HI Wise Women

How are you all going?

Hey ho, you are now looking at Lady Janet of Glencoe....well I couldn't use my French Gigi name now that I am a Lady of a Scottish Estate...now could I!

Mr G and I went to the charming hamlet of Bundanoon where the Scottish Clans from all around Australia get together and remember Scotland.  Mr G's surname and ancestory is Scottish and I have a smattering in my genes too so we visit this wonderful yearly festival whenever we can. 

There is always wall to wall tartan, bagpipes and traditional Scottish food....We watched the 'games' listened to the music, patted all manner of Scottish dogs and took millions of photos.  

But the real excitement for us was entering the town as ordinary old Mr and Mrs and left as Lord and Lady.  Yes, we can legally use this these titles and I will write a little article about it in due course.  How is it that we have become so esteemed!!!! Keep posted.....

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

I hope every single mother out there enjoyed every single minute of Mothers Day. Of course for me it is time to reflect on my own mum who passed away 3 years ago and whom I miss every day.  

Mr G and I hot tailed up to the Blue Mountains to take out remaining parent - Mr G’s 89 year old mum - and we took her out to lunch.  We have to make our mum's feel special because we simply do not know how long we will have them!!! 

Good on you Mums!!!

EASTER

Did you have a great Easter to?  It really is a good time to have a good old get together with the family - lots of food and drink and everybody’s having a great time. 

We have a bonus of cerebrating the excitement as our daughter and her husband announced they are expecting their first baby. 

                            the waiting game

Little treasurers entering the world are certainly the spice of life for we grandmothers.  Golly, I am starting to feel old for goodness sake!

THE ROYAL EASTER SHOW

         Miss C dresses the scarecrow at the show

And as grandparents, a holiday trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show with Miss C had us smiling and exhausted. 

What a treat this little lass is!  She was happy and joyful the whole day.  It was so much fun, but the real delight seeing what a gorgeous young lady she is growing into, polite, respectful, kind and loving.   What more could grandparents hope for….

BAD BACKS STINK

So what has been happening in my life these days you might be wondering?

I had been laid low for about 3 months with horrible sciatica having lots of physio.  The other day I had a CT Scan and my back is crap!!!  Well, not really but the report makes it look particularly horrific. 

To put it simply, I have a slipped disc squashing onto a nerve that is coming out of a smaller than usual hole in the spinal column – so double whammy for me. But by golly, I just have to soldier on!!! 

In fact I have joined a Chronic Back Research Program at Concord Hospital and am learning some very nifty stomach and back muscle exercises that I believe will not only heal my back, but prevent me from getting incontinence and enhance my sex life!!!  

And it is for all those reasons I am diligently sticking with them!! Ha!

Oh yes...I have been down bad back alley before:

BED BUGGING!!

Mr G and I headed out for a new mattress hunt because the first thing the Dr asked when I presented my ailment was “what is your mattress like?’.  

On appraisal the mattress is pathetic really.  Well, it is 10 years old  and it is time to give it the hoy apparently!!!  We got down to it and trialled the beds…lying down on them that is!! 

Arhhh there are some beauties and the salesmen, they are good!!!  I am fully convinced that all mattresses are brilliant.  So how do I choose my new mattress? 

We sauntered into the Comfort Shop where the master of all masters gave his spiel about his stock.  At about $4,000 it seemed like it was a winner, but you know, I just couldn’t spend that sort of money on a mattress no mater how bad my bad was!  

And it was just foam!!  Well, not exactly ANY foam though.  It was Memory Foam and therefore cost a thousand times more than any ordinary old foam.  And you didn’t just buy the mattress with this king of foams; you bought the base at great cost.  The mind-blowing slat technology required you to crank up the slats or let them down!!!  Forget it!!  I am not interested in anything I have to operate!

But the ordinary beds with the pillow tops which have the Memory Foam and Latex were my favourites.  But which to choose!!!! I am assured by the many salespeople that I will notice an enormous difference to my sleep patterns and aching back.  I’ll let you know what I finally decide on and whether it makes a big difference to my health.  I really hope it is as easy as that.

