needed it. Yesterday’s Happy Hour turned into many happy hours with too much wine and nibbles. The company was great and we had lots of laughs and solved lots of world problems ! Ha ha!
I’m about to have a look at the photo bucket movie and pics. I thought I’d post this first in case I tapped the wrong spot and everything disappeared.
Enjoy the day team. It’s eggs, salad and some fish here for FD.

Hi all.
GL you grandson is a real fighter. My best friends grandson was born with Becwick Weiderman Syndrome. Probably not the right spelling but is is a condition where his organs are too big for his body and he spent the most of his first year in hospitals in Brisbane having surgery or fighting infection and on oxygen. His tongue was too big and they operated on it and made it smaller so he could eat, and he has trouble with all sorts of things. When he eventually came home from hospital it was with a tracheotomy in his neck for oxygen and had to have two people with him at all times. I trained with my friend to be able to put it back in when he pulled it out, which is why the two people. This gave her daughter some respite as well as my friend. It was touch and go for a long time and happy to report after many many operations and emergency flights from Grafton to Bris he has survived and is a georgous little man. They said if he got to five then he had a good chance of survival. He is now five and a half and the light of our lives. So keep the faith. Magic things can happen .?????? throughout it all , if he was awake he was smiling.

Hi all, happy to say my visit to the dietitian went really well this morning. My weight was 61.8 kg with clothes on (of course)! I’ve lost 2 kg since I started seeing her,two weeks before starting 5:2. She’s not a fan so I am keen to show her it works. Next appointment on 7 December, when I’ll have my right hand in plaster following my thumb op on 25 November. I’ve told her she must subtract the weight of the plaster :-). It all helps.

Just had my shower and fell into bed. Another successful FD completed ???
My appetite is up with the magic pills..so proud of completing FD ..and gave the fridge/freezer its bi annual super clean..have to make hay while I can so gave myself a day off the pool but am still planning doing 4 days this week as it is nice and sunny. Three in the hydro pool with the physio and one in the local pool to test the temp of the water. Hopefully Ok. Makes it much easier to do extra days when all I have to do is get into my swimmers, grab a towel and drive a couple of blocks..

What tool do you use to make the zuchini spaghetti? I find just using the peeler makes them too thin and flat. We have heaps of zuchini ready to pick and have read that you can make it into spaghetti and then freeze it for later, but the pictures look round like real spaghetti. Can anyone enlighten me?

Suejen. You dinner sounds lovely. OH was running late tonight with dinner so ate three apple cucumbers. At around 11 cals each it was a godsend ..

CG every second day sounds very sensible with the additional strength training and it will give you more time with Lexie and the boys.

Hope everyone else went well today! Nite nite?????

Hi All!
I’m in shock this morning. (Look away CG, you might not want to read this.) I let my dog Mollie out for her usual toilet run in the garden this morning and she caught and killed a rabbit 🙁 . I tried to stop her but it was too late. I know it’s only natural but I wish I could have done something to prevent it. I also think the rabbit must have already been sick or injured or Mollie would not have been able to catch it. 🙁 🙁
Doggy – what an extraordinary life you have had. Well done on the extra walking too – hope you keep going from strength to strength xx
CG – sounds like the perfect routine to your week where you get the best of both worlds! Enjoy it all 🙂 🙂
SJ – hope the weather was kind to you and that the courgette spaghetti went well! 🙂
PH – what a wonderful friend you are to train up so you could help your friend’s GS and I hope he keeps getting stronger and healthier every day. Well done on sticking to your FD so well and cleaning out the freezer! Enjoy the pool too xx
Noots – good on ya for proving the dietician wrong and let’s hope the next weigh-in only reinforces the idea that this wol is successful and healthy.
I won’t be fasting today because I’m going to give blood and I will be going to the cinema tomorrow so can’t fast then either – so let’s hope that by Wednesday I won’t have done too much damage that can’t be undone!!!! Wish me luck!
Best of luck for the week ahead to all the gang and don’t forget to check in and let us know how you’re doing. BRING IT ON, WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Lovely to hear from you Gyps. Hope it was a great trip? Sending positive thoughts your way for the next lot of tests. I guess the Leprechaun’s bestie is with you now & ready to support his mate? Safe travels Gyps. {{{ }}} sj XXXX
Gosh you deserve a pat on the back too for doing a FD with all you’ve got on. Polish that halo girl!!

Hi Gyps – great to hear from you again and hope all goes as well as possible for the little leprechaun xx Yes, we will all be getting busy from here to Christmas – lots more clearing out to do to make the most of my new outside storage area and free up more space in the house.
Noots – you would put lots of younger people to shame with all you do! Listen to your body and take it easy when you need to. I suppose you’ll have to rest when you have the op – best of luck with it.
CG – your weather sure is changeable! The zig-zagging is a pain in the neck, isn’t it? But, I look back to this time last year and I would have been extremely happy to be where I am now; so I’m going to look on the positive side and see if I can at least stay on the low side of the see-saw until things start moving again. I agree that we need each other here and the more posts the better.
GG – hope you get your computer problems sorted asap; we miss your regular posts full of fun and wisdom xx
Waited for over an hour to give blood today, only to be rejected because I am having a slight problem with one of my eyes but they didn’t want to take a chance in case it’s something more serious! Bummer! However, I did get a gold pin because I have donated 20 times so far. I’m going to see the new Bond movie tomorrow with OH and my sister….should be fun, even though I believe the film is not that great.

Due to the two days out last week it has played havoc with my system. The coffee shop did not have any savoury snacks and the sweets were double what I would have cooked. I had the smallest piece I could find (this was so that I did not make the other ladies feel uncomfortable). This coupled with the hot weather has made me feel rundown, so I had a couple of lazy days. Over the last 2 days I have cleaned out one and a half shelves in my pantry. Just to see that done gave me a lift. I found a old bread mix kit that was out of date so I decided to make it as I have never had any success with handmade bread at all. It actually worked so I have cut it (hacking) and put it into the freezer for breadcrumbs for Christmas dinner. Cooler day today but not expecting any rain. It seems to be slipping underneath us.