Brown Dog in the Ring

Ample time

2006-12-07T16:26:00.000+13:00

I had a meeting with my boss today ... I refused to train some new lifeguards. He was a tad desparate to get me onside! i TOLD HIM THAT IF THEY DONT GIVE ME MORE HOURS, PAYRISE, adequate working environment then I'm outa there! He was shocked.
Big boss will be in centre tomorrow - Friday! Whopteedoo! He should stay in Hamilton.
Went to a local restaurant for lunch with a friend who was up from Reefton or was/is it Westport - one of those hicktowns down there. Had roast salmon - it was beuatiful! Downed a bottle of Montana Pinor Gris.
Drew all the money out of the Work Social Club and divided it up amongst the Social Club members - we all got 100 bucks each. Everyone had a huge smile on their face when they opened their Christmas card. Bugger it, we are all trying to get out of there so there is no use in leaving and new ones get the benefit of it.
We dont get jack shit from our employer at Christmas!
I cleaned the house the other day - it looks ok. Might try and keep it that way for awhile. The lawns need doing again. so do Delys' - will get there tomorrow.

Going to Jennifers production on Saturday at 5pm. Cant wait. Love going to them as they always make me laugh. Have not got my camera yet, so I will get some pics off Delys.

We need rain here. Its starting to get hard to put that stanards in the ground when I put the electric fences up! We are not greedy - just need some to keep the grass growing!

Got a carton of Julians strawberries on my way home from work. At the weekend they were $7.50 for seconds, today they were $6 - whats with that! I did not buy them at the weekend cause I thought it sucked! Big time!

My friend who is having radiotherapy starts Chemo on Tuesday. We are all thinking of cutting out hair off when her hair falls out. She is horrified and is in negotiations with us ... laugh! We are a crazy crazy bunch!

Hope you are all ok out there - have you gone mad yet? Line up behind me!

Summer Days

2006-12-03T09:42:00.000+13:00

I'm in shorts!

Friday turned out to be a tad stress orientated! Max had a visit to the vet in the morning - he had to be put under and his bowels emptied - constipation. Dont feed your dogs mutton bones! It makes it hard for them to "pass". He is ok now - still very quiet but I am watching the black boy closely. Nice quiet times is the answer.

Then I get to work and we are understaffed for the amount of people the boss booked for a two hour period. 28 kids in the baby pool, swimming lessons in the learner pool and 30 kids down the hydroslide. Plus he said the baby pool kids of 5-7 year olds could go outside to the 33metre pool. I just overrode it and said no - How ridiculous. I have written a formal complaint to the director - I just dont give a stuff. Idiot.

However, yesterday was lovely. Dianna caught up with me all amongst Friday and I picked her up around 10.30am and we travelled over to Tauranga together for Sandra's birthday lunch. I had to go into town on my way to Dianna's because I had to get Sandra's present - talk about so absolutely positively unorganised.
Met some interesting people there and ate some lovely food - everything I liked: scallops, prawns, feta and spinnach pies, other little pies that I liked but did not know what they were, salmon, mud cake, orange cakes, strawberries the list goes on and on.
We had organge napkins and liquid refreshments!

Got home and had a afternoon nap!

1st December

2006-12-01T07:01:00.000+13:00

Well it has arrived ... the month I loath and detest. The month of pressure ... pressure at work and home. Pressure to so many people that means going into debt to "keep up with the Jones" ... not that I do it. Not many people celebrate it for the right reason - so wny do we extend ourselves just to look good.

Reading back that last passage sounds very negative. I actually like Christmas, just dont like all the rubbish that goes with it. One of the best Christmas days I have experienced as an adult was a few years back when I drove up from Wellington on the 24th and Mum, Dad and I went for a picnic up the Motu. Dad showed us where his grandparents lived and ran the local store. We visited the church and cemetery had ham sammies - it was a great day.

As a kid the best part of Christmas was the meal. Yummy stuff that Mum would make. She was a legend with her meals - when I think about it now she did all that by herself. We would get one big present each and a parcel of goodies - it was great fun. When we had Christmas over here at Grandads we would go to the beach for BBQ's and also go to the Hot Pools every night after dinner. Good summer days.

I hated it when the family from Hamilton would come out because it meant we had to wait to open our presents. One time they did not get there until 11 oclock - can you imagine kids having to hold out for that! All I remember is Mum and Dad having an argument about it - it was Dads lot! The next year we opened our presents at breakfast. We had breakfast with the Licences and opened them - it was a far better situation.

One tradition that Mum started was a box of chocloates. Every year we got a little box of chocolates in our stash. No matter what. Anyway, one year (when we are adults) we did not get a box of chocloates ... well we certainly let it be known that that was not acceptable! Mum thought it hilarious that her grown children would rather have a box of chocloates than anything else.

Anyway, I have gone on abit here.

Three workmates resigned yesterday ... I am annoyed that they got in before me!

Interesting

2006-11-30T06:47:00.000+13:00

Well yesterday was a tad interesting ... three workmates have second job interviews lined up ... our Admin guy will be resigning today as he has been offered a job at Credit Union. Then I'm on shift lifeguarding away when the Manager from the Warehouse Harvey Normans comes up to me and tells me that a woman in the office has just resigned and would I be interested ... YES!
He has already given my CV to the Manager in charge of the office staff.
I have not even asked what pay, hours or anything - I just want OUT!
I feel as though I am stuck at the Aquatic Centre and cant get out. Just imagine what sort of STATEMENT it would create if we all leave at the same time. Basically the centre is in the shit! All very good workers just wanting out!
Wonder what today will bring!
Also ... and dont hit me when you read this! The toothache appeared again ... so I went down to Kope to get some Neurofen Plus as the others had vanished (wonder why). Anyway ... on the corner was this couple with a Newfoundland! It was the dog I rehomed recently ... I called out to Bently and he came bounding over. He is happy ... settled in well ... has a walk on the beach every day and they own the fish and chip shop at Kope so he has all the fish he wants. I walked away a tad emotional - I put it down to now knowing he is well care for and much loved - such a relief as rehoming these dogs can be a worry in itself.
Wonder what today will bring ...

I'm Still Here ...

2006-11-29T10:37:00.000+13:00

Been a tad frustrating as everytime I go to update my blog or visit other peoples it flips out ... so I get ratty and go do something else ... mind due through this frustration I managed to get half the lawns done yesterday morning - so it has a positive side to it ...
Been busy and tired at the same time ... done heaps but cant remember half of it.
Trying to get on the ferry sites at the moment ... that has been a pain in the backside too. All I want to find out is if I can go over on the ferry by foot and bring back a dog ... The interislander customer service does not open until 11am - whats with that? And the other Bluewhatevertheyarecalled are getting back to me. How hard can this be?

Flying the dog or taking the ute over is expensive, so I am looking for a cheaper option ... even though I get seasick ... however I will put up with six hours of vomitting if it saves money.

Another Week

2006-11-25T07:51:00.000+13:00

... has gone ... and it was busy and intense.

Came home to real mail amongst the "bills". Pay week but still have no money ... what is it with that!

Lack of sleep means I am grumpy ... work is on the agenda this afternoon, so I just wanted to turn over and pretend it was not morning. However, six beedy eyes were on me. Why is it that these animals beg me to get out of bed the moment my eyes open. They certainly are obssessed with my feet hitting the floor as soon as the eyelids snap open.

And the Christmas "thing" is rapidly approaching and I am not on schedule. AT ALL ... whats with that also!

Oh well there is the All Blacks to watch 2moro morning, so that is something at the end of the rainbow ...

I would just like to state this: I dont care that Don Brash has resigned as the leader of the National Party. I dont care about the stadium being at the waterfront. Because I have run out of toilet paper ... I went to the supermarket yesterday in between doing "stuff" and I did not have it on my list ... so I did not get any and now I have used up the last segment ... so ... if I want to go to the toilet I will have to really "get my shit together". That is what is important in my life at the moment ... and as far as I am concerned who cares about Don Brash or the stadium. The dude taking over looks like a plonker and if they decide on the waterfront it wont get finished in time - SO THERE!

Attention!

2006-11-20T10:11:00.000+13:00

ATTENTION

ALIENS ARE COMING TO ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.

YOU WILL BE SAFE, I'M JUST POSTING TO SAY GOODBYE.

