Woohoo!!! Another page! Come on gals, let’s make it 200 pages by Christmas!!

I am still managing to keep the weight coming off now down to 62.1 kgs. I am still in the overweight range and new objective is to get my waist down to a safe level.

The weather is horrible. Already at 9am the temp was 38 degrees. Feels like a furnace. The dust is picking up and the trees are bent over with the strong winds. There is a film of dust over everything. Just a case of staying inside and keeping an eye out for any smoke. I can use this weather to catch up on my reading. There is a silver lining in this weather. The rest of the week looks just a bad.

Thanks, Fit!

Sorry that word is intaxication. – b autocorrect.

Hi there.

Just joined the forum. I am from Country Victoria down on the Gippsland Lakes.

I am one fast day down and feeling positive – I look forward to being able to talk to other Aussies to keep me motivated.

Very hot here also but looks like a storm is brewing. I have been hearing on the news about fires across Victoria so I hope you are all safe.

Hi all, I’ve been too busy to post for a while and this week is looking no better so I’m taking this opportunity to wish all my fellow 5:2 followers a very happy Christmas and I’ll catch up with you in 2016. Love from Noots48

Hi all. Nice to hear from you Noots. Wishing you a nice Christmas back. Look forward to catching up in the new year.

CG . Fires are such a worry in the extreme heat, which is very draining, there is always the possibility of sone nutter wanting to destroy things. 🔥🔥🔥Hope your days get better soon. Lucky you have the cricket and the air conditioning. I really feel for the poor animals on those days but I guess they are able to cope, possibly better than we are.

Fit..hope you are having a good nights sleep.💤💤💤.or watching Late movies at this time. Not,long to go before Santa comes now. Did you say at one stage that your hubby makes up crosswords?

Love the words Doggy. Thanks for taking the time to post. Continue to enjoy your family.

Welcome Katy…congratulations on starting this new way of life, very hard to do at Christmas time however good on you for making the decision. You,will find that the fast days get easier the more you do them so don’t be worried in the beginning that they are hard. Please ask as many questions as you like and dont feel that there are any stupid ones. We have all been there. This forum is a fantastic support group.

Hi to Gyps, GG, UP and anyone I have missed.

Had a good day typing up my menus for my family Christmas. Made a spreadsheet with menus for each meal then did a column for shopping lists for Aldi and Coles and what day I needed to do them then did a list of jobs/cooking to be done for each day. Then gathered Recipies and attached them to each daily list. Surely I will not forget anything now. Never been so organised in my life before. Then we had friends around for dinner and over done it with the wine. Great nite…feel like the celebrations have started. 🎉🎉🍾🍾🎉🎉

Planning on finishing my memory stories for the family today then I can really sit back and relax.

Hi all, have been busy, as no doubt we all are!

as you know, my daughter graduated last week and then in a whirlwind of activity, had to fly to Sydney for a job interview. This required me buying her some suitable shoes and a mad panic to find something to wear. She borrowed from a journalist friend but ended up wearing a tunic of mine! It was a U>S size 6 that I bought earlier in the year (I think I may frame that label!) but being a tunic she was able to pull it off because we are not the same size!

Anyway, something worked, possibly her actual brains and personality because she got the job and is now moving to Sydney in a month. Bittersweet for me, exciting for her. I will finally be an empty nester. There are positives about that but also negatives. And I know about boomerang kids!

Not much to say about 5/2 at this time of year is there?

PH, impressive!
Noots, merry xmas to you too!

Welcome Katylee!

Hi everyone. Had a bad night last night…think I’ve had 4 hours sleep. Just was not tired despite feeling terribly tired! Nana nap for me for sure today.
Playing keyboard for church this morning so hope the foggy brain gets there ok. Might be a few errors! Feeling a little flat today so not much to post.
CG so glad you’re ok. Looked up Google maps last night and found your town…never heard of that one. We visited Wilsons Prom a couple of times when in Vic and as I’ve said my Dad taught at Noojee, so was interested to see where you fitted in there.
Have a lovely day all. Might be getting OH to get lunch ready today…..even he can manage that! Suejen xxxx

Oh SJ, hang in there! My daughter also is a Lifeline counsellor. She is so busy at the moment now but said she absolutely cannot cancel her Lifeline shift tomorrow because Xmas is such a busy time. Family stuff can be so depressing and this time of year brings it all out.

