Showing posts with label A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday again and this week I truly am very thankful for A who puts up with me so patiently.  Honestly, I am sure that if I was him I would have given me my walking papers by now !!  In fact, I have suggested I leave but he keeps telling me to stay !!!

I don't know what I want. I know I am tired. I can't be a*sed to plan or cook meals.  It's all I can do to stay on top of our laundry although last night he got home from work and put a load of washing on and then took it out and hung it up so clearly I missed the boat on that one.

I am feeling very 'blah' at the moment and don't really know why.  Life is good - in fact life is bloody fantastic and yet everything seems such an effort to me.

Last Sunday I think he was up at about 6.30 - I think I woke up at about 8.00 - wandered through to the lounge and he was watching something on National Geographic - so I lay on the couch with my head on his lap.  At about 9.00 he got up to go to the loo - came back and I was sprawled across the couch so he went to potter around outside.  I walked outside at about 10.30 and said "I think I am awake now."  He just laughed at me and said "It doesn't really look like you are."

I know my sleeping patterns aren't the best - OK, who am I trying to kid, they are cr*p. But I don't really know what else to do.  People have said - exercise, you'll sleep better (In fact, I was one of them because that is what happened to me years and years and years ago, before K was born) - not so much now - even on the nights I go to gym - my sleeping is still not that flash.

I know I am going through menopause, but honestly, I thought it was all under conttrol.  Clearly some of it is because I don't have the depression or anxiety attacks that I was suffering from but I certainly don't feel like I am entering the best years of my life or anything like that.  In fact I feel like I am slowly just breaking down into a feeling of 'blahness' !

Is it just a mind set that I have to change ?  I have been checked out medically and there is nothing wrong with me from that point of view.  Is it just near the end of the year and everyone feels like it's all just a little bit too much ?  I don't know.  But, what I do know is that nearly 26yrs ago, I married a man who has stood by me through thick and thin (literally), who is as patient as the day is long and who gets that right now I just need to be, and not do (which can be frustrating, I know, when we have so much we want to do to the house before we put it on the market - I get that totally). 

I just wish I knew the right way to tackle this - do I throw myself into busyness over the weekend and then start off next week even more tired than I am now or do I just say, you know what, maybe the house has to wait.  Except then I feel selfish because it isn't only us wanting to sell our house and find another house to move into, it's my folks waiting to sort out their future.  I know that it isn't a big thing for them but, my Mom being my Mom, this appears to be stressful for her too - waiting to see where they are going to live.

I think that this weekend may be the weekend we decide what to do and take it from there.  I do know that with all the painting that needs to be done, I am going to have to take some time off work because painting only on the weekend or trying to paint at night in the dark, is not the best way to get the job done.  Maybe I need to get a quote to get the two loungerooms, diningroom and kitchen painted - that would help but, of course, it depends on the cost.

What I do know is that nearly 26yrs ago, I married a man who has stood by me through thick and thin (literally), who is as patient as the day is long and who gets that right now I just need to be, and not do (which can be frustrating, I know, when we have so much we want to do to the house before we put it on the market - I get that totally). For this man, I am totally thankful !

Linking in with Rhianna from
for Thankful Thursday.
Have you linked in yet ?

Have the best day that you can !

TFTD : Love yourself for what you are, instead of hating yourself for what you are not.

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Thankful Thursday

Today A left for Townsville ........ again.  I had got very used to having him around the house.  I am going to miss him heaps while he is gone.

Tomorrow K leaves for NZ.  I am going to miss her when she is gone.

Today I am thankful for :

- A's safe descent into Townsville - he said at one point he didn't think they were going to make it down it was so very bumpy.

- another night with K before she leaves

- some quiet time to myself while they are both gone even though I know I will miss them both

- my friends in my computer and phone who are always around if I need to 'talk' to someone.

As Francesca is on holiday, there is no Thankful Thursday link up but that doesn't stop me from posting my own TT post anyway !!!

Have the best day - only one sleep until Friday !

TFTD : If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.  And guess what they have planned for you ?  Not much - Jim Rohn

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday with Francesca from Francesca Writes Here and, although I am a little late in linking up, I still have so much to be thankful for.

This week I am thankful for :

- being able to take a day off yesterday to spend with A to celebrate him turning 50 !

- being married to someone who qualifies for a Seniors Card and any discounts that entitles us to !

- being able to have a party to celebrate his 50 years with family and friends on Saturday night.

- being able to buy in dinner for Saturday so that I don't have to stress at making dinner for 20 odd people.

I hope that you can find something to be thankful for today and if you can that you have linked in with the rest of us for Thankful Thursday !!!

Have the best week !

TFTD : Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it - George Halas

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

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.

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

#vvow

What can I say, where do I start the debrief of the latest #vvow ? 

Firstly I think I should apologise for getting locked out of our party !!!  I did know about there being a daily limit of tweets because it has happened before (in my defence, it wasn't me that it happened to the last time !!!).  What I didn't know what (a) how many tweets per day we were allowed and (b) that I would ever get anywhere near that magic number of 1,000.  Now if I am totally honest, I didn't think I got anywhere near 1,000 tweets for the day (or even the 24 hr period leaving up to #vvow) but you better believe that next time we have a #vvow evening, I am going to cut down my tweets from the prior night and during the day leading up to #vvow (unless, of course, I completely forget about the limit, and land up getting locked out again because I have over-tweeted trying to keep up with all the conversations on the go !!)

I don't know about anyone else but I had A GREAT TIME (until I got locked out and then I had a sucky time following those who were left !!!).  Unfortunately we had a few sick children around so not everyone could make it all night - hopefully next time the children will all play along nicely and stay healthy and go to sleep when they should.  (BTW I am not suggesting for a minute that the children chose to disrupt the evening - it just happens - I get that !!!)  I also hope that all the little kiddlies are well and happy little vegemites by now !!

There were a few different tipples on offer - my favourite was Amarula (of course), we had some vodka, some wine, sugar free creaming soda, breakfast martini (apparently not as good as previously made).  And then cups of tea made an appearance.

I have just scrolled through the #vvow and realised how I really hi-jacked the conversations going - next time we have one, please would someone tell me to be quiet !!!!!!  Sorry - didn't mean to hop into everything like that !  (Maybe I did actually use all 1,000 tweets up last night !!!!)

