One has just reduced me to tears.
He told me I do what my mother does.
Make "subtle" comments about things. For subtle read snide and nasty.
I do it to all of them but they just say it's Mum being Mum.
I've always said if I start to turn into my mother tell me.
Only they haven't.
Until now.
I thought I had done pretty well in not turning into my mother but I guess I was wrong. I hope it's not inevitable.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Just so I don't forget!
Upon this spot will rise my house!
I'm hoping to get down there this weekend. I WILL get down there this weekend!
I saw the physio this evening. My calves are still really tight. So tight they fucking hurt when she was massaging them. This is something relatively new. I have always had tight calves but never to the point of pain when being massaged. It's probably not helped by the fact that I wear a smallish heel most days instead of the dead flat shoes I've worn for years. I must remember to stretch.
Next Monday I am starting a 6 week yoga course through the health promotion department at work. I'll see how I like it and then might try and find a tai chi class to try.
Himself is stuck in Sydney. He was about to board his flight home (he went up this morning for a meeting) when they closed the airport due to inclement weather. And Sydneysiders love canning Melbourne for our weather! They have far more rain than we do. The radar image showed some pretty vicious weather but hopefully it will clear soon and he will be able to get home before midnight. He will have spent more time in transit than he has at work today. And he WON'T be happy!
He just rang. He is on the plane and they were about to take off but another storm came through so there they sat!! Maybe in the next 15 minutes they will take off. And he was due home about half an hour ago!!
OK. I'm off to have some dinner.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Things are happening around the place
Remember how I said I cleaned out the pantry ....
It all ended up on the family room table!
The original shelves were way too deep and Himself pulled them out and replaced them with shallower shelf units (gotta love IKEA). Only he didn't patch up where the original shelves had been. So that was needed to make the kitchen look better.
When he'd patched and painted and replaced the shelf units I refilled the shelves ...
Would YOU consider buying the house that contained this pantry?
It all ended up on the family room table!The original shelves were way too deep and Himself pulled them out and replaced them with shallower shelf units (gotta love IKEA). Only he didn't patch up where the original shelves had been. So that was needed to make the kitchen look better.
When he'd patched and painted and replaced the shelf units I refilled the shelves ...
Would YOU consider buying the house that contained this pantry?
A sad story
In this tree (the yellower one) ...
was a possum's nest ...
... a bloody stupid possum, if you ask me, considering that we have two cats. The other day we were sitting outside and Tom was keenly watching the tree (and, we realised later, the nest as we didn't know it was there). Suddenly a baby (well, probably more an adolescent) possum fell from the tree and landed at Tom's feet. Upon which Tom grabbed the poor creature and disappeared over the fence.
The possum didn't make it.
A few days later I came home to two cats locked in the house and Himself informing that another possum (bloody teenage independence) had attempted to fly the nest (possums can't fly).
I picked him (it has to be a him) up and put him back onto the tree. But he wanted to climb back down ...
I poked him until he headed in the general direction of the nest ...
But, sadly, he was determined to leave the nest and explore the big, wide world ...
... only this is a dead end and after returning him to the nest once more I came out some time later to find him dead in this hole. And the cats were still inside so I don't know what caused his ultimate demise.
RIP possum boys. I hope your parents choose their house better next year. Although we won't be here!
was a possum's nest ...
... a bloody stupid possum, if you ask me, considering that we have two cats. The other day we were sitting outside and Tom was keenly watching the tree (and, we realised later, the nest as we didn't know it was there). Suddenly a baby (well, probably more an adolescent) possum fell from the tree and landed at Tom's feet. Upon which Tom grabbed the poor creature and disappeared over the fence.The possum didn't make it.
A few days later I came home to two cats locked in the house and Himself informing that another possum (bloody teenage independence) had attempted to fly the nest (possums can't fly).
I picked him (it has to be a him) up and put him back onto the tree. But he wanted to climb back down ...
I poked him until he headed in the general direction of the nest ...
But, sadly, he was determined to leave the nest and explore the big, wide world ...
... only this is a dead end and after returning him to the nest once more I came out some time later to find him dead in this hole. And the cats were still inside so I don't know what caused his ultimate demise.RIP possum boys. I hope your parents choose their house better next year. Although we won't be here!
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Something to live by ...
Let us be lovely
And let us be kind
Let us be silly and free.
It won't make us famous
It won't make us rich
But dammit how happy we'll be.
And let us be kind
Let us be silly and free.
It won't make us famous
It won't make us rich
But dammit how happy we'll be.
This was a card sent to the unit by a patient on the completion of his treatment. I apologise because I cannot remember the name of the person who designed the card but the image and the rhyme have stayed with me.
Monday, 28 January 2008
A long weekend
Saturday was Australia Day and today we have a public holiday. I love Australia's commitment to the holiday long weekend. We will have another in March (Labour Day), another in June (Queen's Birthday), a holiday in April (Anzac Day) but that is always on 25th April, regardless of the day of the week so if it falls on a weekend, so be it. In November we have the Melbourne Cup (the first Tuesday in November and many take the day before off work so it's a really long weekend). Of course we have Easter and Christmas and New Year's Day.
For as long as I have lived in Australia (36+ years) I had never found a great sense of nationalism on what is meant to be our National day. At the bicentennial celebrations of 1988 there was a stirring of national pride but I have found over the recent years that more and more people are celebrating Australia Day with a sense of pride. Kids (OK, young adults!) greet each other with Happy Australia Day. Unheard of when I was their age. We were at a barbecue yesterday and the 24 year old son wished everyone a Happy AD for yesterday.
So today I am clearing out the linen cupboard and Himself will do some patching in the boys' bathroom.
My feet are better. Still sore but getting less so. I might go for a walk this evening and will get back on the X trainer tomorrow.
And if you want a giggle go and read Miz S's entry about her Very Bad Cat. There is something about owning (or, more correctly, being owned by) a cat that inevitably results in a loss of human dignity somewhere in the relationship.
For as long as I have lived in Australia (36+ years) I had never found a great sense of nationalism on what is meant to be our National day. At the bicentennial celebrations of 1988 there was a stirring of national pride but I have found over the recent years that more and more people are celebrating Australia Day with a sense of pride. Kids (OK, young adults!) greet each other with Happy Australia Day. Unheard of when I was their age. We were at a barbecue yesterday and the 24 year old son wished everyone a Happy AD for yesterday.
So today I am clearing out the linen cupboard and Himself will do some patching in the boys' bathroom.
My feet are better. Still sore but getting less so. I might go for a walk this evening and will get back on the X trainer tomorrow.
And if you want a giggle go and read Miz S's entry about her Very Bad Cat. There is something about owning (or, more correctly, being owned by) a cat that inevitably results in a loss of human dignity somewhere in the relationship.
Saturday, 26 January 2008
More random stuff
Yesterday I sat. And stretched. And rolled the golf ball.
And emptied out the pantry.
Two came over and I took him down to The Mermaid's new shop to buy stuff for a get together he and GGF are having this evening. They are house-sitting for her godmother and are having a few friends over before they do the final cleanup tomorrow. I feel very sorry for those two. They have house-sat for this person before but this time it was for a whole month and she had neglected to tell them that she had agreed to let a series of other people stay there as well. So not only were they house-sitting they were acting as unofficial and unpaid house keepers. NONE of the house guests cleaned up or changed their bed linen. And one family took over the house so that Two and GGF were confined to their room. They couldn't even watch telly. They won't be house-sitting for this person again in a hurry!!
Himself came home a bit early and we went out and bought Two and GGF a barbecue. Just a small, inexpensive one to use this evening (the barbecue at the house they are sitting is filthy) and then one they can use in their miniscule garden at home which will be great as their flat is tiny and doesn't have very good ventilation for cooking smells. I know that Two and GGF are struggling a bit financially and he hates asking for money so I try to help out in other ways. Like giving him a whole lot of food out of the pantry I emptied with some lame excuse like noone else eating tomato soup or drinking Milo. Which is sort of true.
