Sunday

My back is a bit iffy at the moment. I went to the physio yesterday and she did some deep muscle stuff and applied heat. It was a bit better. There is a tendency to become over observant after an injury and worry over every tweak and twinge. I see this in my patients who often become so tuned into their bodies that they start to fret over things they wouldn't even have been aware of before their diagnosis.

You may remember that my training regime involved 90 minutes on the exercise bike at the weekend. I have fallen out of love with my exercise bike and Fireman Sam gave me the green light to ride my pushbike as long as I ride for 3 hours or more. Yesterday we returned the gadget that didn't work and were given one that did and I can now see how far and how fast I go on my bike. And the weather has gone to shit! If it doesn't show signs of improving by midday I shall have to suck it up and get on the exercise bike. I don't mind a bit of rain but the wind is not pleasant.

I'm having a bit of a down day, today. Interestingly Fireman Sam asked me why I was stressed when we were driving to the golf course on Friday and yesterday Three bought me a single long stemmed pink rose because I was stressed! I think I might be a bit stressed! I must admit, with everything going on at the moment I do feel a bit overwhelmed. I even feel very fat today. Like none of the weight has gone.

Yesterday Himself and I bought a new dishwasher. It will be delivered on Thursday. This time we bought a decent one (an Asko). Our current one is about 6 years old (an LG) but we have had no end of trouble with it and NOW people tell me never to buy LG. So, if you're in the market for whitegoods, avoid LG.

OK. It's 10.30. I've had my breakfast. One is icing his foot. Himself is fiddlefarting around. Two is housesitting with GGF and Three is at work. Tina is still asleep but I need to make sure she's up by midday as she has to work. I think I'll go and have a shower and see what the day offers.

Two more shifts and then I am no longer an oncology nurse (for 11 months, anyway).

Madness

Fireman Sam has often commented on a desire to play golf but was reluctant to go out and make a fool of himself. I suppose after I ran head first into a netball post on Wednesday when we (I) were doing sprints sort of made him feel safe with me in the making an idiot of yourself stakes.

So today we went to the local 9 hole course. The weather forecast was for hail and gale force winds. But we went anyway. There were a few other mad people around and we let several of them play through.

Fireman Sam had a less than auspicious start but finally managed to launch his ball .... straight into the creek. But at least it was launched. I thought he was going to give up and go home when he struggled to even get it off the tee.

After that there was no holding him. He had a wonderful time. Even when the gale force winds hit (and blew a tree down right in front of us) and the rain was like slivers of ice we kept playing. He hit that ball all over the course. Sometimes he even hit it onto the fairway of the hole we were actually playing!

I think he might come out with me again. I just hope I don't have to run into another netball post before he does. That hurt.

Himself came home just after lunch. We went to the shopping centre because I really needed some new bras. And I bought two everyday ones and a sports bra. TWO SIZES SMALLER THAN WHAT I'VE BEEN WEARING! How chuffed am I? No wonder things were a tad unrestrained. The jeans I'm wearing which are stretch size 14 are falling off me. Literally. I am wearing a jumper that I haven't worn for over two years. I need to get some new clothes but keep hanging on. Maybe next week. I should probably get a decent outfit to wear to court with Two on Wednesday, though. I might just get a pair of slacks over the weekend.

In the mean time I'm looking to book a few days away at Lakes Entrance. Because I don't have the time off that I originally planned for we have decided to go back there as it's only about a 3-4 hour drive away and we know that there are good restaurants and several scenic walks. I just hope it turns out to be more pleasant than the last time we were there. If Himself pulls the sulky stunts again I'm out of here.

Off to the supermarket.

Catchya!

And where did you spend YOUR sunday morning?

I spent mine in the emergency department of my hospital. With One. Who went out with some mates after his exam last evening and badly twisted his ankle. And he wasn't even drunk!! He wasn't going to do anything with it but it looked really swollen this morning so we rocked up (I refuse to go the closer public hospital) and they x-rayed it and it's not broken although the doctor was convinced it would be. She thinks he's damaged a ligament or two and he has his foot in a plaster backslab and is on crutches. Pink ones! He is very worried that this will impact on his ability to join the fire brigade. The injury, not the pink crutches!

