whitestripe

well, lo and behold it's already 5.30pm and I feel like I have done nothing all day

It's actually been nice to bum around all weekend - and I still have a full 2 days to go!

Today I unpacked two massive boxes of stuff. They are the boxes you BUY to pack in (about 1.5m high). So I was happy with that effort. I couldn't really garden today as it rained all day. It was nice to laze around though. DF's friends mother came around and I showed her our house, she gave us a housewarming gift of an organic, water wise gardening book that is suited to our climate, which I thought was very thoughtful!

Tomorrow I think I will get more stuff done.

Time to cook dinner!

Well I am just wasting time and procrastinating over my to-do-list. What better to do that with than a blog entry?

Last night I made a really cool housewarming party invitation. Once I make them all up properly I will post a picture of it, but basically when the guests recieve it in the mail they will have to unfold it and it turns into a 3D shape of a house. Hopefully DF likes it. I just think it would be cool to have an invitation that people talk about. Some friend of ours just send their engagement invitations via Facebook... and I just think that is plain tacky. But each to their own. What do you all think? Tacky or just 'modern' to do Facebook invite?

This morning I went to the market and did our grocery shopping for the week. I completely forgot it was Easter Saturday (yes, I know, how could I? I guess I am just not a very religious and/or festive person) and the shops were absolute mayhem. But it was ok. I was done in about 45 minutes.

I spent $94.12 on veges, fruit and other groceries. I also treated myself and bought two magazines (a glossy and a recipe one) and some pancake mix for breakfast

This week so far (which ends tomorrow) I have spent $16.35 of my 'allowance'. I laughed at DF because he always goes on about how he doesn't spend much money on anything, so he thinks he will be absolutely fine with this whole allowance thing. 'I only buy beer anyway, I mean, pfft, you're the one that buys makeup, coffees and clothes'. (And I agreed! I thought that I was the one that would find it hard!)

HA! His spending total last week was $112.50. This week so far was $56 and I have no idea how much he has spent while he's been away. And his 'allowance' is meant to be $80 a week. Mine is $60 and last week I spent $63.64 and this week I have spent $16.35.

Anyway, I'm not particularly concerned. He's a good boy. I'm going to make it a monthly average.

His BIL bought him a $375 drill in payment for helping him put up the shed (this is the one I have blogged about - DF's sister and BIL are going to live in it - with a baby...)

Hmmm what other updates? *sigh* I can't think of any more. I guess this means I actually have to go and DO SOMETHING.

Take care now, bye bye then!

[] Unpack and organise/tidy loungeroom boxes.
[] Sort Cd's out and pack up the ones we don't listen to (we have too many to fit)
[x] Tidy & clear dining table
[x] Clean bathroom
[x] Clean toilet
[] Tidy our office, spare rooms, kitchen and bedroom.
[] Start to stack bookshelf in office
[x] Washing/Hang Out/Fold/Put Away (including hand washing)
[x] Set up our laundry properly
[] Make a new CD for my car
[] Charge my camera, Ipod & Iriver
[] Write and send a letter to my little sister and SIL.

Unfortunately I can't do any more washing as the hose burst off the tap and I don't know how to re-attach it without DF. He won't be back until tomorrow or Sunday. *sigh* I'm not NORMALLY a helpless housewife - I just don't want to stuff it up as I have no idea if something's broken or if it just wasn't done up properly...?

There was water EVERYWHERE

I kind of ran out of steam after having to clean up the laundry and move boxes out of the way of the water.

I also ate too much chocolate and then felt sick, and I have been surfing the internet for about an hour and a half.

Not exactly the productive day I had in mind!

So now I've had a rest and eaten my weight in chocolate... (just kidding, it was probably about 80grams of chocolate... given to me by my boss's 2 year old son)... I'm going to tidy up the DVD's, fold all our clean washing, hang out the last load I did, and sweep the floors.

Then I was thinking of doing something totally crazy and doing some painting!

Well, the long weekend has started for me. DF left this morning (got up at 4.30am) to help his BIL build the shed, and I got up rather late (9am!). So it was a nice sleep in for me, but poor DF, I think he was a little hungover - we went to my friends birthday dinner and I offered to drive, as I thought DF might feel more comfortable to be able to drink as he didn't know anyone except the birthday girl - anyway I think he drank a bit too much! (and we also spent a bit too much I think... dinner was $36.50 for both of us, and I think drinks cost $53.50 - and I only had 2 x lemon, lime & bitters!).

I have some goals this weekend, which I am going to list here to motivate me. I checked my old bank account and haven't recieved the $900 stimulus yet - I am not complaining though. It will get there. It just gives me more time to think about what I want to use it for. DF has just gotten his friend to book in an appointment to get a tattoo. I told him to go for it as he has one design that he has made up from an assortment of traditional American Sailor Jerry designs, and he has been wanting to get it forever. However, the waiting list is until September!

