Cate's Diary

I think your headache has been transmitted through the ether to my desk, because I woke up with one yesterday and had it ALL day and last night as well. It's still there in the background today, but I hope it is now fading!

Well done on the "not telling off" bit... I know how HARD it is because we want them to keep safe and do things the way we know is best, and somehow they just HAVE to learn themselves... but I hope he enjoys the next bit in Egypt and some new company along the way.

My OD and her hubby are crawling along in the northwest at 60kph in a rickety rattle trap that is constantly overheating - a bit of a worry with two kids in the car. Fortunately they are out of range most of the time so I have no choice but to hold my tongue! The "don't drive at night in the north" advice has been completely ignored, but I guess at 60kph the invisible grey cows crossing the road aren't quite as dangerous as at 110kph.
 
Hi Niyah, Sorry about the headache, my friend. Mine's fading....perhaps I sent it over to you! We will never stop worrying about our offspring because we love them so much.
I have the most beautiful photo of our two on my desktop. It never fails to make me smile & think of them as "my 2 beautiful boys."
I have had a lovely day & woke up with the chorus of David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes, in my head......"I'm happy, Hope you're happy too...." We saw David Bowie many many years ago & it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to!
Tai Chi was excellent.
Lunch afterward was excellent, especially the company.
My mood has been really, really good. Wish I could bottle it.
Called in on an old friend (ex-Cohen's). She's lovely. I talked way too much as I got wound up about exercise & positive thinking & affirmations etc,etc. Sometimes I get yacking & can't stop & that is my biggest .....I can't actually think of the word. Problem isn't it, but I think that is the thing I would most like to change about myself. Talking too much when I get excited about something. I get wound up like a spring. Manic.
Dinner is ready so I have to go now. I may be back later. Cheers, Cate
 
Hi Cate...

Glad to see you are feeling happy. I love David Bowie as well.

I suppose when you are passionate about something you can't help but talk about it.
So if you have an understanding friend they will accept and realise this of you.

Cate I know you've flactuated up and down in your weight but are you sitting at your goal weight now???....just trying to get my head around things - if and when I reach my goal.

Better dash now OS is calling me "again"....

Keep well - Sam:)
 
Wow Cate that is truly a spectacular part of the world. You are so lucky to live surrounded by such beauty. I live in Johannesburg in a very suburban part of the city. But I am lucky to have a very large garden. We have fantastic bird life especially in summer. Did you take all those photos? I love the sunset, wherever I go I am always trying to photograph sunsets, but nothing as gorgeous as that. I also love the rainbow pic, it's another thing I love trying to photograph (not always successful).

Gotta go and take DS3 to gymnastics. Lots of lifts to be done.

Take care,

Sue
 
Sam- Hi! My weight goes up & down like a yo yo but stays within a range that I am happy with. I never did put on a lot of weight after finishing Cohen's. The max was 5kg over the top of my GW range. That was too much for me so I went back onto Cohen's 100% & dropped .5kg under my lowest weight. Currently I'm 2 kg more than I want to be but the exercise physio & the nutritionist think it must be the weights & exercise I'm doing. I've told them what I'm eating & they seem sure it's the exercise.
By the same token I am not happy with the scales saying something I don't like so I am cutting out bread altogether again & feel sure that will drop me down a few.
I plan on getting to the bottom of my GW range before November so will start working on that from today. If I had gone on how I feel today I would have sworn that I had lost 2kg! What I weigh though sweets has nothing to do with what you do when you get to your goal weight. If any of us go back to eating how we used to we will end up just as big if not bigger. I have to constantly adjust what I eat as I am merely human. I push the boundaries as much as the next person. I just don't eat junk at all.
Sue- It is a beautiful place. Thank you for admiring my photographic skills.(te he) Yes, they are mine. I have no idea about photography. I just quickly grab my little Canon & click! It is such a lovely place that photo opportunities abound!
Johannesburg? We have two lovely Cohen's stars living there- Luvbug & Starfish. Cohen's originated in SA of course so we have much to be thankful to SA for!
I lived in a city (Melbourne) for 15 years and still love to visit but would hate to live there now. I loved it when I did as cities are fun to live in when you're young & in party mode! We used to go to lots of rock concerts etc. You have kids & then cities lose a lot of their attraction, especially when you were brought up in the country yourself & want a similar childhood for your children. It was a great decision moving to Tasmania. Difficult but good.
Today-
I woke feeling excellent. A bit slow off the blocks but that is because my LH is home & we slept in. I weighed myself & got a bit of a shock because I expected to be lighter & I was a kg heavier. I am giving up bread again. I do think it's the devil incarnate no matter what everyone tells me. It is for me anyway. I'm embarking on a mission to drop 5kg by November at the latest.
Cate, bringing out her folder then types....
"I can do it! I have the skills now. I know how to do it and I'll have these skills forever"
I didn't need to type it really or reinforce it as I know that I can drop a couple of kilos in a few days if I want to go back on the original program 100% but I'll just cut out the extra carb's for a while first & see how that goes. I'll give that until Monday. If I haven't dropped 2kg by Monday I'm back 100%.
Exercise-
I have done 5.2km on the bike & done 2 sets of weights. Time for the dishes.
Cheers, Cate.
 
