Rewards

A photo of a photo - and a webcam photo at that. It's the only photo I have access to at the moment of my late Mum and I. August 31st is her birthday and she would have been 56 today. She died at 33 (result of a car accident). All over the news though is the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, which is also today. I was nearly 2 years old in the photo and in Kikinda, Yugoslavia (my birthplace, I'm of Hungarian descent though). Apparantly my mother was about to go to work.

Onto other things.. I'm so pleased I have access to a webcam! (Thinking aloud there) - though a normal camera would be very handy as I don't want to limit my photo's to how far the webcam cord will stretch! When I went to Melbourne the other day I took some photo's with my friends camera and I'll include some of those now for you! Nothing special.. just photo's of the road (& city) and bookshop! I deleted the one's of myself - but if you want to see me, refer to the vlog in the last entry, it was only done days ago!

Ok.. view of Melbourne City on the Westgate Bridge.


You probably can't tell, but on the right is blue sea! The Spirit of Tasmania ferry is usually easily viewed from this point in the distance.


Ok, enough bridge pictures! Here we are exiting the bridge as we head towards the city.


Quick shot of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on the left or "Jeff's Shed" (a former Victorian Premier's project - Jeff Kennett being the Premier). I have been to Craft and Food Expo's here .. and I think the annual Motor Show? I think what you see here is the roof! The writing which is a bit illegible says "Melbourne Exhibition Centre".


Since the car I was travelling in didn't have an E-Tag (to pay a series of tolls) we took the picturesque route of Toorak Rd to Blackburn! Here we have a Melbourne Tram on the right!


Yay! Koorong bookshop! In a nice, leafy suburb.



Seconds before putting the camera away! A great bookstore.. CD's.. stationary, love it.


A couple of purchases here on my lap. A great devotional book with brief, true Amish stories (for each devotion) and a recipe with each one also! I also have a great compilation CD here, 12 great songs which I found in a $4.95 sale bin! Anyone want the Amish overnight potato salad recipe that requires 3 cups of mayonnaise?!


My Tuna and Salad Sandwich on Toasted Soy and Sesame Helga's bread! I had light cream cheese in this too.


Little gift on the left from my friend and driver on the day - a cool notepad with a note saying "Thanks for the company today". A pack of cheese flavoured Weight Watchers 'Nibblies' on the right, 1 point per pack! Not in shot are 2 x Freddo Frog's (Aussie Cadbury's Chocolate) - 1.5points each. Also some Weight Watchers Mini-Florentine's (1pt). No photo evidence of those either!


On the way home now.... a lovely day.


Ok... here is a photo of me taken 3 days ago with the borrowed webcam! This was during my vlog.


And here is another quick webcam shot of our lounge room today actually.


At Weight Watchers yesterday I was asked 'out of the blue' by my leader to talk to the group! (Say what?). She said something along the lines of "Maria, you've been having success, would you like to tell the group what you've been doing and what's kept you going? Words to this effect. Then about 30 pairs of eyes were on me. But you know what.. I didn't have one ounce of nervousness in me. I had a friend beside me who has lost about 30kg's (the friend who I went to Melb with - and she's just recently joined my meeting too which I'm happy about). But anyway.. here I was.... given the stage so to speak..and these ladies were waiting to hear from me. I didn't know where to start!

However.. I shooed it in I think (and I must say this because I've always been terrified of public speaking.. I would sweat, shake and not be able to breathe when I had to read aloud in school). So I addressed my group and I spoke with confidence. I don't remember now what I said exactly and I said probably more than what everyone was expecting (as in, volume of words). I could easily have stood out the front for better voice projection (hehehe)! I found myself wanting to speak into these women's lives. I received a 'Bravo Star' to stick in my book for saying what I did.. but also another star when I let the group know I had reached the 10kg loss mark. You receive a 5kg bookmark achievement reward when you lose 5kg and with each 5kg thereafter you get another star to stick on your bookmark.

