I stayed the night up in Bendigo with my Aunt Elaine at Pa's house. I arrived in Bendigo and went straight to the Hospice. When I walked into the room, excuse me, "The Max Hartmann Wing" as signed on the door, Pa appeared to be asleep. I snuck in, kissed my Aunt and looked around and Pa was smirking looking up at me. He said, "I knew it was you honey, I could smell your sandalwood scent." You see, if you were to visit my Pa, you may think he is sleeping, but he is just resting his eyes :) He wears the most lovely candy striped cotton PJ's, with a breast pocket to place his wallet. See, that means he is still in control, and that makes him happy. He is a proud man my Pa. He has not got very much energy at the moment, but he made himself sit up to have a shave yesterday morning before us "girls"came waltzing in. The nurse came through to check his medication infusion was running to time, and she said "This is not the Max Hartmann wing, it is a harem!" We all laughed out loud. We invited her to join the harem, she reddened and laughed with us some more. The staff at the Hospice are gorgeous. I commented this to Pa, he looked at me and said "I am sure you too are a lovely caring nurse Carolyn". Awww, I loved that! My Aunt and I sat and held his hands side by side, silently but intently. He had his legs crossed on the bed, eyes shut but smiling. Just serene. I could see Pa's aura, it is only just there, it is not as energetic/vibrant as it used to be. Understandable, he is just existing with all this love being his food. I cannot fathom how some people go on without so much love. But, in my experience they have and they do. So sad for them. We left Bendigo at about one pm. Aunt Elaine was going home to Mt Gambier. Pa kept asking her to go home to be with her husband, she had been staying in Bendigo for three weeks now. Whilst Aunt Elaine was torn in two she knew that it was upsetting Pa that his lovely daughter may not go home to her hubby, and may end up staying another two weeks, give or take. So I drove her safely to Southern Cross Station. She booked her first class train ticket, then bus ticket to Mt Gambier (SA). We walked from one end of the station, and people who know this station would know how long the station is, to the other end to book in her luggage. To which the luggage guy informed us that there would be no train to Warnambool from Southern Cross, it was coach to Geelong, train to Warnambool, coach to Mt Gambier. So they, in fact, would not be handling her luggage until Geelong. My Aunt would have to wait three hours for her coach to leave. I looked at the handler and explained our predicament, he was most accommodating to hold onto her luggage until she would return to pick it up to catch her coach. We then trotted all the way back, less her luggage, to the ticket booth to ask why she had paid for first class train tickets when it was in fact coaches replacing trains to Geelong. The ticket guy said he was not aware, he called the luggage guy, who confirmed such, and well, there was no refund. Hrumph, lol. We just started to laugh. Aunt Elaine and I know that there are bigger fish to fry in the World and we were not going to sook out any more. So, with that, we jumped in the lift, went up to the Food court mezzanine, and ordered something to eat and drink. It took us a few hours to drive from Bendigo to Melbourne, and Aunt Elaine was not going to get home to Mt Gambier until 1am, Melbourne time. So we just relaxed. We sat at a window seat with our food and coffee, overlooking all the V/Line trains coming in to Southern Cross Station. We chatted alot. We spoke about anything and everything. Aside from her being my Aunt, you just don't realise that she is 72 years old, you would think she is just a girlfriend of similar age, with alot more experience in life :) We spoke about the trains below and how magical it would be to step back in time to the old K class Steam Engines my Pa (her Dad) worked on many years before. I said that we would be going to the Hurstbridge Watlle Festival this year and riding the steam engine.... just lovely. As my Aunt said, she used to take that mode of transport as a child and loved it, except in Winter time when the cold draught would freeze the balls off of a brass monkey, lol. On Wednesday we are heading off to our beloved Grampians region with the kids for Easter. We will call in past Bendigo to see my Pa again. I look forward to that day with anticipation.

Well, today i DID work a morning shift, lol. Can you believe it? I was giving people the thoughts that they were in a dream today. My fellow nursing friends, the staff that attend to the meals trolleys, the orderlies (we call them clinical assistants now), the desk clerks, the cafeteria staff and my old mate Eddie who consistently attends the hospital on account of us saving his life!
It was a smooth morning until someone suffered a seizure... and then repeated it again just as I was about to leave work to head for home. Poor person, it has got to be an awful feeling to have a seizure, and know it is about to happen and no control over it what so ever.
I called the Hospice today and spoke to my Aunt. Pa is sleeping more than he is awake now. Time to begin to long ever lasting peaceful sleep soon. Poor Pa.
I got home to one child sitting on the fire hydrant and then, jumping up and down so happy to see me drive into the court. The others were at friend's houses playing games. It was a lovely homecoming after an amazing day.
On the way home from work, after battling the traffic to get home, I called in and purchased some more scrubs for work. Nice colours too, I will be bright as a button next time I work. I also called in and got myself Ouzo and Cola drinks for tonight. Not my usual practice, but now I feeel goood!

Feargal Sharkey - You Little Thief (Full Music Video)

A most awesome song that I have been singing to myself for a few days. And, then, driving into work tonight... guess what was on the radio?? Yep, you guessed it, You Little Thief, lol. Such great energy from this song. I got to see this performed live in the 80's. Magic!

On Wednesday I drove up to Bendigo to visit my Pa (my Dad's father) who is in a Hospice right now. At 6pm I met up with my Aunt who travelled by bus, train and then another train, to Bendigo from Mt Gambier in South Australia. It was weonderful to have her there, and she is still staying in Pa's house and visiting Pa daily.
Pa sleeps off and on as we visit him. He has made so many friends from all his social groups he is in that he is never shy of visitors for long. The nurses have placed a 10 minute visiting sign on his door. That is placed right under "The Max Hartmann Wing" sign that the nurses made. That was produced by one of the nurses because Pa said he could not see his name written anywhere. It suits him to a T.
I am pleased to see that he is not in any pain, and that whilst his memory is in tact he is happy to speak about stories from his life. He was brought up by his father from a young age because his Mum left them and continued to run a Dressmaking Shop in Fitzroy. Later in her life, his mother reunited with my Pa's Dad as well as her three sons, until she passed away from pancreatic cancer (which is what my Pa has now).
Our family tree is coming alive, blossoming, and it continues to do so even though part of us is seemingly wilting away. Pa said that " After I am gone I want to continue to shine on through the family tree", and so Pa will. In more ways than just one.
I came home Saturday in time for Tomas' sleep over party. He turned 14 years old today. We had a BBQ lunch today and his mates went home by 4pm. We are all happy and tired and ready for sleep. I cannot wait for school vacation time.. yayy this Friday! Halls Gap here we come.

This is an image of my Great Grandmother (left) and her sister in law (My Pa's Mum and Aunt). I copied it onto a memory stick, took it to a photo place and got it developed, along with the next photo, for my Pa to have next to him. All he wanted to do was have his Mum next to him, to feel her near. Without lovely family it would not have been possible. Pa thanks them with all his heart. He has a big heart too! The question from his Oncologist was "What things have you to request Max". His reply, "I just want to know if there is a place in Heaven for gentlemen". "Of course there is Max", she said. Thank goodness for that.

Above is an image of Pa, his Mum, his brother Arthur and his baby brother Graham. They are at a Christening in Fitzroy and it is 1949 (or so). His Mum, my Great Grandmother, was a dress maker and had her own shop in Fitzroy. The name of the shop was Sonja's Boutique, named after the ice skater Sonja Henie . Pa said that the shop was so busy that his Mum had to put on a girl to sell in front of shop whilst she was out back sewing dresses and my Grandma assisted with embellishment of the garments on her days off of her regular job.

