Cate's Diary

CohenInAz- I guess we just can't help being mothers. My son always rings me if he's down and often asks for my advice. I wish he would ring me more often when he's feeling great but when I don't hear from him I know he's enjoying life. I'm looking forward to the day that he finds the "love of his life" and has someone who loves him to share everything with. He's gorgeous and lovable and also very full-on & exhausting. She'll be someone very special. I can't wait! He's heading off next May, going firstly to New Zealand, then the US. I'm not sure what he has planned in the US other than starting in Miami. He'll be away for a year.Thanks for your nice words about me. I sometimes think I'm a little bit crazy so when someone says something like "you seem like a great person" or "you have a fun way of approaching things" my first reaction is "who me?" but then "how nice" so thank you! Cheers, Cate.
Chelle-Hear, hear, re your parting words. Here's to another beautiful day. We are alive, we have our family & we are loved.
What could be better?
The goat- was not a "nanny goat" but a great, great, grandma goat I reckon. It was very tough. My LH had made it edible with his cooking & especially the garlic embedded in it but we had to cut it very thinly & eat some of it it cold tonight. Oh well!
The gallstones-were there when I started Cohen's so I guess they still are. If I have any pain at all from them I'll go to my doctor, I promise.
Our son- This trip will do him a lot of good I know. I try not to give him advice, even when he asks for it but I just want to ask him to be careful when he is absolutely on his own. I have always told our sons that they should look out for their friends and one another. If you go out drinking or partying with someone you should keep an eye on them. I would feel much more comfortable if he was travelling with a friend but I am proud of him for having the courage to do it on his own. He has a great personality. He's very gregarious and has a wonderful sense of humour.
The wine- no, it looks delicious! When I make a rule I must stick to it. I'm trying to prove to myself that I can do it and by going without that glass of red wine at the end of the day I'm going to savour it more after that month is up. I don't want it to be an everyday thing or to drink to excess. I'm putting it into it's place in my life. A small part.
Thanks to the two of you for your input into my diary. It's a 2 way street always for me.
Cheers, Cate.
My day-
I have had a very sociable day today in our local town. I dropped my LH off at golf after he had a haircut, I visited one of my favourite people this morning in her shop where she made me a peppermint tea and we had a lovely gasbag for quite some time. She is delightful. I walked around town, had a haircut myself (quite short-razor cut), quick visit to the MIL, did some shopping for her, then had a quick bite(sardines on rye crackers, sml tub of yoghurt) lots more walking (very windy & cold though) visited the library, sat in the car reading in the sun & then picked my LH up from golf, back to the MIL so she could see her son & then home where I cooked some more vegies to go with our baked great grandmother goat, sliced very thinly to make it chewable. Watched my LH drink his glass of red wine with dinner, gritted my teeth & thought "why do I impose these penalties on myself"? Because I'm crazy I think! When the month is up I'm going to buy a bottle of Andrew Garrett Sparkling Burgundy & drink 1/2 of it very slowly with something like a rare eye fillet steak.
My husband just asked me what I'm doing for the 3rd time and he got the same answer. Typing in my diary and the others. He can't quite believe I can type so much. I type like I talk!
On that note, I'll say goodnight, Cate.
 
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I type like I talk too!

Hmm.. I work all day.. thats what I do. Ha.

I travel all the time alone and my mom has finally gotten used to it. She is just like, if thats what you want to do, I just have to not worry... I've gone to London and New York, San Fransico. I think you learn a lot about yourself when you travel alone. Plus, because I am a girl, everyone always thinks I am with someone anyway!

Well, if you guys are ever in AZ let me know! I host people all of the time (which also terrifies my mom) but she has gotten used to it!
 
