IN AUSSY

Not got a lot to say today.

That is all.

Respecting wishes, will talk more when I am able to.

DANTE TO SCHOOL, MOSAICS AND GIRLS NIGHT OUT

 

Early start for me today, no sleeping in.

I'm taking Dante to school for Bex, as she has an early appointment.

After that, I'm heading over to Cambridge for mosaics.  I'm not sure what I will do over there today, might just sit and yak!

I know I now need to get more of the glue I was using at the beginning.  So, that has to happen before I start on my next project.

When I get home, I'll grab some lunch, then probably have a nana nap.

Later on this afternoon I shall be going back to Cambridge for a girls night out.  Just a small gathering of friends, yakking and having a few laughs.  I really look forward to those nights out.

ABOVE:  These two cows came home with me from Australia.  My sister gave them to me, as she knows I love cows.  They are rather cute.

Right, time to get up and start the day.

Just had a change of mind on going to mosaics today.  My head cold is much, much better, but I think I need to be mindful of one of our members.  She is battling cancer and I really don't want to give her this cold.

So, I will go to the Village Coffee and Chat morning instead!  *** edit:  didn't go to that either, thought better of it.  Old people... colds... yeah nah.  Better not.

Dante just got dropped off, he's a happy boy this morning.  

ABOVE:  I took out the braid this morning.  Then was like, should I brush me hair?  Yeah NAH.  It would frizz something shocking.  So I've just left it as is.  It looks ok.

I got a text message from a lady who'd seen my Scrappy Dolls at the Tamahere Market a couple of months ago.  She is coming over today to buy a couple.

ABOVE:  LOL, they are all lined up, waiting for her. 

I'm GOING BACK TO MY SISTER. TODAY, AT 4.30.  

Last second decision... mad dash to get tickets, pack a backpack,  passport,  cancel appointments,  bla bla bla.

On the way to the airport now.

Lacy will be at ours this afternoon to meet with the lady for the Scrappy Dolls.

I hope I've remembered everything.

ABOVE: At the Gate. Got 2 and a half hours to kill. So glad I got these headphones, they will help kill time in the plane.  I didn't think I'd need them quite so soon.

ABOVE: Our plane. 

COCO GETS A BATH

 

Coco is due for a groom, but I've decided not to get her shaved... she feels the cold too much.

So instead of a full groom today, she's just going to have a nice warm bath, blow dry and brush out this afternoon.

ABOVE: Steve putting the dog door in the laundry door yesterday.

ABOVE:  Lily enjoyed watching the dogs go through the door, and even tried herself.  But didn't quite nut it out.  I suspect she might one day.

ABOVE: The boys said our new lounge suite was awesome.  They had a good time checking out all the added features.  

I was thinking of going to the Art and Craft meeting after lunch today.  But I've had a really bad night. My cold is horrible,  and I think I should just stay home.

Remember that mosaic rock I made?  I used an alternative adhesive, as I didn't like the big, clunky applicators the other adhesive needed.

I put the rock in my garden.  And the glue has failed the 'frost' test.  Some of the pieces have come off.  I'm rather disappointed.  I will have to either re-glue everything, or bring it inside, out of the frost.  Grrrrr.

I'll have to think on that.

ABove: It is nearly 10 am, and I'm still in bed. I feel like utter 💩  crap. My nose is still streaming, my head is POUNDING and I just want to stay here. 

Lol, a man just knocked on the door. He's here to disconnect the gas. So I told him where the meter was, then retreated back to bed. 

MEH, I shall probably get up soon and get some washing on. 

ABOVE:  I'm up.  Oodie Lounge Suit on... just sitting here keeping warm. Me hairs all fluffy.  Might just leave it.

ABOVE:  I looked at Miss Coco and changed my mind... she's getting a full groom after all.  She was having a bad hair day.

I just talked to my niece in Australia, my sister is bravely hanging in there.  Every day is a bonus now.

The groomer arrived bang on 4 pm.  Coco could see her grooming van out the window, next thing... Coco is GONE.

Out the back, trying to climb over the gate to escape!

Luckily, she's too old to do it now.

I hauled her back inside and handed her over.

ABOVE:  All done, smelling beautiful... and giving me the evil eye. 😂😉

7.40 pm:  And that's a wrap on today.  I am going to bed very early tonight, and hoping to actually get some sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SUNDAY ODD JOB DAY

 

Today we have several odd jobs lined up.

1. Supermarket run. - DONE

2. Assemble storage unit for my wardrobe, and put it in the wardrobe.  - DONE

3. Put floating shelf in my wardrobe.  -DONE

4. Organise my wardrobe and drawers/shoes etc.  - DONE

5. Return vanity handles to Mitre 10 as they don't fit.  - DONE.  And ordered new ones.

6. Put new hand towel rail on bathroom cupboard.  -  DONE

7.  Instal new dog door in Laundry door  (Job for Steve).  - DONE

8. Put suitcases, planks of wood etc up in the attic.  - DONE

9. Put 'rug stop' under re-positioned rug. - DONE

I'm sure there will be more jobs to be found, but that's enough for now.

