AlleyCat

Roadrunner

2012-01-19T13:32:00.002+11:00

I'm a road runner baby! Last night I ran my furtherest distance outdoors ever! GPS said 8.75, but measuring on the map it was more like 8.25.

My cold didn't eventuate last week. I felt like shite for a couple of days, but the snotty nose didn't arrive. Had a few sleep ins & it seemed to disappear.

We went to Warrnambool on the weekend to see the family; dinner on Friday night with our international visitors who'd headed from me to there via the great ocean road. BBQ in a park by the beach with our cousins & their tribes of kids; Saturday night pizza. My sis bought her family a Wii at the boxing day sales, so the girls (10,12 & 17) were mad on Just Dance. I laughed so hard I cried @ plumbing boy doing his thing with the 10 & 12 year olds. Even Mumsy had a go. Dad decided it was time to depart before he was further harassed into getting up on the dance floor.

Back to normality this week with all our staff back from annual leave. I've still been flat out though with PB in the office a lot peering over my shoulder hence the lack of posts!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Laters!

Delirium

2012-01-10T14:57:00.003+11:00

I think I'm high on cold n flu tabs. Sore throat, ear ache, general body ache, yearning for chicken broth. Yep, I think I'm getting sick, damn it. I don't really like cold n flu tabs & would much rather go try a nap, but there's no-one to look after the office this week so I'll just have to soldier on.

We have visitors as well which makes feeling sick crapper. When I was a teenager, on the farm we had international agricultural exchange students to help out on the farm for 6 - 8 months depending on which program they'd signed up on. We fed & lodged them & paid a minimum wage, while they had a food, a family to live with, work & the opportunity to travel.

Our 3rd student was A.M. who's on a trip her now with her Dad for their joint 50 & 70th birthdays respectively from Quebec. She was last here 25 years ago; I was sweet 16. Probably not that sweet if you ask my ma.

She's still as animated & sweet as I remembered her. And Bless her if she didn't bring with her for us to keep, 3 letters my Grandpa wrote to her after she went home; they were written in 89, 9o & 94. I might publish them at some point if I think they are still interesting enough.

Anyhoo. I better get my delirious butt back to work. Sniff.

OMG STFU!

2012-01-09T07:00:00.003+11:00

Plumbing Boy's niece gave us these for Christmas! She was worried he wouldn't understand either of them. Funnily enough he responded to them exactly as I responded to her when she gave them to me. Something about writing a particular staff members name in black texta under the STFU! Hilarious.

Thought it was about time I road tested my morning coffee in one of them (& no, it's not the instant Moccona - percolated Lavazza if you please!). Now. STFU. I'm trying to drink my coffee in peace please! :0)

Happy Monday Peeps!

Good Old Boys

2012-01-05T08:25:00.007+11:00

I woke up yesterday with a Don Williams tune in my head; so of course my morning run was a little bit country AND a little bit western.

I set out listening to Don, Johnny Cash, Billy Brag & Wilco, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson. Who would have thought my "a little bit country" play list would work for running!

I added on 1km yesterday: after running 5.5kms for almost 2 weeks, this was my first attempt at 6.5kms outdoors. I probably could have run further, but didn't want to break anything. I'll keep at this distance for a week or so.

I'm technically starting the Up & Running training schedule (again) this week, but am modifying it as per physios recommendation & leaving out any speed work. I'll be loosely following it & am about to(?) commit to a 10km race at the end of Feb.

I'm really nervous about it, especially as I didn't make the last one I signed up for (due to daft calf injury). I was listening to a life coach briefly on 3RRR this morning, who was talking about goal setting & a little fear is as good thing, she said. It helps motivate & fear of failing pushes you to succeed.

I hope I can do it this time. As physio said, I've just got to get the kms under my belt. I'm not attempting to run fast, but to just extend the kms slowly.

Wish me luck!

Here are some pic's I took a couple of weeks ago after a run that felt particularly hard, but on reviewing, I found it was because I'd run almost 3 minutes faster than previously at that distance.
It was hard because I was running faster!

I rounded the corner to home & saw this glorious sunrise that had been at my back for the past 15 minutes. "scuse the power lines!

Chocolate Cups & Xmas

2012-01-04T12:25:00.012+11:00

I spent Christmas Eve making more Chocolate Cups!

And I remembered to take pictures of the finished product this time. Ta Da!!!!!!

This is my cousin's new puppy. Apparently he's doubled in size & she's only had him a couple of months. He wouldn't sit still on Christmas day for me to take a photo, so this is one Jax took earlier.

This is the beginning (or ending) of the woeful Melbourne weather on Christmas afternoon. We were driving back through it from East to West.

Easing up a bit here. We did get hailed on, but only by less than 5 cent piece size stones as opposed to the snowball sized ones that damaged a lot of cars.

By the time we made it back to the workshop, it was just steady fat rain drops (I'm looking out of our workshop - the building is the one across the street from us).

Them be all my belated Christmas Photos.....................................not very exciting I know.

The desert was bloody good. Tully - I recon the raspberry sauce IS better if you cook it down - it's thicker & syrupy. Use the same recipe, just simmer in a saucepan until has reduced to your liking (cool then strain)!

Happy New Year & other stuff

2012-01-03T13:46:00.002+11:00

Happy New Year peeps! Hope you had a good one where ever you were. Me, I stayed home with Plumbing Boy this year. I was given a late leave pass to go play with my mates at a house party & in fact called one of the said mates & made a bit of a plan, then 30 minutes later cancelled! Very unlike me I know - turning down the opportunity to party!!!

PB had 2 x plumbing jobs late/arvo early evening & was going to have to fend for himself for dinner. He'd decided on take away; he also usually ends up in bed before 10pm, leaving me to watch TV or a DVD on my lonesome anyway, hence me often going out on New Years with out him, but this year I just couldn't do it!

I toddled off to the stupidmarket & got a few supplies for dinner, a bottle of Champers & a couple of DVD's. PB didn't make it home til 9pm & managed to stay up til 11pm watching a (fairly lame) action DVD with me. I struggled to keep my peepers open til 12.......I actually heard the fire works, then changed the channel on the TV so I could see them as well.

Since Christmas we've been slaving like demons at work. The office has been closed & I've been cleaning out & restocking plumbing trucks & PB has been working on operation clean up the factory & make homes for everything. He's not the tidiest lad on the planet himself, so he can hardly go spare at anyone at work for not putting stuff away, especially if it doesn't actually have a home.

I think this year will be Operation Organisation around here!

This reminded me to have a peek back at last years "changes" I'd hoped to achieve (as opposed to resolutions) & they were as follows:

#Stop defining myself as old/saying out loud that I am old - my age is not relevant.

Have been quite mindful of this & think I've reasonably successfully changed my mind set on this one.

#Stop feeling guilty for time spent on myself.

This one still needs work, but I've been kinder to myself.

#Stretches - do them.

Ahem. Failed this one.

#Look after my nails.

I did manage to use hand cream every day (it lives on my desk) however no fingernail painting occurred. I did paint my toenails 4 times this year as opposed to once the year before!

#Stop frowning.

Yes, made a conscious effort on this one too. I think being mindful of tension helps with stress levels too.

#Exercise - do it! Specifically, run 3 x times per week, working up to 10kms, then doing 1 x 10km & 2 x shorter runs (no less than 5kms) each week. Pump or free weights 2 x times per week.15 mins of Abs/Core every day at home - just a couple of planks & some crunches will do. My middle has gone very soft.

My middles is still quite soft!!! And the Physio told me not to do planks!!! He recons they are over rated. I'm not sure about that yet! After multiple injuries this year (bothered tendon between glute & hammy; multiple calf pulls; RSI/chronic overuse syndrome in shoulder/elbow/forearm) I'm back running. I didn't make my 10km race due to said injuries, but have run 5 days per week for the past 5 weeks under the guidance of my physio. I haven't done my elbow any favours over the past 10 days of operation organisation. Lets just say it hurts. I've not done pump in months & don't foresee doing it for at least a couple of months considering how slow this elbow/forearm thing is progressing, even using left handed mouse! Meh, you win some, you lose some. I've been diligent with the calf exercises & trying to be better at the glute activation exercises!

#Finish off my Fit Fab & Forty Challenge. Specifically, getting my waist measurement under 80cms & reducing my body fat %. Ideally I'd like to have done this by Easter, which is 4 months away. The rest the year shall be spent maintaining this!

Spectacular fail. As my waist measurement was under 80cms when I made this plan, I suspect I meant belly button measurement!!! Last time I took it 9/12 it was 87cms. Will be interesting to see if a months running has helped! Although I've been a bit slack with eating over the Christmas break & had an alcoholic bevie every night; it was back into routine January 1st. Maybe I'll give it a couple of weeks :0)

#Curb Alcohol consumption. Specifically on week nights.

A big gold star 3 please!. While it took me 8 months to commit to this (I started in August) & after weaning for 4 weeks I've been booze free Sunday to Thursday since (until Christmas) & am back on the wagon already. This is a big thing for me, as usually October - March when I find it hardest not to drink!

#Pay more attention to food/meal portion control.

Probably around 50% success rate. Considering the scale weight hasn't budged much, I haven't paid enough attention perhaps!!!!! PB has really got on board with this in the past month or so, so that should help!

So. That's how it played out. I'm going to ponder some changes I'd like to make for 2012 & some specific things I want to achieve, so in my best SJP accent, "stay tuned"!

Festivus

2011-12-26T12:56:00.002+11:00

I'm a little late, but I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, Happy Bahumbug.................or what ever it is you celebrate or don't celebrate!!! I hope you've all had a stress free day & managed to spend some quality time with those you love.

Me, I'm ready for a lie down after eating myself stupid yesterday; & I probably should have passed on that last glass of wine! I'm all tidied & ready for the parental arrival later today & have dusted off the Scrabble board (Plumbing Boy wont play with me!) in preparation.

I ran 27.5 kms last week (5 x 5.5 kms) & am feeling pretty good about it. Haven't decided whether to continue with this distance for another week or whether to up it to 6 or 6.5kms......guess I'll see how I feel in them morning!

The office is closed next week, but I'm still on phone duty. It's running hot today after yesterday's storm damage! We were actually in the street that showed the smashed windscreens on the news last night not long after it happened. PB had got a plumbing job on his way home from Xmas lunch yesterday & I went along for the ride. We counted 10 cars in 2 blocks with smashed front & rear windscreens!!!

Anyhoo. Hope you all have some time to relax & chill this coming week.

HO HO HO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chocolate Cup Recipe

2011-12-12T11:59:00.043+11:00

THE CHOCOLATE CUP
Buy them pre made if you want OR to make them yourself....................

Utensils & Ingredients:
Silicone cup cake moulds – I got mine from Big W, I have regular cupcake (7cm diameter at top & 3.5cm deep) & mini cup cake (5cm diameter at top & 2cm deep) ones.

Saucepan x 1
Heatproof bowl x 1
Small Spatula x 1
Desert spoon x 1
Baking Tray x 1

To make 8 big cups or 12 mini cups

Chocolate 200g (I used Lindt Special Dark Cooking Chocolate)

Method:
1. Put your silicone moulds in the freezer for ½ hour.

2. Get out a baking tray & cover with with Glad Go between (or glad wrap would also do the trick).

3. Place a saucepan on cook top ½ filled with water & bring to boil, then turn down to simmer.

4. Put chocolate in a metal or ceramic bowl & put on top of saucepan so heat melts chocolate. DO NOT get any water in the chocolate! Mix with a metal spoon until melted.

5. Remove chocolate from heat (& turn off heat source); allow the chocolate to cool for 5 minutes (will thicken back up a bit).

6. Get your moulds out of the freezer & using the desert teaspoon, pour some melted chocolate around the sides of the mould, rotating the mould until the sides are covered. You will get chocolate all over your fingers.

7. Place right side up on the tray. Repeat until you have done all your moulds.

8. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

9. Remove from fridge/freezer & then using a small spatula, coat the walls of the mould only & place back on tray upside down.

10. Put back in fridge/freezer til set, 20 minutes should be OK or overnight if you are sick of the sight of them!!!

11. Gently prise the mould where you can grab hold of it away from the side of the wall of the cup. When you have enough to grip properly, place the mould upside down & peel the rest of the mould off. This should help to stop the walls from breaking.

12. Place in a container in the fridge until you are ready to use them (could do this a week in advance if you have the fridge space).

The Filling:

#Mascarpone Cheese x 200g (can use 1/2 whipped cream, 1/2 cheese if you like)
#1 Tablespoon of Caster Sugar (or to taste)
#Rind (micro planed) & Juice of 1 x Lemon (to taste)
#Electric Mixer (or hand held with a bowl)

1. Using an electric mixer, whip cheese with lemon rind & juice to taste for approximately 1 minute.

2. Spoon into chocolate moulds filling to approximately 2/3rds - 3/4.

3. Place back into the fridge until you are ready to serve by adding the blueberries & raspberry coulis.

The Toppings:

Fruit:
#150g Blueberries

Spoon on top of the Mascarpone cheese to fill the cups.

Raspberry Coulis:

Can be made up to 3 days in advance.....

#100g Raspberries
#1 x Tablespoon Caster Sugar (or to taste)
#Balsamic Vinegar OR Lemon Juice to taste (approximately 1 Tablespoon of either)
#Blender/Vitamiser

1. Blend all ingredients to taste approximately 2 – 3 minutes until sugar dissolves. I prefer a good aged balsamic vinegar & like the raspberry coulis to be tarter than the cheesy lemon mixture as the chocolate is very rich.

2. Pass through a fine sieve to get rid of the raspberry seeds.
Pour over the blueberries. If doing individual serves, you can pour some into the bowl/plate as well for effect.

Garnish:
Mint x 1 bunch.
Pluck off pairs of the smaller leaves & place onto of the dish.

Bon Appetite!!!

You'll have to use your imagination here, as I forgot to take a pic of the finished platters. This is the only one I broke so gave it to plumbing boy as a sampler. I'd not yet bought the mint & I defrosted the blueberries in the microwave for this one only & I didn't check the temperature (what not to do!!!) & you can see where they have melted the sides of the cup!!! This one is a bit leaky, but imagine it filled to the brim with blueberries with the coulis on top & the mint spring.............

There were 40 people at the party, & I made 9 large & 40 small: they were all gone in 15 minutes so I'd say they must have tasted OK!

As I said in a previous post, the party was for one of our God daughters who is off to France on a school exchange for 6 weeks. On Saturday we went to the airport to see her off. There were 30 kids from her school going & 30 from another on the same plane so there were kids everywhere! She was fairly nervous, but she ended up being the one to console a couple of her friends who were in tears, bless her! She's a lucky duck to be off on such a marvelous adventure @ 16. I hope she has a white Christmas!

What UP???

2011-12-07T09:01:00.003+11:00

What up Peeps?

Life is exceedingly busy this time of year! I finally got to see Breaking Dawn Pt 1 on the weekend & really enjoyed it. My niece saw it the weekend before & sent me a text telling me it was a load of vampire crap. She hadn't read the book so didn't really get it I guess. I've just finished reading the book & it was as good as the first time I read it! Cant wait for the part 2 film.

Next on the reading agenda is "The Slap". Santa might be bringing us the DVD set for Christmas so I want to read the book first.

We have our work Christmas Party this Friday night & a BBQ to go to Saturday night so I suspect I'll be feeling a little weary Sunday.

I've run the past 8 days out of 9 & the last 2 days I've run the whole way around the 4.77km loop except the first 200 metres which I walk & swing my arms about like a crazy lady to warm up.

Stats:
29/11 38.38 mins, max heart rate 152, average heart rate 125
30/11 37.01 mins, heart rate monitor didn't record
1/12 37.01 mins, max 155, av 129
2/12 39.17 mins max 171, av 137
3/12 35.10 mins, max 168, av 144
5/12 36.57 mins, max 164, av 131
6/12 32.57 mins, max 164, av 140
7/12 30.21 mins said my max was 218 2 mins into the work out.....not working me thinks!

I think I hold my breath when I change from one play list to the other, giving me oddish max spikes & don't ask about this mornings stats!! I'm happy with the time 6.31 minutes per Km including the 200m I walked. I used my old running play list this morning, the music is faster & I felt more like I was running rather than shuffling!

I was really enjoying my slower play list though:

Billy Brag: Great Leap Forward
Black Crowes: Remedy
Buffalo Tom: Staples
Eddie Vedder: Hard Sun
Sisters Of Mercy: Temple of Love
Rage Against The Machine: Killing in the name of

The last two songs were off my old play list.....needed the motivation to get home! I'm going to keep on with the morning runs & increase the distance to 5kms til Christmas to condition my body, then I'll start up the Up & Running 10km 8.5 week training plan again & see if I can't run me that 10km race!!!! Without getting injured too!

Cinders - the chocolate cup recipe is coming - would you believe I took photo's the whole way through, but forgot to take one of the finished platter!!! Will get that up loaded this week.

Enjoy the sunshine if you are in Melbourne today! Its lovely!!!!

I'm on the Road Again

2011-11-30T07:42:00.005+11:00

Running that is! After Physio Monday night, got the all clear to start back running on the road/footpath. I'd designed a program gradually increasing my distance on the treadmill then graduating to road doing the same thing (walk 500m, run 500m; run 1km, walk 500m, run 2km walk 500m etc), but have instead started out walk a block, run a block yesterday for a 4.5km loop. That went so well I upped it to run 2 blocks walk 1 or 1/2 a big one this morning around the same loop!

When I woke up it had just started to rain & I almost caved thinking, "oh well, treadmill tonight it is", while at the same time saying out loud to plumbing boy "do ya recon the rain will ease up?". He said "yeah" so I got up & dressed while it continued to rain. I went & found his sweaty gortex dirt bike rain jacket & as soon as I stepped outside it stopped raining! Amazingly the rain held off until I got back & then started up again! Thank You Mother Nature!

I enjoyed this mornings run ALMOST as much as yesterdays. Yesterday it was 19 degrees C, the birds were out, the dawn light was beautiful, & no rain jacket! This morning was colder with a grey sky & rather breezy! But it feels awesome to be back out there RUNNING! I've installed MapMyRun on my new phone, just got to figure out how to work it properly.

I much prefer running in the morning, plus coming into summer it's cooler & while I've enjoyed running on a tready, I'm really enjoying the great outdoors at the moment. Perhaps when its 9 degrees & hailing I'll change my mind & head back to the tready, but for now, I'm a road runner baby :0)

We have a going away party Saturday night for our goddaughter (AJ) who is going to France on an 8 week exchange over Christmas. She has just finished year 10. Everyone was requested to bring some of their fave Aussie foods via the invite; AJ had a very specific request for me so I spent last night making chocolate "cups" using silicone moulds - so far I have 24 mini cups & 3 large. Will do the same again tonight.

They will be filled with a lemon infused marscapone cheese, topped with fresh blueberries & a raspberry coulis & probably a mint leaf! Photos to follow. I made this one year for Christmas & have requests ever since......it's not a proper recipe, but something I concocted out of a few different recipes. Hopefully it tastes as good as it did last time! Stay Tuned!

Recovery

2011-11-28T12:42:00.007+11:00

Spent most of last week in recovery mode. I don't think I stopped feeling tired & hung over til around Wednesday! Just catching up on laundry & cleaning was a challenge in itself.

I had most of Tuesday off work watching Tess in her U11 State volleyball final (they were runners up - beat the 1st team 3 - 0, then lost 0 - 3 to the other team who also beat the 1st team), so I had a lot of work to catch up on as well!

I only managed 1 x run last week - way too slack. Should have gone on the weekend, but my car is on the blink & there is no way I was going out in the foul weather on Saturday with the possibility of breaking down & Sunday I was too hungover.

