Family Time

My Dad and I

He's just seen the bait pump

Hugs and Kisses

My Mum and I

The weekend just past was a busy one, full of chores and activities added with lots of family time too. My brother, his wife and my two nieces popped around in the afternoon. It was nice to see them all. It always feels like our time is so short and so snatched, like it’s over before it even started - but was great to have them here even if it was only for a short while.

Sammy and I went to BFC in the morning to buy Bunny a bait pump for Fathers Day. The pathetic excuse of a store in Nambour, was shut!! Unbelievable - naahh, don’t know why I even say that, it’s typical of this town. So many of the business owners have no idea on how to run a business. I don’t know whether these shops aren’t frequented enough because they don’t get the clientele, or whether they don’t get the clientele, because they are never open!! Many shop owners, don’t open their store at 9am, and if it’s quiet in the afternoon they just shut! One shop owner told me he liked to leave early, to beat the traffic!

Sunday morning, I had a sleep in and then got stuck into preparing food for our Fathers Day lunch. I made a potato bake, garlic bread and marinaded the chicken for the ‘chicken sticks’ which everyone loves. Mum brought the delicious home made coleslaw and her marinaded pork spare ribs. The day went really well, washed down with laughter and a Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Sparkling Shiraz!

The kids loved giving their drawings and handmade gifts to their Daddy. Mickey had even drawn a picture for Opa, which I thought was pretty cool. I gave my Dad a cup with ‘Opa’ written on it and a bag of licorice allsorts. Peter was ecstatic with his new Alvey Bait Pump. He was so excited, it was priceless and worth the effort of going down to M’dore to buy it. Love buying that man stuff, he is always so appreciative.

I have been hitting the treadmill fairly regularly which is awesome. I find I am running more and more. I had morning coffee at my parents’ house this morning complete with cake and cream, so will definitely be hitting it again this afternoon. I make sure I take a nurofen about fifteen mins before and my legs don’t seem to feel too bad. I also don’t feel any worse for wear of an evening like I was before. So obviously not walking on hills is helping me greatly. I am looking forward to my physio appointment next week to see what can be done, now that I know there’s nothing wrong with my bones and stuff.

I started the Type+Writer class at www.jessicasprague.com yesterday. So far I am really enjoying it and have written in my new notebook. Liv, the teacher encourages us to write at least fifteen minutes everyday. Like praying and exercise, they are all worthwhile exercises that can get swallowed up in the other day to day stuff, but if we just make a conscious effort, it’s easy to find the time to do these things.

It's raining again

After a warm and springlike start to the week, it's soured into miserable, rainy and cool. We needed the rain, so it's great for the garden. Plus it's nice to be home and organized early and snuggled in my pjs and dressing gown. I've even got the heater on again this afternoon.  

I enrolled into another online class. This time to do Type+Writer at www.jessicasprague.com  Their classes are great, and while I'd love to do a digital scrapbooking one, I am not sure I have the time to dedicate, nor the money for the class at the moment. This one was quite cheap, and only goes for two weeks.  Included in the class 'getting organized' notes, were some 12x12 templates by J. Caputo. I felt like putting a layout together today, and used one of them today.

Personality Type

These quizes are fun and quite insightful. This is what the site had to say about my personality type. 

ISTJ - The "Examiner"

ISTJs are responsible, loyal and hard working. They have an acute sense of right and wrong and work hard at preserving established norms and traditions. Because of their deep sense of duty they are dedicated to everything they do and are very dependable. ISTJs care deeply for those closest to them.

Made some more cards

There is crystal glitter on the Christmas card which adds a delicate touch to it, but can't be seen on the monitor....

I made this wedding card for Ron and Carlie. I have photographed it the wrong way, the card is supposed to be in landscape format, rather than portrait. (I have put the camera away and don't want to get it out again.....) It looks much better the other way.

Feeling better - finally

I have been battling a headcold/sinus infection since the start of term - so nearly seven weeks. I feel much much better now. I wasn't even snuffly when I got up this morning. The weather has been right on cue, and as the first day of Spring, it's a warm day. The whole weekend was lovely. I don't mind the cold weather, but this milder weather is easier to handle. I went downstairs onto the treadmill yesterday and today, which I wasn't doing in the cold weather. There's no sun coming in downstairs so it gets quite cool when it's a frowzy day. I have also decided to get back to exercise as all my tests have shown that there is no problem as far as impingement or bony growth to cause my hip/leg pain. It doesn't take away the pain, but it means I can't do irreparable damage to my hip joint. I will just have to remember to take some painkillers before I hop on. I was really happy to find that my fitness levels hadn't dropped much at all. I admit that jogging on a treadmill is easier than on the road, but it feels much better to me. I am not worrying about uneven ground, or accidentally tripping on anything. I can just jog, and enjoy my ipod and the view from my treadmill. The half hour went fairly quickly. I have been using my Polar HRM watch, and am tracking my fitness that way too. I am working in my training zone for longer than when I was going on my long walks, so that's great. Plus I can have my music much louder than when I walk the streets. I am always aware that if I can't hear anything, because of the loud music, I won't hear anyone walking behind me. Downstairs on my treadie, I don't have to worry, so it's much more fun to have the music loud (and still feel safe).

I had a lovely weekend. We (that's the royal WE - I didn't actually do anything, other than complain about the mess) ripped out the bathroom shower and tiles. It's Monday, and nowhere near finished, but should be by the end of the week, I hope! I am really lucky that we have a shower downstairs otherwise it just wouldn't be doable. I like my two showers a day, and couldn't survive without it. I don't even have the privacy upstairs to have a 'sink bath' in the kitchen as the sliding door doesn't have any coverings on it. I left darling Bunny ripping out shower on Saturday while I took my Mum to Montville for the afternoon. We had lunch and poked around in some of the shops. I got a little something for my Dad for Fathers' Day and tried some Chilli chocolate - which was yummy by the way. We headed over to Maleny, and bougth some cheese at the Cheese shop - a delicious wasabi one which was just delicious. We were outside the cheese shop, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and then we realized it was almost three o'clock. Fortunately the wedding was just up the road, and we arrived there just before the bride. She looked stunning -just gorgeous and her attention to detail was lovely. She was very lucky as it was a glorious day - just perfect for a radiant bride and her handsome groom.

We headed home after the wedding, basking in that warm feeling that you get from witnessing the marriage of two people obviously very much in love. It reaffirms your own wedding vows and was quite touching to witness. I look forward to seeing her for my next treatment in three weeks, as I'm sure she has lots to tell. On the way home, we stopped and had coffee and shared a cake. We spent a lovely five and a half hours together, and it was great. We used to spend so much time together once, when the kids were little. Life is so much busier now, so it's not as frequent, but no less special because it doesn't happen as often. It's also so nice to spend time together 'sans' kids. We get to finish our sentences in one go!

Dear Bunny and I had a lovely evening. We had a cheese platter and sour dough bread as our dinner, and some nice wine as accompaniment. The kids had a great night, they 'camped' in Billy-Joe's room again, watched movies and just hung out together, and were perfectly behaved into the bargain.

Yesterday I took the kids to KFC and we ate it at a park, and gave them a chance to climb the equipment. I took heaps of photos and just enjoyed hanging out with them. Bunny remained home, working on the bathroom. I am working in Kenilworth this Friday, hopefully I'll have at least another day at the special school.

