IT GOT IT!!!!!

The phone rang ... and I just knew!!! So I wasn't surprised when I heard the voice on the other end introducing himself from Auckland Ambulance Head Quarters ...

"Congratulations! ... " I don't remember the rest of the conversation!! I am absolutely flabagastered, jumpin jimbo fantastically excitedly ... ecstatic!!!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!! WAHOOO I GOT THE FRIGGEN JOB!!! I can't believe after doing just under 3000 volunteer hours last year that I'm finally going to be paid to do the job I LOVE!!!!!!

WAFRAHIIGIN HOOOOOOO!!!!!

For the minor details .... start date 8 September, where? South Auckland, staying with a friend until I can find myself a good flat/boarding place, commuting back home on my days off ... 2 night shifts, 2 day shifts and 4 days off.

I'm a paid ambewance owfiser, I'm a paid ambewance owfiser, I'm a paid ambewance owfiser!!!! Heheh!!!!

Glad it's over!!

Lucky!!! I made the decision a week ago to go up the night before and stay in a motel room!!! I got to Auckland and settled into my room, turned on the news to see that the Kaurangahake Gorge was CLOSED!!! (due to heavy rain, flooding and slips!!) If I hadn't have gone up early I wouldn't have made it in time!!

Feeling quite alone in my room I set out to Silvia Park Mall for dinner and to buy a few bits and pieces I hadn't got (an exercise top and breakie/lunch for the next day). I got told to eat carbs for my dinner meal before. Given I hadn't eaten carbs for the last 28 days I was a bit nervous at choosing a pasta meal. My tummy groaned for a bit afterwards but was fine.

I didn't sleep well waking up every hour from 3am onwards. At 6am I was up and having a shower making sure I didn't wet my hair (that had been straightened) or my ankle (that had been strapped just in case) so was a very tricky shower.

I left the motel room at 7.20am and made it to Head Quarters at 7.25am (35mins early). Much rather to be early than late. The rain was horrendous!! First up was a group Team exercise and fortunately was with a really great bunch who all worked well together. The comment was made afterwards how well we worked together (which was the whole point of the exercise) Check one done!!

We then went on a rotational basis for our next 5 assessments. First up for me?? THE PHYSICAL!!! Two of us were doing it together and with me was a huge 6ft guy!! Stretches (including the one I was nervous about putting one arm over my shoulder the other under and touching) done!!! Phew!! Step ups?? DONE!! Carry chairing a 70kg dummy up and down 3 flights of stairs twice!! DONE!! (harder than I thought it would be) Pressups?? DONE!! (and done easy thanks to my training) Walk around the block carrying 4 pieces of equipment??? Given I was with a 6ft guy I had to take 2 steps for every one of his which made me push myself a whole lot harder ... DONE!! And 30 secs UNDERTIME!!! I was so happy to have the physical out of the way ... AND PASSED!! YEEE HAHHHH!!!

Next ... My formal interview ... I answered my best. It was none of the questions I thought it would be but they commented on a lot of answers what a good answer that was and finished off how good it was that I gave so many examples of situations I had been in. They couldn't believe that I was a full time volunteer that didn't get paid!!

Next ... a 40minute drive on the motorway and around the suberbs. I nearly didn't completely stop at a stop sign because I was too busy chatting to the assessor but realised just in time!! Phew!!! Passed!!!

Then map reading exam ... yay another passed!!

Then the clinical ... 40mins of questions assessing my medical knowledge. There was only one question I struggled on which I got ... eventually. Thankfully the assessor gave me the time to think about it. He said at the end that I was the best he had in this intake of people ... another yay!!!

Then a psycho analysis ... just answered the best I could and no way of telling how I did on that one.

It was a full on day of intense assessments!!! But at the end of it I really felt I did the best I possibly could!! I gave 100 percent and wouldn't change a thing!!!

Now I have 2 weeks of waiting for the outcome. If I get accepted I have a start date of early September which is just over 4wks away!!

I was absolutely buzzing on my way home ... a good days hard work!! As I was driving home the first news report said the gorge was still closed!! I only had 1/4 tank of gas left just out of Paeroa ... if it was still closed I would have to go all the way down to Matamata, over the Kaimai's to Tauranga and home ... an extra 1.5hrs on my journey. Lucky the gas station at Paeroa was still open as I came through so I filled up. The guy there told me that he thought the gorge had just opened but wasn't sure. So I took the chance and YES fortunately it had just opened as I came through ...

... home!! Finally!!! And glad to be so!! What a day ... but a happy day!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

OHHH MY WEEK JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!!!

Official weighin today .... At 5.50am getting up and ready for ambo duty today I hoped on the scales and my eyes jumped out of my scull like a cartoon character!!!

99.8kg!!!!!!

Can you believe it???? I'm struggling to .... I'M IN DOUBLE DIGITS!!!! FINALLY!!! After 18mths I'm finally under 100kgs!!! Ohhhhh those numbers looked so beautiful today!! I was dancing round the room singing 99.8 ... I'm 99.8 ... 99.8 ... I'm 99.8!!! While Bill trying to sleep grumbled at me ... I didn't care ... I'm 99.8!!!!

So in one week I lost 5kgs!!!!! exactly!! 104.8kg I was last Thursday. I've never lost that much weight in one week!!!! Shows what complete determination can achieve!!! And this is the most determined I've EVER been to lose weight!

