SCRAP THAT

 Two nights ago there was massive flooding in this area of the North Island:

ABOVE:  The coastline on the east coast between Cape Runaway and Tokomaru Bay.

ABOVE:  This bridge at Tokomaru Bay has been cut in half.

The reason I'm mentioning this is because Stew and I had planned on doing a week long trip in this area in early April.

I doubt the area will have roads/slips and bridges fixed in time for us to do that trip.

So.  Scrap That now.

Bit of a bummer really. We were looking forward to exploring an area we had not been to before.

We now need to get out thinking caps on for an alternative area to explore.

Today's plans?  I'm going out around lunchtime for an appointment. That's about it.

Looking at the news just now and it looks like that entire coastline is cut off due to flooding!

We certainly got some rain these past few days, it's even been raining here.  Not massively, but steady.

It's brought a welcome break from the stinking hot weather.

I just spent a good hour changing my bed sheet!

That's cos I tied the bugger to the bed's legs!

'Fitted sheets' DO NOT stay fitted on our bed.

Stew's side always ends up bunched up on the topper.  So, I pinned tape on and tied each corner to the bed's legs.  Let's see how that works.

Not done much else yet today.

I'm planning on vacuming and washing some floors this afternoon.  That will probably be enough for the day. 😋😊😂

ABOVE:  Totally ME.

But... every day is better than the last, as long as I don't over do it.

2.05 pm:  and I'm home from my appointment.

All good in my world.

Maybe not so much for my 'hitch hiker'...

ABOVE:  As I was leaving home at 11.45,  I noticed this praying mantis on me car.  I took a photo cos it contrasted so nicely with me paint job, right?

Then when I got to Rototuna shops, it was till there!

After that, I went over to The Base... little bugger was still there!  Tenacious wee thing.

I felt for sure it would be gone once I got home as it rained fairly heavily on my way home.

NOPE!  Still clinging on for dear life.  So I got it off and put it in the garden.

Good deed done for the day.  Thank You very much.

Ahhh the things that amuse me.

Bex and the boys are visiting me.  So nice to have some company.

AND Bex baked me a Feijoa cake... it smells delicious.  She makes THE BEST Feijoa cake ever.

ABOVE:  Stew arrived home from work and we decided to go to Chartwell Square for a wander and dinner.

As I wasn't hungry, Stew got an Indian curry to eat at home.

The mall was literally EMPTY.  Every time we go there, we see more and more closed down shops.   It's so sad.  Chartwell used to be a buzzing place to go.

ABOVE:  On our way home, the police were setting up their Booze Bus.  Which means everyone travelling along Resolution Drive will get stopped and breathalysed.  No escaping it either, which is great.

Well, that's me day.  I'll be staying up to watch Coronation Street.  Then bed time.

OH... worth mentioning, the Magnesium supplement is working SO WELL!   I'm not having many cramps now, and I am sleeping better too.

LESS ... MUCH LESS

 So, I overdid it yesterday and paid for it with a crash and burn situation after dinner.

I'm not doing that again.

Today I am going to take it easy.

I shall NOT dig the lawn over.

I shall not go for a walk.

I will stay home and behave myself.

Might do some sewing, that's not too taxing.

It was a bit annoying realising that I'm NOT 100% yet.  I hate not being up to speed.

But lesson learnt.

Stew did a talk to a local Rotary Club last night, and they gave him a really lovely book as a Thank You.

ABOVE:  Something nice for the coffee table. 😊

Right, time to get a move on... to do nothing. Catch ya later.

12.45 pm:  And it's been a borning morning.  I went to the supermarket and bought a few things.  I want to make some date scones.

NO DATES.

So yeah, off to the supermarket.

Weird how ya dream of something (date scones), and ya just have to make them.  *sigh*

So, apart from buying dates, among other things... I'm here at home... bored shitless.

Watching some incredibly Sloooooooooow movie called 'Windfall' on Netflix.  

Some good news, most of the restrictions around COVID are being lifted soon.  No more scanning into places, mandates lifted and so on.

About time.

WINDFALL.... has a nice twist at the end.  Slow as fuck movie, but almost worth it for the twist.

