Friday, February 29, 2008

Sunshine on a rainy day..........................

Hi.

It's midnight. I've just arrived home and I'm having some toast for my evening meal. I love vegemite; the best comfort food ever. And some of Aunty Dor's lemon butter...mmmmm....

Plenty of rainy day today, that's for sure. And some sunshine in the form of mum still in our plane of existence. Sure enough, she's got a few extra bells, whistles, tubes and pipes at the moment, but she's made it through the surgery. Surgery didn't occur until after 2.30pm, so it's been a looonnng day. She's sound asleep in the ICU now, so hopefully, when I go back in the morning, they may have removed her ventilator tube. Anyway, it's all pretty ok.

Thanks for your kind and healing thoughts, everyone.

And Poody, the boys are 17 and 13. They've never spent a complete night at home on their own, but the biggest complication was the fact that the elder son had to be picked up from work, as there's no transport available for him to get home any other way.

Well the toast is all gone, so I'm going to grab some shut-eye before today starts in earnest. It's going to be another loonng one, I can tell.

At least I can drift off listening to the sound of the rain drumming on the roof, even if Beloved isn't hear to share it with.

Goodnight. xoxoxoxoxox

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Shut up and drive, drive, drive...........

Yeah Rhianna, I will.......... no worries.



The McMillans; Sadie (Nan/Mum), and her beloved siblings, Alan (plastering and favourite uncle) and Helen (seated; sadly, she's no longer with us)




Well, it's set.

Tomorrow morning, at 11am, my mum, Nan of Nandpop fame, is having her aortic repair performed. She's been waiting almost 2 years for this. And is very unsure of whether she will see living or dead relatives when she "Wakes" up. Until an hour ago, I was steadfast in my conviction that I would drive down to the hospital tomorrow evening and talk to her semi-somnolent form whilst she was in recovery.
But she had other ideas. She thought that I would be there to go with her and dad prior to the commencement. I think that she thinks that she needs to say a potential goodbye. Her disappointment was palpable over the phone. As cool and calm as my mother usually is (she's the family matriarch), she sounded gutted.
So, after a call to Beloved and my wonderful boss, I am now driving to Newcastle at 5.30am.

Then I will drive home at about 6pm. Beloved has been placed on some unexpected (and then some delayed) nightwork, so he can't be home to run the boys around. He will be here for VB until aboout 6pm, so VB will have to spend a couple of hours with the neighbours until I pick up SB from KFC at 8.30pm on my way home. Depending upon Mum's condition, I may drive back down for the day on Friday. Hopefully, it won't be necessary. I am going back down again on Saturday morning for (hopefully) time at the craft show with the girls from work ( this has been planned for a while) before I go back to see mum.

Excitingly, after this, I head up to Williamtown to catch a flight to Brisbane so that I can pick up some leadlight windows that a friend has kept for me. They'll be coming home with me in an Avis rent-a-car on Sunday. I need these for the builder, who is due to commence work on March 10, and this seems to have been the only time I could fit it in at reasonable cost. The flight is $49 (actual cost $61.82, but still cheap) and the car is $79.18 plus petrol... that's CHEEP, CHEEP, CHEEP...

On Monday, I will drop the car back to Williamtown, spend the day with mum, then drive home.

It might be a quiet week after this.........

Come to think of it, I reckon that Mum's passed the matriarch mantle onto me........

See you all later. I've washing to do, and sleep to work on.

Yeah, Rhianna....... I'll shut up and drive, drive, drive.....

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sunrise......... Sunset..........

Sunset.

That's what I saw in the rear-view mirror as Scorpaboy drove us down towards Newcastle on late on a balmy Saturday afternoon. He drove as far as Branxton (1hour) before he decided that he didn't want to drive anymore. I'm not sure how this kid is ever going to log enough hours and garner enough experience to gain his licence.
The two elder teen-terrors were excitedly train travelling to Sydney early on Sunday morning to attend the "Soundwave" music festival at Newtown.
So I drove down to Marylands, where we called in on friends, and SB was supposed to resume his driving........... Nuh. He was just too tired........ What the???????

