I Did It !!

I did it !  I ran the 15km race yesterday morning - in 2:10.  I think I would have finished closer to 2hrs if my right foot had played along - but it didn't - it mis-behaved - so I am going back to the podiatrist on Wednesday after work to see if he can sort it out.

I was up at 4am and ready to leave by 4.30.  A said he would come with me despite me telling him to rather wait at home instead of hanging around for too many hours waiting for me to finish.  But, being my biggest supporter, he was not about to stay at home.  So he came with.  And followed me along the route there and back - not in a creepy way - just driving ahead and waiting on the side of the road to check I was OK and encourage me along.  At one point he had a bottle of water for me which was great because although the water tables were supposed to be every 2.5km - they weren't actually that well spaced.  The next time I saw him I gave him the bottle back because it was awkward running while holding a bottle and it had got me through a dry patch so that was great. 

I caught up with Kate and Rachel from Operation Move.  Zoey had left by the time I got to the start - she ran the 50km in an amazing 5:50.  Kate ran the 15km in 1:29 and Rachel finished about 2mins ahead of me.  It was lovely to meet these amazing ladies in person.

I figure that if I can run 15km, I can run a half marathon so, I am now looking at entering some more races - an 11km race in January from Riverstage called the Resolution Run, the Convicts and Wenches half marathon at the end of January and then a half marathon at the Twilight Festival around UQ in March - but this all depends on what my coach says she thinks is reasonable for me to achieve.  I was telling a friend about the races I want to enter and she has said she would like to run with me so that is great - the parts of the race that I ran with Rachel on Sunday were really good.

Some other great news is I booked our tickets to go and visit K next year.  When we facetimed her to tell her, I thought her face was going to split in half her smile was so big !!! Then the tears came in her eyes and I asked if she was sad about us coming over - she laughed and said "No Mom, they are tears of joy." (I think she is pleased she is going to see us and not have to wait until she gets home again !!!)

I don't think I will be posting again before the new year. I am so looking forward to the break over Christmas - a break from the day to day grind of going to work - a chance to sleep in - run when I want - potter around the house - work in the garden - spend time with A and my folks.  Dad has been diagnosed with cancer for the third time - so far he has managed to fight it successfully twice.  Tomorrow he is going for another PET scan and then has an appointment with the surgeon so hopefully we will have some more answers by the end of the day.

For those with great plans for Christmas - I hope that they come off for you and that you have a wonderful time.  For anyone like us, with no children at home, and no plans for Christmas - enjoy your day whatever you may land up doing - I know that we are looking forward to a really quiet day at home.

And, because it is Tuesday, it's time to join in with Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT.

What are your plans for Christmas ?

Do you like having big plans ?

Would you rather have a quiet day at home ?

 

 TFTD : Accept this moment, without judgement or needless worry.  Remind yourself that all is well, and that you can handle whatever comes along.

 

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.

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.

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.

My Dad Ran 160km in 18.5hrs

This weekend saw the Kokoda Challenge take place on our door step - well just about our door step.  A saw lots of participants when he went to Masters to get what he needed to finish the railing for the party on Saturday night.

While he was gone I was thinking about exercise and what I am currently doing (nothing now that I haven't been to PT for 2 weeks because of my back) and what I have signed up to do (Learn To Run with Operation Move) and what my Dad has done w.r.t. running in his life.

He has run 10 Comrades Marathons - this is not a 42.2km marathon - this is a 90km marathon that is run every year between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.  The run from Dbn -Pmb is an up run and the run from Pmb-Dbn is a down run based on the height above sea level that the two towns are.  Of the 10 races that he ran, I think it was 3 occasions he broke 7.5hrs and so won a silver medal.  The first 5 finishers get gold medals, anyone who finishes in under 7.5hrs get silver and anyone who finishes within the alloted 11hrs gets bronze.  Not only did he run this race which is not only an endurance race that puts considerable strain on your body but managed to stay mentally sane through all the races, but he also ran the 100 Miler.  Yes, 100 miles (160km) in about 18.5hrs.   This is a completely different race because it was run around an athletics track - so, for 18.5hrs, he basically ran in circles.  If nothing else, how he managed to stay on track mentally, I have no idea and I asked him about it after dinner last night but he didn't say too much.  He said that his brother was marking off the laps and would let him know when he had reached miles stones but clearly you have to be bloody strong mentally and extremely fit to be able to run for that length of time.

