26

Well I weighed myself at the weekend and got a shock. I am sitting at 11st 12lbs. Quite a lot for a girl who is 5'5".

So on Monday after work I popped down to the local leisure centre and signed up for a 3 month off-peak membership. I know I am leaving the country in 7 weeks, but considering how often I am planning on going along, it works out cheaper. Plus if I know I have paid for it already I am more likely to go and not waste money, instead of telling myself I am saving money if I don't go.

Last night I went along for my wee "induction" session. The nice chap showed me and another new member around the whole gym and explained how to work all the machines. Something that no-one has ever bothered to do before.

The membership allows me use of the gym, the swimming pool, a small selection of classes and the spa type place.

I am hoping I can get off my ass and get down to the gym on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, plus make it to the "Anything Goes" class on Sunday mornings. The class has a different activity each week so will give me a bit of variety.

The only problem is that during the week I can only go in before 4pm. Which means I will be up super early to be at the gym for 6.30am! I can then do a 45 minute workout, get cleaned up and off to the station to catch my train at 7.54am.

Just got to figure out the best way to split up my aerobic and weights programme, that I used to follow, to fit in the shorter time periods at the gym.

How much weight do you think I can lose before we go? And how many inches can I lose from my measurements?




btw: no word on the visa application, think DH's xrays would only be arriving around now so hopefully we will see some progress next week.

25

Well Da Hubs aced the 3rd interview, the company referenced him over the Christmas period and he was offered the job in January. They would like him to start work on 20th April, but that depends on us receiving our visas in time.

We submitted our visa application on 31st January, and now it is just a waiting game.

So far we have been looking at shipping companies, handed in our notice on our current flat, booked our flights for 6th April, booked trips to visit our parents in Lisbon and Scotland, told my boss that we are leaving (depending on visas) and started researching areas of Melbourne to see where we would like to live.

There are a ton of things we need to do before we go and once we arrive.

-Get references from my past employers and University, our previous landlords and our banks.
-Book shippers and clear out our belongings so we only take what is important.
-Open bank accounts in Australia online
-Organise files from doctors, opticians etc for taking over.
-Organise accommodation for when we first arrive
-Sort out tax forms
-Change address on EVERYTHING to my Father’s address
-Organise a mail redirection
-Back up computer files and have scans of documents in portable formats
-Buy a new laptop

And that’s just to start with.

I suspect this will turn into an emigration blog for the next 6 months so I can record all the goings on.

On a lighter note, my trip to Scotland means I can get my hair cut at my usual salon. Which will be the first time since a few days before the wedding in May. That’s 10 months people! My roots are showing down to my cheekbones. The length is currently down to my bra strap, and I want a chin length bob.
I have just never found a salon I trust in the last 2 years 4 months we have been living here, and I was taking regular trips to Scotland for the wedding planning for the first year and a bit.

24

Okay so I am kind of nervous and kind of excited.

Da Hubs has a 3rd stage interview for a new job next week - in Australia!
This is the final stage and if he gets the offer the company will sponsor him for a visa which makes it easier.

So just got to wait and see how it goes, but in the meantime we have to try and find out as much as possible about how to get organised in life over there just in case.
I think if he is offered the job it will all happen very fast, and there is sooooo much to think about. Getting the visa processed and approved, flights, packing our entire life, leaving behind all our family and friends, deciding what to actually take with us, sorting out somewhere to live once we get there, health insurance, tax rules, pension stuff. It is all very confusing.

I feel a bit like life is on hold at the moment. For example we want to buy a food processor/blender this weekend, but should we bother, or should we wait until we find out if we are moving over 10,000 miles away?

I am really not happy at work and desperately want to leave, but don't see the point in applying for jobs if we could be moving in a few months.

If he gets the job I will be delighted to get a fresh start because:
-I do not enjoy my job.
-We have no friends where we live
-We have no social life
-I have no money to go do anything eg shopping, gym, join clubs
-Our health has been terrible for the last few months, i think because we are both stagnating
-I can feel myself drifting towards depression again, because of all of the above.

I am scared that I am getting too excited about this potential change, and pinning all my hopes for an improved life on it. I need to be able to improve my life where I am and by myself. I cannot rely on Da Hubs to fix what I am not happy with, cause I am soooo happy with him and he does not need that pressure. He is the one thing in my life right now that I am happy and settled about. He is the one thing I do not want to change.

23

Yay! one of my former roomies just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy today! It's her second.
She was told years ago that it would be very difficult if not impossible for her to get pregnant, so I am especially pleased that she and her husband have been able to have their much wanted family.
Lots of positive thoughts for little Brodie so he may have a happy and healthy life.

22

My boss(mid 60's) just sent me out to buy 2 cans of Pina Colada for her mother (80's). I shoved on my MP3 player, grabbed my office keys and off I went. Just a wee run down to the shops so no need to take my wallet, never mind my handbag.
Stand for 5 minutes in a huge queue cause there were only 2 tills on.
And i get ID'd.
I am 29, I know I don't look it. But come on, surely I must look over 17!
Apparently not.
They called over 2 managers, and they were both just not interested.

So I had to return to the office and my boss who was waiting for me so she could go home for the night empty handed.

Sooooo embarrassing, being ID'd in front of a huge queue of strangers, then having to walk back into the office and tell the rest of my workmates.

And don't anyone try and tell me that looking 12 years younger is a compliment! It is just annoying and untrue.

21.

Da Hubs is sitting on the couch suffering from a critical case of man flu. He has been bored and moany all weekend and refusing to take the medication i bought to help make him better.
BUT
He has now discovered The Hills. he is watching the catch up on MTV and is loving it. It is soooooo funny. Everytime I wander through to the living room he is all like "Lauren is the only mature sensible one" or " Why is Heidi with this guy?" I cannot believe he is watching such trash and enjoying it so much.
At least it leaves me free to come on here in between preparing for my interview on Tuesday. Will tell you more if it goes well.

20

Going for dinner in London tonight with Da Hubs, Father-in-Law and Step Mother-in-Law.
Not totally looking forward to it.

Last time I saw the SMiL, she asked if I was pregnant.
This was while we were sitting at dinner on our wedding day. We had all our parents surrounding us. If we had been pregnant - which we are not, and not even trying - and been at the stage of telling people we would certainly have told our parents already. If we weren't ready to tell people then she had just put us in a very difficult position. Not very nice to sit and lie to all your parents, then turn round a few weeks later and admit it.
We have also told them several times prior to the wedding that we want to wait a couple of years after being married before trying to get pregnant.

So yeah, with my recent weight gain I am fully expecting to be asked again tonight. If they do ask i might have to say something quite blunt.

We really want to have our own home before we start trying, and be a bit more secure in our jobs ie full-time hours and no risk of redundancy. DH would like a bit more of a salary and I would quite like to be in a firm that offers more than statuatory maternity pay. Would probably be an idea to have a car too. So there is quite a lot we need to do before we can start trying.

And we won't be telling people when we do start. (well I might write it here so ssssshhhhhh.)
From what I have heard once people know you are trying to get pregnant your personal life becomes pretty fair game. And I can totally imagine the SMiL calling every other day to check on progress and offer far too personal advice.

And if we do get pregnant I will be getting a "Do Not Touch" t-shirt.