OFF DOWN THE LINE

 

Well here we go.  Off to Palmerston North for three days.  We will be catching up with Mike and Joyce for dinner tonight.

I'm hoping the weather is nice for our trip, and it's not too icy through the Desert Road.  I really don't like travelling down that way in winter, but needs must.

It is our first time leaving the Village for a few days.  We don't have to worry about a thing here.  The Security team do nightly drive byes,  several times a night.  When you go away, you let the staff know, and they make sure to check your home for any signs of disturbance as well. It is FANTASTIC.  Lock and Leave at it's best.

I will update somewhere along the line... catch ya later.

...

SLOWING DOWN

 

I still have quite a list of things to do around here, but I am slowing down.  I just can't keep doing so much, I am beyond tired now. 

The slightest thing makes me start crying, a sure sign I'm overtired.

ABOVE:  I finally got the nets up at the dining room ranch slider late yesterday afternoon.  I initially stitched them too short, thank god I'd not cut them off!

So I had to take them down, unpick the bottom and re-stitch them.  By the time I'd done that I was mega crabby, and my arms were screaming at me.  

ABOVE:  I am now happy that there is privacy from the outside. 

Today I am going to concentrate on getting the washing done, and then pack for a three day trip down the line.

We are visiting Mike and Joyce in Palmerston North.  I hope to catch up with my girlfriends at some point as well. 

It will be a welcome break away from here, and the LISTS.

9.35 am, and Lacy and Keera have been for a visit.  That was lovely.

Stew is at the supermarket.

The washing is on.  

And now I can relax for a while.

We have a thick fog this morning, and virtually NO condensation on our windows.  Excellent, the DVS is working.

ABOVE:  I wasn't happy with how DINE looked beside the floral painting.  So I did something.  (photo quality is shit for some reason)

ABOVE: Can you tell what I did?  I'm very happy with it now.  Lacy noticed right away, and said it looked lovely.

The next 'job' on my list today?  Find somewhere to put our pig weather vane.  It must be somewhere that is not intruding into anyone else's 'view'.  So It will probably end up being a low down garden ornament, as opposed to an actual weather vane.  It is what it is.  Can't upset anyone else around here.

When we go out for lunch, Stew has suggested a Kebab at Chartwell Square, I will be buying lots of clips to hold my fabric strips on the curtain wire.  On a windy day, with the door open, they might end up all flying off!  Good thinking Stewie.

The other thing I am looking at today... a new headboard.  We sadly had to sell our headboard, as it took up too much space in the bedroom.  So, on the hunt for a less bulky headboard.

ABOVE: Steve called in to get the ceiling prepped for the new light fitting.  It needed some more wood up in the roof space to hold the light.

Thanks Steve. Oh and how nice of him to vacuum up the mess.

ABOVE:  Stew just put my new sewing chair together.  Now I can stop sitting on a footstool.  Excellent.

Almost time to head out for lunch and so on.

5.27 pm:  And finally back in front of the computer.

Lunch was lovely.

After lunch we went on the hunt for a headboard.  We visited 5? places.  After the first two, I sent Stew in to see what they had, and report back to me.  I am just so tired I couldn't keep going.

He found a few in two shops, so I went in to look at them.  We chose one ... that we both really liked.

ABOVE: It is exactly what we wanted.  White. Simple, but with a little bit of detail.  It will be here in a few weeks.

After that we came home.  Stew watched a movie while I lay down and had a nap.  

After that, we worked on tidying up the back door area a bit more (out from the garage back door).  Stew took yet more cardboard down to the recycling bin.  It's fantastic having a whole row of recycling bins to use, on site.

I have not found 'the place' to put the weather vane yet.  It will have to wait until next Sunday.

It will be time to pack our bags shortly.  We are off first thing in the morning.

Coco is staying at Steve 'n' Bex's.  She will love that.

6 pm.  Started the pack.  Next thing will be a light dinner, then we can drop Coco off and come home.  Should be in bed nice and early again this evening.

Catch ya tomorrow, on the road.

DVS

 

What's on today?

More odd jobs around the house in the morning.

Then after lunch we have the DVS installer coming.  Yaaaa.  No more condensation on the windows.  I don't know how long they will take, so I'll just stay home.

ABOVE:  A very cute, quiet moment last night.  Lily is teething so is a bit out of sorts.  She's so lucky to have two big brothers who dote on her, not to mention her Mum and Dad of course.

When Stew and I arrived home from the pub last night, I kinda asked him to do a little job for me:

ABOVE:  It was just to hang a little clock.  We have run out of wall room for anything else now!  

Right, I'm off to start the day.  I have ONE job on my to do list today.  It will take me a little while, so I'll be back later.

12.30... I am happy with my accomplishments this morning.  The DVS guys are here installing the vents. 

