Family Time Version # 3

Good morning to everyone this wonderful somewhat sunny Melbourne Sunday morning,

Why am I so cheery??? Not quite too sure but I think it's because I have decided that I am not going to plan out the day - will just take it as it comes!

"Family Time" today will be just go with the flow and see what happens. I suppose that's the only way we are going to get it right!

No only kidding.... we have had a great weekend so far even though it wasn't exactly what was in mind.

Yesterday Noel and the kids met me at work just as I was finishing. We went to Dandenong, planned to do shopping there but ended up going to an Indian Cafe for lunch. It was really good food and quite cheap. YUM!!

Today so far... we have done nothing exciting. Alex is watching a movie in our room, Oliver is doing his homework, Noel is pottering around doing housework and I am sitting on my fat bum in front of the computer.

..... could be a very lazy day.... and we are all still in our pj's!!

"Family Time" version #2!!

I should know by now that I shouldn't plan anything.... even a quiet weekend.

Friday night didn't happen as I had planned BUT that's okay!! Sharon popped in for a drink and a vent as she (and Tom) have had an interesting week with our school. Tom has been bullied (bitten, hit and stabbed with a pencil) to the point where he retalliated and now all of a sudden Tom is the child with issues... go figure? Needless to say after a few chardy's there was no way this little duck was going shopping. So when Sharon left we settled down and watch a movie as a family and had Jaffles (Toasted Sandwiches) for dinner... OMG the last time we had Jaffles for dinner we were sitting in the middle of the bush, camping!! And I must admit it was ACE!!

So today the new plan is...... work until 12pm, do a quick run around the shops to get supplies and then it's home. Cleaning will be on the agenda but I am still going to ensure I get that family time happening over the next two days!!

Plus I still a cwch!!!!!

"Family Time"

It's Friday afternoon so technically the weekend starts very soon but as I work Saturday's until 12pm it doesn't officially start for me until then!

BUT this weekend is going to be all about us... the kids, Noel and myself. I don't feel I have spent enough time with any of them lately.

So getting the shopping out of the way tonight so that's one less time waster on Saturday. We all go and do this but it's not really "family time". When we get back home I am going to do a whirlwind clean (well as much as I can) just to be able to have more quality time Saturday and Sunday.

We have already had invites for Saturday. We have been invited to the horse races at Cranbourne plus it's the Frankston Festival of the Lights (the council turn on the lights of the Christmas tear and normally have fireworks) but to be honest would much prefer just to cwch up on the coach and watch movies with my babies. (Sorry Sharon if you read this...)

Sunday - no firm plans either at this stage. Might spend the day getting the christmas decorations organised, work out where we are going to put our Christmas tree (in our smaller house) and just dag around together. Could even be a daggy jarmie day!! LOL!!

Cross fingers none of the above changes....... selfish aren't I?

Jo xx

PS: "CWCH" is welsh for cuddle/hug - it's the best word in the world! My kids are Aussies but they ask for a cwch!

Apparently I am normal .....

Apparently I am normal or should I say my Blood Pressure is?? 120/80 – the first time is 16 weeks. I have to go back to see the doctor in two weeks and I am still on the strong tablet but what a relief. Noel came to the doctors with me and he said he could see the relief in my face as soon as I got the result. I must say this little battle with my BP has really had me feeling down quite a bit lately. I hate not knowing why things happen and when I don’t know why I know I can’t fix it. It’s probably being a “thinker” that is causing the high blood pressure in the first place. Anyway the important thing is my BP’s okay finally but I still really need to work of losing my excess weight and getting rid of the BP medication all together.

Not a great deal more to report. Have spoken with Mam a few times this last week and she is starting to get excited about coming down for Christmas. I know I am…. I just can’t wait to see her. As I mentioned a while ago I really need a Mam hug!!

Christmas is fast approaching and I need to pull my finger out and get organised. Not sure how many we are having around the table this year but I know the starting figure will be 11! If a miracle happens it could even be 20 but that miracle would have to happen soon.

Needless to say the situation with my sister isn’t getting any better. I haven’t spoken to her since the 7th November and even then I rang her. I love the way she just chats away as if it was yesterday the last time we spoke. Chatting about this and that as if I know what she is talking about. Half the time I don’t have a clue! When we are talking she does ask how we all are and I just tell her everything is good even if it’s not. Maybe I should tell her what’s really going on but I don’t think it would really bother her or if she would truly care. Bottom line is - I am just not a part of her world and it’s me that has to accept that.

Oh well enough whinging about things I have no control over… I really need to get on and enjoy MY life. Right?