Himself had been to look at flooring and we have found some we like. It's bamboo! Apparently harder than most (if not all) Australian hardwood so perfect for the kitchen and it looks very nice, too.
My feet are better. Last evening it felt as if I had a nasty toothache in my left foot and it's still a bit sore today but I can walk on it. My back, however, is not very happy so will have to go and stretch it out.
I went to my optometrist this morning. My distance vision has improved but my close vision has deteriorated. That is to be expected as we age and explains why I was tending to look over the top of my glasses. I have chosen new frames (Gucci, thankyouverymuch) and am quite looking forward to getting them in a couple of weeks. I am amazed at what a pleasure it was choosing frames for a slimmer face. And I have chosen frames which actually draw attention to my face. Another plus was that I have thick corneas!!! "WTF?" I hear you say. When I was 36 my mother was diagnosed with glaucoma and so I started getting the pressure checked in my eyes as there is a strong hereditary link with glaucoma. The pressures were always a bit high and I have had them regularly checked and have had vision field tests and other tests done to make sure I wasn't experiencing any optic nerve damage (which is the inevitable, irreversible consequence of untreated glaucoma). My lovely, geeky optometrist has a new gadget which measures the thickness of the cornea because studies have shown that thicker corneas return higher pressure readings which aren't a true reflection of the ocular pressure. So, whilst the pressure in my eyes is still at the higher end of normal, it IS normal. So I don't have to have them checked again in 6 months, I get to wait for 12 months before he puts those horrible drops in my eyes!
Off to clean out the linen press so himself and fix the shelf, patch a hole and I can make it look neat and tidy.
Things are happening, folks, things are happening.
And emptied out the pantry.
Two came over and I took him down to The Mermaid's new shop to buy stuff for a get together he and GGF are having this evening. They are house-sitting for her godmother and are having a few friends over before they do the final cleanup tomorrow. I feel very sorry for those two. They have house-sat for this person before but this time it was for a whole month and she had neglected to tell them that she had agreed to let a series of other people stay there as well. So not only were they house-sitting they were acting as unofficial and unpaid house keepers. NONE of the house guests cleaned up or changed their bed linen. And one family took over the house so that Two and GGF were confined to their room. They couldn't even watch telly. They won't be house-sitting for this person again in a hurry!!
Himself came home a bit early and we went out and bought Two and GGF a barbecue. Just a small, inexpensive one to use this evening (the barbecue at the house they are sitting is filthy) and then one they can use in their miniscule garden at home which will be great as their flat is tiny and doesn't have very good ventilation for cooking smells. I know that Two and GGF are struggling a bit financially and he hates asking for money so I try to help out in other ways. Like giving him a whole lot of food out of the pantry I emptied with some lame excuse like noone else eating tomato soup or drinking Milo. Which is sort of true.
Himself had been to look at flooring and we have found some we like. It's bamboo! Apparently harder than most (if not all) Australian hardwood so perfect for the kitchen and it looks very nice, too.
My feet are better. Last evening it felt as if I had a nasty toothache in my left foot and it's still a bit sore today but I can walk on it. My back, however, is not very happy so will have to go and stretch it out.
I went to my optometrist this morning. My distance vision has improved but my close vision has deteriorated. That is to be expected as we age and explains why I was tending to look over the top of my glasses. I have chosen new frames (Gucci, thankyouverymuch) and am quite looking forward to getting them in a couple of weeks. I am amazed at what a pleasure it was choosing frames for a slimmer face. And I have chosen frames which actually draw attention to my face. Another plus was that I have thick corneas!!! "WTF?" I hear you say. When I was 36 my mother was diagnosed with glaucoma and so I started getting the pressure checked in my eyes as there is a strong hereditary link with glaucoma. The pressures were always a bit high and I have had them regularly checked and have had vision field tests and other tests done to make sure I wasn't experiencing any optic nerve damage (which is the inevitable, irreversible consequence of untreated glaucoma). My lovely, geeky optometrist has a new gadget which measures the thickness of the cornea because studies have shown that thicker corneas return higher pressure readings which aren't a true reflection of the ocular pressure. So, whilst the pressure in my eyes is still at the higher end of normal, it IS normal. So I don't have to have them checked again in 6 months, I get to wait for 12 months before he puts those horrible drops in my eyes!
Off to clean out the linen press so himself and fix the shelf, patch a hole and I can make it look neat and tidy.
Things are happening, folks, things are happening.
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Random things
So. My feet. Specifically my plantar fasciitis. This morning when I got up the pain was so bad I could hardly weight bear. I hobbled to work and the pain didn't improve which it usually does once I start walking. I rang my physio and was able to get an appointment this afternoon. She agrees, it is plantar fasciitis and massaged my very tight calves, ultrasounded the soles of my feet, gave me stretching exercises and taped my feet!! And I have to roll golf balls with my feet. Just as well I have a few laying around. I was very sore and sorry for myself when I got out of the physio and tape feels really uncomfortable. The physio said I could go to work tomorrow if I wanted to. I rang my boss and discussed it with her and I am taking tomorrow off. To stretch, roll golf balls, look at the plans of the new house and wuss.
Remember her?
Not the skinniest woman in the world but a damn sight better than she was 12 month ago.
And this is the view from the bedroom window of the house next door. Which is the same as ours. We will be set back a little bit but I'm pretty sure we will still get the same view of the lake which you can glimpse through all the scaffolding and ramps. In fact we might even be able to see Suze and Neil's place. She suggested flags "accepting visitors (or not)" to be hung from the respective windows. The body corporate might have something to say about that!!
Himself is going to try his hand at making tuna patties with left over mashed potato. I'm going to have a look at some new blogs and then go and put my feet up with my book.
Remember her?
Not the skinniest woman in the world but a damn sight better than she was 12 month ago.
And this is the view from the bedroom window of the house next door. Which is the same as ours. We will be set back a little bit but I'm pretty sure we will still get the same view of the lake which you can glimpse through all the scaffolding and ramps. In fact we might even be able to see Suze and Neil's place. She suggested flags "accepting visitors (or not)" to be hung from the respective windows. The body corporate might have something to say about that!!Himself is going to try his hand at making tuna patties with left over mashed potato. I'm going to have a look at some new blogs and then go and put my feet up with my book.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Bugger
Dr Google suggests I have plantar fasciitis.
The symptoms sound depressingly familiar. Right down to the pain after rest. And the risk factors ring the odd bell, too. The tight calf muscles (remember those shin splints last year?). I have always had very high arches. Still female. And overweight (but no longer obese ... gotta be good). And have been doing a bit of running and my job has me doing an incredible amount of walking around the hospital.
I guess it's back to the physio. And it would have been back on the exercise bike but I've given that away. I might have to rent one. Or use daylight saving and get some outdoor cycling in before or after work.
Oh yeah. I do love carrying those exercise injuries.
Sort of. :)
The symptoms sound depressingly familiar. Right down to the pain after rest. And the risk factors ring the odd bell, too. The tight calf muscles (remember those shin splints last year?). I have always had very high arches. Still female. And overweight (but no longer obese ... gotta be good). And have been doing a bit of running and my job has me doing an incredible amount of walking around the hospital.
I guess it's back to the physio. And it would have been back on the exercise bike but I've given that away. I might have to rent one. Or use daylight saving and get some outdoor cycling in before or after work.
Oh yeah. I do love carrying those exercise injuries.
Sort of. :)
Life is pretty good at the moment
It will be even better when we are living here.This is the golf course. And this particular spot overlooking the course is about a minute walk from what will be our front door. So if I don't feel like walking along the riverside track I can mosey around the golf course lake.
Fireman Sam and Gina came around last night for dinner. It was lovely to see them again and Two came over as well so it was a full house.
