Day 8: Mr Bowie.

 Miss him every damn day.

Listen to him every damn day.

Just Awesome.

Until tomorrow, remember: Be happy... it drives people crazy.

Day 7: Crossing Off Another 2 Jobs

 

Today is the day my niece is coming over, and we are changing the wheels on the BBQ, and taking down the dog run in the back paddock. We'll also be having a BBQ, so I'll have to make garlic potatoes for my sister.

I'll get out early and do a stint in the back paddock. I'll also do more after everyone goes home, or if they annoy me while they are here at the house. I'll let my daughter entertain...LOL. Though while my niece is here, we'll make a plan to chainsaw up the one tree that is in my way of getting the bottom tier of the top drive completed.

Seven days into 2026, and I've already marked off a heap of stuff on my to do list. I just made up my mind this is the year I tell myself I can accomplish anything. I'm not taking no for an answer (not from myself I mean). Hopefully, the mindset and the momentum last throughout the whole year.

I'm giving myself little goals throughout the year... making it easier to achieve them. That's why I chose to do the hardest one first and I'm already almost halfway through it, by the end of this week, I'll be a little over halfway.  

Being the list lady that I am. I have made charts for everything just to keep myself on track. I have them for the following:

* Get shit done this week list

* Grocery List (because I want to see how much our spending changes)

* Food intake list (making sure I eat)

* Weight & Measurement Chart

* Yardwork Chart (keeping track of hours I'm working and what I'm doing)

* To buy List (household)

* To buy List (presents = Birthdays, Easter, Christmas)

* My chore chart

* Grandkids chore chart

* Budget

* Savings

* Debt pay down

I find I work better when I have a visual/physical thing in my hands that I can mark off and see that stuff is happening. This method might not work for everyone, but it works for me and that's all that matters.

Until tomorrow, remember: True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. Fake friends are like autumn leaves and found everywhere.

Day 6: I'm Tired Today

Mental Health Check:

Today is the day my mum has to have hers done. It takes an hour; my daughter is taking her down because I'll be still working in the yard. it gives my daughter a break from the kids. and it also means I don't have to put a bra on to go downtown... which is the real reason that my daughter is taking her.

When she gets home, I'll be back out in the paddock and I'll start at the back fence line and work my way toward the dog run, to where I finished off yesterday. Hopefully it comes down easy.

As much work as I'm doing, you'd think I would be tired, but alas my insomnia is still ever present. So, I go to bed tired, and I wake up just as tired. It's a vicious never-ending cycle that I can't seem to break. It doesn't help that Monsoon has decided she needs to be bed buddies with me, because apparently, I let her watch the phone for longer. Though mind you, at the moment we are re watching Stranger Things.

 

Until tomorrow, remember: Dance to the music in your head like you think no one's watching.

Day 5: Marked Off One Goal

I might have already mentioned my yard is freaking huge. the top tier of the top drive is 140 steps from the front fence to the back fence and it's 27 steps wide. It's taken me a week but I finally whipper snipped it all down, plus another patch in the back paddock about 25 steps by 15 steps. I'm proud of the fact that I worked out a plan to tackle it and I've been sticking to it. I had just finished for the day when it started to piss down rain. My luck the grass will grow back twice as fast. I'm saving like crazy to get the ride on mower serviced and to get the seat either recovered or replaced.

Today I weighed in at 104.9kg so I lost 1.7kg this week; probably from sweating so much. I did lose 8cm from around waist, and 1.5 from around my hips. I'm not actually dieting (I might have already told you that) I'm just eating less and choosing healthier options for cooking (no deep frying).

My other goals to achieve this week are to remove the dog run, all the old dog bowls in the big paddock, and replace the busted wheels on the BBQ (which should be happening on Wednesday).

22 more days until the girls are back in school, which is good because they are driving me nuts. Hopefully this isn't a warning for what they are going to be like as teenagers, because I'm telling you now... I won't survive it.

Until tomorrow, remember: Stay weird... it makes the normal people nervous.

