FBG TRIP

Whoop, whoop.

I'm going to see some of my Cambridge friends this morning.

There is an FBG casual walk planned, and it's not that far from where I live.

The trip involves us meeting at Wairere Nursery, taking a walk around their gardens, then moving on to Woodlands for another walk, followed by lunch.

I am really looking forward to it, not just for the walk, but seeing my friends again.

Hopefully lunch is nice as well, and I make sensible choices.  😌😊

ABOVE:  Today is my Mum's birthday, her 6th  since she passed.  She would have been 89 today.  I can't imagine her at 89, but somehow I doubt she would have changed much... maybe a few more wrinkles.  And I bet her strong minded attitude to life would not have changed.  I know I take after her.  That photo was taken just four weeks before she died.  It's a lovely photo.

Right, I best get a move on.  I can get an hours sewing done before I have to leave.

ONWARD...

2.15 pm, and I'm home after spending a delightful morning/lunchtime with my friends.

First up was Wairere Gardens:  The two men who own the gardens/nursery have turned a swampy area at the back of the gardens into a nature walk.  It is still an evolving project, but already very lovely.

ABOVE: I got to try my first ever persimmon.  It as very nice.  The one I tried was not overly ripe, and nice and crisp.  Yum!  I was given one to bring home, so Stew can try it too.

ABOVE:  On a whole, I felt the Wairere nature walk was worthwhile, particularly if you like topiary, and swampy areas to look at. lol

Our next stop was Woodlands Estate.  It's a heritage home set amongst beautiful gardens and a little lake.  They hold weddings there, and there is a very nice cafe as well.

ABOVE:  A massive Australian Brown Barrel Gum tree, planted in the 1880's.

ABOVE:  After wandering around the gardens, we had lunch at the cafe.  I had a vegetable Frittata and a Lemon Slice.  It was delicious.

The Woodlands gardens were my favourite of the day, as they were less 'contrived' than Wairere Nursery, but probably only because they were much older and more established.

It is a stunningly mild early winter day, we even got a bit hot on our walk, and sitting in the sun.

Now that I'm home, I will take a mo, then head into Crabby Quarters and actually get that bag FINISHED!!!

DEFINITELY A LAKE WALK

 

At some point today I will be catching a bus to the lake, and doing my 'lake walk'.  I'm not sure if I will go in the morning, or later on this afternoon.

It will depend on how I feel when I get out of bed.

I am also hoping to get that bag finished!  

AND I want to stop in at Chartwell Square and get a notebook to start TRACKING again.  I have resisted tracking my food intake for years, but I think I need to be a bit more aware of what's going in me gob.  I don't want to become fanatical about it, just be a bit more aware.  My weight has gone up and down by about 4 kilos for MONTHS now, and it is doing my head in.

OF COURSE, I do know why.  So maybe tracking will help me consume less?  We will see.

So that's it for now, an average day ahead.

ONWARD...

11.30 and I'm proud to say I got out there bright and early, and had a walk around the lake.  The bus was FULL until a whole shit load of people got off at the University.  

ABOVE: There's so many beautiful trees to see at the moment, with their leaves changing colour and floating in the air as they fall.

It's also a bit messy.  lol

ABOVE:  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for my walk.  It was rather 'crisp and cool' though.

ABOVE: I don't think I've ever seen that log without birds perched on it.  Seems to be very popular.

ABOVE: Toadstools I think, but very delicate and pretty.

After my walk, I hopped back on the bus and went to The Base, where I got my new 'Tracking' notebooks.

One for home, and one for in my handbag, so I have no excuse not to write food consumed down anywhere I am/go.

ABOVE: My new notebooks.

Now.. I'm cooking some lunch.  

4.20 pm and MEH, kinda ran outta steam after lunch.  I've been down to the Community Centre to get my Baby Brother's details (he's in the Craft Room), so I could print out an instruction Manual.  I need it so I can find what stitch I want to use... Baby only has a dial and does not show you what stitch is related to what number on the dial.   A bit frustrating.

