I'm excited....

I don't know how the kids are.. but I am excited!!! Really that is too dull a word to explain how I feel!! I just tried to have a little nap on the couch.. but I couldn't sleep... thinking thinking...

We are heading North into the sunny Riverland tomorrow afternoon for a week. Jack has a BBQ lunch at work, the kids and I will meet him over there and we will take off from there.... exciting!

We are taking two cars.. we have so much stuff to get Paringa, it won't all fix in one ute. Jack is driving up his WB (1981 Holden V8) ute. The kids are already arguing how gets to ride with him!

I will be pleased when we get there.. I am always a little anxious travelling. Just want to get there and put my feet up for a couple of days before Santa comes!

Will try and update over the next week, by Ma and Pa only have dial up!

Thank you all for your support over the last twelve months and please travel safe!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Better not shout, you better not cry.....

Coz... My grandmorther is coming to town....

Yep.. How Lucky am I!!! My grandmother, who is in her 80's.. (high end.. I think..) is spending a week with my Mum in Horsham, and they are coming up for an early christmas tomorrow.. I am so excited!!

My Grandmother lived only 30 minutes from me until two years ago when I aunt moved from Hopetoun where Nanna lived. Nan didn't want to be left up there alone, so she moved into a Village Life complex in Ballarat. It was quite a bit of adjusting for her, but she seems to like it.

My grandmother is from the Mallee... dry and hot!! The climate at Ballarat has made her stiff and sore. Being the golden haired grandchild I am, I brought her five jars of her favorite arthritis cream this morning to take back with her.

My grandfather passed away in 1984, so she has been on her own for a long time. Always has to have a craft project on the go to keep her hands busy.. god love her!!

I know that I am lucky to have a great grandmother for my kids.. and they suck up to her. Little Hugh was giving her cuddles and kisses... doesn't take them long to work out the system..

Nan came to swimming lessons with us this morning and the kids are waving to her and getting out to give her cuddle.. my kids will be the talk of the dining room at Village life!

Tomorrow we will have a light tea, exchange presents with Nan and Mum and then head in for the Carols at Warracknabeal..

Hope everyone else is having a great weekend and a special thank you to Sarah's class in NZ, who prayed for rain for us.. how sweet is that!!!

Take care and enjoy this next week!!!

NEARLY... losing it....

I handle day to day stresses quite well.. even if I do say so myself. But.. I nearly lost it at 1 this morning.... let me give you the run down...

Monday - I had a meeting at school (on healthy eating for kids.. great info..) and come home at 10pm, find the house empty.. front door open, tea dishes still on the table - no Jack or kids.. Ummmm.. think worse cases. broken bones etc.. ring Jack's Mobile and can hear in ringing in the ute.. Pick up the phone and ring the neighbour (at 10pm at night!!!) and get no answer. It occurs to me to check the call log on the home phone.. My Dad rang and left a message, then a number I don't know... I ring it (Again at 10pm at night!!!) and get the owner of the land that one flock of our sheep are. Relief... as he wants to know how Jack went pulling lambs from the dam! So - I knew where they were!

We fenced off the dam months ago to avoid this. Those not aware, no Dams where filled this year due to the drought and the are all almost empty. As you can imagine, quite muddy and boggy and sheep get stuck if they aren't fenced off. We have been pumping the dregs of the water into a tanker with a trough so the sheep can get water. Jack pumped water on Sunday, BUT the water has gone off and was making the sheep sick. It didn't smell brackish or anything, but we lost two sheep and the ones that got suck in the dam where looking for fresher water... fuck the drought.. So Jack jumped in and pulled out the lambs that where stuck and moved the sheep back to our neighbours for fresh water. Jack apparently had thick mud up to his chest.. fully clothed. I took his car into town so he only had my car. In his wisdom, he jumped in clothed, so the mud would stick to the clothes and not him. He peeled them off and got home without mud on the inside of my car (good thinking Jacko)... anyway.. the kids where at the neighbours and didn't get to bed until nearly 11pm!! Jack trucked the sheep to the market on Tuesday .. Gone to be roast christmas lunch!!

So.. that was just the start of it.

Tuesday, I was collecting Emilie from Take-a-break (occasional care) and I have a canopy on the back of my ute. It has a HUGE blind spot. I know it is there, I have to check each time I reverse out of a park.. well this time I didn't and run into another car. A eldely lady who has recently lost her husband. How bad do you think I felt! She was quite shaken. The damage to my car was quite minimal but I got all four panels down one side of her car.. bugger..

Yesterday morning, I go to hop into the shower.. turn on the tap and not fucking water. Some of you might recall a couple of months ago we run out of water and had to get water tankered in. Well... a pipe fitting popped over night and emptied our tank... I was still quite calm at this stage (still am really.. ) Jack had a little bit of water in another tank, so pipe fittings replaced and hooked up to the other tank and we had water again..

BUT!!! Last night at 1am little Laura come into our room and jack just lifted her into bed but she was spewing.. everywhere.. so I go to run the shower to clean the vomit out of her hair etc.. NO WATER!!!!!!! This was nearly getting beyond a joke. My daughter was covered in vomit along with two beds and no water to clean it.... So I was cuddling her while Jack was hooking in the last tank in his jocks at 1.30 in the morning.. finally get her in the shower. Laura is all cleaned up and I went to deal with the sheets. Into the laundry I find Jack's clothes still soaking in wash trough from his previous mud swimming, sheep saving exercise two nights prior.. I had to deal with an inch of mud in the bottom of the trough before I could deal with spew sheets.. arhh..

Laura is better this morning. Jack stayed up with her until past 3am, Emilie not long ago spewed and I have her on the couch with a bucket and a tanker load of water will be arriving shortly...

.. no tim tams.. no chocolate.. just lots of cuddles for sick kids..

The Good news... Lambs and ewes made good money at the market

I had my hair cut and coloured at a new hair dressers in Horsham yestesday and it is the best colour I have had a years (Since my friend retired from hairdressing in fact)

Christmas shopping is finished, wrapped and packed...

I lost 500 grams at weigh in

and with all of this happening.. I can still smile and tell people I am having a great day:) Hope you all are as well....

"Beta" blogger my arse....

Finding this new "beta" a real pain in the arse.. perhaps I need to spend more time getting to know how it all works.. I don't know how many deep and meaningful comments (ok.. A few d & M's.. but comments all the same) I have written, just to be told that I couldn't log in to post them... So Guys.. I have been stalking you and not commenting.. sorry...

How is everyone's pre-christmas dinners, drink etc going??? Everyone eating well and making great choices... anyone??? anyone????

Me??

Nup! I leave with the best intentions, but eating WAY to much. Nothing stupid like cheesecake (mmmm cheesecake), but just too much! And it has been to fucking hot to do anything at all that even resembles exercise... But I think the christmas parties are almost on the end of the run, just christmas to deal with now!!