The smiley face star is a 'Bravo Star'! These are handed out to members as encouragement when you share for eg. a challenge you overcame in the past week or a positive change you implemented. Contributing something cheer-worthy will usually get you one! I have 14 Bravo Star's in my book (the bookmark is the 15th one). The thing behind the bookmark to the left is a free 'pouch' or like a cosmetics bag we received which is actually a WW passport holder (where our weight is recorded each week). I was so happy when they handed these out a couple of months ago. It protects my book and I have my 'frequent flyer' cards in there too! With each box of Nibblies you buy, you get a sticker and the 10th box is free! I'm 3 boxes away from a free box. There is also a sweet-bar card where every 10th box is free also, I'm 6 boxes away from that one!
Now.. as for further rewards, my next WW goal is my 10% level. That is awarded when I've lost 10% of my weight. Since I put on weight this year, my journey to that 10% goal is a bit longer. But at the moment it is 5.3kg's away!

A blessing came in the mail today by way of $10 in supermarket money! A reward voucher! I have an 'Ezybanking' bank account which is a Safeway (Woolworths) account (part of the Commonwealth bank). Every time I use my ATM card at the supermarket or 'partners' I accumulate points and about two to three times a year I'll be sent $10 certificates to use. I have opted for these instead of accumulating the points. The voucher has come at a great time!

In further news, the eBay sale of my two seater sofa (the one left here by the previous tenant) ended today and it sold for the asking price of $95.00 . Here is Phoebe the cat loving the couch (she is there now as I'm writing this)! Thanks for catching up with my latest.. xox

P.S. I've decided to participate in the LITS (Living In The Suburbs) 10 week challenge (an online Weight Loss forum I belong to). The registration fee has gone from $10 to $25 (because of bigger prizes on offer) so I decided I couldn't participate. Then I was invited to participate anyway as a non-paying member but be not eligible for any prizes. I initially thought "I can't do it". If there is ever a time that I need to feel 'worthy' of a prize, it's now. I didn't want to be different from anyone else and if I did well enough to qualify for a prize -it would make me feel sad to not be eligible. It's what the prize represents to me, not the monetary value. Anyway, after some very lovely messages from a few ladies at LITS imploring me to participate for my "encouragement and wisdom"..and "wouldn't be the same without you"..that kind of thing.. boy ... was I blown away. I had no idea these people felt this way about me. So I've chosen to participate because I have been encouraged and the girls are seeking to be encouraged too. So it makes sense.

Love is so important folks. No matter who you are. No matter who you give it to. It makes a difference. Sometimes you never know how much.

Underground Ham Casserole etc

I had a lovely drive and day out yesterday travelling to Blackburn in Melbourne with a friend. We visited a big Christian bookstore (KOORONG), ate the lunches we brought from home and picked up my eBay purchase (which was a VCR)! I'm yet to plug it in to see if it works -but I was rather disappointed with the seller and item so far (-more details to follow in my next vlog, not the one I have for you today).

Last night our oven suddenly stopped working so I lodged a maintenance form for that to be fixed including one other job -then left a p.s. about the other 3 jobs I'm still waiting to hear back on. All cooking/reheating has to be done on the stove-top for now. I don't have a microwave anymore & no oven means no baking of my WW sweet treat standy-by's). Maybe.. just maybe we might get a new oven out of this?!

Other evening events included my girl and I standing outside to see the redness of a lunar eclipse. As we walked into the backyard, my girl closed the door behind us. And it's deadlocked! Thankfully, praise God I knew my bedroom window was open (but it's a wind-out one) and the flyscreen had a huge hole in it (one of the maintenance jobs ie. we're waiting for it to be replaced). I had no choice but to make the hole the size of my daughter's 12yr old skinny body and get her through there and into the bedroom! I couldn't remove the screen - I tried. So the flywire is looking pretty tatty by now - but I'm so thankful that I didn't have to call a locksmith from a neighbours phone!

I did a vlog last night, which will explain the food photographs in this post! Turn up your speakers and enjoy! :-)

My 2nd Vlog - Change Of Address

Love and Romance

A couple of fellow bloggers commented on the painting in my last post (a nude couple) so I decided I'd answer Gail's enquiry and mention the artist!

