RENA IS COMING TO VISIT HER GRANDMA!

Today our newest grandchild is coming to stay! Our daughter Kelly and her stepson Leigh are coming down with the baby for a few days... I can't wait to see Rena again! She will have changed so much from the day she was born... that's the last time I saw her. In case you are wondering how to pronounce her name... it rhymes with Tina.

So, my job today was to find and assemble the porta-cot in readiness.... and I did it without too much trouble! Quite pleased with my efforts:

It seems to have been years ago since I used this cot... it will be lovely to see a newborn in it again. I think the last newborn in it was Griffin! OOOO I can't wait, I adore infants.

You can put them down in one place, you can go away and come back later and they are still in the same place! BLISS! No wondering what they are getting up to, no mess to clean up, no blocked toilets, NOTHING!

It will be lovely to have visitors too, Brylee and Griffin can play with Leigh and Kelly and I can just sit and cluck over the baby.

After expecting a 'resolution' to our house selling situation last night... it did not happen again.. I am crushed and feeling desperate. I am now having to think of moving into a rental house in Auckland or something ! I worry about moving the kids schools twice ... Griffin is really struggling with his learning and is getting lots of help where he is right now. And he does not react well to change, so it is a big decision to make.

anyway, it's time to feed the kids, make the beds, bla bla bla...

An otherwise shitty morning was brightened up by the unexpected arrival of Jenny bearing scones! So nice to have an adult to yak to for a while.... AND .... my SKATES finally arrived!

I am not very good at skating! In fact I think it is going to take quite a bit of practise to get confident enough to take to the streets! Seems you can forget some things you learnt as a kid.

I vozz startin to feel even CRABBIER than 'normal' this afternoon... YES it is possible!... then I realised I had not drunk ANY Diet Coke all day!!!!! IMPOSSIBLE YOU SAY? No, I had simply been too busy to have a drink.... the situation has since been rectified and I'm feeling much better now, Thank You.

Kelly and kids are due in half an hour, so I better get dinner started..... the Real Estate Boss Man has been visiting, trying to convince me to drop our price by $50,000 ! I don't think so.

They arrived safely:

All say " Awwwww" now! 4 weeks old and ADORABLE.

A very proud Grandma and little cousin Brylee.

End of Day: got lots of family here tonight, it's bloody neat! Steve and Mike came around to cluck over Rena... in fact Steve won't let her go~! It's soooo cute.

NSV: how many calories in bubbly wine??? Too many??? Too bad, I'm semi pissed and quite happy THANK YOU.... nite nite.

TOO GRUMPY... OR NOT?

I need your honest opinion....

Am I too grumpy to blog? Am I boring the shit outta ya all? Are you sick of hearing me be a grumpy tart? WELL ??? NOTE: I am not saying I am going to stop blogging (NEVER!).. Just asking if my blog content is getting too 'down' and should I stop putting my grumpy -ness on it? You know, try to only blog about NICE stuff? Oh shit, then I would have nothing to say! LOL

I would love to wake up every morning bright and cheerful, have a wonderful day and go to bed at night full of the joys of the day! But in reality I hardly ever feel happy at the moment. But I know that the MINUTE we have good news on the home selling front my mood will change! I will have a reason to get up every day, something to LOOK forward to.... living one's life in LIMBO is not much fun..... ADD menopausal moods and numerous worrysome kids to the mix and you have ME.... Mrs Bloody Grumpy.



So, what do ya think? Am I too grumpy? Should I go to "BE NICE SCHOOL"?

I await your response! Wanna-be....in particular!

COFFEE BEAN: Snorting Diet Coke through one's nose is NOT recommened!!! It is just a TOTAL WASTE of perfectly good Diet Coke girl! tut tut.

In an attempt at NICENESS: I give you a flower... it is growing in me garden, I did not plant it, it just grew all on it's own.


Isn't it pretty? All go "awww" now.... NO? I thought not, it's yellow for a start. I don't like yellow. It has no lovely smell, it's all talk and no do! It is only there cos there is nothing else 'there'... it is living on borrowed time.

That feels better, I just can't do nice right now!
End of Day: done nothing today, havn't felt like it.
nite nite.

MY SON RUSSELL

My son Russell rang last night, he kinda packed a shitty with me cos I never mention him on my blog! So here he is:
He's nearly 25, engaged to Corina:

they live in Perth, Australia. They went there last August/September. I have heard from him 3 times since he went.

The last time I saw him was at the Bloggers Xmas Party, it was lovely cos he organised for all 6 of our kids to come... it was the last time they would all be together for a long time.

what else? He works in Aluminium Joinery, he's trying to get a job in a mine? More money I suppose. He is coming home for a 3 week visit early next year, he will see us then I presume. He has an almost 7 year old son (Joshua) living here in New Zealand. I think he went to Australia to get away from his family. I don't think he likes us and me in particular .... well that's how he makes me feel anyway.

