A long time between posts....

Life likes to throw curve balls.  Just when you think that things are flowing as they should events happen that totally change your focus and goals.  
I decided to go back to study and finally attain the piece of paper that tells other people what I have been able to do for many years.  Great goal - but then I fell doing major damage to my shoulder and bicep requiring more metal bits (in addition to the plate and screws that hold my leg together!), a couple of months off work and 8 months of rehab.  And totally not interested in studying anymore.
During the rehab phase I decided that as I was almost back to the weight I was 10 years ago that my shoulder was not the only part of me that was going to be rehabilited. With many reservations I joined the Million Kilo Challenge and I pledged 10 kilos to the cause knowing that I would probably give up like so many other times. This time, little by little, instead of worrying about my "diet" I started to make lifestyle changes and started to exercise.  I refused to go out of the house so used a wii exercise program (EA Sports Active) and our treadmill - the first 5 minutes on that nearly killed me! Gradually I built up a collection of handweights, weight bar, aerobic step and mat a dvd or two and I was on my way.  It works - and the pile of too large clothing kept growing.  The 10kg became a goal of 20kg and is about to be upgraded again.  In the process I discovered my new love...RUNNING.

Who would have thought that I would ever taking up running at my age - my original goal was to be able to run the 8km Mother's Day Classic in 2013.  4 races down I know I can do it.

What a backdrop!

I feel healthy, I feel fitter and I have become the Imelda Marcos of running shoes!  I have now joined a gym to help me achive my goals.

Life is good



Look what I found....

I was doing a bit of a blog hop this afternoon and found this great link from Jodi's blog. Scrappin Bridge is having a great give-away. I love these gorgeous flowers. Have a look at her blog and you might be a lucky winner.

Valentine's Day

John and I have never really fussed about the day. I made him a card (so he can share the chocolate) - and he gave me a tattslotto ticket which I must check today.

I was up at 6 to take Em to RSPCA for work placement. She is nearly half way through the course but this week will be stressful as there are several things for presentation on Saturday as she has difficulty talking in front of others. Today the kennel girls thought she was a hero for stepping in to assist when two dogs were attaching another and they were having problems separating them. Her supervisor was amazed and so pleased with her quick(and safe) reactions when she saw someone in trouble, The smile when I picked her up at the end of the day would have lit the MCG.

Bec is away on her "Independence Holiday" with Beth. The girls decided to avoid schoolies and go to the Gold Coast when everyone else has gone back to school. The week was fully organised, booked (and paid for) by the girls - including all their attraction tickets - so all they needed to take was spending money. They have been cooking their own dinners and have survived. Pity that Bec was unwell once she got there but a phone call to mum solved that! Now she has gigantic mozzie bites. Look forward to seeing the photos.

A stitch in time....

I have been searching for a bag of dress patterns - some of which I bought in the early 70's, there are a few girls dresses with matching cabbage patch doll clothes that I bought when Kate was about 5, and smocked baby dresses. I emptied out the big cane basket and found a skirt pattern that had been lengthened with pieces from the Green Guide (Nov 17, 1975 - announcing the first episode of a new current affairs show - 60 Minutes), many other odd patterns, recipes and knitting patterns cut from magazines and a number of unfinished embroidery projects.

I knitted and sold many of these cat jumpers - each cat I made had a different colour colour, mine naturally was a diamante one.

A collection of recipes and knitting patterns from magazines circa 1983

A DIY cabbage patch doll pattern - I made one for Kate but from a different pattern with a pre-made head from Cleggs

The patchwork quilt - started in 1978 after I broke up with Mark - wonder what ever happened to him? The colours are quite disgusting and I have no idea why I picked them at the time and I have no idea what I am going to do with it.
The Willow Pattern cloth is a long way from finished - this was started in about 1985. My mother in law worked for Semco and had rooms full of linen, threads and lace and I picked out many pieces along the way which I used to do on the train trip to and from work.

The basket was like a time capsule. I loved fine embroidery and have done many pieces over the years - even finishing a tablecloth my mother started before she got married in 1954. My hands can no longer hold a needle for any length of time so I can't see these being finished.

