I actually do use smoked haddock (I’d forgotten 🤔) when making Cullin Skink, but as it is very hard to purchase these days for some reason. I guess I didn’t relate it to mum’s terrible cooking. 😃😃
I normally split and bbq full sized zucchini, but these are very, very small, so I bbqed them whole in butter. As Mr P can’t eat onion or garlic, I couldn’t flavour them. I also bbqed broccoli. The flowers go slightly crispy…quite nice.

Hi Amazon
Glad you are surviving your lockdown. SA has dodged a bullet tonight with there just introduced lockdown being reversed on new information!
I’m not a fan of tofu. I’ve had too much badly presented tofu over the years.😐
I’m laid up with a leg injury, so have no idea what’s happening in the world outside, but plenty of opportunity to read books. 2 fasts under the belt this week.
We’ve had a noisy thunderstorm tonight, so the veg gardens will be happy. It always staggers me how quickly plants grow on freshly refurbed soil. Even the very hot days when they look dead, they buck up again as darkness falls…plenty of reserves below the surface. ☺

I had some lovely tofu that was light, but crispy on the outside in a Japanese restaurant a few years ago. Mr P developed a soy allergy years ago when he was a vegetarian, so has never eaten it since. Nuts are my go to when I want an alternative to eggs or cheese. P

Hmmm Happy…your post reads like an emotional roller coaster! It really is a mind blowing tactic to have 6 days free rein to spread as much COVID as possible over Christmas! From where we sit, we are SO thankful for sensible, early Government action: closing international borders and managing quarantine, testing and tracing exceptionally. They have announced, today, that we could have up to 50 at our home, outside, and 30 inside. I have no intention of having hoards here. Luckily it is my turn off at Christmas this year, so I can just sit around like a princess. 🙂 There is SOME advantage in being incapacitated.
Fasts continue, twice a week, with Mr P managing our meals. He’s a good learner and follows instructions well, now. Low carb, heavy on vegetables.
I’m sure your years of training are paying off, Happy. You don’toverindulge. P

Yes Amazon. Broken bones, so I can’t walk. Makes it hard to steal snacks. ☺😉

Sorry Purple to hear about your injury.
And Amazon sorry too that you are in pain.
I hope you both get more comfortable soon.
My knee is sometimes unbearable. I see the surgeon in 2 weeks. I guess I will have the op in the early year.
Very rainy here. But vertical rain.
Bedtime here.
Xxx

Morning/evening all,

I hope everyone is well.

The days are flying by and our “lockdown” will be over on Wednesday when shops, restaurants etc can open albeit with limitations.

My back is slowly improving which has lifted my mood and since I posted on Wednesday morning I’ve completes 2 FDs and have managed to stop the comfort eating.

My annual trip to Kew Gardens for their Christmas lights trail and dinner has been confirmed and I’m really looking forward to it in just over 2 weeks time. I’ve set myself a mini goal to work towards between now and then.

Despite all the doom and gloom Christmas lights are appearing everywhere and people seem to be wearing their masks and getting on with life as it is right now.

I am hoping the majority look at the future beyond Christmas and behave sensibly, having a quiet Christmas at home is the best way to keep everyone safe.

I put a glazed nut topping on my Christmas cake yesterday and it was all I could do not to cut myself a slice there and then! It’s now safely tucked away out of sight.
I have two more cakes to decorate but as I’m not keen on icing it won’t be so tempting.

Enjoy the remainder of the weekend everyone 🤪

Sorry to hear about all the woes and lows, both physical and mental. Please send some of your rain north, Wi. Our forecast falls today have avoided this part of the island, but I see you have been cut off from the rest of us by flooding 🙁

Our daughter and grandson have been back with us a fortnight now, settling in well and relishing the more temperate weather and relaxed environment. She’s taken over the kitchen for the weekend – no complaints here, she’s a better cook than I am – and we are planning to gather family here for Christmas lunch. Cold ham and salads, with lots of trimmings! She’s made the cake.

We continue to enjoy the lowest Covid level, with the only restrictions being at the border, and mask-wearing on public transport, and the usual encouragement to wash hands and keep a little separated. Too many people are being lax regarding using the tracer ap though, just hope it doesn’t come back to bite us all.