But the conversations flowed - from what we were all drinking to what we were doing the next day - explanations of what #vvow was and how it all started - to what we were watching on TV and sick children - seemed to be a fair amount of pooping and vomiting happening (and I was so pleased that none of it was happening in my home - I don't do either of those very well at all !!!).  The conversation moved onto the topic of onsies and pj's and exercising.  Discussions were had regarding tweeting on the phone vs tweeting on a computer.  Children were put to bed.  Teletubbies were watched on TV.  Candy Crush came up for discussion as did AFL and the Lions/Suns game  - especially the plight of the Suns given Gary Ablett's calf injury !!!  Holidays were discussed and moving house.  How to wake children up when school goes back vs how late they sleep during their holidays provided some more points for discussion.  There may have been a few other topics that were covered but I can't remember them and I can't find them in my scrolling through #vvow !!!!

At one point we were trending second behind #LoneRangerAU and then at another point we were in first place (but I didn't get a photo of it before we dropped back to second again !!!)  The next morning we were in fourth position (clearly there wasn't much happening around the world otherwise there is no way our little #vvow party would have trended that high !!!) and, while this was not the aim of the party, it was kind of cool !!!!!

(Just imagine that a copy of the photo I took to show us trending second behind #LoneRangerAU is posted here - and if you really want to see it you can go to Instagram on my account @kal20m.  I have, once again, been challenged on a technical issue and cannot, for the life of me, or anyone else, figure out how I can get the photo from Instagram to here.  I have tried copying it and mailing it and sharing it and it gives me heaps of different options to choose from, none of which are "Paste this photo to this blog." !!)  So, if you don't have an Instagram account or don't want to hop over and have a look at it, you'll just have to take my word for it !!!

Again, I want to apologise for how many tweets I actually put out there on Friday night - it was only while scrolling through #vvow that I saw how vocal I was the whole night !!!  I suppose the up side is that it means I am really comfy with all of you (like as comfy as Maxine says !!!), otherwise I would have sat quietly, at home, by myself and not said anything (oh wait, I was by myself some of the time !!!  Well, you know what I mean !)


Photo: Wanna be my friend?....with all this benefits..............Tal

 
I want to say a HUGE BIG THANK YOU to everyone who took part in #vvow and helped make it the success (that I think) it was !!! Thank you to @FrancescaBlogs who helped promote it but sadly, couldn't spend as much time chatting due to a sick MissyMoo.  I certainly had a great evening. 
 
It's funny because A called after I had been locked out of #vvow, and said that he had been lying in the bath thinking, this time last week, L (Me) had been up in Townsville and this time next week, he would be home.  Sadly it looks like he won't be able to make it to the Pink concert, so I may have a ticket up for grabs to her concert on Monday 22nd July in Brisbane.  We thought he would be able to make it as we had bought the tickets as part of my birthday present but I thought that the concert was the day before my birthday and not the day after - and, because we are going to Tassie on 12th August, he isn't able to ask to stay down a day longer :(   As cr*ppy as my trip to Townsville was the weekend before last, it certainly did help to break up the 4 weeks that he is normally away.  I won't be travelling up there for a while as he won't be pulling anymore 4 week stints away until we get back from Tassie - YAY !!!
 
It's Tuesday which means it's the day to join in with Essentially Jess for #IBOT.  Why not join in if you have a post on your blog today ?
 
Did you take part in #vvow ?
Did you enjoy it ?
Would you join in again if we had another #vvow evening ?

 
TFTD : It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.
 


Tuesday, 2 July 2013

You Can Change

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I went up to Townsville this weekend to see A - in the middle of his 4 week roster away from home.  Well about an hour after I left Brisbane, he received a phone call to say that he would have to do call testing the whole weekend.  After "Hullo Love, how are you ? Thank you so much for coming up to see me" -his next words were "I just got a phone call to say that I have to work the whole weekend."  I said that it was OK, so long as we could spend the time together (not really sure that it was OK but not wanting to rock the boat just after landing there !!!).  We went to his unit and then walked to the local hotel to have ribs for dinner - talking nineteen to the dozen and catching up on stuff that we never seemed to talk about on the phone.

At 5.45 (earlier than I get up during the week !!!) we were up and moving on our way to Ayr where A had to pick up an inverter and drop off something with another tech.  Then we were on our way to Bowen where he had 'on the job' training for about 90mins for the work he had to do over the weekend.  As I have said before - they couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery ! 

I couldn't believe the amount of roadkill on the road - I haven't seen anything like that in my travels around the country - in fact the last time I had seen that much roadkill was back in South Africa !!!

Then we drove back to Ayr to start the data testing !!!  Six and a half hours later we had not completed one test - it turns out that the transmitters he had been given to do the testing with, did not have the latest software loaded.  Of course they didn't !

We couldn't move as they had to be in the same place while the new software was loaded.  By the time we could move it was close to 8.30 and I was getting just a little bit cranky.  A was very apologetic even though I kept telling him that it wasn't his fault.  We got home just on 9.30 and it was all I could do to have a spa and get into bed.  We landed up having a ice-cream and a bottle of coke for dinner !



We were up at about 6.15 the next morning and set off for Ayr.  If I was frustrated on Saturday, Sunday pushed the bounds of my patience like they have never been pushed before.  I have always had a very high regard for A and his work ethic and a rather low regard for the company he works for.  Sunday saw my admiration of him rise even more while my thoughts regarding the company he works for, drop even lower.  To say that the one hand does not know what the other hand is doing is a total under statement.  We were sent from one project to the other only to get there, get everything set up and then be told to go back to the first project.  His powers of patience are to be commended because I told him that if I was him I would have told them to take their job and shove it long before now - how he has not done this I have no idea !



So, not only do they not know what they want him to do, they have sent him down to work on the project that he has no training in (bar the 90mins he had on Saturday morning) and then they complain because the testing is taking so long.  I would bet my bottom dollar that not one of them has ever done any field work so trying to find a spot within 100m of a pin on google earth (where there are no road names so if anyone can tell me how to get road names on google earth I would really appreciate it), then get another two figures within specific parameters all while driving a car - yes, it takes a while to find the exact spot they want.  And then when you find the spot, it isn't his fault if the test doesn't pass - he didn't lay the fibres or do the rigging work in the first place !!!! He is just there doing the testing.  Ringing a gazillion times to ask how it is going will not get you a quicker answer - in fact it only slows the process down.  Getting three other people to phone to ask how the testing is going, doesn't speed up the process either - all we could do was set the test to run and then wait for it to pass and when it didn't, set it to run again because apparently if the test fails, and you try it at least another 4 or 5 times, it may pass after that !

