Just posted the follwing on 12wbt forum :-)
Feeling Good :-)
Well I can't say this has been an easy journey. The first 4 weeks my diet was immaculate. 1200 calories or less a day, not 1 scrap of chocolate passed my lips, nor did I feel I was missing it. My weight loss was consistent, if not terribly thrilling, topped off my 3.3 kilos lost by week 5 when others were posting about 5-10 k loses. Where I struggled was exercise. NO TIME. This is not an excuse. My life is insane. I am a single mother of 3 extremely active children aged 18, 12 and 8. Between ridiculous work hours, ferrying them left right and centre to their various dancing commitments, my 12 year old in particular is a soloist, and she trains over 15 hours a week, (without 1 single push from me,) and then competes most weekends. Add to that the new pressure of actually preparing proper meals instead of grabbing takeaway 3 or 4 nights a week, plus getting to the gym for a half hearted effort around 10pm at night, I developed a terrifying issue wherein I've been losing memory. My 18 year old was quite worried as she knows I usually have a photographic memory of every word spoken to me, to discover I had no recollection of several major events in the last few weeks.
Stress being the official verdict.
Now its not a hard stretch of the imagination to figure out that a single mother is stressed! But this was a whole new level! Basically I was so desperate to SEE some results from putting even MORE pressure on myself than normal to set the best example for my girls as I can, I was literally breaking down. Several extreme anxiety attacks later, I have been very lucky to effect some changes.
My employer has been AMAZING, and allowed me to change my work hours, so that I can now finish at a reasonable hour, get to the gym, and be home in time to pick my girls up from their dance studio and get home to prepare a proper healthy meal. I'm also extremely lucky that my employer houses a world class gym facility which I am now a member of :-)
Weeks 5 and 6 were nasty. I started eating bad again, and this is when I cracked. Week 7, the wheels came back on track, and now I am really ready to hit week 8 hard. :-)
I've discovered, that for me, the SSS has to be on a Friday. Saturday just doesn't work in with my life. My first successful SSS was awesome, body combat class, body balance, and then my own dance class Friday night. Rest day Saturday, then today I went for a 3.6 k run, (5 laps of the local lake) then went for a swim to cool off, then after a sun bake swam 40 laps of my local 25 metre pool.
I was trying so hard to fit my square self into a round hole, but I am finding that I can work this program to fit with me :-)
I have no family support, and my ex husband moved interstate and sees the kids once a blue moon. I never get time off or time out, I am not complaining, I adore my kids, but depression, loneliness and the fact that as a single parent your life is not your own, took their toll on my health.
For the first time in forever I feel like I'm doing something good for ME. Not sure what the scales will reflect on Wednesday, or the fit test this week... BUT I FEEL healthier.
It's been crazy, my life always is, this was just a new thing to balance in, but I'm confident I'm on the road to good health FINALLY!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
12wbt
Long time no blog.
Was part way through our Queensland holiday last blog, but its now September, and Fiona is 8, Tara is 18 and Emily turns 12 tomorrow. I'm now 34, and feeling every day of my 65 years on Earth.
To combat my low self esteem, depression, and inability to walk up stairs without feeling puffed, I have joined Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation, and stumbled my way through all the pre season tasks, and tomorrow, I get my first weeks schedule and shopping list.
Am I worried? Yes. Diet is a constant battle for me, with everything that goes in my mouth being put there for its comfort value, swapping that for health value is going to be hard.
Does the idea of training 6 nights a week seem daunting? Hell yeah. The most exercise I get is my Friday night dance class which while fun, is not really hard. The dance we have this year is partly to Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like a Woman, and again, fun, not very challenging or physically demanding. The second half of the dance though IS. Tina Turner's Proud Mary, and we really get the blood pumping, for about a minute and a half lol
Sure I get a bit sweaty and feel hot, but I don't feel like I've exercised the next morning.
So, this week, Alicia and I have started out in the gym, we joined Plus Fitness 24 hour in Campbelltown, and last night we tried out the "virtual classes" for the first time which was hilarious!
