The end to another year...

Can you believe that 2008 is just a few days away from being over?! How can this possibly be? I remember when I was young, always hearing the 'older' generation always talking about how quickly time passes and remember rolling my eyes in a mocking kind of way thinking, 'how ridiculous'! I guess I have reached that same category as part of the 'older' ones as time literally does just slip away far too quickly, each day, each week, each year. I can't believe it has been two years since we moved up here also! I had a brief vacant moment in the kitchen earlier on thinking that it could only have been one year for sure. I had to think really hard to work out that it is actually two!...anyway, sorry, just went into one a bit there...let me just adjust my crochet blanket over my knees, have a cup of tea and then I shall continue...

Anyway...I really hope that anyone reading this has had a wonderful Xmas. We had a lovely little one, just the four of us. The children woke us up very early Xmas morning and Ian and I were knackered as we had a late night Xmas Eve. We stayed up cooking and preparing! Everything from the turkey, a chocolate yule log, some rocky road, potato salad and the trifle. I had it in my head this year that I would do it all, I wouldn't do the 'easy' thing and get a ready made log etc...I saw the rocky road recipe and just 'had' to make it...it ended up costing me about 5 times the amount as if I'd just bought one...and I'm not even a huge fan of rocky road...Ian still shakes his head about it. Once I get an idea though in this maze inside my head, I have to do it to satisfy my curiosity and my desire to create. Well it all turned out O.K. The log was very time consuming and I'm sure I turned a few hairs greyer after getting the 'roll' right and dealing with chocolate ganache that was melting in the Queensland humidity and wouldn't spread properly...Ian certainly knows the right things to say though when the following day I was feeling a bit kind of 'down' about it not being perfect, and he told me that it was more than perfect because it was made with my love and goodwill and enthusiasm. How beautiful! Just what I needed to hear. Yaz was the 'gift person' this year and handed out all the pressies from under the tree. I remember when they were younger, we had huge mountain fulls under the tree, now the presents seem to be getting smaller...still costing as much, if not more, but it definitely decreased in floor space this year. Yaz got the phone she has so desperately desired for so long, plus some clothes, jewellery, a straightener, wii games etc...Bailey got a wii fit, games, a microscope, clothes, book etc...and as a joint gift they got a wii 'rock band', which I think our neighbours have now realised we have it! Yaz is the drummer, Bailey the guitarist and Ian or I on the vocals. I haven't even had the chance to try the drums ot the guitar yet...mind you I have been pre-occupied with my new singstar game and my Dawn French book...plus other treats. Ian also got a wii game...like the big kid he is...plus a blue tooth for work, cd, dvd's etc...so we were all utterly spoilt....again! As usual we ate WAY too much on the day. Why do we do it? Although I must admit, since Xmas, tonight was the first night that I had to cook as we've been spoilt with all of the left overs! The day itself was fun and relaxing and went very quickly. I spoke to my family twice during the day...I do miss them!...and we finally got hold of Ian's parents in the evening as their Xmas was just beginning. Next year we dearly hope to be over there with them celebrating Xmas. It's been way too long and we miss you all sooo much!

Boxing day we all got up a bit late and then gathered some food together and headed to Nicky and Seans for the day. Again we ate heaps, had a drink or two and played singstar and went for a walk. We didn't get home until around 9.30pm and we were just so full and so tired from two days of non-stop eating rich and junky food, too irrisistable to turn down!

I feel like I've piled it on over this past week so back to the healthy lifestyle I was into before-hand and back to the gym again. Xmas always seems to take it's toll in this way with me, but oh does it feel so good getting here!

So as of tomorrow I head back to work until New Years Eve and do it all again, this time without as much junky food but more alcohol and a few days off work. We are heading to Charmayne and Mike's for New Years Eve so there's no doubt that there will be lots of drinking, singing and dancing. Bring it on!!! I keep saying to Ian that 2009 is going to be our year...I pray that my prediction will be spot-on! In fact I hope that 2009 is everyones year. There seems to be a lot of people that have had a terrible year this year for one reason or

another so I wish everyone only the very best for a happy, healthy and prosperous year and may everyones dreams come true! xxx

Xmas love to you all xxxx

I have yet again left out a week of updating this blog. Life has just been very hectic all round. We have had my brother and nephew up for just over a week. Unfortunately I still had to work so I wasn't around as much as what I had hoped but we still had a great catch-up, especially Yaz, Bailey and Julian. They all got along so great. We took them up to Bribie Island on the weekend and it was so beautiful up there. Shane and Julian loved it too. Unfortunately the airconditioner in my car has gone and we were stuck in stand-still traffic in the hottest part of the day on our way up and it was sooooo boiling hot! We just literally dumped our stuff on the sand and ran into the water. Shane borrowed the car when I had to work so he took Yaz and Bailey down to the lagoon a couple of times and out to lunch one day. Yazmin and Julian also had a day out on their own and went into the city on the train to do some Xmas shopping. On the Friday night Shane and i made some cocktails and enjoyed drinking those, sitting out the back feeling very relaxed indeed.

Just after I had come home from dropping Shane and Julian off at the airport, I got a phone call from Mum with some very sad news. My cousin in England, Robert, had died in his sleep. He was only 38 and had everything going for him in life. Obviously everybody is just devastated and I just can't get my head around it. He now leaves behind his son and soon-to-be fiancee, plus his parents, brother and 2 sisters. It's never a good time for something like this to happen but it's the week before Xmas and his birthday is 31st December too, the day he was going to propose to his girlfriend. It's all just so sad. Xmas will be very different from now on for all of them now. Our love and thoughts go out to my family and Roberts close friends etc...