He will seek advice from a sports physician and a physio and in the mean time will keep the foot elevated and take pain killers.

I was going to go for a bike ride this afternoon but Himself can't get the new trip computer we bought yesterday to work and it's getting late and I need to go and buy One some pain meds.

Have a good week.

Sheba loves her boy.

One is currently, as we speak, right at this very minute on his way to sit his exam as the first step to getting into the fire brigade. He went out last night but didn't get totally shit faced as is usual when he goes for 'a couple of beers' after work on a Friday. In fact, Himself went to pick him up and the three of us went to the pub for dinner and had a really pleasant evening. Today he went to Chadstone and spent rather a lot of money on things he really needed. Two pairs of shoes, a new belt buckle and some socks. And Three's birthday present. After the exam he is going into town to catch up with Three and some others. I'm sure a few more drinks will be consumed.

Two is filming a music DVD all day and half the night. His throat has become worse. He's having difficulty swallowing again. I will have to ring the specialist on Monday and see what's taking so long. He should be on methotrexate by now. Hopefully once things have been sorted out on 3rd October he will be able to settle down and his stress levels will drop considerably.

Three and Tina are a couple again. Young love!!!! I wouldn't go back there if you paid me!

I did a lot of running around today. I needed to get to Medicare to claim a whole lot of doctors' bills. I still have many more but prefer to get cash and you can only claim up to $500 before they send you a cheque. I went to Borders and bought some recipe books. Like I need more of them! Then Himself and I went to the butcher for a couple of pieces of eye fillet - it's only the two of us for dinner. Then we went to Rebel sport and I bought a new bike helmet (blue to match my bike, my iPod shuffle and my shoes!), some bike gloves and a gadget that tells me how fast I'm going and how far I've gone. Today would have been a beautiful day to ride. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same as I've almost talked Himself into coming with me. If not, I'll have to go on my lonesome.

While I was at Chadstone I had a look at clothes. It won't be long before I'll be able to just walk into a shop and pick something because I like it and it looks good rather than just because it fits. I am going to get the style consultant I used earlier in the year to come on a shopping trip with me to help me choose some classical tailored clothes because

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!

The interview was fun. I decided that I wouldn't over stress about it. I had a job that I would be happy to continue with and so relaxed and chatted away to the two interviewers. Embarrassing moment no. 1 was when I had a total mental blank as to the name of one of them who happens to head the entire Infection Control department for the whole health network. Whoops. I was praying I wouldn't be put in a position where I had to use his name. And I wasn't. I was asked the usual questions ... why do you want to work in this area, give us an example of when you have changed your practice and why, and what would you do if you were on an infection control ward round and a nurse came to you with reports that two of her patients were showing symptoms of gastro. I was fine until the last question. I couldn't for the life of me work out what I would do. So I said that I would call Infection Control!!! Apparently that was the right answer. I gave them the names of my referees and went back to work to cover them for lunch. Then Himself and I went and had lunch and one of my referees rang to say that she had been contacted. About 3.30 I got the phone call asking me if I would like the job. My references were 'glowing' and I interviewed well. I start on 15th October.

The start date means that my holiday plans will have to change. I will take the week before off which means I have 5 more shifts in my current position. And my boss comes back from leave on Tuesday and doesn't know anything about this! Himself and I were going to go to Tasmania but don't really have enough time so will look at going somewhere closer to home. Maybe Lakes Entrance again.

I will be working full time and will be earning a lot more money than I am at the moment. It's a 12 month contract and I could be jobless at the end of it but it's worth it for the experience. I'm not sure what the legalities are regarding keeping my existing position open for me. I'll suss all that out next week.

Things will have to change around here. The boys will have to keep things a lot tidier as I will be employing a cleaner. My training will continue. 5.00am every weekday. Hopefully there will be the opportunity to do some fun things at the weekends. Fireman Sam wants to get his hands on Himself. Starting this Monday. At 5.00am. In the park. Himself is rather nervous but I think he'll come along. I really hope that Himself discovers how great it feels to be healthy so that the two of us can share things like bike riding and bush walking and trail running.

You're all up to date, now.

Belinda .... thanks for your comment. I can't get into your blog and the email address you have is old and I can't seem to get into that either!! Not sure what to do. Any suggestions? Anyone?

