Wednesday:
I'm not feeling ready for a big push towards becoming perfect in every way, but I can't just drift along as I am and gain a lot of weight. So I am going to make some little promises. It worked before! There is only one week left in June, and I promise that for the next week:
Diet: I will not eat after 8:00pm. This should save me hundreds of calories a day, without sending me into a panic binge about giving up my comfort foods.
Exercise: I will do some deliberate exercise every day, even if it is just a 10 minute walk. I am going to establish a habit of exercising again.
Water: I will drink at least 8 glasses a day. Some days this seems hard but I know that my body doesn't give reliable signals about being thirsty and I need to push myself to do it anyway. When I don't drink enough, I get very dehydrated, my skin dries out, and I think it affects my energy levels.
Sleep: I've been struggling a lot with the new CPAP. At least, it is my own CPAP but with a temporary new brain. For some reason it's been very difficult for me to use it consistently. I have changed the humidity/temperature settings back to what I like (the sleep doctor changed them to stop my throat drying out, but I hated having hot moist air blown up my nose even in winter) but the main difference is that this one has variable pressure - it blows softer or harder depending on what it decides I need at that moment. Last night I decided I just have to make it "no choice" again. Minimum four hours, I'm not allowed to take it off before then. And it worked, I kept it on for nearly seven hours and slept really well! I think taking the choice away helped a lot. Hopefully I'll have enough readings for the technicians when I see them next week, so they can reset my own CPAP brain to exactly the right settings.
Mental health: This is a tricky one. How do I enforce good mental health, even in a small way? Telling myself not to stress so much doesn't really work! I promise to use my meditation app at least twice this week. I can spare 20 minutes of stillness. As I plan this, I can see myself lying there listening but thinking "I need to be doing x and y and z!" and getting more stressed! But I need to teach myself to relax somehow. I don't mean to imply that I am working hard all hours of the day and night, but just that it's when I try to be still and calm that I can start to feel the pressure building.
So, that is the plan for this week.
I renewed my driver licence today. For once I remembered that they take your photo, so I was careful with hair and makeup. So I was disappointed with the picture; not only do I look old, fat and tired; one clump of my hair is sticking out! The wind must have got it just before I went in. Of course the photographer doesn't care what you look like, just takes one photo and there you are for the next five years.
I also had my last physio appointment for my shoulder! So much better now. I need to keep up the home exercises.
NEWSFLASH
Tim called this afternoon to say he didn't get the job on Norfolk Island. He came second in the selection process. Apparently there were a lot of applicants, and one was considered just slightly more qualified in this particular area.
Obviously I'm disappointed and sad, and also a bit surprised. I was pretty sure we were going. I really wanted to go. But I'm very glad to at least finally know, and not be in suspense any more. Also it removes a lot of stress about the whole process of moving in a hurry, and readying the house for renting out, and also about Jasmine missing the last six months of her primary school and the first six months of her new high school next year (Australian school years are Jan-Dec, or I suppose Feb-Dec as Jan is all summerholidays). And she was going to miss the upcoming dance concert.
Also I was a bit worried about being inaccessible during the sale of my father's house and assets, and all that process.
This leaves us back where we were a couple of months ago, not sure what we are going to do next. Tim will continue to look for work outside the big cities, but what do we do in the meantime? Stay and wait, renovate, move to a bigger/less run-down house? I guess not all the stress is gone! Geez, I need to learn to relax for a minute.
I ate some comfort food, I felt quite let down and seriously considered deleting the first half of this post and forgetting all about those promises I just made because, well, I was sad. That is a good excuse, isn't it? But then I got stubborn, so:
Report card:
Diet: Tick. I ate some very unhealthy food today, but nothing after 8pm.
Exercise: Tick. I marched around the lounge room for 5 minutes.
Water: Tick. Forced down my 8 glasses before bedtime.
Sleep: Tick, and great sleep last night.
