Hi Makereal, its all over now. I love hearing the cars and watching them on tv. The most annoying thing for me is the helicopters overheard. They make all the noise. You must be getting old, ha ha.

smartgirl - 2012-04-22 18:29:00

Grizzly, my text is bold as well but when I post the message it comes out normal.

smartgirl - 2012-04-22 18:30:00

I knew the fish would bite with the cars remark grizzly ha ha. I have been in past years and one of my girlfriends live right near the stadium and you can sit on her porch and even hear the commentators. LOL. She has a daughter who lives next door and one year she rented out her house for the weekend, got $1000 a night, plus she could sit on her daughter's porch and keep an eye on her house. Her SIL thought it was a hoot.

makerealbany - 2012-04-22 22:01:00

Hi smartgirl. Went into Spotlight today and bought only 2 balls of wool. Wasn't I good? I was shocked at the prices though. I only wanted Speciality wool but they did not have much anyway. Got 2 new shower curtains for 40 percent disc and 2 sets of plastic containers. I needed more of the large ones to store the kids handcraft stuff in. All the shoeboxes were driving me nuts. The containers were half price as well so I was very happy. Spotlight in Albany is a nice big store but some of the kids handcraft stuff I can get at the $2 shop instead of paying 5 or 6 dollars for the same thing. Ridiculous. How dumb do they think we are?

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

Agreed. I very raely go into Spotlight here any more. I need to replace my sewing machine needles so hoping Fabric Vision can help or maybe Lincraft although they sell Singer machines not Brother. No gardening was done over the weekend so lucky Wednesday is a day of catching up. Bought L4's school uniform for his birthday present. He starts school in exactly a month and then I will see him as well as his older brother at our after school programme every day. Lovely, can't wait.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-23 07:14:00

Whata day yesterday! Pleasant start with my first Monday morning back in the shop. Full on from then though! Staff issues at work so had to work on the programme in the afternoon after my usual run to pick up children from a school further away. Received a funding application back saying it didn't fit the criteria! Checked online and it absolutely did so had to ring and have an assertive conversation with them but they hadn't rung back by the time I left saying I could resubmit it. Grrrr! Thank goodness I had already put my apologies in for a meeting last night as I ended up bringing B7 and L4 home until his MUm picked them up. They didn't end up leaving till just before the meeting would have started. Would have been very stressful.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-24 07:21:00

Wow I used to think makereal had a hectic life but your one is just as bad grizzly. I am exhausted just from reading your posts. I cant believe L4 is due to start school. Our B4 starts in July and is so looking forward to it as most of her friends from day care are already there. She is my baby and there will be no more, how sad. I guess they have to grow up. ha ha.

smartgirl - 2012-04-24 07:46:00

Lordie I cannot understand where the time is going girls. M starts school next year as well. I still have years to go before all ours start school. Little J will start Preschool next year. His cousin K will be there so it won't be too bad. I had a quiet day today. Back is out again and legs are giving me hell. I had a big clean up yesterday and me thinks I overdid it ever so slightly. Lol. I am knitting in mohair at the moment which I love. Guess who got a thank you letter and a $50 voucher for her voluntary work grizzly? I was stunned. Lol.

makerealbany - 2012-04-24 22:27:00

A very nice thank you, and well deserved, I might add! Good on you, makerealbany. I am sorry about your back, your body is telling you, you need a rest. LOL. So is mine - just got one cold sore healed now I have 2 more!!! It's been years since I've had them. So frustrating. I notice I get quite angry when things don't go quite right as well and I generally have far more patience. Sigh, not really sure how to sort myself out - I know I've just overdone things but it's not helping now.
Smartgirl, is your B4 the last one off to school? We have one more to go in June next year.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-25 09:53:00

I have made a FB page for Purple Patch, www.facebook.com/purplepatch.christchurch not a lot on there for now, will go in tomorrow and take some stock photos and put them on. It has 13 likes so far, you never know may help to get our name back out there.

Edited by suzy59nz at 10:04 pm, Wed 25 Apr

suzy59nz - 2012-04-25 22:04:00

I know what you mean about patience grizzly. I get awfully frustrated when my back goes out and I have trouble even driving to the library sigh. Ah well time heals all. Wanted to go and see my youngest granddaughter today but couldn't drive so maybe next week. Got some knitting done though lol. Bonus there.

makerealbany - 2012-04-25 22:07:00

Hope you are feeling a bit better today, makerealbany.
It was a lovely day off yesterday and I pottered a couple of times in the garden. Lucky I brought the pumpkins inside as a healthy frost here this morning. The change in seasons is starting to make it difficult choosing clothes in the morning. To be warm to start with but cooler later unless there's a nip in the eastery breeze. Yep layers seem to be the answer for now.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-26 07:24:00