I've been off work this week too, and walked Fiona too and from school Monday and Tuesday, today though I drove her, but will walk again this afternoon.
So, am exercising, preparing for the onslaught Monday morning, and getting in as much caramel slice as possible before kick off.
Will be back to update as I go! :-)
cheers
Sal
Was part way through our Queensland holiday last blog, but its now September, and Fiona is 8, Tara is 18 and Emily turns 12 tomorrow. I'm now 34, and feeling every day of my 65 years on Earth.
To combat my low self esteem, depression, and inability to walk up stairs without feeling puffed, I have joined Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation, and stumbled my way through all the pre season tasks, and tomorrow, I get my first weeks schedule and shopping list.
Am I worried? Yes. Diet is a constant battle for me, with everything that goes in my mouth being put there for its comfort value, swapping that for health value is going to be hard.
Does the idea of training 6 nights a week seem daunting? Hell yeah. The most exercise I get is my Friday night dance class which while fun, is not really hard. The dance we have this year is partly to Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like a Woman, and again, fun, not very challenging or physically demanding. The second half of the dance though IS. Tina Turner's Proud Mary, and we really get the blood pumping, for about a minute and a half lol
Sure I get a bit sweaty and feel hot, but I don't feel like I've exercised the next morning.
So, this week, Alicia and I have started out in the gym, we joined Plus Fitness 24 hour in Campbelltown, and last night we tried out the "virtual classes" for the first time which was hilarious!
I've been off work this week too, and walked Fiona too and from school Monday and Tuesday, today though I drove her, but will walk again this afternoon.
So, am exercising, preparing for the onslaught Monday morning, and getting in as much caramel slice as possible before kick off.
Will be back to update as I go! :-)
cheers
Sal
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Super Sal's Super Top Ten Tips for Competition Form Entry
Number 2: ANSWER EVERY QUESTION.
It might not seem important at the time, but after you write your name, if the question asks for your address and phone number, take a few seconds to pop that down. It makes it a simple process to contact you, should you be the lucky winner. Again, imagine how we would laugh at the sad loser that was too busy to provide some small personal detail.
Number 3: Answer questions intelligently.
If the form asks you What is your member number? The correct answer is not YES.
Sure, we MAY be able to locate you by your name in our extensive database, but we may also have 12 Thi Lam Bui Tran's. No really we might.
Number 4: If you have an unusual name, please take care to ensure it is clearly written. This can't be the first time someone has told you your name is hard to spell?
Number 5: Only 1 entry will be required.
You might think it gives you more chances of winning, but even if I wasn't clever enough to notice your name twice in a row, the sophisticated software into which all the data is being entered is.
Number 6: Again with the basics, BUT, your phone number will have 8 digits. I am not a mathematician, so I can't tell you the probability of my being able to guess the missing digit, but I CAN assure the chance I'll bother trying isn't large. Also, a mobile number has 10. Tricky I know. Perhaps jot it down somewhere to make it easier to remember...
Number 7: Your address consists of a street number, a street name, and a suburb, possibly also a unit number. A varied combination of the above will not do. Its all or nothing here, but I believe you can DO IT!
Number 8: your email address gives definition to your personality. Think about that when you are creating it, and who might get to see it. Do you really want to be immortalised in a competition typists memory as Iluvdimsum@hotmail.com? Sure, maybe you do love a bit of meat and pastry combo deep fried, but I don't insist on calling myself fudgefetish.com for a reason.
Number 9: If there really are 17 people all living in the same house in a *multicultural* suburb, you might not want to advertise that, in case immigration thinks that might not just be the same person changing their name slightly to keep reentering.
And finally:
Number 10: After typing and cross checking 300 or so entries in a day, the poor schmuck with the awesome job will probably be seriously over attempting to guess what your preferred holiday location might be. Make it obvious. Clearly circle. No vagueness will win you a holiday here. In fact, because that same schmuck is probably OCD about this kind of thing, she may well just demand that the prize go to someone who DID fill their form in correctly.