Now, I am not about to go out there and try to run the Comrades, nor am I going to attempt the 100 miler, but I am going to get out there and get working on my exercise so that eventually I can be running the 10km races that I ran a few years ago.  I am going to get myself healthy and fit for when I turn the Big 50 next year.   I don't want to be over-weight and unfit heading off to my 60's !!!!

Together with cutting out sugar and increasing my exercise, you would have to think that I will achieve my goal - time will tell !!!!

Linking in with Jess from Essentially Jess because it's been to long since #IBOT !!!!!

Have the best week !

TFTD : It's much easier to love yourself when you're being yourself.

A New Beginning ?

There are always excuses aren't there ?  Why I can't eat healthy food.  Why I can't exercise.  Why I can't stop myself for stuffing my face.  Why I can't, why I can't, why I can't.

Tonight I've decided that I can.

I can make the right choices for me.

I can eat healthy food and I can stop eating junk.

I can love myself.

I can think of myself as a success and not a failure.

I can take it one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one meal at a time, one grocery shop at a time.

I can get back to looking like I did in these photos.

December 2005 when we went

to visit A in Taiwan

 

April 2009 when we were on

our way to Yamba - I was training

for the GC 10km race in June 09

 

(OK maybe not the top photo - A thinks I am too thin in that photo.  So much so when I got off the plane and he saw me, as soon as he could talk to me without K hearing he asked my why I hadn't told him I was sick !!!  I told him because I hadn't been sick, I'd been trying to lose weight !!!  Plus that was 8.5yrs ago and I should be realistic about what weight I can get to.)

 

I can do anything I want - I just need to have a plan and a plan of attack.

 

I can exercise and get fit and run another 10km race.  And then I can keep on running and run a half marathon and then a full marathon.

 

I can stop complaining about how my knee hurts and then I can find a doctor who will be able to help me - but first I can lose some weight because I am sure that my weight has a heap to do with my knee pain.

 

I can, I can, I can - it's up to me to do it because I know that, no matter how much support I get, it is only me who can do it.

 

So for today, I can love myself and be the best that I can be until tomorrow, and then I can love myself tomorrow and be the best I can be tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that - if I just take it one minute at a time.

 

Have the best day that you can !

 

 

Joining in with Jess from

Essentially Jess for

#IBOT

Have you joined in yet ?

 

TFTD :  No matter how badly you may be broken, you can always build yourself back up.  It takes time.  Don't let your struggle become your identity.



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.

I Know, It's A Process

And I have to be patient but honestly, I. Have. Had. Enough.

Four weeks into having a house on the market and I am totally over it.  Four weeks ago I was the positive one, the one who believed that there were heaps of people out there who would just love to live in our home.

Four weeks ago, I believed that having 60 days to sell our house would be more than enough time.

Four weeks ago, I believed that by the end of February we would be in our new home, planning where we were going to build for my folks.

Four weeks ago, I was naive enough to believe all of the above.

Four weeks on I have come to the realisation that I am no longer that positive.

Four weeks on I have come to the realisation that I don't know if there is anyone who wants to live in our home.

Four weeks on I have come to the realisation that people don't read adverts properly.  Nowhere on the advert is 'Living on water' mentioned or even implied and yet people turn up each week to our open house and leave, disappointed, because it isn't on water.  I guess they thought it was a real bargain at that price on water !!!

Four weeks on I have realised that I am not as patient as I thought I could be.

Four weeks on I just want to pull the pin on the whole thing and get back to living my life like normal instead of living around open houses and wondering about what is going to happen and when we are likely to move.

Four weeks on I don't want my lack of positivity to hinder the process but I am battling to 'keep my chin up' and remember that 'what will be will be' and that 'everything happens for a reason' - right now it all sucks big time and I am feeling miserable.

