Reflections

Well definitely didn't think it would be this long between posts but never have been any good at this blog thing. Life just seems to get in the way and its almost been 2 years. It has been somewhat of a roller coater ride but I am still here as is my little family and that means the world to me 2014 which is still only a few months old has seen many changes happen in our house and I am now taking some time to reflect on a bucket list I wrote a few years ago and to see if I have ticked anything off Reflection comes from this being the last year of me being in my 40s and looking forward to being FABULOUS at 50 in more ways than one. So below is the list and comments about where each of the things are at. 1.Foster a child or................ Hasn't happened and not likely to at this stage 2.Participate in Big Brother Big Sister.........See above but hopefully one day 3.Go to Europe with Kevin and discover where my and Kev’s ancestors came from.................Hasn't happened but hoping 2015 will be that year 4.Spend lots of quality time with my husband and daughter..........not as much as I would like but it has happened 5.Be a good daughter............I hope so but still have failings here 6.Spend lots of quality time with my friends..............again not as much as I would like but I have done so 7.Be the mother of the Bride (but not for at least 8-10 years are you listening Alyce?)...........Not yet and not likely in the near future 8.Be a Grandma (but not for at least 8-10 years, and then after the wedding are you listening Alyce?).........see No. 7 9.Sleep at the zoo (either Melbourne or Werribee) with the animals........Hasn't happened but hope it will soonish 10.See Neil Diamond.......Think I did this 11.See the Nth Melbourne Football Club win at least one but hopefully many more premierships.......Hasn't happened and if last night was an indication not soon 12.See at least one but I would like several more Kangaroo Brownlow Medallists.......not as yet 13.Gain a Diploma ........tries but didn't happen, school by correspondence is not my thing 14.Scrapbook more and more fun events.........yep have done this a few times 15.Lose weight....................yep happening as I type 16.Go to Ayers Rock...........still on the agenda 17.See the Great Barrier Reef...........still on the agenda 18.Have a very different 50th Birthday Party............in the works, haven't worked out what yet but working on it 19.Travel, travel and more travel anywhere ............hope this is definitely going to happen 20.Go on scrapbook retreats with my friends..........yep at least 2 a year 21.If Abba tour I would be there with bells on (can’t see this happening though)..............hasn't happened and not likely 22.Go back to Thailand..........yep did this one 23.Go back to see parts of the USA I didn’t see the first time and some that I did..................on the list still 24.Be in Gallipoli on Anzac day...........was going to be 2015 but have put that one on hold 25.Watch Alyce grow into a beautiful young independent woman (this has already started)............still happening and couldn't be prouder 26.Go on a cruise.............hoping 2015 27.Maybe meet someone who I have wanted to for a long time...............yep this did happen and that's all I will say about it