A wanted to leave Ayr by 4pm, I said 5pm - eventually we left at 5.20pm and managed to get me to the airport with about 5 mins to spare.  I did feel particularly 'boganess' when I climbed out the ute in my 3/4 jeans, T-shirt and thongs - carrying the cr*p that I had had in the front of the car with me that needed to go in my suitcase, opening said suitcase on the side of the pavement to pack everything in and then running across the road pulling my carry on bag, my bag over my shoulder and my boots in my hand !!!!  I got through security, dashed into the toilet for a pee and to put my longs and jeans on only to find I had left my jumper in the car ! Heading into Brisbane on a cold, wet and windy night was not my idea of fun !!  But, my folks were there to collect me and take me home (if only Dad had turned the aircon down just a little I probably wouldn't have frozen quite so much !!!)



After dropping me at the airport,  A went and got a change of clothes, drove the hour back to Ayr, and worked until 12.30am to get the site over the line before the end of the financial year (well technically it wasn't before but they were happy to accept it as before).  He then stayed the night with some of the riggers who had a place not to far from Ayr to save him from having to drive back to Townsville.  He was back on site at 7am only to get a phone call from the OH&S guy saying that he had broken all sorts of OH&S rules and he had to go home.  Honestly - there is no pleasing that company.  They are only allowed one techy to do call testing even though it is unsafe i.m.o. given how you have to drive around looking at the computer screen trying to see if you are in the right spot or not, the boss basically told him he had to go and do it and now they are saying he was practising unsafe OH&S procedures - go figure !! Again, I take my hat off to him and my admiration for his coolness grows and grows because, if it had of been me, I would have probably lost the plot with the OH&S guy and landed up getting fired !!

On our way back to Townsville on Sunday (after having tried to change my flight and not being able to because the next flight was Monday night at 6.55pm) we were talking about the weekend.  A apologised, again, and I told him, again, that it wasn't his fault.  He really did go out of his way to make sure that I was as comfortable and well taken care of as I could be in the circumstances.  I apologised for getting a little cranky on Saturday night and he laughed and said it was nothing - he had expected a lot worse from me.  He was thinking about the wife he left behind when he first went to Townsville, or the wife he used to have about 5-6 years ago - the one who wasn't very flexible about things, the one who liked to know exactly what was going to happen and when it was going to happen, the one that you didn't spring surprises on because she couldn't deal with things not being ordered, the one who lived and died by lists and doing what was on those lists.  What he has instead is a wife who is much more flexible, who realises that plans change and life is about going with the flow and not stressing when things don't turn out quite like planned, who accepts that sometimes we can't control what happens to us, we can only control how we react.

You can change who you are - you can change how you do things - you can change your perception of things because if I can do it, anyone can do it - you just have to want to do it.

How much do you like who you are and how much
would you like to change ?
And if there are things you would like to change,
why haven't you ?
 
Because it is Tuesday that means it is time to join in with Jess from Essentially Jess for #IBOT.  Have you joined in today ?

Have the best week E.V.E.R. !!
 
TFTD : Time decides who you meet in your life. Your heart decides who you want in your life. But your behavior decides who will stay in your life.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday which means it is the Thankful Thursday linky with Francesca at Francesca Writes Here - why not pop over and see who else is thankful for stuff or join in and let us all know what you are thankful for.

Recently I have been reading / hearing many stories (and I use this word rather wearily (is this even a word ?) because I don't believe they are stories (which in my mind is a fictional tale of something) - I believe these accounts (is that a better word ?) to be true) about the tragic lives that people have lived.  Stories of abuse of children. And adults.  Horrific stories about tragedy - tragedy of children who didn't have a childhood.  Abuse by people who should have known better.  And, it got me thinking.  It made me realise (a) what a great life I have had and (b) just how naive I can be because I, never in a million years, could have imagined what some people have lived through, never mind how I would have coped had I been in the same situation.

I grew up in a middle class family in a middle class neighbourhood.  I lived in one house from when I was born until I got married at the ripe old age of 22.  I then lived in that house for 12-13 years until we sold up and moved to Australia.  We rented for 6 months until we bought the house that we currently live in.  When we bought it in September 2000, I said to A that this was it - we had moved half way around the world into a rental and now we had a house and the next move I would make would be in a coffin to my cremation.  (Yes, we joke about death - often - even with my folks who are 76yo !).  (There is another post about the next step we are about to take with regards to our house.)

When we were kids, we didn't have a lot but we certainly didn't need anything.  My Mom worked at a uni 9.30-1.30 so was there when we left for school and was there when we got home from school.  We walked to our friends in the afternoon and played and then walked home at 5pm in time to bath and have dinner and go to bed.

My Dad worked reasonably long hours at his job and did a lot of long distance running and playing tennis but he was always there when we needed him.

I can count on less than one hand (is that a saying or am I just making it up ?) the number of times that my Dad raised my voice to my Mom.  He certainly never raised his hand to her.  I think there was maybe a handful of times that I can remember him being miffed with my Mom about something but not nearly as many times as my Mom was miffed with him (and I would go so far as to say it wasn't always his fault that she was miffed with him - she would get a bee in her bonnet about something and he would be the one to cop it).  But, apart from when she screamed at us kids, I never heard her raise her voice to my Dad.

My parents have been married for 53 years this year and I couldn't be more proud of them. 

When I met A, we knew within a couple of weeks that we would be together - so much so A went and bought bridal champagne glasses (without telling me), wrote the date on the box and put them away until we got engaged !  We have had a great life together - yes there have been difficult times, yes there have been times when I have wanted to throttle him, yes there have been times when we wondered where the next $ was going to come from but we have got through it all.  There was a time when I threatened to leave him because of extended family issues but we worked through it.  There were times of complete joy and happiness - bringing K home and settling down as a family was one of the greatess moments of my life.

Every day I count my blessings when I think of others who have dealt with situations that have been so different and so much more difficult.  My Dad often says (about himself) "I have had such a great life. I'm a lucky fella."  I'm not saying that my life has been easy sailing the whole way, but I certainly haven't had to deal with cr*p the way some people have had to.  I admire those people - who are still standing strong at the end of it all - I think that if it had of been me, I would have just curled up in a ball and let life pass me by.

