Hey team, it’s a Thursday FD here! I’m feeling like a true elf, after OH and i escaped the Labyrinth of Hell aka IKEA with a new desk (better quality but lower price!), which we assembled at D’s, then rearranged and tidied her living room before she got home from work. Surprise! She was so pleased with the new look. Real shot in the arm for OH too, to get his 🤔 out of his 🐴 and into a helpful project. Win win. You’re right, Fit, they should give awards – or a compass – for anyone navigating that store. I laughed when OH thought we were done after we got thru the showroom hahaha oh no, you have quite a bit more yellow brick road to go, dear man. Luckily all fit into the truck and the two of us could manage hauling it.

Needed smashed potatoes for dinner, what a coincidence PH right?? Whew that furniture hauling is hard work, but not as hard as what’s going on at your place, wow! How wonderful to really clear things out, and being surrounded by family all the while – love hearing about the pitter patter of little feet and the tiny knock💕💕just the best, enjoy the cuddles{{{♥️}}}!!

Up, I’m just floored by your tale – what an odyssey! You are my new hero of travel, if and when I actually get to do some. Still laughing that you’re sharing the mini toothbrush – the view from your hotel is truly fabulous though! Sorry Gyps and I hijacked your FB post😜😏😎

Fit how lovely to get together with your oldest for coffee and cake🎂☕️🍫🍮🍩🍪🍨🍦🍭oops I got carried away just thinking about cake! Is today a FD for you too? Let’s keep busting that bronco, I’m feeling the power this week🏇💪 Must be contagious, too – CG you were up and about early! Hope you supmuggled – OMG THERE’STHAT WORD AGAIN, lol spellcheck😠 – *snuggled!! back under the covers after the early toast and tea. Or did you make it until Glenn’s arrival? Ha, bet he was surprised!

And now, if I can force myself to use my hands for grading instead of eating…time to saddle up and get to work with these bar exams. ♥️💚💜jadexxxx

Hey Jade! Well done on being IKEA survivors! Your d must have got a great lift out of seeing her new desk all assembled and ready to use. I’m staying strong and calling on all my Aussie determination to see this fd out to the end. The weather has taken a bit of a nose dive and I’m really feeling the cold because, of course, I’m fasting. Despite lunch and dessert out yesterday, followed by chocolate birthday cake when we got home, the scales was quite kind this morning 😊 Phew!
Sorry to hear you have to do all that grading still…. I thought you were on holidays from college! I’m glad you’re feeling strong and riding that bronco so well this week ……we can do this! 💪👍💚💞💕

Right, the corset, forgot that you have to sleep in it, CG – confounded hooks!😡 but as Fit said, you’re in the home stretch🏇so it’ll all be worth it to have a sleek new body👙😍 But it’s awful not to be able to sleep, I hope some cotton or wool to pad the tender areas will help🙏

Oh SJ, the ziplok bags on planes 🙄…our security folks can sometimes be very unfriendly to those who try to take more than a small bag (our quart). I know, I’ve taken a gallon bag before, sometimes forget to even take it out, and often they don’t care. You really can’t fit much in those things! And I’m really tired of taking off my shoes. Oh well, it won’t change anytime soon. Glad you had such a grand time in Canada and have the San Fran family to return to, brilliant planning 👍Wave to me again as you fly over👋👋😎, wait never mind, no one in their right mind is outside today. I think even the snakes have headed north for cooler weather.

Whew, about to close the book on this FD. Did you make it, Fit? That horse looks awfully tired! 🐎oops its rider fell off! Haha, just kidding, there you are.🏇 If I can stay out of the grapes, I’ll make it. Back to the papers🖋🖋xx

Good heavens, they took a lot of skin off you, CG! Whew, what an ordeal – you’re entitled to a good whine (whinge)☺️. Probably some itching going on, too, right? But that means you’re healing, so hallelujah! Gosh Glenn sure does work long hours, though I’m not a bit surprised, it obviously runs in the family💪. Just a few more days…hang in there, my friend♥️

