It's all a blur

Tis the festive season...
Today we were asked to our neighbours house for a little Christmas drink.
Well........ 4 hours later we are finally home... We had to walk 4 metres there. 4 meters home.
We had such a nice time! we are so glad we went.
Don't really talk to our neighbours... Got to meet them properly.

It's all a bit of a blur... and this is just the start... less than 4 weeks till Christmas... it's going to go by very very blurry...

Don't you just love the Christmas/Festive season!!!
All the very best of wishes you and your families!

BTW... We have Gay neighbours... (there is nothing wrong with that) we finally got to meet them properly today. They are the nicest, loveliest people... I thought it was a marriage breakup... not so. They adopted their son when he was 1 year old! Now 5. He is the cutest EVER! I want him!!!

Just Because...

Great News!

Yippie! My sister and her husband just bought a new house!
They sold their house about a month ago and have been searching high and low for their next property without much success until yesterday!
I am so happy for them! And they are so very excited! There is going to be another renovation happening in the family.... But they wont do theirs for some time.

Here it is!

Have a great Friday everyone! After driving nearly 1500 km's in the past 2 days I have given myself the day off today!!! (But I am working tomorrow morning)

Not Rum Balls.

On Sunday we went to our lovely friends place for lunch to celebrate Karin turning 50!
we knew it was her birthday... But we didn't know she was 50 till we got there!
We had such a lovely day! Lounging in the sun, eating, drinking and eating some more!
I took a little dessert - Rum Balls! But maybe not how you know them...
You see, I don't like sultanas and most people put sultanas in their rum balls. I don't.
I also don't put any booze in them. Just prefer them that way.

So it goes like this:
1 packet of Marie biscuits crushed (I just use my rolling pin in the bowl because I don't have a food processor)
1 can of condensed milk (I use the light one. There isn't any difference in taste)
1 cup of coconut
1 table spoon of cocoa (But I put in 2!)
Mix all together. Roll into balls and then roll in some extra coconut.
Now... How easy is that!

And they are always always a hit with everyone! I love them!

PS: I have some news on our house! Will let you know in the next post!

I got an award! I am a versatile blogger?

I am a versatile blogger?
Well Jaclyn from Little Paper Trees thinks so...
Check out her blog! Little Paper Trees

So this is how it goes... I'm going to share 7 things about myself and then pass this award onto 7 more.
Here it goes...

1. I don't really like watching movies at the movies. I can't stand to sit through one for hours (which they seem to be these days) and I haven't been to the movies for a very long time. I think the last movie I went to see was the last Bond movie (at husbands request - he LOVES movies - recites lines from them and all)
2. I don't like my job. I really don't. I'm only sticking it out because we are trying to have a baby and I might as well have some stability.
3.  When we were little, my sister and I taught our little brother to sing Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' We thought we/it was hilarious! We still do.
4. My mum used to have this hideous "Palm tree singlet". My sister and I used to get it and put it in each others rooms and then when we found it would go yelling and screaming through the house about it. One year, many many years after we were "grown up" mum wrapped it up and gave it to us for Christmas... Ha Ha! It was very funny (or maybe you had to be there?) so now every year we take it in turns to buy "Palm tree singlets" for each other and give them out at Christmas.
5. My grandfather who will be 80 in January has an obsession with taking a photo of anything that resembles a name of one of his grandchildren. eg: My sisters name is Emma. He was somewhere??? and there was a place "Emma Cottage" so he takes a photo and sends it to her... I'm getting old... What did I do in London? Saw a 'Garden' with our family surname so had my photo taken next to it and sent his a copy!
6. I am afraid of birds. Even the little ones. I have to take a wide birth when I walk past them in the street and that's probably why I am not particularly fond of the beach (seagulls). Even chooks! I WILL NOT go anywhere near the chook pen at mum and dads.
7. Our house is one big shambles. But this week we got the great news that our plans have been approved by council!!! Now we have to do all the bits and bobs for the building certificate = Great news... BUT MORE MONEY..... I just want to start smashing down walls!

