School is back...

So not related to this post but so beautiful. From Earth Porn on Facebook

My kiddies go back to school today. Friday. You have to ease your way back into these things. They have the weekend to recover. Apparently.

They will be glad to get back to school. An opinion strongly voiced by Master T

Why?

Chores

I made the Teenies cook, clean, tidy, hang out washing, make beds, iron, walk the dog like 5 km...

Phew!

The lists were l-o-n-g!

We had sushi, chicken burgers, hamburgers, pasta...

Miss T does an outstanding job tidying. OUTSTANDING ! She tidied the pantry to perfection. Better than I could have done

There were also punishments for jobs not done, sassing the Mumma or being generally uncooperative. Master T is banned from the computer for 10 weeks. Yup! The message is "don't sass the Mumma". I also upon occasion took his phone and the modem. Mean? Well, I like to look at it as my life messages making an impact and being heard. Being really heard.

So, day off today for me. I will revel in the silence for a while and then look forward to them coming home with all the news.

Have a happy day. The Silver Fox is hunkered down in a cyclone up north and has just gone to check if the roads are flooded.

Ciao for now



just Martha xx


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Welcome to the Real World....

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Well, as you might remember it is school holidays and as I work, there are few options to supervise my children. At nearly 16 and 14 some wise parents assure me they need MORE supervision than ever.

I would agree

However it is a tricky age so my strategy this time has been to leave them loads of chores. Big chores. I believe I need to turn them into responsible young adults.

So

They have been putting the washing on, hanging it out and folding it before bringing it in. Apparently I need to be very specific with Master T as he lacks any lateral thinking "you told me to wash it but didn't ask me to hang it out.."

Alrighty then. We have had the pantry and cupboards to sort, dinners to be cooked, rooms to clean and tidy, beds to be made, a certain dog to be walked. Miss T does a mighty job and is now relieved of her 1 month grounding (don't ask) after 2 weeks due to her superior organizational skills. Master T was shocked to learn that she could "get her sentence reduced for good behaviour". Hello! Hope he never goes to jail.

So today Master T needed to tidy a room including vacuuming. Sound easy?

Well, Master T is sporting a HUGE hicky on his cheek. It is so huge I can't look at him.

How?

Well, I have realized for a while that menfolk like to do things that border on dangerous ie barbecuing, mowing with no shoes etc...

When I look at a vacuum cleaner I see, well a vacuum cleaner. Do you?

Not Master T. He was enjoying sucking up his hair, his lips and obviously his cheek. I'm not allowed to take a photo to post on this blog as I am being 'inappropriate' apparently. It is a doozy!

So as we are getting ready of our trip to the big city, Master T has some new threads as he wants a bit of style.

You won't notice them though. All you will see is his lovely hicky on his cheek. Pity as he was keen to show some style.


ciao for now


just Martha xx


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just Loving...

I have finally bought myself a new beach umbrella. On sale. It has a wicked base to screw into the sand, a vented umbrella part so it doesn't blow away in the wind, is extra wide for shade AND comes in a handy easy to carry bag.

No more struggling with the old one that I have had for 25 years.

I am in love. Love I tell you

Doesn't take much to make me happy


ciao for now


just Martha xx


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Master T-isms...

I took the Teenies shopping yesterday for school supplies and the like. We got take away at the shopping centre, shopped for books, shoes and some dress clothes. As you do.

Master T always adds a sense of wonder to the trip. It is interesting watching him grow, listening to his chatter on the long car trip and his view of life. He has grown 6.5cm in the last few months. I'm not sure where life will take him as he has kind of a different view of the world. I think he needs to set higher goals for himself.

You decide:

*He wants to be tazered. By the police.

