COROMANDEL TODAY

Hello.... late eh?


Couldn't get onto a computer since yesterday!

So, we are in Coromandel visiting my girlfreind Freida, who I haven't seen for about a year or so!
Her computer is beng an arse and not letting me change the font/colour etc so we are in plain black!


Today we will have a good look around the shops in Coromandel... then head back to Matarangi for a BBQ dinner then maybe go for a walk along the beach.

NO swimming or suntanning today!!!   It is cloudy and much cooler today, which I'm not that sad about as I am really, really sunburnt!


The back of my knees kept me away half the friggin night... I know... my own fault!  
But I didn't think I was out in the sun THAT LONG!


Nevermind, yesterday was such a gorgeous day I don't regret it.


So, that's about 'it' from me today..... so I will say:

End of Day:   hopefully it has been nice!  lol 
DIET: going so well!  Probably need to watch portion sized a bit better, I'm sure I ate a bit too much last night at our BBQ!
nite nite.

AT THE BEACH

We are at gorgeous Matarangi Beach... and that is all I am saying right now.

Hopefully I will be able to pinch Anne's computer to do an update while we are here... if not.....

Hang in there cos I will be back!

Hee hee... I'm back!   I'm sitting in Anne and John's gorgeous beach house.... using Anne's laptop...

It's a glorious day....I can't see a cloud in the sky. Last night we went into Whitianga and I weighed in at the local WW's group...and I LOST 1.5  kilos... so I was really happy about that.

Today we are going to make the most of the lovely weather and spend most of the day down at the beach...  

I bought my camera, but not the cable, so I can't put any photos on the blog until I get home... what a bugger!

Right... outta here.... woo hooo! we all just spent and hour and a half at the beach, then came back to the house for lunch... and in an hour's time we will go back!
I got in the water... at first it was OMG FREEZING.... but once in properly it was just lovely!
I am so glad we came... it's a blistering hot,  sunny day, not a cloud in the sky!  So much for the weather forecast....ppfffffft!  Useless buggers got it wrong.  
I hope I don't eat those words tomorrow if it starts raining... lol.

We went back to the beach after lunch and now we are all rather sunburnt!  Well... I am anyway.  First time spending much time in the sun... I think I'm going to be VERY RED tomorrow!  Oh well... it was so lovely in the water... lots of nice sized waves... the kids had a blast with their boogy boards.
Off to prepare dinner now, we are having a BBQ once Anne and John get back from Thames.

ONWARD...  

PUT IT ON... TAKE IT OFF

We were watching he biggest Loser last night... they were going back and visiting winners from years ago... and there was one guy named Eric who lost a massive amount of weight, became the 'Biggest Loser' winner.... then put all the weight back on again.

I did the same thing.
I KNOW HOW to lose the weight.
I KNOW HOW to gain the weight.
I just need to learn how to live life at the right weight and STAY THERE.

Lessons still need to be learnt, and this time around I want to learn them for life.   Anyone got any suggestions, cos once I lose the weight AGAIN, I want to know how to keep it off FOREVER.

I know one essential thing, I am 'goal driven'.... last time my 'goal' was to lose the weight and then get a tummy tuck.   DONE.
This time? 
Come on... give me some really good goals!

And NO, I don't ever want to run a bloody marathon!

OOOO I just thought of one!
Stew's best mate Richard is turning 50 in June.... so That is my First Goal... to be at least 15 kilos down by then.  And my 'reward' can be???

Still not going to the beach... even though it looks like the weather MIGHT clear for Thursday/Friday.... it's expected to start raining again by saturday.  We just don't feel like packing everyone up and only getting a couple of nice-ish days then coming home cos it's so wet. Been there, done that!  Not fun with kids and dogs. 

ONE thing I am going to do today is ask my friend Lynda to take up the gift I made for Anne and John next time she goes up there... cos I made it for them and I still want them to have it.  Who knows, we might yet get to go and stay with them one day in the future.

Give me 10 outta 10 for PROCRASTINATION!   We are GOING TO THE BEACH this afternoon!!!!
We are throwing caution to the winds, to hell with it... if it rains... we walk and swim in the bloody rain!  So what?

STEVE:  nice idea!  How about our 25th Wedding Anniversary we get married again! That is in June 2012... plenty of time to be nice size again.  *smiles*  AND YOU CAN BE the Master of Ceremonies!  lol ... you have the gift of the gab afterall...

