Years ago I bought a recumbent exercise bike for $80. My goal was to lose weight, as usual (lol), and to make it interesting I planned a virtual trip around Australia on it. I downloaded a stack of maps and directions from a travel site, pasted them into a book, and kept a record of all the kilometers I rode on it.
Of course, I didn't lose much weight, so my motivation kind of stalled. I got half way to Perth (a little over 1700 km), and then the bike just sat there, gathering dust.
Nathan bumped the little computerized bit a while back, and broke it off, and yesterday he designed and built a little metal bracket in his shed and fixed it, better than new. Inspired, I cleaned off all the dust and old tape (which used to hold the computer bit on) and got out my old "The Big Trip" exercise book. I did 5k last night and 5k this morning, and I'll update you all on here when I pass a major milestone. The WA border is next, I think, in about 150k. There aren't many towns about!!
In other virtual news, I managed to screw up my Sims game, and after deleting and installing 3 times, I was so pleased to get it working, I decided not to try and reintroduce the old saved games. They're still there, but I'm not going to try and put them back again... So I've started an all new neighborhood! I'm going to have my original kids, but they won't have all their previous skills and stuff. Oh well...
Monday, August 28, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Back at work
Well, I was going to start work on August 14, but I ended up caving in to the guilt and working on Sunday night (after being rung 4 times in the previous week to "please work, even though you're not supposed to be on, because we're desperate") Louise also rang to give me some work for the week on my old ward, so I've worked Sunday (13th) night, Tuesday morning, Thursday night, Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon and this morning. All on my old oncology ward!
In fact, I could probably have the rest of this week off!
I was a bit nervous that I would have forgotten everything, until someone asked a question in the first handover, and the answer popped straight into my head from nowhere! Now I almost feel as though I never left, except that I now remember why I love nursing so much. From now on I hope to do at least a few days a week, even when (if) I have kids. It's a very satisfying job!
Now I'm off to party with my little nephew Ezra, who turns one today!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EZZIE!
Speaking of nephew's, my SIL Seona sent me a picture of Timothy wearing the little aran jumper I spent countless hours knitting! Cute, eh?
In fact, I could probably have the rest of this week off!
I was a bit nervous that I would have forgotten everything, until someone asked a question in the first handover, and the answer popped straight into my head from nowhere! Now I almost feel as though I never left, except that I now remember why I love nursing so much. From now on I hope to do at least a few days a week, even when (if) I have kids. It's a very satisfying job!
Now I'm off to party with my little nephew Ezra, who turns one today!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EZZIE!
Speaking of nephew's, my SIL Seona sent me a picture of Timothy wearing the little aran jumper I spent countless hours knitting! Cute, eh?
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Rubies and Pearls
It's a funny coincidence. Yesterday I was talking to Kelly on the phone, and we got talking about the Sims 2, which we've both started playing recently on our computers. We found out that:
Kelly's sim has a daughter called Pearl and she was considering calling her next daughter Ruby.
My sim has a daughter called Ruby, and I was considering calling my next daughter Pearl!
Bizarre!
The good news of yesterday is that I got the job I applied for! First someone from the nurse bank called to give me an interview (as long as you're qualified, you're bound to get in to the nurse bank, as they're often desperate). Then Louise rang. She asked when I could come in for an interview, and then she said, "Well, not really an interview, more of a talk about details." Then she asked me how many days a week I'd like to work, as she's trying to do the roster. ;-)
This job is an 8 week job, and I said I'd work full-time if it suited her, but she said 0.84EFT would suit her better (which is 4 days a week). That actually suits me better, too; I just needed an excuse to not work full-time! She also said she was very glad I had applied, which is nice! Probably just means noone else did... lol! She said Jacqui was in the background, nodding, because she likes working with me (and vice versa). I'm going to be replacing Jac, while she does Louise's job, because Louise is going on LSL. Jac's a great boss.
Also did my tax return (and Nathan's) on the internet yesterday, which turned out to be pretty easy. Can't believe we've paid an accountant for the last 6 years. Between us, we had 2 group certificates and 4 deductions. Simple!
Well, I'm off to play the Sims 2 again. See if I have a Pearl...
Kelly's sim has a daughter called Pearl and she was considering calling her next daughter Ruby.
My sim has a daughter called Ruby, and I was considering calling my next daughter Pearl!
Bizarre!
The good news of yesterday is that I got the job I applied for! First someone from the nurse bank called to give me an interview (as long as you're qualified, you're bound to get in to the nurse bank, as they're often desperate). Then Louise rang. She asked when I could come in for an interview, and then she said, "Well, not really an interview, more of a talk about details." Then she asked me how many days a week I'd like to work, as she's trying to do the roster. ;-)
This job is an 8 week job, and I said I'd work full-time if it suited her, but she said 0.84EFT would suit her better (which is 4 days a week). That actually suits me better, too; I just needed an excuse to not work full-time! She also said she was very glad I had applied, which is nice! Probably just means noone else did... lol! She said Jacqui was in the background, nodding, because she likes working with me (and vice versa). I'm going to be replacing Jac, while she does Louise's job, because Louise is going on LSL. Jac's a great boss.
Also did my tax return (and Nathan's) on the internet yesterday, which turned out to be pretty easy. Can't believe we've paid an accountant for the last 6 years. Between us, we had 2 group certificates and 4 deductions. Simple!
Well, I'm off to play the Sims 2 again. See if I have a Pearl...
Saturday, July 15, 2006
The end is near
The end of my holidays, that is. I'm starting work again in about 4 weeks, providing I'm needed, of course. I applied for the nurse bank, which should be easy enough to get onto, but I'm not looking forward to that. Not only do they tend to ring you at 6am to see if you can work at 7am, but they could send me anywhere in the hospital. I'm in an oncology rut! I've worked in medical/oncology so long I feel like I've forgotten everything else. Access a port for a three-year old in emergency? No worries. Take blood out of someone's foot. Not a problem. Explain tumor lysis syndrome to a 25 year old with Hodgkins? Piece of cake. Reason with a psycho morphine addict? Sounds like fun. But I wouldn't know what to do with a post-splenectomy or a kid with a fever or someone in traction. I hate going to a different ward and feeling like a student again!
I also applied for an 8 week full-time job, which is on my ward. The boss is going away for 8 weeks, so there's a temporary gap. I didn't want to work full-time, but it's not really fair for me to refuse if Nathan has to. But I think I can handle full-time for 8 weeks. Of course, I might not get the job, in which case it's just what God wants, anyway; I'll leave the details up to him.
Simon and Matthew are off at Kapooka, enjoying the fresh air, exercise and new experiences of Army Reserve boot camp for a month. Simon's spending his birthday there, today, but I don't have his address, so I couldn't even send a card.
Happy birthday, little bro!
I hope they're having fun!
Meanwhile, I've been doing the usual. I spend half the day reading, do some cleaning, move the guinea-pigs, go for a walk, and then do some knitting. I am knitting myself a jumper, which I started last year some time, and I'm on the last sleeve. I'm aiming to get it finished before I go back to work, although it might not fit me. I weighed myself the other day, for the first time in months, and I've gained a few kilos! Well, I suppose that's what happens when you read all day, and I'm up to my 36th book for the year. I have resolved to get myself a decent treadmill, if Nathan will allow me the space, and I can save the money. I can walk and read, without going outside and getting cold, wet, hot, sunburned or abducted, any time of the day or night. And if I can put it in the lounge somewhere, I'll be able to walk and watch TV. Maybe jog in the adds.
"Villette" was my 36th book, but I had to stop half way through, because of a printing error. Pages 63-96 were there... twice. Pages 97-129 were missing altogether. Neither does the library have another copy present, so I decided to read "The Three Musketeers" instead. It's quite funny, though their moral stance on marriage was a bit poor in general. Then I'm going to read "Cyrano de Bergerac", which is written like a play, but looks funny. I flicked through it briefly, and found this bit, where a bunch of poets become inspired by the cake they're eating. One bursts into recipe-rhyme:
Beat, until it mercy begs,
Two dozen eggs,
When the consistency's like silk,
Add a cup of lemon juice,
Then introduce
Two tablespoons of almond milk
And so it goes on for two more verses, all rhyming, which is not bad work, as it was originally a french rhyme. I just laughed.
Nathan is currently on holidays. He spent all the first week in his shed, making something for the front of his buggy. He's also planted about 100 of his seedlings along the fence. What a hard-worker! Of course, his idea of fun is freezing in the shed, or going through Halo 2 on legendary again (which he's also done). At least he sleeps in sometimes!
I didn't watch any more of the FIFA world cup. I stayed up late to watch each match the Aussies were in, but when we lost to Italy I was a bit disgusted (I thought the refereeing bad and the timing of the winning penalty terrible). But I was glad that Italy won the World Cup, because all of us Aussies know that we should have beaten them! He he.
Well, I must go see what happens to Lady de Winter! The duke's just been killed by poor Felton, and now the 4 musketeers are trying to save the young Madame Bonacieux...
I also applied for an 8 week full-time job, which is on my ward. The boss is going away for 8 weeks, so there's a temporary gap. I didn't want to work full-time, but it's not really fair for me to refuse if Nathan has to. But I think I can handle full-time for 8 weeks. Of course, I might not get the job, in which case it's just what God wants, anyway; I'll leave the details up to him.
Simon and Matthew are off at Kapooka, enjoying the fresh air, exercise and new experiences of Army Reserve boot camp for a month. Simon's spending his birthday there, today, but I don't have his address, so I couldn't even send a card.
Happy birthday, little bro!
I hope they're having fun!
Meanwhile, I've been doing the usual. I spend half the day reading, do some cleaning, move the guinea-pigs, go for a walk, and then do some knitting. I am knitting myself a jumper, which I started last year some time, and I'm on the last sleeve. I'm aiming to get it finished before I go back to work, although it might not fit me. I weighed myself the other day, for the first time in months, and I've gained a few kilos! Well, I suppose that's what happens when you read all day, and I'm up to my 36th book for the year. I have resolved to get myself a decent treadmill, if Nathan will allow me the space, and I can save the money. I can walk and read, without going outside and getting cold, wet, hot, sunburned or abducted, any time of the day or night. And if I can put it in the lounge somewhere, I'll be able to walk and watch TV. Maybe jog in the adds.
"Villette" was my 36th book, but I had to stop half way through, because of a printing error. Pages 63-96 were there... twice. Pages 97-129 were missing altogether. Neither does the library have another copy present, so I decided to read "The Three Musketeers" instead. It's quite funny, though their moral stance on marriage was a bit poor in general. Then I'm going to read "Cyrano de Bergerac", which is written like a play, but looks funny. I flicked through it briefly, and found this bit, where a bunch of poets become inspired by the cake they're eating. One bursts into recipe-rhyme:
Beat, until it mercy begs,
Two dozen eggs,
When the consistency's like silk,
Add a cup of lemon juice,
Then introduce
Two tablespoons of almond milk
And so it goes on for two more verses, all rhyming, which is not bad work, as it was originally a french rhyme. I just laughed.
