CATHY yes please, I’ll happily join you for Back to Basics in August. I keep going off piste and am maintaining at around half a stone down from February – but want to lose more. Enjoy all your celebrations and I’ll join you in August 😊

A few more positives …
🌻🌻 good gardening session with my grandson at the village hall … all.lookkmg much tidier 😀
🌻🌻 threated myself to a spectacular bog plant, with almost black leaves that look almost metallic
🌻🌻 a successful 2nd day back on thd BSD track

What are your positives for today?

Feeling better, weight dropped under 75 so now on a downward journey. I have to be clear that Saturday doesnt mean I need a glass of wine or 2 or 3. I must remember that it makes my weight go up more than any food cheat.

Using the 8 week meal planner, I do not have a shopping list to offer you, but noted the pages for the recipes weeks 1-4.

I can give you the page references for the recipes for the the first weeks BREAKFASTS: 27,33,39,27,33,31,34. LUNCHES:73,49,58,71,51,72,155. DINNERS:132,128,126,152,124,129,69.

I don’t know if this is a help to anyone…. if so i can list weeks 2-4 in another message.
Kind regards all,
Because

Hello Everyone
Hope you are all having a good week. I’ve gone off piste! I have been rather too relaxed and getting into bad habits this last few days. I went to book club at weekend and that started me off! Red wine, nibbles, you know where this is going! Also, It’s my husband’s 65th birthday next week and we have booked to go out for a country pub lunch which will be cheese and onion pie and chips for me! Then we are going to the gelato cafe for an ice cream! SO……… i will be drawing a line under July and I am going to do fast 800 keto for all of August. Four weeks of back to basics from 3rd August. I am going to weigh myself on Monday 3rd August and am going to try to lose some weight during August. I am determined to finish 2026 at goal weight and as I have my cruise in October I know there will be some pulling back needed in November so I will probably do another 4 weeks fast 800 keto in November to hopefully be where I want to be as the year draws to a close. I am still paying for the online programme so I think it would be wise to make use of it next month and then maybe call it a day. If you want to join me for a back to basics August, we can do it together.
The hot weather has been challenging for me , ice creams, al fresco dining, G&Ts and World Cup snacks crept in too! There, I’ve owned up but after next week I will be back to it. We’ve got this.

Quick post of positives ….
✨️✨️ OH accidentally disturbed a wasps nest in our garden today … the positive is he escaped with just 3 stings, waiting on pest control now
✨️✨️ managed to extend my ‘kick off’ fast to 39hrs
✨️✨️ visited our friend’s woods today … good to spend sometime in nature
What were your positives today?

Thank you for the welcome and recording suggesting V. Last night I downloaded Myfitnesspal and have used it today … seems to provide all I’ll need, but will take a look at Fatsecret too.

Newbie, fingers crossed your next results will be more favourable. As Verano says, the secret is to keep an eagle eye on those carbs.

Thought I’d report in on my fast. Broke it at 39hrs, as this is the first one I’ve done in about 3mths, I was pleased to be able extend it that far. Today I’ve been back to weighing and measuring everything, as a result my intake has been slightly under on cals, but 6g over on carbs. I’m okay with that though, as today was my first day keeping track again.

So, one day down and feeling good about being in control again. I too weigh daily when I’m trying to discard pounds, a habit I don’t seem able to break. However, overall I find it a useful exercise, even if the readings can sometimes be a bit frustrating!

Hello and welcome ‘home’ Sunny! Sorry to hear about your gain but you have all the tools and you will do it. I use Fatsecret, similar to Fitnesspal, again no subscription required for basic plan and I find it a bit simpler to use. BTW make sure you get the .co.uk version of whatever you choose as the .com version tends to be for the USA.

