The Wet Sleeve Saga...

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Last night I had a wet sleeve. Ask me how? I also had about 1/2 tonne of wet towels. Ask me how again? Master T. That is how. Master T and bath time. Want more clues? Well, Master T will spend ages explaining to me why he doesn't need a bath and I, being the thoughtful Mother that I am, will listen to his argument, and then send him for a bath.

So it was that he had the bath running

He didn't want a bath

He forgot he had the bath running

He came calmly down the stairs some time later...

"Mum" he said

"Yes" I said, thinking ("okay best get off Blogger and make dinner")

"The bath is overflowing, I sort of forgot about it"

Sure enough, behind him was coming a waterfall down the stairs. He had enough gumption to turn off the bath. God love him

"Did you think to empty the bath a bit?" I said as I stuck my long sleeve in to an alarmingly full and deep bath. Then "Don't just stand there, get some towels!!!" I used exclamation marks in my tone.

"If the builder had built this right then the water should have flowed to the floor waste" I said. "Now we know it doesn't" 

15 towels, 4 rooms, 1 set of stairs, 1 door jam leaking through to the floor below, 2 bathmats, 1 outfit previously left on the bathroom floor by said culprit and a nervous Master T later....

I asked him what he had learned from this. He said he had learned not to leave the bath on. I said I had learned that I now had 15 towels to wash that I didn't have before. I pointed this out to him.

I asked him if he thought from now on that when I sent him for a bath that he could just, you know, have a bath. He thought this might work.

 Then the Silver Fox rang. I was able to point out our new discovery about the floor waste. He said "now we know"

Yep. now we do. That, dear folks is how my sleeve got wet. Well, you did ask. Sort of....

Ciao for now...
 

Sleepover Sunday...

It was lovely: good food, a few bubbles, great company, a bit of beauty work here and there,  a heavenly dessert, staying up late chatting, a walk on the beach, a sumptuous breakfast... I can't tell you have fabulous it was. Highly recommended.We also had a peak at each others wedding albums which was amazing in their diversity. My children were at home and quite as mice. I didn't embarrass them too much! Here is a quick peak:

Lamb shanks shanking...

Getting out the posh stuff. This is my Norikate tea set...

A few bubbles. these champagne saucers were from my christening

The feast begins

Shanks, mash, gravy...

A walk in the morning. Looks just divine doesn't it?

Getting ready for breakfast...

So, what about you? Have I coerced you into having your own sleepover? Don't forget GIVEAWAY here. Drawn 6th June. Become a follower if your not already and leave a comment as to why you like either blogging (if you do) or reading blogs.....

 Ciao for now...

 

The Week That Was...

Well, interesting week this week. I must be still high from my emotional recharge a la Silver Fox and walking around in a dream because:

• I paid via the internet 10 times the required amount for after school care. Too many '0'. Jeepers!!!
• I was driving along and thought 'Hmm, might need petrol'. I looked down and not only did I need petrol but where the 'km left to drive until empty' bit is looked like this:  (-- --) !!! Double jeepers!! That meant zippo the clown of petrol in the tank. I heard once that this hurts the 'catolitic converter' if you run out. Sounds like trouble. All went well though, found a petrol station and  was late to my meeting but entertained them with my brush with disaster. I think...
• Went to book tickets on line to fly to a conference, booked twice and then it seemed I had only reserved them pending payment. What the??? How hard can it be to book??? All ended well I hope. Will check the credit card statement and see if I can get on the plane in August
• It seems just when I am having a GIVEAWAY, all my followers seem to have disappeared!!

Well my lovelies, just getting ready for the big 'Sleep Over'. Do you think I need to clean my fridge and drawers prior to the kinship arriving? You know how it is..Just getting the Lamp Shank Experience ready now. Will post photos to blackmail show you next week...

 Ciao for now...
 

Sleepover...