Anticipating a Busy Week

2006-11-19T12:47:00.000+13:00

Its Sunday already and I am dreading this coming week ... I have to do my lawns - will try and get off my backside and do them this afternoon - then Delys' Monday morning ... then go to work at 1pm ... Tuesday do Mums lawns but will try and con Delys to do them, Dog Club Tuesday night and a Committee meeting after it (could really do without that), then if I am up to it drive to Hamilton for a course at the Waikato University Wednesday and Thursday. If I cant then I will have to get up at 5am Wednesday morning and drive. Back Thursday night as "work" cant get anyone to work my Friday morning shift because they are so unorganised ... one of the reasons why I am applying for other jobs - its pathetic. While over in Hamilton I will fit in a visit to the hospital as my tracking friend is starting radiotherapy and she will need either "boredom killing visitors", or supplies or both. Also, my nephew wants me to visit. I am staying with a friend at Chartwell and she works at the University.
Anyway, I will have to organise where I will be putting the stock for the two days I am away, that will be easy. Plus bribe Delys to feed the three mischief makers that live in this old house.
Actually, it does not sound that much when its all written down.
I better get some lunch, put out the rubbish, get some washing in, put some out, and motivate myself to do these dreaded lawns!
Have a good week everyone.

14th November

2006-11-14T10:38:00.000+13:00

I have lit a candle for our Dad - he would have been 64 today if he was still looking over his glasses, hitting golf balls, watching rugby and eating cold mince pies!

Don Pedro

2006-11-13T16:39:00.000+13:00

Decided that while I have 20 bucks in my purse I'd go get a chicken so I can have a roast tonight. anyway, I came back with: 1 chicken, bunch of bananas, raspberry slice and a bottle of Don Pedro!!!!!!!!!!
On special for $4.49 at the local supermarket ... it will be interesting to see if I have to close my eyes for the first glass to go down ... or I might be pleasantly enlightened and it will be a really good bargain. There were two kinds, one said "white" and the other said "red", I got the white. Its a product of Spain but bottled in Auckland ... sounds totally dodgy - I will report back later ...

The Purina Diet

2006-11-13T13:14:00.000+13:00

I have a Curly Coated Retriever and I was buying a large bag of Purina dog biscuits at
New World and was in a line at the check out.

A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. On impulse, I told her that
no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably
shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital the last time, but I
did lose 20kg before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes
coming out of most of my orifices and Iv's in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way
that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina biscuits and
simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry, the food is
nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. Practically
everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly
a guy who was behind her.

Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital because I had
been poisoned. I told her no; it was because I'd been sitting in the
street licking my balls and a car hit me.

I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so
hard as he staggered out the door.......

Castle Point Lighthouse

2006-11-13T06:23:00.000+13:00

While in Rotorua we went to a friends Art Exhibition - there were three pieces I really liked. In the end I got a watercolour of the CPL and also one of the boat sheds at Evans Bay.
Had lunch at the cafe down at the lake waterfront - tip for everyone - if you want to stand in line for 20 mins, then thats the place to go - absolutely thrilling place to be on a Sunday lunchtime. Why we just didn't walk out is beyond me.
Watched the All Blacks thrash France - what a fantastic way to deal to No 2 in the world. Mind due I am sure it will be a totally different team next week!

Everybody loves Sunday!

2006-11-12T07:52:00.000+13:00

... when your not working that is!
Have already moved the stock ... although that was painful. Got the girls out the paddock then they stopped abruptly and started coming back towards me. I was pushing them back and they would get to a certain point then start coming back to me. So I climb over the fence and go see what they are scared of ... that ginger cat of mine was sitting in the middle of the race and they were scared of him - for goodness sake. As soon as I approached JJ he took off, the little monkey ... arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh.
Then I get back to the house and he gives me a hell of a fright by jumping at me as I walk in the back door - he is so cheeky that boy. I walk into the kitchen and he runs up behind me and bites me in the back of the leg. He is on very very shaky ground.
Having brekkie then going around to watch All Blacks with great aunt. Then going to Rotorua again.
... got toothache again ... sigh!

A week goes by!

2006-11-10T20:05:00.000+13:00

Monday Monday - get a call to go to Harvey Normans to see if I want a job there. Go to work a tad hyped up at the prospect of not working there for much longer! Boss at aquatic centre asks me if I want to go to a course in Hamilton in a couple of weeks to become the assessor for lifeguards at our complex - I say yes. Everything happens at once!
Tuesday - sileage stack being sorted so I go to Dog club to keep away from getting a sore back - heard my brother in law got sucked in to helping !!! Help a screaming lady and three kids change her flat tyre, only to find the spare is flat too, offered to take the tyre to the garage at Awakeri to get fixed but she screams no and drives off to the supermarket! Amazing!
Wednesday - took all day to type up CV, then go into Harveys and discover its in the Warehouse lifting stuff - too old for that sort of stuff. Glad I said yes to Hamilton course! Just discovered I have Tuesday and Wednesday mixed up as I changed that tyre on my way to the Harveys interview - they let me wash my hands in the staff washroom! Hilarious but I guess you had to be there.
Thursday - do a early morning shift and wake fifty times during the night because I am scared I will sleep in - even though I have never done that the whole time I have worked at the sodding pools! Long shift as I am working with someone I do not trust.
Friday - another early morning shift - cold. Get home and should go do Delys' lawns but take the dogs for a walk instead and end up having a glass of wine at Delys'. Walk home and discover Duncan has followed, so take him back - tell Delys she needs to take Duncan to obedience school and my brother in law tells me the kids need to go to "kids shut door obedience school".
End of week, now eating bananas and custard.

All Blacks!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-11-05T05:07:00.000+13:00

My great aunt wants me to go round there and watch the All Blacks play England ... she tells me it starts at 4.30am this morning. So I set the alarm for 4am. Sure enough it goes off ... I awake and get dressed in the dark ... goodness knows why! I stumble to the toilet and do all that sort of thing, then get in the ute and drive round to watch the rugby.
Great Aunt has all the lights on - totally unnecessary but she is 87 or whatever she is ... she greets me at the door with "cant get the rugby on the tv" ... I say (half asleep still) ... are you on channel 10 ... I check - she is! I look in the paper and see that the rugby is on at 4.30am Monday morning. However, she shows me the Sky Mag which says it is on 4.30am Sunday morning.
She then starts apologising ... which got on my nerves ... but I was calm and said that it was not her fault ... she has read what she has read ... and its not her fault. I say "have a good Sunday, she wants me to stay for breakfast, but I decline! Its 4.30am ... she has her pleading voice on "will you come and watch the rugby with me Monday morning" ... I hesitate as I have to start work at 1pm ... but say yes anyway! Even though I will be in Rotorua most of the day today visiting a sick friend.

dumbteedoo!

Sick Dog

2006-11-01T22:04:00.000+13:00

My Chelsea is sick ... got home from work tonight and knew something was wrong immediately as she always wants to greet me at the door before Max or Jessejames. No show - in her bed ... I have made her vomit - I guess I will be up all night ... we have been through this before - many times ... that is why I call her the "garbage disposal unit". Goodness knows what she has eaten but it will be bad ... sigh.

Denial Mode

2006-10-31T06:51:00.000+13:00

I'm in denial mode ... toothache is upon me but I just cant make the appointment yet. I have two chipped teeth in the front but the one giving me jip is at the back ... I am taking these pain relief pills that my nurse friend in Taupo recommended but when they run out goodness knows what I will do. The dentist will go ballistic but I hate going to the dentist just as much as I hate sailing on the ferry, eating luncheon sausage or floods!
I was called into work yesterday as another Team Leader was supposedly sick, I say supposedly because on my way to work I saw him down town! Whats with that! No matter as I want the extra money so that I can get stuff!
Better go move these girls into their next break.

Fireworks

2006-10-28T20:58:00.000+13:00

SHOULD BE BANNED ... I got home from work - cooked dinner, then sat down with a cuppa and the paper to hear fireworks going off. I looked at the calendar - nope not November (from my memory guyfawkes is in November). I go to the back door and see fireworks being let off over the other side of the river (Edgecumbe township on that side). Then I hear the stock and freak out ... I stick my gumboats on and walk down to the paddock. Here they are the poor socks - spooked out of their minds running up and down. I let down a fence to give them more space - also there is a day old calf in there - fortunately the mother is sheilding it from the rest of the cows running up and down.
I know the fireworks are pretty and all that jazz but I am just sick and tired of people celebrating something that involved someone burning down a building - durrrrrrrrrrr!

And while I am on the band wagon ... just read the article in the Herald about the Kahui Twins father being arrested for their murder ... lets just hope its the right person who did it ... because I am sick and tired of people getting away with this sort of shit!

Also, I have a swollen mouth as I got whacked at work today - by none other than a fire hose! Blood everywhere - at least I know I can do first aide on myself under stress.

There is no Such thing as ...

2006-10-27T17:00:00.000+13:00

RED BEANS ...

