Preparations...

Instead of having a day of scrapping & catching up with my sister, I spent the day cleaning dust off shelves so my guests will be impressed when they come for Hayley's birthday.
They'll notice right????

She was otherwise engaged so I had an extra day that I hadn't planned on, probably for the best but I don't feel much more organised than I was before.

It got me to thinking about the milestones that are upcoming in our lives.

First there is Hayley's 21st. Just 3 months later will be Cal's 18th. A bit of a breather then its Christmas at our place this year. In January we will celebrate our silver wedding anniversary & in February Chris will turn 50.
By March I might just have a breakdown or you will hear a giant sigh of relief. I (& my liver) will have survived copious amounts of champagne toasts.

Maybe I should start getting into condition by popping a champers...Cheers!

Cranky...

We are all a bit cranky...a bit on edge.

Wintry weather means sore throats, skinned knees, missed employment opportunities, & meals that don't turn out as you wish niggle at us until we are scratchy with other, each minor problem causes our collective to be ragged.

I wanted to post this last night but couldn't get on to a computer so went to bed early instead to try to shake off the irritation.

A fresh new day could mean a new outlook for us all.

A good weekend...

Mr Fixit managed to service 2 cars this weekend & I only had to go to 2 Auto spares shops to get a replacement part. He doesn't know his own strength at times. It must be something on the Y chromosome that makes them give it just one more turn. And I hate being sent to get parts...I don't know if it's the right bit & inevitably I have to ring to confirm, usually with a young man looking at me in pity.

But I had a very nice lunch with my colleagues for a 'Christmas in July'. It was a very nice way to spend a Sunday. Next weekend will be spent preparing for Hayley's 21st celebration the following weekend. I try not to be stressed by such events but I know I will be in a state of high tension until it's all over.

Grammar...

Yous guys all know I am not usually a Grammar Nazi but...

Little things irritate me. The improper use of your/you're, people who say yous, & those who add a k to words ending(k) in ing. It also irritates me when I see spelling mistakes in the school newsletter, typos I can understand but if it's repeated then they are just dumb.

But I nearly fell off my chair when I saw this mistake on an official government form for the Tax Office. The form asks you to fill in 'the amount you earn't in the last 12 months'!!!!!!

Earn't?!? Where did they get that word from??? What are they contracting with the apostrophe??? Are they stupid???? When I read this I nearly fell off my chair. How did that get past spellchecka?

Arty...

Another of Erin's artwork made at school.



Hayley was quick to snaffle it up for her room. I think it is really good, but of course I am her mother.

I have got a bad case of 'can't be bothered' so I'm pleased someone is being productive.
I'm off to yet another funeral tomorrow, this time of a colleague who worked at the hospital for 27 years. Sadly she was about to go on long service leave before retiring when she was diagnosed with lung cancer & spent the last 8 months of her life going through treatments.

Message is... live a good life, its not a dress rehearsal, you never know what around the corner.

Fractions...

The fractions are circling around in my brain after last nights homework with Erin, hopefully they are still circling around in her brain & will embed so she can help her children with their homework!
(or better still understand so she can quickly work out a bargain when out shopping).

Tonight we have a parent info evening about the upcoming sex-ed program. I wonder what will be circling around in my brain after that.

Retro..

Rewarding Hayley for all her housework on Fri, today we headed out to Daylesford for a bit of lunch & some retro shopping.

Retro always makes me smile to myself, especially when I see the table & chairs set we had as a newly married couple. We bought the set for about $25 out of necessity & today at the market it was $325!
I was secretly pleased when I saw plates & serving dishes that have been handed down from my mother & grandmothers now fetching a great price.
It just makes me think I should hang on to some items that I would normally pass on to the op-shop as to someone they could be a treasure.

Hayley had a ball rummaging through the vintage clothing & picked up a great top. I was very tempted to buy a coat as it was a chilly 8 degrees in Daylesford!

Now I'm off to watch the Masterchef finale.

Wine...

Posting after a few wines may not be such a good idea...

but having a few wines at the end of the week has been.

I spent the day with my sister scrapping some of the travel album I'm putting together from my Mexico trip in '81. Then I came home to...a lovely clean house! Hayley had cleaned up a storm today, dusting, vacuuming, dishes, laundry & other cleaning, then went to work tonight at Taco bill...what is she up to????

Just means for me I don't have to do much tomorrow which is a lovely feeling. Hope I don't wake up tomorrow with a sore head from tonight's imbibing.

(Don't think I've ever hit the back space button so much in one post as I have now, might have to proof read tomorrow!)

Boo...

Got my biopsy results today, & to my disappointment its another BCC. This means more surgery at the Skin & Cancer Foundation & hopefully another good result.
My genes & the Australian sun have not been a good mix.

The holidays are over...

Back to school, back to work, back to hustle & bustle, routines...bleh.

I put together this layout to remind us of our holiday fun.



Some of us have gone back to work & school. Our friends, the Medwells, have hooked up their new van & have headed off to the very tip of Australia - Cape York. Follow them on their adventure over the next 12 weeks via their blog. Hopefully we will get to see lots of the Australian countryside as they head north to warmer weather.

Happy travelling guys!

Barbie?...

This is for you Louise...