 

Day 4: Shit Happens

 

I was hoping to have reached my back fenceline on my top drive by the end of today... alas I think I'm going to need another day, possibly two. And yes, the damn dog run is still up. We don't even have a dog. I just want it gone because it's an eyesore.

Today's lunch is another classic favourite of mine, a salad wrap.  Some days I just don't feel like cooking up a big meal. though I do cook my mum whatever she wants, at almost 94 she can eat whatever she damn well pleases.

I'm feeling the burn of doing the paddock now, but it is so gratifying looking back at what I've already done and seeing it all down. As it is just as daunting looking ahead to see what I still have to do, but the best part is knowing that I am doing it myself... (okay, in all honesty, I did have to get the young fella across the road to put my brush cutter together for me. I had no freaking clue).

Today I also marked off the three shelves for the plate pantry.  This is another of my January goals to get done. I have all the supplies. I just have to get it done.

Until tomorrow remember: Drink more coffee, because murder is still illegal.

Day 3: Hit A Snag

 

You guessed it. still more yard work. I'll be at it for the whole of January I think, but at least the gras is coming down easy. I'm not as young as I used to be and move a lot slower these days. Anyway, today I have hit the old dog run. I need to figure out how to get the damn thing out of the tree and rolled up (It stretches from tree to tree), and I'm too damn short to reach it. Might have to ask the young fella across the road to give me a hand.

Another overcast day today, so I'm not dying while out in the paddock. though, I did get bitten on the same damn foot. they look like bull ants, could be worse, it could have been green ants or fire ants, thank God, we don't have them. well, not that I have come across any; nor have I seen any snakes as yet.

Today's lunch was a steak and salad wrap. It was another delicious meal. I have banned myself from deep fried food for a while. It was making me feel bloated and lethargic. So, I've cut it from my repertoire for the time being and see how I feel.

Is it bad that I'm counting the days until the kids go back to school. Graceful and Hurricane have twenty-four more days, and Monsoon goes to kindy the day after the house will be quiet again. All the gifts they got for Christmas and for the last three days they have been digging mud pits in the yard. They didn't like it when they were made to fill them in.

Until tomorrow, remember: Reach high like a giraffe and stay grounded like a turtle.

Day 2: Just My Luck

Here I am slogging away at the top driveway which is literally a third of my yard. (Seriously underestimated how big this yard was). Anyway, I got bitten three times throughout the day and all on the same foot (my left one). I wonder if that is significant. I'm about 2/3 of the way down the top driveway I swear to God, the more I whipper snip, the further away the back fenceline seems to be getting. At least today is nice and overcast, but I'm still sweating like all get-go. Today I used my brush cutter for the first time. The damn thing is longer than I am tall. Thank the be-all-and-end-all that it came with a harness.

I've decided this year I'm going to try at least one new meal a week to broaden my horizons a little. Mind you, I'm talking about food I cook myself. Today I decided on stuffed chicken. (I stuffed it with green capsicum, onion, chilli, garlic, and cheese). I really liked it though the filling needed a little salt. I must have forgotten that part. the others in the house weren't too fussed on it. so next time I make it, it will be just for me, and the others can have plain old, crumbed chicken. That is always a winner.

My niece made me a feelings journal she wanted me to test it out for her. I have to fill it in every day and give her any suggestions on how to make it better. I've had a few. We'll see what happens when I see her on Wednesday for a BBQ.

Until tomorrow, remember: I may have woken up tired, but at least I woke up.

Day 1: Happy New Year

 

TWO YEAR PLAN

Today is the first day in my two-year plan to be debt free, and to have bought/replaced all the things in and for the house that I need to. After a shocker ending to last year, (where I was sick more than I was fine), I've decided this year I will start off on a positive note and get my mind in the right headspace.

Over the next two years I have certain goals that I want to achieve. I've decided if I set my mind to it than anything is attainable. Here are just some of my goals so you can see where my mind is at.

