September Dryathlon

Well, it wasn't what I had in mind, but glad it gave you some happy memories Ann!

No, I used to put my step-calculator (a small Omron) in my bra as it didn't come with a clip and I don't always wear trousers with pockets. I don't know how it and the second one managed to work their way out and get lost, but they did!

Just got back from afternoon/evening visiting small over excited DGC, and we stayed for dinner with them, where we ate far too much, and they flung bits of their meal around while the eldest ( aged three) regaled us with stories of what they had been doing all day.His speech and vocabulary is amazing and always makes us laugh.
Did all the Christmas cards the other day( at long last) and posted them today ? So am feeling virtuous.A quiet day on Sunday so if the weather is dry will try and go for a walk somewhere, although it will likely be muddy.An old friend calling in for lunch the next day, so that will be nice.
Important announcement........ahem! Have found where to buy dark choc large strawberry creams, Poundland! They are made by Whittakers so will be lovely, I bought two boxes and put them away.They also have coffee creams and peppermint creams.?

Welcome, Ann and good luck with this lot! I see they've already sorted you out with a fancy Dan pedometer. My Daffodil only cost a fiver, but then you can't really invest more when you keep subjecting them to a boil wash....

We're having fun and games all round in the family, broken down cars, flooded roads, unfinished house improvements all causing swift changes of plan. We have two of the DGS and their mum and dad staying with us for the foreseeable future, which is lovely and very cosy, with all the junk from the spare rooms again surrounding our bed and testing our athleticism. I was jolted rudely awake in the early hours by DH's cackhanded and unsuccessful efforts to get to the bathroom avoiding the bike, the Playmobil castle, the marble run (all set up and awaiting Christmas Day), the crib, the boxes of tree decorations and Summer clothes, the charity bag etc, etc. I then had to run the gauntlet myself to find the Rennies as we had a Christmas Quiz social last night and I ate (and perhaps drank ) far too much for my own good. At least DH avoided crushing my feet this time .

We had a family Santa Special steam train trip today and a lovely lunch out together (again, I ate so much, I'm still stuffed). Some of us very nearly missed the train, racing onto the platform in the rain, toddlers akimbo, at the very last minute, but we got there . I've managed just over 5000 very wet steps, which will do me.

Ooh, thanks roses, we love chocolate coffee creams and peppermint creams (not the strawberry ones - Maggie can have those ).

Will have to make a trip to Poundland next week...

Ahoy there Ana it was Maggie who ate the last lot of strawberry creams, every last one of them. Or have you forgotten? I was hoping to get some this time round.

Excuse me bring thicker than usual but I'm not quite sure why you've turned you bedroom into an obstacle course Maggie ?? ?? Have I missed something perhaps?

Welcome back roses - have you actually tried any of the strawberry creams yet? I'd be interested to know how they taste so I can get some before Maggie they get all snapped up. Very partial to coffee creams too.
And walnut whips, the real ones with the walnut in the middle.

Now where was I?

Yes Ann it is true that Ana loses things down her bra. I'm sorry if this revelation excited upset you but we are an odd bunch on this thread and strange things do happen but you'll soon get used to it. By the way, how's your house sale going Ana?

Hope JG is enjoying her well earned break.

If all this sounds a bit disjointed it's because I'm very tired and off to get a very early night any minute now.

Anya, yes I know it was Maggie who ate the strawberry creams, that's why I said she could have them (save her stealing them! ), but I've changed my mind and you can have any that are going spare!

House sale still going through the 'waiting' stage, I'm on tenterhooks every day except Sunday waiting for more information...

Maggie, your day sounds wonderful!

Off now too...

Ha, I've gone off the strawberry creams anyway (ate too many last time ). Now if there's any marzipan chocs going begging...