And to top it off I was talking to the First Aid tutor here at the station this morning who lives in Auckland (there's a First Aid course being held at the station today) and we got talking about my Auckland application and she said if you need a place to stay on your days up there come stay with us. Absolutely perfect!!! She's with St Johns so she understands my work, they're a retired couple (so no late night parties to keep me awake) with no kids at home in a 4 bedroom house and they both work during the day (so I can sleep when I need to after night shift) and they were looking for a border!!! I can't believe it!! Fantastic!! Ohh and she's on a weightloss program too so no temptations!! She just has to go home to talk it over with hubby but she said she thinks it will work out perfectly!!! And she's a sweetie!!!

Ohhhh this is all just perfect!!!!! Doin the 90's girl jig today I tell ya!!!

You wouldn't believe it!!

And I thought things were looking great when I did my last post .... since then ...

I got a phone call on the ambulance from my station manager on Thursday to say someone from Auckland was trying to contact me and gave me his details ...

It was the Auckland job application ... I was so nervous making the phone call back to him ...

My ambo partner was quietly squeeling in the background ... she had to pull over she was beside herself ...

"Congratulations!! you have been shortlisted for your Auckland job application! We were inundated with hundreds of applications and well done you've made it to the final 20! Congrats!!" He started ...

I had to take a deep breath ... I couldn't believe it!!!!

He then proceeded to tell me about the 8hr interview I'll be having on the 30th July ... yep you read right .... 8 hours!!!!! I have to be at Mt Wellington HQ at 8am and it's over at 5pm!! Ohh my friggen goodness!!!

Here's whats involved ...

- a 45minute driving exam in an ambulance, both suburbian and motorway
- map reading exam
- group lateral thinking scenario and individual assessment afterwards
- literacy exam
- clinical exam
- resusitation scenario
- phsyco and ethical analysis

and ....

A 45 MINUTE PHYSICAL!!! including a 1km run with 20kgs worth of gear to carry, 25 pressups in 1 minute, 45 situps in one minute, 45 step ups, and a whole lot more stuff ...

I got off the phone and the other officer (who calls a spade a spade) says "Right you have some phone calls to make ... ring Bill, now ring Pauline (my station manager) ... now listen ... you have 28 days left ... you have to pull your finger out of your ass and get out there walking and exercising and get back into losing some major weight girl!!! You have to do this, you are too good to miss out on this opportunity because of your fitness ... get out there and do it!!! Sorry to be so blunt but you know me I tell it like it is and someone has to say it.

I actually wasn't offended at all and thanked her for her honesty. She was exactly right!! It was the exact thing I needed to kick my ass into gear!

So I've put myself on a very strict regime for 28 days ... no starchy carbs at all!! Meat and vege for dinner and a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, snacks of fruit and 2 bottles of water. 30mins (at least) of exercise 6 days a week. I'm not a huge fan of protein shakes long term but I have to think about it like a body building working up to a competition ... I have to go hard and whatever works I HAVE to do ... I haven't got time to muck around ... I have 28 days!!! That's it!!

Here's my weights so far (have been weighing daily)

Thurs - 104.8kg
Friday - 103.6kg
Saturday - 102.7kg
Sunday - 101.5kg
Today - 100.9kg

Nearly 4kgs in 4 days!! ... I know I won't be able to keep losing at that rate ... but boy I have to do my damned best!!! I soooo want this job!!!!

Ohhh and Kathryn ... yes I would be very interested to find out more about that boarding opportunity!! I don't know (if I get the job) which station I'll be at and which area of Auckland but if you could get back to me with where they live for a start ...

I'm sooooo excited ... and nervous!!!

Did aliens take my patient????

We are still waiting to hear back from Bill's interview. Overall the store manager wanted to hire him, the 2IC was very insecure about him and they were offering a much lower salary than expected.



But I'm taking one day at a time and see what happens... will keep you posted :)



I had an ambo job at 1.30am this morning. I never do night jobs well ... it always takes about 10mins for my brain to kick into action.



On our way there COMMS came back saying two patients were at Waihi Police station so they reassigned our paramedic and one ambulance there and sent us (the other ambulance) to the scene to check there were no other occupants hidden, lost or abandaned at the scene.



When we got there we had a good look around the smashed up car and in the bushes, had a chat to the fire brigade and police and there didn't seem to be any patients unaccounted for.

I gave an update to COMMS ...

"We are R23 code 2"

Their reply ... "Sorry, Waihi Beach1 can you repeat that message!!!??!"

"We are R23 code 2 ... ohhhh ... ummm ... ooops ... sorry, correction ... (pause) ... we are R35!!! code 2"

I was so embarrased ... My boss's boss came on air next to say "Thankyou WaihiBeach1 you can stand down and return to station" with a chuckle in his voice ...

why was he (and everyone else listening to the radio) laughing???? ....

... because ... what I was supposed to say was ...

"R35 code 2" which means ...

R35 ... ambulance stand down ... code 2 ... patient gone by other transport

What I did say was ...

R23 ... PATIENT DEAD!!! code 2 ... and gone by other transport!!

I can't believe it did that!!! HOW EMBARRASING!! and infront of all those people!
Hmmm ... think I might be up for a blooper award on that one at the mid winter ambulance awards.

...

I'm very excited to say we are off for the weekend to go to Lee-Anne's wedding. Bill and I without the kids. The last time we went away without kids was ... I can't honestly remember!!

We've organised a babysitter to stay overnight with the kids, staff in the shop and my ambulance rosters to be covered... a big mission but we did it!!