Mental health: Poor. Feeling deflated.
Showing posts with label Norfolk Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norfolk Island. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Weekend
Sunday:
Not much to say about the weekend. I rested, mainly. Continuation of less-than-stellar food, no exercise, not enough water, poor sleep. But I feel ok mentally and still determined to somehow get that all fixed. Being relaxed about food is not working for me - I'm putting on weight already. I need some kind of plan.
We haven't heard about the Norfolk Island job but they called Tim's work referees so that is a positive sign. The more real it gets, the more scared I get! Not so much about living there, but the process of moving and getting this house rented out etc. so much to organise in a hurry, if it happens.
Report card:
Diet: Poor.
Exercise: Poor.
Water: Poor.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Ok.
Determined to do better tomorrow!
Not much to say about the weekend. I rested, mainly. Continuation of less-than-stellar food, no exercise, not enough water, poor sleep. But I feel ok mentally and still determined to somehow get that all fixed. Being relaxed about food is not working for me - I'm putting on weight already. I need some kind of plan.
We haven't heard about the Norfolk Island job but they called Tim's work referees so that is a positive sign. The more real it gets, the more scared I get! Not so much about living there, but the process of moving and getting this house rented out etc. so much to organise in a hurry, if it happens.
Report card:
Diet: Poor.
Exercise: Poor.
Water: Poor.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Ok.
Determined to do better tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Leaking
Wednesday:
Bit of a hectic morning. I was expecting the cleaner at 8:45 and the handyman at 9:00, but I was still in the middle of a hurried breakfast of peanut butter on toast (no time for eggs today) when there was a knock on the door and it was the guys here to do the floor out in the studio/junk room. Who I was expecting tomorrow. I checked the paperwork, definitely tomorrow. But I decided it didn't matter, get it all done today. So they got started prepping the floor.
And then I realised it did matter. Because one of the handyman's jobs was to replace and paint some damaged plaster in the ceiling out there. And he was bringing someone to help him with specifically that job. And they were on their way and would be here any minute. And if the underfloor was still drying he wouldn't be able to access the ceiling. I had a bit of a panic but after speaking to the floor guys they said the prep stuff was only going on the uneven bits, not the whole floor, so it would be fine. Whew. Until they called me out to show me the roof was leaking.
The ceiling had been damaged by rain a few years ago and I'd had the tiles fixed then. Or so I thought. I don't go out there much so it could have been still leaking every time it rains. Right now it's been raining heavily for a couple of days. And the damaged spot is dripping. And it's probably a lot more damaged than it was originally.
So I called my insurance company to get them to organise getting it all fixed. In a way I guess that is a good thing because I might get the whole thing done for only my excess instead of paying out of my own pocket. They are coming out Friday to look at it, don't know when it will actually be done.
I told the handyman he wouldn't be doing that ceiling now but there was plenty of other work for him and also for the other guy so it worked out ok. Having the cleaner here just before the handyman probably wasn't the best arrangement - in fact he's coming back on Friday to finish the bits the handyman messed up. I didn't even ask him for that, he just said there was no point doing the floors now and he'd come back on Friday. How nice!
And he cleaned up my gravy disaster. Did I mention that? Whole pan of gravy upside down all over the oven and floor? Obviously I cleaned up at the time, but there were still yucky bits like the oven drip tray. I am enjoying having a cleaner! I have to tidy up before he comes, but then he does kitchen and bathrooms and it all looks lovely.
You know my big problem today? Access to the bathroom! Either there was someone actually in there cleaning or fixing, or in the hallway doing something and blocking my way with a ladder or a dismantled door or something, or I was called over to discuss one of the jobs or I was on the phone to someone. Did a lot of holding it in.
The handymen were here all day and I now have working doors and gates and tiles re-glued and everything. Then the floor guys came back, once the underfloor was dry, and laid the vinyl floor. So that is all done. Now I am only waiting on the curtains. Oh, and the leaky roof... there is a bucket out there at the moment protecting the new floor.
