Good morning,

A quick catch up with my coffee before I prepare for grandma kinder with little Ms 3.

Betsy I am feeling excited for you on your Saturday weigh in. If you don’t have a good loss I will come over and smash your scales! And good grief, it is beyond me how our fascinating bodies work out where they decide to deflate fat cells! Although I did remember a segment on Dr Mosley’s show where the people doing sit ups (I think it was) lost inches from their waists. But they didn’t measure hips!

Merry, so good to hear from you and congratulations at keeping fairly steady (in an up and down way),. So glad to hear news of you and Mr Merry. Is your secret project stressing you out? Sending good wishes. And hoping you get a good run now.
Haha there is no end to getting back on the horse! Every new day.

Cali, Amazon might start delivering fresh food! (How I wish I had got my YamDaisy Cafe going, it could be wonderful in this situatiion, delivering healthy meals).
Your sister’s work place seems a reasonably safe one. I bet a lot more handwashing and bowing instead of handshakes is going on there.

Anzac, once I got over the shock of the how serious and far reaching this pandemic is, I am calmed by hearing workplaces working out strategies and seeing good procedures put in place. Won’t you love working from home every day if/when it comes to that.

After being relieved at our government putting in good measures, I am now realising that they might not be enough to slow it down as much as I hoped. I think if we have some big sports events this weekend we will see the numbers start rising quickly. But there is a COAG meeting today (Federal and state leaders) so maybe that will lead to stricter and safer measures.

Quacka how are you going? Thinking of you.

No balloon bung and haywire for me today. Nice sensible, enjoyable eating with lots of veggies. Btw those sweet potato flatbreads worked really well. I have mixture in the fridge to make more, so I will see how that goes.

Best wishes all

Hi all, hope you’re doing okay. Last FD today before the weekend weigh-in. Fingers crossed!

How the world is changing so rapidly with daily routines, sport, work situations all being increasingly affected due to Covid-19. Apart from the panic buying at supermarkets, there seem to be few effects seen in my local area. I decided to go to the shopping centre around 9 a.m., to check out the TP situation – all already sold. No-one wearing masks or seemingly otherwise affected, though. However, by coincidence, the cool change blew in with a bang this afternoon and one of the outside blinds blew up. While outside dealing with that, and checking others, I noticed that there were some TP rolls which had fallen behind a fold-up bed in my spare room. Could see them from outside through the window, but not when inside. Anyway, fished them out, so I now have a further supply. Lucky me! 🙂

LJoyce, sounds like you do need to be wary, with your pre-existing bronchial situation. Glad you were given clear instructions from your GP.
Not sure about your reduction in hips and backside being due to walking – I’m walking a lot more now, and it’s not happening to me. Sigh!

Merryme, good to hear from you and know you’re doing okay.

Cinque, you’ll be relieved that several big sporting events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix have been cancelled for the weekend. Wish they’d cancel others, though. Not sure that my weigh-in will be particularly good; this morning I was only 300 gm down form last weekend, which is a bit disappointing. But, wait and see what happens tomorrow morning. Yes, you have my permission to smash my scales if they’re not nice to me! 🙂 Not really, will just have to keep persevering. This is a “plateau weight”, so takes longer to shift off. Just waiting for the whoosh.

Hope everyone else is doing okay. Be sensible, avoid large crowds, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and keep well.

So much for my recent pattern of sleeping in – this morning I woke at 4:50am and unusually felt wide awake. So up I got. After a quiet start over several cups of tea I went and did the grocery shopping at 7am. I managed to get toilet rolls (my first purchase of them since the hoarding madness began), but alas still no boxes of tissues.

I had an early morning call from my cousin to let me know that my aunt’s 90th celebration is cancelled as it possible she and my uncle have been exposed to covid19. Apparently a lady who had just returned from overseas went to the nursing home to visit her mother on Friday and was then contacted by the airline to say there was someone infected on the flight. So the nursing home is in lockdown until they get that lady’s test results – which should be within 48 hours. Lets hope they are negative, it does seem to be only a few others on a flight will catch it.
So I have just put 2 dozen cup cakes into the freezer for late and I’m going to be ruining my eating plan with the sausage rolls I had pulled out of the freezer to also take today.

I received detailed advice on protecting myself from covid19 from the health company that does my RA infusions at home. While most of it I already knew there was some really useful tips about using the iodine based throat gargle and nasal spray which I will be following.
If you are interested in reading it, click on this link and scroll down to the last few paragraphs:
https://chemoathome.com.au/information-on-coronavirus-covid-19-for-view-health-chemohome-patients/

Cinque, I’m not surprised the roti were better on day 2. I usually make a full batch of dough for flatbreads and keep it in the fridge so I can make a couple each day and I find I like them better on the latter days. I always thought it was because the flavour had time to develop – just like with slow rising yeasted bread – but that’s just a guess.