I know it's a process that has to run it's course but I feel like a petulant toddler who wants to throw a tantrum by lying on the floor and screaming the roof down.

But, because it's Tuesday and it's been forever since I have joined in with the lovely Jess from EssentiallyJess for #IBOT.

Do you have any experience in

selling your home ?

Was it a good or bad experience for you ?

Please let me know I'm not the only one

who gets impatient with things like this.

TFTD : Yesterday is gone.  Tomorrow has not yet come.  We have only today. Let us begin.

De-cluttering, Renovating and Moving

I'd like to say that I don't know where the time has gone since I last posted - but I do know - it's been taken up with looking at homes and going back to homes to measure and see what will fit where and painting (oh the blisters from painting for 3 days) and weeding and more weeding and getting the front garden ready and the front front garden ready and the back garden and the house.

Thank goodness I was able to take 3 days leave last week to get some of the above done but it seems that every time I turn around, there is something else that we 'have' to do before we put our home on the market.

The de-cluttering has been good - and so cathartic.  It is also very stressful because I am married to someone who likes to hold onto things.  I'm not sure if you would call him a true hoarder but he doesn't like to get rid of things - even if there is only a very teeny tiny possibility that we may use it, he likes to keep it - just in case !!!!!!  It does drive me insane but I am sure that there are things that I do that drive him insane - so we sort of cancel each other out like that.

I am enjoying going through our stuff and finding little treasures that I had forgotten about - a letter I wrote to my Upstairs Gran when I was 4 yrs 8 mths old, photos of family members no longer with us, writing paper/notelets I never even knew I had, 50c stamps that I will need to buy 10c stamps to go with on a letter and so it goes on.

The bookshelf, which is floor to ceiling and 1500mm wide - is full to overflowing with books - some of which we will never read again so Lifeline will get those as well.  I know that there is someone out there who will read them.  The ones we don't give to Lifeline, will get packed away so that we only have shelves that have books one row deep instead of two rows deep !!!

Ideally I would love to live in a minimalistic home, but I understand that living with someone who likes 'stuff', it probably isn't going to happen.  All I can do is hope that what we keep is worthy of the space that it takes up.  And really, do we really have to have more than two sets of anything - be it towels, linen, table cloths, place mats, coffee machines etc etc.  I am sure you get the picture.  It seems that Lifeline is going to be getting a lot of 'drop offs' over the next couple of weeks - I know that there are people who will actually make a lot more use of these things than we do, having it sitting in our sideboard, linen cupboard, bedroom cupboard or kitchen.

We have taken a storage shed that we are moving 'stuff' into this weekend which means that this week is the week that I pack up as much as I can and send it off to storage.  I know I can take it into storage at any time but I would rather do it all now and then they will cart it there for me instead of us having to do it later.

I don't know how much I am going to be around over the next couple of weeks - last week we worked pretty much until we collapsed into a bath and then into bed.  There is nothing quite as exciting as weeding by torch light - but it was so much cooler than what we had put up with from 8-11 in the morning !

Joining in with Jess for #IBOT because it's Tuesday and I like to join in with such a fun linky !

Have the best week !!

TFTD : Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.

One Republic at The Tivoli

Last night saw A and I drive up to The Tivoli to see One Republic.  They are one of my favourite bands.  A few months ago I had a look on their website but didn't see anything about a tour to Australia.  Last week I heard they were in Perth so had a look and found that they were in Brisbane after that.

K didn't want to go with me (although she did say if I couldn't find anyone at all she would go - sweet child that she is) and I don't know that A was too keen but on Friday when I checked to see what tickets were available, it said that there were't many left so I called A and sweet talked him into coming with me so I didn't have to go by myself !!!!!  Once he had said he would come with me, I couldn't get onto the ticket website and I was starting to panic just a tad, obviously someone else was trying to buy tickets and they were held for 10 minutes for them.  To say that I was excited when I finally managed to get them is an understatement - I may have even done a very happy dance around the office seeing as I was in there alone !!!!

