Cate's journey-join me - Page 65

cate · #**961** (**permalink**) April 30th, 2008, 03:13 AM

I faxed my clearance certificate today & by 4.45 I still had not received a call from my work supervisor. I rang & she was not there but the man I talked to thought that tomorrow's shift had been cancelled. I said that it would have been nice to have been informed as I would have turned up tomorrow & it would have been very embarrassing. He agreed & said he would get her to ring me in the morning. I am not at all impressed & it brought back some of the old feelings. A week ago I was not considering going back, then I was excited about it. Now......??
I will spend my day at home instead doing some research into courses. 'night, Cate

cate · #**962** (**permalink**) April 30th, 2008, 08:30 PM

Got a call about 11am from the woman at work who was meant to phone me yesterday. She said the client & her mother are happy to have me back one day a week & that I will be on the next roster. She did not mention not calling me so I did. I said it was lucky that I rang yesterday or I would have turned up this morning & been embarrassed. She then apologised & said she remembered when she was about to go to bed last night.
I will have to ensure that I protect myself this time. I will say no to any shifts that do not suit me & will not work any more than 2 shifts a week with this client. One shift will be a regular shift, any extras will be just that- a fill-in. I am going to take breaks every day & actually leave the home. I am not going to do the mother’s housework or get tangled up with their personal problems. I am going to learn to switch off.
This, of course, is for me, but by typing it will re-enforce it in my mind.
I will still keep looking around, especially at courses. I hope the physio gets organised soon as I am looking forward to starting an exercise program. I now have a good pair or runners. I joked to Kannadew that today’s wage would pay for them but didn’t get to earn it after all.
I am in 2 minds about going back. Until yesterday I was feeling quite excited about it but not getting the promised call back refreshed my memory of how incompetent my employer actually is. They have very poor communication skills & are very disorganised. I must be very careful & strong.
Today is a miserable, foggy, rainy day. Talk about good timing getting such lovely clear days while Kannadew was here! She took the sunshine with her!
I haven’t had a look to see if anyone has posted in the forum yet as I don’t expect anything. Will add a P.S. if necessary. I’ll try not to duplicate my post today as I did the other day. No wonder it looked huge!
Cheers, Cate

Kannadew · #**963** (**permalink**) May 1st, 2008, 03:32 PM

Hi Cate!

Just a quick note... to say THANKS!!! I had such a lovely time visiting you! You and your LH are simply LOVELY! It was such a pleasure to hang out with you both!

I had a wonderful time visiting some of the beautiful sights of your state and I am very glad the weather waited for me to leave before turning!!

I can imagine how annoyed you were about the whole work situation! What a absolute PAIN! Surely they can do better than that!! I hope that it all works out well for the one day a week with extra's. I wonder if she would have mentioned it if you hadnt brought it up? I'm glad you did...dont let them get away with that eh!!

Anyway.... I will send you a longer email, with photos once I am back in a normal routine etc... I just wanted you to know that I had a great time and loved every minute!

Blessya
Kannadew
PS... I am off to see the Sydney Opera House today! Yippee!!!

cate · #**964** (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2008, 04:29 AM

Kannadew- Having you here was an absolute pleasure & I really miss your company. I felt as though I knew you before I met you, but now I know that I really do like you as much as I thought I would. You also helped me with my self-esteem. I have lived in other people's shadows for most of my life. It's time I found my own way & pursued my own interests. What do I have to be afraid of, after all, as you asked?
I have experimented with starting a different blog but found it a little cumbersome. I will do some more investigating.
Our OS,DIL & the grandkids came up today & stayed for dinner, which was nice. I ate too much & feel yuck!
I am re-comitting to Cohen's original program on the 19th of May, after my birthday.
I am telling my family that I want to lose 5kgs to get back to the lower weight I achieved last year. I am actually going to try for 10kgs which will bring me to what I should have got to if my scales had not been faulty. I would not have finished when I did if I had known. I need to see what it looks like & to try to get rid of my "fat" thighs. I hope my legs shrink a bit so I can look reasonable in shorts or a skirt.
Cheers, cate

cate · #**965** (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2008, 11:16 PM

