Hey Fatty!

Nice title huh?!?! lol

You know how life travels along, and there are certain things you are aware of but at that point in time you just don't have the time to address them? Well, the time has come for me to address something! My weight!!

I have always managed to hover between 68kg-70kgs all my life without any exercise required. Which was fine because I was happy being that weight. However in the last two years I have become aware that my weight has crept up on me.

They say that uni broadens your mind...... well it also broadens your backside, waist, face and gut! lol

Due to the fact that I wasn't working as much due to uni, I spent 2 years either sitting in the car driving 45mins there and back, sitting on the computer typing or studying or sitting in a lecture hall listening. Often my classes were back to back with work, so lunch often consisted of either coffee or a soft drink and a chocolate bar. Once at work I'd have another soft drink or coffee to wake myself up..... Then on my break, more of the same. I think I have sat more in the last 2 yrs than I have in all my life!

I am now 80kgs. Some of you might think this isn't much to be getting my knickers in a knot over, but it is a big deal to me.

I have known for some time that my jeans have been getting a little on the tight side, but my realisation came on the weekend when I was looking at the photos of me from my work farewell party. You see I am the photographer in my house..... I am very rarely in the front of the camera, but being my party, my camera was passed around to many who took photos of ME!!

When I looked at these photos, the first thing that came to mind was "OMG I'm Bert Newton's love child!!!" Talk about moon face!! So after I got over my hangover, which made me feel bad enough, I was pretty pissed off that I had let myself get so big.

So the next day I decided to sit down and make some changes. I normally eat very healthily (when I'm not at work/uni), but I am junk food addict! This is my downfall. I just love chips and dip! My other downfall is water.. I hate the stuff, it tastes like, well water. I have been aiming for 6-8 glasses a day, which I have managed to stick to, mind you it's like taking medicine lol and instead of my usual 2 glasses of wine a night, I have had one small one.

I jumped online and logged onto The Calorie King Website and started to log in all the food I have been eating, now I'm not fanatical about counting calories. This is just to help me form a rough idea about what I should and should not be eating. I have also started exercising. I have been using EA Sports Active on Wii.

Some of you might think "why don't you just go for a walk?" My answer "because it's too fricken cold!" lol I thougt about the whole get outdoors thing.... and then I thought to myself "self you'll sweat and catch cold and you're about to move house!" Which is good, because my wife and I have decide to utilise part of the double garage as a gym, plus the new house is in a MUCH warmer climate and we have a pool! So I will do the whole outdoor thing in 2 weeks. Until then, it's the Wii for me!

But I will say, the ea sports active package is good, it has a 30 day challenge and lots of nutritional advice, it also rotates the exercises and some of them are games, which helps make the exercise thing easier. It also makes you sweat! LOL!! So I'll stick at it for 2 weeks until we move and then I'll set the gym up and do a few laps in the pool.

Well it's time to go and have some lunch.... something healthy! No chips! Not that I eat chips for lunch lol.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

It's Happening!

We just a quote from a removalist company to move us on the 21st October. Up until now, we were excited.... But after having the removal guy here, it just seems so much more real!!!! Now I really can't wait! lol

Unfortunately, due to the date that we are moving I won't be having a Halloween party this year. :o( But, hey, you can't do everything!

Never mind. It still gives me 12 months to make new kick ass props for Halloween 2010! lol

I have 4 more shifts at work: tonight 3pm-11pm, Saturday 3pm-9pm, Monday 3pm-11pm and Tuesday 3pm-9pm. Then my farewell, get lost, glad to see the back of you party on the 3rd October. Not that I'm counting :o) :o) :o)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Zoe - My Yellow Labrador

Last Wednesday at 5pm, I had to have my eleven year old Labrador Zoe put to sleep. Her health had let her down badly and even though she had many problems she always greeted me with a wagging tail.

She was by far the best dog I ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Rest in Peace girl.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Halloween

I have finally re-built my website!!! I have always had my own website, but about a year ago it was hacked by a religous group. I have no idea who they were, but they deleted everything off my site and just left a giant cross where my content used to be!!

My website has never contained anything offensive....Ever! I have always had a spooky/halloween interest and this was reflected on my site. I have never displayed ads or adult content. My site was a result of years of work and these people call themselves christians!

Anyway, it's back up, there isn't a whole lot there as everything I had, they took.

As Halloween is getting closer, I will write more, but I am pressed for time just at the moment. If you click the banner, it will take you to my site.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Uni starts today and I have the flu!

I had to postpone the real estate agent taking photos of the house today. . . . As both my wife and I have the flu! I am hoping that the agent can come out on Wednesday. Fingers crossed!
I have started my uni work today as today is the first day of semester 2. It's also my first full semester of dist ed. I have been listening to recorded lectures all morning, they are quite good but the cold and flu tablets that I have taken are kinda playing havoc with the whole trying to concentrate thing. I'm not sure how much info I am retaining.

I have made a list of my assessments and when they are due..... There is so much work to do! One thing I noticed is that I do not have an exam for one subject! This is great, it's a bit of pressure off, especially since the exams are most likely around the time we will hopfully be moving.

Anyway, I had better get back to my lectures!

Monday, July 27, 2009

$$ Anyone want to buy a house? $$

Woo Hoo!!! Our house was valued yesterday by a lady from First National in Lithgow, she is actually a friend of a friend. So we knew that she was being honest and not deploying any of the usual real estate antics on us! lol She valued our house for more than we thought it was worth..... But over the past 4 years, we have spent a lot of money and sweat on this house.

She will be coming back on Monday to take photos, all we need now is for the conveyer to sort out the contract and it should be for sale on Wednesday! We can't wait to get outta here and we have found some more houses online that we really love the look of.