Then we rang the babysitter to check we were all good for tomorrow and her reply "ohhh am I staying overnight??? I didn't know that ... ohhhh ..."

WTF???!!!??

We told her that at the start ... lucky Bill was on the phone to her not me. He was much more polite than I would have been!!

So yes to still do have a babysitter ... just as well!!!

We're off ... and boy do I need it!!!

Yay go Lee-anne!!!

Happier than a cat with 10 fish!!!

I was shocked to see a weight of 101.1kgs on the scales this morning ... I stood in stunned silence for a moment. My weight has been the same all week (if not slightly up) and thought I was going to have another 100g pathetic loss like last week ... but no!!! 

1.6kgs gone!!! And that means .......

... I'VE LOST 20KGS!!! Yabba Dabba dooooooo!!!!

No make that 21.5kgs I've lost!!! *big grins*

Sooo ... you know what else that means???  A new photo (finally) to put on my blog ...

Before ...

20kgs gone ...

Don't really like to skite but there's no one else I can skite to, so sorry guys ... I'm quite chuffed even if I do say so myself!!!

Hmmm ... now which charm to choose!!

More exams and maybe an ambo job ...

I have been sending my brain in knots (is that actually a saying?? lol think not) the past 24hrs trying to get these animations showing up for you all. I just simply could not understand it! It was showing up perfectly on my screen yet not on others screens. I tried 50 odd ways of uploading it with no solution.

In the end this morning I tried on my computer downstairs and it showed up fine, but on the computers in the shop (paid internet) it didn't show. So for some reason it shows on some people's screens and not on others ... so ....

I did a google search and think I have the answer ... it's dependant on your browser security settings on every individual computer. Hmm, not sure that I can fix that one! lol ...

So ... if you can see the animation can you let me know ... if you can't (and want to) change your internet browser setting to 'allow animations'. As to where that is on each of your browsers I'm not totally sure, somewhere around the 'tools/internet settings' type area.

Ok onto other news ...

I had my next set of exams last night. That last lot I did (around 4wks ago) was the theory part of a new set of analgesias (pain relief medications) and last night was the practical assessment which I always find a little daunting... but I passed so all good!

And the other news ...

I'm applying for a job in Tauranga. Not sure if I've mentioned this before on here but basically our shop building is being demolished and rebuilt starting Feb 2009 and taking anywhere up to a year to complete. We we get a new shop in the new building which will be much better than this one that leaks and is falling to bits. The landlord has talked about compensation but we have to be wise and think of other work as we have 6 mouths to feed and a mortgage to pay...

so ... hence why I'm starting to apply for jobs. I know it's very early but of course I want an ambo job and they are few and far between. And I've been told you need to have your name come up often for them to notice you.

Originally I considered Auckland but is a little too far to commute (ambo is 2 day shifts/2 night shifts/4 days off). But will do what I need to do to get that elusive job. Then this one has come up in Tauranga... but ...

They require someone at AO level (one level higher than me and once I finished my Nat Cert this year I will be at AO level). It's a bit cheeky applying at a lower level but got to give it a try.

Spent yesterday doing up my CV and cover letter. My station manager has happily said she'll be a referee for me so that's nice.

I always hate doing cover letters, making yourself out to be the amazing perfect person, but I've gotta do it if I'm to get this job ...

It's a huge long shot but we'll see! I'll keep ya posted!

Side splitting news ...

Thankyou so much Linda for this award! It really made me think back to when I first started blogging in 2003! Linda was one of my blogging buddies back then. There's only a small handful of us still blogging that started back then. So much has happened to all of us yet blogging has been one thing that has remained. Even with breaks inbetween I have always gone back to it, because it's like therapy for me. Yep, you're all my psychologists!! lol

I'm passing this onto two more buddies ...

Mandy - When I first met you in real life there was something that clicked! You're one AMAZING chick!! You're someone I can hang out with and never feel like I have to be anyone else but myself!!! THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR THAT!! You've been there for me through thick and thin ... hehe, just realised the pun!

Janene - I came across you're blog quite a few years ago and something said to me "this girl has that 'X factor'. I've seen you struggle and then soar!! I'm so excited to be one of the privileged to witness you emerging into one beautiful lady!!!

There are so many other blogs that I love to read and that get me through when I'm lacking in motivation. It could be hard to finish this post if I listed everyone one of you who inspire me. So give yourselves all a big hug and tell yourself 'Thankyou!!' from me!!

Another bit of exciting news ... I've achieved another one of my little goals on the side bar. When I first wrote that list back at 122.6kgs it felt like each one of those things were in the far distant future! To far to even picture myself achieving them. And yet bit by bit without me even realising I am getting through them. The latest goal to achieve?? ...

Yesterday I had to come and get another small ambo uniform! Yay!!

I'd actually been putting it off and putting it off. My station manager had mentioned to me a little while back that my pants were looking horribly baggy with the crutch hanging down to my thighs. I think I actually got used to them being so baggy because after a while I really didn't notice it. I started to think maybe I was putting on weight because I didn't see the need for new ones anymore.

I sat down to tie up my shoe laces on my new boots (another story I'll tell ya in a minute) and RRRRRIIPPPPP!!! Right up the inside thigh! I was soooo lucky they hadn't ripped half an hour before when I was infront of the ambulance training doing a scenario in splinting!! Phew!!

So my old baggy ambo pants have been chucked! RIP baggy pants!