I have been to Super Value in Edgecumbe, New Wrld and Pac N Save in Whakatane and Binn Inn also ... no red beans. However ... I have discovered that there are green, white, broad, pink, baked, mixed beans. Have also discovered many more that I cant remember but there were no RED BEANS ... I have Red Kidney Beans but just plain Red Beans are nowhere to be seen.

I have also discovered that Binn Inn in Whakatane stock the best range of Gluten Free stuff - expensive but so is New World.

So I came home with no beans! Did however call into Julians Berry farm and got some strawberries and spray free tangelos (apparently).

I am off to cook dinner - as you guessed its not red beans!

How can I sort this!

2006-10-25T15:25:00.000+13:00

Has anyone got any advice on how I can STOP being a hoarder ... I am sick of this house being messy. When I lived in Wellington I was a tidy thing ... now I cant throw things out and save this and that for a "rainy day" - at the moment it does not rain properly here and when it did we got "flooded". So ... whats everyones secret ... come spit it out!

I went to town early today - it was amazing as I am not usually in town that early. I could park right outside "The Bean" and I walked down to Jos's photography with a mocha and we picked these beaut frames for a couple of pics for the kitchen - that man just knows what to do. Then I paid bills - the telephone one drives me nuts - I just cringe paying telecom, then the car bill - which has been playing on my mind for ages, then I finally started a payment on my layby for camera - which is really not a bill but a present to myself - so that is allowed because I dont spend much on myself. Then to the food shop - bought healthy shit - then gulped at the price of fish but decided that I wanted salmon steak for dinner so got one. I think its dreadful how much fish costs in this country, especially when we are surrounded by so much water! End of rant ...

At the moment I am doing a scrap canvas, just waiting for paint to dry, then I can go onto the next step. Hopefully it will work - I dreamt the idea, so it will be interesting what happens.

Had to get the vet out at 2pm as I have a sad sack cow (number 146 Delys). He could find nothing wrong but agreed with me that she is not right, so I have to give her 25mls antibiotics for the next few days. I get frustrated when they find nothing wrong or dont know - she has a chest infection and slight fever.

I can only spot two chicks so far - one goldie and one blackie - so thats their names. Cute as!

A Moment that Made me think of Dad

2006-10-24T17:03:00.000+13:00

On my way over to see Delys' clean carpet I notice a ruffle in the shelter belt bushes ... out popped some chickens ... I managed to control the gun dogs and moved quickly on. My thoughts immediately switched to my father because of the following:

The night Dad died we did a lot of the arrangements for his funeral that night with the undertaker. anyway, did not get home till very early hours of the morning. Of course could not really sleep so I sat out on my deck and watched the sun come up. Anyway, I was sitting there thinking how peaceful it was with the sun just emerging, when my white suffolk chicken came around the corner with 8 little chickens following her ... I have never revealed this but at the time she turned the corner and came into my sight my thoughts were on the lines of "how dare you die Dad, what the hell do you think you are doing dying like that". Then the new baby chickens come into my life and I just laughed and laughed ... it was like a teeny bit of sunshine opening the day with a smile. I suppose people really had to be there to experience the moment but when I see new chickens (not ducklings) I think of that moment. It always makes me smile. I guess its a combination of happiness and grief in one as I knew that the next few days were going to be, shall I say CRAP, and that moment made it go away.

Just thought I would share ... I have not managed to see how many yet as I was more worried about the gun dogs "hunting". They will be ok once I get them out into the open and tell Max and the Brown Dog that they have to leave them alone - they are good like that.

Anyway, I saw Delys' carpet - its impressive and Rhys showed me the new machine - swish! We got the washing in too!

Made 20 bucks this morning

2006-10-21T14:04:00.000+13:00

Had this hilarious text conversation with Delys last night over her lawns ... I should be doing my own but she paid me 20 bucks to do hers! LOL

That Week Went Fast

2006-10-20T09:48:00.000+13:00

gee wizz ... what happened to that week? The big excitement is that I have saturday and sunday off! Have to work Monday though - nevermind. And not looking forward to todays shift as the kids have the day off school "Teachers Only Day" AGAIN! Just seems that the kids have lots of these "Teacher Only Days" off. It affects us at the complex. We treasure our weekdays of just looking after adults up until about 3.30pm.
Delys and Dave came to my rescue on Wednesday - I go to go to work and the ute would not start - battery flat as a pancake! Mum was out and Delys and Dave were at group day with the kids at Matata. So Delys dropped everything and picked me up and took me to work - then got a battery for me and Dave installed it then came and picked me up when I finished work. Mum arrived at the complex about 1.30pm as Great Aunt thought I needed a ride home then - I wish!
Anyway, it all worked out.
We need rain here - its hard putting the standards in when I put the electric fences up. Plus Chelsea is a complete Brown Dog when she goes hunting for ducks in the drains - which means MUD.
Have a good weekend everyone!

The things People Do!

2006-10-14T10:01:00.000+13:00

Well, took the dogs on their normal walk - arrive at Delys' - she comes out to the dining area in tears - fell over at the shed taking a photo of the vat overflowing and will have to go into hospital because it may be broken - the things scrapbookers do to get a pic for a layout - or is it to get out of milking! Good luck with the hospital staff on a saturday!

Few Favourite Things

2006-10-14T07:43:00.000+13:00

Ok Janine here are a few of my fav things!

Peanut butter sammies (must be on fresh bread)
Sushi
New socks!
Long hot showers!
Being fit (the problem is getting there!)
Cuppa tea
Cuddles with Jessejames (he is sitting on my knee as I try to type this)
Helping people
Drinking coffee at the Bean
Not being at work
Collecting old tins
Collecting frogs
Photography
Spending time with my dogs

Tagged by Janine

2006-10-12T16:24:00.000+13:00

1. Do you have any middle names? Yes- Isabel. As a child I used to get teased, but they did not tease me for long as I always declared - I love my middle name as I was named after my Grandmother - I actually would have preferred to be called Isabel and one of my very good old friends calls me just that - and I have always loved it. So there ...

2. What’s under your bed right now? Just a minute I will have a look - hopefully Jessejames has not left a rat like the other day ... Nothing but dust - phew!

3. Last time you laughed so much you cried? At the Nationals with my crazy dog friends.

4. What age were you when you first drank Alcohol? About 14 - same deal as Janine - Dad gave me a shandi!

5. Porn Star Name (First pets name and name of your street)? Kitty Eastbank

6. What’s your desk top photo on the PC? A pic of one of my sisters special cakes (ball of wool with a cat on top of it).

7. What did you have for breakfast? Banana on the run.

8.Music or TV? Music.

9. Worst outfit you have ever worn? Flared jeans. Oh and Mum used to dress Delys and I in matching pink dresses - got the photo to prove it!

10 Where do you feel most at peace? With my dogs doing crazy "stuff".

Cards

2006-10-12T15:03:00.000+13:00

Of late I have had to send out quite a few cards to people with bad news and also (thankfully) with good news ... anyhow it got me thinking that I should make up a whole heap of cards that are basically ready to go but only need a few personal touches added when the time is necessary to send something special off.

So ... this morning on shift (I think about lots of stuff on shift) ... I got to think why dont I organise a card swap of my own ... due to a bad experience a while back I wont participate in any form of swap - however if I run one myself, then I will know that it is going to happen properly. I know everyone is busy, but what the heck!

All you need to do is send me 10 cards - it can be any theme. I will then sort them and you will get some cards back. Now they can be all the same or all different, they can be any theme. For example I have done a few "Thinking of you cards" or late, birthday cards, sympathy cards, sent off a Merry Christmas card to a friend who always celebrates Christmas 1 October!, the choice is yours. Email me or post here.

If I get no reponses then I guess you think its a stink idea!

Courage, Hope & Love

2006-10-10T09:38:00.000+13:00

I have lit three candles this morning for a friend who has been diagnosed with primary lung cancer and secondary bone cancer - Courage, Hope and Love is what I am sending her. Hard times are ahead. All of her tracking friends are in shock. For the last few months we have all been training together in Rotorua and Taupo with our dogs having hilarious fun on some very big hills and cold days. Not even aware of what shocking news our loyal buddy had ahead of her.

Life is so very fragile ...

One of those Far Out "Max" days

2006-10-08T17:41:00.000+13:00

Geez wizz - on the last stage of the dog walk this morning Max out does himself and rings a geeses neck! For about two years these two white geese have been teasing Max and Chelsea down at the river - always managing to get away - well today Max got the better of one of them. It was a beautiful bird and he was not giving it up to Chelsea once he caught it. He has buried it under the hedge that borders with the neighbour.
I went straight home and got changed and went out. Visited a friend who I used to pick asparagus with and gave her two bags of grapefruit and she gave me a fistfull of asparagus. Nothing like a good trade.
I then visited another friend down the road who told me that another woman we used to work with has breast cancer - 32 years of age. She got a second opinion when her own doctor told her the lump was nothing - it turned out the second opinion was a very lucky choice to take. Anyway, she is positive, has had the breast off and is now having chemo and has told all negative people to stay away as she only wants positive people around her. Neat aye!

