Morning everybody,
I don't seem to have much time for pleasure activities like the MB these days but although I'm only giving quick updates, I still enjoy reading what everyone is up to - even if I don't have time to comment.
I always look forward to popping in here, so thankyou for sharing your lives! :)
I've had a huge weekend at work, doing extra shifts, but still loving it. Crashed last night & slept for 12 hours though ... think it was sorely needed as I'm feeling a million times better today.
I'll have some news to share regarding work very soon but can't say anything until it's signed and official ... very positive though :)
A day off today although still have school this afternoon so will spend the morning sorting out the contents of my kitchen which are currently spread across the lounge floor! The builders have finished and it looks great.
Have a fantastic day all, xxx

winnie231 - 2010-11-08 06:51:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-08 07:13:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-08 07:17:00

Good Morning all,I just popped in to say,I won,t be around much,but just no I will be thinking of you all.
I am in a lot of pain,Just started this morning.
Do take care all.

earthangel4 - 2010-11-08 08:30:00

Cookessentials - would love instructions and recipe for a seed ball for the wax eyes, we have them flying in, but have never been sure what to feed them - many thanks in advance

rema - 2010-11-08 08:56:00

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herika - 2010-11-08 10:11:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-08 10:25:00

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elliehen - 2010-11-08 10:32:00

Thanks to you all - that is awesome - will make some during the week
Many thanks

rema - 2010-11-08 14:13:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-11-08 19:14:00

Oh Charlieb.. know exactly how you are feeling..even tho our ins co assessor has recommended a rebuild they still have to send in their contracting team for a final decision..at least we are able to live in our house but it is sad..our lovely new retirement home is very broken!!..the waiting for a final decision is awful.

neil_di - 2010-11-08 19:19:00

lol ... charlieb ... was more like the tortoise than the hare yesterday evening!!! Could barely make my stairs! It's amazing what 12hrs sleep does though :)
Next accounting exam postponed until Wed as we're a bunch of dummies in my class & the tutor thought tomorrow was too soon!
Wish I could wave a magic wand & get you answers for your house ... hope it gets sorted soon, xxx

winnie231 - 2010-11-08 19:20:00

Charlie I agree about the stress of not knowing - especially given the extent of your damage.

Three rousing cheers for Pothole People! I rang this morning and was told it could be 5 to 10 more days until my chimney was demolished and I totally fell apart over the phone. They put me onto the boss and I explained the background problems - and it was done this afternoon. I am so grateful because I have tried so hard to keep myself together, because I know there are people far worse off, but today it was more than I could do. To be honest I feel a bit embarassed, but when I told my doctor this afternoon she was really supportive as she understands the difficulties I'm having.

calista - 2010-11-08 20:29:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-11-08 23:03:00

charlie - I don't yet, something weird going on with paradise - which is a bugger because I found an advertisement about something I thought may be of use to you. Hopefully telstra will sort it all out soon.

Ah, the benefits of being in my own home where I can hop on the internet in the wee small hours and don't have to face mindless morning TV.

calista - 2010-11-09 04:36:00

*** Cyberhugs for calista & neil_di ***

Wish I could wave the magic wand for you guys too.
2 months on I don't know if the powers that be in Wellywood comprehend how much stress & worry folks here in Canterbury are still living with. I hope something lovely happens to you today to make you smile :)

winnie231 - 2010-11-09 05:17:00

charlieb2 wrote:

oh no neil-di... where are you located? Hope things work out ok for you.

We are in Spencerville. I think once we have a final rebuild/repair decision it will be easier to get on with life..DH organised a trip to Wellington for a fabulous treat..Have always wanted to go to Logan Brown so had a lovely night out..fantastic meal!!! and beautiful surroundings. I was very spoilt!!

neil_di - 2010-11-09 06:42:00

It must be so unsettling... the rest of us are getting on with life an you guys have this hanging over your head. agree ...

*** Cyberhugs for calista, neil_di & Charlieb***

Well the Miss Toadies did well last night at Senior honours. Miss 16 topped year 11 Drama & got excellence in School work... Miss 18 got a gold award for Citizenship and a H* College Medal.... awarded for all around success in Year 13 (About 25 awarded) So very very proud last night... will facebook a photo of them. Now we just need to get over the exams...... and life will settle somewhat.

Enjoying the weather... sunshine really does feed the soul.. A quiet week this week and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it... Off to the freezer for some divine inspiration for tonights dinner.... something on the bbq with salad and dry roasted vegies I think....

