Silly season

Well the silly season is upon us and as noted earlier this month is just totally mad for me. Don't know if its the time of year but have been feeling really flat lately. I have almost finished all my chrissy shopping and in a mad panic trying to organise things for our time away.

Tony has been working extra long hours and is useless at the moment. Feel like hibernating until it is all over.

One good thing tomorrow is my last day of work for three weeks. YYYAAAYYYY

Weekend away

Had a great weekend. It actually started Friday when we had our work christmas party and played croquet on the lawn at Ian and Harriet's. I had no idea croquet was such a mean, bloodthirsty and challenging game. I thought it was just hitting balls through hoops but I soon learnt about the tactics and things involved. We had a ball lots of laughs and a good day. To top things off we got our christmas present from work which was a three day pass to Cedarvale Health Retreat, which is something I have always wanted to do so I can't wait.

Then Tony and I went to Canberra for the weekend. The kids stayed with Gail friday night and Mum saturday night. We had such a good time. We went to the National Gallery and saw the egyptian exhibit over from the louvre ( I figured my chances of getting to the louvre were non existent so better see it when I can!) which I really enjoyed. We went to cafe Injoy for lunch (yum yum) and had a nice afternoon doing some christmas shopping and ended up at hogs breath for dinner.

Had a great weekend. Trying to sort out now what we can and can't take to Queensland - we fly out in less than a week. Yikes. With weight limits etc don't know how we will get chrissy presents up there but we'll sort it out.

14th December - My Birthday

I had a great birthday this year. I was spoilt rotten by tony and the kids. I got some CD's I wanted (snow patrol, U2, robbie williams and Young Diva's) and a jewellery set with a necklace, bracelet and earrings that I had mentioned ages ago I liked - (and Tony remembered and got the right ones!)

At work today we had our annual lunch to thank the staff at the hospital for the great work they do looking after our patients and when the room was full to capacity Ian (my boss) made his annual speech which ended with "and today is Cath's 34th birthday so could we all sing Happy Birthday". Out comes this cake and everyone (about 100 people) sing. I think I went a slight shade of red. Learnt a good lesson - never trust your boss in a public place!

what came first?

The old expression what came first the chicken or the egg springs to mind today because I have been writing a book about my life and more particularly everything I went through in my teenage years. It's not a book that I ever think anyone would ever read but it was more for me - someone said it was a good coping exercise so I thought I'd give it a go. I don't know if the writing is helping or if I can write about it because I have come to terms with it more but I seem to be able to cope a lot better lately. So the chicken or the egg? Is it because I'm writing about it or can I write because I am dealing better?

Anyway apart from that life has been pretty busy. Had a scrap day on saturday and I got a big project done that I wanted to finish but I had a shocker of a headache all day and could easily have just come home instead but I was determined to finish it off and I am so happy with it. will post some pics later. Camera has flat batteries atm.

what a month

I sat down the other and worked out what I have on this month and WOW this is my schedule.

9th Dec Going to scrap sale in morning
then 10 hour scrapping day
11th Dec Going chrissy shopping with friends
12th Dec Scrapping night
13th Dec have to work an extra night work
14th Dec My b'day (Might be having dinner trying to organise )
Special lunch party for staff at hospital
15th Dec XMAS Breakfast 8 - 10 for Hospital
then My work christmas party for lunch
then driving to Canberra (DH taking me away for weekend - kid free!)
16th-17th Dec in Canberra
19th Dec scrapping night
21st Dec last day work main job before hols -
22nd Dec XMas party for my second job
23rd Dec Fly to Queensland
24th Dec To my brothers place for xmas eve dinner and drinks
25th Dec Xmas breakfast with brother and his family then christmas day luch with my sister in laws family
26th Dec to Australia Zoo
27th Dec to dreamworld with brother and family
28th Dec Pick mum and John up from airport
29th Dec do the whole family christmas thing
31st Dec Fly back home hope to stay in Syd for fireworks
1st Jan 0 Collapse in heap!


WOw I feel sooooo tired now

YYYAAAYYYY

I won, I won, I won.

I won my first ever scrapping competition. My mirror image page for the cybercrop was selected as the winner for my category. I was sooo excited. It is the first time I have ever submitted anything like this and I was so nervous when I saw the work of the other girls I almost didnt submit mine.

I was so excited when I found out. Even Tony congratulated me and said he was proud.

(insert happy dance here!)

my "Quiet" weekend

Well this weekend was supposed to be my quiet weekend but it ended being a busy one but also a great time.

I entered my first cybercrop! It was through scrapyourselfsilly and it was great fun. There were 4 challenges but I only submitted two - wasn't happy with my other ones. the girls there are sooo friendly and encouraging

My first one was for cards, they had to be blue/silver, with rounded corners and stars


The second one was a mirror image you either had to journal about what you saw when you looked in the mirror or do a mirror image layout so I incorporated the two.