Saturday night was my cousin's bands single launch. Absolute hoot. The boys played well & there were quite a few people there to watch them. A few of my mates came too & we stayed out way too late & apparently I was a bit incoherent when I got home. I'm blaming Matt & Joey for feeding me Jagerbombs, then Drambuie shots. UGGHHHH Why do I do this!!!! I spent Sunday on the couch. Plumbing Boy went dirt bike riding Sunday, so didn't come out with us Saturday night. I was on phone duty, so answered calls in between naps.

My cuz & the drummer; below, lead singer & bass player.

Reunion

2011-11-21T11:08:00.036+11:00

The Reunion weekend went off really well. I need another weekend to recover though! My throat is very sore & I've still got a headache!!! The headache's without a doubt self inflicted!!! We took off Friday afternoon & only made it 1km down the road when our car broke down. Bloody thing! We were able to get it started & back to work; quick change over & off we went this time in the plumbing van.

Arrived @ the pub @ 5.30pm, had a couple of beers then went up to the function room & we finished helping set up. I had to blue tac a heap of stuff to the walls & the boys put up the disco ball. Quick trip out to our mates farm 8 minutes out of town where we were staying to drop off vehicles, shower &/or change, then back to the pub for dinner.

PB with one of my old school mates I'd not seen for 20+ years!

Plumbing Boy was standing at the bar chatting to a bloke when we were setting up & I had no idea who he was; he gave me a grin when I approached & I said "I'm trying to figure out if I'm supposed to remember you or not"! The bloke said "& why would you want to remember me Cat?" Luckily the voice gave it away & I quickly put it together!!! PB just laughed at me because his name was on his bloody work shirt! I was too busy looking at the face to figure it out. There was only one other guy who it took me until I heard his voice to place him! Everyone else was easily recognisable! PB was a gem with the girl above, she was so nervous about coming. He hung out with her & they became great mates, hanging it on each other for the rest of the night.

We had around 20 for dinner Friday night; a few people who couldn't make it on Saturday night wanted to catch up Friday. The night went well & we made it to bed @ 2.30am.

Saturday morning we were up by 9am & pottered about our mate's place; moved a mob of sheep & went for a bit of a drive around the property. He's got a fair bit of lawn to mow & a very impressive lawn tractor!

.........................View from the front yard

Looking at the rear of the house (above) & the kids cubby (below)

Next on the agenda was the local show.

We'd arranged our own marquee for a bit of a meeting point, a bit of shade or protection from the rain & time out space for those with kids. The weather was cold & showery. I was bloody freezing! Someone had bought a blanket to put down for people to sit on.....I made good use of it keeping warm!!!

The show was a typical country show with rides, side shows, produce, baking, art & craft displays & competitions; equestrian events; all sorts of animals including this cute young lady snuggling up to Plumbing Boy.

When we went back with the kids, they'd put this one away & the handler got out a ginormous black headed python....that was a bit creepier! I much prefer the baby animal enclosure, but there were just way too many kids in the queue so I had to settle for patting the snake instead.

After a few hours at the show we decided to head home, our friends kids were a bit over it (5yrs, 3yrs & 18 months) & we all felt like a kip. The boys went in one car & were going via the bottle shop & ended up at the pub for 2 hours! The girls sorted the kids & their Mum took them off to their Grandma's for the night, then we had a few drinks & got ready for the main event. After a bit of faffing about (by me & D - changing our minds from frocks back to jeans) we headed in.

Me & my mate J who made the banner (above); me & D (below)

I went to primary & high school with this guy who was hilarious, albeit a tiny bit drunk who was dancing on this chair under the mirror ball!

The night went off with out a hitch. There was plenty of food, loads of talking, a short speech, a gazillion photos, but as I don't have peoples permission I'd better not put them up here; dancing & a whole lot of laughing. I didn't do my deb, but someone hand managed to copy the video onto DVD & we projected it on to the wall - that was hilarious to watch! I think we had around 55 people altogether - a few partners pulled out at the last minute. And I have blisters on my feet from dancing in my red heels.

Unfortunately the local taxi had gone off on a long job & wasn't coming back til 3am @ 1.30 when it was time to go; lucky for us the publican (who was my old next door neighbour at the farm) ran us home! We tried to pay him, but he wouldn't take our money bless him! We had a few more drinks at home & got up to a bit of mischief with the kids batman costume......

People slowly headed off to bed; myself & one other were last standing: it was getting light so we thought we'd best get some ZZZZZZ.

We all frantically packed up & attempted to make ourselves look a little respectable to be at our old school by 11.30am for the tour. It was quite different in some area's & just the same in others! The Assembly hall & canteen has not changed at all; the old maths & English portables have been replace & the new science portable is only just ready for use (hadn't been "opened" yet). The wood work & metal work rooms were just the same; as is the first year 7 wood work project....

Is making a wooden pencil box a universal year 7 first woodwork project? After that we were all in need of some grease & took fish n chips back to the pub to eat & then clean up (no Sunday lunch at the pub). The boys took down the disco ball while the girls went & got the food; then we all pitched in to remove everything & pack them into cars. The publican wouldn't let us vacuum, but said we're welcome back any time! So I think our 30 year reunion will be in exactly the same location!

It was a very long drive home yesterday & PB was in bed & snoring within 5 minutes of walking in the door. I unpacked & did a couple of loads of washing before waking him for dinner. I'm thinking I should have had a nap too!

All in all a brilliant weekend. I think it turned out even better than we'd hoped & all the knockers were put to bed: even the fiesty girl who blasted my mate at the show because she couldn't find the tent (& said it was the worst organised event she'd ever been too) said she had a brilliant time Saturday night & thanked us for all our efforts in putting it on.

I may need a week to recover though & I'll definately be taking a day or two for the 30 year reunion!!!!

Crazy Buzy

2011-11-15T13:11:00.004+11:00

I'm crazy busy at the moment, hence not much posting here.

School reunion this coming weekend - madly finalising stuff for that: like every thing in life, there are always last minute things that can be done & dopey me has volunteered. Almost done.

My phone died; which isn't such a bad thing & yes I've finally got myself a smart phone. After much umming & ahhing & research, I didn't get the "I", I went with the Galaxy SII. Once I figure out how to drive it, life will be easier! I've got bloody Sydney weather stuck on the home screen & can't figure out how to change it to Melbourne!!! Gave it to one of the young guys at work to sort out, but they couldn't work it out either. So apparently I'm not as stupid as I though I was!

The camera is awesome so I'll be able to take better quality photo's & no longer battle plumbing boy for the camera!

This was my first picture & yes, PB bought these for me yesterday as it was our 2nd wedding anniversary. A bit weird considering we've been together for 19 years! It was the 2nd time he's ever bought me flowers so they are pretty special. He's gone soft in his old age!!!

OK. I'll be sure to update after the weekends shenanigans: Dinner Friday night at the pub; the local "Show" on Saturday; reunion function (private room) upstairs at the pub Saturday night; Sunday - open day at the school. The reunion is only for the peeps who were in my particular year level, so should be a hoot. I've not seen the majority of these people in 20 years. Still haven't decided what to wear.........

Still left handed mousing & elbow forearm shoulder not much better to be honest. Had a tready run last night - run 100m/walk 100m for 3kms. Off to physio tonight. Laters!!!!

Spiked!

2011-11-10T12:07:00.004+11:00

Spiked is what Tess did to the ball when she scored the winning point in the last game before this one!!! The following is taken from the local paper down home (Warrnambool Standard). Tess is up the back R - L 3rd (next to the 1st boy). My sis emailed me before & the girls have won their first game, but she wasn't sure against whom & no update on the boys. In case you missed it earlier, Tess is my niece.

YOUNG St Pius Primary School pupils have proudly arrived on the volleyball scene and are not interested in making an early departure today.

Bucking the trend of more popular sports, such as football and netball, the grade six players have strapped on the knee-pads and spiked their way to the top.

St Pius’ boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Werribee today for the western conference finals.

The talented sides breezed past more than 20 opponents at the first round in Warrnambool before doing the same at regionals.

Now their skills will be tested in the far-reaching boundaries of the western conference, which includes the South West, Barwon, Grampians and West Metropolitan regions.

Head coach Bruce Keeley said the keen youngsters had been training three to four times a week throughout the campaign.

And the hard work has paid off. “They’ve improved out of sight,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.” The last practice session yesterday had the girls and boys on either side of the net, making for some fierce but fun competition.

Plenty of encouragement was shared between the schoolmates, which should have both teams full of confidence and enthusiasm today.

St Pius sport co-ordinator Karl Dwyer has managed the group while Warrnambool Volleyball Association coach Dave McConnell has offered some tips.

The next stop is the state championships. “We think we’ll do pretty well,” Keeley said. “We might not win it but we will try our best. We’re not going up there to lose.”

The girls’ team consists of Lauryn Keeley, Tess English, Hannah van Duynhoven, Hayley Walker, Rebecca Keane, Taylah Hautot, Ebony Kelly, Claudia McCutcheon and Ally O’Connor.

The boys’ team is Jackson Cruickshank, Kai Brown, Sam Lee, Jack Rix, Tom Radcliffe, Travis Stacey, Harry Johns and Jye O’Brien.

Very exciting for Miss Tess. She's been little miss sporty this year, competing in inter school running & basketball & volleyball!

I'm still in recovery mode. Have permission to run 100m walk 100m alternating on grass or treadmill. Have had something important on every night this week (like hair cut & colour!) so probably will give that a crack tomorrow. Been doing my calf raises off a step now & glute muscle engaging exercises. Still left handed mousing - getting faster, but still odd.

Been flat out this week. School reunion next week. Eek! Been dreaming about random peeps from high school - nothing too dramatic thankfully. I'm sure it will all go well & if not, um well.......I don't live there anymore so.......um......

Laters!

Answers

2011-11-04T13:27:00.002+11:00

I scooted off to see a Physio Wednesday night & think I may have some answers finally! I wanted to see him about my calf & hip/butt issues; but by the time I'd finished work my forearm/elbow shoulder was burning & screaming for attention over everything else so he had a look at that as well.

I probably should mention said Physio also has a Masters in Acupuncture, so he has lots of approaches.

Elbow: not so much coming from elbow as is from neck (pretty much occupational). He poked & prodded & I felt some very odd sensations down my arm when he pressed down the right side & front of my neck. Did a bit of cross fibre massage then some needling. I'm up to day 2 of left hand mouse which is driving me a bit batty. He assures me it only takes a week to learn, so hope that's the case!

Calf & Hip/Glute: He did a couple of movement(?) tests & believes that both are coming from weak Glutes (especially the right one). And that the calf keeps re injuring as it is needs to be strengthened while healing (& of course continuing on with after). I'm just shaking my head that the Osteo didn't or couldn't see this. Physio went to great pains to explain that Osteo's are the experts in pelvic/hip alignment & I was in the right place in the beginning IF my hips/pelvis was out. The point between hamstring & glute that has been giving me grief is because my hammy is trying to do the job of my weak as piss glute. Ha Ha Ha!!!

He's given me a calf exercise to do til my appointment next week, when he's going to have another session on my arm & get stuck into my calf then as well, plus he will give me some glute exercises. Of course I've been checking the interwebs already...

Another bonus is this guy is a runner!!!! We also chatted about running technique. He was totally cool with having an on-line running coach (not all people or health professionals have been supportive) & says he'll have me back on the road in a week or so. This makes me very happy as I've really been getting into the running!

My 10km race is this weekend, obviously I won't be able to do it. I'm going to start over & Shauna (@ Up & Running) will save my certificate until I'm done. Gotta love a certificate. So. I need to choose another 10km, which I'll do once I get the OK from Mr Physio to increase my distance & training.

Gotta love getting some answers. It's so hard sometimes. We are bought up to believe & trust in our medical practitioners, but I guess like every trade, there are people who do the bare minimum & do it as a job; then there are the people who are exceptional at what they do, love it & really care about achieving a result. I can see it in the building industry as well! I guess I should be very very grateful that I can afford to seek out alternate practitioners. Not everyone has private health insurance & not everyone has the spare bucks to cover what that or medicare don't. Believe me, if this gets me sorted I'll be one extremely happy camper.

Laters!

Walk-a-bout

2011-11-02T16:51:00.003+11:00

OK OK OK!!!! I went walk-a-bout & didn't let anyone know!!! Sorry!!!! Sometimes I worry about broadcasting when we are going away - we might be burgled. Daft? Maybe, maybe not.

We went for a little drive last week. Approx 825kms to visit a mate who's 40th birthday was last week. On the way up we left work at lunch time & stopped overnight at the 5hrs of driving mark, then drove the last 3hrs the following morning. We did the return 825kms in one hit on Monday. Just a wee drive.

After 2 weeks of no running I had a crack on Thursday morning very early in Griffith & guess what. I felt great for the first 9 minutes. Then pop. There went my calf again. Not. Happy. Jan. After further research, I'm trying a Physio tonight. Looks like the original injury was worse than Mr Osteo though.

Cobar was fun. Way too much champagne was consumed. My liver is feeling the after affects! There was lots & lots of laughing (no need for sit ups) & limited dancing (damn calf muscle). We saw emu's, wild goats, & kangaroo's although no snakes which was odd. The weather was hot.

Didn't take many photos; mainly of friends up there which I wont put up here. Flat out catching up with work - although I worked most of yesterday (Melbourne Cup) Public Holiday here in Melbourne. More laters.

Stop!!!

2011-10-19T07:46:00.002+11:00

I'm having one of those weeks where I'd like to press stop or at the very least pause on life while I catch up!

Work has been crazy busy & is about to get even more out of control I think. We've finished a big project & I've been compiling operation manuals. The architect wants an insane amount of information, but really, instructions on how to operate, maintenance frequency & procedures, safe trouble shooting, disassembly, repair & reassembly, of sinks, basins, tapware etc is just ridiculous. I am queen of paper work though & I will provide this clown more documentation than he's prepared for. My problem at the moment is how I'm going to paginate & index properly due to multiple documents & attachments. It's due in today, so I'd better get crack-a-lack-a-lack-a-lin'.

Calf is still cranky. I've stopped running altogether for at least another week. I've just been making it worse trying to persist with any running. I'm cycling instead. Crystal has 2 x new tyres; my inner thighs doth protest but under carriage is coping quite well considering how long it's been since I've been on a bike seat. Almost made 10kms in 30 mins Monday night. No idea if that's good or bad, but its better than sitting on my butt as I did til 7.30pm last night in the office working on those manuals!

As part of the Up & Running program, I had to sign up for a 10km run (can't remember if I mentioned it or not); dutifully I did, & I have my race number. Not sure if I'll be able to do it or not. Worse case scenario, I can do 4kms, or 8kms depending on my calf & fitness levels. That is in 18 sleeps. Yikes!!!!

School reunion is in 30 sleeps. We have 46 paid up & probably another 10 - 15 stragglers who have indicated they want to come, but haven't got themselves sorted. Should be fun. Imagine I'll get a little nervous the week before, but I've already caught up with a dozen people in the organisation of same, so really I have nothing to worry about!

Operation Babe watch is still chugging along in the background, although has taken a hit with the calf injury. Did some measurements last weekend which I'll upload soon. Scales haven't budged much, but the cms have decreased so that is good.

Am loving this warmer weather & the food it brings! Last night we had a delicious cous cous salad with a poached chicken variation of caesar salad (minus a few of the calories!). Delicious.

K. Better get back to those manuals.

Mouldy Oldy

2011-10-14T11:42:00.014+11:00

So. It was my mouldy old day on Monday. That's what my sis & I used to call our parents birthdays when we were kids (while joking about the pet dinosours they had when they were kids).

Petty non-eventful this year. I was thinking this morning about what my parents & even grandparents had achieved by my current age. I'd already moved out of home & was at University by the time my Mum was my current age. Scary. I'm not sure I actually feel any "older" than back then. Hopefully I'm a little more mature & a heap wiser :0)

My grandfather had fought in a war & lived through an earlier one; built up a farm which my Dad later took over & had 3 kids amoungst other things. I feel like my generation is so more self involved. I had to stop & think about my achievements & how they stacked up in comparisson. I'm not sure I've quite measured up, but anyhoo.

My sis & niece sang me happy birthday & bunged a sparkler on a mini mud cake Friday night; Saturday night we caught up with our goddaughter who's 16th birthday was back in August & her little brother who's 8th was in September - we'd not seen either & the 8yo (the little shit) had been asking me on the phone everytime we spoke "where's my present". Their parents cooked a lovely dinner & organised a birthday cake for me which was very sweet.

On the actual day Plumbing Boy took me out for dinner & a movie - we saw Real Steel which was very cool. If I hadn't been in the cinema I think I would have been jumping up & down & cheering out loud!!! I had a great day (other than working) with lots of calls, FB messages, texts & emails wishing me a happy birthday (THANK YOU!!!)

This is what I got myself this year:

Somewhat tragic I know, but I love love love my clever new Vac. I'm calling us the dynamic duo: he's Batman & I'm Robin! And sadly yes, I've been vacuuming everything in sight!

Tonight I'm going out for dinner with some girlfriends - can't wait!

My calf is still not right. Tried a 20 minute run Tuesday & again on Thursday - tight & not at all happy. Dug out my bicycle though: it's had a flat tyre for ahem (2 years) which PB promised to fix, but hadn't gotten around to it. I asked our storeman to take a look & he whipped off the tyres & tubes in a couple of minutes & I bought new ones last night which will be installed today I hope (on the off chance I'll recover from tonight enought to go for a cycle tomorrow).

It's a sensational day in Melbourne today - I wish I could be out in it more, but I'm making do with tidying up the office today & filing or tossing all the crap that ends up on the floor in the showroom (so I can vac!) which gets me up from my desk & almost in the sunshine (where the bins live)!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend wherever you are!

PS & a few pic's I forgot I had....

Me grandfinal day in the gong

Me at a lookout at the Gong....it was blowing a freaking gale hence the cranky facial expression! & below, same location view from the look out & the blowhole doin' it's thing.

Dusting

2011-10-05T17:14:00.003+11:00

Osteo says I have a sprain/minuscule tear in the calf muscle which will heal itself in a week. I have to go back next week & he'll work a bit more on the glute/hammy issue & wants to play with (check) my Achilles & give my calf/calves a bit more of a serious work out & then (is crossing his fingers) I will be injury free for a while. I will wait & see.

Feels far less tight today, the pain has subsided a lot AND I can walk MUCH betterer. Don't think I'll be back running til next week though; grumble grumble grumble. Just when I recon I'd got the hang of "strides" n all! Sigh.

I've my sis & niece visiting later in the week. Sis arrives tomorrow after a day of shopping; & is collecting Tess from her Dad's on Friday (she's spent a week with him) & I will cook I am not sure what for them for dinner. We'll probably just hang out, maybe watch a DVD (Tess & my fave past time - eating & watching flicks!). At the moment I'm leaning towards pizza. I guess I'll have to make cake as well.......they are visiting for my pending senior citizens celebrational day.

Anyhoo. I'm just about to clock up 11 hours at my desk so I think I'll bugger off & so something more exciting....like cleaning in preparation for my house guests! Bah! Think I'll have a nice hot bubble bath instead. Bugger dusting!!!!

buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy

2011-10-04T12:35:00.004+11:00

I'm Back but as busy as a buzzy bee!!!!

Wollongong was good. Stayed with our mate who is Italian as is his partner. You'd think we'd been living in Ethiopia for the past 10 years considering how much they tried to feed us!!!! Twas delicious, but a little too much!

Took about 5 photo's for the whole trip - sad. The weather was shite & we spent more time in the car & inside than out in the non existent sunshine. Our mate used to work for us so it was a bit of a blokey holiday. I heard more about excavators, plant & rail works (our mate now works for a rail maintenance company & manages a lot of track work & big machinery) than I would ever want to know for the next million years!