And so my friends, follow these simple rules and you may have a shot at a free holiday. Good luck to you all, and don't forget who helped you when you win :-)
Sal xoxo
Monday, January 31, 2011
Dreamworld!
So we were early again at 6, hair and makeup, we had Fiona's friend Brooke along for the ride as Sandy and James' car had broken down! We set off with plenty of time to spare, and got a parking space at the front door at Dreamworld :-)
The kids posed for photos outside while we waited to get into the park,
and eventually, we went in to see where we would be performing. It was a little strange as it wasn't on a stage as we had presumed, just in an alcove off Nickelodeon Land, but the kids were AMAZING! We watched all the troupes perform and then split up for the day.
At this stage all the kids rushed off in every direction, and I realised I had lost Fiona and Brooke! By the time I found Fiona (on The Claw with most of Commotion Kids) I was hoping Brooke had gone with friends as I couldn't see her anywhere! Sandy sent me a text later to say she was with her, as they had arrived just at the end of the dancing, and Brooke had run to them which was a relief! I told Sandy that although I was worried, I wasn't WORRIED about Brooke, knowing she would be with people she knew, but I was really relieved to hear she had found her parents!
At this point Fiona was on The Claw and her little face looked so scared! I couldn't believe she was on such a scary ride, she is normally not keen on them, and shortly after she got very scared while waiting in line with everyone to go on The Wipeout, a ride that simulates surfing and being wiped out. It hangs upside down, and she was quite freaked at the idea! She found me though, and we went to look at The Cyclone, and decided against that as well lol
Emily had gone off with friends so Fiona, Tara and I then went on The Runaway Reptar, which was AWESOME! We then went on the Sponge Bob Fly Pants, on which you lie down and basically can have a nap while "flying" around lol Next we perused the nearby Nickelodeon Shop, and headed into Tiger Island. We had such luck, having just come across a young tiger in an enclosure where they will take your camera over to it and get closeups for you, then they walked it out to go back to the nursery and we got to pat him!
We went from there down to Wiggle World, and Fiona was mortified when I asked her if she wanted to go on the Big Red Car Ride! Sooorrreeee!! lol
We kept walking and ended up catching the train as it was going through the Wildlife park and found the Log Ride, and also Emily! She was in line with her friends Claudia & Olivia.
The line rides were getting pretty long by this stage, but none more so than the Mick Doohan Motorcoaster, which is what we went on next. Basically you sit on a motorbike shaped seat, (or as in Fiona's case due to height, a side car) get locked in by support bars, and 3,2,1 GO! WOOSHKA! OMG the BEST roller coaster I have EVER been on, I could happily spend an entire day on this ride alone!
Fiona was getting more daring by this stage, so we decided to hit the Cyclone, after we ate lunch...
Tara tells us that the Cyclone is none other than The Big Dipper from Luna Park Sydney. Purchased by Dreamworld, and renamed. Fiona LOVED it! She says she didn't even know she was upside down lol
After that we went on The Claw together, and OMG the first ride all day to give me vertigo lol, it was fun, but made me dizzy for awhile after :-) We still went on the Runaway Reptor again though so Emily could have a turn, Fiona and I got the front seat! AWESOME! The she wanted to see Tiger Island so we went back there for awhile, and Tara bought herself a big cuddly tiger that Aunty Lois apparently wouldn't let her have back when she was 6 lol
By this stage it was about 4.30, and so we went and did some souvenir shopping with all 3 girls getting a white tiger lol, Fiona's is a handbag, Emily got a little one with big eyes, and Tara's big one of course.
Just before 5, we headed to the car, and made it back to Jupiters by 5.30, in time for more Showcase!
No, our day was not yet over lol
Sal xx
The kids posed for photos outside while we waited to get into the park,
and eventually, we went in to see where we would be performing. It was a little strange as it wasn't on a stage as we had presumed, just in an alcove off Nickelodeon Land, but the kids were AMAZING! We watched all the troupes perform and then split up for the day.