As I put my new sparkly ones on Bill said to me "wow those pants look great on you!! You look so slim!" And suddenly it made me realise how yucky and baggy my old pants were.

The funny thing with this was (and here's the boot story) ... my boots had given up the ghost 3 or 4 weeks back. They had ripped right down the inside seem and the heel was half hanging off. I'd ordered a flash new pair of converse paramedic boots from Aussie but they still hadn't arrived. I was hoping they'd arrive soon before my old one's truly gave out. And just in time the parcel arrived on Wednesday night. So after training I hurried home to try on my new flash boots!! Finally I would have a full good looking uniform, without scuffy horrible boots. I sat down to do up the laces and yep ... Rrrip!! went my pants!!!

So now FINALLY I have new pants AND new boots ... I feel like a little girl with a new Sunday outfit!!! Whoop wooo whoop whoop woooooo!!!

Check out these new boots!!! here

As for weighin tomorrow ... The scales have been up slightly all week but I feel slim so who knows???

Slow and steady ...

It's official!! Bill and I are having a race to lose weight!

For the last 18mths I've been heavier than Bill ... alot heavier ... 20kgs heavier. And slowly bit by bit I've been catching him up (or down should I say). I am now only a couple kilos heavier than him. Me at 107.7kgs and Bill at 105.6kgs.

So the race is on ... first to 90kgs wins!!

Even tho I'm 2kgs behind him I know I can do this! Bill is a classic hare ... starting with a bang and he'll lose it fast, 2-3kgs a week. That is, while it lasts! He won't hold out tho, he doesn't have the stick ability like I do. He'll flake out half way there and lie down for a nana nap! I know it! hehe!!

While I, the tortoise on the other hand, will plod away slowly bit by bit and pass him 5mtrs before the finishline! Watch me baby, I'll win ... no worries!!

He wanted to give me a helping hand by making it a percentage thing like on biggest loser ... but no way ... I don't need no helping hand. That's just to make his ego feel better when he doesn't win! lol

I was all inspired to go for a walk tonight after reading Chris and Janene's blog. But dinnertime came round too quickly and I just ran out of time. But after dinner I made the suggestion to Bill that we go out as a family for a walk and he jumped at the idea so off we went to walk around the Martha Mine and Pumphouse in Waihi.

We got there at 7.20pm and as we came to the entry gates by our car at 7.45pm the gates were locked!! So we had to walk back to the other entrance. We walked quick smart hoping that gate wasn't locked too or we might be spending the night sleeping under a tree. As we got there the guy was just about to put the lock on the gate... phew! Lucky! It turned our 20 minute walk into a 45 minute one, so that's gotta be good. And my ankle held out good, well onto being fully mended.

So the next thing to do ... choose my prize. My reward for winning our race to 90kgs. We've made the prize something worth $200. It's not allowed to just be money, so I have to think of something cool worth that much ... Any ideas?? I need to seriously think about this, after all, the prize will be MINE!! :)

GUESS WHAT I DID???

I AM SOOOOO BORED!!!! No shop work ... no ambulance work ... arrghhhh!!! And you know what I do when I get bored??? ....

I make rash decisions on the spot ... some good ones ... some bad ...

so guess what I did today .... out of pure boredom ....

I CUT OF ALL MY HAIR!!! ARRGHHHHH!!!! Four years taken to grow it ... and it's all gone!!

Here's the result ...







I don't regret it ... yet ... lol! Been thinking about getting it cut off for a while now. And btw it's on purpose that they're in black and white ... still need to get rid of the greys!! lol

And in amongst my blah moments the last few days I got some nerve wracking, nail biting, but 'think I can do it' news ...

The head of Waihi Beach First Response Ambulance is resigning and I've been offered the job. Still voluntary but will include some great skills to achieve and help me towards getting that paid position eventually. I haven't officially accepted the role yet, have to weigh up the time factors, but it will be a challenging but exciting role if I do take it.

What the... ????

I spent last night at a training session for ambulance put on by the police about how to deal with a crime scene so that ambulance officers entering a crime scene don't contaminate any evidence. It was a very emotionally draining session with lots of photo's of actual NZ historical murder scenes.

I came home ready for bed. As Bill and I sat chatting before turning out the lights we heard a few 'bumps'. As in the past I presumed it was the naughty cat jumping from the kitchen bench except the fact that Bill pointed to the cat right next to me. We both looked at eachother and Bill jumped out of bed to look out the back window. The security light of the liquour shop next door was on and I quickly heard the familiar sound of a steel pole that is usually used to lock their back door. I jumped to my feet fumbling round for the phone and rang 111. Given the time (11.30pm) and darkness (and the fact that I had already taken off my glasses for the night) I found it really hard when the operator asked me for a description. All I could give her was that there were 3 (that we could see) thin built guys with light coloured hoodies on. The cops were on their way and I was warned from the operator not to go investigate ... as I watched (and tried to silently frantically stop Bill grabbing the metal vacuum cleaner pipe and putting on my running shoes). I told her yep, sure, no problem. She then went on to insure that we weren't to contaminate any evidence. I didn't tell her but felt like saying "Listen lady, I've just spend three hours in a training session put on by police on just that subject".

The next thing the alarm sounded and I saw two guys go sprinting across the back carpark and disapear into the creak. I explained what I'd seen to the 111 lady and she thanked me and I hung up. Feeling quite bummed that once again they'd gotten away.