Have a great day all.
JB

toadfish - 2010-11-09 06:46:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-09 07:07:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-09 07:08:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-11-09 08:34:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-11-09 08:36:00

hugs for those still awaiting, I dont know where you find your sayings Pam but they are always spot on!! congrats to the toady girls, great achievements its wonderful to leave a school being remembered for all the right things. - calista you were meant to have a melt down as it got your chimney done!! healing thoughts your way earth angel, hope you get on top of that pain soon, its awful having constant pain, hope also vintage kitty is o.k.?? anyone know how she is doing? I think you and I are going to do a walk on Friday Charlieb around your usual haunts, is there a coffee shop en route? will send email soon. DD off overseas next week for another stint, so loosing daughter but gaining a guest room!! boys want her room and I have said NO. - as its in the main part of the house I have had enough of looking at the crap on the floor lol. anyway everyone have a great day.

auckland_ali - 2010-11-09 09:37:00

Toadfish, I recall you once lamenting your choice of user name for the MBs and just wonder how Misses 16 and 18 feel about being the Toady girls - especially as they don't sound at all toady! It does feel good when kids are successful doesn't it. Son has presentation for a quite valuable postgrad scholarship this week but when I said that it was really good to get to the final three even if he didn't actually get the scholarship he looked at me pityingly and said "Mum, you win or you lose - one's good and one's bad!". Too much competitive sport in his teens I reckon.

Edited by greerg at 10:41 am, Tue 9 Nov

greerg - 2010-11-09 10:40:00

Beautiful morning weatherwise. Pam I love that quote, especially the bit about potholes becoming personal. It's because of that 'edge' I won't ride unless i put my brain in gear first.

Charlie can I ring anyone for you and cry at them? Strong men tremble :-)

Hey brilliant Toadiekinder. My nephew (and technology advisor) rang me to say he's getting a prize at awards giving tonight too. He's dyspraxic so it hasn't been easy for him, but he is *so* determined. I'm really proud of him.

I am spending the morning picking up bricks and mortar from the demolished chimney. It's horrid stuff, but my lawnmowing friend is coming so I want to clear the way. This afternoon I hope to clear away the cobwebs by taking a ride with a long but gentle slope, Might as well make the most of my day off.

At the exercise class yesterday they introduced dynabands. Does anyone use them for exercise? I think I'll get a couple as I need to work on my upperbody strength, which is pretty pathetic.

calista - 2010-11-09 10:48:00

Well done to the Toady girls. Ali, take our hugs to Charlieb and have a great day together. The effects of the quakes are frequently discussed by the plebs of Wgtn so hope the higherachy are working as fast as they can. A friend's daughter works at AMI and a couple of weeks ago said they were just flat out with no time for anything but work and the afterwork flops in their lives. Uncertainity is not nice in anything, you are so in limbo. Never think your plight is forgotten or that sympathy is not felt when you are having all these earthquakes.

marywea - 2010-11-09 10:48:00

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elliehen - 2010-11-09 11:08:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-09 11:30:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-11-09 11:34:00

charlieb2 wrote:

That made me LOL.. good customer service there. Mind you, you only need to check on the telstra website to read the problem!

Ali, dont know when I'll GET your email, lol. But hopefully we will manage a hook up. Will have little charlieb's in tow probably!!

I'm with Paradise and my email is working fine now.

kay141 - 2010-11-09 11:43:00

Hello All..

Do others of you laugh and smile and have tears in your eyes at the posts in this thread.. tears for your Daughter's successes Toady.. and for your tears Calista - good to let them go.. hugs for you..

Life's events microcosmed (is there such a word?.. there is now!) into a thread shared by many across this beautiful nation of ours..

Gosh, the unknowing is the hardest to deal with.. the old phrase 'if only I knew' relevant in these times with everything you're all dealing with there.. my thoughts are with you all.. don't ever think you're forgotten.. the damage there is enormous in comparison with the Edgecumbe Earthquake here.. heartfelt understanding of the stress and uncertainty and continuing aftershocks and worries of family members being in different places.. Huge hugs..

A lovely day here.. windows and doors open.. the earth is getting dry though.. we've had little rain lately.. and looking forward to some.

