Oh S-G,
I would also be worried about the forgetfulness. Norway to Canary Islands is a bit extreme! I really hope it is just a blip…

I hope you are able to get to the bottom of the BG readings. 🤞

Yes please to setting up the October thread…I don’t seem to have much spare time at the moment…life has become hectic again…I really must learn to say “NO” instead of “Yes, of course I will do that to help” !!!
Besides which I will have my hands full, if we go for the puppy we are viewing tomorrow!

I cannot believe that another month has passed. I slipped badly last night…for the second time…and ate quite a lot of Galaxy chocolate! It was delicious…but my fasting BG was up this morning. so I am being ultra careful today!

K.xx

I will ask doctor for a new machine when I go for my December checkup but my BG was down to 114 this morning. I got hubby to check his non diabetic fasting glucose this morning and it was 94 so it seems the machine is working. However, I have been reading about a thing called brittle diabetes – although not a term medics use these days – it is just when you have unusually high bg for no reason. Besides the machine I was thinking my body is not used to doing tre so might be having the dawn phenonomen, also I have lost a bit of weight and my body and bg might not have caught up with each other yet. My weight results are for tomorrow.

Pootle, would you like me to set up the October thread. You have had a bit of a hard time lately so might want a break.

We spent the weekend discussing our next cruise, we are feeling a bit in limbo with the house being up for sale. All was decided and hubby did the booking online. This morning I thought I would glance through the folder he has set up (paper print out) and was shocked to see he had booked the wrong ship, dates and even the wrong country. I know none of you know him so I can say I am getting a bit worried about him, he forgets things so quickly. We had to go out this afternoon after the plumber fixed the boiler – yeah – and he couldnt remember where we were going and made something up where he thought we might go, i.e. farm shop and pharmacy but we were actually going to the doctors and the mairie (mayors office) to get some documents signed. He is 80 years old so has some excuse but to book us to the Canary Islands which is somewhere neither of us want to go, instead of 14 nights to the top of Norway to see the northern lights is a bit of a stretch. Lets hope it is just a glitch.

I will report back with my weigh in tomorrow.

Margaret do you check the NHS app for your results? I find my test results often show far quicker than results through the post etc. in fact I had a dexa scan a few months ago. The next day my results were posted. Fortunately all was fine. Still waiting for results either by post or via doctor!

S-g I guess you have to wonder about the accuracy of your machine. Is there anywhere you can go to have a test? Then use your own machine to cross check?

Can’t believe we are almost at the end of September! We have a really busy couple of months coming up. We get home Wednesday then drive to the Midlands Friday for a wedding on Saturday then home Sunday. The washing and ironing for our next, and possibly last trip, again the end of October …. just three weeks after our wedding trip. Starting to feel a bit ‘dizzy’! Anyway, I’ll join in an October thread if somebody sets one up.

Hi Lucy,
So sorry to hear you are suffering from vertigo. I really hope it eases ready for Tuesday. You deserve a holiday.

Really good that you have managed to fit into more clothes for your holiday. Enjoy your break!
Xx

Hi Pootle and everyone.
Still here. Diet has been up and down but weight consistent. Still walking every morning. 2.3 miles very quickly. Down to about half hour now.
Unfortunately I suffer on and off with vertigo and get very bad bouts. Last bad one was 2 years ago and was practically bed bound for 8 weeks and last few days have been suffering typical when off on my rebooked holiday tuesday. Only positive is meds seem to be helping this time . They dont always. Spent most of the morning in tears due to what I perceive as rhe unfairness of it all . After everything the last few years. Determined not to cancel holiday. Have cancelled 2 due to vertigo previously and 1 this year due to my dad’s death. Feeling pretty low tbh but I feel better than I did this morning.
Fingers crossed it will all be OK.
Hope you’re all doing well. Plus point got into a lot more clothes for holiday this time! Xx

😄😄😄Just decided on the spur of the moment to go to the cinema in an hour’s time… first time in about 8 years!!! Going to see the Downton Abbey film!
😄😄😄
See you later!

