Makereal, you wont know yourself when it goes and I think you are wise to take the extra time to make sure it is ok first. I have not dreamed of the pool yet but if I did I am sure it will be of me drowning in it or something crazy like that. Have a great day girls, Jo

smartgirl - 2010-02-13 06:40:00

smartgirl I wished I was in the pool today. Did a much needed springclean of the cottage. It sure needed it. I had stuff everywhere. Returned all my daughters things that were left in here which consisted mainly of Miss M's things. Lol. I had the fan going flat tack as I got so hot with all the cleaning. Only surface stuff needed doing but even so. I finished at 4 then I had to clean the car, put stuff in the shed, sort out the paper etc for recycling and sweep my paths. Luckily by that time M came over and dragged me to the trampoline. Daughter cooked us a lovely tea and then I retired to my little pad and got out my knitting. I have a couple of reports to write but they can wait until tomorrow. Ha ha. Yes I did have a good day.

makerealbany - 2010-02-13 23:51:00

My place need the same and I will try and do it today, I ended up in the pool for just over 2 hours yesterday but wont do more that an hour today. first on my list is to clean the fish tank - most urgent. I wanted to get up a 7 this morning but I have been awake since 5 so I decided to give up any idea of more sleep.

smartgirl - 2010-02-14 06:08:00

You girls could try Zumba!!!!! My daughter has started doing it at home in the evenings much to her partner's delight. Heehee! Yeah 2 years of the cough and yes it has been worse since we have been living here. Fingers crossed, things change after April. I did all my house work yesterday morning then a gust of wind went through and my grandsons turned up. Pretty much have to do everything again this morning. Oh well, I mean what else have I got to do?!!

grizzly4 - 2010-02-14 10:37:00

Yeah Right grizzly. I can just see smartgirl and myself dancing all around the loungeroom to Zumba music. Tee Hee' looks like fun though and I loved to dance. Who knows what else we might get up to.

makerealbany - 2010-02-14 23:33:00

Smartgirl I had to clean my fishtank again on Thursday. I made the mistake of showing Miss M how I feed the fish did'nt I? I raced into the cottage with her in the morning to grab my sunglasses before we went to Playgroup. She jumped on my footstool whilst I was searching in that mess I had and emptied the whole container of fish food into the fish tank. Nana's little helper. She looked so pleased with herself. I grabbed her, fished out the fish, put them in a bucket of water and raced off to Playgroup. When I got in that night, I thought" What the hell have I got a bucket on the table for?". I had forgotten all about the poor little b-ggers.

makerealbany - 2010-02-14 23:41:00

Hi girls. I have had a great day with M. Went to the park this morning and guess what? There were mainly Grandmothers and a couple of Grandfathers there with the children. We all smiled at each other pushing our babes on the swings, etc. We also went and fed the ducks and then visited the Library. We had just got back to the swings and my daughter arrived so we went and had a nice Latte at the local Coffee Place. Spent the afternoon with a visitor. I have just read two of the Job Applications for work and now I am going to sit and knit. Ho ho.

makerealbany - 2010-02-15 20:37:00

Well I still have not cleaned mine yet. I came home from the pools and crashed in the afternoon for about 3 hours. Thats the trouble waking up so early but I must say I am sleeping better at night now and thats so cool. I get more sleep now that I have done for the last 3 years since I have been doing it in 2 shifts. Haha grizzly, I would love to be able to do Zumba but my back and joints would never let me do it. It looks so much fun.

smartgirl - 2010-02-16 06:35:00

Grizzly, why I asked about your cough was that years ago my grand daughter had a runny nose constantly for the year they lived in a particular house. But when they moved it stopped and apart from the odd cold she never had it again. So heres hoping for you.

smartgirl - 2010-02-16 06:37:00

Definitely here's hoping! I try not to get my hopes up any more when they try a new drug etc. I feel even worse when they don't work yet again. I was at a bbq the other night and one of the boys there had a dreadful bark. His Mum has been told everything I have but nothing has worked for him either. It sounds so much worse when it is a child, I think.
I don't seem to have much energy these days, wonder if it's the grey summer we are having. There are a few beautiful days but mostly just grey. It makes it hard to get up in the morning.