Nathan is currently on holidays. He spent all the first week in his shed, making something for the front of his buggy. He's also planted about 100 of his seedlings along the fence. What a hard-worker! Of course, his idea of fun is freezing in the shed, or going through Halo 2 on legendary again (which he's also done). At least he sleeps in sometimes!
I didn't watch any more of the FIFA world cup. I stayed up late to watch each match the Aussies were in, but when we lost to Italy I was a bit disgusted (I thought the refereeing bad and the timing of the winning penalty terrible). But I was glad that Italy won the World Cup, because all of us Aussies know that we should have beaten them! He he.
Well, I must go see what happens to Lady de Winter! The duke's just been killed by poor Felton, and now the 4 musketeers are trying to save the young Madame Bonacieux...
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Snow!!
Well, okay, bubbles.
Kelly and I took Abby and Tim to Sovereign Hill yesterday, to see the School-Holiday Snow! It's created with machines perched on some rooftops which blow a whole lot of froth down from the sky; it does look quite a bit like snow, enough to thrill the kids.
We went in at openning time (10am) and started wandering around. Tim's first mission was to get to the top of the poppet head (which he stubbornly calls "the Eiffel Tower") because his mum "never lets him" (ie. she can't be bothered carrying Ezra up all the stairs). We looked through the battery, which was broken today, thus quiet, and Tim was very interested in how it all worked. We headed to the main street to see the first "snow" and buy Cheap lollies, and then down to see the "lolly making" exhibit. Then the kids went into one of the old houses, where there was a nice fire burning, to listen to some stories. At 12 we headed up to the boiler house, because Nathan was cooking us 4 pototoes for lunch. But they weren't ready, so we decided to see the Gold Pouring demonstration instead. Afterwards, we picked up our potatoes and headed for the kiosk tables. When our butter-drowned spuds were gone, we walked back up to the boiler house, where Nathan let Abby and Tim come behind the barriers and blow the 1pm whistle. They each had a go; Nathan said he'd gotten permission for a 1:01pm whistle, too! Then Abby and Tim listened (very patiently) to the Stoked Tour, which is "how steam works" for kids. It was a little over their heads, perhaps, but then again, one should never underestimate the understanding of children.
After that long talk, it was time for cakes! We found the bakery and picked out some good sugary stuff to restore our energy levels. We did some gold panning, watched a silly but funny play in the old theater and went 9-pin bowling. We visitted the school and tried to write with the old pen-and-nibs and inkpots. Tim wrote every combination of "T" and "I" and "M" you could imagine without actually writing "TIM". Abby mainly drew pictures, and was as pleased as punch when the "school-teacher" told her they were good. We also lost Tim for a bit, which was... er... not part of the plan; he was singularly unaffected (for such a normally timid kid). Someone had taken him to the office, and one of the 'soldiers' walked around with him a bit until he found us. I asked him if he'd had fun, and he said "yeah" and that he just thought he would wander off!
They were pretty tired by the end of the day, and so was I! But they were very well-behaved, and I think they had a lot of fun. As I left, Tim was trying to explain to his Grandpa the sound that the whistle made when he pulled the rope; funny!
Kelly and I took Abby and Tim to Sovereign Hill yesterday, to see the School-Holiday Snow! It's created with machines perched on some rooftops which blow a whole lot of froth down from the sky; it does look quite a bit like snow, enough to thrill the kids.
We went in at openning time (10am) and started wandering around. Tim's first mission was to get to the top of the poppet head (which he stubbornly calls "the Eiffel Tower") because his mum "never lets him" (ie. she can't be bothered carrying Ezra up all the stairs). We looked through the battery, which was broken today, thus quiet, and Tim was very interested in how it all worked. We headed to the main street to see the first "snow" and buy Cheap lollies, and then down to see the "lolly making" exhibit. Then the kids went into one of the old houses, where there was a nice fire burning, to listen to some stories. At 12 we headed up to the boiler house, because Nathan was cooking us 4 pototoes for lunch. But they weren't ready, so we decided to see the Gold Pouring demonstration instead. Afterwards, we picked up our potatoes and headed for the kiosk tables. When our butter-drowned spuds were gone, we walked back up to the boiler house, where Nathan let Abby and Tim come behind the barriers and blow the 1pm whistle. They each had a go; Nathan said he'd gotten permission for a 1:01pm whistle, too! Then Abby and Tim listened (very patiently) to the Stoked Tour, which is "how steam works" for kids. It was a little over their heads, perhaps, but then again, one should never underestimate the understanding of children.
After that long talk, it was time for cakes! We found the bakery and picked out some good sugary stuff to restore our energy levels. We did some gold panning, watched a silly but funny play in the old theater and went 9-pin bowling. We visitted the school and tried to write with the old pen-and-nibs and inkpots. Tim wrote every combination of "T" and "I" and "M" you could imagine without actually writing "TIM". Abby mainly drew pictures, and was as pleased as punch when the "school-teacher" told her they were good. We also lost Tim for a bit, which was... er... not part of the plan; he was singularly unaffected (for such a normally timid kid). Someone had taken him to the office, and one of the 'soldiers' walked around with him a bit until he found us. I asked him if he'd had fun, and he said "yeah" and that he just thought he would wander off!
They were pretty tired by the end of the day, and so was I! But they were very well-behaved, and I think they had a lot of fun. As I left, Tim was trying to explain to his Grandpa the sound that the whistle made when he pulled the rope; funny!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Timothy James
He was finally born (2 weeks overdue) on Thursday, June 15, weighing 8lb 1oz, and 50cm long. He's very cute, of course, and he was wide awake when we visitted him yesterday. I gave him the little jumper I'd been knitting the last few months, and Seona said she'll send me a photo of him in it... when he's big enough to wear it! I made it to fit a 3 month old, but he looks so tiny it's hard to imagine it ever fitting ;)
Seona and Chris said they've known it was a boy, and they had told Michael (who's 3). It was a secret, but the funny thing is, Chris said, that if anyone had asked Michael about the baby, he would have said, "It's my new brother, Timothy, in mummy's tummy!" He actually told Nathan, but Nathan didn't understand Michael's 'version' of 'Timothy' (except in hindsight), so the secret was safe! Michael is apparently struggling a little to reconcile this 'baby' with the brother he was going to play cricket with the instant he was home!!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Countdown
I've got two more months left of my holiday, and then, we decided, I'd go back to work. So I'm going to talk to the boss this week, and see if she's got any spots for me. Ideally I'd like a part time job, but working on the nurse bank will be just as good. I'm aiming to go back in mid-August. Hopefully I won't have forgotten everything!
I heard the name "spironalactone" the other day (a common drug) and I couldn't remember what on earth it did! Not until the next day, and that has me a bit worried...
Anyway, if the boss is willing to hire someone who's brain has gone soft, I'll be fine.
I heard the name "spironalactone" the other day (a common drug) and I couldn't remember what on earth it did! Not until the next day, and that has me a bit worried...
Anyway, if the boss is willing to hire someone who's brain has gone soft, I'll be fine.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
80 months
I realized that today is a funny sort of anniversary; I have been married 80 months! Woo hoo!
Not that we take much notice of anniversaries anyway, but I didn't have anything much else to write about...
It's amazing how slack you can get, after working so busily only a few months before. I remember being so busy that I didn't feel like I had the time to work and do the dishes. Now I do all my housework and spend hours every day doing what I like. I've never had a holiday like this before... it's great! I wish I could stop feeling guilty! Nathan works pretty hard, but he can't have half a year off. Well, not at the same time as me, I guess. I've been knitting a jumper: a very fiddly one. Wish I hadn't started it now; it's taken so much of my time up. Doesn't seem like a good use of so many hours. Especially when I could just buy one from a shop! Oh well. Only one sleeve to go, so I can't stop now. I've been mainly reading. Wish I'd kept track of all the books I've read this year; I can add up about 30 in my head, but I must have forgotten some. Just went to the library this morning to get half a dozen more. Should keep me entertained for a few weeks.
Had a wierd dream about work last night. I'd gotten a new job as at a restaurant (not as a waitress, though) and the guy who was my boss was also giving me chemo. I had to hook it up myself, though, and walk around the restaurant with an IV pole for 5 days each month. It was something like Herceptin, but the IV tube went down my throat. Then one of my uni teachers was there asking me questions about it, as she had a special interest [in real life Gabe had breast cancer]. Mum and Kelly had breast cancer, too, but they weren't in the dream. Couldn't get over how well I felt! lol! What a stupid dream...
Have been meeting people from work in the supermarket a bit lately, and getting emails from another nurse who's working in London now. Maybe that's why I was thinking about work... I met one nurse at Coles who very sneakily asked me if I was still going to the blood bank. It was sneaky, because I suspect it was her subtle way of asking if I was pregnant. And she is a sneaky one! Of course, she did write me an email saying she'd dreamed I was pregnant, and in my reply I was careful to avoid "confirming or denying" it. Ha ha. I wish I had have said from the beginning: "None of your business" to everyone's baby queries. Might start. It's just annoying that people ask at all. Anyway...
I'm going to the blood bank at 1:30. Donation number ninety-something. I forget.
Aaaaa... Mum just brought me in some little quiches. I put one straight in my mouth and it burned! It's Thursday again, so I'm sitting up at Mum and Dad's on the computer. Dad usually tapes "Prison Break", which is good of him. I miss it because of our Wednesday night bible study. I do all my little jobs and pick up Nathan after work. Today's jobs were buy a picture frame, swap some library books, drop a form in to the bank, go to the blood bank, get groceries, watch "PB" and buy "Cyrano..."-whatever it's called. I've decided to spend some of my spending money improving my library. Couldn't find that book, though, so I've reserved it at the library. Might go buy some other classic after the blood bank. One year I had a new year's resolution to read a classic every month. I read "The count of Monte Cristo" by Dumas, and "War and Peace" by Tolstoy. Read Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" and Tolkien's "Silmarillion". The Iliad was one of the hardest books I'd ever made myself read! I think I bought a pretty difficult translation, though. I saw one in the bookstore today that looked readable. But after that, and "War and Peace" (also a drag) I let myself read the Austin books (again!) and after that I decided that Rowling's were all "classics"! He he.
Spent some of my birthday money on a book of poetry. But I should have some more classics. When I've finished these library books, I'm thinking of reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" again. That was good.
