More birthdays...

Happy birthday to Alex, Stephanie & John. More Leo's celebrating milestones. Alex & Steph are turning 25, John hit the big 60.

I didn't have to trawl through the interwebs looking for the perfect cake for John's celebration, his wife Sue found a local girl who is producing the most amazing cakes from home.

She did such an amazing job, it was so life like and perfect. And everything you see is edible. Apparently she hadn't done a fish before and was quite excited by the challenge. It was quite funny when John cut the cake and he went to gut and fillet it (after popping the eye in his mouth). Very apt for the keen fisherman he is.

As part of our training for the half marathon we ran for 17kms this morning. I was wrecked afterwards. I was very hungry and needed a lie down in front of the telly with my coffee. Running Buddy is doing a great job at keeping us on track and won't let me back down when the little voice is telling me to quit. She did let me off on Wednesday when it was bucketing down at run time. I had to miss cardio tennis because of the study day on Friday so want to get back into it this week.

I read an interview with Woody Allen & one of his response was about his diet and keeping healthy.

He is quoted as saying I don't eat enjoyable foods. I eat for my health.

Read more: Woody Allen Interview - Woody Allen Blue Jasmine Quotes - Esquire

I felt really sad for him that the foods he eats he sees as unenjoyable but healthy. I run so I can eat what I want. But I have found that I want less of the really bad stuff and have yet to succumb to a radical 'health' regime. Just somewhere in between. I also read somewhere that another fellow runs so he can drink beer.

Good enough reason.

Baking...

Erin & I inspired by the Great Australian Bake Off made these today

Quite a drawn out process but good results!

Chilly Friday...

I spent the day in chilly Ballarat, where the temperature sat around 7 degrees all day. It was also windy & rainy. I spent the day learning about breasts & breast cancer. It was very informative but also the 5th day in this week of work. Fish & chips for dinner was the easiest option.
We usually phone in our order & pick it up 20 mins later. There are 3 fish & chip shops in town & we like this one the best. We don't have fish & chips very often but the little man who doles out the orders always lights up & says 'ah Meetchellll!' when I walk in. As if I order there a lot. We get this take away about once a month and you would think I was more regular than that. Its a nice touch if you don't get too sensitive about it. My new friend Kerry from tennis is the burger queen down there and I always joke to Chris that Kerry has cooked his dinner for him. She didn't even turn around tonight, they were rushed off their feet. The usual 20 min return took about 45 tonight. Seems everyone had a busy week.

Hayley has been much better posting her photos now she has a Tumbler blog

her comment on this pic was
Every Thursday, loads of market stalls line the streets in Vila-Seca. I bought a head band and some peach heart lollies. Look ma! Scarves!!!

She knows me well

This is just a taste, you can see more for yourself. Unlike other blogs you can't really comment on the photos but as she told me 'you don't have to comment on every photo'.

Hayley had posted this on Facebook in response to my birthday post for her, it had me in tears.

25 years ago you became my mumma, and I couldn't have asked for a better role model growing up. You've always been supportive, caring & patient with me and I can't thank you enough. Thank you for being the best mummy, and for helping me become the coolest person haha. Thanks dad toooooo. It's still my birthday here, and I'm allowed to be somewhat sappy! I love you both xo 

Hayley, queen of the selfie

nice photobombing Cal

Cake...

I would really liked to have made Hayley a cake for her birthday.

If she had been at home and I had enough time I would have like to try this one.

from here http://thecakeblog.com/

Pretty eh?

and some more words of wisdom from Pinterest

Whenever I read these positive affirmations, and there are loads and loads of them out there, I always think of the Drug & Alcohol Counselors office at work. I sit in that office to do my work once each fortnight and wish I had a permanent base to my admin work from. The powers that be have found me this space, and yes I can work down there, nobody knows how to find me and I get the odd call relating to the main use of the office. But that's not where I'm going with this, I'm thinking of that office because the wall you face when you sit at the computer is COVERED in positive affirmations, quotes from Masai warriors, poets, authors, Buddhists & Yogi. The Dalai Lama and an indigenous American (used to be called Indians) also have posters & quotes. Dr Phil, Oprah & US Presidents get a gig.It is quite overwhelming & I wonder if it has the desired effect on those needing counselling.

