52.5lb and counting!!!

Hiya everyone!!

Me again, just when you thought I had fallen off the planet......again......I am back again like the proverbial bad penny, lol!!

As you can see from the title I have now lost a total (so far) of 52.5lb which is almost 4 stone since October 13th last year.....just over 5 months. I haven't felt so well for ages and I have not been this light in 12 years!! Last time I was losing the weight I fell in a pothole and dislocated my knee badlly which totally scuppered my weight loss progress so I am avoiding all potholes, lol!!

It is Easter weekend and I don't have any chocolate in the house apart from the grandchildrens eggs and not one hot cross bun has passed my lips....albeit very tempting the plan I am on does not allow carbohydrates of any kind apart from Oatbran!! There have been times when it has been hard to keep to it but keep to it I have and I will continue to keep to it until I reach my target weight which I should achieve, at this rate, by August/September!!! By the way the flowers in the picture are from a friend congratulating me on my achievement so far.....the small box of chocs are hidden away so I am not tempted by them, lol!!

I should really be out in the garden today pruning back my roses ready for the summer but it is too damn cold out there to even think about it!!! We had snow again this morning whilst we were out shopping and it was bitter!! We have to go out again tomorrow so hopefully it will be a tad warmer......won't hold my breath tho cos looking at the sky it looks like it is going to be a very chilly Easter altogether!! Roll on summer, I don't like it too hot but anything is better than below freezing temperatures; mind you I just might cope with the heat better this year with the pounds falling off!

Anyway my friends, I will love you and leave you....I now have to get to grips with installing our new internet router; we have been lucky to have our speed tripled from 20mb to 60mb but the new speed needs a new fast router and we opted for self install....mmmmm, wonder if that was such a good idea, lol??!

TTFN lovely people, till the next time

Can't believe I haven't been back for a month!!! Time just goes by too damn quick!

I have hit the 2st (28lb) off in time for Christmas with another weigh in due tomorrow. Some people weigh themselves daily and can cope with the body's fluctuating weight but I can't do that; if my weight goes up a fraction I get despondent even tho I know it is just the way the body works, I am happier weighing myself weekly because I then know that I have achieved what I want to achieve.....and that is a loss!!! I am feeling better than I have in a long time and don't feel so lethargic!! I have also started seeing a difference in the mirror which has taken me a while to see, when others have seen it, and I am beginning to like what I see!! I am sure that if I carry on losing the way I am I will get to my target by May next year (2013, not 2014!!!) which will be sooner than I expected.

We all had a good Christmas this year, the best we have had in ages and it was good to have Rob home for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year as he has been working them for the past 6 years.

So on that note I will love you and leave you for the last time this year......2012 is nearly at an end. For once I am not dreading the New Year, I am feeling quite positive about it as I know we will achieve a lot of goals including my main one to get the rest of this weight off so no resolutions need to be made for 2013 other than to remain positive and happy.

Take care my friends and have a wonderful New Year wherever you plan to be!!

Back again to report how the 'Plan' is going!!! 6 weeks in and 19.5lb off now and to be honest I have suprised myself!!! I look in the mirror and don't see any difference yet people who have not seen me for a while have said that I have definitely lost the weight and my Robbie has said he can see the difference!!! I know I am getting into smaller clothes and the winter coat I have not worn for a couple of years is now fitting okay again!! Rob has admitted that he thought I would crumble a couple of weeks in as it is a very strict regime to a degree but fortunately I enjoy meat and fish (along with the other proteins I get to eat) so it is fairly straightforward for me to keep to the plan plus I now have vegs alternate days but still no potatoes or sweet veg (i.e. peas)which I am not really missing and the same with bread!!! I have a long way to go still but I should be in to my 'slim me' clothes by next summer easily!!

Anyway I am going to say ttfn and catch up with you again soon!!!

 

My Dukan journey into week 2

Its me again!!! Back as promised, lol!!

Well I am now into the 2nd week of the Dukan plan.....Attack phase (which is just pure proteins )ended Friday night and I started the Cruise phase (Proteins and selected veg but definitely not peas or potatoes) on Saturday. You also have to drink at least one and a half litres of water a day but that could also include diet drinks and tea and coffee with skimmed milk....oh and not forgetting the 1.5oz of bran daily. 

My weight loss for the 1st week was 5lb but I also lost some inches and managed to slide into a nice new pair of trousers one size down!!! I had been exercising as well and going for a walk with the dog so that helped as well!!

I have never felt so in control on a weight loss plan as I do with this one. I am not getting any urges to eat the things I shouldn't (chocolate, all things unhealthy etc) and feeling totally happy with what I am eating and the foods I can eat are unlimited. The one thing I have discovered though is that Diet coke does not agree with me so that is being kicked into touch, lol!!!

