A birthday celebration and a special meal

I cannot believe that we are already in the middle of January.  Can you believe it?  Back at work we are all still struggling with that "end-of-year-not-quite-very-productive" feeling.  We do have a public holiday coming up next week Monday so that is great :-). 

This weekend it will be me and my next photography assignment.  I've done my first one and got a great mark, so I'm very pleased, but it is a little daunting because from here on it will be actual photos and my tutor is a professional photographer.  I've finally taken the plunge and ordered my new computer as I'm getting 20% discount through work and my current laptop won't be all that good.  I'm really excited (and I don't like waiting, but will need to wait for delivery).

We had a lovely few days with Mr P's birthday celebrations.  I baked the cake and his daughter decorated it for him.  He really likes lollies :-)

I'll have to upload the photo of the cake later on as Blogger seems to be acting up (sigh).

Here are some flowers that Mr P's brother's partner brought us.

Mr P saw this one programme where the chef made a very yummy meal and he decided to try this out.  He is so proud and let me tell you it was really really yummy!  He even made the ice-cream all by himself :-)

Taking first steps

Yesterday I took the first step in my goal to become a photographer.  I signed up for an online photography course.  Exciting and scary at the same time.  Exciting because it will be great to have the guidance of people who are experienced in the industry and scary because I am sometimes way too critical of myself making it hard just to go for it.  It is comforting though to know that I am not the only one feeling a bit scared and anxious (when I look at the Facebook group).

So I went to the doctor the day before.  About my shoulder.  The one with the mystery pain.  The thing is I haven't been doing anything that could cause strain and it is only when I breathe deeply that I feel this pain.  So of course I Googled and according to Google I might have lung cancer (the type that you more typically get from second hand smoke - I personally have never smoked but grew up with parents who did) or breast cancer or it could be gall bladder or liver disease.  So by the time I go to the doctor I was a mess.  He looked at me and then asked "have you been losing weight?" "well, no I've gained some - mostly through bad eating" "Okay, people with cancer usually lose weight".  "Do you cough a lot?" [shake head], "do you ever cough up blood?" [shake head] and then he listened to my chest and did this tapping thing both sides and declared that this is most likely just a knot somewhere due to the time I might spend at the computer at work.  Me and my runaway mind...

Yesterday I went to work in the morning and then not long after started feeling incredibly sick.  Nausea and stomach cramps.  Like waves - coming and going.  I didn't actually get sick as such, I just felt really unwell.  So I left early afternoon.  Got home and pretty much spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in bed.  I'm glad I didn't actually get sick, but it was horrible to feel the way I did. 

I took today off as I don't feel 100% just yet, but do feel better than yesterday - thank goodness.

How are things on your side of the world?

Back from a break away

This morning it was back to work after a short break.  It was so hard to wake up early this morning to get ready to catch my train to work.  It takes about an hour to work on the train.  So usually I sleep or I read.  Work was fairly quiet as lots of people are still away. 

We had a nice few days away to Hawkes Bay.  It was lovely.  The weather was great.  The motel where we stayed had a pool and the kids (my kids that is, Mr P's kids weren't there) spent as much time as they could in the pool.  Miss B made a friend.  One of the favourite things we did was yesterday where we spent the whole day at Splash Planet with its pools and water slides and different kinds of rides.  Miss B met up with her friend so I didn't see her until it was time to leave.  Mr P, Miss C and I had a lovely time exploring the different rides and pools.



Mr Cat was so happy to see us - he's been cuddly since we came home last night.  I was a bit worried as Mr P's daughter was asked to look after him - to come and feed him and spend some time with him, but on Sunday we got a text to say she hasn't been coming since Friday afternoon because of the rain and wasn't sure if she would be able to.  So we needed to make some urgent plans.  I think next time we might just have to book him into a cattery.

Today I saw a great promotional offer for an online photography course and I am going to look into it.  This will be one of the first steps in my dream to become a photographer :-).

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my doctor.  I have been having a weird pain by my right shoulder for the last few weeks and so I want my doctor to check it out.  Unfortunately I Googled and one should never Google anything...

A few photos

Mr P and I waited for 2014 last night.  First we went to the neighbours (at the place we are housesitting).  They left a note on the door to say we could come and see their fireworks.  It was pretty cool.  We didn't stay until midnight and went back to "our place" to wait for 2014 with a few games of Dominion. Dominion is my favourite card game and Mr P recently became totally hooked.  We then spent a bit of time talking about what we are both hoping 2014 will bring for us. 

I realised today that one of my priorities is going to have to be a new computer.  My laptop is super old, extremely slow and almost no space for the photos I like to take.

I've been taking my camera with to the lifestyle block and here are some photos I have taken :-)

A Kereru / New Zealand Wood Pigeon.  This one was really high up in the tree.

 

If you are done checking me out, I'd appreciate some food...

The Chickens taken through the window

Just love the little quails.  They are so fast and I had to try and take photos through the window.