New Year’s Revolution

I am revolting (no smart comments please).  You all know what a boring, whiney, pain in the butt I become over Christmas and New Year so this year I’m going to try something different. I knew there was no way I could manage it over Christmas (baby steps people) but now that New Year is upon us I am going to give it a try. I shall start perhaps by being a little bit cheery and maybe a tad more positive about the whole ‘New Year’ business. 

I see this as a fresh new start, although it’s not quite a new decade it’s close enough and we are moving from the noughties to double figures so that has to be significant…doesn’t it? 

I’m not going to make resolutions, instead I’m going to say (cheerfully) that although things didn’t quite go according to plan in 2009 I have total confidence that 2010 will be the most exciting and liberating year of my life.  It will be overflowing with fantastic opportunities, wonderful friends, abundance in all the good ways and even a bit of happiness here and there.

And I wish the same for all of you, my most cherished blog friends who stand by me through thick and thin and even through my appalling lack of posts in the last few months.   Thank you.

Happy New Year!

Oh and Dave…it seems your Easter wishes were a bit premature - thanks all the same :-).  I’ll save them for Easter.

For Dave

Something.

There you go.

Hilarious aren’t I?

Testing a blog editor

Just seeing if this works.

Pay Back Time

I mentioned last week that Tom and I were child-free for a few days.  It was quite pleasant.  Although I was working I still felt as though I was having a little holiday.  I had no-one to worry about but myself, I could get up in the morning, have my coffee and read my emails then wander off and have a leisurely shower, get ready for work, have another coffee and an uninterrupted chat with Tom before getting into the car and driving to work in silence.   In the evenings I’d arrive home, Tom would hand me a glass of wine and we’d discuss our day, then we’d eat dinner and on two nights we even had time to watch a DVD and STILL get to bed at reasonable time. 

However, (there’s always a ‘however’ isn’t there?) last night on my way home from work I stopped and picked up our nephews who will be staying with us for the weekend.  You may recall that this is an arrangement we have with Tom’s brother and his wife.  The difference is that this time I will be looking after the four children on my own.  It might feel a bit like this….

Tom is away all day today and all day tomorrow.  I don’t really mind, they’re good children and don’t give me any trouble.  The noise levels sometimes need to be controlled but apart from that it’s easy. 

So in the space of 24 hours I’ve made the transition from no kids to four kids.  I have to say, although I did enjoy a peaceful week there’s nothing nicer than seeing their sweet little faces.  Especially when they’re asleep. 

Memery

Owing to my current lack of blog material I have borrowed this meme from Dave.

1) My mother once: walked around for two days with every bone in her wrist broken. She didn’t go to the doctor because she thought she’d just sprained it.

2) Never in my life: will I believe a politician.

3) When I was five: I had my whole life ahead of me.

4) High school was: something I was glad to see the end of.

5) I will never forget: I have a terrible memory, best I don’t commit to anything here.

6) I once met: Keanu Reeves. Sigh.

7) There's this person I know who: makes me laugh. Always.

8) Once, at a bar: I got a bit drunk. Ok, more than once. And more than a bit.

9) By noon I'm usually: halfway through my working day.

10) Last night I: fell asleep in front of the TV.

11) If only I had: more confidence.

12) Next time I go to church/temple: the priest will be surprised.

13) Terri Schiavo: sounds like an Italian name.

14) I like: being happy.

15) When I turn my head left, I see: the movie the children are watching (‘Up’);

16) When I turn my head right, I see: 3 candles and a coffee cup.

17) You know I'm lying when: what I say is totally unbelievable.

18) In junior school: I had a genuine, burn your bra, feminist, lesbian teacher and she was the greatest teacher I ever had.

19) If I was a character written by Shakespeare: lots of people wouldn’t understand a word I said.

20) By this time next year I: want to be running my business from home again.

21) A better name for me would be: Mildred. No, not really.

22) I have a hard time understanding: the crap that goes on in the world.

23) If I ever go back to school, I'll: need a bigger uniform.

24) You know I like you if: I talk to you.

25) If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: the person handing it to me I guess.

26) I hope that: things get better soon.

27) Take my advice: follow your bliss. Well, it’s Joseph Campbell’s advice actually. I’m just passing it on.