The scones came out OK.  Not amazing, but OK.

I won't cut up the dates next time.

2 pm.  Might take a nap.  I don't feel like doing a damn thing right now.

DAMN DAMN DAMN.  The concrete company can't come next week.  Covid has put them behind with sick workers.

So... we are now looking at the 4th of April as a start date.

Nothing to do but wait a week longer right?

So.  I just turned over a little bit more of the back lawn.  Just A LITTLE BIT.  It's all I've done all day so I'm not feeling guilty about it.

Dinner this evening is cold meats and salad, and hot spuds.

10.25 pm:  And that's a wrap for the day.  It's been a riveting day I tell ya.  So much going on... NOT.

Maybe tomorrow will be better ... somehow.

RAIN OR SHINE

 It's 7 am, and I'm getting ready to head over to Cambridge for a 20/20 FBG walk.

I don't need to leave until 8 am, and by then I will know if it's been cancelled due to rain, or not.

If it's raining, it's bound be to cancelled.

So, if it's cancelled I will take myself off for a walk on my own again, like yesterday.

That's what I am going to do from now on in fact.  If an FBG walk that I am planning on attending is cancelled, I'll just do my own walk.

My goal is one FBG walk a week (minimum) and 2 here in Hamilton on my own.

I'm feeling very motivated right now to getting my fitness back up to a 'normal' level.

I think having Covid and not being able to do a bloody thing has shown me what I don't want, and that is having no fitness or energy.  It's not fun.

We had a visit from Griffin last night, his flat's dryer had broken down and he'd just washed all this work clothes. So he came over here to dry his clothes.  It was nice to see him, he's such a lovely young man now.  We are so proud of how he's turned his life around after a couple of turbulent teenage years.

ABOVE:  I probably need to put petrol in my car sometime today.  Amanda is rather lucky I don't use Premium petrol!  I'm just losing an arm instead.  😂😅😊  At least Jacinda kindly dropped the petrol tax a bit, so we can actually afford to gas up our vehicles.

Right, that's me for now.... I'm going to get ready and go walking.  

11.01 am:  And the weather played nice, so I got to do the FBG 20/20.

It turned out to be stinking hot and sweaty, but I'm still happy I did it.

Just getting out there and socialising again feels so good.

ABOVE:  6 of us on today's walk.  I love that the 20/20 walks don't have a minimum number of walkers to proceed.  It can happen with even only 2!  

ABOVE:  The longest I've walked in a long time!  I certainly started to fade towards the end, so not totally back up to speed yet.

Now... I'm going to sit and relax for a little while, then fold yesterday's washing.  And do Wordel.  Must not forget that!

2.15 pm:  Well I got WORDEL in 4 today.  Most days I do it in 4.

The washing is still looking at me.

I'm ignoring it.  Just can't be arsed.

I have done some housework though, so I'm not a total sloth.

There is always something needing doing eh?

Our lawn looks completely DEAD now.  So maybe it's time to start turning the soil over and getting it ready for topsoil and new grass seed.

ABOVE:  Two things.

If this doesn't work, and we end up with a lawn full of weeds again,  SO BE IT.

And ... a shovel works better than a spade.  Just sayin'.

Might have overdone it.

Got a really gnarly headache.

Going to bed early.

RAIN???

Today Stew is back in the office. He will enjoy that. Half his staff either have Covid or are in isolation due to family having it!  So lots of work to do with so many away.

I'm looking forward to the rain today.  If we get it. We did get a little last night, but not enough to go dance in it.

I'm also looking forward to a normal week.  And that starts with housework for me.

I always do at least two loads of washing on a Monday.

Then a general tidy up around the house.

So... let's get on with it.

AND YES!

We have rain, heaps of rain.  It's glorious.  And cool.  OMG so nice and cool.

9.55 am:  

I'm sitting in the lounge.

Still in my nightie.

I've had me breakfast. 

And I'm watching TV!  

Yep, never usually turn the telly on in the morning.

I don't even feel guilty.

I can do whatever I want eh?

I might get up and do me jobs soon.  But this programme I'm watching is just too good!

'Say Yes To The Dress'... and one of the brides wants a NAKED DRESS!  Crazy.  