We also dropped in & saw his mate the concreter, his mate the tow truck driver, his mate the so on & so forth. Like I said, lots of blokey chatter. I frequently nodded off in the car (not) listening to their chatter.

Lots of laughs though. His partner has 3 sons, two of which live at home (26 & 28?) & both have girlfriends who come for dinner Monday through to Thursday. Our mate is a bit of a comedian so there was a lot of teasing & shit hanging going on.

I took my running gear & finished the week before's final work out, plus last weeks 3 work outs. All good. The area was hilly (where I live & usually run is very flat) so that was challenging! Lots of wildlife - galah's & cockatoo's who didn't move off the footpath, I had to go around them!!! And a paddock of bunnies. Domestic black & white ones! The first time I ran past them I nearly fell over! Apparently the house next door just let them breed & roam on the vacant block next door. I was amused!

Watched the AFL grandfinal in a club (we were in Wollongong, about an hour south of Sydney). The club while playing the game on 2 big screen projectors for us, only had maybe 20 other people besides our group of 5 watching. So so strange. NRL rugby is far more popular in NSW & the place was apparently packed the next day for the NRL Grandfinal. All were Collingwood supporters bar 1 & funnily enough I was probably (without a doubt) the most vocal supporter in the room!! Our mate barracks for the Pies, but he didn't really get into it, even in the first 3 quarters when the game was super close! For those of you who don't follow our know, my team was victorious (Geelong - the mighty mighty Cats). So I was a very happy Catter.

Spent 13 hours at my desk yesterday catching up on work. Still getting there, but not so bad. Was up a the crack of dawn (4.45am) this morning to go for my first run of week 4's training program. Got halfway through & have done something to my right calf. expletive expletive expletive. I've got an appointment with the osteo later today anyway, but not sure he can do much. At first I thought it was the mother of all cramps, but after stretching & walking it out for 10 minutes (& the fact that the bloody thing is still giving me grief). Ended up ringing plumbing boy to come & get me as it would take too long to walk back home & we had staff arriving at 6.30am. Bugger it all.

More Later.....

PS all home remedies for cranky calves welcome (have been following the RICE principal, sort of, as in I've iced it once so far)!

Up & Running Week 2

2011-09-23T14:28:00.002+10:00

Copied directly from my running diary on the U&R forum coz I'm too busy!!!!!

Week 2:

Did not start out very well! Was up at 4.50am Monday, ready for my first ever morning run (still dark out there!).

2.1
Made it to about 38 minutes (3 cycles of fartlek done) when I had a sharp pain in my knee. Stopped & stretched for a bit, tried to run again, no improvement, walked a couple of blocks then tried to run again. Still no joy. Walked the rest of the way home. Boo Hoo. Knee pain subsided after a couple of hours, but the pain where glute & hamstring join had ramped right up. Looks like I'd aggravated a previous injury caused by my hips/pelvis being out. Off to the osteo where he stretched, prodded & manipulated.

Total time 61 minutes (38 minutes prior to walking the rest)
Total distance: 4.42kms (walked another 1.18kms to get back home)
Max Heart Rate: 168

Had a couple of days off (both coach & osteo said two days); worked late last night so couldn't manage a run. Up bright & early this morning (Friday) & out the door by 5am. We are on holidays tomorrow for a week, so decided to do work out 2.3 today & fit work out 2.2 in either very early tomorrow (4am eeeekkk), or as an extra next week.

2.3
Took warm up slower; took the strides much slower - "pranced" them rather than trying to sprint them. Still a bit sore between glute & hammy now; but fine while running. Will definitely be getting a massage while away!

Total Time: 55 minutes
Total Distance: 5.6kms
Max Heart Rate: 187 @ 5mins & 46 seconds into my warm up - I thought I was about to be run over by a car, so think that frightened me significantly. @ 7 minutes into warm up had dropped to 132, @ end of warm up 142. Rest of run fluctuated between 158 & 167.

Might be a bit spasmodic next week with updates, but I've got my gear ready to go & will be training while I'm away. Hopefully I'll get a few runs on the beach in! I'm really enjoying running in the morning. The air is crisp & clean. Nobody is out & about & I feel like I'm on a secret mission......wait....... .is that the endorphins kicking in???

PS I'll be coming live from the "Gong" next week.......

PSS I'll be taking my scarf (although it was 30deg C there today!!!)..........................Carn the Catters

Up & Running 1.1 & 1.2

2011-09-16T08:28:00.005+10:00

So. I started the Up & Running 10km course this week. I had a bit of panic on Monday, trying to figure out how to fit 3 workouts in, with a rest day between each from Monday to Thursday. The math just wasn't working!!!! I knew the weekend was supposed to be mental preparation, no work outs; I completed workout 1.1 Sunday morning anyway, then thought I'd have to do the next on Monday night & the 3rd Wednesday.

In my usual haste, I'd misread the literature: the work out week is Monday to Sunday; the course week is Thursday to Wednesday. Dufus. This suits me much better as I've been using the Monday to Sunday week anyway (this time around!).

Workout 1.1

Done @ works industrial estate early Sunday morning. It was cold, windy & rained on & off. Plumbing Boy kindly loaned me his (very expensive according to him) Gortex dirt bike rain jacket. As you can imagine it was a little big for me, but lovely & warm! And not too sweaty. The only problem was the smell.....................sweaty bloke!!! As all the course material is copy written I can't share too much, but this workout included a warm up run, skipping/walking/running, then more running with speed progression.

Distance: 7kms
Time: 54 minutes
Max Heart Rate: 179

Workout 1.2

Did this one on Wednesday night around the local suburb. All running, mostly slow with some progression at the end. In the sweaty bloke jacket again, light wind & a bit of sunshine although quite cold.

Distance: 5.06kms
Time: 40 minutes
Max Heart Rate: 170

Here I am as I came back from 1.2 in said sweaty bloke jacket.

Workout 1.3

Will be done tonight & involves a 30 minute run, some strides & a 1km time trial at the end, running as fast as I can! EEEEK.

I've also signed up for the 10km race at the end of the course. Double EEEK. It's actually a 12km - the loop is 4kms & they offer a 4, 8 & 12km race. As coach says, I can walk the first 2kms as a warm up then run. I dunno if I'll be able to walk while everyone takes off at a run in front of me though.....my inner competitor will not be happy!!!! Maybe I could walk the last 2kms instead :0)

It's local & I can practice the course. I used to run (shuffle) it with my old training partner. The only hard bit is running up the bridge to cross the river. The rest is fairly flat. It's by the river & there are nice big tree's so scenic enough!

I bought a heart rate monitor which is great although the instructions where shite. Thank god for YouTube & the kind souls who make instructional clips on how to work stuff!!!! I'm kinda wishing now I'd bought the GPS version. Scaling the map (firstly remembering which route I'd run) is a pain in the arse. Perhaps this is the push I need to get a new phone. But which bloody phone??? Any runners out there use running apps?? Recommendations please!!!!

I'd better get back to work. We've had man flu in the house this week so PB has been hibernating in the office, looking over my shoulder all week! LOL. He's finally left the office this morning hence getting a blog post in!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone; wherever & whatever you are doing!

Stats.

2011-09-09T09:23:00.010+10:00

So. The Up & Running Fall 10km course started yesterday & I have 3 workouts to complete this week, all outdoors. I'd hoped to do one tonight, but considering the forecast is a top of 13 with hail, I think I'll be doing a tready run instead.

I never got around to taking measurements at the beginning of Operation Babewatch, so thought I should now, to see how I change after 8.5 weeks of running training.

I've been recording these sort of stats on & off since September 2002! Yes, this will be a bit boring for those not into stats, but I find it quite interesting so I'm gonna share:

DATE; WEIGHT; BUTT; BUST; WAIST;
10/02/02; 64kgs; 103.5; 92; 78;
04/07/03; 63kgs;105.5; 94; 77;
29/10/04; not recorded; 107; 96; 76;
02/07/05; 63kgs; 104.5; 92.4; 77;
27/09/08; not rec; 110; 96; 80;
12/05/09; 60kgs; 102; 90; 73;
15/09/10; 63.5kgs; 104; not rec; not rec;
21/03/11; 65kgs; 105; 96.4; 77.5;
09/09/11; 65kgs; 107; 96; 79;

All measurements are in cms. It would seem I was at my chunkiest in 2008 & of course lightest in 2009 (wedding). It would have been interesting to see the stats just before the wedding (Nov) when I was thinner again than the stats show in May.

I also recorded my body fat percentage this morning = 26% using callipers. I had to g##gle as I couldn't remember what the healthy range is. Then I went searching for the stats the last time I did my body fat % which was end of W8 FFF challenge in August 2010 @ 24%.

As always, there is descrepancy as to what is considered normal (some said 15% - 23%, others said under 21% was underweight). Last time I looked I'd decided lean or good was 16 - 20% & was aiming for 18%! The most common recommendation I found this time around for a chick my age is that 21 - 33% is normal; above that is obese. I guess I'm in the middle so that's not too bad, but always there is room for improvement.

I'm not overly stressed about it, but again, it will be interesting to see where it sits at the end of the U&R course.

I also had my annual "grease & oil change" a couple of weeks ago; everything came back normal, although my cholesterol had gone up. I'm about one score under the maximum healthy end of the scale before action needs to be taken. My Doc didn't want to see me, but asked the receptionist to mention it to me & let me know to watch my diet.

Mum has a history of high cholesterol & has been on lowering medication a couple of times. This has certainly helped with increasing my AFD's (alcohol free days). I know some of you must think I'm a bit of an alcoholic (perhaps I am!) & I guess drinking wine with dinner every night has become habit. That is probably not so bad if I was only having 100mls. I think my wine glasses are around 400ml full = half a bottle if I fill it up (& don't go back for a smidge more).

This week I've done 5 AFD's in a row so I'm feeling pretty happy with that. Each week has been better & I'm hoping this week will now become the normal. i.e. drinks on Friday & Saturday nights only. There is also $160-00 in the jar towards my new vacuum cleaner too ($10-00 per AFD). Sure I could just go out & buy it, but a little incentive never hurts.

OK. This is getting a little disjointed, too many interuptions at work & I've got a soggy visitor, so I'll finish up. Hope you all have lovely (& warm!) weekends.

Carn the Mighty Catters!!!!!

Dotty

2011-08-31T08:23:00.002+10:00

Weekend away was good. Spent some quality time with ole Ma & ole Pa. I know I complain that my Ma drives me crazy, but she was pretty good & I survived relatively unscathed (other than one misguided comment she made about an entire ethnicity, but I won't go into that here).

I didn't manage to sneak off Thursday afternoon for my run, but did go out for dinner with Mum's sis & her husband who are off on a 3 month adventure to Western Australia. Last night they were in SA having a beer with Mum's other sister.

Despite going to the pub for dinner Friday night & having a few glasses of red wine, I still managed to get up at 7am Saturday & completed an outdoor 5km run with no incident nor injury! Yip Yip! Also went on a 6 - 7km walk with Mum, Dad & Plumbing Boy just before lunch so was pretty exercised out Saturday.

Sunday got in another 5km walk with parentals while PB was dirt bike riding.

Monday 5km tready run & Pump. My quads were crying by the end of yesterday, but after a long soak in the hot tub last night, am feeling better enough today that I should make my planned run tonight. Not sure if I'll tackle another pump class - will see how I feel.

I've no other shattering life observations to share, so I'd better get back to work.

Ooh, still recovering from a shock loss by the Cat's on the weekend BOO. Lets hope we get up Friday night against the Colliwobbles!

Week 4, Day 3

2011-08-24T08:10:00.001+10:00

Life has been busy, but operation Babewatch is still bubbling along in the background. The Up & Running course starts on September 8th by which time I'm supposed to be able to run 5kms outdoors @ 6 minutes per km.

Week 1: lots of enthusiasm, worked on nutrition (trying not to use that term diet). Made pumpkin soup, osso bucco soup & ate very cleanly; 2 AFD's (better than none right!); got in 2 x training sessions before waking with a very sore neck. By lunch time I could barely look left or right, up or down. Got in to my Chiro that night luckily; I recon it took a week to settle properly & for the muscular pain to dissipate. Had a weekend of cousin & niece visits which ensure (excused?) no more structured exercise from me. Lost 1kg.

Week 2: Did my first outdoor bridge training session & injured myself somewhere deep in between right glute & hamstring. Osteo got her elbow in there & adjusted my pelvis (again - this seems to throw everything out & was the cause of last years injury in a similar location). She told me to refrain from running for 3 - 4 days & take it easy. Did nothing until Sunday where I tried another outdoor session, this time of my own making: walk 1.5km to oval; then walk 1 lap, run 1 lap x 5 of oval; 1.5km walk home. Still a bit sore in the injured region, but range of motion was fine. Nutrition OK (steamed veggies for work lunch everyday with either an egg or a bit of chicken), 2 AFD's. Kept last weeks kg lost off.

Week 3: 5km treadmill runs on Tuesday & Friday. Still feeling a little worried that outdoor running will injure me again. Sunday I decided to drive to a bay side walking/cycling track & ran my 5km play list. Plumbing Boy measured it out on the map for me & recons I ran closer to 6kms + warm up. Cool down was walking around my car. I felt so pumped! It's much harder to regulate speed running outside! I found I was running too fast & had to slow down a bit to catch my breath, whereas on the treadmill I run at a constant speed & breathing is fine. I also did some stretches & core work on Saturday at home. Food similar to the week before, but overdid it on the weekend. 2 x AFD's & on Monday morning that kg I lost had returned.

Week 4 so far: We had a huge tender due in Tuesday, PB & I spent from 6.30am to 8pm Monday working on it (then me most of yesterday as well!). We were too brain dead to cook Monday night & opted for BBQ chicken & chips. Not a good idea. This morning I am up another kg!!! Anyhoo. Hopefully the damage will be reversed, although we have a fair bit on this week. 5km tready run last night. 2 x AFD's already. Thursday night we have dinner with my Aunt & Uncle who are heading west to baby sit my uncle's motel in Denham for 3 weeks while he & his wife are away overseas, so not sure how I will get a run in before 6pm dinner. Might have to see if I can leave work early..... Then on the weekend we are off to Moonambel again, this time with my parents. Will take my gear & get a run in on one of the weekend days & a slow walk with the olds the other day. Mum apparently has stopped "whooping" & is feeling much better.

I am feeling fitter: each run is easier. Most of it is in my mind anyway I think. So long as I remain injury free, it's more mind over matter. I've also found the pelvic adjustments have changed the action of my right leg & my ankle is often quite sore after a run; I am sure that this is due to using muscles that previously have been doing bugger all. I need to make a concerted effort to do a little strengthening on them. I have 2.5 weeks before the U&R course starts. I might not be quite up to speed, but I hope to be close.

Little Miss Versatile

2011-08-19T13:47:00.005+10:00

My lovely mate & fellow blogger Ute was kind enough to give me this award. Thank you Uteski!!!!

I'm not sure I'm that versatile though, & the first thing I thought of was a naughty story my mate Ev told me... best not be repeated out loud here, but I'm giggling.

Anyhoo. The rules on acceptance of the award are:

1. Thank the blogger who gave the award to you & link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award onto 15 recently discovered blogs - uhhh I'm lucky to read 15 blogs let alone NEW ones & some of them have already been awarded. I'll try for 5.....

k. here goes

1. I'm right handed & left footed. I can't kick the footy on my right foot to save my life!

2. I don't eat offal - liver, heart, kidneys, tongues, brains, feet & other gizzardy stuff. Ewwwww

3. I love cats. Especially black cats - aint no superstition here. I have a black cat; I have a painting of a black cat in an alley (painted by my mate Timmy) whom I named this blog after. I am wearing an Emily the Strange tee shirt with a black cat on it. I barrack for the Cat's in AFL footy. I don't think I'll be a crazy ole cat lady, although I do spend a lot of time talking to my cat.

4. I count stuff. Not sure if I'm a bit OCD. I count stairs, paces, cars, breaths, cutlery, all sorts of stuff. Takes my mind off things. I don't count sheep though.

5. I love water. I'd have a shower & a bath everyday if I could. Damn drought. I also scuba dive & prefer the tropical waters so I don't get cold! I also drink a lot of water. I'm not an (astrological) water sign though. I'm an air sign. Libra. Nor am I a water sign in the Chinese Zodiac, I'm a Metal Dog.

6. I don't really believe in astrology, but love to read about the characteristic's & traits I'm supposed to have & see if I can apply them to myself. I'm not overly religious either, but believe everyone is entitled to their own God. I guess I believe in a higher or greater being. I definitely believe in Karma. What goes around comes around. If you do bad things & treat people badly, the universe will pay you back sometime some how. If you do good & are kind & generous of spirit, then the universe will reciprocate. Yeah I'm a bit of a suck.

7. I'm really into vampire novels at the moment. I'm secretly hoping Sookie gets with Sam. He's such a nice boy.

Who to award????

Oldies, newbies & goodies:

#Tully! She's an amazing & on a journey of self discovery. She IS pretty!!!

#Brookie! & her mate Amanda. They've recently started a crafty cooking blog traversing the continents.

#Dog3oy - please don't go mate!!!! A poetic bloke who's life is a bit topsy turvy right now.

#Daughter of Ireland - a lovely lass from way over yonder with a sweet outlook & some entertaining Proverbs now & again.

#Chris H - go over & see the puppies!!!! & she's a good sort :0)

#Slyde - very entertaining bugger & extremely handsome to boot (wink wink)

oooh i made it past 5!

Even though Ute has already awarded them I'm also awarding (you can never have too many awards right!):

Memphis - & yes I just saw you've awarded me too............ thank you Steve....you are just too kind......you is good peeps too ya know despite being a cranky C-Bomb at times. xo Steve is smart & funny & knows way more about politics than anyone I've ever met I recon!

& FML who's not feeling so well right now, but is a funny bugger & inspires me (sometimes) to move my arse.

I'm also giving a shout out to:
Cinders - I'm not sure you want the extra traffic & aren't blogging much these days;
Amanda - who's had to shut down her blog due to crazy stalker;
& Jules - what can I say: we all love Jules even if she is to bloody busy to blog!

& Last, but not least

Ute - right back at ya mate - Ute is a top chick: honest, funny & always honest. Thats why I love her. xoxo

Hope you'all have a marvellous weekend now ya here (say in Sookie's accent....go on!!!)

Torn

2011-08-16T13:22:00.002+10:00

I feel a little torn today. The sun is out, it's warm & I'm feeling happy; but I'm also feeling melancholy, if you can feel both those things at once.

I feel torn about whether or not I should feel happy though. Another blogger mate lost her grandmother this week. A high school friend lost her grandmother also this week. Another mate lost her beautiful cat. I feel so sad for these beautiful girls. I lost my own grandmother recently; And it's almost the 2nd anniversary of our friend who took his own life. So many things to feel sad about. I guess the hint of summer in the north wind today is enough to lift my spirit.

To any of you out there grieving the loss of someone or something or somebody I offer to you my condolences & some words I find comforting in grief.

You can shed tears that he/she is gone

Or you can smile because he/she has lived.
You can close your eyes

And pray that he/she will come back,

Or you can open your eyes

And see all that he/she has left.
Your heart can be empty

Because you can't see him/her,

Or you can be full of the love

That you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow

And live in yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow

Because of yesterday.
You can remember him/her

And only that he/she is gone,

Or you can cherish his/her memory

And let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind

Be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what he/she would want

Smile, open your eyes, love, and go on!
~ Author Unknown ~

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there I do not sleep.

I am the thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you waken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of gentle birds in circling flight

I am the soft star that shines at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry—

I am not there... I did not die...

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Whooping

2011-08-11T08:09:00.002+10:00

Just found out me poor ole ma's got Whooping Cough. My sis called last night & gave me the news. Apparently she found out last week, but as nobody ever tells me jack I didn't know. I spoke to my aunt yesterday who thought Mum had something that was contagious for 4 months, so had planned on calling her today to find out what aunt was on about. Now I know. She's been on the antibiotics for more than 5 days so is no longer contagious; but will probably take months to recover.

