Tomorrow is Christmas….

Not technically, but for us it is.
Hubby is leaving on Monday so were doing it early. We’ve done this for the last few years he’s been mining and I grew up with it when we had the farm (Christmas Day was merely a day off from work).
Some people don’t get it, and I had one person say they were jealous they weren’t doing it -no reason why they couldn’t I said.
Anyway, I digress slightly. After two weeks from hell for both of us, and a arse ended start to the week, we are right on track. We’ve both been super productive, not run off our feet busy, but productive, getting things done. Today is Friday, and our Christmas market is on Sunday, so I have been getting everything organised for Xmas lunch and market day. I just want to put my feet up and sort out my new phone, but they won’t happen til next week, at least I can call and take messages. Oh, and the photos, amazing quality. One hundred time better than the last one, “what do you do most of the phone?” Blogs and photos. This was the phone for me then, after taking comparative pictures with the other option. The old phone has not gone to waste, it has become a pre paid for mr 14 til we can get him the fang dangled one he wants.
I have been furiously baking and making today. Baking food (another post soon) and making beady items.
I have been having a blast with this friendly plastic stuff, and now have lots of little stud earrings, mini bling rings, and hair clips with cool colours.
The market is also taking up a lot of time, between emails, phone calls, making sure we have enough people (we are starting to turn people away!!) driving around to put up and take down signage… it is always on my mind.
My mind is a bloody mess, touch wood, nothing has come out for the wrong person yet.
I have my first photo for the Sunday short story, but know there is no way I can work something up in the time I have spare (which is next to nil right now) so it will be available next week. It’s an odd one, it’ll take me the week to work this one out.

I am now enjoying a coffee, the dishes are done, but I still have to pack the car (setting up for market tomorrow morning before I have a few drinks), make alterations to a top, make sure the fridge is roomy for food and grog and make sure everything is in order. Thankfully it is not as hot as it was yesterday. Granted, I’ve lived worse, so it wasn’t too bad, but still makes you sluggish.

I’ll leave you with a picture of my new beady things – bling rings and stud earrings. The hot pink ones are for me.

Next post – Food Friday, a little Xmas baking and our menu.
Jen 🙂

A strange, but glorious spill of nuttiness.

I feel like I’ve neglected all my loyal readers. I’ve been so busy in the lead up to the market opening, and everything else, I’ve had no time to read any blogs, let alone comment and write my own. I have things to say, just no time to actually say it.

I’ve missed one day on my photo box, kind of on purpose. If I was comfortable of showing a picture of me looking rat shit then that would have been yesterday’s choice. I’ve missed taking photos, getting out and just wandering around.

I had a mini breakdown on Tuesday last week, and my partner in crime, was having hers last night. I know that on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning I will be a stressed out mess, nothing that a drink or two won’t fix. And a good sleep.

We are fully booked for our first market, but now we need the people to come along. I’ve sorted ads for the local papers and this morning emailed off ads for radio stations – free community announcements are our friend. Lets hope they pay off.

Monday we put up signs, Tuesday I had a committee meeting for the local community centre, I’ve been de stashing beads, making orders, and attempting to keep the house in order. Thankfully hubby is home. Calms me down, but he can stress it with the best of them.

I’ve got stories in my head to write, pictures to take, posts to write, work, and socialising (gotta keep sane somehow). I’ve got loads of posts in my head, pity I don’t have time to write the idea, but I tend to write brilliant posts in head, and when the time comes to put it on paper on screen, it just never comes out with the right words. Or, it is too long after the fact and I feel it’s not relevant anymore.

My community centre work is not a huge lot at the moment, I am way too busy to do more than attend meetings – I had to turn down a sub committee last night for that reason. I know my limits. I tend to get ‘Westwinds head’ as it makes me think in a way I’m not used to. My partner said the market does that to her.

As I’m writing this, I just recognised that ‘putting pressure on myself’ thing. I was thinking abut making some new brooches, and then went “when will I have time?” Saturday is pretty well a write-off with market set up and family commitments, Friday? There might be a few hours, Thursday? Again, a couple of hours, but I have to also do house stuff, pack my own market boxes, and then probably spend half the day out in the city. At least I can write if I get the motivation to.