Thank you for your kind words, Pootle.
Sounds like you had a mammoth gardening session! Hope your puppy viewing goes well.

As part of my getting back to normality, I thought I’d drop in with some positives ….
🌻🌻 gradually getting through a ridiculously large pile of laundry, decided not to pressure myself to get everything sorted at once, so slowly does it
🌻🌻 slept well last night for the first time weeks
🌻🌻 OH successfully repaired youngest DD’s car, which has saved her a garage fee … and we all know how crazy they can be!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone and look out for those positives.

Hi Lucy,
You have been in my thoughts over the last month. I hope all is going ok for you after all the stresses of the past year. Are you a grandmother yet?
I slipped last night…had the ‘sod it’ attitude and ate 2 pieces of toast, a chocolate biscuit and a chocolate brownie! Luckily it didn’t affect my fasting sugars this morning. I will be extra careful today to keep to the diet and exercise a bit more 🤞 it doesn’t set me back too much!

Take care of yourself.
xxx

Hi all, not sure if the Yerba is doing any good but I have not had any snacks for the 3 times I have used it. One thing though is that I have been getting a headache in the afternoon. Not sure if I am drinking some of the powdery waste, maybe it should be strained.

I now have the problem of very high blood glucose. My last 4 readings have been 158, 153, 147 and today 144 (8.5, 8.2, 7.9 and 7.8). No apparent reason and not the Yerba as the first high was when hubby forgot and made me a coffee. No infection, not particularly stressed even with the house up for sale. Only reason I can think of is my machine is not working properly and needed replacing 2 years ago. Will see how it goes. I haven’t been having anything I shouldn’t, so not that. Any thoughts.

Thank you S-G & I have read up on C.Difficile & know how infectious it is but have not yet had it confirmed & I am taking precautions. My husband is fortunately feeling fine with no symptoms throughout the past three weeks that I have been feeling like this presuming it was still the after effects of taking antibiotics. I hope that my lab results will be back early next week with a definitive diagnosis.
Thank you for your concern.
Margaret xx

Just echoing DCT. Wishing you all the very best CATHY. I hope you feel better soon, and they find out what is troubling you. x

Reported

Cathy good to hear from you. I’ve been wondering how you are doing. So sorry you are feeling unwell. I hope that your GP and hospital appointments can identify what the problem is and the most effective way to deal with it.
We’re all thinking of you and wishing you well, and I really hope that you start to feel a bit better even before the appointments. Sending love and prayers X

Hello everyone
I’ve been off the grid for a little while whilst not feeling well and am just coming on to let you know that I have an appt with a Head & Neck Surgeon at Manchester Royal on 7th October. The dental hospital declined the urgent referral and suggested it be sent on the fast track pathway to Max Fax. I have an appt to see my GP on Wednesday to inform him of my referral and to ask him to check my bloods as I don’t feel at all well. I think a two pronged approach might be a good idea. Yesterday I even lost my appetite!! A sure sign of being unwell- it never happens! Anyway, thank you for your kind thoughts everyone and let’s hope it’s something simple and treatable.
Yowser, I hope you soon start to feel better. Hopefully your blood tests will enlighten the doctor as to what is going on. This cruise hasn’t been too kind to many of us. I think we will all be needing a good holiday when we dock in December.
Hope everyone is doing what they can.
Dawn, any news on your surgery date?
Lots of love to you all. I know you will have been wondering what’s going on. I’ll keep you posted after my appt on 7th

Hi everyone, so much going on right now on the site.

Margaret, unfortunately C diff is very contagious and I dont know why you have not been given advice. You should not be cooking for your husband. Neither should you be sharing things like towels or sheets, which makes bedtime very difficult. Hopefully, you are both wearing long trouser pyjamas in bed or sleeping separately. Sorry you are still going through all this and I hope you are back to normal soon.

