Quacka, I think we all have them. I am pretty easy-going but there is one of mine I am frequently tempted to punch. I have resisted that temptation for years, but it is still there. Having kids doesn’t necessarily teach parenting. I know some parents who should not have been.

5am Thursday. Forecast for today and tomorrow is 47. Fortunately there is a reprieve over the weekend with forecast temps of 38 then back up to the mid 40s again next week. I am so over being constantly stuck under the aircond as I am on 3 weeks leave and am unable to achieve any if the outdoor chores I had planned.

Yesterday we packed up the Xmas tree and decorations…all done for another year thank goodness.

Since the 17th Dec when all the silly season festivities commenced I have managed to gain 2kg. Last night’s meal was steamed fish and salad and tonight will be vegie omelette….so nice to be eating light food again. Will be having quite a few FD’s in the coming weeks and alcohol consumption will revert back to a couple of ‘happy hour’ pints at the pub on Friday nights. I can feel my body groaning with the sluggishness that’s been created by the silly season food and alcohol intake. Looking forward to ridding my body of the excesses.

Hope everyone survived Xmas day without too much damage to the waistline.

I literally just typed for 20 minutes and lost it all. I am such an idiot as I hit the wrong button. GAH!

I’ve really enjoyed reading all of your posts and hearing about your activities. Not all the way back unfortunately but I will eventually. I don’t spend too much time on the computer when I’m home with OH as he really doesn’t ‘do’ social media or forums and I think he gets a bit frustrated if I spend too much time. Understandable. So he is having a sleep in while I look after Maxx. This is no mean feat as I am typing with one hand and patting him with the other to stop him crying at the top of the stairs for hubby to wake up! Or I hide bits of kibble around the room to keep him occupied. Who needs kids??

Cali, I hope you get your heater sorted soon as we can’t have you freezing down there!

Gday, the heat, dear God. And it is nowhere near as bad here in Sydney as it is in Adelaide and other parts of Australia. We too had plans to do outdoor activities around the house as well as lots of walks but it is just too hot

I’ve had a few days of massive overeating but also have been very active with housework and lots of laps in the pool. The scales this morning were only up 100g so I am 87.4 but if I keep his up I will be 90.4 before I can blink. So today I will stop being lazy and get back in the kitchen to make some healthy salads and other light meals.

Thin I thought of you on Christmas day. We have a basketball hoop on the side of our pool and we had a game of boys vs girls to see who could get the most goals but you could jump in front of the person shooting to make them miss. It was a lot of fun but got very loud and boisterous and while I wasn’t worried as it was a once-off plus our nice Greek neighbours were away, the couple at the back aren’t very nice and the neighbours on the other side were having their own fairly loud party. I thought how incredibly frustrating it must be for you to cop this every day. I’m very sorry.

Quacka, I’m sorry you had some family hiccups but I think just about every family has at least one member who just has to make things awkward or unpleasant. Glad you said you had a nice day anyway. It must be lovely to be swimming at the beach where you are.

Penguin, you are so right that just because you have kids doesn’t necessarily make you a good parent. I know plenty of people who honestly should never have had children.

LJ, hope you were able to buy some nice things in the sales. We are going later in the week

Intesha, loved your comment that life is short and should be enjoyed but also that we are able to put the brakes on and be accountable. That sums up exactly why I love this WOL, WOE.

Ugh, Maxx is crying I have to go. Hi Cinque, BetsyLee and anyone I have missed. Welcome TigerAnne you will get so much help and support from this wonderful forum.

I will pop back when i can

Good morning everyone from a warm Melbourne morning that is turning into a hot day, but nothing like the horror heatwave that is visiting much of our dear country.

Sympathies Gday, for the weather and that pesky couple of kilos.

I’m another one fasting today. Like Thin, I had leftovers yesterday that were best eaten sooner rather than later (roast chicken and salad).

I’m glad of today’s fast and hoping to make it very fasty. I need to get ready soon to visit my friend in the country so it will be a big day, but good to be out and about.

I had a lovely Christmas day and the food was delicious. Small and not too much family so that makes it easy.

Good wishes to all.

Oops thought I wrote that last one on the Silly Season Thread. I’m tireder than I thought. Copy and paste time 😉

9am Thurs, Adelaide 41C

GDSA, you have my sympathies with the weather, I hope when the cool change finally arrives in SA it does get up to you too.
Isn’t it interesting that once we would have looked forward to the indulgent food at Christmas and now we look forward to getting back to lighter meals after it!

