What WAS I thinking about?

I HATE the heat!!  It's in the high 30s  today!  Last week we struggled to get into the 20s.  Guess that's Melbourne for you.  Sydneysiders always give us grief over our weather but I reckon we can beat them hands down at the moment.

We (meaning Himself and Two) have ripped the kitchen out of the parents' unit.  In some cases back to the brickwork.  I am hoping we can get someone to help us fix it up so we don't have to keep doing the drive up there. 

On Saturday when Himself and Two went and finished the wrecking job I stayed home and attacked the kitchen.  Gave it a really good clean with bleach and polish and stuff.  And moved a lot of things off the benches and into cupboards so it looks much cleaner and spacious.  I love having the kitchen/living area altogether but it easily gets cluttered.  Yesterday was the turn of the pantry and tomorrow I'll do the fridge.  If I tackle an area at a time it will eventually get done.

I went to the gym this morning and feel great.  I am going in the morning for a run and some core work before I go to the osteo.  Fake it til you make it is my new motto!!

The local council newsletter had an ad for volunteers to help with literacy skills in year 7 students at a local high school.  Sad that they can get all the way through primary school and still struggle but at least the school is doing something about it.  I rang today and asked to speak to the person in the ad only to be told she's not back from leave until the 31st.  So why tell people to ring and ask for her from today?  Sheesh!!  Now ... should I apply for my working with children clearance straight away in case I am successful or should I wait.  I suppose it will make me appear pro-active if I already have it.  That's assuming the woman ever calls me back!  Don't worry, if I haven't heard from her by early Feb I'll be ringing the school.

We took Tom (our 12 year old tabby - the best cat in the whole world) to the vet today because he's losing his fur.  Looks quite moth eaten, poor puss.  Vet seemed a bit vague as to cause.  Ruled some things out and then gave him a shot of long acting cortisone.  Hopefully it will stop whatever is causing it.  He does seem to be overgrooming which is not uncommon in pets.  Angus had his 12 month vaccinations and heartworm shot.  Pets aren't cheap, are they?!

Cold chook and salad for dinner.  Yum.  Himself has made his potato salad.  Double Yum!!

Excuse me, but where the hell is summer?

So this morning we woke up to hail, gale force winds and freezing temperatures.  Not that I'm complaining, mind, I love cooler weather but WTF?  It's January.  Month of summer holidays and beaches and bbqs and sunburn!

I saw The Iron Lady today.  A fantastic movie.  Meryl Streep is just brilliant.  She had Maggie Thatcher to a T.  When I first saw she had been cast in the role I wondered why they didn't use a Brit actress.  Now I know.

Himself went up to the unit and ripped up the carpet, took out a bookshelf and started to dismantle the kitchen.  I hope we haven't bitten off more than we (he) can chew.  Worse case we will employ a handyman to finish it for us.

I won a prize for having a letter printed in the Weight Watchers Mag.  Rather happy about that.  Now I just need to read the damn thing, follow the programme and lose weight!!

I am enjoying being back here.  Clears the brain so it can fill up with more crap.

Gotta love Bunnings!!

We will be able to renovate the parents' unit ALL from Bunnings ( aussie hardware chain for the likes of you, MizS!). And the best thing is that we were told today that if we get a list (LISTS!!) together of everything we need and take it to the trade counter and pay there and then we could get up to a 10% discount.  Not bad when we are looking at close on $20,000.  Love spending other people's money!!

Himself and I took Two shopping for clothes for his new job.  Almost as much as spending other people's money do I love spending our money on Two and his brothers!  Especially when it's buying clothes that he couldn't otherwise afford.  And with the end of year sales we bought $450 of stuff from David Jones for $200!!!  How good is THAT?!

Tomorrow we are forecast winter weather.  Even down to snow in the ranges.  Maximum of 19C in Melbourne.  My calendar tells me we should be in the middle of summer!!  Not that I'm complaining.  I know people who chase the sun and I think they are barking mad!  I am much happier piling clothes on to keep warm than stripping off to keep cool.. Cos there comes a point when you can't strip off any more and by then you're probably illegal!

So happy to see old friends come out of the woodwork.  How many more before we have the band back together?!

List:

• MUST find out how to get photos from phone to PC to blog
• learn how to use my iPad properly
• teach dogs to pick up own poo.
• ditto cats and their litter
• replace dead petunias (from the heat we had last week!)
• look for work :(
• subscribe to flylady

The Talk

I went and spoke with the manager of the aged care facility that my parents call home.  I must say I went with heart in mouth, knees a-knockin' and palms sweating.  The manager was receptive, assured me the incidents would be followed up and rang me this evening to give me an update.  I told him that I was sure my parents hadn't been singled out and therefore there must be other residents who have been traumatised.  He agreed.

So ... we wait to see what happens next.


And Himself has almost finished his CV which has been a huge issue for him ... not sure why but there you go.

Tomorrow I see the osteo and then we go and help Two buy a suit for a new job and then we go and start demolishing my parents' old kitchen so we can get the unit ready to sell.  Dr Teacher was given that job but has failed miserably so it's back on us.  Other Brother, on the other hand, has been magnificent.

And Jan got in touch with me .... gotta love the internet friendships!

Lists

• post more frequently
• renew old blog friendships (Hi again Lisa and Trish ... heard from Jan?)
• deal with issues at parents' aged care facility ... NOT acceptable to have mother traumatised by TWO men entering her room - both suffer from advanced dementia and scare staff as well as parents. 
• find job
• lose weight
• make more lists

I have great hopes for 2012

This year has to be better than the last two.

We had a lovely Christmas with SS and his fambly down from Qld.  What does one call one's stepson's stepkids?  Do two steps cancel out and they become grandkids?  Regardless, they are gorgeous and we had a fabulous time.

The parents are OK.  Dad seems happy.  But then he always does.  Mum has her days but when she has a bad day we remind her where she actually was ... ie, starving, falling over and not coping. In the aged care facility they are well fed, safe, entertained and treated like family.

Himself is still not working.  The sad thing is he would love to be able to retire but our super is up the creek.  I thought I had a really good part time job but it fell through.  Need to rethink.

He has a project car and is doing some courses on line. Crazy, but I miss him when he's not sitting up here with me!!

Kids are OK.  One and Ebs are building a house.  Two seems to be happy - new job and newish girlfriend. Three has a new job also but still with same girlfriend.  Dogs and cats are thriving.

I am still seeing my psych and am redoing the ACT course with far more benefits this time.

Yes ... life is looking better :)

Himself has emerged from the garage.  Will go and spend time with him...

OK. Maybe 2012 will be better!!!

Himself has been on leave.  He took 5 weeks off.  He had a lot accrued and his company wanted him to take some.

It's been fun and challenging having him home all the time.

Today was his last day on hols.  He got a phone call.  Went into work.  10 minutes later came out with no job. 

Another victim of the GFC or whatever you want to call it.

We aren't destitute but don't have enough for him to stop working altogether (he's 62). 

Life is interesting.