Summer Solstice Sensation

maman

How's that!:rotfl:

I feel so sorry for you LL putting on those lbs but it's so easily done. You have been through such a tough time lately and it's so easy to slip into bad habits or rather out of good ones. I do envy you your neighbour though. I'd really love to have a massage so cheaply, you lucky thing!

I must admit that I needed to lose a lot of weight before I felt I was going backwards if I had a bad week. It seems each week I have some sort of 'event' going on so it's really hard to stick to my eating plan 100%. At least a couple of pounds on isn't noticeable but I know!:o

Today I've been very good though:) I've been to the TUC March for the Alternative and I took a completely SW friendly packed lunch with me. Tonight DH and I have been to see a super production of The Barber of Seville. It was really good, great voices but also superb comic acting.

:T on selling some jewellery. Have a lovely weekend with your boys. What've you been sewing?

lessonlearned

Hi Maman - glad you are back. Sounds like your'e having a great time, out and about. You are doing well to stick to your healthy eating too - it's especially difficult when you eat out I think.

DS1 now gone back. He chopped down a couple of big shrubs for me to clear a space ready for the new summerhouse, he also pulled out the appliances in the kitchen so I could clean behind them.

The kitchen is in dire need of a serious degunk and blitz, so I'm going to tackle it a bit at a time decluttering cupboards etc. as I go. Have also decluttered OH's wardrobe today (part 1) - again it's going to be in easy stages. All this in between trying to emulsion the lounge - DS2 now finished the celing so we're ready to go. As usual trying to half a dozen things at once. Will I never learn.

I am attempting to sew some adult bibs for OH, I bought one from the Disability Shop - £19:eek: I've bought some plasticised fabric from Dunhelm Mill - one metre for £3 which should make three bibs. Very MSE. Very hard to sew though, rough on the fingers - have just pinned and tacked so far. I'm hoping my small sewing machine will cope - don't fancy doing them by hand:(

The sun's just come out so going to sit outside with a cup of tea whilst OH has his nap. Then think about dinner and tackle the census form:D

Bye for now - hope you've all had a good weekend.

Todays treatment - will sit and paint my nails tonight.

lessonlearned

Beautiful day here today, Carer took OH to a local nature reserve to make the most of the weather.

Had a good productive day, tackled a mountain of outstanding paperwork, VAT returns, chasing our solicitor in Spain, sorting out SS forms, banking etc. Feels good when it's done. Also an ASDA shop.

This afternoon machined the first bib, I've only got a little battery operated machine at the moment, fine for little things like cushions etc but it really struggled with plasticised fabric. Just got to handsew the fasteners on - my poor fingers.

Going to treat myself to a fancy all singing, all dancing model one of these days - not until the decorating is done though - mustn't get sidetracked or it will never be finished:rotfl:

Anyway off to cook dinner - still not exercised properly - just a few stretches to try and loosen up. Physio tomorrow. Let's hope he can wave a magic wand and get me moving properly - I can't straighten up properly half the time - feel as if I am walking like an ape at the moment. What a picture - an ape dressed like a bag lady.:rotfl: I did actually buy myself a couple of t-shirts from ASDA - not very exciting but hey it's a start.

Had a letter from our surgery - apparently they are now offering free health checks to the over 40's. Think that's a great idea. I'm not a hyperchondriac or even one of the "worried well" - I just think it's not a bad idea to be pro-active and nip any early problems in the bud.

Maybe the GP telling me to lose weight will be the kick up the derriere I need.:rotfl: Actually I have been very good this last couple of days, cut out the er hem "superfluous" cakes and goodies, reduced portion size and even cut out the knobs of butter I dot over everything.

Morroccan chicken, and cous cous tonight.

lessonlearned

Busy day. Physio this morning, worked mainly on neck - feels a bit better.

Plumber here to service boiler and gas fire so not much else achieved really. Off to cook dinner - very tired - a rest this evening and an early night I think.

Carmen

GOSH! I cannot believe it has been a week since I last posted
I have been feeling so much better the last few days so managed to catch up on some serious house work. Restarted the decluttering of my wardrobe.
I finally managed to get my haircut, my morning look, was looking as if I had put my fingers in a live socket :rotfl: I have also started my beauty ( I use the word loosely) regime again.

Good to see you back Maman, you seem to be having a good time Did your colourful clothes come out during the lovely weather we had last week?

LL * gentle kick up the derriere for you* :rotfl::rotfl: You really do not need it, you will so get your mojo back, it can be difficult when we don't feel 100%. Maybe once the physio loosens you up a little you make feel like getting back to your excercise's? We know they work:)
Don't let the weight gain worry you, you maybe need to adjust to not having to wake up to a mental and physical battle every day!
How is the decorating and bib making coming along? I love the fresh smell of paint.
Sewing machine need not be too expensive, I was surprised how cheap they can be. I'm sure I was reading a thread on mse about them.
Pleased to hear your jewelery has started to sell and remember, Jacqueline Gold must have started small before she made her millions (maybe not a good comparison )
Thank you for the facial tips, I will give them a try.
OK, going to take finish my manicure have a nice shower and then a good slathering, skin is very dry at the moment.

I love cous cous. I cooked beef with mustard mash tonight, so easy.
Goodnight ladies and lurkers.
Carmen xx

lessonlearned

Hello Everyone

Hi Carmen - glad to see you are back on form, feeling better and raring to go. It's funny how we all have our highs and lows is't it. As long as we keep bouncing back and keep at it we'll get there in the end. Churchill once said something along the lines of "When you are walking through hell, you just have to keep going". He was, of course, talking about the war, but, sometimes, I feel that I'm fighting a bit of war. So .... I might lose the odd battle but onwards and upwards for victory.