Erin & I saw these Barbie dolls in a display in the city on Friday.
We also saw a Marilyn Monroe, a Carol Burnett, & a Malibu, & a Glinda the Good Witch & the original 60's Barbie.

But we knew who would have appreciated the Capt Kirk doll more than anyone else.

Watery fun...

With bottled water being a very controversial subject at the moment, the ad execs have come up with some very clever advertising to make us forget the consequence of drinking said water. Enjoy anyway...

Ancient history...

On Wednesday Erin & I went back in time about 150 years to experience life from the goldfields of Ballaarat at 'Sovereign Hill'. We had an enjoyable day & spent most of our time marvelling at how they survived the primitive conditions in their search for their fortune.


Today we went back about 2000 years when we visited the Pompeii exhibit at the Melbourne Museum. It has been another day of marvelling at how they lived without modern amenities. The short 3-D film showing the explosion & smothering of ash was quite an eye opener.


I know sometimes we can look back nostagically at ancient times but today & Wednesday proved to me I would quite like to be back in those times when we didn't have to queue for every little thing, or battle crowds.




Erin was taken aback at how busy the city was, & didn't cope that well with the jostling of crowds as we tried to get a train home, at least we got a seat when our feet were throbbing from the days walking.

The holiday sight seeing has reinforced to me that I hate crowds & I hate queueing, but we have had fun in our adventures.

Now back to reality & the present day.

Photograph...

I gave the waterproof mascara a good workout today. Going to Gwen's funeral was too close to home, with Karen losing her mother & Lucy losing her Grandmother. I think Hayley felt is just as keenly as I did, identifying with Lucy's pain.

During the lovely service they played this George Harrison song while we watched a slide show of Gwen's life & legacy.

Ev'ry time I see your face,
It reminds me of the places we used to go.
But all I've got is a photograph,
And I realise you're not coming back anymore.

I can't get used to living here,
While my heart is broke, my tears I cried for you.
I want you here to have and hold,
As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

Well that was the end of us, Hayley & I were sobbing, doing the ugly crying. We were wringing out our hankies by the end, with a mascara trail behind us.

I remember that feeling of 'My mother just died, why is the world still turning as normal? why hasn't it been announced on the news?'

In time the acute pain will ease, grief will take its course, but for now it just plain hurts.

Sovereign...

Since we didn't win any of the $90 million lotto that was up for grabs last week Erin had a go at boosting the coffers with a little pan handling at Sovereign Hill today.

No luck there either but thanks for trying sweetheart.

Vale...

The mothers are passing on... three women who were strong, loving mothers & grandmothers are no longer with us. No longer in pain but no longer able to share in their families lives. They will be sorely missed by their daughters, grand-daughters, life partners & friends. To lose your Mum is a huge blow & I feel the loss for the women I know.

Vale Gwen, Norma & Merle. Say hello to Margaret for me.

Sunday stories...

Another one from the archives...

I was very involved in Girl Guides during my childhood. Camps, patrol leader, activity badges & Jamborees meant loads of great experiences & learning opportunities. The whole structured rule following hierachy suited me really well, where effort & application was rewarded & recognised.

After guides came Ranger Guides. Same structure but aimed at an older age group. During my time with Rangers I had the opportunity to go overseas. We fundraised & saved over a whole year to spend 4 weeks in Mexico!

We went in a small group with 2 adult leaders & travelled via Hawaii & Los Angeles. We stayed at an international guide house in Mexico City & travelled to the country areas & climbed pyramids, ate local foods, visited silver shops & craft markets. For a 17 year old it was an amazing experience.

I was looking for my box of memorabilia to add bits to my scrapbooking of the Mexican trip & it unearthed a flood of memories. I was/am such a nerd - as I looked through I could not believe the amount of stuff I bought home with me! Along with my Disneyland pass, an opera ticket, airline tickets & postcards there is also bus tickets, a lifesaver packet & a paper bag from Disneyland... I'm such a hoarder!

After 28 years I'm finally going to put all my photos & momentos into an album & try to remember the places & faces in the pics. Anita put me onto a great supplier for the 6x4 pocketed sleeves, so I've got quite a big job in front of me. Might take me another 28 years to finish!

A short break...

I've got 10 days off.

Doesn't that sound good...a whole 10 days off.

10 days to sleep in, watch movies, go on a few outings, play with friends & play the Sims -that's Erins list.
For me I want to sleep in, watch a few movies, go on a few outings, catch up with my sisters, & get organised! I want to clean a few areas that get tidied each week but need a real sort out. I've probably got enough jobs on my list to last 100 days though. I don't want Erin to back to school & say 'on my school holidays I helped Mum sort out the linen cupboard, clean the blinds, & scrub the back patio'.
Hopefully she will be full of stories of interesting things we did together & how she celebrated her birthday.

Ouch that smarts...

I saw the dermatologist today as a follow up to last years visit to the skin clinic. As quick as you can say 'that lesion looks suspicious' she had whipped out some local anaesthetic & was jabbing my nose to take a biopsy.

Local anaesthetic is terrific stuff once it starts working but it sure does make your eyes water (& swear silently to yourself) as it goes in. I'll get the result next week & we'll know what has to be done. I'm not looking forward to more surgery, I'm quite fond of patchwork patterns just not on my face.