Oh ... when we went out to dinner last night I wore the jeans that I wore when we went out for my birthday (the ones that I couldn't even get ON not that long ago) and I was looking for a top. I decided to try some jumpers that I haven't been able to fit into for several years but didn't have the heart to throw out. AND THEY FIT!! I wore the same outfit again today. And after Himself and I had been to lunch yesterday we went back to his office to get his stuff and as I was walking towards the glass doors at the entrance to his building I thought they were really badly distorted and kept moving every which way trying to get an accurate image of myself ... only to realise that the much thinner person walking towards them was a) real and b) ME!

I wish I could bottle this feeling and give it away.

One has a new tattoo

It looks better in real life and when you can see the whole person! I was very dubious but it has turned out really well. And he loves it.

Today is 16 weeks since I began the get fitter and slimmer project. I have lost 13.5 kilos (about 30 pounds for those of you who think in those terms!) and about 10% body fat (body fat, not body weight ... that is well over the 10% mark). I am nearly at the half way mark. I was ready to toss everything in at the weekend. It was all too haaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrd. And I didn't want to doooo iiiiiit anymooooooore. I whinged to One and got short shrift! I didn't do any exercise over the weekend and I think it did me good. I hate to say it but I think I just might, maybe, have overdone it just a little tiny bit. Perhaps. Anyway I started back on Monday with a vengeance. I have managed a couple of little runs as part of my evening walks and enjoyed them. I emailed Fireman Sam my results and he rang and we had a chat and maybe he will be back training me next week. And maybe not, depending on his back and workcover and stuff. I'm sure we will train together again at some point but in the mean time I will keep plodding along on my own and try to add some bits and pieces in as I feel I can cope with them. I miss his company and his encouragement and I certainly work better when he's around but I have proven to myself that I can do this.

We had a lovely Sunday with Jane and Mary. My mother was a complete cow. I realised that she was jealous that Jane had been in touch with me and not her. She told Dr. Teacher that she couldn't manage lunch at his place (5 minutes away, remember?) but could I take Jane and Mary over to her place on the way. Which Himself and I did. And were totally ignored!!! It was quite funny in a bizarre way. Jane and Mary commented on my patience with my parents. Dad is really very frail and Dr. Teacher and I are very worried about him but mother informed Dr Teacher and Dad yesterday that Dad has to keep well because he has to look after HER. Dad shouldn't be driving and we thought that he would be resistant to that decision when it had to be made but Dr Teacher thinks that Dad is aware of this imminent possibility and it's Mum that's insisting he continues to drive so he can take her to restaurants for lunch and stuff. We discussed all this today over 9 holes of golf and Dr Teacher has decided that he will have to sit down with Mum and point out that Dad is getting very frail and is not there just for her convenience. I would go with him to have the conversation but I am so far in her bad books at the moment that it would only inflame the situation. Dad is complaining of a sore back which is unheard of. Dad never complains which means the pain is bad and Dad is worried. Mum dismissed it by saying the doctor thinks it's just (JUST!!) osteoporosis. Which means that Dad could have a crush fracture of a vertebrae. I envisage things getting very messy in that department and I don't envy Dr Teacher at all.

I have an interview for the new position tomorrow. I fluctuate between confidence and despair!!

My physiotherapist recommended I try pilates for my back and I had the first session this afternoon. It is a helluva lot harder than it looks!! I have another 3 sessions booked and I'll see how I go.

One has his entrance exam for the fire brigade on Saturday evening. He is very nervous.

Three and Tina have broken up but will meet over the weekend to discuss things (her decision on both accounts) and I wouldn't be surprised if they get back together. He was upset at the time but isn't really fussed either way at the moment.

Two has a lot going on at the moment. Some good and some bad. I shall elaborate after 3rd October when, hopefully, the bad will all be resolved.

Now I must go and start getting dinner ready. I had a day off tomorrow but am going in for the morning and to cover lunch breaks as they only had 3 staff members on. Wish me luck for the interview at 11.15.

Windy!