Yesterday- We spent hours raking up leaves & branches & lighting fires, trying to prepare a little for the bushfire season. I slept in my chair for most of the evening & then went to bed early. I had to wake up to go to bed. A lovely time spent with my GS who is still here next to me. It's time for lunch & we are both typing away still. I am not showing him a very good example but we're having fun. It's nice to just sit beside him & it is a good time to have a chat with one another while we "play." It's a good time to have those grandma chats. It is so funny sometimes what I have to explain to him. Today it was a Leunig cartoon about iPhone's/penis extension/penis envy. OMG. He burst out laughing when I explained it to him! I blush always but it is always best to just explain I think & then move on. I like to think he can ask me anything, just like our sons always have.
We are both hungry though so will go now & get lunch. Lead by example Cate, lead by example. I'll be back tonight. Cheers, cate
 
Big walk!! Phew!!
We had lunch & a big drink, grabbed an apple each & headed off for a big walk....
which ended up at our son's home. Phew. We did some bush-bashing to get through though as the road runs out along the way & it has never been developed/cleared ever. Fun! I decided we would keep on going though as we had hit the highway so then we walked along the highway until we got to their place. I'm not sure how far it is-4km's? But it was hard work as some of it I wasn't sure if it was solid ground as it was rough as & and very steep. We then had to jump over water as well. Ahh. That explains the tender groin. I stretched a little bit too far I think & tweaked it a bit. Ouch.
Arrived at our GS's house & then sat outside with them & had a big glass of water & chatted then my son drove me home. We're back there tomorrow night to babysit while our son & DIL go out for dinner with his best friend who has been struggling a bit lately. He has just split with a long-term GF & is gutted. He's a lovely man & it's his birthday tomorrow. They have been best friends since Grade 7 & travelled the world together for a year when they were 19/20.
I feel so good after I have been for a walk. We also lit a fire in the bush earlier & raked leaves etc. It's quite energetic & I'm feeling fairly tired. I think I'll go prop in my chair & read the paper before my LH gets home. Dinner is plated up already. Chop Suey. I love chop suey. I ate it for 6 months on Cohen's & still love it!!
Cheers all, xo Cate
 
Ha ha. How old is your GS cate? What made him ask you about penis extensions and so on? Its great that you can talk to him, and be the some one in his life that he can ask any thing to!! Every one needs some one like that!!

The walk sounded like a lot of fun as well! I grew up near some woods, and loved walking thru them when i was younger!
Cant wait till i can enjoy nice long walks again!! Next summer is going to be a great summer for me!

