Morning Team. I could not sleep either……Too many things going on in my head and OH snoring away like a steam train. I think I finally fell into sleep somewhere around 2.30am.
Have the day off today…..one of so many at the moment…I am permanent part time, so I work one shift a fortnight and usually pick up others. we have 3 new casuals and my boss tries to allocate shifts fairly. So I am missing out on extra work.
AS much as I like being at home or visiting Mum I do love the interaction with my clients.
PH -how is Brandy today?
I know back in the old days hot compresses were used for many bites then the trend changed ….as it does….I believe ,if it gives relief use it . and stings
Will spend today doing home duties, a pilates session and preparing dinner. there is a cool breeze…will even consider a nana nap later.
NOOTS- all the best for tomorrow…..You should be OK with the fasting…Treat it like a FD.
CG- we will possible nana nap at the same time……that {{{{HUG}}} is on its way to you xxxxxx
Enjoy your day and any treats …like that Barista made coffee and crunchy multigrain salmon and caper roll….Now you know what I am looking forward to!

All the best …….GO GALxxxxxxx

Mornin’ GG – it’s great to see you here so early. Sorry that you had a bad night too, enjoy the nanny nap and hopefully you will get just the right amount of shifts at work when you want them. Xx

PS, my fitbit summary tells me that I averaged 0 minutes to fall asleep last week. Don’t know if it was accurate, but working sure wears me out!

Up – that was so very young to lose your mum, I can’t begin to imagine how painful that must have been. There is something about Christmas that makes loss so much keener. My sister who used to host her in-laws, aunts, uncles and my parents until one by one they all died, now absolutely hates Christmas – it holds nothing but bad memories for her.
CG – it’s good to get an early date for your op, it will be over before you know it. I am absolutely amazed at the efficiency of your health system; over here all that would have taken months or maybe longer if you’re a public patient without private health insurance.

Hellooo! You’ll note I’m early, 6.15 a.m. when I started this. And God knows when I’ll finish it. May get a few moments here and there all day, but it is a compromise. I’ve missed you all and don’t want to be too far out of the loop (but no time to read up AND write) so opted to let u all know that I’m still here.

Have been making a concentrated effort to encourage (shove, bludgeon, cajole, threaten, blackmail, manipulate.. etc) the leprechaun, into changing some base habits. One of which being not to sit on the computer for hours at any given time, so…. being as how I learned long ago that one must lead by example (or forget being a hot air balloon) I have to follow suit.

(sigh)…I’m sure it’s all very good for me….but I am cheating by getting up before dawn to have a sinful hour breaking the rules! (he’s allowed to sleep in til at least 7!) Then I will be busy shovelling proper diabetic type food into him and (having turned all helpless myself) will require his expert opinion and assistance with numerous challenging chores I’ve taken on. Xmas lights and significant other activities, requiring the full range of body movement…(oooowch!… @!#$!!&*)#!) ladders, weeds, gutters. God, I’m about down to polishing individual grains of sand between the external pavers!

So what with all that sunshine, regular hours, small portions of (5:2 type) fresh food, herbal teas (instead of booze, shock horror!) he’s losing weight and feeling better. Which means his liver is too, it’s hopefully reducing his insulin resistance instead of upping his insulin dosage. And it’s got nothing to do with me! I just carted him off to a diabetic-care nurse(one I trained 20yrs ago)and got him, male to male, to do a number on us as a couple. Both of them looooved the opportunity to lecture me (eyes rolling)… ah… bring back the days of true power…. (behind the throne!)

So – He’s helping ME get control of MY diabetes so I don’t end up like him. LOL! Dear man. He’s ever the gentleman Galahad. (shhh) he is loving the attention and getting hooked on the diet he doesn’t know he’s having, because he FLATLY refuses anything under the heading ‘diet’ on his own behalf. However, twice a week I don’t choose to have breakfast and he’s decided his sugar reading goes down better with some distance between meals ‘once in a while’. Puff, puff. I just have to ‘do as I’m told’ (so long as I remain confused – terrible, my sugar is spiking you know) … and make sure he never checks MY glucometer. He really needs to worry about me to take his mind off the possibility of being free to drop dead!

