Tuesday 29 March 2016

Wordless Wednesday : Egg-streme Shell shock !

Egg-citment

EGG-travaganza

This minion was egg-static 1st Prize in school Easter raffle.They had to carry it home on the bus.




 .





 
We organised a little Egg hunt with 2 friends from school.


We decided to sort of colour code the Eggs , to beat the scramble ... 
Not egg-actly - as Purple had a few egg-stra it seems.

 

Now it's time for me to get cracking on egg-ercise !
I ova indulged !


   

   

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Wordless Wednesday : Band of Brothers

The Big Bro's drums ...had to help pay off new mini cymbals last week ! He's in a real band in Melbourne.

This image is a few years old and he is waiting for these old drums of big Bro to be set up - lucky the neighbours are a km away.


Twins on SAX at school ...oh my ears !

Now they want Guitars !



   
   

Monday 21 March 2016

Mystery, Dreams, Challenges and Obsession

I am fortunate to have two BFF from my school days. We have been loyal friends (over 35yrs). since we started high school or shortly thereafter.

At the end of primary school my best friends went to different high schools in the district. It didn't take too long to make new friends but I still never loved high school because I was treated like an outcast and bullied due to the genetic disorder I'm afflicted with.

My worse nightmare was when none of my closest friends didn't go onto year 12 (All four of my tribe). Reading was my refuge all through school.

My favourite book genre' was mystery and adventure and I was a vivacious reader from a young age. I read every Secret seven, Famous Five book, any Enid Blyton book I could get my hands on. The school librarian loved me.


One of my favourite fictional BFF would have to be Beatrix "Trixie" Belden .

My mum bribed me with them or I should say I begged her and offered to do chores to own every one of 39 books in the series.

Trixie was a young teen living at Crabapple Farm (USA), with her parents and three brothers. The first book begins with Trixie striking up a friendship with lonely, rich girl, Honey Wheeler, whose family has just moved into the Manor House next door.

Each book involved the two girls solving baffling mysteries along with brothers and friends.
Trixie also experiences insecurity about her looks, often comparing herself unfavourably with her attractive 'rich' friend, Honey. I was obsessed.



Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, was set in the early 1900’s. Anne Shirley is a young orphan, sent to Prince Edward Island after a childhood spent in 'foster' homes (working) and orphanages. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert,siblings who live at Green Gables, decide to adopt a boy from to help Matthew run their farm on Prince Edward Island. Marilla says Anne must return to the orphanage, then decides to let Anne stay as they fall under her freckled charm.

Anne has big dreams , is eager to please, talkative (like me), and extremely imaginative with braided red hair - that gets her into trouble. She was a misadventure magnet. I just loved Anne's joy in life, seeing her thrive and fall in love with the gorgeous Gilbert Blythe . I wanted to be her "kindred spirit." The TV mini series cemented Anne as my favourite.
 

Jo March ~ Little Women - one of four sisters - Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy living in 19th century New England. Smart, impulsive, independent or some might some argumentative - a hell raiser and willing to do anything for her family. I would have fit right in. Now Jo cut off her long hair and I normally wouldn't have approved except it was for cash - her family desperately needed.

Those plaited braids again ...

Laura Ingalls ~ Little House on the Prairie (technically not fictional) . Particularly the actress Melissa Gilbert is who I would have liked as a friend who played Laura in the Tv adaptation. The character, Nellie, was a bitch . Laura was feisty, independent with embracing the adventures of early American frontier life and surviving the great outdoors. I loved her dresses and braids. I'm now drawn to wide open spaces more than ever.



Something about Alice ~ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - who wouldn't want to attend the Mad Hatter's Tea party and have an extraordinary adventures with a friend like Alice.

As an adult in the age of instant messaging, internet URL & facebook friends I don't need to want for fictional friends . Though I am certain many of my real life friends would not understand how it's possible to be on the same page and call someone you have never or rarely met in person a real friend.

I could never choose an adult fictional friend - just way too many heroines on my bookshelf. It was hard narrowing it down to five of my youth.

I Must Confess

 

Who would you like to be your fictional bestie ?

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Wordless Wednesday : Just Chillin' ; like a Penguin

Seriously these are real KIng penguins at Seaworld , Gold Coast (through the glass)


My favouirte exhibit. I could watch the Fairy penguins for hours.

Fairy penguin at Sea World.

If you go I go ..penguins mate for life

Monday 14 March 2016

On the day I die


I've had many
aha moment (s)

The definition of an aha moment is a point in your life when an important insight, choice or decision is made.

noun
[an instant at which the solution to a problem becomes clear
Collins English Dictionary -]

in my life ; none have made me wealthy - though enriching personally.



Click for larger version (Infographic from Funders and Founders)

Trigger warning below ...death and dying. I wasn't sure if I would write this.





Last week - was a very sad week for my family as (we) they waited all week for my uncle to pass away.  With an all clear in December, no-one saw it coming.