Never mind. It all became irrelevant when he casually asked me when we arrived at Nanandpop's;
"Mum; you picked up my ticket, didn't you????"
"No, mate. It's YOUR concert"
"You're joking with me, aren't you Mum????"
"Sorry mate. If you didn't get it, then your ticket's still on the fridge door at home"..........


Sunrise.

That's what I watched after driving to Macdonalds at Rutherford at 5am to meet Beloved with SBoy's concert ticket......
A lovely breakfast and drive back to Wickham, saw SB, GG and a bevy of teens in varying states of wakefulness and sobriety on the 8.30am train to Central.....

Lucky Citirail employees........

I returned to Nanandpop's and conveyed Vegeboy to the Munce's house for a day of merriment. (Thank you Munces). I was very pleased to learn in conversation with Kelly that she hasn't given away her burgeoning photographic career. She's waaaay to wonderful to stop giving so much pleasure to others with her images. You should jump on her link and check out her blog and website to see what I'm waffling about.

Then it was out and about with Nan to get her sorted for her hospital visit, which is scheduled for this Thursday. She's very unsure about the procedure, and the hospital has told her to "to sit by the phone on Wednesday so that they can contact her to confirm that the op will go ahead..."
I don't know how she will take it if they post-pone her op at the last minute. She has been on antibiotics and steroids for the last 2 weeks, and she's still hacking up a lung.... Hmmmm. On Thursday, they might decide not to do it once they examine her anyway.......

Actually, I would prefer it was post-poned until I was living down there in April . Selfish, I know, but it would just make my life soo much easier to be right there, on the spot, rather than having to trek down and back every couple of days... Time off work is not really a reality at the moment..... My last day at the Day Centre will be April 3.........

Then a quick visit to my forever bestie's (Janine) house at Nord's Wharf, and it was time to pick up VB, then head back to Nanandpop's to partake of KFC with my brother and his family. I actually went to bed at 9.40pm..............................

because I had to get up at 1.20am to get ready to pick up the kids from the 2.15am train at Hamilton.... I was even early. The train was late, disgorging its mix of elated/excited dusty, sunburned, (many) wobbly-booted passengers at 2.35am......

Lucky Citirail employees..........

After dropping varying passengers off (Nightroadworks SUCK!! So many detours......), I finally set off from Hexham at 3.33am, in the general direction of home........

5.15am....... home. 5.20am.... bed.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Bugger! I missed the Sunrise.......

7.15am... shower and readying for work............................

LATER..........

I took the dog for a walk, but never noticed the Sunset, but thought instead, that I had better walk home a bit quicker, as it was getting dark.

And finally my day is done ...... Phew......................

Goodnight! I can feel some serial and serious zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's coming on.........

Friday, February 22, 2008

I am looking for the holes.............

I have an issue with the issue of Beloved's work clothing issue........

They're worn out and full of holes!!!

I don't want to try to mend them..... there's nothing to sew onto!

He needs new clothes... like yesterday.

But his issue has only just fallen due to be ordered. Three sets of clothes for a job where you work in a dirty, coal, mud, and grease-filled environment just isn't enough. They just fall apart......

Plurghhhh.

I'll just have to get out the sewing machine..... And patch them up......

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A little ray of sunshine...........

I have been busy all over the place, especially in Newie over the last few days. I have been looking for a supplier for a flatpack kitchen. The choice of materials and finishes is amazing. I think I have decided upon colours and design, and I am close to choosing a supplier. My worry is, and this may sound a little silly, is that my choices might be a little too trendy or fashionable.....

Now I know that this may seem inane, but anybody that knows me, knows that I am the furtherest possible thing from trendy/fashionable. My decor tends to be eclectic, but personal. No themes at my house. I do like the choices that I have made at this point. But I've gone all neutral...... and I can't carry off urban/sophisticated that's for sure. I guess we'll just have to wait and see......

Has my butt gone yet?


Maybe I'll just space it all out more to ensure that it has.......


My life is situation normal (read that as chaotic, as is expected)


See you all later,

Love, Bloggie ;0)

Saturday, February 09, 2008

I'm not going to change my mind.......

just because of what they said....................



Well you asked for it.

