Finished my last uni project and did the final presentation on 9 November.  It was a huge effort - pretty much worked on it every spare minute I had.  Even had to take everything with me to my friend's wedding weekend (I was matron-of-honour).  Final night was an all-nighter - but I got it done!!

Pushed myself pretty hard though.  Been spending the last week relaxing and coming back to earth.  And now I can finally have a social life again!  Its sooo nice catching up with all my friends after so long in lockdown.

So the next thing on my list is the trip in February!  Bought myself a new suitcase last week so I'm really excited about that.  The boys have been all keen trying to work out how everything will work.  But fingers crossed it'll all be great!!

Now just waiting til the end of November for my uni results.  Wish me luck!!

Okay - I really should be doing my assignments right now.  And I will, very soon.  But first I wanted to whinge about them!

I have 2 assignments due on 2 November (11 days away), both for the same class.

• The first one involves measuring up an existing building, the soccer sheds on our uni oval, (see the picture) and drawing it in architectural drawing program (AutoCAD).  It's a pretty huge job.  I've already spent 3 hours just doing the measuring, and about 12 hours drawing - and realised today that I've missed a whole heap of stuff that I really need to include in this, so I'm not sure how long the rest will take.  I'm hoping no more than about 4-6 hours work.
• The second one is drawing and analysing an existing building.  I'm doing the Water's Edge Restaurant/ Gallery of Australian Design Pavilion.  I haven't done much more than take some photos and find the relevant journal articles.  I expect I've got at least 18 hours to go on that one, and probably need another visit to the site as well.

Then I have another major assignment due on 9 November - we have to design a retreat/house for the Dalai Lama.  It's a huge job.  I've pretty much decided on the design, but I have to draw it up (about 6 x A1 pages for the final presentation) and I have to make what has turned out to be 3 scale models of it.  I expect I've got 18-36 hours work left in that.

The biggest issue is that I'm in Adelaide from the evening of 5 November to 8 November for a friend's wedding!  So I'm aiming to get everything else finished before I go.  I'm aiming to get everything done by 2 November, but 3 November is a public holiday and a friend has offered to take the kids that day if I need her to - so I think I'll take her up on that.

Wish me luck!  And also that I don't have a complete meltdown between now and then!

The Soccer Sheds:

This is the Water's Edge Restaurant side of the pavilion (the Gallery of Australian Design is on the opposite side):

I met with the head of the architecture school today to see if it would be possible to go on our planned UK trip next year.  She said 'Yes'!!  In fact, she said "If you've booked it, you have to go"!!  She was really supportive and is being fantastic to help me work out what classes I need to do to finish my degree given they're changing the degree so significantly this year.

What a relief!  And now so exciting!

But first - I have to finish this semester.  My last assignment is due on 9 November, and I really can't wait to get through it all.  It's so huge... 

I'm in the middle of a dilemma and would appreciate insights and advice from my Minti friends.

My husband, his best friend and I have organised a nearly 3 week trip to the UK at the beginning of next year. We planned to go so that we were over there at the time of my husband and my first anniversary and at the time of my birthday (they are both 2 days apart) and we managed to buy plane tickets at an awesome price - with the condition that they are non-refundable, no name changes, no date changes.

Anyway, I have just discovered this week that my university are making dramatic changes to the way the study terms are next year, with the result that the first term is starting a month earlier than in previous years. So when we were planning to be away - which previously was just before uni began - is now in weeks 3-5 of term. That's usually a very busy time in the uni calendar. I fear that if I'm not there I will be pushed quite far behind, and possibly even fail the unit. If I fail the unit, I will be a year behind which puts me further away from achieving my goal of being an architect and working in a career that I love.

Until the beginning of next year, I won't know who the lecturers are. So I can't discuss it with them to find out if I can organise something to accommodate the trip until about 3-5 weeks before we are scheduled to fly out.

My husband is not coping with this very well. He's very concerned about losing the money we've already paid for our plane tickets. He has suggested no one going, which is not appealing, and he's suggested just he and his friend go - which I wouldn't mind, except for the fact he'd be away for our 1st anniversary and my birthday. The idea of not being with him for those events feels devastating to me. And if I had my way, I would really like to go too! The reason we chose to go to the UK rather than anywhere else is because that's where I wanted to go to see a special friend of mine as well as visit some places that are on my life goal list.

I'm at a loss as to what to do and would so appreciate others prayers, insights and advice to help me work out what to do. Thanks heaps!!