If there are any more of my kids out there feeling left out... just yell out! I will put you on here quick as! NOT A PROBLEM.

Today: no plans as such, probably take the kids to town and maybe a park, depends on the weather. Brylee has an annoying cough so don't want her to get too cold.

I also want to try doing another 'block' in a different pattern... it's kinda fun.

End of Day: we did the grocery shopping (was ok), had lunch in town, bought Brylee long trousers for the winter term at school, wandered around town killing some time, home... Steve visited for a while... bla bla bla. Nothing riveting at all sorry. cut out another block... trying to figure out how the hell it works !

NSV: totally good girl I am... but it's early in the evening and anything could happen. Have not heard from Stew, but don't expect to, I was so horrible to him last night and the night before he probably doesn't think it's worth ringing me! My own fault I suppose. Frustrated and grumpy as hell. nite nite.

IT'S THE WEEKEND.... FOR TWO WHOLE DAYS EVEN!

Totally could not think of a decent title for the day.... I mean... I have no plans, I have no riveting news to impart....

Not going to town for girly morning tea... they all got other plans... except me mate Chris D who's popping in here for a cuppa. That will be nice, and the kids can just play and keep outta me hair.

I plan on practising doing 1/4inch seams today... that should be FUN... god I can't wait.

Someone shoot me now, my life is going down the toilet....

No really, I'm just feeling a bit down today.... ignore me, piss off and read someone who's INTERESTING would ya? Maybe I will perk up later.... and be NICE. lol, yeah right. If I can't get out for a walk today, it will be done on the Treadmill, I WILL DO IT, I WILL.

Before I went to bed last night I sewed my first 'block' with practise material... it came out OK, but too big! Derrrr... hope Karen comes around today to tell me what I did wrong!

COFFEE BEAN: Yes I update the day's post several times during the day..... I have nothing better to do! It's a bit like "The Days Of Our Lives" here!

UPDATE ON THAT BLOCK ABOVE: I'm a bloody dork! I had it lined up wrong, it is in fact the right size ! OK, it was late, I was tired... the ruler lied! Whatever!

Well I have made two more blocks, each one the same, but I'm getting better at matching the seams! Not much else going on today, the kids have amused themselves (NOT quietly worst luck), but still kept outta my hair! My friend Karen came around and reckoned I did good with me blocks, so I'm happy about that.

End of Day: productive, getting colder here .... blasted winter is on it's way.

NSV: Been so busy sewing etc I forgot to eat till 3pm... had a rather late lunch I did! nite nite.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS START AT 3 PM

What am I going to do? I could drive up to Auckland and spend some time with Stew... but I hate the idea of spending every day up there with just the kids in a small apartment...and I hate the idea of such a huge trip on my own with the kids.

So, we will no doubt just stay here and hope it is nice weather so we can get out and about a bit. Maybe a few trips to the local beach, parks, visit Izzy maybe, who knows?

Today:
- kids to school
- go to sewing class (better not lie down eh?)

THAT'S IT! No other plans. Stew is not coming home this weekend, he's going to the V8 Street Car races in Hamilton, I urged him to go as he needs a break. Hamilton is only an hour away from Auckland so not far for him to go, and all his old mates are there so he should have a neat weekend.

My weekend plans? DON'T HAVE ANY.


OH YEAH, one more thing: I have decided to get back into exercise (walking) as of today.... stuff the fact that I have chronic anemia, stuff the fact that I get breathless doing stuff all.... I am going to walk for at least 30 minutes today, and the next day and so on, and build it up to an hour a day again. I cannot get any more unfit! I hate being unfit. I wanna run up the friggin stairs again! And I will. So there....

HA! Best laid plans an all that!.... couldn't get to sewing class cos Steve has my car....

so... I walked into town (about 4 kms), it took me 34 minutes so was happy with that.

Had breakfast:

Ahhhh dat was nice..... Then I had morning tea with Karen the EXPERT Quilter, she works at the same place Stew used to work in here, then I met Steve and got the vehicle back.... bought a bigger better cutting out 'board' for sewing with... and came home.

But not before taking a photo of the newest Sculpture in town:

I can't remember it's name.. "Returning" something or other. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH. Steve thinks it's crap, each to their own eh?

End of Day: had a visit from Janene and Jorja at dinnertime... Griffin did his usual "play up" and drove me nuts.... anyway..... was nice to see them. Had a tiff with Stew tonight, tension is getting to us I reckon.
Just vacumed the entire downstairs, boy did it need it, so some 'bonus' exercise for the day!
NSV: kind of a mixed bag, got lots of exercise, ate too much... just a bit crabby me thinks. nite nite.

