I Can See The Improvement

This coming Sunday at 5.30am I am going to be down at Kurrawa waiting to run 15km - yes, you read that right, 15km !!!  I hadn't realised that when I signed up that I wasn't going to get in the amount of training that I would need to be able to run 15km but I'm going to give it a try anyway.  I certainly will be walking some of the way but I have learned that there is no shame in walking - in fact, there are times when, although I have included some walking, I have actually landed up doing a faster time than when I ran the whole way.

I can see the improvements in my 5km and 7km times which is certainly encouraging.  Like Zoey says - I can't compare one run to the next because there are so many factors that will change how I run and the pace that I run but, over a period of time, I can look back and see the improvements that I've made which is what really counts (so long as I don't look all the way back to 2009 when I was running heaps faster than I am now !!)  At some point I will get back there - I'm just not there right now.

I have changed a few things - I got new running orthotics, I got new running shoes, I started using bodyglide on my feet, I got toe socks and I started to strap my knee - OK, so I changed more than a few things but at my age, I need all the help I can get when it comes to exercise !!!!  The main thing is that whatever it was that needed to be changed, has been changed and is working.

I want to thank A for his support and encouragement - there is no time that is not a good time for me to run according to him !!!  Whenever I say "I need to go for a run" - the answer is always - "Have fun" - to him, running is about having fun.  I am not quite of the same belief, I run because I like how it makes me feel, I run because I know it's good for me to exercise, I run because I want to get healthy but, at the moment, I don't run because it's fun.

I also want to thank my village - the amazing ladies at Operation Move - who are there, every step with me - who help to hold me accountable on the days I think I will get home and try to get out of running.  When I'm home from running, I go on FaceBook and let everyone know that I didn't dip out of running in favour of sitting on the couch / deck crocheting - the support and encouragement from them is just great and it certainly helps to keep me going some nights when I am plodding along the road.

A is away this week.  He has changed the division he is working in and will, in all likelihood, be spending more time away from home BUT that is OK.  I am getting used to spending time by myself - it's a pity that the time difference with K isn't more favourable because I could probably spend a lot of time chatting to her !!!  She is doing so well and is having such a great time over there.  She is certainly getting out and about and seeing the country.  I think Christmas will be a little difficult not having her around but, as parents, we have to let our children go and if it means that they live in a different country - so be it.  I think the fact that she is doing well is a testament to how we brought her up - and I will be taking some of the credit for that !!!! LOL

It's Tuesday which means it's #IBOT time with Jess at EssentiallyJess - I know that I haven't been linking in every week but sometimes life becomes more important than blogging.

Have the best day !!!

TFTD :  Your problems, weaknesses, setbacks, regrets and mistakes will teach you if you're willing to learn.  Or, they will punish you if you're not.

Another Week

This was another busy week for us starting with a meeting with one of the builders on Monday night which went really well.  All four of us liked him and he had some great suggestions for us on where we could save some money without putting up some cr*ppy little place for the old people.  We are waiting for his final quote after we made a few changes on the night.

What didn't go so well was the phone call from Council advising that, despite a meeting with them and a few phone calls to confirm overlay maps etc, the application that we submitted would result in us having to pay $19k in infrastructure charges.  This all despite the fact that we had been advised to get the size of the house/garage under 100m2 to avoid infrastructure charges !!!  This meant that we had to redo the whole application - a trying task that we finished at 11.45pm that night - and, we went to the bottom of the pile again.  That was the worst thing about it because basically now we are 12 days behind where we were and, given we are trying to get the retainer wall at the back of the house and the retainer wall for the slab built before the Christmas break, we are cutting it really fine now.  But, I'm of the opinion that things will get built when they get built and stressing about it isn't going to make them get done any quicker.

Yesterday after work I went to see my podiatrist to see if he could help with the pains I am getting in the balls of my feet when I run.  The body glide has definitely helped HEAPS with the burning but the pain has still been there.

He has recommended I get a different pair of orthotics for running because there is not enough cushioning in my current pair which are fine for every day wear (although I only really wear them in winter when I wear shoes - in summer I spend most days in thongs or barefoot in the office).  He said that I am suffering from capsulitis where the nerves and tendons on the bones of the balls of my feet are inflammed from the added pressure of running on them. I said that I knew that my weight was not helping but, at the moment, there wasn't anything that I did that was moving it so I am trying to increase my exercise to burn more calories in the hope of creating a calorie deficit which would have to result in some weight loss at some point in time.

He also said that he wouldn't recommend the running shoes that I am using as they are over correcting my problem.  I have run about 850kms in them and they will be fine for walking in - just not to run in.  He gave me the names of two pairs of shoes so I am going to see how much they cost and look into buying one of those pairs.  Hopefully I will be able to sell the second pair that I have at home (same as the original pair I bought) that I have run exactly 2km in !!!!  He also adapted my current orthotics to spread the load under the balls of my feet better so, hopefully, that will help until I get my running orthotics.

Her back yard

We got some photos this morning from K showing the first snow fall in the garden.  They did have some snow on Halloween but it melted as soon as it landed on the ground.  When I FaceTimed a little while later she had to keep changing her hand holding the phone as she doesn't have gloves and it was too cold to keep one hand out her jacket longer than about 25-30 seconds !  She said that getting gloves was the last thing she needed and then she should be set for winter.  When the wind doesn't blow she said it's amazing but when the wind blows - it goes right through you if you don't have the right clothes.

Another view

This weekend we are expecting temps in the mid to high 30s so I think we are going to spend lots of time inside with the aircon on as I doubt there will be much in the way of breezes around.  Plus, they started digging for the deck on the little veranda on Wednesday so there is sand e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e - the dogs haven't been allowed inside because they are just covered in dust and think it's great to be able to run up and down these huge sand banks.  I do hope that all that they have dug out will be used to support the floor when they do eventually throw the slab otherwise we are going to have a continual layer of dust over everything in the house which will drive me to drink quicker than you can say Jack Flash !  They are supposed to be pouring the concrete today for the foundations and the footings.  Then they have to build the supporting walls and then they can throw the slab - the quicker the better is all I can say !!