At this stage all the kids rushed off in every direction, and I realised I had lost Fiona and Brooke! By the time I found Fiona (on The Claw with most of Commotion Kids) I was hoping Brooke had gone with friends as I couldn't see her anywhere! Sandy sent me a text later to say she was with her, as they had arrived just at the end of the dancing, and Brooke had run to them which was a relief! I told Sandy that although I was worried, I wasn't WORRIED about Brooke, knowing she would be with people she knew, but I was really relieved to hear she had found her parents!
At this point Fiona was on The Claw and her little face looked so scared! I couldn't believe she was on such a scary ride, she is normally not keen on them, and shortly after she got very scared while waiting in line with everyone to go on The Wipeout, a ride that simulates surfing and being wiped out. It hangs upside down, and she was quite freaked at the idea! She found me though, and we went to look at The Cyclone, and decided against that as well lol
Fiona & Emily on the Claw!Emily had gone off with friends so Fiona, Tara and I then went on The Runaway Reptar, which was AWESOME! We then went on the Sponge Bob Fly Pants, on which you lie down and basically can have a nap while "flying" around lol Next we perused the nearby Nickelodeon Shop, and headed into Tiger Island. We had such luck, having just come across a young tiger in an enclosure where they will take your camera over to it and get closeups for you, then they walked it out to go back to the nursery and we got to pat him!
We went from there down to Wiggle World, and Fiona was mortified when I asked her if she wanted to go on the Big Red Car Ride! Sooorrreeee!! lol
We kept walking and ended up catching the train as it was going through the Wildlife park and found the Log Ride, and also Emily! She was in line with her friends Claudia & Olivia.
Emily & Claudia
Tara & Fiona on our log! 
Fiona was getting more daring by this stage, so we decided to hit the Cyclone, after we ate lunch...
Tara tells us that the Cyclone is none other than The Big Dipper from Luna Park Sydney. Purchased by Dreamworld, and renamed. Fiona LOVED it! She says she didn't even know she was upside down lol
After that we went on The Claw together, and OMG the first ride all day to give me vertigo lol, it was fun, but made me dizzy for awhile after :-) We still went on the Runaway Reptor again though so Emily could have a turn, Fiona and I got the front seat! AWESOME! The she wanted to see Tiger Island so we went back there for awhile, and Tara bought herself a big cuddly tiger that Aunty Lois apparently wouldn't let her have back when she was 6 lol
By this stage it was about 4.30, and so we went and did some souvenir shopping with all 3 girls getting a white tiger lol, Fiona's is a handbag, Emily got a little one with big eyes, and Tara's big one of course.
Just before 5, we headed to the car, and made it back to Jupiters by 5.30, in time for more Showcase!
No, our day was not yet over lol
Sal xx
Friday, January 28, 2011
Let the dancing begin!
The next day in QLD was Emily's tap solo.
We woke up at 6 so we could do hair and make up and we arrived at the casino on time for the session start at 8am.
The session was running late, so we waited for ages, and then finally she was up. I was so upset! Her brand new Capezio taps sounded TERRIBLE on their stage, I couldn't concentrate on her dancing for worrying about the damn shoes! I felt so awful, because I hadn't loosened the taps because they sounded beautiful on every other floor she has tapped on, so I felt I shouldn't mess with them, therefore letting her down at Nationals. I was kicking myself very hard, and even though Mandy and Tina tried to comfort me, I was still really upset with myself.
Tina took Fiona to Wet n Wild where the rest of the Commotion team were for the day, although she called me 5 minutes after leaving the casino to say she needed Fiona's ticket. I laughed and got it out of the car for her, and then Tara, Emily and I decided to go to Pacific Fair and look for a chair for her Jazz solo, we walked into The Reject Shop and by utter fluke, found Emily's exact chair! It was red, but I didn't care, we had a CHAIR!
