You girls down south must be really exhausted. I can imagine how you were feeling when those idiots damaged your shop front especially after all the hard hours you have put it. You will have to show some pics of the finished shop before it is open to the public. hows the dress going grizzly.

smartgirl - 2012-03-31 12:39:00

I can understant you venting, they drive you mad with the calls when thing are running smoothly but this is not the time to be bothered. How are you all coping. I am off to Angellalina Ballering this afternoon with my 2 little girls and their mummy so I can hardly wait. Look after youself and know that we are all thinking of you at this time. Lots of love, Jo

smartgirl - 2012-03-31 12:41:00

THE DRESS IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!! Yahoo. I. thinks it's gorgeous, thank goodness and I modelled it for daughter bride and bridesmaid DIL this afternoon. DIL cried when she saw me dressed up and has lent me a black fascinator to go with it. S gave me a big hug and said now she's starting to feel excited. Pretty good response, don't you think? so I can relax about that. I have remembered that I am making the miniature lemon meringue cupcakes though! Before I leave the dress subject though, I have to mention that the last time I sewed something for myself I was pregnant with my son. He is 28 this year, haha.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-31 19:25:00

I would cross my legs if I was you grizzly, or 9 months time there could be the pitter patter of little feet. haha. Well done with the dress.

smartgirl - 2012-03-31 21:36:00

Heaven forbid, smartgirl!! Anyway, not possible, believe me. Lol.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-01 09:03:00

Wow you should see the shop after another hard out effort again yesterday. Nearly all the shop fittings are in - just waiting for two shelving units to be finished, and we started putting the stock that we had on hand in as a guide for the first of our members only days today. Everyone is so proud of how much we have achieved, and good on them, too. It's amazing!

grizzly4 - 2012-04-02 06:52:00

Very successful day yesterday - shop wise. THank goodness. Another members only day on THursday and then OPening on TUesday after Easter. I am knitting baby sox frantically as I had none in stock.

How are you and your family coping makerealbany?

grizzly4 - 2012-04-03 07:14:00

Shop sounds great, its at time like this that I wish I was there. I am frantically knitting orders, I had a great month last month and am still playing catchup.
Makereal I am thinking of you all the time and hoping you are all getting there, how is the new nanny going or is the old one having trouble letting go. ha ha.
Sounds like it is a blessing in disguise.

smartgirl - 2012-04-03 09:44:00

Good on you, smartgirl, doing all that knitting! Wouldn't you know it - as usual when I spend money on something I want rather than need something needs to be fixed. I's new car failed a warrant yesterday because of the SRS light stays on in the dash board. We need an autoelectrician to fix it within the next week and apparently it's not going to be cheap.#*%#

grizzly4 - 2012-04-04 07:08:00

I thought that only happened to me. I am off soon to get miss B for the day. I have to somehow buy easter eggs for her and her sister without her noticing it. Maybe she can pick them out, might be a better idea. I cant get anything past her. They are going away for the weekend so I wont see them on Sunday. I plan a quite weekend mostly with catch up knitting. Hope you have a nice easter everyone.

smartgirl - 2012-04-04 07:16:00

This is the plan for my Easter if I survive tomorrow! Thursday: Have to be at the shop by 9am, work by 10am to organise wages, bride has reminded me to pick up the savouries and wee cakes from baker!!!!! I completely forgot this was my job! And then I am relieving on one of our programmes till 5.30pm. Friday: Make lemon meringue cupcakes for wedding, decorate venue and rehearsal. Saturday: Wedding day and B3 staying overnight 'cos his Mum and Dad are the Bride and Groom. LOL. Sunday: Help collect stuff from venue, help eat and drink left overs! Monday: Make chocolate eclairs and go to DIL's birthday afternoon tea.
And there went Easter 'cos for the next 2 weeks I have very early starts with the holiday programme at work!!

grizzly4 - 2012-04-04 20:22:00

Hi girls. We are hanging in there. A very busy time for us so much to sort through but getting there. Still not real to us. We are all losing weight. Children starting to settle down but very up and down as far as the teenagers go. Just finished cleaning up the mess that the airconditioning guy made in my cottage today when he installed my heatpump. GRRRR He is putting another one in the house tomorrow and servicing the one they already have so no doubt he will make another mess. At lest I can get rid of my big heater now. It worried me as I had to watch the little ones in the winter.

makerealbany - 2012-04-04 23:00:00

At least you will be nice and cosy this winter, makerealbany, on the off chance you find a spare minute to pick your craft. LOL. You mentioned doing mosaics at one point, do you still do a bit of that?