My thoughts then went to Bill ... he'd been gone over 10mins ... where was he?? I gingerly walked outside and around the front of the shop but couldn't see him anywhere. Then the security guard turned up and relieved I asked him to look around for him for me.

Five minutes later (which seemed like an eternity) Bill came puffing along the footpath. They got one of them!!! And this is his account of when he left the house ...

Little punks breaking into the shop next door!! Shit that could be my shop they are rading. "I'll get the car and suprise them. F*%^K thats the alarm going off. Running down the road checking each driveway and listening i work out that they have gone into the creek and making for the bridge or across to the vacant section next to the bridge. Armed with my manly vacume cleaner pipe I hide and watch the little barstards make a break for it down the road towards me..."STOP U LITTLE SHITS", They split 3 down Dillon St and one back up the road. "He'll Do Me" I think and start the chase. 200 meters and im stuffed. "stop soon shit head or have a heart attack" My thoughts out loud. "Stop you f&%$K" i yell with my 'weapon' in hand. 40 meters later he stops and after a few "stop man the cops are on thier ways" pant, heave, "shit I am fat" mind games he does!! GREAT I can breath again. We walk facing each other and i coax him into stoping. "PUT DOWN THAT BIG THING" he yells;

"Come closer, I'll put it down" I reply.
"No just put it down" pleadingly he says.
"Ok, Ok there it is on the grass... come back here"
"No you're big too"
"I cant fuckin change that can I??!!!"

We walk face to face backwards down the street and I slowly gain his ground. Standing a metre away I say "come back and talk to the cops and sort it out with them"
"Nah, leave me alone, don't hurt me"
"Don't run!!!" (thinking I'm actually too fucked to run!!!) "The cops are coming down the road behind you. Come back towards the shops"
"I didn't do it! I didn't do it!" He squealed like a little pig
"Cool! Just tell the cops that and sort it out with them" Still trying to dredge my breath from the bottom of my bowels
"Don't grab me man! Don't grab me!!" He pleaded, walking down a driveway.
"i know these people! You don't want to go down there! Come back towards the shops. What's your name?"
"Jake"
"Whatever! sort that out with the cops. Just keep walking with me"
"I didn't go inside"
"You were still with them"
"Just don't touch me"
"Nah, nah, nah ... we're sweet" All I could think of was doing a 'Homer on Bart'!

Two hundred metres from the end of the road I grabbed the hood of his sweatshirt and drag him across the road.
"You lied! You lied!!! You said you wouldn't grab me!!"
I was laughing so hard to myself ... you little shit! Of course I'm going to lie, you broke into a liquour shop!
Grabbing his colar and the bottom of his shirt I tied them firmly in a knot and dragged him down the road. He stuck his right arm out of his sleeve as if to punch me. I yelled "Don't fucken hit me man or I'll beat you!! And I'm BIGGER THAN YOU!!!"
"Let go of me, let go of me. You lied" When I tried to grab his arm to put it behind his back he yelled "Don't touch me! It reminds me of my stepfather!"
"Don't give me your sob story you whining little shit!"

After throwing the guy into a hedge three or four times I saw the cop car coming down the street. Holding him on the ground with one arm and waving to the cop car with the other, I thought they noticed me. They didn't! Now I was nervous! And the goon tried to wrestle himself away from me. Back into the hedge he went! Finally the cops see us and reverse back down the road. They jump out and 'Jake' struggles hard to try and break free. I pick him up laterally and throw him into the concrete. Then jump on him with my knee followed by a 105kg of fat!!! The cops yell out "Is this one of them?" Heaving I say yes.

They grab him and one takes him to the car, the other asks for details.
I let them know that the others went down the other street, while making my way back up the road to my vacuum cleaner pipe. "I need some details"
"It's Bill from Beachmart. I just need to go get something from back up the road"
Recognising me they took off down the road to get the other little shits. I pick up my pipe and think "Shit I need to hide this too as I could be viewed as a lethal weapon"

For the next while we wait with the security guard for the owner of the liquour shop to arrive, which seems to take forever. He arrives and tells us while he was on his way from his home 15kms away he encountered 3 abandoned horses galloping towards his vehicle on a main state highway! He TOO rings 111 to report the incident. They reply "I'm sorry sir, but all our officers are currently tied up with a robbery in progress"
"THAT'S MY SHOP!!! I'M TRYING TO GET THERE!!"
They compassionately reply "Well aren't you having a bad night!!!!!!"

An hour or so later the cops turn up with all arrested in the back of the vehicle!

PHEW!!

I passed!!!

Some very exciting news to share today ...

Remember that 60hr assignment I had to do for my next patch on ambulance?? I got it back today and I passed with flying colours!!! The comment at the bottom was "an excellent job! Well done!" Everyone I know that has done this assignment has had to redo parts of it and resubmit so I feel very chuffed that I got it right first time.

As my dad said he would have to pass me given it was grief (well not all of it, some was on NZ Law and Legislation) after what we've all just been through.

So this brings me to being a Primary Care 2 officer. Next is National Certifical in Ambulance Care which takes a whole year to do (part time) and brings me to Ambulance Officer ... then onto Paramedic. So I'm slowly getting there bit by bit.

Update for Lyn

Hi everyone this is Chubbymum here.

Lyn asked me to update you all on what is happening.

It has been really emotional time for them and Lyn is in Hamilton for the next few days.

On Tuesday Lyn's sister-in-law had been rushed to hospital with septicemia, she was 31 weeks pregnant with twin boys.... one son has died and the other wee man is fighting for his life in ICU, her sister is out of ICU and into a ward now.