REALLY DEPRESSED

I think my poor hubby is getting really depressed, up there in Auckland, not knowing just how long it will take for us to be all living up there together....

and knowing that we are missing him so much. He sounded really down last night... christ I hope this doesn't drag on much longer. We have burnt our bridges with him taking this job, he's stuck there now.

Today:

- kids to school

- put the rubbish out at road (IKKY)

- go to sewing machine shop for lessons on how to run the darn thing!

- have a go at sewing some 'blocks' for the quilt.

- all the usual housework.....

That will do for now eh?

House: we are prepared to look at ALL OFFERS on our home now! Just need SOMEONE to make an offer! They are simply NOT BUYING out there right now, the news media have blown the 'housing/mortgage situation' right out of all proportion and scared off everyone! BASTARDS. We live in hope.

YOU are never going to believe this! After I got the kids to school I just felt goddam awful, in fact quite ill.... so I went and lay down for a minute on me bed... and woke up at 1 pm !!! SHIT A BRICK, I missed me sewing class! I missed me breakfast... me lunch.. hell I missed half the day !

Must have needed it, I'm feeling ever so much better now. Hmmm... now what?

MARGARET: Thanks for that, YES, Stew's employer's are well aware of all the issues involved and have already paid for us to spend Easter with Stew in Auckland. They are 'working' on resolving the ongoing issues too, but that is just 'in the works' so to speak at this stage. And it may not be something we want to do either.... like rent out our home here and rent up there. I do not intend to do that, it means moving house twice and that is just too stressful.

AUCTION: not on your life... you pay through the nose for an auction, and in this market just our luck no bugger would place a bid! We did that in Hamilton and lost $1,000 for nothing!

End of Day: Steve came over to have dinner with us, and play with the kids and bath them for me... really just to spend time with Griffin so he is reassured he's alright. The teachers at school think his behaviour is a reaction to all the stress over the weekend. Hope he settles down soon. A long day.

NSV: I had bloody McDonalds with the kids for dinner, so no victories today! It was just as YUK as I remembered it too. nite nite.

MY FISH

A few weeks ago I sent out an SOS for some kind person to draw me a picture of a snapper that Stew and I could use for our tattoo...

Above is a real snapper, I wanted a 'cartoon' style one that was curving to the right and kinda more 'upright'.... this neat guy in America came to the party and designed this:

I told the poor bugger "NO" it ain't right (in fact it's butt ugly!), so over the course of a few days we finally had what I wanted!

A "GIRLY Snapper".... cos it's supposed to represent ME... Stew calls me "The Snapper" you see! Below is the finished product, and I must say I am wrapt with it! Rick Green is a bloody clever bugger, and he's got the story of the Snapper from New Zealand on his blog too ! Pop over and say "HI, you clever bugger" !

Oh and call him "Mate" he really really LIKES it! ha ha ha.

Right...

Today:

- kids to school

- go to my FIRST PATCHWORK class....ooo fun!

Well, what did I learn today?

- I did not have the 'right' ruler!

- I did not want to make their "first lesson" sampler, I wanted to do my own thing.

- I had to spend 30 minutes conveying to the 'instructor' exactly what I wanted to do!

- I learnt how to cut out without losing a finger in the process.

- I learnt that without the 'right' ruler, I could spend an hour doing friggin nothing!

- I learnt that I need lessons on how to use my bloody machine... that is happening TOMORROW.

AND FINALLY... I learnt that is is a damn good idea to keep your shop receipts, that way you can return the wrong ruler and get the right one!

All in all I had an OK morning, did not get much done, but that's ok, I got to yak with lots of people and that is good. I like to YAK. *BIG SMILE*

A quiet afternoon, kids were good, did a wee bit of cutting out of the patchwork...

Fed the kids their dinner and am watching the telly.

LENS CLEANER makes you vomit if you play with it - just ask Griffin! Naughty boy, I can't get him to tell me what he did with it, but I think he sprayed it up his nose! Lost his dinner he did. Now he's been sent to bed as punishment. I don't know what's gotten into that boy, he's been so very naughty lately... maybe he's missing his Dad? Or bored? Or ?

End of Day: looking forward to a quiet evening.

NSV: Totally on track today, feeling good about that. nite nite.

ISN'T IT PRETTY? JUST HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT NOW.

Today will be spent.... reading up on how to use this little bugger... and..

- kids to school

- take Steve and myself off to the doctors, shit I hope I don't have to have another blood test. boo hooo.

That's all for now! I'm sure there will be more to happen during the day, it always does.... my skates still have not arrived, but... I am not stressing, they will get here! I just have to be PATIENT.

Been to town. ... bought a plunger for the next time Griffin puts a whole toilet roll down the bog, looked at 'stuff' for sewing with... accessories eh?

Took Steve to the Dr, he's now on various medications to lower his stress levels, help him sleep and eat, and anti-depressants... hope it helps.