Let me know if you have a great mattress that has changed your life simply by giving you a brilliant night’s sleep.  I am all ears……

BIKER PARTY

           Mr G (Highlanders) Gigi (Red Hot Mamas)                             

I see Lana has been to a 60 birthday party with the ‘western’ theme and wow, doesn’t she look fabulous in her ‘getup’!. 

We were invited to my older brothers 60^th birthday and as he has bought a ‘bike’ - so a biker party it was.  My daughter had moved into her new house that day and piked out, but my sons, daughters in law and we, donned the biker do (although one son wore a policeman's getup) and we had a fantastic night.  

Mr G looked the part with his grey beard and with his leather jacket and skulls bandanna – well, he fooled me!!!  In fact, he was pretty darn sexy dressed with a tad of danger!!  I wore a read leather skirt and black leather jacket and said I was from the ‘Red Hot Mamas’ – well I am a red hot mama so it only seemed ‘right’! I am still removing the transfer tattoos from my body!

The fun didn't stop after the party as Mr and G and I were pulled over by police at a breath testing area - Mr G does not drink and drive...but his bikie getup was definitely a source of amusement for all.........

                                The family

RESIDENT AND RENOS

We have had a bit of a change of things at our house as our 25 year old nephew J is living in our upstairs ‘apartment’.  He is recuperating from an illness.  I have become resident counsellor and I must say I find the role a challenge and actually enjoyable.  He is such a great young man and as I see him move forwards I feel truly rewarded.

And because Jack is living upstairs, we have had to do some house things!  You know all about Mr G and home renovations – ummmmmm – we are renovating the bathroom and kitchen upstairs and I think Mr G has come to the end of his tether. 

If you tuned in the other night you would have heard my hysterical laughter…we a sort of screaming really!  Maybe this was not quite the response expected from such a situation but it was either laugh or cry!

If you want to know what happened…. it goes like this….

I wanted to replace a curtain rail with a glass shower screen and managed to get one from the Trading Post.  I was keen to get one because I did not want water leaking out upstairs and coming in on my beautiful professionally renovated bathroom and laundry below. 

Unfortunately the screen was smaller and that meant we had to mastermind the linking it to the wall.  It took no end of trips to the Hardware Store and many hours of labour to install the pieces.  Mr G and I worked as a team to get it done – such a wonderful husband and wife thing!!!  Not!!!

Finally a jubilant Mr G installed the taps to the cubicle and went outside to switch the water back on.  Shower cubicle completion at last!!!

As he was coming in the back door he said to J, “Let’s take that refrigerator upstairs now.”  As they started their way up the very long staircase, I went into our downstairs laundry.

There, from the ceiling fan, poured a waterfall that was filling my laundry fast.  I screamed out:  ‘My God, there is water pouring through the ceiling = what’s happening!’

Imagine if you will - the two of them halfway up the stairs manoeuvring the fridge and receiving this panicked message from me.  None of us could do anything.  I couldn’t get past them to get to the second floor and they couldn’t abandon the fridge. They just had to keep hauling the fridge with me yelling, “Quick!’. 

When he got to the top Mr G ran into the bathroom and shot back down the stairs.  ‘What’s wrong’ I inquired!!!  ‘There’s water flying everywhere’ he yelled as he raced to turn the water off at the mains. 

I ran upstairs.  Now, the only thing that was wrong was that he had turned the taps on full blast which meant the water was pouring full force out of the shower head.  The unfortunate bit to this was he had hung the shower head over the screen door, so the water spewed in an arch, completely missing the bathroom tiles and the bathroom floor drain and straight onto the polished floor boards in the kitchenette area. 

You know, all he had to do was loop the head inside the shower instead of dashing to the front yard to turn the water off.  That would have actually saved a few more hundred gallons of water from disappearing between the floor boards and down into my beautiful professionally built bathroom and laundry. 

So I flipped the shower head inside the shower and waited for his return!!!

As I grabbed towels from the cupboard and started mopping up, I started laughing and couldn’t stop.  All I could think about was this is definitely a Frank Spencer moment!!! 

So I have decided to Hire a Hubby from now on and definitely not mine!!!

LET’S GET FIT

Are you still on the job?  Need I ask? 

