how time flies

its been 11 days since I blogged. I really wanted to, and thought of things to write, but it just didn't happen. This is supposed to be the way forward, so I didn't want to dwell on things that weren't positive. So I didn't, and therefore I also didn't blog.

But now its almost summer. Its only 5 weeks to Christmas. Time to get organised!

This weekend I am taking my kids in the caravan - solo. Yep just me and the kids. So hope its a success.

Gotta do the ballet run now, and stop at the music store. BMW wants a guitar for Christmas. Hope I can find him a red one!

Later

Soccer Presentation

Yesterday we went to BMW's soccer presentation. Last year I totally forgot about it, this year it was half washed out - all the rides anyway, and in a very small shed you were given your trophy. No fanfare. Very very plain.

After being there 10 minutes (tops) and getting said trophy we headed home. On the way home BMW said Mum, next year I will be in the U/7's - yes. And then the U/8's, and then the U/9's and then after the U/10's I'll have to quit.
Me: Why is that?
BMW: because there won't be enough room left for any more trophy's.

LOL. Gotta love the way kids think.

ebay listing

I’ve finally listed my first ebay item, well first in a few years anyway. I started at 2pm yesterday, and just now at 7:30am it finally was accepted. The silly lister thing would not accept my picture, so I thought, bugger this, uploaded my pic to image cave and pasted the html code into the description. Worked a beauty! So now hopefully someone will buy it. Wanna check it out? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Set-of-4-Boys-sz2-shorts-2xcotton-2xboardies-GU_W0QQitemZ300042201435QQihZ020QQcategoryZ102802QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Probably not the best looking listing ever, but it’s a start.

¸..·´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Wendy
((¸¸.·´ ¸.·´ -:¦:
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´

update update update

I thought it was time to have a little update. Only thing is all I can see is a white screen. No pics.
And I can't figure out why. Let me know what you can see and what you think, ok? Ta

Technicolour Yawn

I wonder what it is about Panadol that makes kids spew? Poor BMW tonight was complaining that his head was hurting, he said he bumped it at school hours before, but just started saying it hurt during dinner, to the point where when he got up to go to the toilet he started crying in pain.

Of course our only panadol was locked up in the caravan, so DH dutifully went to retrieve it. Not 5 minutes later after being carried upstairs, bmw vomited everywhere. Luckily he was in the bathroom at the time. All I could hear was TJ get your mother, get your mother now.

So I consoled my poor boy and gave him a shower and DH well he cleaned up the bathroom...:D :D :D

He's sleeping now, his mattress on the floor and bucket beside. My poor boy. I hope he feels better in the morning.

Great Nannas 94th

Tomorrow is Great Nannas 94th birthday, so today we gathered for afternoon tea. The we is the local Newcastle clan and us. Sisters, aunties & uncles, cousins, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We travelled up the freeway to join in. It was nice to catch up and check out some of the photos from the recent wedding we attended of DH's relies.

While we were eating birthday cake and chatting, our nephew took our kids off to eat some mulberries since the trees fruit is now ripe and ready for eating. They came back with him full of mulberries, they didn't eat any, but he did manage to convince them to pick some of them for him. Needless to say there was lots of stained purple hands.

It wasn't until after the drive home that I discovered TJ's nice white shoes are now also stained purple where she had walked under the mulberry tree. I've managed to clean off a lot of it, but the underneath - the sole - just has mulberries stuck in the grip. Its really quite funny to look at. I have no idea how she got so much mulberry juice everywhere.

I so should've had my camera. We are so busy always doing things that to have them just being kids - country kids really - is just beautiful.

Friday Night is Movie Night

For a long time we had Friday night as movie night, but then we started swim club on a Friday night, and we have ballet and had soccer Saturday morning, so somewhere along the line it got lost.

Well tonight I resurrected it. Tonight, after ballet, was Movie Night! We picniced on a blanket on the floor. I got out a new DVD that had been put away for Christmas, turned on the stereo and there we sat transfixed for 2 hours, just breaking myself away long enough to make everyone ice cream with choc ice magic. Yummo!

We watched the Incredibles which we hadn't seen since it was released at the movies. With the stereo blasting we could have been at the cinema, lol. So even though we still have early ballet in the morning, and I've got all the dishes and kitchen to get clean, it was fun. A shame DH is at work and missed it all. Maybe we can tell him in the morning before he goes to sleep for the day.

Such simple things are sometimes the best.

Hope things are good for you.
Cheers
W.

Chicken is as chicken does

According to TJ...

Chicken will forever, and always be, chicken.

We now return you to your normal programming

:D

I really haven't been ignoring my blog, honest. I tried to upload the gorgeous pic of TJ's communion. Blogger would not be a part of it.

And then last week there was a wedding and all DH's family was here from interstate. It was very cool to have everyone together. The wedding was brilliant.

And now tomorrow we are going to Yamba. Can't wait.

So now must rest these tired tired eyes. Lots more to do in the a.m. before heading off.

Chow 4 now.

Lets play tag

glo girl tagged me. Here it is...

The rules are : List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets. Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Dont forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!

Yah thanks for that. I've spent all w/e trying to come up with something. I asked DH if he could help me out. I could see his face change as he thought of things, but would he share - NO! Maybe he thought it was safer that way.

All right so here I go...in no particular order of weirdness.

1. I like to keep my pantry very straight and neat. I have all tupperware containers and can't stand things being in the packets, I take them out of the packets and put them into the tupperware containers.
2. When I type if I make a spelling mistake or leave a letter out I erase all the letters with the backspace key to get back to the one that is wrong/missing then type them all again. I know I could use the mouse or the arrows to insert the letter, but I don't.
3. Every morning I weigh myself. I get up, use the toilet and then weigh myself and then wash my hands. In that order. Feels weird if I try to convince myself not to.
4. I will cook up a storm in the kitchen before cleaning the storm in the kitchen.
5. I stick all my photos to my pages when they are blank before adding anything else, just with a little peice of adhesive in the middle and then will take them off again later when completing the page.


So who to tag... V, Chrissy (because your blog hasn't been touched since April), Agent713, and if Mel and Nell got a blog for themselves then I could tag you too.

Its been a full on day today, although when are my days not like that? Its 10:15pm and I've just finished my chores. Today TJ had dancing, then the kids had a swimming carnival, inbetween I raced home and made a picnic lunch for them, Then this afternoon, it was get in the washing, make dinner, do TJ's hair in rags for tomorrow and wash it, wrap her present for tomorrow, wrap the present for BMW to take to the birthday party, make the birthday card. ::sigh:: And somewhere this afternoon I fitted in going to the shop, buying said pressies and getting extra holes punched in the tie of her new shoes for tomorrow.

BMW got 3 2nds at the carnival, TJ got a 4th, 5th, 3rd, 6th and a participation ribbon. Nath didn't swim.

Oh and tomorrow - my girl is doing her First Holy Communion. I'll post a pic tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be gorgeous in her white gown and shoes and headpeice. Hopefully she won't pull a face at the taste of the bread. lol

Anyways shower time for me, gotta steam up the bathroom and try and get the creases out of her dress. Lata!

BLOG CHALLENGE: Acrostic

This challenge was set by Cowtown Stacey on SS.

W: whirlwind. This is how I feel my life is on most days.
E: enjoyment. I really am trying to enjoy those little special things that just happen.
N: nice. I'm not the person that someone would travel miles to be with, but people don't dislike me either. I'm just 'nice'.
D: dreams. I have lots of dreams. Some will be revealed soon.
Y: youthful. I do try and keep up with the kids, and I am certainly younger than lots of other people around here I know. And how many other things start with y apart from yellow!?!

today...

today they are laying bitumen in the coldesac (sp?) at the end of the street. they are making a mess, but it is getting done

today I gave the workers a small thrill as Nath wanted to check out the machines and we had just got out of the pool. Bikini top and boardies. Not so hot, but it made them stop and look.

today it is really hot. 31degC. Blimey what will summer be like?

today I finished TJ's headpeice for her communion on the w/e. It looks lovely.

today I am going to take the kids to the beach after school so DH can get some sleep. The trucks have kept him awake all morning out in the street.

today I did a load of washing and remembered to hang it out 5 hours later

today I mulched around the palms I planted on the weekend

today I treated DH with hamburgers and chips for lunch which I picked up while out doing some chores.


And its only 2pm. More of today left yet.