28) My ideal breakfast is: crepes with lemon and sugar.

29) A song I love but do not have is: is probably one I haven’t heard yet.

30) If you visit my hometown, I suggest: you have a good look around. It’s a very historical place.

31) Tulips, character flaws, microchips and track stars: are very pretty, are not so pretty, are fantastic, I don’t care for.

32) Why won't anyone: take me to Paris this weekend?

33) If you spend the night at my house: don’t expect too much.

34) I'd stop my wedding: for lots of things, it’s only a wedding after all.

35) The world could do without: the global financial crisis.

36) I'd rather lick the belly of a roach than: the belly of a spider.

37) My favourite thing is: my iPhone (at the moment – that will change – I’m fickle).

38) Paper clips are more useful than: politicians.

39) And by the way: you’ve wasted a bit of time reading this, did you realise?

40) The last time I was (really) drunk: was 3 years ago. It was a mistake and I regret it because I was ill for days.

41) My grandmother always: loved me.

Move along people, nothing to see here…

I’m a bit concerned that keeping a blog will be a big challenge just now because I don’t have anything to write about. I mean I could give you daily reports on my job but it bores me senseless so I can only imagine how mind numbing it would be to hear it second hand.

You see, I’m just not doing much else. I work, I come home, I do the evening chores, I go to bed.

At the weekend I do the shopping, the cleaning, the washing, the ironing. Then I cook for a few hours, filling the freezer with meals for the next week. Then I make sandwiches and freeze them, sort out various snacks into containers and zip locks ready to pack into lunch boxes each evening during the week. By then it’s Sunday night, I collapse into a chair with a glass of wine and watch Midsomer (often dozing off halfway through). That’s pretty much my week.

No exactly riveting is it?

DINKS

Two posts in one day…not quite the same though is it? I forgot to say something.

Tom and I will be DINKS this week (Double Income No Kids). The girls are on school holidays and will be down at their Grandparents’ farm. Tom is also on holiday but he has exams this week so he’s staying home to study and then sit those exams. I’ll be working.

I’m not sure what it will be like to get up in the morning and only have to get myself ready and organised. Also coming home in the evening and not supervising homework, feeding children, bathing children, reading stories and putting them to bed. It will be strange. And a little less exhausting than usual I suspect. I will miss them though, when they go away I enjoy the peace for about 24 hours then I start to pine a little.

Jack will miss his litter mates (as I jokingly refer to them) but it also means he will get our full and undivided attention so I think he’ll enjoy that for a while.

So a strange week ahead.

Another week

Well another week passed and I didn’t get a post in.  I did do the one with Aislin’s missing teeth (more of a brief update than a post) but I accidentally saved it as a draft instead of a post (I’m using Windows Live Writer to write posts) so it didn’t arrive on the blog as it should have. 

Anyway, I’m here now and I will get better at this.

Early this week I was feeling very pleased with myself because I had more or less caught up on the unbelievable amounts of work I had to do.  Then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I had to attend some ‘induction’ training sessions with some managers from other areas and pretty much lost a day and a half’s work time. Consequently when I left work on Friday night I looked with dismay at what had been a fairly empty in tray, that was now overflowing. Not to mention the pile of lever arch folders on one desk and a pile of manila folders on another – all needing my attention. Sigh.  Busy week next week then, good job I’m efficient :-)

In other work news I had a meeting with my boss (the general manager) this week and he told me that he was very pleased with me and I was doing a good job and he hoped I was in it for the ‘long haul’.  I smiled and nodded politely.  I feel a bit bad about the fact that I will be leaving as soon as I get the opportunity.

 

All she wants for Christmas…

Is her two front teeth.

That’s the missing tooth she’s clutching in that bag – my photography skills haven’t improved you’ll notice.

Changes

 

Well it has been a long time hasn’t it?

You’d think after all that time I’d have loads to tell you. Well I don’t. Life is very, very, very busy. I’m working full time and it’s hell. I don’t like the job or the hours and I’m looking for something else (part time) but until find something I’m stuck with this.

I’m finding it really difficult getting used to the restrictions of working for a big organisation again.  My working environment used to be like this…. 

…and this…

…and this…

Now it’s like this…

…yuck.  Although that tree right outside my window is always full of birds which is one small compensation.

