IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, try try try again and again (and again...)

[Maintainer]

Yep we've got some in each freezer... some in vinegar in kilner jars... some just in water in kilner jars (that's a test!)... then the two varieties of soup (my other half doesn't like these) so "your" chutney will complete the season nicely! I love them warm with salad too...

 

[jaqys]

I'm totally snowed under, but we've been bucking trends and this last year was the companies most profitable, and the product i'm on has the smallest team but bringing in the most revenue....
Still final big deadline is mid dec so should have a nice wind down to xmas.

Weekends I vegetate catch up on TV and play computer games, dont get out enough at all. Your weekends make me feel quite slug like.

Anja I miss apple/carrot/ginger juice, never got round to trying beetroot at home.

 

[LVLLM]

what games do you play Jaq?

 

[jaqys]

Sims3 and various fb/phone apps. Nothing too taxing, nothing violent (nothing too expensive). Not had a console since 2004.

 

[Maintainer]

hmm... from what you just said then, Jacq, we're not in the same field at all... my mistake!

 

[LVLLM]

Jaq - what field are you in? Do you play those hidden object games on laptop? I love them!!!!!

 

[LVLLM]

morning Jo x i was good at tesco. my only treat was wine (well!) and chipotle chilli peppers to put in my chilli

 

[Maintainer]

Wine on a Thursday Vicky? (I thought you were a V+C girl these days! Does wine not bring you out of ketosis?)

Good on you for not going for anything else... I had such trouble getting home last night that I didn't even think about eating anything once I got out there...

Jet - no she's at Disneyland which is over an hour away... yesterday would have been the only chance she had to get into the city, but something must have delayed her. It's normally only 3-4 hrs from Calais so I don't know...

Getting home from work last night proved “interesting”. When I came out of the office, I had time to take in the fact that it was dark and that the Eiffel Tower was twinkling... then I noticed an unusual calm... and realised there was no traffic whatsoever but LOADS of police! A bit worried, I quickened my step, and went up towards the metro where the entrance was barricaded closed. Aaah! So next I thought I’d cross the road and walk to the next metro station. But there were barriers up preventing people crossing the road! AAAAHH! My heart did skip a beat or two, having lived here through terrorist threats before, but then I heard someone talking about the visiting Chinese Premier. UGH! All that for him! So then, find a way home which doesn’t involve my usual route or crossing the road. Fun!

This morning, walking, obviously having long forgotten “we have visitors”, I came across 1,000s of police (and soldiers with big guns! Gave me a shock as I tiptoed past!!!). Then, on the route I took on foot this morning, the last road was barricaded off... so a LONG detour. (Tax payer’s money!! I can’t believe how many police, anti terrorist police and soldiers, etc. I saw today.)

 

[LVLLM]

Wine on a Thursday Vicky? (I thought you were a V+C girl these days! Does wine not bring you out of ketosis?)

no i make sure i have enough carbs left for my vino. and sick of vodka
Jo - that must have been horrid, worrying. and what a pain - you didnt walk home in the dark last night did you?

 

[Maintainer]

no... but after the worry then had to travel squashed up against smelly people in conditions the RSPCA would complain at! heee!

 

[LVLLM]

LOL! hope its easier tonight or is he going today?

 

[anjuschka]

Wow Jo - glad you made it - both ways. What a pain though! At least walking gives you some flexibility, imagine being in a car... Do you think they over-did it because of the strikes & Demos in the last weeks?

A long time ago DH & I were in Berlin for a week away and happened to coincide it with the 'Salute to the Colours' (Grosser Zapfenstreich) and the departure of the Allies from Berlin (you can see how long ago that was!!). Came out of the underground to find this line of heavily armed riot Police, but they were allowing people through so no problem. It's just all this armed police that we're not used to so it was quite intimidating, and long lines of more police in Vans parked up on the main roads ready for later etc etc. Did not affect us with closures though. All 4 heads of state were in Berlin at that time so you imagine they need a bit of Police... they should bring their own, really!

 

[Maintainer]

he's here for another couple of days, alas... I guess I had the misfortune of wanting to go home at the exact same time that he was about to be on the move, and I think they're always careful when heads of state are moving around... and of course we're on raised terrorist alert anyway, like London, because of the recent events.

I had to reread your paragraph twice, because I couldn't see how you were old enough to have witnessed the Allies leaving Europe in 1945!

 

[LVLLM]

I had to reread your paragraph twice, because I couldn't see how you were old enough to have witnessed the Allies leaving Europe in 1945

me 3 times!

 

[Maintainer]

Anja - I had a go at the spicey beetroot and orange chutney recipe and, while it's nice, I obviously followed the recipe too literally and find myself with mustard seeds in my mouth (aaah was I supposed to grind them up? and, if so, why didn't recipe say?!!!)...

My weekend was ok but not great. I had planned treats (chestnuts <singing> "roasting on an [STRIKE]open fire[/STRIKE] log burner"; fruit; couple of biscuits at a neighbour's) but overall ate far too much and had odds and sods I shouldn't have... and my trousers tell the tale as per.

Plus, we're invited to two things definitely not diet oriented (any diet!), one Thurs and one Fri, and I'm going! I can't live eternally on the edge of society, saying no to everything, and the menu of Thursday's lunch is a set menu and we're thrilled (as outsiders, "Parisians" and "Brits", to be invited!).

So... I credit myself with my behaviour (at not eating my favourite bread, choc, cakes) but OD'ed on quantities more than once and had far too many little odds and sods...

 

[LVLLM]

Hi Jo. the bloomin weekend strikes again eh? i do wonder why your doc says no more than 2 litres of water - are you on water retention tablets?
yes you cant say no to things for ever, otherwise we become recluses and boring!

 

[Maintainer]

Even Dukan says to drink 2L I think. If you google it Vicky, aside from the odd crazy story of water drinking competitions, most nutritionists say the same. 2L - 2.5L

NB: I'm not in ketosis, remember (if that's anything to do with the price of peas!).

 

[LVLLM]

yes he does say 2L thats including coffee aswell isnt it?

hows work today? busy?

 

[Maintainer]

I'm sure yes it counts everything. (You drink a heck of a lot!)

My work load is strange these days... up and down according to who I'm helping out... If no one but my own people, quiet. A fourth sec'y has arrived in our office now which has improved the atmosphere somewhat...

 

[LVLLM]

do i drink that much? had 1/2 litre this morning, 1 cup of tea, 3 black coffees and a litre and a bit of water. that is a lot i suppose.
is she nice then? is that why the atmosphere better?