It's nearly holiday time....wooooohooooooo!!

Well the trailer is almost packed only a few small things to go in like clothes for us adults plus the food and drinks!! Cross fingers that we will be on our way by 5am like we have planned. May need to get up at about 3 am but it will all be worth it when we get to the camp site, set up and then sit and relax that is after we collect the firewood, get the fire going and work out what is for tea!! But in all seriousness Noel and I are so looking forward to this break. We haven't had a good break since April and that seems like it was so long ago. And I know that the kids are anxious to get there also.

Lots to do in the State Forest besides staring into the fire!! Hopefully I will get to do some walking but there is also four wheel drive tracks to explore, animals to spot, I know that down the road from the campsite there is the Snob's Creek Waterfalls so that will be worth a look. With a bit of luck we will find somewhere to throw in the yabbie nets to get a good feed! Not taking the fishing rods this time but I might just have to use my powers of pleading and venture to the trout farm to catch my favourite fish!! Yummo!! But before we know it it will be time to pack up and come home.

So the next time you will hear from me will be at least next Wednesday evening when we return to civilian life and pry ourselves away from the bush. I will return from my relaxing bush retreat knackered with two feral children that are black from bushlife and who have a large case of television withdrawal symptoms and everything smelling of smoke!! Sounds great and I can't wait!!

Oh before I go - big CONGRATULATIONS to Ms Vicki - great loss this week girl. Keep up the great work. I will definately miss our walks and our chats this week. (I am going to try and be as good as I can while I am away - LOL!!)

Bye for now and I hope everyone backs a winner on the Melbourne Cup!!

Sooooo much is happening......

I know that between now and January 1st 2006 is going to fly past and if I procrastinate tooooooo much I am going to miss heaps!! To be honest I cannot believe it is nearly the end of October which means only 61 more sleeps until the fat man in the red suit blesses us all with his presence (including the wrapped variety)!! OMG that is not many sleeps at all!!

The camping trip is coming along nicely and I will be the first to put my hand up and say I was in a much better frame of mind this morning... at least we know where we are going so it is full steam ahead on that topic now. So roll on Friday I am ready to pitch tent and relax!! Like as if!!

Had a wonderful phonecall from my friend Kerry, who is in Sydney, today and it really brightened my day. Stace and her are planning a trip down in December for a girly weekend and they are staying with us (I wouldn't have it any other way). Can't wait to hear what they both plan when they get together this weekend.

The goods news was coming from all angles today. A message on my answering machine to tell me that my girlfriend Trinity's little girl Willow was home from hospital finally. Willow was born at 27 weeks (yep 13 weeks prem) and weighed 785 grams at birth. She has done really well and battled all the odds associated with being soooo early and wooohooooo she is home. I can just imagine how happy both Donovan and Trinity are. It is just a shame that they now live in Queensland and I can't be there to help out.

Logging on to the Weight Watchers forums I see that the Muskerettes are starting to be a force together once more with the exception of Rhiain who has disappeared without a trace. I will try and call her tomorrow to make sure all is okay. Julz is doing well with her pregnancy although she may be out in her dates by four weeks unless she is having a huge baby!! LOL!! Gina is not far off embarking on her journey to the east coast and I am really looking forward to catching up with her once more.

I think it has been decided within the family that Christmas will be spent at our house. I really don't mind as most of you know that I enjoy entertaining. So it looks like roast turkey with all the trimmings and christmas pudding for lunch and possibly a seafood dinner. I am glad it is at house acutally as I know what is happening and our kids don't have to go from house to house to ensure that all the family is seen. Both Noel's family and my family will get together for lunch.

Oh well better fly I still have lots to organise this week before Friday......

Finally - the right camp site

Geez after 3 weeks of driving around various state forests, national parks and basically anywhere that resembled bush and had a river/creek close by we have finally found a camp site. We have been planning to go camping for the Melbourne Cup Weekend for the last 6 months or so but until today unsure about where we were going to pitch the tent.... but today we found the right spot.

