Sounds good! I'm ticking things off my list as fast as I can to get everything done but I'm not sure it's fast enough. And don't you just hate it when one job leads to another that you hadn't thought of?

grizzly4 - 2010-12-14 08:24:00

Yes I do!!!!!Wrapped lots of pressies today with M's help. She loved it and so did I. She is staying over tonight to give her parents a much needed break. People keep popping into my mind and the present list goes on. Ho Ho.

makerealbany - 2010-12-14 23:49:00

My grandsons would tell everyone what they were getting if I let them help. Haha! The local school has changed their finishing day at the last minute so who knows how many children will turn up for the programme today. Makes my blood boil, mucking around, and not letting anyone know, including the working parents who are frantically trying to get time off work for an extra day or find care!

grizzly4 - 2010-12-15 08:11:00

I would hate that too Grizzly, you could end up with heaps. I have had my girls since Monday, they go home today. I wouldnt dare let either of them help me, they are both to keen to tell everything as it is. ha ha. Makereal, I was telling my daughter about your wee grandson and it brought back heaps of memories. She said my g/sons saving grace was that he slept well, which is not the norm, otherwise she would have k...ed him, cant even say the word. Both her kids were wonderful sleepers with reflux. I feel for you all.

smartgirl - 2010-12-15 08:56:00

J had another lousy night. Poor little guy. He is putting on weight and looks like a little buddah but that reflux and colic gives him hell. Had a good day myself today. Everyone was out. Managed to do all the washing, mow some of the lawns and do some gardening. I am shattered now. Lol. yes those poor parents grizzly.

makerealbany - 2010-12-15 22:33:00

Hi smartgirl. So nice to hear from you. I was nearly going to ring my friend today. Then I remembered so I rang her sister. She told me she did the same thing. Now her exhubby is being a pillock. Honestly I could shake him.

makerealbany - 2010-12-15 22:35:00

I went to B5's prizegiving last night. He was so shy standing in the front row singing Christmas carols to us. One of the teachers was leaving and she had been the first teacher for both my children. It was lovely for my son and myself to be there to say good-bye 23 years later.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-16 08:55:00

Wow that was cool grizzly. Doesn't time fly?. I am off to my daughter's in Orewa tomorrow. Staying the night to babysit and then on Sat we are driving to Rotorua to see Mum for Christmas. Have her box of goodies packed in the car, my sisters pressies, plus my great Grandson's pressies as well. M is having an early 3 birthday party on Sunday whilst her Dad is still home. So it will be a hectic weekend. Loving this rain. I have only one more present to get and I will pick it up in Rotorua. I know what I want and even where it was a week ago. Lol. Hope they have not closed already.

makerealbany - 2010-12-16 23:05:00

Hope you have packed a laptop as well, so you can keep in touch!

Not very well at the moment, some sort of tummy bug, I think but not like family had earlier this week. Still going into work each day just not feeling as full of Christmas cheer as I should be. Hopefully it passes soon.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-17 08:17:00

Weird bug but after 2 days of feeling dreadful nothing has eventuated. Very odd. Well, looks like most of you are travelling this time of year. Suzy59nz left for Surfers yesterday till New Years, makerealbany is on the road again, how about you , smartgirl, any plans?

grizzly4 - 2010-12-18 09:32:00

Grizzly, I am staying home, my daughter in Australia is coming home with her family so we are all counting down the days. I love being home when everyone is away. Town is so quite. I am off today to Papamoa to a birthday party, I am so looking forward to going. Iwent pool walking last week with miss 3 in tow. On the way there I had my hands full so I put my mobile in the bra of my togs which I had on. Well guess what, the phone went in the pool with me. My granddaughter has given me her old one so I am off to Telecom tomorrow to get it all sorted out. It was needing replacing but now I have lost all my contacts. Makereal can you email me with your numbers please. Have a great day.

