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by MIA FREEDMAN
Happy Friday and welcome to another round of best & worst of the week. It’s time to grab a cup of tea (or glass of wine depending on what time it is), sit back and share a few moments of the week that stood out. For better or worse. I’ll start.
MY BEST:
We have been working on iVillage for a while now, tweaking it, polishing it, fawning all over it and generally falling in love. And this week we clicked the ‘on’ switch.
The site looks phenomenal and there’s so much content that it’s hard not to get completely absorbed by it. I’ve had to sanction my time very carefully because of posts like this, this and this, not to mention whole categories like this, this and this. Believe me, a tub of Ben and Jerry’s and an hour or two of iVillage go down very well.
iVillage is different from Mamamia in a number of ways, so I’m sure you’ll have just as much fun discovering iVillage as you do coming back to Mamamia. There is space for both of us in your lives. So visit and visit often – www.ivillage.com.au
Well done to team iVillage, the tech team (Tiger and Nanthees) who have literally worked day and night to get this up and running so smoothly and to Lana and Nicky who have become so devoted to iVillage they are literally creating a Village in their office space.
WORST: Germs. Colds. Sick kids. Sick me. Sick of sick. Nothing major. Few days working from home because the Internet doesn’t care how often you need to blow your nose. Oh! And I got a flu injection. I’m embarrassed to say that I actually tried to Instagram my flu injection but I couldn’t work out how to get the right angle with my phone while the doctor was jabbing my other arm. I tried to rope in my kids to do it but they were hiding in the corner. Wimps.
How is your week going? What were your best and worst bits of the week?
Comments
239 Comments so far
Best:
My gorgeous 4 year old telling me he wants to buy me a bike for my birthday so we can ride together. My heart melts even just thinking about the little proud look on his face when he told me that! Seriously, my children are the best part of every day for me.
Worst:
My ex being totally tight and giving me the bare minimum for child support while flaunting his money in front of me. Before we separated I had no idea how unfair the system can be for single mothers. Because I have a well paying job, and he got a new job that earns less than mine, he is only required to give me a very small payment. I’m on my own paying all the costs for our three small children (daycare for 3 kids plus everything else) and he lives with his girlfriend in an expensive house, in a new car, wearing new clothes everytime he comes over to pick up the children, with no responsibilities for their bills. Is anyone else in my situation? Is there anything else I can do? It seems ridiculous that if I quit my job it would force him to pay me a more reasonable amount – not exactly the kind of role model I’d like to be for my children though…
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Best: I’m in thevuk. The university academics said my speech was the best of the conference. You can read it here- http://carlyfindlay.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/couldn-handle-looking-like-you.html
I have spent time with both my cousins and Aunty. I have met wonderful new friends here.
Worst: nothing. I love life..
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Best: Smelling the onions that my beloved is cooking for french onion soup.
Worst: the awful knot of anxiety I’ve got about a meeting on Monday. No idea what exactly it’s about – just a project I’ve been working on and sent to the clients for review on Friday. I know worrying doesn’t help but knowing that doesn’t help either! Sigh.
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Best: great friends and sisters whom I’ve been catching up with and enjoying picking up where we left off. So good to have someone in your corner for support and who is non judgemental.
Worst: insomnia. Have tried every known remedy out there but I’m still so restless and just unable to sleep. Think that i’m still upset about my ex and for some reason, the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes drama is just a bit close to home for me. I’ve been so upset and tearful this past week and have been itching to ring the ex,just to hear his voice, though I know how much that will set me back again and worse, what if he doesnt care. I miss having a family. I just wish I wasn’t still hurting so badly, and the mean side of me wants him to also be hurting as badly as I still am.
OMM: need to focus on the future and be positive. I have SO much to be grateful for, which I am, just need to remember that ALL the time instead of wallowing in this sadness
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It is okay to be sad and to grieve a lost relationship. It is such a traumatic thing to go through and you are allowed to give yourself as much time as you need to grieve. I would suggest going to the GP and getting something to help you sleep. As long as it just short term use it will be fine and help you to get some much needed sleep. If you don’t want to take traditional sleeping pills as they can be addictive there are other drugs (such as serequel) which are non-addictive but very helpful for sleeping. I take it sometimes when I am going through an extra anxious period or travelling etc. There is also an over the counter med called ‘Restavit’ which is based on an antihistamine & works for many people.
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Best & Worst: Broke it off with my boyfriend. I think may prefer to be single than in couple-dom. Still looking for a full time job 7 mths after graduating from uni, grumble.
I love my mother.
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Best: I’ve re-embraced my fructose-free choice and am feeling better for it.
Best: went out with hubby to an amateur comedy night. Was a hoot.
Worst: toilet training the soon-to-be 3yo began in earnest last Saturday and it is NOT going well. We’re stressed, and sick of cleaning up accidents.
OMM: my 2 favorite colleagues both told me today they’re resigning. I’m feeling very flat/sad about this – I’m going to miss them very much
((((
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WInter is a really crap time to toilet train. Maybe give it a rest for a couple of months and start again when the weather warms up. I know it’s frustrating and you probably want to have it done yesterday, but it’s not uncommon for kids, especially boys to not be trained until nearly 4. I had 2 who were hard to train and even they were continent by the time they got to kindy.
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Hi Faybian, thanks for your reply.
Now the 3yo is sick. Plus I have to travel a lot for work during July. Combine that with his utter rejection of the toilet (even though he can wee on command, he is most definitely choosing not to) and we’re going to give it a rest for at least the next 3 weeks. He doesn’t want nappies – he wants undies, so hopefully he might choose to work with us on this soon!!
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WARNING- vent coming….