Karma - Good or bad, do you believe in it?

I think I do.

Re the decorating - I'm really struggling to get on with my lounge, DS2 did the ceiling whilst on holiday from work, but he's gone back now and really doesn't have much time to help - garden centres tend to be very busy this time of year. My back and neck have been so bad I couldn't face climbing ladders and painting.

Anyway my lovely plumber has offered to finish the job at mates rates, I practically bit his hand off.

He's a smashing guy, we've known him for some time and he thinks the world of OH. Anyway the plumber and I were chatting, putting the world to rights as usual - he can talk for England - he was saying how we had supported him since he first started his own business etc and that over the years we have recommended him and got him work.

I did in fact I introduce him to a neighbour yesterday who needs a new boiler and is thinking about a new bathroom. So yes, I think that helping people does somehow feed back. Good karma.

He could see how I was struggling and plunged straight into offering to help. It will be a huge relief to get the living room straight. The dining room is interconnecting and much easier than the lounge - mainly straight walls and fewer fiddly bits. I can do that myself at my leisure.

Today very busy, DS2's day off - had a disappointing morning looking at cars with him, no joy. This afternoon took OH to the hospital eye clinic - yet more hanging around. Was exhausted when I got back.

Todays exercise - lugging that blasted wheelchair round miles of hospital corridors!!! Todays beauty treatment - a 1hr nap on the sofa when I got back from hospital.:rotfl:

Never mind back to a proper regime tomorrow. Well done on getting back to your beauty regime Carmen. I don't think the odd lapse does any real harm. I think the old 80/20 rule is good enough - be good 80%
of the time and it doesn't matter too much about the other 20%.

Couldn't be bothered cooking tonight - so OH had a cheaty chinese ready meal (easy to eat) whilst DS2 and I had bacon/brie melts - very naughty but absolutely yummy. Toasted ciabatta, layer of tomatoes, layer of cooked bacon, topped with brie and pop under the grill till cheese oozes all over the place. I love mustard mash.

Goodnight - off to get some beauty sleep.

lessonlearned

Stepping up my Game

Not sure whether I've fully got my mojo back but am going to try and give that elephant a run for its money.

Today I've joined WW, I know you rate SW Maman but I needed a daytime class that was local and convenient and WW fitted the bill. I won't be buying all their products etc but will eat healthily. For me, I think the weekly weigh in and keeping a food diary are what is needed to help me focus and stay on track.

Anyway start weight 12st12lbs:eek: Let's see what I can do.

Exercise - having to almost start from scratch.
Managed 2kms on bike (2 x 1) Will try some yoga later.

Beauty treatment - manicure this evening.

Bright and breezy here - great drying day.

lessonlearned

Really busy day, gave Scope a miss - backache still very bad and couldn't face lugging wheelchair around.

House a tip (seriously) so trying to get that under control - will be better after living room painting is done and I can start to get things back to rights.

Managed a short walk yesterday evening to post box - 1080 steps, not much but a start. Just done 2kms on bike.

Stocked up on veg and salads for my healthy eating programme - day 2 and starting to get to grips with it.

That's all for now. Have a fab weekend everyone.

Carmen

Good evening ladies,
Well done LL for making a come back on the road to fabulousness. How did your first SW meeting go, well I hope? Group therapy can sometimes be a big help, day 2 and upwards.
I have had a very lazy day today, waiting for a parcel which never arrived :mad: Still, managed to get a lot of washing dried in the sun

Gave myself a pedicure today, feet not so dry now as I have slathered them and put cotton socks on at bedtime.

Salad with egg and cheese tonight easy peasy, but then I started to eat naughty things Never mind positive days ahead.

I'm expecting the courier to arrive early tomorrow so need to have an early night, I cannot sleep unless I read a few chapters first.
Maman :wave: Hope the ankle is fine?

Goodnight all
Carmen xx

maman

:wave:

I've been very lazy about posting recently but have been reading and thinking of you all. Maybe I should try to come on here before the early hours! Life's been good but busy, never seems to be a happy medium at the moment.

Well done LL on joining WW and stocking up on the salady bits. I must admit to feeling very virtuous when my trolly is full of fresh stuff (we'll ignore the fresh wine here:o). I also try to get to Aldi when I can and get their fruit/veg offers which I managed yesterday. Sorry to hear that your back's still playing up. When does the NHS physio start?

I think my ankle's OK thank you Carmen. It's more or less healed and doesn't hurt. While the consultant told me that biopsy showed they'd cleared all the nasty cells, if I'm honest, it still scares me.

Decorating in our bathroom's finished and looking good. DH is threatening to do our study/bedroom next. It's absolutely full of books & files but I've told him that before planning new shelving (we're thinking of glass-fronted Billy book cases from Ikea) he must have a cull of things he doesn't need to keep so lots of shredding been going on this week. I can't see anything being started until after Easter. I need to think of a colour scheme and new flooring idea. DH is leaning towards very functional office style but I fancy something softer.

I've been hopeless on the fab front. No change on the weightloss this week which is good considering the off-plan meals out I've had. My hair desperately needs cutting which doesn't help so will try to make an appointment ASAP.

Had a great day out in London with my friend on Tuesday. We went to see the Wallace collection - beautiful house and lovely artworks- amazingly just off Oxford Street. Then we went to see Betty Blue Eyes, very funny new musical comedy. Last night DH and I saw Steel Eye Span which took us back a bit, good to hear live music. Voluntary work continues but only half a day this week.

That's about it for me. Have a good weekend all.