RUNNERS

 Today I am putting the new 'Fish Runner' aside for now.  

It requires HEAPS of work before it is likely to be finished, and after yesterday's market, I REALLY NEED to make some of the most popular runners asap.

I still cannot get over how many runners we sold!

Usually I sell 2-3 runners at each market, sometimes none!

Yesterday we sold 10.  I've never sold that many in one market before.

I have ONE Kiwiana runner left, so those are top of my list.

Next will be Hanging Cats and Wonky House Runners.  I only have two of each of those types left.

Once I've got a few made of each of those types, I will get back to the Fish Runner.

ABOVE:  An almost empty runner rack from yesterday!  That was scary to see, but thrilling as well.

We had SO MANY lovely, positive comments about our products from people yesterday.  It really made getting up so early, and braving a possible wet day worth it.

By the way, it didn't rain at all, after all the dire forecasts.  We only had a few very light spits early in the morning, and nothing got wet.

Talking of the goddam weather... it's supposed to pelt down again, especially in Auckland, Northland and the Coromandel over the next few days.

ABOVE: Those poor buggers!  The land is already ultra saturated, there's been so much flooding and slips, road closures and so on... and they are going to be getting more rain. 

ABOVE:  Kopu/Hikuai Road.  This is one of the two main roads heading up the Coromandel Peninsula from Auckland and the Waikato.  It's going to be closed for months by the look of it.  Particularly as there will be more damage done over the next few days for sure.

We are very lucky here in Hamilton that we've not had much damage from all the rain.  Fingers crossed that stays the same.

And that's about it from me for now.  I'm off to set up the sewing room for heaps of production!

ABOVE:  Well... I'm making good progress on getting some Kiwiana runners ready for sewing.

ABOVE:  It doesn't happen very often, but I've run outta pins!

So I might take a quick trip to Spotlight and get a few hundred more!  And more thread for stitching all those runners.  

1 pm:  Right, back from Spotlight.  I got 500 more pins, that should do me.

Just had lunch, and watching something I recorded last night, then I'll be back in the sewing room.

6.20 pm:  And yep, I've been in the sewing room ALL DAY.  It's been lovely sewing again, after a few weeks 'off'.

Stew is home now, so I've reluctantly stopped to spend the evening with him.

Gone are the days when I'd keep on sewing or crafting till after midnight.

And that's a wrap on my day.  I hope your's has been a good one too.

ARE WE AT MARKET?

 It's 6 am and I'm about to get up and check out the weather.

If it's not pissing down with rain... we will be off to market.

So... I better go and check.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

Cos I'm either going to be in the car off to market, or back in bed.

Either way, you won't hear from me again for a couple of hours.  😂😊😏

...

ABOVE: Well... we have braved it.

There was conflicting weather reports, but as it wasn't raining when we got up we decided to go.

ABOVE: All ready with an hour until the official start.

It's very cloudy and feels like it could rain anytime, so we are crossing everything. 

11.50 am. And WOW! We are doing very well at this market. Most unexpected. 

OMG... thank goodness we went to this market!!!!

It was our BEST EVER MARKET for sales.

I actually started feeling worried about how many runners we were selling, and how many I'd have to make to re-stock!

I'm going to be a very busy girl over the next few weeks, that's for sure.

We are now home, and have unpacked the car.  Stew has gone down to the supermarket to get some yogurt and fruit, as we have decided to sometimes have a fruit smoothie for our dinner.

Most days Stew and I have our main meal at lunchtime, so something like a smoothie at dinner time will be a good choice.

I had a little fall as we were packing up at market, so am going to take it easy for the remainder of the day.  Got a sore side/back and knees.  

Why, when you fall over in public, do you feel like a right twat?  And lie there wondering just HOW MANY people saw you fall over and look like a sack of spuds on the ground!  😂😅😆

6.41 pm:  So tired!  Stew and I are heading off to bed early tonight... probably around 9.

Should sleep like logs.

Right now we are just relaxing after dinner.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER WET DAY?

According to the weather forecast, we are in for another wet day today.

Yesterday was nowhere near as 'bad' as forecast, so let's just wait and see what the day turns out to be.

Late yesterday afternoon we went into town, to see if there were any more knickers that I'd found and liked yesterday morning, at The Base.  Luckily, we did find two more pairs.  Seems the most popular size, and therefore hard to get, is a 14.  Seriously, so few to choose from in that size.

