Hello all,

Is it OK if I join this thread? I started the 8 week Fast on 14 November.

I should warn you that any picture upload option would result in a flood of booties. 😉

Wore my Calvin Klein croc stiletto boots for Thanksgiving and my white silk blouse with black velvet piping and a print of surprisingly subtle tiny little pugs all over it. Burgundy rose jaquard suit with slim ankle pants and a matching single-button blazer. I think my mother was fighting back tears. It was wonderful. Best of all, I didn’t pop a single button! I ate piles, but only the good stuff (best turkey my father has ever made, and he’s a master of the turkey roasting arts) and the food I brought. Not a thing from the “I don’t eat that” list. Nobody gave me any guff at all. The hotness of the pug shirt, floral suit and Calvin Klein booties cannot be denied. 😀

I’ve only had minimal success at losing weight, this month, but I have found a simple system that is easy for me to stick to, and with the addition of a bit of calorie counting even gives me weight loss, and that was my main aim. As a bonus, I have lost the 2lbs that I was hoping I would, and possibly more, by tomorrow, as I usually weigh less in the morning than bedtime, and I am 11,4 right now. 🙂

Many thanks, Verano, for ‘hosting’ this thread. 🙂

Hi, all. I’m just coming to the end of the 8-Week BSD. I thought it would be really difficult to only have 800calories, but it really wasn’t. The recipes are all set out in the book and are so tasty. I don’t want to go back to “normal”eating, so am looking to do the 5:2 diet, starting on Monday. It helped me lose a couple of pounds a week when I did it before, so am hoping to maintain my new weight when I do it again. Good luck everyone. These forums are so great and supportive. Go for it!

AnneF, As I was wondering what to do next whilst on maintenance dieting, I came across this other forum, called “ After reaching your target, what next? “. It may be very helpful at times, like this forum has been. A photo section may be good, to show the before and after photos…

Oh yes, MnM, a photo section would be wonderful for all of us that have lost extreme
amounts of weight, and are having fun with clothes for the first time in many years.
I know that we sound delirious at times, but we are still trying to absorb the reality
of this new state of affairs. Sometimes a good skin pinch is needed, and photographic
validation couldn’t hurt! I’m celebrating all your anniversaries with you. Bravo 🙂

Allie

Oh Mixnmatch you know it! A really lovely meal…

Allie, sorry you haven’t slept very well…perhaps it was just feeling full? Hope you get a better night tonight. I won’t let on your secret about being sentimental…I am the same, but you wouldn’t know it would you?

It may not be too late to arrange a dinner out somewhere. I can’t help you re the carols, but maybe it would be better if you shed a tear and said…I remember how mum used to loved this one? I really believe in remembering actively and purposely. My mum was a harridan but I loved her and miss her heaps.

I have spent the day with two very snotty coughing kids. They really are not well at all. I have them all day tomorrow so boxes of tissues will be used.

Have a most wonderful weekend. I have no idea when I will be able to post. Love to all.

Mary
xxxx

MnM, thanks to new friends here telling me what bubble and squeak is, I can imagine
a perfect brunch in what’s one of your favorites. It sounds delicious, and BSD friendly,
too! Yum 🙂

Ooh, boxing day bubble and squeak with cold turkey and gammon ham and pickles. Quite possibly my favourite meal of the holidays.

I realised today that it has been exactly a year since I first hit the weight I am today! Although this is higher than my target it is not by very much so I think November 24th is now my official Maintenanceversary 😀😀😀😀😀 I can still hardly believe it! Targetversary is still February 1st and BSDversary was in May sometime, I will have to check on the date, but I now have several reasons to celebrate.

I am sure I will find an occasion to wear my new slinky suit, but it will probably have to wait for next summer as it is very thin material and a lot of skin on show. I wish I could show you all some of my new clothes, we really need a pictures section!

Itis you who are truly the inspiration 2BD – it’s a long ol’ journey for you and that you have taken up the challenge is amazing! 24lb is such an achievement.

I do find hotels tricky, but breakfast of eggs, bacon, tomatoes or mushrooms is good (only a few of each) I tend to avoid the yoghurt is often low fat. Lunch is often out of your control if someone else is providing it. I do find if going out for dinner easier if I go to a chain based place – many of them have a calorie- marked menu, I try to go for 600 dinners and I think that that is good enough !

Sounds like a great lunch AngS, I often go for salad or soup when I am out for lunch.

Just to say hi so I can get notifications!