I’m really not happy with the job situation. I’m trying not to whine but I can’t promise that I won’t be posting a whinging, complaining entry every few days. In fact I probably will because it’s the only place I can get it all off my chest. Be warned.

The girls are ok, exhausted from being in before AND after school care 5 days a week. Tom has started a Masters degree (it’s been planned for a long time) so between that and work he’s busy (and tired) too.  Jack has grown, we’ve been taking him to dog obedience classes and he’s doing well and has graduated from ‘Beginner’ and is about to start his ‘Novice’ training.

Apart from that, winter (my favourite season) has come and gone with nary a word (or weather report) from me.

I never have time to read blogs which annoys me, I miss my cyber friends and all your goings-on. We have strict internet policies at work so I can’t even have a quick read in my lunch hour. It sucks really.

Anyway, what I can do in my lunch hour is write the odd blog post (on Word) and then copy it to my blog when I get home. Which is exactly what I’m doing now. So hopefully you’ll be hearing a bit more from me.

Hibernation or hiding?

Hazel Dormouse hibernating

Well as you can see I haven’t been exactly prolific in my posts since returning to my blog.   I actually have quite a lot to say but I can’t seem to get round to saying it. 

So, what I have been doing since the Solstice?  I’m not sure, the time has passed but I’m not entirely sure how I filled my days.  I occasionally visit my favourite blogs – even if I don’t leave a comment I try to keep up with what everyone is doing.  Leanne’s garden is looking lovely, Laoi has been ill (hope you’re better now dear heart) but she bought a moleskine journal (which would cheer anyone up), Miss*R is healing the earth (with a little help from her friends – including yours truly) and healing herself by telling her story and looking for Kali.  Dave is too good at cricket, identifies with Hamlet and a sloth and posted some very disturbing photos of himself ‘having fun’.  Z enjoyed a beer festival and forgot to post one day…I don’t think those two points are related.  Mary is taking a summer break from Hugh & Camellia.  Cathy is busy being pregnant…

I could go on, so many blogs, so many lives, so many friends…but I think it’s cheating to make my blog a condensed version of everyone else’s posts.  What I will say is that I’m so grateful to all my cyber friends for hanging in there and not giving up on me.  Whether you’re leaving comments, sending emails or connecting with me on Facebook or Twitter I really do appreciate it.  Thank you.

Solstice Blessings

 

Happy Winter/Summer Solstice – depending on your hemisphere.

Meet Jack

About 5 weeks ago  we had an unexpected addition to our family. I say unexpected because although I have whined endlessly about wanting a dog (no pun intended there), Tom has been less than keen.  Until we met Jack.

He came home and took up temporary accommodation in a a cardboard box (lined with a pink baby blanket as you can see).  

He was quite timid and frightened at first and every noise in the garden had him on alert – note the tail tucked firmly between his legs.

However he soon settled down and we discovered that one of his favourite pastimes is chewing.  He started on his bed…

He has a range of toys, this blue plush doggy is one of his best friends, Bill.  He doesn’t chew Bill but uses his presence to reinforce his innocence, when caught chewing other things, by providing an alibi. 

He now has a much more robust, fancy, unchewable and really bloody expensive bed.

He’s very spoilt and indulged and he repays us by being completely adorable, house training quickly with no trouble at all, learning to sit in a matter of minutes, and walking beautifully on the lead when he had his first walk yesterday (he’s just had his 12 week vaccinations which means he’s free to mingle to with other dogs - and ducks, as you can see from this picture). 

Jack didn’t have a great start in life, he was removed from his mother by less than reputable breeders at the age of 5 weeks, he then had two other temporary homes (with his litter mates) so that we were his 4th home when he came to us at only 8 weeks old.  

However he has settled in well and certainly seems to appreciate being with us and enjoying a somewhat pampered life.   In return he is eager to please and gives us hours of fun and lots of love.   We’re all very happy.

A Tentative Post

 Just peeking out to see if my blog still exists.  Seems like it’s still here…looking a bit dusty and neglected but not totally abandoned by friends.

Thank you Dave, Robyn and Leanne for coming by to check on me recently.

Things are ticking along here, once I get some posting momentum I will talk a bit about my experiences over the last 3 months – not today though.

