The Plan

Day 3 and so far so good with the Xenical.

Small Man appears to be one of the lucky people that doesn't have many side effects from the Xenical (it can get messy, not going into detail here!).

We did have to miss breakfast and lunch dose yesterday because he had an excursion with school - he had a great day visiting the maritime college, having lunch at the seaport followed by a boat cruise.
In his usual Small Man style he'd made a new friend within the first five minutes!
It was kind of weird, because he'd never met his teacher in person, or any of his class mates!

We went on a shopping trip just for Small Man, to buy food that is going to be best for eating with Xenical. Whilst it works to remove the fat from what you eat - if you eat too much fat it can cause unpleasant side effects.

Day one first dose prompted some physical reaction - a clean out of sorts I think!
Day one second dose went very well.
Day two first dose was the same....and so on.
A toilet visit is required within 30 minutes of taking the Xenical, and the only thing I have noticed is that he's sweating a little for 10 - 15 minutes after...that's about it.

Our plan is for his main meals to be less than 15 grams of fat.
That is tricky when he can't eat salad or vegies.
So we are doing all sorts with chicken breast fillets - he's had sweet chilli chicken breast wrapped in a tortilla with a light sprinkle of fat reduced cheese,
last night the same sweet chilli chicken only in a sour dough roll,
for lunch today two bake in the oven rolls with a small amount of salami and a light sprinkle of fat reduced cheese,
tonight he ate a few chicken kebabs plain grilled with a handful of oven baked chips and pepper sauce...all of these calculated to be as close to or under 15 grams of fat - and he was full after.

And, he's had a bit more energy in the last few days - maybe excited - may have been meeting some new friends yesterday.....when I say energy, I mean within himself, a spark I haven't seen in a while.
He still crashed early yesterday, and struggled to get up this morning.



The only thing I haven't been able to do is weigh him first thing in the morning - yesterday we were flapping around getting ready for his excursion - and he'd struggled to get up - this morning I wasn't here when he got up (off doing my deliveries to two ladies) - that's been the only problem, it's the days I have to be out, and don't want to be because this needs to be supervised - but we'll get around that.

But so far so good.

G
xx

Nag, Nag Continually and Ye Shall Receive...eventually....

Well I got mad and frustrated for the gazillionth time today....

So I called the Paed - AGAIN - and got the good secretary (the nice one, that knows me, knows Small Man).

Dr J himself called me back ten minutes later to say that the Xenical is ready to go with the hospital pharmacy - I can pick it up tomorrow.

I'd like to say YAY,
but all I can manage at the moment is 'bout friggen time'.....

Small Man's reaction was equally non-plussed.....
I hope he hasn't given up.....
I hope he wants to give it a go......
I hope....
I hope to hell it works......

G
xx

Many Things

Lots of bits and pieces in my head tonight.

This week has been a good one, pretty much.

Work wise we have kicked butt again - with sales that were double our target - this is good!
I think the government has done as a favour with these bonus payments they are offering - given the size of orders we are getting from certain areas - they're spending it NOW!
We have released our much anticipated Christmas catalogue - this helps!
I managed to sort out the little dramas of last week fairly easily.
It may take some time for me to stop panicking when something happens, now that the Almighty has left the building, new manager CM is very realistic, trusting and doesn't automatically blame me for everything that happens (or anything that happens actually!).
I ended up working most of the day today.
I had three different team members come to see me - it just worked out that way.
While I was between visits I managed to get quite a bit of weeding done in the garden - and didn't get ravaged by snakes which is always a bonus!!!

Still no news on the Xenical.
I emailed Matt and told him.
The first line of his email reply to me was "I'm very sad to hear....".
Me too.
I'm tired of the attitude we get from the Paed here.
Our GP is excellent - he'd have had Small Man in for a lap band 12 months ago - he knows.
So continuing Distance Ed for next year as well is looking like a definite, also he has not improved health wise - so it makes sense.
I'm used to Small Man being at home now.
It's only taken 2.5 years!
Actually - in March 2009 it will have been three years since he first contracted glandular fever.....