Hehe

2006-10-08T08:18:00.000+13:00

I have written an article to go in the NZKC Gazette and just got word that the Editor wants to change a few words ... words like "crap" and "buggar". I laugh and "ok" it but point out that it wont have the same "effect". We all laugh and go our separate ways!

I'm still in my PJs ... have mega to do but just cant get motivated. Perhaps a cuppa tea will help start the day!

Home Sweet Home

2006-10-03T15:14:00.000+13:00

Phew ... glad I'm home. Dont get me wrong I had a great time away ... however the pollen in the air down in Palmerston was horrendous and I could not drive home. My friend Sue stopped at Taihape and got me these pills called "Actified" ... well after about half an hour of taking one itzy bitzy pill the head was clear. However I slept the rest of the way home.
We had thunder and lightening storm here last night - talk about drama!

Max did well on the first day of the Nationals - he did the "hard" stuff easy. Then bombed out on day two in what people call the easy stuff. Well its hard for him. So we will get some jumps made so that I can have it here at home and we can build up his confidence. I was proud of him as he always gives it a go.

We stayed in a Motel called Gateway on the Pioneer Highway ... half the complex was full of dog people and the other half car racing people - we were glad the car racing people went out every night as they were a tad noisy. Not a bark from our dogs - the Motel owners were very impressed.

Right across the road was a huge park ... thats where Max did his Policedog thing. I just laugh out loud when I think about it. What a dag of a dog!

Better go as they want me towrite an article for the NZKC Gazette and its in my head but I cant seem to stick it down on paper.

Life Cycle

2006-09-26T07:48:00.000+12:00

I think the life cycle is all backwards
You should start out dead and get it out of the way.
Then, you wake up in an old age home feeling better every day.
You get kicked out for being too healthy;
go collect your pension, then when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day.
You work 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement.
You drink alcohol, you party, you're generally promiscuous and you getready for High School.
You go to primary school, you become a kid , you play, you have noresponsibilities, you become a baby, and then...
You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, in spa-likeconditions; central heating, room service on tap, larger quarters everyday, and then, you finish off as an orgasm....I rest my case.

Time is Ticking

2006-09-21T09:47:00.000+12:00

Time is Ticking on and there does not seem to be enough hours in the day. Before work yesterday I went to the school production Jennifer and Rhys were in. Because I could not go to the night sessions Delys organised a ticket for me to go ... I was sitting with all the school kids. It was very different ... they react so differently to adults and laugh at weird things! Jennifer was out there very confident. Rhys more conservative but he did his bit too.

Work is sort of busy ... we have had problems with pool temperatures so the public are moaning a tad. The childrens pool in particular has been colder than the norm. Hopefully the electricians have fixed the fault as the moaning is driving me "nuts".

Very nervous about the Nationals ... I am not confident at all. Usually Max just does the business but this is a whole new "thing" we are doing and it will be a hit and miss affair I feel.
Nevermind, the break away will be worth it.

A Day off

2006-09-16T05:00:00.000+12:00

I have a day off ... waking so early brasses me off ... but I guess that because I have been on mornings at the pools the body thinks I should be awake for the third morning in a row. Nevermind!

Another teamleader is doing my shift for me this afternoon as I want to go to Taupo for a training day before Max and I head off to the Nationals at the end of the month. I will buy him a box of red as it was important. He will have an easy shift as he has good staff on and also the swimming club have a carnival from 11am to closing anyway. Part of the reason why he did the shift for me ... the other part because he likes me ... I guess ... does not matter he is doing it.

So, I am off to Taupo after I move the girls over to their next break. Will try and make my lunch before I go too ... otherwise the rest of the training buddies will go nuts at me for "not eating properly". I will shock them ... I even bought some food last night before I went and watched Rhys play his final game of hockey. They won 2-1. It was a very even game with both sides missing ample opportunities. They both had good goalies who got work! Rhys did some good work - I liked the fact that when he passed the ball he passed it to someone ... not just whack it for the hell of it ...

Great to see Sandra on Thursday ... we had coffee at the Bean ... we sat outside in the sun and I flaunted my new "racy Red" shirt from work. A couple of friends said they saw me there and were appalled at the red shirt not realising that it was a work shirt and sent me texts telling me my dress sense is getting out of hand ... hehe!

Anyway, I will sign off and go make my lunch now ... get the termous ready too as where we train is on a farm that is on the Taupo/Napier highway and when the wind gets up its quite cold.

Have a great day everyone.

Exhausted look

2006-09-13T09:05:00.000+12:00

This is Andreas exhausted look after her first run yesterday. I have a photo of the thighs but not the bum but that will remain on my camera and not posted on your blog Andrea. I was impressed to see matching socks though!

First Run

2006-09-13T08:28:00.000+12:00

Well I ran around the block yesterday. I wont today! 4000 odd steps. I had to squeeze into my bike pants, buts thats all I had that could fit, so the cows got a flash of a fat bum - too bad. My hips are sore. Will go and put up some electric fences and then walk the block. Then its off to town with Great Aunt Phyllis for lunch then take her to the doctors for a blood test. I think that she is living on cracker biscuits as she asked me to get her 2 packets yesterday! hmmmmm!

I'm a Little Fire Engine Flick is my Name!

2006-09-11T22:07:00.000+12:00

Well ... my crew were all in fits of laughter tonight as our boss gave us our new uniforms. They are bright "fire engine" red. And I cant put on any weight as my trousers just go over my hips. And i refuse to wear the itzy bitzy shorts they have alloacted.

I will get Delys to take a photo ... "I'm a little fire engine, Flick is my name". Laughing all the way to a cuppa tea and my last cake of chocolate as I cant put on anymore weight otherwise I will risk splitten the red pants!

And ... I next go on shift on Thursday morning - that will wake the swimmers up!

Rats

2006-09-10T12:11:00.000+12:00

Found a rat in the kitchen again - dead and chewed of course! Everytime I put Jesse on a diet he scares me into giving him his usual portions by bringing in these huge rats ...

Went to a tangi yesterday ... workmates father died last week and another Team Leader and I were appalled that the boss has not even acknowledged it. So another Team Leader and I went. Then on the way home the workmate I was with broke down and told me her problems. I just want to run away from that place. Its toxic.

We stopped at a cafe in Ohope and had a coffee and cake (I had a yoyo!).

Had bacon and eggs for brunch ... the dogs want a walk but they can wait.

Feels like all the energy has been sucked out of me. Does not help that its raining and the lawns need doing.

Furious

2006-09-07T08:41:00.000+12:00

I'm furious about this "four year" sentence that this kid has got for killing that guy by throwing a slab of concrete from the overbridge. The judge has given him a reduced sentence because he showed remorse - what rubbish. He didn't come forward straight after he did it, he didn't say sorry to the family. The Police had to do a full investigation to find him. He should have got at least 10 years ... I laugh when he says he "did not mean to hurt anyone". Well excuse me ... he threw a slab of concrete from a bridge when a car went below - is that dumb or what. Of course he meant to hurt someone. And I dont care whether he was on "p" or had a bad life up to that point. He has killed someone. Just so sick of the mamby pamby sentences and do-gooders who get these people off.

End of rant.

Exhausted

2006-09-06T09:23:00.000+12:00

Mad Morning - its 9.20am and I'm stuffed. The dry cows got into the sileage paddock. Just for a breif encounter. So I scrambled and ran this way and that way and managed to get them into another paddock. Then my brother in law came over and helped me get them out of there and into their proper paddock. The lifted the gate off its hinges to get where they were going. anyway, I have got the gate back on its hinges and put up electric fence between where they are and the gate.
Still going to go for my walk around the block though - started it yesterday and am determined to continue. Got to beat this "unmotivated" problem.
Have a great day everyone.

Gypies, Tramps and Thieves

2006-09-04T13:45:00.000+12:00

Into a Cher week I think ... you know how you go off some of your music for awhile ... then "find" it months later. Thats a case this fine Monday first half of the day but dark clouds are evident when I look out the window towards Mt Edgecumbe ...

Saturday Again

2006-09-02T06:56:00.000+12:00

Where did that week go! I know I have been busy - I have had to take one of the dogs I was looking after to the vet,taken an obedience class because an instructor was away, have been injecting a cow with anti-biotics for the last few days as it has a major infection and the vet does not reckon it will "make it", worked mornings Thursday and Friday which has made me have a nana nap about 3pm, forgotten to get tea bags everytime I go to the supermarket - remembered the chocloate though - New World have it on special for $1.99, won a wolf t-shirt on trademe - got home yesterday to a nice wee parcel so put it on instantly, met Diana, Arwen and Cleo in the park and showed her some tricks to get Cleo down the path for a walk, Been to a movie - Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont - a chick flick, eaten badly, started walking at least an hour a day.