I will find out more details on Thursday and if Lyn can't update then will update again for her.

Chubbymum

Am I still on track??? ...

Time to admit I've been keeping a secret from you for the last 4 days. Yes for 4 days I've been doing the 'Ultimate Cleanse'. Initially I didn't want to mention it incase it didn't work ... but onto day 4 and I can tell you I'm seeing the results already!

It involves an 8 day program that you do once a year to clear your colon and bowels. The first three days is the diet only and on day 4-8 herbal tablets are introduced that do the bowel clearing. It doesn't just clear out the contents, but breaks down years of plaque buildup on the lining of the bowels. Once completed it's supposed to give you more energy, help with immune disorders like psoriasis, boils and migraines, lazy bowel (all of which I have) along with lots of other things, by allowing the vitamins and minerals in foods to be more easily absorbed into the body rather than having to be filtered through the plaque layer first.

And of course the major side effect is weightloss!! I could handle that! lol

The diet consists of just fruit and vegetables (no bananas or potatos) and acidophiles yoghurt ... that's it!!! It has been a real challenge for me but I'm so focused on this and knowing it's only for 8 days helps.

Initially I didn't think I would be able to eat all my points but interestingly enough as I've entered in my food to my points counter each day, all bar one day I've managed to eat all my points. And my food servings (fruit,vege,dairy,oils,water) have all been done too.

I was talking to a fellow ambo lady about it on Friday and she said it's very similar to the diet Middlemore Hospital puts their cardio patients on. That was good to know I'm not doing anything crazy.

• Day one - I thought I was going to die from hunger!! My carb and gluten withdrawal was crazy!! All I could think about was bread, pasta, potatos ... basically anything I wasn't allowed to have!!!
  
• Day two - I was busy doing ambo most of the day so it didn't worry me too much, but I did start to feel quite drained.
  
• Day three - my energy levels went through the roof and all my cravings for carbs stopped (except when Bill decided to cook some garlic bread!! But I was good and resisted
• Day four - I have that 'slim' feeling, amazing considering TTOM started on day two and should be feeling bloated right now! I start on the herbal tablets tonight, that's when the REAL action starts!!!
  

My bowel motions have gone from a normal of once a week (yep bad aye) to twice a day!! And that's before even taking the bowel emptying tablets.

I'm not going to tell you how much weight I've lost so far but I have lost ... I'll keep that good news for weigh day (Wednesday)

For any of you who want to read more about it you can here

I'm so excited about this!!!!

**UPDATE**

For some reason that link doesn't seem to be working, not sure why. I'll keep trying to sort it.

Road Trip

I'm currently sitting at Chris's place, typing this update ... how exciting!!!!

I left home at 7am to drop the kids of to my sisters place just north of Hamilton and then off to Lee-annes in Rotorua. I had planned to arrive around 10am but unfortunately it took me a little longer than planned and luckily Lee-anne didn't give up hope on me and leave and I arrived around 11am.

We had a great trip down and two thirds the way down we got a text from Chubbymum to say that she thought she was two cars behind us. And freakishly enough there she was!! We put our arms out the window to wave hi and they waved back. Was an amazing fluke given she came from a totally different city and yet here we were two cars apart. ... How cool is that!!!

Got to Chris's and honestly,,, I was a little nervous (you didn't hear me say that and don't tell Chris!!) but ... she is an absolute DOLL and we hit it off totally!!!

So I am enjoying the weekend away with the girls and catching up on lost time!!!

News

I'm off to the doctors at 3pm. Had a weird 'turn' on Saturday night that definately wasn't normal. I got a friendly telling off by my ambulance partner for not calling an ambulance. I tried to put it out of my mind, scared something was really wrong with me, but after her talk to me yesterday I've decided to get it checked out. Quite nervous about the whole thing. One of two options will happen ...

either ... I'll look like a total twit, over reacting about the whole thing

or ... it will be something more serious, in which I will be referred on to have an MRI scan to see what's going on.

To be honest, I'm scared shitless about it all but hopefully it's all nothing.

I'll keep you posted.

**UPDATE**

Back from the doctor ... Well it's not a brain tumour or stroke or epilepsy (big whew on that one!!)

He seems to think it's a form of migraine (even tho I didn't have any headache with it) ... bizarre!!!!

Basically what happened was I lost my central vision in my right eye and then my lost the ability to put words together in sentences, and confusion set it. Couldn't tell what time of day it was, couldn't understand conversation around me, couldn't understand written menu infront of me. Freaked me out!!!

He's sending me to a specialist in Tauranga ($400 bux later!) to get a second opinion but that what it seems like ... bizarre migraine!!

Weird!!! At least now I can sleep easy at night.

And I did a stupid thing ... because I thought I was dying today, I ate like there was no tomorrow!! Damn, stupid me!!!

You did WHAT for me??

I was busy behind the counter this morning in the shop when the phone rang.

"That'll be for you" Bill said
"A lady's been trying to get hold of you all morning"
"What? Who? Someone from ambo?"
"I dunno, just answer it!!" he said

"Hello, Lyn speaking"
"Hi, this is Sally from Guiness Homeware in Katikati. I'm just trying to tee up a time to meet with you. My boss is going to be in the area on Friday are you able to meet with us at let's say 1pm? ..."

This all went straight over my head. I was trying to work out why someone would be wanting to meet with me from a homeware shop. Did Bill buy something behind my back? Until she said the next two words ...

