Week One done and dusted

Well I made it through Week One. I was really really good for 6 days and 22 hours but those 2 hours on Sunday night nearly undid me. Isn't it amazing that such a short amount of time can undo all the good stuff you have achieved during the week.

We went to drinks on Sunday night and initially I wasn't going to go but Mark wanted me to and I know I really cant be antisocial just because I am trying to lose weight but I am hopeless when it comes to nibblies. Did I say nibblies - I don't know what came over my girlfriend because I know she is worried about her weight too - the short list of what she supplied was

• mini spring rolls (at least baked not fried) with sweet chilli dipping sauce


• honey and soy chicken drumettes


• a cheese platter - lots of different types plus the saving grace of strawberries


• Cheds biscuits


• mini salmon rissoles with a relish

I came home and cooked Mark dinner and didn't bother with me because I had eaten heaps and really I would have just been eating for eating's sake if I had had dinner.

Okay, the bottom line was, even with that car crash on Sunday night, I lost 1.3kgs last week.

I did some form of exercise 6 days last week - not strenuous but still got me moving and motivated.

Off to the doctors today - have been having trouble with blurring vision lately - mainly when doing office work or reading. Seem to be squinting a lot. Had my eyes tested by optometrist three weeks ago but he could see no discernible changes in my prescription and then suddenly remembered what the rheumotologist said when she prescribed some extra medication to see if she could get the swelling down in my hands - this medication can affect eyesight. So rang yesterday morning and left a message for her and her reception rang back and said stop taking medication immediately and see my GP at my earliest convenience. Don't quite know what GP is going to do but have stopped taking the medication and am off to the doctors this afternoon after work. Hopefully it is not permanent damage.

Counting down the minutes to lunch time - have a great week everyone.

False Starts

False starts - what I seem to be particularly good at when it comes to my weight. I have crept back up into the 70's again and my body is starting to ache again with the combined extra weight and the cold that I am finding particularly difficult to bear this winter.

Yesterday another start - sorted out some menu plans from the weight watchers site, adjusted them for my needs i.e. no dairy etc (something I have not been policing very well lately and am paying the price for), shopped for produce and started yesterday. I love the fact that although Mark has seen me start this jurney many many times he is so supportive in a quiet way - he wants what I want for me and tries his best to help me.

After our heart to heart talk a month or so ago about the grumpy old man syndrome, he has been so much nicer to be around and I can feel his approval most of the time. It is nice to not be taken for granted.

Blood pressure has been raging lately so medication has changed and it seems to have gotten it back under control. I dont feel any different but the doctor is happier. I did say to her that since she was the one getting upset about the figures on the machine, perhaps she shouldnt take my BP anymore. Ignorance is bliss. Guess what, she didnt agree.

Daughter and son have gone snowboarding this week together down south. Into day 2 and they seem to be surviving in each others company. Jess was so excited about going, the first time since she was in Year 12 and has been taking lessons each morning this week. She is a natural athlete which may annoy her brother, probably always has, as he is the person with all the experience, her big brother. Hopefully she will have the commonsense to let him take the lead, at least this first time, especially if she wants to be invited back.

Lucy the wonder dog is not well. We have known she has a laxating patella since she was a puppy. In the last month though she must have overdone it because she can no longer go up stairs or jump up on things. We have to lift and carry her and when we have had to go out, especially in all that horrible weather last week, had to barricade her on the deck because if she had gone down the steps she wouldnt have been able to get back up. We took her to the vet who put her on anti-inflammatories but she was the saddest little dog I have ever seen. Her eyes were reflecting such sadness and her normally springy tail was just drooped and dragging on the floor. Other than that she never complained. We took her back last week as there was no improvement and Angus started her on a once a week injection of a glucosamine type medication. Apparently it is something that is given to race horses. While she still cant go up stairs she is happier and the spring has returned to her tail. I think an operation may be on the cards.

Every year I watch Le Tour de France religously. I love watching the scenery and the fit looking men on bikes and cheering for Cadel, appreciating his BMC team and the protection and help they gave him this year. Marvelling at Mark Renshaw's ability to lead Mark Cavendish into a winning position. Admiring the Schleck brothers - so many many things to mention. Oh well, it is over for another year and life returns to normal. At least until the Tour Downunder starts. Time now to catch up on MasterChef.

I had better get back to work - swamped this week and it is only the second week of term.
Have a great week and I will catch up with you on facebook and through your blogs as time permits. (Zanna is only beating me at 15 or so games of Scrabble on my iPad and I wonder where my time goes!)

Back to Blonde

Well my foray into brunettedom has ended. Fun for a while but not really me and made me look even paler than I already am. Funny that, I would have thought that blonde would drain colour. Go figure.

Feeling really yuk yesterday so met up with Jess after work for coffee and a spot of retail shopping (her more than me) and then she came home to have dinner with us and she helped me streak my hair. Happy with the result although I need a cut as well but that is slotted in for next week.

About to change my routine too. Am finding it so hard to either get to the gym in the afternoon or walk Lucy. So have decided that I will just bite the bullet and try and get up earlier and go to the gym before work and try to walk Lucy in the afternoons as soon as I get home from work. Have changed my starting and finishing times at work to try and accommodate early morning gym at least 3 times per week and will give it a trial for the next week and a half. After that I am on holidays again for two weeks - bliss. So further tweaking may be necessary.



Finally, here is the photo of the oprah pendant with the diamonds. Not the world's best photo but it is a start.




And while I am at it here is a picture of the new polished floors and new bifolds (before the furniture was put back or new stuff bought). Plantation shutters and roller blinds coming next week I hope.






Super rugby playoffs start this Friday. We will be watching with our fingers crossed that the Tahs beat the Blues but have a feeling that it might be a big ask considering injuries. Nevertheless I will be sitting in my new look family room (imagine above room with furniture) with my scarf and beanie on cheering them with friends who wanted to go out to dinner but have been roped in to watching the rugby and having a nice, hopefully not too hot, Mark-made curry at home afterwards and maybe wine. Or should I say definitely wine.

Nothing much else to report - the Weapons of Mass Reduction weight loss challenge looks like it is falling in a heap. Which brings me to a book excerpt I read this week - Women Food and God by Geneen Roth. The part I read was how she had suddenly realised that she had been losing and gaining the same weight for all her life and it amounted to thousands of pounds, or words to that extent. It made me think about me too - whenever I am on a "diet" most of the time I am feeling either:
a) superior and virtuous because I am supposedly taking care of myself
or
b) deprived and cross.

The trouble is I can't maintain it for ever because there are too many yummy things in this world that I havent tried yet or I want to try again. I think I can only try to eat healthy most of the time and stop making excuses about why my work pants are getting tight and really hurting.

Time to go back into the room of mirrors and have a good talk with myself.

An aside, funny story which also applies to me. My middle sister is overweight, very but she tells me she has lost 5 kilos recently just by writing down what she is eating. She came to visit the other day and we had a cuppa and I offered her a biscuit. No, I shouldnt eat them, thanks all the same. Later when they were leaving she took the cups out into the kitchen and I glanced in and there she was literally stuffing a cream biscuit in her mouth. I nearly said something about are you going to put that in your book but didnt because maybe I recognised that that was something I know I have done in the past and I might add the not too distant past at that.

Hope you have a great week and hope this lovely, although cold, winter weather continues. A month to the winter equinox and then the days will start getting longer again. Sunshine definitely makes you feel better.

Marathon Effort

I dont know what is going on but it took me a long while to get into my blog - maybe I was entering the wrong address - who knows - old age again I am sure.

Has to be quick as I am just about finished lunch now.

My oprah necklace came yesterday - the diamond one. Smaller than I thought it would be but still it is very elegant looking. Cant wait to give it its first outing.

Weight has been going back up slowly. Think I will have to cut out the alcohol again. Every morning I wake up and think no alcohol on a week night but when the end of the day comes my resolve weakens. Especially when the devil (oops I mean Mark) asks me do I want to join him for a sundowner. I have already rabbited on in previous posts about how he can eat and drink whatever he wants and it makes no difference to him so I wont bore you again.

Floor in the family room was polished last week and we went out on Sunday, under the watchful eye of Jess, to buy some furniture. A new TV (3D as well as HD - basketball in 3D is a wonderment), a low TV unit and a new rug. Mark is going out tomorrow to buy a new coffee table. If he shows me one more picture and debates the pros and cons of the size I may have to kill him. The problem of being married to an engineer.

Looking at a new system for hanging pictures and I warned the ladies in the framing shop that he may come in and ask them lots of questions. They just laughed and said they would be ready for him.

