Take a bath (hop in the shower)..................

WE HAVE PROGRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

IN THE GARAGE-DWELLING EXISTENCE OF THE BLOGMUGGLE AND FAMILY, THERE IS NOW RUNNING WATER AVAILABLE.

THAT'S RIGHT; THE PLUMBER ARRIVED TODAY, AND AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS OF WORK, ONE CAN NOW SHOWER, *#HIT, SHAVE & WASH DISHES ........ ALL IN THE COMFORT OF THE GARAGE.....

WOO HOO!!!!!!!

And Beloved hooked up the hot water service (no electrician needed as it plugs into a power point) & re-connected the shower recess that he has constructed out of Mini-rib iron at my request.

Wonderful man.

Of course, there is an irony in this...... due to the recent rains, the Council has introduced Level 3 water restrictions and a "Boil Water" Alert as the water quality is very questionable. But then again, it always is. So now that I've got (brown)running water, I'm not supposed to use it, and even then, I have to boil it first.

Oh well.....

It's all good: I'd better go and give it a run......

Goodnight ;0)

Here She Is....

Nat & Matt

Well, Australia has voted, and the verdict is in..................................

The newest Australian Idol is............................................................................................



NATALIE GAUCI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Well done Natalie!!!!!

I know that I predicted Matt Corby to win; well, I was close. Runners up are grinners too in this competition. I honestly believed that the teeny-girl vote would see him at the winners post.

But I really wanted Natalie to win.

And it's her birthday, too. Happy Birthday, Natalie!!!!!


It looks like I've had a bit of a run on "Australian voting" blogs.... Never fear, they're over......

G'night!

It's Time... Or is it?.........

The following lyrics are the famous campaign song from the 1972 Australian Government Elections, used by the Australian Labour Party, led by the inimitable Gough Whitlam. It was the most famous political slogan in Australian political history; what an amazingly successful campaign it was, ending the reign of the Coalition government after 23years.

It's Time

It’s time for freedom,
It’s time for moving, It’s time to begin,
Yes It’s time It’s time Australia,
It’s time for moving, It’s time for proving,
Yes It’s time

It’s time for all folk,
It’s time for moving, It’s time to give,
Yes It’s time

It’s time for children,
It’s time to show them, Time to look ahead,
Yes It’s time

Time for freedom,
Time for moving, Time to be clear,
Yes It’s time

Time Australia,
Time for moving, It’s time for proving,
Yes It’s time

Time for better,
Come together, It’s time to move,
Yes It’s time

Time to stand up,
Time to shout it, Time, Time, Time,
Yes It’s time

Time to move on,
Time to stand up, time to say ‘yes’,
Yes It’s time

I remember this election campaign clearly, and the song seems to have burned itself into my memory. I remember thinking, with all the clarity of a 10yrold, that there was no way the the old & not-so-attractive William McMahon could ever beat the incredibly charismatic and rivetting Edward Gough Whitlam. And I grew up in a staunchly Liberal-voting household.

Poor Billy Big-Ears wasn't even popular within his own party, and didn't marry until he was 57. And yes girls, this man is a primary contributor of DNA for screen hunk, Julian McMahon. Thanks to Gough's overwhelming presence and anti-Vietnam sentiment, Billy's tenure as prime minister was a short 1yr, 8months & 25days. But he does have the notoriety of being only the third prime minister to have added to his family during his time of residing in "The Lodge"

So, judging by the results of yesterday's elections, Australia has decided that it "Must be Time" again.

I hope that they're right.

Listen.... Do you want to know a secret????

Do you promise not to tell?

Ssssshhhhhhhhhhh.........

My manager told me today that she been received a phone call from the Trainee Enrolled Nurse Co-ordinators... and that she was sad that she had to tell what an asset that I was.


She said that it sounded very promising. It is reasonably common knowledge that references are only checked if you're in the final line-up for a job in the Health Sector.......


I hope so.


I'm all a-quiver on the inside.....


But keep it to yourself will you please?????????

Ta.

But now I'd best be off. I've some rather reluctant men to make-up. Except for the fella that's 50+yrs; he's glad for anything that will make him look younger and more attractive.....


Cheers ;0)

________________________________________________

Riders on a Storm.....

It is storming here in Walnut Grove at the moment. Rattling thunder, rapturous lightening, divine rain.

And the smell is .........

Amazing.

I love it. It takes me back to the last day of school when I was 5, almost 6. It was our party day, and I was wearing the beautiful pale pink, rose-printed party dress that my mother had made me. My best dress. She made all my dresses. For some reason, I was walking home alone, and a drenching summer storm happened on the way. I was sopping, shoeless, and deleriously tripping through the rivulets in the sandstone roadsides....... and not in the least bit scared.


For the second time today, I have re-visited this time. Smells. So Important.


Life here is more than good at the moment.

My knees are in a sorry state that will probably only be resolved by major intervention.... such as replacement. So no more singing and dancing for me. For now anyway. We (K)need to preserve the joint and strengthen it, lose weight, take drugs such as glucosamine and anti-inflammatories, partake in physio and exercise to maintain mobility and flexibility. As Lisa says, BOSH. And I have an appointment with a rheumatologist next month. So thank you to Tunde, my gorgeous massage/beauty/nail technician who told me almost 2 years ago that there was something very not right with my knees when the doc said they were really ok.... And Daria, my Bowen therapist, also expressed concern.

Hmmm... I can't wait to see what the Rheumy-doc makes of my hips.... and elbow... and a couple of my fingers.... and ankles.... and toes......

He'll see big dollar signs, that's for sure.