Betsy, that was a lucky find with the toilet rolls.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your scales have a kind moment tomorrow. You do deserve it with all the calorie restricted days you’ve done this week.

I did actually manage to do a FD500 yesterday after a FD800 the day before. I was all prepared for this afternoons indulgence, which is now cancelled – although I still have those sausage rolls to deal with.

Have a good weekend all.

Betsy, noneed for apologies. I had no idea he was there for that long either. And because they have so few tests available here, how would anyone know they had it? Hopefully that is changing. But take good care of them while they’re there. He is one of my favorite actors.

I lost about 700 grams just not eating much, not really counting the calories. They are advising people over 60 to stay at home as much as possible so that’s what we’re doing.

Neil, I hope your mum is going well. I’ve missed your posts here the past few days.

Cinque, it may be a good idea to reduce your contact with your granddaughters for the next few weeks. This covid thing is so scary. Do they test many people there?

LJ, glad you are managing to do your shopping when there aren’t many people around. I try to do the same. We have lots of rain today so I may do some house walking. Rather that spending so much time on the internet, reading about upsetting things, I should exercise. Or get some of my organizing projects started.

Take care and stay well everyone.

Hello friends, from another cool grey Melbourne morning.
It is Sunday fast day for me. I plan to make it as fasty as I can.

Woohoo Betsy, your scales came through! Tell them they are safe from me 😀 what a lovely loss, and now you can consolidate it.
I can imagine it is a little bit daunting to be exactly where you were a year ago, but hooray you are not more. As a long term strategy, you went through a stressful year and are currently no heavier than you were a year ago.
All good wishes that next year at this time you will be exactly where you want to be.
Also, how serendipitous that your break from study coincides with this time of social distancing.

LJoyce, so sorry the birthday celebrations were called off, but hooray that good procedures are in place. Was that visitor on the flight with Peter Dutton 😉 ?

Ooh that is so interesting about the rotis. I make a lot of flat breads but I do want to cut down portions.

Hope you managed not to eat a dozen sausage rolls.

You do have access to excellent info. I passed your link onto a friend who is more vulnerable than me as she has had chest issues since a bad infection last year.

Cali, the calls here are that we should be testing a lot more. We seem to be at a tipping point where the exponential growth could mean that in a few more weeks hospital beds are overwhelmed, so we will see how well the government ramps up action. They seem to think they are helping the economy by going slowly, but my perception is that the economy will fare better, in the long run, if are less people ill and less hospital chaos.

I am so glad you are able to basically stay home. Yes, I have talked to my daughter and I am quickly trailing off contact with my darlings. I am also going to make timetables to help me order my days. It is a time I can really concentrate on my health (food, yoga) and maybe finally get my desk cleared!

It is good to be ahead of the curve.

Off to make dashi for my miso soup. Best wishes all.

Hi all, hope you’re all doing well.

Well, we’re following New Zealand and from midnight requiring ALL folk entering the country, from any country, and even returning Aussies, to self-isolate for 14 days. Apparently it is being made law, so there will be penalties if people fail to isolate themselves. I think it’s a sensible move; anything to delay the progress of the pandemic.

One good/ disappointing thing for me – a workshop I was going to attend tomorrow has been cancelled; that will save me about 2 hours of walking and public transport each way (i.e., total 4 hrs). It may be re-scheduled later in the year, but for now, they’ll send everyone a refund. I wanted to do the workshop, but not the effort required to get there. It might be easier to get there later in the year because (I hope) I’ll be lighter and have more energy. 🙂

CalifDreamer, you were asking about testing. On the news tonight, they said that around 13,000 tests have been done in the State of Victoria, of which 57 have been positive. Don’t know about the other States.

Merryme, thanks for clarifying the movements of Tom Hanks and wife. That may explain why I got confused with timing. They came, went and came again. Who knows where they got sick.

Cinque, I will talk to my scales, but they better watch out – I expect them to continue to behave, or I.I.I will take a hammer to them! Enjoying some chocolate this evening, but will have a FD tomorrow to balance that out.
I’m glad you are tapering off your grandkid interactions for a while. You need to be sensible, hard though it is. LJoyce, hope you are doing the same!

Keep well everyone!

Just thinking what a wonderful opportunity for the world to get collectively healthy – 5:2. Imagine if, rather than fighting their neighbour in a grab for extra food, everyone instead cut down say 75% of their intake 40% of the time! What a healthy world! Imagine the free hospital beds.

Good morning,

Merry, yes, so many decisions and logistics to sort out. So glad Mr Merry is well finished his treatment. That is right isn’t it? His immune system must be in better shape. Bet wishes to your son and DIL, I do hope they escape it.

Neil, you are so busy. Such good news that your mum is improving so quickly. Do send her good wishes from over the ditch.

Thin, I love what you wrote about people coming together. I have been so delighted to see the wonderful community things, including singing from balconies in Siena, the music in Sicily, facebook groups started to help the elderly, lovely things happening for the hard hit artist community. It is going to be hard, but I do hope the good kind and creative things that happen mitigate the worst things.