I'm going to stop and have some lunch now. I will show you what I did this morning ... a bit later. I've no power right now,  so tapping this out on me phone. Which is a right fag.

ABOVE:  A couple of really nice guys did the DVS instal, and they even vacuumed the floor after making a mess!

ABOVE:  We now have a cute little controller on the hallway wall.  I was given a demo on how to use it, child's play.

ABOVE: And that is what I did this morning. There was a little space by the back door, so I filled it with the fabric strips.  Works damn fine.

I shall add one more line at the bottom and call it quits.

COCO:  Seems to be much happier today.  Running around, doing all the things she usually does.  I am very relieved.

5.37 pm:  I've done some curtain sewing this afternoon.  Got them up, too short! Took them down, unpicked them, re-stitched them, re-hung them.  Declared myself DONE for the day.

Stew should be home soon. 

Then we can blob out and hopefully do bugger all for the evening.

7.15 pm:  We had an unexpected visit from the Village Manager this evening.  It went really well, and the issue we have been dealing with is well in hand.  Hopefully it will be over soon.

Now... I'm going to bugger off, watch some TV, get all warm and snuggly, and later on get a decent night's sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TAKING IT EASY

 

Guess what?

Today I am going to TAKE IT EASY.

Yep, I am going to sit on me bum and do bugger all.  Take a day off.

  Yeah, I'm talking shit.

I will do a couple of things, like get the last set of curtains up.

But that is about all I want to do today.  I am not silly, I know I need to take a break.

ABOVE: My 'revised' sewing space.  I'm happy with it.

My big trestle at the other end of the garage.  I found the plastic pipes to put on the legs to make it higher again too.  Lucky that, I thought I might have thrown them out.

It's time to get up and check on Coco.  She's been on my mind on and off all night. She really wasn't well yesterday.  I hope she's bounced back today.

ABOVE:  I thought it was funny.

9.45 am.  And I have done the vacuuming.  And decided the curtains will have to wait again.

My arms and back just would not handle me working with heavy, cumbersome curtains today.

If it takes another month to get them up, so what?  It's only annoying ME.  We have curtains in the windows ... so they will 'do' for now.

COCO:  seems to be of a similar disposition as yesterday.  Not hurt in any way, just showing her age.  I just need to accept she is 15 and any time we have with her from here on in, is a bonus.

ABOVE:  That dark grey carpet is a bloody NIGHTMARE to vacuum!  Every little bit of fluff and threads stick to it.  I was constantly taking the head off the end and sucking it up with the hose.  Grrrrr.  Just what my back needed.

Bitch over.

I'm sitting thinking I'll just fluff around doing really little jobs for the rest of the day.  Nothing strenuous.  Like, actually take it easy. 😊  I mean it.

11 am:  I was just about to go out and get a sewing room chair.... finally, but ran into a bloke and his wife who just moved in across from us about 3 days ago.  They asked me in, and we had a really nice chat.  They are really lovely, and I'm sure they will come over and meet Stew soon.

I'm just heating up a hot pod for Coco, then I will go out and get a chair.  I WILL GET A CHAIR TODAY, come hell or high water.

ABOVE:  I did it!  I got a freakin' chair, and the nice man even trolleyed it down the road and put it in my car for me.  Amazing customer service, Warehouse Stationary.

On my way home, I dropped another box of stuff off at the Salvation Army Op Shop, then grabbed more net, this time for the dining room window.

I hadn't planned on putting any there, but I just felt like a goldfish in a bowl, so it's going up. 

2.18 pm, and I've just had some lunch.  And I'm gunna do nothing for the next hour.

8.35 pm:  I actually had a nana nap this afternoon!  It was awesome.

Stew arrived home from work, he went to the pub and I went to the kids for a couple of hours.

Then I joined Stew for hot chips and a chat with the regulars.

Home and now relaxing.  Having a more relaxing day today was much needed, and I am feeling pretty relaxed.

Hoping my arms start feeling better soon!

Catch ya tomorrow.

BATHROOM FLOORING

Today is going to be much slower than the past two + weeks.  I am going to potter around in the garage, sorting out fabrics primarily.

They just got put on the fabric shelf willy nilly... and some ended up in boxes on the shelves cos we ran out of room on the shelving!

So, I shall make a start on sorting it all into colours/types today.  And prioritising what goes on the shelves, and what gets grouped into boxes.

At around mid-morning I shall be popping out to meet up with the man who is renovating our bathroom.

I have to choose the flooring.  I just want something like what we had in our last house... wood laminate.  It's warmer that tiles.

Once that's done, I am going on the hunt for a new sewing room chair.

The one I had was awesome, but it was far too big for my smaller space.  I hope to find something today, as I've been sitting on a stool, which is not comfortable at all.

