Hi all

Just to report that week 4 went well for me with a 4 pound loss, making 21.4 altogether. That was on Thursday. Difficult week now and I am almost taking a slight break. Out for a meal on that Thursday evening…better yesterday but family arrive for the weekend and big local firework with fish and chips today….extended family lunch tomorrow and then a friend comes on Monday to stay 2 nights and he insists on taking us out for a meal. Finally, lunch out with friends on Wednesday. I will try to keep the intake down but expect to gain a little over the week. Following 2 weeks are clear so I should be able to drive down again in weeks 6 and 7. Good luck to all those weighing in on Monday!

Hello, my sweets! It looks like another quiet weekend around here…

Another 3:30am wake up call for me. I think it was the huge yellow
moon shining in, which according to NASA is the second largest
full moon of the year and is otherwise known as a Beaver Moon,
a Hunter’s Moon or Full Frost Moon! Who is googling at 3:30am
beside me? I’m not feeling too frisky today, however.

Had some fun looking up what a carvery is! Seems they exist
over here as well. My britidictionary continues to grow.

Great weigh in Kazz. Do either you or Mary think the fasts that
you have been doing are contributing to accelerated weight loss?

Have a jolly weekend, on plan or off!

Allie
xoxoxo

AnneF, I’ve been wondering whether it’s worth buying a monitor to check my blood count. If you do a test, then eat, presumably your blood sugar rises, but 2hours later, has it returned to “normal”? Maybe that will prove, like the glucose tolerance test, that the diabetes has definitely gone. Or doesn’t it work like that? Having never used one, I’m clueless. Doh!

RBeany, I’m not vegetarian so afraid I can’t be of any help to you.
However, there are many past threads you can locate by typing
“Vegetarian” in the Search box at the top right on your screen.
It might be of some help.

The very best of luck to you on your journey!

Allie

Thanks for that, I’ll check it out – it sounds delicious! I love celeriac and have been eating a lot of it recently.

I do hope other people will join in the conversation about vegetarian and vegan eating on this plan. This is my fourth post in these forums in the last fortnight, but I have yet to have a response. So to anyone reading this thread and wonder whether to post: please do join in. It would be great to have others to share veggie tips with!

Well I am not one of the two case studies in today’s paper, but bought it anyway for the diet magazine and it looks to have some very intriguing recipes in. Maybe it is a symptom of the gut biome getting healthier, but almost everything in these recipe books seems to coincide nicely with my tastes. I will obviously be keeping my eye out Monday to Friday in the series of pullouts they are doing, and will own up if my piccy appears. It is interesting to see that Clare and MM mix and match diets as much as I do (hence the name if you haven’t already guessed).

Hi there, I see this thread is a year out of date but hope there are still some veggie or vegans around. I have just watched Saturday Kitchen and a young chef called Rosie Birkett was making a lovely dish. It was kale cooking in garlic and herb butter, blanched celeriac ribbons with roasted pumpkin seeds and grated veggie cheese. All stirred in together and look delicious. You can go on line to see the full recipe and look out for her other recipes on line and a new book she has out.

I am not veggie but I am going to make this.

Hi Nonna Mary. Our friend Mr Google was helpful. Here’s one of the links I found which is a fairly straightforward explanation: http://www.canadadrugpharmacy.com/blog/why-weight-loss-can-make-your-cholesterol-levels-go-up/ . My GP confirmed that losing weight quickly can affect both thyroid and cholesterol but that both will settle again when your weight stabilises.

Hi everyone, another good day yesterday and stayed within 800 cals even including my snack. I went back to logging the food BEFORE I ate it or at least snacks. I had a homemade smoothie made with lambs lettuce (dont ask, house sitters left it behind and I hate waste) raspberries and almond milk, lunch was grilled halloumi and bacon with courgette and red pepper salad. Now this is where checking comes in. I was also having half an avocado as I remembered that as a meal from the book. I looked it up and couldn’t find it but soon realised I was adding one ingredient too many and left out the avocado. For dinner I had a simple meal of grilled cod with mushy peas (and 3 chips). My evening snack was going to be 1 Ryvita (cant give them up) with butter and egg mashed in mayonnaise. Again I checked the calories and the butter and mayo were double the calories of the Ryvita and egg so I ditched the butter and spread the cracker with 4 grams of full fat mayo. That kept me to 760 calories. Now here was a big surprise – the full fat mayo was nearly the same calories as the butter which was 29 cals and the mayo was 24. I should have realised as mayo is eggs and OIL. Makes me wonder about switching to a lighter mayo but I know the science and will stick with ‘real’ mayo.