So I know I should be grateful for my level two position in a metropolitan Emergency Department. And I am, really. But at the moment it is beyond shit. Every day is busy busy busy, with super sick people and no where to put them, mixed with people who should be managed by thier GP’s but can’t get in, and people who think they are sick but are actually fine (I’m not trying to be dimissive, really, but a man flu can be managed at home). Combine that with utterly horrid rostering (seriously, who want to work 6-7 days straight with only one day off in between?), and managment who make decisions without consultation with those they affect? Top it off with the occasional patient who verbally as well as physically abuses you….. who wouldn’t love it?
I have plans for next year, including a trip to Europe and then possibly moving to Darwin to work…. just need to get through til then.
Sorry to be such a downer, just feel utterly miserable and stuck! But better after my vent
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This is why I didn’t specialize in ED. I went to ED for a smaller metropolitan hospital last year with my yellow (jaundiced post cholecystectomy) hubby and we sat there for ages and I ended up fuming over the people, supposedly sick wandering in and out for a smoke. Lucky we went inside, or I might have started telling people to go home.
Oh, the rostering…..I wonder how many good nurses are lost to a crap roster system. I was part of a rostering committee years ago, put in weeks of work onto a choice of rosters (self, rotating, request), only to have them all voted down and to continue with same roster everyone had been moaning about. WTF? I quit the committee after that.
Now I work in community health……
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nursemim – vent away! Nurses do such an amazing job, but unfortunately the culture of the working environments means that we are destined to be overworked, dissatisfied and frightened of not providing safe care for our patients. I’m a midwife and a child health nurse. I love midwifery, but got fed up with feeling I was providing less than ideal care. I’m now working in a child health clinic, with a manager who believes in quality care. Life is bliss. I hope that sometime in the future you find yourself doing something that you find really rewarding. In the meantime – thank you!
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Best: I passed my uni exam with flying colors.
Worst: I don’t enjoy sex and I don’t know why. Whats wrong with me. I feel like a freak sometimes cuz Im not horny 24/7 like my friends & when I do have sex, I don’t really like it that much. Will I start to enjoy it more when I’ve had more than one bfriend? #confused
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Your friends are lying, nobody is horny 24/7.:) I think everybody tends to exaggerate (sp?) their sex lives to sound better than it actually is.Take the time to work out what u like/need to get you in the mood, then show boyfriend how to do that
easier said then done i realise but it will take a little bit of time to relax and enjoy and know how to please each other, im assuming this is a newish boyfriend ??
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Best: It’s Friday! I’ve had a long, super busy week at work and I’m looking forward to a few drinks after work tonight and a sleep in tomorrow.
Worst: Wondering if I might have given the wrong impression to my new boss about my knowledge of a particular product we are going to start trading soon. Either that, or he got the wrong end of the stick. I am feeling like I’ve been thrown in the deep end trying to help get everything set up in time.
OMM: It seems like London’s water supply has been spiked with baby making juice. Every time I speak to someone lately, they are announcing their pregnancy. I’ve had six friends tell me they’re pregnant since the beginning of June. It’s wonderful but I can’t help feel a little bit jealous, as I still don’t know if I want to have kids 100%.
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It’s not London’s water supply… In a few months it’s going to be known as the ’50 Shades Baby Boom’.
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Good point! I wonder if we really will see a birth rate rise in 9 – 12 month time. Enquiring minds want to know!
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Best: I love, really love where we are living now. Have made some fantastic new friends and really happy.
worst: I am sharing with a 33 y/o guy, he is nice but my God he and his friends are so juvenile. They are downstairs drinking now and his mate was just bagging, badly, a photo of a woman saying she’s fat.. Yet he is fat and bald!! How dare he!
I only met Mr Fat Man tonight so not for me to tell him off, but my flatmate and his two female friends, one hjs g/f, laughed with him! And it was my flatmate’s g/f, friend that the photo was of. This is obviously not the home for me.
Haven’t heard yet from Mr Nice Eyes – the man who asked me out on Wed night But he asked me for my business card and all the phone numbers are out of date, only the email is current. He said he’d contact me when he’s next “in town” so he must live away. The business he works in is based up the road….
Hope everyone is ok xxx
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bests – after alot of procrastinating I had an overdue pap smear. yay it came back normal. why did i wait so long. this is a call out to all those with a cervix. get the pap done in 2012
my mum babysat today while i caught up on some major housework. house looks great for now
kids smothered me with cuddles when I picked them up and mum made me a cup of tea. great day
worst- mr 3 and mr 1 are revving each other to see who is the naughtiest and most disobediant. the jury is out on this one, seems they are as bad as each other.
omm -family fueds
- how to get the toilet training of mr 3 back on track. seems he doesn’t want to do it anymore!!!
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I hear you on the 3 year old toilet training brizzy. Mine started out so well but is now outright refusing to try and did 2 poos in his undies tonight
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Oops, that was me. Using my iPad and it doesn’t automatically fill in fields like my PC does
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Sounds like you had a great day.
On the toilet training, I know the only thing that worked for us was bribery. Yep, good old chocolate did it. I used the chocolate bits you use in cooking so only a tiny bit at a time and we went from so many accidents a day to toilet trained within a day. It was that effective. We had tried stickers, charts etc etc but the promise of chocolate was so much more effectve. I was then able to stop that over the course of a few days without any hassles.
I know it’s not for everyone, but worth a shot! good luck. I think it was one of the more stressful times doing tt!