I am assuming it is to do with your daughter.I feel for you. I am not the counsellor so no wise words but thinking of you. I have issues with xmas too but I am lucky to have been able to make peace with my sadness and go with the flow. Of course I am stuck with my anxiety curse but I have also made peace with that.
Cg, You SHOULD be a counsellor. I think you have missed your calling!

I am writing this with champagne in hand (what do you mean it isn’t xmas yet???). I am trying to make room in the freezer so concocting a fish pie despite never having cooked one in my life. Simultaneously, my daughter is cooking our xmas shortbread. Just as we were starting, my son rang to say he needs to take a dessert for a xmas dinner tonight and was coming over to use my facilities. I directed him to some Taste.com no cook recipes. He turns up armed with all the gear to make a pav! And some recipe that requires him to bake apricots and make his own lemon curd. What the?

So there goes the oven! Fit don’t know whether you have ever cooked a pav but it requires a very slow oven, and you have to allow the pav to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar…… Also he has never made a pav so requires supervision for tips!

Doggy, love the definitions.

Cheers all, hicc….

Hi all. Lots of posts again.

UP. You are having a very busy time of it. I’d say champagne is in order in your household with all the goings on with the cooking.🍾🍾🍾🍾 Sit just outside the kitchen and have your tipples whilst giving your cooking advice to your son. I am no help with tips for pass as I have never cooked one in my life..
Congrats to you daughter in getting her job in Sydney and I remember the empty nest feeling. Not living in a city with a university all of our children had to leave home to go to uni at 18 years of age..and none of them have ever been back to live with us full time. But there have been some times when they are home for a short while between jobs and I just love those times.

CG Soooo please the cool change has arrived for you.🌬🌬🌬 🌧🌧🌧 I agree you have missed your calling and would have made a great counsellor.

SueJen. I am so sorry you are feeling down and am also thinking it has something to do with your daughter. Hang in there my dear and be kind to yourself and OH. Sending you,lots of prayers and {{{💜💜💜}}}. Hopefully playing for church will make you feel better, perhaps our friend up above will send you some extra strength and love.

Fit. What a clever fellow your husband must be. I am in awe of anyone who can do crosswords let alone create them. I can’t spell well and so find them very frustrating but give me anything g to do with numbers and I’m there. Love sudoku.
Hope you enjoyed watching the dancing with your sister and the schnapps. What a great thing to do,

Doggy, did you get the cool change too? 🌬🌬🌬

Katy…How are you going.

Spending the day today doing my memories for the kids and partners for Christmas. Really enjoying it however taking much more time than I thought. 4 down one to go. Only my daughters to go ..want to make hers extra special…well that’s what you do for daughters who are coming home to live close to you…💕💕💕💕

Hi All!
SJ – our posts crossed last night (for me) and I went straight to bed, so I didn’t see yours! I’m sorry you’re feeling a bit down..it’s so understandable at this time of year. But, you have put all your love into gifts for the GKs and sent them off and they will be appreciated. Also, as a singer in a choir myself, can I say how much your playing means to everyone at your church? Without your playing, there would be no music. Whenever our organist can’t make it, we can’t sing – so I really, really appreciate and value what she does….and yes, she makes the odd mistake or two as well, but no-one cares (or probably even notices!) You have been given the talent to play and you generously share it in your community, so be proud of the contribution you make and know that you are very much loved for it xxxx 🙂 🙂 🙂 {{{{ }}}}
CG – my community sounds alot like yours and there is great spirit and friendliness where people help each other out and always have a chat or a smile whenever their paths cross. I love where I live. So glad things have cooled off a bit, so it looks like you will have ideal conditions for Christmas and that the danger of fires has passed for now. 🙂
Dawg – so glad to hear you are having fun times with the family and you should be so proud of your weight loss to date – 8kg is brilliant. Yes, going swimming is a bit daunting but apart from that, you can dress for your shape and I’m sure you look so much better than when you had those extra 8kg….so, chin up and stand tall! Loving all the fun definitions; sharing them with OH as I write! 😆 Enjoy the cooler weather and I bet Pepper is feeling and looking a million dollars!!
Up – don’t you know there is never a wrong time to have champagne!! You are a saint to put up with all that mess in your kitchen. Luckily, my sister makes the most incredible pavlova…..about four or five inches high and just enough crunch on the outside to give a bit of bite but doesn’t break your teeth! She always decorates it beautifully too, so that it looks like a work of art. What type of job is your daughter starting; I know she studied psychology?
PH – my OH loves sudoku too; he doesn’t set them, but loves to do them. He’s a real words and numbers guy and also stores lots quirky facts in his head – he says is brain is like an attic – full of junk, but when you look carefully there is a gem or two hidden away too!! I had a great time watching Strictly with my sis and I slept like a baby – couldn’t have had anything to do with the schnapps, I’m sure!!! 😉 I bet your memories will go down a storm with the family – what a special gift to give; priceless! xxxx
Ok, back to the chores again and see how many more I can get through today – please note, not killing myself, CG!!! Talk later, gals xxxxx

