Advice

Finally got round to asking the people on the forums for advice, so now I need to be sure I drink plenty of fluids and try and get a bulkhead or exit seat. Went looking for a bikini or costume today, and came back with a very feminine cardi, and a nice blouse...haha oh well at least it wasn't yet another pair of shoes. Caught Libby online, and seem all systems go on the Sydney leg of the journey, she's said we can definately go to Canberra for the day its about 3 1/2 hours drive, I was dead chuffed I want to see as much as I can, also we are going to see an Anzac march, so I'll pack the medals I think. Emma came online too and looks like Paul is coming to fetch me, which is good, I worried about dragging her and shannon out of bed so early, and Pauls a pussycat so no worries there. she's fine about me disappearing if I head to see Valerie, just waiting onValerie to get back in touch...

All I can think about is my trip...I've so much more to sort before then...at home and at work!!

:)

Car passed it's MOT !!!!! with very little prob, just brakes adjusting etc, well chuffed, I like my little car. Decided to treat myself to the Lounge area at Heathrow as it appears I'm only getting dropped off at the Airport and not going to have company long to pass the time, never been in one before but think it'll be nice treat as I'm going to be alone. Still debating whether to put the flight to Brisbane on my credit card and deal with paying off when I get back, I'll never get the chance to travel up there again will I !! Got a nice comment at work today that my legs are much slimmer and shapely...oooerr so I wiggled my slimmer backside at them...and got no comment.... well I think its smaller anyway... more walking for the next 3 weeks
Been a really good day today, less stressful at work and the weathers been nice too. Went shopping and only went and left my credit card in a shop doh !! went back for it of course once i realised where. Well thats it for today.... heading out

Hallelujah

Just got back from fat club 3 and half pounds lighter !!! .... total 17 and half pounds

Priced up flights from Melbourne to Brisbane it would be £205 : ( and return flights from Sydney to Brisbane would be £114 : ( Looks like I cant afford to get to see my cousinValerie. finances take it out of my control
Maybe I should just win the lottery, if I bought a ticket I might have a chance. Cars gone for it's MOT and I don't expect that to pass.

Booked the joining flight

arghh wish I was a more confident person, taken me all afternoon to get the confidence to book the flight from Melbourne to Sydney, well at last its done, 14th April, I leave Emma Paul Shannon and hopefully the new baby......and arrive in Sydney. Hopefully the bridge climb (which I've still to book...oh god how long will that take me to sort) blue mountains, harbour cruise and...... all the Bruce's on Bondi Beach ;) Looking forward to it today, just wish I was the out going type, usually ok with folks I know but this is out of my comfort zone.

Dilema

I hate baggage!!#$%^$&
Tested the suitcase today, packed most of what I thought I was going to take...and I cant, I'm over the limit !! My allowance is 20kg and I'm way over it already. So will have to phone Oz just before I set off to get advice on what the weathers like..maybe I need to get on the plane in many layers haha Its going to be a dilema on what to take out.
Valerie my cousin has been in touch, she left for Oz when I was 10, she has suggested we meet up, hope so if I can sort it, but she is miles away in another state, I found her on Genes reunited, photos of her kids show Sean, Nickie and Jackie as men and women and Valerie has grandchildren nearly as old as my kids, how time flies
Weather here is still pants, bike is still waiting to be used! hmpffffff
as for me, well I am getting a bit scared and nervous now, seems to be creeping up on me really fast now. sometimes I wonder if I rushed the decision and maybe if should have waited till next year.

Thinking I might share the blog soon, don't think it will excite anyone but family and friends can follow the journey.

7 bags of sugar

wooo hooo 7 bags of sugar thats how much I have lost in weight...total 14lb the first Stone !! I didnt expect to have lost this much when I went to weightwatchers last night, I was like a cat that had got the cream (gloat gloat) 4 weeks tomorrow till I fly so I'm going to try and get this weight down another 7lb if poss. Lorraine and I both feel that I am definately much fitter than when I started so the climb in Oz is looking acheivable.
Damn weather has turned to wind and rain, not been able to cycle to work yet this week.