All caught up

Ahhh, finally caught up. Yes its taken all morning - with a trip to school to drop the kiddies off, and to the hardware store for the pool chemicals, but I am finally caught up - on glo-girls blog. ::smiles::

So since I don't have the time to comment on everything I wanted to, glo this 'tis 4 u.
1. bananas: cost a fortune because of the cyclone that wiped them all out earlier this year. Hopefully the price will be reasonable again by Christmas. I am so hanging for a banana!
2. I also love spring. I feel like I am smiling everyday. And I luv your happy pics.
3. Nettles hurt. I got one it my butt one time when trying to have a squat whilst camping. Not fun!
Oh there was more but I can 'member right now.

Thanks for the email on how to refresh. Took about 5 minutes before the dumb 'puter would do it. I so gotta clear some space on this laptop. Its not happy.

I've been creating lat night. Its still spread across the kitchen table. I've oficially taken over 3 rooms now, the study - aka my happy place, the dining room and kitchen table. I so love it. I need a trip to the lss for some more goodies. I am craving some cute embellishments. I am hanging out to share, but I want to wait until its finished.

Chrissy shared pics of her new happy room. So I was thinking I need to buy myself some desk lamps and actually work back in my study. Something to cover the doorway would be cool too. One of those frangipani bamboo things.

On another note, my Mum retired last week. Her birthday was the Thursday , a week and a half ago, and she retired on the Friday. So I spent most of last week with her. It was actually pretty cool which was nice. Although we did clean my house. She doesn't stop when tired, so I had to keep going until I was ready to drop! Sad part is, although still tidy, it needs cleaning again. ::frown::

So on that cleaning part I've got a stack of dishes to wash, floor to sweep and the patio man coming over soon to give us the quote on finishing the rest of our awning. Better make sure I sit down for that one. Oh and I have to iron. I hate ironing.

Yesterday we gardened. We are moving part of the pool fence to accomodate the water slide that Santa bought last year. So that meant creating a new garden so we can move some of the pavers to go under the slide, and move the plants out of the garden - the ones that were actually growing and surviving this drought. I only have 2 weeks to water them with a watering can and then on October 1st we go to level 4 water restrictions and can't water at all. I so hope they survive. They are gardenias - my favourite.

All right, better go clean up.

::mwah:: !!

Proud Mummy Moment

Tonight TJ received her results for her tap exam that was on last Sunday. I am very proud to say that she received the highest grade available - gold star (98-100%) and was the highest mark in the studio. I am so proud of her achievement.

Last week

I went to blog last week, but silly blogger wouldn't let me log in. It does that alot. I'm thinking the 7pm time to blog is a bad one. Maybe everyone takes that 5 minutes they have after dinner before having to get the kids into the shower and bed to Blog.

When it wouldn't work I did my blog rounds. They are very slim rounds, but I happened upon Cowtown Staceys blog. I can feel in my heart what a wonderful person Stacey is, not that she knows me, nor I really know her. But I just know. Her blog that day was about all the abandoned blogs. Those that were given life but then just left hanging out there by themselves, forgotten and desserted. I wondered to myself if the actual Blogger site had something to do with that afterall I couldn't even post to my own blog.

Now today I found a post on SS by Cowtown Stacey about a topic to blog about. Its about the contents of your purse. And I found it interesting after reading a few posts that your handbag not only reveals alot about you, but is very personal.

One of the ladies at dancing yesterday turned up with a new handbag. It was very stylish and I really liked it tones and size and style. Its by Guess. $180AUD. Way way out of my price band. But just for a moment I tinkered with the idea of having something like it. Then I realised it totally wouldn't fit with the rest of my things - like the worn out jeans, mostly falling off because even my new ones don't fit, the mismatched style, I have things that I still wear that are 8-15 years old, very sad.

But then I thought about my current handbag. Its a back pack. Supposedly leather. It was very practicle because I could use 2 hands to push the pram when I got it. Its quite large inside and holds a heap of stuff, so when I ditched the nappy bag I could store a couple of emergency items (wipes/nappies/undies) in there just in case. Now things just get lost in the bottom of it, never to be found again. It has a compartment at the front which is magnetic - definately not good to put your eftpos or credit cards in there as it wipes the information, and it has side pockets which I store my phone in one of them. Only problem with that though is that you can't hear it when in a shopping centre, and even the vibrate is useless because the back pack is only touching your body by the straps, so you can't feel the vibrations. And I'm always worried that in a crowd it would be very easy for someone to open the zip on the bag and take my wallet, since its hanging behind me and I can't see it.

The thing though that makes me think its coming to the end of its lifespan, not that the straps are worn out, or the bag is wearing through, but the little leather tags on the zipper have broken off, so you have nothing to pull the zipper with. Surely thats a sign of plently of use, definate value for money, I think I paid about $20AUD for it. So do you think its time to be retired so I can get a nifty summer purse? I think so. Sure hope DH thinks so too. Maybe I can find one 'on sale' :D

I'll do the purse contents tomorrow. Gotta get the kidlets into bed now.

Later.

A better tomorrow

Theres been stuff going on at school again. 2 girls have been fighting over TJ. Its turning out really not pretty as the parents are now involved. Anyway one thing I keep saying is that so many people who live here, being a new area, tend to bring their old problems with them. The don't really do the fresh start, but redo the old and wonder why their life really hasn't changed just because they've moved.

And now I've found a quote to support my theory. Its from Reality Therapy, Part II
By Robert Ringer

"When the past no longer clogs your thought processes, it paves the way for you to focus on exercising the self-discipline to act responsibly in the present. Acting responsibly today is the key to fulfilling your needs and getting where you want to be in life tomorrow."

Heres to a better tomorrow...

Goodbye July...

What a big weekend we had. TJ made her Confirmation. I have a pic of her and the Bishop, but I haven't uploaded it yet. Brendan played 2 games of soccer, they flogged both teams,11-0 and 9-2. Nath got to go to his first birthday party, poor little guy had to go solo as DH and I were split between soccer and church, but he had a great time. Sunday we hit the beach. The kids had heaps of fun playing in the sand. I even went for a jog (shock horror). TJ and I made it to the point which was really cool (2km round trip). And in the afternoon we took the dog for a walk. Plus I worked Sat nite.

Yesterday I went swimming-laps, which was fine, but man was I exhausted last night. I could hardly lift my arms up, not even above my head, but just off my sides. Oh man.

Cheers

scrapaholics anon...ous

::sigh:: Its almost 8pm and the sweet darling children of mine are all in bed - here's hoping they stay that way, wait no, someones up already... I am hanging to do another page in my album. I've been tearing through the pages in the last couple of days, trying to make up for the rest of the year I think, lol.

I have some lovely pages to share, just no batteries in the camera at the moment, they've been borrowed for a toy, the life of being a Mum. I will need them back for the weekend though, big weekend ahead....that I will share later. Can't having you get all excited with too much info all at once!

Later!

Well its been a couple of weeks since I've blogged but I've been unwell. Not really sick sick chuck your guts up type of stuff, but now real well either. But today I felt a little better.

I think running TJ around to all her dance eisteddfods last week really did it for me. Not her mind u, she's fine. Just exhausted me. Must be getting old, lol.

Anyway for those that haven't seen it already, here's a pic of my girl looking gorgeous after her slow tap.

A whirlwind of activity

So much has happened since I last blogged. I lost another kilo and 1.5cm off my waist. My diet has basically bombed this week so I am hoping to not have put anything on. I did though fit back into an old pair of jeans, and I've decided to toss my other ones that keep falling down into the poor bin as soon as they are out of the wash.

I finally got to see my neice. She is cute and cries a lot. Trying to get to see her was a huge ordeal and I've been coping some grief about it all, but I'm not going to go there and share. Family. ::sigh::

TJ enrolled in a course for her confirmation last night. She has a 4 week course and then in July she will be confirmed by the Bishop. We have to find her a Patron Saint. I've been searching for a female Patron Saint of Dance, but there just doesn't seem to be one. So hopefully I can find her a saint that hasn't been hung,drawn and quartered. Those 1500's must've been an awful period of time.

There is dance eisteddfod's coming up so I've been sewing costumes and have a lot of sequining to do. My business is a little quiet, but after putting all these weeks of effort in, for little result I can really see that my family needs me. They need Mum. BMW needs help with his schoolwork. Nath needs help learning to write and what all the letters of the alphabet are. TJ just needs me. Some girl time. I so want to have a close relationship with her. I don't want to be so busy that I don't see her needs or help her when she needs it. And my house is a little tidier which always makes me feel better.

I baked this morning - cinnamon bun. And this week I've made chicken and pesto pies (yum) apple pie, and chicken and veg soup from scratch. It even tasted good. I've been a whirlwind of activity. Like I am nesting - just not preggers! Hopefully I can get some more pages finished in my album.

Later dudes and dudettes.

