So glad you have finally got some help for B. I can imagine how tired you are. Moving and packing is one of the highest markers on the Stress Level Chart. My eldest son is moving now sigh so my youngest son brought me 4 boxes and 2 bags from his brother. I just start getting rid of their things and then I get more lol. I'm busy moving plants and trees into bigger pots as they have all outgrown the current pots. I started crocheting a baby blanket for my great, great niece who is due in 5 months. My granddaughter is due in May but her Mum has high sugar levels so they are putting her in two weeks earlier. First baby and J is a tiny little girl herself. Then I have my great niece due in June. Three girls so its girly colours for awhile. I have to knit some in Acrylic because that girl does not hand wash at all. Well I'm off to bed early as it is another early start tomorrow.

makerealbany - 2019-03-14 22:12:00

I want a normal life of knitting and pottering around my garden !!!!!! It is pouring here today and I thought I was going to be doing a few runs of small things on my own but I. is on his way home as it is too wet to work on the new motorway. Yippee a whole day with him and then S. will be home after work with his van to help too. Internet goes down today and should connect to new house today but we shall see how on to it they are shall we? LOL. I'll let you know if I have survived on Monday. Have a good weekend, everyone.

grizzly4 - 2019-03-15 08:45:00

I hope you were able to get the shifting done ok. I also hope you and the family are ok grizzly.

makerealbany - 2019-03-19 22:57:00

Grizzly I hope you are okay and all is good with your new home. Makerealbany how lovely to have 3 new babies to knit for. We have just heard that our niece is due in August so I will have to have a look at knitting patterns. It’s a good idea to knit in acrylic- It would be sad to have a beautiful knitted item turn to felt!

millefiori - 2019-03-21 05:46:00

You are not kidding millefiori. I knitted in wool for most of the babies but with some it is awkward. I am knitting a Puerperitum Cardigan called Pekapeka in Acrylic but I am going to knit the same pattern in wool for the other two. I got it off Ravelry. I still cannot post pictures because I have a problem with my phone that I take the photos with so I need my son to fix it ha ha. Every time I see my youngest son he has to deal with an IT problem.

makerealbany - 2019-03-21 23:40:00

I'm back!!!! What a week it's been and thank you for thinking of us.It took 3 days in all to shift everything and with the awful events of Friday it felt dreadful having to carry on as usual (almost). The children weren't released from school till nearly 6pm and staff at work weren't allowed to leave our building till nearly as late. Son S. was in locked down in the panic room at his work for nearly 2 hours with 18 other people but his work is barely 100m from the mosque in Linwood. It feels like everyone has a connection at some level with families who have lost someone. It is truly an awful thing to happen. And since then for us it's been boxes, boxes and more boxes. Finally starting to get on top of it but haven't started to organise the garage and the men are racing next week. We have had no internet all week but up and running on fibre. Yahoo! And the best news of all - our old landlord stopped us having to pay rent because of the work we did on the house!!!!! NO paying double rent for the next month AND we even got a credit for rent paid in advance. Wonders will never cease.LOL. And of course there has been no time for any craft whatsoever....

grizzly4 - 2019-03-22 07:12:00

Oh my goodness, I think I have pulled a ligament behind my knee. So much pain and difficult to walk but still so much to do!!!

grizzly4 - 2019-03-24 10:05:00

Oh Grizzly that ligament will hurt like hell. Just leave the darn boxes and get the guys to help out. I was worried about you all. I cried so much last week. Yes you will all have some connections,
Wasn't that amazing of your Landlord woohoo. Mind you having great tenants like you guys I would be very happy with the state of the house you left. They will miss you.
I'm still knitting baby clothes. I am trying out new patterns all the time lol. A is away at work this week so Super Nan is on duty from 6 so its bed for me ha ha.

makerealbany - 2019-03-24 22:14:00

I've wanted to have a good cry, too but there was never any space without someone around. Didn't matter yesterday when in so much pain. I tried to rest as much as possible and this morning seems a bit easier. Still taking my walking stick to work though. Daughter S ended up in hospital last night with concussion after a fall. While she was unconscious her soon to be ex-partner went through her phone. He is so thick though that he was upset about the number of people contacting her and hasn't seemed to pick up on the content of her shifting out in a couple of weeks. He has left to work out of town again this week so she has some breathing space and may bring her plans forward a bit. Not that I'm going to be much help and I. is exhausted as well. Mind you son S tires faster than us after getting up later in the morning!!!!

