Day 12 – Ireland – CD 🚫🚶‍♂️✅ 🌾

Hi all, still bobbing … typical post weekend state but feeling trim. I will break the back of this in January as travel plans and chrimbo will undoubtedly throw a few spanners 🔧 in the works.
Travelling to Wales this weekend for annual Christmas party with friends there… lots of nights out and and a big party at my friends house where there will be some tradional music played by friends so a hoolie 🎻 💃🏻 I am so looking forward to seeing them. It means I miss the big 🎄function with work at one of the best hotels here but in line with the “spend time with those you love” thoughts this will be my big 🎄 bash. I really like my colleagues and they are great craic but… I love my friends.💕
There will be some hikes and outdoor fun too.

@daffodil2010 I’ve been there recently and your low is still your low…go easy on yourself… this time will pass but just try keep pushing through… it will get easier. This WOL (i.e. good food choices)…and exercise are key for me. 💕

Ok gotta scoot… busy day.

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others

Oh, I wish I had my laptop! I have lots of responses to things said (laughter at something @flourbaby said, sadness for @daffodil2010, more) but my phone is not the tool to use as yesterday showed.

Good news is that, despite going out for a glorious birthday meal with our sons last night, complete with a cocktail (blackberry coconut mojito) and a glass of wine, I’m down 1.4 lbs from yesterday morning because I was basically OMAD yesterday, and my food choices were stellar despite feeling indulgent (salmon, shrimp, scallops, grilled asparagus, steamed baby potatoes).

And now the birthday stuff is truly over, lol, and I can do a WF today.

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 13 NZ NFD 79.9kg…

@funshipfreddie and @flourbaby I read the Oprah article. The scary thing is with all that support around her – personal trainer and chef, psychology etc she still manages to bounce back up after she gets to where she wants to on the weight front… How do you handle stress and maintenance at the same time?
I’m feeling rather hungry this morning even after muesli and strawberries and could eat a whole lot more but will distract myself until I get the post 20 min feel full factor coming through. I didn’t eat with balance y’day – far too much bread and cheese x 3 meals because I was rushing to get to the dentist and 4pm drinks… I have the lovely Chinese party coming up this afternoon.
@stitchincarol That is an absolutely favourite menu for me! So glad you had a lovely birthday!
@flourbaby Yeees! Keep up the positivity, do the mahi (work) and it will happen 😘
@northgeorgia It’s a mindset. You sounded so proud of yourself when you turned down offers of food a few posts back.💪💪
@daffodil2010 Sending you 💪and 🧡 (the opposite colour of💙).
@jaifaim Have a wonderful party in Wales. Such fun!!
@maui I went to Christmas drinks at our main Polynesian art gallery y’day and thought of you. The primary gallery is in Rarotonga and they have one here. I hope you and your artists will be able to have a lovely Christmas get-together.

Onward and downward or at least sideways!

Day 13 – Ireland – FD 🚫🚶‍♂️✅ 🌾

@funshipfreddie a bandana is what you will wear I’d say 😃 I have those, motorbike chaps, cowboy boots and a 🤠 hat… god I think I need a clear out here 😂😂 Past lives … have a blast today! 🤠🕺🤠
And Well done on whooshing!

Lovely post @flourbaby! Great to feel your positivity… we all need to catch it and pass it on – these are the toughest days for many. 🎄💪🎄

Bravo @stitchincarol – the mojito caught my eye! I love a blackberry mojito but adding coconut- that’s one I would have to try 🍹

@merryapple I hope the Chinese meal was great! It sounds very fancy! You have busy busy days these days 🎊😃

Out for some drinks last night but stuck with tonic masquerading as G&T and avoided snacks 🍹- felt good!
Office 🎄lunch for all staff today but also a FD for me so a little challenge as they go all out for this day…

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Pocket List Day 13 🤠 Yeehaw!
@jaifaim