We headed back to the casino for adjudication, and got there with time to spare. When she received a high silver I was very proud and happy, she was happy too, and it was lovely to see her gorgeous smile, and watch her interact with the others on stage.
Then we rushed off to Wet N Wild! I forgot to get photos we were in such a hurry!
When we got there though, I discovered our tickets were gone. I searched the car frantically, and then panicked, which quickly escalated into a full blown panic attack, I couldn't breath, and I was crying, I called Tina, who tried to find someone with tickets we could use to get in, and apparently the other mums offered to all throw in a dollar each to get us new tickets! (I didn't know about this till later though) and I called Jupiters to see if the tickets had been handed in.
Jupiters though were too busy to bother. I got transferred to lost property, and an answering machine, so I rang back. The lady who answered said they must be at lunch. I asked if someone could go and check as we were standing outside the theme park with no tickets! She said no! She then transferred me to someone else, who said the same thing, tough basically, and I would have to wait till 2.30 till they got back from lunch. It was around 1.30ish. I then asked to speak to a manager. The manager asked what my problem was! I explained that all I wanted was for someone to go and look in the office to see if they were there! He put me on hold and then came back a short while later to say that no, nothing had been handed in, I said "thank you! That was all anyone needed to do!" He took my details in case it was handed in later.
Tina came out then and hadn't been able to find any season passes we could borrow, so I went to guest services. They were very nice and understanding, and although we had to wait for them to finish a personal conversation before they addressed my problem, they eventually said "well you are clearly upset, so just come on in." It was really nice of them to be so understanding, and I decided hysterical crying jags can occasionally be useful lol
Wet n Wild was great! We found Fiona in the wave pool, and then Ben took Emily and some of the kids onto a ride, I went along and Tara and Fiona and I had our own boat, if I can remember what it was called I will edit lol
Emily and Tara then went off together and had a ball, while Fiona and I went on our own adventure, Fiona is shaping up quite nicely as just as daring as her sisters, and we went on several waterslides together!
I was a bit disappointed in that all I wanted to do was go on a traditional waterslide, of which they only have 1, and the wait was over an hour, so we went on everything else Fiona could go on. Eventually we made it back to the group and as a storm was approaching, spent some time lazing in a spa, while Tara and Emily went on the Hurricane. Later as it got dark we went on more rides together, and FINALLY got on the traditional waterslides with no wait as the rain had sent most of the crowd home! We ended the night on the Aqua Race, although Tara wanted to go on the Aqua Tube, but ended up not, beacause she didn't want to take her shirt off lol.
Then all the water rides were closed due to an electrical storm, and we headed for the car, we drove home in torrential rain, it was scary in an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads, but got home safely, stopping off on the way for hot chips to make sandwiches of.
Wet n Wild was awesome, but I didn't take a single photo all day!
Put the kids to bed, and went myself, as the next morning would be Dreamworld, dancing, playing, and then Showcase solos again that night!
We woke up at 6 so we could do hair and make up and we arrived at the casino on time for the session start at 8am.
The session was running late, so we waited for ages, and then finally she was up. I was so upset! Her brand new Capezio taps sounded TERRIBLE on their stage, I couldn't concentrate on her dancing for worrying about the damn shoes! I felt so awful, because I hadn't loosened the taps because they sounded beautiful on every other floor she has tapped on, so I felt I shouldn't mess with them, therefore letting her down at Nationals. I was kicking myself very hard, and even though Mandy and Tina tried to comfort me, I was still really upset with myself.
Tina took Fiona to Wet n Wild where the rest of the Commotion team were for the day, although she called me 5 minutes after leaving the casino to say she needed Fiona's ticket. I laughed and got it out of the car for her, and then Tara, Emily and I decided to go to Pacific Fair and look for a chair for her Jazz solo, we walked into The Reject Shop and by utter fluke, found Emily's exact chair! It was red, but I didn't care, we had a CHAIR!
