OUTLET SHOPPING

 

I've not tried getting out of bed yet, so I'm not sure how bad the calves will feel.... I'm hoping they are settling down.

7.30:  Right, I'm out of bed, the legs are MUCH better.  Not 100% yet, but getting there.

ONWARD...

We have decided to go to Auckland for the day.  Stew suggested we visit the 'new' outlet shops out by the airport.  They have been open for a couple of years now, but we have never gone there.

So, because we have nothing better to do right now, that's what we shall do.

I can feel a visit to Ribbon Rose looming as well... cos well... we will be in Auckland right?  lol

We left home at 8.45 and all was going well until 9.10 am.

ABOVE: Then we came to a screeching stop. There must be an accident ahead. There is no traffic moving in either direction.  I wonder how long we will be stuck here??? 

ABOVE: Cop car just whizzed by on the shoulder.... 

ABOVE:  We will be fine. We've got our drinks and I'm keeping warm. We turned the car off as we could be here a while. 

There is traffic coming through on the other side of the road now, so the accident must be on our side, further up. 

ABOVE: Yet more emergency responders heading to the crash. 

Thank goodness for our phones! We can read the news, blog,  play games, watch a movie all from the car. 

OMG...  9.43 and our side is MOVING! Very slowly 🐌... but we are moving.

ABOVE: It was a single vehicle accident... one car tipped over on its side in the middle of the road. 

We are on our way again... luckily that didn't look too bad, or cause a huge delay. 

SQUARES TO RECTANGLES

 

The other day, Lynda made a comment about the shape of my placemats.

It made me stop and think ... perhaps having rectangular placemats would be better than the squares?

I've thought on it for a couple of days now, and yep, I think she's right.

Back in the day, I made placemats and they were rectangular.  So, today I am going to add strips to the sides of the squares I have already cut out, and turn them into rectangular placemats.

Thanks Lynda.

The 10 placemats already finished as squares will still go on the stall, and we'll see how they go.

It will take me a little while to sort that out, so I'll be doing that for a good few hours today.

I'm not sure if I will do that here, or down in the Craft room.  It will depend on how I feel once my feet hit the floor to be honest.

If yesterday's aches and pains are anything to go by, I know I will be hobbling around until I warm up my muscles! lol

And as Marlene said yesterday, I might feel even worse today.  Gawd I hope not, yesterday was bad enough.

It reminded me how awful you feel after going to the gym for the first time in forever!  You pay for it for days.

1,500+ steep steps might just equate to something like that eh?   

Right, I might just lie here for a bit longer, before checking out how my legs feel when they hit the floor...

ONWARD...

9.20 am.   I felt like a bloody CRIPPLE walking first thing this morning, my calves were frozen.  But, it's getting better as the day moves on.  I'm about to do 'the hill', then carry on to the Craft Room for a few hours.

Weight in?  Lost .700 grams this week, that will do!  

12.25 pm. And I've got the craft room all to myself today...

ABOVE: While its nice to have company down here,  it's also nice to be able to listen to my music too. 😊

ABOVE: I adjusted the shape, added more on the end etc, and I  now have 4 blue wave placements finished. I'm packing up now and heading home for lunch. 

BTW, walking up the hill this morning was fine, coming down was another story! That hurt.  But it will get better after today I'm sure.  😊😉

* Just looking at the finished placemats, they still look quite square in the photo.  They are not though, they are rectangular now. *

ABOVE:  While I spent a good couple of hours in Crabby Quarters this afternoon, I only got one new placemat made.

There are new plans afoot for Crabby Quarters. IF it happens, I'll let you know what then.  For now, it just involved moving some fabric around.

I am really knackered now, so have stopped for the day.  Stew will be home within the next hour, so that will be nice.  I think we are having a pizza for dinner.  My 'naughty' meal of the week.

I'm really looking forward to it.

Tonight's WEGOVY injection is going up to the 1.0 mg dose.  I'm hoping it finally starts having some effect on me.