Today I am thankful for the fantastic life I have lived - for the great support system that I have - for the wonderful experiences that I have lived through - and for the small (by comparison to others) adversities I have faced which were never too big for me to handle and maybe that is because I truly believe we are never dealt a hand that we cannot deal with.


I am also thankful to Pip from Bub Sweat and Tears who told me about morgueFile free photos that I can use without fear of infringing any copyright issues !!  I love using photos and colour in my posts but can't be fussed with downloading them from my camera (plus there is no way I can take photos like these ones !!!)

What are you thankful for today ?
 
TFTD : Focus on the small things you can do, not the big things you can't. Small steps turn into miles in the long run.
(Ain't that the truth ?)

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Want A Laugh ?

OK - don't fall over everyone - I know that it is Wednesday and I don't normally post on a Wednesday but there was no way I couldn't post this.

It's no secret that life is looking up for me right now.  Even though A is away, I am coping, and coping well.  In years gone by, when A has been away, I have not been happy.  It's not that I am happy that he is away, because I'm not, but I am happy that I have not let him being away get me down. (Have I confused you yet ?)

Before, i.e. in past years, I would have really shrunk into myself, probably curled up into a ball on the couch and waited for A to come home.  I didn't have the courage to do more than go to the local shopping centre to get the groceries, the library and come home again.  I certainly wouldn't have gone out to meet people I had only met online.  This has changed.  Partly because K has given me the courage to do this but also because, as I have gotten older, I have worked really hard on worrying about the things I can change and leaving alone the things I can't.  Sometimes I get it right - sometimes I don't - but I'm working on it none the less.

So - I got a little off track here (what's new I hear you say !!).  Anyway, I landed up staying a bit late at work tonight because I had a hair appointment at 6pm and there wasn't much point in going home only to have to turn around not long after getting home to leave for the hairdresser.  I stopped in at Target to get some more knickers (as you do) and then was sitting at the cafe outside, pretty much wasting time until 6pm. 

I tweeted -

kal20m : Hanging around waiting for 6pm hair appointment - what colour to choose ??? Red, caramel, blue ? (K's choice is blue !!)
thebumpiestpath : polkadots :)
kal20m : I will ask and see what she could do
thebumpiestpath : double dare

I had been sitting at the hairdresser for a while - she chats a lot and it takes her a while to get started - and my phone beeped.  Normally I wouldn't check it but as she was then looking up some charts - I checked it - this is what I found :

thebumpiestpath : Check out she has a new look!
 
 
thebumpiestpath has given me my own cover page on Celebrity magazine !!!!!

Well, I absolutely cracked up - my hairdresser nearly wet her pants she laughed so much - 5 hours later it is still making me smile !!!!  K laughed heaps when I showed her this when she got home from SES.

Thank you Jules - you made my night !!!!!  (Also made the choice of not going blonde easier - I'm thinking that it doesn't really suit my skin tone - LOL !!!)

I don't want to turn into one of those really happy people that can be so annoying - because they do annoy me sometimes when I come across them - people who I think - gosh, is there nothing wrong in your life, but, having said that, life is really good for me right now.   Yes, A is away, but it is teaching me to be more independent.  Do I miss him ? Absolutely - but I don't feel quite so much like I am missing an arm or a leg, like I used to when he was away.  Does it mean I wish he didn't work away from home ?   Absolutely - I can't wait for the work he is doing to be closer to home.  I believe that when the work up Northern Queensland is finished, they are moving down to Coffs Harbour - but I can live with that - it is certainly a lot closer than bloody Townsville !!!  Do I believe that they will work in Coffs Harbour after Northern Queensland ?  Not bloody likely - because, as we all know, the company he works for couldn't organise blah blah blah..........

We are planning a holiday to Tasmania in August - work is going well - my health is certainly on the right track - there is heaps that we have to work on for A's health but I know that we will get there, provided he is prepared to work at getting healthy.  I am going to start working on my exercise because that is the next step for me - and I am going to set realistic exercise goals.  What I used to achieve will not be used to measure what I am achieving now because this is a new exercise regime and I am going to treat it as such.

On Saturday I am meeting Judy from Australian Inspirational Women and, while we haven't met before, I just know that we are going to have a great evening.

This has been more of a rambling post that I intended it to be - what I really wanted to say was a HUGE THANK YOU to Jules from The Bumpiest Path for such a wonderful present - it really made my week !

Have the best week that YOU can !

TFTD : Life becomes a lot more fun-filled when you remove negative people from it.
(YAY for all the positive people in my life - THANK YOU !!!!)

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

The Week That Was

Well, those 9 days passed in the blink of an eye.  OK - maybe not quite the blink of an eye but it certainly doesn't feel like it was 9 days ago that A arrived home and he has left again already.  We were talking last night and I made him laugh - he had annoyed me in the evening because I had asked him to do something on Friday, and Saturday and Sunday and he had still not done it (and by then it was dark and I knew that even if he went out to do it, it wouldn't be done properly because he wouldn't be able to see properly) - I told him that when I was really missing him while he was gone, I thought about the times he had really annoyed me and then I didn't miss him so much !!!!  He thought that it was a strange way to deal with him not being at home and I told him "Whatever works for me, works for me !!!!"

We spent some amazing time together - just being together - not necessarily doing anything exciting - just enjoying being together.

I also spent Wednesday morning waiting for him to have some cancer cut out of his face only for him to go for a follow up appointment on Friday and be told that, while they had cut bigger than they thought necessary, they didn't get it all.  So, he has to go back again once this lot has healed.  The next time they are going to send it off to pathology before they stitch him up to make sure that they don't have to cut again.  Poor bugger - the same thing happened with the last lot of cancer they cut out - didn't get it all and they had to go back in again.  Lucky he doesn't have a career in modelling !!!  My BIL thinks this could be a new weight loss strategy - getting bits cut out !!!!

Thursday I took the day off work and Friday K took the day off work to spend with Dad.  I was really pleased as she can be a little narky with him at times.  Actually, when he arrived and it looked like things may get a little tense between them, I said "OK, Dad is only here for 9 days so everyone has to be nice to everyone else" - and that seemed to be the mantra repeated a few times while he was home.  If only it would work when he was home permanently !!!!!!!!!!

