Wow this thread really is pumping. It is great to see Fit and Jade chatting whilst we sleep..always have something to look forward to when we wake. 🤗🤗
Well done Fit for posting a pic…I’m with Jade..now we need to see some more. I too only go for flats these days. I remember well thr days of the really pointy high heals that only had a minuscule tip on the end. How did we ever walk in these things. Let alone do all the dancing we did. “Those were the days” 💃💃💃
Great that your OH loves the squashed potatoes. Very handy with many a meal, we use then when having salads and grill as they beef up the content and add that little bit of carbs. Yummy.
Nice work on the water in your mode of transport. Just goes to show we should not rush the washing..never know when you need a lot of soiled towels to save the day!

Gyps. I forgot to commeant on the paintings. They are just fabulous. I second the comment about what a talented family you have. Also read the latest chapter…great read..I am so enjoying your literary journey.

CG. Nice work on the herb garden. We have ours in pots on an old timber barbecue stand , picked up from the side of the road of course, so that we can move them into the sun all year round. Mostly they are just outside the back door but it doesn’t get sum in winter so then we roll it across to the other side to get the sun. Works a treat.

Hi to everyone else. Gotta go as OH calling me to make a start. Today is the day we go to collect the free mulch for daughters garden. So best get a move on. Talk to you all later💜💜💜💜

Mornin’ CG! I’m sure photos of your little corner of paradise would go down very well here and it would be lovely to see how big the calves are now. Wow, you’ve been very busy in your garden….lots of lovely, fresh produce to spice up your cooking. I’m going to make sure to plan ahead for Monday……no lunch or coffee date, so no excuse not to fast! 😉👍💪

Hello everyone. A pinch and a punch, May already. ! Thanks for the words of encouragement. Re my diet. I don’t really like sweet things, so depriving myself of sugar is no problem. Mind you, chocolate is another animal entirely and I know if I have it in the house I will eat it. Same with chips, nuts etc. I make my own bread ( bread maker machine ) and know that I eat too much of that. I’ve decided to cut back on the amount I eat though, so that will be a start. We do eat lots of veggies but must admit to liking rice too. What’s it with those damn carbohydrates that make it hard to resist them.
Jade I like the sound of your buttermilk chicken. How about sharing the recipe with us?
Well we’ve got rain forcast and a possible thunder storm but so far it’s only spook Asem. That is Afrikaans for ghost breath meaning not a lot.
CG, you mention Netlix. Our damn ISP has slowed our broadband speed right down as I went over the limit. It’s supposed to be unlimited data. Now it’s impossible to stream anything. Luckily I have lots of old DVDs that I’ve found so they are getting a re run. In the meantime we are looking out for another ISP. Be warned. IPrimus don’t understand the meaning of unlimited and are guilty of false advertising.
XX Doggy

Morning Fit, sorry you’re having to care for sis on a rainy day. Those of us WITHOUT dementia can be grumpy then. 😡 Maybe you can set your mind on what’s to come after you are done? Even if just sitting in a cozy chair reading the AD thread 💕 It helps me to do that sometimes just to take my mind off being stuck in a frustrating situation. I think to myself well, X hrs from now this will be over. I dunno, just a thought. You’re such a good soul to keep trying with her. 💗

CG I loved the good bad and ugly music, thank you! We all loved that one back in the day, especially when we were all budding musicians. 🎤🎸

And speaking of dementia I must try calling my mom. If I don’t get her before 11, she’ll be out of her room for lunch and then I can never get her. Wish I could go see her but the distance is too great to happen often, and then OH wants to go so it must be planned out. Ah well – Dawg I’ll post the chicken recipe on the other thread later, It’s yummy. I actually behaved last night, because I had planned how to do that beforehand, I think I remember the 4Ps occasionally 🤔😏 xxxxx

Hi Jade, got through the afternoon with my sister with a small amount of my sanity intact, I think! I’m far from a good soul but thanks for thinking so. How sweet is that photo…. I’m amazed! I thought shamrock didn’t grow anywhere outside of Ireland, but maybe that’s another myth! I had a look at your fried chicken recipe, it looks yummy! 😉 I hope you get to talk to your mum soon and that she’s doing well. 💚💞👍