It's a wet day, so working inside is perfect.

I'm feeling really ikk this morning.  I didn't sleep well.  Got a cold.  Got sore arms.  And to cap it off, I got acid reflux in the middle of the night.

Lacy came over and did my hair for me, and also did a little trim up of the ends.  

ABOVE:  Having a different style for a few days.

We've not got much done on our list yet,  cos Stewie is watching the RUGBY.  

I'm sure we will get most of it done eventually.

We must have our lunch at Chartwell Square today!  Our favourite Kebab man is closing shop today.  He has warned us for months today is his last day at Chartwell Square.  The rents went up too much.

He's going to take a holiday, then set up somewhere else, maybe even have a mobile food van.  He's going to keep in touch, which is neat as his kebabs really are the best around.

ABOVE: And here we are, about to enjoy the last kebab here. So sad.  

When we left, we had another chat with him... and thanked him for our free lunch.  Yep, he gave us a free lunch, and four free tins of Diet Coke.

As we left, he was already packing up his shop.

I nicked a memento from right in front of him, he didn't bat an eye :

ABOVE:  I hope one day to return it to him, at his new place.

We went to Mitre 10, and finally found some new handles for the bathroom vanity.  They are ordered, and should be here in a week or so.  Which is awesome, as now I don't need to paint the existing ones after all.

We are home now, and just about to do a few more of those odd jobs.

ABOVE:  And there ya go.  All done.  The other side of my wardrobe looks the same as it was, except it has an added shelf above the existing shelf.  No more jumble of shoes on the floor.

ABOVE:  The new black handles are on that corner cupboard, and the black hand towel rail is on it too.  AND there's a black door stop down by the floor to stop the cupboard door banging against the wall.

SORTED.

ABOVE:  I do believe we will be cracking open that bottle of bubbly this evening, to CELEBRATE finally being all settled in.  We have been here for 12 weeks and two days.

Sure, there will be a few tweaks over the coming months/years, but that's going to just be NORMAL.

Today we will celebrate making this house our HOME.

5.25 pm:  We just had Steve, Bex and the kids here for a couple of hours.  Steve installed the new dog door in the laundry.  So... all the jobs got done today.  How cool is that!

ABOVE: Lily loved our new couch, she could stand or sit on the centre console, and crawl between Stew and I.  She thought she was the bees knees.

How fast things can change.  

TAMAHERE MARKET IN AUGUST

 

Loading the car for market now only takes us ten minutes... it's like a well oiled machine. Shame it takes much, much longer to then get the market stall all set up.  Usually it takes us an hour, sometimes a bit longer.

Today... well as expected, we have a cold frost.  BUT... that also means we shall have a lovely day once it melts.

I'm ready for it.  Stew bought us both some 'special' hiking socks, deemed good for warmth.  And I have my woollen blanket, and a few layers on.  I'm trying to cut down on the layers, as I can hardly move when I have too much on the body.

I think I need to MOVE more when at the market... go for a few walks around the stalls more often.

And I need to just suck it up and stop bitching!  lol

Late yesterday afternoon, I got an itch to sew.  I had dreamed about making a black and white Scrappy Doll...

ABOVE:  She's not ALL black and white, cos ya need some colour... so, what do you think of her?

It will be interesting to see if she's snapped up today or not.

Right, we better get a move on... I still need to put some face on, can't go out without me face on.

...

ABOVE: 7.47 am. All set up... and it's not totally freezing now. Bring on the customers. 

ABOVE: Why yes, I am warm enough. 

Only one thing to say about this market, with just over an hour to go. Should have stayed in bed.

Looking to be an utter bust. 

Only consolation is, I wasn't cold.

1.50 pm: Home, and damn glad we don't have to do that for another month!  

We are about to head out and get a few things to organise my wardrobe like Stew's.  

And we are also getting another dog door, for the internal laundry door.  So we can shut that door, and heat up the house without all the heat going into the garage.

Coco came come and go just like she did in our previous home, through two dog doors.  She's clever like that.  😊

3.35 pm: And what a successful little shopping trip.  We got everything on our list, no trouble at all.

So we are set for getting a few jobs done tomorrow.

Now though, it's time to chill out and relax.  Until dinnertime, when I think we are going to our favourite Indian Restaurant.

ABOVE: Our dinner, which we ended up having at another Indian Restaurant, as our favourite place was booked out.

We went to Davies Corner.  It as not as good sadly.  

Stew got a Mango Lassie, and it was revolting!  I had a sip and was like ... hell no.  He didn't drink it.

Happily home now, and I'm about to head off to bed.

I am bloody tired.   And slightly CRABBY.