Pootle, a puppy or cat would be the last thing I would want due to the ties they cause. Since our local cattery closed down in France there are very few places to take them when we go away. If you can leave them for holidays either with a trusted someone or in kennels then okay. We use Trustedhousesitters and they are brilliant but it is such a pain, advertising, interviewing, welcoming, trusting strangers in our home. After 22 sits we are getting a bit fed up and there is still nowhere new opened to leave our cats. Just think about the freedoms you need and how you will continue with that.

Yerba Mate tea – it comes in 2 forms, tea leaves which you strain or as a powder (I measure 5ml into a mug). It doesnt quite dissolve completely so there is sludge in the bottom of the mug which I avoid but add some more hot water to make a second drink. As for the taste, it is quite bitter but I add a little stevia, just a touch on the end of a teaspoon. I just have the one per day after lunch and it is certainly not as nice as my usual coffee. Is it working, I dont know but last night I didnt have any snacks (cold meats) late evening and didn’t even think about it. I also dont think I had an afternoon snack which I sometimes do when my BG goes low and I get a bit shaky. Obviously one day is not enough to judge but I have told hubby no coffee from now on – he makes my coffees and teas.

I will continue with the collagen powder and decide whether to continue when I finish my current supply. New reseach is now showing that creatinine is good for older ladies. All tests were about men and going to the gym and building muscle but they have switched their research to women in general but mainly post menopause women. Not recommending but worth doing some reading as it is also supposed to be good for bone health. Going to find out more.

Well that was a lot of stuff. Still catching up with washing as the weather has been hit and miss and we dont have a drying machine. Last thing. Our boiler has gone on the blink and we have no heating (not needed yet) or hot water until the engineer comes on Monday.

Have a good weekend.

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Ooh Pootle a new puppy! That will get you active! When I get back in November we will be looking to get another dog too ( we lost ours a few weeks ago) . As our lab got older the walks got slower and shorter so it will be nice to get out and about in the countryside again. My husband really needs a dog I think, gets him out walking as well.
Silly me, I only just realised there is a MM keto book! So I shall be taking that away with me. My keto is going well, I’m managing ok , weight loss isn’t evident but I have been forgetting to drink enough water so maybe that will help. The only carbs I have are from veg that’s in things so minimal. I don’t feel I’m in keto but must be…more fasting methinks. Have great weekend everyone x

Very well done Pootle & all your forward planning really paid off 👏👏👏⭐️⭐️
I think getting a puppy of even a cat is a good idea because they are so enchanting & amusing when young but of course you do have to house train them 😀 When we had to put to sleep our last cat I approached Cats Protection because we wanted to adopt two kittens a brother & sister but they inspected where we now live & said our village street which is really the high street was too busy with a bus route & cars using it as a rat run. Our neighbours have cats but we weren’t allowed to have them although of course we could have bought a kitten privately! I still miss having them although we have got used to not having a pet now & it’s of course cheaper not paying vet fees, buying food & pet care when we are on holiday.
Well my latest news is that my GP is now suspecting I have C.Difficile because of taking antibiotics for four weeks with my continuing gut problems so I am waiting for my lab results which may mean taking more antibiotics!! It never rains but it pours & I am very fed up & I am self restricting my outside activities in case I am infectious to others. My husband fortunately is unaffected even though I am back in the kitchen preparing meals. Oh well it may help me lose some weight but my poor inner biome is totally rotted up at the moment & I can’t tolerate Kefir or the pre & probiotics I am taking or any dairy!
Keep on posting everyone I do enjoy reading your updates & news 😀
Margaret xx

Good to hear all your positives.
Sunny, you have been in my thoughts and I am glad that you are getting some ‘normality’.
Verano, I hope your BBQ went well and you enjoyed your R&R.
S-G, I completely agree with ‘own bed syndrome’.
Heidi, you are right, friends are solid gold!
Arctic Fox, brilliant that you have found some positives to post!
So to today:
🪻🪻🪻We planted 20 allium bulbs and 40 narcissi this afternoon.
🌳🌳🌳 Also a Mahonia to replace a 30 year old one that had become too big.
🐾🐾🐾 Best of all, found a litter of KC registered puppies and we are going to see them on Tuesday! 🥳

I hope you all have some positives in your lives!
K xx

SG, so glad you had a wonderful visit with family. V, very happy birthday to your GD, Hooe she had a lively day.

