MONDAY

 

Righty ho.... I do believe I'm going on an FBG walk this morning.

It's the same walk I did on Friday.  You do end up doing double ups after a while on the Urban Challenge, because only about 5 walks are released for walking every few weeks.  So, once you have done them, you have to repeat them, or do some of the social walks.

ABOVE:  After my walk I am coming home to do some serious cutting out!  I am dying to make a couple of runners using the new fabrics.  New fabric is exciting! So, I've sorted out lots of fabrics that I can cut out today into strips.  I'll be bitching by the end of the day, to be sure. 😖😄😂

ABOVE:  I am sure this bedspread is dry now, so I can put it back on the bed in the front bedroom.  It looks like I've managed to get the stain out of it, thank goodness!  It would have been a bloody disaster if it hadn't come out.  

Tomorrow, as I have no walk planned, I will be going to that shop in Te Aroha to swap one of the cushions we bought on Saturday.  I had thought of going today, but I just don't feel like it.

ONWARD...

12.34 pm:  And what a shitty morning.... fog so thick is was WET.   I went on the FBG walk, and the fog just made it so cold and damp.

But, it was a nice walk all the same.  A nice group of ladies today, plus one bloke, who is nice as well.

ABOVE:  We really did take over the roads today!

ABOVE: Our walk leader is always the one who takes our photo, so today I ran ahead and snapped one of her.  She's the chick in the front, on the right flapping her arms around.  *smiles*

She's a really good leader and lots of fun.

I'm having quite a few problems getting my funny faces on photos today.  Most annoying.

Hopefully when the 'official' walk photo comes in, the glitches will be over.

NO walk stat pic today, I totally forgot to press 'START', so it wasn't recorded.

It's the same walk as last Friday, so 5.35 kms long, took about an hour.

I'm now trying my best to warm up again.  We still have a thick fog outside, even though it's past midday!

It may not even lift today, it's been known to happen before.

OMG!  Do you remember when I had nagging toothache?  Like about 5-6 years ago?  And my dentist in Cambridge sent a referral to the hospital for me to be seen there?  And NOTHING happened?  And I still have on/off toothache, but know that I can't have the tooth pulled out like a 'normal' person due to my bleeding issue?

Guess what?  I just heard from the hospital!!!

And they are going to see me 'some time' soon.

Like WTF?   It has only taken like 5, maybe 6 YEARS for them to get back to me.

And like.... I'm shocked.

And I'm still sitting in my lounge chair, with a hot pod on my lap... trying not to fall asleep!

And I've not done any cutting out today AT ALL.  Fuck I'm a bit lazy.

ABOVE: Today's official walk photo.  As you can see, I kept my jacket on for today's walk, it was that cold!

And the day has not warmed up one iota!  It's not exactly foggy anymore, but there is no blue sky out there.  It's A HORRIBLE GREY DAY.

I have just prepped our dinner, which is going to be chicken and potato wedges, baked in the oven, with a lettuce side salad.

Right now though, I might venture into the sewing room.  I have an idea....  which I will share tomorrow.  I have to set it up.

ABOVE:  Tonight is the first time I have used both top and bottom ovens at the same time.   Remember, they can be operated independently of each other, which is wicked. 

My old oven took about 25-30 minutes to get to temperature.  This one?   About 3 minutes!  It's amazing.  I LOVE IT.   If we ever move (and we probably will one day) I'm gunna get this oven again.  And the induction cooktop.

I love them both SOOOOOoooo much.

Nothing beats up-to-date kitchen appliances.  I wish I'd done it sooner.

Our dinner was really lovely.  Everything cooked perfectly in the oven(s).

And now, it's time to sign off for the day.

RETURNING TO TE AROHA

 

Because we didn't have any firm plans for our day, we have decided to return to Te Aroha and swap out the 'wrong' cushion, that way I don't need to go on my own in the coming week after all.

So, we shall have another little day trip.  Which will be nice I'm sure.