You were completely right, Jade. That shamrock is indeed a little emissary from me just guiding your steps until you reach the end of the rainbow here in the Emerald Isle! All will be well 👍😃I’m so glad your brother rang while visiting your mum, what a lovely surprise and so reassuring for you too. I’m going to pour myself a peach schnapps and toast our little green hearts joining us together across the ocean! ☘💚☘💚

Hi all, another fast day happening today and boy do I need it….. I really blew it last night. My footy team played OH’s team and it was a great game….we had too many glasses to cheer them on.🍷🍹🍷🍷🍹🍷🍹. Oh well, someone has to do it. When we got to the place to pick up the mulch there was a sign that it had been cancelled!! The best laid plans of mice and men!! There is A long list of jobs to do at Daughters place so had no trouble filling in the time with her. Planting more shrubs, covering cushions, fixing a blouse, hanging mirrors etc. we had a lovely day and will try again next weekend for the mulch. Lucky my old sewing machine at her place is still working well as I am having real trouble with the tension on the one at home . Think I’ll have to bite the bullet today and get a new one…will miss my old friend!!

I will have to look up the chicken recipe Jade , I put a chicken crock pot on before I left home yesterday and it was a disaster( new recipe)….good thing we had had a few drinks to help with thinking it was OK to eat. Have dei Now I know why OH does most of the cooking. Lucky me😋😋😋. Nice of your brother to phone you when he was with your mum. It must be hard being so far away and wondering how she is. Hope you got through your marking…and FIT how special to send Jade a little shamrock!! You must have powers you are just discovering…could it be since you have inspired that wonderful lead character in Gyps blockbuster novel!!! ( can’t remember the correct spelling for T),,

CG your. herbs sound great. And how welcome is that lovely rain. We had a big storm yesterday, just wonderful for the gardens. ⛈⛈⛈

Doggy. What a bummer with the carrier. I am looking into all of them at the moment as my contract with Telstra has finished..and they are too expensive for unlimited……so much to consider that it will take weeks.

I imagine SJ and GG are enjoying their respective holidays…💕💕💕 to you both..

Well best get going , have my hard boiled eggs at the ready……..we can do this gals!! Fast.day here we come…💜💜💜💜

Thanks, Fit, I just knew it was you – and after all Tannouie does have many powers. ✨💪✨ You gals do keep me laughing 😂 – PH I can just picture you and OH cheering against each other, and indeed those potions aren’t going to drink themselves! Sounds like s rollicking good time regardless whose team prevailed.
CG your quote is so perfect today, as I am tolerating a lot of crappy writing, while trying to remember that the students aren’t writing badly on purpose or to annoy me, but it sure seems that way sometimes 😤 Good point too about Fit’s sis, my OH has told me many times that his trust in me allows him the comfort of being himself when he’s down (i.e., a pain in the ass 😏), no pretending. And I get it, only it seems I do a LOT of pretending in return a/k/a keeping my mouthy self quiet 🤐 HA HA well, whatever works. Cheers all, my nose 👃 is going back to the grindstone. xxxxx

Hello team. Jade thanks for the buttermilk chicken recipe. I will certainly give it a try. Oh Fit you poor thing with the ongoing problems with your sister. Dementia is such a cruel disease. I heard on the radio today that i they are considering trying to use Marijuana for medicinal use in some cases.
CG we used to have Telstra but could never make head or tail out of their billing system. I swear it’s drawn up by lawyers to confuse us. I have Apple TV and I like that as it can stream all sorts of stuff via my iPad.
For those who enjoy a good read. I recently read ” The girl on the train ” by Paula Hawkins. I found it very good with quite a few twists and turns.
It’s got quite cold here after a usually warm spell. We had lots of wind yesterday and the promise of rain but did not get much in our neck of the woods. Luckily we have very large water tanks and have not run out of water – yet! I hope I’m not tempting fate with that statement.
XX Doggy

Hi Doggy…..could that marijuana be for the careers, please?! 😉 I’ll try to send you some rain…we got plenty of it today 🌧🌧🌧

LOL Fit – some days peach schnapps isn’t enough, is it! I think the carers and the carees could use a good toke or two. 🚬 I could use that or a good stiff vodka after re-reading these papers – finally I am done with that pain. Lucky for me it rained ALL DAY, so I wasn’t tempted to make a break for the outside world.🏇 No exercise at all except my usual trot to the fridge! But a restrained lunch and dinner, just some wholegrain sprouty seedy barky no-sugar bread with way too much fiber – a slice with natural pb, another with tuna. Poor OH was so grateful when I brought him a grilled tuna melt sandwich, because I had said I wasn’t going to cook. He looks a sight, covered with those temp hot pad stick-on things (sore shoulder and back) and so ridiculously happy to be fed. Ay yi, what a madhouse – good thing there is 24/7 puppy therapy.🐶🐶