We headed back to the casino for adjudication, and got there with time to spare. When she received a high silver I was very proud and happy, she was happy too, and it was lovely to see her gorgeous smile, and watch her interact with the others on stage.
Then we rushed off to Wet N Wild! I forgot to get photos we were in such a hurry!
When we got there though, I discovered our tickets were gone. I searched the car frantically, and then panicked, which quickly escalated into a full blown panic attack, I couldn't breath, and I was crying, I called Tina, who tried to find someone with tickets we could use to get in, and apparently the other mums offered to all throw in a dollar each to get us new tickets! (I didn't know about this till later though) and I called Jupiters to see if the tickets had been handed in.
Jupiters though were too busy to bother. I got transferred to lost property, and an answering machine, so I rang back. The lady who answered said they must be at lunch. I asked if someone could go and check as we were standing outside the theme park with no tickets! She said no! She then transferred me to someone else, who said the same thing, tough basically, and I would have to wait till 2.30 till they got back from lunch. It was around 1.30ish. I then asked to speak to a manager. The manager asked what my problem was! I explained that all I wanted was for someone to go and look in the office to see if they were there! He put me on hold and then came back a short while later to say that no, nothing had been handed in, I said "thank you! That was all anyone needed to do!" He took my details in case it was handed in later.
Tina came out then and hadn't been able to find any season passes we could borrow, so I went to guest services. They were very nice and understanding, and although we had to wait for them to finish a personal conversation before they addressed my problem, they eventually said "well you are clearly upset, so just come on in." It was really nice of them to be so understanding, and I decided hysterical crying jags can occasionally be useful lol
Wet n Wild was great! We found Fiona in the wave pool, and then Ben took Emily and some of the kids onto a ride, I went along and Tara and Fiona and I had our own boat, if I can remember what it was called I will edit lol
Emily and Tara then went off together and had a ball, while Fiona and I went on our own adventure, Fiona is shaping up quite nicely as just as daring as her sisters, and we went on several waterslides together!
I was a bit disappointed in that all I wanted to do was go on a traditional waterslide, of which they only have 1, and the wait was over an hour, so we went on everything else Fiona could go on. Eventually we made it back to the group and as a storm was approaching, spent some time lazing in a spa, while Tara and Emily went on the Hurricane. Later as it got dark we went on more rides together, and FINALLY got on the traditional waterslides with no wait as the rain had sent most of the crowd home! We ended the night on the Aqua Race, although Tara wanted to go on the Aqua Tube, but ended up not, beacause she didn't want to take her shirt off lol.
Then all the water rides were closed due to an electrical storm, and we headed for the car, we drove home in torrential rain, it was scary in an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads, but got home safely, stopping off on the way for hot chips to make sandwiches of.
Wet n Wild was awesome, but I didn't take a single photo all day!
Put the kids to bed, and went myself, as the next morning would be Dreamworld, dancing, playing, and then Showcase solos again that night!
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Simpsons on the Gold Coast!
So far, been a fabulous start to our holiday in Queensland.
Trip to the airport was uneventful, but we got there with just enough time to check baggage, get through security and head to the boarding gate.
Fiona loved flying! She squealed with delight as the plane lifted off! It was a short flight, and landing was smooth, we had breakfast (Krispy Kremes) and then waited around till it was time to pick up the car. At 9am we got our car, I am going to have to call them tomorrow though and ask for a new one, its a Hyundai Elantra, and its really nice, but the front drivers side wheel SQUEALS the whole time you drive, unless your foot is on the break. Its gotta go lol
So next we drove to the resort, checking out the sights along the way, and then found our resort! Oh my! It's gorgeous!
We drove to buy groceries and get Tara a top to wear while swimming, and then headed back to the resort. Our room wasn't ready yet, so we started to roam around to find our Commotion people. We found Mardi and a few others by one of the 4 pools, and we camped out there enjoying the sun and having a swim.
Eventually I wandered back to check if our room was ready, and it was! Drove the car around to our door, lugged a few bags up the stairs and then went back to the pool for the kids.