I’m trying to avoid the grapes but a few accidentally flew into my mouth🙄 Amazing that some yogurt flew in there, too. Well, I had a pretty sedate salad for dinner, while OH ate an ENTIRE BAGUETTE, so I’m thinking the physical exertion (patting myself on the back!) and the mental exertion of grading papers will burn the rest off – I’m WAY out of practice with grading, and hating every single second, like pulling teeth. But I need to finish by Monday, gotta learn to say no. 🗯💬🔺Ha ha – right. Have a good day and I hope you can find some comfort! xxxx💕🌧🐶🐶💟☕️😍

Hi all!
Jade, I hung on to that bucking (rhymes with what I really want to call it!😉) bronco and just about made it….some tinned fruit hopped into my mouth too and I ended at 600 cals instead of 500. Oooh, grapes, once I start, I can’t stop! I hope you got the grading done before your head melted! 😰
CG, did you get a proper sleep? 72 kg is great so far, considering you’re still swollen and not getting much exercise and those treats are just jumping into your mouth as well! Now all you need to do is get working on that patience! “Patience is a virtue, have it if you can, seldom in a woman but never in a man!”
My weigh in this morning shows a loss of 400g and another cm off my hips….so it’s ‘softly, softly, catchee monkey’ for me. I’m quite happy with that because I haven’t felt too deprived and I’m beating my snacking habit 👊💪
SJ and UP, hope your travels go without any more hitches. 💪💕💚
PH, best of luck with the decluttering and the yard sale 👍💞💚
Gyps, GG, Dawg, Annie, we miss you 💕💞💚 Also love to Gawd and Lotus 💚💕
GL, hope all is still going well for you 👍💚💞
Have a wonderful day and weekend, everyone! 🍾🍷🍹🍻☀️💐

Hi there Jade! It’s almost 9pm here so the sun is over the yardarm but I’m feeling too delicate to add alcohol to the mix. I was out walking the dog with my sis and the lace from one of my boots got tangled in the hook of the other and down I came with a bang on the road! So now I have a lovely bruised face, grazed hand , sore ribs and shoulder! 🤕 I’ll probably have a black eye tomorrow too, it will look lovely at the wedding next weekend, I’m sure! 😱
I try to eat three decent meals on nfds so that I’m not tempted to snack….so porridge for breakfast, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and grilled tomatoes or a big salad for lunch and then meat/fish with lots of veg, followed by fruit for dinner. I sometimes have a piece of fruit or handful of nuts straight after breakfast or lunch but nothing in between meals. If I’m out for lunch, I try to pick salad or soup but often have cake too, as long as I stay within TDEE. This regime has also resulted in stopping eating much earlier in the evening which helps too, I think.
Well done on your fantastic loss, woohoo! That’s amazing and very quick! Hope the grading went well….enjoy a well deserved 🍷 ot two! 👍😃💞

Mornin CG! We crossed!
It sounds like you are doing all the right things and I’m delighted to hear that you’re going to have a lovely night out with Leah and family. You might have discovered a new career as an artist by the time you go home 😉👍😃
I’ll be absolutely fine by next weekend and after some champagne and peach schnapps, nothing will keep me off the dance floor! 💃 😆

Good for you GL! Those measurements will start to improve if you just stick with it. Special family occasions are to be enjoyed and any gain from them will be just food in transit and will quickly go again. I need to tone up too. I’d love to do Pilates but I’m finding it hard to find a class near me that’s at a time that suits. Most classes are in the evening but I’d prefer morning. Best of luck with the computer and lawnmower…..these things are so annoying and frustrating, especially when we’re relying on someone else to fix the problem. 😡😁 Take care and keep up the good work! 👍👏😃

Afternoon Jade!
Of course I’ll send good vibes your daughter’s way….✨💫✨💫💥 There, hope that does the trick! I’ll be singing at mass soon, so I’ll be thinking of her then too.
I woke up with a couple of extra bruises on my shoulder and knee but it’s my ribs and palm of one hand that are the sorest. My face is not nearly as bad as I thought and it looks like I won’t have a black eye either, so it’s all good.
Well done on fighting the snacking dragons 👹…. I know you can do it, just rev up that chainsaw if they come anyway near you! ⚙❗️
I must catch up on my reading of Gypy’s latest instalment, I’ve been very lax lately. I hope I can remember what’s what and who’s who! 🤔😊😅
Best wishes to all the rest of the gang, near and far 💞💚💕😃

