Jean – I had a friend doing the on again off again treatment…so glad Steve’s got you keeping him together. And doing it at this time without the temptations to overdo it might be a bit of a blessing for him. You – of course, must not overdo it, either!!

Mx

Thanks Minols I will look after. I got a letter from my local vicar at St James church asking if I need anything,bit of a suprise as they have never been in touch before. The weather is YET AGAIN sunny and warm,it’s almost tropical☀️☀️☀️☀️. Decided to only take Heidi out once today,will try and go to the reservoirs it’s lovely there and there is a bench to sit on. I have just put zoom on my laptop,my son is going to use it for his therapist session hopefully.The dentist as just cancelled my appointment on Monday.I will get weighed tomorrow so will try to do another fast day today, I don’t think I will be lighter than before I went on holiday but you never know.

Fasting today and pretty darn hungry.

Cakey and anyone when you do homemade soup or anything else home made for FD dinner do you calculate every calorie or guess and if so how. Worried about guessing wrong but fed up of Kirsty meals. I have a couple I do like omelette that I do calculate but just wondered if you can guess pretty accurately.

Minols quote is opening lines of Tale of Two Cities…now doubting myself and wondering if it’s actually NN but think it’s the first.

Typhoo happy wiping

Right now for French…sorely neglected for sake of allotment a bientot x

Hello

Sarah – I have calculated my soup once before and it worked out 150 – 200 calories a bowl. Carrots, potato, lentil, onion and bacon – makes 6 bowls full. It lasts 2 days and I’m quite happy with one bowl each day, H finishes the rest 🙂

CW

Minols is your church in Dunfermline? There are a few with the same name, Catholic and church of Scotland.So not sure which one is yours.

Evening everyone, had a nice low day food wise. Garden furniture all finished now so turned to catching up with a bit of neglected housework. Then we had our daily constitutional walk. We’ve both got repeat prescriptions to collect tomorrow so will also visit the greengrocers and Co-op to get some milk if they have any.
Jean poor Charlie not liking you doing a jig-saw. Glad Steve still feeling okay at the moment-when my sister had chemotherapy she sailed through the first session with no side effects but had them after the subsequent ones but everyone’s treatment is unique to them of course.
Hedgehogs hope it’s the scent diffuser that’s affecting your throat and nothing else.
Dave glad you had a nice walk with Heidi in the sun and hope the scales are kind to you tomorrow morning.
Have a good rest of the day everyone.
Nana x

Evening All..
Fasting has gone well…kitchen closed a glass of milk later…

Sarah..
I make veg soup, I don’t think the calories are too high..a bowl 200 cals tops …depends which soup you make and portion size… I used to always count every meal, lots of our meals the same so you have a good idea..depends how strict you are and were you are on your weight loss…enjoy your Line of Duty tonight.

Minols..
What a pretty church you have..the old ones are the best.

Dave..
Glad Heidi managed the walk..

Hedgehog..
Good your mums a good chatterbox, I think when they are on their own they have to get all their words in
( like my sister 😂) hope your throat soon feels better, hate it when it comes and goes.

Nana..
Hope you are pleased with your furniture good weather to give it a good try out…a few people are saying it’s the second cycle when the side effects kick in…hope he’s not too bad.

Weigh in tomorrow a few biscuits had this week..we never do 😬

Jean x

Morning all,

I’m still here, although things have been crazy trying to get set up for working at home, still not got any final word yet. I feel anxious most of the time.

Fasting has been zero for me. I did Monday but that’s it. I’m trying to keep it low today, but things are getting to me a bit and its hard.

Not sure how often I’ll be able to update when I’m working at home, I’ll try and get on once a day. I need to keep to my fast days when I’m at home, so that will be another test, as its harder when I’m at home!

I feel there are so many obstacles at the moment.

Sorry for being miserable lol, I miss normality, as I’m sure we all do.

Take care all and stay well x

The scales were not kind. I have gained 6lbs which i suppose it’s not too bad after being on holiday. I don’t think the present climate helps either. Decided we will go to Aldi instead of Sainsbury’s today they seem to have more stock on the shelves. Not getting much just bred and milk and maybe something we missed on Tuesday.Not sure if I should do a monthly weigh-in or a weekly one.

Google does voice to text, works pretty good.https://www.movavi.com/learning-portal/best-speech-to-text-software.html
For pc but Google works well on my phone. Give them a try Minols.

Morning All..
A beautiful day again…debating to colour my hair umm…bought 25 kg of potatoes keep us going for the duration…Costcutter in our village will deliver to me even if it’s only eggs, bread, milk and vanilla slices..shop is quite empty of goods today, so see how it goes. Daughter hopefully may do a full shop for me in a couple or three weeks time.

