Hello all

Terrible week for me, so busy at work and doing 13 hour days with just a few 5 minute breaks. Poor Mr Anzac having to bring me food and do all things house and dog and of course I have been stress-snacking so despite being terrified I weighed myself this morning and the results were as expected. Bad. Bring on the holiday and a fresh start

My company has mandated a mandatory return to the office 50% and I’ve told my boss I will leave if I am forced to go back in. He said to just continue as I am and he will let me know if any Seniors kick up a fuss. I have a vocal agreement to WFH full time but nothing in writing. There is a new Leadership after a major restructure (so many wonderful people made redundant) so I am not hopeful. Gosh I wish I could retire

LJ that storm sounds scary, glad there was no damage

Thin, 20 degrees and sunny here today but I’m very sure your 21 will feel much warmer. The winter chill in the breeze makes it feel much cooler. If I sit on our back porch in the sun (it is very sheltered) then and only then does it feel like the actual temperature

Sorry about the extremely frustrating time with MyGov Cinque. 6 hours is simply unforgivable and it still isn’t resolved. So sorry about your reflux flare

Glad you are feeling better Neil and take care on the icy roads

Take care everyone

Cinque, that was such a lovely post that I have read it more than twice. Yes, I was thinking the same about poor Anzac, what a tough industry and with such ruthless managers. But not long until that getaway trip now, Anzac.

That sounds like so much cooking Cinque, I would be overwhelmed. But I am so envious of your checking the freezer drawers! I am fed up with trying to cram all I can into a silly little freezer box and having to defrost it to get anything back out. I do miss cooking in bulk and that wonderful feeling of pulling whole meals out of the freezer.

Funny that you speak of people expecting a pill to solve everything. I see Dr M. has made his first appearance here since 2019 and is tweeting away on the right of the page on a similar subject (weight loss pills). Can you see this on the website in Australia too? Topical in the news here is a new injection for weight loss. It is hoped that it will alleviate pressure on the NHS. It’s said that it’s not a substitute for healthy eating and lifestyles. But of course it is. I seriously doubt that it will work because it’s an appetite suppression drug – and I really don’t think we over eat or eat poorly because we’re actually hungry.

I love the screeching of lorikeets. Of course the birds I see on the canals are nothing like those in Oz (and DD is sending photos of toucans and such exotics). But I’m learning so much about their behaviour just through observation so it is fascinating. In the past few days, I’ve photographed a few that I haven’t yet been able to identify from my Book of British Birds so perhaps they are visitors.

It was a glorious 28C today. 29C tomorrow. Just in time for Turn’s arrival. I started prepping at 6.30am and a bit of painting when it got warm enough (after a rest). Thank you for mentioning my foot, Cinque. I’m trying to just ‘get on with it’. It’s been two months since the surgery and I can now do anything I want as tolerated – but the consequences (pain, throbbing, swelling and/or stiffness) don’t show themselves until later. So I’m still learning what is too much. So, that could be an hour’s walk. Or standing/steering through locks for about the same time while OH does all the hard work. This made me think of you and how you have to navigate life’s activities pacing yourself all the time, wanting to do things but paying a price for them later. So hard for you.

Welcome back to England, Turn! On this page at least, we now have as many posting from England as from Aus/NZ! Hey, what about this weather, then?

Glad you enjoyed the towpath walk – maybe a narrow boat is the next adventure for you. It’s just like a campervan but without the wheels. We are currently in a beautiful woodland area (of Watford but you’d never know it) and there’s a resident heron on the opposite side of the canal, also three cormorants and a female mandarin duck with her four offspring. There’s also a noisy solo duckling who’s lost its family but is surviving. Herons remind me of crocodiles – hunting by stealth and patience!

