Cate's Diary

Got a great night's sleep in my bed after sleeping in my chair for ages. Woke up feeling good but I'm aching after walking around Melbourne for 2 days, then yesterday's walking which was probably even more in one day because I was hardly still at all. Phew! What a tiring day. I am going to have to think of things to do that won't upset my allergies & that I can cope with easily. Blowing bubbles is way too messy for me & finger-painting etc which is what the other support worker does with this client. I hate doing things that are really messy & sticky. I will buy some crayons, pens, colouring in book etc, have bought a ball already. You have to watch out for things that can become weapons easily and only get cheap things as they can easily get thrown in a river or the sea. Also I have to make sure I don't have anything in the car that can get thrown out as we're driving along. I wish I could lock the car doors so that they cannot be opened. This car you can't. I'll have to be very strict on that. I might get her into the habit of waiting for me to come around & open her door. Sounds good in theory. I'm not worried about any of this though. I'll work it out.
Tomorrow I start with the client with the brain tumour. I'm quite looking forward to that.
I'm having a lazy day today & am still in my pj's. I had better go have a shower now though as I feel like seeing the grand-kids today. Cheers, Cate
 
Hi Cate,
Sounds exhausting, but you really sound like you enjoyed yourself and I'm sure taking her home tired would have gone down very well. A couple of things I find is good with my Sunday school kids that are not too messy but fun is to give them a small bucket of water and a big paint brush (like the ones you paint a house with) and you let them paint whatever they want. Fences, play equipment concrete etc. Also the big fat chalk sticks are great for letting them draw all over the concrete with. It just washes away in the next rain.
Put your feet up and have a rest. You deserve it.
I hope all goes well with your other new client too.
Take care
Beck
 
Hi Beck! It's funny you should say that about the paint-brush/bucket of water as my DIL's mother suggested the same thing when I saw her today. I stocked up on a few things but will get some of the chalk next time I'm shopping. I bought wipes, cordial (not red!) and quite a few other things so that I will be reasonably prepared. The day was utterly exhausting but I think I'll be ok with it & it is only once a month. Her grand-mother does a wonderful job looking after her.
The new client was very nice. I was quite nervous before going there & she didn't know what to expect either. I think we'll be fine & will work out things as we go. She is very sweet actually. Once again you just don't know how lucky you are to have good health.
Exercise bike- I called in to our local sports shop & bought the exercise bike I had checked out last week. The owner is such a lovely young woman. I love calling in just to say hello. She gave me a substantial discount which was very naughty of her but she insisted. I had inspired her to do Cohen's which is nice. I really do think she is so sweet. I will buy some more track pants when the summer stuff comes in & some bathers. I'm going to need them as the new, young client(J) loves to get into the sea & I have to stick with her at all times.
Our OS is going to pick the bike up for me tomorrow. It's a York & it's very comfortable & I must make sure I use it!! I caught up with the younger 2 grand-kids at the supermarket after spotting the car.
I didn't see them yesterday as one of my SIL's visited us for lunch. We had just been deciding we would ring her again to see how she's going but we were waiting until lunch-time to ring as she works until late at night. It was good that she rang as we had been worrying a little about her. Long story.
There is so much activity in the forum compared to the usual. Some of it's great, some not so great. SMS is doing a fantastic job. God love the man!
I've lost the 2kgs I put on in Melbourne as I thought I would by just eating as per maintenance guidelines. It really isn't necessary to go back on plan 100%, as with weighing everything & only eating the original foods but I find I do stick to the original food mainly when i'm not away. It's so much better for me & makes me feel so much better as well. Oh I'm tired again & have just realised I'm rambling so will go, cheers, cate
 
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Just for fun I looked up the dictionary definition of a few words. I know- I'm weird!
Thin- having little fat or flesh; slender, lacking body; of relatively little depth from one surface to the other.
Skinny- emaciated; thin.
Slim- small in girth in proportion to height or length; slight.
Give me slim, thank you!
I'll be back later. I just looked that up as I was sending my time sheets by fax, cheers, Cate.
 
