Sunday Was a Good Day...

We had a good day today, dispite the constant rain again.  This morning I did some sorting of scrapbooking stuff.  There is so much of it I need to do an inventory.  I have to get pretty ruthless and let loads go, either to grandchildren or school groups. If I could equate it to weight loss I could get to my target overnight!!

This afternoon we went to the cinema to see "Law Abiding Citizen", oh boy what a movie. Gerard Butler was fabulous. It was far more violent than I would usually choose but on the whole I would give it
 a 7 out of 10.  I have been a fan of Gerard Butler since I saw him in "Phanthom of the Opera" I thought he was gorgeous, had never heard of him until then.  So when I got home I Googled him, only to find he was born on the same day as my son....the lusting stopped there and then!!!

We came home and made our evening meal together and had a heart to heart about something that is bothering me.  I may blog about it at a later date but right now it is wrenching the heart from me and too hurtful to talk about.

I then was just getting my laptop powered up when I had a message from my best friend, telling me to read my daughter's Facebook page. This is the daughter that isn't friends with me, so I chose some two months ago not to read her page as I felt I was looking where I shouldn't. When I opened up Facebook and looked at Clair's page I discovered her car had been stolen during the night and set on fire. She was awy for the weekend in Blackpool on a Christmas party night with friends. Her husband Tim discovered the car was gone this morning. I am so upset for them, she needs her car for work, it had all her kit for work in the car.
I rang her and spoke to her voicing my convern and for the first time in a over a year we had a civil conversation.  Maybe something good will come out of the bad, not we have spoken but I am not holding my breath.

Mood Fair
Food Excellent.

What a Day.

Fabulous Day with Gorgeous Granddaughters.

I am sat here very tired but very happy, we have had a Great Day with the Two Jays.
The house looks like a hurricane hit, but boy did we have FUN.
Christmas cards made, scrapbooks starting to bulge a little. They are really getting into it now.
So much so we have a list of subjects to cover  for the next twelve months.

My darling husband was great too, he is so good with the girls.  He was showing them how Braille works, they were facinated and went home with sheets of paper with their names and messages for their parents spelt out in Braille.

I can't believe how good I have been food wise, I am so focussed I haven't had any treats at all today. All day with the grandkids and not falling down, I am so proud of me:0)

Mood and Food Excellent

Friday Evening...

It is a cold wet and miserable evening here, the weather has been atrocious this week.
The sort of weather that usually gets me reaching for hot, stodgy, comfort food.
Not this week though, I have been really focused on my food, I have been satisfied
on healthy, delicious low calorie meals. I am really pleased with me;0)
I need to get the exercise sorted though, I am still avoiding the gym.
Been using the Wii fitboard but not as often as I should,
my back and hip are holding me back.I need to get to the doctors and ask for an xray,
I am beginning to think I may need a hip replacement.

The weekend starts tonight at 9pm when my darling gets home from work. We are
having my girlies for scrapbooking and Christmas card making tomorrow so it will be
Fun Fun Fun all the way tomorrow.  Sunday I would like to get out walking depending
on the weather. I so want to be in Onederland for Christmas so I need to step up the
exercise any which way.

Mood and Food Excellent.

Letter to Sheilagh at Sixteen from Sheilagh at Fifty Nine





Dear Sheilagh,


What can I say to a girl who is so naive and innocent about the world you are about to grow up in. I can say, no matter what comes along, no matter how bad things look, the joy will come.


At the moment you have a deep faith in the Lord and you are looking to dedicate yourself to the religious life. Your faith is going to be tested in ways you cannot even imagine but you will come through it all.


Believe in yourself, believe in your God and you will have the joy.


With love


Sheilagh
xxx

266 Really is Special.

Brittany @ 266 is doing something very special to celebrate gathering 100 followers and entering Onederland.

For every comment she gets on her blog between now and Monday she will donate $1 to the homeless.
For every link back to her blog she will donate a further $1.

So please go visit, help her celebrate and help the homeless too.

Happy Thanksgiving to all you lovley folk across the pond.


http://266-twosixtysix.blogspot.com/

I haven't had the chance to write my letter to my sixteen year old self, had a lot of sorting and talking to do last night.  Hopefully will complete tomorrow.

