I caught up with just J today for a light brunch and some nattering and knitting. We find it easier with just the two of us. C has a lot of issues and depending on the day can be a bit prickly. We love her to bits and do enjoy her company but sometimes it's nice to be able to chat without having to second guess ourselves.

I then went to the supermarket. All. By. Myself. Which meant I was able to buy a couple of toys for the girls (I've invited Lily to come over next week when we have Sally) without being asked if they were necessary, some decent gin that was only a few dollars more than the cheap shit stuff and could spend time just looking and seeing what's around. I did forget to check out brussels sprouts. They are a winter veg but I don't think anyone knows what the seasons are at the moment, including the produce.

It is quite a pleasant day. Not too hot and not too windy. 

Sally has been playing games on her ipad and sending me messages about the game and asking me to guess what she's drawing. Yesterday she facetimed me and I got to see Alice who waved when she saw my face and heard my voice. These are the good things about technology. It is why the NSW girls know who we are even though they barely see us twice a year in person.

After dealing with some annoying pain issues and the ever increasing weight I bit the bullet this week and went back onto the Fast 800 program designed by Michael Mosely. I lost weight and felt so much better back in 2021 using this. Looking back at my entries at the time I can see why I went off the rails. Covid, isolation and a deteriorating mother in law for starters. 

Anyway, I have written out the meals for a couple of weeks and so far so good. I still have a couple of gins and soda in the evening and scrabble food is a small piece of cheese, some pickled onions, a small handful of nuts, some berries - that sort of thing. Not the large amounts of cheese, biscuits, nuts and crisps. And the wine is a treat for now and again. I know, I know.

I have a very all or nothing personality and this has been my downfall in many endeavours. If I can't do it 100% first time it will toss it in. Oh, the negative self talk I have subjected myself to over the years. I am learning to not stress over things not being perfect. As long as the finished product looks good and does the job, only I will know if it isn't perfect. And isn't that one of the joys of handmade stuff? If I choose to not have wine and cheese today that doesn't mean I won't have it down the track. During past efforts at weight loss I have been known to throw out recipe books because I will never cook that food again. Rabbit food for me forever. Welcome to the crazy that is my mind.

When we started the quick lockdown that was going to save us back in 2020 I shaved my hair and coloured it pink. It was a bit of a giggle that I thought would last a month at the most. Over the next 2 years I kept it very short as it was easy to do at home and I wasn't game to go to a hairdresser - not going to wear a mask for that amount of time! I went to local cheap cut place the day before nephew's wedding and ended up very short again. I haven't touched it since and Himself says he prefers it with some length. I will get it tidied up soon as I am feeling a bit like an old English sheepdog. This morning I was running late to meet and J and my hair really needed a wash. No problem until I couldn't find the hairdryer and remembered it had ended up in the garage as a tool for something or other. I met her looking like I'd just come out of the swimming pool (in my dreams nightmares). Had we not spent more time than planned nattering I would have popped into BigW and grabbed one but I had just about reached my limit of people and still had to go to the supermarket.

I am now waiting for Himself to come back from the Shed. 

Chicken fajitas for dinner in lettuce leaves. Last night's dinner was really tasty and it made enough to have freeze. I love having frozen meals on standby.