Christmas Eve in just a day!

This is certainly not to dampen anyone's happiness so close to Christmas, but, I find myself very close to tears come this time of the year.

There is a lot of happiness around and a certain feeling of accomplishment once the presents are bought and wrapped and placed under the tree but there is always someone missing, so there is always a feeling of incompleteness as we get closer and closer to Christmas day 

I know I am not the only person in the world who has lost someone they have loved dearly. I certainly don't have to look very far to realise that and my resigned sadness is not what this post is all about either.

We all tend to over extend ourselves when it comes to Christmas...... well, at least most of us do. I only had to look around me today in the city at people rushing every which way, waiting in queues, trying to decide what to purchase for others, listening to buskers and offering donations to their music and singing in between battling more queues and more people. There were crying babies, harassed mothers and fathers and children who clearly had had enough of the day into town. There were also excited little girls in prams whose eyes lit up at the sight of Father Christmas in the Bourke Street Mall, and people sitting at tables in the streets, relishing their coffee and tea. There was even a sparrow who paid me a visit in Myer on the first floor can you believe, where I had a coffee and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, by the escalators. He actually flew into my hair for some reason (must have thought it was a nest) but flew out again quick smart. I didn't mind though for there was more warmth in his observation of me than with others in the city.

It's amazing how there is such little eye contact with others as you walk in the alleyways and in the streets. Even on the train as I travelled into town it was eyes down as soon as you sat down as the travelling time was a time to become transfixed by mobile phones. I deliberately put my phone away and watched as others would hop on, sit down and stare at their screens the whole time until it was time to disembark. Even mothers with little children pulled out their phones and were engaged with what was on their screens rather than talk to their children about their day's expectations.

As we got closer to the city I sighted the new addition to the Docklands...the Ferris wheel that's had a faulty start in the past but began its new rotational life today.

I took a couple of photos with my trusty camera of the wheel and clearly annoyed the woman sitting opposite me who had sat looking into her magic phone the whole time until I bought my camera out. Her look of disgust was something to behold, but, as this was MY day in town I chose to ignore her and continue with my photographic observations of the city until it was time for me to disembark.

Getting off the train at Southern Cross Station and walking up Collins Street was an adventure in itself as I hadn't thought to bring an umbrella and, yes, you guessed it, of all days in the year, today had to be a rainy one.

Consequently, my 10:30 appointment saw me very damp and frizzy but, that did not deter me from sorting out something that has always had me confused. Now I think and hope I understand about something that will have a major impact in our lives in the future thanks to my appointment today.

Once that was done and dusted a quick tram ride saw me into the hustle and bustle I mentioned earlier and it was a joy to revisit those alleyways and little side streets that had become so familiar to me when I was younger and working close to the city.

Prior to nursing, I worked in a bank for a year in Flemington which is on the outskirts of the central part of the city. I would often catch a tram into town way back then and wander those beloved streets looking in the shop windows. Amazingly, there are still some of those shops still operating such as Birkenstock's (how I loved those hippy shoes back in the 70's) and it did my heart good to remember those days of old.

Well, the day eventually ended and it was time to meet my husband and return home. 

As we walked over the bridge to our car, we watched as not one but two helicopters landed on the same platform by the river within minutes of each other. How amazing they timed their landing to perfection, so close, yet far enough away without touching each other in the process!

My melancholy stems not from me and mine tonight, but more for a friend. This friend has a child who sings with a beautiful clear voice about her father and her love for him and about how he is missed.

Such anniversaries are sad and poignant and my thoughts are with that family as they support one another in their grief this evening.

These are the Dog Days

Today is our second last day here in paradise, yet again. 

It started out as yet another foggy day and it was a toss of the coin as to what the weather would be like, but regardless it was a Dog Day morning AND afternoon.  Our plan was to extract Stuart and Noni from the kennel we put them in when we come up here (Aspen Kennels) and take them out for a day of fun and frivolity.

Our arrival at the kennels was heralded with much excitement by both dogs who acted like we had not been a part of their lives for weeks. It was a quick jump for each of them into their lair in the car, the boot, and off we went.