Just no luck

do you ever feel that you just don't get a break? I don't mean you're busy, I mean luck never goes your way. My upline deactivated. Yah me. So she sends her customers a letter saying she's deactivated and gives me their info to contact them. I gave her a heap of business cards to give to them. So I start contacting them. Oh I met 'leanne' at the markets and I'm going to go through her now. But can you send me a catalogue? Well no, not if you're going to buy through someone else. I guess she never bothered adding the business cards. Actually on confirmation, she never told them I would be looking after them.

Sometimes I just think maybe they're right. Maybe I should give up this 'silly thing I do' and get a 'real' job.

Diet update

I promised to update you as I weighed in each week. Unbelievable that I made a week, but I did.

I lost 3kg and 3cm from my waist (although I'm pretty confident that I was bloated last week, but hey I'll take the 3cm).

So back to eating more rabbitt food.

Later!

The life of diet

I started a diet on Monday. I am not one to normally diet, however when on Sunday it became apparent that my DH sees me as fat and not attractive, it was the final motivator I needed to get off my butt and do something about it.

Yes I was sick and tired of clothes not fitting properly. I was tired of looking at my nice stuff in my cupboard that I just can't wear. And I was definately over feeling unattractive. So on Monday I went and did something about it.

Now I know you are supposed to exercise, but I'll just have to build up to that because I cannot take feeling fat, hungry, and feeling like an uncoordinated fool in front of all these people at the gym.

Every Monday I have to check back in and see my results. I am aiming to lose 15kg. The diet lady thought I should aim for 20kg (yeah thanks for that). So hopefully if I can last the week and figure out what I can eat (that being the hardest part) I will update you each Monday.

And can I say isn't it typical that on Monday night my Mum brought me a giant container of pumpkin soup. 1. my favourite. 2. she never has done this before. And 3. can't eat pumpkin on this diet. grrr.

So if anyone has any great ideas of what to do with a minimum of 2 cups of veges that don't include potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, corn, peas (you know all that yummy stuff you have with a baked dinner) please let me know.

tj's birthday

Today is my girls birthday. I gave her her presents this morning. I sang her happy birthday. She was laying on the lounge watching tv and basically ignored me. She opened her presents. Admittedly there were only 4, but she's going to get the new nintendo ds lite and it doesn't come out until June 1. But what makes me so sad is that there was no hug. No thanks Mum.

I wish I knew where I went so wrong bringing her up to have such bad manners.

::tears::

Wendy

Yesterday Tomorrow Today

Tomorrow is my girls birthday. So tonight I am up making cupcakes for her to take to school. Hopefully the kids don't notice my lack of icing finese when they taste my lovely cakes!

Yesterday TJ entered a Star Quest. It was student choreography -ie she made it up. She did so well. Unfortunately she didn't win, they gave it to a little cutie, but she did get the costume award and a $20 voucher to spend at the local dance store. She danced to a song from the lion king and I made her a lion costume. She was awesome.

Today our friends had to get their car towed after they were pulled over by the police and they found their car to be unregistered. They scored a fine of $1350, plus still have to pay for rego. I am so pleased I haven't let TJ go anywhere with them lately. Imagine if something awful had happened. IMO they are so lucky to just get a fine.

Later

Things I've learnt lately

1. You can try on every style/size of jeans in a store and still find nothing that fits.
2. Your jeans falling off your butt and your top slipping above your tummy is not a good look ::sigh:: Unfortunately can't be rectified - see point 1.
3. The purchase of a long jacket was a brilliant idea as it helps hide point 2. even if uncomfortable.
4. Attempting to enrol children in a private school is scarier than making phone calls to customers.
5. Doing Power 10 again gives even greater expectations
6. Breath and don't freak out while doing Power 10.
7. Wonder curiously why Aussies need subtitles in the Amazing Race - I mean really???
8. You never have enough $$ when it comes to your childrens birthdays.
9. Every water bill you've used less water (because of the drought and the dam is down to 17%) and you still get charged more.
10. Having a friend come online is a wonderful thing
11. The big scary spiders they show on the Amazing Race that inhabit Darwin are St Johns Cross and also live in my backyard!
12. Trying to access blogger at 7pm just doesn't work.

back to blogging

Its surprising difficult to get back into the swing of blogging after having so many weeks off. So I'll do my best to develop a new routine. Though I must say spending less time on the net has seen my business increase.

Twas a quiet day today, soccer - they won, ballet and jazz for TJ. I even fitted in a hot chocolate with one of the dancing mums which was nice. They have a Gloria Jeans in the back of a new book store at Westfield. Yumm!

Last night I caught up with a group of my customers and scrapped at one of their houses. It was a little bizzare but I got 3 pages done. I still have some journalling and dates to finish off but it was nice to get some scrapping done. And man, the things ladies discuss with no men around. WOW!

Til tomorrow...

I'm back!

I'm excited to say that I am back. I am now the very happy owner of a new router. My previous one had a security issue and I got hacked into, but this one is top of the line, state of the art. I am so happy!

So watch out everyone, this little black duck which be checking out all your blogs, and I can surf SS again! Mind you I did get a lot of work done without it.

later!

Fence yeller

wow. I've just been yelled at over our fence by my neighbour. She's a little Italian lady. Well not quite Italian, but from a country just near there that I can't quite remember, so for me, she's a little old italian lady.

Our fence is supposedly 5 foot high. But since everyone landscaped and grassed and stuff its now about 4 foot high. We added bamboo in front of the fence which goes about a foot and a bit above it, just for some extra privacy, but behind our bbq theres a bit of lattice since putting bamboo behind the bbq didn't feel so safe firewise, and we did the bit of lattice first. Theres a small gap about a foot wide between the lattice and the bamboo. So this is the place my neighbour always calls me from. And today yelled at me from.

She wanted to know why my pool pump is so noisy now. Why are we doing this to her and Jim (her DH). Its so noisy they can't eat their dinner. Its 4:20pm btw. Greg built a box around the pool filter and pump so its not likes its out in the open or anything. And yes since its now 4 years old it is a bit noiser than when it was first installed, but nothing excessive. Its not like a lawnmower going all day or something. It runs for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon.

So here she is yelling at me over the fence. And then she tells me that I'm like my brother. Um she's only met my brother once I think. For a simple hello. Why are you doing this? She yells at me.

dina I say, please don't yell at me. You are doing the same as your brother she says. When he was our next door neighbour at Warriewood. (I have no idea where Warriewood is, but I'm pretty sure its in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, And to get my brother out of the Sutherland Shire - yeah right, not going to happen)

So she keeps yelling at me. He lived next to me at Warriewood, you are doing the same thing as he did she says. When you first moved here I recognise him, she says, and your mother. (Leave my mother out of this) Jim and I looked at each other she says, we know she says.

Bad part is, two of my children are standing next to me. Luckily Nath who is the youngest is at Grandma Wards today. She is wide eyed and I'm sure has lost the plot. You are going to regret doing this to me she yells. I am going to get that man to take care of you she yells. I simply say I am not having an argument over the fence with you and usher my kids inside.

Poor TJ grabs BMW's hand and makes a run for it. I can't believe it. And its the first time we have come home early on a Monday. Normally TJ has swimming, but I've cancelled Monday swimming to give her more time at home. And now this happens. Boy oh boy. I feel like I must attract weirdos or something. Really wasn't something I needed today. Really wasn't.

Shop til your fingers are sore

I haven't blogged lately if you haven't noticed. Mostly because I've been busy, but also too becuase I couldn't find anything positive to say. So whats a girl to do when she's feeling down? S.H.O.P.

And in style. Must remember to hide that CC statement next month! I really wanted to get a wishblade (still do) but by the time you convert the price and then work out how to use it, sizzix is just easier. PLus I can share with some other ladies and its the whole exercise thing. Not nearly as much fun to push a button as to wind it through or pull down on the lever. Maybe its more of a mental exercise but it is rewarding.

I sure hope that box arrives when DH is not home. I have this big feeling he won't be impressed. But I have been working and having good sales so why not spend some on me. I'm sure you'll all support me on that one!

Cheers!

Today

Today I have shopped. I bought a fridge. Not the one I wanted, but a fridge none the less. At least now I can have cold milk and fuit and veg. The sales guy still didn't have a price or whether he could get one of the big fridges, you know, the one we actually need. So I made an economic decision and bought a smaller one. Its there. I can have it tomorrow. And while I didn't get much of a discount, it will be here TOMORROW!!!

I also had some photocopying to do at Office Works. So while I was there I bought some photo paper large and small, printer ink, and a labeler. So as soon as I get some time I will be doing a layout I have in mind....A is for Attitude, and a giant size pic of Nath. I've been wanting to work with a giant pic for ages.

Oh I did some work too. Coordinator coaching. I'm still not big on making those phone calls. And the words just don't seem to come when I'm talking to people when I'm out and about. They get stuck somewhere between brain and mouth, knowing I should say them, but not knowing how?