      Are you streaking along leaving everyone else in your wake!

Golly I have been hampered I must say as I try to keep my fitness alive and well.  Sciatica is definitely a pain in the derrière!!!!  I have been going to gym but being very gentle.  You know the sort of thing:  I do what I call the ‘granny aerobics’  and have the look of an ‘unco newby’!!!  Ouch!!!  My pride is certainly taking a battering!!!

I stopped going for about 6 weeks at the beginning of the problem but I could no longer stay away.  I was feeling depressed that I couldn’t participate in the thing I love so much.  So folks…..’granny aerobics’ is it for me. 

This is the one thing about getting older.  You know you have the energy and capability to do the exercise but bits of the body decide they will give you a challenge!!  Ha, it is challenging being older.

As I have said before – it is not about being thin, it is about being healthy! And also nothing beats walking when you are stuck with a problem I have found!

Just to make you feel happy take a jig!!!!

Puttin on the Ritz!!!!

ARE YOU TIRED OF BAD NEWS

Is it grey and rainy where you are?

Isn’t just the same old, same old when you open the newspaper.  You start to wonder how the world has gotten so darn awful.  

Well, there are people out there in cyberworld who have made a commitment to show ‘good’ news.  You know, enlightening, heart warming, amazing, rewarding, inspiring etc.  

Here are some of the websites – I don’t mind giving them a plug!!!

http://goodnewsstories.org/ 

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

http://www.happynews.com/

http://optimistworld.com/

http://www.dailygood.org/

Take a look around some of these and let us or them know what you think.  

Do you think you could change your outlook when your download is happy and healthy stuff?  It beats filling up on killings, accidents and political dramas doesn’t it!!! They only tend to drag us down and make us feel depressed...   

So stay well informed in a happy hearted way....try it.....

LANA’S WISE WEEK

Lana and I kick up our heels at a 5yr birthday party

Well folks, I saw Lana the other day and she is looking fighting fit and we had a lot of fun catching up!!!  Check out her blog and find out what she has been up to.

If you would like to write a comment below feel free, and contact us to let us know how you are coping with your wise years, or any other comment on our articles.

QUOTATIONS

             Isn't it a relief!!!!

Searching around for a quotation this time I stuck upon this one and decided it seemed to fit my life – and maybe yours – at the moment

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once

 – J Archibald Wheeler ….. Thanks to http://www.quotegarden.com

Isn’t it good to know we actually have time for everything!!!!!

Enjoy the fact that life is metered out in a step by step way – even though at times it feels like it is all happening at once!!!

 Joy love and big hugs to you all…..

Love GIGI (Lady Janet)

Happy New Year Everyone,

Let's make this the best year of our lives. 

Let us single this one out to make some big strides to accomplishing something wonderful and create new excitement in our lives!!!!!!!

Let us start working on it now!!!  Think up big and go for it.

But I hope, before clearing the way, you had a fabulous Christmas break and ate and drank to your hearts content because now is the time to take a grip!!!  

                            Lapping it up!

Oh dear the kilos have found their way onto my stomach but I am back on the job!!!  Well, I think you can let yourself go sometimes - so long as there is control most of the time. I THINK!

             Miss C and her best curtsy

My Christmas activities started the week before Christmas when I took Miss C to see Angelina Ballerina.  Call me organised (this once!) but I zipped off to Clark Rubber beforehand and bought a large piece of foam, slid it into a cloth shopping bag to make a perfect bolster cushion so she could see over the heads of adults.  

  Waiting for the show to start

The show was held at the Sydney Opera House and her first trip inside the glamorous Concert Hall.  Hundreds of eager children arrived for this event.  Many of the little girls were dressed in ballet outfits, or tulle and flounce, wearing fairy wings and ballet shoes.  Those were obviously the Angelina devotees.  None the less, Miss C looked like an angel and was quite happy with a pair of mouse ears to dress up and a program.

We were glued to the characters and the music was wonderful and quite amazingly could be hears over the chatter of small children.  Quite a different experience from my usual concert hall ones!!!  Small children enviously eyed Miss C's bolster cushion as they knelt on their knees or sat squirming on their parent's lap. 