I’d also recommend the UK govt put you in charge of food delivery haha. Such a good opportunity.

Lots of Aussie horror at Tom Hanks for posting a (lovely) photo including vegemite toast… with the vegemite spread as thickly as jam. Lots of response! Haha.

State of Emergency in Victoria now. Glad they are being so proactive.

My fast is ending in a minute when I have breakfast, you will be at the end of your day, Thin, and Betsy at the start of yours. Cheers to others fasting today, ending their fasts, preparing for one tomorrow, or enjoying a fast day.

Cheers

Hello everyone. I’ve been absent a lot on this forum lately, having enough of a struggle to post in the monthly challenge forum. But as I’ve mentioned before, most of them are northerners and there’s not enough “live” action to support me through my days! I’ve been struggling with motivation but I think (hope!) I’m back on track. FD for me today and I’m thinking of you all.
Desperately trying to catch up on recent posts…

Glad your mum’s almost back to normal, Neil. Remember, the brain is (amazingly) elastic and can recover!

I’m also amused at all the COVID-19 related panic buying. We tried an online delivery service with Woollies last week; but they refused to fill our (modest) order of toilet paper or hand soap (1 bottle). If I can get more than this in the supermarket, even with the current limits per customer, why can’t I get it on line? Fortunately for us, in his foray through the vegie bed, Friday (my adolescent cattle dog( managed to scatter seeds far and wide so now we have good crops of rocket, silverbeet and kale coming up in unexpected places! (Join with me in song “We will survive!”)

And speaking of dogs, how did Maxx (I mean you!) enjoy you Canberra forum friend catchup, Anzac?

I’m jealous of you Thin; that whole canal lifestyle has long seemed so ideal and romantic to me. To bust my fantasies, please tell me there are some downsides! (Apart from idiots who think it is funny to unties mooring ropes…)
Off to a meeting on business continuity… I wouldn’t mind working from home for a few weeks!

Hi all, posting a bit early this evening as I’m going out at 7:30 p.m.

How life has been changing. I’ve been so pleased with Woollies, Coles and other supermarkets designating 7-8 a.m. as the shopping hour for the elderly and disabled. I qualify, so will try to get up early in the morning to do my shopping. With supermarkets closing at 8 p.m. at night to restock, it will hopefully mean some products will be available. I would like to buy a few more products for the cat, plus meat and vegies. Couldn’t believe the shelves today, and no fresh milk! Do people have extra fridges or freezers to put it all??? Meat I can (almost) understand, but again – who has that much room in their freezers?

Enough of that. I have been successfully fasting today. Not very interested in food, which is good. Might not eat tomorrow, either, if I don’t feel like it. Have to do my banking, and I’m taking a quick trip to the city in the middle of the day, when the trains will be less busy. I’ll make sure I take my (very limited) hand sanitiser with me, just for hand protection on the trains.

Neilithicman, glad to read that your mother’s health has been improving; good news.

thin, stay well, and great idea to exercise 5:2 for diet and buying.

Cinque, hope you’ve enjoyed your eating while I’ve fasted. Surprisingly, I had 2 TDEE days over the weekend, and this morning was 200 gms down on Saturday a.m.’s weight. Not expected.

CalifDreamer, is the elderly Californians self-isolating mandatory, or recommended? If mandatory, I hope you have someone who can buy you any small items you might need.
My travelling would have included train, tram and also walking, dragging a small suitcase containing my computer, etc., which would have made it more difficult. As I become fitter, it will be easier.

Penz, how lovely to see you on this forum. My elderly, unwell friends usually do most of their buying with Woollies online, and with that cancelled, have to go out to shop, which isn’t ideal. I’ve offered to shop for them, but now that the supermarkets have instituted an elderlies and disabled only hour, they said they’d be fine. Or their home helps can shop with or for them. God that you will have some unexpected but welcome greens to consume.

Hi to all those not posting in the last few days. Keep well, everyone. Goodnight for now.

Good evening all.

I’ve just completed a strict FD with a bowl of butternut-lemon soup for dinner. It was much needed as I had a bad NFD yesterday. While I didn’t eat all the sausage rolls and managed to put some in the bin, I ate a lot of other stuff was definitely excessive. Tome to get back on the straight and narrow.

Although I have begun to stay out of public places as much as possible, I was out today as I had an appointment with my rheumatologist. Luckily it’s a short walk from here and there was only one other person in the waiting room – we had half each.

I was slightly concerned on Saturday as I had a scratchy throat but it had cleared this morning and I had no other symptoms, so all good. I still rang the rheumatologist first thing and gave them the option of deferring my appointment if they wished.

I’ve had a desperate call from my niece who is running out of toilet paper, so I will surrender my recently acquired pack of 24 to her as, with a family, her need is much more urgent. If I’m prudent with my use I have enough to keep me going for 3-4 weeks from an opened pack so hopefully I can find more by then.