Hi Mixnmatch, Thanks for starting this forum thread. I will have to tell AnneF about it. She started the BSD 8weeks ago and I joined her. We’ve both been hoping to reverse our diabetes and are coming to the end of our week 8 on Sunday. The support on her forum has really helped us both and we’ve both been able to reach our targets, but are worried about putting all the weight back on, even though we love the BSD recipes, so to find this one now we are going on maintenance, is a real bonus.

Many thanks, 2BD. Yes, to have medical confirmation that we’ve both reversed our Diabetes, will be marvellous. 24 pounds is excellent. Keep it up. Hope you can get to your target before too long. Avoiding the potato / rice /pasta types of carbs at all times, seems to work, so if you can continue to eat well but without carbs, you should continue to lose weight.

We had a surprise offer of lunch out today. I ordered a cheese omelette with salad. Goodness knows how many eggs were in it. It seemed huge! Lol. No chips with it, thank goodness. But, as I’m still not hungry, I shall probably just have yogurt and blueberries later.

My oldest son and his partner tried the BSD from Monday-Thursday night and both lost 5 pounds! Result!

Thanks, Esnecca – I need you to keep reminding me of the meaninglessness of that waist
measurement! I hope you had a joyful holiday. Did you see any relatives that you haven’t
seen in a great while? You must have blown their minds 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hi s-g I’ve only just seen your post. I don’t think I’m getting posts at the moment must re-tick the box. I wouldn’t worry too much about an extra kilo or so. I was up just over a kilo at my last check but my BS was still lower than the previous test. We know really that 2 or 3 or even 4lbs come and go depending on how much water etc we’ve had so no great problem. As long as your BG is ok don’t fret.

Don’t even ask if I’ve dropped under! Since starting this thread I just seem to be gaining!!! Now we are away I really have to watch what I’m doing. OH is ‘starving’ constantly eating this way but I have to give him credit …. no bread, potatoes or rice for a week or so. He will probably have lost a shed load when he gets weighed on Monday …. wish I could say the same !

It will all be ok if we just carry on doing what we know works!

Hi AnneF and AngS!

Congratulations to both of you on meeting targets and in turning diabetes around! That really is an extraordinary and life changing achievement. I do hope to hear about your maintenance experiences. Meanwhile, I continue to go on and off a bit but managed to reach 24 pounds loss at the end of my 7th week. I now have to face a meal out at friends, a meal out for an anniversary and two nights away in a hotel. Tricky times! I should be able to manage breakfasts and lunches and will just have to do my best with the evening meals. That should keep things fairly level and back to ‘severe’ running up to Thursday and my week 8 weigh day. Then it’s start again without a break until Christmas.
Once again, congratulations on your inspirational achievements! Hope the tests confirm the end to the drugs.
Every Best Wish
2BD

Says the pot calling the kettle black 😉😃😄

Thank you, I’m sure we’ll have a lovely evening. Xx

Isn’t it remarkable?! I haven’t had so much as a head cold either. This WOL has to be doing
wonders for our immune systems, I think! Enjoy your night at the theater. I think a glass
and a few nibbles may be necessary. You need to stabilize, my friend!

Hey, Allie, that bottle of Chateau Margaux may just be all the temptation I need to spread my angel’s wings 👼🏼 and fly over the pond! The little devil’s horns can be brought out upon arrival, as I suspect they may not let me through customs with them exposed!😜 Though “path to dissipation and intemperance” may be calling it a bit strong – I’m an old lady remember👵🏼 Plus, I suspect that you are incapable of being lead down any path you don’t want to go!😜😘😍

Thank you for your concern, but I am feeling pretty much back to normal today, just a wee bit washed out. It’s the very first bug of any kind whatsoever that I’ve contracted since starting BSD

(PS – ahem, I think you’ll find it was you who brought up the subject of yellow snow, I simply expanded upon it!!!🙅🏼)

Theo, are you trying to make me ruin my pc by spraying coffee on it? Yellow snow, indeed!!!
O/h emerged from the study to find out what I thought was so funny. He thought he was
missing out on something, since I was cackling like a bat shit crazy old hen!
No BSD disasters yesterday, though we did share a bottle of California pinot noir, not
too many tannins or oakey elements. Can never compare to Chateau Margaux, though.
I’m saving that to share with you! I’m sorry you’ve been feeling a little under the weather.
I do raise an eyebrow when I don’t see you out and about, ever at the ready to lead me
down the path to dissipation and intemperance. Who cares if different continents are
involved? We can always find a way! I know that you are an angel, but under your white
robe you have a red devil suit, a fold-up pitchfork in your handbag, and maybe the tiniest
of little horns hidden in your hair. Come and find your partner in crime, anytime 🙂 🙂 🙂