Good night all, happy Monday/Tuesday coming up! Brand new week, yet another chance to behave 😈 – and of course the end of term faculty lunch, at a really good Chinese place. Is anything there not 1000 calories? xxx

Hey, Jade, you’ve well earned that lunch so enjoy every mouthful! Well done on finishing all that paperwork and looking after OH. I hope the puppies give you lots of cuddles. 🐶💞🐶💞
Looks like a very quiet thread….how are all our MIAs doing, I wonder? Having a ball, I suspect and good on them!
It’s a bank holiday here today, not that I really notice them anymore 😉 I’m fasting today and hope to do so on Thursday as well. I have to get back into a routine because trying to fit in fast days on an ad hoc basis is just not working for me. Maybe that will be ok later when I’m back in the groove, but for now I need a regular pattern.
CG, have the aches and pains eased for you? I hope so 💚😃

Hello to all. It is Posted! The long awaited CHAPTER SEVEN (Of Beyond The Rainbow) is BEYOND THE VORTEX. …. Finally the world hangs in the balance as the age old adversaries of light and darkness meet head on. She is the LADY OF LIGHT He is THE LORD OF DARKNESS…. And they do say ‘oposites attract’…Mmm, and then some… not that either of them plan to give in to that trap!….Oh dear, the fate of the Universe hangs in the balance , dependent this pair finding harmony.. but he is such a chauvinist… and of course, she’s not going to stand for that! War is rumbling the heavens, I can feel it on the pen… But nothing is as it seems….no one can be trusted… Kalatzar is still awol…the Prophets are usurping power and Slithers is spying on everyone……Enjoy!

Meanwhile Hattie is in the wings taking account, and Jaddai is still scouring the underworld in search of his queen!

So, sorry I have been MIA, but no time to read up on you all. I have to try to get the tale done or at least ahead in chapters before we take off for a camping run . Hoping to go up to Palm cove and try out the van Park, PH, will give you a full report. Hope all is well with you all, am still maintaining. xxxgyps

Hey there Gyps! Just read chapter 7 (and voted for it, of course!) Yes, things are hotting up nicely…..mmmm, like the sound of Tanouie’s sparring partner! 😉 Should be verrrrry interesting! 👍😍😜😳

Hi team ….just found little place to connect my ph to the internet
I am being so spoilt by my oh…went in a helicopter today over the GREAT BARRIER REEF.I am sad to say that this woderous phenomenon is dying from the warmth of the ocean.most of the corals are bleached from this. There are numerous species of tropical fish though not as plentiful asit was 12mths ago.we have done 2 snorkeling trips thus far. The humidity is 100% . It zaps you if you not used to it…
GYPS HOW DO YOU SURVIVE?
THE AREA IS BEAUTIFUL….people r very friendly . The food at the Sheraton and restaurants has been fabulous. I have not given 5:2 a look in..i think i am ok as whateverI drink is quickly lost snd we are walking each day plus the exerise
Of snorkling and swimming must be helping.
Hope u are all well
Cstch up later allthe best to you. ..GO GAL XXX

.