"for an interview"

Then it all hit home ... BILL I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!! lol

Yes you guessed it Bill applied for a job for me behind my back, sent my cv away all without my knowledge.

I got off the phone and kicked my husband up the arse!! "You applied for a job for me?? What were you thinking??"
"Well you said you'd like to get out and start working now that Jese is at school and I figured you'd never get around to doing it so I took the first step for you"

Damn it!! He was right again!! But job interviews??? they're so scary ... and ... ummm ...

"Just go to the interview!! You don't need to thank me right away"

LOL So there you have it I'm applying for a job in a homeware store. Scary stuff but ultimately good for me. Interview is Monday @ 2.30pm ... wish me luck!

...

Bill has been catching lots of fish lately on his little 12ft dinghy. And while I'm grateful of him bringing home the bacon there is only so much fish I can handle. We've been eating fish 4 nights a week at the moment, so I decided it was time to do some research on low point yummy fish recipes and I found one last night that was absolutely DEVINE!!

Thai Green Fish Parcels

POINTS® Value: 7
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 20 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Here we've created some great tasting low-fat Thai fish parcels which are baked in the oven in a light green coconut curry sauce.

Ingredients

800 g raw snapper fish, (4 fillets)
2 tbs curry paste, (Thai green) (used red curry paste)
2 whole fresh red chili, (or green), deseeded, thinly sliced (used chili paste)
1/2 cup light coconut milk
1 tbs fish sauce (used oyster sauce)
1 tbs fresh lime juice (used lemon juice)
1 tbs brown sugar
250 g fresh green beans, ends trimmed
200 g zucchini, (2 zucchini), halved lengthwise, sliced diagonally
1/2 cup fresh basil, leaves only (omitted these)
2 cup cooked rice, warmed

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 220C.

Cut 4 x 60cm lengths of foil. Fold the foil in half to make a square. Make a 2cm fold along the open sides to form a pocket. Smear the fish with 2 tsp curry paste and sprinkle with half of the chillies. Divide beans and zucchini among foil pockets and top with fish.

Combine remaining paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar in a jug and stir well. Divide coconut milk into each parcel, adding a few basil leaves. Fold the opening securely to make an airtight parcel.

Place parcels on a large baking tray in preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Set aside for 2 minutes before opening.

Carefully transfer parcels to a shallow bowl. Top with remaining basil leaves and chili and serve with rice.

Notes

We've radically reduced the POINTS value by using light coconut milk instead of the full-fat variety. By baking these in separate foil parcels, you cut down on the washing up too!

When buying a green curry paste, look for one that has already been cooked. These are usually sold in jars instead of plastic sachets, and are less vibrant in colour then the uncooked varieties. The difference in flavour is huge. Cooked curry pastes don't have that raw garlic or spice flavour which you sometimes taste in curries, rather a more rounded flavour.

I score this a 9/10 .... absolute yum!!

...

Some interesting points came out in your comments yesterday regarding complacency vs slow & steady. Ultimately I think each of us are different and are motivated in different way. Some of us need that kick up the butt while for others that would be enough to make us run away and hide.

I think for me ... the fact that I acknowledged to myself that I needed to get my A into G was enough to make me aware of the choices I was making and so far today and yesterday (touch wood) my choices have been good ones ;)

Thankyou Bill!!!

Thankyou all so much for your words of encouragement!! Posting my weightloss on here is one of the exciting parts of my weightloss journey. In reality there are very few people/places that you can skite about weightloss to. That's the cool thing about blogging, we can be honest and tell of the good times and bad without fear of being shot down.

Bill did a lovely thing yesterday. When he got home in the afternoon he handed me an envelope. Inside was a congratulations card, telling me how proud he was of me losing my first 10kgs. And of course he had a little skite to the lady in the stationery shop about the hard work his wife had been doing. Awww! :)

I had a little story I forgot to post about yesterday. Bill was out on his new toy, a 12ft tinny boat ... fishing. He's been bringing home a lot of fish lately and I'm not a huge fish fan but was proud of him for 'bringing home the bacon'. Anyway I needed to call him on his mobile about something for the shop. As I was speaking, he interupted me with "FFaaaaaaaark!!!" And the line went dead. I tried ringing him back but he didn't answer. I was in panic stations for the next 10mins wandering what had happened, hoping he was ok. He eventually rang me back and said that when I rang he put his rod down to answer the phone. While we were talking a fish had gotten his line and run with it ... taking his whole rod!!! He lost it all!

His friend who was going out diving the next day went to the spot he was fishing to look for it. The water was crystal clear but nothing! So somewhere out there in the deep blue sea is a fish swimming round towing a fishing rod! I told him it will be one of those legends ... see who can catch the fish with Bill's rod attached!

Bugger!!!

I'm on ambulance all day today. It was certainly cold getting up this morning!! Hope it warms up soon when the sun gets up. I hate winter!! Roll on summer I say!!!

Do you recognise this lady??

She's the wacky clean freak from 'How Clean is your House?' ... Carolyn Jones

A few years back I was sitting outside the shop having my break when this lady sidled up beside me, sat down and started talking. This outspoken lady was telling me about herself and I'm thinking "ok? do I know you?"

Two weeks later it was valentines day and Bill announced he had gotten me a present this year. Very out of character for him. I was so excited, trying to imagine what it could be. Jewellery? Roses? Chocolates? Nite out? who knows...

