new job

Just a quick visit to thank everyone for their good wishes and to let you know how things are going.

We are at the tail end of a gastro outbreak (no pun intended!) so it has been a bit of a baptism by fire but not as bad as if it had been last week. A very steep learning curve but I'm loving it. There is so much to do every day.

I have managed to get up at 5.00 to work out. Yesterday on the cross trainer and this morning in the park with Fireman Sam and One. Early nights are essential!

I am enjoying wearing 'normal' clothes although I'm aware the novelty may wear off. And I have received some lovely compliments on how much weight I've lost. Still a long way to go and I musn't get complacent but a boost to the old ego, all the same.

I'm off the check the web and then put my feet up and watch some telly. Himself is cooking dinner which is such a help.

Talk soon ...

Observations from a bicycle

This view is not from a bicycle. It's from a walking track at Lakes' Entrance. Upon which I ran for a bit.

This afternoon I went for a bike ride. It was a glorious day and, therefore, many Melbournians and their families chose to take advantage of such a lovely Spring afternoon.

We are very fortunate in Melbourne to have many paths designated for walking and/or cycling. They are well marked both from a direction point of view and also with reminders of etiquette and acceptable behaviours.

Unfortunately, many people are either illiterate or ignorant. Or maybe both. But I tend to think the latter.

When a sign says "dogs must be kept on a leash" this means you. Just because you have a canine companion that is not much bigger than a large rat doesn't mean that it is any less annoying when it gets in the way of a bike. Or that its shit is any less offensive than any other dog's. That's why there are signs that say "please clean up after your dog". Which should be obvious but some people seem to need reminding.

When you are walking on a shared bike/pedestrian path and a cyclist rings her bell, that is an indication that said cyclist is approaching and would like you and yours to move to one side. It doesn't mean that you all stop walking, straddled out across both lanes, and turn to look in amazement that a bike might be approaching. Nor does it mean that your cute youngster keep riding along in the wrong lane ringing his bell in reply (although I did smile at that one!).

It seems to take longer to ride out than it does to ride back.

Some people shouldn't wear lycra.

And a certain man shouldn't walk along the boardwalk by the river in a pair of grungy undies and not much else. I know it was warm but please, have some sensitivities.

It was, though, a divine ride and I find that each time I go out my fitness is just that much more. I can ride up hills in higher gears (I think that's right) and today managed to ride up the huge overpass at the end of the ride that took me back to my car. Next time I think I'll ride from home and not worry about driving ... as long as it's not raining and there aren't too many nuff nuffs on the road.

Tomorrow I start my new job. Up at 5.00am (that will be a challenge). Now I'm off to the supermarket to get the ingredients for dinner (quiche and salad) and other bits and pieces.

I feel fantastic.

Have a good week, all.

we played a little golf

And there will be many more pictures but blogger is taking forever to upload and I am going to bed. I'll fiddle some more tomorrow.

It's good to be home.

Ch... Ch... Ch... Changes

But first .... Swans. Baby swans. And their parents. Aren't they just the cutest things?

I have many more photos but will share them judiciously. That way I will have something when my camera runs out of batteries or I haven't taken anything or MizS nags me for more photos. But she will have to wait for photos of me cos none were taken this trip and I'm not prepared to share the befores without afters.

It was a very pleasant few days away. I walked lots and ran a bit. We went on a couple of fairly serious bush walks. We had some good food and some mediocre food. I drank more than I should have and I think I have gained a bit of weight.

So. The changes. And, just to remind you, I do not cope well with change.

Two and GGF have found a place to live and will be moving the weekend of the 20th. That's next weekend. I knew they were looking but wasn't too stressed as a) they were looking around here and b) rental properties are like hens' teeth and I thought it would take them a fair while. I didn't count on a) them looking in a suburb a fair way away from here (but just around the corner from her parents' place and quite an expensive suburb) and b) her mother going to the real estate agent and brow beating them into giving them the place (well, that might be a slight exaggeration but she did go and speak with them). This is good for Two and I am really happy for him. After last week's result and now this and the positive influence of the psychologist he's started seeing ... how could I not be happy for him.

One is seeing a lot more of LGF. I am not happy about this but, it's his life. When I told him that Two and GGF had found a place and told him that he wasn't allowed to move out just yet (one kid at a time, please) he informed me that he is planning on moving out with Fireman Sam in the new year. This is good because I think Fireman Sam and he will have a ball and because LGF doesn't want him to (shaddup ... this is my son and I will be judgmental if I so choose). I just can't deal with the thought of both of them leaving on the same day. Not that they will be leaving on the same day cos Two will already have left but it's the thinking about it on the same day ... oh, you know what I mean.

Himself can barely hide his glee at the kids finally moving out. But that doesn't stop him being all mother hen and worrying about things and trying to tell Two how he should be doing things. Which, I suspect but Two denies, may be one of the catalysts for the move. I am still struggling with having Himself home all the time and find his controlling personality difficult to deal with. To be fair, that's my problem, not his.