Anyway lets not dwell there. I have afternoon chores to be done and kidlets to run after. So everyone do this for me, open mouth, big breath in, big breath out and smile. Later!

Think Four

We were talking at dinner tonight (the kids and me) about if you eat dessert every night you could get fat. BMW elaborated that then you wouldn't be able to run or ride your bike. Nath said, but thats ok, you could roll everywhere. Oh to have the mind of a 4 year old! ::Smiles::

Com Games / Fridge Update

I've been watching the Commonweath Games a fair bit. I am totally loving it. The kids have been cheering on the competitors, I'm wondering if they realise that they can't actually hear them when they are inside the tv? lol

It is so nice to see these great achievements. The switching between sports is a little hard to keep up with...swimming, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and the other night cycling as well. But in all its good.

An update on the fridge situation. Hopeless. Its limped on for another week. DH and I have been discussing the prospects of a new fridge. He doesn't want to spend the money, but this morning the ice cubes were melted, the frozen peas were soft, the fridge section really wasn't cold. SO I think finally he has given in. The fridge is now turned off, not to be turned on again.

Trouble is deciding on a new one. This one is 610L and in summer isn't big enough. After shopping isn't big enough, so we've been talking about going bigger. 667L is the next size. When you split that between fridge and freezer it amounts to hardly anything. SO the next size up is 803L. Mucho bigger.

I've been dealing with one of my customers DH's who works at Domayne. I told him to find me prices on the top 3 LG fridges. One has a tv. One has a bar built into the door. And the third is much plainer.

So he phones today and says, you can't get the top 2, there's a couple in Australia of the 3rd plain one. They are not making them anymore and there should be a new model in 12 weeks or so. Um hello? I have no fridge. I can't wait 12 weeks.

Hmm he'll see what he can find and will ring me back. Yeah. Thanks. Oh and ladies, we're talking 4 grand for a fridge here. I can't believe we have to spend that much money to get something to fit our food into and will keep it cold.

A bonus is that it will have ice and water to keep the kidlets happy with. No more having to lift the jug out of the fridge or having them spill it everywhere when they try by themselves. I guess thats a 4k bonus.

So you want to see layouts??? Well here they are...

Woo hoo! I've finished 3 more pages. Just thought you'd like to know.

The drought is over...

...for my scrapping anyway. I have done a page. YAH! My customer who I generously loaned my sidekick to, has now received hers, and her alphas - 6 of them I think. So I got mine back and borrowed 2 of her alphas. She thoughtfully bought ones I didn't have, isn't that sweet. Plus she got the 12" borders, so I borrowed one of them as well. And I did a page on our new caravan. I used Bounce and the pine trees border. I'm quite pleased with the result. Oh you want to see it? Well you're going to have to wait until tomorrow night, sorry.

Never know, I might have more to show you by then.
Chow!

And then there were three

I mentioned the other day that we had 4 cars. 2 too many. For months I've been saying we have to sell them. Well today it happened.

Its with real mixed feelings that I say that my little car has been sold. I've had it for 12 years. It has not missed a beat and is still going strong.

We took it up this morning and parked it on the side of the main road with a for sale sign stuck in the front window. About 2pm we got a call from a man who was driving past and didn't have time to test drive it, but could we bring it down to Wamberal tonight so he could drive it then. Wamberal is about 40 minutes away, but ok.

So after the kids activities this afternoon I drove it down, and DH and the kids took the other car. It was for the son, his dad wasn't home yet, so he and I went for a test drive. He really liked it, especially the sun roof.

His dad finally came home and took it for a drive, checked it out and offered me $250 less than what I had asked since its up for rego next month. And as simple as that I agreed.

I feel really sad to have to give it up, but I can't afford to keep it just for prosperity. And I think its going to a good home, though it may not be garaged anymore. His dad was a bit in awe that a car thats 12year old can be in good condition, no crashes and have just one owner.

So now I have some money to put towards a new fridge. Isn't that sad. I sell my car and still don't have enough money for a new fridge. ::sigh::

The Commonwealth Games

I'm watching the opening ceremony of the Commonweath Games. The Queen is here to officially open it. She managed to get out of her rolls ever so elegantly. She is 79 years old, turns 80 next month. The tv camera was down really low and not a sight of underwear (although I am sure she is wearing something sensible - lol)

I have a question ... why does the Queen need a handbag? Its not like she needs a wallet, or needs somewhere to put her keys. She has many people to look after her. I thought it quite bizarre to be hanging off her arm. A nice black one though to match her shoes.

I just want to note that these companies have too much money

1. MLC

2. The Natural Confectionary Company

3. The Australian Meat Board

Why? Because it was their ads that were on in the 1st break. Those ads cost a fortune!

So we've had surf boats on the Yarra River, a flying tram - that was pretty cool, koalas, and a flying thong (flip flops for you US ladies, not the other sort of thong ROFL!) Huge fish with water spurting out of them and fireworks off the tops of lots of buildings in Melbourne city.

The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) where the opening ceremony is being held, is really close to the city centre, just a few minutes drive and apparently thats a pretty impressive thing because most stadiums are out of town, and not close to the city centres. But that would be because the MCG was built for the 1956 Olympics, and back then it probably was out of town!

Now we are having an Aboriginal tribal thing, wishing good luck and the passing of knowledge defined by these globes they are carrying.

Music, The Australian Ballet Company and motorbikes. The ballerinas have these giant tutus. They look great, but I can't quite figure why there's a motorcyle driving around. Oh, now theres more. Very weird. Looks effective. Just a bizarre combination.

Now its time for the althletes. Theres 79 countries competing here from the Commonweath. Australia will be last to come out as we are the host country. Its really nice to see the althletes with disabilities there as well.

Enough for the moment. I'll update more later.

about me

This was on SS today. I thought it would be cool to post it here too. Feel free to tag it for your blog too. :D

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Sales Assistant
2. Salad Chef
3. Customer Service Offier
4. Consultant

Four movies I would watch over and over:

1. You've got mail
2. Top Gun
3. Grease
4. Father in law


Four places I have lived

1. Sydney, Australia
2. Newcastle, Australia
3. Central Coast, Australia
4.

Four TV shows I love to watch:

1. Lost
2. Survivor
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Mclouds Daughters (sp? Aussie show)

Four places I have been on vacation:

1. Disney Land
2. Fiji
3. Gold Coast, Australia
4. Hawaii

Four websites I visit daily:

1. Scrapshare.com
2. Blogger.com
3. cmc network
4.

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Enchiladas
2. Spaghetti Bolognese
3. Fajitas
4. Crispy beef with peking sauce

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. in a bubble bath
2. watching the waves at the beach
3. by a waterfall in a rainforest
4. getting a massage

New car

DH decided we need a new car. Realistically we need to sell 3 cars (we have 4), so DH decided the best and easiest way to get rid of 2 is to buy 1 new one and trade the others in.

Yeah I guess this does work, however you then need to fund the new car purchase. And in todays market a 2nd hand car has very little value, so there's still a decent gap between the trade in and the new car price. Even when trading in 2 cars.

So we went and looked at the major car yards, Holden, Mitsibishi, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota. We ruled out Subaru and Honda as unaffordable for what we needed.

We ended up test driving 2 cars, the astra and the corolla. Both are very similar and DH just fits in them height wise. I drove the corolla, and honestly there is very minimal difference between my corolla we would be trading in and the new one, well except for a couple hundred thousand kilometres.

I couldn't figure why we would want to get a loan to buy a car thats basically the same as we have now that we own. OK, yes it does have an air bag, and a cd player and air con, but thats it.

So I talked DH out of it. Told him there was so many other things I would prefer to do with the money. I don't think he's happy, but I'd much rather save and pay cash for something than get a loan that will cost me double of what I'm forking out and at the end of the term be worth very little.

Anyone need to buy a car? Very reliable. One owner. Even has a sunroof.

A bad movie

I watched the worst movie tonight. It was called Gladiatress. Our neighbour loaned us the dvd. It was set in 55BC when the Romans were invading Britain. The main characters name was 'worth about a pig'. It was really really dreadful. I cannot believe that I watched the whole thing. lol Even worse is that he owns it on dvd.

the call in

She didn't call.

I got an email late yesterday that said along the lines of the tradeshow conference call (on in the morning) took up so much time that it delayed her. But the calls she did get in were great. Yah for them (make sure you use sarcasm when you say that)

A question

It all comes done to ettiquete. I am doing this Power 10 training program at the moment with CM. Its one week in. I've been totally stressed about it, 20 classes in 8 weeks, $6000 in sales, 6 new recruits. Its supposed to get my business up and running, but its totally stressed me out. I've tried hard to do what I've supposed to do.