ABOVE: When we moved here, and the garage was stacked to the gunnels with boxes, I never in a million years thought I would get my big sewing trestle up.  I am very happy that it is up and I can use it.

I had thought I'd be lugging it into the lounge to use it every other day.  SO HAPPY.

I went out at 10.30.  Met up with the bathroom reno guy.  Chose the flooring for the bathroom... it was very quick cos I had already decided what I wanted.

Then on to Steve's work to say hi.  But he wasn't in, so I left him a cute note on his computer screen.

Off to FOUR different places that sell office chairs.  Could NOT make up my mind, so left it for now.

On to the Base where I bought a new garage remote.  A slimmer version than the clunking, bulky thing that is here.

Grabbed some lunch and now... three hours later, I'm home.

And about to head into the sewing area to do more sorting.  *sigh*  I am utterly exhausted.  My arms are DEAD.  My lower back keeps going into a spasm, with sharp pains.  Oh to be 20 years younger right now.

3.38 pm:  I had hoped to get more done this afternoon in the garage, but the 'issue' we  have run into here in the village has taken up quite a bit of my time today.

I visited the people who have 'the' problem... then the Area Co-ordinator visited me.  The issue IS going to be resolved, but not quite how the complainers want.  But as it's not our fault what has happened, we can only do so much.

The Area Co-ordinator has been wonderful, and made me feel MUCH better.  He even gave me a big hug when he left.  Nice man.

So now I am back in the garage, working on my sewing space, and the fabrics.  Phew... there is much to do.

5 pm:  And I've got quite a bit done with the sewing area.  It doesn't look like much, but it involved moving my sewing desk, ironing board and computer screen, three things that just HAVE to be in the right configuration for me to sew happily and easily.

I've actually given myself a bit more room to move in and out of the sewing desk area. 

I've stopped sorting the Patchwork Strips for now.  I realised it doesn't have to all get done right away.

There is always tomorrow. 

ABOVE:  Coco has been out of sorts today.  Just acting really old and stiff, having periods of just standing dead still... not even looking at anything.  She has just wanted to be beside me all afternoon, so when I finally sat down at about 5 pm, I put her on my lap and she just lay there and slept.  She didn't even get up when Stew arrived home from work.  

She ALWAYS goes mental when Stew comes home.. running around in circles and acting like a mad thing.  Not tonight.  She didn't even look up at him.  So yeah, she's not herself.

Bit of worry.  I'm hoping she's just cold.  It has certainly gotten colder these past few days.

It's now 7.10 pm, and we are settled down for the evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ELECTRICIAN AND GARAGE???

 

I did not get around to doing anything in the garage/sewing area yesterday.  The day just flew by!

Lacy is coming over this morning to help me again.

Top of the list is to try and get the garage/sewing area sorted out.  I anticipate that taking us HOURS.

After lunch we are expecting the electrician to return to get on with their list.  There's still quite a lot for them to do, so I don't think they will get it all finished today.

ABOVE:  Apart from waiting for the new lounge suite, this room is DONE.

You might notice the rug is gone?  It had curly up corners and I tripped over it three times in one day.  The third trip resulted in me falling over and landing on a damn box.  That hurt.  So the rug is gone.  At some point I will get another one, one that isn't going to trip me up, or walk across the room on it's own.

One last thing for now... last time I stood on the scales I had gained 10 kilos... that was over the past 9 months.  I finally bit the bullet and stood on them again. 

I lost 4 kilos.

Without even trying.   Clearly all the hard work in the past couple of weeks has burnt it off.

I don't want to be THAT busy again, in order to lose weight.  Maybe now that things are settling down a bit, I should actually start eating healthier.

8 am, just been up the road, met a nice young man from Raglan who has bought our trailer.  Yaaa, I don't think I have anything else to put on Marketplace now.   

And then she laughed and laughed... cos she found something else to sell.

Stew had a brilliant idea last night.  If we got 'rid' of the two cupboards in the garage, we would have room at the end of the garage to put up my big trestle table, for working on.  

I immediately took everything out of said cupboards and put it in the spare bedroom for now.

It will all fit in the new cupboard in the bathroom, once it's renovated and built.

ABOVE:  Lacy has taken the single door cupboard, and this one just sold on Marketplace.  Gosh what a great thing Marketplace is.  No selling fees like Trade Me.  And so much faster too.

ABOVE: Going through boxes, and I found the little pony tail that was Keera's first big haircut, back when she was about 4.  I gave it to Lacy.

Lacy and I slogged it out from about 8 am till 11.30, and got everything unboxed and put away.

ABOVE:  The LAST BOX!

ABOVE:  Various garage views.  There's two aisles... I know I will have to go through the fabric and sewing boxes again, but for now they are in place.

ABOVE: Bex and Lily came over to grab a few things... wool and storage things.  At one point I said to Bex "Where is Lily?"  And we hunted and couldn't find her in any obvious place.  I was starting to worry, thinking she'd managed to get outside somehow.