Morning/evening all,

I hope everyone is well.
My week has flown by and I’m pleased to report it contained a couple of FDs.

I’ve decorated my Christmas tree and it makes me smile every time I look at it.
I received an invitation from my niece to join her and her family in Kew Gardens on Boxing Day which I happily accepted and we’ve booked our tickets.
I’ve also arranged to visit her on 23rd to drop off her Christmas cake and gifts for the boys.
I’ve been busy this week catching up on lots of little things that need doing around the flat and it’s taken longer than expected, note to self, stop putting things off 😆

The weather has been cold, down to single figures every day and we’ve had a couple of frosts. It’s definitely winter :brrr:

Have a good weekend everyone 🤪🎄

Hi Purple,

So sorry your leg injury is preventing you from doing anything, I know how frustrating it is to be incapacitated.

I’m trying hard to look for positives too and it’s difficult right now although with vaccinations against Covid imminent life should be better across the world in a few months time.
Maybe Easter 2021 will become the most celebrated ever with everyone catching up on friends and family they’ve not been able to see.

The last time I did anything other than stay home on my own at Christmas was 2014 so it’s normal for me and this year is unusual because I’m going out on Boxing Day.

The sun has just come out, time to get moving 🤪

Well I’ve managed to fast twice this week. Now if only I could string together a few good weeks, maybe I could shed these couple of kilos I want to get rid of! I guess at least a less sociable Christmas will limit opportunities to overindulge, looking on the bright side…. Having said that, I did make mincemeat and mince pies yesterday and the one that was structurally compromised due to thin pastry somehow fell into my mouth… 😊😂

I haven’t put up any decorations yet, I sort of feel its too early but then again… what harm can some early Christmas cheer do!

And P, no, the sun doesn’t always come out in the northern hemisphere in winter 🤣

The sun is certainly not out here in London this morning and it was raining earlier.

Happy,

I am doing OK on the fasting front but non FDs are still a bit hit and miss.

I had mince pies yesterday, purely for quality control purposes you understand 😆
And I’m pleased to report they are just fine.

Home alone especially at Christmas isn’t good for me as there is no-one to raise an eyebrow when I help myself to another drink/mince pie/handful of nuts and I have to say I’m finding fighting myself very hard and tiring.

The good news is for the first time in over 2 months I woke up this morning with no pain or stiffness in my back. The sciatica is still here but much less frequent and more of an irritation than painful.
I’ve been taking anti-inflammatories for the past 3 weeks and have now stopped them which is also good news.
I’m working on keeping moving, not sitting for longer than 30 minutes and doing plenty of stretching.

It’s very quiet here this weekend which is very unusual for this time of year and is a good sign my neighbours are all behaving sensibly.

Have a good week everyone 🤪🎄

Fortunately mince tarts don’t tempt me. But two lunches in two days has added an unwelcome number to the scales, which were dropping nicely. I see it’s another OMAD day today!

We are getting the Aussie heat, just wish we could have some of your rain, P. We had a very dry November, and so far December has delivered just 0.2mm! It is so frustrating watching the rainclouds deliberately avoiding us on the rain radar. 🙁 So watering my precious veggie seedlings.

The Christmas tree goes up today – it’s the first time we have been home over this time of the year for years, so can put up some of the seasonal trappings. And we are hosting lunch on the Day, at least a dozen, so lovely to be here with family around.

Good to hear the back is improving, Amazon. Do you find the weight goes up with the anti-inflammatories? I track OH’s weight, and have noticed that the two time he has taken them recently coincides with a spike on the scales.

Morning/evening all,

It’s a cold and misty morning here in London.

Barata,

NSAIDS ie anti inflammatory medications are known to cause fluid retention.
I’m not one for daily weighing as the ups and downs of numbers due to bodily functions that are not related to weight loss/gain drive me crazy.

I’m trying not to take anything at the moment in order to prevent myself from doing anything that might interfere with recovery. Progress is slow but moving in the right direction.

Have a good one everybody 🤪

Hi everyone,

This week is going quite well (she says cautiously). I’m doing my second fast of the week today.
I spent the morning icing and decorating the 2 cakes I’m gifting and the smell of sugar made me feel quite nauseous!