So it's THAT time of year again - to look at the 'summer' wardrobe.
And the realisation that clothes that didn't fit last summer - aren't going to fit again this year. Goody :(
I am continually frustrated at the clothing range available to Small Man - next to none.
There are very few brands that cater for tall/big teenage boys - very few.
I have a massive pile of clothes for him to shrink into - so transitional clothing won't be a problem!
It's just the 'now' stuff that I'm having trouble with.
We did buy a few t-shirts for him in Hobart last time we went down.
There are so many options in larger sizes for women - but for men/teenage boys - not much.
Target have a 'Mr Big' range - but the stuff is wide - not long - everything is almost always too short - bah!

Z17 is almost finished College.
I have been looking forward to his end of year 'ball'.
There wasn't anything on the 'important dates' list I have stuck to the fridge.
We haven't had any notice or letter about it.
I have asked Z17 a few times to ask when it is.
When I picked him up from college the other day he tells me.....the ball was last week or the week before.
Hardly anyone went - because no-one knew about it.
How disappointing!!!
I was looking forward to shopping for a new shirt, sorting out the hair and stuff.....
It seems pretty well typical of the communication from them.
At the pre sign up for college meeting we had they came across as all supportive and so on.....
PAH! Yeah right.
Z17's teacher that he started the year with, who took him for the majority of his subjects was great, but he moved to Hobart - and things went downhill from there.
I'll be glad when the year is over to be honest.
and really hope he can get himself an IT traineeship over the holidays - I'll be getting him to sign up with all of the job seeking agencies etc
His last day of work experience was Thursday.
When I went to pick him up he came out with a smile, and a plastic cake tray with leftover chocolate cake on it - how sweet, they had cake for him for his last day!
They must have been happy with his work - they had him building computers, installing programs etc after two days!

G
xxx

I was quite rude...

Twice recently - I know - tsk tsk!


I have had a woman working within my team on and off for years.

She is dishonest to the extreme (lies, cheats, steals), unreliable, and simply not presentable for customer service.
When I say not presentable I mean she appears unwashed, clothes are grubby and she is at least 100kg overweight (and I don't have a problem with anyones weight, but it is almost impossible for her to get around, so she makes her grotty grandchildren run around with catalogues - just not on, unprofessional).
She smells BAD and I mean 'lucky to shower weekly, if not fortnightly BAD' it's truly the worst smell I've ever encountered on another person....it's just constant and awful...it's one of those smells you can't get out of your nose for ages.

To add to the above 'attributes' she lies at every opportunity, especially with regard to the payment of money owing.
Every manager she has ever worked for has complained, often about the fantastic tales she'd invent as to why she couldn't pay them (and we're talking a few hundred dollars at a time, at least).
I have even accompanied a manager to her house at night to try and collect outstanding debt ($380).
After this we reduced her to having to pay for her order up front - no 7 day credit, and that she was not to have a territory to service, only able to sell to 'friends and family'......or leave....

To top it off I kept getting reports (from customers and agents) that she was collecting other agents catalogues in the area she lives in and taking the orders, to order herself, so that she gets the commission, AND that she was working for our rival company at the same time (the biggest no-no) she thought that by signing with them in her daughters name she'd get away with it.

I'm not kidding.

So I did some investigating.
I'm not one to be making accusations without proof.

It was all true, but the only proof I could get was that it was SHE that was attending the weekly meeting, SHE that was signing the receipt for the goods (signing as her daughter mind you, just a bit more fraud).
Weren't they (rival company) interested to hear all about it!!!
I simply asked the lady on the phone to describe the woman she met with every week, calling herself "Anna".
Daughter "Anna" is not 60 years old, with long black greasy hair, extremely, extremely obese with bad facial hair.

I knew I had her.

So in typical fashion she failed to collect her order for two weeks.
I had an opening.
She called PB (the only manager that'll have her) finally after two weeks wanting to collect the order.
PB "Nope, you can't, it's gone back into stock it'd been sitting here for two weeks - you're finished, you can't do it any more"

EB "Oh....o.k. then"

I thought that would be it - but the crafty old bitch rang head office the following week, they hadn't deleted her from the system, and told her "Oh no, you should be o.k. to order you're still active on the system"
That was good of them!
So she then rings PB, me, PB, me - we're just not answering.

