Potential Teacher?....

We have had a little bit of trouble at Miss T's school. Someone wrote something particularly nasty on her locker. For all to see. As parents we worried if this was going to be the start of something, the start of bullying or rumors or being branded.

How did Miss T react. Well, she states she was upset and she didn't know who did it and that sort of made her suspicious and more upset.

But

What irked her the most was that the individual had not used correct English.

Yep. The grammar was wrong.

There was no apostrophe between the last initial and an 's' to show it was short for.... is.....

Yep. That was the bit that made her mad.

The school dealt with it swiftly and professionally, the culprit was caught and given a two day suspension, the locker was cleaned and an apology letter was sent to us as a family.

Well done I say.

But

Do you think she is going to be an English teacher when she grows up?


Maybe.....




ciao for now
just Martha
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Nanu Nanu....

Miss T has been Nanu-Nanu-ing her friends.
But she has no knowledge of Mork and Mindy despite being able to use the sign perfectly.
Strange huh?
Also
Why has Mork and Mindy never been on TV?
Strange too huh?
I'm sure we could happily sit through show after show of Robin Williams at his finest. They might be better than repeats of the Simpsons...
Ciao for now
just Martha. Xx
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Hello Mr Spotty....

Probably a different post to what the title suggests. You will find no acne stories here.

Rather, I saw a reflection of light from my watch which reminded me of a game I used to play with my babies in the car. As you may know waiting with two littlies can be fraught with frustration for all.

Out would come Mr Spotty! Yay! As said, Mr Spotty was the reflection from my watch but, oh, what Mr Spotty could do!

He would bounce up and down to the joyful singing from my two little babies. He loved to hear singing!

He was also very good at playing hide and seek! And would appear and disappear to the excited screams of 'there he is' or 'here he is'. Strangely enough he couldn't appear on a cloudy. Funny that.

Now, I can't take credit for inventing Mr Spotty as I think the original concept of a chalk-drawing version was on Humphrey B Bear. But my interpretation kept my kiddies entertained for ages. Usually until Master T started to shout naughty words then Mr Spotty had to leave. Awww. Sometimes he came back but alas there are lessons and rules in everyday life

The kids remember Mr Spotty very well and still comment when the round reflection from my watch hits the car roof. Ahhh, memories.

What inventive games to you entertain your children with? Feel free to use this one. Works a treat and did help the time go quickly I must say....


ciao for now


just Martha



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Filling Up...

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I like this time of year don't you? Lots of social events, catch ups, functions?

We also have lots of birthdays too

The calendar is filling up...




 Ciao for now...






 

Senior Trip...

Master T and Ginger Sass

Master T is off in the morning for his Sydney/Canberra trip for 5 glorious fun filled action packed days.

He seems younger than his sister was when she went. Not sure why.

He is all packed and ready to go. I have double checked the quantities of the important things like socks and undies..... (Previous experience).

I have also reminded him to change his clothes and use soap to wash.

Maybe necessary, maybe not. Not taking any chances of him forgetting and saying " you didn't remind me"

It will be quiet without him. Having 1 child missing sort of changes the family dynamics a bit doesn't it?

I hope he has a great time and creates great memories.

We went to the Whitsunday's for my senior trip. By bus. At least Master T is flying. He has asked me not to plan anything for the weekend as he will be "too tired". I hope so. The sign of a great time.


ciao for now




just Martha. Xxx


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Wonder Woman Does Gymnastics...

I had an interesting day yesterday
It started off with a mammogram. A bit of "boob gymnastic". A necessary evil given my family history but hey, it did crossed my mind when they were being squished into interesting 1 dimensional shapes, "this can't be good for them?". I wonder if there is a study on that.
Also
Also, one of my patients thought I looked like Wonder Woman.
I had pictures of Wonder Woman doing gymnastics!
I think her magic lasso would be very useful
Have a nice Friday
Which superhero do you look like?
ciao for now
just Martha xx
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Brace Yourself...

Sorry to keep harping on but I found this whole " send your Mother to care" thing a trifle stressful.

However...

I popped in to see my Mother today.

She looked....

Wonderful!!!!

Her hair was lovely, she was spotless...

She looked younger than I remember her. She is being very well taken care of.

Okay, okay her bags were still packed as she has no intention of staying but she was easily distracted, had done tai chi in the morning and was sitting eating dinner and entertaining her table. She introduced me like 5 times as her "darling daughter".... The staff l-o-v-e her.

