RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL

 

THE WEBB ELLIS CUP.

9 pm in France, Saturday night.

8 am in New Zealand, Sunday morning.

The final of the Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks vs South Africa.

It is gunna be a tense game.

And Stew is going to be glued to the TV for the entire game.

Me?  Nope.  I have very little interest, and don't enjoy the suspense!

I will block my ears until it's over.

Obviously I hope our team win though.

Cos if we don't Stew is gunna be cross.

Yesterday someone suggested there were too many stall holders selling the same things, hence slow sales.

In some cases, Yes, I totally agree.

There are a lot of people selling crocheted and knitted soft toys, jewellery, kids clothing, sweets  etc.

At Tamahere and Cambridge there are a lot of plants as well.

At every market, I walk around and check out what is on offer.

And NO ONE is selling what I make.  Nothing like it at all.

So, I am confident slow sales isn't down to competition.  It's something else.

Like a slowing economy.  People being much more careful with their discretionary cash.

Christmas is coming ... so we do expect things to pick up next month and in December.

We sure in hell hope it does!

Now as for our day.  Obviously rugby first and foremost.

Then I will do some housework while Stew does the garden and lawns I think.

The Waikato is supposed to be fine/cloudy today... so it's looking good for the lawns to get mown.

Steve, Bex and the boys came over to watch the rugby with Stew.

ABOVE: Sadly, our boys lost.  By one bloody point.  A bad call by the referee at one point is what cost our guys the game. 

But what is done is done.   

While they watched the game, I started another braid runner.  Black 'n' White.  But this one is going to get a little something extra.

Wait and see.

After the game, Stew and I went to The Base as I really needed new walking shoes.

While there, we got our 'Good Deed of the Day' in.

A guy had a flat battery, so we managed to help him.  Along with another lady, who had longer jumper leads, as the ones the guy had were too short to reach.

ABOVE:  It always feels good to do something nice for another person.

ABOVE:  My new sneakers are seriously a hideous shade of pink!  But these are the shoes that suit my feet PERFECTLY.  I've been wearing this brand, particular sneaker for at least 25 years.

The girls gave them the 'sniff test' and declared them BORING.  Oh well.

Stew is about to get out into the garden in a minute, and I'm heading back into the sewing room.  I have a little something to make.

ABOVE:  My little 'something' is added.  

Instead of doing yellow strips, I thought just a little bee could be cute.

What do you think?

Well today is done and dusted... and I'm happy with my latest runner.

I will show it to you tomorrow.

I'm enjoying some down time now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ROTOTUNA SCHOOL MARKET 9 - 2

 

ABOVE:  The where and when of today's market.

We did well at this one the last time it was on... before COVID !

It will be interesting to see how it goes this time.

ABOVE:  Where we will be.

This is our 4th market this month.  After today's one, we get a couple of weeks break before the November markets start up.

There's 'only' three markets in November, and none are on the same weekend.   Which is great.

Because we already have the van packed, and the market venue is just up the road from us, we don't have to get up too early today.

...

THE SUN IS UP! Weather is looking GREAT. NO WIND ... for now.

I hate to say it.

ANOTHER TERRIBLE MARKET!  

And it's not just us who's having a bad day.

Its almost midday and we have only made ONE sale.

Unheard of. 

We just don't get why. 

I can hardly keep my eyes open.... its that slow.

HOME.  3.02 pm.

What can I say about today's market?

Everyone was of the same opinion.

An average turnout of people, but most were just looking.

Not our worst market, but certainly NOT our best either.  Very average.

Very disappointing in fact.

A lot of work, effort and time went into getting ready and attending.

The only consolation was the weather.  It was NICE.

Very cold in the morning, and warmer after lunch.

We will have to consider very carefully if we want to do that market again next year.  Perhaps it's a sign of the times RIGHT NOW.  Finances are tighter.  There is a new Government.  Change is happening.

Across the board, day to day living is more expensive.