I thought that I was doing the right thing by booking a flight to see him half way through this month that he is away from home only for him to get to Townsville this morning and hear that the riggers are moving down to Rockhampton in the next couple of days which means he will be following them a few days later.  So, now to see how much it will cost me to change my flights - bloody company couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery if their lives depended on it !!!!!!!!!!!!  DRIVES ME NUTS (I think I may have mentioned this before !!!!!)

I have finally stopped the medication I was taking for depression so hopefully my weight will start to move now.  I was going to walk tonight but got home late from work and brought some work home with me to do so I didn't land up walking.  But, I have to be honest and say that it is a long time since I have felt so good.  I feel in control of my life and, even though I miss A while he is away, I don't feel like I can't get through the day because he isn't here.  I feel like I can cope by myself.  I don't know how I will go with staying in the house by myself as K is off to house sit for friends of ours on Thursday but will deal with that when it happens.  I cannot believe how much better I feel now, when I compare how I was feeling a few months ago - when everything seemed to be too hard and too much.  I am still on heaps of medication and supplements (24.6 tablets per day) BUT, if that is what it takes to get my body and mind feeling like this, I will continue to take them because they are worth it - every - single - one - of - them.

Today I landed up working late to get reports printed off for our board meeting first thing tomorrow morning at Richlands, so I was not in the best frame of mind when I got home.  That changed really quickly when I checked the mail and found an envelope addressed to The Body and Feet Retreat and this is what was inside :




Shelley from learnlovelive had mailed it to me.  I cannot tell you how happy it made me - it will look absolutely great with my winter jumpers.  I can't wait to wear it to work tomorrow.  I don't think the people at work will understand the significance to me that it has as none of them know me as 'Me' - but I just love it !  Thank you soooooooo much Shelley, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you thinking of me.  As Lisa from RandomActsofZen said "Karma" !!!

As it is Tuesday I am joining in with Jess at EssentiallyJess for #IBOT.  I have to say that I missed my on-line friends this past week.  I also missed celebrating my 30,000 page view - but hey, that happens sometimes !!!  It's good to be back and I hope to be able to catch up with what everyone has been doing over the next few nights. 

Take care everyone - and, remember, if you would like to be part of either Project Pay It Forward or, Project Brighten Someone's Day, please DM or e-mail me your physical address and I will add you to the list.  I think I am loving these projects more than the people on the receiving end of them !

TFTD : One of the most rewarding moments in life is when you finally find the courage to let go of what you can't change.
(I cannot tell you how much this thought has changed my life !)

Friday, 7 June 2013

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.

Thursday, 6 June 2013

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.



Friday, 31 May 2013

Things I Know

Yippeee - it's Friday which means it's time to link in with MC from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum and tomorrow it's the weekend - I'm not sure which brings me more pleasure - the linky or the weekend !!!!  (OK I do know but I don't want to upset either MC or the weekend !!!!)

As always, a random list of things that I know :

- I know that next weekend will be even better than this weekend because A is due home on Friday afternoon sometime.

- I know that I have started that count-down.

- I know that, while I have missed A dreadfully, I have enjoyed the one-on-one time K and I have spent together.

- I know that I am glad that she has still gone out with her friends a few time and not felt that she has to stay at home because I am there by myself (funnily enough I am more than capable of being able to amuse myself for a couple of hours when I am all alone, in complete charge of the remote, my books, my crocheting and the bath !!)

- I know that I had a great time with some of my blogging friends on Saturday and I am very grateful for their technical knowledge (because I am only just a little bit better than totally useless) when it comes to anything technical (hence not being able to use the home computer since just after A left because I can't get the keyboard to work !!!).  In the past, I have had a few people ask if I could have an 'E-mail Subscription' for my blog.  I have not been able to do this UNTIL the other night !  Because of the clever ladies there on Saturday - they told me, step by step, how I could add the e-mail widget to my blog - AND I MANAGED TO DO IT !!!  (Yes, it was really easy, yes, most people can probably do it in their sleep but whenever I manage to do anything slightly techie, I am thrilled !!!)

- I know that you can now subscribe to my blog, via e-mail (see on my side bar), should you wish to ensure that you never miss one of my absolutely riveting rambling posts.

- I know that I was surprised at how many people said that they would like/love to be part of Project Brighten Someone's Day and then didn't send me their address.  If you want to be part of it, please send me your physical address as the project is a snail mail project.

- I know (well I think I know) that if the weather doesn't fine up over the next two days, The Color Run may once again be postponed.

- I know that if it goes ahead I am going to be walking the full 5km and be proud of being able to walk that far (sad, but true).

- I know that, even though I am totally nervous about meeting Crashtest Mummy tomorrow night, I will have a great time.

- I know that I am soooooooooooooo looking forward to my kahuna massage on Saturday - after my I Must Confess post on Monday and some of the lovely comments left, I decided to book a massage and, while it may not land up being my perfect day, it will certainly go a long way towards me having a great day !

- I know that I am looking forward to meeting a client's 9 day old baby boy after work today where I can get a chance to cuddle and smell a new born baby and say "Thank goodness it's not mine" and then go home with K and have a peaceful night's sleep !

- I know that, while time seems to be flying by at a rate of knots faster than I can keep up with, this week seems to have dragged something terrible.

- I know that I love my on-line friends - thank you all for being the supportive, encouraging, inspiring and amazing bunch of people that you are - don't change !

- I know that, while I keep complaining about how fast time is flying by, I can't wait for July to come as my new Personal Planner arrived today - it is sooooooooo cute and I can't wait to start using it.

- I know that, while I don't give a rat's butt about stats, I am just amazed at how many people are visiting my blog - thanks to everyone for stopping by.  When I started this blogging caper 'back in the day before it was cool to have a blog' I never imagined that there would be so many people stopping by on a daily basis.  I must be doing something right otherwise you wouldn't keep coming back (or is it just that there are that many people in the world and new people are finding me, every day, but never return ??????)  No, I know some of you keep coming back because you leave me lovely comments - thank you for those - they make me smile and laugh and keep my sanity sometimes.

What do you know today ?

Have the best weekend !

TFTD : Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who never give up.

Thursday, 30 May 2013

Thankful Thursday

This week TT has moved to Francesa Writes Here  - so why not pop over, say Hi and join in ?

As always, random things I am thankful for this week are :

- only 8 sleeps until A is home (yes, I am counting !)

- not feeling guilty when I feel cold (long story that should have gone in my I Don't Feel Guilty post except I had forgotten about it !!)

