UK/Europe/Middle East/ex-pats et al

[Ailuros]

Welcome to July

[Blondie Baby]

everyone

Kissa - and for your FILs passing.

Lola - Hope all is well

Ailuros - Thanks for starting the new thread.

Finally had an egg hatch last night - only to have the chick die immediately. We are researching and have come to the conclusion that the eggs may need more humidity. Got a couple more that are due to hatch soon. Lets see what happens. for good results.

[Ailuros]

Oh no! How disappointing! I had no idea it was so hard to get eggs to hatch.

[Kissa]

I hatched mine all too easily, lol.

Thanks Lola, Jan Maryam, everyone if fact for your kind words. We are happy it is over for him. Hopefully the funeral on Friday will be uplifting and a real celebration of a life well lived.

Doing well here with my adjusted JUDDD, MUDDD, and IF. Nothing to eat since 4pm yesterday so looking forward to tonight's dinner. We are in the heart of Escargot land

[shykins]

thanbks ailuros for the thread and well done lola for realising it was july, a fact that seemed to escape me duuuh

oh blondie what a shame fingers crossed for the others

kissa hope friday goes ok, enjoy the rest of your holiday as best u can

new car coming friday so its bye bye to merc on thurs.

PDD has now started with a vengence, made myself a crustless quiche to nibble on when the munchies hit

x

[lola5k]

Thank you Ailuros. Shy and with the weather who would guess it was July...enough said !!! Sorry may have missed during my absence what car are you getting?

My Mum is now in residential care for 2 weeks of respite and she is soo much better they are feeding her properly and giving her the correct medication and encouraging her to walk...but hey guess what she doesn't want to stay there and wants to go back to her flat...adamant that's what she wants and there is nothing that I can do grrrr...so I will just be back here again in 3 months time as she deteriorates.....I am totally maxed out with it all at the moment and they just don't realise what a worry they become. Social Services answer "Oh we will just put more care in for her" and what will that be someone else to call for 15 minutes have cup of tea with her and leave...!! Sorry rant over...

Blondie...so sorry about the chick awh...I love birds of any kind.

[Kissa]

Lola, no one understands better than me. You know, the only thing he wanted at the end was to go home. Tragic how strong the urge to be 'independant' is, even when he could not even drink without help.

Just found out that our restaurant this evening is closed on Mondays, error. I am secretly pleased, some Bistro food is very appealing after so much gourmet food.

[Ailuros]

Kissa, it's your fault I had to go out for dinner and have escargot followed by steak frites!

[Kissa]

Exactly what we ate then I had ice cream.

[Ailuros]

I had lemon posset .

[MintQ8]

How sad Maryam!

Lola - hugs!

Trying to psyche myself up to write a blog!

Trying to stay with plan - but unexpected lunch outing today = higher DD than I would have liked!! And now I want to eat Escargot and Steak Frites - and probably Lemon Posset! However, having looked at the menu - I'm thinking 1 dozen oysters & a greek salad - for around 250cals!

[Blondie Baby]

Thanks All. Its a learning process. Have done alot of research and feel I have a better handle on the next batch which is due to hatch in about 2 weeks. I am watching them closely and trying to monitor humidity levels. Hen is much better about sitting this time. Fingers crossed!

Sorry ladies, but escargot makes me and so do oysters! Thankfully today is an UD for me so I plan to indulge in a small piece of birthday cake and DH promised me a shrimp dinner.

[blotto76]

Kissa, I'm so sorry to hear about your FIL - big hugs. But as you say, I'm sure it was a release in the end. So glad you're having such a great time in France, and still managing to stick to JUDDD.

Lola, sorry about your mum too, I wonder if she might change her mind after being so well looked after for two weeks? Here's hoping.

Shy, hope PDD is going well, bet you're excited about the new car.

Mint, well done on getting back to JUDDD and shifting the pounds again.

Blondie, sorry about the chick. Is it your birthday today?! If so,

Ailuros, mmmm, what a yummy dinner!

Jan, Juno, hi to you both! And anyone else I've missed!

Sorry I've been absent but I had a hectic weekend and then out of the office on a course for a few days. Eating all over the place and I've no idea what plan I'm doing anymore, but I have to decide and recommit before it gets out of control - help!

x

[shykins]

blotto maybe u need to try VLC or something to get rid of the cravings and once that settles down go back to JUDDD

blondie fingers crossed for the next batch, honestly we are all like expectant mums with your eggs lol. hope u had a good birthday

lola big hugs it must be so hard with your mum

kissa/ailuros/mint think i will pass on the oysters and the snails thanks

first day of PDD done and dusted, now for the next one

oh and if anyone has some sun they might like to send to the uk please do

x

[MintQ8]

We have sun - finally!! Still really cold though!!

