A nice start to the day.

G'day. A friend from work was telling me about the fruit smoothies she has been having for her breakfast and as I find it hard to have a good breakfast because of the early hour I get up, I decided to give these a go.  I have added rolled oats to mine. Just the plain old rolled oats, not the ones with fruit added, though I suppose it wouldn't make much difference. This one that I had this morning has a banana as well as some mixed berries, oats, some low fat yogurt, a cup of skinny ( low fat ) milk and a small amount of honey. This is a delicious and healthy start to the day. 

If it's a work day,  I have my breakfast at about 5.00am.  So I need something that is filling. This does the trick. I was surprised at how long I went today without feeling hungry. I have already made up the one for tomorrow morning. It is in the fridge waiting for me to enjoy. I didn't think hubby would appreciate hearing the sound of my stick mixer whirring away at that early hour. Plus I don't have time for fiddling around. 

Second photo is of the raggy bathmat I made last week. I have been meaning to make one for some time, but have been lazy and kept putting it off. Well, last Wednesday when I got home from work I started cutting out the squares and had the whole thing finished in 2 hours. It is only 4 rows long and was quick and simple to do. I just cut up an old towel for the backing. Must admit it looks good in my shabby chic bathroom and it will look even better when it's been washed a few times and frayed some more.  Even hubby liked it. 

All is well in my little corner of the world. Still go to the hospital on a regular basis. But other than that, all is just peachy. 

Take care.

Liz...

Good things, sad things.

G'day. I am going to start with the good things. I felt like having a bit of fun with the sewing machine and using some of the fabric that I seem to have accumulated over the years. I decided to make some new placements for my lovely shabby chic table. This table is the one I have been working on for some time, it is now finished. It was to be my outdoor table, but it is just too pretty to have out there, so it  and the six chairs are now in my dining area and the one from there has now gone outside waiting for me to shabby chic that at some stage. 

I wanted placemats that were quirky, pretty and not perfect. I cut the fabric all different sizes, some are longer than others, some are more mug mat size. None are perfect, only one is truly square. Some are puckered from the heavy free motion quilting, some don't lie really flat, but all of that is just fine by me. It was just a bit of fun and they do look good on the pink table top. I am one short, that might get made in the next day or so and I may even make some small mug mats to go with them. 

Now for the sad.  One of my best friends and her family lost their best friend last Friday.  Their much loved and adored dog had to be put to sleep. Albert was 13 years old and really was the light of their lives. I know how much hubby and I love our little dog, but rarely have I seen such devotion like Albert enjoyed. He couldn't have asked to be more loved or cared for during his life. I know they are inconsolable. Albert was such a huge part of their lives, he will be greatly missed. 

Take care.

Liz...

Just saying hello..

G'day. Well, we have had some much needed rain over the last two days. It has been just fabulous. Always great when I don't have to go out and water the garden. I am still travelling to the hospital for my treatments. Had a colonoscopy a couple of weeks back and that showed that I have an Adenoma, which is a tubular growth in the colon. It was benign, but may turn cancerous somewhere down the track. So, regular colonoscopies for me now. Other than that all is just peachy in my beautiful part of the the world.

I have the most gorgeous Hydrangea bush in the front garden. When I bought it a couple of years ago, the flowers were the most glorious blue. I never worried about trying to keep the colour or change the colour as you can do, by putting stuff in the soil around it. I just wanted to see how it would go if I left it.  When it flowered late last year, the flower heads were huge and some were blue, some were a mixture of pink and a bluey purple, some had a tinge of white. It was amazing. I haven't trimmed the flower heads off it yet as I quite like the look of them as they age and the colours that they turn. The red and green and russet look really good. I have 4 Hydrangea bushes now and they never cease to amaze me. Three are in very large pots and I just love them. 

They are an old fashioned plant. I can remember my grandmother growing them and my mother also had a few. I think they have made a bit of a resurgence over the last few years, though I guess they wouldn't suit every garden, or every gardener for that matter. They are also very easy to propagate from.  I had a friend visit last Sunday and I had not long picked the roses and the hydrangea blooms and when she saw them she asked me if the hydrangea's were fake. She had to touch them to be sure they were real ! 