Three left straight after dinner (to go to the movies with a friend) and the conversation got around to his amazing capacity for picking up (or being picked up by) extremely good looking young women. His explanation is that he stands around at work and "looks pretty"! Two has decided that his American Indian name is Little Whore. And then congratulated me on producing Fabio v 2.0. Yes, folks, it was one of THOSE family dinners!!
I had a brief conversation with Fireman Sam about the lack of routine and its effect on my fitness at the moment. He will be away next week but should be around after that and we will get back into things, or so he says. He had a gentle dig at my eating (too many carbs with dinner which is a habit I have slipped back into) and told me I had to run today. I didn't get up this morning because it was quite a late night last night and I am still struggling with this full time work. (I think the adrenalin of the initial few weeks kept me going but now I'm finding it very hard). Anyway, I came home from work, donned my exercise gear and went out for a walk and then found a track off the main road and ran around that. I have no idea how long it is (and I don't want to know cos I know it's not THAT long) but I did it and pushed myself to the end.
I am now going to google heel spurs.
Bummer
Monday, 21 January 2008
The view from the house next door!
This is the house next door which is the same design as ours will be. This is about as close as our view as we will get until they start to build ours. We will be set slightly closer to the river (which will give us a longer driveway in the front). And we won't have the scaffolding or the smeary windows.
I had a bad case of the blahs at work today. Himself snored fit to wake the dead and I had a rotten night's sleep. And when he wasn't snoring he was suffering from sleep apnoea so when he was quiet I was worried he wasn't breathing!! He needs to get all this sorted. Anyway, the alarm went off at 5.45 and I decided I needed more sleep. Until the cat rattled the blinds at 5.50 so I gave in, got up, let the cat out and did 50 minutes on the cross trainer and some weights. I've eaten fairly well today and so feel pretty good.
I had planned a walk after work but as I was about to leave my phone rang and it was a young doctor who had stuck himself with a needle when trying to put a line in a patient. I was going to hand ball him to the after hours coordinator who should have handled the incident but he sounded a bit stressed (it was the end of his shift) so I thought I would go and deal with it. The coordinator was pleased she didn't have to do the work (I had to tell her about it as she will receive a page from pathology with the blood results) and the doctor was grateful he didn't have to hang around. And I ended up leaving work 45 minutes later than I should have and by the time I got home and went to the supermarket with Himself I decided that plonking myself here with some pistachios and a sauv. blanc was the order of the evening.
Hopefully I will get a better night's sleep tonight.
And I have decided that once this contract is up I am going back to working part time. Even if it's a 9 day fortnight I will be happy (preferably a 4 day week if I'm still in this role or back to a 3 day week if I go back to oncology).
I am so looking forward to our new lifestyle.
Sunday, 20 January 2008
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today we paid the holding deposit on OUR NEW HOUSE!!
NOW I can talk about it!!!
We went down and we were able to go through the house that is being built next door that is the same as ours. It is still very much under construction so it was difficult to see what the views will be like as there is scaffolding all around but we will see the river. And from our bedroom window I think we will have views down the lake towards the golf course.
Settlement won't be until the final quarter of the year. But that's cool as it gives us time to sell this place and depending on how much we get for this will depend on what new stuff we buy to take with us. We are definitely getting new lounge/dining furniture and a new TV (Three and the hifi shop, remember?). I would like a new fridge and new bedroom furniture. And we will need a sofa bed for the study and a desk (but we saw one today that we liked that was really inexpensive). And we need to think about decking vs paving in the courtyard. And pots for plants and the electric fence for the cats.
I am soooo excited. One came down with us and has taken some photos which I need to put on the computer and have a good look at and while we were standing looking out over the walking track Three and a friend walked past and Three was obviously explaining things to her. One went out and grabbed them and they came and had a good look around the place.
My eating and exercise has gone very pear shaped at the moment and I need to get a grip on things. But that will happen.
Have a good week.
NOW I can talk about it!!!
We went down and we were able to go through the house that is being built next door that is the same as ours. It is still very much under construction so it was difficult to see what the views will be like as there is scaffolding all around but we will see the river. And from our bedroom window I think we will have views down the lake towards the golf course.
Settlement won't be until the final quarter of the year. But that's cool as it gives us time to sell this place and depending on how much we get for this will depend on what new stuff we buy to take with us. We are definitely getting new lounge/dining furniture and a new TV (Three and the hifi shop, remember?). I would like a new fridge and new bedroom furniture. And we will need a sofa bed for the study and a desk (but we saw one today that we liked that was really inexpensive). And we need to think about decking vs paving in the courtyard. And pots for plants and the electric fence for the cats.
I am soooo excited. One came down with us and has taken some photos which I need to put on the computer and have a good look at and while we were standing looking out over the walking track Three and a friend walked past and Three was obviously explaining things to her. One went out and grabbed them and they came and had a good look around the place.
My eating and exercise has gone very pear shaped at the moment and I need to get a grip on things. But that will happen.
Have a good week.
Friday, 18 January 2008
My day so far!
Spoke to the solicitor about real estate stuff.
Got a cheque from the bank.
Caught up with the Mermaid at her new shop. It sells party food. I bought some! Chicken tenders for Three, some onion rings (I love onion rings), some cheesy potato balls for the boys, some mushroom and asparagus mini quiches and some mini pizzas. All in the freezer so that should keep the hungry mouths quiet for a wee while. She also sells 2 kilo packs of frozen veges so I'll get them from her as well. There are mini gourmet pies, sausage rolls, all manner of chicken things, asian nibbles, fancy quiches, cheesecakes, icecream cakes ... all sorts of yummy things. None of them particularly healthy but, hey, it's a PARTY food shop!!
I filled her in on what we might be doing. She's excited for us.
And now I am going to go and read my book. In peace.
Tonight we are off to the golf club for dinner with Suze and Neil and to meet people who might become neighbours.
Hopefully things will all happen on Sunday.
Got a cheque from the bank.
Caught up with the Mermaid at her new shop. It sells party food. I bought some! Chicken tenders for Three, some onion rings (I love onion rings), some cheesy potato balls for the boys, some mushroom and asparagus mini quiches and some mini pizzas. All in the freezer so that should keep the hungry mouths quiet for a wee while. She also sells 2 kilo packs of frozen veges so I'll get them from her as well. There are mini gourmet pies, sausage rolls, all manner of chicken things, asian nibbles, fancy quiches, cheesecakes, icecream cakes ... all sorts of yummy things. None of them particularly healthy but, hey, it's a PARTY food shop!!
I filled her in on what we might be doing. She's excited for us.
And now I am going to go and read my book. In peace.
Tonight we are off to the golf club for dinner with Suze and Neil and to meet people who might become neighbours.
Hopefully things will all happen on Sunday.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
My third day off.
Remember I get an accrued day off (ADO) once a month? Well tomorrow is my third (my second was part of the time I had off over Christmas). That means I've been there 3 months. 8 more to go.
Tomorrow I need to go to the bank to get a cheque for someone who might be holding a property for us.
Then I will catch up with the Mermaid for lunch at her new catering business.
In the evening we are going to have dinner with Neil and Suze at the golf club we might become members of ... one day.
I had thought about going for a bike ride but it's looking like it's going to be quite warm. I might just do what I have to do and then relax and read my book.
On Saturday we are going out for lunch to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. And on Sunday we might see if we can find someone to take a cheque for a deposit on a property near a golf course and a river.
Tomorrow I need to go to the bank to get a cheque for someone who might be holding a property for us.
Then I will catch up with the Mermaid for lunch at her new catering business.
In the evening we are going to have dinner with Neil and Suze at the golf club we might become members of ... one day.
I had thought about going for a bike ride but it's looking like it's going to be quite warm. I might just do what I have to do and then relax and read my book.
On Saturday we are going out for lunch to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. And on Sunday we might see if we can find someone to take a cheque for a deposit on a property near a golf course and a river.