My positives right now are …
🌸🌸 Mum’s funeral went well yesterday, was a lovely farewell and our talented DiL did a wonderful job of creating a beautiful floral tribute
🌸🌸 Dad has decided he wants to start his new chapter next week, so I am back home with no set date to return to his home at present
🌸🌸 looking forward to some ‘normality’ in the coming days.

Hope you are all enjoying some positives too.

Evening all,
It has taken me the last few days to recover from my hectic week. All went brilliantly. I managed all the physical stuff and my step counter says I walked over 50 miles in 5 days!! 12- hour days except one that was 5.30am to 9.30pm! 😴💤
I was able to keep on track with low carb (with only 2 slips) all week. I ate the cooked breakfast (bacon, sausage, egg and mushrooms) and prepared my own packed lunch in the hotel room until Friday. A friend refroze the numerous cold blocks that I had with me, so I was able to keep the basics fresh. Using tinned fish, fresh avocado, broccoli bread, mayonnaise, cheese and Greek yoghurt along with nuts as a snack!
Most evenings I managed to find a salad with either fish or steak.
So to results… my weight has stayed the same 😄😄
Fasting BG was 5.2 or 5.3 all week! 😄😄
When I got home I had a very upsetting arrival… no 4 legged greeting… etc… Fasting BG the next day was 5.8 🤔 (and I did keep to the diet)
It has settled again and the good news is;- OH and I had the discussion on Tuesday.. “what do we do about a dog”. After the “it will probably outlive me” “should we go for a rescue” “do we want a smaller breed” etc. We are going to see a Kennel Club registered puppy next week! 😉 😄
The house is just too empty without one!
So trying to remember all the puppy stuff.. 😂
I have read most of your posts whilst I have been away… good to hear from you all. Verano, Sunshine-girl, Antigone, Tulip, Arctic Fox, Shetland Lace and Margaret. Thinking positive thoughts to you all. K xx

So my positives …..

👧🎂🍨 Granddaughter’s birthday today …. time flies!
🍗🥗🍤 BBQ dinner tonight … hopefully low carb!
☀️🧘🏻‍♀️🏖️ Lots of rest and relaxation!

Hope you have some positives too.

S-g I’ll be interested to see how the Yerba mate helps. What does it taste like?
I’ve been taking a collagen supplement for the last 6 or 8 weeks and I think it’s helped my skin. It could just be wishful thinking though! I do have good skin for my age. I keep my face out of this sun and use moisturisers but I think it’s probably due to genetics more than anything else!

Really enjoying the weather here which is probably around mid 20’s which is lovely but have to say my ‘diet’ has been anything but ‘Mediterranean’! Anyway, in a strange way, I’m looking forward to being home and eating my ‘normal’ diet again.

Hope everyone is well.

Back on Yerba Mate tea to see if it really can reduce night time cravings or hunger. Hubby forgot yesterday and made me a coffee after lunch. So that will be one Yerba after lunch – although there is always a lot of powder in the bottom of the cup so I add another half a cup of water to use it up. Will let you know how it makes me feel. I bought mine on line and it was quite expensive including the postage so if it seems to be working I will try to buy in the UK when we are next over.

I also take collagen powder in my green tea in the mornings but have doubts that it does any good. Does anyone have any information.

Back from a lovely visit with family, my positives are:-

Love my family
Nice to be back in my own bed and on my own time
Thank you Verano for trying to keep the site scam free – they come thick and fast

hi all, already lost 3lbs since Monday. Plan is to lose a total of 14lbs by 18th December. Bon chance a tous.

reported carterbishop as well

Hi Red.panda, I agree that a pinch of salt might sort you out and rebalance your electrolytes. But, just one question, are you diabetic. If you are then you probably need a snack and again, I agree some cheese or hard boiled egg.

