DO WE LIKE THE NEW HEADER PHOTO?

Well?
What do you think of it?


It's Bex's shoe with shells they picked up on Orewa Beach yesterday.
I think it's neat.


I almost didn't post an update today.... I am feeling just so... bla.


Not sleeping well at all.   Will be ringing the Dr's today to get a new prescription for the Anti Depressants.  Sooooo didn't want to, but I am getting increasingly tired from lack of sleep.
Bloody hot flushes are back at night, and a few are coming during the day again as well.


So pissed off.  Thought I was over them.


What else is on me agenda today?
Yaaa, kids to school... probably the only good thing.


Steve is home today as he worked on Sunday, so I am hoping he can do a job for me.


My Mother dumped all her photos off at my house years ago, and I want to go through them and do some sorting out.  I also need to sort out mine as well.  So that's where Steve comes in... I need him to get them all down from the loft for me.
Now days all my photos are stored on my computer ... so that's another huge job for me to do one day too... put them all on disc!
Really should do that before I lose them.

ABOVE: there is a new 'favourite' person in this house.  Little traitors.  Bet they will miss her when she goes home on Wednesday!

ABOVE:  Love is... getting your mono-brow plucked by your girlfriend!

ABOVE:  luckily she is now fairly used to me taking photos of EVERYTHING!


Right, that's it for now... 
ONWARD...


The day so far, well I've done lots of little jobs around the house, lots of tidying up, de-cluttering etc.
Went and bought more weed for the tadpoles.  Paid a bill.  Bought sushi for lunch.
Watched a taped programme on TV while eating lunch.
Had a nana nap.
Ordered new pills, can't pick them up till tomorrow afternoon.


Feel disgusting.  Not going to WW tonight.  Taking a 'no weigh' week... cos I am just feeling revolting.
Headache.  Guts ache.  Crabby.
Tired.  
Not nice when tired.


Got chicken out for dinner.  Going to have Butter Chicken.


DEBBIE: Butter Chicken is an Indian spiced buttery sauce over small pieces of cubed chicken, served on rice.  It's very nice.

ABOVE:  meet Bamm Bamm.. our first tadpole transformed into a froglet!  He still has a small tail, but it's shrinking fast.  He lives under that sphagnum moss.


Steve has been a darling this afternoon and cleaned mine and Bex's cars, and mown the lawns for Stew.  Bex has also been ever so helpful.... she's done lots of washing for me.   Ahhh, I could come to like this!  *smiles*


JANE W: no, I felt ikkk well before the sushi.


End of Day: no WW tonight.  Don't feel good about that, but just can't face going out again.
ON TRACK: yes!
nite nite.

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JADED... NEED A BREAK

I wake up lately feeling like I could just go back to bed.
Feeling jaded.
Looking forward to tomorrow... think I will get the kids off to school and just go back to sleep all morning!


Probably won't happen though.

ABOVE: this is me.  Starting to feel very frazzled.  Once a mother, always a mother.  Just wish sometimes I got a bit more time off.  These school holidays I don't think I even got 1 day's break away from kids.  *sigh*

ABOVE:  I don't think I say this often enough.... so ... THANKS  to everyone who comments ... I really do appreciate it.  Comments are lovely to receive.... and I rather enjoy leaving them too.


Today:  Cloudy or not, we are going to the beach.  Either Orewa or Omaha, will know when we get there!


ONWARD.... see you much later...


Came back early.  There was NO sunshine, and lots of wind... just not conducive for a lovely beach day at all.
We ran into Amanda, Andrew and the kids at Orewa too!  

ABOVE: Orewa, tide out, very cloudy.

ABOVE:  Andrew and Emily... very windy.

ABOVE:  all the kids had a swim... even though it was windy, the water was OK.  Amanda kinda had a swim too... Steve sneaked up behind her while she was standing in knee deep water with her clothes on and 'helped' her in!   Shame... she had her mobile phone in her pocket.  OOoops.  I think she was calling into Sylvia Park on her way home to get a new phone.

 ABOVE: this guy was having a ball in the wind.... man could he get some speed up!

ABOVE:  the family walking along the beach.

ABOVE:  my favourite photo for the day.  Bex shoe with shells.  It's pretty.


End of Day: after much dicking around, I have got a new Header picture.  
ON TRACK:  seriously?  NO.
nite nite.

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SAVED THESE FROM YESTERDAY'S TRIP:

 ABOVE: pigeon claws raking on knees ... makes for 'horror' faces!!!

ABOVE: Awwwww.... love is.....

ABOVE:  two goofy kids.

ABOVE:  Yes *sigh*... Steve is a dirty, dirty, little kiwi !   lol

ABOVE:  Oh look, a nice one of them!   Finally.