smartgirl - 2010-12-19 09:38:00

I'm glad it was due to be replaced because that is such a great story. Very funny, I can picture it so clearly!Heehee. Had a great day with family yesterday although I. was called into work at lunch time and didn't get home till 7.30pm. He is so tired and not taking meds anymore so I can't tell if he's really ok or not. He doesn't get holidays this Christmas, of course, just the stats, so not sure how he's going to catch up on some rest. We had tidying the garden on our list for today and now it's b#%* raining! Supposed to by flying his helicopters this evening but I might have to stay here wrapping presents and baking.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-19 10:47:00

Very productive evening in the end. Sent I. off to play helicopters on his own and stayed home to play in the garden since the rain had disappeared. Even finished a Barbie dressing gown for the shop.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-20 07:17:00

Yay, now that I have finally been able to get time to clean the microwave, oven and fridge (AT WORK) I feel I can start looking forward to finishing up for the year. Tomorrow I have a meeting, then clearing out my office so new carpet can go down while I'm away. Wednesday is our evaluation day over a posh lunch the it's all over!! For a whole month. (sighs of bliss)
I'm having B5 and L3 for the day Thursday. Think I might make fancy cupcakes with them so they can give them to their parents and auntie & uncle when we are all together Christmas Eve.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-20 17:40:00

Looks like, makerealbany didn't take a laptop.....sigh......and there are no computers for suzy59nz in oz either......double sigh.....and everyone else is too busy......actually so I am I, better get a move on.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-21 08:20:00

I am like you grizzly, so much to do and so little time, I think I need a rocket under me.

smartgirl - 2010-12-21 08:51:00

Well I am back. My sister had her operation and they removed the tumor and one of her ovaries. Hopefully it will not be cancerous. Mum is okay but very worried about my sis. M had a fab early Birthday party at Lollipops and enjoyed herself. So did everyone else. I have 2 of my grandchildren for the night. M and J who is 8. They have spent the day with me and are now fast asleep. Thank heavens. I have one present left to buy and I am done. I sent my packages off and they have already been received. Sent it all by courier to be sure. I am b-ggered but then so are we all. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-12-21 22:40:00

I am glad the surgery is over for your sister, makerealbany, and wish her well for the results. It must be very stressful let alone at this time of year! I have finished all my shopping, still have some wrapping to do. Need to do the lawns this evening when it cools down a bit and hopefully the blasted wind dies down. It's making the house creak a lot, making things a bit nervy around here again. Dreadful to hear about the earthquake in Japan yesterday. I hope their predictions of little damage and caualties is correct. Weve heard that most of our ceilings will have to be replaced 'cos you can't repair the plaster once it cracks. It will have to replaced by gib apparently but who knows when that will be done.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-22 09:25:00

It's getting down to the wire now, ladies! Time for a new list, I'm afraid, time to reprioritise the sthings left on the original list. We finally finished wrapping everything last night, it has taken hours over the last week. Had a lovely work lunch yesterday at the Raspberry Cafe. I had a Chicken and Bacon Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette which was beautiful and then a Raspberry and White Chocolate cheesecake to follow. No, not everything on the menu has raspberries but not a bad theme to follow!

grizzly4 - 2010-12-23 09:38:00

Yum that sounded delicious grizzly. Yep it is down to the wire. All I did today was the washing. I just felt had it. Rested all day so tomorrow I will be on the go. Ho Hum. I have wrapt everything and have already received pressies. I do wish people would stop giving me chocolates though. I have 4 boxes. Spoke to my Sis today and she is determined to be at home for Xmas. She is very positive and a real hard worker too. I am glad she will be at home with her family. My BIL is a peach so he will look after her. I am going to ring Mum as she suffers from insomnia now and is always up in the wee hours.

makerealbany - 2010-12-23 22:20:00

It's going to be a mad today! I have a bad back from coughing all night, and 11 for dinner tonight! I have found I.'s bag with his lunch, wallet, phone and glasses in it still sitting on the dining room chair - can't contact him to take it to him. Will have made his day, I guess.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-24 08:10:00

oh no grizzly. Not good. It has happened here too.