We are now pretty much prepared for Xmas, just the food shopping to go. It will be a very quiet one this year and hopefully we will get to chat to all of our family either on the day or Xmas night. Xmas is the day that really hits home just how much you miss the people that you love. I coouldn't get Yaz into having a photo with Santa but little Bailey was more than happy to and had a good old chat with the man himself too, letting him know all that he wants for Xmas. He was a very cool Santa too, making him laugh and hi-fiving him etc...

Last night we had a wonderful night around at Mike and Charmaynes, where we had some lovely Indian and a few drinks. Mike's Dad is over from New Z ealand at the moment and he was such a laugh and loved getting up for a bit of a dance, so he kind of started us all off really and by the end of the night, Ian was doing a very convincing Tom Jones impersonation which left us nearly peeing ourselves in hysterics! If only I had a video camera handy! Speaking of cameras, our digital is packing it in for whatever reason and all of the photos I am taking are turning out blurry so I haven't been able to take many lately at all.

Anyway, I guess my head's not really with it at the moment as I have a total blank and have nothing else to say except that we wish all of you a very Merry Xmas. Please keep safe and tell everyone that you share your life with just how much you love them. That's the greatest gift of all...and it's free!

The End!

This week has seen the end to my college at long last. After two and a half years of studying, I am finally free. I had my last two exams this week which was a nightmare having both on but I managed to get through them and now never have to go to college ever again. My time now belongs to my family who have been neglected for such a long time due to me always with my head in the books and never quite 'there' mentally. They have also inspired me and encouraged me when I didn't think I would do well enough etc...so I thank them dearly for helping me achieve my dream! I must admit I never thought I would ever have my own business, let alone help people by working in the health care industry. We went out for a lovely meal last night to celebrate too as I have decided not to go to my graduation in a couple of weeks for a few reasons.

This week Bailey had a 'learning celebration' on at school where the Yr 3 students performed a few poems, songs and then some line dancing. We got to have a look at their work they have done in the last term also so it was great to see how Bailey has been doing. They were all very cute!

I took Yaz and Bailey into the city on Saturday to meet our favourite radio celebrities-Hamish and Andy. They have just brought out a cd for xmas, which we bought before hand for them to sign which Ian will be getting for xmas. We lined up for about 2 hours before we ended up meeting them and it was such a scorcher of a day. We were standing in the full on sun for that length of time in the hottest part of the day so felt very drained and hot afterwards. We did have suncream on but we still got a little burnt. Anyway, it was worth it as we got such a buzz out of meeting them and they personalised Ians cd too. The four of us just love these guys.

Today Bailey and I went to Moreton Island for my work's end of year party. We had such a great day, although have come home quite burnt even though we applied suncream at least 6 times during the whole day. The Queensland sun is just soooo strong and maybe we need to get a better suncream? It's a 30+ but obviously not the right one for our skin types! We just hung out at the island all day playing in the beach and going to the resort pools etc...It was the perfect day too. A long day but a fantastic day. Ian and Yaz could've come also but it was very hard to convince Yaz as she likes to go places where she knows people and there were no girls there her age anyway. If Yaz wasn't going then Ian wasn't so it was just the boy and I. We just love it over there. I am so thankful that we moved up here as we have all of this at our doorstep and it is just paradise!

So that's about it really. The week ended perfectly, my college has ended and we celebrated the end of the working year too. Hard to believe really! Now I can concentrate on doing some Xmas shopping, getting back into the gym...especially since all the good food is just around the corner!, and Shane and Julian are arriving this Wednesday for just over a week and we can't wait. My house will certainly be very full, but full of fun and happiness, the perfect thing just before Xmas!

Short and Sweet

This weeks entry is going to be done in a bit of a hurry as I have two exams this week that I am still studying for and seem to be getting nowhere with. I think my enthusiasm left a long time ago. Still at the end of this week it is all over and I will be free from any outside distractions and you will be free from hearing about my stressing over exams!
Not a lot has happened this week. Yaz got some very pleasing results back from some end of term exams with a couple of A's and a B or two. This Immersion class has been a great experience for her and she is obviously doing very well. I watch her sometimes doing her homework and I can't believe how quickly she is learning it all. We are very proud of her efforts and achievements this year. We are in the middle of trying to organise her to get back into swimming again, competing etc...
Bailey is still plodding along with his gym classes, ten pin bowling and cricket. He had his last game of cricket for the season on Saturday and was a bit off and lacked enthusiasm. You can always tell when it's the end of the year as everyone just gets so tired and uninterested in everything...Until you mention Christmas and then a new excitement comes shining through!
We are looking forward to spending Christmas at home again this year, letting the kiddies enjoy their day with their new presents. Of course it would be nice to spend it with some family but it's not to be this year...
We are trying to also organise going to N.S.W. in January for Mum's 70th. We will probably go down for a week at the most due to work commitments unfortunately! Maybe we'll bring her back with us?
Julian arrives in Sydney tonight so Shane is very excited to be spending some time with his son after a year. They both arrive here in the middle of next week for 10 days so we're all really looking forward to that. Unfortunately Ian and I will have to work the majority of the time but will have the weekends free and the kids will be on holidays to spend time with them.
Shane is also moving into a new place over the coming week so he is going to be very busy.
Ian seems to be getting some more back complaints at the moment which isn't good, hopefully it won't get as bad as it did before where he needed physio. I have given him a massage but if it's the degeneration of a disc problem, there's not a lot I can do. He also received a copy of the English paper, 'The Bath Chronicle' where there was an old photo of him and his old football team in it from 1989 when they won the league. They had a reunion and unfortunately Ian wasn't able to attend being sooooo far away.
After my final exam on Friday we will be putting the Christmas tree up again, it just doesn't seem like a year since it was up! I do always enjoy putting it up though. We put the Christmas cd's on and sing a long...well I do anyway...The kids are excited as the 'Advent' calendars start tomorrow...chocolate for breakfast!
Next Sunday Bailey and I are going across to Moreton Island for my work's Christmas Party. Yaz wasn't that keen on coming so her and Ian will do something else. I'm not exactly sure what we'll be doing on the island, but even if it's just hanging out and watching dolphin feeding and being at the beach is a good enough day for us, plus the boat ride there and back! I'll take my camera to capture our day.
I am now being beckoned off the computer as the family are wanting some fruit and cream and of course need me to do it all! To end off this entry and the title of 'short and sweet', Bailey finally gave in and had his mop hair cut off to a short and sweet style. Very cute and alot cooler for him too.