Hi CohenInAZ & anyone else reading this. I meant to type in everyone's diaries today & mine before my LH got home from work but I seem to have filled my day up & he's due home in about 5 minutes. I think he thinks I'm addicted to this forum & he's probably right. I don't feel that I have done much today and I have no idea where the day went. I finished a book I started yesterday, went out, bought some bread to make sandwiches for 8-ball supper tonight, briefly visited my DIL & GK's, did some housework but not much. No exercise at all today!
I will go to 8-ball with him tonight as I looked in the diary about 2 hours ago & saw that this day in 1971 we started going out together. I had better not stay home alone!
OK.I'm going before he gets home so that he can't make fun of me being in here again.
Cheers to all, xo Cate
 
Hi folks,
I went out with my LH to 8-ball & we had quite a good night. The "opposition" are a nice bunch of fellows & our team are good company. I didn't eat any of our sandwiches & resisted supper, with the exception of 2 very small, boring chicken breast bites that only vaguely resembled actual chicken breast. I don't get the attraction of junk food. I was a bit hungry but they soon put me off.
I woke up this morning with a splitting headache & my tongue was almost stuck to the roof of my mouth. Can you drink alcohol by osmosis? It sure felt like it! I took 2 paracetemol & 2 glasses of water & went back to sleep & when I woke again the headache had gone thank goodness. I have made sure that I am well-hydrated today as I must not have drunk enough water yesterday.
I have had a productive day, albeit not a physical one. I have eaten well (i.e. Cohen's) and have spent most of my day cooking and preparing vegies ready for the maestro cook to throw together into some delicious concoction.
The grandkids are coming soon and the 2 eldest will stay the night & probably until lunch-time tomorrow so that mum & dad can sleep in. The baby will be picked up later tonight on their way home from dinner as he is breastfed. I'm really looking forward to the evening. It should get easier each time as they are more used to it.My LH will arrive home before they get here and that makes it much easier for me. He is such a good grand-dad!
Today has been glorious. It is more like Summer today and there has not been any wind at all. Nice. I have let the fire go out but we'll have to get it going again as it's still been getting down to about 5oC overnight. I've been bringing my plant seedlings inside at night. This year I'm having a go at growing tomatoes for the first time. I have them daily so should be growing them.
I had a goat salad for lunch which was quite nice now that we've finely sliced the poor old goat.
I won't be back tonight unless I have to wait up late for my OS & DIL. I think I'll have my hands full. Cheers for now, Cate.
 
Me be a little slow....

A big congrats for the other day cate 1971 what an achievement.. Its wonderful. i hope you both enjoyed your day....

I hope you have had a good time with the grandkids. My mum and dad only have my four but they are certainly a houseful, my dad plans to take my three elder ones to the evening motorcross on the 18th, all by himself... he is mellowing with age and getting more confident.. My dad has no biological children and i was about 8 when my mum finally introduced us to her mystery man. With no baby dealings it was a shock to the system having little ones around.He had quite an experience dealing with my babies (they have no off / mute buttons) but with each one he has gotten that bit more involved and less stressed..

Any way glad to hear that your great grandma goat made an edible salad..

We have day light savings kicking in at the end of the month cant wait to kiss it goodbye in the vote... Nasty poli's can put in their pipe and smoke it... just hope a majority of the state agrees with me..ha he he ha

Anyway best be off water to drink breaky to eat kids to wake up and oh all my last minute housework to do....ARGHH

Another sunny sandgropper day here in the west ,it's light before 5.30 now , scary.. Sunscreen territory and Bloody Beautiful. Would love to make it to Adventure World (Mini Theme park) this summer, should put that in my goals... Might have to ease into that with the nasty case of moonglow i have accuired over the years ha hah aha a..
No now seriously i have to go..

Good luck, enjoy and be happy.. :waving:

Chelle
 
Hi Chelle, Thanks for the congrat's & yr post in my diary. I'm just here for a quick look as I still have the 2 older GK's(my idea) & my GD I think is waking from her nap. She woke early this morning, coughing & I got her back to sleep in our bed but between the 2 of them snorting, snuffling & snoring I crept out & into her bed & managed some more sleep. I took the 2 kids for a walk this morning with the 2 dogs to get the mail & succeeded in tiring her out again & back in bed. Both had baths & hairwashes this am & nails cut so I'll be a popular grandmother. I've just got some prawns out of the freezer for our son & DIL to have for dinner tonight. It's their 4th W.A. & 7 years together today. Our OS is staying the night again tonight. I asked him if he would like to & he jumped at the chance. I love the way that he always wants to stay with us. It's very sweet.
At the moment he's getting a snail collection together in a container with the small snails collected off the silver beet his dad brought us up yesterday. His dad does not use any sprays & grows organic vegies. He has a green thumb and loves his vegie garden. Our own silverbeet is just starting to come good. We're a lot higher up here & I guess it's a bit colder than at his place.
I had heard my GD coughing & thought she was about to appear but it looks like she's gone back to sleep.
I had better go though. When my son gets here & picks her up my OGS & I are going for another walk but this time down through the bush. We have already seen one wallaby today.
I didn't weigh this morning as was too busy cooking breakfasts early. I'll get on the scales tomorrow. Had yoghurt & mango for breakfast, ham & salad for lunch & an apple. Feeling good but a bit bloated for some reason. I had better get drinking some more water.
Cheers, Cate.
 
Mmmm. Didn't like what I saw on the scales but didn't let it ruin my day. (Clogged up & been nibbling at kids things & have eaten too many carb vegies. Carbs are my enemy!!) Still have my GS & am taking him home about 4pm. We went into town & did some shopping, had a picnic in the park & went for a walk. It was too warm to walk far as we were both overdressed. Phew!
I have decided that I will have them one night a week, starting next week. I have resisted it until now but I feel like doing it. I love the strong connection with the grandkids & want to strengthen it. It will also really help out. I thought I might have A (9yr old) on Monday night & then E (2yr old) during the day on Tuesday as my LH plays golf on Tuesdays so is only gone a shortish time. In the holidays I would obviously have the 2 older ones during the day on Tuesday. Either way it will give Mum a break. When she finishes breast-feeding we'll re-negotiate or if I get a job. Unlikely as I'm not really looking. I have tried thinking of a night that suits me well & I think Monday night's as good as any. I'm sure I would have been happy if someone had offered this to me when the kids were little.
I'll go now as I'm going to try to find a suitable container for a new small, cheap, toy set A bought with his grandma's "allowance."
Cheers for now, Cate.
 
Hi Cate,
You sound like such a lovely grandma. Some of my fondest childhood memories are the time spent with my grandparents and now that they are no longer here with us these memories are very very precious to me. It sounds like you are creating just the same precious memories for your grandchildren and I'm sure they will treasure them in years to come.
I wouldn't worry too much about the scales. You seem to have worked out your body and what does and doesn't work for it and I'm sure you'll have everything back under control in no time at all.
Thanks for popping into my diary and for always having such kind, positive comments to make.
Take care
Beck
 
Hi Beck, Thanks. I hope I'm a good grandma. I was really lucky to have my Dad's parents until I was old enough to have my own kids. They lived until their mid 80's. They were such characters & gave us lots and lots of love which I don't think we can have too much of. Our OS still remembers my nan. My great-aunt(Nan's sister) was a doozy too and loved me to bits. I used to stay with her often when I was little. She & her husband did not have children & she left her house to my Mum & Dad.
I was going to have a very quiet day doing very little as I had such a headache & woke many times overnight. Our OS rang & asked me to drop off our spray back-pack unit as our DIL had taken the 2 older GK's to the park & the baby was asleep. I ended up staying with him so he could get the job done & watched to make sure the baby was still asleep. I stayed for 2&1/2 hrs & came home to have my lunch. As I walked in the door my phone rang & it was one of my S'sIL seeing if I was home as she was thinking of visiting.
She came along with one of her daughters & granddaughter. They stayed for an hour or so & then headed back to Launceston. Instead of moping around with a headache my day actually was quite nice.
We just watched a show about the Galapagos Islands & it was fascinating. We'll get an early night tonight as we're both tired. My LH has worked 5 days straight & is working again tomorrow.
I do know that I have the knowledge to get rid of a few kilos fairly easily I just need to kick myself up the butt & do it. Meanwhile I'm quite enjoying testing the water. I'm trying to stick to the maintenance guidelines & am trying different carb's to see which affect me badly. The lamb chop experiment went well. No gall stone pains, no weight gain. That was good. I'm not too sure about high-carb vegies though. I think they're out. I won't miss spuds though.
Beck, I am a fairly positive person & would much prefer to encourage others & give credit when it's due but I also can get annoyed & frustrated with some people & when I do I prefer not to say anything at all. I'm too tired to type in other diaries today so will say goodnight, cheers, cate
 