Me? More bloody iron tablets, have to take 'em for another 6 friggin months! But I escaped without him requesting more of me blood! Hell, I lose enough already without the buggers takin it from me arm!

Had lunch with my girlfriend Chris D... lovely to have a yakkity yak over lunch and chill out for a while.

Home now and will have to go get the little shits soon.... *BIG SIGH*... wonder what they can get up to this afternoon? It's wet wet wet.

I now have a designated SEWING CUPBOARD! Everything in it's place... just how I like it!

Not much else to report... got a wrecked car in my garage, oh YEAH! Who would have kids???

End of Day: kids in bed, blissfully quiet...

NSV: I have been evil today. Shit happens. nite nite.

OH THE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD

WE got a bit of a fright yesterday after getting a phone call to say our son Steven was repeatedly blacking out and could not stand up ... so we raced over to his flat and called an ambulance... and off to the hospital we went. The upshot is his Postural Hypertension was sent into overdrive due to him being over stressed.... his engagement broke up then he crashed their car ! So he's a bit messed up, not eating, not looking after himself at all. I am going to try and convince him to come home again and move to Auckland with us, he needs to start again ....

Stew flies back to Auckland this morning.... he will be missed.

Especially by our little man, who wouldn't leave his Dad alone all weekend.

Today:

- Stew to airport

- pick up prescription for the son

- Go buy sewing machine!

- do some bloody housework, the house is a tip!

I have had a very successful morning:

I have ordered my new machine, will be here this afternoon.

I bought Brylee new jammies (forgot I could SEW them!).

Got some more patchwork material and new sewing scissors ( God help any bugger who dares cut out paper or cardboard or wire with them!)... and a pattern for a top! OOOO FUN.

And I bought 2 pair of jeans (cheapies) to wear until I get my bum a decent size again! They are a size 14, which ain't that bad, but I want to be a 12 again one day (this year?). Weird, when I was a size 28 all I dreamed about was being a size 14... seems you are never happy eh? LOL

ALSO made an appointment at the doctor's for Steve (he needs help) and myself ... well they told me they wanted to see me, my iron levels are still far too low.... OH JOY, MORE IRON TABLETS I BET. Fucking wonderful! later....

End of Day: a neat day actually.... been busy.

NSV: stayed on track today after quite an up and down weekend food-wise. nite nite.

SHUUUUUSH, I'M SLEEPING IN!

If you are reading this, you are up TOO BLOODY EARLY! I'm having a sleep in... piss off and come back later!

It also means I got up darn early this morning.. posted this and went back to bed! So there!

My only plans for the day are to sleep in, do bugger all and enjoy some time with Stew and the kids... NO OPEN HOMES TODAY.

Later.....10 am !!! I finally got outta bed! It's a gorgeous day, we have nothing to do but enjoy the day... I am not a crabby bitch today! I'm a happy tart ! YIPEE.... UMMM Stew's a happy boy too.

We are probably going to take a drive out of town .. ya know, the SUNDAY DRIVE ... ha ha ha.

Palmerston North on a beautiful sunday....

There was a truck show a'happening....

Trucks, hotrods and motorbikes.....

Best of all! A big truck with HIS NIBS name on it. COOL. After wandering around this lot we came home and had fish 'n' chips for lunch.. and now... we are back off into town cos GRIFFIN loves going to town.

End of Day: lots happening unfortunately... involving a sick son and hospital. Tomorrow with more.

nite nite.

PERFECT START TO THE DAY

I'm sitting up in bed like Jacky Jacky, laptop on my knee, hot chocolate by my side, phone at hand and a hunky husband beside me! BLISS, total bliss I tell ya!

Stew finally got home last night at 10.45pm, Brylee was sound asleep but Griffin was up waiting for his Dad! So cute.

Today: morning tea with the girls, then most likely lunch in town with the family... then a girlfriend who is an EXPERT quilter is coming around to give me a hand to get started on my quilt.

I really have NO IDEA where to start, how to cut it out properly, bla bla bla... AND.... I am going to buy a new sewing machine this weekend too! Gawd how exciting! My old one keeps on jamming, making huge messes around the presser foot etc... so if I'm going to do lots of sewing (ha ha)... I am going to get a decent one!

One thing's for sure, it will be a whole lot cleaner to sew than paint or pot! No more mess to clean up! It's all good...

Morning tea with the girls was lovely as per usual... no kids this time either...bliss. Stew had them.

Home, then right back into town for lunch... and get Stew a bloody haircut ! Gawd did he ever need it... he was thinking of growing it longer, but it just looks stooooopid!

Now that's better!

What else? Had a wander around town then home to await my girlfriend Karen....

Was going to look at the sewing machines again today, but the shop was closed.... bugger damn and blast... will have to wait till Monday now.