End of Day:  really early!  We are off to the beach.  I will be weighing in at Weight Watchers tonight in Whitianga... then we will have dinner with our Grandson Joshua in Whitianga before heading back to Matarangi to chill for the evening.  Look out Anne and John... we are about to decend on YOU!  lol
nite nite

NO KIDS TODAY.... CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Today should be interesting.   We are going to have no kids for the day!  Stew's sister promised to take the kids out for the day as a Christmas Present... so we are meeting her at the Zoo and leaving the kids with her.   I really don't know what Stew and I will get up to, but you can bet it won't involve having lunch at damn McDonalds!

ABOVE: Griffin talking to his Uncle Steve on the phone yesterday.   He was trying not to cry.... as he misses Steve so much.  Steve is his hero.

So, until I get back from our 'out and about' I hope you all have a lovely day/afternoon/evening....WELL whatever time it is at your place!

ONWARD...

9.15am... and plans have changed.  Sadly the kids are not going off with their Aunt for the day as the weather is total crap!  We have wind and rain.... lots of rain, so visiting the Zoo would not be a good idea at all.
So, their day out will have to be sometime next week... Oh well... these things happen.

I am sure we will still have a nice day....

Pffffft... the weather is so nasty here today, and it's supposed to last for days... which puts our trip to the beach up in the air sadly.
We see no point in going if it's going to rain most of the time.... so we will wait until tonight's latest forecast before making a decison on going or not.

Until then, I think I will do some housework!

Well we did some housework, we watched some tv, we cat napped... and we watched the wild weather outside.
Still very undecided about if we well go to the beach or not.  Might just postpone it and see if the weather clears later on in the week.

End of Day:  decision made, we will not be going to the beach tomorrow. If the weather does get better we will go... but for now we will stay home.... being stuck inside with nowhere to go with two kids, two dogs and a grumpy Mum is no fun... ! 
Diet:  felt really hungry this afternoon/evening... got the shakes too and felt ill... obviously not eating enough.
nite nite

MONDAY MONDAY..... JUST LOVE THAT DAY

Well.. actually I'd like it even better if it was not the school holidays!  lol

 ABOVE:  two photos of Auckland city I took yesterday on our way home from Orewa... as you can see.. it was a glorious day.  Stunning even.... I never tire of that view of Auckland.

ABOVE:  a snippet of Orewa Beach.... I forgot to take my camera down while we were walking and the kids were swimming.   Oh well.... when we get to Matarangi you will get lots of beach photos I hope. 

The weather is not looking that flash, some rain is expected later on this week... but I'm sure even if it does rain we will have a lovely break away.

I hope to go to Sylvia Park today .... I want to see if Weight Watcher's has a large, comprehensive Pro Points Book.... one that tells me the points value of almost every food.  I can't see one on their internet site at all.  Does anyone know if there is such a book now?  
I've got an old one... but the points values are no longer valid.  Crap.

ONWARD...

SANDIE: ???  what did you find???

ABOVE:  went out, bought the 'book'.... had a yak with Colleen, the Head of Weight Watchers New Zealand, she's a lovely lady.  And man does she have a good memory for faces, I had met her a few times before,  a couple of years ago and she remembered me. 

Another blistering hot day here, must not go out in the sun today... got a bit burnt yesterday! 

Kids are in the splash pool.... it's been raining!  So now it's hot AND humid!  I have sweat running off me and I'm not even MOVING!!!
I just did some more sewing, made something else to 'go' with the gift for our Matarangi friends.... happy now.

End of Day: and it's cooler now...still raining on and off.... and expecting more tomorrow.  Had roast pork and veges for dinner... oh it was so nice! 
Diet: still on track, freaking amazing.  WOMBAT: of course I had some crackling... but I counted it!!!!
nite nite.

IS IT REALLY SUNDAY?

This having your hubby home for weeks is weird... I keep forgetting what day it is!

There is NO ROUTINE.. we sleep in, we eat at odd hours, the kids stay up till 11pm some nights....

So, it is sunday... we have NO plans for the day at all.
Maybe we will take the kids to the beach.. we have hardly been there at all this summer.

One thing is for sure, I will post a photo or two today, I can't believe there were no photos yesterday... my post looked NAKED!  lol (edit:  NO ONE is naked... you all have grubby minds!  My blog post yesterday had no photos, so to me it looked NAKED,  DOH!)

ONWARD...