Hope the tender groin gets better soon!!
Jim
 
Hi Jim. My grandson has just turned 10. I put a copy of a Michael Leunig cartoon that I cut out of a newspaper on my fridge the other day. He is an Australian cartoonist & is fantastic. His whacky sense of humour really appeals to me. I'll try attaching it. (Didn't work!! Search for Leunig My iPhone is bigger than yours) Funny!! Cheers, Cate

Yesterday-My walk of the day before yesterday, left me a little bit tired yesterday so I had a day off exercise. I did a little pampering in the morning after my shower, moisturising etc, & then went & did a big grocery shop, came home & spent most of the afternoon doing some research for our YS. He had a quick look but knows I love doing this so when I volunteered to help he jumped at it. He has about 9 days free in Sept, after Egypt & Scotland & before heading to South Africa in Oct. Yes he is going to SA still & is going to do a different tour if he can. He's waiting to hear back from his travel agent in Tas. He is sounding very positive & happy again. He wants to go to either Croatia or the Greek Islands. Everything I have found doesn't really fit in with his dates. I'm going to suggest going to whichever appeals to him the most & then just wing it. Book flights but nothing else. I think I would go with the GI but Croatia sounds beautiful & much less touristy. I think the GI warrant much more than 9 days.

Last night-
We babysat the GK's while our son & DIL went out to dinner. Unfortunately they are always much later than they say they will be. My LH had to get up early this morning so we had said we would babysit on the condition that they were back at about 11. They got home at 12.15. I know it's not that late & I don't really blame them but it always happens. It wouldn't matter much if my LH hadn't had to go to work.
I'll try setting up our house bed-wise to suit the GK's more if I can & have them stay up here instead & get picked up next day.. It's hard to get it right for GK's & other visitors. Also I don't have spare $'s. I wish I could get rid of my spare double bed that creaks badly & 2 spare non matching single beds & have beds that can be used as singles or put beside one another & be used as doubles if that's possible. It's squeezy with 2 singles in each room though with gaps in between. Bunk beds would work well with one room, especially with one against the wall one way & then one coming out perpendicular to it. In the other room a double bed with a single bunk above it would work. That would have to be for the older GS. I could just see them jumping down from the top bunk to the bottom double. OMG! That would be fun but would wreck the double bed!
Now I just need spare money....!

Today-
Is a lousy Wintry day but it doesn't matter. I'm tired but feel great. I have a Canned Heat song in my head..
"I'm goin,' I'm goin',where the water tastes like wine,
I'm goin' where the water tastes like wine,
You can jump in the water & stay drunk all the time"
It's so catchy! I still absolutely love that old music I grew up with. I used to get around with a 'tranny' up next to my ear from a young age. It's hilarious now thinking about iPods etc & my 'tranny.'
My OGS were grooving along to "Low" the other day as it was the background music behind a stick figure computer game he was playing next to me. He was also watching a a video of the lyrics with the music playing & I asked him if he realised the lyrics were a bit rude & he didn't. I passed over that one & just said it's very catchy which it is! I almost always have a song playing in my head. It's only occasionally that I don't & that's when I'm feeling a little low. Ha! Next time I am I'll have to think of that song. It usually works for me. Try to think of a cheery song when you're feeling down & you'll be amazed at how it can cheer you up. Or look in the mirror at yourself & then smile.
Our GK's were very sweet last night. They are such good kids! Our little GS has a bad cold but went to bed happily. He played for a while & then went to sleep. He whimpered & snuffled & cried out lots of times & I rubbed his back & got him settled each time but didn't wake properly & I didn't have to lift him out once. Our GD is a beautiful pink princess. I have never been into the princess stuff but I try for her sake. She didn't want to go to bed but I promised her she could come up & spend a day with me this week & that made her happy. We'll cook some of her favourite muesli cookies. She is a very fussy eater but they are a winner & they're very healthy.

Exercise-
I'll have my lunch shortly so I can ride my bike & do my weights. It's such a wet, wintry day but I am so grateful I don't have to go anywhere. I wish my LH had been able to stay home. He is getting too many hours lately- more than he wants. His co-workers really work the system & there are always so many off on 'workers comp' or 'sick leave' & he gets called on to fill in for them. They really do rort the system. He hates that. I have married a very honest man who dislikes doing the wrong thing. He's not a stern disapproving or self-righteous person but is fundamentally really good.
It's time for lunch so will go think about what I'm going to have & get it ready. Salad/soup....Soup wins I think.
Bye for now, Cate
 