15 booking calls...did it
2 coordinator coaching...did it
workshop..did it
bonus calls to customers..had some
leads...had some
actual home classes...none

OK, you get the idea. Anyway today at 2pm I am supposed to be having a 1hr coaching call with our FDM. I emailed her during the week to ask if we could do it over Skype, to save my STD bill. She said she would ring me.

I've been sitting here at my desk since 1:50pm. I've organised my diary, list of who I called, what bookings I made and what I need to talk about. Its now 2:30pm and she hasn't called.

Should I keep waiting and then it will be 3pm and my hour will be gone? Or should I ring her even though she said she would ring me? I reallu can't afford the phone bill as I'm totally broke and 1hr at peak rate isn't going to help that. I know its a training thing and I can write it off, but you still have to pay the bill in the interim. And writing it off only works if you are actually making some money out of this, but hey, thats a whole other post.

I understand she has a lot of people to look after, and I am just a little fish in the big sea, but this is the whole reason I signed on for this training program, to get some individual help that I need, encouragement to go further and NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

Guess that hasn't worked huh.

Hmm sit and wait. Sit and wait. No. Get up and do something productive. Anything. Guess I could wash those dirty clothes I forgot to put on this morning.

Maybe its a sign. I'm really not meant to do this.

Later...signed uninspired

skype

I'd heard before about skype, but today I read a post on SS about it and decided I had to have it. So I've downloaded it. And its the best thing, now I can chat to people over the web. No Telstra. No bills. You've just gotta download it too.

So ladies, my login is Aussie_Wendy. I expect to at least a few of you to sign up too so I can actually chat to you IRL. And Nell, that definately means YOU!

www.skype.com

go on, cut and paste, cut and paste...ok ok, I can link it for you skype

toffee AAHHH

The last few days have been hectic to say the least, but hey Whats New?

Well this is something you don't do everyday. Thank Heavens!

Do you remember the toffee? How I said I was going to make more? Well while I was multi tasking today - cooking with Nathan, making toffee and a chocolate cake, Mr Nath asked me a question. I turned around to answer him and in that 30 seconds to a minute the toffee burnt and boiled over the top.

It went everywhere.

I picked up the saucepan off the gas, moved it sideways and of course spilled more everywhere as it was still bubbling up over the top.

It has taken me 3 hours to clean it up, and yes I am still finding more. I have no idea how I am going to get it off some things.

Now I have to make more toffee. Ahh! I will be much much more careful this time. No more multi tasking for this little black duck.

Toffee #2

Do you remember last year when I made toffee? I had all these leftovers I didn't know what to do with. Well they've been sealed in a container in the pantry, DH occasionally attempting to eat one. They take about 4 hours of straight sucking to get through.

Today I donated them to the canteen at the esteidfodd TJ is dancing at, her ballet school is running the canteen. They were such a hit they asked me if I could make some more.

Sure thing! I just wish I could find the recipe. DOH!

Positive?

This is me trying to be positive...

Yah I'm getting up at 4:30am to drive my daughter 2 hours to a carnival, so she can compete for a few minutes! It will most likely be raining and we'll get soaking wet. She'll definately try and hit me up for McDonalds so I have to make sure I have some money ready. And I'll take her through the Harbour Tunnel, and back home via the ED, so I'll have to keep $8 in change ready for the tolls.



Too sarcastic?? Well I am trying to be positive, but I'm exhausted, its way too humid with the rain and my DS will not go to sleep, I still have drinks to pack and make, I've got school things to organise before I go to bed, fees in envelopes and that sort of thing. Ugh. I must get some sleep because I sure don't want to fall asleep while driving down the freeway tomorrow. And most of all I would love to catch up with my friends since I'm driving all that way, but I know that by the time she sits for ages in the marshalling area, finally competes, it will be time to hit the road to try and beat the Friday night traffic coming back up the freeway, and we have to be home for ballet in the afternoon. Kids. What you do for them.

Camera camera, must pack camera

Its raining

Today it is raining. Which is good. 1st day of Autumn, the plants need rain, its been dry for much too long, all that sort of thing. But why why WHY do we have to have a whole months rainfall in one day?

blogism

I thought I'd try something which Agent 713 had in her blog. The age is came up with was 32. Just 2 days shy. Not bad.

You Are 32 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

In review

Yesterday was a fairly ordinary day. Nath and I went shopping after dropping the kids at school and picking up TJ a school swim cap. We tried to buy Nath shoes, but couldn't find anything decent that I could afford. We did the banking and had morning tea in the food court. Came home, had a little rest. DH woke up from night shift and looked after Nath and got BMW from the bus while I took TJ to dance solo lesson and then swimming training. We came home had dinner, bathed and bed.

Oh and we had cake. Yummy blackforest cake. Why? Cause it was my birthday yesterday. That was the only bit of the day that wasn't ordinary. It was real nice to be remembered by a few. DH got 3 gifts, 1 for each of the kids to give to me. Undies - a pack of 3 boring mummy undies, a weird green t shirt with this dude on the front, and Desperate Housewives season 1 box set. I am totally blown away that he actually spent money on that!

My Mum had dinner with us. Gregs folks sent a card and gift voucher. I got a card from my dad 1 e-card (thanks V!) and 1 email from a SIL in Melbourne who sent it in the middle of the night because she forgot, and 1 email from an old boyfriend.

Why am I telling you this? Well not to make you feel bad that you forgot or didn't know, but because we make such an effort to recognise the outlaws birthdays and I keep saying to DH, particularly in reference to one SIL is: what is the point? They aren't going to remember mine anyway. And true enough, they didn't. Not even my own sibling. Lousy brother.

One lady as the school swimming carnival today said "Ay! Was it your birthday yesterday?" Well yeah it was. Its the same time every year, and you only just figured it out because TJ must've just said something.

So from one ordinary day to the next. Thats life being Mum I guess.

Today was TJ's first school swimming carnival. Since I am Mum I'm going to bore you with her results.

Age race, 50m Freestyle - 2nd
50m Breaststroke, - 3rd
50m Backstroke - 2nd
100m Freestyle - 4th
50m Butterfly - 3rd

I'm very proud of my girl and the fact that she went in all those races and tried her best. Even kicked her feet and streched her arms ( we've been working on that)

What will an ordinary tomorrow bring? Oh yeah, coordinator coaching.

Later!

By jo, I think shes got it! My WHY

One of the things raised at Showcase (our Creative Memories convention) was WHY.

Why do I do what I do? Why do I keep doing what I do? What is my WHY?

Well I initially thought it was monetary. I really want to do this to make some money, help my lovely DH support our family and make life a little bit easier.

Then I saw that glint (if you're a consultant, I'm sure you know the one I mean) in one of my customers eyes and I thought, well maybe I like making that happen too - the glint that is.

Then this week I had a new customer stop in. She'd been to a few classes. She was struggling and definately not confident. I assured her, this week sit next to where I stand and I'll help you as much as I can.

At the class yesterday I hardly needed to help. A short while into the class She Got IT. It clicked. And away she zoomed. It was amazing. Just watching her growth and instant change was beautiful. She also came to my workshop last night. It was head down and pages done. They're not over the top, highly stylish or glamourous, but she is using the tools, getting everything stuck in and completing her pages.

I'm thinking while I still need the money, this is a nice bit of WHY to have as well.

A positive Saturday

This is off the cmc network, but I've posted it here because we all need some positive vibes now and then.

A thought from 'Barb and the FDMs'...

Think positive thoughts, they become your words.
Speak positive words, they become your actions.
Do positive actions, they become your habit.
Practise positive habits, they become your character.
Have a positive character, it becomes your destiny!

Have a positive Saturday
Cheers
Wendy

The highs the lows

This week has been one of highs and lows. From the low of trying to get to Showcase, to the high of the band at the gala dinner, the coming down when trying to get home, and lower once at home. To finally getting some energy back about Wednesday, to doing too much work yesterday, not sleeping last night because so many ideas were swimming around my head, and then BMW painting on the walls this afternoon - and no this was not a planned thing, and I was not impressed. Amazingly I managed to get it off the walls, tiles, benchtop, and the inside of the lenses of my goggle. Why you would paint in there I have no idea. A great achievement was that I actually got him to admit to doing it after everyone claimed it wasn't them. So since I'm about to scoot off to ballet (with the boys - yuk) and then we have swim club tonight. I am going to leave you with my story of how I got to showcase. I wrote this when I finally got on the train to get to Sydney. Its full of emotion, but its my story and this is my blog.