The obstacle course is from us having to clear our junk rooms spare bedrooms for the visitors, Anya. Usually our fall back position is to stick all the stuff in the cellar, but DD1 is between houses and we have many, many big cardboard boxes full of her worldly goods down there at the moment. There's barely room for my stepper, trampoline, hula hoop, weights, Zumba and running shoes, fitness mats and dvds, and all the other equipment gathering dust bearing witness to what a healthy life I live

Ah well. Must get out of bed (somehow). I have foolishly promised the family a full Sunday dinner, so I'd best get weaving.

Thanks for that explanation Maggie sounds like you have a veritable home gym in your basement. You must be fit as a .......... aside- why are fiddles supposed to be fit? Makes no sense .......butcher's dog.

Talking of which, since we were forced to move, I've had nothing to monitor my weight. The mirror tells me I've piled in the pounds but my jeans say not. It's very confusing.

So I've ordered a pair of very expensive accurate Tanita scales which ought to be delivered today. They came out as a Which Best Buy and measure everything from fat, to water, to bone mass, to blood alcohol levels (not really I made that last one up) they are my Christmas present from DH but I haven't told him yet.

So the truth will out .... [do I really want to know emoticon]

Sorry to be dim last night Ana I was operating on a single brain cell.

Contemplating taking the dogs for a walk, but it's raining and I might miss the Amazon man. Decisions hey?

Did it! 5610 steps just over 4km, all very wet and muddy, but triumphant - though strong smell of soggy doggy BUT no note through door to say I've missed Amazon .

Just about to feast on an M&S smoked salmon pearl.

Life doesn't get much better

Final total today 7698 and no

Scales arrived so will test drive tomorrow morning

Hope everyone has had a good weekend and is looking forward to Christmas

My son has those scales, Anya. They're really good (apart from the fact that they always claimed I had an impossibly high body fat percentage, which was obviously a technical error).

You've done well, Anya. I haven't ventured out today - I had a lovely family morning and evening, and a self-indulgent afternoon catching up on this week's Corrie while the young 'uns were out. I did wheel out the stepper while I did so and made my target (just).

My smashing DS and DIL are very bad influences - not only have we had a takeaway curry supper, we are now on the mulled wine. Much against my will, of course. Thank goodness for Monday fast days!

I haven't ventured out today either - it's been so cold! And I braved the deluge yesterday to go to the shops, so felt I deserved a day off...

Finally put my mini-tree up (well, it's 3ft but so much smaller than our old one) and wrote a couple of cards. Realised when I got home yesterday that the silly young woman in the supermarket had sold me a book of 2nd class Large Letter stamps - all my cards are small!

I must admit I'm feeling the lack of exercise, I've probably only clocked up a couple of thousand steps today (if that, haven't worn my step-counter).

Hoping for a burst of energy tomorrow, I have a list and am determined to stick to it!

Very well done step-wise Anya.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow...x

Oh my, I feel that I have so much to catch up with!

I'm not going to try and 'go back' too far or this post will end being more like a book

Ann - Anya gives you very good advice regarding our reward system - definitely strawberry creams- I believe roses has a secret stash!! but for me it's always a and since my gin masterclass I have become more than a little partial to a Tom Collins!! Sounds posh but to be honest it's a measure of gin maybe a couple mixed with fresh lemon juice and soda sanpellegrino lemon is perfect and plenty of ice!

maggie so glad to work out hear that there is still room for you and DH in the bedroom even though you have to negotiate the marble run, rebuild the playmobil castle after each 'visit' and hunt the rennies - hope you are wearing your stepper, truly devoted steppers take advantage of EVERY opportunity ...

So - just to get up to date......
We visited the reindeer farm in Cheshire yesterday where dear dgd's seemed a little bored non-plussed to begin with..... but soon warmed up when they realised there were donuts on sale.... It turned out to be a different interesting experience, the elves were funny, Santa looked like Santa and recognised a 'naughty nose' in gd/diva 2 - we NEVER said a word!! Then we went on to the donkey ride followed by a photo with a reindeer who had 'itchy' antlers and looked very uncomfortable......It was at this moment that I vowed I would NEVER visit a reindeer event ever again...they looked so in their wet and muddy space and the girls began to see that too.....
Anyway, we followed this up with hot chocolates and toasties at a nearby M&S and smiles were once more restored.....