Some people will not take a hint.
By this time I am over it well and truly.
I have sat opposite her at PB's table and told her she's finished, and we get the tears and the whole works, and end up giving in - not again.
Her last warning was her last warning.

So I write a firm but polite letter to let her know her contract was TERMINATED due to failure to collect goods, ongoing unreliability, issues with account payment etc.
I also stated that this was my final word on the matter and not to call either PB or myself as there was nothing left to discuss.
I sent this to new manager CM to proof read first, she said it was great and to go ahead and send.

The letter would have arrived on a Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest.
Neither of us hear a word, and assume we were finally rid of her.
The agents she had been stealing orders and customers from were relieved when I informed them that she had 'finished' with us.
I had given her many many many chances - enough is enough.

Monday of the following week I receive a phone call,
I saw the number and it looked familiar but I thought ah whatever, I was in the mood!

It was EB.

She had 'just received my letter' ummm...we live in the same town, don't think it takes a week to get a letter delivered

She accused me of lying - ME!!!

I let her have it.

After all of the drama and crap with her - I'd finally had enough.

I said "Don't you dare talk to me about lying, you have done nothing but lie for years - to every manager you've ever worked for and I'm sick of dealing with it, and you"

She accused me of being gutless by sending a letter and not discussing it with her

I lost it - by then I was seeing red I said "No EB I wasn't being gutless I just wasn't going to get involved in another discussion with YOU, been there - done that - it never sinks in and I'm not a bit interested in entertaining your bullshit AGAIN..."

She then went on and on about sending my letter to head office etc etc

I laughed at this stage and said "Go for it EB - the letter was approved by head office before I sent it, but if that's what you feel you need to do - GO FOR IT"

She said she would, and kept going on and on.

So I hit her with the bombshell she wasn't expecting.

I said "While you're on the phone to them EB, perhaps you can take the time to explain why you're doing at the same time"

Dead silence.

EB "Oh nah thats me daughter doin that"

Me in controlled tone: "Oh o.k. so why is it that they meet with YOU every week, collect the money from YOU, give the goods to YOU...."

EB: "Oh thats cos me daughter hasn't got a car"

Me: "Really, so why is it you are signing as Anna then? Are you aware that's fraud?"

Dead silence.

Then she gets the snakey. nasty old mole tone to her voice "You think you know a lot dontcha"

Me: bright cheery voice "Yes I do actually" "I know the manager 'MH' REALLY WELL...." which, as it happens now, is true.

So she goes again "You think ya know everything dontcha"

Me "As far as you and your dishonesty goes, yes I do"

EB: "Yeah well I've got returns here, I'll have to post em to head office since I'm not supposed to contact ya's"

Me: "Exactly EB so why are you ringing me then?"

EB: Tries crapping on a bit more....

Me: "Don't EVER ring up here again"

Click.

She didn't get another word in. I hung up on her.

And it's now official, in the 11 years I have worked for the company I have never found it necessary to raise my voice - until now!

At least I know my managers are safe - they won't be running around in the middle of the night trying to collect money that's been flushed down the pokies (we know this for a fact too).

Small Man was in bed when I first took the call - he could hear me on the phone and got up to see what on earth was going on.

First thing he said "GO MUM - Whoa!!!"
Then - "Err...who WAS that???"
"Gee you told her didn't you Mum".

He he!

I guess I did - she hasn't called me again.
BUT she has been putting in huge orders with my current lovely lady that lives in her area - grrr. I can't refuse her orders, but we know she is getting orders from her friends, getting the goods from my lovely lady, and then delivering it to her friends and family, and charging them the $2.50 handling fee - hardly worth it.
I'd have to get proof of that but it would be difficult....
Some people just won't quit!

Thank goodness she doesn't have a computer or internet access - she has ripped off so many people - social clubs for fundraising money (eg kicked off the darts team),
owes money to different companies similar to ours that sell via catalgoue, she was even sacked from delivering junk mail - they found her catalogues dumped in the bushes and not delivered - WHAT???
Imagine what she could do online - I dread to think......

