Another one done

Wooo hooo it's Friday again! This one seemed to take an awful long time to get here. I guess partly because the kids are on holidays and I am aware of how little time I get to spend with them (infact my work hours jump dramatically in school holidays) but also because as just mentioned I have worked every day this week.... don't get me wrong - I love my job. It is always fun to go to and the girls I work with are great....... it would just be nice to be with the family too. But we can't have it both ways so I just long for my Fridays! (Although I will be working tomorrow so I guess it's not technically the end of my week!)

Hhhhmmm I wonder if you went back over my posts just how many mention happiness related to Fridays. (probably more than I want to know ~L~)

On top of work this week has been a stressful one generally - not for any one reason but just lots of little ones iykwim. I guess my biggest thing I have been thinking of this week is just how grateful I am for my friends and the fact that I have three amazing people who I know are there for me always and any time. Love you guys so much MWAH

RIP

*SIGH* Its time to say goodbye........

My poor laptop has been hanging on by a very thin thread to life. For those of you who have met her she is an old thing. Very big and heavy and showing her age quite strongly. For some time she has been missing her ' or " key and recently she lost her f key as well. (which for typing my letters that involve a lot of left femoral bones or rotator cuff tears can be annoying)

I think it is time for her to retire and be replaced by a younger, newer model.

Farewell faithful machine (not easy to type with a dodgy f key) you have done well. Thankyou for all your assistance over the last quite a number of years and for your company on family holidays etc.

RIP

Hmmmm now got to go find a decent laptop, with a large memory at an amazing price - then copy everything across!!!!! May the adventures begin...................

Big day out!

No not THE big day out but OUR big day out.......

and wow was it a big one! After catching a glimpse of the egypt exhibition at the Australian museum with school Kyle was eager to see the whole exhibit. So we got up nice and early saturday morning and drove to Sydney.

First Tony and Kyle dropped Tasha and I off at Canterbury to go to the papercrafts festival where we had a lovely girls time and the boys headed off to the city to go to the museum. Tasha and I looked and shopped and played in the kids workshop!!! We had a lovely time just walking around chatting. a real girls day ..... well half day.

Early afternoon we hopped on a train and headed into the city to catch up with the boys. Then we all wandered through Pitt St Mall together bought gelato YUM YUM and then headed home stopping via Wollongong for dinner.

MMMM dinner - what a perfect place for us. We went to the new buffet place at Master Builders Club. Lets see.... octopus for Kyle, duck for both boys, lots of seafood, banana fritters for me, strawberries and heaps of fruit for Tasha. AND it all tasted nice and fresh which isnt always the case with a buffet.

All in all a lovely...albeit tiring.... day.

blog diet lifted

After being asked if my blog was on a diet I thought maybe I should sit down and update properly *oooops* Break out the tim tams cause here we go!

Hhhhhmmm where do I start.


Okay firstly we have had builders and plasterers in to build a couple of walls for us and we now have Tracy and Jacob Thompson living here with us. We built a wall across the entrance of the rumpus room and now Tracy has that room as her bedroom. We built a wall across the entrance of our office and that has become my office/craft room and Jacob has my old craft room. We have now had them with us for two weeks and things are settling in well.
In the middle of all the renovations, painting, moving etc Tasha decided to do some work of her own and built a little place for herself outside. No roughing it for our Tash - not only is it filled with cushions and pillows but she set up a TV as well!
Next in our busy schedule was Kyle's soccer presentation. This year has been a different one for us with Kyle going up to youth league and playing mid week instead of weekends but he has loved it. He has had a tremendously encouraging coach and has really enjoyed playing.

After presentation we headed out to Huskisson for a picnic lunch and yes the kids went swimming even though it was freezing cold (and even rained at one stage). It was a fun afternoon and the kids had a ball - riding down sand dunes on boggie boards and having sand fights!Then this past weekend Tony and I flew down to Melbourne for a wonderfully social weekend. We drove up to Sydney on Friday night and stayed at Formula 1 motel before getting up at 5am (yuck) to be at the airport to fly down to Avalon. Saw some familiar sights looking out the plane window on the way down!
Thne we picked up our hire car and drove into Point Cook to catch up with the wonderful Allan family who once again just totally absorbed us into their house. It is always a wonderful place to go as it is seriously my home away from home - a place where I just feel I belong! The worst thing was the fact that we only had about 4 hours before we had to head off. Oh once again I forgot to pull out the camera so there fore had to make my own family pic for you! Hehe

Then we headed up to our motel so Tony could have a nap before going out (Sssshhh don't tell anyone but we were in Melbourne for the grand final and Tony slept through it!) I sat and watched it by myself - it is such a confusing game - are there any rules????