Yes, I know I can’t do it all for him (I can hear youse!), but I can prove it can be done. And breaking habits requires inspirational motivation. So I’m on duty, really, (my rehab hat). We get babies to try some Gawd awful new foods by aeroplaning spoons at their gobs and making faces to the tune of “yummy, yummy….” , so enthusiasm is required! …. usually until they choose to adopt at least a few of our offerings, and learn to hold the spoon for themselves. Much the same as for a retraining stroke victim. So I’m just tailoring his care plan. No point telling him just yet that all this cossetting is aimed at weaning him off crutches onto independent choices for HIS better health. First getting him actually feeling the ‘better’ aspect is the key. Babes don’t choose to stop walking once they’ve mastered the skill. We pray.

Heh, heh, I know I sound condescending, too! But it’s just a game we pretend to play. Deadly serious stuff! (LOL) one has to understand the Geordie lolligobbleblissbomb of a bloke I’ve duelled wits with for 10 yrs now (Half Irish, half Scot raised on Tyne, where the words ‘stubborn & male’ were invented)nothing is as it seems and he’s not dumb. It just has to be my weakness, not his. Geordies aren’t allowed to be under the thumb. Or even hold a woman’s hand in public (unless she needs some assistance).So their women have to be devious to look after their men. At least that is my take on it. (after many failed toe to toe’s on issues up front) – he won’t be ‘told’ on principle, so best not even discuss it! Meanwhile, he’s letting me lead the way without losing face, so I’m winning!

So It’s 9.30 now and my warble has been in snatches (of lost plots) and pretty stoopid. Not to mention self aggrandising. Ah, but I feel lighter, even if the bloody scales don’t agree!

anyway, have managed to read beck a bit and agree, CG, the 5:2 health benefits are the priority aspect. They can’t be disputed and weight loss is a bonus. It may well be that the body knows best when it plateaus. Mine is just not moving except for the zigzag fluctuation. But it is not going up again. That’s the one joy I remain faith full to. I will figure out how to restart the loss when I have the luxury of focussing on me again. It is more than great not to have to start from scratch. So I hope you can settle to that, too, while you are still crook. Didn’t see your op date. So when is it? Will light a candle. Luck xx

Doggy, hope your ribs are a bit better. You and CG have both had a pretty rough year! Am seriously considering getting a puppy for OH for xmas. He would get exercise then! He loves dogs, but we decided not to get another one as we intended to travel. Something else to focus on might be a better plan at this point. Will think on the matter. We would argue over breeds and size. Maybe a stray will wander in and decide it.

Noots, Luck for your op, too. Enjoy the break from kitchen duties if nothing else!
SJ, I see you are in the movie business now. You mare into everything, church, school bus, community volunteering! Very civic minded. Sounds fun. You sound fun. onya.

PH sorry about your friend’s hubby, but glad she has you. And FIT, Hope you found a plumber! Your sister is lucky to have you, too!
UP, school holidays around the bend. Hope you don’t beat them to it! Count to ten, teach, and focus!.

GG thanks for passing my message on and the good wishes. hope you OH stays in remission. Sounds like the reunion venue was a lucky dip. My travel club found it for me. Good to know. Think we may find reunions addictive! Oh for a drink!

But have made a deal to do healthy this week, next week the other leprechaun arrives and we feast! That’s fair. And I find applying the 5:2 principles to life in general works pretty well. So all my intense cleaning and goody fasting will bring back the meaning of Christmas! so I’ m off to rig more lights, ready to turn on for the traditional December 1st! Hope you are all feeling the joy of the season approaching. Strange, I have not for many years, but despite the heat and the hassles, this year I do.

so a very loooong post, but don’t know when I will get to take time out again. Carry on, Mates, xxx Gyps

Gypsy – what a lovely post. I have no doubt you will weave your spells and have your OH believing he came up with all this healthy stuff himself!! Who cares, as long as it works!! 😉 He is one very lucky leprechaun 🙂 Hope you have lots of fun when his mate arrives; you deserve to let your hair down and we know how much hair you have to let down….it could take quite some time 😆 Xxxx