Of course we had to upgrade Foxtel to HD which meant that I would loose all my previously recorded programs on the IQ hard-drive. So guess what I have been doing for the past two days whenever I could - watching as many as I could. MasterChef had to go because I just couldnt fit them in. So now I start again.

It is freezing in Sydney at the moment. The winds are blowing from Antartica - no rain just clear, very cold days.

In my quest to downsize the amount of things I have in my pantry I have been eating all the soups that are in there. Discovered Cup-of-Soup Chinese Chicken and Corn - probably not terribly healthy for me but it hits the spot on a cold day. Really kills my hunger cravings.

Oh well, I have better go. Run out of time again. Have a good one.

Dawning of the Age of Aquarius.....

Well, what can I say - lost a 100g last week and I tried. I did try. I'm not good at going out to dinner or behaving myself (and by behaving myself I actually mean depriving myself) on Mothers Day but I walked everyday and did not drink any alcohol during the week. So - this weekend I wasnt as vigilant and we shall see what damage I have wrecked on myself.

Had lunch with the ladies I used to do pilates with on Saturday. Lovely time catching up but we all agreed with have the same problem. Being of a similar vintage, that roll of weight that grows around the middle is a universal problem for people my age. I really dont think it is fair that I didnt get a say in it. I'm sure I could have dispersed the weight better than this.

The great "Weapons of Mass Reduction" weight loss challenge has continued. One member when to Noumea for a week so couldnt be around for the weigh in, I only lost 100g and the male member of our group lost another 2 kilos. That is four kilos in 2 weeks! He reckons it is because his wife was away and he wasn't eating well but I reckon he needs to wear his glasses when he stands on the scales. No, that isnt fair either - men seem to be able to shift weight more easily than women dont they? Mark still wants to be a part of the challenge and I said I would consider it but he would be putting on weight not losing it. He got on the scales late one day fully clothed and still only weighed 71.6. I really could hate him sometimes. Eats and drinks whatever he wants.

Still walking every morning. Have been making Lucy wear a coat because I am all rugged up and she only has her little fur coat but she hates wearing it so much. Actually hid from me on Friday so I wont't make her wear it unless it is windy as well as being cold. She hates the wind. Sunrises have been spectacular lately and the show the planets are putting on at the moment is wonderful. Four of them clustered in the eastern sky every morning - hence the naming of this post. Beautiful.

Saturday afternoon also saw me finally colour my hair. No one home - perfect oppotunity. Well, the colour was dark blonde and it is more like a light auburn with red highlights. A bit startling especially for a husband who left a blond wife and came home to a brunette. The comments were flying thick and fast and I just had to tell him to settle down, it will eventually wash out (I hope) but I just felt like a change. I think that is something men dont understand - the need for a little change to spice things up - whether it is furniture rearranging or hair. Or at least mine doesnt understand it but he can be a bit thick on that level sometimes.

Jess's new unit closer to the city is beautiful and I can see them being very happy there for a while. They are still renting and probably will be for some time yet due to Sydney housing prices but the rent is not all that much different from the house they were renting further out and they are saving heaps on fares and late night taxis etc. It is an older style unit that has been beautifully renovated - new kitchen, new bathroom, fresh paintwork, high ceilings, closer to both their works and she is very happy and when Jess is very happy the world is a much nicer place to be in. LOL - that red hair is not there for nothing.

At right is me dressed for work complete with red nose. Very very cold here in the mornings in winter. Frosts cant be far off. It will eventually warm up but it is nearly midday and I still havent taken anything off including the gloves.

The mailman reckons I look like I am going skiing.

Hope everyone has a great week and I dont freeze to death at work.

Back to the Hard Slog

Got the home study more or less sorted and everything taken to LifeLine or clothing bins that needed to go. I must say it is nice to walk in there now and not have to step over boxes and everything else. I am trying to deal with the paperwork as it comes into the house and put everything back into the spots I have created for them. We'll see how long that lasts for.

Painting of family room is progresssing and should be finished soon. I think floors will be polished next and the ebay shop will open to try and get rid of the excess furniture.

Trip to Queensland over Easter was a great success except I ate and drank too much and put on 2-3 kilos but a good thing has come out of it. My BGFs husband mentioned that he wanted to lose 6 kilos and I thought that it would be good to have a little contest until we meet up again in July at the Hunter (for more eating and drinking). BGF decided she wanted in too although she only wants to lose 4 kilos. So the "Weapons of Mass Reduction" Weightloss challenge has begun. (Read that somewhere and thought it was a clever play on words.) We had our first weigh in last Thursday, the day after we got home from their place. I weighed in at 71.1. Yikes. Where did that come from - oh yeah the wine and the food. We then stated our desired weights and I have worked it into a spreadsheet over the next 10 weeks. There might be a really nice bottle of bubbly for the winner which of course I am sure we will share. Since we all weigh different weights I decided I would work out the percentages, like Biggest Loser to make it more fair although I have already have had an email asking for relief because honestly, these peoople have a social life that would exhaust someone half their age. But no, being the hard taskmaster that I am - told them there would be no dispensations for the terminally popular and to suck it up. Mind you BGF is incredibly good and strong minded at maintaining her weight.

Caught up with big sister (age not size) in Queensland too. She drove down to the Gold Coast and we had lunch at BGFs recovery BBQ at her friends units entertainment area - whoo that was a mouthful.

Jess has moved closer to the city and seems a lot happier. A friend of mine adopted her cat and we are catching up this Friday night so hopefully everything is going well. She is a new friend and I really enjoy her company and would hate for the little ginger cat to cause problems. Jess now refers to where we live as "the outback". The hide of that child. Actually her brother refers to us as living in a rural area. Ungrateful wretches.

We have had lots and lots of rain lately. Too much actually. Think I have had enough for a few weeks please.

MasterChef has started again. Looking forward to getting down to the nitty gritty of it and the master classes. I am full of admiration for these people following their dreams and putting themselves out there. (How's that for cliches?)

Also kind of watched the end of Biggest Loser last night. Have not watched it at all because I was kind of over it but was amazed at the transformations. Had to tape the end because it was past my bedtime but will finish watching it this afternoon when I get home from the gym. I never realised that the commando was so dishy.

Jenny and Anni - havent got back to you about scrabble on Facebook but I will. Don't think I have forgotten you both but there are just so many hours in the day and Words with Friends on iPhone/iPad is taking a lot when I am home and Mark still expects clean clothes and meals everyday. Some people.......

Take care and have a great weekend (rats its only Tuesday)

Round 2..... I mean Week 2

Still in the study but the pile of things leaving this house is growing daily. It is so daunting and slightly sad. Why the hell would I keep appointment diaries eons old - as evidence in a court case, for reminiscing, because I have a hoarding sickness - who knows. Anyway shredder has been going non stop. Hope the recycling truck empties bin carefully tomorrow or it will look like it has been snowing out there and I will have a lot of picking up to do.

Journeyed into the city on Saturday in the pouring rain. Was feeling a bit off plus it was really raining heavily but set off and am so glad I did. The Bell Shakespeare Company's "Much Ado about Nothing" was really enjoyable and I met some lovely people while I was having lunch. They drive down from Port Macquarie to see these shows. Now that is dedication.

Having lunch tomorrow with the friends I used to do folk art with. Haven't seen them for a far while so looking forward to it.

Not talking about weight at all this time. Have still been walking Lucy everyday that it doesn't rain but my food habits leave a lot to be desired. Sigh. Not to mention the wine.

Mark fishing tomorrow night with the male members of his family and assorted friends. They have been doing this for a very very long time and the theory is that we all get together on Friday for a big family (and friends) meal of fish. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Not casting nasturtiums on their ability/luck but it is always a good idea to buy some fish just in case. He actually had a practise run with his brother last Thursday night and they caught 9 fish (of which Mark's contribution was 2). Keeping fingers crossed they have a good night. Anyway it is a good male bonding exercise. They used to stay all night and come home the next morning but these days they are getting a bit long in the tooth and the younger ones are not as tough as they were and want the comfort of their own beds and not the ground. Me, I will be home where it is safe and warm and dry catching up on all the TV shows I have recorded.

We are off to the Gold Coast on Saturday for 4 or so days. Staying with girlfriend who is having her 60th birthday party on the Sunday and on Monday my sister is driving down to have lunch with us at the recovery party. Recovery party? at our age.

Lucy is going to Gareth's for sleepovers and runs around the golf course with him when he goes to work. It has worked out well, he has had a bad Autumn racing carnival, punting wise, so cant afford to go out and has to work to make up lost ground. It is a win win situation for me though it may cost me a few bottles of wine in ransom to get her back. He knows my thoughts about leaving animals locked in the house when nobody is home - it doesn't happen. Although he has promised if he goes out he will leave her with a fire hose and a hard hat. Only joking, I hope.