I should buy a lotto ticket! If I won, I'd be able to stay home. I could buy a fancy treadmill, and walk and read all day. We could extend the house, and I could have a huge library! A library with a treadmill in it! And 10,000 books...
sigh
Better get off the internet and get drinking. Got to be at the blood bank soon.
Not that we take much notice of anniversaries anyway, but I didn't have anything much else to write about...
It's amazing how slack you can get, after working so busily only a few months before. I remember being so busy that I didn't feel like I had the time to work and do the dishes. Now I do all my housework and spend hours every day doing what I like. I've never had a holiday like this before... it's great! I wish I could stop feeling guilty! Nathan works pretty hard, but he can't have half a year off. Well, not at the same time as me, I guess. I've been knitting a jumper: a very fiddly one. Wish I hadn't started it now; it's taken so much of my time up. Doesn't seem like a good use of so many hours. Especially when I could just buy one from a shop! Oh well. Only one sleeve to go, so I can't stop now. I've been mainly reading. Wish I'd kept track of all the books I've read this year; I can add up about 30 in my head, but I must have forgotten some. Just went to the library this morning to get half a dozen more. Should keep me entertained for a few weeks.
Had a wierd dream about work last night. I'd gotten a new job as at a restaurant (not as a waitress, though) and the guy who was my boss was also giving me chemo. I had to hook it up myself, though, and walk around the restaurant with an IV pole for 5 days each month. It was something like Herceptin, but the IV tube went down my throat. Then one of my uni teachers was there asking me questions about it, as she had a special interest [in real life Gabe had breast cancer]. Mum and Kelly had breast cancer, too, but they weren't in the dream. Couldn't get over how well I felt! lol! What a stupid dream...
Have been meeting people from work in the supermarket a bit lately, and getting emails from another nurse who's working in London now. Maybe that's why I was thinking about work... I met one nurse at Coles who very sneakily asked me if I was still going to the blood bank. It was sneaky, because I suspect it was her subtle way of asking if I was pregnant. And she is a sneaky one! Of course, she did write me an email saying she'd dreamed I was pregnant, and in my reply I was careful to avoid "confirming or denying" it. Ha ha. I wish I had have said from the beginning: "None of your business" to everyone's baby queries. Might start. It's just annoying that people ask at all. Anyway...
I'm going to the blood bank at 1:30. Donation number ninety-something. I forget.
Aaaaa... Mum just brought me in some little quiches. I put one straight in my mouth and it burned! It's Thursday again, so I'm sitting up at Mum and Dad's on the computer. Dad usually tapes "Prison Break", which is good of him. I miss it because of our Wednesday night bible study. I do all my little jobs and pick up Nathan after work. Today's jobs were buy a picture frame, swap some library books, drop a form in to the bank, go to the blood bank, get groceries, watch "PB" and buy "Cyrano..."-whatever it's called. I've decided to spend some of my spending money improving my library. Couldn't find that book, though, so I've reserved it at the library. Might go buy some other classic after the blood bank. One year I had a new year's resolution to read a classic every month. I read "The count of Monte Cristo" by Dumas, and "War and Peace" by Tolstoy. Read Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" and Tolkien's "Silmarillion". The Iliad was one of the hardest books I'd ever made myself read! I think I bought a pretty difficult translation, though. I saw one in the bookstore today that looked readable. But after that, and "War and Peace" (also a drag) I let myself read the Austin books (again!) and after that I decided that Rowling's were all "classics"! He he.
Spent some of my birthday money on a book of poetry. But I should have some more classics. When I've finished these library books, I'm thinking of reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" again. That was good.
I should buy a lotto ticket! If I won, I'd be able to stay home. I could buy a fancy treadmill, and walk and read all day. We could extend the house, and I could have a huge library! A library with a treadmill in it! And 10,000 books...
sigh
Better get off the internet and get drinking. Got to be at the blood bank soon.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Bludge Camp
Nathan and I have been to bludge camp this week! The most work we did was setting up the tent, and for most of the remaining time at Jubilee Lake, we read books! I didn't take enough books, and when I finished HP2 I was a bit bored! Nathan is reading Lord of the Rings, so he didn't finish it in 2 days... He kindly let me read it when he got sick of me sighing with boredom... LOL!
Jubilee Lake (near Daylesford) is quite small, and I walked around it 3 times. Only takes about 20 minutes, if you walk slowly. It was in the bush, nice and quiet... well, there were lots of noisy galahs squarking in the morning, so it was just like home ;-) .
When we got back home, we grabbed some groceries, then kidnapped Abby and Tim. We took them to a few playgrounds and fed them pizza and sugar and all that... so much fun to spoil kids. Nathan decided they were tired and sent them to bed at 7:30, and we sat on the couch reading and listening to them talk in bed. They're so funny! Tim, who had seen car lights whiz by, was trying to explain the difference between a "shooting star" and a "shooting car"!
The next day we watched cartoons, went to another playground and played Spyro. The kids were both too scared of the baddies to play much. They wanted to run Spyro around, but if they saw a baddie (or "baby" as Tim kept calling them) they'd beg Uncle Nathan to help them. ("Help, Uncle Nathan, the baby's going to squash me!!") Nathan tried and tried to get them to be brave enough to fight them (you just have to push "B" and "X") but they couldn't! Finally (after about an hour) Abby was brave enough to attempt it, and she was immediately contemptuous of Tim's fear... so funny. No sympathy at all! He he.
They cooked tea, which was fun, and ate it all, and were very proud of themselves. And we took them home, because we were a bit tired. We are old fogies!
Nathan has been relaxing, playing the xbox and reading the book. He keeps commenting on the differences between the book and the movies. He has a good memory for detail. I guess that's why he never feels the need to read anything more than once. Whereas I'm reading HP for the 7th time, and I'm still finding things I hadn't noticed, or had forgotten.
Tomorrow is my birthday. Yay! Well, I'll be 30, so I don't feel like I can call myself young anymore, but I haven't felt young since before I worked on the oncology ward... I suggested the HP4 movie for my birthday present, as it just so happens to have been released 2 days ago in Australia :-) -hopefully Nathan bought it for me, but if not, I have $30 in my wallet so I'll get it anyway. May as well collect the lot...
I should go do something useful. Maybe I'll read a bit more. He he.
Jubilee Lake (near Daylesford) is quite small, and I walked around it 3 times. Only takes about 20 minutes, if you walk slowly. It was in the bush, nice and quiet... well, there were lots of noisy galahs squarking in the morning, so it was just like home ;-) .
When we got back home, we grabbed some groceries, then kidnapped Abby and Tim. We took them to a few playgrounds and fed them pizza and sugar and all that... so much fun to spoil kids. Nathan decided they were tired and sent them to bed at 7:30, and we sat on the couch reading and listening to them talk in bed. They're so funny! Tim, who had seen car lights whiz by, was trying to explain the difference between a "shooting star" and a "shooting car"!
The next day we watched cartoons, went to another playground and played Spyro. The kids were both too scared of the baddies to play much. They wanted to run Spyro around, but if they saw a baddie (or "baby" as Tim kept calling them) they'd beg Uncle Nathan to help them. ("Help, Uncle Nathan, the baby's going to squash me!!") Nathan tried and tried to get them to be brave enough to fight them (you just have to push "B" and "X") but they couldn't! Finally (after about an hour) Abby was brave enough to attempt it, and she was immediately contemptuous of Tim's fear... so funny. No sympathy at all! He he.
They cooked tea, which was fun, and ate it all, and were very proud of themselves. And we took them home, because we were a bit tired. We are old fogies!
Nathan has been relaxing, playing the xbox and reading the book. He keeps commenting on the differences between the book and the movies. He has a good memory for detail. I guess that's why he never feels the need to read anything more than once. Whereas I'm reading HP for the 7th time, and I'm still finding things I hadn't noticed, or had forgotten.
Tomorrow is my birthday. Yay! Well, I'll be 30, so I don't feel like I can call myself young anymore, but I haven't felt young since before I worked on the oncology ward... I suggested the HP4 movie for my birthday present, as it just so happens to have been released 2 days ago in Australia :-) -hopefully Nathan bought it for me, but if not, I have $30 in my wallet so I'll get it anyway. May as well collect the lot...
I should go do something useful. Maybe I'll read a bit more. He he.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Nathan's holidays
Nathan is on holidays. Woo hoo! Now I don't have to feel guilty every time he goes off to work and I'm lying in bed!! Of course, he's still working! Today he started re-staining the outside of the house. Spent all day up the ladder! Well, now he's sitting on the couch, reading "The Hobbit", so he's relaxing a little...
I have been knitting instead of reading, so I still haven't finished "Lord of the Rings". It's been sitting on top of the drawers in my room, collecting dust for about a week! I suppose I haven't read it since before Kelly came to stay. She's on holidays from her childcare course, so she stayed in our spare room for 3 nights. We spent most of the time playing "The Sims 2" on Nathan's x-box, which was a lot of fun, and very lazy!
Kelly has been crocheting a poncho-type top for herself, out of some thick, knotty wool. She started a square while she was here, and by the time she left she had enough to cover a bed (slight exaggeration). I started a new baby jumper, and got about 5 square cm of ribbing done. Sigh. Oh well, I'm trying something a bit more tricky, so I have to take my time and concentrate!
Tomorrow I'm getting up early to see a -8 iridium flare. If you don't know what that is, you should check out http://www.heavens-above.com/ It's a flash in the night sky caused by the sun reflecting off the dish of an iridium satellite. Sometimes it's almost 100 times brighter than Venus at its best, but only for a second.
We might go away camping while we're both on holidays. It depends on the weather... whether we get organized before his 2 weeks are up!
I have been knitting instead of reading, so I still haven't finished "Lord of the Rings". It's been sitting on top of the drawers in my room, collecting dust for about a week! I suppose I haven't read it since before Kelly came to stay. She's on holidays from her childcare course, so she stayed in our spare room for 3 nights. We spent most of the time playing "The Sims 2" on Nathan's x-box, which was a lot of fun, and very lazy!
Kelly has been crocheting a poncho-type top for herself, out of some thick, knotty wool. She started a square while she was here, and by the time she left she had enough to cover a bed (slight exaggeration). I started a new baby jumper, and got about 5 square cm of ribbing done. Sigh. Oh well, I'm trying something a bit more tricky, so I have to take my time and concentrate!
Tomorrow I'm getting up early to see a -8 iridium flare. If you don't know what that is, you should check out http://www.heavens-above.com/ It's a flash in the night sky caused by the sun reflecting off the dish of an iridium satellite. Sometimes it's almost 100 times brighter than Venus at its best, but only for a second.
We might go away camping while we're both on holidays. It depends on the weather... whether we get organized before his 2 weeks are up!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Sunday Roast
Hmm, maybe that title's a little bit inappropriate! But I was thinking of my guinea pigs, who almost got roasted in their little hay beds in the bushfire last night...