End of Day: Had a neat day, a neat dinner with Karen here giving me patchwork/quilting tips..... dinner was roast lamb and veges , very yummy! Had a couple of HUGE Henkell Trocken wines, kinda pissed now! Having fun, Stew MIGHT get lucky! ha aha hhahahhahah.

NSV: ERRRR none! nite nite.

P.S. Hi Dominique!

NO FEEDBACK, NO SKATES

You know, some days it's really hard to feel happy .... yesterday my skates did not arrive, and the Real Estate Agent did not get back to me with feedback from the viewers on Wednesday night. That sucks.

Today:
- kids to school
- Start nutting out the quilt .. that should be fun! I have several ideas running around in my head. I just hope my sewing machine is up to the job... it's a fairly basic machine.
- Dats all!

I don't think I shall bother ringing the Estate Agent, no news usually means just that... nothing is happening. And if my skates don't arrive today I shall ring the Postal Service to find out if they can track them down.

Stew flies home tonight as well, quite late, so that will be nice. I just hope I'm not too crabby and ruin his weekend! I can't help myself sometimes and take my frustrations out on him. Oh well.... that's life I suppose.

THICKCHICK: why skates? saw some girls skating along the waterfront in Wellington couple of years ago and thought, YES a great way to get exercise and have fun! Simply havn't been able to buy any here in New Zealand, hence the order from Canada.

TERESA: They are coming via Xpress International, I was told it would take between 4 and 6 days.... still waiting....

Today I spent ages finding some more materials, then checking out new sewing machines! Mine is too basic for the jobs I want to do.... Stew is going to have a fit!

Griffin's quilt is going to have a 'space' theme... I even had to buy green and yellow materials (hate those colours) but there won't be much in the quilt. Mostly blues and whites, touch of red/green/yellow.


How the hell do you decide what machine to buy???? Price? No' of stitches it does? HOW!!! I have no idea, why is there so many to choose from ? Any ideas from other 'sewer's out there?

Just picked up kids from school... one more week till holidays. OH YEAH.... *SIGH*

End of Day: went out to the airport at 9pm with the kids to get Stew, and.... his flight developed a problem in the air and had to return to Hamilton airport.. so we came home without him. He will now have to get a taxi home when he finally gets in.

NSV: not that good on track today, but not that bad either. nite nite.

FINALLY, SOME SLEEP

I finally got a great sleep last night! Gawd it makes a difference too, I've woken up feeling fantastic! Only 3 hot flushes during the night, and one trip to the bathroom with Griffin.... so not too many wakeups.

Today I hope my skates arrive, I kinda expected them already! I so want to put them on and see if I can still do it! The last time I skated was.. hmmmm ... about 32 years ago! Surely I won't have FORGOTTEN!!! I reckon it's like riding a bike, you never forget!

No housework either, the house if PRISTINE if I do say so! It's lovely getting up in the morning and there is NOTHING to do. Well, except feed the kids, make their lunches, make their beds.... and get them off to school.'
After that? Not sure, might have a sauna... do some exercise? We will see. later...

A bored person is a BORING person... so I decided to do something about that....

I'm going to have a go at making a quilt for Griffin's bed, and if it comes out ok, I'm gunna make two for Brylee's room too! Yipee, something to sink my teeth into. NOW all I have to do is learn how to do it!

I got some materials, ruler, cutter etc... just need to get some books to show me how...

Last night at Chris D's.... she showed me this rather nifty potoatoe mash stuff.. went and got me some, sure beats cleaning, peeling, cooking and mashing them myself! Must pay HOMAGE to the Lazy Gods!

I will make a mince stew tonight and try out one of these mash's on the kids!

I just went to town (again) and booked myself into Quilting Classes... 6 weeks every Wednesday morning... no more putting my life on 'HOLD' until we move... life is for living NOW too. I can't wait till next wednesday to get started on my quilt!

End of Day: they boys came around for dinner, they didn't twig they were eating package spuds! Hee hee, so easy too ! I gave them some of the sachets to take home, they liked it! It was lovely to see them ... absence makes the teenagers NICER! Hopefully they will come back to see their Dad this weekend too.

NSV: On track today, so a good day. nite nite.

NO TITLE, HOW ABOUT 'IT'S WEDNESDAY' ALL DAY?

Yaaa, another day! Mid week even. Stew is due home in two more sleeps!

And the BEST thing??? We are not having any more OPEN HOMES..... we have made the decision not to put ourselves through that any more... no more lost weekends spent doing preparation for Open Homes, only to have virtually NO SERIOUS buyers come through. I am over strangers gawking at my house, going through my bedrooms etc. I can finally have my weekends off again.... from now on it's APPOINTMENT ONLY TO VIEW.

I can hardly wait for sunday, I am going to sleep in! Dunno what Stew's gunna do..... lol!


Today:
- kids to school
- hang out all the washing, there's heaps of it!
- hang around my front door in the hope my skates arrive!