I didn't find that pattern bag.

Its been a big week.....

Emily has started her course and completed the first 4 full time study days. Its meant leaving at 7.15am, dropping her at the RSPCA in Burwood, going on to work in St Kilda then picking her up at 3.30pm to return home. It is a fabulous experience for her and the assignments and work placement days will continue during first term.

Bec is excited as she is now accepted for Deakin University. She will be doing Bachelor of Environmental Science (Enviromental Management).

Sarah has been accepted for Bachelor of Science at Monash.

It's been a big and exciting week for the girls!

Holidays are over.....

They seem to go much faster when I don't go away. I did manage to catch up with Wendy for coffee and didn't even touch the surface of what has gone on in our families since we last saw each other - we'd better not leave it so long until the next time.

Going back to work was fun - 40+C and I don't have airconditioning in my office and my old computer hates even warm days. Luckily as the place (1900's terrace house) had been closed up the heat didn't really hit straight away. Boss has airco in his office...

Yesterday I went and saw Avatar with John and the girls - I can't remember the last time John and I were at the movies together. Em was seeing it for the second time - and Bec the third!

I have also done about 50 pages for the albums given to the kids at Southern Cross Kids Camps. Seems a lot but when each album needs 20 pages heaps more are needed. If you can help, the details are in an ealier post.

Tomorrow will be an exciting, although very scarey day for Emily as she starts her course in Animal Welfare at the RSPCA. We are hoping it is a great experience for her.

Imagine...

When I was a consultant for TLC they produced a line of Wall Art and discontinued it due to lack on interest in the US (this was years before House of 3 or any of the others started making it). While sorting through my boxes I found my wall word "Imagine" so guess what my word for this year is. It is now on the wall above my scrapping table.

I also managed to finish a page for Arabella

I've made something, after last year's lack of creativity - who could have imagined that!

It's SCKC 2010 time!

It is time for me to start making pages for the Southern Cross Kids Camps again. Usually I do these before Christmas but as there were so many generous scrappers out there Julie had enough pages for the first couple of camps. But now its time for action! These pages are 6 x 6 - and really simple. A spot for a photo, room for some writing - very little decoration. See the above link for more details.

This is a little from Julie's email to me today:

It is hard to fully explain the importance of these books to the kids. we have started a pilot Mentoring club for 14 of our local SCKC campers and their carers, parent or case workers always mention how much the kids look through them. It is a wonderful thing to think by getting together to do all this the children have beautiful books as keepsakes of their childhoods!

If you can help either contact me or send pages directly to:

Julie Stone

C/O SCKC Memory Books

PO Box 290

Unanderra

NSW 2526

2009 is over.....where did the year go?

Its been a busy year. During 2009 :-

Sadly.....

• I farewelled my mother in law Bessie, and Sarah's mother Toni, Lydia and Jen - and I miss them all
• We emptied my MIL's house
• We moved house after 5 years - packing and moving 2 houses in one year - not recommended.
• Em tried to return to her old school
• Em said goodbye to Molly and Nat, her rats
• My income reduced - but my blood pressure hasn't!
• My creative mojo went missing

BUT .....

• We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary
• Bec represented Australia at the Oceania Championships
• Emily and Bec went to the school formal
• We LOVE the new house (and I love that over 20 cubic metres of rubbish didn't come with us)
• Em turned 16 - and now has Abi and Ziva the rats
• Bec and Sarah both turned 18 - and neither have their P's yet even though they both have cars!
• Sean turned 20 - and now has a new car to play with
• Em completed year 9 and is much happier thanks to Alison
• Bec passed her VCE and is wants to go to Deakin University
• Sarah passed her VCE too and wants to do a science degree at Melbourne Uni
• Sean has almost completed his course.
• Em has been accepted into a Cert II in Animal Studies at Victoria University - this will be done at the RSPCA in Burwood.
• We have a new nephew - Lachlan
• John now has 3 grandchildren with the addition of Arabella and Emma and appreciated Kate's comment on what a lovely big family we now have at our Christmas gathering - and is so happy their relationship is now so good.