But, I really am set now for the next 6 months.

While in town, we visited the new Lolly Shop in Centre Place.  What an amazing array of sweets!

ABOVE:  We were very surprised at how busy the shop was.  There were quite a few more people in the shop when we first arrived.

They had really big bags of Giant Jellybeans.  My FAVOURITE sweet.

Didn't buy any.

I am going to work on my next runner this morning, then this afternoon we are going out to visit some friends down the road.  That will probably extend into dinner.  

I haven't mentioned much about the storm that is having such a huge impact on our country this weekend.

ABOVE:  That is an Auckland City bus driving through flooded streets.  The bus passengers ended up with water knee high in the bus.  They all made it home safely.

There has been unprecedented rain over the past few days, causing massive flooding/landslides/house collapses/road closures, and worst of all, so far three deaths.

It is not quite as bad today, but still horrible.

I am about to pull the plug on going to market tomorrow.

I shall email the organiser and let him know I probably won't be attending, as it's just too wet.

It's sad not to attend, but I just don't want my stuff to get wet, and I doubt many people will attend a market in the pouring rain.

IF it clears up by the end of the day I shall revise my decision. But by all accounts, it's not expected to.

Meanwhile...

ABOVE:  I shall continue working on this runner.

ABOVE:  Tracing the pattern onto plastic sheeting, then cutting out all the little bits.  It all takes time.  Next is tracing onto fabrics.

But, done two and am now taking a break.

Have to cook chicken and rice for later on, so yeah... might do that next.

9.20 pm:  Well it's much later on now.

We have had a lovely few hours at a friends place, had nibbles then dinner, a few drinks (not me), then home.

It hardly rained the past few hours so ...

ABOVE:  We decided to pack the car as if we are going to market in the morning.

ABOVE:  There is some clear sky up there!

But at the end of the day, we will make the call at 6 am tomorrow morning now.

Every time we look at the weather forecast for tomorrow, it shows something different!

So... it is a wait and see situation.

Off to bed fairly early tonight, JUST IN CASE we end up at market.

WET AND HORRIBLE WEATHER

 We are in for several days of wet weather again.

BUGGER DAMN AND BLAST.

It might even still be wet on Monday for our Cambridge Market.

That will be a bummer, cos that was going to be a good market.  Well, we hoped it would be.

If it's wet, probably will be a bust.

But... let's cross our fingers and hope this shitty weather blows through faster than anticipated.

Today I am going to work on that new runner.  Going with a nautical theme, so I've been looking a pictures of fish/seaweed etc.

Still working on some sort of design, though I'm taking inspiration from our fish painting.

ABOVE: I know I won't be able to get the level of detail in my runner like in the painting, but I can do my best.

Fabric and stitching ... it might take a while!  

But, it's a new challenge, and I like a challenge. 😊😉

Just a little about 'weight' today.  KY Girl commented yesterday that there was no reason why I couldn't get back to 67 kilos if I wanted to, as I ROCK, and can do anything I wish to.

THANK YOU for the vote of confidence chick, but as I said in my reply to you:    

"I agree. I COULD get back to 67 kgs, but I don't want to. That weight was unsustainable for me. And I want to be realistic with my goals and long term expectations."

This time around I am working on getting healthy, not working on getting to a MAGIC NUMBER.  Anything with an 8 in front of it will do it for me.

I can do that.  I can stay at that.  THAT will make me incredibly happy.   And if by some miracle I want to drop a bit more, well that will be a bonus.

But only if it is what I want to do, and it's not stressful for me.

I'm done with unrealistic expectations, and stress.

ABOVE:  I've been dreaming of doing this.  I am going to chuck 17 pairs of knickers IN. THE. BIN. TODAY.

I bought 5 new knickers on Thursday, and today I am going out to buy a few more.  They will 'do' me until I've dropped to my ultimate GOAL.

But for now... I'm gunna get up and see what needs doing around the house, before we go out to buy knickers.  

😏☂☁☔⛆⛈ WET WET WET.

12.44 pm:  What a fun morning.  We went out and I found some new knickers.

Contrary to what I said the other day... I'll show you these:

ABOVE:  I LOVE THEM!  So happy and bright.  Shame they didn't have them in blue too.  I'm now set for the next 15 kilos.

When I get to my Personal End Goal... my reward is going to be...