Only 34 days until Christmas

OMG - I cannot believe how close to Christmas it is... let alone how fast this year has gone!! I don't know if anyone agrees but lately the days are turning into weeks quicker than I care for and I don't seem to be getting a great deal done other than the run of the mill stuff.

Noel has been doing overtime all this week including this morning. (The kids have gone to Mam and Dad's for a sleepover last night because we are both working.) I have had a couple of training sessions also. Monday I was at Clarinda giving some training to another company employee and then Tuesday I was in a training session being trained. But to be honest the rest of the week just disappeared.

Speaking of Christmas - I am really looking forward to it this year but I do every year! Christmas would have to be my favourite time. I love celebrating the Festive Season, decorating the house, planning and preparing the food and there is always my wish of having the whole family together (both sides) for such a special day although I don't think it is going to happen this year. It is ACE however my Mam is flying down from Brisbane and Clare (Noel's sister) is flying down from Sydney to be here for the festivities. We are having Christmas lunch at our house again this year but I wouldn't want it any other way!

I am excited today though as my friend, Kerry, is coming down from Sydney to stay with us. We all love Kerry visiting, especially the kids who adore her (we all do). This will be just a nice quiet visit, no big girly-get togethers up the city, just time with our family.

And on the topic of friends, I have made contact with Carolyn Whamond, another school friend that I haven't seen for at least 15 years (not quite sure - could be longer). Just to prove that it is a small world and that Google is a powerful search engine... I googled her name and got a hit. I contacted the secretary of the Theatre company and he was kind enough to provide an address so I wrote her a letter (snail mail of course) and couldn't believe it when she sent me an email reply. She is living in Tasmania so I can only hope that we will meet up again one day soon.

The weather has turned bad here, not as bad as in Southern Queensland. My thoughts go out to all the families affected with the storms that they are experiencing. It rained here all of last night and so far most of this morning. However we really cannot/should not complain as we, Australia, really need the rain but I don't understand why it can't rain during the week? hehehe

It's Monday again ... gee that week flew by!

Wow I cannot believe that it has been a full week... where did it go and what did we do?

Of course we worked as usual, with Noel doing overtime Monday through to Thursday and also a full day on Saturday. It's good that he is getting the overtime so close to Christmas - like everyone we can definately use the money.

Wednesday night we went to the Frankston RSL with Mam, Dad, Paul and Angela for dinner. Nice meal as usual and it was great to see Paul and Angela again. They were leaving Mam and Dad's on Thursday to spend a few nights in the city before flying out Saturday morning for Cairns. I spoke to Paul Saturday morning and they had really enjoyed their time in Melbourne. I am really glad that I met them!

Saturday we had a really nice night - just the four of us! We had dinner while watching the movie Get Smart! It was a funny film but I must say listening to the kids laugh and their little comments and chattering about what just happened is ace. It makes me feel priviledged to be a mam!

Now Sunday was huge.. spent the whole day unpacking boxes, rearranging rooms and putting things in new homes etc. I am really impressed with our efforts. We now have a comfortable dining room, less the boxes and a lot of crap. The bookshelves are full, the family photo's are up, the glasses are all the glass cabinet and best of all the computer is no longer on the dining table! But there is still so much to do!!

Another get together.....

After such a huge emotional evening Friday night (geez I enjoyed myself!) Sunday brought another reunion. This time it was for Noel and his family. Noel's cousin, Paul and his wife Angela, have come to visit from England. They arrived Sunday morning and we had all planned to go to Mam and Dad's for a bbq lunch/afternoon.

It was wonderful to finally meet Paul, as I have emailed with him and chatted on Facebook! It was funny when we walked in Paul said "and I know this one - I've seen her before!" Mam, Dad and Sean were really surprised... and then Paul said " we've chatted on email and on facebook!!" I thought it was really funny!

Noel enjoyed himself as I watched him chat with all his family and ask Paul lots of question regarding England, the place once called home! I like watching from the sidelines especially when it is such an important event - Noel hadn't seen Paul for 25 years!!

Back row: Christian, Dad, Sean, Mam, Noel

Front row: Oliver, Vicky, Paul, Angela, Me

Dinner with Alison

I spent most of yesterday in a mood of very mixed feelings and emotions. I was scared, nervous, excited and on the verge of wetting myself knowing that at 7pm I would meet up with someone I hadn’t seen for nearly half my lifetime!

I had butterflies in my tummy and my hands were shaking from nerves but 20 years on from the last time we saw each other it was fantastic to catch up again. I couldn’t believe that Alison was actually in my house talking to me!

Do you think we have changed much???