So now you know...

Now its time for me to pass this wonderful versatile blogger award:
1. Emmie Gemmie from Desert Darling
2. Sass and Spice (and baby Lily)
3. Donna from Snippets of my life (getting married this weekend by the way!)
4. GC Real Estate Girl
5. Nell from One the First Day of Marriage
6. Christie from Ie Love
7. Maxabella Loves and her 3 Tsunamis!

Not my surname anymore.... 

Feeling Better

Thanks everyone for your wonderful words and support.
From a simple "Hugs" Thanks Donna
To an essay! from Desert Darling
And all the ones in between. I appreciate you all.
You have all helped me to feel better. I love how the blog community are all there to support you through the good and the bad.
My wonderful husband bought me home a beautiful bunch of Oriental lilies in Monday night too. I cried, but felt so much better because we had a good chat and I know he is frustrated too and that we are in this together.
Tomorrow we FINALLY have his specialist appointment with the Diabetes people and then I have booked to go to my normal GP in the late afternoon. I want to talk to him about the baby making thing. I don't think I ovulate every month? I have also heard about these blood tests you can get during your cycle to pin point EXACTLY when you ovulate so I want to talk to him about that too.
To you all out there in the blog world I send my love.

Down in the dumps

I'm feeling blue, grey and stormy today. I'm down in the dumps you could say.
I am doing my best to make the baby making easy, light hearted and have the "it will happen when it happens" attitude.
But it's not easy. Yesterday I found out a friends sister is now pregnant with her third child. Weren't even trying! Were supposed to wait till next year for that.
Is it horrible that I wasn't even happy? Wasn't excited. Just jealous and wondered why it isn't me.

And a friend of mine who's daughter isn't even 6 months old yet has gone back to work fully time. Yes thats FULLY time. 7am starts, 7pm finishes. 15 hours days, flying interstate. I just don't get it? Spend some time with your baby! Do you know how lucky you are?

Sorry for the vent today bloggy readers. But I needed to get it out. Sorry if I upset you, offend you or anything else. I'm just very very frustrated at the moment.

Mum, Dad & Me...

Young at 19 years old and had a baby... 

Wow. I don't know how they did it.

Weddings

I really do love a good wedding. I love looking at wedding photos too!
On Monday when I was at my folks house I decided to look through their wedding album.
They were so young. But nearly 31 years later they are still happy, married and in love.
They didn't have a photographer, they didn't have fancy cars. The "reception" was held at my nans house.
The whole day cost them about $1500 I am told.
It's not about how much you spend, its about the love.

PS. I attended my parents wedding.... I was about 2 months old.

Lest we Forget

Remembrance Day in Australia is dedicated to Australians who died as a result of war, particularly from World War I onwards. A minute of silence is dedicated to the deceased, especially for soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.

According to the Australian government’s Cultural and Recreation portal, Remembrance Day, which was originally called Armistice Day, commemorated the end of the hostilities for the Great War (World War I), the signing of the armistice, which occurred on November 11, 1918 – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

On the first anniversary of the armistice, in 1919, one minute's silence was instituted as part of the main commemorative ceremony. After the end of World War II in 1945, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day as an appropriate title for a day which would commemorate all war dead.

The year 2008 marked the 90th anniversary of the Australian attack at Villers-Bretonneux. On April 24, 1918, Australian Imperial Force (AIF) soldiers attacked German forces that captured the French town of Villers-Bretonneux earlier that day. The action was successful, but the fighting was fierce, and many lives were lost on both sides.

Lest we Forget.

Image and words courtsey of http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/remembrance-day

Belated Birthday

On Monday it was my sisters birthday. She is one of my very best friends. 

I (and the Mister) was actually in Melbourne on Monday and got to be there for the traditional birthday dinner this year! I just love my mum's cooking!!!

The photo I have posted today is a picture that mum has up in the house. I like the "wings" in my hair!