With Temp's in the 40's, it has even been too hot to take the kids to the pool!! It has cooled down heaps, back to the high 20's... much better!!

I have one more christmas layby to collect in Horsham on Wednesday, then that is it for our shopping and presents.. ALL DONE!! I have begun the wrapping, I hate wrapping! It isn't that I hate wrapping, it is that I don't have anywhere to store the presents once wrapped. They never it back into the cupboard as well wrapped. We are heading North to Paringa (near Renmark in SA) for christmas with Jack's family, so they all have to be packed in boxes anyway (note to self.. need some boxes) There will be a HEAP of kids up there. 11 kids, with the ages 8, 8, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1 and 9 months and another one on the way... BIG christmas. CAN"T WAIT!!!!!! Kids make christmas... I got Jack a few little things as well as tickets to A day on the Green in Clare, in the Baroosa Valley on the 20th Jan. The Church, The pretenders and Paul Kelly are performing. Jack LOVES these bands.. so it will be great!

I am also going to the hairdressing in Horsham. I have issues with haridressers... they keep on moving. So trying yet another one in Horsham. Fingers crossed, as I am VERY fussy with my hair colour!!!

Hugh has started to shove things up his nose.. anyone else had trouble with this?? A trip to the Doctor to get some out, and I have become quite good and removing it myself. Why????? He is still cute through....

The kids are so into christmas this year.. the whole Santa thing etc. We where in Kmart on Saturday morning before swimming lessons and this old guy, with a white beard and a fat tummy came up to the kids in the trolley (Yes, I had ALL three kids standing in a trolley) and was chatting to them. I came over and he told the kids to be good etc. and Emilie then told me, wide eyed, that he was the real santa, shopping for all of the good kids for christmas. He wasn't dressed like santa, but I have to admit, he did look like a santa character... puts a little more meaning to the whole secret santa.

I came accross a very interesting blog the other day, totally different to ANY other blog that I read. Jail Byrde... A real story of a wife with her husband in jail, living in Melbourne with all of her family overseas. Makes me realise just how uncomplianted my life is... sure, I have shit days but they pale in comparison...

It almost rained last night. We had a terrific lighting and thunder show, but no rain to follow for us. There was some areas that got some, but our tanks are still looking for some. We had the Sheep Hills Christmas tree last night. The local christmas trees have been going on for years. Everyone brings food to share, games, santa etc.. great night. Last night the CWA ladies (Country Womens Assoscation) had donated to them a heap of tinned food, toiletties etc to be sent to the drought area. I am always touched when people who aren't particiuly affected by the drought directly, think about the country folk stuggling. It can be the smallest thing, but will mean so much more to someone else. They put the family names of everyone there in a draw and 6 families received a food and tolitiles bundle, the other (us) recevied a $25 voucher at Safeway etc. Jack and I talked about it on the way home and we will put our voucher into someones mail box who might need it more then we do. Pride has a lot to do with famrers refusing help. "I'm right mate.." attitude, which is to be commended, but even through $25 isn't much to most of us, it could be a roast for christmas lunch.. So a little surprise in a letter box, with no way of knowing who is from doesn't dent anyones pride.. Sure the drought has affected us, but we still have other income.. most don't!!

Ok. better go and vaccuum... I LOVE vaccuuming.. I have a Dyson and makes my daily vaccum so much more fun...

Random thoughts....

Way to many things going on in my head for just one title I am afraid!!! I guess that is a downfall of only posting occasionally..

Water
You know.. that such we drink... STILL no rain and buying bottled water to drink and cook with. Kids love having "neverfail" water where they can just help themselves. Jack's Mum came down last week for a couple of days and brought with her a 20 litre bottle... laugh as you might.. it was very welcome!! The Neverfail water has a tang... Jack said it reminds him of bore water.. i guess a spring is a bore. I never throught in my life I would become a water snob. Several years ago a friend was given a few thousand dollars for her 30th birthday. She went out and brought another rainwater tank for the house. I thought she was mad!! But she just loves the taste of rainwater! Now... never in a million years did I think I would have a similar opinion.. in fact.. i thought she was mad......

Lambs
Bit exciting this week.. we sold some lambs and they where in the first run at the sale. A few month ago I was asking Jack a heap of questions about the stock sales, how they work etc. He rang a stock agent (Jack works for Elders) and organised me to do a day at the sheep sale. So I knew that the first run was good. They put the better lambs up for sale first. We got a mention in the paper as a star lot!! We where very excited... some good things come out of the drought!!

Chirstmas
I have NEVER been as organised with chirstmas as I am this year! I have my little list of presents, with peoples names beside them. Getting excited and can't wait to put up the chistmas tree next weekend. I just need to get Hugh one more little gift and I think that it it!

Birthday
I am turning 30 on the 7th of Jan and need to come up with an idea for a party. Theme or something.. some help would be great. Will be holding it here with kids invited. Considerig that most of our friends have kids, it is just easier. Don't hold back.. need ideas!!!!!!

OK EDIT - Theme has been made "Mexican Fiesta"

Lawns
I just mowed them. usually a job that takes about an hour and requires me to re-start the lawn mower at least three or four times from me overloading it in long grass. Took me 30 minutes.. had to empty once.. Why?? LAWN DOESN'T GROW WITHOUT WATER!!!! Out of all of the things that have been pissing me off with the drought.. I can't believe how depressing it is to see our back lawn just slowly die! When we moved here (just over 3 years ago) we had to get a bobcat and a semi in to clean up about the house. They removed 7 semi loads of shit from around the house. So, we started with a house in a paddock... we have since put fencing up etc and planted a lawn, but man, is it going backwards! At times i think "fuck it" and just water it, but when we are carting water, it is too silly to even consider. Jack set up a grey water system to catch all of the water apart from the septic, but that is just keeping the dusk from blowing. I looked up the long range forecast and December is going to be dry...

Brother
My brother.. he doesn't get mentioned on here very often, lives in Melbourne with his partner and her two girls (18 and 14) and he rang earlier in the week to let us know that they are having a BABY!!! So excited... I was surprised how excited I was. Jack's side of the family has a baby nearly ever year since 1998.. and still coming, but on my side, my kids are it! Only early stages yet and my sister -in - law is nearly 40, fingers crossed everything is ok!!

Sister
Better mention her. She is on her way home for a week or so. She finished Uni this past month and has a few weeks off until her Grad year starts. She will say with mum, so will see a bit of her in the next week.

Back to work
I made a call a couple of weeks ago that I was prepared to go back to work next year! There is a few things on the cards and the extra money will put my mind at rest. I used to work in Real Estate in Horsham as a property manager, but I need to find a job in Warracknabeal. I have no other family in town, and if the kids are sick or a something, I don't want to have to run back from Horsham (40min) Ideally, 2 days a week - three a pinch. I have also been taking more photos then usual. I took a break fro mthis after Hugh was born. He was a total sook and made it hard. I take wedding, family, corporate and also work for the local paper with sport photos on the weekend.. The kids are easier to handle now, so I might do more of this.