On the subject of low / no carbs making the woman ill. I think everyone reacts differently, what she was describing as being ill might have been carb flu. Another thought is that, about 3 or 4 weeks into the 8 week plan I was so shocked at the massive improvement in my BG (190 down to 120) that I thought maybe I was doing some damage. I put out a post What Are We Doing To Ourselves as this was very new then, and was reassured that this was normal but I was sure I was going to go into hypo. Anyway, I got over it and with careful monitoring regained faith in the plan. Thank goodness.

I have a small weight loss this morning so I am encouraged to continue to be strict over the weekend – everyone’s worst time – and tough it out until Tuesday. Have a good one everyone….

Happy Saturday everyone!

Kazz…I got up at 8;30 so a little bit of a lie in, but not much. The dog was barking at the binmen so it wasn’t good sleep either. Nevermind. You are so consistent with your loss. Well done. I have made a decision to have a day off today. Not going to have carbs, but I am going to be relaxed on calorie content. Enjoy your muffins and the carvery. I love a carvery.

Not much going on so that’s all I have to say. Take care everyone.

Lots of love
Nonna Mary
xxxx

I started my diet on the 1st of October weighing in at 10stone & 8 pounds. I would like to be 8 stone (I am only 4ft 11.5). Today I weigh 9stone & 10 pounds, without knowing it existed I have been dieting similar to this one! Came a cross this forum accidentally & for once I have joined & have posted! Anyway today I am joining the local gym which is also a first. I would like to be 8stone 7pounds by the 15th of December. Hopefully writing here will keep me highly motivated.

Good morning friends

Just a quick visit to wish you a lovely weekend.

Mary – I hope you enjoyed your lie in? I got up thinking it was 8.30, made tea, weighed myself, then saw it was 7.30!

17.1 this morning. Another 1lb off and 19lbs gone in total. Yey!

Righteo, am off to make some egg muffins. ! Lunch out tomorrow for my brothers birthday. Going for a carvery so plenty of veg choice l hope.

Have a good weekend, lovelies.

Kazzzzeeeeonaroll xxxx

Tomorrow has arrived, and so today is here, and another day has dawned. Everything is back into perspective now. From the morning ‘gloom’ of the physio to the afternoon ‘sunshine’ of my surgeon, then a meal out with friends and the day ended far better than it had started. Added to which we saw many flocks of geese migrating, probably from Russian and Canada, to a nearby wild fowl park as we were on the motorway yesterday. It really was a magical sight.

Thanks for all your encouragement yesterday and yes s-g we always do manage to get through don’t we, although sometimes it’s damn hard. So glad all is going well for you and you can always lift those weights in tandem with our cheerleading, pom-pom waving pals here!

Today we have the family coming for lunch , Greek mezze, and dinner of fireworks, soup and burgers, bunless for me of course! So a busy day but BSD friendly and hopefully I’ll manage to get my full quota of water today. I find that when I have to travel too far from home as I subconsciously stop drinking water on those days, so that I don’t need bathroom stops in strange places. Odd maybe but just the way it is for me. Today I will get back to normal.

Hope you all have a good weekend and a safe one if it involves fireworks or any other manner of risk!

The good carb/bad distinction is what put me on the road to hyperobesity in the first place. Eat whole grains, they told me. Stay away from the white stuff and you’ll be fine. They were dead wrong. I made a study of it and for years my pantry was well-stocked with brown rice, heritage grains, pulses, legumes, all ostensibly slow-digesting and “good.” I gained 20 pounds a year without knowing why until I woke up a decade later on the wrong side of 300. I haven’t touched a lentil in a year and a half, and I love lentils. Same with beets, oats, quinoa, barley and a bunch of other things that were once staples. I lost more than 180 pounds in a year doing a very strict version of the BSD. That’s not a coincidence.

All of this is to say that it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Some people’s body’s respond terribly to carbs, whole, complex or simple. I’m one of them. It is entirely possible to eat a rich diet that doesn’t cross the 20 grams of carbs a day threshold. Many vegetables are high enough in fiber to reduce their effective carb count significantly. I’d be curious to know what this woman was really eating because I find it hard to believe that avoiding oatmeal and bread or whatever is the reason she took ill.

Well done Allie cat and Soapbox on your impressive losses!