11.31 am:  And I decided, seeing as it was so lovely and cool, and RAINING... I'd take myself off for a walk.

ABOVE:  I took the 'long' way around to Steve 'n' Bex's home.

It rained heavily most of the way, AND there was thunder and lightening too.  Such fun.

ABOVE:  We looked like drowned rats!  At least me nipples WERE NOT showing through my wet t-shirt!

Luckily, Bex was home!  She drove me home again.

I'm sure I could have walked home if necessary, but I don't want to push myself too much yet.

Off to the shower now!

3.37 pm:  Well, we had a massive thunder storm around lunchtime, then it just slowly cleared up.

Now we are living in a friggin sauna.

I hope that's not it for the wet weather?

I had a nap after lunch.  Have not done a single thing since.  There's a load of washing to hang out, so I suppose I'll do that next.  

7.32 pm:  I did a hasty grocery grab late this afternoon.  I had a craving for salad stuff, so stocked up on a few.

Then Stew and I ended up having a pasta dish for dinner!  lol

Never mind, it will be salad tomorrow night for sure.

It's been a super lazy day today!  I haven't even hung out that washing yet.  Far out.  Better get to that now.

JUST A QUIET SUNDAY

 Today's plans?

10 o'clock we are going to Chartwell Square to get Stew's hair cut.

We will no doubt have a wander around the shops as well.

Then home to do some more gardening.

ABOVE:  This is the area out the front that Stew tidied up yesterday.

We are moving the little shrub named Princess Maud to another spot, as it's trying to die where it is (too hot and dry).  We now have quite a big gap to fill with new shrubs.

I'm going to get Stew to put Princess Maud in the back garden where it's more sheltered.  Hopefully it survives the move, and the near death by dehydration!

Maybe a trip to a garden centre is on the cards today too.  Though I do wonder if it would be better to just wait until it's not so hot and dry before getting new plants?

ABOVE:  Little Bo, Mike and Joyce's gorgeous dog.  He's coming along nicely, learning what he can chew, and NOT chew, finding out it's not polite to bark at the neighbour's dog all day, or run after people on bikes!

Mike and Joyce are pretty much over Covid now, they were lucky not to be badly affected.

Mike goes back to work tomorrow.

ABOVE:  These three kiddos at the park last night with Lacy.  That gave Stew and I an hours peace !

OK, time to bugger off and start the day.

12.45 pm: And we have done well so far today.

Stew got his hair cut at Chartwell. It's bloody short!

Then we bought a few plants for the gardens.

ABOVE:  We moved Princess Maud and a dying hydrangea down to the back garden.  Hopefully they both pick up and do better there. 

I also moved our chooks as they were getting covered with foliage further along the garden.

ABOVE:  6 new plants got dotted around the gardens, some out the front, and some down the 'dogs' side of the property.

And that's a wrap on gardening for this weekend.

I've watered everything.... and we are now expecting rain for a couple of days!  How typical.

Stew is cleaning his car, which was well overdue.

And it's now 7.25 pm, and as I said right at the beginning, it's just a quiet Sunday here.

Stew and I had a really relaxing afternoon, then I cooked us some dinner.

Chicken nuggets and veges!  Very nice.  Who says adults can't have nuggets for dinner eh?  lol

We are now winding down until bedtime.

NO rain yet ... but according to the weather forecast we should be getting some soon.

I'll believe it when I see it.  At least the temperatures have dropped significantly.  Much more bearable now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FINALLY SATURDAY

 This past week has really dragged on.  I was sure yesterday was Saturday.

But now it is, and I'm not sure what we have on our agenda.

Possibly trying to get some of the dead grass and weeds off the back lawn?

I'm tempted to go and hire a tiller, or similar, to turn the soil over.

Must talk to Stew about that.

This afternoon is dedicated to grandkids.

Dante and Archer are coming over to play with Miss Muppet.  I'm sure they will have a blast together.

I am thinking of doing a 'finger food' type dinner for them... something fun.  A Platter even!

ABOVE:  Me and our darling granddaughter.  

I am still feeling much better!   I think I'm actually over it now.

But I'm taking the electrolytes a bit longer, to keep my energy levels up.