Then Bex found her.

Hiding behind the mirror in my bedroom.

Little madam thought she was the bees knees behind there!

ABOVE:  She was thrilled to bits to be behind there, lots of little giggles.  Seems she 'hides' all the time at her home.

It is now bang on midday, and I'm taking a lunch break, before the electricians arrive.

ABOVE:  Electricians were here for most of the afternoon. They installed more of the lights and...

ABOVE: The new Samsung Induction Cooktop.

ABOVE: And the Samsung Oven, which we bought a few months ago for this house.  They will have to come back at least one more time to put in the rangehood, the dining room light and do the electrical work for the hot water cylinder.

I'm very happy with what got done today.

While the electricians were here I went out and bought a new cutting mat, sewing scissors and rotary cutter blades.  Dropped off a small box to the Op Shop, and did some banking.

I am now waiting for a bloke to turn up to collect the double door cabinet I advertised on Market Place.

6.15 pm and that is now picked up and out of my garage.  

I can actually SWING A CAT in there... admittedly in small circles, but still.

And now... I'm done for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

SEWING AREA

 

That crazy cow (above) is how I feel when I look into the garage at my sewing space.  There's boxes of shit EVERYWHERE, and it is probably going to take me ALL DAY to make any sense out of it.

It's daunting.  I dumped all the craft boxes in there as well.

I know that most of the 'other craft stuff' will be going to the Op Shop.  I simply cannot keep it.  I am going to concentrate on my sewing, and forget about knitting, painting, card making and so on.  It all has to go. Someone else can enjoy using it.

But before I do all that, I have a few things to do.

- Do a run of stuff to the Salvation Army Op Shop. DONE

- Do a run of stuff to Va Va Voom Hospice Op Shop.  They take the more 'pretty' things like ornaments. DONE

- Swap the winter jacket we bought for Coco yesterday afternoon with a bigger one.  DONE

- Get a length of dowel for the laundry.  I'll show you why later.  DONE

- Go to the supermarket for a few items.  DONE

ABOVE: Steve got our lovely big, ornate mirror hung yesterday.  I was concerned that it wouldn't fit on any wall here, but it does.  So relieved.  I've had to get 'rid' of so many of our lovely things, to not have that as well would have made me cry. 

I know it's only a 'thing'... but I like my bloody things!

ABOVE:  Opposite the big mirror in the hallway is this collection of paintings, depicting where we have lived.  I couldn't fit our large Cambridge painting on this wall, so I have gifted it to a friend in Cambridge.  I will find a new, smaller one at some point.

Right, that's me for now, time to get up and do something productive, before heading out to do those other things.

It is 10.10 am.  I've been sorting and putting in it's place, all my ornaments, china, serving dishes, and so on.

It has taken two hours, not bad!

 

ABOVE: Those are not what I had planned to put on this shelving unit, but they looked best there.  And I'll have you know, I put in the Op Shop Box any double ups!  So I only have one of each now.

I am very proud of myself, cos I love my little bottles.

ABOVE: This shelving unit took a bit of thinking about.  Lily is into everything right now, so I put larger things on it, hoping she will learn not to touch soon.

ABOVE: Apart from it's light fitting, this area is DONE.

ABOVE:  I took some of the Britto out of this cabinet, it was just so overcrowded.

ABOVE: Now some of the Britto is in here.  Along with my lovely Polish Pottery, and a few other precious things.  I knew getting this cabinet was a good idea! 😊  It gave me more places to put my pretties. 

ABOVE: All the day to day serving dishes etc are now in the credenza.  There is no room for them in the kitchen.  As the credenza is like, really close to the kitchen, it hardly matters.

And now... it is time to head out and drop off all the boxes and bags of stuff to the two Op Shops I have in mind.

Then I have a quite a list of other things to go/get while out.  So I'll be back later.

It is now 3.16 pm.  I've just arrived home from doing those errands.  I also spent an hour talking to The Manager here about 'an issue'.  Hopefully it gets resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

I was brought to tears over it.  I won't say what it was, until it is resolved. 

I had FIVE things on my grocery shopping list.  I spent $649 ... something tells me I got more than those FIVE things.  😖😒

Some people are just so NICE.  I took a big box of lovely pretties to Va Va Voom, Hospice Shop.  I must have looked frazzled/upset because the lady in there just up and gave me a big hug!  She said it looked like I needed it.  Awwww.  So nice.

I WAS frazzled and upset.

The groceries are now away, and it's probably time I had something to eat.  Not had a bloody thing all day.  Too busy.

Ha!  I finally had my lunch at 4.45 pm!  

Then I fluffed around a bit more in the house, got some washing dried, and now... totally relaxing in the lounge.  

Catch ya tomorrow.