And because I don't know how to crop and photoshop, it is raw & untouched, with all of our crap in the background......


now for the boobs............


Goodnight!

Friday, February 08, 2008

Cindy, oh Cindy.....

What Cyndy Means
You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.


Or maybe I'm a little more ...............


What Cynthia Means
You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.
Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.
Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

This chick got up........


Thanks to the Beatles.... and Colleen Hewitt;

"Girl, you're going to carry that weight,

Carry that weight a long time
Girl, you're going to carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time"

Well you know what?

I'M NOT!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Optislim, a new awareness of everything that goes in my mouth (and the ramifications of the same) and a promise to myself to MOOOVE, I have lost 4.8kg in the past few weeks.

6.6 to goal!!!!!!!!!!!

Clothes are finally starting to become comfortable again.

Tonight, I was sitting in front of the TV after tea, and I just couldn't sit there just watching the screen; I had to do something, so I rode the exercise bike for about 30minutes.

My knees are sore, but the end (literally) will justify the means........

I'm not too sure about the promised tush-encasing under/outerwear piccy though...... I'm not particularly fond of the way look in photos.....


And a bit of self-indulgence thanks to Thin Lizzy;

"You know that chick that used to dance a lot
Everynight she'd be on the floor shaking what she'd got
Man when I tell you she was cool, she was red hot
I remember she was steaming..."

Yeah... the girl is (on her way) back in town.....

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Accidentally yours.............

What a day it's been!
Beloved & I had such good intentions of working on the front veranda paintwork.

Then Beloved was called into work at 5.30am.

So I started myself after I eventually got out of bed at 9.30am.

I was painting away merrily, when, all of a sudden, the paint bucket fell down, spreading "Blue Ridge" paint all over the unsealed cypress pine veranda flooring. I threw a painting towel over it quickly and attempted to flood the area with water........ except that the hose was down the back, and tangled up, as usual. I RAN down there and back, with shoes and lower pants full of the aforementioned paint. Quite a sight, I can tell you. I even answered a phone call from Beloved mid-run, as he wanted to know whether we had any hotdog rolls........ Then I feverishly hosed and hosed and hosed. And when I had thoroughly drowned the veranda in attempt to stop the paint soaking in, I decided that the pressure washer might be the best way of removing the remaining paint. I now had the company of my neighbour and Vegeboy. After narrowly missing drowning the neighbour, Beloved arrived home and rescued me as I couldn't get the hoses on the washer properly. As he went off to cook himself lunch, I proceeded to wash and wash and wash. And then I washed and washed and washed some more, including my shoes and pants.

And then I started painting again. Beloved decided to add more "Builder's Bog" to a couple of spots. And was almost done, when I looked over my shoulder to see the ladder, and him, rolling towards the driveway....... I stopped painting.

Rod from across the road came over, and we helped Beloved gather himself up, then packed his leg in ice, as it lost quite a bit of skin from the shin as it went through the rungs of the ladder. A medicinal beer in hand, he then settled in the watch the cricket, I had my shake for lunch, then went back to try and finish my painting.

And in rolled the black clouds and the gusty wind.

I almost got it finished before the rain started. At least its raining enough that all the "Blue Ridge" paint will be washed off the veranda as it runs off all the beams......

Bugger................................

And just a thought; I wouldn't recommend using a pressure washer to exfoliate......

I'm off.... I need a shower, and then I have to go into into the Brook to pick up Scorpaboy from the train station, who's been in Newie for the last 2 days, being independent, and spending his birthday money. Such a big boy now, he's 17, and has finally scored himself another part-time job. He's going to be working at KFC!!! Which is really funny, because we will drive 100klms further up the road rather than eat it.....

Ned was right; "Such is life!"

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood..........



This one, "Red Riding Hood", is my all-time favourite, but this looks a bit too pixelated, and really doesn't do it justice.


But I love these ones too.








Her website has various albums for you to enjoy. I especially like the work that she has done with babies..... and bellies.
The belly I can do........

Her photographs are really wonderful; she's even won an award for her shot of the "Pasha Bulker".........

You can catch her at www.kellymuncephotography.com.au

Thanks to Kelly, at least my blog doesn't look so boring anymore!