Sounds silly I know but there were severeal requisites for the "Right" spot.
1. Near water
2. Fairly isolated - didn't want to be surrounded by people especially yahoo's
3. Grassy not sandy/dirty

Call us fussy if you wish but we like to be comfortable and once we pitch tent we are there for 5 days so why shouldn't we get the right spot? All the truck drivers at my work are picking on us for being "too fussy" and saying "you should just go and camp - campings all about taking the rough with the good" but everyone has there standards. I have been laughed at by blokes that just throw out a swag once they have found their destination to a bloke that although he agreed with the others actually goes to his onsite van that is fitted with a tv and dvd player... right like that is roughing it.

But we are off to Snob's Creek next Friday and will camp there until the following Wednesday. There is the creek running right past the campsite which will provide the water for showers and dishes etc. Not sure if it is drinkable but will take water in with us. The site is not accessable by normal car only 4wd and is set quite a way from the main road. Cross fingers that we will be the only ones heading for the site this weekend. It is big enough to fit maybe two camps on there but it would be nice to be by ourselves.

Well it is now past 10 o'clock and I have been up since 5am as I had to work this morning - so the bed is definately the next thing on the agenda!!

A small loss...

Well what a last 48 hrs... my posts are becoming as eratic as my moods LOL!! Actually I am not that bad!!

Doctors yesterday brought good results all round. The GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) came back normal and in a healthy range and my blood pressure was perfect. Needless to say I left the doctors beaming and having a new outlook on how my day was going to go.

Alex enjoyed her last session at the primary school for this year. The next time she will participate in a classroom activity is when she starts her first day next year. They had rabbits in the classroom and all enjoyed playing with them. Us lucky mam's had tea and coffee with the principal, vice principal and one of the prep teachers in the library.

The rest of the day was spent cleaning the house for Aunty Maggie's visit. We then went to Frankston to meet up with her but she was late - as usual! Unfortunately she has been like it forever!! My mam and dad used to tell her dinner was an hour early just so she would be there on time. Even though our dinner was late the kids did really well and the whole evening was over before it seemed to begin.

Back to work today - quite a busy one as I was preparing for my assessment training over at Bacchus Marsh tomorrow. I have another 2 hr each way drive to look forward and then two competency assessments to complete. With luck I hope to leave there before 3pm or I will catch all the city traffic and be really late home.

My first week's weigh in tonight for my fresh start and I had a small loss - was hoping for more but as Vicki said 'a loss is a loss'. I definately need to focus more over the weekends although I was proud of making myself accountable this week.

Going now as I am dead tired and need to syke myself up for the morning.

A Rostered Day Off!!

Well today I have a rostered day off but I can tell you right now there will be no relaxing for this little chick!

The washing is already on the go, the herbs and plants have been watered, the kids are still snoozing so they must have needed the extra sleep.

What else is in store for today?

I have to take Oliver to school and then I am off to the doctors. I am going to get the results of my Glucose Tolerance Test today. Not sure if I am anxious or not at the moment. But I have decided not to stress about it until I am at least sitting in the waiting room.

Alex has her final orientation session at the primary school and that is 12.30 - 1.30pm. She is soooooo excited about going - hasn't stopped nattering about it all week.

5 o'clock this afternoon I am picking my aunty up as she is coming for dinner. Aunty Maggie is down from QLD for a couple of weeks so it will be great to catch up. The kids are looking forward to it also. Roast lamb and all the trimming (low fat version of course) is on the menu.

So needless to say inbetween the doctors and school and school and Aunty Maggie coming I need to do some serious cleaning around the house - yes that mini hurricane has been through again!! LOL!!

By the way isn't the new prince of Denmark absolutely cute... and Mary well she looks radiant and calm - I am not one bit envious of the sleepless nights ahead! Mind you I am sure she has plenty of hired help.... unlike the real mother's of the world.

Got to fly now... busy busy busy.

Missing in action

Well unfortunately busy lives mean something gets missed and as I try to sit down to blog last thing at night I am finding it very hard to stay awake when I sit still without falling asleep in our lovely office chair... too comfy that's for sure. Just ask Noel how many times he has got and up and found me asleep at the computer!!

So what has actually happened since my last blog:

I went to my first Thursday night WW meeting as a member - it was definately different to sit amongst the members and just listen. Previously being a recorder I missed a lot of the meeting as I was balancing all the money and products etc. The scales weren't toooooo horrible to me although I did have a gain of 0.5kgs! That could be just the difference in the scales as I felt that I didn't have a bad week - oh well onward and downwards from here right. As Cheryl used to say "I hope to see less of you next week" - LOL pretty corny really!!