Mum & Dad were both vaccinated last year (as was sis). Mum has a history of chest/respiratory problems so imagine this will take as long as possible to heal. I'm just glad she didn't get it while she was overseas. Dad was coming down with a cold when he left here after arriving home & Mum had one a week later. I'm glad they didn't give it or the whoop to me.

I'd hoped to go for a walk & maybe pump last night, but I was still a little tender for that. Did a bit of work on the foam roller last night as per the osteo's instructions working on left glute, right quad & both hamstrings. Getting better but still a little stiff & twingy today. Was hoping for a run on Friday night, but will have to wait & see............

Outdoors

2011-08-10T08:26:00.003+10:00

I did my first outdoor workout in forever on Monday night! My PT mate used to make me run up & down the streets in her quest for fitness, but I never really enjoyed it. She liked to run on main roads (to be seen I suppose); I'd have much rather run on walking tracks or quiet streets away from the traffic!

I started on the 1st week of the Up & Running's bridging workouts which involved running, skipping, walking & marching. It was bloody cold outside & my nose kept dripping, but at least I managed to get it in between work & it getting too dark! I've ordered a sports watch with heart monitor online but it hasn't arrived yet, so had to use the alarm on my phone to time stuff which was a bit of a pain in the arse.

By the end of the session I actually had a bit of a pain in the intersection between said gluteus maximus & hamstrings in a similar location to my injury from last year. Got worse throughout yesterday, but luckily for me, my wonderful Osteo Jess had a spare appointment so I toddled off & let her push her elbow into places that HURT!

All is well, 2 - 3 days off running & straight back to her if there is any further pain. My pelvis was out which turned my leg out which buggers everything up apparently. She was happy I came straight in rather than leaving it until next week when it would have been harder to sort.

I'm supposed to week 1's workout 3 x times this week so hopefully can do the next session on Friday night & the last one on Sunday.

Been feeling a bit gloomy again this week....the cold wet weather just doesn't do it for me.

Oh. I made Brooke's lemon cake last night......... L has already eaten two pieces..........morning tea is looking good :0)

4.45am

2011-08-05T08:14:00.003+10:00

Was dressed & on my way to Gym Wednesday night when Plumbing Boy calls me to let me know he needs me to get up at 4.45am tomorrow morning to help him load the truck. WTF? Can't we do it tonight??? says I. I'm too wrecked says he. But can't I do it myself says I? Spose says he...

I turn around & come back home & had it loaded within an hour. Almost as good as a pump work out! Unfortunately I caved & had a glass of wine with dinner, but after 2 days without that wasn't so bad (for me!).

Woke up Thursday morning with a sore neck/shoulder which progressively got worse throughout the day - by 2pm I could barely turn my head left, right or up or down! Luckily my chiropractor was working & was available, so went for a crunch followed by a heat pack. He said it will take a couple of days to settle down. Have mobility today, but is still sore & have already had the heat pack on. Hopefully I will wake tomorrow right as rain. Funny expression eh???

I have my cuz Jax visiting tonight & my niece Jac visiting tomorrow (both sleeping over), so won't have a lot of exercise time, but hopefully will get something done.

Hope you all have a bloody good weekend where ever you are!

Muffins

2011-08-03T08:17:00.009+10:00

Plumbing Boy has taken up CAD drawing & has engaged a private tutor to assist. She came on Saturday morning, bright & early, so I whipped up a batch of muffins for them for morning tea. One of the plumbers dropped off some keys early that morning as well, & he grabbed a couple (he was taking his Ma shopping) - the same guy who wants this recipe for his next birthday cake! He came in yesterday morning "Mum wants the recipe! She frothed it." Translates to "loves them" - he shared.

Here is Saturday Morning's muffin making session & recipe for you.....

the original recipe is taken from this book

Here are some of the ingredients. I've tweaked the recipe a bit.

Mixed Berry Buttermilk Muffins

#2.5 Cups (375g) self raising flour
#3/4 cup (135g) caster sugar
#1 egg, lightly beaten
#1 tspn vanilla essence
#2/3 cup (160ml) vegetable oil (I've been using extra virgin olive oil)
#3/4 cup (180ml) butter milk (I've been using the yogurt above - full fat organic Greek style)
#200g frozen mixed berries (I've increased the quantity by 1/3 & use 200g blueberries & 100g raspberries

1. Preheat oven to moderately hot (I cook them at 200 deg C)
2. Line 12 hole (1/3) cup muffin pan with paper cases or grease holes (today I used the cupcake style cases because I ran out of much preferred square cafe style muffin wraps)
3. Sift flour & Sugar into a bowl; stir in the remaining ingredients
4. Divide mixture among muffin holes & bake for 20 minutes (without the modification I think they need 25 - 30; with modification test at 30 mins & cook for another 5 mins if skewer test fails). Stand for 5 minutes then cool on a wire rack muffins top side up to cook.

No mixer required just a bowl & a wooden spoon. Too easy!

Cooling.

Time to eat one!

Yum! Serve with cream or eat as is. Deliciously moist fruity muffins!

Day 2 Babewatch concluded well - went for a 5km run on the tready; it was a little too dark to try for outside by the time I finished work (to be honest, I'm a bit worried about how I'll cope without the tready!). No booze again & good clean eating. I stretched a lot after the run, but have sore inner arches this morning. Think I'll try a pump class tonight!

Day 1, Week 1

2011-08-02T17:05:00.003+10:00

Survived day 1 of Operation Babewatch. Spent the entire day thinking about the glass(es) of wine I wasn't going to have with dinner & attempting to motivate myself to exercise.

Couldn't go to gym due to Plumbing Boys phone going flat & having to be in ear shot of the two way radio. Luckily I have access to my gym stuff at work & a nice big open concreted area so I started with some step ups, ran up & down the stairs a few times then cranked up the tunes & did some home style aerobics! Can I hear you say easy walk or grape fine! Double it up, add a twirl, turn it into an L & you have yourself a routine! I worked up a decent sweat.

Ate clean, didn't drink any booze at all!!! Drank about 4 litres of water.

Day 2 has gone smoothly & I'm about to go for a run. Laters!

Running

2011-07-29T08:56:00.002+10:00

Last year I got more serious about running. As opposed to running for 5 or 6 songs at a time, just because it was cardio, I started to look at distance & time, & was regularly running 7+ kms 3 times per week. I'd hoped to reach a goal of 10kms before we went on holidays last November, but only made it to 9km. Came back from the trip, injured myself & never really got back into it in earnest. I came across this site last year but they were only offering a 5km beginners course. What caught my eye though, was the proposed 10km course. I can manage 5kms without injury, but as I increase the distance, I recon I need a little help.

Yesterday I said things had been changing in my head in terms of wanting to improve my fitness again; things were falling into place. Monday is the 1st of the month. Good place to start. Nice & orderly. Strange though I'd always started any exercise or eating routine on a Thursday - didn't want the weekend to overshadow any good work I'd done. This time Monday feels right. The first feels right. Then this morning I received an email from Up & Running announcing registration for their 10km course, to start mid September! Brilliant.

I've enrolled & have been able to download some bridging workouts to get me up to speed. This gives me 6 weeks to prepare. I need to be running 5kms outdoors in around 35 minutes. I was doing this on the treadmill which is easier than outdoors, so I do have a little work to do; but I already have 4 weeks of workouts prepared by a running coach to help me out! There are two more 4 week blocks if I want or need them too.

I'm up & running!

Baywatch

2011-07-28T08:07:00.005+10:00

Yesterday I received confirmation that we are off to Bali next year in March. My Mum's brother has a place there & is having a big 60th birthday bash & the whole extended family is invited. I'm sure I've mentioned before, Mum is one of 6 & on that side of the family I have 8 cousins ranging in age from 20 - 44. Hopefully most of them will come. I know 4 are definitely going, plus myself & my sis. Just gotta work on Sydney (3) & Port Douglas (1) contingents.

I guess you all know I've been struggling with exercise & expanding girth; nothing has been inspiring me to change until now. I have a beach holiday with scuba to look forward to; & the thought of being so wobbly in front of my cousins is enough to make me WANT to do something about it. The school reunion is drawing closer & I have made a few subtle changes in my eating over the past few weeks. The change has been brewing; the urge quietly & ever so slowly growing.

Last night as I was heading towards the land of nod, I started thinking about the beach & Baywatch popped into my head. Not that I ever watched the show, but vision of being fit & strong (& not wobbly) & running along the beach cemented the plan in my head & this morning I put it on paper (well, on screen).

I have a daggy new name to go with it - yes, somewhat lame, but it makes me laugh - we talk about chickee babes at work all the time, so, introducing: Operation Babewatch. Yes, I'm going to bore you all senseless with it, but this is my blog & I'll bore you if I want! hehehehe Maybe I can even inspire someone - who knows.

Anyhoo. Operation Babewatch is split into 5 phases & I've hashed out a few immediate objectives & will add or change as I go.

Phase 1: Birthday Babeness - Weeks 1 - 10
Objective: improve fitness & lose 2 - 3kgs
Exercise: Run 3 x times per week increasing distance from 3kms to 7kms
Step 1 x per week
Body Pump (tennis elbow permitting) OR at least do leg work out at gym x 2 per week

Phase 2: School Reunion Babeness - Weeks 11 - 16
Objective: continue to improve fitness & lose 2kgs
Exercise: Reassess Running, aim for 3 x per week increase distance from 7kms to 10kms
Step 1 x per week
Body Pump as per above
Focus a bit more on Core Strength - Plank it baby

Phase 3: Xmas Party Babeness - Weeks 17 - 21
Objective: maintain fitness & weight
Exercise: Run twice per week; weights once per week, step once per week
Other: look into swimming lessons for summer (I can swim- read dog paddle & breast stroke, but my freestyle is usesless & I'd love to be able to swim laps with or without fins)

Phase 4: Summer Babeness - Weeks 22 - 30
Objective: improve fitness, looking towards diving fitness; maintain weight
Exercise: swimming
Run 10kms 2 x times per week
Pump Or Weights 2 x times per week

Phase 5: Beach Bali Babeness - Weeks 31 - 32
Objective: Primp, buff & polish.
Exercise: where ever possible; maintain weight

This weekend I plan on making up a couple of big pots of soup to eat over the next week or so to give me a bit of a kick start.

Watch this space!

Moonambel

2011-07-26T12:30:00.000+10:00

We managed to get away for the weekend & I have lots of photo's as requested. Considering the awful things that happened this weekend though I feel somewhat unenthusiastic about posting. I've seen a lot of jokes already about Amy Winehouse - I for one loved her music & think she had an amazing voice. She was someones daughter & I wish people could have a little more compassion for someone who clearly had a multitude of problems. I can't really bring myself to comment about the poor families in Norway: heart achingly sad for them.

Had we arrived in daylight, this would have been our first impression of our home for the weekend.

Tree lined driveway

Lovely Balcony from which to while away the afternoon

Alcove to enjoy the morning sun.

We sat out here for brunch on Saturday morning in tee shirts & bare feet! The sun was so lovely. We arrived at Moon-am-bell (pronunciation) in the Pyrenees wine region of Victoria, approximately 2.5 hours from the CBD of Melbourne in time for the 10 minute walk to the pub & order our meals before 8pm. It was surprisingly busy & a lot of the older folk of the region take over the pub on Friday nights & before long we were joined by half a dozen locals for a natter in front of the fire. We met a couple who own an Olive Grove & arranged to visit them Saturday. We staggered home at stumps to our nice warm fire...

Plenty of fire wood & a huge comfortable bed.

The rest of the cottage looked like this....

View from our bedroom Window of the vineyard.

We spent Saturday reading & lazing about; went for a drive around the local area & stopped in at the Olive Grove. I can't remember how many trees were in the grove, but they send their olives away for processing (after hand picking), it is then returned to them in big plastic containers to settle for a couple of months, then bottled on site. Each bottle has it's label hand rolled on & hand corked. Of course I did a little shopping...

Pub again for dinner & an early night this time, as plumbing boy was being picked up at 7.30am for a day of dirt bike riding. I rugged up & set out at 9am for a big walk after firstly enjoying the Rosella's.

I didn't find any Koala's but I did find some Kangaroo's. You'll have to click on the photo to see them though.......they are good at camouflage.

Once I reached the end of the lane, it turned into a 4wheel drive track into a nature reserve & continued to climb at a greater incline, which the following pictures don't really give perspective of, but I was thinking of Amanda's hill climb as I went up & up & up & my heart was pounding out of my chest & I had to remove jacket & beanie to cool down!!!

Back down again. It took me an hour 10 to get to the top of the peak & 40 minutes to get back home again. My glutes are still feeling it today.

Our hosts had Alpacas & miniature horses.

Time for a shower, the off to a local market...

Kusundi, Chili Jam, Rasberry Jam & Oganic Chocolate; then to the bakery to stock up on pasties & pepper steak pies!

Back home to read my cook book until the boys returned for a late lunch. All in all a lovely, relaxing, phone & customer free weekend. The cabin was lovely, as were our hosts who included a bottle of their hand picked vintgage Shiraz which I will be trying this weekend.

Fridays & Crazy Dreams

2011-07-22T08:16:00.008+10:00

Just above everyone loves a Friday -I certainly do!

Here's what I'm also loving:

I picked this up recently (heavily discounted - woot!) & Plumbing Boy has been hogging it. I plan on spending Sunday in bed reading it (while he is on his dirt bike).

This week we made the Caesar Salad on PB's request - yumo! I may even finally be converted into liking anchovies..........The recipe also reminded me how much I love eggs. Poached or soft boiled - so long as the yolk is runny, I am a happy camper! I cooked a few soft boiled as per above book & have been smooshing them on toast for breakfast. Divine.

PB loves muffins, in particular blueberry ones. I found a Woman's Weekly recipe that I've tweaked switching the butter milk for organic Greek style full fat yogurt & adding raspberries (increasing the fruit content by 1/3). I made a batch of 12 Monday night, they were all gone by 4pm Tuesday arvo. One of my staff members said that he wants the recipe for his next birthday cake!

This isn't a picture of mine, but will make another batch next week take a pic & share the recipe with you!

Sometimes I make Fridays at work "casual Friday" & wear jeans. hehehe my office assistant doesn't work Fridays so it is just me deciding to wear jeans to work really. And I get to wear my fave sneakers.

I'm actually a bit sad because the manufacturer stopped making them this year. I bought a spare pair from DFO a couple of weeks ago & stashed them in the back of my wardrobe..........I just may go back & procure another pair!

And my eternal fave especially on a Friday is 3RRR radio station. I just can't listen to commercial radio anymore (unless it's KRock for the footy)! Can't stand the advertisements & the majority of the commentators.

I've been dreaming frantically all week & last night was no exception. Our alarm goes off followed by the radio around 5 minutes later. On awaking properly I realised I'd incorporated what Red Symons had been talking about in my dream....light bulbs. This was all muddled into a night out with Miss B, Cinders & Tully & we were trying to get home, but the westgate bridge had disappeared & the freeway just ended. And the ferry that was supposed to be taking people from the broken end of the freeway to the western side of the bridge had sunk as well & we could see it on the bottom of the bay. We had to catch trams to a cab rank in Port Melbourne, but for some strange reason everybody needed light bulbs. But the light bulbs had a special clip on them that Red couldn't undo. Curiously he was broadcasting from a hotel room in Port Melbourne & I ran around there & showed him how to take the clip off the light bulb enabling it to be used. I was racing back to the cab rank to show the others how to get the clips off when I awoke. Yes, bloody bizarre I know.

Hope you all have sensational weekends & sensible pleasant dreams!

Blur

2011-07-18T16:05:00.004+10:00

Started Monday....

This year seems to by flying by in a blur. Some days I feel a bit like life is passing me by - so many things to do, so may places to go, so little time. Work has been getting me down a bit of late; you know, the neverendingness of it. Most of the time I am "up" & chirpy, but lordy sometimes it's hard!

I had a really quiet weekend catching up on house hold chores & other bits & bobs. Laboured for Plumbing Boy on Saturday; said chores on Sunday. Even made it to the gym. My car died again so was back in the plumbing truck. Not sure if it's been looked at today or not. PB's truck is running just fine, so my wheels slip his mind....

Went & saw HP 7.2 2D Wednesday night. Had hoped to see it in 3D on the weekend, but just ran out of time. Loved it. It was pretty unlikely that I wouldn't though. I'd been reading the book again, but hadn't quite finished it in time. Will probably finish it tonight & have been continually surprised at some of the smaller detail included in the film that I'd forgotten about.

Last night my 11 y/o niece sent me a text "is the philosophers stone the same as the resurrection stone i don't think it is but mum does" then 2 seconds later "I can not lose this disagreement". She was right of course & I had to telephone my sis to explain why.....too long to explain via text! I guess Tess won that one.

Tuesday.....

Well, it's just as cold as yesterday & bloody windy too. Makes me want to curl up under a doona & wait for some warmer weather. Perhaps I suffer a bit of SADS? What do you do to beat the winter blues???

On the upside, we might be going away for the weekend! Our forman has returned from 8 weeks long service leave & (hopefully) will be on call this weekend & answering the phones! I can't believe I may have a whole weekend without having to answer a single phone call!

PB wants to dirt bike ride on Sunday, so we will probably go somewhere conducive to meeting his riding companions; possibly in the Pyrenees region. Found a self contained cabin that is available; just need to confirm with said staff member as I've got a feeling the roster may have changed since he went away & he may not be aware. Should know later today.

I promise I will hijack the camera & take lots of pictures! Not sure what I'll do with myself on Sunday, but I'm sure a few winery's might be in order. So long as it doesn't snow I'll be happy!

Smalls

2011-07-13T12:33:00.004+10:00

OK. Walk away if you don't want to read about underwear.

Hmmm. That was a stupid statement wasn't it......you're all still here.

OK. It's no secret that I've put on a bit of weight of late & eventually this means that your undergarments no longer fit properly! I can still wear most of my clothes although a few trousers are just a bit too tight to wear comfortably. You'd think that would kick start me into some serious exercise, but apparently not (yet).

Anyhoo. Back to the smalls. I was down to two brassieres - my boobs seem to have put on weight & I had some pretty bad spillage going on, spoiling the line of any fitted top.

I've been a 12C for as long as I can remember. Depending on my weight, sometimes a 10C-D or 12C-D depending on the manufacturers sizing. Off I toddle on the weekend & was fitted in 2 yes TWO separate shops as a 10E. Seriously???

I know I have some bigger busted readers out there, but to be honest, I'd never really thought about sizing larger than a DD. Hadn't had to go there so I'm claiming ignorance!!! E Cup??? WTF. Yes, I know they also have F & G (at least!) - the first lady bought me in an F cup to try!

I'm sporting a couple of Dimity So's & A couple of Berlie's (thank god for DFO) & they certainly fit much better than my old bra's & no spillage. I really hope I don't end up with Mum or (god forbid) Grandma's boobs in my old age. I'm not knocking big boobs at all mind you, I just can't imagine my poor back (or yours) dragging them around!

Now. If anyone can tell me about comfy knickers I'll be a happy camper. I'm no fashion guru, but loathe visible knicker lines & will do anything to avoid them. I hate buying knickers - you try them on in the shop & they feel OK, but then you try & wear them for a day & discover they don't stay put!!! At the moment I'm wearing these Rio's

(no - that is not my body.....look on the rio website if ya don't believe me!)

Not sure they'll be good for gym but they're bloody comfy in the office!

So. Spill. What are your comfiest grundies???