The trouble with buying tickets so close to the event is you don't have the anticipation of counting down until the show. But, hey, that's OK.  I can live with that even though it was only 3 sleeps away !!!

We left home earlier than we needed to (well earlier than we thought we needed to) because we were going to look at a house on our way up before heading off.  The house we went to look at wasn't suitable BUT we did see another one that has huge potential and looks like it is the right price as well !!!  Anyway, we called Don Angelo's to pick up dinner only to find that they were closed for a private funcion :(

We got up to The Tivoli at about 7.15 (having never been there before we weren't sure about parking although they did say there was plenty of parking in the surrounding streets) - well apparently not if you get there at that time when the doors opened at 6.30 !!!  We drove around for about 20 mins before eventually parking in a garage (for a cost of $13 which is heaps cheaper than I thought it was going to be - I had figured if we had to pay for parking it would cost us about the same as a ticket given what we paid when we parked to go to the police information evening with K last year !!!) and walked in the rain back to The Tivoli.  The good thing was that by the time we got there, we could walk straight in without having to queue.

The support act was playing and we managed to find standing space near the back - luckily near the door so we did get the occasional cool breeze coming through.  They had said that OR would start at approx 8.30 - I think it was closer to 8.50 by the time they started but I didn't mind the wait. 

Once they started the time just flew by.  They sung a mix of old and new songs although mainly songs off their new album, Native.  And they were fantastic.  I don't do standing very well and had said to A at the beginning of the evening that I would have seriously have not even considered going had I known that it was standing only, but I am so glad that we went - it was worth every cent of the ticket.  He then pointed out that it said Standing on the ticket which I would have seen had I bothered to actually read the ticket instead of getting so excited and doing a dance because I got the tickets in the first place !!!!!

There was a really wide range of ages in the audience with some of the blue rinse brigade in attendance as well as kids who looked like they weren't even 18 although you had to be 18 to go to the show.

Anyway, even with my dodgy back and dodgy knees, I thoroughly enjoyed the show (and A did as well just in case you were wondering)  - so much so he asked me to put their new CD on when we were driving home !!!!

If you are One Republic fans, I would definitely recommend seeing them if they are at a venue near you.

Joining in with Jess from Essentially Jess because #IBOT.

Have you been to any concerts lately ?

Are there any bands you would

recommend seeing on stage ?

 

Have the best day !

 

TFTD : Don't just look, observe. Don't just breathe, smell. Don't just sleep, dream. Don't just think, feel. Don't just exist, live.

I Must Confess : I Am Fussy

Today I am linking in with Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT and Kirsty from My Home Truths for I Must Confess because, when you have a bit of writers block - it helps that I can use one posts for two linkies !!!

As you may, or may not know, I am a remedial massage therapist in my spare time.  And I have a standard that I have set for my clients in terms of the treatments that I give.  I have to assume that I do a good job otherwise I wouldn't have the repeat appointments that I do have.  My aim for a client when they leave my therapy room is that they have had a great experience and would like to repeat said experience when they can get back to me.

The problem comes when I am getting a massage - I have high standards for the therapist that is giving me a massage.  And, sadly, I haven't been able to find someone who is able to meet those standards.

For me, these are HUGE no-nos :

- having a fan blow directly onto a client (and having two fans blowing onto me is likely to make me twice as cranky

- taking your hands off me once you have started the treatment - unless it is to hold the towel up so that I can turn over, is a big no-no

- I know that I am not small by any stretch of the imagination, but giving me a towel that is only slightly bigger than a hand towel is not going to do it for me.  Lying on my back and having it barely cover my 'bits', never mind about keeping the areas you have just massaged warm is not going to let me enjoy the experience

 - having loud 'doof doof' music is not going to see me coming back to your practice

- rubbing my skin is not going to see me coming back to your practice

- rubbing my skin so vigorously that my teeth chatter is just plain annoying

- if I ask for you not to do tapotement on me, I mean for you not to do tapotement on me

Do you have anything you could add to the list ?

Do you live on the Gold Coast ?

Can you recomment a good massage therapist ?



Have the best Tuesday and take care !

TFTD : You can have all the knowledge in the world, but it means nothing without building up the confidence to do something with it.