So right now I am sitting here drinking tea, trying to ignore the irritating sound of a ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ DVD in the background (the children are home sick today) and wondering what an earth I write about when I blog.  Until a couple of weeks ago I didn’t even miss blogging. I missed visiting blogs but just didn’t have the energy to do so.

Then one day as I was going about my business suddenly  those 5 little words popped into my head… ‘I have to blog this’.  I knew then I’d be back.

So I’m back. I’m not sure how much blogging I’ll be doing to begin with (so don’t expect too much :-)).   I shall be telling you about my sister visiting (from America), the weather (as always) and the latest addition to our little household.

…’til then…

Taking a break

Ok, I give up. I am totally overwhelmed and really need to drop a few things for now and sadly blogging is one of them.  I don’t know how long I’ll be gone but I really need to do this for my own sanity (or what’s left of it).  There is too much going on that needs my full and undivided attention and I need to do a little ‘work’ on my mindset while I’m at it.

Hopefully, it won’t take too long.

 

Ok, I’m not actually going fishing, nothing could be of less interest to me, it’s a metaphor.

Wandering

Mentally that is.  Not very focussed right now, feeling a little lost and bewildered and unsure of what the future holds for me.  I feel change coming, or maybe I just hope there is.

Tom and I had a quiet weekend at home (it was his birthday on Friday) the girls were away and we spent a lot of time doing not very much at all. Cooked some nice food, drank some nice wine, had conversations (uninterrupted) watched a couple of movies, read the papers and our respective books.  Just a lazy weekend really.  Nice.

I had a horribly sleepless night on Saturday, one of the worst ever.  Usually insomnia catches me in the middle of night, I get to sleep ok but then wake up and can’t get back to sleep for hours. This time I couldn’t even get to sleep at all.  I tossed and turned and paced the house and made warm drinks and did some meditation and tried mindful breathing etc etc etc. Nothing.  I last looked at the clock at 5.00am, I must have fallen asleep soon after that but woke again at 6.10 then again at 7.40.  Felt pretty crappy yesterday and although I slept ok last night I’m still tired and fuzzy headed (before you say it.. more than usual) today. 

So until I catch up don’t expect anything coherent from me…and even then I can’t promise….

 

National Day of Mourning

Today is a National Day of Mourning for those lost in the Victorian Bushfires. Memorial services have been held all over the country.

The publicity may have died down a bit, but it’s not over.  There are fires still blazing (some have been burning continuously for more than 2 weeks), homes and property threatened and evacuation plans in place.  With more heat and strong north winds forecast for this week (‘perfect’ bushfire conditions)  there are still a lot of people facing a difficult times.

Things Adelaide Learned from the Heat Wave of 2009:

I’ve borrowed this from this month’s GAPSA newsletter. 

§ The best parking space is determined by shade instead of distance.

§ Hot water comes out of both taps.

§ You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

§ The temperature drops below 32c and you feel a little chilly.

§ You discover that in February it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

§ You discover that you can get sunburnt through your car window.

§ You develop a fear of metal car door handles.

§ You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:00am.

§ Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and get cooked to death?"

§ You realise that asphalt has a liquid state.

§ Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to prevent them from laying hard-boiled eggs.

§ The trees are whistling for the dogs.

§ While walking back barefoot to your car from Apex Park, you do a tightrope act on the white lines in the car park.

§ You catch a cold from having the air conditioner full blast while you sleep during the night.

§ You learn that Centro plaza isn't a shopping centre it's a temple to worship air-conditioning.

§ Sticking your head into the freezer and taking deep breaths is perfectly normal behaviour.

§ A cup full of ice is considered a great snack.

§ An electricity blackout is life threatening because your air conditioner and your fans no longer work and you are seriously going to be cooked!!

§ You no longer sit on a couch, why would you when you can lie down on the cold tiles instead.

§ You need a stubby holder to keep the beer cold, not your hands warm

§ No one cares if you walk around with no shoes on.

§ You keep everything in the fridge, including potatoes and bread etc....

§ People have enough left over beer cans to make boats out of and have a whole regatta with tin can boats like Darwin...

§ The effort of towelling off after a shower means you need another one right away

§ Standing naked under a ceiling fan is an acceptable way to pass time.