Fitness
I really want to step this up.. REALLY want to. I have a delightful summer cold at the moment and hate it. I never get colds!! They suck! I read Women's health and fitness and find it so motivating, but don't know where to start. I guess moving my arse it a good start!!! I downloaded LMS link to the podcasts to c25k.. and that is far as I got!! My weight has been going back down. Only about 1kg above my lowest weight. My food has been really good. Eating all food group etc. I recently did that RealAge and very pleased to find that I am 3.3 years younger then my actual age. Just need to move more. Having this cold sucks... Our local pool opened yesterday and will be spending a lot of time there over summer, so apart from a tan I might actually exercise there. My mother has taken up aqua-walking and loves it. About 10 or so women meets at the new YMCA in Horsham and walk for 90 minutes.. very social! So, perhaps I will dream up a pre-christmas fitness plan. MANY christmas parties to deal with over the next month!!

So.. how right was my title?? Can't get much more random then all of those little tidbits... I got excited for a moment when I received an email from Beck saying she and Bradman where doing a road trip and would like to met, BUT it would have been an arwful long way out of their way to get to us!!! Thank you for thinking of us Beck!!!!

I guess I better go and catch the washing off the line. The wind can whip that line so quickly! Take care
Kirsty x

No Water????

I LOVE this photo... Have you seen it before??

It has done the rounds with those funny emails... maybe it is just a rural joke???

During the 2002 drought a farmer has worked his paddock and written "Fuck the drought" into the paddock.. classic!!! Wonder what he has done this year???

Well.. this morning.. a month before we thought it would happen, we ran out of water!! It is the bloddy start of november and I have no water to Wash clothes, cook, bath my kids or drink for that matter!! It is November!!! Droughts suck! I will have to organise a tanker of treated water to be delivered tomorrow.... shuttering to think how much it will cost, but I need water!!

Have had the busiest weekend!! Kids had swimming in Horsham yesterday, then I had to take photos for the paper.. kids came with.. then a quick trip home to wash the pool smell off us all and dress in warmer clothes for the Drags - Car racing drags that is. The WACK (Wimmera agaisnt cancer in kids) host a drag meeting at the Warracknabal Airport twice a year and it is great!! Kids loved it...

Then today, I went in my first Fun Run in Horsham.. only 5km, but loved it!! Beautiful day and worked on my tennis tan a little more!! Photo to follow.. (I had to cut out a few people from my photo..)

Jack kept the kids up and we all went to sleep this afternoon, that was so nice!! I don't often sleep in the arvo anymore. Before I lost my weight i would sleep EVERY afternoon, like the kids. I had to wean myself! Just waiting for Jack to come back.. he went ot kill a sheep, for the freezer (gross I know...) then a quite night in!

My weigh in at WW was bad!!!!!!!! I am getting so frustrated with myself. I know what I have to do, but always end up putting weight on. I need to lose 2kg!!!!!!! in 4 weeks.. Things have been good since the meeting.. on the right track now!

Anyway.. better go and stack the dishwashing in anticaption of water tomorrow!!! As my friend the farmer stated in that photo... "Fuck the drought !!!!!!!"

Gastric by-pass???????

Warning... very optionated post of follow

I am about to hop onto my soapbox for a moment, but it seems to be quite 'fashionable' to have a gastric bypass done atm... what is with that???

So many people seem to be going under the knife to become slim... the easy way... or so they seem to think!!

I know that I shouldn't judge people on their own choices, and I wouldn't know all of the reasons behind their decision to undergo major surgery to lose weigh, and each person is different, but I think it is a cop out.

Do they really think about it?? Have they REALLY given other 'healthy lifestyles" a chance before giving up?? Have they thought, and I mean really thought about the long term effects on their life?? Example... Christmas day!! Who counts points on Christmas day?? If you had this procedure done you wouldn't enjoy this days anywhere near as much. How many other occasions during the year do you celebrate with food??? If I watch what I eat before and after an event.. I let loose. You have to live life!!

Surely some must have some depression associated with a gastric bypass... Food would never be looked at again in the same eyes.. Never!! No days off... Never. People who undertake this procedure must love food, otherwise, like myself they wouldn't be in this situation. That would have to effect your life. Not being able to eat when, what and as much as you liked for the rest of your life. No choice!!

I know that I could wear some flack about this, but it is taking the easy way out. Almost like cheating.. Well thinking they are in for a quick fix without thinking of the long term.

Also... What sort of example does this set for their children.

If, at my largest, I was 2kg heavier, I would have qualified for the by-pass. I lost weight with changing the way I lived.. nothing ground breaking..no super diet or pill.. just living life they way we should. Sensible eating, movement and most of all controlling my emotions.

I can remember saying before I joined WW that I wasn't an emotional eater.. I just really liked food. Well... I do really like eating but I am a huge emotional eater, I just wasn't aware of it. I still eat occasionally because of stress, but at least I know that I am doing in and put in place plans to make me stop. How does an operation control this????????

So.. Sorry if you are reading and you disagree with what I am saying, but it amazes me how much more acceptable this procedure is. Surely, our heathcare systems funds could be better spent on education and support for these people to first adopt a healthy lifestyle before they go under the knife...

Yabbies anyone???

Hands up if you have never been yabbying???

That many ???

You really don't know what you are missing!!

Apart from the initial embarrassment of having to buy "Lambs Fry" at the supermarket, the fear that someone might just see it in your trolley and think that you eat it.. it is a great country thing to do!

Sunday, we spend the afternoon in the glorious sun, checking nets and bringing that captures home and into the laundry tub before cooking. We have half of our dam empty, due to no dam fill this year, and the other half will be dry before to long, so we took the opportunity to do a little yabbying before it too dried out. My best friend from Dimboola brought the family over for the afternoon for the experience. I am the godmother of both of her girls.. so that was very nice!

I really need to get motivated food and exercise wise.. I am starting to feel sluggish and blah. I know that if I exercised more I would have more energy.. but man.. that first step is the hardest!

I have all of my friends laughing at the moment.. they think I have something for pumpkin. Often, I will test a recipe, type it up and email it out.. my last five have all been pumpkin based!!! LOVE IT!!!!

I have also given up eating potatoes.. for a few reasons that just came to me like a light bulb last week. They are high GI... Basically no nutritional value what so ever.. so I figure I might as well eat sweet potato or pumpkin. They have also been quite expensive ($13 for 5kg) when I can get pumpkin for 80 cents a kilo.. why would I eat them???