Ok, so my goals for this weekend:

- Unpack and organise/tidy loungeroom boxes.
- Sort Cd's out and pack up the ones we don't listen to (we have too many to fit)
- Tidy & clear dining table
- Clean bathroom
- Clean toilet
- Tidy our office, spare rooms, kitchen and bedroom.
- Start to stack bookshelf in office
- Washing/Hang Out/Fold/Put Away (including hand washing)
- Set up our laundry properly
- Make a new CD for my car
- Charge my camera, Ipod & Iriver
- Write and send a letter to my little sister and SIL.

I would also like to have a nice relaxing bath, do my yoga and pilates DVD's, go to the market tomorrow and maybe get started on some gardening, and MAYBE join the local video store and hire a DVD (?). Luckily it's a long weekend! I have today (it's now 11am though!) Saturday, Sunday and Monday to do all of this.

I am still thinking of a way to track our EF savings when it is in our everyday account. I am thinking of chucking the whole lot into our mortgage for now, because we are not charged fees for redraw or extra payments - and it will save us the same money as when it is in our everyday account. But then there is the issue of tracking it in THERE!

I am not one of those people that can relax when everything is mushed together, which it is right now.

I also want to be able to track our extra repayments. And the extra repayments have to be tracked INDIVIDUALLY as well. *sigh* It is very complicated. Which is why I have not made extra payments, nor have a total for our EF yet. Grrr.

For the extra payments, I have worked out a system though. I think. I'll see how it goes and then I'll post about it later this month.

Last night DF got home early, so he put key-locks on all the windows. We did not need to put any on the high windows so I think we used 2 packs of locks, which had 4 in each pack. I think they were $42.88 for each pack. We had budgeted about $200 so I am pretty happy we only spent about $90 for them!

Other items needed:
-a rubbish bin
-new toilet seat (how exciting)
-a toaster

I have decided to do an experiment; seeing as so many of you all here know how many mpg's your car gets, I have decided to track how many km's I can get from my car. I NEVER let the tank go below half though, so I filled it to the brim today (cost me $8.77 because I already filled it on the way home on Sunday. I cleared my kilometre tracker thingee (what are they called?) and will see how much I have travelled and how much petrol I have used next time I fill up!


Lets make it a game! Anyone care to take a wild guess at how many kilometres per litre my car will get?

It's a 1998 Nissan Pulsar 1.8L 4 cylinder with a sports exhaust, petrol engine, and I do not carry anything unnecesary in my car that adds extra weight.

Leave your guess in the comments section!

but when I read this I could not stop crying for a full ten minutes.

There has been a stomach virus going around, my friend/colleague had it and my boss had before her, and before him our apprentice had it. Last night when we got home I felt a bit weird and was hot and cold - and dizzy and nauseaus when I was standing. I called my boss and he said he would go into work tomorrow (today) so I could stay home.

This morning I woke at about 8am. I have a headache and felt very tired and lethargic... but none of the other things everyone else had, even though my friend told me that what I was feeling was exactly how hers started (and she was continuously throwing up for about four days).

So I don't know, maybe I was able to fight it off in my sleep or something? I feel a bit bad taking a day off when I am not really sick, even though I truly believed I would be bedridden for a few days - but it is kind of nice to be bumming around at home for a day.

I am liking this monthly goal setting. I learnt very quickly to not set unreachable goals though - just because you write them down for everyone to see doesn't neccesarily mean you will get them done!

Ok, I have a few small sub-headings this month:

Money:
[] Keep track of all joint spending
[] Manage personal spending and keep to the alloted amount per week.
[] Sit down with DF and draw up a savings plan for the next 6 months.
[] Plan what to spend my stimulus money on! (yes - I am spending it)

House:
[] 30 minutes gardening per week
[] Unpack at least 3 boxes per week.
[] Write up a future To Do list for house repairs and maintenance
[] Write up a future To Buy list for the house
[] Call the pest people about the termites on the letterbox
[] Call and change my address details for all correspondence (yes I know - still have not done it)

Health:
[] 3 x 40 min exercise sessions per week
[] Atually WEAR my pedometer to get an average of my steps for EACH day of the week.
[] Begin this: http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/detox/plan.htm
[] Re-introduce the 'one hour of body care per week' that I used to do.

Other:
[] Call my little sister every week
[] Catch up with my closest friend at least once per week (used to live near each other but since I moved I want to make the effort to see her like we used to)
[] Stand by my resolve to not respond to the other 'friend' I have previously blogged about. And yes, this is a goal! I find these things very difficult.

All of these SHOULD be achievable. If I have not done them, you all reserve the right to call me a lazy sod.

That is how much our first addition of interest was for our mortgage. Kind of exciting even though it is really NOT exciting at all...

Our new loan balance is $303 117.38 - at least it is still UNDER the initial borrowed balance, eh?