Aha, Gyps, I KNEW I was roaming around in hell yesterday. Can’t wait to read the next installment! No chauvinist can defeat our Tannouie no matter how matter how devious he is ! 😡💥
GG I’m so pleased for you that the vacation is going well and you are being pampered ⭐️🌟💐🍾!! And snorkeling 🐠🐟🐬😀! I have read about the reef, so very sad that is is happening. CG, it is so true, I have seen it over and over in my life that if a problem doesn’t affect someone, they act as though it doesn’t exist. Even to the point of denying science altogether and making fun of the whole thing. The phenomenon of Trump…im hopeful it will change but I hope not too late. Ah well, back in the moment I am so happy you’re having a good time – share more of your adventure when you can, and enjoy every second💕🍷💏💐🌙
Man CG you are not one to sit still are you – by any chance do you have Acadian ancestors? I’m convinced that’s my deal, though I can’t say it has led me to clean out the pantry 🙄 (Lol, the panty!!) But how fantastic to put it in practical order. Isn’t it funny how things get put in a place for no logical reason and that’s just their place from then on. Except when OH unloads the dishwasher 🤔 and (to me) it makes even less sense. And hey congrats on the FD! I hope you got a good rest and your back isn’t mad at you today. Maybe all that bending and stretching was like Pilates though – you may have invented a new exercise 🏋👍😊
Fit, another bank holiday? Your banks sure do have a good time 🎉! What’s on the menu for lunch – I remember you mentioned sis was having tummy issues. I know what you mean, though, could be real thus must be attended to, but could just be her way of controlling things. I hope the day goes well for you – here’s an “it’ll be ok” from me ☘☘ – if not during lunch, then back with OH and a cool peach schnapps – boy is that good stuff. Do you add soda, orange juice, or….just tip the bottle? 😂 Some days I feel like that! And I have chocolate vodka, mixed with strawberry cream, to prove it and oh my it’s only 7:30 and I already want one. Better shower the old hen and get her to school. 🐔🐓💦 Looked up “healthy choices in Chinese restaurants” and the outlook is grim 😆but either way I will enjoy myself 😍 xxxx

Yes Jade. The banks have a great time, especially with our money! Hence, the recession 😬😡 The first Monday in May is actually our version of your Labour Day. I’m like my dad when it comes to drink and mixers. He was once asked at a family gathering what he would like in his whiskey and the reply was “more!” He was about 90 at the time!😂 Ha, ha, so you see where I get it from! My SIL managed to get my sister to go to her house for lunch so I was off duty. Yesterday I gave her baked salmon and a few veg….she ate most of it under protest but then had apple pie and ice-cream no problem! Go figure! 🤔🙄 Have a wonderful time at the restaurant….you can always fast tomorrow! It’s almost 5pm here and I’ve just had liquids so far and a good walk with the dog 🐶😃
CG, I battled those Russians but I can’t explain how my cupboards are still in danger of exploding when I have cleared out so much rubbish and found better homes for some of the contents….it’s a mystery, there must be cupboard gremlins at work! I’ve done three small cupboards but they seem just as full now as when I started! 😁😡🤔
Gyps, I’m really looking forward to Hats getting in on the action…..should be fun! Never mind that stupid housework, you have much more serious duties to attend to! 💪👍💻

Brrr. It’s a bit chillier here at Emu plains than port Douglas I would say and still only and 5am. Someone is snoring and I think I slept a few hours at the beginning of the night but that’s it. My tootsies feel icy despite the queen size doona I bought but other than that it’s cozy in my little single bed. I may have to do something about the fact that the curtain blind is broken and everyone who walks past can see into my room. The joys of living in community! We set up yesterday arvo and the course for the prisoners starts this morning. I hope they are truly blessed by their time with us and I’m sure we will learn lots too. I have the talking aspect of life pretty much nailed but need to get good at the listening part 😉. That’s my personal goal for the week, along with avoiding much of the sugar overload that comes with kairos. Last night we had bbq chook and salad with potato and cheesecake for dessert. I skipped the dessert and potato. If I can keep doing this I’ll be ok. I went for a walk late last night and managed my steps to
10000 but today we are locked in all day from 8-5 so it will be tricky.
Gyps your posts cracked me up. You have such a way with words.
Fit I reckon your sister may have regressed a bit to childhood where your proper meal was a means to an end and dessert was the main goal. Sugar is addictive and delicious! It must be hard for you to deal with her situation.

GG have fun.
JADE our banks are not as dodgy as the ones in the USA, our interest rate is like 2-3% – in Europe it’s negative which does my head in as an accountant. Our laws prevent loans being made to people who can’t pay them thankfully and that shielded us somewhat from the plight of many in the USA. Plus if you default they come and grab any asset, not just the house in question. Hope you did OK with the Chinese food. I either go for a braised fish and veg or combination short soup. Their fried food is lethal calorie wise. I now avoid rice as well but I have stacks to lose so generally avoid rice, potato and pasta. Calorie/volume mix just ain’t great!
Have a good day all.
Love
Anne

Thanks Annie! I hope everything goes well for you and everyone involved in the prison programme. It’s a wonderful endeavour and I’m sure you will gain a great deal from the experience, as will the prisoners. You might need to wear socks in bed like I had to over in France! Not to mention ear plugs!! 😱 Best of luck with resisting temptation and finding the healthy options out of what’s on offer. 👍💪😃💚💞