 ABOVE:  in readiness for going to Matarangi, we have been conditioning the dogs to sleep and stay in a pen.  They are doing really well too... they go in there all on their own during the day now for a sleep or drink .... and don't seem to mind it at all.  This is great cos I am not going to let them run all over the place at Anne and Johns. 

 ABOVE:  wee Coco this morning, she follows us around in the morning until she gets her 'treat'.... I give the dogs a wee piece of cheese or luncheon most mornings as a treat.   She's still waiting! (Froggy:  they get a  miniscule piece of cheese, so I'm not too worried)

ABOVE:  'The Lip'.... it's looking much better this morning, and he's not quite so grumpy either, which is excellent, cos when that boy is grumpy EVERYONE knows about it.

I have put all my Weight Watcher paraphernalia into a large briefcase... I like to keep everything together.... but when I go out I only need my calculator, tracker book and Pro Points book... so I found the perfect wee carrier for them!

ABOVE:  I was given this super cute wee thing from a girl in Australia ... we were in a swap group together... and now it's going to be used to hold my 'day to day' WW stuff.  I love it.. it's got LIGHTHOUSES.... !  *smiles*    I love anything nautical.

 ABOVE:  Teddy... hoping for a tummy scratch.

ABOVE:  trying to look as cute as his sister.. almost worked Ted!

We went to the beach this afternoon... it was GLORIOUS!  The kids swam then we all walked the length of Orewa beach... it was a good walk!  The water was WARM!  

End of Day:  it's been a really lovely day... I got a bit sunburnt today at the beach.  It was the first time (!) I'd been out in the sun for any length of time this summer!  NOT normal for me. 
Diet:  totally on track, no slipping!
nite nite.

SEWING, LOOKING AT HOUSES, AND THE DOCTOR AGAIN

This morning we are taking Griffin back to the Doctor... we hope to get a numbing cream for his lip... as he's  super grumpy as it's so sore... AND he is having trouble eating too.

After lunch we are going to view two Open Homes, two large homes in Hill Park... next suburb over from our's.  We are still undecided on what to do.. but keeping our options open for now.

In between those two things I will sew... and sew... cos I'm determined to get the gift (for Anne and John) finished before we go to Matarangi on holiday.  I still can't get over them letting us stay in their home!  AMAZING.

I tried using my Pro Points calculator last night, I think I've got is sussed, I just have to use it more so it becomes easier.  Feeling super positive about this 'lose weight' shit now!  I am sure I can do it AGAIN.... and this time keep it off.

I've been sewing all morning, stopped for lunch (an open sandwich with chicken and salad)... then we went and looked at two houses.  Both were not suitable.... even though they both had gorgeous pools.  *sigh*... oh for a proper pool.

Griffin's lip is slowly getting better ... according to the Dr.  He could not give us anything to numb it as then Griffin could go and damage it again!  Grrrr... meantime we have to put up with him grizzling.  WONDERFUL.

I have finished the 'gift' for our lovely friends in Matarangi! I can't believe I got it finished so quickly. 

Dinnertime, I'm having steak and salad...

End of Day:  and I watched some taped TV programmes tonight with Stew, which was nice.  I kept thinking of food... expecially sweet stuff... BUT I didn't cave.  It's hard though after being  self-indulgent for so long. 
Diet: On track and loving it. 
nite nite.

THE KINDNESS OF SOME PEOPLE!

Out of the blue last night I got an email from a lovely lady who lives on the Coromandel Peninsula .... asking if Stew, the kids and I would like to come up and spend a few days living in their house for a holiday???  FOR FREE!

ABOVE:  The house, and the beach! This lady has a blog.... and I have met her a couple of times when we've been up at Whitianga, but I was still blown away by her and her husband's generosity.    They, incidentally, are living in their house bus by their home at the beach.... as they have been renting out their home to holiday-makers over the summer.

Well... after discussing it with His Nibs... we are going to go!  We are thrilled, as we were expecting to just stay home all summer as our finances are rather tight this time of year. (who's isn't?  'Santa' costs rise every year as the family grows!)  When we go will be sorted out soon....

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANNE AND JOHN.  {{{HUGS}}}

Now, as for today:  I'm going to sit down and read up on the new Weight Watcher's programme, and follow it, and TRACK...

ONWARD...