Dottie

2011-07-08T08:37:00.003+10:00

5 glasses of red wine followed by 3 pints of ciders renders me ridiculously drunk & I most humbly appologise to anyone (asides myself) that I managed to embarass, stand on, trip over or spill anything on. I hope I'm not banned from future girls nights out. Got home at 3am Saturday morning & Plumbing Boy had to telephone the home phone 3 times to wake me (at 8.30am) to change the phones back over to me as he was going dirt bike riding. The first thing I noticed was that my feet were still killing me. I really shouldn't dance in heels. In fact I am sure if you'd seen me out on Friday night, you'd probably come to the conclusion I shouldn't dance at all (in public)!

Saturday night was more of the same. PB's best mates birthday dinner at their home. Home made pizza, nacho's, portugese BBQ chicken, salads, wine champange, singing (home style karaoke) dancing etc, ect. I made it to bed slightly before PB who slide into bed at 5am. Lordy. Amazingly we were both much healthier looking than the birthday boy the next morning who after spending a whole hour in the shower looked grey. He'd organised to go out for lunch with his Mum & family. I'd be surprised if he didn't upchuck the whole lot. Apparently he made it though lunch & came straight home to bed. We came home via the fish n chip shop as PB was craving grease. We both spent the afternoon on the couch watching movies which was kinda nice. Haven't done that for a while (together); PB is usually out on his dirt bike.

All that partay took it's toll & Monday I felt like I was getting man flu. You know that full body ache, sore throat & a cold sore? I ate a shite load of garlic, drank buckets of water & managed to avert any snot arrival. The sore throat has gone today & the cold sore has cleared up nicely after being plastered with Zovira#. One of my cousin's was in town from Sydney & I had to pike on dinner that night - I know if I'd gone out in the cold I would have been really sick for sure.

I've been madly reading the last Harry Potter book in preparation for the release of the final film next week. Can't wait! I'm sure it will have a little more momentum than part one which was pretty slow.

We have a resident rodent in our office. Little bugger keeps popping under the door, spotting PB in his office & darting back out again. Cheeky!. Of course everyone has been bagging my cat to the shizen because she hasn't caught it yet. My office assistant is quite afraid? of mice - her husband was extremely amused that she stayed at work knowing there was a rodent on the loose. I nearly trod on it yesterday, but it escaped. I'm not particularly afraid of mice; its the rats I don't like.

Work has been busy still this week with EOFY what not. I think I've just about finished it all now; bar a mound of shredding of old records, but they aren't going anywhere.

I'm still in shock about my footy teams loss last week. I didn't get to see it because of the party we were at & didn't hear the final score until Sunday arvo. grumble grumble grumble. I suppose we had to lose one game though didn't we?

Exercise has been non existent, bar dodgy dancing. It's been too cold for me to even contemplate going out at night to the gym.

Tonight I've got another girls night - this time in & no dancing! I'm going to Geelong to see my high school mate D & taking another bestie from Melbs T. Another high school mate is joining us as well. Other than Me & D (& me & T) the others haven't seen each other in 20 years. Should be a hoot!

I plan on spending the rest of the weekend very quietly. Need to catch on house hold chores. Vacuuming is so unexciting. I wish I had a wand & could do it magically!!

Hope you are all well wherever you are & if you are in Melbourne are keeping warm!!!!!!

Absence

2011-06-30T06:57:00.003+10:00

Just a quickie to apologise for my absence.

My olds have returned from their 10 week overseas jaunt, so I spent the whole weekend (when not helping plumbing boy) scrubbing our home to within an inch of its life. Mum is a a bit of a clean freak, who also has chronic hay fever & a laryngitis chesty thing that's been hanging about for the past year or so & any dust or "foul" air (or talking to much) renders her without voice. That in itself is not such a bad thing at times, but when she cleans it stirs it all up, so I have to ensure there is bloody nothing left to clean!

I picked them up from the airport Monday night, we had family over for a lamb roast Tuesday night; they departed for home yesterday afternoon.

Of course I have also been flat stick with EOFYS (end of financial year stuff) & will be for another week I'd say.

I've managed a quick read of some of your blogs, but no time to comment yet! Forgive me please.......

Tucker

2011-06-20T14:47:00.003+10:00

My family all love their tucker; my 11y/o niece included who stayed with me on Friday night. On Thursday, I emailed her to see if she had any dinner requests - usually she'll ask for something very specific, like spaghetti & meatballs with chocolate pudding....

My email to her..

Hello Hello Hello!

Hope you are having a good week at school!

Do you have dinner/movie requests for Friday night???

See ya Friday night alright?? :o)

Tess texted me back later that day....

Hey, dont mind whatever u feel like but the dessert & tea have to taste good

I responded...

your wish is my command petalness. I'd better get cooking!

Tess....

U do know im coming 2morrow not today but good things come to those who cook good food and good food takes preparation

Me...

Yes indeedy do! Expecting you tmw around 2.30pm. Will be up all night preparing the feast. PS Plumbing Boy said you wouldn't want any dessert!

Tess....

well he's wronger than climbing the wrong mountain!

Me...

Lucky he has a gps otherwise he'd be lost on that wrong mountain!! Don't worry, I be makin' dessert!

LOL. I ended up cooking roast Chicken & Pavlova with whipped cream & blueberries/raspberries. I'm sure you all remember the Ghost pav I made for Tess for her spooky party last year! We watched Gulliver's Travels (gotta love Jack Black!) & hung out in front of the fire.

Saturday night my cuz from Sydney was in town with his girlfriend, so we went out for dinner in St Kilda. It was a pretty quiet night in comparison to our usual effort when we get together - I think we were home & in bed by 11pm & on the opposite side of town to dinner. His GF was a bit weary as was her mate (I think they'd had a few drinks in the afternoon) & my cuz had a footy date Sunday with a few people & a 6am flight this morning so he was resisting the urge to partay!

I managed gym both Saturday & Sunday. Finished the last True Blood book on Saturday on the tready, & don't have anything else left to read at the moment. I think this means I'll have to start running again! I did a yoga class on Sunday morning followed by a bit of a run (3kms) & didn't feel sore.

To be honest, I'm a bit loathe to say I'm back into it (the exercise & good eating). I've mapped out all sorts of training plans & at least 2 challenges since Christmas, but I just couldn't get into them &/or commit. The last one was FOMT (fuck off muffin top), but I only got as far as deciding what to call it & that was a month ago. I have a school reunion coming up but not til November, so that is not really motivating me yet. That said, I've exercised 7 days out of the last 9 which is a vast improvement on zip. So. With a bit of luck I am back into it as the muffin top I'm carrying aint a good look. Now I just gotta sort the eating......I made potato gnocchi last night; the recipe said feeds 4 - 6 people. Yeah. we at the lot between the two of us.....

Blogger reguritated my post

2011-06-17T08:00:00.001+10:00

HA! when I first checked after blogger ate my post the other day, I looked in the drafts straight away & either I really do need glasses or it was definately not there. But guess what. Now it is. So. I'm gonna tweak it & try again to publish.

How was your (long if you live in Australia) weekend?

Mine was pretty quiet - I got saddled with the work phone while Plumbing Boy went out dirt bike riding two of the 3 days we had off.

Friday night we went out for dinner & to see some live local muso's play - the food was divine & the music sublime! Saw a couple of old fave's in Nigel Wearne & Sarah Carroll, plus a guy Luke Watt who I'd never heard before who is awesome!

Saturday I slept in (Plumbing Boy had a couple jobs booked in early) so Rosy (my cat) & I were happy to have the bed to ourselves. Pottered about doing household chores then went for a 5km walk listening to my new CD's purchased the night before (made PB answer the phones). If you'd have seen me bopping along with a stupid grin on my face, you'd have wondered what sort of a nut bag I was!

Saturday night we went to friends for dinner & watched them do "home style" Karaoke - they don't have a bouncing ball or lyrics, they just play their favourite songs & sing along over the top. Kind of amusing, but a little anti social as unless you know the words to the music they have, you can't really join in. PB was riding the next day anyway so we didn't stay late. AND I missed out on watching the footy due to said Karaoke. Was not happy. I had to get text updates from my cuz in Sydney!!!

Sunday & Monday seem to have passed in a blur, although I did manage walking 5 & 6kms respectively finishing book 9 of True Blood as I walked on the tready (easier to answer the phone than while walking outside). I seem to have conquered a mountain of laundry; split kindling for the next week or so, met a cute huntsman spider while filling up the wood box & watched Burlesque (surprisingly good), The Fighter (good but nodded off towards the end) & Black Swan (brilliant, but ruined by PB arriving home & having to have the story explained to him over & over). I'd watch all of them again & recommend them, although Black Swan was pretty out there & I had to shut my eyes a couple of times.

All in all, was not a bad weekend. I would have prefered to have gone away somewhere, but it's hard to compete with a shiney new motorbike!

# Updated Thursday afternoon.

Last night I went back to body pump after having a month or so off with a bout of tennis elbow. My gym has just released body pump 78. Yowsers! The lunge track is a killer! I used "girly" weights for everything involving elbows & felt like a bit of a wuss, but said body part is thanking me for it now & feels fairly good. A slight burn in my forearm, but a bit of heat & some home massage should handle it. I used weights for the lunge track though & am waiting for the DOMS to set in good & proper. I'm a spaz as it is with lunges, so usually concentrate on form without weights, but since I'd been so girly I gave it a crack! I had a really hot bath with Radox last night & felt OK this morning, but I'm starting to feel it now, believe me!

Anyhoo. I am happy my fave instructor is still there & she cracked me up last night with her "go hard or go home" & other such motivational statements. I found myself wondering whether you'd appreciate her or not Memphis! I recon you would......

PC

2011-06-16T08:00:00.001+10:00

How PC is it to correct the spelling of a teacher???

We take work experience students as part of our community service each year; usually we manage 4 - 6 for 2 week blocks at a time. It is fairly taxing & we try to spread them out to give the students the best opportunity to have the best possible experience.

I received an email from a teacher yesterday who was spelling plumbing as plumming & plummer. Should or should I not correct her.

Votes Please!

The other variation that makes me giggle is sometimes people with accents call us plumpers or plumping!

Tales from Abroad 11 - Scotland & France.

2011-06-15T08:11:00.003+10:00

So. Yesterday I wrote a post about my weekend directly into blogger which of course deleted the whole thing when I hit publish. It was somewhat disgruntled, so perhaps blogger recognised it for the shite post it was & did something about it.

Instead we have possibly the last tale from my Ma & Pa who will be home in 2 weeks. They called Sunday night, I think Mum is getting a bit homesick & wanted to hear our voices.

When we were growing up on the farm, we hosted around 12 international agricultural exchange students, the first arriving when I was around 12 years old. I think we had 8 or 9 in a row (first 3 were from Canada, then we had a run of Scandinavians); the last 3 we had were from France (I'd moved out of home by then), hence the familiarity of the farmers Dad writes about.

Loos, France, 14th June

Our Scottish adventure started from Glasgow where we stayed with cousins. On a sunny day we took a day trip to St Andrews. The city is dominated by the cathedral ruins, although there are quite a few golf links. It has one of the oldest universities in Britain. There is a band of good arable farming land right across this part of Scotland (although we travelled mostly by motorway).

Next we headed to the highlands via "The Road to the Isles". Maillaig is a busy fishing village & ferry terminal. Next day we took the ferry to Skye & rented a cottage in Dornie, right on Loch Long with towering mountains directly behind & over the loch in front. With the sun rising before five & setting close to eleven there were some magnificent reflections in the water.

We took day trips to Glenelg, Plockton, Kyle & Applecross. At Glenelg there were ruins of broches which were the highland versions of the iron age structures we had seen previously. They were perfect beehive shapes with larger wall cavities & used up until the 7th century AD.

In Plockton we went to a local fundraiser. It was a film & seafood night, including local fresh mussels & prawns. The drive to Applecross was white knuckle stuff. Single lane alpine driving with sharp switch backs & few passing places. It was worth it to get to the surprisingly mild coastal town with a coral beach & pretty walled garden.

Another interesting day was watching a local game of shinty on a paddock that sloped from the side of the road down to a loch side marsh by about 7 degrees. There were no buildings, few seats & the players often had to chase their own balls from the sheep paddocks or the rushes. It is like a game of hockey without rules - lots of body contact & overhead stick action.

Next to the shinty field is a burial ground with lots of McRae headstones. There are even more at the ruins of the church at Loch Duich which is the traditional McRae burial ground. There is a certain mystic quality around the country that they left in the 1850's and Australia must have seemed very alien.

Kilmartin was a good stop on the way to Oban. There is evidence of the early neolithic & later civilisations everywhere, from standing stones, cairns, burial mounds & artifacts. This is the place where the early kings were crowned (and buried nearby on the island of Iona). The country around Oban is softer with vegetation on the lower peaks & hillsides. We missed otters in the wild but saw them at the excellent aquarium here. We stopped at a good backpacker hostel notable for the fresh scones provided every morning & its position by the picturesque waterfront & busy main street.

This time we managed to be at the right airport (they'd had an unfortunate incident earlier, almost missing a plane as they were at the wrong terminal). Often Ryanair passengers are at the wrong airport. Ryanair fly from Prestwick & say they fly from Glasgow (45 minutes away). We have heard lots of complaints about Ryanair.

A friendly face met us at Paris. It was Vincent who had visited us on the farm. He drove us to his farm near Beauvais. There he milks 70 cows & crops on 200 hectares with his parents. The cows graze on the few hectares which are tied to his milk quota & the rest are cropped. The rotation is wheat, maize, sugar beet & canola. The crops are quite stunted & they desperately need rain. The main topic in the farming journals is the drought (also in the south east of England).

Vincent's cows are feed a complete ration according to production via an outdoor 2 stand feeding station which recognises the electronic collars. From November to March they stay in loafing barns. Slurry is stored & spread when permissible & the dry manure is carted to the cropping paddocks, windrowed then aerated by contractors prior to use as fertilizer.

Herd records & quality assurance is all entered to a national database online daily. He is getting 33 € cents per litre at the moment. Last year when the supermarkets started discounting, the local farmers removed all the milk from the local supermarket. Better than the usual dumping of manure on the steps of Parliament by French farmers! Vincent says French farmers have an emotional response as they are less organised than Australian farmers. A considerable part of his income comes from EU support for cropping but the dairy (apart from the fodder) is unsupported.

Gerberoy, the village voted number one is near to Vincent. It was raining when we visited, so we could walk unhindered as it is usually full of tourists. The buildings are mostly of timber and brick or clay. Most of the surrounding farms are typically French with large wooden doors opening into a court yard surrounded by the house, barn, stable, dairy etc all joined together. They have cellars that were often used to make cider. Most of the ones in the village streets have been converted to modern housing but retaining the facade.

Vincent drove us to his friend Gonzague (and our former worker) in Loos near Lille. This is a very unusual farm because it has 5 hectares and the main farm buildings within the city boundaries. Some of their land was appropriated for a major hospital about 500 metres away and there is always the threat of more land being acquired. They have a legal advisor specialising in town planning and all their operations are a compromise with the community; although they do have significant support for their farm shop.

Gonzague milks 20 cows and operates with his wife (who is also a pharmacist) & parents. 150,000 litres are kept (unpasteurised) to produce butter, fresh cheese, yoghurt & fresh milk for the shop. The yoghurt is by far the best we have tasted. The rest is picked up by the tanker for manufacture. There are 700 battery layers plus meat birds. Battery cages are banned from the end of the year, so they have bought another larger shed. The remainder of the 100 hectares is mostly nearby but some is 15kms away. They also grow potatoes, wheat, sugar beet, maize & canola.

Today we went to the fruit & vegetable market in Lille to buy strawberries, carrots, onions & zucchini to stock the shop. It is like the Footscray market but may be larger. They only sell in season produce. Lille is a very interesting city, having been once under Spanish rule. It was a textile town & trade centre between England and mainland Europe. Barges still carry freight via the canal flowing through the city.

Tomorrow we catch the train to Cholet. It is mostly by TGV - 600kms in 4 and a half hours - so the photos might be a bit blurred. Apologies on 2 counts. Some of you might already have some of this news and the keyboard is QSDFGH not QWERTY.

They still have 2 of our previous exchange students to visit with before heading home, so Dad may give us one more update! It sounds amazing that Gonzague's farm is right in the middle of town - Dad said the town is around the same size as Warrnambool (pop approx 30,000). I suspect the stone they lost in Scotland will return in France due to all the butter & pastry they've been consuming! Mum was practicing her French on the phone to me, but I suspect our previous students families speak little english & the language barrier has been more difficult than in the UK. I'm still deciding what to cook for their arrival dinner - they'll probably want a feed of steamed veggies & some fruit. I'll ask Dad for a request or two. When they left I cooked them a rack of lamb with veg, followed by home made apple pie.

Laters!

blogger just ate my post.

2011-06-14T13:11:00.000+10:00

not happy jan.

will try again later.

Tales from Abroad 10 - Scotland in Part.

2011-06-10T08:13:00.003+10:00

From me Ma & Da again.........I think Dad ran out of time as he ends abruptly!

Saturday – McRae Country
It was a murky (grey & drizzling) coming up from Glasgow & no good for taking photographs. Glencoe did look mystic & the clouds lifted to show the mountain tops. The water is still streaming down the steep hillsides. After a dry April they have had twice average rainfall for May – 186 mm here. It is very mild & if it stayed dry the dreaded midges would appear but it promises to get murky later in the day. Everyone we talk to mentions creepy crawlies in Australia but here we have noticed kits for dunking ticks in to test for lime disease.

Mallaig was a lot bigger & busier than we expected & you could easily stay longer. The ferries to the isles go from here & it is a fishing port. We had an interesting chat to some fisheries people doing a survey of fisherman. The fishermen are aware that there are too many pots (no licences) & joked that you could walk to Skye without getting your feet wet. One was a marine biologist who did her thesis on how stress affected langoustines.

We took the (large) ferry to Skye & then Kyle where we did our shop for the week. Visited the Clan Donald museum on the way, which helped our understanding of the complex history of northern Scotland.

We have rented a cottage for a week in Dornie. More expensive than we planned as the pamphlet we had wasn’t comprehensive & it was the only one not let out. It is a picture perfect white washed house with every mod con at the end of a 500 metre line of cottages with mountains right behind & Loch Long over the road in front and another back drop of mountains – in fact mountain vistas from every window. There are a few houses further along the loch & we are told a nice walk up the glen.

The climate appears mild & there is a grevillea in the almost Australian garden. It doesn’t show any of the effects of the severe frosts of November that we have seen elsewhere. The visitors book going back to 2000 shows that the house has been full of walkers who have done a lot of “Munroes” which are mountains over 3000 feet.

Dornie is mostly a single street. It has a bar, pub, coffee shop & a corner shop with post office. We walked with a young piper who was on his way to busk in the car park at Eilean Donan. We followed him up later & he had quite an audience even though the castle had closed.

Since 93 there is now quite a large visitor centre & coffee shop on the road & an underpass to Dornie (just a few hundred metres). There is no mobile coverage & I am writing this at breakfast to save time while Mum is sleeping in, as we have to buy Wi-Fi time at the coffee shop.

There is a craft fair at the castle so we will go there today. There is also a game of shinty & we will try to see that as we missed hurling in Ireland. Hurling was described as the ultimate in athleticism, speed & grace by a bloke in Ireland. The lady at the shop here said that if you were hit by the ball at shinty, it was at least 5 teeth gone. Don’t think we will go to the lessons advertised for Wednesday night!

Tonight there is a film night & seafood buffet at Plockton for only 7 pounds. All the comments in the visitor’s book rave about the seafood. You can gather mussels & catch fish in the loch (junction of 3 here). There are also a lot of sightings of otters, deer & dolphins, so we could be lucky.

We will also go to Glenelg. Clachan Duich church ruins will be worth a visit as it is the traditional McRae burial ground. While we think of it we will be arriving home a day later as we have decided to give our backs a rest & break the flight again in KL.