[blotto76]

Shy, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I know it's the carbs causing the problems, I just don't want to give them up!

Sending sun your way.......

x

[Blondie Baby]

Blotto - Its definitely the carbs. I do JUDDD but keep my carbs below 50 on UD. That seems to work for me. Yes, today is my bday - thanks!

Shy - We are a bunch of silly old hens, aren't we!!! Sending sun your way!

FINALLY got all the document for DD1s visa renewal. Off to Ajman tomorrow to get it done!

[lola5k]

Blondie YAY xxxxxxx

[MintQ8]

Happy Birthday!!!

Not sure if carbs affect me or not anymore - sure they do - because I do think Gary Taubes is right on the money! Probably should pay more attention - but think first I perhaps need to focus on quality!

DH got a call from a recruiter in the UK last night (11.30pm - and his phone was off, because he went to bed! - do recruiters not understand time differences and phone numbers?) for a job in the UAE (AD, I think!). So DH will be calling him this evening - allowing for time difference!! Unfortunately tonight DH's plan is to head in to the city with some mates to have a few drinks at a bar whilst they watch a big sporting match. So, he'll have to hold off drinking for a while until after he's called the UK!!!

Managed a bit of blog yesterday - but must crack on today!!

[blotto76]

Hope you had a lovely birthday Blondie.

Mint, fingers crossed for DH's phone interview.

Well ladies, it's official, as of today I'm back on low carb! Got to shake the cravings, munchies, binging etc, so I'm committing to VLC again. I've got lots of social stuff in the diary, but can't let that get in the way, I'll just have to make it work. Meat, fish, eggs and cheese, here I come!

x

[MintQ8]

Well there's an opportunity... he has to provide some more info - and there isn't definitely a job - but we'll see...

[Ailuros]

That sounds promising, Mint. But it makes me dizzy the way you dash around the world!

[Blondie Baby]

Mint - DH gets a job in Abu Dhabi. We plan to see BIL this weekend so I'll pass on the CV and push for his to get on with AMMROC.

Blotto - Hope some of the dates in your diary are Iftar with Blondie! I would like to have everyone over before DD1 leaves back to US!

Spent yesterday in AJman and I'm pleased to say DD1 is now legal for 3 more years! Al hamdu lillah, everything went like clockwork and we were out of there in less than hour with a new visa stamp in her passport!

Decided that my silly hen is just going to do her job properly so I bought a small incubator. I now have 10 eggs in the incubator and can monitor and control the temp and humidity levels. Lets see if this works better for us. We have a few eggs that should hatch in about a week or so. The rest just started so approx. 3 weeks.

[blotto76]

Blondie, which Iftar night do you think will be lowest carb?? Mondays or Wednesdays are best for me. Hope you'll have a few chicks for me to meet by then!

Day 1 of VLC was a success and I feel so much better. I think it's the way forward for me, I made it work for 3.5 years so there's no reason I can't do it again!

Almost the weekend here - I'm in Dubai for dinner with an old friend tonight, cycling in the morning and back to AD for a friend's birthday tomorrow night, so it's all go as usual!

Have a good one everyone!

x

[Blondie Baby]

If Ramadan starts on the July 20th, as we think it will, then the 2nd Wednesday will be Lebanese which you can easily do LC - eat the grilled meats, leave the bread and hummus, eat the fatoosh, pick out the fried bread.

I am going to try to arrang my UD, DD rotation so I can eat more on the days that are easier to do LC.

[shykins]

blondie wish we all come share it with u!! then we could see the chicks as well

blotto hectic and fun weekend by sounds of it

mint happy job hunting, i cant keep up either lol

lola hope things are improving with your mum. take care of u too

am picking up new car today instead of tomorrow, cant wait!!!

kissa i hope it goes ok for u tomorrow hugss

x

[blotto76]

Yes, Kissa, thinking of you tomorrow at the funeral.

x

[lola5k]

DItto thinking of you Kissa x

[Ailuros]

How's the car, Shy?

Kissa, I just want to add my good thoughts too, for the funeral.

We're heading to Cornwall in the morning for a weekend in the rain!

[janj]

Just a note to send love to Kissa and family for the funeral today

Enjoy Cornwall, Ailuros.
Enjoy the new car, Shy.
Thinking of you and your mum, Lola.
Hope you and DH find your perfect jobs soon, Vicky.
Glad you got the visa sorted, Blondie - and hope the incubator works well.
How's VLC going, Blotto. Perhaps I should try it. Too bad wine has carbs!
Hope you're feeling better, Juno....

Packing for our doggie vacation. See you all in a week.

Jan