TODAY STEW BECOMES A BLOODY JAFA

Today Stew leaves me.... and goes to live and work in Auckland. So, I am not a happy girl....

Our next Open Home is in a week... I am desperately hoping someone turns up and just LOVES our home and buys it so we can join Stew in Auckland real soon.

Stew hasn't even packed yet, so I supposed that's what this morning will consist of, getting him packed up and out the door for his 7 hour drive up to Auckland.

AND... there really is a lot a housework to be done.... oh JOY.

Our clever wee man Griffin was DRY again this morning.... I am so happy about that!

DRY! THE KID WAS DRY!

Brilliant start to the day, Griffin didn't wet the bed. Now to some this would be 'so what'? But to me its awesome, cos I felt for sure he would be wet .... hope he keeps it up!

Got a bit on today (thank god).... Stew and the kids are going to Otaki to pick up his suit trousers, and I am going into town for morning tea with a girlfriend. I think I will have..... fruit salad and bloody water again! Oh can't wait, I'm sure.

And I'm going to the library to get some reading fodder, and post some parcels, and shop for something 'entertaining' for me to use while Stew is away. * shaking head, can't believe I'm gunna do that * LOL.

So, it's 8.38 in the morning and we are still in bed...better get our butts moving me thinks.... OH AND IT'S WEIGH IN DAY!!!! Hope my hissy fit and chocolate last night hasn't totally ruined any loss I was gunna have.....{hanging head in shame}.

DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST....TODAY IS CANCELLED.

It's all very well having lazy days, but do they have to be so boring? I would love to go and buy some canvas's and do some painting, but as Stew said, I shouldn't get all that out again cos we are trying to move eh? I suppose I could bloody knit!

Griffin has his first night with no night nappy (bloody boy's 6) and ... he was wet. So, have to 'do' his bed today... and probably tomorrow.... yadda yadda yadda. The only good thing about his being wet was he got up and changed himself, got dressed etc... usually in the mornings I have to yell at him a dozen times to get changed into his clothes!

Stew is going into his old office today and packing it up....

This afternoon the people are coming to pick up Griffin's old bed...

I will pocket a few hundred bucks.....I do have plans for it !.....

Evil plans.....

ha ha ha

YIK....PUFFY EYES TODAY! ( 3 sleeps till Stew goes to Auckland, 32 sleeps till school )

Yik, I got my eye lids sunburnt and this morning I've woken up with really puffy eyes! Sunglasses for me today! Not a good look.

Stew is off into town this morning for a breakfast meeting, so I will have to get outta bed 'early'..... fan-frikken-tastic.

What else? Well, once he's home I will take the dog for a walk, and .... any ideas people? Cos I ain't got any! I got really crabby yesterday.... I LOVE shopping, but what's the point when ya need nothing? This is just depressing!

PLANS FOR TODAY? NONE!

We are totally in 'holiday mode'.... no plans, no expectations, no hassels! It's great!

I'm even finding the kids OK, they sleep in, and when they do wake up they piss off to the lounge and play the Wii ... I love that thing!

Yesterday I lay in the sun for an hour, everyone around me was getting a bit of a tan and I was still bloody WHITE! So I

***08*** NICE EVEN NUMBER, ALL SMOOTH, NO ROUGH EDGES

I borrowed these words from my friend Karen.... 2008 is an even number, nice and smooth with no rough edges, may the year be the same! 8 is also Stew's favourite number... his birthday is on January the 8th... he will be in Auckland this year for his birthday!


I have much to look forward to this year:


- move to Auckland, buy a new home!

- See Stew settle into his new job.

- Regain my fitness

- Lose 20 kilos

- Lose my uterus hopefully!

- Turn 50 without sinking into deep depression!


I'm sure there will be heaps more .... but that will evolve over time. I think this year will be exciting! I am determined to have a blast.....life is for living and by god, I am going to live it.