Income:
Job 1: $880.00
Job 2: $1680.45
Other: $120.00
Total: $2680.45

Expenses:
Rent: $411.42 (for 2.5 weeks)
Mortgage: $860.28
Groceries: $212.68 ($53.17 p/w)
Petrol: $164.70 ($41.18 p/w)
Phone & Internet: $39.76
Electricity: $83.70
Insurance: $61.36
Mobile Phone: $49.12
Loan Payments: $148.00
Skin Care: $29.95
Health/Beauty/Grooming: $6.50
Gifts: $50.44
Bank Fees: $4.00
Moving Costs: $278.00

Fun:
Takeaway: $168.30
Drinks: $68.24
Magazines /Books: $17.95
Clothes/Shoes: $37.50
Clothes Alterer: $20.00
Makeup: $22.95
Entertainment: $16.00
Staff Lotto: $8.00
House/Appliances: $15.98

Total Spent: $2784.83

So:
2680.45 - 2784.83
= (-)104.37

HOWEVER.
I was paying rent AND mortgage payments, and we had moving costs and takeaway food plus gifts given to those who helped us. So once I take those balances away:

Rent: $411.42
Moving Costs: $278.00
Takeaway: $50.30
Gifts: $24.40
Total: $775.10

So, total that WOULD HAVE been remaining if everything were normal:

$670.72

That makes me happy, to think that other than moving I did not drastically spend on anything.

Well, this will be the last 'me' totals. April will be 'our' totals. Eeek!

Today I spent $3.20 on a piece of carrot cake (which was technically a waste of money because I wasn't even hungry - I just 'felt' like it - grrr!), and $20.15 on fuel. The woman at the counter gave me a card that gets me 3c off per litre, if you buy the E10 variety, which I normally do. Yay!

Either this weekend or next weekend, DF and I are going to sit down and work on a list of things we want to buy for the house, and things that need to be done for the house.

I am not sure about DF, but I have a four day weekend next week because of Easter. It's good and bad: I lose out on approx $296 (gross) earnings - but I get two days off!!!

This is the first week of tracking expenses jointly; I am a little apprehensive, but I am going to do my best. Basically I only need to track what we spend in cash really - and just remember what we BUY when we use our credit cards. I think we should be alright.

Tonight I made roast lamb for DF with roast vegetables and steamed greens, and we will probably have leftovers for lunch.

Last week I heard from my mums partner that my mum kept him awake all night because she had been drinking - she was singing, shouting and talking in riddles (as she does) all night.

(She does this every so often - but usually not all night - only for a few hours).

The next day was a day I am meant to work at the home office there. I did not know any of the events from the night before, so when I got to work my mum was in a bad mood and still in her pajamas.

I had to go and clean our rental house a bit and let the flea control guy in, so when I got back, mum's partner was there. He asked me if I could please work from home that day as they had some things to work out.

DF told me that night what had happened, and so it all made sense. When I went to work the next day, I heard my mum and her partner talking about a meeting that my mum had to go to. I finally figured out it was an AA meeting.

I can't tell you how excited I was that she was finally going! It has taken literally YEARS to get some her to take sort of recognition of her problem, let alone convincing her she is WRONG and that she needs to DO something about it. She always says she will 'see' someone. It has sadly never gone beyond that step, the promise of 'seeing someone'. So I was excited that not only (again) had she said she would see someone, but that there was intent to GO to an AA meeting. As in, they knew the times and the place!

Anyway, long story short the next night we had dinner at our place for my sister going away - and my mum had already had a few drinks, and was drinking while she was there.

I can tell you, I was not a happy camper. I really did think that maybe something might be done about it this time - but instead nothing was done. Again.

I just feel disappointed. I am not even SAD about it anymore, I am just angry, personally.

But I am indeed sad for my mum's partner. After 10 years (approx???) you would think any other guy would just walk out. He has had to deal with a lot of issues. He has had to care for and provide for mum, myself and my younger brother and sister. He has been hit by my mum and yelled at, and she has left him numerous times only for him to welcome her back when she sobers up. Sure, he gets angry sometimes, and we always got in trouble for little tiny things - but I just can't believe how much he has absorbed from my mum but has never left.

Anyway I am really sorry to vent and burden everyone here, but you all seem so understanding every time I do have troubles. And I guess I just wanted to get it off my chest.

I just stopped into our ex-real estate to pick up our bond refund forms. They spelt my name, DF's name, and DF's sisters name wrong on the form, so it took about 20 minutes for them to find out what to do to change it. Every single piece of correspondence I have recieved from them has had my name spelt wrong - and in about five different ways and combinations! A couple of times they even put DF's last name as my name as well. They are absolutely hopeless and I would never use them for anything in the future.

Anyway. As I was saying, we got all of our bond back. So DF gets $506, I get $508 and DF's sister gets $506. DF's sister owes us $44 for the flea spray as well. I also collected a cheque from them for an overpayment of rent, $300. I will put it onto our account tomorrow.

That will bring our account balance to around $11k. It makes me a bit nervous having our emergency fund in our main account - simply for the fact that every time I log on I am going to see that balance and go "oh, everything is peachy". But I will have to get used to it, as it is saving us thousands of dollars in interest every year!

Today I spent $3 on a vegetable peeler. It was on special. Actually, I bought one a few days ago, then went to the shop again for something else and they had a different type of peeler there - one that is more ergonomic. But I thought to myself "no, I have already bought one" but then I got home and used the one that I had bought and it's pretty terrible - same brand, but just a different type that is harder to use. So I decided to spend another $3 and buy the one I bought today.