Down time

The weekend scrapbooking was wonderful as per usual. I felt more relaxed and organized than normal which was great. I completed three layouts and made about seven cards. One lot of cards was copied off Suzy, and they are just gorgeous. I was slack though, and didn't sew on them, that really finishes them off. I found layout ideas in Scrapbook Trends which I'd earmarked. They were a great springboard for layout design - it meant I didn't spend hours and hours procrastinating about what to do. I felt much more productive than usual because of this. I slept well both nights, as I came home rather than wasting money sleeping at the motel. The kids had a good weekend. DB still wasn't feeling the best, so had a very quiet and restful weekend. Fortunately he is starting to feel much better now, although is still very tired.

Playing with Cuttlebug and Nestabilities

Playing with the Cuttlebug Embossing folders


The above cards are copied from Suzy's gorgeous Dandelion cards.

The above one was a total copy from a website, don't know where, so can't credit it.

Layout idea from August Scrapbook Trends 2008

Layout idea Scrapbook Trends August 2008

Not much news

I’ve been fairly quiet this week. The household hasn’t been a well one. Mickey was home on Monday and Peter has been crook. He went back to work today. He came home for smocko but said he was still rather tired and flat, understandably so.

Yesterday was his first day out. We went to Joyce Mayne and Hardly Normal to check out TVs. We found a 42“ Plasma, by Panasonic that we really liked, but we are going to wait until 48 months interest free is offered again. Twelve months interest free, just isn’t long enough for that kind of money. We need a new cabinet too, as the unit we have now won’t fit a large TV in it.

My head cold is still with me. Nearly seven weeks! I have days where I feel pretty good but the last few days I’ve felt lousy, so have been grateful for the break from work. I am working tomorrow, so at least next week’s pay will have something in it.

Off scrapbooking this weekend, so I have to feel 100%.

I have another specialist appointment next week and it dawned on me that I still need to have a blood test done. I have been putting it off and putting it off, but I need to do it today, otherwise he won’t have the results in time.....

The kids have their last training session today - yeeha! No more rushing around two afternoons a week. Our Saturdays will now be peaceful affairs again which I just love. I love their passion for the game, and the fact they are active, but it’s sooooo good when the season is over from purely a selfish standpoint. They both had a great season which has been great for their confidence.

Ramblings

I had a quiet day at home today. Well, that's not quite true, because I was very busy which meant I achieved heaps.

Mickey was home today, as he had a temperature again, and his throat was sore. It was a revoltingly cold day, so there's no way he was going to school. The Nurofen seems to do the trick, so much so, that I wonder if he's ill at all, but he flagged a couple of times during the day, so I know I made the right decision. 

I was able to do some cleaning jobs which I'd put on the back burner due to work commitments - so it's good to get those jobs done.  I sorted out my Artbin boxes for my scrapbooking items. One of the boxes has compartments and it shits me to tears, as the embellishments climb over the compartment into the next compartment, which means all the little bits get mixed up, no matter how often I sort them out. I have Chatterbox chipboard letters that I don't want to get rid of, but they always seem to 'move house' by shifting into another compartment. I may have to try and make a point of using them. Maybe they'd work on cards.  So I put the items into small ziploc bags, so at least they can't move around anymore. The other box, is my 'card making' box. It's always a mess too, but doesn't have the compartments, which is good. One of my besties had a good idea that acrylic stamps would store well in a zipped up folder. This aftenroon I took Mickey out early before school pick up and got his haircut. I ducked into BigW, but couldn't find any folders. The newsagent's had an A5 display folder, which I thought might work, and, at $3.10 it was well worth trying. It looks great. I will have to go and buy another one, because my current stash of stamps fit in there, but I need another for any additional stamps, and I want to know that I can get the same folder.  

Dear Bunny is still not well. Finally I coerced him to go to the doctor's today. He has antibiotics now so hopefully he will be on the  mend quickly now. I don't mind anyone being sick, but it irritates me when they don't go to the doctor!! He really should have been in bed all along, but insists that everything else is more important. Today he realized, that maybe I was right!!!  With a good initial dose of antibiotics and a good night's sleep, hopefully by tomorrow he will feel  a little better.  Touch wood I don't get  that sick. Dear God, I don't want to be that sick - even dear Bunny admits it's better having him sick than me -which is his way of admitting that everything would crumble if I was really sick.

Book week parade tomorrow - the highlight of the school calendar year!  (NOT)  I find the whole thing painful. My kids are sorted out though. Billy-Joe is great, old enough to get his own stuff together, so I don't worry about him, and this year's his last year for that. Sammy is supposed to go as an ancient Olympian, but of course wants to go as an ancient Egyptian, complete with red and white chequered tea towel.  (Much to dh's chagrin I might add!)  Mickey is going as a Mexican. We have a flag, I will eyeliner a nice curly moustache on him, he has a straw hat, and I will make sure he wears the red, green and white.  Then it's over for another year.  

The retreat is coming up again this weekend. I can't believe how quickly the last three months have gone. Normally I start to count down the weeks, because I am so looking forward to it, this time they just snuck up. All of a sudden it's here. I know that I planned my Digital Photography Course to happen the weekend before, so I think that's why the time went so quickly. I was so focussed on working at school and then getting my course info together, that every spare minute I had was spent on the course.  I am really pleased I scheduled it for when I did, as it means now I have the week before to think about the retreat, and know there's nothing more pressing that needs to be done.  

Last night I sat with the latest issue of Scrapbook Trends and picked out layout ideas that I liked. Now I am going to focus on completing my editing and making sure I have different sizes available to me, so I can do some of them. I know that on previous retreats where I have been prepared, I am much more productive, and I promised myself after the last retreat that I would be organized.  It's an Oriental theme this time, but I am not dressing up.  It means on the Saturday night, it's one less thing to worry about.  Mum and Dad bought me some beautiful silk pjs from Thailand, I could wear them - I need to try them on as they are pretty baggy on me. It will depend on how cold it is.  Would be comfy to go in jammies.

Live and Learn

After my incredibly frustrating afternoon - added to the printer saga, I went into Peter's bank account to transfer money back into mine, because he didn't leave me his card this morning, and the EFT number they need - wasn't a one off thing!! We set it up so we could move money around easier, like when I pay for the wine or shopping out of my account, but I didn't realize the number was required EVERYTIME I want to transfer funds!! 

Anyway I digress!

Brain fart alert ahead!

I was lying in my bath and thought that perhaps before I chuck the printer into the wheelie bin, I should see if it prints okay in colour - on the off chance it was the ink and not the printer.  

The colour page printed fine!!

I didn't go into detail  in my earlier post of the work around that I did in order to get my master done! 

Printed it out on imac

Didn't work

Printed it on PC

Didn't want to recognize Pages format (mac app) and kids computer is PC

Convert entire document into Word (on imac)

Print out on PC

Icons and pictures don't come out!

Panic

Decide to re copy and past icons onto word document from the file where I had them stored

Was smart only copied two, and then tested on PC

They worked

Go back to imac and copy and paste all images

Go back to PC and begin to print

Realize that page breaks are in the wrong place

Fix page breaks

Print on Epson off PC

Go back later and print out a colour page on Canon with imac

Prints out fine!!

Tomorrow I am buying ink!

Blasted Printers

I have just spent about three and a half hours on finishing off my notes for the class tomorrow.  I am definitely going to have to teach this class a few times, just to recoup money on the hours I have spent in preparation.  