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Hey MMers
Best: Had a week to myself – kids are away with dad. Spent a bit of time with my gfs and just me and the pooch
Worst: Really not good at being alone. Had such a shite week with just way too many mixed messages, things going wrong or inappropriate comments. One fellow that I had previously been talking with – his fiance called me today asking why there was a missed call from him to me. Neither of us had any idea of his dishonesty. Luckily things hadn’t gone anywhere but goodness me – it felt awful! Geezus – like the Y chromosome weren’t already giving me the shits!
OMM – its ok to have crumpets or muffins for more than one meal a day, isnt it?
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You left out cupcakes Haven . . .
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Ahh! That totally explains why my week was shite!
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Best: I might be pregnant
Worst: I might be pregnant
Omm: what to do…
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Yikes Snow! Well, I can’t make the decision for you, but …
If you decide you want to keep baby, life changes forever in the best of ways.
If it’s not the right time, you’ll probably be massively relieved when you make the decision ….
Love to you either way
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Worst: woke up sick this morning, have had very little sleep the last couple nights so feeling very blah. I think the honeymoon period has ended on my new role as full-time SAHM after 3 straight days at home, fortunately this new role provides a lot of flexibility so I was able to…
Best: Take a last minute trip to catch up with friends
Was good fun – I love the wonderful people in my life
OMM: friendship changes. Have a previously close friend who I no longer feel close with and i don’t really mind, unless she’s wishng i was making more contact but of course thats a two way street. I kinda want to talk to her about it but if is just a fading friendship that will make it a bigger deal than it neds to be – just wish i knew where we were at so i didn’t have to stress about it.
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Worst/OMM – Boyfriend is going to a gathering tomorrow night and hasn’t invited me. I feel a bit sorry for myself. Everything has been going amazingly, so am confused as to what this means. Is he angry with me? Bored of me? Or does he just want some time to do his own thing? Am I overreacting? I feel a bit pathetic writing this, but am feeling a bit down
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Bummer Kk
I’m one for asking questions about these things … if you don’t ask you’ll never know … and you might be right about him just wanting some space to do something by himself and asking will resolve that.
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Thanks Loop, will do
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Hope it works out for you!
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Of course you feel bad & unsure… how long have you been together? Can I suggest you organise a few things for yourself with your friends without him? Not as revenge but just to get you back on a steady footing… Will help you feel more confident & that your life is good with or without him. xxx
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Best: I bought an iPad!!!! My ability to waste time knows no bounds!
Worst: The loss of another Australian soldier in Afghanistan. My heart breaks for his family and friends.
Even worse: the News limited journalist, Ian McPhedran, who took it upon himself to release the name and details of the soldier before his family had given consent. His desire to have the story out first while showing no regard for the soldier’s family and their wishes, is absolutely disgraceful. Previously he had been embedded with SASR. He has written books about his experiences and made money from it. I doubt such opportunities will ever come his way again.
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I hope I’m never in a situation where I put breaking a story before common decency and maintaining a moral standard.
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Worst: Underwent a knee reconstruction this week, second one I’ve had (and on the other knee no less!) and it’s tougher this time around with a four year old and a one year old to look after.
Best: It’s amazing how loved you feel when something like this happens. Phone calls, offers of help, family turning up at the door to help with the kids, friends delivering home-made food and chocolate. And my partner, going to work every day then coming home to cook, clean, deal with the kids and help me shower. It’s the most supported I’ve felt in a long time- I’ve realised I really do have a village around me. And I love them!
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Naawww…what a great best. Hope you recover well and soon.
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BEST: Had an incredible weekend in Barcelona with a dear friend and four new friends! Was fabulous – so much fun to meet new people that are awesome.
WORST: I’ve a top on today that’s squishing my boobs. Am wearing the totally wrong bra. V. annoying (and very much a FWP).
Hoping the rain clears for a sunny weekend in London town! xx
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A big fat major YES ME TOO to your last point. I am sick of this rain!! I haven’t had a decent summer in years in London.
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Worst: Sinusitis. Never had it before. Its bad. Real bad. Baby Lottie has started day-care for only 1 day a week but still manages to bring home many bugs. I then catch the bug and multiply it by ten. Am SUCH an over-achiever sometimes.
Best: School holidays start today
No more school runs for a couple weeks.
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A few bests this week:
* Applied for a job on Sunday and have already been interviewd and asked to return for another meeting. Fingers crossed.
* Received an email yesterday following up my expression of interest in some freelancing work from a few months ago – quite excited but daunted, too.
* It’s nearly home time, yay!
* My husband and I are having my parents, sisters and brother-in-law over to our place for dinner tomorrow night. Yay!
OMM:
Tidying up the house and organising the menu for tomorrow night. Still in denial about how much work there is to do. Or maybe I’m just over-thinking things.
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Re freelancing: good for you! What are you doing as a freelancer? I’ve been a freelancer for quite a few years. Hard yards in some ways
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Best: The MM community. Really. The last couple of weeks have been tough ones but I’ve had some great advice and support from commentors on this site. It’s surprised me how much the little things can help
Worst: Still housemate hunting. I really didn’t think it would be that hard to find someone to start a new sharehouse with but it’s proving to be a real challenge.
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Best: A really good, productive week this week. So busy, and so tired, but wow! I’m on a roll.
Worst: a whole 5 days until the next Offspring episode. How can I be expected to wait this long????
Love to all xx
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Totally with you on your worst. I need answers!!
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Best: making jam drop biscuits with my 3 year old daughter. I love my Fridays off work with her sooo much. We have already eaten 3 each oops!
Worst: finding out my daughters only grandparents have been in town a few days, yet haven’t bothered to contact us to organize to see their grandchild. Makes me mad and sad at the same time. It’s my husbands side, my side unfortunately have passed.