grizzly4 - 2010-02-16 08:52:00

The story about the fish was very funny, makerealbany! If I hadn't gone into work to feed the two there, I wouldn't have discovered the 2nd break-in. They say they only have 3 second memories but when I approach their tank they race over waiting to be fed. What do you think? Wishful thinking on my part?

grizzly4 - 2010-02-17 08:33:00

Its a pity they cant identify the robbers.

smartgirl - 2010-02-17 11:11:00

No I agree grizzly. My fish always swim to my side of the tank and start jumping in the water. They are true survivors my poor fish. Jed tried to go fishing a few times but after being put outside every time he tried he is now over that idea. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-17 21:59:00

smartgirl It is so darn hot and humid here. I took M down to the park this afternoon even though we had been to Mainly Music in the morning. It was so nice and cool there under the trees Lol. I really enjoyed it and there was another Nana there with two little boys so we talked while they played. Bought take aways on the way home about 5.30. Too darn hot to cook.

makerealbany - 2010-02-17 22:04:00

I did the same thing here with the girls only they played at mcds all afternoon, heaps of little kids. They were worn out when we got home. They ate their dinner, bath and staight to bed. I dont have them now till next Wed so I am dreaming of all the time I can have in the pool. I am over the humidity not the heat here. I can stand most of the heat but humidity is the killer for me. I cant breath properly.

smartgirl - 2010-02-18 06:44:00

smartgirl wrote:

Its a pity they cant identify the robbers.

Very funny!! I said that on the day to the Police. They have no sense of humour.

grizzly4 - 2010-02-18 09:03:00

Heat what heat? It's been such a dull, grey summer here. Pouring with rain this morning. Would love to stay home and knit. But no. The Women's Group at work had a guest speaker from Arthritis NZ yesterday. Very worthwhile. Learnt more from her than I have from my doctor over the years. I'm going to suggest getting someone from the Asthma Society next. They are going swimming next week so I will be working in my office where I don't need to wear togs. Haha.
My daughters surgery is scheduled for 4 March and my friend is having the same thing 26 Feb. I'll be run off my feet then!

grizzly4 - 2010-02-18 09:09:00

We had a grey day yesterday and so far this morning but it is so muggy here. I wish I could have been there for the arthritis lady. you should go swimming too grizzly. Its funny, I can be weezy on the way to the pool and once I am in the water it is all gone. It is obviously the humidity levels.

smartgirl - 2010-02-18 09:14:00

Another funny day. Every time I thought it might rain it sprinkled a few drops and then stopped. After playgroup Bubs and I had water play again which means I sat on the verandah with my boiling feet cooling in a bucket of cold water and she washed her dollies in her outdoor kitchen sink. We had a lovely time. She used 3 sets of clothes which included 2 pairs of togs but at lest it kept her cool. M has shoulder length hair which is so curly it hangs in ringlets when wet. We use quite a bit of that spray in conditioner so that we can comb her hair. Ha ha.Wish they had that stuff when her Mum was young. I used to have an awful time trying to brush the girls curls.

makerealbany - 2010-02-18 23:20:00

A lot of those guest speakers are really informative grizzly. I used to get lots of them to come and visit. Had a good laugh about the fish comments and the burglars.

makerealbany - 2010-02-18 23:23:00

Yay it's Friday. I am feeling quite stressed about the extra stuff I am going to have to do before and after work and in some cases instead of. I am so busy at work but family aretrying to organise my days to provide their support in regards to childcare, transport and post-surgery care. I was a bit overwhelmed by last night I have to say. Of course I will be there to do as much as I can but I wish they realised I can't perform miracles!

grizzly4 - 2010-02-19 09:24:00

Maybe you need to tell them grizzly. I was so pleased to sleep in this morning. I felt quite worn out by the busy week. Yes we are there to support our kids but we get tired too and we are a lot older. Sometimes I think our kids forget that!!!!! I went up to the beach this afternoon to spend some time with my little grandson. It was very enjoyable and I fed him his tea tonight. He is a little rascal. A very cute little rascal. Ha ha. Before I left there tonight I was sitting outside in the cool after my daughter had fed her cat and I could hear this loud chewing sound. I was patting Swami so I knew it wasn't him. Yep a little hedgehog was eating his cat biscuits. Cheeky little begger. So we moved his bowl up to the skateboard and the little begger was up there a few minutes later.