Have fun zooming all over England and, if you do find time to visit us, you are most welcome. I know it’s hard when family and friends take over your lives with all sorts of ‘plans’. Plus we are hopeless at making firm plans as there are so many variables with narrow boating. We’re slowly heading south on the Grand Union Canal towards The Thames. If you have an old email address that’s not important to you, you could perhaps post it in your profile, tell me when you have and then remove it when I’ve seen it. Just an idea.

Hello everyone,
So exciting to read your post from the other side of the world, Turn! It sounds wonderful.
We should all teleport there for the sun!

Hello to all the birdlife around!

Neil, doesn’t the cold weather make us eat! And I know you have got too much going on at the moment. Keep looking after yourself and your dear family as best you can.

It is my birthday today. I am going to meet with my daughter and sisters at a lovely looking Italian restaurant who thinks they might be quiet enough at lunchtime for us to hear each other talk. Yes that is an indication of how old we are all getting 😀 😀 😀 .

It is cold, and breezey, and the breeze is very cold. But the sun is shining!

Sending best wishes to everyone,

Happy packing Anzac!

Happy Birthday Cinque! I hope you have a lovely lunch with your sisters. So glad the sun is shining for your special day

Thanks for the holiday good wishes, I can’t wait to get on that plane. I have a heart specialist appointment today (just a check up) and I am not looking forward to it. From what I hear you have to run on a treadmill and I am so unfit I will probably make a fool of myself. Ho hum

Lovely to hear about your trip Turn and I’m glad the English weather is finally being kind

Brrr Neil, that sounds so cold. Don’t fret about your weight, your mojo will be back soon. I am out of control too and this holiday is the line in the sand

Your mooring spot sounds so perfect Thin, enjoy. I hope your foot continues to heal

Hi to everyone else, will report back about the trip once we are back next Sunday. Take care all

Happy birthday Cinque, have a lovely day

Thankyou so SO much for the lovely birthday wishes (and lovely link LJoyce). I had such a good time with my sisters and daughter.

The food at the restaurant was just gorgeous (plus it was quiet enough for us to talk) but I didn’t realise quite how rich the food was and I also indulged in tastes of the desserts, which were beautiful but I won’t do that again. So last night was dominated by LPR symptoms. I took Gaviscon and it helped but I would much rather not have had to take it. Lesson learnt!

Good evening everyone

Neil, my goodness what a lot you have had to deal with. I was so pleased to see that you have had a good weight loss this week after struggling with it for a while. I do hope life calms down a bit for you very soon.

Cinque, glad you have some lovely sister time on your birthday. Sorry you had to deal with the reflux after your meal. I must admit as I was reading what you’d eaten I was already feeling tense about the impending repercussions.

I hope Turn, Thin and Anzac are all enjoying their time in the sun. It’s been very wet and cold here lately. I don’t mind the cold when it’s dry, the rain is very restricting.

Lindsay, I hope you are doing better now. Thinking of you.

I thought I’d better report in how I’ve been going with my current eating approach. My plan was to reduce the amount of carbs to about 30% of my daily calories on NFDs. (I’m not counting carbs, just limiting gains.) I was also going to continue with my portion limits. The only change I have made to that plan is to change my portions to 1 dinner plate meal, 1 entree plate meal and 3 things (I’ve added one extra “thing”). I found I was struggling on the NFDs without this adjustment, mostly because my baseline is only 2 meals not 3. That small change does seem to be helping me stick to my self imposed rules on the NFD – which is the main point of the exercise. I am currently doing 2 strict FDs each week and I have been only weighing myself after each FD. I have been pleased to see a very steady and modest rate of loss of about 0.3kg after every FD, which means I’m losing 0.6kg per week and have lost 1.2kg over the fortnight. I’m feeling more confident that I can sustain this over the winter without having to resort to calorie counting or weighing daily. This regime has also been tested with cafe/restaurant meals lately. I find I can fit them into my NFD plan easily and my daily portion limits mean that I don’t throw caution to the wind and indulge in lots of calorific things for the rest of the day, just because I’ve had a decadent meal out. Unfortunately this was all too often my pattern of behaviour.
So the end result of all this is that I’m managing to resist some unhealthy behaviour patterns, and steadily lose weight with my FDs. This approach is easy to fit my life around and I think it’s sustainable. I’m quite hopeful about this approach moving forward.