Hope all of you are well.

Morning all.

Lindsay, I hope you enjoyed Dunedin, Allan’s beach is pretty cool, We were out that way a couple of weeks ago, We didn’t get out to the beach, but we did the Sandymount/Lovers Leap/Chasm walkway, which looks out over Allans Beach. I assume you mean you’re going to Tekapo 😉 If you’re there overnight and have a clear sky then I would recommend a dark sky experience, it is really awesome there on a clear night, but I hear it can be a bit pricey https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/

LJoyce, do we know why people are so caught up with buying toilet paper? The corona virus doesn’t give you the trots, so I really can’t see why people are bulk buying bog roll.

Betsy, that’s a really good idea from the supermarkets. That should make sure that the elderly and disabled are more likely to be able to get the supplies they need.

Penz – Hooray for home gardens. We’ve still got plenty growing in our garden so if the worst comes to the worst we should still be able to get plenty of fruit and veges for a few weeks.

Well I’m weighing in tomorrow. I’m a bit nervous about it because I’ve had two consecutive weeks of gain. I’m thinking of getting the biometric scales I’ve been humming and haaring about buying for the last couple of months just so I can get an idea of what’s going on. The one I’m looking at tells you your weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass, hydration, bone mass and visceral fat. I’m not sure how accurate it is, but it should help give some idea about where I’m at.

Have a great day everyone.

A quick good morning before I head out for a walk and to see if I can get milk before it sells out. I’ve heard the appliance stores are doing a roaring trade in freezers – which explains why meat, bread and milk is now hard to find on supermarket shelves. I can manage without the bread and meat but doing without milk is a challenge for me.

Lindsay, glad you are having a nice holiday and hope you get a lift in spirits soon.

Neil, I have no idea why there’s a run on toilet paper. I think the problem with all these panic buys is that as soon a few people start doing it, others who weren’t going to buy extra start to worry that it won’t be available when they actually need so perhaps they better get extra too – and from there all this panic buying snowballs. It’s a bit like the purchases during war time rationing – you buy it when it’s there because you might not be able to find it again for a while.
I also think that even though we
have not gone into serious lock down, there list of countries that are telling citizens to stay home indefinitely is growing and I think people are preparing for that possibility.

Anzac, enjoy the WFH – Maxx will be ecstatic to have you home.

Must go now as I want to get to the shop by 8am

Good morning everyone,

A little touch of summer here (28C forecast) among Autumn settling in. I found I have a second butternut growing although how it will ripen enough for me to eat it, I don’t know!

Cali, are you finding your days changing much? I am enjoying focussing on being home. It is so nice to isolate without being in quarantine.

Penz, it is great when you can pop in here and let us know how you (and Friday) are going. What a useful dog to have in the garden, haha.
With absolutely no help from Miso the cat, I am supplementing self sowing (parsley, rocket, chard and warrigal greens) with seed I collected, but little somethings are eating the rocket, at least, as it comes up, so I have got some planted in egg cartons, on the windowsill.

Panic buying is crazy but it must be a deep, ancient need for us to think of hoarding when we see trouble coming. Governments and businesses are starting to put sensible processes in place… I love the store that is selling the first bottle of sanitiser for $6 and then any more at $150 each.
But oh dear what a worry seeing Americans queuing for guns (to protect their hoards). Cali, your countrymen!
It is greatly the result of unclear and untimely messaging from so many governments though. It drives me up the wall!

Thin, you must have timed your Spanish trip as brilliantly as Anzac managed her holiday. I do hope you and Mrs Penguin as okay, Penguin.

My local community is lovely and this crisis seems to be bringing out the best in everyone. May it continue.

Betsy, so frustrating for you (shopping). I hope you were able to get what you needed this morning. I’ll need to do the same soon, although my daughter is aiming to pick up milk and eggs for me this morning (I am not even quite out of them yet) and if so I can probably last the rest of the week.

Hopefully Woollies can get their online deliveries back working quickly, I know they are working hard.

Haha, I promise I ate moderately and without lording it over your hungry tummy! Ooh, you weren’t even feeling hungry, hope that continues and makes today an easy light eating one. Good luck being out and about today, I bet it will be quiet.

Your scales have an interesting personality. They get a nice pat from me though 🙂

LJoyce, enjoy a very straight and narrow day today. So glad you are able to help your niece out with toilet paper. Surely in 3 – 4 weeks things will be more settled.

Lindsay, so lovely to have a good long chatty post from you. Your NZ holiday sounds just wonderful. I gather the hard things you are coping with are not anything that can be resolved quickly or easily. I am sending you so many wishes and all good things. Life can be a hard journey.

Oh dear, poor Rosy, the self isolation will be hardest on her. I hope you can find some good way for her to do all the running she needs.

