Finally, a new chapter

Yes, I've taken my time I know, but it's taken me a while to get back to my old routine and I haven't felt well, must be the weather. The trip to the Dolomite (Sud Tirol, Italy) was wonderful, Every day was a new experience and I climbed that mountain again so I'm very happy with myself!
We stayed at the same hotel we were at 3 years ago and the food was extremely good, and our room had wonderful views. I really love the alps there is something about them, like the ocean, that makes you realize that we are only a minute of existence compared to them.
I just want to say that I am so happy that the "Gluten-Free Girl's baby is home and they are a happy family. see; http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/ and congratulations to the "Blogger Team" on their new additions.
Is It Me or does everyone find that a real life story that has a happy ending brings tears to the eyes!

We're off to Italy

Tomorrow is my birthday and D decided (at the last minute) that we would go away for 4-6 days, but the big decision was ...where? It took us a couple of hours to decide on the Dolomites in Southern Italy. Okay, hotel was booked, the same one we stayed in last time (2005), and then I started racing around packing, washing all those things I definitely would need, although D was starting to look worried when I dragged up two big suitcases from the cellar! Yes D we did need 2, after all we were going for SIX days!!
Now it's 4pm and almost everything is packed, just the washing to go(which I'm sure I can fit in one of those cases) and a few odds and bobs. Oh yes and all our tech gear like 3 PDA's and chargers and handheld radios, cameras etc. Hmmm just as well we are going by car!
The last time we went to the Dolomites was when I did my famous climb up the side of one of the mountains, it was before I had my hip replacement and I was so proud that I managed to do it. So now I will try again with a new hip, will probably fall down and break something this time.
When we come back after I finish raving about the trip I will tell you what I'm doing to save the planet, every little bit helps you know.
Talk to you next week.
Is It Me or is everyone sick of seeing plastic bags lying around our streets and waterways?

Catching Up

Boy! The last few days have just flown, it's been raining heavily for 3 days and I made the most of that by catching up with my reading. Some how the computer can just take over my life between reading all the blogs and finding that great website, I seem to go deeper and deeper and spend hours following links. At the moment I'm reading a fascinating E-Book about L.Ron Hubbard (Scientology) called "Bare Faced Messiah", it's really interesting to read about the real man and not the lies that the Scientologists try to sell you.
Today we went to Switzerland to do some shopping, the Gruyer Cheese is delicious, and then we went to a big shopping mall in Konstanz (Germany) so I could stock up on my gluten free groceries. I got lots of goodies especially the different flours needed to make nice bread etc. Then a stop at the book shop to get some english books and home.
As I've said before it's still a novelty for me to be in another country after only driving for 15 minutes.
At the moment I'm trying to look at all the positive things in my life and when I wake up in the morning I think about 3 things that make me happy or I am lucky to have (including bright sunshine or a rainy day depending on what D. has planned for us to do!!!), try it, somehow it makes your day a little better.
Is It Me or do we not appreciate just being "alive" sometimes.
Peta

Too Late, Too Tired!!

Today has been one of "those days" so I'm just giving you something to look at instead.
Is it Me or do some days make you feel as if you've climbed Mt. Everest.
Peta

Oh my God I'm almost 60!

Yep in 1 week and 6 days I'm having my 60th birthday, my friend Roswitha who has had hers, said to me on the phone yesterday "well you made it too" which reminded me of how many people we know who haven't made it, so that's a plus for turning 60 and I should be very grateful.
I have decided to age gracefully, no nips and tucks, just nice natural skin creams (when I remember to apply them), comfortable clothes, but stylish for my age, and sensible eating without fretting over calories. I can just see my daughters rolling their eyes, but it's okay girls I'm not going to turn into a "Nanna", Robbie Williams still turns me on and I can outcompute (is that a word???) the best of them.
We were thinking of going away for 2 weeks to the Canary Islands or Greece or somewhere nice, but have decided to maybe just go to the Swiss Alps for a few days and relax. We travell so much that sometimes staying home sounds very nice.
Have to go and cook dinner, more tomorrow.
Is it me or does everyone enjoy a rainy day or two.
Peta

Lazy, Lazy,Lazy.

We had a great time in Brand, Austria. The hotel we stayed at is called Zimba, and is run by a wonderful family, We have stayed there before and so we knew we would have a great room with a balcony overlooking the Alps.
The food was absolutely fantastic and best of all there was always a gluten free menu with freshly baked gluten free bread every day!!!
We walked around the Lunarsee (lake in the picture) which is about a 3 hours walk, some parts hard and the rest okay. The weather stayed fine right up to the morning we left and then it rained, what luck.
But now we are home and after 2 days of energetic housework, I've become very lazy.
I've ordered another gluten free cookery book from Amazon and am looking forward to trying out some different recipes, will let you know how they go.
Is it just me or does everyone love the feel and smell of new books?
Peta.

Storms

Last night we had terrible storms through our area, in some towns a lot of damage was done. We were lucky only our skylight was broken and some damage to our trees, but all the farmers apple trees were damaged, I hate to think what has happened to the grape vines, this is a wine area and it will be really bad if the vines are damaged!
I have swept all the front of our house and the road in front of our driveway clear of leaves and branches, now I have to think about packing as we have decided to go to Austria for 4 days. It's always amazing to me to think it's only a matter of a few hours drive and we are in another country, my favorite place is the Alps, the majesty of the mountains never fails to fill me with a sense of awe.
OK tummy grumbles happening, time for breakfast.
Is It Me

A Blank Page

Is it me, or do other people have the problem when faced with a blank page that everything they had planned to write has completely been forgotten! I think the pressure of knowing other things are waiting to be done (like the overgrown garden), and that walk I keep saying I have to do while the weather is so nice, makes me feel as if I have to quickly type something, and then of course I can't think of a thing to write.
So the sun is shinning and the garden calls, maybe I'll think of something to write tonight.
Is It Me