I hope everyone is doing well. Take care.

It’s a FD for me. I’m putting one in the bank because we’re meeting up with boater friends tomorrow, Sunday, and there could be a G&T or two involved. I’m still ranging just above and just below 60kg when I’d rather be 59kg.

The weather continues to be superb. Mid to high twenties, sunny. Daylight until nearly 10pm. Long may it last. We are now on the Thames. It’s vast, noisy and full of action. Very different to the canals. But right now as I have my first coffee, the water is calm and the area silent. Soon boaters in bikinis and shirts off will start cruising up and down in their show-off plastic boats. Some of the waterside properties are amazing. Their end of garden boat houses are bigger than most people’s homes.

Cinque, well done with maintaining that tiny waistline. I’m afraid I’d have to get a new heater or a new cat. Have a great weekend all.

Morning all

Anzac, great you had an excellent trip, back home and back on the wagon now 😉

Unfortunately the stress hit me hard in the weekend. When we had some cards with friends and a lunch with my family, I went on sugar bender. I had an OMAD fast day of around 500 calories yesterday (had just 3 eggs, some sauteed taro leaves, and a couple of kiwifruit for dinner). I’m planning a similar day today, and hopefully that’ll counteract the sugar excess of the weekend.

Thin, I had heard that the temperatures in the UK were pretty high recently. On a podcast I listen to the hosts were complaining that the temperatures were hitting 27 degrees some days. It’s been pretty mild here. The temperatures have been around 14 degrees during the day, but only dropping to 9-10 degrees overnight. It’s a comfortable temperature for riding my bike to work in the mornings.

Cinque, great news that you are doing well at the moment, hopefully it will continue

Ljoyce, great that you seem to be doing well as well. Slow and steady weight loss is the best kind.

Well have a great one everyone, I’ll check in tomorrow to check in after my weekly weigh-in, but even with the two fast days I’m not expecting a super result on the scales.

Morning all

Well the back to back OMAD fast days definitely did the trick balancing out the sugar binge…and then some. I dropped 1.8 kilos last week!

Thin, I guess it depends on the type of heat it is. When we go to Central Otago in the summer it regularly hits the mid 30s, but since it’s such a dry heat it’s reasonably comfortable. But when we went to Fiji it was mid 30s, but because it was a humid heat it was pretty uncomfortable.

Catch you all later.

Neil, great job! Keep up the good work. That will give you such a lift.

A very welcome FD for me. Big pot of coffee made. Too much alcohol and carby things this week. It’s interesting to see how other people live (and how much they drink!). I’m trying to avoid co-mingling our eating and drinking where possible. Last evening though, we shared my Thai pumpkin soup which was all the carbs I needed and our friends shared their dinner. It was tasty but chunky bread based – so essentially what I’d class as pizza (something I never, ever eat). This morning I’m paying the price, well above the 60kg trigger. Constant vigilance required. I’m looking forward to today’s mini menu.

Afternoon all.

Wow it is COLD! we had around 4 inches of snow yesterday and it never made it above 3 degrees. It rained overnight so most of the snow disappeared, but it’s still only 5 or 6 degrees today. I had an enforced rest weekend, which I was really hoping for, because I can’t remember the last time that I had a weekend that I didn’t have to do work for someone, work around the house, prepare food for someone, or look after a sick relative. A weekend with the fire going, sitting on the couch reading and watching movies is probably good for my mental wellbeing, but possibly not so good for my weight loss.

This, you and me both. I had a couple of drinks on Friday evening and a couple more on Saturday evening, we had some chips and popcorn while watching movies so I have a bit to undo, luckily I did manage to resist the temptation of sugary stuff, so I don’t have to do a re-set on the sugary stuff.