Neil, this transition from weight loss to maintenance is SO tricky. Particularly nasty when you are doing all the right things and the scales go and show your weight creeping up. Fingers crossed you get a lower number this week.

Anzac, so glad you just need to get through a few more days and then you will be working from home for a week. Yay.

LJoyce, I do so hope you can find some fresh milk. I am very much the same. I have some powdered milk in the cupboard but it isn’t the same.

Neil, gorgeous link. I am so lucky as to have Sammy J (the bush poet there) on breakfast radio. He just started being a radio host this year and he is such a delightful kind, clever, whimsical person to wake up to.

Well another day, another chance to eat lightly and nutritiously and be kind in this worried world. Best wishes all.

Awww, thanks for the welcome back call out, Betsylee, Neil, Cinque, all; what a great group this is.

I’m waiting to hear stories of people asking the elderly to do their shopping for them during their exclusive supermarket early morning hour. I’d heard too that the panic buying is people’s way of exerting control in a situation which really, we can’t control. It’s certainly not a proportionate response to COVID-19s symptoms, but at least people feel they are able to do SOMETHING. I heard reports this morning of people stealing toilet paper from work toilets. I get the control thing, but really?!

We have a chest freezer (that we bought years ago) but honestly, it’s filled with meat / bones for the dogs! (You can tell who comes first in our household.) I spose if things get really really desperate, we could eat their meals! Who was it who commented that once upon a time they fed lamb shanks to their dogs? I was one of those; osso bucco too because it was so cheap. Not any more – the price of these once ‘cheap’ cuts is crazy and getting crazier.

Home gardens are great! (Sharing smug thoughts with Neil.) We have one lone lemon tree that has been struggling for years. We pulled it out. It grew back. Still no fruit but I admire its tenacity. We have a very prolific lime tree but no other fruit trees. We lost a few native trees due to the recent drought and I’m contemplating filling the gaps with something we can eat. Apparently pomegranates do well in the Canberra climate, so that’s tempting.

Lindsay: I don’t know if this will help with Rosy, but I recently came across a great dog toy made by a company called Cheerble. http://www.cheerble.com It’s a ball with a motor inside so that it bounces and rolls on its account. Our pup loves it. I bought ours at The Good Guys (they might deliver!).

[ooh sorry for long post!]

the computer is not playing nicely today so I hope this post doesn’t appear 4 times (after not appearing at all).

Awww, thanks for the welcome back call out, Betsylee, Neil, Cinque, all; what a great group this is.

I’m waiting to hear stories of people asking the elderly to do their shopping for them during their exclusive supermarket early morning hour. I’d heard too that the panic buying is people’s way of exerting control in a situation which really, we can’t control. It’s certainly not a proportionate response to COVID-19s symptoms, but at least people feel they are able to do SOMETHING. I heard reports this morning of people stealing toilet paper from work toilets. I get the control thing, but really?!

We have a chest freezer (that we bought years ago) but honestly, it’s filled with meat / bones for the dogs! (You can tell who comes first in our household.) I spose if things get really really desperate, we could eat their meals! Who was it who commented that once upon a time they fed lamb shanks to their dogs? I was one of those; osso bucco too because it was so cheap. Not any more – the price of these once ‘cheap’ cuts is crazy and getting crazier.

Home gardens are great! (Sharing smug thoughts with Neil.) We have one lone lemon tree that has been struggling for years. We pulled it out. It grew back. Still no fruit but I admire its tenacity. We have a very prolific lime tree but no other fruit trees. We lost a few native trees due to the recent drought and I’m contemplating filling the gaps with something we can eat. Apparently pomegranates do well in the Canberra climate, so that’s tempting.

Lindsay: I don’t know if this will help with Rosy, but I recently came across a great dog toy made by a company called Cheerble. http://www.cheerble.com It’s a ball with a motor inside so that it bounces and rolls on its account. Our pup loves it. I bought ours at The Good Guys (they might deliver!).

[ooh sorry for long post!]

Hi everyone. Ended up as a TDEE day today, after all. My very early trip to the supermarket was almost a waste of time. Coles don’t actually start their early elderly hour until tomorrow, but I went there anyway – almost no meat, no vegies, no TP, and almost no milk. Bought some A2 milk, which will be fine for me. Then I headed off to Woollies, where I had to show my pension card, but similar results, maybe not quite as bad. Lots of stuff missing from shelves, and NO TP. Ended up going to a butcher’s that opened at 8 a.m. to buy some mince, and to the greengrocer’s next door for a few more items. In the end, I bought all I really need. Though I’d have liked a fresh roll of TP, I can manage for the moment. AND, I’m actually budgeting my TP use, with fewer leaves used 🙂 .

Anyway, why a TDEE? – well, I cooked up the mince, spaghetti and lots of vegetables as freezer meals, and it was SO nice, I ate some for dinner, and then decided to have dessert. Yum, though I felt really full afterwards. Definitely a FD tomorrow.