So  yeah.  Just have to wait and see if things pick up in the next couple of months.

Now that we are home, we've unpacked the van in readiness to return it to Steve 'n' Bex.

My feet are up, I'm relaxing in me lounge chair and I'm NOT moving for at least an hour!

I'm done.

We have had a totally lazy evening, just chilling out and watching TV.  Needed it too.

Now it's coming up to 10 pm and we are off to bed.

READY FOR SOMETHING BRIGHT?

 While in Spotlight yesterday, I spied a very cute little bumble bee fabric.

I immediately thought it would be lovely as the centre piece of a Braid Runner.

So, instead of making another Black 'n' White Runner yesterday, I did this:

ABOVE:  It's another super bright one!

And I am sure someone will love it.

It's got bumble bees!  Who doesn't love bumble bees?  🐝🌸🌼🐝🌺🐝

First up for today will be my lake walk.  I've probably got the two girls in tow today.  Which is nice, they keep me going.

Then I will be coming home to double check everything is ready for tomorrow's market.

This time our gazebo is set on concrete, so we have to take big containers of water to hold the gazebo down, in case it's windy.

Luckily we have Steve's van, as we certainly couldn't fit them in our car if we were using that.

I might make sure it's a nice, quiet day today.  

Tomorrow's market is expected to be a busy one.

Fingers are firmly crossed that the weather holds for us.  

ABOVE:  That's our forecast.  It looks promising ... and I'm hopeful that it is correct!  We need it to be fine on Saturday ... it can piss down after that for all I care.

Yesterday's tactic worked in the sewing room.

I listened/watched three Musicals:  Pitch Perfect, Mamma Mia! and a Doco on Shania Twain.  And my wax burner smelled lovely.

And not once did dark thoughts enter my brain!

I am going to finish another Braid Runner today and do the exact same thing.  Netflix and nice smells.

Right now though, I shall get myself ready for my lake walk.

Today's walk... was awesome.

The girls and I had lots of fun:

ABOVE: This log.  I challenged Lacy to walk out on it months ago.  Today she finally did it.

AND she didn't fall in.

Lacy on a log   If you click on that link, Lacy on a log, in black and underlined ... you can watch her crawling out on it!

It's muted cos I said some VERY BAD WORDS at one point.

ABOVE:  Amazing!  We did the exact same time today as on Wednesday!  A very good time again.

It's so good to walk when it's cold and wet I must say.

I don't over heat.

Come summer I will be walking at 8-9 pm probably.

ABOVE:  The multi coloured duckling family were out and about today too.

Gosh I have cooled down now, and am freezing!  We're having a nasty little cold snap.  Last HURRAH before summer?

I'm going to get some warmer clothes on then have an early lunch before doing some sewing.

ABOVE: And there is number 44 Braid Runner.

I am now bloody tired and am gunna have a late nana nap!

9.04 pm.   Whoops.  Have not updated in a while.

I had a wonderful nap this afternoon, had a very sound sleep.  Must have needed it.

Stew arrived home from work and we decided to eat out.  Yeah.  Looks like old habits have crept back in super fast.

So, there will be no eating 'out' over the weekend.

After dinner we visited Steve and Bex for a quick catch up.  We hadn't seen them since last weekend.  All good there.  Bex is just entered her third trimester of pregnancy.  It is going very fast!

Before we know it Baby #3 will be here. Our #14 grandbaby.   It almost doesn't seem real after so long with no babies.

I'm sure it feels real to Bex!  lol

It's damn cold this evening.   We just packed our day bags for tomorrow... we will be wearing winter clothes, but taking some summer ones as well.  It's that kinda weather.  Hot/Cold, just don't know from one hour to the next really.

And that's me for the day.  I will catch ya tomorrow.

At market.

NUMBER 42

 

ABOVE:  Number 42.

This one I hummed and haaaed over for a while.  I wasn't sure the lighter coloured border fabric would 'work'.