Cheers

Off to Showcase

Its been a giant rush this morning. I got my bag packed. I got TJ’s dancing clothes ready. 3 sets for the next 3 days. I got Nathan to preschool. And then all hell broke loose.

I got the kids to check on my laptop what time the train was going while I collected my last couple of things. Like money. The small stuff I keep for change for when someone pops in to buy something. I figured there’d be at least $20 worth of coins, and $40 in notes. Enough to catch the country train to Sydney.

So while in the midst of getting the money out the phone rang. It ended up being my UL to see how I was going. In a hurry I said. A quick look at the train timetable confirmed if I got the kids school bus, I would make the 9:25am train to Sydney. It would get me there at 11am. Plenty of time to walk to Museum and then make it to Darling Harbour for lunch.

So I hang up the phone. Write a lunch order for the kids, get their morning tea. Stuff the last couple of things in my bags. Go to go out the door and go... Oh no where is my handbag?

I do the mad search. Look all the regular places. Where could I have put it when I came in from dropping Nath at preschool? I go look in the car. Its not there. The bus is due. I send the kids to the corner so they don’t miss the bus. Like good children they wait at the corner and don’t cross the road.

I’m still searching like mad. All the same places all over again. I was getting in a mad flurry and all worked up. I check the kids. They are still waiting at the corner. TJ was saying come on Mum, you’re going to miss the bus whats wrong? Then the bus comes. I run to the corner, hold their hands and cross the street with them. I tell them I’ll see them on Sunday. No big goodbyes. They’re on the bus and gone. My neighbour who was waiting at the bus stop said, oh I wasn’t sure if I should take them across the road or not. Yeah thanks.

So I go back to searching. Try to clear the mind a little. I paid preschool fees at the counter when I dropped of Nath. I must’ve brought it home with me. I’ll have to ring UL and tell her I’m going to be late. Can’t the phones in my handbag and that’s where her number is. Oh IDEA! Ring my mobile. If its here the bag will ring and then I can find it.

Well why did I not think of that sooner???? My handbag was sitting on the ironing board where I had put it when I went to get my money out. Because the phone had rung I got distracted. And walked away from it. And then in my mad flurry of checking all the usual places I didn’t go that far into the loungeroom.

OK so now I had everything. Out the front door. Lock the door and off to the bus stop. Check that the car is locked as I’m walking out the driveway. Not its not. Since I’d been in and out so many times looking for my handbag I’d forgotten to lock it. Quickly back inside, grab the car keys. Lock the car. Relock house. Walk quickly down to the main road and the bus stop which will take me to the station.

You know how you get that feeling that the bus is just around the corner and you are about to miss it? I ran. Towing suitcase, loaded with CM album bag on top, backpack on my back and handbag looped over arms.

I missed the bus by 20 feet. I was running and waving my arms. The people on the bus were looking at me. Not one of them told the driver. He did not stop. The tears start.

There’s a taxi. It goes the other way. I live in the country. A taxi is a rare thing. And it goes the other way. More tears.

So I start to walk. I figure my only chance is getting to the highway and getting a bus from there to the station. It would be an hour before another bus came through where I was.

So I’m walking, dragging my bags. Backpack on back. At first there’s a footpath. Then theres no footpath but smooth road where they are building the rest of the estate. Then theres the old potholed country road. Uneven and gravelly. Its 3km to the bus stop. Its 31 degrees celcius and very muggy. I am sweating so much its not funny. I’m trying really hard not to be upset.

I finally make it the highway. I cross it and walk half looking backwards to the bus stop. You know how you do that walk. Walking forwards and constantly checking over your shoulder in case that bus comes and you miss it again because you are not at the stop?

I make it to the bus stop and my mobile goes. It my UL again. Checking if I’m ok. No not really. Here comes the bus I gotta go. This is the point where gravity decides to take over and my bags hit the dirt. Not happy. My laptop is in there. I quickly grab them up and wave madly at the bus. The blinker is not going on. I wave even more and the hands were moving into that praying position PLEASE!

So the bus stops. It’s a red bus. Its going to The Entrance. It has to go thru Wyong where the train is. The bus driver says I’m sorry I’m not allowed to pick you up. Major tears on my behalf. I am red in the face, covered in sweat. I finally make it to a bus stop with a bus and you’re not going to take me???

I blabble out that I’ve already missed two buses. The tears are streaming down my face. OK OK he says, gets out of his seat and takes my bags on board. He explains that it’s a Busways bus stop (another company) and that he’s not allowed to pick up anyone from it. So I tell him that busways has already not picked me up because I missed the stop from 20m. He tries to tell me that buses have timetables and if I was late it was my own fault. So I tell him I’ve just walked 3km to get to this bus stop dragging all my stuff. That shuts him up. Plus the tears are still coming down my face.

So he takes me to the station. There was an elderly lady on the bus. She’s really nice and says its ok dear. We tend to get very worked up when we’re hurrying. She waits for me to buy a ticket and we take the elevator together up to the overpass so we can get on the right platform. It turns out that she didn’t know how to work an elevator. Didn’t know what buttons to press. So I explained it to her. Also turns out that she can’t see very well and couldn’t tell what the buttons said.

So finally I’m on the train. I will be arriving 40 minutes later than intended. Not too bad I guess given the circumstances. My UL is going to meet me at the train station. Thank heavens for that because I left the address at home of where I’m now staying at. I was really worried they were going to go off to meet everyone else without me and I would be big time stuck, dragging my bags all around the city. We’re having lunch with all these other consultants I don’t know. I’ll have to eat light, unless I can find a bank and get some money out. So typical that I’m going somewhere and have no money. Well only a little.

I’m going to be real hungry by then. I haven’t had any breakfast yet. Although I’m thinking that the nuts and sultanas that spilt in my album bag when I was searching for my handbag. If I was to get them out now I could eat the spilt ones for morning tea.

Good idea 99. I’m off to eat spilt food. Yah. I’ve got plenty of time since this is an all stops train.

I keep thinking to myself. Not all bad. Still alive. Should’ve stayed with my family and looked after them. It will be ok. I will have a good time. It will be worth it Still alive. All will be ok. And then a man on the train when he heard my story said yes, its ok to be still alive, but we need quality of life too.

A romance???

My little Nath was worried last week that he didn't know who he was going to marry. Today he came home from Preschool happy and announced he was going to marry Jessica. He said he had even already kissed her AND she kissed him back. Oh so cute!

So I blogged yesterday before DH took BMW to tennis (remember Nell, thats Darling Husband, not the other DH lol!). So anyway when he came home he brought me flowers and 2 boxes of chocies. We even had a lovely bath together after dinner with a glass of wine. So its either that ad we saw that made him guilty or me getting cross with him, unless he had it planned all along, doubtful but you can never tell. It all ended up good in the end.

Another thing I'm hoping will end up good is Showcase. Tomorrow I leave for Showcase. Today I got a phone call from one of the people sharing our room to say that her parents own an apartment at Museum and we could have it for free. So while this seems like a very generous offer there's a couple of 'flaws' shall we say.

1. you need to give 48 hours notice on the accomodation booking we already have, which is linked to my credit card and this is 24 hours notice.
2. Museum is a fair walk to darling harbour, maybe 20 minutes? Not something to be done in high heels, and definately not something to be done with a sore foot like mine, and all up hill on the way home
3. I was really looking forward to staying at Darling Harbour and meeting some of the other consultants and being able to eat out. Last year we stayed at World Tower which was a 10 minute or so walk back into the city (of Sydney) and we didn't get to eat out once, or meet anyone, it was all rush rush rush.

So I rang the accomodation people. They will charge me a one night cancellation fee, thats $409, so I said well if you are going to charge me for a night I will stay for a night. So I changed the booking to Saturday night which they agreed to.

I'm now wondering since thats more than 48 hours away, technically could I cancel the booking and not have to pay anything?

It is a shame because I was really looking forward to a little bit of luxury, enjoyment, and being in the midst of everything. Now I'll have to sleep on the floor on some old mattress to which I have to supply my own sheets and clean the bathroom and vacuum the floor before I leave. Oh joy, just what I wanted to do - NOT! Particularly since I don't even do that here. DH does most of it.

Here's hoping I have a good time.

Valentines Day

Today is Valentines Day. Nothing happening here. We went and did the food shopping together. Oh so exciting. Well a little exciting because there was a fight between some people in Coles (the food supermarket). I learnt some new words and expressions. Security had to be called to remove them.

At home while we were watching a bit of tv there was an ad going hey its valentines day have you forgotten something? Oh yeah, heh babe happy valentines day.

There's two more sleeps 'til showcase, thats getting exciting. I've already got the champagne chilled in the refrigerator. I won't forget to take it this year!

Otherwise all quiet on the home front. Chow for now.