Yesterday (Sunday, March 12) we had a hot day, and we spent the morning at Sovereign Hill (as I mentioned in the last post). I had planned to turn off the internet and read "Lord of the Rings" (in truth, to go to bed and have a "nanna nap", as Nathan's mum calls it). But a big bushfire started in the nearby towns, Snake Valley, I think. It was about 20km across, and travelling 30-50 km/hour straight towards us! At about 2:30 some fire trucks went by, so we saw there was a fire. But a bit later Nathan pulled me outside to look; the afternoon sky was filled with smoke, and by the time it got dark there was an eerie orange glow to the south west. It was quite exciting, but a little scary!
My husband and I packed our car and left when they said on the radio "Either leave right now, or prepare to stay and defend your homes". Our place is pretty good, firewise, that is, the grass is short, there are no trees near the house, and the firetrucks can easily get in and around our land. So we left Velvet (the galah) at Nathan's mum's, slept at Mum and Dad's, and came back in the morning.
Fortunately, it started to rain at about 1am, which helped the firefighters a lot. Nathan and I drove back home at 8:30 in the morning. The fire had gotten close to us... the edge of the black grass was less than 2k away. There were 6 houses burned down, so we have been very lucky. God looks after us.
Well, today is Labor Day, and we are having our All-Day Halo 2 day. The first people came at about 10:30, and there are currently Matt, Jason, Nigel, Austy and Chris playing Halo with Nathan. Dr Matt and his 2 boys were here before, but they had to go out; Dr Matt is coming back later without the boys (much to their disgust!! Lol!) A couple more people are expected later. I'm having the occasional game, though I do get impatient with being slaughtered all the time... I've just been fiddling around doing some calligraphy.
Yesterday (Sunday, March 12) we had a hot day, and we spent the morning at Sovereign Hill (as I mentioned in the last post). I had planned to turn off the internet and read "Lord of the Rings" (in truth, to go to bed and have a "nanna nap", as Nathan's mum calls it). But a big bushfire started in the nearby towns, Snake Valley, I think. It was about 20km across, and travelling 30-50 km/hour straight towards us! At about 2:30 some fire trucks went by, so we saw there was a fire. But a bit later Nathan pulled me outside to look; the afternoon sky was filled with smoke, and by the time it got dark there was an eerie orange glow to the south west. It was quite exciting, but a little scary!
My husband and I packed our car and left when they said on the radio "Either leave right now, or prepare to stay and defend your homes". Our place is pretty good, firewise, that is, the grass is short, there are no trees near the house, and the firetrucks can easily get in and around our land. So we left Velvet (the galah) at Nathan's mum's, slept at Mum and Dad's, and came back in the morning.
Fortunately, it started to rain at about 1am, which helped the firefighters a lot. Nathan and I drove back home at 8:30 in the morning. The fire had gotten close to us... the edge of the black grass was less than 2k away. There were 6 houses burned down, so we have been very lucky. God looks after us.
Well, today is Labor Day, and we are having our All-Day Halo 2 day. The first people came at about 10:30, and there are currently Matt, Jason, Nigel, Austy and Chris playing Halo with Nathan. Dr Matt and his 2 boys were here before, but they had to go out; Dr Matt is coming back later without the boys (much to their disgust!! Lol!) A couple more people are expected later. I'm having the occasional game, though I do get impatient with being slaughtered all the time... I've just been fiddling around doing some calligraphy.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Sovereign Hill
Even though it's one of Nathan's days off, we visitted Sovereign Hill today, and took along all his family. We signed in at the staff entrance at 9am (an hour before the park opens) and got our visitor ID badges, then headed up to the boiler house. It was already 25 degrees outside, so the boiler house' thermometer said 35. We were just in time for the safety valve check. At 90 PSI the safety valve lifted with an explosive hiss and steam filled the rafters. It was loud! When the pressure was back to 80 PSI the valves closed, and Nathan told us all about the boilers and lines, how it gets cleaned, what the various little engines did, about the old-time boilers, what to do in an emergency (apart from pray!) and all sorts of information that he's probably given tourists for the last 9 years. It was really interesting, and I think I understood most of what he said!
Then the safety valve of Boiler 2 went off, louder than the first! We continued on to the engine room and then the battery, with Nathan explaining everything as we walked. Michael was fascinated by all the big, greasy wheels and the roaring fire and the noise!
At 10 the park openned, and we went to the kiosk for a drink. Then we all wandered around for a couple of hours, buying lollies, checking out the shops, climbing the Poppet Head, listening to the little street band and panning for gold. Michael patted the horses, pumped the water pump and dipped a candle into colored wax.
I took a few pics, and put some of them on the website (see "Links" at the right). I was trying to get a half-decent family pic, but without resorting to "okay, everyone, look here and say, 'cheese'"; naturally I didn't get one! The three on the website are of Michael.
Nathan is revacuuming the floor (which I did yesterday!!!) because we're having a Halo Day tomorrow. People will be coming from about 10am, hopefully, and staying as late as they want, playing Halo 2. It's Labour day, an appropriate holiday to spend playing!
Then on Tuesday my sister's coming to stay a few nights--to play with my calligraphy stuff, she says! And to watch movies and chat and bludge... should be fun.
iHasta la vista!
Then the safety valve of Boiler 2 went off, louder than the first! We continued on to the engine room and then the battery, with Nathan explaining everything as we walked. Michael was fascinated by all the big, greasy wheels and the roaring fire and the noise!
At 10 the park openned, and we went to the kiosk for a drink. Then we all wandered around for a couple of hours, buying lollies, checking out the shops, climbing the Poppet Head, listening to the little street band and panning for gold. Michael patted the horses, pumped the water pump and dipped a candle into colored wax.
I took a few pics, and put some of them on the website (see "Links" at the right). I was trying to get a half-decent family pic, but without resorting to "okay, everyone, look here and say, 'cheese'"; naturally I didn't get one! The three on the website are of Michael.
Nathan is revacuuming the floor (which I did yesterday!!!) because we're having a Halo Day tomorrow. People will be coming from about 10am, hopefully, and staying as late as they want, playing Halo 2. It's Labour day, an appropriate holiday to spend playing!
Then on Tuesday my sister's coming to stay a few nights--to play with my calligraphy stuff, she says! And to watch movies and chat and bludge... should be fun.
iHasta la vista!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Waffle
Oh, I am such a slacker! I haven't written in this for ages, because I have so little to say!
I confess I have not felt bored since I started my big holiday. Each day I do my FlyLady list, and then I have a bit of free time, which I normally use for craft, the internet or reading. My exercise this month is to hit 10,000 steps a day on my pedometer, or rather 70,000 a week; I do more some days and less others. Yesterday was Sunday, the end of the week, and I had to go for a 2 hour walk to get my steps up! I'm also doing my Pilates DVD each week (50 minutes). The annoying thing is, when I exercise more I'm hungrier, so I'm not losing weight. Oh well; good for the old heart, I guess.
Actually I have trouble deciding what to do some days. I have been cross-stitching and watching the Winter Olympics, though they are mostly on in the evening. I'm reading a nice fat book, though mostly in bed... can't seem to find time for it otherwise. I'm practicing a bit of calligraphy, too, and I have my calligraphy stuff all spread out on Kelly's desk (which we are babysitting). I'm in the middle of knitting a jumper, though I want to start a few other knitting projects. I'm determined to finish this jumper first... well, maybe not determined. We'll see! Lol! I'd like to finish it before Winter, but there are other projects I want to do before then. I haven't had time for knitting anyway, as I've got too many other things I like doing!
We had a Halo night on Saturday, which is always fun. About 10 people came, and most stayed until about 2am. I played a bit, although I do get sick of being slaughtered all the time! Spent most of the night making a little present for my dad... Also made a few other presents recently.
When I was working, I could spare a bit of time for craft, though it felt very wasteful to sit and do calligraphy for 3 hours when the dishes weren't done. Now I have a reasonably clean house and lots of time for fun!
I'm starting to feel like Never going back to work. I know I'll have to, though not full-time, but I guess it doesn't hurt to dream ;-)
...told you I had nothing to say. It's just waffle...
I confess I have not felt bored since I started my big holiday. Each day I do my FlyLady list, and then I have a bit of free time, which I normally use for craft, the internet or reading. My exercise this month is to hit 10,000 steps a day on my pedometer, or rather 70,000 a week; I do more some days and less others. Yesterday was Sunday, the end of the week, and I had to go for a 2 hour walk to get my steps up! I'm also doing my Pilates DVD each week (50 minutes). The annoying thing is, when I exercise more I'm hungrier, so I'm not losing weight. Oh well; good for the old heart, I guess.
Actually I have trouble deciding what to do some days. I have been cross-stitching and watching the Winter Olympics, though they are mostly on in the evening. I'm reading a nice fat book, though mostly in bed... can't seem to find time for it otherwise. I'm practicing a bit of calligraphy, too, and I have my calligraphy stuff all spread out on Kelly's desk (which we are babysitting). I'm in the middle of knitting a jumper, though I want to start a few other knitting projects. I'm determined to finish this jumper first... well, maybe not determined. We'll see! Lol! I'd like to finish it before Winter, but there are other projects I want to do before then. I haven't had time for knitting anyway, as I've got too many other things I like doing!
We had a Halo night on Saturday, which is always fun. About 10 people came, and most stayed until about 2am. I played a bit, although I do get sick of being slaughtered all the time! Spent most of the night making a little present for my dad... Also made a few other presents recently.
When I was working, I could spare a bit of time for craft, though it felt very wasteful to sit and do calligraphy for 3 hours when the dishes weren't done. Now I have a reasonably clean house and lots of time for fun!
I'm starting to feel like Never going back to work. I know I'll have to, though not full-time, but I guess it doesn't hurt to dream ;-)
...told you I had nothing to say. It's just waffle...
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Catch up
Had a great day today, catching up with people. The only one I haven't really seen is Nathan!
Esther called me at about 11, and Kelly, she and I went to the craft market, then Spotlight, then Mum and Dad's. I think we spent 4 hours wandering craft shops ;-) which is easy to do. The family had a bbq, but I left because I was already going out for tea. I bought myself a new t-shirt (as my shirt was a bit scruffy) so I wouldn't have to go home, and went to GC's instead. It was a dinner for me, on my "retirement"!