 First stop was the foot of Mount Buffalo, a place where we have taken the dogs a couple of times before. It's a lovely green area filled with tracks and smells and animal spawn which renders any respectable dog crazy with the possibilities of adventure. It's a picnic ground which leads to 'The Big Walk' which takes you up the side of Mount Buffalo if you are fit and daring enough to try it out. The walk initially traverses over a quick flowing creek with a swing bridge and begins a lead up the mountain which the dogs loved.

One of the major delights for myself as we go walking with Stuart and Noni is how the dogs will run ahead then circle back to 1. make sure we are still coming, and 2. ensure they remain the leaders in this walk.

The hillside as we started our walk was filled with the sounds of bird song and some scurrying in the undergrowth, not to mention the bubbling sounds of the creek in the background. It was a delightful start to the day and you could tell by the smiles on their faces that the dogs were enjoying this immeasurably.

A walk of about 15 minutes up hill always seems to go much quicker as you turn around and head downhill again. The dogs by now were impatient but, give them their due, they still came back to check we were still coming, and if we had stopped to admire the serenity of our surroundings, would come back for a pat and a shake of the paws before leading on yet again.

We got back down the picnic ground again after walking over the swing bridge once more and as a reward, I gave each of the dogs a brush which like all good dogs, they absolutely loved coming back for more and more after a quick run each.

Once we returned to our car, we then travelled onto the Buckland Valley bridge, yet another place we love to take our dogs to. This is also picnic area where we can walk and walk and the dogs can have a paddle and a drink and once again, sniff out the local fauna whilst we admire the flora!

Lots of wattle around right now! I am so lucky I don't have any allergies.... I know lots of people react to wattle pollen but I can appreciate the perfume and just admire the brilliant yellow hue amidst the greenery of the trees.

With the melting of the snow  and all the rain thats been had up here of late the rivers and creeks are pretty full right now, so the one fear we had was of the dogs getting caught up in the fast flowing river... I can imagine the ludicrous scenario we would have jumping in to save either of the dogs. The water is icy too, so we were very wary of either of them getting in too deep. If you can imagine, Stuart is very much like an adolescent these days.... He likes to push buttons and when you say "no", he looks at you as if to say "why not" and continues on until your voice changes and he thinks he might be in a spot of bother if he doesn't comply. Noni is very much a good girl and just watches from the sidelines most of the time but.....you never know!

So, after a while, hunger was getting to us so it was back into Bright for some lunch then a drive onto Wandiligong for yet another walk. We drove to the gold diggings and encountered a Chinese bridge and yet another stream (fast flowing too) with a beautiful grassy pathway we walked along with the dogs once again taking the lead.

Back to the car again, and next stop was in Bright itself where we sat in the main park, by the river and watched a lot of water flow by before hoisting ourselves up again and going for yet another walk along the canyon just to wear both dogs out that little bit more.

I have to say and this juncture that both dogs are a hell of a lot easier off the lead than they are with their respective leads on.

Both dogs like to be in front ( once again like kids) and its a bit of a tussle until they learn that the humans are really in control. (Well, we like to let them think that anyhow).

Back to the car again, and with a cold drink now and a toilet stop for the humans, it was time to venture on once more.

Next point of interest was the park by the river in Porepunkah itself. This is where we got the ball and the throwing stick out to amuse Noni as a distraction to stop her from venturing into the raging torrent of water that is the usually calm Ovens River.

One ball decided to go the quickest way home by water and by the time you reader are aware of its venture, it'll probably be floating out to sea. Fortunately Noni didn't see the ball overboard otherwise she would have thought it was her responsibility to save it from the perils of the deep and with the speed of the water I don't like to project much thought into that outcome either.

So, here we are, mid afternoon, with another hour to kill before drop off time (4 to 5) thank you very much, and so, a walk in the pine forest was the next experience for all concerned.

This time of the day is magnificent up here. The weather is warm, the sun is still sitting above the mountains and the flowers are facing upwards, catching the last of the rays. 