Little Hugh turns two on Friday and I am so excited about it! Having a party for him and I am making a Sheep cake!!! Van't believe my baby is nearly two! I love it when people ask the age of my kids and I can roll off my tounge.. 2, 3 and 4... then to see the look of horror that usually followed witha comment like.. "You must have been busy" - Yeah I was, but anything since is a walk in the park! Light at the end of the tunnel! Love having all of my kids close.. they play together just so well, hardly ever have sharing problems ot jealous issues! Very lucky parents!

Ok.. little fragmented post.. but need to get some order back in to everything...

Will it ever rain again???

Firstly.. again.. I should apologize for not posting more.. but some days I feel like it and others I don't. You will have to take it as it comes...

Weeks just fly... they get busier and busier...My kids have to go to Horsham on Saturday's for swimming lessons... like you do.. so half of the weekend of over before it even begins! Then usually I have to take photos for the paper, sporting event etc.. but have this weekend off. Have a 40th tomorrow night and my god-daughters 4th in Dimboola on Sunday.. another weekend gone!

Jack is going to be digging this weekend. We have to install a grey water catchment to the house. Currently, like most farm houses, the grey water runs into the paddock. But with no water, we have to now reuse this water to keep the garden alive! Jack thinks that we will be carting water to drink by December... pray for bloody rain!!The effects are going to be huge, if no rain comes. The 2002 drought was bad, but we still had water. This is so much worse. Devastating, heart-breaking to see the effects the drought has enviromentally and emotionally to the country. One of our dams is bone dry and the other will be dry early next year. It's fucked! I guess we are lucky we have income off farm.. but most don't! The government will not let anyone go hungry.. they will provide enough to keep food on tables.. but no money will undo the heart-ache that is going on... Farms that have been in the same family for years, just slowly dying.
I will take some photos to share soon...

My 4 week challenge ended last night and I can fess up to a 700 gram gain over the 4 weeks.. how stuffed is that! But no counting this week and on the wagon again!
Enough fart-arsing around... didn't go through all of this hard work and 4 dress sizes just to become slack and put it all back again! Today's WW quote is "When you believe you can, you can" - Well I KNOW i can... so watch this space for more

Have a gret weekend all..

Girls night in....

Most of you would have heard about the "Girls night in" the Cancer Council Australia run.. to raise funds for 'girly' cancer research. Last year I held a morning tea and raised quite a bit.. the plans for this year is bigger and better!!!

About a month ago my neighbour popped in on a Friday night, quite happy, as it was her birthday and she had a few glasses of bubbly to celebrate.. well the night continued with me pulling out my wedding album, my mothers wedding album (I got that in mum & Dad's divorce settlement.. with her dress..) THEN.. out came my wedding dress, all of my bridesmaids dresses, a suitcase full of wedding stuff. I was having a blast trying them on. My sisters bridesmaid dress she wore at my wedding fitted (Could almost breath... but hey it was ON!) Anyway... that is the basis of my "girls night in" theme this year.

I am going to send out formal invites (like wedding invites) to attend a "girls night" and ask the guest to bring their wedding album, wedding video, dress or something to share from their own wedding or maybe a bridesmaid dress. I am going to set up the nibbles table like a wedding reception table.. complete with "Wedding Cake" - A hot pink little number just with girls on top of it... Have toasts and present awards... When does anyone have an opportunity to pull out their wedding dress again??? Or even share their wedding photos after the event?? Sound like a good idea???

For those of you that don't know the idea behind it, the guests are ask to make a donation, equal to how much they would normally spend on a night out, for the Cancer Council Australia and celebrate being a woman, escape for a night and just have a good time!

Open to further ideas to expand my idea... my only issues is a few friends that are divorced, but I might invite them personally. I am sure they could still share!!

Weigh in tonight - getting frustrated by my weight!!!!! Only 4 weeks ago I was at my all time low and was caught saying "I am officially happy with my weight" - then all hell breaks loose and I bloody nearly gain THREE fuckin kilos!! (sorry for the language.. by really.. what is with that!!!!) I know why I put the weight on... as soon as those little words left my mouth, I started making little bad choices.. lots of little bad choices equals 3 kilos..

I am going to start playing Wednesday morning tennis next week. A bit of hit and giggle, girly tennis, but about my standard. Looking forward to it!

Ok.. better go... baby yelling. Have a great weekend. Mine will entail the movies tomorrow night with my best friend (the Devil wears Prada) a market on Saturday morning, helping Jack mve an old septic tank and eating and exercising well!! Please drive carefully. TOO many accidents on the roads!!

Oh.. almost forgot. I got a refund for my mothers MP3 player.. mother will be happy... I another little victory for the squeaky wheel....

Squeaky wheel gets the oil....

At times, I live by that little saying.. ..

When I was working in real estate, one of my employers used this term often. It took me ages to actually understand the meaning of it.

It came to mind this morning. I have issues with our dishwasher and my mothers MP3 player we brought her for Christmas last year. Both aren't working.

The dishwasher is sorted. It is just over a year old and it has been back to be repaired three times - If it was a toaster or a kettle, that I could remove and carry myself it would be such a issue. But it is a major job getting the bloody thing in and out of the house!! I a very lucky that Jack is quite strong and we have a ute!! Anyway.. I had a calm discussion with the supplier in Horsham and they have agreed to replace it. That squeaky wheel got some oil and is now happy...

But.. my mothers MP3 player is an amazing saga!! Not sure what is going on. We brought it off a local electricial store and they aren't known for their good service, but we try to support the local businesses as much as possible. It stopped working, I took it back, they send it away (apparently.... but it still at the store - they might have sent it back??? Not sure about that either) I have been in there weekly for the past two months... "It has been sent away... waiting to hear... it is out of stock...waiting to hear from the Rep... waiting for the new model to be released" the list was endless. Last week, they gave me a 'new' one - the same model was the one I brought initially (thought it was out of stock!!!) Got it home, plugged it in to load some songs on it for mum and it wouldn't charge or turn on. But while I had it plugged in I noticed that there was a heap of songs already on there. So, i get on the phone and report that it wasn't working and asked if it was new??? The response was that "Yes, of course it was" - I then asked why there was songs on there?? "I got my daughter to load songs onto it and make sure it worked before we gave it to you" - Then (i was infront of my computer) click on one of the songs and looked up the properties to find the file was put on there in April, told him as such and was told to bring it back in next time I was in town.... Dropped it off this morning and he was waiting for a call back from the rep. Will call in there tomorrow. My next call will be to Comsumer Affiars with this one.... really is past a joke now!!!!

Up to day 5/28 of my latest challenge. Food was just OK over the weekend. Well and truly eaten all of my sugar points and my movements sucked a little over the past couple of days. Making up for it today! Where i need more motivation then ever at the moment is with my cooking. So over the same old dishes - time for summer BBQ's..... I love soup... and have it most days for lunch, but over it. Love stewy things.. but over them also. Time to pull out the olde cook books for some summer inspiration.