Guess what? I am having a sleepover!! Yup!! How darn exciting does that sound? I will have 3 ladies spending the night and another 1 for dinner and breakfast. Does it sound like fun? Sure does. Well, it all started when we were talking about lamb shanks in the slow cooker and how we all love a good lamb shank but our families don't so we never really make them at home. So I said 'why don't you come for dinner' and it sort of snowballed from there. Someone is bringing nibblies, another entree, someone else dessert... I am making the lamb shanks (tomato/pesto-ish with red wine) and I thought I would serve them with the obligatory mashed potato and green beans. Someone else will bring the wine and another breakfast. A-n-d I will take lots of photos of the night. I can't remember the last time I had a sleep over. I hope I won't be too excited to sleep!!! We might be sharing wedding albums, dying hair, watching a movie, walking on the beach..... or just nattering

Not sure what the Tweenies will make of it. Miss T informed me she is now a Teenie so I should make that clear to my readers. Please take note. She wants to sleepover at a friends house. I said 'no' as I don't want her to miss out on anything. The T's will probably yell at us to be quiet. I hope so. Getting my own back might be fun you see...

Enter giveaway here  :)





Ciao for now...




 

300th Post Giveaway...

You might win me!!!

Okay folks, to celebrate my 300th post (which is today) I am wanting to thank you all for being part of my journey to date. What do I love about blogging? Blogging soothes my soul and has assisted me to grow as an individual, as 'me'. This is a journey to discovering what makes me 'me' and I thank you all very sincerely for being part of this, for your encouragement,  for your lovely comments, some for your lovely inspirational blogs and all for your enthusiasm. I have learned that there are some amazing women in this world who share, create, laugh and amaze me with their honesty and their willingness to be part of this wonderful, fulfilling kinship.

So, here is the prize!! As you know I am fond of Elk Accessories so one lucky recipient will win the beautiful necklace as above which are wooden discs dyed azure blue on cotton cord. It will be beautifully wrapped and can delivered to anywhere in the world. I didn't want to unpack it to get a better photo because part of the joy in the giving is the wrapping.

Interested?

I thought so.

How to enter? Simply become a follower and leave me a comment about what blogging means to you, whether as a reader or a writer...

Easy huh?

This will be drawn on....Hmmm, let me see. How about the 6th June? Why not?

Ciao for now...
 

The Silver Fox Has Left The Building...

The Silver Fox in incognito...

Well, the Silver Fox has left the building folks, so it is back to us being just three. Master T has decided he wants to sleep in his bed tonight which is a bummer as I sleep better knowing there is slow steady breathing near me. I hope he changes his mind so I can sleep however maybe it is time to face my reality. The Tweenies are very excited because I bought 'fake' potato for Miss T as she went camping on the weekend and didn't end up using. They can't wait for dinner. Bit sad really isn't it? We h-a-t-e-d fake potatoes as kids and because my Dad was a super-dooper-potato-masher, we thought they were fake and wouldn't eat them. My Mum used to drag us to the rubbish bin in frustration and show us the peelings. I don't think we were convinced even then. 

Miss T had a Scout camp all weekend and even the thought of her Daddy being here wasn't enough for her to change her mind and not go. Even Winter and the cold and camping couldn't dissuade her. She had a wonderful time when I text her asking if all was going well, "Heck yeh" was the response. Says it all. Even pulling two ticks off the back of her neck when she got home didn't freak her out. Oh my, how she is growing up.

So best scoot off and do some trick 'cooking'. Give away this week so stay tuned and then I have decided to have a sleepover for my friends. Sounds like fun? Heck yeh!!!!

 Ciao for now...
 

Bliss...

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What a wonderful weekend that was!! Thank you for all your lovely comments. You know, I never usually see the Silver Fox as romantic but I agree, he is very romantic!! To plan such a surprise was just so heavenly. It was so nice to be a couple again. And a family unit again. I declare never to take life, people and love for granted.

Have a lovely Monday folks...



Ciao for now...

Guess What?...