Wow, I've been 'quiet' today! I took Izzy for a walk this morning, it was already really hot at 9 am. I have done the washing and now I'm onto pruning the hydrangeas! And it's friggin hot here today! Ok, maybe not as hot as the Aussy girls get, but still hot for us.

See this mad as tart? Well I am talking to her right now... and she is pissed as a chook!!!! And it's 4am in the morning there!!!! More to come... fuck now she's singing to me. And now she's blaming me for her being pissed~!!!!!!

Now the silly tart has talked to Stew too, he thinks she's a nutter/pissed as a chook Australian too ! But she's really lovely!

Sadly after yakking with the delightful Amanda for an hour (!) I had to say 'bye bye' and start preparing our dinner..... it was really really lovely talking to you Amanda, thank you so much for thinking of me in your inebriated state!!! I do hope when you finally get to bed you can lie down without the room spinning after all the grog you have drunk ! LOL. HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR'S DAY.... when ya wake up!

End of Day: got lots done around the house and yard, Stew got the trailer fixed.... not shopping at all!

NSV: still on track!!!! Bloody hell that's great eh? nite nite.

FEELING ALL FIRED UP

How weird, I make a weight loss chart and it makes me all rearing to go! I can't wait till next saturday to put my next red dot on it! And it will be LOWER than the first one ..... I am sure.

Yesterday was a scorcher of a day, and all our teenagers got sunburnt at the beach, dorks. Stew got some too, he worked all afternoon on our trailer....it needed rewiring and so on. It still isn't finished but I'm sure he will get it done today. We will need it to move all the 'stuff' the moving company doesn't touch, like paint, petrol, gas bottles etc.

As per normal, I'm sitting up in bed awaiting my latte.... that will change next week eh? darn, wasn't going to think about that today!

Today : might go into town ... Stew wants to get some new business shirts.... maybe I can find something to buy yet?

7 SLEEPS TILL STEW GOES TO AUCKLAND

I'm starting to freak out! My hubby is moving hundreds of kilometres away from us in just a week! How the hell am I going to cope with that??? I feel sad already.

Today: no shopping, I promise. I have given up on finding anything I really really want or need. Like, I don't need anything!

May go into town and meet up with a couple of friends for morning tea though, just cos I can! Other than that, no plans today...

I might sit down and draw up a weight loss chart to put on my wall, I did that last time and it was a great motivator, watching the line go down.... I work best with visual incentives/reminders. AND I am going to throw out the last of the evil food left in the panty, the kids certainly don't need all those lollies! What else? Oh an exercise plan too.... I need to get disciplined again... follow a set routine, not just a hit and miss one.

Now that my iron levels are coming up there are no more excuses eh? So, lots of positive stuff today.

Well I met Janene and Chris D for morning tea... I'm quiety minding my own business and Janene grabs my phone and takes this photo!!! It's to prove I ate well I suppose? Fruit salad and BLOODY WATER... cos they had no Diet Coke! I wasn't that impressed with having to drink water I can tell you! But, it was a nice morning.

I'm now working on my new weight loss chart...

Right, that's done... there is a little red dot up the top .. that's the start weight.... got 20 kilos to lose this coming year. I will take a photo of this bloody chart every Saturday morning... watch the red dot go down! I need to lose 384 grms a week to achieve this... totally DOABLE people!

I bought something today! Some new bras and knickers. So there! And did you notice, I'm kinda SMILING in that photo, eyes are a bit screwed up cos of the sun though! *snigger*

End of Day: started grumpy, ended happy. So in all, a good day!

NSV: totally on track today, no slip ups at all! Ya hoooooo. nite nite.

YOU WOULD THINK WE WERE SHOPPED OUT EH?

BUT WE ARE NOT!!! Today, taking Stew's pants back to Otaki to be adjusted to fit his shrinking arse, then we are going to Levin to check out the shops there!