grizzly4 - 2012-04-05 06:57:00

Great to hear from you makereal, and that you are all slowly coming to terms with everything. It will take ages. You wont know yourself with the airconditioning, it is fabulous. Worth all the mess. ha ha. I am scrambling to sew up an order to get on the courier today and have another one to complete bu Tuesday.

smartgirl - 2012-04-05 10:00:00

Happy Easter!

grizzly4 - 2012-04-06 10:15:00

Happy Easter girls! Beautiful day here again.

smartgirl - 2012-04-06 11:31:00

Happy Easter one and all, hope you have a great wedding grizzly

suzy59nz - 2012-04-06 13:00:00

Happy Easter to you all as well. Yes Have a great time at the wedding grizzly. Spent the day with my two girls up at the beach. It was so hot. We were all sweltering even in shorts. I had my little grandson K last night and he told me he was worried about his Upa. Well that set me off and after I got him into bed I bawled for hours. I did not sleep a wink all night but felt a lot better having a good meltdown. My daughter said to me today its as if he stepped out the door 5 mins ago Mum and I am in a daze. I have been in that space so I know what she means but that does not make it easier for her. I let her cry and I let her rant and rage. The kids do it too and it is far better than pretending it is all over and done with. Anyway we managed to have a good day with the little ones running around showing off their first lot of easter eggs, plates and cups,etc. Even little J who is 18 months today had a little stash of plates, spoons and cups. lol I want to do a bit of gardening tomorrow so hope the weather is as nice as it was today.

makerealbany - 2012-04-06 23:36:00

It's a lovely day here too but hoping the nor'easter dies down a bit. Thanks for all the good wishes and it's good to know you are enjoying your family over the long weekend, makerealbany.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-07 09:24:00

Ha did not do any gardening. Went shopping with my daughter and the children instead. Had another good sunny day. T had a houseful at the beach and little K has a cold. Think M is getting one as well. All the kids have been through so much it is amazing they held out for so long. They were all in bed by 6 tonight. I went to visit my son at 8 and have just returned home. I am now off to bed. Thank heavens we have a loooong weekend lol.

makerealbany - 2012-04-08 00:50:00

There goes the long weekend just when we all need a break now. LOL. We have had a wonderful weekend and it has just flown by. Had an hours break yesterday afternoon on my own and fell asleep on the couch where my sister found me to take me out for coffee. Heehee. I will send you a sample of the photos we took at the wedding to your email addresses.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-09 17:48:00

oooooooooooooo lovely can't wait to see them

suzy59nz - 2012-04-09 19:06:00

Lovely wedding grizzly thanks for the photos. All the kids are really coughing now. J was also throwing up again tonight Bugger it. Cleaned my car tonight as it is due for another WOF. 6 Months has just flown by. Its a wonder it did not fall to pieces with shock My two grandsons stayed last night with my great grandson so that was nice. They all stayed with me in the cottage. I had a full house. All quiet now as everyone has gone home.

makerealbany - 2012-04-09 22:30:00

All the kids have the bugs now poor little things. My daughter is going thru hell with all the legal stuff and the nasty MIL who is causing so much stress my girl has refused to talk to her. I am sad that this has happened but I knew it would. Some people are just born nasty and vindictive no matter what psychologists say. You can not blame all bad behaviour on grief espeicially when she has behaved like that for the 10 years we have known her. That boy left a fine mess for my girl to clean up. The silly dope should not have listened to his mother. After all my kids never listen to me ha ha. Seriously though they have tried to take over everything, Family trusts can be very damaging and the people they are supposed to protect can often be the last thing on the Trustees mind.

makerealbany - 2012-04-10 21:55:00

Sorry Suzy, didn't send photos to you 'cos I thought they would come up on my Facebook. (?)
So frantic at work this week and trying to get back into the habit of banking etc for the shop as well. Lots of little things to sort out still which is a pain in the neck and driving me nuts!
I am sorry your daughter is having stress added to her troubles, makerealbany. So unfair!

grizzly4 - 2012-04-11 19:12:00

You need to slow down again grizzly, makes me tired just reading your posts. lol Kids have upper respiratory infections so vomiting and coughing. I have M with me at night because her mum is not an octopus although the babies think she is when they are sick. I think M is looking better this morning and she has not vomited for 6 hours so fingers crossed J is the same. We have a new Nanny but little J just wanted his Nana yesterday and would not budge an inch. The little darling. High temps for him so we are monitoring that. Bugger it.Think positive says M to M.!!!!!!!! Raining here. Heatpump is great. Have a good day girls

makerealbany - 2012-04-12 06:09:00

I make myself tired reading bacvk what I have written. LOL. Must look a bit worse for wear because I have been given tomorrow off. Haha. I will go out for lunch with newly married daughter instead of worrying about GST and overdue parent payments, I think. And do some knitting, but then I fel guilty about the weeds in the garden. (Sigh). Working on another knitted coat and have a prem beanie and bootees set to go in shop on Saturday when I work.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-12 17:24:00

