The world is spinning way too fast!

Well here I am awake earlier than expected and sitting at the computer as I am too worried to go back to sleep incase I sleep through my alarm making me late for work. Seems to be a habit I am forming lately! I am going to be shattered again this afternoon.

In the quietness of the rest of the house sleeping I have been sitting here thinking about how fast January has disappeared already and besides working there are only a few days where something special has happened. Does this mean that the rest of the year is going to fly by this quickly? I hope not!

My dieting is eratic and in my heart realise that I need to go back to Weight Watchers just for the extra encouragement. It is a battle trying to stay on track by myself at home! Stayed the same weight wise this week so I will see what the scales say by Thursday. Need to pull my finger out and exercise. Vicky and I have agreed to start walking again as soon as the kids are settled back at school and the routines are in place!! Oh the dream of having a life without a routine!!

Speaking of Vicki - a big shout out to her for officially becoming an Aussie on Thursday - well done chickadee!!

As mentioned I am off to work shortly (half day today thankfully) - Noel is taking the kids and his parents bush to do a little bush bashing - or as the kids put it "to scare Nana and Grandad in the 4wd!!" needless to say the stories at lunch time should be interesting.

Chat soon - ~*JO*~

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.......

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.

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.......

The chocolate machine...

The only way our kids get excited about going shopping is the thrill brought on by the chocolate machine. You know the one that is conveniently positioned outside the supermarket, costs $1 or $2 and if luck is on your side you walk away with a chocolate or two. If you mention "who wants to come to the supermarket?" nine times out of ten our kids ask "Are you going to Bi-Lo?" I believe that they had a trip to Bi-Lo today!!

Noel had an RDO and I left for work leaving him and the kids asleep. It is good for them to spend a quality day with Noel as he works very long hours also. Today was spent with Noel going to the doctors for a routine checkup, visiting my sister so Noel can do something mechanical to her old car, getting some hair cuts and obviously the highlight of the day was the chocolate machine!! Apparently luck was on their side as they have been boasting about having chocolate today.

Vicki and I walked again tonight - another 4kms which I will say we completed faster than normal!! We have set a goal for ourselves regarding a special night out for dinner at the Ling Wah..... we have to lose 10kg before we go out to a fab chinese meal KIDLESS!!

Noel has spoiled me - he has cooked a wonderful dinner. We are having Osso Bucco - yum - and it smells delish. And yes it is a WW recipe!!

Ciao - bon appetite my dinner is ready!

Recipe - Osso Bucco

4 lean veal shanks
1 tbs seasoned flour
1 tbs olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 stick celery sliced
1 carrot sliced
1 tsp garlic minced
1/2 cup white wine
1 x 400g can crushed tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock
2 tbs tomato paste

Toss the veal shanks in the seasoned four. heat a large flameproof casserole dish and add the oil. Brown the veal and add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook until soft. Add the garlic, white wine, tomatoes, stock and tomato paste. Stir until well combined. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Serves 4 /3 1/2 points per serve.

Enjoy!!

Sibling rivalry

The wind has been blowing for most of the day with rain scattered here and there of varying strengths. At one stage the weather radar looked like a kids colouring book with no colours staying between the lines. It was quite dark at Harkaway for most of the day so being indoors staring at the computer screen wasn't that bad afterall except for the workload!!

Braved the elements and walked again with Vicki!! Legs definately hurting tonight and by the three lap I was absolutely knackered!! LOL!! But we kept walking and completed the 4th lap of the park. Just as I dropped Vicki back at her house it started to rain - so the timing was right!! The walking must be doing us both good as a car full of lads drove past with one yelling "Show us your tits!!" Idiots!! We must be doing something right with this Weight Watchers thing!! LOL!!

Alex was so excited going to creche today as it was the day of "Wild Action". An incursion where reptiles are brought to schools etc to educate children about animals that are not commonly seen. Wild Action were at the creche last year and Alex remembered what happenend that day therefore she was very eager to get out of the house this morning. I must admit it makes it a lot easier when your child actually wants to go off to school!! When I picked her up from creche I was shown a photo of Alex holding a snake with the biggest smile on her face and not looking the least bothered as to what was there in her hands. She was chatting away at an incredible speed about all the animals and this and that.... wow she must of had a great day.

Oliver returned to our house tonight after yet another sleep over at Aunty Claire's - she is very popular at the moment!! Oliver enjoyed himself and hasn't stopped talking about everything since we came home. He sounded like he had quite an adventure today including a stop at Hungry Jacks for lunch which he quite proudly told his sister about.... grrrrrrr!!!!

Then it was on for young and old.......................

The walking is working

Weight Watchers tonight and I know that walking is definately a way to go......

