Hello There

Well, here I am after a dreadful Friday afternoon and evening.

For some strange reason, my back began to feel uncomfortable around lunch time on Friday and by 2pm the pain became more intense.

I couldn't find a comfortable position to sit or stand so I walked around, did some stretching in all kinds of directions to no avail.

By the time Adoring Husband came to help me close the shop, the pain was incredibly uncomfortable and I was leaning over the counter or over my desk trying to breathe it out, but it didn't help.

The pain was strange and filled the area from between my shoulder blades, down the muscles on either side of my spine right down to my lower back. It felt both internal and external and like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

I had to go to the post office to mail three customer orders and I was barely able to complete the task.

The drive home was painful and I had a few ideas in mind to hopefully ease my situation.

I arrived home and changed into my swimmers. I thought floating in the pool would help. It did help a little. I swam a few laps hoping to stretch it out but it still felt uncomfortable and the cool water temperature felt ok to a point.

Eventually, I had to get out, so I went straight into the bathroom and ran a hot shower. The strong water pressure and heat from the water felt good and I think I stayed under the shower for about ten minutes.

By the time I was dressed, the pain returned and increased significantly.

I lay on the bed and attempted to find a position to ease the pain. It didn't work.

I tried a specific meditation for pain, but two minutes in I was squirming and breathing very heavily.

The pain was unbearable and I stood up and leaned over the bed trying to breathe out the pain. I knelt on the floor trying to breathe out the pain. I lay down with pillows putting pressure on different spots on my back but it did not help.

The thought crossed my mind that I may require an ambulance because I would never get through the night in this kind of pain.

I asked Adoring Husband if he had any pain killers. I don't buy pain killers and it's been more than a year since I took one to ease a headache that I got from caffeine withdrawals.

He didn't have any. It was now 5.45pm and the supermarket closes at 6pm, so I pleaded with him to hurry and get me something for the pain.

He returned with the necessary drugs and I took two immediately.

I didn't have anything for heat. No water bottle and no wheat bag (we don't have a microwave to heat a wheat bag anyway) so AH filled a tall locknlock container with hot water and wrapped it in a tea towel for me. I placed it between my back and a pillow so that there was some pressure there.

By now, I was begging AH to take the pain away.

Of course there was nothing else he could do.

Within about 15 minutes, I could feel the pain ease and then fifteen minutes later again, there was just a mild throb.

I fell asleep almost immediately and woke at 7.30pm pain free.

I asked AH to heat me up some chicken broth, which he did before coming to bed himself.

I watched a couple of hours of TV in bed and fell asleep until just after midnight. I could feel some slight twinges in my back, so I took some more pain killers and went back to sleep until my alarm woke me at 6am. I took a couple of pain killers 'just in case' - not something I would normally do, but that pain really scared me and I didn't want to risk it setting in again.

The pain has not returned today. I haven't taken any more pain killers. I have no idea how or why that pain came or why it has completely disappeared without even any tenderness remaining.

So that's why I didn't do my blog. I was traumatised!

I fell asleep at midnight listening to a long sound healing meditation. I started the day with another healing meditation followed by various kinergetic exercises hoping to send the right energy through my body for strength and healing. I also did a mini physical 'journey' before getting out of bed.

I'm hoping that the power of my mind is strong enough to prevent this happening again.

Ugh.

Feeling good today and looking forward to a large gathering of ladies around the pool for a Nutrimetics party tomorrow afternoon. It should be fabulous!

This means that I require a good night's sleep so that I have the energy to prepare and party!

Nite all.

Begin Again

Adoring Husband dropped me off at The Motivator's house and from there we two girls walked to the hall where the lead group of the Anzac march was just arriving.

We went into the hall and claimed our wreath, putting our very large donation in one of the tins provided and then found a spot close to the muster area ready to lay the wreath when our business name was called.

After a few short speeches and some music from the local choir, the names of about fifty groups, organisations, businesses and memorials were called and we all took our turns to lay our wreaths.

It was all over in less than an hour and even though we were invited inside the hall for morning tea, The Motivator and I chose to leave and we walked to her house to have some 'us' time.

We chatted for a while, practiced some kinergetics and then chatted some more.

Suddenly we realised that it was midday! The Motivator may have realised it before me because I was eating into one of her rare days off and she had some 'her' time to attend to! Still, I enjoyed my morning with her and even though we did talk some business, it was nice to have some friend time together.