         It's Angelina herself...

After the show Miss C asked me why the characters didn't speak......well, it was a ballet after all but I wished she had asked me earlier!!!!

Anyhow it was a delightful grandma and granddaughter memory to treasure. 

CHRISTMAS DAY

Wow, we had our big Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve, a new experience for us.  Everyone arrived midday and the partying began.  We started with a gorgeous antipasto platter and champagne.  Quite frankly, I was full then...but there was more to follow!!!

The large turkey followed, cooked the Gordon Ramsay way I might add, was a hit.  There was also pork, ham, lashings of roast veges as well. We were stuffed liked pigs at this point, but gee, you just have to forge on because there was dessert. 

The pudding was boiled for a few hours and then covered thickly in brandy butter and custard.....the calories were mounting up like nobodies business!!!  I decided to drink another glass of champagne and not to care!!!

So Christmas Day itself was a quiet affair as the kids were off with their inlaws.  Actually, we spent the day recovering from the day before!!!  We had hired a wheelchair for Mr G's mum and took her on a four kilometre walk down to the beautiful Iron Cove Bay and sat and watched the people and the pelicans. 

Mr G and I got a good workout and Mr G's mum got a sore bottom!! 

THE GRAND FAMILY HOLDAY

                   Hey...it's holiday time

Wow, what a fabulous holiday we had.  The whole crew set out for Port Macquarie and hopefully had a ball!!  Well anyway, everyone said they did!! 

Mr G and I were over the moon to be up close and personal with our family for 7 days and everyone was relaxed and happy on their return which was what it was all about.

We laughed non stop, drank and ate way to much - this was a very bad patch of consumption I must say!!!  

We had a cocktail evening where each couple bought the ingredients to make up our own personal favourites.  I can't remember the names of the others but I do remember one tasted like liquid fruit tingles!!!! Now that was heavy going!  

                           The grand cocktail 'shake off'!!!

My favourite cocktail of all and the one I chose to do, is excruciatingly named Orgasm.  It is 30ml each of Cointreau and Baileys Irish Cream - a superb mix on ice and I think I had a few converts by the end of the holidays.  We laughed alot about how many Orgasms we had had over the holidays -  well we laughed alot really which was probably due to the Orgasms!!!

         Beautiful Flynn's Beach in Port Macquarie

We had beautiful weather thankfully (about time as it seems to have done nothing but rain lately) so we swam at the glorious beaches; visited the Koala hospital and historic house; went wine tasting and we took a walk in the Rainforest on a timber walkway.  

Whilst some of us stuck with the tour guide on this walk, and were actually given a brilliant tour of what could have been boring bushland, Miss C took off with her mum and a couple of the others and gave her own guided tour.  This was fortunately was videotaped and will go down as one of the all time greats in our family videos.  'Getaway' here is a future presenter coming right your way............. 

        Little Koala recovering from her injury

I must say I spent hours lying in the pool at the resort.  I am glad I don't have a pool at my house as I love it way too much. No pool has definitely saved me from ruining my skin by too much sunning and soaking.  But oh, what a joy it is when you are on holidays. Hey, this is the perfect time to let it all hang out!!

Port Macquarie has the thumbs up from me.  It used to be a sleepy fishing village and some people are sad to see it developing and becoming sophisticated.  But honestly, I love this all new look.  It is visually beautiful, there is so much to do, gorgeous restaurants, divine beaches and you would need a couple of weeks to do all the attractions.  So book in and have a great holiday.  On a good run, it is only about four hours north of Sydney.

Such lovely memories.  I hope you enjoyed yourselves over Christmas too......

Let us know if you got away. 

What is your favourite holiday place? 

Do you have a recommendation?

PLASTIC SURGERY AT 82

This is mumsie before her operation - looking pretty darn good for 82 already if you ask me

Our very own writer Roslyn Motter has been talking about her mother's pending plastic surgery for ages and finally, Mumsie actually did it.  Yes, Mumsie was so adamant that she would do it that she set aside any risks for her new look. 

In my book bravery doesn't adequately describe her adventure!!