Thankfully, it does.

So, I'll be making another one, very similar to this one, today.  I'll probably put a darker border fabric on it to change it up.

First off though, will have to visit Spotlight for more black fabric.   Man I go through heaps of it!

I only recently bought 10 metres of it *sigh*.

Not much else on my agenda for today, sorry.

It's going to be me, sewing.  

Being in my sewing room used to be my 'happy place'.  

A few things have transpired in there lately that now make it my 'ponder and muse' place.  I go over things that have been said, phone calls, texts, emails etc that I've received while in there.

It's upsetting cos it's kinda ruined my happy place.

Now when I'm in there all I think about is those things that have upset me of late.  Things just go around and around in my head and wind me up.

HOW can I change this??? Cos I don't want the actions of others to ruin my HAPPY PLACE forever.

I've tried 'letting go' of what's happened, but just can't.

I firmly believe though, that KARMA will get them in the end.  It already got one of them.   

I.  WILL.  WAIT... for the rest to get theirs.

Ummmm.... my blood test results.

Here's something I did NOT tell you.

While I was doing my 'eat right', No takeaways etc for 73 days (plus about a week either side)... I completely STOPPED taking all my Diabetes medication.

YEP.  

I wanted to see what happened to my HbA1c number, if I dropped sugar completely, and kept my carbs VERY LOW. And upped my exercise too.

Well... the results are in.

My HbA1c went up by:   SIX POINTS.

Six measly points!

55 to 61.

The last time I went off my medication my HbA1c went up to 121.

So.  I'm actually perfectly happy with my results!

All other 'levels' tested were perfect too.

I am going to talk to my doctor about dropping how much medication I take, not completely obviously.  Cos I am still diabetic.  But I have just proved resoundingly that I can control it with diet and exercise.

Let's see what he says.  One medication that I will never take again in Jardiance.  That one cause me to get my first ever UTI, then Thrush from the antibiotics.  And that dragged on for WEEKS.  Never again.  

And that's enough about health ...  off to sew.

It's now 10 am.  I've been to Spotlight and bought 14 meters of my black fabric (all on the roll), and then I visited Lacy for a little while.  I had to drop off a parcel of hers, that came to our house.

ABOVE:  She's been very clever, and grown an Avocado plant from seed.

She dotes on that plant!

ABOVE:  I am going to try a few things to 'fix' the negative vibe in my sewing room.

I had thought of re-arranging the layout, but seriously, it's taken me years to get it where it is right now, and it WORKS how it is.

So, I've put a wax burner on to make it smell nice (and different), and I'm also going to play different music than my 'norm'.

Let's see if that helps shall we?

Right now, I have 14 meters of fabric to iron and fold!  Yaaaa.  Go me.

ABOVE:  How cute is this fabric?   I'm using it today.... trying a slightly different colour way.

And I'm watching Pitch Perfect on Netflix... it's keeping me mind clear.  So far so good.

3.40 pm:  And I've thoroughly enjoyed watching a couple of movies today on Netflix.  Totally kept my mind off bad shit.

And the wax smelly thing is lovely too.

ABOVE:  After watching Pitch Perfect, which I enjoyed, I watched Mamma Mia!   

And OMG I can honesty say, hand on heart, I HATED IT!

I've not heard such bad singing on a movie ever!

And the story line?  Utter Rubbish.

But it kept me entertained, even in a bad way.

lol

I am about 80% done on the latest runner, and will finish it later on, while Stew's at the pub.

For now though, I'm taking a break.

Stew is home, and is not going to the pub tonight.  He had to work late, so no point going out once he got home.

Nice.  We can spend the evening together instead.

I did finish the runner I worked on all day, and even started another one.  Just a black 'n' white Braid Runner this time.

And that's me for the day.  I'm tired.  Stew is tired.  We will just chill out and relax for the remainder of the evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

BACK TO WORK

 Stew is back to work this morning, after enjoying a 5 day break.