Dinner
I caught up with a couple of friends last night. Internet friends. In the flesh.
One of them has lost an incredible amount of weight after weight-loss surgery and she looks like a different person.
We talked about our families. We talked about my move that will happen. We saw Melbourne through a visitor's eyes. We drank good wine and ate lovely food.
Himself very kindly dropped me into the city and picked us up and drove Suze home. We had a look at the view from the levee at night. It sparkles with distant lights and closer lights are reflected in the water. Very pretty.
And now I must dash as I am late for work.
Tomorrow is an ADO. Yay.
One of them has lost an incredible amount of weight after weight-loss surgery and she looks like a different person.
We talked about our families. We talked about my move that will happen. We saw Melbourne through a visitor's eyes. We drank good wine and ate lovely food.
Himself very kindly dropped me into the city and picked us up and drove Suze home. We had a look at the view from the levee at night. It sparkles with distant lights and closer lights are reflected in the water. Very pretty.
And now I must dash as I am late for work.
Tomorrow is an ADO. Yay.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
still not talking about things
but here are some things that might be occupying my thoughts
- ran two laps this morning
- feel as if my heel is bruised
- the underneath part of my heel
- exchanged phone calls with Ned Kelly
- received a good report from the bank person who valued this place
- was encouraged to leave early BY MY BOSS ... I have the best boss
- shed tears as I read the nursing/medical notes of a patient who died in ICU who had been one of mine over the years (the medical notes especially ... there is hope for doctors yet)
- looked at houses on the estate of which we might be residents
- and looked at colours which might be used to decorate a house on said estate if we ever were lucky enough to buy there
- had a drink or several with people we know that live on this estate that we might yet, one day, maybe, if we're lucky become neighbours of
- worried about Two and his throat.
- big time.
- fell in love with an existing example of the house that we might buy one day
- soon
- but didn't like the colour scheme
- found a new pizza shop that kicks arse
Monday, 14 January 2008
Fate does NOT like to be tempted.
The superstitious side of me didn't want to say too much about our pending move. I was brought up to never tempt fate. The sensible side of me said not to be silly. The little kid in me felt like it was Christmas and wanted to tell everyone.
Today Himself contacted the agent handling the estate. We shall call him Ned Kelly. And his side kick The Idiot in The Sales Office - Tiitso. When we first expressed interest in the lot we liked
Tiitso told us she would have to check with Ben and HongKong to make sure it hadn't been sold over there. The next day we were down and she assured us it was still for sale and she was putting a hold on it for us. And when we were down there on Saturday she assured me it was ours and noone else would sell it.
Today we were told that it has, in fact, been sold in Hongkong. And our second choice has had a deposit paid on it. But they will be releasing the next stage in a few weeks. And we should be able to buy something in that. For more money.
All is not lost. I will move down there. Tomorrow I am going down with Himself to meet Ned Kelly and to see inside the house design I want. And I just might hint at what a nuisance I can make of myself. If I have to keep doing down there every weekend until I know for sure that a house has my name on it.
So, until then, I shall say no more about the pending move until contracts have been signed and a deposit accepted.
The vendors' advocate came around this evening and explained that process. And we will start getting this place ready for sale. I might talk about that.
I am NOT a happy camper at the moment.
Today Himself contacted the agent handling the estate. We shall call him Ned Kelly. And his side kick The Idiot in The Sales Office - Tiitso. When we first expressed interest in the lot we liked
Tiitso told us she would have to check with Ben and HongKong to make sure it hadn't been sold over there. The next day we were down and she assured us it was still for sale and she was putting a hold on it for us. And when we were down there on Saturday she assured me it was ours and noone else would sell it.
Today we were told that it has, in fact, been sold in Hongkong. And our second choice has had a deposit paid on it. But they will be releasing the next stage in a few weeks. And we should be able to buy something in that. For more money.
All is not lost. I will move down there. Tomorrow I am going down with Himself to meet Ned Kelly and to see inside the house design I want. And I just might hint at what a nuisance I can make of myself. If I have to keep doing down there every weekend until I know for sure that a house has my name on it.
So, until then, I shall say no more about the pending move until contracts have been signed and a deposit accepted.
The vendors' advocate came around this evening and explained that process. And we will start getting this place ready for sale. I might talk about that.
I am NOT a happy camper at the moment.
Running
This will be my running track. It doesn't look very inspiring, does it? But it's on top of a levee and if I head down this way I will have the river to my left and in about a kilometre I will hit the beach. The big green building is the marina. The sign on the right of the path advertises the new development so that will be going. It's possible to run down to the beach, over the river and back up the other side then across the river again and back down to where I started from. I must work out how far that is but I reckon it will be a decent distance for a morning run. If I'm feeling very energetic I could ride my bike somewhere as this path goes quite a way and is safe because it's not on roads anywhere.
This morning I ran three laps. I was planning for two but got into the swing and did three. It started to get quite crowded so I stopped and did some stretches and a bit of ab work. Still a little way to go to return to where I was before Christmas but it's happening.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
A big week ahead.
Today Himself and I tidied the place up a bit. Not that it was really bad but it looks a bit more presentable for the bank person and the vendor's advocate who are coming tomorrow morning and evening respectively. We realise that there are some things that will have to be done before we can put the place on the market. Three's bedroom needs painting and there are bits and pieces that need patching throughout the place. The carpets are pretty tired. I don't know whether we should replace them with cheap ones or just get some rugs to cover the worst stains (a tip: don't put cream carpet in a house with bulimic cats or clumsy men or blokes who don't understand the concept of taking muddy boots OFF before walking on said carpet). This is why we are getting the advocate in. They will tell us what to do to maximise what we get without overcapitalising.
Tomorrow the agent managing the estate is back from holidays. I am expecting a call from him around lunch time tomorrow and we will work out a time to go down and sign things. After he has answered a loooong list of questions Himself has prepared.
Next Sunday is my mother's 80th birthday. Other Brother and Mrs Other are coming down and we are all going out for lunch on Saturday. Dr Teacher is organising it.
We had a look at furniture today. Realistically I'm not sure what we will be able to afford to replace. It will depend on what we get for this place. But it's fun to look and dream.
Running in the morning.
Now I'm off to read a while.
Have a good week.
Tomorrow the agent managing the estate is back from holidays. I am expecting a call from him around lunch time tomorrow and we will work out a time to go down and sign things. After he has answered a loooong list of questions Himself has prepared.
Next Sunday is my mother's 80th birthday. Other Brother and Mrs Other are coming down and we are all going out for lunch on Saturday. Dr Teacher is organising it.
We had a look at furniture today. Realistically I'm not sure what we will be able to afford to replace. It will depend on what we get for this place. But it's fun to look and dream.
Running in the morning.
Now I'm off to read a while.
Have a good week.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
This just might be ....
.... the view from my verandah.
Only the verandah (or balcony, depending on your persuasion) will be a foot or so higher than the path I was standing on and be about 10 metres further back. But you get the idea.
And it really doesn't do it justice. The grassland in the front? Crown land right on the river. It will never be built on. I'm not sure if it floods (it's only a foot or so above the current water line and we are in the middle of a drought) but even if it did the levee will protect us!
We have decided to get as much new furniture and fittings as possible. We will sell what we can of what we have at the moment. The furniture that my parents gave me looks really good in this house (and will hopefully help sell it) but it's not comfortable to use (don't tell my mother, please) and we want, above all, to be comfortable in the new house.