ABOVE:  Coco is looking decidedly better than she was a week or two ago.  I knew it wouldn't take too long to 'recover' from her terrible haircut.  😌😊😉

You can hardly see where I made her bald on the top of her head!  ha ha ha.

Obviously, I won't be doing that again.

And that's me for now...

ONWARD...

FUMING!

We have driven over to Te Aroha, having seen online that the shop is open today.

And ITS NOT.

We are rather annoyed.  I've tried ringing her, but her phone just goes to answer machine. Grrrrrr.

Looks like a wasted trip.

Heading home shortly... just giving her a chance to listen to her messages, and PERHAPS reply? 

12 noon.  Home again. I will now have to go back during the week.  I will TRY to be polite, but it's gunna be difficult.  

Moving on.  Stew and I are now doing to do some work around the house.  Nothing riveting.

We just spent over 2 hours doing new Wills and other Legal Documents.  OMG what a mission.  But it's done now, and finally we can relax.

We 'celebrated' accomplishing that mission with an ice cream at The Base.

It was worth it. 😋😊

But I certainly won't be needing any dinner now.

I'm full as a bull.

Slight change of plans ... I ended up making Stew and I a small salad each for dinner.  Which was nice for a change.

Better get back on track after the past couple of days, where I've been a bit off track.

After dinner I did some work in the sewing room, setting some fabric out for tomorrow.

Now though, it's 10.10 pm and I'm ready to sign off for the day.

HEADING FOR SUMMER AGAIN

 Well... we do not have any plans for today at all!

Yes, Stew will go and do his usual Saturday morning shop.  Fill the fridge up with diet coke 'n' beer.

But that's about it as far as plans go.

Steve and Co are coming over later on today, so the guys can watch the rugby.  Of course.

I suppose I should think about what to do for dinner for them.  But it can wait till later.

Shit I just remembered!  I had to soak the white bedspread from the front bedroom in the bath yesterday... and it's still in the freakin' bath!  So I better haul that out and hang it outside to dry.

It got a stain on it somehow... which was rather upsetting as it is new, and cost quite a lot of money.  I hope I got the stain out.  Time will tell.

Yesterday was the shortest day... which means today we are heading for summer again!  Whoop.  I think I prefer summer.

ONWARD...

Right, the shopping is done.

And we are going out for brunch to probably either Te Aroha or Morrinsville.  Just gunna have a little tiki tour.  Should be home well in time for visitors later on in the day.

ABOVE: Ahhh...WHOOPS! It wasn't supposed to be a shopping trip 🤣😂🙃.

Might leave Te Aroha now....

12.37 pm, and we have ended up back in Hamilton for lunch! We just didn't feel like trying out a random place for brunch and not enjoying it... so we are at one if our favourite eateries, The Foundation at The Base. 

ABOVE:  I got 9 metres of glorious fabrics at Aroha Quilts in Te Aroha, after saying to Stew I didn't need any more fabric!

Ha ha ha!

We also bought a couple of new cushions, but when we got home and took them out of the bag, we found the sales lady had put two the exact same in our bag.  NOT what we wanted, so I will be taking one back sometime this coming week.

ABOVE: As per usual, we ordered far too much food.  I only had one piece of pizza, 4 onion rings and a VERY SMALL helping of the loaded wedges.

ABOVE: The left overs came home for Stew's dinner.  He's a  happy man.

It's now 1.50 pm, and a quiet afternoon stretches ahead of us.  Which is nice. 

ABOVE:  We are having a lovely evening, lots of laughs and good food.  The game the guys want to watch is just starting... KICK OFF time!

FRIDAY

 

Hee hee... another 'saucy' one!  lol

OK.... today?

The only thing I have 'on' is a walk in Cambridge at 1 pm. 

So it could be a cruisy day.

I don't have to list our double fridge/freezer for sale now.  Lacy is taking it.  Awesome.  No hassle having to list and sell it online.

Now I have to hunt around for what next I can get rid of!

Probably our Cross Trainer.  Neither of us use it, so yeah, it can go.

I walk around our house 'mentally' and just love how UNCLUTTERED it is now.  In fact, this morning I might work on doing a bit more in the garage.  There's heaps in there that can be sorted through some more.