Friday found Vicki and I walking again - amazing we kept up the pass for all 4 kms and shaved a minute of our previous walk... doesn't sound like much but to us it was a HUGE achievement!! Mind you legs were killing me all night and well into Saturday.

Sunday was spent tourning the country side once more in search of a camp site that is remote but accessible and safe for the kids. We found one but it is bang smack in the middle of nowhere and obviously gets used quite a lot judging by the last fire area. Not sure as to whether we will risk driving all that way on the Friday only to find it occupied and we aren't close to any other sites. Food wise for Sunday - let me put it this way - YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!! LOL!!I suppose it wasn't too bad - I did have a salad and cheese roll for lunch with watermelon and yoghurt afterwards. But that is all I am admitting too!!!

Monday morning - I am rushing to type this madly as we have to leave for work and school soon. Back on track though and will follow my menu planner to the letter. Will need to walk two nights and exercise in the mornings to have a good result on the scales this week but I am sure I can give it a good go!!

Better fly one child has appeared from the realms of dreamtime.......

I face the scales tonight!

Well tonight is the night. I am going to my new (actually old) Weight Watchers meeting and starting a new weekly cycle.

Tuesday still seemed weird - you know not rushing around with kids, getting changed and getting to the church hall is Seaford to set up for our evening meeting. It will be definately different to go tonight, pay and sit for a meeting. I am quite looking forward to it. Going with Vicki will be good also as we can give each other a little more support than just being walking buddies!!

It's all about making myself accountable and I am sure 200% that if I focus hard enough I will be able to lose the extra kgs that I am carrying, bring my BP undercontrol and get on with a long enjoyable life.... right??

Only the scales will tell.............

Geez it's good to walk!!

Well never thought that would actually come from me - but honestly it really was good to walk! Vicki and I haven't walked since last Monday but it seems like an eternity. As I am sitting here I can still feel the soles of my feet and most of the muscles in my legs are still feeling all 6000 odd steps - but no pain no gain right?

I am still looking forward to a fresh start with a new Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday however I am worried that there will be a difference in the two sets of scales. I know that the Frankston meeting uses digital scales whereas the Seaford meeting used the old fashioned scales. I prefer the older ones as I believe they are more acurate but we do have to keep up with technology.

Speaking of new technology roll on the space age of the Jetsons where you press a button and your meal pops out of the machine on the wall, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner not forgetting the snacks!! LOL!! I still have to cook dinner for Noel and I - thankfully I fed the kids before I left for my walk.

Better head towards the kitchen.

The weekend is nearly gone....

Well once again the Murray family have faced a busy weekend.

I am sure that we all enjoyed spending our afternoon at our friend's house, Dave and Kelly. We have know Dave and Kelly for what seems like a lifetime - I am sure it would be near on 9 years now. Oliver wasn't even born and their boys, Jamie and Matthew, were only little tackers. Cannot believe that Matt turned 10 today and that Jamie is starting high school next year. The food was great - roast beef, potatoes, salad, gravy etc... I even spoiled myself and had a piece of cheesecake and some trifle!!

Back on track tomorrow... Four more sleeps 'til I return to the familiar St Luke's Hall for a weight watchers meeting!! I suppose a little like going back to an old stomping ground. Must good food and exercise wise for the rest of this week.

Time for sleep - I want to be up early to do an exercise DVD!!

Bye...

PS Dave's brother Jason and his wife, Nereda, had a little girl this afternoon!!! It's their third child and the first two were boys. I am sure that the whole Nagel family were happy when they heard the news!!

Call me Ms Forgetful!

Geez at night when I am soooo tired I generally crash out before I do my post. Especially yesterday when I was up at 5am to go to work. I worked until 12.30pm and then spent most of the afternoon walking through Frankston looking for 3 birthday pressies...

I am enjoying exploring the new shopping centre (stage 1 anyway) and this week have splurged on a few little goodies for me and the house!! Even started the christmas shopping by putting a layby on of clothes for the kids. OMG it's only October and I have made a start - wooohoooo mark it on the calendar.

