Terribly worried about suzy's and my friend who is wheelchair bound since the Feb quake. In the past 6 months she has also had surgery for a tumour to be removed and then she had a stroke last week. While in hospital for that they have found a hole in her heart and is in surgery today! She is the most amazing person being able to cope through all this especially as she hasn't even been able to live with her family since FEb as her house needs alterations to be approved and completed by ACC. She's been on her own in a motel unit! Do you not think this is absolutely dreadful?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-01 08:01:00

it stinks, how she has coped i do not know, i would have curled up in to a little ball long ago. i don't know just how much more she can take, and she gets no compensation and its all earthquake related.

suzy59nz - 2011-09-01 14:17:00

That is so bad. The poor woman!!! Maybe someone needs to contact Current Affairs or the like. This is a story that should be told. She is more important then the rebuilding of the city. There are hardly any stories about the people that have had to endure so many hardships and injuries that have affected them for the rest of their lives. She surely is one amazing lady girls. Living alone in a ruddy motel in her state must be hell.

makerealbany - 2011-09-01 22:21:00

Grizzly. I am so darn sick I told them I could not go and the work load is so heavy I am over it. The paid staff are on excellernt wages now so I am pulling back and they can deal with it all. My friend who had the heart surgery told me today this is the last eound for her as well. I know we will have to keep our little J under cottonwool protection for a year so I have not got the time anymore. I can go back to doing my crafty stuff at night when the kids are asleep. My daughter wants to go and work 2 days next week She is getting better and it would be good for her to get away from the kids for a break. If dealing with 400 staff is a break. Lol. You know what I mean though.

makerealbany - 2011-09-01 22:27:00

Smartgirl how are you feeling? I have the time to ring you now but considering I am coughing flat out when I talk the conversation would not be very stimulating. Ha ha. How are the girls? Heavens my fingers keep hitting the weong keys. They are a bit swollen at the moment. Legs are great though. HA HA. At lest somethings are working in this old girl still. Lol

makerealbany - 2011-09-01 22:31:00

Good on you, makerealbany. Sorry you aren't well though, definitely time to look after yourself. Good to hear about your daughter being on the mend, too.
It's been such a hard week, I haven't even been able to enjoy the start of spring, mind you it's a bit wintry again the last few days. Had some nasty quakes this week, too, especially this mornings! Hopefully it's going to be a peaceful weekend in more ways than one. Our stall at one of the malls on Wednesday was very successful and all the members involved were really excited about their craft selling. THey haven't taken up the TM option so it was great for them to be back in the swing of things.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-02 06:27:00

That is really good that the stall was productive grizzly. A good boost for your members. Yes it is a bit wintery here too. Little J is in a great mood today. I was hanging the washing on the indoor clothesline and he was dragging it by its wheels all over the place. So nice to see him so active and to hear him yelling with excitement. I ended up putting him in thye washing basket so I could finish the job lol.

makerealbany - 2011-09-02 16:34:00

S had a scan today and my next grandbaby is a girl. Yippee Little M is over the moon. She told her Mummy that Uncle G and Aunty S can borrow her baby brother and she will borrow J's little sister. She wanted to sort out all her baby stuff for her little cousin-sister as she calls her.

makerealbany - 2011-09-02 22:37:00

How cool is that? Is this new baby living close by to you?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-03 09:12:00

Another great weekend, despite a few shakes to keep us on our toes. I can see the lights over Christchurch even from our place. I surprised myself by being quite emotional when they turned them on. It's such lovely spring weather these days I've made a list of what needs to be brought up todate in the garden and spring cleaning wise inside. Not big jobs really, more a freshen up, you know? I've even started my christmas shopping, for goodness sake. I. has been offered a new job as well which starts in a couple of weeks and has a later start (7am). So we will be getting up at the time when he would normally leave for work. Hooray.
How was your weekend ladies and your health?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-05 06:08:00

I rushed outside to see the lights being turned on and couldn't see anything from here, was dissapointed. had my torch ready to shine too.
Another lovely sunny day, always makes me feel so much brighter when the sun shines.

suzy59nz - 2011-09-05 11:15:00

Yes grizzly 10 mins down the road. A and M spent all day sorting out boxes and boxes of baby clothes for our new baby. S and G will not need to buy much. In fact we found a box of knitted outfits I made that M never even wore!!!!!!! A was on a spring cleaning bee so the truck is full of stuff to cart around. Little J is a box of birds and is much more demanding than M was at his age. He is a little Bam Bam. So noisy Lol. A is feeling better as far as the virus goes but she needs to wean J as she is starting back to work and he feeds constantly in the night. Little monkey. He is back to taking a bottle from me so that is good. I am feeling a lot better but my back is giving me gyp. Ah well can't have everything. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2011-09-05 20:54:00