I have just had to stuff around with printers an imac and a PC - just to get it all sorted.  I think I need a new printer. The canon that I got for nothing when I bought the imac, only prints the first portion of the page. I don't think it's worth getting fixed and I'd hate to buy more ink only to have it not work. Thank goodness printers are pretty cheap, but it's a nuisance.  I think I will make a cup of tea and sit and relax for a bit...

Toowoomba

We went to Toowoomba last weekend, must update with photos soon......

I first met Dimity in Springbrook late in 1994. If memory serves me correctly, we met at the local swimming pool, one of my many forays into fitness.  It ended up we would meet in the swimming pool, during one of my many forays into fitness.  I can still remember my shock, when we met up again a few days later, at an arranged time, and I was shocked to see her in her school uniform  Dim, was barely 16 and in her second last year of school.  We became fast friends. A closer friend I hadn't had since I'd left school. We did everything together - we partied hard and shopped even harder. Her family welcomed me with open arms, they are all awesome. I spent many hours at her house, either just hanging out or accepting a much appreciated invitation to dinner, especially in those early months when I was in Springbrook on my own.  We became so close, I couldn't ever imagine life without her. Alas, like all good things, I ended up leaving Springbrook. I needed to go home and be with my family while I was awaiting the birth of my first child. And Dim needed to go out into the big wide world and find her own feet.  In the last 12 years, our contact has been spasmodic - due to our busy lives, but we have always re-connected and are both happy that the bond is still very strong, even though we can't spend that much time together. Dim is Billy-Joe's Godmother - that's how much I think of her.  

Last weekend, Dim turned 30!!  We spent the weekend with her and her husband, who is just gorgeous in body and spirit and their three gorgeous girls.  Can you believe it, I had three boys and Dim had three little girls.  I loved her home. It's an old Queenslander and she has it beautifully decorated inside, with all her country bits and pieces.  She is happier than I have ever seen her, and I was glad to spend some time with her, I just wish we lived closer to one another.  

My kids were perfectly behaved - we didn't even know there were six kids in the house. On the Saturday night we had her party, which was held in a pub nearby. She had the tables decorated, pink and green balloons everywhere, and the kids were fed and entertained for a while seperate from the adults. Billy-Joe and I had an absolute ball, boogying the night away. Peter even danced with me a few times, but Billy-Joe stayed with me nearly the whole time.  The band was great, you know one of those bands that plays every song that you know!  Sammy was a little out of sorts, so at one stage I spent it with him on my lap and then later Peter would take him out for a walk and then sat at the table with him. We got home around midnight, so it wasn't a really late night. My hips were killing me due to all the dancing, but it was worth it and I didn't feel any worse for wear in the morning.

Mickey fell in love over the weekend. Dim's daughter Kodie took such a shine to Mickey and they were as thick as thieves the entire weekend. It was just gorgeous.  On Monday he told me he missed her and was looking forward to seeing her again soon.  Dim had the girls write a letter, so it's here sitting on the bench in a large pink envelope. Mickey will be beside himself when he knows Kodie has written.

This is my favourite photo from the weekend.

Relieved

I have spent a gazillion of hours in front of the computer in the last two weeks, but haven't had time to blog!!  My photography class is coming up this weekend, and I was working hard to get that finished. I made a powerpoint presentation (something I've never done before) because Barbi has  a huge flat screen TV hooked up on the wall and connected to the computer, so I've got a way of projecting it - plus I find it would help me stay on track, plus the fact they look professional.  I have also notes to give the attendees. I toned down on the technical stuff from when I taught this course last. Most people aren't interested in that - and that's okay - so it's no point putting in stuff that no-one cares to read.  I find it adds to the understanding of things, and I don't know anywhere near all there is,but I can take comfort in the fact that I know more than the lady who has only barely taken her camera out of the box!! 

I had my second MRI today. I wasn't stressing about it, but was not looking forward to it, and was lamenting at what a waste of a day it would be. I wasn't looking forward to having a needle in me four times before it was the right spot and having a dead leg right down to my knees! I wasn't looking forward to the tunnel of gloom as I lay there with the most dreadful cacophony of noise I've ever heard, plus have my arms fall asleep because my elbows aren't comfortable and I am not game enough to move a muscle.  So this morning I got up, all psyched up and prepared for what lay ahead. I was lucky that darling dh was going to drive me again, so no worries there. I had to prepare my body too. The pubic jungle was scary and I couldn't have the doctor thinking he was injecting a woolly mammoth!!  So prepared emotionally and physically I headed off with book in hand.  It was so much better today. The doctor got the anaesethic in first go, instead of fourth go - so no dead leg.  Just hours of being pain free!!  The MRI was much quicker than last time, and the music was so loud this time, that the noise wasn't as sanity breaking as the last time. I was also told that I could move when there was no noise, so every now and again I had about 6 seconds where I could move my fingers!  Then I headed out to the motel and Lisa and I had a coffee and lunch at the coffee shop - a very nice ending to a not so stressful procedure. My darling picked me up and in his usual easy going self, was happy I'd met up with Lis and that the procedure was not so bad after all. 

Peter had done some work for a woman who had a gym which she wanted to sell. Peter said she was a big girl and this stuff had never been used. He went and picked up the weights thing, and there was a brand new treadmill as well. So for $400 we have a gym downstairs now. We are rapt. Walking and jogging on a treadmill is so much easier than the road. No hills - much better for my hips.  So what a bonus. The only downside is that it's not in a closed in area, so it gets dusty. We have covered it with a sheet and there's a mat we wipe our shoes on before we hop on. It's not going to be any time soon that downstairs is going to be closed in, so we are going to have to be really careful with the equipment.

My tax cheque came a couple of weeks ago. Thank God, it was a good return, because I was able to get some of my debts out of the way. My imac is paid out - 12 months before the interest free period finishes, but I was paying a fair bit each month, and over the months where I wasn't working, it became a bit difficult. I also paid out both of my credit cards.  Zero balance, nada, nichts, finished!!  I haven't had them at zero for about two years, so that's a huge relief.  I am not going to let it get so high this financial year. I have saved some money and put it away to help me out over the Christmas break, so I won't need to resort to the fantastic plastic.  Now I'm only paying my car off, but that's okay, it's manageable and I am much better off each fortnight now, which is awesome.  Our TV is on its way out, has been for about a year and a half, it was all pink and green around the edges, and it must have heard us talking about getting rid of it one day lol......suddenly the discolouration is gone.  But when you turn it on now, the picture isn't real clear and it has a high pitched sound to it.  A new TV is around $1500 and neither of us want to spend that just now. Once the cars are out of the way, then we can get it - or if we get another good tax return next year, which I probably will.  The new TVs have the most awesome pictures on them. They almost look 3D.  

I bought a new heater on Monday. Our little fan heater died last week, whilst we are in the midst of a cold snap.  I bought an oil heater with a fan. It's great - has kept the living area very cosy these past few days. While I was there, I had a look at TVs too, so that I know what are up for. We will get an LCD one, who knows they will probably go down in price anyway. We need a new cabinet too, to put the TV on, as our current one has a 'hole' for the TV and it won't fit a nice widescreen TV in it. Oh it's nice to dream and drool, and it's free too.......

Dinnertime now, so must go and get organized......

Out of the words of Sammy

“Mum, do you know any ‘mythocological’ creatures?”
“Mmmm, not off the top of my head”
“Did you do history at university?”

Me, I was pretty chuffed he remembered I went to uni.

“I did do history, but I did stuff about cavemen?”
“You should go to uni and you can study history”
“I am going to be an archaeologist when I grow up, and if I don’t find any crystals or anything, I am going to be a farmer on the NIle”.