Life is amazing, there is still so much more to learn about family history. It seems time runs out too fast :(

Hubby and I spent the night in the lovely city of Bendigo last night. We went there to visit my Pa who (if you have not been caught up of late with my blog) is palliative with cancer. He was placed in the Hospice last Thursday after a visit with the Doctor. He was dizzy and dehydrated so an ambulance took him over to the hospital. The Hospice is just so lovely. It is clean, well set out, he has an en suite and the staff are beautiful. Pa was happy to see us when we got there last night. He was not yet asleep. His mind is racing 20 to the dozen. Nothing wrong with his mind, the mind of a 40year old! Which makes it extra difficult for him. Like he said, "I am an independent old bugger and I am just not used to being fussed over left right and centre." I just said to him, " Pa, you brought your kids up, you made sure they had a roof over their head and food on the table, now it is your turn to lap up the care and be pampered". He couldn't argue with that. He showered himself yesterday and because his feet are so cold he forgot that he had his slippers on. Poor bugger. He laughed and we laughed and we looked outside in the courtyard of the Hospice and there were his soaked slippers sitting on a chair. Hubby and I placed a mattress in the back of the Pathfinder and we slept in it for the first time ever. I must say, we were ever so comfy and warm. We woke up and did some small chores around Pa's place and then we went to visit him again this morning. We took in hubby's laptop so we could play a video I had taken of Nick playing his acoustic guitar. Pa was so happy, he especially loved Nick's rendition of Waltzing Matilda. Nick left a small speech at the end of it just for Pa. It was such beautiful weather today here in Victoria. We made the trip home without a hitch. I had a small snooze and am now early for work. So I thought I could catch people up on what is going on with my Pa. I will be going back to Bendigo Wednesday, Tuesday if I need to. Hubby cooked the yummiest dinner tonight, chops and lots of veggies, yummo! xoxo

Yes, my baby is 8 years old now, it has gone so fast since she was born. We have done so many wonderful things as a family and will continue giving our children the very best up bringing that we can. Our main aim is to try and keep the balance, and to promote Independence in the kids. I think we are on track there :)

I am having a hard time at the moment in regards to my Pa. As my lovely readers know, my Pa, My Dad;s Dad, is palliative with pancreatic Cancer. We found this out on Christmas Day. I sure did not think my Pa would be around to this day. I believe firmly that he is still around because of the love and support he has from my Aunt and Uncle as well as their 8 children, and from me and my little family.. and, the umpteen friends my Pa has made in the last four years since my Grandma's passing. My Grandma was not a social person. My Pa has always been in the Freemason's Lodge (Grand poo bah). That has always been his social avenue. In the last four years the Freemasons have played a large role in my Pa's social engagements. So too have his love of Thai Chi, Croquet, Line Dancing, going to the gym and a little walking group he was in. He ventured out on bus trips with "the girls", going to Melbourne for the day to shop, or even going over to Tasmania last year with a group of "sheila's". He has slowly been winding down in the past month. Pa lives at home and has support of the palliative nurses and council cleaners and lawn mowers. He has a push button alert around his neck in case he takes a fall, the neighbours will be alerted as well as my Uncle in such a time of need. Yesterday he told me he is not really in much pain at the moment, the medicines are "doing their thing". But, he just cannot get over the overwhelming feeling of loss of much of the Independence he had these past four years. He just feels... "just so lousy all the time". For the first time my Pa cried and hugged me tight yesterday. It shook me up, I have not ever seen my Pa as an old man, but now he is so little (loss of weight) and so vulnerable... and yet still so suave. He was dressed in suit pants and a lovely shirt.

I did not want to leave his house yesterday. When I got there he had just returned from the barber shop, he had his lovely hair cut nice and neat. We sat and chatted a while. He said he had not been able to come at food for a few days. So I said I would go to the shops and get some fresh foods and see if he fancied them. I got juicy pears, some watermelon and a small dark chocolate bar. He liked them all, and was pleased with himself for eating them. As his diabetes just is not an issue now, he can eat what he likes when he likes... but only when he feels like it too.

On the way home I stopped a few times because I was so upset. I called in to see my Aunt and Uncle, they live out of Malmsbury which is on the way home for me from my Pa's place. It was so nice to catch up with them too. I love them dearly as they are like parents to me. I did not want to leave them as I love the area they live in, the Aussie Bush is beautiful and peaceful.

Time to go, I have to work night shift tonight. I guess it is a good thing as I cannot sleep through worry any how. xoxo

This past week has been hectic to say the least. But the best day was this Saturday when Mia turned 8 years old. We went to Scienceworks and had a BBQ lunch there. The BBQ's are spotlessly cleaned. They are free. It only cost me $8 to enter the place, and the kids were all free.. all 6 of them. My yearly pass had expired. I shall renew it next time we go there. $70, or there abouts, is pretty good going and it gets you into Scienceworks, The Melbourne Museum, The Immigration Museum and some Imax shows. Best of all, when the going is busy, you just walk right up to the members entry and you are let in. Special.. much :)
Mia loved having her friends and her siblings with her at Scienceworks. Sarah made a massive fluffy and pink cake. She is getting to be a very accomplished cook I must say.
Tonight I am working in emergency dept. Then I am going to see my Pa on Wednesday. He has booked me into his diary.. haha. I love him :)
Yesterday I went for a massive bike ride. Of course the wind became a head wind at each and every turn. All the better for my thighs :)
Catch you all soon xoxo

I just got the best NEWS ever upon opening Lucy's Blog!! I cried! Thank the gummy Mary Lucy and her family are okay.

My Sarah got a "Mathemagician" certificate in front of the school assembly today. I am so proud of her for doing her very best and enjoying it at that. Nick has got his hands on an electric guitar and amplifier. Oh boy, he loves that whammy bar! Good thing that, because he may just annoy the neighbours. Those are the ones who woke me up with their crappy music today- so much for rest and repair day. Gosh, I have not felt so ill in such a long time, waahhhh, I am clearly a sook. I will be going to visit my Pa on Wednesday if I can get rid of this dreaded lurgey.
Stay well my blog buddies.

Tonight is my 3rd night of four in Emergency. It is so busy we have barely stood still all night. We start at 9pm and finish at 7:30am. The 10hrs goes by so fast. So much to do, so many people needing us all at once. The Doctors are fab to work with, they too are under so much pressure.
Being here is good for me right now, it might sound selfish but I am glad I am keeping busy. If I were to be at home I would not sleep at night. I would worry about my Pop and I would look like hell during the day and be so tired because of the lack of sleep. I called Pa when I woke up today at about 5pm. He sounded so weary. He said that the pain is always there now and try as he must he just could not eat anything more than one scone all day long. He has plenty of food there, brought to him by my gorgeous Aunt and Uncle and cousins and all his social network of friends thanks to the Grandpoo bah lodge (aka Freemasons Lodge), croquet, line dancing, thai chi, and whatever else he was involved in. Surprising that he has not got the "sheila's" footy team around visiting him at home there, he supported them for the past 4 years going to their practice matches and weekend games too.
My Aunt will come over from "The Mount" (aka Mt Gambier) today to stay a few nights.
I know it won't be long, because my Pa is honest and as he spoke to me he said he just cannot do it any more. Not being able to sit there, not being able to go for a walk or go about on his scooter any more and not to be able to have a cup of coffee or eat a good meal anymore is ... I can't say it.
Shit, I hate you cancer. Thought I would just let you know that. M'kay.
Time to go back to work. I cannot wait to get home to kiss and hugg my babies before they go to school.

What is important?