Roslyn looked after her and diligently took photos for days on end so we get to see detailed results.  They are astonishing.  This is a must see article for anyone contemplating a facelift and have a laugh as well as you join Roslyn and her mum during the post operation dramas.  Roslyn has a natural talent for making little dramas into hilarious happenings!

A big thankyou to Mumsie who allowed herself to be photographed and the star of this amazing story. 

And now I am sure Roslyn's mother would much prefer to be called 'Gorgeous' rather than Mumsie in the future!!!

FITNESS FIRST

How are you going with the fitness?  Bad time to ask?  Gosh if you are like me, you didn't really exercise over Christmas and are now paying the price!!  But be like me, and try not to feel like it is now a hopeless cause......!!!  Don't despair;  just jump back into your routine and give it your all. 

At KiMax the other night I spoke to a Wisewomen I see regularly at the gym.  She is looking fantastic because she wisely used her holiday break to attend the gym for three hours a day on some days!!!  You certainly get results when you put in the hard work that was plain to see.  Ummm - mental note - must increase my attendance! 

Yes, it is hard work but the rewards are there for the taking.  I literally dragged myself to PUMP tonight in a grand effort to get back in the swing and oh how it hurt, but hey, I did it.  That's the whole point.......don't give in to your lack of motivation!!!  Get into your clothes and go.......

I keep reading articles and books that tell that exercise is a way to youthful looks and energy.  It is so often overlooked as a youth treatment....but it is free to everyone and not only do you end up looking good...your body will be healthier and happier!!  Great reasons for getting on out there and either banging the pavement or working out at the gym.  Whatever you choose, you will benefit all round and the whole thing is - it is at your fingertips and completely up to you.....

Come on, this is a new year and you want a new you don't you!!!

Why not click here to gee up your enthusiasm and a laugh.....by watching this!

NOW WHY NOT WATCH THIS UTUBE CLIP which is nothing about exercise at all really but I had to pass it your way!!!!!

This one was sent to me by my sisterinlaw and I am totally addicted to it!!!!  The clip has gone viral and the group are very very happy they say - ecstatic actually!!!!

Take a look and bop along!!!  You won't get this song out of your head or check the original one to a different take!

LANA'S WISE WEEK

You will all be thrilled to know that Lana is back on deck and check out her Wise Week to see what she has been up to.  It will be good to have more of her stories coming to you, and I know she has something special coming your way soon....so keep posted...

QUOTATION

Just a little bit of inspiration from Andrea Boydston when she says:

If you woke of breathing, congratulations!  You have another chance!!

So as this is the theme of this Wise Week....shake yourself up, break out of the mould and grab your chance. This is the time to live your life....

THANKS

Thank you everyone for your Christmas wishes and for all your feed back over the past year.  Lana and I look forward to bringing you more Wise women this year....

Hi there Wise women,

CHRISTMAS IS ON ITS WAY..

Ho Ho Ho!!!  Merry Christmas to one and all.

Yes - the countdown is on.  Honestly, can you believe?  We were celebrating Christmas just the other day, weren't we!  Time flies so quickly and here we are again, buying presents, making puddings, flitting from one Christmas event to the next.  

This Christmas we are celebrating a slap up lunch with all the family on Christmas Eve.  The kids were thrilled as they could have a full day with us and then on Christmas Day, they are all off to a full day with their in-laws. 

So there will be a bit of mutual sharing on the Day itself so we won't be completely abandoned.

IT'S GOOD TO BE FAT

Isn't this the news you need to be hearing right about now!

Being a little bit fatter is a little bit better, and who is sprouting these cheery words you might ask.  It is our very own Aussie Professor Leon Flicker out of WA  

     Yes, it's the good news that those extra pounds can just help you along in your older age we are reliably informed. 

Now this is truly music to the ears of all of us trying to budge those persistent pounds.  Our bodies actually know what is best for us it seems...it stacks on weight because apparently it is good for it!!! 

'They found that those overweight were 13 per cent less likely to die from any cause over a 10-year period, compared with those of normal weight.

Those underweight were 76 per cent more likely to die, while obese elderly people had the same mortality risk as those of normal weight.'