Take care.. and go gently with yourselves..

juliewn - 2010-11-09 15:01:00

Lowering the tone.... Now I have seen it all.... look what hubby just listed.... where an earth he finds and then stores these things is beyond me..... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=330703024 We must have secret rooms or garages I know nothing about......

toadfish - 2010-11-09 18:41:00

And yes I agree.... Juliewn.... this is a lovely thread... most of us have never met each other face to face but the comaraderie is lovely. I try and surround myself in life and on these boards with good people and the people posting in this thread fall into the catergory of "good" people... people where the world is a better place because they are in it.

Edited by toadfish at 6:45 pm, Tue 9 Nov

toadfish - 2010-11-09 18:44:00

No problem Toady - he's getting rid of it. There could be six of those in the cave we laughingly call a garage and they would never leave. My husband is a hoarder of major proportions and while I keep the crap out of the house the garage seems to be beyond my control. Poor kids may have to deal with it someday.

greerg - 2010-11-09 19:42:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-09 20:10:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-10 06:39:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-10 06:40:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-10 06:49:00

I ran out of 'go'for a bike ride yesterday and the mortar tweaked my usually non-existant asthma so I took it quietly.

I just looked out the widow and there's no wind, so I;m going to scramble in to some clothes and go now - I have 3 hours before I have to be anywhere.

Charlie I thnk paradise ate your mail to me.

Edited by calista at 6:53 am, Wed 10 Nov

calista - 2010-11-10 06:53:00

Good morning,
I'm enjoying the luxury of not having a 4.40am start to my day!
A sleep in till 6am was wonderful :)
I had a little chuckle to myself when I came out of the casino yesterday just after 2pm ... it was such a beautiful sunny day & I couldn't see! The lights in the casino are dimmer than 'normal' to create a comfortable atmosphere 24/7.
I must have looked like a nocturnal creature, hauled out into the daylight ... standing there blinking & squinting while my eyes adjusted to the brightness lol!
Next accounting exam today so I'd better get off here & into some last chance revision.
Have a great day all, whatever you get up to.

winnie231 - 2010-11-10 06:57:00

Good Morning lovely people,
Thank you all for your kind words,I have been larking and thinking of you all.
I am still waiting to see the specialist for my prolapse bladder,hope not too much longer,its not been a good year health wise,I feel a drama queen,hope next year is better.
I am still taking the cherry capcules,it helps me sleep some what but not with the pain.
I am thinking of you all,you are all in my daily thoughts and all.
Angel hugs to you all.

earthangel4 - 2010-11-10 10:04:00

In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear. When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definately deal with that.

If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

toadfish - 2010-11-10 17:46:00

Something to make you all laugh... and yes I want to be a bear.

I feel surprisingly good for someone who was out at 5.30am and cycled 28 kms this morning, took us 1hr and 25 mins. We are increasing our distance in preparation for Taupo. As I said.. i am only doing 40kms so no issues there.

Edited by toadfish at 5:51 pm, Wed 10 Nov

toadfish - 2010-11-10 17:48:00

toadfish wrote:

In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear. When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definately deal with that.

If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

Love it JB ... lol!

winnie231 - 2010-11-10 18:13:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-11 06:58:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-11 07:07:00

This must be your busiest time of the year Pam.... still nothing beats being your own boss I bet.

Enjoyed this morning off training... feel surprisingly good after yesterdays big day... slept like a log! Looking forward to a quieter day today... Thursday yippee... I really like Thursdays for some reason.... downhill slope to the weekend. Have a 30km ride planned from Clevedon to Kawakawa Bay for Saturday and then a yummy breakfast at Whitford with the girls... which will see me getting home at about 10.30am for what will be our last weekend before Christmas with nothing on.. frightening isn't it! Going to make a dent in Chrissy pressies (and my wallet) on Sunday I think. Then the "tadpoles" (love that analogy) have exams starting next week.. so very low key in this house... just supporting them the best i can.

Have a great day all...

Edited by toadfish at 7:08 am, Thu 11 Nov

toadfish - 2010-11-11 07:07:00

liked the bear - and good on you with the fitness toady. yipee I am off to chch today leaving the chicks behind to fend for themselves or should I say cubs? two days break will be great feeling in need of one I must say. hope everyone else has a nice day planned

auckland_ali - 2010-11-11 08:16:00

I passed my 2nd accounting exam - YAY!!!
Enjoying a beautiful sunny afternoon at Mums ... Sir Winston is steaming around the house chasing pingpong balls - very funny when he slides into a chair leg beside me then glares at me like it's my fault!

winnie231 - 2010-11-11 15:54:00

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cookessentials - 2010-11-12 07:20:00