‘Mummy will miss you, but that sounds like a good plan.“

New Lunchboxes

I am still at the Special School. They have offered me another contract and I now have work for another week, which is fantastic.  It takes that stress out of my mornings, and I will just have to manage my time even better as far as house stuff goes.  So far so good. 

Working close to home is a bonus which I am really appreciative of.

 I see many sights and sounds at my job which are poignant and heart rending.  And so far the most poignant, the most thought provoking have been the new lunch boxes.  

Every morning the kids who are able, put their lunch boxes into the fridge. The ones who aren't able, are looked after by teachers and their assistants.  We feed and assist in feeding these kids, especially the younger students.  I was struck by the newness and pristine state of the kids lunch boxes and cooler bags.  To myself, I admired them at how nice they looked and then it hit me like a thunderbolt. I can't begin to explain how I felt.

At home I have Tupperware lunch boxes, put onto the sink for me to nightly wash and get organized for the next day. They are scuffed. scratched. cracked (Mickey's)  and have bits bitten off them (Sammy's). Billy-Joe has had his lunch box since day care, and is travelling well,but has that worn look about it. I have had name tags peeled off, the lunch box scraped along the ground. stood on, thrown at someone, and generally mistreated. They have been lost and found again, they have had twigs put in them and dirt. They come home with remnants of lunch, banana peels and apple cores and other unknown slush. The dirt has stuck to the food remnants. And I have roused at the kids at the state of their lunch boxes.   

The lunch box is cracked because they could step onto it.

The lunch box is scuffed, because they have been able to scrape it along the ground.

The lunch box is dirty, because they have been able to eat their food unsupervised in the playground and have been able to explore and add twigs and dirt to it.

The name tags are faded or half off, because they have the fine motor skills to peel them off.

The corner of the lid is bitten off because they can navigate something to their mouths with deliberation and intent.

The lunch box has been lost because they have eaten their lunch and been able to get up to go and play.

I won't ever look at these worn lunch boxes the same way again. 

I don't want new looking lunch boxes.

Update

It's Saturday afternoon, and I am taking some time out after a very busy day.  It's Billy-Joe's birthday tomorrow so I have been preparing some food for the bbq. Oma and Opa will come, and Nanny and Darby too.  We have a friend of Billy-Joe's staying over for the weekend, so Billy-Joe is pretty happy about that.  

I have made him a Malteser cake.  Well I think 'cake' is a very loose term. It has no flour in it and isn't even baked.  It's got chocolate, golden syrup, crushed biscuits, butter and maltesers in it. All boiled up and set in the fridge, should be delicious and served with a chocolate ganache mmmmmmm.  I have also made a Caponata, with eggplant, capsicum, tomatoes, celery, garlic, onion, pine nuts, olives and a sweet red wine vinegar sauce. Tastes divine. I have also marinaded the chicken in a paste made up of curry powder, chillies, coriander root, garlic, sugar and oil. Tomorrow I will make a sauce to go with the chicken. Hopefully I will get some pictures and have a chance to upload the recipes. I have been slack with uploading recipes of late. I generally take photos, but never post them which is  a shame, as I forget all the yummy things I make.  Mum is marinading some pork ribs, one of my favourite things, and is making her coleslaw which is a solid family favourite.  We plan on talking lots, drinking wine, laughing and generally enjoying each others' company.  

Billy-Joe is getting an ipod shuffle and a playstation Pirates of the Caribbean game from us. I am sure he will be a very happy boy.  

I have also made Billy-Joe's card. He is right into the Sims at the moment, hence the little icon on it. No doubt I am infringing copyright somewhere along the line!! He just loves images of all his favourite things, so I know he will appreciate it.

Work this week was great, but very challenging and provocative as well.  Tuesday and Wednesday were good days, pretty cruisy, I must be getting used to working with kids I don't know well, and working in settings I don't know well. I had to cook with a group on Wednesday and just made stuff up (thank goodness I'm good at that). The muffins weren't that great, in my opinion, but they sold like hot cakes, especially as we sold soup with them and the weather was pretty revolting.  Thursdays group was damn hard work.  I had three kids and there were three of us, myself and two aides, thankfully one was a male.  One girl was completely non verbal and was basically locked into her chair, or in a play room. She just wonders otherwise and sits in front of the window, always looking for a way out. Another boy was basically non verbal, very autistic with ADD as well.  Actually I would add ADHD to that diagnosis too.  He too was always looking for an escape.  Moving him and the girl to another room, was diabolical. They would both drop to the ground or try and run away. Both things nearly pull your arms out of your shoulders. It was teeming with rain, so running after them through puddles wasn't fun.  Duty was spent inside, blocking exits, being pushed, shoved, pulled and generally harassed. It's an interesting thing standing there with your hand on a child's chest with your other hand up in a stop sign, all the while not giving them eye contact, because the whole thing is after all just a game to them - and I refuse to enter into that kind of repartee with the child.  This child also has a collection of about hundred cds which he wears on a string around his neck. This is his security blanket, but in my view creates more problems than it solves. They use it as a way of coaxing him to do things, but it didn't work.  I took them off him toward the end of the day, and he actually forgot about them for the afternoon. Moving him from one room to another, was impossible. We had to drag him, feet first, along the ground. Thankfully he had on two jumpers and the floor was slippery, so no injury to anyone ( or we naturally wouldn't have done it). Time out works - but needed constant attention as he could climb over the locked safety gate!  Another boy has mild CP with intellectual impairment and no verbal skills. His signing was limited to the most basic of commands.  He basically transitioned well, but was non compliant in the room. He became difficult when things didn't go his own way. We cooked (I use that term loosely too).  We made bacon and egg muffin burgers.  He cut the bacon (ate more than he cut) cut the muffins in half, (again ate them) and grated the cheese. I let him stir the bacon, even though it didn't need stirring but participation is crucial.  I then sat him down to butter the muffins as I wasn't letting him near the eggs. He became cranky when things weren't moving quickly enough for him. He got up from his chair, slammed it backwards with his full weight and I was in the way, and wedged up against the bench with him leaning on my bad leg and hip. Oy! I saw stars!! I burst into tears and they quickly pulled him off me, and I took some deep breathes and recovered fairly quickly. Thankfully my leg didn't end up hurting anymore than it already did, and the initial pain subsided very quickly. The burgers were a hit, all three kids hooked in.  

The afternoon was a little quieter, after I cleaned pee up off the floor, chair and footrest. One child (ADHD) was drawing on the white board with crayon, while we weren't looking. We left him go, he was quiet for ages after that.  Apart from reading two stories in the morning, which two of the kids listened too, and making the muffins, there were no other valuable learning situations.  It was basic crises and damage control all day - ensuring the kids are kept safe at all times.  I earned my money that day. The aides are worth their weight in gold, and definitely don't get paid enough.

I have two days booked for next week, which are supply days, so pay will be as if I work a whole week, so I am pleased about that.  Rock on pay day! It's been a month and things are not good. I hate not having money in my account.  

Stuff

Started the work week off well. I had a good day today, teaching wise - mind you I use that term loosely, because after all the toileting, feeding, changing nappies, there's not much time at all left for teaching. Two of my four kids were tube fed, and one needed hand over hand assistance. I had one kid who could do for himself.  I first met this child two years ago and was happy to see how much he had progressed.  