My friend from New Zealand named Jules has highlighted the fact that health, family and having a home that has a roof over our heads is by far the most important thing. Please take the time to have a read of Jules' blog HERE It will all make sence as you read it. Hugg your loved ones and appreciate what you have. That is all.

I have gone and done it. What? You may ask. I fell in love with an actress, yes, a woman. Her name is Jacki Weaver. She is an Australian actress whom I remember had a role in the film Stork (I know, it was made in 1971, the year I was born, but it aired every year for many years on end and I remember her energy, vitality and lovely eyes back then).

I did not know much about Jacki Weaver, excepting the TV appearances that always seemed to shine in. That was until I watched Australian Story (ABC) the other day. It was a documentary on her. Sometimes Australian Story features ordinary Aussies doing amazing things, rising up through the toughest times of all... amazing courageous people. This time it was no different really.

Jacki has an amazing presence to her. With one expression of excitement she can make you smile and feel great... in the next instant she can look worried, in turmoil, about to cry and you too feel that way. Her face is so full of expression you know.

But, what got me, was when the story touched on her love life. She still is in love with every single man she has been with. I find that amazing. So many people carry the burden of disliking their ex partners but not Jacki. She just cannot hate anyone it seems. Also, to still love someone she nursed until they passed away, her life time love Richard Wherrett. Who himself was an enigmatic person.

To quote Jacki from her Australian Story piece " I think all love relationships, you have to share the same sense of...laughter -laugh at the same things". She is not wrong. What else is beautiful is that she was and still is, in love with Richard Wherrett with the full knowledge that he was homosexual. She states " knew Richard was homosexual from the very beginning, but it didn't affect my falling in love with him. It didn't affect any aspect of our relationship." And that is how love ought to be.

Jacki also reported that she got out every book she could and educated herself on homosexuality and they (her and Richard) would discuss it openly. He said to her " Don't you see that there's something about you, too, that's needy that you fall in love with a man who is homosexual?" Well, I agree with that too.

Yes, Jacki is a lovely, radiating personality, and she is so like me in that she cannot hate any person. And that she would stay in love forever with the people she had fallen in love with throughout her life. I think it is important to keep a rapport going with those who have helped you throughout your life, just as she has.

So Mia will begin Phonological Awareness Program next week at school run by a speech pathologist. Her speech is just fine. It is when she has to put pen to paper that she has problems. Then again, there is no one else like Mia (it seems), in that she does what she wants when she wants and amazes me at times with the things she comes out with, and the things she writes on paper that you would not think she possibly could. Gifted? Nope.. just.. individual!
As I have said for so long, she is an outdoors girl. Hates being caged in.. even when she was a baby she hated being wrapped in a blanket.. hated the cot.. got into a bed at a young age. I guess, when you are the fourth child you want to get up and go before the rest of the kids do.
I remember with the other three sprout lings as they developed that their milestones were all different. Naturally, they are all individual right? I remember when I did not have to read them their readers any more. It upset me alot. I love reading to the kids. I still do when they let me.
I think I will rejoice when Mia writes me a story, and is able to sit there and quietly read to herself.. in the knowledge that she is comprehending a book independently.
I love books, and I know my kids do too.
Forever praising positive steps, no matter how small.. that is what endeavour to do :)

Update on my Pa. He has got himself a new set of wheels! Yeah. I know you all know he had a cool car and all, but I am talkin' 'bout a motorised scooter! This is much safer for him and gives him independance that I think he thought he would not ever see again. He got a reconditioned one off of this guy that.. reconditions motorised scooters. The guy had two of them, so Pa reports to me. One was caught up in the floods at Rochester and had to be fully re-coed, and the other one was involved in a car accident (*shudders at that thought right there!). He purchased the former one. He requested the guy paint racing stripes on the sides and he wants my Uncle to buy him a fox tail to fly above him to alert any pedestrians.. oh, and when I last spoke to him on the phone he said " Listen Carolyn.. listen". So, I was listening and I hear this toot toot.. pip pip sound.. I say "Oh cool Pa.. now people will know you are coming up behind them on the footpath". He says, " Nope, that's pissy! It's a sheila's horn, I want one that makes a louder sound". I laughed my arse off at that!
Stay cool!

This is my Pa. The day I was born, almost 40years ago, was cause for much celebration. I was the first girl born in many years in the family. Pa drank lots of beer, with my Dad and with his friends from the Grand Poo Bah Lodge (aka Freemasons Lodge). My Grandma did too, bless her soul. She drank so much beer that she fell over a milk crate that was out on their back porch at the time.See, I caused trouble when I was born. Haha.
When I was little, I used to stay at my Nan and Pas place on many a weekend. They also used to take me away with them on road trips that seemed to last for weeks. They most probably did last for weeks. My first memory of going away with them in their Ute, caravan in tow, was when I was aged four years. We went to Pyramid Hill, to Warnambool, and to Mildura. Perhaps not in that order, but still. I remember the places well. It was hot weather. I got to swim. We sighted a snake while we were at the Pyramid Hill caravan park and Nan old Pa that we had better get a move on.
Imade my own camera out of Nan's cigarette packet. I stabbed a hole in the top of the packet. That had a cut off straw stuck inside it. When I wanted to take a picture with my camera I would press down on the straw. The I would open up the lid and pull out a little picture that I had drawn. An instant camera in 1975.. who would have thunk it?
Memories of going to the Freemason's Lodge with Nan and Pa. Of course, not going in whilst meetings were in progress, never ever! But, Nan was the caterer. Angels on horseback, canapes and all sorts of things moulded in gelatin to serve the lodge members. The dances were fun. Christmas and Easter time seen to it that families of the lodge members were included in celebrations. Lots of dress ups. Good fun.
Going to the beach in Altona was fun. I had about four boxes full of shells in my Pa's shed. We used them to set them in little concrete circles that decorated the back garden around the fish pond.
The year that I made my Debutante Ball, my Pa and I danced. The night of my wedding, my Pa and I danced. He is one swooner of a man!
Last Christmas day I was unable to see my Pa. We spent Christmas Day at home here for the first time in a few years. So I called him. He told me that he is terminal with cancer. He is not bitter. He is at peace with it. After all, as he said, he is 85yrs old... and he has travelled everywhere, done everything he wanted to and he has beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren.. beautiful and smart, "what more could a man want?"
Still, he is my Pa. This is not fair!

The youngest three of my sproutlings began school last Friday. I know, I know, stupid idea beginning school on a Friday.. but it was scheduled and so they went and it went too fast for them.. their words not mine!
Today, Monday, Tom began Year 8 and he seemed to have had a great day catching up with his mates. He handed in his book report that had to be completed over the Summer break. He chose to read "Once", by Morris Gleitzman. I pre read the book and it left me feeling so sad inside for a few days. I always find it hard to deal with the atrocities of war, particularly in reference to the holocaust. Told through the eyes of a child, "Once" is a deeply moving book. One thing is for sure, Morris Gleitzman has been able to put together the stories of many people who were affected, and most did die, by the Holocaust, and in doing so, he has kept them alive. They shall not be forgotten. (It is the reason I love books)

Today I went on my first bike ride. It was a lovely Sunny day and the wind was the only thing that drove me nuts! Every turn we made the wind decided to change too. Head winds suck! lol Right now my muscles feel great, but let's see how they are when I wake up first thing in the morning shall we?

I am forgetting to write about the rain storm we had here on the weekend. Hubby was away up in Rochester assisting with the flood clean up and lots of other things that people needed assistance with from the storms a few weeks ago. We had a rain storm, a few actually. Our court began to flood. The rain cleared, but I knew there were more storm cells to come. With that in mind I grabbed the dog, told the kids to get in the car and we went to their Nan's place for the night. We were high and dry there. We were the lucky ones on that night. So many people have not even got back into their street let alone their house because of the floods caused by the tail end of that cyclone.
Australia has cyclone, flood and fires at the moment. Gosh, we sure do cop it!