The dogs were happy as was the master, and they gambolled off into the bush from time to time pretending to hunt the local inhabitants be they rabbits kangaroos or even stray cats

Drop off back to doggy camp came around all too soon. Usually when we take them there they're both a little hesitant about leaving us, but they knew who was feeding them this day and with the promise of food, heater and something to lie on, there was no hesitation when it came time to return to their kennel.

The most interesting thing of the whole day for me was watching their personalities.

The beginning showed them exuberant and excited as they were picked up from the kennel where they stay each time. When Stuart is like this he's quite vocal and makes a bit of noise....much like a whimper, whereas Noni is complacent and just happy to be in the zone.

As I mentioned before, I love their need for reassurance as they walk on ahead, coming back for the occasional cuddle, pat and lick. I love how they walk together in tandem, yet, as Murray pointed out today, Noni feeds off Stuart, he being the older and the male of the two. Whatever he sniffs, she sniffs also. If he goes in a different direction she will follow, but when it comes to eating other animal poo...she fortunately leaves to him.

They are beautiful dogs in more ways than one. Yes, they are cute, but most importantly, they are loving towards each other and they are generous with their affection towards us, their owners.

We are very fortunate indeed in having our two lovelies even if Noni isn't the full bred border collie she was supposed to have been. To tell you the truth I couldn't care less as the love they give far outweighs any thing else.

Reflection

I am now home from what has been a day of mixed emotions. 

No, not Offspring I hear you say.....

To tell the truth, I was going to conduct a one sided discussion about a certain theme that is dear to my heart that announced itself unexpectedly last night, and who knows, I may get to it shortly, but for now and without elaborating too much on detail, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss some finer things of my life.

I was an early riser this morning. 'Why?' you ask. Any well meaning woman knows the emotion I am going to share with you all.... It's the "Oh my god, the cleaners' are coming today and the house is a mess AGAIN.... I have to clean it up before they get here" feeling, hence my rising at 0700 hrs., to give me time to not only ensure the house was relatively tidy for the fairy godmothers who come here every second week but, today was also TAX day which meant time to get the paperwork all together right at the last minute and tick all the boxes before I trundle off to the tax man with an appointment time there for 12 midday.

So, 11 am. saw me with two major feats accomplished, house AND paperwork all ready to go, so, with a spring in my step I jumped into my trusty vehicle and made my way over to Avondale Heights to spend 45 minutes with our accountant..... 

The best bit is that we don't owe.... I hold my breath each time I go there for fear he's going to turn around and say "Sorry, this one's on you"... but no, fortunately, they owe us yet again and so a little moolah will be spinning our way to our bank accounts not before too long.

So that was done and dusted without too much pain. Are you like me? Do you, every year make a promise to yourself that you will have your 'affairs' in order before the due date, only to have that mad scramble at the very end again like last time?

Like I said recently, Procrastination must have been my middle name for I am always planning to do this (organise myself), but never do.... I suppose that is how some people (like me) get stuff done at the last minute. It's how we live and it's how we organise our lives. Complete disorganisation = fait accomplee.

No cool calm, organised 'I know where's everything is in my house' life for me. I thrive on that mad scramble as the bell tolls....... That sick feeling in your tum when you think you've lost it all, feeling, only to have a last minute reprieve combined with that 'I'm sure I looked there' before feeling.

Now, what I want to share with you to end today's chat, is how important it is to share the love. 

I, with a large contingent of work colleagues today got to do just that this afternoon. 

You see, the daughter of someone I have known for a large number of years was farewelled this afternoon. Whilst being there was so terribly sad, there was a profound beauty in the number of people who wanted to share their love with a grieving family. People from many different aspects of this young woman's life were there to offer their respects, so many that there was standing room only by the time we all crowded into the chapel. 

I am sure by the end of the day, the family will have no clue as to who was there and who wasn't, but regardless, they will know there was love, comfort and succour for all as they make peace with their hearts and look to the skies again.

The amazing thing and the solace I have found in tough times such as these is how people do pull together and make some attempt to support one another.

 

Did you watch Offspring last night? Are you over the hype and exaggerated emotion verbalised by fans of the show...or should I say, fans of Patrick's.

I am one of the thousands who did watch, waiting for the death knell to befall an unsuspecting character and audience and it did fall with a bitter blow.