Day 13, London, UK, NFD

Lesson to self ……………………. Prepare dinner in advance, especially on a FD!! I got home at 6:45 last night with that gnawing hunger I enjoy on a FD but need to satisfy ASAP at dinner time so I can close the kitchen! Anyway, long story short, the thought of shredding cauliflower & chopping veg for a ‘quick’ fried rice at 7pm held ZERO appeal as I tried to silence the dragon. BUT …………………… I did it!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 I could easily have chucked a couple of slices of sourdough in the toaster and layered on some lovely cheese, but it WAS a FD, so I discovered some (usually elusive) willpower and settled for a 7:30pm FD tuna/cauliflower rice dinner!!! My halo is polished to perfection!!😇😇

The scales rewarded me this morning, but after yesterday’s ridiculous number, I’m viewing any numbers with disdain and focussing on how I feel. Currently I’m chuffed to bits with getting back on the wagon and actually staying ON it, rather than the useless dipping in & out which wasn’t fooling anyone!!

@funshipfreddie, well done on the whoosh!!🥳🥳 I hope the residents enjoyed the performance, I can imagine you all with your matching neckerchiefs stepping with thumbs tucked into pockets!🤠🤠 I hope it went well!!

@daffodil2010, baby steps!!! I dare not get an electric blanket, I might never leave the bed😁 if I could take my duvet to work I would😍😍!!!

@jaifaim, after swerving the gin and avoiding the snacks 💪🏼💪🏼 the Xmas lunch will be a breeze!!

@merryapple, ALL details from the party please – We need descriptions of the food, clothes, decor……………… everything!!! It sounds like it will be fab, so I’m living vicariously until I find a rich friend too!!!

Back to work, I’m combining that 250 step reminder with guzzling water…………………… I need a whoosh too!!!

“You can find inspiration from others, but determination is solely your responsibility”

Day 13 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 160.0

YAY! I have my laptop back!!! 😂 What’s more, it’s much better behaved, faster than it has been. Turns out my hard-drive is seriously crowded, so as soon as I get past the busyness of today and tomorrow, I’ll spend some time moving things to an external HD, but in the meantime, I’m able to do the things I need to do without so much delay. Plus, I decided to indulge myself and bought a Rolls Royce of laptops, and will pass this one on to DH, who is far more patient with slower devices–I mean, truly, he is, and doesn’t understand my impatience. 😂😂😂 It first has to be built, so I won’t have it until January, but I’m sure looking forward to it!

Yesterday’s WF wasn’t. I was exhausted from all the errands I ran, and the church service I played in the morning, and the lessons I taught during the day, and the groceries I bought at the end of the day, so I decided to allow myself about 300 calories when I got home. And then I ate more. And then even more. Sadly, it was more like somewhere between 800 and 1200 calories, so the only good thing about my decision and choices was that I was below 1500, but it was not the lovely change I was wanting on the scale this morning. Oh well, Thursday’s my next opportunity.

@funshipfreddie Oh, I envy you. When I’m stressed, I eat everything in sight and then look for more to eat, all with the hope that the food with soothe me. Hence, my eating yesterday, as this week, while great fun, is so busy as to be highly stressful.

@jaifaim The coconut made me stop and wonder also, but I decided to be brave, and it was a barely discernable taste. It was actually very tart, which suited me just fine as I do NOT like sweet drinks.

@daffodil2010 Well done on your successful FD, and DH and I are all about electric blankets. We don’t necessarily leave it on all night (only when it’s far below freezing outside, and usually either off or on the lowest setting), but it’s a marvelous way to warm up the bed before you even get in it! So glad you slept so well last night.

@flourbaby you are a serious inspiration! WELL done on sticking to your food plan!!!! I can see the halo glowing from here in Nebraska, and was wondering what that light in the east was!

Today is a particularly busy day with things to accomplish, and tomorrow is as well, with things to indulge me. Tonight, our usual Midweek Advent service starts two hours earlier than usual and is focused on children, with plans to make a Graham-Cracker Manger scene (think gingerbread house and you’ll get the idea), and a provided supper of Hamburger Vegetable Barley soup (I’m making a triple batch, enough to feed 40) and hotdogs. I’ve been buying candy like a crazy woman–it’s been rather fun!🥰–and today I cook and set up and two other gals help me divide all the candy decorations so each kid can simply take a plate of decorations and a cardboard base on which to do the manger. We did this last year as well, and it was a huge hit.

