Oh the start of the Edinburgh Festival along with the Tattoo. But hey that's a bit cool to be out and about in pyjamas. What happened to summer Linus?

Happy, the map is a normal map of the world Australasian style - Mel had been saying that she wanted a map of the world so she could pedal away to your place and mine and everyone elses too. So I found one and put butterfly stickers on the places where we live. Mel will now have a choice of where she wants to go and which way she wants to pedal. For example she may decide to pedal to my place via Egypt on webshots and she may do a detour on the way to your place via South America or visit Canada on the way to Scotland and England - taking in Ireland along the way. I think the map has a legend as to how far things are, but she may need binoculars to find it. She can certainly put a flag to the country now anyway!!!!

When you have time go to http://community.webshots.com/user/joy_clover
and have a look at SW England and Wales (well Conwy in North Wales anyway).
Pedal faster MEL

summer what summer we are not getting one this year apparently june had the highest recorded rainfall ever on record and it switches between being swelterinly hot to chucking down in the space of about five minutes and for the last four days weve had gale force winds so brilliant for washing but not so good for goosebumps and sunbathing forget it it was actuallly about 10 but with the wind chill minus 2 so we face south and where getting sun to the front and gales to the rear and by 10 last night just winds but the rain held off until about 3 am so it didnt put a damper on the fireworks must tell you i got a new computer desk as my old one was past its sell by date and was in grave danger of falling to bits so mum and me where passing the me foundation charity shop last week and we spied it so after some manouvering{the parkings terrible in edinburgh }we went in and this desk was only £15 pound and id been looking at the same one in the shops for £55 pound but when we got the man to bring it to the car it still had the cellophane on the uprights and its got loads of disc storage and its solid so will stand up to my constant moving around anyway dh keeps telling me to get up so have togo and will pop back later and mel ill start baking the scones if you smell them you might pedal faster
kirsty

Put the scones on Linus I'm on my way to see you and Teel!! Sounds like I better bring my flannel PJs!!! Brrrrr Nice desk story. Always love a bargain. good thing it's sturdy with all the rearranging it's bound to get! :rofl: Hope you are feeling a wee bit better!

Shad~ The official resting place for the map is over the front of my bookcase! LOL I am going to have jen move some pics on my wall and put it there. I need a space where the chair wil fit. I could keep it folded but then where would the motivation be?! :rofl: First thing Monday I am off to see teel and Linus. Maybe I should pick them up and head for your house?!?! We can all end up in Happy's Bed and Breakfast!!! I hear they have lovely butterfly photos on all the bedroom walls! When I got up the map was a lovely surprise all over again!!:-) Have "fun" with all the "children" about!!! I can just imagine the new tales of exploits and just think Shad......another new home to paint and fix up!!! Get on a payroll and you may never have to job hunt again?!?!?

Happy~ What is going under the tree? An all-aroud bench? Would be a good way to keep the leaves off the ground all around it!:-) Some place for me to put my feet up on when I come to visit!!! Just guessing. As you have read already....it's a map with beautiful butterfly sticker on our home areas. I'll pedal "Around the world" to 80 Chicks!!! I only need about 74 more!!! And where is Shaker anyway?????? I will have to roust her out when I get there!:lol:

I decided to first go out to sea cause there nwill be others I want to visit on the journal too. I think Madcat was the one with the map idea so I will check out everyone's addie and get going with stickers!!! but I have a question....
HOW FAR IS 30 MINUTES?!

I would imagine it could get you to New York!!!!

Always happy to oblige Mel. I didn't know either so DH and I went out and bought new bicycles today with shiny new odometers just so we could tell you.

Actually I'd been thinking about a bike for several months now. I have one that has set unused up in the garage for several years. I hated that bike from the day I got it. The gears slipped, I could never get the hang of it. And I tried a few times but got frustrated with it. DH could ride it just fine so it was me. Too many fangled gears I suppose.