GOALS:

* Pay down my debt: This means setting a budget and sticking to it. Budget is not a dirty word. It's what makes sure the bills are paid on time.

*Getting the paddock cut down: I just didn't realize how large our block of land was when I started this adventure. I've decided to put a positive spin on it and look at is as a portion of my daily exercise. Trust me there is no getting away from the sweat while doing yardwork.

*Get my savings back on track: I hope to have a certain amount in the bank by the end of the year $5,000... let's see how close I get to my target.

*Get my health back on track> Not dieting, but eating healthier, if that makes sense... I also do indoor walking, which has taught me that I am very uncoordinated, but I get there in the end.

Our Year ended and began with Monsoon, Hurricane, & Graceful having the chicken pox, so three very miserable little girls, luckily, they are all on the mend now.

Until tomorrow remember: Deep breaths and get shit done.

Day 265: Tired as hell

 

Lately I have been tired as hell; and yet at the same time I'm suffering with insomnia... Could my life get anymore fucked up? Apparently yes, I still have a mad ear infection going on, that has now thrown my sense of direction out of whack. the number of walls and other inanimate objects I have walked into is unbelievable. I've stopped trying to figure out where the bruises are all coming from.

We are down to the last two rooms in the house to be decluttered, and one wall of the garage to rearrange; then it will only be a dump run, and everything will finally be done. I still have to pressure wash the outside of the house to do and the patio, but that shouldn't take too long.

Mind you it's hard to get anything done when it's both school holidays and the kids are all underfoot, and when I'm not feeling the best.

Day 257: I Feel Worn Out

I'm absolutely buggered today. my lower back is burning, and my upper back is aching from all the washing I've been hanging out and then folding up once it's dry.

Today I did even more washing, though I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have a couple of blankets and a coupled of sets of sheets, but they are actually off the beds,

I'll have a busy day tomorrow as I have to run the drop my daughter off at work... the girls off at school... then pick my daughter up again after her shift because her car has something wrong with it. I suppose I should get off of here and get some sleep. Morning is going to be here long before I want it to be.

 

Day 247: Breathing Easier

 

Okay, I'm less out of breath today. I'm going to get shit done before my energy gets zapped. Luckily, it's just general tidying. When I am better again, I'm really going to get stuck into finishing this house. I want to tackle the girl's rooms. I know we started them, but that kind of fizzled out when I got sick again.

They need to have all the crap out of their rooms. I can be sentimental at times when it comes to things, but I can also be ruthless and toss away everything just to make the room look less cluttered. Hopefully then the three little demons will be able to keep their rooms clean.

Pupil free day so all the kids are home today. Mostly they try and help, but they mostly just get in the way. All the while yelling at me to watch them do tricks on the trampoline... Gotta love them.

Day 246: Taking It Easy

 

It's going to be a slow day for me. I'm only setting myself one chore to get done besides making the beds, and that is to clean out under the laundry sink. I want to start using it for storage. I'm hoping my mop bucket fits under there.

I feel a little bit better, but I'm still tired as hell. I'm afraid if I don't push myself to get up and do something I'll just want to stay in bed, and that isn't going to be good.

Monsoon is with her favourite Aunty Yace... I folded up the doona and put it away. I also can't get over how sore my nose is, both inside and out. It's stinging like all get go. Probably why I have such a bad freaking headache.

Day 244: Really Crook Today

 

Another day where I'm spending most of it in bed. It hurts to even get up and walk to the loo. I attempted to clear off the kitchen bench but gave up and went back to bed. Someone else can handle that job for today.

Monsoon came and lay with me for a while. So, we watched Wednesday and Twirly Woos. they both did my head in, but it kept Monsoon entertained while her mum was at work. I'm not hungry at all but know I need to eat. So, I made potato and onion soup. easy made, easy eaten... not that I had a lot of it.

Day 243: Just Why?

 

Why is it when you have a cough your armpits hurt? Hell, even your butt hurts. I know it from clenching from trying not to cough and tightening everything up...but man am I sore.