I think when I finish I'll take slim too, or maybe slight. The others don't sound very good.
Take care
Beck
 
I have been busy around the house today, preparing vegies, tidying up etc. I have never had a job that included cleaning some-one else's house & am not sure I'm really the right person for the job. I thought it would be more personal care. The client said her mother was too old to help her & she's only 5 years older than me! Her house is much cleaner & tidier than mine. I thought the government would be paying for the service but the client thinks she is. I wouldn't pay me to clean. I have arranged to work 2 hours next Monday & 2 hours on Friday as I'm going to Melb again Wed. of next week. I would prefer to do this each week but will have to play it by ear for the moment. It's hard to get much done in an hour. Yesterday I vacuumed the house, hung out a load of washing, peeled spuds, did some wiping etc but I was actually there for almost 1.5 hours & I don't want to get into the habit of doing that.
I don't feel so tired today. I think it was also the stress of starting out with the 2 new clients. The unknown is almost always worse than the reality for me. I like to have clear, free days though. That I do know and housework is not what I'm good at.
Unfortunately our days off clash this week. I'm working tomorrow, but it's only 3 hours pay(V for 1 hour + taking E to the doctor-2hrs) taking up most of my day & my LH has the day off. Thursday he works, I have the day off. Friday I work 2 hours, he has the day off.
I don't feel very positive about the job today I'm afraid. I'm afraid I don't or won't live up to her expectations & also it's not enough pay to have 3 days tied up.
It is an awful day here today. It's gusty & squally. The day started off quite warm & sunny & has gone downhill fast. We have to go out to 8-ball tonight & it's a final. One season's almost over & then the local season starts.
I can hear a car coming up the hill & by the sound of it it's my OS with the exercise bike so I'll scoot. Cheers, Cate
Wrong- it must have been our neighbours' truck. I was thinking that our son would decide not to pick up the bike because the weather is so horrible but I'm still hoping he will.
 
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I just read my yesterday's post & a lot has changed in a day!
My OS dropped off the bike about an hour later.
We went out to 8-ball & our team won, after losing the first 3 games. It was a fun night. I really enjoyed it.
I didn't get much sleep though & kept waking up stressing about the job.
Went to work this morning leaving my LH at home. I did not enjoy the hour at all. I was flat out, including being up a high bunk ladder making up a bed. I felt that I should have been 30 years younger.
I then left & went to my MIL's, did some cleaning there & then to my elderly client, who didn't realise her ap't was today. I spent 2 hours taking her to the doctor etc, then went to the doctor myself. I told her how I was feeling & how much pain I am in, but mainly how I was feeling about the job. I told her that I have been a bit dizzy & thought my blood pressure may be low. She took my bp & has given me a new script for a lower bp medication, minus the diuretic.
I drove home knowing what I want to do about the job & talked to my LH about it.
I have decided to quit altogether!
I have realised this job is not for me. I rang my main boss but she was out.I left a message for her to ring me. Meanwhile my other boss rang to see how I went with the 13 year old girl & I told her that I thought I did quite well but that I have decided to quit altogether & explained my reasons why. She said she would not say anything to the main boss until I get a chance to talk to her tomorrow.
I don't enjoy the job. It doesn't feel right at all. I thought it sounded good in theory but the actual reality is far different. I feel bad about letting anyone down but I don't think this has done me any good at all & I feel emotionally & physically exhausted & drained & want to pull the pin.
I think the only way to do it is to quit outright so that they are not asking me about taking on anyone new as I have trouble saying no.
I can't wait to be unemployed!
I'm too tired to talk about food/weight etc. I ache all over. My shoulder,neck, arms, legs.....are so sore. I will have to book in for another massage. My doctor says it seems muscular & that's the way to go.
Tonight I feel fairly teary & exhausted. Hopefully I'll feel better when it's history.
Night all, Cate
 