I am staying the same I think it’s 6 weeks now ..so I am maintaining at the same level.

Out early doing a park walk only 6 people in the full park, so was really lovely..Charlie was fussy when home you could tell he had enjoyed it.

Dave..
Strange on your film…hits home…hope your shopping goes better..the weight will move, holidays get in the way.

DF..
It will feel better when you get organised and in a routine…I think we will have our ups and downs as we go..I think I was a bit yesterday a bit more upbeat this morning…take it steady as you go…don’t forget to fit your walk in it’s up lifting…

Minols..
How long have you been at St Leonards?…do you get moved about a lot…what a shame on your nieces wedding, there must be loads of disappointments about..good luck with the writing today…

Cakey..
Trying a new recipe of the week..chicken chasseur, it’s absolutely ages since making it, one of James Martin…first tick of the week….

Hedgehog..
I shall keep going out in the car until I am told different..nice the boys joined you for your walk, good to get them out too…any climbing trees today 😂…good luck on the fasting day..

Nana, Kay, Mel, Sarah, Tammy and Typhoo…hope all is going well….

Jean x

I think I will have an eating day today but must try harder in the coming months. Got to leave the toast alone 🥴🤯.I went to the local shop and got everything I needed, no queueing.Time to take Heidi out, she keeps looking at me when she’s awake 😃.

Evening All..

Chicken chasseur turned out really well…wasn’t happy half way through but it pulled together at the end..served with mashed potato and garlic bread…red wine ..all delicious….

Hedgehog..
A good day for gardening…a full nest is it all going well …I got my caravan bedding washed as the day was good…looks like a ironing day tomorrow…hope you survive your fast day ..

Dave..
Is it a local walk day?….good you have got all your shopping…have you had beans on toast!!

Jean x

Evening everyone , went to collect our repeat prescriptions a small queue outside only one person allowed in at a time same at the greengrocers everyone good natured whilst waiting and chatting to each other observing the distancing rule. Like you Jean we got a 25kg sack of potatoes and 10kg bag of onions plus got some fruit and salad stuff so we should be alright for a while.
Had a phone call from son in law last night to say that he’s in self isolation for 7 days following a phone call to 111 as he was aching all over has a cough and runny nose but no temperature and the nurse he spoke to yesterday said that there’s a nasty cold going around at the moment but as he works at Tesco he had to self isolate just to be on the safe side. Spoke to him and daughter this morning he sounds dreadful daughter is having to play with poppy in the garden as she also has to self isolate now so no walks for her.
Just having a glass or two of wine as i usually do on a Friday evening but no takeaway had a couple of Heck sausages salad and new potatoes.
Sorry to see on the weather forecast that this lovely weather we’ve been having is changing over the weekend.
Stay safe everyone.
Nana x

Dave..
Meat and pot pie…very nice…

Nana..
I am joining you with a red wine or two or three..my day off 😀 Steve only can have one small one so it leaves more for me…😀
Sorry to hear about SIL hope he goes on ok and keeps it to his self….it’s a worry…the weathers changing but it will keep people away from walking, I worry when there’s a few people about..

Have a good weekend….still every days the same…

Jean x

I think today could have been the last of the nicer weather, although it has been quite cold here today, lovely and sunny though.
Neil has had a day off and has been ‘tinkering’ about, building a bird nesting box, tidying up the front porch area, although he decided that renovating the current post box on the wall is a no go and another has been ordered. The think the rental agency were going to look at replacing it is it looks quite tatty, but we would wait for ever for them, so will just buy it ourselves.

Did my 2nd afternoon in the shop here in the village. It was quite busy, lots more people doing a bigger shop rather than just popping in for 1 item. Luckily it was dry because at one stage there was quite a queue outside! Only 2 people allowed in the shop at once and 2m gap marked on the floor. People outside were 2m apart. Our village square looked busy!

I find this all very surreal. I keep thinking that maybe it wont be as bad here and things will get back to normal, but sadly I know its not true and this is going to get worse before it gets better.

And fasting….whats that?!
I start the morning with good intention but then all resolve has gone about an hour later! Gone into comfort eating mode!!
Its almost April and I would like to be at least the same as I was at the end of February, even better I would like to be a pound down.
At the moment its up. Not helped by lack of exercise. My job kept me quite active and I find it hard just to go for a walk around here, just for the sake of it. More than ever I need a dog now.

