ANOTHER DAY TRIP AHEAD

Stew is home today, and we are heading out of town again.

Destination to be advised later.

I am going to ring the Dr before 8 am, and make an appointment for Stew to see the Doctor.  Hopefully that will happen sometime today, and we will plan our day around that, all going well.

His toe didn't look any worse last night when I looked at it... I think the bruising is what's changing.  It's getting darker and moving down his foot a bit now.   BUT, even though it doesn't seem to be infected, as everyone said, best to get it looked at.  It could still get an infection under the ripped off nail, which is hanging on by just a thread.  Ikky.

Today is the one year anniversary of my sister Lorraine's passing.  I will be thinking of her today.

Right, time to get a move on.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

9.43 am.

And Stew has had his toe checked and all is GOOD. No sign of infection.  

And we are now on the road, heading to our destination. 

ABOVE: Having an early lunch as the shop we wanted to visit was unexpectedly closed. Most annoying. 

ABOVE: I had a 'kebab' salad. It was delicious.  Just meat and salad stuff... my 'go to' lunch now.

ABOVE: Ahhhhh.... shopping. 

ABOVE: And visiting family.

3.15 pm,  and we are home.  We decided to go to Thames today.  We really love that coastline.

We had hoped to visit a copper craft shop while there, but the buggers were closed today.  

So, we did a trip up the coast, all the way to Tapu.

I took lots of photos, but blogger is being an arse, and won't let me upload them yet.  So we wait....  😂😒😣

ABOVE:  a interesting sculpture in the main street of Thames.  Not my cuppa tea, but someone's.  lol

ABOVE:  Stew on Waiomu Beach.  

ABOVE:  Waiomu Beach.  About 15 - 20 minutes north of Thames.

ABOVE:  I'm not a fan of the coast road.

It is narrow in places, and very windy.

ABOVE: But then, you get gorgeous views like this.  

Worth it.

ABOVE:  After driving past this Art Gallery/Shop a gazillion times, we finally stopped for a look.

And ended up buying a couple of things.

Whoops.

ABOVE: We visited 4 family members in the Thames cemetery.   They have such a lovely resting place.

ABOVE: The old (on the left) and the new Kopu Bridge.  One day soon the old bridge will be open to foot and cycle traffic.  I can't wait to walk over it, after having driven over it hundreds and hundreds of times over the past 60 years.

ABOVE: This is a painting we bought today.  It is of the Whitianga Wharf.  This wharf holds special meaning to me.  My Dad fell off it in 2000 and drowned.  I don't hold it against the wharf.  😌

I made the most yummy beef and bacon rissoles for our dinner tonight.  And mashed potatoes.  OMG so good.  And I probably blew the diet.  *sigh*

Another day tomorrow to be extra 'good'.

Time to sign off, catch ya tomorrow.

A WALK, SOME SHOPPING ...

 

My agenda today is:

- go for a walk

- attend Coffee & Chat in the village

- get a few items from the supermarket

- continue working on the last Fish Runner (in this run)

Stew hurt his toe a week ago while putting his socks on.  He ripped his R big toenail almost off!

It has looked terrible for the entire week:

ABOVE:  We have been keeping a close eye on it.  I almost sent him to A & E on Sunday... as I thought there was some 'tracking' moving up his foot.

But yesterday it hadn't changed, so he MIGHT be OK. 

It's not very sore.  It's not hot. It just looks terrible.   It is still bothering me though.  What would you do?  

I will leave it at that, and make a start on my day.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11 am.  My walk was short, it was damn freezing!  We had a mild frost today.  It's now a gorgeous day out there.

Morning tea was lovely, our resident JJ (Jabba Jaws) was not there, so we all got to talk! lol

Arrived home, grabbed my car keys to head off to the supermarket.  NOT WORKING.  Can't even open my car!  I presume the battery in the remote is dead.  So now I'm about to walk up the hill and catch the bus to the Base instead.  Wonderful.

But, it will fill in some time.  I might even visit the supermarket before I head home again, just depends how much I want to buy.  I don't want to be lugging too much home on the bus.

I SEARCHED AND SEARCHED for a freakin keyhole on and under the dashboard to NO AVAIL!  No key hole to be found. Most frustrating.  Stew is going to look when he gets home.

 So now I'm on the 🚌 bus...