266 Really is Special.

Wednesday Weigh In and Yourself at Sixteen.

I am delighted to report a Two pounds weight loss this week, I have been so on track with my food I have amazed myself!!  Long may it continue. I am well on track for Onederland for Christmas if I keep this up.
Never mind if I keep it up! I WILL keep it up!!

I have just been reading an article in a magazine, where celebrities have written a a letter to their sixteen year old selves.  It was a very interesting read and made me start thinking, what would I write to my sixteen year old self.  I am going to write that letter tonight and I will share it tomorrow. What would you write to your sixteen year old self, I would love to know.

Pudsey and Pal's

Pudsey came home on Friday,"Children in Need Night"

He was delighted to find a few new friends and insisted on having his photo taken with each of them.

(Don't tell him there are a lot more in the house he hasn't met yet!)

So here they are Pudsey and Pal's from top to bottom.

1. Pudsey alone.

2. Pudsey and Andy from Stirling.

3. Pudsey and Tino.

4. Pudsey and  Ted

5. Pudsey and Ikkle Bear.

6. Pudsey and Handy.

7. Pudsey and Golly.

8. Pudsey and Winnie

9. A tight squeeze now that Pudsey has moved in.

10. Still a tight sqeeze....

11. Phew thats better, we need a bigger basket.

Just bit of fun on a night when the rain is bucketing down and the wind is blowing a gale.

The weather is being atrocious this week, but we have nothing to complain about considering the plight of the people of Cumbria. They say the rainful has been of biblical proportions over Cumbria and the pictures really look that way. They have a lot to cope with over the the next few months, God Bless them.

Food and Mood still Excellent!!

Busy Monday..But People Noticing...

Monday is always busy in General Practice and today was no exception. We were so busy the day went past in a flash. It wasn't so busy that a few people have passed comment on my weight loss today which has given me a Buzz!!
Michelle from the pharmacy asked the Deputy Practice Manager if I was losing weight deliberately??
She had not heard I was on a diet (no one has heard anything cos I'm not dieting as such) so thought there was a medical problem.  I was very pleased to reassure her my health is improving by the day. One of our social workers noticed my watch is loose on my wrist now and commented that she had been thinking my uniform was looking rather big on me. It's looking awful right now, but I don't want to get it altered until after Christmas. Hoping to drop another size by then...

Two patients plus a pharmacy technican who comes in daily to collect repeat prescriptions all paid me compliments too.  So Sheilagh is very happy tonight, the work is beginning to pay off.

Food and mood EXCELLENT today.

Simple Sunday

We have had a really lovely Sunday and I am so grateful for it.
I slept until 9:45, unheard of for years, I am always awake by 7am. I have been having trouble sleeping for quite a while now. My darling  bought me some St Johns Wort on Friday after reading it aids sleep.
I had not heard of this, I knew it was known as the herbal Prozac, I told him in no uncertain terms that I am not depressed. So he showed me the article which made no mention of drepression.I took on one Friday night around 8pm  I slept ok. I took the three per day recommneded dose yesterday still not believing it would work.  But when I woke this morning I was amazed, I felt so well rested and everything looked brighter. I am still cautious about claiming these little capsules as a miracle cure, but I am going to review the sleep situation weekly and see how it goes.

We had a relaxed morning with a delicious breakfast. 

I had a lovely long natter with my eldest daughter on the phone making arrangements for Christmas. Then we went to the cinema to see 2012 this afternoon. No popcorn, no sweets, no nothing, just holding hands;0)  Good movie, the special effects are spectacular. The trailers for other films throughout December now have us planning to see at least on film per week in December.

When we got back, we made a delicious meal between us and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now we are just relaxing before another busy week begins tomorrow.  I love these simple days, relaxed, no stress, completely happy and totally loved.  I am so blessed.

Speechless....

I don't know what to say, I am absolutely gobsmacked at the reaction to my wanting to leave this

weird and wacky,wonderful place.

Thank you to everyone who commented, emailed, texted and telephoned me,

you really are wonderful folk.

 I have had a really bad 24 hours, riding an emotional rollercoaster

 of sadness, fear, frustration and eating crap.

I believe all is well now and the problem

I believed there was, is no longer.

I will continue albeit in a more

 subdued manner with my blog.