On another note, my leg is giving me grief. I am taking panadol four hourly and that just gets me through the day. The only reason I am on the 'puter now, and not doing chores, is that my leg has simply had enough for today. It aches continuously. The outside of the top of my thigh feels so badly bruised, it hurts to touch on the outside, but the bruise feels like it goes to the bone.  It's definitely not getting any better, and in the last couple of days has gotten worse.  I have a specialist appointment on Friday - not that I am holding my breathe for any answers.  

Kids had their athletics carnival today and did really well. (As long as I discount the fact that Sammy lost his hat - the second one in three weeks - and this is after a long lecture this morning, about where the hat MUST go when it's not on his head!!).  Mickey came first, Sammy came second and Billy-Joe got a third and a fourth....  They had a great day - they obviously don't get their athletic prowess from their mother!!

Curried lamb with pumpkin and spinach for dinner tonight, should be yummy.  

Too Cool

I saw these on someone's car the other night and thought they were so cool. Today we took the kids to McDonalds for lunch, and we went to Bunnings to check out some things that we need to fix up our extremely tired and dilapidated bathroom.  Then we went to Mooloolabah to look for these cute stickers.

The bathroom tiles are currently falling off, and are revolting.  The shower is revolting because it's leaking and I can't keep the mould out from between the tiles (because it's leaking) and the water actually drips onto the bed downstairs.  I don't want tiles in the shower, so we are buying a laminate panel for the shower, no grooves, easy peasy to clean!!  We are going with plain white tiles (20x20) with a decorative tile intermingled. It's a 20x5cm tile and we will place it vertically. The colours in the feature tile, are grey, black, silver and blue.  I am not that fussed with all the trendy colours of brown everywhere. It does look nice but it reminds me of the seventies too much and I keep thinking that burnt orange and lime green will emerge next!!  Mind you I do like those colours ssssshhhh, we won't tell anyone.  I wanted the bathroom fresh, with a bit of colour. I haven't decided on the wall colour yet, either a white, or maybe a really really pale bluish/grey - I will keep looking. We also priced a small light, which is an exhaust fan and heater too.  I always wanted one of those, but now they come in  smaller size, it's perfect for our tiny tiny bathroom.  It will look wonderful when it's all done.  I will look forward to more photos and a bathroom I can be proud of, and one that I know will always look clean.  

Another good day

Another good day today. This job is a bit like a lucky dip, I don't know what the day is going to hold.  

I stayed up latish last night, got to watch the Prison Break episodes.....oh that Wentworth Miller is just divine.  Smart, quiet, intelligent, caring, brilliant, and just yummo to look at!  (big sigh)  So I stayed up when I should have gone to bed, although I felt quite good last night even though my day was huge.

I dropped the kids off and drove Sheila into town and arrived at school at around 8.10am. I spoke to the classroom teacher, and was pleasantly surprised that it was an academically based classroom. No wheelchairs, and no nappies!  The class was smallish, six kids, with one who is severely autistic - he basically needed one on one all day long. The kids were just delightful.  I had a ball with them. In many ways these kids are easier than mainstream kids.  Its more intense, and you have to be even more watchful as their safety is a huge issue, but you don't raise your voice like you do when you have 25 (or 40) in a class.  I left the autistic child with the aide for most of the day as she knows him really well, and I can't walk in there all guns blazing so to speak.  In the afternoon though I sat with him, I spoke to him, got him to use his words when he wanted me to do something for him.  He would cut out small squares of paper, colour them in yellow and then write a word on them. By the end of the day he was getting weary, as he asked me to colour them in for him. He would write a word, and then invariably sing a portion of a song. He kept singing the same lyrics all day long, and finally I realized what he was singing.  It was 'Islands in the stream'. He sang the lyrics, and I continued the singing, and the look he gave me was just priceless. I got goosebumps. At that precise moment, for that one split second, I actually penetrated his solitary mind. It was an incredible feeling.  He just looked at me, and then continued to sing with me. I had connected with him - fleetingly, but in a way he could obviously comprehend.  My aide saw this happen and she said that was amazing because she said when she sings he hates it.  I said to her, I was stunned, because when I used to sing to my eldest when he was a baby, he used to scream!!  Never under estimate the power of music.

After school, I went and did the groceries, took them home and unpacked them, put a load in the dryer, made the lunches for tomorrow, and then took the kids to training.  I got home and had a shower, started preparing the kids' dinners and then sat down with a glass of wine. I have now organized our own dinner and the kids are fed and have had dessert and are sitting quietly and enjoying a movie. The machine is on again, with another load of mud sodden clothes from football training.

I wonder what tomorrow holds.

My days are far from boring

I know I am capable and organized (most of the time) and all that, but it's interesting to reflect on a day where I have been seriously challenged.  

Two days running, I have been placed with the older kids. Today I arrive, to find out that we are an aide down, and actually two down on what we had yesterday.  I had my day already planned out for me, but it was becoming increasingly obvious, that the challenge of 'just cook some muffins' was going to prove quite difficult.  I had eight kids, one down syndrome, two non verbal but basically able, one with the intellect of a 4 year old, one who has violent outbursts (she was the one who hit me last term) one boy who spoke and was well behaved, another girl who was well behaved and verbal and able..........   At this point trying to keep them all around the table was  challenge, but we had sung some songs and read a story and it didn't look like I had any aides coming any time soon.  So I took them into the kitchen, only to have two aides arrive and basically take over!!  Half an hour later they left me to feed some of the other students, and left me with muffins cooking, and more to cook, children I had to supervise and keep muffins up to them as they walked around the school selling them - I even had other teachers ringing me asking where the muffins were!!!!! Meanwhile another kid had arrived, who was really hard work. He kept touching the other kids and destroying everything that he came into contact with!!  And I was alone!  

I kept patient, I kept strong, I kept going and managed to cope with the day. I did ask for help at one stage, as it was obvious that 9 to 1 was not going to work.  I had another teacher come in and help me. It was great because he was physically strong enough to hold one of the boys. We took them to the gym and it took two of us to keep him on the treadmill, we had him nailed to the handle bars while he was trying to stop it. He enjoyed it, but wants to create havoc more!  We had to lock ourselves in, to keep kids from going out - well that one in particular. We couldn't keep him on that treadmill for ever. He got a great workout and so did the others, it was good fun teaching them shoulder presses and putting them on the rowing machines..... My aides spent most of the day in the toilet - no wonder I had to cope on my own. Toileting is quite labour intensive when you are dealing with wheelchair bound kids - and apparently one of the hoists was out of action.

The afternoon I assisted the other teacher and that was pretty cruisy!  I wasn't on my own - and the difficult kids were in another room.....

I am sitting quietly and enjoying a glass of expensive semillion.  MMMmmmmm, I think I deserved it. 

Had a great day - wonder what tomorrow has in store for me!

My little cherubs - NOT today.

It's the last day of the school holidays for us. The rushing, chaos, and stress levels start to rise again in earnest early tomorrow morning. It's been a great fortnight - very relaxing and I am ready to face the term head on.  Luckily for me I have worked teed up for the rest of this week, and hopefully next week too - so that's awesome news.  It's close to home, so that's even better. The pay won't be huge, but I am not in a position to knock back a short contract, and I don't mind the short ones where the light at the end of the tunnel shines rather brightly.