Had a lovely day yesterday. I dropped my LH off at golf & went to the local farmers’ market where I whiled away a couple of hours, buying fresh produce & some healthy plants. I bought a gorgeous pair of ear-rings from a lovely girl from the Solomon Islands. She makes great stuff & is really sweet. The ear-rings were only $6.50 & are made from coconut apparently.
I bought some lemon balm for my herb garden & a grevillea & a leptospermum for the double bank next to the house.
Today we planted them out & did some general gardening, came inside to have a delicious chicken salad lunch & the rain teamed down. Good timing!
My MIL had invited us for lunch with my husband’s brother & SIL & we declined as we wanted to spend the day home together. It has been good.
My LH has quite a few days extra work coming up & I am not sure what day(s) I’ll be working so it’s good to make the most of days off together.
My weight has stabilised a little. I am going to go back on the weight-loss program after my birthday. I just haven’t told anyone yet. Our sons don’t know I’m going back to work either. I thought I would wait until after 1 day’s work to see how I go first. I don’t like worrying them if I can help it.
I am really keen to run again. I would like to find a group to run with so will make some enquiries this week.
I have started a new blog but am not happy with it so won’t list a link yet.
Cheers to every-one, Cate

cate · #**966** (**permalink**) May 6th, 2008, 03:10 AM

I had a wonderful day today & feel just great because I went bush-walking. Our walk was through magnificent forest, with tree ferns everywhere, myrtles, pencil pines and fungi. It rained for most of it & it was muddy & slippery in places. My cheap raincoat (size huge) failed the test as did my gloves, my hair ended up saturated & I had an absolute ball! I might have to save for a decent raincoat, preferably made of Gore-Tex or similar, that will breathe.
Our bush-walking group is a very mixed group of people & I am finding my way within it. I talk to everyone but no longer worry about those who are cliquey & exclusive. I am making nice friendships. I am leaning all the time towards the more eccentric of the group. I love people. I probably talk too much for some of them but am enjoying drawing conversation from people who I found, initially, to be a big challenge.
At one stage today I realised my pants were falling down. Whoops! I found it funny at the time & just stopped & pulled them up. They are too big. I bought them when I just finished Cohen’s & I wish I had waited.
I spoke to Kannadew today which was nice. She’s about to head for NZ. She’s having a ball!
I’m off to, hopefully, my last vein appointment tomorrow. I’ll make another one if it’s needed because Medicare now pay 80% because I’ve reached the threshold. I might as well make sure they’re gone.
I am going back on Cohen’s on the 19th of May for sure. I made sure my LH does not mind because he loves cooking for us & has enjoyed cooking a wider range of dishes lately. I am looking forward to shedding some kilos. I have told him I just want to lose 5kgs but I am going to try to get to my original goal weight. I am over being so cheesed off about my scales being inaccurate. I am just going to do it!
Phew, that had better do for today, cheers, cate.

cate · #**967** (**permalink**) May 7th, 2008, 04:45 AM

I think I'm just typing in here now out of habit only.
Today I had probably my last vein treatment. He was horrified that I am going back to my old job. He brought up up the conversation by talking about one of his patients who had said what a hard job it is being a support worker & going into people's homes. I copped a lot from the doctor & his assistant, who both seemed genuinely shocked & surprised that I would even consider it. Oh well. I assured them I will not stay if it depresses me & that I will try to make sure I don't let it get to me. They did not seem convinced.
I visited my other SIL who has just got back from a trip to Europe. We didn't have a lot of time to talk but it was nice seeing her.
I had a long walk after treatment & walked fast uphill. I am increasing my fitness slowly but surely.
I am looking forward to going back on the program & kicking these last kilos. In the meantime I am not worrying too much. I am not eating junk food but am not obsessing.
Cheers, Cate

cate · #**968** (**permalink**) May 8th, 2008, 02:44 AM

I got a call this morning asking me to work tomorrow. We had planned a few things so rang my LH first. He said it's up to me but we can do what we had planned on Monday. I said yes. I have to bite the bullet & the sooner the better. Since saying yes I've been pacing the house. Mmm.
I read most of the day when I should have got out of the house & walked!
It is so boring in here at the moment. I miss my buddies!
I'll come back tomorrow & report on my first day back. Cheers, Cate

cate · #**969** (**permalink**) May 9th, 2008, 03:06 AM

Well I completed a day & it wasn't too bad. I slept quite well & didn't feel anxious about going. If anything the day really dragged & I am firm in the belief that I should not work any more than 1 day a week in this home. If I could get her out of the house it would be much better. At least her mum wasn't home at all. was nice to catch up but I know I would feel the same as before if I worked there too long. I will stick with it if I can until I find a new job or add to this with different clients.
I took a break & had a good, fast walk & ate my lunch in a park. That felt good. I am going to do that each time I work. I took a back-pack & it felt good walking up the street with the pack on. I'll get used to it I'm sure but am really not used to using a back-pack. When I started bush-walking I had never used one before.
When I got home my LH had cooked a nice Chinese meal for dinner & we had received a lovely Asian cook-book from Kannadew as a thank you for her stay. How nice! It's a great looking book! My LH is dying to use it!
Cheers for now, Cate