Welcome Eileen 🙂 I usually weigh in on a Sunday too, as that is the day when I started BSD, and I weigh Tues as well for the challenge thread.
I’m not sure what is on the Diabetes UK website, and haven’t seen the news item – no surprise there as I’m in New South Wales Australia, not Wales 🙂
Seriously though, I think it is important to remember that BSD is not NO CARB, it’s low carb. You could even say it’s good carbs. There are plenty of carb foods on BSD – all fruits & veg have carbs, as do dairy foods, chickpeas, lentils and other legumes. We just cut out the “bad” carbs – sugary foods and drinks, the processed white breads, yoghurts with added sugar, as well as carbs that affect blood sugar, like rice, pasta, potatoes etc.
I eat oats which are relatively high in carbs, however they are low-gi, so slow release carbs.
Good luck with the challenge and I look forward to seeing your results 🙂

Hi SueBlue
Just popped back onto this site after a few months absence. So pleased to have spotted this thread. Can I join too? My start weigh in day will be Sunday 5th. What a day to choose!
Just caught the end of an item on Welsh News tonight. A woman with diabetes is complaining about advice given to her from Diabetes UK ( or Wales?) telling her to avoid carbohydrates. She did and has become unwell. I think that’s the gist of it. Did anyone else see it? I need to look on their web site and see what it says. The representative from Diabetes said the advice given would have been as it says on their web site. Need to check this out. Surely this WOE wouldn’t have made her ill????

And of course, referring to the Daily Mail article, our very own Captainlynne is the lady who needed a stick and now walks 6 miles daily. Look for her in the Search, she is still around.

You will get through this Verano, you always do. Just like me. Lets keep supporting each other and send virtual strength via the internet. On the subject of exercise I have bought myself 2 x 2kg weights for my arm muscles but cant really face them. I also have a new video workout that I have not opened yet. We will get to it in time, exercise is not the be all and end all, it is an additional weapon in our armoury. Keep on etc…….

Thank you, happyitsworking. It’s exciting to find another person
“Stateside”. I had only known of californiagirl and esnecca before.
It will be great fun to follow your posts! 🙂

Allie I forgot to say you have done wonderful with your weight loss😀

Alliecat I was only able to read it because someone posted it for me. I live in the U.S also.

I was afraid of that, Kazz. Supermarkets here are the same. Let
me know how you do with the homemade variety. I will say a
silent prayer for you that you don’t have any “live” exploding jars!
You will become the sorcceress in the kitchen. What fun!

Congratulations jande9! You have reached the only remaining goal
that I have left: 1 year in maintenance. Will have to be patient
until April 2018 for that, however. Vigilant, also!

Thanks Allie – you can’t get the real thing in any of the supermarkets where I live, I’ve just checked. Better to make it via youtube recipe!

Hey, Kazzi, I wish I could provide the name of a kimchi brand
that would be available to you, but not possible I’m afraid. What you
need to look for though is RAW, UNPASTEURIZED, and if you’re lucky
enough to find it, ORGANIC. I got my supply thanks to a link that
Esnecca posted. Good luck in your quest!

See you tomorrow,

Allie

happyitsworking: I’m just popping in to thank you so much for
putting this link up. I’ve been wildly curious to see this article
but had been unable to locate it online. I certainly hope someone
will provide a link to mixnmatch’s story, as well. I’m in the U.S.,
so probably not a candidate, but at 10+stone lost, I guess I could
be 🙂

Many thanks,

Allie

Hello sisters!

Mary – I think you may have mis-read my garbled post – I walked up the stairs to the concourse, rather than riding on the escalator as I normally do – I didn’t jog up the escalator! THAT would see me off! LOL

Yes, long term use of Losartan can cause cramps, pins an needles, diarr, shortness of breath, foggy brain, back aches, runny nose – I’ve just been reading up on it!

Allie – it isn’t noticeable to others, it’s only 18 lbs and I have another 90 to go. Although my colleague said she could see it in my face, slimmer and cheek bones starting to emerge – her words! Yay! Yep, still wearing the same stuff but it’s all getting baggy. I need to go through my clothes tomorrow and see what else I can find that will fit. I have an array of varying sizes! Dress down day on a Friday for a monthly £1 in the charity box. I got dressed without thinking this morning – checked shirt bit on the small side,, not done up – extra long grey T shirt, black leggings – Max Wall eat your heart out! I prefer long tunic tops with leggings – so I’ve not moved away from my desk much today!