- a fantastic bloggy catch up on Saturday - these ladies are so supportive and full of ideas - we always have such a great time

- beautiful comments from fellow bloggers who went out of their way to let me know their thoughts

- the chance to meet Crashtest Mummy later this week (tomorrow night actually !!!)

- a positive attitude (although only by the skin on my teeth at this stage) for my increasing weight despite cutting sugar, dairy and wheat out of my lifestyle  (Surely I cannot continue to not eat these and yet still not lose weight ???)

- tweeters who share amazing information when they come upon it - today this really touched me - 15 things you should give up to be happy

What are you thankful for today ?
Have the best day !


TFTD : The more you approve of your own decisions in life, the less approval you need from everyone else.

Monday, 27 May 2013

I Must Confess

I am linking in with Kirsty from My Home Truths for I Must Confess to what my perfect day would be.

It would start with a sleep in that allowed me to wake up when I was ready and not when my alarm clock thinks I should be ready to wake up.

My meals for the day would be prepared by someone else and would be completely paleo.

A trip to a day spa with included a massage and a facial would feature before meeting up with A for a walk along the beach front.

It would include some time reading on a day bed with a cool breeze blowing.

It would end with A and I on the couch watching a movie (can't think which one but I am sure we could find one).

The truth is, I could probably organise this without too much trouble except A isn't home much anymore and when he is here I won't be spending anytime in a spa - you will need a crowbar to pry me away from him !!

Have the best week and take care !

TFTD : Your memories from the past are meant to teach you and guide you, not define you.

Friday, 24 May 2013

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.

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday (just in case you had forgotten or didn't realise) and so I am linking in with Leigh from Six By The Bay for Thankful Thursday.

Today I am thankful for A's return from Townsville - even though it is only for four days.  With a 21st party being planned at home in three days time, his presence and support is totally needed.  While he has been away, he has been as supportive as he can be by telephone, but there is something to be said for having him, in the flesh, next to me as we race through a heap of things that need to be tidied / moved / cleaned / picked up / organised.  I know that when I get home today, huge steps will have been made forward in what needs to be done (and if it isn't, a bottle of Amarula is in the fridge waiting to console me !!!).

I am hoping to be able to take a day's leave tomorrow so that I can get the last minute things organised.

I am thankful that I have bigger clothes in the garage roof that he is going to get down for me today - and, should I find nothing suitable to wear to Palazzo Versace on Sunday night, I will spend Mother's Day looking for something !!!!!

Have the best day and thank you, once again, Leigh for hosting Thankful Thursday - in the hustle and bustle of life, it is often to easy to forget about being thankful for what we do have.

TFTD : Accept your past without regret, handle your present without hesitance, and face your future without fear.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Paleo ................... A Lifestyle Change

On Monday 8th April, I was told that if I didn't change my lifestyle, there is an excellent chance that I will be diabetic in 5-10 years time.  Understanding that diabetes is the pre-cursor to many major illnesses, it left me with no choice but to make the change.

I have done a paleo kind of diet before so it wasn't completely new to me EXCEPT this time I wasn't cutting corners like I did the last time.  There were occasions when we went out and I had pizza (wheat and dairy), there were times we went out and I had muffins / pancakes / chocolates / grainwaves (wheat and sugar) - because, at the end of the day life was worth living and who wants to deny themselves everything all of the time ?  I certainly didn't want to deny myself all the time and I was happy to make the occasional compromise.

Now I am faced with the challenge of - how many compromises are OK ?  Is one a day OK ?  Is one a week OK ?  Is a wedding / birthday / celebration OK ?  Since 8th April - I have cut out soft drinks completely - I have been drinking water, veggie juice, V8 fruit juice (1/2 glass a day max) and soda water with a dash of lime in it.  I went from probably 2-3L of coke a day, to nothing - and that was fine - I ate carrot sticks and gluten free dairy free dip.  On Saturday I felt like a coke.  I would have given my first born  right ovary (without anaesthetic) for a coke.  I wanted it so badly I could taste it.  On Sunday I would have given both my ovaries for a coke - but I didn't.  I had the bloody veggie juice and I sucked it up.

Sunday afternoon A left for Townsville.  We have known for quite a while that he was going to have to travel we just didn't know when.  A few weeks ago I doubt I would have been able to get through the day without him here but I am feeling so much stronger in myself that I know that I will be fine.  I miss him dreadfully but I know that he has to do this and there is nothing I can do except accept that he is away and get on with what I need to do.

Tonight I got home from work and was watching TV when K got home.  We had dinner and she fell asleep on the couch next to me.  I wanted that bloody coke so badly again.  I had some more veggie juice instead.  I got up from the couch, had a shower and eventually got that coke out of the fridge and in three glugs, it was gone.  And I thoroughly enjoyed every single drop of it.  Will that increase my risk of diabetes ?  I honestly don't know.  Can I stop at one ?  Bloody oath I can - because if I don't one becomes two becomes more than a few and the slippery slope appears out of nowhere.

My eating has been great.  I am finding it difficult when we are out to find suitable food to eat but I think that may just be a learning thing for me.  I made some lovely apple and macadamia biscuits last week.  K and I made more on Sunday as well as some apple and cinnamon biscuits and some banana and pecan muffins.  While there is no sugar in these, they do provide great 'sweet' snacks - something that I do miss.  Some people suggested first cutting out wheat and then dairy and then sugar but I found it easier to just cut it all out together - sort of like pulling the plaster off in one quick swipe instead of slowly pulling it off.  It has meant that I have had to be more prepared with my meals - I have to make sure that I cook enough at night so that there are enough for left overs another night as well as enough for me to take for lunch as well.  Sometimes I battle with having protein at every meal.  The only way I can do it at breakfast is with protein powder in my smoothie.  I do miss having toast for breakfast or with fresh bread with soup - there is nothing nicer than hot toast with squished up avo and a dash of salt for breakfast - unless it is a fruit smoothie made with coconut milk, fruit, egg and protein powder - because that is  my reality now and I am embracing it and enjoying it.

This coming weekend is going to provide a big challenge for me from a food point of view - we are going away with BIL and SIL.  They both understand the situation I am in and A, being so supportive, will do his best to make sure that we go to places where I can find things to eat.  I have my trusty Paleo app on my phone that I can pull out in emergencies to find out exactly whether I can or can't eat something.  If the worst comes to the worst, I can get a plate of steamed veggies and tuck into the biltong (like jerky only 1000 times better !!!) that I am supposed to be making while A is away !!!