What if I'm someone who doesn't respond to this drug?  That would piss me off big time!

What if I just have to DIET (starve) for the rest of my life, just to stay within a healthy weight range?  😡😠😖

10.05 pm, and it's time for bed.  I'm kinda knackered... AGAIN.  Tomorrow I won't be doing too much.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

OMG I'M PLAYING FRIGGIN BOWLS!

9.30 this morning will see me joining around 40-50 villagers on the bowling green.

We are playing a Tournament to raise money for Prostrate Cancer Awareness.

After the Tournament most players and spectators are having a special 'Burger and Chips' lunch in the Community Centre.  I have opted out of that lunch, but I will join them with my own lunch.

Which will be crackers, cheese, salami and grapes.   I have between 4 - 6 crackers and that's quite enough for me now.

I have a few more photos to share from our walk yesterday:

ABOVE: The first waterfall, which was on the main track.

ABOVE: The second waterfall, which was on the Waterworks Track, which was a side track. Doing that track added about 60 steps to our total.

ABOVE:  I just loved this tree trunk/branch...

ABOVE:  Lacy crawling along it for a photo op.

ABOVE:  Another lovely view.  That is Ngaruawahia in the foreground, with the Waikato River flowing through it.

ABOVE: There I was thinking I had done 1,359 steps all up.  NOPE.  1,496 PLUS the extra 60 odd steps we did on the Waterworks Track... taking the total up to:  1,556 !!!  I.  CAN'T.  BELIEVE.  I.  DID.  THAT.

I really can't.

I avoid stairs like they are poison.

When I do the 'bridges' walk from our village, there's 36 steps to get from the river bank to the top of Pukete Bridge, and I struggle to do them!  WTF?  I doubt I will ever struggle to do them again.

And that's enough waffling from me for now.  I better get myself up and ready for this bloody Bowls Tournament.  Playing bowls is also something I can't believe I am doing.  

ONWARD...
11.50 am, and the bowls is over.  And I'm not doing that again until next year!  It was nice mixing and mingling with fellow villagers, but yeah nah.  Bowls ain't my thing.

ABOVE:  It was a good turn out.  And our team won!  Wasn't because of my stellar playing I can assure you!  

ABOVE: This bloke won 'Best Dressed'.  You were supposed to wear blue.  Not that many did.  He over compensated for them.

ABOVE:  I enjoyed this bit the most, when they said it was over and we could leave.  lol

I am now cooking my lunch, which is Beef Spare ribs.

Note to self:  Don't try cooking Spare Ribs in the air fryer.  They come out like RUBBER.  Horrible.

How is my body feeling after yesterday/today's bowls?   Sore.  Calves and shoulders are the worst.  Front of thighs are a bit sore, but not as bad as my calves and shoulders.

I didn't have any problem playing bowls at all really.  That might be down to the Panadol I took before hand though.

I've just had to take more Panadol, as the pain is kicking in again.   I knew this would happen, you can't do that much exercise 'out of the blue' without paying for it later.  😂😖 

If you are wondering about my shoulders being really sore... it was because of holding on to the stair railings so much... three hours with your arms kinda up, holding on for dear life on the way down etc.  lol  And I have tendonitis in both shoulders, making them sore anyway.

ABOVE: I just had a really divine soak in the spa pool.  Stew is at the pub without me tonight.  I also chose not to visit the kids this evening, a relaxing evening was what I needed.

And now, I will sign off for the day, and enjoy some more down time.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

WHAT AM I THINKING????

 

Lacy has been doing the Hakarimata Summit Track for a while now.  She keeps saying I should go with her!

Like Lacy, it's a bloody mountain with over 1,300 steps, not to mention the rest of the trail is steep too. 

I have said NO NO NO, but... today we have agreed I'll join her and do as much as I can.  I think about 10 minutes into it will be my limit!  lol

I simply do not do hills, let alone 1,300 steps and a mountain trail!  

What am I thinking???

