Hi all , sounds like everyone is enjoying the weekend. And good to hear you are being good CG. I just loved Downton Abby And I’m not surprised you are enjoying it. That should keep you busy for a while. We are having beautiful weather here too so OH out in the garden 🍃🌿🌹🌹 pruning the roses, and I have just washed my bedspread and blankets…that I have been meaning to do for ages. Whilst cleaning out my cupboard yesterday came across all of my mums old knitting and crochet patterns..talk about a walk down memory lane. 💞💞💞I could see all of the things she knitted and crocheted throughout the years by the patterns. It was such a great time remembering all the love she gave through her work. Planning to knit some of them again for my Grandies…lucky they live in cold countries and not where we live.

Gyps. I have just read the chapter introducing Hattie..I just love her..can’t wait to see what Tanouie gets up to in the penthouse!! You are so right about medications, I must check OHs as he is on statins..your son sounds like he was a wonderful thoughtful person. I can relate to his feelings about the news and the sensationalism that seems to be the norm these days. We only watch ABC and SBS and even they have gone down the road of All this live coverage…asking people how they feel.. What an uncaring world this has turned into..if they cared they would not expose people in terrible situations to the continued invasion of privacy…oh well time to get off my soap box..had my rant for the day.

Jade , Gyps advice about looking after yourself is very true. I find when things get really tough I write a Letter to OH explaining how I feel and the effect that his comments have on me. It is all very well that they feel comfortable and able to be themselves…but that is not the person we married in the first place. I think they need to be reminded that we also have feelings that can be hurt, and how hard it is to keep ones lips zipped constantly.🤐🤐 I find a letter a non confronting way to get this message across as you can also tell them how much you love them and soften the blow. Works for us. 💕💕💕🍾🍾

SJ. i imaging you are continuing to enjoy 💕💕💕

Fit. Have a lovely weekend!!Great you and OH had time to enjoy a lunch out.

Bye for now 💜💜💜💜💜

Hi Fit, thank you for your empathy. Am so sorry to hear of the rising sadness in Ireland. Perhaps their Universal psyche is more in tune with the Earth’s plight. We must give them a tale of hope to smile about! Bloody doomsday artists are so set on painting a picture of hopelessness and gloom! And media hype is definitely a powerful tool. But it is all about the user’s intent.(my boy taught me that, too) the power is in the hands of the people now. So best we cheer up in the using!

The Irish are going down first because they are the light of the world! Mine anyway – He’s outside watering the plants in the rain -singing merrily in his cups after showing grave respect to yet another victim of time and cirrhosis- my king of the wake -God love him. On the dry, he sits around in his chair devouring world crisis’ in agro frustration and gloom. The only time he is truly happy is when a stranger dies!(closer ties are quite another matter)But it is a vicious cycle. The news gets him so riled up he is in danger of haunting the cemetery for signs of disturbance! – (or the backhoe warming up to dig!… ). For not even at the peril of his own health, can a soul be sent off without a Guinness salute! It is the lore! Garrk! for certain his happy moments are infectious. If only I could keep him pickled!

And you can take the Irish out of Ireland, but you can’t take the magic out of them. The leprechaun is Irish as paddy’s pigs, despite having been birthed on Geordie soil. (His Mother was an O’Neil and he is a Kelly- tho his dad was raised a scot – a Geordie, Scot, Irish leprechaun, late of Oz conditioning – picture the imp! of my inspiration! (Will I save him?). He arrived home from the pub with my mother’s day pressie. The seafood tray, Fresh oysters, Barramundi fillets, king prawns and…. drool…a mud crab. Yum! Plus a bottle of champagne. How do you growl at him?

So Fit, for certain the Irish/you are of the most intuitive race and the legends of the Celts and the ‘little people’ all originated from the magical, green Isle. If there ever was a ‘Garden of Eden’, then that is where it was. Trust me on that. The pen chose its Tanouie character well. Heh, heh, my pen never actually lies. Though it may invent an alternative reality and a brighter future. Ever hoping the blueprint will assist some inventor to make it manifest. And that is not even a conscious design on my part. It just seems that lately, the co-incidences of my ‘wishful thinking’ are a little more in line with the ‘power of attraction’ theory, to be dismissed. I don’t doubt they are all existing influences, floating around in the endless dimensions of time. The ‘Akaskic records’ do exist. It is especially depicted in the ‘Dreamtime’ stories of Australia’s Aboriginals. It is a wonderful, magical world we live in, (For there is certainly more to Heaven and earth than meets the eye! The germ theory proved that!) And laughter is the key to it. Mud crab is my favourite food. The lobster I paid 70 dollars for at our WTF luncheon, pales in comparison to fresh mud crab. Shane always provided one for me on Mother’s day.