I have a 9km run planned for tonight - I hope that it will have cooled down a little by the time I leave work this afternoon !!!!

Have the best weekend !

TFTD :  Love and kindness can move mountains.  Learn to give without any reason.  Today, be someone who helps someone else look forward to tomorrow.

And Just Like That

my heart is on the other side of the world.

BUT, I am looking at the positives :

- it will be a great big adventure for her
- she will be seeing a different way of life
- she will mature as she learns to do more for herself
- she will have memories to last her a life time
- I will get out and exercise more as I try to take my mind off missing her
- I will get fit and healthy by doing this
- I will no longer have the excuse that K would like these biscuits/cake/lollies/chips when I am buying groceries (and then eating the bulk of what I bought for her myself because, in all honesty, she didn't even want them in the first place)
- I will get fit and healthy because of the above
- we have a holiday to plan and organise and book
- setting up Skype so we can stay in contact along with FB, e-mail and whatsapp
- not listening to her and A 'banter' in a way that drives me nuts
- not having to nag her to do her chores - I'll just have to do them myself !!!!!

So, when you think about it, there are heaps of positives to her being away provided I don't think abut the tears I've shed (and probably still will shed), how much I miss having her ask me how to do things, whether an outfit works or not, an exercise partner, a The Good Wife and Grey's 'watcher with me' and just being a sounding board for her.  Although I am certain that some of those things will still happen long distance - it won't be quite the same as having her here with me.

Joining in with Jess from EssentiallyJess for #IBOT - have you joined in today ?

Have the best week !

TFTD : Sometimes you need those bad days to help you appreciate the good ones.

A House Warming and A Farewell

This past weekend saw us have a combined house warming (for our 'new' home) and a farewell for K.

I was planning on having the house warming once we had done what we wanted around the house and garden and then I realised that it's probably inappropriate to have a house warming 10 years after you have actually moved into the house so, with that in mind, once the roof was on the deck (luckily we had it after the roof went on because it did rain during the night and we all stayed lovely and dry given the size of the roof) we tidied up around the house and garden and invited everyone over.

We saw friends we haven't seen in forever and neighbours we haven't seen since we left Wewak Ave.  It was great.  We saw photos of what has been done to our old home - good for them for making it their home.  They aren't changes I would have made but hey, it's not my house any longer.

We chatted and laughed. We drank and ate.  And ate some more.  There was so much food I landed up sending some home with people as they were leaving.  We had cake.  There was so much cake, some of that went home with people as well.  And we still have left overs at home.  Thankfully lasagna freezes so well although there is a limit to how much lasagna two people can eat !!!!

There were tears.  Tears from my baby as she said goodbye to friends - realising that she wouldn't be seeing them for a while - unless they Skype her, in which case she will see them quite regularly.  But I don't think that part of her brain was engaged.  There was sobbing about not seeing the old people and requests for them to go and visit her - I'd like to say that will happen but my folks aren't getting any younger and I'm not sure that they are up to a trip to the USA to see their grand-daughter for a few weeks but we will wait and see what happens.

I know that this is going to be a great experience for her - she will grow up and she will mature and she will come home a different person - and hopefully a better person - although given she is going to be an au pair to one child, the family she is going to be living with obviously has money - I hope she doesn't come home expecting us to keep her in the way to which she would have become accustomed !!!!!  Like white Christmases and 10 day cruises on the Caribbean - those we will not be providing on her return home.  What we will give her is lots of hugs and kisses and job applications to find a job so that she isn't financially dependent on us and wanting to lounge around watching day time TV when she could be out in the real world earning a living !!!

Photos were taken and will be downloaded and uploaded onto here for you to see at a later time.  Right now, we have to get our bedroom and WIR cleared and the bathroom gutted because I saw an e-mail yesterday morning that said "Sorry we can't make it on 28th at 7am - we'll be there on 30th at 7am" - apparently A forgot to mention that they had given him a start date for the renovations !!!!!!  So, now that it is the 30th I hope we managed to get it all done in time (given I am writing this on 29th !!!)

And, Thursday and Friday that we had taken to spend some time with K before she leaves, may actually be spent with K adding her 2c to our choice of tiles / basins / toilets / shower screens etc !!!

Have the best week !

TFTD : Knowledge is essential.  Your mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains it's original dimensions.

I Need My Sunnies

As I write, there are only 8 sleeps until my baby leaves.  7 mornings of waking up and going and looking at her sleeping because next Sunday I doubt she will be asleep when I get up - I doubt I'll get much sleep but hey, I'll have the whole day to sleep when we get home from dropping her at the airport.  She has to be there at 5.30am so we will probably have to leave home by about 4.10am.  There is a late GC Suns game on the night before so I imagine it will be close to midnight by the time we get to bed and then we will have to be up before 4am in order to get dressed, get the car packed and get going.

I know that I am thankful for my sunnies because they have already saved me some embarrassment when driving along while crying !  On my way to work the other morning, after I had heard when she was leaving, I was busy telling A and he said "Geez, it's getting close isn't it ?" and there was nothing I could say because I was already crying !!  And, I'm sure, that they will come in very handy over the next couple of weeks for the exact same reason.

I know that I am thankful for this fantastic opportunity that she has to live in another country and experience a way of life, and weather, completely different to anything she has ever experienced before.

I know that I am thankful that I will have the Learn To Run program to concentrate on which will help to take my mind off wondering what she is getting up to although I doubt there is anything that I can do that will stop me missing her.

A, later than I'd like, link up with Sarah from Creating Contentment for Thankful Thursday and Ann from Help! I'm Stuck for Thing I Know.

Have the best weekend and take care !

TFTD :  Sometimes people come into your life, not to love you, but to help you realise that you are worth loving.

My Baby Turns 22

Yesterday my baby girl turned 22.

Yesterday she booked her flights to Sydney to go to the US Consulate for her visa interview.

Yesterday she took the day off work to help a friend lay flooring in her new home (why, I'm not sure, as she hasn't been hugely helpful around the house since we moved in - maybe it's because she really doesn't know how to lay timber flooring and so is there for the company more than anything ?)

Yesterday my baby wrote the nicest post on FB and tagged me in it - it's great to know that even though sometimes she is selfish and full of attitude, she does still love us !!!!!