I'm wondering when I will hear anything about Mc Dreamy, he's been sent up to a new technician in Whangarei.  I will give it a couple more weeks then ring I suppose.  😖😕

He has been 'away, and back and forth' since December the 18th!  I keep trying to control my frustration over that, but I fear it's going to erupt soon.

9.16 pm.   When Stew arrived home from work, we went down to the village gym, where Stew did some work on the exercycle and treadmill.  I had a go on the rower and some other machine that works your upper body and legs.   I didn't do too much, as I'm a bit tired from my walk this morning. 

I worked out that if I add up the walk to and from the bus, then also the walk from the bus to The Base and back, I probably did about 4.6 kms today. That's not a bad distance.  Happy with that.

And that's a wrap on my day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

SECURITY CAMERA (S) ?

 

Man oh man, that Seafood Chowder really did a number on my guts!

I THINK things have settled down overnight... I'm waiting until I get outta bed to be sure.

Lacy is coming over this morning, and we are going to look at a security camera for INSIDE our home.  Can't put one outside as it would be considered an invasion of privacy for others living here.  

The Management have a few dotted around, but not on people's HOMES... just the streets and parking areas.

When we get home I am going to continue working on this:

ABOVE:  I started this bloody cute bag at Craft Group yesterday.   I love it, and it's not even half done yet.

ABOVE: This is the lining, I love the pocket.  😊

I should have it finished mid afternoon, and will probably start another one after that.   We have TWO markets this coming weekend.  So, best to have a few more up me sleeve.

ONWARD...

The 'nitty gritty' of yesterday's incident.

I made sure all our exterior doors were LOCKED before going to Craft Group.  I wheeled my sewing trolley out the roller garage door, and stood and watched it close, to make sure Coco didn't follow me out.

When I got home I came back in through the garage roller door.  I saw that the back garage door was unlocked, and was surprised because I knew 100% I had locked it.

So I proceeded to check the house.  The ONLY thing that made me sure someone had been in our home was 'someone' had used the loo... and not flushed.  If it had been a woman, she would have 'wiped' herself dry, cos that's what girls do.  No paper in the bowl. I was like, who the fuck came in and had a piddle in my loo???

WAS NOT ME.

Nothing else was disturbed.

I was left just shaking my head, and was going to let it go, but Stew said I should let management know.  So I did.  

It still beggers belief that someone would come into my house just to have a piddle????  Like, WTF?

AUDREY:  Coco sleeps 90% of the day in her bed in the front bedroom.  She is very deaf, and her sight is limited as well.  IF she saw a different person in our home, she would have invited them in and made them a cuppa tea. Milk and sugar provided.  lol

So many questions!

1. No, the previous owner has since passed away, and he didn't have any of our home's keys.

2. No, the window company people could not just 'walk in', as I had locked all the doors, and they didn't have a key in the first place.

3. Yes the management here have 'Master Keys' to all the homes, for emergency purposes.  

I have been assured by management that no one would have used a Master Key to get into my house, let alone to just use my toilet!

So it will probably just end up being one of those NEVER SOLVED scenarios.

I have now been out and bought two security cameras, one for the lounge to cover both doors in that area, and one for the garage to cover the back door.

Lacy has just left, so now I can sit back and enjoy having a spic 'n' span house.

2.15 pm, and ha ha!  I did not 'sit back and enjoy' at all.

I jumped on a bus and went into town.  Because I have it in my head to get new carpet!

Something I wish I'd sorted out before we even moved into this house.

I loathe the carpet that is in this house.  It's colour is ikkk, and it's a cheap and nasty nylon carpet.  No warmth.  Just ikkk.

Lacy was bitching about vacumming it this morning, and how every little spec of ANYTHING stuck to it... and I was like - RIGHT.  I'm done with this bloody carpet.

So, into town, get off the bus and a short walk later I'm at Carpet Court.  I yak to them about what I want, grab a couple of samples and head home again.

All up it took about 2 hours.  Enjoyable... the bus was nice and warm.  No parking hassles in town, no petrol costs.  It's just a total WIN WIN.

ABOVE:  I didn't get too many samples as once you narrow down your requirements, it rules out 90% of what's in the shop. 