Thank you Sean, that is all I will say here,

we have been in touch and things are good.

Tomorrow is a new day, a clean slate, a fresh page.

Bring it On

Leaving Blog Land

It is with a very heavy heart I wish to say I am leaving blog land.

After my middle of the night post last night and talking about friends I will never meet, I now realise when you have an impression of friendship, it isn't the real thing. It never will be.

I have made a mistake thinking I was comforting a "friend" but my words of comfort have been used to hurt someone I have admired and been inspired by for the length of time I have been in Blogland.

I have learnt a lesson about trust in this weird cyber space world and it is not to trust.

I wish you all the very best of health and happiness.

God Bless.

Sheilagh

Not Sleeping

It is 12:37am and I should be fast asleep.  I went to bed at 11pm feeling very tired, settled down to  sleep and  the suddenly  I was wide awake. Tossing and turning doesn't help, it justs makes for frustration and it disturbs my darling.

So  I got up, made a cup of tea and switched the tv on.  Have you seen the junk on tv after midnight?  Ok it isn't so hot before midnight but after...forget it.  I am beginning to wonder why we have a television.  I have recorded Oprah so she is on at the moment, but not caught my attention this time.

So I have been doing one of my favourite things for the past hour, Blog-Hopping, from weight loss to crafting to cooking to weird. I don't linger long at weird, but the others I do, some inspire, some make me laugh and some make me cry.

There are some really wonderful blogs out there that I dip into now and again.  I follow many, but I also have some in my favourites that I dip into  just now and again.  If I Followed any more than I do now I would be in trouble time wise, I am often tempted, especially if I read a comment on a blog that grabs my attention, I will go look at that blog.Then I have to make a tough decision, if I want to follow it I have to let another go.  So I usually put it in my favourites and check it out now and again.  I can't give up the blogs I follow, it would be like giving up on friends.

Am I investing too much time and interest on blogging?
Am I placing too much importance on friendships with people I have never met and probably never will?
Mmm.. should I have written this post?

WWI

Weighed in this morning and tickled pink to report a TWO pound loss.
I feel things have clicked into place and I am doing what needs to be done
without it being stressful.  I am enjoying the food I am eating, not denying
myself treats and it seem to be working....LoL

Could I be in Onederland for Christmas?
Not putting any pressure on though,
I am enjoying life at the moment,so not altering anything...
Long May it Continue!

Inspired By Suzi

I went for a walk this morning, armed with my camera.
Inspired by Suzi at http://spunkysuzi.blogspot.com/.

It was a bright. cold crisp morning and I enjoyed the walk,
even meeting up with my ex..lol
No I didn't take his photo.

So here are this mornings pictures.....

Eating is Great, Mood is Good, Exercise is getting better.

Some photo's from the Crab Apple Retreat.

Top left are the "Going In Girls"

As we named ourselves.

Vicky,  Me, Judy, Trish.

Estella and Sue.

Top right at Tracy, Trish and Debbi.

Bottom left The lovely Rosemary and myself.

Bottom Right, Nige and two groupies;0)

I will be putting other photo's on my other two blogs

http://shereallylovesfood.blogspot.com/

and

http://shescraftshed.blogspot.com/

I am  feeling inspired to get some crafting done especially now I have my new toy.

My mood and food have been great today, long may it last.

Back Home and So Very Happy

I got home at 4:30 this afternoon after a wonderful weekend of love, laughter and loads of happy crafting.  Roll on next year!

Trish and I had an amazing time, met some really lovely people, made some new friends and learnt some  amazing new crafting ideas. I will share some photo's of the weekend tomorrow, but right now I am going to spend some time with my darling:)

I am delighted to say, I made some real good choices food wise. I hope to see a weight loss of two pounds this week.  There were loads of sweets and chocloates about. I didn't go overboard and I think I will see good results on Wednesday.

Hope you all had as great a weekend as I did.....