Your back - my shoulder. It's a bugger during a good night sleepo waking everytime you turn over because of pain. Like you said - Ah well....
Had B6 and L4 staying over last night as their parents have a funeral in Nelson to go to today. They are planning to be back tonight but we'll see.
Everyone is full of the cold around here, at home and work. Just the season I guess.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-06 07:13:00

What a week! And it's only Wednesday... boys went home about 9 o'clock last night. Their parents were exhausted with all the travelling thery've done in 2 days. It's going to a long week for them. We all have early starts this morning. I am currently wortking on a fairisle cardy, trying to match one I did a few months ago but of course the dye lots of the wool has changed since then. The Mum that has ordered it wants them for twins. Here's hoping they are close enough, especially as the fairisle pattern is being done in lilac this time instead of the pink in the original. Fingers crossed. How are you all keeping?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-07 06:41:00

Gosh, you must all be pretty busy, yourselves! I hope you are all well, though.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-08 06:20:00

Went to the Palms after work today, it was great to have it back again, it was not at all scary. It looks so nice and clean and bright. some good specials too, Pascoes had some good specials, my bank balence can prove it lol. Looking forward to Farmers and the movies opening.

suzy59nz - 2011-09-08 17:13:00

Shudder. No thanks. Looked really busy when I drove past on the way to and from work. Not a car park to be seen by the looks of it. It's bad enough that I have ordered a book from Whitcoulls for I. for Christmas and may have to go into Northlands tonight to pick it up. Those trips are only when I really, really have to. Makerealbany and smartgirl, everything ok?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-09 06:18:00

We are surviving grizzly. J is great. Little M has been sick again. Tonsils are swollen and she has a rash on her hands. Threw up last night. She is going to the docs this morning with her Mum. Her Dad is home again. Short cycle so that will give me a chance to get back on my feet. Lovely day here already. I have cleaning jobs planned. Yep very exciting not. This has been the worst winter ever for our family. However it has to improve. The good thing about being down is there is only one way to go and that is up. Lol. Have a nice day girls.

makerealbany - 2011-09-09 07:17:00

I had a great day today. Visited my other daughter this afternoon after my cleaning bee. I watched the opening ceremony and then the game on my big screen and knitted all by myself which I really enjoyed. I had chips on the coffee table and a small glass of port which lasted the whole game. Just checked my emails and now I am off to bed.

makerealbany - 2011-09-09 23:49:00

I watched it on my own as well! Haha. I. had an early start this morning so was in bed really early. I was working on a fairisle cardy - last sleeve with chocolate biscuits and diet coke. Great mix eh? I really feel for the people that had plans going to Eden Park and never got there because of the transport hiccups. How would you get the kids to understand?!

grizzly4 - 2011-09-10 08:13:00

Yes that was awful grizzly. Auckland public transport is really lousy for an event like the world cup. Aucklanders have been complaining for years. The stupid Mayor said they the council had no idea so many people would take them up on their open invitation to the ioening ceremony. Duh. My grand daughter went to the opening ceremony and waited for hours but said it was too packed and she would not go again. My son went to the game and We haven't heard a word from him yet but then he went to watch Japan playing France down the road today and no doubt will be at North Harbour Stadium again tomorrow so we will catch up eventually. Lol. Need I say he is a real rugby fan. I gardened today and it was a beautiful day. Watched Japan playing France on TV and am now heading for bed.

makerealbany - 2011-09-10 22:27:00

if craft is your passion, just DO it, stop wasting your time here and DO it do you get it, many top craftpeople never look here but just DO it, not talk but action OK, look at, "i can never have enough" blah blah, how SAD?. use your own IMAGINATION go 4 it

Edited by zak410 at 4:24 am, Sun 11 Sep

zak410 - 2011-09-11 04:23:00

What is sad is that zak410 is up at 4.23am writing these sorts of messages.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-11 10:01:00

Family day yesterday so not time to watch rugby although I'm keeping track of the scores online each morning. I got a bit of gardening done and lots of washing yesterday as well. Not a bad day all in all.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-11 10:05:00

zak410 wrote:

if craft is your passion, just DO it, stop wasting your time here and DO it do you get it, many top craftpeople never look here but just DO it, not talk but action OK, look at, "i can never have enough" blah blah, how SAD?. use your own IMAGINATION go 4 it

Why do trolls always attack the message board ?

suzy59nz - 2011-09-11 20:09:00

Because they have nothing better to do lol. Even I with my irregular hours have better things to do at that time. Ho ho. Just finished the ironing while watching Ireland play the USA. Have a sweater to finish than I have to get on and sew M's Party dress. She is nagging me now. lol I kid you not. Might not get sewing tonight though. She is still not quite her bright little self. I was really annoyed it poured all day today. I had planned another round in the garden.