We then moved the car closer to the door and got all the groceries and other bags out. It was so hard to get all the stuff up all the stairs!
I sculled 6 glasses of water immediately once we were done!
We worked out who's bed was who's, and unpacked.
I am sunburnt already! YUCK!
Will be slip slop slapping from now :-) I know where the sunscreen is lol
Hmmm so I haven't had time or inclination to get back to this post till now, a week later lol
The rest of the day and the next day were mostly uneventful. I discovered my sunburn was a lot worse than I'd thought, and that our car had possible faulty brakes, so I called them and they came straight over with a replacement car, which I thought was excellent service. They swapped it for a Nissan Pulsar. Can and will definitely recommend Cut Price Car Rentals to anyone who asks.
and we went shopping in Harbour Town, the biggest one storey mall I think I've ever seen, and I was exhausted after walking around half of it lol I bought two pairs of Lonsdale shorts on sale to swim in, and Tara and Emily bought "Emily The Strange" school bags
Fiona got a I <3 Gold Coast t-shirt, and I got a perfume. Tara found a nice pair of new shoes, and we grabbed some more groceries.
Having an apartment on the top floor, we decided shopping needed to be done in small bursts, not all at once so we could get it up the stairs without having a coronary.
Then we just relaxed around the resort mostly by the pool until it was time for me to dash off to the Casino and get Emily's program and find out everything we needed to know for Showcase to begin the next morning.
The stage was HUGE! I couldn't imagine my tiny girl up there by herself!
Rushed back to the resort, took Ben his teachers pack which I had a great thrill collecting for him lol (sad I know) and went to bed, as Emily had an early stage call Wednesday!
Trip to the airport was uneventful, but we got there with just enough time to check baggage, get through security and head to the boarding gate.
Fiona loved flying! She squealed with delight as the plane lifted off! It was a short flight, and landing was smooth, we had breakfast (Krispy Kremes) and then waited around till it was time to pick up the car. At 9am we got our car, I am going to have to call them tomorrow though and ask for a new one, its a Hyundai Elantra, and its really nice, but the front drivers side wheel SQUEALS the whole time you drive, unless your foot is on the break. Its gotta go lol
So next we drove to the resort, checking out the sights along the way, and then found our resort! Oh my! It's gorgeous!
We drove to buy groceries and get Tara a top to wear while swimming, and then headed back to the resort. Our room wasn't ready yet, so we started to roam around to find our Commotion people. We found Mardi and a few others by one of the 4 pools, and we camped out there enjoying the sun and having a swim.
Eventually I wandered back to check if our room was ready, and it was! Drove the car around to our door, lugged a few bags up the stairs and then went back to the pool for the kids.
We then moved the car closer to the door and got all the groceries and other bags out. It was so hard to get all the stuff up all the stairs!
I sculled 6 glasses of water immediately once we were done!
We worked out who's bed was who's, and unpacked.
I am sunburnt already! YUCK!
Will be slip slop slapping from now :-) I know where the sunscreen is lol
Hmmm so I haven't had time or inclination to get back to this post till now, a week later lol
The rest of the day and the next day were mostly uneventful. I discovered my sunburn was a lot worse than I'd thought, and that our car had possible faulty brakes, so I called them and they came straight over with a replacement car, which I thought was excellent service. They swapped it for a Nissan Pulsar. Can and will definitely recommend Cut Price Car Rentals to anyone who asks.
and we went shopping in Harbour Town, the biggest one storey mall I think I've ever seen, and I was exhausted after walking around half of it lol I bought two pairs of Lonsdale shorts on sale to swim in, and Tara and Emily bought "Emily The Strange" school bags
Fiona got a I <3 Gold Coast t-shirt, and I got a perfume. Tara found a nice pair of new shoes, and we grabbed some more groceries.
Having an apartment on the top floor, we decided shopping needed to be done in small bursts, not all at once so we could get it up the stairs without having a coronary.