Have been playing Words with Friends with Zanna. That woman is diabolical and incredibly smart. Beating me by heaps but I am learning so many new words. She is really good at keeping it nice and tight with a few letters making lots of words across and down for lots of points. Certainly making me think a lot more than I have been. Don't really think you're evil - love you heaps.

Finally something I found in the great clean out and I think I got it from Sue, a long time ago, who is currently bounding on Happy Ground. It is now pinned on my notice board in front of me as it makes me smile everytime I read it -

Live your life in such a

way that when your feet

hit the floor in the morning,

the Devil says:

"Shit, she's awake".

Just love it.

Hope you are all having a good week and have a wonderful Easter break no matter what you do.

MIA yet again

I have been missing in action yet again.

Thought I would clear out my study at home - allocated one day.

On day one (give you a hint) I realised that it may take a bit longer.

Allocated a day per wall/side i.e. 4 days

4 days later I am still on wall one and have filled the recycling bin - cant find anything in the study otherwise I would have taken a picture and posted it here to show the carnage. How could I have collected so much stuff - paper - whole forest have been felled and are living in my study. I am trying to reuse all the paper that is printed on one side but there is far far too much. I thought the linen press was daunting - this room takes the cake.

Laundry is virtually finished. Still a bit of painting to do but usable. Did I mention in my last post that when we put the washing machine back it blew up - literally. Loud bang and smell of electrical burn. No washing done for many days but eventually got a new machine as it was only a couple of hundred dearer than getting the old one fixed.

The painting machine (Mark) has now moved to the family room. Having a feature wall in Linseed, other walls are Antique White USA and ceiling and trims white white. These are Dulux colours. After this happens, I guess the floor gets sanded and polished and maybe the kitchen floor as well. God what am I thinking. Then apparently, after the school holidays, the electrician is coming back to replace the switchboard. I may just have to keep working for the rest of my life to support Mark in retirement. I may have already mentioned all of this - my memory is going on me too.

On a brighter note - Have been gardening in small doses. Planting violas, filling gaps, removing ailing plants etc. Bought the most gorgeous tibouchia today (purple flowers) from the markets and I am going to plant it where the tiler has claimed a part of my garden for cleaning his gear. Of course I have to sort out the soil first because I am sure he has wrecked it but it is another gap that needs filling.

Autumn is absolutely glorious at the moment. Lovely days and cool to cold nights. Mark brought the gas heater back in last night from its summer storage spot and hooked it up to the new outlet. Worked a treat.

Daughter is moving to Greenwich in just over a week's time. She is happy that they are going to be closer to work and the city. I am happy we are going to be on the Gold Coast and not participating in the move. It will be all over by the time we get back and we have inherited a relatively new bbq and the suburban bane, a leaf blower. Gareth is lending them his fridge as his flatmate has one that they are going to use.

Speaking of Gareth, he is currently driving back from Darwin. A friend of his has scored a job flying for Qantas so he has packed up and is moving back to Sydney. Gareth flew to Darwin so that said friend had someone to travel back with. The roadtrip has been documented on facebook. They left Cooper Pedy this morning and hopefully will be home safe and sound in the not too distant future. Some amazing photos and so green in the outback. It looks like they have had a bit of rain - maybe it is the rainy season?

M0re good news is that his friend has volunteered to play Words with Friends with me. It is an iphone or ipad app and I really love playing but people keep resigning on me just because I get a little bit in front. Anyone else want to play let me know and I will send you my username.

Going to Opera House this Saturday for my yearly fix of Shakespeare with the Bell Shakespeare Company.

I am having a nice "at home" holiday and getting lots done without overdoing it. I was pretty rundown leading up to the end of Term 1 so it is nice to start feeling good again.

Back soon - have a good one.

Things Not to Believe

I have come to the opinion this week that men (husbands and tradesman) have a very loose grasp about how long something takes.

Still no laundry and doesnt look like it will be before this weekend.

Statements not to believe:
This wont take long
Be finished by the weekend (which one?)
Not a problem
Couple of days

and I am sure that you could all add more of these pronouncements.

Patience is wearing thin in proportion to the pile of laundry that needs doing. On a brighter note the floor is finished, the tubs are going in, the new doors are at least ordered but the tiler who assured me he would be finished in 2 days is not coming back until next week now to do the wall. Give me strength!

Still not having much luck on the weight loss - I usually go so well during the week but then the weekend comes and it goes to hell in a handbag. All down to me I know.

Re-instated the list of things to do system yet again. I think it has something to do with the lack of control in the laundry problem (I know I am harping).

On to food - last week end I tried to make some spicy tomato sauce or ketchup. While the result was okay it was not what I wanted so if anyone has a recipe I would appreciate it.

Had more success with an Italian Chicken and Vegetable soup - it was utterly delicious and I can see it being made again during winter. Served with crusty sourdough - yum yum.

Lucy and I are still walking every morning or nearly. It is dark when we start and dark when we finish. Daylight saving ends the first weekend in April so we should go back to a bit of daylight again soon although the sunrises are pretty - very red and orange lights on the horizon, but not a lot of light that early.

I hate getting up but I love walking early in the morning it is a nice way to start the day. Such a time for optimism isnt it.

I am having trouble inserting a link but here goes yet again
I am nearly ready to go back to yoga and maybe pilates and have found this wonderful post Nadine. Maybe I will get lucky this time. Am planning to do some classes in the next school holidays (less than 3 weeks away) at the gym to see what my mobility is like now before I commit to classes. I wish I could go to classes on a weekday. Am finding the thought of going out at night during the week or Saturday morning something I really dont want to do. Think I am starting to look forward to retirement - only a couple of more years and counting.

Anyway, back to work. Have a great weekend.

Creature of Habit

I am really a creature of habit. I like things in order. I have basically the same breakfasts on the same days every week and the same lunches on weekdays. So much that I have made them Monday breakfast, Tuesday lunch in propoints. A lot easier to enter in the food diary.

Mess at home finally got to me on the weekend and I spent hours cleaning the lounge room and dining room. Adding fresh flowers etc. To get up on Sunday morning and walk out into a nearly perfect room made my heart sing. It's amazing how simple things make you feel better.

I've had some sort of lurgy. Don't want to talk about it too much but there is definitely something going around at the moment in various forms. A day in bed has made me feel better thank goodness.

Having my hair cut today. Dont quite know which way I am going, probably shorter as it is easier to look after and am seriously thinking of a different colour rather than blonde. Will talk it over with hairdresser today and ask her for some suggestions. Maybe a redhead so that I can match my children. Maybe not - it suits them more than I think it suits me.

Havent walked Lucy for the last two mornings and no gym today because of hairdresser but hopefully tomorrow if it is not raining we will be out there again. If the rain can hold off this afternoon we will go for a walk before dinner. I dont mind getting wet but a wet little dog is not nice.

Update:
Weight still wont budge.
Renovations finished, well kind of. Still floor polishing, painting and new furniture to go and maybe plantation shutters on the windows. Mark carried out his threat and demolished the laundry. The builder is coming back on Wednesday to put in new floor waste and repair some areas where the "kanga" got out of control. The tiler is coming on Thursday to start the waterproofing and then back, hopefully on Monday, to tile. Painting the walls when tiles can be walked on, new doors put on and then a general clean up and that's it - at least for a while.

Endoscopy showed that the ulcer is healing but hasnt healed completely. More tablets to take and then another endoscopy in 6 months time.

New rheumotologist doesnt think that I have rheumatoid arthritis after all. She is thinking it might be psoriatic arthritis. I dont think anyone really knows, no I know nobody knows what is attacking me but hopefully something may come out of this.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Carrying on

I have been slack but really just trying to get back into the swing of things.

Back at the gym this week for the first time in over 3 months. Just walking and cycling but nice to see everyone again.

Still walking Lucy every morning, even in the dark, which is kind of scary for me but have rearranged my mornings so that I get up and pack my lunch etc first and then walk a half an hour later so the sun is thinking about showing itself. A bonus is that I am getting to see some lovely sunrises and a bootcamp type thing has started in the mornings in the park where I walk so there are a few more people around.

Weight wise - it has been up and down but still hovering around 69-70.

And talking about weight brings me to ProPoints. I just cant seem to get it right. I am basically eating the same things as before but blowing out every day. I am constantly amazed at the number of points things cost. I am recording on line when I can (not weekend away) and have only seemed to stay within range once in 3 weeks. Is anyone else managing?

We went to Melbourne the weekend before last for the first game of the Super 15's and there was lots of alcohol and food involved but there was also a lot of walking although I did dip out on the tour of the MCG as there is only so much my little feet and ankles can do. It was a great weekend. I love Melbourne and catching trams was a great adventure.