Love,

Allie

So sorry, luvtcook. I can’t seem to organize my thoughts today! The result of sleep
deprivation, I think. You may already know this, but women under 50 are suppose to get
25 gr of fiber daily, women over 50, it drops to 21. If you google “foods highest in fiber”
you will find many lists. Some of the stuff may surprise you. Avocado and raspberries
are quite high, for example. Just eliminate those items that aren’t BSD friendly. Hope
this helps 🙂

Allie

I am still 1lb from the next stone and 1.5 to be under but more confident that I will get there by my weigh in on Tuesday of next week. Seeing doctor in 2.5 weeks and need to be down lower than at last appointment or he is going to say this isn’t working (although it is for my BG). So need to be 100g down and then a little more so I dont feel too pressurised as I know I am nearly there.

Where are you on the scales, anyone dropped under.

Happy Black Friday everyone, whatever that means, and yes it has caught on in France too. Even had an email from my bank offering a loan with a special Black Friday (and not vendredi noir) interest rate. 1.69%. Not bad if I needed something big.

I did a little deal with a certain jungle sounding online retailer (not naming or advertising) where I clicked the button for Prime free delivery, free music downloads and so on. When I realised what I had done I went onto the site and cancelled my subscription but received an email saying ‘your trial period will end on 22nd December and you will not be charged after that date as you have cancelled’. Result, free UK postage on all my chrissie pressies so I am ordering for immediate delivery instead of putting in shopping basket and waiting in case I can think of something else to save on delivery charges. I guess they win too as I am more likely to shop with them for the next month.

Weight is down by 1lb so I guess my gently does it is working. Allowed myself one glass of white wine before bed as a nightcap. I know when I lose lots quickly I tend to slip into ‘oh so I can afford to cheat a little (or a lot)’ but this way I get a small treat without derailing my weight loss. As you can guess from my tone I have gotten over my hissy fit and feeling sorry for myself. Live goes on.

KazzUK, the soap works for any form of cramp, even if it is arms or legs or stomach or period pain. Also good for things like arthritis pain or other muscular conditions. The theory is that it neutralises the electricity build up under bed covers so stops any static which can be the cause of cramps. Mine are caused by taking statins so it doesn’t have to be a medical condition, just cramp and pain. If it works, it works – I swear by it now.

Well done Busybee, oh if I could lose 3 stone I would be at my goal of 8st 10lbs from my starting weight of 12.10, only 2 and a bit to go.
Have a good weekend everyone.

MnM, crikey, what a bargain! But surely the new slender you doesn’t need courage to wear it?? Get out there girl, and show it off – your figure and the jumpsuit!😘

Pleased your black tie event went well, and that the dress was a hit. Pity about the hangover though!

I think I spoke too soon about having this maintenance thing cracked as I have lost a couple more pounds this week🤔 I have had a bug though, so that could be the explanation (although I have eaten) In fact spent most of the last couple of days in bed, (so absolutely no exercise) and I simply cannot remember the last time that happened!! Feeling much more human today though, so maybe the weight will creep back on? Going to the theatre this evening, and I daresay there will be drinks and nibbles during the interval😛 Then a big luncheon party on Sunday. More wine, no doubt!🤗

Allie, I will never, ever look at a snowball in the same way, ever again! 😆 No matter what it’s size😝 But of course, having had dogs all my life, I was always warned to avoid yellow snow!😉😜🤗

Hope Thanksgiving went well, with no BSD disasters?

Oh yes, luvtcook: What about chia seeds? I have 1 tb ea. day.

Luvtcook, I think what is happening on the scale is probably just temporary. Our genteel
English friends call this “transit issues”! This woe generates a lot less waste. How do
you feel? Throughout my weight loss period I rarely used the bathroom more than 3 x wk.
When I was “successful” the number on the scale dropped by 1-1 1/2 lbs. Make sure you
keep your water intake high. I don’t know if kefir is playing a role here, but you might
consider substituting kimchi/sauerkraut from one of the ethnic markets in your area for
a fermented product in place of your kefir to see if it makes a difference? I’m sure others
will be along with some ideas, or you could enter “constipation” in the search box. I
know that this subject has been covered in the past. I hope you feel better soon.