Newbie sorry to hear about your HbA1c. I’m afraid it really is down to those carbs and there doesn’t seem to be anyway around that without medication. I know how hard it can be and I don’t really have any suggestions. I do finger prick tests every now and again and ideally I like to be below 6, which is around 42, but I have had odd readings of as high maybe the high 9’s which is approaching 60. I know these are just snapshots at the time and not equivalent to the HbA1c readings but it’s enough to shock me into doing something immediately. I don’t know if you finger prick but it may work for you too?

Margaret hope you’re managing to get back on track.

S-g I know you’re a daily weigher like me but maybe you should force yourself to stay off the scales some days…. large glass of water before you get out of bed maybe?? Last week I lost weight then regained it by my weigh-in day so just got downhearted. I need to act on my own advice and stay away from weighing daily!

Weather has finally cooled here so life is much more pleasant. Hope everyone is well.

Thank you all for the welcome … much appreciated. Looking forward being part of the team.
Thank you for the recommendation of myfitnesspal SG, will take a look. Don’t need anything fancy, so something that doesn’t require a subscription is ideal. As you say, that small jacket spud blip on the scales will quickly disappear … can understand the frustration of seeing it though.

Newbie, just to explain my eating plan more clearly, the 800 is daily calories and the 20 is daily grams of carbs. The 16/8 is 16hrs overnight fast, with an eating window of 8hrs .. commonly called Time Restricted Eating or TRE. Generally when I’m focused and looking to lose weight, I don’t eat after 7pm or before noon though.

And yes SG … new week new motivation!

This is now my eighth week. Haven’t weighed myself since middle of last week and think I’ve plateaued after a constant and very significant weight loss. I go on holiday next week – a walking holiday and I’ll be walking about 15 miles a day on average so going to relax off it a bit then and the. Resume when I get back. I did have to have a non-keto meal on Saturday just gone – a bowl of pasta, but seem to have gotten away with it. It did make me feel very bloated though! That’s the only misdemeanour in the whole time though!

I needed to lose 9 inches off my stomach – now it’s only 4…

Hi everyone, SunnyB, Verano set up this thread to take the place of our monthly one – everyone is welcome. It saves someone having to set up a new thread, new title, new introduction – you know what it was like. Great to have you back. You will soon get back into the swing and start to see the pounds disappear.

I record my food on Myfitnesspal and you dont have to pay unless you want to ultra super dooper, whatever that is.

Newbie, I will let sunny explain the eating plan, it is what we all do and I am sure you are too. Not my place to but in.

Messed up again over the weekend. Roasted jacket sweet potato and a 0.6g gain. Drives me mad, surely a jacket potato shouldnt do that. I know it will be gone by tomorrow or Wednesday but it always seems like a set back.

Anyway, new week new motivation.

Welcome SunnyB, I’m new to all the lingo, what do you mean by 800/20, with a 16/8 eating pattern?

So the results are in, my hba1c has gone up to 66, I knew I had fallen off the wagon and was only kidding myself that everything would be ok, but I’m hoping it’s the shock I need to get back on track, what track I’m yet to decide, but it will be some track, small steps first like cutting out treats and banning them from the house, drinking only water and tea. I have a review with the nurse in August and waiting to see a health coach whatever one of those is, so today we sulk, and tomorrow we pick ourselves up and start again x

Hello SunnyB & welcome & you have taken the first step joining us here👍 I am also struggling to shed my holiday weight gain & having difficulty mentally switching to diet mode. I record my calories on Nutracheck that seems quite easy to use but of course you would have to pay a subscription fee t join. Anyway good luck with your first week🍀🍀
My husband & I are off to see the film Odyssey this evening which has good reviews.
Take care everyone in the warm weather & keep hydrated! I have to keep reminding myself to drink enough water 🤔
Margaret xx

Time for this thread to jump up the list again and long overdue for me to post positives. Thank you to V and SG in keeping the thread alive.