Just popping in to say hi. Back on Sunday night but sitters wanted to stay another night. Then first thing yesterday we had a message from house agent that she was bringing people today. Meant instead of relaxing we had to unpack loads of shopping and get our cases emptied so we could stash them away. Managed to get everything ship shape in time. Result was they thought our living space was too small but agent pointed out that as a holiday home they would be using the outside space more than inside. Hey ho.

Weighed in and gained 2kgs so back on the old routine. Now 12 weeks to my next trip to UK for Xmas.

Arctic, not had much time for trying the Yerba Mate but will start on it again tomorrow. I worry that it says ‘safe to use for 12 weeks’, why is that?

Shetlandlace, great that you are on maintenance now. I did a bodyscan in the gym the day after being to cinema and eating salted popcorn and then a Wagamama Duck and noodles and it showed up as carrying excess water – lots of it, so it is not just the carbs.

Verano, I would never prick so soon after food. I always do it first thing in the morning before food or drink. Exception to that is if I am feeling weak and shaky. However, after our cruise and extended holiday my HbA1c was 7.2, never been that high since starting with BSD. Back down to high 6’s but hopeful for a much better result in 10 weeks.

Will see you all tomorrow.

So glad your day went well Wendy. SL – thank you for your keto advice – much appreciated. I am working away ( UK) in a few weeks and there is an excellent Halal market close by so I will definitely investigate Yerba tea. Any one tried Bullet proof coffee? Verano – wishing you a lovely holiday – hopefully the fires will soon be sorted and you can enjoy your time away. Pootle we need an update please! SG also! My keto is going really well, my mindset is good, blood pressure good, much more relaxed and not even worried about weighing because I feel so good. I was aware of keto before obs. but that 4 day water fast sling shotted me into ketosis and I am hooked 🙂 Hope everyone is doing well 😉

Well today was a wake up call for me. I haven’t finger pricked for a week or so. I’m on holiday. This morning I thought I should do a test. Did it after a breakfast of Greek yogurt, blueberries and milky coffee and it was 11 !!! I can’t ever remember seeing that number. May just have been too close to breakfast but must admit to carby things over the last few days. Anyway back down to 6.1 two hours after lunch so feeling a bit better. Just need to be very mindful …. holiday or not.

On a sad note there are fires here up in the countryside of the western Algarve. They are quite a way inland, apparently started deliberately by a farmer, who has been arrested, but the smoke is really strong down here on the coast. It started Sunday night and is obviously still out of control as the smoke down here is pretty dense and strong smelling .The weird property laws they have have probably led to the fire being started in the first place and the fire service consists of ‘volunteers’, so all in all not the best of situations. Fortunately, although there has been a lot of damage to land and property, I think there have only been a few minor injuries, so far. Let’s just hope they can get it under control soon.

Hope everyone is well and following a healthy way of eating, whatever that might be.

Calling Sunshine-girl… hope you’re ok?

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Hi all,
Sounds like you had a lovely day with the family, Margaret, and congratulations on both the stairs climbed and the weight lost! Also sounds like you’re doing all the right things for your gut health, so hopefully you’ll be feeling much better really soon🤞I did laugh when I read about your knit & natter project, though – bats?? I thought it was a typo!🤣
Antigone – I find that if I keep my carb intake around 25g per day, that puts/keeps me in ketosis, so that is what I did. I did take a daily green supplement &/or multivitamin, as well as fibre supplements, because I couldn’t eat enough fibre etc and keep carbs that low.
For those interested in trying yerba mate, if you have a shop that sells middle eastern/halal groceries near you, or has a South American grocery section, maybe have a look in there. Our local shop must have a dozen varieties of yerba mate on the shelves, and it’s not very expensive at all.
Pootle – hope you’re ok and survived your week away ‘winging it’, especially after your sad loss.
As for me, I’ve officially been on ‘maintenance’ now for 2 weeks. But I went out on Saturday with friends and had a bit of a blow-out – ate naan bread, curries etc and thoroughly enjoyed it! Weighed myself the next day to find I was a kilo heavier, down to all the extra carbs I imagine (I hadn’t eaten bread in 3 months!). But just like many of you have said, that extra weight was all gone in a couple of days. I’m still logging everything in my app, and I think that’s a habit I’ll keep up for a while – that way I can track what’s working and what isn’t.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on a lot today! Hope everyone is well,
Take care of yourselves,
Lacy xx