I sat down this morning (ate breakfast!) and read all the  new Weight Watchers stuff.
It is quite different, yet oddly  the same in many ways.
You get more 'Pro points' each day...BUT not really as all the food values have gone UP.  So before for example, an egg was 1.5 points, now it's 2 points, a slice of white bread was 1.5 points, now it might be 3, and so on.   So, I was gobsmacked last night with the number of Pro Points I was allocated per day, but sitting down and looking at it, it is pretty much the same amount as before on the old point system.

The only thing I can complain about is that I can't now just scan the nutrient label of a food and know (judging it's Kilojoule and fat content) how many points it's worth.  This is because the new Pro Points value is calculated using the food's Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat and Fibre values.

So,  before on the Points plan a Hamburger was worth 9 points (calculating it's kilojoule and Saturated Fat content)... NOW using the Pro Points (calculating its Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat and Fibre content) a Hamburger is 13 Pro points.

The other change:  you get 49 Pro points EXTRA a week to use however you like.  You don't have to 'earn' them.... they are there to use if you want.

Another change:  all fruit and veges are FREE, except starchy veges like potatoes, peas, corn, etc.  

Now that is good I suppose... but I know that if I eat half a bloody watermelon it is going to add up to a lot of 'old points'...as it's high in sugar.  YET it's free now?   Ahhh, nope, ain't gunna go overboard on fruit just cos they are 'free' now.   Some lessons are hard to forget.

So, that's it in a nutshell.   I am sure in time I will get used to it.  Next week I will have to go to the WW meeting in Whitianga, I can't NOT go just cos I'm on holiday eh?

ABOVE:  I dashed out this morning with Brylee for company and found some fabric ... I am putting my UFO's away for a week so I can make a 'Thank You' gift for Anne and John in Matarangi.    It is in those colours sorta.... not going to show any more as I want it to be a nice surprise for Anne!  Hopefully she loves 'it'... lol.

AND I have to go... cos It's going to take days to make!

MARTINE:  thank you, if I have any problems with the new programme I will definitely email you.

This afternoon we are going  to Sylvia Park, so I can buy a new WW Pro Points calculator... I think I need one!  Weight Watchers has their Auckland 'headquarters' at Sylvia Park, so I know they will be open.

Got the calculator... will need a degree to work it out lol!
We also got lots of fresh fruit and veges... Stew and I are having baked Eggplant for dinner tonight... it's been crumbed with breadcrumbs and lots of cheese.. fried quickly then baked in the oven... it smells delish!

Griffin's mouth is hurting him so much we are going back to the Doctor tomorrow.  It does not look infected, just darn sore.  Hoping the Doctor can give him something to numb it a bit ....

End of Day:   it is 12.44 at night, I've been sewing up a storm, Stew is glued to the TV watching some rugby game.. time for bed.
DIET: totally on track.
nite nite

PRETTY.. YES?

NO!  NOT ME, the necklace I bought yesterday to match those earrings!    It took quite a while to find just the right necklace too.

Today:  well can't wait until tonight... going to Weight Watcher's AGAIN... scared to death what the scales are gunna say...  probably "Get the hell off you fat tart!"

But I have to go.   I gained 8 kilos last year, add to that the ** number I gained in the previous 3 years and it ain't pretty.    I don't have any excuse either.  My health is tip top again, as long as you don't count the excess weight and total lack of fitness.  *grrrr*

So, as of today I am back into 'dieting' full time.  No more ice cream for this chick.

I'm going to spend a good deal of time today working out a fitness routine so I can start it tomorrow.  We have weights, a cross trainer, exercise bike, swiss ball and steps, so we do have all I need right here at home.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  is all this stuff, which is only a fraction of the WW stuff I have, redundant now?  Suppose I will find out.  AND what about my WW food scales?  My WW Calculator?  WW Pedometer? 

ABOVE:  I am having nightmares about his lip!  It was looking dreadful last night, I think because of the length of time he was in the pool yesterday.  So I'm keeping him out of the pool until it is a lot better.  He's not happy about that, but the last thing I want is for him to get an infection.

Thank God for this blog!   Our cross trainer has gone on the blink and I used the blog to go back and find when we bought it... and yaaaa!  It's still under warranty.  So we have to hire a trailer and get it back to the shop so they can fix it for free.   If we get them to come out to fix it we have to pay $70 an hour, plus labour!!!  Fuck that.  (ooo bad word, bad word).... but it just suits the occasion!  lol

Right:  the cross trainer is now back where we bought it... waiting to be repaired. 
AND yes, I do think maybe I should wear the earrings on their own too... much as I like the necklace... maybe it's too much together?