And for me - most of the time just taking life a day at a time was about all I could manage.....

Let's see what 2010 has in store for us.

Sweet 16

Left one thing off my list of 'happenings" - Emily turned 16

Where has the year gone?

It's been so long since I posted that I think this will be a dot point of what has been going on and I'll post some pictures later. Better grab your coffee...

• Sean's car was stolen the day after Toni's funeral and later recovered missing everything he owned from inside - including his rubbish
• He had his first accident in Sarah's grandfather's car which he was given when his was taken - and has now 2 months later received an invoice for $13,000.
• Bec skated in the State Championships - silver for figures and precision
• Bec skated in the Australian team at the Oceania championships and her team won gold and has now retired from the team
• She is studying hard for VCE exams and only training 3 days a week now.
• Emily made a decision to try to return to the high school that let her down so badly. It has not been successful yet - but she is now going to a psychologist to help with her anxiety disorder.
• She won an award from her school for attendance - a Pet's Paradise voucher - so now Ziva and Abi have a lovely new wheel to run around in.
• John has been working non stop and emptying his mother's house - a huge stressful job - at the same time. He coped well until the night we finished and it really hit him that he no longer has his parents. His sister as usual did almost nothing except complain.
• I have been working and spent my 2 week break fighting off a lung infection. Bit stressful when you are really not sure what your major client is up to and you know you are deliberately being left out of the loop. At least we can claim "plausible deniability".
• The girls went to the Senior Formal - the theme this year as Masquerade - Bec's friends hired a Hummer limo and had a great afternoon preparing for the night. Emi went too - she and her friend Elissa had spent many afternoons shopping for the "perfect" dress and Em made an elaborate mask.
• Our house has been sold and we are about to pack and moved again - we have accumulated a lot of junk in the 5 years we have been here. so its clean out time.

I'll be back later with the pictorial version...

So sad....

The update I had planned to write this weekend will have to wait for another day.

Tonight the beautiful Sarah and her two younger brothers lost their mum, and Gavin his fabulous wife. Toni was diagnosed with breast cancer fourteen months ago and was doing well. Her secondary cancer was discovered about 12 weeks ago when she fractured her hip. In the past few weeks after radiation and re-starting chemo her body started to shut down. Two weeks ago we were told she would be lucky to last 2 days. But after being highly sedated and giving her stressed body a rest, Toni amazed everyone by waking up and although the cancer was in her brain by this stage and she would sometimes hallucinate she recognised her family and Sean. They were able to then spend time talking with her - something Sarah though she was going to miss out on. Gavin left the hospital only twice from the time Toni was admitted - once last week while she was stable and asleep - and tonight to come home to tell them of her passing. Toni's father has been staying with the kids. He has now lost his wife and daughter at a young age to breast cancer. Toni's sister and brother in law have also been staying when they can.

I have been very proud of Sean during the past few months. He has taken Toni to doctor's appointments if Gavin was busy and as Toni was unable to drive he and Sarah took on the job of household shopping, picking up her brothers and taking them out with them and generally being a 'big brother' to them. I can always remember him inviting Sarah to his 17th birthday and asking me if I minded Toni ringing to check the details of the party and coming in to meet us when they arrived. Three years later they are still together and he is as much a loved member of their family as Sarah is of ours. Toni used to thank us for letting Sean go away with them - I always thought it should be the other way around.

She was only four weeks older than me.

Bye my friend.

A happy Mothers' Day - my little man is now 20!

Yesterday was one of those special ones when Mothers' Day and Sean's birthday are on the same day - he was 4 days old (and I was still in hospital) on my first one. I made my own coffee - as there is no way I am going to wait nearly 4 hours for them to make me one - and pancakes for everyone. Bec didn't have to work so there was no rushing around which was really lovely. I received a new pair of slippers and vouchers to buy some more Pandora beads for my bracelet from the kids and Sarah bought me some chocolates and beautiful flowers. John and I went out for coffee - and he bought me a lovely new red coffee machine. Sean thinks that we really bought it for him! We went out for dinner with my mother and brother and came home for birthday cupcakes. I was told that if I took the cakes with me - he wouldn't eat with us...lol...Isn't embarrassing your kids part of the job description. Luckily about 10 minutes before we left for dinner I remember that I hadn't made my mother's day card so quickly put one together - and forgot to take a photo.