HEIDI very well done for your amazing loss and for being so consistent despite your difficult circumstances. You’ve done really well. I hope that everything improves soon for all those that you are caring for, and that you manage to get some rest and relaxation for yourself.

YOWZER I’m sorry to hear about the potential anaemia, and hope the blood test can start getting things sorted for you. You’ve had so much to deal with recently and I hope there is some positive change very soon X

Hi everyone! Thank you DCT and HEIDI for your comments,I just want to echo all that you both said X
Havent the energy to write much,going for blood test on the 30 th ( cdnt book a sooner appt) Doc thinks I might be anaemic as Im so tired and i keep having muscle spasms and jolts and twitches.
I’ve never been anaemic in my life,but apparently anaemia following slapped cheek syndrome is a thing.
Love and best wishes to all,and specially to CCATHY xxx have a good week folks as we sail into autumn / spring!
ship ahoy! XX

Hi DCT, and all of us here. I just wanted to echo your post. Really hoping that CATHY gets reassuring news. And that DAWN gets a date soon. ARCTIC FOX I hope that feeling of lightness continues, and wish you and all well for the coming week.

It has been 10 days since posting but it feels like a month! I have been caring for my mother in the UK while my father has been in hospital. As they sometimes say, old age is not for softies. It has been a distressing and exhausting time for everyone and may well continue to be. But I have had to refocus on my husband’s cancer treatment for now. Apart from one bad evening of comfort/stress eating, I have managed to keep on track. My best NSV is just looking decent again in size 16 trousers, and getting the compliments. As well as knowing that I am now at a normal BMI for my age, which makes me feel healthier. This week I shall start some exercising, continue to eat healthily, and probably not lose weight. And I shall tell myself that that is OK!

For my own record though, I am noting that I have been eating healthily for 17 weeks, and have now lost 13.7 kilos.

ARCTICFOX how are you doing? I’m really pleased that the EMDR therapy seems to have gone well, and also that you have a bit of down time this week. Take care of yourself and take things easy. Every one of your posts is inspiring and a positive move forward.

DAWN I hope you get a date sorted soon for your surgery, and that it goes well for you when it does happen.

CATHY if you’re reading this just know you’re in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love x

I’m doing ok. Slow and steady. Deliberately so, as I have lots of social things on at the moment. So am being strict when I can and allowing myself some leeway when out and about.

I’m also more concerned with NSVs as I’m increasingly realising how fickle scales are. When putting mine back in my new bathroom I did a bit of an experiment and took weight readings in several different places. Would you believe 3lb difference between them all! So I’m still aiming for my pound a week loss between now and Christmas but am more concerned about changes I can see and feel rather than numbers on the scales.

Hope everyone is ok and that next week goes well for you X

Hello everyone & it was a lovely day yesterday seeing all our family. My daughter in law brought the spaghetti Bol so I didn’t have to cook that although I provided nibbles of prawns, vegetable samosas & an M & S Mexican dip with sweet potato tortillas that all was appreciated & quickly disappeared. I didn’t eat any of that because of my iffy tummy but did have wine & a small portion of spaghetti Bol & a small piece of chocolate torte. I felt that I still had to avoid the cheeses but ate a couple of cheese biscuits. For breakfast today, which I don’t usually eat, I had one weetabix with oat milk & some kefir plus an Optibac prebiotic because I am seeing how I tolerate that all! Because of my four weeks of antibiotics I am having difficulty trying to help my gut recover but trying different foodstuffs 🤔😀. I weighed yesterday & have lost one pound so trying to get back on track & this morning I managed to climb a few stairs with my new knee so I am feeling very pleased with myself😀.
My new village knit & natter project is knitting bats to be sold at a bat talk on saving them in a couple of months! It keeps me busy!
Keep on going everyone I love hearing your news & I will look at the fitnesspas thank you S-G.
Margaret xx

1) I’m appreciating the moderators who have deleted all the irritating adverts and spam. Thank you!
2) I have managed to stick to healthy eating despite a very challenging time over the last 10 days. Just one blip.
3) Friends are solid gold.