I think I might just buy a couple of 'inspiration' items... you know, ones that are a bit too small that I can only wear when I lose the extra bloody kilos! Do we think this is a good idea???

Oh yeah, I got the montly today too, so that kinda explains SOME of the weight gain eh! I seem to be in a three week cycle now, which is a total pain in the butt! Shitty mid-life changes, when the hell did I become middle aged???? I don't FEEL like a middle aged woman, hells bells!

What the hell, my body may be saying one thing, but that does not mean I have to ACT like a nearly 50 year old eh? I'm gunna be 29 forever! Off shopping.....AGAIN.

GOING TO WELLINGTON AGAIN TODAY

We have decided to go back to Wellington today as the Suit shop Stew wanted to look in was closed on Boxing Day..... like I mind having to go back! Not at all, shopping is my No# 1 LOVE !

This time we are taking Brylee and Griffin with us, they need to get outta the house ... and Griffin actually LOVES shopping too ! Weird boy.

What else? Well I still havn't quite got on track.... it's all the bloody evil food in the house and my lack of restraint. I think I am going to have to walk around naked for a while just to see how my bits wobble to remind myself why I need to do this ! Maybe not today out shopping though eh? lol .

THE BIG CLEAN UP

Today's activities will consist of :

- Go to Ezibuy Sale

- Buy Steven's car some tyres (his are BALD!)

- Put the christmas tree and decorations away

- Clean up the panty and throwing out all and any evil foods not likely to be eaten

- vacum the entire house (shit havn't done it for over a week!)

- Wash all the floors

- Clean all the bathrooms and loos (oh joy)

- Getting all the toys BACK in the bedrooms

- Sorting through all Stew's work clothes and tossing out all 'manky' shirts etc

- Take Izzy for a nice big walk then give her a bath

- Have a Granny nap!

How's that for a 'to do' list then? Think we are going to be busy.

But for now.... I'm still in bed waiting for me Latte, and Griffin has already had a mini bitch about Brylee giving him a headache! Is this the start of the holiday squabbling already? Gawd I hope not.

BOXING DAY SALES

WHOOP WHOOP....Stew and I are off to Wellington to do the sales.... and the best part?

We are leaving the littlies with the teenagers! Oh man, what bliss!

In less than two weeks Stew is off to Auckland, so it will be nice to spend a whole day with him, just the two of us. BLISS.

And.... I am going to be 100% ON TRACK from today on. It was very nice to eat whatever I felt like yesterday, but it wrecked havoc with my tummy!

I did not feel very well last night at all... too much rich food and two glasses of wine... all a bit much for my tummy.

Just realised I did not include a photo of Steve in yesterday's post... so here is his butt playing Wii with Griffin!

Now I wonder what we can find to buy in Wellington today?...... later ......much later....... you will find out!

The traffic was horrendous, the crowds were manic, the shopping was... neat! We managed to get me 3 new summer dresses, a new suit for Stew, and new work shoes for Stew. All that took 7 hours!

This was my DINING room when we got home! Hmmmmm, wonder how much "child minding" was going on? They ASSURE me the kids were looked after all day!

End of Day, no pics of dresses, I'm feeling FAT ... so there!

NSV: been on track (minor slip up when I got home and was confronted with a humongous mess and ate some chocolate in a fit of anger). Derrrrrr. nite nite.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY BLOGGER FRIENDS

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Now... what was in that little box?

BEFORE:


AFTER:


I am a SPOILT TART! More to come..... oh the kids were so nice, they slept in till 6.45! We are waiting for Steve and Lisa to arrive before we open presents, Brylee and Griffin are being so good waiting........


What a scream of a photo! Griffin looks like a monumental dork!!! Waiting to open their presents....
All done now... gifts opened, oooh! and ahhh'd over.... kids happily playing with Wii etc.... so is Stew! They are playing golf... Griffin is 'smokin' Dad's arse!!! Well, so he thinks!