Today, overcast again, and we are off to a BBQ in Pakenham with our friends. It's Matthew's birthday but we will also celebrate Dave's, Jamie's and Kelly's as we have/will miss them. I didn't pre-empt buying Chloe her pressie as her birthday is in December and I am sure we will catch up by then!!

Well got to go and get ready for our outing... will let you know how it goes.

Ten Pin Bowling!

Work today sucked!! Bigtime! I think it was more the fact of returning to work on a Friday of all days. Thankfully it is over now.

Anyway the exciting news for today is that Oliver has gone back to league ten pin bowling. He missed last season but played the season before and is very proud of his trophy which has a special place in his bedroom. Kyle, his cousin, is playing also and their team name in the Ankle Biters League is "The Gutterball Cousins" - they chose the name between them! I didnt' get to the alley tonight as work held me up but according to Noel and Claire they had a fun session and both played well.

Another quiet night for Noel and I as the kids are at their grandparents. Both of us are working in the morning. Dinner tonight will be Fish Parcels - very healthy and easy to make.

Off to relax in the quiet - it's amazing what the dishwasher and the washing machine sound like when the kids aren't screaming at each other or arguing!! LOL!!

Glucose Tolerance Test....

Well for a simple blood test 4 hours in a waiting room is an awfully long time! My appointment was for 9am but the horrible girl on reception decided not to listen to the fact that I had an appointment snapping just take a number off the wall and wait your turn!! Put me in a bad mood straight away. Needless to say at 10 to 10 I finally went in to the sister and she was angry at the fact that I hadn't come through straight way - especially as I had been fasting. The lime glucose drink was as disgusting as I remembered it from both pregnancies as was the hour long wait between the next two blood tests! I left pathology at midday.

Funny though how the next four hours just disappeared. Before I knew it I was picking the kids up from school and rushing around the house preparing dinner. Off to swimming was next on the agenda and finally at about 9pm I sat down to relax only to fall asleep.

Back to work today.

A visit to the doctors! What now?

Noel and I went to the doctor's yesterday. Noel was getting his test results back from last week's visit to the doctor and I required a new prescription for my blood pressure tablets.

All was going well - Noel's results were very good and most were well within the good range (you know cholesteral, blood sugars, kidneys etc.) which is excellent news.

My turn!! Got my prescription and had my blood pressure checked. It has gone up! ?! 135/90 - maybe I was stressing about Noel's results, who knows!! Next the doctor decided to have a look at my last blood test results and notices my glucose (blood sugars) were to high!! "Great " I thought to myself.

Needless to say I have been fasting since last night and I am off to pathology this morning for a two hour GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test). If you have been pregnant you know about this test. Firstly you need to drink this full bottle of sickly sweet horrible lime tasting liquid and then you wait for an hour. Boredom sets in after about 30 minutes!! The first blood test is taken after an hour is up then back to the waiting room for another hour before they take the second blood sample.

Better go and find a good book to take with me.....

I am sooo excited about today! Hopefully something good will happen that I can post about tonight.

Seaford Weight Watchers has closed.

Tonight was the last Weight Watchers meeting to be held at Seaford.

According to Weight Watchers they will review it again in January but that seems so far away. Although I am sadden by the closure and the fact that I won't have the regular contact with the members I am looking forward to the new beginning.... I am going to become a paying member again and start making myself accountable for each week. Needless to say I am going to tag along with Vicki to the Thursday night meeting at Frankston and I am sure that having a buddy to go with will do me the world of good..... are you ready for a tag team effort Vicki? LOL!!

I actually showed a loss of 0.1kgs this week - yeah.... I honestly haven't been good and as for my will power - it's gone into hiding and although I have searched high and low haven't been able to find it. Tomorrow is another day and a NEW day.

Noel and I are off to the doctors in the morning... Noel's blood test results will be back and I just want a new blood pressure tablet prescription and a check up. Noel went to the doctor's last week for peace of mind and asked for a blood test to check all the usual - cholesteral, blood sugars etc. I am sure that he will be fine.

Off to bed now... have a great night all.

Back to school...

Back to school today for Oliver and after yesterday's adventure he really didn't want to get up early but I am really proud of his efforts. It was really good to see him back in his uniform.