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I slept better & rang my boss who was out again but rang me back within the hour. I explained to her why I am quitting & she accepted it. She asked me just to work tomorrow for the 2 hours & I said I would. They have interviewed someone else who they had considered for the local client & she should be ok to start next week. Phew!
2 more hours & then I'm free again.
I have been very active today & have done a major spring clean of our home, listening to old LP's. I have had a ride of the exercise bike & it is really good.
The guy is here ramming fence posts in which is great. Next week we should be able to leave our gate open & the sheep will not be able to get out. That will be good.
I really like the guy who is doing the fencing. He's a real dag but was always one of our best customers in the pub & could be relied upon to help out with odd jobs/repairs around the place & is an interesting person. He loves to read & knows so much about so many things. He used to keep me company (ie baby-sit me) when I was alone in the pub & would wait for me to be safe(ie locked up or my LH home) before he would leave. He is a bit of a billy-goat gruff type but is a softy underneath. One of those salt of the earth people. I told him I quit my job today & he said I should be able to get something else if I want.
I haven't weighed myself the last few days as I'm trying to get out of the obsessing stage. I will weigh Sunday I think if I can wait that long. I feel good weight-wise & my clothes are loose.
The house really looks good. I will have to concentrate on being a good house-wife now that I am unemployed again. I actually feel like singing & have been. What a relief! I'm so glad I quit!!!!
I'm not going to do the Aged Care course either.
I'm not looking forward to working the 2 hours tomorrow. I hope the woman isn't annoyed or offended. I am to help her prepare for friends coming for dinner & staying the night tomorrow night. I would have felt bad not going & leaving her in the lurch but still am not looking forward to it.
Cheers, cate
 
Is it just me or is anyone else finding the Olympics boring? I'm looking forward to the closing ceremony. I won't watch it but I'm looking forward to it being on.
 
Hi Cate,
Its so good to "hear" you sounding so happy. You sound like your decision is the right one for you and that a big weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You always know when you have made the right decision, don't you?
I love it when my house is all clean (not very often though). It gets you all motivated to move.
Sometimes the roughest looking characters are the nicest people. The problem is that not enough people take the time to look beneath the surface.
Anyway, its really good to see your spirits are up.
Take care
Beck
 
Beck, Once again you say the right words at the right time. I do know it's the best decision for me. I feel very much relieved.
The woman I went to today was really sweet & gave me a card thanking me for my help this week & saying to enjoy my grand-kids while they're young as they grow up so fast. I didn't read it until later. How sweet. I had asked her if she minded me dropping in from time to time just to say hello & she said she would love that. I will enjoy doing that without being paid & can just chat to for her a while & be in the house while she has a shower so that she feels safe. She's having a major operation next week and is very nervous about it.
My LH dropped me off & then went to playgroup as it's book-week & our little GD was dressed up. He came back & picked me up so that I could go for an hour. It was lovely.
We are home again & have to go back in later for my LH to have a haircut. A friend does it & we pay her a bottle of wine & drink another one while we're there. I find dry bubbly suits me. I'll have some protein before I go, as per maintenance guidelines.
Weighed myself this morning- GW+4kgs which I feel really comfortable at. I still will lose 3-4kgs before summer. I need to buy those bathers so that I can take the grand-kids to the beach, instead of having to have them for the young client. Phew!
I have some ideas for something to do but am not stressing about having to earn much money. It will be more for an interest.
Have to go. Husband wants to look at his football tipping game, cheers, cate
 
Beck- They won't let me rep you & say I must spread the repping around! What a joke!
I'll just say it then- Thank you for being positive, helpful & supportive to everyone in the forum & especially me. You are very sweet & I appreciate it. Your blood's worth bottling! xoxo Cate
 