I have to admit my ever suffering husband Rob was dubious (He had heard it all before apparently.......and I will agree with that) at the start as I have attempted to do a few other diets since piling the weight back on after I had my bad fall and my huge weight loss with Slimming World went down the pan, but he now sees that I am determined and although it will take me some time (at least 9 months apparently) I WILL see it through and I WILL get the result I am aiming for!!! Plus I am learning a helluva lot from the Dukan plan book about nutrition and the rights and wrongs of what we eat and its long term effects on our bodies!!

Anyway, I will say ttfn for now and catch you again next week!!!

Love to you all

 

A fresh start

I have been missing for quite some time.......again!!! I have slapped my own wrist just in case any of you were wondering!!!

As some of you know I have had an ongoing battle with my weight but did successfully lose almost 6 stone over 4 years ago and managed to keep it off until one day in August 2009 when I fell in a pothole, dislocated my knee and needless to say the weight piled back on!! I tried a few times to lose it again but my amazing and wonderful consultant at Slimming world had left and the 3 attempts I had at rejoining over the last few years have prooved a waste of time due to the consultants only being interested in bums (large ones!!) on seats and failed to inspire me!!! Anyway, back in June I was finally put on treatment for an underactive thyroid and also joined a Facebook page for people with an Underactive Thyroid discussing everything from bad GP's not recognising that although your tft blood tests say borderline you have all the symptoms to general support for fellow 'sufferer's and giving advice if possible.....all in all just to be there to support one another. Anyway, a couple of weeks back on this particular page someone asked where everyone was from and I happened to mention I was living in Northants but originated from Hampstead in North London. The next day a fellow page user commented that she knew Hampstead and mentioned a few streets, including the one where I lived as I grew up. Basically it turned out that she had been the girlfriend of my then best friends brother and I remembered her from a couple of brief meetings!! Small world or what, especially as she now lives in Cyprus!! We have chatted a lot since and I happened to mention that I am struggling with my weight - one of the side effects of Underactive Thyroid. She told me she had lost 14kg on a diet plan called the Dukan and I was eager to know more. After a lot of chatting on FB, I ordered the book and I started the plan on Saturday just gone.

Now the Dukan plan is a bit extreme but it has been well researched and it works, plus my GP is happy for me to continue on it as she knows it has been well researched and was formulated by a Doctor in France. It has 4 phases and I am currently in the first phase, called attack, whereby I have to just eat Proteins in the form of meat (except Lamb and Pork), chicken, fish, eggs and fat free yogurt/cheese, plus some oatbran daily (to help keep 'things' working if you get my drift!!!).........oh and plenty of water and sugar free drinks! So far I am enjoying it, I do love meat and therefore it is not a struggle for me. Once I have finished this current phase I will then move onto introducing vegetables - but no potatoes or rice  - just green/red veg and have them on alternate days. No fussy weighing and faffing around with portion control, lol!!!

Basically I am going to use this blog to chart my progress!!! I will only say what I have lost......I won't be saying what I weigh (not good, lol) but I will say the plan has given me a realistic goal to aim for unlike the charts you see at some Slimming Clubs with silly goals and are not feasible for your body structure unless you are a tiny frame, which I am defitinetly not, lol!! My first weight check will be Saturday and I can't wait to see what I have lost in my first week!! Incidentally I am not doing it online as it is too expensive but having read the book I am sure I can go it alone with support from both my friend and other FB users. 

On that note I will say ttfn and will come back on Saturday to update my progress.
Loads of love to you all!!

Naughty me!!

Well, yours truly has been naughty and not blogged since January!!!

Lots been going on but nothing, unfortunately that was worth blogging about.......apart from the fact we are going to be grandparents again in August!!

Easter has, so far, been a strange weekend!! I am baout to go and visit my friend Lynn from schooldays, we have only been back in touch again for 18 months or so and still doing a lot of catching up......it is great tho cos it is as though we have not lost touch at all!!!

Tomorrow we are going to visit Virginia Water in Royal Windsor Park, then having some special time with my good friend Penny.....she is cooking us Roast Dinner as well!!!

As for Monday, well that is yet to be decided.....but I doubt it will be a relaxed day if my normal routines are anything to go by!!!

Anyway, I will love you and leave you for now......will be taking pics tomorrow so watch this space, lol x

Loads of love

Sunday, lazy Sunday!!!

I have not been too good this week, stinking cold has weighed me down; I had Monday off in the hope that if I stayed in bed and dosed up I would be okay but it didn't happen so I had to go into work for the rest of the week armed with tissues and paracetamol to counteract all the aches and other side effects that go with a cold. I am feeling brighter today, slight sore throat now and a tickly cough but otherwise not too bad!!

I spent part of yesterday baking cakes, I find it therapeutic and takes my mind off feeling rough or if anything is playing on my mind. I made 2 large coffee sponges and loads of chocolate chip cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing and white chocolate sprinkles......well pleased with myself!!