Allie

BusyBee…congrats to you. So wonderful you are still so enthusiastic to keep going on your journey.

Jackie: you need a party to celebrate the return of cheekbones. Welcome home cheekbones.

No weight loss for me, in fact gains for the last 3 days….I chock it up to inactive GI. This is a new problem for me, usually clockwork regular. Can only think that it is the kefir. It may be making my GI healthier but it sure is making it less motile. Hoping doses of psyllium help. Has anybody else had issues with kefir? Do not want to give it up….thinking maybe changing it to end of day instead of my first food of the day.

Rather disappointing to end a 4 day fast with all the weight coming back on per the scales. I fully expect that this is temporary and the weight loss will reappear once the GI issues are shorted, but disheartening none the less.

Well done to everyone else moving forward.

Yay, Jackie, Cheekbones! I don’t think I ever lost mine, but the new hollows under them
are somewhat disconcerting….I don’t think the last 13lb loss has been that beneficial
to my face, if I’m being honest. Makes me look a little like I have an overbite:) Oh well,
so be it. Soon you’ll be rediscovering ribs and pelvic bones, too. Congratulations!

Allie

No sleep for the weary, my friends, so I’m officially ready to salute the morning, coffee mug
in hand! I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday festivities yesterday. I set up a makeshift table
in front of the fireplace, just for a change of scene. The marauding felines were a little
disappointed because there was no room for their customary seat on the table.
Kazz, thanks for the boxing day link. It was very interesting! I even looked up “christmas
pudding” there, and it certainly is what I remember. Ours wasn’t spherical in shape though,
more on the order of a tower or castle. Just for fun, I found a traditional english recipe
in Saveur for mincement, too. Definitely beef suet in it! Just 2 tbs. of brandy, so I think
Nanny was a little heavy with her “pour”.
“You know who” is welded to the seat of the computer chair already, so I’ll try to pick
up my email later today. Talk to you then.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Allie
xoxoxo

Way to go, BusyBee!!! Sure you are floating on air right now – you deserve to revel in your achievement and savour this hard won victory. Hope you have a fabulous day!

Well done on discovering cheekbones, JackieM. They will help you revamp your look for sure!

No weight loss to report for me, had dipped down, but now bounced back to where I was on Tuesday – boo hiss! Anyway, still under target, so no right to whinge. Am having a stringent day today and hope that I can start to increase the wriggle room a little over the next few days.

Have a good w/e everyone, whatever you’re doing.

Well done all – you are going great guns. Don’t worry if you haven’t been text book, it took me a week to “bed in” to this way – it’s a lifestyle change. Imagine how good you will feel by Xmas!

🙂

That’s awesome BusyBee – big claps on the back! 🙂

Sunshine – re the soap – would it work for toe and foot cramps? When my feet are cold in these temps and before they warm up, I only have to brush my foot against the duvet and it brings it on, same when putting socks on! Drives me crazy. I sleep in bedsocks and take a hot water bottle to bed when I remember.

cheers
Kxx

Busy Bee, congratulations that’s a great achievement.

I lost 100g yesterday, all off my face. I have cheek bones now. Not sure whether I just look gaunt, but hey ho. Evenings a bit of a problem – grazing on low carb but never quite feeling ‘finished’. I used to have a hot milky drink as my cut off but I don’t drink milk anymore, and a glug of cream doesn’t seem to cut it.

Still, I am in maintenance now, so as long as the numbers don’t go up I am happy.

Off for a steak and salad with some little seen friends in a bit. Happy Friday all xx

Busybee, that’s 50% of your goal achieved, and that’s marvelous! Congratulations!

Allie

Hello everyone and well done on your week 1 willpower. Sadly, my week so far has been a bit of a flop. I caught a cold and went slightly off plan with comforting foods – nothing terrible but yesterday I went a bit toast mad and then decided I might as well have a medicinal tipple or two. Hey-ho. It’s no disaster, so I’ll try again for the last third of week 1 and hope week 2 shows results. Well done again everyone : )

Congratulations busybee on your three stone weight loss! I took a photograph of the scales showing 133 lb when I achieved my three stone weight loss. I couldn’t believe I’d done it. Savour your achievement today. Well done!

Black Friday? Not for me – I just had to write down that I have, at last, lost three stone! I limped past the post with another 1lb loss this morning, and jumped on and off the scales three times to check the numbers.
Now for the next three! X B

Hi, everyone. It’s 3:00am here and I haven’t gotten to sleep yet, but wanted to send a
quick thank you note to whoever it was that suggested I wait until Black Friday to place
my clothing order. I hadn’t even thought of it ( you can tell how often I buy clothes).
I’ve just saved 30% on the entire order. Thank you so much! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Back after I can get some sleep, or all you will hear from me today is gibberish.