Another full-on 8-ball day. My LH qualified to represent Tas in the Masters & will also represent Australia in a test match against New Zealand which is excellent. So, at the Nationals this year my husband & both of our sons will be competing. I simply must be there to watch so have to think what the heck to do about our dogs. I would ask our OS to feed them but he'll be there too & my DIL will have her hands full with the 3 kids & no husband. Thinking cap on. Perhaps my sister could come & house-sit.....
I didn't walk much today as I've been a little bit dizzy. My doctor has given me a script for lighter bp medication so I went & got them today & will start on it tomorrow.
Our OS, DIL & the 3 gk's came in today to barrack for my LH & our YS has been messaging all day. It was sweet for my LH to get the support.
I'm very tired so will say good-night, cheers, Cate
 
We had an excellent night's sleep & a sleep-in so feeling really rested & relaxed. My husband is so happy he made the team & so am I.
:party:
I'm fairly sure I'll stay with him in Launceston so that I can watch most of the matches. I would hate to miss any of them. It'll be great fun. We have decided to treat it as this years' holiday as it will cost quite a bit even though it's in Tassie.
We have to go out today to have drinks with the couple who's wedding we were meant to go to yesterday but couldn't because the 8-ball date was changed. They are off on a round-the-world trip tomorrow morning first thing. Good for them. They have been together for many years but he insisted they get married & it's his idea to have this big trip. It's his first marriage and he wants it to be a big occasion. I like that. She was all for eloping, like we did, but not him.
I haven't weighed today but didn't eat anything bad yesterday. Eggs, mushrooms, crackers for breakfast, Chinese for lunch-healthy stir-fry with some rice, chicken & stir-fried vegies for dinner, followed by yoghurt & fruit. I feel very relaxed about my eating & weight. I think I'm getting used to it all. I know I have to be careful but why shouldn't I anyway?
It's all about healthy eating & having a balance. I don't want to eat garbage food but I do like to have a glass of wine & a few pieces of dark chocolate(not together!) so I like to eat really healthily so that I can enjoy these indulgences without suffering the consequences on the scales.
I'm having my hair cut tomorrow which I am really looking forward to. I'm going to a different hairdresser & I want to have it quite short & spiky if possible.:troll:- nothing like this! :biggrinjester:
A good week planned this week-
Hair cut Monday, LH working.
Tues nothing planned for me- may go bush-walking, depending on shoulder, LH golf.
Tues night 8-ball final.
We're off to Melb again this Wed just for 1 night to a show. Back Thursday.
Friday nothing planned but probably shopping. LH working.
I'm so happy I've quit or the week would have been very different.
Cheers for now folks. Hope everyone is having a good week-end. We're still in our PJ's at 10.45. It seems a bit decadent but, hey, we're olds! (;))Cheers, Cate
 
I haven't much to say but just wanted to report something really fun that happened today. When we arrived for drinks at the pub I went up to buy a round of drinks & had to squeeze into the bar to get them. There was a gorgeous looking young guy sitting at the bar & he really flirted with me. It was nice. He could probably see I was with my LH as I had walked in with him but he was really sweet. I felt really good & very flattered. He was stunning to look at.
My LH & I caught up with quite a few friends & then got home in time to see the Saints beat Adelaide & ensure a place in the top 8.
All day my LH has been getting messages of support for making the team.
All in all a really top day!
Cheers, Cate.
 
Got a nice haircut today. It's quite short. Picked up our oldest GS off the bus & have booked the 3 of us on a trip to Melb for a shopping trip in December. I had promised him a trip on a plane & he wants to go to Victoria market because he liked the sound of it. He cannot remember ever travelling on a plane as he was only a baby when he did go on one. He's very excited about it. I thought I would prefer to leave it until just before Christmas as we can go to do some Christmas shopping & we have a fair bit on before then with 8-ball. He didn't seem to mind waiting until then.
I'm weighing in the morning as I haven't for a few days.
Cheers for now, Cate
 
Hi Cate,
Good to hear you sounding so happy!!!
You certainly sound extremely relieved to have quit your job and I'm sure there are no regrets. Sometimes we just need to take that plunge and have faith that it will all be ok, and usually it turns out better than we could have possibly imagined. It makes me feel really good to hear you sounding so well.
Say congratulations to your hubby on making the team, he must be very proud of himself and I can tell that you are also proud of him. Its nice to have people flirting with you, isn't it. Especially if its not something you're accustomed to. When I lost weight last time, I would never believe that someone could be flirting with me so tended to ignore any male attention (I was still married then and also thought it in-appropriate).
Your hair sounds nice and often a change is good to help "lighten" you up a bit.
Take care, and stay chirpy.
Beck
 