I took some lovely orchids with a card from my Dad. She was... accepting that he had gone fishing. Unheard of in the past.

She was keen that I got back to my family and cooked them dinner.

It realized that I had braced myself for the worst but now feel such relief. Relief that it is all going so well and that she still has 2 1/2 weeks to go. Relief that I was able to report this to my family and that I could also hear them sigh with relief. My Dad included. He gets back tomorrow from his big trip away before he drives up to my brother's house for a long weekend. A nice relaxing time to just 'be'. Hang out with the family, do some cooking, read to the kiddies...

Then, it is my turn. I will try to get a bucket-load of chilli con carne out of him. Well, it is my job to give him stuff to keep him busy. It is my duty isn't it?

Thank you all for listening and your kind thoughts. Your support is very much appreciated!

ciao for now


just Martha xxx


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On The Outside Looking In...

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My Dad has just spent a week at my Sister's house.

A week of uninterrupted conversations, of good night's sleeps, of relaxation

He is starting to see what we have all seen for a while.

That he has been stressed to the max. That he has been forgetful, and agitated under the sheer consistency of caring for someone with dementia, for someone living in the twilight zone, for someone living in the shadows of life.

This is the very first time he has used the respite service.

Ever.

My sister told him that if he dropped dead from sheer exhaustion we would all kill him.

He has a sense of humour to see the irony of the conversation. But underneath the message is clear.

No more 'stiff upper lip' English persona. No more 'she's your Mother, soldier on' attitude

At this exact moment in time, he is trout fishing with one of his long time mates in Tasmania, almost drunk with happiness.

I know. I can hear him smiling and grinning from ear to ear.
 
Happy that Mum is being more than well taken care of and that he has permission to be happy, to relax, to enjoy life.

My Sister put this all in context for him. She put it so succinctly...

She said that she might be selfish, but she wanted access to him as a person, as a Father, as a Grandfather.

She said that at the moment we had no parents. Our Mother is essentially, gone. A mere shell of her former self. At least with some regular respite we could have access to one parent. He could do what he dearly loves, to be surrounded by family.

My siblings and I are all in agreement and giving him support 1000%

My Mum? She is having a fabulous time, meeting new friends, going on social outings... I know as she is only about 5 minutes from me and I can keep an eye on her.

This hasn't affected her as much as we thought the first time would.

So, my family is relaxed and happy knowing that all is well.

My Dad, well, he might even catch a fish




Ciao for now...


 

just Settling In...

All is gong well with Mumsy - she is settling in nicely. My sister said Dad"s shoulder literally relaxed and he breathed a sigh of relieve when he heard this and that she was sleeping through the night without feeling anxious.

My Dad is English and a 'stiff upper lip' sort of fellow. He never complains and just gets on with his lot. As children we would wake him in the night if we were sick because he was always so calm and instantly awake. To see him now with a spring in his step and to see him relaxed is worth more than winning the Melbourne Cup.

There is a defining moment in life isn't there when you suddenly help your parents with decisions and directions? I am glad it is working out so far for both of them and they should both be quite relaxed after another couple of weeks 'holidaying'. The respite centre we haw taken Mum to has been so fantastic and supportive.

So, that is where we are up to today. Not sure if I won the millions yet but I tell you what. I am feeling like my life is very rich at the moment so maybe I already am a winner.


Ciao for now



just Martha xxxx
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Tiffany Blue...

There is something about tthe colour of this chest of drawers isn't there?



ciao for now


just Martha xx



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just a Short Interlude....

Well it is done. I feel weak with relief. I had a rotten night's sleep with nightmares all night. My heart was racing and my hands were shaking. I needed to be calm and strong.

But it was hard. Everyone was relying on me to be the strong one and in reality I was the only one who could do it. Even being in the medical profession gave me little insight on being on the 'other side'.

I took my Mother to respite today.

For 3 weeks.

So my Dad could have a rest from the 24/7 consistency.
 
Heck, so we could all have a rest really knowing she is in very good hands. Knowing she will settle in to the routine. Knowing that my Dad is refilling his batteries to continue on.

She was not too keen let me tell you but I left her sitting and chatting to some people.

We love you Mum and know that if you were yourself,  you would support this decision.

We know it is the right decision.

But it doesn't make it any easier.


Ciao for now
just Martha xx
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