I hope you all have a great weekend and a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! for I certainly will. xxx gyps.

Hi all!
Oh, SJ, how unfortunate for you to have such a fall! 🙁 I’m glad you didn’t break anything and hopefully the anti inflammatories will help your knee to recover as quickly as possible. So you’re right to make the most of your other options with the grandies….lots of cuddle time, stories and board games. Enjoy lunch with your son for Mothers’ day💞💕
PH, well done on fasting at the weekend! How amazing and wonderful to finally have one of your babies by your side for Mothers’ day…..your heart must be bursting! 💞💞💞
Gyps, loving the latest chapters….there must be sparks coming out of your keyboard! Your leprechaun is certainly a one-off, watering in the rain! 😂 There’s nothing the Irish like better than a good wake! I’ve been thinking of you a lot lately because there seem to be fairies following me everywhere. I went out for lunch with some friends lately and there were fairies dangling from the windows. Also at the gardens I went to visit two weeks ago, there was a sign on the wall saying ‘The fairies are coming’. There is definitely something afoot in universe! ✨💫🌪🌟
CG, I hope you haven’t gone square eyed watching Downton, it’s addictive! I absolutely love Maggie Smith and the way her character is always sparring with cousin Violet. She has some of the best one-liners ever! Anyway, enjoy the resting. 👍💚😃
So much for our heatwave….it’s been lashing rain here since about 6am and quite cool too, so I’m back in jeans, sweater and brogues! 😢

Mmmph…grrrrk…nnnggggghhh…AHHHHHH 🔆 here I am, out of the swamp. Hadn’t thought about how much the 24/7 news hype affects us all, but indeed how could it not. God love Shane for turning his back on that soulless bunch. Gyps, what a shining memory of your brave young man.🌟Sometimes karma is just in the mind, but it finds its mark, of that I am sure. But hey ho on the optimistic side, there are way more good souls in the world; even the angry mob at Trump rallies here do actually know and like individual Muslims, gays, you name it. And the mob for all its yelling is a tiny % of my country.

Whew SJ what a scary thing for you😨 Glad you didn’t break anything ❤️💙 and I guess for the next few days you’re meant to rest and do the toddler impersonation 👶👍 I hope the aches subside and no doctor’s visit or X-rays are necessary. Cuddles on the floor with grandies stat!💕

Fit, your day out with OH sounds lovely – you are indeed surrounded by good fairies ✨ as you are one of them – thank you for all your ideas and nudges for OH 💪😎 xx The countdown has me so excited💚 And PH thank you for the letter idea – brilliant, and a sure way not to toss a word bomb for the fleeting pleasure 💣😬 (loved that image of you finding the old patterns too – and that you’ll keep making them💕). But trust me all, lately I’ve had my say, the lip has a slow zipper so a few choice words escape 😏 seems to have done some good. He is much like your leprechaun, Gyps, once strapped in for the ride he is the one “watering flowers in the rain” so to speak until the wee hours🌙 He is a good soul, the biggest heart I know, but he feels a loss like none other – even if the loss isn’t his. Eh, I’ve always loved a good puzzle 🤔

Lol CG doesn’t surprise me you’ve taken a liking to Lady Sybil! I enjoyed Downton and oh that Maggie😂 – I’m also a Judi Dench fan for sure. Glad you found something restful to do as you continue to recup from the incisions. Good thing all the cupboards were already in order? 😂

Right, 5:2? Sort of did it. Then bought new jeans that I LOVE, the stretchy mind. (Ha, NO NO spellcheck that’s stretchy “kind”!) But I think I’ll take that as good fairy advice – so, have a stretchy mind everyone! Enjoy the weekend, hug all your imperfect life companions (even those who pooped in the guest bedroom last night 🐶🐶) and may you get all the hugs back tenfold. 🔆😍 jade xxxxx

Oh Jade! Poop first thing in the morning! I remember it well, one sure way not to eat breakfast! 😉😂 I love your idea of the slow zipper….must remember that one! 👍 I’ve no doubt you’ll solve that puzzle, especially with your stretchy mind! Enjoy the new jeans, it’s great feeling when you get just the right ones! 👖👍💚💞😃