I booked a haircut appointment for Friday afternoon. It will probably cost me around $65. I have decided I am going to chop off around 4 inches, being long it is just too annoying and hot - I know it is coming into winter, but it does not go below -5 degrees celcius normally, and only in the mornings. I have had people say 'don't cut your hair, it is getting close to winter...' It is generally between 15-25 celcius during the days, I don't think it will make a difference if my hair is shorter or longer.

On Thursday a friend and I are going to the spas again. It will be $30 each. I am looking forward to it.

I have a little bit to do this afternoon. I usually waffle around and achieve nothing, so here I am again with my to-do-list:

- wash dishes (done)
- tidy kitchen (done)
- hang out washing (done)
- fold dry washing (done)
- unpack CD's (not done - but did linen closet instead)
- tidy dining & coffee tables ( 1/2 done)
- cook dinner (doing now!)

I am not sure yet what to have for dinner. I am thinking roast vegetables and salad. Nice and easy, and like I mentioned in my last post, will use up our fresh items that wilt easily.

Today we finally went to the market - it has probably been about three months since we have been there.
I got a weeks worth of fresh veges for $32. And I got a handmade bar of Vanilla, Honey and Oatmeal soap for $4. So really, the veges were $28. I got: half a pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, brocolli, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, onion, eggplant, fresh figs, plums, avocados and bananas. Everything is locally grown and organic produce. I am planning on using all the wilty-stuff in the next few days, and we will have soups and stews and bakes for the end of the week, so that I can utilise the freshest ingredients first.

I went into town to meet a friend for lunch and get a dress fixed for the engagement party we are going to on the 18th. I was silently chanting in my head when talking to the clothes-alterer lady: 'please be no more than $50 to fix, please be no more than $50...' and it was $20.00! Yay! (The dress only cost me $100.00 - I didn't want to pay a great deal to fix it).
The boning had cut through the inner lining and was stabbing me every time I wore it - so much that by the time I would take the dress off I would be bleeding! I know - horrible. *sigh* It's a gorgeous dress though - I am always looking for ways to wear it more. It is strapless, lined with a black silky satin type material and then has a delicate cream lace overlay, with a black satin sash. It's fitted around the bust and then has a dropped waist.

Anyway it will be fixed by Wednesday so for that, I am pleased.

I also browsed a store and bought two items that were half price - a denim skirt for $10 and a lovely black broiderie anglaise-detailed top for $12.50. Very cheap prices, I am quite happy with them. I also bought a pair of dunlop shoes for work/gardening for $15, on sale from $24.97. And I bought some muscle soak granules for the bath at $6.50.

I just had a look over our spending for the month. Not pretty.

Ok, well, the TOTALS are not pretty. Because I have tracked my personal spending in March (not DF and mine combined - that starts next week!), it looks like I have spent waaaaay more than I earnt. And I most likely have. But it does not give the full picture, partly because our accounts have been slowly merging, and partly because I already had some extra money floating around.
But, alas, every week it 'appears' that I have spent around $100 or so MORE than I have taken in.

I think mostly it is due to paying the mortgage AND rent for most of the month. Sure sucked up a lot of money.
I am quite pleased with my 'FUN' money expenditure - it seems I did not spend that much over our 'allowance', and this includes all the dining out we did while our kitchen was packed up.

Our moving and house costs have totalled $278, but that does not include some items which I haven't got totals for. But the $278 was for a tip fee, flea spray at the rental, phone re-connection, and some other things of which I have forgotten already...

Gifts have been low amounts, but there have still been a few. We are getting good at holding back on gift giving. We like to give gifts - and we hardly ever recieve them - and I think it is one of those things we will have to work on. Even though most of the friends no longer give gifts (everyone went through a stage of giving large gifts for a couple of years), sometimes we kind of feel obligated to not show up with empty hands - partly to blame IS that time when everyone was giving gifts. It is odd. Of course, it's nice to give gifts - but I think we have to relax about it a bit because everyone is having hard financial times - and a lot of the time the gifts given could be things they don't need anyway.

Petrol is another expense that I am going to have to monitor. Because I am driving an extra 15-20 minutes a day to work, it is surely going to add up. I would say it will cost me an extra $10-$15 in petrol a week. I am going to have to think of ways to save on this!

Well, that's my rambling for today. I will post the totals that I was tlaking about, tomorrow, when the week ends.

Today our weekly mortgage payment of $430.15 came out. I've updated the sidebar loan balance.

I spent $3 on a soft drink today and we are going to take my brother and sister to the movies tonight. We can buy the tickets online for $8, they are usually $11 for children and $14.80 for adults so that is a good saving.

Hopefully this weekend we will unpack a lot of stuff and get the house in order. Next weeek I have to bite the bullet and do a full grocery shop. I have been going in every day or two to just get what I need, but I really must stock everything up as we are getting low on everything.