When I was a kid there was a nursery rhyme that went "March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers". Apparently March is windy in the UK! I have never quite worked out how to translate that to the Southern hemisphere but it has been very windy over the past couple of days. We had rain today, too, which is lovely to see. I don't know if it will be enough to get our dams over 40% capacity, though. We are in for a grim summer. My front garden is so bare but I'm not prepared to put anything in until I know if we are going onto stage 4 restrictions which will mean no outside watering at all. As it is we lost a lot of plants last summer when we went onto stage 3 restrictions.

I had lunch with the Mermaid today. It was lovely to catch up with her. We always feel better after we've been able to have a long chat.

Fireman Sam rang. It looks like it will be another 2 weeks before he is able to come around to train me. And who knows how long before he can really work out. I guess I'm on my own. As I said yesterday, I knew this would happen but I was hoping it wouldn't be quite yet. The Mermaid noticed a big change in me (I hadn't seen her for 5 weeks) and a top I went to wear today is definitely too big. I really must go through my wardrobe.

The plans I had for Sunday are all over the place because my mother has a cold. She has had the cold for over a week but waited until it turned into bronchitis before going to the doctor. I know I sound unsympathetic but this happens every time she gets a cold. Why she doesn't go to the doctor at the first sign I don't know. The really uncharitable part of me feels that she is using this to control the weekend as it was something that was arranged without her and she doesn't like that. Yes, I still have issues with her and they are not getting better as we both get older. And if my bloody sister-in-law tells me to be flexible once more I'll flex her!!

It's just Three and me home tonight. He's gone to get fish and chips for dinner. Not a healthy eating day for me at all but at least I've ordered a piece of grilled flake and will have some salad with it.

I'm going to go and pop into my pyjamas and snuggle up in front of the telly.

Have a good weekend.

Hi! It's me!

Wow. Where does the time go?

I admit that I have started numerous entries but have had to abandon them due to lack of time, content or enthusiasm!

So what's been happening in this neck of the woods?

I had a birthday last week. It was a lovely day. Some of my birthdays have not been the best and so I tend to not get my hopes up but this one was just great. I was called into work but, although it was really busy, I enjoyed spending it with my workmates. Specially as the boss is on annual leave. That evening the family gave me some lovely pressies and we went out to dinner. The five of us, a surrogate son (Fireman Sam) and three girlfriends (GGF, Tina and Fireman's girlfriend, Gina). We went to the local pub, had a good meal, played the pokies and then came back here. I felt thoroughly spoilt and loved. And one of the best things was that Himself organised things (not sure if One prompted him!) - this was amazing as usually nothing gets arranged and I end up doing it or we end up doing nothing.

I fell into the exercise doldrums a while back. It was a combination of my back and shin injuries and Fireman Sam being majorly out of action with his back injury. Also, we had played around with my routine and I had too many options! I still did something every day but it all felt very messy. Fireman Sam came around the day before my birthday and re-jigged my routine. I now spend 50 minutes every morning on the elliptical trainer and then walk in the evening. I tried to incorporate a run into that walk (as he suggested) but kept running (haha) into difficulties with my back and leg. On Tuesday I did a series of sprints within the walk without too many problems so will try that again this evening. I'm still not doing as much as I was initially when I was lifting weights and using the bag but I have to remember that this is for life and I need to find a rhythm to all of this that I can do forever. I really struggled with the ET in the mornings but Fireman Sam came around on the Thursday and Friday and that certainly helped (can't slack when he's around!) and after having a difficult time this Monday while watching TV I experimented with listening to my (new for my birthday from the boys) iPod shuffle on Tuesday and it was much easier. Yesterday wasn't too bad but this morning was bloody hard again. It could be that I had pizza for dinner last evening and my body was rebelling against the less than adequate nutrition it was given or that I was just really tired. My heart rate sits around the 140-150 mark unless I really push it and then it gets up to the high 160s. When I started this regime it got up to 180 in the final minute of going as hard as I can but now I'm lucky to get to 167. And when I stop it drops down to the 120s within less than a minute and back under 100 within a couple of minutes. This is fantastic from my cardiac perspective but my muscles are finding it all rather daunting. Fireman Sam is doing a two week course related to his search and rescue role so I haven't had his encouragement this week and won't see him next week either. Hopefully after that he will be able to come around once or twice a week. I can see the day when I will be able to do all this on my own but at the moment I still need his input. Once he has been given the all clear from his doctor he will be able to do more with me (lifting weights are out for 6 months and running isn't looking good either). The poor bugger is so frustrated with his lack of exercise.