Ok so I am not great at this blogging thing, no regularity at all, but I suppose if I get here every now and then that’s better than nothing right? OK so January, February, March and April have had their good days but they have had their very bad ones as well. We did start with a great day at the Bike races at Geelong after what had been a terrible end to 2011. The weather was perfect and it was just nice to sit back and relax and take some time out for us. Later that week, Julie Pauline and Kim Harris and I pulled a huge surprise on our friend Shelley for her 50th Birthday, sending her flowers with a cryptic message and then turning up on her doorstep to take her out for dinner. She was very, very surprised and I think she loved every minute of it. My footy Friend Emma and hubby Leon became the proud parents of bouncing baby boy Charlie Xavier at the end of January - will have to convince him he needs to barrack for the Roos and not his dads team The end of the month also saw my step father having to undergo an operation for cancer and thankfully all went smoothly. February saw another Scrapbooking weekend with a great bunch of girls again,despite some issues with the property where we stayed. Spent a night at the footy for my birthday and then woke the next day with Kev in agony with a bad back so no Birthday dinner for me Have had a couple of shop at home parties which I hadn’t done for a long time – lots of work but good to catch up with friends and get some bargains LOL March started off well with the birth of baby Khalil – congrats to my friends Hadaya and Abdi – he is just beautiful and I was able to have a nurse only hours after he was born which was just wonderful. However the month turned bad later on when I got a phone call to say my Mum had fallen and broken her arm and was being taken to hospital in an ambulance. She had been blown over by a gust of wind when bending over to pick up a can from the gutter. She did not get operated on until the Tuesday and they was moved to Broady Rehab on the Friday which is where she still was 33 weeks later. (PS Thankfully she is now home and on the road to recovery) Seems she just doesn’t want to celebrate her birthday because she injured herself at the same time last year. We will have to take her out for a big dinner when she is able. Had 2 friends also trip over to Phuket and I was very very jealous……LOL I also spent a Saturday in March at the Public Records Office in North Melbourne at a Family History seminar which was great and I learnt lots Also saw the start of the footy which didn’t start well the first week but had a big win the second week against the newest team in the league. Good Friday saw me have a scrapping day at home with Julie, Pauline and Shelley just to have some time out for me with a couple of good friends who needed it as well, unfortunately there were a couple who couldnt join us. Mum was able to come home from the hospital for the afternoon on Easter Sunday which was also good. Also got to see Frankie Valli with Julie, Pam and Cindy live and although he lip synced a bit the four guys he sang with and the band made the night truly memorable I have some friends going through their own issues at the moment and I hope they all get what they need to make things right as soon as possible – I just hope they know I love them to bits and back and will endeavour to do whatever I can to help And that in a nutshell is all about me as at 12.4.2012 And as I did this post nearly 3 weeks ago and didnt put it on the blog I suppose there is other stuff I now need to add. Celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary with a nice dinner at the local Curry Cafe,footy hasnt been too bad so far with a 3-2start, had some great family news with Brent and Michelle getting engaged, have a BIL in hospital having heart surgery but luckily all went well and another family member having some medical issues too. I can never say life is dull and I have probably missed stuff, but Kev, Alyce and I are all good so all is OK and tomorrow will be Day 11 And thats it in a nutshell at 01.05.2011 And I am sorry there is no paragraph breaks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok its taken me awhile to update but for good reason

December 27
A post that no-one ever wants to write is one about the death of a family member and this day started off in the worst possible way.
Kev's brother David rang at 6.30am to say that his wife Lynette had passed away during the early hours of the morning. Time seemed to stand still for some time as it had just been a little over a 2 years since Lynette had rung to say that their daughter Kellie had been killed in a car accident. How much more would this family have to endure. Kevin got dressed and headed to Lancefield to be with his brother.
December 28 & 29
Due to what had happened on Tuesday nothing much happened over the next few days, Kev spent a lot of time at Lancefield with David and Michael and to be honest I done really know what I did.
December 30
The day of the funeral and we needed to be in Lancefield early as Kev had to take David and Michael to the church. It was a lovely service and a lovely afternoon tea put on by the CFA
Not much more to be said about this only that I would prefer to catch up with family members at something other than a funeral.
December 31
In order to think of something other than sadness we decided that a day at the pictures might be in order. Kev and I ventured to Broadmeadows and saw War Horse which was a great movie and one I would recommend. We had been invited to a New Years Eve bash but had declined so ventured home after the movie to do not much at all.

Well thats December 2011 wrapped up and not a great month it can be said for this family.
Not sure what 2012 holds given my step fathers health but as a family if we stick together all should be ok
I am going to try and keep this blogging up as I am going to endeavour to do Project Life 2012 so may need this as a reminder along the way

Boxing Day

December 26
A very quiet day with Alyce at work and Kev riding to the top of Mt Buller with some mates.
I did the traditional thing for me and read a book and finished it whilst listening to the cricket

December 25 Christmas Day

This was a nice and relaxed day and we had Mum and Max and Jack over for lunch. Kim was supposed to be here to but didnt make it until later in the day.
We had the usual lamb and chicken but didnt do pork this year and we totally forgot about the ham.
I did do the scalloped potatoes but the salads were a little different with a pasta and prawn salad and a crunchy coleslaw salad and I made a waldorf salad but we forgot that one too.
Dessert was the traditional Ray's plum pudding and then it was time for a cat nap. JAck went home to get ready to go to Paulines and I took Mum and Max home. I then did have a cat nap and we got ready to go to Paulines about 6pm.
As we drove there the weather started to turn a little nasty and by the time we got to Pauline and Gary's the rain was really really heavy. Gary met us with umbrellas.
We had a relaxing time with them just nibbling at leftovers.
We left there around 9ish and came home to bed as Kev was getting up to ride up Mt Buller the next day.
All in all a nice Christmas Day