ONWARD.....
Just got a call from the Estate Agent Boss Man... he's bringing a family through this evening (5pm).... so I suppose that is good... I better do the bloody vacuming then! Oh and fold all the washing too... dammit, I was hoping to leave that for Stew to do when he got home! I hate folding washing, it makes my upper arms ache something shocking!

End of Day: will get feedback from today's viewers tomorrow.... can't hurry these things. Got the kids McDonals's (YIK YIK) for dinner, we visited my friend Chris D and her hubby and the kids ate there. Am now home, it's nearly bedtime for the kids.... then I might suss out some dinner myself.
NSV: I didn't have bloody McDonalds! nite nite.

DARN SMOKE ALARMS

I could hear this annoying little bleep, I knew it was a smoke alarm, so I sat under the most likely one... sure enough it bleeped, so I got it down and changed it's battery... YIPEE JOB DONE.

Bleep, bleep.... shit on it! So I sit under another one, no.. not that one, then the next one, bleep bleep... yes ! Change it's battery.... YIPEE JOB DONE.

Bleep, bleep... goddam it ! Upstairs I go, sit under that one... bleep, bleep.... gotcha! In all I changed 4 smoke alarm batteries...I had already done two last week. So now we are all safe again, and tonight I will sleep without hearing that annoying little BLEEP!

Today:
- kids to school
- take more 'stuff' to the op shop and junk to the dump
- de-clutter some more ... back shed I think! I can't believe it, but I am almost at the end of the BIG DE-CLUTTER! Stew is going to be SO impressed!

I want to stick around home for the next two or three days, I am expecting my SKATES from Canada any day now!!!!

YIPEE!!! During my de-cluttering I have found something very precious to me! It's a 'fan/hat' that I bought while visiting my brother in Singapore some years ago.... huge sentimental value you understand? Not something I would EVER wear in public! But it was darn handy as a fan in Singapore's hot weather!

Folded up..............................half open as a fan.................and as a hat.

Not very flattering... lol.

AHHH JADEY: there speaks a brunette... I be a BLONDE eh? LOL Yes I should have just replaced all the batteries at the same time, I know, I know.

It's been a quiet day, had a visit from a girlfriend who is shrinking something AMAZING... she had stomach bypass surgery about 6 months ago and is doing so well! I had a nana nap this afternoon too.... was feeling ever so tired. Now it's just chill out till dinner time for the kids....

End of Day: joyful..NOT... Brylee threw up in her bed tonight.. had to bath her and wash her hair... then all the bedding from her bed... and I'm tired and grumpy as per usual, and throw in Lonely too.... the evenings are the worst time. I would HATE to be on my own all the time!

NSV: errrr NONE ... same old same oh. nite nite.

I'M BLAMING IT ALL ON THE HOT FLUSHES

I have started to put one and one together, and come up with... everything is down to the hot flushes! And menopause.... mood swings, grumpiness.... and hot flushes.. they are DRAINING.. they really are. Have one every half and hour or so... and see for yourself! NOT THERE YET? Oh well, just imagine walking into a sauna, staying in it for 10 minutes then getting out all hot and sweaty, and repeat, and repeat. All friggin day/night long.

Today:
- kids to school
- go to town and send $$$ off to U.S.A artist for my fish picuture, which will be turned into our tattoo! I will show ya all once it arrives!
- DO NO HOUSEWORK, none I tell ya!
- Drop off china to Op Shop
- Get a few groceries
- De-clutter the Pantry and one huge cupboard in the garage.
No other plans... just chillin' ...

RENTING....several people have suggested it... I won't do it... too many hassles involved ... plus then we would have to rent up there, then eventually buy... which would involve moving house twice...NO THANKS! So no, it's not an option onward...
I dragged the exercycle down the stairs last night, I simply don't use it up there in the rumpus room... so it's back in the lounge. I bet I use it down here!

Another mission today, find which of the smoke alarms is bleeping.... it's driving me nuts!

ANNE: but of course that is DIET COKE!!!! Dat was BREAKFAST!!

I have been shopping....

I found a NEW Henkell.. the light one... so bought it and it's mate! And some yummy raw fish for me lunch, and some pills for the flushes, hope they work!


I also bought myself two neat Sweatshirts .. cos it's COLD here today! And last season's stuff is getting a bit worn looking. AHHHH, there is nothing like a bit of shopping to perk a girl up.

NOW...the pantry awaits... I'm getting ruthless in my de-cluttering now!

For the first time in over a week I'm having a ball!!! De-cluttering is so much fun! LOVE IT... I am not taking a darn thing to Auckland that we don't use! It is so good to get rid of the junk in one's life and cupboards.

GRIMM: You are funny mate.

End of Day: I have been happy today, this is rather good eh?

NSV: On track, kept myself busy, no slip ups! nite nite.

