I lost again!!

Yes I lost 2 more lbs last night - was very pleased, but this half stone has been slow going - perhaps I am starting to relax a bit - I don't know - but I still don't feel like I am dieting so that's a good thing. The pressure is on now - everyone in class wants me to loose 1 1/2 lb next week which will take me to my 4 stone award - I really hope I can do it.

My next target is 12 stone (1 stone and 1/2lb away) I wonder if I can do it by Christmas - which is 7 or 8 weeks away? Because my weight loss is settling down now I am not quite so confident, but it is a good goal to aim for. Then I can start the new year on the final home run to my 3rd and final target of 10 stone.

Just a few photos taken at the weekend when Steven & I went to Attingham Park for a walk. It was raining when we left the house but by the time we had arrived - the rain had gone, the sun was out and the skies were blue and we were greeted by a huge rainbow - it was delightful.


Steven underneath a beautiful autumnal tree

Just look at the lovely colour path created by the falling leaves

Strange looking Fungi were growing everywhere.

Swans & their babies on the river.

There were pheasants everywhere.

What a wonderful video

http://my.bhgscrapbooksetc.com/bettertv/?cid=824514741&lid=1078683787&tid=1258439047/?sssdmh=dm17.280053&esrc=sblsdr

I have just watched this video from scrapbook lifestyle by Pattie duffner called 'love notes to your kids' talking about how important it is to put journalling on every page. it nearly bought tears to my eyes - I was so moved by it and I totally agree with what she says - this is what scrap booking is all about.

I must say I find it easier to do this with recent photos and recent memories as they are still fresh, but it has been hard doing Jessica's album as I cannot remember everything that happened up to 18 years ago or what the children thought or what i thought. I wish I had known about scrapbooking then- my pages would be so much more memorable and thank goodness I have discovered it now so that I can record all these special times..

I had been waiting until the end of the year to do Liam's 'a year in the life of album' - but really I should start now because I really can't remember how we felt then. I have the things he did in the diary I kept for the album, but that does not tell me what he ate or wore or said. I need to make a start on this album ASAP.

Here is a quote by Anna Quindlen in Ali Edwards new book which really sums up how I feel:-

"...but the biggest mistake I made is the one most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is perfectly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only by photographs. There is one picture of the 3 of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate and what we talked about and how they sounded and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the little things a little more and getting it done a little less."

lets compare some photos

thought I would post these few photos just to compare the difference in me - I can see it in these photos- however I think need some new clothes to really show the difference

This one was taken in Norwich in June this year - the week I started my diet - I was shocked & horrified by these pictures. My piggy face - what an incentive to stick to it.


This photo was taken the week before my diet when I nearly died trying to climb up the Longmynd - I think it was this experience that made me realise I had better do something about my weight - though I had been mulling it over in my head for a while before this. The walk just confirmed it.

this photo was taken last week - 5 months after starting my diet and 3 stone 10lbs lighter. I can see me looking a lot better - just need some new clothes. Janet bought me 2 tops from M& S for my birthday which do look nice even though they are fitted. I tried on the size 16 trousers today - could do them up but they were a bit too tight so perhaps in a few more weeks I can try again.

This photo does show it is worth keeping going and as I am only half way there - another 3 stone 4lb to go - I should look and feel a whole lot better by next March.

Slimmimg World Scan bran cake

I have made some Scan Bran cake and in fact it is quite tasty.

Here is the recipe

5 scan bran
2 beaten eggs
1 tablespoon syrup
2 level tablespoon mincemeat
5 level tablespoon sweetener
1 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
grated zest of a lemon

Soak the scan bran in boiling water for 1 minute. Then drain water away and mash up.
Mix ingredients thoroughly
Pour mixture into Pyrex bowl and microwave for 8 minutes.
When cooked the cake will be springy to touch and have pulled away from the sides.

Whilst this is very nice to eat I wonder if it will get me back into bad habits of snacking in between meals. I have been very good since I have started at SW and only eat at meal times except for some fruit for elevenses. But now I have this will I think 'oh its healthy its OK to eat it' and end up slowing down my weight loss. Perhaps I could take some to the gym as I felt quite exhausted after water areobics on Friday and had to have a rest and a banana before I could go into the gym

Ali Edwards new book - Life Artist

This book finally arrived on Friday - I had ordered it direct from CK in the USA on 3rd October - so over 3 weeks ago and was beginning to give up hope. I started to read it Friday evening and finished it Saturday morning.