CalifDreamer, there’s a lot of doom and gloom on the television at present – I’m currently choosing to only keep up with what I really need to know. And, choosing to not watch most shows unless they are light-hearted. I guess what folk wrote in their posts about the feeling of loss of control is what’s driving some of the crazy behaviour. But, we can make positive choices to continue to enjoy and be grateful for the life we have.

thin, see my above comments – the supermarkets need to get their acts together, and have actually said they’re working to improve things. No point having a 7-8 a.m. elderly/ disabled hour if there’re no products there to be bought.

Penz, I’m also waiting to hear that people are unrolling the TP in the public toilets at shopping centres. Wouldn’t surprise me if that happens, but surely this madness will stop soon. Folk with excess won’t just keep buying, so there might be some for the rest of us. Reminds me of living in China in the late ’90s, where if you saw something you liked, you’d buy as much as you could, because next time you were in the store, it probably wouldn’t be there. That’s changed a lot in more recent times, but I remember hunting everywhere trying to buy butter (margarine didn’t exist there, then).

Cinque, note my comments above re my shopping expedition this morning. My trip to the city was so enjoyable – the trains were about 25% of usual numbers, so no-one sitting close to anyone else, so nice and safe. It’ll probably be my last trip, though, for the foreseeable future. I felt it was safe enough for now, as Melbourne has less than 100 Covid-19 cases, and about 5 million inhabitants. Those are fairly safe odds, but it will change over the next few weeks. Glad you can relax and enjoy being home.

So strange at church on Sunday – friendly smiles and waves, but no touching, and hand sanitiser to be used on entry, seating widened so front and behind was at least a metre away. Only about half the usual congregation, and they’re planning live-streaming and youtube for those who can’t attend. If the restrictions on numbers is decreased, as has happened elsewhere, we’ll all be doing church from home.

Neilithicman, had a good chuckle at that youtube clip, thanks for sharing it. Hadn’t seen that comedian before.

Anzac65, good to hear from you, and try to be “good” for your WFH weeks 🙂

LindsayL, glad you’re having an enjoyable NZ holiday, even if you do have to self-isolate on return. You won’t be the only ones.

I need to finish, the early morning is catching up on me! Keep well, all.

Morning all, from the very beautiful Lake Tekapo (thank you Neil for the correction…I now have my typing fingers unfurled 🙂

We have a lovely little cottage sitting on a hill overlooking the lake….unfortunately the booking agent implied it was closer to the village, so my brother and SIL booked their accommodation with that in mind …and we are quite a distance apart. I am sure we will manage, and the long walks will do me good.

I feel a bit of a fraud, being so low, when nothing really ails me except an attack of the miseries. OH and I are both feeling pretty well, the eyesight thing is what it is, and the kids/grandkids are all doing well too. I think honestly the events of the past 18 months just hit me like a train, and try as I might, I couldn’t shake the feelings. I am trying, though, and feel I am coming out the other side. Thank you for your kindness.

Ah, the TP discussion. When we lived in Beijing, we used to go occasionally to the Novotel for their fine buffet lunch. On one occasion, OH went to the loo….full roll. As we readied to leave, just a few minutes later, he decided to have one for the road, as he put it. Back to the same cubicle, roll gone. And that was in a posh hotel! TP is rarely supplied in public loos in China, so the lure of a free roll was too much for one of the guests. I think the same overstocking is also cultural, to a degree. I guess if you’ve either experienced near starvation, or certainly heard your family talk about it, in the face of possible shortages your past experience kicks in. And as Betsy says, shortages have been the norm in China until quite recently.

Penz thanks for the tip about the toy to keep Rosy amused. I’ll try to hunt it out.

I have been thinking about the self-isolation and also the changes in our society, and its long-term effects. I wonder if it will actually slow us all down, and make us more appreciative of what we actually have, instead of being so driven by work, acquisition of things material, and so on. I’m holding that thought – that this may make our society better, in the long run.

I am not at all phased by the self-isolation, except that it will put distance between me and my grandchildren, and I don’t know how long that will last. For the first time too, we are not able to help DD and DS and I am finding this quite stressful. Cinque (and others with little ones), you will be experiencing the same I know.

OK on that note, I’ll close, with apologies for the introspection. It’s just good to share thoughts and feelings.

Hi Lindsay, yes he’s at the Logan Park High School that closed yesterday because one student tested positive for the virus. His father picked it up on a trip to Germany.

Did you get out for a dark sky tour in Tekapo yesterday? it really is spectacular there on a clear night.

Good morning everyone, a bit hot and oppressive here today, but I am glad of each warm day that makes my butternut more edible.

I did get milk and eggs yesterday, thanks to my daughter, and I am glad you got milk too, LJoyce.

Penz, haha, I did think that if my daughter couldn’t get what she needed, I would have to go in the next morning!
Yes, your post came through nicely. Twice, but that’s better than not at all!
I don’t follow the monthly challenges, so how is 5:2 going for you at the moment? Are you feeling light and lovely?