Thanks for the link Cinque (I’m a poet and didn’t know it) I’ll definitely check it out later on I liked his just one thing series, and I didn’t realise there were new episodes out.

Have a great one everyone.

Hello everyone

Brrr Neil, I didn’t realise it got quite that cold where you live. I’m glad you were able to have a nice weekend at home and stay warm

Gosh your life is so interesting Thin. I never ever worry that you will lose track as you are just incredibly disciplined. Good for you

I stuck to my eating and exercise plan despite having to travel into the office a few times last week for the first time in 3 years. It was a bit traumatising and a lot lot lot of loss of productivity. No choice though. I lost 1.3 kilos in the week after the holiday. I find if you put weight on very quickly, you can get it off almost as quickly if you do a dramatic change straight away. It worked

It’s cold here too Cinque, but not as cold as Melbourne. Until today (very wet) we have had lovely sunny days but the breeze has been icy. We bought Maxx a lovely, snug (expensive) bed about 2 years ago and he wouldn’t have a bar of it. He would get on it for a treat but jump off straight away. We put it out on the back porch where it gets lots of sunshine but he always chose to lie on his furry brown mat that was in front of it. Then, out of the blue, about 2 weeks ago this! (see enclosed pic)

Must run, as always work is crazy. Will post more about our gorgeous holiday with pics later

https://imgur.com/a/3bE0Rh7

Morning all, now heading back towards the Thames having left Godalming and Guildford. Godalming high street has more op shops than you could poke a stick at, ten I think. I bought some bright red high waisted cords, a WASGIJ depicting a narrowboat scene, a beautifully cut summer dress (I have a matching cardi to hide my chicken wings) and a bargain fruit bowl made by a South African potter that we recognised. I didn’t need any of it but it was fun shopping in upmarket towns where the quality of junk is superior!

I’m managing OK (just) navigating the mine field of food and alcohol while travelling with friends. It’s been great spending time with them but it does make me anxious about food. We’ve yet to do the Indian restaurant as our friend was quite ill on his birthday so that’s still to come in our final week of three.

Anzac, are you now having to work at the office regularly?

Cinque, best wishes for a productive Sunday. It’s still in the twenties with a bit of morning drizzle. Amazing that ten years of drought can be predicted. Should make it easier on farmers. I often wondered about WA farmers. Having recorded 99 out of 100 years too dry for farming, you wouldn’t think another dry year would be much of a surprise.

My brother is coming to stay for a few nights next weekend. This Wey Navigation is where it all started for us with a hire boat holiday in 2004 when our girls were little so it will be a nice celebration. How we managed that 70′ boat in these deep locks with our lack of narrow boating experience is anyone’s guess. I hope we didn’t annoy too many people.

We’ve now had the Indian meal. It was decent food. The most boring man at the next table was talking far too loudly to his long-time friend about his new girlfriend that he met on a dating app. And all the ones that didn’t work out. We all felt sorry for the friend who couldn’t get a word in. It was a solid hour before they left so we know all about it too. So self-absorbed with no concept whatsoever of other people’s comfort. My OH (who talks quietly and very little) says that the loudest people usually have the least to say. Our friend said that, had she been the girlfriend, she’d have been out the restaurant’s bathroom window on the first date. Our share cost £15 more than we ordered so I suppose we got off lightly in the scheme of things but there was a lot of wasted food from ordering up big. I hate that.

Anyway, today’s a new day and a fasty one so things are looking up.

Anzac, that’s awful about the loud diner but good for you for saying something. The other place I’m astounded by this behaviour is on the train. An entire carriage of people subjected to one self-absorbed bore having a one-sided conversation about nothing. Re WFH, thanks for explaining. Too bad you’ll have to suffer those rude people on the trains.

I had an uneventful FD and feel good today. The sun is shining and we’re on the move later.