My positives are ….
🚘🚘 great road trip home from Turkiye, especially the stopover in a little seaside town in Greece. Definitely one to be repeated.
🌺🌺 the neighbour who was looking after my garden while I was away did a great job. So good to get home and find it all looking good.
🧺🧺 despite my washing machine breaking down when I put in the first load of holiday laundry, the holiday washing is almost complete.

Hope you are all finding positives and you’ll take a moment to post one or two for us to share soon.

Hello everyone … hope it’s okay to join in here. Have scanned through your posts and think this would be the ideal thread to help keep me accountable again… of which I’m in desperate need.

“Sigh” …. Now to put my cards on the table. Left home in April already carrying approx 9lb more than I would have liked. During our time away, not only did I fall off wagon, but I rolled most of the way down the hill too! So my extra 9lb has now morphed into a 1st 4.5lb excess!!!

To say I’m ashamed of being in this situation is a understatement, however I have given myself a good shake and talking to and I begin my new regime today. I’m kicking off with an extended fast today. No exact plan for when it will be broken, but will eat lightly when I feel it is no longer sustainable.

Going forward, my plan is to move back to 800/20, with a 16/8 eating pattern. My only issue is where to record my daily intake, as it feels like too much of a faff to revive my old spreadsheet. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Well done staying the same Newbie & S-G I have had rather a busy social week with our son unexpectedly coming to dinner on Friday & staying overnight so more food wine & snacks consumed than usual. I weighed this morning & have gained one pound in weight which I am not surprised about. I suppose I have been eating what has been simple to prepare & still rather in a holiday mood with the continued sunshine & not really focused on losing weight! However I know some of my clothes are tighter plus those I can no longer fit into so I’m conscious that I should do something about this. The weather is slightly cooler here for the next few days but then hotter weather is predicted to return 🌝
I hope you all have a good next week.
Margaret xx

Thomo, I personally found the paid for site only helpful in giving me new ideas, not so much recipes as I am an instinctive cook and can also read Google 🙂 But I am being more experimental and not cooking the same week in week out. Once you get used to the diet and have the books you will know what to buy. Always check out your fridge before shopping, you might have a full days menu right there in front of you. Write you menu before you shop and just follow what you are having. It will become second nature. I am sure you can do it as you say, so far so good.

I have stayed the same for one month so not met my 1kg challenge for June/July (ends on Tuesday). But that means I havent gained anything either – always look on the bright side of life de dum de dum…..

Still too hot here at 33 degrees, managed a swim yesterday and know I am not duty bound to swim every day. It is just too tiring to do anything. We have a brunch around 11.30 on Sunday so I cant swim without food first and then after it is too hot, it was even too hot to sit outside. A normal summer for us is around 28 degrees with the odd blast of 30 or a bit more. That seems to have changed.

C’est la vie!

Afternoon all, sounds like everyone is struggling with the heat but doing the best they can, as Verano says hydration is so important but drinking water is boring and repetitive!
My weight has been pretty much stable from one week to the next so thats good, my fasting sugars have been high, after discussing with friends at work about stuff I contacted the GP this morning, who organised a repeat hba1c test, a referral to the health coach and a review in clinic once the blood tests are back, so now we wait and see what they have to say. Another triathlon booked for Sunday, thankfully it will be a little cooler and I will juggle my fuelling as I seem to be doing of late. Anyway have a good weekend all x

Hi all. Thought I should pop in and say hello. Just plodding along here keeping on keeping on. I have finally got back into some sort of routine and have cut out the odd biscuit, even though oats and lowish carb, and that pack of crisps late afternoon! Amazing how easy it is to get back into bad habits. My snack habit now is a couple of squares of 90% or a few nuts or olives. Sounds so virtuous! Anyway most importantly I’m on a downward path. I was reading a very interesting article about plateaus and the role they play in helping us to reset our set weight point. In essence you should welcome a plateau, go with it, and be happy that your body is reaching a new lower set point!
So hope everyone is well and managing to stay cool and hydrated. Hydration has always been a problem for me but doing my best.
Sorry for being so quiet but really not a lot happening in my life at the moment.
Have a good weekend.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I had looked at the fast 800 programme but decided to go with the BSD. So far so good. Thanks.