Yesterday made me realise that next year she will be celebrating her birthday with her other family - I hope they make it a nice day for her.

Happy Birthday for yesterday K !

You have grown into a lovely young lady who I am proud to call my daughter.  While I am going to miss you dreadfully while you are away, I know that it will be such a great experience for you and I know that you will come home with wonderful memories - things that can never be taken away from you.  Know that Dad and I love you always and stay safe in your travels because you are priceless to us.

Joining in with Jess for #IBOT

TFTD :  You might feel worthless to one person, but you are priceless to another.  Don't ever forget your worth.  Spend time with those who value you.

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while since I joined in with Rhianna forThankful Thursday, not because I haven't been thankful but because I haven't really had the time.  Who knew moving would be so exhausting and take so long ?  Who knew that we would have to get rid of some of the stuff that we moved because there is just not enough room for everything - especially 'stuff' we don't use and are keeping for 'just in case'.  And for this I am thankful, truly, because we have been able to get rid of stuff based on space available so things we were keeping 'just because' have had to be culled.  This is a good thing !

Anyway, this week I am thankful that K was accepted into the Au Pair program that she applied to and has already had one family make contact as they are interested in hiring her to look after their children.

While I will miss her dreadfully when she is gone, I am thankful for the great opportunities this will expose her to and the different cultures she will learn about.   I am thankful that she will get to experience a completely different way of life (I just hope she will be happy to come home to our little humble abode given the house she will be living in if this family decides they would like her to look after their children - a mansion is a bit of an understatement !!!)

I am thankful that she has grown up into a mature young lady who is ready to move overseas and stand on her own two feet (to a certain extent) and take responsibility for two children (or one child and one teenager to be more specific).

I am thankful for telephones and computers and skype which will allow us to stay in contact with her.

I am thankful that we will be in a position to go over and visit her while she is there because, while we can stay in contact by phone and skype, nothing compares to a really big, really squishy, really tight hug.

What are you thankful for today ?

Have you joined in with Rhianna ?

What are you waiting for ?

My day 2 #100happydays photo is 

How could knitting needles with this smiley face

not make you happy ?

Have a terrific Thursday !

TFTD :  You are not what you have done, but what you have overcome

My Weekend That Was

I know that technically the weekend doesn't start on Thursday night but my time of pleasantness (yes, that is a word !!!) started then so that is when I decided my weekend would start.

A phone call from K saying she wanted to go to the movies ended up with us seeing 2 Guns (which I would recommend to anyone wanting to see some action plus have a few laughs !)

Friday night after work / TAFE, saw us popping in to my folks for my Dad to see K and then a stop at the local DVD store to get some DVDs and the local Indian restaurant to get some curry for dinner.  We got The Great Gatsby, Snitch and Jack Reacher.  We watched Snitch (which I had mostly seen before) and then half of TGG - I loved the party scenes which were so typical of a Baz Luhrmann movie but (given I haven't read the book - don't judge me, I didn't have to read it at school and I really don't like period type stories, except the Barbara Taylor-Bradford - The Harte Family saga) but it wasn't enough to keep us awake on Friday night so we had to watch it when K got home from storm training on Saturday afternoon.

I went to yoga in the morning.  My BIL says it should be called the comedic yoga class and he and I are both so inflexible - it really is quite funny to watch us.  I guess the good thing is that, if we keep it up, maybe we will see some differences in a few months time !!! (Although I'm thinking that quite possibly one class a week will make absolutely no difference - all it does is make me sweat and get thirsty and have another set of exercise clothes to wash for the week !!!!)  But, she did move through the moves quite quickly so maybe when I have just a little bit of a clue as to what I am doing, I'll be a bit better at what I am trying to do.

As K and I were going to the 7's rugby on Sunday and I knew I would be wearing my knee length jeans, I thought I had better go and get my legs and under-arms waxed, which I did before looking for more yarn to crochet up.  I could only find yarn at $8/ball which is just ridonkulous because I got it at $2/ball the last time I bought. I have asked my folks to keep their eyes open on their travels looking for fabric so hopefully they will find me some.  Mind you, with this hot weather, I don't know how much crocheting I will be doing !!!!

After we finished watching TGG and had returned it, we watche Pitch Perfect again.  To me, that movie is like Burlesque, I could watch it again and again and again and never get tired of it !!!

Sunday morning we had a bit of a lazy start before deciding to have cheese muffins for breakfast so quickly made a batch before getting to the station to catch the train down to Robina for the 7s rugby.  The train down was a bit full but at least it wasn't a long ride.  We got there just after 10am and walked to the stadium.  Using the train to get there is such a great way to travel - plenty of parking at the station and no trouble at the other side - across the walkway, down the stairs and along the road and you are at Skilled Park. 

What can I say about the day ?  Apart from the fact that the cold drinks were a rip off at $5 for a 600ml Coke Zero.  K also bought a box of chips which we shared.  We took water with us but that got warm before we knew it so landed up having to buy a few cold drinks while we were there.  The games were good - some were annihalations and some were really close.  Australia played South Africa and went into two lots of extra time (5 mins each time) before finally scoring a try to go through to the finals against NZ where they got well and truly beaten 40-19.  I think that the extra time against SA really took it out of them, having said that in the three games we watched them play, they went out really hard for the first 4-5 minutes and then seemed to lose their legs after that.

The crowd was entertaining.  The costumes were hilarious (most of them).  The screaming got a bit much at times.  The two worst were one lady shouting for "Souf Africa" and another lady who shouted for USA, Canada and England.  Her and her partner were English and then they bagged us out for supporting the French (when in reality, the only reason we were supporting the French was because they were supporting Cananda and driving K and I nuts !!!)

I had thought that K may not want to stay until the last game but, as the sun went down behind the stadium, she wasn't going anywhere until the last whistle had gone.  We changed seats a few times, chasing the shade, and getting away from ear piercing screamers and when we left and were walking to the station, she turned to me and gave me a big hug and said "Thanks for an awesome day Mom, I really enjoyed it."

