af day Monday 25 Feb

[treetops]

MAE Abbies! Just a quick kick off - as its a work day and I have a lot to do before I can leave the house. But just grabbing a few minutes with some tea (here we go - please have some!), radio on and its still dark. Like you Cat, I love the early mornings. Always have - even in my previous life. These days however its much easier to get up and there is no foggy head.

Cat, your ski-ing sounds fantastico - dare I say it but we have some wonderful mountains only a few hours drive from where I live? I must be one of the few Kiwis who does not go ski-ing - I love the mountains and i love climbing but have never been facing the crowds that are at most ski-ing places. Plus I got concussion the first time I tried. As for ice skating - I fell through the ice and into the lake - so winter sports is not my thing. Indeed I am a serious sports clux! (PPQP - have I spelt that right?). I am the kind of person who would injure myself in a gym! So I stick to walking (used to do climbing and running).

Lav - did you survive the torrential toddlers? I think our teen's party is next weekend but its just (no such word!!!) a few girls and a picnic.
Mick - hope you survived your early morning shenanagins and that your flu is gone.
SL - how's things?
SF - what are you up to?
Kuya - come back! I need another resident Kiwi here! :upset: Hey - we got our census forms this weekend (it even asks how much you smoke - but not how much AL you drink).
Patrice - brakes OK now?
Blondie, Teezah, Running Courage, Det, Nurdl, and everyone else - MAE!
Have a terrific last week of February on your journey through sobriety. Stay sane too! Now irs rubbish day here - the excitement is killing me (but at least I don't have to lug the recycled wine bottles out anymore - another plus!)
Hugs :thumbs:

[Mick]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Morning all..
wow werent too many people on here yesterday, must of been a pretty busy weekend!! (or a cba one!)How are you all?Weather over here has calmed down a wee bit..was pretty brutal yesterday , snow was quite thick..and over here panic mode ensues as soon as a flake falls!!
Wish it would make its miind up tho..my wee plants are itching to get started.
Tea and coffee on the go now for all you good people...nae croissants tho :H

Evening Tree...how did your daughters birthday go? Is that the first one you have done without a drink?How did that feel in comparison to previous?Yep got to agree with the bottle bi too...never seems to fill up any more!!

Good morning Lav..and how are you today?One coffee coming up..(not literally!!!)Well did you go on the scales..or just eat all those cakes?,which I must admit look absolutely great.Never used to eat too many sweet things, but nowadays that seems to have changed.Was out yesterday, did well on the food front etc, came in ,had tea etc etc..and in the cupboard there were a packet of chocolate white mice..one of my faves since I was a kid.Julie had bought them a bit back, and I chucked them in the cupboard,each mouse contains 27 cals..I ate the lot!!!! so it treadmill time today.How did the party go then?any bodily projectile firing?or just generally a madhouse with lotsa cleaning up for you to do

Good morning Cat..wow sounds like you had a busy day yesterday ..glad you enjoyed it.Never been able to ski me..recall they tried to teach me in the army way way back on a dry slope..think they gave that up as waste of taxpayers money!!:H:H

Morning SL...yep thats true current generation seem to think that nothing existed prior to their being...My daughter recently introduced me to the sound of Motown...and couldnt really understand that what she was listening to was a direct lift from something "quite a few" years ago.
Doc Martens ? yep..had them in my not so formative years!!The outfit as I recall was

11 holer cherry red highly polished docs
Ice blue Levi sta-prest trousers complete with 1/2 inch turnups on the outside
1 pair of braces
Ben Sherman checked shirt
Black zip up Harrington bomber jacket

No1 haircut...wow bring on the world :H:H:H little did I know!!!!

Morning Det ..wow well impressed my friend..you are doing really well..keep those positive vibes with you.Glad you enjoyed your hike.

Right thats all for now folks..big shout to all those in the background ..and those that do seem to be mia or moved on ..hopefully for the right reasons

take care

A man walked into his back yard one morning and found a gorilla sitting in a tree, staring back at him. He tried unsuccessfully to get the gorilla to leave, so he called a gorilla-removal service, and soon a serviceman arrived with: a stick, a Chihuahua, a pair of handcuffs, and a shotgun.
“Now listen carefully,” the serviceman told the homeowner. “I’m going to climb the tree and poke the gorilla with this stick until he falls to the ground. The trained Chihuahua will then go right for the privates of the animal, and when the gorilla instinctively crosses his hands in front to protect himself, you slap on the handcuffs!”
“Got it.” the homeowner replied. “But what’s the shotgun for?”
“If I fall out of the tree before the gorilla,” said the serviceman, “shoot the Chihuahua.”

A man’s driving happily along in his car when he’s pulled over by the police.
The policeman approaches him and asks “Have you been drinking Sir?”
“Why?” asks the man, “have I got a fat chick in my car?”

