Sunday 7 December 2014

Have a Mentally Healthy Christmas

 

Well …. its that's time of year, yet again!

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And here is my office,,  all ready with its Christmas decorations.

(My new upward career path probably explains my lack in blog posts and finished quilts)!

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We had our Christmas party at The Grand Hotel,

which is the ‘hospital pub’ of the moment.

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(Mindy & Angus sure know how to pose for a photo)!

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Above is our AO, Naomi & her hubby Dan. (She's about to study Social Work,, Its great that we inspire so many)!

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This year we have done a string Christmas tree at the Clark Centre, (thanks to Mary-Anne) and we are getting lots of compliments on it.

The clients (and staff) are putting Christmas Greetings or wishes on it.

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Mental Health s a difficult area to work, and it has a lot to do with the social stigma.

I believe that everyone has two types of heath,,,,, physical  and mental. 

I know that everyone, at some point in their lives,  will be touched by mental illness…either themselves .. or someone in their family will have, depression, suicidal ideation or self harm thoughts..

My Christmas Wish would be for more understanding and support from the greater community – Its better than it once was but it has a long way to go.

Kim’s top tips for a Mentally Healthy Christmas!

  1. Don't spend more money than you have – write a budget.
  2. Plan, Plan, Plan – write lists. Write a Christmas day plan if your cooking for lots
  3. Be realistic - Don’t expect too much of yourself (or others) and if things go wrong its ‘part of the charm’ and may make great family stories for years to come – (e.g. “Remember the year the turkey caught fire” Or “What about the year Grandma got drunk on the punch”)!!!
  4. Delegate where possible – even if its just cleaning the bathroom
  5. If someone picks an argument – take a deep breath, count to ten, and save any comeback for another day. You don’t need to be dragged down to their level in front of an audience.
  6. For many Christmas is a time of strong feelings of loss and grief, missing loved ones or family. Don’t be afraid to feel sad, because it is a normal healthy feeling.
  7. Buy yourself a gift – you deserve it ! Even if its something small. ( I always add this to the Christmas budget – snigger )
  8. If you feel very sad or stressed, then you should tell someone. Go to your GP, most I know won’t treat you like a fool (and if you feel they do, its time to change your GP). They can help you find ways to help yourself.

Let me know if there is anything else I should add for next year!

 

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Saturday 8 November 2014

Yet another kitchen update….

 

We have been in turmoil for a month…

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But it is coming to a close. The gyprock is up and here is Graham undercoating it.

The oven and range hood are in and working.

I’ve also moved a fair bit of stuff back into the cupboards.

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The floor will go down tomorrow. Then we can put the fridge and dishwasher back.

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Hopefully my next post will be about the splash backs.

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Thursday 30 October 2014

Kitchen update

 

 

 

Its getting better , but its still not finished and in the meantime we are living like this!

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But the bench tops are beautiful!

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Bye bye, old kitchen!

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and I have ordered a roman blind and matching curtains.

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No oven yet so lots of BBQs

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Tuesday 28 October 2014

New Kitchen – Out with the Old and in with the new

 

Finally, it is underway!

I’ve sold the old kitchen on Gumtree and its going to live in Warialda.

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There is dust everywhere.

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The guest room is now the pantry.

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The ceaserstone bench tops will go on today.

We are also getting quotes for the kitchen floor and curtains.

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Oh dear – but I am a creature of habit. I didn’t realise how much this is like the kitchen in Richardson ave.  Below is a photo of the kitchen in the last house. The new one must be three times the size.

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The new one will have dark bench tops and dark handles so will  look different when finished.

To be continued……..

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Sunday 21 September 2014

Wicked In Sydney

 

We returned to Sydney on our way home from NZ and stayed with Mum & Dad.

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I went on a girls night out, to see the Musical Wicked,  with Mum, my sister Cathy and my nieces, Rebecca and Rachel. It was a preview show.

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Great seats, and a great show. No photos allowed in the theatre so I nicked this one from the web. (Thanks to the Sydney Morning Herald).

Not such great photos taken with my phone…

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not sure what setting I had it on, some special effect! ha ha.

Or it may have been the glare!

Give me a real camera any day!

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Saturday 20 September 2014

Day 10 & 11–Land of the Long Rain Cloud!


Back in Auckland


Back in Auckland for the final night.
Fly back to Sydney late tomorrow. Hope they’ll let us back in. 

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A bit of luxury at the Sofitel Auckland.
Below is the view from our room….

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and below is our room…


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one could get use to this!

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and then finally, last day, and guess what – its raining!

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We love New Zealand – despite the weather…
We hope to return soon, maybe do the South Island next time.

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Friday 19 September 2014

Day 9 – Last day on Coromandel





Last day, back to Auckland tomorrow.
I was hoping to get to Hobbiton while here but it is too wet and muddy, so we gave up on the idea (which is very disappointing as I thought it would be the trip highlight… Sad smile)

Today we did a bit of washing and packing.
Went for a short drive to visit an art gallery.



These are the pinnacles that we drive past every day and I’ve been waiting for a good photo opportunity but I have given up. 

Still rather beautiful - even in the rain.

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Thursday 18 September 2014

Day 8– Two metres of rain per annum

Coromandel Peninsula


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Today we drove to the east coast of the Coromandel to take a ride on the Driving Creek Railway.
Its overcast today, but not raining….yet… there is a new rain front on the way! Yes they can get up to 2 metres of rain a year, Armidale would wash away…



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Anyway, back in 1973 potter Barry Brickell, came to Coromandel to set up an artists retreat.
He built a narrow gauge train line and a train to get up the hill to get the clay for his pots.
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Then in 1990 the bank manager complained about his lack of loan repayments so he started taking tourists for train rides.
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Barry added to the line every year, it has switchbacks and zig zags, its now about 3kms. Great engineering! He made the bricks in the pottery and many of the retaining walls are made of 1000s of bottles, leftovers from the visiting artists.   He’s now 84 and has gifted the whole shebang to the nation on his death.
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At the top is the Eyeful Tower for the views. Barry's other project is the restoration of the native NZ forest  and has planted 100s of Kauri trees.
Below is the view from the top a bit cloudy still.
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We then returned to Pauanui by the west coast, making a few stops to take photos while the sun is shining!
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We have bought some nice Fish and Mussels for our dinner tonight.. Yum!
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