We have a cafe here in town and a few months ago, after having a couple of chats with other women in town, approached the owner of the cafe with a few menu suggestions. All of the food they cook is really not WW friendly... either covered in cheese, deep fried etc.. you could have a sandwich, but who really goes out for lunch Just to have a sandwich.. I don't even eat them at home!!! The kids and I popped in there for lunch today and I was impressed to see they had a "Light option" on the menu... and it was delish!!! It isn't just people on WW that watch what they eat. Many people, if they have a choice, will opt for something that is better for them... Hopefully people see it there and they continue with it! It really is the only place to eat in town, for lunch. I was getting to point that I was dreading going there. Food Nazi (that is what Jack calls me..)

Ok, better go and make the Thomas track a little bigger so all three kids can fit around it!

2 x 4 Challenge

I am not talking about a length of timber...

This is the title of my new challenge. Reading one of the many blogs that I tick past each week I read something about a 4 week challenge... I am sorry I can't recall who's blog it was (I have even tried looking for it!!!) 12 weeks seems to drag on and on... so I have planned a short, quick, wee 4 week one!

So.. in a nut shell - The aim is to lose 2kg in 4 weeks. I have a few people from our little Weight watchers meeting joining me on this.. With the change in the season, the timing is perfect to get things moving again.

Some of the rules for us is to Track everything we eat.. even if we go over points (i have been known in the past to stop counting once I got my my limit!!!)

Clock up at least 70,000 steps each week and ONLY have 14 sugar points for the week!!

The basics.... but that should get us to toe the line again and get rid of 2kg.

The reward - A Massage!!!!!

I have noticed that I eat total crap leading up to and during TTOM.. three weeks hard work gone! I haven't always been like that.. and grumpy.... I feel sorry for my family during this time also. Just to balance everything out, I have started taking 30-plus - Even though i MUST stress that I am only 29!!!! I never used to suffer this bad from PMS.... I am not sure if it is because I have lost weight, or perhaps it is a hormonal thing after having my tubes tied for the second time..... Some friends have suggested that perhaps I am running to lean, and need to put on some weight?? Not sure.. but that will be a last resort!!

My idea being if I don't suffer so much with PMT - I won't be on this continual cycle of getting to my lowest of 62 - then eating my way but up to 64. Have been eating a fair bit of crap recently... but that is stopping. It wouldn't be too bad if I had just one lollie... but I eat the bag. I have work too damm hard to lose this weight to just eat it all again.

Today has been a busy day! I worked for a few hours. The Minister for Local Government was in our area and they appointed me to follow her and take photographs of the events that she was in attendance at.. so a library opening in Warrackanbeal, meeting at a neighborhood house in Donald and a bridge opening also in Donald. It was SO windy... but got home in one piece! I was desperate to wear this new spunky dress that I brought at the end of last summer.. but alias it was too cold!!!

My sister is on her way home home Melbourne as I type this, so the weekend will be catching up with her and just general jobs... and LOTS of movements!!

I am in love with my exercise bike. I can ride up to 55km a day on it. It is great to be able to ride while the kids are in bed, or watching TV. It is so quite!

Thank you Bec for the 43 things web link.. very cool web site. Definitly got me thinking. Will update soon on a few dreams... have been thinking lots.

Ok... everyone have a safe weekend and will be back shortly with an update of how the weekend eating and exercise finished up!!!

Dreams.....

If someone asked you now "What is your dream?" - could you give them an answer???

Apart from the usual - "To win tattslotto..." I really couldn't give you clear cut answer...

Why don't I have dream that is crystal clear.. and dream that is achievable... Something that I can work towards...

Perhaps I am working towards dreams and it isn't just a conscious thing... We love living where we do... This really is a dream to live out of town on our little farm. Making this property our own is important to us... we are doing this... making that dream come true.

I have had bad skin from my teenage years and still now have the odd breakout. I used to dream about waking up and have skin of a model. I didn't just have the odd pimple. I had acne on my face, back, chest, tops of my arms & shoulders..

I was reading an old copy of a Madison magazine and I read about how models have to look after their skin.. if they have bad skin.. they don't have a job... those high school issues came rushing back again... For YEARS I would never leave the house without makeup... swim without a t-shirt.. not wear tank tops so not to show the tops of my arms.. I was so embarrassed by it.

Now.. that all seems so silly. I don't care. I live in singlet tops, leave the house without doing my hair.. let alone make-up and swim in a bikini. Sure.. my skin has cleared up since then, but I have scaring that is still promient. I guess.. in a way.. my attitude changed.. making this dream come true!

After having my children, I just to also dream about losing weight. To look great in a pair of jeans. All of this seems so superficial.. are these things really important??? But.. I guess that dream also became a reality!

What is my dream now??? I think it is a natural thing to dream for the best for your family.. but what is MY dream??? What is my next dream to work towards??

Why did I dream to be thin and have clear skin??? .. In hindsight, the picture is much clearer, but at the time when those dreams and wishes where made, it was only vanity.

I feel better about myself if I am happy on how I look. I have more confidence, I believe in myself, I believe that I am a successful person. It is so much more then just fitting into a size 10 pair of jeans....

Now... better start dreaming of a dream...

Hi there....

This is like ringing a long lost friend...

not sure where to start....

an awkward moment....

do I need to explain????

When I first started reading blogs, I would occasionally come across a blog where they have just vanished or a little post saying they where going to take a break from blogging...

My reaction to this was always.. Why???

Occasionally I would worry about the person...

'hope nothing has happened to them.... '

I didn't understand, just as I am sure there would be several people reading this saying the same.

Surely it isn't hard to keep us all posted??? Well, I understand now...

I was finding it difficult to post....

to stay positive...

I want to always be positive....

My head was in the wrong space....

So I had a break....

and now I am back!!!

Thanks also to everyone that emailed and posted comments... I am truly sorry for not just letting you know what I was up to.. I was just getting my head in the right space... And it is!!

My family are all just as beautiful as they where 6 odd weeks ago when I last posted... Jack is also great!

My fitness has been my main focus, finding this improving greatly. My weight dropped to 62.1 at one stage, but was up this morning to 64.1. I really struggle with ttom.. but more on that in another post.. promise!!

I have continued to read... i guess I went into stelth mode. So many exciting things out there happening...

Thank you once again for your concern and support... I am back baby...!!!!!!

Exercise bike?????

I popped in to see my friend and bestest WW buddy Janita today and hopped onto her exercise bike while chatting.. like WOW.. when did the old bike, with the wheel on the front, that blew a gail force wind into your face, that sounded like a jet taking off get pushed aside for this little beauty????? Janita's bike records EVERYTHING, speed, distance, KJ's and I WANT ONE!!!!!! It was a little thing that would fit into my little house and no bits for the kids to get their little fingers caught in... will investigate further...