PICK UP GLASSES

 

I'm happy to say I'm getting my new glasses today.  I get to stop wearing the one armed, old as hell glasses.  Ha!  I have managed to lose them too... derrr.

ABOVE:  Last night, all three kids were sitting in the lounge having dinner on their laps.  Marley just sat there, looking from one to the other, waiting for something to fall on the floor her way.  It was rather cute.

ABOVE:  Miss Lily, pleased as punch with her new sneakers.  They were given to her by her Uncle Josh, who lives down in Invercargill. 

Last night I decided to change where I go to the Doctor's.

Two reasons.

1.  My lovely Dr, who we have seen (when living in Hamilton), for about 35 years,  had stopped working there.  I thought maybe he had retired, as he was in poor health himself.

2. I hated queueing for up to an hour just to get in the door, as it was a 'walk in' clinic.

I was done standing in a line for over an hour most times, just to see a dr.

YES, most other clinics you often have to wait 2-3 weeks to actually get an appointment.

But I decided I would change clinics anyway.

So, off I go to the one I chose for convenience, good parking, access to a chemist right next door etc.

They accepted me as a patient,  AND  OGM!!!  My favourite Dr is now practising there!  How amazing is that!   I left there so happy, and with an appointment to see him next week.

BOOM.  Meant to be.

Next stop.  Spotlight.  Where I found this:

ABOVE:  A 100% pure wool blanket, that I can wrap around my legs and lower body at markets.  It was on sale for half price, so another score.   AND it won't go amiss if we ever need another good blanket for visitors and so on.

Gosh I'm having a good day.

My next mission is to head off to The Base and pick up my new 'distance' glasses.  Oh my gosh have I missed having them.

Reading signs at the airport recently was a nightmare.  I had to ask for help, otherwise I could have ended up in Timbuctoo!

One didn't want to go to Timbuctoo....  is there even such a place?  😂😅

ABOVE:  YES!  I can see clearly again!  I can read all the signs in the mall.  I can read street signs while driving.  It's bloody excellent.  

And of course, seeing the TV clearly is a good thing too.  You don't realise how much you rely on ya glasses, until you don't have them.

Moving on, I'm about to have some lunch, then go and make those gazebo straps.

3.50 pm:  And the freakin' straps are done.  I'll probably have to tweak them at some point.  So tomorrow I'll take scissors, needle and thread with me.  Just in case I need them.

My arms.  Are killing me.  The left one in particular.  I am thinking arthritis or bursitis or something similar.  Both thumbs are playing up too.  Aging sucks big time.

I just did this little before and after:

ABOVE : BEFORE

ABOVE : AFTER

And I sit here and think, how lucky am I that we could create such a beautiful space to live in.

ABOVE:  With the sun streaming in here in the afternoon, I just love sitting here looking over there.  It's a happy space.

I wish now that I could turn the clock back, and make internal design/decorating/staging my career. I love it. 

When you dream it, you have to sew it.  So I did.

And I will show you what I made, tomorrow.  *snigger*

Time to pack up the car in readiness for tomorrow's market.

Which I'm really looking forward to.  Only doing one market a month over winter means it's a long time between markets.  I miss them.

After packing the car, Stew and I will settle down for a nice quite evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

GAZEBO STRAPS

 

First up for today is to return the sleeping bag!

It is a 'Standard' size, and I am not a Standard Sized chick.  I'm just a bit chunkier.  Sure, I could get in the bag etc, but it was just a bit too snug.

I'd like to feel comfortable, and I didn't.  They come in larger sizes, so hopefully they have a larger one.

After that, I shall come home and work on making new straps for the gazebo.  The existing straps I made to hang runners on are wearing out.  
They are about 7 years old, so they have done well.

Now, some happy news.  Lacy has a part time job.

PULLING TITS.

ABOVE:  Yeah, THOSE  sorta tits!  😂😅😆 She's going to do relief milking for a farm just out of Hamilton.

She's thrilled to bits, and I'm very happy for her.

Right, that's me for now.

Catch ya later.

12.01 pm:  And I've had a very pleasant morning.

I went to the Coffee & Chat down in the village clubrooms.  Met quite a few lovely people.  Lots of chatting going on.  

I also ran into one of my neighbours outside and had a good yak with him too.  

Then I went and ended up returning the sleeping bag, as they didn't have any bigger, just longer.

So looks like this Saturday I'll be reverting to me long johns and blanket.  

Now... as per usual, I'm about to have some lunch. 

Then, who knows?

Another good report in from my niece, my sister is doing well. Sleeping a lot, which is to be expected.  At least she's in good hands, and is not in pain.

Procrastination is alive and well... I didn't get to the straps today, so I MUST do them tomorrow.

I dropped Stew at the pub this evening, then visited the kids.  After that, I joined Stew for some hot chips, and a good yakkity yak with our friends there.

Home now, heating up hot pods for Coco and me.

Then I will settle down, and await Coronation Street.

Catch ya tomorrow.