Ok so I am not that great at a daily post, or even weekly

December15
Not much went on today except having to race into town at 12.00pm to see the physio and get some new stockings.
December 16
Another Xmas party with JP Heidelberg too at a Greek Restaurant in Northcote, that was pretty average for the price we paid. Cramped in and watermelon for dessert - not what I would have imagined but the company was good
December 17
Date night with Kev and we went to Gold Class and saw Jack and Jill which was funny but no blockbuster. We then went and had some Chinese from Me Wah in Essendon and went and had a drive around Essendon and Niddrie pondering what might have been!
December 18
Out for Yum Cha with my best bud Julie where we exchange Christmas presents.
We turned up at the restaurant and couldn't believe the amount of people there. We were ushered to our seats and food trolleys were at our table before we even had a chance to sit down.
The dishes we picked were usually seafood and it was all very yummy and very very filling.
When it came time for the presents I assured Julie that we wouldnt have got each other the same present that we did last year (we bought each other photography courses but different ones and have only just completed them both). I bought Jules a Kangaroos Footy membership and she bought me a High Tea at the Windsor so I am looking forward to doing that as I have never done it before.
December 19, 20,21 & 22
Some days were busier than others, I had dinner with Jackie my tattslotto buddy on Tuesday night just at a local cafe in Craigieburn and it was great to catch up because we don't really get to do it often enough and I owed her some winnings LOL. I was also supposed to have dinner with some ex-colleagues from St George Bank but one of them wasnt too well so we have postponed until after Xmas which suited me.
December 23
This day saw me break up from work until 3rd January which is a nice break and my lovely boss even let us a leave a little earlier than the time we were supposed to finish which was nice. We had a lovely breakfast and it was made better by the appearance of my buddy Hadaya who has been missing from work for some time but she has started to feel better and she is going to come back to work part time until her bubba is born which is great.
It was then home to get ready for the arrival of Natalie and Abby and Ben and to have a mini Xmas celebration with them and Kim and Alyce.
We have sort of adopted Alyce's 2 girlfriends and Nat's babies and we had a nice night with a BBQ and then some presents given out to the girls and the babies. I gave the 3 older girls a voucher to the Ice Bar and to say it was well received especially from No.1 daughter would be an understatement. Ben wasnt all that impressed but Abby loved her doll and Dorothy.
As it was getting dark, Alyce Kim, Nat and Abby went off and looked at the local lights whilst Ben stayed with Kev and I and I gave him a bottle and some apple and he eventually went off to sleep. Love the feeling still of a little baby (well he isn't that little) sleeping in my arms and I had had it happen twice that day.
Nat and and the babies left and it was off to bed.
December 24 Christmas Eve
I had to go to the chiro in the morning and bought a last minute present for Kev there and then headed to the shops for some last minute things for the big day.
Xmas eve usually sees me make the scalloped potatoes whilst watching Carols but we had decided because it was warm that I might not make them but as Mum had requested them I did change my mind and did make them and they were greatly received
Alyce and Kim had decided that because Kim had to get up early to go to work that we would do the presents before going to bed so we went into the lounge room and started handing them out.
I was very very spoilt with a Pandora bracelet and 2 charms, a Willow statue and a oven mit from Alyce and Kim and then a watch and 2 books from Kev.
Alyce was very excited with the sky diving present and squealed when she opened it.
Kev like the jigsaw and massager that he got too. Kim had some input into her presents so wasn't much of a surprise for her.

