September Dryathalon - 6 months on

JG you made me smile at the image of your DM festooned in all her bits and bobs love the idea of the rosary beads and holy charms perhaps it might catch on as the new fashion trend.

Just kissed Murphy goodbye as DH us taking him in to the vets to have his right eye removed today - it's for the best as it's obviously painful and he can't see out of it anymore.

GD3 (him of cabbage eating fame) wants to know if he'll have a pirate patch over it

Oo, a cake with raspberries and chocolate eggs sounds like heaven, even to one who ate so much chocolate yesterday that I went to bed with a sick headache (well, I've post-Lent Mother's Day chocs and Easter eggs to clear, and obviously only a short time to do it in) I'm also very re the CK tickets - what a super present.

Poor old Murphy I do hope he feels better once he's recovered, Anya, and adjusts quickly.

I seem a bit disorientated this week. Only one day with DGS2, because of Easter, an extra day helping out with the other two scallywags, because of Easter, an hour's sleep gone missing somewhere, April fast approaching when it was surely only last week Feb turned into March, all the chocolate... My challenges have gone for a burton lately, but I'm determined to get a firm grip on them again. To that end, I've just downed a pint of dull and boring delicious water, and am planning an evening power walk. Oh dear.

I'm not going to discuss [cupcakes] or anything else that I might have over-indulged in the Easter Bunny might be responsible for ......

Murphy was very battered and bruised after his ops yesterday. I felt as if I had handed him over to be tortured and just wanted to cuddle him better. His right eye has gone and most of his teeth but he's such a little fighter that this morning he had something .(soft) to eat and a little wander in the garden. He kept blundering into things as the large collar he has to wear kept catching on doors, the pergola, the step, etc..

Maggie I can't believe it's April tomorrow either. But like you I really must get a grip on my eating habits which have gone by the wayside left lots of room for improvement

Hope the Personal Terrorist didn't overdo it JG....and you are still able to stand?
What's your DM up to now? I've just come back from walking to our local shops and I remember wheeling MiL there when she was with us. We did that walk almost every day and she used to demand enjoy a stop on the way back at a local hostelry for a large sweet sherry. Then she slept it off for a couple of hours

Well, getting a grip hasn't gone spectacularly well so far. I savagely attacked the half a box of leftover Mother's Day chocs at 8.30 this morning and scoffed the lot when we suddenly realised we hadn't had a bill from the milkwoman for 9 months and must owe her around £200. DH blames me for the oversight and I blame him, so the milkwoman got off rather lightly when I rang her. Then I went out for a calorific lunch with the girls and finished off by buying four bars of on-special-offer Thorntons chocolate-covered marzipan to fill the gap the chocs left, and now I've snarfed all of them too. I think I should just hide my head in shame. Can I borrow Murphy's big collar please?

I like the sound of the sherry and nap routine - my DGM always used to enjoy two small sweet sherries before retiring at night. She probably thought that two small sherries sounded much more refined than one large one.

Shame on you Maggie ......not that I'm one to speak, as I've had a similar chocolate-fest experience these last few days too. Could it be increased stimulating the chocolate-craving areas of the brain perhaps? However I've decided that chocolate in The Answer to Insomnia ...as I'm sleeping like a baby these days....actually that's a really silly phrase because do babies really sleep that well? One of mine certainly did (daughter never woke up during the night from the word go) but the other was turned two before he did.

But I'm waffling I digress.

Anyway. A new month...onward and upward. My challenge is to lose 2 kg by May 1st. It's eminently doable and i vill do it [determined emoticon]

Murphy needs his collar for another 9 days but if you can hang on then you can certainly have it after that. Just PM me your addrress.

How's thing with you JG and Ana?

Things are good thank you Anya

I have started this month as I mean to go on - sensible eating/fewer carbs; less worrying.... exercise has started well, yesterday I walked/gently jogged for around 30 minutes (crock knee) and today half an hour with weights and floor exercises in the gym (which is actually a garage conversion) Alas my best friend - the treadmill has died on me and will soon be going to that BIG gym in the sky the scrap man
A new one will be delivered on Tuesday and then there will be no excuses for not getting into training mode for the July 10k (((very scared emoticon)))

I'm afraid I need to lose a little more than 2 kilos Anya - but it's my own fault for stuffing enjoying myself with too much good food and wine recently...

My DM has settled very well with the carers which is a big surprise relief. She seems much more content (her words) and is enjoying the additional contact with very kind people. Her relationship with the Alzheimer's support worker is so good that I think I will arrange another visit during the week. We have found a mobile hairdresser who will come as often as DM would like and they got on like a house on fire....
The search for VSH goes on - I do realise that all of this can go spectacularly wrong in moments but, for now, I am enjoying a little more peace than usual ???

Diva 1 and 2 are doing well and we have DS and Diva 1 with us this weekend - they are currently at the cinema - which is why I am sitting down doing nothing important catching up on my correspondence ?

I did think about going dry this month but then realised that I have set myself a number of challenges so that one will have to wait.....??besides I am so enjoying sipping my cold glass of Sauvignon cuppa whilst bringing you up to date ?

Ah poor murphy - when we had our springer he was often to be seen crashing around in a collar - we said goodbye to him around 18 years ago and if I just reach down to the side when I am sitting I swear I can still feel his lovely softness ❤️?Onwards and upwards brave Murph - get well soon - maggie needs you to vacate the collar so she can hide her head in shame (will there be room for me too)? ?

We always do a sherry in honour of my amazing DF - he always used to pour one just as he was mixing the yorkshire pud mix on a Sunday - no Aunt Bessie's for dad - boy I miss him?

Well, I think I am up to date - it's spag bol tonight although the bol is made with turkey mince (lower fat) and my spag will be carrot and courgetti..... and then apparently Diva 1 is set on watching The Voice or, as DH calls it, "what's that bl***y racket...?" ??