Well I say 'enjoying' loosely.  He had to work two markets with me.  Luckily he actually does enjoy the markets.

Even though doing the markets is a lot of work, and sometimes goddam boring when it's slow... we both do enjoy it.

Someone asked what was this plant?

ABOVE: There ya go.

ABOVE:  We bought that little tree a year ago.  It's lost a few branches, they just died off.  But I'm happy it's still alive overall, and flowering again this year.

Summer is coming!  Our pool is 90% ready to go.  I wonder who will be the first to jump in this year?  

I plan on using the pool for exercise this season.  Using my flotation belt and bungy cord to do swimming-on-the-spot, and some jogging and what have you.

I am not going to lose my fitness, I totally refuse to!  When it's too hot to walk around my lake, I'll do swimming.

I have a plan.  I will execute that plan.  

For today... I'm off to walk me lake.  Amanda and Lacy will be joining me, something that makes me very happy.

I had a smallish gain at Weight Watchers last night, up .600 grams.  I wasn't upset about it AT ALL .

I had an awesome birthday weekend, I did not go without anything.  It was worth it.

After my walk I'm coming home to make two Black and White Braid Runners over the next couple of days.  

My Braid Runners are proving to be INCREDIBLY popular at markets.  

I can't get over me not wanting to make the Black and White ones to begin with!  I love making them now, they may 'only' be black and white, but it's the fabric choices that make them so special.

ABOVE: LOOK at that time! I asked Amanda to set the pace... and we got an excellent time.

Really chuffed.

After our walk I dragged Amanda to the MedLab ....

ABOVE: Waiting for my blood test. Only 4 months overdue for it this time.

ABOVE: THE YELLOW, BLACK AND LIGHT BROWN DUCKLINGS are still alive!  So neat. 

ABOVE: YES..  we walked in the rain.

So yes, we are sitting here just a bit DAMP.

After my blood test I'm going home to shower and do the housework.

Then sew.

2.23 pm:  I've spent the last couple of hours getting strips cut out in readiness for sewing.

ABOVE:  And now... I'm finally sewing them together.

Neutrals?

Maybe one day.  But not right now.  I'm sticking with what is popular at the moment.

I don't think I told you?   Today's blood test was THE BEST ONE EVER!  No nasty prick, no nasty stinging, no bruising... NOTHING!  It was amazing.

And such a relief.

3.45 pm:  My neighbour's little dog, little more than a puppy still, has barked ALL DAY long.

I'm trying to think what to do?

Go over and make sure she's OK?  Maybe she's lying on the floor hurt?

Or she's just out for the entire day?

I dunno what to do.

Except I'd really like that dog to shut the FUCK UP.

Our dogs bark SOMETIMES, but always for a reason.  So I really can't complain about someone else's dog barking.  But ALL DAY?

SO, I went over there to check she was OK.  She wasn't home.  Hence, the dog is barking cos it's locked in it's crate.

She arrived home as I was leaving, so I had a quick chat with her.

Which is always difficult as she's deaf, but can talk after a fashion.  I really struggle to understand her.

But I did get it across to her that I'd been concerned about HER, and let her know her dog barks non stop when she's not home.

She didn't apologise for the nuisance caused.

Not impressed.

Moving on, as there is nothing you can do about it.  She can't exactly HEAR the damn dog barking can she?  Grrrrrr.

There is always something in one's neighbourhood that isn't perfect eh?  In summer I have to get my washing in by 5 pm, or it gets covered in their BBQ smoke.  Apart from that, it's a lovely area to live in.

I just finished #42 Braid Runner!  Never in a million years did I think I would make that many.  And I'll probably be making them for years to come now.

I will show it to you tomorrow.  Right now I'm about to put me feet up and relax for the rest of the day/evening.

Well another day bites the dust.  It's been a really nice day, walking, yakking with the girls, and sewing.