1 pm and I've done my shopping and am on the bus on my way home.

Stew has tomorrow off work so I will make sure he sees the Doctor then. I think he should have gone sooner but ... we were not sure it was a 'problem'.  Better to make sure it doesn't turn into something worse.

Re: the car's remote.  You can pull the end of it, and it opens and exposes the 'key', which you can use to open the door.  Which I did.  Then, IF you can find the key hole inside the car, you can start it that way.  But I couldn't find the key hole inside the car.  

Once I got home from The Base, and tried the remote with a new battery inside it, it started the car.  Sorted.

This was ENTIRELY MY OWN FAULT!

I had seen the little flashing KEY sign on the dashboard a few times over the past few weeks, and totally ignored it.  So, I had been warned the battery was going.... derrr.  😖😕😏

Stew arrived home from work and reminded me that I wanted to attend WW tonight.... so I jumped in me car and went.  It was nice to see everyone after I'd not been for a few weeks.   I don't weigh in at the moment, and may never again.  We will see.  I let Andrea (our WW leader) know I am now on WEGOVY... she is non-judgemental, whatever works for you is her motto.   Though I do feel like I am 'cheating'.  It's annoying that I feel like that.

But it is what it is.  I am moving on, doing whatever I can (within reason) to lose weight and stay healthy.

Now it's wind down time.  I've been to the supermarket AGAIN ... cos the  one thing I wanted to buy, (Salami), was the one thing I forgot this morning.   I also bought some flowers for tomorrow... just cos.

Catch ya tomorrow.

I LOVE MONDAYS

 

I have come to really love Mondays!

I get to mix and yak with like minded ladies down in the Craft Room for the majority of the day.

It's so neat.  I used to sew on my own and feel quite lonely most days.  Now?  If I wanted to, I could have company every single day here.

A bit later on I am going to pack up my sewing trolley and head down to the Craft Room.

Before that, there's a bit of housework to get done, primarily the washing.  I usually do the washing on a Sunday, but of course, yesterday we were out road tripping.

Peta asked me last night if I got to talk to the fellow stall holder, 'M', about his experience with WEGOVY.

'M' said it took him a year to lose his weight, and now he's slowly weaning himself down from the full dose to the lowest dose.  That is something I will do in a few months time, once I've lost the weight I want to lose.   He didn't really have any other tips, just the usual stuff that all dieters know anyway.

Eat healthily and have smaller portions.  Get some exercise.  bla bla bla.

Bearing in mind everyone is different, we will all have different experiences with however we are choosing to lose weight.

For me, having done almost every diet known to man, and succeeding, and failing... I am hoping once I get the desired weight off, I can keep it off.  

I just wish I wasn't an emotional eater, cos that is my primary downfall.

SO, NO ONE BETTER UPSET ME!  No dying.  No backstabbing.  No accidents.  NOTHING.  Just sunshine and fucking roses.  OK? 😂😅😏

ONWARD...

3.15 pm.

Clearly I've been a busy girl today.   I headed down to Craft Group once the housework was done, and I've just arrived home.

ABOVE: I got these two fish done today.  Nell on the top, and Flash on the bottom.  One of the craft group ladies named Flash.  Funny how much enjoyment she got out of that.  😊

It was a very nice group of ladies today, lots of laughs and chatting, just what I enjoy.

I'm now taking some time out to just relax, then I will put all the sewing stuff away in Crabby Quarters.

9.44 pm.  Well it's been a quiet afternoon/evening.

Not much happening.

I think most of you have found it a bit boring!  lol

Time to sign off.   Catch ya tomorrow.

DAY TRIP IN THE RAIN

 We have decided to go on a little day trip today.

Possibly Raglan or Thames.  

And today I will be having my one and only 'cheat' meal in over two weeks.   

OMG I am so looking forward to it.  I will still be careful, and mindful of what I'm eating, but it won't be just fruit, or a salad, or an Optifast.

It is probably going to rain today, so there might not be a walk on the beach, but it will still be lovely I'm sure.

It will also be a day I don't do any sewing, cos I really want a break from Crabby Quarters.  I may love sewing, but NOT every single day.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: well it's not the beach!

We have ended up at Lake Ohakuri, my favourite lake in the North Island. My home during my mid to late teens was just up the road from here.

It's been a lovely litle trip down here today.

