touching base

One of the reasons I like keeping a blog is that I can look back and see what happened, how I felt, was life as good/bad as I remember etc.

This is one such entry.

On Tuesday I went up to the parents' unit to meet a real estate agent with the view of finally putting it on the market.

I met with said agent and graciously accepted all her praise at how well we've presented it but wasn't impressed with her quote.

So I've listed it with the village sales dept and we shall see.

It was a bitter sweet time as I am so pleased we are close to the end but Mum and Dad did have some happy times there and the garden looks great as does the unit.  I picked some camellias to bring home.

On the way home I popped into the supermarket and Mum rang asking me for some bits and pieces which I duly bought and dropped them round when I took the dogs to the park.

I walked into their room and was greeted with a barrage of complaints.  We had put her there to die.  The place was a lunatic asylum.  People kept coming to get her to practice for an upcoming event (which she asked to join) but how could she sing happy songs when she's so depressed.  She used to do so much in the village and so on and so forth.

I answered all her issues reasonably and gently (she said she had only had 3 falls!!!!) but eventually thought "stuff it".  And I told her ... "you spent the last 9 months sitting in your dressing gown. You only got dressed when you had a medical appointment.  You started on the sherry at 9.00 and continued until you finished with the scotch when you went to bed.  You weren't eating because I was buying the food and didn't need to at the end.  When we cleaned out the unit we threw away a whole fridge and freezer full of Choice (home delivered) meals.  You were existing on half a tiramisu and a shit load of alcohol and kept having falls and THAT is why you are here.  For your own safety."

I then asked her if she would like me to come with her to the performance that she refused to practice for and was told she would just sit and knit!

Came home feeling OK but sad.  Himself rang and I told him what had happened.  He said that he wished he could be here to give me a hug and then went on to say how much he hates being in Sydney.  Just what I needed to hear!!

Mum rang shortly after to apologise and we had a good chat.  I understand her frustration but it's often misdirected as in the cause isn't not necessarily what she complains about.

Today I popped in to see them and she said that noone had come to get her for the filming of the performance.  I said I wasn't surprised as she'd made it plain she didn't want to participate.  The reason today?  It made her cough and if she coughs she might burst a blood vessel and that would be embarrassing.

At least she was brighter today.

Himself still hates working in Sydney, though.

And the last thing to document is that clothes are getting smaller.

Or not.

She's not called Ninja for nothing!!

So.  On Wednesday I was sitting here faffing around on my computer.  Two had gone out.

All of a sudden I heard the scritching sound that a cat makes when they're climbing something.  And then the dogs went crazy.

Something in my cotton wool brain said "this doesn't sound good" and I got up, looked at the balcony door which was closed (I'd left it open) with a very floofed up Stig on the other side.

I raced downstairs and found both dogs in the kennel.  Actually I found two doggy tails wagging like crazy from the door of the kennel.  I yanked both dogs out of said kennel by said tails and then dived in.

There, in the corner, was The Ninja.  Very shocked and very wet but apparantly unhurt.

I picked her up and went to leave the kennel only to realise I was stuck.

Once the panic subsided I was able to wriggle out (I had got IN there so I had to be able to get out, surely) with Ninja.

Rang the vet and took her down for a check up.

No damage ... just a lot of dog dribble.

It looks as if the cats were outside and Two went out to look at clouds (he takes photos), came back in and automatically shut the door. How many sons shut doors?  Sheesh!

I don't know if Ninja jumped off the balcony or slipped but she ended up down stairs in the kennel with the dogs.

After what happened to Sheba I was actually pleased that she was OK.  It shows that the dogs aren't out for blood but just want to play.

If I hadn't been home I'm sure the ending would be horribly different.

Does she go back on the balcony?

Oh hell yeah!!

I can use the internets

Two and his girlfriend (Mad) have been giving me grief (well, Two has) about my web savviness.  Teasing me about using The Youtube and The Facebook but not up with The Tumblr (at least I can spell it, I think!) and I have no idea about the Twitty thing.

He was, however, mildly impressed when I told him I've been blogging since 2001!!  Sadly the original one got cancelled when a then online friend told me some stuff and nonsense and, in my ignorant naivety, I wiped the whole thing.  I wish I hadn't now.

So.

Himself is more or less settled in Sydney.  He has his studio apartment and was delighted when he got home on Friday night to be greeted by the dogs at the front door.  Angus heard him arrive before Bonnie or I did.

My man flu was, I think, flu.  Not just a nasty cold.  I had the chills, the temps, the aches, the headache etc and have been left feeling ooooh so tired. 