makerealbany - 2010-02-20 00:51:00

It was pretty comical. My granddaughter came out and said oh there are usually two of them around here at night. So the cats bowl has shifted again. Higher up this time. Lol. Cannot leave it inside as K will try and eat the biscuits. When I got home and Jed sat on his mat inside and ate his food I reminded him how good a life he has. HA HA. Looked at me as if I was mad. Maybe I am. tee hee. Well if I am it is no wonder after what I deal with at times. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-20 00:55:00

Funny how the cats don't bother with the wee hedgehogs. We have one that pops out from under the neighbours woodpile, through our fence along the edge of the garden, across the deck, goes the full length of the property and through our back fence. Same journey every evening and our girls just sit and watch. He doesn't even mind if I'm out there watching.
I have had such a good month at the shop but have to keep up with more stock. There's always a down side, inside there. Haha. Sticking to fairisle hoody jackets and my prem version as well plus the wee socks. It seems that you have a good run with a new idea in the first year then something else takes off and you have to wait for the cycle to return and for these jackets it's every 3 years. I sell a few each winter but not like this. I wonder if people are expecting a winter like the northern hemisphere has had. That would be dreadful, wouldn't it?

grizzly4 - 2010-02-20 09:51:00

I cant believe it is the 20th of February already. Last night it was only 10 degrees and today we have sunshine but no humidity. I feel so good after the pool this morning. Grizzly I miss seeing you wee listings this year on trademe. But I suppose there is only so many hours in a day.

smartgirl - 2010-02-20 14:31:00

My SIL had a great birthday party at his parent's house. We all had a good time. They have a lovely home overlooking Qrewa Beach with fantastic views of the coastline and the township. All the little ones stayed up late and no doubt all their parents will pay for that tomorrow. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-21 00:18:00

Grizzly it is true that things are in and then they are out. Cycles of fashion aye? Yes I have the feeling that this winter will be a doozy. Don't know why!!!! I have so much knitting to get through. I need a knitting assistant. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2010-02-21 00:22:00

Smartgirl you are sounding soooo active these days which is great. My friend in Hamilton has been in hospital for two weeks. She is home now and rang me to tell me her bl--dy kids had made enquires about nursing homes and had even rung to get Real Estate agents to value her home. Not one of them visited her in hospital though. The rotters. Honestly it makes you sick. I am visiting her on my way through on Friday. I will give you a ring on my way back a week or so later and we can catch up.

makerealbany - 2010-02-21 00:28:00

That is terrible for your friend!! Some families can be really awful, can't they. So self-serving. I thought middle grandson was being picked up at 8 this morning when DIL dropped my son off at work. I got up at 7 to have my shower and feed and dress him but no-one has turned up. AND not getting replies to my texts. Grrrr.... now I have to wait to get on with my day, not to mention my lost lie-in.

grizzly4 - 2010-02-21 08:51:00

Makereal, I look forward to hearing from you. Your poor friend, its a shame she is not well enough to sort them out once and all. Yes its great this pool work, but as yet in has not made me feel better on dry land. haha,

smartgirl - 2010-02-21 09:11:00

I bet you are really p......ed off. Especially when sleep is so important to you at the moment. Its a shame we cant go awol when they are looking for us to mind their kids. Maybe you should try it some time.

smartgirl - 2010-02-21 09:13:00

Yep grizzly I agree with smartgirl. Bu--er that, the little devils. Sprayed all the weeds this morning. They finally got to me. HA HA. I was starting to have triffid dreams ha ha. I must admit my kids are always on time to pick up when I am babysitting. They know the unspoken rules ha ha. I also spayed all the darn bugs on my plants. I do not like this time of the year when all the bugs multiply, etc and the Cicadas are so loud. I had a great sleep in. Unlike you. The naughty girl!!!!!