Steps are being achieved whether on reindeer farms, running around the kitchen preparing meals for the hordes or just restlessly pacing back and forth wondering if dm is OK....

Happily, my mum had 'good' weekend with older db and now younger db has arrived for a few days. I'm very grateful for a little respite but I'm not sure they really 'get' the dementia thing....but they do try.... Anyway, I will visit tomorrow and catch up with little brother whom I haven't seen for more than a year.. I did have a giggle this morning during a conversation with dm - after her weekend she informed me that Bath (a beautiful city) isn't a patch on Wolverhampton .. bless her

Three cheers for bad influences maggie good luck on the burst of energy tomorrow Ana, well done on your steps Anya and good luck with the test drive on the new scales. Also thinking of you tomorrow xxxxx

OMG - whilst I've been typing this I have eaten too many roses chocs and had a couple of glasses of

Roll on the January Dryathlon ....

Night night

Thanks for all your kind thoughts. I think I'm going to be OK this year.

Thinking of you today, Anya.

Precious Child

I'm in two minds if I should post this. It's very sad, but it's my song for today.

Don't open it if you feel it might upset you.

I won't open it, I think Anya although if it makes you feel in any way better then it must be good for you.? Christmas seems to have two sides, as it's the end of the year, we are looking back at things past, and how it used to be ( usually better than how things are now.)At the same time, it's almost time for the New Year and new, hopeful beginnings.
We can't change things, so the main thing that I hope for is to be accepting, because however trite that sounds, accepting is the beginning of contentment ( not happiness, but that's altogether another thing.)Accepting is a kind of letting go.
So, I wish all on this thread a Happy Christmas, but better than that, a Hopeful New Year. ?

I posted on here last night using my mobile but it is not here this morning

Anya I thought the song was beautiful and I do hope it helped you through your day ((hugs)) xxx

Many best wishes to you too roses for a Happy Christmas and a peaceful 2016 xxx

I'm off to see a Christmas diva Angel

A very simple but heartfelt 'thank you' for listening to my song JG X

Your song is lovely, Anya. I haven't been able to open it till today.

I have left a house full of family this morning to come to see DGS2 and am feeling very blessed. This time of year can be unbearably poignant. for you.

Thank you for your kind wishes, roses. As my American friend would say - right back atcha!

Thank you Maggie

I did mean to post last night, but not having slept the previous one, picking all four GC up from school and keeping them till parents arrived, somehow putting in 10,000+ steps and a glass or two of I was totally wiped out.

Good news, my all-singing-all-dancing scales say I've not put any weight on since the fire. Body fat is (only just) within acceptable perameters for my age, but visceral fat is only 8.5 which is Very Good News (pats self on back) my bone density is 2.3 (no idea if that's ok) and my metabolic age is 15 years younger than my actual age.

Needless to say I've fallen in love with these scales.

It's spurred me on to greater things.

Off to IKEA now....not my favourite place but need to do some costings.

As my American SiL would say 'have a good day' everyone

My Tanita has arrived today, still unpacked but I will have a play tomorrow.
17 year old GD was here when it came and thought it was hilarious as she considers me " a little old gran".

That's your 'street cred' gone up a notch then Ann

To go up you have to had some in the first place. No chance.

My street cred took a big boost the other day. We were invited to an 18th birthday do on Saturday and got chatting with a 16-year year old and her parents (40 something I imagine)

The conversation wandered to Donald Trump and I brought up Katie Hopkins at which point the 16-year old and I had a good discussion while her parents where totally baffled and hadn't a clue who we were talking about

Let's hear it for GN which is where she first came to my attention.