It's dark!

At 3 this afternoon it was dark and dreary ... just like being back in the UK!

Had a lovely day on Saturday, up early and went to the butcher for our fortnightly shop, then off to pick up Rachel and head up to Te Horo to meet the ladies for brunch! Was awesome seeing everyone again - the time went super fast as it always does. I had a yummy spinach and feta pie - very tasty. Definately got a thing for feta at the moment - I usually throw feta into my salads these days gives it such a yummy flavour - good protein too. Popped into the Bendon Factory shop but didnt find any bargains - probably a good thing! LOL Also stopped in at Coastlands for a wander and a cuppa. Was a lovely morning even if the weather was shite.

From left: Rachel, me, baby Rachel, Jenni, Karen (hiding you naughty girl), Anne, Janene, Jorja

and again, cos Rachel and Jenni wouldnt play the game! LOL

Popped up the club yesterday afternoon to catch up with friends. Managed to take $90 out of the pokies LOL I love the machines, the flashing lights, the graphics, the sounds of winning the features ... god I am such a bling girl LOL I'm going to be dangerous in Vegas I tell ya!

Early night last night - thought I'd watch the rugby in bed ... managed to wake up at half time and couldnt be bothered so switched the silly thing off - hopeless.

This morning I had a lay in and then did my housework - house looks particularly spic and span today - had a real estate agent pop round and give us an appraisal - just cos. Not planning on selling for a few years, but its good to know what your assets are worth eh? Helps us with our long term planning. I love this house, but I'm not IN LOVE with it, so I wont be terribly sad when we decide to move on. Funny how you get attachments to things - our first home I cried when we left - it had lots of wonderful memories - as does this house. I cried when I had my first fat clothes wardrobe chuck out ... again memories of what I'd come from and what I vow will never go back to. I'm an emotional bunny at times LOL

Speaking of emotional - on Wednesday it's my dad's 10th anniversary. I put the family memoriam notice in the paper - had to talk to mum about it and it got me a little sad. You never get over the death of a loved one, but as time goes past its not as raw and painful when you remember them - in fact you tend to remember them in a happier note.

I was reading a book this morning in bed - its called "Artful Persuasion" . It talks about how fear is a motivator. As I've ascertained ... fear is definately a HUGE motivator for me. It talks about how of all human emotions, fear is possibly the most powerful motivator. Think about it ... it sells many things like burglar alarms, life insurance, exercise equipment even condoms! Marketers try and sell us stuff by using fear - psychologists have discovered that humans have a particular aversion to loss. People are motivated more by the fear of losing something than by the reward of gaining something of equal value for example its much more "painful" to lose $100 than it is pleasureable to win $100. I guess weightloss is like that eh? I mean for me I know what all the pleasures of successful weightloss will mean - like better fitness, buy nicer clothes, enjoy life more in general - but its the loss factor that gets me going - like not getting my surgery. The psychologists reckon that people are more motivated by negative rather than positive persuasion.

Anyway, its Sunday afternoon and dinner is in the oven already WOOHOO!