I'm having a lovely day!
I have had a good night's sleep; had a quick visit from our OS, returning the spray-pack & thanked me very much for helping him out yesterday which was nice; had yoghurt & berries only for breakfast; did a little housework; went for a brisk, steep walk; had a delicious healthy lunch and have been gardening all afternoon. I have planted out all of my seedlings(2 lettuce mixes, 3 tomato plants & some leeks) and potted up some Coriander plants to sell.
I have been enjoying getting my hands in the dirt. The ferns are looking good. I won't dig any more up until November as the next market isn't until the first week in December. I have booked an outside stall.
I rang & made appointments for us to donate blood this week. I now donate plasma as my blood(AB+) cannot be given to any other blood types & my LH donates his blood(O-) as his can be given to anyone. I have tried trying to talk our sons into donating blood but I can't seem to convince them. I started donating blood in my early 20's.
We have another funeral to go to this week. Cancer again. It is the wife of one of my LH's golfing mates. He's a lovely man. I didn't really know his wife. I took my MIL to see her in hospital a couple of weeks ago & saw him last week at 8-ball & had a good chat & asked him if he had known that we had visited. He hadn't. He told me his wife was meant to go home that day but had picked up an infection & they kept her in hospital. She died 3 days later.I knew she didn't have long to go after seeing her. It brought back memories of my sister. It's so awful seeing people suffering from the cancer treatment. It's an incidious disease. We can only hope that's not the way we go. I am trying to improve my health by eating healthy foods and I don't smoke. I also think it's very important to avoid chemicals & additives in food.
My MIL just rang to see if I had heard when the funeral is. I had only rung at about 2pm & said I would let her know. She is a very impatient, trying woman at times but I am used to her. I gently reminded her that I had said I would let her know as soon as I heard and that I will.
My LH will be home soon. We're having a Tiger Prawn stir-fry tonight. Yum.
I didn't last the whole month without wine. I had a glass of Rose a couple of days ago. I am going to have 1 glass with dinner tonight. We both enjoy sharing wine when he gets home from work. He asked me if I felt like a glass last night before dinner but I said I don't want to drink wine every day and I won't. From now on it's under strict control. Spirits no longer exist for me!
Time to have some protein so that I can have that glass of wine in about 1/2 an hour.
I feel really good today- about myself, family, life....everything, cheers all, Cate.
 
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I had one glass of wine & stopped at that. It's not a problem for me. Spirits are.I'm going to constantly remind myself so that I reinforce it in my brain.
I had another good night's sleep so it may have been that my body needed to adjust to daylight savings or the fact that my Winter doona came off the bed & a light-weight one has gone on. I actually like the weight of our Winter doona. It's woollen.
I really should be vacuuming but I do loathe it.
I have been for a walk & have done a lot of outside work. I have been removing things from near the house in readiness for a job that should be done whilst we are at the Nationals. We are having a lot of concreting done near the house which will really neaten it up. We are going to build a courtyard/verandah on the North side of our house which is also our entrance as it's a nice, sheltered sunny spot where it would be nice to sit Summer and Winter. I'm going to wait until it's built & then start landscaping it & buy a barbecue, table & chairs.
I moved bricks & wood, a large woodbox, gardening tools etc & already it looks a lot better.
It just rained & watered in my seedlings. They look so much better in the garden beds.
I am going to help my LH do the bar after the funeral tomorrow. It will be a little like old times but without the worry.
Breakfast was 2 eggs, 2 mushrooms, 1/2 a tomato & 2 crackers.
Mid morning 1 apple
Lunch turkey salad followed by some yoghurt.
Drunk 2 litres of water already.
My doctor has put me on a lower blood pressure tablet that does not have a diuretic in it. I must go for a cholesterol check soon. It would be interesting to know if it has improved much.
OK- off to do the vacuuming. We have someone coming in the morning to interview us and I don't want to be embarrassed by dirty floors. We won't be having any more fires until next Winter so at least the floor will stay cleaner longer. I had better put some music on. I really must get an iPod.
Cheers for now, Cate
 
