Train(ing)...

I had to go into the city for a training forum today so I decided to go on the train. As usual it was torturous with delays, cancellations and unreliable signals. We spent some frustrating time in a dark tunnel going nowhere. I don't know how people do that trip on a daily basis.  I was late, which I hate, and missed my morning coffee, which added to my grumpy state.
The only good thing about the extended time spent on the train was that I read a book lent to me by my niece. The Giver by Lois Lowry is aimed at an adolescent audience but was a really good read and I can see it being used as a text prompting much discussion.

Next time I'm going to drive myself and even if the traffic is frustrating I won't have to put up with smelly people squashing me, I'll have a seat and I can vent with the radio turned up loud. I might not get any reading done but I hope to be home quicker and less grumpy.

Hot tennis...

We played a couple of good games of tennis tonight despite the intense heat of the day but as the sun set and the temperature was still about 30 degrees, about 5 kinds of flying insects started to bombard us. The cicadas and other bugs hovering around the bright lights  and our heads made some shots very challenging. I'm very glad that we had 20 mls of rain earlier in the week so I didn't have to squeeze in watering the garden after this hot day before I headed down to the courts. This freaky hot day is over and it looks like we won't have another for a while.

Acknowledgement...

Today was the hospital AGM at which I was to be presented an award.

This recognition was a Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Achievement. I was honoured to receive this acknowledgement of the work I do in the role of Transfusion Nurse. I still think that most people have no clue as to what that involves but someone has noticed the work I do and the benefit it has for the Health Service.

Yay me!

A very colourful run...

(I so badly want to post pics of today's glorious run but alas I haven't worked out my problem yet.)

Hayley came with me and took about 500 photos of all the colourful action. We dashed around the 5km course at Flemington racecourse and got covered in colourful clouds of colour. They added a hill and a sprint down the main straight. The grass was quite difficult to negotiate but we managed. At the finish they had a festival area where we were bombarded with more paint and enjoyed the fun. They even had a blow off area to clean up before the trip home. All this fun benefitted the para olympians.

It was  the best most fun 'fun run' I have ever done.

Tennis with High Tea...

today was the High Tea Tennis Tournament. This inaugural event was run to raise funds for Djerriwarrh Health Services.

The day was very well run and the weather was perfect. My partner and I only won 1 of our 4 matches but had a lot of fun in the process. Playing on grass is a lot different to the synthetic surface we play on on a Monday or Thursday night, the bounce is not as high and the uneven surface can catch you running the wrong way. Of the 96 women who played about 90 had a hit and a giggle and just enjoyed the day, the other 6 were determined to smash and drive to win. My best win for the day was a bottle of Chardonnay from the raffle. At least I didn't add to my sunburn which is subsiding nicely.

these girls played the whole day in their costume, that was to distract us from the fact they had never played tennis before.

I wanted to post some photos from the day but apparently have exceeded my 1G limit for this blog. I am going to try to work something out so I can continue journalling this way. Any hints on how to do this without spending money which is what they are wanting at Googleland. I'll just ask Google first if there is a way around this little problem...


edited to add: I now have pictures!!!!

Painting with a hint of...

sunburn.

I painted the newly denuded pergola yesterday on what was a sunny pleasant day. Too bad I thought about the sunscreen a little late and ended up with sunburnt arms. I could start a new trend. Have you seen tattoo sleeves that end at the wrist? Well now I have the equivalent in redness, sunburn sleeves that end at the wrist where my gloves were. I am really cross with myself for getting burned but am pleased the whole structure is now freshly painted and ready for the roofing sheets to go on.

While I was painting I couldn't help but think about Sarah Cafferkey's mother and how she is coping with the loss of her daughter in such awful grizzly circumstances. Her life will never be the same, how will she go on without her beautiful child. These thoughts haunted me all day. Our little town is abuzz with this story. Seems everyone knew her or is related to her or went to school with her or knew the mother of her ex ex boyfriend, etc etc. What we can't get over is the how and the why. Our town should be known for the Strawberry & Cherry festival or the Farmers Market or the way we rally around for  someone in need, not for this shocking news.

Saying goodbye...

We went to Gordon's funeral today and it was a poignant affair.

I was impressed by the celebrant who did a very nice job of farewelling Gordon with some reflection and sage words of advice. Lauren was very brave and spoke about her father and mother and her childhood memories with poise and grace. During the photo montage Lauren had chosen some of her father's favourite musical songs to listen to, one of them being Eidelweiss. After we had watched, laughed and sniffed, the celebrant made a very interesting observation. She thought that Eidelweiss was a very fitting tune for a farewell. During the song when it gets a bit hard to sing the family steps in for support and then the community steps in for support also. Much like when someone is grieving family and community support is so important.

