Erin's birthday...

Erin turns 15 today and becoming a young lady before our eyes.

We celebrated with cake and gifts and she tells me she had a good day.

I am particularly proud of this cake, we made it together yesterday and had fun building this rainbow masterpiece.

 Trying to get a smile out of Erin these days a bit harder than building the cake.

Wet holidays...

Erin's first day of her 3 week school holidays and I had to go into the city for a forum.

Not any old forum but the 10th anniversary celebration of Transfusion Nurses in Vic/Tas health services through the Blood Matters program.

I had agreed to make a poster of my own achievements and it was well received. I had a lot of help from the graphic designer in our marketing dept which sits within the IT department. I felt a bit silly on the train and walking the city streets carrying the large cardboard tube.

I did get to start another book on the train, and I have realised why I havent done much scrapping might be due to the fact this book is the 27th for the year. No wonder my recent eye test showed a slight deterioration in my vision. 'Address Book' is by Jane Clifton and is about the 34 houses she lived in during the first 60 years of her life, quite well written and I'm enjoying it thus far.

Also I had booked up on Foxtel the telemovie called 'Sisters of War' and watched it the other day. Such a good story which was based on true accounts of 2 women caught up in terrible circumstances in New Guinea during WW2. I was sobbing by the end and keep thinking about their stories. See it if you can but keep your hanky close by.

I am having the next 2 days off with Erin as she turns 15. Today while I was gone she died her hair black as she has been nagging to do and did a good job. No mess left behind and because she has so much thick hair and I only bought one pack, her hair looks black without the whole 'goth' effect. Tomorrow we will make a special cake to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday and then I have to go back to work.Hopefully we will get to do a few things on my regular days off.

If I was a school nurse I could have the same holidays with her.

Wintery...

maybe this cold weather is sapping my creativeness. Or my ability to write blog posts. Or maybe it is just that nothing very interesting is happening.

Work has been fairly busy and consistent. I am attending the 10th anniversary forum since the Transfusion Nurse role was created. I agreed to submit a poster outlining my achievements in the role since 2008. A few months ago that seemed like a harmless request and in my usual style I left it almost to the last minute to create it. Thankfully we have a graphic artist employed within the 'marketing' department and he has been extremely helpful with the creative ideas which have deserted me at the moment. The A0 size poster needs to be ready for next Monday and Rob assures me he will send it off to the printer...tomorrow.
I have also volunteered for a position on a working party with the Health Dept. When I got the agenda for tomorrows first meeting I was very daunted by the others in the group. I hope to be able to have some intelligent contribution but I am not confident. I think I will be in waaaay over my head.

50% of us felt the tremor last night, I was one of them. It was quite startling.

On a bright note I found an actual real-life scrapbooking shop in Ballarat. I was at a loose end on Monday and googled the Yellow Pages to see if a bricks & mortar store was nearby. Since our local shop closed its doors I have really missed browsing the aisles of an actual shop. The other shop that was not too far away (Werribee) has also closed and if Mornington was a bit closer I'd love to get lost in Paper 2 but that was 4 hours of driving I couldn't be bothered with. So I was surprised when I came across The Imagination Factory in the listings. I was a bit trepidatious as I travelled there wondering if the store would be any good and was thrilled when I got there and it was WONDERFUL!
The store was loaded with stock and I had a lovely browse and picked up the odd thing or twenty. As I said to Tracey while on line shopping is good there is nothing like picking up some new paper and seeing things up close. I'll still shop at Chandon in Geelong when I'm down that way but this new find sparked my enthusiasm. I'll share the goodies as I use them.

Look at that, I didn't think I had anything to say.

Queens birthday...

Today has been a public holiday for us. Nice to have a bonus sleep in but it always throws our routine off.  Instead of going to tennis and guitar lessons and school, Erin has been studying for exams that will happen over the next few days.

I have been recovering from another bout of mastitis and am booked for a mammogram on Friday to see what's going on. Haven't breast fed for a loooong time but I dont want the girls to let me down now.

I completed 3 more layouts but am not entirely happy with one so I am going to add a bit more before declaring it finished.

number 21



number 22

I have 4 to finish so am feeling on top of this challenge at the moment.

It has been very cold and wet lately so it was nice to sweep up the leaves in some sunshine today. We did not venture out on the bike today even though the sunshine was enticing, we heard on the news tonight a pillion died in a crash with a car nearby on a route we often take. Our thoughts go out to that family whilst remembering to be careful following our passions.

