39 Sleeps....

until I, yours truly, will be at the home of Downton Abbey (aka Highclere Castle!)

*S-Q-U-E-A-K*

Words don't exist for how ridiculously excited I am. The countdown is on people!

Confessions of a Shopaholic?!

Just over a month ago (April 15th to be precise), I declared a self-imposed shopping embargo to, among other things, remind me that the things that really matter can't be bought (tell that to eBay!)

Although I can't say it was a success (more like a cataclysmic failure on a scale never before seen) the good news is that I'm starting again. From today. To go all Shania on you, I'm starting 'From This Moment'.

So here goes (again)!
Wish me luck.

I heart Beards???!!!

Truth be told, I blame my insomnia. Who knew that four days into another insomnia bender, I would have an life-altering ephiphany.

True..... during these heaven-blessed ephiphanical episodes other folk have discovered cures, stumbled upon philosophical marvels or made technological breakthroughs. I don't even want to analyse why my breakthrough comes in the form of beard love. Still it is what it is.

So there I was leaving work, walking along in that I'm-so-tired-I-can't-hold-a-thought phase that comes with four days of little or no sleep when suddenly it dawned on me that I love men with beards.

Shut...up!
How can I be 36 and only know this now?!
As the bearded men catalogued through my mind to only strengthen this belief, I felt compelled to blurt out to a passerby "but not Grizzly Adams type beards".

Julien Green said "The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the man who descends to the depth of his heart". True, I don't think he was talking about beard love but still.... spooky!

Week Seven

Woop Woop!!! You know good news is bound to follow when you start with that! It's weigh-in Sunday and the news is great! This week I've lost 0.7kgs (or 1.5lbs for those using "old money". Woop woop!! Bringing the weight-loss total so far 6.9kgs (or 15.2lbs).

This Sunday was also time to check on my measurements and see how I was doing there and the news again, was GREAT! A total of 12cms off all my measurements (bust, waist and hips) including a whopping 6cms off my waist!

I promise I don't want to be all cliche-y but Weightwatchers has really been life-changing for me and this diet so far, is really a journey. I feel really empowered and positive and today's results just spur me on!

Stepping Away from the Trolley

You wouldn’t think much could happen in 20 minutes. That potentially your life may change. Yet in my morning commute, I decided to take another step in changing my life. (Cue dramatic music) Duh duh duuuuuuh!

Before you get excited and I start hyperventilating, let me say that I simply decided on a self-imposed shopping embargo for the foreseeable future. So that would be a no to tatts or a sex change or anything else daytime-soap-ish that usually follows the words “changing my life”. Sorry!

Somehow I’ve found myself on a slippery slope of buying lovely delights and treats for myself (although I hasten to add, I think we all deserve a little something every now and then) and I’m at a place where I’d like more of my happiness to come from within and non-material things than from Amazon!

Personally I think this is going to be harder than losing weight but wish me luck because here I go!

16 Sleeps....

until the Royal Wedding.

Me? Ridiculously excited.

I know some people think it's "cool" to not be interested in the Royal Wedding. Perhaps it's a case of not wanting to support the Monarchy but in this climate of doom and gloom, why not revel in a celebration? A national one at that! If you're not a Royalist or even a history boffin (after all, we're witnessing history in the making!), why not sit back, enjoy the day off and take the philosophy that sometimes we all need to let down our guard and just enjoy life a little. Smile and celebrate because it'll be back to business as usual soon enough!

Weight Watchers Weigh-In Wundernews

It's official..... I've lost a stone on Weight Watchers in six weeks.

[Pause for applause]

(Even I want to roll my eyes when I say.....) it has been a bit of a "journey" to use a cliche! Yet it really has been. It has been difficult and wonderful and it has changed me.

Despite attacking diets with gusto and enthusiasm in the past, I've never really seen results so this experience has left me feeling proud of myself and the results I am seeing and has spurred me on to keep going and reaching my goal. For the first time, I believe I can do this.

My family, it needs to be said, have been AMAZING and have cheered me on every step of the way!

Yeah me!