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Oh I hear you on the worst. Husbands family are exactly the same. I usually find out because the SIL will post something on her blog or fb saying that her parents are here. Yep, just a bit of favouritism. And then we get a call last minute saying can she see the kids, and makes me feel bad if I say no. If she does come, she stays for an hour max. I hate it so much, yet don’t want to stop the kids seeing her, but I know in a few years it will start to affect them. Hugs.
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Hey MM’s know you’re all flat out but can you please put the dates under the various Open Post & Best & Worst of the weeks as I like to go back and catch up on them and it woudl help so much if they were dated. Thank you!!!!
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Best: Loving my kids’ ages (10 and 8). They’re not so young they need to be monitored constantly and not so old that I don’t know where they are! They’re also huge fun to play with and talk to and they’re not yet embarrassed to hang out with their mum
We had a great day today – played some computer games, gardened and then went for a walk in the sunshine (yes, there was some!)
Worst: None while I’m on holidays!!
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Sounds like a fantastic day, what lucky kids to have such a great mum!
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Thanks Butterflies! Unfortunately, I’m not this chilled when I’m working. Still, we all do the best we can and it’s nice when I can string together some good days!
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I am so with you. My boys are 8&10 and this is the best time. They are funny and interested and independent but still need their mummy cuddles
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I call these years, the golden years (between 6 & 12). They’re physically pretty independent, but still like to be with you and you can do heaps with them, some just fun, some also educational. My 2 youngest are 8 & 11, rapidly approaching their birthdays though, so it’s back to the teen years for me.
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Worst…the treatment of my daughter at her school not by students, not by teachers but a bullying mother who allegedly was there to help out… and the failure of the school to act or do anything about it
Best…shes at a brand new school next term and she couldn’t be happier…
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Best: Its a very packed weekend…and next few weeks. Working in the band library all day tomorrow, have a rehearsal tomorrow night, performance at lunchtime Saturday, then driving to Ohio with a friend to a conference, staying overnight and driving back Sun night, before putting said friend back on a train to her hometown first thing Monday after she crashes on our couch. Whew!
It’s also the last day of summer school tomorrow, so no more of husband’s assignments! And we have got permission to work up to 40 hours a week in the library. Not sure I can handle working that much when I haven;t had a true break since Christmas 2010 school holidays (was looking forward to 7 weeks off!) but gotta make hay while the sun shines! All the while teaching privately and playing in a band and a musical. Bring on Fall semester for a break!
Worst: Nothing terrible…other than Perth heat following me like a bad smell no matter where in the world I am…gonna be 39°C-ish for the next few days, only dropping to mid-30s so we can have a thunderstorm on the weekend. Watched the 4th July parade with sweat dripping everywhere, it got to 42! Yuck!
OMM: The band department is currently in the selection process for a replacement 4th conductor. The last guy was a minority (Hispanic). The guy who was interviewed today was also a minority. My husband found out that the department gets extra money for employing minorities as the university is a state institution. Never mind that he may not be the best person for the job, but he will definitely be selected for it, as money is pretty tight in the US atm, so every penny is worth fighting for. Hmmm…
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Wow it does sound like you’re going to have a very busy week! I hear ya on the heat… think it’s going to get to about 38 here today!
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I’m trying something new. I’m not going to list my worst, as it’s pretty much been the same one since I joined this site a year and a half ago. In an effort to stop feeling sorry for myself, I’m going to try to focus only on the positive things of this week, of which there have been plenty:
* Unseasonal sunshine
* Found a pair of crazy cheap jeans, which may be the most flattering I’ve ever owned
* Got a great massage, even though I usually don’t like them much
* Have become something of a soup guru , made 3 amazing ones this week
* I’ve been able to WALK as much as I want – sounds simple, but it’s not something I’ve been able to do for longer then 10 minutes these last several months. So a recent bout of reduced pain has been very welcome indeed and I’ve spent most afternoons making the most of it, and the sun.
* The aforementioned soup kick and walkabouts have resulted in the quick and painless loss of 2 pesky kilos. Actually, this may also be the reason I love those nasty cheap new jeans so much…
Happy weekend to you all. Am off for another walk, woohoo!
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I love a great massage, and sunshine, and a bargain too!
And I love a nice walk in the fresh air as well.
Congratulations on the added benefit of the weight loss.
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Good work on the walking, soup & jeans! Pleased you enjoyed the massage too, I think I know what you mean, I generally find them intimidating & stressful!
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Go you. I must admit, as much as it is fun and great to have a bit of an anonymous vent for the worst, I am also trying to focus on the best at the moment. I’m doing a month of gratitude on my blog.
It is definitely making me look at the good!
Love a good massage, and good work on the weight loss!
http://scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/
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Worst: my gorgeous cat, who I fostered in Feb to save fromn deathrow but ended up keeping, his health is declining even more. After battling eye problems he was diagnosed with the rare feline leukeamia, but I was hoping he would have a few happy years with me. Back at the vet today confirmed the uveitis is now starting in his ‘good’ eye and with limited vision I think euthansia is going to be on the cards much sooner rather than later. Such a loving, happy little gem, this little guy did not deserve this fate. Vey sad for him. He’s a real one in a million ,and will forever be in my heart.
Best: sister and my 2 young nieces visiting from interstate so lots of fun aunty time for me. Also had a great first date on Monday and we have tentatively planned to meet up again next week – fingers crossed something comes of this, he seems like a real keeper! But trying not to get my hopes up after loads of disappointment and unexpected let-downs in the male department lately.
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Thank you for rescuing the cat. Although your time with him may be short, I’m sure he feels the love you obviously have for him.
