Friday 21 December 2012

Christmas...




 Last day of work for a little while and the finishing line is in sight. I have risen to my cleaning challenge with one room to go (laundry), have done the main grocery shopping minus the perishables and only have a few things left to do.

Tonight will be wrapping the pressies and then being creative if I have forgotten anyone as I do not really wish to go to the shops again.

Have my family coming. We need to be together.We have been successful in finding my Mum a permanent place in the care facility she is currently residing in.

It is a bitter sweet time, especially this time of year.

Our holiday plans are to just r-e-l-a-x after a busy year: beach, movies, pool, eating... just being together. You know how it is.

It is a year to the day since we picked up our sweet Ginger from the airport. She continues to be such a joy.

Who can resist that face?



 Ciao for now...



 

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Grand Finale...

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I played my soccer final last night. Such as it was. We came third with a score of 4:1.

I scored my first goal

Ever

Best fun. Nice social games

Played at the same time once per week. No traveling. No drama.

No injuries

Considering the Winter comp...




Naaaaahhhhh....


Have a lovely day. Just writing out my grocery list to feed the family over Christmas

Getting creative with the menu

Any tips to feed a cast of thousands?




Ciao for now...




 

Monday 17 December 2012

Cleaning With Meaning...


 I have been cleaning like a woman possessed... by the cleaning bug! L-o-n-g overdue I'm afraid. Nothing like Christmas and visitors imminent to get one started. I think the problem is that a good clean involves a good deal of culling and that takes t-i-m-e. So far I have clocked up 7 hours in the office and 11/2 weeks in the kitchen.

Hmmmm, interesting what you find isn't it? Nothing like cornflour from 2003 (this time) but I did count 40 coffee mugs! I took the surplus in to work with a note saying "free to good home - take one or 6". They did disappear. I had a matching set of 12 among that lot too. I l-o-v-e sets! I'm a bit of a matchy-matchy girl.

So, as the kitchen and I got to know each other intimately after so long together, I found myself tripping down memory lane, looking with fondness at some of my possessions and remembering. Note to self: Maybe that is why it took so long? Sorry some of them are upside down. Not sure how to fix that...

Mermaid tile inspired by Miss T
Close up of Miss T
Plate made by Master T when he was 5
Drawn by Miss T when she was 7
Jam jar given to my Great Aunty Ena
A gift from my brother in law for my 40th
I wonder how long it took him to find this?


Clean and tidy!
Proof!

My brother in law asked my what I wanted for my 40th. The brief was a blue vase, or a handbag. He found a blue handbag vase... Gosh I laughed for ages over that. How long do you reckon it took him to find it?

Okay, now to finish in the office and then the store room... and then the guest room.... and then



Sigh, best get started then I suppose







 Ciao for now...






 

Monday 10 December 2012

Helpful Tip...


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One of my friends gave me a very helpful tip. It has made my life soooooooooo much easier!!!

Want to hear what it is?

Well................

They showed my how to change the font on my phone to a larger size!

So now...

I can read it

And now...

I don't need to take a photo of the screen so I can then enlarge it and read what has been written.

And I can see photos too

Yay!! It was done under General Settings and Accessibility

I do have glasses

But not always  at hand.



Just thought you might like to know (incase you want to try it)







 Ciao for now...






 

Sunday 9 December 2012

It Will Be All White...

I admit I am anal. About some things. My washing is one of them.

Okay, okay. Not "colour-coded pegs" obsessed but I have a system

I l-o-v-e systems. Look the towels go in together including hand towels, the sheets also get washed together, work clothes, colours.... Whites

Hmmm, whites. I sometimes save them for a couple of weeks so I have enough for a load. I like my whites to be white rather than gray. I roll like that. In the big scheme of life this is no biggie I know but this is what I do. I suppose my Mum taught me (although some nameless member of my family seemed to escape this gene inexplicably. You know who you are).

But. One thing I haven't factored into my obsession is a helpful Silver Fox. God love him. I have been known to ask him NOT to do the washing especially after expensive t-shirts get flung into the dryer.

I know, I know I should be more grateful.

I recently went to Sydney to see LaLa and took Master T with me. I might have reminded him not to wash the whites. He did admit that he thought about it but didn't dare.

"Good" I thought. Tick that box.

Hmmm. This greeted me upon my return and I have to admit a shriek did escape my lips:










Okay I pulled 1 red t-shirt, 1 red dress, 1 red cape and 1red belt OUT of the washing machine that held my white. Er...... Make that pinks. Said um "pinks" currently soaking in the sink.

"Silver Fox" I said.
"Y-e-s..." He said nervously.
"I'm going to tell you once, and once only, only ever wash YOUR clothes. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes" he said.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Friday 7 December 2012

Farewell Sweetheart...






Daniel Morcombe gets buried today. It is 9 years to the day since he went missing. Our thoughts are with his family. I am sure he would be very proud of them all.

You can read about him here

ciao for now



just Martha xxx



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Praise the Saints...

Here is a cute Christmas idea for you to think about. Coco Liberace make a number of gifts for purchase including these lovely 'Saints Bracelets'. They are a very thoughtful and personal but not too pricey gift you might want to consider.


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LaLa (sister) bought me one last year in black agate and I wear it nearly everyday. Made from natural stones there is a huge selection to chose from plus a vast choice of saint medals to add. This gives it a really personal touch. There are even personal initial medals to to further individualize as a gift.

Just a thought if you are scratching your heads and don't know what to buy...

Happy shopping...


ciao for now



just Martha


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday 2 December 2012

Little Ray of Sunshine...

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It is Sunday morning. Quiet still as most are asleep. Master T and I have flown to my sister's home to spend time with her family. I usually take each child once per year to hang out with their cousins. We will see them in a few short weeks at Christmas when they come up, but LaLa (sister) and I wanted to be together. We have a strong sense of family. We are close. We needed to debrief over the whole "put your Mum in respite" thing but also our favorite Aunty passed away suddenly. We are bereft.

We grew up without cousins, even though we had Mum's side of the family, who lived in Scotland and England, teaming with them. There were 9 all around our age. The fun we could have had! It was not to be. Australia can be very far away from the rest of the world and finances didn't really allow for that sort of thing back then. The Silver Fox grew up with cousins and they all holidayed together every Christmas. Bliss even if they didn't know how special it was.

My sister and I did visit when we started working but it would have been so lovely to he part of everyone's lives. My Aunt came out for a visit by herself and got to spend quality time with each of us and the bond was forged - the connection between her family and ours.

My Aunt was such a special lady, happy to do nothing but talk or to be busy being shown the sights. She was kind and gentle with a permanent smile and a contagious giggle. She couldn't believe she was in Australia with us all. Lets face it the trip is not for the faint-hearted. Her visit was timed nicely so she was guest of honour at my wedding. Yep, 22 years ago. The bond has been strong since then.

Facebook has helped us keep in touch with the everyday and we are in frequent contact with her heavenly daughters too with whom we have a special connection. We love them dearly and an odd word here and there maintains that bond. We feel for them at this time but know they will all be together to make arrangements and say their goodbyes with all her family. It will be hard in a way because it was so sudden. We are feeling the distance because we would like to be there. For them and us.

We have shed tears reminiscing. LaLa especially. It is sad knowing she is not around you know? She was a little ray of sunshine.


ciao for now



just Martha xxx



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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