The lovely painting formerly in my previous post (after the ABBA video - I've since tweaked that post too including changed the song) anyway that painting is called "Endless Love" and it's by the German artist Alfred Gockel. I've shifted it here (right). The above featured (title) painting is called "Romance in Red II". You can order these prints online from $15 for small, unframed to nearly $200AU for a framed print. The 'Endless Love' print here again on the right, framed & a fabulous 72 x 72cm is AU$174.76 from art.com --I would pay that!

I enjoyed viewing many Glockel's at art.com and printfinders.com because ((slight-raising-of-eyebrows)) there are limited works to view on his own website. I've decided to delete the series of paintings I had listed here.. it just made the post too long and I wasn't comfortable with it. You can see a lot of his work at a glance by visiting Google Images.

On a personal note: tomorrow I'm off to Melbourne (one hour drive north) with a friend & fellow WW buddy (in her car) to visit a large Christian bookshop, have a picnic lunch and then pick up the VCR I bought off eBay a couple of weeks ago for $10.50. Right now my girl and I can't record any tv programs and I can't afford a dvd recorder. I've experienced a cheaper-end dvd recorder and it was the most frustrating machine in the house. Ages to load a dvd, sometimes would record, sometimes wouldn't. Gone was the beauty of the 'press-and-go' system of a VCR. Spontaneous taping potentially meant you missed the first 5 to 10 min's of the program you wanted to record *right now*! It was a CONIA brand machine. I know VCR's are the T-Rex's of program-recording -but for $10.50 and the ignorant bliss of WYSIWYG technology -I'm sold. You had me at VHS.

Some things don't change

I would love it so much if ABBA reformed and did a worldwide concert tour. Would you go? How much would you pay for a ticket? It was said they were offered a billion dollars and didn't accept the offer. This is my little homage to them.


Abba - ARRIVAL - (Slideshow)

Since this is a foodie's blog I will add the band members favourite foods (and drinks) as quoted in 1976!

Agnetha (the blonde one, now 57!): Chinese, French, Whisky, Milk, Champagne

Frida (the brunette one, now 62!): French, Whisky

Bjorn (Agnetha's ex, now 62!): French food and French wines

Benny (Frida's ex, will be 62 in Dec & tallest band member): French food, Beer

I think these guys ate at the same restaurants and developed a passion for French cuisine?

A gastronomic path no matter which way you look at it

A lovely day today, I always enjoy Thursdays (with a WW meeting to start the day). I was surprised by this weeks significant loss because (as well as last week's being 1.8kg) there has been a lot of quick food in recent days (not to be confused with drive-thru fast food). I'm talkin' minimal vegies... and some butter, cheese and sugar thrown in. But it was a busy week with moving and everything associated with that. Like nervous energy.

Last week our leader gave us the notepad/paper gift and today I received two more gifts (well... three.. but the third one is a loan)! A friend handed me a bottle of (imitation) Rum essence at the beginning of my WW meeting! A couple of weeks ago we wrote down a recipe for a WW bread and butter pudding.. made with dried apricots and whiskey. We talked about how rum would be an OK substitute (I'm not big on whiskey... but don't mind brandy in cooking)! So... I was blessed to get this rum essence should I try that rich pudding some time in the future. The fellow WW member who made it for guests insists it was a delightful pudding.

THEN, I felt a gentle hand on my back.. softly rubbing (trying to get my attention) as I was chatting to the rum-friend.. and it was Jane. She's a lady in her 50's and someone who has been increasingly kind to me over the past few weeks telling me I inspire her. She had a little pot plant for me with a beautiful rose-themed gift card attached (Dear Maria and daughter...), just telling my daughter and I "Welcome to your new home" and other nice things-- what a delight! People were asking me "Is it your birthday?" My church buddy said "this is such a lovely bunch of people". I was proud of my group!