ABOVE: Coco is very interested in that sample... it must smell interesting.

When I went out today, I triple checked all the doors were locked, and I even locked the internal door between the garage and the house, which is something I don't  usually do.  It meant putting Coco and her bed in the garage, but she didn't mind.  Her bed went on the carpet rug, so she wasn't cold, and she could still get outside to go potty.

Now... it's almost 2.30 pm, and I'm just a bit hungry, so will get myself a late lunch.

OH, I almost forgot.  I met Ada, who bought our last home, on the bus.  We had a wonderful catch up on houses, pool etc.  She is still totally in love with her new home, and said she just needs to find some wall art like what I had, because she loved how I decorated the house.  Awww, so nice.  

I wonder if I will even get into Crabby Quarters today? 

7.15 pm, and that question above?  Answer is NO.  I didn't do any sewing today.   

I spent the remainder of the afternoon doing a freakin' jig saw!

Then I went to Weight Watchers, and quite enjoyed the meeting.  I've decided NOT to weigh in for the foreseeable future, it just gives me unnecessary stress leading up to 'weigh in day'.

I will continue going, and at some point I might start weighing in again.  But not right now.

I am perfectly happy keeping an eye on my weight, and as long as I stay within a certain number range, I'm happy.

My happiness cannot revolve around a damn number any more.  

Do you realise that I have been going to Weight Watchers, on and off for 44 years!!!!

And now, I will sign off for the day, and catch ya tomorrow.

LAKE WALK, THEN CRAFT GROUP

 

I have today all planned out already.

First up, I'm going to catch the bus and have a walk around the lake.

That will take up 2.5 hours of the morning.

Then, when I get home, I will pack up my trolley and head down to the Craft Group.

We sold 3 tote bags yesterday, so making a couple of replacements is top of my 'to do' list.

I also need to make a few more Kiwiana Braid Runners, primarily in GREEN.  

After Craft Group, I will jump in my car and go and post a Tote Bag to 'L' down in Palmerston North.  She saw my stall photo yesterday and got in touch, and she bought one.  LOL, I don't post photos of my stall in order to sell anything, but sometimes, it happens.  It always makes me laugh.

So there ya go, my day is sorted.

ONWARD...

10.30.  Pfff, so much for my wonderful plans for the day.

My feet hit the floor this morning and I was immediately hit with a dizzy, hot spell.  And my stomach was churning.  Not fun.

I think my blood sugars are totally out of whack right now, because the hot flushes have come back with a vengeance for the past week or so.

And that usually only happens now when my sugar level is to high, or too low.   Grrrr.

So I still got on the bus and went to Chartwell to post that bag to 'L'.  Grabbed some elastic from the supermarket for stall stuff, then came home again.  

I'm starting to feel better now, I had some food just now, that should sort shit out.

It's definitely much colder today, very overcast and miserable.  I'm freezing, probably not as freezing as other people, sorry other people.

I'm sitting in the lounge with me heated throw on right now, contemplating heading down to Craft Group soon.  They are bound to have the heat pump on, so at least I won't be cold down there.

12 noon:  Two things:   I am turning on our heat pump when it gets too cold.  I don't like doing it, as it feels wasteful to warm up the house just for me during the day, but I will do it.  I'm over being cold.  My heated throw is delicious though!  I love it's extra warmth.

Next, I don't think my tummy likes seafood chowder.  It's gone mental.  The number of times I've had to use the bathroom this morning is nuts.  Lucky I wasn't 'hit' with the consequences until I got home from Chartwell!

That will also explain the way I was feeling when I got up this morning.

I think it's now 'safe' to head off to Craft Group! lol

4.25 pm... been a bit busy since I got home from Craft Group.  Mainly phone calls, and visiting some of my neighbours.

Cos.. when I got home at 3 pm there were a couple of things that indicated (strongly), that someone had been in my house while I was out.

I have checked all family who have a key, and it wasn't them.  

I have reported it to management.  Now I am second guessing myself as to DID I DO THAT?  

And NOPE, I sure in hell didn't.  So, tomorrow I am going to get a security camera.  I should have done it already, but thought this place had enough dotted around.  Clearly not on my house.