OK... Edit here... Wednesday and I have brought an exercise bike.. for only $170... In a VERY small box. I am not even going to attempt to open it until the kids go to bed. I am imagine there are like a THOUSAND small little screws etc in there!!! Exciting.....

I was planning to go to Horsham today.. just a few things to do and a girlfriend from school was home for the week and I haven't seen her since she got married. We met and had a wonderful lunch, having a huge laugh about all of those things we did, that only she knows about. he he he.. she was reminding me of all of these things we did and I had totaly blocked most of them from memory...so funny!! We where very close for those final years of school, just headed down diffrent paths when we finished school. She moved to London and has since married a South African. they are currently living in Melbourne, but haven't found that 'home' yet. No kids, been married for about 5 years or so. She hasn't changed... She is very clucky, but has just gone back to uni to study law.. finially... so who knows when those little people will start arriving. I have so many photos of that time in my life... school etc, i should have taken them with me to show her. I am a big photo taker and always have been. It really was so nice to see her again.

Ok... must go and check my tea We are heading to Bordertown on Friday. One of Jack's mates from school, father passed away and the funeral is on Friday afternoon. I have farmed out the kids everywhere for half a day.

Ok.. will report in once bike is complete!!!

Noises from my kitchen....

Jack, bless his heart, has been making a few noises about eating "fem" food... that is what he refers to my meals as.. "Fem" as in they are girl meals... so while in the supermarket yesterday, I spoted his favorite... Crumbed chops. I thought that I would earn lots of brownie points cooking them for his tea. I ate a vegie pasta dish as I couldn't quite come to eating the chops..

I even cooked them the way he would have cooked them. I got out my non-stick frying pan, and put about a cm of oil on the bottom and shallow fried them.... do you know that I haven't heard that sounds of oil and fat bubbling away in my kitchen for MONTHS... it was such a strange sound. In fact.. the olive oil that I cooked them in was months old... Once... I would buy a new bottle each fortnight or so... how things change!!! But, Jack tucked into this chops... heaven I am sure, in his eyes.

My weekend eating was ok. Saturday night I had a little cooking burnout and ordered take away. I was crap and I didn't eat much. I think I need to do that occasionally, just to keep me motivated to continue cooking good healthy meals. I have been trying lots of new receipes and loving doing it. Even though it is winter, the sun is coming out slowly and has been putting a little bounce in my step!

Ok, I have a huge ironing pile to tackle in my bedroom, so best be off!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair......

Hi all...

Yet another VERY busy week. Have had sick child, a baby boy that has decided that he know needs his parents to pat his head each time he wakes and the in-laws visit.

Jack's parents headed home about an hour ago. They where on holidays, touring NSW etc but due to wet weather changed their flight plan and headed this way for the last two nights of the holiday. They headed back home this morning, refreshed and ready to go again. Laura has twice, after her nap, woken with a temp and feeling yuck. Bless her little heart... fine in the morning and ill by the end of the day... see how she goes today.

As for the title of my post... those of you with children will know that the Target toy sale started this week. Our little country town is blessed with a Target Country...a smaller version of big target (used to be Fosseys). Emilie found Rapunzel, a Barbie DVD there on Tuesday. She has the doll and the movie has only just been released on dvd. So, being the big softy I am, told her I would buy it for her on Thursday when is came on special. Well, Thursday morning I got my neighbour to come and sit with the kids at 8am.. so I could lay-by the kids presents that I was getting.. and get Rapunzel. Emilie was so excited. Come home and was met at the door... got the shrink wrap off the DVD to find that in production a "Swan Lake" DVD was put into the Rapunzel cover... Emilie was devestated. She had the hugest biggest fattest tears crashing to the tiles. I rang Target.. and I am sure they would have loved that call.. first hour of first day of toy sale... to tell them that I was coming back into town and what the problem was. They had to open ALL of the Rapunzel DVD's to find ONE that was right... problem fixed for me.. but I do wonder about all of those other little girls that on christmas morning rip open presents to find the same problem. Heart-breaking stuff for a 4 year old!!

Health wise for me, this week has been good. The scales came down 500 grams this week and I have excercised heaps this week. Things have been a little muddy under foot, but generally the weather has been great. I run Minyip on Wednesday morning. Some of you might recall the Australian series of "The flyind Doctors" and it was set at "Coppers Crossing" well in reailty "Coppers Crossing" was Minyip! Can you remember "Emma's garage" - Rebecca Gibney was the mecahnic?? Well all of that is still there... the old Pub that Sid Buckley and wife Nancy used to run... can you remember?? Well the kids go to care in Minyip each Wednesday (about 12km from where we live) and while there I run up and down each street.. only took 23 minutes... but it was so nice to run on a road that wasn't gravel!!!

I am working this afternoon. On odd occasion I take photos for the local paper. So I am going to local football, netball, hockey, gold and bowls this afternoon. Sun is shinning.. so will be great!

Jack is working hard to get some jobs done. The new shed.. to replace the one that fell down arrived on Thursday.. so much has to be done before that can be put up. I can hear the chain saw going... still cutting up the old one. Has been great firewood.

I have made a heap of new receipes this week. Phil posted a receipe for Baked Jam donuts... devine... I feed neighbours boys (teenagers) here Wednesday night and even they liked them!! I have also made Tandoori Chicken Pizza... base made from scratch using yeast. The Donuts reminded me of that!!! A Moroccan Chicken... divine... Veal strongonoff..not bad. My little taste buds have had a work out... ANyway.. I better go and do some more housework before I head off.

Take care all

Kirstyxx

Hi there.... I'm back.....

Sorry for the break between posts... not on purpose.. just busy!

Firstly, hope that all the Vic bloggers had a blast in Melbourne and I am looking forward to reading all about it during the day...

Secondly, I had a bad week with my eating last week and the scales are showing it... I put on 800 grams at weigh in. I couldn't say no to all of those foods that I have been so strong with... you name it I ate it last week. The weigh in results kicked my butt to get me back in line. I have been very good since, even with a very busy few days! I have been plannng the days food the day prior and eating what is on the plan... has been working. We had a heap of rain over the weekend (godsent) but I still walked in it. Must have looked a sight... boots and rain coat...

Anyway, we had the Apex Handover dinner on Sat night.. lovely night... and yesterday I became a Godmother again... to beautiful little Charlotte Jean, my best friends daughter. I am also her other daughter, Olivia's godmother... (Trying to post a photo... not working)

I will be back later in the week with more news and grooves, but time yet again is a little limited today...

Hi there.... I'm back.....

Sorry for the break between posts... not on purpose.. just busy!

Firstly, hope that all the Vic bloggers had a blast in Melbourne and I am looking forward to reading all about it during the day...