Anyway then we went on to the reason we were down there. We recevied an invite from Dayna for a surprise party for Ken and Debby as they were both celebrating their 50th birthdays this year. Tony and Ken have been friends for years - they actually shared a flat together back when they were teenagers and were really close for a long time. We haven't seen as much of Ken as we used to as he doesn't come up to Nowra regularly like he once did.It was lovely to catch up with them (and to actually see Ken as we had missed him the last few times we had been down) and they were thrilled we had travelled down for their party. They got a big surprise and I must say Dayna had done an amazing job of organising this and keeping it a secret. There were about 30 - 40 people there and it was a really nice evening.

Then sunday we were in Melbourne so what did we do? Of course we went shopping. First we went into the Markets and then I took Tony out to the DFO at Essendon. Had lots of fun - did lots of window shopping and did come home with a handbag and a new shirt!

Then sunday night we went back out to Keilor for dinner with Ken and Debby. It was great to sit and chat as we didnt have much chance at the party to catch up. so we spent about 4 -5 hours chatting and had a lovely dinner with them. Oh I must mention Ken's pride and joy - his massive watertank. We had a guided tour! (well not literally - we couldnt climb down into it because it was full!)

Then Monday we flew home - flight delayed due to wind in Sydney and then rain on the trip home made it a long trip home but we made it. Have to say thanks to the Combers for having the kids for the weekend.

.

So thats about it - I think we're up to date now - oh no wait. forgot the big news. I have to say a massive congrats to my big bro who has a new job and is moving out to Tamworth with his family to oversee approx 60 offices. Wonderful news - hope things go well with the house search etc.

Hehe - see people shouldn't complain about blog diets - it only leads to gorging and over-indulging!

We're home

Well it was a long busy weekend followed by a long trip home today.

Had a great time catching up with friends and spending time with special people. Oh and shopping!

Quick update

I know I should sit and update properly but to be quite honest I don't think I have enough brain power to do so - instead her is a quick overview:

TODAY

Outside my window ... Dark (night time). If I could see it would be a fence - My new office/craft room looks straight onto our side fence! HHHHmmmmm need someone to come paint a mural or a smilie face - any takers?

I am thinking .... not much really!

I am thankful for .... my friends who are always there to support me

From the kitchen ... well it was a few hours ago but we had a chicken and pasta cooked in yummy spinach ricotta sauce (thanks SJ for introducing me to this) and cooked by Kyle

I am wearing .. . Jeans, shirt, bare feet hehehe seesm like uniform - (see Miss Jane I have more than 1 uniform)

I am creating ... yeah right! Funny funny.

I am going ... Woo hoo to Melbourne in 5 sleeps. YYYYAAAAYYYY

I am reading ... Just finished a Lee Child book. Think I am going to pick up Piercing the Darkness next

I am hoping ... that my health will settle down. that my head will stop spinning. Stop the world I want to get off!!!!!!!!

I am hearing ... the TV is on in the lounge room - think its the emmy's but not really taking any notice

Around the house ... there are still a few piles of things and boxes to sort. but I'm getting there

One of my favourite things ... mmmmmmm coffee

A few plans for the rest of the week ... work, work and more work! Oh and unpacking and culling and then head down to Melbourne!

Photo of the day... Nope sorry.


I have so much to update. Lets see if I can do it in quick point form

* Had an amazingly excellent weekend with Cass - introduced her to DFAI, had yummy Indian dinner, chatted, scrapped. Felt refreshed
* Tracy and Jacob have moved in and seem to be settling in okay
* In case I haven't mentioned it (he he) Tony and I are heading to Melbourne this weekend. 5 sleeps sweetie!
* I have been feeling really slack in keeping up with everyone .
and most importantly
* I am sooooooo very grateful for my special friends. To Jane and Cass you guys have no idea how much your messages mean to me and I am so glad you are both part of my life. Thanks for your support and friendship.

I know I said this before but will do this properly at some stage - but for a quick update I think I did pretty good!

Phew

I know, I know I have been slack with my updating (thanks for the nudge)

Have heaps to update but am feeling so totally exhausted at the moment - been working long hours and then up till midnight moving furniture and packing boxes - then waking up at 5am to start again. Then with a mixture of the paint smell and tiredness and funny weather I got slammed with a migraine on Tuesday evening. Kind of scary driving to pick Tash up when all I could see in front of me was dots - came home found some Ergodryl and a dark spot!

