TOO EARLY

 

It's Sunday morning and we are still in bed.

We don't  have any firm plans for the  day ... yet.

Only thing that's definitely on the agenda is picking up the Brazier I bought Lacy for Christmas and returning it.

It's falling apart after just a few days use!

We are thinking of going for a walk again today, but out of town somewhere.

I'll catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Slight change of plans.  I will pick up the defective brazier on Tuesday and return it.

Now, Stew and I are off on a walk... 'somewhere'.... we haven't been before.

I just had a blonde/frazzled moment... walking around looking for my walking sneakers, couldn't find them anywhere.  Getting annoyed.  Then...

ABOVE:  Looked down.  Yeah.  On my feet.  😖😕😒
WHERE DID WE GO?

ABOVE: We drove out to almost Raglan, turned left and ended up at Bridal Veil Falls.

Somewhere we had never been.

Nice people around who took our photo, and we took theirs's too.

ABOVE: You take a very pretty, easy walk to the top of the falls.

ABOVE: A bit of vertigo looking down...

ABOVE: And then you start going down the steps... which were a bit steeper than the Hakarimata Summit track's steps I must say.

But 'ONLY' about 240 odd steps.

ABOVE:  I found it really easy going down!

ABOVE: the falls from the bottom.  There were a heck of a lot of people on this track!

ABOVE: An aerial view of the falls, a bit weathered now, but you still get a good idea of how it sits in the landscape.

ABOVE:  ROCKS!  I totally could have grabbed one, but Stew said they were just a bit too big to lug back up all those steps.  Sadness.

And then a bit of a shit time.... I had not eaten since yesterday, and going back up took it totally out of me, even though there were not THAT MANY STEPS.

I had to stop numerous times... and once we were at the top again I actually felt SICK AS A DOG.

Spinning head, nauseous, shaking, fingers and toes tingling... yep  A massive blood sugar low.

Stupid me.

I should have had something to eat well before that walk.... or at least taken some hard lollies for the sugar.

I had to sit down and 'recover' a bit before we went back to the car.

Luckily, once we got into Raglan for our picnic lunch, I was feeling a wee bit better.

Food certainly helped.

ABOVE:  Low tide in Raglan.  We got a park about a km from the wharf, then walked to the wharf to look around.

ABOVE:  I swear I didn't mean to buy anything from Tony Sly Pottery.  But I did.

And I'm not taking it out of it's wrapping/bag until I hit a certain weight.  Which I am now only FIVE GRAMS away from!!!!!

In a minute we are heading up to our pub for a social hour or so.

5.21 pm, and we are home again.

And now we can relax.  The car is packed, ready to go tomorrow at ungodly o'clock.  We will be in Cambridge tomorrow, for the annual St Andrews Craft Fair.

ABOVE: Hoping we break the recent 'trend' and have an awesome market.

BUGGER!

 

After I finished the Christmas Advent Puzzle, I sat down on the lounge floor and proceeded to put each puzzle back in it's little plastic bag.

That went just fine, they were all back in the bags, and into the box.

Then I stood up.

ABOVE:  OH BUGGER!!!   There was one puzzle piece under my leg.   Which bag did it belong in?

Like, there's 1,296 puzzle pieces, and they are not numbered or identified as to which puzzle they belonged to.

So yesterday I sat down and started counting how many puzzle pieces were in each puzzle.

Luckily, they were all the same, 54 pieces.  So, I start counting puzzle pieces, one bag at a time.

I had counted out about 9 before I found THE ONE that only had 53 pieces.   I put that puzzle back together and YES!  The piece from the floor was the one that belonged to that puzzle.

SORTED.  I can now give it away knowing all the pieces are there, and in the correct bag.  PHEW.

Ahhh Saturday.  Means grocery shopping.  Odd jobs around the house and yard.  If it's sunny... a relax on my sun lounger at some point.  We might just start hanging out on the patio, have lunch out there, maybe a sneaky beer (for him) and a glass of bubbles for me. 

It's starting to feel like summer. 

And in case I didn't say it yesterday, I am only 305 grams away from a milestone weight.  I am so excited... 

ONWARD...

10.10 am, and Stew has done the grocery shopping.  And then he decided it was a good time for a walk, before it got too hot.