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So sorry to hear about your cat. But it does sound like he has had a much better life with you than he would have otherwise had.
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OMM: looking forward to seeing the adaptation of Puberty Blues on the small screen! saw a trailer and looks great!
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Happy Friday, everyone!
I hear you Mia, the coughs and sniffles have gone through my family too. Bring on spring!!
Best: Still enjoying hugging, sniffing and interacting with my lovely 5 week old baby son. My two girls (4 and 7) love him too and keep saying “oh he’s so cute” and fight over who can cuddle him.
Worst: Having a newborn means more visits from my mother-in-law and we don’t get along. Enough said.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Best: It’s our 10th wedding anniversary today. Yay us! I remember it was a bright sunny but cool winter’s Brisbane day too. I was freezing doing the photos. We are going out for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate & a friend is babysitting for us. First time daughter will have been babysat by anyone but grandma.
Worst: I woke up at 2:30am this morning & couldn’t get back to sleep until after 4:30am. Yesterday I woke at 4:30am & couldn’t get back to sleep at all. And the morning before our daughter was awake between 2:30am & about 4:30am, so of course so were we!
OMM: More sleep & all the things you think about when you can’t sleep – shopping lists, household jobs lists, what order to do which tasks on the weekend.
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Happy anniversary!
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Best: My boyfriend (who I adore but who works from home so I never get the place to myself) is heading back to his dad’s farm for the weekend. So tonight, by 6.30pm, I plan to be on my couch in my pyjamas with Girls on the TV (OBSESSED) and takeaway of some sort. SO EXCITED! I used to live alone for about two and a half years and while I love living with my boyfriend, I do miss those nights when it’s all about what you want to do!
Worst: I have been feeling very bad about my appearance lately. I started a new job four months ago which makes it very hard for me to get to the gym as I commute 90 mins each way. I don’t think I’ve put on weight ( I look pretty much the same and my clothes still fit) but I think the lack of exercise is contributing to my overall dissatisfaction with the way I look. I just look into the mirror and feel really unhappy. Maybe I need some new clothes, a makeover, I don’t know.
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I totally get it! My husband was supposed to be going to band camp, and I was totally looking forward to it, as we now live in an apartment (we aren’t used to the lack of space) and pretty much see each other all the time. But now, he has decided he needs the time off, and I am just a tad disappointed!
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Best: my 8 month old finally figured out how to sleep through the night – we’re up to night 5, so I’m hoping it’s not a fluke!
Best: my mum and dad took said son for a couple of hours today so that I could catch up on some cleaning and chores.
Best: my best friend’s little girl started childcare this week and they both coped really well.
Worst: Listening to Father Brian Lucas on the radio this morning attempting to justify why, back in 1992, he and his fellow priests took no action to report to police another priest who admitted to perpetrating child sexual abuse…(4 Corners reported on this on Monday). Made my blood boil.
Worst: realising I underestimated my taxable income for last financial year, resulting in a family tax benefit overpayment. Very glad I’ve been diligent about saving while on mat leave so it won’t hurt too much to pay it back.
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Best: I got accepted into College of Law even though I have one subject left in my degree. I start at the end of August. I will be doing it with a friend from uni so I won’t be going it alone. Weeeee!
Worst: Another $7760.00 will be added to my enormous HECS debt. Oh well!
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HECs debt woooo! I know how you feel
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Worst, the horrible comments by Brad Pitts mother about gay marriage.
How did her son grow up to be so compassionate?
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Where were the comments?
How do you know that he did (grow up to be so compassionate)? Wasn’t very compassionate the way he cheated on & dumped Jennifer………….
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BEST:
Staff BBQ tonight, hurrah. I usually have lunch at around 1pm then don’t eat anything until dinner at 8.30-9pm so very excited!
WORST:
My brothers wedding is driving me a little bit insane. I have literally no money (I got paid Wednesday night and have $100 left) My Mum was badgering me to book the trip, and even after being offered money by his Mum my boyfriend still couldn’t afford the flights, let alone the accomodation. He decided not to go and told me to just book with my parents. So stressful as I have given my Dad all my savings, a meger $220 to help pay for it. I am glad it is done, but I still have to pay Dad back $1,312 dollars.
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Hi Girly,
Have you thought about maybe picking up a 2nd job to help relieve the money stress? Believe me I have been there, but when it was tough, I picked up some basic casual work and it was just that little bit of extra money i needed. It also gave me less time to actually stress about money, because i was almost constantly earning it and had no time to spend it (on things that otherwise werent planned).
Either way, hopefully things will look up for you soon so that you can enjoy the wedding with your family
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That would be a good idea I guess… but it would be weekends as I work full time 1100-1900. With all the travelling I do (Gosford to Pyrmont) I’d be literally working all the time.
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I get what you mean about the working all the time. At one stage I did 3 casual jobs to be able to afford car rego when I was a student living out of home. I didnt commute as much as you, but I only did it as much as I needed to make ends meet.
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Best: 3 wonderful friends have announced their pregnancies this week. I still feel like I’m a year or 2 away from being ready myself but I am so excited to hear and share their journeys.
Worst: Another friend’s 4 month old kitten lost his battle with an infection. Pet’s are such a part of the family and it’s great to everyone rallying around her with flowers and support.
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best: Got some gorgeous earrings from my boyfriend’s parents for my birthday. And they also made me an amazing dinner and cake to celebrate
worst: i was semi involved in 3 car accidents last night. The first I just avoided. The car that was merging into my lane in front of me smacked into the car in front of it as they braked suddenly (seriously who brakes for no reason on a freeway???) so i was stuck there for about 30 mins because I had to wait for everyone behind me to change lanes, then reverse a bit and then change lames myself.
the second was pretty similar except no one was merging but same situation, stopped far enough that I could just change lanes.