I'm feeling a bit wigged out to be honest.  Not a nice feeling knowing someone has been in your house.  NOTHING is missing, which is good.

Right, it's now 9 pm and it's been a quiet evening.

I'm feeling bloody annoyed about what seems to have happened here today, but of course, it makes no sense.  Letting it lie for now.

Another day tomorrow.

CAMBRIDGE TRASH & TREASURE MARKET IN MAY

 

Trying to  be optimistic about today.

The weather is very iffy.

But, we are going as we've not been to the Cambridge market in a couple of months.

This is going to be the 'do or die' day for this market.  If it's only a so-so day sales wise, I think we will be giving it up.

It hasn't ever been a 'very good' market, just average.

And over winter we are not keen on getting up and doing all that work in the freezing cold for an average, or less then average turnover.

Fingers crossed it at least stays fine.

Right, I better get off here and get dressed, face on etc.   

Catch ya later, once we are set up and sitting down again.

OH, and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the Mum's out there.  Have a wonderful day.  

ONWARD...

ABOVE: 8 am. All set up. Had some very light drizzle, but its cleared... for now.

Not too cold.

People are already arriving.

Here's to a good day?

ABOVE: Stew bought me this heart for Mothers Day. Another addition to our heart wall.

And now I await hot dog and chips for... brunch. 🤣😅

ABOVE: His nibs is out there keeping an eye on the clouds ⛅️,  its threatening to piss down. 

10.15 and its still slow...

ABOVE: And this one was bought by a bloke, and he's taking it home to Zurich in Switzerland.   😊

1.55 pm, and we are home.  Tired but relatively happy!

There were several little bouts of drizzle, necessitating us pulling everything well inside our gazebo, but on a whole it was OK.

We made more sales than we expected, which leaves me with the conundrum... do we go to it again?

I'm hedging towards YES, UNLESS it's going to be a very wet day.  Then we will not go.

I'm bloody tired, getting up at 5.30 am is not to my liking!  And of course, because you are aware you have to get up that damn early, you don't sleep well.

A nap in on the horizon.

THANK YOU to all family that wished me a Happy Mother's Day, much appreciated.

Off for that snooze now... 

And, my snooze was just what I needed.  Feeling much better now, and looking forward to our dinner.

We are going to The Lookout, seeing as it's Mother's Day and all that.  NOT that I usually 'celebrate' Mother's Day, as it is just so heavily commercialised now days.  It's basically just a day for the retailers.  

Moving on... we still have 90 minutes until our reservation, so I will go and get my trolley ready for tomorrow's Craft Group.

ABOVE: For dinner Stew got the Seafood Tagliatelle, it was amazing.

ABOVE: I got the seafood chowder, which was BURSTING with seafood.  I was not able to eat any of the bread on the side, and only some of the cob loaf.

Stupidly, we also got fries.  Stew had to eat them all on his own.

After the meal, a waiter came over and gave me this, and said 'Happy Mother's Day'....

ABOVE:  Stew will have to eat that, as I don't do anything 'hot'... certainly not chilli!

And that's our day done, and what a lovely day it has been.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LUNCH TIME VISITORS

I'm sending Stew down to the Hot Bread Shop this morning.

We have Andrew and the kids coming for lunch today, and I can't be arsed cooking anything!

I'm getting just a bit lazy.  😂😖

It will be lovely to see Emily and Liam (and Andrew of course), as we've not seen them in a little while.

ABOVE:  After their visit, we will go out and about to do the 'big jar' project.   No teasers on what it is... but any guesses from you?

As we have a market tomorrow in Cambridge, we will have to load the car later on this afternoon.  Fingers crossed the bad weather down south does not move north !  

ONWARD...

Pfffft.  Went to get 'stuff' for the glass jar, and found out that it's not a feasible project.  

We were going to turn it into a fish tank for goldfish or similar.

NOPE.  Can't be done due to the narrow entry hole at the top.

Oh well, at least I did entertain the idea for 24 hours.

And really, the jar can't even be used as a terrarium either, due to the same 'problem' of no access except a small hole at the top.