On Wednesday I went in to talk to a woman at the bank about our insurance options. We took out standard cover at the start of the mortgage but wanted to see if we could get it for less because we work in low-risk occupations. Well I did! We were previously paying $61.35 p/m for $200k of death cover and $100k of TPD cover. Now we pay $53.97 for $275k death cover and 100k TPD cover. Yay!

Today I spent $12.05 on a present for my little sister for when she leaves (now leaving on Saturday). I bought her a little journal to write in, a notepad of yellow pretty paper, some envelopes, pens and stamps.
I also spent $2 on the staff lotto and 50c on a can of Coke at work, and $3 on a drink when a friend came over to look at our house and then we walked to the shops.

DF and I have decided that we might just spend our stimulus money. It's what it's for right? I am undecided still - but there are a few things that I would like to buy, but have been putting them off. If we can just agree to spend it, guilt free, and then move on into frugal-country, it might be sort of like a type of bachelor party for us, in terms of no longer spending freely. (One last night on the town before being locked up, right? In financial terms...)

Some things I have in mind:
- a punching bag (DF and I would go halves) (approx $100 each)
- new work shoes ($30 )
- new running shoes, properly fitted. ($100)
- cloooothes... (???)
- a slow cooker $40
- some dvd's (approx $60)
- a romantic dinner out at a place i have been meaning to go to for about a year. ($80)
- some planter boxes & gardening stuff to start a small assortment of lettuce/tomato plants. (???)


anyway. we'll see how it goes. we'll be getting $900 each.

we currently have around $9000 in the bank. Once April hits I am going to begin tracking 'our' spending. Oh, it's going to take some getting used to, I can tell that right now!

My mum & her partner are sending my sister (14yo) to live with my grandparents, two states away, on a rural, almost self-sufficient farm. She will still go to a larger school in a CBD - so she will have contact with society lol.
I am in two minds about this. Here's why:
The good part: my sister has a bit of an 'attitude' and I don't think she hangs with the best kids at school. Living with our grandparents will give her some freedom but also teach her to be more respectful. She'll be learning a very different lifestyle, as currently she lives in a coastal suburb on a 500m2 block - as opposed to many many acres of bushland she will have to explore living with the gramps. She'll also learn to be more useful as she'll have to learn to do 'stuff' on a farm. She will also be able to get away from my mum. I know that sounds terrible, but our mum is an alcoholic but won't do anything about it, and thinks everyone else has a problem with her drinking. I think my sis is actually excited about the fact she won't have to deal with mum anymore.
The bad part: She is, technically, being shipped off. I am going to have to make sure I show her she is not forgotten, and that she is loved. I will have to send her letters and little packages all the time so she does not feel abandoned - as I am sure that my mum will forget about her. Yes, terrible. (and I don't mind in the SLIGHTEST about the $ it will cost me to send this stuff - she is my little sis and I would give everything to protect & help her). She may be a bit isolated there seeing as it is miles from other people - and then the other people would be farmers anyway. Also, I can't help but wonder, what happens if her attitude doesn't get better? Or what happens if she falls in with the wrong crowd there? The gramps aren't going to notice as much as DF and I would (I see her at least once a week at the moment). What if she goes and gets herself PREGNANT or something? ARGH! Anyway. My main concern is that she will feel abandoned and shipped off. I keep talking to her and just mentioned her 'getting away' from mum, so that she feels good about that prospect. Am I doing the right thing? Is it a good idea to put it in a positive light?

At the moment it appears to be just a year-long arrangement. My sis mentioned she hopes she can come back for years 11 and 12 (she is in year 9 now).

*sigh* I just don't know.
She doesn't seem particularly upset about the prospect as the moment. The only thing she is a little upset about is that she just made friends with some people, as last year wasn't that great for her in terms of making friends.

Looking back, I didn't change schools in high school - but then again the friends I made at high school I no longer talk to anyway, they were all not particularly nice to me anyway - only it took me until the last few years to realise it!

The thing that our parents don't seem to get is that SHE IS A TEENAGER. Our parents seem to have this idea in their heads that kids have to perfect all the time. We all got in trouble for the littlest things. And then we would get lectured for HOURS (literally...hours) about it, and by the end of the lecture you would have no idea what the problem was in the first place because they would go off in tangents and talk in riddles all the time.

Which is why I do think a tiny bit of this change for little sis would be good. Good for HER and her wellbeing.

And then there is my little brother. He is 15 and can basically look after himself - doesn't seem to give the parents as much trouble as little sis. He plays video games and is pretty introverted - but does have a large group of friends. He isn't causing any 'problems' so of course he is not getting shipped off - also he just goes into his room when mum decides to have a bit of a drink, or disappears.

Anyway. Whenever there seems to be a problem with my mum - like her drinking, or smoking, or how much work she does at the business (not a lot these days), all of a sudden there seems to be some big issue with something else, so then everyone focuses on THAT problem, and then mum doesn't have to do any of the things she says she will (like, go to counselling etc).

ARGH.
Anyway, sorry for the rant.