Anyway, another source of aggravation erased from my life.....

G
xx

Things are pretty quiet around here (in blog land!).

And here, at my place at the moment - boys are having a sleep in.

I have one fully recovered boy, one not quite.

Me, well I'd be better if I could ever get some rest - but I'm running at about 60 - 70% 'back to normal'. Just going to the op shop for 30 minutes and getting groceries knocked me out yesterday.
Annoying, very.

If you feel like a good read hop on over to Lou's blog and read this if you haven't already.

G
xx

Strangeness in the air....

There seems an unusual 'vibe' in the air at the moment,
and it's touching everyone.
Fatigue, depression, doubt, reflection, pain, physical illness - touching the lives of almost everyone I know.
It feels like some big explosions were about to happen, but the atmosphere sort of tipped slightly before it happened....or something....does that make sense?

So it's not just the economy struggling.

Both of my boys are now unwell.

Small Man had an ear infection, sore throat etc - antibiotics for him - I discussed with my GP and he felt this was pro-active at this stage - I agreed this time. It's only when he gets onto his 3rd repeat and isn't improving that I start to really question the antibiotics.

Z17 extreme fatigue - he slept for 20 hours out of 24!
He missed school yesterday, and missed work experience today - bugger - not great at this time of year - but his health comes first.

Me, well I just keep on keeping on - I would have loved to be able to sleep like Z17 did the other day.......*sigh*.......

Big A's the only one that's fine! Good to have one able body among us -
although he did almost break his foot at karate the other night....
"Nyyyaaarggghh....bloody beginners" was the problem - they don't know how to block kicks properly or something - so the old boy nearly breaks his foot on someones hand...tsk...

The full moon has had it's effect on the moods around here.
Not angry.
Well, maybe a little snappy.
Not me, the boys.
Small Man suffered the most.
He was talking to a friend from school (real world school that is).
He was down afterwards, really sad and down.
Reflecting on his life that 'was'.
It can be again too - just when he's ready.
Just when he's better.
At the rate things are going it may take a while.......

I ring the Paed here to ask how the funding for Xenical is going.
Receptionist takes the message, and says either he or she will call me back.
I thought right then - if it's 'she' he hasn't done it - if it's 'he' he'll be ringing to say he has done it, or has news.
'She' rang back - and guess what??????
I hate being right about things like that.
I realise it's not life or death - but far out it was two weeks ago that he told Dr Matt he'd organise it - and if he'd done it 12 months ago when I asked him for it we'd be half way there - provided it works - but then we don't know if it will work do we, cos we haven't got it........

Everyone I've spoken to has had a 'bad' week - even new manager CM has been sick, and hurt her back on the weekend.
A few niggly problems with team members cracking the shits over minor things - or arking up over things they usually wouldn't.....hmmm.
So I'll be sorting stuff out and smoothing over some cracks this week I feel.
That's me - Captain Crack Smoother-Over - ha ha!

Lets just hope everyone calms down, feels better, steps back from the situation and re-evaluates and starts the week rejuvenated, healthy and happy....

We'll see....

G
xxx

Terrifying!

I ambled out to the recycling bin this morning in the same haze that's been a fixture in my brain for the last few days.
I am almost there, destination in sight...
I look down and it takes a few further steps to register - SNAKE....

So there was some hooting and hollering at our house this morning,
woman and blue heeler bustling through the door to safety (the blue heeler just wanted to come in and eat the cat biscuits).

Big A wandered out for a look, caught a quick glimpse......and my slithery serpentish (is that a word?? it is now!) friend hasn't been seen again.

Bugger!

Trip to the doc over and done with.

I had a dilemma this afternoon though.

Small Man has been 'feeling more crap than usual' the last few days - I checked his throat - no better than mine only he has red spots at the back of his throat.

So what do I do?
Take him with me and hope the doc has time to look at his throat too?
Make another appointment for him?
Let him have my appointment and make another for me?