I like the sound of Kimchi – I’ll have to see if I can get hold of it. I can certainly buy sauerkraut. Nearly got some last week but it was a huge jar which put me off in case I didn’t like it. I shall defo get some tonight.

I saw Titannic at the cinema and it blew me away with the special effects! The screen was so large, I had to move my head from side to side! The sheer size of the mechanical goings on in the engine room – wow. Never forgotten it. 🙂

Ok lovelies – I’ll be back tomorrow morning to report my usual Saturday weigh in results – whatever they may be!

((((((HUGS)))))))
Kxxx

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am an English woman living in France – so sort of French by association! I agree that Paris is a lovely city; it has bee quite a while since I was there and after 5 years of rural living I’m not sure how I would react to the bustle of a city!

Moojar, welcome to the forum! Your previous post was delightful,
and I look forward to seeing how you get on. How great is it to
already know a friend who has been so successful! I’m not a
french femme, but will an American in your corner help? 🙂
I’ve lost an embarrassing 146lbs on this plan and have maintained
it for @ 6 months. I was that fat (obese) 60 something person
to which you refer. You can do this! If you have any questions,
don’t hesitate to ask. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience
here, and we love to talk about the BSD….

Best of luck to you on your journey. It will transform your life.

Allie

‘Morning, Kazz and Mary! We may be few in number at the moment,
but we make up for it in persistence. My day would feel “off” if I
didn’t begin it by reading your posts. The mean a lot to me 🙂

Forty one steps, Kazz? I don’t believe I could do that. Before,
it would have been out of the question! The paramedics would
have to be called. Are friends and colleagues beginning to notice
your weight loss? If I remember correctly, I think I was down
@ 25lbs. before that happened for me. I’m sure I was still hiding
in my loose tunics, however.

All this chat about movie idols reminds me of the time we were
out at our beach house rental and we found a DVD of “Titanic”
and popped it into the player one evening. At the time this
was considered a blockbuster film (starring Leonardo DiCaprio)
and I was curious to see it. I found his acting so poor that I
kept saying to jim “I didn’t know this was suppose to be a comedy!”
The special effects were quite something though. I never see
movies in theatre because I can’t sit that long. It’s been decades
since we’ve been, the only thing I can remember about the last occasion was the deplorable garlic breath of the guy sitting
next to me. I was so grossed out that I couldn’t concentrate
on the movie! (hard to watch, breathing through your mouth)

Mary may have a point about gut flora, Kazz. I was on and off
antibiotics for 8 years, and I still can’t get rid of the toenail
fungus on 1 foot. I’ve tried everything, oregano oil, etc., so
now I’m using kimchi and hope it makes a difference. If you
decide to give it a try you may want to test it over a weekend
until you get used to it 🙂

Have a great weekend, dear friends!

Allie

For those who are new on here on page 40 of the ‘Weigh in’ thread is a link to Captainlynne’s story.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3804919/The-amazing-stories-women-lives-transformed-revolutionary-regime.html?login#readerCommentsCommand-message-field.

MixnMatch: I hope you can post a link to your story when it is posted in the paper so I can read your story also.

Soapbox: Congrats on reaching your 70 weight loss. You must be on cloud nine……………

Also congrats on everyone else who is doing so well on this plan.

Hi, Verano. I’m sorry you aren’t having the best of days today.
I certainly understand from experience how chronic health problems
can wear us down sometimes. In my case, I never realize this
until I feel better (mentally) again! You will too. Try not to be
too hard on yourself, you’ve accomplished so very much and are
such a beacon of hope on this forum.

Sending you a big hug!

Allie

Wow Wow Wow, soapbox! What a magnificent achievement! Our
cheerleading contingent will be out in force for you today. Three
back flips from me! I don’t know how I could have missed your
previous posts. This way of life is virtually unknown here in the
States, so I’m very late to the party. I’ve only been on the forums
for a couple of months, though it seems much longer than that.
Sometimes I think I talk too much 🙂

Congratulations!

Allie

I know there’s no point in getting down as you both say it’s just one day, but, there seem to be too many of them of late. Also saw the physio this morning and looks like my exercises need revamping … more of them, more times a day and more reps! I know I have to do this for the best outcome but my it’s hard sometimes. Then there’s my final, hopefully, review with the surgeon later today. I guess sometimes my mobility issues just come to the forefront more and it makes me a bit low. BUT tomorrow will be another day and all will be fine.