You enjoy your day off tomorrow grizzly. Kids are improving only had to empty the bowl 3 times today. lol Washed till I dropped though. I envy you being able to knit. Next week for me when the dust settles ha ha. Got a service on my car today and the WOF no probelm thank heavens. Going to meet some friends tomorrow at the bowling club. We have been missing one or two (which of course included me) but tomorrow all 6 of us will be there.

makerealbany - 2012-04-12 19:09:00

Hi smartgirl I will give you a bell over the weekend so I can bend your ear ha ha. Hope you are okay.

makerealbany - 2012-04-12 19:10:00

Glad to hear those children are on the mend!
I had my 'flu shot this week when I renewed my prescriptions. My arm has swollen up like a huge mosquito bite and is hot as. Didn't have this problem last year.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-13 07:17:00

M and K are on the mend but little J was miserable today. I ran away for the day mean Nana that I am. Lol M was eating up a storm tonight to make up for lost time. She is spending another night with me because Little J is awake every couple of hours. I had a manicure and pedicure this morning. I felt so relaxed in that massage chair with my feet in the spa and my hands being massaged. What bliss and I jolly well deserved it too. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-04-13 22:57:00

I have to have my flu shot next visit and your reaction is making me nervous grizzly hope the swelling has gone down

makerealbany - 2012-04-13 22:59:00

I had a lovely day off yesterday. Nice lunch out with S. and B3 who was in a foul mood for the most part. We talked about the behaviour problems she's having and came up with some strategies that will definitely work if she follows through. We use them at work on the really difficult children and always see a change after a couple of weeks. Trouble is, parents find it far too easy to put their kids in front of the tv or xbox to give themselves a break, don't you reckon?
I'm working in the shop this morning and have finished my knitting to take in. Now, what to to knit next?

grizzly4 - 2012-04-14 08:24:00

Thanks for the wedding pics Grizzly, they were lovely. I had my arm do that a couple of years ago, but nothing this year. Hope it comes right soon for you. Sorry to hear all the kids are or have been sick. My 2 littlies have had a stupid vomiting bug that goes away and resurfaces a few days later so between the 2 of them it has been on and off for a couple of weeks but nothing since Tuesday thank goodness. I am still playing catch up with my knitting. I had a great Saturday at the craft market last time so looking forward to the next one. Have a great weekend girls.

smartgirl - 2012-04-14 09:21:00

It was lovely to chat to you smartgirl. So good to speak to another adult that I am not related to Ha ha. It is really neat that you are in a knitting club and taking part in the craft shows. Let me know when the next one is.

makerealbany - 2012-04-15 22:54:00

Hi grizzly. Yesterday A had to take Little J to Starship for the day . My other girl went with her Thank heavens. Bubs has to have an inhaler as well as his big sister. He seems a lot better after he has it. They gave him a chest xray as they were worried about pneumonia because he was having difficulty breathing and his temp kept spiking. He is much better tonight. 3 sleeps as M says until Dad is home yay !!!!!

makerealbany - 2012-04-15 23:01:00

All these sick children! I hope you are all just getting it out of the way early and get a clear winter without any more bugs.
After a lovely crafty day on Friday I had a complete meltdown on Saturday. It was triggered by I.'s old employer still not putting through his last weeks pay or holiday pay despite saying it would be in our account on Thursday of last week. It is so frustrating and I felt quite helpless to fix it. Grrr. But it was more everyhting finally catching up with me, I think after the last couple of months. Yesterday I slept everytime I sat down so must be in recovery mode now. I took I. to see the shop now that it's all finished and he loves it. He tidied up the old kitchen out the back that we are not using while I did the window displays. I can't do my shift this morning as I have an early start at work and I am going to miss not going in now. I have to get more knitting done this week to take in next Monday. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-16 07:07:00

What a rotten old boss grizzly.!!!! Hope you have I's pay now. The swine. Send us some photos of the shop. Had a busy day as usual today but Thursday is getting closer. Ho Ho. We have a new Spotlight in Albany and I haven't even been there yet. Lol that is how out of touch I am with the world out there.