AH came to pick me up and we headed to the shop to find something for lunch and get coffee. Unfortunately it was 12.07pm when we walked through the doors, and they had shut off the coffee machine at midday.

Ugh.

I made lunch as soon as we got home and watched 'Twilight' on Foxtel.

I created one small piece of art ...

I really love the colours in this one.

... and then created another failure, which again, I will not share here.

So I sat down and watched some more of the Twilight movies.

I made tuna and potato cakes for dinner, which turned out quite well considering I used almond meal as the crumb.

Right now I'm watching the final movie 'Breaking Dawn Part II' and then I'll have to get some sleep because I actually have to work tomorrow.

We decided to not open the shop on Anzac Day.

I'm looking forward to work!

TGIF and have a good one.

Nite all.

Nine Years Married

Sixteen years together and nine years married.

To celebrate, we lunched at Goody's in Toogoom.

Adoring Husband enjoyed a SurfnTurf and I ordered a GF Salt and Pepper Calamari with sweet potato chips and salad. It was delicious, but too much for me to finish and AH ate half of it for me.

It was disappointing because I so wanted dessert, but my belly just couldn't accept another morsel of food.

We had a couple of errands to run in The Bay after lunch so while we were there, we decided to have a look at some beds and bedroom suites. Our bed is 16 years old now and fading fast. Our biggest decision is whether to purchase another mattress and base, or an entire bedroom suite.

We found a delicious king sized bed that when I lay upon it, felt like I was floating on a cloud.

It was crossed off our list when the price was revealed. $12,000 - yes that is twelve thousand dollars just for a bed. I remember two years ago we looked at a $16,000 bed - one of which Beyonce (apparently) owns. It was half price at the time, but for us, still too expensive for a bed.

We also searched for an outdoor bar setting, but were unsuccessful in our efforts.

I got a few more canvasses and acrylic paints so that I can play some more.

We got back to town early enough to get coffee and to drop in to the shop to see The Motivator.

Earlier in the day, I had attended meditation and had picked up my birthday parcel from the post office. The one that BGWLBH had sent.

Unfortunately, I was running late for my date with AH so I had to wait until the end of the day to open it. You need to understand that our gifts to each other are not just one gift. It's multiple gifts with little tags that explain why the gift was chosen.

It's a journey that takes a good half an hour and needs to be savoured and enjoyed. It can't and shouldn't be rushed.

Here are just a few of my pressies ...

I think my favourite is the golden staff, which is very appropriate for this Queenie!

Anzac Day tomorrow and The Happy Abode is placing a wreath, so I'd best get some sleep so that I can be fresh early in the morning.

Nite all.  

My Birthday

I have no idea where my head was at yesterday when I blogged that my birthday is on Thursday and our anniversary is Friday.

Just to clarify ... my birthday was today, 23rd April and our anniversary is on 24th April.

I think I was watching something weird like 'Hughsey We Have a Problem' and I got totally distracted!

Anyway! Happy Birthday to me!

I lay awake in bed last night from 11pm until almost 3am. I have no idea why I couldn't sleep and I lay with my eyes closed the entire time hoping that I would eventually drift off.

Eventually I did and then I woke to look at the clock at 6am, fell back to sleep until Adoring Husband woke me to accept my glass of celery juice at 7am.

I started the day having coffee with the girls, sitting in my throne which was decorated beautifully by The Motivator and eating the GF birthday cheesecake that she so generously provided and with the added touch of a candle to blow out ...

Even though we were supposed to be at the restaurant for lunch at 11.30am because Aggie had a hair appointment to get to, we didn't leave the shop until 11am and with the holiday traffic, combined with  roadworks, it was 11.45am by the time we arrived at our destination.

Luckily Aggie had already ordered her meal, so she was able to leave on time for her appointment and we got a quality 30 minutes with her before she left.

From there, it was time to shop!

I shopped til I dropped!

I bought myself a very expensive top and four other tops that, combined, didn't cost as much as the first one 😳

It's my birthday and I'll buy if I want to 😁🤣😁 (sung to the tune of "It's My Party")

It was a really great day and I love my girls for making my day so special for me.

For listening to me prattle on about stuff that they'd only hear from my mouth.

For buying my lunch, which by the way, was bloody delicious!

For writing the perfect words in my birthday card.