Heh, heh, FIT, nice to hear from you, mate. Glad yore not all plumbed out loik… would you happen to know of an easy, spectacularly foolproof, yet tasty dish (food) of traditional Irish flavour? or of Dublin notoriety? or some other tradition I could surprise the dreadful pair with as arrival dinner? I have new potatoes growing in my veg patch, that’s about all my brain has scratched up so far for mains, with peas pudding for a soup filler (and the visitor is totally deserving of my witchetty grub desert, but can’t get any locally, so going with mango and ice cream with brandy liquor (home brewed of course). Thought to attempt beef wellingtons, but that’s not Irish fare, is it?, … or can you tell me the traditional recipe for Irish stew? Luv ya! xx Gyps

Hi all. Just time for a quick post. Brandy was responding to the treatment when we phoned this morning so fingers crossed. Will get back to you all later. OH ready to go out and help me in the garden. Must not miss this opportunity..

Lovely to talk to you GG and thanks for your concern. Thanks to everyone else also…..Have just seen Brandy. Don’t think she will pull through the night . The vet is keeping an eye on her and will put her down if necessary, we have left him to make the decision as we Don’t want her to suffer. She has had a great life with us on the farm and then down here. Was always gently rounding up the calves on the farm as she was a failed sheep dog. A tri coloured collie. The breeder was going to put her down because she failed and a friend of ours saved her and then gave her to us. She was about 3 years old at that stage, our friend kept her for 2 years but had too many dogs and gave her to us. We have had her for 10 years so she has had a long and lovely life. Almost 15 yrs old and was really starting to show her age. Became a house dog when we moved from the farm to Nana Glen almost three years ago. OH and I will miss her dreadfully but have decided not to get another one as next year we will be doing some travelling. Maybe after that.

Will get back to read and answer other posts after dinner. Feeling the love??

Hi All,
PH – thank you for taking the time to answer my silly question in the middle of all you are going through with Brandy. I really hope he pulls through but you are making the right decisions in his best interests. It is so painful to lose a well-loved pet. My heart is sore for you. Lots of hugs ((( )))
Doggy – hope you enjoyed the sewing and chat! I have also been a sun-worshipper in my youth and got badly burned many times before I saw sense. I now wear factor 50 every day of the year. Well done on getting out for the walk but be careful of those ribs. 🙂
Gypsy – If I was a better cook, I might be able to come up with some interesting recipes, but I’m afraid I’m useless! However, the most traditional Irish meals are very simple – bacon and cabbage (with, of course, your lovely new spuds and butter!). My mother’s version of Irish stew is as follows: In a large pot, slowly cook carrots and onions in water until well softened (maybe about an hour), add cubes of leanish beef (she used round steak). Season well with salt and pepper. Add dissolved Bisto or similar gravy granules making sure there is enough liquid to cover everything. Let this cook for another hour. Add smallish peeled potatoes (not new ones) or large ones cut into pieces and when bubbling, turn it down to a simmer for another hour. The longer it all cooks the better. If possible, cook it the day before, it has even more flavour the next day. Quantities of everything depend on how many you are feeding and whether you want enough for just one day or two. We usually make enough for two days. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, which my mother never did. Also, it was a dish designed for cheap cuts of meat but my mum always used quite good beef. Hope that helps! Xxx
SJ – I also spent a month in hospital before my first daughter was born, what a coincidence! Since I had no other children, I had a photo of my dog on my bedside locker, because I missed him so much. I think the nurses thought I was nuts!! Look after your back and neck with the sewing and housework xx
Up – so glad to hear all went well with the dermatologist. Hopefully, we have all passed on some wisdom to the next generation about sun safety. 🙂
CG – hope the time flies by before the surgery and that you make a swift recovery well in time for Christmas. Do you stay at home or go to some of your family for Christmas day? Whatever you do, I hope you are pampered and looked after xxxx
GG – I think I am in grave need of a kick up the ‘you know what’!! My OH brought me back a huge toblerone from his travels and you know what that means!!! 😉 I haven’t opened it yet but it’s calling to me!!! Helllllpppppp!!

