I only had to think about it!

Just had to record my surprise on the scales this morning. 700g gone since Sunday. Hmmm sorry I'd be telling fibs if I didn't let on I've had two days on the cricket patch again but I'm gonna keep it off. I've been recording it since early November and lost 5 kgs since then.

Had a fantastic day today. Chris H came to use the loo but it was girl's break time so we had a great conversation and lots of laughs. I haven't stopped laughing since but not at you Chris, at the naivity that I never thought of my boss as... well you know. It's like your parents.. you never think they do either. I know that sounds dumb but you know what I mean haha.

As for your haircut be careful in the sun!! Have a great weekend together girl and thanks for making me laugh. I miss ya old... whoops young fella and the laughs we had in the office.

Today has been the best day at work too. I feel like I'm finally getting back to my old self. Been so busy busy and I COPED!! I really enjoyed it. A lot more soh too cause I'm feeling better and not playing cricket so much. Looking after myself with early nights or should I say earlier .. hehe.

Probably won't update now till Monday night. My sister is coming tomorrow and I am so looking forward to seeing her. We had a sisters weekend before my surgery and then they went overseas so I havent seen her since. She's a dressmaker and patchworker so we will scour Arthur Toye etc and oh boy, sad ah but I am so excited.

Oh and if I had a boss I'd ask him if I could leave twenty minutes early to go and pick her up from the airport haha but I never did ask boss before haha! Geez I miss that guy.

And now off here and get the housework done.. yes I was gunna do it Sunday.... did I say which Sunday????

2 years today

Well two years ago today I started work in my present job. Stew offered me the job just before Christmas and I started in 2006. Wow, what a lot has happened in that time. I remember thinking I'll never be able to do this legal stuff, the first few weeks were mind boggling but once I started it was a lot better. And I am learning everyday, heaps at the moment (why have I forgotten so much so quick haha). Every day is different but I've achieved more than what I ever thought I could, and met some lovely people.
This time two years ago my Dad was in hospital after having a nasty fall off the deck. He suffered a brain injury, spent nearly 5 months in hospital here. I was moving house the day it happened. So I spent the next few months going to work, going to visit him, home to eat and sleep then start again. Poor Dad. He was so frustrated and yet naive. But now, he has a go at everything. He's done everything he can to be independent and improve mentally and physically . Today is also his 73rd birthday.
Last year I thought I'd finally met the man of my dreams but soon realised that wasn't for me. Then I was diagnosed with the cancer, and now four months later I'm slowly getting back to being ME again. Crook again today.. trying to work out what I ate this time!
Today when I got home I opened my mail to find an appointment card for the oncologist. I nearly cried! I knew it would be coming but it reminds you that this is for the rest of your life. Great though that our medical system provides for these check ups so regularly but ...
I turned around to my fridge and saw a saying I've had on it for quite awhile. You know, its there but you never notice it. But tonight I read it and it's funny how moments in your day fit together sometimes. The saying reads
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. the way you cope with it is what makes the difference." Virginia Satir.
How true!
And I will keep on coping because there are people a lot worse off than me and no matter how much 'crap' I've had over the past two years, I've had far more good things happen. Met great people, learn't heaps, achieved more than what I'd dreamed I could and I'M ALIVE!
This is another saying that Stew gave me recently which hangs on my office wall
"Destiny - though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start now and make a brand new ending" - Carl Bard.

I've lost 11 kgs since my surgery and now I have to work at losing more. I'm still 10 kgs heavier than I was when I returned from Aus in 2004. It's not a problem keeping status quo with my on again, off again IBS but I'd rather be healthy and lose weight in a healthy way. So I'm actually writing down the foods that affect me and I'm going to use my old WW books to try and work out my diet sheet. Yesterday was raining here and I put my jacket on. I've never been able to do the buttons up before so it was really neat to do them up easily. So like Chris H I'm gonna work on 'being on track'. By June 08 I will lose 10% of my body weight. Thats another 11 kgs, easily manageable but a realistic goal for now.