Take care.

Liz...

It's been on hold for a while, but it's nearly finished.

G'day. My outdoor setting is nearly completed. I have really been dragging my feet on getting it done. As you can see, there is still one blue chair. I can't decide if I should leave it or paint it pink like the other end one. I am a pink girl and I had half a can of the paint left over from painting the large kitchen dresser that houses all my sewing stuff. But, I do like the colour of the blue and there are a few blue things in this undercover area. You can't see by this photo, but the table has been rubbed back in parts so that the white paint underneath shows through. It is very shabby chic now. It looks ok, but I am very undecided about that blue chair....to paint pink or not !!! I have left the legs of the end pink chair, white, so would do the same with the blue chair should it end up pink. What do you think?? 

I have even been thinking of painting one of my garden seats pink. That would really jazz up the garden, don't you think. !! I have seen it done and it can look fabulous. Oh decisions, decisions. 

Hubby had a tooth out last Wednesday and has been in terrible pain ever since. He even thought the dentist had taken out the wrong tooth. But,it seems he has what is called "dry socket" that is when a blood clot doesn't form, leaving the bone and nerves exposed. The pain has now gone all along the jawline ,up the back of his head and into the back of his neck. No pain killers seem to ease it. The dentist just said to wash the mouth out with warm salty water 4 or 5 times a day and take Panadol. He is the proverbial bear with a sore head. 

Take care. 

Liz...

Love these pants.

G'day. We have a great clothing shop here in town called Accessories. It sells women's clothes, shoes, boots, bags and jewellery etc. None of it is cheap, I might add. But, the few things I have bought from there over the years, have been very well made. I went in there yesterday looking for a pair of dressy black pants. Got the black pants ok and also came out with these as well. That sales lady sure knows her business.

Once upon a time, I wouldn't even look at pants like this. Though I would have admired them on somebody else no doubt. I just happened to comment on the great colours as the sales lady was putting them back in the rack. As quick as a flash she said "try them on". Oh no, said I, they are not something I could get away with wearing. "Just try them on".  The rest they say is history. They are just fabulous and so comfortable. They look fantastic with my little fitted black jacket and also with a soft black roll neck jumper I have.  Even a lady that was in the shop browsing commented on how good they looked. So of course they came home with me. 

I was up early this morning as I have a 70th birthday lunch to go to today. Hubby has been away for the weekend on a car rally and won't be home till late this afternoon. I decided to make him some chocolate muffins to take to work through the week. These are gluten free and wheat free and are just yummy. Of course I had to try one and was tempted to have another, but was good and resisted. 

It's probably not a good day for me to be going out. I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow and have been up three times through the night, not to mention all the trips to the toilet this morning, due to the tablets I had to take before going to bed. The birthday lunch is a good 50 minutes from me,with no toilets in between. My breakfast by the way was mashed pumpkin, now that's different, isn't it. I am restricted to what I can eat. No cereal, no brown bread etc, etc. I will be having a light lunch with salad, then no more solid food. Lots of jelly and clear drinks for the rest of the day along with the 4 litres of special drink that I have sitting in the fridge. Oh well, I am sure it could be worse. 

I still go to hospital every 3 weeks for the cancer treatment. I have had a mammogram, but haven't been given the all clear. Though I am not worried about that. We will keep on keeping on. 

Have had some fantastic rain overnight, along with a thunderstorm. It is pouring down now as I type this. Saves me watering the garden. 

Take care.

Liz...

Another birthday come and gone.

G'day. I turned 62 last Tuesday and I wish someone would please tell me where the years have gone and why are they hurtling by so darn fast. Another few weeks and it will be Easter, then before we know it a half a year will be here, then we will be thinking about Christmas again. What's going on? That's what I want to know. Is it because we are getting older. That's one theory I keep hearing about, or our hectic lifestyle. I'm putting the brakes on, but it's not making the slightest difference.!! 