Looking at my gorgeous children (and I count Sarah as one of them) last night, I feel privileged to be their mother.

April in review...

I think the last month has gone by in a blur... and it is time to find the winter woollies.

We have spent a large amount of time trying to sort out MIL's house - and it still doesn't look like we have done anything. We filled a 6m rubbish bin and think we will easily need another one. There is a huge supply of wool, jewel cottton, embroidery thread, lace to find a home for - and boxes of doilies Little Granny made (John's grandmother died at 107!) seems such a waste to throw it away. Hopefully it will be on the market after this weekend.

Bec still splits her life between school, training, working and coaching so enjoyed a bit of a break through the holidays. Sean doesn't seem to do anything much (unless Sarah is around...lol). And Em is in a really happy place most of the time now - and loves her newly cut black hair. We did a trip to the Werribee Zoo - nice day out but was a bit disappointed with the lack of animals - seemed even less than when we were there three years ago.

I am still exhausted and by the time I get home from work don't have the energy to do anything much . Not much scrapping happening - only managed one layout for a recipe challenge




Sarah's mum has now started chemo again - after battling breast cancer last year, mets have been found in her hip - causing it to fracture. Still playing tricks on the kids though - she likes to drop a crutch down the stairs so they all start running. Too many friends are battling cancer, either by living with it or caring for someone who is. Your strength is inspiring.

May is birthday month....

And then there was one.....

It's been a rough couple of weeks around here. My mother-in-law passed away unexpected. She was troubled by her heart flutter and the heart specialist suggested that she be taken to hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure to have tests done. She had her dog picked up by her niece, chatted to the neighbours and headed off. She had a lovely day there chatting to all the nurses , especially the Irish one - they talked about "home", while they did her tests and at about 3pm they rang John to come and take her home as there were no problems and her specialist would just adjust her medication to keep the problem under control. John arrived at the hospital, parked in the 10 minute spot and went in to collect her to be told to wait outside as she was in resuss. She was being taken to the toilet and collapsed - apparently an embolism had moved into her brain - she never regained consciousness and died around 3.30. John had rung me when he got there so I rushed out from work - but it is still almost an hours drive. His older kids dropped everything and rushed to the hospital to be with him and we all waited there until his sister and nephew arrived at about 7 so we could break the news to her and take her to see her mother.

The funeral was last Tuesday, with over 150 family members and friends there - she was a well liked woman. This day was also John's 55th birthday - so a hard day for him. After the service and afternoon tea at John Allison all 5 of his children and their partners and his sister and nephew came back to our place and we had a birthday cake to end the day on a positive note. I cannot remember the last time everyone was together for his birthday.
At this stage we are planning on sending her home to Nthn Ireland.
There will be huge amount of work to empty the house and sell it but for now it can wait.

We have now lost 3 parents in 3 years and that is enough!! My father was sick but John's parent's were fit and healthy and both died suddenly.

My mother has been warned - play bowls, go to Tai Chi, babysit your new grandson but more than anything else - enjoy every minute, we want you here for a longtime yet.

A quick catch up....

I don't think that anyone drops in these days so if you do let me know.

The month so far:-

Bec has had her first comp for the year and got bronze. Back to the physio though to try and keep her foot in one piece. She is still training five days a week, coaching and put every waking minute into her year 12 studies.

Sean and Sarah went to her year 12 formal - and both looked fabulous.

Emily now has two new baby rats - Abi and Ziva. They are so tiny but bundles of energy and love to trash their house at night.
I just seem to work and play taxi. I have only managed to do one layout recently.
Bazzill cardstock, Heidi Swapp Masks, chipboard heart and clear bird, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Autumn leaves flower stamp, TLC rub ons, Kaisercraft jewels, Paperdoll letters, Green tara flower, kindy glitz & scrap felt.