Yey indeed AngS. So many Congratulations on reaching your target weight. I would agree that you definitely deserve that glass of wine. From what you have been posting it sounds like you have been pretty rigorous with sticking to the diet – I bet you can’t wait for your next appt at the doctors to confirm that your diabetes is truly reversed.

And wishing all of our Translantic cousins Happy Thanksgiving for yestreday. I hope that dealing with the ‘leftovers’ is not too much of.a challenge. I always feel that one day of indulgence will do no harm (and is good for morale!). But then it’s the yummy stuff that hangs around looking tempting everytime I pass the kitchen or check the fridge that is an issue – for instance in my house the kids’ abandoned Easer Eggs never survived long once their backs were turned for a moment !!

Mary, despite the tinge of sadness in your Xmas tradition, I also found it very beautiful and comforting. Thank you for sharing it. It is very amusing that your names are Mary and Joseph! My fingers are crossed that the scales are kind to you this week, you so deserve it. Well, after my lunch yesterday, I am also fasting hopefully until Saturday brunch, so I am joining you there. I will be lucky to stay the same for this November challenge which wasn’t the plan at all!

Allie – Boxing day is the day after Xmas day. A bank holiday. Traditionally you have friends and family round and enjoy the leftovers in any way you can! There is also a tradition of fox hunting which is very controversial as you can imagine. Here’s a link I found… https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/boxingday.shtml

See you later!

Kazzeee xx

No pumpkin pie Allie, unfortunately which is just as well as I would have had to try a slice!

Kazzz xx

I have had a few days to take stock and read more of the fabulous posts here and I think I have been pretty lucky. The Doc tells me my original blood sugar reading was 17. 😮 My first tests showed 9-10 consistently for the first week and a half. I dropped the metaformin after day four on it.

Four and a bit weeks in I am recording fasting blood sugar levels of between 4.2 and 4.4 relatively consistently.

It has all been a bit of a blur but man alive I am pleased I found this site. The weight loss has definitely energised me and I really want to get that additional 10 Kg off.

More travel next week, but it is to the UK and with BA so at least I won’t be tempted by the food on board. :-p

I do wonder though if one can ever be free of type 2 diabetes, I get confused with the information overload of late. I really hope it is possible to reverse my insulin resistance.

Works for me, Iv’e lost 20kg since February. Average portion size weighs about 50g (one ice cream scoop size) once daily for evening meal. Polenta : 1 litre of boiling stock or water with 100g coarse, 100g medium and 50g fine. Boil the water pour into a large jug using an electric mixer beat in the cornmeal in a steady stream till thick. Bake if liked.
Nutritional information.
Cornmeal, cooked per 100g
Carbohydrate – 13 g
GI – 68 (medium)
GL – 9 (low)

Thanks for your replies and support. I am going to introduce some frozen berries as an after dinner snack and also try the imagery if I crave chocolate etc. I am considering reverting to 5.2 from the start of December but may just continue on the BSD until the new year and then change.
My hbac 1 has improved from nearly 8.0 to 6.1 and I am no longer taking am/pm insulin so this is definitely working for me. I am confident of getting through this craving period and continuing on my way to my goal of 72 kg’s and controlled diabetes management.

Thanks again to you all. Your support and advice is invaluable

Regards

Cameron

Hi, just for info, I tried the imagining technique twice today – once when my oh was eating a scone with black currant jam and clotted cream and again when I met my friend in Costa’s and there was a range of cakes and biccies – and I can honestly say it really does work – after imagining eating these temptations, I was able to resist completely without even a pang!
SSB