I have been out in the rain .. took Izzy for a walk, and am now having some delicious homemade fruit salad for breakfast.



Mike got this 'beanie' from his girlfriend, amongst other things... so... I suppose I will have to get used to seeing him like this now cos knowing him it won't ever leave his stoooopid head!


Can you see how much crap I've got in my pantry today???? .................................... H E L P !

Being the gorgeous wife I am, I got Stew a Rotisserie for the BBQ... kinda like a wife being given a new vacum cleaner eh? Ha ha ha.. I have been marinating 2 chickens since yesterday... they are going on the BBQ later on this afternoon..... OOOO I can't wait!

Yipee, the chookies are on! Now we wait to find out just how long they take to cook on the BBQ.Girls like cars too... so Brylee got a PINK Polly Pocket Race Track! Cute.

OH MY GOD!!! If you could smell this.... Teriyaki Chicken done on the BBQ.... My mouth is watering!!!
Griffin, totally engrossed in this toy, it's quite awesome really! It transforms into over 40 different boats etc!

Here's my nephew Deon playing the weirdest game of golf ... on Wii. No wet shoes even!
End of Day: it's been wonderful, tiring, happy... just as it should be.
NSV: I ate till I could eat no more... cos tomorrow I diet! nite nite, and if you have bothered to read to the bottom of this post I salute you!

THINK IT WILL BE A BUSY DAY

Today Stew is going to dismantle Griffin's bed cos we are selling it.... I really love it but Stew doesn't.... so off it goes onto TradeMe soon. It has to be dismantled completely cos it does not fit through the door! Such a pain.

So, Griffin will end up with a 'normal' bed with storeage boxes underneath for all his toys and junk.

What else? Oh yeah, going to the grocery store for all the fresh salad stuff we will need over the next few days, can't live on HAM alone eh?

MORE SHOPPING? (42 sleeps till school)

What to do today? Well..... I'm sure we could find SOMETHING to buy in town!

I forgot to pick up the kids Santa Photo, so that's on the list, and aimless wandering too..... kinda INTO this Christmas shopping lark now! It's fun.

I have just realised that I have TOTALLY BLOWN it this year on the diet front.... I gained instead of lost! Far out, what a twit! So, next year I hope to do much better, or so help me I might at well just give the fuck up and gain back all my weight, and the belly!

DOH, don't think I could live with myself if I did that, so 2008 is going to be 'it' for me..... the year of many changes, new home, new location, new grandbaby, new gym, new friends..... yada yada ya!

But until then.... I will just try to do the best I can over the silly season, and enjoy spending time with my boys who are staying here when we move north.

He's just trying to make me feel GUILTY eh? NIIIIICE legs though!

Thanks for that Casdok.... though it is beyond me why people seem to like me! I swear like a trooper, I'm opinionated, I really don't like kids much (babies not included, I love them), I have lots of faults....... so why???? *shaking head*

WE have been to town, had lunch at Breakers ... yummmm. Did some randon wandering... Stew picked up some shorts at Rebel for a song (on sale)... now he and the kids are going back for another look. I'm staying home to enjoy the peace and quiet. It is still not that busy in town, I'm really surprised.

End of Day: rather a quiet afternoon/evening. Finished reading a book, sorted out all the kids toys and got rid of broken/incomplete stuff... ready for the new lot!

NSV: well I didn't like the Chocolate Mud Cake made to look like a Christmas tree! So I shan't be having any more! This is good. nite nite.

KIDS, GOTTA LOVE EM

Seems Griffin woke up at 6.15 (I didn't hear him Stew did) and he took himself off to the lounge and is watching TV quietly... and it's now 8.15 in the morning!!! How bloody cool is that? No demands for food/attention/ anything!

Here I was thinking we would not get to sleep in till the little shits were teenagers.... I like this kid. I think Brylee is still asleep even! BLISS.