Cali, I think after stating that you were having 5 cups of broccoli for lunch, “I like broccoli” was a given. I’m assuming it’s a FD today if that is lunch. I hope it takes you back to your pre-Christmas svelteness.
Glad to heat the heating and hot water is working – rather important in your winter.

Quacka, sounds like you dealt with the family dramas really well.
I had a few of my own dramas and as the “peacemaker” of the family I always feel it’s my role to fix it.

Anzac, that’s a real achievement to have gotten through the christmas period with just 100g gain. You’ll be off to a flying start with your post christmas weight loss.
Did Maxx enjoy his christmas present – is it still in one piece?
Yes thankyou, I did well at the sales – I got everything I wanted at a good price and managed to do some additional walking around the shopping centre in the air-conditing for a while to get my exercise for the day.

Intesha, hopefully the gym will help you feel like you are back into the swing of being healthy again.

Penguin, enjoy those forest walks – I’m just imaging the joy of a brisk walk in chilly weather – I’m missing those at present.

Despite the extreme fire danger today I’m heading up to the hills for the day. Because of the fire ban the planned BBQ was changed to a meal indoors in the air-conditioning – much more sensible. I never relish eating outside in the summer heat – you spend half your time trying to shoo flies away from your food.

Have a good day all.

Quacka, families! I enjoy spending Christmas with our family friends and far away from actual family. Other than when one set of us has been overseas, we’ve done it for 25 years. No dramas, no arguments. This year, there was a ‘partner’ flying in from London. We don’t feel he really fits in but he was welcome anyway. It had been confirmed for months. Late on Christmas Eve, I got the call (but not from him) that he would be ‘tied up with family’ and not able to make it. Rude.

OK, I admit I was relieved but I feel cancelling the night before shows no consideration to the hostess because, obviously, the number of people to be served plays a critical part in what you order and prepare. We also do extra quirky individual things. For example, this year DD made these miniature boxes for table place settings (teaspoon for scale) and we made White Christmas to put inside them. https://imgur.com/a/Px5xYIN It’s a small thing I know but it all takes time. It also meant that the message on my carefully selected cocktail napkins was lost. https://imgur.com/MrDNku3

I’d never let it come between us and our very good friends so, of course, we said nothing.

No wonder OH was swearing, Anzac. When all you have to do is show up, the least you can do is arrive on time. Enjoyed that photo – Santa Paws! Too funny. And check out the sparkling glass in those doors! Still to reply to all the other posters above but it will be fragmented today.

Quacka, you don’t need to be a parent to know a lot about parenting. You’ve been a child after all. In our gang of parents of primary school aged children, my opinions were often discounted because I only had one child. Comparing the range of eventual outcomes 15 years on, I’m pretty happy with how mine turned out. And, as others have pointed out, it’s all too easy to procreate – and many of the wrong people seem to do it. I hope you wore that bikini that you’ve had since you were 21 to the beach, te he!

GDSA, that weather sounds awful. I agree, it’s no fun being held hostage to the air-con. All quiet here as the ferals next door are out so we have all doors and windows open and a nice breeze blowing through the house. I’ve managed some gardening and completed my walk. Only 27C today.

CalifD, stay warm. Yes I am fasting today (Thursday) with you, Intesha and Cinque – but I’m mixed up with the time zones despite calling OH’s family in Utah yesterday. Did you complete those tree decorations? I won’t be taking ours down until the new year. It’s DD’s birthday in January so all Christmas stuff has to be packed away well before then.

LJ, glad got the appliances that you wanted and that they match your nice blue mixer thingy. I’m not prepared to risk losing a finger in the sales mayhem for the meagre discounts offered here in Perth. Agree with your sentiments on dining with flies.

After my walk this morning, I weighed in at 59.9kg. Happy with that – but could be better. I think I’ll be having my soup at 2pm though as I feel a bit hungry – not surprising after all the fat and sugar.

Posting now because Melbourne is having a hot night – still 26 degrees at 2 a.m. and I’ve a very near neighbour who gets really angry and bullying if the AC is on too much. She is ultra-sensitive to noise. Sigh! Well, the one in the bedroom is away from her, so okay to use, but I missed the posts for a couple of days, so…..
Survived Christmas without too much damage – didn’t eat a lot yesterday so my weight now is about what it was beforehand. Actually, was trying B2B2B fasts but yesterday was around 1200 cals, and today around 1000, so not as effective as hoped. Melt in the hot weather!