So, I've been, I've stood on the scales....I've got all the new books etc... and I'm good to go!
My meeting is in Manurewa, Thursday night at 7pm from now on. 

I liked the way it's set up now, we are not left twiddling our thumbs looking at a white concrete block wall (which is what it was like 2 years ago there), and the ladies seemed really nice.   LOTS of new members tonight.. wonder how many of them will still be going in 3 months, 6 months??? 

I will not give up again, I will be there until I am happy with my weight again.... and if that means I don't get to the WW's "Goal Weight" ever again, I'm happy with that.   I just want to feel 'normal' AGAIN. 

I don't want to cry walking past 'normal' clothes shops AGAIN... even though I am again... and I want to be fit again... god I miss being fit so much.

Rambling now... must stop and have dinner...

End of Day:  and we have had a nice evening.... and some lovely 'news' sorta... will tell you about it tomorrow.  nite nite.

ANTICIPATION, MACHINE STAND AND FINISHED IT!

 ABOVE:  the anticipation was too much.... so we took them out shopping ... when we got home it was almost full.
THEN they drove us nuts with all the screaming and squealing.  Can't win.

 ABOVE:  the finished machine stand... you can't tell with the photo, but my machine is now on a tilt and it's so much better to sew with.  I also resurrected my paint brush holder to put the scissors, unpickers, snips etc into.  It works a treat!

ABOVE:  another finished project!  The batik wall hanging.  Now all I have to do is find somewhere to hang it.  *sigh*, we already have so many paintings/pictures up in the attic as we have nowhere to hang them.....but I must find somewhere for this eh?

No plans for our day yet... I'll come back later and let ya know what I'm up to.... even if it's just housework!  lol

Wow it's been ages with nothing to say!  Not normal I can tell you. lol
We went out after lunch and browsed around the shops, I bought another necklace, one that matches the earrings I got yesterday.
Had an icecream... enjoyed every lick.  Going back to Weight Watcher's tomorrow night so it was my LAST ONE.  *sniff*

WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA

I was reading blogs yesterday and saw a really neat idea on Judy's blog,  so I asked Stew to make me one too.
This is what Judy had:

It's a platform for your sewing machine... so you don't have to bend over so much to see as you sew! Stew made me a 'temporary' one last night to see how well it worked and it's FANTASTIC! 
But I need a more heavy duty one as the wood he used was not quite heavy enough, and it caused a lovely wee vibration as I sewed....NOT!  ha ha

Talking of sewing, I am still working on UFO's... I would like to finish all of them over the summer so I can start 'fresh' by about March/April.

ABOVE: I have this really lovely set of blue fabrics put aside waiting to be made into a quilt... I am dying to get into it.... but I won't until the UFO's are all done!  Oh... anyone got a good idea for the pattern/type of quilt this fabric would look good as, I would love to hear from you!

ONWARD....

ABOVE:  see, I wasn't kidding when I said he had chewed his lip eh!  It looks so much worse today... grrrrrrr.

UFO = Un Finished Object
PHD = Project Half Done..... both mean something you have started but not finished. (sometimes you can have a whole heap of them hidden in the bottom of the cupboard cos you just lost interest in them)  lol

Because we were worried, we took Griffin to the Doctor.  He gave him some  healing balm for the lip and some antibiotics JUST IN CASE it gets infected.  We don't have to use the antibiotics unless it gets infected.

Then we went and bought some solid wood for Stew to make the bigger/stronger sewing machine platform for me.

Ummmm...

ABOVE:  one of the 'junk' jewellery shops was selling everything for half price, so I got all of the above for only $30!!!!  How could I resist I ask you?   Im-possible!

End of Day:  well it's been a rather nice day ... kids are getting restless and bored.  Sheesh, still ages until they go back to school.  Drat.* nite nite.

BACK TO NORMAL TRANSMISSIONS

Today should be a nice normal day.... sorta.  lol

This morning will be devoted to going shopping I think!  Stew got some lovely gift vouchers for his Birthday and I NEED to help him spend them.  Surly?  ha ha ha

This afternoon both kids have to visit the Dental Nurse... Griffin has a baby molar that has to come out because the adult replacement is growing out the side of his gum cos it can't get up with the baby one there.  That should be interesting. Brylee?  Well she has overcrowding going on and they want to talk to us about that... even though I have told them she is already seeing an orthodontist!  Twits.