I did contact the sharpei rescue centre and they said they were having discussions about what to do, but Ive not seen anything on their fb page or website. More non essential travel I suppose. Just hope they have enough dog foster families available.

Its good that you all seem to be holding up ok, well as much as we can do.

Jean, hope Steve doesnt suffer too much in this first phase. It must be hard at the beginning, not knowing how it will go etc.

Nana, hope your sil has just a cold, but there again, with no test, has to act as though its the virus, cant take the chance.

Off to see if there are any online shopping slots, which there wont be, but I do keep checking!

Keep safe, look after yourselves. Particularly Steve, Typh00, as I think you live on your own x

Good morning all

Have been out for a little shop but had to queue up before I could go in Tesco’s which is very unusual but I guess that’s a sign of the times.

Finding it difficult to fast at the moment even though i know I should even if it’s just to make the food last longer.

Hope everyone stays strong and safe in these strange times and look after each other.

Morning All..
A bright day but chilly out…a good three rounds of the park a tired Charlie fast asleep now…only about 6 people about…roads very quiet.

Watching James Martin on TV just gone off, ironing and a few jobs to do…handle wiping again….

Sarah..
Half a pound is half a pound all in the right direction…Nana lost that a few weeks in the row it soon adds up…what side is Friday Nights Dinner on, never seen it…

Kay..
Our Tesco was up to 16th April with no slots available…it’s nice doing a few jobs around your house even when rented you like it nice….it’s a shame you can’t get a dog I suppose it’s all on hold, not very good on poor dogs needing homes.
Looking at the extra hospitals and mortuaries things don’t look good..I think we might get a total lock down at some stage.
I seem to be eating a bit more on chocolate and chocolate biscuits because Steve is allowed anything it makes it hard for me..I don’t want to put my weight back on like last time a few years ago..

Hedgehog..
Steve feels much better this morning and the bleeding has stopped, his chemo tablets have finished now must be something to with them…finish some more tablets today..then injections start tomorrow for 5 days…we have a chart it’s all very confusing with different times and days.

Wine and chocolate last night made me feel off through the night..I never learn!!
Hope your mum is ok, nice you can both catch up with her…I think the fasting days are harder when you are inside all the time…

Have busy weekend everyone..

Jean x

Oh Kay I know, it’s hard. I went for a walk yesterday afternoon, spoke to my neighbour (also friend) and came away feeling I had upset her. Then walk past the pig farm (one of the horrible ones) and all the pigs were screeching away, much noisier than usual. All too much so had a bawl on my own. You must try to enjoy your birthday, have a nice meal. Wish you had a dog too, they are a comfort. Our 38th anniversary last Tuesday, not how it should have been (Scotland). I have a few self pitying moments then think of all who are so much worse off and pull myself together. Must admit fasting is a no no for me at the moment but keeping a good eye on the weight.
Dave I know what you are referring to on WhatsApp but I didn’t get it at first – I am an innocent 😇!
Thinking of you all, even though I am not posting so much at the moment.

Afternoon all

I read a brilliant article this morning from an Italian writer, writing to us from our future as we are a couple of weeks behind them. Wish I could post a link but don’t know how to that as I am such a luddite. It was in Guardian online today. It was funny as well as chilling. Several times she tells us we will eat as it is the only thing left to do. She also tells us that married people will go to sleep sometimes thinking the first thing they will do when we get out of this is file for divorce. In Italy and Spain now no exercise is allowed. I wonder if we should start thinking about how we can exercise dogs in our gardens just in case, teaching them to do agility or something.

Kay I really understand your anxiety. I went up to our farmshop today which had no flour or eggs (didn’t need them) but otherwise well stocked. Some people just were not observing the 2 metre distance which made me cross and anxious. There weren’t even loads in. I wonder could you liaise by phone and just meet half way to pick up a shar pei on a foster basis rather than adoption. At the very least a dog gets to be fostered for a bit.

Jean FND is channel 4 at 10 on Fridays. I really like Tamsin Greig and find it all very amusing but…

HH that might mean I have an incredibly juvenile sense of humour 🤷‍♀️

Mel, just because you know you are fortunate doesn’t mean the whole thing doesn’t get incredibly worrying and upsetting. Little things are making me well up too at the moment.

Not seen grandchildren obvs but did a zoom family meeting last night. They were all gathered round the firepit in the garden. All happy and I know it’s only week 1 but they’re structuring days and actually daughter was saying it’s ok, a chance to get off the hamster wheel and they seem to have settled into it. The boys getting on well and playing and the two year old generally causing havoc. They have small house and garden but woods directly behind them. At the moment it’s working well. There will be so many children for whom that is not the case….