GdayfromSA, I sympathise with wanting to do things outside, but it’s just too hot. Fortunately Melbourne will cool a bit for the weekend, so I’ll be able to re-pot my orchids then. Big job!

CalifDreamer, glad to read your heating’s been fixed. Now, if we could only share a little of our heat …….

Cinque and Anzac65, keep on keeping on, and the weight will come back down. A lot of my “up” was from a whole tube of Pringles potato crisps on Christmas night, and now it’s down again. Patience, and don’t give up!!!!

thinatlast, I picked up OMAD from the December 2018 challenge – means one meal a day. And yes, we have a Boxing day holidays in Victoria and have crazy Boxing day sales. I avoided them, but went across to my favourite Christian bookstore early to buy some of the leftover boxes of Christmas cards for myself and a friend – sickening, I know, but I now have all the cards I need for 2019 🙂

So LJoyce, did you buy the items you wanted at the sales? They can be a great chance to pick up things cheaply.

Quacka and Penguin, both surviving and resisting food – well done. Another vivid word picture, Penguin, of the squirrels. You must live in a beautiful area.

Good morning. Day after FD and like Cali down 1.2.

Although Sydney temps are nowhere near South Australia’s it is still in the high 30’s and very draining. I don’t have a/c only a few ceiling fans and my afternoons are spent laying on the bed with the fan on. We bought a reverse cycle evaporative cooler for Dads room so at least he is not in distress.

Went to the gym yesterday and will probably go again this morning. At least that way I am getting my body moving and keeping my muscle tone.

Cinque did you give the cookies to your granddaughters?

I can’t remember the last time I went to a Boxing Day sale, not in the last 20 years anyway. There are sales all year round now and you can always bargain but I guess like LJoyce if you have a list and know what you want you can get good deals.

Have a good day 😃😃

Anzac, what fun Maxx has been having over the Christmas holidays.

Intesha and Betsy, I can’t imagine trying to survive an Aussie summer without air-con. Betsy, it’s a good thing your neighbour doesn’t live here. The noise would kill her. When we put ours in, we were careful to position the external units away from neighbours’ sensitive areas even though the placements weren’t necessarily in our own best interest – ha! we needn’t have bothered.

OMAD – thanks for explaining! I’m a bit slow on acronyms. So is B2B2B fasting three days of fasting? Well done for maintaining your weight over the holidays. Now you can look forward to seeing the 70s on the scales. Especially if you don’t buy any more Pringles, ha ha!

CalifD / Intesha, good job getting that weight off so quickly. I had a very good FD yesterday, around 350 cals and I’m now 59.6kg. There is still so much turkey and ham leftover despite having frozen quite a lot of it and sending a care package home with our guests. I think our decs come down on 3 Jan which was OH’s mother’s birthday so a tradition in their household. Not much choice about inviting he who must not be named as he’s the current partner of our family friends’ daughter in London. Pure coincidence that his family also live in WA.

We’re enjoying cooler temps here, high 20Cs. But a new record was set in Marble Bar yesterday of 49C.

Intesha, I see they have Jason Fung speaking at that fasting summit, but not our Dr M..

Raspberry ice cream cake sounds divine. Good thing the event was moved indoors then.

Just a quick note:
Intesha’s gorgeous biscuits made a high note for Christmas day. I waited til the first excitement had past and after we had been out testing the little granddaughter’s new scooters, for a quieter appreciative time. Their eyes lit up with such excitement. Here they are getting into the serious business, both intent to get to the biscuit through the icing! (I’ve had to wait for DD to send pics!)
https://imgur.com/a/1JEPRP7

Cinque, what gorgeous little girls. I noticed the Maxwell & Williams Kimono design plate. I recently sold my set as part of my downsizing effort.

Anzac, good luck with the race to back up your data. I keep all my music and photos on a dedicated back-up drive in the safe.

LJ, we have similar laws in the hills here too on high fire danger days.

Cinque, your granddaughters are adorable! And they know to go for the icing first. 😁 They’ve grown since the last time we’ve seen pictures. Such beautiful eyes! It looks like Intesha’s cookies were a big hit.