Might even be time to slap some face on again.  I've not worn any makeup in weeks!

Though all I usually wear is some mascara, eye liner and shadow, and lippy.  But yeah, feeling so much more like myself.

Up nice and early this morning, for a Saturday!

First thing...

ABOVE:  Watching balloons float by.  They are magical.

Then I went to the supermarket and got supplies for this evenings dinner.

It's going to be a lovely Platter.  The kids will love it.

It's nearly 10 am, and we are going to be heading out into the garden soon.  Stew is, shall we say, less than impressed with my plans for the morning.

So... the plans for the lawn have changed.  We went out there and yep:

ABOVE:  Look dead eh?  Like we have sprayed it with weed killer TWICE now.

ABOVE:  Get up close though, and you see this.

Some sort of creeper spreading out all over the place, NOT DEAD.  Not dead at all.

Goddam it.

So, Stew has sprayed it with a much stronger solution of weed killer.  

Now we wait again.

I refuse to put down new topsoil and grass seed knowing it's got that shit growing all through it.

So.... I think Stew is giving it an hour or so to sink in, then he might start actually turning the top over.  Not going to 'till' it either.  If we hired a 'tiller' it would only be able to do the middle bit, so would be a total waste of money.

ABOVE:  Miss Muppet being very helpful this morning, she helped pick up asphalt and put it in a pile.

ABOVE:  I 'helped' Stew with this front garden.  There was some sort of creeper plant that needed to be pulled out.

It's taking him forever too.

ABOVE:  Keera turned into a monkey, and spent quite a bit of time up the tree.  Cute little bugger.

ABOVE:  A special dinner, for no reason at all.

And the kids are loving it.

8.49 pm:  It's been a lovely day, the kids have enjoyed themselves, and that's the main thing.

Lacy took them all to the park after dinner, ran off some of their sugar highs! 😋😊😅

Now all is quiet again.  Kids are either back at their own home, or about to go to bed.

Time to say, catch ya tomorrow.

2 GLASSES FULL

 Ya all know I don't drink water right?

Ya must do if you've been reading my shit for long enough.

Well... today I will be drinking TWO GLASSES FULL!

Yep.

One with Electrolytes in it, and one with Magnesium in it.

How awesome is that?

What a great way to start the day.... RIGHT???

I forgot to mention it yesterday... just remembered myself.

The Doctor wants to see me again in two weeks, to see how I'm doing.  I was rather impressed that she thought of that.  

This clinic we have been joined up to hasn't been that flash.  No follow ups usually, no regular blood tests that we are used to having.

So ... I think this next check up will determine if we stay there or not.

It's been really hard finding the right medical clinic here in Hamilton.

I hope we don't have to change again.

All going well I am going for a 10/10 walk this morning, nice and slow.  I know I have to take it easy still, but a very slow 10/10 is totally doable.

Then I shall see how that affects me.  Fingers crossed I am just fine afterwards.

I really, really want to be on the road to a full recovery sooner rather than later.

ABOVE:  Well.... a good start to my day.

I went slightly further this morning as I was feeling good.

Still INCREDIBLY slow... LIKE DAWDLING!....but it's a start.

Now I wait and see how I feel in a couple of hours!

Heard back from the Doctors today.  My diabetes is 'uncontrolled' and they want to see me asap.

Yeah right.

Getting an appointment there takes about 2 weeks!  And I'm not doing another 'walk in' and paying $70.

I'll ring them and just book something for in 2-3 weeks I suppose.

ABOVE:  Beautiful trees in our park today.  I love them, so you have to see them too.  😂😅😊

I rang the Doctors.  They want me to see MY DOCTOR, not one that would see me if I did another 'walk in' like I did yesterday.

The doctors on the 'walk in side' are rostered on locums, not your actual doctor, who knows your history.

I have no problem spending whatever it takes on my health, but I do have an issue spending money to see a Doctor who didn't even explore my medical history in an effort to help me.  (like yesterday).  I had to ASK for a blood test, to check my HbA1c and kidney function.  It was not suggested by the doctor at all.

There is a wait of 2-3 weeks to see my own Doctor, and I have an appointment booked.