I have been so busy the last couple of days. I was only home for half an hour yesterday. Most unusual.
My LH & I did the bar together after the funeral yesterday. We had shopped for the bar, picked up the MIL, went to the funeral, skipped the cemetery service, set up the bar & then were flat out for hours. It was a really good turn up & a testimony to how well liked the woman was. She was only 62yrs old. Way too young. I feel for her husband. They were very close. We worked for nothing which most people would not realise. Her husband did & thanked us very nicely. He's a very nice man.
We didn't have much time at home before we had to tear out to 8-ball.
Today we had more shopping to do for the golf club & then we thought we were only going to our grandson's athletic's carnival for a little while. Unfortunately when we got there we had just missed a race & the next one was not for ages. My DIL said she was going to leave & do her shopping & I volunteered to look after the 2 younger GK's while she shopped. 1&1/2 hrs later she came back, we watched the next race & then all left. I changed a crappy nappy whilst she fed the baby & we headed home. Lunch was at 3.30pm.
My Lh has since turned around & gone back to play in a golf tournament & is snoozing in his chair. This forum was off-line so I couldn't post in here earlier. I have been reading.
We have a 40km drive each way to go to give blood first thing in the morning & I think we'll go to bed early. We are not used to doing that but are both so very tired.
Hope all are well. Cheers, Cate
 
It's such a waste of time me going to bed only as I then lay awake for ages. At least this time I was singing. My LH rolled over at one stage & said something in his sleep & I asked him what the missing word was in a song.......I said "the what won't work because the vandals took the handles", he replied "the pump" & then said "you're meant to be asleep not thinking of words to songs!"
This morning I woke up really bloated & uncomfortable. I just looked up my yesterday's post & I didn't mention that at the funeral one of the women heard us talking about not having much time when we got home & not having tea cooked & she got us a container of snacks which we then had for tea. It was white bread sandwiches, savoury toast & cake. Guess what I had for dinner Wed night? It was horrible(but nice of her to do it) but I am suffering because of it. Also 2kg up on the scales this morning.
We rushed to the blood bank this morning because our OS visited on his way to work to fit in some snooker practice with my LH. Consequently my BP was up when we got there. I told her why & also that we have been really busy for a couple of days. Also I hate having my BP taken & always tense up when the thing goes on my arm.
I rang my doc when we got home to make an apppointment to have it checked as she had reduced my BP medication a few months ago.I must be very careful as my dad died from a heart attack at 71. I want to be a great-grandma and live to a ripe old age!
We did a little shopping after giving blood. Got some celery seedlings & potting mix & did some Asian supermarket shopping. I also sweet-talked my LH into getting some new pants. He loathes clothes shopping. He got a nice pair & I got some navy pants from Snowgum. Travel/ bush walking clothes are so comfortable & practical. He actually loves his new pants. I can't believe it. I thought he needed jeans but he said he hates wearing them. We've only been together for 37 years and I'm still learning new things about him.
I think he looks really cute in these pants so there you go. After all this time!
I am going back to cutting out all these extra carbs like pumpkin, potato etc as they make me feel disgusting. I have experimented and they are no good for me so that's the end of that experiment! Now I have to get rid of quite a few kilos in one week.Mind you, I'm not going to "pig out" at the Nationals but it's harder to eat healthily(low carbs) when you are away from home.
Cheers for now, Cate.
 
What is 'Nationals'?

Glad you're listening to your body!

I did a test too and was able to reintroduce the hamburger back in to my diet...
 