The band gigged locally last night but as it was such a small club I did not go for fear of passing on my remaining germs!!! Shame because it was an excellent evening by all accounts.......I just hope next weekend is just as good when we are at Sutton Bridge, near Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Because of this damn cold I have not been able to see Max as it would not be fair to inflict my germs on him .......or his mum - Angela does not do colds very well!!! I have not been to see Kevin, Lucy, Alfie and Leah either as they have had enough of their fair share of colds lately.........plus .......mmmmmm won't say anything - will keep you all in suspenders, lol!!!

I have been debating a haircut again as my hair is getting quite long again and proving a chore to keep under control......I like it long but the hassle of keeping it tidy gets to me, but at the same time it looks nice when it is long.....decisions, decisons........and to be honest I have not seen a shorter style that inspires me much just lately either so guess it is going to have to stay long until I get the 'got to have it cut NOW' point!!

Rob and I ventured into Kettering town yesterday to go to a couple of shops......butchers, chemist, Marks and Sparks, etc. I was saddened to see the town has changed a lot; let me point out that I do go into Kettering occasionally but is just normally to the bank at the far end of town and back out again, yesterday was the first time in ages that we actually walked round to do some shopping and could not believe the empty shops. Unfortunately it is the same scenario in a lot of towns these days, but when I moved to Kettering from London in 1986 it seemed to be a thriving town with lots of promise and I was happy to settle there. We moved to just outside Kettering (to a small town called Burton Latimer) in 2001 and consequently don't have much need to go into Kettering town centre, hence the shock at seeing how it had declined.......now with the news that Peacocks and Bon Marche are in receivership it looks like there may be 2 more empty shops to add to the list in the high street. Sad, so very sad.....and the immediate future does not appear too promising either as the local council don't appear to have a clue!!!

Anyway, time to go and sort Sunday dinner......roast chicken etc and all trimmings, followed by cherry pie and custard........yum!!  

Happy Birthday Leah!!!

14th January 2008 was the day our lovely Grandaughter Leah came into the world so she is 4 years old today!!! She is a gorgeous girl, precocious but love her to pieces!!!

We are going to see her this afternoon, hopefully there may be a bit of birthday cake around, LOL!!! We also have her brother Alfie's birthday due a fortnight tomorrow....29th....when he will be the grand age of 6!!!

2nd week into the New Year just about done and dusted and I have to admit so far it has been a pretty good start......I won't get complacent tho cos when I do something comes along and kicks me in the stomach when I least expect it!!! I hate January as a rule, always strange as it is the run down after all the festivity of Christmas etc and also a tendency to be a grey month weatherwise, but today we are sporting lovely sunshine despite the very cold temperature out there; we woke to a heavy frost and both our dark green car's were very much white but the sun came out and hey presto it is like a nice spring day out there now!!!  

Robbie was at the dentist this morning for a moulding to be done for his new false teeth; we had hoped he would be sporting his new dentures in roughly 2 weeks from now, but it is now looking like 4 weeks as he has to go back for a couple more impressions to be done to ensure perfect fitting. He is surviving quite nicely with no teeth and gumming everything to pieces,  lol, he is quite happy at the moment but can't wait to have the dentures so he can resume eating favourite foods i.e pistachio's.......and steaks!!!!

We aren't out with the band tonight, having an evening off but as of next week it starts getting busy and are out most weekends till the end of March. Yep, it gets hectic but wouldn't have it any other way!!! Mind you I will be having an early night tonight as I am so very tired just lately, even after a decent nights sleep I still end up yawning all day and can't wait to get into bed.....beginning to wonder if I need to see the doc tho cos it has gone on quite some time now and it is beginning to get me down cos all I want to do is sleep!!!

Well, time to love you and leave you. I'm going to prepare a casserole and leave it to absorb the gravy so it is nice and tender when it is cooked later on. Then we are off to see Leah, hope she likes her birthday present!!!! Catch you later!!
Love

Nearly the weekend so a time for something funny methinks!!!

Haha......I've been a bit like a bus with blogging this week, lol......you wait for ages for one and then 3 come along in a short space of time!!!

The following was sent to me today.....by my husband .......and having read it I am now of the conclusion that I must be male!!! See what you think, lol!!


THE LAST BASTIONS OF MALE SUPREMACY


MALE V FEMALE AT THE CASH MACHINE


A new sign in the Bank reads:


'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through cash machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.


Customers using this new facility are


requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.


After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.'


*******************************

MALE PROCEDURE:


1... Drive up to the cash machine. 2. LOWER your car window. 3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN. 4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw. 5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt. 6. Raise window. 7. Drive off.

************************* ******

FEMALE PROCEDURE: (Unfortunately, most of this is the Truth.!!)


1. Drive up to cash machine. 2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine. 3. Put hand brake on, put the window down. 4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card. 5. Tell person on mobile phone you will call them back and hang up. 6. Attempt to insert card into machine. 7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car. 8. Insert card. 9. Re-insert card the right way. 10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.11. Enter PIN . 12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN. 13. Enter amount of cash required. 14. Check makeup in rear view mirror. 15. Retrieve cash and receipt. 16. Empty handbag again to locate purse and place cash inside. 17. Write debit amount in cheque book and place receipt in back of it. 18. Re-check makeup. 19. Drive forward 2 feet. 20. Reverse back to cash machine. 21. Retrieve card. 22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card
holder, and place card into the slot provided! 23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you. 24. Restart stalled engine and pull off. 25. Redial person on mobile phone. 26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles. 27. Release Hand Brake.