OH and I hope to do the 'rounds' and see what you have all been up to while I've been busy entertaining visitors and being totally hungover!  lol

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  this arrived in the mail today... a lovely table runner pattern from Joy in Australia.  How sweet, she sent it to me as I'd said the one she made was so cute!  THANK YOU Joy, I look forward to making one myself now.

I have been expecting more mail .... but as it's been Christmas/New Year mail is SLOW... so if you've sent anything... I ain't got it yet!      (Specifically:  Rose-Marie & R Gibson... )

It is a gorgeous hot day out there today, Stew wants us to go to the beach after the kids dental visit.... so might even have a picnic dinner out there tonight, which would be lovely.

Until then, housework awaits.... though Stew has been lovely and done two loads of washing already while I have been blogging, what a man!

ABOVE:  his first baby molar is OUT.   Now he's 'mentally' spending all the cash the Tooth Fairy is going to leave  him tonight... shit I hope 'she' remembers, cos more often than not she forgets.  *sigh*
How much is a baby molar worth nowdays??? Considering the recession and all!  lol

End of Day:  Griffin chewed his lip while it was numb... yikes he's made a mess!!!  I am rather cross with him cos he was told not to do it... now he has to live with the pain of it.  He's such a twit sometimes.
As for the money, the consensus seems to be $5.... or thereabouts.  Hell the rate has gone up!  I hate to think how much the 'tooth fairy' has coughed up over the years in MY HOUSE!  lol
The family is watching a James Bond movie... it's not that interesting ... so I might just go do a Sudoku instead.  nite nite.

MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE..

ABOVE:   Stew and three of his old school mates... they really enjoyed catching up with each other. 

I'm actually in bed.... trying to have a sleep in!
Fat chance of that with a house full.

Today will be dedicated to getting all the visitors off home again.. .then a big clean up!  And sort out all the left-over food!  OMG why do we always put out too much food!

ONWARD....

Oh.... at 12.30 last night Lacy asked Kelly if she would like another ear piercing?   Ummmmm OK... so Lacy just SHOVED a stud through her ear love... NO TIME FOR HER TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT... Lacy just shoved it in!

 ABOVE:   the new earring ... and

ABOVE:  the 'Gimp' who did it.   She's a right twit... and drunk... nah nah na na.. I so hope she wakes up with a freakin hangover. 

We are all up, I made a big platter of bacon and scrambled eggs with toast... we fed the masses.. I made packed lunches for the 4 going back to Palmerston North and Lacy who left for Kerikeri, and sent them all on their way by lunchtime!

We are now doing all the washing, putting away all the bedding and blow-up beds... and once it's all done I am going to CRASH and have a nap!  lol

It has been a very busy and tiring three days, but so worth it as Stew had a really lovely time on his birthday.

The only downside of having them all here is that Griffin has not stopped crying  since they left!  He loves his Uncle Steve and Uncle Mike so much.... hopefully he will settle down soon cos right now you can't even talk to him, he's that upset.

End of Day:  Griffin came right after an hour and a half.... been a nice quiet day, got the house all tip top again.... had that Nana Nap...3 hours!    Left over salads and cold meats for dinner.... and now...nite nite.

IT'S SATURDAY, MY HUSBAND IS 5O, AND I'M DRUNK!

It is 1.34am on saturday morning.
I'm just heading off to bed.
Stew is already asleep I reckon.
I've been playing poker with Steve, Mike, Lacy, Joyce and Andrew.  Andrew won.  But ONLY cos I'm pissed as a chook! (I'm sure)

When I wake up in the morning I am sure I will be like.... hungover... that's why I'm posting NOW.... cos I'm not YET hungover~!!!!!

Ha hahhhhahhahahahahhahah.

Actually, I'm kinda worried about GOING TO BED... cos me thinks the room will be spinning.  BUGGER.

So... WHEN I wake up... I will update PROPERLY for today (well it still feels like friday night to me actually).... IT'S STEW'S 50TH BIRTHDAY. 

Hell I hope he has a lovely day...cos I love him soooo much.  He ROCKS my world. 

We have almost all of our kids here, and some of his closest friends too.

I hope I don't have a hangover.... off to bed now... see you later on today when I'm sober.    Hell I've done well typing this!!!!

Gimme 10!

9.34am:  I am awake again.  I AM ILL.   You can all crow.   My head is thumping.  My stomach is churning.  And I have the shits.  END. OF. STORY.
No point saying I will never do it again... cos I am bound to!  We never learn.  At least I only do it on average ONCE  a year!!!