Last night I made grilled garlic salmon with brown rice and a side of grilled veges (capsicum, eggplant, mushrooms, zucchini & squash).
Tonight I think I will make (thanks to ceejays suggestion) grilled cheese sandwhiches with an assortment of fillings. (I am thinking cheese & pineapple, cheese & tomato & beetroot, cheese & avocado...)
Any other ideas for the next few days? DF still hasn't connected the oven and I am not going to bother him about it for a few days because he has a lot of work on and has been working 12 hour days.
I have: a kettle, a sandwhich press/grill, a rice cooker (which also steams) and a blender.
I was thinking I could grill some veges and an egg and toss it through the rice to make a sort of 'un-fried rice'?

Well our phone and internet re-connection was quicker than expected - we discovered the phone was connected on Sunday night, and the internet we set up yesterday which also worked (contrary to the 3 business days for phone and a week for the internet which is what they told me! not that i am complaining, of course...).

The weekend was very hectic, we moved everything out on Saturday, and then on Sunday we cleaned. Yesterday I filled out the exit report and today I put in some new light globes and got a flea treatment for the outside. I handed in the keys at midday today. Fingers crossed we get all the bond back.

At our new house, we have the bare essentials unpacked still and are slowly working on the rest, but we are not rushing ourselves. I think we both want everything unpacked properly, everything in it's place.

This time I actually get my own desk! (I used to use the coffee table seeing as I have a laptop). But because it is just DF and I (and not DF's sister like last time - who needed a desk for her computer, which she never used, and a set up in the spare room for her sewing machine - which she didn't use either), we have set up the study so I get half of it. Yay! So far it is just filled with work related papers.

We have terrible tv reception, so I think a set-top box is on the list of things to purchase. We have been lazy about this, as reception was good at our last place and we figured we would put off the purcahse until they completely disconnected analogue tv. Oh well.

DF has been busy with work so we have not yet connected the gas stove. I am at a loss for what to cook for dinner tonight.
Last night I grilled tofu and a lamb leg steak with a greek salad and a dinner roll. The night before was toasted sandwhiches. I guess I could buy some fish and maybe some vegetables to grill to have with rice...

Any Ideas???

I have a rice cooker and a grill/sandwhich press - oh and I only have brown rice. Something light and healthy is mostly preffered.

Tomorrow I have to go to the bank and talk over some insurance stuff. Fascinating.

I have a few things to organise this week, seeing as the move is over.
I have to get a haircut, a blood test, make a doctors appointment, make an appointment with the pest guys for the termite problem (on the letterbox post - not the house!), get a dress altered, find a cheap red strappy dress for a dress up party (I am going as Alice from Resident Evil), organise bond refunds... *sigh* I am sure there are a few things I have forgotten...

So anyway, what has been happening with everyone? I am going to read up on some blogs - but in case I miss anything you should let me know in a comment what has been happening with you all!

talk more later
x

Well, our internet gets disconnected tomorrow and hopefully re-connected late next week. I will still have internet atwork on Wednesday though.

I thought it was time to upload a couple of photos of our finished floor. DF did the finishing touches at 7pm on Tuesday night. I have put them in order of before and after:

office (before)

office (after)


spare room #1 (before)

spare room #1 (after)


kitchen (before)

kitchen (after)


main bedroom (before)

main bedroom (after)



I think it looks great. And the best bit? It cost us around $35, paying for DF's dad and my little brother and sisters lunch lol. The coating mixture we used cost $400 but DF's dad paid for it. I sure love being able to do stuff ourselves.

Anyway, I just wanted to share some pictures with you. Hope you like them!!!

Yesterday I paid for and filed our mail redirection form. $36 for six months. Hopefully I can get my act together and only have it for the six months!

I also paid rent ($420) yesterday. Today our weekly mortgage payment comes out ($430.15).

DF finished the last coat on the floor, so pictures will be up soon! I could only make it to one of the bedrooms last night to have a look, before having to sprint back outside. The coating stuff they use makes your eyes water and your nose burn, and your throat gets all itchy. Euch! DF and the apprentices wear gas masks when they coat floors.

So today I am working until 1.30pm, then I am going to move a load of stuff and hopefully the place will have aired out a bit so I can wipe the dust off everything.

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday, I mailed him a screenprinted shirt I made. Hopefully it gets there in time, and hopefully he likes it!

This weekend is going to be the last weekend at our rental house! Our internet is getting disconnected tomorrow and hopefully will be re-connected next week.

I have been thinking more about the 'friend' I mentioned in my previous entry. I think I have decided that: I will not reply - however if she decides it would be a good idea to actually call me, then I will tell her I am usually free on weekends.

*sigh*
problems seem to be rearing their ugly heads and ticking me off this week.