Baskin & Robbins featured for dinner and, given we had only had a cheese muffin for breakfast and shared a small packet of hot chips during the day, I figured I had calories to spare even if I didn't eat 'good' calories !!!!

We got home at about 8.45 and watched Jack Reacher - Tom Cruise is so not Jack Reacher - and never will be !!!!!!  I wish they had cast someone else as Jack - someone like Jason Statham - someone with character !!

This week I plan on going back to the gym.  There is a body conditioning class on Monday at 5.30 and then a body pump class at 6.30 and then a couple of spin classes.  My weight is continuing to drop although I think it is probably  more as a result of cutting down on what I eat rather than my choice of foods which hasn't been that great of late.

Thankfully my moods have been a lot more stable and I truly believe that I have finally found the right concoction of medication (prescribed and natural) to keep me on an even keel.  I suppose the real test will come when A gets back from Rocky/Townsville on Friday and I have the two of them at home again !!!

Have the best day and, because it is Tuesday, it's time to join in with Jess at Essentially Jess for #IBOT.  Why not pop over and share some blog love around ?

TFTD : Sometimes the reason it’s so hard for us to be happy is simply because we refuse to let go of the things that make us sad.

Things I Know

Friday is here - do I hear a huge YAY from everyone reading this ? 

Even though this was a short week having had a long weekend last weekend, this week seems to have dragged but, finally, the weekend is within spitting distance (not that I am going to try to spit on it - I would never diss the weekend like that !!!!) but at least it is closer than it was on Tuesday or Wednesday or even yesterday, or even 5 minutes ago - OK , am sure you get my point !!!!

Anyway, linking in with Rhianna at A Parenting Life for Things I Know, this is what I know this week.

I know :

- that maintaining my weight is not what I want to do but it's better than putting on weight

- that eating in this heat is just too hard

- that having K home is F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C

- that going to the movies with my 21yo daughter brought me heaps of pleasure

- that 2 Guns is actually quite a funny movie

- that planning to go to the 7's rugby on Sunday with same daughter is something I am looking forward to

- that there is no way I would have gone to the movies or 7's rugby with my Mom when I was 21

- that I am so grateful for the great (most of the time) relationship that K and I have

- that I am looking forward to a movie night at home tonight

What do you know this week ? 

Have you linked in with Rhianna yet ? 

Why not ?

 

Have the best weekend !

 

TFTD : Sometimes you have to step outside of the person you've been, and remember the person you were meant to be, the person you wanted to be, the person you are.

Walking Tonight

Anyone following this journey will know that I have had heaps of ups and downs.  Recently I went to see a dietician who told me that I was having too many calories in my breakfast smoothies and I had to change what I ate for breakfast.  Well I have changed it and am now eating baked beans (definitely not my favourite but better than egg !!!) and my weight has been yo-yo-ing much better.  It will be interesting to see what she has to say when I go to see her next week.

One of the things she told me I needed to do was exercise for at least 20 mins a day and 2 x 20 mins on Saturday and Sunday.  Apart from one or two days when we had family over for dinner after work and we went to see Pink, I have done this.  Not that I can see any difference on the scales but never the less, I have done it.  Mostly.  Yesterday I only did 32 mins.  Today I did 28 mins.

To be honest I feel a bit silly posting about the 20 min walks that I have been doing when I see the exercise that others do and I have to remind myself that I am me and I need to do things at the pace that is right for me for now.  The more I do, the more I will be able to do.  And, I have to stop comparing myself to what I was doing previously - right now I don't think I could walk 10km never mind run 10km in 63 mins !!!!!  But, the past is the past and right now I need to look forward.

Anyway, back to my walk tonight.  It's amazing the difference at home now that A has left again.  K called me on her way home from work to tell me about something that had happened at work and how she had handled it in a mature manner - which is good because sometimes she can be very head strong and talk first think later kind of girl !!  Anyway, then she offered to go to Coles to get what I needed for dinner to save me having to stop on my way home from work.  Where is my child and who is this living in my house ?  Oh yes, A has left so the 'nice' K is back !!!  How am I going to deal with these two when A is home permanently ????????????????????????????

I got home and she was watching Hamish and Andy and when I came through dressed to walk she asked me how far I was going. I told her and she asked if I could wait a minute while she got changed as she would come with me on her skateboard.  I waited and off we went.  She bloody well gave me a few heart attacks as the board stopped and she ran off the front of it.  As she was skating along I was shouting "Mind out for the cars coming" and thought to myself "No matter how old she is, she is still my child and I am still watching out for her."  She was pushing on ahead and then coming back and high-fiving me as she went past and then turning and pushing on ahead and high-fiving me on the way past.  We chatted when she was close and were quiet when she was too far away.  At one point she went to high five me and I had the phone and remote in my hand and so lent over with my other hand and she offered to carry my phone and the garage remote.  I gave them to her and then a little while later realised that with her skating backwards and forwards, I wasn't going to get a true reading of how far I had walked so I got the phone back from her.

My BIL was putting in petrol at the servo across the road when we came to cross the road and so I went and waited for him to come out from paying for the petrol.  In the meantime K had jumped into his car and hid in the back seat.  We chatted a while and then he went and got in the car.  A little while later K came running out.  She said she didn't think he got a fright when she popped up at the back - but that was probably because she was laughing so much he probably heard her !!!! I had to laugh.  The two of them have so much fun together - call each other "Cuzzie" even though they are uncle and niece.  He always teases her that she is 2 yrs older than she is and she used to get really upset about it - now she just plays along.  He has a seniors card so we are always teasing him about how old he is.  It's great to have family that you can joke with like that.

Anyway, I had a good walk.  Got home and made a great chicken stir fry with enough for another couple of meals.  I found the things that I have to send off to the medical aid in the morning and now I am about to watch a movie I recorded ages ago and get some crocheting done.

Today is Tuesday to I am linking in with Essentially Jess for #IBOT - like all good bloggers do !!!!

Have the best week and take care !

Have you exercised today ?



TFTD : Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you. Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late. You don't have to like it, it's just easier if you do.

Things I Know

Friday is link up with The Miss Cinders (please note the name change !!!) for Things I Know Friday.  Why not join in because, as we all know and MC always reminds us, we all know sh*t.

