Snowed under

 

I am still here.

You might notice I haven't updated on Free Skinny-Me lately.  Skinny-Me will have a wait a while longer.  I have been informed by a reliable source that it is, in fact, illegal to diet over the Christmas period.  Wanting to be a law abiding citizen I have taken stock of this newfound information and gorged on three mince pies already this morning. 

I feel a weight gain approaching. 

However, I prefer to look at it as presenting those of you with an opportunity to join me in the New Year.  Who's in?

In the meantime let's all eat, drink and be merry.

Snow has fallen.  And fallen.  And fallen.  This country cannot cope with snow.  It also cannot cope with rain, wind or sun it seems.  If it's warm we have hosepipe bans because we are threatened with a water shortage.  If it's snowing everything comes to a standstill.  Our Close is not the exception.  When snow settles our little Close that sits on a slope ices over and it becomes too risky to take the minibus off the drive without the chance of it doing an automobile version of the Bolero that Torville and Dean would be proud of.  So we stay in.

This means that we've missed Sunday Mass three out of four times.  I'm hoping the snow will clear enough by Christmas Eve for two reasons.  Firstly, because Stephanie is meant to be visiting us and if it snows there's a risk the trains will be affected.  Secondly, because we want to attend the service at our Church, where Caitlin will be playing the role of Mary and our little Joseph will be taking the part of baby Jesus.  They had to miss rehearsal last week due to the snow and so all the kids will be winging it.  I'm sure it will be lovely.

Christmas is almost sorted.  The food delivery was cancelled without informing me yesterday and I'm still waiting on several gifts that should have arrived by now.  Things that were supposed to have been sent out by next day recorded delivery last week still haven't arrived and I'm worried that some of the children (and a husband) will be missing some gifts.  I was very stressed out yesterday.  I don't like spanners being thrown in the works when I try really hard to keep on top of things but sometimes things just aren't in our control.  I suspect I may be a bit of a control freak, or rather, I like to know that I've got things sorted as they should be. 

And yes, I make spreadsheets on Excel too.

Anyway, this is making its way around Facebook at the moment.  Enjoy!

Monday Weigh-In (Free Skinny Me!) - Week 8

I was so disheartened this week that I even gave up on weighing myself obsessively every morning.  Knowing that today was the official weigh-in day only paved the way for more sulking and muttering to myself.  I was planning today's post in my head, aware that both my readers  all my many readers would be checking in to see my progress, or lack of.  I was planning on giving up/throwing in the towel/taking a break - call it what you will.  At least until after Christmas.  After all, if you can't enjoy brie and cranberry jelly on crackers during a Christmas when you're not pregnant, when can you?

*Drool*

Was I surprised when I forced myself on the scales.

I lost a pound and a half!

Ok, it's not a huge amount, I grant you but it's a loss, albeit still half a pound short of losing my first stone. But hopefully next week, right?

So, perhaps I won't be giving up/throwing in the towel/taking a break just yet.  Perhaps I may keep going for another week.  Perhaps I ought to just take it one week at a time.

And stay away from the brie.

My report for this week is as follows:

Starting weight: 13st 1 (or 183lbs)

Week 8 results: Lost l½ lbs

Current weight: 12st 1½lbs (169½lbs)

Total loss to date: 13½lbs

Amount to lose before freeing Skinny Me: 46½lbs

A shout by any other name

Me: "Right, if everyone stops shouting I'll put on the Christmas carols."

Harry: "Yay!!!! Christmas carols!"

"Harry, I said stop shouting."

"I wasn't shouting. I was exclaiming."


Smartar...

Actually, the Pope did not say that

I've been watching the media frenzy unfurl over the recent revelations that the Pope has finally admitted that the use of condoms is ok and acceptable and the entire beliefs that the Catholic church has been built upon is coming crashing down.

Now, call me cynical but I don't immediately tend to believe what the tabloids tell me. I don't care much for what the BBC claims to be true. I don't give a hoot what the opinion of some MP is. I really don't believe any of what I'm told until I look into it for myself.

Fortunately for the media, for each person that takes their stories and reports with a pinch of salt, there is a multitude that takes it as the raw, honest truth. Newspapers, magazines and corporations are glad of this apathy because it's now they make something that isn't anything of interest into a "sensational story you just can't miss!"


So, as I've looked into it I am going to share something with you and I'm going to keep it brief. 

The Pope has not endorsed the use of condoms. 

What he has said is that a sinful act is a sinful act, regardless of the steps taken to make it seem less so.  In this case he has used the example of a male prostitute carrying the AIDS virus who uses a condom as, in his (the prostitute's view), he is being morally responsible and therefore less sinful in preventing passing on the virus.  What the Pope has said, in short and humbly translated by me, is that it does not detract that the act in which he is partaking is still sinful.  In short, a sin is a sin is a sin.  No matter how you dress it up.

What the Pope did say, however, was that it is ok to throw people down elevator shafts.