I decided I'd go - gotta fix the captain first or the ship won't function at all (in other words if I didn't get myself fixed I may not be able to get him to the doc).

I asked when I arrived if they could get Small Man in tomorrow - "Oooh noooo - we're fully booked for the rest of the week"......

Doc was running 40 minutes late.

I waited out in the car for 20 minutes - no point sitting out in the germ pool waiting room for any longer than necessary.

By the time I got in I was running a fever, tonsilitis (well we knew that), glands up etc etc.

He wants to see Small Man tomorrow.

He said to ring in the morning and if they get all 'fully booked...ooohh noooo' tell them he said he must see him tomorrow.
As he said, Small Man has been through quite enough without letting whatever he has get any worse.

He's a good guy.

Next time I get the gout happening I'm to go get some tests done.

We're giving the diet another month, then he'll look at changing my pill again.

I have my antibiotics and hope to be 100% by the end of the week!

I can get a lot done in ten minutes.....

Except snakes....

G
xxx

***P.S Sorry if I'm a bit hopeless with comments - leaving and replying at the moment - I am reading though! I Promise!***

What to do....

Well, the diet isn't working.

I first mentioned my plan here - this was on 9th August!

I have cut out bread/pasta/potato completely, and have eaten minimal amounts of rice since then.
I am not adding sugar, not having butter.
My basic diet is chicken, tuna, avocado, onion, tomato, mushroom, carrot, lettuce, cabbage etc a little bit of cheese (gotta watch that calcium), cottage cheese, natural yoghurt, pumpkin seeds, egg (very occasionally and not on an empty stomach), 99% fat free milk..........and milo of course which I might add is only 66 calories per three teaspoons and has lots of vitamins in and my meal replacements.
Since staring this diet I've also had gout.

I think the problem is my hormones. My thyroid was o.k. according to the last blood test.
When I stopped taking the pill for two months earlier this year I gained a whacking 8kg in total.
The new pill mustn't be doing the job.
While the new diet got rid of the leftover excess weight from that little trial, I can't seem to drop any lower.
Actually, feeling so terrible the other night as this throat thing was coming on - I ate some hot chips and gravy - cos I felt so yuk - the next day I ate some 2 minute noodles - I gained 1.5kg from that - it's ridiculous.

I'm not giving up mind you - just expressing my frustrations!!

Will be attempting to see my GP tomorrow - my throat is no better - I'm seeing the tonsilitis white blisters - bah. I haven't got time for this - and no-one can fill on for me at work - so hopefully I can get a bit of penicillin/antibiotics into me and be back to it asap! I'm not big on antibiotics unless it's for ear infection, tonsilitis - stuff that won't go away on it's own!
The doctors kept giving antibiotics to Small Man over and over - in the end I gave him a break of a few weeks before starting them again - it worked - he didn't need the next lot.

Big A says I snored all night last night - ha ha ha ha! I cracked up!
Pays him back for all of the times he's kept me awake snoring.
He didn't see the funny side!

Love to all,

G
xx

Picking up

I seem to have picked up quite a lot this afternoon, after a huge sleep - I'm sure that helps, sleeping it off.

HJ's simply couldn't cope with Z17 coming in at 6pm tonight - they rang him at 3pm (he was in class) to ask if he'd come in at 3.30pm - uh nah!!
I managed to get him there at 4.30pm - that should keep them happy.
On the way we talked about school - especially a questionnaire I have to fill in about what he's doing next year.
One of the questions is for the reasons he isn't likely to attend college next year - with a section on "dissatisfaction with the school" - gee where would I start.
The principal still hasn't returned my email or addressed the issues I raised with him.
The so called 'contract' that Z17 was supposed to be on from week one of this term hasn't happened either.
Z17's view on this was that I "owned him too hard" (the principal, in the email I sent) - hmm maybe I did 'own him a bit hard' ha ha the way they talk these kids it's hysterical!

The end of college term is approaching rapidly (Nov 6th is the final day) - I need to know that Z17 is on track - but if I can't even get a response from the principal....