And our TV has finally died after weeks of shilly-shallying. Don't know whether to try to repair, or buy a new one, and will at least wait until we hear about the job. We have a tiny old TV to watch.
Tim had his job interview for Norfolk Island today. He said it went well. He was able to ask some questions, and the main new-ish thing he learned was how little we'd be able to take with us. I think it would just be one standard airline suitcase each! Anything else would go by sea and take a couple of months to get there - and I don't know how much that would cost so obviously we'd need to be really minimal in what we'd take. The rental houses are furnished, so we wouldn't have to worry about furniture, but I think we'd have to go digital for books and most games! I'm still keen, it would be an adventure!
It's a bit hard to tell if the new CPAP settings are helping, because I think I am slightly unwell which doesn't help me sleep. I had the upset stomach for a couple of days, and now a sore throat. I'm maybe sleeping a tiny bit better.
Report card:
Diet: Ok.
Exercise: Poor.
Water: Poor.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Ok.
Bit of a hectic morning. I was expecting the cleaner at 8:45 and the handyman at 9:00, but I was still in the middle of a hurried breakfast of peanut butter on toast (no time for eggs today) when there was a knock on the door and it was the guys here to do the floor out in the studio/junk room. Who I was expecting tomorrow. I checked the paperwork, definitely tomorrow. But I decided it didn't matter, get it all done today. So they got started prepping the floor.
And then I realised it did matter. Because one of the handyman's jobs was to replace and paint some damaged plaster in the ceiling out there. And he was bringing someone to help him with specifically that job. And they were on their way and would be here any minute. And if the underfloor was still drying he wouldn't be able to access the ceiling. I had a bit of a panic but after speaking to the floor guys they said the prep stuff was only going on the uneven bits, not the whole floor, so it would be fine. Whew. Until they called me out to show me the roof was leaking.
The ceiling had been damaged by rain a few years ago and I'd had the tiles fixed then. Or so I thought. I don't go out there much so it could have been still leaking every time it rains. Right now it's been raining heavily for a couple of days. And the damaged spot is dripping. And it's probably a lot more damaged than it was originally.
So I called my insurance company to get them to organise getting it all fixed. In a way I guess that is a good thing because I might get the whole thing done for only my excess instead of paying out of my own pocket. They are coming out Friday to look at it, don't know when it will actually be done.
I told the handyman he wouldn't be doing that ceiling now but there was plenty of other work for him and also for the other guy so it worked out ok. Having the cleaner here just before the handyman probably wasn't the best arrangement - in fact he's coming back on Friday to finish the bits the handyman messed up. I didn't even ask him for that, he just said there was no point doing the floors now and he'd come back on Friday. How nice!
And he cleaned up my gravy disaster. Did I mention that? Whole pan of gravy upside down all over the oven and floor? Obviously I cleaned up at the time, but there were still yucky bits like the oven drip tray. I am enjoying having a cleaner! I have to tidy up before he comes, but then he does kitchen and bathrooms and it all looks lovely.
You know my big problem today? Access to the bathroom! Either there was someone actually in there cleaning or fixing, or in the hallway doing something and blocking my way with a ladder or a dismantled door or something, or I was called over to discuss one of the jobs or I was on the phone to someone. Did a lot of holding it in.
The handymen were here all day and I now have working doors and gates and tiles re-glued and everything. Then the floor guys came back, once the underfloor was dry, and laid the vinyl floor. So that is all done. Now I am only waiting on the curtains. Oh, and the leaky roof... there is a bucket out there at the moment protecting the new floor.
And our TV has finally died after weeks of shilly-shallying. Don't know whether to try to repair, or buy a new one, and will at least wait until we hear about the job. We have a tiny old TV to watch.