When we realised that he was going to be away until the night before we left, I went into a bit of a panic because I had asked him to make biltong for us to take away with us.  He already had it marinading in the fridge but he knew that there was no ways I would hang it, so he hung it before he left with strict instructions about when I was to switch the light on (at night) and off (in the morning) so that it kept the drying process going through the night.  First night he is away - I think to myself "I'm sure he said that it was OK for tonight to switch the light on tomorrow night because he only switched the light off before he left for the airport at 2.30" - so I didn't switch it on.  I called him when I was on my way home and he asks "You must have remembered to switch the light off this morning because I called K to say good morning and asked her to check and she said that the light was off."  "Uhmmmm - no - I didn't put it on last night - I thought you said it was OK to leave until tonight."  Clearly that wasn't right.  So I told him I would switch it on as soon as I got home - for pete's sake I have to walk right past it in the garage to get to the house !!!!  Well, I forgot - completely - until at about 8.30pm K said "Hey Mom - do you think we can have some biltong with dinner ?" - The words "Bugger Poo Bum" (or quite possibly something a little stronger) came out my mouth as I dashed as fast as my chubby legs would carry me to the garage to switch the bloody biltong box light on !!!  Geez, I hope I remember to switch it off tomorrow.  That biltong probably has no idea of what is going on - if it turns out to be any good it will be in spite of everything I have done and not because of everything I have (or haven't) done !!!!

On Sunday night I went for a walk that was probably about 1km long - don't know how long it took me but I was happy that I felt HEAPS better than I did the last time I walked with Al last week.  Maybe things are starting to turn the corner for me.

I have also been reading a book called "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers.  I can't tell you what a great book it is although, for me, it is one that I am going to have to read a couple of times as I find I get a little over whelmed sometimes with all the information in there.  I really think it will make a difference to how I move forward in life - more positive and looking for solutions instead of problems.  She talks about a no lose model - the one where, no matter which decision you make, it is the right one for you, that there are things you learn along the way that you will need for later in life, or to introduce you to different situations / people.  I really want to start living like this - stop second guessing decisions that I have made and learn from every situation that I am in.

And, because it is Tuesday, I am joining in with Essentially Jess for #IBOT.

Have you linked in with Jess today ?

TFTD : You're not a failure if you don't make it, you're a success because you try - Susan Jeffers

Friday, 19 April 2013

Things I Know


YAY - it's Friday (I ALWAYS know when it's Friday !!) which means that it is time to link up with Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum because, as I never fail to remind you because MC never fails to remind me, we all know sh*t !!

- I know that I am so happy for our Polish friends who, finally, have been granted permanent residency.

- I know that I am sad that A has to go to Townsville for work on Sunday night.

- I know that I am happy he will be home on Wednesday night because we are going away for the long weekend.

- I know that when we get back from the weekend away, he will be going away for a long time but that is OK because I know that I am strong enough to cope with everything while he is gone.

- I think I have turned a corner health wise.  The 0.9kg that I was so pleased about losing last week has found it's way back plus more which I just find so bloody strange given I have had no sugar, no dairy and only a smidgen of cornflour since Tuesday of last week BUT I am going to keep on with it because I know that it is the right thing for my body right now - just now my body will realise it and do what it is supposed to do which is, lose this bloody weight !!!!

- I know that I wanted to get my Ranty McRanty pants on today but have decided to keep that for another day.

- I know that I am happy that I finally made my choices for loans through Kiva.  I realised that while I was fluffing around about how to decide who to support, my money wasn't helping anyone.  So I took the plunge with a lady from El Salvador and one from Ecuador.  Since last night the lady from Ecuador has received 100% of her funding and the other lady has moved to 60%.  I am really excited about following the journey that these ladies take - I think I can follow it sort of on Kiva (but I may be completely wrong about that - will have to see !!!)

- I know that I am loving the Yumi's dips - gluten free and dairy free - they are my new favourite snacks.  The kalamata olive and sweet potatoe/cashews are excellent with carrot sticks.

- I know that making sweet potato crisps is more time consuming and fiddly than I expected and, I am not so sure that it is cost effective, but they are tastier than store bought ones.

- I know that, while my health is not all that great at the moment, things could be so much worse.  I know that, for me, right now, life is good and I am happy.

- I know that love my TFTD today because it is so very, very true.

Have the best Friday and an even better weekend !

TFTD :  If you don’t work and fight for what you want, don’t complain and cry over what you've lost.



Thursday, 18 April 2013

Thankful Thursday

I wanted this post to be something different to normal Thankful Thursday post that I write but honestly, my brain just won't function this late in the day !!!

Joining in with Leigh from Six By The Bay - and in no particular order :

- I am thankful that the bomb that went off at the Boston Marathon did not do more damage.  While I am not in any way, shape or form condoning what they did or diminishing the fact that three innocent people lost their lives and countless others have had their lives irrevocably changed in one of the most tragic ways, but, the damage could have been so much worse.  Having lived in South Africa for over 30 years, I lived through bomb blasts being an almost weekly occurrence.  What they would do is have a smaller bomb go off first, then when police/ambulance/rescuers were on the scene, a bigger bomb would be detonated thereby killing and maiming even more people.

- I am thankful that I have such supportive friends - both on line and IRL.  I have been absolutely amazed at the support that I have received over the past couple of months and I can't say enough times how thankful I am.

- I am thankful for Twitter - where any question that I ask will garner an answer.  Sometimes it is just the reassurance that I need.

- I am thankful for being financially stable so that as we need to change our spending habits to accommodate the new needs as a result of the change in our lifestyle, we can do that.  (And, if I have jinxed our position with this thankfulness I will be more than a little miserable at the universe)

- I am EXTREMELY thankful that the twice that I nodded off in the car while driving back from a board meeting at Richlands, did not result in any accident.  I would never have forgiven myself if I had had an accident because I was driving while I was tired.

- I am thankful that I am learning to be kind to myself and be patient with my body - these are not things that are going to change over-night and I need to allow them to take the time they need.