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The sun is shining and the day is looking good. I feel great and I am contemplating what I will do today. I can see a big walk happening but probably after lunch.
'Chatted' to our YS again last night & he's finding it hard deciding what to do with his 10 day free time between tours. I suggested typing as his FB status "is trying to decide where in Europe he will go between ../../ and ../../ . Any suggestions/couches etc?" or something similar & seeing what anyone suggests/offers & he did.
His GF is now going to fly to Hanoi & meet up with him in Nov & then do the Asian tour with him, fly to Bangkok etc & then fly home so they will spend the last month of his trip together. I am one happy mum as it must have been his idea. She knows how I feel about her. We communicate often.
I love today's motivational saying/Irish blessing. I have copied it onto a card & it is the first of many I am going to write onto cards & then get a small box to keep them in. It makes me feel good. Today's song in my head is "Good day sunshine" by the Beatles. I know, I know....I'm getting on! There are so many songs in my head & most are from the 60's & 70's!
Time to get moving. I have lots of energy today but it's a non weights day. I was going to weigh myself but I have changed my weigh-in day to Friday, like Niyah does as I think it's best to know what I am going into the week-end. I usually weigh Mondays. I had lost 1kg on Friday. Once I cut out bread altogether I will lose a few kgs. I bought some wraps Sat to see how I went with them but won't bother again even though they were delicious. It may be an alternative when I'm out & stuck for choices but I don't want to get back into the habit of eating bread regularly.
I hope everyone had a good weekend & have woken up to a bright, sunny day.
Cheers for now, Cate
 
Exercise today-
45 minute walk, curtailed by rain & no raincoat, so followed it with 5kms on exercise bike.
Feeling a bit lazy this afternoon. I wish my exercise mat would hurry up & arrive so I could do the alternate day exercises. I miss the weights on off days!
Bored?
I have been home for 2 days on my own so that could account for feeling faintly out of sorts. I was hoping working in the op shop was going to be good as it would break my week up nicely. Perhaps I need to have a set pattern of exercise to give my life a bit of structure but then could also be flexible. I think I'll draw something up.
OK. I admit I'm bored so I won't bore you as well.
Cheers, Cate.
 
One of the ideas that we had on the weekend is to create a "personal oasis". A place where we can do something that totally relaxes us, and is sort of private to us.

I generally just regard time slacking off at home as an "oasis" but it's struck me on the idea of creating something more special. I don't really have time - but then I thought - you're bored and you do!

We talked about relaxation ideas to restore calm (not that you're probably lacking calm where you are) - the bucket of round, smooth stones in water to put the feet in and massage the soles of the foot and so on. A place and space to time to plan and think of the thank you notes we ought to send people. A place to be close to nature and listeen to the birds.

So - forget the op shop because it wasn't calming and enjoyable, and think about things that create the atmosphere and environment you want in your life! I know you get this on your walks, but maybe when it's rainy you can create a "place" close to the house where you can still be close to nature and think positive things and plan things.

I'm sort of mentally inspired - but physically busy and committed, so it's sort of just a vague plan in my mind at the moment.
 
Niyah, Your weekend away has done wonders. What a lovely thought- my personal oasis. I do have plans for one in a way & hopefully will have it before next winter. It will also mean that I will have an outside exercise area. We're waiting for a builder to come around to give us a quote. We've been waiting for about 3-4 months. We had the concreting done in preparation to have a verandah built over the entrance to our house. It will be a fairly large outdoor/barbecue area & faces North so will be lovely & warm, even in Winter. I have an idea to have it with trees for poles, like in our living room & will have plants in pots etc & maybe some bamboo or tea tree. I can picture how it will be and oasis covers it. You have given me food for thought. Dreaming is good. It was a really nice thought. I don't get bored often but felt restless today.
I'm off to Launceston for most of tomorrow as I have an ap't with the vein specialist to check them. I will probably go once a year to make sure they're healthy. When I asked him last year how to make sure I don't get varicose veins again he said "Three things- walk, walk & walk." Which I do!
I'll be back tomorrow night. I'll have to do my weights then as well.
Cheers, Cate
 
No way am I doing weights tonight. I am absolutely stuffed after a full on day in Launceston. Walking around on hard asphalt footpaths is so much harder on your body & feet than walking around up our way. It wouldn't be so bad if I could wear my hiking boots or Nikes but it's not a "town" look. I'm way too tired to describe my day so will come back tomorrow. I'm aching all over. Ouch!! 'night, Cate
 
I didn't realise walking was part of the answer to varicose veins. I always thought you just "got them" or didn't. I've been quite lucky so far, but will have to watch it as I age.
 