And Lachie is getting bigger and more cuddly every day!

Bye Nat...

I have been to the vet tonight with Em - and we no longer have Nat. Julie our vet was amazed at how old she was - getting to 3 is a rare achievement for a rat. Looks like she had either pneumonia or a tumour in her lungs and Em made the decision for euthanasia. She wasn't going to stay in the room as she was so upset but decided to stay with me and hold Nat as she was sedated. She is so good when it comes to her animals - and Nat's welfare was more important than hers at that time. I am very proud of her.

Our new little angel...

Meet Lachlan Robert Maxwell Hawting born last Friday at Newcastle Private. 3.27k and 51cm long. The guy with the big grin is my baby brother Peter who has waited a long time to have his own little footy mate. No doubt the Essendon jumper has already been bought. Stephanie is doing well. Can't wait until they get home for a cuddle.

The last week has been a write off - bacterial gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Pro-biotic drinks are supposed to fill your stomach with good bacteria - this one did exactly the opposite. For 4 days I had 40C temperatures, a permanent booking on the loo, total dehydration and lost 4 kg. I haven't been at work for over a week and been too sick to enjoy the time off. I am pleased to report that I have missed absolutely nothing on Days of our Lives since I last watched it 15 years ago. Just can't figure out why they keep looking younger!

I have made a new recipe file - I used a Martha Stewart flip photo album and the recipes will slide in the plastic pockets to keep them clean. Maybe oneday I might even cook....

By the way did I tell you - I'm an AUNTIE!!!!!!!!!

A FIERY DAY IN FEBRUARY – JO-ANNE MATHESON

There came a day in February
That had us all in shock
A time when the south east of Australia
Was hit by a fiery rock

The country just exploded
Into a huge fireball
And in its path spared nothing
Intent on taking it all

The CFA and others
Were there to fight the fight
And we at home were watching
The devastation and the fright


One cannot imagine
What folks are going through
As they wait for news on loved ones
And the others that they knew


They are always believing
That they will soon be seen
Some are already grieving
Where the hell could they have been?


Sometimes the word is positive
Often it’s not so good
Some have lost a place to live
Where every family should


We pray to God for strength and hope
As they face what lies ahead
How the hell are they going to cope?
So much fear - so much dread.

Australians we know how to fight
As we observe the strife
So dig in deep with all our might
To give them back their life



Monday – 9 February 2009

It has been an horrific week in Victoria with fire raging all over the state. John's ex-wife and her husband - a member of the local CFA - are in Murrundindi and have been isolated on their property by the fires - it is worrying for his children. At this time they are safe. Luckily Emily doesn't have to go to her school in Yea for another couple of weeks - this of course may now change depending on the fire activity.

The poem is written by my friend Jo in Queensland, thank you for allowing me to post it here.

The photograph credit is seven.com.au

To all the firefighters, and others putting their lives on the line for us. Thank you.

January has nearly gone...

And I haven't posted since the first...

Em and her friends have been to Luna Park and had such a fun time. I dropped them off and went into the office to have a cuppa with Euan. They all got matching tattoos and Em was quite disappointed when hers finally washed off.

Bec has been working, training and had a brilliant skating seminar with Jodie Johnson-Garufo - a fantastic coach and former coach of Skate Australia - our World's precision team. Her team has been selected to skate for Australia at the Oceania Championships to be held in Melbourne in July.

I managed to get a few layouts done for a cyber crop at Chookscraps



Last Friday I spent the morning in hospital for tests as there were some disturbing signs on my last CT scan and my doctor suspected that I may have cancer - the good news is that all is fine and nothing a few (well quite a few really...) kilos off and a total diet change can't keep under control. I just have to be reviewed every two years now. I have to now get my achilles tendonitis (probably Nintendo-itis) and arthritis under control so I can go back to exercising properly again.

A big happy 40th tomorrow to Jen and a happy 20th to Sean T.