Affected by the Weather!

I bet you're all thinking that this weeks entry is going to be rivoting with the 'weather' being in the title?! NOT! It's just that alot of what has happened this week has been determined by what the weather has thrown at us. It is 'storm season' here in Queensland and let's just say it has lived up to it's reputation! We have had such wild devastating storms come through over a few days which has caused millions of dollars worth of damage all around. Luckily the area where we are only really copped some extreme rain and wind with some homes losing electricity. Other areas very close by had roofs torn off their houses, trees being up-rooted and blown metres from where they once were and flooding also just to name a few! It all started last Sunday afternoon where Ian, Bailey and I were down at the lagoon. The sky was coming over really black and the wind was picking up and there was an announcement over the speakers saying that a bad storm was just about to hit. We left straight away and not long after we were home it hit. It wasn't until the following day that I saw just how devastating it had been on the news and in the paper. There were mini tornadoes sweeping through some areas and leaving nothing but rubble in it's path afterwards. It hit again on the Tuesday and again on Thursday! There were messages on the radio to ask people to stay off the roads so that the emergency vehicles could get to the areas a.s.a.p. and with Ian driving around all different areas every day he saw some very scary sights and had to put up with lights out here and there and the congested traffic. It made his week difficult to get around. It affected me with lots of cancellations as people either didn't want to venture out or were waiting for things to get fixed, caught in manic traffic or had no electricity! At the beginning of the week I only had 1 or 2 spare appointments all week, practically fully booked... but by the end I couldn't believe how many I missed out on doing! On the Thursday night I was in the middle of a massage and the rain was deafening outside and the lights were flashing on and off and made it a really eerie experience for the client and me! Being a sufferer of headaches too, I had a non-stop headache all week because of the unsettled energy in the air and so did the majority of my clients too. I think some people thought I was slightly strange when I said that maybe their headaches were weather related but I know for me they can be!

I got a message from my brother Shane last night who is in the Blue Mountains and he said it was snowing and like winter!!!!! In November!!!! It's just very bizarre. Strange things are happening!...

Anyway enough about weather...sorry!...



We spent today at the beach up at the Sunshine Coast today. It was beautiful and warm but ever so windy! We were getting whipped by the sand flying around furiously and things were getting blown everywhere. Our blow up boat took off in the wind and Ian had to do his best ironman beach run to capture it before it went out into the ocean! Quite hilarious actually with a few people along the way trying to stop it too! We stayed for a few hours as the water was beautiful and we were having fun. We went up with Nicky, Sean and Victoria and met the Hankins family up there with some of their extended family. We also spent last night with Nicky, Sean and Victoria coming over for dinner and drinks as it was Nicky's birthday during the week so I made her a Coq-au-vin and her favourite dessert-tiramisu. We sat around listening to music from our past and reminiscing about what the songs meant to us and having a laugh along the way also. Bailey had little Alfie over for a sleep over also and they didn't end up getting in to bed until quite late...up early this morning though and then they both snoozed this afternoon coming home from the beach today.



I can't really remember what else happened this week, just work, study...normal stuff. The focus was on the weather and the fierce storms with everyone on edge and not knowing what to expect. Here's hoping for a non-eventful calm week!

To friends reunited and precious memories!

Monday morning Yaz was all packed and ready for her school camping trip to the Sunshine Coast. I dropped her off and probably embarrased her immensely as I hugged her goodbye in front of her entire year but there was no way she was escaping without one and she knew that too! Whilst doing that in the morning, Bailey who was with me also waiting to go to school came down feeling very unwell again after his bout of tonsilitis that he was getting over, so I had to take him home where he spent the day with me and at my work as I had clients that were too late to cancel. He just needed that extra day off I think as he had been ill since the beginning of the previous week. All is fine with him now, he has finished his antibiotics and is back to his normal, jolly, non-stop chattery self!

The week at home was terribly quiet. No phones went and there were no arguments over whose trun it was on the computer etc...so in some ways blissfull but we all missed Yaz heaps. I got out some old photo albums that were still packed up from our interstate move and was looking back on when Yaz was little and when Bailey came along and how close and cuddly they used to be and I found myself getting rather teary, in a happy, reminiscing way. Photos are just irreplacable aren't they?! We have all had a good look at them now and a giggle here and there. Some of you may have seen a few I have put on facebook...oh there are SO many more. It is too time consuming scanning them, downloading them and fighting with internet coverage to do too many anyway. Just a glimpse back to the past is good enough for facebook. After putting up some old school photos, I have now found out from another old friend that one of our best school friends has recently died, quite tragically too, leaving behind four young children. I couldn't believe it! I guess because of the move up here and losing touch with old friends, I wasn't associated with anyone that would have known about it. I phoned my Mum straight away and she hadn't heard either so it has come as a great sad shock to all of us.