Stop-press, there's a TIME LIFE info-mercial on right now.. it's a promo for a series of 'Soft Rock' CD's.. and the two fella's from 'Air Supply' plug it. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Have I talked about this before in my blog? It seems that EVERY song they play during the half hour informercial is one I love and can sing along to. I want iiitttt!!! The songs evoke such warm and positive memories for me and I don't know why. I love soft rock! Or should that be >>Soft Rock rocks!? Eg. Ventura Highway, Into The Night (Benny Mardones), Escape (The Pina Colada Song), The Doobie Brothers...Foreigner.. If you leave me now (Chicago), I'd do anything for love (Meatloaf), Make it with you (Bread), Horse with no name (America), American Pie (Don McLean), Daniel (Elton John), I'm not in love (10CC), Dream Weaver (Gary Wright), Show Me The Way (Peter Frampton), Ride Like The Wind (Christopher Cross), Maggie May (Rod Stewart), The Air that I breathe (The Hollies), It's a heartache (Bonnie Tyler), More Love (Kim Carnes), You can do magic (America.. now that one reminds me of my O/S trip with my parents in the 80's.. always good when I get taken back there), If I ever want it, I will immortalise the number right here: 1800106980 http://www.timelife.com.au/ 5 EASY (cough, cough) monthly payments of $29.95!! (Oh..and $10 post)! Oooh.. Rosanna by Toto is on there too.. I love Toto.. Rosanna and Africa are my favourite songs of the 80's.

Back to my planned blog topics (!) >> The water here at our new place doesn't taste too good. I planned on buying a giant cask of spring water each week.. but someone suggested that I just buy a BRITA water filter jug.. so I did! Replacing the filter cartridges will be cheaper than buying bottled or cask water. I bought the jug-kit (complete with cartridge) in Kmart for $25, then found it in Coles for $20, so I returned the Kmart one.. and took my money to Coles & had $5 left over! The filters only need to be replaced every couple of months and they're about $10.

We had a visitor this afternoon (when my girl came home from school) - who (without me asking) is loaning me a web cam - so I should be able to continue vlogging in the near future as we no longer have a camera of any description. The visit was followed by a surprise phone call from my partner-in-points and pansy-giving --WW buddy Jane! We'd exchanged no's last week but hadn't used them .. until today! We seem to be losing the same amount of weight... like our weight loss is synchronised or something? Her sister is with her for 3 months from interstate (W.A.) and she (the sister) told me today "If you have a friend in Jane, you have a friend for life". That was lovely. I also received a letter today from my ex- Immigration department work colleague..that one who gave me the surprise call last week? And I received another 'Delicious' magazine in the mail (I won a free 6 months subscription a couple of months ago). I'm not taking any of these blessings for granted.. I soak them in and thank God... praise Him.. thank you!

My WW weekly handout today had a recipe on it.. and if there ever is a recipe featured I'll usually be inspired to make it.. and so I bought the ingredients after I'd been to KMart. It's an oven baked pumpkin and leek risotto, (I just need a 5 Litre capacity oven dish.. I don't think I have one). My girl and I will probably having some vegie meals this weekend as I planned on making my favourite quick WW standby Red Lentil & Tomato Soup with garlic Turkish toasts. The vegies and legumes will do us good! I couldn't resist buying a beautiful piece of trout fillet today while at the deli. I've been craving either salmon or trout and the trout was cheaper (it's just as nice though). I like to rub it with olive oil, season it with maybe cajun spices and a bit of lemon pepper and sear it in a hot pan. I've missed good quality oily fish like this (fresh that is). I mostly eat raw salmon in sushi! (I know some of you will be making faces at this..)! I have a picture of a trout meal I did in March (which is in the March archives, but I'll put it here again. I just bought one big trout fillet, cut it in half and my husband and I had a nice lunch. The one piece of fish was less than $6 ..so for two people it was economical. Time to stop talking about food as it's bed time!