The scenes and the acting that led up to the characters death were quite realistic, but once the family landed in the hospital scene, that's where the reality ended for a little while.

 This show as far as I am concerned has prided itself on intrinsic intuitive mental health in the past and that's why a large number of health workers such as I have enjoyed the pseudo reality. What made me very curious and more than a little cross was to see the callous way the health care workers were represented. I understand they had very small speaking roles and probably did not have to put too much effort into their acting skills, but, to announce to a very pregnant woman that her partner was seriously ill then tell her that they had done all that they could but he died anyway,then walk away and leave her standing there alone with a distraught sister of the deceased was a wrong portrayal of what could have been the opportunity to really demonstrate their synch with reality. As for the clip board wielding organ donor signer.... I would have punched her lights out if that had been in reality.

I guess what I am really trying to say is that it disappointed me that the doctors and nurses were not portrayed as the compassionate caring people I know from my own experience to be.

So, such as has been my day today.

Until next time....

Day 3

.......and it's dosage time!!!

Well, I was a very good girl last night.

I did come home and went straight to bed as I had promised myself.

The excitement of being on LSL is getting to me..... I need my sleep it seems.

This morning saw me trundle off to work in yet more rain to 'my other job'.

As I may have mentioned yesterday, I do enjoy my clinic work as it is quite variable, and a little more predictable than what I usually do. Ha! That could account for home life too!!!

I got to do a home visit today which was interesting. I visited a part of my local city in which I had never been before (another new estate) where there are houses upon houses upon houses. This crazy world exists where we have to build almost on top of each other, with a primary purpose to make money.      

The people I visited were lovely and most welcoming. Their house was interesting, I think that's what I love about home visits, especially with the elderly is that their memorabilia is so idiosyncratic to their own personalities. I love looking at their photos up on the walls of their children and grandchildren. I love getting 'the vibe' of the place too. I could tell this was a happy home with a couple who cared a lot for each other despite their illnesses. They had children coming and going whilst I was there who obviously care for their parents as well, so I came away content in knowing this was a cohesive extended family who were in a supportive position for each other. (No patronising intended here).

This afternoon there was a major hiccough within town. A goods train derailed right in an intersection that divides this city. The result of course is a major traffic entanglement within the heart of the main streets which are bad enough come peak hour time on a good day here! There will be some people getting home much later than expected I feel, tonight. I was very lucky that I got through traffic with obliging drivers letting me in and out so I could circumnavigate the upheaval without too much fuss.

During my day, I think of interesting things to write about when its blogging time but I'm usually too busy to write them down there and then and so, when it comes around to now, you, readers have to put up with my meanderings as I try to recoup my day to day happenings.

For that I can but apologise and hope you will return. Who knows there may be a spark of something interesting eventually which you may enjoy and reply back to me with.

Now that, I look forward to in anticipation.

May you all have a lovely evening despite the cold wet weather that is upon us in Melbourne right now and don't forget to have the handkerchief with you when watching Offspring tonight!!!

Oh, and another highlight of my day..... A wedding invitation. How much excitement can this old girl take!!! Another beautiful couple have thought to invite mon 'usband et moi to their wedding which is to be a gala 2 day affair..... Such fun!!! Simply lovely!!!! And to the lovely couple, a very big thank you.

Bonsoir mes amies.........

Day 2

I'm writing early tonight as I'm heading out soon. I'm feeling a bit tired so by the time I get home, I hope I stick to my guns and go to bed early as I'm going to have a busy day at work tomorrow with one thing and another.

When I say work, I'm not referring to midwifing as I'm on long service leave as I mentioned yesterday, but this will be my other hat, my practice nurse hat where I get to do many varied things with many varied different people for the day.

I've realised in my time in this other job that I really do love chatting to older people. Many are somewhat isolated and being able to just chat to someone, even if to see how they're going is a bonus in their lives I am sure. I enjoy witnessing their progress if they require repeated dressings and I love it when littlest come in for their vaccinations and I can stem the tears with distraction and stickers and laughter.