Beck- You are very sweet! I am certainly not used to being flirted with. That's a joke! I feel like you that when others are happy, I am happy. I react to people's sorrow/happiness. I soak up feelings like a sponge. I am so happy that I am no longer working in that job. I cannot remain impartial and the job was not doing me any good. I must text Kannadew & tell her I've quit!
We had a wonderful time in Melbourne. I got a text from one of my SIL's to say hurry up as we had a show to go to in the afternoon. We arrived at 12.00 noon yesterday, saw Wicked at 1pm, dinner at 6pm, Andrea Bocelli at 8pm. What a day! My MIL was painful at lunch-time & very bossy, but ended up relaxing & enjoying herself.
Wicked was just ok but Andrea Bocelli was magnificent!!!
I had no idea that I would enjoy this show anywhere near as much as I did. The man is stupendous! Tina Arena was so good I can't find the words to describe her. Her duet with Andrea towards the end of the show made me come out in goose-bumps & I actually felt teary. WOW!
Live music is almost always better than any recorded music you would hear. This was at least 10 times better than I thought it would be.
We saw quite a few people in Melb at the airport that we know & I got a few nice compliments. I can now accept them graciously without feeling uncomfortable. In fact they feel pretty damned good. Now I need to lose a few kilos before Summer & buy some new Summer clothes. I need to start wearing something other than black. My LH's family laughed when I said I'm sick of wearing black! One laughed very loudly!
Time for yoghurt & fruit & herbal tea. Back on Cohen's tomorrow. Will report my weight tomorrow as well. I'm sure I'm up a couple of kilos but will soon shake them, cheers, Cate
I am now happy to be home.
 
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Hi Cate... I've just had a quick skim through your diary... WOW! BIG decisions! You sound very relaxed and at peace about the whole thing. Good ONYA! Now... just wait for the right thing to come around... the thing that YOU want to do not just something others have asked you to do or that you think will pay a bill! Its not worth the mental health stress.

Im sorry for not popping more often. I just dont have the energy for it at the moment. I have started refeed again.. unfortunately 5 kilos out from my personal goal... but I am just so over it...its been 15 or 16 months and enough is enough. I am physically tired and a bit apathetic as well. Work is pretty crappy and the social stuff is not too crash hot either... so... you can see why I have not been around much.

I really am so glad to hear that you are doing so very well! You know those extra couple of kilos will just drop off in time for summer...NO PROBS!

Blessya
Kannadew
 
Hi Kannadew, I know, I know. I'll be really careful. Next time I put pressure on myself to take something unsuitable I'll give myself a mental slap! I feel great and so relieved that I have taken this step.
I am sorry that you are not happy at the moment. I so wish you to be happy. I'm sure your life will change for the better. You have so much to give and deserve to be appreciated, in your vocation & in love and life in general. For what it's worth I appreciate your friendship and value it highly. Your time will come K!xoxo love, Cate(G sends his love too!)
My day so far-
I went food shopping as we had no vegetables at all. That is serious! Almost every time I go shopping I see someone who tells me how good I'm looking. No longer do I feel shame because of how I must have looked before but I am feeling really good and I am comfortable with it.
A family friend(a businessman) saw me in the street and told me I looked a million dollars. I now say thank you and smile and say I feel much better too. I called in to see a friend who has just got out of hospital after having an operation & she said I look great and should be really proud of myself. A woman who owns a dress shop who is back on Cohen's also said I look terrific and another shop-keeper asked me if I am still losing weight as I seem slimmer whenever she sees me. I think people are also getting used to the new me.
My LH has just arrived home so will go say hi, cheers for now, Cate
 
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