Thomo, your question has been asked many times and no-one has come up with a list. However, I have been doing the paid Fast800 and that gives you a weeks menus (which you can play around with) and it automatically generates a shopping list. If you decide say you dont like something and swap a menu it will also change the shopping list. It is not very expensive. I did a 7 day free trial followed by a discounted rate of €23 a month for 3 months (the 12 week plan). Unfortunately they kicked me off because I use insulin and, although they hadnt asked at the start, they dont allow insulin users on the 800 cals. Funny because that is what I am on here.

Hope that helps.

Hi all, yes Margaret it is good to have a treat but I seem to have overdone it over the weekend. Still the same weight but not gaining and feeling better about things.

Funny what can get you down but I have been asking my husband to telephone our house alarm people since September – yes September – it has been malfunctioning since then. Finally he rang today, as soon as the girl came on he said parle vous anglais, she said non and he shoved the phone in my hand. So I ended up doing it all and we now have a working alarm. The reason I wanted him to do it was for him to take some responsibility for our French life. I seem to do everything from ringing a plumber, gardener, tree surgeon, roof cleaner and so on and on. I GIVE UP.

Had a swim yesterday but we had shopping this morning and it is too hot now. On exercise, I have been doing bed pilates for 10 mins before I get up. Amazed at how comfortable it is not to have a hard floor in my backside even though I do have a yoga mat.

Heatwave should end today but still 33 degrees. Here a heatwave is classed as over 35.

Will keep on keeping on…

DCT- according to the NHS BMI calculator my BMI is currently 26.7. I am 5’1” and weigh 140 lb. I am 65. To get my BMI to 25 I would have to weigh 132 lbs I don’t think I want to lose 8lb because I know I would not be able to maintain it. I did read that having a higher BMI of 25 to 27 for older women was associated with better cognition and daily functioning. So I am happy with my BMI. I am going to try and lose about 3 more pounds over the summer but if I can maintain long term then I am delighted with my progress and don’t want to get too carried away with numbers .

Hi everyone. Lovely to read your posts and catch up.

CATHY very well done for maintaining so well. But I was shocked to hear that your BMI is still in the overweight range : I’m becoming increasingly convinced that there is definitely something wrong with the way BMI is currently calculated! You have had such a fantastic weight loss and have dropped at least one dress size . . . . how can you possibly be viewed as overweight 🙀. Thanks for your recent encouragement too re my progress. I’ve definitely stalled in terms of movement on the scales, which is no surprise as I’ve been treating this heatwave as a holiday so have gone rather off piste. But I’m maintaining my weight (albeit higher than I want to be), exercising a lot and am feeling good. I promise I will knuckle down again once things cool off a bit!

SUE lovely to hear from you too and it sounds like you are well prepared for the next phase of your loss. And well done for the 7kg loss this year so far, that is in itself impressive and worth celebrating. I also hope that you’re ok generally as you allude to “stuff” going on. Am thinking of you x

MARIET your holiday sounds fantastic, and I’m sure the swelling plus any residual weight increase will soon get back to normal. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time! Yes we still have the hot weather here. I love it actually, apart from when it’s uncomfortably hot at night and is difficult to sleep. But it’s such a luxury to have reliable warm sunny weather here for a while instead of the often unpredictable English summer. I’m at home all over summer which is lovely when the weather is like this. When I was teaching I had to take any kind of summer holiday in that six week July/August window but now prefer to go away in April/May or September/October when it’s quieter, even if the weather is a bit cooler. I just love being at home in the sun and having the freedom to potter round the garden or do little day trips etc rather than be somewhere else.

