TWEAKING THE GARAGE

 

ABOVE:  Last night we had dinner at the Fergus Bar and Kitchen, on Borman Road, Rototuna.

ABOVE:  Stew and I decided to share a pizza and loaded fries, to compare them to The Foundation, where we usually go for that type of meal.

OMG.

Like seriously.

Sooooo much better.

Amazing in fact.

I don't think we will ever go to The Foundation again.  

The meal was that good.   Martyn had a Teryaki Beef salad, which looked nice too.

He ended up sharing our Pizza and fries too... cos it was very filling.

ABOVE:  We all opted for a desert too, something Stew and I don't usually do.  It was called a Whittakers Chocolate Brownie.

That was amazing too!

So, if you want a really lovely meal, in a nice atmosphere, I highly recommend that place.

Moving on....

Today's job is to tweak a couple of areas of the garage, just finishing off the BIG job I started yesterday.

ABOVE: First up, I thought I'd show you where all the market stuff ended up.  In the sewing room.  And I don't think it has made the room look any less spacious.

ABOVE:  I already had that table in there, so all the runner bags went on it, and the rest of the stuff is under and beside it.

Works for me.

ABOVE:  While this corner of the garage isn't too messy, I am going to try and tidy it up so it's not annoying me.

Once that is done, I can then finish off the RHR #4, which did not get done yesterday.  And I really do need to get it done, seeing as some crazy tart down in Wellington wants it!  lol  

Love ya KJ.

ONWARD...

10 am:  And I've done all I can do to the garage to enhance it's size, and tidiness.

ABOVE:  I tidied up what was on that shelving unit, then covered it.  Much better.

NOW I can work on that Round House Runner (Wall Hanging) for KJ.

ABOVE: And that's done and dusted.  Now I'm just waiting for the dowel to dry (I painted it), then I can send it off to you KJ.

I can't believe it's been about 16-17 years since you first gave me tips on sewing quilts etc!

I can still remember making my first ever quilt for Griffin, and telling you to finish it if I died during one of my surgeries!  Funny.

Time sure flies by, the years spin faster and faster as you age, that's for sure.

It's now 12.30 pm, and I've stopped for now.

I don't even know if I shall 'start up' again, I'm that tired.  Maybe a quiet afternoon is needed?

FUMING.   We have not even been 'on the market' two months yet.  And our Estate Agent is advising us to drop our price FOR THE SECOND TIME!  She told us to do it after only 12 days!!!

Now she's back to telling us to do it AGAIN.

I'm so angry.

SHE told us what our home was worth ffs.  We also looked at the market and could see what our home offered over others of similar size in our area.  

LUCKILY we are not actually in a hurry to sell, cos I am going to dig my fucking toes in and wait.

IF we lose the home we have a contract on right now, so be it.  There are others we can go for.  And if there is nothing we want when we are ready, then we will rent until the right home comes up for us.

Simple.

9.09 pm:  Usual Thursday night here.  I took Stew to the pub, then spent time with Steve, Bex and the kids.

They I joined Stew and the crew at the pub for an hour, before we came home.

Now... keeping nice and warm, watching telly till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MIDWEEK HUMP DAY

 

MORNING !

Anyone want a free weight bench?  Cos we don't want it ... Stew can't use it anymore and I don't want to lug it to our next home.

Free to collect from our home.  edit:  TOO LATE, IT'S GONE!

Now, moving on... Today I'm going to finish off this:

ABOVE:  This one (#4) is 80% done and dusted.

So, I should get it finished by lunchtime.

After that, not sure what I will get up to.

Not sure if I feel like starting another runner today.  Might wait and see.

ONWARD...

9.20 am, I listed that weight bench on Facebook Marketplace.

Within SECONDS I had several people clamoring for it!  So it's gone pending pickup soon.  I am going to use the spare space in the 'gym room' to store stuff from the garage and house.

ABOVE:  From this...

ABOVE:   To this, in exactly 22 minutes!!!!!

I am in shock!   I never in a million years expected it to go so swiftly.  I had 13 people ask for it in the space of 20 minutes, before I took the advert down.  