I will have to give you some back ground information: (some of you may remember this from a previous post).
I have a friend who is the same age as me. We met when we were about 4, and were best friends. We lost contact at about 13, and I found her on myspace when I was about 19. We chatted like we were old friends. When I visited my dad, she came and stayed (as my dad was almost a foster dad to her some times) and then I went to her place for a few days.
I booked more holidays to visit my dad a year later. I booked them in January, to fly and visit them in June-July. I sent this friend a message the DAY i booked the tickets.
We also planned to go to a festival together, in my state, and she flew up to where I live. She didnt book her tickets until about three weeks before the date of the festival, and I had previously planned on taking the monday off to drive her to the airport. She called me to say she was flying up Friday morning, so I had to take Friday off as well. "It's ok, that's what friends do" I thought.
While she stayed, she flashed around a stack of cash that she'd earnt for public holiday work, and money she'd been given by her grandparents. (around $700). She was also excited that her dad paid for her flights. During the time she stayed with me (friday, saturday, sunday and left on monday morning) she kept reminding me of all the things she was missing out on while she was visiting me. 'I'm missing so-and-so's 21st for you'. Yes, she actually said that. She also spent about three hours every day talking on her phone to her then-boyfriend and other friends. I also had MY friend notice that she was a little immature - but I think it was just that she acts like a 20 year old, when I normally hang out with 30 year olds and probably DON'T act like a 20 year old. She used words like 'gay' and 'retarded' that just made me want to cringe.
I have also noticed that she has to be better in every way. Her clothes have to be more expensive. She has to weigh less, but she can eat more than me. Her computer is BETTER than mine. Her phone is better than mine (she does actually say this to me, yes). Her ipod is better. Her job is apparently better. (she actually asked me a few months ago, 'so are you still working at the same jobs and stuff?' even though I have been at one job for 8 years and the other for nearly 3 years.) *sigh*

Fast forward to a month before I am due to visit my dad. I was using msn messenger (that's the way we communicate mostly). She asks me 'oh, when are you coming down again?' I told her the dates. 'Oh, I can't get time off then'.
I was a little shocked. Disappointed. Angry. I went for a little walk to calm down, then I sent her a message that said I was disappointed that she couldn't organise a day off, even though I gave her 6 months notice. I also mentioned that I was able to organise another day off in only three weeks time. I also said I understood that she was stressed about training (she's a gymnast) and that in the end it would all be fine.

She fired back that she was SORRY that she had to work, that she was SORRY that she saved EVERY LAST SINGLE CENT to come and visit me (um, what?). She said some other stuff but I can't remember. Then she said 'whatever', and then went off-line. I sent her an email that said I too, was sorry. I must have been mistaken. I thought her dad paid for flights, and I thought her grandparents gave her hundreds of dollars. I said it was fine, I wouldn't bother her again about it. I also said I thought she was one of the 'honest friends' that I could TELL when I was ticked off. I said, obviously not then. So I won't bother you with any of the emotional stuff that comes with a deep friendship. She didn't really talk to me again after that. I sent her a message when I was visiting my dad, and we DID end up catching up. I had to take a 1.5 hour train trip, meet her in the city for lunch and a coffee, and then go back.
And again, since then, I don't think I have spoken to her. I realised a few weeks after that trip that I was always the one initiating a conversation - she never said hi or anything like that. So I thought to myself, 'ok, I will wait for you to say something to me'. And you know what? It's been nearly a year, and the only thing she has said to me is, what type of new phone did you get, when she was commenting on a status update on facebook. Like I said, we have a truly deep relationship! (not).

So. That's the back ground info. And this is what I need help with:
I decided, months ago, that this was a friendship that I was willing to let die. We have nothing in common except things that we did when we were younger (barbie dolls, jim carrey movies etc). I felt like I was always making the effort - in a year she has not initiated a conversation, an email, a facebook wall post, a text message, a letter...
The friendship does not fulfil me in any way. I do not feel good about it. I do not feel liked or cherished.

Yesterday, I commented on a facebook status update of hers that said she was going on holidays. I asked 'where are you going?'. She responded that she was going to the Gold Coast (two and a half hours drive from me - in the same state). She said to let her know if I have time off, and her and her now-boyfriend will come and do a day-visit and see our new house (oh - and she has not said anything about us buying a house - no congratulations, no nothing).
I don't know what to reply. If I HADN'T asked, she would not have offered. She would not have even TOLD me she was there. I would have seen the photos on facebook the day she got back.
I have made the decision that I am NOT taking time off for her. But I just don't know what to write back now. Should I just not respond? I know if I act cheery and say 'sure, come up on the weekend!' i will feel yucky inside, knowing that I am being a fake person to keep things smooth on top.
What would you do? What should I do?
Should I just not reply? Should I wait for her to physically call me on the phone before I respond? Should I fake a smile?

well, I am annoyed now.

DF's dad is thinking of hiring a second cousin as an apprentice. The second cousin is currently working on a cruise ship and doesnt finish until August.
DF's dad suggested he could live with us (paying rent of course).
My dad, stepmum and little sister are staying with us for a week at the end of September. I said they would have our two spare rooms.
Not only am I annoyed at this, but also that we will have to share a house again (IF this happens). We just FINISHED sharing a house. I thought we would not have SHARE AGAIN, EVER. Isn't that the whole point in buying a house?
But it's family, and if I say no then I will be the bad guy (or girl).

I AM SO ANNOYED that I even have to think about this. ARGH.

Driving home today the only solution I could think of is if DF's dad puts off hiring him until October or something like that.

But that still doesn't help the fact that we will be sharing again.