*He wants to grow his hair long enough so he can taste it

*He is very keen to have a suit. Always has from the age of 3. He also wants a gold chain, gold earrings and a gold watch. And he wants them now and then he will be set apparently. He assures me he doesn't want to be a pimp. Or a gangster. Or a drug dealer. Good to know

*And he wants to wear his cuff links

*He wants to grow his mustache until he is asked by the school to shave it off

*He wants to own his own jet

We are heading off to the big city next week and he wanted to make sure he was going to be dressed appropriately. Apparently at the recent funeral we went to he felt 'ashamed that he was terribly underdressed'. He had on black pants and a short sleeved button up shirt. I did point out that he probably needed to stop growing before we get him a suit due to the monetary investment and he is only 13 so has a few years to go.

He doesn't get his sense of style from his Dad. Whose favourite fashion accessory at the moment is his double plugger thongs from Proserpine!

So, Master T continues to delight and exasperate with each passing minute which is exactly what a 13 year old should be doing


.......... Gold earrings?........... What the?




ciao for now




just Martha xx










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Little Trip...

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Well the holiday at home continues and we are off on a little trip to our nearly city to do some touristy things. Yes we did live there for near on 16 years as a married couple but left when Miss T was 8. So, back to do some sight seeing. I have chosen a lovely boutique hotel right in the middle of the city. The Silver Fox will hop off the train and walk 100 meters to meet us. Pretty fantastic I reckon.

I can't decide if I should notify our friends to meet us for dinner or leave it for this time. Maybe leave it as we are not even catching up with the Silver Fox's family either having only recently seen them.

We will do markets, museums, shops, restaurants... The lot!

The stay comes with breakfast so yay and yum! We have someone staying in our house to mind our pooch so all will have fun. We have an option to book for an extra night while we are there so perfect!

That will be soon but for now I have been... 'asking' the Teenies to do chores like sweeping the garage, tidying the pantry and drawers, do the washing.... How absolutely lovely to come back to a tidy house! Thanks kids! Bliss!

ciao for now


just Martha xx

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Update...

Well the silly season is done and dusted and the Silver Fox is away again. We chatted tonight and realized we have been doing this now for 9 months. Again. 9 months of here and not here. Mostly not here. After this job is finished in mid February, we will have much to discuss.



Anyhow, here is a snapshot of when the Silver Fox was here. Tongue I cheek. You will notice that his passion for bikes is as big as ever.

Before the Silver Fox's visit

During his visit






After his visit. Haha. Gotta love him!

Ciao for now









just Martha xx











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Happy New Year...

Well, it is a little different for me this year. Here I am tucked up in bed, sober as, and I was home by 1230. The joys of having a teenage daughter that works and needs picking up. Not that I am complaining.

The Silver Fox and Master T have continued to bond over bike riding and as we speak they are at a "12 hour lock down" at their favourite indoor BMX park, back flipping to their hearts content. They went at 8 pm, bikes in tow and a mattress in the ute to bring out in the night. I think they were having pizza and soft drink and riding their legs off. They smile on their faces was worth a million dollars to me. I love that they have this connection and as Master T is nearly 14, it is very special to them both. It is very good for the Silver a Fox too.

I went to a friend's for dinner and then off to the local pub for a dance and a catch up with friends. When I went home and let the dog in, she grabbed a toy and put herself to bed. Not used to such a late night apparently.

My New Year's Resolutions? I think I previously stated to do more things with my family. Have little trips here and there and get together with the extended family for birthdays. Not hard if I get organized. The 4 of us are continuing our Holiday at Home holiday and are pretty much on schedule. We will have to save the Byron trip for a time when it is less busy but we have done a lot.

This week however we need to go to a funeral. My brother in law's Father in law. It is a bit sad really but such is life. The children are surprised that we want them to come along but I pointed out that we needs to be there to support the Silver Fox's brother, their uncle as it had been hard on everyone. Master T wanted to know if he had to do a speech. The last funeral they went to was for their Great Nonna and Miss T offered to do a speech. She was 9 and it was fabulous. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Not this time though. Just be supportive and not whinge. Tall order.

So what else as a resolution? I want to cull rooms and live a bit more simply. I Have heard that a lot from my friends too.

So sweet Bloggers, I wish you a very Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true..



ciao for now



just Martha xx




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