I was out for most of the day yesterday as I went for a much needed haircut and then met my best friend for coffee which turned into a lengthy let’s have another cup session as we’ve not seen each other for 6 weeks and it was so nice to be talking to someone face to face.

I had to use public transport which was fairly busy and I used 2 buses and 4 tubes seeing only 2 people without masks which was very encouraging.

Happy,

I don’t like taking pain killers but when things were at their worst it was the only way to enable walking. I only ever take one dose per day and use a heat pack/hot water bottle at night although I no longer need either. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Pilates improved my core strength and I’ve incorporated some of the exercises into my regular workout although I still think it’s weak in comparison to my legs which are strong due to 10 years of cycling 10 miles 5 times a week and all the work at the gym.

When I was in Herefordshire and despite my acute back issue I was able to get onto the floor to demonstrate a particular exercise the physio gave me to strengthen core and hip muscles and my fit friend struggled to do it and said she was going to be adding it to her regular workout!

Bringing in my little tree and decorating it plus putting out the other decorations I’ve got have definitely brought a bit of cheer so you should get busy this weekend 🎄

I have the heating on AND lots of layers to avoid the dreaded getting cold on a FD and I’m now about to embark on a huge pile of ironing 🤪

Hi everyone.

I weigh myself but not every day.
My FD went OK yesterday and I’m going fast again today.

I had my hair cut in September and was about to book an appointment when we went back into lockdown and my fringe was in my eyes so it was great to get it cut as it looks and feels good not that anyone else sees it 😆

As for seeing my best friend, it has lifted my mood and I’ve no doubt we both benefitted.

Have a good weekend everyone 🤪

As Joni Mitchell once sang “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”

We don’t always realise how much our friends mean to us and what spending time with them does for us. If there’s one thing this pandemic has taught me it’s seize the moment, stop sitting on the sofa thinking about doing things and seeing people, don’t pass up opportunities; get up and go!

Wise words! Life has definitely been in limbo/ on hold this year, but I guess as I’ve probably got fewer active years ahead of me than behind me I need to start living again as soon as possible! Now, if only I didn’t have to work for a living 😂

I managed a second fast of the week yesterday, but it’s still just a holding pattern rather than a downward trend at the moment.

The weather is awful, AGAIN. Dark and wet, uninspiring and gloomy. And writing Christmas cards is NOT filling me with Christmas cheer this morning 🤣

It’s almost 2pm and I’ve given up hope it’ll get properly light today, a dull and wet Sunday.

My third FD on Friday went South way before lunchtime and my holding pattern is clinging on by it’s fingertips.
After trying on some clothes this morning I’ve realised things aren’t as bad as I thought and I might have been a little hard on myself and that has given me some encouragement to keep trying to lose a couple of pounds before Christmas which I know would be no more than damage limitation but still worth the effort.

Looking on the bright side I’m healthy and no-one near or dear to me has been affected either directly or indirectly by Covid.

At least the weather forecast for tomorrow (Christmas at Kew) looks better which is good news as we got rather wet last year due to a heavy shower just before we went into the restaurant for dinner.

Keep safe everyone 🤪

I had to have a procedure today which enforced 2 days fasting on me. I found it incredibly easy to do. No accounting for when it is easy or difficult, is there?

I’m so pleased you were able to enjoy your Kew visit again this year. It is such a lovely tradition. I particularly like the sound of the pumpkin and Stilton soup!
We did our tradition of taking grandkids to see the local Xmas lights on houses. There are a couple of street that have every house ablaze with lighting design. We all enjoy it every year.
Still nothing else planned for Xmas. 2020 can’t finish soon enough. P

Great idea, Happy! A trifle flawed, but inspiring! P

I just need to get back to the habits I know worked previously for me. Regular fasting. Lower carbs. Limited/ no added sugar. 16:8. Better calorie management generally, so not 3 meals a day and skipping lunch if I’m going to be overindulging in the evening. And view food not as comfort but as fuel.

Well, I’ve had to quickly pull the plug on our family Xmas get together for this weekend, after I’d bought the food, as there is a cluster developing in Sydney, not mear us, but not worth the risk. We live in tumultuous times! Party food, anyone?

Oh yum! Pasta linguine! I rarely have either, but could happily, right now, at 4;20am! 😉😉