Tuesday 30 September 2014

Back Running .............. Sort Of


Thank you to everyone for the condolence messages you sent.  I really appreciate them.  I am really happy that I could make my aunt's funeral and even more so that I managed to get up and speak - until the last two sentences when I sort of lost it a little and had to take a little longer than a moment to regroup and get those last two sentences out - but I did it and, for me, given how much I hate public speaking - or any speaking involving more than a group of about 5 or 6 people, I was very happy - or at least as happy as you can be at the funeral of a favourite aunt !

Going back to South Africa was an eye-opener for me as well as confirmation that, when we made the decision and left nearly 15 years ago, it was the right decision for our family.  I phoned A when we had got to where we were staying and said "If there had ever been any teeny tiny inclination about whether we made the right decision to leave - we did."  Not that there has been ANY moments when we questioned our decision but it was good to know that we had made the right decision.

I was going to post about my 4 days in SA but, out of respect for the people who still live there, I'm not.  While I loved the country when I lived there, for me, my 4 day trip was 3 days too long.  And, as much as I LOVED catching up with my 'adopted' sister and seeing friends and neighbours I haven't seen for 15-20 years, I couldn't wait to get home.  Australia is definitely my home and to those people who don't like it here, there are plenty of airports - go somewhere else - and, once you are there, maybe you will appreciate just how good we have it here.

But, back to my running.  It starts.  And stops.  And starts again.  And stops again.  And this is doing my head in.  I am a few weeks behind other ladies in our LTR group but I'm not the only one who isn't keeping up (pun intended) with everyone else.  Between the trip to SA where I thought I would go for at least 1 or 2 runs and didn't go for any, and head colds and coughs, it's not going as well as I want it to but I am committed to keep on with what I can do.  I had thought I would enter a 5km run this Sunday but, having woken up with another head cold on Saturday and, despite stuffing armmo force and cold and flu tablets down my throat, I'm still feeling yucky, I may save my $35 and enter another one after I have actually managed to keep going for 5km !!!!!!

I am loving my Garmin 220 for keeping track of what I am doing - although it would be heaps better if I could figure out exactly how it works before I start my intervals so that they are all recorded instead of only part of them being recorded !!!!  Last night I read that it could sync it to my phone so I am going to try to do that tonight - even if I don't manage to get out and run myself given I am barking worse than all the dogs in our neighbourhood put together and my chest is soooooooo sore.

I have another appointment with my hormone fairy later this week so that will be good because (a) my toche taking has been iffy at best which is probably the reason I am suffering with hot flushes, the itches and sleeping badly although, to be fair to menopause, I probably can't blame the poor sleep on it, I have been a bad sleeper for a lot longer than I have been going through menopause and (b) I have run out of medication so even on the nights I did remember to take it, I didn't have any to take.

Thankfully the renovation of the bathroom and WIR are FINISHED !!!!!  The only thing left to do in the house is - carpets in the other rooms bar the study and security screens if we decide to change those.  There is heaps that A wants to do outside but it will all depend on how much money we have available.  We think we are getting closer to finalising a builder and getting council approval for 'the little house' - I just wish there was a step by step guide somewhere about how to go about building a granny flat so we would know that before we go to council we have to get the waster management system guy in or the soil tests done etc etc.  The delays in moving forward because 'Oh, have you got XYZ or have you done ABC - no ? - oh well you need to do this or that before you come to us' is doing my head in !!!!

On that note - I am off to read other blogs joining in with Jess for #IBOT.

Have a fantastic week !

TFTD : Nobody who ever gave their very best regretted it.


33 comments:

  1. Maybe you could keep notes through the whole process and blog about how to build a granny flat at the end of it...where maybe you'll suggest people "don't" ha! Once all the winter bugs are gone I am sure your running will come along just nicely. I hope the appointment with the hormone fairy goes well and helps. I know a few South Africans and some of the stories I've heard...they just blow my mind. I had no idea until the last couple of years how bad things were over there :( Lovely to see you Saturday morning and thank you so much again for doing the blanket. xo Aroha

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    1. Don't laugh - I definitely wouldn't be recommending building to anyone !!!!!!
      You are so welcome re the blanket - I hope you like it when it's finished.
      Me xox

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear about your Aunt - I think I've been hiding under a rock a bit so missed this news. It sounds like your trip to SA was good in reconfirming your life here - it's always good to have a fresh dose of gratitude. Good luck with the running. X

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    1. It's all good Kathy - I haven't been around on the blog much myself. For sure it was great to get that confirmation that we definitely made the right decision moving our family half way around the world.
      Have the best day !
      Me xox

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  3. Hot flushes are driving me INSANE at the moment. When will it end? I suddenly start to feel sick, my heart starts racing, I'm on the verge of panic then I start to feel like I'm burning up and realise what's going on. Why, why, why Linda do we have to put up with this. I think I'm woken up at least 7 times a night with this and at least 5 episodes a day. I've also put on a stone around my middle despite careful eating and exercising. Sorry for whinging. I admire you greatly for standing up and speaking at your Aunt's funeral. I'm sure she was watching on and cheering you x

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    1. Hate to tell you but they say menopause can take up to 10yrs !!!!! Looks like we are all in for a really 'fun' time - not !!!!
      Have a great day !
      Me xox

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  4. So sorry to hear about your Aunt. I had a friend in school who was from Zimbabwe and some of the stories her parents would tell were pretty scary. I'm glad that you feel that you've made the best decision.
    Good luck with the running and the building. I hope the red tape doesn't get too stressful for you xx

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    1. Thanks Tegan - it's certainly been challenging BUT I think we are getting closer which is the main thing !
      Have a great week !
      Me xox

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  5. New Zealand is a fantastic place to live too!
    I am glad your trip home was not too bad, and you got to say goodbye to your Aunt.
    Menopause! OMG I hate it... no amount of medication is stopping my hot flushes from HELL. AND I have been suffering for almost 10 years already, and I've been told it can last for OVER 20. I want to die right now.
    Running... good on ya, I can't run to save myself.