Now listening to Donny Osmond - sometimes I just need to listen to "easy" music. Got work both afternoons today and tomorrow. Swapped with another team leader who is having major personal problems, so she can do the easy morning shifts - sometimes you just have to do the hard yards to make it easy for people when they are down. Actually two of the Team Leaders are. The place is falling apart. Five of us long termers are looking for alternative employment.

Thats all really ...

How come!

2006-08-28T08:06:00.000+12:00

How come ... everytime I stubb my toe from that moment on if I dont put my slippers on when walking round the house I bang it against someat. When it aint stubbed it does not happen ... fascinating discovery on this sunny Monday morning ...

I am having "quiet" time with my cat - from 7am to 8am JesseJames teases them from the ranch sliders. He is such a hard case dog ... I mean cat!

Delys rang me last night about a scrapbook shop that is going to be started here in Whakatane - the Itcy something - advert in the Bay Weekender. Combining it with a garden centre. Has anyone else seen it?

Saturday Saturday Saturday

2006-08-26T19:36:00.000+12:00

I was glad to go to bed last night knowing that I have the weekend off ... not having to go to that place where people do revolting things in public pools ...
It was the worst case of faecal I have ever had to deal with ... the shit was all up the walls in and around the spa pool ... I had to basically scrub and waterblast the whole area. It took me 2 hours to sort out the situation. There was no way I was going to involve any other staff member just in case we all get sick down the line ... all I can say is I AM SICK AND TIRED OF DUMB PARENTS. My advice to everyone out there "dont use public spa pools EVER". If you have a child take them home and give them a hot bath.
Also, in the middle of this drama a mother could not get her child out of the learner pool, nor could anyone else. I just walked the whole length of the aquatic centre got into the pool fully clothed grabbed the child and handed it to the mother. At the end of the night my staff told me that the whole centre just stopped and stared ... well I was up to my eyeballs in shit and all I could see was my shift falling apart so dealt with it in a flash. Far out - where is the control these days. We had a new staff member start last night and he said to me that he thoroughly enjoyed himself - "actioned packed".

So today ... I took the mutts for a walk and swim and decided that I need time "alone". Off to town I went, bought a candle for Dad and a neat candle puttaouta thingy. Tried to negotiate a price and extra stuff for a digital camera but the sales guy got stroppy when I text Karen to ask her if it was a good deal ... so I walked out of that shop ... stuff him. Had lunch down the heads (non-healthy but who cares, its my choice na naa ne na na!)
Then went to the flicks and saw Mrs Palfrey. It was a neat little movie - definitely a womens movie though. You could pick what was going to happen but I didn't care ... it was nice.
Visited Great Aunt Phyllis who has knitted these neat gloves for Mum - longer cuffs. Found out Mum has gone to Auckland again - that woman never stands still.
Got home to the mutts again, so took them for a swim, fed them, fed me and now I'm sitting here with a cuppa. Just watched the cat try and jump from the fence through the window and poor Jesse has missed and ended up in the Cameillia bush ... so I went and called him from the sliding door and he is now on my bed - wet! About to start reading my new book I won off trademe for $6 Oprah's story. One woman I like heaps. Its raining out there so its a good excuse to eat Tim Tams and read a book.
Sunday will be washing day ... and I have got to do some thank you cards ... I am so BEHIND in that department.

Madness and Mayhem

2006-08-23T08:52:00.000+12:00

Should take up Delys' title 'Mayhem and Madness" or is it "Madness and Mayhem", as I have just been delivered 2 minature poodles and the Beardie I rescued in Masterton last weekend. My friend Trish and her husband Ian are going on holiday until next Friday and I have agreed to have them to save kennel costs.
So ... dogs rule here ... Jessejames and I are going to have to be brave!

One Curly Coated Retriever
One Springer Spaniel
One Beardie
Two Minature poodles
One ginger cat
and one human!

Fed Up

2006-08-20T11:12:00.000+12:00

I'm fed up ...

I will get over it ... and hopefully within the next hour as I go on shift at the pools at 12noon and I just cant be bothered handling the public today ... but I am going to have too. I just hope that I have a good staff on because that will make a hell of a difference ...

Am trying to rehome a Newfoundland at the moment ... thought there may be a chance that he would have gone this morning, alas no ... my house is a mess anyway, then comes along a monster to make it worse ...

He is a lovely natured boy but so huge and with my two being so active it makes life a tad unmanageable. Plus I will be dog sitting another three dogs for a week - this week coming I think - so I was hoping Bently would be gone. However, he cant just got to anyone as that is why we are in the current situation at the moment.

People forget that while it may be "cool" to have a dog like this it takes effort to own one.

Enough of the glumness, but if I cant vent it on my own blog then whats the point in having it.

Friday Night

2006-08-18T19:18:00.000+12:00

Maori Queen

2006-08-16T10:42:00.000+12:00

Fell quite sad at the moment with the Maori Queen dying. I had met her twice. We grew up in Ngaruawahia (bet many of you didn't know that). She used to come along to the end of year prizegivings and shock my hand when I got awards for English and Cross country. Lovely lady. Tainui will miss her sound judgement.

Crazy Weekend

2006-08-13T17:50:00.000+12:00

well ... I am finally home and deciding whether to Have a beer or cuppa tea! I did over 1,200 kilometres to pick up a homeless Beardie for my friend Trish ... got to do some training on the way back at Rotorua with Max ...
Saw "a bit" of different country wehn trying to get from Palmerston North to Masterton - I call it the scenic route! I knew something was not quite right when there were no other vehicles on the road for a long long time! Still got to Masterton for the 4.30-5.00pm handover of the Beardie though!
To put it bluntly - I am knackered!

Crazy

2006-08-10T06:18:00.000+12:00

Well I have the flu and have finally relented and called in sick for work ... I should be right by the weekend ... usually I would struggle on and go to work but a co-worker said to me last night "Andrea you wont get better being here ... and they will let you keep coming to work so you are only stuffing yourself for nothing".

So ... there you go.

Plus I have to be right for the weekend as I am picking up a dog (Beardie) for a friend in Masterton. Crazy, but I have to come back to Taupo Saturday night, then do some training on jumps with Max at rotorua on Sunday for the Nationals in Palmerston North next month.

So really I have not got time to be sick. Its all in the throat - very sore, so I am able to be up and about. I will go get some lemons when the sky is up and make some lemon juice. To be honest I have not been eating properly, so I must get my shit together ...

Car sick

2006-08-08T15:55:00.000+12:00

Does anyone still get car sick as an adult! I tried to tell my co-workers that it would be best if I drive over to Rotorua for this chemical course and even wanted to take my own vehicle ... but no - they thought they knew better!!!! Anyway, I know feel dreadful and they do too!

I am ok as a passenger to Tauranga but that road to Rotorua always makes me SICK!

Well that Made My day

2006-08-07T14:49:00.000+12:00

Did this hair model thing for my hairdressers apprentice and she has passed her final exam on my head of hair ... I drove back to Whakatane and my actual hairdresser checked it and only needed to take a tiny bit off the top ... so thats another youngy out there in the hairdressing world - good to see her not waste the last four years and come out with a qualification. she was very nervous and cut herself twice. The assessor looked MEAN!

Still In My PJ's

2006-08-06T10:23:00.000+12:00

It's 10.20am and I am still in my Pj's ... very rare for this chic to be doing that. And I have to be at work at 12 noon, so I aint motivated at all.

The dogs have not been walked and are looking at me sadly ... thats rare too ... the walk bit not the sad bit!

Ok so last night I went to my bosses farewell party. Not all were invited from work as she only invited 6 of us - the rest will just have to be big people and accept the fact that they weren't on her "list". We had to go dressed in theme - what country we most want to visit. Of course I went as an American. Got my new red pants on, statue of liberty t-shirt, American top hat, drank Miller beer and wore my Elvis sunglasses. I might add it was DARK.

Its raining hard out there ... hence the excuse for the "still in PJ's Look". Better go sort out clothes though as I dont think I have clean "undies". Piles of washing - tomorrow better be fine.