Hi all. Just dropping in – reading, but not writing.
Neil, good to read you are feeling better.
Anzac, your work life sounds crazy again. Hope your WFH routine is possible, in time.
Anzac, like Thin, I felt for you but full marks for dealing with the loud diner. I had something similar. We were out at a dog show, and my OH was talking quite softly to another friend with cancer and sharing their progress. A woman listening in nearby turned and said to me, ‘how long have they given him?’. I was so shocked that I replied that he was okay, and having treatment for metastized throat cancer. She replied, ‘oh it will keep springing up everywhere.’ How stupid people can be.
Thin I like the quiet carriages on the trains for exactly the reason you described. And how right your OH is. Least to say, say it loudest.
I also hate food waste. One of the things that used to entertain me in China… People always ordered far far too much – a sign, I was told, that told others they could afford it. But then at meal’s end, they’d signal to the waiter and ask for ‘da bao’ – big bag, I think it meant. And then take all the excess food home.
Actually one Chinese woman we often shared meals with always way overordered (I used to say to OH that she could feed an army), but then bundled it all up, including soup. We found out later that she took all the food to people in her apartment block, who were not well off. Such a lovely woman.
How are you going Cinque? Get the henna done, and the wonderful shiny, healthy hair that follows? Oh I wish I could use it, but I am too too grey now. I still colour my hair though – dark brown. Every 2-3 weeks, to get rid of the racoon stripe in my straight straight hair.
We are on the island – it is wonderful. First time since October last year. The girls (rosy and scarlett) are loving the beach. It’s cool, but we light the fire at night and it is very cosy in our small cottage. Lots of koalas around, and kangaroos, and whales breaching off the point.
Back Wednesday for OH to have another brain scan, and a review with the radiation oncologist, after the last scan was a bit troubling. Apart from that, he is much better, although still having immunotherapy sessions fortnightly, which will continue. Containment, rather than cure.
It is good to read about all your busy lives. Even though I don’t post much I am still here and will be back more regularly when things settle.

Hello everyone,
How is it Friday already?

Thin, I laughed at your boring man in the restaurant story, even while I was so sorry it spoilt the eating experience, but then I was horrified at Anzac’s story and beyond shocked at Lindsay’s. Just dreadful.

Luckily that 10 year drought is not locked in. But that is what happened with the big El Nino in the first decade of this century, and with climate change escalating, I do fear what it could do here. I suppose it is our turn, other countries have been bearing the heat/drought/fires damage for a while.

Thin, best wishes for a lovely time with your brother. I bet the narrow boats are full of people remembering their first hectic experience when they were young and a lot less knowledgeable.

Lovely Quordle! That happens so rarely, even with the one I play with 32 boxes.

Hello Mr Thin!

Anzac, I had hoped your trips into work were over and done with. Ah well, fingers crossed it is not long before you are back with easier, more productive days.

I hope your sore throat has gone now, and that you are having good days doing things you love doing, for work and health and pleasure.

Cheers to your whole household.

Neil, happy holidays! And how nice for the weather to clear up for them! May that good head space settle in!

Lindsay, so good to have a catch up from you! Loving thinking of you on the island and enjoying it.
Bu you must be back home now, I do hope Mr Lindsay’s brain scan was straightforward and fingers crossed all is going well.
Sending you both good wishes, and good wishes to the dogs too.

Well, my waist is staying stable and it has been several months now and I am beginning to have a lovely feeling that my body is thinking this is normal now.
I made some good ramekin meals: a mix of cauliflower cheese and fish pie with lots of greens in the white sauce. (might sound weird but it is so tasty) and Shrewsbury stew, which is a good meat and veg stew with lots of mustard.

Sending out best wishes to you all. All the lurkers too, I hope you can write soon.

Cheers

Morning all,

I’m back at work now after a decent time off. I had a good mixture, with some days of awesome weather that allowed me to get out for a few decent bike rides, some frisbee golf, and to get some gardening done. There were also a few cruddy days, which meant that I had a couple of days lazing around the house on the couch, which was also good. My weight was down a kilo from last week, but still a bit up from the week before that.

