Where have I been......

Working! My little mid year break is finished and now I am back to a huge pile of BAS's, tax returns and demanding clients. Only 5 phone calls from my boss last Friday - my day off.


Last Thursday was first day of the garage sale at Fiskars in Port Melbourne. Got done there are realised that the cash I had to spend there was back in my office in St Kilda and didn't have time to race back. Picked up a heap of bargains - rubons for 50c, paper packs 50c, brilliant embroidery scissors $2. Look at what I bought for $15!

I would have loved some of the gardening tools - but I will have to get them next sale.

I am trying to get some layouts done but my head still isn't in a really good place right now. It is really time I started to put some priority on my needs and get to meetings and do some daily reading. It is way to easy to put everyone else's needs first. My new plates should be ordered this week and I can get back to skating and my four legged personal trainer is ready and waiting for me.

Christmas Show rehearsals start next week - I haven't decided whether I will skate in it this year - it's our coach's 20th show and he is doing a "best of" show so it could be fun. This will be Bec's last one - she doesn't want to do any more and Em may join in the items she was in a few years back. Bec is training hard for Nationals - I wish some of the others in her team were putting in the same amount of effort.

I am trying to get used to being a passenger in my car again - Bec is driving whenever she can as she needs to get 120 hours on her L's. I must relax....I must relax...I must relax......lol. Actually after a shakey start I organised lessons for her and she is doing really well.

A few friends could do with some extra prayers right now, Connie has just had her first chemo and moved house, Jen is waiting on MRI results, Toni is about to have her last chemo, Lidija is finally NED, Os is having family issues and Fay is unwell. Thinking of you all (((hugs))))

My baby is 15!

Seems hard to believe that my little girl is now 15. We spent the morning at the hairdressers having a cut and red foils, did a little shopping and then just hung out at home.

Its been a strange couple of weeks - I am supposed to be on holidays but as yet have not had any time to myself apart from time for a quick lunch with Wendy last Monday. I feel like I am going back to work as tired as when I left. I did not need extra furniture brought into the house that has resulted in major rearrangements in other rooms, boxes of videos/dvds with no homes and a mess for the two weeks I have off. Not happy Jan.

I managed to actually scrap a layout - I haven't done one in ages. Felt good to be cutting and pasting again.

My MIL has flown to Belfast - her first trip there in over 25 years - and a big journey for an almost 89 year old. She will have her birthday while she is there and apparently they are organising a big party for her. She is staying with relatives of her first husband (who died when she was about 30) in the house that she grew up in. I packed her case for her and just happened to hide a birthday card and some scratchie tickets in it.

I think I am going back to work for a rest........

We are off to Perth.....

Bec has just finished skating in the State Championships over the weekend. A top 3 placing was required to be invited to skate in the Victorian team at Nationals in Perth during September/October and Bec won Bronze in her figure event. There are seven in her group- which is open age and she is the second youngest - so it was an awesome placing (1st and 2nd placing went to women who have been selected previously). We were very proud of her effort and it was lovely to have other skaters from her club (and their parents) so happy for her.

Her precision team skated in the International grade this year - a 5 minute routine rather than the 3 minute one from last year. They automatically gained selection for Nationals. After sewing 180 buttons I am happy that they looked OK on the new costume s. A friend of one mum is a makeup artist and did the dramatic silver and black faces. Bec drove through the Macca's drive through on the way home(the joys of L plates!)then suddenly wondered why the girls serving were looking at her in a strange way - must have been the heavily made up eyes and the black lips.

I am still exhausted from all the last minuted costume making and finishing Bec's leo. Time now to file, finish time sheets and niggly things at work, clean up my office and HAVE 2 WEEKS OFF!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see if my mising mojo returns.

I am off to celebrate New Year's Eve with a coffee and early night. See you next year.

Busy weekend...

Yet another weekend spent around skating rinks. Bec coached on Saturday morning so dropped her off, raced to Mentone to source fabric for her competition leotard, back to Dandenong and the Bec drove home - first time through the busy highway traffic. Dropped her home and off to Jodie's to check on costume sewing - State Championships in 2 weeks and 17 costumes to make. A quick coffee then take Bec back to Peninsula for lesson and training.
Sunday was competition day.

Bec competed in 2 events - Figures and Precision. She skated well in Figures and won Gold in the Preliminary grade. Her team won Silver in Precision. They did well considering the routine was only finished on Wednesday.

I took Monday off work as I have been off colour for several days now and cut and partially sewed Bec's new leotards so feeling a bit less stressed about getting them finished.