Tim had his job interview for Norfolk Island today. He said it went well. He was able to ask some questions, and the main new-ish thing he learned was how little we'd be able to take with us. I think it would just be one standard airline suitcase each! Anything else would go by sea and take a couple of months to get there - and I don't know how much that would cost so obviously we'd need to be really minimal in what we'd take. The rental houses are furnished, so we wouldn't have to worry about furniture, but I think we'd have to go digital for books and most games! I'm still keen, it would be an adventure!
It's a bit hard to tell if the new CPAP settings are helping, because I think I am slightly unwell which doesn't help me sleep. I had the upset stomach for a couple of days, and now a sore throat. I'm maybe sleeping a tiny bit better.
Report card:
Diet: Ok.
Exercise: Poor.
Water: Poor.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Ok.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
One step forward
Wednesday:
Tim has an interview for that job in Norfolk Island! So things are moving forward, slowly. It's not until next week. Which will leave exactly two more weeks before the proposed start date! And he presumably won't even be told on that day, they have to do all the paperwork, and then he has to give some notice to his current work if he gets this job, and I just can't imagine how they expect someone to start on 1 July. That was the date on the job description, but maybe it's going to be put back. We are trying to be as ready as we can be, just in case, but moving a couple of thousand kilometres with less than two weeks notice? Insane.
This morning I was lying awake stressing that we're not ready to start packing yet; until the studio floor is put down and our curtains are replaced and the handyman has been next week, we don't have anywhere to put packing boxes. All these people need access to various bits of the house so we can't clutter it up with boxes. But now I realise that all this stuff will likely be done before we hear about the job anyway! Everything except the curtains is now organised for next week, which is great. I'm trying not to stress too much, it's difficult.
The really good part of all this is that it's forced me to stop procrastinating and get all these things done!
I always put off buying new jeans (and most other clothes) for a long as possible because I always hope I will lose some weight and go down a size first. But both my blue and black jeans are starting to give at the seams, and they are basically what I wear every day, so today I went and bought two new pairs. I don't actually have them yet, I always have to get them taken up because I am short. But I did all the trying on and choosing and paying for bit, and they will be ready in a couple of days. Sigh. Maybe next time I can go down a size.
I made myself go out for a short walk today. I forgot to mail a letter when I was out shopping, so I walked to the nearest post box, about a 15 min round trip. It's a start. Then I had a nap. I've been trying not to nap because I worry I'll sleep even worse at night, but the past two days I've been unable to resist. Less than an hour each time, because my children get home from school.
I'm writing this on my iPad because my computer has stopped working, blinking off as soon as it turns on. Ironically, the TV was doing the same thing until we threatened it with the repair shop. I still have to thump it a couple of times some days. I haven't tried thumping my computer yet.
Report card:
Diet: Ok. Better.
Exercise: Ok. A short walk, and with shopping I'm nearly to 9,000 steps.
Water: Ok.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Mostly good.
Better than yesterday! I've very excited that at least we have an interview.
Tim has an interview for that job in Norfolk Island! So things are moving forward, slowly. It's not until next week. Which will leave exactly two more weeks before the proposed start date! And he presumably won't even be told on that day, they have to do all the paperwork, and then he has to give some notice to his current work if he gets this job, and I just can't imagine how they expect someone to start on 1 July. That was the date on the job description, but maybe it's going to be put back. We are trying to be as ready as we can be, just in case, but moving a couple of thousand kilometres with less than two weeks notice? Insane.
This morning I was lying awake stressing that we're not ready to start packing yet; until the studio floor is put down and our curtains are replaced and the handyman has been next week, we don't have anywhere to put packing boxes. All these people need access to various bits of the house so we can't clutter it up with boxes. But now I realise that all this stuff will likely be done before we hear about the job anyway! Everything except the curtains is now organised for next week, which is great. I'm trying not to stress too much, it's difficult.
The really good part of all this is that it's forced me to stop procrastinating and get all these things done!