I had a weekend away with two friends that I used to work with at the record store 15 years ago. Michelle, who became one of my closest friends and still is, (although distance divides us!), came down from Townsville, and Kylie came up from Sydney, both arriving at the same time at the airport on Friday. It was sooo good to see them. We stayed in an apartment in Brisbane down a trendy pub/restaurant street and had an absolute ball...accompanied by a few drinks too! The first night we strolled around, ate in a funky restaurant and then pub crawled it back to our apartment with many laughs along the way. Saturday we headed via the River Cat ferry into Brisbane where we had a big brekky and checked out Southbank markets and then went into the CBD. We ferried it back to the apartment, got a spot of lunch with a drink to wash it down of course, did face masks, giggled constantly, then headed out again for a pub dinner and more pub crawling, tasting a few cocktails along the way. I haven't laughed soooo much for such a long time. I had to keep reminding myself that I was 36 years old because I felt like I did when we used to do all of that stuff together 15 years ago. It wasn't until the end of each night as we were leaving the pubs that all of the gorgeous, young crowd were coming out for the night...that's where I felt my age...This morning I dropped them off at the airport and there is talk about it all happening again this time next year. I was very pleased to get home though as I really missed my family and thought about them all weekend, texting Ian after a few also!...This was the first real girls weekend that I have had. The only other one was when I was about 16 when a few of us went away camping but that's it so it was nice to do and long over due!

The only downfall about the whole weekend was that I wasn't there to pick Yaz up on Friday afternoon when she returned from her trip away so I didn't get to see her until today so I felt very guilty about that and obviously missed my little mate too. I spoke to her though as soon as she got back to ask her all about it. She had a good time although the food was terrible apparently. They got to do loads of different activities that were mainly beach involved so I think they would have had a great time.

Today we headed down to the lagoon for a cool down as it was so hot and steamy here. A storm has now since come through, hence the weather earlier and has cooled things down a bit thank goodness. Our second Summer season is upon us so it will be interesting to see of we've aclimatized or not...if today was anything to go by then I can honestly say that I haven't and will find the heat very draining. Fingers crossed though! I just feel so sorry for poor Ramses who tries to find somewhere cool to sleep during the day and because the nights are lovely, this is when he wants to go out but we don't let him out at night due to the wildlife factor so he can't win during Summer!

Anyway that was this week....saying goodbay to Yaz, (for a few days), my family, (for my weekend awway), and to a dear school friend. The photos of us I will cherish forever. xxx

Yes, I know...

I know I skipped last week's entry. Sorry. I was in battle with Yaz for the internet line on the Sunday evening when I normally write it. She was on the phone for 50 hours and our internet cuts out when someone's using the phone...very frustrating!!!...so she won and I said I'd do it the following day...which obviously it never happened. I had a full on day at work from 9-3pm, 4.15-5.15pm and then 6.30-9pm. In between all that I had to come home and cook dinner and pick the kids up from school and take Bailey to his gym class!

So now I have to try and remember what on Earth has happened over the last fortnight...and you all know that memory is not my strong point!...

I said my sad goodbyes to my brother Dale and his lovely wife Cass on the 1st Tuesday. It was so great having them up here. They are now hoping to come up around April time, yay!

Bailey went on a school excursion to a Ginger Factory which he thoroughly enjoyed. I knew one of the parents that went on the excursion too and she had never seen Bailey before and she said that as soon as she set eyes on this little boy who was always smiling, she could see that he was my son. She thinks he is the spitting image of me. I am still yet to see that.

We attended two Halloween parties over that 1st weekend. They were both lots of fun and it was a laugh dressing up and seeing everyone elses's costumes too. I must warn you, the
photos that you are about to see,(of Ian), may be disturbing...hilarious, but disturbing!

Doesn't ian look pretty!

You were warned! Somehow I can't see me ever wearing my white summer dress anymore! It's gone in the dressing up box already. The first party was on the actual Halloween night held at the Bapty residence. Among the gouls there we mingled with the Baptys, of course, and the Hankins plus many more. There were witches, dracs, grim reaper, zombies, mummies, skeletons, a black cat plus loads more. Everything that you would expect to see at a hallowwen party obviously! The second party which was half Halloween and half bad-taste,(hence Ian wearing a dress!), was at the O'Callaghan residence where Nicky and Sean went all out in decorating their house with graves, webs, skeletons...you name it! They had the spooky music playing also...and that was after the Halloween cd! Sean put on some tragic music, which made the party fun though and Ian and another guy were in a battle of a 'Name that tune and the Artist'! It was quite funny because they were both so competitive. We stayed there the night and were fed a lovely fry-up the following morning. Then Nicky, Victoria( her daughter and Yaz's great friend), Yaz and I headed down to DFO (discount shopping outlet), where we picked up clothes and bags etc...for the girls who are off tomorrow on a weeks camping trip with the school! They are going up to the Sunshine Coast and will be learning how to surf, do fencing etc...they are going to have a ball! So that's what I am doing today, helping Yaz, who I think may already be packed, make sure she has everything, tick it off the list and spend the day just hanging together. I also have to fit in study time and assignment time plus the rest of the household duties that are in order to be done. Ian is out playing golf as I type. It's been a while since he's played actually! We were all supposed to meet up with a group after and have lunch at the golf club but with everything I have on today I had to decline. Once college is finished...Dec 3rd...then I am free to do whatever, whenever! Can't wait! The graduation is on Dec 20th but I have decided not to go as it is such a rip off. Ian thinks I should go as we get to wear the gowns/hats etc... but I just can't justify what they're asking and it's right before xmas too so there'll be so much else that I'll be doing. Maybe I'll just have a small celebration with the family and some close friends...maybe?...

Bailey has been off ill for the last couple of days. I took him to the Dr. yesterday and he has a very bad case of tonsilitis! He has had a fever and feeling generally unwell but then yesterday as he was trying to eat his breakfast he said that his throat was too painful so I had a look in and 'oh my gosh' was it red and inflamed poor little thing! I phoned the Dr.s straight away and luckily got in. His tonsils are so big that his throat is nearly closed in and they are bright red covered in white spots. He is now on antibiotics which seem to be working very quickly! Poor little mite!