Summer Holidays Almost Over

So, we are near the end of the Summer holidays and none of us are happy about that in this place. The kids have been sleeping in beautifully and that has suited me to a T because I work night shift, as everyone knows, and I hate waking up early on days off. What am I saying, I don't even fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning when I have been on days off.
Since last night, hubby and I have been winding the kids down and into bed by 8pm. They have been waking up prior to 9am then, It will make it easier to transition into the school routine then.
The days have been in excess of 40 degrees Celsius. It has been nice to welcome in a cool change this afternoon. All the doors and windows thrown open to let the cool air circulate. Poor Bondi felt the heat and we had him indoors giving him water with a little ice in it.
Tomorrow hubby is heading out with some work mates to assist in the clean up from the floods that have affected so many towns here in Victoria. He has five days off of work. He will spend a couple of them staying on location up around the Rochester area and doing whatever the volunteers are required to do.
When the kids do go back to school I am looking forward to getting back on the deadly treadley peddly (aka bicycle) and riding along the river again. I will also pick up a few more shifts at work and sleep while the kids are at school, waking in time for them to crash through the door :)

We Vamoose

So now we have a boat. A boat to fish from, a boat to just cruise.. and maybe take the occasional wake boarder along. It's very exciting for us all. Lots of good times ahead.

Australia Day and Eden Trip......

Today is our National Day, Australia Day. I would usually take the kids down the to beach in Altona to enjoy the festivities that the council put on for free, including fireworks on the foreshore near the Pier. But, I am working a night shift tonight. I am enjoying my days at work.. nights rather.
The kids go back to school in the next two weeks and I am not looking forward to it really. I love them being home.. and they all sleep in of a morning on the holidays.. oh well, we all gotta learn some time right?
We returned on Sunday night from a beautiful place called Eden in New South Wales. It was wonderful. We spent hubbie's birthday there. He was in his element fishing and catching prawns in nets in a little estuary behind our camp spot.
I have to go back to bed now for a little while as I leave for work at 8pm. Stay safe xoxo

So, this is night shift number four and "I am done like a dinner".. just as my Nan would say she had experienced a long hard day. First night I worked in the busy Short Stay Unit, second night in the Emergency Dept (no comments on how busy it was there) and these two last nights I am here on the Cardio-Thoracic Unit. It is still school break time, and the kids return to school for term 1 in two weeks time. I am not looking forward to them going back.. I love it when we sleep in of a morning and have no real structure to the day.
Of course, my readers from abroad would be aware of the disastrous floods that we are experiencing in Australia right now. Our years of drought have come to an end. It is wonderful to see communities band together to help each other in these trying times. I would wish that it could stay the same forever more.. but, as it happens, people get back to their pre- disaster selves mostly, and they forget what happened for a time.
The first night I worked a young nurse who was standing beside me had an SMS come through. She opens up her phone and it was a warning SMS to get out of her home town of Wycheproof... floods approaching. Well, she was right beside me here at work, so she calls her Mum and Dad.. her Mum answers and says "It is okay love, we are madly sand bagging the house, and next we will go on and help our neighbours... don't worry". Frightening I say! The next night I see the same young nurse, ask her about her Mum and Dad, the sandbagging worked for the time being she said. and more importantly, her parents are safe.
A few years back we went to Dimboola for a look-see.. and we were actually looking at blocks of land. They were "going for a song". We spoke to some locals, including the local constabulary, about the town and its history. The river that runs through Dimboola was dry as a bone! Today, Dimboola was on flood alert and the local IGA manageress was on the radio saying they were sand bagging the shops and the houses and using kitty litter inside the sand bags too. She said that the upper catchment area had a wall that was failing to contain the flow of the umpteen litres of water headed Dimboola's way... scary stuff these floods. One good thing about all this water going through this area is that the river will flow again and people will be able to use the water for their Olive farms and their cattle. And.. the rowing club could return to its former self too.
My fingers and toes are crossed for each town that will be affected by these floods, and hope that there will be no loss of life. Houses can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be replaced.

By now the World who is in touch with NEWS media would know that Australia is not only the place of bush fires in Summer, but now we have flooding plains. It is not over. There are areas just waiting, and preparing for the oncoming floods.
I watched a documentary on the Qld Premier Anna Bligh some time ago. I do not remember what station it was on, perhaps ABC or something, but it was about her growing up, her education, where she met her hubby, the children coming along, and her becoming a politician. It was very interesting. Even though I live in Victoria, I knew about Anna Bligh. What I did not know was that alot of people in her State did not favour her. Also, that she had a good chance of not being in this position much longer.
Then, came the deluge of rain. An understatement. Whilst Victoria had been manufacturing a water plant (much to the dislike of many people) because of drought, Queensland had been having their fair share of rains.. and then comes all this extra rain that we had all been wishing for. No where to go but to spread across the nation. Too much rain, soaking ground, it is going to run off elsewhere.
What I wanted to really mention, is that Anna Bligh has been amazing. More amazing that our Prime Minister I have to say. Her presentations have been very informative, concise and encouraging for the most part. Anna Bligh has not, in the time I have watched her, used notes or teleprompters to aid her in her speech. She is well briefed, and in good knowledge. She is at her finest right now.
I think Anna Bligh is doing a wonderful job and even today on the telly she was standing strong and giving it her all to keep the community spirit going.
Also, it appears that people who never spoke to their neighbours or other people in their suburbs have banded together. They are meeting each other and helping to clean up their places.. and so friendships are formed.
I grew up in a rural area. Although we did not have neighbours right next door we did know everyone in our region. We would all help each other out should someone get sick or should there be a crisis. Well, you know, gravel roads lead to so many smashed windscreens... and we would have people stopping in at any time of the day for assistance there. We also got together to burn back the high grass areas in November each year, before the heat of Summer would hit. That way our houses were safe from the threat of fire.
If anything good is to come from these floods, it is the resolve of sense of community. I hope it stays with the people of Australia.

Port Of Echuca

Last Sunday we took a trip to see my Pa in Kangaroo Flat near the township of Bendigo. Then we went for a drive further on up the road to Echuca. We went for a ride on a Paddle Steamer. It was lovely. The kids loved it as did us big kids too :) Then, after looking in at the Blacksmith's shop and the Woodturner's shop and buying some fudge from the Lolly Shop we went for a drive over the border to New South Wales to Denniliquin. It was so sunny and HOT there. The kids wadded in warm water in Edwards River... and there was an inland beach there. We got home very late at night, but the trip was magic for our soul :)
Today I woke the boys up early. Tom took his first train ride "by his own self" (as Mia would say) on a V/Line train to Malmsbury. He did not sleep very much... nor did I. He was excited, I was nervous. It was all okay after I spoke to the train guard and explained Tom was being met at the other end by my cousin.
After the train left, and I did not cry... Nick and I went to an awesome cheap book shop and spent time.. refuge from the absolute bucketing rain.. and we purchased heaps of books... great weather for reading I must say. Well, I do not need to discuss the weather do I? I am sure everyone knows Australia is experiencing the opposite of drought now!