I watched a couple of You Tube videos last night on my new 'condition' : Sacroiliitis.  They were very informative.  When I went to bed last night I tried one of the recommended positions to sleep in. On my tummy with a pillow under the lower belly.  Wasn't bad, but it's too early to see if it makes a difference.

The one position I will never try is the one where you lie on ya back with pillows under your legs.  I cannot sleep on my back at all... never have been able to.  

Stew does.  The bloody shit.

It makes him snore.   EVEN WORSE if he's had a few drinks.  Like last night. 

Luckily, his snoring isn't TOO loud, otherwise he'd have 16 little stab holes in his chest by now. 😂😉😅

ONWARD...

11.30 am: well not to much to yabber on about right now.  It's been a quiet morning here.  I just pottered around in the garage, didn't get much done at all really.

I know I should be doing some sewing, but I'm just not in the mood right now.

I did end up going to the supermarket again!  Just for some buns for dinner.  New World make these cute as Ciabatta Bites that the kids love.  We have some family here for dinner tonight.

ABOVE:  Dante and Archer can and DO eat an entire packet of these in one sitting!

Right, I'm going to get changed into me walking clothes  and head off to Cambridge shortly.

ABOVE:  First time this year and I did not enjoy my walk at all.

There were 17 of us.  I was the 'odd' man out, and didn't have a walking partner.

So I walked at the back for the first half, and just dawdled along.

Second half I went up the front and did my own thing... had a bit of conversation with a couple of them, but meh.  Not enjoyable at all today.

Should have stayed home.

ABOVE: Walk stats.  At least it was a decent distance.

Now I'm home, the weather is glorious, the house is nice and warm and I'm having some potato chips for afternoon tea. 

OH and my hips/lower back are quite sore now.  I am wondering if lying on my back  edit:  FRONT all night was a good idea?  Or just too much walking.  I may never know. 

6.21 pm:  my job is done.  Family is fed.  Now I can relax for the remainder of the evening.

Tonight I am going to lie on my side with a pillow between my knees, and see how my SI Joints feel in the morning and during the day.

I almost always lie on my left side anyway, but not with a pillow.  And funnily enough, it's my left side that is the worst.

I also read that sitting for long periods of time is bad for you if you have SI Joint problems.  

I guess sewing for hours, days on end might not be the best then?  lol

OK, enough on that topic for the day.  I'm going to sign off now.

REST DAY

 

Meh... I really don't feel like getting up this morning.  It's bloody cold.

I think I will be turning on the heat pump for a couple of hours, just to get it above the current 8 degrees in here!

I have no walk planned today.  Instead, I shall be heading into the sewing room and getting a few Kiwiana Runners made, ready for quilting.

I've got 5 ready to start stitching up in fact, so that's a good start for the day.

I will take a quick dash to the supermarket sometime this morning too.  We have run out of a few essentials.  Now days I shop every 3-4 days, no more once a fortnight shopping for me. It's so much easier to just go more often and not have to lug home $500 worth of groceries in one go!

I can still remember the days I'd go once a fortnight, and spend over $800 to feed the family!  I bet if I bought the same amount now it would cost WELL over a thousand bucks.

It's bloody wonderful only having to feed 2 now.

I have the washing machine repair man coming at 1 pm.  Gosh  I really hope the machine can be fixed for less that an arm and a leg!

I will be getting a quote for repairs before I let him proceed.  No way am I just gunna say "Fix it", then get a huge bill.  I'm still fuming that a 3 year old machine has broken down!  

Lacy is visiting me this afternoon.  I have asked her to come and do a couple of jobs for me.  Ones that would have required me to do quite a bit of bending over.  I don't want to risk aggravating my lower back right now, as my hips/back are still a teeny bit sensitive.  So, I am looking forward to her coming over.  *smiles* 

ONWARD...

11.34 am. Best laid plans.. ha ha ha!

I decided to visit the doctor. The hips/back were still bothering me so I thought, why not just go? So go I did. 

