I'm still here

I can't believe how fast the days are going and I haven't updated or read blogs for a few days. Thought I 'd better do a quick post tonight and hopefully catch up with everyone tomorrow. I had a small loss of 400gm last week which I was pleased with. I have had a Xmas dinner and a lunch and was able to make sensible choices as well as keep the exercise up. Now this weekend might be different as we have 2 "functions" that I am really looking forward to. At least I have a weigh in before that. I have finally started Xmas shopping and have the day off tomorrow to try and get it finished. I will be at the mall when they open and don't want to leave until I've crossed everything on my list. Think of all those steps on the pedometer!!! Yesterday was really hot and we went to the beach for a couple of hours. I love the beach, really love the beach and am so hoping we get nice weather for the holidays so I can spend lots of time there. My DH loves his golf and is not so keen on the beach but we've done the deal that he can play as much morning golf as he wants as long as he comes to the beach with me in the afternoon. Now all I can hope is that the sun stays out and we get to go.

I have had a few requests for a picture of the lights so I did try and get one the other night. Very hard to keep the camera still. In the picture you can't see the little Xmas trees on the grass as the bulbs in them aren't very bright. It's certainly not as fancy as those you see in the paper but we are enjoyng it and hopefully will add to it when the sales start.

I added this picture 2 of DH & DS3 with the offending ladder. Note to self - Next time do not let son go on red tile roof wearing cricket whites, they now have a lovely red mark on the bum!!!!

A bit of effort can be worthwhile

Well the weekends over and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I wasn't feeling very Xmas'y this year and was not very enthusiastic about putting up the decorations. Now that my youngest is beyond the Santa belief stage and with our other family issues, I was finding it hard to drag up much enthusiasm. It all seemed too hard and I was hoping that DS3 would be happy if we didn't go to too much trouble. Luckily for us he kept asking and insisted we put everything up both outside and inside. As it all turned out we had a busy weekend with all the decorating but our efforts have produced a very good result and we now have a lovely front garden complete with lots of flashing lights, candy canes, Xmas Trees and of course Santa Claus. DS3 had a wonderful time being the only one brave enough to get on the roof and attach the lights to our 3 gables. Then of course he had to get me to the shops yesterday to buy a few more lights. If he had his way we would have bought most of the display but luckily he was quite happy with our couple of purchases and the promise of more if there are any good specials. He desperately wants to get back on that roof!!! Now we won't win any prizes for the best decorated house, but as the only one with outside lights in our street we are doing our bit to brighten up the neighborhood and bring a little cheer.

There is a weight loss moral to this little Xmas story as thinking back to my reluctance that it all seemed to hard, I could compare it to starting a diet or fitness programme. It can seem so difficult and so much effort we often don't even begin let alone continue but if we do boy are the results worth it. My sons face and our front garden are testament to that so if you are thinking about starting again, go on, the results really can be worth it.

There's also a male tale to this Xmas story, well it could also be a female tale too!!! We have one of those big ladders that folds in many positions. Usually it is doubled over and although heavy I can manage to move it around. On Saturday it was fully extended to about 10 feet for the first time. DH & DS3 were inside untangling lights and I thought I would be helpful and move it to the other end of the house where it would be needed. I had no idea how top heavy it was in that position and within 2 paces I was unable to support it and the ladder came back at me leaving my head partially through 2 rungs and the ladder weight on my shoulders. I was very stuck and in great danger of toppling backwards and God knows what else! I was trying so hard not to fall, I could only manage to call out softly "Please help me" a couple of times. Luckily DH heard me and came to investigate. Did he rush to my aid??? Not likely - he just stood there and asked what was I doing, how had I done it, why had I done it??? All these questions and I was very stuck and very scared. Then he rescued me and of course lectured me. I won't do that again!!! Next day I couln't work out why I felt like my shoulders were badly sunburnt when I had had a T-shirt on. Then I discovered they were nicely bruised and boy today they are a lovely colour! Last time I touch that ladder and hopefully last time DH won't actually rescue ne first B4 asking for all the explanations!!!

Have a great week everyone.

Onward & Downward - Fingers crossed

Well I'm happy to report that the scales were very kind today with a loss of 0.9. I will have to go away more often!!! I wish. Let's hope that the plateau has broken and it's onward and downward from here. I so wanted to be at goal ( my first one of 65) by Xmas but I would have settled for New Year. If the last month is anything to go on, I don't think that's going to happen. So be it, message to self - "You will not stop until you get to where you are happy and comfortable"
I got a great compliment yesterday from an ex work colleague who exclaimed " Wow you look good - trim, taut and terrific" It was only later that I realised that the last time I had seen him was at a wedding in 1999 when I was at my lowest weight, low 60's. Interesting then, that he had no idea what had gone on in between and still was able to be so complimentary. Whatever, I'll take it - don't we love the ego boosts, they sure make it worthwhile and help me stay focused and "Back On Track"
Have a great day :-)