Alison really hasn't changed that much from school days - her hair is longer, darker but she still has the beautiful eyes and smile that I remember. We had a lovely dinner and sat, chatting like two old fish wives about things that have happened over the last two decades and also things that we remember from our school days. I still cannot believe that we live so close to each other (ony a few streets away) but haven't cross paths before ... obviously the time is right now.

Unfortunately the kids missed out on meeting her. They really wanted to but were having a sleepover at Nana and Grandad's as Noel and I are both working today!

It was a blast! I hope Alison enjoyed herself as much as Noel and I did. Hopefully we will see each other again soon and not wait another 20 years (I have to return her dessert dish anyways! LOL!!)

A short week that has gone too fast.

With having the extra long weekend for the Melbourne Cup going back to work on the Wednesday was very hard. I enjoyed the extra few days at home but honestly find it hard to get back into the work routine especially with having only the 3 and a half days to get through.

We have had Tom sleeping over for the last two nights as Sharon has gone interstate for work. Back up to Sydney to see how her shops are coming along... not too good by the sounds of having to stay an extra day!

I went to the Doctors on Wednesday afternoon. BP up a little (140/90) but my doctor is okay with that… another week on the same tablets and another appointment next Wednesday.

Had a surprise phone call from the Healesville Police to say that my purse had been found. Mind you I lost it 4 weeks ago and I believe that it has been in a creek since then as it was all water logged and the contents damaged. I went through all of the contents with the policeman, he sent me a few things that were salvaged, but the purse itself has found a new home - in the bin!

However we have made it to Friday and what a day it's going to be! Noel is working tomorrow (another shock for us - he hasn't done a Saturday since around March!) so the kids are off to Nana and Grandad's for a sleepover. Noel will pick them up on the way home Saturday afternoon.

But I am sitting here with mixed feelings.

Feelings of excitement, nervousness and even a little scared. Why? I have a friend coming over for dinner tonight. A friend that I haven't seen for 20 years!! The last time we saw each other was in Year 12 of Mentone Girls Secondary College.

Dinner is planned, in fact I made the main dish last night. We are having STGTBT Lasagne with a nice fresh salad. I just need to go home, grab a few things from the shop, make the salad, clean the house to make it a little more respectable and hopefully sit down for 5 minutes to chill out - what a night this is going to be?!?!?!

The Long Weekend is over..

Well normality returned this morning the minute the alarm sounded. So did our weekday routine of up, making lunches, showering, getting too little tired cherubs up and organised! It really is all a bit clockwork but it’s what we are all used to!

Yesterday was a great day… I still had my little sad cloud surrounding me as my thoughts drifted at times towards my dad but Deb and Julien put on quite a spread (they catered for the 5000 – somebody else I know does that!) and the dynamics of the people invited made for a different afternoon. A few families from the football club, a few of their other friends, us and Sharon, “Lovergirl Extraordinaire!.” It all turned out a really good afternoon even without winning anything on the nags.

Speaking of Sharon, she was walking on air yesterday. Her second date with dream boy was successful on many levels except for food consumption!! “Live on love” is the old saying, right? Yep you guessed it – that lasagne didn’t get a look in but she did admit that I made it! On the up side she now has lunch for this week!!

It's Monday and we are not at work!

No we are not bludging... it's a long weekend here in Melbourne due to the Melbourne Cup Day. The public holiday is actually tomorrow but Noel and I managed to secure today off as well. Next week is going to be a nice short week at work - only Wednesday to Saturday.

We haven't really done anything exciting!! The kids have been shacked up playing their DS games or watching DVD's whilst Noel and I threw out things for hard rubbish collection all day yesterday! Looking at our naturestrip must admit we are both quite proud of our efforts and I have come to the realisation the I definately am the instigating Hoarder but Noel's not too bad either!

Yesterday was kind of hard especially throwing up things that link me with my dad. Dad died 15 years ago yesterday... I didn't say anything to Noel, but Oliver asked what was wrong when we had a few precious moments together. I rang Mam - just because I wanted to... she knew exactly why! Noel finally found out and asked my why I didn't remind him. I don't think I have too!

Today will be another day of box sorting but the house is looking much better. Tom is stopping over tonight as Sharon (who I must say is in LOVE!) is having date #2 with her Dream Man! In between my boxes I have offered to make a lasagne for Sharon's dinner tonight as she has been called into work today and won't have time to cook anything! Take-away is not an option when you are just starting out in a relationship... it's up to her if she fesses up to who actually made it! hahaha!!

Tomorrow is Melbourne Cup - the race that stops the Nation... We are off to the Coopers for a BBQ lunch - should be fun!

Better fly as I must stop procrastinating, get off my bum and continue sorting....