grizzly4 - 2019-03-25 06:40:00

Oh hell you need respite care for your self. Hope S manages to sort it out before he gets back, Feel so sorry for you with all that to deal with. Know what you mean about Son S. I took my invalid son his groceries and he was complaining about being sore and tired. I was exhausted and had just made the long drive to him so I left him with his bags of groceries at the door and drove home sigh. He rang to apologize but I was asleep ha ha,

makerealbany - 2019-03-25 22:18:00

Oh my goodness, Grizzly, there is so much going on for you. I hope you’ve had a chance to rest a little today and there is less pain. Makerealbany, you do so much - you are always on the go. It sounds like for both of you there are so many people depending on you and just expecting that you’ll sort out the problems and do the organising and the running around. Please remember though to take a little time for yourself, to maybe say “no” every now and again, or to delegate.

I’ve been thinking how lovely it would be to have a holiday. It wouldn’t have to be anywhere tropical or exotic ... just quiet and peaceful with time for a few good books and some cross stitch and quilting ... and possibly no internet or phone, although I’m sorry to admit I don’t know how I’d manage without them. Anyway, just a dream as a holiday simply isn’t going to happen!

millefiori - 2019-03-25 22:56:00

A holiday...........what a nice idea. But the closest I'll get will be Easter weekend back up at Blenheim with my parents while I. goes to the Airshow. LOL. S's partner stayed with her yesterday instead of going away to work and then arranged his mother and sister to stay with her for a whilt till late last night. Could be genuine concern but as he's saying he actually hates her now it's more likely that he can throw it back at us that we weren't there for her. Same as today, I am already not going to work this morning as tradies are coming to fix some of the stuff that needs fixing around here. Try as I might, I just get myself to be in 2 places at once. We have suggested bringing her here for a few days but she says no. Sigh.

grizzly4 - 2019-03-26 07:24:00

Millefiori a holiday would be lovely. I am off to Rotorua on Friday as we have a Land AGM on Saturday at Ruatoki, I have never been there so looking forward to it and spending the weekend with Sis E. She always has me in stitches, I so enjoy being with her.
Grizzly leave S there, Shes a big girl and if she wont accept your generous offer let her deal with it. I know as a Mother we worry about our kids and its not easy but sometimes we just have to step back,
I don't have to get up until 6 tomorrow woohoo . Ihave finished the Pekapeka cardi so I will knit a hat and bootees to match.

makerealbany - 2019-03-26 23:05:00

And now I'm on crutches after a trip to A & E last night when I thought I'd popped my knee completely. Bones are ok but too much swelling to say about ligaments yet apparently. Can't drive for a few days either.Can't help S, and now can't do my job either at the height of the funding season. Not sure how I'm going to work this.

grizzly4 - 2019-03-27 09:29:00

Well all you can do is rest up. The one thing I have learnt late in life is that if we keep going until we drop the world will go on around us. All the effort, long hours and dedication I put into my last job before I retired kept everything ticking along. But after I left it all went to hell simply because we are not all the same. Its not that I was better at my job [ Yeah well actually I was ha ha ) it was that the next Administrator worked a 9 to 5 job and that was it. Non Profit Organisations are bad Employers and that is a fact. That is what happens when Committee Members haven't a clue about the actual work involved.
I got side tracked as it is one of my pet dislikes. People who love to be on Trusts or Committees and don't do any actual work that benefits that Organisation.
Regardless of all the work you have to do you need to look after yourself. Wade through the important crucial work but put the rest to the side. That's what I do which is why tomorrow I have to write another submission. Talk about flying close to the wire. I could have done it this afternoon but I needed to feel the earth under my feet so spent the time in the garden instead. It was lovely,
Don't wear those crutches out I'm watching.