ABOVE:  Jeans!   

I so want to wear jeans again.

Do you think I will be too old for jeans?  I anticipate getting to 'goal' by the time I'm 65, if not sooner.

I don't want to end up looking like mutton dressed as lamb.  I can almost hear my Mum saying just that!

ABOVE:  Drawing fish.... copied from Google Images.  I can't draw to save myself.  Working on placement/fabric choices etc next.

Another good day.  Wasn't as wet as expected.

Stew got the very last of the calcium out of our pool this afternoon ... it is CRYSTAL CLEAR right down to the bottom now! 

Now we just need the sun to come out again so we can enjoy getting back in it.

Time to sign off for the day. 

Catch ya tomorrow.

DID I DO IT????

 I am trying so hard to not become obsessed with the SCALES.

And what 'they' say.

But... I'm on a roll people!  I can just feel that THIS TIME I am on my way to getting healthier and just as importantly,  happier.

I have worked really hard the past month, making sure I didn't slip up too often.  NOT having the lollies/cake/desserts etc that come with the 'Silly Season'.

ABOVE:  This is so true.  And yes, you do have to work hard for every single loss.

I am PRAYING that today I will get to my first 'goal'.  It's a big one for me.

So PLEASE wish me luck.  I have not stepped on my scales all week.  I didn't want to feel let down or stressed out. 

I'm going to wait until I get on the Weight Watcher's Scales.  

JUST FOR FUN:  Any guesses on how much I lose this week?  Or gain?  Though I doubt a gain is on the cards!  OMG what if I have a gain?  EGG ON MY FACE BIG TIME!

I have several hours to wait until I go to WW, so to keep myself occupied, I'm going shopping.

I may only window shop.  But at least I'll be out doing something, and walking, even around shops is exercise eh?  😊😉😛 

Next runner... what did I go for?

ABOVE:  Wonky Houses, or Trees?

Maybe I'll do BOTH!

Catch ya later.

11.20 am:  And I'm SO NERVOUS.  I haven't felt this nervous about a weigh in, in FOREVER.  My emotions are all over the place.  I feel like crying because I so want to have done well this week.

I have done EVERYTHING right.

To get to my first goal would be amazing.  And spur me on to continue to do well.

40 minutes till weigh in...  I promise to let you know asap.

...I DID IT !

DOWN 1.8 kgs.

SO....  SO  HAPPY.

3.51 pm:  Thank you so much for all the lovely comments.  I don't really feel like I deserve them.

I've been down this road before several times over.  Lose weight.  Gain Weight.  Lose/gain/lose etc etc.

But thank you for always cheering me on in my endeavours.

Stew and I had lunch together in town after my WW meeting.  It was at a cafe named Cucina.  We both had a chicken burger and chips.

I should have read the burger description a bit better, because it was JUST CHICKEN, LETTUCE, CABBAGE and some dressing.  Nothing else!!!

So, so disappointing.  And at $27 (with some overcooked chips), it was a fucking rip off as well.  Certainly never going there again.

After lunch I came home and have just been relaxing.  Pondering what to do on that fabric.

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I will probably go with the Nautical theme.  I just have to nut out a design.

LYNDA:  My first 'goal' was to get under a certain NUMBER.  My next goal is the same.  I hate that it's down to numbers, but at the end of the day, it really is a numbers war.  

ABOVE:  For my records.  1st Goal attained.

ABOVE:  Tonight's dinner.  A salad made with Tortellini, bacon, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, fresh basil, lettuce and some tasty cheese on the top.  Served warm.  Rather tasty.

Winding down for the day now... it's been a rather nice day I must say.

Catch ya tomorrow.

IT IS VERY WET OUTSIDE!

A WEIGHT LOSS SPIEL

HERE'S SOME WEIGHT LOSS TIPS FROM ME TO ANYONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHT:

SINGLE BIGGEST THING? DON'T SNACK.

HAVE MODEST PORTIONS. IF IT LOOKS LIKE A BIT MUCH ON YA PLATE, IT PROBABLY IS.

EXERCISE, BUT ONLY WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING AT THE TIME.

DON'T DENY YOURSELF ANYTHING, IF YOU REALLY WANT THAT DONUT, HAVE IT!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DONUT, YOU ARE GUNNA GO NUTS IN A FEW DAYS AND GO BUY A PACK OF 6 FROM THE SUPERMARKET AND EAT 4 OF THEM FOR LUNCH, THEN THE OTHER TWO AT BEDTIME.

