24 hours from Tulsa

For those that are going "huh" at that title, it's a Gene Pitney song (and if I am wrong, someone will correct me). But that is about the amount of time I have left, working for Keith Daniels Homes. Tomorrow afternoon at around 3.30pm I will be unemployed! (by choice incase you haven't caught up with my last blog). School holidays begin so I will spend a week at home with Tori and then I go on a trip to Kangaroo Island for a detox "camp". Something I've wanted to do for a while and it's a little time out for me as well. Strange way of taking time out but it's all about choice I say.
My list of things to do whilst at home is every growing, adding painting the interior of my house (bit by bit) to make it more like a home rather than a neutral coloured motel. I've been collecting pictures as well so with newly spruced up walls, the prints and photos can adorn the walls and become our abode. Add to that list the 3 (maybe more) pieces of furniture that I have collected from clearing sales (and there are a couple of tables too I think) that need restoring, paperwork to file (the pile in the computer room is scary), tax to complete, and my vegetable garden will finally become real, not just a dream in my crazy head.

I am so looking forward to having too much time on my hands.

It's sooooooo cold !!!

Great news ! I have lost more weight than I have ever imagined (but still maintaining those womanly curves) but it comes at a price. My blubber was what kept me warm and now I am finding I am the only one at work that gets around in an overcoat all day. Which brings me to the next part of the story - I QUIT ! I figured that while Bullet is working away (Mt Isa, QLD at the moment), then why shouldnt I take life differently and slow down a little. You see, we are basically busy and don't arrive home from work/school and other committments until 7pm for 3 nights of the week and the other 2 (as well as the weekend) are now used up with our new (24 yo) horse (which lives away at the moment). So Bullet and I discussed the situation and we agreed that I could do more at home, catch up on some paperwork, sort out my veggie garden, restore some furniture, do some basic farm stuff, study biodynamics (it's organic principles with a twist), etc., etc.
So that's the score !
Another few quick notes:

• My chickens are laying 8-10 eggs a day


• Tori has a pony by the name of Sammy


• We will now be able to get another dog because I will be home to train it


• The crops are looking good this year

Tori and her friend are with Sammy now (Bullet took them there) for a riding lesson. I am home with a rotten stomach, probably nerves about losing my financial independence. Still, I'm happy, will have much more time to relax (which I haven't really done since the fire in 2005) and concentrate on having a happier, healthier Michele, a balanced Tori and a breadwinner to take advantage of me being the "housewife" for the time being. I say for the time being as it wont be permanent, just wasn't in the right job and no sense being somewhere you are not happy. I will have more time to do all the domestic stuff while Tori is at school and enjoy the weekend rather than cramming it all into what little time we have. We also have to up the ante on music practice as well and getting home late tends to slide that one by.

I had a huge compliment from my singing teacher (well she compliments me all the time but too shy to accept) but now I am acknowledging them and sharing with you... I have noticed that my voice has improved 10 fold since I started taking proper vocal lessons (with the homework as well) and she sits there, playing her guitar to a Diana Krall song (originally by Mose Allison) called "Stop this World" and goes "yeah" in parts. I couldn't hear what she was saying (because I was concentrating on what I was singing - it's a jazz kinda feel and different to what I'm used to, and at the end she just smiles at me and says "i love listening to you sing, you have a such a listenable voice" Of course I was embarassed and proud in the same feeling. Cool huh ! And to those that have complimented me on my voice before and got the coy reply, thank you for the compliment - your gratitude from me is long overdue.

"Stop this world, let me off, there's just too many pigs in the same trough. There's too many buzzards sitting on the fence, stop this world it's started making sense"

Ciao
Shel X

WHASSUP ?!?

Not much writing going on lately. I've been busy, but not had the urge to write so that's why there has been nothing forthcoming.

Still losing weigh (albeit slowly) but I don't mind, as long as it's coming off, it good. (insert Jim Carrey voice over here from Bruce Almighty).

Chooks are alive, not producing eggs yet but I suspect it wont be too long and then I'll have too many and will have to cook more or sell them at work (which I don't think would be a problem, EVERYBODY loves fresh farm eggs and you cant get any more free-range than my girls. They are all over the place!

The paving guy has finally arrived and is doing a magnificent job. We are having approximately 111 sq metres done beginning at the front entrance, path down the side, under the pergola and then stopping just outside our loungeroom window, I will post a picture once they are complete.

We took a trip to Adelaide over Easter to visit my Nan and took the ferry from Lucky Bay (Cowell) to Wallaroo. It was late getting there but it was a pleasant trip and broke up the driving. I probably wouldn't use it again because it is not cost effective and you surely wouldn't rely on it if you had an appointment time to keep, but nonetheless it was an adventure.

Bullet (I'm stopping "The Man" etc charade because the only people that read this are people we know and it's not for general publication on the net because I ticked that box) is now working on another away from home job for 2 weeks on, 1 week off in Mount Isa, Queensland. It was supposed to be a work from home tenure but somehow, he has to do a few more stints up there - good on them !!! Anyway, it will be nice to get some more things done around the place with the extra money, and I think he has taken on the "He who has the most toys, wins" attitude so he has to finance that !

I got myself a new car, traded the old grey girl in on a 2005 Adventra (AWD Commodore Station wagon). It's a nice girl and she handles the dirt wonderfullly. Nothing wrong with the grey girl, but doing in excess of 250 - 300 kms a week going to work and back was a bit rude on petrol.

It's gearing up for seeding time "on the farm" and we had 12mm of rain last night and more is expected so the lupins are first on the list to go in and then when Bullet returns from his Mt Isa stint, the Barley and Wheat are next. We are leaving one paddock this year as we have about 80 sheep (23 are only here for a feed as they are Bullet's Dad's sheep and there was no feed for them up at Lock, so they are having a sleep over for the time being).

Ciao

A bit of fun

This is a "Ticker" and tracks my weight loss - I did hit 30kgs lost but 2 crept back on - buggers, never mind, i got one back and am working on the other !!!

Alah Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Forgive the title, that was the first thing that came into my head. The chookhouse is not yet complete but we did purchase a rooster at a clearing sale today and it has a few quick mods to keep him in and the predators (namely the foxes and one domestic cat) out !!!

I bought yet another cupboard to restore (might be nice to have some time to spend doing that but oh well, now that I have lost 30kgs I reckon I would have a few more years up my sleeve). The girl went for a ride on a larger horse yesterday, don't ask me how many hands high it was - not something that remains in my brain (ie lack of interest, that's the Man's area). Anyway, she didn't have her happy horse riding face on that day but I think she enjoyed it just the same.

Smile !

Here I am ! Nine kgs to go to my goal. So far I have knocked 27.1kgs off this sad and sorry body.

Ciao

It's been a while, but there's a reason for that

I have a new job ! I start with Keith Daniels Building Company as their Quality Assurance Manager on March the 5th.

I have lost 25kgs and am feeling great.

That's the short of it all. Longer blog later.
Ciao