Secondly, I had a bad week with my eating last week and the scales are showing it... I put on 800 grams at weigh in. I couldn't say no to all of those foods that I have been so strong with... you name it I ate it last week. The weigh in results kicked my butt to get me back in line. I have been very good since, even with a very busy few days! I have been plannng the days food the day prior and eating what is on the plan... has been working. We had a heap of rain over the weekend (godsent) but I still walked in it. Must have looked a sight... boots and rain coat...

Anyway, we had the Apex Handover dinner on Sat night.. lovely night... and yesterday I became a Godmother again... to beautiful little Charlotte Jean, my best friends daughter. I am also her other daughter, Olivia's godmother... (Trying to post a photo... not working)

I will be back later in the week with more news and grooves, but time yet again is a little limited today...

"mum, I don't need a Dorothy tail anymore..."

Those are the words most mothers dread to hear.... I true sign that your little baby is growing up.. moving on.. if only her mother would! Emilie gave her Dorothy tail to a friend on Saturday morning at the concert and it nearly made me cry!! Who told her that she was to old for the Wiggles and Hi 5 was much cooler anyway??? She loved the music but she has really grown out of them... at 4!!!! We got there early... as 600 people in Horsham Town Hall was a little daunting to me, but we ended up at the front. I told someone else's kid off, for pushing mine.. made her cry..he he he.. her mother still didn't show her face, lost Laura for a few minutes... she decided that she would like to do a lap.. just to see who else was there that she knew, Jack's old girlfriend sat RIGHT behind me.... she is a strange one. Still contacting Jack up until recently when she married... odd one - I just deleted a line about her, made me seem like a bitch...

The kids and I then walked to Kmart where we brought Hugh a Scoop tractor, because he didn't go to the concert.. he was very happy with that!!!



The kids and me... Hugh spent the morning with Granny

and this is Laura.. dancing...

I am in a much better state of mind at the moment. TTOM arrived yesterday and I think my mood last week was reflective of this. I started this brew of tablets a few months ago, given to me by a naturopath that was to help with PMT, and at large it really did help. Not sure what is going on this month.... Will continue with the brew for another month, otherwise I might need to go back and see her again.

I have also given up cooking.... I have burnt SO many things over the past few days... And not just a little burnt.. brown on the edges, I have had to throw out whole meals... twice!! and then I have burnt on top of that pita bread, bread rolls, kidney beans for soup... soup... I have been so good for so long... but I think I am a very impatient cooker and turn it up to get it done.... I need to slow down.. and I i think my saucepans are beginning to show the signs of being buggered. Constant scrubbing to remove carbon would not be good for them..

The rest of the weekend was spent at home... didn't do much at all, just house jobs. We broke the glass in the fire yesterday and I have had to let it go out to get it fixed, so it is freezing. The Reverse cycle just isn't the same....

Anyway.. kids to dress... then into town for a shop of fresh vegies etc and a coffee. Have a great week. BTW - Bee - here is me sporting my pedometer...

Daisy Duke Challenge - W5

Very proud to say that I clocked up over 67000 steps last week, from Saturday lunch time. I have had a few huge days. I spent Wednesday morning at the sheep sale in Warracknabeal, chasing sheep, Thursday at a clearing sale, and Tuesday I also clocked over 12,000 steps. While my steps over the week have been great, I only managed two sets of toning exercises. So that will be more of a focus this week for me. I ate out on Wednesday night. I had a huge steak with salad (no chips please...) so within the NoCount menu - Went to a performance of the Scared Wierd Little guys..(great BTW - they picked on Jack all night) had coffee after and I didnt eat anything.. just "skinny flat white please" Weighed in tonight at 63.6, at 300 gram loss.

W5 - DDC

EAT

I did well on the No Count program last week. I really enjoyed a different menu and I didn't crave sweet food much at all. I enjoy the No Count program, but it does have it's restriction while eating out. Even trying to grab a pick bite at Lunch time can be challenging. This week I will follow the No Count program again. The only day that may be difficult is tomorrow. We are heading to Horsham to see Dorothy the Dinosaur in concert. I hope to be back in time for lunch.

MOVE

I want at least 60,000 steps this week. I can move my butt if I need to and I am going to. My new pedomter has got me moving again and I AM GOING TO DO MORE TONING EXERCISES... build up some muscle to get that medabolism going... Again... we have a thousand jobs that need to be done this weekend.. so will keep moving.

THINK

I have been in a shit of a mood since Wednesday... I think it is a combination of being tired, a little sore and just plain grumpy. I don't often get like this but when I do, someone just has to say the wrong thing and watch out. Little things happen everyday that could send most mothers off the deep end, but usually I just deal with them and not let them worry me to much. At the moment, it is all a little hard and I seem to be yelling at my little ones too much. Had a very bad day yesterday... involved little lambs and Jack having to get rid of our dog... then after that, everything was hard. How did I deal with it? I ate almost an entire bag of musk sticks on the way to the clearing sale and Pizza for tea last night... that was yesterday.. today is a new day, but my head is still not quite back in the right spot yet! I am such and emotional eater... Until WW, I didn't think I was.. but Man... I so am! So I am working on the same as last week... Not to eat my emotions..

My motivational quote for the week...

"Be kind to unkind people... they need it the most.."

Ok then... Jack has just rung and I need to run into town for him to get him some drugs for his Asthma that he has misplaced somewhere. I would have loved to head to Melbourne to meet you all there on Saturday week, but we have the Apex Handover dinner that night. It would be such a surreal expereince to me some of you in person. Hope you all have a safe weekend and will try and slip a post in for you over then. I have a photo on my camera for Bee of me modelling my new pedometer. Shall downloaded sometime soon and post.

Take care
Kirsty xx

Growing pains....

Poor little Emilie (4 year old) was didn't settle until about 2 this morning... her knees where sore... the only thing that I can put it down to are 'growing pains' - not sure if this is a real condition, or something that my mother used to tell me.... Anyone else out there have any idea on growing pains?

NoCount is still going really well. I have only used 4 points.. won't use any today. 3 of my four points where TWO WW Orange Choc bars on Saturday night - my little treat while watching a very scary movie with Jack. Skeleton Key - Had Kate Hudson in it. I am normally a chick flick kinda gal.. but this movie sucked me in... and the other point was 1/2 for a little bit of flour in my NoCount lagsana and the to the 1/2 was for BBQ sauce on my Bacon and Egg yesterday. Seems to be little effort to keep on track...

I brought a OMRON brand pedometer from our chemist and it can be worn around my neck, which was a bonus for me. I would throw a kid on my hip 30 or 40 times a day... about the same number of times my pedometer would hit the dust! Very happy with it. Been walking this morning. the girls watched Play school and hugh and I headed out. Can't run with the pram.. so it was just a very brisk walk!

Ok.. just a quick post. Will check in on all sometime during the day... but I need to get some housework going before too much else!!

Saturday update......

I am just doing a very quick post to let you know how well No Count is going for me.... I am a little amazed myself how good I am being!!

So far I have eaten...