The 3rd one the lights were green so everyone got moving, then they changed to orange but the car at the front slammed on their brakes instead of going through despite being able to get at least 2 cars through so everyone slammed their brakes on but the poor guy behind me didn’t stop in time. He just slightly nudged my car but there’s no damage to either car.
I think it’s Karma because I didn’t stop for the other two accidents… are you meant to stop if you aren’t involved??
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Worst: gastro. ugh. Has put me backwards so much.
Haven’t got all of the results but it seems my lumpy boobs are just lumpy but still not sure what to do about them. And best of all – they bulk billed!!
Best: darling husband taking a day off work to take care of the kids and letting me sleep.
Best: had my pelvic ultrasound, mammogram and ultrasound yesterday. The imaging place I went to was so professional and considerate. One of the rooms even had candles burning. Sitting in my gown I felt like I was in a spa, sort of
Worst: Despite the gastro, I am overweight. And putting it on rapidly despite not eating badly. I am so upset by this. I am still on the steroids (2mg of dexamethasone for those who are interested) and I know they affect you but I hate looking at myself, especially when I know I’m not eating junk or rubbish (we can’t afford to eat takeaway, seriously don’t know how people can see that as a cheaper option). Gah.
Hugs to everyone today, well disinfected ones at least.
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Hang in there, Oopsyboops. xx
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Dex is nasty stuff. I know you know, but it’s only fluid retention. So you’re not really overweight. It will go away when you stop taking the dex. I know that doesn’t help now though. As for the gastro, you poor thing. Sounds like your hubby’s a keeper though
Good news on the lumpy boobs and yay for bulk billing!!!
Hope next week is better for you.
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Thanks, I think I needed that reassurance, I’ve put on 5kgs since I got out of hospital. I have that moonface, it’s very disheartening. It’s such awful stuff but I’m scared to be off it since it kinda saved my life
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Very disheartening to be unwell and also know that you don’t look great, but I think you still look fine. You’re probably harder on yourself than you need to be.
Good luck with the results.
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Thanks Faybian. Got the results back, all normal
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Ohh you poor thing!! I have had to recently go back on steroids myself and I can completely sympathize with you! Everyone tells me not to worry about the weight because it will come off eventually but that doesn’t stop me feeling terrible about myself now!! Just hang in there and know you are not alone:-) I try to remember the reasons for taking steroids and pray it all sorts it self out soon and I can go off them!! Wishing you the same:-)
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Can someone please recommend a really strong mould remover? I have been using bleach but it just doesn’t seem to be working that well???
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Exit Mould.
You can get it at the local supermarket. Only buy this and not the others.
The couple of extra dollars are worth it. Works a treat every time.
Repeat, do not look at the other brands.
They just don’t work as well as Exit Mould.
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Thanks so much for the recommendation!! I am actually looking forward to cleaning for once in my life!
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Just don’t get any on your clothes I’ve ruined a few things giving the bathroom a quick spray with exit mould. One drip bleaches the crap out of them. I have now reverted to using it only when naked!
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I ONLY clean my bathroom while naked for this reason! Boyfriend thinks I’m nuts in there cleaning, nude and music up. Sadly, kind of enjoy how funny it is!
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LOL Emily & Rach; I too do bathrooms in the nuddie. Hee hee.
As for the chemicals, yes, they are nasty but sometimes for a big job like stubborn mould I have to resort to them.
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What do you need it for Ick?
We get a lot of mould in the bedroom on the walls and the OzKleen Mould Killer works great. No bleach in it, gets it all away with no stains and it tends to not come back where we have used it.
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Mainly need it for the shower and bathroom walls. Thank you for the suggestion!
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Ick,
get some Oil of Cloves.
Itbwill not only get rid of the mould it will stop it coming back.
Best of all, no nasty chemicals.
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ive started to notice mould on our bathroom wall due to the lack of ventaliation on our old apartment – where do u get oil of cloves from?
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You can generally get it from health food shops.
Shannon Lush has some great books and a website full of all natural ways to clean your house. Not a chemical in sight.
She swears by Oil of Cloves and says it is better than bleach.
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As much as I wanted the oil of cloves to work I think it’s a load of codswallop. I followed her directions to the T and it didn’t work at all. I was so disappointed. A friend had the same result. It seems like the only things that work are the chemicals.
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K, it worked fine for me and the mould never came back.
Also used it in a holiday house that was very damp and it worked there as well and again nothing grew back.
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Vinegar!!! Best stuff i’ve found that works so far. Don’t use it with bleach though. They don’t play nicely together and it’s very dangerous.
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Yep, vinegar gets my vote. Best mould killer there is. However, kills the mould but it does not remove the stains. You need bleach for that. However, bleach or bleach cleaning products do not kills mould, they simply remove the stain – the mould stays there.
You’re absolutely right that you should not mix the two. My tip (what we usually do) is sponge the bathroom (or wherever) with vinegar (either a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water mix where you leave it on, or straight vinegar where you wipe it off after a little while). Then a few days later, scrub the stains with bleach. Then, just make a habit of giving the surfaces a quick wipe over with vinegar once a week (if it is very wet or humid) or once every few weeks. Works for us.
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I heard this isn’t very good for your grout, can anyone confirm?
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Vinegar is the only thing which kills mould – 70:30 water mix (70% vinegar, 30% water) – the mould sees it as a food source and eats it; once it’s inside, the mould dies from the inside out.
Anything bleach-based literally just bleaches; the mould is still there, and it will return in two weeks if you haven’t changed the environment.