Lots of people from work turned up! Well, they'd reserved the table, of course, and there were 12 people there: Louise (the boss), Wendy (formerly we worked on the "Blood transfusion" portfolio together, in light of which she's given me a job one day in February!), Liz (patchwork queen), Lynn (whose house I went to last week for a good-old Craft Day), Lyn (one of my favorites in charge, who's just started working only 2 days a week), Debbie (fellow movie-goer), Nola (who paid for my meal and a glass of champagne!), Steve (who's on holidays but came anyway), Gail (still having treatment for cancer but looks fantastic), Fiona (a former grad who's not even on our ward any more), and Jacqui (who worked a late shift and then came after work for a drink... until 11:30!)
It was so great chatting to them all, especially Gail. It was wonderful to hear about the annoying new computer program they have to use, the doctors that annoy them, the conversations with dementia patients ("I am Thor!!" one said today, with an imaginary lightning bolt in his fist!) and all the stuff that goes on at work. I laughed and laughed and laughed. But it did remind me how much of the stressful stuff I've already forgotten. Some days I think to myself, "I miss work", but it's the people I miss, not the politics, early mornings, angry visitors and 10km of walking up and down the hall each day.
I don't think I'll ever have to work there full-time again, and that makes me feel good!
Yesterday I read a book from 5 am to 1 am. I stopped to go for a walk and to have meals. I did a little housework. But I spent most of the day reading until I finished the book! This is the life.
Tomorrow I'm going into town, as I do every Thursday, but I have barely any jobs to do, so I'm going to see a movie (Nanny McPhee), which Debbie recommends, and get the groceries.
Everyone at dinner kept commenting on how relaxed I look. Probably because I've lost all those stress wrinkles and I'm not frowning and moaning all the time ;-)
..oooO................
..(.....).............
...\...(..Oooo........
....\__)..(.....).....
............).../.....
...........(__/.......
Esther called me at about 11, and Kelly, she and I went to the craft market, then Spotlight, then Mum and Dad's. I think we spent 4 hours wandering craft shops ;-) which is easy to do. The family had a bbq, but I left because I was already going out for tea. I bought myself a new t-shirt (as my shirt was a bit scruffy) so I wouldn't have to go home, and went to GC's instead. It was a dinner for me, on my "retirement"!
Lots of people from work turned up! Well, they'd reserved the table, of course, and there were 12 people there: Louise (the boss), Wendy (formerly we worked on the "Blood transfusion" portfolio together, in light of which she's given me a job one day in February!), Liz (patchwork queen), Lynn (whose house I went to last week for a good-old Craft Day), Lyn (one of my favorites in charge, who's just started working only 2 days a week), Debbie (fellow movie-goer), Nola (who paid for my meal and a glass of champagne!), Steve (who's on holidays but came anyway), Gail (still having treatment for cancer but looks fantastic), Fiona (a former grad who's not even on our ward any more), and Jacqui (who worked a late shift and then came after work for a drink... until 11:30!)
It was so great chatting to them all, especially Gail. It was wonderful to hear about the annoying new computer program they have to use, the doctors that annoy them, the conversations with dementia patients ("I am Thor!!" one said today, with an imaginary lightning bolt in his fist!) and all the stuff that goes on at work. I laughed and laughed and laughed. But it did remind me how much of the stressful stuff I've already forgotten. Some days I think to myself, "I miss work", but it's the people I miss, not the politics, early mornings, angry visitors and 10km of walking up and down the hall each day.
I don't think I'll ever have to work there full-time again, and that makes me feel good!
Yesterday I read a book from 5 am to 1 am. I stopped to go for a walk and to have meals. I did a little housework. But I spent most of the day reading until I finished the book! This is the life.
Tomorrow I'm going into town, as I do every Thursday, but I have barely any jobs to do, so I'm going to see a movie (Nanny McPhee), which Debbie recommends, and get the groceries.
Everyone at dinner kept commenting on how relaxed I look. Probably because I've lost all those stress wrinkles and I'm not frowning and moaning all the time ;-)
..oooO................
..(.....).............
...\...(..Oooo........
....\__)..(.....).....
............).../.....
...........(__/.......
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Camping
We finally used our tent!
Nate has been trying to organize a day at the beach, and on Christmas we organized to go camping with Simon and Esther and all the kids. So on Wednesday, 28th we loaded up the car. Mum and Dad arrived with Abby and Tim, who were going to come with us, and Simon, Esther, Ben and Ezra arrived soon after. We drove all the way to Port Fairy, stopping for lunch, and found our site (which someone had camped in!) Then we were given a better site, and we popped up the tents. It was hot work!!! And we didn't have to look after 4 kids age 5 and under!
Then we wandered across the road to where SUFM beach mission was setting up for their first night. It was a little unorganized; apparently they didn't have many volunteers that year. And the mozzies were swarming! I thought I slapped them pretty quick, but I still have 6 bites on my arms and legs.
Abby was a bit disappointed that we didn't go to the beach right away! She's the only one who'd been to the beach, at 10 months of age, and she was kind of excited!
We had tea in our tent, as we have a little front area we could all sit in with a little table, and we could limit the number of mozzies allowed in (like Bouncers). Then, when the kids were asleep, the four of us adults played Canasta until after 1am.
After taking the kids to Beach Mission again, we had lunch and headed to the beach. It took 5 minutes to walk there! There was lots of grass, lots of flat, nice sand with shells here and there, and little waves that came in a fair way on the flat beach. Out further, there were bigger waves; just big enough to push you all the way in on a boogey board, but not big enough to push you under. I held Ben's hand, and we went in up to about his knees. He was so excited about the waves! He'd scream, then laugh, and grip my hand tight. We stayed there quite a while, until the poor boy started shaking with cold. It was a nice warm day, and you'd be pretty much warmed up by the time you walked to the towels. He wanted to go straight back in, but his lips were a bit blue!
Tim was another story, of course; he lasted about 30 seconds before he ran. Simon and I looked around, after we'd been in the water for about 2 minutes, and Tim was gone. (I tell you, it was not the first time either of us lost a kid we were keeping an eye on! Those tackers are quick!!) When we spotted him, he was heading up the ramp, presumably on his way back to camp! He spent most of the afternoon digging and building, though by the end of the day he was wading in up to his knees for short periods (to clean shells.) I was proud of him!
Abby was braver, of course, and went out a bit further with her dad and her Uncle Nathan. Uncle Nathan tried to teach her to boogey board, but it was a bit much for a 5 year old... she gave it a good try, however, and thought "swimming" with Uncle Nathan a bit of a high-light.
When Esther and Ezra came with the car (after his "lunch") she set up a little tent, and he laid in it the rest of the day. He's only a few months old, after all. Esther had a bit of a swim later, but keeping track of the kids, as I said, was rather a full-time job.
I had a good go on Nate's boogey board; the waves were great! I got lots of sore muscles and just a bit of sunburn, but it was definitely worth the trip, just for that swim.
After tea, when the kids slept, we four finished off the Canasta game we'd started. The boys won :o( but we had lots of fun, and didn't finish so late. And in the morning we packed up and were gone by 10-ish. We stopped in to see Auntie Sandie and Callan in Warnambool on the way home. Once Nathan and I had dropped Abby and Tim home, we dumped our luggage and watched 3 DVD's; we felt wrecked! It was still boiling. It's only just started to cool off this afternoon (Jan 1) after a bit of rain.
New Year! I stayed up until after midnight, but not to see in the new year; I was playing the Sims 2, and didn't even realize it was 2006 until about 1am as I went to bed. However, I got up at 8:30, which I'm planning to do most days, and had a healthy breaky, made my bed, did my hair and gave the kitchen a quick clean. I did all the things on my FLY list for Sunday, and now it's Free Time until I cook dinner. I weighed a bit less this morning than I did on last Jan 1. But hopefully I'll be quite a bit lower by the end of my holidays.
Well, I might go play Sims 2 again. It's a bit of fun!!
Happy New Year!
Nate has been trying to organize a day at the beach, and on Christmas we organized to go camping with Simon and Esther and all the kids. So on Wednesday, 28th we loaded up the car. Mum and Dad arrived with Abby and Tim, who were going to come with us, and Simon, Esther, Ben and Ezra arrived soon after. We drove all the way to Port Fairy, stopping for lunch, and found our site (which someone had camped in!) Then we were given a better site, and we popped up the tents. It was hot work!!! And we didn't have to look after 4 kids age 5 and under!
Then we wandered across the road to where SUFM beach mission was setting up for their first night. It was a little unorganized; apparently they didn't have many volunteers that year. And the mozzies were swarming! I thought I slapped them pretty quick, but I still have 6 bites on my arms and legs.
Abby was a bit disappointed that we didn't go to the beach right away! She's the only one who'd been to the beach, at 10 months of age, and she was kind of excited!
We had tea in our tent, as we have a little front area we could all sit in with a little table, and we could limit the number of mozzies allowed in (like Bouncers). Then, when the kids were asleep, the four of us adults played Canasta until after 1am.
After taking the kids to Beach Mission again, we had lunch and headed to the beach. It took 5 minutes to walk there! There was lots of grass, lots of flat, nice sand with shells here and there, and little waves that came in a fair way on the flat beach. Out further, there were bigger waves; just big enough to push you all the way in on a boogey board, but not big enough to push you under. I held Ben's hand, and we went in up to about his knees. He was so excited about the waves! He'd scream, then laugh, and grip my hand tight. We stayed there quite a while, until the poor boy started shaking with cold. It was a nice warm day, and you'd be pretty much warmed up by the time you walked to the towels. He wanted to go straight back in, but his lips were a bit blue!
Tim was another story, of course; he lasted about 30 seconds before he ran. Simon and I looked around, after we'd been in the water for about 2 minutes, and Tim was gone. (I tell you, it was not the first time either of us lost a kid we were keeping an eye on! Those tackers are quick!!) When we spotted him, he was heading up the ramp, presumably on his way back to camp! He spent most of the afternoon digging and building, though by the end of the day he was wading in up to his knees for short periods (to clean shells.) I was proud of him!
Abby was braver, of course, and went out a bit further with her dad and her Uncle Nathan. Uncle Nathan tried to teach her to boogey board, but it was a bit much for a 5 year old... she gave it a good try, however, and thought "swimming" with Uncle Nathan a bit of a high-light.
When Esther and Ezra came with the car (after his "lunch") she set up a little tent, and he laid in it the rest of the day. He's only a few months old, after all. Esther had a bit of a swim later, but keeping track of the kids, as I said, was rather a full-time job.
I had a good go on Nate's boogey board; the waves were great! I got lots of sore muscles and just a bit of sunburn, but it was definitely worth the trip, just for that swim.
After tea, when the kids slept, we four finished off the Canasta game we'd started. The boys won :o( but we had lots of fun, and didn't finish so late. And in the morning we packed up and were gone by 10-ish. We stopped in to see Auntie Sandie and Callan in Warnambool on the way home. Once Nathan and I had dropped Abby and Tim home, we dumped our luggage and watched 3 DVD's; we felt wrecked! It was still boiling. It's only just started to cool off this afternoon (Jan 1) after a bit of rain.