*For those of you who don't know the Story of the Furniture and might consider me an ungrateful sod ... my parents bought this furniture after the Ash Wednesday fires (see recent post). The way my mother tells the story is that they were walking around the store and she was tired and sat down and decided she had to have this furniture as it was soooo comfortable. And - SURPRISE - was the most expensive in the place. A fact of which we are continually reminded. It is large and heavy and looks really good in our house. It has been shoe-horned into every house they have owned since post fires. They decided to replace it with something lighter and smaller a couple of years ago and I asked how much they wanted for it as we might be interested in buying it. And, thus, it became my 50th birthday present from them. Very generous and it does, as I have said many times, look good. But it won't really go in the new place.*
Lisa left a comment on my last post suggesting that the black dog might be revisiting. I had thought this could have been the case. And it probably has been to some degree. As I have said before, I don't do this time of year very well, although now that we are well into January I feel much better. This morning I hopped on the cross trainer for 50 minutes, played 9 holes of golf in the middle of the day and went for a decent walk this evening. I think that I am learning to deal with depression with exercise. I know this is well known but it's a totally different thing to actually put this knowledge into practice, especially when depressed. But when I was on the cross trainer this morning I felt great and am looking forward to running next week.
Tomorrow we will tidy the place up (being valued on Monday) and maybe go and look at furniture. I don't want to buy something willy nilly at the last minute. The mid year sales will be on before we move so opportunity to stock up on new towels and sheets. I am so looking forward to tossing out all the crappy stuff we've held on to for years.
Friday, 11 January 2008
Enough
It's time to put the brakes on.
It's time to stop the self-destructive behaviour.
It's time to get back out there and move.
It's time to put the cork back in the bottle
It's time to get back to clean eating.
It's time to continue the amazing journey I started.
It's time to remember why I started that journey.
It's time to say "enough is enough".
It's time to stop the self-destructive behaviour.
It's time to get back out there and move.
It's time to put the cork back in the bottle
It's time to get back to clean eating.
It's time to continue the amazing journey I started.
It's time to remember why I started that journey.
It's time to say "enough is enough".
Thursday, 10 January 2008
25 years ago
Not to the day but near enough.
Ash Wednesday 1983.
My parents lived in this house:
It was their 'seachange' if you like. We had come to Australia in 1971 and lived in suburban Melbourne. My mother yearned for more of a village (ie English village) lifestyle and they moved to Cockatoo (on the outskirts of Melbourne in the Dandenongs) in 1980. This was the house they were going to retire in. Dad was due to retire in the November of '83 when he turned 65 but had planned to leave a smidge earlier.
This site tells it better. I still get upset talking about it. What isn't clear to those that don't live in Melbourne is that the fires effectively ringed Melbourne. We were in suburbia but still had smouldering embers landing in our street.
I was unaware that Cockatoo and Upper Beaconsfield (a short distance away) had gone up and when a friend of my parents rang to ask if they were OK cos she couldn't get through on the phone I reassured her.
The first I knew of a problem was when my parents burst through my front door having escaped their home with the flames bearing down on them. They had to drive a very convoluted route to get to us and were, naturally, devastated. We sat up all night and watched the progress on telly. It was the moment where my parents ceased to be the carers and became those that needed caring for. I think we all experience that shift but I don't know if it's always quite so defined.
It was three days before my parents were allowed to go back to see if their house was OK. We knew that lives and property had been lost.
Their house was ash. The picket gate was pristine white in a charred hedge. The chooks were either dead or dying. Dr. Teacher was a student vet and spent an afternoon wringing the necks of those unfortunate chooks that survived. Two of the four cats returned. (The two dogs had been inside and were brought down with my parents ... the cats had been outside and had fled). The fire ball that had engulfed their property had been so intense that half the outside picnic table was ash and the other half didn't even have the paint blistered. A Waterford crystal champagne glass had melted and solidified so that it was literally half a glass! One side still had the intricate engraving. My father's reading glasses were still in their case. The frames had melted away to nothing but the lenses were still intact ... only opaque. And the case? No idea why that survived.
This was the car they left behind. The front (near where my father is standing) was almost untouched. Tyre rubber intact. Paint not damaged.
And the reason for this trip down an unpleasant memory lane?
We are experiencing extreme fire conditions. Today and tomorrow we will have temperatures over 40C with a cool change tomorrow. But cool changes are always accompanied by strong wind shifts and that makes the fire danger even higher. And there is no rain forecast.
A friend has a son who works for a department that Knows These Things. Conditions are worse now than they were 25 years ago. It's not a case of "if" it's a case of "where". And there are already fires burning. Including one in the very same street my parents were living in 25 years ago.
Ash Wednesday 1983.
My parents lived in this house:
It was their 'seachange' if you like. We had come to Australia in 1971 and lived in suburban Melbourne. My mother yearned for more of a village (ie English village) lifestyle and they moved to Cockatoo (on the outskirts of Melbourne in the Dandenongs) in 1980. This was the house they were going to retire in. Dad was due to retire in the November of '83 when he turned 65 but had planned to leave a smidge earlier.
This site tells it better. I still get upset talking about it. What isn't clear to those that don't live in Melbourne is that the fires effectively ringed Melbourne. We were in suburbia but still had smouldering embers landing in our street.
I was unaware that Cockatoo and Upper Beaconsfield (a short distance away) had gone up and when a friend of my parents rang to ask if they were OK cos she couldn't get through on the phone I reassured her.
The first I knew of a problem was when my parents burst through my front door having escaped their home with the flames bearing down on them. They had to drive a very convoluted route to get to us and were, naturally, devastated. We sat up all night and watched the progress on telly. It was the moment where my parents ceased to be the carers and became those that needed caring for. I think we all experience that shift but I don't know if it's always quite so defined.
It was three days before my parents were allowed to go back to see if their house was OK. We knew that lives and property had been lost.
Their house was ash. The picket gate was pristine white in a charred hedge. The chooks were either dead or dying. Dr. Teacher was a student vet and spent an afternoon wringing the necks of those unfortunate chooks that survived. Two of the four cats returned. (The two dogs had been inside and were brought down with my parents ... the cats had been outside and had fled). The fire ball that had engulfed their property had been so intense that half the outside picnic table was ash and the other half didn't even have the paint blistered. A Waterford crystal champagne glass had melted and solidified so that it was literally half a glass! One side still had the intricate engraving. My father's reading glasses were still in their case. The frames had melted away to nothing but the lenses were still intact ... only opaque. And the case? No idea why that survived.
This was the car they left behind. The front (near where my father is standing) was almost untouched. Tyre rubber intact. Paint not damaged.
And the reason for this trip down an unpleasant memory lane?
We are experiencing extreme fire conditions. Today and tomorrow we will have temperatures over 40C with a cool change tomorrow. But cool changes are always accompanied by strong wind shifts and that makes the fire danger even higher. And there is no rain forecast.
A friend has a son who works for a department that Knows These Things. Conditions are worse now than they were 25 years ago. It's not a case of "if" it's a case of "where". And there are already fires burning. Including one in the very same street my parents were living in 25 years ago.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Still brewing
For those that could care less ... I am still brewing this cold. It could go either way. I have the sore itchy throat, itchy eyes and occasional sniffle. and a dull headache.
Because I have SOME fitness left I just might be able to shake it off. That is if I can get a decent night's sleep. Last night Tom played silly buggers at 3 in the morning and I finally managed to let him out and closed the bedroom door so he couldn't get back in. So he did whatever he wanted to do outside (no gifts from the mighty hunter this morning, thank gawd) and then sat and gently and persistently 'knocked' on the bedroom door until some time around 6 he managed to open it. Was THAT a proud cat or what. He jumped on the bed and purred and chirruped at me. Until I got up.
Today is going to be around 30C and tonight should get down to around 19 but then tomorrow and Friday will be in the low 40s. With a hot night tomorrow. Yuck.
We have a vendor's advocate coming to talk to us about selling this place on Monday evening. Not sure what a VA does but I'll be sure to let you know. Himself organised it.
And I shall now take my sore throat and snuffles off to work. I'm not looking for sympathy around this place!! As Fireman Sam says "If you want sympathy you can find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis". Bloody men!