I think I will do Xmas day as a separate post

A Weeks Worth

And what a busy one it has been
So much so that I dont remember if anything much happened on December 7th & 8th
But things certainly kicked in on
December 9th
I had an annual leave day to prepare for the Annual Xmas Gathering of the Simmons, Roach, Houlihan, O'Donoghue & Fraser Clan.
Alyce and I were up early and at the supermarket to do the shopping to make the nibbles and sweets required as just about everything else apart from the meat was being bought by everyone else.
It was then on to the making and the cleaning.
I tried a couple of different things this year including what turned out to be a yummy Christmas icecream and a new dip.
Mum came around to help as well and did bits and pieces to help out.
I am not a big fan of the heat and wasn't overly impressed that the temp was high and by the end of the day was exhausted but it was well worth it.
December 10th
The big day had arrived but started off with an SMS from Carlie saying that poor Archie wasnt well and he was off to the doctors, unfortunately he wasnt able to make it and stayed home with his Dad.
More shopping to be done and then the guests were on the doorstep.
There was food galore and I stupidly forgot a photo.
Then Santa arrived and gave out all of the Kris Kringle presents, all very much a hit.
Then it was time for the family photos (see above) and I must it seems to become easier each year now with no complaints, seems everyone knows the drill now LOL
Then time for the yummy desserts and again I forgot the photo. Some more presents for the kids and the day was done. Some stayed for and we chatted and reminisced which was fun and some more food was consumed and it was all over by 10pm. Seems everyone had a good time or they said they did anyway.
December 11th
Morning saw some more cleaning up and some chatting with Anne about her travels with Gaz and our upcoming cruise (well its a while a way yet in 2015) and then it was time to get ready for going out to the races with my workmates.
It was a twilight meeting at Moonee Valley and was lots of fun - even had a couple of wins but lost on the day
December 12th
Work and then off to a graduation ceremony for some of my clients from work who had completed a course through Fitted for Work which was great to see them receive their certificates
December 13th
Work during the day and then at last my bestie Julie and I got to do our night photography course after being postponed due to bad weather last time. We had bought each other a present of night and day course for Christmas 2010 not knowing and had now got to do both just in time for Christmas 2011.
The night was great and I must admit I did get some nice shots, just need to practice practice PRACTICE. (not even sure that the right way to spell it but I am sure you get my drift)
Our camera has lots and lots of functions that I have never used as it is usually on the auto button so this was a test but lots of fun.
December 14th
Really could have done with a sickie but went off to work but was determined that the night would see me do not much at all but still didnt get to bed until 11.30 - go figure.
Roll on December 23 when I will be on holidays.
Well this is a long entry cos I really have been busy - next few days are more quiet so shouldnt be much to report

OK Day 4,5 & 6

December 4
Well Sunday saw the day start off not too hastily, later on in the day though Alyce and I went for a trip to Spotlight, me to get some curtains for our bedroom and Alyce to look at doona covers and some things for our Family Christmas on Saturday.
December 5
Monday it was back to work but luckily came home to Alyce having cooked tea which was yummy, 2 nights in a row now.
December 6
Home alone after work with Kev being at bike racing and Alyce at work.
Have to decide what to do about a Kris Kringle present that isnt going to show up in time.
Also trying to come up with a quick pressie to make for everyone on Saturday as well
Wish me Luck!

December Daily - MY WAY

Ok so it has been again a couple of months since I have been here and life has been hectic but on the run home to another Christmas I have decided that I will participate in December Daily MY WAY. A few years ago I did do an album and I loved doing it but I dont think I have the time to scrap one so I will blog one and maybe turn that into a scrapbook one day. As this is December 3 I am obviously a little behind already but here goes.
December 1
Nothing too exciting today, a trip into town for some physio and a day at work and thats about the sum of it
December 2
Today was much more exciting in that I had a call from a cousin of Kevin's wanting to know if we were up for a visit today, when I explained that we both worked Marjorie suggested she come later in the day and stay the night which I was more happy to say yes to. I rang Kev and explained what happened and he got onto letting the rest of the family know in case they wanted to visit as well.
Kevin picked Marjorie up at the station and the 3 of us went and had dinner at a small cafe in Craigieburn and then came home to have an evening of reminiscing over old photos and the family history I had done in the past.
The whole family was here except for Joan so Marjorie got to meet more of her cousins that she hadn't met before. All in all a great night was had by all
December 3
This morning has been filled with scanning some photos for Marjorie to take with her and then dropping her off at the station. Had fun looking back through the research I had done with Marjorie and hopefully we will get to do it again some day.
The afternoon has been filled with price marking lots of new scrapping products so best get back to it

Wonder when I will next return???????????????????????????????????

A couple of months of musings

Well its been a while and lots of good things have happened over the last few months

Kev and I had a nice 7 days in Phuket on a sort of 25^th Wedding Anniversary present to ourselves holiday. The weather wasn’t great but we still had a wonderful time of eating and drinking and shopping and just being together which was wonderful and well needed.

Alyce stayed home alone and worked most of the time but I think she may have missed her Mum and Dad, she actually said so on her Facebook so that was nice.