Mornin’ CG! Sounds like you have a lovely time planned for Christmas and I agree about Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s day as we call it…..I get into my onesie and snuggle up on the couch watching old movies and eating leftovers and chocolate!! Our Christmas entertaining starts after we get home from 9pm Mass on Christmas Eve; my sister and I sing in the choir and it is a magical and emotional time with the church packed with people all home for the holiday. My sister, brother, other halves and any of their kids who are around as well as some neighbours come back to ours and have drinks and nibbles. They usually leave between midnight and one am. Then we sing again at the morning mass at 10.30am on Christmas day itself. Everyone in the family brings a different dish – soup, veg, dessert while OH and I do starters, turkey, ham, potatoes and maybe some veg too. We borrow an extra table and chairs from friends and we have a big open plan kitchen, dining, living room with enough space for everyone…..usually about 25. This year it will be a small gang; probably only 12. Some of those who can’t come during the day will often arrive in the evening and we have games of cards and watch comedy shows….I love it all.
Sounds like Lexie is growing up fast and is bringing you great pleasure…enjoy these fun times watching her grow and learn xxxx

Oh PH so sorry Brandy didn’t make it but you know for sure that she was in the care of the vet all the way & that he didn’t let her suffer. Sounds like you gave her a great life and have a lovely resting place picked out for her. Sending {{{ }}} your way for today. Sj xxxx
Off for an early walk…talk later. Woke with the birds at 5.39am but did sleep well.
Rnjoy the pool and the gym CG. Evening Fit your Christmas Day sounds lovely….even with just 12!

PH – I am so sorry to hear about Brandy; what a sad time for you. Take comfort from knowing she went peacefully with the best of care and that she has a lovely and fitting resting place. Your childhood Christmasses sound amazing; planned and executed with military precision!! Christmas at the beach is something I can’t get my head around at all but it will be wonderful I’m sure. Having small children around always adds to the magic. 🙂
SJ – enjoy your walk; hope your neck and back are on the mend.
Gypsy – forgot to send my congrats to the Gawdmother; what a brilliant loss!!

PH- So sorry that Brandy has passed.You gave her a wonderful life and a 2nd chance to be part of a loving family. You also gave her the best of care and have a peaceful resting place for her. {{{{HUGS}}}}}
GYPS- pls give my congrats to the GAWDMOTHER on a fantastic loss thus far.
FIT- Leave that TOBLER alone…. put it in a place out of temptation….make a toblerone cheescake for a special dinner. DO NOT EAT IT!!!!!
Have a great day all……..GO GAL xxxxx

Hello team. PH I’m so,sorry about Brandy but you did the right thing. Ive know folks who keep thier pets alive although thier quality of life is zero. At least we can do for our beloved pets what we can’t do for our human family members. I won’t get into voluntary euthanasia as I know it’s a hot topic. Being a nurse and seeing so much suffering you’d know what my views are.
Suejen I do lots if cross stitch, just as a hobby. I used to sew all the clothes for my daughter and myself. I occasionally make myself a pair of slacks but my interest has waned. I’ve done a lot of patchwork, quilting too but that phase is also over.
Oh CG I too am of the eara when we used to lather ourselves with some tanning concoction and then bake in the sun for hours. Yes I was a very slender bikini wearer too. We wouldn’t even show ourselves on the beach until we had a tan. Oh the vanity of youth!
Re the bra thing – I’m not really heavy breasted but do cover myself well if going braless. The wobbly look is not a good one!
FD again tomorrow. I’ve got the necessary bits n bobs in the fridge for that.

Noots..sending prayers your way..by the time you read this it will be all over..and all of your nerves settled. Hopefully being pampered during your recovery..???. Will you be able to do this afterwards ???

Thanks for all the hugs re Brandy. I’m feeling good that she is now out of pain and yes Doggy ..I’m with you regarding the suffering at end if life. Hope there is something in place soon to change the laws. Had a friend who did lots of cross stitch. It was beautiful.