Wow - its finally all happened!  I'm married to my amazing BF - who I will have to get used to calling DH now!

Weather-wise we had a fantastic day.  Just wonderful.  Started off with the girls and I going to Maccas for breakfast, then my bridesmaids (BMs) came over and we transported all the vases and birds of paradise flowers to the reception place ready to set up.  First accident was me dropping one of the vases in the carpark at the club and it smashing completely.  Luckily one of my BMs went out and was able to find an identical replacement.  Phew! 

This is a piccie of the reception tables all set up.  The only thing missing is that the chairs were covered in black with orange sashes as well (was done before everyone arrived for the reception).

Then I had got a french manicure the day before, and the polish chipped and a piece fell off.  We spent the rest of the time before the wedding regluing pieces that chipped off and trying to stop me doing anything that would chip them further! The biggest problem of the day was our hairdresser.  She turned up an hour late (still not convinced that her story that she got stopped by the police for speeding explains being a whole hour late) which really threw off the timing for the day.  She also clearly had not paid any attention to my emails telling her what I wanted to do for my wedding hairstyle and asking her to bring the appropriate materials she needed (which she didn't do) - but I was determined not to let her spoil my day.   Thankfully I ended up with a hairstyle I was happy with and so did all my BMs and my daughters who were both flowergirls.

Here's me all dressed up and ready to go before the wedding:

We were 20 minutes late to the ceremony (I was impressed we'd managed to make up 40 minutes of time!) but it pretty much all went smoothly (though later than was intended) from there on in.  We had a lovely ceremony.  I was worried about crying at the ceremony (I bawled at my first wedding) but instead I giggled all the way through!  I was just so happy.

Here's some piccies of the ceremony:

After the marriage part of it, both DH and I made promises to the girls and DH presented them with necklaces as a reminder of the day.

After the ceremony, DH surprised me with an introduction that he read out in Italian and then English - as a reminder of his proposal - and then arranged for us to release 2 doves as a symbol of our marriage.

This is us and most of our wedding party (one of the groomsmen isn't quite in the picture) after  releasing the doves.  The cage / box they were in is in the front of the picture.

We then cut the cake in the church courtyard just after the ceremony so we could share it with all our friends who came to the ceremony but who we couldn't afford to ask to the reception.

This is us just after cutting the cake.

We then went off for photos (there are some great ones on the blog of our photographer: www.kellytunney.com.au) and then to our reception.  There were some lovely speeches, a great dinner, and at the end of the night Chris's family grabbed some of the birds of paradise flowers and made a guard of honour with the flowers held up like swords! (don't have any pics of that yet). 

Here is a picture of us doing our bridal waltz

A picture of me with my bridesmaids (in black) and another friend

So that's the whole day!  We headed off for our honeymoon on the Saturday and spent the last week aboard a cruise ship and visiting some South Pacific Islands.  Got home yesterday.  Now just got to get my land legs back again!!

Only 2 more sleeps til the wedding - on Thursday its the big day!  Can't believe its finally here!!  I must confess I'm looking forward to it being over cause there's been a lot of stress.  But I can't wait to marry my BF!

By the way, the hens night went really well.  I got taken to an African drum lesson by my bridesmaids - very cool.  Then we went into the city for drinks and dinner where a whole lot of other friends met up with us.  I really did drink a lot more alcohol than was good for me - was dizzy all the next day as a result.  But it was a fun night.

Here are some piccies!!

These are the African drums:

This is me in my hens night gear looking pouty:

And this is happy me with a cocktail!

Its so close!!  I've been pretty stressed.  But I think it's all coming together.  Gotta organise the wedding rehearsal, print the order of services and work out what to do for the menu cards (cause my printer broke today).  I think  that's the last of the big stuff.  The rest is just picking stuff up and dropping it off.

Going out in about half an hour to my hen's night.  Not sure what we're doing, cause my bridesmaids have kept it all secret.  But I reckon it should be fun!!

The wedding is coming together.  The big thing that I'm still stressing about is the music.  My friend who is playing the organ only got back from a 2 month trip to the UK last Friday, so I'm keen to get together with him soon to sort out music.  And I have 7 friends who are willing to sing in the choir at the service, but I have to sort out music for them as well.  Once that's done, I think I'll be feeling a lot better.

I haven't had a turn with the vertigo for a couple of weeks, but I'm still getting ear aches.  So I think things are improving, but I think the stress I'm under right now isn't helping.