Personally I do know there are a few ladies out there that would be as ditzy as the aforementioned......fortunately none of them are friends of mine........ but I have seen antics at normal cashpoints (ATM's) that leave me totally bemused and on one occasion my gast was totally flabbered!!!

Robbie (my ever-wonderful and patient husband and he who thinks he should be obeyed ......some hope, lol) has just given me a diary for 2012....entitled 'Do it later......A 2012 planner (or non-planner) for the Creative Procrastinator'..........Yep he knows me well!!! We did debate who was the worst procrastinator and I am afraid it is definitely me - why put off till tomorrow when it would be better leaving it for a bit longer in the hope someone else will do it or it may even sort itself out!!! No seriously, I do procrastinate a bit but not a lot!!

Anyway, time to go and think about dinner and I will leave you with this thought......Multi-tasking is a good thing, it means that you get at least one thing done if nothing else!!!

Love to you all

Stuff on a Tuesday!!

Hmmm, where to start!!

I guess I could tell you all about our ditzy Sascha! She loves TV and this morning surpassed herself with watching a Jack Russell on BBC's breakfast show; said JR was doing lots of tricks and Sascha so wanted to play with it......so much so she fetched one of her toys and put it in front of the tv screen (on the tv stand) in the hope the JR would pick it up and play with her!!! She was whining at the tv big time, then when she found that the JR had gone she went round the few soft toys I have round the room (Meerkats - courtesy of Compare the Meerkat.com, white lions - from W Midlands Safari and Pudsey to name but a few) trying to get them to play, lol!!! Don't you just love pets....especially daft doggies!!!!!!

I have been naughty!!! I have been searching for my all time favourite Lindt Chocolate bar for ages.....Raspberry liquid.......and no shops round here sell it! Imagine my joy when I found that it is alive and well on the Lindt website, so I ordered some.....along with orange and strawberry to make up the minimum order value. Said bar's arrived this morning and I have to say the urge to eat some is fast getting the better of me!!! I am surprised I have lasted this long and did not succumb to taking some to work with me!! Yes, I know I should not be eating chocolate as I need to lose the weight I put back on after my fall a couple of years ago but I've not had the delicious raspberry choc for many moons (and some!!) so I will have some later, relish every piece and make it last a very long time.........I might even let Robbie have some, LOL!!!

I have just been browsing through some of the blogs on my dashboard.......one made me laugh and cry at the same time; laugh in that the lovely lady that wrote the blog was sooo funny and I loved her to pieces as a friend....we even joked that we shared the same husband!!! Cried with the knowledge that she is no longer with us and it is almost a year since she left us, yes I am talking about the lovely Angie of 'Can you hear me at the back'. Just days before she went into hospital we had an inane conversation resulting with us planning a holiday on a cruise ship without the menfolk (which would probably have never come about but it was lovely thinking about it, lol), and with all the crew at our beck and call cos we were so special, lol!!! She was a star and I miss her so much!!

Anyways, time to go and sort dinner for us humans and open a can or two of mutley nums for our Sascha.....she is definitely fit as a Butchers dog, lol, wish I had her energy!!!!

Love to you all 

Joan  xxx

Woo Hoo, I'm back!!

Crikey, seems like forever since I've been here!!!

Life has been pretty hectic, 2011 was a good year in some respects and not so good in others.

The highlight of 2011 was the arrival of little Max,  our daughters first baby and our 3rd grandchild; he is a little star and is now 4 months old

Rob and I both had our fair share of ill health of 2011 but hopefully that is all behind us now and 2012, if the first full week of it is anything to go by, should be a good year with a few things to look forward to.

Alfie and Leah are doing really well, does not seem possible they are growing so fast......this was them back in the summer, only seems like yesterday I was talking about them being born and now Leah will be 4 next week and Alfie 6 at the end of the month

Now we have 'Formerly J-land' on facebook I think it is inspiring a lot of us to start blogging again here on blogspot; I know the lovely Lainey has started again and I have decided to start again as since J-land closed I have felt there was that element missing in my day to day thoughts.......it was an amazing community, lots of friends made (unfortunately some no longer with us - Sylvia and Angie to name but 2) and these friendships have lasted through the internet despite the loss of J-land. No, it will never be the same but whilst there is the internet, facebook and blogspot will keep us all in touch.

Anyway, I am off to have some lunch and now I am back in I will definitely be backand post regularly.....that is one of my new year resolutions!!!

Love to you all

Joan xxx

If things don't change, they'll stay the same!!