I felt a bit lost when my mother died, without parents to turn to my sisters, family and friends became so important. Lauren does not have any siblings but is surrounded by family and friends who will help her through this difficult time. She has nursed her father for some years now and there will be a huge gap without that responsibility.

 

Thoughts...

Our thoughts tonight are with Lauren who lost her father today. He had been very unwell over the past few weeks and she had cared for him diligently. Without siblings it all fell to her and now she feels the acute pain of losing both her parents.  Erin has been messaging Michael for comfort over losing his grandfather and I remember that lost feeling also.

RIP Gordon.

A sunny weekend...

has ended.

I played tennis yesterday and had a lovely social game. Erin spent the whole day at the Djerriwarrh Festival and came home late, after the fireworks. I missed out this year as she was with her friends. I really like to watch fireworks and they usually put on a pretty good show.

So today I spent some time with my tennis widow husband. We were in the back garden making a plan for replacing/painting the pergola roof and got stuck into some pruning. We lingered under the shady vine covered verandah and patted ourselves on the back for the progress of the garden thus far. We didn't know we were being watched

 We have made a couple of nice areas to linger in and once the roof is re-done it won't matter if it is hot or wet on Christmas Day we will be OK.

On Friday I made 2 more pages, I am inching toward my goal

42

43

News & nearly news...

News in, the new neighbour moved in on Friday and it has been all quiet on the home front. Hayley's friend was in the removalist team and provided some information, an older woman on her own. I've barely seen or heard her in the last few days, quite a good result.

I made this card for the tennis coach and his wife,

They are expecting their 3rd child any day now, Steve let slip that this one is a boy to add to their two girls. Maybe tennis on friday will be a washout or a babyout. I punched those little elephants from a thin foam which to my surprise slipped into the punch and worked well.

I also have 2 more layouts to share

Reluctant Relayer, no: 40

number 41

I am getting myself into a groove within my new space, popping in randomly to create when I feel like it. Today I was looking for a particular die I had used on this Turbo layout and couldn't find it anywhere. I went to look in the waste bin but it had been efficiently emptied for bin night tonight. I ran out to the street doing my best bin scab impersonation and found it amongst the paper scraps. I'll have to stop being so tidy!

The biggest news I have tonight is that Hayley has resigned. She no longer has the will to continue and her desire to travel is stronger than sticking it out at something she hates. She is going to pick up work so she can save and jet off asap. I am a bit sad for her that she didn't get her qualification but we will support her in whatever direction she takes.

I will head back to work tomorrow after a lovely 5 days off and thank the idiocy that gives us a public holiday for a horse race. I wont say no to a day off, but don't get involved in any sweeps or betting. They had a perfect day for the tennis tournament on the grass courts and we had just 6 drops of fat rain after some spectacular thunder.

Two more days then another rest. Its a great life.

The difference...

The saying goes 'what a difference a insert time frame here makes'.

I was going to start out with 'what a difference a year makes' when I put up these two pics.

Lara 2011

 

Lara 2012

 

Perhaps that is what I will call the scrapbook page.

Another race report...

this time from the Lara Fun Run.










I only decided on Thursday to participate in this years run and I'm very glad I did. It was a beautiful morning and set out on a really good course. Last years race was run in cold and wet conditions around the township of Lara. This year they changed the course to Serendip Sanctuary.

We started off from the Pirra Homestead (which at one point in its history was a home for wayward girls) and then returned to recover on the expansive lawns.

I was really happy with my pace and endurance and enjoyed the run. My time was 4 mins faster than last year. This year the conditions were better and my fitness has improved. Still not a winning time but I'm pleased.

 On the way back to the car I snapped this pic of the grain with the cars parked in a cleared area, nice of them to do that for 690 participants.

Now I am showered, refreshed and refuelled I'm off to enjoy the rest of this magnificent day.

Now it's November...

Last night we attended another Trivia Night, this time to raise money for my nephew's Cambodian Campaign.

He and his team mates are heading over to do all sorts of good works for endangered wildlife and orphans or endangered orphans and wildlife or endangered orphaned wildlife. Something like that.

You can read all about it here: Khmer Rode Rage.

You might remember he participated in the Central Australia event, pedalling in their carbon neutral vehicle from Darwin to Melbourne.

Anyway, the trivia night was a very well run event but it did drag on a bit with the auction items and we all got a bit tired after working or being busy all day which sapped our competitive spirit a little. The trick is to keep things moving along but to get the cash without too much pain. Our table came in a very credible 4th, just 5 points off the first place getters. A pretty good effort. We had a good time and I got to wear my new jacket so it was win - win all round.

And I think they will have raised a good sum to help them with their good works in Cambodia.