Though I will say something else (yessss... food related)! My attention was drawn to a University of Adelaide advertisement in my foodie magazine. It was something to do with 'Le Cordon Bleu Paris' - Graduate Program in Gastronomy "Turn your passion for food into a graduate education". Am I seeing things, I thought?? What? Studies in Gastronomy..not just cookery or home economics..but we're talking food and wine and food in film and restaurants..food and communication...and everything I love.. all at university level! I researched it and it seems to be something I would seriously be interested in. Generally, to gain entry you need a bachelors degree --however, if you can demonstrate to them your love of all things food, they still accept a certain quota of non-degree students who apparantly have a track record of being in the top 25% of students ie. they do well. You start off with a professional certificate (and must get this for them to allow you to continue).... which leads to a graduate certificate.. a graduate dipoma (all in Gastronomy)..and then a *Masters* - being a "Le Cordon Bleu Master of Arts in Gastronomy" where you have to write a dissertation of course. There are many career paths with this study pathway.. all area's I'd love to work in... food critic/food writing... employed by the tourism industry.. the list is endless. Anyway.. I'm just throwing this out there as "food for thought" (how did you know I'd say that?). It sounds like something I'd be really excited to do. You can do the course online for 2 years with a couple of visits to Adelaide each year for 'on campus' time. OR you can do it quicker as an on-campus student..which is the method I'd prefer. When I did my travel studies (one year full time) - I experienced the benefits of that day to day discipline of going in each day and doing the work - but also developing a relationship with my tutors..and fellow students. I was also told that the correspondence students (off-campus) were struggling in many area's and our work was of a higher standard. Off-campus students generally have a lot more distractions to their study lives. But I wouldn't discount online studies. Anyway.. again.. just putting this out there. The ad. got me excited! Very. The rest of this year is about getting well for me ... continuing to lose weight.. and working out the chinks in my bruised spirit... getting closer to God ..that sort of thing. I have plans in place for more option-exploring in January. So a line of studying like this would be for 2008 at the earliest or possibly 2009. Who knows what the future holds?

Re-decorating

Oh my goodness. I changed to a pretty template.. then lost 'widgets' on the right hand side of my blog! Then reverted back to the old blog to see if I could save them, but they were gone. Then I thought I may aswell go back to the pretty blog and rebuild my widgets - but now the template isn't being accepted and an error number keeps coming back at me! What a disaster! No links to your blogs, no current food weakness or 'Daily Word'. I hope it all works out in the end. I'm sad I lost my site meter in particular. Oh well... you live and learn!!

"You Are Loved"

We moved on Friday, August 17 - and though I could write a lot about that day, I won't. It's a day I want to erase from my memory. My girl and I shared some nice Japanese food late Friday night, Japanese seafood pancake (Okonomiyaki) & Tonkatsu Don (pictured left, being crumbed pork topped with egg/onion served on rice) and half-price sushi (though of course, my eyes were bigger than my stomach since I'd only eaten stewed fruit in the morning, being peaches and prunes-and that was it). Thank you to my friend in Perth for blessing us with $ so we could eat take-out on our first night xox.

Actually the other bit of nourishment I received on the day was a cup of tea brought to me by my new neighbour Joan - she's probably in her 60's and she lives alone. Joan loaned me the use of her electricity when I had none and today she rang my doorbell to tell me it was garbage night and also that I had mail! And that she would put 3 snail pellets in my letterbox (..she said this after I mentioned one of my takeaway food brochures looked like Swiss cheese.. the snails have huge appetites down by our mail boxes)! Why three snail pellets, I don't know -maybe that's the correct ratio for a letter box?

Late afternoon on the move-in day, when the electricity was connected I was surprised by a visit from a church friend.. a much needed light for my girl and I. Then when our adopted cat Phoebe was brought over to us (moving to her permanent home), her foster Mum bought more cat food for us...and some groceries too! Loved the tinned chargrilled eggplant & green pepper stuffed dolmades.. thank you T! (See current food weakness..)! And by the way.. I noticed today (and later.. someone else noticed) that Phoebe matches the decor!

So much good has happened (amidst the clouds) that I decided I'd record all the blessings today in a journal. I stopped at 15 pages .. but then tonight I had another page to add. Isn't that extraordinary? So.. I thought I'd share the good things with you:

*Throughout the last couple of weeks I've needed to attend many appointments and I've received parking-favour in the form of money already in the meter or "no coins required, meter out of order" - or if none of the above, I found parking right in front of the place I was going to (which is not the norm).