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Guess what? The Silver Fox d-i-d-n-t go to Mt Isa...... He called me and told me Mt Isa was hot. I could hear noises in the background. My heart was breaking because I really hoped I would be seeing him. He told me he had arranged a special delivery for me for our anniversary and to go out the front. There he was. He was my special delivery. He caught plane. train and automobile to get to me. I cried buckets with relief, with joy... with sadness too that we are apart. He cried as well.  We just stood there in the driveway hugging. Our local restaurant was having a themed dinner and this week was South American. We glammed up and boot-scooted out. Just the two of us. Left the Tweenies at home. "It's your anniversary, you don't want pesky kids around" they said. We had a lovely table in the corner and chatted and ate and caught up on all the important things. It was delightful. It was a lovely anniversary. I have him until Monday.... Lucky me and lucky us. I feel more like myself when he is around. Thank you for all your lovely comments....

Have a wonderful weekend......



 Ciao for now...

 

My 21st...

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Today is my 21st wedding anniversary. How darn exciting!!! It seems quite strange really to think all those years have passed by. They have gone rather quickly. I have sent the Silver Fox a little gift box up to where he is working and a mushy card. You know 'To My Darling Husband'... sort of thing. Not my usual choice but it felt right with him being so far away. He will love it. I hope it gets there in time. Should do. A little part of me was hoping that he would fly home as a surprise. I still do. He was told me he is flying to Mt Isa today. So I am a bit hopeful it could be a ruse and he will appear at the front door tonight. But. He could actually be flying to  Mt Isa for real. 

I got married young and am please that I made such a great choice when I was at an age where I didn't really think too far ahead. It has been a pleasure watching the Silver Fox grow into the amazing person he is today. He has had a few career changes on the way and it a very clever fellow. We are not a lovey-dovey couple but our eyes will lock in a crowded room and we will smile at each other and we are connected. Let me tell you a few things about the Silver fox:

• He does a perfect Mrs Doubtfire impression
• He hates peas with a passion. H-a-t-es them. A little innocent pea... Go figure
• Dogs love him. 
• He is an amazing singer, who won't really sing! 
• He loves cheesecake and will often eat the leftovers for breakfast
• He is very good in an emergency. Once our car caught fire and I was off running down the road whilst he calmly fixed it and called me back.
• He gets called McGuiver because there is nothing he can't fix with a piece of string and some chewing gum
• He also does an Elvis impersonation too but tends to go on and on for days until I give him 'the look'
• He doesn't watch cricket

Happy anniversary baby, I've got you on my mind.....

 Ciao for now...
 

Mr Nobody Strikes Again...

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In our house at the moment we have a 'Mystery Pooper' who doesn't flush the toilet. Mr Nobody is at it again. This weekend it will be just Master T and me. I wonder what excuses he will use? Mr Nobody visits us quite frequently (here). Do you see him at your house? At the moment I am trying to teach my Tweenies to put their stuff away. It is doing my head in running after them all and asking them up to 4 times to do something. I'm sure Mr Nobody is behind all this disharmony. Darn him!

 Have a happy day folks!




Ciao for now...
 

The Epitome of Style...

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 She was so very lovely wasn't she?




Ciao for now...

Rollercoaster...

Took the Tweenies to Movieworld yesterday as part of 'Family Day' for the Silver' Fox's work. Now they are a little bit old they can go on ride  together which saves me much angst and fast-talking. I do go on some but an incident on the Scooby-Do ride left me with a crick in the neck and a huge headache... and that was the first ride I went on!! So it was that i was waiting around for them, doing a bit of people watching and generally relaxing in the sun. Do you know how many people wear high heels to such a place? Heaps!!! Not something I thought to wear really. Then I got a bit philosophical. Life is a bit like a roller coaster isn't it, at times. It has its ups and downs. I came to the conclusion that I best hang on and enjoy the ride.

I will be having my 300th post this week and will be celebrating with an Elk accessory gift so stay tuned.....



 Ciao for now...

 

Weekend Again...