Last weekend we were in Kiama for the rugby 7's. The coast walk there is a beautiful walk to do early in the morning. Lots of food and alcohol again but managed to maintain the weight i.e. didnt put any on. Also walked my first hills for months too.

Yesterday's morning walk actually felt a few extra muscle kicking in and didnt feel like I was walking with concrete blocks attached to my feet. A certain spring returned. Hopefully I can build on it. Going to buy a bumbag today (although I am worried about how big it will make my bum look) and maybe some wrist weights. Jess carries one and it looks good and she carries her iPhone etc, though of course she is 15 kilos lighter than me. I am tired of carrying things in the morning for our walks. I have one somewhere but I dont know where and I can't be bothered looking.

Renovations are nearly finished finally. House is an absolute disgrace but it is too hard to clean with mess everywhere and no matter how hard I try the dust etc returns everyday with interest. Now Mark is talking about pulling out the laundry and retiling. I know it will look lovely but I am honestly over it. Washing machine is going out on the deck and somehow I am still going to be able to use it.

I read an interesting phrase in a book recently along the lines of:
You need a sense of humour to stay married for a long time otherwise you would take to them with a hammer....
so true - sometimes.

The possum has left the house. After setting up webcams etc finally went with my suggestion to just wait until it left for its nightly forage and block up the entry/exit point. Been fairly peaceful ever since. Before people start worrrying about a homeless possum the engineer I married built him/her a new home but dont think it met its approval as I dont think it has moved in although some king parrots were eyeing it off.

Another endoscopy tomorrow morning to check on ulcer, trivia tomorrow night at golf club, dinner in the city with niece and her husband who are visiting from Queensland for the weekend to see the Chinese clay warriers at the art gallery. Hopefully Sunday will be back in the garden.

I am also going to start catching up on everyones blogs - so be prepared for comments appearing for posts eons old.

Happy it is Autumn at last - looking forward to warm days and cooler nights. Enjoy your weekend

It has been a while but

Well I have completed my first full week at work since mid-December. The weather here is stifling and by the end of each workday I am exhausted.

I'm not supposed to sit for more than 30mins at a time but of course I get engrossed in something and forget. The leg/muscle cramps usually remind me I am being stupid.

I am still wearing the corset/brace but hopefully that will end next Monday when I go back to the neurosurgeon. Also hopefully I will be able to drive again. Mark has been really great but not having any independence and having to rely on other people to get out of the house has not been easy.

Lucy and I walk early every morning - trying to get it in before the day heats up too much. Walking still is difficult - only because of muscle wasting. But everyday it gets a little better and hopefully the feeling that I am walking on sand when I am actually walking on a footpath will end soon and I will be able to increase the distance we travel.

Still doing the physio exercises at least once a day plus every afternoon I try to do some in the pool. Physio gave me a laminated sheet with exercises on it for the pool which has been lovely at the end of these long hot days.

The renovations will take another step to completion tomorrow when a renderer finally turns up to finish off the inside walls. The first renderer had to have a knee replacement and then his father died so we got another renderer who hurt his back, then his ankle. Now we are back with the first renderer. More fingers crossing please. (Seemed to work for the chicken pox - didnt get them!)

With all that, the fact that the rendering wasnt finished hasn't made too much difference to our life. The bifolds are in and the difference they have made to the family room is amazing. It seems so much bigger and we are using the deck more now. Having most of our meals out there when it is not too hot.

Did I mention how hot and humid it is here at the moment. Gareth has had enough and reckons this will be the last summer he spends in Australia. Looking towards Canada I think. In a way I hope he doesnt, as I think travelling is moving beyond what I can do anymore and I will miss him so much.

Jess has received her new posting. It will be a change after four years in one LAC but she will be okay. She is playing ActionBall with a group of workmates (it is indoor netball on steriods I think), registering to play softball again after a break of a couple of years, still going to the gym and boxing etc, swims there too. She is so fit - fits into a size 6 pair of jeans - I could say those were the days but I wont because I only ever got down to a size 8 but I was nowhere as active as she is.

Oh well, I'd better get moving as I can feel the numbness and vague pain starting again.

Have a great weekend and take care.

2011 here I come

No resolutions this year. Last years list of things I wanted to do never got completed let alone acted on.
Keep it simple.
Three weeks since op. Taking it very easy. Up to walking around the block now. What used to take me 10 mins now takes 30 but baby steps - remember baby steps.
Corset/brace makes me look so slim but after a while hurts - maybe too tight but I do look slim if slightly lumpy.
Thinking of giving the gym away. I will miss it but I don't think there is a lot I can do there now. Will talk to neurosurgeon when I see himnin February.
Love my iPad so much. It comes with me everywhere and has niftly little red leather case. Am playing a form of scrabble with my sister and children and seriously kicking a**e. Take no prisoners is my motto.
My kindle has had some serious workouts. Easier for me to read lying down then a book - lighter.
Except for new years day the weather has been cool and rainy. Summer seems to have disappeared but I know it will be back with vengeance. Actually went in the pool on last Saturday. Had trouble getting in and out but It was just gorgeous. Must mention a handrail to the powers that be.
My big sister came to stay for a few days and it was so nice to have her near by instead of hundreds of kms away.
Bifold doors look like they are going in today. The renderer won't be here till next week but the builder has finished moving the steps out on the deck and building the new platform. The deck looks so big now without steps cutting into it and the doors open up that end of the house onto the deck and make everything look bigger and lighter. Bliss.

Now I need some serious fingercrossing please. The builders wife and children called in two days ago with coffee and cakes for morning tea for everyone. That night they found out that Catie has chicken pox and now if looks like her mother has them as well. Firstly, they also have a baby who hasn't been immunized yet so it might be good for him not to get the full blown chickenpox and also I would really appreciate not getting them at the moment too. Okay everyone on the count of three - fingers crossed and concentrate.

OK - I hope everyone had a wonderful new years eve and I am seriously going to try to not to over think 2011.
KISS (keep it simple stupid)

Update

Today I am going home from hospital. Early. Finally.

This has been so much harder than I thought it would be.

Just little things:
I was in ICU for 36 hours with very little sleep.
The worse moment was when the nurse had to take out the two drains before I had to come back to the ward.
The removal of the epidural was less traumatizing.
Lying on my back for 60 hours was difficult.
I felt that I had been forgotten when brought to my room but that turned out to be just the nurse that was on duty.
The food has been revolting. They don't really provide for people with dairy allergies.
I have survived on cold peanut butter toast, dubious sandwiches and jelly and herbal tea.
On the bright side I may have lost some weight even though I haven't had much exercise. Gareth brought me a ham, avocado and tomato sandwich yesterday.

The pain hasn't been too bad. Bearable.
My life started to return to semi normal when all the drips and catheters were removed.
Have started physio .

Have an appointment on Friday at local GP for the staples to be removed. Even have a special little tool to take with me. Am terrified.

And then, it is approximately 6 weeks until I can drive again.
Cannot carry anything over 1 kg. There goes my handbag - see previously post.
No bending and twisting.
Start walking 10 mins twice a day increasing 5 mins every week until I get up to 40 mins twice a day.
Physio exercising three times a day - including pool exercises when the staple holes heal up.

I now have some new hardware in my body. Two rods and four screws now holding part of my back together.

Update of the update - I'm home! I've had a cup of coffee and some real food. Oh happy days (cue the music)
More later

It's been a while

So much has happened since last time.

Twelfth Night at the Opera House was very good and Gareth really enjoyed it.

Jess passed her test with flying colours and is now awaiting her new posting. Again fingers crossed everyone (seems to work really well) that she gets the command she would like to be at.

Weight is going down slowly. I have lost 4.6kgs since I began this time. I might get back into my jeans yet.

I have had an endoscopy and found the cause of the pain. I have a healing medium size ulcer. Have to continue with medication and have another endoscopy next year to check how it goes.

My iPad has arrived and it is gorgeous. Just like a big iPhone but you cant make calls on it. I read the paper on it in the mornings. A few things I have to sort out but I will eventually.

Today is my last day at work until the end of January next year.

Tomorrow is Oprah day with Jess and on Wednesday I am off into hospital to have my lower back fused thanks to a very understandng neurosurgeon who wanted to operate on Tuesday and accomodated me on Wednesday instead. I will be in hospital for 10 days so will be out of contact for a while - at least until I can sit up and Mark brings me my iPad and iPhone. I wont be able to drive until early February and will have to wear a corset (hopefully looking really slim).

I will let you know about Oprah - I am looking forward to it but I hope it is not too hot.

