Birthday Girl

Little Summer had been sooooo looking forward to this day, her 5th birthday party. All her pre-schools friends were invited and 14 of the 18 invited came along with their parents. Her Dad and his partner came, Micheal (her mum’s partner) and his 2 daughters came, and of course I was there. Hubby bowed out, too noisy for him!!!

Little Miss was so excited but a little overwhelmed with all the attention being focused on her. 

It was held at the Beach Volleyball centre which is also home to lots of Inflatables, about 10 bouncies to play on. Ohhh my the kids had the best time. Boys and girls running and playing in every direction.

 And she nearly cried when it came to the cake, look how overwhelmed she was. She so loved it. Didn’t mummy do an awesome job, she made it and decorated it herself.

Today she wore her crown and Birthday Girl badge to school and took cupcakes for everyone including her teachers. 

This is my brother and I taken at Rays funeral. 

I’m still coming to terms with the news he gave me on his 73rd birthday back in February. Rod has been diagnosed with dementia. I believe it is early onset but I’m not sure. So not only was reeling from Ron, then Ray then now this with Rod. 

And then the other day one of our close radio friends passed away. Tex and hubby have been talking many years on the radio. We stayed with him at his house on our travels over on the East Coast and caught up with him at a Hamfest in Ohio when we travelled to America and Canada. 

Getting old is sux 🫤

I’ll say goodnight with a report of a 800g loss on the demon scales this morning. 

Emotions

 Emotions play a huge part of my weight gains and of course my losses. Since I’ve started back on ww I have noticed a pattern. One week I have a good loss and the following week I have a gain or just a small loss. This week I had a 300g gain. I’ve done nothing much different to usual…except Friday after 7 long weeks we were able to say a final goodbye to my cousin Ray. It was a tough day and my eating was a little off. Anyways, I still managed to stay within my points. This week I’m trying to cut out snacks, sweet and salty popcorn has been my friend ALL this week with me eating 2 snack bags a day, sometimes 3 😳😳

My favourite pick of Ray. It was taken at my Mum’s 80th birthday. These 2 had the same wicked sense of humour. I think the pic above shows that. 

I know I’m going the miss the old bugga…we had a great bond. I’m going to miss the unexpected visits, the phone calls and him. Life is just not fair sometimes. He got sent to do his job and never came back. I just hope that his family get compensated for the loss his life, it should have NEVER happened. 

Anyways on to another week. Hope I get a loss next week…only 2 months before we pack up and head off on our trek. 

Back Pain

 Another week gone. 

Been a slow week exercise wise, last Monday was the last day I walked. Have had a lot of back spasms, very painful at times.

I was in a car accident when I was a teenager and received quite a severe back injury. Every now and then it flares up and causes me grief….this is the worst it has been in a long time.

I’ve also got a jaw ache, don’t know if they are related at all, but if pain persists I will be getting it checked out. 

Went up and saw our friends the other day, we are joining them for the trek. Now to work out the permits to travel through indigenous land and start the planning. It’s quite exciting, been a long time since we’ve done this type of trek. 

Kylee has managed to get kids into before school care so they have been sorted. She is also going to take personal leave from her bakers job while we away. William is having a lot of anxiety issues with her working nights, so she needs to be around whilst we gone. He has already asked me if we coming back… poor lil lad. 

Right, weigh in day. A loss of 800g.

Another week gone

 

Another week has just flown by…I can’t believe how quickly it has gone. They do say the older you get the quicker the time goes by and gee I’m finding that to be true.

Had friends out over the weekend. We asked them out as our fig trees are overloaded and we know how much they enjoy fresh fruit. We’ve already made jam and dried so many of them. While they were here they said they were off exploring in May and asked us to join them on the trek. It’s a trek we’ve wanted to do so we’ve been trying to figure out if we can go. Our daughter relies on us so much with the grandies so she is now trying to sort out alternatives for them. Hate doing it to her, and feel a little guilty doing so but it is our time now and if we don’t do it this time we may not have the chance again. Other friends asked us in 2018 to do this trek but it was 3 weeks after we returned from our America/Canada/London trip and I couldn’t get the time off work. 