makerealbany - 2012-04-16 21:31:00

Good idea about the photos. I will organise that. Yes his pay has finally shown in our account this morning, thank goodness, 12 days after he left the job. One of I's friends was going to take on the job once he is back from his holiday in England - not any more!
It's raining again today - always on the days the trip is to walk to the temporary swimming pool. Last wek had to arrange car pooling there and back and of course that was the day I got a flat tyre!!!! Hopefully it's better this time. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-17 07:10:00

Well great that I has finally been paid. It is clear here but a touch breezy. M is in the Holiday Programme now that she is well. Hurrah!!!! J is fast asleep. All the chores are done and Nana is on TM. One sleep to go yippee. Bought some Ice wool this morning to knit myself a frilly scarf in a Turquoise. Just felt like I needed a lift and that is a different colour for me. lol

makerealbany - 2012-04-17 12:08:00

Your scarf sounds very pretty, makerealbany. I am doing a baby cardy in blue currently. Yep for the shop. Nope haven't taken any photos yet. Will do it on Monday when I am working there. Buying lots of embellishment to scrapbook photo frames for the shop. So far have a baby boy one, a wedding one and a 'Diva Girl' one with lots of bling for that special party photo. LOL. I've been looking for some x-stitch patterns for souvenir bookmarks as well without having to buy the complete kits. Also looking for clear glass dinner or side plates for a craft activity at work but it seems no-one stocks them anymore. Any ideas?

grizzly4 - 2012-04-17 17:03:00

Don't know where you could get any clear glass plates grizzly. Maybe an op shop may have some. S arrived home tonight much to M's delight. She had a nap this arvo so she could stay up until 7.30. Little K will start asking when his Upa is coming home now that Uncle is back. We all are expecting it and it is hard to look away when tears are streaming down your face. Just have to keep reminding him Upa is in heaven because he forgets. I have a few hours to help out tomorrow then I will be sorting out wool to knit. Have to wait for my scarf wool lol.

makerealbany - 2012-04-18 22:44:00

Brings tears to us reading your message as well, makerealbany.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-19 07:38:00

Picked up little K from preschool today as a surprize I got heaps of hugs and kisses. Took him back to the beach and Uma was not allowed to do anything with him. Nana had to eat tea with him, bath him, play with him, read his stories and sing his goodnight songs. I had a lovely day. I have really missed spending time with him. Got my Ice Samba yarn today so started knitting it when I got back tonight. It is different to knit. Had me stumped for awhile lol.

makerealbany - 2012-04-19 23:23:00

I haven't used that yarn myself but have seen the finished product. Very effective. I have the day off again todasy. The boss is being kind because I can't take my usual week off next week due to being short staffed. I have so much to do I'm not sure where to start! The list includes housework (of course), taking I.'s car back through for a warrant after paying $460 to get his seatbelt buckle replaced!!!!!, finding some buttons for the wee cardy I have just finished, getting some flea/ worm stuff for the girls, getting ink for the printer and some new boots for winter. Not to mention doing the books for the shop meeting on Monday and the banking. Phew - I'd better have a rest before I start. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-20 07:28:00

Had a lovely day yesterday. Weather was beautiful and looks like it's set to be the same over the weekend, thank goodness. Might finally get to tidy up outside. I have no idea why this message is in bold type!!!

grizzly4 - 2012-04-21 09:34:00

Ha! it wasn't when it saved but certainly is while I'm typing. Very weird.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-21 09:35:00

The gremlins grizzly. Bugger me mine is in bold as well. What the devil is going on? Maybe it is a new TM programme. I have been up and back from T's home for the last 3 days and now I am knackered. If I was a horse they would put me out to pasture. lol Yes the scarf is looking nice but I do not think I would knit another one. Having said that my granddaughter likes it oh dear. She is not keen on my colour though. Thank heavens ha ha. Did you get all those jobs done grizzly? I am going to spend all day tomorrow doing me things again. Have not even been in to the new spotlight shop yet so going tomorrow.

makerealbany - 2012-04-21 22:20:00

Hi smartgirl. How are you? Bet Hamilton was darn noisy this weekend. A friend of mine invited me down for the weekend as he had tickets to the cars but I luckily had made plans to help my girl. I could not think of anything worse. all that dust and noise. Yuk. Showing my age. Lol.

makerealbany - 2012-04-21 22:24:00

I. and our son are horrified with your last message, makerealbany!!!!! They would have given their eye teeth to be in Hamilton this weekend. As it is they were parked in front of the tv most of yesterday afternoon and I daresay it will be the same today. LOL.
Yes did get most of the list completed on Friday. PLus I finished another crochet blanket that night.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-22 09:50:00