Well that is just flaming awesome soapbox, I hope you are giving yourself a massive pat on the back!! 🎉😊

Ooh, I am excited to see your photos Mixnmatch – what a star!

Well I finally lost the elusive 1lb to take me to 5stone (70lb) lost!

I had in mind that I would go for a further two stone and stop at around 11. However, all the posts from our fab maintainers is making me wonder whether that would be settling for less than is ideal and I should aim to lose more?

I suspect it will become clearer as I get nearer to that weight and let’s face it: as it took nearly 2 weeks to lose than damned 1lb, it isn’t going to be a question that needs answering any time soon!

Kazz…first of all…Bloody well done for running up an escalator….what a non scales victory! I laughed through the Jack Reacher film as it was preposterous for him to play such a macho, killing machine…ex commando isn’t he? There were some funny one liners though. I have seen him on a talk show (Graham Norton) and he seems to be a nice guy, but, that could be an act. Lol.

Your bloods seem normal. I was told that my Psoriasis can show an inflammation in the tests. I am also on Losartan and didn’t know it could affect the gut. Although, I know it can affect the kidneys and liver. If your IBS wasn’t severe before the anti-biotics, it could well be that it has affected your flora. So maybe some of the gut friendly foods would help?

I so hope you have a good weekend. Take care.

Lots of love
Nonna Mary
xxx

Jande9, well done on maintaining for a year. I think your WOL since then sounds eminently sensible, and is pretty much what I am doing myself (been maintaining for 6 months after losing 42lbs, then dropping another 8lbs during maintenance). I am fortunate in that I have never had a sweet tooth so cakes, biscuits, puddings etc hold no appeal, BUT…………. freshly made bread? Now you’re talking my language😀

I no longer count calories, but do remain low carb most of the time, but definitely indulge myself if I feel like it when dining out or on holidays etc (though I often don’t feel like it). If I gain a couple of pounds, I know I now have the tools to get it straight back off again – I think not letting it “settle” is key, it would be easy for that 2 lbs to become 4, 6, 8 etc and before we know it, we’re back where we started. And I’m definitely not going there!

Morning, if it is where you are, actually it is just passed midday here. Had another successful diet day with another loss that I am keeping to myself. However, my BG shot up to 145 (8.2) which was quite a shock. I do have a theory about that as I have noticed it happens when I have had a break from the plan and then go really strict. I think my body overreacts to the shock of 800 cals and pumps out glycogen in large amounts, just as it does with the dawn phenomenon, even though I had a small snack before bed. I am sure it will have settled within a couple of days so not going to worry about it.

Weekend coming and I am really determined and we have no social events in the near future – maybe a lunch out next week but I can cope with French lunch, just need to say no to wine with the meal.

Have a good day and keep on keeping on…

Esnecca, I’m afraid I’m with Verano on the tripe front! Who on earth WOULD choose to eat it?!!! Well, you obviously, and it is also one of my o/h’s favourite things but I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO COOK IT for him!!! So he doesn’t get it very often, as it doesn’t often feature on restaurant menus, much to his chagrin.

Verano, as others have said, one bad day does not a disaster make, so don’t beat yourself up. As Caronl has said, if it came on quickly, it will come off just as quickly, and at least the trend is down, so bank the pound you have lost and just draw a line under everything else and remember just how far you have come.

I’m afraid I may not be jumping, cheering and shaking quite so enthusiastically today as I seem to have picked up a tummy bug and am feeling really ropey!😭 Spent most of the night on the loo (sorry, TMI) but did still manage to walk the dogs this morning (just) as there was no one else available to do it. Think I may have a “slow” day today and hope this S&D doesn’t cause any more weight loss.

Good morning, good morning!

Thank heavens it’s Friday! 🙂 Well done Mary – enjoy your lie in! 🙂 I’m having one as well – felt a bit grumpy this week. People annoying me at work – zero patience!