I'm Gonna be A Model!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-04T17:12:00.000+12:00

HA! That's got you going hasn't it! I had a busy day yesterday ... the ute went in for a warrant so I dropped that off on one of my breaks at work as I was on mornin shift ... then walked into town after work - not far in the scheme of how big the world is! Got some lunch, made an eye appointment for next week, picked up the ute at 3pm, paid some bills, then walked down to the hairdresser ... Hayley is a dag and told me not to sit down because I will have my haircut on Monday! I looked over my glasses at her and said "whaddayamean?". One of her apprentices needs a couple of models on Monday at the Tauranga Polytech and Hayley volunteered me because my hair is very difficult to cut - well thank you very much!!!! I said no straight away. There has been only two hairdressers in my life that can cut my hair well, Hayley here in Whakatane and my friend Junell who lives in Christchurch. So ... I was pretty apprehensive until Hayley said as soon as Lee is finished in Tauranga I will drive back here and she will finish the top off! She has to cut 3cm off the sides and back of head - dont know why but I have agreed!

Wow

2006-08-02T14:24:00.000+12:00

That was a blast ... cant believe we did all that and am now back to reality again. Had a great time - the concert was fantastic. He is such a good singa!!!!!!
Mr Entertainment ...

Had breakfast at Parnell waiting for scrapbook shop to open this morning at Mt Wellington, also went to Spotlight, then onto the motorway and back down to Edgecumbe. Took off at 11am got here 1.30, so it was a good run down the island.

Not much in this post as I am still stunned at the great time we had.

NO Sleeps to Go

2006-08-01T05:31:00.000+12:00

My goodness the day is here .... I actually woke at 4am, tried to get back to sleep, then heard the rain and just lay there ... then got up and made a cuppa and thought ... gee I have not been on that computer so better go sort out emails and stuff!
I've got money put aside to buy a Donny Osmond T-shirt if he has them - I know its sort of tackyish but I dont care - its part of my growing up and if people cant handle a 70's growing up child - then its their problem.
I AM JUST SO EXCITED!

YES ...

2006-07-30T00:36:00.000+12:00

YES ... its my day off today
YES ... Wellington beat Taranaki in the rugby
YES ... the stars are shining out there
YES ... The All Blacks beat those Aussies
YES ... my electric blanket is on so I can crawl into bed even though I should have been in there yesterday!!!
YES ... Great Aunt gave me another jar of Lemon honey
YES YES YES ...

Furious

2006-07-26T09:14:00.000+12:00

Gee I nearly flipped a lid when I got to work yesterday ... made a card for everyone to sign for our boss who is leaving on Friday to find that one of the dipsticks had spilt his coffee all over the card - he tried to make it better but the whole thing was ruined ... anyway I have made another ... the staff apparently got $10 out of him to give to me. He was horrified at how much they estimated it would have cost me to make ... anyway, he was so damned lucky that I liked the paper so much of the front design that I got two of that paper from Ngaio and Lyn on Sunday.
He constantly stuffs things up this guy ... I could not hold back this time and told him to his face that he was a dipstick and to stay away from me - fullstop.

Sunday Hilarity

2006-07-24T08:52:00.000+12:00

Wake up late ... run for the shower ... run out of the shower to the phone ... ring Delys and quickly say I am running late ... run to the front room ... throw things in my crop container and crop bag ... run back to the bathroom and on my way through the kitchen flick the kettle on ... continue running and fall over in the bathroom ... tell myself quickly that I have not got time to cry ... quickly brush my teeth and sort out the hair ... run back to the front room and get all the gear and drag it to the back door ... run back to the kitchen and pour the cuppa tea ... think about the washing that should be hung out ... but thats a dead loss thought ... look at the clothes I have on and think yuk ... too bad thats how its gonna have to be ... tell the black and brown dog that I am going to work... they dont believe me and run out the door and jump straight into the back of the ute ... I put the gear in and run back to the house because I remember the wallet is still inside ... Jessejames attacks me as I run in the door, so I feed him ... toerag!
Have another gulp of the cuppa ... no time to make lunch - will have to buy. Plead with the dogs to get out of the back of the ute ... Max turns his back ... serious stuff now ... run back inside and get two dog collars and leads ... I appear at the back of the ute and they dont even try and be difficult ... they sprint back to the house ... I lock up the house and drive off knowing that they think I am the meanest Mum for leaving them unattended all day ... arrive at Delys' to her crop stuff in the garage with the sewing machine in that pile ... I crack up laughing. Delys arrives in her car a few seconds later spewing that the money machine wont give her money at Edgecumbe. No matter I have to get petrol and lunch. We drive off for the petrol station, decide to go to Awakeri - get money, petrol and food. Then off to Opotiki for some sanity ...

Trademe

2006-07-22T15:15:00.000+12:00

Well ... I have won a couple of things on Trademe ... and am leading the bidding on a couple of "antiques" ... so my New Years resolution is broken ... mind due I gave myself an achievable target of 6 months and it is July ... so am proud of myself. Just need to not get carried away. Am recording my spending on everything so that I can cut out buying crap!

Been Graffiti Removing

2006-07-19T10:27:00.000+12:00

again ... they did a "new" wall of the clubrooms last night. So I whipped into town early and painted over the lot again. They have done the bridge rails down the road too ... I will let the Council sort that out.

Might actually do some scrapbooking today. Shock horror Delys yells!

Lemon Honey Fairy

2006-07-19T07:44:00.000+12:00

Got home to a jar of Lemon Honey at the back door step ... simple things make be smile.

Max at the Vets

2006-07-18T11:57:00.000+12:00

Well the big black dog certainly "hates" the vets still. They all are amused down there because he is pretty staunch when they arrive at the farm to drop off stuff that you lot "dont really want to know about", but when it comes to going to that place where they do things to his body he is an utter whimp.
Anyway he has had his distemper, parvo shot etc etc. Just has to go back on the 8th August for his lepto booster. He got a new collar too, so it was not all bad.

Just bout to have lunch and watch NYPD Blue. One thing about shift work you find these old favourite programs!

Pool Party

2006-07-17T10:33:00.000+12:00

Well we had the pool party for the "youngies" at work ... my boss and the Aqua instructor were in fits of Laughter when one of the young lifeguards said "where are all the rest of the Oldies". Meaning the rest of the "Senior" staff. We were well and truly put in our "square" box!
I actually did not want to go - been a tad upset of late, so when I arrived one of the young lads who had been pestering me to organise the event announced in a panic that the Swimming Club BBQ that we normally use has no grates on the thing and we wont be able to have the sausages.
I calmly unpacked all the food ... grabbed my boss and we went down to the good old Dog Club and got our BBQ from there.
The young lads kept saying - how does Andrea keep so ahead of things when they go wrong. I just told them that because I am a "oldie" it means experience kicks in!
Anyway, they all had a great time going down the hydroslide totally illegal and dangerously, but us "oldies" drank our wine and organge juice and ate the best of the sausages, turned our backs and didn't look!
Its a fine day today so I will get some socks dry before I go to work ... and yay no school holidays.

Mean Aunty

2006-07-12T07:48:00.000+12:00

My staff yesterday and my boss gave me "stick" all yesterday afternoon ... Delys brought Jennifer in for a swim as the plaster was taken off her now mended broken arm ... but the Mean Team Leader (Aunty Andrea) would not allow her to go on the Holiday Special ie the inflatible.

We are having a staff and family pool party on Sunday night Delys if you want to bring the kids 6pm onwards. Or if you and Dave want a few hours free of kids they can come with me. I think the young lads at work will be putting the inflatible up. Sausages and bread supplied by the Social Club.

Graffiti

2006-07-10T17:08:00.000+12:00

My friend Trish and I cleaned off graffiti this morning from our Dog Club rooms and also the neighbours (bowling club). The stuff we used was fantastic, we just painted it over it and wiped it off with a cloth. However, the bowling club was done in this blue paint and we had to paint over it as it would not come off. Very disappointing as both our clubrooms have paintings on them. They have people bowling and ours has dogs doing agility etc. Gee there is some scum out there. The bowling club ladies were happy campers!

ALL BLACKS

2006-07-09T11:03:00.000+12:00

Got home from Tokoroa - absolutely stuffed, had a quick shower, then pick up 88 year old great aunt and went to watch the rugby at a friends place who has this gi-normous projector screen that makes every single TV anywhere else look piddly. Had a nice time screaming at the TV and laughing at the Aussies, then dropped Phyllis off, then crashed when I got home. Have heaps to do here, but have to go to work at 11.30am, so am getting grumpy as the time gets closer. Plus the dogs have packed a sad with me as I have not spent much time with them since Wednesday!
Sometimes there is not enough hours in the day. I hope the pools are quiet this shift because I really cant be bothered with naughty kids or parents who are careless not looking after their toddlers.