Anzac, hope you get all your photos and music backed up. It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate on our computers. LJ, I hate trying to type on my iPhone for this site too. The screen is so small. Yesterday I had to change out our cable modem. Those are usually easy enough to switch but our internet provider set 2 different authorization codes once I was into their router connection screen and neither of them worked so I had to call tech support. Luckily it wasn’t a long wait and it only took a few minutes to get the new modem registered. A week or two ago the cable company sent me an updated modem with a router built in. But I have my own router which I like. Then looking at my cable bill I realized that the monthly rental charge on the modem had gone from around $5 to $11. So I bought my own modem. Happily, everything is working now and seems a little faster.

Anzac, my controlled NFD is out of control with all the leftovers from Christmas. I probably gained back what I lost. But I’m doing my second FD tomorrow.

Thin, I couldn’t figure out OMAD either, until Betsy explained. And it is such an easy one. So glad to hear you are in the 59’s. A few more days until most of this holiday food will disappear. It’ll be good to get black to normal.

Hi everyone. My laptop is back in action again – it’s pretty old and monthly updates seem to take hours these days.

Quacka, I can see a general change in behaviour across the generations – but not in all families. I think it still largely comes down to the example set and the expectations of the parent with their children. I actually called my sister our on her completely disrespectful behaviour on christmas day – she didn’t much care for being challenged and she definitely not used to me being the one who says something. I had lunch with a different family group yesterday and the the difference in behaviour between that group and those I was with Christmas day was quite apparent.
I’m impressed you attempted a golf day, I would definitely not have had the energy for that, maybe next week!

Betsy, I do OMAD for my FDs but rarely on NFDs – they are usually 2 meals.
Yes I did get what I wanted in the boxing day sales and I’m please to say I stuck to my list and didn’t buy anything that wasn’t on it – I’m very pleased with the walking shoes – no excuses now.

Cinque, I think it’s the little ones that get me smiling on Christmas day. The joy they get when opening things, like pretty biscuits!

Cali, well done on the 1.4kg loss. With that success maybe you can get away with a not so controlled NFD today.

Despite the heat here I’ve had a busy day – taking advantage of sale prices to buy gifts for the three family birthdays that are in January.
I was glad to be so busy today as it’s kept me on the straight and narrow food wise. So far I’ve had this for lunch and no snacks at all, not even fruit (which is rare for me). https://imgur.com/TONaQNg (couscous salad, hummus and raw veg)
Dinner was going to be pakoras made from the pile of veg I picked this morning. But I haven’t been home to make them! So I will grill a lamb chop and have it with the last of that lovely couscous salad. I will have to get that recipe from my cousin (it had pearl couscous, cooked red onion, dried peach, dried cranberries, pastachio and mint).

Thin your comment about kids needing ipads and phones reminded me of another difference between the two 2 family groups that I had lunches with this week. The second group only bought out an occasional iphone to take a family photo as opposed to christmas day when most people (adults included) dragged theirs out the moment the final forkful was swallowed. I also can’t explain my sister’s behavious which I might look more normal in a 5 year old, not a 65 year old. Personally I think it was my presence triggering issues for her from childhood that still seem to fester. She had an ongoing battle with my father – she would behave in a way he didn’t like and he would keep smacking her until she apologised – neither would give in – he kept hitting and she refused say the words of apology that he wanted to hear – mum usually had to stop it in the end. I just stayed very quiet and out of sight – not a time to draw any attention to myself. She got hit a lot whereas I rarely did – probably because I was more compliant and obedient and knew that answering back was never going to end well. I spent a lot of time in quiet corners reading. When you are the defiant child who is continually punished and your sister is “miss goodly two shoes” it can easily breed resentment.
In Dad’s later years when he was in aged care I spent a lot of time with him as I was his main support person. He was still quick tempered but I seemed to usually find a way to diffuse rather than inflame it. I have lots of good memories of those years and unfortunately not as many from childhood.
Funny how events like christmas bring all this stuff to the surface.