New Year! I stayed up until after midnight, but not to see in the new year; I was playing the Sims 2, and didn't even realize it was 2006 until about 1am as I went to bed. However, I got up at 8:30, which I'm planning to do most days, and had a healthy breaky, made my bed, did my hair and gave the kitchen a quick clean. I did all the things on my FLY list for Sunday, and now it's Free Time until I cook dinner. I weighed a bit less this morning than I did on last Jan 1. But hopefully I'll be quite a bit lower by the end of my holidays.
Well, I might go play Sims 2 again. It's a bit of fun!!
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 26, 2005
I am so relaxed!
Today is Boxing day, and I have been on "holidays" for TEN days. I'm so relaxed.
Yesterday was Christmas, of course, and we got up about 9-ish. Nathan gave me an X-box game, Sims 2, which is what I wanted (and I have been playing it all morning!). We had lunch at Nathan's mum's place, and I got a bunch of games and chocolates and books. I helped Sarah open presents on her first Christmas, which was fun, but she wasn't really interested after a few -- she just wanted to play with the ones she'd unwrapped and the "old" favorites in Grandma's toybox! Then we drove off to my parents' place for "leftovers" and more present swapping. Got given more nice food as well as a heap of good craft stuff. I did what I said, and gave little presents to those who were not my "Kris Kringle", just home made chocolates. I spent many sweaty hours making those over a frypan of boiling water and jars of chocolate buttons! But I'm not whinging... it was a lot of fun!
I have 5 more days of holidays, and then I'm going to get into my plans for 2006. Mostly it's just a cleaning plan thanks to FlyLady.com and Esther (who put me onto that site). I'm going to be very organized, keep the place clean, exercise and lose weight, garden, finish cross-stitches, etc, and make Nathan happy that I'm not wasting my time (though he says, "Make sure you don't do too much; you're supposed to be relaxing"). I've been getting emails from FlyLady.com for a few months, but I haven't been "cleaning my sink" every day, that's for sure!! Anyway, I started reading some today, and getting myself motivated. You're not supposed to jump in the deep end; you're supposed to start organizing your routines slowly, but I figure I used to work 40 hours a week; I can manage.
I've got my FlyLady journal all worked out, with things to cross off each day. It's not set in stone, of course; I'm sure I'll be changing things and adding stuff as I go. Hopefully I can stick to it.
This week we are going camping! Nathan's been trying to organize a day at the beach post-Christmas, especially with my bro, Simon, and family. But yesterday it turned into a 2-night camping trip, and Esther organized it this morning and rang me with the details! How exciting! We bought a tent earlier in the year, and a air-mat and an esky. But we haven't had the chance (holidays/weather) to use it yet. Now we are both off for this week, so is Simon, and we're off on Wednesday! It'll be fun. I'd better find my bathers!!
I spent about 6 hours on the x-box this morning, playing the Sims 2. Now Nathan and his brother (who gave me an excellent astronomy book yesterday) are playing good old Halo 2. I'm going to fiddle on the internet until I'm bored, then read my latest book again. It's one of 6 (a series) borrowed from a lady at work, but I'm not sure I like it yet. The main character is angry and not very likeable... intentionally so, but it's hard to feel sorry for his situation so far! It's about a leper called "Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever"... anyway, it is intriguing.
The Movie Gals (Tammy and Debbie) from work are going to ring me some time and we're going to see "Narnia". I'm looking forward to it, as I've read the books many times. (More than Harry Potter; probably 7 or 8 times). I can't believe how many people haven't read it!! It's a classic! Hmm, I guess I don't understand people who don't read.
That reminds me of something funny. Nathan sometimes says and does things in the night that he can't remember the next day. It's so hillarious! The other night he sat bolt-upright and grabbed me by the arms, like I was an intruder! He didn't let me go for a minute! I think I scared him by rolling over! ROFL! Anyway, recently he sat up (I was reading) and said I was "incredible" or something very nice like that, because I read so much. He's funny; he'll sit up, look at you, chat and answer questions, but he's just a bit vague and you know he's not going to remember it the next day. He was going on about how I was amazing, and I couldn't stop giggling. He was looking right at me, but for all intents and purposes was asleep. Then he rolled over and started snoring quietly. Isn't that funny?
Well, enough rambling... I've got 3 hours to kill before my corned beef in the Hot Pot is ready for other veges.
iHasta la vista!
Yesterday was Christmas, of course, and we got up about 9-ish. Nathan gave me an X-box game, Sims 2, which is what I wanted (and I have been playing it all morning!). We had lunch at Nathan's mum's place, and I got a bunch of games and chocolates and books. I helped Sarah open presents on her first Christmas, which was fun, but she wasn't really interested after a few -- she just wanted to play with the ones she'd unwrapped and the "old" favorites in Grandma's toybox! Then we drove off to my parents' place for "leftovers" and more present swapping. Got given more nice food as well as a heap of good craft stuff. I did what I said, and gave little presents to those who were not my "Kris Kringle", just home made chocolates. I spent many sweaty hours making those over a frypan of boiling water and jars of chocolate buttons! But I'm not whinging... it was a lot of fun!
I have 5 more days of holidays, and then I'm going to get into my plans for 2006. Mostly it's just a cleaning plan thanks to FlyLady.com and Esther (who put me onto that site). I'm going to be very organized, keep the place clean, exercise and lose weight, garden, finish cross-stitches, etc, and make Nathan happy that I'm not wasting my time (though he says, "Make sure you don't do too much; you're supposed to be relaxing"). I've been getting emails from FlyLady.com for a few months, but I haven't been "cleaning my sink" every day, that's for sure!! Anyway, I started reading some today, and getting myself motivated. You're not supposed to jump in the deep end; you're supposed to start organizing your routines slowly, but I figure I used to work 40 hours a week; I can manage.
I've got my FlyLady journal all worked out, with things to cross off each day. It's not set in stone, of course; I'm sure I'll be changing things and adding stuff as I go. Hopefully I can stick to it.
This week we are going camping! Nathan's been trying to organize a day at the beach post-Christmas, especially with my bro, Simon, and family. But yesterday it turned into a 2-night camping trip, and Esther organized it this morning and rang me with the details! How exciting! We bought a tent earlier in the year, and a air-mat and an esky. But we haven't had the chance (holidays/weather) to use it yet. Now we are both off for this week, so is Simon, and we're off on Wednesday! It'll be fun. I'd better find my bathers!!
I spent about 6 hours on the x-box this morning, playing the Sims 2. Now Nathan and his brother (who gave me an excellent astronomy book yesterday) are playing good old Halo 2. I'm going to fiddle on the internet until I'm bored, then read my latest book again. It's one of 6 (a series) borrowed from a lady at work, but I'm not sure I like it yet. The main character is angry and not very likeable... intentionally so, but it's hard to feel sorry for his situation so far! It's about a leper called "Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever"... anyway, it is intriguing.
The Movie Gals (Tammy and Debbie) from work are going to ring me some time and we're going to see "Narnia". I'm looking forward to it, as I've read the books many times. (More than Harry Potter; probably 7 or 8 times). I can't believe how many people haven't read it!! It's a classic! Hmm, I guess I don't understand people who don't read.
That reminds me of something funny. Nathan sometimes says and does things in the night that he can't remember the next day. It's so hillarious! The other night he sat bolt-upright and grabbed me by the arms, like I was an intruder! He didn't let me go for a minute! I think I scared him by rolling over! ROFL! Anyway, recently he sat up (I was reading) and said I was "incredible" or something very nice like that, because I read so much. He's funny; he'll sit up, look at you, chat and answer questions, but he's just a bit vague and you know he's not going to remember it the next day. He was going on about how I was amazing, and I couldn't stop giggling. He was looking right at me, but for all intents and purposes was asleep. Then he rolled over and started snoring quietly. Isn't that funny?
Well, enough rambling... I've got 3 hours to kill before my corned beef in the Hot Pot is ready for other veges.
iHasta la vista!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Paranoia
I swear, I hear the following at least five times a day each:
"How many more days to go, Tammy?"
"Not long to go now..."
"What are you going to do in your time off?"
"You must be excited!"
I'm getting paranoid. I think my workmates are more excited than me...!!
I have 3 shifts to go. I don't know what I'm going to do with my time off. I'm looking forward to having a few weeks off, but I've had lots of second thoughts! We worked out the budget the other day, and things will be much, much tighter on only Nate's wage. I'm only going to be able to spend about $5 on people's birthday presents next year, and there is no way I'm going to be able to convince Nathan we can afford a bit more spending money each week. I'm thinking my holiday isn't going to be much fun. I can't afford to go to the movies more than once a fortnight. I can't even really afford to drive into town. I need to cut back my showers and baths. I have to find a way to slash about $50 off the weekly grocery bill. I'll be sick of this house in 2 weeks! Not only that, but most of my friends are nurses I work with. (Nurses don't seem to have much time for any other type of friend! It took me about a month to catch up with Adam and Ruth a while ago; only the most dedicated friends survive that sort of neglect!) I'm going to miss the people I work with. I'm going to miss having a bit more money. I'll have time, but for what? I'm good at my job, and it makes me feel important; like I'm a useful citizen of the world.
I would rather cut down my hours. It would be great to do 2 shifts a week. I don't know. But I can't say all this stuff to Nathan. He got a bit cross last time I mentioned worrying about money, only a little bit, but he said I have to stop worrying. I don't want him to feel like he doesn't earn enough, or he doesn't make me feel important. It's a guy thing, I guess, to feel you are capable of looking after your wife. And when we have kids, it'll be harder! I'm fairly worried about that!
It's weird, me worrying, because I don't usually let worry bother me. It's something I'm good at, now: looking at the big picture, not stressing about small stuff, trusting God. Maybe it's just that people keep going on about it so constantly...
Well, I have many things, and I'll never lack what I need. I've gotten used to this DINKs business, and I've forgotten how easy it is to live on much less. Back when I had $4 a week pocket money, I used to sponsor a girl, and I still had everything I needed and more. And I know I have lots of projects here that I never seem to have time for. I need time for the garden, for that big cross stitch, for all those little baby clothes I want to try to make, for FLY cleaning, for reading, for practising Spanish and brushing up on sign language. There are a thousand books at the library I need time for, and my bil Jason has about 100 I want to read, too. I need to do so much in the garden. I really need to do more exercise. I'd love time to write stories. I'd like to make a webpage (like I used to have). I'd love to study completely different stuff; astronomy, physics, psychology, mythology. I haven't read through the Bible in ages.
Perhaps this holiday is going to be productive, in a very different way than I'm used to.
