Winter is here!

One single degree. Only one. That's what the thermometer was reading on my front porch this morning. Brrrr! It is fair to say Winter has arrived. It has been getting steadily cooler lately but this one has really sprung itself on us unsuspecting sods. Our days have finally fined up to brilliant sunshine but man, it's weak as water. It fails to penetrate the icey chill of winter air.

My dad would be texting me to ask how the frost is down on the pumpkins if he had seen the weather reports. Funny that he hasn't yet...And there was frost on the pumpkins. Well, there would have been if the itchy grubs hadn't eaten them all a few years ago. It is funny to step outside and see a white lawn. Luckily the front half of the car, which is a temporary loan car, but that's another story, is parked under the car port (the caravan takes up the rest) so it is spared the icey windows.

Today I came to work in pants, shoes, socks, long sleeved top, cardigan, suit jacket, scarf and gloves. And I really needed an overcoat! I have a bit of a walk from the car down to the office and after thawing nicely in the car it is quite a rude shock to be outside in the shade again!

But, with the bad comes the good - weekends cuddled up under the quilt in the loungeroom watching DVDs, or dinner at an out of town pub in front of the log fire...that reminds me, I must book a table for tomorrow night...

So ends an era

Well, this week will see the end of six and a half wonderful years. We were only going to look. That's the truth. Just look. But deep in my heart I knew it wasn't going to end there.

We did it. We have bought a new car.

There will be tears of sadness when we are forced to say goodbye to the most faithful and trusted member of the family, but it's time to move on.

While our faithful Magna Solara, Glacier Green, red highlights and red and white number plates, was being serviced, we wandered over to have a look at the new 380 Platinum. I swear we were only going to have a look. I decided I liked a colour called Storm. Very deep greeny grey. Quite pretty.

But then we test drove the Sales Manager's VRX. Leather seats, sun roof, 2800km on the clock and a brand new on road price of $45,000. Apparently they have 4000km to sell their issued vehicles or they do not get new ones. The salesman wrote a price on a piece of paper and we went away to think about it.

We even went to look at the Commodore Wagon they are advertising for a reasonable price. But it just didn't do for us what the VRX did. With the trade in on our Solara, we could afford to put in the Blue Tooth (which was one of the few features the Platinum has which the VRX did not, along with rear parking sensors) and a Sat Nav DVD player system. As well as getting the tow hitch and electric brakes fitted. Still under what we would have paid for a new Platinum. In fact, still under $30,000!

The draw back (and there is always one) - its plain old silver. Sigh. But as I told Him, I am prepared to live with it. As a concession, he has put it in both our names, and allowed me to order Personal Plates (silver with black writing). When we get the car and get the plates fitted, I will post photos for my avid readers!

Jr Her is happy because it has a sun roof (which she has always favoured since driving with a friend whose vehicle at the time had one) and rear air vents (sadly lacking on the Solara). She just has to now keep her feet off the leather seats.

Very comfy inside, lovely to drive, and handles beautifully. And only heading into its 3rd month so practically brand new. Now I am looking forward to driving a new vehicle again (it even still smells new) but not looking forward to the Gestapo doing the rounds of the vehicle after each day out. And the constant criticism of the state of the car (because I don't look behind me to see what a mess Jr Her has made in the back each trip). Never mind his company car looks like someone had a party in it....

Think I'll celebrate tomorrow and treat myself to a special piece of Jewellery at my jewellery party...either that or an extra Snake lolly...

Cars, cars everywhere, and not a wheel to buy...

Isn't it amazing how many new cars there for just a handful of manufacturers. And how the prices vary! For just the base lines for the big 4 main manufacturers, prices can vary by several thousand.

We are in the market. Yes, we have decided it is time to trade up. Finally. Mind, it will be hard letting go of our lovely car - it could never be replaced. But it is starting to cost money, and to me that's the time to say goodbye to the most faithful member of the family (pity it wasn't that easy for others....)

With my job I have the opportunity to purcase two of the major brands at a discount (my boss is prepared to write me whatever letter I need to take advantage of the fleet discount, isn't he lovely?). This could mean the difference between a standard bottom of the range vehicle or an upgrade to something a little more luxurious.

However, and there is always a however, the one Him has his eyes on is not on my list of two.
I am pretty sure (about 110%) that he will choose the newer model of our current vehicle. And I must admit, I really, really like the look of it. Saturday Him has actually decided to take a day off work (he has been working 7 days straight to get some bills paid off, no worries with him being lazy) to come look at it. I am actually quite exicted at the prospect. It will be quite enlightening...