- I am thankful that I have learnt the art of being flexible - I didn't used to be flexible - in fact, I was very inflexible and planned.  I didn't 'do' spontaneous.  I didn't 'do' changes.  Now I do.  Now I can be spontaneous and flexible, and I am comfortable with that, which is great because in the last 24 hrs we have gone from A being sent to Cairns this morning - to him not going because the ute he has won't make it - to him flying there today - to him staying at home - to him going to Townsville.  So, at this point I really don't know where he is going or when he is leaving - and that is OK because I know that, while I will miss him when he isn't there, I will manage.  I will keep doing what I need to do and it will all be good because I am stronger than I thought I was.

What are you thankful for today ?

Have the best Thurday possible !

TFTD :  Life is about learning from the past, trusting your intuition going forward, taking chances, finding happiness, and realizing everything happens for a reason.

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

The Run That Nearly Didn't Happen

Sunday was D-Day for the Brisbane Twilight Run.  The race that I had entered so many months ago when I was really motivated and committed to a healthy me, was happening.  The main problem was, I was not the same lady who entered and I wasn't sure I wanted to do it !

We went up on Saturday (thank goodness) to collect my 'race pack' (read 'racing number, vest (which doesn't fit given my weight gain) and pages of advertising gumph') which was great because an accident along Coronation Drive on Sunday ate into the extra time that we had allowed ourselves to get there with plenty of time to spare.

We left home at 3pm for an event that was just on an hour away at 5pm.  At 4.56pm I think I made it to the starting area - I can tell you that I was not in a great frame of mind at that point !!!!!!

We had the brain wave to go via town seeing as Coronation Drive was a parking lot - what we had forgotten about was Brisbane Roar were playing at Suncorp Stadium - soooooooooooooooo the quicker way we thought we were going, was not that quick.  I don't know if it would have  been quicker to stay on Coronation Drive or not - we didn't find out.

We were apparently '5 mins - UQ is just around the corner' away when three corners later and streams of cars at each turn did nothing to slow down my heart.  A 'suggestion' (by the driver of the car) of maybe trying to go another way saw A (the driver) cop a heap of abuse from me - totally unfairly - it was my race I should have known where we had to go but because he has done so much work at the uni lately, I expected him to know what I had to be for my race !!!!

The race started and off I set - not very comfortable because I knew I hadn't done enough training and not only that, I am carrying 15kgs more than I was the last time I ran a 10km race.  There were plenty of water tables which was great.  I stopped and drank at each table - mainly to get my breath back but also because I am totally clumsy and cannot, if my life depended on it, drink out of silly little plastic cups while I am running !

Apparently I missed A the first time he saw me and was shouting to get my attention (I have tried to explain to him that when I am running there is very little that will distract me but clearly he thinks he has a greater pull for me than just 'any' distraction !!!!!!)  I did see him as I rounded the corner to go onto the bridge - mainly because there wasn't anyone close to me and he was standing on the railing, waving his arms and shouting my name !!!  That gave me a little oomph to get over the bridge.  At that point it had started to spit a little - but it was all good.

Fast forward another 2kms to just after the 4km mark - and the rain starts to come down.  By 5.5km, the wind is blowing so much I am having trouble just trying to walk into the wind, never mind trying to run into the wind.  The rain is hitting us horizontally and stinging like hell.  I spend a couple of steps trying to decide whether I can see better with my glasses on, with the rain on them or without them.  I finally decide that maybe without them is better so take them off and shove them in my bra.  They last about 6 steps in there and then I lose them - into the river that is now running along the road where we are trying very  hard to run, ankle deep in water, in the dark.  Some very kind lady behind me stops and helps me feel around for them and she eventually finds them - uncrushed thank goodness - so now I have to run the last 4kms carrying my glasses.  Not a major issue - just a pain in the jack.

At about 7km my legs felt so good, I even managed to speed up a little - well as much as you can when you are running in a river !!!  7km-9km were great !  My phone rang at 8.3km - it was A to say that the race had been called off (he forgot to mention that it was the 21km race that had been called off not the 10km as we still had to get to the end anyway) - anyway, I carried on and nearly missed him waiting at another spot along the way, cheering me on and bringing tears to my eyes (not that anyone could see thank goodness because of the rain still p*ssing down.)  At one point I wondered if the race was ever going to end - the 10km turned into 10.2km - still no end in sight (mainly because it is so bloody dark and still raining !!!) - turned into 10.4km - finally I could see the end.  Onto the athletics track and through the finish post (10.57km).  A must have sprinted from where he saw me last to the finish line as he was there as I came out the other side.

We walked up to the car and he opened the boot of the car and stood with the brolly over me to allow me to get out of my soaking wet clothes to put on the painting clothes that I had thrown into the car at the last minute before we left.  He suggested taking clothes to change into after the race, I was all "Na, can't be bothered - will just put a towel on the seat and change when I get home" - but I have been caught out a few times before when he has suggested something and I haven't done it when I should have.  So again, thank you Love for suggesting I take spare clothes to change into once the race was finished.

We left - I have no idea how long it took us to get out of the uni or to get home, when we got home I did see that A had stopped to buy some KFC, but I slept most of the way. Sleeping seems to be my most favoured past time over the past few weeks

Honestly, that man deserves a sainthood (I don't know if non-Catholics can get it but he certainly deserves it) - he has put up with the biggest amount of cr*p from me recently - the tears and the tantrums, the mood swings and the irritability, the tiredness and the weight gain, the pimples and the night sweats - he truly must love me because I have thought recently that, if I was him, I would have kicked me out already.

This is my last run until I lose this weight.  I will walk and I will cycle (only because we have entered a bloody event and I have to train for that !!) but I won't be running for a while.  The chaffing on the top of both of my arms is agonising today. 

While this wasn't the best run I have ever had, I did finish, and I wasn't last - so I was happy about that.  20 mins slower than my previous 10km run but I figured that carrying an extra 15kgs will probably do that to my time - add in the cr*ppy weather, the rivers we had to run through and the dark and I should probably be really happy that I finished at all !!!!!!

To my very dear, long suffering husband - you will never know just how important you are in my life.  I honestly don't know what I would do without you.  Your love, patience, understanding, support and strength are just amazing.  I know we promised to love each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health but I truly never imagined that I would give you the hard time that I have been giving you because of what my body is going through.  You are my rock and I love you more than words can say.

Because it is Tuesday it is time to link in with Essentially Jess for IBOT !

TFTD : I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

(PS - during the night I was lying in bed and realised that A would have to die in order to be made a saint so I think that maybe, for now, he shouldn't be made a saint, he should stay exactly as he is !!!)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...