cate · #**970** (**permalink**) May 10th, 2008, 02:59 AM

Ohhhh. Ouch. I dropped a big rock on my toe today & I can barely walk. I decided after lunch that I would do some work on a retainer wall & needed to move a huge rock to get at some I wanted so rolled it away as it was too heavy to lift. It fell over on to my big toe. I stood still for quite some time but when I could move it I decided to continue. I worked for about 3 hours & got lots done. The rocks completed the section we planted out the other day. I kept going until I finished up to a very large rock & then retired exhausted.
When I took my boots off my toe started throbbing. I ran a bath but could barely walk. My left big toe had swollen a lot & was badly bruised. I wrapped a face washer around it & kept cold water on it in the bath. Many hours later it is very painful, very black, very swollen still. I'm happy with what I achieved though. The retainer wall looks great!
My LH is working again tomorrow. We are meeting at his Mum's afterwards just to wish her Happy Mother's Day but will eat at home.
I hope my 2 boys ring me. It's always my birthday just after so sometimes they don't. I will ring my Mum in the morning.
I hope all mothers have a lovely day tomorrow. If you are on Cohen's please don't go off the program. There will be many more Mother's Days & the rest of your life to enjoy whatever you wish. Cheers, Cate

cate · #**971** (**permalink**) May 10th, 2008, 09:52 PM

Slept well thank goodness. I really thought I would have trouble as I was in so much pain at bed-time with my toe. I took 3 Panadol before going to bed & that probably helped. I was so tired from doing the stone work I guess as it's fairly hard work.
My LH went off to worki at 7.30am & 5 mins later our OS arrived with ham croissants for me for Mother's Day. How sweet of him. He was going to work today as well.
I stayed up & actually ate them both with some nice coffee. I am not a big croissant lover but it was such a nice thought.
At 10am my MIL rang & asked me in for lunch. My 2 SIL's were going there for lunch & she didn't want me to be home on my own. That was very thoughtful of her. I rang a SIL & she said to come along. She hadn't realised that I would be home on my own. I grabbed some sweets from the bakery & went in for lunch & have just got home. I feel as fat as a pig & am really glad I have decided to go back onto the original program next week. What I have been doing the last week is not following maintenance guidelines & I feel gross. I need to re-focus, kick the last excess kilos good-bye & follow maintenance religiously forever. Can't wait! I don't like feeling out of control.
I found out from my SIL that the new work roster is out & I am not on it. It is so weak of the boss to lie & say it wasn't out yet when she should have said it was but I am not on it. They probably wanted to wait & see how I went but I would have coped easily with being told that. It is so typical of them. I think my SIL is going to pitch it in with this client so they will probably(possibly) ask me to do her shifts. I must actively look for something else this week.
My toe is not too bad today but I won't be able to wear shoes for a few days so will be very limited with what I do. I wore slippers to my MIL's. I need some exercise. I wish I had an exercise bike. My mum is sending me some money for my birthday apparently, so depending on how much I might buy one.
Hope all mothers are having a lovely day and everyone else for that matter. Haven't heard from our YS. I hope he rings. Cheers for now, Cate

cate · #**972** (**permalink**) May 13th, 2008, 03:50 AM

I typed a long post & subsequently lost it so am following Annie’s suggestion again & saving it first. I’m a slow learner!
In brief(ish!)- I have been asked to work one day a week on the only day that it is guaranteed that the client will actually leave the house. Yes! My male supervisor actually wanted to know how I had felt after my day’s work. He seems like a very nice, thoughtful person. I have always felt able to communicate with him.
Our OS had a surprise work treat in store for him today. Lucky boy! He had a helicopter ride up to the Walls of Jerusalem. I’m green with envy!
I am so looking forward to the week-end. We will have both our sons, DIL & grandkids staying with us for my birthday. How nice!
I met up with a young friend today who is on Cohen’s. She told me she wants to do a 10km run in October & I said I will do it with her. She does not live locally so can’t go walking together to train. I said I wanted an ipod & she said she always has hers when she walks or does housework. I bought one later in the day & can take it back if the boys buy me one. It was the last one left in the store & was on special. It’s an Apple, like Kannadew‘s. I can’t wait to use it. I had better wait until after my birthday though, just in case.
I haven’t worn my runners yet either. I told my LH what he got me. He loves not having to worry about shopping for me. He hates shopping!
That’ll do for today, cheers, cate

cate · #**973** (**permalink**) May 14th, 2008, 04:51 AM

Hi Cate how are you today?
Good thanks. Yourself?
Cheers, Cate.

cate · #**974** (**permalink**) May 15th, 2008, 04:44 AM

Another good day. DIL & the grandkids visited. Lovely afternoon.
I'm sick & tired of typing in here & no-one adding anything or just saying G'day.
I'll have a spell I think, Cate