A couple of positives after my absence!

😄😄😄Just finished my ‘heavy’ working week !! Had a long soak in the hotel bath… deep enough to float… and am currently lying down with my feet up on a pillow!! 🦶🦶

🥐🍩 Managed the week without going ‘off low carb eating’ more than 2ce!! A croissant on Thursday… and a treat chocolate dessert and glass of Prosecco tonight! 🥂🍾

Very tired… but yay the satisfaction that I have done it. Managed to keep working ! 🎉🎊🥳

Hi everyone,
Just checking in quickly as I’m in the middle of reprocessing after a very deep EMDR session earlier this week. I’ve got some very interesting feelings and sensations this time. Sometimes it can bring up a lot more bad memories and emotions, but this time I’m feeling really, really good. I’ve been a lot more open to people, for instance, and smiling at everyone in the supermarket. But I feel quite vulnerable with it too, so I’m keeping myself to myself for the weekend at least. I have next week off work but will be taking a day trip on Tuesday to deliver garlic and see some old friends, so that will be nice.

Glad to see Heidi and Arctic posting … and you too Verano. Thought it time I added some positives too, so here goes ….
🌸🌸 home again for a few days, having been at my Dad’s for the past week. Good to be on home territory for awhile.
🌸🌸 having scavenged some fig leaves from a friend’s tree, I’m in the process of making fig oil. Also have a batch of confit garlic slowly cooking.in a cool oven.
🌸🌸 looking forward to an evening out tonight, a social event at our village hall to celebrate it’s centenary.

That’s it for me at present …. do you have any positives to share?

Arcticfox good to see you posting ‘positives’! That’s a really great step in the right direction!

A couple from me …..
☀️🌤️☀️ wonderful sunshine here despite a few drops of rain at lunchtime.
🥗🌶️🍅 had a virtually ‘simple carb free day’ today which is not that easy in a hotel with all the temptations……
🍕🥪🧁 I know these things aren’t really for me so just have to be strong and ‘resist’. In truth though, they aren’t really that ‘tempting’!
If you have a positive please post … one is fine!

A few positives for me:
1) record breaking warmth for September means I haven’t come close to having a frost yet, so everything is still growing nicely in the garden. We could use some rain, but that is in the forecast for the weekend.
2) Had an amazing and very intensive therapy session yesterday. Felt like something cracked open inside of me and let a lot of negative emotions out that had been stuck inside. We’ll see if it lasts!
3) A neighbourhood feral cat moved her 7 kittens into one of my outbuildings so I have been feeding them as both she and they are quite skinny. They are starting to trust me and I was even able to stroke one of the bolder ones last night!

Gosh it is quiet here.
1) Hasn’t it been a gorgeous golden day today? At least in Europe. All the fuchsias and salvias in the garden are popping with colour.
2) I’m enjoying the new choir season, as we rehearse Handel’s Messiah and Faure Requiem. One particular jewel is Rheinberger’s Abendlied. See if you like it on Spotify.
3) My mother is managing reasonably well while my father is in hospital. And I know she has been enjoying the sunshine too.

Reported Oliver4433

Your week is nearly over Pootle..hang in there! How lovely to have your family altogether Wendy. Looked up Yerba Tea..the caffeine would be an issue for me but I wouldn’t mind the ‘bliss’ hormone! Starting a fast today (or tomoz), 3 days this time, 4 is too long I think. I’m very interested in keto dieting for all the side benefits but it takes me around 48 hours fasting to enter ketosis..so some experimenting to do there. Thoughts?