All this plus starting my new job, working full time, losing my trainer, gaining weight, issues with my parents and a myriad of other things all conspire to create some very unpleasant emotions.

I do NOT cope well with changes.

hiatus

Himself and I are off tomorrow for a few days in Lakes' Entrance.

I plan to do a lot of exercise whilst we are away (read into that what you will!)

Keep an eye on the place for me, won't you.

Hopefully I will be able to repay you with lots of photos.

The cats' food is on the bottom shelf and and their dry food is next to the stove. Could you make sure the bins go out tomorrow night? There is plenty of loo paper and there should be enough soft drink to see you through. There is money under the bowl of lemons which should be enough to feed you all but let me know if you run out and we can work out a repayment plan. Be nice to each other and try not to annoy the neighbours.

See you on Thursday ... or Friday.

Done and dusted (almost)

Two had his day in court. He and Himself had met the solicitor. I hadn't. She is delightful and well worth engaging.

It was a very stressful day. We got there at 8.30 and had a coffee. Then Two got a phone call from the solicitor who was photocopying stuff and said she'd meet us in the diversion office. We went there, Two reported in and filled in a form. Solicitor arrived and we sat and waited. And waited. And waited. Two was called into another room and emerged shortly thereafter with instructions to return in half an hour.

More coffee.

We returned. And waited. And waited. As did the other 3 people there for the diversion program. Two and two others were told their application had been accepted and to go to court 8 and wait for the magistrate. A young woman was not so lucky. Her application had been rejected.

We went to the court, took seats and waited. And waited. And waited. It was interesting to hear the other cases being presented. Mainly traffic offences. A charge of arson (a bloke set fire to some hay bales ... he was drunk at the time). The solicitor went to the loo and was approached by the mother of the young woman. Advice was given. The diversion applications were formally heard. Two expressed extreme remorse and said he had learned his lesson. The diversion order was granted. He has to repay moneys to the company he used to work for, donate money to charity and write letters of apology to those who were his managers at the time of his misadventure (read blatant adolescent stupidity). But no conviction entered. So he still has a clean record. This was the outcome we hoped for. It is the best under the circumstances and all involved are very happy (including said managers ... we popped in and saw them after we got home).

And the young woman? She was able to plead her case in front of the magistrate and explain her tragic circumstances (fled to Australia from an abusive marriage, suffered a miscarriage when she got here, became suicidal and didn't know how she was going to cope; stole a huge amount of money from her employer; has since apologised to said employer and has started repaying the money; her mother came over for the hearing and is very supportive - father doesn't know and probably won't, he's a Baptist minister and won't be very understanding). She spoke really well and was obviously trying to turn her life around. Was very contrite and the magistrate allowed her the diversion program. Everyone was so happy. Tears were shed.

I feel such a release of stress and I cannot begin to imagine how Two feels but I can see him more relaxed already.

Thanks for everyone's words of support and understanding over the past 9 months.

Between jobs

Well, today I finished up in the oncology department. My colleagues gave me big hugs and wished me well. I intend to stay in touch as they are good people and I enjoy their company. We are having a dinner in a couple of weeks as a farewell to me. Seems strange leaving but still being employed by the same organisation.

Tomorrow we go to court with Two. Needless to say the stress levels chez Merlot are very high. He and I went for a walk earlier and we touched on things a little bit. He has had this hanging over him for so long that he hasn't thought past tomorrow. Hopefully it will all be resolved and he can get on with planning his life.

I am having a fat day today. I haven't had one for ages but I feel really blobby. Probably not helped with the chocolate peanut butter brownies I baked for work and the truffles a mate made. Not that I had that much but it was enough to give me the sugar yucks. I felt so bad that I had to jump on the scale when I got home to prove to myself that I hadn't regained all the weight I've lost (I haven't).

Doesn't help that the whole personal training things is becoming less frequent and, therefore, less intense. I still do something every day but the toning stuff has taken a back seat.

On Sunday I went for a bike ride. It was very windy which was challenging but invigorating. I rode into the city (along Gardener's Creek for those that know Melbourne). I had a lovely time and sat by the river and ate my box of sultanas before heading back (MizS, I took photos on my phone but haven't worked out how to get them off the phone and into my computer!). On the way back I started to notice scenery that I had missed on the way in. And then I noticed some rather large buildings that I definitely didn't see on the way in. And then I heard bellbirds that you don't hear on Gardener's creek. And then I found a map that showed that I was miles away from where I should have been!!! So I turned around and headed back. I was glad I had my new phone with GPS just in case but I found the turn off I had missed. Next time I will plan for the detour cos I'd like to ride further up the Yarra.

OK. I'm going to make some dinner and try and chill out for the rest of the evening. I would love a glass of wine or 3 to take the edge off the anxiety but realise that that isn't the answer and look forward to a clear head in the morning. Old habits and all that but I'm not giving in. I plan on going to the park in the morning and having a bit of a run. It should clear my head and set me up for the day.

I'll let you know how things go.