We had a thick fog first thing this morning, but it has burnt off now.

ABOVE:  A gorgeous day down by the river.

ABOVE: We are so thankful to live so very close to all of this.

ABOVE: The neighbours flowers aren't too shabby either.

ABOVE: The walk is a very pleasant distance, not too long or short.

Now that we are home, I've got a fan blowing on me because I stupidly went walking in long tights and a sweatshirt.  Derrr.

3.08 pm.  Stew and I went out to the Hamilton Cemetery so he could tend his family grave, then we went to The Lookout for lunch.  I had some delicious food, my one 'evil' meal a week.

Home, and I lazed away a couple of hours lying on the couch, just in a food coma really 😂😅.

Now?  Might just continue the laziness, and watch TV, do a jigsaw online bla bla bla.

It's 11.59, it's been a quiet evening. Time for bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

EARLY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

 

Yesterday morning Lacy and I went shopping for her Christmas present.

It was prudent to get it now, before they are sold out, and there's no options left.

ABOVE:  We had a really lovely young man named Dylan help us in Mitre 10, he even put the thing in my car.  

Once home Lacy had to put it in her own vehicle... she managed, just.

ABOVE: And there it is, our little fire bug 🔥🚒🔥 now has a bright, shiny new brazier.

I know she will use it most days, cos she just loves fires.  This one she can even cook on, very handy.

And that is one kid's Christmas sorted.

I've just got a few more to sort out, but in saying that, I've been buying stuff all year long for Christmas.

I just have to fill in some gaps.  

Today my WEGOVY dose goes up to 1.7 mgs. It's a bigger jump in dosage than any before it.  It will be interesting to see if I have any reaction to it.  So far I've had virtually no negative side effects to WEGOVY. 

This morning I am picking up my 'birthday present' which we got from that outdoor furniture shop last weekend. 

Once I'm home,  I'm off to the craft room to do some work with the other ladies.  IF no one is there, I'll probably do some work on my own for a while, then come home again.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  I picked up our latest purchase from the shop... the store manager wasn't sure it would fit in the car.

But it did... JUST.

ABOVE:  It wasn't heavy, just CUMBERSOME!  I managed to get it to there, and then I had to backtrack, walk around the house and come in from the other side.  

I did get it inside by flipping it on it's side, then unboxed and...

ABOVE: Out on the back lawn.

We did have something similar made in wood at our last home, but I left it there for the new owners.  

THIS is the 'upgrade'.  It is super lightweight.  I'm picking it's made of aluminium.  I love it and will use it HEAPS over summer.

Working in the craft room is off as no one is there.  No point going down there to be on my own.

What an awesome day so far.

LUNCH:  Done

TEST OUT NEW SUN LOUNGER : Done

and now.... is it too early in the day (3 pm) to have a shower and get in my pyjamas?

ABOVE:  😂😅😆🛏  I think... NOT AT ALL.  So comfy and warm.  

7.40 pm.  Stew is home.  Telly is on.  Not much on it though. A quiet evening ahead.  Catch ya tomorrow.

A FEW MORE PHOTOS

 

I have a few more photos from last night to share:

ABOVE: loves for Aunty Lacy.

ABOVE: The climbing frame has proven to be very popular with all three kids.  Though Lily is a bit possessive of it.  😂😉

Yesterday I started working on the Christmas Wasgij puzzle.  There are 24 little puzzles.

ABOVE:  I tipped #1 puzzle out and got to work.

ABOVE: And about 10 minutes later it was done.

I quickly found out that doing tiny puzzles was quick and easy.  It's not like working on a 1,000 piece puzzle at all.

There's so many edges to each puzzle, it makes it super fast and easy to get them finished. 

Kinda disappointing in a way, there is hardly any challenge involved. 

I fully expect to get all 24 puzzles finished today.

I now am wondering if all 24 'fit' together to form one picture?  Time will tell of course.

It is Coffee & Chat this morning, so I will wander down to join the regulars for an hour or so.

Then home to do the puzzle, then probably do some sewing.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

After last night's dinner/dessert I was slightly concerned I'd show a gain this morning, BUT NO!  The scale gods were kind and gave me another little loss... and all those little losses are adding up.  Still not a huge drop since starting the WEGOVY, but it's not a race right?