§ You wait till it starts raining to go for a run!

A lot can happen in a week

However in this case it didn’t. Life is very busy but without blog fodder. Just work. Nothing else. Even the weekend was busy in one way or another.  The weather was lovely mind you (don’t often hear me say that do you?) sunshine without the heat.

Perfect weather for eating every meal outdoors.

But other than that nothing. Working. Madly.

This weekend the girls are away and Tom and I will be home alone.  Next week he is away to the Gold Coast for a conference. He’s staying in a nice hotel that apparently deliver fruit platters to the room – we think the girl comes with it. For some reason he wasn’t keen on this girl and said the colleague that is travelling with him can have his.  He’ll keep the fruit platter though.

So everyone is getting away except me.  Which I think is a bit unfair.

Grace in Small Things 4

1. Unexpected visitors – there is a creek at the bottom of the garden so we have frogs visiting regularly. It’s always pleasing. Ok, there was that one time that it wasn’t quite so pleasing, but usually it is.

2. Friends.  Since birth…all of them. 

 

3. My mother-in-law’s home made apricot jam on still warm grain bread.

4. Rock stars doing Abba Karaoke in their underwear.

5. Stella (can we pretend this is an arty shot that’s supposed to be blurry like that?) she’s wriggly…it’s hard to get a non-blurry one.  

It just goes on and on…

Experts are reporting that more than 10,000 native animals have been lost in the bushfires, as well as domestic pets and livestock.

Some animals have been found and rescued and are receiving treatment in the hands of wildlife carers.

‘Sam’ is one of the lucky ones….

She’s now with a carer and while badly burnt she’ll recover and will probably eventually be released back into the wild.

There’s more about her rescue here including a video taken on a mobile. The compassion of these fire fighting volunteers knows no limits.

Grace in Small Things 3

The highlight of my week is the cool change. It’s positively chilly and really quite wonderful.  It’s warming up again in a few days time but until then I am enjoying the cool weather and finding the Grace in Small Things like…..

1. Needing a jacket this morning on the school run.

2. Putting on socks because my feet were cold while working at the computer this morning.

3. Sleeping snuggled under the quilt last night.

4. Warming my hands on my cup.

5. Grey, cloudy skies.

Nothing today

There are really no words.

 Anything going on in my life is trivial by comparison and I have no heart for blogging today.

If you can…please donate.  Victorian Bushfire Appeal

If you can’t, please hold in your thoughts the families of the 108 173 victims and those still missing.

Spare a thought…

…and a prayer (if that’s your thing) for those lost and those who have lost loved ones in the terrible fires in Victoria and New South Wales.

The Premier has declared a state of emergency and defence force troops are being brought in to assist.

Many fires are still burning and being fought by the Volunteer Fire Services. Can you imagine how exhausting that must be wearing heavy fire fighting gear, temperatures of 45C+ and a blaze raging around you?

In Victoria arsonists are re-lighting the fires. There 66 confirmed dead so far (I say so far, because more are expected to be found), cars being found abandoned by the side of roads, occupants missing, whole townships wiped out, families, livestock, wildlife and pets gone.

It’s tragic, sobering, unimaginable and very, very sad.

Photos from ABC online http://www.abc.net.au/

Friday – Huzzah!!!

I love a Friday. It means the weekend is here (in case you didn’t realise). Also, Friday night is ‘murder night’ on the ABC – usually it’s one of the many British police/detective/murder mystery series. Tonight it’s ‘Trial and Retribution’. To be honest I’m a bit ‘meh’ about ‘Trial and Retribution’ but beggars can’t be choosers. I much prefer Midsomer, or Miss Marple or Poirot.

I feed the children early and we get them off to bed and Tom and I settle in front of the TV with a glass of wine and some dinner (plates on laps - peasant behaviour I know). I’m making Korma tonight with pappadums. Tom tolerates my ‘British Murder Night’ – I don’t think it’s really his ‘thing’ but he humours me and never complains.

This weekend Hannah is away overnight on Saturday and Tom has something to attend so it’s just Aislin and I at home. We’ll watch a movie and eat popcorn I think – well she will, I’m not keen on popcorn. I really hope she doesn’t make me watch Dora the Explorer.