The most special birthday...

for the most special girl.

Our Hayley girl.

Who goes by many non de plumes...Hayree, Gayley, Hayley Bayley.

I wanted to post 25 pics of Hayley, one for each year of her life, so here goes.

 

 Not really in order but as close as I can get.

We love you. You have been such a special girl to me. The baby that made me a mother. I have loved being your mother Hayley and you couldn't have turned out more perfect. Have a great day my love.

Happy birthday also to JohnPaul, Pam, Pam's twin sister and the 10 other people we know who share this birth day. As I have said before just 12 hours later and Hayley could have been born on 8/8/88. But then who knows, if you believe in the destiny of the day of your birth, things could have been a little different.

Great Australian Bake Off...

I am loving this show at the moment

I enjoyed the British version and have to tune each week for this one. When I saw the cookbook out already I nabbed a copy (lucky for me it was in a book club selection at work for $15. I hardly need another cookbook but I love to bake)

I dont want to read it too carefully just yet because I dont want to work out ahead of time who gets eliminated. Each of the contestants seems to have their share of recipes in it and I cant wait to try out this one

They try to make out that Kerry Vincent is a hard face bitch but I really like her and she seems fair and honest in her judgements. I really like baking, much better than cooking, so will be trying a few of the specialty dishes.

No wonder I'm putting weight back on.

Wash out...

Tennis tonight was rained off during the last game, some of the others had just about finished but we were battling out a hard fought game. I really wanted to finish and to win a few more games off them but we were getting soaked. My competitive side thought that it really mattered but its just tennis, just a game, just some exercise in the week.

Last week was a good exercising week. Swimming, mixed in with 25ks on the road and 3 rounds at tennis made me feel good. I need something to balance out the weight I have put on since enjoying so many home made cappuccinos. Even though I use low fat milk, about half a kg has crept back on which is disappointing when we ran so far last week. Just shows how you cant back off or get too lazy with your diet before your hard work evaporates. Looks like I will be running forever.

And a little wisdom to leave with

Next birthday...

The next birthday in August is today. Its a birthday without celebration of the usual kind. More of a remembrance of things that were not to be. This 4th of August should have been an acknowledgement of the beginning of the teenage years, yet it will not be this year as in the past 13 years it will be remembered with tears & a wistful soul.

I found these cakes that could easily have been used by a boy influenced by sci fi parents.

Some people are very clever.

And speaking of clever, we had a red hot go at winning the Trivia Night but alas were let down by our dancing skills.
And a 15km training run this morning has left me a little weary, so that is all for today.

Goodnight.

The month of...

Of the 2 people who read this blog, one of them has complained about a lack of news emanating from it. So I will make a concerted effort to share a bit more during August, to see if I can keep it up, and to share with you what keeps me away from my own blog...other more interesting blogs.

August is a month of birthdays for family and close friends around here, firstly Happy Birthday to Lucy who is as good as family. Lovely Lucy who has been like a twin sister to Hayley & who is missing Hayley as much as we are. For just 4 days they are the same age.

I could do a lengthy post about the 2 of them, there are about a gazillion pics to choose from of them together!


This made me laugh (from here)

Erin's school photos came & I found out I can download the image as many times as I want for 365 days by following the link/password they provide.

I am in the process of cutting many hexagons to make a fitting layout, this may take more patience than I possess at the moment.






This dress is in the lead for the Debutante Ball next April

It has the right amount of fullness in the tulle overlay skirt and a straight fitted bodice. She would like a glittery/bejeweled belt to accentuate the waist. My beloved & talented sister has agreed to whip one up for me (is that the right amount of grovelling?).

And I think I have a little bohemian in me, these two things from Pinterest appealed today









We're going to a Trivia Night tonight, so should have some laughs with the Tennis Club people. And training in the morning, then browsing the internet for hours. I want to try to find out how to place photos better in my posts and how to add the Pinterest link on to pics like I see on other blogs. Will keep searching until I work that out.

No wonder the time disappears.

See you tomorrow!