I'm happy as a pig in shit today... the sun is shining, I'm not cold and I have a puzzle to do.

And yes, I know an Advent Calendar type thing is supposed to be done one day at a time, in DECEMBER.... but you all know I'm not a patient person surely???   😂😖

ABOVE: And there they are, all 24 mini puzzles done and dusted.   Now I have to put them all back in their little bags and gift them to someone else.

Time to do some housework, then wander down to C & C.

Coffee & Chat was nice again today, though it was fairly cold in the Community Centre.  

Once home, Lacy arrived and we went early Christmas shopping.  I bought what she really wanted before they are sold out.

I'll show you what it is tomorrow, as she has to unbox it etc.

I'm now cooking some lunch, before ?  Dunno.  Not sure what I feel like doing.

Before a quiet afternoon in fact.  I just didn't feel up to doing anything.  I think my batteries are run down.  So, I listen to my body and just rest.

Usual Thursday evening, I took Stew to the pub, stayed there with our friends for about an hour then visited the kids.

Back home after that, and Stew walked home when he was ready.

Now I'm watching telly.  No Coronation Street tonight, HOW RUDE!     Instead it's a stupid Royal Variety Performance 2024, like it's a freakin' old one.  Pfffft.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LOUNGE FURNITURE?

 

Bex sent me a few photos last night of their 'new lounge furniture'...

ABOVE: It was a Daddy & Daughter job.

ABOVE:  I'm thinking it will end up outside at some point.  Lily is clearly loving it.  A tarp over the top sometimes, and she can have a tent as well.  

And, back to today.  I am going to work on the Wonky House quilt.  Not much else on my agenda really.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Well that didn't stay in the dark long did it?  My phone has been going mental all morning... social media is crazy.   

But thanks for the Birthday Wishes... 68 is better than SIX SEVEN I must say.  

Seems we are now having dinner with the kids.  How neat.  I best starve for the day so I can enjoy it.

I saw the lowest number on the scales this morning... the lowest number in about 18 years!  When we moved up here from Palmerston North I weighed just slightly more than I do now.

I'm so happy my hard work, helped by WEGOVY, is working.  And I am NOT putting it all down to the WEGOVY btw, I still have to make a very concentrated effort to eat right, exercise and avoid temptations.

Today will be a test for sure.  😂😅😏🎂

Lacy and her friend Matt called in on their way home from doing the Huks this morning.  I will be seeing her this evening for birthday dinner at Steve 'n' Bex's.  

ABOVE:  Flowers arrived from 'Toad'.  Surprised.  But happy, thank you Toad.

I did add some extra to fill up the vase.  Don't they look pretty.

I started my Christmas Wasgij puzzle.  Looks like it's a slow, lazy day.  PERFECT.  

Looking forward to dinner with the kids...  and WOW.  I really wasn't expecting all the birthday wishes/messages, phone calls etc etc!

I didn't even remember it was my birthday until last night!  

I am so delighted you all have wished me Happy Birthday, here and on Facebook, and texts, messages and phone calls.  

THANK YOU.  💜💚💓

ABOVE:  I went for a walk up 'the hill', then along the riverbank.  It is so gorgeous outside today. 

That is a Tui feasting on Kowhai nectar.  Typical it's feasting upside down.  But I'm sure you get the gist.

ABOVE: The river is quite low at the moment, but still flowing swiftly.  

Home now and time to put some face on... can't go to 'dinner' without my face on!

My birthday dinner was WONDERFUL!  Bex did so well... we had:

ABOVE: Well first off I was handed a glass of bubbly wine!  I had two glasses full, and was a very 'happy' Grandma.

ABOVE: Bex put out wraps, salads and...

ABOVE:  Chicken, Bacon and Mushrooms.  OMG,  it was delicious.

Then to follow we had a birthday cake that Lily chose:

ABOVE: After having virtually nothing sweet for 3 months, that dessert was to die for.  OMG I loved every mouthful.

I am not going to feel guilty about it either.  

After a very enjoyable few hours with everyone, we have come home to recover. lol

Catch ya tomorrow.