Yaz had a day off last week too with a fever, body aches and headaches but I think hers was due to the fact that she had a HepB and a cervical cancer immunisation the previous day and just had a slight side effect from it. She always has had side effects from immunisations, even as a baby, they had to change it for her as she always got ill then. She was fine by the afternoon though and has been fine since! She's been staying well clear from Bailey though not wanting to catch anything incase she's ill for this school trip!

Well I think I have covered everything that was of importance anyway?! ....hmmmm .....something else is coming to mind.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY L. for 6th November! (don't worry I didn't forget, was saving this 'till last!). Hope you got the cards and by what Tracy has told me you got utterly spoilt and had a great day! GOOD! You deserve it. Our love and thoughts were with you and ofcourse always are.xxxxx

A time to Celebrate!

What a wonderful week! It started with a celebration of sorts and ended with all of us still on a high. Monday the children were celebrating because it was a student free day. No school is always a feel-good day! Tuesday night we attended a Sports Awards Night for the school where Yaz picked up 3 awards for her efforts and achievements in every sport she's been in this year...swimming, cross country, athletics, soccer and touch football. This area of school is her forte for sure!

Wednesday I was cheering as the night class Iam doing at the moment has been SOOOOO boring but this week we got to dissect a heart! This was so fantastic! I had an absolute ball with the scalpel and got into every portion of the heart. Right up my alley...

Friday Dale and Cass arrived in the evening which we have all been waiting for for such a long time now. It has been so great seeing them. It is their anniversary this weekend so they decided not to stay with us but have an apartment in Redcliffe where they could have some 'alone' time...but we will see them everyday they are here, which is only until Tuesday anyway.

Saturday Bailey had cricket in the morning so I took him to that while Ian had a huge sleep in as he was knackered from his previous day at work with total driving time being around 14hours straight! Poor thing! Bailey's game ended up being called off as a flash down-pour came through but it was towards the end of the game anyway so we didn't miss out on much. After we got home, Dale and Cass came over for a while and then we took them down to Scarborough for the famous 'Morgans fish and chips'. It was yummy as usual but as we were sitting there in the open eating, a flash down-pour hit us again and we got soaked! It was quite hilarious actually and we quickly scoffed down our lunch and then made a dash for our cars in the terrential rain and wind. We then drove to their apartment where we dried out and even had the heater on as we were cold. After a cuppa and a long over-due chat, we left them to it and came home for a quiet night in with some hired dvd's.

Today we were up and ready with a picnic packed and headed up to Montville, the little village in the middle of nowhere that is just so quaint and gorgeous! Cass loved it! We wandered around the boutiques/shops for a couple of hours and then decided to head to our fave place...Mooloolabah! It was such a beautiful afternoon and we wandered around the shops...again...had coffee and sat by the waters edge. All this time I have been telling Dale and Cass that they would be very happy up here and how I think they should move. Cass seems a little bit easier to convince than Dale I think. We had a great day out. I took loads of photos for them as they forgot their camera. It is just so lovely to see them again. It just makes you realise how much family mean to you and just how much you miss out on when you're not with them. I wonder if I'll ever get over it?

Tomorrow I will take them to the shops as Cass is a shopaholic and if there is time I will give her a massage at work. They want to check that out also. Then I will make some thai for Dale as he loves that.

I feel on such a high at the moment having them here. I will cherish this weekend for such a long time and look forward to Shane, brother number two and his son Julian who are comiing up in December for 10 days...a time to celebrate again!

Nothing to write about...

I am sitting here looking through my diary wondering what happened this week for me to write about. Mind you I have been in the sun all day and am feeling a bit exhausted plus as Ian will tell you, my memory is very vague! So I ask Ian what has happened this week and he rattles off quite a few things so here they are!
Bailey has started swimming lessons with the school on Tuesdays with the first being this past week. He has also changed his outside school swimming lessons to Tuesday afternoons as they were originally on Saturdays but now that cricket has started up again it would have interfered with the lessons-I'm sure there was an easier way to explain that...oh well! Anyway, what I was getting at was that Bailey ended up having three lessons on the Tuesday as there was the one at school, a catch up one after school followed directly by his normal lesson. Where am I going with this I don't know...

Bailey had his 1st game of cricket yesterday. He was so excited and played quite well. He ended up getting three wickets and his name published in the Queensland Sunday newspaper which came out today. He looked great in his new gear...forgot to take the camera though! He then had a friend stay over the night last night so had a good day overall.
We also got the results back from an annual school test that Bailey had to sit a few months back and he has done extremely well, getting well above the National average in all areas so we were very pleased with that.

Ramses celebrated his 5th birthday on Friday by an early start...3.30am adventure outside, followed by his favourite food for breakfast, a day spent sleeping peacefully, recieved a new collar and a new snail toy in the afternoon, followed by a lovely meal.

Today the school held their annual 'College Carnival' which included rides, stalls, food etc...Yaz had to be there at 7.00am to start making pizzas to sell, then I took Bailey and his friend there for the opening at 10.00am. The first ride that Bailey went on made him feel quite ill, which isn't generally like Bailey as he is one of those kids who can go on rides all day long. He went on a few more after and then after one that went around and around for about 10 minutes non-stop, he got off and nearly collapsed in my arms. I took him somewhere shady and cool to sit down and he guzzled down a big bottle of water and felt just awful. He had to line up for the rides for up to 1/2 hour each in the full on sun which I think is what did it, so I phoned Ian, who had decided not to come up and he picked us up and Bailey then rested on the couch for a while watching wrestling. Not long after Yaz phoned me feeling queazy also so I had to go and pick her up too. She was supposed to be staying at a friends tonight but doesn't feel well enough. She is now asleep on the lounge. Yaz's problem is that she doesn't drink water and just had soft drink all day which I told her not too but children never listen to their parents! It's probably a good thing that they both have tomorrow off school as it is a pupil free day, so they will be all rested and back to their healthy selves again on Tuesday.

