Yesterday it was 7 years since I lost my darling Dad - so I thought I'd share one of my most favourite photos of him, this was taken at H's 21st some years ago......most years I've marked the day by indulging in a cream bun....Dad enjoyed many a cream bun and when Rob was little and Dad looked after him so I could work their standard lunch was a pie and cream bun. I've been a bit off colour the past couple of days - have a bit of a cough and hence havn't been sleeping too well so yesterday I missed the cream bun as I didn't venture out of the house (or my pj's)
We took Caiti to see Mamma Mia today........having seen the stage show I wondered how it would be as a movie.........BRILLIANT......I can't wait to go again.....Caitlin went with Leeanne on Thursday and yesterday after spotting an ad for the movie informed me she would like to see it again (and she's not 5 yet!) so Grandpa & Grandma obliged. Nerang cinemas only charge $4.50 for pensioners and children so its really a cheap outing - Bill was horrified it cost a $1 more ($5.50) for Caiti's slushie! Remember back a few years how uncool it was to be an ABBA fan!!! now even 5 year olds love the music.
Looking forward to a visit from Jan & Allan tomorrow.....apart from the fact I need to grocery shop and they will be here before the supermarket opens.......I guess its not that drastic, I do have milk, tea, coffee and some biscuits.........anyway its always nice to go sip a latte down by the water/beach.
Only 4 more sleeps.........
Till next time..........go Doggies............Woof

Home Made Soup

With the dismal drizzly weather of the past few days, yesterday seemed the perfect time to try out our new slow cooker (obtained with our Credit card points) - I do miss the old Coonara heater for slow cooking in winter. Made lamb shank broth (Farmer Dave's organic lamb shanks), yummy if I do say so myself........my dear friend Robyn called in for coffee and ended up having some for lunch too. Robyn's a brilliant cook so when she said it was delicious I felt very chuffed (grin). Have put some into the freezer for Bill while I'm away next week if he remembers to eat!
Re-found a great site recently, I'd forgotten about http://www.tropicalglen.com/Jukebox
I'm currently listening to the hits of 1967 (what a great year - the year I became a Mum) - its like having my own jukebox, very nostalgic!!
Yesterday was also the annual clean out the filing cabinet and sort out any papers that might be needed for the accountant at tax time........which also means theres another lot we can destroy from years past, once upon a time I would have tossed the box out without thought, but these days I worry about identity theft so I spent a lot of time shredding - and reading, interesting to see the cost of things just 5 years ago!
Thankfully the Doggies play early Sunday afternoon so I won't be in trouble missing family dinner to watch football............
Till next time............Go Dogs, woof

Where does time go?

I thought when I wasn't working I'd have so much time to do the things I love....wrong again honey (as Courtney used to say) I can't believe its been almost a month since I last posted a Blog. Well the Bulldogs were on top of the ladder for a week...it was a split round...looking forward to some great games in the next few weeks especially the one at the Gabba in August when we will be there in full voice - well at least I will be. Friday I finally managed to get myself organised to go to the Carrara Farmers Markets with Leeanne to buy some Farmer Daves organic lamb - once you have tasted his sausages you would not buy any others. This week we had honey and mint - delicious. Check out his website www.farmerdave.com.au Another van 'Butcher Boy' sells organic beef - Leeanne and I went halves in a pack of Angus steak @ $10. Treated myself to a large bunch of carnations - Caiti chose them, a lovely hot pink shade - for $5. I love having fresh flowers in the house. Bill had a couple of days in bed with the flu (and he'd had his flu shot) - I felt like I might be coming down with it however I believe my immune system has really been boosted by the supplements I take each day and so far I'm still healthy (contact me and I'll happily let you know what they are). My cheeky possum Jack turned 11 on Wednesday, Brent is 9 today and tomorrow Robert will be 2 years off the big 40! Yesterday I spent a lovely couple of hours having coffee and catching up with David whom I hadn't seen for almost 20 years......and prior to that it would have been another 20 years.....yet it didn't really feel like it had been so long - I guess because we share some very precious memories we have a special friendship......and always will, I hope. Nearly bought a business last week, a Scrapbooking shop however before we could get an appointment with the bank someone else made her 'an offer she couldn't refuse'. In hindsight it was probably a blessing who really wants to work 7 days a week at our age??
Winter has set in - its been out with the slippers and on with the heater a couple of days recently......anyone who'd consider going south or camping at this time of year must be mad!
Spent some time making baby (my friend Patsi has finally become a Grandma) and birthday cards this week.....and have managed to scrap a few pages, but once again typical of me I digress from one album to another - I am up to 1976 in MY album - only 32 years till I'm up to the present!! I completely lose track of time engrossed in the memories my photo stash evokes - how cute my kids were, remembering the good and sometimes not so good times.
Till next time............woof - Go Dogs