ARCTICFOX you sound busy as always and it’s amazing that you are already nearly finished your nutrition course. It only feels like yesterday. you were considering doing it. I always admire your very strong motivation and sense of purpose, and your ability to get so much done. It’s great to hear you sounding so happy and positive. I’m excited about your new relationship too, and hope that the long-awaited face to face meeting goes well. SUNSHINEGIRL how lovely that you met your husband in a similar long distance way too.

Must head off now as I’m out for the day, but hello to everyone else too and hope you’re all doing ok.

Hi everyone,
Still in the middle of busy season here. Garlic is coming out of the ground now. It finally got hot here yesterday – 38C. We haven’t had a lot of +30 temps yet this year, so I am not acclimatized and that is making things more difficult. We had a couple of days of smoke from some distant fires, but nothing too bad so far. It is still early in fire season for us though. Thunderstorms in the forecast for Thurs, so it could get bad quickly. We are in severe drought and everything is so dry.
Anyway, things are going well for the most part. One of my work colleagues who had been on holiday for a couple of weeks said it looked like I had lost some weight. I have been eating fairly healthily. My nutrition course and new fella are keeping me on track. I said on Monday this week that I needed to batch cook some things so I wasn’t having to turn the stove or oven on during the hot spell, and he asked what I had in my store cupboard and fridge and came up with some things I could make quickly that could be eaten cold. So I have been relieved of cooking for the week which is saving a lot of time and energy. Only 2 weeks left to go in the nutrition course, and then I get to finally meet this wonderful guy in person. Fingers crossed it continues to go well!

Hi Cathy, so glad you are getting comfortable with maintaining, that’s the real life long accomplishment and one that has eluded me over the years.
Commiserations over the smokey smells. It does get into everything, I hope your fires are not endangering life or properties.
I am back from my holiday, a wonderful cruise around the Kimberley coast. It was an expedition cruise, concentrating on the land experiences more than the ship ones. Lots of hikes, trips in zodiacs and snorkelling on shallow ocean reefs. I’ve never done anything like it before and the landscapes and wildlife will stay with me forever. But there was fabulous food and drinks to enjoy as well 😆
I haven’t weighed yet and don’t intend to until next week- my hands and feet are still swollen from retained fluid both from the long flights and from the tropical heat and no point upsetting myself over something that *should* pass fairly quickly. But I am right back into my normal eating pattern and I am hoping that any weight gains will quickly settle down. Crossing fingers.
How is everyone doing? It’s chilly back here in Sydney and I’ve been envious of your warm weather in the UK.

Hello everyone
Hope you are all well and those of us in the UK have been enjoying weeks of lovely sunshine. It’s been incredibly hot! There are two wildfires on the moors nearby and I’ve had to keep my windows and doors closed for a couple of days as the smoky smell is awful. Not ideal in this heat. I am maintaining my weight and do make sure I weigh about three times a week. Today I am 140.8. I don’t want to spend my life weighing and measuring but I do want to keep my weight under control so I am learning to navigate maintenance and learning to eat more variety and have the occasional treat. I occasionally eat breakfast but most days I just have coffee. I am still not eating any processed food. I would like to lose a little more, say 3lb or so as my BMI is still in the overweight category but I am quite happy for the time being with my progress. My main priority is keeping my blood sugar level low.
How are you all doing? I am looking forward to hearing your news.

Well done S-G losing weight again but it is quite comforting to have a treat of chilled white wine & ice-cream when it’s hot!! My husband & I went to see the Disney live action film Moana last night which I thought enjoyable & I had white wine & carrot cake & ice-cream that I also enjoyed but a rather abstemious supper before going there to try & balance it. However on the whole just trying to cope with this hot weather & I slept very badly last night so didn’t go to play short mat bowls this morning. This evening it’s a WI meeting & talk on Victorian corsetry & undies. No doubt Queen Victorias oversized pantaloons will be mentioned 😂 Tomorrow we are going on a visit to the Chichester Festival Théâtre with a behind the scenes tour followed by lunch & a matinee performance of My Fair Lady which should be very enjoyable 😀
Margaret xx