ABOVE: a very pretty bay .... only it's a 'nudist' beach.  No one was down there in the nuddy yesterday.  Steve did look! 


TODAY:  not sure yet.  Steve has to work, so Bex is here with us.  I think Steve is expecting her to bake scones and take them down to his workplace at morning tea... apparently his boss wants to SEE Bex.... cos she reckon's she's a figment of his imagination!  lol


So, maybe we are making scones this morning!


ONWARD...


WOW, it's not often I neglect my blog ALL DAY!
But, we have been fairly busy.
After arising, we did a big grocery shop, came home, unloaded it all... then we had visitors arrive.
I made a batch of cheese scones for lunch and we had them with MY JAM and cream.
I had ONE.
We used the RAPP jam (rhubarb, apple, pineapple and Passionfruit) and it was TO DIE FOR!


Some of the others had my plum jam and raved about that too.


I felt like a real 'wifey'  lol.

 ABOVE: our visitors were Sofia Grace Cleary ... and her Mum, Dad and brother.  Clearly I forgot to photograph them!  

ABOVE:  I did manage to get a few of Sofia though! lol


It's almost dinner time, we are having corn on the cob... 
OH and I'm also making more jam!


End of Day:  the latest batch of jam was Nectarine/Apple/Pineapple and Passionfruit.  Another success!  
Very tired tonight.  Not been sleeping well... think I'm getting hot flushes at night again.  That makes me feel very sad as I thought I was over them.
ON TRACK: yep... using all my points though, which I hadn't been doing.
nite nite

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LET IT SHINE

The sun that is.
Cos if it's a nice day we want to go to the beach.. all of us.
Bex isn't a beach baby... but I'm sure she will enjoy a day out with all of us at the beach... picnic... swimming... bla bla bla.


So, here's hoping it's going to be nice and fine.


It would make a change for sure.


This has been one of the most crap summers I can remember!  It has rained almost EVERY other DAY since before Christmas!


I've been out in the sun ONCE.  
I have been swimming ONCE.
And I'm a true water baby.
I love swimming.


So, fingers crossed.


We want to go up to Omaha/Matheson Bay/Goat Island.  Swim with the fish.

ABOVE:  The Kaipara Cat.
Did I ever tell you I found out that my Dad's last fishing boat was now owned by a couple up in Helensville, and they do fishing charters on the Kaipara Harbour?  
Anyway, I have corresponded with them, just to say how nice the boat is looking... and they offered to take us out on the boat sometime.  I declined,  as the charter fees are about $1,000 a day!
Would you believe they have offered to take us out FOR FREE!!!
I have replied with a resounding... OMG YES PLEASE!   Waiting now to see what happens!


Also, they mentioned that they knew lots about what my Dad did to overhaul the boat, including making a 'special' toilet seat for the head.  Only, the seat was not on the boat when they bought it.


GUESS WHAT?

 ABOVE:  I HAVE IT!....  I removed it when my Dad died, cos It was something special he had made and felt proud of.

ABOVE:  My Dad set crabs into it!  It's rather 'unique'.   I plan on giving it to them so they can put it back where it belongs.  I know that they will appreciate it very much.


ONWARD... the day awaits.


It ain't shining.
Everyone slept in.
In fact, Steve and Bex are still in bed (10.30)


So... the beach is not going to happen.
We are now thinking of a train trip into town and a ferry over to Devonport.
We shall see...


The trains were not running today, so we drove downtown and caught the ferry over to Devonport and had lunch there:

 ABOVE:  a very nice ship berthed in Auckland...

ABOVE X's 3:  Steve and Bex...

ABOVE: lunch down by the water.... lots of birds.  The pigeons were particularly 'friendly'....

ABOVE:  Steve and Griffin got lots of fun out of the pigeons!  

ABOVE: Bex wasn't so sure about them... they kept slipping on her knees and digging their claws in ...

ABOVE:  The boys having fun.  The lady in the background was taking photos of them too.

ABOVE:  Stew got in on the act too.  Brylee didn't like them at all, so stayed clear.

 ABOVE:  Griffin on the other hand, absolutely LOVED them.


After returning to the city, we drove along the waterfront, took in some nice scenery, then had an ice cream at the Movenpik shop in Mission Bay.


Home now... rather tired!  Hoping the family don't want much for dinner as I sure don't!

End of Day: Stew cooked dinner.  Potato wedges and chicken drumsticks.  Nice.
Steve and Bex have gone to the movies.... quiet night in for us.  How usual.
ON TRACK:  sort of.
nite nite.

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VERY NICE HAVING GIRLY COMPANY

Steve's girlfriend came to visit him last Saturday... she was only going to stay until Tuesday... but she seems to be enjoying our company far too much.


Cos, she's still here... and has no plans to leave until next Wednesday!