Frost OMG I cant believe it grizzly.I always start off with a cardi on and end up taking it off after a couple of hours here but no frosts in sight. Still recovering lol. Just seems that my get up and go has gone. Ha ha.Spoke to Mum this morning she feels the same but then she is a lot older. She keeps telling me I am getting older now and need to slow down. She is still acting like a Mum lol

makerealbany - 2012-04-26 21:40:00

My daughter is 30 in August - there is a reason to feel instantly old!!!! LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-27 07:20:00

Wait til they are in their 40s like 3 of mine grizzly lol Not feeling any better today. All the darn painkillers and anti inflams etc have given me lousy stomach cramps. Talk about around and around the Mulberry bush. Ha ha Knitting okay though, I even did some mending and sorting out of stuff for the op shop. I did not feel up to driving but my daughter came to visit and my grandson K has spent two nights with his Aunty and Uncle. The kids all run over to visit me even little J who has had his first proper haircut and now looks litke a little boy, Our baby has disappeared. SIGH.

makerealbany - 2012-04-27 23:29:00

The first haircut is quite a milestone isn't? They are never the babies we remember after that.
I am full of the 'flu now so hopefully once it runs its course I will back to normal. I certainly don't like feeling unable to get on top of things.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-28 07:35:00

Hope you are feeling a bit better grizzly but with the flu bug it will hang around for awhile. Nasty thing!!!1 I am feeling a great deal better today. By that I mean my stomach has settled although my back is still crunching lol Today the kids had builders in the house taking out windows in the kitchen so everyone was in and out of the cottage all day. Managed to go down to the supermarket this arvo so it was nice to get out of the house again.

makerealbany - 2012-04-28 22:31:00

Feeling much better today. Family stayed away yesterday so I slept which has made a big difference. Poor I. worked all day yesterday and had my symptoms by the time he got home. I have left him in bed this morning hoping it helps. This week I have been working on a lacy jacket and a sailor jacket for 2 bears I am putting in the shop on Monday, although they look very at home on a shelf here. LOL. I started another cable coat in variegated wool - lemon, lilac, white and blue tones. I hope it turns out as effective as I picture it in my head. Once I have finished this cup of tea though I think I will go and fill the wool bag with weeds while the sun is shining and then do a dump run to fill like I have achieved something this weekend.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-29 10:17:00

You have been really productive grizzly. I was up at 6 and put a casserole in the slow cooker, did the washing, ironing and then went up to my daughters with the lunch. Had a good afternoon with everyone but was exhausted when we got back. I finished my purple toned mohair set tonight. Will sew it up tomorrow night with 3 other things. I always leave things to sew up. lol.Your cable coat sounds nice. I have some mending to do on the sewing machine for my daughter but have been putting that off as I cannot lift the bloody sewing machine up and down yet. Wish I could just waggle a finger and zap it up. ha ha.I believe in magic, I believein magic so why isn't it working? The pictures of the shop suzy put on facebook look great.

makerealbany - 2012-04-29 22:30:00

I agree about the photos, lots of great feedback. I even learnt how to put photos on facebook yesterday. LOL. After the success off my dress for the wedding I have just bought a vogue pattern for a long coat with shawl collar. I have always loved that style so will keep a look out for cheap wool fabric to make it one day. It will have to be reasonably light as my machine is not a heavy duty one.

grizzly4 - 2012-04-30 07:02:00

I love the pics of the shop, too bad you are so far away. Grizzly I saw lovely pure wool at spotlight for $10.95 a meter a couple of weeks ago so keep an eye out there. Huge range of colours etc. How is the back Makereal. I know how you are feeling, you have my sympathy. It is certainly telling you it is time to slow down.

smartgirl - 2012-04-30 08:31:00

How are you feeling these days smartgirl?

grizzly4 - 2012-04-30 18:21:00

Today was a doozy. I woke up and rolled out of bed took me 30 mins to get showered. Anyway it is little K's 3 rd birthday tomorrow so I wanted to get him a helmet for his first 2 wheel bike. Met his Mum down the Mall. Got a good one from the sports shop so he could fit it and show my girl how to adjust it etc. Struggled back to the car came home and lay down. My daughter told me to wait until I felt better but I wanted to go. He was as happy as. Wait until he sees his bike tomorrow and his Car bed( first bed) when it arrives on Saturday. Makes it all worthwhile really.

makerealbany - 2012-04-30 18:59:00

Kia ora smartgirl. My back feels just as bad as it did before my last lot of surgery and I have no intentions of going there again lol. I am into positive thinking it will come right. How are you girl?

makerealbany - 2012-04-30 19:02:00

You poor thing, makerealbany!! I felt the agony of every word you printed. I hope you have some worthwhile drugs to help!