On New Years Eve the kids and I went to our friend's place and stayed the night. Most of us did not get to bed until 3am. There were many (illegal) fire works, and they all looks spectacular.. even the ones that shot off the wrong way and went into the garage roller door of the old lady across the road from the idiot who let them off.
Hubby had to work NYE, but at least he got Christmas Day off of work this year. I guess, even though he got home at 3am on the 25th Dec... still, he did not have to work that evening. He said the city was crazy with people. That the fireworks in melbourne were wonderful.. and that it was funny that a guy in a Highrise apartment (not not Andrew Highriser) down at The Docklands let off some crackers on his balcony.. where the policemen who were standing with hubby pointed and counted how high and how many doors in the guy was located.. a knock on his door ten minutes later and a big fine to celebrate 2011 went his way!
I have had time off of work for a little while. It has been nice to potter about with the kids. They are loving their school holiday's. The weather has not been too hot, most unseasonal.. but it has been nice.
My friend lives in Mackay in Queensland and they have been on flood watch for a few weeks now. They have one hour of power every four hours, power sharing with neighbouring towns. They say the Mozzies are very very bad right now. They also say that the shops have no more tinned foods, or UHT milks and that everyone is more nervous now that they would be if it were another cyclone alert. My heart is with them all. The poor families of Rockhampton! No one escapes the news about the floods unless they are way outback.
I plan on going to the Open Range Zoo these holiday's. I took three of the munchkins to the Melbourne Zoo last year, along with Stace and Aidan and Ellie.. that such an awesome day too. Those animals are just spectacular to see. Mia liked it especially.
Speaking of Mia, just before I left for work tonight, she shows me her "friends". A spider, some bugs and some grass and stones in a container. Sarah got a surprise from Mia in her underwear drawer this morning... a cocoon.. Gah! Sarah was NOT impressed. So I had to lecture poor Mia on the do's and dont's so far as bugs and the indoors go.
As I walked out the door to head to work, Mia was watching Bondi Vet. She was so excited and wanted me to sit and watch it with her. I hate leaving for work and knowing I am missing out on doing things with the kids... but once I am here I love it. The people I am working with tonight, and last night, are exceptional nurses. I just know I will miss them all once we move to the bush.

Set to be a scorcher..

Today is set to be a scorcher of a day at least reaching 40 degrees celsius. All whilst many of my friends abroad are experiencing blizzards. Worlds apart, united by the Internet. It never ceases to amaze me that we can all converse in an instant via the web. Including providing images of what is going on too. I often scroll through the images people put on their blogs or on Face book and say to myself, " Wow, that is what it is like there right now". Remarkable!
Just 20minutes ago I was sitting there listening to the talk back radio station and hearing the Drug and Alcohol board guy speaking about the use of "pills" at this time of the year, and the way in which people drink themselves into oblivion every new year's eve. It is something that gets on my goat.
The talk turned to the main topic and that was how to stop this from happening. People rang up saying it was up to parents of these young adults (not talking about teens here, but about people over the age of 18). Whilst I know many parents are responsible adults and have probably spoken to their children all of their growing up years about how not to over indulge in the drink and never to take a glass off of someone you don't know, and never to pop a pill in their mouth and the fact that, as I tell my kids "Drugs will kill you!" there always be people out there who will not say no, who will be convinced that the person handing them the drug is "cool" and they will either die or, maybe, just if they are lucky ...become a patient in a hospital.
The "patient" will probably never see the person again who dealt them their "pill". They will not recall the Paramedics putting a tube down their throat to be able to maintain their airway because they are vomiting too much. They will not recall nurses having to strip their body of clothing, washing them because they have become doubly incontinent and having puked all over themselves. They may have even ended up in the ICU. But, when they do get extubated, and have enough anti nausea medication and IV hydration, they will be clean and pure looking. That blank look you get from them when the consultant is telling them they could well have died without the aid of medical intervention, that we don't want to see them in here ever again... that "No, you cannot have your clothes because they were cut off of you and were soiled..doubly". No registration at all. Parents are mortified, friends sometimes think it is a laugh (which pisses us off), but good friends would make sure it would not occur again. Especially if they were there to see everything at the time.

So, as all my friends head off for their New Year celebrations... please take care, enjoy your time either alone, with friends, or, I know, some of us have to work... and get home safely on 2011. I hope 2011 brings more wonderful times to share together.

Christmas 2010 was a nice quiet day at home, no driving involved and no hurry up to get to.. anywhere. We woke up to the sounds of the youngest three excited that Santa had been. The kids were happily opening their gifts. We all played Xbox Kinect.. what an awesome invention it is. Technology is just so ... amazing!
I cooked some turkey, some veggies from our garden and we plated up some Australian prawns. Bon Bons were cracked open and hats placed on our heads. Silly jokes were read out.. we all laughed and were uber excited when the kids started bringing out the chocolate mousse that they had made.
After lunch we went out the back and the kids blew massive bubbles with the bubble wands santa had placed under the tree. What a great bargain he had got them from Big W for one dollar each! Of course, we ran out of bubble mix and so my dish washing liquid was used up.. but we had a fun time so it did not matter.
Nicholas flew his remote control helicopter in the yard. It scaled the fence, it scaled the house, it got to great heights! We are lucky the Air traffic control towers did not send word that there was a helicopter in some 747's flight path! lol
I called my Pa on the phone to wish him a very Merry Christmas, and also my Aunt and Uncle too.
We made a trip to Bendigo to see my Pa on Boxing Day. The kids went on to the lake there with their Dad so I could have some alone time with my Pa. I was so happy to have that hour and a bit alone with him. I love him dearly.
Whilst at the lake, the kids proclaimed to see lots of turtles. I missed out on them, but I am sure I will see them another time. Pa's area has plague amounts of locusts there right now. That excited Mia to no end. We frisked her before coming home in the car just in case she pocketed some. We don't want them in our veggie gardens!

While I have you all here, can you pop over and see my friend Bush Babe's site, she has the most wonderful calenders she has taken the images all by her own self and put them together so spectacularly that I have purchased two of them myself.. and I am not disapointed at all

I am half way through my second night shift in the Emergency Department. It is almost 3:30am and I am having my "dinner". Salad, made with love by my husband, from our vegetable gardens at home. And, some nice pasta, made with love by my doting husband. I am lucky!
The kids are excited as they count down the days to Christmas. We may just have a white Christmas this year the way the weather has been going. It was so cold yesterday, but I won't complain because I like sleeping huddled up under the doona and blankets when it is cold outside.
I have been reading our nursing journal as I was eating my dinner, and I spied the most wonderul article about a colleague of mine named Mary. Mary has not worked with me for a few years and I wondered where she had gone off to quite a number of times and there she was right there in front of me. A full page article about Mary and the projects she is working on. We have the same humour and love of patients and their stories. I am so pleased Mary has found what makes her "complete". I often wonder where I will end up with my nursing too. I love my nursing, I like fast pace. But I also love to have a good old yack to people too and find out about their life story. It is good for the patients to be able to speak of times gone by, about themselves, and it seems to take them away from the place they are in now to speak of other things.
A few months ago a lady came up to the ward I was working on and she was in extreme pain. I was speaking to her and it works out she was a lady who would serve my Nanna tea and scones at a cafeteria in Footscray for many years. She spoke so long to me that by the time we had settled her into the room, she had alot less pain than she previously experienced. So, I think a good old yack can help people break the pain barrier some of the time.
Oh, I have to go, sorry people... my break time is up. As it is 3:45am :)

Mary's website is HERE if you would like to check it out. She is doing some great things and I would wish her well :)

Ranting Along...