Anyways, I’m hoping that we can manage to do it. A lot of planning to be done and travel permits to be sought out and got.

And hopefully I can lose a bit more weight and be more comfortable travelling. 

No weight lost on last weigh in, actually I had a 300g gain. Don’t know why, I planned and tracked but still it happened. Moving on and hopefully this week it will turn itself around. 

Time to move, a work day for me and a few things have to be done before I head out the door. 

Monday again…

 

And that means it is weigh in day. 

Todays awesome result is a 1.3 loss. Go me 😊

I’m really loving this weight watchers program. I’ve settled into a pattern with it easily. 

I plan my days menu out either the evening before or in the morning and track it. Tracking is the key for me atm, I find I don’t slip up if I know what I’m eating.  And if something should crop up I know I have my weekly bonus points to use.  And now I’ve started to move more and doing some walking I get added bonus points. I do not ever use those extra bonus points. 

I’m challenging myself to get out and move more. My jabbawalk buddy and I trying to get out early to walk. It’s been quite hot and humid of late. My knee so far hasnt given me any trouble so keep fingers crossed 🤞🏽  I’m also trying to get my walk times down and my biggest one is too drink more water…water that is NOT in my coffee. Yeah I drink too much coffee. Another bonus with this round of WW for me is that I’ve stopped my drinking 2 or more Pepsi Max a day. Don’t know why but I’m finding I don’t enjoy….or need it….anymore. 

My biggest challenge is carbs. I’m slowly changing my habit of having bread every day. Ohh it’s tough, but I’m getting there. 

Right, my washing machine is beeping at me, another load is ready to hang out.

Birthday today

 Birthday today. 

I had the little grandies last night, and had school drop off. William was very cute this morning. He got up, walked out and said “I’ve a big birthday present for you” and then gave me a huge hug. A very heart melting moment 💕 

After school drop off I met my girlfriend for a “jabbawalk” then she shouted me breakfast out. Absolutely delicious it was too. After that it was home and the usual everyday stuff…cleaning, washing and cooking.  Just another day really. 

Still waiting for my cousin Rays funeral. They can’t find his dental records so now we wait for dna results. It’s a big mess and very heartbreaking as we can’t plan anything 💔 

Not much else happening.

Ohhh weigh in….100g down 😘

Another week…..

 Still no word on Rays funeral date yet. Due to the nature of his death his body has been sent to the coroners to determine the cause of his death. And there are investigations ongoing as to the circumstances leading up to his death. Yes…it’s all very traumatic. 

It’s been a quiet week. 

No Deb to walk with this last week. She had minor surgery on her shoulder which has gone well. Also had issues with her Dad of 90 plus years falling over and injuring himself twice!! He lives 40 minutes away in his own house so that has meant lots of travel for her. Thankfully he wears one of those emergency necklaces so he was attended to very quickly by ambulance services. 

I’ve done 4 x 30 plus minutes walks on my own and touch wood so far my knee hasn’t given me any problems. 

My shoulder has been though, it keeps on freezing up on me…..ohhh the pain 🥺 

Yesterday I went and visited my little great granddaughter, ohh my she is a little cutie. My granddaughter has access visit every Sunday for a few hours so I try to go see her every 3 or 4 weeks so I’m not imposing too much on Jaydene’s time. 

Omg this pic. I had to crop it….talk about rolls of fat….😫😩

Weigh in today, 700g down.

More sadness

 How much can one family take.

A week after cousin Ron was layed to rest his big brother Ray was killed very tragically. His family, his siblings and us his extended family are struggling big time. 

Ray and I were close. We grew up together in forestry settlements, his Dad and mine both working in the Forest Department. He was older, a bit older than my brother but he and I were still close but more so when we were older. He lived with me and hubby when we lived up North. Hubby was a mechanic for the Shire and Ray was the grader driver. Lots of memories of fishing and camping trips, sitting on the patio watching dust and lightning storms, bickering, arguing and laughing over the silliest things. He was the one that was there during moments where we needed someone to lean on. I’m going to miss those unexpected visits where he walked in and said “well missus you got the kettle on” and those long winded telephone calls….no wonder we called you “Windy”.