Just in case I dont get back to you (hardly likely I know) have a wonderful Christmas and a hsppy new year.
xxx

Handbag stocktake

As I lugged my handbag into work today I thought, no wonder I have a sore back. This is the contents of my bag today

Red Leather Wallet which contains cards and notepad plus pencil and pen
Sunglasses (no case as I cant find it)
Coin Purse
Black wallet for extra cards and cash
Diary to use as a food tracker
iPac (work)
Digital camera
pain killers
2011 Diary
External HD
Hankie
Glasses (in case)
Another card holder for the excess cards I have (mainly store ones for rewards)
and this is before the iPad arrives.
Good grief!!!!
Now what is in yours?
Edit: Forgot the trusty iphone

On a sad note, the weight I was so excited to lose last week has returned. Not as much as I lost and I guess the difference was two restaurant meals. I really have to learn to do this better. Any hints greatly appreciated.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was very good. Maybe not for small children though. Definitely dark undertones and adult themes. Jess and I got to go with lots of young people. The girls in front of us, still in school uniform, were very funny and lovely. The younger boys from one of the North Shore's top private schools were hysterical to listen to. Anyway a good movie and a lovely dinner afterwards.

Saturday I went to the Sydney Opera House with Gareth. We had lunch first at Studio Cafe and then in to see Twelfth Night by the Bell Shakespeare company. I really enjoyed it and so did he. They are a wonderful company and the twists they put on Shakespeare are really great. Gareth really enjoyed it too and I think I may have found a person to go with finally. He actually said that it was awesome on facebook.

Have a good week and keep your fingers cross on Wednesday for Jess sitting her detective exam/interview.

the good the bad and hopefully no ugly

Starting with the good news - the scales told me I lost 1.2 kgs last week. After weeks of 100g and 200g losses (yes I know a loss is still a loss) you could have knocked me over with a feather at this weeks weigh in. I am back in the 60"s, just.

The bad is that everyone has tried to get me an emergency appointment with the neurosurgeon but they all hit the bane of so many peoples lives - the doctors receptionist. Firstly I found out that the rheumatologist's receptionist had not passed the MRI results on even though the email I received from her said she would. That had wasted nearly two weeks. Then the GP rang on Monday as I had spent three days in bed because the pain has escalated and she was told there are no emergency appointments and given the name of another doctor who is probably ok but this is my spine and I really want the best surgeon so I will wait until January for my appointment. GP has increased the slow release morphine dose and upped the painkiller and I've got my disability parking back again.

Yesterday I went back to work and found out that a friend who worked in the park and who I used to have coffee and gossip with had committed suicide on Saturday. Even now I am having trouble with this and tearing up. I should have been a better friend. I know loneliness and depression were part of the problem. Damn we get wrapped up in our own lives and don't reach out to others because we are too busy. I was alone at work yesterday and my beloved daughter who is on holidays and studying for her detective exams came down and spent the day with me so that I wasn't alone.

I have been a bit slack lately with reading you blogs. Not any more. I am going to get myself an iPad and I am going to carry it with me at all times so that I can find out what is going on in your lives at any moment.

Jess and I are going to see Harry Potter on Friday and then Gareth and I are going to see Twelfth Night by the Bell Shakespeare Company on Saturday. Very very different things but I love them both.

Finally, my thoughts are with the families and friends of the trapped miners. Have just heard the news of the second explosion and that there are no expected survivors. Gut wrenchingly crappy news. Namaste - May peace be with you all - eventually.

It's nearing Christmas time and

I am confined to bed again. Didnt't make it to work today. Cant walk. Rang the neurosurgeon yesterday about being put on the cancellation list and asked had they received the MRI report. The answer was no. So rang the rheumotologist and asked had they sent it and the receptionist said she had not send it because she didnt know that she had too. Unfortunately I had an email from them saying that was what they were going to do. I know mistakes happen but I thought I have been waiting to hear from someone about the results and nothing had been done.

I have been trying to keep mobile but I think last Wednesday's yoga was the last time for this year which makes me sad. I enjoy it so much but the pain is now too great. Have also put my gym membership on hold until next year.

I have spent today in bed and probably will spend the weekend in bed too. I can't not walk. I have to go and see Oprah with Jess! LOL. Glad I have my priorities right. Only another four weeks of work - four fairly important weeks of work. Please, I need a break.

On top of all this I have to have an endoscopy in two weeks time. Keeps getting better doesnt it.

The back pain is being caused by degeneration to the spine probably by the arthritis and also this time I now have a cyst on my spine which is pressing on the nerve. I think it is nerve pain that I am feeling and painkillers don't seem to work with nerve pain.

Oh well, a quiet weekend ahead. Poor Mark - thank goodness he has retired from work. He has to take over everything now, as well as helping the builder, etc etc.

Enjoy yourselves.

Pandora charm award (finally)

I have lost another 200g this week. Painfully slow but still....
A pandora charm, an owl for wisdom, has joined the buddha (for calmness) on my necklace. A new charm for every kilo.

Exciting news, Jess has been allocated tickets in the ballot to go and see Oprah on the 14th December and is taking me. Woohoo! I didnt know anything about this so was very excited to get the news. Have already put in my request for long service leave for that day.

Back or whatever it is, is still painful. Had an MRI on Friday. Just part of my contributing to keeping the health system afloat in NSW. Hopefully will get some feedback today.

Still having a problem with possum in the cavity. I think we have upset him by removing part of the eaves and the outside brick wall. Mark was out there last night building a possum highway because he was afraid that he couldnt get down. So cute (Mark that is not the possum - no the possum is cute but vicious and smelly and I dont want him to live in the roof.)

Out to dinner twice on the weekend and had Italian both times and am paying for eating cheese. The rash is back. But I dont care - I love Italian and I knew when I was enjoying it that this would probably be the outcome but it will be gone in a couple of days and it was worth it.

Going to see Leonard Cohen tomorrow night at the Acer Arena at Homebush with a girlfriend. I heard that his concert last time he was here was brilliant and I am hoping for a repeat performance.

Have a great week everyone. Under 7 weeks to Christmas - dont panic!

What's buzzing this week?

Sorry sorry sorry - have been very very busy and sick and all the normal stuff.

After losing 1.2 kgs in one go I have lost 300 g over the past 2 weeks. Very very demoralising as I have been sick and not wanting to eat a lot like I normally do and I have been keeping a food diary via the internet and have kept well below points and not even added in bonus exercise points.

Have been going to gym twice a week, walking Lucy four days a week and yoga once a week and it doesnt seem to make any difference.

All this exercise has been happening through pain (doctor has increased dosage of painkillers) but it doesnt seem to make any difference. So while this week I am still tracking the food, I am doing very little exercise.

Scans and xrays showed all sorts of nasty things have happened to my back. Dr A (Rheumotologist) has asked me to get an MRI done and then he will ring the neurosurgeon and try and get me moved up the list a bit.

Mark (god bless his little cotton socks) is worried that I will once again stuff up Christmas by being sick. As if I do this on purpose.

Anyway, catchups:
If you get a chance go and see Jersey Boys. Incredible show. Great singing, sets etc etc. Of course it helps if you like the music.

I have bought a lovely long dress for Christmas. All reds and oranges. Please please let it be a lovely hot Christmas this year and not back into winter woolies.

Renovations have started again. Do have a picture of the starting work.
The outer brick wall has been removed and work has started on the inner brick wall. Dust like you wouldnt imagine but the idea of having a long table/s the length of the deck and the family room for Christmas day is keeping me happy. It was amazing to see what the inside of the cavity looks like - no wonder we have had trouble putting in electricals - trying to get them past all those concrete "dags" but apparently the roughness of the bricking has something to do with the rendering of the inside walls - better perhaps.

Anyway, new bifold doors will go across this space - goodbye backdoor and window. The stairs for the deck have to be resituated or else that first step will be a doozy and I can fall quite easily down the back steps without any help thank you very much.

Mind you I dont think it has stopped raining since these renos started so blame me - it always happens. Garden looks wonderful though.

Last trivia of the year this Friday night. We have won the last two out of three so keep your fingers crossed that we will continue to mow down all the opposition before us. Me competitive - never!

Hopefully my weight will dip a bit more next week. Isnt it funny - this weight has snuck on insidiously over the past 18 months using stealth and camouflage and now I want it gone - NOW! So unrealistic but normal I thinks.

Hope all you lovelies in Aussieland have a great day today and back a winner in the Melbourne Cup. Sometimes it is hard to work by yourself in an isolated location. Oh well have one for me.

Have a great rest of week and weekend.

Things I have managed

In the last week I have managed to finally lose 1.2kgs mainly through not stuffing myself with food or overdoing the wine. Not rocket science but nonetheless hard for someone who has quite enjoyed stuffing herself and overdoing the wine.

Even went out to dinner two nights and still managed to keep my appetite under control.