makerealbany - 2010-12-24 19:57:00

Merry Christmas to you all girls. Hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow. I am getting an early night for the big day. Presents are everywhere. The tree lights are on and I am having a quiet muse after having tea with A,S and the babies. M is so excited. She has left carrots for the reindeer and a glass of milk and cookies(she helped her Mum bake today) for Santa. She even cleared a space near the tree for Santa to leave her pressies. Lol.

makerealbany - 2010-12-24 20:01:00

How sweet, makereal. Merry Christmas to you and grizzly. I am off to my girls today and my other girl is home from Aus so we are in for a great day. It really is about the kids though. They are all excited especially the little ones. Have a great day, Jo

smartgirl - 2010-12-25 06:05:00

We had an awesome day. The kids had a ball. It was all fun and no stress which was great. My granddaughter A made me lovely biscuits and she also made all her little cousins a stuffed toy. My Grand daughter J is into growing things so I got a lovely Lily. My grandson C got me a very unusual cactus. I love it when the teenagers get into the true spirit of Christmas. I have more chocs, nuts and fruit, Este Lauder perfume, skin repair creme, night creme, fuel vouchers, book vouchers and a lovely basket of Maple Syrup goodies from my son who was in Canada recently. I am hiding that. I have never bought real Maple syrup because of the cost. Pancakes for breakie tomorrow me thinks. I am tuckered out as Miss M had me up bright and early to watch her checking out the reindeer footprints in the snow on the slate floor. "Guess what they ate the carrots and Santa ate the cookies too." Ho Hum.

makerealbany - 2010-12-25 22:25:00

Yes we had a lovely day too, Great food, lovely presents and wonderful family time. Went to the Casino this morning as we always do on Boxing Day to celebrate a friends birthday. Was woken by a 4.2 shake at 2am and then some smaller ones after so didn't sleep much. First time in ages have felt any shakes. Then another 4. something at 8am. A 4.9 at 10.30 found us evacuated from the Casino and unable to get our car out of the underground parking for awhile. Casino has just been beautifully redone and has only been open a few weeks properly. We watched glass and plaster falling around us and cracks appearing above us. Hysterical staff were being helped out of the building. It was such an awful experience, I can't believe it's started again and centred right in the inner city this time so there are more walls down and windows broken. I couldn't wait to get home to check the girls, but luckily no further damage here. My sister is down from Wellington and was evacuated from Westfield Mall, my daughter evacuated from one of the largest Warehouse down here. Yet again we have been lucky all though not feeling so great at present.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-26 11:53:00

So many shakes over the last 24 hours. Another biggie at midnight just as i managed to get to sleep, wouldn't you know it? Did the one in the Bay of Plenty affect any of you, although it was very deep?

grizzly4 - 2010-12-27 09:58:00

grizzly, this is the first I have heard of it. You must feel if they are starting all over again. I have just checked the Christchurch quake map and things have gone mad. I do feel for you all. I must check the BOP one. I am thinking of you all.

smartgirl - 2010-12-27 13:40:00

Man it never stops does it? My grandson had just purchased his I Pod and the first Quake shook the hell out of the Warehouse and he was evacuated too. He said he was so glad he got his Ipod and he was off home. He only went shopping for that as his other one had finally bitten the dust. Most likely from overuse. Lol. He said it is all on again Nan. Just when people were starting to settle and feel secure again. Bloody hell lets hope 2011 will be a better year for you grizzly.

makerealbany - 2010-12-27 23:26:00

Hi smartgirl, How did your Christmas go? I have that probelm with my ruddy feet again, plus My knee has fluid on it again so I look like an old fool limping around. Worst thing is that my SIL flew out today for a month so I am babysitting again. I have to drive T and K to the Airport tomorrow as they are off to India for a month so I am rubbing deep heat into my knee tonight. Cannot do anything about the feet though. Bugger it. Have had my feet in iced water which is cooling at lest Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2010-12-27 23:32:00

So sorry to hear you are suffering again, makerealbany. Bad timing, too. Things have settled down again over the last 24 hours, thank goodness. Dead headed the roses yesterday and washed the cars, the afternoon was full of visitors. Rather lazy really.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-28 07:38:00