Then we just relaxed around the resort mostly by the pool until it was time for me to dash off to the Casino and get Emily's program and find out everything we needed to know for Showcase to begin the next morning.
The stage was HUGE! I couldn't imagine my tiny girl up there by herself!
Rushed back to the resort, took Ben his teachers pack which I had a great thrill collecting for him lol (sad I know) and went to bed, as Emily had an early stage call Wednesday!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
HI
Hi I'm Emily Simpson let me tell you about myself :)
I am only 11 years old to this day. My birthday is on 8th September and was born in 1999. i have 2 sisters named Tara who is 17 years old and Fiona who is 7 years old my mums name is Sal and my dads name is Andrew. I go to Commotion School of Performing Arts. When i grow up i want to be a dancer i do more than 10 hours a week.
I am only 11 years old to this day. My birthday is on 8th September and was born in 1999. i have 2 sisters named Tara who is 17 years old and Fiona who is 7 years old my mums name is Sal and my dads name is Andrew. I go to Commotion School of Performing Arts. When i grow up i want to be a dancer i do more than 10 hours a week.
This Photo is the Commotion School of Performing Arts Concert Finale to
Come on get up
This Photo is the Commotion School of Performing Arts Advanced Intermediate HIP HOP to
Greetings Earthlings
This Photo is the Commotion School of Performing arts 10/U HIP HOP troupe to
School Daze
Welcome!
I am delighted you made it!
Hopefully you have found this link from either my facebook or twitter accounts, and have some interest in my families coming and goings :-)
Currently, we are all at home, the girls are in bed, and I am sitting up listening to our two crazy kittens, Jack White and Henry Rollins, wrestling each other, after napping all day lol
In 32 hours, we will be boarding an airplane, flying to QLD! This is Fiona's first time on a plane, Emily's second, Tara's second, and both of them can't really remember their first flight, so its a very exciting event!
We are flying to QLD for Showcase! Australia's National Dance Championships, as Emily is a solist and troupe member of Commotion School of Performing Arts.
We are flying up there with 79 other close family friends, and their families as well, plus their teachers! Its going to be literally the most AMAZING holiday for us all, we are very excited, as I have already packed, the girls are very anxious, and counting down the hours!
My mum is driving us to the airport Monday morning at 5.30am, we will be landing on the Gold Coast at 7.30am QLD time!
She is babysitting Jack and Henry, who are currently 11 weeks old, so they will be very different pets when we return! I know mum will photo every little event, so we shall still see them growing :-)
So, lots of excitement in the next 18 days or so, for now though, I need sleep, big day of cleaning house and occupying two very excited little girls ahead of me!
Hope to catch up again soon!
Super Sal :-) xx
Hopefully you have found this link from either my facebook or twitter accounts, and have some interest in my families coming and goings :-)
Currently, we are all at home, the girls are in bed, and I am sitting up listening to our two crazy kittens, Jack White and Henry Rollins, wrestling each other, after napping all day lol
In 32 hours, we will be boarding an airplane, flying to QLD! This is Fiona's first time on a plane, Emily's second, Tara's second, and both of them can't really remember their first flight, so its a very exciting event!
We are flying to QLD for Showcase! Australia's National Dance Championships, as Emily is a solist and troupe member of Commotion School of Performing Arts.
We are flying up there with 79 other close family friends, and their families as well, plus their teachers! Its going to be literally the most AMAZING holiday for us all, we are very excited, as I have already packed, the girls are very anxious, and counting down the hours!
My mum is driving us to the airport Monday morning at 5.30am, we will be landing on the Gold Coast at 7.30am QLD time!
She is babysitting Jack and Henry, who are currently 11 weeks old, so they will be very different pets when we return! I know mum will photo every little event, so we shall still see them growing :-)
So, lots of excitement in the next 18 days or so, for now though, I need sleep, big day of cleaning house and occupying two very excited little girls ahead of me!
Hope to catch up again soon!
Super Sal :-) xx
Jack White
Henry Rollins
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