My younger three children are so lucky for so many reasons, one of them being that their big brother still believes in Santa Claus- for them. He is such a good boy our Tomas, he really does love his siblings. I remember when I was about 9 years old my older brother told me there was no such thing as Easter Bunny and no such thing as Santa Claus. It was a terrible feeling. With my children, these fictional characters are kept alive by the retail outlets (no surprises there) and from other children around them. We do not say to them that there is Santa, or Easter Bunny.. and I don't want to be held responsible for having kept something fictional alive and then ripping it away from them. No, I am not traumatised by it, I just didn't like that feeling. I also know that we all learn things in different ways and that as a parent, I am their cushion to fall back on when times are hard. Give them coping mehcanisms for when times get hard, but let them experience things for themselves too. No need to run off and purchase some "harden-up cement" for them then.
So, when they misbehave or get on my goat, I just say that gifts won't be left for children who aren't looking after each other. It works :)
The kids' school reports were very good, I am so pleased with them all for their hard work throughout the year. Some kids are not academic, they learn hands on. That describes my eldest and youngest children. They love to get out there and do things and learn well this way. It has got to be hard to sit in a classroom and have to get your head around words without being a MacGyver and actually doing the stuff for real at the time! I have learnt to supply them with reading material that interests them, and then they are more receptive to learning new things.
I await Mia to turn a learning curve and become a more independant reader, it seems to be taking quite some time. She blocks everything that she is not interested in, which makes it difficult. I have learnt not to push it, just edge towards it each time she appears ready for it.
I will be pre reading Tomas' Year 8 English novel this Summer. It is titled "The Heaven Shop". I found the plot for the novel via Wikipedia, wow, the internet is so amazing to me. It is about the effects that an HIV/AIDS death has on a family. The family is located in Malawi, the main character is a 13 year old girl whose father owns a coffin shop called "The Heaven Shop", hence the title of the book. Apparently all royalties from the sale of this book went to UNICEF. I will write a review of the book on my blog once I have read it.
I received a book "Eat Pray Love" as a gift from a friend for my birthday last weekend. I have not seen the flick either, and I prefer it that way.I like to read novels before I would sit through a movie of the same title. Books are always so much better! I did pre read "Once" by Morris Gleitzman for Tomas. Nicholas had it in his bookshelf, he received it as a gift for his 9th birthday. Wish I had pre read it before Nick had read it, the content is traumatic. Nick said he thought it was all "made up". No son, the Holocaust was real. So, my eldest two learned more about the atrocities of war. "War is still around Mum", Nick said. Yes, he is right. There will always be a war somewhere.
Enough of the real and depressing stuff... life is good, I love my family, I love my friends who are also my family, and it is high time people became a bit nicer to each other and maybe a little more tolerant.. meanwhile, I am playing real loud music through a bedroom window to upset my neighbours... because they have done this to us for the past two weekends until 3am! Hope they like classic rock! I think an hour of this is enough for a Sunday morning. Yes, I have tried to speak to them, but they think they own the court here. I wish I lived out in the country side right now.
I am off to the shops, have to restock these cupboards for hungry children over the school holiday time. My goodness they eat like they have hollow legs!

When the Government Steals Christmas from workers and their families....

My good friend Will alerted me to an article online just as I was discussing rosters with a friend of mine that works full time here. We were discussing how she has to work Christmas Day and Boxing Day yet does not get the penalties due to her unless she also works the Monday and Tuesday after these days. And.. that if she does not work the Mon and Tue then it is still shit Friday! No penalty rates for her. That sucks eggs I reckon! Seriously. I did not wish to make this blog into a sooky la la blog but it is. Nurses work their arses off, and so do Ambos, Police, Fieries, 7-11 staff, and public transport people.. yeah, mostly.... and they will all miss penalty rates these coming special days. Bugger if it is something to do with religion, what about it being a time of reflection for people. Time to reflect on moments in the past, or moments being made right then and there with family or friends. Yeah, I know not everyone has kids, but why should people without kids miss out on their loved ones on special days, having to work and not get paid for missing out... anyway.. here is the article Will alerted me to. and below are the last paragraphs of that article that ring true to my ears.. or eyes.... Because I read it I didn't hear it, yeah.

"So if you’re catching the train to the beach, stop at a convenience store or are unfortunate enough to require medical treatment this Christmas, spare a thought for those who are at work because there may well be some place that they’d rather be.
Already we’ve seen an erosion of our family life, of our weekends and other public holidays and this has resulted in people being overworked, taking their work home with them spending less time with their husbands, wives, partners, parents and kids.
This alone threatens to fray a national fabric of fair pay, fair hours and workplace rights that has taken more than a century to achieve.
But now that Christmas Day itself has fallen prey to the cold calculations of the bean counters, it is vital that we stop and ask ourselves: Is this the society we want to be?" (Governments Stealing Christmas from Workers: by Ged Kearney "The Punch")

I am now 39 years old. I do not usually feel my age, but right now I do. That is because my neighbours are having a riot of a party and it is 220am and I am still awake. What is more upsetting is I wanted to go to my Aunts with the kids today to have an early Christmas Day together, all 30 or so of us, but I will not be in any condition to drive up there safely now.. and she lives over an hour away and the roads are not safe this time of the year as it is. The whole family will be upset about it, but there is nothing I can do. I have called the police about the noise next door, the kids are asleep in the lounge room.. just. The music has a this base to it and it is damn loud.
Anyway, i I am so lucky, I got a beautiful Acoustic Guitar for my birthday and I cant wait to take lessons for it and learn the art of music. :)
I plan on loading up pics for everyone to see, it will happen this week I promise .
I trust all my Blogging friends are well... take care love Cazzie

All Systems Are A Go!

Yep, you read that right people. This time of the year is not so nutty because of Christmas, but it is nutty secondary to end of school events. Also, secondary to planning ahead for school in 2011. Booklists on order, uniforms to order... order order.. order!
December 17th cannot come quick enough for me. It is the end of school, the start of holidays. I love it. I know the teachers do too. Good for them, they deserve a break too, I do not know how they do it, what a hard job to teach children in this day of political correctness. I would have to be on Xanax to teach a class of kids.
Tom is in year 8 next year. He likes going to school, has some awesome mates and I am proud of him for trying his best consistently. Kids learn in different ways. Tom is not one to sit there and just read, but when he has to, he does it. I believe he is a hands on learner.. please correct me if you will. Like... Mia, she learns by doing things hands on experience.. but an academic these two are not. Perhaps things will change?
Nick is in Year 6 next year, hard to believe.. he is an academic for sure. But give him a model to construct and he is just fine. Bionicles his forte. Nick is also picking up how to play the Acoutic Guitar so fast too. He had his concert a few weeks back and his tutor now has a web site up and running. It has pictures of Nick performing and also receiving an encouraging certificate. This is the website for Davies Music School
Sarah is our singer and little artist, most affectionate and sensitive.. she is in Year 4 next year. I love it when she reads to me. Her expression is gorgeous.
Mia is in Grade 2 next year. She struggles to get to school because all she wants to do is be out there with nature. She peers out the window in the hopes of sighting some bird or some butterfly or a caterpillar that she could somehow catch during her play time. Mia's teacher has been amazing. We tailored her learning to all things nature. Books about animal life cycles etc etc. If that is the way she will learn then that is the way she will be taught. I am proud of our Mia.
The most awesome thing happened to me this week. My blog friend Ro sent me two books, and once I finish reading The Lost Symbol, I will read both of these books. Nick has his eyes set on the Best Australian Short Stories book Ro... Thankyou :)
I have set THIS book beside his bed to read once he has completed My Place by Sally Morgan. I am so pleased he loves the same genre of books as I do.