FIT. Christmas at the beach will involve us taking a large fold up table and some chairs and a couple of rugs for the ground ,to a park covered in grass ,just behind the beach. Hopefully we can find some shardy trees to put the table under but we do have a gazebo for shade just in case all of the tree shade is taken. Whithin that park is a playground for the littlies to play on and we can watch them and the others having a swim from our picnic set.up. We will also take some Christmas music with us to set the mood. The food and drinks will all be packed in esky’s to keep them cold and laid out on the table when it is time to eat. My car drives right up to the back door so loading all of the food into it won’t be a problem..Us oldies will also have our layback camping chairs to have a little nap in after lunch..hopefully it will not rain but if it does then my daughters house has a great undercover outdoor area we can set.up in for lunch and then go to the beach.. Hope that paints a picture for you. I will post photos for you if you like.

CG the threat of fires is forever there for the summer. ?? The weather you are describing sounds awful. Hope the storms don’t bring the lightening..just the cooling.. ???? Bailey sounds like he has it all worked out getting older and wiser and of course the younger ones still have boundless energy. I can just picture them running around your garden.

GG like tour idea of a cheesecake but I’m with Fit,,would not know how to make one.

Fast day going well so far. Only had my green drink so far.. Looking good. ☺️☺️

Hi CG , wow that weather map those winds don’t look good, hope the change comes with just rain for you. keep safe my friend. Good to see Lexie adapting to change. Re my green drink. I have been having a green drink for many years as it keeps the toxins from my medication at bay and helps with the bowel movement also. It consists of spinach, kale, Apple, a little bit of frozen pineapple and mango, spirilina, wheetgrass and chocolate mint leaves from the garden. I mix this with either coconut water or plain water..coconut milk or almond milk..depending if it a fast day or not and how many calories I want. I also change the fruit and add banana sometimes. On FD I have plain cold water and no mango to reduce cals. It is nicest with coconut water. All of that goes either in my vitamix or my ninja bullet. O.h has it too. I just love it and it is good for reducing those nasty toxins.. Sometimes use ginger…anything really. Looking after ourselves..hope tonight is not a bad one for you..sending ???

Gosh, what a lot of news on here.
PH, sorry to hear about Brandy.

Noots, hope it went well.

CG, fingers crossed re fires. Muggy here today in Brisbane.

I have book club tomorrow so am fasting today. 5.00 and I haven’t eaten. I decided to do this after Monday’s late eating just to see how I liked it. I have an unrelated headache today so have slept a bit which helps pass the time. I am not particularly hungry, so it is good to know I can do this. I will eat a light meal later and maybe an egg if I need it.

Hi All!
Doggy – I so agree with you that we need to look at end-of-life care that is more humane. My dad had a very slow and painful end, which was so distressing for him and all his family to witness. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It made his passing so much more harder than it needed to be and it still haunts me. Sounds like you are very gifted with a needle – it’s great to have a hobby that is also useful 🙂
CG – delighted to hear that Lexie has made the transition from two lots of milk to one and now that she is taking pellets, she will be growing even faster. Can’t imagine the worry you must go through with fires so close by. Stay safe, dear friend – I’ll be thinking of you xx
PH – your Christmas setting will certainly be different to mine but the atmosphere and feeling will be the same!! I’d love to see photos and maybe I can send some of mine too! 🙂
UP – you are motoring through the fasts and pc days! I can’t even remember what our mini-challenge was, but I’m sure you’ve beaten the pants off me!! 😉 Take care with the headaches, I hope you don’t get another cluster of migraines xx
I’m fasting again today (Wed) because my french class have an outing tomorrow….french film followed by meal out in Dublin. They’re a lovely bunch of people and we’ll have a great time. Happy hump day all!! 🙂 🙂

Fit, I think our challenge was basically to lose faster than each other as we were at one stage the same weight but then we both lost the plot a bit!

I am sure the headache is not fast related and also doesn’t seem to be a migraine but gone now. I am just determined to fast this week because I haven’t been fasting for a couple of weeks. Now I can relax. I ate a light meal around 8. It was only late because I waited until it was cooler to walk the dog. It really wasn’t hard.
I will weigh in tomorrow instead of Friday and see how I go.

P.S. – weighed in myself this morning – 65.3kg…….eeeeek!! 🙁 Alot of work to do before Christmas!