Himself is in Sydney for the final few days of his project before he's back home permanently. I let One take Himself's car into work this morning and went back to bed for half an hour which turned into 2 and a half hours! I think I am tired and a bit under the weather. I have booked two weeks annual leave from the 15th October. Now I just have to decide where to go as I am NOT spending it bumming around the house.

I applied for a new job this week. It's in infection control but is full time and quite different from what I'm doing at the moment. Applications closed yesterday and it could be 3 weeks before I even find out if I'm to be invited for an interview. The trouble with applying for a position within the organisation you work for is that it's hard to bullshit at interview! I'm trying to put it all out of my mind and just get on with things. Two's courtcase is in less than 3 weeks and that is certainly playing on both his and my minds. He is quite ratty but that is his way of handling these things. Unfortunately Himself doesn't understand that and when Two and I get snitchy with each other he wades in to sort things and makes everything worse. We are all having to get used to having him home again.

Last Sunday One and I went for a 3 hour bike ride. We rode from home down to the beach and then along the beach bike tracks and back. It was a glorious day albeit a bit windy. Fireman Sam and Gina had given me a camelbak for my birthday and I tried it out and it was fantastic. (For the uninitiated it's a bladder in a backpack that you fill with water - Two suggested a shiraz - which you drink via a tube that you just bite and suck on as you walk/run/ride. There's a pocket for keys and mobile and some money. Much easier than lugging bottles of water). I never cease to be amazed by the number of people who think that signs are there for everyone but them. There are two distinctly marked trails. One for pedestrians and one for cyclists and skaters. But there are always groups of people strolling - STROLLING, not running - on the bike track. And they look quite annoyed as you ride past them. And as for the people that just wander across the bike path without checking to see if anyone is coming and then get all shitty as you swerve to avoid running into them ...! People! They should be banned. One and I agreed that we should ride more often.

Speaking of One, it looks as if he and LGF will be an item again in the very near future. We are all ('cept him of course) quite concerned about this. He assures me that things will be different this time round but it's going to be very difficult for us to accept LGF back into our lives after the way she treated him.

This Sunday I am hosting a lunch for Dr. Teacher and his family and my parents. An old friend of my mother's (although a couple of decades younger than her) has been in touch with me over the course of the year as her partner has undergone treatment for ovarian cancer and the two of them are doing a big trip to celebrate her remission. Jane was originally from Western Australia but has lived in England for years. I haven't seen her for over 20 years and have never met Mary. Jane emailed me to ask if we could meet up and if I could arrange for them to catch up with my parents, hence the lunch. I was going to suggest a pub but my father is very deaf and finds those venues difficult to handle so it will be here. It could be an interesting day.

I had great plans for today but they have come to naught. I guess going back to bed didn't help but I haven't done anything I'd planned to. I need to tidy the house and give it a bit of a clean. My excuse for not starting today is that someone is bound to come home this evening and mess it up again! So I have sat here on my shrinking arse all morning! I am having lunch with the Mermaid tomorrow and will get up at 5.00 for my session on the ET so will tackle the house straight after. Now I think I will go to the supermarket to avoid the after school crush, hang the sheets on the line and maybe read a book! Then my walk/run later in the afternoon/evening before One gets home from work (via LGF's place). Two is at GGF's place this evening and Three is working til 9.00pm.

Speaking of Two and GGF, he asked me if she could move in here til the end of the year. She is paying a lot of money to rent a room with a couple who are less then pleasant. She basically lives here anyway. She is a nice enough girl but does get a bit loud and irritating at times and I don't think the other two boys would be terribly enthused with the idea of her officially living here. The two of them are planning on getting a place together asap but Two needs a stable income. They have been really good over the past few weeks with tidying the place up a bit and offering to help with dinner and the like. I think I'll wait and see what the result of the court case is and then decide. I have too much on my plate at the moment. In the mean time she will continue to be here. If I get the job and work full time it may not be too bad as I won't have days off which I resent spending with other people. Maybe I could suggest that she can stay but the rest of the family think she's sort of moved back in with her parents but spends most of her time here.

When does parenting get easier??

OK. Off to do something!