Had a couple of really nice weekends with scrapping out of the blue one Saturday afternoon with my bestie Julie and then going to the pics to see The Help with Kev and Jules and having a nice dinner too. The next weekend saw Kev and I hit the Highlands Market (just so so at this stage) then have brekky at the lake, a 21^st for the daughter of good friends Terry and Jenny and then on Sunday we ventured to Port Melbourne to see a VFL game which was over by quarter time, so we left a little early and took a drive doing some sight seeing and eventually ending up at Carlie & Marcus’ so that Kev and Alyce could meet baby Lily. Had dinner in Mordialloc and it was the first time in a long time that we had spent some quality family time together which was great.

The rest of that week has seen Alyce be home most nights which is really nice as we haven’t seen much of her because she works shifts.

The weekend just past saw not much happening at home but I did get some things ready for the scrapping weekend away which is less than 3 weeks away now.

Have a busy few weeks happening with at home parties at both Julies and my place, the scrapping weekend away, Julie’s Birthday and a few other things so it might be some time before I get back here again.

Just a couple of shout outs to some family members and friends too, Congrats Nathan on your premiership win and BOG medal for Launceston, commiserations to Josh on missing out in the GF for Heidelberg, Congrats to Robert and Paddy Beadel on winning the GF at Cranbourne and Good Luck on your upcoming wedding Mathew.

OK so I wrote this a week or so ago and have only just had a chance to put it on the blog so there have been a couple of other things happen since then.

I got a lovely surprise call from Julie on GF day saying that her oldest son Rhyss was wanting to take us out to dinner at the Langham which was just wonderful. The week after also saw us venture to the Roxy Hotel to celebrate Julie's birthday.

Myself and a couple of girls from work, Ashleigh and Anne paid a visit to HAddy to catch up with her after she has been so sick with her first baby, hopefully she is well on the road to feeling her old self

And lastly and by no means leastly a HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND KEV, thanks for putting up with me that long. I love you more than words can say. Here's to the next 30 and beyond

Life as I know it

Well life never seems to be dull around here and I have been busy.
Lots of fun things have happened over the last few weeks - spent a day scrapping with some great friends and was able to get some scrapping done.
I also got to use one of my Christmas presents which was a photography course in Melbourne's CBD with my bestie Julie - thanks for the present it was a wonderful experience
Cant say the footy has been too enjoyable but you take the good with the bad.
And I have also had the opportunity to book a holiday for Kev and I to head to Phuket for 7 nights and I can't wait.
This is sort of a delayed 25th wedding anniversary present to ourselves after the plans got shelved when Mum had her fall back in March, and although she is on her way to recovery with the shingles added in it has taken much longer than any of us would have liked.
We have had a new addition to the family to with Carlie and Marcus' baby girl Lily being born CONGRATS to you all.
The next few weeks are going to be busy too with a graduation ceremony for a very dear friend , another scrapping day planned and an engagement party for my Godson Bernard and his beautiful girl Jo so lots to look forward to.
We are all working hard and dont get to see a lot of Alyce because of her shift work but we are all well.
So thats about life as I know it at the moment

Just a couple of things

This is a photo of our 2 dogs Terka and Shaba and unfortunately this week we lost Shaba who we think died of old age and natural causes.
Shaba was Terka's mum and came to us when Kev's mate Chris needed to find new hone for her.
We think we have had her for about 5 years and she has been Terkas companion/combatant for this time.
RIP Shaba

On a brighter note my Mum seems to have turned a corner and after having a day out last week at the Epping shops albeit in a wheel chair and her sister Betty visit for the weekend this week has seen her seem much better and more mobile, even enough to venture to KMart with her new toy, her walker and burn up the floor down there. Go MUM

The Kangaroos have also had a couple of wins in the last couple of weeks so that has been pleasing too.

Kev is away for the weekend so I am having a lazy one but I do need to clean the pantry out so that I can fit all the things I bought on my very first Costco trip last week. Alyce, Julie and I ventured there before the footy last Sunday so we had limited time but I really want to go back and check it out fully.
I have also just finished my first book for the year which is really slack, so I am hoping to improve on that over the next little while.
Have done some scrapping and need to do some today as a project for work too, so I hope that I can get the mojo happening

Thats about it from me, just needed to record some stuff that has been happening
Over and out from me

30years is a long time

This is going to be a long and indulgent post so grab a cuppa if you are going to have a read

30 years is a long time……………………..Some pretty significant things happened to me 30 years ago, things that still have an impact on me now

In the space of six months I lost my dad to a stroke at the very young age of 50, I met the man who was to become my husband (and still is) and I lost my beloved Nanna.