Great to hear your d survived the exam and that life is moving on in a more positive direction for her. She must have a little of that AD in her too! Hope there are some suitable celebrations tonight now that her course is finally over 🍷💃💐🍹🎤
The scales have been kind so I’m happy that even after a nfd, I got the same result this morning as yesterday! You must be very petite indeed and your lumpy bits must be minuscule! (Lol, the northward lumpy bits in particular, mine too! 😉)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend 💚💞💕

Hi all!
CG, sounds like you had a really terrific time with Leah and family, woohoo! You’re probably back from your lunch with Glenn by now so did you find something healthy to eat? Who cares really because you’re having special times with your nearest and dearest and what could be more important? You’ll get back to the rhythm of 5:2 soon enough when you’re home again.
I’ve definitely bruised my ribs , I remember the symptoms from the last time. They have to get worse before they get better but I’ll be fine. My face is healing up very quickly, that arnica is brilliant stuff! Have you tried it? You can take pills as well as using cream and it helps to heal from the inside. It might help you with bruising and scarring after your op. Maybe you could ask your doc or pharmacist about it.
We’re going to my SIL for lunch today, she’s the mother of the bride next Saturday. Her son has come home from Oz for the wedding, it’s the first time he’s been home in years. He’s my OH’s godson and the bride is my goddaughter. So there’ll be a big family get together today so we can all have a proper catch up before the excitement of the wedding takes over.
Best wishes to all for the week ahead. Happy fasting, mindful eating and portion control! 👍💪💞💚💕

That will be a perfect gift for Julie, cyclamens are so pretty. What a lovely day out with Glenn, it must feel great to be out and about too after being cooped up for so long, even though you were being pampered and spoiled. I’m really looking forward to to today, it will be great fun. We’ll also be meeting the newest member of the family, my SIL’s grandson, born just two weeks ago! It’s going to be an indoor bbq, because of course, it’s raining!! Oh, well, that’s the joy of living in Ireland! 😉💞💚💕😃

Wow what a small world, Fit! Your goddaughter and OH’s godson, returning from Oz which you know a thing or two about now as well🤔😍. Glad you are healing up, haven’t heard of arnica but with all my pratfalls I had better look it up! Have a wonderful time with all the wedding fun, it sounds like a cascade of love over your way♥️♥️💕

Yours too CG, what fun you’re having with Glenn and Leah despite those darn hooks and eyes😡☺️. Heck, how could weather get in your way! Sometimes it seems that love and good times are even more precious when it is bad out⛈💨🌫💏. And what a thoughtful gift for Julie – I love cyclamens. Very hardy too, like all of us💪! How lovely of your SIL to say that, and I’ll bet you look even better having heard it♥️♥️

It is Father’s Day here, speaking of love – we’re on for a very late brunch at 2:30 this afternoon. Just seeing youngest d, but she is the apple of his eye. Yes, isn’t it grand to be friends with our kids now they’re grown? Our Ds are such fun, funny how they often give US advice now (and are often right).

So I have managed, with what looked like normal portions to ME, to pick up 2 kg since Friday. I just have to laugh at that😂 It is why I hate the scale. In truth, my main problem now is getting the sugar under control. So perhaps the eggs and not the pancakes today🤔😈- I’ll just let the menu surprise me! Hugs to you all 💚💛💜💕xxx