I stood in a queue for 45 minutes, then waited another 30 minutes before seeing a doctor.

Then I went to get THE DRUGS. 

I could get everything except TRULICITY.  Theres NONE in the country.

So I'm no longer on it.

Fine by me. I didn't feel like it was doing much for me anyway.

I still firmly believe weight loss is totally down to your own motivation and will power.

YES,  sometimes you need a hand..  but for me at least, I'm going to rely on my own bloody mindness.

ABOVE:  So according to the Doctor, and after much manipulation of my body and legs... the problem is my Sacroiliac Joint, deep in the pelvic area.  NOT my hips per se.

She had given me anti inflammatory medication and pain meds.

I am now going to do some of my own research, and see what I can do to help the situation.

Walking is OK, so said the doc.

Sitting is more of a problem.  Who knew?  lol

It is nearly 1 pm, so the repair man should be here soon.

1.45 pm:  And he's been, fixed a disconnected wire in the back of the machine and BOOM!  Its going again.  Thank god I only had to pay a call out fee, which covered his half hour of labour as well.  Bloody nice guy as well.  

ABOVE:  Well I'm safe from aggravating my S.Joint... I don't do any of those things!  lol

I ended up at the pub with Stew and his mates this evening.  It wasn't planned, but I got bored at home on me own.  I had a nice time hanging out with them.  Not something I want to do too often though, cos the 'diet coke' at the pub is actually Coke NO Sugar and it's bloody horrible!  Well, the flat pub stuff is.

Once we arrived home, we just watched the telly till bedtime.  Which is now.

A SAUCY ONE!

 A 'saucy' Rise and Shine for you today! lol

Now, today.  IF it's not raining, I'm off to Cambridge for an FBG walk at 9.30.

If it's called off due to rain, I'll probably go for a walk at the mall.  I spent WAY too much time on me bum reading yesterday, so definitely need the exercise!

AND... Lacy and I are going for a walk around our lake after lunch, which we are both looking forward to so much.  It's been so long since we did that.

After that, I'm going to visit Bex for a little while, before coming home and having a break.

I'll probably need it by then.  😊😉 

ONWARD...

11.44 am:  Well the weather has played nice, and it's a very crisp, fine winter's day.

The FBG walk was really neat, no photo yet.

I stayed for a natter at a coffee shop before coming home.  Oh and had a rather lovely sausage roll with side salad for an early lunch.

Lacy is due here shortly, and we will go for our little walk.

ABOVE: FBG walk stats for the day.  A slightly longer walk this morning.  Can't say I noticed, I was too busy gas bagging to HG.

ABOVE:  Just in... our walk photo.  Nice bunch of people to walk with.

Lacy just arrived and she's rearing to go... so we will GO.

ABOVE:  such a lovely photo of us!  And the ducks.

ABOVE:  So, two walks today, which I am rather happy with.  9.24 kms today!  Best I've done in a long time.

Now... home for a little rest before going to visit Bex and the kids.

OK, where the hell is everyone?   It is like deserted on here.  *sniff*

I had a nap after all that walking.  I was frozen and wrapped myself up in blankets and a hotpod, hoodie on me head even!  It was very nice just relaxing.

Stew just arrived home and woke me up, how inconsiderate!

He can get his own dinner for that.

I do have some sausages already cooked in the fridge for him, so at least I did that.

I am now going to continue doing nothing, might watch the news on the telly, then Coronation Street before going to bed.

Sadly, those sausages got thrown in the bin!  Stew had bought them from Pak 'N' Save.  Inhouse sausages.  There were horrific.  Full of fat, and there was something wrong with the mix because they fell to bits.  Just ikkk.

We didn't even think they were suitable for the dogs!  In the bin they went.

Now... I'm going to sign off for the day.

HOW TYPICAL

 

Our 'new' washing machine isn't working.

ERROR 50...  nothing I do makes it change or stop it flashing, and not going again.

So, after exactly 3 years and one month, it's broken down and I am gunna have to get a serviceman in to (hopefully) fix it.