Anyway, I did have a good birthday, even though I was at work. The staff at the nursing home where I work ( and the way the time is going, will probably be in one day) gave me a lovely morning tea complete with a yummy sponge cake. Hubby took me out for tea that night, another yummy meal. Went to my daughters on Friday and we stayed the night and on Saturday, daughter and her fiancé put on a lavish BBQ lunch. Daughter made the most delicious cheesecake and baked home made bread. More yum. 

Son and his partner arrived with my present which is so big we couldn't fit it in the car, simply because on the way to my daughters we picked up 2 white cane chairs I had bought on eBay, plus we also had loaded in the car, a gorgeous little coffee table, another eBay purchase that was close to where my daughter lives, so she kindly picked that up for me. My son and partner bought me a gnome, but not just any gnome. This lovely fella stands about 4' tall. I will have him home here next week and will post a picture of him. I don't know where he will go, but I will find somewhere special in the garden. My daughter bought me two beautiful lime green and pink cushions for my cane chairs. Hubby bought me a gorgeous ring. I did indeed have a most fabulous birthday. 

I took these photo's at around 7.30am yesterday morning at my daughters place, they have just had part of the outdoor area covered in and it looks amazing. I love this pool. As much as I dislike the hot weather, I always hope for a warm day when I visit my daughter so I can go for a swim. Unfortunately this weekend the weather was not ideal for swimming, it was a bit on the cool side. I did dip my foot in and decided against being brave and putting my whole self in. 

Take care.

Liz...

This is what happens when a kangaroo runs into your car.

G'day. At 6.30am yesterday morning, hubby was on his way to the farm where he does a bit of work, when a large kangaroo came hurtling up an embankment straight into hubby's car. The damage is very extensive. This photo only shows a bit of it. The bonnet is smashed in, the front left hand light set was totally destroyed. The windscreen is cracked where the poor roos'  head hit it. The whole side of the car is damaged from front to back. The side mirror was wiped clean off. Hubby only bought this vehicle a few months ago. It was a cheap used ute that was for sale in the street behind us. Hubby wanted it for work, so his good car wasn't getting wrecked. He has spent considerable time and money doing it up and it looked fabulous. We had been out for lunch on the Sunday and took this vehicle and we both said how good it was going. 

It is now classed as a write off. But, intrepid hubby doesn't give up that easily. It was insured, so that is good. But, hubby likes this vehicle and reckons he will get it back on the road. He, of course, will do all the work himself.

I should tell you that hubby wasn't hurt, just very badly shaken up. In all our years of owning a property and living in the country, neither of us have had a serious encounter with a roo. I came close some years ago, but was lucky that the animal veered off slightly at the last minute and I just felt it's massive tail hit my car. It put a decent dent in my little Toyota. Other than that, we have been very lucky.  When I questioned him about the roo, he said by the time he managed to get off the road where he wouldn't cause a problem for other traffic, the roo was no where to be seen. It would have been badly injured. It would be a miracle for it to survive. Hubby said he looked around for some time trying to see if it had collapsed in the bush nearby, but it wasn't there. I don't know what he would have done if he found it and it was still alive. A roo at the best of times is not to be trifled with, unless it's a tame one in an animal park. 

Oh well, it looks like hubby will have another project to keep him busy for some time !! 

Take care.

Liz...

On a roll..

G'day. Well, I have been sewing up a storm the last week or so. Of course it will all come to a grinding halt now.  I go back to work tomorrow. I have had three weeks off, since having the gallbladder removed and I must admit I really like being home. It's times like this that I seriously think about retiring. 

This bag is my latest project. Hubby and I have a wedding to attend next Saturday. Dress is formal. I decided to make myself this sweet little bag, which I just may take with me.  I have also decorated it with a handmade fabric flower on the right hand side. It hasn't shown up too good in the picture unfortunately.