Been to see "Eat Pray and Love". Enjoyable light chick flick. They probably could have made three movies concentrating on each country Liz Gilbert visited in that year but nonetheless got the main points across I think.

Have put my back out yet again. I am so over my health. Cant get into see the neurosurgeon until January so GP has put me on a low dose morphine patch to cope with the pain. Doesnt seem to working all that well but then again I have not stopped living my normal life even if walking Lucy does take a lot longer than it did. Off to get CT scan and xrays on Wednesday.

Went back to yoga last Wednesday. Slightly painful because of abovementioned back, but I managed and glad to be back there again. Teacher still wonderful.

Bestfriend and her husband arriving on Thursday and then two hectic days of dinners out and off to see Jersey Boys on Friday night. They leave on Saturday to continue their trip further south and I have plans to watch the first movie "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" if I can find it at the video store on Saturday night while I recover.

Sunday is beloved middle sister's birthday so off to visit her.

It is so busy at this time of year - no wonder everybody gets frazzled.

Mum's estate is finally being wound up this week which is good. The amount of work that Mark has done to sort it all out has been mammoth and I know he will be glad that it is finally finished.

Builder hasnt been sighted re doors. Hopefully soon.

That's all. Hope you had a great week and are having a great week.
xxx

Thank you

Thank you for all your birthday wishes. I had a lovely day. My family told me that for my birthday I was going skydiving, night skydiving while holding sparklers. I didnt really believe them because heights and I dont seem to get on too well. My friend told me that at least it was at night and I wouldnt see the ground. So reassuring. Anyway it turned out to be a lovely dinner at "AdLib" in Pymble. Nice food and good service. Also another pandora charm from eldest sister, flowers, a new crossword dictionary and a electronic crossword solver. A subscription to a puzzle magazine is apparently on the way. (You can tell I do like crosswords).


Also this beautiful azalea came into flower on my birthday as it does every year. My late much loved mother-in-law gave it to me on my 25th birthday which you probably have guessed is eons ago. Appropriately it is called "silver anniversary". It has survived many moves and survived. It used to cascade over the stone edging on the garden but apparently it was killing The Grass so I have had to cut i back but it is regrowing again within its boundaries. Also this year there is a genetic mutation that seems to have occurred. One branch of flowers is different to the rest of the bush. Very strange.

The other milestone is that I have finally finished reading the Stieg Larsson trilogy. I have had these books for literally years but while I absolutely love his women characters I have trouble reading about the bad men characters. I cant really explain it but yesterday since I was sick yet again I knuckled down and picked up The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest and finished it. I loved it as I have loved the others. I reread the last chapters twice - I guess I didnt want it to end but end it has as he has passed away and there will be no more books about Lisbeth Salander.

It is a long weekend here today in New South Wales and it is raining as it rained yesterday. I will eventually get back out in my garden but I dont know when. Another weeks schools holidays and then back to work for the final rush towards the end of the year.

Tourists in our home city

Today I dragged my darling husband into the city to do a bit of sight seeing. He didnt want to go but came with me under sufferance (I can be very persuasive sometimes).

We caught the train to St James station and then had a look through St James church. I think, the oldest church in Sydney. Absolutely beautiful. Had a look through the crypt too where there is a childrens chapel.

Then off to David Jones for lunch in the food hall. An antipasto platter and a glass of sauvignon blanc. Just right. Mark had the plowmen's lunch.

The we walked through Hyde Park and had a look at the photographic exhibition that is on there. Giant photos on canvas. Interesting and of course such a beautiful day.

Decided to walk down Macquarie Street to Circular Quay admiring the gorgeous old churches and sandstone buildings on the way. Through the Sydney Hospital to the domain and then down past the State Library, the Conservatorium and the Botanical Gardens. All the statues were dressed up for the festival that is happening at the moment.

This was Shakespeare and Co
near the library.














Then down the Circular Quay and onto a ferry to Milsons Point. Actually got off a Kirribilli wharf and walked up under the harbour bridge (a bit windy) up to Milsons Point station and then onto a train home.

A lovely day doing something that we dont usually do and a little bit of training in walking for me. Painkillers along the way helped.







PS Builder came over last night and there is talk of the family room renovations being started soon. We went and talked to the bifold door company this afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed that this is finished by Christmas.

A new tack

Awoke this morning to a beautiful sunny day. I love the early morning at the moment but I guess it will regress when daylight saving comes in soon.

Arrived at work and it was misty and mysterious looking. Couldn't see the boats anchored across the bridge. Wanted to take a picture but the sun that was trying to break through the mist was too bright and I kept getting what looked like a pole in the middle of the picture.

Looked out my office window a little bit later and saw the most amazing sight. There must have been 50 cormorants sitting on the seawall drying their wings and just generally catching up. Rang Mark to tell him as I thought the fish might be running but he thought it must be because of the rough seas at the moment. He was out pulling out the frangipani (frost finally got it this year) and planting out my olive tree. Would love to turn that part of the garden into a garden or a chook run but that would take more of his valuable grass and the moaning would be unliveable with.





(Pictures by my boss)

Such a beautiful day and I went for a stroll at lunch time. No fish swimming around but that might be due to the cormorants who have since moved on but probably scared the fish witless. The little swallows that nest under the bridge were out and about picking up mud at low tide for their nests.

Hundreds of little crabs scurrying around in the mud and hiding when I come near. So cute. How do they know I am here?

Something flowering and I dont know what it is but it smelt wonderful. Will find out when the guys return and try to remember for next time. Might have been a pittosperum - yes just looked it up on wikepedia and that is what it is. Smells heavenly.

Baby ducklings out and about with Mum and Dad Duck. Five little ones this time. I hope they survive.

A few more hours of work and then off to the hairdressers and some shopping and then home to walk Lucy. Hope the weather holds for me.

Spring makes me feel so contented.

A Week Like No other

Friday 17 September 2010
Firstly, my deepest sympathies to Anne. You have been in my thoughts constantly for the last couple of days. Hope you are coping. I cant imagine what you are going through but know that your family and friends as well as your blends will be there for you.

Secondly I am back on the methotrexate and am really foggy. This is my third attempt at this medication and hopefully my last. The only reaction so far has been this fogginess and of course extreme tiredness. Plus a sudden loss of memory.
Back to fortnightly blood tests.

Have not been able to get back to pilates in ages as my stomach pains make it impossible.

Monday 20th September 2010
If anyone has a pilates dvd with sessions that last about 20 mins let me know. I need to do something soon.

I know that I am not supposed to weigh myself everyday but I do. I understand why it is a bad thing because between Saturday morning and this morning I have put on 1.3 kilos and I dont think I have done anything terribly wrong. Bugger Bugger damn damn.

Okay got that out of my system. Am moving on.

A question of balance

Whew - we have finally nearly finished Mark's birthmonth. It has been hectic and a lot of fun.

The warbird flight was brought forward from 11 am last Saturday week to 8 am and I was wondering how I was going to get 8 people down to the local airport to watch but it all turned out well. The pilot actually did the aerobatics over the house we were staying at so we just sat out on the terrace and watched Mark have the ride of his life. I swear, he didnt stop smiling all day.

The rest of the weekend was lovely too and finally last weekend he had his party at the golf club and once again had a ball. Mind you he is the original little party animal and age certainly hasnt slowed him down too much. My bestie and her husband flew down from Queensland and stayed for the weekend too so it was full on.
Party on Friday night and not in bed until 2.
Mark up again at 6 to play golf.
The rest of us had a leisurely start to the day and then caught the train into the city and went to the David Jones foodhall and had lunch at the antipasto bar and taste tested our way around, had coffee, went shopping and then caught the train home to a beautiful chicken curry prepared by the birthday boy when he got home from golf. Nobody needed any rocking that night and we were in bed by midnight.

Up again the next day and off to lunch at Buddha Belly at Terrey Hills to meet up with friends and then out to airport to drop our visitors off and then off to a sausage sizzle with the neighbours and then home and bed.

Didnt want to get out of bed this morning but there was the promise of another lovely Sydney winter day, not a doona day, so I eventually got out of bed and was only minutely late for work.

Planning for the Tasmanian trip is starting to come together. Got lots of recommendations about what we should see and do and where to stay.

Now the title of this post - Balance.
I have noticed that more and more people are talking about balance in their life. People perceive balance in lots of different ways but it is amazing that in the end balance is still balance. (Of goodness I am getting all mystic.)

Anyway while we were away in the Hunter with my wonderful children, my son and I had a long talk about eating habits and weight. He has lost some weight by just following simple "rules:
No fried food
No sugar
Eat dinner early
Eat more fruit

Now he never could be accused of being fat or even overweight, but has trimmed down so that he can fit back into a favourite pair of jeans and stopped the weight training because it was thickening up his neck muscles and he couldnt do up his dress shirts anymore. LOL.