The best way to clean mould off surfaces is to use a three bucket system – one bucket with 70% vinegar solution, the second with 30% vinegar solution and the third with clean water.
Do not put the dirty cloth back in the 70% vinegar solution – wash in the 30% vinegar bucket and then clean water bucket. This avoids cross contamination.
More information can be found at http://www.mould.com.au/generalmouldcleaning.htm – Mouldworx are an organisation who specialise in cleaning mould-affected properties.
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Interesting. We got mould on one of the bathroom walls because of ventilation and we can’t use bleach, because we have onsite sewerage. The council fines us if the good bacteria aren’t high enough in numbers, so over the years I’ve had to use a lot of alternatives.
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Best – weather has been nice and hot over here, well maybe too hot but I’ll take that as a best – rather this than the cold icy snow of the winter. Also have been going to the gym on a regular basis which I’m very happy about…. I have been known to be a bit off and on with my exercise but have been, for the most part consistent. Also enjoying our walks with husband more these days due to change of scenery from our old place to the new.
Worst – the neighbours have been driving us insane! We live in an apartment complex and are on the first floor, there’s another floor above us and we can hear these people walking around ALL DAY! I really don’t know what they’re doing up there but it’s constant, even at crazy hours like 3am! Oh and the dogs (most of them seem to have dogs) yapping and barking away ALL DAY! I mean not much you can do about the dogs I guess….but the people it’s like SIT THE F$*! DOWN!
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After telling you that ours had disappeared…he came home yesterday…dammit! Laps (loud ones) of the apartment above from 7am until 1am, don’t know when the guy sleeps!
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Uhhh that sux! If it keeps happening I’m going to have to call the management here and make a complaint! I mean we got told off straightaway for putting our washer & dryer in the carport (not hurting or affecting anyone) but you have people stomping around all hours of the day and night and nothing…
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Best: it’s the opening night of the play I’m in!
Worst: it’s the opening night of the play I’m in! And of the four cast members, only two of us know our lines 100%. Being on stage in front of an audience when someone loses where they are and you have to ad lib until they regain their place is the stuff that nightmares are made of. Believe me, it’s the ultimate ‘deer in the headlights’ feeling. Crossing fingers that it’s alright this evening. And if not, well, at least I get to wear a cool dress on stage.
Wish me luck, peeps!
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Good luck!
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Thank you!
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Luck! Lots of it! And don’t forget the audience don’t know the lines so won’t know if you’ve messed up a couple…
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Thank you!
You’re right, the audience doesn’t know the lines. Having said that, they definitely notice if someone says, ‘Oh f*ck, I’m totally lost. Which bit are we up to? Oh, that’s right! Okay, let’s go from, ‘I don’t believe it’.’
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Break a leg! You will be awesome!
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Thank you very much indeed!
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Break a leg!
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Worst: Lots of politics at work at the moment which is a bit depressing.
Best: Thanks to a lovely MamaMia poster (lubelle) I’ve discovered the funniest book I’ve ever read in my life. Lighter Shades of Grey “A (very) Critical Reader’s Guide to “Fifty Shades of Grey” If you have a Kindle I implore you to download this book or even just the free sample. It’s only a few dollars and I think it is totally worth it. I was up all night reading and laughing and this morning I’ve been buying copies for everyone I know (including you Mia). Laughing is sooo cathartic!
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Thanks for the recommendation. 50 Sheds of Grey on twitter is worth a look too.
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Best: My last day at work and leaving drinks a week ago were such great fun! I’ve enjoyed my week off and waking up without having to set an alarm every day. It’s been nice:)
OMM: The Olympics. So excited! I also found the perfect neon yellow nail polish today for only $2.25.
No worsts for me, just thinking of those who are doing it tough.
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I’m really looking forward to The Olympics, too! I always really dig watching the gymnastics and the athletics and flattering myself that I could totally do either of them if I’d continued training in my teens (I so couldn’t).
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one of my aunt’s friends who is english bt lives in aussie has gone back to London to volunteer at the games – she is driving around in nice black BMW’s all the families and dignatories for the games how cool is that?!!
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That’s so funny. My mum is always saying stuff like that about me when she sees gymnastics. I competed until I was 17. And also that I could have been an Olympic diver because I enjoyed jumping off a low diving board when I was 11! I sooo couldn’t, zepgirl.
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The Olympics are OMM too! But mainly because I live in between Stratford (the main Olympic Park) and Greenwich (where they will hold the equestrian, shooting and archery) and I catch the tube from where the gymnastics and basketball is and I’m a bit panicky that I will find it hard to get to work with the crowds.
Apart from that though, I’m flipping excited! Go Aussie Go!
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Best: seeing my nearly 16 yo son’s face light up this morning when he saw his dad. Dad had been away for work for 48 hours.! He went up and gave his dad a big hug and kiss. Was just a beautiful start to the day to see the joy on both of their faces. I am still smiling about it. Reaffirms that I have the best husband in the world and he is the best dad and my kids – even though teenagers – are such beautiful young people.
Best 2: sorted out myob yesterday and did group certificates for our 2 employees. I have never done it before so was a bit stressful in making sure it was all correct. But I did and it was.
Worst-: other child home sick after a night awake coughing. Poor thing. So we are both a bit sleep deprived this morning.
OMM: BAS/ EOFY I always hate the end of the qtr and have to do the BAS. I have been doing our books for 12 months now so hoping it is all correct for the accountant.