IF I survive, I'll come back and tell ya how I did.

IF I SURVIVE.  😂😅😖

After lunch today I have my second practise of lawn bowls, in readiness for tomorrow's Charity Tournament.  I can't wait (I'm bullshitting of course).  But it's raising money for a good cause, so I will do it.  It's for Blue September, Prostrate Cancer Awareness Month.  

After all that, I would like to think I will get some sewing done!  We will see, I might be knackered and need a Nana Nap!  lol

ABOVE: I finished two of the current six placemats last night.  Wave pattern.  Loving them.

ONWARD...

1.30 PM.

Lacy and I went out to Ngaruawahia to do 'some' of the Hararimata track.  

ABOVE:  The track takes around 3 hours return according to the sign.

No way was I doing that!

I wanted to just do up to the steps starting...

ABOVE:  Lacy suggested we do one of the smaller side tracks, that takes you to a water reservoir...

There were a FEW steps to get to it.

ABOVE: We saw two waterfalls, it was very pretty.  And not too arduous to get to.  There were a few steps, but I managed them OK.

I then decided I wanted to try doing a bit more.  Lacy has a gorgeous photo on her phone of a stunning view up the track... she told me it was 'about half way up'.  So, me being a bit of a stubborn tart, decided I'd try to get to it.

ABOVE: The steps were horrendous... they just kept on going, and going...

ABOVE:  Steps... but I kept stopping and resting, and just kept on going...

ABOVE:  And I MADE IT TO THAT VIEW!!!!   I was so proud of myself.

Every time I asked Lacy how much further it was, she cackled and said "Not much further".  The bitch lied.  That view was easily 3/4'ers of the way up that bloody mountain.

ABOVE: So after getting that far, it seemed silly not to go all the way!   So I did.

ABOVE: At the top!!!!!   Not only 1,356 steps, but quite a bit of mountain trail as well.

ABOVE:  I liked this sign.  

ABOVE: The lookout, which I climbed to see the view.

ABOVE:  LOVED this sign!  Best one on the trail.

ABOVE:  A gorgeous Totara tree.  

ABOVE:  Lacy can do the trail in about an hour.  It took me 3 hours.  And I am really proud of myself for actually doing it.

AND... I AM NEVER DOING IT AGAIN.  EVER.

It wasn't even on my bucket list.  Pfffft.

I have cancelled doing a bowls practise this afternoon, I need a bloody nap!

6.30 pm, and as you can imagine, I have had a quiet afternoon.  I tried to have a nap, but meh, that didn't happen.  So I just lay in bed with the electric blanket on and relaxed.   Later on I sat outside to encourage Coco to join me outside.

She was having none of it!  She doesn't like being in our backyard... she sits by the door begging to be let back inside.  Silly girl.

Stew is now home and we are about to have dinner.  I had a bacon hock and veges in the crock pot all day, so we are having that.  It's a bit like a soup.  Should be yummy.

10.05 pm.  Coronation Street just finished early, so I'm off to bed.  I've got another busy day tomorrow, so need some decent sleep.  Which should happen, considering how freakin' tired I am.  😊

Catch ya tomorrow.

TOP OF THE LIST

 

Top of my 'to do' list today?

Go to the Drs and get an appointment for this week.  I should have done it yesterday, but forgot.

I have to go every month to renew my WEGOVY prescription.

I still don't feel like it's doing a bloody thing for me... any weight loss up to now is due to my sheer will power.  Of that I am 100% certain.

It has been hard.  And frustrating.  I want the money I'm spending to feel like it's NOT being wasted.  It sure feels like that right now.

Maybe with the next dose, which will be 1.0 mgs, I will start to get some effect from it?

In the meantime....

ABOVE:  I am ONE KILO away from my lightest weight in almost 8 years.  While that feels good, it's not where I want to be at the end of the day.  

Minus THREE kilos from now, I will hit a magical number for me... I can almost see me getting there now.