My outfit is black slimline pants, just above the ankle,  gorgeous soft grey and white scooped necked long flouncy tunic with a lovely little black shrug. Shoes are strappy black satin with diamontees on the front. I will also wear my grandmothers' pearl necklace. The bag is mainly black and grey with a little splash of red here and there. Should look good hopefully. Maybe some "hit you in the face " red lippy to tie it all together!! 

Take care.

Liz...

Autumn has arrived.

G'day. We have officially said goodby to another Summer and welcomed in Autumn. Not that the weather itself knows that of course. It's sitting on about 32 degrees at the moment where I live  and that sun really has some punch to it. We will continue to get some warm to hot days right through to April possibly. Those terrible weeks when nearly every day the temperature was in the 40's and bush fires were raging , have now taken a hike and as far as I am concerned that is fabulous news. Hard to believe we are starting off a new month and a new season.  Time really does fly. This is my birthday month and there is nothing I can do to stop it rolling around.

I made this wall hanging some years ago, but was never happy with it. So, early last year I pulled all the borders off and straightened it up as best I could. I made the mistake originally of sewing a decorative stitch by machine all around the cream Homespun once the hand embroidery was complete. I wish I hadn't done that. It never sat right from then on. Even though I cut off the top and bottom row of stitches, I chose to leave the decorative stitches down the long sides. They are not easy to see in the photo, they are in yellow thread. It would have been a nightmare to try to unpick the stitches, so they stayed. On with the new border and some freehand machine quilting, then the binding and I have finally finished it. I did say that I took the old border off early last year. It is now early this year and I have just finished it !!! This project has sat in my sewing room all this time ( along with a lot of other projects I might add). Oh hum...

I am still not happy with it. It won't hang right and it's all to do with that pesky decorative stitch. But, I am not going to worry about it. It is hanging on the door of my sewing room and that's where it can stay. 

Take care.

Liz...

Some sewing completed. Woo hoo

G'day. I started making this bag late yesterday  afternoon. Was still sewing at 9.00pm last night. Still had the handles and the tab to do and then put the lining in, but couldn't stay up any longer. After doing some housework etc this morning, I got back in the sewing room and finished it. It's the first item I have made for some time. Not that I need another bag, as I really don't, but a girl can never have too many bags. Isn't that what they ( whoever they are) say ? I only received the pattern in the mail last Friday, so to have it done so fast is a real achievement for me. I have patterns sitting here that I bought years ago and have not even touched!!  This bag was just a trial run, using fabric that I had here. It turned out rather well, though I think the handles are a tad long. 

The second little bag was started before Christmas last year. I was going to give it to a good friend as a thank you for all the support she has given me over the last 12 months. But, I never got it completed. I had the embroidery panel done and the basics of the bag sewn together, but that was a a far as I got. It has been sitting on my sewing table looking very lost and unloved. The main fabric is a really lovely floral flannel. It is a great bag. I had made one of these bags for myself some years ago,  though it had a garden scene embroidered on the front. I happened to take it into work one day and one of the nurses saw it and asked could I make her one. I ended up making and selling 23 of them to nurses and staff. One is in Germany, one in Thailand and one in Sweden. One nurse asked for three of them. I was well and truly sick of them by the last one and haven't made another one since, until this one. My friend is a sewer, so the three ladies sitting at the table seemed appropriate. I have embellished it with a few beads. 

So I am well and truly pleased with myself today. Not one, but two things finished. I just have to keep the momentum going.

Take care.

Liz...

. 

A flourishing garden.

G'day. Today I had my first mammogram since being told I had breast cancer 12 months ago. It was a very quick trip into the hospital. Caught the 7.00am train for a 10.00am appointment, then caught the 11.30 am back home again. Got home at 2.00pm. Probably not such a quick trip after all !!!! It all went smoothly, at least the train trip did. Not sure about anything else. The woman who did the test was very noncommittal. They don't give much away. So I just wait and see now. But, I would be very surprised if there is any bad news. After all the cancer stuff I have had pumped into me and will continue to have for another few months, no self respecting cancer would dare grow.