Friday Favourites

We are here. It's Friday peeps. And I thought I would give you some Friday Favourites to kick start the day that takes us to the beloved weekend! In no particular order: The Peach Keeper The short of it is I adore anything by Sarah Addison Allen. ANYTHING. She could write a shopping list and I would pour over it. This is her latest offering and I am stubbornly reading it deliberately slow as I am already mourning finishing it. A delight! Musings to make me Smile I love Paris (and not just in the Spring time) and there is just something inherently smile-worthy in this picture. new Hawaii Five-0

I do not know what it is about this show (okay it may have a smidge to do with the nugget of yumminess that is also known as Alex O'Loughlin) but I love this remake. LOVE IT! Give me more! Hot Ribena I rarely drink tea or coffee anymore and hot water has just gotten boring. Yesterday I tried Hot Ribena for the first time (sugar free Ribena, zero ProPoints I hasten to add) and all I can say is COME TO MAMMA! I love it! Anything and everything Royal Wedding! It's this month! THIS MONTH! Squealllllll! Bunting ...... check One Prince Left Coaster ...... check Land of Hope and Glory Mug ..... check Faux Royal Engagement picture with my head instead of Kate's ...... check Royal Cupcakes ordered ...... check Union Jack-themed headband ..... check Day of frivolity planned ...... check (1977 photo - I'm front right celebrating the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Proof I've always been a Royalist!) James Dean I fell in love with him when I was 11 and he's still as cool as ever! He's James Dean. 'nough said! I saw this card online and it's like a delicious promise to us all. I love it and I believe it. Enjoy your Friday!

My Weight Watchers Journey So Far!

It's been there a while. That lurking, lingering thought that I'm uncomfortable with my weight. Yet for some inexplicable reason on 27th February this year, I decided to *do* something about it.

My goal? To shed those pounds before my Florida Wunderhol in September. As it slowly dawned on me that I really was going to tackle my weight (or die trying), I realised that this was the first time I was doing it for myself which in itself, gives me extra fighting power. This wasn't for family, friends or a loved one. I wanted this for me. (Yeah me!)

Although I am gripped by reading what torture the stars will put themselves through for a Size 0, I knew I didn't want to do some wacky craze diet. My colleague started Weight Watchers at the beginning of the year and was finding it do-able as well as enjoying the results so I thought this would be my method too!

The Journey So Far (in kgs lost)
Week One -2kgs
Week Two -2kgs
Week Three -0.6kgs
Week Four -0.6kgs
Week Five -0.5kgs
In total? 5.7kgs. High five right here please!

Not only can I see the results in the kgs that are being lost but my clothes are baggier and so many friends and even people in my Line Dancing class have noticed. In five weeks! Talk about motivation to keep on the Weight Watchers Wagon!

Being the food hound that I am (hence the reason I am in this predicament), I expected Weight Watchers to be HARD. To feel deprived and to suffer through each day (which shows my resolve to lose the weight!)

Although it hasn't been easy per se, it has definitely not been difficult. There are two secret weapons in my arsenal. Grapes and my colleague although not necessarily in that order. Having someone in the same office also on Weight Watchers helps when buns or chocolate are brought into work. She's also a wealth of knowledge on ProPoints and tips and as she attends meetings and I am subcribed online, we can share resources. It has been a win-win for me.

Grapes? Grapes are nuggets of zero-pointed yumminess that have saved my bacon! Weight Watchers has helped me see all the times I ate because I was bored or how I often rewarded myself with food. Still there are moments between meals when I am peckish and my little tubs of grapes and raspberries see off those hunger pangs as well as give me lovely vitamins and minerals.

What's more I've also started rewarding myself when I do lose weight with non-food related goodies although last week's Lawn Mower may have been slightly excessive!!!

Each day I am on Weight Watchers, I find it empowering and I love the results I am getting. I can't wait to be a shadow of my former self. The journey continues!

Work, Weight, Hot and Tired

I'm writing this in my house-sized sauna. The heating is *still* stuck on high and I am remembering in great detail, Aussie summers! I cannot wait for the plumber to arrive next week and relieve me from this 40 degree hell!

The question this week has been to work late or not? With job losses and the recession, I think everyone, everywhere, now does whatever it takes to make sure they hold onto employment. And with mortgages and families to support, rightly so. But I also think companies are taking advantage of this and keep pushing for more from their employees. They need to get more for less. But even in these worrying times, I am sticking to my new year's resolution not to work above my designated hours. For two years, I worked 55-60 hours a week (instead of my 36) and I felt like my life was only work and sleep repeated again and again. What I have realised this year is that everyone is replaceable (even if you work double!) and you don't get thought better of for working harder. So with my "new" hours, I am finding there is balance in my life, I am happier, less tired and my bosses actually respond more positively to me (who knew?!) The purpose of our lives is to be happy and I think all companies everywhere, have to remember that we are all doing our best but ultimately, we work to live.... really live. We don't live to work.