Stew is home.  Dinner is done.  Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SHISH...

 Had to get up for a piddle.

But I'm going BACK TO BED.

Still bloody tired.

Catch up later.

11.28 am:  We got out of bed around 8, and headed off to the lake for a walk.

ABOVE:  A nice brisk pace = a good time.

It was overcast, and in some places there was a cool wind too.  So perfect for walking.

ABOVE:  All the new rushes are up and looking lovely.

The birds love them too.

After our walk we went to a few shops.  Got Chlorine for the pool.  Went on the hunt for some lightweight shorts for both of us.

Ended up in Postie of all places.

ABOVE: We were both very surprised at their prices, and found exactly what we were looking for.

I just wanted some cycle shorts for wearing under dresses over summer.  How can you quibble at $9 a pair?  

Stew was happy with his find too.

He's gone down from a size 42 in pants, to a 38.

I'm proud of him.

I am not a size 12 BTW, they are stretchy pants.

One day in the next few months I'm gunna buy me some JEANS.  That will be interesting.  I'll probably be a 14-16 by then.

We are now home, and will be having lunch soon.

Then there's a few household jobs to be done, and Stew is going to vacuum the pool again.  He keeps missing places, so has to do it again.  *sigh*

Weight Watchers this evening.

I WILL GAIN.

There is no doubt about it.

Even though I've kept up me walking, I've totally overdone the eating these past few days.

AND I DON'T CARE.

Your birthday only comes around once a year, and it was a 'special' one for me this year.

It was worth it.  And after today I will be back on track and being a good tart.

AND..... yes I went up .600 grams.

And that is not bad when I consider how much shit I ate (and drank) over the past few days.  But OMG it was so worth it.

I am going to be back on track tomorrow, working my butt off, to be the best I can be.

It's been a lovely day, hanging out with me man.

But now... it's wind down time.  Later on Coronation Street time.  Then bed time.

So, catch ya tomorrow.

ST ANDREWS LABOUR DAY MARKET

Let's hit 'repeat' shall we?

Today we are up bright and early to get ourselves up the road to the St Andrews Market in Cambridge.

Mike and Joyce will be here until they leave for Palmerston North.

This morning Steve, Bex and the boys will be coming over here so they can play 'hand ball' with Mike 'n' Joyce.

The little boys have been hanging out to play with them.

ABOVE:  yesterday afternoon I re-dyed my hair with an 'Ash Blonde', and used a purple toning shampoo and conditioner.   It toned the yellow/gold colour down a bit.

IT WILL DO.

In another month or so I'll do it again.  It sure doesn't cost much to do it yourself!  And it doesn't take 4 friggin hours either! 

I doubt I will ever go to a hair salon for colours again.

And now... I have to get me face on, pack our day bags and get on the road.

...

ABOVE: Another day, another market.

All set up. Its cloudy and quite cool. Praying for a good day.

11.20 am... slow but steady here today.

Lots of Cambridge girlfriends have popped in to say "Hi", and my cousin Debbie from Rotorua.

3.11 pm:  Just home from the market.  It was an average day re: sales again.  Not a bust, but not spectacular.  I'm sick of saying it!

Talking to other market holders though, and everyone is saying the same thing.

Plenty of people, but most are just looking.

It's still worth going, because we get so many repeat customers!  One lady who bought a runner today was back for about her 8th runner!

She uses them for gifts for family, and has at least 4 in her own home.

ABOVE:  Mike and Joyce called into the market on their way home after lunch.  It is always so lovely to see them.

Hopefully it will only be a few months till we see them again.

I am absolutely knackered.  It's been a very busy weekend.  

I woke this morning at 4 am, and 'clock watched' until we got up at 5.30 am.   TIRED does not even touch how I feel right now.

Sleeping in tomorrow!  And as Stew has tomorrow off work as well, he can sleep in too.

We both need it.

GOING.  TO.  BED.  EARLY.

Catch ya tomorrow.