I wonder why change bothers us so much?
This year we changed our Christmas traditions a bit. We're doing a family "Kris Kringle" or whatever you call it when you only buy one present. I hate that! I'd rather spend $5 on everyone than $40 on one person. It's wierd not giving your sister or your Dad a present at Christmas! Seems wrong... I plan to be wicked ;-) and give everyone a little present (he he he!!) I love wrapping them and making cards!
I'm breaking a tradition myself. We never send Christmas cards to people... behavior like that could get out of hand! Once you start sending someone a card, it seems rude not to include a dozen others, and then it seems rude to ever stop sending them. But a nurse at work gave another nurse a card, and Maree was pretending to be offended she didn't get one, too. So I told her I'd give her a card, her and noone else (so she could brag; she's a funny girl!!). Made it today, which made me late for work (which isn't good, as I was in charge :-} but only a few minutes!)
I'm starting to ramble, and I'm starting to get cold. I probably should get to bed! I was going to get up at 6 for an early shift tomorrow, but one of the nurses was looking at the roster, and mentioned in passing that I was on a late shift. I said, "No, I'm not; I have an early, and she said, "yes, look, you're on a late!" Lucky for me! It would have been embarrasing to turn up at 7am and get sent home!
Today I planted 6 pumpkin seedlings (thanks, Matt!) and I'm hoping God will protect them from rabbits this time! I put some protectors on them, too, but God controlls rabbits better than me. I love pumpkins!
Ack; when my spelling deteriorates and my typing goes south (this isan attmept at a sendtence without using the deleelt key, ... the dleete key probably gets used more thatn "e" on my keybourd) it is time to go to bed!!!!
"How many more days to go, Tammy?"
"Not long to go now..."
"What are you going to do in your time off?"
"You must be excited!"
I'm getting paranoid. I think my workmates are more excited than me...!!
I have 3 shifts to go. I don't know what I'm going to do with my time off. I'm looking forward to having a few weeks off, but I've had lots of second thoughts! We worked out the budget the other day, and things will be much, much tighter on only Nate's wage. I'm only going to be able to spend about $5 on people's birthday presents next year, and there is no way I'm going to be able to convince Nathan we can afford a bit more spending money each week. I'm thinking my holiday isn't going to be much fun. I can't afford to go to the movies more than once a fortnight. I can't even really afford to drive into town. I need to cut back my showers and baths. I have to find a way to slash about $50 off the weekly grocery bill. I'll be sick of this house in 2 weeks! Not only that, but most of my friends are nurses I work with. (Nurses don't seem to have much time for any other type of friend! It took me about a month to catch up with Adam and Ruth a while ago; only the most dedicated friends survive that sort of neglect!) I'm going to miss the people I work with. I'm going to miss having a bit more money. I'll have time, but for what? I'm good at my job, and it makes me feel important; like I'm a useful citizen of the world.
I would rather cut down my hours. It would be great to do 2 shifts a week. I don't know. But I can't say all this stuff to Nathan. He got a bit cross last time I mentioned worrying about money, only a little bit, but he said I have to stop worrying. I don't want him to feel like he doesn't earn enough, or he doesn't make me feel important. It's a guy thing, I guess, to feel you are capable of looking after your wife. And when we have kids, it'll be harder! I'm fairly worried about that!
It's weird, me worrying, because I don't usually let worry bother me. It's something I'm good at, now: looking at the big picture, not stressing about small stuff, trusting God. Maybe it's just that people keep going on about it so constantly...
Well, I have many things, and I'll never lack what I need. I've gotten used to this DINKs business, and I've forgotten how easy it is to live on much less. Back when I had $4 a week pocket money, I used to sponsor a girl, and I still had everything I needed and more. And I know I have lots of projects here that I never seem to have time for. I need time for the garden, for that big cross stitch, for all those little baby clothes I want to try to make, for FLY cleaning, for reading, for practising Spanish and brushing up on sign language. There are a thousand books at the library I need time for, and my bil Jason has about 100 I want to read, too. I need to do so much in the garden. I really need to do more exercise. I'd love time to write stories. I'd like to make a webpage (like I used to have). I'd love to study completely different stuff; astronomy, physics, psychology, mythology. I haven't read through the Bible in ages.
Perhaps this holiday is going to be productive, in a very different way than I'm used to.
I wonder why change bothers us so much?
This year we changed our Christmas traditions a bit. We're doing a family "Kris Kringle" or whatever you call it when you only buy one present. I hate that! I'd rather spend $5 on everyone than $40 on one person. It's wierd not giving your sister or your Dad a present at Christmas! Seems wrong... I plan to be wicked ;-) and give everyone a little present (he he he!!) I love wrapping them and making cards!
I'm breaking a tradition myself. We never send Christmas cards to people... behavior like that could get out of hand! Once you start sending someone a card, it seems rude not to include a dozen others, and then it seems rude to ever stop sending them. But a nurse at work gave another nurse a card, and Maree was pretending to be offended she didn't get one, too. So I told her I'd give her a card, her and noone else (so she could brag; she's a funny girl!!). Made it today, which made me late for work (which isn't good, as I was in charge :-} but only a few minutes!)
I'm starting to ramble, and I'm starting to get cold. I probably should get to bed! I was going to get up at 6 for an early shift tomorrow, but one of the nurses was looking at the roster, and mentioned in passing that I was on a late shift. I said, "No, I'm not; I have an early, and she said, "yes, look, you're on a late!" Lucky for me! It would have been embarrasing to turn up at 7am and get sent home!
Today I planted 6 pumpkin seedlings (thanks, Matt!) and I'm hoping God will protect them from rabbits this time! I put some protectors on them, too, but God controlls rabbits better than me. I love pumpkins!
Ack; when my spelling deteriorates and my typing goes south (this isan attmept at a sendtence without using the deleelt key, ... the dleete key probably gets used more thatn "e" on my keybourd) it is time to go to bed!!!!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Knitting baby stuff
I know I haven't written for yonks, and I have nothing much to say. I'm certainly not knitting baby stuff for myself... well, I might keep whatever I don't give away if it doesn't look too warped... but I'm not pregnant or anything.
I've got 6-and-a-half days off! That's because I have two weekends, and RDO and a night off (or something). I am between day-shift and night-shift. So I'm sort of staying up half the night to prepare, because I go to work at 9pm tomorrow (ie, Thursday, 17th Nov). I have to be in charge of night shift for 2 weeks. That just means if someone has to wake up a Consultant at 2am, that Someone is Me.
These last 6 days have been spent reading (I'm reading an old war story; it's stupid but bizarrely intriguing), knitting (I have progressed from scarves to baby boots and jumpers) and watching TV. Very relaxing. Well, until you realize that you've spent 4 hours knitting with the wrong size needles and the whole thing is going to be a funny shape. I'm knitting my first jumper (baby-sized). It's a bit longer and thinner than it's supposed to be; hopefully it'll come together ok...
We spent Sunday afternoon with Abby and Tim; we took them to the show! It was quite a lot of fun. We walked around for ages, looking at the animals and the circus. Tim was afraid to go on the Ferris Wheel. The poor kid was clutching onto me at the gate, saying in a shaky, quiet voice, "I don't want to go on this ride", but after the first 10 seconds he changed his mind! They went on the Dodgem Cars, the jumping castle with a huge slide, the merry-go round; they played the clowns (putting the balls in their mouths), the lucky tickets, and catching the ducks with a hook. Abby had a go of popping balloons with darts, but Uncle Nathan had to help her with that. We bought them soft drink, donuts and a big tub of fairy floss. Uncle Nathan played the lucky tickets until he won a big toy for them (he was determined), which I had to fix as soon as we got home (cheap rubbish!), and I'm sure Esther will have to fix a bit more! Tim insisted on one more ride on the ferris wheel before we left!!!
Then we had rubbish for tea: mini spring rolls, meatballs and puffy dogs, followed by icecream with topping, marshmallows and M&M's. They watched cartoons before bed, and slept from 9pm to 6am. Tim said he dreamed about the ferris wheel! I made toast while Nathan slept in, and they watched a bunch of cartoons that they seemed to know quite well. We had leftover spring rolls, etc, for lunch. They each had a bath (because our bath is somehow different and exciting) and then watched Shrek 2. Nathan is sick of that movie, but they always want to watch it!! We finished off the fairy floss. All that sugar! But that's my job as an Auntie, and I wasn't about to slack off! Abby was trying to hint that they could stay another night, or even "100 nights", but we took them home with a bit of a sigh of relief! Children are full-time noise, and when you're not used to it... Esther says you get used to it as they grow up, which is good to know. But having them over for the night made me realize I don't want to have kids... for about 24 hours.
I've been trying to save my money, because the budget is being slashed next year (as I'm not working.) Sigh! There are pros and cons to marrying a Scrooge. We've paid a good chunk off our mortgage. But my spending money is about to be slashed to around what I used to get for pocket money as a teenager!
Oh well. Que sera sera.
The two remaining female guinea-pigs, Heidi and Winky, are hugely fat, and I can't believe they are still pregnant! Unfortunately the date now precludes the paternity of Sirius, which means I won't get black scruffies (sigh!). Hagrid is the father of all, which should be interesting. Hagrid was a Rex (think Pom-pom), so the babies should be rather cute. The current male, Charley, is black and white, so I may get a black-ish scruffy one day. We'll see. I separated the girls this avo, because it occurred to me that they might have their babies the same day, and I'd find a mass of babies, and not know which was whose.
We got to spend a bit of money on Tuesday, which is always fun. Actually we just chose a clothesline, lawnmower and security door, but we did buy a new set of pots! I've had rusty cheapo ones for years, so now I have a shiny good set. I'm excited, so I must be metamorphosing into a housewife.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Well, it's 2:48am. I have to think of something else to do. I'm bored! After only one week! Maybe I should do some housework.
Hmm. I'm a bit cold. Maybe I'll just go to bed...
I've got 6-and-a-half days off! That's because I have two weekends, and RDO and a night off (or something). I am between day-shift and night-shift. So I'm sort of staying up half the night to prepare, because I go to work at 9pm tomorrow (ie, Thursday, 17th Nov). I have to be in charge of night shift for 2 weeks. That just means if someone has to wake up a Consultant at 2am, that Someone is Me.
These last 6 days have been spent reading (I'm reading an old war story; it's stupid but bizarrely intriguing), knitting (I have progressed from scarves to baby boots and jumpers) and watching TV. Very relaxing. Well, until you realize that you've spent 4 hours knitting with the wrong size needles and the whole thing is going to be a funny shape. I'm knitting my first jumper (baby-sized). It's a bit longer and thinner than it's supposed to be; hopefully it'll come together ok...