MAYBE.

Anyway. The OTHER thing I am annoyed about is that I don't think the business can afford another apprentice anyway. Our current apprentice will be finishing up, which then means his wage will go up from $15 per hour to around $20 per hour. DF is already on $30 per hour.
I just don't know.

Well, I thought it would be easier to write it out here and mark it off. (also it will motivate me to do the stuff because you can all see what i get done!!!)

-Finish work by 3pm
-Hand in mail redirection notice and pay for 6 months (about $35)
-Pay Internet bill ($79.51)
-Pay Mobile Bill ($49.12)
-Organise flea control for Tuesday next week
-Load my car to the brim of stuff to take to the house
-Take it to the house!
-Fold our dry washing
-Hang out washing in the machine
-Begin calling some companies and changing addresses.
-Call someone about fixing/altering a dress
-Pack more boxes
-Vaccuum spare room and clean windows/tracks/cupboard.

I know there is much more but I just can't think of the extra stuff to do right now. Well, that is a start. My goal is to do all of that today! And have dinner cooked by 6.30pm.


Oh, and an update on our friends baby: she was moved to a humidicrib a little while ago so it seems she is doing well. Fingers crossed she gets better, bigger and stronger from now on!

After working 12 hours at our house yesterday (DF did 13 hours), I woke up this morning and pretty much EVERYTHING hurt. My arms, my legs, my back, my stomach, my neck, even my ankles hurt! All stiff, all sore. (Probably shows how unfit I am). I was having serious issues with my back by the time we finished. While DF finished coating the floor I went and found an old yoga mat amongst the stuff we had already moved, and just lay down for about half an hour. This morning it was alright though - DF was worried but I said that is pretty normal for me, I just seem to overwork my lower back (from stupidly not using my stomach muscles enough) but it usually repairs itself overnight. For now!

We got home at around 10pm and got to bed at about 11pm. I had to get up at 4am for work! I am really looking forward to sleep tonigh, but am trying to hold off until atleast 830pm.

DF did one coat last night, and is doing a second coat right now, so there is only one more coat to do before he polishes the floor and then FINALLY we can start moving everything in properly. I have been taking bits and pieces every time I go, which has been a help, but we still have so much to move. And we now only have a week until our lease runs out! Exciting!

DF's mum, auntie and grandma are all coming over to help clean our rental place while we move all our stuff. So nice of them. DF's mum is driving 3 hours each way just to help.

Two of our very close friends, C & E, were the first amongst our group to get engaged and tie the knot, and announced last year they were having a baby. E's mum died two months ago from cancer which was also very sad.
Everyone was waiting expectantly to hear the good news from C & E as they were due about a week and a half ago. This morning they sent an email around telling everyone why they haven't called anyone: E went into labour on the 8th and halfway through labour the baby's heart rate stopped completely. E had to go into emergency ceasarean, and when the baby was delivered her lungs were filled with melconium. The doctors said it was the worst case they have ever seen, but somehow the little girl pulled through. She is in intensive care and they are unsure how long she will be there for. Last night C & E went home to have a nights rest - as neither of them have slept since the delivery.
Edie was born 8 weeks to the day exactly when E's mother passed away.

They have said in their email they are sorry they can't take calls this week as they will be sleeping or visiting her at the hospital. Is it a bad idea to send them a text message just saying our hearts are with them and that if they need anything we will be there for them? (and that they don't need to reply to our message).

I have just finished a rough draft of our new expense tracking sheet. I will post it later today to see what everyone thinks. I am still not sure if it will be too confusing or not. I am trying to keep it simple!

Tonight we are going away for the night to DF's sisters and her fiance, as it is his birthday some time this weekend (that's who I was buying the present for). We have to get back early tomorrow morning so DF can do work on the house. I will probably start doing some cleaning and bringing boxes over.

We are going out to dinner tonight (because I have to be the difficult one that doesn't eat meat and Df's sister can't make TWO dishes - that would be unfair seeing as she's pregnant and all...) sigh.

Last night we almost got takeaway but then I decided against it seeing as we're going out tonight. I managed to make a primavera napoli pasta dish, and DF is taking leftovers. I've spent $50 of my $61 allowance - but I think tonight we will dine out as a joint cost - somehow I will start working these things into our budget.

Well, when I finished work today I went and did some things at the new place. I cleaned the sides of the oven (it was pretty gross, we lifted it out onto the balcony and i don't think it had ever been cleaned behind it) and punched some nails, puttied some holes in the floor. I got a splinter in my finger that was about 1cm long and it took me about half an hour to get it out! It's feeling alright now but I kind of lost steam after that as you can imagine. I did about 45 minutes more work after that, then DF arrived after finishing his work (this was about 5.15pm - so I had been there since about 2pm). I left to go home and get dinner ready while DF did some more sanding. On the way I stopped to buy a present for DF's friend as it's his birthday soon. I didn't get the present as they didnt have what we wanted, but i bought a coffee and a donut woops!

I have been fairly active this week though which is good though.
I am so tired right now so I am going to watch some tv and go to bed!