Yes I did some of my roses last week and they need it again grizzly. Everything is growing like mad. Picked two cucumbers and some tomatoes. Zuchinnis are nearly ready. I had a good crop of raspberries this year. Still fruiting. Rhubarb has been so prolific and I only have 2 plants. It is A's 40th tomorrow so I am cooking a roast lamb dinner. We will only have 12 of us here as everyone is off on Holiday. My eldest girl got a bit teary when we went to the Airport today. I was holding it back. My little grandson was already yelling out Nana when they were checking in. It is a long haul 14 hours . He is only 19 months old. I hope he will be alright. My girl looked shattered already. She will meet her hubbie in KL . He has already been away working for a month in Malaysia but after their trip he is off to a new job in Indonesia. So he will have been away from home for 3 months when he finally gets back. That is the guy who said he will mow his own lawns!!!! Needless to say my daughter has booked the lawnmowing guy lol.

makerealbany - 2010-12-29 00:30:00

I honestly don't know how they cope being so far away from each other, especially when they are raising young children! Strong people, I guess. I couldn't do it, thats for sure.
Both my son and DIL had to work yesterday so we had B5 and L3 for the day. Took them out to BIL's farm in the pouring rain where they happily followed the pony around, fed the steers, collected eggs and rode the trailer behind the ride on mower. It was the easiest wet day I've ever looked after them. Heehee. They will be back on Friday 'cos their parents are off camping overnight for New Years. I'm feeling a little miffed DIL can take off work for that but isn't taking any leave over the school holidays to look after B5 till the holiday programme starts. I think there is an expectation that her sister and I will cover it! So much for my month off! She's in for a big shock, she already asked me to do next Tuesday as well even though I had asked for some relief around the days I. is home, he is so tired. But my son has 4 day weekend next week so saved the day. Then I'm going to have to toughen up as my sister tells me. I'm feeding my daughters cat for the next 5 days while they are away as well.
However today I am free to do the books and cheques for the shop and then do some cross stitch this afternoon. It has been a very long time for that past-time. I have terrible toothache from the tooth I was hoping they had saved. It had settled down really well but the last 2 days are awful. Looks like it's coming out whether I like it or not but dentists away till 10th.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-29 09:28:00

I used to love wet days on the farm with my grandchildren as well grizzly. Yep you and I have got to get haaaard girl. Sometimes being taken for granted sucks big time. Put your foot down. Tee hee. Though it is not easy for my girls. Daughter said K hated the flight. No darn surprize there. However he loves shopping in KL. Pity about that darn tooth grizzly. I still have not been to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and until my feet improve I wont be going any where else. After having a dinner for my daughter's 40th I am running on rmpty and the tank is getting rusty as well. Lol. I intend to just relax as much as I can tomorrow. My son wanted me to feed his cats but thank God the neighbour is doing it. I just can't drive at the mo.

makerealbany - 2010-12-29 22:33:00

Hows the tooth grizzly. I know how painful a toothache can be. Yuk.!!! I just took it easy today. Had to repot an African Violet as M accidently knocked over a small table. Broke the pot but I saved the plant. I am popping painkillers every 4 hours and will be glad once everything settles down again. I am aching all over. Begger it. Ah well these things happen. Haven't been this bad for ages though. Something to be grateful for. lol.

makerealbany - 2010-12-30 22:21:00

You are not going to believe this! 2010 is going to stick it to me till the bitter end! Tooth got worse and worse and then I broke one on a piece of food on Wednesday night. I managed to get an emergency appointment yesterday afternoon after suffering all morning with pain that was making me feel quite ill. I didn't lose the broken one, just a temporary filling till my dentist is back on the 10th. And all the pain wasn't the one it should have been but the next one along. It had the same problem of a crack running along the tooth under the filling. I've had two dentists now say this is a bit weird as there is no decay at all so can't tell me what's causing it. I am very conscious of the gap is it is the one behind the eye tooth so can just be seen when I smile. I'll find out what my options are after the 10th. And if it's too much money I'll just stop smiling. I feel like I won't ever again right now anyway. I pick up B5 and L3 in half an hour and they are here till tomorrow so have to stay chip and cheery for them. I hope your pain eases off soon, makerealbany.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-31 08:36:00