Tomorrow is the reward, as I get my toes done and my hair trimmed. And someday, I’ll get the rest of the ornaments on our main, big tree, LOL!

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 13 USA/Hawai’i NFD
Late here but still want to sign in so I don’t miss a day. My goal was to post everyday and get back into the 150’s.
Took some art to the framer this morning that will go to my son’s apartment in Honolulu then had lunch with an artist friend. Happy day overall.
Really did not count calories today but I think I did ok. Trying to stay up to about 9:30 or 10 and hoping I can sleep through the night ti about 5:30. Have been getting out for light on my face at sunrise and sunset to help with sleep.
Admire everyone’s dedication in posting and following this WOL.

Day 14 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@jaifaim – It was great! The scarves were actually bandannas, yes. Or neckerchiefs, as @flourbaby calls them. That’s what we wore. Silk, in pink?! Bright, shocking, in-your-face pink! I think that’s the first time I’ve ever in my life worn anything pink. But anyway, the show went well & we had fun. The care-workers enjoyed it. I suspect the residents had been sedated, or it was nap-time, because I’m sure at least two of them were asleep by the time we’d finished 💤 Lunch was great. We went to an Italian place called Bem Vindo (welcome). They serve breakfast til noon, so I think most of us had Eggs Benedict, or something similar. Our line-dancing teacher, who has the patience of a saint, awarded each of us a miniature glitter-ball. Mine was the ‘Ballroom Blitz Trophy’ 😅 I think the huge slice of Red Velvet Cake I had will cancel out yesterday’s whoosh, although it wasn’t nearly as nice as it looked, & I only managed to eat half of it.

@daffodil2010 – congrats on getting through your first FD in ages 💪 Sometimes I still dread them, yet they’re never as tough as I imagine they will be.

@flourbaby – oh, well done you! 👏 It’s such a pity to throw in the towel at dinnertime, when you’ve survived the whole day. I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed the gnawing hunger; but for me, the quickest way to calm the dragon is to munch on raw carrot. Not the most exciting veggie, but it takes a lot of chewing and is surprisingly filling, despite having only about 40 cals in 100 g. Then while I’m eating that I can prepare something more substantial but in line with a fast day 🥕

@merryapple – sounds like a wonderful evening. Although, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the jazz music. It’s probably almost sacrilegious to say that to a jazz lover. People seem to either love it or hate it. Like cricket. Or asparagus 😅 I wonder why that is..? 🙉

@stitchincarol – when I was drinking I think I just drank more if I was stressed out about something. But food just doesn’t do it for me. Although now that I’m retired I really can’t claim to have much to get stressed about. I do have a dentist appointment later today though 😳

RESOLVE to the Thursday fasters! 🎯

Day 14, London, UK, NFD

The silly season has commenced!!! The office is full of huge tins of chocolate and biscuits, we’re supporting a colleague tonight in a panto but we’ll have a Thai meal beforehand, tomorrow I’ve been roped into a meal with clients (token lady to keep them from misbehaving!) then on Saturday I’m out for a pre-Xmas meal with my friends!! Sunday FD, here I come!!!

@funshipfreddie, they weren’t sleeping, just resting their eyes as my dad was fond of saying!! It sounds like you had a fab time with the group. Now I have a bit more me time, I need to find a similar group to join so the hermit tendency doesn’t take over!! Great advice about the carrot, I’ll try that, but with cucumber, next time.