I went out to the local tavern on Friday night only for a couple of beverages with some friends. It wasn't a late one as I knew I had to get up bright and early for cricket but it was nice just to sit back and relax with a cider or two.

Only one more week to go before Dale and Cass arrive. We all can't wait. They are here for 3 nights, not staying with us but somewhere in Redcliffe, but we will be taking them to our favourite places over the weekend to persuade them to make the move up here. I will try and make Queensland as irrisistable as possible for them. If they move, then surely Mum and Shane will follow?! That's my plan anyway. Also this coming week Yaz will be awarded a sports award or two at the annual 'Sports awards night' on Tuesday. We are looking forward to this, so there should be a few photos on next weeks entry and in my facebook albums.

Rained Out

The end of this week brought us some well sought after rain. It was beautiful. The only down fall with it though was that it unfortunately rained off Bailey's first cricket match of the season which he was very excited about. He was up early Saturday morning and came in and woke us up, fully dressed in his whites, had his hat on and was all washed and ready to go. Then the phone call came from his coach telling us about it being cancelled and he was disappointed. Yaz on the other hand had a touch football tournament that went over three days, Thursday-Saturday which still went ahead despite the rain, so we had a very soggy Saturday! The tournament was held in Brisbane at a place called 'Whites Hill' and I had to take her there on Thursday and Ian had the duty for Friday. Saturday we all went, plus 1...Yaz's friend Sarah came along too after staying at ours the night before. It was such a wet day so the brolly was out and we ended up escaping to the local shopping centre in between matches. Unfortunately the team never made it through to the finals but they played well and improved each match.

During the week plans were made for myself and two friends whom I used to work with about 16 years ago in a record store, to have a weekend together. We used to have so much fun and went to all of our 'meet and greets' with each other. One was always the designated driver as she was a uni student at the time and the sensible one. Myself and Michelle were always out for fun and ended up becoming the best of friends. Kylie, the sensible one, stayed in Sydney and Michelle moved to Townsville. The last time we saw each other was at Michelles 30th a couple of years back. All of us now Mothers and leading serious lives...to a certain extent...Anyway, Kylie and I had been instant messaging each other on Facebook and we just happened to mention how good it would be to see each other again...next thing you know we had contacted Michelle and flights were booked and we are now having a weekend in Brisbane in November together. It has been so exciting organising it and hearing everyones eagerness to catch up. It should be a fantastic weekend of shopping, a few drinks here and there and no doubt hitting a karaoke bar or two. This will be the first 'girls' weekend I have ever had...well since I went camping with friends when I was 16. Unbelievable huh?!

During the week I have been finishing off an assignment, working and getting my webpage made up for work. Ian has been working, Yaz and Bailey have just had their usual school stuff and sport. Not much to write home about actually. Today was a typical Sunday, a lovely lye-in, Ian mowed the lawn and read the Sunday paper, I stayed in and did an assignment and some grocery shopping, the kids just mulled around bored, playing the wii, doing homework and going on the computer and then we finished the day with a lovely roast beef dinner and this weeks blog entry. It is now time to go as my new favourite show is just about to start, The Mentalist which I'll watch whilst tackling my huge ironing basket :( ... Have a great week xxxx

Birthday Bashes!!!

There have been quite a few birthdays to celebrate this week...Sarah, Hayley, Darren, Nigel and James! Happy birthday to you all! Unfortunately we couldn't celebrate, for obvious reasons, with James and Nigel, but as for the other three a good time was had by all! Sarah and Hayley were a day or two apart so a few of us got together for a b.b.q at Shorncliffe where the children, (not mine as they were still in N.S.W.), but the others just took off and made the most of the park and sea side. It was a really lovely day and such a beautiful spot, although the wind picked up towards the afternoon and I got bit chilly, but we ate our b.b.q and birthday cakes, which we couldn't light candles for because of the wind, but we had a lovely time.
Darren celebrated his 40th birthday with a surprise party in a local hall. It was quite hilarious seeing everyone dress up in their pop/rock themed outfits with some going all out as to wearing coloured contacts to perfect their outfit! Ian went as Sid Viscious, I went as Brittney Spears, Yaz went as Hayley from Paramore and Bailey didn't want to dress up so he was himself! Other 'famous' people that were there were Siouxsie, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Shakespeares Sisters, Boy George, Kiss etc...It was a laugh and we all had a bit to drink and I'm dreading seeing some of the photos.....It was so much fun dressing up though and now we have to organise our outfits for our next dress up event-Halloween at Sharons house!

The children came back from N.S.W. on Thursday evening and both Ian and I were at the airport eagerly awaiting their arrival. They were glad to be home but had a great time. I don't think Mum wanted to say goodbye to them which never makes me feel good. I am still trying so hard to convince her to move here!

Ian went back to work this week and is now feeling very knackered again from the early mornings and long days, although it won't take him long to get back into the swing of things. He is pretty much all healed up now from his operation too which is good. No food limitations anymore!

I went and did something on Wednesday after work which I regretted instantly but now am feeling pretty good about it...I got my nose pierced! A pretty random thing to do I know but it is something I guess I've always wanted. It's a bit big at the moment so I am really looking forward to being able to change it to a teeny tiny stone where you can hardly see it. If I don't like it at least it's reversible and I can take it out.

Today Ian went and took Bailey shopping for his cricket gear for the start of the new season next week, so he got his pads, bat, gloves trousers etc... It was also Grand Final day for the rugby league so we sat in this afternoon and watched Melbourne get smashed by Manly, with the exception fo Yaz who had no interest whatsoever! After the game I then went for a run as I'm trying to get fit. I'm running about 4km each time and can only just make it which is terrible so will have to stay motivated and stick at it so that I can maybe enter the Bridge to Brisbane run next year with Ian which is 10km...that's our goal anyway. Whether we'll achieve it or not who knows! xxxxx

Deafening silence!