Time flies

Well it doesn't seem a week since I last wrote, probably as I've been having fun, lets see, this week was half term and the boiler broke so Harrogate was cancelled !! We froze for 24hrs until it was fixed temporarily but the whole heating system needs replacing, apparently the boiler is nearly as old as me haha (thats old!) Got the bike fixed, Alan dropped me into town in the 4x4 and I arranged to collect it the next day and cycle home, of course it poured down, I got drenched right thru to my undies!
Thurs did a staff outing to the Cinema and we watched Music and Lyrics, a good girly flick. Next month staff trip for a meal before I go away. And then they want to do a bowling night, and I'd like to do an outing to Doncaster or Sheffield to Ice Skate so it looks like we've started a regular monthly day/night out
No idea if I've lost any weight this week but I decided to treat myself to some new clothes, think I went a little crazy tho. Emma says the quality in Oz isn't as good as the UK
Got a birthday card from Stephen, Julie and the boys this week and it made me cry, when i lost Dad it kinda feels like I lost him too. But it was a lovely surprise.
32 days to go !!
I keep packing my suitcase, and it appears I have a fettish with shoes and handbags, 20kgs doesn't seem a lot when you want to take everything AND THE KITCHEN SINK

More fluff

Well here we are more fluff to add to the blog, meant to write on my birthday but forgot, had a topsy turvy birthday, lots of tears and laughter, Dad was there on my mind constantly, but only to be expected I suppose, first without him, and he sits high on my pedestal. RM got me some lovely earrings, bigger hoops than I normally wear, not sure if i look like a hooker or a gipsy, I didnt tell her that tho , see I am a considerate Mum :)
RD gave me Australian dollars, then promptly told me how much they were haha.kids huh !. thankfully no chocolates came my way !! I did however get a bottle of my weakness, Baileys, all gone now ;) Lorraine gave me a package and said it was for "protection" in OZ........it was suncream ...she's such a nutter. We have upt the walking distance, and my bike is booked in at the bike shop on the High St on Tues, for a overhaul so it looks like it's all systems go for biking to work. See I'll do anything so that I'm not the fat bloater at the back on the Bridge Climb
RD is home from uni for a few days, but oh what a trail of mess and destruction he leaves around the house!!
Off to Harrogate tomorrow, not sure whats there but it sounded an ok place, and it was a travelodge offer. I'll do a search later to see whats what.
Just remembered, people are suddenly getting in touch after years of no contact or not bothering, Stephen rang on my birthday(promised to send a card...nothing has come so far...brothers are useless) Garry sent a text the day after, and the surprise of all was Jackie, even letting me know how my birth mother and grandmother were. So I replied to J & G thanking them and say I often think of them and their/our mum.
well thats the end of todays ramblings

Slowly but surely

Back from weightwatchers, another 1 and half pounds lighter, damn slow this weight loss !!
Never mind I just remind myself its almost a whole bag of sugar.
Tomorrows going to be torture, Ive got to take the most guey chocolatey cake to work, I know I'll cave in and have some. And yes we walked there and back!!
44 days days now and I'm getting quite excited again, hoping to sort my booking for the Harbour Bridge Climb before I leave, and I've definately decided to do the "Big Climb" I should have set up a sponsored event from this to raise money for the the kids at work !!

Food. its all I can think of

Forgot to post that I had lost one and a half pounds last week..a grand total of 9lbs now...I smell food, see food and eat it in my dreams, this has been a terrible week for the diet, at work they keep bringing in things for snacks :( So it's not looking good for the weigh in on Tues. Today is 46 days till I fly and I'd so love to lose another 14lbs
My walk buddy is back today, and we did a much longer route than before, taking in one of the other villages, took over 2 hours which is good. And we are back on the daily routine until she goes on holiday 2nd March, but she has 2 holidays lined up almost back to back, so wont really be around in my final weeks. DAMN !!
I'm sure I can smell chocolate
Still got to sort my flight from Melbourne to Sydney, I worry about stuff to much, I should just book it and be damned. found out its ANZAC day whilst I am there, how poignant is that, Grampy served with the Anzac's at Gallipoli and dad was given the middle name Sydney, I think thats a connection.
mmmmm Anzac biscuits
Life in general is a bit bland, weather is pants, no where to go, nothing to do, dunno why sometimes I'm surrounded by people yet feel lonely, not really part of the world around me. Bring on the sun.. !!
Well thats it for today, yesterday was kinda my bday, and Weds is the one I celebrate, stuck in limbo land. I wonder if I'll ever know the answer to why this happened.