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As a bookkeeper myself, if preparing your EOFY and quarterly BAS is so stressful, would you consider employing the services of a bookkeeper to put it all together for you and your accountant? $60/hour should get you a qualified bookkeeper/BAS Agent, your accountant may even have someone they can recommend. It would let you spend more quality time in your business and probably less overtime sitting at the computer. Just a thought
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Happy Friday all!! TGIF!!!
its been a full on week!
Worst: my grandmama had a bad turn this week and as im the only family atm as my mum and aunty are overseas i had to go down and see her and take the day off work – it was stressful bt thanks to my loving supportive husband xox
Best: Last night was the opening for the Perth International Revelation Film Festival where i am volunteering and it was such a fun night! got to serve canape’s to Judith Lucy and not sure if any of the girls remember that Charlie’s Angels movie with Drew, Cameron and Lucy…and the creepy guy who sniffs the hair? well his name is Crispen Glover and is actually a producer/director and was special vip guest for the festival and i met him and said hi and was really weird i just kept thinking of him sniffing my hair!!! haha so funny! got to meet some awesum new ppl and will be looking forward to next weekend when i have more shifts on!
going to be such fun!
Best 2: its Friday and its date night tonight! takeaway burgers and movie night! cannot wait!!
love and cupcakes to all! xo
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Best: nuchal scan for our surprise baby (#3) was good and really allowed me to get excited and put all the anxiety and thoughts of ‘this was not the plan’ out of my head. Now feel like I can relax and connect like I did with the other two instead of worry about what it means financially,work wise and life plan wise. My two boys saw a disc of the ultrasound and now even more excited.
Worst: Had to have blood taken yesterday and the collector was shocking. I have never had such a bad experience. I wanted to keep site compressed for a bit longer but she wanted to rush me out so put on band aid and said ‘look after it’. As I walked back to my car my sleeve felt all wet and I pulled it up to find blood pouring down my arm! My arm hurt all the way home and is now really bruised and is still sore. Apart from that life is good.
Hoping everyone has a lovely weekend
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just a tip: make sure you don’t lift heavy with that arm, so that it doesn’t start bleeding again.(i was told that once by proffessional)
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Best: School holidays so I took the week off. We had my nephew come to stay for the week from the city (I’m driving him home this afternoon), so my boys had a fab time with him. We went to The Avengers (sooooo good. Especially Thor and Captain America. But I kinda also like Loki. Am I weird?), and rediscovered how much fun can be had bowling.
Worst: My eldest has had a yucky cough all week, but he’s on the mend now. Also, back to work next week, and I’m supposed to catch up on this week’s work but I’ll be going to Melbourne for work for three days so that’s pretty much out the window!
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Loki is my next husband. Just sayin . . .
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Nooo! Loki is the best thing about the movie!
PS: I’ve been watching Wallender because Tom Hiddleston is one of the cast, too.
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Hawkeye for me!
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Worst: My partner’s sister tried to commit suicide earlier this week.
We live in Sydney together for work and his family all still live in his home town on the other side of Australia. He already feels extremely guilty about never getting to see them.
We found out Tuesday morning as we were both getting ready for work.
I broke down in tears but he just continued getting ready and headed off for work.
So I picked myself off and got to work, feeling like I wasn’t meant to be completely shaken because he had seemed so calm.
However about 10am I got a frantic call from him (it had obviously just hit him) saying he was leaving work and had booked a flight to be with his family and asked if I could drop him at the airport.
After I dropped him off I was in hysterics. (driving when crying is NOT fun)
The next couple of days without him were rough and I was in a daze.
There were so many unanswered questions in my head. Why did she do it? Did she really want to die? Was it for attention? What would have happened if they didn’t get to her in time?
But the worst feeling was the isolation I felt.
I couldn’t talk to anyone about what I was going through.
Suicide seems to be this secret that you can’t talk about.
I felt like it was her personal business I didn’t want her to come across as crazy or irrational and I felt like it was such a heavy subject that I didn’t want to burden on anyone.
So I just kept it to myself.
I told my colleagues I had to leave work because my boyfriend’s sister was sick and in hospital, for all they know she could have had a bad case of tonsillitis.
Best: I am feeling a lot better today. And have so much to be thankful for in my life. I also feel even stronger about my partner than ever before, he is such a loving man who I admire more than anyone. I love his little sister and I wish there was more I could do for her. I wish she could see how important she is to us all.
OMM: Do you send flowers to someone who has just tried to kill themselves? Or do you pretend it never happened?
Even now I feel bad posting this, that I have burdened you all. I am sorry for that…
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Don’t be sorry – let it all out. That’s what Best & Worst is for.
I’m so glad you are feeling better today. Suicide is still very much taboo and it can be terribly hard to know how to deal with it. No advice (other than perhaps don’t send flowers, but don’t pretend it never happened either). Sending love and many virtual hugs. Be kind to yourself xx
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Oh that sounds like a horrible week. Don’t feel bad about posting. You obviously needed an outlet for everything that has been going on. I hope everything works out for everyone xx
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RW, I’m really sorry to hear that.
If you need to talk to someone about it, have you thought about calling Lifeline on 13 11 14?
My husband called them when he was going through similar family trauma and couldn’t talk to his mum or sister about it, and the lady he spoke to was wonderful.
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I never thought of that.
Thanks for the advice!
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I’m really sorry to hear about your partner’s sister. Suicide (and attempted suicide) creates such a painful ripple effect.
I would say that finding a simple way to acknowledge what’s happened and to let her know you care for her is really important.
People affected by suicide – suicidal people, their carers, the bereaved – can also access a great service called the Suicide Callback Service. Here’s the link to their website: http://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/?gclid=CMfsh_-QhLECFUKDpAodall5Cw
I hope your partner’s sister recovers and that life becomes good for her again.
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