After a 3 walks with my new friend Vicki (1 was 3kms and the other 2 were 4kms) this week I lost 1kgs and that is just wonderful - especially as I did have a big weekend food and alcohol wise. Afterall celebrating cannot be done lightly, right?? Anyway I am still smiling from the loss.

New promise to self..... must stay within my points, go for another 3 walks (hopefully) plus do other exercise this week.

Noel's sister, Clare (yes another Clare - we both have little sisters named Claire/Clare) was meant to be flying into Melbourne this weekend but plans have changed - so needless to say Saturday night is off. Clare had plan to stay with us on that night and that normally ends up with us all being trashed but LOL we do enjoy ourselves. Unfortunately the next time we may see her now is at Christmas time but in all honesty it is not really that far away.

Won't be long before the fat man in the red suit comes to visit.... LOL!!

Out like a light....

Once again I managed to not post... this is becoming a habit!!

After eating dinner later than usual I sat on the couch and you guessed it fell asleep!! Noel once again managed to wake me up and aim me down the hallway towards the bedroom.... hence why I am blogging at 6.30am!!

Anyway......

Yesterday was a draining day at work mentally with the feeling of being a telemarketer after calling all of our customers to inform them that one of our products had run out... stop supply until Thursday. Many took it well but there were a few that were just painful about the situation. I swear they think that they are the only ones that buy rock of us!

Got home, organised the kids dinner and the minute Noel walked in the door I walked out. Off to pick up Vicki for a walk - not divorce!!

Strange walk last night as I don't think I had ever walked in the dark for exercise purposes... many nights walking home from pubs when I was younger though. But it was really good except my sights were focussed more on the dim shadows of the park than actually making eye contact with Vicki as we chatted away madly! But armed with my Bonus Buddy, a pedometer, it was noted that we walk just over 4kms - geez didn't think 4 laps of our park was that long... my legs definately feel it this morning.

Off to Weight Watchers tonight - it is the second last meeting for Seaford. Oh well I am a little sad about it but I am looking forward to going to the meetings with Vicki now on a Thursday night.

Better fly must get ready for work etc etc.......

Grand Final Day and no interest...

Well today was Grand Final Day and as a family of St. Kilda supporters I must say that we weren't at all interested... funny really as in 1993 we weren't interested in who was playing either as we got married on the day of sporting celebration!! Can't even tell you who was playing that year. This year the Swans (Sydney) won... roll on the 2006 season. Carn the saints!!

Things that were on my mind today were my sister, Claire, planning tommorrow's family get together, wondering if the house would ever be clean enough and I had a few fleeting, thoughts okay they weren't fleeting at all, I admit, about Noel's brother and his wife.

Okay grab a drink this may turn into a long one!!

Claire is my little sister, she is 6 years younger, and it is only as we have grown up that I have learned how much a truely beautiful woman she has become. She is so accommodating for everyone especially me. If I work and need help with the kids she is there. Unconditionally she has both of our children when we ask and it never seems to be the wrong time or a hassle even when she is dealing with 3 boys of her own. I think the way that she is much loved and liked by all that meet her is very deserving and selfishly, I believe that I am truly jealous of her as a person.

The house never seems to stay clean no matter how many hours go into cleaning the damn place. The strangest thing is that we are only home about 25% of the week. We are both at work full time, Oliver is a school and Alex is at creche for the same hours as us and yet it is like a hurricane has gone through the house each week without fail!! Why?? No rest for the wicked - isn't that what they say? There is obviously a conspiracy happening somewhere!!

Tommorrow is officially our wedding anniversary - 12 years!! We thought it would be wonderful if we could get both families together, have a meal and chat - you know nothing formal at all. We almost succeeded as we had confirmations from both my sister and Noel's parents but a phone call last night confirmed that Sean and Vicky were NOT attending a family do AGAIN!! To be honest I am at the point of not even bothering to invite them. There always has to be a reason, and I mean a good reason, for them being invited and then it is still iffy as to whether you get an acceptance. The majority of the time and sadly for Sean, he turns up by himself. Maybe it is because we didn't give a good enough reason (we didn't come out and say it's our wedding anniversary!) however we mentioned discussing Christmas BUT we all know that Vicky has an issue with spending too long at a family function on our side of their marraige. This is starting to sound bitchy but I will be the first one to put my hand up and say that I am really get sick of her antics - and I also know that I am not the only Murray who is. I had better stop here.... To be honest I don't think Noel will like this post!!

This evening I went for a walk with Vicki, my friend, amd we actually did four laps of the park instead of the three we have done previously.. and it was wonderful - I feel great this evening.