Now I can de-clutter the garage.  Excellent, I won't be idle today or for the next few days I reckon.

I hate being idle.

ABOVE:  So, I just listed this for sale on Marketplace.   I hope it goes quickly!  Not free, but pretty damn cheap.

And now, back to the de-clutter.

I'm certainly getting some exercise today!

4.21 pm.  I've been working like a mad woman all day!

The garage is almost totally sorted.  Might do some tweaks tomorrow.

ABOVE: One tweak I can't do.  That little wooden 'fence' that kinda separates the laundry area.  It's gotta go, but no matter what screwdriver I tried, it is stuck fast to the bloody floor.

So Steve is coming over in the weekend to get it off for me.

That will open up the area a bit better.

ABOVE:  Only one casualty for the day! One of my lovely Scentsy burners fell and smashed to smithereens.  Sad, I really liked that one.  Lucky I have three others.  😂😊

ABOVE:  Vickie:   Too late.  When you made that suggestion, I had already put this lot down in the gym room.  NO WAY was I taking it all out again.

The flat pack boxes will go in the back shed... tomorrow.   So the room is not looking cluttered.

ABOVE:  I'm really happy with how much I managed to get done to de-clutter in here today.

Except for that corner to the right.

I will work on that tomorrow.

Hoping that little cabinet sells and gets outta my house soon too.

ABOVE:  The left hand side of the garage had MASSES of 'stuff' all along it.  Market stuff.  Big table.  Freezer.  And so on.  All gone.

Now the garage could fit two cars in it, at a pinch.

AND that was the object of this exercise.  To show the space in here.

Stew will need to tidy up 'his' corner in here too... I'll get him onto that this weekend. 😊😉

NOW.  I'm done like a dinner.  Totally knackered and about to STOP.

Or will I?

5.50 pm:  I didn't, no surprises there.  I got out the vacuum and did some of that around the house.

Then I got a call from a friend from Tauranga, and he's coming to spend some time with us this evening.  I think we are gunna go out for dinner.

Shit.  I now have to get out of these work clothes and into something slightly more tidy.

Luckily I had changed out of me PJ's when the bloke came to pick up the Weight Bench this morning, otherwise I think I would still be in them.

OMG I am so tired.  

8.10 pm, just home from dinner out.  We tried a totally new place tonight, I shall tell ya about it tomorrow.

It rained, it was like drops of bloody ICE I tell ya, soooooo damn cold!  

ABOVE:  It was a very nice skyline as we left the eatery.  But those clouds off to the left looked menacing, probably loaded with ice drops.

OH! That cabinet I listed today on Marketplace?

Yeah, there's a lady coming in half an hour to pick it up.  BOOM.

More shit outta my house.  Love it.

It's been an exceptional day really.  

And now I'm going to sign off, put me feet up, grab me hot pods and blankie and blob out.

Catch ya tomorrow.

WONKY HOUSE WALL HANGING

Hi ho.  Well... my plans for today are:

Go for a walk with Coco again.

She dictates where we will go, depending on which way she heads off from the gate!

She's such a dag.

When we get home, I am pulling out ALL MY RUNNERS, hanging them on racks, washing any that have marks (specks of mud) on them (2-3), and then ironing them all again.

I anticipate that taking me several hours.

Oh well, at least I won't be idle eh?

Once that big job is done, I shall go back to finish off Round House Runner # 4.  It got put on the back burner so I could get this one done:

ABOVE:  This is the cute little Wonky House Wall Hanging I made yesterday.

I still need to paint the dowel white and attach some string for hanging.

But at least it's 95% done.

So my friends, that's me for now, I'll catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11.55 am:

And that little job took me 3 hours, and I've not actually packed it all back up yet!

OMG that needed doing so badly.

There were only two runners that needed spot cleaning. Thankfully.

But sorting them all out was a mission.

We tend to just throw them in bags willy nilly at the end of a market, so things get all muddled up.

Today I spent the majority of my time sorting them all out, working out what will go on which rack, and so on.

Now I have it all written down, what goes where, how to pack in and out etc.

I hope it remains organised from now on.