Then in the middle of all this I have been trying to get organised for the 10 hour scrapping day next weekend and Tony finally relented and let us get a christmas tree. we didn't get a real one this year (broken a 10 year tradition!) but we got a fibre optic one. It looks cool!



And also during the cyber crop I won one of the games so I can't wait to see what my prize will be!

What a wonderful weekend

Well this last weekend would have to be one of my best weekends in ages. I had the best time

Gail and I drove to Canberra, checked into our motel in Queanbeyan and then drove to meet up with Sandra, Matt, Keira, Jamie and Miranda Allan (Flutters and her family) to catch up IRL one last time before they move to Melbourne (boo hoo). We had the best time. Did lots of chatting and laughing, had a lovely BBQ dinner with them and then the scrapping stuff came out! I had absolutely no scrapping mojo at all but I came home with so much inspiration from Sandra's stuff - she is soooo talented.

It was just a lovely relaxed happy time. She is such a sweetie and her family is great. they made us feel so welcome.

Gail and I left about midnight - ish and went back to the motel but then we found out Gail left something behind (I think it was on purpose!!!!) so we had to go back Sunday morning.

Then we went to the stamping sale at EPIC and meet up with Hannah (Bubblefrog) and had heaps of fun picking out stamps - we all ended up buying a heap but they were only 1 or 2 dollars each. Had heaps of fun, especially when we found a pocket watch stamp (long story - another time maybe) and then we went into Federation Square to Cafe Injoy for lunch. All I can say is YUM YUM.

We said goodbye to Hannah and headed home past a big roadside sign warning us to drive carefully - bushfire across Federal Highway!! Didn't know whether to turn back but we kept going and eventually got home without seeing any fire (turns out the fire was Friday and they hadn't taken the sgins away - Doh)

All in all it was just a great weekend with wonderful people

Sad day

Today I went to Wayne's funeral (the husband of a lovely lady I worked with). He was only 45 and they found out about 2 months ago he was dying and he asked Suellen to have the following verse read out at his funeral.

IF I HAD MY LIFE OVER AGAIN

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.




Maybe we all need to listen to this and think about enjoying life. Not getting caught up in the everyday but enjoying every single day we have.

another fun scrapping day

Had a great day yesterday. We were supposed to go to Mone's for a scrapping day but she hasn't been well and wasn't feeling up to it so instead of cancelling it completely as we had all been looking forward to it and packed for it (well I had anyway!) we moved it to Gail's at the last minute (Thankyou John for letting us invade your house for so long at such short notice and for being so tolerant of all the laughter and singing).

Had a great time. There was only four of us (Gail, Haylee, Amanda and myself) but we still talked, laughed, scrapped, ate and played singing games until about 10pm. Had a great time. Got lots done too. Will take some piccies and upload them during the week.

Proud mum pt 2

After the news the other week that Kyle had made the chess team for school (BTW he won 4 games, drew 2 and lost 1 at the district comp but his other team mates didnt do as well so they arent going on to the next round) we got notification yesterday that Kyle has been accepted into the Opportunity class for year 5 and 6. This is an accelerated learning class for gifted students (I hate that term gifted students it sounds so pretentious and feels like you are putting to high an expectation)

It is a great chance for Kyle who loves learning. They do a lot more in depth stuff and work slightly differently to the other classes in that the curriculum is not so strict and they can investigate things further and study topics that interest them as well as learning all the basics.

A fun time was had!

Well I drove to Penrith!!! Yay me, I HATE driving in Sydney. (Well it wasn't exactly city traffic but I was still stressing for about a week before!) Gail and I went to the paper and craft show at Penrith Panthers and did a Zina Wright stitchadoodle class with Crazymumm (Lucy) and Webbgod (Pam) from SM forum. I really enjoyed it and I can see that hand stitching will be a part of my pages now!

We did a little bit of shopping , met up with Jeneen, and then Gail and I decided we needed lunch so we were walking over the Panthers when I heard "MISSCATH!!!" being yelled out and there were Scrapwitch (Lisa), chellejamo (Michelle), Scrapgoddess (Leanne) and Crazymumm and Webbgod all heading off to lunch so we all went for pizza together and Ran into Cazfun on the way!

Then back for more shopping and we all met up for dinner at Panthers. (Scrapwitch, Scrapgoddess, Webbgod, Crazymumm, Gail, Chellejamo, Jenni, JPlatt and her daughter Dominique (hope I spelt that right) and myself) Had a great night - lots of laughs, chatting, giggles, and lots and lots of flashes (cameras of course!) Over the day we also met up with Scrappinowl, Little scrap, LisaP, and HelenJ

Time to update

We had a nice quiet weekend this weekend. Didn't do much at all just hung around home , did the house work (YUK!!) and veged out on the puter. I am really looking forward to getting away this Friday to the Paper Crafts Festival with Gail. Be good to catch up with some of the girls I met at the lighthouse and meet some new faces as well.