Anyway, the treadmill is still under wraps in the basement and I'm not getting any skinnier as the days roll by. And like today it's been beautiful day that is too much a shame to waste sitting in the house. I saw an advertisement for some bikes on sale and figured this was an omen.

Then I was reading through my local library newsletter and noticed that they have 4 display cases in which you can put exhibits for a month. I told DH this would be a nice showcase for his pictures. We went over to the library to check out the display cases - DH could display MANY pictures :lol: and stopped at the local bike shop on the way home. Geez Louise. :yikes: I did not intend to spend quite the amount of money that they were asking for the bikes. I'm no Lance Armstrong here. The man at the shop was very nice and he showed me several to try. Being short, I have never been too fond of bikes because they usually are quite uncomfortable in the legs and the butt--tocks (as Forest Gump would say). I don't understand when you have enough rump roast in the behind to supply an entire family - why a bike seat cuts right through the bone - but he did show me one bike that was not only pretty, it was comfortable too.

I felt guilty about so much money - 3 times what I intended to pay so to be good, DH and I left the shop to go and check out prices elsewhere. Why didn't I just get my old bike repaired you say? Well, after sitting in an overly hot and freezing cold garage suspended by hooks for at least 15 years, the tires would have been shot and who knows what else. The service call just to fix the errant gears was a minimum of $50. Would have cost me at least half the price of a new bike just to get it fixed and no telling that I would have been satisfied with it. Mum and my sister gave me money back in April for my birthday and said to get something special. I had been waiting to find just the right thing and I felt this was it. I can take short rides, enjoy the weather, get some much needed movement each day and get some exercise to boot. And DH got a new bike too because we're so lovely dovey we do everything as a couple *** ugh, gag, phffft, ptooey **** Ok, ok. :rofl: Actually it would help us both to work out together.

So I'm a happy chickie. 2 mile walk today to the bike shop to pick up the bike, 2 and a half mile ride home (we detoured through some streets). I'm making dinner now and we'll go for a short ride afterwards. Got to get the muscles all conditioned again and believe it or not, I was a bit wobbly. I was so scared I tell you trying to sit on the bikes in the shop. I am not as graceful as I once was, well downright getting clumsy here and as I was swinging my leg over the bikes (they are doing away with girl's frames) I had these horrible visions of falling over and with a not so elegant domino effect, knocking each and every bike over in the shop. Thank heavens that didn't happen.

So, long winded answer here Mel but... it appears that pedalling at a comfortable pace is about 8 miles per hour. If you're sweating or grunting, I'd place you at 10 miles per hour. So for 30 minutes, figure you are doing 3.5 to 5 miles. We can have races or challenges if you like. I can calculate both time and distance travelled. I do much better when I can track things like that. I told DH to go take a picture of the bikes (minus us of course) so I can post it for you.

Got to go get supper on the table, be back later...

Hi Shad, I see you are logged in right now. :wave: :wave: :wave:

Yep I am here, all showered and changed since I got back from the gym. Had a decent breakfast and am now all ready to seize the day. Problem is, I am not sure what bit of it to seize!!! Cat's gone one way, one son another, the next son is doing his thing in the shower and I have no idea what his plans for the day are.
So today, and probably this week, I will just take life as it comes and decide what next to do. I'm rearranging my cv to take in temporary office work stuff and see if that will push anything along. Not what I want to do, but hey it would be work.
Another glorious day down here. The sun is shining, I haven't gone out the back yet this morning to see whether the tomatoes have turned into trifids or such life. I have done two loads of washing, and I still can't see where it all comes from. I must be such a dirty character. I suppose I should wash and vacuum the car as well , it's getting a bit grubby looking with dust and dirt. I guess I will just see if Brendan comes up with any suggestions although he just seems to want to swan around home at the moment.
Anyway, there's not much news from here. I did weights this morning - 1 hour, 4 sets of 10 reps each for the arms and sit ups, and 20 for the legs. It gets easier (I think).
I'll catch up later as well - oh and Teel, thanks for the call. It was great to hear from you.