My three sons, are currently sitting on the lounge - no TV, no computer, no playstation, no gameboy!!!  The lady from two doors down came to the front door and let me have it. She just yelled at me about my kids!!  Apparently my cherubs have been up to their old tricks of putting sticks in her letterbox and calling out to her. This lady was not happy and neither was I. So the kids had to apologize to her, and were incredibly ashamed when they came inside. That mood will no doubt continue as they get used to having all their play things taken off them!!  It really annoys me that they have been so stupid.  I know kids are kids, but they are generally kind hearted but something about this lady has made them annoy her. She is a grumpy lady, (so would I be if my kids were harassing me like that!!) and I think they felt like they could annoy her..........  I think they have learnt their lesson. They know that kind of behaviour is just not acceptable, no matter how grumpy or mean they deem the recipient to be.  Ah parenthood, the joys.  Wait until Dear Bunny finds out, he is not going to be impressed.  Ah well, hopefully they will have learnt their lesson this time.  No more sticks in the letterbox, no more throwing stones, no more running down near her yard...... no more being painful! Will post again when I have more time DB has arrived home for dinner.

More Photo play

I read on Jessica Spragues Photoshop Friday about a great way to brighten up photos. I already use one similar to this, but I like this effect even more.

Before, the photo is a little under exposed, so I adjusted the levels before I applied Jessica's method.


Love this , turns a good photo into a great photo. You can find her method here.

Some layouts

I have been playing around, getting to know Photoshop Elements 6 better and am learning heaps. I am doing these photos as layouts in lieu of paper scrapbooking to save time and money. I wanted these photos scrapbooked but never seem to get around to doing the real stuff.

Because I am not going to upload these to any formal galleries, I didn't keep a notation of all the supplies I used. Living Kitchen Dreams is my blog which I kept doing the renovation time. I used elements from Jessica Sprague's 'Echoes of Asia', I've used elements from www. designerdigitals.com . The overlay on the last photo I made myself but the shape was inspired to Ali Edwards' overlays which are on her blog and are available through DD.

I was going to have this printed by shutterfly into a photo book, but I am not going to have 20 pages which I need for that. I have to decide how I am going to present the photos. I am not good at doing mini albums, so will seek advice from my friend who are good at making projects. I am just having an absolute ball doing this. I am so glad I took the 'Shoebox' class through Jessica Sprague's Website.

Using the class, I am able to go through my elements and they are easy to find.

Just Playing

Just playing around in Photoshop Elements. Date stamp is from Kate Pertiet at Designer Digitals, and journaling photo overlay is made by Ali Edwards and is also for sale at Designer Digitals.

Nature

Apart from sharpening, this is untouched by Photoshop Elements. The shot was taken from my kitchen window, handheld, no flash - right before sunset. The colours were breathtaking.

If I could bottle time

It’s days like today, that make me wish I could bottle time. I would bottle today and take it out when the children are not doing what they are supposed to, when they are fighting every second of the day, or when I am running around like a headless chook, or when I am feeling overwhelmed with the sheer volume of what I need to do. I need to bottle days like today, so I can take little sips to remind me of all that I have which no matter how mundane, is a wonderful life. If I could bottle today, I could sip and savour the moments I have spent with my children which are full of fun, love and laughter. I could relish in the moments where we just sit and play together and just enjoy the sheer joy of being together.

The day didn’t start off on the right foot, the kids had been great, I snoozed in until nearly 9am, and they were on the playstation. I had a shower, and they started to fight. I cooked them pancakes for breakfast, and Sammy and Mickey fronted up to the breakfast bar, with a sour disposition as they’d argued about something. After telling them that they were ‘ungrateful sods’ they sparked up a bit and enjoyed lots of pancakes. Mickey ate ten of them...... I did the ironing and set Billy-Joe a task of reading the ‘destructions’ for ‘Cluedo’. When I’d finished I sat down and read them too, and decided against trying to teach the little ones how to play. Instead we played a long session of ‘Game of Life’. Sammy didn’t want to play, but I made him, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself - as did we all.

Then the kid sat down and watched ‘Hoodwinked’ while they ate their lunch and I pottered around on the ‘net. I made a yummy pumpkin soup and let it simmer on the stovetop until dinner time. I also finished the third page of my Reno book which I am going to have made from Shutterfly - only 17 pages to go lol.......

My favourite show, ‘Prison Break’ starts tomorrow so I think I will stay up late and watch some old eps I have on DVD.

The weather is still forecast to be wet for tomorrow so we will head out and get some more movies and renew the PS game.

Love this photo

Baby of mine

Michael Luke
Mickey
Mickey Mouse
Mim
Bream
Mim the Bream
Brimula X the Oil that Protects

Baby of Mine.

Happy Birthday Sweet Little Man - you light up my every single day. Every day you grow up just a little more, your independence becomes stronger, you become a little smarter, a little kinder, and a little sweeter - it gives me wonderful furtive glimpses of the man that you will become.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Smile

Things that made me smile today
*Lady Grey Tea
*Kids playing together without bickering
*Smelling Chocolate cake baking in the oven
* Sleeping in
* Another part of the house with new paint on it
* Spontaneous hugs and kisses.

Too long between photos

For all the time I have been playing with organization and things, I haven't done much editing.

Some favourites of mine from our picnic on Tuesday.

Sammy loves to cook the bbq, and really drives Opa insane.....cool photo though - shows both their emotions perfectly.

He loves animals - it brings a peace within him which is quite precious to behold.

School holiday bliss

The first week of the school holidays is well and truly nearly finished. I wish the holidays wouldn’t go by so quickly. In some ways I have less time to myself, because there are others to look after during the day, but I do prefer the easiness of the days. I love the fact I don’t have one eye on the clock all day - meeting appointments, school commitments, work commitments, and picking up the kidlets. It’s 2.30pm now, and normally I would be heading out the door picking up my kids - and the afternoon and evening stretches ahead of me as a busy and demanding time frame.

This week has been great fun. The weather has been perfect. The days are around 25˚ and the nights are cool, perfect for snuggling, but not freezing cold like they had been for a week or two. On Tuesday we went to Wappa Dam for a picnic. The kids were so excited to spend some time with Oma and Opa and their Aunty Ricky and Aunty Denise, and the girls. Julia had to work, so couldn’t join us, but Kiana was there, playing footy with the boys which was great. I had my chair out on the sun,and just enjoyed the soothing feeling of it on my skin. One of the downsides (mmm, there aren’t that many!!) of living in the subtropics is that I don’t get to actually enjoy the sun much, but during he winter days, it’s just lovely sitting in it and enjoying the warmth on my skin, without being cooked to a crackle. I had to leave the picnic area early to meet a physio appointment for a very sore neck and shoulders. The million dollar latex pillow I bought several months ago wasn’t doing me any favours, and it wasn’t until I made a concerted effort to sleep on my other side, that it confirmed my suspicions. I paid $100 for it and was reluctant to give it up. I feel much better now, even last night it was starting to feel better. Two nights of not sleeping on the culprit has helped too. I have given Peter the good pillow - hopefully he will be comfortable.

I had a bone scan done last Friday, and Osteitis Pubis is no longer in contention for my diagnosis!! So, I am none the wiser. Another half day of injection, stuffing around, and laying still on a table, and I still don’t know what’s wrong. I won’t think about it for a few days - maybe it will go away lol....... I wish!!!

Peter has been painting the house all week, and it’s starting to look lovely. I am so glad I am not paying him by the hour, as he isn’t terribly fast, but he does a great job, considering he’s not a painter by trade. The house looks fresh, clean and bigger. His ‘to do’ list, which I jokingly tell him is written on a toilet roll, isn’t getting any shorter - well, maybe just a little!!