What to do...

when its raining cats and dogs, raining buckets, raining like we might need an ark.

Scrapping of course, between dashing in and out to the library, school, work for a short while and the shops. I managed 3 more layouts but it has been way too grey to capture them.

So I am caught up with one layout a week, with more ideas swirling around in my head. Hope to get  more done while I am in the mood.

Goodbye May...

First day of winter!

But we have already had scarf and coat weather. And needed our umbrellas. And had the heater running hot.

When the first day of winter is sunny and mild what does that mean for the rest of the season?

Mowbray...

A nearby private school has gone into liquidation throwing the school community into turmoil. Rumours have circulated over the last few months about the school being in debt and closing. This week the news broke on national news confirming what had been rumoured.

I am thankful that Erin's position is secure, her school is doing well. I attended the AGM tonight and the figures are all good. I caught the last bit of an interview with the principal on ABC radio this afternoon and he was full of concern for the students and families but I missed what, if any, impact it would have on our school. At the meeting tonight he dispelled any stories of our school taking over the debt/taking over the school/building portables on the oval/saving them from their dilemma. We are only able to take on 12 extras and the priority was the seniors. Mowbrays' 1000 students must be very distressed by all of this and the impact on the community will reach further than the school itself.

Time will tell their fate.

Incredible...

I have a new phone, an android called the Incredible that I am slowly learning to get the most from.

I'm still on a low fee plan but this one allows me to have apps & access to the internet. It has been been Incredible so far.

I have had some coaching from Cal and now know how to make calls & send messages and even take photos. I've added personalised ring tones to all the family members and am using some apps for weather, facebook and twitter. Chris & I have been drawn into a game called Logos quiz and we are progressing through the levels. Try it out on your device and test your knowledge, you'll be able to waste time like we have.

I tried taking pics of the layouts I finished this weekend

(18)

(19) for Hayley

(20) also for Hayley

I was very happy with the photo quality when I printed up the Mothers day pics and these look pretty good but it was harder to get the layouts straight. I'll work on that.

The weekend had been grey and dreary after Fridays relentless rain. We had between 40 and 50 mls fall over the day and night. I had to make a dash from the car to the chapel then from the chapel to the Bowling Club in pouring rain. The funeral was very well attended by the various organisations that Peter had been involved with. The friend giving the eulogy was floundering to portray Peter as the generous, humerous man that he was. A few others stepped up to fill in the gaps and we got a better insight to the many facets of him. I had forgotten that Peter had played the trumpet in the music ensemble and in early shows that Hayley was involved in.

Another reminder to enjoy life while we are here and to make the most of all opportunities,

"We should live until we die"

Week 21 already!...

Can only put up 2 more layouts and I'm behind a little. I've been busy & distracted



Number 16

For my album, from my childhood

Number 17

 and a recent one showing the growth in the front garden.

I also finished the scarf using the Selena yarn, Erin put tabs on it before it was even finished.

I like its soft ruffly texture.

Callum had his application day for the Armed Forces yesterday. The idea was he would apply for Vehicle Mechanic and get his trade qualifications that way. He wont be able to progress at this stage as he falls beneath their 'strict BMI policy'. Seems he might snap like a twig and needs to put on about 6 kgs to reach the minimum. He can reapply in 6 months if he wants to. His food consumption is already keeping my grocery bill high as it is, maybe I should try Combantrim.

In sad news another friend has succumbed to cancer, at just 48 his battle with a brain tumour was unwinnable. Another funeral on Friday, thats the third one and now ends the round of threes. Thanks.

Colour run...

One of the better tips I have had to keep on running is to have a goal such as a fun run or race to keep you motivated.

I have found this to be exactly what I needed. When I have a race booked I keep up the training. I like to see my results and hope to keep improving on my times.  I have also found that I dont like to keep repeating the same circuits over and over.

So I am looking for races in different venues to keep me interested. Participating in the Mothers Day Classic was fun because Hayley joined me but I dont really want to do the 'Tan' again. I've done it. Many of the races in Melbourne are on this same track. I was pleased to see that the Lara Fun Run in November is on a different course, still in Lara. I had an offer to go camping on that weekend but when that fell through I am looking forward to that race again.

Iwas looking for some races to do between now and November and found one in July around a track beside the Maribyrnong River. A running blog was talking about color runs which sounds like a fun idea to keep the racing fresh and fun. But it is only in the States at the moment but if it were to come to Australia, I'd like to join in.

So I'm still on the lookout.