Son is wfh and is down with gf in small but nice flat in Brighton. They are both wfh, her v busy in new job, he will handle the cooking etc as usual. He is a fabulous cook. This will decide whether they will stay together I am sure.

My teeny tiny loss has made me more positive about trying to use this time to lose the remainder of my weight and emerge like Cakey’s butterfly image instead of a lolloping great porker. And through all this it is something we CAN control and I want to celebrate any tiny positive…

We will get through this and hopefully get out unscathed. We just need to keep going and try to stay sane in the meantime x

Evening everyone, well today has been like any other day doing the usual things. We are very fortunate to have a lovely young couple live next door to us and as we came home yesterday from getting our shopping she was outside and asked how we were doing and was there anything we needed and husband said that we hadn’t been able to get any strong bread 🍞 flour and pasta – this afternoon our doorbell rang and there was some 🍞 flour and a packet of pasta shapes left on our doorstep. So kind of her.
Son in Law is still feeling poorly but he said he’s a little better today.
A very cold wind today on our walk a few more people about walking their dogs not from our village – think they’re coming from the next village only problem is they drive here and block the entrances to the farmers fields and access to the droves with their parked cars. I read somewhere today that in Ireland people are only to walk a distance of 2km from their homes.
Been a good day eating wise again I’m pleased to say and be strong and not have any alcohol this evening.
Keep safe and well everyone.
Nana x

Morning all!
Have woken up with a motivated mind to do an 800 FD today! So will run with that, & would like to finish March with at least one more…but we would’ve been going away tomorrow, I think hubby is wanting to have a holiday at home & eat some of the goodies we would’ve taken, so will see…
Hope everyone doesn’t miss that hour we’ve lost & has as good a day as possible! Foul weather here, windy, cold & heavy sleet, joy!

No fasting at weekend.I must admit it’s getting more difficult to fast. Just the depressing times we live in at the moment.Keep stroking you dog or cat of you have one, it’s supposed to be good for depression. Works for me. Sunny yet again here, can’t believe it, definitely brought the weather home from Lanzarote 😆😆☀️☀️☀️.

Afternoon..
Kay- Chocolate Cheesecake recipe (supposed to serve 14, it does 8- 10 in this house!)
Base- 250g digestives, 100g butter.
Filling- 200g milk chocolate, 200g plain chocolate, 250g mascarapone, 400g cream cheese, 1 tsp vanilla essence, 300ml double cream.
For the base, crush the biscuits, melt the butter & mix together. Grease a 22cm spring form tin, & press the biscuits in, chill.
For the filling, melt the chocolates together in a bowl over hot water, remove from heat & cool a little. Beat the mascarapone, vanilla, cream cheese & cream together, until smooth. Gradually pour in the melted chocolate & mix until combined. Chill for 4 hours or overnight.
My family like salted caramel sauce over it too- for that I heat on low 85g soft light brown sugar, 150mls double cream, 25g butter & 0.5tsp salt in a nonstck pan, until dissolved. Turn up the heat & boil for 3-5mins until golden & syrupy. Cool before pouring over.
Hope you can get all the ingredients; I usually use just extra cream cheese instead of the mascarapone.
Jean- not bad being in isolation with a hot tub, but hope your daughter & SIL get on okay if they’re used to him working away alot! Shame the river walk is a bit busy, our path down to the forest is getting like that now so drove to another part…good you’ve been able to get fruit & veg still!
Typhoo- must be hard to keep motivated, especially on your own. Have you been able to have your daughter to stay recentmy?
Dave- Lanzarote must seem a long time ago now! Xena isn’t one for being stroked alot, especially if she’s tired 😒
Sarah- that article was interesting, made me laugh with the eating though! Although seeing the stuff on the news about people in the south not having enough food, I guess they’re not eating so much…very hard.
Nana- nice neighbours, my mum’s have offered too.
Youngest came with me to walk Xena, that was lovely & we had a good chat. He’s really enjoying work, he’s been given the keys so will be opening up & locking up some days on his own. Watched our Church’s service & the Church in Hawaii that we often watch too. Fasting going well, strange that some days you feel stronger!

I think the people in Southern Italy can’t get the food, maybe they’re short on things, if alot of people are ill or quarantined then maybe the factories aren’t producing enough & not enough delivery drivers…I guess that people are running out of money too?
Just had a message from my SIL- she’s fed up with the ‘over-reaction’ to the virus?! Does she not watch the news!! I am leaving it for a few minutes to calm down before I reply anything! & my brother is fussing because we’re still seeing Mum?! Oh dear…