I’ve become a bit of a sludge monster. Beached whale. Feeling stodgy. Aside from a tad more exercise, I know what I need to do. I have to get back to the gym, but we are playing semi regular tennis. Although do what want, I’d have to play non stop for several hours. I looked at my diet, and it’s not that bad really.
I’m to a huge chippy or chocolate fan, soft drink in very little portions. Is even easier if its not in the house, I can’t eat it. M kids need to cut down on it as well.
My killer. Carbs. Toast, sangas (sandwiches), rolls, and then there’s the potato, rice and pasta. I’m or going to cut it all out, that would be a killer. But severely cut down on it. Tiny portions of the latter, and very little of the former. None for breakfast, and whole grain when I do. I’m working on a 3 week turn around initially so see how it goes. It certainly can’t be a bad thing.

Life goes on, things will ease up, and then, as they do, go heater skelter on me.
Hubby will come and go, or go and come in this case.
School will finish for the summer, eldest will get loads more hours at work (and hopefully his licence), I’ll have more work at the PO, Christmas and new year will arrive and round it goes again.

I decided I wouldn’t edit this, it’s as it’s come out of my head, in all my glorious nuttiness.
For my regulars, please know I haven’t forgotten you, and thank those who’ve commented but I’ve it replied to, I’m reading my favourite blogs, and I’m so sorry, but had to delete a whole slew as they kept piling up and I had no time.

A friend in waiting
Jen 🙂

And coz I can, a random picture.

What is the time??

Here I sit, watching the clock, wishing I could go to bed. Curl up in the warmth and dream. But no,I have to wait it out and then go out in the cold, drive a half hour to collect my son from work and come home. It doesn’t stop there. He has to start work again at 9 tomorrow. Which means, no sleep ins for anyone, washing being done at midnight and then the dryer at 7 when we get up.
One small problem, the clock I am watching stopped and hour ago, and the laptop hasn’t converted to daylight saving time, so is an hour behind. I wish it was still an hour ago. But then I would still be doing market blog work and no closer to going to bed.
I wont finish this before i have to leave – 5 mins, 10.30pm – and will probably do it when I get back. In my warm bed.

This was part of the post I was getting ready last night. I arrived home and at five to midnight I had added my link and pressed publish… I have no idea where it was published to. The never never I spose.
I just realised it Saturday, I knew it was, but sometimes you have that appointment and its way off in the future and the next thing you know, it’s today!! That’s how it is today.

All the work we’ve been doing on the market blog and its looking pretty good now. Initially it still looks the same, but we have lots of new pages – it’s a veritable one stop shop for the market now.
It’s certainly taken on a life of its own. I won’t go into it here, pop over yourself (blog link) and have a squiz, let me know what you think. Is there anything we might be missing?? There is one page I need to update, but that will come soon enough.

Have a great weekend 🙂

New hats and a road trip.

It’s only Tuesday and I’m already tired. No rest for the wicked here though. I’ve barely had time to empty my market boxes and my emails are building up way quicker than I can read and catch up.

As I type hubby is sorting out bike gear and getting ready for tomorrow’s trip. I’ve got my camera battery on charge with the iPad and phone charging over night. My miniscule bag is ready to go – how much do you really need for one night when yore not doing anything else in between times, plus we only have the size of a large back pack to take.
At least the scenery will be good tomorrow, lets just hope the sun is shining and not raining

The loan car will be returned tomorrow early and collect our fixed car on Thursday or Friday.
I am now a committee member of our local community centre – eek!! Another hat to wear and more things to organise. I’m going to have to keep a diary now I think. It’s all about new young blood in the system.

There are pictures to take, blogs to write, people to ring for our upcoming market, emails and blogs to read and reply to, craft to make (I do have a couple of weeks till next market, but I’m quite impatient when I set my mind to something)… so many things to do and not enough time.