Z17 is sort of considering the possibility of completing the retail certificate with HJ's - so that 'if I ever want to open my own computer store I'll have a retail certificate' - it can't hurt, at all.
I have suggested he may want to go back to school part time next year to complete a small business course or similar if he's leaning towards his own business.
We'll try and get an IT trainee ship for him in the mean time.

Just in case anyone was holding their breath on news about Xenical for Small Man - nothing/zip/zero news.
He is going in leaps and bounds school wise, and has wowed them all with a presentation he made, his own design of a space ship.
He has an excursion coming up soon, and wants to go - this is a breakthrough.

We are getting some tree trimming done - one afternoon with Big A and a chainsaw.....and, well, we need someone to come in and do it. Some of the trees are interfering with the phone/power line but they're on our property.
We had a guy come and give us a quote - $460 - WHAT?
He told Big A it would take him about 5 hours....right......that's like $90 an hour - jeez I'm in the wrong job.
So with that I thought o.k. whatever, if that's what it costs....mind you I could have new curtains for that, or a drain put in out the back which would enable me to start landscaping - but anyway it has to be done.
Big A is at work yesterday and one of his bosses hands him a cheque - for $350 - we have no idea what it's for!!!
So we were saved most of the cost - yay!

So that's it from me today,

G
xxx

Sick N' Happy

I thought I was getting the flu.

I was quietly pleased with myself for not catching it this year (until Monday),
especially as I'm frequenting the homes of others who have all had 'something'.

Last night I'm awake with a throat so sore I could barely swallow.

It's all fun.

Feels more like tonsilitis so we'll see.
My head feels like a bucket of concrete at present.....





So the new job people haven't emailed, I think they got the email address wrong - an omen?

Big A announced last night, after some good natured ribbing from me about being away for ten weeks - that he isn't taking the job anyway.

I really didn't think he would.

To go from a secure job, surrounded by people he knows, and that love him (it's true, when his name was called at the long service dinner we went to there was whooping and hollering all around a room filled with hundreds of people - it was a really special moment - no-one else got the same reaction!) to a job where he knows no-one, and would be away from home and family for 10 weeks - nah.

He also gets bored easily, which would be fine while he's away working (that would just be loneliness and homesickness to deal with) - when he's home for the few weeks he would have off he'd be bored...shitless.
Yes he may have money to spend on plasma t.v.'s and motorbikes or boats or whatever - but you can only buy so much....and what then?...nag the crap out of me I told him!! Ha ha!

So an early night in store for me I think.

G
xx

Life As I Know It May Be About To Change.......

Oh.

Big A just had a call to his mobile.

He applied for a job - in W.A.


Fly in - fly out. ***Four hour flight each way***

F*CK......

They rang to see if he wants it.......the job that is....

I don't like change....

Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety....

Surely not.......

Hell.

I'm sure I'd manage.....

He seems to think the first stint would be with him AWAY FOR TEN WEEKS,
screw that.

I don't care how much they're paying.

Shit.

Going to mull this over now.

Oh I'm stressed.............

Bugger.

G
xxx

P.S. I am not worried about coping here without him - I am worried that he won't like it over there, and have nothing to come back to - job wise that is.

Nearly 14 Years Later....

But this time Z17 is wrapped in the blanket!

Taken with Small Mans camera phone Saturday night.

Funny boys!

G
xxx

It was MASSIVE

You may need coffee (preferably in a flask) and possibly a light snack to get you through this.......haw haw!

I have survived yet another epic week.

It was a huge one.

Monday saw an email arrive with some news,
Small Man has been approved for the Xenical trial - good news.
Hospital in Melbourne has decided that because we live in Tassie the Xenical should be locally funded.
So now we need to get approval by the powers that be at the LGH.
Dr Matt was reasonably confident after talking to our Paed here that it'll be fine.
It's still another delay.
Just for the record - Small Man has gained around 35kg in the last 2.5 years since he first caught glandular fever to now. He has fatty liver. His liver function is 'out' and has been for the last 2.5 years - still yet to have a 'normal blood test'. We are trying to get his weight down, to try and relieve his body of the stress - and for his self esteem.