Hi Niyah, I think you are much more likely to get varicose veins if either of your parents had them but in my case Mum had them badly & Dad had hardened arteries as well. His mother had really bad veins & her legs were ulcerated & quite grim. It just made me shudder as I pictured them. Poor Nan. Once they have been treated then walking is the best way to try to keep them at bay according to my specialist. It's another good reason to walk!
Today- I have felt really tired after my day in town. Cities seem to exhaust me & make me ache all over. My sister tells me it's my allergies.
I went to Tai chi & then for a coffee afterward. Came home & had lunch & am trying to physche myself into hopping on the bike & doing my weights. I know that I will feel good as soon as I have but am having trouble doing it. OK Cate..off you go. Cheers!
 
Well, I did lots of walking today! Third outfit for the wedding coming up... with two lots of accessories for it to take it in different directions. I was rather scared admitting to my husband everything (well, not QUITE everything I have bought) but nevertheless did a fashion parade for him tonight. He and my YS have totally opposite opinions on which combo is best! Hmmmm.... may please myself and pick the middle version.
 
Hi Niyah- I read your diary last night & read about outfit no 3. It sounds pretty spiffy to me, along with the alternate bling!! Good for you! Wear the one that makes you feel like a million dollars! It's about time I bought something new as I wear the same thing whenever we go out, which is not very often mind you.
Today-
My mat arrived yesterday so I had a go at the floor exercises & really didn't get them or enjoy them at all. I need someone to tell me how to do them as I do them . I was getting very frustrated & my Lh just ignored me. I said "You're not faintly interested in my exercises are you?"& he said "No."
He then said he was off to get some wood and asked if I was going with him. He had to drive to where the wood is & then sharpen his chainsaw which takes about 20 mins so I said to my LH that I would walk to the letterbox to get the mail after opening the gate for him first. I hopped in the ute & the next thing I knew he was driving me to the letterbox. Mmm. Men. Sometimes you wonder at what goes on in their heads.I asked him why he did that & he said to save me the walk. While he was sharpening the saw I went for a 30min walk anyway and then came back & loaded up the wood.
We did one big load, came home & had lunch & then went back & did a heapmore. I have been exercising all day long really & I'm pooped.
I then went to pick our GS upoff the bus & got bogged & had to be pushed out by a neighbour.
My husband & I get on really well but do have different interests. He probably feels the same way about my exercises as I do about his golf.
He's asleep in his chair already! They have been asking him to work too often lately. He was meant to have 4 days off but has been called in to work tomorrow. It was a mistake with their roster all along. There's been lots of those lately!
Time for time out for me I think. Pot of herbal coming up, cheers, Cate
 
My husband would probably do the OPPOSITE - "I thought you could do with the walk"! Never mind, he's driving the bus for me this afternoon, which is great! The exchange was that I get on with my work, so better get back to it!
 
Another very pleasant evening spent with our lovely grandson who is now in bed. No Inspector Rex tonight because of cricket. What's going on? Just caught up with our son briefly on FB. He is getting ready to fly to Egypt or should be so I left him to it. I keep just missing him & his GF just sent me a text message to let me know he was online. She is a darling. Please let her become my DIL!!! I love this girl. we get on like a house on fire!
I'm feeling a bit tired tonight after all the physical work today. Wood cutting & gathering & tidying up branches is really hard physical work.
I got a book in Launceston at a second-hand book shop on Tuesday called "Strong Women Stay Slim." I'm really enjoying it so will get back into it. Weights make me feel a million dollars!! I have put on weight since doing them though but I am losing inches from my waist & am feeling so much fitter absolutely every day. A great feeling!
OK back to my book. Cheers all, cate
 
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