LJ just saw your post.
I wonder if I’m part to blame for how my sister is. A very long story short, I protected her from everything I could. Maybe I made her too soft? Such a long story. Thank you all for being here xx

Quacka, after many decades of reflection I came to the conclusion that children will find the path through their childhood circumstances in the best way they know how and I think we choose that path at a very young age. Kids in the same family seem to find a different path that better suits their personality. They are not responsible for their childhood circumstances – just as you are not responsible for your sisters issues or choices. You didn’t create the circumstances where you felt your sister needed protection, you were just doing the best you could as a child. I found the only way to find some resolution was to take the time as an adult to understand and unpick where my behaviour patterns and emotional responses to things stem from. It doesn’t make things go away but understanding why helps. It makes it easier for me to empathise with my sister even when she’s behaving badly.

For any of you who are younger I realise hitting a child sounds terrible, and it is. It was unfortunately quite normal in the 1950s & 60s both at home and at school and parents who didn’t smack their children were in the minority I think. As a child my father was regularly on the receiving end of a strap and reacted exactly the same way as my sister – he wouldn’t back down and his mother had to make it stop in the end – history has a horrible way of repeating itself.

FD today – rather poor B2B2B fast days, but today has been the best of the lot at around 800 cals (which tells you how ineffective the others were) – sigh! But, have still taken off any Christmas weight and lost maybe .4 of a kg, so that’s not too bad.

Lots of people to comment – Anzac65, glad you got some Boxing day bargains. Yes, my neighbour can be difficult. She has complained to another neighbour that her washing machine was too noisy, and to yet others that the husband shouldn’t be practising on his drums on a Saturday afternoon. Most of the time she’s okay, but when it’s really hot, well, I try to bring the temperature down to tolerable and use the AC for the shortest time possible. She’s originally from the country, and I really don’t know why she lives in a unit in suburbia. Oh well.

And yes, thinatlast, she really wouldn’t be very happy living in your situation. Congrats on the weight loss this week!!!!

Intesha – I sympathise with only having ceiling fans; that would be even worse than my situation!

LJoyce, the raspberry ice-cream cake sounds yum. Well done resisting the second piece!!! 🙂 Glad your laptop is back in action. I wouldn’t even try using a mobile phone; the screen is just too small. Make sure you make good use of those walking shoes. Not that I should talk. I don’t like walking in the open too much, as I’ve had several skin cancers removed, so I walk around the local shopping mall, and it is so hard to not buy things.

CalifDreamer, yes, I was confused about OMAD until it was explained to me. I think it originated with some English folk – that’s where I heard it from. Watch those leftovers. Give them away, or throw them out if you have to!

Quacka, what a difficult time you have had with your sister at Christmas. I know you’d like to understand why she behaves as she does, but that’s her choice. It’s past now. Make your own choice now to let it go, or it will fester inside.

Disciplining kids? Well, as I’ve had none of my own, I am, of course, the expert (NOT! 🙂 ) – better for me not to comment. In part changing societal expectations, I think.

Good morning SHs

Cinque, day before FD for me too. I am hoping to get those pakoras made today – some to eat and some to freeze. Sound’s like you had a good time playing doctor with your grand daughters last night.

Betsylee, I do cover up well when walking but I don’t like being out in the heat either and have been using the local shopping centre for walking on the hottest days. Thankfully the cool change arrive here during the night so walking is back on the agenda today.

I was very pleased with my food choices and portions yesterday – a rare day with no snack at all just 2 meals. Hopefully I can have another careful NFD today too.

Saturday 9am. Just finished the final coat of paint on the ceiling in the new shed. One more coat on the walls later today and the painting is done with the exception of skirting boards and the edging bits around the window and sliding door as we have been unable to find a tradesman to do this work but at least the main part is nearly complete.

We lost 2 laying hens (died not missing) due to the 47 and 48 degree heat the last few days. I kept checking on the flock as the days went on, refilling water and squirting them down. The poor things were so distressed even though they had plenty of deep water troughs to sit in and and abundant shade the dry hot air temperature was just too much. Cooler today at 35 degree but it’s muggy and the flies are as thick as thieves.

The garden has suffered too. Even the succulents are burnt. I managed to keep the tomato plants, strawberries and herbs in tact with the exception of my sage plant which looks like it’s on its way to herb heaven.

Time for a shower and then off to town to do some chores and some food shopping. Have a lovely weekend everyone

Hi South Australians, hope the weather cools down very soon. Your weather appears to follow Perth’s , so if it is any comfort , Perth is very pleasant at the moments with maxima between 26c and 29c.

By the way, hi Rosy and welcome.

Also, I did wear my bikini to the beach, thin! Lol. I think we are about to head out there again. Now, where’s my bikini……