Greetings, ladies, from not-so-sunny Paihia. We are expecting a severe southerly blast overnight and tomorrow, with snow down to low levels in the usual places, so probably no beach walk then. We are getting out daily, Amazon. Although yesterday there was a cruise ship in the Bay, and we could hardly walk for the tourists! I have made a list of the ship lines’ itineraries and these will be good dates to get out of town / discourage visitors 🙂 Your trip sounds so exciting, we will want a full report when you return. And looking forward to a great rugby match next weekend.

Interesting you mention the covert eating, Wi. Looking at my dietary habits now, the sneaking eating in the evening is a thing of the past!! And with the move, semi-retirement and reduction in stress, my sleeping is improving, and I have the opportunity to plan my meals. Being barbeque season helps, just meat and salad in the evenings, a couple of eggs or my home-made muesli for brunch.

Barata,

I’m very pleased to hear the move has had a positive impact on your sleeping issues.
As for meal planning I’m sure you know the saying fail to plan is a plan to fail.

Purple,

You should release a book,

the easy to follow Tropics Liquid Diet 😉

Enjoy 😆

Have a good one everybody 😜

Afternoon all,

A dull, chilly day here in London. Winter is on the way.

Three FDs completed so far this week and the trousers are feeling looser than a few weeks ago, so I’m pleased to be slowly making progress. Two more weeks until my holiday and I’m determined to keep working at it until I step off the plane at my destination and then I’ll relax a little until it’s time to come home.

I’ve been enjoying the wide variety of vegetables and fruit produced in the UK that is available at this time of year, and I’m trying to make the most of them. Swede, parsnip, squash, cabbage of many kinds, cauliflower, mushrooms, apples, pears.
I’m going to try roasted cauliflower rice at the weekend to go with teriyaki salmon which I would usually have with steamed rice, but I don’t have any rice and there is half a cauliflower sitting in the fridge needing to be used.

I bought some quinces today and I intend to slice and freeze some and use the remainder to go with a pork chop, although I have found a recipe for pickled quince which looks rather good…..

Have a good weekend everyone 😜

Amazon,

It’s great to hear that your efforts are paying off. I have only had one good fast day this week, which wouldn’t normally be sufficient to see a shift on the scales. However, OH has been away and I’ve been feeding myself healthy vegetarian and I am finishing the week lighter than when I started… Hoorah.

I’m just lying in bed, having woken up at my usual time of 6.30. No point getting up though as it isn’t light til maybe 7.30. And depressingly, next week it will be dark by 5ish. This autumn has been dull and damp, and now it’s winter. Where has the year gone?!

Mind you, I won’t be sorry to see the back of this year. It’s been hard personally and professionally. Fingers crossed 2020 will be better, even though Brexit will still be rumbling on….!

Nothing planned for the weekend I’m afraid, except watching the rugby (obviously!), pickling jalapenos, and getting some fresh air and exercise.

Well I’m always torn at times like these! The old rivalry and all that…but on balance I’m rooting for the underdog today!

Yesssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!

I can hardly believe what I’ve just witnessed but I’m very pleased.

Sorry to hear you are still struggling, Happy. We have been suffering a consistent 28-29 every day. Drove to the only pub to watch the All Blacks V that Aussie coached England team. I feel for the Kiwis..it was a very disappointing game. We were surrounded by backpackers from all over the world but grouped together with 2 Kiwis and another Aussie. 😏

A quick singout to you all. I hope your silence means fasting and diet control is going well.
I’m maintaining on 16:8 now, and finding it easy after 6.5 years of 5:2.
Enjoy the build up to Christmas /New Year and don’t undermine your earlier efforts. 😏😊😊😉 P

It WILL be, Happy x

Happy,

You’re absolutely correct. I didn’t start this thread but I’ve done my best to keep it going. The fact is it’s no fun talking to oneself, I can do that without the aid of the internet.

Sorry to hear you are so stressed and busy. Maybe you should make an effort to send out cards, apologise to the usual gift recipients who I’m sure know you well enough to understand your current situation, and make a plan to ensure you get a couple of days where you concentrate on looking after yourself.
As for the domestic situation, tell yourself it’s the last time you’ll share Christmas and make the most of it.

I love Christmas but most of my friends don’t so I usually spend the day at home alone which isn’t ideal but I always make an effort to have a good meal and enjoy my day. It’s not always about who you’re with.

Barata,

Good to read your new house news, next year will be very exciting for you.

Purple,

Hoping you get some rain soon.
Glad to hear your new regime is working.
I came home from wonderful, fabulous Nepal with a very small weight gain of 2lbs which considering how much was eaten and drunk is a testament to how active the trip was and how tough the walks. I also brought home the group cold which has made me ravenous the whole time and although much improved is still hanging on after almost 2 weeks.
Fasting recommences on Monday

Nice to catch up with you all and a shout out to Wiwi 😁

Amazon,

I’ve spent Christmas Day by myself in the past. OH was stuck abroad. Lots of people felt sorry for me and invited me round, but I opted for a sofa day, eating what I wanted and watching what I wanted. Very relaxing and not at all stressful!

Given that I’m not at all religious I should perhaps cancel it every year anyway 😂

All ok for access, Barata.
Just off to bed. Will communicate tomorrow.
XxWiwi

Where would you end up if you just kept sailing ? 😏😏😏

Make sure you master going about!!!

Ha ha, we don’t need to send out search and rescue just yet then Barata!

Wet and windy again here today, but nothing compared to the extreme weather you are experiencing in Australia and New Zealand at the moment.