On with our day... the weather is FANTASTIC.  We are going to have a really lovely day.  I will come right with something in me tummy... off to have some dry toast... lol.

10.33am... yaaa I am feeling so much better! The toast worked a treat.

ABOVE:  a little video of the dogs last night... they have kept us VERY amused.  Harley just lives to HUMP Coco! 

ABOVE:  5 of our 6 kids... this was the 'gimp' photo... the rest were even worse!  I am bound to get more over the next few hours. 

We are awaiting a few more visitors, then we will have our dinner... cold meats and salad.  No BBQ ... it's too bloody hot!

End of Day:  the party is in full swing.. everyone is having a great time.  My hangover is .... still there!  I just sucumbed and took some pills to help the poor head!  I cannot remember being this hungover in my whole life!  I really must have had toooooo much tipple!  nite nite.

OH and I think tomorrow's post might be late as I am SLEEPING IN... OK?  lol

INDONESIAN BATIK

14 Years ago Stew and I went and spent 3 weeks with my brother Vern in Singapore.  We also took day trips to other places, one being Batam Island, one of the thousand or so islands forming Indonesia.  I bought a couple of batik panels there.... and ever since then I have been meaning to quilt them.

Last night I pulled out the one I started quilting 2.3 years ago:

ABOVE:   I finished quilting it last night... now all I have to do is put some binding on and some way to hang it and it will be done.

I had not intended to keep this one... but now it's done I don't think I can part with it.   It's a keepsake from our trip to Singapore, where I spent the last significant time with my brother before his death.  He never came home from Indonesia alive.  He was killed in a tragic accident there.

I've been thinking of him a lot over the holidays, I think Christmas makes us think of our lost family members more than any other time.   I have lost both my brothers and my Dad.... all in tragic accidents. 

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Today:   well we are expecting Chris D, Steve, Mike and Joyce from Palmerston North to arrive around dinnertime.... and Lacy from Kerikeri sometime too. 

So, that being said... we better go buy some groceries!  EEEEE gads we have bugger all food in the house....

ONE MORE DAY UNTIL STEW TURNS 50!!!

ONWARD...

OMG just got home from grocery shopping... the heat it unbearable out there!  I am wilting.  And now we have to put all the food away.  *sigh*

The house is now full.... Palmerston North fulla's arrived, Lacy arrived, still waiting for Amanda and Andrew.

 ABOVE:  Chris D's 3 month old puppy Harley is adorable.... Teddy thinks he is ikkkky, Coco loves him... and Harley?  Well all he wants to do is hump Coco 24/7!   He has hardly stopped since he got here!

ABOVE:  opening presents.  The boys got their quilts and loved them.  No photo of Mike's girlfriend Joyce, she was too fast for me.  Little tart.  lol

End of Day:  total madness here as you can imagine.  Same expected tomorrow!   Off now to enjoy our visitors.  nite nite.

VACUMING ANYONE?

Yep, totally boring title of me blog today.
But vacuming is all I can think of right now.
The whole house needs a serious vacum and clean... and lots of other stuff.

We are expecting a lot of visitors on Saturday for Stew's 50th Birthday, and I have no idea just how many are staying over on Saturday night either!

So, the house needs to be tidied up, air beds need to be blown up, bedding and pillows sorted out... bla bla bla!

We are expecting all of our kids EXCEPT our son Russell, who lives in Perth and cannot make it.  I can't wait to see our younger boys.... we miss them so much. 

My absolutely fabulous friend Chris D from Palmerston North is driving the boys up here... a 9 hour trip one way... so the boys can be here for their Dad's 50th!  What a special friend she is eh? 

Oh and she's bringing her new baby too.... a little Bichon puppy! lol.  I wonder how Teddy and Coco will take that?   I think Coco will mother him and Teddy will ignore him!
Time will tell.

ONWARD...

I just got a christmas video sent to me via email.... it's of an amazing house in Cincinatti, USA, it's AMAZING!!!!
Go check it out if you havn't already seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9JB1mwxvyo

I loved it, so did the kids.

Vacuming is done... ya.
It's drizzling here... so hot and humid AGAIN.  Keeping me fingers crossed that the weather is fine on Saturday.

ABOVE:  well apart from housework.. I made these two pillowcases to match the 2nd Heart Quilt... which is going to be MINE... cos I love it!