I got my L I T T L E gift in a box last night, he did not make me wait till Christmas day! BUT, you buggers ain't getting to see it till Christmas! nah nah na na. I am going to spend the next few days banging into things cos my eyes will be on the finger! ha ha ha.

Today: we need to go do a grocery shop .... ham/salad stuff/pudding stuff.... all the usual christmas stuff eh? I am sure the supermarket will be packed with other people doing the exact same thing.... oh well it is CHRISTMAS time eh? Gotta expect it.

Before that though I am going into town to meet my girlfriend Chris for a coffee.... we have gone back to our old saturday morning routine of just the two of us! It will be nice to meet up with the other girls come January again too.

STEW'S LAST DAY WORKING IN PALMY ( 44 sleeps till school)

So, I'm not that nice sometimes.... can I change in time for Santa to be nice to me???? I live in hope.

Stew has a busy day today, packing up his office in readiness for his move to Auckland Central..... shit it's only a couple of weeks to go!

We have a few more things to do this coming weekend to be totally ready for Christmas Day... food shopping etc. Going to be a busy few days.

To you lovely ladies out there who sent us a Christmas Card...THANK YOU.... I don't send out cards! So just know I love each and every one of you!

Some lovely news.... The Teenager from hell (Mike) finally talked to me last night after no words being exchanged for OVER A WEEK!! He apologised and tried to explain how we got into this situation....I got a big hug (melts my heart) and now all is good between us again! I am so relieved, I hate it when there is friction between me and my kids.

Yipeee..... done and dusted, finished the Christmas Shopping at last... I thought I was finished days ago... but NOOOOO, just had to get a couple more! Shopping with two kids isn't that bad, I asked them to sit nicely on the floor in a china shop and they did! People came and went and commented on how bloody wonderful they were sitting there so nicely! Awwwwww.

I took the horror (Griffin) out for a haircut..... talk about a fidget arse !!!!! The hairdresser kept saying "Keep still" and he said :

"LADY, my middle name is STILL !"...... everyone in the salon cracked up laughing! How could you NOT love this friggin kid?

End of Day: been to visit my friend Chris, her husband is so sick the poor bugger! It looks like he has lost 30 kilos in the past couple of months, I feel so sorry for them. When I am bitching and moaning about my annoying family I really must remember that other people are facing much much worse things.

NSV: I could not eat even half of the chinese I got myself for lunch today! nite nite.

SCHOOL FINISHES TODAY AT MIDDAY....(45 sleeps till they go back)

Am I looking forward to the kids being home for nearly 7 weeks???

LIKE HELL! But.... there are some bonus's... no having to get them to school on time, no having to work around picking them up at 3 pm... no lunches have to be made in the morning (like I did them! Stew did!), no getting uniforms ready..... so maybe I should be happy?

So, I'm going to try and view it with a positive attitude!

This morning I'm going into town (again), Stew's work are having a morning tea 'shout' so I'm going..... will try to make some wise choices.... and do a bit more shopping for Christmas. Onward....

I have decided: so many of 'you' have asked me ... I will spill....
WHY DO WE HAVE BRYLEE AND GRIFFIN? (our Grandchildren)

Daughter No# 2 decided to have a baby... god knows why... so she did.. left the biological father as soon as she got pregnant. Had Brylee, kept her (part time, cos I had her every evening and weekends) for 10 weeks then decided it was all too much effort for her... so dropped her off and left.... without telling us she had no intention of coming back! When she did come back, we went and got legal custody of Brylee.

A few months later, she turned up again.. pregnant again... too late for an abortion... so it was decided (after much agonising) that we would have that baby too... not much choice really. Griffin was born and handed to me immediatley and that was that, she buggered off again after only 3 days, having signed the legal custody papers over to us.

FATHERS? Brylee's has never met her, nor has his family, they 'do not want to know'. Griffin's? NO IDEA REALLY! Must have been a bloody good looking big bloke.