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    1. You are right - that would have been the next place we would have gone if we hadn't come to Australia !!!!
      OMG NO - please don't tell me 20yrs !!!!! That will do my head in completely !!!!!
      I hope it's a great day for you xox

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear about your Aunt! I haven't been keeping up with blog reading lately so I am sorry I didn't offer my sympathies sooner. I didn't realise that you came from South Africa. I'm glad you love Australia. I love it too and yes we are very lucky here. OMG - you are going through menopause? I think I am still in the peri-menopause phase (well I still get the monthly torture) and that is bad enough! Great to hear you are running. I tried running and have firmly established that I am not to be a runner. I am a walker and I am ok with that. Take care of yourself! xo

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    1. Thanks Mins - women of menopause unite !!!!!!
      I used to be a walker and then one day I decided to try running to a lamp post and that is pretty much how my running started. Then it all went downhill when menopause really kicked in but I'm back up and running again - well sort of !!!
      Have the best day !
      Me xox

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  7. Usually you get a soil test done first then get the waste management or plumber in to quote on the system you need. I'm so sorry to hear about your Aunty. I need to read back on your posts to catch up. X

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    1. Thanks for that Rebecca - soil test, done. Waste management, done. Now to get final quotes, application submitted to council and then we are A for Away (i hope !!!)
      Have a fantastic week !
      Me

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  8. Ugh! I am not looking forward to menopause. So sorry to hear about your Aunt, but good on you for getting up at the funeral and talking. I know how hard that must have been. It must have been a great feeling to know you made the right decision about SA, but as you say, you've always known you made the right one. Good luck with the running. Visiting via #teamIBOT

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    1. Thanks Renee - have the best day !
      Me xox

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  9. Glad to see you back blogging and running :) Good luck with the building process - we gave up on ours but I hope you can persevere and get the granny flat that you are after. It will be worth it in the end.

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    1. Thanks Kirsty - as much as there have been times when I would have liked to just toss it all in, my parents would be devastated if we pulled the plug on it - they are already deciding where their furniture is going to go in the little house and what they are going to do around the garden !!!
      Have a great day !
      Me xox

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  10. Aggghhh don't talk to me about Councils and regulations ... needless to say we have been through the wringer here. My sympathies on the loss of your aunt xxx

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    1. Thanks Janet - have the best day !
      Me xox

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  11. You may feel like you are not keeping up but you sound like you are not giving up so YAY you and well done. I'm a little excited that I may, touch wood, be over the worse of the menopause journey. I haven't taken tablets since the PBevent and I've had very few hot sweats. Fingers crossed I'm sure hot summer nights will let me know for sure. I hope your cold run ends real soon, maybe you were slightly run down from grief and the sudden long journey, best wishes and the healing fairy your way. PS it was sooooo great to meet you, thank you for driving me to the airport too you are both so sweet. :-)

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    1. Thanks Jules - I'm so glad we got to meet IRL - you are one amazing lady that I am proud to call my friend !!!!! Hopefully the colds and coughs are over.
      So glad we could take you to the airport !!!
      Have the bestest week !
      Me xox

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  12. I have been on repo for years, am now off it, hoping like hell menopause has passed me by nicely (well I live in hope anyway lol). Glad to hear things are getting finished, I think no matter where you live councils are a hassle. And it must have been a nice feeling, knowing you made the right decision to move. Have a happy rest of the week :)

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    1. Depo not repo (stupid bloody spellcheck).

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    2. Thank you Jackie - I hope menopause has passed you by as well - that would be so cool for you because you have other health issues to worry about !!!!
      Have the best week !
      Me xox

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  13. Yay…great to see you back.
    Hope you're over the bouts of colds and flu's soon so you can get those joggers back on and running xx

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  14. You GO!!! This is awesome sister. :)

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    1. Thanks Michelle - have a wonderful week !
      Me xox

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  15. As long as you are running, you're getting there...and yay on finishing most of the inside of the house!

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    1. Thanks Lydia - yes it will be a huge relief when it's all done.
      Have a fantastic week!
      Me xox

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  16. Hello my lovely, lovely friend. First of all, thank you so much for the beautiful card that arrived in my letterbox this morning and for the thoughtful message inside. You really do know how to brighten someone's day! It must have been such an exhausting and emotional time of grieving for you in SA, and I am so proud of you for getting up and speaking in front of a big crowd. It must have been quite amazing though catching up with friends and neighbours you hadn't seen in so many years. I'm glad you're home safe and sound. Sending a huge big hug. xoxoxo

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    1. Thanks Lizzy. I'm glad the card arrived and brightened your day - it achieved it's purpose !!!!!
      Have a wonderful week and, keep those photos of your cute children coming !!!
      Me xox

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Have the best day.

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