No counting points, showing some restraint and I guess taking responsibility. Taking this slowly, and being superstitious I am not going to talk about this anymore. Just to say I am attempting to slowly change my habits but I am not going to beat myself up anymore about it.

I want to fit back into my clothes
I want to give myself a fighting chance against the disease that is trying to cripple me
basically I just want something better with more balance.

Not a big ask.

Completely on a different track
Anyway I have also taken up crocheting again. I had all this wool that I was going to knit into squares but my hands wont let me but I have discovered that I can still crochet so I am happily making squares for the new blanket for Lucy the wonderdog and next year I will see if I can donate crochet rugs to the "Wrapped with Love" project. It is awesome - I have something to do with my hands of an evening that I quite enjoy doing.

So, if anyone out there needs some knitting needles let me know because I dont think I will be using them anymore and I have got stacks.

Whew! What a busy weekend.

Not feeling well lately and it seems to hit me on Friday night and makes Saturday mornings painful and therefore no pilates which is killing me.

The no dairy diet is difficult (being a big cheese lover) but has helped immensely. The few times I have chanced it or inadvertently had dairy I have paid for it very soon after with an immediate flare-up of the eczema but on a whole am managing to keep it under control. I just want to heal now but that will take months.

We went to see Let It Be at the opera house on Saturday. We went into the city early and had a few drinks in the Rocks, caught up with some friends and then went to the show. It had Doug Parkinson, Jon Stevens, Jack Jones and John Waters in it and was excellent. Didnt get home until midnight and I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Dragged myself out of bed and got ready to go out to lunch and we were just lucky to miss the most incredible storm that raged through Sydney yesterday. Pouring rain, hail and thunder all within about 10 minutes. The restaurant actually turned the heaters on because the temperature dropped quickly but everything was back to normal within 15 minutes and more importantly the washing got dry by the time we got back home. Lovely lunch with lovely people.

So today, have walked around a small area of the national park I work in. Breezy down the southern end and the smell of the salt water was invigorating. Sunny cloudless blue skies, magpies, cockatoos, a swamp heron and plovers but did not sight any schools of small fish. Watched women getting ready to go kayaking and felt a bit envious but my time will come for lovely indulgences. It wasnt a brisk walk just a stroll because my ankle is sore from Saturday's trip to the city and I want to give it time to recover. So no gym today either just a bit of shopping and I have to buy a new black pashmini type thing because of course I lost my beloved one on Saturday. Probably take Lucy for a walk towards sunset. It is such a nice relaxing time of the day to be out walking. Something about the sun setting seems to soothe me - dont know why.

The nights this week will be taken up with cooking food for the weekend. We are off to the Hunter again on Friday to celebrate Mark's 60th birthday with family. I can't remember whether I mentioned it but I have booked a flight for him in an old fighter plane. Hopefully the weather holds for him as it is the pivotal part of the weekend, keep your fingers crossed.

Enjoy your week - stop, turn your faces to the sun and breathe deeply. Spring is stirring although I dont think winter has quite finished with us yet.

PS: didnt get a chance to post this on Monday and would you believe when I went for my walk at lunchtime on Tuesday the creek was literally alive with fish. It was incredible to watch them darting around and not just little ones either, some really big ones. I tried to describe the big ones to a workfriend and his response was that I had just described a fish. Also managed to buy another black scarf/shawl pretty much identical to the one I lost but it was expensive. Cooking for weekend is progressing well - lasagne and soup made, meat ordered and casserole to be made tonight in slow cooker. Other than that I have managed to lose my credit card but luckily the butcher has it and has promised me that I can have it back as soon as they have filled up their cars - clowns.
Really going this time and pushing publish post button otherwise this could turn into a novella.

From my sister

Part of an email my sister sent me -

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much
information and wisdom in our heads that when
there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will
think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

A great way to look at yourself (or myself) I think.
:)

Mindsets

Funny how if you think something for long enough it becomes fact.

My particular mindset at the moment is - gee I am hungry. Yes I am hungry but I am not starving. Hungry is not a bad thing it might mean that my body might decide to eat some of the stored food (this little squirrel must have thought it was going to be a tough winter because she has put away rather a lot of food stores). I dont need to eat something immediately. All that it does is makes me bigger. A few gentle comments from my beloved has got me back on track. He is worried about the damage that I am doing to myself when my body is quite capable of damaging itself without my help.

Anyway saw the surgeon today and he is happy with the new ankle (not so new now - nearly 16 mths old). Have to get an MRI on the other ankle because something is going on there but nothing as bad as what has happened.

Bought a cute little pad from KikkiK about 21 days to make something a habit. Things like staying within daily point allowance, walking 10,000 steps, drinking my bottle of water, having alcohol-free days etc. I keep it on my bedside table and the last thing I do before I go to bed is tick off what I have accomplished that day. It makes me try harder. I always was the child that wanted the gold star.

Well done to the All Blacks. It was like watching a trainwreck and I think that I will join Peter Fitzsimmons and start calling them the Australiasian Allblacks. A word of warning (from past history guys) dont peak too early. Save something for next year.

After a couple of days of wild and woolly weather, today is a glorious winter day with blue skies and sunshine.

I can feel a hint of spring. The jonquils are out in my garden, the azaleas are beginning their annual flower show and I've noticed the beautiful big dusky pink magnolia buds are starting to open. I wish I could have a magnolia but, sigh, I have been banned from buying one. I do have a port wine magnolia from which I have struck numerous cuttings and planted surreptitiously in various parts of the gardens. Am I in for a lecture when he discovers this.

Anyway I am off to do some more work. Have a great day/week.

MIA yet again

Sorry I have been MIA yet again.

Been having to work some stuff out. AND it has become more difficult in a way.

For over 7 months I have been suffering with eczema and nobody was interested. Not the GP not the dermatologist. The last dermatologist I saw in early July wanted to do yet another biopsy. That was never going to happen. Due to the meds I have to take my healing process is so slow. The GP suggested cortisone cream and putting tegaderm over it (which is kind of like sticky gladwrap). But if you saw the surface area I had to cover you would be going out and buying shares in Nexcare.

Anyhoos have been surfing the internet and researching eczema and something caught my eye and memory. Two years ago when I had a procedure which I cant remember the name of but was both ends and no big deal the doctor mentioned lactose intolerence might be the reason for the stomach pains. Of course I didnt take any notice - hey why am I paying these guys all this money so that I can ignore them.

Anyway the long and the short of it is since last Friday afternoon (a week) I have virtually cut out lactose from my diet as best I can. I am really afraid to say this and am frantically touching wood but I have not itched once since and slowly, so very slowly the itchy red spots are healing.

I need to tell you that I was at the p*ssed off stage before the revelation. No one was offering me any viable and longterm answers. Maybe this wont be a longterm answer but let me tell you - sleeping through the night without scratching myself to pieces is marvellous.

I am back to building up my exercise at the gym (not too strenuous), doing pilates once a week and walking Lucy twice a week. I see the ankle surgeon next week and I think there may be problems but I dont care.

My weight is still horrendous but one thing at a time.

It is Mark's 60th birthday next month and I think he is nearly retired. He has bought a new laptop and downloaded all his personal stuff off the work computer in readiness for its return.

We are spending the weekend of his birthday up at the Hunter with the children and his brother and sister and his brother's wife. We have rented a house for the weekend and I am sending him up in an old fighter plane for the ride of his life. The bonus is that the people who own the house have said that Lucy can come too. A visit to the dog beauty parlour is in order.

Jess and I went to Rozelle Markets last Sunday and I found a pottery beer stein for Mark which he proudly took to drinks on Sunday night. Then we drove to Haberfield for coffee and arancini but they dont make arancini on Sundays but the soy flat white was nice. Jess will go back when she is posted back to Gladesville and get some arancini for me during the week. After that we went to IKEA to return some cushions and then home for afternoon tea with friends. Nothing got done at home but it was a lovely day.

What else - the Tour de France is finished for another year. I am suffering MasterChef withdrawal but I have the new magazine and am planning to make Alvin's drunken chicken. I love Lie to Me and Undercover Boss is becoming a favourite along with Doc Martin.

Rugby tomorrow night. Go the Wallabies! (Anne and Sue dont hate me)

Friday night, can hear the rain again on the roof outside my study and I am so happy to be able to sleep in a little bit tomorrow morning and a lot on Sunday. Have a good one.

PS - Oh by the way I have indulged myself with another Spencer and Rutherford bag. On special of course and it hasnt arrived yet but I feel warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. I think I need to join handbags anonymous.

