Operation Roxy - In Progress

Saturday, December 31, 2005

2005 Wrap Up! (92kg)

Well here we are at the end of another year. I really wish I could say 2005 was a good year but for me and my family it has just been a hop from one struggle to the next one. To say I have appreciated the new friends I have made through here is a complete understatement.

I suppose I should start somewhere near the beginning huh

In January I moved from my beloved adopted home city of Sydney back to My Parents house in Melbourne. My mother was diving into depression and a breakdown and my Father had a bad shoulder and back injury that had finally decided it had done it's time. He needed an operation putting him out of work and Mum had finished work sometime in December of 2004 so It was time for me to come home and help out.

The 4 of us lived on my single persons (no dependents) Centrelink benefits which totalled less that $400 a fortnight for a few months! We went to quite a few charities for help especially since that money barely covered food for 4 adults the mortgage repayments were a major stress! I'd have to say the consensus beng the the salvo's have no heart! But our church and St Vincent De Paul were the only things that helped us keep a roof over our heads. It was such a stressful time.

I had trouble trying to find work down here - most salons being of the NSS standard and the rest having dodgy practices that I just couldn't live with. Starting my own business was not an option on such limited funds especially since I closed my other salon with nothing but some product (left in Sydney) at short notice in December 2004.

Apart from that Mum really needed me at home at this stage - life was not being kind to our family and I was missing my OH like Crazy!!! People thought we must have broken up but I am pleased to say we have managed to maintain our relationship even via long distance - this my friends is true love.

Throughout the year my brother has been involved with some nasty types, and has been quite a nasty type himself. He has been up to things he shouldn't be and the Gym and bulking up are his main objectives and nobody best get in his road. Our lives have not been one of harmony for MANY MANY years and I have to say this year things are getting better between us - maybe a sign of some maturity from both of us. He is looking good though with alot of bulk (pure muscle) and a dark tan (from working as a concretor this year)

Easter had us again at the Eas+erna+s in Melbourne and our company have now been named the official photographers. This was a much needed economic boost and helped us get through the Dutt0n Rally in QLD - The inaugral QLD event which followed immediately afterwards. OH and I enjoy doing these events immensely even though it is a very tiring experience at the time.

We decided to leave the Pulsar in Melbourne and borrow the Magna from Mum and Dad for our trip from Melbourne to Sydney - Then onto QLD and back to Sydney before I drove back alone to Melbourne. (I really do wish we could fly but with all our gear it's impossible! ) Well that was the plan anyway - around midnight somewhere between Holbrook and Tarcutta (read the middle of nowhere) we hit a tyre carcus from one of the many semi's that travel the Hume Hwy and got a float front tyre. While trying to change that in the middle of the road - in the dark after pulling 10 tonne of luggage out of the back we discovered that the control arm was busted also (fantastic!) Do you think ONE of those truckies stopped?? Of coure not! My OH the champion ended up changing the tyre in a dangerous situation in the middle of the highway by the light of my mobile phone! We ended up borrowing a car for the sydney - qld legs for safety reasons and hired a Commodore while we were in QLD (the people we borrowed the car off flew up and back)

In April I had the joy of working with my Dog Trainer from Sydney in a Seminar in Melbourne as a Photographer. The Seminar was very popular and others have been help this year since then that I unfortunately haven't been able to take part in but hopefully I can next year.

In May OH finally had project sleeper finished a deed that dragged on for over a year - I have to thank his friends and those that chipped in their assistance, without you he never would have had it running! www.projectsleeper.com

I also ran into my highschool best friend at maccas one fine day in May and though we arent as close as once we were - we are working on it! It just seems that we get so busy in this day and age doesn't it?

I completed my Ez Flow Masters in May and really just have fibreglass to do but since I never got asked for it in the salon I am only really doing it to finish the full butterfly and will most likely pursue that in the New Year.

I also now have qualifications in Waxing and Tinting obtained around the same time at Ez Nailz which is owned by my mentor.

June hailed the coming and going of the NSW Dutt0n and OH and I's 4th Anniversary! Hopefully by the 5th I might have a ring on that special finger (hint hint baby)

I spent all of June very sick with a Bacterial Gastro thanks to some bad salmon but it kicked started a plan of weightloss as I was 120kg and dropped to 114.5kg by the end of June.

On June 29th I started on Optifast at 114.5kg under the guidance of my doctor and I lost 4.3kg in my first week. This has kick started me!

I was also lucky enough to find forums at www.livinginthesuburbs.com where I have found help, support, chellnges and new friends. Please join if you decide on the weightloss journey!

July saw Dutt0n Rally Vic come and go and alot of shocked faces at the new me - now 15kg lighter than they last saw me. This was also the final round for this year and I am looking forward to the start of the next round in the New Year.

I went back to Sydney with OH and attended the Sydney International Beauty Expo - no money to spend - but I sitll enjoy them.

I finally found work in August but the salon had some practices I wasn't happy with and we parted ways in November, for me to start setting up my own new business I needed money from somewhere however so started work in a call centre where Dad had been working since July (ish) and Mum had been working for a few months. However it is Casual work and closed for over a month over Christmas so Mum and are are now out of reliable work again!

Come the end of August (after taking a diet "break" for the rallies and then a bad lot of infections) I saw the scales hit double figures! Nothing could contain my joy!

In September I completed the Creative Liquid & Powder and Brisa Gel Masters courses which were excellent. Though I am still waiting on my certificates.

In October I landed a free return flight to Sydney so of course I took it and enjoyed my time up there wandering the City and Manly (nearer to home) taking some carefree photos. I ended up Sick yet again after my flight home though with a major chest infection, Ear Infections in both ears, throat infoection, Asthma and Bronchitus. This again put me off the weight loss path for approx a month.

End of October I joined Genesis in Karingal and I really really love going there - at the same time I joined a Summer Blitz class - 8 weeks of training 3 times a week. My fitness has now improved dramatically! It was worth the extra layout.

In November I Had 2 weddings to attend - My good Friend Warrick got married first to a lovely woman named Teresa. Their wedding was fantastic and now I miss him as they have run away to Darwin again :(

And my first wedding as a photographer for a friends from DOL! The pictures turned out well and I am really happy with them. It was the perfect situation for my first time & I would like to buy more equipment and do more weddings in the future.

December saw my weight drop to it's lowest point at 89.8kg! I have put on weight over the month though with Mum's Birthday, Christmas Festivities and My birthday My final Weigh in this morning read at 92kg. I expect to be a little heavier tomorrow thanks to a late dinner and some drinks but Then I am right back into it for the new year.

Spending Christmas with the extended family was very special this year - our first one since My Nanna died and it brought up some wonderful memories. I don't think it will ever be Christmas without that big family gathering - certainly never feels like it anyway.

We're nearly back where we started at the beginning of the year though - Dad has Thankfully started a new job but with Mum and I both unemployed again the struggle has started. We are Praying 2006 is "Our Year" and hopefully it will be one that heralds success and happiness.

I am starting my own monile business in Frankston doing Nails, Waxing, Tinting and Spray Tanning called "Spoilt" and I am also about to start work as a company representative and trainer which is all comission based but looks fabulous. So wish me luck and send people my way!

Goodbye 2005 - And Good Riddance!

My first job for tomorrow is plan and assess my goals and resolutions - this year I'll do it SMART

Posted by Jadey :: 7:08 PM :: 9 comments