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Hi all, didnt post yesterday and it would have been a completely different post. Felt I had let myself down. It is so hot here it is difficult to breath, exercise or even walk around. Had a few treats over the weekend to cool down, ice creams some wine etc etc. Yesterday I was back over 75kgs and totally p–s-ed off with myself. Anyway, I got through the day and in the evening hubby poured a glass of wine at dinner, I didnt have one but thought about it later. Said no no no. Today I have lost half a kilo and back to my 2kg overall loss and now back on track.

This morning the temperature was down to 28 and I went for a swim, not had one for days due to lack of energy. It was wonderful and I feel totally refreshed and back on track. We all have down days, we just have to pull up our big girl knickers and get back on it.

Have a good week. Although it is rising to 38 again today but started out well.

Great guide! I recently used the mcdonalds feedback survey after my visit, and the process was quick and simple. It only took a few minutes to complete, and I received my reward without any issues. It’s a nice way to share honest feedback while enjoying a small bonus on your next visit. https://mcdonalds-feedbackss.de/

Another garden positive

Aboriste came today to cut back our 40 foot high eucalyptus (never plant again). He did a great job swinging from a rope. Great thing is he charged us €420 whereas other gardener quote €1780 for this cutting back and removing a small pine. Then we showed him another tree that looks dead from the heat and he came back after lunch and removed it €250. So half the price of the other guy.

Looks like nothing is going to stop you Simon. Keep going.

Beginning of week 7 and I’m now down to 80 kilos – 12 stone 8lbs, having started at 14 stone 6 – 95kg. Very very please. One more stone lost and I’ll be in the healthy BMI range. My target is to lose a stone and a half.

“Hey Hayley, great question and congrats on the progress — 12kg in 3 months is solid, exercise or not!
On the diuretic thing — worth knowing that the diuretic effect of caffeine is actually pretty mild in people who drink it regularly, tolerance builds up fast. So MIL’s habitual 6 cups a day isn’t going to dehydrate her the way a one-off large coffee might for someone who never drinks it. It’s not nothing, but it’s often overstated compared to how it gets talked about.
Calorie-wise, black instant coffee is basically zero. The “”meal source”” concern from the Mosley book is really about the milk, not the coffee itself. Skinny milk in small amounts (a splash per cup) adds up to maybe 10-20 calories a cup, so 6 cups a day could realistically be 60-120 calories just from milk — not huge, but also not nothing if she’s doing multiple cups daily and being strict on a 500-600 cal fasting day.
The appetite suppressant point your SIL is making is real too, caffeine does suppress appetite for a lot of people, so there’s a fair counterpoint there — it’s genuinely a mixed bag, not purely bad.
Honestly the bigger question might be less about calories/diuretic effect and more that she’s using coffee as a substitute for water because she wants something hot in her hands. That’s a habit thing, not really a diet-compliance thing — might be worth finding her a hot, low-cal alternative to fill that need rather than trying to win the “”how many cups is too many”” argument. Which gets into the whole tea vs coffee debate too — herbal tea (no milk, no calories) could scratch that same “”hot drink in hand”” itch without the calorie or caffeine load at all, might be an easier sell than trying to get her to drink cold water in the middle of summer.”

It was a busy day with our village fete today & out & about this morning & then I was helping my fellow WI ladies in the village hall kitchen serve teas coffee & cake & felt slightly wonky despite fans in the kitchen & had to sit down & my neighbour asked me how much water I had drunk ? I had had a small glass of wine & nearly two glasses of J2O but no water & felt such an idiot. I came home & sat in front of a fan sipping water! A stupid mistake to make & I did then have an hours siesta listening to Classic fm & did nap. It so easy to underestimate how humidity & heat can affect us🤔
My husband are now watching the Wimbledon men’s final & have just had a lightest salmon supper 😀
Take care everyone
Margaret xx

Well done s-g. Persistence pays!