I have decided, upon advice, to attend today's Coffee & Chat.  Not because I necessarily want to, but because I don't want anyone to know how much last week's 'racist fiasco' upset me.  I can attend a few times and if things are no nicer, I will slowly back out of them.

I'm going to give it a last chance.  If something is said that is upsetting, I can just exit the room.  Simple.

While I am at C & C, Lacy will be here doing some housework for me.  Just the basics that I hate doing... vacuuming, washing floors and the like.

After lunch I am joining a group of ladies from here and we are going on an 'Op Shop Hop', which means we will be visiting several Hamilton Op Shops.  I think I'm looking forward to that.  Not sure.  It's an outing if nothing else.

ABOVE:  I walk around my house holding this wooden measuring ruler.  Any guesses why???

ONWARD...

9 am.  I went down to the medical centre to get an appointment.  NONE available across all the Tui Clinics this week, except ONE for this afternoon.  So I took it, as I need my prescription before Friday.  Lesson learnt, make your appointment at least 2-3 weeks ahead of time.  If I'd wanted, I could have sat in their A & E department for 2+ hours and paid $150 to see a Dr today.  For a PRESCRIPTION.  Like... that wasn't happening.

So, as a consequence, I'm having to back out of the Op Shop Hop trip.  Grrrr.

Let's look at the positives, I can sew today after all.

11.30 and I'm home from C & C, which went very well!   I was happy with the groups conversations today, and I even got a word in.  JJ (Jabber Jaws) was there, and for once she didn't totally dominate the conversation.

Lacy is running late today, so I have no idea when she's going to be here.

I see no one is game enough to guess why I walk around with the wooden ruler.  Oh well... I might tell you eventually.

For now, I've just had an early lunch, and will go into Crabby Quarters and get some work done.

4.05 pm, and I've been to the Dr's to get my next WEGOVY prescription.  Then picked up said drug and came home.  

While I was out, I made an appointment for in a month's time, so I don't have to worry about not getting one in time.

I hate to think what happens if you are actually SICK and can't get  in to see a Doctor when you need to!  I suppose you just have to line up and wait at the A & E for hours, and pay through the nose.  UNLESS you go to the  hospital, where it's free.... and you could sit and wait hours and hours and drop dead in the toilet.  THAT has happened recently here in the Waikato!

Our health system is totally fucked up.  And it is down to MONEY.  Not enough nurses or doctors being employed to cover the health needs of people in this country.  I know it's a universal problem of course... but it is just so sad.  And wrong.

RANT OVER.

Before going out, I did get some sewing done.  Nothing is finished yet... I tend to do placemats in 'batches' of 6.  So the next 6 will be done tomorrow all going well.

I have decided not to attend the WW meeting this evening.  I'm just so cold, the thought of sitting in the large empty school hall, freezing my buns off for an hour.... NO THANKS.

6.45 pm, and because I didn't go to WW, I ended up going with Stew for his walk.  We knocked out the 2.6 kms in 30 minutes, so a good pace considering we have 'the hill' to get up right at the beginning.  Tonight I was yakking to Stew all the way up the hill and got to the top still talking!  That's progress for ya.  When I first started going up that hill I was gasping for breath by the time I got to the top.

And by the way, it's not a very long hill, just a bit steep.

Time to sign off... OH NO!  Hold on.

I need to explain the wooden ruler.

Yes, it is all about COCO.

She is very deaf and her sight isn't that good either.

So she walks in front of us when we are moving through the house, or she stands right smack bang behind you when you stop, then when you turn around she doesn't move.

She has tripped me up once too often, so now I walk holding on the the ruler and she gets a tap if she doesn't move!

The other day I started using the ruler and tapped her ONCE and since then?  She keeps right away from me.  I don't even have to be holding the ruler.

Poor girl, she didn't like being tapped with the ruler obviously.

All good as far as I'm concerned.  I'm sick of falling over her.  It's lucky I've not been hurt, or worse still, landed on top of her and injured her.

So there ya go.  Have wooden ruler... no more accidents.