Healthy Food Magazine

2006-07-06T17:38:00.000+12:00

Well I was in the supermarket the other day - long lines everywhere, so I grabbed the above Mag and ended up purchasing it. Today I started the food shopping bit out of it and this afternoon I am cooking up Green Bean Chicken Stew. Mainly because of the shift work I do I dont eat properly - hence me getting the flu the last three weeks has ticked me off. So, I am cooking up meals to take to work - even bought containers. I have Lamb cooked in Tomato and Yoghurt on the go also.
For the first time in about 10 years I went to the supermarket with a list. Its in the magazine and it lists basics in all categories ... look I know all this shit but most of us dont do it. Another tip is that I have done the supermarket thing for this week and to save money I am not allowed to go back there until next Thursday.
I made sure I got another packet of TP!

ITALY

2006-07-05T09:33:00.000+12:00

AWESOME!

Andreas Caravan

2006-07-03T19:08:00.000+12:00

Soooooo cute!

Went around to check on the dogs today and took this pic..finally Janine!

31 More Sleeps

2006-07-02T21:46:00.000+12:00

... till the Donny Osmond concert!

Flying Nun

2006-06-30T11:11:00.000+12:00

Is anyone old enough to remember "The Flying Nun" with Sally Field in it? Well guess what ... they have brought it out on DVD ... neat aye?

MAGIC

2006-06-30T07:57:00.000+12:00

It's a kinda Magic, magic, magic ...

Magic will always take the Magic out of the Sting!

Poor Australia

2006-06-29T08:38:00.001+12:00

Everyone say ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Thursday

2006-06-29T08:38:00.000+12:00

Basically have nothing to say ... I have to to a swimming test at work today as a whole group of us are renewing our lifeguard certificate on Monday. Not exactly a clever thing for my boss to organise with me having this sucky head cold! I will swim quickly so as not to make it worse ... do you think that will work?

Dancing and Beckham

2006-06-26T09:06:00.000+12:00

Well I got home from work got all set up to watch Lorraine win Dancing with the Stars, set the tape for Survivor, CSI and Criminal Intent to be taped for later viewing, fed the dogs and made a cuppa.

Then this morning I watch Beckham shut up his cirtics by scoring a goal and England are through to the next round - Posh was there in the stands cheering - good for her I say!

Better take these dogs for a walk they are jumping out of their skins!

Some People Just Make You Smile

2006-06-23T11:46:00.000+12:00

Get back into the swing of being at work and clear out my locker that had mega memos about whats been going on at work while I was away and smack in the middle of it a a huge chocolate fish from one of our receptionists that says "welcome back, we missed you".

Tag

2006-06-21T06:03:00.000+12:00

1.What was your first pet and what was it's name? We got a kitten for Christmas one year - living in Galileo St, Ngaruawahia, we came up with the very inspirational name of "kitty".
2 which WtP character are you? Eyeore without hesitation
3 Aston Martin or Ferrari? Ferrari - red
4 Favourite crisps (potato chips) flavour? Grainwaves
5 Money no object sailing trip - where would you go? Alaska
6 Tea? coffee? or juice? Tea
7 What's your favourite season? Autumn
8 Have you ever seen an eclipse? As a kid I did
9.Would you rather hold a snake or a spider? Have held a snake but would rather not
10.Which do you play? And which is your favourite? Backgammon
11. Do you do Sudoku? no
12. 3 favourite flowers? Hydrangeas
13. What's you favourite in a box of chocs? Cadbury
14. How many handbags? heaps I am a bag person
15. How many different countries have you visited? 3

Hi Ho

2006-06-19T16:39:00.000+12:00

Well I have been away - Napier. Went and competed with Max in his first Tracking Trial. He did well ... gee that dog is clever. It was great catching up with fellow Tracking Club members. We stayed at Snappers Motor Camp in these very new nice cabins that overlooked the beach. I had forgotten that the stones are on the beach instead of sand - very hard to walk on - it was hilarious watching Max and Brown dog walk - took them awhile to get a handle on it.
We did however have a complaint stuck on our door telling us to keep our dogs quiet. We were a tad annoyed to get blamed for this, because we heard and saw a border collie and a kelpie late on Friday night barking and chasing the Motor camps pet rabbits. We should have reported it first thing next morning but we didn't. So, I was sent down to the "office" to sort it out - everyone decided that I deal with "difficult" situations at work so I am the most experienced - sigh.

Our group consisted of three German Shepherds, one Curly, one Springer, two heading dogs. We have dogs that dont bark at night, so we were a tad stunned. Sure they barked twice on the first night.
Anyway, I was nice about it all and the owners were disturbed about the chasing of the rabbits. I told them that we all have our dogs on leads in the motor camp grounds and only let them go on the beach. One night Max barked (you get to know your dogs bark) ... and I went out there and here were three bunny rabbits running back and forwards past the vehicles. All the other dogs were sitting up straight peering out the back of the utes lined up. Poor buggars are encouraged to get them on the farm and wondered why their Mums would not let them out ...

When driving home there was snow on the side of the road. It was cold but impressive.

I woke this morning to a very sore throat, so I have been in bed most of the day. Duncan comes along every now and again and starts barking so I take him out for a number one or two. The other two just look at me in absolute disgust ...

Its blue out there ... snow must be around.

Caravan

2006-06-13T06:39:00.000+12:00

Well I've bought a caravan ... so that when I go away and compete with Max at tracking we have somewhere to stay. Just part of the plan to actually achieve some of my goals. Its a liddle one, but its a goodie. I still dont know how to get a handle on posting photos, so you'll just have to see it in person or if Delys comes round with the camera to post it for me!! hint hint.
I am finally getting my energy back from the last couple of weeks ... am abit stuffed.

Mad ... Mad ... Mad

2006-06-07T22:42:00.000+12:00

Gee I am mad with myself ... I will have to dismantle a layout because I stuffed up on the journalling ... will have to ask Delys her opinion as it sucks ... she will sort it for me ... sigh. I hand wrote it and it looks like something dragged out of a cowpad ... probably due to the fact that I am so mad with a pillick of a neighbour who wasted an hour of my time today that I DID not have to spare.

Listening to cher

2006-06-07T22:32:00.000+12:00

I should be in bed as I have a trip to Hamilton 2morro, filled up with all sorts of stuff, but I am in the mood to listen to Cher - dont do things by halves and have to listen to the whole album 42 songs! Baby dont go! Pretty baby please dont go ...

Crazy, but too bad!

People booked in all over the place, lets just hope we dont have a frost in the morning to put the "leaving time zone" back an hour or two ... otherwise I will be back here at midnight with Delys on my doorstep!

Car Chase

2006-06-06T20:19:00.000+12:00

Oh yeah ... and also at the end of dog club two Police cars were chasing a dude in a little white car in the suburban streets of Whakatane. We just loved it - probably irresponsible of us to be cheering the speeding car, but we could hear the whole drama getting closer and closer, and then they sped past up main street of Kope. So we all jumped in our cars and tried to find them on our way home.

Had an enjoyable evening ... tad tired so will go have a cuppa and wait for Boston Legal to arrive.

hehe

2006-06-06T20:07:00.000+12:00

Well ... the dudes from the Maori Channel came to dog club tonight to get our views on the microchipping issue. They liked the look of Max so we got interviewed. Cripes ... I need a haircut but have been too busy cleaning - dam cancelling that appointment last week. If my hair dresser sees me she will have a fit ...

Max was a goooooood boy ...

Waste of Time

2006-06-05T06:34:00.000+12:00

Well what a waste of time "Dancing with the stars" is. If people dont start voting then Rodney will pick every one off and win the whole thing ... watch out NZ, Epsom are voting.

Handbags: Everyone will see them in a different light now ... thats for sure. Personally, its ridiculous to pay that amount of money for it, however I think the seller seized the moment and got in there while the topic was "hot".

I have lots to do today - well there is heaps on my list - whether it actually happens is another story.

Its raining again ...

2006-06-04T07:41:00.000+12:00

Well the rain is back ... at least we got fine weather for the moving of the farms ... thank goodness. I now have to go out there and move the stock ... without a four wheeler cause it has a flat tyre ... nevermind, the walk in the rain and wind will do me good and the dogs will love it.

Then its back to help Delys with the cleaning - windows today. They have managed to unpacked boxes so we are not tripping over stuff.

Some People are Weird

2006-06-02T07:19:00.000+12:00

Well the move is done ... however in the house on the new farm where my brother will go, they left a desk, book case, chair, firewood. So my nephew has grabbed the chair and desk and I will take it over to him when I pick up the Westie puppy in Hamilton next week, Delys has grabbed the bookcase (for u know what!).

The move went well. The boys where on hand to do the heavey stuff. They were abit unorganised in stages but thats because they did not have a woman in charge. The moving of the cows was superb - an all woman crew. It was an impressive site ... hats off to Kylie, Lichelle, Mum and I. What style.