Sounds good, Jade! I’ll hang onto it until you arrive…just for safe keeping! 😉😃

Sorry I didn’t get to post in time for Mothers’ day, (got an unexpected invite to my sister’s for dinner), but I hope all you wonderful Aussie ladies had a terrific time and were spoiled rotten by your nearest and dearest 💞💕
CG, I did warn you about Downton and the tissues, sob! 😢 I’m glad Leah had the foresight to send you emergency consolation supplies to get you through! 😉 What a wonderful thing she and Tegan did on such a special day….two beautiful girls! 💕😍😇 I hope you enjoyed your very English day…..did you find a butler to wait on you as well? 😉
Yesterday was a total washout here and today doesn’t look much better so far. 😠 My sister was expecting friends for dinner last night who had to cancel quite late, so she invited myself, OH and my brother (we all live beside each other) over for dinner. So I had a big blow out with wine, dessert etc. Yummy! 😋 Will try to eat light today and then proper fast on Monday and away we go again! 👍💪
SJ, I hope you’re healing well and being looked after by your gorgeous grandies. Hopefully your plans haven’t been derailed any by your mishap. Take care 💞💚
UP and GG, I can’t remember how much longer you’ll be away but I hope you’re having a brilliant time too. We do miss you and can’t wait to hear all about your adventures! 💚💞😃
Jade, I don’t think I was in a fit(!) state to hang onto anything last night, except the pillow, while the room was spinning! 😜😉😳 Oh well, I should be detoxed by the time you get here!! Not long now, yippee! 👍💚😃

Here with CG’s daughter Leah (far right) and granddaughter, Tegan (next to mum) IN THE PINK! having just completed the walk for breast cancer. Goog on them! Proud Granny! what a lovely pair!

Hooray for Leah and Tegan, well done!! Lovely photo Gyps – ah too bad only one pink wig 😅

Fit, we’re peas in a pod, I can’t pass up a good time either🎉 But the friends’ loss was your gain! Oops, no double entendre intended 😳 but good memories hang around much longer.🍷🍰😍 I’ll be having brunch today so just aiming for self control again 😂🎯 darn creeper lbs, what will it take to get you to leave💣

Ah poor CG with the tissues 😩 …but we all knew that was coming, didn’t we! Money doesn’t buy happiness, right, lesson learned (sure comes in handy sometimes, though!).

One more day in the countdown, and let me just say teleophobia, it’s a thing.💪👊☘💚jade xx

Hi guys,
Just joined and looking for some Aussie assistance. I’ve moved OS with family and feeling a bit isolated and lacking motivation. Hoping to find like mind peeps to chat about 5:2.
Cheers
Cookiegurl

Hi all, hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day! 💞💐🍾. Mine was certainly busy , boy did my very practical daughter get through a lot of jobs that have been on the to do list for a long time. Starting with a complete clean out of my laundry, defrost of the freezer, pulled everything out, washed floor, tidy and clean of shelves and machine etc and a lot of reorganisation . Then we had a lovely morning tea, coffee and a special treat. Now it was time to completely reorganise the breezeway furniture, cleaning everything, relocating the cane couch to the front verandah to catch the winter sun, nothing is where it used to be but must admit it works much better than before and looks great. oH made us lovely BLAT’s ( bacon lettuce and tomato toasted rolls with avocado )🍔🍔☕️☕️ for lunch with a nice cup of tea and then a short rest for the oldies while Daughter kept pottering(as she put it.) which means cleaning in all the spots I can’t get to love her. 💕💕💙💚
Then it was time to put together my new treadmill which was surprisingly easy…just 6 large screws. Then time for coffee and some lovely chocolates she got for me.🍫🍬🍫☕️ Not everyone’s idea of a perfect day but it sure is mine. All those jobs done and a day spent with D. In amongst all of that was a lovely Skype with both of my sons and grandies. Heaven!! Tomorrow we are off to park the van by a beautiful river and try to catch some crabs, kick back and watch the world go by, my old boss and his wife are coming for drinkies and a BBQ with us tonight by the river…what more could any person want out of life. So blessed.