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That was an unexpected little hiatus wasn't it a la Blogger? The week has 'flown' by again and where I live we are well and truly into Autumn. Even with the beloved flannelet sheets on it is still chilly sans the Silver Fox. Not keen on this 'working away' business anymore. I feel like a part of me is missing. Like there is a hole in my heart and it is getting bigger. I'm being dramatic I know. It is our 21st wedding anniversary this week and I am used to being a couple. I know I am lucky in so many ways but I am running out of energy to keep all the juggling balls in the air. Today. The Tweenies have been a bit beastly this week so I had to get out my 'scary' persona. Doesn't often come out but when it does... look out. Even the Silver Fox knows to be afraid of that side of me. It is usually when I have been pushed to the edge and am about to fall over. Works though. Gets the desired effect. For quite a while. 

Am I whinging too much?  On re-reading this post I am. I know a lot of you cope just fine with your other halves away. The Silver Fox would tell me to 'toughen up Princess'. But he is the same. Any tips you can pass on?


PS: Just had a little 'surf' through Blogland. Good for the soul I think...



Ciao for now...

Uh Oh...

Hmmm, not sure how it happened really. There I was working, kids, single parent (while the Silver Fox is working away), developing workshops, giving speeches, shopping etc. Doing not too bad really. So I thought. Imagine my surprise when I went to the outside bins today and found my washing all folded in the basket which is s-t-i-l-l outside and had been since Saturday. Now, I do the washing and the ironing on the weekend so all is tickety-boo for the week. I didn't even miss this lot! School clothes, pjs... the works was sitting there waiting patiently, wet through from a few days of rain. Hmmmm, maybe the wheels are slowly falling off after all.....

 Ciao for now
 

The Royal Handbag...

Did you notice the Queen at the wedding? She was carrying her handbag.  I have been reading Peace and Plenty by Sarah Ban Breathnach. She has a few comments when it comes to handbags and their use. Very interesting. Apparently the Queen uses her handbag as a sort of code to say whether she wants to go home or wants to stay later if she is having a good time. Do you wonder what she keeps in her handbag? Maybe it is the usual - lipstick, comb, diamond tiara...... Haha! What is in y-o-u-r handbag? I have a whopping big bag and even with a 'bag organizer' it is a mess. Sarah believes an organized bag means an organized life and that we should clean them out frequently to keep our minds in order. I tend to agree as I can lose things in my current bag for ages even though I know that the item is in my bag. Maybe I need to take lessons from the Queen. After all, she Is the Queen...



Ciao for now...
 

Water 'Falls'...

Sorry, my blog was in slow mo yesterday and wouldn't be persuaded to hurry. Hope you didn't miss me too much!!! Yesterday Miss T text me to say she had wet her pants laughing too much. She was unperturbed. She said it happened after the bus and she was laughing at her friend and, well, you can picture the rest. I sent her back a text...'classy'. Her shoes were squelching when she got home. Oh well. She doesn't stand a chance you know. It is in the genes (and the jeans!) Weak bladders run in my family. Not Tena-lady moments all the time but if we laugh and have a full bladder...tragedy. I could tell you a m-i-l-l-i-o-n stories. In fact, I will tell you a couple...

LJ (sister) is out of the country or else I might not even dare to write this! When she was young (18ish) she worked during the week and then on Saturdays worked in a real estate all day. It must have been the '80s because she had on a fuchsia or emerlad satin dress. (It is important to know this so you can get a clear mental picture). Well, she was coming down the travelator (flat escalator - very new in 'those' days) when, out of the blue, a 'Jerry Lewis' look-a-like came running up the said travelator. He had coke-bottle thick glasses, a bit of a buck teeth thing happening and looked so darn hilarious that she started to laugh. A full bladder and belly laughing resulted in a waterfall-effect from my gorgeous sister. Once she started she couldn't stop and really, the sheer relief she felt meant she had no chance. So she said. Well, picture if you will a 'river' flooding down the travelator and people literally getting out of the way as said river gushed all the way to the bottom. Also picture her lovely satin dress stuck to her, around her legs with a nice dark patch clearly visible. Also picture if you will her squelching off to the carpark with as much dignity as she could muster..... Nothing short of class in this family.