It is very still & you can catch the reflections of the mountains in the water. When you are here it is easier to appreciate the fuss & expectation of spring brings. The growth in foliage is so fast & the days seem to lengthen so quickly. Road signs are often obscured as the trees encroach over the roads. The workmen with their line trimmers & narrow mowers attached to Unimogs seem to be fighting a losing battle. It was still light at 10.45pm last night.

We are appreciating the quiet as the cousins in Rasharkin & Glasgow love a good “blather” but they all delightful. The scales in Glasgow weighed a stone lighter! The 96 year old cousin we visited in Penecuik lived in an aged care unit but only had 30 minutes home help a week & showered & got her own breakfast. We had to fit in with her busy social life. The quiet has just been disturbed by an airforce jet. We seem to remember that they roared up the glens last time.

I'm thinking Mumsy must have arrived for breakfast & Dad ran out of time to write more so sent this while he had Wi-Fi. So little time; so many places I want to go! Cant wait to see their tales in photographs.

Irony & Lamb Shanks

2011-06-08T07:46:00.004+10:00

I've had fairly interrupted sleep this week - Monday night I went to bed at 10.30pm & was woken by customers at 11.30pm (wanting to make a booking for tomorrow); 12.30am (uncertain as to whether she wanted someone or not) & 1.30am (I can no longer remember what this person wanted other than the fact that they could have waited until tomorrow). I was a little tired yesterday. Yes, I know all of you out there with kidlets are saying suck it up princess!

Last night I had a client call me at 12.30am undecided as to whether she could wait until tomorrow or not for the plumber & spent 5 minutes talking me through her showering routine. Seriously. None of which had any bearing on her actual plumbing issue.

Eventually I book her in for this morning & she leaves me all her contact details, including her mobile number, informing me that there would be no point calling before 8am, as she TURNS IT OFF WHILE SHE IS SLEEPING. I don't think she caught the irony of firstly arranging for me to call her between 7.00 & 7.30am to confirm her booking; nor the fact that I was wishing with all my heart that I too could leave my phone turned OFF WHILE I SLEEP!

Anyhoo. Last night for dinner, by request from Plumbing Boy, we had my aunties lamb shank recipe. My cuz & I went & visited her in country NSW in 2006 & she cooked the following recipe which was still written out on the original scrap of paper from that trip (I figured it was time I finally wordprocessed it).

She's got a bit of a thing for lamb shanks & has over 100 different recipes, but this is the one she cooked for us that trip & we've been making it every winter since. It's bloody delicious & very easy & I recon you should give it a crack.

AUNTIE G’S LAMB SHANKS!

4 Lamb Shanks
35 grams butter
2 tablespoons Oil
2 Onions Diced
2 tablespoons of plain flour
700ml Stock
500ml Port
2 Cloves Garlic
3 Juniper berries crushed
2 pieces Orange rind
Salt & Pepper
Bouquet Garni
180 grams prunes

# Brown shanks in butter & oil & set aside.

# Add Onions to butter/oil & season with salt & pepper, stir until soft.

# Add flour & stir for 1 minute.

# Add Stock, Port, Garlic, Juniper Berries & Orange Rind & bring to the boil.

# Add bouquet garni & return shanks to pan (or transfer the lot into a crock pot/slow cooker or oven proof dish).

# Cover & bake in oven @ 160 degrees for 3 hours or equivalent in crock pot/slow cooker.

# Stir in Prunes to warm at end (10 minutes before serving).

Last night I reduced the stock to 500mls as I like my gravy thicker than thinner & usually have to thicken it up a little & it was just perfect. We cooked ours for an extra 1 1/2 hrs, simply because we weren't ready to eat after 3 hours in the oven, although I did turn the temperature down to 150 deg C for that last bit. The Lamb was sooooo tender, just fell off the bone!

We had ours with mash & steamed broccoli & green beans. I bought myself one of those potato ricer sieve things & while the mash gets cold while you press it through & you have to reheat it, the mash is so smooth & creamy & yes you should be drooling by now! PB had first crack at using it on the weekend while I was visiting my sis & struggled with it. I need a couple more goes to work out which utensil is best to push it through the sieve & figure out how to best position it. I had it over a stainless steel bowl but it slipped about & was a pain in the arse. A flat surface would be best I think!

So. How do you make your mash AND what's your fave winter warmer din dins?

Countrified

2011-06-06T12:38:00.002+10:00

I got me a little countrified on the weekend. My sis has a bit of a farmlet & we spent Saturday morning doing jobs about the place. Scoopin' horse poop, spreading sand in a stable & stone dust on the outside track of the round yard; checking for eggs, petting the horses & ponies; playing with the cats & sorting smax the guinea pigs cage.

We were lucky that the rain held off while we pottered about outside; while it was cold we were warm while the sun was out, although it was quite breezy! We wandered into town for coffee just before lunch time @ Simon's waterfront were Plumbing Boy & I got hitched. They've finished off the beer garden which looks fabulous; but we sat inside & watched the waves roll in & some very brave surfers while sipping on our coffee. Simon & his wife were both working so had a quick chat before heading "up the street" to the shops.

My sis had a couple of birthday presents to get, then a bit of lunch, groceries, dvd store & before we knew it it was 3.30pm! We'd been out for dinner Friday night, so Tess & I were cooking a birthday dinner for my sis. By request, it ended up being chocolate self sauce pudding (1st request) preceded by pasta bake with meatballs. We prepared out meatballs & got the tomato sauce on then watched a DVD that I've now seen 3 times in the past 2 weeks. I really liked it. For those of you who have kids, or like movies about quirky little girls, then try Ramona & Beezus. Tess had been hanging out to see it & I didn't mind seeing it again. I'd actually made PB watch it 2 weekends ago. I hired it for me to watch while conquering a mountain of ironing then had hired something else for us to both watch together. The 2nd DVD was crap; so I put Ramona & Beezus back on. He wouldn't say he loved it, but he probably liked the movie as much as the Dad in the movie loved Picky Picky, the cat. Now I want to go & read the books!

Our dinner was as success although Tess got carried away & put birthday candles in everyone's desert. We played a couple of rounds of cards & everyone was in bed by 9.30pm! I had a huge sleep in - woke at 9.30am to the lawn mower! Pottered about with Sis & Tess then hit the road. It was really really windy on the way back to Melbourne - you could almost say there were tumbleweeds blowing everywhere! I spent a lot of time hoping that the gum branches were as flimsy as they looked & wouldn't damage my car!

I made it home before the storm hit; but really enjoyed the drive looking out over the country side at the hills & trees & cows & other livestock. I almost feel like I'd like to move back to the country. I felt so peaceful & calm away from the hustle & bustle of the city. I probably should have pulled over & just sat for a while, but I ended up on phone duty while PB went dirt bike riding which was spoiling my serenity. Ah the serenity. You can take the kid out of the country, but you cant take the country out of the kid. And amusingly enough, I've got a bit of a John Denver addiction going on right now. I love Rocky Mountain High. Love it. Sing along now!

Perception

2011-06-02T08:16:00.005+10:00

One of my younger staff members asked me yesterday if I like to watch the same sort of TV shows as Plumbing Boy. My response was, Um, sometimes. I steal the remote at 8.30pm; before that we watch stuff like the news, 7.30 report, current affairs/docco type shows. I like an hour of fantasy before bed, where I don't have to think & am (somewhat) entertained - takes my mind completely off work & serious stuff.

He laughed & said, "people ask me what my bosses are like, & I always say the guy boss, well, he's.... different. But you get used to him after a while. My Girl boss though, she's just like the rest of us, & just tries to fit into his world". I've been giggling about it on an off since then. What an interesting observation. I didn't think Plumbing Boy was that different; I suppose having dreadlocks down to his butt is a bit unusual; & he certainly has an interesting approach at times. You just never never know how people perceive you.

Despite being inspired by Humongous the last week, I've been pretty slack on the exercise front this week. I kinda broke my butt on Saturday morning. I was helping PB out on a job, but got there 45 minutes before him & had nothing I could actually do. I don't think it was the stop he made on the way that made him late, more the nattering he did at the stop(s) that held him up. It was cold so I decided to do some walking lunges to keep warm & get in a bit of exercise, as the longer he took, the less likely I was to make it to the gym later. MAN. the next 2 days, my glutes were on fire!!! My eating has been better though & alcohol consumption significantly reduced.

I've been cooking a bit "fancy" of late. Rather than meat n 3 veg or random wok stuff (whatever veg are in the fridge with chicken), I've been making things like potato gnocchi (from scratch), veal meatballs simmered in napoli sauce; last night we had pork cutlets with roasted pear & lemony garlicy, thymey greek style roasted spuds with steamed carrot batons & green beans. Last week I made fancy mashed potato's where you steam the spuds in their skins, then peel, then mash adding lashings of butter & some cream (PB ate most of that - mash is his fave!). I love cooking in winter! I also love all the salads you can make in summer, where meals are made quickly. But there is something more satisfying about lovingly tending your meals over a longer period of time. Soon I'll get into crock pot meals & slow baked casseroles.....YUM!

It is my sisters birthday tomorrow so I'm heading down to the country to help her celebrate. It will be the first time in forever that I don't have obligation to visit with anyone else at all. Mum & Dad are in Scotland; aunt & uncle are in London for another 18 months & Grandma, well she now resides elsewhere. In some aspects a bit sad, but it will be nice to just chill with my sis & niece & not feel like I should be seeing more people & doing more things! It's going to be as grand top of 13 deg C both Saturday & Sunday so I suspect we will be spending a bit of quality time on the couch in front of the fire watching movies!

I think we are going out for dinner Friday night when I get down there, then Tess & I will make a multiple course dinner including birthday cake (?) or at least candles on desert for Saturday night. Tess is really getting into cooking, so I like to get her in the kitchen making stuff whenever I can. We might take a drive along the coast for a bit: there is nothing more spectacular than a stormy Victorian coast line in winter! I think I'd better be packing my winter woollies that's for sure!

Tales from Abroad 9 - the Irish Wrap Up.

2011-06-01T06:58:00.002+10:00

Received the following from me ma & da this morning, who are still travelling. Bear in mind they are retired farmers & Dad works at the local vet clinic, so all you country folk should understand most of what Dad's written. If any of you city slickers need further explanation, I'll do my best! Irish Daughter - I hope nothing Dad has written is offensive - I'm interested in hearing your take on his observations of your home land - & please excuse any "local" spelling mistakes!.

Now. Grab yourself a cuppa & enjoy a little Irish countryside & hospitality!

Rasharkin, Northern Ireland

Hello Everyone

We are nearing the end of our time in Ireland. It has been an interesting time to be here. The Queen's visit has meant a lot more to the Irish than it might appear from the papers back home. Much more important than President Obama's visit. The people live up to their stereotype. Most are very friendly & quick with a witty phrase to cover every situation and some are shy and economical with words. A vet we met said that it was particularly difficult to extract symptoms from some Irish farmers and each county had different names for different conditions. A universal term of founder is applied to a multitude of conditions and a sick cow was said to be "lonesome" in Donegal. A mother was heard to call her shy son as "wild" quiet.

The country is much like all the photos & pictures we have all seen. The mountains are taller than we expected. Some parts are just like England with hedgerows, stone walls, stately homes with manicured gardens and castles. Derelict churches are left standing because of the cemeteries in the grounds. There is lots of evidence of previous civilisations. Iron age ring forts & burial tombs, Norman signal towers, earthen lookout mounds and old churches. The stone & render ages quickly & you are never sure how old the buildings are. You can buy a new thatched roof at a price. Even the smallest holding seems to have a stone entrance.

We rented a house in Killorglin for a week. It was very relaxing to slow down to the Irish pace of life & explore Kerry at leisure. It is as beautiful as they say. In Clare we stayed 2 nights on The Burren which is a protected wilderness area & sparsely populated. The ridge lines look a little like Broken Hill and parts like the Stoney Rises but it is mostly limestone. The valley floors are "turloughs" or dried lakes which fill after rain. We thought they were filling after rain but it was sheets of limestone shining in the sun. Sure enough after heavy rain there was water the next day. Farming is allowed under controlled conditions. They must winter the stock outdoors to control invasive weeds. The main problem for a farmer then was heavy snow when a cow might be blinded & lose her footing. The hostel owner used a Belgian Blue bull with no calving problems.

His brother owned the pub -one of the few other buildings in the village. It was full of Michael Cusack memorabilia. He was a local & the founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association which controls football & hurling & provides a social centre for every Irish community. At one time it was quite political & it's involvement in the Queen's visit was almost like Sorry Day for the Irish. There were music lessons before the session in this pub. The small bar was full & served surprisingly good meals. There are a lot of pubs per capita & alcohol consumption is alarmingly high by published statistics. They seem very relaxed about drink driving & speed limits however we were assured driving in Ireland isn't nearly as exciting as it used to be. We visited the cliffs of Moher from here. We saw them but the wind & rain too fierce to take photograph.

In Galway we start to see Loughs large & small. Lough Corrib made Oughterard a prosperous fishing town until the 70's. The hostel owner then made a living as an eel fisherman until EU regulations protected eels. It was a garrison town and the locals experienced discrimination because they became English speakers. The "paddock" behind the hostel was the famine burial ground. The west of Galway has lots of exposed limestone and there are lots of peat bogs still being worked everywhere. It is sad to see empty houses, abandoned housing developments & pessimistic newspaper reports but all the people we have met are very philosophical. One bright note is the optimism for farming. Lamb & beef prices are at record levels. Milk prices are only around 27 euro cents a litre but they are optimistic & looking to expand. Many of the farm lads working in trades have come home so there is a push for efficiency & modernisation to accommodate them and an increased interest in agricultural education. There are minimum education standards required to be eligible for the EU farm support programs & avoid inheritance tax. Most of these are now directed toward environmental considerations rather than production. Farm advisers spend a lot of time interpreting EU policy & filling out grant applications.

Along the way we visit the Museum of Irish Life - part of the National Museum. Tourism is very important to the country & they do it very well. Every tourist site we visit we find out something new about the tragedy of the famine & the exodus of emigrants. About the Troubles and their relationship with the English. About the plantations (of people). There are a surprising number of protestant churches in the south and English people (for centuries) as well as EU people now. The further west & north we go, the more Irish is spoken & fewer English road signs. Part of the in car entertainment is listening to the satnav lady trying to pronounce the names of the towns.

Donegal is a the liveliest town we have seen. The larger cities might have been lively but we have tried to avoid them. We only had time to see the south of the county and we saw less exposed stone , more signs of forestry & again spectacular coastal scenery. It is only now that we experience any sign of sectarianism - photos of Bobby Sands on a pub wall & more political music. When we arrived in Rasharkin in Northern Ireland there were black flags flying on some of the lamp posts. They are commemorating hunger strike martyrs. The fountain in the garden at the agricultural college was dedicated to a student victim of the Omagh bombing. The new deputy mayor of Belfast refuses to speak to the new Sinn Fein Lord Mayor (25 year's old). AND there were 13 bomb alerts with at least one "viable" device on Friday. It is quite surreal as we have received the most wonderful hospitality from our cousins and everyone we have met. Everyone seems to know everyone. It is important in both the north & the south to know where you are from & that is the first question asked of both local & visitor. Although the weather has not been good we have been ferried back & forth between showers to see most of the scenic north coast. The Atlantic has been very rough but we see the occasional intrepid surfer.

We were able to visit an Agricultural college. The chap who showed us around spent most of his time educating farm advisers on this task especially on controlling nitrate runoff. Regulations were tightened this year & many farmers had to increase effluent storage to avoid applications over winter. The students staffed the 2 dairies & made nearly all the management decisions. Apart from November to March housing much the same as home. A new tool for declining fertility was 3 different bulls in 1 straw for problem cows. We visited a turkey farm yesterday. It was a breeding unit run by a young couple. There were a dozen rubber boots lined up against the wall. Enquiry revealed they belonged to the AI technicians. The breeding company milked the stags on farm & immediately inseminated the 3400 hens in a cage in the middle of the shed. We were too polite to ask for further details of the procedure. The laying is controlled by light. There are nesting boxes each side of the shed - 1 to 5 hens. About 5 times a day arms move and gently sweep the hens off the nest and push the eggs onto a conveyor belt. They are graded A or B on shape & shell quality & picked up 3 times a week to be sent to the incubating farms. The farmer relied on his farm consultant to deal with the company. The company is responsible for all the inputs & management decisions. The farmer is responsible for egg collection, shed management & daily husbandry. He said it beats milking cows. The birds are very placid & quiet but wary of strangers; therefore the same team of technicians do all the bird handling always in blue overalls. The silage season is in full swing everywhere we have been & some are on their second cut. We stopped in a reasonable sized town yesterday & watched a constant stream of tractors towing silage wagons & muck tankers passing through the square. It is common to see tractors towing large machinery on the motorways & they ignore other traffic on country roads.

You will have to wait for (Mum) to tell you about all the gardens & stately homes we have seen. Rhododendrons are everywhere & have become an environmental problem. We are almost castled out!

Next, Scotland & France.

Now I really really really want to visit Ireland!!!!!!!!!!!

Regular Broadcast Resuming

2011-05-27T16:12:00.006+10:00

Things have settled after the stress of the past couple of weeks. Again thank you to everyone for their kind words of support on the passing of my Grandmother.

I've been feeling "chunky" of late. Lets face it. I've done little or no exercise since last year. New Year's resolutions, Biggest Loser Challenges, 100 days of exercise challenge & a trip to warmer climates (where bathers were to be worn) had little or no effect on my waist line which of course is now in muffin top territory, rising rather unattractively over the top of all of my pants (the ones that I can still fit into)!

I could use every excuse in the universe, work, injury, death in the family, but lets face it. I could still have gone for a walk. I could still say no to chips, or another glass of wine, but no, I've been slack & overindulgent.

I drew some inspiration from another blogger the other day & actually went for a run. I managed 5kms on the tready, every step was a fight, but if Humongous can do it, then so can I. I was very hot & sweaty & just a little sore afterwards, but also felt a bit of that happy endorphin buzz. Zippy Do.

I went again last night planning to repeat Tuesday's effort, but no go. My hammy was not a happy camper so I walked a km, then ran a km repeat repeat repeat. 3 kms managed of running or I should say jogging considering my speed (or lack there of!) & 4kms of walking followed by lots of stretching. I must say today I am feeling sore spots everywhere in my legs so think I will give in to a nice hot bath with lots & lots & lots of bubbles & radox!

Things have shifted slightly for me already. Yesterday was buy your lunch day & instead of a chicken burger (with or without chips) I chose a chicken satay skewer & 2 home made steamed dimsims. And last night, I got about halfway through dinner (a giant lamb chop n veg) & felt full. I did eat a bit more, but instead of gutsing the lot, I saved the last 3rd for my lunch today. I mean, it's only one day's work, but if I can string a few together, I might just get somewhere.

The other problem I've been having is that I can't do Pump at the moment. I've had sore wrists/forearms & my right elbow had been progressively getting worse - Yes Slyde - it's gone out in sympathy with you. Before Grandma passed, I went to see a TCM practitioner who ran a few tests, for which I tested positive for Tennis Elbow.

I had an acupuncture treatment & a massage & was advised to come back for 2 - 3 more treatments. Of course with everything that happened, I haven't been back have I. The funny thing was, I knew pump was starting to aggravate it, yet continued on. I suppose it doesn't help with my job - repetitive mouse & keyboard work is not conducive to healing any hand/arm/shoulder complaints.

So. Pump is out. Tready is in & I'm thinking I might try cycling tomorrow as well.