WHOOPS!

I think I've killed it.... THIS IS WHY I do not have LIVE plants in my house! I always forget to water them...

I went upstairs to make sure it was all tidy for the Open Home today and found it.... I have given it some water ... hope it revives!

I did a lot of the housework last night so there is not so much to do today... the kids are confined to the garage (it's internal) so they can't mess anything up... just a few odd jobs to do now.

I have pretty much lost faith in getting a magical buyer through the door now.. it's all just a waste of time. The market has slumped something shocking and people are just not buying anything ....

Stew and I will have to seriously look at our options soon.... maybe he will have to come back here? Dunno, all I do know is that I do not want to be here on my own in another 6 months! That is not the sort of family life I want to live, me here with the kids and him hundreds of miles away on his own. *BIG SIGH*

Right, bitch over... on with the cleaning....oh and I suppose I better feed the kids too.... Griffin wet the bed last night so there is all that washing to get done too bugger it.

YIPEE!!! ONE LESS FLOOR TO CLEAN... I just flooded the laundry.

End of Day: as predicted, Open Home was a waste of time, 2 groups through, neither were serious buyers.

NSV: None. Tired and disappointed I am. nite nite.

P.S. the plant lives on.... for another day.

AMERICAN 'MAN' HAVING BABY, IT'S A MIRACLE!

BULLSHIT, TOTAL BULLSHIT.

She was born a woman, so of course she can carry a baby.... get over it already.

Now that I've got that off my chest... which is ALL WOMAN.... today the kids and I are off to morning tea with the girls..... we are going to a place which has a playground for the kids so all's good there, I can lock the gate and leave them to it. BLISS.

After that? Well do you need to guess? HOUSEWORK, and I'm hoping Steve will come over and mow the lawns for me...

I weighed in this morning (at home) and... I stayed the same... serve me right for eating that biscuit yesterday, followed by: spagetti on toast, creamed rice pudding and another chocolate biscuit !!! Now that's what's called a PIG OUT people! I am so pissed off with myself...

Here's a funny short video of Steve trying to face plant on rollerblades, the hysterical laughter in the background is our other son Mike....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lnGoPPoAK0


WE had a lovely really lovely morning tea with the girls today... now back home getting ready to do some work around here.

It WAS a Pig out, it was!!!! The chocolate biscuit I was talking about wasn't just a 'normal' sized bikky, it was a HUGE bugger! Worth 15 points people... 15 bloody points!!!

SEE ! *** just pointing out that I really did have a pig out, not just a wee scoff Raechelle! I did know what I was doing, I was not looking for sympathy or anything else! And I sure in hell do not need a gold star! As if.

Picked up Steve and brought him home so he could mow the lawns.. he pulled the cord to make said lawn mower go and.. the friggin cord snapped clean off! so now the mower is around the corner at the repair man's getting fixed and Steve has gone off in me car.... *SIGH*.

End of Day: productive if nothing else.... spent late afternoon emptying the china cabinet and kitchen cupboards of all things I never use... they are all going to the Op shop on Monday. Been 'on track' today, no slip ups....

NSV: getting lots of exercise today, got the vacuming and washing of floors to do late tonight as well. It's all good. nite nite.

FEELING LOW

Can you tell?

Stew is not coming home tonight... I talked him out of driving all that way just to mow lawns and do housework.... it's for the best.

Now I just have to tell the kids.... yikes, Griffin was looking forward to Daddy coming home too. Nevermind, I am sure I can distract him with some little treat after school. Kids are so easy to manipulate! Then again, I've had masses of practise eh?

My moods sure go up and down lately, today I am feeling very low... don't really know what to do about it cos the reason is out of my hands.. waiting for something to happen with this bloody house. And it is IMPOSSIBLE to 'wish' yourself happy, ya know??

"SNAP OUT OF IT"... yeah sure. Some bugger wave a magic wand would ya?

So, today I think I will go and buy some more supplies for a couple more pictures.... anything to get out of the house for a while. later....

I just got an e-mail from Canada....MY SKATES ARE COMING!!!! That has perked me up no end!!!! I am sooooo excited! shit it doesn't take much to make me happy nowdays does it?

Been to town, paid a bill or two, sorted out getting a money order to Rick in America (he did our fish picture) and bought the kids a couple of books each and a DVD ... that should make them happy.

It was nice to be out and about....

End of Day: Ho hum... alternated between feeling cross and miserable.... when is something good going to happen for us??? I thought Stew getting this new job was so FRIKKEN WONDERFUL, now I just see it as stuffing up our lives.

NSV: I did lose the plot today, had a huge chocolate biscuit, and am wondering what else I can eat now. nite nite.

SHAVE YOUR HEAD BALD !

