Melt Down

Well you know that stress I talked about in my last post - well it finally overtook me on 20th February.  I'm not going to go into all the gory details but its been a pretty awful and scary few weeks.  I'm seeing my doctor weekly and just this week have started a series of counselling sessions with a psychologist.  The first session definitely helped and I now feel I can see my options more clearly and we've also got the start of an action plan going forward.  Meantime my doctor declared me unfit for work for at least a month.  The response from my employer - or at least my immediate leader and manager has been disappointing to say the least - especially when you've invested over 17 years in the company and been recognised throughout that time as a high performer.  Anyway I'm currently exploring (and testing) the company's fair treatment system.  I guess it's a measure of the pressure everyone is under when the GM responds -  to an email I sent him last night - at 4.57am this morning!

Not sure where it will all end but I feel I owe it to myself to fight back - I may not win or obtain a satisfactory outcome but at least I'll know I've tried.

Elsewhere - I have managed to avoid the poor me comfort eating syndrome and am now 2.1kgs down - had a bit of a blip a couple of weeks ago but managed to haul my ass back into line!

Bloss had surgery almost two weeks ago for cysts in his gums - one on the bottom and one on the opposite side on the top and the associated teeth removed.  He's actually coped quite well and seems to be recovering well.  However as part of the recovery process it really was essential that he stopped smoking to avoid the risk of a dry socket.  I'm thrilled to say that today is Day 13 smoke free.  But we're not allowed to talk about it and his moods and mood swings have been dreadful - in fact the anger is really quite scary but I'm learning (with the help of research on good old
Google) to stay calm and not respond other than to agree sometimes just for peace.  It's quite tough but so worth persevering if we can get him through this stage.

Can't actually think of anything else to tell you and the nails I have on this week (a new type - which I do like) are making it bloody difficult to type on my laptop keyboard which is hard to type on at the best of times (aluminium keyboard).

So will sign off and try and update again soon.
Z xx

Definitely not the Hare

Sorry - despite my commitment to check in weekly, some how time got away from me.  However I am steadily going downwards but not quite as fast as I should be but at least it's going in the right direction.  I went a bit haywire there for about a week - nothing too bad but just not being as careful as I should but I think I've got my right 'head' on again now. Now down 1.6kgs so will just remember Chris over at Diet Coke Rocks mantra - one day at a time! and keep plodding away.

Elsewhere in life - work continues to be horrendously busy and stressful.  I love what I do but am really struggling with the volume.  I'm a perfectionist and take pride in my professionalism and the amount of work is compromising that.  However my health comes first and if I continue to feel overwhelmed, tired and not sleeping (all the things I feel a lot of the time at the moment) then a visit to my doctor will be in order.

But at home - Bloss was offered a redundancy when we had the restructure at work in August and took it very happily and retired.  Was always his plan anyway but a retrenchment package made it much sweeter.  So he's been getting lots of jobs done around the place.  No major projects - just jobs which are a real rush to get done on the weekend but a few hours each day gets them sorted just the same without the hassle.

Much of his time has been spent getting our pool up to scratch after the flood but he's done a marvellous job.

A before and after shot - 2 weeks after the flood

He's also tackling his shed - this is a mammoth project - I've never seen the back wall in the 17 years we've been together - but he reached it the other day!

The other piece of fantastic news we got last week is that the insurance company have said they will honour our claim.  This came as a huge surprise as we were both of the opinion that they wouldn't pay out.  But I think there has been pressure from very high places to pay on these flood claims - which certainly makes us very happy.

Merlin has turned the corner - he's been a challenge but was coming on well but still tending to be defiant - as Bloss said he always wanted to challenge you rather then please you.   However I think he really missed us while we were away - the housesitters did a marvellous job but the week before we came back he was off his food and remained so even after we were back - I think he was starting to pine a bit.  But we're now finding that he's much more obedient and definitely out to please us - which makes him a delight!  And of course he's enjoying have Bloss home every day.  They do things like go to the dump together!!

Other news which might interest is that we're going to be grandparents again - Clive and Jo are expecting a baby in May - another little boy - we have so many little boys in our family - but they're so cuddly!

I'll finish up with a couple of photos of Clive and Jo's wedding and some taken last weekend.  I have a new camera - bought myself a digital SLR and while very much in learner mode, am having lots of fun playing and practising.

My two handsome lads

The groom's family - including Clive's dad 

The bridal party

The happy couple

Merlin and Bella at the beach - love the expression on Merlin's face

Josh doing a mid air twist

Curtis having fun with dad

Curtis after swimming a breadth unaided

Happiness - love seeing kids with such joy on their faces

And that's it for me - will make a better effort to report in again next week.  Have a good one everybody xx