The majority of this week has been so quiet at home that it's not an enjoyable silence as our children flew to N.S.W. on Wednesday. It was very hard letting them go without one of us with them and I was on edge until they eventually text me when they had landed and were safe, now in the hands of my Mother who has been waiting anxiously to have them all to herself. They were both very excited about going down so it was only me who shed some tears at the airport, although I was told that I wasn't allowed to by Yaz. She got totally embarrased when we insisted to take a photo of them just before they boarded the plane as you can see by the look on her face in the photo. They seem to be having a good time though and have had time to catch up with all of the family. They have been into the city and across to Manly, have been to the movies and out for lunches etc...My family are just in shock as to how much they have changed. I just wish they would all move up here so that we all shared our lives together, it makes me feel so sad sometimes. Like I always say...I don't know how Ian does it?! It's been such a long time since he's seen his family and we just really wish that we could be closer to them also. We know we have made this decision for us as a family and we are happy with the decision too, it just makes it hard not having any family around at all.

(Ian is reading this over my shoulder and taking the mick because I have mentioned the word 'family' a million times...well that's what it's all about!).















Ian is recovering really well and has moved on from sucking his food to actually eating properly. The last of his stitches has dissolved and everything has healed up really well. He has lost a bit of weight through it all also. He is just glad that it is all over and he says that it wasn't as bad as what he thought it was going to be.

We haven't done a lot during the week, just work for me. We took the children to the movies before they left and Ian and I went out last night with another couple for dinner and drinks since we don't get the chance to go out on our own often so we made the most of it. We had a good night...had a few drinks but were both fine today thank goodness! We went out and had lunch down by the water today and it was just so lovely. Everyone was there with their children and their dogs which made us miss our two and wished we had a little dog! The children keep going on about getting a dog...Yaz wants an Alaskan malamute, Ian likes
beagles and labradors and Bailey and I want a sausage dog...maybe one day soon...

Well that's about it really, just a quiet week. One good thing is that the washing load was very small and hardly any ironing! Ian returns back to work tomorrow and I have 2 assignments to complete and an exam to start studying for so back to reality! Really looking forward to seeing Yaz and Bailey on Thursday afternoon where they will be smothered with hugs and kisses...much to Yazmin's horror probably! Oh well xxx

Ian's Operation

Well this was the week that Ian had been dreading, which I am certain that he is glad that it is all over and done with-THE WISDOM TEETH OPERATION! Ian actually had jinxed himself when he made his first appointment with the specialist, saying that he will probably come down with being ill on the day of the surgery, and a few days before, he actually was ill and had a throat infection with large white spots lining his cheeks and throat. Luckily though he was given the all-clear on the day and all went ahead as planned. His surgery was 8.30am on the Wednesday and he was in there for about an hour, having had a general anaesthetic too. The nurse called me in when it was all over and it was the strangest thing seeing him in a vulnerable way, but kind of funny too as he was just coming around and was instantly trying to make jokes. He was a fair bit out of it and was looking at me all dazed. Normally it's me on that end of it so as I said before it was quite strange watching him go through it. All went extremely well though and he now has a mouth full of stitches which will eventually dissolve. When we got home mid-morning after the operation, I left him to rest whilst I went to get some shopping to make him his slops and get his medication. His face had just started to swell up at this point. So I did my shopping, boot full of groceries and went to start the car to get back to my poor man when the blooming car refused to start at all! I couldn't believe it, of all days! I tried for about 10 minutes and then phoned Ian to let him know that I wasn't just leisurely shopping, I was stuck and would call the road-side assistance company we were with to get me home so he could take some pain killers. Anyway about an hour later they arrived and luckily managed to start it for me after smashing my starter motor with a hammer, so I managed to get the car home before all of the frozen stuff went to waste and before Ian was in too much agony. He was fine luckily so I made him some slops for lunch and made sure he was comfy and had everything he needeed.

Ian with his ice-cream and jelly!

That following afternoon the car still wouldn't start so luckily I picked the children up from school by foot as I probably should anyway since we only are a 20min walk away. I couldn't however go to college that night , well I did have the option of driving Ian's ute but it's a manual and I haven't driven it for ages and with my driving record recently I thought that Brisbane would be a safer place without me on the roads. The following day we had to get the car towed to the garage to get fixed...which by the next day they did fix it and gave us a list of everything else that needs to be done! Always the way though isn't it?!

I had a Dr.s appointment this week just for a check-up and because my wrist is swollen and has been for a couple of weeks after I uncoordinately had a bike fall in an awkward manner on it whilst I was sweeping the garage out. Ian just shakes his head at me because of the way I do things and what damage I do when I do it! So since not being able to rest it with my work, it hasn't had a chance to heal and I'm not sure exactly what's going on with it so have to have an x-ray this week just to make sure it's nothing more than soft tissue damage.

I had an interview with Bailey's teacher this week and alls good with him at school and he is doing very well, still a bit shy sometimes and off with the fairies...(don't know where he gets that from?)...but a lovely boy to have in the class. We were very happy and have no concerns at all.

This week was the last week of school before a two week break, where the children are going to N.S.W. for 8 days. They are very excited and I think I'm getting quite nervous having them both gone for that long and being so far away! I know they will be well looked after and I will speak to them constantly.

This weekend Yaz had a cheerleading competition at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. It was a very long day on the Saturday and went an hour and a half over time. Yaz has lost all enthusiasm for cheer leading and won't be returning when the holidays finish. Today, Sunday, I dropped her there and took Bailey for a bush walk and a bike ride close by to where Yaz was. We had a great day and during the bush walk we had a huge python cross in front of us which was incredible and I have never seen Bailey's eyes so large before! He took a few steps back whilst I tried to get closer for a better look. He was a beautiful snake and would have been about 2 +1/2 metres long.