We've spent so much money in the quest of health this year that we've cracked the Medicare safety net..... we now get back 85% of all of our claims. I think we'll have all our "Jobs" done before the end of the year......

My new job is great. I love it, too. The people are so much fun. And we get the job done. And well.

But I do miss a lot of the people in the old job. And they miss me too. It's so sad to leave behind residents and their families that I have spent so much time building up a relationship with. Actually, I'm going in for 2 hours on Saturday to spent time working on a "Life Story" scrapbook with the one of the resident's mums. Jay is 35 and tetraplegic after a brain injury 5 years ago. His mum is a wonderful person. I have promised her that we will finish this book that we started together. There are certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday morning.

The smell of the greasepaint has lulled me back to work with Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society (MATS) again. But not on stage this time. I am helping the afore-mentioned gorgeous Tunde with the make-up for the show "I Think I've Heard That Song Before" that is on this Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. And then again on the same nights next week.

It's 2 years since there's been a show. Last time we did a stage-show based on "The Blues Brothers". Fun, Fun, Fun. And months of hard work. I don't know if I've mentioned this before. I was a singing, dancing (& stripping) nun; the ugliest & randiest redneck bar-maid that you wouldn't want to run into on a dark night at "Ben's (Bob's) Country Bunker"; & a very frumpy old bag who was the operator in a sex-call phone-centre in "Ed's Love Exchange"........ A character actor, that's for sure. I've got a good head for radio, you know......

Oh .... Bosh ..... I just tried to load some piccies for you to see, but blogger couldn't do it because they aren't JPEG or GIF. or something like that...... maybe I can work it out later. Or not. I'm am extremely computer challenged, you know.

Anyway, here's one from our holiday. It's the Australian Mototrials Championships presentation night. These are all of the "Kids". The future of Mototrials in Australia is in safe hands.......


Nuh. That won't work either. Blogger must be busy enjoying this storm too.

Anyway.

Later dudes.

Yep, too much television.

Yeah mon. Keep it real......

Did I mention that I watch too much tv?

See y'all.......

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

__________________________________________________________________

Put your hands together, all together, for the world's greatest mum......

It's official.

I Am The World's Greatest Mum!

Because I travelled to Sydney last Friday and took Vegeboy to see The WWE World Wrestling Championship at the Acer Arena.

Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Mr Kennedy, Snitskey, William Regal, Umanga, Randy Orton et al.......

Vegeboy said that he had the best night of his life!

Yes.


I am The World's Greatest Mum.


As were all of the other Great Mums that were there!


WORD!!!!


My visit to the orthopedic surgeon on Friday revealed that I have ostoearthritis in both knees.

Good.

Lose 10kilos, get some orthotics for my shoes, pay multiple visits to the physiotherapist (the private sports-physio; not the free hospital physio.....) do way more exercise and take high dosed of ($120 per bottle) glucosamine tablets and I should be right.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Oh, and have an MRI on the dodgy left knee and back to the surgeon tomorrow.....

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

More travelling.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I had the EN interview yesterday. It went well, but I won't know if it went well enough until December. So it's life as normal until then.

I have worked 2 days this week....... then I will again on Friday. But I will work all of next week.

Oh my... How will I survive it?????????????????

Anyway, I've got to finish cooking tea, then drive down to Nanandpop's as I have to be in Cardiff at 7am for the MRI.

See you all later.

Love, Bloggie.

<3

One fine day there was a woof and a purr........

Pet Diaries…..

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favourite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favourite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favourite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favourite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favourite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favourite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favourite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!


CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They
dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or
some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations
perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my
strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I
had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending
comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed
in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear
the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to
the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to
my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to
be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got
to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I
am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged
protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.

For now...

Snort.... giggle...... thanks to my cousin Jenni for sending me this........

Are You Still Having Fun?........

Hi Bloggers,

Well, it's been a while since my last post. This one will only be short.


It's been a week of firsts.


One of our gorgeous old residents passed away this week, and the nurses were asked by the family to to write a eulogy, so the girls asked me to write it and then deliver it on their behalf. I've never done this before. I helped Beloved write one for one of his work-mates, and stood with him when it was delivered, but this one was just me, alone on the altar, addressing the gathering. What a nerve-wracking, but pleasurable job. It was worth it for the comfort that it provided for the mourners, especially, Jess' daughter, Gillian.

It was to be my last day at work on Thursday, with a fresh start in the new job on Monday. But with the onset of an outbreak of gastroenteritis, the folk at the hospital decided to give this to me as their parting gift. I thought that my nausea was just my nervous response to the whole eulogy-thing. I told them it was the first and worst gift of this kind. My first Notifiable Disease.

It was also the first time I've ever vomited out of my nose. Gross. Especially the bits of vegetables that I had eaten in my salad roll for lunch a couple of hours earlier. Mega gross. Actually, I haven't vomited since 2004.

Enough of that. I'm on the mend. I can't start my new job until I'm symptom-free for 48hrs, which, so far, is Tuesday. Great. My first day at work is a sick day.

Anyway, that's enough of that stuff. On the upside, I've watched a few episodes of "Angel", achieved a flatter stomach with no exercise or purchase of expensive exercise equipment on my part (this just translates as my bulges are less bulgy..), and our grocery bill for this week will be somewhat reduced. And I've caught up on a lot of lost sleep.

I'm about to retire to my recliner..... but before I go, I have an interview for the Enrolled Nurse Traineeship on the 13th...... 3rd time lucky everyone's telling me.

See you all later.

Drink lots of water. Heaven's knows, I am.

Cheers,

Bloggie xoxoxoxox