I wonder if having extra body weight means: that you are eating well, which means you can afford food, which means you can probably afford the Doctors visit, chemist requirements, dentist and complimentary alternatives that will help to keep you alive.  

And of course those glamorous' thinbees' are actually heading towards frailty because they are owners of thin crispy bones for nasty breaks, less muscle tissue for supporting joints and thinning skin etc.  Ouch!

What to do!  We are told the road to being desirable is thin thin thin....but who is thinking about desirable when you get older!!! Only joking!!!   But will the glamous thin baby boomers be unwittingly reducing their life span the thinner and more desirable they get!.  How does all that work I ask!!!! 

Whilst making mad passionate love in the mad effort of remaining desirable,  we will end up crushing our thin bones -  Ha! the mind boogles!!!!

I think I will have another biscuit!

SO WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING LATELY!

It has been ages since a wrote a long long blog so it is time to let you know a few of the things that have been going on in my life - those wiser years that we all have going now!!!!

DOCTOR'S VISIT

I finally got around to making an appointment at the doctors to have some seborrheic keratose removed from my back.  You know summer is coming up and you want to look your best don't you!  

Well, in my mind the whole thing is an ordeal - you have to remember to make the appointment, and steal yourself for the event.  I didn't care which Dr at my medical practice could do it and so I got a very young newbie - Dr Chong and I am sure I have scarred her for life!!!  I sauntered in and explained I wanted all of them removed.  'Let's have a look'.  She combed my back gently tapping and umming.

 'Which one bothers you?'  she said

'All of them' I said.  She diligently measured and agonised and announced the one I was really concerned about was over the 6mm size.  'It is too big - you will need it cut off'  she said. 'Put your top on and we will talk about it'

'Ah Ah!!! I am not leaving these premises,' I said, 'until you have removed some of them so I will wait here while you get the cylinder to freeze them off!'

She was frozen to the spot with my reply I think.  I sat there not moving.

She sighed and said ' I will have to fill up the cylinder'.

Oh...so was that the matter....pretty scary filling up the cylinder!!!  Anyhow she came back and I almost had to break her leg to do three.  What an effort the whole thing was.  It cost heaps and I only got three done and goodness only knows whether they have been done properly!!!

TERRIFYING TEETH CLEANING ORDEAL

Due to the Lichen 'planusoid' condition of my gums, the doctor and the dentist recommended the health Hygienist.  The only people who would front up to be become Dental Hygienists would have to be a masochists!!!!  My god, I thought the whole experience was the most dreadful thing I have ever done. 

I have had my teeth cleaned at the dentist many times with the sand blasting - but why not take a further step if you dare -  into the nightmare world of periodontal scaling!

Firstly the Dental Hygienist surveyed the damage (which thankfully was not bad)  and then she started with the ultrasonic water blaster.  This a tool of torture and is excruciating in the extreme.  The gum around every tooth was peeled back to reveal the upper tooth area!! She spent an hour blasting this horrible instrument along every tooth line (those cold teeth felt the pain like no tomorrow) and between each teeth which I felt like teeth removal.  Ouch! I was lying there thinking, I can't believe I am sitting here letting this women inflict such pain on me.  I was rigid with tension. 

When she finished that I sighed in relief, I could make my escape - but no, the 'scaling of plaque and calculus was the next step.   A horrible tool called a 'hand scaler' was driven across each tooth so strongly I assumed I wouldn't have any teeth left when she had finished.  I thought it sounded and felt like tooth extraction.  

Finally, finally, finally, when that was finished I had a green sludge of fluoride painted on my teeth and left for 2 minutes.  Even though I could only spit it out and not rinse for an hour, it was definitely the highlight!   That was it thank goodness!! 

I had to prize my fingers from the edge of the chair to sit up!  'That was absolutely awful' I said.  'Oh it is not supposed to hurt, but this is your first time - next time will be much better'. 

Next time, what did she mean - next time!!! 

She then proceed to teach me about how to clean my teeth and all the new devices there are on the market to make it easier to keep them looking brilliant.  I will be buying every single implement and I will use them like a person obsessed.  