Metastic, terminal cancer, with excruiatingly painful neuropathic pain.   Severe pain that was largely not relieved by strong opioids, or palliative radiation. He endured six-seven weeks of it , from start to the end in hospital , save for a few days at home. His Drs did everything they could, family members stayed with his wife and held him close as his life ebbed in the last week.

Fifty-eight years young, He will be very much missed. he was only 9 yrs older than I was.  Tuesday I received the first call , my brother and his wife, who didn't think they would even make the hour's journey to say goodbye. I was torn because as much as I wanted to say my goodbye, it was a five-six hour journey, they said I wouldn't make it.

Each day I got sad heart breaking updates that he wouldn't make the day or through the night. Friday in the early hours of the morning , his 'dash' on Earth ended.

Last week, I also watched (on catch ABC Iview) the Euthanasia debate. I know my decision now should the time come. I told my husband.

It was my aha moment , both .

I am also a fierce supporter of Palliative care . I belong to a local community advocate group pushing for better Palliative care across NSW - Push for Palliative.

I've attended a few meetings where with Community advocate Dr Yvonne McMaster (a retired specialist palliative care Dr and OAM). She shared with us why it is important that the NSW government provides more specialist palliative care services for cancer patients throughout NSW. I've spoken to her on several occasions and spoken at a CanAct information event.

For more information and to be part of the change, visit cancercouncil.com.au/savinglife
Join the CanAct community and find out how you can help at CanAct.com.au/join-our-community/
cancercouncil.com.au


I also chanced upon this article written 2 weeks ago.

On the Day I die -


Don’t miss the chance to dance with them while you can.

Don’t let your life be stolen every day by all that you believe matters, because on the day you die, much of it simply won’t.

Yes, you and I   will die one day.


But before that day comes: let us live.



Life is not short... Life is the longest activity you'll ever engage in (then you die).

Lastly , this song :



(this is a touching rendition)

One day, I had an aha moment as we were driving in the car and it played on CD, it wasn't the first time I heard this song. It was enlightening - I'd been feeling cheated, robbed and wondered why it ever happened (falling pregnant naturally after 14 yrs) only to say goodbye before we got to say hello.

I suddenly knew ...sure I could have missed the pain of losing our baby girl but I'd have missed the dance. (chance to be pregnant and subsequently go on to birth our twin boys by IVF) .

Since then it has never failed to bring bittersweet memories to my mind of a very special girl who taught me what it was to love and to be loved .

I Must Confess



Tuesday 8 March 2016

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Neck , Bruny Island.


 
279 (?) Timber stairs lead from the sand dunes to the Neck lookout, offering stunning 360 degree views.




I had to run down !

 Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island, southern Tasmania

Bruny Island was one of my favourite spots.


   
   

 

Assvice on marriage and stuff.

No, it's not a typo.

I don't want to give any illusion that we have a perfect marriage ...some days far from it. We have had struggles & strife in our relationship.



Words cannot describe the gratefulness, that my husband has stood by with me through good, bad , beautiful , in sunshine, in rain and through all mannner of storms.

Life having thrown us what we least expected but we survived by the grace of God. The last four years especially.

Often, I think of all we have been through together, the brilliant and not so. My son and his fiance are now standing on the same threshold as we were 27yrs ago as they prepare for their wedding in 7 months.





There is so much assvice on the dress, the flowers, the ceremony, the pictures, the cake and chosing a honeymoon destination . There's not as much on how to get back on your feet when the metephorical rug has been pulled from underneath you.

Sadly, it's too easy to run away.



Or how your marriage can struggle to survive infertility, stillbirth , unwanted advice from 'outsiders', parenting teenagers and toddlers (simultaneously) and serious illness like cancer (not once but 3-4 times) for example.

Some days you walk blindly through, hoping none of the hurdles trip and overwhelm you completely .
When paddling up $#!+ creek you just pray you don't fall in and /or drown . For God sake don't breath then ...though it's hard to keep breathing on the average days too.

I still don't have the answers... Love with all your heart , nothing is black and white.



Laughter really is good for you too, it's more than just an enjoyable activity, it is very beneficial to the body and mind. It doesn't cost a cent and it is highly contagious.
Laughter lowers blood pressure, activates the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), reduces stress hormones, helps reduce pain, allows muscles to relax and is helpful for breathing as frequent laughter empties the air of lungs.


This gem was found at the bottom of the a page under a 'recipe'. I think it is worth sharing! Enjoy










...but he is very fond of Chocolate .


Final words of assvice.

  1. It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. 
  2. A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do ... I don't mean breaking the rules LOL - I mean proving someone wrong !
  3. Say Thank you & please a lot ...and your children will too hopefully !
  4. There is no right way to do the wrong thing.
  5. Well done is better than well said.
  6. Be the first to say Hello or smile too !
  7. Use the good silver and dinner set ...tomorrow is not promised and why not ?
  8. The more you say , the less people will remember.

PS: Got any advice for what the Mother of the Groom should wear ?


This week’s prompt for #imustconfess was “the best advice you’ve ever received.”

I Must Confess

It's Jess's birthday today.