I’m totally confused with my test results. Spoke to the receptionist. Coeliac result hasn’t come back yet. This is what she read to me…
Liver function test result – normal stable result, no further action. White cell count – normal, Protein – normal. Full blood count – slightly raised – discuss with doctor. Not urgent, make appt in next 3 weeks. So???? I have a telephone appt next Saturday with doc. I shall mention to her that I was on Oxytetracycline for 7 months last year to clear up the acne rosacea – may be that’s knocked my guts off – my IBS type symptoms didn’t become the issue they are now until June last year when I stopped taking them. Also I’m on a BP med, Losartan and water tablet – bendrofluzamide (don’t know how to spell that!) – about 5 years now. May be it’s a side effect of that causing the gut problems. And I’ve had psoriasis for 40 years! Anyway – there is inflammation somewhere and it’s showing up in my liver test results! Pinpointing the cause is the tricky thing. I’m taking a probiotic tablet and vitamin B complex tablet each morning. Started 2 weeks ago. But since starting BSD800, the wind and bloat is gone although bathroom visits, only once a day and sometimes not at all, still loose-ish. I think I’m doing the best I can to improve things. I read online about a guy who developed IBS symptoms. Came off Losartan and went back to normal. Back on the Losartan and back to IBS symptoms. Anyway – I just can’t think about it any more. I feel tons better in myself. Instead of the escalator, I climbed 41 steps at the train station today! Unheard of and undoable before without being totally exhausted and breathless. I wasn’t even out of breath! My quads ached a bit, but it was a good feeling! 🙂 I used to have to get the lift if the escalator was out in the past because I just couldn’t climb those stairs (and hold everyone one up behind me) whilst I panted and heaved! I feel like I could jog!

Tom Cruise – when he did Jack Reacher (Lee Child and having read some of the books) – he was awfully mis cast! I don’t know what they were thinking – Jack Reacher’s character is about 6 foot tall with a slightly brooding, controlled, depth! I thought it was an April fool joke when I heard TC was playing the character! Hilarious!

Well my lovelies, I’d best crack on! Have a good day/evening.

See you later
Kazzeee

Bit late to the party, hubby and I are starting this on Monday for four weeks…I’ve got about 10lbs to lose. It’s giving up the ‘liquid toast’ that is going to be the biggest challenge I think. Hopefully, less calories won’t have an effect on my running but I’ll not know that till Wednesday.

Morning al

The last day of a very long and stressful week at work and the plan has basically taken a flying leap out of the window. My boss is being an utter ar*e wipe and when he’s the CEO you know it’s not going to just ‘go away’ I stress eat – I know I do and I don’t know how to stop 🙁

My meals are still BSD friendly but a couple of bags of crisps, some licorice, sweets and more nuts than I should have had have crept in – plus my water intake has dropped. I daren’t weigh myself because I’m frightened that I’ve put weight on rather than lost it.

Still, I am trying to stay positive – boss is away next week, I have the weekend free (apart from chores obvs) so I shall use that time to reconnect with the plan, and give myself a stern talking to.

Hi all. Verano, have a great day. Don’t let the scales spoil it. If it came quickly on, it can go quickly too. Just back from a lovely hour walk in the woods, so full of the joys of Autumn! Today I am going to try hard again with water. And replaced my breakfast porridge with a mushroom omelette. Onwards and downwards? Good luck to everyone today.

Hi all. Verano, have a great day. Don’t let the scales spoil it. If it came quickly on, it can go quickly too. Just back from a lovely hour walk in the woods, so full of the joys of Autumn! Today I am going to try hard again with water. And replaced my breakfast porridge with a mushroom omelette. Onwards and downwards? Good luck to everyone today.

Ismac, thank you for the update. I am interested in the theory of stressing the body by losing weight and the cholesterol increase. Can you share the research on this, or was it your GP that gave you this advice?

Thank you.

Nonna Mary
xx

Thanks, Mixnmatch. At the moment, the only thing I can say is that I still weigh a few kilos less than when I started! Will keep dropping in from time to time.

I’m with Kazz and Verano, we gain immensely from your posts, you maintainers, clever things that you are 👏👏👏

Wow, arcticfox, there’s an incentive toward goal if ever there was one😊. .

Hope you’re also online, Mnm, for we antipodeans. I recall, sometime last year I think, that Captainlynne was in a similar promotion. Are you still here Lynne, hope you’re well?

After OH’s 80th last weekend, we are spending a few days “down south” as we say here, staying in Busselton with a group of friends with the focus on Tuesday being the “race that stops the nation” the Melbourne Cup. Thousands of kms away, doesn’t matter, lunches, parties everywhere, all watching the race on a screen. Great fun. Hopefully I can maintain reasonably well for that time. Cheers all xx

Thanks you FrenchFemme!

Ah, a message from a French lady – it was worth joining the forum just for that. 🙂

My wife and I actually visited France – Paris – this year for the first time, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Such an enchanting city, I am so happy we visited. It was just early spring then, and we did so much walking – wonderful.