Although my dad and I had our moments I still miss him more than anything and this is seconded by missing my Nanna nearly as much.

My dad was a headstrong stubborn bugger and I know in lots of ways I am very much like him, my Mum keeps telling me so but I know in my own heart that I am and these traits have also been handed down to my daughter as well, although I think she got a double dose from both sides.

He could be the most kind hearted person you could meet and would do anything for anyone but he was a not so nice person when he drank.

These days I try to remember more about the good times than the bad and wish that he could still be here to see how his head strong daughter had turned out and how wonderful his son in law is and I know that he would have been very, very excited about his grand- daughter…………..she would have been the apple of his eye as I know I was as a baby.

He loved his footy and I can still seeing him walking into Arden St with his 6 cans of beer for an afternoon of footy and although I don’t drink beer at the footy, my love of going has not waned at all and Alyce has been going since she was 4 months old too. My Mum and I have been going for the last 30 years and have met some great friends along the way and I now love that not only do Mum and I and Alyce go (when she can) but Pauline and Corinne come along now to make it a family affair and we meet other members of our footy family there, Louise and Imogen and Ma Wert who we have sat with now over 20 years. Every now and again depending on work I can also convince my soul sister Julie to come along too. A truly family affair.

How I wish he was here for me to give him an 80^th Birthday party as I did for my Mum but obviously this cant be. I have probably thought about him more in the last few weeks because of this milestone and wish things had been different but I cant change the past and have to move on and just think about all the good times. LOVE YOU DAD.

Losing my beloved Nanna 6 months after my Dad was also a great shock for me, I don’t think she got over losing one of her children and died of a broken heart.

I remember she was a great cook and I can still remember her curried seasoning for the roast chook, her home- made mayonnaise and her apple pies. I remember that when we went to visit she and Dad would go and play Euchre whilst Mum and I stayed at her house and watched TV. We went on family trips with her and her friend Gill and she loved having budgies for pets.

I miss her so very much LOVE YOU NANNA

And now for the Love of My Life Kevin – In October Kev and I will have been together 30 years and what a 30 years it has been. Throughout this time Kev has been my rock seeing me through the good and the bad , the highs and the lows and in our 25^th wedding anniversary card he said Happy Anniversary for the first 25 years looking forward to the next 25 or something to that effect and I couldn’t agree more. There is so much to look forward too, watching our daughter bloom into the young woman we know she is already is and will continue to be and we hope along with that there will be a wedding and children for us to look forward to. We have some plans for travel and have even booked to go on a 45 day cruise to Gallipoli for the 100^th anniversary of the landing in 2015. Heres to those adventures and many many more LOVE YOU KEVIN

Tears and Fears, Love and Happiness

This month has been one of very mixed emotions. time for celebration and time for tears.
Celebrating 25 years of wedded matrimony with Kevin, we spent a couple of days in the town where we spent our honeymoon all those years ago Ocean Grove and it was wonderful.The 25 years has been been great most of the time and I am sure that anyone who has been married that long will tell you there are are times when it has been not so great but luckily I can say for us these times have been few and far between.
We had planned to go overseas to celebrate but with my Mum having a fall and taking some time to recover we put this on the back burner for now.
The tears came when we received a call from Alyce on Good Friday night to say that she had been in an accident. This was a call I am sure all parents fear and I was no different. The tears didnt come on the night because she was very lucky and had been clever enough to turn the steering wheel of her car to avoid a more dangerous collision for her and her friend, the tears didnt even come for me when I saw her car I was just relieved to see that all involved were not injured. They did come for her then but I think it was more shock than anything else. Cars can be fixed or replaced and that was the least of my concerns. The tears came for me the next day when the reality hit me just how lucky we were that it wasnt much more serious. I have had a few close calls in cars in the last month and i cant believe how much they have all been attributed to speed, why is evryone in such a hurry? Please please slow down the consequences can be just so bad.
Enough about that though luckily our baby girl is ok and I hope that I never have to get another one of those calls again.
Ok some other things that have happened, The Kangaroos havent had a very good start to the year although they did have their first win yesterday, which was good.
I am in the final planning stages of my next scrapbooking weekend away with great friends and I havent been lucky enough to win tattslotto as yet so I have to go back work tomorrow. Bugger

OK well I haven’t left it to the end of the month this time woohoo for me.

