Golf and water are good for me

It's been a fairly quiet week for me and the weather has been starting to get warmer and warmer. There are still little fronts that come through and make it cold again but I think that summer is officially starting to make its way here. It looks like that sometime this week I actually am going to have to pack-up my long sleeve shirts and take out the short tees. It should be easy, what with all the unpacking and repacking I've been doing lately.

Well, Gordon decided to mow the lawns before he went to cricket practice on Wednesday so we didn't have much time together. It turns out that I was only able to do one errand because he was only at practice for 45 minutes. He's decided to retire from cricket and take up golfing more seriously. If he makes the team for Ohakea this year, it'll be his last time playing. I ended-up going to the warehouse to get a CD for Kylie for Christmas from my family. I was going to try to go to Spotlight, the NZ equivalent of Hobby Lobby, but I didn't have any time. Gordon worked hard at his practice and was feeling it for the next couple of days. I also created a budget for Gordon and me. It wasn't encouraging but I think we can pull it off and start living meagerly for the next couple of months after Christmas. As soon as that blasted card gets taken care of, we'll be able to live a bit more comfortably.

On Thursday we winded-up going to the Rangitikei golf course because we were supposed to play with one of Gordon's friends. His friend ended-up having to cancel and so it was just Gordon playing that day, I decided to walk the course. It was a good thing that I brought some water and decided not to play because I would have been completely exhausted by the end. In fact, I was struggling to finish walking the course with Gordon. It was because there were some really steep hills that we had to trudge up to get to the green at the first couple of hills. I ended-up taking a nap for 2 hours when we got home! It was a very good workout for me. I also got some birthday and Christmas cards in the mail from my family.

Friday I got the car to do the rest of my errands in Palmerston North that I didn't get to finish. I ended up at the bank first to deposit the checks and money I had received for my birthday and Christmas. Then I went to an electronics store to buy my beloved Indiana Jones game for the PC, using the money Gordon's grandma gave me. I decided that I would use the birthday money to buy my game and Gordon can get me something less expensive for Christmas. Then I went to the Palmerston North mall to go to Whitcoull's, a bookstore. I ended buying two cook books that are supposedly for small budget households. I was able to use my $5 gift voucher to reduce the price too and I got another $5 gift voucher! I'm going to use that one to get the 4 ingredient cook book or the next book in the Twilight series. I was also able to go to Kmart and I found some cheap, good-looking picture frames as well as a shirt that was on clearance and fit me! It really was my lucky day.

I ended-up back at the warehouse because there was a CD there that I needed to get and I still had some birthday money. I had just arrived there and noticed that there was a guy signing books at the front of the store. I thought nothing of it but then I looked at the cover and realized it was a cricket player who was signing his book. I decided to get a copy and have the guy sign it for Gordon for Christmas. His name was Craig MacMillan and he was very nice to me. It was lucky that I got there when I did because he was just about to leave. See it was a very lucky day! Then I was able to go to Spotlight and return some things as well as purchase some sale items. I was able to get a sheet set for $20 bucks and a carpet that was $129 for $40! I also did some grocery shopping to get the fridge full of veggies and fruits. Its really important to me that I get back on track with weight watchers and start loosing my weight again. Gordon had to go to work that day at the normal time because there was a parade and what not being held so all of 3 squadron had to be there. He came home and helped me with cooking dinner which is always nice and appreciated.

Saturday was a bit of a let down because Gordon helped a guy out by taking his duty crew shift for Saturday. We were hoping that he would be off in the afternoon. Unfortunately he had to be there all day until 5pm. I ended-up going to scrapbooking for the whole day. I only say that Saturday was a let down because we missed Christmas in the Park in Marton that evening. There's always next year. I did get a lot of scrapbooking done and was able to start on the wedding album. Since it was my birthday month, I got my workshops for free which was really nice. I also ended-up paying more than I was supposed to for my last order so now I only have to pay $128 for my next order, a birthday gift from mom.

On Sunday we did our usual thing of going to church and I was able to meet-up with my friend Kay. We had a nice chat after service and she was telling me that some of the ladies of the congregation scrapbook as well. She was saying that it might be nice to start a scrapbook day or something within the church. We went home afterwards in order to eat lunch and so I could call home.

Afterwards, Gordon and I went to the Marton golf course to play...golf. I was able to play this time around but I did get quite tired from it all. This time I didn't fall asleep afterwards. Golf is an activity we get to do together but he was getting really frustrated with how he was playing on Sunday. He didn't have a stellar round and was abusing his clubs a bit. I don't know if he was just frustrated with the round or something. He's been playing really well lately. We joke and say that its because he's trying to show off for me. We all have our bad days though and Sunday was it for Gordon. Unfortunately, my round was a sort of a good one. I actually got my first par! Gordon was really excited for me and was telling me that I just parred on the 2nd toughest hole of course for ladies. It was a good feeling. I was very aware of the sun's heat rays on Sunday and I had properly put on my sunscreen. The only part of my body that I forgot was my legs! I ended-up with a sunburn on the backs of my legs. When I woke up this morning I could feel the burn, literally.

That night, we had breakfast for dinner. I taught Gordon how to make pancakes. We've also started adding a new secret ingredient to our scrambled eggs that makes them taste oh so delicious and yummy. You don't have to add a lot of it but it gives it a little extra zing. Maybe I'll tell you next week what it is. Gordon was having fun making monster pancakes but he soon realized that they can be a bit difficult to turn. It was a nice relaxed Sunday dinner and Gordon was still in a bit of a mood from playing golf. I guess that I could actually classify it as grumpy. Helping me cook seemed to help him though.

I've been trying to control my appetite lately to get it back to the way it was when I was on weight watchers. If Gordon and I keep playing golf though it shouldn't be as big as a task as it seems. With the nice weather, we're starting to get outside more and do exercising while playing golf. I also tried out water aerobics for the first time today. My doctor recommended that swimming for 30-45 minutes was a good way to get fit. I decided to try the aerobics to see what it was like. I had so much fun and it doesn't hurt as much because the water reduces the stress and impact to your joints. You still get a good workout though because while I was at the grocery store I was feeling the strain in my muscles from the class. I think that I may use my grandparents birthday money to buy me some more classes that way I can go twice a week or so to start loosing some weight. I have a target goal to lose at least 15 kg of weight (~30 lbs) in the next couple of months. After that I may reset my goal but I know that I liked the feeling that I had when I saw that my weight was going down on the scale.

That's it for me for this week. I'll be back next week with some more stories. This weekend is open day at Ohakea and I get to fly in a helicopter! I may also go to the Bulls Christmas parade to see how small town NZ celebrates Christmas. There will also be stalls which will be neat to look at. Oh, I almost forgot, I just got my NZ driver's license in the mail. So it's official, I can validly drive the roads of NZ for 10 years! I took a pretty good picture too. I hope that you are enjoying Christmas preparations! Love you and miss you bunches!!!