I really need to get started on my christmas shopping. I have done my list up of what I want to get does that count? I just don't know when I will have time to actually go and buy.

I'm a proud mum

Today I was met at the door when I got home from work by a very happy beaming boy! Kyle decided to try out for the school chess team (with no prompting from us we didnt even realise he was trying) and he has been chosen to represent his school at the St Georges Basin country club next week. I am so proud of him. He is not very confident and I hope this will give him a bit of a boost. Tasha tends to be the boss around the house so it is good for him to know he can try things and he loves playing chess.

I have been in a bit of a black mood lately. Life is so not what I planned but I guess what can someone like me expect. I should lower my expectations and accept that I should be grateful for what I have. I do get tired sometimes of pretending that everything is fine and just smiling.

But Kyle put a smile on my face today and made me very proud.

What an afternoon

What a shocker. It is now about 8pm on Sunday evening and this afternoon has been an absolute horror! First I kicked my toe on the exercise bike and split my toe open - gee they bleed a lot! and then the boys (Kyle had his cousin Paul over) come in to say Tasha has fallen out of the boat.

She did fall out of the boat, which was fine but she fell onto the old rusty shovel and cut the top of her foot really deeply and couldn't weightbear and screamed when you touched her foot so we spent the last 3 1/2 hours in casualty getting it looked at. No broken bones which was good (that was my main concern) and they didn't end up stitching it - just cleaned it up, dressed it and eventually we could come home. With a dressing that has to be taken down in two days time and instructions not to get it wet - yeah right.

Lunch at Berry

It was Mum's brithday on Friday so yesterday we took her out for lunch in Berry. It was a lovely lunch we went to the secret kitchen and the meals were great - Tasha thought hers was great as she got 2 mini pizzas which were put at the top of her plate like eyes and then there was a big tomato sauce mouth drawn on her plate. she giggled and giggled all lunch.

The meals were reasonably priced and very large.

We gave mum a big bunch of flowers and a clock which I had altered and she seemed very happy with her gifts.

all in all it was a lovely day - and we finished of at the ice creamery for dessert!!

Amanda's birthday

Tonight we had a lovely dinner for Amanda (starlight)'s birthday. It was actually yesterday but tonight instead of scrapping we had a bbq at Gails place because Amanda loves bbq's. We got to meet Steve (her bf) and had a lovely time. It was a nice relaxed casual fun evening.

update time

Well nothing much has happened lately but it has been 2 weeks since I last updated my blog so I thought I'd better do something about it.

The scrap day at Gails was great. A nice relaxed day with scrapping, chatting and good food - what more could you ask for? I got to catch up with my good friend Tracy and loved the opportunity to sit and chat.

Nothing else seems to change much - work is still the same. The kids go back to school tomorrow. These school holidays have been particularly tough because Tony has been working ridiculous hours and there is no way we would have got through these holidays without the help of his family. I wish I could have spent more time with them but I am looking forward to having three weeks off at christmas time and spending a week in Brissy with them.

Today we went to Georgia

Today was a lovely day -we went and had lunch with mum and John at Georgia. After lunch Tony tried to fix their DVD player which a friend of theirs had fiddled with and then we installed their broadband internet for them. They are still learning how to use a computer so the internet should be a bit of a challenge for them!

Anyway whilst Tony was busy with John and Mum in the study with the computer the kids and I had fun outside playing. We found a family of skinks resting in the sun and the skin that had been shed from a snake.

Looking forward to tomorrow - a whole day scrapping at Gail's place. Should be great!

Here are some photos I took in Mum and Johns garden. It is lovely, there are so many beautiful flowers and colours.

Seacliff Bridge

WE went for a drive up to Austinmer and Thirroul today and went for a drive and a walk along the Seacliff Bridge. I loved it. I have been wanting to do it for sooo long and it was just gorgeous. Today wasnt the best day for it, it was windy and cold but we had fun anyway, Tasha and I ran and skipped and basically acted like fools but we laughed a lot and had a ball! Tony dropped Tasha and I at one end and then drove and parked at the other end and Kyle and Tony walked in and met us in the middle

Life goes on the same

Well, we didnt win the lotto so it was back to work this week! Have to remember to buy that ticket one day!

Have been back four days and it already feels like I havent had a holiday.

Had a good day today - we went to the Illaroo school fete and then out to Davinas for lunch. It was a gorgeous day and so we ended up down at the beach where the kids went to "just get their feet wet". Yeah right. By the time they came back Tasha was a little bit wet but Kyle was soaked! Anyway they had a good time so all in all not too bad.