Well..memories all done. Just have to do a little elf dance thingo for my grandson so he won’t feel left out. Such a good feeling. Fit and CG I do play scrabble on the computer with friends as it checks the spelling for you. Very helpful.. What great thoughts for SueJen, she is a special person..
Doggy. I am still 98kg and am in swimmers all of the time. Wear a cover up until it is time to actually get into the water ..then take it off before you get in. Then no one can see what you are trying to hide.i too used to be seflconcious but have decided to accept that this is the shape I have been given and so I’d best make the most of it. I have swim skirts with a blouse top which hides all problems for swimming at the beach. In the pool I wear one piece because most people have problems and they are better for exercising in. I go through 3 pairs of swimmers a year because of the chlorine. It is the only exercise I can do and I love it. And I believe that everyone is entitled to feel the benefit if being in water and..what the heck. Your family love you for who you are…not what they think you should look like..so enjoy the freedom..😎😎😎

On that note time for the land of nod💤💤💤💤

Katy..our posts crossed.. Well done with sticking to your fast day. …enjoy tomorrow night..

Katylee – I can’t believe you resisted licking the spoon from the toblerone cheesecake!! As everyone on this thread knows, I have a real weakness for toblerone!!! It has been my downfall on many an occasion. Well done too on your successful fast; many more to come I’m sure! If you notice I’m posting at odd times that’s because I live in Ireland but these fab ladies have adopted me as an honorary Aussie and I’m so happy that they did! They are a wonderful bunch and have seen me through more than one or two sticky moments! So I hope you stay with us and I have no doubt that you will benefit greatly if you do and will find friends for life.

Silly me UP. It is FIT’s husband that sets the crosswords. Sorry FIT did not mean th give UP your husband..ha ha. 😉😉😉 I thought you would be impressed with Katy not licking the spoon when making the toblorone cheesecake.

UP ..wow your household is a frenzy of baking activity. Sounds like such fun..congratulations on the successful pav. They are my fav so it is good I can’t cook them and can only have them on vary rare occasions.

Katy ..keep up the great work. Continuing along the line Fit started telling you a little bit about ourselves… I live in the hinterland behind Coffs Harbour on the North Coast of NSW in a little village of Nana Glen. I am recently retired and have only been on the thread since September . I have lost almost 9 kg since starting so can recommend this way of life. The members of the thread welcomed me with open arms and I could not have done this without their support. Enjoy your journey with us..

Thinking of you SJ… 💕💕

A great big hi to everyone else🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Yes, Up – it is my OH who sets crosswords. I’m not really into them myself but I appreciate the skill it takes. And it was me who asked about your daughter’s job too!! Very exciting times for her and it will be interesting work too, I’m sure. Best of luck with the macarons, I bet they will be delicious!

Morning CG and PH – you are all early birds!! I think we can all enjoy this Christmas season with moderation as our appetites have changed and we know when to stop because we listen to our bodies. I know I will enjoy many treats but I feel that I will not binge or eat until I’m nearly sick as I have done in the past. That’s the plan at the moment anyway! I’m definitely going to do a good fast tomorrow and hopefully one on Wed too. I have been going around the house today, adding little touches….ribbons, lights, holly, candles etc. The excitement is building and I just love it!! 🙂