JUST HAVE WHAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT, BUT IN MODERATION.  BUT NOT EVERY DAY WITH THE BLOODY DONUTS / CAKE / CHIPS 'N' DIP / WINE / TAKEAWAYS!  MAKE IT A ONCE A WEEK TREAT.

IF YOU FIND YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS FLATTENING OUT OR HAS STOPPED ALTOGETHER...

THIS IS  CALLED A PLATEAU, AND HERE'S HOW TO BUST THROUGH IT:

- CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE EATING. 

- CHANGE HOW MUCH YOU ARE EATING. 

- CHANGE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MAIN MEAL. 

- CHANGE WHAT EXCERCISE YOU ARE DOING.

-  CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE DRINKING.

- DON'T FREAKIN WELL SNACK!!!  

ANY ONE OR TWO OF THOSE CHANGES WILL KICK START THE WEIGHT LOSS AGAIN.

IF YOU ARE GAINING WEIGHT INSTEAD OF LOSING:  YOU KNOW WHY.  DON'T PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.  IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.  WHEN YOU EAT TOO MUCH,  YOU WILL GAIN WEIGHT.  END OF STORY.

NO ONE FORCE FEEDS AN ADULT.  YOU ARE FEEDING YOURSELF.  YOU ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WEIGHT LOSS OR GAIN.  YOU.

YES, THERE MAY BE FACTORS THAT DRIVE THE 'URGE' TO OVEREAT, BUT ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S YOU PUTTING THAT FOOD IN YA MOUTH.

IT'S ALL IN THE MIND.  

YOU NEED MASSIVE WILL POWER TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH WEIGHT LOSS.

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE ... REMEMBER THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE OVERWEIGHT DUE TO OTHER REASONS, AND THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY OVEREAT.

BUT FOR ME AT LEAST, I HAD NO GOOD EXCUSE FOR 20 + YEARS OF GAINING WEIGHT AGAIN.  I WAS SELF INDULGENT AND AM AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

THINGS I HAVE TO WORK ON FOREVER.

Guess what?

Seems I'm totally focused on weight loss right now.  And that's OK.  I'm not going to get all obsessed with it, but I am on a bit of a buzz right now.  I am feeling so energised and motivated to do well.

I have goals.  I have the desire to get myself fit and healthy.  Ready for a healthy older age.

Ready for one day doing some international travel with Stew, and being healthy enough to actually enjoy it.

Today, I'm heading out to Grandmothers Garden (AGAIN), to get some Steam A Seam, so I can start working on some new Wonky House Runners.

ABOVE: This is the dress I found in me sewing room yesterday.   All it needed was to be hemmed.  I can now wear it again.

Though I don't think I've worn it very many times before. 

It used to be about 9 inches longer.

It's got pockets ... which I love.

12 noon:

And I've had a lovely morning, out and about.

First stop was Grandmothers Garden.  I was the only customer while in there, which was lovely cos I got to chat with the three ladies who work in there.

And play with the dogs.

The owner has two boxer dogs, who just love visitors.

They followed me around the shop, getting in front of me and sitting on my feet, so I was 'forced' to pat them!  Very funny.

ABOVE:  The older dog kept insisting on sitting on me feet!  Very demanding little bugger, but sooooooo cute. 

I got my steam a seam and a couple of pieces of fabric for runners... then went to The Base.

I bought some new knickers... BUT, I can't wear them yet!

I have to wait until I hit that FIRST GOAL.

Hopefully that will be TOMORROW.

Lunch time, so I'm going to grab something to eat then head into the sewing room.

ABOVE:  Back to work.

And I can't make up my mind what to put on this gorgeous fabric.

Wonky House?

Trees?

Flowers?

Hmmmm....

ABOVE:  Derrrr.  I had dinner all prepared, and ready to cook this afternoon... when Stew arrived home early from work,  and took himself off to the local pub.

I had completely forgotten that he was doing that on a Thursday afternoon/evening now.

So, what I've prepared for dinner has gone back into the fridge, to be cooked tomorrow night.  😕😖😜

At least I don't have to give any thought to what's for dinner tomorrow.  Win win.

Instead, tonight it will be crackers, cheese and relish for 'dinner'.  Nice.