Cali it must be hard to work out what is going on around you, until the testing is done more rigorously. Even here they think numbers must be a lot larger than is showing officially. But my favourite advice is that we all act as if we do have the virus, and are trying to avoid passing it on.

I do hope you have the chance to do all the good things for your health, and I am sending so many wishes that your BP only did a short rise with the news reports.

Happy St Patrick’s Day! Enjoy that corned beef.

Thin oh dear. A wrong word and no nice space to show I had shifted focus to Penguin. My sentence was meant to be: ‘I do hope you and Mrs Penguin are okay, Penguin.’
Re guns, it was just that, thinking the current hoarding is crazy, I thought buying guns to protect the hoard is even crazier. Fingers crossed they keep everyone polite.

Betsy, a fast day after a day containing deliciousness, is a nice fast day. I am fasting too.
So glad you got most of what you wanted at the shops.

Yes, the numbers aren’t bad yet. We are currently doubling every 4 days, and it may take a couple of weeks for the new measures to show in the stats, but wouldn’t it be good if Victoria’s stats are no more than 1,000 by then, and the new measures successful in slowing the rate of doubling.

I’m so glad your church is embracing social distancing. My sister who is a vicar is finding so much resistance to it in her country parish, which is a worry because so many there are old and vulnerable.

Neil, hooray that your scales showed that you lost weight. I know it isn’t much but I am cheering.
It is a whole new ballgame to keep ourselves maintaining (or to lose that last kilo or two) and we have to do it without the ego stroking successes of getting skinny and going down clothes sizes. The importance of making what we do longterm and sustainable becomes even more central, and we need strength of mind and persistence. You have those things in spades, but it is still a rocky old ride to get a handle on it. (I’m still working on it).

Hello Lindsay and Lake Tekapo. I hope it is a lovely day.
I know how miseries do colour everything, and I am sending even more good wishes.
I have also thought about how these pandemic times may help us to slow down and make good changes. Apparently Bunnings is selling out of seedlings! That is much nicer panic buying, haha. And so fascinating to see cities lose pollution, and Venice full of clear water and swans.
The economic damage is going to hurt people terribly, and I fear to hear what is happening to so many wage earners and businesses, but I have loved hearing of pubs getting into gear to provide meals to homes, and orchestras live streaming etc.

Best wishes all.

Good morning all.

I managed to dash to the shops (on foot) early and get some lamb chops and cheese that went o n sale today. Then I had a bit of a wait until the other shops opened at 9 so I could get some T2 tea and a bottle of wine as birthday presents (I have 4 family birthdays over 2 weeks in March.) My great nephew was worried I’d already be isolating and he’d miss out on a cake. But I’m making it early and will drop it off this Thursday and will be delivering all birthday gifts early too.
My doctors tell me I still have 1-2 weeks before being in public becomes a real risk to me. At present the risk is still low because the number of infected people in SA is still very low. Within a fortnight I will start severely limiting my excursions. As advised, I am being very thorough with the iodine nasal swabs and throat gargle before leaving the house and repeating that as soon as I come home again. I am being sensible about going when shops are normally quiet and only for necessary shopping.
I was a bit shocked at the Dan Murphy store where I bought the bottle of shiraz – a lot of people filling trolleys with alcohol. Looks like they are going to drink themselves into a stupor during the isolation.

On the gun issue, I grew up in a rural area where owning a shotgun was common. I remember how many feral foxes and rabbits needed to be culled regularly on my uncle’s farm so there was something left for the sheep to eat. I also remember going spotlighting with him and my dad at night to help with the cull. I don’t like guns in urban areas though, as I can see no practical lawful reason for them to be there are they are mostly just an unnecessary danger to life.

Penz, we’ve had some warm days here over the last fortnight and my veggie patch has gone nuts. I’ve just delivered a bag of cherry tomatoes and green beans to all my neighbours as I can’t keep up to the bounty.
Glad you’ve had some things flourishing in the garden after the drought impact.

Neil, sorry you have such miserly scales, bu as your say at least it’s not a gain.

Lindsay, NZ south island is one of my favourite places in the world, just so beautiful. I hope your travels there lift your mood.

Cali, very glad to hear that your sister is able to work from home, that will really lower your household risk level. Lovely to have good neighbours who offer support.

Thin, having a mobile home mean that if one area is a particular hot spot for the virus you can just sail past. I hope you enjoy your boating isolation.

Betsy, I think the TP issue is worse in Melbourne and Sydney. There is definitely some on the shelves here each morning for the first 1-2 hours of the day. Eventually the hoarders will have enough and the rest of you will find some on the shelves. If you return in a few days during the dedicated 1 hour session you might find there is some. I too am rationing myself to 3 sheets and I think rolls are lasting at least 3 times as long – it show me just how cavalier I normally am with TP use.