Then we rushed back to help Delys but she had basically finished the last vacuum. It was spit and span that house.

Unfortunately, where Delys has moved to is filthy ... absolutely disgusting, so ... I'm going to move the stock, then go keep the hands fit ...

The light at the end of the tunnel is far away!!!!!!

Sore Hands

2006-06-02T07:15:00.000+12:00

I have decided to do hand exercises as I have discovered that they arent fit!!!!!

The World's Shortest Fairy Tale

2006-05-26T06:34:00.000+12:00

Once upon a time, a girl asked a guy "Will you marry me?" The guy said,
"No" and the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing,
drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, stayed
skinny and farted whenever she wanted.
The end

No 1 Goal Met

2006-05-24T18:28:00.000+12:00

Well today I paid the last payment off my Mastercard - it is now zero. It will stay zero as I have cut it up. It feels like a huge weight has come off my shoulders. No 2 Goal was to go one month without buying anything on Trademe. I have managed to go for 5 months ... No 3 Goal started yesterday, so did No 4.

Stray Dog

2006-05-24T15:56:00.000+12:00

Max went ballistic late yesterday afternoon ... looked out the window and there standing eyeballing me at the window was a black dog - looked "pitbull" to me. So ... dumptee doo ... I ventured outside ... all alone ... with Max going ballistic inside and Chelz encouraging him ...

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the black dog came on comand and sat in front of me. I was eating fruit cake at the time and he lured him into the back of the ute with that. Called the dog ranger who came about 20 mins later ...

This morning one of the guys who do the whey asked me if I'd seen a black dog along the road. So I told him that he turned up at my place and I called the dog ranger. He was annoyed with me ... I basically told him to get lost ... No collar, roaming - get real buddy. I'm the Secretary of a Dog Obedience Club for goodness sake ... I have a feeling he did not have the dog registered, which would be a $250 fine if he went to claim the dog.

Dog Stuff

2006-05-23T08:32:00.000+12:00

I've been busy doing dog stuff ... for those that dont know it, I am heavily involved in dog sports. However for the last year or so I have not competed much with Max ... anyway, one of my goals this year was to not neglect that part of his life - cause he's a cool dude who does do well. Organising and supporting other club members is a good thing ... up to a point!

So, at the weekend I went to Rotorua - even drove over to Rotorua on Friday night and sacraficed watching my beloved Hurricanes! Spent all weekend going up and down hills on a sheep and beef station with the judge and stewards learning heaps about tracking and trialing. My body is a tad sore ... had a fab time. After all dogs are my passion.

So thats where I have been ...

In La La Land!

2006-05-16T10:02:00.000+12:00

Well ... thought I'd share this ... because if anyone else did this I would laugh ...

It all started yesterday ... before I go to work I call into the post office and clear the Dog Club POBox. As I am coming out of the Post office I start opening the mail. In one of the envelopes is a cheque - it flies out of my hands (it was windy ... just want to state that), across the road and is going away from me fast ... I start running. Cars beep and stop for me. I end up on the big roundabout in the middle of town ... finally catch up with the cheque stuck to the tree.

A woman yells at me "must have been money for you to run that fast" ...
Moral of the story: open mail inside.

Then this morning: I go to move the stock, get down there and the bike cuts out ... just as I get to them. I think ... must be out of petrol... so I move the stock over to their next break, then come back and go to put the petrol over to the reserve on the bike ... to find that its already on reserve! So ... Iwalk back to the house on the other side of the property ... get to the garage and find the petrol can EMPTY. So, I go to the petrol station and get the petrol. then fill the bike up, ride it back to the house, then walk back down the farm to retrieve the ute. A lot of farting around. Moral of the story : check the petrol.

Dad

2006-05-11T07:07:00.000+12:00

Well I lit a candle when I got out of bed this morning as my Dad has been dead 4 years today. Its weird really as sometimes it seems a long time that he has not been around, then other times it just seems like yesterday that he was making some witty remark.

Tim Tam Balls

2006-05-05T11:10:00.000+12:00

Has anyone else discovered these? I am really dedicated to eating them at the moment!

Cows

2006-05-05T09:38:00.000+12:00

Well I have a sore body today ... woke up yesterday to the cows in the paddock where the sileage stacks were. They had broken down the gate and helped themselves to the big stack. I was nearly in tears ... anyway I rang for help. A new cover was delivered ... my brother in law arrived. It was just him and me to sort out the mess ... Delys and Mum had other stuff on!
The long and short of it was that we had to get all the tyres off the stack, then cover it again, then put the tyres back - plus it was a bit windy, so dealing with a huge amount of cover was "challenging", but we did it.
I had not had anything to eat, so when I got inside I actually nearly blacked out. Mum came round later when I was taping up the holes round the edges of one of the other stacks. Then I had to go to work and I actually fell over about 2pm ... just very dizzy. So the receptionist and my right hand man got me into the staff room for a bit of a sit down. Got some food into me and I came right about 4pm.

Yes I know ... should have got more food and liquids into me ... but there was no time. I have eaten BEFORE I checked the stock this morning.

TANTRUMS

2006-05-03T09:19:00.000+12:00

Adults dont look good doing tantrums ... especially in a Public Swimming Pool. As you locals know the 25m indoor and Spa pools are closed so they can fix the tiles. However, the Learners, Hydroslide and outdoor pool are open. That means swimming lessons are still on ... space is limited FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

The first encounter came along when the hydroslide was opened at 4pm. I asked two little boys how old they were (they had hydro bands on and looked 6). They told me 7 years old and they were so proud to be seven, they puffed their little chests out. immmmmmmmmmmm. So, I asked them where their Mummy or Daddy was, they pointed over there and said can we go on the slide now. Nope ... you need an adult as you have to be eight or over. Ooops said one of the little chaps..... thats right Mummy told us to say to the lifeguards that we are 8 if they ask.

Well ... by this time the mother had arrived at the scene and actually heard the last bit of the conversation. Her reaction ... they are nearly eight and it should not matter. Well lady it does.

She argued with me that she would take total responsibility bla bla bla. The answer was still no. She then threw a flipper down on the ground and started waving her arms around screaming. It was amazing. I was actually waiting for her to throw herself on the ground and kick her legs up in the air like the kids do when they throw tantrums ... but she didn't to our disappointment! We like entertainment, and I have a different approach to being abused by the public these days ... I find it funny.

Anyway, when she realised that both Shawn and I were just standing there saying nothing she just stopped. I went to reception got a pair of scissors and cut the bands off. She demanded a refund - I refused as she was dishonest when buying them ... number two tantrum. I then asked her to leave the complex because she called Shawn a black @#$%&*( and me a white &%*#$ . Charming, just charming.

She said I had spoilt her kids day. I told her its her own doing and that she should take responsibility for her own actions and not to dump it onto other people.

Crazy Jessejames

2006-04-30T09:36:00.000+12:00

Jeepers I cant win with that cat of mine. He is just too fat ... so I have cut his food down. But everytime I do this he brings me "live animals". Usually mice or rats, but today there is a huge bang in the lounge. I go to investigate and her is a bird in the corner being guarded by Jessejames and the two dogs sitting next to him stalking the bird also.

So ... I guess he will just be a fat cat cause I cant stand what he brings inside.

EELS

2006-04-27T22:16:00.000+12:00

Well I had the most unexpected start to my workshift this morning. Found two eels in the outside 33m pool. One dead at the bottom of the pool, the other on top of the covers wriggling around ... my two workmates (males) just stood there asking "what shall we do". Honestly ...

Told the first one to get a bucket of water and the scoop, told the second one to finish taking the other cover off - then I went inside and got into my swim gear ... came out jumped into the pool, got the dead eel out. Got out of the pool and went back inside and got dressed before we opened the doors at 6am.

Later on that morning I took the eel in the bucket and released it in a local stream. Simple.

How bizarre!

Paw N Music

2006-04-24T01:21:00.000+12:00

Went down to Taupo and was the "Music" person for the competition! Plus support for a club mate who was doing two routines with her little poodle "Beau". Had a great time and saw some wonderful routines from people.

On our way down we came across a Border Collie standing in the middle of the forest road "Goudies". It was so thin that I nearly cried. It was very well trained, as it came when I called it, sat when told, got into the ute - everything. We went to the first house off the metal bit. The woman in there is a saint. They get abandoned dogs, cats, horses! ... you name it.

Anyway, we called in on our way home that night and dropped off a bag of biscuits ... they had given "Lucky" a bath and she said to me quietly "the kids are working on their father quite nicely, I dont think this dude will be going to the SPCA on Monday".

Shame on people who dump animals when they are beyond their used by date ... Shame.