Tonight I am off to a Varoma demonstration. A Varoma is an attachment to the Thermomix and can be used for steaming and all sorts of things I am about to find out no doubt.

It's cold and miserable out there so I trust they'll have heaters on inside the hall.

I find myself feeling extremely envious of those travelling off to warmer climates right now. Funny that you get to a point in winter and summer where you say right, that's enough, bring on climate change right now thank you. I am of feeling cold, I am over grey skies and wind and rain.

I am lucky I haven't had to suffer with a cold or worse, the flu this year. I have my flu vaccination each year and a couple of years ago, because of a scare at work had to have a whooping cough booster, so I like to think I am immune to lots of things around about now.

My best friend has flown over to W.A. to meet her brand new granddaughter baby so when she returns we will catch up before she flies off to Italy no less!

So that's me in a nutshell today. Not much accomplished other than washing, hanging it out, visiting Mum and tidying up. 

I will have to make amends and DO SOMETHING!!! 

Until next time......

It's a new day!

Today was the first day of the rest of my life. 

It was actually the first day of long service leave, the first day of a month away from my primary place of employment and the first day of not having to scramble around like crazy to get stuff done before work, for a while.

My grandiose plan is to keep a bit of a diary whilst I am on leave so when I do return, I can reflect on my Much Ado About Nothing time.

We shall see how this goes as I am pretty good at making plans and non spoken promises, but am even better at not keeping them as it turns out. I suspect that Procrastination is really my middle name and no-one ever told me. I wonder if there's a job for someone out there where the performance description meets that criteria. 

My day started out well enough with a bit of a sleep in. When I finally emerged out of bed I realised I had an appointment this afternoon to farewell a colleague's Mother so I had to get my act together if I was to do the things I had planned for the day.

Stuart Noni and I went for a bit of a wild time down the beach this morning. A lot of dredging was done down there in recent times and consequently every time I take them down the shoreline is a little different. Today the tide was well and truly in. there was lots of flotsam washed up onto the beach and even in one area there was to be an amount of mud which both dogs loved skidding in.We did a few laps of the sand bar and the dogs swam out for the ball as usual and as the rain came down once again, it was time to return home.

The afternoon as I mentioned before was planned around the attendance at a funeral of a work colleagues Mum. Hers was a beautiful story of a woman much loved by family and friends who had lived many years. 

Those years are never enough are they, regardless of the circumstances. We always wish we had longer time to spend with that person when they have gone and that is a large part of the feelings of grief..... the regret that how ever close you are or the closeness you experienced, it's never enough.

Anyhow, I returned to my home again....back to the bosom of my dogs and housework and then took a phone call from my very own mother asking if she and my brother could come over for dinner this evening which would complete the evening beautifully.

My mother is quite frail now. Some might see her and not notice her gradual 'decline' but it has struck me recently how tired she is all the time and how reticent she is to venture out much any more. She does go shopping, and we do go out for lunch and or for a cuppa each week, but social activities are now few and far between as she doesn't feel as confident as she once was, which is so frustrating for her. On more than one occasion she has said to me she hates feeling the way she does and that she wishes she could overcome her general feelings of ageing and becoming older with time.

I am very fortunate to have had two wonderful parents who both worked very hard to ensure their children never went hungry and that their lives were fulfilling and happy and I often reflect on this when I hear stories of what others have had to embrace when young.

So, mother and brother came for dinner, then they left as the weather is still wild and windy and raining and cold outside (it is winter after all).

So day 1 is almost ended and I will be off to bed before too long.

Reasons why

I love autumn for many reasons. One is the word itself. Roll it off your tongue, pretend you are Scottish as you do so. Inflect those vowels and consonants.... such a delicious word 'autumn'.

The words remind me of the turning of the seasons, the colour of leaves just before they fall from the trees making gorgeous colourful patterns on the ground before changing to brown.

I have a love of the north eastern country of Victoria and this time of the year is when it is all so beautiful up there. What I wouldn't give for a cottage and land with some golden ash and maple trees up there if only to watch those trees as they change their colours.