makerealbany - 2010-02-21 16:55:00

I have to run into the house and turn the roast veges on. Daughter prepared everything but has gone to Orewa to take her neice home. I have had a lazy afternoon. Daughter also cooked me brunch so I am being spoilt today. Yah!!!! I am enjoying every moment because tomorrow is Bl--dy Monday and the week starts again.

makerealbany - 2010-02-21 16:58:00

It always happens when I say something to stick up for myself! When DIL arrived she burst into tears 'cos my son was rear-ended the night before in their last working car. He has whiplash so didn't go to work yesterday. They could have rung though or txt. I bet they txt everyone else about the accident. Oh well, the cars still drivable and the other driver is accepting liability although has no insurance. Keeping an eye on sons headaches, being a 'bloke' he won't do anything about going to a doctor.
As you say, makerealbany, here's the start of another week.....

grizzly4 - 2010-02-22 07:58:00

Yes and next week is the beginning of March and for me it is also another year older. Sickening cause when the months go fast we also age faster. Had a lovely session in the pool this morning, the water seemed a bit warmer. I am a bit of a softie really.

smartgirl - 2010-02-22 10:47:00

I bet they did too grizzly. The old Mum won't mind routine wears thin doesn't it? One little text is all that was needed the night before after the accident. If son did not go to work she should have been there earlier to pick up your grandson!!!!! I sometimes get fed up with People who use tears to get their own way. Had a girlfriend who was an expert at it. I told her to grow up in the end. Needless to say although we communicate we are no longer close friends. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-22 19:16:00

Smartgirl when I think of all the years I lived in Hamilton and we didn't know each other!!!! I missed something special. Bu--er it. We could be swimming together girl. Up here it costs a ruddy fortune to go to the pools. Lots of privately owned ones. I must check and see if there are any Council ones. Most likely miles away.

makerealbany - 2010-02-22 19:19:00

We can't even access the private pools down here for leisure. They are deemed traing pools. The council pools are lovely but, like you, makerealbany, there's none in our corner of the world. The local school pool used to be open to the public but after many years of fighting to keep it, it was bulldozed last month. You see these ads on tv about teaching our kids to swim but it is no longer part of the school curriculum. Such a shame, it was a big part of NZ culture, don't you think?

grizzly4 - 2010-02-23 09:46:00

I was just thinking the same thing makereal. I am lucky the pool I go most often is only 2 ks from my place. The other one is opposite Urlich Ave, only a few ks further. By me one pool is a training pool but the have a walking lane, slow lane etc. I have a concession card and a certificate from my doctor so instead of $5 a time I buy 10 for $23. I could not afford to go otherwise. I have started a sleep diary just to see how much sleep I actually get at night. Last night I only seemed to sleep about an hour at a time. Its weird.

smartgirl - 2010-02-23 15:16:00

Yes grizzly. It is sad about the swimming. I remember my older grandchildren all having swimming lessons at school. Found out that our local small school has a pool that we can use at times.

makerealbany - 2010-02-23 21:49:00

That is a good concession smartgirl. I used to go to Te Rapa pools and sometimes the one in Victoria Street. Suppose that is gone now. Playgroup had a day at the park and the local Community Coordinator brought the toy bus for Summer Fun which was great. The park is fully fenced so M had a ball. I have a mountain of ironing to do tonight so I had better get moving on it.

makerealbany - 2010-02-23 21:54:00

Yuck, ironing! Do you hsave any special plans for your birthday, makerealbany? So hot down here the last few days, lovely weather. But my fan isn't coping with the heat in my office. Such a shame I have to close the curtains in the morning to prevent the heat building up too fast. Sacrilege isn't it?

grizzly4 - 2010-02-24 08:57:00

Yes it is grizzly. Ha ha. I will be doing the same in Rotorua next week when I am working. It was Mum's Birthday on Monday and that will be celebrated again on Saturday night. Lol. SIL back tonight Yah!!!! M has been so excited all day, saying" My daddy is home today". She was counting the "sleeps" all this week. Only 2 and she can count to 12. Dad will be exhausted tomorrow morning but has to go to Playgroup with me so he knows where to go next week. Ah to be young again and full of energy, not. Ho ho. Really hot and humid tonight. Cannot sleep !!!! I will try the reading trick.