Edited by makerealbany at 11:44 pm, Wed 27 Mar

makerealbany - 2019-03-27 23:43:00

Makerealbany you are very wise and you express yourself so well - the submissions you write must really pack a punch! Grizzly, you need to give yourself the time to heal, so that your injury doesn’t get long-term worse. Focus on any work that really can’t wait a day or two but for the rest - delegate or ignore.
The world’s madness swirls on regardless of how hard we fight against it and sometimes we just need a little break from that fight so we can come back stronger.
I had a lovely walk at Western Springs yesterday afternoon. It was great seeing the variety of bird life, some rabbits and a peak at the elephants through the fence at the zoo next door. I got back to my work feeling totally rejuvenated- tired from my walk but a good tired. I even felt like doing some quilting last night!

millefiori - 2019-03-28 06:10:00

Reading your messages helps, thank you. It just seems to be one thing after another. LOL. You are exactly right about non-profits, makerealbany and it's my pet peeve too. Which is why I'm putting so much effort into leaving a legacy of a stronger, resilient organisation with a strong, pro-active Board. Each member with their roles and responsbilities and no-one just turning up for meetings. Trouble is all takes money which is the second part of my jub to make sure it keeps coming in.
My wish for more pottering in the garden may have come back to bite me! LOL. Couldn't understand why the gardens have been destroyed up against the house and have just found out it was raised up only 7 months ago for piles to redone. There is some serious repair work to do to save the rest of the gardens and to restart other parts. THis was only a temporary place for us for a couple of years maximum so it looks like we will be leaving another legacy behind if we can restore these gardens back to the beauty they once were.(They used old beautiful photos to advertise this place when we got it which we are using to put the gardens back to the way they were.) One of the lovely things are the fantails that visit our backyard every afternoon, even had to rescue one from the house at one point. I think thats supposed to be bad luck, isn't it makerealbany? Figures, but he was so very worth rescuing.

grizzly4 - 2019-03-28 11:34:00

Grizzly I had Fantails in and out all day on the farm, I loved them. Mum used to say they were beautiful birds and she did not believe they were bad luck so take it from a very wise old Lady. I miss her so much. I'm off back home tomorrow for the weekend, I always think of her as I am driving down. I got the submission completed plus other important paperwork all ready for Tomorrow and Saturday.
Millefiori you are not that far from me. Well have to catch up one day.
M11 is visiting the Zoo tomorrow as part of her Biology class. She's annoyed because lots of the animals wont be on view due to construction and rehousing. etc. She told me all the big cats will be locked up and they are her favourite animals.
Well I had better pack my bags.
Don't you start slogging away in those gardens just yet grizzly

makerealbany - 2019-03-28 23:39:00

Have a safe trip. I am absolutely itching to get into the gardens but also don't want that dreadful pain again. After my sleep in yesterday, I actually got heaps of knitting done in the afternoon. First big effort since Christmas I think. I coped with driving to the supermarket round the corner yesterday so will go out today to get stuff for Bacon Butties Fundraiser and will be able to drive myself to the event tomorrow all going well. Getting back on track.

grizzly4 - 2019-03-29 10:20:00

Millefiori, you mentioned getting back to work after your walk the other day, what line of work are you in?

grizzly4 - 2019-03-30 07:36:00

I'm back. 4 hours driving on Friday 4 hours driving on Saturday and 6 hours driving today as there was a horrendous accident on the way home so I crawled home in thick traffic for about 100 ks ugh
I had a lovely time with my sister but our Meeting started at 9 . We had a break for lunch and then it finished at 5. It was worth it though; Learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.
No knitting what soever sigh. Hope you are resting Grizzly.

makerealbany - 2019-03-31 22:32:00

Nope no resting. LOL. Had the fundraiser BBQ at a gala on Saturday and then I. and son S were racing yesterday although that involved me sitting watching. So thats resting. LOL. I have finished a hoody coat, a pair of wee boots and some dolls clothes to take to shop today. Best effort in quite some time.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-01 06:21:00

Oh my gosh, getting through yesterday was a mission. LOL. Didn't finish till after 8 last night. Thank goodness it's a slightly later start this morning. These jolly sticks are a real nuisance and slowing me down big time. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-02 07:20:00