After the track was all clear we continued our walk and came across a blue tongue lizard, so again I tried to get in close in which he started to enlarge his body to warn me off and after taking a couple of photos I put my hand out towards him and he hissed and poked his tongue ferociously at us and started chasing us down the path. I screamed like a big girl and he then ran off into the bush. Bailey and I were in stitches, it was so funny and have been laughing about it all afternoon! After having some refreshments after our adventurous nature walk, we headed to the bay side for a bit before going to a near by lagoon where Bailey rode his bike and we kicked the football around. Soon after, Yaz had finished her last cheerleading event ever and it was home time again. Back to our poor patient waiting for some company and his Sunday paper!

Last night Yaz, Bailey and I abandoned Ian and went to a friends house for a curry evening. I felt really guilty about going but I have put off so many social events with these friends due to college and study that I didn't want to miss out on this one. Ian was on the phone to Mum and Dad when we left which was just what he needed I think. We had a good night and Ian was missed by all, especially me

Hopefully this coming week Ian will be feeling alot better and the pain should start to ease. He ended up very swollen and the bruising has really come out now. We have planned to go out with another couple on the weekend for dinner and drinks since neither of us have any children on the weekend but we will have to see how Ian is and may end up just going to the movies if he's still not eating properly. It's all about Ian again next week and the children departing for N.S.W.

Till next week....xxx

A Proud Moment

Well the big day has been and gone, all the hype and excitement over. Last night was the Bledisloe Cup, where Bailey and his team mates were 'Guards of Honour' for the Australian Union team as they came out onto the pitch. The boys all lined up with their flags and did all of us proud standing guard. When they came back to their seats, they had the biggest beams on their faces and were quite chuffed with themselves. I'm not 100% sure if they got a milli-second of fame on t.v. but we taped it so will have a look. They were also given a program in which their names were published in it, so this will be a very treasured keepsake of the night. They also received a certificate of thanks, signed by Matt Giteau, (one of the Australian players), for making the night a success. We are extremely proud of our Bailey and it brought a tear to my eye watching them walk out onto the field as I knew just how extrememly excited he was. He had been counting this event down for such a long time and could barely contain himself on the morning of the match. An evening that will always bring a smile to his and our faces! :)

I have now officially finished college for the weekends, so I am feeling very relieved and can't wait for the weekends again which I think for the first few months we will be making the absolute most out of! I now only have about 9 more Wednesday evenings left at college and then it's all over. I just can't wait until Graduation, where I will be sure to let my hair down and have a blast of an evening in my grad gown and hat thingy...not sure of the proper name for it?!

During the week not a lot happened really, it was all about this weekend. I had to take my car back in to get the boot fixed as it wouldn't open. Then we had to get a new car battery as ours was eroding terribly. It's just been one thing after another with the cars lately, which I am mostly part responsible for...

Happy Birthday to Tim who had his 40th this past Saturday. Hope you had a great weekend away!

This coming week my poor hubby has to go in for day surgery to have his 4 wisdom teeth removed. He goes in on Wednesday morning and we are sure that he will be a bit sore and sorry for a few days so I will look after him and make sure that he still has his gorgeous smile on his face. Unfortunately he seems to be coming down with some sort of bug and has a bit of a throat infection so we are hoping that it doesn't interfere with the surgery. He has taken a few days off afterwards to recover and be waited on hand and foot! Will let you know how it all went in next weeks entry. I'll see if he'll let me take photos of him post-surgery...don't like my chances!

The next countdown is for both Yaz and Bailey as they are flying back to N.S.W. in just over a weeks time and both are very excited, as are my family on the receiving end. They will be going for 8 days so the house is going to be extremely quiet with Ian still recovering and the children not here, although I don't think Ian will take long to bounce back and vocalise his need and want for his cups-of-tea!

This weekend Yaz has a full weekend of cheerleading and this will probably be the last of the cheerleading for her as she wants out, is bored with it and has no interest in doing it in the future. What's next...with Yaz you never know!

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all of you Daddys out there. We spent the day up at the Sunshine Coast, after going to our ritual Maccas for breakfast and giving Ian his gifts. It seems like alot of people had the same idea as us as the motorway was packed and it took us longer than usual. Once we got there though and set everything up it was a fantastic day, spent playing cricket and football and Bailey the only one brave enough to make the most of the surf. We took a picnic with us too and just had such a great day together as a family. The beach we went too we had never been there before and it was gorgeous, although pretty much anything on the Sunshine Coast is! It wasn't too packed and was tucked away on a back street. We all just love it up there so much and can only imagine that most of our Summer weekends will be spent there too.

The rest of the week was ordinary with no injuries or illnesses or any drama for that matter which is just the way we like it. My car finally went in to get fixed after my unfortunate accident, so I now have it back after it being in the garage for a whole week and wish we could've kept the run-around car we were given. It was small and cute and more ME!

Ian had a couple of days where he had to come home from work early as his ute was over heating, so he has to take tomorrow off to take it in somewhere to get the radiator checked out, hopefully not the result of damage done when I backed into him?!

Saturday morning Bailey had an end of season break-up for his Union with a breakfast b.b.q and presentation. They all got trophies and team photos. Him and Ian certainly made the most of the b.b.q. by pigging out. Afterwards we had to take him swimming. I then dropped them home and went Fathers Day shopping which took up the rest of the afternoon.

That's pretty much the week that was! This coming week brings my last weekend at college-yippee! Also Saturday is Bailey's big night where his Union team are the guards of honour for the Australian team at the Bledisloe Cup. He is so excited and we can't wait, so if you can, make sure you watch the beginning of the game to catch a glimpse of our little boy and his proud moment! Will take photos and put them on here next week.