The room was full of pregnant women and their partners. The Lamaze class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly, and informing the men how to give the necessary assurances at this stage of the plan.
“Ladies, exercise is good for you,” announced the teacher.
“Walking is especially beneficial. And, gentlemen, it wouldnt hurt you to take the time to go walking with your partner!
“The room was very quiet. Finally, a man in the middle of the group raised his hand.
“Yes?” asked the instructor.
“Is it all right if she carries a golf bag while we walk?”

Real signs from the world over!!

People in other countries sometimes go out of their way to communicate with their English-speaking tourists.
Here is a list of signs seen around the world.
Cocktail lounge, Norway:
LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

At a Budapest zoo:
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.

Doctors office, Rome:
SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.

Information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner, Japan:
COOLES AND HEATES: IF YOU WANT CONDITION OF WARM AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE CONTROL YOURSELF.

Car rental brochure, Tokyo:
WHEN PASSENGER OF FOOT HEAVE IN SIGHT, TOOTLE THE HORN. TRUMPET HIM MELODIOUSLY AT FIRST, BUT IF HE STILL OBSTACLES YOUR PASSAGE THEN TOOTLE HIM WITH VIGOUR.

In a Nairobi restaurant:
CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER.

On the grounds of a private school:
NO TRESPASSING WITHOUT PERMISSION.

On an Athi River highway:
TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE.

On a poster at Kencom:
ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO, WE CAN HELP.

In a City restaurant:
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WEEKENDS TOO.

One of the Mathare buildings:
MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION CENTRE.


A sign seen on an automatic restroom hand dryer:
DO NOT ACTIVATE WITH WET HANDS.

In a Pumwani maternity ward:
NO CHILDREN ALLOWED.

In a cemetery
PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

Hotel brochure, Italy:
THIS HOTEL IS RENOWNED FOR ITS PEACE AND SOLITUDE. IN FACT, CROWDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FLOCK HERE TO ENJOY ITS SOLITUDE.

Hotel lobby, Bucharest:
THE LIFT IS BEING FIXED FOR THE NEXT DAY. DURING THAT TIME WE REGRET THAT YOU WILL BE UNBEARABLE.

Hotel elevator, Paris:
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VALUES AT THE FRONT DESK.

Hotel, Yugoslavia:
THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY.

Hotel catering to skiers, Austria:
NOT TO PERAMBULATE THE CORRIDORS IN THE HOURS OF REPOSE IN THE BOOTS OF ASCENSION.

Taken from a menu, Poland:
SALAD A FIRM’S OWN MAKE; LIMPID RED BEET SOUP WITH CHEESY DUMPLINGS IN THE FORM OF A FINGER; ROASTED DUCK LET LOOSE; BEEF RASHERS BEATEN IN THE COUNTRY PEOPLE’S FASHION.

Supermarket, Hong Kong:
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE RECOMMEND COURTEOUS, EFFICIENT SELF-SERVICE.

From the “Soviet Weekly”:
THERE WILL BE A MOSCOW EXHIBITION OF ARTS BY 15,000 SOVIET REPUBLIC PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS. THESE WERE EXECUTED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

In an East African newspaper:
A NEW SWIMMING POOL IS RAPIDLY TAKING SHAPE SINCE THE CONTRACTORS HAVE THROWN IN THE BULK OF THEIR WORKERS.

Hotel, Vienna:
IN CASE OF FIRE, DO YOUR UTMOST TO ALARM THE HOTEL PORTER.

A sign posted in Germany’s Black Forest:
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT s*x, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER !IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.

An advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:
TEETH EXTRACTED BY THE LATEST METHODISTS.

Tourist agency, Czechoslovakia:
TAKE ONE OF OUR HORSE-DRIVEN CITY TOURS. WE GUARANTEE NO MISCARRIAGES.

The box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong:
GUARANTEED TO WORK THROUGHOUT ITS USEFUL LIFE.

In a Swiss mountain inn:
SPECIAL TODAY – NO ICE-CREAM.

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE USSR, YOU ARE WELCOME TO IT.

HAVE A GREAT DAY

[Guitarista]

af day Monday 25 Feb

:H:H:H

G'day Tree, Mick and all to come,

Thanks for the laughs Mick!

Wishing everyone a safe, sober, and magical week.

Follow your bliss. :h

[porqoui]

af day Monday 25 Feb

MAE ALL...

TT...thanks for kicking us off. Yup PPQP is right. Used to be PQ then Mick added the first P for Positive and Lav (I think it was) added the last P for Pas (meaning not) so I became a Positive Why Not :H

Mick...have to go check out the army thread and see where your new avatar came from.

Gman...nice to see you popping in again.

Up way to early as I ended up sleeping all weekend. Only woke up when the cold medicine wore off, would start coughing and I couldn't breath because of congestion. More meds and back to sleep. Going to need all that sleep as I have an evening meeting tonight.