Fast forward many years and her and I are at Coney Island in Luna Park. Having a great time. We were a bit gumby on the timber bits that go forward and backwards but thought nothing of it really. In retrospect it was a warning sign of things to come. We spied the 'Barrel of Fun' and decided to give it a go. Hey, the kids could do it. How difficult can it really be? (cue dramatic music: you know like da da da dum) The "Barrel of Fun (rechristened the Barrel of Terror) you walk through and is like a huge toilet roll with one barrel going in one direction and the other in the other direction. I think the plan is that you run through but the change in direction can unbalance you. (yep - got that bit). So LJ ran through and got about half way before she fell and rolled around like she was in a washing machine with her legs going over her head in a rather a spectacular fashion before she managed to crawl off after the lady stopped the ride. So, my turn. I am older and more athletic so really, how hard could it be? The problem we decided later was that we were both busting to do a wee! A-n-d it is very hard to roll around trying to cross your legs when you are cracking up. The result? Me rolling around like a bag of potatoes in a washing machine. Look, I do have some decorum folks and prayed very hard that I didn't wet my pants so I didn't quite take it down to such a low standard. But very nearly. Mine of course was caught on video by my sweet brother in law and still has me cracking up every time I see it.

We did try it again to challenge ourselves on a subsequent visit and ran through no trouble. Yay!! No more gumbies. But. Then LJ thought we should do it one more time and even though I thought we should quit whilst be were ahead. I ran through but,alas, she was a victim to the Barrel of Terror again. Caught on video. Very funny LJ, very funny.

 

 Ciao for now...

 

Great Excitement...

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Great excitement here in our little household. Why? The flannelet sheets have been put on the beds!!! Yay!! Winter is coming and there is nothing nicer than snuggling in to a cosy bed without having to warm the sheets first. Do you get excited at such things? When LJ and I were little my Mum would put rosebud flannelet sheets on our beds as a surprise when Winter started to creep in. We were beside ourselves with joy and could hardly sleep we were so excited!! Winter is my favourite season. I love the crisp mornings and seeing your breath in the air. Although, by some standards, we have a very mild Winter here. Aaah, the joy of the everyday...

Have a beautiful Monday dear Bloggers. Mother's Day whizzed by. Next for us is our 21st wedding anniversary...... I hope the Silver Fox will be with me to celebrate!!!

Ciao for now...
 

Weekend Ahead...

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Another busy weekend again... Master T and I are doing a 'mini challenge' at the gym which is on the beach and will be plagued with sandbags, logs, buckets... he doesn't know what he is in for! But I have promised him a juice at the coffee shop after for all his effort.  We then whip up to Brisbane to see the Silver Fox' Mama for Mother's Day as she is convalescing after an operation and we have bought her this plus a dressing gown so she can look elegant whilst getting better.

Sunday will see the Tweenies and I do something together that I want to do. Master T wants to go rock climbing but that will have to wait as i need another adult. Instead we might go bike riding or just have a walk on the beach. Lunch will be the family gathering for a picnic, Grandparents, siblings, grandchildren and cousins for an afternoon of chatting, playing, eating and relaxing. Hopefully the weather is fine. LJ and her crew are missing as they are having a B-I-G family adventure exploring the world. Lucky ducks!  The Silver Fox isn't working this weekend and will catch up with friends so I know he will have a good time.

Enjoy the good times dear folks. Mother's are v-e-r-y precious







 Ciao for now...
 

50 ways to Cope With Stress

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I am very proud of myself since the Silver Fox has been away. I have not reverted back to my old self with anxiety, as yet.  I think exercising really helps me drain my energy and also my brain. I prioritize, do what I need to do but not necessarily what I should do. The ironing is still waiting for example.  