That's a late night grrr. Great effort with your knitting. I finally picked up the last blanket I started to crochet because my knitting pattern has a line missing or some other gremlin. After frogging back twice I threw the pattern in the bin ha ha. Ill start a new one tomorrow. I'm knitting for my great niece as I have knitted my granddaughter so much. She's due in a month. I got a lovely email today to thank me for my praise of the Admin Team at the Land Hui I attended on Saturday. The email stated I was the only one who gave positive feedback. They certainly deserved it. When I reflect on all the Hui I have attended they have by far the most efficient team with great systems unlike many others ugh.
I got a very short haircut today and had to wear a beanie outside tonight as it has got colder. Took poor old Paku to the vet for more steroids, He has such trouble with his itchy skin at this time of the year, As soon as it gets colder he will be ok. He is getting as grey as I am .
Keep on those sticks girl,

makerealbany - 2019-04-02 23:18:00

Was tottering around the house last night without even one stick but my knee gave out. Grrrrr! WE have the formal farewell to our local college this weekend, a 2 day function and I was hoping to be off the sticks by then but it doesnt look hopeful. The college is finally up for a complete rebuild and is moving to another site for the next 2 years. Both I. and son S went to LInwood College. It will be said to see it leave the local coomunity for 2 whole years. The schools down here have gone through so many changes since the earthquakes. Term 2 sees Linwood College moving to the current site of Avonside Girls High School which is moving to a brand new combined school which they are sharing with Shirley Boys High School. There new school is close to where we have shifted to which is completely out of their original communities! Huge upheaval for the families involved and of course the zoning has changed and is affecting younger siblings going to the same schools as other family members. We have friends coming down from Wellington tomorrow and staying till Monday because of the farewell proceedings. Our big house will be competely full up! LOL.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-03 06:38:00

What a lot of changes families have to deal with there.
You most likely will be so busy with your visitors you wont get a chance to knit.
I'm mindlessly crocheting that blanket ha ha. Not up to working on a new pattern yet,

makerealbany - 2019-04-03 21:14:00

MIndless seems restful. LOL. Have to find time to make a lasagne before work today as well as dust, vacuum and clean bathroom and toilet. Luckily first meeting today isnt till 12. LOL. Luckily I've also worked extra hours this week. I'm working on another pair of the cable bootees at present, Might be the only thing I take into shop on Monday so you could be right about the knitting.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-04 07:09:00

Another busy day for both of us. I cleaned 3 bathrooms today Two in the house and mine in the cottage, did 5 loads of washing, took two dogs to be groomed, polished and dusted the house after I had vacuumed and the dishwasher threw a wobbly something to do with the electronics so guess who had to do the dishes by hand ha ha. I do not have one in my cottage but that one in the house has to be fixed tout suite ha ha,

makerealbany - 2019-04-04 22:58:00

I've never really been a fan of dishwashers but last night it was great with so many to feed. LOL. I'm first up this morning. I. will be home with our guests today before the first function to attend tonight. I'm off to work as normal but the craft group will be there so will drop in to see them with my cross stitch for a while. It's been nearly 3 weeks since I did any of that.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-05 07:05:00

I. had so much fun last night catching up with people he went to school with, it was very entertaining. LOL. I am paying for the standing too much last night but we will be back at the school today and then dinner out. Son S is finding out his parents have a social life! Haha.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-06 08:58:00

Good for you ha ha. I was going to sew today but my old machine needs a service. It does not sound good. We though we would use M11's machine but there was a problem with the spool of cotton staying on the holder so I'm going in to Spotlight to have a look at her machine in there to see what the problem is. So after 2 hours mucking about no sewing was able to be done sigh. I just worked on my blanket. Dishwasher is still not fixed but I'm off duty there until Monday ha ha 3 weeks is indeed a long time,

makerealbany - 2019-04-06 21:36:00

Back to 'normal' (whatever that may be these days) today. Visitors are still in bed as they don't leave till this afternoon but it's a work day for the rest of us. Such a hectic weekend but the racing was excellent yesterday. Have to catch up on laundry and groceries at some point. LOL. Only one pair of boots going into shop this morning.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-08 06:44:00

New Dishwasher is already set up thank goodness. Hectic Day here as well lol . A left at 6 and she is now on her way home. She will do the same tomorrow. She looks exhausted, S was home by 5 so that was ok. I have just finished the ironing ugh. Too tired to knit so its bed for me.