Today :

- I know that I am more than a little teensy weensie excited.

- I know that when I say "See you just now" to A this morning, it is true !

- I know that this has been a great week.  One of those weeks where, even though some things haven't gone to plan, I've been able to go with the flow and all has been well.

- I know that I am looking forward to the long weekend.

- I know that K and I had a great conversation last Friday night when we driving into Surfers for her to drop me off to meet with CrashTest Mummy.  She said "Mom, I don't want to grow up like you." and, do you know I was soooooooooooooo happy to hear her say that.  I can't think of many other things she could have told me that would have made me happier !!!!  I don't want her to grow up like me either.  I want her to grow up confident and self assured and capable and strong.  I want her to grow up believing in her ability to achieve whatever she wants.  I want her to grow up and be out there - not in a nasty way - but in a way that says "I'm here.  I'm strong.  I'm confident.  I can achieve anything. Don't mess with me because you may land up being sorry."

- I know that this will probably scare some people off but that is OK, she is very stong willed and needs to mix with people who can deal with that and not let her be in charge all the time.

- I know that I am looking forward to going to a Suns game with A on Saturday - it's been too long since he has been to a game.  What would be even better is if we beat North Melbourne (which I think we could do if the stars align !!!)

- I know that I love brightening someone's day - I have got sooooooooo much pleasure out of this project - I am finding it quite hard to hold back and pace myself.

- I know that I am loving the new blogs that I have come across recently and the new connections I am making on Twitter / Instagram.

- I know that I love the way the universe works.

- I know that I may not be on SM much this coming week because sometimes living IRL is more important.

- I know that my awesome on-line friends will be here for me when I get back and will totally understand me not being around while A is home.

Have the best weekend and I will see you when I see you !

TFTD : It's the hardest times that teach us the most valuable lessons.

Thankful Thursday

YAY - it's Thursday which means Thankful Thursday linky with Francesca from Francesca Writes Here.  Yesterday I spent a fair bit of time thinking about what I was thankful for and I came up with ............................. nothing !  Not that I am not thankful for stuff, but just that I don't want to keep posting week after week the same 'stuff' !!!!

Francesca kindly reminded me that I was thankful that there is only 1 more sleep until A gets back instead of the 8 that I had last week (which technically means this isn't the same 'stuff') but I wanted something just a little different.  So here goes (and, even as I am typing this I am not sure what is going to follow here ...........)

- I am thankful for looking after myself and taking on board everyone's comments about going for a massage (here).  I know that the universe works to give us what we need - and this is how it worked out for me.  As a result of finding a massage therapist in the yellow pages, who did a fantastic job at massaging me (I find it very difficult to get a good massage because I have such high standards for myself and I expect others to have the same), after a bit of a chat, she told me about a naturopath she had been to see.  I thought that it was worth going to see her to see if there was anything she could do to help me and I went to see her yesterday.  What a lovely lady.  She said that the medication and supplements I was on were great and just topped it up with some homeopathic medication.  She suggested another two supplements but recommended I get them from Giant Chemist as they were cheaper than what she could sell them to me for !!!!

- I am thankful for the one-on-one time that I get to spend with K while A is away - it truly has been magical in some strange ways.

- I am thankful for the cheap, good quality yarn that my folks keep finding for me to buy so that I can keep on with my project of crocheting baby blankets.  To be honest, I don't even know which project I am supporting anymore - I crochet them and give them to my folks and they drop them off with someone.  I am presuming that there are babies somewhere who are warmer because of the blankets I have made.

- I am thankful that it is getting cooler in the mornings and evenings and somehow my hot flushes and night sweats seem to have calmed down a little (or maybe the medicine is working and keeping them under control) - whichever it is I am happy that I only have to change pj's three or four times a week instead of three or four times a night !!  (Yes, I just have a pile of vests next to my bed and when one gets wet, I take it off and pull another one on.)

- I am soooooooooooooo thankful that it is a long weekend this weekend - WOOO-BLOODY-HOOOOOOO - how cool is that going to be ?  A gets home tomorrow afternoon/evening and we get to spend three days together !!!!!!!!!!!!  Gotta love celebrating the Queen's birthday !

- I am not thankful that there was something that I thought was a really good thing to be thankful for but now I have forgotten what it was !!!

I know that we all have stuff that we are thankful for - what are you thankful for today ?

Have the best week !

TFTD : Have faith in your lifelong journey. No matter how stressful, everything had to happen exactly as it did to get you to where you're going.

Things I Know

Today is Friday, which means it is nearly the weekend (yes, I hang out for the weekend every single week - well unless I have a cr*ppy weekend ahead in which case I wish Friday would stay for three days !!) but I have a lovely weekend planned so, YAY for  Friday !  But, not only is it nearly the weekend, Friday means it's the easiest linky of the week - Things I Know with Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum - because, we all know sh*t !

Well that didn't work quite like I expected it to - I just sat here with my fingers over the keys and my mind went completely blank !! So, I guess MC was wrong today - some days I don't know sh*t at all !!!

OK - I can do this - I know that there must be something I can dredge up out of my brain (or whatever is in residence in my head !!).

- I know that I hate that A had to be taken to hospital by some guy he works with and not me.

- I know that I am happy that he is feeling so much better today.

- I know that while K can drive me absolutely nuts, she truly does have a heart of gold (when it suits her !)

- I know that I will be glad to see the back of this week.

- I know that I am looking forward to a blogging catch up tomorrow - I can't wait (even though I know I have to !!)

- I know that I will try to walk again tonight which will make three walks in five days - not the greatest but certainly better than nothing.

- I know that I am coping with A away much better than I thought I would - maybe I am stronger than I thought I was.

- I know that I have mellowed so much as I have gotten older (28 is old isn't it ? OK it isn't really, 47 is old - well sometimes I think it is)

- I know that I am glad that I have mellowed as I have gotten older.

Have the best Friday possible !!!

TFTD : Stop waiting for the perfect time. It will never come. You have to dare to do it, because life's too short to wonder what could have been.