On a brighter note - it is our day for celebration tomorrow and I am sure that it will be a great day overall. A bbq is on the menu (yum) plus if the weather stays nice maybe the kids can all go to the park behind our house for a while - but the major plan is just to relax with our family.

Told you it was going to be long - hopefully you didn't fall asleep reading...... I have brain drain now so I am off to bed!!

Where did that 24 hours go?

Talk about a blink and missed it situation. That's pretty much what happened when I go home.

Most of the day it was rush rush busy busy. Before I left for work I managed to do my 25 minute Core Secrets DVD using the fitball.. it is actually an exercise program that I like. As usual work was busy but I spent the day in the office and not in my weighbridge so therefore working with the manager near by I had to look like I was working... lol!!! Finished work and rushed home via the shops.

Finally the time had come to meet with Vicki to go for the walk we had planned. The excitement has been building for some time now and like I have said before it seems like we've know each other for years. We walked and talked about everything and anything for an hour. Well Vicki, you made the walk memborable - thank you for taking time to meet with me - I am sure that we are going to become close freinds. Many more walks to come I hope.

Got home, started on dinner and Noel came home with the kids. It is like they were away for ages not just one night - I am sure that they have both grown. We got them organised for bed, ate dinner and then watched Spicks and Specks. I then proceeded to fall asleep on the couch - Noel swears it is my second bed as the minute I sit down on it I am asleep!! LOL!!

So needless the say another day has gone and I missed my post.... shame. But this will make up for last night - better late than never.

Chat again tonight.

Rain Rain Go Away...

Well as usual the weather here in Melbourne turned for the worse. The few rays of sunshine we received in the afternoon were of course short lived and as I was nearly home when raindrops appeared on the windscreen. "This is all wrong" I remember thinking "I am meant to be going for a walk tonight and more importantly I am meant to be meeting Vicki!!" It wasn't meant to be. So a few emails later and we have prosponed out long awaited meeting until Wednesday night.

Dreaded rain... absolutely spoiled my fun!!!!!!!!

Work wise my day was rush, rush, rush. I am facing a week full of month end procedures topped with an assessment that I am required to complete for my Certificate IV Workplace Trainer Assessor that I am attempting to successfully pass. Today I did one assessment on a fellow workmate that I have had to write, trial and assess the lucky candidate on. I have two more assessments to complete before I submit my work for my assessment. I have been chosen to complete this course through work and to be honest do not want the hassle of failing and dealing with management. I think I should do okay!!

School holidays have begun and Oliver is at his grandparent's house for the next few days. Alex will be going there tomorrow (Tuesday) night for a sleepover. It is amazing how much you miss your child when they are away from you for just one night. I miss Oliver not just because he isn't here but I miss just talking with him and being able to cuddle him when I want to. He will be having a ball with his grandparents and not even giving us a second thought.

Although both of us miss the children when we are apart Tuesday night will be different for us all. Normally I attend the Weight Watchers meeting where I am the recorder (money taker) and have been for some months now. Noel gets to spend quality time with the children whilst I am working at the meeting. So as both the children are at his mother's house tomorrow night the night is sure to be something different. Saying that I am sure that nothing exciting will happen except maybe get a head start on the housework.

It is our 12th wedding anniversary this Sunday. Nothing has been planned to date but we have tossed around the idea of having a lunch here with just the family. Will see what happens.....

But at the moment I am too tired to think about it and will say goodnight!!

My first day is nearly over.

Just to put an end to my first day as an offical "blog".

The afternoon went quite fast with Oliver going to one of his friend's houses for a few hours to play whilst Noel, Alex and myself did the shopping run. As usual just as we got out of the car in the carpark the heavens opened up and you guessed we were parked so far away from the door.... incidental exercise!! Running to the shops Alex was yelling "it's like being in a big shower!!"

After food shopping we went to a few camping stores as we are looking to buy a new tent for camping on the Cup Weekend (early Nov). There are so many to chose from, so it is a really hard decision. I think we have narrowed it down to 2 designs although there is actually nothing wrong with the tent we have we just want a bigger one. You can actually go mad in those camping stores and buy everything including the kitchen sink if you really wanted too!! Not sure where we are going this trip but it will be somewhere in the bush!!

I have to confess I would never have set up this blog (although I have thought about doing it for some time) if it wasn't for inspiration received from others especially a new friend named Vicki. It is like we have know each other for years but to date we haven't met or even spoken. However we do plan to catch up Monday for a walk in the evening - if this rain ever goes away. So thankyou Vicki! You have already become an inspiration to me and I wish you all the success in your weight loss journey. We can take all those little steps together.

So I will goodnight to you all as I need to get dinner ready so the kids and I can sit down and watch "Wizard of Oz" tonight - yes another musical!!