Because I have SOME fitness left I just might be able to shake it off. That is if I can get a decent night's sleep. Last night Tom played silly buggers at 3 in the morning and I finally managed to let him out and closed the bedroom door so he couldn't get back in. So he did whatever he wanted to do outside (no gifts from the mighty hunter this morning, thank gawd) and then sat and gently and persistently 'knocked' on the bedroom door until some time around 6 he managed to open it. Was THAT a proud cat or what. He jumped on the bed and purred and chirruped at me. Until I got up.
Today is going to be around 30C and tonight should get down to around 19 but then tomorrow and Friday will be in the low 40s. With a hot night tomorrow. Yuck.
We have a vendor's advocate coming to talk to us about selling this place on Monday evening. Not sure what a VA does but I'll be sure to let you know. Himself organised it.
And I shall now take my sore throat and snuffles off to work. I'm not looking for sympathy around this place!! As Fireman Sam says "If you want sympathy you can find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis". Bloody men!
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
So THAT'S why I feel so cr*p
Into work feeling really bad about not exercising and stuff (and thankyou so much, MizS, for your comments ... I'm still at the stage where I feel that I'm doing this on my own and it's good to know that others feel the same). And feeling soooo tired.
Found out that the measles thing had been handled OK. This is good as it was the first thing I've done without my boss on hand. And the kid DOES have measles. Immunise, folks, OK? Please?
A day of paperwork and then my colleague offered to work back (she starts at 8 and finishes at 4.30 and I start at 8.30 and finish at 5 ... supposedly) so I could leave early to make up for last evening. Most appreciated. I came home and One, who has been home today because of nasty cold symptoms, and I went down to look at The Block of Land and for me to show him the house they prepared earlier. I still love it.
And as we were driving down my throat started to tickle, my sinuses started to feel full and I realised that the overwhelming tiredness I have experienced over the past few days is probably (especially going on One's symptoms) more than likely the beginning of a viral illness.
Thank you, Three, for being so caring and sharing with your bugs!!
So no exercise for me tomorrow morning. I'll see how I feel but I will take it easy for a couple of days and then get back into things. As I have said before, this is for ever so I need to be able to go with the flow and adjust my routine to suit where I happen to be at any given point. Yes, a kilo or three may be gained but they can easily be lost once the bug is beaten. Blindingly obvious to most, probably, but a new way of thinking for this motley cat.
I still feel fat and blobby but, hey, tomorrow's another day and next week's another week. And I still don't weigh anywhere near what I did 8 months ago. And my clothes still fit. Just ... but they fit!
When we have signed on the dotted line I will post a link to where we are looking to buy. Just so you know. Before then? Don't want to tempt fate. Superstition, thy name is Merlot.
Found out that the measles thing had been handled OK. This is good as it was the first thing I've done without my boss on hand. And the kid DOES have measles. Immunise, folks, OK? Please?
A day of paperwork and then my colleague offered to work back (she starts at 8 and finishes at 4.30 and I start at 8.30 and finish at 5 ... supposedly) so I could leave early to make up for last evening. Most appreciated. I came home and One, who has been home today because of nasty cold symptoms, and I went down to look at The Block of Land and for me to show him the house they prepared earlier. I still love it.
And as we were driving down my throat started to tickle, my sinuses started to feel full and I realised that the overwhelming tiredness I have experienced over the past few days is probably (especially going on One's symptoms) more than likely the beginning of a viral illness.
Thank you, Three, for being so caring and sharing with your bugs!!
So no exercise for me tomorrow morning. I'll see how I feel but I will take it easy for a couple of days and then get back into things. As I have said before, this is for ever so I need to be able to go with the flow and adjust my routine to suit where I happen to be at any given point. Yes, a kilo or three may be gained but they can easily be lost once the bug is beaten. Blindingly obvious to most, probably, but a new way of thinking for this motley cat.
I still feel fat and blobby but, hey, tomorrow's another day and next week's another week. And I still don't weigh anywhere near what I did 8 months ago. And my clothes still fit. Just ... but they fit!
When we have signed on the dotted line I will post a link to where we are looking to buy. Just so you know. Before then? Don't want to tempt fate. Superstition, thy name is Merlot.
dammit
I thought I had started a post and saved a draft but it mustn't have saved.
Oh well, it wasn't earth shattering.
I am knackered. Buggered. Totally stuffed. I am struggling to get out of bed in the morning and am eating and drinking for instant energy which always results in nasty dips later which adds to the tiredness leading to more instant energy food and even harder getting up in the morning. This morning Himself left for Sydney and normally I would have got up with him at 5.00 and worked out. I stayed in bed and dragged myself out of deep sleep at 6.30. Needless to say no exercise was undertaken and I feel lousy.
And fat.
Fireman Sam is off playing soldiers again so I am well and truly on my own on this one. And I realised this morning that now is a perfect opportunity to work out how to fix these doldrums so that I am never in need of another person to help drag me out again.
So. First thing - why so tired?
On that note I must fly and see what the wash up was with the probable case of measles that came through our ED last evening as I was about to leave which meant I didn't get home til after 7. I hope I did everything right and covered all the bases.
I feel better, now. Thank you.
Oh well, it wasn't earth shattering.
I am knackered. Buggered. Totally stuffed. I am struggling to get out of bed in the morning and am eating and drinking for instant energy which always results in nasty dips later which adds to the tiredness leading to more instant energy food and even harder getting up in the morning. This morning Himself left for Sydney and normally I would have got up with him at 5.00 and worked out. I stayed in bed and dragged myself out of deep sleep at 6.30. Needless to say no exercise was undertaken and I feel lousy.
And fat.
Fireman Sam is off playing soldiers again so I am well and truly on my own on this one. And I realised this morning that now is a perfect opportunity to work out how to fix these doldrums so that I am never in need of another person to help drag me out again.
So. First thing - why so tired?
- silly season
- full time job into which I am putting 110% often working late
- eating habits have slipped back and there are too many processed carbs
- wine consumption has crept up a bit
- not exercising like I used to
- heat
- not much 'me' time with full time job and Himself being in Melbourne most of the time
- stress over likely move
- stress over likely not having this job in September
- sundry other things that are part of life (kids, pets, family, world peace)
- eat better
- drink less - much less. But not become obsessive about it cos that makes it worse (same for #1)
- Do the best I can at work but not try to do it all yesterday
- Find time for me
- do SOME exercise every day (see #4) and enjoy it - not look on it as a chore
- early nights
- adopt a more fatalistic attitude - what will be, will be.
- trust sundry other things will sort themselves out - they usually do.
On that note I must fly and see what the wash up was with the probable case of measles that came through our ED last evening as I was about to leave which meant I didn't get home til after 7. I hope I did everything right and covered all the bases.
I feel better, now. Thank you.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
There are times when you really need a camera handy ....
And this morning was one of them.
Himself and Three had left to go across town on a dry run to see how long it will take Three to get to work if he gets the new job he's being interviewed for on Wednesday (more on that later). I was sitting here and Emma (remember her? She and One were an item for 5 minutes last year ... they work together) wandered through. OK. I know that they still go out from time to time and a few times she has crashed here after they've been out. She has a cracked rib and I gave her some panadol. Then Himself rang to say that LGF (remember HER? She and One were an item forever until he broke up with her last year and they have stayed friends) had texted Three asking him to "wake up his drunken brother". Three told her he couldn't because he wasn't home and she replied that that was OK as she'd wake him herself when she got here. I went through and woke One and was telling him this and as I got to the bit about LGF waking him when she got here I turned around ... and there she was!!
One had a very bemused look on his face!!!! When I told him the two girls were out the back having a cigarette he looked as if the sky was about to fall in. I think he's in deep shit. The rest of the family and Fireman Sam and Gina (I texted him - of course, I did!!) think it's hysterical. And now LGF is driving Emma home (with One in the car as well!) and then she and One are spending the day together. Apparently One was meant to be at LGF's place at 8.00 this morning only he didn't get HOME til 8.00 this morning!! And he thought LGF had cancelled the arrangement but she said she hadn't. Whatever. I'd love to be a fly on THAT wall!