Back at work today but still exhausted and can't get rid of the headaches. July cannot come soon enough - can't wait for 2 weeks off.

I can see the stars....

and the street signs, and the house across the road, and the TV from bed, and the whiteboard at school.

We have had another major confidence boost his week - glasses. Em picked the frames herself but even after we collected them she was unsure about them, wanted to take them home in the little carry bag and wanted to know if she had to wear them all the time because she would be teased again . This lasted until we got to the carpark. They came out of the bag, she put them on - and the look of amazement and joy as she realised she could see the signs on the other side of the road. The whole way home I couldn't stop laughing at her discoveries.
She has had lots of comments about her glasses - all positive!

So guess what - they only come off to sleep or work on the computer!

Mind you, there has been a lot more preening in front of the mirror as we work out which hairstyle looks best with them.

And these self-portraits turned up on my camera.....

Way to go Em!!!

Old enough to have done it once....

and young enough to do it again!!!

It's been a big birthday week - I am now 49 and 374 days! It sounds very strange saying 50 - that's the age my mother was when John and I got married.

On the day (Tues 20th) I got a book (Fifty is not a four letter work) from Em and a Pandora bracelet and some charms from John, Sean and Bec. John and I went out for dinner and the kids had a mud cake for me.

On Thursday my boss gave me a cake from Le Bon in Acland Street and gave me a generous cheque which I promptly spent picking up my Pandora beads off layby.

Friday was getting Em's eyes tested and finding out that she is very shortsighted and picking out her glasses. Then it was off to lunch with Wendy - and Vesna was there too. A lovely surprise! And I was given a beautiful begonia and some proteas and lovely handmade cards. I could get used to this!!!

Saturday was the usual run between skating rinks and a Stampin' Up party at Connie's.

Sunday was spent worrying about a sick rat and then another birthday celebration - this time with my family. 12 of us went to the Langwarrin Hotel for a lovely meal. Peter's partner Stephanie and her son Oscar were with us, they have just moved here from Newcastle. The playroom was just the thing to keep a 4 year old happy! More lovely cards and presents. I have been very spoiled.

Molly seems to have brightened up again - she has tumours which is typical in rats of her age, and repiratory problems. The only treatment for them is tamoxifen which would mean we couldn't handle her.

Molly loves to sit on the back of Em's neck while she in on the computer but couldn't resist climbing through the towel to find a more comfortable resting spot!

This week is back to normal - flat out with tax returns. The end of the year cannot come too soon for me.

Another week gone......

It's been such a busy week I have hardly had time to come up for air. You might need a coffee!

Sunday was Mother's Day - got up made my own coffee and breakfast which, after talking to Jen, wasn't necessarily a bad thing! John went into work early and the kids slept in until late. Bec also worked in the afternoon so I didn't get my presents until then. We went to the chinese restaurant at Patterson Lakes for dinner with my mother, MIL, brother, uncle (from Tassie), the 5 of us and Sarah, Sean's girlfriend. The service wasn't good, but I don't think they have had that many people in for a long time. Didn't stop us enjoying the night together. MIL was not at all well and managed to give her bugs to Em - the world's worst patient. Hopefully by Monday she will be OK for school.

My presents!

I framed my Mother layout for her - she loved it.

My mother's card

Mother in law's "Scratchie" card


Sarah turned 17 this week and she and Sean celebrated her birthday and their 2nd anniversary with her family at their favourite chinese restaurant in Springvale. Toni (Sarah's lovely mum) has had her first chemo finally. Yay - one done, five to go. She went back to work this week for the first time since her surgery - a great morale booster.

Work was frantic and I spend half my time keeping my boss from stressing out. Major tax lodgment deadlines and our major client group was incomplete due to stuff ups on their end. When you are dealing with tax bills of $1.5M due to be paid by Thursday it has to be right. The sign off meeting went really well - a major shock to him! Don't you just love it when they can just turn around and order their minions to just pay it! Got all my extension applications in for other clients on time - so all in all it was a productive week.

Let there be light! After about 10 cancelled visits from one company, the agent arranged a different electrician and Em has a light in her bedroom - she has only had a lamp for 2 months. Now let's see how quickly the range hood gets done - I've only been waiting 3 years.....

My mother and uncle dropped over yesterday for morning tea . Amazing how quickly you can clean the house when you need to! (and how ten minutes after Dh gets home the dining room table is covered in **** again!!!). Whipped up some yummy banana mini muffins.

You made it to here - well done! Now I'd better get ready to spend the day driving Bec between skating rinks - and I think I will need the jumpers and coat - doesn't look too nice outside today.

Catch you later......