When she said 'See you in 6 months' I almost fell down the spiral staircase.  After paying and dragging my still rigid body to the car I phoned Mr G to describe my past hour and a half.  He said I was exaggerating and maybe I am and maybe I am not...but let me just put it to you this way, I am not looking forward to my next session.  I will need a tranquiller dart I think!

I was so cheerful when I went in and left a shuddering wreck of a woman!!! But hey, I now have the pearliest white, shiniest, glamorous teeth in town!!!  Yep, there was an upside!!!  I liken it to childbirth really!

OPERATION RESULTS

                I'll be back!

Well, I did say I would report back to you when I had my last visit with the Dr.  I was very keen to hear what he had to say,

I visited him at the surgery in November.

 'Ummmmmmmm.    Hold you arms this way, that way.   Ummmmmm.  You'll need to have that side done again' 

DING, DING, DING Red alert!!!  I was fearing those words and now I heard them.  You see, the left side is astonishingly brilliant.  I have the underarm of a thirty year old.  But the right side although it is devoid of the excess flesh, is just not quite right side of 'completely devoid'!  

Oh darn!!!  In a way it is lucky I had a good experience in the hospital last time so I am not that worried but it is just such an inconvenience.  So next May ladies I do the whole thing again to get my desired underarms.........

I am getting so old that perfect underarms seem like a weird and peculiar desire!!!! 

Oh well, I have come this far and so the journey continues... I will have to keep busy at the gym to keep all that area trim and tight!!!  So yes, there are benefits in this long drawn out saga.  I'll keep you posted.

HOME RENOVATIONS

I am dreaming of rainbows

Yes, we are at it again.  Last time I wrote about this topic I said that it could ruin my marriage.  Well, this time Mr G tried to kill himself and then me!!!! 

Electricity is not a thing you play around with and with all the carefullness in the world Mr G decided to come up close and personal with a live powerpoint.  As he yelled and flew across the room, my daughter and I looked on horrified.  He was OK thankfully but it could have turned out badly.  

Then a few days later as I was helping to remove a magnetic board from the wall it moved upwards and knock the family crest which spun down and hit me on the head.  This crest weighs as much as a brick and was like a sledge hammer blow.  

As a crept around the house with my hands on my head saying things like 'this is really bad, I mean this is really dreadful' and Mr G saying 'Oh you'll be alright'.  I took my hands away to find they were coated with blood, my hair was bright red and there were red gushes down my forehead.   I had a feeling the damage would be bad!!!  After washing away the blood and applying a cold pack to my head I managed to avoid the hospital for some stitches.  I eyeball that crest now, with sheer dislike!!

But our new painting and flooring job gives me such delight the dramas were worth it...I say this only because we are still alive to enjoy it though!!!! Ha!

GATHERINGS

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM US TO YOU

Well, folks I have met up with Lana a few times over the past few months due to our shared granddaughters end of years activities..... the Kindy and Dance Academy spectaculars.  These events are what we grandmothers live to enjoy.  

Miss C graduates from Kindy with her dad (my son) and mum (Lana's daughter)

Miss C took to the stage like a pro this year. Last year had her from peering from behind the curtains to this year - taking to the stage like she was born to it.  What a difference a year makes.  The Dance School was her 4 minutes of fame.  

                        A little dinosaur

Centre stage she played a dinosaur in the prettiest green tutu you have ever seen and told her mother that she loved the stage and didn't want to get off.  Who knows where all this could lead?

Lana is in fine form and very busy with a new business venture which is why she hasn't had the time to share with you at the moment.  Travelling and organising means her heart and energies are being directed to that while it gets going so I look on in awe as she tackles something yet again. 

Good luck Lana as you embrace another challenge

WORK CHRISTMAS LUNCH

The great bunch of people I work with.

WHAT DO YOUR CLOTHES SAY ABOUT YOU

Well, that's the name of Trinny & Susannah's book on clothing help!  But have you ever wondered what you clothes do say about you.  Do they say I am fun and interesting or are they shouting, tired and boring!!!!  They might be saying I am expensive so I must show style or they might say I don't have any taste in clothing at all. 