My darling husband took me out for lunch today. We wanted to go to the Orient Express, a really nice Chinese/Thai restaurant in Palmwoods, but just our luck and it wasn’t open for lunch!! Only on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland could you still make a good enough business, by only being open hallf the time!! We had lunch at the Palmwoods Hotel which was lovely. It was expensive, but delicious - and heaps of food. I couldn’t eat all my Caesar Salad, and had some nice warm cob loaf with capsicum dip which was delish. We also shared a caramel frappe which was decadent and yummy. It’s been 19 weeks on WW and this is the first time I have ‘let my hair down’. And it’s great because I didn’t eat heaps, left a third of my salad, because I was full. It’s Mickey’s birthday on Saturday. I have planned my chocolate cake recipe, lemon patty cakes, sandwiches, and I will make some sausage rolls, but will make some lower fat ones. I have bought pork mince instead of sausage mince and I have some low fat puff pastry too.

Kids have had a ball being at home this week. They have the car track set up and are enjoying the good weather and playing outside heaps. Today they are at Holiday Care, so we could have lunch and I could have the groceries in peace. Plus it means they will have a great day tomorrow, because they won’t feel like bickering as much.

One of my dear friends offered me some work. Her and her husband have bought the CamerHouse stores on the coast, and she offered me Sunday work, or part time work in the future. I know that I would love the work, but don’t think I am ready to kiss my teaching goodbye. Plus it would mean coming home around 6pm, instead of 3 or 4, which is a huge difference. I don’t want to stretch the friendship either, but having any ‘special’ requests. Not sure how much the pay would be, but it wouldn’t go anywhere near what I can get teaching - but knowing what days I am working would be a huge plus. I know I could definitely bring something to the business. I know more than the average person about cameras, and being a woman, I think that’ s a real bonus for the store. I would also learn more, which is always exciting for me. Definitely something to keep in mind....

Murphy's Law again

Unbelievable. I haven’t worked all week, and then today I get a call. The schools know I am not available on a Thursday, but she forgot. It would have been nice and close and would have put me back into the black for the following month. I am really cranky I had to say no. I had to say no, because we have a solicitor’s appointment to sign our wills, which we have finally organized, that’s the biggest reason, then I want to be home to take part in my ‘Shoebox’ webinar, it’s my grocery day, and probably the most important fact is because Sammy is involved in a ‘cafe’ and Mum, Dad and I are all going ‘out’ to the cafe for lunch - and he would be heartbroken if I didn’t go....

What price for your kids?

Kidspeak

Yesterday after we'd been to the Caloundra apartment block, we took the kids to McDonalds for an ice-cream.

We all sat down, I with my skim latte and the kids with their chocolate sundaes and Daddy with his caramel one.

Mickey piped up, and explained 'We are all having a Sunday and Daddy is having a Saturday!'. Yep well that explains why his was caramel and their's were all chocolate.

Another weekend gone

I can't believe how fast the weekends go by. I had a busy one this weekend and it was very enjoyable. Friday night I went scrapping as usual, and enjoyed another lovely evening with a few of my closest friends. I tried to get home earlyish as I had to take Mickey to his game on Saturday morning. I took Mickey to his game, came home, quickly tidied and put on some more washing. I made a pot of coffee and waited for dh to come home so we could sit together - enjoy a nice cuppa - before I got changed, and headed out for a midday to midnight scrapbooking day. I made two cards (x2) because a girlfriend wanted copies. I love her work, it's awesome, and then I was worried that htey wouldn't turn out well enough. so I took ages to get my head around these cards. I need more practise of measuring and cutting etc. My scrapbooking is always straight, but doens't require measuring, so I don't do it much. I think I harmed a fair bit of cardstock making those cards lol......but they turned out really well. Barbi had chicken and salads organized for dinner so that was lovely too. The money raised went to Cystic Fibrosis.

Yesterday we went and visited Peter's parents, and had lunch with them. It was really nice seeing them, and seeing them so happy. Mum is recovering really really well from her shoulder surgery and after her year of eye surgeries and her shoulder replacement, she is finally a picture of health and is feeing great. We also dropped into the Caloundra unit and paid a deposit on our holiday. It costs so much, at least if we have it paid off before hand, it means we can go out for a few meals and not worry about every penny so much if the accommodation is already paid for.

On Friday night we were chatting and one of my girlfriends asked me what I did all day. She loves to do her chores and then head out for the day, whether she rides her motorbike, goes to the plaza or sees her sister -she just always goes out. I really enjoy my days at home, and her questions set me to thinking and analyzing why I like to stay at home.

When I only had Billy-Joe, I became bored at home. I loved going out then, I really craved company of others as I felt lonely too. Most days I visited my parents, and EVERY single Saturday Mum and I went shopping. When the other kids came along, I stayed home - out of necessity. They were hard work, and going out was far from easy, it was quite stressful. I would go to my fortnightly MOPS mornings and that kept me sane. (Only just!!) I don't miss those early years. Yes I loved my kids deeply when they were little - don't get me wrong. But I didn't enjoy being home with a baby and a toddler. I had gone from one child who was so well behaved, to a baby (who was good until he too became a toddler) and a toddler who was 'full on'. Even once I only had Mickey at home, I found it difficult. I'd had ten years of babies, nappies, crying, crankiness, whinging which drove me spare - and I was looking forward to having those days behind me. Combine all that with problems with depression, battling my weight, being tired all the time and I am a little sad in reflection. I kept my house clean, my kids were well looked after, and I am glad I stayed home in those formative years, as I believe kids need that, plus I didn't have the energy or the mental fortitude to have returned to work, even though at times I knew it would have been good for me to have gone to work.....

It's the second year now that all my kids are at school every day, and also the second year I have returned to work. I love being at home during the day. I love the peace and the fact I can do my chores without anyone undoing my work behind me, or without having to worry about what anyone is doing. On the days I don't work, I am quite content to just stay home. I rarely go out as I don't have the need to go out. I don't have the money either, so lunch and or coffee isn't an option. I buy my meal every Friday night,and that's it. If I were not working at all, that wouldn't be every week either. Heck, this fortnight, I have no money now until pay day, which is Thursday week. No money - except a tiny bit I have left aside for Friday night and no access to any either. But that's okay - that's just the way it is - but it also means that coffee, driving somewhere needlessly, or lunch, just isn't on my radar.

Instead I can do my chores and sit and play on the computer, read blogs, learn my computer programs and operating system, read my book, go for my walk and just enjoy my own company.

It's 11am, I have done some errands,made some phone calls, bought some groceries and picked up some more ventolin for Billy-Joe. I also had to get fuel. When I got home I did my ironing, and dusting. The toilet's cleaned, the kids' room is tidied. I have browned my chicken, onions and garlic an have a yummy apricot chicken simmering away in the crock pot. Later I will head out for my walk and pick up my kids. As it's the last week of school before the holidays, hopefully none of them have any homework, so that will make this Monday afternoon a pretty cruisy one. Sammy has to practise his keyboard as he has a concert tomorrow. Normally with homework, I always help them - and harass them to not talk and keep working, it's almost like being in the classroom. Sammy takes ages some days, and as he is reading 'chapter books' we are often working together until around 4.30pm. I like to help them with their homework while I am preparing dinner. They can then play and I will have my shower and get into my jammies. Nowadays it's getting quite cool, so the kids normally inside and showered by 5.30pm. Peter comes home around six, showers and we have dinner. Then I clear up, load the dishwasher, and the kids read before their lights are turned off. Sometimes one of us will go in and read to them, but we are encouraging that they read to themselves. It's awesome seeing them all reading now.