I am now sitting with my feet up writing this. I am tired. My gallbladder op was only a week ago and I am still very sore. 

To walk up to our back door, you have to walk by this garden area. A little over 12 months ago, this was a useless area of very patchy grass. I knew when we moved here that I would make a garden out of it. I have always been a fan of the cottage garden look and this seemed as good a spot as any to get one growing. I dug this whole area out myself. Took me a while, but I persevered. Hubby offered to help, but I wanted to do it, so he let me go. Of course, he just retreated to a back area of the garage when he heard the grunting, swearing and cursing about how hard the soil was etc, etc and why can't we live somewhere where the soil is sweet and beautiful and easy to dig. Why do we have to stay in an area where the soil is mainly clay and as hard as old boots to dig ? So on and so forth. Well as you can see, I obviously got it done and planted. Hard to believe that this has grown from nothing to a near jungle in just over a year. A year out of my life has been taken up with cancer. A year in the life of this garden has turned into a beautiful thing. I look at it everyday and appreciate the journey this garden and I have taken together over the last 12 months. We have both flourished in many ways. An odd word to use when one has cancer, but yes, I have flourished in many ways like my garden. It will continue to grow, as will I.

Take care.

Liz...

Happy Valentines Day.

G'day. It's the 14th of February. Valentines Day. When I walked out into the kitchen this morning, this was what was waiting for me on the bench. Thoughtfull hubby hadn't forgotten this special day. He was also thoughtful enough to get me a beautiful card with the Eiffel Tower on it, as he knows my love of France. I have been fortunate to visit that beautiful country twice now and am planning another trip either next year or the year after. 

Second photo is of the two old wheelbarrows that I had here. One had a few plants in it, the other was standing against the back fence. Hubby asked could he use them for herbs. He has always liked fresh herbs in salads and in a lot of the others foods we eat. He was left in charge of this project, as I was in hospital. I had my gallbladder out on Monday just gone and for the first time I didn't come out of the anaesthetic very good. Couldn't stop with the vomiting. This was no fun because it was causing me great pain every time it happened. Plus the cannula came out of the vein and when they tried to inject the pain killer in it stung like mad. I have had this happen a number of times now, so am well aware of the problem. They tried to get another cannula in, but my veins are tiny and they collapse when they see a sharp pointy needle coming towards them. So, it was tablets under the tongue. I have had quite a few operations in the past now and have never felt like this. I had to laugh because the nurse told me to keep coughing as this helps keep the lungs clear, trouble is it also causes intense pain at the major incision site. Anyway, I am now home safe and sound and taking it very easy? Hubby is looking after me very well indeed. He is a great cook as well, which is a huge bonus. I won't go hungry!!! 

Third photo is of my nearly completed outdoor table and chairs.  I ran out of primer. Some months ago now, I decided I wanted to get rid of our old table and chairs and have something more shabby chic. Something that was more "me". Sold original setting on eBay, bought the six mismatched chairs in dribs and drabs. Even had my daughter score one chair for me. Painted two chairs white, then blue over the top and distressed them. Other chairs were painted white and rubbed back in parts. Table was given to me free. Now bear in mind this all took a fair amount of elbow grease on my part. Table and four chairs had full lacquer on them, this had to be sanded off. I even went out and bought my own little sander, but all the fiddly bits had to be done by hand,. A mammoth job I might add. Anyway, table will have two coats of primer ( I have since bought more) followed by two coats of white paint. Top of table will be painted Duck Egg Blue, then distressed so white shows through in areas. As you can see, there is still a way to go. Once I am up and fully functional again, I will get it done. I am proud to say that this has been my project, hubby has not helped in any way, other than to suggest what sander to buy. 

Take care.

Liz...

What cancer cannot do.