Thought For The Day

If you have read my blog before you will know that I generally end it with a Thought For The Day (TFTD).  What you may not know is that I also send out a daily TFTD (sometimes if I can't make up my mind which one is more applicable I may even send out two - daring like that, I know, I can hardly contain myself !!!! LOL).  All you need to do is send me your e-mail address and I will include you in the mail that goes out - mostly Monday - Friday but sometimes I do skip a day depending on how busy I am at work.  I send it as a BCC so nobody else will see your e-mail address.

It's been amazing how many times I have picked a TFTD, sent it out and then had someone come back to me saying "That is just what I needed to hear today."  I can't make up my mind if I pick such generic thoughts that they are applicable to just about anyone who reads them or if some of us are more in tune with each other and so what is applicable to me is applicable to them ?  I think I am going to go with the fact that the thoughts I choose are ones that talk to me and I hope they will talk to everyone who reads them.

In case you were wondering, #IBOT so why not join in with Jess at Essentially Jess if #YBOT !

Have the best day !

TFTD : Be weird. Be Random. Be Yourself. There are people you don’t even know who will love the person you’re trying to hide.

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.

Alone But Not Lonely

Thursday saw A leave for Townsville.

Friday saw K leave for NZ.

So, Friday night I was well and truly alone.

And it was good !  I stopped at the DVD shop and got two DVD's - Identity Thief and GI Joe Retaliation.  I love Melissa McCarthy because she is so funny - I wouldn't say to anyone that they have to see it but it was good for a few laughs.  GI Joe had Channing Tatum (who died relatively early in the movie so that was no fun at all), Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson - all in all, nothing spectacular but a good way to waste some time.  I also caught up on some shows I had recorded so there is now enough space to record programs again without having to delete any shows we want to keep.

I am also reading a book by Terry Francona (the last manager of the Red Sox baseball side) - man what an interesting book it is.  It's a 2am interesting book - I am battling to put it down.

My SIL and BIL gave me a candle for my birthday that I haven't burned until Thursday night - wow, what a beautiful candle it is.  So on Sunday I went and bought two more - Cinnamon Twist (which I will have to get again closer to Christmas as I'm sure this one won't last that long !!!) and Vanilla.  They have the most amazing perfume and I am loving burning candles without anyone saying "Yuck - I don't like that." or "Why are you burning candles if you haven't got any clients coming over tonight." !!!!

I also bought a new pair of togs.  The ones that I have are just a tad too small and, given my eating over the weekend, will continue to be a tad too small for longer than I would like.  I started the weekend off really well with my breakfast and lunch on Saturday but after that it kind of all went downhill which was a little sad given I have tried so hard with my food.  But, the weekend is gone and today is nearly gone (it wasn't a great food day either) and tomorrow is a new day.

On Saturday I left the house at about 9.15 and didn't get home until close to 5pm so Sunday was a (mostly) stay at home day.  Apart from a quick trip to get the candles and the togs.  On Saturday night I got another 3 DVD's (the blanket I am making is growing at a rate of knots because of all the TV I have been watching which is fantastic !!!!) - one was Parker (Jason Statham), another was Broken City (Mark Whahlberg) and for the life of me I cannot remember what the third one was - clearly it didn't make that much of an impression on me !!!!

The weather was gorgeous on Sunday and so I did spend some time outside reading my book - it was just lovely not having to be anywhere at a particular time and really just enjoy the time to myself.  I do miss both A & K, but am enjoying it.  The past weekend I have spent time with friends and I have spent alone and it's been just the right mix of both.

Yesterday I had to go up to Inala for work - and have to go up again today and tomorrow.  I also have two clients this week - one tonight and one tomorrow night so I am hoping that I can be organised enough to get to gym as well.  Last night I did a pump class - and I really enjoyed it.  I certainly felt like I got a good workout which is great because it is doing what I need in terms of increasing my metabolism which hopefully will help to counter-act some of the cr*p that I have eaten this weekend.

I know that some of you have had a hectic weekend and I hope that you are able to find some time this week to gather your thoughts and slow down just a little !!!  You can always hope can't you ?