New Boss came over Monday - we met for dinner Monday night. We finally finished up at 10.30pm.
Z17 was called into work monday night - and Big A was on day shift, so I took Z17 to work, lit the fire/dragged the wood in, cooked his dinner, supervised Small Man's dinner, then went out.

Tuesday morning I had a dash to the health food shop in the morning, and to buy my brothers b'day card - I then met with new boss CM here from 11am til 2.30pm - it went very well, very easy company - and nice to hear that I'm the only one 'over budget' - some are close/just on target - others are struggling. Team Awesome strikes again!
Usually I pack my order Tuesday, so I was a day behind.

This week I had double the amount to pack for my team on Wednesday.
It took me a while!
So then onto the usual - Wednesday night delivery/Z17 at work til 11pm - two deliveries Thursday morning, two Thursday afternoon (half an hours drive away) - with a break to meet Z17 for lunch in between.

Friday was a catch up on work reports/emails.
Urgent washing to catch up on.
Damaged stock to be broken/smashed/seperated from original boxes (so that scum bags can't get it off the tip and try and return it again - cos they will try anything).
Sort out a few other things for Big A to take to the tip.
Chocolate Ripple Cake ingredients purchased, a dash to Rivers to see if they had something for Small Man to wear to my brothers 40th b'day (they didn't).
Z17 to work.
Ripple cake x 2 to make. They turned out perfectly (yay!).
I'm feeling a bit tired by this stage.
Bit of a sore throat (which is often a warning to slow the hell down).
A few messages to and from my brother, and a few mates getting organised for the next day.

Saturday morning was - getting Z17 ready for work, ironing clothes for the party, washing Z17's uniform for tonight (Sunday), packing up cooler bags with Small Mans Pepsi Max, cheese for the food platters I was putting together etc etc
A few messages back and forth - work related - we had ad's in the paper yesterday...
Z17 decided to have a shower before work - and used up all of the hot water.....
Luckily we didn't have to be at my bro's until 3pm - very lucky.
I managed a quick one - then Big A took his turn - hot water ran out altogether.
Small Man waited until the last minute - soaped up in the bathroom sink - then dove under and rinsed off. tsk tsk.
Ha ha! I better get Z17's shower timer back out I think!

So anyway, he was tucked away at work at midday, we were all scrubbed up and on our way to the party....on time.
We were early, to help out - my brother raced off to pick up PB and children, ice, etc.
Big A and Small Man set up the DJ machine (Small Man's) out the back on the verandah, I washed up and re-arranged the fridge - otherwise the place was immaculate!

The guests arrived in a slow steady stream - around 40 people in the end - so nice to catch up with some cousins, well you know twice removed and all that but still family is family.
Also a lot of my brothers friends I hadn't seen for up to 20 years. There were quite a few I didn't know though.
I busied around, and must have looked like I was in charge cos everyone kept asking me "can I put this here" and "where are the knives/cloths/etc" to which I'm all "Go for it" and "Err...dunno..have a look in the cupboards!".
I really didn't have to do much.
Put the platters together, then actually wandered through the groups of people offering the food (I know, me, in a crowd, who knew!). I usually find being 'busy' in the kitchen a good way to hide.
I eventually enjoyed talking with my 'Uncle' (actually my cousin, but was best mates, cousin of Dads - also the ONLY one that helped me when Dad died and we ran into all of the legal issues).
There were plenty of kids of all ages, so my niece had a fabulous time, she has been so excited about Daddy's birthday.

Z17 finished work at 7pm - so I took PB's kids for a drive to pick him up.
When we got back the caterer had gone - and left all of the leftover meat and salad - he comes back the next day to collect empty bowls. The food was delicious, plentiful for sure.
Mum bought a few cheescakes, and a gorgeous vanilla birthday cake for the birthday boy, plus the two choc ripple cakes I'd made.....

'Uncle' R made a speech for b'day boy - known for dragging up the most embarrassing stories EVER when making a speech, somehow my brother escaped nicely - not sure how that worked!