It does mean it will be a mostly indoor day today though. So, decorations and cards. Some online xmas shopping. Some batch cooking for the freezer.

I made some mincemeat yesterday. I don’t eat a lot of mince pies at this time of year, but I do like…ahem..one or two. Having failed to find ready made mincemeat or mince pies without palm oil (and who in their right mind would be happy that orangutans are slaughtered or starve to death in the interests of mince pies 😥), I realised I was just being lazy – dried fruit, spices, apple, lemon, sugar and alcohol – hey presto, mincemeat!

Indeed, P. Unfortunately most people are more interested in cheap food than ethically produced and environmentally sustainable food. I aim for high welfare standards and fair trade, but it’s not always possible. Else I’d be living in a cave, wearing clothes woven from my own hair, eating turnips and swedes…!

We have to do the best we can and accept that ocasionally compromise is unavoidable. For example, losing orangutans is terrible but how does it compare to children starving to death because their parents can’t find work. In other words an incredibly difficult choice.

I’ve been out for Sunday lunch in my local pub. I’ve had dinner there on several occasion but never lunch.
The verdict is, why have I not done so before?😁👍

Happy,

Every mince pie I eat is compared to that made with my homemade mincemeat which wins every time.
I have to say it is neither difficult nor time consuming to make mincemeat, as the most arduous task is finding and buying the ingredients.
I already have a sizeable number of raw mince pies stashed in the freezer.

Mmm…pigs in blankets. Called kilted pigs in Scotland. 😊

No! It’s true! We ate them as part of our Christmas Eve dinner when we spent winter over there.
I must make some for us. 😊😊

I have everything wrapped and the meat ordered. I planted new greens which will be ready for Christmas salads. I have yet to make a fancy, inventive gingerbread cheesecake for the pudding. Lots of last minute work raking and collecting the leaves that inevitably fall at this time of year.
Unlike you, Happy, our walks have been limited due to heavy bushfire smoke. We managed a nice long one this afternoon, as well as a swim, followed by a bbq of pork snags and a range of veg. So nice to be able to get outside after so many days/weeks of smoke. Sadly fires have roared up again this afternoon in the Blue Mountains, with more houses lost and very hot weather later in the week. We desperately need rain. P

We had friends, years ago, who bought a piglet to fatten for Christmas. She lived an incredibly long, happy life, growing into the largest pig I’ve ever seen. She loved to “natter” to visitors, lean on people, and generally act like a puppy. Most of their fences ended up flattened, as she really did love to lean on them, then quietly totter off to visit someone!
You might have to eat tofu, Happy. 😏

Sorry about talking about food on a Monday, Wi…I don’t do 5:2 any more, just 16:8, so Monday and Thursday are just another day 😉
Crazy weather on both sides of the ditch. At least I’m building up arm muscles…bucket watering only, in the early morning and evening. 🙄 We REALLY need your rain!
P

Amazon,

Noooo! One of the guilty pleasures of December is drooling over luscious Christmas fare on telly! I’m sure that can’t be derailing fasting for you! Great news that you’re maintaining anyway.

I was down in the Twickenham area a few weeks ago (while you were away). Sadly by the time my meetings were over it was dark, and then I had to leave quite early the next day. Its probably the closest to Kew I’ve ever been…so near and yet so far! Enjoy your evening.

Over 40 predicted here this week B!
There’s never anything on tv at this time of year, except constant reruns of BBC shows! With daylight savings, and pressure to madly socialise, we have very little inside time at night here anyway.
My Christmas treat was attending the Sydney Childrens’ Choir concert in the city last night. Their voices were definitely those of angels. Very uplifting. P

Morning/evening all,

Happy,

If you ever get back to London and have the time to go to Kew, I’d be delighted to be your guide.

Christmas at Kew was fabulous. This year they chose a different route for the trail and it was very different. The treetop walkway which is 18 metres high had a cascade of lights that went right down to the ground which flashed with patterns and changing colours along with more lights on the ground. It was very impressive. There were also lots of other fabulous new features including a laser light show at the Temperate house and many other smaller features along the route.
They always make a feature of some of the magnificent mature deciduous trees by using ground based beams of light of varying colours so the trunks and bare branches are lit up. Some have constant light of one or two colours and some change. They also lit up an avenue of small trees with pink flower shaped lights to look like cherry blossom which was stunning.
There was a play area for children which included the usual old fashioned merry-go-round and a helter skelter plus some swings and space for them to run around.

There were kiosks at various points on the route selling drinks,mince pies, snacks and some selling more substantial items such as pies, pizzas etc.
We steered clear of the food as we were booked for dinner, andI have to say I’m surprised I feel so well this morning after drinking rather too much of the mulled wine with rum 😆

The Christmas dinner was excellent. We were given more mulled wine (without rum) followed by a tiny glass of hot pumpkin soup sprinkled with blue cheese to start. We both opted for a turkey dinner and Christmas pud both of which were every bit as good as last year.
We were served by two delightful, friendly and helpful waiters which made the experience even better.

The only problem we had is we took so long gossiping over dinner the shop was closed by the time we came out so I need to make another visit to buy my calendar.

The weather has been rather wet here and we were very fortunate as it stayed dry until we were going into the restaurant.

I’m still feeling full from dinner and am hopeful I can get through a FD. Dinner today will be Shakshouka, as I made a big batch of the stew a couple of weeks ago and froze some. All it needs is an egg.

Have a good one everybody 😜🎄