Heyho!!!
Where do I start???
I can't believe I have not been on here since March; things have changed a lot since then!! I have been in a new posting since the end of March, Rob has changed bands & is very busy gigging (that being said Ayleys Comet still exists & we still gig as & when) and is back with his friends from a previous band, I've gone from working part time hours back to full time (as near as dammit) and back to working the other side of Northampton (something I vowed I would not do again but I love the job!!). ,,,,,,,,and there is more but I will tell more when I am back settled into blogging again!!!!

How is everyone here??? Well I hope; I seem to spend a lot of time on Facebook these days (some may say too much, LOL) but in theory it seems to have replaced J-land in my affections as a lot of folks from those happy J-land days are on facebook! Some pop in now and then and I am always happy to see their names appear on status's, others are there every day like me and again it is great to keep up with them! Yep, I still use a lot of the graphics some of the talented j-land people so kindly shared with us and I miss the community that was J-land still, after all this time - it was a unique community and something that I don't think will ever be replaced!!

Yes life is reasonably okay at the moment, but complacency is not something I let in to my world very much nowadays as sure as eggs is eggs something will come along and kick you in the guts if you become too complacent over things; I have learnt not to take anything for granted nowadays so I now take each day as it comes......if I am running round like a headless chicken one day and bored out of my box the next then so be it!!! If I want to chill out one day then I will and make up for it the next day. I have finally reached the decision that life is what you make it and worrying don't get you anywhere other than in a right mess. Yep, I think I may have finally grown up but then again I can still be the 18yr old that is still in my heart and needs to escape from time to time..............LOL!!!!

The surgery I had on my knee back at the end February seems to have been a success, but I have since been told I have not got any bone left behind my knee cap to speak of!! So far there has been no pain (which was a constant factor in my life since I very first disclocated it at the age of 7) which is a bonus, but I worry about the lack of bone......what will it be like by the time I am in my 60's??? Fingers crossed it will get betterer and betterer, LOL, but again there remains the prospect of further surgery when I am older.........................possibly a complete knee replacement at some point.

Anyway, time to go and do some ironing.....unfortunately it stays creased when I do it in my mind, LOL!!!! I will be back soon when I am not planning on an evening out and needing to get things done before Rob gets home (yep he is doing overtime!) wanting his dinner, LOL!!

love to you all,

A week on

Hello everyone!!!
This time last week I was under the knife, so to speak! This week I am free of pain and now managing with just one crutch as opposed to the 2 I came home with. I am due to have the stitches out on Monday and I hope to be back driving next weekend!! I had hoped for a successful outcome but this, so far, is more than I could have wished for!!!! I have not taken any of the painkillers I was given on leaving hospital and apart from the initial day or so of feeling under the weather it has all been very plain sailing and good progress. I had physio on tuesday and had a good response from them - I have already got 50% bend back into my knee and I think I have improved on that since then!! I was scared of the end result but so far, so good!!! First thing I asked when I was back on my feet was how soon can I get back into my heels, LOL!! I am now bored with being at home and want to go back to work........I have been signed off for 4 weeks (1 down, 3 to go) but I seriously think I can go back to work in a weeks time - I am a quick healer so that is probably why I am thinking that way, but I will see how things go in this coming week - besides I can't go back to work until I am okay to drive!!!!

The sun is glorious today and we have turned the heating off which is a plus.....no doubt it will go back on briefly later on to take the evening chill away ........looks like Spring may be just round the corner. I have a window open and the fresh air is very spring like, no hint of the snowy smell we had for weeks - I just may go and sit in the garden for a short while when I have finished this.

I have 2 interviews this week coming - one on Monday and another on Tuesday - fingers crossed one of them is successful!!! I need a permanent job with all the benefits - being a temp has other benefits but if I am ill or have a holiday I don't get paid,,,,,,,,,another reason to get back to work before the 4 weeks is up - we are close to being skint, LOL, not really but things are a bit tight without my wage coming in!!!!! A  little win on the lottery would be just nice at the moment, not a big amount but just a bit to help us till we get back on an even keel!!

I am off to go and sit in the garden for a short while now; hopefully you all have the same sunshine we have here in Northants. I will catch up with you again soon. Love to you all....

Another Sunday!!

Hi, hope this Sunday is proving to be a nice one for you!! We are having a lazy day today and enjoying the sunshine that is coming in through the living room window - despite shedloads of snow still on the ground!!! Rob had a busy day yesterday shampooing carpets so the sun is finishing off helping dry the last damp bits out!!

I have been asked what the problem is with my knee and what the surgery is that I am having; well, basically I am having keyhole surgery (arthroscopy I think it is called) on my knee to do some remedial work - tightening the muscle round it I believe - following a lifetime of dislocations from the age of 7 when I ran in from Brownies one night, jumped in an armchair and dislocated it for the first time. When I dislocated it again in August that was the first time in 14years that I had done it badly and subsequently the team at the hospital decided it was time (with a bit of pushing from me) to do some preliminary work. I cannot, apparently, have a replacement until I am in my 60's but I have a sneaky feeling that they will find more damage in and around my knee than they are expecting when they get that jolly old microscope in there on the 27th!! I am on edge about it but it has to be done so I will be trying to counteract my nerves as much as possible before next Saturday!!!!