Have a great AF Monday all and all to come....PPQP

[Lavande]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Good morning Abbers

Glad to say I sent 6 of those cupcakes home with my daughter effectively decreasing the chance of them sticking to my ass :H

Greetings to TT, Mick (your outfit description made me think of Arthur Fonzarelli), G & PQ!

Wow Det, I imagine your snowy hike was quite a workout! Better you than me

I'm heading out for my girlie exercise then back here for some work & cake crumb cleanup!
Wishing everyone a terrific AF Monday!
Lav

[Mick]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Wow Lav...now we are going back ...nope wasnt a plastic leather bomber jacket or a quiffy haircut.........and there was no pooh bear or cha chi!!!

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days
Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days
Thursday, Friday, Happy Days

The weekend comes,
My Cycle hums, ready to race to you

These days are ours, Happy and Free

These days are ours, share them with me


Goodbye gray skies, hello blue
'Cause nothing can hold me, when I hold you
Feels so right, it can't be wrong,
Rockin' and Rolling all week long

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days
Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days
Thursday, Friday, Happy Days

Saturday, what a day, groovin' all week with you

These days are ours, share them with me

These days are ours, happy and free


These happy days are yours and mine
These happy days are yours and mine, happy days

[/URL]

[Lavande]

af day Monday 25 Feb

:H :H OK Fonz - we won't go there!!!
I wasn't a teenager in the mid-fifties either - I was a baby

[scottish lass]

af day Monday 25 Feb

hi all - gathering my rubbish to put out, need a smaller bottle bin too for sure!
Spent way too long in front of computer today...eyes are crossing....
Don't need Lav's cupcakes for my behind to grow! Think I need to work out a plan to lose the christmas pounds:upset:
Wonder where everyone is today - awful quiet here today....
chat tomorrow - or I could just nip to tomorrows thread and take day off tomorrow - hmmm, wonder if i could make my job work like that?
see you all later....

[Determinator]

af day Monday 25 Feb

happy un-hung Monday ABenators!

hahahahaha Mick, great material as always.

still working but wanted to share a cute baby elephant moment with you all:

Baby Elephant Plays in the Ocean | Watch the video - Yahoo! Screen


be well

[blondie]

af day Monday 25 Feb

mae

Mick - you described my brother's (and his friends') outfits to a T!!!
TT - Such a pity you don't like skiing where you are, but it sounds a wise move! Watched a doco about the CHCh earthquake the other night. Very sad when he was speaking to the survivors, particularly one older lady whose husband had just gone out to pick some raspberries after lunch and the rocks rained down on their garden.
PPQP - hope your cold is getting better.
Lav - loved the pic of the cupcakes! I'm trying to get my partner to go GF as he has terrible flare ups with swelling in his knees and ankles, but he is such a huge bread eater! and the gf bread here isn't so good (I don't mind it, but he turns his nose up).
Speaking of food, I made a great (for me) effort for dinner last night and asked how it was, to be told "it's palatable"! :H

Hi SL - our recycle bin can wait weeks before needing to be emptied whereas before it was overflowing each week!! Well done!

Hi Det - lovely to see your happy, garlicky demeanor around

Hi to everyone

[Lavande]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Hi SL - those cupcakes were a special treat, for sure

Det - that little guy needs his own boogie board, how cute!!!

blondie, my daughter was diagnosed with a severe gluten & wheat allergy last year. She was suffering terrible joint pain & found immediate relief going GF. I can't handle any dairy anymore so now I look for vegan GF things we both can enjoy! Have you tried do any GF baking? It's not as difficult as you might think

Goodnight to ine & all!
Lav

[treetops]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Hi Blondie

If your partner turns his nose up at the GF bread - get him to try baking some!
I presume he was being ironic when he said 'palatable' - if my G. said that he would expect to starve or forage for himself for at least a few days (unless what I served really was shite and then I would admit it too).
No wonder you felt blah.

Ata- girl!!! (is that how one spells it?)

[blondie]

af day Monday 25 Feb

Lav - not the world's best cook and never tried bread, so didn't think it would be a worthwhile endeavor for me Have heard so many tales of relief from people omitting gluten, so I shall persevere with him!

TT - he was trying to be smart when he said that but got the wrong word:H He's very appreciative of my culinary hit and miss efforts

[Catbuddy]

af day Monday 25 Feb

MAE, abbers.

We have a farmers market here on Sundays that is amazing, and there is a gluten free bakery there. I buy the desserts and never tell anyone they are GF - they are so healthy and delicious!

I got to the point where I lost too much weight, and am slowly putting some back on and weight training. Lav and SL, you know that commercial for "Alli" weight loss, where they show a man and woman dieting? The man loses weight proportionally, and the woman shrinks at her breasts? Sad but true.

I just bought the Amoryn supplement to get off the SSRIs. We'll see how that goes.

Monday almost gone, and a tough week ahead for me. I'm really glad I'm AF at this time - otherwise, I would be drowning. It's funny and I guess not surprising how many things make me feel that way.

Cat