Day Three - I made it!

Well, three days of no runs! (thats not a cricket term). I'm feeling so much better, even the stress levels have been okay today and I have been so busy at work. People just coming in off the street. I was going to shift my office but where it is its opposite the main door so I think it could be some kind of good luck thingy! Haha.
I drew the diagonal on 134 1 1/2inch squares last night so now to sew them to the corners of the rectangles. I have three really good books to read from the library but don't dare read a page until I've got the sewing (whoops and the housework) done.
Well off to the other room (sewing room that is.. YES)

It's raining. I don't have to water the gardens in the morning. We have had sun for so long in Manawatu, it's been too good to be true. But a couple of days rain will be good for the gardens, lawns and especially the water tanks.

And now I'm off to bed. What have I done tonight? Um absolutely nothing. I was so tired I fell asleep in my chair.. lucky I set my video to tape a programme for a friend. Geez what a waste of a night!

Progress?

Well I've cut out hundreds of 1 1/2", 2 1/2" 4 1/2" squares and 6 1/2" rectangles, quilting is so good for keeping your brain ticking I reckon. But exhausting too. I cut for 4 hours yesterday and again this morning but had to give up. My right arm just doesn't have enough strength in it since the operation.

So when I can't cut anymore I sew and lay out.. It looks nothing like the pattern... but when it gets the sashings and borders it will be beautiful. As for getting it finished by Friday when my sister arrives... we will see. I'm going to Carol's to spend a night sewing this week but I also have to make my roman blind and cushion covers (two more UFO's) - shame I have to work!

It's been an 8/10 day today. I've managed to hold everything I've eaten.. which isn't much.. but I'm going to try steak, fried spud and veges, and of course beetroot for dinner... safe foods!!!

And my daughter tells me Olivia (4 in March) has been sewing today. YIPEEEEEEEE. She has been making herself a dress ... more like a sari I believe but hey, neither of my girls are into craft at all so there's hope yet. My two big grandsons have both had a go and enjoyed it but I don't think they have time for it with mountain biking and motorcross riding. Olivia can be a master quilter or a dress designer... hehe.. yeah right!

This photo was taken before she tried to be a hairdresser and cut off her fringe before Christmas!

Spring Cleaning - Yeah right

Well its nearly lunchtime and all I've done is hang the washing, water the garden, do the dishes and sit on here for 2 hours looking for a pattern. I'm going to make a scrappy tablecloth and a roman blind this weekend to spruce up my house before my sister arrives on Friday. Well, both sisters are coming I think? I dont need to start a new project.



This is Grandson George's quilt. Needs sashings in between now and other stuff done. Won't take long .... hmmmmThis is a row by row challenge thats just arrived in the mail. I have to do a row and then send it on.


Also, I need to clean windows, floors, bathroom, make up the spare bed etc etc. And start looking for a car. My car can't be locked now and since its only worth $1 its not worth fixing it. But a pain when I want to go to town! Stressing about cars is not needed at the moment. I'm going through a post cancer depression thingy I think and some days I find it hard to cope with anything. It's weird. I haven't felt like it for 15 years but I'm told its just part of the healing process. Good old St Johns Wart or rather Elizac is my saviour. It is such a fantastic pick me up but sadly I can't find it in NZ anymore. I picked up a bottle in Aus in June 'just in case' but it will see me through.


Stew packed up his office yesterday. Shouted muffins which was beautiful, thanks Stew! And thanks for the effort to get the right one for me - didn't taste the arsenic at all!! Obviously it didnt work anyway.
I had thought of moving into his office but he left it in such a mess I can't be bothered haha. *Jok We decided (all two of us at work) to make a managerial decision and go home early as we are now in mourning. We are lost and forelorn - the guy in charge now is called Caspar - I'll say no more!


So hopefully we'll get a new boss soon - otherwise we could end up on stress leave..... haha but until then I have a CARPARK behind the office. And noone has stolen the car YET!
Right, now I'm off here and going to start cutting and piecing this tablecloth and pin up the roman blind and clean ... Tui!