I love autumn for it becomes legal tender to wear those winter scarves that have been busting to get out of your drawers and wardrobes. You know the ones...the wrap around pythonesque tight scarfs of subdued and bright colours with matching gloves and mittens that say "Hey, it's our turn now! Be off with you singlets, shorts and thongs!!!"

Not only for my self indulgent colour and clothe fantasies do I love this season though..... A very big part of why I love this part of autumn is the wee fruit one can purchase fresh for a few short weeks. Imperial mandarins would have to be one of my favourite fruits of all time. Please don't get me wrong. I love bananas and peaches and nectarines and mangoes, oh, the list could go on and on (did I mention mangosteens?) but alas, my favourite is the pungent sweet smelling citrusy easily peelable mandarin which breaks into segments and melts in your mouth. I could eat a few in one sitting they are so delicious and sometimes I do when they're available.
They are one of the reasons I love this time of the year apart from the hot chocolate necessity every now and again......

Have you ever tried hot chocolate with mandarin flavouring? Neither have I but I bet it'd be delicious too. Must try and invent something with exactly that flavouring!

A Lad's Tale

Once upon a time, there was a boy.
This boy lived much like any other boy.
He was a baby and he grew.
He went to school, studied (sometimes), played (a lot), much like other boys and eventually grew into a man.
As a child he frequented a hospital because he did not grow so well and consequently from time to time had to experience multiple tests to see if 'they' could find out why he didn't grow so well.
He would have his occasional times of despair and frustration as a result of having to go to hospital but the majority of time saw him as a well balanced well-adjusted boy who coped with a few significant differences in his life.
This boy was loved by his family, by his friends and virtually all who knew him because of his smile, his eyes and his humour.
He was a warm endearing kind of person who lived a normal life. He had pets, he had a sister with whom he shared two parents and he lived in a home when not at school.

As this boy grew his problems became more pronounced and unfortunately, hospital times lengthened and were more significant as he aged.
He became well known at the hospital he frequented, once again because of his smile and humour, not to mention his willingness to chat to people and his warmth and friendliness towards others.
He became a mentor of sorts with other children and other children learnt through him how to cope with hospitals and illness and doctors and staring people.

His relationship with his sister was a typical one. There were no preferences in this family with both parents going to great pains to ensure both children were equal, both in love and ensuring they travelled the path towards adulthood with its boundaries, in a similar pattern.

As children, there were holidays with camping, fishing, swimming and generally having good times being the priorities. There was lots of laughter and sometimes tears but most importantly, there was lots of love.

There were occasional squabbles..... a little bit of in-house fighting you might say but no more than in any other home.

And so, the boy grew. He went to primary school and excelled. He went to secondary school and excelled also, especially in friendships, mateship and a desire to continue his education despite developing problems that he found restricting from time to time relating to his 'not so wellness'.

Such was the boy that friends he had made through primary and secondary school stayed with him all his life. People remembered him from many years after meeting him and would often ask after him if a mutual aquaintance realised their connection.

It was while he was in university where he was enjoying and exploring his life as a newly made man that our story changes for it was during this time, in his second year of tertiary study that his body was unable to sustain his life and so he died quickly and peacefully leaving behind a grieving collection of family and friends.

It is ten years to this day that this boy left this planet.
It is ten years to this day since I have seen his smile and have heard his voice.
It is ten years to this day since my eyes have alighted upon his beautiful face.

It is ten years to this day that a pain in my heart, so fierce, so full of impotent frustration was created.
Albeit, that pain has diminished with time, but on this day I revisit this pain with relish for it brings my memories of the boy flooding back.

I can still hear his voice and see his smile. I can still hear him as he teases his sister and chuckles and yells and eats and talks....
He is still with us all in spirit, his impression is that great.

How quickly time passes.

I think it was the fourth of July....