The whole eating/weight thing is doing my head in and all I'm doing is gaining weight.

My mental health is much better, though.  Our group has had some sessions with a psychologist and she has this amazing ability to pick the deep truth out of a statement and throw it back.  I plan to have ongoing sessions with her if the health fund covers it.

The dogs and the cats are showing signs of wanting to get to know each other.  At this stage the dogs are well and truly on the lead but there is much wagging of doggy tales and not much hissing or flooffing up from the cats.  Maybe one day.

One turns 28 tomorrow.  Where have the years gone?  The boys +/- girls will be over for dinner.

And on that note I shall go and read my book.  Chocolate might or might not be on the agenda.

I has man flu

Full of cold.  Watery eyes.  Sneezing.  Sore froat.  Coughing.  Headache.  Joint pain. 

I'm thinking it's my body's way of saying take a break and if you won't I'll make you. 

Only I have had so much to do this week that a day inside is a dream.  I have to exercise the dawgs twice a day to prove to Himself that they will be OK without him.  Even though he didn't exercise them every day if he was crook or the weather was foul.  Promised the parents a lunch out with a dear friend for her birthday.  Need to shop to feed Two (not at his request mind you!).

What's that I hear?

"Stop being a martyr!!!"

OK.

I have cancelled a few things this week .... thank goodness for understanding friends and personal trainer.

Himself moved into his studio apartment today.  He sounded so much brighter this evening.  Still lonely but at least it's HIS place.  He's off buying sheets, towels, a printer and all the other necessities.

Tomorrow ... sleep in. NOT walking the dawgs if I don't feel like it.  Coffee with a good friend (see above) and then home to veg and wait for Himself to get home.  Eventually.

And if I could remember how to upload photos from my phone you would have a lovely photo of two sorely deprived dogs.  Not!

Counting down

On Sunday Himself flies up to Sydney to start his first week of work in 9 months. 

He will miss this ....

 

He has found a studio apartment just around the corner from where he will be working so I can go and stay with him and he will be able to make it a bit of a home from home.

I have struggled having him home for so long, as much because of how hard he found the experience of job hunting.  I am going to really miss him and need to be mindful of my state of mind so I don't slip back into depression.  I have lots of sewing projects planned.   I have two dogs to walk twice a day.  I have gym 3 times a week.  I bought a book today on how to draw.  Two is living here now and will require feeding.  And I have good friends to catch up with during the week.  I should be fine.  :)

And of course I have two of these ...

 

I am most surprised with this whole cutting out wheat/sugar thing.  I don't crave either.  Today Himself and I went for coffee and I had a slice which is mainly nuts and sugar (from habit not need or desire I later realised).  It was disgusting but used to be my fave.  It was waaaaaay too sweet.  Last night we went out for dinner and I had my favourite ever panna cotta for dessert which I have never found too sweet but .... ew.  A friend has given me her recipe for panna cotta which only has 50gms of sugar.  I will give it a go but think I can almost remove the sugar. 

Wheat ... I have had a little bit of bread now and again (see habit above) but the next day I have symptoms which I used to put down to too much wine but I haven't changed the amount I'm drinking (one thing at a time and that's next on the list).  The best bit?  I'm not constantly looking for something to eat or thinking about my next meal.

Oh, to live a life where I don't have to count anything, don't think of food all the time and don't crave "healthy" stuff  (bread, pasta, etc).  I think I might have found it.  But I'm not setting anything in stone just yet.  I've learnt THAT lesson before.

AT LAST

HIMSELF HAS A JOB!!!!!

It's an 8 month contract in Sydney which will be difficult but long time readers will know that we've done this before.  And this time the kids are grown up and only one (actually Two who has swapped with Three) is home!

Also, this time I'm not working so will be able to go and visit him if I can get the dogs in kennels.

HUGE relief.

I know that it's only 8 months but at least this time we will know the end is in sight and he can start sourcing sooner rather than later and he will have experience in a slightly different area.

I have been reading this blog for a while after reading her comments on Chris' blog.  I had been struggling with the whole weight loss thing and was trying to work out why diets so rarely work - not just for me but for anyone.  I have had a real lightbulb moment.  It's not about low carb, it's about wheat free.  With my nursing background I always want research/evidence based facts and Karyn provides some wonderful links ... that provide links .... and so on. 

Early, early days yet but stay tuned.

photos cos I can

Who has the most gorgeous spotted tummy?

Steak anyone?

 (Himself was browning a piece of Wagyu beef to roast and it was deeeelish!)

Feline lurve.

Sunrise from the balcony.