Seeing as it's Tuesday today and #IBOT, it's time to join in with Jess from Essentially Jess.

If you haven't joined in, why not pop over and add your link and then share some blog loving with others who have linked in.

Have the best day  !

TFTD : No matter how much it hurts now, someday you will look back and realise your struggles changed your life for the better.

Gym 2 - Couch 0

Up until a few months ago, K and I were going to PT sessions twice a week.  Then something happened (I can't remember what) and we stopped.  And I noticed it but then the PT guy went and got a job working at the mines somewhere and so is only home one week every three weeks.  So that effectively put an end to our training, mainly because I wasn't up to trying to find someone else to train us.

The last time I was at the dietician, she mentioned that while my weight loss is going well for the moment, there is going to come a point when I plateau (as we all know) and that will be when I need to change my exercise routine around.  Now, while I am happy to go for a walk or get on my bike by myself, I'm not very good at doing circuits or anything like that.

K's friend won a package with a gym in Southport and they have a $55 3 week special which we were going to join - well K did join but it was the two weeks before A's birthday and I really didn't have the time to be fluffing around with PT sessions and going to a gym that is effectively 20min drive from home.

Then a few weeks ago, my SIL told me about a special at the gym which is only one road away from me - sign up during September, and they wave the $130 joining fee.  And, if two of you join up, the second person gets it at a reduced rate - bonus !!!!  You also get 7 days free trial.

Well last night I started my 7 day free trial.  This morning I know that I have done something different to just going for a walk.  But it's a good different.  It's that ache in my muscles that tells me I have worked them in ways they haven't been worked for a while.  It's a great feeling.

Last night I did a Body Conditioning class which was pretty much core work (although my feet and legs were a tad wobbly by the time I was finished that !).  As K couldn't get there for that class (started 5.30) and only the 6.30 class, I stayed and did the Body Pump class with her.  Well I definitely had a case of Elvis legs by the time I finished that.  I don't know if I could say I actually enjoyed either of the classes but that may just be because they are both done to music, I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't hear what the instructor was saying and my head was turned a lot of the time while I tried to watch what they were doing and copy them !!!  Having said that, it did feel good.

Tonight I am off to the Body Tone class which I figure can't be too hard and then tomorrow I will tackle the spin class.  There is a spin class tonight after the BT class but I don't think I will be able to handle a spin class tonight and tomorrow night so I will just leave it until tomorrow.  K and I are going to sign up before she leaves for NZ so that we can get the special plus it will give me something to do in the evenings while I am on my own because they are both leaving me on Friday :(

Because it's Tuesday, it's time to join in with Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT.

Have the best day !

 

Are you exercising as much as you could ?

Have you got a plan in place

in order to fit into your

togs when summer gets here ?

Do you need to start now ?

 





TFTD : You can’t keep running away from your fears. At some point in life you will have to build up the courage to face and overcome them.

Confusion Reigns

This weekend was a weekend full of learning and loud, over whelming experiences - but, I survived, not because of anything I did but in spite of all that I did !!!!!

ProBlogger was an amazing event where I learned lots.  And probably could have learned lots more had I not been quite so over whelmed by the amount of information that was pumped out in two days.

There were times I just went and hid in a corner because the noise was deafening and the feeling of not knowing many people was just too over whelming for me.  I knew that I didn't do social situations very well (and have since realised that this is something that has slowly deteriorated over time because I never used to be this bad) but I never realised just exactly how inept I was at dealing with meeting new people - or even talking to people that I have met once or twice !  I felt more comfortable sitting, playing on my phone in the corner charging my iPad that I never used !!

The speakers were amazing.  They had so much information and they were all happy to answer any questions that were thrown at them.  A wide range of topics were covered and sometimes it was really difficult to know which of the three streams to pick because I always felt like I was missing out on something by not going to others !!! Thankfully the virtual ticket allows me to watch the sessions I couldn't get to although (a) I still have to find out exactly how to watch them and (b) find the time to watch them.

