Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
- Alex Levine

weigh in update

Another three pounds

Thirty eight pounds altogether

Two stone, ten pounds

Four pounds more off then the next Pandora Charm .....

Hurray!

cousins

Teenager is now on holiday for Easter. He won't go back to school in England until the end of June. As some of you longstanding readers will know, he is off to Melbourne for ten weeks on school exchange.

I am managing my nerves admirably ( on the surface).

He is very excited and can't wait to start his new adventure.

We have brought him up to be confident, independent and travel loving.

Guess what- we got our wish!

So this weekend we are going over to see other half's folks in the North East. Teenager's au revoir tour perhaps before the summer. Teenager will see his cousins. Here is a picture of him with one of them last summer taken by my lovely sister in law D. As you can see they have very similiar colouring. They get on really well. If they are not wrestling, or playing with a ball, they are on the X box. Teenagers eh?

In true masochistic fashion, we are going to watch the Toon Army play Chelsea at St James' Park. We are going to pay to do this. Madness. It will be interesting to see the Chelsea players.... I will see them when I occasionally open my eyes during all the prayers....

Update tomorrow on tonight's official weigh in.... fingers crossed pleased.

a big throw out

The scales ( unofficially) say that it won't be long until I hit the three stone lost mark. All of a sudden a whole new bunch of clothes are far too big, and are therefore heading for the charity recycle pile.

My friend M has kindly given me some clothes that she is now too skinny for and most of them now fit me, including some fab 'white company' jumpers and shirts with cashmere in them ( how fab is that??).

These new clothes and recent pleasant weather inspired me to get rid of/ pack up winter stuff. As soon as I have done that the temperature has crashed. I woke up to frost this morning. The winds have been howling, with a perishing wind chill factor. Why does that happen??

Anyway, I will shiver it out until the spring weather really does settle. I am not going backwards now. It is a great thrill to get into trousers that have never fitted, and tops which only a few months ago would have only been an 'if only'.

My body image is still such that I still gravitate to loose and floaty rather than fitted and tailored... but I am getting there. I can see a big difference. My rings and watch are now loose, and my shoes are down a half size ( you can lose weight off feet??).

I was looking at clothes yesterday by LK Bennett, Karen Millen and Fenn Wright Manson. Gorgeous summer dresses. I am a long way off these yet, but it's no longer the impossible dream.

What does 'Love' mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does 'love' mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' C lare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day' Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image) Karen - age 7

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

And the final one --

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Priceless- a real laugh out loud..

A man died and went to Heaven.

As he stood in front of the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.

He asked, 'What are all those clocks?'

St. Peter answered, 'Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock.

Every time you lie the hands on your clock move.'

'Oh', said the man. 'Whose clock is that?'

'That's Mother Teresa's', replied St. Peter. 'The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie.'

'Incredible', said the man. 'And whose clock is that one?'

St. Peter responded, 'That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abraham told only two lies in his entire life.'

'Where's Gordon Brown's clock?' asked the man.

'Brown's clock is in Jesus's office. He's using it as a ceiling fan.'

This delightful gentleman ( look at those arms) is not in fact a rock star but Carl Hayman who plays for the Newcastle Falcons Rugby team. He won player of the month in February, and I was invited to the match to present him with his trophy and get a picture with him ( and even perhaps a kiss- a girl can hope). I won a competition .....

It's all happening on Friday night and I CAN'T GO. I go back to the Lakes after a whole week working over here in the North East. I just can't come back over to Newcastle again. Too tiring, too costly, logistically problematic and inconvenient because of other commitments. Sigh. Even with my boundless energy and optimisim, I just couldn't make it work this time.

I just hope I get another chance.

To be six again...........

To Be 6 Again...

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror.

Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'dlike to have for her Birthday.

'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice bigbowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park.

What a day!He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.

Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park.Her head was reeling and her stomachfelt upside down.He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's.

What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked,

'Well Dear, what was it like being six again?'Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed.

'I meant my dress size, you idiot!!!!'

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is gonna get it wrong.

a walk in the village

Yesterday I went for a walk in our village ( Bowness on Windermere).
It is five minutes walk from where I live.
As you can see we are very fortunate to live in such a wonderful part of the world.

I never take it for granted.

A HOST OF GOLDEN DAFFODILS



LAKE WINDERMERE AT BOWNESS HARBOUR

SWANS AT BOWNESS HARBOUR

EVENING DRAWS IN AT BOWNESS HARBOUR

OUR LOCAL COSTAS WHERE LOCALS AND TOURISTS CHILL OUT!

A SWAN HANGING ROUND HOPING FOR FISH AND CHIPS

All in a short walk on an errand. Fabulous eh?

Hope you had a great weekend too.

Happy Mother's Day

the skinny bird

I got weighed today at Lighterlife.

I lost six pounds in ten days.

That means officially two stone and seven pounds.

Thirty five pounds altogether.

I am absolutely thrilled to bits.