While slogging it out on the tready last night, I was again amused by another member at my gym. I saw a lady in 3/4 pants & a long tee-shirt & HIGH HEELED SHOES. I mean she'd obviously changed into workout clothes, had she not noticed she was still in heels???? LOL luckily she was going to a yoga class & slipped them off as she walked into the group fitness room. I tried to have a sticky beak to see who was instructing as I half thought about joining them, but as the usual yoga instructor is the most sour unyoga like lady I've ever had the pleasure of meeting & unless we have a new instructor, I just couldn't do it. The lights were out though & I could not for the life of me figure out (or see) who was running the class!

Anyhoo. Enough of my dribble. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend & I'm hoping the Catters have a big big big win against the mickey mouse team from the gold coast! Happy Trails everyone!

Tales from Abroad 8.

2011-05-27T08:46:00.000+10:00

Hello Everyone from Kilorglin in Ireland

Firstly, thank you everyone for their thoughts, prayers and messages on the death of Rita (C's mum). Our lovely Irish landlady at Navan loaned us her daughter's laptop and we were able to sit up in bed at 5AM and watch the webcast and talk to everyone via mobile afterwards.

Considering Mum was happy for us to go, and it was peaceful at the end, we couldn't have asked for anything better other than being there in person.

Ireland is living up to expectations - a few showers everyday! We have seen some amazing things. The ring of Kerry has lived up to expectations, the drive around the ring of Skellig better and the drive through the Gap of Dunloe truly spectacular.

It is hard to take in the millions of man hours it took to build megaliths at Newgrange. Nobody really knows how or why. We are also amazed at the attitude of the farmers who accept people here and in the UK walking all over their land - even through lambing ewes.

We visited the National (racehorse) Stud on Friday. The place was crawling with security in preparation for the Queen's visit. The army was welding up pit & man hole covers. Workers were levelling out speed humps. Generall the Irish are happy that the visit will bring financial benefits & improve Anglo Irish relations.

Things are tough here. Lots of empty shops & young folk heading to Australia or North America if they can. They are going back to burning peat as it is a sixth of the cost of oil. Most of the people we speak to are philosophical & expect things to come good again. Their sense of humour is still intact.The people here and in Wales are very friendly.

L went to a local twighlight footy match here - same passion but no pies or hot dogs. Off to here some Irish pub music tonight.

Hope everyone is well.
Love
C & L

Farewell

2011-05-24T08:51:00.000+10:00

We Farewelled my Grandma in style Wednesday 11th May 2011. My Aunt J after a bit of a wavery start, delivered an amazing Eulogy, during which I found out a number of things that I hadn't heard before. One of which was a telephone game Grandma used to play with one of my uncles. He lives in WA & sometimes the footy broadcast would stop at 3/4 time. Grandma would then call & my uncle at 5 minute intervals, he was not to answer the phone, but count the number of rings - that would be the score the Cat's would be in front!

We had the most lovely reply from an email I sent to the club letting them know one of their older supporters had passed away wanting to be buried in her club scarf.

Hi C,

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately we are unable to have a representative attend the funeral, however you are more than welcome to read out the following on behalf of the Club:

“The Geelong Football Club would like to offer its condolences to Rita’s family on her passing.
A lifelong supporter, Rita epitomised dedication and passion to the Geelong Football Club.
Her family can be comfortable in the knowledge that her support and love for the Club meant a great deal and that all our successes were in part to this support.
She will live on as one of the many supporters who make up the proud history of the Geelong Football Club.“

Kind Regards

She would have been astounded & absolutely stoked. Even better was the win on Friday night (sorry Cinders!).

There were double the numbers expected at the actual funeral which surprised & pleased the family. My interstate cousins all made it except one & we had a good time catching up with each other, despite the sad occasion. After the cemetery, we went to a local winery (where we'd had Grandma's 90th birthday party) & were able to speak with Mum & Dad on the phone. Mum was able to speak with each of her siblings (5), as well as myself, my sis & Tess. It certainly made her feel part of the proceedings & as you (may have) read from their last transmission, they were able to watch the funeral via web cam. I've probably already said this, so sorry for repeating myself, but Grandma was happy for Mum & Dad to go & had told them not to cut their trip short should she "pass" before they return.

After the winery, we had a family dinner at a pub in Geelong. After older family members retired, us cousins (having stopped in at the supermarket for a pack of cards) fired up a round of 500, Grandma's favourite card game. We were promptly told we weren't allowed to gamble (yes, the only bar left open at 10.30pm was the pokie bar) & to pack up our cards. We found a little beer garden with patio heaters & continued on til 1am when our 2 lookouts took their eyes off the ball & we got busted again & were asked to leave by the security staff. Hilarious. Probably just as well as I had to get up at 5.30am & drive back to Melbourne to work.

I was a bit worse for wear Thursday & was excused for a few hours to have a nap. Friday I was still in a bit of an emotional haze & spent the weekend trying to catch up on work/home/sleep & recuperate from the emotions of the past week.

It's strange to think of never seeing or visiting Grandma again, but that is life & I'm not sure I want to live to be 94 myself!

Thank you again to everyone for their kind words via email, txt, FB & here - it means so much to know that you all care.

From Grandma's order of Service.....

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little - but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me - but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all part of the Master's plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go!

Rita Jean 20th August 1916 - 5th May 2011 RIP.

Tales from Abroad 6 & 7.

2011-05-23T08:43:00.000+10:00

Hi from Navan

The kind lady from the B & B has loaned us her daughter's laptop (bought in Australia) & we have been able to log onto Tucker's site & the pin seems to work. The page was not available but guess it was asleep. We have set the alarm for 4.45am, so fingers crossed it might work. We will be with you in spirit anyway. Hope everything goes OK & the weather stays fine for Mt Moriac. Hitting the hay now as we were up before 6 to catch the bus this morning.
Lots of love
Mum & Dad

Hi

The webcam worked better than we expected. It was more than we could hope for. You will probably have talked to us before you get this but you really did Mum proud. It must have been the easiest service the celebrant has ever conducted as you said it all for him and very well. The camera was in just the right place & the connection was fast enough for the sound to be clear. They kept the video going for more than an hour so we were able to see most of the surprising number of people there. The picture wasn't good enough to pick up everyone clearly & we had fun guessing.

Will talk soon.

Love, The Travellers

Tales from Abroad 5.

2011-05-20T08:40:00.000+10:00

Hi

It was a lovely surprise to get yesterday's calls as Mother's Day is at a different time here. Yesterday was pretty amazing.Check out the Living Crafts Fair & the Marquess of Salisbury & Hatfield House on the web. We will be at a farm B & B tomorrow night & Wednesday. We will have Mum's phone on at breakfast.

The funeral will be 5 AM GMT so if you can manage a call after when everyone is together that should work out. F might need to write a big cheque from our cheque book to pay for the phone calls! We are all OK. T & C have the use of a Jaguar while they are here so we have travelled in style the last few days.

Love to everyone
Mum & Dad

Tales from Abroad 4.

2011-05-19T08:34:00.000+10:00

Hi,
That all sounds good (death notice & funeral plans). Hope everything is going to plan. Mum is glad that she & J (Mum's sister) have planned as much as they could. By now J should have found the file I transcribed from Grandma's writings.

We have had an email from W's so thanks for letting them know & they have contacted (Ministers) G & E, so one or the other might turn up at home.

Unfortunately Mum has been unwell & has had a short course of antibiotics but it might not be enough. She is still sleeping (10.20am) but that might be the stress of yesterday. She has coped pretty well. The phone call came at just the right time. We were already up & dressed after spending a comfortable night at Deb's & she was almost expecting it.

And of course the prospect of spending the next few days at T & C's (Dad's brother's). Mum up now & bright & chirpy, so that's a good sign. Bright & sunny today. We have had only a few spits of rain yesterday for our entire time away. Gorse fires everywhere & dust blowing in some places. The road was blocked in a built up area at Sandhurst & it took us an hour to get round it. Weird because there was nothing to indicate what was happening - such is the nature of the UK where city & countryside areas are blurred. Have watched a video clip of the race fall (Warrnambool Steeplechase) on the web & read the Standard (newspaper) report.

Thanks for everything you have done so far & hope everything goes according to plan.
Love "D"

Tales from Abroad 3.

2011-05-17T08:23:00.002+10:00

I'm going to go backwards before I go forwards if that makes any sense........

Hi Everyone

The rest of our time in Cornwall was very pleasant and everything has gone well since then. We slept in the prison cell in St Briavels castle! Graffiti from the 1600's!

The Big Pit was a very impressive display of the coal mining industry and St David's palace was quite amazing. We also went in a boat through an old slate mine which was set up as King Arthur's labyrinth, telling the story through Welsh eyes. Tessa & Charlotte would have loved this.

Today we went to Carnarfon castle & took a steam train to the foot of Mt Snowdon. 80-90% of the people here in north Wales speak in Welsh which is surprising to us. Tomorrow we hope to go on a canal boat on our way to Shrewsbury (YHA Bridges) then Bristol, Salisbury, Sandhurst & then St Albans.

Love to all

PS Sorry to hear Grandma wasn't so well.

RIP Rita Jean

2011-05-06T12:00:00.003+10:00

My remaining Grandparent passed away peacefully yesterday morning surrounded by 2 of her daughters, 2 of her granddaughters & one of her son inlaw's. She would have been 95 in August. She has 8 children (6 living), 10 grand children & 3 great grand children. She was loved & will be missed.

My cousin & I arrived at the nursing home Wednesday night at 7.30pm & stayed with her til midnight & were very pleased to have had that time with her, to tell her she was loved, that it was OK for her to go & that we would look after & keep her children together, even if some of them were ratbags. While she wasn't conscious & was on morphine, we believe she heard us. We had a scented candle burning & played some music we thought she'd like, as last time she was really sick, she though she heard the angels singing her into heaven (which at the time was actually the oldies regular singalong).

We came back in the morning, on our arrival (the other were already there & had told her we were coming), she opened her eyes & looked at both of us, then drew her last breath. We were privileged to have been there to support & love her (& her daughters) in her final moment.

My Mum is overseas & I was relieved to have been there for her as well; although she bid grandma farewell before she left & Grandma did not begrudge her leaving. I had to call Mum yesterday & deliver the news, however she took inexplicable comfort, that Grandma was not alone when she passed.

The funeral won't be til next week as we have family interstate who will want to be here.

While I am sad that she is gone, I am relieved she is out of pain, as her existance in the past 12 months has not been particularly pleasant.

Please excuse my absence in Blogland over the next week or so.

Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

RIP Grandma.

Tales from Abroad 2.

2011-04-28T13:47:00.003+10:00

AWAL

2011-04-20T13:08:00.004+10:00

I'm going AWAL tomorrow. I'll be lazin' about here at my cousin's.....

In glorious Port Douglas. I don't think we will bother taking the computer, so enjoy your Easter break.......I know we'll enjoy ours.

Our 2IC (2nd in charge) is taking 10 weeks long service from mid May to the end of July; this is our treat before he goes. Plus we will meet my cousin's new sproglett (born Nov last year). I'll be playing with the 3 year old & avoiding baby duties I dare say. Plumbing Boy, well, he might be entertaining the dog!!

Hopefully we'll get a day out on the Barrier Reef & get a couple dives in. Can't wait! Eat lots of chocolate, drink & be merry. I'll catch you all next week :0)

Tales from Abroad 1.

2011-04-15T09:29:00.002+10:00

The olds made it safely to their destination - here is the first email from Dad ( I can tell Dad sent it, not Mum as it is grammatically correct & has no spelling mistakes!)

Hi Everyone Arrived safely & now with T & C. Everything went according to plan & we spent an interesting day in KL. Today we walked in to St Albans along a Roman wall built in 50 AD. Tomorrow we are going to Brighton for the day. Hope everyone is well. Love M & D

As you can tell, the boss is out of the office today, but as I've got a tonne of work to do, I'd better get back into it!

TGIF is about the only other thing I have to say at this point!

Still Hectic!

2011-04-14T17:13:00.003+10:00

I've been a bit MIA over the past couple of weeks - mainly due to work still being very hectic!

PB made it back from his fishing trip & has spent the whole week in the office, bombarding me with stuff to do for HIM, so haven't had much spare time. Of course you all know I usually blog & FB @ work & can't do that with the boss looking over my shoulder!

Ole Ma & Pa, & sis & niece slept over Monday night - ma & pa left for the UK for 3 months Tuesday arvo. Mum was nervous about travelling, which was stressing poor Dad out, but hopefully once they got in the air they will both be feeling a little more comfortable. Mum had us signing powers of attorney for everything & even gave me her palliative care & funeral instructions!!!

I guess because she has worked hospitals all her life & because her own mother is in end stages of life, she's really concerned about dying with dignity. Dad didn't bother filling that side of his form in & said he trusted us to do what we thought, after all, he wouldn't be with it, or "there" at the time, so kind of whatevs.

I'm not really sure how I feel about all that. Mum & Dad went overseas probably 20 years ago & I remember Mum saying then, that if she died over there not to bother bringing her body back as it was too expensive to do so. To just bury her somewhere nice over there.

She commented (this time) that as they have return tickets, that should cover the cost of the body coming back shouldn't it. Of course my sis, my Dad & myself all cracked up laughing at this, Mum looked a bit perplexed so it was left for me to say that they probably wouldn't let you sit in your seat, Dad piping up that they'd charge more for a dead body in a casket.

I know all these practicalities should be considered, but it was pretty funny & pretty strange. Her own Bro is having open heart surgery this week & G'ma is deteriorating (again) & Mum is obviously very worried she'll never see either of them again. I hope that she can put some of that aside & enjoy the trip. The Bro is a bit of a shit & wouldn't lift a finger for her (or the rest of the family for that matter - long story, but he's behaved pretty badly in the past); G'ma will be 95 or 96 this August, so has had a lovely long life; her quality of life has been pretty poor for the past 6 months & she has been truely ready to go for a while now.

On the up side, my cuz had his single launch last Saturday night! Mistress Monday's rocked da house! The venue was packed, the boys played well & Jax & I rocked the front of the stage! Was feeling a bit worse for wear on Sunday, but I cleaned like a demon in preparation for the familial visitors!

Anyhoo. Hope to check in on you all tomorrow if I haven't already in my limited lunch breaks. Hopefully all is well in your parts of the world!

Hectic

2011-04-06T12:51:00.003+10:00

is my life this week! Plumbing Boy's gone fishing (finally - the trip has been on & off again 3 times in the past month!) Work has gone psycho - I was doing deliveries myself until 6.30pm last night (my poor plumber didn't get home til 9.30pm) & I had to be ready & at work by 5.15am this morning to let someone in. I'll be back when my brain stops doing 360's!

Bootses

2011-04-01T14:36:00.005+11:00

I finally caved & bought some boots, but not the exorbitant ones I was salivating over a few weeks ago. I decided I wanted ankle boots as I don't own any (unless you count my work boots) but couldn't find anything similar to the ones I fell in love with at Mimc0. Ideally I wanted something with a low heel for work, but, all the low or flat boots I saw were U.G.L.Y. Then I saw these puppies, with their fancy laces up the front.

& cute little zipper at the back....

not sure if the 7cm heel is that practical for work - I'm struggling to run to the phone; & I think I'll need to put some "party feet" in them if I want to walk any great distance in them!

But they do look pretty sexy dont they!!!! I almost bought them on Sunday, but I couldn't face walking back past one of those sales people in the aisle of the shopping centre. You know the ones, trying to sell you make up or any plethora of shite you don't want. This guy tried to give me a flyer & I politely said no thank you.

He then had another go, saying "may I please just ask you one question - what sort of moisturiser you use?" My response was "today I am tired & hungover so nothing & I said NO!!!!!" & stomped off. I couldn't be shagged going the long way around either to get to the shop so I left without trying them on.

Last night I had to get a birthday present for a friend so went & tried these & a couple of other pairs on & still loved them, so home with me they came.

The only problem I'm having (besides the walking in high heels thing) is the bloody tights I'm wearing. I bought them a couple of weeks ago so they are new i.e. not stretched. I read the sizing on the back & I fall well & truly in the average category. I should have been alarmed when average was the smallest size. I can see some of you nodding your heads thinking they will be too small. I shit not, I can pull them up & tuck them under my bra strap. Yes, I just stood up & did that in my office to confirm it. So. I either have half a foot or so of saggy crotch (girls who wear tights know what I am talking about) OR I have half a foot tucked & folded over the top of my skirt. Either way, its a f#cken pain in the arse . Hitch & fold, hitch & fold, hitch & fold. All bloody day. grumble grumble grumble. Now that I've amused you with my tights, go forth & have a lovely weekend!

PS We got our final 2 hopefuls coming in tonight for their second interview. Hopefully this time tomorrow we'll have ourselves a new apprentice!!!

Bali?

2011-03-31T13:36:00.004+11:00

We've been invited to go to bali for 8 nights with friends later in the year. I've never been before & after the bombings never really wanted too. So. Has anyone been? Any recomendations? If we do go we'd be travelling with an 11 3/4 year old girl plus her parents, so want to be somewhere kid friendly. We scuba, they don't. Speak to me people!!!

In other news, I stopped counting job applicants once I reached 55. We narrowed it down to two & will be reinterviewing them tomorrow night.

I've been fighting a bit of a sinus infection this week, which I though was eventuating into a cold yesterday based on the elves hammering away on the inside of my brain with ice picks, an ear ache & feeling feverish. But I woke up this morning, snotfree. My sinuses are still giving me grief, but I don't have a cold. I recon my hayfever spray is making it worse, which is bloody annoying.

That's all I got I'm afraid. What's been going on with you?

Random

2011-03-24T15:14:00.004+11:00

Work has been extraordinarily busy this week. We have a couple of larger projects that are drawing to conclusion & the pressure is on. One is supposed to finish March 31st - the boys tell me there are still walls to be constructed!!!! Not going to happen. Meanwhile, we are knee deep in fixtures & fit off materials as there is nowhere to store them on site.

Yesterday I was at my desk from 6.30am til 7.30pm. Ouch.

I made a batch of muffins on Tuesday night for Plumbing Boy's lunch. I know some of the boys at work like them too, so I saved a few for PB & bought the rest into the office. They're all gone with a request for more. I guess that recipe is a winner!

My office assistant just informed me that G##gle has a new picture (today they are celebrating Harry Houdini). I said, yes, they change it frequently. She says NO, they don't. Sigh.

I'm interviewing for apprentices again. We've had 35 applications & the ad has only been on line since Monday afternoon. So far I've had a kid applying who wants to be a train driver; a kid from Sweden & 2 mature age applicants from the UK.

I interviewed an applicant, where someone else had cleary writen his resume & cover letter "I hope to illustrate the value I can bring to this position. I see myself as energetic, enthusiastic & keen to start in a position where I can utilise & develop..." I'd say the applicant was close to illiterate & his Dad wanted to sit in on the interview. I felt quite sorry for the kid in the end as I had to cut the interview short: he failed to meet the minimum requirements, but had been unable to articulate that in writing or over the phone.

Speaking of job interviews - tell me what you think of dress codes & facial piercings & interviews! My Da is dead set against employing people with tatts & piercings. I remind him our 2IC has LOTS of tatts; he keeps them covered - unless you catch him in a singlet/tank. Dad really likes our 2IC so his theory is shot.

Yesterday I interviewed a kid with a hoop through his lip, saggy arse skinny leg jeans & runners. He did wear a shirt with a collar so that was something. I dunno. I have nothing against piercings or tatts; or saggy arse jeans even, but wearing them to a job interview?? That kind of says to me I don't respect the job already (or I respect my right to be fashionable???).

I know the position is for a "trade" rather than an office job - is that enough of an excuse to dress sloppily??? I'd rather they came in grotty overalls. I don't mind the jeans so much, but I though he could have removed the hoop. Am I being old fashioned & judgemental??

