I’ve wanted an iPod for years, but they’re so expensive over here.  When I learned that one of my cousins in America was coming to South Africa for Christmas, it felt like a great solution. We bought it from Amazon.com, had it delivered to my uncle along with a range finder (whatever that may be) for Craig – his Christmas present – and started compiling a list of all the songs I would like to download on my iPod.

And then her trip got postponed to May.

Fortunately, my friend Charlotte had to go to Salt Lake City for three weeks in January and my uncle sent her the stuff and she brought it back for us.   Yay!

So, now I am consumed by music. I even feel like taking my iPod for a walk around the neighborhood.

Apart from the iPod and the range finder, there was  a book I’d won on The Tippy Toe Diet, MegaYoga.  If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you will know that I’ve always been interested in yoga, but have never had the courage or the opportunity to try it.  Mainly because I’m fat, unbalanced and unwieldy and knew that I’d need some specific help.  The idea of floundering around among a room full of lithe, bendy, serene women just didn’t appeal.  But this book… is awesome!  It tells you how to move your excess flesh out of the way (including breasts), advises on ways to support yourself and provides modifications.  I can’t wait to start doing yoga.  Thanks Cammy!

In other news, I’m making headway in the garden.  I spent a Christmas voucher on some gardening tools yesterday.  I am surprised to find that watering the garden can be a zen experience.  I have a feeling that we’ll grow together, my garden and I.  It reminds me of Avatar – I feel so connected.

I have really great news to tell you with regards to my health and my journey.  I’ve been sitting on this news for almost two months (no, it’s not that), because I wanted to make sure that it was going to work out. It’s working beautifully! I’ll start blogging about it tomorrow, so watch this space.

What I would like you to do for me today is to recommend three songs for my iPod.  Your three favorite workout/walking/running/foot-tapping/dancing-with-joy/filled-with-wonder songs.

Have a great Monday!

PS.  I am still working my way through my blog reader.  I haven’t abandoned you!

To get what you want, you have to take risks.  And when you’re down, get up again!

Just remember, it’s a very small house!  Craig and I have set it up for the two of us – not for guests.  There is only one bedroom, as we have turned the others into a media center TV room and a study.

LOUNGE:

BEDROOM:

TV ROOM:

STUDY:

KITCHEN:

VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH:

This is why we moved here…  There are lots of big trees all along the street and a school sports field across the road.  I love watching the little ones practice athletics!  But most of the time it’s just green and serene.  We’re working on the the lawn at the moment – it’s already greatly improved – and will replace the rickety fence with a palisade type fence (and climbing roses) in the near future.  The backyard is bigger, and I’m putting a lot of effort into the garden right now.

There are no bathroom pictures, since the one is so small (even though it’s quite pretty) that it just doesn’t photograph well.  The other is so awful, I’d rather treat you to a Before and After post once we’ve renovated it.

This is not your typical South African suburban home… they’re usually larger and newer.  This is an older suburb with more old-fashioned homes.  Somehow this house is very us.  I love it already!

First up we had to prepare our new house for occupation, then pack up the old house, then the actual move and getting organized in the new house (including reviving the garden) and then we had to clean and prepare the old house for new tenants.

In the midst of all that my computer crashed (due to a nasty virus) and had to be de-bugged and all the software reinstalled from scratch. Then there was an account problem with my broadband (their fault, not ours), which has now been sorted out.

Physically it was a rough.  I am going through a major healing process right now and it’s really taking its toll.  Being fat is just the cherry on the cake.  You know, it’s one thing to be fat and thirty, but quite another when you’re forty and have been obese for fifteen years.  My 72 year old father and 64 year old mother are more limber and physically able that I am!  Thank goodness they helped me unpack and get the garden started!

I had my appointment with the dermatologist on Friday and thankfully only one mole (0n my calf) was removed.  It’s not bothering me much, although I have to stay out of the pool for another five days.

We love our new home!  I love what we’ve done with it so far.  I promise I will take some pictures this week.  Of course we still have to do the main bathroom and the fence, which is leaning precariously in the wind.  And my car is still in the driveway because we haven’t sorted out the garage yet.

But for now…  I’m back!

Yeah, that’s how I feel.

Especially my feet… they throb even when I’m lying in bed at night.

Moving is not for very fat 40-year old women!

Note to self: Lose weight or you’ll be an invalid soon.

In other news, the move went really well and we are about 95% unpacked and settled in. Normal life will resume on Monday.

Have a great weekend!