Easily solved, Phoenix - superglue some razor blades to the hamster wheel and that’s the grass done! 
WORD PAIRS -APRIL 2026 (Old thread full )
Hello all, hope you are safe and well.
But before I get to the point, isn't it a bit
that we have to say that a post is supposed to be lighthearted?
Aaanyway, Mr P has been working from home, and I mean properly ! He's in the home office from about 8am each morning, quick break for lunch, then back in there until about 5pm.
I too am working from home, but only 2 days a week, but not "fixed", i.e I do what's needed, as and when (hope that makes sense?)
He, like me has been going for "comfortable" clothes , until today, when he appeared in the kitchen wearing a shirt
ok, he was still wearing his paint stained decorating trousers, but I'm used to that.
My word The strain on those buttons! I swear if he coughed, one would ping off and could have someone's eye out, or at least make it quite sore.
I should have realised when junior mog, Minnie, who adores Mr P, was looking particularly ecstatic the other evening when snuggled up on the shelf that he has developed his lap and seemed to have thought it was now a feline waterbed!
I've tried the subtle approach, i.e saying "You're turning into a right fat b*st*rd" ! In a jocular tone, as it's a phrase we have used before, but usually in relation to other people!
He's never been of a "slender" build, but really!
Easily solved, Phoenix - superglue some razor blades to the hamster wheel and that’s the grass done! 
Brill idea, SueDonim!
Now, if I could also incorporate a mower into it.............
Hamster wheel in the garden, Phoenix and don’t forget to hook him up to your wiring to take advantage of the renewable energy!
It would have to be a bloody big hamster wheel, he's 6ft 1"
and where would I put it?
Dont stay the spare room, aka The Chamber of Horrors, sorting * that* has been on my "to do" list since lockdown!
See "I've discovered my default setting"
Try reminding him of the statistics around the likelihood of the overweight to be seriously affected by Covid-19. DH is doing his best to shed the excess and reduce the risk but doesn't have a clue about calories. He will volunteer to cook and then starts frying things........not going well!
Make him exercise! An hour's walk after lunch might help. Perhaps a giant hamster wheel?
Buy him a male corset.
Tell him you want him to sit in the corner so you can use his tum as a bookshelf.
Get a friend to face time him and say “my goodness you’ve put on weight, you don’t fit on the screen anymore”?
Join him and eat yourself silly till the lockdown is over and then go running every day.
I have the same problem too except it’s me and not DH 
❤️
??
Okay, Mrs Portillo. ?
Oh heavens!
Must check the actual "name" of the shirt, but it's definitely on the raspberry shade chart!
Definitely NOT married to Michael Portillo, sure I would have noticed.
Raspberry crush? Are you married to Michael Portillo, who surely must also be Mr P! 

Well I had the same problem with himself over Christmas - he was eating and drinking like there was no tomorrow and developed a real tum, which was made even worse as we went on holiday for New Year and he indulged even more. He was a right porker. I took some photos of him whilst on holiday, and when he saw them he was not impressed (neither was I!). He went on a diet when we came home and to date has lost nearly three stone! Trouble is, he has become obsessed with healthy eating and keeps giving me disapproving looks ever time I eat a chocolate biscuit ? So phoenix maybe take some photos of him looking a bug*er and when he sees them he might just get the hint!
He doesn't need any new shirts, when there was an offer on the soft touch ones (which I have found don't need ironing, providing you take them out of the machine once the cycle has finished and bung carefully place them on hangers) I sort of stocked up in various colours and patterns.
He appeared in raspberry crush today. I raised an eyebrow at the fact it seemed to be "teamed" with (as the stylists say) navy, red and white striped socks
now add that to the paint stained trousers, and you get an idea of his dress sense!
My husband is the same - he's been off for 10 weeks now (furloughed) and has got a gut. I can't say anything though, as I'm too fat. We both joke that our washer must have shrunk the clothes.
You need to get up in the wee small hours to grab a slot, Phoenix. There’ve been no slots available to us even though Dh is vulnerable category (probably because Scotland’s made a pig’s ear of that system), However, in the last week a few possibilities have become available, just sporadically here and there. I’m hoping for one early next week.
On the subject of Mr P’s shirts - order him new ones - in a smaller size! 
I think I see where you are going wrong Phoenix - I understand (from Facebook so it must be true) that during the lockdown you have to regularly remove clothes from the cupboards and leave them in the sun or the virus makes them shrink. I haven't been doing this and all my clothes seem to be smaller now
,SueDonim are you having a laugh? Can't get a Sainsbury's delivery despite having both of the letters! Although, at first thought the stapler could have been a possibility, he would only start moaning that I had made the washing scratchy.
Kamiso that's a kind offer, thank you. However it would involve ironing, which I have decided is against my religion.
I have recently converted to the church of ALAICGAW, or "as little as I can get away with"
Please see also "My default setting" 
I sympathise with Mr P as I seem to be suffering from this problem!! I think clothes are clearly not sized properly these days and old clothes have simply shrunk during the past few months!! There can be no other explanation!!!???
I can let you have some wundaweb if that would help though it does require an iron. I found I have copious amounts when going through the sideboard cupboard. I used it all the time til I discovered the dry cleaners also offer a sewing service.
Just use a stapler on the seams, Phoenix. We have to improvise nowadays! 
How about two food deliveries? His n hers?
Oh SueDonim, and I thought we were on the same wavelength!
Online shopping restricts quantities of some items that I consider essential!
You mention "taking in the seams on his shirts"
Do you realise that you are addressing someone who expects a standing ovation for sewing a button on?
Hmm, time to turn to online shopping? I’m sure you’ll find multiple recipes for leeks and cauliflowers on t’internet. 
Or how about taking in the seams on his shirts so they’re even tighter? That might give him a fright!
sodapop! "Salad & fruit all round"
But I really look forward to my double choc ice cream after supper, can't give that up, supporting the local shop plus the local dairy that makes it!
Mr P doesn't eat ice cream, cake, biscuits, puddings etc, so someone in the household has to do their bit! ?
Hmm, to try to respond to the posts so far:
He already wears X L shirts (well, the Cotton Traders non iron ones I bought him
)
The shopping is done by him, as I have COPD (see previous threads re the interchangeable properties of leeks and cauliflower 
Yes, I have been doing more cooking, but definitely NOT cakes etc, which he wouldn't eat anyway.
Sadly no photos of him as slim and svelte. We met in 2001, and he was well built (NOT FAT!) then. If he ever was slim and svelte, it was before he met me!
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