Hi there CG and Jade!
CG, it’s great that you are making the most of your stay at Glenn’s and adopting a slower, lazier pace of life for your last few days there. Do you leave on Friday? Well done on the typing without your glasses, if I did that it would be complete gobbledygook!
Jade, hope that food in transit wasn’t too explosive as it took its leave, lol! 😳 No, I’m not a cricket fan so it was a win/win situation as I went to visit my sister who lives about an hour away and raided her for some lovely accessories to wear to the wedding next Saturday….woohoo! 👍😃 Sounds like you had a lovely day too 👍💞😃 Glad to hear that the blasted grading is nearly done, do you actually get proper holidays where you don’t have to do anything to do with college or teaching? 🤔😁
I had to get up really early (for me) this morning to go into the hospital to bring my sister for a scan to another hospital…..lots of hanging around waiting rooms and then took her back to hospital again. She’ll be coming home tomorrow and is looking forward to that. She seems a little better, so hopefully that will continue and last. I’m absolutely wrecked now because I didn’t really sleep at all last night. My ribs are quite sore now but I knew that was coming. I bought a new swimsuit while I was in Dublin and when I was in the changing room with all those mirrors, I noticed there were big black bruises all down the back of one thigh! More results of the fall last week! Good job I won’t be wearing a mini dress to the wedding…..as if that was ever a prospect! 😉😃😱 I’m fasting today and feeling good about that despite all the other frustrations of the day, so still on track for another loss this week. Move up on that saddle, Jade, I’m climbing on board! 🏇👍💚💕💞

Hi CG and FIt (and anyone else out there?) – it is bitterly HOT here, whew the humidity is oppressive! Longest day of the year for us, shortest for you true Aussies😉 So we’ll be swapping soon enough🔆🌨

It hasn’t been much of a summer vacation so far lol, but now I’ve completed my grading for bar exam practices, and all that’s left is 😡 committee work. The rich ones flee after graduation, so the grunt work is left to the rest of us. Dean hasn’t decided what I’ll be doing next year, but I’m hoping to do less. It’s not a good time at law schools here! I am getting old at a very convenient time. OH was the same, a newspaper reporter back in the day – none of my students even subscribes to a paper anymore.

Well goodness that’s a downer! Fit, fingers crossed for your sis and her homecoming. I wondered the same as CG, is the carer situation better (I hope)? Good grief girl, the bruises! Do be kind to yourself while you’re healing from all that. Sounds like I should bring my little Aussie shepherd over there and make sure you and CG stay out of trouble😂🐶 Like you I am a homebody, CG, I can imagine how much you miss your home and your sweet Lexie and Danny. Not much longer now!😍

Fit hope you put that horse back in the paddock, because I fell off a while back.🐎 Can you believe it, I was attacked by nuts around noon and it was downhill from there. I was tired and annoyed by having to be at school, so boy I showed them! ha, I really just needed to chomp something, and raw almonds were the safest choice😬 Maybe tomorrow!

Take care all, and let’s stay injury free while we’re getting all healthy💪😉🔆💚💛💜jade xxx

Wow! Go Tegan! That’s a fantastic result! Huge congrats to her, what a talented girl 👍😃 Great job, especially after going through a tough time with her back surgery earlier in the year, woohoo! 🏆🏅🎖I hope you get a good report from the surgeon, don’t forget to ask about using arnica! My face is almost completely healed and I had a great night’s sleep, so I’m feeling good. It will be brilliant for you to be back home and I bet you’ll get quite a welcome from Danny and Lexie…..just make sure you keep a gate or fence between you and them! I’m sure your boys will be delighted to be running around freely again on their home turf! 🐶🐶🐶😃
Yes, my sister is coming home before the results come through because that could take some time and she only attended that hospital as an outpatient from the psych hospital. Her care package and staff are still in place, so all is ok on that front. We’re hoping the care/manager will be able to start shortly too, so things are moving on positively.
Jade, sorry if I shoved you out of the saddle yesterday! 🐎 I hope you get the rest of that committee work done soon so that you’re no longer being attacked by random foodstuffs! My fd finished just a little over 500 so I’m happy with that. A sneaky peek at the scales shows I’m the same weight as last time I wore the dress for the wedding and I still have one more fast to go before Saturday! Fingers crossed I don’t let that bucking bronco unseat me for the next few days! My OH gave me a bag of Minstrels (chocolates) to say thanks for the Fathers’ day pressie but I’ve put them away out of sight until next week!
I’m so excited today. My younger d will get her final results of her degree today. She’s also filming two of the professional dancers from Britain’s Strictly Come Dancing show for the next three days and she’s found herself a room to rent in London for the next few months while she completes an internship there. She’s finding her feet in life and I’m so thrilled and proud 😃💚💕💞
Ok, I better get off and do some grocery shopping for my sister and then go and collect her from hospital. It’s her birthday today too, so we’ll pick up a nice cake to have when we get back to her apartment. One of the private carers who lives nearby is going to join us too, so it will be a nice welcome home for her.
Big hi to all the rest of the gang whatever you’re up to! 👍😉💞💕💚😄