I don’t have much else to report today. It’s hot…but you knew that didn’t you? ‘They’ are telling us a cool change will come through around midday tomorrow. I hope so because today I almost killed someone who stole my parking spot and then I nearly punched an old man who pushed in front of me in a shop. Lucky I wasn’t armed.

Today’s weather report

It’s hot, I’m tired and I need chocolate.

Anyone got a problem with that?

The bureau told us it was going to be 40 tomorrow and 34 on Saturday. Now they say it’s going to be 43 tomorrow (only getting down to 32 overnight – sob) and 41 on Saturday. They are liars. Later I’m going to down to the bureau to punch someone on the nose.

Apparently the cool change will come and it’s going to be 25 on Sunday. That would be nice….but I’ll believe it when I see it.

In the meantime let be known that I am heartily sick of this stifling ‘record-breaking’ heat. I am a Scottish person…we’re not made for this kind of weather.

Grace in Small Things 2

Today is one of those days when I really need to stop and reflect on the Grace in Small Things. I’d experienced a few of those little irritations that just prove what a horrible, impatient and cranky person I am. For instance, my fuel light was on (if you’ve read my 100 things page you’ll know I have an issue with putting petrol in the car). So after dropping the girls at school I headed for the nearest service station to fill up. When I got there I found queues at every pump, but that was ok, I wasn’t in a big hurry so I joined one of them. After some considerable time I noticed that my queue wasn’t moving (ain’t that the way?) I craned my neck to see what was going on and noticed that the person filling their car was at the closest pump…there was another pump in front of her…empty, no-one filling up there. That annoyed me, massive queues and a pump sitting unused…of course no-one could actually get to it because of the other cars. So I waited. And waited. I craned my neck again…she had finished filling her car (how much petrol can it possibly hold?) and now she was washing her windscreen…then her back window. The she started fiddling with her back tyre…W.T.F??? I was almost ready to explode but thought maybe I shouldn’t explode. Maybe I should contemplate the Grace in Small Things. So like a right little goody goody that’s what I did and here are today’s 5 things...

Cheaper petrol – we do quite a bit of commuting and petrol here has been up around $1.70ish a litre at times which puts enormous stress on the household budget. Today I filled up for $1.14 a litre. I’m happy and grateful for that.

My car – it may not be my dream car, but it is a reliable and comfortable little vehicle that has safely delivered us to our destinations for a couple of years now. It makes long trips with no complaint and probably doesn’t get nearly as much TLC as it deserves. Thank you car.

My iPod – I listen to it in the car when I’m not listening to Radio National (which I listen to because I am a huge nerd). On my iPod I have music, podcasts (of my favourite Radio National programs that I missed), meditations (I don’t do these in the car though), audio books and various inspirational bits and pieces. It keeps me sane. I love you iPod.

I can drive – what freedom there is in being able to drive. My mother never learned to drive (well that’s not entirely true, I do recall her having lessons but she never followed through and didn’t get a licence) and consequently she was very dependent on others, mostly Dad. When Dad died she was really left with no transport. I appreciate that I can drive and love the freedom and independence it gives me. I do not take that for granted for one minute.

Commuting – admittedly I do sometimes wish we lived closer to the school and eventually we will. Sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is trundling down the freeway morning and afternoon. However, my commute is beautiful. It may be a 3 lane freeway but it is through the Adelaide Hills and on either side there are trees and hills and greenery. It is not through some smoke filled city or barren industrial wasteland or housing estates or dull suburbs. It is here….

and here…..

Thank you God of Commuters.

Blog makeover

As you can see the makeover has commenced. It needs a little tweaking here and there but ultimately this is more or less how things will be. I’m quite happy with it so far.

I’m particularly pleased with my new 3 column look. I like 3 columns. Better use of space. I’m somewhat happy with my new header…it’s more ‘me’. If you are interested in creating a third column there are loads of tutorials online, I used this one…it was excellent - very quick, very easy and nothing went wrong.

There are a couple of new posts for your perusal. The new ‘about me’ page and the new ‘100 things’ page which I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for.

I have also discovered the most wonderful thing for writing blog posts…I’m writing this post on it and I am beside myself with pleasure over it’s efficiency. It’s here and it’s free to download.