I had a phone meeting today, that I couldn't even make it through. Thankfully the poor lady took pity on me and fixed my problem for me. I taste blood, but I'm not coughing up any. though I blew my nose and it was like I had a blood nose... TMI I know. It just weirds me the hell out. The doctor says it's just Influenza A making another go around. Yay me... I guess I'm lucky that way.

In good news, the real estate is coming out to fix our broken downpipe and our septic is going to be serviced over the next week. Means I'll have to try and get a bit more whipper snipping done. Unless I can get someone to do it for me. I really need to buy a brush cutter. My little whipper snipper just doesn't cut through the thicker strands of grass. Brilliant for everything else. But there is a lot of the thick stuff here.

Day 241: Still Resting

 

The kids are at swimming this morning, I decided to take it easy for another day. It's a tad windy here today... so, my ear is hurting like a bitch every time I walk outside. I just decided the best thing would be is if I stayed inside all day. The outside chores can wait for a whole other day.

trying to be productive I attempted to clean my room but got sidetracked by my kindle. When Monsoon got home, she decided to watch TV in my room until she got bored and went to play with Hurricane and Graceful in the trampoline.

Day 237: Little Things

 

I'm not feeling the best today... I have the shakes again and my head is fit to burst. I decided to really take it easy. I couldn't even read. I couldn't concentrate enough to do anything. I just can't seem to get comfortable in my own skin.

I mainly just made sure mum was okay and rested/napped. I didn't have enough energy to do anything else. Monsoon decided napping in bed with me and watching Wednesday and the Twirly Woos was a good thing for her to do as well... Oh to be three years old again.

Day 224: Not Feeling The Best

 

I woke up feeling under the weather again. My right ear is killing me. My nostrils are hurting. My feet are burning. One-minute I'm freezing cold and the next I feel like I'm burning up. my head feels like it wants to explode... And people are so freaking annoying today, and by people, I mean the family that I live with. because they're here and annoying the shit out of me.

I did a couple of loads of washing and even that annoyed the crap out of me for some reason. It's like the machine isn't working properly... taking longer than it should.

I went and did the groceries, and it was way to peopley for me today. I have to know... Why do people always insist on standing right in the centre of the aisle and have a good old chinwag... can't they see there are people there who are just trying to do their shopping and get the hell home?

Day 217: Still Tired

 

I've noticed as I get older, it takes a lot longer for me to get over being sick. Today I can hardly keep my eyes open... I just liked this picture; so, I thought I would share it with you all.

I think I have finally managed to teach everyone the correct use of our bins. what goes in each bin. recycle/rubbish. I wish we had one for green wastage. I'd be able to cut up all the downed tree limbs and get rid of them without making a special trip to the dump.

I think I need to get off of here and have a nana nap.

Day 216: Little to No Energy

 

 

Today I'm just going to fold the dry laundry and read. I don't have the energy to do much else. My lower back is really burning, and it feels like I have sciatica coming on, and It's only freaking Tuesday... I swear to God some of these clothes I'm just rewashing and folding... they never even got worn. I need to put a stop to that shit. that's just making too much work for me. That or the kids have duplicates of some outfits (which is possible).

I'm reading RJ Kane: Rise of the Queen in case you're interested, I really liked this series. there is some repetitiveness, but you're getting to see the same situations from different points of view, and I really like that. I can't wait for book 4 to come out.

Day 215: Is It Just me?

Is it just me or has the world gone crazy? I finally dared to venture out... One I needed medication, and two, I just wanted to see something other than our house and yard. So, I went down to Woolies, and it was absolutely packed with people. I was doing laps of the carpark just trying to find somewhere to park. It kind of reminded me when everyone went nuts during covid and started buying up like crazy. Honestly, I just got what I had to and went home. I obviously wasn't ready to be a people person... Definitely not enough coffee in the system to deal with that crap. So, I came home and cleaned something... I'm starting to thing I'm a little bit of a neat freak.