School holidays start next week so I will be at work, on the early shift, the eldest has work and work meetings to attend, hubby is back at work. Yep thats my life. Never ending busy. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Just the occasional sleep in would be good though. Maybe I should go to bed earlier???

I’ll be back on Thursday, or Friday with hopefully lots of pictures (hubby knows my need, (yes, that’s not a want but a need) to take photos of where we go) of our trip.
Here’s hoping I can walk once we get home. My main issue will be getting on and off the damned bike, it’s a lot higher than dad’s, and I’m not so flexible.

Enjoy your mid week 🙂
Jen

Another picture of the bike coz I love it, and I have to include a picture.

All systems go…

As my pork slowly cooks to become a tender and juicy meal I have sometime to ponder the week that was and the week that will be.

It all started on Saturday when mum and dad arrived back from their overseas holiday. Mr 9 wanted to have a welcome home party so while hubby and I were collecting them, Mr 14 baked a cake. I ‘entertained’ them while the boys went and decorated their house.
To say they were surprised is an understatement, and it was also to celebrate dad’s birthday which he had while they were away.
As a thank you for looking after their house and doing a few things for them I got a cool retro looking tin of Irish toffee. It’s not a problem.

Yesterday, mum asked me to come and see her. And gave me another pressie. Wow. Check out the best PINK bag. Love it. Awesome, thanks mum!! It’s go a zipper and a flat bottom so is more stable and secure. Comfy handles and an inside pocket for the phone. And it was wrapped in to pink a paper. Brilliant!

And so roomy too. This will definitely be a favourite. Camera, iPad and wallet. Easy.

Sunday was spent with mum at the Craft Fair on its last day here in Hobart, – where I spent a few dollars on some yummy craft items, beads and a book – and then hubby and the kids met me at a friends house for a visit while we delivered a car for loan.

This week has been spent too-ing and fro-ing, some training (in a minute folks) and getting ready for a busy weekend.
There is baking (apple crumble and pizza bases) to be done for an afternoon and dinner with friends on Saturday.
Sunday will be a family get together with my sister and her family and parents. The tables have been booked and I shall be taking my camera with the plan to get some cool pictures. For a birthday celebration or two… (Hubby had his this week).
The weather has been cool and a little wet but is clearing for the weekend so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Next week I’ll be back in paid employment for the five days, (hence the training) which means along with everything else, I’ll be pretty tired – mentally more than physically – I know I know, loads of women do this every day. I’ve just had it easy been a SAHM for too long.
A friend is taking a holiday and there will be two of us taking her place. So between 8 and 5 or thereabouts, I shall be busy. Problem. Term holidays start this Friday and hubby leaves for work on Monday morning, so I have to arrange something for the boys. Let’s see. I think there might be dinner to cook and washing to do and Mr 9 will be sorted with a few friends. I hope.
And when I get home, I may not be in the mood to write anything, or I may not even have anything to write.

The second week of holidays though, I have things planned. A movie day where we all want to watch our own thing (Monsters University, Superman and Pacific Rim) the museum which has been revamped and reopened, catch up with a friend or two, and I’m sure there are few other activities we can organise.

It’s the sort of busy where you are ready to drop and then it just keeps on coming. And the only issue I have with this at this point. Hubby has to leave at stupid o’clock. So getting up at 4, off to the airport, home in time to have breakfast (will be required today more than ever) and a (STRONG) coffee then head to work. And Monday is the busiest day of the week. Wondering if anyone has an IV they don’t mind lending me to drip feed the caffeine…..
I’m not too good at getting up that early and surviving, so I hope my second wind kicks in early, 9am would be good.
The one day I want a decent sleep, and woah, interrupted. At least it doesn’t happen every week, and it wasn’t his choice to make it that early, work plans changed that were out of our control.

In between all the nothingness I feel like I’ve done this week I have been watching the remainder of the first season of Arrow. Love it!! (worth it for the eye candy alone) I don’t watch a lot of tele, but this is one I am loving. I’m gonna miss it when we’re done. But I’ll still have Under the Dome and Elementary to keep me going.