Have promised uncle R we will go and visit - he has a son the same age as Small Man - he was a 'surprise' baby - Uncle R was in his 50's - with a new younger partner (she was 40) - he also has two older sons one is early 40's the other 34.
It would be nice for Small Man to get to know his cousin.
We live in the same town - we must do it.
Uncle R has done well for himself, he has a million dollar house looking over the city, several businesses - well a chain of them actually. He is as busy as we are - and admits he's hopeless with visiting, but we are welcome any time.
I would like to ask him if Small Man could use his pool (during the week) for physio - I'm sure it'll be fine - they were really concerned to hear about Small Man's health problems

Later on, my brothers little girl stood up and spoke over the microphone - to the effect of "And I like to congrat-u-late Daddy about his birthday...and I love him...and he got a very special day" - Awww...so adorable.
And she's usually shy too.
Bless her.
Then she sang Happy Birthday.
She's only 4.....

By 9.30pm we were down to half of the guests - the people with little ones had gone.
A few others needed to leave early.
It was cold by then, quite cold actually.
The bigger boys were inside watching tv.
There were groups under the verandah, and some in the garage.
We listened to Neil Diamond, U2 and Queen...my brothers taste.

Mum decides she must get on my brothers Harley - I got photos!! Ha ha!!

By 11pm we decided we were ready.
My brother had half a dozen of his oldest mates by his side - ready to keep partying.
One of the other ladies and I did the whip around, putting leftover salad into smaller bowls (quite the job when your brother has like two tupperware containers - ha ha!), covered up cake (he seems allergic to cling wrap - he has it, just doesn't use it). We cleared up all of the used plates etc. Then I loaded up again with stuff to bring home.

Big A says to brother "Are you sure you don't mind us taking this salad Pete?"

Brother says "Yeah mate - you can take 90% of it"

Big A "So what will you do with the 10%?"

Brother "Oh I'll probably chuck it out"

Ha ha ha!!!!

Small Man was stuffed.
Z17 was stuffed.
Big A was freezing.
Me, I was actually o.k.!
I checked on the little one, she wasn't asleep.
Brother assures me she would be fine.

We come home and unpack all of the gear, put our electric blankets on.
Big A's doesn't work, so he fills up a hot water bottle.
I unpack and stuff around a while - the boys were taking funny photos - especially for my blog - so I'll post those for you asap (once I work out how to get them off the phone onto computer - not my phone!).
Anyhoo - it must be bed time it's well after midnight.
Big A goes to jump in.
Hot water bottle had leaked - all through his side of the bed - bloody outh - went down well - NOT!
So I'm getting towels down under him and so on.
That's fine, we fix it up and get into bed.
I'm so warm by then, and comfy, and tired.
Then it soaks through the towels and stuff I have put down.
So I get up AGAIN.
And strip the sheet off, and put more towels down - and another sheet on - BUGGER, BUGGER, BUGGER!
Finally - it must have been 1am.

Sleep!!! ZZZZzzzzzz........

This morning I thought I would sleep in - didn't - woke up at a decent time.
Lots of washing to do today.
Big A vacumed the floors - I know!!! - he got sick of waiting for me to find/make time to do it.
Brother - who I shall call 'Pete' - mostly cos that's his name (har har) arrived with pyjama'd daughter in tow - to see if Big A could fix his computer - and to report on his big night - they went on til the early hours - I was pleased - there is often a bit of a 'low' after such a big night - especially as he's on his own.
Mum and SF came over later in the afternoon and stayed a while - then it was time for Z17 to go to work - again. Big A to the rescue again this time - so I lit the fire and tidied up a bit more.

I finally checked in on my blog somewhere in the middle of all of this - after being missing in action for two whole days - if I let myself on here - I would never have made it through the last few days without panicking/forgetting something/being disorganised - cos I know what I'm like. Easily distracted.

5.30pm and I crashed on the couch for an hour - *bliss*!


So I realised I haven't posted in over a week - so this should make up for it!
I will post the photos the boys had me take last night - they saw the photo I posted of Z17 holding Small Man when he was born, and have done a 'nearly 14 years later' version - funny boys!


G
xxx