My days are full and busy - and I often don't go anywhere. I guess it's a sign of contentment. I have set up my environment to be my 'happy place'. I love going to work, and Friday nights are my mandatory night with my 'bestests' - but it's pretty awesome being happy at home.

Update time

Another weekend has gone by the wayside. A long weekend in fact, as it was Show Day on Friday. I can’t get over how fast it has gone though. I was pretty busy the entire time, and that always makes time fly.

On the Friday a friend whom we’d met in Springbrook came to visit. It was an interesting visit. He and I were quite good mates when I lived there on my own. He lived a couple of doors down the same road I did - and we used to eat dinner together, either at the pub, or at his house. It’s interesting how someone you meet can have a lasting impact on your life, and yet when you see them again, the connection isn’t so strong anymore. Many many things have changed in the intervening years....Dh is convinced that if we spent some time together over good wine and food, that maybe things would be like they once were. I don’t think so.

Anyway, he is still a valued friend, someone who was once important in our lives. Through him I learnt to appreciate good quality red wine. I also learnt to cook Beef Vindaloo, which today, I still cook as he did. He also had a really good chef’s knife which I loved to use, and now I have a block of those knives myself. It was nice seeing him, and meeting his lady friend. Even though at times I felt pushed for conversation. I wonder if he felt the same.

Saturday I spent shopping with my Mum. It was a leisurely afternoon, I reckon we spent about 3 hours just sitting, drinking coffee or eating lunch. Just laughing, reminiscing, counting our blessings and talking of the future too. Just girl time, friend time - precious time.

I did my birthday shopping. I got Mickey a Wahu cricket set for his birthday and Billy-Joe a small ipod shuffle, which he will just love. Mum bought me a top which I had tried on months ago, and it was full price then. Mum paid a quarter of the initial price, plus I was able to buy it in a smaller size, which was pretty cool indeed! I also bought a pair of cords, which were only $20 - they are great for work on cool days, as they are soft, warm and comfy to wear.

When I got home I made a marinade for my lamb chops (the hideously expensive ones), and it was delicious - I took photos, so need to update my sadly neglected recipe blog when I get a chance.

Yesterday I finished my Photoshop Elements class. The next one starts in July, but I am not sure yet whether or not I want to do it. I definitely have learnt stuff - the program is amazing and the changes are great. (From PSE5 (Windows Version) )

Bad days and better days

LIfe has been up and down, on a pain threshold level. Thankfully, I’m on an up now. I had days in the last two weeks, where I wondered where all this was heading. For far out sakedness, where am I going to end up? Am I going to end up on crutches and hurting every second of the day.

Okay, take a deep breath Jen. It could indeed be a gazillion times worse.

Get a grip, find that strength within you which you know you have, and utilize it to it’s fullest degree.

Self talk, is a wonderful motivator, it can be as inspiring as it can be debilitating. I have talked myself around.

After two weeks of not walking much and feeling like shit, a nice day presented itself and I just had to go out and walk. And walk I did. For most of the walk, every step hurt!! Every time I lifted my right leg, it hurt, it felt like it weighed too much but I just kept plodding along. Polar HRM stats weren’t real flash, but I walked, and I felt warm from the inside out and best of all felt like I had achieved something. Did I hurt more at the end of the day than usual?? No!! Too cool, so I went for another walk yesterday and it was easier

Some layouts

I haven't uploaded any of my layouts in ages.

Here are some of my latest ones.


Sammy playing the keyboard at Karen and Geoff's house.
Cath and I looking at our booty from out day at Ikea. See the large piece, that's Al's desk that she insisted would fit into my car.....luckily it did!! She couldn't fit it into her car though lol......so it was a drama once we got back to my place.

A good fun time with hybrid scrapbooking.
Playing with digital elements, another hybrid page.

I know they are all wonky, I photographed them leaning up on the kitchen bench as opposed to doing them on the floor. I will go back to lying them on the floor and standing over them, a much better image, with no distortion.

A better day

I am feeling much better within myself compared to the last three days.

It was all precipitated by the appointment I had at the hospital, I am sure. It was a quite stressful day. The arthrogram went okay, just stung when he repeatedly put the needle in the anaethetize my leg. I felt a bit faint at one stage when he put the huge needle in where the dye went through, and he pulled it out and had to re insert it!

The MRI, is enough to drive someone totally insane. I have thought about it a lot since. I found that I had totally had enough. I hate noise, and the noise was too much. Imagine lying in the middle of a construction site, and having heavy machinery and jackhammers going ....... anyway enough of that. Thankfully the thoughts of things like that fade very quickly and at least next time, I will know what to expect.

Today is a good day though. Sammy’s class had a liturgy this morning, so I went and watched him. He is such a darling, and gets such a buzz out of me being there. Actually all three kids really liked having me there. Billy-Joe even spent the time before school started waiting with me and he had four friends with him too, which is pretty cool, that a group of year 7 boys would hang around - pretty neat I thought.

I got home and did my ironing, and vacuuming. Bunny dropped home and we had a chat and had to fix up some banking stuff on the phone. I tell you what, having a techno ignorant husband is funny...... Anyway we have finally set up his account so he can do third party deposits. What a laugh! I am sitting next to him with all his details to hand, and prompting him...... I am glad one of us is up to speed with things lol.....

I pottered around with some of my scrapping stuff in the afternoon, and then walked to pick up the kids from school. I didn’t feel like my long walk, but am really pleased I did the school walk. At least it’s half an hour.

I had another great night scrapbooking, I actually finished a layout. I must photograph and upload some of my latest creations. It’s 1.47am and I really should be in bed. Scrapbooking and spending time with my best friend, is therapy - and I feel much more at peace with myself than I did all this week.

Murphy's Law of Supply Teaching

I worked yesterday, a pre booked day, which are always the best, and of course I was rung in the morning, to work elsewhere too! Then today, I have my Arthrogram and MRI booked and the Special School contacted me to work. I haven’t worked for them since last term, the day the student hit me. When some time has elapsed between working at a venue, I always start to think, that they don’t want me back, and then in the last two days, the only other two schools that I work for, have wanted me to work. So, even though I couldn’t take the jobs, I was pretty pleased that I am still on their lists. I still like only having a few schools to work at - it increases my level of loyalty to the school and also my familiarity with the school routine and it also gives me a chance to get acquainted with other staff members.

My appointment is in a couple of hours. I have asked my dh to take me there and pick me up. I read the notes on the Arthrogram and it doesn’t sound very nice. I may be in pain afterwards and they suggest that I don’t drive for up to four hours. I will have to go and pick up the kids, but thats three hours later, so I should be okay. I am trying to look at the bright side, and not focus on the fact it’s going to hurt. I get a very quiet day. I get to rest - who knows maybe I can sleep while I have my scan. Methinks, perhaps not, as I will have to lie on my back (I imagine!). I will take my book, I finished Ken Follet’s “PIllars of the Earth” and am about to start his new one, the sequel “World without End”. I won’t get my walk in this afternoon either, so it’s going to be rather relaxing when I get home too. I am hoping that my left side is bad enough to show up on x-ray, as my right side is actually giving me much more trouble at the moment and they will only can one side at a time. If I am lying flat on my back, I have trouble lifting my right leg off the bed - it hurts and isn’t very strong, while at my left leg isn’t too bad. If I do certain stretches, I can feel my left side catching, so I know it hasn’t miraculously healed itself. It will be good to hopefully get a proper diagnosis.