I spy with my 10/10 eye, a snifter of currants in a fat mince pie

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page

He sounds like an idiot. Did you tell him he was being kiddish?
I don't use "kids" either btw.

When are you off fmf?

Our mouse is unwell. If I scroll down it goes up, and vice versa.

oh toot did you see the thread asking for vegan help - it had your name in it.

(btw you are tiny aren't you)

Yes thanks

Tiny...yes... why?

TT, he is about 12

We are off on Monday. Have to get through ds's birthday tomorrow first

He is as excited as only a small boy with a very special reason or two to be excited about can be! And grandparents are arriving in 20 mins bearing brand new, sparkly grown up bicycle (we have never had a new bike, any of us, before!)

And tonight his best mate arrives for a 24 hour sleepover

oh toot becaquse i keep thinking about those jeans I gave you. I remember looking at you at the meet up andd thinking that the jeans would never fit you as there is no way in my life I have ever been that small.

fmf - how you feeling about going away?

good luck with tonight. Shut door adn watch film with sound up.

Goodness, I don't think I could cope with a birthday as well! I'm finding the whole Christmas thing strangely stressful this year.
Good luck with the sleepover - will they let your other ds join in?

They do fit Bee - in fact, they are even tight at times. Why do tummies fluctuate?

Yes, birthday is very bad timing....but in our family we have 2 other december birthdays so I'm used to it. TBH, it gives us something to do on 23rd when the children are hyped to the max and you are scuttling round being stressed. it's quite nice to switch off christmas for a day IFKWIM.

BBBeee, thank you my lovely, I am feeling much calmer about going away. (I'm now fretting about how to cope with concentrated family for 48 hours without a cigrette [wince])
My sister is a bit better and I have decided to just go with the alcohol flow and am trying on my flak-jacket and helmet ready for my usual Peace-keeping role....

Don't you just love families?

oh yes the festive argumnets - have already had one round my mums with my two sisters - they were getting all heated about who was jealous of who (writer sister or rich sister) and I stepped in trying to diffuse it and they both turned on me saying at least they were honest and true about their feelings and I put on a front. I shouted "yes it is called being nice!" and stormed out and we didn;t get to swap presents.

Bee

oh lordy BBee that sounds wretched. You are nice. Family dynamics are fascinating and terrifying.

My brother (47) is the golden boy who gets away with appalling behaviour because he is a boy. He is one of those people who has a mean streak which he pretends is humour and surfaces when we all get together. So when everyone is crying he says ''oh FFS, I was only teasing..''

My sister (49) is very ''highly strung'' and has hystrionics and imagines slights in everything. My mother is over-domineering and lacks empathy. My step dad is lovely but gets very petty-minded in the heat of things. My dh distances himself (understandably) and my BIL is a law-enforcement inspector who, because he has spent his work life being tough, has no control over his grown-up sons who cause a lot of strife for him and my sister.

And I am the peace-keeper. Sigh.

But we are capable of getting along and having a blast togehter, really!

sorry, shared way too much there.

BBbee, have a hug {{{crying chocolate}}}

fmf, stay at home!! If we had space, you could come here.

Thanks TT, but No!!
I will arrange a Programme of Amusing Festive Games. That'll keep them all happy. Now who's for charades???

no fmf it was good. families are all weird. I think franny understands this one a nd boco - oh all of us.

find others arugments entertaining to read about.

am fine though - my sisters always fight but usually with each other not me. Rich sister is playin scrabble on facebook with me now but not talking and writer sister will be at my mums again later and i will pop round.

will all diffuse

At least BIL is an internet junkie so I will be able to sneak onto MN and rant!...(but then what if he checks history and reads my posts etc...?? If a strangely-named stranger comes onto here spouting vitriol, it will be me

what does writer sister write?

Fmf, you have my respect and admiration

I boughht some beautiful little mushrooms this morning - what shall I do with them?

fiction and bits for magazines

My family is weird too. Less weird now I'm grown up though.

toot - fry them with garlic and have them on toast - yum. (prefably alone!)

oh yes, mushrooms on toast...slaver!

I would have it with hp sauce but that is probably sacreligous isn;t it.

do you know saddam hussein loved hp sauce.

hp sauce is the devil's vomit....