So, it's back to just being a pretty jar.

We have been to the supermarket and done the weekend shopping, and grabbed a few things for lunch.  We are having cold meats/salad on buns.  Nice and simple.

12 noon, and our visitors arrived with a bag full of treats for me, as it's Mother's Day tomorrow.  That was so lovely of them.  

ABOVE: Lunch... which went down extremely well.  The kids loved the really fresh buns, and even walked out of the house two and a half hours later holding/eating at least their third one each!  😂😋

ABOVE: Just some happy family snaps.  They (Andrew and his partner) have a lovely young Japanese student living with them for the year, and she came along as well.  She's the same age as Emily (15).  So, between the three kids and adults, most of the food got eaten, we don't have too many left overs.

ABOVE:  In between the showers today, Stew and I finally put the Gazebo up and put super sticky tape over the numerous little rips in our gazebos 'roof'.  It is getting old, and little rips have been appearing for a year now.  I'm hoping we don't get rain at market tomorrow, but if we do, at least the roof won't leak.

I'm picking the rest of our afternoon will be spent quietly.  I've just started reading a book, a Patricia Cornwell one, she's a favourite author of mine.  Our library here in the village is extremely well stocked with books, magazines, jig saws and so on, which is so neat.

7.30 pm, and the car is loaded, ready for our early start in the morning.

It feels like forever since we did a market!

But it's not really.

I feel like going to bed ALREADY, but dare not as I know I will then be awake for good by 4 am.

As it is, we will be getting up at 5.30 am.  😖

I'm now going to get all me layers laid out, ready to step into in the morning.  I wonder if I will go with 3, or 4?  lol

Catch ya tomorrow.

OH YES I DID

 

Yesterday afternoon.

Sitting in the lounge and my mind keeps wandering to ... CAKE.

The birthday cake that Archer chose to be specific.  It was so damn lovely!  NOT too sweet, with some sort of lovely fruit in it.

So, I decided to go and buy one.

As ya do when you have a craving, and simply cannot stop thinking about it.

I get to Woolworths, and dang!  They don't have any of that cake left.

But they do have this:

ABOVE:  It has ONE piece of the desired cake, marked with the X.  I think it's a piece of Black Forest cake.

So anyway, I just buy it.

This morning I have the most gorgeous, dear little neighbour coming over to enjoy some of my cake!  lol

Is it WRONG to think a fantastic Hba1c result should be celebrated with cake???  

Considering how much utter shit I've been eating for 'quite a while now', and how the Trulicity is doing it's job and keeping my Hba1c number DOWN....  Obviously I can get away with eating cake now and then!  I like that.  lol

So, because darling 'P' is visiting me this morning,  I won't be going for my lake walk today, or maybe I will go after lunch?  It will depend on how hot it gets after lunch.  I ain't walking in the midday heat, even though it's technically almost winter.

ABOVE:  Coco after her groom yesterday.  Could she be any cuter?  I don't think so.

ONWARD...

1.15 pm.

I had a delightful morning tea with my neighbour.  She thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and loved our home.  She said it was lovely looking at all the different things we had in our house!  She particularly loved all our ornaments, Britto, Houses, paintings etc.  She said all she had to look at in her house were photos on the walls.

Once she left I proceeded to do some housework, and a bit of sewing.  Nothing riveting.

Opted out of a walk as I have a banging headache going on right now.  Just tired I think.

I'm now heating up a frozen scone for my lunch.

My visitor this morning made a suggestion on a use for the big green glass jar on the tea wagon. Hmmm, I will tell Stew and see what he thinks. Pending that, we might be doing 'something' with it tomorrow. 😉 

I'm stuck in my lounge chair.

Coco decided my lap was better than her bed... which is utterly unlike her. She virtually never gets on MY lap!  So I can't move, I'm enjoying the doggy love.

Rather typically, when Stew arrived home from work, Coco abandoned me.  Stew is her favourite person... probably because he FEEDS HER.  yeah.  Cupboard love.

Anyway, it's time to sign off for the day.  I'm tired from doing nothing much today!

Catch ya tomorrow.