The other information I received was from JF Gibson who is offering a Social Media Audit Spring Special for $49.95.  I received 3.5 pages of informative feedback on my blog and the social media platforms that I am using.  I have these printed out and will work my way through her suggestions as I can.  They all make total sense and she has given me some direction which I was badly in need of.  If you are wanting more information on this, I really recommend getting in touch with Jodi and taking her up on the spring special.  (Please note - this is not sponsored.  I didn't receive a discount for posting this. I wanted to share it because it is really informative and I can see the benefit to me of following her suggestions.)

So, with this information overload, I'm guessing it will be a while between posts as I try to digest it all and get my blog going in the right direction for both myself and my readers.

It's Tuesday which means it's time to join in with Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT.  Why not join in if you haven't joined already ?

Have a fantastic week !

TFTD : I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past - Patrick Henry

A Long Overdue Post

It's been a while since I have posted about my health / weight issues - mainly because I have been tracking along quite well although not at any great rate of knots.

Yesterday afternoon I had appointments with my dietician and my hormone doctor.  I drove away from there feeling so happy - it was such a good feeling.  To finally feel like everything is falling into place and settling down into some sort of normalcy (well as normal as anyone's body can be !!)

Firstly, my visit to the dietician - total loss to date 7.6kgs (loss over holiday 0.2kg).  My body fat % has reduced by 7.8% (I have another 7% body fat to lose to get into a healthy range.)  My body fat has reduced by 8.3kg.  My lean body mass has increased by 5.3kg.  And my hydration levels have improved.  She is very happy with my fat loss and lean body mass increase - so if she is happy, I'm happy !

Then I went to my Maxine (real name Maura) and she looked at my blood results and, apart from my Vitamin D levels which have dropped despite taking my daily Vitamin D drops, there are no issues.  I can continue with what I am doing and only have to go back to see her in December.  So, she is happy with where I am, which means I am happy too !

My exercise is coming along nicely (except for yesterday because I had both these appointments after work and by the time I got home and had done dinner, I wasn't up to doing much at all !).  I have been walking just about every day.  I have been on the stationary bike as well as doing the crunches, reverse crunches and daily planks.  On the weekend, we took our road bikes out on Saturday and Sunday morning - it was so good to get out on the road.  The weather was just beautiful - and the time we spent on the bike was a great way to spend some of our weekend !!!!

So, for those who have been following my tumultuous journey through menopause / weight gain / drop off in exercise - I am hoping that this is the turning point.  I am feeling so positive and upbeat about where I am right here - right now - it's a great feeling and I just wish I could bottle it up so I could have a sip of it when I am feeling cr*p and things aren't so positive !!!

Because it is Tuesday, and #IBOT, it's time to link up with Jess from Essentially Jess.

 

Have you linked in today ?

 

Have the best day !

TFTD : Never forget where you've been. Never lose sight of where you're going. And never take for granted the people who travel the journey with you.

Tasmania

Before I talk about our holiday I just want to mention that I lost 4.6kg in two weeks since seeing the dietician !!! Clearly, along with the stupid medication I was taking, I was just eating too much of the 'good' food and not exercising enough.  Dare I say it really is energy in vs energy out that has made the difference.  But, as much as I was putting on 4-5kgs a week some weeks, losing it at the anticipated (dietician's anticipation not mine) 500g a week, seems like such a long, slow process to me.  I know I just have to do what I can and while we are away, that is all that I can do, because, as she has said, life is for living !  If I can stay the same while we are away, I will be happy.

Source

Well, it's getting closer and closer - A's return from Townsville AND our holiday in Tasmania !!!!  Only 3 sleeps until A is home and then another 3 sleeps until we leave.

We have booked some of our accommodation - first night in Launceston at Village Family Motor Inn which does sound a little dodgy but looks OK for one night.  They do have electric blankets which may or may not be a requirement depending on how my hot flushes are going !!!!  Then on Tuesday we drive through to Cradle Mountain and spend the night at Cradle Mountain Chateau which includes a spa bath and free breakfast (although I know there is no such thing as a free breakfast because it is actually included in the price of the room !!!) the next day.  I don't know if I want it to snow or not - I had all the right gear for snow in NZ but having put on so much weight, none of it fits so I am having to make do with what I have.  I guess at the end of the day, if I am cold, I will just have to buy something from somewhere local !!!