Himself and I went down to have another look and the estate on the golf course and have chosen a house. Suze and Neil kindly offered to give us a cheque for $5,000 (which I would reimburse as soon as I got home) so we could put a holding deposit down but the person manning the sales office didn't have the paperwork or something and can't do anything until the proper agent gets back from holidays on the 14th. She assured us that the place won't be sold until we get the opportunity to get the paperwork done. This gives us some breathing space to have a good think about it and organise finance and the like.
I love the estate and the houses are very attractive. It would be a complete lifestyle change which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's 25 minutes away from where we are at the moment and one of my fears is that One and Two won't come and visit because they will think it's too far away. Silly thinking, I know. Also, it's a move that once made cannot be unmade as we would not be able to afford to move back into this area. We are counting on the fact that this is a better area from a property price perspective to enable us to move with a lower mortgage (or even none but that's unlikely). When I was pregnant with Two we moved to an outer suburb and it was a disaster. I guess that experience is influencing how I feel about this potential move.
I am worried that I have some ambivalent feelings about this but I suppose it's good that I'm not all "lalalalala this is fantastic and perfect and wonderful and everything will be rosy" which would be a recipe for disappointment.
We are going to go back down again today and have another look around.
So I'd better go and get dressed.
Himself and Three had left to go across town on a dry run to see how long it will take Three to get to work if he gets the new job he's being interviewed for on Wednesday (more on that later). I was sitting here and Emma (remember her? She and One were an item for 5 minutes last year ... they work together) wandered through. OK. I know that they still go out from time to time and a few times she has crashed here after they've been out. She has a cracked rib and I gave her some panadol. Then Himself rang to say that LGF (remember HER? She and One were an item forever until he broke up with her last year and they have stayed friends) had texted Three asking him to "wake up his drunken brother". Three told her he couldn't because he wasn't home and she replied that that was OK as she'd wake him herself when she got here. I went through and woke One and was telling him this and as I got to the bit about LGF waking him when she got here I turned around ... and there she was!!
One had a very bemused look on his face!!!! When I told him the two girls were out the back having a cigarette he looked as if the sky was about to fall in. I think he's in deep shit. The rest of the family and Fireman Sam and Gina (I texted him - of course, I did!!) think it's hysterical. And now LGF is driving Emma home (with One in the car as well!) and then she and One are spending the day together. Apparently One was meant to be at LGF's place at 8.00 this morning only he didn't get HOME til 8.00 this morning!! And he thought LGF had cancelled the arrangement but she said she hadn't. Whatever. I'd love to be a fly on THAT wall!
Himself and I went down to have another look and the estate on the golf course and have chosen a house. Suze and Neil kindly offered to give us a cheque for $5,000 (which I would reimburse as soon as I got home) so we could put a holding deposit down but the person manning the sales office didn't have the paperwork or something and can't do anything until the proper agent gets back from holidays on the 14th. She assured us that the place won't be sold until we get the opportunity to get the paperwork done. This gives us some breathing space to have a good think about it and organise finance and the like.
I love the estate and the houses are very attractive. It would be a complete lifestyle change which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's 25 minutes away from where we are at the moment and one of my fears is that One and Two won't come and visit because they will think it's too far away. Silly thinking, I know. Also, it's a move that once made cannot be unmade as we would not be able to afford to move back into this area. We are counting on the fact that this is a better area from a property price perspective to enable us to move with a lower mortgage (or even none but that's unlikely). When I was pregnant with Two we moved to an outer suburb and it was a disaster. I guess that experience is influencing how I feel about this potential move.
I am worried that I have some ambivalent feelings about this but I suppose it's good that I'm not all "lalalalala this is fantastic and perfect and wonderful and everything will be rosy" which would be a recipe for disappointment.
We are going to go back down again today and have another look around.
So I'd better go and get dressed.
Friday, 4 January 2008
The rest of my day
I went out to the other hospital and learned how to sample air.
It's not rocket science but involves a bit more than breathing.
Whilst out there with my boss's boss (who therefore must be my bossier boss ... or something) I learned that they (my two bosses) are more than happy with me. And that my tenure will finish in September cos the person I am covering WILL be back. And when I got back to work she rang (and THAT was a weird moment ... I haven't heard from her in weeks) and in the course of the conversation she reiterated what I had already had confirmed earlier today. Which I knew was a distinct probability seeing as we were looking at secondments and all but I had hoped she wouldn't come back.
So ... Good? I am appreciated and valued where I am and I love the job I'm doing.
Bad? Will have to go back where I came from.
Not so bad? It could be a lot worse! I don't hate where I came from and it's still early days.
Later
Himself and I went out for dinner. Just to the local pub. It was nice to just ... be. We didn't walk as the temperature was still pushing high 30s (degrees C)! Now to fiddle around on the net before bed.
Much later
We talked about the potential ramifications of my job and I need to remember that I didn't hate what I was doing THAT much!!! Even though a tear or two of frustration just might have been shed.
Tomorrow we are going to have a closer look at the estate I've mentioned over the past week or so. The sales office is finally open.
More tomorrow.
It's not rocket science but involves a bit more than breathing.
Whilst out there with my boss's boss (who therefore must be my bossier boss ... or something) I learned that they (my two bosses) are more than happy with me. And that my tenure will finish in September cos the person I am covering WILL be back. And when I got back to work she rang (and THAT was a weird moment ... I haven't heard from her in weeks) and in the course of the conversation she reiterated what I had already had confirmed earlier today. Which I knew was a distinct probability seeing as we were looking at secondments and all but I had hoped she wouldn't come back.
So ... Good? I am appreciated and valued where I am and I love the job I'm doing.
Bad? Will have to go back where I came from.
Not so bad? It could be a lot worse! I don't hate where I came from and it's still early days.
Later
Himself and I went out for dinner. Just to the local pub. It was nice to just ... be. We didn't walk as the temperature was still pushing high 30s (degrees C)! Now to fiddle around on the net before bed.
Much later
We talked about the potential ramifications of my job and I need to remember that I didn't hate what I was doing THAT much!!! Even though a tear or two of frustration just might have been shed.
Tomorrow we are going to have a closer look at the estate I've mentioned over the past week or so. The sales office is finally open.
More tomorrow.
Ouch!
Up to the park this morning. I managed three laps without stopping which is good. Frustrating that I am pushing to do three but Fireman Sam did tell me ages ago that we lose our cardiac fitness very quickly and I didn't really do much in December so I guess it will take me time to get back up to 5 laps. Plus I'm doing this on my own and one never pushes oneself as hard as someone else does.
Like a lot of overweight women (and maybe men for all I know) I have experienced the agony of chafing. A couple of years ago when Himself and I went to Far North Queensland for a holiday we would walk for hours along the beach and one day my thighs were so badly chafed they were bleeding (TMI, sorry!). Yesterday on the x trainer my inner upper arm started to sting a bit from being rubbed on my T shirt. I need a tshirt with different sleeves, I think. This morning I started to sting under the left boob. I wasn't sure if it was my bra or the heart moniter strap. When I got home and was making breakfast I noticed that there was what looked like a muddy smudge across the front of my tshirt. This was strange as I had only done stretches and ab work lying on my back and when I investigated I found that I had been bleeding under the left boob from where the bra had chafed when I was running. Not much but combined with the sweat it left a decent sized smear. Does this mean my bra is too tight or too loose? At least it's now the weekend and I won't be running again until probably Tuesday as I have decided to alternate Xtrainer and running weeks ... MWF Xtrainer one week and then MWF running the next. Unless we get really, really hot nights again and then I'll probably skip the park and stay indoors.
What a waffly entry!