I have been a bit out of action because I have been working night shift in teh Emergency Dept. Will be back on track in a few days. Of course life is hectic right now with the end of teh school year and all. Life is greatQ
Hubby is doing the set up for the U2 concert here in Melbourne tomorrow... strike that.. today.. it is 2am here right now and I am on my break at work. The only time to ctach up with blogs I am afraid.
Will get hubby to take pics of the stage set up, cannot wait to see it myself. Then he wil be setting up for Bon Jovi :)

I heart Ebay

Today I received these runners in the post. They came just one day after having ordered them from an Ebay shop. How is it I can buy these runners, brand new from Ebay for 50% less than in the shops? Of course, I know the answer.. shops have rent, people employed, bills to pay. Well, these are the second set of runners I have purchased in two years off of Ebay. The last set were New Balance. I got them for $49.00 two years ago. These are Asics.. I got them for $95.00 as opposed to in excess of $200 from the shops. "All the more to spend on clothes for the kids on Ebay" I say :)
Last night I fell asleep on the couch. I have been bike riding, walking, mowing and cleaning this week. It has taken toll on my energy. Also, Tom has had a bad back since last week. I had to pick him up from the sick bay two days ago. I think he may have strained it using our gym set. But, his school books are so heavy to carry in his back pack. I have had to teach him how to place his back pack on his body to minimise the physical strain. Also, to encourage him to make good use of the locker I have paid for at school. I suggested he place the books he does not need during the day in the locker. Light bulb moment! Yeah, that is what it is for isn't it? We were not allowed to have lockers at school. Much to our protests. The Principle at the time said it would encourage fighting and vermin if we were to have lockers... whatever.
I posted off my vote for The Victorian Electorate today. It was hard to pick who to vote for when the politicians all jibber jabber on like kids at kindergarten. I wish I were on their pay roll!

Rememberance Day 11/11/2010..11OOhrs.

On and around 11 November each year, the RSL sells millions of red cloth poppies for Australians to pin on their lapels. Proceeds go to the RSL welfare work. Why a red poppy?

Colonel John McCrae, who was Professor of Medicine at McGill University in Canada before WW1 (joined the McGill faculty in 1900 after graduating from the University of Toronto), first described the red poppy, the Flanders’ poppy, as the flower of remembrance.

Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the Boer War as a gunner, but went to France in WW1 as a medical officer with the first Canadian contingent.

It was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood here, and MAJ John McCrae had seen and heard enough in his dressing station to last him a lifetime. As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, MAJ McCrae, had spent seventeen days treating injured men -- Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans -- in the Ypres salient.

One death particularly affected MAJ McCrae. A young friend and former student, LT Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May. LT Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. At the second battle of Ypres in 1915, when in charge of a small first-aid post, he wrote in pencil on a page from his despatch book a poem that has come to be known as "Flanders’ Field" which described the poppies that marked the graves of soldiers killed fighting for their country. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry. In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.

A young soldier watched him write it (written May 3, 1915 after the battle at Ypres). Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as we wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave." When he finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young NCO. Allinson was moved by what he read:

The poem was exactly an exact description of the scene in front of us both. The word blow was not used in the first line though it was used later when the poem later appeared in Punch. But it was used in the second last line. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene.

In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer -- either LTCOL Edward Morrison, the former Ottawa newspaper editor who commanded the 1st Brigade of artillery, or LTCOL J.M. Elder, depending on which source is consulted -- retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. "The Spectator," in London, rejected it, but "Punch" published it on 8 December 1915.

McCrae's "In Flanders’ Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.

In Flanders’ Fields

In Flanders’ Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ Fields.

In England in 1919, the British Legion was formed to foster the interest of ex-servicemen and their dependants, and the late Field Marshal Earl Haig, the first Grand President, sought an emblem which would honour the dead and help the living. He adopted the Poppy as that emblem, and since then the Red Poppy has been accepted as the Emblem of Remembrance. The day chosen for the wearing of the emblems was 11 November, a Day of Remembrance to honour the dead of both World Wars, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam.

LEST WE FORGET.

Many thanks to the Australian Army Website for the wonderful information. This knowledge can be shared for generations to come.. and it has been shared with my children.

Butterfly Girls...

On the weekend we had a house full of kids. Up to ten or eleven at any one time. My four children have made wonderful friends with a larger family who live around the corner. It was not always this way. Last year the kids around the corner began going to my childrens' school. There were many hiccups. The worst day was when I drove to the school and I sighted a bunch of kids in a circle. There was a bug fight going on. I broke it up. It was my softest boy with their biggest boy. I told them all off, and I told them all to get along. If they were going to the same Primary School they surely will go to the same High School.. and, that if they all live close to each other wouldn't it be better to just get along? They all thought about it for a second and agreed. It has been a good result in the end. Now they all walk to and from school in a walking/riding school bus.
This past weekend, the girls and I attended a local Craft Fair. The girls got face painted as Fairy Butterflies.. so beautiful. We did not want to wash it off! The lady was so talented.. and she took aso much time to paint Sarah's butterfly.
My friend Cherry had a stall there and she has the most divine almost edible organic skin and hair products..hmmmm
Also, our new friend Natasha Hurst played some lovely songs up on stage there on the Sunday. What a lovely voice. The fair certainly was worth attending. Next year I will purchase a lot of my Christmas gifts. Now I know what is there.

This weekend we geared up for Halloween. The three youngest kids all got dressed up and trick or treated out there with their Dad on Halloween night. Tom went with his own mates, a couple of girls actually.. and of course, one of them is "just a friend".. yep. Anyway, they all had a ball and they were laughing so much.
I went to work, and worked a twelve hour shift. I only just got over my jet lag feelings this afternoon from that one. I worked in the High Dependency Unit neurosurgery. It was a good shift because I worked with awesome Doctors and Nurses. But I can honestly say my feet were killing me at the end of it even though I wore my wonderful Rockport shoes. I tell ya, you appreciate life so much when you work in these areas.. well, I do any how.
So this afternoon, on Melbourne Cup Day (a horse race that celebrated 150th year today), we went for a drive to Geelong (a bayside suburb to people who are not from Australia). The weather was so lovely there in comparison to Melbourne, just amazing the contrast in temperature. It had rained in the morning.. and it did not begin to rain until we were on the last part of our Ferris Wheel ride. We had dinner and then went to indulge in ice creams. It was so nice on the foreshore there in Geelong, they have made it so pretty. It would be very easy to spend many afternoons there and just chill. Oh, the picture was taken of me on my mobile just before we embarked :)

Pay It Forward...

Nick's tutor for his acoustic guitar lessons spoke to me after his lesson on Wednesday. He says that Nick is the fastest progressing student he has had in a long while, and that Nick will play two songs and will be first up at the concert in November. Exciting much! Nick is happy about it and is entertaining us with his tunes each day.
All the kids are going so well right now and I cannot believe the school year is almost over. That means Tom will be year 8, Nick year 6, Sarah year 4 and Mia year 2. I also cannot believe it when I am asked by my patients how long I have been nursing and it is 18 years since I completed my Degree in Health Sciences in Nursing... but I was working as a ward assistant from the age of 17yrs, which makes it 21 years in total I have been in health care. Time goes sooo fast!
Something else I know has not changed... and that is the love I feel for my husband. It just gets stronger... not matter if I crack the shits with him for something trivial.. it is reciprocated haha. But, my heart flutters when I hear him come up the drive from work.. or walk in and hop into bed at 3am after a late shift... and, I am so proud of my kids too.
Also, I have this thing now with paying it forward... doing something "in kind"... and when people ask me what I want in return I say "pay it forward" do something for someone else that is not me.. and I am sure something great will happen to me in return in the future. For me, I payed it forward my helping out a man in the car park at work the other day. He was so happy, and asked me how he could contact me to pay me back in some way. Apart from safety, I just blurted out... "I just ask you to help someone else in need when you see it in front of you.. please do not worry". It was only $9 I had given him that allowed him to get out of our stinkin' money-grabbin' work car park! Haha.. so people, start payin' it forward.. I don't mean in monetary terms I mean, just helping others.. no matter how small.

