September Dryathlon

Oh dear, jg, sorry to hear that. I hope things improve for you soon.

I've nothing much to report for the last two days. A toddler paced walk round DGS's local tarn yesterday, hovering protectively over him, much to his annoyance, as he is just a little bit too confident on his new scooter. And today I walked up to the crossroads and back for the bus into town instead of using the stop at the end of the street. So 6000+ steps so far today and 3000+ yesterday, but nothing to cheer about really! I met up with some ex colleagues for a little leaving lunch for one of them today, resisted the main courses and the and just had a starter, but then found myself ordering a hot chocolate to finish instead of the tea I meant to have. Quiz tonight, so I'll try to be good on the supper front - the g & ts are non-negotiable though!

Oh dear, jogginggirl, sorry to hear that...

I hope things are better for you soon. And for Anya

Sorry I'm a bit quiet just now - dealing with a difficult family issue at the moment - it's taken the wind out of my sails a bit

Back soon I hope

I don't think the DM actually did the research itself, jane...

Not sure you can combine the words 'research' and 'Daily Mail' in the same sentence iam64.

I've just read some research published in the DM on line which says that giving up alcohol for a month allows your liver to heal, cholesterol to drop and a weight loss of up to 6kg. I'm a one glass in the evening person but maybe I will join the dry group. (a bit)

I'm posting as I go along in case the wifi drops again and I lose it all!

Talesof Wildlife from the River Bank Ana ? Perhaps you could become a twitcher. A school I used to teach at (appropriately named Marshside) literally backed onto a Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary and we did a lot of twitching with the pupils. We once saw a Black Tailed Godwit, I fool you not!

JG I'm not so much a naturally funny person as one of lives walking disaster areas. GD2 takes after me in this. If there's a step to trip over or a drink to be knocked over we find it. Yesterday on the way back from House of Horrors I called at Tesco (again) to buy some chilled coffe drinks (I'm missing my coffee machine and DD drinks instant {believe me she wasn't brought up like that }) . As I reached up to get one the plastic lid came off. This shouldn't have mattered but the foil seal inside was damaged too, and half the contents poured over me and the lad stacking the shelf next to me!

Yes, welcome home JG I couldn't log on here as the wifi dropped. It's very unreliable. Skye was supposed to come to fix things on Saturday but never showed up!

Well done everyone or not as the case may be! What the hell, it's only a challenge and we all fail sometimes and yes this is leading up to a confession of over eating, over drinking and under stepping. DD and family have headed 'oop north' to visit friends for a couple of days (half term) so we had the house to ourselves and the dogs (their Jack Russell). This was the first time we've had time to ourselves since the fire so went a bit OTT diet wise.

But have come down to earth with a crash and am reading 'Pure, White and Deadly' which will put me back on track for sure.

GS1 would love you Maggie he's an ardent Dr Who nutter fan too and bores me to nibbling my nails entertains me by describing in too much great detail things about the programme he feels would interest me

Ana sorry, not Anya!

I'd recommend it, Anya. We got ours for less than half price at Sainsburys one day - as you do, go in for a bag of apples, come out with a stepper.... I've also got a mini trampoline gathering dust down in the cellar, which I suppose would come in for step counts too. I'm not allowed to use it upstairs though as DH swears the floor was shaking last time I did and he fears for the floorboards - cheek!

5,000 steps on the stepper? Why am I bothering to go out for a walk at all - must get one of those asap!

Welcome home, jg! Recover well from the long journey before you get back into the old routine.

When do you move into your temporary home, Anya? It must be so traumatic having to sort through your belongings, knowing they can't all be saved.

I've just had a little panic looking for my "lost" pedometer, which has now been safely located hanging round my neck. Having totted up my steps over the week, I'm pleased to say I've exceeded the 35000 target, so I'm celebrating with a glass of before taking me off to bed. I didn't get out today - I got far too engrossed in a Christmas sampler that I've just started and plans for Halloween - so just got on the stepper and did 5000 steps whilst engrossed in my recording of last night's Dr Who (yes, I am so sad!!). DH had kindly WD40-ed said stepper for me, so we started off smoothly, but after a while the old squeaks started up, eventually getting so loud that I had to put the subtitles on to follow the plot (tbh I rarely do follow the plot anyway, but I still enjoy it).

And our last week beckons! What shall we do in November?