Thank you, Mary! I’m very sentimental, but only my 2 closest friends know this, so don’t
tell anyone 🙂 It makes me feel wonderful to know how you will be spending your day.
How fortunate for you that you don’t have sons-in-law pulling your daughters in different
directions on Christmas day. Now we will just keep our fingers crossed that the little
ones don’t have any illness over the holiday! I’ve heard about “boxing day”, but I don’t
really know how it is celebrated?
I’m used to spending Christmas eve with cruel sister, husband and son, but that won’t be
happening this year. We usually have a “sleep over”. When my Mother was alive she was
of course with us. This will be only the second Christmas without her, so I hope we can
create new traditions this year. She died on Dec. 8, 2015, so last year we more or less
tried to skip the frivolity of the season. We played christmas carols for her on the last
day of her life, so I don’t know how they will affect me this year. Most of our friends have
children coming in from all parts of the country or they go to them, so no real opportunity
to include them in the holiday. Normal sister will be having her son home first time in
6 months where he has been teaching in Russia, so that will definitely be a “closed affair”,
if you know what I mean. It’s probably too late to try to plan a holiday at an Inn in the
mountains. I should have been on top of it before now, I guess. I will be enjoying the
joy you are having, wherever you happen to be in the world! 🙂 How close in age are
your daughters? I sure would like to see a family portrait of you all!!!!
Final leg of our holiday dinner to prep, so I’m off to do it 🙂 🙂 🙂

Looking forward to seeing you all in the morning……….

Allie

Our Christmases before children, were spent on our own. Watching re-runs of Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films and anything we felt like watching. My mother was quite annoyed that I didn’t invite her, but I was determined to keep it just us. When we had the kids, we invited mom to come to us. Her favourite saying was “Christmas is for kids” so we thought it fitting. She had 4 other grandchildren, but was never invited to their houses (I wonder why). When she was at my house it meant that my brothers didn’t feel that they had to do anything with her, so they didn’t visit either. So it was just us. One Christmas she stayed until 4th January! She did nothing but moan from getting up to going to bed. However, she couldn’t dampen our spirit. We played with the girls and opened a present every hour throughout the day until they were gone. We also watched “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Every year!

A few years later, Mom decided she didn’t want to come to us. The reason was that my brothers Mother in Law spent Christmas in my moms house and indeed her bed (my brother and his wife lived with her). She had also been given better presents than mom, so she didn’t want to come to us any more! That meant that our Christmases were lovely. The girls got up late and we opened a few pressies, then visited Mom…until I saw my churchy brother arrive then we would leave (really annoyed my mom, but I don’t care).

When the girls were teenagers they had their own TV upstairs. One Christmas Eve they watched “While you were Sleeping” and this became a tradition. Every Christmas Eve until they got married we would watch that film! Since getting married…they insist on coming here as Christmas is about giving and family. The come around 1/2 oclock and we open presents slowly throughout the day. We eat at around 4, then everyone clears up and I sit down (they do offer to help, but I prefer to do it my way). Later they will go home and Jovis and I will go over the day together. The funny thing is…even though they are in their thirties, Santa still brings them a sack…and little Joe and his sister too! I am sure this year Noodle will get a sack as well. I am not bothered about receiving presents, but I love to give them.

Jovis enjoys having our family here. His mother tried to make Christmas special but she was super religious and poor so presents were not the main focus and never have been for us. His father didn’t care (or didn’t seem to…he was a broken man, a polish refugee). I have told the girls I am happy for them to make their own traditions, but they are adamant that they like it the way it is. Which is great for us as we love having them here!

For the meal…we have Turkey and Pork (roasted I think in the USA it is broiled? cooked in the oven). I make my own stuffing which, unfortunately, is not BSD friendly. We have roasted parsnips and potatoes, carrots, broccoli and peas. I forgot to mention sausage meat which is a favourite. I make a gravy from scratch so it is always super delicious. We pull crackers and wear novelty hats. Read the mottos and jokes to each other and generally have the most fun! We always toast our departed loved ones with fizzy wine/champagne…then we toast each other. Not all of them drink, so some of them toast with lemonade. The thought is still the same.

Then back into the living room (lounge/den) to open more presents and play with the toys the children have. We have chocolates on the tree so sometimes they eat them (I am not a chocolate lover).

Well that’s about it. One more thing. We sign our Christmas cards “from Mary and Joseph” which always gives us a laugh. We really believe that this is the most wonderful, magical time of the year and we give thanks that we have a wonderful family to share it with.

Happy holidays!
xxxx

Hello66, I’m utterly delighted to see you posting today! Thank you for the thoughtful
holiday wishes. Hope to see you resolving your health concerns ASAP, and back with
us on the forums. I’ve certainly missed you 🙂 Now I even have a theme song………
I looked it up on you tube because I didn’t recognize it at first, it IS a tune that gets stuck
in one’s head, doesn’t it? I think it dates back to the 60’s.
I’ll be watching for you “at home”.

Much love,
Allie xxx

Well done, Alibalibee and veerle, for your losses so far – inspiring! I will weigh in on Sunday and post then.
Maggie