Had a lovely day with the boys. Yes, I know we had two reasonable size after shocks but I never felt them even though I was standing on my son's shaky lawn at the time. Amazing, although they were a lot deeper than usual. The boys played happily while I caught up on the laundry and vacuuming. Had cheerios and tomato sauce for lunch and watched a DVD while I did some cross-stitch. Very pleasant. I. arrived home about 3.30pm so we took them for a swim then had fish 'n'chips for tea. They were fast asleep by 8pm. Lovely, lovely day.

grizzly4 - 2010-12-31 20:54:00

Firstly sounds like you had a great day with your grandchildren. Lovely. Secondly you poor bugger with your dental probelms. I must say I look at mine and wish I could afford to get them whitened and capped and everything else they do on makeover. Lol. I was feeling better than morning but a bit jaded now. Managed to tinker around a bit. Having a quiet New Year's Eve. The babies were asleep by 7 30. First time they were both asleep together. My daughter is no doubt relaxing now and I am going to watch some tele and write some to do lists. Ha ha. I said I was going to write them then we will see what happens. Have a very Happy New Year's Eve, Grizzly.

makerealbany - 2010-12-31 21:16:00

Happy new Year everyone! And here's to a great 2011!!!!
I feel a bit tired this morning as we stayed up to watch the Royal Variety Show on tv last night. Actually saw the new year in for the first time in years. Since the quakes I always have my cell phone by the bed. When the New Year txts started I shoved it under my pillow so it wouldn't wake the boys. They were coming thick & fast, I didn't realise I was that popular, in the end had to turn it off to get to sleep. I was really annoyed when I found that DIL's txt kept repeating itself every 5 mins. 11 #*%# times!!!!!! They are away camping so wanted the phone on in case of emrgency. So angry I didn't sleep that well and the boys were really rowdy when they woke this morning so hence feeling shattered before I start.

grizzly4 - 2011-01-01 09:23:00

Happy New Year everyone, had a good holiday all though the weather was not good, wet and warm, had about 4 days of hot sunny weather only, didn't keep us in we shopped till we dropped, never thought i would ever get sick of shopping.
My daughter was sick for the last two days of the holidays and wouldn't you know they were hot a sunny days, so that kept us from doing too much, but she had a nice 21st birthday.
Thank goodness i missed the quakes on the 26th, daughter #1 text me to let me know about them , so i rang her to make sure she was ok. Must have been quite bad.
Anyway things are almost back to normal, washing all done and put away, holiday just a memory now, think i need a holiday to get over my holiday lol.

suzy59nz - 2011-01-01 22:19:00

Too blazes with repeating texts grizzly. No wonder you are out of sorts!!!!1 watched the fireworks display all over the city. I can see the skytower in the distance. It was really noisy though and the animals got a bit towy. Went shopping with my daughter and her two children today. That was great because the shops were so quiet. Then we went to the beach to see Master 17 and take him his birthday presents. Came home and we were all exhausted. Had a good day though. Staying at home tomorrow as I want to potter in the garden. We have lots of selfsown swanplants from my original 2 plants 4 years ago. There are so many Monarchs flying around it is really wonderful. M has a great time checking the plants for new life.

makerealbany - 2011-01-01 23:01:00

Happy New Year Suzy. Holidays are like that aren't they. Mind you Memories never fade. Well at lest that is what my Mum says and she is in her eighties. Lol. I love the shopping till you dropped. The only probelm with that is you have to have a clean out when you get home so that you have somewhere to store the new purchases. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2011-01-01 23:04:00

Happy New Year smartgirl. Hope you are well.

makerealbany - 2011-01-01 23:05:00

Welcome back suzy59nz! Sorry to hear about R. not being well.My house is all quite today. Son and DIL picked up the boys earlier than expected yesterday and took them back to their camp site for the night since all the drinkers had left. What a great first experience for them! Hope they enjoyed it. Off cat feeding duty as daughter arrives back today so should be normal for awhile now. Taking the christmas decorations down today, doesn't that always make the place feel a bit sparse for awhile?