Well done on the FD Fit! And you’ll look smashing in that dress, just stay upright with no more bruises😍 and I do hope your sister’s improvement continues, for your sake as much as hrs. She is lucky to have such a loving sis to help her. A big happy birthday hug to her{{💕}}} – have a piece of cake for me, mmmmcake. Ha, I dI indulge in a bit of sweets yesterday so it’s a good thing I’m not nearby.
What brilliant girls, your D and Tegan!!🔆✨💐 How proud you both must be, and so happy for them. Makes life so sweet when the kids are happy, doesn’t it🌈💚💛? Thrilled that your D is finding her way in a career, Fit, it can be difficult these days! CG, what interests Tegan as far as potential careers? Sounds as though she could take her pick!

It’s a dog day here – we are dog sitting two visitors! D’s dog while she goes to a sleepover camp for kids with autism, and a friend’s dog while she drove to pick up a new oupoy🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶. She is coming over soon so her older dog can meet the baby on neutral ground. Oops she just texted she is on her way. Catch up with you all later! 😍🐶💛👍😉✨xxxx

Wow, oupoy, not much of a proofreader Fit, am I….ok, so puppy is an 8-wk-old brindle Scottish terrier. Too adorable for words. My good friend with whom we share a lot of dog sitting just got him. The house has been overflowing with puppy love today🐶💕🐶💕
Thank you for the kind words about youngest D, she is a good egg, I admire her strength and compassion. And generosity – would love for her to find the right job, i.e. one with a salary!👍 I’m not quite sure what a “first” in your D’s degree means, but I know it’s good, I can see you beaming from here ✨✨congrats to her! Save me some cake! A wodge sounds just right lol😉🎂 All these smart girls, I just love it!! 🏆🏅🏆🏅Makes me happy for the future of the world. I totally agree about Tegan – her well being, surrounded by friends her age, is the most important. Teenaging is hard enough as it is, and she has certainly proven herself a treasure.💎

Keep riding that horse, Fit, you’re in the home stretch now! You’ll feel and look beautiful at the wedding🎊🎉💑💕 I’m just trying to keep my face out of the doughnuts – easy enough if you don’t buy them! Oops!!! No worries, they’re gone, nothing really but dog treats in the house now👍🐶 – so I’ll try to behave for the rest of the…day. Ha! Cheers to all, jadexx 🍸

G’day team, guess I’m the only one just relaxing today 😊 We’re driving to the city for dinner later but until then the day is mine, ahhhhh. CG, I’ve just seen your emails!! and sent you several replies, I’m so sorry to have missed them before. I am a bad gmailer, it is so different from Outlook, especially on the iPad mini. I will do better💪

The heat is awful here, even for this southern girl. I hate staying indoors but I do appreciate the luxury of aircon and comfort. i wouldn’t call yesterday a FD but I did keep it low carb and relatively small. I was reading up a bit more on the benefits of fasting to keep me motivated. Dr. Jason Fung has written some interesting articles and books that I may try to download. I’m fascinated by how the body works with nutrition, appetite, etc. and its reaction to the additives in everything these days. Such a complex minefield.

I thought of you Aussies braving winter weather when I read about the South Pole rescue of a very sick worker at the science station down there. Quite the harrowing tale, with the super cold temps and of course basically dark 24/7. Whew, makes me even happier to be sitting here surrounded by just 3 dogs now🐶🐶🐶 – No fasting today! Have a wonderful day team🌈🌅🌄💕jadexxx