Grandmas Little Helper

For the past few months I've been washing and sorting toys donated for the St Kevins School Fair in August with the help of some of the grandchildren too.........Dylan helped when he was up on holidays and today Caiti came round to lend a hand. We had such fun, after she had eaten 4 slices of 'sprinkle' toast cut into heart shapes it was into action, cleaning cracks and crevices with cotton buds then rolling up the sleeves and hands in sink washing toys, after a short break where we went outside in the sun with a bottle of bubble mix, she was back inside wiping down the kitchen cupboard fronts!.........child labour eh?
Thursday evening the Grade 4's at St Kevins had their Claymation Awards - loosley based on the Academy Awards...........with the kids dressing up accordingly, each class was divided into small groups and each one had to make a short animated film piece on a natural disaster using clay, plasticine and leggo for which various awards were given (every child received one). Each class also provided an item of entertainment .......Brents class was music and dance. Benowa KFC does a roaring trade after these school functions!!
Another great game by the Doggies this week........must say Dylan is a great sport and took Grandmas phone call in the spirit it was intended..........

Short Lived!

The Tugun by-pass finally opened to traffic on Tuesday afternoon due to the horrible weather we had over the weekend and Monday. Didn't take the boys in blue long to be out there with the radar guns.......just hope Leeanne was right and my speedo is 10k out or I might be the first person to get a ticket on the new by-pass.
Yesterday after lunch we received the news that due to the low number of calls Canberra had decided to finish up all Temps from close of business - except for those in WA, which makes sense due to the time difference.....we weren't totally suprised as we were each only averaging about one call every half hour, it was disapointing in that we were all just really just begining to feel full confidence in what we were doing........as they say 'everything happens for a reason'.
Will once again be able to throw myself into my home business........
Maybe my luck will hold and I'll win a reasonable share of tonights Powerball - just a million would do...........I'd love to see it shared and not just one big winner.
Till next time...............Go Doggies................woof........oh and thats Jack in a Bulldogs cap!!!!

Its been a while!!

So much has been happening since I last logged on. Heather, Dylan & Jack arrived for a holiday on the 8th. We did so much in the 8 days they were here - took the train to Brisbane and met up with my niece Jen for morning tea. Mothers Day I was completely spoilt with Dylan making me breakfast in bed which consisted of scrambled eggs and bacon........delicious, then we went to Rosser Park with Leeanne, Brent & Caitlin and had a KFC picinic, just us 'girls' and the 'kids', unfortunatley we had a flat tyre on Leeannes car however some extremely nice gentlemen fixed it for us, then we all had family dinner at Leeannes. Monday was a rest day followed by Tepanyaki for dinner, this was probably one of the highlights of the holiday, the boys just loved the food and the showmanship of the Chef. Tuesday we had breakfast at Sharks before we went to Movie World, where Jack saw a different side of Grandma (he saw what happens when you are really naughty and get on her wrong side!). Wednesday we went to Q1, followed by Infinity - wow what an experience, I'm still not sure if I was laughing or crying but I do know I was rather scared several times BUT I'd go back and do it all again, after a double Baskin & Robbins icecream to settle us down! we then went to Timezone. Thursday we spent at Harbour Town before picking Caiti up from kinder and taking her to Sharks for afternoon tea, as she had missed out on Tuesday when Brent spent the day with us. Friday it was time to say goodbye.
I have since started working full-time on an eight week contract for DFP Recruitment at Centrelink Tweed Heads - yes I go interstate to work. There are 8 Temps in our group and they are great to work with, as are the permanent staff sitting around us. Don't know that I would be able to continue on permanently there as I keep falling asleep at 7.30 each night. Takes between 3/4 hour to an hour depending on traffic, however the Tugun By-pass is due to open on Monday which should cut about 10 mins off the trip.
Was a little dissapointed when my beloved Bulldogs lost last week - however I thought the loss might give them the inspiration they needed to beat the Hawks today. I received a text message on Sunday evening from my son 'they choked' so I have been praying all week that the Bulldogs would come out and defeat his Hawks and they sure did, however my glee at being able to gloat was thwarted as neither he nor Heather & Jack answered their phones when I rang.
Last night St Kevins school had their annual Trivia night which Leeanne organised - this year the theme was colours and yes our team was you guessed it PINK, we didn't win but only finished 4 points behind the winners - must confess though that Grandma was a big winner I won the lucky door prize of a digital camera and 3rd prize in the raffle of a wine cooler, wine and shortbread, it seems the Lotto numbers are avoiding me though.
Till next time..............Bulldogs for Premiers............woof