I wanna do it all update

I worked last night on my Wanna Do it All list. So whle there is a ton of stuff I would like to do before I do, like ringing giant church bells, visit a stack of countries, live a season in the snow, learning to surf, properly. At the time and place I am now, and being far more realistic of having goals I can look toward and achieve...so some are distant goals and some are closer goals...I'm looking more at what would make it on my dream board. So out of that list of 101 things I've got it down to 33. I should make it 34 and put climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge on there. I'll think about it.

So here's my list so far...

I Wanna Do It All

1 Get a Professional massage and/or full spa day

2 Go wine tasting at Hunter Valley Vineyards

3 Go to a day on the green

4 See a Drive in movie with my husband

5 Eat a wonderful meal out

6 See a musical

7 Go away for my birthday

8 Send birthday cards to all siblings, their spouses/children and friends (ie anyone on Christmas card list)
9 Create my family tree

10 Draft a will
11 Spend one weekend totally unplugged. No TV, No Computer

12 Take a cooking class

13 Do some crossword puzzles

14 Try pilates or yoga

15 Take a cake decorating class

16 Go snow skiing

17 Play a round of Golf
18 Buy myself flowers
19 Stay at a bed and breakfast
20 Cruise the Murray River on a house boat
21 Go up Centrepoint Tower

22 start on my list of places to see in Australia.

23 Go to New York

24 Go to Canada

25 Visit the San Diego Zoo
26 See a live horse race, preferrably the Melbourne Cup, but could start locally

27 Watch a sunrise from the light house at Byron Bay, most eastern point of Australia

28 Watch a Sunset over Western Australia
29 Go to Midnight Mass at Christmas
30 Really try to loose weight/get in better shape

31 Visit Norfold Island

32 Tour New Zealand

33 Take my children to Disneyland/world

34 BridgeClimb

When I get my dream board put together, I will upload a pic of it for you.
Cheers

Dream board/101 things to do

So I was reading Agent's blog, and she had a list of things to do before I die. I haven't thought about this in ages, since I'm kept so busy running around after everyone, but I do want to make a dream board, so I thought this might be a good place to start and to come up with some things that mean the most to me.

This is the original list 101 things to do in the next 1001 days written by another blogger

So like Agent...here are my comments:
1. Go to bar, hang out, drink alcohol by myself and enjoy it – It’s the enjoying bit I have trouble with. I don’t enjoy having to do this by myself, I always feel like a reject.

2. Play laser tag – we have paint ball out in the country, but I can’t ever see myself getting there
3. Get a Professional massage and/or full spa day – done the massage. Would love the day spa

4. Jump on a trampoline – have one in the backyard. It really doesn’t feel the same once you grown up. All your muscles go ‘what the…?’
5. Host dinner party for at least 8 –Does Christmas lunch count? If so done this one
6. Visit a museum and/or art gallery – my Dad used to work at the art gallery of nsw, so I’ve done this, and been to the maritime museum and other museums in Sydney
7. Go to Rein Faire in Full Costume – have no idea what this may be

8. Sleep in a water bed – slept in one for many many years. Finally ditched it because its so hard to breastfeed in one
9. Make note of where I am when my car turns 100,000 miles well 100,000kilometres. I think I was driving to work. Theres now 250,000km on my little car.

10. Visit a planetarium don’t have them here

11. Participate in a wine tasting and/or winery tour done them both at Hunter Valley Vineyards

12. Do a High Tea somewhere – as in scones and jam and tea? Done it but with orange juice as I’m not a tree drinker
13. Play chess – yes but not very good at winning
14. See a Drive in movie – The first movie I ever saw was with Kermit the Frog at the drive in at Caringbah. I think I might’ve seen grease there too. We saw lots of movies at the drive in. Now there’s a supa centre and hardware store there.

15.

16. Play blackjack at a casino I have no idea how to play blackjack. I am not a betting person. I prefer my money in my pocket

17. Make homemade ice cream done this one lots of times. We used to have a home ice cream machine

18. Try 10 new food (like seafood/etc) – I’ve tried lots of stuff, and love a lot of it. I think I would really need to travel to accomplish this one

19. See a musical – I love seeing musicals, I’ve seen quite a few prior to children and cash flow restrictions.
20. Ride in a taxi – done this one lots of times

21. Have my fortune read – won’t ever be doing this one
22. Go away for my birthday –While I was away for some of my birthday last year, it would be nice to be away on holiday, not at a conference

23. Throw my sister a 40th birthday party – Well I don’t have a sister, but my DH just turned 40 this week and I threw him a surprise party last weekend

24. Vist my fathers grave site –My dad is still live and kicking. I do need to change it to read, visit father. But that also includes an interstate holiday and themeparks
25. Send birthday cards to all siblings, their spouses/children and friends (ie
anyone on Christmas card list) – this is my dream. DH’s Aunt who died last year always did this. I wish I was that organized.

26. Attend my 20 high school reunion (Am I showing my age?) – so that’s in a few years. We haven’t had any reunions yet.

27. Go Christmas caroling – we go to Carol by Candelight. No one roams the streets singing here
28. Get wisdom teeth pulled – done.
29. Get AIDS test –done
30. Ask for a raise – did this, didn’t work!

31. Work on an election campaign – no politics for me thanks
32. Watch or rewatch all moves on AFI top 100 list – err no thanks
33. Create my family tree – working on this one. Much easier said than done
34. Draft a will really need to do this since I have children and all. I have tried. Its really hard to do

35. Collect all 50 US State Quarters (last one might be hard to get in Sept 2008) – Have 26/50…will have to rework this one. I do have some aussie coins.

36
37. Go a week without watching television – done, need to do it more often :P
38. Spend one weekend totally unplugged. No TV, No Computer, No Phone – no phone…that’s hard, I’ve done the other two…wait, just a weekend? Oh yeah, been there done that.
39. Fast for 24 hours – only when I’ve been sick

40. Be in audience of a game show or talk show and/or try out for a game show or reality show been in the audience of Autralias Funniest Home Video’s with Graham Kenedy. Also tried out for a game show late last year. I didn’t get on, wasn’t knowledgable enough!

41. Get ear training lessons to be able to hear pitch – no thanks

42. Learn to cook 10 new dishes- I’ve done this how many times?
43. Play with a handbell choir – a what?
44. Do 25 different crossword puzzles can we start? I can’t ever finish them. See above about not being knowledgable enough…
45. Take a Self Defense Class – did that in high school

46. Fire a gun – no thanks
47. Take Ballroom Dancing Lessons – did this in high school too

48. Take real swimming lessons (learn proper backstoke, kick turn) – used to do squad at 5am prior to children

49. Leave to drive a stick shift I can do this. I can also drive a column shift which was my friends parents car when we were 17. They couldn’t drive it or hill start it so I used to drive when we went out

50. Try yoga – done this when pregnant and after baby. Not a good thing when your bits have been stretched everywhere.

51. Take a cake decorating class – I would love to learn how to make those little roses
52. Learn to use chopsticks – Actually I’m pretty darn good with them already
53. Learn to shuffle – I played shuffleboard on a cruise liner when I was young
54. Take a refresher First Aid course – done this one many times
55. Learn how to play pinochle – huh?

56. Try to Ski – water ski and snow ski accomplished
57. Take a spinning class – as in with a spinning wheel? My grandmother used to spin and showed me how when I was little
58. Try Golf – have my own golf clubs, just need the time to use them
59. Buy a new car – 3times already

60. Get hair colored professionally (or highlighted or perm) done
61. Bikini wax – err no thanks
62. Buy a new condo (or house) – done

63. Have Professional Shopper help me pick clothes (maybe 5 outfits?) I would have to go stateside for this to happen, lol

64. Get 5 outfits custom tailored but they can’t ever make them longer can they?
65. Use Peapod for grocery delivery (Once as a treat) err had Woolies shop at home, does that count?
66. Buy myself flowers - done
67. Stay at a bed and breakfast – this would be great!
68. Go to Las Vegas – It’s on the list
69. Go to Austin Texas in the Spring - well I would like to go to Texas, is that the same thing?
70. {Need To Come Up With Something - What was originally here was a duplicate with 82}

71. Shop at the Mall of America – well I would need to find out where this is…
72. Make list of 25 places must visit in CT and do them all – change to 25 places in Australia. Though could probably make it 50 places there’s so much I want to see

73. Stay overnight in NYC – just one night? Not nearly enough
74. Go to Boston – oh yeah!

75. Stay overnight at the Casino – if it was Vegas where else would u stay?

76. Visit the San Diego Zoo missed doing this last time
77. See a live horse race – yes might work on this one this year, even if its local
78. Perform in dance recital or contest – done
79. Watch a sunrise – done, but I need to do it again
80. Watch a Sunset – all the time. Love sunsets