grizzly4 - 2012-05-01 07:12:00

Went to the GP again today got flu shot, pain shot, more anti flams, blood test and xrays. Up resting at the beach with my oldest girl for a few days was so bad after the trip could not even get up for Little K,s birthday tea. Sigh. Managed to rise before he went to bed so I got to read his stories and sing his songs. He was asleep after the 2nd song. Little darling.

makerealbany - 2012-05-01 21:53:00

Ouch, makerealbany, that's not good. So much for the pain shot.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-02 07:45:00

Exactly what I thought grizzly lol. Still crunching and munching to forget about it ha ha. It was a bit chilly here today. Sun was shining but like me it did not have much power. Lol. Ah well tomorrow is another day.

makerealbany - 2012-05-02 19:14:00

You poor old thing makereal, I know your pain. I hope you are feeling better staying with your girl, it will do you both good. The little fellow will certainly enjoy having you around. Yes it is bl**dy cold here too. I hope your flu is coming right grizzly and that you dont get that dreadful cough again.

smartgirl - 2012-05-02 20:04:00

LOL Cough has never gone away! It's been about 5 years now. Just part of life although I don't know hoe I. puts up with me at times.
I won a free portrait sitting from a prize draw which I entered at Ellerslie Flower Show in March. I. and I met with the photographer last night and it's all go for Saturday afternoon. All 9 of us are in it and he is going to do a complete family one, I. and me together as I have no wedding photos of our own from 32 years ago, I. and me and our son and daughter and then I. and me and the three grandsons. I'm quite nervous now as I'm not great around a camera but haven't won anything like that before either.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-03 07:29:00

Nice one grizzly I am sure the photos will turn out lovely. Less crunching and munching today Ho ho

makerealbany - 2012-05-03 19:46:00

Hiya smartgirl. Yes I am enjoying spending time with Little K. He groans in sympathy with me ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-05-03 19:50:00

Thats cute! LOL. Mmm not enough hours this morning before going to work at 10.30, I think. I have the cheques and mail out to do for the end of month for the shop, lunch to make for the work mates (we have decided to do this once a wek each to try and save money going to cafes), do the housework as I am working in shop tomorrow, and get a warrant of fitness for my car! So why am I sitting typing this? Good point, bye!

grizzly4 - 2012-05-04 07:15:00

Ha ha grizzly go girl. Feeling better today. Can't bend without groaning but oh what a difference rest makes. It is bedlam back home. Daughter has painters in the house, the builder and the kitchen guys running in and out. They have been staying in my cottage hope everything is still intact there lol. I am going home this arvo so I shall see.

makerealbany - 2012-05-04 12:03:00

I hope the return trip doesn't set back your recovery, makerealbany. I got everything done I needed to today and was able to make my escape from work by 3.30. Great not having to deal with the traffic across town. Yippee! And my washing was still dry instead of wet again from the damp evening air. Another Yippee. I still haven't had my dryer fixed from when it broke after the February earthquake and not sure I want to add this usage back on to my power bill, convenient as it might be in winter. Sigh, decisions, decisions.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-04 16:44:00

Woken up quite stressed about the photo session this afternoon - typical me! He made such a thing about what people should wear and that no one person should stand out. A bit hard when one person is bigger and wears glasses!!A think this was a silly idea.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-05 07:22:00

Hope it went ok grizzly. I am now at a motel at the beach. Came here Friday night as my girl up here had a full house. Was so cold on Friday night had to go back to my girls to get heat paks to heat up my bed. Lol.The house has had it's kitchen gutted, they have a big bin in the driveway and my cottage looks like a bombsite so I won't be going back until kids can move into the house again. Had a lousy night last night sigh. Never mind.

makerealbany - 2012-05-06 12:25:00

That sounded dreadful. Guess what, photo session was postponed because of the weather!! I tell you it's not meant to be! BUT 'cos my daughter is away doing a marathon next week she and DIL came over with a Mother's day gift AND it was a 12"x 18" canvas of my favourite phot of the three boys at the wedding! I was so surprised. I just love it!!!!!

grizzly4 - 2012-05-06 17:51:00

That is cool grizzly. What a lovely mothers day gift. I have not seen my little granddaughter since the funeral and I really have to try and get over there. It has been one thing after another. Went home today and had to bring up all the washing as there is no water to the house at this time. GRRRR My poor daughter. So I am at my other daughters doing the washing. Still staying at the motel. Was up early this morning to visit my cottage. How I will ever find anything when I get home I don't know. My SIL and daughter are now telling me I need more cupboards in the kitchen. Lol Bonus of their stay.

makerealbany - 2012-05-07 14:57:00

Yep as long as they put them in for you! When will the work be finished so you move back home?