On that subject.....of next Saturday.....I am a little unsure of what is happening after that; at the moment only the outcome of the surgery will tell me how long I have to be off work and what my work situation will be as at present my current post ends - in theory - at the end of March but I won't be returning to it so I am leaving this friday after 27 months. I have been told not to worry as there will be other work ready for me when I am fit to return to work but my main worry is that I end up being off longer than the maximum 6 weeks they suggest at the hospital - I am hoping it will only be 4 weeks maximum .........but I won't know until next saturday when I come round after the surgery - I am not the best after anaesthetic so I just hope I am coherent enough to understand what they tell me!!

I've coloured my hair again today!! Supposed to be Morello Cherry but never comes out the colour they suggest on the box but then that would be too simple wouldn't it???Just hope the colour it is finally does not clash with my clothes, LOL!!! I've also booked to have it trimmed and restyled on friday cos it is just too long again.......well the top layers that is!!! A girl needs to look good when she is going under the knife, LOL, especially as this one will not have any make up on!!! On that subject as well I look real pasty faced without makeup - pale is not the word, LOL!!

I am off to cook our dinner now......roast beef but no yorkshires cos I have run out of eggs so Rob not impressed, LOL!!! So on that note I will say ttfn and catch you again later in the week!!!

love to you all.....

Long time no see!!!!

Yay, I am back!!!!!! Been wanting to get back for a while but kept putting it off - why I don't know....but possibly cos I spent too much time on facebook, LOL!!!

So much to say but not sure where to start!!! It seems like forever since I was last here so forgive me if I repeat anything that was said the last time I dropped in.......blame it on my age, LOL!!!

As I type I am sitting patiently waiting for the plumber to arrive!! We have not had heating for over a week now......well the central heating that is.......since the boiler decided to stop functioning fully!!! We have got hot water thankfully and a gas fire in the living room but that has been it - you don't realise how much you rely on the central heating to keep you warm until it malfunctions!!!! It has not helped that we have had a considerable amount of snow fall in the last 2 days so it is more than a bit cold!!!!

This time next Saturday I will be having surgery on my knee, albeit keyhole surgery but I am hoping it will be a success to improve the problem with my knee until I can have the major stuff done in a few years time!!! I am nervous but then I always am when it comes to surgery so I just can't wait until it is all over........hopefully home again on the same day!!!

I am about to leave the job I have been doing for the past 2+ years with the local Community Mental Health team; I am sad to be leaving but have no choice.......the funding has run out for the post and the job will cease to exist once I leave so I can't even apply for the job that has been mine for 27 months.

I think when I last wrote our Sascha was just a wee puppy of a few months, well she is now a bouncy 2yr old with so much energy!!!! She has the intelligence of her German Shepherd daddy and the energy and willfullness of her Border Collie mum - an intriquing combination and we definitely cannot outwit her, LOL!!! She is definitely a daddies dog though...does not give me the time of day at all when Rob is around!!!

Anyway, time to fly as it is Saturday and shopping day!!! I am so pleased to have got back into the blog......still not like J-land but nothing ever will be!!! Will catch you later!!! loads of love to all my friends (if you are still reading!!!).

Joan

xxxxxx

Finally got back into the blogspot!!!!!

Hello peeps!!!!

Yep, its me again....finally!!! I've been trying to get back into blogger since changing internet providers a month or so ago; damn websearch kept telling me that I did not exist, LOL!!!

We had a lovely week in Scotland at the end or March/beginning April; the weather was glorious and we did not want to come home!!!! We are definitely going back next spring as the accommodation was wonderful and Sascha loved the garden.....it was huge and definitely Sasha sized!!!

Now back from our holiday, 1 month on and I am feeeling the need for another holiday, LOL!!! Got to wait till the end of September though when we are off to Devon. I used to go there a lot as a child......annually up until I was 15, then a couple of times since but not for the last 20 years so I am really looking forward to going back to see a lot of old haunts........no doubt a lot has changed but we shall see, plus it will be nice to take Robbie to a lot of the places I have visited in the past!

We were going to be going out for the day today, but Rob was offered overtime so work comes first as overtime is a rareity these days!!! I don't mind cos it is raining so we would not have been able to do much after all, so I am doing some washing and catching up with the husework..........once I have finished this entry of course!!!

The weight loss is still going on and now stands at agrand total of 4stone which has been achieved mainly through Slimming World!!!! I have such a great consultant, she is so helpful and inspirational which is a great help, some consultants are only in it for the money...........K just wants to help us all lose the 1lbs and she has certainly done that for me!!

I am relieved cos my plum tree is beginning to show signs of life again, thank heavens!!!! At the end of the last season after we had loads of plums, I asked my dear husband just to prune it back a bit (the branches were going over the back fence big time and overall was getting straggly), I did not bargain for him pruning the tree back within an inch of its life........daft man had chopped it back that far that I had visions of the poor tree not surviving!!!! Fortunately it has sprung back into life but sadly there will not be any fruit this year I don't think..............shame because the plums are the best I have ever tasted, but I am sure the ones next year will be worth the wait!!!

