Hello Dear World,
 I'm back. Not sure how many times a week I will blog but I'm hoping to write on here at least three times a week.
What a crazy time this is. Isolating at home can be difficult and worrying for many people. I'm one of the lucky ones, I still travel into work most days and get to interact with other people in the office. My lovely hubby is working from home and is finding it a little bit difficult as he realises that he does need to be around some other people than just me and the youngest child (if you can count this child at home as he sleeps until about 2:00 pm, oh the joys of university). This has has surprised both him and me as he is a bit of a loner. We both of thought (in the past) that he could live as a hermit but this has proven not so. The only time he goes out is to go shopping (with me) on a Saturday morning and if I go for a walk (which is usually only on the weekend). We all need to do our little bit. People apparently however, have started hoarding toilet paper again. Not sure why, but I read it somewhere. Below is a picture my husband of the empty shelf where the toilet paper usually are. This photo is a few weeks old. Yesterday there were some toilet paper on the shelf (not a lot though) which was lucky for us as we really needed some toilet paper as we were down to our last two rolls. I hope everyone is doing OK and remember we can do this.

Every morning I look out of my front window and think of three things I'm grateful for. Usually this is after I have gone to the fridge to get some cold water. This morning the following three things are:

this amazing sun rise, it is so peaceful and quiet:

having this amazing cat in our lives (love this photo I took this morning and it appears that Kiki is meditating: 

and finally, Crumpets, not too sure how long they have been there. I didn't buy any yesterday or last weekend but I am thinking I will need to wait for my husband to get out of bed and check with him about when they were bought. Hopefully they are still good to eat (I hate wasting food).

The bonus of isolation for my husband and myself is that we are not spending a great deal of money. I always thought we did really well (before isolation) and really saved a lot but we have been saving at least 50% of my wage and all of my husband. Is it because we don't go to the shops as often. We are so lucky that we both of jobs for now but husband's contract finishes at the end of May and mine at the end of June. So only time will tell what will happen after these two months but we are good if we don't have jobs after June as we have plenty of money saved. Obviously we are not going out to restaurants and I am cooking a lot more at home. We both are eating so much more being at home. I am cooking dinner from scratch and a lots of things other things such as cakes and biscuits. Negative side of these is that I am putting on lots of weight (which I really can't afford). 

Well that is enough today. Take care and be kind to yourself.

Love

Pauline

xxx

3 and 4 June - new beginnings

This morning sky was much better than yesterday (see below). Clear around 3 degrees and windy. Many areas around received snow overnight. Winter is truly here.

Yesterday, (3 June, 6:45am), the morning began very foggy about 2 degrees and then rain came in. It was very icy and cold. Glad I stayed indoors for most of the day. Only went out for my last physio appointment for my back. All good now.

I'm currently have decided to take a few months off work. I probably try and get another contract mid August to begin in September and work until December but we wait and see. I'm going to try and get the house into some sort of order. Wish me luck.

Happy 2019 year

Happy New Year - 2019

Well, 2019 is here and I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year. Here is Kiki lying within the Christmas tree. I put the Christmas tree away as she enjoys climbing it.

Here at home, I had a very quiet Christmas and even a quieter New Year. No one even had a drink yesterday. 

So what has 2019 planned for me:

• I will begin to learn how to speak French with Brad. It is only a 10 week course but hopefully we both will enjoy it.
• Planning to get fitter, lose weight (I will try, I promise :) ).
• Work for at least for nine months and hopefully save enough money to have three months off towards the end of this year.
• Paint the kitchen and family room.
• Get new garage doors.
• Declutter as much as possible.
• Spend more time with people who care about me (not the ones who only ring when they want something).
• Look at my finances (yikes) and save for our trip overseas.
• Go to see the Great Barrier Reef (before it is too late plus this will be our holiday for the year).
• Get the garden in order and put in the decking that I want.
• Try to mediate more this year.
• Be kinder to myself.
• Stick to the weekly meal plan (at least 80% of the time)

Wow, the list is really long, hopefully I will achieve most off the list. 

I hope everyone has a good year and it will be filled with laughter, hugs and love.

Love

Pauline

This week's meals

Hello again,

I am going to try and get this blog going again. At this moment in my life, I am working full-time whereas hubby isn't working but is hopeful to start again in December. Hubby had five months off as he has continually has worked from the age of 20. Although he hadn't completed any of the tasks he wanted to complete but hey, he did have a nice break which is good.

I am trying really hard to stay on a budget but it isn't working too well at the moment. All our bills come in at this time of the year and the three cars needed services as well as having rego due. So are savings has taken a bit of a beating.

Hubby has been do the cooking and he has been doing a good job however he doesn't plan the meals so often it is adhoc and he needs to go to the shops on a daily basis which isn't good for the budget.

So I have done a plan for our next seven meals

Tonight and tomorrow night - baked meatballs with cheesy tomato sauce, green salad and garlic bread

Monday and Tuesday - Chicken, Cashew and coconut indian dish with rice

Wednesday - steak and pumpkin and sweet potato salad

Thursday and Friday - chicken enchiladas and mexican rice

Hopefully, we can stay on track with this week's meals which should help with the budget.

For snacks we will have cheese (hubby loves his cheese), fruit, nuts (cashews and peanuts) and I plan to make scones tomorrow with a new recipes. Hopefully I will post a photo with the recipe and they turn out nice.

Wishing you a great week.

xxx

Hello again

Hello, I am thinking of starting this blog up again.

Singapore here we come

Just starting to get ready for the trip however feeling very sick still but I won't be going back to the doctors. This is just a test post. Will post more later.

Bonjour from Paris - 23 September 2013.

The first real day in Paris. We both woke so early (around 5:30 am) after a fitful night sleep. It was very warm in our apartment and if you opened the window you would here the noises from the nearby apartments. The bed however was the most comfortable bed I had slept in.

I got up around 6:30 am and had a shower (the shower head was amazing, so big). Then Brad had a quick shower and then we went for a walk around to find some breakfast. We both had a croissant each (mine had chocolate in it, of course). This was about 9:00 am. There was hardly anyone around, few parents walking their little ones to school. The kids are so cute here in Paris.

Brad and I walk to Notre Dame which was only 15 minutes away. There was no line up, so we both went in and looked around. It is so beautiful. When we finished, we went outside and was shocked to see how long the line was to get into the church. We didn't go up into the bell tower as the line was so long.

Brad and I outside Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Lighting a candle for Bella

We then hopped onto a tour open-top bus and was taken around to all the major sites in Paris. We then walked to the Latin Quartier and then went to the Le Musee de Cluny (the museum of Middle Ages). This museum was amazing. Only down size was that our camera misbehaved and we don't have many photos (insert unhappy face). Would thoroughly recommend this place. To see so many things that was around many, many years ago is so amazing. We walked home from here which took about 30 minutes.

We arrived back at our apartment, tired and hungry. We just had a light dinner and went to bed around 8:30 pm.

There are a lot more photos to post but you probably bit bored with these already.

Bye from the 23 September.

Pauline