makerealbany - 2011-09-11 20:57:00

We even washed our cars yesterday!! It's been ages since we did. It seems a pointless task at times with the dust over on the east side that coats everything and turns to mud at the slightest bit of drizzle and now there is yellow pollen everywhere as well. But it's done and my wee Vitz looks all shiny and new until I get back from work at least. Yeah I know it's supposed to rain by then!

grizzly4 - 2011-09-12 08:20:00

i had a car wash last monday, cost me $1324. lol yes they washed it after fixing it.
Day off today , just done some washing and might do some knitting now, after i have been to the post shop to post a parcel. ,Then again may just mess about on the computer .naaa knitting it is

suzy59nz - 2011-09-12 12:26:00

All our cars get dirty right after we wash them. The pine dust is driving us mad. It sticks to everything. We need to cut down another 10 pine years. They are huge so it costs a fortune. Well we will just have to put up with it until we win Lotto. Ho ho. Finished my knitting so will have to decide on another project. Could not find the pattern for M's dress which I have put somewhere????. Have M'S painting projects all over the kitchen table. She is painting little boxes for gifts. Told me to "Please leave it all out Nana and I will carry on tomorrow". So I have. Lol. You have to encourage artists!!!!.

makerealbany - 2011-09-13 00:05:00

Very cute!!! I'm going to have to mention one of our trees to the landlord soon but I know it's one of their favourites although it's the ugliest on the property. It's right at the front and I won't be able to get my mail out of the box soon and one of the thicker branches has drooped after the last snow. It looks even uglier now. Sigh. I have the sewing bug after helping DIL make a couple of skirts on her new sewing machine. I have decided on the themes for my Christmas presents this year as they want individual ones this time not couple's presents. I am looking for a retro apron pattern like they wore on NZ baking show. Know the ones I mean? Will take a trip into fabric vision one morning on my way to work. Looking online I think Simplicity has a couple I could adapt.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-13 07:59:00

You just had to mention christmas and presents grizzly !!!!!!! lol. I am starting my list now. With all the things that go on here I have tomake a start. Aprons are so handy aren't they? That tree would annoy me too. I lost the screw out of my best reading glasses today and cannot find it anywhere. I will have to go and get them fixed on Friday. Meanwhile I am wearing my old ones which leave a lot to be desired in other words they are dreadful lol. Another horrid day up here. Weatherwise that is.

makerealbany - 2011-09-13 22:07:00

Would you believe I have to attend Emergency Procedure training tonight! Do you not think we have had enough practical experience. Haha. All jokes aside, it's just a refresher but I bet they can't tell me how to stop the panic that gets hold of you anf frezzes you to the spot or makes you run to nearest exit. I know better already doesn't stop the natural reaction you don't think about.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-14 06:12:00

Starting to see the other impacts on our community from the last year. Long term relationships breaking up, people changing their jobs because of stress or having to reduce hours because of stress, this of course is reducing their income and people are asking for assistance for the first time.Starting to see changes in children's behaviour now as well and having to support parents and schools around this. I'll bet we'll see more as time goes on and peoples lives continue to be disrupted. Sigh.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-14 06:18:00

Yes you no doubt will grizzly. Emergency preparedness!!!!!! You are right about the panic. I don't know how you all cope down there. I would be out of there by now. Enough is enough. I just cannot imagine how parents are coping with all the flu viruses affecting everyone's health this year let alone all the other things they and you have to endure. Little M seems to be very stressed because she keeps getting sick and it is taking a toll on her. She had an asthma attack today and was very frightened. She is very clingy today and not as independant as she was. Now what with all the shocks you are having lots of children will be very stressed down there. It is so sad.

makerealbany - 2011-09-14 22:30:00

Training was amazing! As much as it was quite stressful talking about earthquakes and Tsunamis as part of it there were some really interesting points of information that came up. For example at the Welfare Centres no-one realised that breastfeeding mum's milk dried up instantly when they are in shock and the only appropriate alternative was kept at the hospital, women's periods started suddenly and unexpectedly because of the shock and there were no large supplies of tampons prepared for this Who would have thought?! There was the inevitable conversations about when the next e/q is expected and the size and I absolutely hated that.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-15 07:31:00

You are right grizzly the average person would not think of those things. Having worked for the NZ Red Cross Society for 10 years and having trained others in Emergency Preparedness it is very interesting that Women's probelms were often not even considered in the scheme of things. However Women's rights Organisations certainly made sure that Women's issues were really discussed in detail. The RCS has predominantly female members so we were always on a roll there. Women's Refuges have always supplied Women and Children with Toiletry packs which includes the necessities as it were. I must admit years ago when I attended A large Civil Defence Meeting I was pleased to hear all the women speaking up and educating the Men. Some of the men were very well informed. Perhaps they were the married ones with children. Lol.