@merryapple, the party sounds fabulously glamorous!! We go to so few house parties these days, nobody wants red wine spilt on the sofa or shoes on their carpet!!! It’s all meeting for meals out or drinks at a bar or the pub. When I was young my mum & dad hosted and went to lots of house parties, I remember my mum preparing lovely nibbles (no private chef!!) getting glammed up and their bed piled high with coats as all the kids played together upstairs whilst our parents danced the night away downstairs!!❤❤

@maui, isn’t it lovely to just have a happy day! No such luck with boosting serotonin with sunrise or sunset here, the weather is dismal, I can’t tell if the sun is up or down due to the grey cloud cover!!! On Monday the office lights were on at midday as outside looked like night………………….. then the apocalyptic downpour arrived!!! 🌧☔

@stitchincarol, Hoorah for the laptops return!! …………………. What kind of evil genius🤓🤓 style supercomputer are you getting that it needs to be built???😱😱

Stay strong everyone, I’m trying to maintain the mojo!!!💪🏼💪🏼

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” — Winston Churchill

Day 14 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD – 161.8

Yesterday went very well with all my things to do, I hit 15K steps, and I imagine the culprit that’s popped me up so high on the scale is that last piece of birthday cake I had last night when I got home from everything, because other than that, I ate “reasonably” yesterday.

@merryapple Your evening sounds DIVINE.

@maui Well done, to follow your commitment to post every day. Your comment about getting out at sunrise and sunset to get light on your face makes me think of “Grounding,” a big topic of conversation and learning on this forum several years ago. Have you heard of it? The basic idea is that you stand on the ground (grass is fine, but not, say, cement) in your bare feet and it does healthy things for your body to do so. You should Google it.

@jaifaim and others It’s so odd to me that you’re worried about the electric blanket being on all night. I suppose old ones were perhaps dangerous, but newer ones? Nah. In fact, on WFDs night (so, tonight), because I’m so very cold, I’ll go to bed and leave it on high the entire night just because I need the help to be warm. And, yeah, the length of my post is a clear indication of what technology I’m using, isn’t it?

@funshipfreddie 😲😲😂😂🥰💪 Do I remember correctly you and @daffodil2010 both are apprehensive about the dentist? So glad your performance went so wonderfully yesterday!

@flourbaby The computer service store I go to has what they call their Holiday Special every year, and since this is their 25th year in business, it’s an extra special thing. It’s $1600 and that is at cost (long story why, but it works well for them). It comes with 2TB of solid state hard drive, and you can pay extra to have 4TB instead, just as the first example of over-the-top marvelous, LOL. The store buys the parts and builds the laptops and desktops and there are a limited number available each year. This past Sunday, there were 50 remaining (of 500) and on Tuesday morning there were 15; by Tuesday afternoon, there were 7. I told the guy I had no time to deal with it before Christmas, and then I’d be out of town for 10 days, so they could put me on the bottom of the list and I’d pick it up on January 4. 😇 This is something I’ve wanted to buy for well over a dozen years, but never felt I could justify/afford, and I’m looking forward to a fast machine not slowed down by too full a hard drive!

Well, I should get up and get at it. Have a grand one, everyone!

Wow, no other Thursday fasters, eh? Well, I promise you all I will STICK TO IT this time!

Pocket List Day 14 🎄
@stitchincarol WFD

Day 14 USA/Maui NFD
@stitchincarol I appreciate the reminder about grounding. I will make sure I take off my beach sandals and stand in the sand at sunrise and sunset. I am hoping to start sleeping through the night. I realize it’s actually been 19 years of caregiving and many of those years keeping watch over DH while in mental health episode that was most dangerous at night. Maybe I need to teach myself that now it’s actually ok to sleep soundly. I did put my phone in the bathroom last night so would not pick it up every time I woke up. I am having Alexia play meditation music if I wake up.
Ok off I go to put these toes in the sand!
All the best to everyone … each having many unique challenges and many we all share. So thankful to be a part of this great team.

Day 15 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD

@flourbaby – my dad used to say the same thing, after snoring his head off in his armchair 😅 He was a cop though, he worked awful shifts & was nearly always exhausted. Try the cucumber, although it’s 96% water & may not work as well as raw carrot.

@daffodil2010 – Have you heard about these ‘co-working hubs? They were talking about them on the BBC yesterday – “the rise of working near home – in suburbs & towns”. For people who don’t want to work from home, but don’t want a long commute. I guess the idea is you just rent office space closer to home, & many employers are subsidising them, because they believe their employees will be more productive.

