Holiday at Home

We are planning a 'Holiday at Home' over Easter. Last year was a bit of a disaster, despite the magic location.
I started looking for somewhere to go, and went with the closed eyes and finger point in the RACQ accomodation guide. Landed on a place at Coffs Harbour - brilliant me thinks! Hmmm - look up website - BBQ and pool onsite......bigger hmmmm.....we have that here?! Our main bedroom and ensuite is bigger than most deluxe suites - and hey there's always the spa!
So we have now decided to save some money and enjoy what we have right here. Menu planning and day activity ideas are all coming together as well as a few movie nights. Magazines and books to read are on the agenda as well as whole lotta doing not much! Must be careful not to buy too many home decorating magazines, as I normally get inspired and want to do 'stuff'. We are turning off the phones, ignoring the answering machine and kicking back!
Psst - and I really do enjoy the menu planning and cooking - OK!

Birthday Bling

I was very lucky to be spoilt with these gorgeous bracelets and matching necklace for my birthday! Gee my family has good taste! LOL They are perfect and very 'Ally'.

I also got two pairs of swimming togs, so now just to wait for the pool! Six days to go, not that I am impatient or anything :-)

Photography by Erin.

We have moved in!

We have been in for a good three weeks now I would say, and we have settled in very nicely!

It still feels like a holiday and I hate going to work or anywhere actually! LOL

I think I have maybe three boxes left to unpack. I have thrown away so much. It feels like we are starting out all over again. We didn't keep much furniture, so am also looking forward to getting it all matching and brand new.

Happy Halloween

Even though we don't celebrate Halloween, I thought you all might like this picture.

Just add character

The corrugated iron adds a bit of character to the back of the house. The plasterering is all coming together inside. It looks so much neater with the cornice in place. The chippies should start the fit out tomorrow and the roller door goes in too.

It's all good!

It started raining today, but luckily all the outside work is done now until painting.

The big timber entry posts are in place and the eaves and rendering are all finished. The plasterer is hard at work on the inside. The kitchen has been built off site and should go in next week. I love how you can see right through from the front doors to the bi-folds at the back.

Bifolds and slider

These are the doors that open onto the back deck. The smaller set are bifolds from the kitchen. The big doors are from the dining room and the sliders on the right are from the main bedroom.

We have a roof.......

and the sides are papered and the joinery doors and bifolds are in!

The roof should be completed as I type this. The rest of the windows go in today.

All the electrical has been mapped out (omg what a job that was!)

The kid's bath is being fitted today, but there's a delay with the spa bath for the ensuite.

Frame is up!

The frame is up - this is the view from the front. They have put more up since. The roof trusses go on during the week and fingers crossed the roof is on by this time next week.

Wakakirri news - SECOND PLACE!!!!!!!!!

This is an awesome result considering that our Years 1 - 10 students competed against high schools with Years 8 -12 students. The kids also recieved an award for the best behaved students and an award for the best use of recycled materials.

The start of something big

This is the slab going down.

This is the front of the house from the road. That is the entry way in the bottom right of the photo. Try and picture it with big timber posts and decking :-)

The chippies started the frame yesterday and will stand it today. I won't get a photo until tomorrow. Kelsey and Erin are off to perform 'Proud Mary' in the Wakakirri competition

http://www.wakakirri.com/ tonight.

This will be home

It doesn't look like much just yet, but this is the start of our house and the view out the back to the left.
They are the starter bars in the footings you can see in the foreground.

The mountain is Mt Tibrogargan (I think?) We can also see Mt Coonowrin and Mt Coochin further around to the right




In the Aboriginal legend the mountains are members of a family with the father being Mount Tibrogargan and the mother Mount Beerwah. All of the other mountains are sons and daughters with the eldest being Mount Coonowrin.
Tibrogargan, the father, observes that the sea is rising and asks that Conowrin the eldest son help their pregnant mother to safety. Terrified, Coonowrin instead flees. Infuriated by his sons cowardice Tibrogargan pursues him and strikes him so hard that he dislocates Coonowrin's neck.
Once the danger passes Coonowrin feels tremendous guilt for his actions and asks his father, brothers and sisters for forgiveness but all wept with shame. This is said to explain the many small streams that flow through the area. Tibrogargan turned his back on Coonowrin and gazes out to sea refusing to look at his son Coonowrin who continues to hang his head in shame and cry.