We were hoping to get back for the local school production of Aladdin as we heard it was great but we didn't make it in time :(

All dressed up!

Here is a photo of my kids all dressed up for David's wedding


They are growing up way too quickly

Busy weekend

Well what a busy couple of days! On Friday we drove to Cowra via Gunning and Dalton and lots of dirt roads! Got to see the rural areas we normally miss by taking the highway. The kids saw dogs rounding up sheep and it was fascinating.

Saturday was David and Amandas wedding and it was beautiful. cowra was very cold and we were worried it might rain but the service was just lovely. It was very family oriented and very sweet. It was great to catch up with family members, its sad that we only see each other for weddings or funerals.

Sunday we all met up for a picnic lunch and then we drove on to Dubbo and on Monday we hired an electric cart and drove around Western Plains Zoo. Another lovely family day

and then today Tuesday we spent all day in the car driving home apart from a short stop at the telescope at Parkes to check it out.

Very tired now, cant wait to sleep in my own bed. Will update with photos soon.

Had a busy week

I have had a great week so far. Spent Tuesday afternoon with Simone scrapping for the christmas ABC book swap then Tuesday night was our usual scrapping night (2 hours just isn't long enough for scrapping!) and then Wednesday I spent all day with Gail scrapping.

Still have stacks to do and I'm going to be away this weekend for David's wedding in Cowra but next weekend we have a scrap day for 10 hours so should get everything finished then.

I am actually feeling quite relaxed and wish I didn't have to go back to work. But the bills keep coming so I guess I better!

My baby is growing up

Well firstly I have to say YAY the SM forum is back up. It is so sad how much it affected us. But those girls really are my friends now and not being able to contact them was so stressful.

Anyway thursday my baby girl turned 8. We went out to dinner for her birthday but today (sat) she had a party with all her friends from school at the local gymnastics club. It was great! They play games with them and get them running around and then they show them the equipment and let them do all the gym things like balance beam , trampoline, rolls, uneven bars, rings etc.

Kyle did well. He is very non confident but once he starts and gives it a go he did really well.

Will post some piccies during the week.

Oh oh and the really exciting news. I am now on holidays! It is the first time in about two years I have been on holidays from both jobs at the same time.

major problems

today has been a shocker. The SM forum is having problems and I can't log in. I can see what is going on but cant join in. It is sooo frustrating like sitting behind a window watching all your friends play. It is sad to think how addicted we are, some people can log on but others cant. There was a page up earlier today saying someone had hacked in. I wish they could get a life!

MY tash

I just had to add this piccy of my little girl. I just adore this photo. She is such a poser and when the camera comes out so does all her model poses and looks but I managed to capture this one naturally and I just love it.

What a bad blogger am I!

Weill I havent updated my blog for such a long time. Life has actually been busy. I have had some good weekends lately. About three weeks ago Gail and I went to Canberra for the craft and quilt show and had a wonderful weekend. We got to meet Flutters and Bubblefrog from the SM forum and we shopped till we dropped!

We then took ourselves out to dinner at a posh restaurant for a seafood buffet and wine buffet!

Tomorrow is my baby's 8 year old birthday. So scary. We are having a party for her on saturday at the local gymnastics club. She is getting soooo excited

Just thought I would show off some of scrapping. Its fairly basic cause Im only new but I much prefer a basic page to some of the really OTT pages you see where you wonder what happended to the photo because the page is soooo busy. To each their own

shopping aaaargggh

Had a frustrating day today - drove to Warrawong. Needed to get a new winter jacket, preferably long line and black.

Didnt get anything like what I wanted. Did however get an entire new outfit for girls weekend in a couple of weeks so wasnt a total loss. also got some makeup I had been needing so all in all not too bad but still no jacket

things to do

one of the things on the scrapbooking memories forum tonight was to write a list of things you would like to acheive in your life. Here was my first 25

1. See where my mum grew up in England
2. Write a book about my teen years.
3. get a personal trainer
4. Catch a fish
5. go to university
6. Be confident in who I am
7. Take a holiday by myself
8. Volunteer for a camp quality camp
9. Get a job I love
10. Go back to Tasmania
11. Lose kgs
12. see a live football game
13. take singing lessons
14. go splunking (caving)
15. Catch up with old friends from school
16. Start dancing again
17. Swim with a dolphin
18. Do a photography course
19. Write a soppy romance novel
20. Learn to belly dance
21. Learn to like the person I am
22. Grow my own vegetables
23. Get something published in a magazine
24. Take my DH back to new zealand
25. See my kids get married


will add on from here later

My Blog

Well after much nagging I have started my own blog. I don't know that I have anything interesting enough to write about. Most days I fell quite flat and blah but we'll have to see if I have something to tell anyone.

My favourite things are scrapbooking, reading and listening to music.