Once upon a time when I was very young and very impressionable, I went out on a date with a boy to a party somewhere in Essendon.
He took along a record...yes a 331/3 rpm record that he had bought, and played it at said party.
Two things came to me that night that have remained with me forever.
Firstly, and the most impressionable, were the magical sounds that I heard when he was able to play his record. I had not heard that music before, having been brought up on Slim Dusty and Mario Lanza interspersed with 'A walk in the Black Forest'. Am sure you get the drift!
The music transported me to a new world.... A world of trumpets, guitars, piano and a burgeoning rock sound that was literally to me out of this world. The album cover didn't give away much as it only depicted an insignia which was new to me. No pictures, no descriptions of the band inside....just lots of writing which I read in between allowing the music to reach my very depths of soul.
The second impression of the night was that I realised that night that it was not to everyone's taste as there were so many groans and complaints as the music played on and on. The boy I was with and I had to stand and defend the music playing as older members of the party wanted to stop it and play Led Zeppelin or Steppenwolf or Cream or someone else anything but what was playing.

Following that night, I began to hear the music on the radio when I was supposed to be studying and each time it thrilled me more and more.

I had begun working that year in a full-time capacity so not before too long I was able to go out and purchase my very own version of this wondrous music as the boy had long departed and I had some little money of my own.
Much to my joy, the band that created this music churned out a number of records, each with their distinctive sound and rhythm over time and I progressively purchased these records when I could and created quite a collection.

A day in a life.

Yesterday was the climactic result of a few months preparation for something I, with the help of colleagues and friends, planned as a surprise.

Joe is a G.P./obstetrician I have worked with for a number of years and recently he was made to step away from his obstetric practice and focus purely on his GP work because of hospital politics. I might add at this point that Joe has always had an excellent work ethic and has always loved working with pregnant/birthing women and many of us have experienced working with him in a team capacity with great joy.

Yesterday gave us the opportunity to thank him in the form of a celebratory party in a local hall and party we did.

Great music was provided by Dean, who shared his love of 70's, 80,s, 90's and 2000+ music with us all. There was the nut bush, the bus stop, even the chicken dance to be done with wonderful participation...

There was a number of people who came to share their thanks to this great man. There was food galore, lovely sausage rolls and vol au vents, pizzas and dips.... Enough food for a feast, and that was just the savouries.

Dessert comprised of slices and trifle and little cakes and one big big big cake for Joe to cut. He will be well and truly sick of chocolate mousse cake by the time it's done.

I just want to thank everyone for their participation, their food and their fun. Am I right in thinking the kids had a great time too?

At the end of the night we had to clean the hall and restore it back to its former pristine cleanliness and there were many hands to make light work of it all.

Thank you thank you thank you everyone for making Joe's night such a special one.

A Friday Story.

I'm having a lunch break right now and have the urge to blog, to tell my tale (not that its very inspiring). So, for what it's worth, here it is.

Every month nowadays, I begin by making a solemn promise to myself (and to Chantelle), that I will complete the FMS photoaday incentive.

I usually begin with great guns as I have today, but somewhere along the lines of "oh so much happening in my life" (you know the story) I fall by the wayside and forget for a few days, a week even, and before you know it, the month has gone and it's time to start over yet again.

What I want to attempt this month is to blog with my photo, to explain my little touch of supposed creativity so that I can verbalise what I see pertaining to the day.

I suspect I will run out of time as usual but while this burst from my inner brain lasts, I will do what I can to write daily until I become distracted yet again.

I love to blog and I love to take pictures of my life so why not combine the two!

The photo I have posted for today for some reason will not come up yet on my phone. Whats the bet as soon as I close this it'll appear but for all good intents and purposes I shall upload another only for the sake of including a photo I have taken with today's words.

L= Light for me on this day 1st. March.

When my light photo for today is really accessible, I will swap pictures but for now, this photo demonstrates what it was like a couple of weeks ago up north in not so sunny, but very warm Porepunkah when bush fires were not that far away around Harrietville.

So, there you have it reader. A smoky sunlight it is!

Do you think life is a test? If so, what are we testing for?

Life is what you make it don't you think.
Many face adversity at different times and at different stages of their lives.
Many find those adversities insurmountable whilst others manage to scramble down the mountain on the other side and prepare to face a new day.
It's funny how some can cope, whereas others cannot, and life stops for a brief millisecond as a result.

Think of Alice as she slid down the big rabbit hole after the rabbit. She might very well have crumbled into a big hole and become vegetative if her personality had shut down.
The story would just not have been the same then would it...