I’m not looking forward to that final goodbye.

I went down south on the weekend and spent time with my sister. A huge weekend of speedway was on so we were able to take our mind off the loss of Ray.

We had a good time, lots of sister talks, and wanders down memory lanes plus a few drinks consumed.

Did well….no over indulging so the scales said yesterday.

A stay the same which I’m happy with.

I’m trying to get more exercise in so walked this morning before work.  Yes…I’m retired and receive a pension but I’m still doing 11 hours a fortnight paid work which the government encourages. Helps with the pension, plus I get to interact with others and as hubby and I don’t go anywhere in the summer I’m hoping to have a little extra spending money when we do travel. 

A great week

 Another week has flown by. 

After my 600g gain last week…I made sure there was very little bread and I watched the snacking. No Cookie Monster 👹 this week. Weigh in this morning was 1.2 down, I’ve finally got back to my pre Christmas weigh in. Now to keep the momentum happening. 

My g/f Deb and I have been walking 2 or 3 times a week.

Rest day tomorrow, Deb has a thigh that is giving her grief if she walks too much so rest day for her tomorrow. I have work tomorrow so will get lots of steps in BUT if I wake up early I going to do a small walk.

Been so hot these past few days, we’ve nearly melted. We start our walk at 6.30am and by the end of it we are a sweaty mess. Next few days are meant to be cooler, let’s hope so. 

Not much happening here. 

Been doing some preserving. Hubby put in a vegetable garden and as he usually does he planted way too much. So we’ve made pickles, chutneys, relishes and sauces out of the tomatoes and cucumbers …plus frozen heaps of the other vegetables. Had peas, beans, turnips and silverbeet galore. Had to buy another freezer and I’m now looking for a pantry cupboard to store all these preserving. 

How true is this……

I’ve been dealing with a few opinionated people of late. 

I’ve just said if that’s the way you think, so be it. I just can’t be bothered with petty shit anymore. 

It’s dinner time….time to eat.

Mmmmmm…..a gain..

 And all because of……

I had a binge on the darn things 2 days before weigh in didn’t I? Had a sweet attack and just couldn’t get rid of it. 

The next day I went over points too so just knew I was in for a gain. And I was, up 600g. Anyways onwards we go…..

Menu is all planned out for the next few days.

I’ve got this, I want this weight off !!  Wish it would come off as fast as I put it on 😚

I’ve got back into my walking again, only 2, sometimes 3 days a week. Deb and I walk 3k’s and I’m enjoying it. So far my knee is holding up. Not as fast as we used to be, my knee just don’t allow that….but at least we out there. 

Yesterday

Yesterday was a very emotional day.

Yesterday I attended the funeral of my cousin Ron. Ron’s family and mine spent a lot of time together as kids. His Dad and my Mum were brother and sister, his mum and my mum were also very good friends as well as sister in laws. And his Dad and my Dad also worked in the forestry department. We grew apart as we got older, plus him being 6 years older he moved on and left the district before I did. Mum always kept me informed as to where they all were….as did my brother as he and Ron kept the family tradition of working in the forestry department. 

Once I moved down south again (after living in the north west of the state for many years) I caught up with Ron and all his siblings and even though we didn’t see each other often we stayed in touch. 

Ron coached junior football and coached Simons 2 sons, and then Simon and him played football together in the “old farts” team. 

8 years ago Ron was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimers. It was very slow moving for the first 5 years but the last 3 years it was a rapid decline and it was so sad and depressing to see such a vibrant man fade away. I stopped visiting as I couldn’t watch his body and mind fail him. 

Anyway at the funeral I coped till the time of reflection of Ron’s life. Photos and songs were put up on the screens and a gorgeous pic of him and mum together just set me off in a sea of tears. Those 2 had the same wicked sense of humour and got on so well. 

At the funeral was Simons ex wife and his eldest daughter paying their respects too. But more tears flowed as Jessica walked straight past me twice and didn’t acknowledge me. Her mother has a lot to answer too. I have lost the love of Jess and her sister thanks to her and her nasty vicious lies. It not only breaks my heart but her Dads as well. Thankfully the two boys acknowledge their Dad and me and hubby. Once upon a time we all used to be so close.  