makerealbany - 2019-04-08 21:05:00

The icing on the cake, so to speak, was going to a local pub last night for $15 steak and salad. LOL. No cooking, no dishes and it didn't break the bank. I nearly did a pair of baby socks in one evening last night. I have bought quite a bit of wool lately so I'd better get it knitted up before winter.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-09 07:32:00

I started a baby beanie to match a cardi I had done two weeks ago lol Not very motivated at the moment. Too busy just keeping up with daily chores sigh. Ah well Ill get my mojo back soon. Good for you with the no cooking ha ha

makerealbany - 2019-04-09 20:55:00

Baby socks done and nearly a beanie in a couple of evenings. Much better effort if I do say so myself. Women's group is doing chocolate moulds which basically means 'messy play. LOL. Then its the holiday programme next week. Having to be very creative this time as numbers are really low due to many parents not working with so many stats. Yet another challenge to meet head on, I guess.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-10 06:52:00

I cooked dinner last night for the first time in a week! LOL. and finished the beanie and started another pair of socks. Life must be finding a new 'normal'. Haha. I really want to get stuck into the garden this weekend but not sure my knee is up to it yet. Didn't use crutches for a couple of days earlier this week (they are such a nuisance) but it's giving me jip now. Regardless I have plans for the front gardens this weekend.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-11 07:10:00

I had my Flu Vac today so my arm is sore but the pain in my finger that I slammed the wardrobe door on over rides that ha ha. I still managed to knit two baby beanies tonight though. Its been a funny day really. Got all my meds but Pharmac are not funding some of them so my GP spent some time checking on Generic substitutes which she managed to get for me. She is a very caring person and I am so lucky to have her.
I get the day off tomorrow. Whoppee. Mind you tomorrow night my grandson J15 will be here as his Dad takes his partner to the Clinic on Friday nights, Baby is due in May but J is going in sooner.
I told you I had a hair cut . Well now my hats are too big ha ha. So I will have to knit myself some more. At first I thought my head had shrunk he he but then I realised I have hardly any hair. It seemed like a good idea at the time to get it cut short.
School Holidays ugh. Not looking forward to that. sigh.
My neighbour lost her job in the Building Industry due to lack of work. She has just managed after 20 Interviews to get another one. It is hard out there.

makerealbany - 2019-04-11 22:18:00

20 interviews! She is very patient. So tired and looking forward to the weekend, it will be a lot quieter with only 3 of us here this week. LOL. I wish all doctors were like yours, makerealbany. I have a good one now but they are few and far between. My chemist always substitutes the prescribed stuff for generic ones if it's a better deal.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-12 07:30:00

Yes my Chemist is great but if he is not there I have to watch the young ones ha ha. My grandson is not coming until tomorrow now. He parked himself at my daughter's Lol. Nana is boring. I had a good day out visiting today. A was working from home so Nana flew the coop ha ha. Enjoy your weekend.

makerealbany - 2019-04-12 23:23:00

There’s been so much to do at work the last couple of weeks (I do admin work) that I have been working long hours (weekend as well) and have had no energy for anything else. Last night I was so tired I trundled off to bed at 8.30. But now I have been awake since 3am looking at craft projects on Pinterest. I already have more ideas on my project wishlist than I could ever hope to accomplish but that doesn’t stop me from spending hours looking at more!

millefiori - 2019-04-13 05:37:00

Yep sounds like me constantly checking out knitting patterns despite having hundreds more than I will ever use. LOL. And buying wool although if I can stay awake long enough the plan is to definitely knit it all. (Fingers crossed). I love the admin part of my job although we do have a part time administrator as well. I really like doing the funding as well just not the responsibility that goes with that. Managing staff is the least enjoyed part of my role, love the mentoring support stuff just not having to put on Manager's hat and having the final say at times. Although this always based on policy or finances sometimes one or two staff still want their own way. Now I'm 60 I'm more assertive LOL besides not having time to deal with the dramas helps.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-13 10:31:00