ABOVE:  I have packed up two of the runner bags, just two to go.

But for now, I'm taking a lunch break.  I'm starving.  And tired.

4 pm.  And I've finally got all that stuff packed up again, and put away, all ready for the next market.  Which is Tamahere on the 19th.

I'm now in the sewing room, working on RHR #4.

ABOVE:  I just had to take a photo from my sewing room today.  It's beautiful out there.  Not cold, not hot.  PERFECT in fact.

It won't last.

The forecast is for... more rain.  😖😠😡

9.41 pm:  I stopped working on the latest creation when Stew arrived home from work.

We both had a light dinner, then settled down for the evening.

So, that's me for today.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TREADMILL FIRST UP

 

Hiya.

I'm going to start the day on a positive note... by getting on the treadmill for a minimum of 40 minutes.

After that, I'll do all the usual Monday morning jobs around the house.

Then I shall get into the sewing room and do a runner that's on order.  It should only take me a day to get it done, then it will be off my back.

ABOVE:   Hanging out with the kids yesterday was lovely.

ABOVE: My gorgeous tree is having flowers.  I am going to miss this tree when we move.

Shame it's too big a variety to grow in a pot.

Right, I am going to get me kit on, and jump on the treadmill.

ONWARD...

Treadmill missed out.  I took Coco for a walk in the neighbourhood instead.  In the rain.  Marley HATES walking in the rain.

ABOVE:  I am constantly amazed at Coco's stamina, and love of walking!  She goes faster than me most of the time.

Unless she has to stop for a piddle/poop, which today totalled 4 poops and 23,000 piddles.

I swear to god she is possessed with a 3 litre bladder!  Of which she only lets loose a teaspoon full at a time.  😂😖

ABOVE: It's a nasty as day out there.  Wet and miserable.  But, I'm happy I went for a walk.  It was enjoyable.

ABOVE:  Walk stats.  Certainly not fast, but better than not walking eh?

7,434 steps according to Samsung Health on me phone.

MEL:  yeah nah... too much like an added job.  And according to 'them that set the number', now days the recommended number of steps a day is 6,000.  

I think as long as you are moving as much as you can, you are doing good.

ABOVE:  1 pm, and I'm making steady progress on the ordered wall hanging.  NOT a runner!

The weather has cleared to sunshine and clouds, but it can change back to shitty at any moment, it's that unpredictable.

I'm going to stop for a quick lunch, then back to it.

6.55 pm... and I just finished that Wonky House Wall Hanging.

I'm very happy with it. And damn glad it's done and not on my mind anymore.

Stew is home.

We shall have our little 'dinner' of crackers and cheese soon.  Then settle down like the old farts we are, in front of the telly. lol

Catch ya tomorrow.

A NEW MARKET

 

6.30 am, not too bad a time to be getting up for a market.

We have a bit more to do this morning before we can set off to the market as we also have an Open Home today.

So, we need to leave the house in tip top shape.

Praying for fine weather, as the forecast is for showers.  Ikkk.

Catch ya later....

ONWARD...

8.31 am. All set up. Got showers pissing me off. We have set up a 'minimal' amount due to the shitty weather. The vibe here is very relaxed, with very nice, friendly organizers. 

Time will tell how the day pans out. 

I fully expect to crash when I get home, as I've been awake since around 3.30 this morning. 

Fingers crossed for a good day...

THIS. MIGHT. HAVE. BEEN. A. HUGE. MISTAKE.

It is 9.40 and there's been like... 3 people through so far!

I did have some doubts about this..  hate to be proved right.

Live and learn... small out of the way markets are NOT for us. There's about 3, what I would call Quality stalls, ours being one of them... the rest is junk. Annoyed we got talked into it by another marketeer. 

Bring on 1 pm. I wanna go HOME.

10.36 am. PISSING DOWN. NO PEOPLE.

11.23 am. First sale of the day. Miserly $20. It has stopped raining... for now. Seen probably 15 people come through now. WHOOP.        NOT.

 

1.42 pm.  Let's end this day on a good note.