I hope everyone else is doing ok.

Have a great one everyone.

Hello everyone,

Neil, an excellent break! Hooray. I hope your bouncing weight does a bounce down this week. Sending good wishes for a great week.

Lindsay, I find myself hoping Mr Lindsay has a a swelling in his brain. One that is gradually settling down so the scan will come to show there is no cancer there at all.
A huge hooray for clarity otherwise!

Yes! My body hasn’t quite stopped fighting, but it is definitely settling (touching wood and whistling as I write).

I do hope you had a lovely time with your wardrobe and an encouraging time. Health is the real issue here but a bit of vanity can be such a delightful spur! You will look gorgeous when those shirts fit well again!

Ooh and I meant to say, I have those badger stripes too (wise old badger, not skunk! 😉 ). From next henna I will be allowing one stripe to come through white and then gradually expand it (I expect it to take months and months) until my hair is old badger perfection.

Lovely to hear your news Gday. Ha, you don’t read, but I will send good wishes and hopefully they will reach you. All good wishes for the business start up.

Best wishes everyone!

Hi everyone, quick hello

How much fun you had with your friends and brother Thin. I envy your nice weather, it is freezing here. We had a strange day last Saturday where the weather was well above average and got to 23 and walking outside felt like spring. Loved it. Very short lived though

I’m a bit lucky with my hair Cinque and Lindsay. It is half dark blonde and half grey so quite easy to cover up and not have obvious regrowth. It helps that I have a wonderful hairdresser who has been doing my hair for 23 years. Sadly she just found out she has aggressive breast cancer which is devastating as she is only 42 and has two small children. They told her they found it quite early so everything is crossed for her

I was so happy to read some positive news for Mr Lindsay. May it continue to get more and more positive

yay for holidays and nice weather Neil

Lovely to hear from you Gday and I do hope you will soon be able to get the finances settled from probate soon. It must be awful to have to worry so much about money and you had to sell your car which was also sad to read

Work continues to infuriate me and I am on the lookout for a new job. Weight is stable after some losses but I’m ok if it goes stable….small loss….stable….small loss. So long as there are no more upward swings

Take care all

Hi all
Thin your travels sound just lovely – even if the weather hasn’t been perfect. So relaxed and free.
Grey hair …mmm. My lifelong girlfriend (seriously – she was six months when her mother took her to the hospital to see my mum and me, newly born) and I both had very dark hair …hers was curly, mine dead straight. People used to compliment her curls – I silently thanked the hair god that mine wasn’t, although no one else seemed to appreciate it. Then, as she greyed, she started to get highlights, light at first then all over. As she says, her husband married a brunette but ended up with a blonde. (and pure trivia – ‘blonde’ is thought to be the only English adjective inflected for gender…the blond adonises (if that is the plural of adonis…maybe it’s adoni) don’t have the final ‘e’).
My first FD went well – I dropped 1.5 kilos (although much of it water). Then another yesterday, and I lost .1. Looking forward to tomorrow’s weigh in.
Anzac, the world of banking seems a cruel environment. Like Thin, I hope you can find that job where your significant talents and experience are given full credit.
On that note, back to the ironing.
We’ve heard from the hospital finally – but only after my son and daughter got involved. I swear the hospital thought they were dealing with a couple of old folk who’d gradually let it go. Little did they know. So, we are meeting with them on Monday morning – OH, me, DD and DS. I am anxious that I don’t let OH down.
have a good evening all.

Anyone else besides Lindsay fasting these days? It’s Sunday so I’m on it. I defrosted something last evening for my FD dinner, can’t remember what it is but chicken something. It was a feast day yesterday with our family friends from Perth. I only had one drink but that was one more than I needed.

Have a good day everyone. Stay strong, be happy.