We are now heading home, with a stop in Tirau for the much anticipated lunch.

ABOVE: Seems we stopped for some shopping.  Got a Christmas present for someone. Tick tick.

3.05 pm.

We are home again.

Photos of our little trip:

ABOVE: Looking down on Ohakuri Dam.  The water looks gorgeous.

ABOVE:  Ohakuri Dam was opened in 1961, and my Grandfather (Paternal side) most likely worked on it as a civil engineer.

ABOVE:  Lake Ohakuri, where I first learnt to water ski.  I love this lake.

After visiting the lake, we headed back to Tirau for lunch at The Cabbage Tree Cafe.

ABOVE:  Stew had their 'Big Breakfast', and I can honestly say I've never seen such an AMAZING breakfast!  It had everything and MORE.  He thoroughly enjoyed it.  I was a little bit envious, but knew there was no way I could eat all that.

ABOVE:  After dreaming of having a 'naughty-ish' meal, I ended up having a Lamb Salad, which was pretty much exactly what I would have had at home.  lol

It was very nice though.

ABOVE:  Stew placing our newest rock, my Lake Ohakuri rock.  

ABOVE:  Our newest piece of Polish Pottery, bought from Notting Hill gift shop in Tirau.

ABOVE:  And our latest 'house'... a lovely lighthouse. 

I'm running out of room for houses!  

NAH, I'll always find room. 😂😅

Last photo of the day...

ABOVE:  The main reason for heading down south... to view my parent's 'new' headstone.  It now includes my Mum's details.

There is more on it... but that is for others to see if a few days time. 

Stew and I are now enjoying the remainder of this Sunday, snug and warm inside.

8.445 pm, and we are winding down for the day.  Stew is off to bed early, poor bugger has work in the morning.

Me?   I will stay up a bit longer, as I'm a night owl.  If I go to bed too early, I'm wide awake in the middle of the night.  NOT fun.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TAMAHERE IN AUGUST

 

Here we go again... another market in iffy weather.

At least we do know that at Tamahere the people still come, rain or shine.

I'm hoping to get a chance to talk to a fellow stall holder, 'M', who has been on WEGOVY for some months now.  I want to pick his brains, primarily to find out how long it took for him to notice the positive effects of the drug?  Like, how long it takes to kill your 'hunger signals' and feeling full on less?

He's done so well on it, so I'm hoping he can give me some real life tips.  

Today is the first time in months I will have Fish Runners on our stall.  I wonder how they will go?

Right, time to go.... catch ya later.

ONWARD... 

ABOVE: We woke so early we ended up at market just after 6am. So it was pitch black for a while.

ABOVE: That is Butch, a fellow stall holder. We've known him for years . He's a real hard case, nice guy.

ABOVE: 7.35 am, and we are all ready. The weather is holding...

Bring on the shoppers. 

ABOVE: A few other stalls that we love. 

ABOVE: Another one.

ABOVE: The outside 'side', which is our BONUS space at this market. 

ABOVE: That's Carl, he sells soaps, and his Mum Margaret sells Venison Salami. We just bought some of her salami, its delicious. 

THE SUN IS OUT!!!!

ABOVE: This lady was walking by and I spied the bag she had on her shoulder... one of mine. I grabbed a photo... she said she uses her bag all the time and loves it. 

The market is not as busy as last month, but steady.

ABOVE: Looking at that! Two small BRITTO items for $1.50.  Grabbed them the minute I saw them. 

As for the market, its almost dead, with an hour to go.

It's been a disappointing day for everyone here today. 

2.10 pm, and we are home.  Although it wasn't a fantastic day sales wise, we did make some sales, and it's always nice catching up with everyone at market.

ABOVE: We are now taking a minute to just relax, before doing a small grocery shop.  My Optifast today has a tamarillo and berries whizzed into it.  Very nice.

Like a fruit smoothie, something I'm not used to, but am enjoying.  As I've said before, it makes the Optifast palatable.  Without the fruit?  It's DISGUSTING. 😂😖

6.50 pm, and here we are.  Parked in front of the telly on a Saturday night... like Darby and Joan.  Just two old farts now.  lol

Time to sign off for the day.

We were so lucky with the weather today!  It clouded over late this afternoon, so I fully expect it to rain at some point this evening, or tomorrow.

Catch ya tomorrow.