It may be a quiet Sunday out there but for me this morning, it was (dum dum duuuum) The Moment of Truth. It was my second weigh-in for Weight Watchers. Last week I lost 2kgs (4.5lbs) and was over the moon (celebrating by buying more OPI nailpolishes). Although I've stuck to my points this week, I was nervous. Not only had we celebrated Shrove Tuesday (pancakes!), my Aunt's Birthday down at the pub and enjoyed a lovely Chinese on Friday, Mum had bought me some lovely new digital / electronic scales. What if my old crappy ones were so antiquated that although it would show my correct weight, it would show me heavier than I thought ....

With heavy heart (excuse the pun), I got on the scales and I had lost another 2kgs (4.5lbs). Woop woop! Yeah me! I also go down a point now so I have fewer points to eat. Am well chuffed with this achievement.

Off to sit in front of the fan until I wake up properly and attack the day with gusto.

(BTW the word for the day on Dictionary.com is "aver" .... to assert as true! You learn something new every day)

Rocket Science Anyone?

Today I decided to join up for Weight Watchers Online to lose weight and for better health .... and is it just me or do you need to be a Rocket Scientist to understand ProPoints??!!

I'm *still* scratching my head!

Any tips for better health, happier me and losing weight welcome!

I'm Baack!

Cue dramatic if not scary music..... I'm back peeps. Back with random babblings of no consequence whatsoever!

So it's 2011 - how's the Year of the Rabbit been treating you so far? As I AM a Rabbit (as in Chinese horoscope and not furry with big ears), I thought this year would be all sunshine and icecream .... Needless to say I'm still waaaaaaaiting!

Yet, better times are ahead. Of that, I'm sure. And I am going to be optimistic that the rest of today will also be fab!

The Isle of 'White'

A satellite view of the UK from NASA on 7th January.

Simply stunning!

Severe weather

The College was closed today at 3pm because of a severe and adverse weather warning. Lots and lots of snow and freezing temperatures. Here's a piccie of the view from my office this morning before we closed.

On the way home it was just me and a snow plough on the roads!!!!

It's really wintry and lovely.

The saddest news

Yesterday I found out the tragic news that my cousin, Patrick, had passed away aged 41. Patrick had a very aggressive form of MS, such a horrible disease.

When I first found out his diagnosis several years ago, I remember the shock. Unfortunately I never saw him in person after that moment although I was shown a photo which still haunts me. There literally wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of Patrick, praying for a cure, for peace, for comfort. That day I also started supporting the MS Society and Stem Cell Research.

His family is amazing and as devastated as I am - and I am completely heartbroken - my heart hurts for them the most.

He was a fantastic person and he is sorely missed.

Poorly

Been poorly now for ten days :( with sickness and diahorrea bug. I was off work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but have been back ever since. I had hope to shake the last of the bug this weekend but I still feel absolutely dreadful. Blargh!

Other news, I had my first viewing (of my house) on Saturday which was exciting. A woman around my age who has a small son.

So So Sad!

Stephen Gately (Boyzone) sadly passed away in Majorca last week, aged 33.

I have been watching the funeral procession on Sky News tonight - really sad!

11th October 2009

'We are completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen. We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more. Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world. Our love and sympathy go out to Andrew and Stephen's family. We love you and will miss you forever, Steo.' From Ronan, Keith, Mikey & Shane

For Sale

I am selling my house ... yup! I have seen a new riverside apartment in the city that I want to buy (the apartment building is built but the individual apartments aren't fitted out) so I've started the process of selling my much-beloved home.

Last week I had two Realtors come and view and value my home and I chose a Real Estate Agent. She's fabulous and I think she'll do the best job!

To sell your home in England, you have to have a HIPs (Home Improvement Pack) and I had the first part of the process done on Tuesday night.

My Agent came back tonight to take the photos and fingers crossed the signs will be up soon and the listing online sooner :) Watch this space!

So sad!

I heard the sad news today that Patrick Swayze had passed away. Only 57 years old too. I know he was poorly but this is really sad. RIP.

Did I stay or did I go?

I had a whole 'should I stay or should I go' moment with work and I never got around to telling you what happened.

Well my boss returned from holidays to find me with my 'Interview Leave' request form in hand (yes, they even have leave for interviews!) and he was really wonderfully lovely - not only did he give me some good (positive) advice about working in Schools, he also said how valued I was to him and the team and what they'd do to keep me. This was reiterated by Elaine (his boss). When they said the things they would change, fix and do, I realised there actually wasn't much left that I didn't like about my job.

I went to the interview and although they were really lovely, had decided I was going to stay put. Gary was back on holidays, so I emailed him and then told my colleague Lynda and Elaine and they both squealed and hugged me which was really nice! And to be honest, I've not looked back since.

Work has changed (as has my attitude) and the foibles I didn't like are being ironed out. It does ALL work out in the end - all you need is a little faith.