It is a very good book though I think I would give it 8 out of 10 as I was expecting a lot more from it. Ali is renowned for her beautiful writing but the book is just full of basic ideas and 'don't worry if you are scared to write - just give it a go' - well I am not scared to write -just want to improve it so felt that this book was aimed too broadly - trying to please everyone thereby not really fulfilling any ones needs.

Saying that I was so inspired by it that I did another layout yesterday afternoon - using her ideas. She said see the smaller things in a photograph and let them tell the story - so I did. Using a photograph from our trip to Oxford on Thursday I told the story of Liam spending the day on his mobile phone, rather than interacting with us. I think it is a fab layout but Steven says I must not let Liam see it as it is not very complementary to him - so it his hidden in his album where he will never look!

I used Basic Grey - Stella Rigby Papers and alphas plus a family clear sticker from DCWV. Not really sure about the 'time?' word - so think I willl change that.

A really lovely layout

I really love this layout, which I finished last night. It is so simple but has taken me all week as we have been so busy and I have had to use the dinning room table.

It is the gorgeous photo that I like so much which is why I enlarged it and made it the focal point. It did not need much adding to it after that. I found a lovely 'happiness' definition which I love as the girls all look so happy.

I struggled with the journalling - not what to say - that bit was easy, but how to put it on the layout . I toyed with printing the photo again using PSE to add text to the photo, but as I still have not got my laptop can't do that (it is not on the big computer as adding anymore powerful software will just bring it to a complete halt as it is so slow already). Then I thought about handwriting on the cardstock with white pen - but not sure. I printed the journalling out onto white printer paper but that looked rubbish so used this vellum - which is ok but I could not find the transparency button on the printer options so the words have not printed out well on it.

I used sprinkles glitter glue round the edge as the photo was so sparkly and the journalling mentioned it - but I have mucked it up as the table was such a mess that I kept smudging the dots and having to do more - then bigger blobs came out - so even though it was a good idea has not worked well in practice.

still no laptop

Well it is now a week since my laptop went to be repaired and it has not come back yet and as it has been half term it has been impossible to get on the big computer as Liam has hogged it all week - hence no blog entries.

I have had a very busy week

Monday - mum moved house - she moved in with us temporarily. After a very busy morning of packing and cleaning we went to view an apartment in the afternoon which she liked - put an offer in and by tea time her offer had been accepted.

Tuesday - went to gym - starting to get good now as I have started to increase my resistance on the cycle & cross trainer and increase the weights on the muscle machines! My legs are quite strong and am increasing those quite easily , but one of the arms machines I am still under what he suggested and can only do about 10 instead of 15 - so useless weak arms.


Wednesday - All the Downes came up to Shrewsbury to celebrate Sain's 21st Birthday. She caught the train from Aberystwyth and went back on the 21.30 train back. We had a lovely day and went back to look at the flat so that Janet & Steven could see it. They all thought it was very nice as well. Then in the evening we went out for a meal to the Shalimar Indian restaurant. This always used to be our favourite place to eat but Steven & I were both actually rather disappointed with the food - we had a usual the Shlaimar special Biryani but something was missing from it - so I don't think we will rush there again - it was lovely to be out with everyone and we had lots of laughs.












Thursday - Steven , me & Liam went to visit Eleanor in Oxford. We had a nice day and it was lovely to see Eleanor but we had no money so just walked around all day doing nothing. I had a £2.99 meal deal for lunch from Boots and a n apple & Banana for my tea from Sainsburys. As this was our last visit to Oxford I would have loved to have visited a college that we had not been to before but as that would have cost a few ponds - Steven said No - it was a day trip on a budget!



Whilst this photo is not very clear I think it does show that I have lost some weight as my clothes do look rather baggy and I did have a big cardi on underneath my fleecy coat. Must see if I can fit into the size 16 trousers I bought a while back.

Friday - big gym session today - 20 laps in the pool, then water aerobics, 10 minutes in the steam room (getting to like this) then 1 1/2 hours in the gym! I managed 30 mins on the bike, 30 mins on the Cross trainer and weight work - I am still increasing the weights so feeling quite chuffed with myself. Then had a haircut in the afternoon. I decided to have a change and as I had so much Grey now asked Sonia to cut out all of the colored bits. Its just short with a bit of a nothing style and nobody really likes it - so I will grow back the old style - don't really want to start colouring it again though . My hair is not a glamorous grey yet just a sludge - so perhaps I had better!

I've lost again!

Yes - 1 1/2 lb tonight - I was so relieved as I really thought I was going to have gained! A group of us who all sit together all lost 1 1/2 lb - so we were the 1 1/2 lb gang tonight! I have now lost 3 stone 10 1/1 lb - not bad. Only another 4lb to get to my 4 stone award.