What about Tiny Tim from 'A Christmas Carol'. Here was a boy who used crutches every day of his life, but still smiled and encouraged others to take his lead all the time. Tiny Tim never gave in...hey, sounds like a slogan there!

Those who are taking the time to read this are probably wondering what I am on to write such drivel. To tell you the truth, I've just had a cranberry and ham roll for lunch with a little bit of diet coke to wash it down. I'm waiting for my next patient to arrive and was pondering about the meaning of life in my terms and thought I'd record my fleeting thoughts for posterity, hence the reference to fictional characters.
Truth be known though that perhaps Lewis Carrol and Charles Dickens based their stories on real life people who were strong and courageous and used them as role models to reassure people that they could climb on top of the dung heap and shout victorious!

Well, my next visitor is awaiting my presence so I shall go and do my duty.

More pondering next time.

An early morning's ramble.

Haven't been here for a while yet again.
Sometimes things just get in your way and it's very easy to ditch what you're most comfortable with in order to feel like you have a sense of order in your life.

Not a lot has changed for me.
I still live in Werribee with my husband and still work at the local hospital as a midwife. I do now though work in a GP's clinic locally as a practice nurse which is a little different to what I've done for many years. This job is currently three 8 hour shifts a fortnight and I love it for the opportunity it gives me to talk to people of varying ages for a change, both women and men, as I do their care-plans and referrals to allied health, their dressings and their diabetes assessments. I also get to immunise children up to the age of four which provides a bit of entertainment when I get to blow bubbles of distraction to stop their cries of shock and dismay.
I work in the clinic with two GP's, one of which I have known and worked along side for a very long time now. He is a delight and has a wicked sense of humour occasionally and I feel it an honour and privilege to be his colleague.

We now have two dogs, Stuart and Noni who are both border collies. Stuart is a traditional black and white boy and a real woose, whereas Noni, the girl, who is decribed as being a lavender colour is a dog with determination in her eyes, especially if you should have a ball in your hand for she has the instinctive belief that balls are for throwing and her objective in her life is to fetch and fetch and fetch. She will actually hand the ball back to you sometimes, but her ploy is to throw it at your feet and look at you with a "throw that ball" attitude until you weaken and comply with her unspoken demands. I love them both dearly as they have very individual personalities and we often go down to the local beach and neither of them object to the water, in fact, the wilder the weather the more fun it is!

My daughter still lives at home. She is now a child-care worker with not only a Certificate 3 in child-care, but also now a Diploma in early childhood, and will soon be undertsaking an advanced diploma. I like to think she'll eventually look at completing a Bachelor in Early Childhood and Development, but only she knows when and if she will attempt that, as there are many other distractions in her life these days.

At the end of last year (2012), she obtained the distinction of being awarded the honour of 'Best overall worker' within the childcare company she works for and her reward was a trip for two to Port Douglas with accomodation, flights and car hire, no to mention an extra weeks leave to take this well-earned holiday with Kieran (her boyfriend).

Mum still lives not 5 minutes away from us but for how much longer I'm not too sure as she's going downhill at the rate of knots these days.

The 'village' she has been living in for the past 8 years or so is a lovely place with cute cottages and beautifully maintained gardens etc., The not so lovely aspect of her village though is the rate in which people either leave to go to nursing homes or die and this is is happening more and more as the population ages.

Mum herself is gradually declining and is becoming quite confused about a lot of things. At the moment she's quite convinced someone is tampering with her clocks as the time of day is not what she expects when she opens her eyes.
She forgets to eat and needs encouragement to drink fluids on these hot days occasionally, and this morning just gone when I was there, I was convinced she hadn't showered which is so unlike her. She was insistent that she had showered, but knowing daughters do know the difference between a freshly showered Mum and an unshowered Mum, that I do know.
This week my sister is coming down from her place of residence and our task (aka battle) is to take Mum to visit a couple of nursing homes to see what they're like and hopefully trigger her interest a little.
Somehow, I doubt the interest trigger will happen and she will blatantly refuse to even try one out under the premise of respite but at least we can try.

Well thats enough for now.
I shall blog again soon hopefully reader and may the force be with you!