This month has been a little full on and quite frankly I again want to get off the roundabout and have a breather.

First weekend saw us attend a 50^th Birthday of a good friend and then have lunch at my footy friend Louise and her hubby Darryn’s new house on the Sunday.

The next weekend was great with a night out with besties Julie and Pauline to watch Neil Diamond for the 4^th time, and as usual he was great. Julie and I stayed in a hotel in Richmond for the night. The 3 of us had dinner there and then Julie and I had breakfast and both meals were great, I would recommend this hotel highly

It was the Amora in Bridge Rd Richmond – top notch and the company I shared it with were top notch too!

Weekend 3 saw us at a wedding at the Stone’s Winery in the Yarra Valley which was just magnificent. Bugger I forgot the camera.

We had to get up early on Sunday morning to deliever Kev to Chris and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry as they were off for a week. The rest of Sunday was spent recovering.

And thats where it all went down hill from there, this has been the week from hell and I will be more than happy for it to be over.

Monday saw some stupid truck decide that he needed the lane that I was in for his purposes and tried to drive me off the road and gave me the fright of my life.

Tuesday I woke up to the fact that my credit card had been hacked and it would need to be cancelled and all direct debits re-arranged YUK YUK YUK and then to top off that day I speak to my mum who informs me that she had had a fall on Saturday but hadnt told me because she didnt want to ruin the wedding - what is it with oldies who think they are indestructable? The upshot of all this being that she is now in hospital with a suspected broken hip a week later than she should have been and to top it off missed out on going to see Mary Poopins on her birthday.

One of my cousins who also was booked to come to Mary Poppins ended up being flown to Melbourne in an air ambulance this week too but luckily she was allowed out for the day to attend and hopefully on the mend

All in all a week to forget other than seeing Mary Poppins which was great.

Lets hope this next week brings a more relaxed week but I doubt it!

And now its February's turn to be over

Maybe this blog is going to turn into a monthly sum up of whats happening in my life. Its not what I intended to happen but I started a long post a week or so ago and then lost it so got upset with it all and left it not to be redone.
This month has seen me have another birthday, Alyce start uni, Alyce find out she has stress fractures in her foot and need to have a plaster cast to her knee and a myriad of other things that I am sure no-one else would find exciting.
I did however get to go to a scrapping night at Shelley's on Friday night and got 2 LO's out done so some scrapping has happened
I am however looking forward to March as I will be going to see Neil Diamond with my 2 besties, have a 50th and a wedding to go to, I am also going to see Mary Poppins with Alyce, my Mum and other family on my Mums 84th Birthday and I will be getting to see my footy friend Lou's new house. I might even try to fit in a scrapping day in there busy busy busy.
What I am not looking forward to is Kev going away for a week at the end of the month
I will cope though I am sure.
Anyway thats it from me for the month of February, I should have lots to share in my monthly wrap up next month LOL

January 2011 - Bugger its already over

Well OK it’s been another month since I blogged but it really has been a full on month.

It started with me getting sick and not being able to return to work until 2 days later than I should have, so not a good start to the year and it took me a lot longer to get over than I had hoped. Two lots of antibiotics eventually worked.

To get out of the house after being sick Kev and I went for a drive that was supposed to be to Kinglake but we ended up at Lake Mountain.

The scenery is still really surreal even 2 years after the bushfires and although there are lots of new buildings there are still some blocks not built on along the way. There is some new growth amongst the trees but you can still see where the devastation had been.

I am so glad that I waited to see what the area was like as I think any time sooner than this would have been very upsetting.

I remember going to a Nutri-Metics conference at Marysville (I think more than once) but that place is no longer there. Actually Marysville is nothing like I remember it to be and I had been there as a child as well so I had vivid memories of what it used to look like. Sad just very sad.

The last couple of weekends have been full on with Kev and I having 3 days in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under which was great. It was great to get away, the weather was great, the scenery beautiful and the racing was wonderful as well. Nice to spend some quality time with my husband of nearly 25 years and partner of nearly 30 years.

Alyce being totally independent car wise means we can now do this on a more regular basis

The next weekend saw Julie and I have a whirlwind tour of Sydney for 24 hours to see a show at the Opera House. It was great and there will be lots of journalling to be done as there were lots and lots of "moments" had. There can be a lot to be crammed into 24 hours.