grizzly4 - 2012-05-08 07:56:00

L4 is 5 on the 18th of this month. I made a giraffe birthday cake for his first birthday and he has asked me to do it again now that he's going to be a vet when he grows up! Isn't he lovely?I just love him too bits. We are off to the Yaldhurst Transport Museum this morning so I hope the rain holds off, I'm in winter woollies just in case. Did a funding application this week again for these trips. I can't seem to make the funders understand that in most cases I can no longer give 2 quotes. They don't get that these days down here there may be only one provider for that activity. We don't have a choice anymore!

grizzly4 - 2012-05-09 07:26:00

Going back tomorrow but was down there today and no it is not finished. Dont know what will happen from one minute to the next. Very frustrating.Yes your grandson is lovely grizzly. My nerves to my legs are being pinched now so I feel like c--p. It is very muggy here today which does not help. I am hot and cold drat it.

makerealbany - 2012-05-09 15:08:00

You have not had a good time of it for a while now! I am so sorry your back is not letting up.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-10 07:50:00

Left the motel this morning. Been there 6 nights. Went home changed the sheets in the cottage came back to my daughters with a car load of washing and little K who had been at preschool. My daughter worked late and was so upset when she rang me. Guys still working in the house putting down the new floor said they would be there until 8 tonight. I told her to go back into the cottage and I will stay up here at the beach with my other daughter. I feel like a nomad but at lest my back is improving yah.

makerealbany - 2012-05-10 22:14:00

Lucky you are so flexible! It's been a long week again this week. It's really full on with a staff member down and 2 due to leave in the next few weeks. I can't believe the number of people who have applied but not read the information given and no-one asks for a job description! How on earth do they know if they want the job OR know they can do it without the full information? Unbelievable. Doesn't anyone understand ' experience required'? And the number of spelling mistakes is incredible. I wonder what people are learning at school.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-11 07:28:00

Lovely day today. Did lots of pottering around LOL. Sunny day so did loads of washing but not much drying unfortunately so now it's all round the house. Darn it. Sprayed the moss on the drive, started the work on the window frame in the bathroom, cleared the weeds from the new fern garden we created in the summer - need to add a few more plants, I think and chpped back the fuschias that were taking over the path to the clothes line. Going to our sons for tea tonight so made a couple of pizzas and used the left over chicken to make some soup. Nearly came to grief when a 'quake hit as I was breaking up the chicken and dropped it all in the pot. B#%*#y water everywhere! Only 3.6 but loud and sharp here.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-12 16:07:00

Yes I used to just laugh at some of the applications grizzly. My Non profit organisation sent me a beautiful bunch of flowers last week and a card. The shocks will never cease haha. Reminded me I am a life member so if at any time I wanted to reconsider I was most welcome. Well. !!!!! I am now at home again. The new kitchen and floor looks stunning but painter has to finish yet. My daughter is very pleased. We have heaps of washing again as the washing machine is not connected yet. The electrician was there today connecting the stove, etc so I went to visit my son. I had not seen little E since S's funeral. They have just got a new bathroom so J and C's dad was there painting . S's washing machine was not connected either. Talk about it. I was limping and very tired by the time I got back but enjoyed holding and gushing all over my granddaughter. She has grown so much. You have been flat out grizzly. Watch it girl. I am seriously pacing myself now. Lol. Rotten shakes hope the darn water was not hot.

makerealbany - 2012-05-12 22:19:00

What a nightmare for you trying to catch up on your washing! Beautiful day down here today but we wasted the morning by not getting up till 11! Can't remember the last time we slept in till then.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-13 11:58:00

And so starts another week. Feeling a bit weird this morning, can't shake that panicky feeling.We drove through the inner city yesterday and I don't know whether that has set it off but not feeling very good this morning at all. It's going to be a long day on the other side of town too with the shop first thing, then work then a shop meeting. I'm not sure a weekend of not doing much is very helpful, much better to be busy.

grizzly4 - 2012-05-14 07:16:00

We are are always busy grizzly. Even when we think we are not ha ha. Went to Yum Cha for Mothers Day Lunch yesterday. The 4 Mums present were treated as they should be. Lol. I got a new iron which I needed so was very happy with that. I had to rest when we got home though. My daughter bought over my tea she had cooked for me so I really was spoilt. Then my neice rang to say my Mum and sis were in Hospital. They had a lousy mother's day. Many phone calls later found out my sis had an angina attack stressing about Mum who was in ED. Next thing they were both in beds. Sis is at home told to take 4 days off work. Mum still in there but is comfortable. I can't travel down as I would be in the next bed after the trip ha ha. One has to laugh at these situations my sis and I were in hysterics this morning. To add insult to injury Little Jon( at lest we are blaming him) turned off my hot water and I had a cold shower this morning. Got loads of washing done and dried before I went to the hospital for another lot of xrays. Only waited and hour and a half after my appointment time. Wasn't I lucky? nooot. All in all a reasonable day. Hope your day went ok grizzly

makerealbany - 2012-05-14 20:09:00