Anyway the house is getting there now - hope to have 1 day off work next week so try and feel human again. will update when I can think!!! Brain officially switched off and feels like totally overloaded and ready for meltdown.

Pressies

Woohoo the postman came in this morning (Got to love my postie - he brings the mail in and leaves it on my kitchen bench for me!) and there was an exciting little box with my name on it.

When I saw who it was from I must admit I was intrigued! Woo hoo lets get the party started! In preparation for this weekend Cass sent us down some choccies! MMmmmmm choccy snakes and clinkers. Just what is needed for a weekend with two crazies oops I meant totally sane girls!

Hehe - thanks Cass

Girls Weekend in sydney

Wow what a great weekend. Came home feeling totally exhausted and I think my feet may take a week to recover but it was worth it.

We left Nowra about 7:15 and drove to Sydney - it was amazing but as we arrvied at the motel to check in and there were the girls who had arrived from the Central Coast - we had turned up at the check in desk at the same time! How cool was that.

We checked in and wow - talk about service. The place is full of nice boys! One gets your bags out of the car, another takes your car. We get up to our room after being walked to the elevator and our bags are carried in and coats hung up for us. What a beautiful room. Definately going to be impossible to go back to the Ibis again!

We walked through the Botanical Gardens - at one point there were 1000's of bats - wherever you looked up in the trees they were covered by them. It was so awesome (although I must say that male tourists are real wuzz's - talk about acting like a big baby!) The gardens were lovely and we strolled through and around and just chatted as we walked.Then we got to the Art Gallery of NSW where we got our culture for the weekend! Well not really. I don't think Jane will let us go there again *insert blushing face here* Its just that there were so many kids books and they had lots of fun things to do. So we did laugh a little, okay maybe a lot *ooops*Then we wandered through Hyde Park and, of course, Jane and Kath had to stop in front of the buskers for a quick dance, oh and Kath tried to prove she could keep a man in the palm of her hand!!Then we shopped and shopped - we checked out the lovely flowers outside the QVB and had icecream! Mmmmmmm gelato!

We walked through Martin Place and checked out the studio that Mel and Kochie sit in for Sunrise. But as for being starstruck - No - all Kath was worried about was the fact that the floor was so messy. Did they not have cleaners??

Then back to our motel rooms. These pics are taken from the gorgeous Juliet balcony's in our rooms. If you get the chance you must definately pay a visit to The Sir Stamford at Circular Quay. It really is gorgeous.Jane and I went for a wander, walked down the steepest, really uneven steps we could find! And so within a couple of hundred metres of our motel was this gorgeous view. I think you could probably see this from certain rooms in the motel.Then back to our rooms to shower, change and get ready for going out. We had some more laughs, chats and some bubbly - what else do you need for a girls weekend?For dinner we headed around to the Rocks and went to the Lowenbrau. My first meal at a german restaurant! I had a gorgeous seafood platter which was so lovely whilst Kath went for the traditional Sauerkraut, german sausage and mash. We had home baked pretzels. Oh and I think it all began when they bought out the Schnapps on a stick!!!!

We then went onto the Orient Hotel for a night of singing and dancing. All in all it was a great fun weekend with great company, lots of laughs and heaps of fun.

Monday madness

Just a short post - I survived the girls weekend (just) - had an amazing time - will sort out pics in the next day or two.

In other news Tracy and Jacob are definately moving in with us ASAP. Urgently need to find someone to come and build two walls - sounds simple - NOT!

Will post with more details later.

September is friendship month

Well I feel like I have been run over by a truck. Over the last week I have culled, thrown out and packed more boxes than I ever want to see again. Feeling totally exhausted now.
Hope I can drench up some energy because this weekend is the beginning of my mega friend month!

Yay this weekend I head off to catch up with these very special ladies for some serious gal time!
Beware Sydney - here we come!
Then the weekend after is my special girls retreat with this special gal. This weekend will just be a quiet one some serious girl time. Just to sit, chat, laugh and catch up and rejuvenate. Cant wait to have some proper chat time!And then we found out yesterday we may be heading down to Melbourne at the end of the month. So I may get to meet up with this special gal - probably just a lunch date or even a cuppa but I am sooooo excited about that prospect!

So that is my plan for September. Woo hoo bring it on. Just got to dig up that energy - oh and keep sorting and packing. HHHHmmm not looking forward to that bit. Need a builder too - anyone know a chippy who is looking for a small job and is available now! ~L~ Dont like our chances.

Happy Birthday Tash!

Wow my baby turns 11 today. How did that happen!?!