I am off to a different hospital this morning to learn how to take air sampling. Then back to my usual hospital and then THE WEEKEND! Himself and I are planning to go and have a chat to someone at the sales office of the estate I was telling you about last weekend. And then maybe some golf although it's supposed to be hot. A walk or a bike ride and maybe some reading.
MizS has reminded me that I need to get my eyes checked. I am about due for a normal checkup but I am supposed to be having 6 monthly pressure checks as my mother has glaucoma and the pressure in one of my eyes has been a bit on the high side. And I sort of didn't get the last 6 month check done so I really should make that appointment. And the dentist. And the mammogram now that I am over 50. And I really must see a podiatrist as my feet are not in good shape and I am depending on them a lot right now. A massage would be nice, too!!
Like a lot of overweight women (and maybe men for all I know) I have experienced the agony of chafing. A couple of years ago when Himself and I went to Far North Queensland for a holiday we would walk for hours along the beach and one day my thighs were so badly chafed they were bleeding (TMI, sorry!). Yesterday on the x trainer my inner upper arm started to sting a bit from being rubbed on my T shirt. I need a tshirt with different sleeves, I think. This morning I started to sting under the left boob. I wasn't sure if it was my bra or the heart moniter strap. When I got home and was making breakfast I noticed that there was what looked like a muddy smudge across the front of my tshirt. This was strange as I had only done stretches and ab work lying on my back and when I investigated I found that I had been bleeding under the left boob from where the bra had chafed when I was running. Not much but combined with the sweat it left a decent sized smear. Does this mean my bra is too tight or too loose? At least it's now the weekend and I won't be running again until probably Tuesday as I have decided to alternate Xtrainer and running weeks ... MWF Xtrainer one week and then MWF running the next. Unless we get really, really hot nights again and then I'll probably skip the park and stay indoors.
What a waffly entry!
I am off to a different hospital this morning to learn how to take air sampling. Then back to my usual hospital and then THE WEEKEND! Himself and I are planning to go and have a chat to someone at the sales office of the estate I was telling you about last weekend. And then maybe some golf although it's supposed to be hot. A walk or a bike ride and maybe some reading.
MizS has reminded me that I need to get my eyes checked. I am about due for a normal checkup but I am supposed to be having 6 monthly pressure checks as my mother has glaucoma and the pressure in one of my eyes has been a bit on the high side. And I sort of didn't get the last 6 month check done so I really should make that appointment. And the dentist. And the mammogram now that I am over 50. And I really must see a podiatrist as my feet are not in good shape and I am depending on them a lot right now. A massage would be nice, too!!
Thursday, 3 January 2008
I'm HUNGRY!
I did 50 minutes this morning on the X trainer and a half hour walk this evening.
I've had dinner and a small bowl of ice cream and I think I might finally be full. But I have been hungry since lunch time! I think I need to have a bit more with me than a small box of sultanas which I usually eat in the car on the way home.
Eating is important if you want to lose weight and maintain any level of fitness. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I remember some women being told to ease up on their weight training so they could lose the necessary weight to get to goal (the old muscle weighs more than fat nonsense) and if they exercised less they wouldn't be as hungry so they wouldn't want to eat and so they would lose weight. Something just doesn't seem right with that logic. I was hungry today because I have ramped up the exercise and my body was screaming at me to feed it. If I don't feed it properly then I will be lethargic and lacking in energy.
And now I'm going to bed so I can get up and have a trot around the park tomorrow. And tomorrow is Friday. Ahhhh. Bliss.
I've had dinner and a small bowl of ice cream and I think I might finally be full. But I have been hungry since lunch time! I think I need to have a bit more with me than a small box of sultanas which I usually eat in the car on the way home.
Eating is important if you want to lose weight and maintain any level of fitness. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I remember some women being told to ease up on their weight training so they could lose the necessary weight to get to goal (the old muscle weighs more than fat nonsense) and if they exercised less they wouldn't be as hungry so they wouldn't want to eat and so they would lose weight. Something just doesn't seem right with that logic. I was hungry today because I have ramped up the exercise and my body was screaming at me to feed it. If I don't feed it properly then I will be lethargic and lacking in energy.
And now I'm going to bed so I can get up and have a trot around the park tomorrow. And tomorrow is Friday. Ahhhh. Bliss.
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Happy Days!
After my rather bleak post yesterday I got up this morning and did three laps of the park. I did two, stretched a bit and then did a third. I wasn't trying to break records, just ease back into it. My back seemed a bit dodgy as I felt as if I was running on an angle. I thought about doing a fourth lap but the track was getting busy and I don't like running with too many people. Where were those bastards when I was out in the freezing cold in the middle of winter? Wussy sods!
I did a lot of walking at work. I reckon I must have walked all over the hospital at least three times! And when I got home I walked for another 90 minutes. Came home and had a chicken salad followed by fresh mango and some yummy icecream and am now about to toddle off to bed.
And the bestest bit? In the past I would have given all this away because of Christmas and gaining a couple of kilos over the weeks and then not feeling able to start back at my previous running level. Today I relished in the feeling of moving again and am loving the stiffness in my muscles.
I did receive the ubiquitous Weight Watchers post Christmas invitation and felt the familiar tingle of anticipation at the thought of new menus and all the pretty writing and pretty pictures and promises of things if only I'd sign up and give them another go. And then I realised that what I'm doing works. I don't feel as if I'm on a diet. I don't count calories or points or anything like that and I LOVE the way I feel.
As I said ... happy days!
I did a lot of walking at work. I reckon I must have walked all over the hospital at least three times! And when I got home I walked for another 90 minutes. Came home and had a chicken salad followed by fresh mango and some yummy icecream and am now about to toddle off to bed.
And the bestest bit? In the past I would have given all this away because of Christmas and gaining a couple of kilos over the weeks and then not feeling able to start back at my previous running level. Today I relished in the feeling of moving again and am loving the stiffness in my muscles.
I did receive the ubiquitous Weight Watchers post Christmas invitation and felt the familiar tingle of anticipation at the thought of new menus and all the pretty writing and pretty pictures and promises of things if only I'd sign up and give them another go. And then I realised that what I'm doing works. I don't feel as if I'm on a diet. I don't count calories or points or anything like that and I LOVE the way I feel.
As I said ... happy days!
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Back to work
Tomorrow I'm back to work. I will get up at 5.30 and go for a run.
I am having shocking anxiety attacks but that's normal for this time of year and too much wine imbibed over the past couple of weeks.
Fireman Sam came over and started to show me how to use the Polar running computer. It's not as difficult as it looks but just the thought of using it triggers further anxiety. He is going away again for a fortnight leaving on Saturday. I don't know why I feel so dependent on him but I am terrified that I will lose everything I have achieved over the past 7 months. Not that the last month has been anything to write home about.
I think I will head off to bed and see if I can get a good night's sleep. The plans I had for a relaxing break didn't eventuate but I'm not surprised. This isn't a relaxing time of year and I miss my routine.
Not a very uplifting New Year's Day post but it's how I'm feeling at the moment and it would be dishonest for me to pretend otherwise when I use this as a way of checking back to see where I've been in the past and how far I've come.
Happy New Year, anyway!!!
I am having shocking anxiety attacks but that's normal for this time of year and too much wine imbibed over the past couple of weeks.
Fireman Sam came over and started to show me how to use the Polar running computer. It's not as difficult as it looks but just the thought of using it triggers further anxiety. He is going away again for a fortnight leaving on Saturday. I don't know why I feel so dependent on him but I am terrified that I will lose everything I have achieved over the past 7 months. Not that the last month has been anything to write home about.
I think I will head off to bed and see if I can get a good night's sleep. The plans I had for a relaxing break didn't eventuate but I'm not surprised. This isn't a relaxing time of year and I miss my routine.
Not a very uplifting New Year's Day post but it's how I'm feeling at the moment and it would be dishonest for me to pretend otherwise when I use this as a way of checking back to see where I've been in the past and how far I've come.
Happy New Year, anyway!!!
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