@stitchincarol – apprehensive is putting it mildly, & I had the added stress of going to a new dentist, as I’ve been putting it off since I left Durban well over a year ago. He was really nice though. I just had a check-up, + an x-ray, & I had a chipped filling repaired. The bill came to an eye-watering R 2370, but I will most likely be re-reimbursed by my med aid.

Yet another public holiday here today. This is the extra one we got for the Springboks winning the World Cup. No doubt trillions of in-land people are making their way to the coastal towns, & most of them won’t leave for 3 or 4 weeks 😢 The schools don’t re-open here until mid-January.

Oprah’s been cheating. Whatever works, right?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12860333/Oprah-Winfrey-admits-DID-use-weight-loss-medication.html

Anyone joining me for a Friday FD..?

Pocket List – Day 15 🥑
@funshipfreddie

Day 15, London, UK, NFD,

Quick check in from me today, I’ve a ton of work to get through before getting ready for tonight’s shenanigans!! The men in the office will NOT require any preparation for a meal out after work, I however will have to freshen up, change shoes, do hair, apply make-up etc. etc. etc!!🙄 I don’t have to, but I do have to, if you know what I mean!!

@jaifaim, enjoy your get-together, sounds like a fun weekend is on the cards!!

@funshipfreddie, cucumber it is, I very, very rarely have carrots in the fridge, only for cooking a Bolognese or chilli or carrot & coriander soup (my mums favourite🥰).

@stitchincarol, I use my laptop at work and sometimes I don’t even switch it on at the weekends …………… I have to now, as I’ve promised to post on weekends😬………… but I don’t even own a computer, it’s a company laptop!! Although it will never be used by anyone but me, so it’s mine really!!

Right, back to the grindstone!!

Keep the faith folks, we’ve got this!!!

Day 15- No. VA USA- NFD

Hello, fellow fasters. I am still here. Busy at work and recovering (I hope!) from a demonic bout of gastro-enteritis, which caused shall we say, multiple bathroom visits day and night, and major loss of appetite. I think things are improving. My weight is down, of course, because of fear of eating, though I have been good about fluids and electrolytes.

Everyone sounds busy with holiday type activities, and I usually will do some baking soon for Christmas. I was going to make Swedish Limpa bread and also some molasses cookies and some plain sugar cookies, which my adult kids like. We shall see what gets done this weekend. The grocery store had no rye flour, and I need to rustle that up for the Limpa.

Resolve to everyone!

Day 15 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 159.0

That casual promise I made yesterday about following through on my WF was effective; I kept getting a bit tempted, but had to remind myself each time that I’d promised. So I followed through. Today’s plan is to go out to dinner tonight, and have hamburger vegetable barley soup for lunch, along with a sturdy piece of bread. So the calories may end up being high, but I’ll compensate tomorrow if I need.

@merryapple So sorry I missed that you were on the list also; I didn’t scroll up high enough to find you. How fun that you and @maui are both going to try grounding; on this list, @daffodil2010 was the one who had the greatest results with her efforts.

@maui You know, by the time we had an empty nest, I also had lost my ability to sleep through the night; between being woken up by a child many nights for ten years, and then simply being aware of the kids being there and wanting to be sure everyone got up on time, I simply didn’t sleep well, which was a high contrast to when I was younger. I’m slowly learning to sleep well again, but there are many factors that impact that, so I can well understand that all your years of caring for your husband have impacted your own sleep patterns.

@funshipfreddie I’m so very glad your new dentist worked out well for you. ❤️

@jaifaim How wonderful that you at least get to start your weekend away at your goal weight!

@flourbaby Oh, do tell us about the carrot and coriander soup! And enjoy your time out tonight!

@excelsior Oh, UGH–I’m so glad you’re finally feeling better. Swedish limpa bread, eh? I’ll bet that just MAKES the Christmas season for you! In our family, it’s my mom’s Date Nut Swirls, which are frozen as a roll, then sliced and baked; I have a double batch–4 rolls–in the freezer, and I’ll “pack” them in tubes and take them along to California so we can bake some daily. 🥰 (My three sisters all agree that’s the safest approach because we otherwise will eat them all in the first three days, LOL!)