I have had insulin injections suggested on numerous occasions, BUT have managed to get my diabetes under control with diet and Metformin, so that is what I shall do AGAIN.

Using words like 'dialysis' is actually scaremongering, and unnecessary.

ABOVE:  I finished one!

And I'm feeling great today!  Yes, still got a headache and feel tired, but OH, so much better!

ABOVE:  Yaaa!  Being free of Covid means we get our granddaughter back for the weekend.

We love having her, and she gets to be with her Mum and family again.

Best thing is, now that Lacy is living here we get to see Miss Muppet even more.

Marie McN:  I love you.  "Sorry, not sorry" was a bit funny too.

Comments are now closed on this post, we won't be publishing any more.  There's far too many 'know it alls', who are only too quick to give me their opinion, be they factual or just bloody rude.

I'm signing off for the night.  

Catch you tomorrow.

LONG WAIT AHEAD

 It's about 18 days since I knew I had Covid.

I probably had it for a couple of days (at least) before I tested Positive.

Yesterday I thought, YES, I'm feeling so much better!

But by the end of the day I was utterly shagged and felt dreadful.

I'd hoped to attend an FBG 20/20 walk tonight, but after yesterday I know I can't do it.

By mid afternoon I'm just done.

I'm also being plagued by cramps in my ARMS and HANDS, and on/off tingling in my legs too.

So damn weird.

I talked to Stew about it last night, and he said I probably should go to the doctors.

You can't get an appointment at our clinic till the end of the month, so I will have to do a walk in.

Which means sitting there for possibly 2-3 hours till I can be seen.  

I suppose that's what I will do ... dammit.

So... I might not be back till much later!

lol...about my speed right now.

I went to the Dr's at 8 am, and amazingly was seen in about 15 minutes! What a relief not having to sit there for hours.

So, the Dr said two things.

1.  Covid can take weeks and weeks to get over, so stop worrying and just accept that I'm not going to be up and functioning normally for longer than I thought.  

2.  I'm obviously dehydrated, so she gave me Electrolytes to take 3-4 times daily.

3. All my other symptoms are down to my diabetes being out of control.  I have to work on that.  *sigh*

4.  I finally had another blood test, to check blood sugars, kidney function etc etc.  It stung like mad.  And the technician didn't believe I only have ONE vein that gives blood, so she tried in two other places just to prove a point.  I won.

BITCH.  I won't  be getting her again.

In all, I was relieved I went, even though I didn't get told anything I didn't already know.  $80 later... yep. 

So now I'm sitting here, sipping electrolyte solution in WATER.  Ikkkk.

Contemplating what to do.  Stew is on a conference call ALL DAY, so he's not even company.

ABOVE: Hot air balloons drifting past at 7.30 this morning.  

ABOVE:  Watching the neighbour's roof get painted.  Nice neutral colour.

Marley is having conniptions, barking and growling her bloody head off.

I'll be relieved once it's finished, then the dogs won't be quite to 'vocal'.

I went outside to try scraping the dead grass off the back lawn.  NOPE.  It's not working with a rake.  Might have to do it by hand.  But not today.

I also contemplated lifting more asphalt, but it's simply too hot out there to do it.

So.  Then I thought I'd sew.  NOPE.  Not doing that either.  It requires concentration, and I ain't got much of that either.

I can't even follow a movie on Netflix right now... I don't know how many I've started watching, and had to stop part way through.

My head just hurts.  Damn it.

Stew and I went to The Base at dinnertime.

We visited the Chemist Warehouse, as Stew needed to pick up his repeats.

While there, we asked the Pharmacist what Magnesium supplement I could take, that wasn't a huge pill to swallow.

That useless git just said "Look in Aisle 3, plenty there".

So we had to spend 15 minutes looking at dozens of bottles of friggin Magnesium supplements, most of which you couldn't see inside to gauge the size of the pill.  Then Stew found the perfect one!

ABOVE:  A powder version!  And I've just had my first dose, and it's very palatable.  Quite sweet.

Niiiiiiice.

We had a Burger Fuel burger for dinner... they really are the BEST burgers you can buy.  IMHO.

Now, home and relaxing.  

Catch ya tomorrow.