Worst thing is the repair will probably cost almost as much as getting a new one.

I am livid.  You don't expect a machine that cost you thousands of dollars to break down after only 3 years.   Grrrrr.

Right.  Bitch over.  As soon as it's a decent time, I will be ringing around to find someone who can come out and fix the bloody thing.

I'm going to do some housework this morning.

And so far, that's all I have on my agenda.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: And there's 35 minutes I'm never getting back.  Syphoning out the water from the washing machine.

I figured the repairman would have to do that, so I did it for him.  Saves some $time.

I've just sent an email request for a machine service to a local repair company.  Let's see how long it takes for them to get back to me.

In the meantime, I'm now freezing and am going to warm up before I do anything else.

2.20 pm:  Result.  I've got a bloke coming to look at the washing machine on Thursday afternoon.

I had to take all Stew's shirts out of the machine and hand wash them, then chuck them in the drier.  They wouldn't have dried outside today, it's too overcast and dreary.

I had another go at listening to an audio book... so far it's not too bad.

The Ebook is still waiting as well, so I've got plenty to amuse myself with.

I went back to reading the Ebook this afternoon.

Reading on my phone is not that good for the eyes!  I have stopped for a while, and everything is blurry!

I tried setting up the 'Borrow Book' App on my laptop, but couldn't for whatever reason.  It said my laptop was undiscoverable.  Grrr.

It would certainly be easier to read on the laptop.

But never mind.  I've got about 80 pages to go to finish the book.  It's still a damn good read.

I made a pizza for lunch, it was rather nice.  Stew gets the rest for his dinner.  Again, I don't have to 'cook' when he gets home.  Excellent. 😋😊

Oh in case I've not mentioned it... my hip pain is all but gone!  So relieved.  I still get up in the morning with a mild lower back ache, but that's not new.  The pain all depends on what position I slept in.  

It had nothing to do with the weird new pains I experienced recently.  Long may it stay away.

5.32 pm:  And I finished the EBook, and immediately got another one by the same author.  It was that good.  Some might say a bit long winded in places, fanciful in many places, but a good read all the same.  Certainly entertaining.

Now.. I'm again all blurry eyed.  Stew's dinner is heating in the oven and I'm surprised it's gone pitch black outside already.

Time to close the curtains and look forward to a quiet evening.

The last item that I listed on Facebook Marketplace got picked up this evening.   So now I have nothing for sale right now.  Gimme a day or two, I'm sure I will have something else to list.

Now, I'm watching Coronation Street, then going off to bed.

WORST BOOK EVER

  

Last night I finished the first book I've read in years.

It was A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.  418 pages of thinking... when is something going to happen/get to the point?

There was so much pointless detail, tedious explanations of shit not necessary to the story... I was so cross by the time I finished it!

ABOVE:  I started out enjoying reading it... but now I am going to throw it in the bloody bin!

I wouldn't inflict it on anyone else.

I kept reading it, hoping it would open up and become less tedious, but no. 😖😡

Now I'm not sure if I will even bother trying to find another good book to read.  OR at least, not read another by that author.

Back to today.  I'm going to Cambridge first thing this morning for a 9.30 am walk with the FGB's.

My hip/back is only very mildly painful now, so I do believe I'm on the mend from whatever was causing the pain.  Hopefully I've avoided a trip to the Dr.

The third thing I listed on Trade Me Marketplace will probably be sold by the end of today.      

I have a double fridge freezer next to sell.  I hope to list it sometime this week.  Slowly working my way through things we simply do not need, and getting rid of them. 

Right, off to start my day.

ONWARD...

12.56 pm:  Well I'm home quite late today.

I did my FBG walk, it was lovely.  We all got a little wet, but not too badly.

Coffee (read pink iced bun) later, and I headed back to Hamilton. Where I went to the library, signed up and can now use their Ebook and Audio Book library.

No more buying a book!  I now have to work out how to use it.   I have downloaded two books, one's an ebook and ones an audio book.

I will let ya know how I go with them.

ABOVE: Today's walk stats.  Ignore the time, I forgot to turn it off when we finished for a while.