This weekend went too fast, for my liking anyway. Saturday Nick gave me a lesson on the acoustic guitar. He was pleased with my progress.. meh!
Tom went to stay at his mate's place, he is like their third son! The girls went and played at the park and made new friends. It always seems to be the way when they walk Bondi, they meet other people with animals. The people they befriended have a greyhound dog. Bondi loved playing with him.
Andrew dug out some of the veggies, processed the beetroot... yummo. Very nice with a salad.. and in sandwiches too. The tomatoes are all ready to be transferred into the ground from the pots they are currently in.
The Sun was shining and beautiful. The grass has grown mental.. and needs yet another mow. I am considering getting in a goat or something!
I made a banana cake, as I do at least once a week, if not twice a week. I do not like to throw out bananas, so I use them in cakes.. which get gobbled up as soon as they are out of the oven. I put some cinnamon in them this time, the kids love them. Sarah made a chocolate cake, that got eaten while it was still warm.
The girls organised their room, after much coaxing. I was not going to do it for them, they are in dependant and I wanted them to learn to do it themselves. So, they did, and they did a very good job of it too.
Question.... who gets static from their vacuum cleaner? Well, I do and it almost kills me. Any clues as to what to do? I wear different types of shoes, then I wear no shoes... and nothing seems to make a difference. Anyway... my hair stands on end making me look like Phyllis Diller on a good day! Haha

Oh I am going to plug a good friend of mine business. Anyone wanting to buy organic products for hair and body and to get in before Christmas can do so by browsing LIP GUNK. (TM) All deliveries over $20 are free Australia wide. Also, at least you know exactly what is in each product. Contact Cherie :)

Back to usual Melbourne weather now. Hot and Sunny one minute, raining the next. I will not sook out about the rain ever again though, given that we just got through a drought and all. Still, couldn't it just rain when we are in bed? Sunny in the day? That'd be more accommodating haha.
So we had snow last week and this week we had 3o degree celcius days.. yep, Melbourne alright!
Nick has learned some new songs on the acoustic and he is going to play a few of them at a concert next month. Very exciting.
Mia has been collecting caterpillars and making a mansion for them out of boxes and all things recyclable. In the lounge room of course!
The veggie gardens have gone nuts with this weather. The back lawn had to be mowed twice in one week as well. Mia and Nick took some veggies in to school. The teachers are happy to see that the kids are learning about gardening from their Dad.
One thing is for sure, as usual this time of the year, leading up to the warmer months, I so need to get back on my push bike! Oh boy!

Why... (swear words in this post)

Why the Hell bother? I drop number one son off at school, my other three rode to school today... I go to the shop, buy a couple of things... walk out to my car.. and a kid no older than 14yrs rides up to the shop on an off road motor bike. No helmet, board shorts, a singlet (mind you we have had snow here the past few days) and a white cap. "Where is your helmet?" I ask him. "Don't need one". "Where is your protective gear?" "Don't need it". "I just finished working nights on a trauma unit looking after kids your age who are wearing nappies, have a tracheostomy to breath through, a tube into their stomach for nutrition and are basicaly brain dead.. all because of making bad choices. "I don't give a fuck" is what he said.. and he rode off. I called the cops... not much they can do unless the catch him. He came back near the shop, riding on the road.. victory.. they got him.
All I hope is that I do not live to see the day my kids do shit like this... or, that any of us have the mis fortune to run into someone while we are driving our registered, licensed vehicles on the road. I don't think I could handle the pain. As I said to the police officer on the phone, "I do not want to see another family go through what I see at work". He agreed... but, I am sure to experience it again. You cannot help dumb!
And, in NEWS today.. another ridiculous thing... THIS. You better believe it.

Our Veggies :)

This was our day at the beach as a family.

Today was a spectacular day! I wish every day were so! We went to Altona Beach. Just nice for my little family to frolic in the water and dig up little crabs and other sea critters. Mia was in her element. Next time we will take the kite. I will post pics when I wake up later on after my nmight shift. I am at work on my break right now. Better get back to it... I have patients to tend to :)

Today has been a great day weather wise. The Sun was glorious and so we spent the day outdoors and had a BBQ with some friends. The school holidays are almost at an end. The time has flown past. Term four begins this Monday. So that means my kids are almost at the next year level. Unreal!
Sarah has been making chocolate cake, she has almost perfected it. Purple frosting and all :)
Nick and I went to the Tim Burton Exhibition yesterday and we loved it. So much to see there. He certainly did a lot more work than I had thought. Nick and I seemed to be the only ones laughing at some of the poetry he wrote, along with his sketches that depicted those poems.. well, they were awesome, and funny.. maybe we were the only ones that "got it"? Which brings me to another thought, if I framed all of my sketches then perhaps I could have a gallery set up too one day.. hmmm.....
I was so glad I had booked on line to go to the exhibition. When we got there the line was out the door and half way down Federation Square! We just walked up, collected our tickets and walked on through.. so simple, no lining up at all. We do the same thing at Scienceworks too. Being a member we get straight in while everyone else lines up.

I am so pleased that I have booked in for Nick and I to go see the Tim Burton Exhibition this week. Of course, it finished on October 1oth and Nick has been asking to go see it. It will be a fun outing for us both as we are both interested in his kind of works.
These school days off are going too fast for my liking. I love the kids being home.. well, not that they are all home all of the time. They come and go and have so many friends! Tonight when I left for work there were six kids staying at our place, as opposed to only two of our own sproutlings being home with just the night before. See, the numbers fluctuate as quickly as Melbourne weather patterns!
Right now we could not be any happier with our lot in life. Sure, we work hard, hubby and I, but we see that our kids are healthy and happy, we are healthy and happy! Our veggie gardens are flourishing so much and we show them off to anyone who ventures into our street. Watch out door salesmen, lol, we may give you a run for your money!
Does anyone have a device to slow time down? I want the days off of school to go slower right now.

15th Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow is our 15th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that time has gone by so fast. Our love has been shared with four children. It was difficult to fathom just how we would be able to cope with having our second baby after having had Tomas. How could we possibly love someone as much as we love Tom? How could we possibly share the love with another child and still love Tomas the same amount? When we had Nicholas we soon realized that we sure could share that love. Then Sarah was growing in my tummy and we wondered yet again... how on Earth could we love a third baby and have room to love everyone else? Well, we sure could do that. Then, once again, we were pregnant with Mia... wow, a fourth baby, a bigger house, a bigger car.. all those things. I swear, if we lived in a shanty house and had no car we would still love all of our kids as much as we do now.... infinity!
Sharing the love, watching the kids grow, watching ourSELVES grow... that is what being a person is all about. Sharing through the hardest of times, loving immensely during the best of times... that is what we are all about.
These school holidays have been the best so far. The kids have no end of friends who come around and share time in our house. No fights, no bad words, just fun.
We love going camping and being outdoors as a family too. What better way to continue the journey of learning, what better way to teach the kids how to look after nature, as it reciprocates and looks after us.. most of all, to respect it. It is awesome!
To my husband, I love you with all my heart. Nothing can change that fact. Sharing more than 20years of our life together, I do not want it to end. Nor should it. Our journey has been amazing so far. We have so much to give, and so, we just do :)

Sarah our very own masterchef junior...

Today Sarah made this chocolate cake from scratch. She topped it with her own recipe of chocolate frosting.. and sprinkled it with baby dinosaur shaped bits of candy. There were about eight kids in the house and it was demolished.. front end loaders! Haha!