From there we drive through to Strahan where we are staying at Driftwood Strahan Villas  with a private patio (although it will probably be too cold to sit outside !!!) and a spa bath (clearly we were feeling very flush the night we made all these bookings !!!!) for 2 nights and going on the river cruise on the day in between.  Apparently the road from Strahan through to Hobart is very windy and very picturesque so we don't want to be driving it in the dark after having been on the cruise all day.

We get into Hobart on Friday, in time for the Salamanca markets on Saturday.  We are staying at St Ives Motel (which doesn't have a spa :( but does have free wi-fi and satellite channels) and have booked in for 4 nights at this stage.  There is so much to see and do in Hobart, or using Hobart as our base, that we haven't booked accommodation any further than this because we may land up staying another night or two.  Accommodation from here on with be on and as and when we find where we are and what is available.  Hopefully I will be able to deal with this as well as I did in NZ.  Being the queen of organisation when it comes to where I am going to sleep, I am not too keen on waking up in the morning not knowing where I am staying that night !!!

From there we are looking at driving up the east coast, probably as far as St Helens and then across to Launceston.  From there we want to take, what looks like a teeny tiny road that goes down the middle of Tasmania to Melton Mowbray, then join the 1 back up to Launceston, where, depending on how much time we have, we will spend a few days with that as our base before we leave to come home again.

And, because it's Tuesday, I'm linking in with the lovely Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT.

Have the best day !

If there is anyone from Tasmania or who has been to Tasmania

 and can recommend things to see or places to stay,

please would you leave a comment or mail me

 with anything that you think would be good to see.

 

TFTD : The biggest obstacle you'll ever have to overcome is your mind. If you can overcome that, you can overcome anything.

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.

Pink Concert

I wasn't even going to post this week because I thought that there was no way I would have enough time to get a post written before the end of Tuesday to link in for #IBOT with Essentially Jess - but it turns out I was wrong !!!

I know I have been quiet and I want to thank those people who have been popping over to see if I have had anything to say - I haven't - for two reasons - work has been absolutely manic and in the evenings I have been spending time with A while he is home.  We also seem to have had a whole bunch of people over at various times and it seemed like ages that I was in the kitchen the whole time !!

Celebrations for the Suns win over Collingwood are now over !

The birthday celebrations are now out the way !

A's training course and 'working day when he is supposed to be off' is out the way !

Tomorrow he is having some more cancers cut out of his nose that they didn't get the last time.  Unfortunately I can't be there as I had a bank audit booked in two months ago so luckily my folks can take him and then drop him back home again.

Now to the exciting news of Pink's concert last night - a belated birthday present.

It was fantastic !  She is such a performer - so athletic and agile.  It was just lovely watching her.  I said to A that I could see how much she had matured from her early days.  She has definitely taken to motherhood so well.

I wasn't as taken with her costumes at this concert as I was at the last one. I thought that she could have done more with her costumes this time and they looked a bit like things she had just pulled out of somewhere quickly on her way to the show.  Having said that, they certainly didn't detract from her show or how absolutely fantastic she is.

The camera on my phone did not do her justice in any shots and this was the clearest I could find to use.  She is singing in the little 'step out stage' with only the guitar.

 

I did think that she would have sung more songs from her Truth About Love album but that is neither here nor there.

I think that all her concerts are sold out but if you get a chance to pick up a ticket from someone who has a ticket but can't go for some reason, take it with both hands - it certainly is a great way to spend an evening !

 

The Kin, which were her support act, were also very good. They had amazing voices but I didn't particularly like they way they ended a few of their songs - that was a little strange. But on the whole, they certainly were good to listen to for most of their songs.

 

I'll be back next week once A has gone back to Townsville - take care !

 

TFTD : No matter how much negativity is thrown at YOU by others, there is absolutely no need for you to stay put and partake in the decay they choose for their own lives. YOU decide how your soul grows.