It being a family funeral I was able to catch up with all Ron’s siblings and a few of the other cousins. Being a Thursday a lot couldn’t make could make the trip, plus a lot couldn’t because a lot of bushfires had closed roads in some directions. Still a lot made it. 

Was beautiful to see a of forestry personnel make a guard of honour as he was bought into the crematorium. 

Rest easy Ron xx 

Here we go go again…

 Happy New Year to anyone that still following me….

It’s been hot most of this week, so daughter has been taking these kidlets to the water park for a couple of hours in the morning before it gets too hot. I went in with them the other day…what a blast they have there,  they are real water babies.

My girlfriend and I have started walking in the mornings again….loving that we can continue our jabberwalking….we’ve both missed it. At the moment we are walking 3k and doing that 3 times a week. Feel so much better for it too. My knee is tolerating it too, long may that last!! And it can only help with the weight loss too surely 🤷‍♀️

I’m doing ok on ww, had a gain over the Christmas break, but I restarted on Boxing Day and going ok so far, the scales are moving down. Tracking is my key.

Did have a falter the other day, got the sad news that a cousin I was close to had passed away. Been expecting it as he was diagnosed with dementia in his mid 60’s, but the other day at just 73 he slipped away. His devoted wife of 48 years rang to let me know and I just slipped into shock….I had to hand the phone to hubby and get her to repeat it all to him. I sat and had a drink and nibbled on a treat while I let my siblings know the sad news. Have the funeral next week to get through now. 

Ongoing war between Daughter and the kids Dad. He still hasn’t seen them, think October was the last time he spent any time with them. Didn’t FaceTime them for Christmas or Williams 9th birthday 2 days after. Work obviously is more important than them 🙄  So daughter spent all last week while she was off work doing a lot of fun things with them. Kids loved it. They missed a few FaceTimes with him because of it which he complained about. So K asked him to have them overnight next weekend so they could spend some time with him. Omg he agreed, but could only have them 3pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday 😲 It’s only been 9 months since he’s had them at his place 💁‍♀️ Then she asked him to have them for 4 days while she had some down time….the response was “sorry I am working, I can’t ” 🙇‍♀️

Daddy of the year…..NOT!!

Just a few pics…..

A New Year

 

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas everyone….

A quiet one here….

Skye unable to join us, her boyfriend and family have Covid and she showing signs so she isolating with them.

Kylee, William and Summer along with K’s partner Micheal and his daughters joined hubby, Shawn and me for breakfast.

Was meant to see little Jahzara today, but DCP changed the date and Jaydene had visit yesterday. Even she wasn’t told till the taxi arrived to pick her up 😤😮

So Shawn playing his new tablet, hubby listening to his radio and I’m going to start my new book. 

Tomorrow I’m restarting ww….festivities for me will be over…

I’m still here

Yes, I’m still here.

Slowly but surely getting myself back on track. Two weeks ago I heard that WW was changing their program again and had a 60% off joining fee…so I rejoined. I love the program, it’s very similar to the “Blue” program I was following before I bombed out when they changed to personal points. I’m losing weight…plenty more to lose too, I wasn’t quite the heaviest I have ever been, but was getting close. And 10 kilos heavier than what I finished up on WW last time. 

Yesterday I had lunch with my “bestie” who is also a weight watcher. She is also my “jabber buddy” from our walking days. We stopped walking as we both started looking after grandies overnight…and with both of us working we just couldn’t find time.

Anyhow yesterday our 2023 aim is to start walking together again…starting off at 2 days a week. Very doable don’t you think?

 Christmas is getting closer and closer.

I rang my kids and said this year I’ll be doing a brunch on Christmas Day, come and join us. 

Tanya and kids are unavailable, but will call in Christmas Eve before they go camping. Simon and Tammy are going to Perth to spend Christmas Day with her daughter and grandies. They’ll call in on the way back he said. 

Kylee and her 2 will be here, her partner Micheal also. I think he’ll have his 2 daughters with him. They will all then head up to Mandurah to spend time with Micheals family.