Training an apprentice WELL takes a huge commitment of time & money on our part. We want an applicant who cares more about his job than his hair, or jewellery or how fashionable he looks. As part of our OHS policy we ask that staff working on tools don't wear any jewellery. I mean even wedding rings can be an OHS issue. There is no way you'd even be allowed on some of our clients sites with bits of metal hanging off your face.

Tell me tell me tell me, what do you think??????

PS your opinion will not affect any of our applicants job opportunities. If they are good, they go through to the next interview. PB has the final decision, not me!!!!!!

Good Enough?

2011-03-22T13:03:00.002+11:00

I read over something I'd written to my Mum in an old journal years ago, over the weekend. That coupled with Ute's comments on my post yesterday, have me thinking about criticism, & inner most fears. I've always said I'm not really afraid of anything specifically, not spiders, snakes creep me out a bit but I'm not really frightened, of dying? well, we all croak, of the other half dying? again, we all go sometime.

After reading that diary entry, what stood out was a phrase I'd used repeatedly - "not good enough" in relation to what my parents & in particular my mother thought of me. I wonder if when I'm feeling insecure or rejected, that is what I hear?

I know my Mum hears "I don’t love you".

For example, Mum announced to me recently that she thought she'd get Dad to teach her to "back" the caravan; I suggested that perhaps she should learn to drive it forwards first, as the dude at the caravan park can reverse it in for her - if she can't drive it TO the caravan park in the first place, learning how to back it is irrelevant (she's never towed anything in her life - forward OR in reverse). She took offence. My sis says I need to stop taking her literally & just nod & smile.

Last weekend she announced to me that brushing ones teeth is the most important hygiene thing one can do. Of course I flippantly say that I thought wiping your arse was slightly higher up the scale of importance. She looked at me crankily, so I added, or wiping the snot off your face, or washing your hands??? By now she'd really cracked it & informed me she meant before putting on moisturiser or make up. Ok, you meant beauty regimen not hygiene practices then? She stomped off only to come back 10 minutes later to inform me she still loves me. Crikey I say, that that was never in bloody question!!! I was just having a joke!!!!

I'd have said the same thing to my niece or sister & we've both have collapsed in fits of laughter at the ridiculousness of the conversation. But Mum no. She also said that she can never tell if I'm having a go at her. Mum, there's a difference between having a go & taking the piss. The two are quite different.

She also complains frequently that we never take the piss out of Dad or correct his pronunciation of things. That’s because he's usually got the right name & pronunciation going on & generally doesn't say silly things out loud. She's long had a bee in her bonnet that us kids love Dad more than her; she brings this one out every time we have a disagreement or proper argument. So. I recon she hears "I don't love you" if my sister or I correct her, take the piss out of her, or make any comment at all that she doesn't appreciate.

Back to my phrase "not good enough". As I read over what I had written, not once had either of my parents actually said to me that I wasn't good enough - I was reading between the lines, you see. Perhaps that's what mum does. She's got it wrong. Perhaps I do too. Although, Mum asking me if I felt like a "second class citizen" because Plumbing Boy hadn't asked me to marry him after 7 years? I recon I've got the right to read between the lines on that one. I certainly hadn't thought that until my dear ole ma bought it up.

Perhaps deep down I do fear not measuring up, being good enough for my family, good enough for PB, even good enough for myself?

Don't ask me to define what "good enough" is though please!

Complimentary?

2011-03-21T10:00:00.000+11:00

I was chatting with my Aunt C last weekend & somehow came to be talking about commenting on appearances. She finds it extremely rude when people comment not only on her weight, but on anything to do with her personal appearance whether it be complimentary or otherwise. She used an example of a friend who looks her up & down, when ever she sees her, regardless of whether she is alone or with someone & makes comment. The last time this lady commented on C's shoes - "I haven't seen those shoes before, where did you get them". A bit blunt & not really complimentary on this occasion; C says she has made complimentary comment in the past.

I got to thinking & went back to C & mentioned that some people are bought up to believe that it is polite to compliment people on their personal appearance; I was certainly encouraged to make kind & positive comments (in fact to look for something positive to say every time) & that if I didn't have something nice to say to not say it at all.

C lost a lot of weight when she retired & I remember commenting to her that she looked great & bought this up. C's philosophy is that it doesn't matter what you look like, what weight you are, how your hair is done, whether you are well or unwell - you are friends &/or interact with people with no relevance to those things. C said her Mum bought her up that way & perhaps it was a little old fashioned. I'd imagine she feels these things are all as irrelevant as your skin colour as to any positive or negative interaction she may have with you.

Her husband T, then commented that in some cultures it was probably insulting if you didn't comment on someones physical appearance. I did read somewhere too that in a particular culture if you compliment someone on a possession, they are obligated to give it to you!

It's really got me thinking though:

Validation/approval V Disapproval

Genuine care & interest V shallow & disinterested/disrespectful

I guess everyone(?) makes shallow comments. You know the kind, where you meet someone & comment on a piece of jewellery or the shirt they are wearing to make conversation. Do blokes do this too or is it more us chicks???

In the work place managers often use validation as a tool in attempt get the best out of their employees (which reminds me, another of C' pet hates is asking people what they do for a living/job as again this holds no relevance as to who you are as person).

Personally I guess it really depends on the genuineness of your delivery of a compliment as to whether it is appropriate or not. I would never hesitate to compliment any of my friends on what they are wearing or if they are looking good or fit or lost weight. If they've gone to the trouble to lose weight or be well groomed or dressed & look good, surely a compliment is not disrespectful or out of order. I don’t think showing admiration & respect by verbalising it as a compliment is a bad thing either.

I do understand where C is coming from though. I think the lesson here is to think before speaking??? Consider your motivation for commenting; & the effect of what you are proposing to say will have on the person you are interacting with.

What do you recon?

still dottie

2011-03-17T13:16:00.004+11:00

some things i forgot yesterday

my cat caught a baby rat & dumped it under our dining table while I was away. I am sure she told plumbing boy a gazzillion times, but as he doesn't wake to my cat talking, he didn't realise it was there until I commented on the stink & he went looking. He'd emptied the bin already.
it must have been there a couple of days because it was deteriorating (leaking! .... ewwwww). Teatree to the rescue.
PB cooked dinner Tuesday night - he called & asked me to pick up a bunch of Bok Choy & a bunch of Brocolini on my way back from the country.
He'd seen a cooking show on CH31 & decided to reproduce the recipe.
He found the replay of the show on the interwebs & followed the steps to butterfly a chook & marinate it. Then he BBQ'd.
That little chat we had last week about him being a slack arse seems to have impacted.
He also BBQ'd the greens so they took up the flavour of the chook. YUM!
The chicken was juicy & tasty & he cooked it on the grill plate over the rocks. Delicious!
When I got home from pump last night, he'd also put on some veggies to roast. I had to change what I was cooking from beef steak stir fry to steak & veg, but that was no biggie; it was a pleasant change!
I've had a sore throat on an off for the past week. I'm trying to kill it with Vit C & Zinc & garlic & chili. I have a date tomorrow night I don't want to miss.
I almost had to go on another date tomorrow night instead. PB heard an advert on the radio for the doobie bros, apparently playing in Melbs. Lucky for me the show is sold out. (sorry to any DB lovers out there!).
I think I'm getting arthritis in my index finger end knuckle joints. Insert multiple expletives.

Dottie

2011-03-16T13:03:00.002+11:00

yup. dot points today.

things got quite busy last week. I was heading away for the long weekend.
to Port Fairy to attend the Port Fairy Folk Festival!
my family has a bit of a gathering at my aunt & uncles who live there every year.
I was in charge of Saturday nights dinner so had a bit of a cook up during the week.
There are usually between 10 & 14 peeps for each meal, be it breaky, lunch or dinner.
11 of us slept at the house.
my aunt & uncle are off on a 2 year adventure involving house sitting in the UK, but having to enter & exit the country a number of times during that period to comply with visa requirements.
my aunt & uncle are lovely, gentle, kind, beautiful people & they will be missed.
we usually head home early Monday morning before the festival finishes, but this year Plumbing Boy had to stay & work & I got to take Tuesday off work as well to spend time with my aunt & uncle.
i came home with a lot of food! They are renting out their home & were trying to get rid of most of their food.
i tried to focus on how excited they are about their pending adventure so I didn't cry bidding them farewell! I am quite close to them & a lot could happen in 2 years. I was pretty successful & managed to hold off the tears till I drove off.
i also visited my grandma who is in the high dependent part of the nursing home - she's never recovered well enough to walk after almost dying last year. She still off in lala land & told me all about her new husband - apparently there are 2 men up for the position, she can't remember either of their christian names, but the most likely candidates surname is King so she'll probably be Mrs King.
the Folky was fabulous as always. This year the Waifs were playing & I got to seem them both nights.
I also saw Kasey Chambers in an afternoon concert; whom I also love.
i bought CD's from Crooked Still after seeing them twice; they are an alternate bluegrass band.
i'll probably get a Breabach CD (they came out just for this Festival).
i'm undecided about Justin Townes Earl & Joe Pug - they might have to wait a couple of months - I can only spend so much $$$ on CD's!
my sis purchased Bob Evans & Kasey Chambers new one so we'll swap soon.
despite participating in various challenges fitness & weight loss I'm getting fatter instead of skinnier damn it! I really need to pull my finger out (or should that be head out).

So. How was your weekend?

Stuff

2011-03-09T12:56:00.005+11:00

Has everyone else been receiving an extraordinary amount of spam lately or is it just me??? At the moment I've been receiving 20 emails a day from various recruitment companies offering me a job, amongst the usual other plethora of shite. I'm almost receiving more spam than regular emails.

I've seen a few things at the gym lately that made me giggle & some that haven't. Firstly was a young dude who'd forgotten his sneakers & was attempting to jog in his business shoes. Like these ones I kept thinking he was going to trip over the ends of them & face plant the tready. Next was the dude on the stationary bike with about 1/2" of his crack exposed. I kept wanting to drop an ice cube there. Last week I overhead a couple of girls chatting before class who obviously hadn't seen each other for a while; one commented to the other "what's happened to your tooth?" The other replied, "well, I got sick of waiting for a diamond, so I bought myself one & put it on my tooth". Kind of a WTF moment! I get body adornment, but I don't think she achieved the desired result if she had to explain!.

What wasn't amusing at all was the pathetic excuse of an instructor who when asked about his recent weight loss, explained that he used to be really fat - "just like you" to one of the girls who I do pump with. I wasn't there, but heard about it from both herself & another friend who was there at the time. That particular instructor no longer works at my gym. The girl in question went home & cried for 2 days straight, then decided she was going to do something about the situation & make a complaint. As she put it, she's pretty resilient, but imagine what could have happened had this insensitive prick said this to a someone with much poorer self esteem. She feels bad that he lost his job, but reality is, he shouldn't be working in the health or fitness industry with that kind of attitude. What a complete tosser.

It was Plumbing Boy's birthday on the weekend. We went out for dinner on Saturday night with a couple of friends; one of whom was keen to party on after the restaurant, so we ended up going to see my cousins band. PB has never seen them play before - not from any lack of encouragement on my part!!!! PB is pretty much only into Blues music & doesn't have time for anything else (see me rolling my eyes!). The gig was really good & although not PB's style he did quite get into it; as did our friends. I was rockin' out at the front dancing with my cousin's mates. I think my neck has only just recovered today! I did tell my cuz that if I'm too embarrassing, to tell me & I'll stand up the back!!!!

They are having a single launch next month. If you are in Melbourne, come along! I'll be (one of) the chick(s) rocking out at the front of the stage! You can listen to their single here.

Asides my cousins band ( & Adele - Hi Steve!) I've been listening to Adalita do yourself a favour & have a listen. Brilliant!

Five on a Friday

2011-03-04T13:19:00.002+11:00

I'm stealing Amanda's Friday Theme today. She does a post every Friday on 5 things she is grateful for. I'm feeling a little tired & grumpy (& lazy) today, hence my thievery!

1. Plumbing Boy. While he does drive me crazy at times (like forgetting to fix my clothes dryer for 3 months, but remembering to fix his motorbike every weekend) he is a good bloke, works hard & makes me a laugh. He took a call from a telemarketer yesterday who wanted to confirm our business details for a free directory - he told her we'd changed our business & name to the $pearmint Rhin0 as there was more work in the $tripper industry than Plumbing. He then went on to enquire if she was pretty, as we might have a job opening for her. How he comes up with this stuff I'll never know.

2. 3RRR radio station. It gets me through the week, especially on a Friday. I'm in the office on my own usually, so unless the phones go crazy, I have reasonably uninterrupted listening pleasure. I can't listen to commercial radio any more (except when I listen to KRock for the footy).

3. Tessa McTessa my niece. She & her Ma are coming up this weekend. Tess to see her Dad so I'll only have the pleasure of her company tonight, but she's bound to have a heap of new jokes to tell me & stories of being back at school & in grade 6.

4. my Kmix. PB gave it to me for my birthday last year. It's PB's birthday this weekend, so I need something to put a candle into tonight for Tess. So, this morning I whipped up a Pav & had it in the oven at 6.10am. It took me 10 minutes exactly from the time I got the machine out til the time I put the bowl in the dish washing machine.

5. the Internet. I love how I just had a quick convo on FB with my cuz who was on her break at uni; with Jules last Friday night (which had me in fits of giggles) & with my mate in HK.

What are you grateful for at this point in time???

Lust

2011-03-02T12:49:00.007+11:00

With the past couple of cooler days, I'm already lusting after winter boots from Mimco.

These look super comfy (not to high) for everyday wear.

I LOVE the knee high black ones, but I don't think I can justify the cost. Man are they expensive!!!!

Considering I already own a couple of pairs of boots...........

The last pair I bought were these in winter 2009. They are flat & I can walk for ever in them; I wore them to work yesterday.

I have a black pair of knee highs from 2008 that I still wear, while the heel is chunky - I get sore feet if I have to walk too far in them. Add to those a pair of (at least) 10 year old black 8 up Docs; a pair of black knee high stilettos that I really should sell or give away as I can't wear/walk in them at all (& the few times I've attempted them, I almost broke both ankles); my old black blunnies & red gumbies; I seem to have quite a collection!!!

So. I refrained from buying a pair last year..........just maybe I could get a new pair this year??? How many pairs of boots do you own??? How many pairs is too many??

ABC

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000+11:00

Stolen from Kek. as I'm feeling lazy....

A. Age: Old enough to know better
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore you Hate: Dusting
D. Dogs: Nope. I have a Cat
E. Essential start to your day: A shower.
F. Favorite color: Purple
G. Gold or silver: Silver
H. Height: 163 cm /5.4ish
I. Instruments you play: Piano & Guitar both in high school, still have one of each; but haven't played either for a long long time.
J. Job title: Office Administrator
K. Kids: Nil (still not sure on that one).
L. Live: Melbourne, Australia
M. Mum's name: Cally
N. Nicknames: Cat; ca-twinkles, ca-twinks.
O. Overnight hospital stays: Skin graft on the roof of my mouth; 2 x drainage tubes in ears, 2 x separate skin grafts to close those back over, appendix, cone biopsy.
P. Pet peeve: making me repeat myself/asking me a question then not bothering to stop talking so I can answer it.
Q. Quote from a movie: “You can't handle the truth" A Few Good Men / "Tell him his Dreamin'" The Castle
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.
S. Siblings: One sister
T. Time you wake up: 5 - 5.30am week days; a bit later on the weekends
U. Underwear: usually; sometimes not.
V. Vegetables you dislike: Broad beans
W. What makes you run late: Plumbing Boy.
X. X-rays you've had: Sinus, wrist, shoulder, hand, foot, teeth.
Y. Yummy food you make: Linguine Alla matriciana; Pavlova; lamb/goat rogan josh; mushroom risotto.....
Z. Zoo animal favorite: Tigers!!!

Play too if you want!

Revisited

2011-02-25T08:30:00.009+11:00

Haven't felt much like blogging this week after the horror of the NZ quake. The thought of banging on here about myself was completely repulsive, in the light of what others are going through.

Instead I've been feeling thankful for the things I have in my life. While I bitch about work on FB (come on, I gotta let off steam somewhere) I am pretty lucky to be in the position I am in work wise, lifestyle wise & financially. I have a partner who loves me (even if it is like living with a 4 year old at times - but I spose a lot of blokes can be like that); enough family who do too; & am even more lucky to have more than a couple of really good close friends. I am reasonably fit & healthy.

In reality, I could probably plod along as is & continue to feel lucky & happy. However, earlier in the year, I decided to change some things in my life this year (as opposed to new years resolutions), so thought today would be a good time to revisit those. Click here to read the entire thing.

# Stop defining myself as old/saying out loud that I am old - I've made a conscious effort on this one. Although I'd be lying if I didn't mention that my life is probably already half over & that makes me feel a little anxious. I'm also going to reduce the time between hair colouring! @ 4.5 weeks, Plumbing Boy said to me "are you going to the hair dressers soon? Your part is really really grey"!

#Stop feeling guilty for time spent on myself - eg going to the gym, painting nails, sitting & reading a book. Well - I've read quite a few books already this year, but pretty much still only when in the tub. I've painted my toe nails once so far, the colour has just about worn off. I've had it on my list of things to do for around the past 3 weekends, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Still doing better than last year - I don't think I painted them at all! Haven't felt guilty about going to the gym at all (quite possibly because I haven't been going enough!!!)

#Stretches - do them. Need to work on these more.

#Look after my nails. While I haven't been painting them, I have been using an almond oil on the cuticles as well as moisturising daily (don't want old lady hands to give away my age!) & filing them when they need it (rather than ripping a busted one off with my teeth - ewwww). They're actually in reasonable nick!

#Stop Frowning. I was making an effort to relax my face before I went on hols in January, but seem to have forgotten about that one since I've been back. Time to put a note on my monitor! (I used to have a note saying "stop arguing with the customers even if they are wrong!")

#Exercise - do it! This has been a bit hit & miss. I've been doing Pump twice a week, which is on target. My running has dropped down to about 2 per week, but only 5kms. Haven't done anything towards my goal of 10kms (until last night). Admittedly I had an injury, but I'm pretty right now, so time to make a bit of an effort. 15 mins of Abs/Core every day at home - just a couple of planks & some crunches will do. My middle has gone very soft. Big fat fail on this one - have made no effort what so ever.

#Finish off my Fit Fab & Forty Challenge. Specifically, getting my waist measurement under 80cms & reducing my body fat %. My goal for this was Easter 2011, then maintain for the rest of the year. I actually joined a 12 week challenge with WAS to help kick start this, after 3 weeks I've lost 1kg & 1.5cms of my waist. I think that happened in the first week & I've done nothing since. I did have a bit of a mental shift last week, & while exercise wasn't done, portion control & positive thinking kicked in. It's time to actually do stuff, instead of think about stuff. I spent last Monday talking myself OUT of going to the gym, then realised I needed some inspiration: 5mins spent reading Shauna's blog & I changed my mind & went. Yesterday morning I decided I wanted to run 7kms last night & spent the whole day psyching myself up. Off I went & did it. Very Happy with myself. I've also decided to change my running days - I've been doing 5kms before pump Mon, Wed & Sat to minimise time spent at the gym. I don't think I can achieve my goals by minimising gym time. I'm going to change the run to a 30 minute power walk before pump & Run Tues, Thurs & either Saturday or Sunday, depending on what I've got on. Tues & Thurs can then be longer runs as I don't have to worry about doing pump straight afterwards.

#Curb Alcohol consumption. Specifically on week nights. This hasn't gone so well. I did a week, then fell off the wagon. Time to try a bit harder.

#Pay more attention to food/meal portion control. Considering the lack of movement on the scales/tape measure, I don't think I've paid this enough attention. The last few days I've been better, so hopefully as my motivation improves so will this.

So. How is everyone else going with their resolutions?

Happy Friday ladies & gents. Hope you enjoy your weekend!