I always put off buying new jeans (and most other clothes) for a long as possible because I always hope I will lose some weight and go down a size first. But both my blue and black jeans are starting to give at the seams, and they are basically what I wear every day, so today I went and bought two new pairs. I don't actually have them yet, I always have to get them taken up because I am short. But I did all the trying on and choosing and paying for bit, and they will be ready in a couple of days. Sigh. Maybe next time I can go down a size.
I made myself go out for a short walk today. I forgot to mail a letter when I was out shopping, so I walked to the nearest post box, about a 15 min round trip. It's a start. Then I had a nap. I've been trying not to nap because I worry I'll sleep even worse at night, but the past two days I've been unable to resist. Less than an hour each time, because my children get home from school.
I'm writing this on my iPad because my computer has stopped working, blinking off as soon as it turns on. Ironically, the TV was doing the same thing until we threatened it with the repair shop. I still have to thump it a couple of times some days. I haven't tried thumping my computer yet.
Report card:
Diet: Ok. Better.
Exercise: Ok. A short walk, and with shopping I'm nearly to 9,000 steps.
Water: Ok.
Sleep: Poor.
Mental health: Mostly good.
Better than yesterday! I've very excited that at least we have an interview.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Planning
Tuesday:
My focus today has been that job my husband is going to apply for on Norfolk Island. He (and anyone else) still have a couple of weeks to apply, but then the job starts on 01 July. Which is 6 weeks from now and 4 weeks from the date applications close so less than 4 weeks between getting a "yes", if that happens, to having to move! There are some things I need to do now just in case.
Like getting the house ready to rent out for the year we would be away. Meaning getting all those little jobs done. Doors that stick, a dripping tap, some tiles peeling off in the bathroom, some water damage from when a roof tile was broken in a storm. Tim doesn't have the time and I don't have the skill so I'm getting a handyman to come in. Also someone coming to quote for new curtains and blinds. And a cleaner to help me with some of the hard bits like the skylight in the bathroom. And a quote for new flooring out in the studio. What I like to call the studio is a room attached to the house but with no internal access, it might have been the original garage and it is now our junk room. Our plan would be to clear out the junk and store our stuff out there while we rent out the rest of the house. That is a huge job - there are a lot of boxes and old furniture out there. And a treadmill that weighs 112 kg. I'm hoping the Salvation Army will want a lot of it. I looked into self-storage nearby but was shocked to find it's $333 per month for a garage-sized room, so it's handy that we have this space separate from the house. Or we could possibly rent our house fully furnished - but do we want other people using our lovely dining table? Or our beds? That is just weird. I'll get real estate agents' advice on what to offer to leave, if anything.
If this seems a bit pre-emptive, well we need all this stuff done whether we go to Norfolk Island or not. Whether we stay or rent or sell, it would be good to have a bathroom door that closes! I've just let all this stuff go for too long because a lot of it seems like things we could do ourselves, but we never do.
My aunty Patricia, who we saw on the weekend, has been to Norfolk Island (in 1988) and said it was lovely, and my friend Caroline has a friend who lived there a long time ago and who said it was nice. It's not much, but it's all positive.
Aside from all those phone calls and research, I did the grocery shopping in the morning and had tea with Caroline in the afternoon. My shoulder is so much better today after last night in my own bed, and also not being stuck in a car all day. Doing my physio like a good girl.
My focus today has been that job my husband is going to apply for on Norfolk Island. He (and anyone else) still have a couple of weeks to apply, but then the job starts on 01 July. Which is 6 weeks from now and 4 weeks from the date applications close so less than 4 weeks between getting a "yes", if that happens, to having to move! There are some things I need to do now just in case.