She has suddenly grown up too. Not only is she looking older but her behaviour and attitude is maturing as well. I love the person I can see that she is turning into. I'm not saying that life is all sweetness and happiness (she does act like she is already a teenager) but she is growing up into a lovely young lady.

We have had a great weekend - will update later - but I just wanted to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS TASH

A week in review

Well another week has disappeared! Seems like you blink and miss it. Have worked every day again this week. Next week doesn't look much better either. Oh well - the bank needs it. My brain needs some time off though!

so what has been happening over the last week? Well Tasha got new shoes! The picture doesn't really show quite how bright they are- she loves them!

Saturday we went to the Comber's to wish Royce a happy 21st birthday. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining. It was laid back and relaxed (well for us anyway - dont know Gail felt the same way). It was just a really nice day. Caught up with family. Had an amazing meal. I made the nicest potato bake in ages (yay me ~L~).

Got some gorgeous photos - have included a couple here - got heaps more of really nice ones. Some quite scary - my daughter looks so at ease with a baby on her hip - that worries me!

After the bbq lunch Jhorjie came back to our place for a sleepover with Tasha. They had a great time. I got very spoilt! Was coming out of my bedroom to be greeted by two girls yelling "get back to bed". Then te bought me bacon and eggs that Tasha had cooked!

It was a beautiful day on Sunday so I took the kids to the park for a picnic lunch. We had a lovely lunch - although after sitting watching the kids for an hour or so I was feeling a bit sniffly and wheezy and looked up and saw I was sitting under the one and only wattle tree in the park!! So we came home with me feeling yucky and sinus-y and I actually sat down and slept on the lounge for an hour or so.

Apart from that this week has been work, work, work. This weekend we have a free day Saturday - lots of housework to be done to catch up - the place looks shocking at the moment! Then Miss Jane is coming over on Sunday for coffee and then I hope to spend some time in my scrap room.

what ever you have planned for the weekend I hope its a good one. Oh and if I dont get around to it on Monday. Happy 30th Birthday Mone!!!

Last Weekend

Whhooops it's almost the end of the week and I am very slack. Haven't got around to updating from last weekend yet...and seeing I got a message from a special girl about checking and in seeing what's going with life I thought I had better get moving.

So lets so......last Saturday was a very social day. It started with a play date with this gorgeous girl (and her mummy and brother)
We met up at Playdays so the kids could go mad and play whilst Cass and I could sit and chat. And boy did we sit and chat......(ooops 4 1/2 hours later)......before I headed back to Nowra to do the grocery shopping....YUCK....

Then a quick shower and change before heading out for dinner. We had a lovely dinner - the food was great, company was wonderful!! Lots of laughs, chats and all in all a great night out.
Love this pic of Mone and Kase. And all the girls. this was such a fun group to be out with and definately something we need to do more often.

So that was last weekend. This weekend looks to be another busy one with Royce's 21st on Saturday. Will be a nice relaxing time to catch up with everyone.

THE TWO SIDES OF ME

Now before I go.....speaking of people checking up on me..... SJ remember this conversation in Melbourne when we were talking about my craft table/work table and I promised pics. Finally got around to taking a photo. Let me explain. For those who have scrapped with me you will totally understand I tend to spread! I like to have everything out in reach - i am definately not a tidy or neat scrapper. HOWEVER when it comes to work everything has a place and everything must be in its place. I am so pedantic about my work space being tidy etc. This has amused some when I created a workspace in my craft room as they didn't see how the two could mix. Easily - they don't mix as such. Hehe - can you tell which is my work place and which is my craft desk.

ME- Revealed!

Yes - its the new me! Finally gone jet black! The pics dont show the colour off that well but it's something I have wanted to do for a long time. I am a creature of habit so have never strayed from browns or reds before and been held back by others opinions but I have to say I love it. Have had mixed responses but as I am the one who has to look at it every day and I like it I say it stays!

What a day

A great day that is! Today has been full of celebrations and changes.

Firstly - big celebration - I got paid today! WOOO HOOOO. That sounds pretty simple but to those who I have whinged to, gotten angry with etc I am sure you will understand how good this is.....However after paying all bills etc we are back to under $100 in the bank (and need to go grocery shopping) oh well, we'll get there.

Celebration 2 - Kyles soccer game tonight! Yes they got beaten but they played a premier league team and they had a really good game. All pulled together as a team and Kyle had a blinder of a game - Well done mate. This leads me on to the first big change....

The soccer season has now ended - no more standing on a cold field 2 nights a week for soccer. I will now have my Mon and Wed nights back (for now). Still out Tues and Fridays but hey thats okay.