Things I Know

Well it's Friday which means it's the day for Things I Know except I just popped over to Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum and she hasn't got her normal linky up (I'm thinking she may still be sooki about the Tim Tams having palm oil in them and her not eating them until they don't, but I could be wrong about that !!!)  (I was totally wrong - MC was on her way to visit her sister and her laptop battery went flat - and then when she got there she was too busy gabbing to worry about the linky - love ya MC !!) - so anyway, here is my list of Things I Know today because, as MC normally reminds us, we all know sh*t.

- I know that I miss A when he is away.

- I know that I have made a decision to get more involved with others so that I don't feel so alone while he is not here.  But, he is my bestest friend in the whole wide world and, while I can keep busy during the day, going to bed alone sucks big time (especially now that it is getting colder !!!)

- I know that for reasons that are totally beyond me because she is now 21 and should know better, K is a much nicer person to be around when it is just us having one on one time together and her Dad isn't around 'getting in the way' (or whatever it is that she thinks he does when he is home.)

- I know that K was really good about helping prepare and clean up after her party - much appreciated by A and myself.

- I know that we both had a great evening late night shopping last night.  Even though I couldn't find any winter tops to buy, I tried on Converse shoes (I looked like Ronald McDonald in the ones with the white in the front !!) but didn't buy any, and she got a lovely pair which, no doubt we will see when we go to watch the Suns play tomorrow.

- I know that the Suns have a really good chance of winning against the Bulldogs and making it two in a row - go guys !

 - I know that I have activities planned over the next few weekends to keep myself occupied while A is away - so much so I can't go up to visit because I am busy !!!!   After he comes home next time I will plan a weekend up with him.

- I know that I had to laugh (quietly to myself) at K the other day when she told me that she had told the lady who does the rostering at work that she 'would appreciate not being rostered to work on the weekends unless absolutely necessary as my Dad is working in Townsville and my Mom will be all by herself on the weekends.'  Clearly she thinks I am not capable of amusing myself for two days a week !!

- I know that I am going to embrace tomorrow and our tax returns because if I don't it will turn the whole day into one big chore.

- I know that I am enjoying eating good quality healthy food and how my body feels after said food.  While sometimes I miss the taste of sugary/carb foods, I don't miss how they make me feel.

- I know that I am looking forward to my appointment with my osteopath this afternoon.

- I know that I am going to leave there with a sore stomach because we always laugh so much.

- I know that I am looking forward to our twitter party tonight - 8pm AEST #vvow - feel free to join in if you aren't busy with anything else.

- I know that winter is coming - this morning it was 14° when I got out of bed this morning and I did not want to get up.

- I know that I am loving the Good Karma bracelet that Lisa from Random Acts of Zen sent to me - thank you Lovely Lady - I can't tell you how it makes me feel when I look at it and play with the pearls !

- I know that I am thoroughly enjoying the Pay It Forward Project - if you would like to be involved, please leave a comment with an e-mail address or DM me via Twitter/FB and I will send you the details.  Again, thanks to Lisa for the beautiful bells she has sent me to include in this project.

- I know that it is Friday - the best day of the working week !!!!

Have the BEST weekend that you can !

TFTD : Don't beat yourself up too much. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.

Thankful Thursday

This week my Thankful Thursday post will be the same as every other Thursday - r-a-n-d-o-m !  Linking in with Leigh from Six By The Bay for TT.

- I am thankful that we didn't run out of food or drink at K's 21st.

- I am thankful that she enjoyed herself so much.

- I am thankful that I didn't have more than one glass of Amarula and so didn't wake up with a hangover on Mother's Day.

- I am thankful for @FrancesaBlogs and @enay_teekay and the Twitter party we are having on Friday night - come and join us if you aren't doing anything else.  8pm, tomorrow night Friday 17th May, #vvow (virtual vodka or whatever) - optional viewing of Eurovision semi-finals, or anything else you may wish to view - or just be at the party.  We learned a lot from our first party hence the shortened #.

- I am thankful that A has a job and working really hard on coping while he is away.

- I am thankful for free calls between our phones so that even though we can't be together, we can talk for ages without worrying about how much it is going to cost us to pay for said phone calls.

- I am thankful that K went to work and asked if she could have weekends off (if at all possible) as 'my Dad is working away from home and my Mom will be all by herself on the weekends if I am working' !!!!! (This is the same child who thinks the world revolves around her and what she wants - the same child who can scream and yell at me because I have expectations that she will help around the house even though she pays a nominal amount of board - go figure !!)

- I am thankful for new clients who keep coming back - The Body and Feet Retreat really is doing very nicely just ticking over - not so busy that I am rushed off my feet, but enough to keep me happy.

- I am thankful for the extension that I got for our tax returns and look forward to getting them done and dusted on Saturday.  I figure if I embrace the task it may not be as horrible as I think it is going to be.

- I am thankful that today is Thursday because it means that tomorrow is Friday and, for me, the best day of the working week !

Now, if you haven't got anything else to do (because I know how much spare time everyone has - LOL) pop over to Leigh at Six By The Bay and see what everyone is thankful for today.

TFTD : The things we hate about ourselves aren't more real than the things we like about ourselves - Ellen Goodman

Are You Tired ?

Do you find that you can't get through the day without yawning your head off ?

Are you suffering from the 3pm slump ?

Do you eat carbohydrates and sugar ?

Part of this post is about what happened to me yesterday.  It is not advice in any way, shape or form - it is merely an account of what I noticed, in such a big way, that I had to share it with you.

As you may (or may not depending on how often you read this blog) be aware, it was K's 21st this weekend.  We asked her months ago what she wanted to do to celebrate the occasion and she said "Go out for dinner" which was what we had expected her to say and, despite checking a few times since then, was the plan.  Ten days ago we were trying to confirm exactly where she would like to go for dinner and she wanted to invite when suddenly it turned into a party at home on Saturday night and a family dinner on Sunday night.  And that was OK because it sort of killed two birds with one stone - Mother's Day dinner and birthday dinner all wrapped in one for K, my Mom and myself.

But then we only had less than 10 days to organise a party at home.  I will tell you right now - I don't do parties very well - in fact I suck at organising parties.  I don't have much in the way of creativity or 'seeing' what would make the place look nice so I try to shy away from them as much as possible - sometimes it isn't always possible !!!!