You can write your blog posts from your desktop and it deals with all those annoying formatting issues that come with blogs…especially where it doesn’t like stuff you cut and paste from Word or when it gets all messed up when you insert a picture. When you press ‘publish’ as if by magic your post appears on the blog. Seriously, check it out. It’s brilliant.

So I still have a couple of little bits and pieces to do here, a few images that need updating. I also have plans to purchase Bridget’s Flame it’s very own domain name – clearly the relationship is serious, it’s time I made a commitment.

Name that tree **Updated**

There is a lovely tree in our back garden that I enjoy sitting under with my morning coffee. Unfortunately I have no idea what it is.

Does anyone know?

Prizes for the winner (not really).

It has these pretty leaves and sort of catkin thingies.....

...this bark is quite papery....

...and the branches are somewhat 'weeping' which creates a cosy little cocoon for me to sit.

Anyone?

P.S. If you don't know, can you direct your readers here to have a look please...someone must know!

Ladies and gentlemen we have an answer! Dave thought it might be a Silver Birch and Kate confirmed that it is indeed a Silver Birch. Thank you!!!

Excuse the mess

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the blog was going to get a makeover for it's blogiversary. Hopefully that will be gradually happening over the next few days (or not). If you stop by and find things a little chaotic, don't be alarmed - it's just the renovation in progress. If you stop by and find the blog missing completely please be alarmed...it means I've screwed it up.

Better remember to back everything up before I start.

Two posts in one day!

Someone sent me this today, just had to share!

Grace in Small Things 1

Committing to noticing the Grace in Small Things immediately caused me to start...well, noticing the Grace in Small Things. Today I have a small selection....

1. Watermelon...is there any other fruit so sweet and juicy and thirst quenching and BEAUTIFUL? That colour.....glorious.

2. Candlelight - no need to explain I'm sure.

3. Air conditioning....when it's 110 114 degrees in the shade out there (like today). To be inside, with the whole house cool and (relatively) silent, is a wonderful thing.

4. My morning coffee. Utter happiness.

5. Sleep...when it comes, as it did last night - with dreams.

Now I can't promise that all my Grace in Small Things posts will be pictorial. Some might be, some will be a list, some will part of a blog post. However it is delivered it will be the genuine reflections of my observations of Grace in my daily life.

Feel free to add your own to my list via comments, I'd love to know what yours were today.

Grace in Small Things

Most of you will know I'm not a schmaltzy type...I can be very emotional and fairly often spill my guts about stuff that would be better told to a therapist, but on the whole I'm pretty practical and not given to profound and mushy statements. However just recently I have been experiencing a bit of emotional melt-down, a slight 'life crisis' (note I leave out 'mid' - I'm in denial about that). I've complained a lot, cried a bit, felt overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, depressed, irritated and generally just a whiny pain the arse.

Today I found a journal from about 4 years ago. I read some entries and smacked my head against a wall...talk about history repeating...or perhaps it just hasn't stopped. Maybe I've been having the same emotional melt-downs and crises for years. In fact I think I have.

This has to stop. By constantly coming up against the same issues and then constantly complaining about those same issues I am just reinforcing it in my own mind and in my life. It's stupid, it's pointless and I realised today I am wasting YEARS doing it.

So when I stumbled across this blog entry it occurred to me that too rarely do I stop and see the 'Grace in Small Things'. I'm not one for a gratitude journal or a daily passage from the bible - not that there's anything wrong with those things, I am very grateful for lots of stuff I just don't write about it daily and really, I'm just not going to do a bible reading every day either (I know... I'm going to hell) but I think I can find 5 small things to write about for 365 days. They don't have to be consecutive days, so it might take me 5 years. In fact the exact words of the creator of 'Grace in Small Things' are 'Do it once a week, a month, three times a day. Any old rules will do'.

I also might repeat sometimes (well how can I remember them all?). But more importantly it might just make me stop a bit more often and recognise how fortunate I am and how truly surrounded I am by Grace.

In doing this I hope I will also move on from the stuff I can't change and makes the changes I need to make in the places I can. I know it won't happen overnight and I'm sure I'll fall off the wagon from time to time...but I also have to accept that.