Hi millefiori We all browse patterns ha ha. I am on Ravelry so I get a lot of free ones as well as buy patterns. Long hours and working weekends is not fun. Been there and done that lol.
I went to our local Community House today to pick up patterns and wool to make poppies. I'm going to knit some as well as crochet some. I have never done them before but its for our Community Wreath for Anzac Day. I also was able to connect with the lady who runs the craft groups so that was cool. I told her I would love to go as long as it was in school hours ha ha.
I knitted a pair of bootees today and they are so small. My fingers are having to adjust to them but good practice so I can start the Poppies tomorrow.

makerealbany - 2019-04-13 23:27:00

I remember the huge display of knitted poppies in our local libraries the last couple of years.. Really impressive. We have cleaned out less than half of the front gardens plus trimmed some trees from neighbours that were blocking light to the downstairs bathroom, toilet and laundry. WE could fir no more green waste on our triler or in the back of my car! It's so sad to think how this garden was in the photos and how it's been neglected since. WE found 2 dead standard roses amidst the overgrown bush roses and native grasses, I rhodendron was growing horizontally from where it had been pushed away from the house when it was raised. We had to cut away so much dead wood from it and other trees, it was exhausting. Only spring will tell what else will survive, I guess. Holiday programme starts today so early starts for next 4 days then I. and I are off to Blenheim for Easter. And yes, of course, I. has his tickets to the Airshow. LOL. I will spend the weekend knitting and catching up with Mum and Dad.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-15 06:30:00

I have knitted 3 Poppies and crocheted 3 Poppies. They are easy to do , Now I have to do the centres mmm not so easy ha ha. My son came today and cleaned out one big shed of all his plastic containers. Took us three hours, Everyone helped. J15, M11 and J 8. Their parents were very pleased when they arrived home from work . So all in all a good days work. My son reckons he will spend hours finding things ha ha I have it all written in a book so will give that to him when he brings the trailer back.
Gosh what a lot of work you did in the gardens. Lucky Landlords.
It will be lovely for you to see your Mum and Dad. Mum and Dad would have been in their mid nineties now bless them. I so miss them both.

makerealbany - 2019-04-15 22:26:00

On Saturday afternoon I had a phone call to say that a very special 92 year old friend did not have long to live. I was so fortunate to arrive in time to spend a precious hour with her before she passed away.
My Mum and Dad would also have been in their mid nineties now. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to either of them as for both it was sudden and unexpected - Dad 33 years ago and Mum 30 years ago. I still miss them. They never met their grandchildren - they would have been amazing grandparents.
Grizzly those gardens are going to look beautiful - have you taken photos of the “before” so you can be proud of your hard work when spring comes?
Makerealbany the poppies sound lovely- I haven’t seen knitted or crocheted poppies - it’s a lovely idea.
Yesterday I did a little cross stitch. I haven’t done any for ages. I really enjoy it but sometimes my eyes let me down. I seem to need ever increasing strength in magnifying glasses.

millefiori - 2019-04-16 06:05:00

I know what you mean about seeing cross stitch, millefiori, although reading is worse for me. Half an hour of reading my book and I have bad double vision. Had my glasses redone and it didn't help so another thing I'm putting down to age.
As usual we got carried away with what we were doing and forgot the before photos. LOL. We were also going to photograph the load on the trailer to show the property manager but that didn't happen either we were so concerned about getting to the refuse centre before the rain came in.
Oh my gosh, makereal;bany, what do you get to use the shed for now? Craft resources?.......NOT!

grizzly4 - 2019-04-16 06:55:00

OMG just when we are getting ready for end of financial year auditing we discover that the cheque books we started using 2 months ago for 2 different services have been printed with the same account number on them! If only the bank knew what a nightmare this has caused particularly at this time of the year. Well they will know in a few hours when I bail them up for urgent printing of one them as we don't have one in stock at all now. Grrr. And I want to go on leave next week not having to worry about this.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-17 06:25:00

All sorted with the bank stuff thank goodness. LOL.I've been so busy with work I haven't given any thought to organising for a weekend away. Son S's cat moved in last night and will hopefully spend the few days I. and I are away settling in. He doesn't want much to do with us at present. Understandable really.

grizzly4 - 2019-04-18 06:20:00

Have a lovely Easter everyone!

grizzly4 - 2019-04-18 06:20:00