*When I was growing up, my late mother had many geranium plants growing at the front of our house. I didn't understand her love of these mostly coral red flowers (or carnations for that matter). One day (many years after her death) I heard on 'Burke's Backyard' (tv gardening show) - that there is a variety of rose-scented geraniums and 80% of the worlds rose perfume comes from rose-scented geraniums -not roses. I've not ever found a rose-scented geranium but when I sit at my dining/kitchen table and look out of the pretty French window, there is a coral-red geranium right by the window. It gives me a nice feeling. My mother's name was 'Rose' too.. but I haven't gone out to smell the geraniums yet to see if they're scented.

*I was given a $100 household goods voucher to spend at any Salvation Army family store. After three visits to two stores I could not secure myself an iron and ironing board. Any irons they had weren't tested yet and the electricians only visit once a month apparantly to do the testing. So I was puzzled why I couldn't get what I needed in these huge stores.. but I knew God was on my side! Then my attention was drawn to a shelf full of brand new Christian books -with full, RRP tags on them. New stuff at a charity store? Maybe they received a donation? They were actually charging the full retail price for these items.

There were Christian CD's too.. all full price. Another observation was they sold original art work too. Anywhere from $90 to over $300 a painting. And apparantly it was walking out the door -the art was that popular. I found a Bible. A 'Life Application' Study Bible. Imagine a Bible that comes with commentaries and study notes on how to apply what you read to your everyday life. The book is very comprehensive (yet easy to follow) and comes with a CD for your PC - so you can see what you're reading! See an animated Jesus walking on the water! There are a lot of maps and timelines.. I could go on - but it's something I had an opportunity to buy and after having a good think, buy it I did. $50!

Then, into the basket went some Hillsong Worship music ($25) -which came with a bonus DVD. Edging closer to the $100 total, I scored a pair of globe bookends that give me a good feeling too (because of their travel theme). Then I added a sharp knife (destined for tomatoes) and two pairs of pants that actually fit! I'd forgotten what it feels like to wear pants that fit! I've been wearing 'too-big' pants for too long. These are one size smaller & it's amazing how uplifted I feel when wearing something I don't have to pull-up every minute. So though I left the Salvation Army store with things much different to what I imagined -I trusted that this is what God wanted me to have. And I was excited about my $50 Study Bible!

*I've received phone calls and messages from unexpected sources that have blessed me. An ex-work colleague from 18 years ago (who I've kept in touch with by mail) actually rang me one day -on her birthday actually (I'd sent her a card and given her our latest news). I've had friends meet with me too.. which has been so good. I've been told I'm etched on their hearts - so it's a pleasure and not a burden in any way. In previous years I would often keep myself to myself in times of hardship. I never wanted to inconvenience anyone and cringed at the thought of being a burden. But I'm now taking whatever hand is extended to me. And often, someone's time is the most precious thing they can give you. Just "here I am -- for YOU, because it's a pleasure!" I believe that's God's will... and quite frankly, that is God! I've had some surprise messages and calls -and even emails. None of this is 'lucky', none of this is a co-incidence. It's meant to bless me and my girl.. and it has warmed my heart.

*Tonight our doorbell rang and what should await us.. but a friendly face carrying a brand new ironing board and iron --all for us! Good quality items, at least mid-to-upper price range. The iron I have from my previous address was the old, discarded one that leaked and soiled our clothing..with mineral deposits seeping out of the base. I didn't get the new iron from last year. So now.. it all made sense. I couldn't find what I wanted at the Salvation Army stores because God had a better plan -- brand new stuff!! The goods were dropped off..and then it was time to weep! My daughter said "Well at least you're crying for a good reason now!"

*There are more blessings... too many to list here, but I will end with the continued blessing of my Weight Watchers meetings. Three ladies from church now attend my meeting -it's a great meeting - our leader is a treasure. Last week she handed us all little gifts from Australia Post -being the post office (little promotional gifts (see above) that you're supposed to get when you use BillPay - but my group leader convinced them to bless our group in bulk)! Inside the red plastic packaging were little notepads to stick on your fridge for the purpose of writing some personal goals down for the week.. no matter how small. That wasn't Australia Post's plan.. it was what my leader made them to be! It's actually a "Things to do today" notepad. The 'tube' of stuff in the picture is stove 'Hot Plate Magic' - to clean stove hotplates which was left for me by the previous tenant (an elderly lady who I met twice and she sold me her dining setting for $50).