G'day. It's Friday morning and I am sitting in a very comfortable chair on the oncology ward at Royal Melbourne Hospital. I am awaiting my next dose of my cancer treatment to be delivered from the pharmacy. What has taken my eye this morning is the plaque sitting on the ledge just across from me. I haven't taken a very good photo of it on this iPad. So I will tell you what it say's. 

What cancer cannot do.

Cancer is so limited

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot dissolve faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot kill friendship

It cannot suppress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit.

This ward is surprisingly a very happy place. Over the last 12 months hubby and I have gotton to know a lot of the regulars. Everyone is here for a reason and that reason probably involves  cancer in some way, shape or form. But, we laugh, we joke, we make merry as much as we can. Some come here every week, some twice a week. I come once every three weeks. I have it easy compared to some. A young teenage girl is sitting two chairs down from me. Her mother bakes and brings in muffins to share with everyone here. They are yummy, by the way. We are all bonded by cancer. Those words on that plaque are so, so true.

Take care.

Liz...

Not happy Jan !!!

G'day. When we had the front fence put up some time ago, we decided to plant standard roses. 8 in total. There is one on the other side of the drive that you can't see in this photo. These roses have been there for about 14 or 15 months now and have been just beautiful. They took a little while to establish as we have very heavy clay soil. But, the last few months they have looked a treat. That is until last week. One of the standards has died. I went out to give them a deep water last week as we were expecting hot temperatures in the mid 40's and nearly fell off my perch when I saw that one was looking very sick indeed. The leaves were wilted and dry and I knew I was in for a battle to save it.

 

I knew it wasn't through lack of water, so I decided to cut off all the dead leaves, hoping that this might help. Usually I would leave any leaves that have been burnt from the sun, even though they look unsightly. It is not much use cutting away burnt leaves only for the sun to scorch any new shoots. But drastic measures were called for. I even put some rose food around the base and watered it in well, but to no avail. The plant was dying and I was powerless to stop it. I have always grown roses and have never had one die on me. When we had the farm, we planted over 300 roses and I never lost one, even though we suffered through one of the worst droughts here in Australia, I looked after my roses.

I was baffled, what could have gone wrong with just one rose? I kept an eye everyday on the other standards to see if they were going to suffer the same fate. But they are just fine. Hubby saw the cut back rose and asked me why I had done that and I said it is dying. He got this strange look on his face and I knew I was not going to be happy with what he was going to say. It appears one day when my back was turned, he decided to spray a few weeds and there happened to one growing in the bricks that run along the fence. I am the weed sprayer here and even on the farm, it was my job. I never trusted anyone else to do it. If I killed a plant through carelessness, then it was on my head, no one else's. 

I saw hubby that morning out the back here with the small spray bottle and I said to him to leave it, as there was a slight breeze getting up, but did he listen? No, he didn't. He wanted to kill the weeds growing up among the pavers. Little did I know he went out the front as well and saw that weed in the bricks and attacked it. It was right in front of the rose. I think some overspray must have gotten on the rose  It's the most likely explanation. 

So, no, I am not a happy camper. I told hubby that if I ever see him with that spray bottle again I will not be held responsible for my actions. The last photo shows the gorgeous bougainvillea that grows on the side of the front verandah. It's a magnificent bush. Shame I didn't hold the camera straight when I took the picture though....

Take care.

Liz...

Just the boy and I

G'day. Hubby has gone away on a "blokey" weekend. Something to do with motorbikes, hanging with your mates, drinking and in general just having a good time. So it's just the little brown dog and I at home.  We are having a good time too I might add. Watched a few videos yesterday, read a chapter or two of a good book etc, etc. The little brown dog keeps looking for his dad. Every time  he hears a car go past, he looks out the window, wagging his tail. I on the other hand, know exactly when hubby will be home so I don't rush to the window, wagging my tail or wagging anything for that matter. As much as hubby will be having a great time, so am I. I am enjoying this peace and quiet. 

Little brown dog jumped up on the bed with me this morning, something he is not normally allowed to do. It was early, somewhere around 5.00am. I was awake and reading. Yes, I know, it's not the time one should be reading, but once I wake up, that's the end of it for me. I don't usually go back to sleep and I am reading a good book. In case you haven't read  The Book Thief, give it a go. I love it. 