The penny just dropped. Was wondering why there were no posts to read and just realised I have not refreshed!! Duh

Hi there PH!
Sounds like an absolutely perfect day for you…..who cares what anyone else thinks, it’s what matters to you that counts and your beautiful daughter made sure you got exactly that! How lovely to fit in the skyping too, the icing on the cake! 💞😃🎂

Hey Cookie,
You’ve made a brave start, so give yourself a pat on the back for that. It’s not easy to up sticks and move so far from home. I believe the cost of living is very high in Sweden. You are on the right road by planning and preparing; we also add two other p’s…..patience and persistence. It gets hard at times and we’ve all stuffed up from time to time so just accept that and move on. The beauty of this way of life (wol), is that it IS a wol, not a diet. I hit a bad patch recently too but last week I decided to go back to basics with a good clean fast on Mondays and Thursdays. I’m eating just one meal of 500 calories in the evening, lots of water or tea throughout the day. I weigh on Fridays and post my result here. A lot of us do, but it’s not compulsory! Taking measurements is a great idea because sometimes you will see changes there that don’t show up on the scales. So, chin up. Plan your menus for the week ahead. Think how proud and satisfied you will feel by the end of the week having done two good fasts. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint! Keep asking questions and posting here…..best of luck! BTW, my husband’s nephew has just moved to Malmo! 😃

Mornin’ CG! Yes, indeed, the excitement is mounting for the mini WTF! So looking forward to it! I overdid it a bit this weekend too, so I’m actually looking forward to fasting tomorrow. It’s been a lovely weekend but it’s time to get back on the horse! 🐎👍😃

You are definitely irresistible Fit! OH is currently nudging the plans this way and that, because why not pay airline change fees. But as long as he doesn’t nudge me out of Dublin, I have promised not to bean him over the head. I honestly don’t think we’ve ever planned a trip that he didn’t want to change before the ink was dry. Teleophobics unite…as one of our friends said, there is only one Mr.J and you have him. Yes I do. I will no doubt drive the school director insane before we leave. And it has been a short drive lately. 😐 CG always love your quotes, it is the voices inside HIS head that worry me!😅 PH I so wish I could stuff him in a van and join you by the riverside, sounds heavenly🏞🌠💕 as did your lovely day with D.😍 Pass the 🍷🍷🍷 please!!!

Welcome, Cookie! Mmmm, cookies…made of ALL the things I’m trying not to think about.🤔 Totally with you on the stuffing up – but sometimes life is irresistible, which is the great thing about being on a non-diet. We are quite the versatile bunch!

I had a fabulous lunch today with OH and D at a cozy new place, I got the “vegan potluck” – FULL of great veggies and lots of hot coffee on the side, WHAT could be better. I broke in my new brogues dodging the puddles, ready now for whatever Ireland throws at us.💚⛈☘🍺🏄 ha let’s hope we don’t have to surf.

Good luck this week everyone, I’ll jump on the fast train in 12 hours – always bringing up the rear over here 🐢😎 wouldn’t want to shrink out of those new jeans, now would we 😏xx
ps: lol that poor horse, as soon as you’re done with him it’s my turn 🏇🏇🏇 giddy up!

More likely, we might drive off one of your fine cliffs right into the Atlantic Ocean, Fit! Current plan is edging the rental car out of the picture though, which should be cause for celebration for all drivers.🎉 OH got wind of Star Wars doings around the D Peninsula (the force is not with him🖖) and wants no part. I finally just said I don’t care where we go as long as we get to Dublin 💚💚 There. Done.
All right, then – easy on the old nag over there, I need a 24-hour ride!!🏇🕕💪💕

Hello everyone. I’ve been MIA again for a while. I’m still trying to psych myself up to start the 5:2 again. Welcome Cookie. My mother was born in Malmö and my sister and I went on a holiday there some years ago. I bought myself a ” lean to speak Swedish ” book only to discover that they all speak perfect English. I do hope you are able to make friends there soon. It’s not easy to move to another country. I should know as we emigrated here 35 yeas ago now. I was very homesick in the beginning. But once I started work I soon made friends.
SJ sorry about your fall. What a bummer. I hope you come good soon. I’m another Downton Abbey fan. I recently watched series six plus the Finale. I was sorry to see it does to an end. Someone told me that a spin off about Cora was in the making. I don’t know how true it is.
If anyone has Netlix it’s worth looking at a documentary called ” Food Matters. “. It’s all about you are what you eat. I found it quite an eye opener and the medical profession plus pharmaceuticl companies come in for a bit of a serve.
I’m starting to put the weight back on again so must really make an effort and start fasting again.
XX Doggy

PS. Hi Cookie, don’t be put off by my waffles on the Fast. Its really a very sane,sensible thread to be on. Especially when negative forces get you down. Share, swear and get a giggle, or a spot of empathy for whatever ails ya! Welcome aboard. xx gyps