I managed to get a days' leave on Friday.  A flew in from Townsville on Wednesday night and on Thursday tidied up around the verandah a bit and picked up the crockery and cutlery.  On Friday K and I took turns cleaning the pavers with the Karcher and A continued to move things around and get a fence organised to keep Alfie and Rosie away from the guests.  Also managed to pull a fourth table out the hat plus arrange for my folks to buy fabric to make another centre piece as the three tables 'just didn't work they way I thought they would and four would be so much better' !!!!

It poured with rain on Friday night and we all went to bed just a little concerned about what the weather was going to do on Saturday.  We had made the 'tea lights in brown paper bags' and decorated them with ribbon and it looked like things were starting to come together - provided it didn't rain and put the candles out and wet the bags and make the sand fall out of them.  We borrowed some fairy lights from a work colleague and managed to string them up from the garage right around to the end of the verandah - just the length we needed.

Saturday went like clock work.  Balloons were picked up.  Cakes were picked up.  Dinner was collected.  We even managed to fit in a personalised visit around Metricon Stadium which was EXTREMELY interesting (even though we weren't allowed to take photos !!!) and when we got home I still had a chance to have a lie down for an hour before getting ready and the nibblies organised.

The party went off very well - everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and most importantly K had a great time - so the stress and the angst of putting it together in a short space of time was worth it.

 

Some of the cupcakes

The candles in brown paper bags (really effective at night !!!)
(I apologise for the size of this photo - I have no idea how to make it the correct size - sorry !!!)
 

 

 

The tables all set and ready for guests to arrive

 





We managed to do most of the cleaning up on Saturday night and just had to move furniture etc on Sunday morning.  We had far too much food and drinks and so had to find space to put them all - I think A will be eating meat and vegetable lasagne every week when he is home for the next I don't know how long !!!!

Anyway, while we were busy moving stuff around I had a can of coke, then I had a cup cake (they were red velvet and very delicious) and then I had another can of coke.  By midday I could not keep my eyes open or function in any way that was sensible or useful.  I lay on the couch and did not surface until just on 5pm.  I have not had sugar for quite a few weeks and clearly my body does not do well processing it.  This is the reason that I was so tired and, while I haven't been as tired lately, I didn't realise, until yesterday, just how much sugar affected how I felt. 

If you are feeling really tired - think back to what you have been eating an hour or two prior to that and see whether sugar is not doing you any favours either.  Moving forward I think it will be so much easier to say no to anything containing sugar because I hated how it  made me feel - totally out of it - unable to keep my eyes open and barely able to put one foot in front of the other.

Because it is Tuesday I am linking in with Essentially Jess for #IBOT - have the best week ever and take care !!!

This is an Invitation

to anyone wanting to join a

#vvow (virtual vodka or whatever)

party on Twitter on Friday 17th May at 8pm

(Optional TV viewing of the Eurovision Contest -

or a footy game - or nothing - whichever you prefer)

Come and join in

The More the Merrier
If you want to read more about a previous Twitter/vodka party
you can at Francesca Writes Here

TFTD :  Don’t live your life with anger and hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am linking up (albeit late in the day and nearly Friday) with Kate from katesaysstuff for Thankful Thursday.

I was thinking about this post when I was driving down from Inala back to the office today and I had a whole heap of things in my head but after the evening that I have had, I have had to change the original post about what I am thankful for - not because I am not thankful for the other stuff from earlier today, but because I am more thankful for my wonderful daughter.

I had asked her this morning if she wanted to go late night shopping tonight and she said yes even though she doesn't have any money to spend.  Winter means fewer shifts for her as a life guard at Wet n Wild so her $300 this fortnight doesn't go very far when she has to pay $110 board / phone / Suns membership / computer every week - leaving her $80 for the fortnight to put petrol in her car and not much else !!

Anyway, we went down to Robina as I wanted to go to the Lululemon shop - I was given a pair of socks on the weekend and used them during the week - they were lovely !  I wanted to look at a long sleeve top to run in as the evenings are getting a little chilly to run in a racer back top.  I found a lovely l/s top but at $89 wasn't sure that I could justify the cost.  (No doubt if A was with me we would have bought it !!!) 

After that we went and had some dinner and I said to K that I wanted to maybe look at some dresses with tights and ballet flats.  She was so excited at the prospect of me buying some new clothes that weren't jeans / T-shirts / jumpers !!!  So off we went.  She picked out all sorts of items for me - some looked really good - some looked awful (or maybe they didn't look awful, I just felt they did).  I am not sure who had more fun - her or me !  Occasionally I would say something or pick something out to try on and she would just roll her eyes and laugh and I would put it back.

I tried on a dress at Forever New in a size 16 - too big.  She brought me a size 10 - I asked her if she was off her head - no ways was I fitting into that - she gave it to me and said try it on - it fitted !! I couldn't believe my eyes.  I asked her if there was a size 12 as I just felt that even though it fitted me I would have had to stand in it all day as I didn't think I would be able to sit down without showing my knickers to all and sundry !!!  They didn't have a size 12 but their store at Pacific Fair had a few size 12s !!!  We had looked at some ballet flats which were comfy but I wasn't about to buy shoes without having something to wear them with !!!

She is wearing these leggings and in I can't remember how many stores we went into, the assistants commented on them and how awesome they were and asked where she had got them from (Black Milk in case you are wondering !!).  We were walking back to the car when this guy came out from nowhere and said "I'm not crazy - I work for Michael Hill Jewellers (and showed her this pamphlet for their sale).  I just LOVE those leggings where did you get them from" - poor bugger she looked like a deer caught in the headlights she got such a fright.  Anyway she told him and while they were talking another lady from MHJ came up and asked her about them.  Certainly - they have given us a lot of enjoyment tonight !!!

Anyway, we got to Pacific Fair and I tried on the dress in a size 12 - it really did look lovely - think I need to seriously consider buying it !!!  From there we went to Runaway Bay as I had to check on something at LeGassick and we went to a store SES and I did land up getting this cutest little red and black dress and then we stopped in at Coles and I got some black tights.  K was all excited (probably more so than me) saying "So, you going to wear it to work tomorrow" and I just looked at her and smiled - said "No, I can't because I don't have any shoes PLUS there is only me and the MD in tomorrow - so not worth while wearing anything other than my jeans" - "Yeah, you're probably right."