"I've gotten you a cleaner" A CLEANER??? WTF??? What sort of valentines present is that??? Don't I clean my house good enough? Aren't I a good enough wife for you?? The questions were endless!!

After 3hrs cleaning my house from top to bottom in preparation, the cleaner arrived. I wasn't going to have my house messy for a cleaner!!! And who should walk in but the lady who had sat next to me and claimed me as her friend. I really wasn't happy about the whole thing. She fluffed around the house making comments about how it must have been a while since we had a cleaner. I was getting madder by the second!!

Although our first couple of meetings were very standoffish (from my side anyway) over the next few months we got to know eachother bit by bit. This dear lady came sometimes up to 3 times a week to clean our house and she worked hard and I learned to relax and let her help. Our friendship grew and we had many a good night out together (her and her partner and Bill and I).

I remember one day she came to me and said she was applying for a job in Auckland. But that there were hundreds applying for the job so she thought it was probably a long shot. I didn't really take alot of notice, just wished her well. She came back a few weeks later excited that she had gotten past stage 1. "What actually is the job?" I asked. "A cleaning program" I didn't really understand the concept and the thought that she, my friend and weirdo lady who sat down and became my friend that day, could be a tv presenter ... yeah right!! Pffft! I still wished her well and hoped for her that she got the job (but deep down didn't hold out much hope)... a week later, next stage passed! And another ... until it was down to 4 people. Then she came to me one day excited "I got the job!". "What's the job again? What's the program about?" Came my questions. Over the next few months she was commuting a lot to Auckland and we didn't see alot of her with the busy schedule.

Then the night of the first episode ... Carolyn and her partner, Bill, myself and the kids sitting around the telly all excited! I've never laughed so hard watching her strut around in her feathered rubber gloves and leopard patterned broom.


The end of the first season ended and she came to me excited that a second season had been confirmed. She got herself an agent (to give her more negotiating power) and now the second season starts airing next Wednesday.

The takeaway/drinks night I mentioned yesterday was at Carolyn's and she made me laugh when she gave me a copy of the photo shoot they did for the show. I gave it back to her and said "well the least you can do is autograph it for me" lol, so she did. Ohhhh wonder how much that would fetch on trademe?? lmao!

She has since told me that day she sat down beside me, she was so lonely and depressed and saw me and thought I might make a good friend. Now look at her! I'm very proud of her and what she has done for herself.

I promised her I would do a plug for the show on my blog, letting everyone know it starts again this Wednesday.

And for those of you who are wondering?? No she doesn't clean my house anymore... she's far too busy cleaning infested bombsites on telly!!

Today ... Bill's gone off to Auckland this morning to pick up his brother who has just split up from his wife last week to bring him down for a days fishing. Then I'm taking Lauren down to Tauranga to get her keyboard she bought off Trademe with her pocket money. Then hopefully get time to get a walk in.

Ohhh and I did really well with dinner last night ... vege chop suey with a bit of rice (4pts) and my allotted baby bottle.

Remember ... TV one, Wednesday night 7.30pm!!

and the award goes to ...

I am in major pain here!!! Silly me got so excited about doing exercise I chose to ignore the pain in my ankle and just 'get over it'!! Stupid mistake!!

After my hour long walk yesterday I thought I was going fine. Lunchtime I was fine, 2pm I was fine, 4pm I felt like a bowling ball had run into my foot. And I still had till 7pm to work. I was so buggered last night I couldn't even bring myself to do the cashup.

Went to bed early to a restless nights sleep with my ankle playing up all night. Then this morning I woke up, head inspired to do more exercise. I gingerly put my foot on the ground on getting outa bed. It was a little stiff but not to sore, so what do I do??? No I didn't go for a walk, but spent 20mins on my cross trainer. The ankle seemed to be holding out and by the end was a little sore but ok. Now at 3pm I am in pain again... do I ever learn??? ummm nope! lol

I guess I got a little frustrated with being held back and chose to ignore it. Ok I've learnt my lesson now, take it a litle slower. Maybe cut my walks back to every other day rather than every day.

My boys come home today and I'm so looking forward to it. Not looking forward to my tidy house becoming messy again ... but looking forward to seeing their cheeky, smiley faces!!

I was very priveleged to get given the thinking bloggers award



by the lovely Chris today. Thankyou so much Chris!! I believe honesty is always the best policy and that's what I base my website on. No matter how silly I feel for posting something I'm sure there are others out there who can relate to whatever I'm writing about. And as a reader I know it's always nice to read of someone else who has gone through the same thing.

So thankyou again Chris :)

The Rules:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post (www.thethinkingblog.com) so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.


And here are my 5 fellow blogger awards ...

Emily for showing that you can lose weight, keep it off, go through hard times and come out the other side a success!

KiwiJo who proves that persistance pays off. Jo was the very first blog I ever read back in 2003 I think it was and she's still blogging... Go Jo!!

Karen, another longtime stick it out blogger who has gone through good times and bad and shines with her continual encouragement of others - Thankyou Karen!!!

Mandy, she is a doll!! Always bubbly and possitive towards others, a real sweetie!

And last but definately not least ... Ms Teecher !!! This lady has lost a HUGE amount of weight, kept it off and now runs marathons!!! Anytime I don't feel like exercising, I go read her blog and it totally inspires me!!!

There are alot of you amazing bloggers out there who inspire me and aren't ashamed to put yourself out there and if I could I would give every one on my bloglist an award!!

Ok I'm gonna sign off now before I start crying!!