It's now lunchtime and I'm not very hungry.  I might give it a miss.

I want to try the audio book!  😊😉

ABOVE:  It took a while, but here it is.  Today's fun walk photo.

This afternoon I have started reading an ebook.

It's called 'The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared'. So far I am enjoying it!

I did start listening to an audio book, but actually didn't like it very much.  It might have been the narrators voices I didn't like?  But either way, I  am enjoying this ebook for now. 

4.49 pm:  I'm reading this book.... and get to page 226 on me phone.. and there's a pile of shit involved.  And I can't stop laughing, and I laughed so much I cried.  It's  been a very long time since a book made me laugh that much.   BACK....    TO.....      IT.

The sign of a good book?  You can't stop reading it.  I have been reading this book for hours.  I've laughed several times now.  It is so interesting.

It is not my usual sort of book either... so I am very happy.  Nice to read something slightly different.

Stew came home, kissed me and then got his own dinner.  I had prepared it, so I didn't feel like a bad wife.  😉

I'm now torn between wanting to read more, or leaving it for tomorrow.  I have nothing on tomorrow, except wait for the second thing I put on Facebook Marketplace to be picked up.  Then all three things will be gone.

From now on I will be listing anything I want to sell on Facebook.  No more Trade Me for me.  Sad I've got a bit of money left in my account with them.  I don't think I can get it back either.  I will try though.

Right, that's me for the day.

BIG SLEEP IN

 

Stew and I are going to have a really big sleep in today.

Once up ... we shall have a really nice, relaxing morning.  I might get a load of washing on, but that's about it.

We are expecting Lacy to drop Keera off to us at lunchtime.  We are going to be taking her to lunch, then a wander around the mall.

I am going to be buying two new Hot Pods today .... I do not like the wheat bag.  It doesn't stay hot for very long, and I am not liking the smell either. 

I've had two Hot Pods before, and they lasted 2 winters, so it's well worth getting some new ones.

So, that's our plans for a good chunk of the day.

I saw this on Facebook last night:

ABOVE:  This is ME.  You can change the word 'Chips' to : lollies, chocolate, cake, pretzels, dried fruit, ice cream, you get the drift.

And I know anyone who's ever been on a diet feels the same.

Who's feeling the same RIGHT NOW?  Or will in a couple of hours/days?

While it's annoying feeling deprived... if you want to succeed in losing some weight, it takes will power.

And I'm doing something right, cos last week I lost 1.1 kgs.

It's not all about denial though.  I do have some treats, just not every day.  And I am keeping up my exercise, which helps for sure.

It's a long process, but the end result is worth it.  Whatever reason you have to lose weight... Keep it up.  WE.  CAN.  DO.  IT.

ONWARD...

Well... I just learnt a lesson everyone has been telling me about.

FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE.   I listed 4 things on Trade Me a week ago.  Didn't sell any of them.

Lacy took one.

This morning I listed the other three on TM Marketplace.

Already sold two of them!  

And no fees.  Derrr, why didn't I do that earlier, without having to pay fees?

Lesson learnt.

Today is going like clockwork.  Getting odd jobs done.  Then going out for lunch, which I'm looking forward to.

It's a bit chilly today, but not raining.  That's coming later on for sure.

2.20 pm:  Well our lunch at the mall was OK.  Keera enjoyed her McDonald's.

ABOVE:  The kid still enjoys a McDonald's Happy Meal.  I was shocked at the size of the burgers now!  So small.  Daylight robbery.

On our way home we stopped in at the supermarket for some fruit and ice cream.  

Now home, and Keera is heading home with her Mum, and we are going to have a quiet afternoon.  My new hotpods are on my lap, they are so good!

I had a lady call in this afternoon to pick up one of the items I listed on FB Marketplace.  The second item is going in a couple of weeks (to a cousin of mine) and the third item looks like it will be sold by tomorrow night.  So that's called a RESULT! 

Apart from that, it's been a quiet afternoon and evening.  Just keeping warm, watching TV and reading.