An amazing blogger friend here in New Zealand is going to shave her head BALD on April 13th for a very worthwhile cause..... please go check out her blog and support her!!!! JULES, you are one bloody brave lady, I take my hat off to you.... and will post it to ya cos you are gunna need it!

My dearest Mother in Law, Stew's mum, died of Leukaemia 21 years ago... so this cause is close to our hearts. Sorry people, but I will not be shaving my head bald.... I just could not do it!

Today, I don't have any plans.... will just see how the day pans out..... first off, get kids to school, and as I have slept in we are running very late! Must go!
I can't seem to get warm... so I had a sauna, that did the trick. Been a quiet morning, Steve visited .... that's about all! Next... lunch! hmmmmm..... peas, onions, a tiny bit of beef and GRAVY.... yum yum!

CARMEN sent me a couple of little video clips today, they are very funny! If you have a mo, go check them out.... at:
http://www.komando.com/videos/4-2.asp

End of Day: It's been totally boring and I am super grumpy.... do not ring, visit, or anything!!!! I nearly lost the diet plot too, but saved myself from going and buying fish and chips by being too grumpy~!
NSV: I suppose being too pissed off to buy fish and chips counts. nite nite.

GUNNA VISIT ME CAR TODAY, HOPE TO GET IT OUT OF THERE

I am hoping like hell that I get my car back today, it's the pitts not having wheels.... and I also hope they don't charge me an arm and a leg and half me left tit too!!! Knowing my luck they will.

Today:
-Kids to school
-Mike is picking me up and taking me over to the garage
-Then some shopping, didn't do it last night afterall... too engrossed in the movie!

That's about it.... unless I find something else to keep myself occupied.... maybe my girlfriend Chris D is not working today and I can visit her? We will see.....

Have I mentioned my fish tattoo lately? NO? Well.... an artist in America is working on it... poor bugger has submitted a couple of pictures already and I have made him go back to the drawing board both times! He is nearly there though, it's getting exciting! Thank You so much Rick for all the hard work and putting up with me. Stew and I plan on getting matching tattoo's just before we leave Palmerston North to live in Auckland.

Mike... was supposed to pick me up at between 9 and 10... I get a text at 10.45 "I'm on my way now"... so I go and stand out by the road and wait.... and wait.... 20 minutes later the friggin shit arrived! It's cold out there! ANYWAYS....we go to the garage to get me car.... they have not been able to find ANYTHING wrong with it... so I say "How much do I owe you?"... get this !!! They charge me $$NOTHING$$ ... how AMAZING is that! Not a cent! I was gobsmacked!
That place is fantastic... ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE, Jasper Street in Palmerston North... they do not rip you off, EVER! You live around here, I recommend them.
Right, onward, did the grocery shop and am now sitting eating crackers and tomatoe, watching THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.... hee hee he.

Some nasty bastard bit me....

It's getting better I think... hey, it's a PHOTO for the day!!!

End of Day: It's been very good actually, totally wrapt with the garage not charging us! And...

NSV: I'm STILL on track, have not been evil AT ALL, I am rather proud of myself. It is very, very hard to not eat shit in the evenings when I am all on my own and lonely and grumpy, but I am doing it. nite nite.

OFF TO THE CAR DOCTOR

Today I'm taking the car to the doctor.... hope they can find out why it keeps losing power on me! And they don't give me a heart attack with the bill !

While the car is being seen to, think I will walk back into town, which is a good walk, do some window shopping, then catch a bus home.... oooo excitement !

I hope that's not the highlight on me day! I am going to be very tempted while in town with all the lovely smells no doubt... but my resolve is HOLDING ..... I can feel the "I CAN DO IT" feeling creeping back into me... thank god. Isn't it amazing how staying "on track" can totally UP your mood? Anyone else out there who is struggling... I recommend getting back on track... there is nothing better than knowing you are doing what is best for ya body and mind.

Right, enough soppiness... I better get going..... kids, breakfasts, bla bla bla....

Well, as expected, today has been somewhat BORING... car is at the Doctors... walked into town and wandered around aimlessly, bus'ed home, had my lunch. It was chicken with sweet and sour sauce... total of 5 points.

I tried VERY hard to buy something in town, but I don't need a bloody thing. Still havn't watched that movie I booked! I hadn't booked it right last night so couldn't watch it then, so now I intend to watch it at 4pm... we will see.

CAT: I am going to watch "PREMONITION"... well I finally saw the movie... it was neat... kinda a sad/interesting ending...

The car: is staying overnight with the Car doctor... they can't find anything wrong with the bloody thing! Typical. So, I'm carless and need to get groceries or the kids will have no lunch tomorrow... Thank God for a teenager with a car... Mike is coming over late tonight so I can pop out and get supplies.

later....

End of Day: it was long.... am settled down for a while till Mike gets here.. watching "Flightplan" on the telly.... another good movie.

NSV: all going well ... tracking, being strong. nite nite.