Here is the back of my book - just to prove it!

Michelle - our star as she has lost 4 stone 11lb!! - was leaving tonight as she is moving to Cornwall so we had a bit of a party night with lots of food tasting - I made 20 sugar free jelly and cut up kiwi fruits to top them. other folks bought lots of food like - savoury rice and cous cous cake and scan bran cake.

This scan bran cake was actually rather nice so I bought some scan-bran to make some cake to eat in Oxford as it is going to be difficult to stick to the plan being away for 3 days. I have never used the scan bran before - some of the others buy it by the ton!

I also bought the new slimming world magazine and today I had to buy Scrapbook Inspirations magazine. I subscribe to this but because of the postal strike it has not arrived and I could not wait any longer, as it has been in the shops for days, so I have got lots of bedtime reading.

I have caved and had some chocolate!

Blame Siansburys - I have done so well and not had any chocolate for 4 months now and had not really missed it but I was walking out of Sainsburys on Saturday afternoon when a girl shoved a bar and a leaflet into my hand - some nectar card advertising. It was only a very small bar and I was tired having done the weekly shop by myself on a manic Saturday afternoon - so what did I do but sit in the car and eat it!! At least I did not go out and buy any - but they should not put such tempation in my way - why not give away satsumas!! It was quite nice I must say but I have felt very guilty ever since because I don't want to get the taste for it back.

We then went to mother in laws for tea and it was a party tea and I tried to be good and did not have really bad stuff like garlic bread or pork pie which I really wanted but had slices of ham, prawns, onions, potatoes etc but a big dollop of dip!! - then meringues and fruit compote for pudding.

Oh dear I am not going to have lost any weight this week when I weigh in tonight - I have been feeling a bit fed up because my trousers are tight again - yet I did so much exercise last week - everyday at least 1 hour sometimes 2 - that I should have just vanished away.

I have done a layout - at long last!

Yesterday I was very good and very busy but still found the time to do a layout - I was so desperate to do some scrapping that the dishes were left piled high and mess all over the house but I just had to do some and I am qute pleased with it.

I was going to use a pencil lines sketch but the size of the alphas dictated the layout really. The school colours are red & black and I wanted to use some red Heidi Swapp letters I had had for ages and not touched. Once these were on the layout - they were so big that I did not really have much space left to follow a sketch - so it all just came together in the tiny space left.

I used black bazzill cardstock and some red from my scraps bag - first time ever I have made an indent into this! PP is Foof-a-la - red, cream & black and the journalling tag from Creative imaginations - karen Russell narratives.

Found an exercise class that I like!

Just returned from water aerobics and I actually liked it - it was tough going but I could keep up - so think I will sign up for these classes only. Trouble is there are only a few and always seem full. The class was full of old ladies with grey hair and as I was huffing and puffing and they were not, I am clearly very out of shape!

Did the easy rider class the other day - hell on earth - never again!!!! Richard said that the spinning class would be too much for me so to try this one, as it went at a gentle pace- I don't think the instructor knew what easy pace was - the sweat was dripping off everyone. He had people standing up and sitting down and going faster & slower - well I tried to stand and came over all travel sick again so just spent the whole class cycling gently at my own pace and feeling very stupid.

I met Richard afterwards and asked him to add the cycle to my gym work out so he showed me what to do and now I have 30 minutes on the bike and 30 minutes on the cross trainer plus my weights, so I think I will just stick to that for now until I build up my fitness levels.

poor old laptop!

It has well & truly died on me and I am not sure why. Before it gave out completely I managed to do a virus check with AVG and it was clean. When I asked in the computer shop they said it sounded like a mother board problem and that it would be cheaper to buy a new laptop!

Anyway after a few frustrating days I have managed to locate the place where I got it from - home computing initiative and it is still in warranty and they have come and collected it this morning!! I have felt bereft without it these last few days - hence only a few blog entries. The last entry was done on the main computer and the images uploaded from Picasa but they have now disappeared for some strange reason! so there won't be any more pics until my laptop returns.

I am so grateful that I backed up all my photos last week - perhaps it was the exertions of doing that that killed it! I am likely to loose all my documents etc as I did not back those up - oh actually I did a few months ago on my new external hard drive (500GB) so I may be able to retrieve something. Must order a new pen drive from Amazon and keep back ups on there as well.

only 1lb loss

I was very dissapointed at SW last night as I only lost 1lb making my total loss 3 stone & 9oz. I had been expecting more as I had been on the scales at the gym and they had said 13 stone exactly so I was expecting at large loss. Mandy was still very proud of me as I am the only one who has lost every week, never stayed the same or even put on - so really I should be pleased.