So now for me and the kids it is back to the routine of getting up early, making lunches, dropping Oliver off at before school care and then Alex off at creche. And of course picking them up in time in the afternoon. Thankfully Alex will be at school next year and it should make the mornings a little easier at least. Love them both dearly but they are soooooo hard to motivate some mornings!!

Alex took her lunch box to creche for the first time today - it is part of school preparedness!! She was really excited and it couln't go in her bag it had to be carried for the world to see. She is very proud of the fact it is off to school next year.

Another walk with Vicki tonight - 4kms! My legs aren't as bad as they have been - obviously I am FINALLY getting used to it! Work was really boring except for all the truck drivers, who also double as bush bashers, discussing our family adventure yesterday - lol - they were amazed at the tracks that we took. Several of them were familiar with the track dubbed the "narly" one!!!

Nite all.......

Nearly 600kms!!!!

Instead of spending the day yelling at the kids for arguing over silly things "he's got my toy" or "give that back" not to mention "I'm telling on you!" Noel and I decided to pack the family into the 4wd and head off in search of our campsite for the upcoming Cup Weekend. We have put in our annual leave and are looking forward to the 5 day break BUT at the moment have no idea where we are going to set up camp.

To cut a really long story very short - nearly 600kms and we still don't know where we are camping!! LOL!!

However we did find some great off road tracks up near Walhalla and Licola. We had a picnic lunch at Aberfeldy Bridge which was so peaceful right next to the river. Wildlife was abundent on this trip, to the kids enjoyment, as we came across a Lace Monitor, Echidna, Kangaroos, Fox, Rabbits not to mention a few road kill victims!!

One track, Boguane Gap Track, on the map seemed to lead to ideallic riverside camping and caught our interest. Meeting up with other bush bashers upon starting the track it was described to us as a "narly" track. Noel and I looked at each other and thought we are here now might as well have a look! Geeez narly, in my opinion, wasn't the correct word. I think I would have bought "outright scary" in my description. The kids were scared while we were climbing up at one stage and I must admit I burst into a fit of uncontrolable laughter once we reached the top - I think it was out of relief!!

As it was sooooo late dinner wasn't the lasagne we had planned on but instead we stopped and had a chinese meal in Traralgon which was yummy. The kids both ate really well and as we were leaving a nice lady from a table near us commented on how well behaved our kids were. Blushing I thanked her and explained they had been sat in the car all day and I had quite expected them to misbehave but was very proud of them!! And we still had to drive back to Frankston. We left the restaurant at 9pm!

Anyway we have literally walked in the door, the kids are now tucked up in bed after sleeping the last 2 hours in the car, the car has been unpacked and everything put away. Sorry about not walking Vicki but I will chat with you tomorrow....

Needless to say I am off to bed now. I am absolutely shattered!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy

The house of Murray was busy today - not busier than usual but none the less an enjoyable day was had by all.

The last 24 hours disappeared fast as usual - funny how Saturdays and Sundays just past you buy whereas Monday thru Friday drag like there is no tomorrow!!

I worked half the day today starting at 6am (yuk) but with end of month I was determined to get out of the office by lunchtime. Noel stayed with the kids as there was no work due to an RDO yesterday.

After shopping, cleaning and preparing for the evening ahead the house become a buzz of excitment. We were ready for to have a bbq with a new family. I have been walking with Vicki, as you know from previous posts, and we decided it was time to get the two families together as the kids were anxious to meet each other. Without fail after every walk I got asked "when can we meet the boys?" LOL!! It was nearly time. Oliver and Alex kept peering out the loungeroom window, jumping on the trampoline (which is out the front) with anticipation. Noel and I knew when they had arrived by the squeals and yelling only my two could make.

The evening went well, we had a yummy bbq which I am sure was well within our points for the day. I had saved some by having a small breakie and lunch. I maybe had one or two many wines but it was Saturday night. We ended the night with a fire box - that was great. We haven't had one for a while especially during winter. The smell of the wood burning just brought back memories of sitting around the campfire and just relaxing underneath the stars... lol... won't be long until we will be off camping again.

As a family we enjoyed ourselves last night and hope The Knox family did too!!

Not sure what the day holds for today... let you know tonight!!