She also left me her two seater sofa!! (Cushions in the pic are my own). But I already have a lounge room setting! I was initially told that the sofa was going to her daughter, but as you can see... she ended up leaving it for me! And though it just fits in here.. I may sell it.. I'm not sure yet. My girl and I worked out that with all the chairs I have now, I could seat 16 people in our humble two bedroom abode!! Maybe God has given me this seating for a reason?? I can't discount that... but the future of the two-seater, for the moment, is unknown ((enter Twilight Zone music)). Maybe you can give me an opinion when you see it on video? Ok.. time for bed here, I will leave you with recent weight loss results. Thanks for reading this far! (I have some blogs to catch up with, which I look forward to) :-) P.S. Yes, the stick-figure in the diagram is me.. I wasn't about to 'pad her up' to make it an actual likeness! I think of it as me at goal weight --looking over at the week-by-week success.. regardless of what the scales said. But they've been happy-talkin' lately.. ..yah...who'd have thunk it?

Another P.S. I've had the privilege of attending two Rebecca St James concerts in the last two years (intimate mother/daughter/girlfriend events). Before singing the song 'You Are Loved' Rebecca would talk us through what the lyrics meant. When she reached the chorus, she'd hold the microphone out to us (the audience) and we'd have to sing in unison "YOU ARE LOVED" - to remind us that we are! It was powerful! This is that song. Not the actual film clip - just a slideshow someone put together. But this song comforts me.. especially right now, so I thought I'd finish the post with it :-)

Phoebe & A Low Budget Furniture Feat

This is an eBay seller's photo of the couch and two chairs I bought for our new place. It's dark chocolate, velvet, comfy and in very good condition for a 20 year old suite! (One owner, well looked after). Remember the furniture at the fictional cafe 'Central Perk' in the sitcom 'Friends'? Or even Phoebe Buffay's furniture? I'm aiming (by default) for that 'loungey,velvet retro' look. This suite cost me $103.50 and is on wheels (or castors I think is the correct terminology)?

I bought the current tenant's dining suite -which is velvet, sage green - for $50! Parker furniture - quality setting in excellent condition. (Comes with 6 chairs and the table can be extended to fit 6 or made smaller to fit 4 chairs). So instead of the place looking ancient and corny, I'm hoping for warm, cosy and yes, retro-loungey. I'm hoping to win a vintage persian-style rug --with green in it too. The rug has a couple of bidders on it and is at $15.50 at the moment. It's a decent size (we viewed it when we viewed the furniture last week).

All of these items are from the same seller -including a near-new retro-style bar stool. At our new place we have a mini-breakfast-bar area that can be closed off with white, timber-slatted shutters (to separate the kitchen from the dining/living room area). I thought the bar stool would work well on its own at the brekky bar? It cost $19.99 and they only had the one for sale. My girl has already imagined herself eating midweek brekky's by the kitchen, on this stool.

Our kitty's foster-mama has been sending pic's of Phoebe to my phone-as she's making regular appearances, becoming a little bolder and friendlier (but on her terms I hear)! We will be visiting her tomorrow but if it's like our last visit, she will spend the whole time hiding behind something. I guess it's to be expected, she can't fall in love with us instantly. She's not even living with us yet and is still adjusting to her temporary foster home.

I also went to view a bedroom suite today -again a 'retro' look - I'd be happy to win it - still a couple of days left on it - will let you know how I go!

P.S. Remember me mentioning 'Jo Malone' candles in my last post? Here to the left is a box of three travel-size candles which apparantly retail for US$95, but on the Jo Malone website they are more like $135 for this set of three in a gift box. I purchased two travel-size candles today - yes Jo Malone candles for US $21.95 + $8.95 post!! New, never been used. I know, I know, I'm moving -what am I doing buying designer candles? I've just really wanted to own/experience one of these candles and/or a French 'Diptyque' candle. They're too popular on eBay! The two travel-size candles I bought today were only listed as a 'Buy It Now' (ie. not an auction) for 3 days. I stumbled across them 5 hours after they were listed, so I snapped them up otherwise someone else definitely would have. I figure I'm paying at least half price to experience a bit of Jo Malone (and I get to see [smell?] what all the hype is about) AND I guess I can call this a house-warming present to myself? The two fragrances are: Lime Basil Mandarin and Vintage Gardenia. I had a look-see also at the 'luxury' candles on the website. TWO AND A HALF KILOGRAM candles (or five and a half pounds) will set you back AU$450 each!!