81. Attend a Bonfire – done
82. Take a trip by train done
83. Take a trip by bus – Done
84. Go to Midnight Mass – that would be cool, Christmas Eve might be a fun time
85. Attend Sunrise Easter Service – Sure, why not

86. Give Blood – must do this
87. Volunteer XX hours or events done lots of this

88. Tithe to charities of my choice for a year tithe?
89. Collect and then bring to bank’s free Coinstar machine $1000 in change err need to change this one

90. Participate (not as a volunteer) in a 5K – is this a run? Me thinks not!

91. Go a week without using a computer – I’ve done it. Gone without SS that long too!
92. Get Married – done
93. Participate in a team sport for a season –done
94. Send myself a postcard home whenever I leave town. Make them into a nice scrapbook at the end of this – would need to leave town to do this one

95. Really try to loose weight/get in better shape –e rrr yeah…

96. Tell a boy I love him done!
97. Walk through a corm maize would have to find where they grow corn!
98. Buy GPS system for car. If portable, use to go geocaching – no that’s ok

99. Visit Grand Canyon – wouldn’t that be nice
100. Visit Niagara Falls – again would be nice
101. Attend Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – would need to find where this is

So I'm going to review my list. Get some ideas for my dream board and go from there. I'll get back to you as I progress.

UFO update

11 pages done, 18 to go. I have to stop as my eyes and back are hurting and the kids are about to come home from school. I have to do the dishes, afternoon and get ready for dancing and swimming tonight. Not a bad effort for today.

UFO's

After V mentioned about her UFO's (unfinished objects) its prompted me to work some more on my album. My current project is the 2005 album, july-december. I had this morning 29 pages to do titles for and journal on. All the pictures are stuck in.

I have just completed 6 pages! This is a good feeling, if not a little slow because I've been helping Nath blow up balloons - they're great to watch fly around the room when you let them go, and helping him get started on some educational computer games, sadly on my laptop, but what can a mum do? He's sitting next to me, learning and I'm scrapping.

I will update later.

The haircut

OK, I'm caving, as much as I hate looking at my own photo, I am showing you the results of the haircut. Plus I actually 'did' my hair this morning. I should've done the whole makeup thing, but you will get the idea.
















I have been busy scrapping, I've got about 20 pages to title and journal, so when I've done a few I will share some of them too.
Lata!

A sad night

Watched the 6th Sense tonight on tv. It made me so sad. I was already pretty sad because I yelled at my children lots tonight. Well the elder two anyway. TJ was in tears. Nath exited to bed. And BMW just stood and took it. And I was right in his face. They can just make me so mad. Which makes me so sad that I get so mad. I definately am not having good coping skills today.

The boys haven't stopped fighting. I know restling is a boy thing to do, but they just won't stop. Not even in public. BMW keeps lying to me. They keep watching these rubbish cartoons in the morning and then I have to rush rush rush to try and get them to the bus on time. And then they are forgetting stuff that they could have easily packed during the hour or two that they were watching tv. Sigh.

In the few days they've been back to school their bedrooms have slipped back to messy. I had to get up in the middle of the night last night when the southerly wind came up. It was howling so I had to shut the windows. I was tripping over stuff and treading on things. Things that I keep asking to have put away. TJ has had 6 weeks to clean her desk, and now with getting homework there's no where to do it because there's too much stuff on her desk.

So anyway, rooms are mostly tidy. Nath went to sleep in the midst of me yelling. The tv will not be on in the mornings before school. There will no watching of the Simpsons. Chores will be divided up tomorrow when DH is home for support. I laid it all out for him on the phone tonight when he was at work.

And as I said to TJ. Lets make tomorrow a better day.

New swim coach

TJ and BMW have a new swim coach. This is him. His name is Zane King. This photo is from the Australian Swimming site swimmer profile.

TJ's coach didn't turn up this morning. Rather annoying since I got up a 6am and we left at 6:15am for 6:30 training. And today is DH's birthday. And then some fat old woman decided to abuse me because TJ got in HER lane to swim. Um, honey, public pool. We'll swim where ever we please. Oh no, she thinks it belongs to her.

The young girl on the desk wasn't even interested. TJ was like, Mum whats going on. I was so pissed its not funny, especially since the coach didn't arrive and then this. And being exhausted from the weekend didn't help.

When the pool manager arrived I told her and she said the lady was wrong to have a go at me. She really was a cow (the fat old lady that is). And TJ could swim faster than her. I'm still cranky with it. Pool ettiquete is to swim up the left side and then back also on the left side. You can fit a fair amount of swimmers in a lane doing this.

Oh no, the fat cow and bob swim together. One up and down each side. They weren't budging for anyone. And this was before she had a go at me. Man some people are rude. OK vent over. Still cranky though. Tomorrow I will go back and get my money back for TJ's lessons since there's no point paying for something when the coach doesn't even bother to turn up.

BMW's lesson was so so. His teacher isn't really that interested. So changing locations will be no big deal for him. Now we won't have to get up at 6am on a Monday morning and then rush back at 8:30am for school. That has to be a good thing for everyone!

word pic

V had this on her blog, I thought it was cool. You go to snapshirts enter your blog address, and it makes a pic from all the words in your blog. I played with it a bit, and like it!

Ford

I took my car in to be fixed for the second time this week. Its still not all done. I am so not happy about it. It wastes so much of my time, limits what you can do without the car, and to have to go back again, grr!

When I finally got to collect it this afternoon, they questioned whether the bit they were meant to be fixing was actually put on by Ford, and if it was, did they use a genuine part because they weren't prepared to fix/replace it under warranty. Its my rear parking sensor btw.

It came brand new with the car, which was brand new. Fitted prior to sale.

Then he questioned whether we had informed them that we would be using the car to tow with. Like this matters. Um dude, we got a towbar fitted at the same time, do you not think we would be towing with it? And does this mean Ford doesn't bother to install something properly if you don't say up front that you may be towing with it? Silly me thought with a towbar installed too that that would be pretty obvious.

The problem to be fixed: when reversing whilst towing the rear parking sensor doesn't switch off like its supposed to. So you have this constant bip beep thing happening when your trying to concentrate and reverse. Most annoying.

So tomorrow I have to chase up from the place of purchase who installed it, with what, what model, and whether they had cornflakes for breakfast. If you kwim! Like I have nothing else better to do with my day. Only running around like a maniac trying to prepare for DH surprise party. Only cleaning my house to prepare for guests, including the bathrooms because people are sleeping over. Getting the kids rooms clean. Getting the washing done. Picking up the beer and wine (most important) and hiding it while DH is at golf ( extra important).

Sigh. So much to do. I'd better hop to it. Oh and I have to go and food shop because we have no fresh fruit or veg, no milk, no bread. Its about 37 deg celcius, 97 % humidity. yuk yuk yuk.

On a good note I got my hair cut today. Looks nice too with more foils.

Lata!

Memories from the past

Today I had to run around and organise things and get the dog clipped. I was just a block from the LSS (the new one) and I decided to stop in just incase there was something that grabbed my interest.

I had about 2 hours to fill in while the dog was getting done so I decided to stay and create a clipboard for DH's birthday party on the weekend. MIL had given me a few photos and told me to make him an album, but really there isn't enough photos, I don't know where they are taken and I don't have enough time to do a proper job.

So this is what I made.... I used SEI rubons. What a bastard they were! They did not want to come off at all. It is a hot day, but they were just nasty to use. The store didn't even end up charging me them and they are going to send them back to the supplier they were that bad.


I also used the foam stamps again. I bought some for home. The stars are making memories.

I hope he likes it.

Aussie Lingo

Well this one is for Mel (Empress4). I have no idea which Aussie Lingo is confusing, but maybe this will help :D

bbq - barbeque
dh - darling husband
TJ - my daughter
BMW - my son and child no 2
Nath - junior son and child no 3
PB - personal best
snags - sausages, great Aussie food generally cooked on a bbq! Perfect eaten with tomato sauce (known as ketchup for you guys) and a wrapped in a slice of bread (white stuff, not that yucky sourdough)

Have I helped? Made you smile? Good mission accomplished.

Later!

Back to school

It was back to school yesterday. The kids caught the bus from the new bus stop. 3 houses from home. It was SO good!

BMW has gone into year 1, and got TJ's teacher from last year, Mrs Peacock, which I think is a great thing. She really helps to boost a childs self confidence which he needs with his school work.

TJ got Mrs Gordon. Its a 3/4 class, she's in Year 3. I think it will be a good thing.

Most importantly they both came home happy from their first day. So now its back into routine.

Oh and me? I got heaps done and my scrapping space is looking heaps better!