This is one of my smallest losses so far and I am not sure why.

1) my body has got used to the diet and am I starting to plataeu out?
2) Did I eat too much last week - purposly - but did it backfire?
3) Is it that sugary fibre drink loading me with too many calories?
4) I had lots of green days last week - perhaps I had too many carbohydrates?
5) starting to exercise can slow weight loss down

It could be any or all of the above, so what am I going to do about it?

1) not give up - keep going and stay on plan.
2) stop the sugary fibre drink.
3) have lots more red days
4) drink more fluids
5) keep exercising

My scrapagogo box has arrived

My yellow Scrapagogo October kit has arrived. It is very nice - but I do find that the colours in these kits are a bit dull. The Modscraps kits were so much brighter and I did use them more - but their customer service was not good, so I have not moved to her new venture - which is a shame. I still follow the UKS thread about it though and see that the September kit was not posted till October, so nothing changes then!

I should really use this kit to do a layout. I am on holiday from work and have no excuse but still seem to find myself busy doing nothing. My laptop has broken so I have got to get that fixed !! it is horrid not having it about and even horrider not knowing what has happened to it - it looks like the hard drive has gone kaput - thank goodness I backed up my photos last week!

I have updated my ticker

Here is my new ticker - the old one kept playing up. But this shows that I am halfway through my weight loss plan. It has taken me 4 months to get this far - wonder if I can do the second half in another 4 months? - that would take me to the end of January - but realistically I know my weight loss is not going to be as fast now so perhaps I should aim for March 2008. That means being very good over christmas and keeping off the chocolate. I cannot believe that I have not eaten any chocolate in 4 months - me who could not even go 4 hours without any before.

First exercise class

Oh dear it did not go well.

I went to the gym first and did 30 minutes on the cross trainer - fine and then used the weights. Had about 10 minutes rest before the class so I rested and drank water. The class went well until we had to lie on the floor (mat) and do some work there - well i started to feel travel sick - just like I do on my Pilate's machine and when Richard got me to do a couple of exercise on the floor in the gym. Well I made it to the end of the class - but felt dreadful - I should have gone to water aerobics afterwards - but it was all I could do to drive home. I had to lie on the sofa all afternoon just to stop my head spinning - I don't think exercise & I go together!

I have more classes booked but if I am going to have to get o the floor I do not want to do them. I think I will just have to try water aerobics and easy rider which is on a bike - so must be upright!

Plan B

Well have not got my photos yet but have decided on Plan B - once I have my photos - get out my pencil lines folder andchoose some of the sketches there to follow. I just LOVE pencil lines - I feel that some of my best layouts have come from pencil lines sketches - here are a selection.

I can't wait until 20.00hrs on a sunday evening when the new sketch is revealved. I like the look of tonight's - number 54.

ohhh my legs ache today!

Oh my goodness I can hardly walk today. My calf's are so stiff and painful that I am hobbling about like an old woman - hardly a glowing endorsement for exercise.

I think this is because I did the 30 full minutes on the cross trainer as he suggested instead of working up gradually to it. My legs felt fine at the time though. Perhaps I will just do 15 minutes on Monday and increase it over the week as I am planning to go everyday. Its craft day on QVC on Wednesday and I really don't have any money so it will be better that I am out of the house exercising instead of spending.

Really not sure what to expect when I go to SW on Monday - I have eaten loads this week - no cheating but just huge platefuls at each meal and proper meals not small things - I should really have put on loads but my trousers feel at bit looser - so we will just have to wait and see.

I have just finished reading this David Cassidy autobiography.



Wasn't he just gorgeous - no wonder we all fell for him.




It was a nice easy read and interesting to hear about his wilderness years and how he has managed to turn his life around - despite being screwd by his record companies, 'financial advisors' and ex wives.

I was glad to hear that he has been able to become a father to Beau - 
though he has another child - a girlKatie - though where she appeared from was not mentioned.


Bought the scrapbook magazine today and found an advert for a retreat here in Shropshire in May next year. - just 4 weeks before my scrapagogo one. - if only I had seen this advert first I would not have had to dash about all over the country. Anyway it looks very nice but I don't think I can afford both so perhaps I can think about just one day at Hawkstone Park instead of the full weekend - need to think about this one carefully.

I am missing scrapbooking so much without my craft room. I must dig out one of my monthly kits and really try and do a layout this week - its so hard with photos and stash all over the house but I don't want to get out of the habit of doing any. Usually I have a photo or story in mind that I want to use - but I have not at the moment which is really frustrating.