For giving me honest critique during my modelling stint.

For being so patient while I indulged, trying on numerous items of clothing.

For one of you 'always' being my chauffeur in all our social situations.

For providing laughter, giggles, smiles, hugs and snorts at all the right times and especially today.

So thanks girls for making 59 a memorable one.

I received a funny voicemail from Vegan Chickie and Chicklet with a very tuneful "Happy Birthday" song.

I received texts from special people.

A gift to open on the morning of my birthday, from Bubbles and Knight in Shining Armour.

A phone call from Bubbles.

A phone call from Number One Son.

A phone call from Best Cousin in the World.

A message from Beauty.

A message from Squirt.

A lovely message from Grannymus even though I tried to confuse her with my incorrect days. She's not silly.

So many messages on Facebook.

A beautiful card from AH this afternoon.

A parcel is somewhere between here and Griffith from BGWLBH which I'm excited about.

The Motivator gave me a lovely little gift and I know that she has more for me tomorrow (should have been this afternoon except I returned home late and was too exhausted to move from the house) so my birthday is going to be extended in a couple of ways.

Just the way I like it!

It's 10am and I plan on going to meditation early in the morning so it's time for bed.

Nite all.

An Awakening!

We were expecting the Mirror Art artist at the shop today, but we didn't have an ETA - unfortunately he  was waiting in the carpark when The Motivator arrived to open!

I was still in bed, so a quick phone call from TM and I jumped up and was ready to leave within 20 minutes.

As the artist so diplomatically stated "You look tired"

Thanks mate 🙄😠

Take your mirror art and leave the premises.

He should have looked in one of his mirrors and he would have seen that he wasn't looking too crash hot himself!

Haha. Triggered much?

Mirror Art is not my cup of tea. It's very retro and reminds me of stuff that my Dad had behind his home bar back in the 70s.

This man is very good but also very pricy. The value is there but for our demographic, we can't see it selling very well.

However, we've asked him to provide a book of his work and a number of business cards, which we can show customers and they can decide for themselves.

We didn't stay long and pulled out of the driveway before the artist did.

The Motivator had a crazy busy day in the shop.

Thank you Universe!

While she was run off her feet, I was watching 'You Can Heal Your Life' videos and listening to their podcasts ... as a lead up to their big summit that begins early May. I'm still considering whether to be involved in that one.

I was watching more youtube videos about fluid art.

I was swimming in the pool. I lost count of how many laps I swam, but it was definitely more than yesterday, by at least 4 laps.

I was sharing some quality time with AH under the Bali hut.

I really wanted to do some art, but yesterday's effort put me off a bit, so I have to regroup and go back to basics.

Maybe on Wednesday.

Thursday is my birthday.

It's a baby number.

59

I'll be spending it with some special people.

Friday is AH's and my 9th wedding anniversary. I've never celebrated 9 years married before!

We are also 16 years together and I've never been with one person for that long either!

We must be doing something right.

We must love each other!

Nite all.

Discombobulated

That's how I felt all day long.

My mind couldn't really focus on one thing all day, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do, so I stayed in bed until after midday.

Adoring Husband brought me the usual celery juice, chicken broth and coffee. He even cooked dinner tonight! Lamb chops on the barbecue, with mashed potato, mashed pumpkin, zucchini and broccoli. It was perfect.

I had a great idea last night, for a piece of art, and I almost stayed up late to create it, but chose to go to bed instead and save it for today.

Trouble was, I couldn't remember the great idea this morning and even though I searched thoroughly on youtube, nothing triggered my memory.

Finally, in desperation, at 4.30pm, I decided to wing it.

What a disaster!

It was so terrible, I'm not even going to show you a photo. Tomorrow, I'm going to white wash it and start again.

I did go for a swim today and swam two more laps than yesterday, so it was more than 200 metres.

I sat under the Bali hut while it rained, which was really lovely.

Tomorrow, I'm going to be more productive. I'll be visiting the shop because we have an artist bringing in some of his work and we'll decide whether to take some on consignment. I may even take my camera for a ride and see if there is anything to photograph.

I discovered today that Toblerone is GF ... who knew?!

The Motivator has had a big couple of days in the shop, so Easter weekend has been pretty successful  and there is still one more day to go.

I'm ready for bed. I think I'll end my day with some meditation and hopefully I'll have a clearer head tomorrow.

Nite all.