Saw the knee specialist last Wednesday.  He reckons I've torn the cartilege in one if not both knees and has sent me for scans and is expecting to do an arthroscope after that (after the wedding!) to repair it.  I feel that was a very positive outcome.  I'm hoping the scans quite clearly show the issue so there's no confusion.

The good news is that I've managed to lose 4.8 kg! (at least, I think I have.  My scales are being a bit erratic).  So I'm pretty happy about that.  BF is starting to watch his weight as well (to help alleviate a back issue) so I think that's helping as we're both more aware of what we're eating together.

Ooh - its been a while since I wrote my blog!  Hmmm... I better get everyone up to speed.

I saw the ENT (Ear Nose Throat) Specialist at the beginning of December.  He confirmed my GP's diagnosis that I have been suffering from viral labyrinthitis and said that it should take about 6 months to go, and so by the end of January I should be better.  But he said that I've got to take it easy, and look after myself (eat well, exercise, not too much stress).  I do seem to be improving, but I had another turn last weekend, so I'm not jumping up and down yet. 

I have my appointment with the knee surgeon the week after next.  I'm hoping very much that he will be able to find out what on earth I've done to hurt my knees so much and can fix it.  I know the physios are very concerned that there doesn't appear to be a cause for the pain, but I haven't had any scans yet so maybe they'll show something.  Fingers crossed anyway.

All the wedding plans are the biggest focus at the moment.  Had a bit of a time with one of my bridesmaids (won't go into details) and now she's gone back to just attending the wedding, and I've asked another friend to take her place.  In a weird way, I think that is going to work better because the two bridesmaids I have now both know each other quite well, whereas before, the two girls I had didn't really know each other. 

We've booked the car, ordered the rings, bought the bridesmaid dresses, flowergirl dresses and the guys suits.  I just need the flowers, the favours, the guys shirts & ties, my tiara, girls jewellery, order of services and to sort out all the details with the various people (e.g. minister, photographer, MC).  My mum has taken on board organising the afternoon tea after the ceremony and my in-laws are hosting a drinks afternoon the day after so we can catch up with our out-of-town guests.

I still feel like I have so much to do.  My friend who is playing the organ for the service is currently in the UK and I have to wait for him to get back at the end of January before I can discuss music with him, so I don't yet even know what pieces of music I'll be walking in or walking out with. Aarrrgggh!  Stressy, stressy, stressy..... 

Its occurred to me that if money were no object, weddings would be a lot less stressful.  It is so much easier to walk in and say "I like that one" and just order it.  But when you think "I like that one" and then you have to think "But I can't afford it.  What can I do instead that is something like that", it becomes a lot more stressful.  

One thing I've definitely decided is that I want to make sure I have more than enough money to pay for my kids' weddings.  I don't want them to worry about where the money's coming from, or whether they can afford things.  I just want them to be able to go ahead and have their own fairy tale day without being stressed about cost. 

I still have my make up on from my make up trial today.  I've got to say, I'm feeling really excited about the wedding right now.  I keep singing "I feel pretty" (from West Side Story)!    I'm really looking forward to the hair trial I have booked on Friday night.  I think it will seem really real when I know completely how I'm going to look on the day.  I really will feel so much better when all the details are sorted out and all I have to do is turn up on the day.

Ooh - its been a while since I've been here!  Kind of feel like I've been just getting along of late.  Health is still the same - had an MRI a couple of weeks ago for this vertigo thing which came out inconclusive.  So now I'm waiting to see the specialist in about 3 weeks.  Knees still stuffed - been going to the gym almost every week day and that seems to be helping keep the worst of it at bay.

Been getting back on track with my weight loss again.  Having to use the gym for my knees has inspired me to get fit in general and I've started watching what I eat a lot more closely again.  I've done this a few times now, haven't I?!  Fingers crossed I'll actually stick with it this time.  I think it should help that I'm exercising as well.  Just under 4 months to the wedding - I'm hoping I can shed at least 5-10kg before then.  Be great if it were more, but I don't think I can quite manage that.

Work's a big load on my mind at the moment.  I'm finally back to full-time work, but not back to my old job.  I actually don't want to go back to my old job, but  I also don't know what I do want to do.  Which probably doesn't help.  I'm looking around to move jobs out of that area entirely, but we'll see what happens. I'm meeting with my boss and my big boss next week to talk about what happens next with me.  I think that'll let me know what direction I should face in.