After all, we're all a 'work in progress' aren't we?

For more info about 'The Grace in Small Things' go here.

Australia Day 2009

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!

Today is the day to.......go to the beach...

...have a barbecue....

...watch the fireworks.....

..wherever you are, whether celebrating or not, be sure to have a great day!

Stolen mements

Today is a slow news day at my place, just a lot of faffing around really. So I broke into Dave's blog while he was asleep and stole this meme.

1. What was the first car you drove (legally)? The first car I drove (as a learner) was a boyfriend's Honda Civic. The first car I owned, immediately after passing my driving test, was a red Renault 5 which I named Rasputin. I loved that car.

2. How many colours has your hair been? It was quite fair when I was a child, it got darker and is naturally dark brown. I've tried various colours, blonde, blonde highlights, dark with plummy highlights and so on. Now it is just dark brown.

3. Have you ever been fired? No. I have had to fire other people though. That's not pleasant.

4. What do you sing in the shower? I don't, I sing in the car a lot though.

5. If you could be any celebrity, who would you be? I wouldn't want to be any celebrity, they're prats.

6. Who was your favourite teacher and why? My grade 5 teacher, Miss Holden. She was a left wing, feminist, hippy (although I didn't realise it at the time). She taught us about current affairs and politics and women's rights - I don't know if she was supposed to, but I thought she was fantastic. She's probably responsible for my left wing hippy views today.

7. If you had a nickname, what is it, if not, what would you like it to be? Don't have one, some people call me Caity which I tolerate but no, no nicknames. I have no desire for a nickname.

8. What would the title to the movie about your life be? They're making a movie about my life? OMG, really? What's it called? Oh. That was cruel...I'm not playing anymore.

Feel free to do this meme I'm quite sure Dave and whoever he nicked it from won't mind.

Oops, Dave just pointed out that I missed half the meme...silly me...here's the rest....

9. If we say we are here to help others, then what are others here for? I dunno...to wash the dishes?

10. Who was your first crush? I have no idea, perhaps I could just make it up.

11. Do you believe in karma? Hmmm, not sure...kind of....that doesn't really answer the question does it?

12. What are the best and worst inventions, in your opinion? The internet is the best (my rice maker comes a close second) and those automatic, recorded, phone answering thingies you get whenever you ring any organisation these days are the worst...by far.

13. What is the worst physical injury youʼve ever had? I tore a disk in my back once. That hurt. I;'ve had a broken wrist and collar bone, they both hurt too.

14. Who is your favourite Batman? Do you mean my favourite actor who plays Batman? I don't know because I'm not a fan of Batman although I have seen the two most recent ones (Batman Begins and Dark knight) and that guy playing Batman seems ok to me.

15. What is your very earliest memory? About 2, standing at the window waving my parents off as they went away leaving me with my Gran. As much as I loved my Gran and desperately wanted to stay with her, I recall feeling totally abandoned as my parents disappeared into the distance. I think it was the first time I'd been left overnight without them.

16. Is there any animal/creature that creeps you out? Cybermen. Daleks are scary too but Cybermen win.

Bloody hell...I missed another TWO...what is wrong with me??? Here they are....

17. Which is the place that youʼve never been that you'd most like to visit? Oooh, so many! Top of the list....Norway and Turkey.

18. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was very young I had a ladybird book about jobs and there was a page in it about being a 'kennel maid'. I loved dogs even then and my childish heart soared at the idea of a job looking after dogs all day.

Ok, I hope that's finally it...this has turned into the meme from hell...or the meme that won't go away...or the meminator...or something.

Woe is me....

...the TV is broken! Normally I wouldn't bother...if it's not Midsomer season or time for a new series of Dr Who I could care less (no, really) however there is a Dr Who special episode on tomorrow and we have no TV. I'm desolate.

I don't give a toss about Big Brother, Idol or Oprah...I never watch soaps and I only occasionally partake of CSI (although I quite like it...and some of those other American acronyms NCIS, Law & Order SVU - not SUV as I once said - a police show about Range Rovers). No, TV is not vital to my life. Movies are, I like a good film, but at least I can watch them on the laptop if need be.

But Dr Who....!!! It's more than a girl can bear.

Gratuitous picture of the current doctor...

...and a dalek.