You sound like a bit of the blahs Shad, doing ok?

Yeah I am fine, just trying to set the day in order. You know how I like to get the day in order.

I'm still trying to get my arse in order! :rofl: so 3.5 - 5 miles!! :yikes: It will take me a loooong time to get there. I must be in NYC tonite though! LOL I practically live inside the Lincoln Tunnel! :rofl: (cough, cough)

Happy~ Loved the bike story! Never saw anyone so agonized over spending $$! :rofl: But I really do understand with the hobs etc. It will be good for you guys to get out and exercise those new clean lungs of yours!! sitting at the PC makes for shallow breathing. I did find exericising helpful with the craving part. Even food cravings:D Have fun and hope ypu enjopy them.

Shad~ Is something already lined up from the other day for work on the house?! Hope when I get there you're not too busy for chin wagging and celebrating! :rofl: I can read in between your lines and send ((((((((HUGS))))))))) from me to you. You're always in my thoughts my Sister. Maybe DS1 will have ideas to move things along. Maybe he'll have new contacts now too! Hmmmmm...... Have a good Monday no matter what you do!

Well girls, I am bushed and ready for bed. My legs and shoulders are really giving me some trouble. I think it's the chair I borrow from downstairs. It isn't made for me and I'll have to stop using it in the day and only at night. But last night I forgot to charge the other one! :faint: god knows how I forgot!!! Off to dreamland for me and my books!=========================

Get out of the sandbox Mel..it's my turn!!! :devil: :D
It was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! Carmen, I am referring to. And the weather was ok too. Having rained on and off for most of the day the evening turned out to be dry, if a trifle over cast and a bit chilly at times. There was a bit of confusion as we arrived 'cos we had been saved a wheelchair space and a seat next to it, in the middle of row 2. But when A. tried to go and off load the picnic basket she came back and said there wasn't an opening or gangway in row 1 so we could get to it. So we "parked ourselves!" sort of next to a space on the seating area in front of the chairs and to the side and waited for a programme seller to wander in our direction and give us some assistace. And so she did. She went over to see why we couldn't get to our places and while she was gone A. and I thought we would do just as well in the space just in front of us. So A. went over to tell her and we secured the space before anyone else saw it! :cool: ;) By the time we were sorted the orchestra of 10 had already started the overture. It was a good spot to be in. We were able to surrepticiously eat some of our picnic...something we had planned to do on arrival but time had run away with us. The helpful programme seller saw I was intensley embarressed with all the fapping around and gave us a free programme.
The "OPERA BOX COMPANY" was extremely talented and the audience of about 400 was enchanted. I got (I hope!) a good picture of a peacock that was standing about 2 foot away..he was so funny...when the camera clicked he sort of puffed himself up and straigtened his neck out as if to say ooooh I'm having my picture taken...do it again...go on, pleeeease do it again!! The house cat was also great. It wandered on to the set and sat down with its back to the audience looking at the house that was used as a back drop and an integral part of the play andstayed there for 5 minutes or so. You could see the wheels turning in that great little brain....this is my house and MY garden and I AM going to sit here and you lot can just like it or lump it!!!Hee hee it came over to see us and inspect our picnic and A. gave it a piece of chicken.:chicken: ..yummy..... :T We staggered in about midnight..I am SO BUSHED!!! :tired: :tired: :faint: Thank goodness I don't have anything planned for this week apart from the blind man....no I don't mean he is blind...he is coming to put up a vertical blind in the kitchen. Today he said. At about lunch-time.What time is that d'you reckon?? :lol: And the house needs a good sort out and of course there is a pile of ironing to do. Last week it was a small pile. Now it is more of a medium pile!!! :rofl:
Shad it was good to finally have a chat on the phone yesterday. I really hope things are a bit better for you soon my friend. Thoughts and hugs and prayers flying down to you RIGHT NOW!!!( even if you are I hope, asleep!)
And just for Shad, to remind her of where she was just over a year ago, here is a picture of The Abbey Grdens in Bury St. Edmunds.....though Shad, you may not recognise it....it's not raining!!!!! :lol3: :lol3:

How could I forget those ruins. Remember the strange bloke ranting and raving and the guardian fellow who ran to your rescue to get rid of the twit. And it did stop raining about halfway through our visit as I remember - well enough not to have to use the umbrellas anyway. A good time was had by all.
So good to hear that the concert went off well and the cat took centre stage for a while.
I was actually looking at some of those photos of BSE on the web yesterday with DS1. He spent a lot of time in London and knows the city well, but didn't see a lot else of England while over there, but he really does love Edinburgh as I do and the rest of Scotland. That was DS1 you spoke to on the phone. He tells me he didn't think you were English!!!! I asked him where he thought the precise vowels came from he sorta said - uh yup well, not from an Aussie anyway - nor a Kiwi by the sound of that!
Very quiet day at the Shad house, but I enjoyed it anyway. DS1 went out to get a haircut and go to a camera shop and I didn't want to go, so I stayed home and worked in the garden and stayed in the sun. Good day as such. I've started thinking about extending the vege garden and putting in different veges like snow peas and zucchini and such. Maybe some chinese vegetables as well.
I discovered yesterday that my Seek job search is not working as it should. I hadn't received notification of new available jobs for a day or so so thought I should check it out. I found several jobs that I could apply for that the search hadn't picked up. I've now sent in a cv to three more places and will be checking the sites every morning in case the search decides not to work again. I'm not depressed about not working although thank you all for thinking of me and feeling for me, but I am feeling that it is time I went back to work. Don't know if I have explained that properly. It's not the money issue, although that will become an issue as I don't have limitless resources. It's simply a need to work.
Happy, those bikes sound good fun. Now you have to make sure you get the most benefit out of your investment. You should be out riding now, not sitting here listening to my rambles. Is DS putting his photos in the showcase in the library? It would be nice to be able to say I know someone who has exhibited his work!!!
Linus how nice of DH to be so concerned about your back and make sure you are doing the right thing or maybe he doesn't want to have to do the laundry or housework any more!!
Anyway, I think it is time I prepared for bed. I haven't done much today really, but for some reason I feel knackered. Maybe it is the fact that I haven't done much. So I may well go make myself some tea, get changed and go to bed and read.
Hey just realised that the end of the month is coming up fast and it will be time for weigh and measure again soon. Hmmmm that could be interesting........I think the weight will be the same, don't think it has moved any, however the work jeans get looser and the stretch jeans fell off so maybe there is shrinkage in the butt or hips. We will find out end of the week I guess.
Meantime, nighty night all.

Good morning everyone. I hope your Monday is a good one. I am in the middle of doing 2 wash loads. Dryer is done in 10 minutes :D
Clara is having her blood done in the afternoon this week so I had a lie in or 2 days now. Felt good too. But now the day seems so short!!:faint:

Teel~ Your story about the entertainment was wonderful. Cat, peacock and all. What a lovely way to spend and evening. I'm glad you had such a good time.

Shad~ your garden will be growing by leaps and bounds with all the new veggies you're thinking of. DS1 will love it! :lol:
Glad you found the program had a problem. Guess we can't trust things to just do what they're supposed to! LOL good luck with the cv's.

I am off to the laundry room and but maybe I should send my ironing to teel!!
Have a lovely day doing whatever pleases YOU!!

shad we call bse mad cows disease over here it took me a while to work out you where talking about bury st edmonds and not some very nasty germs {unles you where talking about my kids????}still sore and getting worse docs tomorrow so welle see what he has to say speak later
kirsty
ps shad i know what you mean about having to work when i feel really bad thats when i have to try and do something just to prove to myself that i can hope you dont have to wait to long now my freind or ds,s might have you commited or a certain trainer might mysteriously disappear