I did a car boot sale with our Kevin yesterday, the forecast was for sunshine, what they failed to omit was the fact there was likely to be a cold wind!!! So from 6.15 yesterday morning the day got gradually colder despite the sun coming out, and I went home very, very cold at midday and could not get warm for the rest of the day and combined with being very tired, I just vegged on the sofa for the rest of the day; I felt bad 'cos Rob and I were due to have gone to a local vintage transport show in the afternoon when I got home but sad to say it did not happen - there will be another one at the end of May so we will no doubt go to that one....weather permitting!!!

Anyway, I am off to find some lunch before tackling some ironing, it is like a chinese laundry here today!!!!! I will definitely be back sooner this time, now I have got back into the site.......which is now bookmarked with this server now!!! Take care everyone and I will be back soon.

love

Joan xxxxxxx

Its Saturday again, LOL!!!

Well, here we are again on the eve of another Month!!!! Where does time go.....?? I have never known months fly by like this - perhaps it is because I work full time now (for the past 14 months and still not a permanent member of staff!!!) and time does go quicker because of that....I don't know!!! All I know is that before we know it we will be in April and we will have Easter, LOL!!! At least I am now in the 4wk countdown to our holiday in Scotland and I can't wait!!!

We have finally got cheesed off with bt and sky....well mainly bt because of their extortionate prices, it is all in the small print that no-one reads, LOL, and as for sky we have got so fed up with paying crazy prices for a poor content - paying for the movies yet it is all rubbish!! We have ordered Virgin's hd package and with phone and broadband we will still be better off by 56.25 a month and that is including a 2nd set top box; we used to be with NTL and had no problems with the service but left because we wanted to go wireless and in the early days you could only do that if you had a bt line, but now you can go wireless with Virgin so we are going back (NTL by a different name) so to speak!!! Not sure when it will be but hopefully soon! Will no doubt have a major row with BT but bring it on cos we have spent more time offline in the last year, thanks to them, than we ever were in the 12yrs with aohell!!!!!

Since my last entry I have lost another 7lbs, and am now down into another stone!!! A few people did not think I would keep to the plan or stay off chocolate but I have proved them wrong!!! The only drawback is that I cannot keep buying new clothes to keep up with the loss so the washing machine is working overtime to keep up with me with what little stuff I have for my current size!!! The main thing is though I am feeling good and beginning to feel very happy with myself!!

I have decided to start a new jigsaw today; i've been threatening to for weeks now and had sorted my edges out but things have happened and I just did not get any further with it, but I will surprise Rob when he gets home from work (he has been moaning at me to get it started!!) with it - plus it will be better as the days are brighter which will make it easier to do it in natural light as opposed to electric light!!

Anyway, time for me to go and empty the washing machine as it is beeping at me big time!!! I'll catch up again very soon......!!!

loads of love to everyone

Joan xxxx

Saturday and new hair!!!

Well, here I am again, and enjoying the sunshine we have at the moment - hopefully it will last for a while!!!

We have a hectic day today, the band are doing a fundraising gig tonight and I am worn out already.......it is only 1.15pm and I am stressed over it even though everything is in place - in theory, LOL!!!.........!!!

I have a new hair colour - well highlights to be exact, it is quite radical and different but as I have only just had it done this morning there are no pics yet.......no doubt there will be a few photo's (well......loads to be exact) taken tonight so watch this space!!! Robbie likes it, but then he gets used to me coming home with different things done to my hair..........this is the most different I have ever, in a million eons, had done!!! I only have one problem in that I don't know what I am wearing tonight now.......I was going to wear purple but it may not go well with the new hair colour!!!!

Oh, I forgot to say, I finally got my Landrover in the middle of November.........damn insurance brokers really took the P........but I finally got it - the garage owner was very patient - I am so happy with it and it is so cheap to run!!!

I cannot believe I have managed to get through the last few months without a cold or flu.........perhaps it is because I am eating healthily now and not run down!! Fingers crossed it stays that way!!

Heyho, thats my sit down time over for today, LOL, all 1 hour of it!!! Time to get things ready/sorted for tonight and most importantly to figure out what I am wearing.........which means I will probably still be deciding 5 minutes before I need to go!!!

Take care everyone, love to you all and I will catch up with you all again very soon with a photo or two!!!

Joan

Hiya peeps.........yep, I am still around but fast becoming a shadow of my former self!!!! I am currently 31/2 stone lighter than when I last posted, LOL, and feeling pretty good!!! Still a way to go but not giving up this time until I get to my 'desired' weight!!! Plus I am not missing chocolate......which as many of you know I used to love with a passion.....I have not had any since middle of last summer!! Panic not though, I am still as ditzy as ever and plan to stay that way.......I am more confident with myself and I am actually beginning to like me!!!