Also tried out the Craigieburn Farmers Market this month and was told it was a little smaller than usual so looking forward to the next one, then had a trip to the new scrapping shop in Glenroy (East Street) very very nice and then home to have hot dogs and some on line scrap shopping - great day Thanks Jules

And in between the weekends there was a bit of scrapping done on Australia Day, a quiet gathering of 5 only as a last minute thing, and it was quiet because there was lots of work done in between lunch and Oprah and afternoon tea and the ladies being home in time for dinner.

All in all a busy month with some more to come next month with a 84th Birthday to have (a little late), a 21st to attend, Valentines day and then my birthday and then my FIL's.

Stop the merry-go-round I need to get off for a rest already.

I cant seriously believe that the first month of the year is over, there is only a few weeks to the footy starts and life just keeps rolling on and on and on

Well Christmas is over for another year

And I wasn't very good at the December Daily things seeing as it is 15 days since the last post.
I have had quite a bit on so the computer has taken a back step.
I had another night out with the guys and girls from work at a nice restaurant in Thornbury
We had our Family (my) Christmas Party down at Carlie and Marcus' which was great
Lunch out with my bestie Julie at Rupertswood (which was nicer than I imagined when walking in) and an exchange of pressies which was very funny as we had bought each other the same thing but from different places
Dinner that same night with the Poreccas and that was all in the weekend before Xmas.
Tuesday a visit from Shirley and a good old chat like the old days and some exchange of presents which was nice
Then roll on Christmas where Xmas eve saw me make the traditional scalloped potatoes for lunch the next day as well as the choc royal plum puddings with Alyce's help whilst watching the carols.
Christmas day saw us share it with Mum and Max , Pauline and Gary, Corinne and Andrew and Jack. We had a relaxing day which was great - no stress just plenty of food
Boxing Day saw me do as little as possible as I had promised myself that.
Monday saw us have a Simmons Family reunion that I had organized to have at a park in Sunbury but the weather wasn't kind and we ended back at Pauline and Gary's but everyone seemed to have a good time and a great catch up was had.
Tuesday was again a day of not much and Wednesday has been the day for having mine and Alyce's car down at Mazda early for our windows to get tinted - Thanks Santa and lunch with another bestie Jackie up at her new house in Hidden Valley.
So thats the wrap up - not sure when I will be back

A Little bit of Catching up to do

Ok I have been a little busy and this December Daily thing has been neglected but I do have things to report.
Days 8 & 9 were just work and come home sort of stuff but day 10 saw me have dinner with a ex-work colleague from Circle Credit Union, Amanda and I had an absolute ball.
I got to meet her spunky little daughter Ava and see her grown up little boy Jacob again as well as saying a quick hello to Shaun before we headed off to dinner at the Club.
Well it was just like we had seen each other yesterday (it had been more than 18 months) we had a wonderful laugh about the old days and had a fabbo meal. We need to do this more often.
Day 11 saw Alyce and I and Nanny up early and over at Epping plaza for a spot of Kris Kringle shopping and we got it all done thankfully. Alyce then coached her netball side to a Grand Final win which meant she went out on top as she is not going to coach next year. She went off to work and Kev and I stayed home and watched some telly and I did some scrapping for some presents.
Day 12 so another reunion of sorts with some workmates from Reed and I had a great time and Clarence's with Clarry and Lee, Sheree and Alex, and Beth and Anthony, many laughs to be had.
Again this needs to be done on a more regular basis.
Yesterday saw me do the days work and then off to to see Kate the Physio which is doing my legs lots and lots of good.
All caught up now

OK so I am a bit behind

I did start a post for Days 5 & 6 but didnt get back to it so now it has another day added to it.
Sunday(day 5) saw us do not much at all except for go looking for a good spot for a family picnic to be held just after Xmas. We looked at Greenvale Reservoir which had been the park first suggested but its not the park of choice. We also had a look at Woodlands Park in Somerton but there wasnt much for the kids to do. There is a great park in Craigieburn but has no toilets close by so we are at a bit of a loss so we may have to check out Sunbury.
Day 6 was just more of the same with work and cooking dinner and thats about it
Day 7 saw another trip to see Kate the therapist and still more revelations about my condition so all is good.