Right - Plan A - find at least 6 photos tomorrow and start to think of some layouts.

My induction at the gym

An early start to the day as my induction was at 07.00 AM!! My instructor is Richard and he seems very nice and has 4 children. He checked me over and did some tests.

Body fat - HIGH!! (37%)



BP - up slighty 133/86 - I am not too concerned as it was lower than this when I checked it at work last



pulse - low at 61- which surpised me as I can often feel it racing around my body.



Peak flow - good at 420 - though he says we can improve on this.

He then decided that for me to loose weight, increase my metabolism and tone up - I need to do a combination of cardio and weights! The plan is to do 30 minutes on the cross trainer - which I did - though the resistance was at the lowest possible level! Then use about 6 different weight machines to work different muscles- - my leg muscles seemed in pretty good shape but my arms were pathetic. I spent an hour after his assesment doing the programme, then went and had a short swim and a sit in the bubble pool which was lovely - but by this time it was 10 oclock and I was very concious that I had missed my breakfast and felt quite faint & hungry so decided to call it a day. The showers and changing rooms are lovely.

I have joined a gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I must be desperate to do such a dramatic thing - but I felt my weight loss was really slowing down now and as I had not been able to motivate myself to get om my bike or Pilate's machine - desperate times called for desperate measures.

I have joined Bannantynes as it is out of town so no parking or congestion charges to worry about and it has a pool so that I can swim.


It is a new modern built health complex. Steven went to look around a few months ago and I thought how lovely it was, but he decided against it as it was too expensive as he could only go 'on-peak times'. Well as I have the luxury of going in the day I thought i would go there only to find that it has gone up in price to £44 a month for no weekends and before 16.00 hrs. It is really expensive so I had better use it.

yeah - I have lost 3 1/2 stone now!

Yes I was a very clever girl and lost 1 1/2 lb this week to get me to this milestone - I am very pleased with myself. I was a bit disappointed with my weight loss - only 1 1/2 lb - especially as I have not eaten a lot this week because we have been so busy at work I have not had a break for 3 shifts so have actually felt hungry. I know last time I did not eat a lot I did not loose much so it is another reminder to make sure I eat plenty.

I wonder if it may have been because of that sugary fibre stuff I am now taking for my bowels- they are working a bit better now though.

I have been very busy this week on the computer trying to work my way through my new book by Scot Kelby


I have only got as far as page 35 - but have learnt a lot already. I was not naming my photos when i was acquiring hem - hence my pictures folder was full of lots of single photos - so spent ages putting them tidily into new folders and have remembered to name any photos as put on the computer now. I also backed up my photos - I did it last year but it could not read the disc to do an incremental backup so had to do a full one. It was going to take 35 Cd's to hold them all so i went and bought some DVDs and that only need ed 5 which was better but it still took ages. I also followed his instructions to make contact sheets so I know what photos are on the disc - a very good idea - i thought and here are the finished DVDs.

more weight loss!

I lost 2 1/2 lb this week at slimming and I am only 1/2 lb away from 3 1/2 stones loss - I really expect to loose that next week. Though I am not taking it for granted as I have started taking some fibre for my bowels 
(still sluggish) - called Regulase from ** but it appears to be pure sugar and there is no 
calorie content on the container so I may
be taking in far too many - we will have to wait & see next week.

I have been having lots of red days lately and am feeling really tired. I watched a programme 'the truth about food'' - showing the effects of diet on the body - meat eaters did better at sports than vegetarians, but those who ate carbohydrates did much much at sustained energy than those who ate meat. I have decided to have a few green days now to see if that will help me have a bit more energy - but I also think it may be because I have just finished four nights and hardly slept at all.

I have been naughty again at Amazon - bought 2 CD's David Cassidy & the partridge family. They are both lovely and I have been playing the constantly in the car & at home. They took me straight back to my Teenage years and all my David Cassidy posters all over my bedroom walls. I also bought Galapagos DVD & book - I saw one episode of this on the TV and thought it was so good - just had to have it.  Steven also caught an episode after I had ordered it and he was impressed and glad the whole series  was on its way. I also bought a book on Photoshop Elements 5 by Scott Kelby - so need to work my way through it to become more skilled at it.

Done a layout as well - took all day as I had to keep running up & down stairs and rifling throug boxed trying to find what I needed.


I just love this photo of Eleanor - Steven took it with the Panasonic compact camera - 
and I am so pleased with it, that I just had to do a layout  with it and I am quite pleased with the result, but just look at the chaos it created at the dinning at the table - I am missing my craft room so much!