makerealbany - 2010-02-25 00:26:00

Have slept really well last 2 nights, weirdly enough, despite the heat. The heat during the day is so exhausting that I barely get an hours knitting done in the evenings. Did you see we had 30 degrees yesterday? Still 27 when I left work. Had to shut the ranch slider at 9pm to keep the bugs out but had to turn the heat pump on for the air cooling. Couldn't live with those temperatures everyday. Phew!

grizzly4 - 2010-02-25 09:00:00

Another hot day. I had so much to do and theheat really knocked me about today. Went to Playgroup with SIL and M , so heknows where to go and what to do. HA HA. Then had to go to Northcote, back to the library at Albany then over to the school and pick up my granddaughter. Took her home to Greenhithe then dozed on the couch til DIL got home 45 mins later. A had been to a school camp and she was tired. Drove home after a cuppa with DIL, picked up some stuff for my daughter and fell on my bed 5 mins after getting home. Woke up at 11, had some tea and now I am off to bed again. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-26 01:08:00

B@%*#! It just dumped out in the middle of my story and I have to start again!
I was woken at 6 this morning by one of the girls trying to get down the back of the bed. Never a good sign EVER! Leapt out of bed and switched on the light which woke hubby with a hell of a fright. After moving the bed and cabinets a 'mouse' the size of a reasonable size rat scampered out. That was me out of there, closing the door on hubby and Jinx to deal with the intruder. I can cope with the little field mouse but not this thing on steroids!!
Needless to say it was an earlier start than planned. A bit cooler today by the looks of it. It'll be nice to have a bit of a breather. Catching up on wee sox and prem bootees for the shop this week.

grizzly4 - 2010-02-26 08:37:00

Ugh I hate rats. How horrible. I could tell you a lot of rat stories grizzly. When we lived in Aussi we rented this big old farmhouse just out of prospect in NSW and the first night we could hear them galloping thru the attic. I kid you not. Hubby got up the ladder and had a look and promptly got the kids and put them all in our room. The next day he went off and got the most lethal poison he could find. They fed on it for 7 days and then wham!!!!! We had to put up with that ruddy racket for the week and we were all exhausted. They were I swear to God as big as small cats. He had to dispose of the carcases by dosing them with petrol and incinerating them. I have never seen rats that big since. They were bigger than those large water rats you see. Yuk.

makerealbany - 2010-02-26 23:51:00

Still darn hot here tonight. I am off to Rotorua tomorrow. Have an early start. New Aut Campus opens at Manukau and Buildings will be blessed tomorrow so we have to be there at 6.30. Be home by 11 and then I will head off to Hamilton. Keep the home fires burning girls and will catch up with you on Monday. Yes I have my knitting packed in the car already. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-02-26 23:55:00

Have a good trip! Yesterday was exhausting. We decided to borrow a trailer and take our big BBQ over to daughters. It's taking up too much room here and we haven't ended up using it very much over the last 2 summers. Now we can go there and they can do the cleaning up. Haha. While we had the trailer picked up all the old, broken-down whiteware both our children have collected over the years plus old lawn-mowers, broken toys and furniture and did a dump run. It's great now that they areas where you dump that sort of stuff to be disposed of properly or recycled for no charge. All of the garages are much tidier and we have done our good turn for the week.

grizzly4 - 2010-02-28 09:58:00

Grizzly, thats sounds like a great idea. It will be one less thing to move. When is the big day. I bet you cant wait. No pool for me today, I went for 1 and a half hours yesterday and crashed in the afternoon. Last night I had the best nights sleep I have had for ages so I thought I would just keep on sleeping. I hate rats with a passion. Years ago we rented a house in Ohaupo when my middle girl was a baby and one night I heard this vibrating sound and a rat was chewing its way through the hot water cupboard door into the dining room. I put a brick there so it could not come in. We layed a poison that they went for water and during the day I used to see so many of them leaving our property it was revoulting.

smartgirl - 2010-02-28 10:14:00