Marching on to stone number three.

My wonderful friend A calls me the skinny bird. Not quite yet, but I am getting there.

In reverse

Spurred on by an excellent blood pressure reading and encouraging weigh in by the nurse ( confirmed by the Lighterlife weigh in tomorrow officially I hope), I decided that this beautiful spring day was a good time to start boosting my exercise.

So, after a good swim this morning, I finished the day by doing ten laps of our local running track. Other half came with me. I briskly walked eight and a half laps, and ran the rest. Ok I used the word ran.

It felt like running to me. But it is a slow jog almost in reverse. But I did a lap and a half. I am impressed with myself.

Olympics London 2012 here I come.

another award...absolutely fabulous!

Thanks much to a Brit in Tennessee for this award. Much obliged.

I would like to recommend this award to:

Expat mum

Busy Bee Suz

Jessica's World

Squared Off

Granny on the web

I now have to name five fabulous addictions

• Jo Malone
• Pandora Charms
• Coffee
• Magazines
• Handbags

What are yours?

A word of warning to all bloggers

I got a message today to tell me that I have infringed copyright and some material on my blog has been removed.

Panic.

I looked carefully within all the small print to find out what the offending article or articles are. It turns out it was a picture of McDonald's Golden Arches back in September.

The small print in the email told me that if I infringe again my blog will be deleted. Eeks.

So if I vanish, you will all know why.

Like many bloggers I suspect, I use bits and bobs from google images to spice up my blog a little. With a small and bijoux readership I didnt think anyone would get excited about it. But they have.

Oops.

So from now on I will use my own images to be on the safe side....

Comments folks? Anything like this happen to you?

Tuesday and what's been going on?

Picture- Tim Visser. Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club ( one of my favourite players).

For those long standing and loyal readers, you will be interested ( probably not really) to hear that I am in Consett McDonalds. For some time this was my unofficial office in the North East. I don't come so often now because I don't have so much need for their free wireless connnection for the laptop.

Why is this? Firstly, because so many other venues now offer free WI- FI ( mainly service stations and some coffee shops). Secondly because I have two mobile internet sticks/ wands (what the hell do you call these things?). One with '3' and one with 02. They are much more cost effective than using hotel rates for internet use.

However. The technology is still in its infancy so it's very slow for downloading lots of big documents, and for internet use such as blogging. And, in our lovely cottage in Corbridge we can't get a good signal, and none at all this week. So here I am - in Consett McDonalds. Half seven in the morning, the sun is shining,the staff are cheerful, and I have a big cup of their remarkably good black coffee.

And the connection is quick, easy and free, and the venue is about twenty minutes drive from my first meeting.

Mum has come across to the cottage in Corbridge for two weeks. She is having a good long holiday this time, and my favourite aunt and uncle are coming over for the weekend to see her. I am here Sunday to Wednesday this week, and I am coming back next week Monday to Thursday. Works really well.

Had a fabulous day on Sunday. THE NEWCASTLE FALCONS WON AGAIN. We watched them beat Harlequins 24-16. That's six wins in a row. The players ( both teams) came and had their lunch with us afterwards ( we were on the corporate lunch option- there were lots and lots of us) and watched the England Match ( another success!). We then watched a few of the players in a band they have formed. It was a wonderful day. Pictures later in the week when I get back to my camera and downloading kit.

(Diet watchers- while all around me tucked into roast dinner, puddings and cheese washed down with endless wine, I had black coffee and sparkling water- how saintly is that??).

After a hectic day at work mum and I chilled out in the Metro Centre Marks and Spencer store. It opens til nine, is huge, has a coffee shop. Can't get better really. Bought new top ( success) but the swimming costume I bought didn't fit. Keep on with the calorie counting!! Mind you I am sitting here in a size eighteen Per Una top this morning and it looks great. What an achievement! Happy Lakeland Jo!

Weigh in on Thursday- will let you know!

We are the Champions....

Last night we were part of the team of six for a quiz night at teenager's school.

There were lots of teams: about sixteen I think.

We had a great night. There were picture questions,cryptic anagrams, brain teasers and several rounds of questions with different themes: Science and Nature, Eighties Music, Money, Sport and so on.

The prizes for the winning team were a bottle of tequila, two bottle of ready mixed Margaritas, and a large chocolate easter egg from Thorntons. The theme was a mexican , hence the drinks.

AND WE WON....WE WON.... WE WON.... HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

And I was a champion. While everyone else chowed through nachos, tortillas, chilli and rice, grated cheese and salad, washed down with copious quantities of wine..... I sat with my sparkling water. Yes... not one dodgy calorie passed these lips.

Now I hear you ask... how did you distribute the prizes? We have decided to have a Mexican celebration party when I am eating ( and drinking!!!!!!!!!!) again.....the six of us are going to cook and celebrate together. I can't wait.

"We are the champions, we are the champions,no time for losers, cos we are the champions of the world..............."