And, most unexpectedly, I ended up at the pub with Stew and a few friends!  Lovely couple of hours I must say.  I think I'll do it more often in fact.  I was the 'sober driver' btw.

It's now almost 9 pm, time to sign off for the day.  Coronation Street soon, then bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

REFRESH, REMEMBER

 I took a walk down memory lane ...

To remind myself of my weight loss journey over the past 20 years.

When I was at my heaviest, when at goal, and where I am now.

It wasn't too depressing, because I have never ever given up, even when I have gained weight back.

I've always thought "I can lose it again".  And I am.

ABOVE:  The first photo on the left shows how unhappy I was.  

But, going to my first Weight Watchers meeting in Palmerston North was what saved me.  That and the lifelong friends I made there, Sandra C, Chris D, Anne R, Michelle W, Lois, Janene and quite a few others.

Being there pretty quickly motivated me, and I  just worked really hard.

It took me 19 months to lose 61 kilos.

Then over the ensuing 20 years, life happened.  A few operations, forced inactivity, depression, three house moves, family drama and so on all contributed to gaining back 2/3rds of my lost weight.

I thank God I didn't gain it ALL back!

ABOVE:  I have kept this top for over 20 years.  I NEVER ever intend to 'fit' it again.

ABOVE:  Looking back... I feel like, what the fuck was I thinking?  HOW did I get so big?  

I'm not going to 'blame' anyone specifically, but there was a person in my life who ridiculed me every chance he got, sometimes in front of complete strangers. THAT did not help at all.

Belittling someone because of their weight is never a good or kind idea.  He thought he was using 'reverse psychology' on me!  Nope, sure didn't help.

His words ring out in my ears ALL THE TIME, even though he's been gone for 20+ years.

"Shit you're FAT. JESUS you're FAT.  How can you live like that?"

If you ever see someone who is overweight, PLEASE don't be unkind.  You don't know their story, or why they are overweight.  There are MANY, MANY reasons why a person is overweight.

We are not JUST FAT AND LAZY.

Hmmm... I think I needed to do this post, not just for me, but for anyone else who is on this never ending yo-yo battle with weight.

And... that's about it for the weight loss reminisce. Onward, it's another lovely day and I've got shit to do.

What shit?  I dunno.  Gimme time.

Once I'd finished me morning jobs, I decided to head out to Grandmothers Garden to get some Steam A Seam so I could start making a couple more Wonky House Runners.

Cos suddenly, I feel like sewing again.

ABOVE:  So check their website to make sure I don't get there too early, then off I go.  It's about a 15 minute drive out to Gordonton, so not too far.

I get there to see this on their gate:

ABOVE:  Closed.  Like wtf?  So I rang them and left them a very polite, but TO THE POINT message.  Just asking that they update their website and phone answering message to reflect the NEW opening hours.  I was not impressed.

After that I came back into town and picked up a repeat prescription from The Base and a couple of other bits 'n' bobs from Warehouse Stationary.

Now I'm home and about to work on a project in the sewing room.

AND we have 'rain'.... well heavy drizzle.  The temperatures are so nice right now, not hot at all.  This has been the best summer in years, not stinking hot and sticky.

Now, in reply to ANON'S comment today:

I was 44 when I embarked on losing 61 kilos.

I am now 64 and working on it again, but not with any intention of getting down to 67 kilos again.

I just want to feel healthier, and somewhere in the 80's will do it for me.

As for YOU ANON ....  YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD to decide to lose weight and be healthier!

I'm not going to say 'If I can do it so can you', because we are all different.

But you ARE NOT TOO BLOODY OLD!!!  

And if you really want something badly enough, and it's totally in YOUR HANDS to do something about it.... you will do it.

JUST AS I AM in my 60's.

4.55 pm:  I've been fluffing around in me sewing room all afternoon.  Haven't got much done, but did find one of the dresses I bought 2 years ago, that I'd cut shorter but never actually hemmed.

So I did that and I'm very happy with the dress now.  

I'll show you tomorrow, there's enough photos on this post already.

I've not given much thought to dinner yet, so I better pull me finger out and get that done.  Stew will be home in an hour and he'll want dinner.

11.10 pm:  I'm a bit late signing off tonight.  It's been a nice evening, just watching the telly, doing some work on my laptop, and so on.

Catch ya tomorrow.