Rather a parent based post ... sorry!

Oh my, things have changed a bit over here in blogspot land.

Not sure what I'm doing but I'm sure it will all work itself out!

Let's see if I can post a photo ...

I can!

Sorry if you've seen it before.

It's been a quiet week.  Himself and I went to see the parents and clean out the fish tank.  Mum does tend to reinvent history.  Especially the last 18 months or so.  Anyone would think she lived an idyllic life, cooked gourmet meals and socialised with all and sundry.  The truth is she wasn't eating, drank heaps, didn't get dressed unless she had a medical appointment and saw a neighbour once a week when said neighbour would drop in. 

Today she said that if she moved back to low care she would have a menu from which to choose meals.  I told her that she wouldn't cos she wouldn't eat anything from the menus.  She said that she would have fish if it was on the menu and I had to tell her that that is what she gets.  And if the menu doesn't have a vego option the kitchen creates a meal just for her.  Then she said that DAD would like to choose.  Dad will eat anything.  Loves his tucker and doesn't really care.

I fully understand how hard it must be for her and how she must feel that she no longer has control but she forgets (or never admitted in the first place) that the way they were living was downright dangerous.  If she chose to starve/drink herself to death then that was her choice but Dad didn't have a say in it and he was also being starved, poor bugger.

It occurred to me this week that the majority of my friendships have been formed directly from, or as a spinoff from, the internet.  At the end of that thought conversation (what, don't you have thought conversations .... sounds better than "talking to myself") I looked at how much change my father has seen, experienced and embraced since his birth in 1918.  If it wasn't for that damned stroke he would still be learning and thinking and working out how to make things better.

Think I need to go and hug a kitten.



Just another day

This is Bonnie the day we picked her up so she was about 7 weeks old.  Shame they have to grow up!!

It has turned chilly.  We have probably seen the last of the hot weather but it is Melbourne and anything can happen.  I love this time of year.  Crisp mornings but still some warmth in the sun.

Himself is really, really down about the lack of work.  Not helped with a dose of my "man flu"!!


Mum has been saying how she wants to go home.  I get attacked by the guilts (as does Other Brother which makes me feel a bit less alone!).  Then I come across this photo which reminds why they are where they are ... they were unsafe on their own ...

EUREKA!!

After much faffing about I have managed to get photos from phone to computer to here!!  Now I just need to fine tune a few things.



 Above are Angus and Bonnie. They are bigger now but you get the idea.

 A blurry photo of the three boys and two girlfriends.

 The third girlfriend with the Ninja (this one is the future daughter in law, One's girlfriend)

The Stig and The Ninja.  Not a good one of either but it's a start!!

And when Mary comes back from her jaunt to Portugal she will get a surprise.  It's only taken .... um, years!!



Happy Easter

I am not a religious person.  I repsect those who are, and in some ways envy them that blind faith.  I've been down that path a few times in my life but question too much, methinks!   The Aunt is very churchy.  She prays every day and reads her bible and goes to church every Sunday.  Good on her BUT ... don't tell me when something goes right for me that it's because she's praying for me!!!  It just might have been down to me!  And don't get started on God making it possible for me to do it in the first place COS I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!

Hmmm.  Where did that little rant come from?

Himself is very down in the dumps with the lack of employment.  So hard to see.

One and Ebs are coming for dinner tonight.  That will buck him up a bit.

The internet is a wonderful machine.  An old friend posted on facebook that she was looking to buy a treadmill.  A few messages back and forth and lo and behold, she has bought mine. (Himself has been very good not to mention that he knew it would never get used when we bought it.  I would have used it if I could get into the damned garage!).  So Lisa has a tready and I get to see her again after way too many years.

Himself and I went to the gym yesterday (hence no longer needing the tready) and I jogged for over half an hour.  I was stoked.  Especially as I still have the lurgy which is making breathing a bit of a challenge.

Time for a quick squiz around the blogosphere and then off to continue spot cleaning the carpet - a strangely satisfying task.

If one gets a yummy ginger cake recipe from a fellow blogger is it calorie free?

Still coughing!

Another glorious autumn day, here.  Himself has gone to the gym but I cancelled my PT session.  I didn't want to be sneezing all over the place.  Just as well cos I woke up this morning with a very nasty productive cough.  Ick.

I really hope that Himself gets a job soon.  It's doing his head in and I hate seeing him so distressed.

Plus it will mean that we both have some structure back in our lives. Each day is a wait and see sort of day.  If a phone call or email gets answered he's a bit happier but if no contact is made he's miserable. 

Today I plan to destain the stairs.  SOMEONE isn't careful when they take stuff down to the rubbish bin and there are drip marks all down them.

And I hope to get out in the lovely sunshine at some point, too.

I have Man flu!

Anyone who lives with a male knows that they never get a cold and suffer in silence.  Well, I woke up yesterday morning with a cold and am NOT suffering in silence.  I am a disgrace to the female gender but sure as eggs is eggs Himself will get this so I am getting my whingeing in first.

I hope he doesn't get it before Thursday as he has a job interview.  Fingers crossed.

The Stig is making it impossible to type so I'm off to sit on the balcony and read a book in the late autumn sunshine.                  

Life trundles along

I know it's been a long time between drinks!

After the pain of losing Tom, we gave in and bought another kitten.  He's called The Stig!  A beautiful tabby who is very affectionate - well, to me anyway!!

Not long after Himself and I came home one evening to find that the back door hadn't locked properly when we went out and the dogs had got in and killed Sheba.  We were devastated.  They hadn't savaged her, the vet said it was just boisterous play.  She would have died instantly and there wasn't a tooth mark on her.  We now have a little black cat called Ninja.  They have some enormous shoes to fill but seem to be up to the task.

Mother is doing her best to settle in at the aged care facility.  She has her moments but that is to be expected.  Dad is slowly going down hill.  His speech and mobility are deteriorating but he's happy.

Himself is still without work which is placing a huge strain on him.  Fingers crossed something will come up soon.

One, Two and Three are well.  One has ordered THE ring so celebrations will be happening very soon.  Their house is coming along well, too.  Should be finished around August.  Two is working for a camera store and seems happy.  He's going back to finish his degree so he can apply to teach English in Japan.  He and his girlfriend are a good couple.  Who knows, this could be the one although it's early days.  Three is in yet another job.  Still customer service but with cars so he is a very happy little vegemite. 

I am muddling along.  My laptop died so I haven't been able to get online as easily as I used to but I now have a new pink machine (the colour makes all the difference) so I'm baaaaaack.

Speaking of which, Trish, if you read this.  Any chance of being able to read your journal?  I miss it.

The volunteer reading programme has taken off.  And being the bunny I am, I offered to help the teacher who is organising it.  I was dismayed to find the whole thing is run voluntarily even down to the teacher doing everything in her own time.  So I am pairing students with volunteers and working out the rosters.  A few teething problems but it should settle down next term.  I also go in once a fortnight to play word games with small groups.  Yesterday was the first session and they played wordsearch and scrabble. 

Three and his GF are over for dinner so better go and decide what to cook.  A friend and I rejoined WW for the umpteenth gazillionth time.  Early days but so far so good.