Winter Solstice

Hooray, we are halfway through. In theory the days will start getting longer but Mark reckons that the next three months will be the coldest. Let's hope he is wrong.

Been off colour again. Could be the medication I think. We went to a wedding on Saturday and I took my tablets with what I thought was water but actually was lemonade. Not too sure that they went together and the lemonade may have removed the protective coating on the tablets too quickly.

Lost 100g this week. Not great but a loss is a loss but 100g could be the difference between going to the toilet or not before weigh-in.

My sitting in the sun has not been too successful. Managed two days last week. I think this is one of the wettest winters we have had but I wont complain as it is nice to be out of drought at least in Sydney.

Was playing with the idea in my mind this morning that maybe the next time I have to have a major operation I may retire so that I can concentrate on regaining my health as my number one job. We will see. I do love my job and the people I work with. Maybe it was just because it was raining this morning and Mark and Lucy were having a "doona day".

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead of you.

Something's not right

God I feel strange. Slightly empty, a bit disorientated, sad, lethagic, uninterested, generally blaaah. I just want to curl up and hibernate. Maybe I am a bear.

It could be SAD I guess. I really dont get out in the sun much nowadays. Lunches are usually spent either at my desk or in the lunch area. Not good. Sun is still coming up when I go to work and getting dark when I get home. Need to get out in the park at lunch time for 10 minutes to rejuvenate my battery. This will be my aim this weekend and next week.

Roll on winter solstice. The day light hours will start lengthening again soon. This morning was freezing and frosty. Jess's windscreen was iced up. It was 3 degrees in the car park at work this morning and I have had a variety of heating implements powering away to keep me warm. Have finally taken my coat off - now just three layers of clothes.

Am supposed to be going to gym this afternoon but thinking of giving it a miss. I know this is not the right way to think but that is where I am at the moment.

Sorry to unload but needed to tell someone.

MIA

Sorry I have been MIA lately.

Trying to exercise a bit more and trying to teach myself to walk again.

Completed 23 days without alcohol and am now aiming for 4 days off at least a week although I did think about having one tonight.

I swear I can feel snow in the air. It is soooo cold outside and apparently getting colder as the week goes on. Not too cold for possums though. Lucy has just gone berserk because one thundered across the roof above my study.

Weight loss has been okay but not great.

Jess and I went and saw Sex In the City 2 last night. Honestly dont bother unless it is part of a girls night out. They are looking old, the fashion was horrible most of the time and most of it was set in Abu Dhabi not beloved New York. Not much of a story line and boring. But in saying all of that Liza Minnelli's rendition of Single Girls was wonderful and boy she has great legs and the scene with Miranda and Charlotte having a heart-to-heart about motherhood was funny. I have loved this show for 12 years but I think it is time to put it out of its misery.

Have given my old mixmaster to Jess and am now in the process of picking the colour of the new one as previously mentioned. It has to be a happy colour - Jess likes the bright red one but I am leaning towards the orange one or maybe the bright green one. I am really enjoying cooking at the moment (thanks Master Chef for re-igniting my love of it). I have a new stick blender. Once again Jess got my old one - she does well out of me. BTW she made Matt Moran's frangipane tart from last Friday nights show, for dinner on Monday night. It was lovely. The girl is fearless.

Had to see a dermatologist last week about skin. I have been using cortisone cream on rash but she wants me to leave it for a week so that she can do a biopsy. Honestly, not going to happen. I am fed up with arthritis at the moment and am probably heading towards denial but I dont care.

Anyway off to finish checking emails and do the ironing. Mark out for drinks with a mate (rather him than me - too cold). Not sure who gets it but if you are having a long weekend like NSW this weekend enjoy yourselves. Another day to have a sleep-in woo hoo.

I've lost a little bit of me - woohoo!

(This turned out to be quite a long one - sorry)

Managed to misplace 500g last week. No alcohol appears to have worked because there has been minimal exercise. Probably could have done better if I was a little more diligent but I tend to lose the plot on the weekend foodwise.

I am back with my lists/timetables of what I have to do everyday. I do love lists and I do know they can be self defeating but when they work they work really well. I managed to get the housework done in stages throughout the week without too much trouble although as mentioned before there was not a lot of structured exercise.

I took Lucy for a walk last Monday and it was so hard. Just a short flat walk but obviously my muscles had packed it in yet again because it felt like I was walking on marshmallows. That short walk put paid to my plans for walking in the "Million Paws" walk on Sunday. I realised that I couldnt do it which was disappointing.

On a brighter note I went back to pilates on Saturday morning. First time since last November. New teacher so had to explain again my problems but it was wonderful. I was very very nervous but so glad that I went. I felt I had achieved something. If nothing goes wrong (touch wood) I plan to go back to yoga in July.

Also spent yesterday gardening. In the last 12 months my gardens have become a bit like the wild woods. Mark has done a bit of hedging but I have to watch him like a hawk. He is very good at "boy pruning". I cant tell you how many plants I have lost to that form of gardening. Anyway the rose garden is now looking a lot better and I will do some more in that garden next week if I get the chance. Plus I swept and decobwebbed.

My poor baby had a bad week last week. Because of the lack of manpower she had to spend two days going through rubbish at the tip looking for evidence. I dont really want to know what she encountered but I believe that Sydney does not recycle well. We took her out to dinner on Friday night which was lovely. She is such a treasure.

I bought myself my usual weekly supply of flowers for the house this week and I bought some extra yellow tulips to keep in the kitchen near the sink. They make me smile everytime I have to do something in the kitchen. I am also plotting on how I can get a new mixmaster. I would like a KitchenAid one and I havent decided on the colour yet - apple green, purple or orange are in the running. Another reason to smile when I go into the kitchen.

I am loving the latest MasterChef season even though I think that some parts of it are ridiculous and a bit harsh. I really hope Jake does well and I am coveting Alvin's glasses. Some contestants are annoying but not many (just two really). What I love about this show (whether it really is or not) is the consistently upbeat nature. After last Friday nights master class I am going to practise cooking pork tonight with yet another attempt at getting the crackling right.

Well, I am going to have another crack at walking Lucy today providing the rain holds off. If it rains I may go into the gym and just walk there for a little while. Have to get those muscles working properly again.

Was so thrilled to see Jessica Watson sail in the heads on Saturday afternoon. She looked so calm and powerful at the tiller of her yacht until she reached her family. Brought tears to my eyes too. She kept saying that she was just a normal teenager who had a dream. What a great role model. And the other special thing was when the other round-the-world sailors boarded the yacht to help her bring it into the dock. Jesse Martin and Mike Perham. So nice.

All in all it was a very satisfying week last week.
I hope this week is just as good and that everyone is also going to have a good week too.

Days of Wine and Roses are over

(Maybe not the roses)
Weigh in - same weight - no loss no gain. I must be grateful for small mercies.

Not surprised really. Horrible weekend for someone supposedly watching her food intake. Friday night out was a total disaster. Too much wine, far far too much wine. You would think that a woman my age would know this but noooooo. So so sick to begin with and then absolutely no energy on Saturday.

So I have hitched my little red wagon to Zanna's and am not going to have any alcohol for 23 days. Why 23 days I dont really know, it was a number that popped into my head but it also takes me to the end of May. Then we will see.

I nearly capitulated last night (day 2!) when friends dropped in for drinks but I stuck to diet cordial and mineral water but I felt a bit grumpy. Maybe that is just part of the the drying out/detox feelings.

Had a lovely mothers day with my gorgeous children + one. We had a wonderful breakfast locally which left the rest of the day free to potter. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves too.

On a brighter note, foot feeling a lot better and am actually wearing shoes today rather than ugg boots. Will be taking it slowly and might even take Lucy for a small walk today. Will try to elevate it during the day and must remember to do physio exercises every day.

If you havent got the latest WW magazine have a look at it. There are some really nice winter warming recipes in it. I made the Veal Paprika last night and it was well accepted. I just make it for 4. I have a small portion, Poss has probably enough for 2 and there is another portion to put away for either later in the week or his lunch now that he is home and semi retired. Works out well.

I hope you all have a great week.

Week One (again) done and dusted

I lost 700g this week. Only 4300g to go in this 10 week challenge to myself. Not sure what sounds better 4300g or 4.3 kilos.

Back on meds again and starting to feel slightly better. Definitely not taking as many (if any) painkillers lately. Foot is feeling less sore and I think my original diagnosis of severe deep bruising was correct. Still a bit sore and still wearing ugg boots most of the time but only now, because I dont want to rush back into shoes and aggravate it again and put the healing back. Probably next week.

So looking forward to being able to walk again or even god help me doing housework and gardening. I might be delirious!

Have a great week everyone.
:)