My wife has a phone interview on Tuesday for a job as her future employer did not see the sense in having her drive 6 hours there and back. So fingers crossed!!!! I'm sure she will be fine!

Catch ya later!!!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Bits and bobs

No, I haven't looked at anymore cemetery photos lol. I don't have time! The real estate lady is coming tomorrow to value our house so my wife and I have been running around trying to fix up all the little things...... They seem to be everywhere! Just when we think we are done..... Up pops something else we hadn't noticed before!

On a completely different note lol . . . .I forgot to mention in an earlier post that I past all my exams!!! While on the topic of uni, it starts again on Monday. I am looking forward to it, but I have been reading through all the distance ed stuff they have sent me and I think it's going to be a little harder this semester as I have no classes and no one to bounce stuff off, sure there are the online forums, but they just aren't the same as either sitting in class or hanging out at the coffee shop (intellectual stuff I know lol) discussing different topics. Anyway, all I can do is try to do my best and hopefully not feel isolated.
My text books arrived today from the co-op bookshop and even they look sterile and a wee bit daunting.

Oh well! Wish me luck! I hope the evaluation on the house going well tomorrow!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Old Cemeteries!

I just love old cemeteries! Whilst my wife and I were house hunting and visiting friends on the Central Coast, they suggested that we visit Pioneer Park as they know how much I love visiting old historic cemeteries...... This particular one is the resting place of the pioneers of the Central coast.
This is the entrance..... Sorry if the pics seem a bit grainy, I didn't have my camera and took these photos with my mobile. The sun was also in the wrong position. We all agreed that when we finally move to the area we will do a cemetery tour of the area..... Watch out for that one!! LOL!

This is a monument with all of the names of the people buried within the cemetery.

The above image is featured on one side on the monument, the other three sides have the names of the people buried.

I thought the carving on this headstone was interesting. . . .There were quite few with interesting markings, however I didn't have time to look at them all. The full headstone is pictured below.

Another one with quite defined carving, especially for the age of the cemetery.

I took a few more photos which I haven't looked at yet, these were just the ones that stood out in my mind. I also took a few photos of the water views, but because I took them with my mobile phone the detail of the water just isn't any good.

The friend of mine who took us to this place has an infrared lense for her camera...... I can't wait till we try that out, who knows what will show up!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Too Fast, Too Slow?!?!?

Just as the heading states..... Things are moving along at lightning speed, but it feels like it can't happen quick enough!

I have finally finished painting the inside of the house!!! Woo Hoo!!! I have decided that I really dislike painting. . . When it began, I really didn't mind doing it, but now I feel that if I ever have to look at another paintbrush again...... I'll need a shrink!

My wife and I spent the weekend on the Central Coast with some friends of ours, we spent all day Saturday looking at properties and we found one that we absolutely loved!!!

An older couple currently own it, so the decor is a bit 'nan and pop', but it has been looked after so well.... There is nothing to do ..... No painting required!!!!

It has 4 bedrooms, 2 garages, 2 bathrooms, air-con, a lovely saltwater in ground pool with spa jets and a waterfall..... The carpet and tiles are also near new. The only problem is..... Will it still be there when our house sells?

We have the lady from the real estate agency coming here on Friday to value our house, the bank also approved our load application yesterday and the conveyor is ready to go as soon as our house is sold. Everything is coming together nicely... We just need a buyer!

Anyone want to buy a house?!?!? LOL!!!!

Oh! I also changed my degree to distance ed as I didn't want to have to change uni's and risk the subjects not lining up properly. In anycase, uni starts back on Monday. Even though we still live here, I figured it would be better if I changed to dis ed just incase we had to move part way through this semester..... I didn't want to have to start again.

Before I sign off, I really want to mention, if any of you ever visit the Central Coast you really must go to The Bamboo Buddha!! We popped in for coffee and cake after house hunting and it was amazing!! Not just the food either, the surrounds were so tranquil, I highly recommend visiting this place!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Catch up

Okay, here's another disjointed blog lol.

My holidays from work are over, but I am still on uni holidays for a bit longer....Thank God!

My wife and I went to are usual spot on the Mighty Murray River..... Sorry I did not take any photos this time. It was cold and wet 90% of the time.... However it was still nice to get away for a bit.

When we got home, I painted 3 rooms in our house in a week, which only leaves the laundry and the bathroom to paint, which is fine as they are only small rooms anyway.

We had our cocktail party!!! This really went off!! We scaled it down a bit as it is soo cold here at the moment! So we opted for a more intimate party inside! It was so much fun!! There was only one hangover the next day and it wasn't me! lol

My wife and I have decided to move at the end of the year!!!! This is the news I am excited about!! After I paint the last 2 rooms we will have the house valued. I have been looking at houses all week online..... Some are sooo overpriced!!! We are looking for a 3/4 bedroom house with at least 2 garages and a pool. Sure we could buy another fixerupper, like the one we have..... But I am over the renovating thing..... It's too hard with working and going to uni..... I just don't have the time.

We are open to buying a house 'for the right price' if it needs a new kitchen or bathroom...not both. As we priced what it would cost to install a new inground pool and it is much checper to get a new kitchen than a pool! lol

My wife has already looked up hospitals in the area we want to go to (The Central Coast) and there are positions available in numerous hospitals. So she will begin to apply in 3 months.... Which really isn't that far away.

I will continue going to uni and complete my exams this year.... Semester 2 is over mid November. This is when the house will go on the market and we begin to view potential properties!!! Woo Hoo!!!! Next year I will continue studying via distance ed.

We have an appointment with the bank on Tuesday...... This makes it so much more real now that the bank is coming into the picture!! I can't wait!!!

In 4 months..... We will no longer be living in the Blue Mountains.... We'll be in the sunny Central Coast!

Friday, July 10, 2009