Ready Set Go...Let the Fun Begin

Bags are packed and I a rearing to go.  Three days of fun with my Bezzy Mate and seventy other like minded women. At a delightful hotel in the Cheshire countryside. http://www.foresthillshotel.com/

With the lovely Rosemary Merry and her nutter of a husband Nige from Crab Apple Crafts. http://www.crabapplecrafts.co.uk/

Rosemary is responsible for my addiction to paper and rubber.  I came across her shop ten years ago and bought my first rubber stamp, now thousands of pounds later she still is the feeder of my addiction, but she does it so well.  She is a really lovely lady and deserves ever success. (Nicest Craft Presenter on QVC too)

I am taking my laptop with me and I hope to post a couple of times from the hotel.  If not I will catch up on Sunday evening.  Hope you have as great a weekend as I know I am going to have:)

Wednesday Weigh In

I am very pleased to report a one pound loss from last week.

Considering I put three pounds on at the weekend!!

I weighed on Sunday evening when I arrived back from my daughters, knowing I would have put on, but was quite upset that it was three pounds.  So Monday and Tuesday I cut back to 1000 calories and it worked. I am upping my calories today, but changing round what I am eating. I am going to try vegatable based meals.

This is forward planning for the coming weekend, I am going on a craft retreat with Trish.  The food last year was fabulous. So I know if I just ate anything I felt like I would put at least 7 pounds without blinking.  So I am setting my mind on eating plenty of veg and fruit. The hotel has a gym and there is some great areas for walking so we are going to be  having action times as well as crafting times.

More about it later, got to get to work now....

1000 Calories

1000 calories today, trying to make up for the weekend, not sure it will work but can only try.
40 minutes on Wii Fit
Feel heavy and bloated.

Short post tonight as I have been busy preparing for my appraisal tomorrow.
My prayers are with Sean and Irene.

Good night God Bless Friends

The Gang and Me

Don't ask about the food it didn't go good.........

But  the party was great and the kids were amazing.

Matthew was a Star and as you can see  from the photo's

I was bursting with pride.

A Great Weekend with Family

Boy oh Boy have I got a hill to climb now.

Away for the Weekend

I am away down to my eldest daughter's home tomorrow morning with my baby daughter and family.
We are going for my eldest grandson's EIGHTEENTH birthday...
I still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday!!  It is so scarey how fast time is flying.

Matthew is a darling boy who still loves to give his grandma big hugs and I adore him.

His dad is in the RAF and they are based down in Hampshire which is a four hour drive from here. When he was born and while they were waiting for married quarters Matthew and his mum lived with me and my then husband until he was six months old. He was an utter joy as a baby and still is.  He would squirm with embarrassment if he could see what I am writing.

When they got their quarters my daughter left Matthew with us for a week while she and Paul set up home.  We took Matthew down to them on July 4th Independence Day. When we left the following day, we drove from the base with tears blinding us, so much so my husband had to pull into a lay-by and we sobbed in each others arms.  Annie Lennox was on the radio singing "An Angel Playing with My Heart" and even to this day when I hear that song I cry.

But the music that really reminds me of Matthew is Glen Miller's "In The Mood" he loved that tune and loved to be danced around the room be either grandad or me or both of us at the same time.  The giggles and chuckles from that wee boy were magical. I still say it is the best sound in the world, a childs laughter.

I have some really happy memories of this wonderful young man growing up and I almost burst with pride when I think of him. They say you shouldn't have favourites and I don't. Though I do have special feeling for Matthew the first of the next generation of my family entering adulthood on Sunday November 8th .


I hope to make good choices over the weekend, I am choosing to enjoy my daughters, sons in law and grandchildren.  It is a shame the whole family will not be there but I will enjoy those who are.

Food today so far is good...800 calories so far.

Have a great weekend, I am planning to.

Liverpool Images

A few more images of Liverpool from the weekend.
The top three showing the old and the new view of the shoreline from the ferry.

One of the Anthony Gormly sculptures on Crosby Beach.
http://www.chesterwalls.info/gallery/anotherplace/anotherplace.html

A very emotive set at "The Beatles Story" of John Lennon's Imagine.
Those round rimmed glasses really got me and I had to fight back the tears.

Food is good 1560 calories
Exercise 30 minutes walking.

NEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASHNEWSFLASH

I GOT INTO THE SIZE 18'S!!!

I GOT INTO THE SIZE 18'S!!!

DID YA HEAR ME??

I GOT INTO THE SIZE 18'S!!!

I came home form work this evening and as I was taking my uniform off, I looked longingly at the size 18 jeans hanging on the wardrobe door. I thought about it for about two minutes and then tried them on.