License To Be Happy

Hello everyone - it's nice to be back (( smile )). There has been a bit more time between posts than I would have liked, but life has been too full. But it comes with moving. Last week I signed a lease and next week my girl and I are moving to the place you see above. There is a story behind it but it's probably too long to tell here -so all I will say is God has been in the details.. it was meant to be. My girl and I have been receiving favour in area's we've needed favour. There has been one blessing after another but of course it's hard to feel too blessed when there is an underlying thread of sadness.


I've been run off my feet doing what needs to be done and last night I had a health scare (again.. so a staunch reminder-to-self to PLEASE get more sleep.. anything will help even if the stress can't be avoided too much at the moment). I've bought some furniture off eBay (which needs to be picked up) and still have quite a few commitments before the move next week. Forms, forms and more forms to fill out. I knew this was coming and so it's no wonder I put the move off as long as I did. It's just too stressful for me.

Amidst the sad and very painful circumstances, my girl and I have some things to look forward to. We have a pet now! An adult, ginger fluffy-ish.. (or thick coat) ginger cat that my girl has named 'Phoebe' (though my nickname for her is Joan. Joan Malone... the Malone part being an homage to Jo Malone candles that I hope to own one day.. but I don't have a spare $90 for a single candle. Speaking of which, in Sharon Osbourne's autobiography she mentioned pouring a whole bottle of Jo Malone bath oil into her bath one day, on purpose to comfort herself I think after yet another law suit. Her friend/former Aussie nanny remarked the bathroom smelled like a Turkish boudoir)!! One of my girls school friends is moving today and she's had to say goodbye to her pets sadly. They were headed to the pound. We have rescued the 2.something year old cat. We can't keep her here for the week (before we move into our new place), so a kind friend and ex-neighbour is being a foster-Mum to her for a week or so. Phoebe is a bit traumatised but showing signs every day that she is getting used to her foster-Mum. Of course she will be moved again next week, but it's all in the name of saving her life. I'm hoping she will settle in well in the weeks to come and that we will share a mutual love. (Sighhhh)!

Before I sign off I wanted to mention a movie my girl and I saw last week. We went to the movies for a bit of escapism and saw 'License to Wed'. InitiallyI had an underlying skeptical feeling in my belly about this film. I'd seen trailers on tv and feared that they were potentially the funniest parts. I also didn't want to feel sad about seeing a couple headed to the altar. I mean.. "do I want to watch anything right now that touches upon marriage or anything that would highlight my own marriage fractures"? Anyway, no regrets. None at all. In fact -instead of plonking this film in my 'watched and enjoyed' feature, I decided to feature it here too.

I wasn't sure if I had audible laughter in me.. but I had and did! I laughed OUT LOUD. I really did.. and so thank you 'License to Wed' for being a 90 minute panacea that hit the spot. I just Googled the movie to see how long it was and read a viewers review ... which matched mine. Their opening line was: "..Saw this movie yesterday and to be honest I went in here not expecting much..but wow was I blown away".. So I had to tell you about it!

Ok.. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm going to attach my last two video's. Where you see me and I actually talk to my subscribers. Vlogging. If you have time, turn your sound up and see a mix of me coupled with a Q & A slideshow from me. Enjoy your weekend whatever you're doing :-) P.S. Last week I lost 1.9kg's and this week I lost 600grams. Total loss for 6 weeks of effort: 6.8kg's - that's pretty much 15 pounds.

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Sorry to anyone who is being notified about a blog update through bloglines and then coming here to find nothing. (Or now, this message)! I am trying to submit 'a job', being a piece of sponsored writing and there must be an error with the site as it won't accept my post URL. Frustrating! I've contacted technical support and until I get answer, my 'job' is in drafts and I won't publish it. I hope you are all doing well - enjoy your day! :-)