Our little sweetheart Leah had her first birthday on January 14th, plus she took her first steps on that day as well!!!! She is such a little beauty......I will post some pics next time I post (promise I am back regularly now!!!)

Sascha is almost 1yr old now (1st February) and has turned into a lovely dog - still a puppy as such but a lovely doggy if you know what I mean!!! We still miss Sam as much as ever, but we are sure he is still around.....at least it feels that way sometimes!!

We are heading to Scotland at the end of March for a week, I made a vow towards the end of last year that we MUST have a holiday this year!! So I went a head and booked 2, LOL, Scotland at end of March and Devon mid September!!! I am so looking forward to it.....we need a break to unwind from all the hassle we had in 2008.....it was not a good year for us at all apart from Leah's arrival and Kevin and Lucy's wedding!!

I am definitely giving up the contract with BT as soon as the 18months are up!!! It is a nightmare.....and way too expensive - as usual the small print hides a multitude of sins and the home hub deal we got is not a wonderful as it is made out to be!!! I hate to say it but AOL is looking very good in the equation at the moment despite the problems I had........but I will be investigating big time before I finally change us over this time!!!

Well, time to go and get some lunch - not sure what I am going to have but possibly a salad of some sort!!! Yes a salad on a cold day - my tastes have changed that much and I have given up chips as well - in fact I have hardly eat potato at all now!! TTFN everyone, love to you all

Joan xxxx

Waiting!!!!

Well, here I am again and still waiting for the money from the insurance company!! I phoned them friday only to be told they are still in enquiry mode!! As I was phoning from reception at work I could not go into details so I will be phoning tomorrow morning and saying 'what the hell do you mean enquiry mode?' .............Now I (along with many others) was of the belief that once an offer on a write off is made, when you are fully comprehensive, that once all the relevant documents have been received by the insurance company (i.e. service docs, mot, vehicle registration etc) then you gets your cheque and all is hunky dory with the world and they continue with getting their monies back after they have paid you out!!! Or am I wrong???? No I did not think so..........so tomorrow someone is going to get an earful as it is causing no end of trouble with Rob and I car sharing, not to mention all the added miles/wear and tear on his car bearing in mind he works some 16 miles away and I am having to take him to and from work so I can use his car whilst he is at work - 2 round trips of a total of 32 miles each time so at the moment we are averaging 80 miles a day - (the bus service in this neck of the woods is hopeless!!!) to do all the weekly errands and getting to & from my work!! This coming week is going to be fun as he is on early start so I will be having to get up with him at 5.30 a.m!!! and collect him in my lunch hour which is 1.30 - 2.30 .......I end up eating on the go!!! If I am wrong regarding the fully comp insurance aspect then please correct me, but I am sure I am right!!

I spent the evening cake making yesterday as Rob was out at a gig and I could not leave Sascha for all that time (9 hours) if I had gone in his car - I usually follow on later and then leave to come home earlier if I have my own car.............apparently I missed out on a damn good evening...Arrgh!!! My cakes turned out lovely so that is a plus, only drawback is that Rob keeps wanting to eat them (mainly the chocolate one) so I have put a padlock on the cake tin, LOL!!!!

As I write Rob is installing a new safety gate for Sascha's benefit!!! We leave her in the kitchen when we are at work but as there is no door from the kitchen into the conservatory we have a safety gate to stop her getting into the conservatory; the old safety gate is now too small so Rob had put some old fence trellis on top of the gate to stop her jumping the fence, LOL!! All well and good and it has been working but she has now discovered that if she gnaws at the wood it will eventually disappear (she so far has not got splinters thank goodness!!!) and she can then jump over again (yes she has grown that much!!) !!! We have now got an extra tall gate from the pet shop and in theory it should stop her but as it is a different fixing system it is proving difficult to get it to stay in place (the old one you could bolt into the wall....this one you cannot!!) and she just may push it over!!! The only reason we have not got a door there is that we cannot find a chippy (carpenter) to do it for a reasonable price.....we have the door, the 'furniture' and can get the frame so all they would have to do is fit the darn thing but I refuse to pay in excess of £150.00p for a couple of hours work!!! Someone has said they would do it for us but as it is a friend of a family member, trying to pin them down is a nightmare! The only reason Sascha cannot go in the conservatory at the moment is 'cos Rob has some band equipment in there and she may chew it .......we are going to be selling it so once it is gone she can go in there again.

Anyway, I am off to make a cuppa and put dinner on (roast gammon, cauliflower cheese & new potatoes, followed by a small piece of my choccy cake I made last night!!)......by the way talking of food,...... I have lost nearly 2stone now so I am feeling quite good about myself and have been slimmer of the week 3 times now; I just missed last months slimmer of the month by 1lb but runner up is quite good!!! I have given up proper chocolate (galaxy, lindt....etc.) completely now and Rob does not know but the cakes made last night were done with low fat butter and canderel & he loves them saying they are my best ever, tee hee!!!!

Loads of love

Joan xxxxxxx