Like getting the house ready to rent out for the year we would be away. Meaning getting all those little jobs done. Doors that stick, a dripping tap, some tiles peeling off in the bathroom, some water damage from when a roof tile was broken in a storm. Tim doesn't have the time and I don't have the skill so I'm getting a handyman to come in. Also someone coming to quote for new curtains and blinds. And a cleaner to help me with some of the hard bits like the skylight in the bathroom. And a quote for new flooring out in the studio. What I like to call the studio is a room attached to the house but with no internal access, it might have been the original garage and it is now our junk room. Our plan would be to clear out the junk and store our stuff out there while we rent out the rest of the house. That is a huge job - there are a lot of boxes and old furniture out there. And a treadmill that weighs 112 kg. I'm hoping the Salvation Army will want a lot of it. I looked into self-storage nearby but was shocked to find it's $333 per month for a garage-sized room, so it's handy that we have this space separate from the house. Or we could possibly rent our house fully furnished - but do we want other people using our lovely dining table? Or our beds? That is just weird. I'll get real estate agents' advice on what to offer to leave, if anything.
If this seems a bit pre-emptive, well we need all this stuff done whether we go to Norfolk Island or not. Whether we stay or rent or sell, it would be good to have a bathroom door that closes! I've just let all this stuff go for too long because a lot of it seems like things we could do ourselves, but we never do.
My aunty Patricia, who we saw on the weekend, has been to Norfolk Island (in 1988) and said it was lovely, and my friend Caroline has a friend who lived there a long time ago and who said it was nice. It's not much, but it's all positive.
Aside from all those phone calls and research, I did the grocery shopping in the morning and had tea with Caroline in the afternoon. My shoulder is so much better today after last night in my own bed, and also not being stuck in a car all day. Doing my physio like a good girl.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Norfolk Island
Saturday:
I just had to write this down because I'll all excited. And you get to see me happy for a change! It's not about dad, unfortunately, no news there yet. But last night when Tim got home he mentioned that there was a job going that he could apply for. It's not in a location we'd considered, and it's only for a year so we'd still end up in the same position in 12 months, and of course there's no guarantee he'll get the job anyway. But I so want to go!
It's on Norfolk Island. Norfolk is a teeny tiny island off the coast of Australia. A long way off the coast. 1,400 kilometres off the coast, way out in the Pacific Ocean. And it is small. 35 square km. Population - 2,302. It is a crazy insane wonderful idea.
Talk about getting away from it all! It has internet access, if a bit slow, two flights to Sydney a week, it's got shops and restaurants for the tourists, cows have right of way on roads, there is only one school right up to yr12, sub-tropical weather, and it's beautiful.
I lay awake for a long time last night thinking about it. Would we sell our house or rent it out? How much stuff could we take with us? What about a car? There is accommodation offered with the job, would that be ok or a hovel? These were not the worried stressed thoughts usually keeping me awake, but happy excited thoughts.
I know it could very well not work out for one reason or another. But so what? At least I've had the pleasure of planning.
I just had to write this down because I'll all excited. And you get to see me happy for a change! It's not about dad, unfortunately, no news there yet. But last night when Tim got home he mentioned that there was a job going that he could apply for. It's not in a location we'd considered, and it's only for a year so we'd still end up in the same position in 12 months, and of course there's no guarantee he'll get the job anyway. But I so want to go!
It's on Norfolk Island. Norfolk is a teeny tiny island off the coast of Australia. A long way off the coast. 1,400 kilometres off the coast, way out in the Pacific Ocean. And it is small. 35 square km. Population - 2,302. It is a crazy insane wonderful idea.
Talk about getting away from it all! It has internet access, if a bit slow, two flights to Sydney a week, it's got shops and restaurants for the tourists, cows have right of way on roads, there is only one school right up to yr12, sub-tropical weather, and it's beautiful.
I lay awake for a long time last night thinking about it. Would we sell our house or rent it out? How much stuff could we take with us? What about a car? There is accommodation offered with the job, would that be ok or a hovel? These were not the worried stressed thoughts usually keeping me awake, but happy excited thoughts.
I know it could very well not work out for one reason or another. But so what? At least I've had the pleasure of planning.
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