@at Aww, too bad on the feeling bad.

Today is a stay home day, and I’m so pleased to be here. I’ve lit the jar candle I only burn when it can burn for several hours straight, and I WILL GET THE REST OF THE ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE. LOL, it’s absolutely time. I also need to start on Christmas cards (although, please note that I send Christmas cards, not Advent cards, so I still have 10 days to get them out! 😂😂😂), and do the final gift shopping. And the house needs tidying. How can it get messy when we haven’t even been home much this week?? Crazy.

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 16 NFD NZ 79.8kg

I nearly did a FD to get a step further away from the 80s but then I thought don’t be ridiculous!
Have been racing around today then came home and cleaned the Mini inside and out.
@stitchincarol. Yes! Get those decorations on the tree!
@at I hope you’re feeling better.
@excelsior12309 Ooh that sounds nasty 🤢
Bedtime for me now

Day 16 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 160.2

I’m thinking of doing OMAD today, but I’m not ready to commit and I won’t say “try” or “hoping” so I’m “thinking”! 😲😂 The story on yesterday is that it all went perfectly to plan–until we got home from dinner and then I kept nibbling, and simply couldn’t find the wherewithall to stop myself. So that’s got to be part and parcel of how I plan out a Friday, not only how to get through the day according to plan, but how to get through the evening without undoing the day’s accomplishments. At least I’m still full from all that nibbling that I can’t imagine ever wanting to eat again…that will of course change in a few hours, but perhaps I have enough in me to get me through to OMAD time.

@funshipfreddie Isn’t it funny how we can sail through some FDs and others are so tough, as yours was yesterday? So glad you were able to persevere!

@merryapple You may not be further away from the 80s but I’m delighted for you that you’re not back IN the 80s!!

@excelsior12309 Yeah, this has been the toughest year ever for me to get Christmas decorations up…I did finally finish the tree yesterday, and we were able to put the large boxes away that hold the decorations. As to Advent v. Christmas, I also have my piano students do a Christmas Recital–like, literally, not an Advent Recital. This year it’s on January 4 (the day after we get back from seeing my family in California), which is the 11th Day of Christmas (Christmas Day being Day 1 and January 6 being Epiphany). I know the parents think I’m a bit nuts, but I also think they appreciate not having to fit yet one more activity into the days leading up to Christmas, just as I do, and I love the reminder that the preparation is all over and now we can simply enjoy the season. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As sick as you’ve been this week, you truly may not get as much done as usual, but at some point you’ll have interest and energy intersect and I bet you’ll do a big spurt of preparation!

Do any of you listen to Beegie Adair? She has a lot of Christmas music (she’s a pianist) that I adore and listen to on my smart speakers.

So, have a grand one, everyone!

Day 16 Pocket List 🎄 (in honor of your to-do list today)
@excelsior12309 FD800

Day 15 & 16 USA/Hawai’i FD800
Sorry to have missed posting for Day 15.Three lunches out with friends this week helped my mental health but apparently the scales did not approve. This will be a bit of a reset today with using MFP to confirm the 800 calorie limit.

Second post

Ooo, @merryapple I love planning menus!!!! What about a brie cheese with some lovely jam on top and slices of french bread? Or what about spinach balls? Or I have a recipe I could share that’s probably not chic but is totally yummy: a loaf of french bread (not a baguette, but the big thing) cut in half lengthwise, then spread with a mixture of butter, garlic, spinach and parmesan and some other cheese, baked until hot, then sliced. Or, this one is so yummy: buy frozen bread dough that’s in small pieces to be dinner rolls, make a cream-cheese based spinach dip, put the balls of dough around a cast iron pan, fill the center with the dip, and when the dough has raised appropriately, bake the whole thing. Or cream cheese, covered with cocktail sauce and then salad shrimp. Or cream cheese covered with fig jam. Or jalapeno jelly. Either/both served with crackers.