I am thankful for my 20yo daughter who still enjoys going shopping with her Mom.

I am thankful that she feels that she can offer me fashion advice.

I am thankful that I can still tell her that while it may be fashionable, there are some items which just don't suit me or are not suitable for a 46yo Mom to be wearing !!!

I an thankful that I get to spend this time with her because I know that it won't be like this forever - at some point it will stop. (Mind you, A is the shop-a-holic in our family and he often says "Let's go shopping" when I would really prefer to stay at home and relax !!!).

I am thankful that we can share these times together - laugh together - have fun together - and, in general, just have a great time hanging out together.

I am thankful that one of the most precious gifts that I have, continues to provide me with hours of enjoyment ! 

Thank you K - you have grown into an amazing young lady - I am proud to have you as my daughter.

TFTD : Why struggle to convince someone of something they're not ready to hear ?

Happy Birthday K and Some Cr*ppy News

HAPPY BIRTHDAY K

Twenty years ago at 8.45pm tonight K was born and our lives changed forever.  There had been ups and downs (just like in any family) but one thing I know, I wouldn't change this experience for anything.  I am not your  normal Mom (if there is anything like that) but I have done the best that I can with my limited maternal instincts AND I don't think that between A and I, we have done a bad job.  She is a good kid (can I still call her a kid if she is now 20 ???) who takes up so much of my heart I wonder how I can fit the love for her and A in the same place ?

Anyway, today is the day we no longer have a teenager in the house - how did that happen ?  How did I get to be so old that I no longer have a teenager for a daughter ?  However it happened - that is now my reality and that is OK.

A blog about our weekend in Yamba will follow once I can get my head around some things and get our photos sorted out - promise !

Onto the cr*ppy news - A (along with everyone in the division where he works) was called into a meeting on Thursday morning to be told that the group has been bought out and the new owners don't want to keep the telco division going - never mind that they have so much work they could keep working for another 2 years without even going out and looking for work - so, as soon as the projects they are working on are finished, he is out of a job - AGAIN !!!  This is now the fourth time since we arrived here just over 12 years ago that he has been out of work because there has been a closing down / reshuffle / change of plan on what the company wants to do and to be honest, I am a little tired of it !!!! Having said that, this time we are probably in the best position financially for this to happen so, once I got over the initial shock, I am more accepting of it.  I don't like it but I do accept that it has happened.

The upside is that he is a great techie and has made a name for himself in the industry so, we are hoping that he may be able to get another job before this one has finished.  He made a call to a guy he used to work with who now works at Ericsson to see if they had anything and this guy said that he hoped A didn't mind but he had already put his name forward to his boss.  Apparently they had heard the news and the boss had gone and asked if there was anyone who worked there who they should look at getting and A's name was at the top of the list.  So I am taking heart from that fact - I have put it out to the universe and the universe will provide when the time is right.

My exercise has been going well.  I had a great run last night - I just hope that I can reproduce that run tomorrow morning at the Mothers Day Classic - and if I don't, well that is OK too - I will go out and do my best and I can't ask for more than that.  On the weight front, I have been successful at maintaining my weight which is great but I think I need to measure myself again because people are still commenting asking how much more weight I have lost and I haven't lost anymore so maybe the measurements will be down from what they were the last time I took them.

Tonight we are off to Alto for K's birthday dinner - we have asked a her best friend to join us and my folks for dinner tonight as a surprise for K - I hope she is pleased !!!!!

Have a great weekend and take care.

TFTD : The head alone is a tyrant.  The heart alone is chaotic.  The marriage of the two is mastery. - Mary Guide, with Carla Gordan

Thankful Thursday

Today I am linking up with katesaysstuff  and Cami for TT.

I am thankful for being savvy enough to put money aside when we were working as contractors so that when our tax returns were done we had the money to pay the taxman.

I am thankful that once the returns were done I had put away nearly double the amount of money that I need to pay the taxman which means that we are well on our way to being able to pay for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration holiday in Canada.

I am thankful that this weekend is a long weekend and because we have this bit of extra money we can go away for the weekend and leave K at home to look after the dogs because she is working and so can't come with us.

I am thankful that she still likes to spend time with us even though she is turning 20 next week - and has gone to keep A company today on his drive out to Warwick and wherever else he is going.  They took over night bags in case they don't get back tonight - I hope they do get back - I don't think I want to spend the whole night by myself !!

Have the best day ever and if you are in Queensland, have a great long weekend !

TFTD : One person can make a difference and every person should try.

Things I Know

Even though Kellie isn't able to host TIL today, I thought I would post things I know anyway (Mainly because I am battling to think of anything else to post about !!!!!)

• That I had a nice loss on the scales this week (1.2kgs) which proves to me (once again) that when I am careful about what I eat and when I do the exercise that I set out to do, the losses will come.
• That I am stronger than I thought - I have had two incidents in the past couple of days that have wound me up like you won't believe and on both occasions I have managed to find other ways to take my mind off what was going on without turning to food to ease the pain.
• That I really miss A when he is away and I can't wait for him to be home again.
• That I really really really want to get back into running but if I don't do the rehab work on my knee I won't be able to run - ever - and that would make me really sad.
• That I hate working in a noisy office.  We are busy with building additional floor space on a mezzanine level and the workmen are driving me nuts with the banging and drilling and nail gunning and sawing - for Pete's sake - a little bit of peace and quiet !!!!!!!!
• That K is making a name for herself as a reliable baby sitter and is increasing the family base that she regularly baby sits for.  This makes me happy because on other levels she drives me to drink but I take heart from the fact that she is a lovely girl who parents are happy to leave their children with knowing that she is taking care of them.
• That I am looking forward to redeeming a Christmas gift voucher for a facial tomorrow afternoon - bliss !!!!

I hope that you all have the best weekend ever - take care and go safely !

TFTD : One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive.  No matter who you are or what your position, you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve - George Allen