Well, you have to think about it and when you are older and wiser it is a challenge that's for sure.  What in the heck do you wear to help you retain your youthfulness?  There is the fine line between looking ridiculous in trying to look hip (and I admit I do go there) or  trying to look 'within your age group' !  Ha, who wants to be respectable if that means boring.

Self Portrait - special record of me wearing a dress!!  My first one in decades!

I don't want to look or be boring.  I imagine myself in the future as an old old woman wearing incredible combinations and flowers in my hair as I try to avoid the geriatric  look. 

If I can't wear Chanel that WOULD scream style - then I'll opt for oddball!

But seriously, I think we all want to look stylish and beautiful but it is hard when you are grappling with an - dare I say it - older body.  I know a lot of women say they can wear what they bloody well like now they are older - and whilst this is absolutely true it is a bit of cop out to give up!!  

There are lots of lovely shops that cater for our shape and really, the fashion industry  have realised we are out there and we want style.  There are a couple of really good options -  Blue Illusions has a terrific selection of flattering stylish clothing that anyone would be proud to be seen in.  

Try looking at Metalicus with their layers upon layers of interesting shapes and colours - take your cheque book though!!!  I am a little bit in love with Charlie Brown's glorious fabrics and trendy styles.  Look around your shopping centre and discover the shop that delivers the clothes that will say what you want them to say. 

The thing is never to be shy.  Get the accessories happening and let your clothing reflect your inner you.  But for goodness sake don't be boring.

LET'S GET FIT         

Well I wrote the bit about having extra pounds as a good thing before I launched into let's get fit.  I have only lost another couple of pounds since my last blog and whilst this seem a miserable amount I am actually as fit as a fiddle and firming up.  So there is the conundrum!!!  I go to the gym often - and the last three weeks have been doing body attack followed by KiMax - 2 hours of hard core.  For two whole hours of jumping, running, punching and side kicks I am on such a high when I leave.  

Exercise provides me with some sort of inexplicable vim and vigour that nothing else does. Honestly it does - try if for yourself.

Just because you are older don't be ashamed or embarrassed about going to the gym.  Just get your body moving and have a great time.  I must say I feel pretty proud of my wiser body as I leap and bound like the young ones.  There is something very empowering about that, strange as it may seem!

So as I regale stories of my 'gym going' I am really trying to inspire you to take a chance, and risk a launch into a world where agelessness is given to you in hourly doses.

So get started, keep motivated and get your endurance happening.

MOVIES - loved both of these.....

GOOD OLD AUSSIE - RED DOG

What a great little Australian film even if the star was actually American - and I'm not talking about the dog here..  Josh Lucas, he was meant to be a Amercian in the film, is totally divine.  How have I missed out on noticing him before. The dog was absolutely brilliant - but I believe there were a few dogs!!  it is a feel good movie - but take it from me - it is tears at the end. 

VERY WOODY ALLEN - MIDNIGHT IN PARIS 

I really got into this feel good movie.  Owen Wilson stars and is fantastic in this delightful adventure that has you smiling from start to finish.  A must see.

WORDS OF WISDOM

For a sweet, simple and to the point  here is a lovely quote:

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful  - N V Peale

I wish you a very happy, healthy and safe and beautiful Christmas and also wish you every dream come true in the New Year.

We'll be seeing you then....

Love

Well, Hi there Wise Women,

'Long time no see' over here in Wise Week - but I have been trying to write bits of interesting information in the new section of Daily Blogs.

So you can catch up with me there at the moment -  click over to Daily Blogs for a bit of updated Wisewomensworld.....

Looking forward to catching up with here shortly for a long overdue Wise Week - but for now check out Daily Blogs. 

Don't forget to look at the list at the right of the blog for previous blogs.  Or use the calendar to go back even further.  

You can even do that here at well and find out what I was doing 3 or 4 years ago......have fun discovering new and old things!!!! 

DAILY BLOGS

See you soon

Love G

Hi Wise Women.....

It is terrific to see you back and you have been wondering where we have been I am sure.  Well, busy, busy, busy and because our Blogs take a while to write up - I have put up Daily Blogs we can keep in touch more or less Daily!!!!  We'll try to pop something up to keep you entertained more often!!! 

So check out our Daily Blogs......

Love Gigi