Now I’ve demonstrated why losing weight is so challenging, LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!

Day 18 FD NZ 79.5kg

I have my dog park crew coming over this evening for a walk then a ‘bring a plate’ meal. I’m making a big sourdough loaf and Gazpacho – from the Moro cookbook😋
@maui I know exactly what you mean. For me, I couldn’t get past a phrase commentators kept repeating about the Queen – she’s ‘passing into history’. I knew this was happening to my DH but he still felt so present to me in part because he always looked to the future, never the past. It would pop up out of nowhere and I reacted against it for ages.
@funshipfreddie and @stitchincarol Ooh nice recipes. I might try the whipped feta and Skordalia. I love the cast iron idea and the cream cheese/ spinach combos but I’m catering for too many people plus probably will take the train to get there. I’ll try those chez nous. I can’t use her oven because she’ll have the roast lamb in it. You have reminded me about a delicious baked feta, olives, thyme, smoked paprika combo!
@excelsior12309 Just get some colourful ribbon to tie around the boxes 💝and add the Christmas cards to them!

Got to get going!! Enjoy the day!

Pocket List 🌴
Merry🍎

Day 18 – Ireland – NFD 🚫🚶‍♂️✅ 🌾

Hello all, all is well here. I’m having fun and keeping an eye on what’s going in – lots of party food but I’ve made relatively good choices. What has struck me this year is the number of people not drinking alcohol – and not just the 50y+ gang but many of the younger crew too…
Lots of great catch ups, dancing and some games 🤩
I leave later today – back to the grindstone until Friday and then Christmas fun🎄

I hope everyone is in a good space as we count down to Chrimbo 🎄⭐️🎄

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 18, London, UK, NFD

Well, so much for weekend posting!! Friday night was successful in that I had my meal, a couple drinks🍷🍷 then headed home, leaving the rabble to do what rabbles do🍻🍻!!!!

@stitchincarol, I need your french bread/cheese/ garlic bread recipe, even if just to salivate over the words!!! This is the BBC food recipe I use for the soup, I doubt I’ll make it ever again, as it wasn’t my favourite, but mum loved it😍😍
Ingredients
1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 onion, chopped; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1 potato, chopped; 450g carrots, peeled and chopped; 1.2l vegetable or chicken stock; handful coriander (about ½ a supermarket packet),
Method
STEP 1 – Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pan, add 1 chopped onion, then fry for 5 mins until softened.
STEP 2 – Stir in 1 tsp ground coriander and 1 chopped potato, then cook for 1 min.
STEP 3 – Add the 450g peeled and chopped carrots and 1.2l vegetable or chicken stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat.
STEP 4 – Cover and cook for 20 mins until the carrots are tender.
STEP 5 – Tip into a food processor with a handful of coriander then blitz until smooth (you may need to do this in two batches). Return to pan, taste, add salt if necessary, then reheat to serve.

@funshipfreddie and @stitchincarol, I’ve always found the FD following a particularly carby NFD sooo difficult to complete. Carbs make me ravenous which seems to carry over to the next day!!! I really have to watch my NFD carbs to ensure I don’t want to throw in the FD towel at 10am!!!😱😱

I planned to be on yesterday’s pocket list, but needless to say, it did NOT happen!!! Anyway, back to my usual Tue/Thurs FD routine, I hope nothing in the office derails me. I need to flex my FD muscle and hold tight to the mojo!!!💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Onwards & downwards folks!!!

I guess Oprah followed her own advice …….🤣🤣

“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.”
— Oprah Winfrey

Day 18 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD800 – 164.0

Yup, another ugly number and worse than yesterday’s. I didn’t eat that much last night, but the choices were all either cheese or crackers or creamy dipping sauces. No veggies. So today I’m doing a FD800 to help compensate for the weekend, and I’ll worry about tomorrow when I get there.

I made up a list yesterday of all that I have to accomplish before we leave on Christmas Day, and it is quite daunting. My mind is racing with what to do first this morning, so I’m going to forego chatting and simply get to it.

Have a grand one, everyone!