1.  We managed to get the gazebo down without it blowing away!  Cos OMG it was blustery.

2.  We both got some good EXERCISE.

3.  We are both now ready for a stiff drink.

And there were NO viewers at our Open Home today.  Just as well we do have two 'Registered Interests' on the house.  Small mercies.

It's really been just one of those days where ya should have stayed in bed.

Moving on... we shall go and pick up the girls shortly, then come home and RELAX.  I may have a drink or two.  

And later on we might go to our favourite Indian for dinner.   Cos, why not?  

ABOVE:  Heading over to pick up the girls... with a little bottle of wine, or two.

I only managed to drink one, Steve had to drink the other for me.

Once we came home, I lay on the couch and crashed out, as I knew I would.

Two and a half hours later!   I awoke in time to head out to dinner.

ABOVE:  I think the Trulicity has kicked in, because I could only eat a tiny portion of my dinner.  The rest came home in a takeaway bag, for lunch tomorrow.

It is now 7.28 pm, and it's miserable out there.  Cold, wet and windy.  Talking to people today, our estate agent, at the restaurant etc, it has been a super slow day all round. 

It's the middle of the school holidays, so peeps are either away, or hunkered down trying not to kill the kids!  lol

I thank God we don't have kids at home any more!  

I'm going to sign off for the day now, we will just be sitting like old farts in front of the telly till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PUKETE MARKET TOMORROW

 

This morning Stew and I are doing a 'dummy run' to the site where tomorrow's Pukete Market is being held.  We have a site number, but have no idea where it is.  We do know where the Market is being held, so will go over there to suss it out.

It's not that far from our home, so we won't have to get up at an ungodly hour tomorrow.

In fact, it should only take us about 5-10 minutes to get there.  Excellent eh?

I will post a photo of the area later on.

After our dummy run, we plan on visiting the Home and Garden Show here in Hamilton.   After that we will come home and I will hopefully finish this:

ABOVE: RHR #4 is on the table, ready for it's final stitching.  It will take me about 3 hours to get this one finished.  Just in time for tomorrow's market.  

ABOVE:  Remember this runner?  This is the one that New Zealand Post said HAD been delivered to KJ's home?  And presumably been stolen?

FUNNY.  It actually arrived on KJ's front porch yesterday!   Miraculous.  And suggests it wasn't delivered at all, but was lost within the postal system, or by the delivery person.  OR the person who took it felt bad and returned it?  WE will never know.

Either way, I'm just SO HAPPY KJ received it eventually, and loves it.  AND I don't have to make another one.  Phew!

Right... I'm off to start the day.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

3.10 pm:  And hello, I'm back.

We have had a full day of it.

ABOVE:  This is where tomorrow's market is.  I think we will be over to the left, on the grass.

After looking around there, we went and looked around a few furniture stores. NOT that we actually need more furniture, but we might switch a bed we have for a Sofa Bed instead.

Just working out our options for our new place, once we get there.

ABOVE:  We quite liked this one, it had a good mechanism, and was comfortable.

ABOVE: We went to the Home and Garden Show.  We didn't feel like there was as much there as in previous years.

We found a few Xmas Presents, and some AMAZING cheese!  And crackers.

Super, super tasty cheese.

Seems you can get it in the supermarkets, can't say I've ever seen it before.  But then, I wasn't looking for it.  lol

ABOVE:  Bleeped out faces, we had lunch at The Foundation, before coming home.

I had a Nana Nap, and Stew did the edges and mowed the lawn.

Now?  It's raining.  Fingers crossed it stops before our market tomorrow.

5.54 pm: Well we went out again, but just to drop the dogs off at Steve 'n' Bex's.  As we won't be home tomorrow, but still have an Open Home, we needed to make sure the dogs were not home.  So they are having a sleep over with the kids.

It has stopped raining ... for now.  It seems to have been a short, sharp thunderstorm.

We have both decided to have our main meal at lunchtime from now on, and only have something very light in the evening.

So, crackers and some of the new cheese is on the menu this evening.

I have to say it, that Mersey Cheese is bloody rich!  I found it difficult to eat much in one go.  Just lovely, but only in small amounts.

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.