Winning Weekend

Last time we flew to Sydney and drove out to Wellington we got lost leaving the airport, so this time we took 'B.....ing Betty' our Navman to guide us.....she guided us up back streets and lanes so we missed the traffic lights and traffic. Once we get on Parramatta Road we know our way, however I decided to leave Betty on to remind Bill every time he went over the speed limit! To cut the story short......get to Bathurst and Betty guides us past our normal turn, we thought great she knows a short cut back to the Highway.........after 46km of bitumen road, it became gravel, the gravel became a pioneer track, thru the disused gold mines of Ophir......finally there was a sign to Mullion Creek which I knew was on the 'locals short cut from Wellington to Orange' and we detoured from Bettys instructions and let me tell you Betty got quite upset!! Went straight to visit Mum at Maranatha - unfortunately there was not a glimmer of recognition and it even took a lot of effort to get her to remember the names of her three children, Saturday morning she was a little brighter. Dementia is a terrible illness, so much harder on the family than the patient - I will be eternally grateful for the wonderful care of the staff at Maranatha. Saturday we drove back to Sydney. Took the light rail to the Casino - we love the buffet meal there.
Sunday after wandering around we had a late breakfast then walked to the SCG to the football, quite a steep walk but good for the heart and soul!! I'd purchased our tickets thru the Western Bulldogs so we were seated with the cheer squad and supporters - what a fabulous atmosphere and I wore my jacket and scarf with pride - I'm still a little hoarse today from chanting and singing - we caught up with some friends from the Gold Coast and we went back to the after match meet the players function at Paddo RSL - they had a raffle, the winner of which had the choice of either a Bulldog jumper or football autographed by all the players. Rocket Rodney Eade drew out the tickets and the first winner chose the jumper, the next two tickets drawn the people weren't there so couldn't win, on the third redraw you guessed it YES it was me.....I'd had two champagnes so I was pretty happy, I got a kiss from Rodney and was able to say hello and congratulations to two of my favourite players Brad Johnson & Robert Murphy.......the football is now sitting pride of place on top of the wall unit in the lounge out of the way of little fingers.......I could be in possession of a football signed by the 2008 premiers. Yesterday we went to the Queen Victoria Building - had another late breakfast, watched the clock do its thing at 11am, then took the train to Circular Quay. While waiting for the Ferry to Watsons Bay we saw a couple of Bulldog supporters and got talking and ended up sitting with them while we ate our seafood basket from Doyles..........can understand why everyone in Sydney raves about Doyles. Arrived home around 9pm - wanted to fall into bed straight away as I've come back with a head cold - however our waterbed had sprung another leak while we were away, so it was into the spare bed. Today we had Mr Waterbed come and fit a new bladder!
Only two more sleeps and my 'little men' arrive.....yes H I'm looking forward to seeing you too!!!