And the other big change......I have done it! Something I have wanted to do for years but have held back because I knew some would disapprove. I am sure now I will get at least 2 "Hmmmm I don't know's" and "I don't think I like it's" But to you I say TOUGH. I have always coloured my hair in many different shades but always a version of brown or red. Sometimes a lot redder, sometimes very brown. Today I took the plunge and have a very different look. I have wanted to do it for about 10 years. I love it. Will post pics tomorrow.

Melbourne trip

Finally got around to posting about my Melbourne trip. I had a great time - flew out of Hobart after one of those oscar winning performances by our little girl. You know those scenes with emotions running wild. My little girl clinging tight and not wanting to let me go through to checkin! Anyway - finally got through and was on my way to Melbourne

Met at the airport by my gorgeous friend and then we proceeded home for Matt's birthday party. (Ooops crashed another party - haven't done that for a while!) but check out the yummy foods! MMMMMMMMM
We had a nice quiet day at home on Sunday - although we did duck out at one stage to hit the scrapbook shop (SSShhhhh)

then Monday! what can I say about Monday except for laugh, laugh and more laugh!! We headed down to Geelong to the Kaiser factory. Do you remember growing up how your parents said "We are going to change the locks or move while you're out?" No - hhhmm maybe that was just me ~L~ anyway Kaiser did that to Sandra! Just after she left they moved! Was that a hint (just kidding sweetie). We headed down to Geelong with Sandra pretty sure she knew where we were going. We drove along the highway spotted the Kaiser factory tucked in beside a bridge - a tad too late so we drove across the bridge - nice long bridge - did a u-turn in the club parking lot and headed back. The problem - the road was a one way street - and not our way! We drove down a side street to try and get in and drove past a guy who stood there and watched up drive straight into the Pura milk factory! then he watched us turn around and drive back out!

By now we were in hysterics - we tried again and ended up going back across the bridge - followed the river on the WRONG SIDE for some time before trying again! We crossed the bridge - saw a truck heading to Kaiser so followed them and look! you go under the bridge
And then you end up here! I don't think we have ever been so excited to get to shop! WOOHOO. Yay for us!

So we walked and I got so overwhelmed by the amount of products whilst Sandra chatted with the shop workers and caught up on all the gossip and goings on of her previous workmates. (and I got to see her work on display)

Then monday night Matt had a play with my camera and insisted he could take a good photo with it - as the ones I take are very average. I'm not sure that he ended taking a great photo after all!

Then tuesday I had planned to catch the train into the city and then the bus out to avalon (quite a long trip all together) but instead Matt so generously offered to drive me to the airport. Had a bit of a wait at the airport whilst one flight was postponed. was getting worried as two others were cancelled but eventually made it to Sydney to be greeted by my family who had made the 5 hour round trip to come and get me to save me the bus trip home!!

Yay for Saturday!

Today has been my sit back and chill out day! Sooo needed, the last couple of days have been insane.

I finally got around to organising my Mothers Day pressie. The kids gave me a pamper session at Ella Bache. Started witha back and shoulder massage then I had a 1 1/2 hour facial followed by a foot treatment. It was wonderful. The package was called the extra yummy and it was! (sorry Haylee) And after my anti-stress massage I came home all relaxed - walked in the door to hear Tony yelling and Kyle gave me a hug and said I smelt funny from the facial!!! so much for anti-stress.......

But this afternoon made up for it. I got to sit and chat with my wonderful friend Miss Jane. This girl has seen me through so much and is a great support to me. It was lovely to see her and to catch up. We sat and had a cuppa and lovely bun and (of course) chocolate! All in all a lovely day.

Way to go!

Woo hoo . Just have to say to a special gal who I am very, very priviledged to call my friend. To SJ, you started this journey what seems like a long time ago. I know you were worried about going back to school to do your nursing but I knew you had nothing to worry about and look at what you have acheived. You have blitzed this course. I know it wasn't always easy (and sometimes ridiculously hard with your computer swallowing up your assignments) and those of us who love you were totally sure that you would have no problem and you have proven us right. Your work ethic and compassion for your patients is as high a standard as I knew it would be.

So congrats - you have now officially graduated and are a fully qualified dental nurse. Very proud of you sweetie!

Oh and one last thing. ......

You said to me "Don't you dare put that pic on your blog". Hehe You should have known better!

Love you Dad

It's a bit of a trip down memory lane today but I don't have any recent photos. Been thinking of Dad heaps today. It's been 6 years since he died and for some reason today has been a really tough one.

So I thought I would share some pics from long ago....BTW that cute little blonde kid is me!! Hhhmmm wonder what happened.