It's going to be stinking hot here today as it was yesterday. Somewhere in the low 40's I believe.  So a day inside with the air con on will be in order. I am using my iPad to do this post, working with the Blogger app, that a friend suggested I download,  so am not sure how it will turn out. I can't reposition the photo, which is a bit annoying and I don't think there is a preview button. So I am taking pot luck that all will be ok. My apologies if not. 

Oh well, it is now 6.25am, Sunday morning and I think I will get up and go and turn some sprinklers on and water my poor thirsty garden before the sun decides to grace us with it's hot presence. 

Take care. Liz...

It's so jolly hot.

G'day. Well our hot weather here where I live in this beautiful Australia has hit good and proper. Yesterday when I got home from work at 4.00 pm I looked at the outside thermometer and it was sitting pretty on 45 degrees. We were only suppose to get 43!!!  

It's now 1.40pm Thursday afternoon and it's at 45.5 degrees. I would be surprised if it doesn't get to 46.  My poor rose flowers have faded and wilted despite all the watering over the last few days. The heat is just too much for them and me. I had to go out earlier this morning and at 10.00am here, it was already in the 30's. I did what I had to do very quickly and came back home and relaxed in air conditioned comfort.

The photo was taken 12 months ago in beautiful Paris. Oh, how the weather was so different there. My son and I were thrilled to see Paris with snow, while back home here, the heat was as bad as it is now. Bush fires were raging up in our high country, the state was sweltering.  I was getting news from hubby about the conditions back here, while son and I rugged up to beat the cold. I remember the guy from the hotel in Paris asking me about our weather as the bushfire and extreme heat was on the news over there. He couldn't believe that we experience temperatures in the middle 40's and that in some areas it can get to 50 degrees. All part of our life here, I explained. I must admit that I would most certainly like to be back in Paris about now.  I am a winter girl. Have never liked the summer. It can go take a hike as far as I'm concerned. Bring on the winter now please. 

Take care. 
Liz...

Hot Cross Buns already !!!!!!

G'day.  I was surprised to see that Hot Cross Buns are already in supermarkets. At least they are where I live. We have 4 supermarkets here and they all have them on prominent display. I actually had to look twice when I spotted them in Safeway the other day. It's still more than 3 months to Easter. What's going on? Why so early? I know this has been happening for many years, but it just seems to get earlier with each passing year. It's scary !! As soon as the New Year rolls around so do the Hot Cross Bunnies. As a matter of principle I won't buy them, but hubby probably will as he has a great fondness for them. I will also try to be strong and not eat any. I promise I will do my best on that score, but I do so like them as well.

My New Years resolution is the same as it is every year. Lose weight. I think I spoke about my weight loss when I was going to Weight Watchers. I lost a decent 25 kilos. But, with all the cancer treatment, not to mention all the yummy food my son and I ate while in Paris last January, I have put a fair amount back on. Not all of it, mind you, but enough. So I am back on track once again. Sadly the Weight Watchers meeting here in town closed down, due to lack of numbers. There were only about 15 attending ( on a good night ) and WW didn't think that was a viable number to keep the meeting open! I was rather peeved as WW forget that these 15 or so people were all losing weight and all doing really good and they relied on those support meeting to help in the weight loss battle. I have seen 4 of the former members and they have all put weight back on.  But I have lost weight on my own before and will do so again.

The small wooden plaque in the photo was given to me by a workmate for Christmas. It's a great saying, isn't it? 

I have an oncology appointment in Melbourne this afternoon, so will be catching the train in. It' s cool here at the moment. Funny weather we are having. Suppose to be summer, but it suits me just fine. I am not a summer girl by any stretch of the imagination. Give me the winter anytime, though I am not sure if I would feel the same if I was in America or Canada at the moment where they are having severe weather conditions. I wish everyone well over there.

Take care.
Liz...