Funnily enough, we don't mind!


She has her uses.

Yesterday she cleaned the family bathroom... you know, the one where the kids pee.   ON THE FLOOR.   I am liking having her here!


She's lovely company.  And she does chores.   


I THINK WE WILL KEEP HER!   lol
Somehow, I get the impression she wants to stick around too.
Shame she has to leave.... but she has a family wedding to attend and a job to return to at some point too!  


Today:  Bex and I might just stay home!  Or we might go grocery shopping for real this time.

ABOVE:  I wish I had DIPLOMACY like this.


ONWARD...

ABOVE: A blogger down in Christchurch has sent me some Stevia, which is a natural sugar replacement.  I am going to try and make some jam using it.  Not too sure how that will work?  But I will try!
Thanks very much Sarah, even if it does not work for jam, it's going to come in handy for other stuff for sure!

Bex and I are going out now to get a few bits 'n' bobs to change the terrarium around a bit.  We want more 'land' area for the frogs.

ABOVE:  done.  We made the left side the water side, and the right side is the land.  One of the taddies is ALMOST a frog!  He looks really funny sitting on top of a big, fat tadpole!  lol


End of day:  another lovely day really.  Kids at school, so I kinda spent the day watching the clock.... waiting for them to come home again.  Derrr.
ON TRACK:  can't say it was a stellar day, but not too bad.
nite nite.

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WEDDING ANNIVERSARY RING!

It will be our 25th Wedding Anniversary in June.... and I have been looking for a ring to 'commemorate' the milestone for a while now.


So, while we were out shopping yesterday, Bex and I were stopping at jewellery shops (JUST LOOKING)... and I saw THE ring!!!


OMG... it just was THE ONE.  And it was on SALE... sheesh I'm good at finding a bargin I tell ya.


So... I put it on Layby!   Stew has 4 months to help pay for it ... lol.  

ABOVE:  another crap photo... my phone has a right shit camera.  But you get the drift?  It's Ceylonese Sapphires and diamonds,  pave' set in a wide 18 carat gold band.  It looks PERFECT beside my other sapphire and diamond ring.  I will go back tonight and get a better photo using my good camera.


TODAY:  the kids go back to school!  I am going to LOVE today.
I do love my kids... but 7 weeks holiday is SO LONG!  
And they were getting restless too... clearly ready to hit the school room again.

 How cute are our frogs?  ...

I couldn't help but show you both of them together... even though one is trying to hide.  AND NO, I am not going to name them!  


ONWARD... time to get these kids ready for school! ...


DROP OFF DONE.  They are at school... and it is SO quiet at home!  The 'men' are at work, and Bex is sleeping in... so it's just me and the dogs/frogs/tadpoles and flies.  Pesky little flies. That I am trying to catch to feed to me frogs.  Not having much luck this morning.  They are wising up to the net!


Might just go buy some flies.  Never thought I would be saying THAT!  lol
I hate flies.  They drive me nuts.
Also doing the grocery shopping today... just as soon as Bex arises... she can help... yaaaa.


DEBBIE: time will tell what Brylee and Griffin think of their new classes.  Griffin has the same teacher, same classroom, just a new level. He is in Year 6.  Brylee has gone up to the 'Intermediate' level, so she has a new teacher and classroom.  She is in Year 7.


YOU ARE ALL RIGHT PAINS IN THE BUTT!  If I name the frogs, how will I tell who is who????
*sigh*
But, as so many seem to think I should name them... I WILL.
Fred
Wilma
Pebbles
Bamm Bamm
Barney
Betty 
and..... Dino.


There ya go.  


Bex and I went grocery shopping... only we had lunch first.... we both had butter chicken, but could not eat it all.  This is good.
Then we did some shopping.  Bex found a black shoulder bag to use now and at the wedding... so she's happy.
I got a few things too:

ABOVE:  Stew bought me the smaller wooden spoon the other day for jam making... but it is just a bit small... I kept getting burnt from the jam spitting up... so I found the bigger one today.  And some cooling racks (don't have any) and two really cute jam jars.  I might just have to get a few more of them at some point.


Groceries ...  well... we kinda didn't do that afterall!   I couldn't be bothered ... it was so hot and muggy we decided to come home and do the  groceries in the evening instead.  Stew can help me.  
OH... and I need to show him THE RING tonight too!


WOMBAT:  Kermit?  Too twee.  And Stew surprise me?  YEAH RIGHT.  And he knows he would choose the wrong one too.  So I choose.  It's safter that way.  lol

ABOVE:  the way better photo of the ring!
Stew has now seen it... and thinks it's lovely.


End of Day: it's been a nice day... looking forward to an early bedtime... not been sleeping well lately.  Too hot and humid.
ON TRACK: too right!
nite nite.

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