Still warm here which is lovely but also making me stay indoors with a fan as company! Just coming to the end of the first week of my twelve. I have been more aware of what I’m eating this week which is good. I get an article in my inbox every morning which helps with accountability not just to the program, but also to myself. For the first time in quite a while I feel a little more in control and don’t just mindlessly eat a piece of 90% or whatever. Starting to feel like I have regained some control over what I put into my mouth!

Hope everyone had a good weekend . A new day and a new week tomorrow so a new start!

Welcome Thomo?
Sorry I can’t help you but I’m sure you will be able to find a website or app that will convert your recipes into shopping lists. Good luck!

Hello everyone. I have purchased the BSD recipe book having been diagnosed as pre diabetic. I was just wondering if anyone has created a week by week shopping list to help assist in preparation for starting this programme. I am not familiar with these forum things, but hopefully someone has done the donkey work previously. Thanks in anticipation. Ian.

Well done with your weight loss S-G & it’s still very hot here & difficult sleeping & energy sapping when out & about. I have just weighed & more or less staying the same only losing 0.25lbs. I blame the ice lollies & icecream plus the odd glass of white wine 😂🤔Take care in the heat!!
Margaret xx

Hi all, can people not understand that the post about Michael is a memorial and not the place to place ads or even ask for diet advice. It is getting difficult to cut and paste as it stopped me before saying I was repeating a post, so I had to change just a few words. Not everyone realises what it is about so you cant really blame an innocent new member but the ads really rile me.

I am back down to my 2kg loss so have to lose another kilo by 20th July to keep to my promise to myself – not sure it will happen. I would love to swim every day but it is so hot I dont have the energy. I sometimes have to drag myself out of bed rather than face the constant heat. It will be cooler next week but still in the mid to high 30’s.

No news, I am still using my fake GLP-1 chia and blueberry mix which seems to keep me satisfied longer with few hunger pangs. Losing average of 0.2 kgs per day. Now it is the weekend and I fancy a drink. Might allow one vodka and slimline as a treat but might delay the satisfaction and have it tomorrow. You know what they say about tomorrow…

Well Verano, I can add that to my positives

Gardener came but did the hedge and bushes in 3 trips due to the heat. Bless him he was dying out there.

Just had to come back today …. our new gardener turned up …. and he’s good! A definite positive!

Sunshine-girl thank you for posting on Michael’s thread again. We are all so grateful for him, his work and setting up this website.

Well warm again here but I have a ‘cool room’! I have an internal room with just a glass brick partition with the adjoining room …. it’s cool!! Great for this weather although we shouldn’t complain really it’s lovely.

Hope you’re all well.

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Hello. Thought I should post here again as it’s been a few days. So pleased you have reorganised your trip s-g and I’m sure it will be wonderful. They certainly sound good on tv on New Year’s morning!

So I have a few positives…..

🌳🌳🌳 New planters potted up with my box trees. I can’t believe I’ve been looking at bashed up planters for five years. It’s amazing how you just get used to seeing things and stop noticing their blemishes, or in my case huge dents!

🥯🥯🥯 Having been making bagels today. Overnight process and I don’t even eat them but it keeps OH happy…. well hopefully it will after he’s tasted them!

🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️ Got back to my meditation sessions today after a several month lay-off. Funny how my thoughts were all over the place after so long but I guess it’s one of those things you have to do on a regular basis to benefit.

Hope you’re all well and have some positives.

Yes s-g of course you’ll be able to go out and eat a ‘normal’ meal. We have been here so long and know all the ups and downs, literally. There are so may things that make us fluctuate so we just have to take a ‘view’ and not let one blip, which could be due to extra fluid retention or anything, stop us moving forward. You have lost overall this year so just keep on keeping on…….