We spent Sunday afternoon with Abby and Tim; we took them to the show! It was quite a lot of fun. We walked around for ages, looking at the animals and the circus. Tim was afraid to go on the Ferris Wheel. The poor kid was clutching onto me at the gate, saying in a shaky, quiet voice, "I don't want to go on this ride", but after the first 10 seconds he changed his mind! They went on the Dodgem Cars, the jumping castle with a huge slide, the merry-go round; they played the clowns (putting the balls in their mouths), the lucky tickets, and catching the ducks with a hook. Abby had a go of popping balloons with darts, but Uncle Nathan had to help her with that. We bought them soft drink, donuts and a big tub of fairy floss. Uncle Nathan played the lucky tickets until he won a big toy for them (he was determined), which I had to fix as soon as we got home (cheap rubbish!), and I'm sure Esther will have to fix a bit more! Tim insisted on one more ride on the ferris wheel before we left!!!
Then we had rubbish for tea: mini spring rolls, meatballs and puffy dogs, followed by icecream with topping, marshmallows and M&M's. They watched cartoons before bed, and slept from 9pm to 6am. Tim said he dreamed about the ferris wheel! I made toast while Nathan slept in, and they watched a bunch of cartoons that they seemed to know quite well. We had leftover spring rolls, etc, for lunch. They each had a bath (because our bath is somehow different and exciting) and then watched Shrek 2. Nathan is sick of that movie, but they always want to watch it!! We finished off the fairy floss. All that sugar! But that's my job as an Auntie, and I wasn't about to slack off! Abby was trying to hint that they could stay another night, or even "100 nights", but we took them home with a bit of a sigh of relief! Children are full-time noise, and when you're not used to it... Esther says you get used to it as they grow up, which is good to know. But having them over for the night made me realize I don't want to have kids... for about 24 hours.
I've been trying to save my money, because the budget is being slashed next year (as I'm not working.) Sigh! There are pros and cons to marrying a Scrooge. We've paid a good chunk off our mortgage. But my spending money is about to be slashed to around what I used to get for pocket money as a teenager!
Oh well. Que sera sera.
The two remaining female guinea-pigs, Heidi and Winky, are hugely fat, and I can't believe they are still pregnant! Unfortunately the date now precludes the paternity of Sirius, which means I won't get black scruffies (sigh!). Hagrid is the father of all, which should be interesting. Hagrid was a Rex (think Pom-pom), so the babies should be rather cute. The current male, Charley, is black and white, so I may get a black-ish scruffy one day. We'll see. I separated the girls this avo, because it occurred to me that they might have their babies the same day, and I'd find a mass of babies, and not know which was whose.
We got to spend a bit of money on Tuesday, which is always fun. Actually we just chose a clothesline, lawnmower and security door, but we did buy a new set of pots! I've had rusty cheapo ones for years, so now I have a shiny good set. I'm excited, so I must be metamorphosing into a housewife.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Well, it's 2:48am. I have to think of something else to do. I'm bored! After only one week! Maybe I should do some housework.
Hmm. I'm a bit cold. Maybe I'll just go to bed...
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Big News
At the end of this year, I was planning on cutting down my hours at work. It's been a bit of a hard year; the oncology is finally getting me down at times.
So it's finally done! I've spoken with the boss, and cut back my hours. Woo hoo!
To zero! I actually resigned!! Aaagh!
It was Nathan's idea, and he wanted me to resign almost more than I did. He's looking forward to having a wife that he sees sometimes ;-)
I'm really looking forward to trying out this "housewife" thing. I won't have to get up early. I'll have time for hobbies. I won't have to think about sick people. I'll only have to go to the hospital to donate blood. I'll always be able to go to family birthday teas. I can invite the kids to our place more often. I can waste a day at the library. The house will be neat. The guinea pigs will know me. The garden can get weeded. I'll be off for the Summer!
So I finish on December 18, which is a little cheeky, as it was my turn to work Christmas this year!
Getting used to one wage will be difficult, and I can't help feeling guilty for not contributing. I've worked full-time almost all my 6 years of marriage, and now I'm slacking off for a few months. Oh well. I think I can live with it!
If I get bored (very bored!) I plan to rejoin the nurse bank and work a few shifts a week. The boss said she'd give me work whenever I wanted to come back, which is nice. But I'm sure I'll find plenty of things I'd rather do at home...
Everyone at work knows, and they've been very nice! Telling me they'll miss me, telling me I'm doing the right thing, and (most of all) telling me what a fantastic husband I have!! When they ask me why I'm resigning, I tell them I'm having a rest while I can.
I am very sick of people saying "You won't be back; you'll get pregnant" and "So you're having kids next year?" and "Are you pregnant?"...you have no idea. It's nobody's business. Nobody's but mine, and it's really irritating when people are so nosy. That's my little whinge of the day, and I feel much better! I should be used to it by now, because people have been asking me about that for years. But it's annoying. It's one of the reasons I'm resigning instead of cutting down my hours. I can't go a week without someone asking if I'm pregnant yet (no exaggeration) and I don't want to be put in a position (when I am pregnant) of having to say so before I'm ready, or lying. Last year one of the nurses on our ward had an early miscarriage (one of the reasons you don't tell everyone too soon) and everyone on our ward knew. And this year we all knew about Coll's pregnancy before she'd told her family. I don't want that. And it would be horrible if you knew you couldn't have kids, but people kept bringing it up all the time.
Well, I have about 87 sleeps till I resign. How wierd will it be? Being a nurse has been part of my identity for seven years!
I have given up my holidays. I had 4 weeks off in November, but I didn't think it was worth having such a long holiday. So I gave them up, and now I get paid for them instead. So I'll resign before Christmas with 5 weeks of holiday pay. Nathan thinks we might get a couch. Woo hoo! I've been after a new couch for years!
So it's finally done! I've spoken with the boss, and cut back my hours. Woo hoo!
To zero! I actually resigned!! Aaagh!
It was Nathan's idea, and he wanted me to resign almost more than I did. He's looking forward to having a wife that he sees sometimes ;-)
I'm really looking forward to trying out this "housewife" thing. I won't have to get up early. I'll have time for hobbies. I won't have to think about sick people. I'll only have to go to the hospital to donate blood. I'll always be able to go to family birthday teas. I can invite the kids to our place more often. I can waste a day at the library. The house will be neat. The guinea pigs will know me. The garden can get weeded. I'll be off for the Summer!
So I finish on December 18, which is a little cheeky, as it was my turn to work Christmas this year!
Getting used to one wage will be difficult, and I can't help feeling guilty for not contributing. I've worked full-time almost all my 6 years of marriage, and now I'm slacking off for a few months. Oh well. I think I can live with it!
If I get bored (very bored!) I plan to rejoin the nurse bank and work a few shifts a week. The boss said she'd give me work whenever I wanted to come back, which is nice. But I'm sure I'll find plenty of things I'd rather do at home...
Everyone at work knows, and they've been very nice! Telling me they'll miss me, telling me I'm doing the right thing, and (most of all) telling me what a fantastic husband I have!! When they ask me why I'm resigning, I tell them I'm having a rest while I can.
I am very sick of people saying "You won't be back; you'll get pregnant" and "So you're having kids next year?" and "Are you pregnant?"...you have no idea. It's nobody's business. Nobody's but mine, and it's really irritating when people are so nosy. That's my little whinge of the day, and I feel much better! I should be used to it by now, because people have been asking me about that for years. But it's annoying. It's one of the reasons I'm resigning instead of cutting down my hours. I can't go a week without someone asking if I'm pregnant yet (no exaggeration) and I don't want to be put in a position (when I am pregnant) of having to say so before I'm ready, or lying. Last year one of the nurses on our ward had an early miscarriage (one of the reasons you don't tell everyone too soon) and everyone on our ward knew. And this year we all knew about Coll's pregnancy before she'd told her family. I don't want that. And it would be horrible if you knew you couldn't have kids, but people kept bringing it up all the time.
Well, I have about 87 sleeps till I resign. How wierd will it be? Being a nurse has been part of my identity for seven years!
I have given up my holidays. I had 4 weeks off in November, but I didn't think it was worth having such a long holiday. So I gave them up, and now I get paid for them instead. So I'll resign before Christmas with 5 weeks of holiday pay. Nathan thinks we might get a couch. Woo hoo! I've been after a new couch for years!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
New stuff
A little while ago Nathan reminded me that he had some money set aside. It was a fortnightly budget allowance for petrol (for driving to Melbourne when he was having Tai Chi lessons there.) It had added up before we'd made decisions and changed the budget, but I'd completely forgotten about it.
So he told me that we were going to buy a tent!
We drove into town yesterday and bought a Queen size airbed, a HUGE esky and a tent that's big enough for 8 people! Can't wait to go camping now... well, I suppose I can wait for better weather!!! ;-). We thought about a light and a camping stove. But we have torches, and you can cook anything in the microwave. When we have a little camping trip we'll be able to figure out what else we really need.
We're going to set up the tent next week to make sure we can :) and that all the parts are there. Then we can just go camping whenever we like, for the weekend or a few days here and there; whenever we have time off together. Plenty of room if we end up having 8 kids. We can just close in the front part (the 'living room') and sleep there, and put all the kids in the other room. And when the oldest is about 12, we can make them all live in the paddock, and we can have the house back.
He he.
Well, this is my 5th and last day off, so I'm going to go and enjoy it! Might watch "Sense and Sensibility" again. I bought it recently, and I've watched it a few times on my days off (3? 4?). I've been doing a bit of cleaning and cooking. We even had Simon's whole family (of six) for tea on Friday, which was great! I annoyed my sleeping little nephew for ages with my camera flash.
So he told me that we were going to buy a tent!
We drove into town yesterday and bought a Queen size airbed, a HUGE esky and a tent that's big enough for 8 people! Can't wait to go camping now... well, I suppose I can wait for better weather!!! ;-). We thought about a light and a camping stove. But we have torches, and you can cook anything in the microwave. When we have a little camping trip we'll be able to figure out what else we really need.
We're going to set up the tent next week to make sure we can :) and that all the parts are there. Then we can just go camping whenever we like, for the weekend or a few days here and there; whenever we have time off together. Plenty of room if we end up having 8 kids. We can just close in the front part (the 'living room') and sleep there, and put all the kids in the other room. And when the oldest is about 12, we can make them all live in the paddock, and we can have the house back.
He he.
Well, this is my 5th and last day off, so I'm going to go and enjoy it! Might watch "Sense and Sensibility" again. I bought it recently, and I've watched it a few times on my days off (3? 4?). I've been doing a bit of cleaning and cooking. We even had Simon's whole family (of six) for tea on Friday, which was great! I annoyed my sleeping little nephew for ages with my camera flash.
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