I walked all around the house taking photos of photos that mum has up. I will post them in the coming days.

We had cake! Yum! A bought cake this year. We didn't get home till late so the was no time to bake one.

I bought a great present for my sister! But it didn't arrive in time. So I will not put that away for Christmas. I was then in a rush to get something in time. What was I going to do! 

I ended up trying about 20 different perfumes... And I bought Vera Wang Look in the end. She loved it!

We had a great weekend away with the whole family. But its back to Sydney and work and reality now. I am so extra super busy at work now too. I don't see it getting much quieter till the week before Christmas either. Long days and Saturday mornings for the next few weeks.

Here are a few more old piccies of my sister and I when we were little

My sisters christening

Me a dancing flower my sister a jumping bunny!

Sisters and best friends on my First Communion day.

An Arty Weekend

This weekend is the Balmain Art and Craft Show!
Sadly, I will be in Melbourne visiting the family, but if your around in Sydney this weekend I recommend you pay Balmain a visit and check out the art show!
http://www.balmainartandcraftshow.com/
I have been waiting nearly a whole year for this!
Last year for my 30th I asked mum and dad to get me a piece of art. But I said I would wait till the art show and get something there....
Um... Not happening... I booked our trip to Melbourne without checking the dates...
There's always next year I suppose.

Enjoy your weekends all! I sure will! Really really looking forward to spending time away with my family.

Jersey Boys

We went to the Jersey Boys Musical at the Theatre Royal tonight! We had so much fun! 


So Jersey Boys for those of you that don't know.... 
JERSEY BOYS is the story of how four boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi –

THE FOUR SEASONS – wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty.

JERSEY BOYS features their hit songs “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Rag Doll”, “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, among others.

"Can't take my eyes off you" is a bit of a hit with our family.  My sister had ALWAYS wanted it as her first dance when she got married and always said if the guy she was going to marry didn't want it, she wasn't going to marry him! (I don't think that would really ever happen)

So now it seems whenever we are all together we all sing and dance along to it! And tonight it didn't disappoint! Just the Mister and I! 

We are off to Melbourne on Saturday morning to have a weekend down at the beach in Barwon Heads! About a year ago mum and dad bought a new townhouse for holidaying! Really really looking forward to that!

Then it's my sisters 28th birthday on Monday! We aren't coming home till Tuesday morning so we get to celebrate with her!!! I bought her present today, but just in case she reads the post I cant tell you what it is.... When I do though I will have to explain there was a bit of drama around it... The 'actual' gift hasn't arrived in time so will now turn into her Christmas present.

When Clowns Dream

 "A clown can only dream of a quiet place where there's no need to be anything for anyone."

We bought this painting in Byron Bay the other week. 
We actually bought it for out un-made, un-born child.
We have stopped ourselves from buying anything baby related up until now because we didn't want to 'tempt fate' so to say. 
But there was just something about this painting. We had to have it. So we did. 
It is now safely packed away until our renovations are done etc.........


The painting is by Craig Martin. Here is the description off the website for the gallery (www.retrospectgalleries.com)

Craig Martin
Craig has seen himself as a high flying trapeze artist and coach, a guide on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a social director on cruise ships, a bit of an actor and dancer, an international flight attendant and an illustrator and still has no idea what he wants to be.

The circus is a special place for me. Teaching and performing circus was the first vocation I found in life that gave me inspiration, purpose, fulfilment and confidence.

The collective title of my Carnies Kooks and Clowns pieces is, "When Clowns Dream". I wish I had more hours in my day so I could pump out all the images that come to mind when I imagine what clowns might dream about and long for.

Each piece represents a single clowns most treasured dream place. One has the biggest audience he could possibly dream of for his humble little performance, another lets fly with the biggest and best clown stunt ever performed and I love that he does it for no one but himself, the 3rd dreams of being "normal" and joining the masses but can never shake whats in his blood and the last clown wishes simply for what what I imagine to be a secret dream for so many of the literal and metaphorical clowns of the world, a place of stillness.