Anzac, the only way to find meat (and other things) is to go early. The shelves are stripped some things, including most meat by 9am. The butcher’s shop at the shopping centre near me is doing more trade than usual, but they have put their prices up – $18kg for beef mince (they are a pricey place to buy meat anyway but have definitely raised prices in the last week). Luckily I had bought and frozen a kilo pack of lean beef mince the week before so I didn’t need to pay those prices.
Sounds like you have a lovely relaxing weekend, although it would have been nice to catch up with forum friends – Maxx would have liked to have a playmate too.
I hope being at home doesn’t derail the diet.

Cinque, glad your daughter was able to buy what you needed. The closer to “lockdown” that we get, the earlier in the day things seem to sell out.
So nice that you got your new fridge-freezer when you did and can have a store of frozen home cooked meals ready. I’m rather glad I got in that big supply of legumes a few weeks ago.

Hello to everyone I’ve missed. Hope you are all well.

Hi all, hope you’re doing well. FD here, and doing okay. Needed it after yesterday’s indulgence. I didn’t mention that the “dessert” was an iced, cheesecake doughnut. Being realistic, that alone was probably 700-800 cals. That’s okay, won’t be doing it again for a long time.

Anzac65, I was the one warning you to be “good” on your WFH days. Disappointing that your meet up with your Canberra labrador friend didn’t happen, but it sounds like you had a good time anyway. Hope your DH’s back settles quickly.

LJoyce, good to hear from you. I expect at least one post daily, so wondered where you were yesterday 🙂 .

Re TP, it seems like the supermarkets are doing better with the elderly/infirm early start, and there were pictures on the news of many happy older faces.

@califdreamer, I’ve also been touched by the kindness of neighbours – there was a lovely little letter and picture from the two little girls across the road, asking if I was okay; I spoke with the mother, thanking her, and she said if I need anything, just to ask. Very kind.

Penz, my garden is also blossoming. Beautiful.

LindsayL, if you can’t vent to us, where can you? It’s fine.

Cinque, with the announcement this morning re no inside gatherings over 100, my church has now moved to a completely online platform for the time being. It’s going to be strange. Smaller groups can still meet.
I patted my scales this morning – they’re still behaving, despite my doughnut. Not sure how much I’ll lose by the weekend, but with a FD today, FD800 tomorrow, and possibly another FD Friday, I’m hoping they will stay kind.

Okay, enough for now. Keep well everyone.

Happy Thursday everyone,
Just gone 8am here (but it might be 1:15pm by the time I post too LJoyce 😉 )

Delicious day after fast day for me. I had a good fast day and I am passing the baton to you Penz. Hope you can rock it. Just one day.

We didn’t get the same rain in Melbourne so my garden is just doing it’s usual end of summer stuff with me racing against the powdery mildew on the zucchini leaves, but getting produce every day. No need to go veggie shopping while I have tomatoes, chilies, zucchini, eggplant, beans and greens!

I worried that I was running out of protein but when I checked I realised I had eggs and cheese in the fridge, beans, lentils and yuba in the pantry, mince, felafel, 3 big Greek sausages and dried shrimp in the freezer. Haha.

LJoyce, Adelaide is nicely trailing the big Eastern cities with Covid19 numbers. It is like a duckling about to jump off a wall, deciding when to put stricter measures in. Same for the governments. I think we are a couple of weeks ahead of you, and today will be the last time I see my granddaughters until it feels safe again.

Betsy, hoping you are feeling light and lovely this morning. And I also hope that doughnut doesn’t do that cosmic trick of leaping forward in time and adding grams to you tomorrow.
I bet your church finds lovely and creative ways for people to look after each other. I like that the term ‘spatial distancing’ has been suggested, rather than ‘social distancing’ as we can still be social without physical proximity.

Hi Thin, what better way to ride out a pandemic, than on a long boat.

Well I have been fairly quick and efficient, may it continue!

Best wishes to everyone.

Good morning Cinque, we crossed posts. Have a lovely time with the grandies – lots of hugs to make up for the lean times where won’t be any. Are you able to skype with them when you can’t see them in person?

Ha ha, thanks for the baton, Cinque. I usually try and do a water (read: coffee) only FD but I just had to have a ham, cheese and tomato toastie this morning. That will well and truly do me for the day and won’t bust the FD limit.

Thin – we were in Tampa, south south Tampa! Loved it.

Is it bad to sort of hope to be made to work from home?* I know the dogs would love it… I would too! I’ve always been easy with my own company, and if hubby is sent home too, it would be a lovely sort of enforced holiday. [*And I certainly don’t want to make light of those people who have been forced into self-isolation or quarantine, or who are otherwise struggling during these challenging times.]

Loved the idea of you patting your scales, Betsy. Hope it returned the kindness of your gesture! I think mine groans when I thumpily stand on it! Which I’ve not done for some weeks….

sorry Neil. I’ll rise to your challenge tomorrow!! Enjoy the brisket.