Well, here I am - it's the no jogging jg and minimal stepping
It's a long way home from France and I'm two hours behind or in front

We had a fab time but it's lovely to be back and I'm looking forward to seeing the lovely GD's and DS and DD and my mum soon

Hoping to get 'back into it' with the fitbit this week - once I've caught up with washing, gransnetironing, shopping etc..

Anya - you are a treat to read - always with a positive, funny account of what must be such a stressful time for you - I don't know how you do it, but thank you
Maggie I don't think you could ever upset anyone with your hilarious tales of your daily routines
Ana - how fabulous to get the swans - did they have their young this year and were you able to watch them ...?
How annoying Anno leaving the pedometer in the car - I often forget to put the sensor in my fitbit until half way through the day

Just catching up on Strictly and then I will dance drag myself upstairs to bed

Oh, Anya, it's good that you can joke even when you're going through such an awful time! Pity it wasn't next weekend when your black nose could have been passed off as Halloween makeup...

Tales from the Riverbank are non-existent I'm afraid - there's a bit of common land that goes along the bottom of our garden next to the estuary of a river (a stream, really) and it's quite often flooded, as it was today. Lovely for wildlife though - we get swans sometimes!

Really, really pleased you're back Ana I'd be interested in any Tales from the Riverbank you might have to share.

Only 3000 steps today but that was deliberate cut back as have a rather sore knee for some reason.

JG that sounds idyllic

Maggie I really think you should have plonked the hat on your head and cackled fetchingly at anyone you met

Thanks Katy I spend an hour each day trying to see what can be salvaged and end up with filthy hands. I must have accidently rubbed my face and didn't discover it until my DD pointed out I had a very black nose when I got back to her house. I thought I got strange looks in Tesco!

I'm so relieved you're back, Ana. What are you painting?

The squeaky stepper is now sitting in front of the TV, but hasn't been forced into noisy service yet. Instead I had a bit of a walk to the shops yesterday after meeting two of my friends for afternoon tea (literally tea - I bravely resisted the and goodies), and today I walked into town between bouts of drizzle and internet browsing. I found some black and silver spider's web material to make myself a witch's cloak to impress the DGS next weekend, then spotted a matching spidery witch's hat for £1 on the way out. Well, one has to accessorise, doesn't one? The trouble was, it wouldn't fit in my bag so I had to carry it the 2 miles home - I was tempted to put the thing on my head when the rain started, but it would only have confirmed what I'm sure some already think.

So happy you're back Ana
I have almost zero steps to report after 8 hours in the car
Still, happily ensconced in the hotel (half way home) so I might manage a few steps to the bar and then a few more to the restaurant
Santé

I sympathise Anya Some years ago I left a chip pan on the hob. My DD was in the bath upstairs, directly above the kitchen and she shouted down that there was smoke coming through the floor. (I can't even bear to think about what could have happened). The kitchen was destroyed, and as you are discovering, the soot and smoke got everywhere. DH grabbed the offending chip pan and received a bad burn to his hand and had to go to A&E. What a nightmare a fire is. I hope you get sorted soon.

OK, sorry for my sense of humour failure!

Can't see me reaching my target today as it's been raining so I decided to do some painting instead, but the sun's come out now so may go for a jog brisk walk around the garden and along the riverbank if it's not flooded again...

Anya, what a very trying time you've been having and I don't suppose it's much compensation that you are being forced to walk till you drop. I hope Murphy is back in good health. I had a long weekend in Scotland. Plenty of steps but not counted because I left the pedometer in my car and travelled by train. We had a good long walk round St Andrews followed by excellent lunch which probably undid all the good the walk did. Also a considerable walk from car park to concert hall by way of M&S around Perth. So I wasn't completely idle. Now the weather has stymied my intentions. It's rather a miserable morning and I'd planned a walk around the gardens of a NT property. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Good luck and good walking.

Oh dear, now I'm hoping I haven't upset anyone by saying the thread has been fun. It's also been very upsetting, indeed heartrending, at times.

all round.

Come back, Ana, please. This has been such a fun and supportive thread and I for one need all the help I can get.

I'm already wondering what fresh hell challenge we've to look forward to in November....

I can only echo Anya's post Ana. I would absolutely not want to offend you in any way, which is why I said I was sorry. Please re-consider and come back to us ...

I posted that I was sorry Ana because there was no intent to hurt your feelings and I realised you'd taken my post amiss. I was delighted, but surprised, that you are starting to find walking addictive. I don't find it addictive it's something I have to make myself do. I certainly don't find your efforts modest.

It's 03.50 and I can't sleep so am using the time to hopefully put this nice supportive thread back on line.

Oh dear....