End of Day: didn't do much else for the evening, watched some telly... started working on another UFO.... nite nite.

A QUICK WRAP UP OF 2010

I've been reading some blogs lately where the writer lists all the positive (and negative) things that happened for them in 2010.

So I thought I would do the same.


NO ONE DIED (in my immediate circle).



I think that about sums it up for me.

In fact, I didn't really enjoy 2010 much at all.
Lots of up's and down's.

I'm hoping 2011 is much better.
I would like to get off the anti-depressants.  They are for depression AND the hot flushes.   I'm not kidding myself about that.

I have been depressed. (probably still am) 
I would like to think I can rise above all the things that really get me down.

TODAY:  *sigh* more of the same.  Housework. Sewing.  Kids.   bla bla bla.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  been adding border to 2nd Heart Quilt... needed more of the stripe fabric so we went out and got some.

Obviously I woke up on the 'wrong' side this morning... I was feeling really sad for one of my kids.
But I'm kinda over it now... and moving on!

***PEPSI UPDATED*** cos I needed to rant

End of Day:  I've just finished sewing new large metal hooks on Brylee's curtains... by hand...it took 6 freakin hours!  My right thumb is throbbing from sewing through thick curtain fabric for so long, and me butt is stuck to the chair... NOT kidding! lol
nite nite

2ND HEART QUILT ON THE GO!....

ABOVE:  I got a good deal done last night!  I am using up some long strips of fabric that was left over from the quilt I made Brylee 2 years ago, that's why I have the colourful horizontal sashings different from the blue sashings.... I'm hoping it ends up looking OK. 

I am amazed that the blocks are lining up so well... usually I stuff that up!  I can't see a wonky line yet... but give me time... there's 4 more rows to add on yet!  lol

Now, as for today:  well, we need to go to Sylvia Park for more of me pills.... but that's about all.  I will work on the quilt no doubt... and his nibs can potter around the house and yard and entertain the kids....

ONWARD...

ABOVE:   phew!  Almost finised the top, it just needs to be made a tad wider .... 
Stew's had a shit morning.  The cross trainer broke down so Stew has spent  ages trying to fix it.  I think he has... time will tell.

Off out and about soon, need to stretch the legs after sitting all morning sewing...

Been out, got a few bits 'n' bobs... nothing else happening really.
Having spare ribs done on the BBQ tonight, my mouth is drooling just thinking about them ribs!  They have been marinating in a Chinese Honey marinade.... oOOOOOOOoooooo, yum!

End of Day:  a peaceful evening, dinner was lovely.*  nite nite

WOW!

Stew was sitting in the lounge late yesterday afternoon and called out to me to bring my camera.... so I went into the lounge and Stew told me to look out the window... this is what I saw:

ABOVE: a native New Zealand Wood Pidgeon or Kereru, I have never seen one in the 'wild' before!  It was right beside our house.... it's so neat living near a big native park, we get to see these sorts of birds right in our own yard.This bird is easily as big as a turkey!  And soooo very pretty.  I took some short videos of the bird too... will try and upload one later on this morning.

After spending all of yesterday at home, we are definitely going out today.  Even if it's only for lunch somewhere. 

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Oh I hope you can watch these... the Kereru really shows off it's colours in the videos, they are really short videos too.

Stew has just suggested we go to Hamilton for the day.... so that's what we are doing. 

ONWARD...

Just got back from Hamilton... far out it was hot down there, like about 31 Deg C.  Too hot.  We renewed our membership at the Hamilton Workingmen's Club while there, so we can visit the affiliated Clubs wherever we live.  We've been members of the Hamilton Club for many, many years ... it was really nice going back there, we had lunch in the Club.. it cost half as much as a 'normal' cafe lunch.  

I was so good, I  had a small steak with an egg on top and a little side salad, no dressing!

After lunch we checked out the new extended shopping Mall at 'The Hub' in Hamilton... we didn't like it.  It has these huge class-house type ceilings which made the whole mall like a bloody hot-house.  So darn hot it was awful to be in there.   Seriously BAD planning that was on behalf of the architect!

OH,  I also got Stew to buy me some more fabric from Spotlight, so I can continue with the 2nd Heart Quilt.  Yaaaaa.

End of Day:  and I've been sewing this evening... seems to me that I have truly got the 'bug' for sewing!  I even dream about freaking quilts and patterns.  So weird.  nite nite.  lol