Fri - Baked beans and toast; Chicken and sweetcorn soup with another piece of toast; a platter of fresh fruit; Roasted pumpkin, garlic, onion mixed with penne pasta, chilli with a Moccocan yoghurt over the top (delish!!) and a cup of hot chocolate for supper. Sat morning.. Bacon and egg on a piece of toast, fried rice (very small serve) and a made creamed rice with equal (artificial sweetener) - Planning on making a NoCount lasange for tea... So far I haven't used ANY of my 21 points...

Motivation has returned... just need to make then all habits... and I have anew pedometer... and it is raining.... can things get any better!!!

Have a great weekend...

W4 - Daisy Duke Challenge

My first part of this weeks challenge was to find a new picture of Daisy to put on my fridge!! Each week I have made a poster for my fridge with the requirements of each challenge.. I have included a photo of the beloved Daisy.. but I have run out! So onto google I went !!

This is again the original Daisy, and the caption attached to the photo said "While running through the woods, Daisy Duke falls into quicksand and gets rescued by her cousins" - Still looks hot - even if she is having a near death experience.. Check out those collar bones....

W3 in review.. I have no idea on my steps. Pedometer click broke on day three, and I will send it back to WW but I am not certain if the WW warrantry will cover a clip... so if it doesn't, I will log onto Walking with attitude (thanks for the tip girls..) and get another!! I think I will get a better one anyway, I like the sound of those clips with weights. Toning exercises where fine..

Eating... Shit... Started out fine, but for some reason I stopped tracking and it all went out the window. I went to Ballarat yesterday to see my grandmother and I nearly emptied her lollie jar.... stupid... but somethings I guess will never change! Even as a kid, I could go to Nanna's, nearly make myself sick on lollies. Such a bad habit!! I guess it is lucky I don't live in the same town as her!!! But, while in Ballarat I went to a fresh fruit and veg shop called Wilson's, and I believe that they still grow a lot of the produce.. so fridge is full and ready to go!

Ros returned to her meetings tonight. She was very quite initially, but once the meeting started she told us her story about the accident.. I think we where all in tears at some stage of the meeting. Ros is an incredibly strong person, but this has really dented her armor. I don't know if it made her feel any better, telling us her sad story, but it has brought it all out, open for discussion and I know that is the way she would want it. She told us everything from the CFA beeper going off at home, saying that there was an accident and at what intersection and she knew it was her husband, going to the accident in the slippers, having to race back home to get her purse and change her shoes, as they had called the air ambulance at the accident scene. How she lived in the same set of clothes for 4 days, didn't eat for those days either, how the injuries happened, that there wasn't a bruise on his little body, just head injuries, when Jack went in for his transplant surgery she went shopping for fresh clothes and a block of chocolate. Very, very brave family and I admire her more now then ever before...

My weight was 63.9 (over two weeks) so a 200 gram gain... nothing considering what I have been eating...

So.. onto the

W4 - DDC

EAT

This week I am going to focus more on eating... in fact.. I am going to go onto NoCount for the week. The only meal that will be eaten out (i think) during the next week will be next Wednesday (got tickets to see the Scare Little Weird Guys and plan to eat out prior) - but we are going to Mexian restaurant where they do a fine streak.. so I will get through that one unharmed. I have started my NoCount week with a plate of baked beans and toast... Yummy soup for lunch and a pasta dish for tea... will have to think more about tomorrow before I do the shopping.

MOVE

Due to pedometer issues at present, I can't put a number of steps for this week. So at least 4 good walk/runs and again toning exercises - 4 sets of. I have been feeding the sheep by hand (lugging bags of grain around) which I hope is also helping. Hopefully by next week I have a pedometer again. It is so much easier, when I am busy with the kids, to slip out for 20 minutes twice a day, then do on a big walk.. Just slowly adds up during the day.

THINK

Again... I am going to work on "Don't eat your emotions" - yesterday was fine as I had bookwork to keep my busy... perhaps I need to get another hobby...

Motivational Quote for the week

Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going

and to keep those habits.. not just let them slip!!!

Thanks for all of your comments.. love getting them! better go, kids are creating a few points of housework for me to clean up!!

Beetroot dip and my pedometer....

Just had to take a breath... yet another busy weekend. It really is amazing how much you can pack into a weekend!

A flying visit to Melbourne to move my sister's stuff into her new little home saw us up at 6 and at Ararat McDonald's at about 9 to meet Sally and Brett. They left from Horsham a little later then we did. A quick coffee and back on the road saw us at Northcote at about 11 - Had the trailer unpacked and looking for something for lunch by 1pm - By that stage it was all about the food...

Sal's new place is so cute... one of those single fronted terraces, all new inside, which is just as well as Sally is VERY fussy. Here is a picture of Sally and Brett at their front gate - corny hey!!

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Linda.... I drove past two fish and chip shops in Thornbury on the way out (on High street) - you will have to let me know which on your husband owns for out next visit!!

Sal and Brett love food.... good food... and they took Jack and I to a pub in a back street called The Standard... The pub looked like any pub you would step foot into here in the Wimmera/Mallee.. but had the most amazing beer garden. Here, Sal & Brett often dine and Brett loves the beetroot dip... I have never tried a beetroot dip before.. It never looks that nice.. a pile of pinky/red mash - just couldn't bring myself to taste it... but with the recommendation given to us, I tried it and I have to admit it was divine... and point free!!!! So lookout next time I am asked to bring a dip to an event.. it will be beetroot!! We walked past all of these cute little cafes on the way to the Standard, but I know why this place would be popular. Very casual.. almost stuck in a time-warp without trying. The food was delish.. I had a grilled chicken burger... all fresh and nothing processed (Chicken I mean ....) Jack and Brett had the lamb shanks.. that looked beautiful and Sal had the Lamb and garlic sasuages. We sat in front of the fire...ate... had a couple of drinks then walked back out into the drizzle!

On the way there I saw out of the corner of my eye, A Quick brown fox.. clothing store. I don't know why I have heard of this brand.. but it was the only shop that I popped my head in for the day. Very funky things.. but will have to head back anothr day with more time!

Sunday brought another full-on day (for Jack anyway) - He went cropping and put in our lentils. Each year since we have been living here I have taken a photo of the kids and jack on the back of the combine.. here is this years... Kids dressed liked ferals (farm clothes..)

Emilie spent almost the entire day out in the tractor or having a ride on the back of the combine. She is so tired, she just fell asleep at the kitchen table having her lunch.

I also feel naked!!! The clip on my pedometer has broken. I keep on feeling my hip and it isn't there!!!! I read an achieved article on the internet by CHOICE that the WW pedometers are just motivators and that the steps can be out by 20%!!! So.. if I can't get mine replaced by warrantry, I will investigate further and see which on would be the best!

Ok... I better get a wiggle on and do some more housework.. seeing as it was neglected badly over the weekend!!