CAZ- The Australian 8-Ball(Pool) Championships. Our 2 sons are in the Tasmanian team & playing in the Australian Singles( our YS is the Tasmanian singles champ) & my husband is playing in the State Masters team of 3 & also gets a berth in the Aust Open singles. I have my entire immediate family playing this year so that's a real thrill. Sometimes I will have all 3 of them playing at the same time. When that happens I watch my LH but sneak a look at the boys. My LH has been competing for well over 20 years but did not start competing at State level until our sons did. They started in junior comps when they were in their early teens & have won many state titles between them. They have been to most states(all?) in Australia competing at the top level. It has been very good for them. Our YS has also played for Australia in England.
As you can tell I'm very proud of my family and luckily I love 8-ball!
Listening to my body-
I don't think I ever used to know what suited my body & what didn't. It was bombarded! Now I know what suits it & what doesn't.
I have been reading a book called "Food Synergy" by Elaine Magee, author of the "Tell Me What To Eat" series. I saw it in the library & thought it looked informative. I want to learn more about what vitamins etc are found in what food and just learn as much as I can about nutrition. I made notes from the book and listed all of the things that she said we should eat for various reasons. Most are obvious & most I knew already but what really stood out for me was that I think I am getting the nutrition my body needs without taking any supplements.
I am going to start using up the ones that I have & not replacing them.
If I have any problems down the track that stand out because of not taking anything in particular then I can either eat more food that supplies that vitamin or start taking a supplement again. Once again I'll just listen to my body.
I know that eating high-carb foods makes me want more high-carb foods!
I have to get a move on now as I just got a call from a friend & I am meeting her at 12.30. It's a year today since our old friend died in the house fire. She & his daughter are going up to the site but I think it best that I leave them to do that alone & I am meeting them nearby afterwards for coffee. I have been up there a couple of times since his death, including for a private memorial service for him. His daughter gave us 2 tree ferns from the site which are now next to our home thriving.
I am starting to feel better after Wednesday's carb overload but am still bloated. I'll weigh tomorrow & hopefully some of the 2kg has gone.
Cheers for now, Cate
 
Caught up with my friend & had a chat for a couple of hours, came home & had lunch. All afternoon & into this evening my LH & I have been burning off leaf litter & dry branches in the bush near our house. I'm exhausted. It's hard, hot work raking everything up & into the fires. We haven't had this good a tidy up before. It's very dry coming up to Summer & they are predicting a bad bushfire season so we'll try to prepare our block as much as we can before fire restrictions are imposed.
I have had a good healthy day food wise & my stomach is starting to feel better. At least it doesn't hurt any more.I just realised that I'm too tired to type so will say goodnight, cheers, Cate.
 
So much to catch up on

Been reading your posts, goodness so much has happened in a week..
Cancer is a horrible thing, i agree... i can only hope that i find the same strength that my nan and my aunt showed through their battles..

Bloody day light savings..arghh ours starts in a week... I am not looking forward to it one bit.. not one bit..

I have many memmoriws of my nan we spent lots of time with her and it wasnt all pleasant, but i love her and miss her and so glad we had all that time. I am sure your grandkids will have many memmories of you both, its amazing the things they remember.... i used to scare my nan with some of mine..ha ha ha


i better go aisling is very tierd will log on later and finish posting...

Chelle
 
Hi Chelle, I'm sure everyone else is just as busy, if not busier than me. It's just that I relay it all to all & sundry. I don't have small children(thank the heavens!) any more & am not in paid work. I don't ever get bored though. Cheers, Cate.
My weight is down 1.5kg today so the fluid/bloating is going again thank goodness. I'm about to go check to see if all of our fires are out & if not are safe. It's very physical doing the raking in the bush & scratches my arms. I've got my bush-walking gear(long-sleeves) on today so at least my arms will be a bit protected. I would fit in at Australia Zoo with the crocodiles-all khaki & I have always said "Crikey!"
I'm drinking loads of water & this makes me feel so much better. It's a beautiful day again. At the moment it's about 18-20oC. Perfect. I had better head outside while it lasts. I might even do some brush-cutting today. I really should vacuum instead.
Cheers for now, Cate.
 
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Hi Cate,
Sounds like the weather is just lovely down there at the moment. You sound like you never stop!!
Figuring out what our bodies need is going to be a never ending story, I think. I'm not sure I'll ever know but reading your posts certainly helps to get us more informed. I think that most of us who get as big as I was seem to have some similar kind of carb problem and finding out how to live a normal life and not letting carbs take over my life ever again is going to be a much bigger battle than losing the weight has been. I need to keep myself constantly "on guard".
Have a great day
Take care
Beck
 
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