makerealbany - 2011-09-15 23:51:00

This message was deleted.

nanaduck2 - 2011-09-16 07:33:00

Sounds like something for suzy59nz! I will text her this morning for you. Nanaduck2.
I. and I have the day off unexpectedly. He is starting his new job on Monday and there was very little work on today so he is home and took the day off too with the boss' blessing. Yippee. GReat way to start the weekend.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-16 09:26:00

Had a lovely day yesterday with I. Beautiful weather too. Collected all the wool that's left from an estate that was left to the shop so look out for future auctions. Haha. I can't believe how much wool this person had stored! When I first saw it a week ago there was about 15 or 16 of those huge stripey storage bags full. Members have been buying it so only had to bring 8 home. BUt wow! Where on earth did she have it all stored?

grizzly4 - 2011-09-17 09:11:00

that reminds me need to give a donation for the bag of wool i got. looking forward to the stall a Barrington on Tuesday, should be good. Hope every one is well, the sunshine sure makes everyone feel better .

suzy59nz - 2011-09-17 15:04:00

Just could not resist some Lush Mohair I saw on TM was a great price. I just love that Lush Mohair. Naughty girl. Yes I am trying noooot to buy any more wool but somethings cannot be ignored. Lol. Had K stay last night. Had heaps of fun. His first sleepover with Nana. He had me up at 5 this morning. After his 2 cousins woke up in the house it was all go. They had a ball. My kitchen floor had paint spills, the chairs had paint spills and I had to quickly dry all the artwork with my hairdryer to prevent even more damage. Ha ha. We all had a great day.

makerealbany - 2011-09-17 23:11:00

Sounds very messy! Haha, you must have been run off your feet.DIL has taken B6 to What Now this morning so L4 has stayed over, we are busy trying to spot him. What a mission 'cos they don't show the kids in the audience much.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-18 08:40:00

Weather was so lovely yesterday we took the motorbike out for a spin. It was my first ride on this one although he's had it since earlier this year. I. rides it a lot to and from work in warmer weather so at least he hasn't been relying on outings with me. Haha. This one is a Susuki Boulevard 1400cc. Had a great time and definitely blew some cobwebs out. I've been working on little items for next stall at Barrington Mall tomorrow. Then I have a cardigan order to start. And then I have to fit work in of course.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-19 06:06:00

You are a busy girl grizzly. that bike ride sounds great. I am having a lazy day today although I did have J for 2 hours. He was sleeping though lol. I knitted two cotten dishclothes for an old friend of mine. I enjoy doing little projects because I actually finish them in the same day. HA HA. I am a bit under the weather. Thought I might clean the car but no energy for that today.

makerealbany - 2011-09-19 13:55:00

omg i just got another job lol, now i have to hand my notice in at work , i have only been there two months, at least i only have to give 1 weeks notice as i am still in my trial period , so nervouse about handing it in though.

suzy59nz - 2011-09-19 16:31:00

Wow! Congratulations! I knew people would snap you up once they know you are out there. I'm a bit nervous about the hours you'll be working now, though.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-20 06:19:00

not doing caregiving, getting right out of the industry, seen and heard some things at this home i am not happy with, so can't stay, although i feel like i am deserting. Goin to work in a ladies clothing shop at The Plams, thats right Grizzly.. The Palms. actually looking forward to the change, beet quite a few other aplicants for the job.

suzy59nz - 2011-09-20 21:34:00

Congrats suzy. You will enjoy the change. They say a change is as good as a holiday lol. It was so windy here today I got all the washing done but the wind was freezing. Little J had to go back to the doc. He just cannot get rid of that virus. He is on his 4th lot of antibiotics and if this does not work he has to go back to the hospital. He is cheerful at home but gets really upset when he arrives at the surgery and no wonder. He is 1 in 2 weeks. He is still teeting of course but has now been weaned so his Mum is starting to look a lot better. He did not kick up at all about being weaned. After he kept biting his Mum she gave up. He is biting anything he can get his 6 teeth into lol.

makerealbany - 2011-09-20 23:05:00

It's awful that he is still over his ordeal, makerealbany. No way to celebrate his birthday.
Suzy59nz, wow what a change, It's a shame your job did not work out as you do a wonderful job with older people.
I had a great morning working on the stall yesterday, I had forgotten how much fun they can be and had to drag myself away in the end to go to work. Haha.

grizzly4 - 2011-09-21 06:45:00

Had a great time with M this morning. She started back at Preschool yesterday which was so good for her. I am jaded tonight. Going to drop into bed very soon. Had a really busy afternoon helping my Invalid son shift. What a mission? Hope he stays there for awhile!!!!!! I quite enjoy working on stalls myself grizzly. Lol.

makerealbany - 2011-09-21 23:23:00