As I slipped my feet into the legs I was thinking "You are setting yourself up for a disappointment here".

But they slipped up quite easily, when they got to my hips

 I thought "This is it, no further surely?"

They slid over my hips easily.

"Never" I thought, "This cannot be right" 

"Okay, they won't fasten"

 Nervously I tried to button them,

"It won't happen"

It Happened!!!

They buttoned!!

They zipped,!!

They fit!!!

I can't move too well in them, but they fit!!!

I told Ralph on the phone and he was delighted,

he said he will get me a pair of size 16 to hang on the door now.....

Who is a Happy Bunny then?

Weigh-in-Wednesday

I didn't get to blog last night, my guy was poorly.  He has gone to work this morning and I don't think he should have. He is having some really bad headaches and migraine lately I we are both worried about it.
He has been to the doctors who advised a trip to the optician. He has done that, he needs new glasses but they found nothing to cause headache. I am wondering if it is a postural problem, he tends to have shoulder and neck stiffness and I think a trip to an Osteopath or Chiropractor is needed.

My food was good yesterday 1460 calories consumed and every one of them delicicously healthy:0)
I am improving with the water intake too just under 2 litres yesterday.
No exercise though....

So to the dreaded weigh in...hang on....

DaaDah....  1.5lb's Gone..

I am happy with that, so I am nearly back on the 60 x 60 track, but I am trying not to focus on that.
I would dearly love to lose 2lb's per week so need to step up the exercise, so I am off...TTFN

Mojo is Rattling good Style.

Didn't get to  the gym, it was bucketing down when I got home from work and Ralph was not in the best of moods. I am more than a little worried about him at the moment. He is not behaving like "My Ralph". He had forgotten about the gym and was moody.  He is NEVER moody.  I asked what was wrong and he doesn't know, but feels out of sorts. So I felt it was more important to be with him and try to get to the bottom of why he feels this way.

He had made a big pan of vegetable soup so we had some for tea with some wholemeal bread, it was delicious.  After tea we went to ASDA for my next size jeans (18) they are hanging on the wardrobe door and whispering to me...

I also bought a nice top for Matthew's Birthday Bash that is a size 18 also so I am pretty pleased with myself. I wonder if I could make it to a 16 for Christmas?

Ralph seemed a little better when we got back, he went to do some homework for his college course and I went and did 25 minutes on the WiiFit.

Today I have:  
 Done 25 minutes exercise.
 Drank 2 litres of water.
 Eaten 1463 calories.
                        
I am happy with those numbers today.

I am inspired by Kari's visit and her frank and honest words.
She has lost her weight with:
honest hard graft.
honest real food.
honest exercising.

I have got to learn to be totally honest with myself, no more denial, no more pretence, no more poor me...

Where Did That Weekend Go?

They say time flies when you are having fun, well this weekend went by in supersonic speed.  I cannot believe it is over and Kari  is on the train home. It was an absolute pleasure having this delightful woman come to stay, she is looking Fantastic and is Fabulous company.

She has given me wonderful motivation to get cracking again. I asked her for ten top tips and I am going to try to stick with them.

1. Drink more water...I knew I was failing badly with this for quite a while now.
2. Exercise doing the things I enjoy incorporating weights for metabolism.
3. Hang a pair of next size jeans on bedroom door (when I get door back that is).
4. Cut back on empty calories (sweet treats etc).
5. Stop eating meals when beginning to feel full  (thats a difficult one for a child of the fifties,  always taught to clear her plate, there are babies starving in Africa)
6. Always carry an emergency low calorie snack.
7. Start having 1500 calories. Check BMR after next 20lb loss.
8. Share treats, only have half of a biscuit, cake, chocolate bar (This is something my friend Ange does and Kari thinks it is a great idea too.)
9. We got side tracked talking about other things....

10. My Own Top Tip, enjoy your friends, they bring such Joy.

We had a lovely day in Liverpool yesterday, the wind and rain spoilt the plans for today. We messed about with the Wii for a while having a good laugh at the same time.

So tomorrow it is back to the gym for me, walking every morning for me, or if the weather is bad, thirty minutes on the Wii.  My MoJo is working and I am eagar to  get back into the excercise groove.