Well its now 7.30 and I have cut out hundred's of strips of fabric and now am going to sort them into lights, mediums and darks. The phone hasn't rung today but my little grandson Cam texted me (geez, he's 8) to tell me he's called his doll Cuddles. I rang him then and my daughter told me he has taken it everywhere with him, to the beach even for New Years. He is such a sentimental little guy. The other two little grandies evidently showed their dolls off to Great Aunty Debbie (oh how I love to say that - she's only 41 hehe). I am so pleased I made them, I really enjoyed it but I think I should have started earlier. The late nights have not helped. So tomorrow it'll be sewing and cleaning of course!

And today's been 7/10 so early to bed tonight and taking care of myself - Hmmm Chris that's a HUGE black bag... hope it has a power pack!

Goodbye 2007

Well, Christmas has been and gone and another year starts tomorrow. I am looking forward to putting 07 behind me. It has been a roller coaster of a year for me from massive highs to all-time lows, emotionally and physically. After cancer and the infections from surgery, being busy preparing for christmas and travelling I am now so damn tired I am emotionally stuffed and have caught the grandchildren's tummy bug. I can't So no celebrating for me tonight. I'll be in bed early again. But I will wake up tomorrow having subconsiously kicked 07 in the butt, good riddance! On the positive side I am rid of the big C, I turned 50 and had a wonderful celebration with family and friends and I had a wonderful year at work. I achieved my targets, reaped the rewards and had a lot of fun. Sadly Stew the boss has left now and we will have to 'train' a new boss (when we get one) and so another learning curve to come! Stew is a legend and has been so kind and supportive during my "07 challenges" I really appreciate him and will miss his whit and sense of humour.

The Christmas presents were finished on time (last minute of course) but I was proud of my efforts and really enjoyed making them. Here is Cameron's doll in Motorx pyjama's and leather slippers (as Cam has been racing for the last 4 years).

Cam was sick on Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day but he still had a smile on his face watching everyone open their presents.

Alex loves Thomas the Tank Engine and his one has teddy bear slippers. Olivia, well she loves pink, anything pink and her's has bunny slippers.

These were from a Patchwork & Stitching mag. I love this photo of Alex when he unwrapped his. He is a gorgeous boy ah. But only 2 1/2 years old.

Here is Olivia (4 in March) and Alex with big brother George (12).

'Tabitha' has been to the Dolls Hospital and received new eyes for Christmas. She has been lovingly bathed during her 33 years to the extent that she looked like 'chuckys sister'.

I 'borrowed' her from my daughter Annette, and after surgery I made her some new clothes. Annette was really excited to unwrap her on Christmas Day. Hubby thought she was nuts but she takes after her mum being sentimental (lucky she didn't get my dum brains).

Thank you to everyone who has given me support this year especially over the last 5 months ( wow, it seems a lifetime but it's all happened so fast ah). My love to you all and here's to a wonderful, successful and positive year ahead. 08 is a nice round number, no edges, no endings, so it's bound to be really smooth.

Happy New Year everyone.

The Rooster has landed

Project R is now complete and gone to a good home. We held a Christmas party/Farewell for the boss yesterday and Roderick the Rooster was presented to him in a couple of KFC buckets - REJECT - who wants to eat Rooster!

The joke was that Stew has been the head of the hen house, is a little cocky (quick witted) and never goes off half-cocked (we've never even seen him grumpy)... I'm sure he's not an android though.

Stew has some amazing shoes, really radical and out there but he was brave enough to wear them to work one day and staff gave him heaps so this is Roderick in Stews' shoes and this is Roderick in our staff room. I made a calender of all the places in Palmy I could think of including one with a couple of students at the capping on Friday and with his cousins down at the Duck Pond!

It was fun but the sad thing is my computer isn't happy.. I can't access the internet and yet the modem is working fine. Have checked it with xtra so sounds like it will be off to the shop. So I'll have to make this short and sweet cause I shouldn't be doing it! Wink nudge Chris you lovely lady.. shhh!