grizzly4 - 2011-01-02 10:18:00

Yes it does grizzly we did the cottage and the house yesterday. Now I have all the boxes of decorations to find a home for. Everytime I get something out of the shed I put something in it's place. I really need toclean out the shed and stack it all again. Sigh. Picked a bucket of plums today, some cucumbers and zuchinni. I have been saving jars again so I will start preserving again. Hate the fact that we always have to do it in the heat.lol. My girl rang from Agra today and said it was freezing there. She saw the Taj Mahal today and loved it. Said there are beggers everywhere. Also said you have to tip everyone in India even before they do something for you or they won't do a thing. How bad is that? She also said the best thing she took was K's Mountain buggy as he goes to sleep in it when they are out and he knows it is his. Said that everyone stares at it as if it was a thing from outer space but she couldn't care a less. Lol. Also it gives her breathing space.

makerealbany - 2011-01-03 00:14:00

She sounds all organised. I never think of India being cold. I know what you mean about creating spaces. Once the tree was gone from the lounge it looked very big and bare. Decided I didn't like the armchair back in that space either so decided on a new DVD cabinet that provided a place for a coffee cup when someone sits over there. Of course the cabinet then needed this lovely pewter ornament of 2 cats I found on sale. Heehee. That wee empty space looks very posh now. How is your pain, makerealbany? I cringed when you mentioned cleaning out your shed. Smartgirl must be busy with family these holidays and suszy59nz, how are you enjoying the heat, now you are back. I'm not doing much today, it's too hot for the garden.

grizzly4 - 2011-01-03 10:12:00

Got the shed done but it took all day. I had to help A with M who was a right little deviltoday. J was not slepping and crying a lot so I was in and out of the house. Finally finished the shed at 5 today and I even found a space for all the xmas boxes. It was so good to get them out of the cottage. I would lug a box out to the shed then have a short rest ha ha. When I am on the ball and with no interruptions I could have that shed unpacked and cleaned in 2 hours sigh. Planted two cannas A got for her birthday. I did those early this morning though. I had great intentions of working in the garden but as you said it was so darn hot all day.

makerealbany - 2011-01-03 23:04:00

Boy, was it ever hot, yesterdsay affected me the most so far heat wise. Can't believe I'm half way through my month off! Boohoo. I'm starting to be very concerned about the amount of childcare I'm being expected to provide. I love the boys to bits BUT really need a break especially with parts of me going to pack on a regular basis. But if I don't I can't shake the guilt either.

grizzly4 - 2011-01-04 10:52:00

Yes I know what you mean about guilt grizzly. Just imagine if you weren't there they would have to cope. It is so hard being a mother at times isn't it? I had a really productive day. My daughter's lovely friend came over to help out for the day and I managed to spray the weeds, chop down some poisonous trees(about 2 metres high) and plant some more cannas around the back of the decks. I was tired but felt really happy that I had done so much. Then I had a shower and a Nana nap. Went in at 6 to help out and got back to the cottage at 9-45. Poor J won't sleep and his Mum is worn out still. I try to help her with him but he is a little rascal. Still holding on to his wind. They have the airconditioning on so the house is cooler. M had a greast day with J but it took me ages to get her to sleep. I am getting very good at making up stories. Lol. When I was away on my holiday I only worried for a couple of days and then I relaxed and enjoyed my time away. If you are not there you cannot help. Lol. We are not getting any younger girl. I am saving for another holiday. HA HA.

makerealbany - 2011-01-04 22:53:00

Forgot to say I have a few scratches and cuts from when I fell off the pine logs into the blackberries. lol. I did not know they were there hidden in the overgrown weeds down the back. The section slopes and goes right down into our bush area. It was lovely and cool down the bottom of the property. I found some lovely ferns and loads of regenerated native seedlings. M is 3 tomorrow and although we have already had her party( while her Dad was here) we are having some family members over for a casual Pizza tea as she requested. ugh an ant just crawed out of my keyboard. I have put antkiller all over the rocks near my shed as there were heaps of the little beggers around.

makerealbany - 2011-01-04 23:00:00