Although, if we wait until July we could get the new model Lumina at a discount....

School Bullies and their coaches

I have just had the wake up call every mother dreads. My child is somewhat akin to the coach of a bully! Well, that's not really true. But for the last year we have heard on a regular basis "this child hit me, this child punched me" etc etc. Last night Jr Her told me she was called into the office for a chat with the deputy principal, along with said child.



I was mortified to discover she is as bad as he is. She has admitted sometimes that she hits him back, but I have since found out she goads him into lashing out and then she tells the teacher he has hit her. Little worm. I made matters worse by speaking to the child before I knew all the facts, so had to ask the principal to apologise to the mother on my behalf which he has said he will do.



Sigh. I always knew my child was no angel but I didn't realise she was sooo devilish! I do hope though she can learn from this and try to be a better person. It seems it is all just a personality clash that we have gotten up in arms about because some kid was picking on our child. Stupid, stupid parents we are, yes?



Geez I feel upset now. Well, that is I feel a bit stupid. Maybe I will feel better if I have that piece of chocolate I can see looking at me there...

Weekend workload

You know, I should have lost heaps of weight on the weekend. Jr Her has not been holding up her end of our clean room deal. So, after numerous weeks of threats, bribes and tears (and that was just on My part!), I have taken drastic action. I stripped her room. Left her with just her bed, empty cupboards bar a couple of school uniforms and two changes of clothes for the weekend, and a full bookcase. Why the bookcase, you ask? Well, she hates reading. So, with no toys, a standing screen ban in place for another week, she has nothing to do but read.

Drastic measures, you think? If you had seen this cesspit before you would agree. Tell you what though, my back was killing me afterward. Six hours of solid work to clean it out. Bags and bags of rubbish, and as many bags of stuff now sitting in my hallway waiting for a new home.

She also lost her bunk bed, which has now been lowered to a standard size bed. And do you know what? After all the tears and tantrums died down, she said to me...."gee, mum, I love my clean room...." Coulda kicked her right in the bum!

Ten more weeks of unlimited chocolate...

You know, I had an epiphany last week. I finally realised why I can't seem to stop with the chocolate. See, working here is somewhat akin to a life long dream. All the chocolate I can eat and I don't have to feel guilty when I buy it. Cause I don't have to buy it. I don't usually buy chocolate because of the associted guilt. Now I don't have to worry.

Having said that, I have another ten weeks of unlimited chocolate to go. After which point I know my dream run will end. I wonder if that is why I stuff my face. I figure that I may as well indulge while I can and concentrate on the weight loss when I leave.

One positive note has been that although I don't lose any, I also don't gain, so obviously I am doing enough exercise to offset this. But I know I have to shake this feeling of "I must eat this while I can".

Still, I have noticed that I have cut down a little...there is hope for me yet!

Pizza, Pies, Pasties And The Whole Junk Food Express

Man, what am I doing! No wonder I can't shift these kilos! It seems that almost daily there is something going on at work that means a junky lunch. Like last month, there was a meeting and we all got lunch bought in. Sandwiches, which are healthy but contain bread therefore not on my food list, are on the menu. So I grab one with a chicken parmijana in the middle. Ok, not the best choice but I did ditch the foccacia it was wrapped in. Then, we had pizza! Wonderful, thin based pizzas they are too.

On Friday my bestie here at work left :-(. I am feeling quite lost without my skipping partner. Who else can I skip up the hallway with? Well, her going away lunch was - pies, pasties, sausages rolls and sandwiches. Can't possibly eat sandwiches (even if they are chicken and salad!). But that pie I ate got stuck. Or maybe it was the sausage roll...

Friday night is always slack tea at our house cause Jr Her does karate until late. Couldn't possibly cook! Then Saturday night was "Fend for Yourself" night cause I was feeling mad. Yesterday there was a meeting so they bought Sandwiches. There were some of those left, but I went for a walk to the shop and bought a pre packed pasta meal. Lovely!

Today, they are in meetings again, so we got leftover pizza. Man, they are good! I had two pieces of those plus some of the pasta I had already heated up. My belly hurts...

Um, add to that the blueberry muffin I scabbed for morning tea which was leftover from their meeting and you are beginning to get the idea....

I have been trying to do 15 minutes on the exercise bike, like at 8.00 last night in the dark...But I don't think I am going to like my next doctor's appointment. Sigh...wonder if I can catch that plane out of here real soon...