I have chatted before about being kind to oneself and 'filling the petrol tank' to ensure  that your own energy levels don't get too low. I got to wondering if I take my own advice. Remember? (here)

• Spend 20minutes per day doing something that you want
• Once a week do something that you love
• Cull those draining friends
• Accept praise 
• Strive for excellence, not perfection
• Surround yourself with things you love

Hmmm, let  me see. I blog 6 days per week which is something that I want to do. I do my gym which is something that I love. Also, I declined my Tweenies to do sport this Winter because without the Silver Fox to rely on it is just me and I decided to do my sport instead. So non-stressful this season. I love that alone... One of my beautiful friends had one of my posts laminated and shared it with another beautiful friend so I am thinking that is a big compliment. I am also thinking that it sort of makes me published? Maybe I should sign their copy. Haha. I do strive for excellence rather than perfection. The Buddhists like to make a little flaw in things so that they are not perfect. I like this idea. I am surrounded by things that I love. So, I guess I am taking my own advice and it seems to be working so far.

What about you? Are you being kind to yourselves?

Ciao for now...
 

Tweenie-isms...

Master T wrapped in sticky tape....

Sometimes it is interesting being a parent. Don't you think? We have some very enlightening conversations with our Tweenies. They have specific views on life and the world. Sometimes I don't really know where the conversation is going. Like these little gems when Master T is chatting away in the car....

..."that happens when the uterus gets no action"............. (what was he talking about?) 
...."like pole dancing. It is very ... (long pause, I think my face was screwed up awaiting the rest) healthy and makes you fit"....

... "I saw a poster and the lady was covering her teat with her hand...."(I don't think he has even been to a farm)

"If you are stuck in the desert and have no water or any way of getting water, and you have some vampire teeth, then you can put those in your mouth because they make your mouth make saliva then you won't be thirsty" Very handy survival tip folks

"I smell like dog biscuits today" ..... We don't have a dog so it was a great opportunity to remind Master T to use soap e-a-c-h time he has a bath

(When checking his lunchbox) "White bread sandwiches, whooo hoooo!!!" (Sometimes I like to surprise them with my nutritional flexibility)

My Miss T has some interesting ideas as well. She firmly believes her legs are older than the rest of her (will not be otherwise convinced) and she thinks her breath sometimes smells like kangaroo food!! Today she wants to adopt a baby with an English accent!! Don't think it works like that.

Enjoy the everyday folks,





Ciao for now...
 

Making Do...

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Sometimes in everyday life, you just have to work with what you have don't you?







Ciao for now...
 

Rubber Band Champion...

 

I am THE rubber band  champion of my family. I have never been beaten and guard my title like a pit bull. Growing up I was the tea towel-flicker champion, which hurts a bit more but those were the days when we had no dishwasher so nightly challenges were the given. My poor parents, they just wanted their dishes washed. I have a brother, let's call him TooToo. He will hate that but hey, it is my blog and it was my nickname for him when I was little. TooToo needed a brother. Desperately. But all he had were two younger sisters. It didn't stop him from treating us like we were his brothers though. There was rough housing, terrible experiences like him making us ride down the hill at top speed and going over a home made jump......another time there was a pipe, a plank of wood and one of us (me) standing on the end while he jumped off the fence and..... See? We barely survived. Except. I was the tea towel champion and try as he might, day and night, he couldn't beat me. Ever. Irked him no end.

As an adult I retrained myself to excel as the rubber band champion. Ask LJ. Once I shot her right between the eyes. She was so shocked!! Ask the Silver Fox. He runs away now if I brandish my weapon of choice. He has learned over the years not to challenge me unless he wants to lose. Oh, I am gracious as a champion but with all that unwanted training as a child from my brother, I can't help but stand my ground. He still tries occasionally but I say "do you really want to go there?" and he surrenders straight away. He knows what I am capable of and that he doesn't stand a chance. Once the SF and I went and did archery when we went on holiday and he barley hit the target whilst I got bulls eye after bulls eye.  He was a bit concerned for his safety that night. It is nice that he holds a healthy respect for me I think, don't you?


So yesterday morning Master T found a rubber band and shot me in the leg. Well, it was on then wasn't it? He was fighting dirty but was no match for me. It sort of brings out the Arnold Schwarzenegger in me! Needless to say, I won... No doubt he will keep trying...

Have a wonderful Tuesday folks

 Ciao for now...