Shawn and Skye will be home too. In the afternoon Skye will head off to Busselton to be with Luke her boyfriend. Shawn I guess will go fishing…loves his fishing he does.

In the afternoon Jaydene ( Shawn’s #2 daughter) has a visit with her little girl Jahzara so I’ll go and have Christmas cuddles with my little great-granddaughter. 

Not much else happening…so leave it at this and see you soon. 

Ponderings

 I’ve started my Christmas shopping….well actually I’ve just about finished it all. 

That got me thinking about Christmas and all. After my brother died in 1979 my family stopped being a family. Mum and Dad had separated not long before Tom was killed, then we all seemed to fall apart. No Christmas get together that year. My marriage broke up, my eldest brother and his wife lost a baby in the 7th month of the pregnancy. My sister and her husband split. I can’t recall all being together celebrating after all that, if fact not from Shem Tom was killed.  Now there is just the 3 of us left and we've still not had a Christmas together.

Same with my darling children. Since Paul died and Kylee separated from Bozo, Simon from Tracey the family get togethers are very rare. I hardly see Tanya and the kids, each passing year since Paul died they have drifted further and further away from us.  

Simon has been drifting along since his "mucky" separation and has found happiness with Tammy. Hardly see them but he does remember us with phone calls and texts....and he and us don't see the kids (except Sheymus) thanks to Tracey and her vindictive lies. Jessica and Zoe don't acknowledge us at all, they have cut us, including Simon,  completely out of their lives since the separation. Simon still sees Sheymus, he actually lived with Simon and Tammy for awhile and he still sees Tommy occasionally. 

Shawn lives with us still. His eldest Skye lives with us. Jaydene and Shayden with their mother. Kaleb with his foster mother. Jaydenes little girl with her foster mother too. Thankfully Shawn and us get to see them all except Kaleb. DCP sux. 

And as for Kylee...well her and her kids treat this house like their own. Kylee is staying home for Christmas so I will at least see the joy and excitement when they open their pressies. 

Skye and Shawn will be here on the day too. Skye will go off to her Mothers during the day and then to her boyfriends. 

mmmmm so that is that.

Christmas is just not the same anymore. 

Day by Day…

Day by day I’m taking it.

Everyday I try to get myself on track….every day I have failed. 

But I will hopefully….and pleasssssseee make it soon…..I will have “that” moment when it all just clicks….

Tomorrow I will be trying again.

Still struggling

 I’m still struggling big time.

Just back from a 16 day getaway, and some days I really found it hard. I struggled getting in and I out of 4 wheel drive, and climbing up to our bed was hard too…so much so I stoped drinking late afternoon so I didn’t have to get up to pee during the night. Weather was great except for a constant wind. A few campsites I found it hard walking against the wind, particularly the last camp. The toilet  was up a steep hill and by the time I got there I was breathles. I am just TOO HEAVY. I am uncomfortable. I HATE being like this…….😕🫤🥺😖😢😭

Today I’m not feeling at all well, I have a gastro type bug and just not into eating. So I’m making today the start of turning my life around and getting back on track. 

This last little holiday is the last one this year as we don’t go far from home in Summer so I have a few months to get some kind of plan going. And hopefully loose some weight. I just have too.

Anyways, will leave it here with a few pics of our time away.

Struggling

 Yeah I’ve been missing. And for me to be missing means I’ve fallen off the wagon yet again……

I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m the heaviest I have been in years and years. I just can’t stop eating.

Hubby and I are heading off on holidays again in 2 weeks. Going to pack up the camper and head north again. Hopefully I’ve got enough clothes that fit.

I’m still here

 I’m still recovering from the flu, it just won’t let go. Only sniffly nose and a frog in throat cough now but it’s annoying. Run out of “fuel” quickly too…..seem to be constantly tired. 

I’ve reached pension age so have stopped working….though my employees have asked me to stay on and do one shift a week. I’ve agreed to that, I work a 4 hour shift Tuesdays it gives me a few extra dollars. 

Still ongoing with the yo-yo of weight loss, gained last week, lost this week. 

Taking time off at the end of the month and going to head off up North again and do more fishing, exploring, resting and relaxing 😌