I got tagged!

and being the blog challenged user that I am - I am not sure what to do! LOL It is apparently because I need a kick up the bum to use it again (thank you Paula)

My excuse was that nobody reads it - so if you do, please drop in and leave a comment.
And surely it has not been that long since I last posted - March?! for heaven's sake, the date must be wrong!

What's happening - well I work four days a week and clean and catch up on the other three.
We are building a house - so I guess I will have something to keep you all informed about ;-)

So far the slab is down and the 'stick' (tradey talk for frame) has been delivered. The power was connected to the site today and the chippies (tradey talk for stick putter togetherers) start tomorrow.
We have gone owner builder - so besides saving money we have a lot more control over time frames.

Wanna scrap with me?

Memories and More is holding a cyber crop on 28th March, starting at 6pm Qld time.

Come and join us for some huge give aways, games and great company.

I have class handout for a simple but really effective layout. This will work with a number of photo sizes and numbers...think circular!

Hope you can join me, I am looking forward to a scrapping fix! LOL

New Direction

I have been very quiet on my blog - but I have an excuse!
I got a job! What started out as a bit of casual pocket money doing night fill has turned into five days a week on checkouts!

I am loving it and I get to talk all day! LOL The pay slip is not too bad either! A nice change after doing so much volunteer work for barely a thankyou!

Christmas Time!!!

I love Christmas! We have been steadily building up a collection of 'December only' decorating pieces. This year we have themed the tree in red and gold. The bable bowls are green and blue and Maegen has put together a very striking tray of hot pink and purple baubles. The lights are up on the house and the wreath on the door! Bring on Santa.....

The Waifs

I went and saw The Waifs at the Tivoli last night with my fellow local Waifs devotees! Had an awesome night and can't wait to catch them again at the festival this year. They played some of the new songs from Sun Dirt Water, but also some of their classics, London Still, Gillian, Bridal Train. The support act was Old Man River from Sydney, they were great too. I probably didn't take as much notice as I should have, I was too impatient! LOL

Extra motivation

I haven't really lost any weight over the last couple of weeks. I did get a call from the weight reduction club asking if I would be interested in entering a competition.

I had to supply a photo and sign the form. I am a wee bit competitive, so it will be great motivation to get my butt back into gear.

This is a picture of me 4kg lighter than the original picture. I still have a long way to go!!!

Too hard basket

A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. ~Michel de Montaigne, Essays

This quote has me so upset! Why? Call it the analyst in me, the worrier, the compassionate :-( I am sure the quote was written in jest, and well, of course I had to try and analyse it! I am trying to put myself in this situation. I can hear him moving but cannot see him, how do I find him, I could yell, but he would not hear.
He can see me but not speak clearly to me. I can hear but not pass on news or information if I cannot see to write it to him (well just use a lot of paper if I go blind at this stage of life) :-( Please God never let me lose my sight! I know it's just a quote, but oh my god, what a mind burn. I gave Dave an extra big hug and kiss tonight.

I saw the Oprah show recently with the Mum of the worlds only deaf and blind triplets. I can't stop thinking about her or the lives of those poor little girls. I gave the girls an extra big hug and kiss that afternoon.

Slow and Steady

As it turns out I was heavier than I thought! When I started Weight Reduction Club my start weight was 79.9kg. I thought I was 77kg.
After two months I weighed in this morning at 76kg even. I am averaging 500g a week, which is what is recomended. I am just impatient! LOL I have managed to be the runner up loser of the month both months - and that gets me a smiley button to put on my ribbon :-)
I was also given a paint pallet this morning for losing 1/2 stone. Now for each stone I lose I get a gemstone. Looking forward to getting my first one - only 2.2 kg to go.