Our daughter has seen Brylee and Griffin very rarely, in fact she has only seen them once in the past 2 years. Her choice.
So there ya go. Some useless information for ya.

Our daughter is now and always has been.... on a benefit of some sort or another... lives for the next party... the next boyfriend..... sleeps most of the day, parties most of the night. I still love her, she will always be our daughter that we care about very much... does not mean we have to like her lifestyle or life choices.

Morning tea was lovely, I had a bit of everything! Still don't think I was evil though! Have now picked up the kids.... countdown begins!

Feeling a bit jaded this afternoon.... above is our Christmas tree.... wanted to take Izzy for a walk but she's still being a 'girl' having her monthly! Drat.
Kids are watching telly, thank god for cartoons eh? It will be great once 'Santa' has been, lots of new stuff to keep them occupied.

MARGARET: You are right! I can be a hard nosed bitch... for sure.... when people/kids get up my nose! But my motto in life is 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.... so I try not to be nasty too often! No sweetie, I am not offended! I am an 'up front' person... bang on! I like that about myself, no bullshit coming from me! I say it how it is.

End of Day: it's been really nice! Quiet too.

NSV: Pretty good on food consumption... had some tinned chicken.. it tasted and smelt just like salmon! Was kinda eewwww. lol. nite nite.

8.58pm WOW!!! We just had a hooah of a big earthquake, it went on and on and on......... the whole house rocked and shook!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!! Update: earthquake measured 6.8 on richter scale, caused damage in Gisbourne which is on the coast about 5 hours away from here.

NO NEED TO WATER THE GARDENS TODAY!

It started raining yesterday, and I'm sure it hasn't stopped since then! And the temperatures have dropped quite dramatically, so quite a bit different from the past week for sure.

Today: kids to school (in the car for once!) then home to do a bit of ... nothing!

Yesterday I was sure Stew was about to tell me he no longer intended to take up the job in Auckland... I just was so sure the other shoe was about to drop! He had been making noises about how he wasn't happy about 'this and that'.... so anyway, I decided to take the bull by the horns and talk to him about it, no pussy footing around.... what a good idea!

While he is concerned about how long it may take to sell the house, and how long we may be seperated, he is NOT going to back out of the new job. Thank God! I really really want to move. Not that I hate this town, I have some amazingly lovely friends here, but my heart is NORTH, it's where I want to be.

So, all is good here, and I am really happy Stew and I are going to be ok.

WHAT A REALLY LOVELY DAY, AND IT'S ONLY JUST STARTED!

After 16 hours without the internet... Telecom 'found' it for me again... so it's a late start on the day.




Meet Linda and Brandon and their three adorable kids: (from left) Braydon, Lila and Ellie. This gorgeous lady has sent me the Jordin Sparks CD that I so wanted and could not get here in New Zealand, all the way from America!!!! She is so very kind... and the BEST Mom in the whole wide world... she actually LOVES her kids..... hey, they are NOT TEENAGERS yet eh?



Laughing now..... and Brandon and her have had to fight really long and hard to get their precious girls... all the way from China. I have been reading Linda's blog for quite some time now, and felt like I was 'with' her when she finally met her darling wee daughter Ellie a wee while ago and got to take her home. It was special following their story. Thank you LINDA, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.



Today: kids to school, then I am going to tackle the presents and get wrapping! OOOO what fun.... really!

But before that..... I have a few more jobs (shopping) to do in town.... later....

I have done almost all my Christmas shopping!

I have wrapped all the presents, WITHOUT having a major hissy fit.

I have caught up on all my favourite blogs.

I am feeling bloody tired now!

AND........ I put up the bloody Christmas Tree last night.... after vowing I WOULD NOT!!! Hell, seems I have caught the darn Christmas bug. Bugger it. lol

End of Day: very productive, and resolved a few more issues with Me and Stew... all is good.

NSV: Well I did have some lovely home made fruit salad again... but I added icing sugar (hanging head in shame) ! nite nite.