It's 4.18pm. It's Wednesday Afternoon. It's a public holiday.
There. Is. Nothing. On. TV.
I am reduced to watching a season 1 rerun of The Hills.
When did tv become so boring????
The Six Months From Hell
13 years ago
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Guest Birthday Post from My Mam
In honour of my 30th birthday today (I will not get used to saying that) my mum has written a blog for me (with a few additions by me).
Get your tissues ready......
"The Most Precious Gift of All"
Thirty years ago I was seven and a half months pregnant with my first child. At 4.00 pm on Thursday, 22 February I had my first fortnightly checkup with the obstetrician. At the end of the consultation the doctor phoned the hospital and booked me in for 8 am the following morning and booked the theatre for 4.30 pm that afternoon (Friday 23 February 1979). The baby had not moved for a month and did not have a very strong heartbeat (A fact now known as me sleeping soundly - do not disturb!). I was having major problems as well, so the decision was made to bring the baby into the world the next day by caesarian secton. We, as parents, were bitterly disappointed but we realised that the health of the baby came first.
At 4.40 pm on Friday 23 February 1979, a beautiful little baby girl entered the world. In those days, Fathers were not allowed in the theatre so Dad waited outside with Nanna and Poppy. When our precious little bundle was delivered the nurse brought her out to Daddy to hold her. He was so proud as he was the first one in his family to have a daughter as his firstborn. He had picked her name when we were first married and he never faltered from his original choice - even with much coaxing from me to include family names. When I was brought into recovery, the nurse placed her beside my head and she immediately curled her tiny body into the curves of my neck and kept crying, "Ooh Lah, Ooh Lah, Ooh Lah" (Not much has changed - I still like my snuggles). She felt so soft and cuddly and tiny. Later on that night when I had recovered a little more I asked to see her. She was in the premmie nursery in a humidicrib. I was told I had to wait till morning but the wait was worth it. She was so beautiful - and that special little cry was something that will remain with me forever. When I was allowed to nurse her, she curled her little fingers around my index finger and held tight.
Time wore on and she grew from a tiny baby into the crawling stage, then walking and teething. Her laughter pealed out loud during her playtimes, mealtimes - in fact, all waking moments. She was such a happy little girl who grew up to have a wonderful sense of humour. A brother came into our little family just over three years after her birth, and she cared for him and protected him and looked out for him during all their childhood years. Her love for him is the kind of love that all Mum's and Dad's would love to see exist between their children. That love for her brother has never faltered.
She cares for her friends deeply and is the best friend a Mum could ever hope to have as well. She has grown into a compassionate, loving, caring woman and still retains her great sense of humour.
For her birthday today, she arranged for a huge bunch of roses to be delivered to our house for her Mum. They arrived at the exact time she was delivered 30 years ago (I seriously did not arrange for them to be delivered at that time - just a freaky coincidence). They are so beautiful and each one of them represent the beauty I see in my wonderful daughter. A daughter who has come so far in her life - not in years - but in the way she cares for her friends, Mum, Dad, brother and sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins (a very special cousin included) second cousins and her beloved pets - her two kitties. She has battled with major illness and beaten it and is settling well into a new life in a new State - a brand new start. I look at her each day with pride brimming from me and I am sure that her grandparents will be looking down upon her today from heaven with pride in their hearts as well.
Happy Birthday to our beautiful Honeybunches. May all your dreams come true and may life always treat you kindly. Continue to approach life in the same manner you do now and with your great sense of humour. We are so proud of you. You have brought so much happiness into our lives. May God Bless You Always.
Lots of Love always
Mamma and Dad
Get your tissues ready......
"The Most Precious Gift of All"
Thirty years ago I was seven and a half months pregnant with my first child. At 4.00 pm on Thursday, 22 February I had my first fortnightly checkup with the obstetrician. At the end of the consultation the doctor phoned the hospital and booked me in for 8 am the following morning and booked the theatre for 4.30 pm that afternoon (Friday 23 February 1979). The baby had not moved for a month and did not have a very strong heartbeat (A fact now known as me sleeping soundly - do not disturb!). I was having major problems as well, so the decision was made to bring the baby into the world the next day by caesarian secton. We, as parents, were bitterly disappointed but we realised that the health of the baby came first.
At 4.40 pm on Friday 23 February 1979, a beautiful little baby girl entered the world. In those days, Fathers were not allowed in the theatre so Dad waited outside with Nanna and Poppy. When our precious little bundle was delivered the nurse brought her out to Daddy to hold her. He was so proud as he was the first one in his family to have a daughter as his firstborn. He had picked her name when we were first married and he never faltered from his original choice - even with much coaxing from me to include family names. When I was brought into recovery, the nurse placed her beside my head and she immediately curled her tiny body into the curves of my neck and kept crying, "Ooh Lah, Ooh Lah, Ooh Lah" (Not much has changed - I still like my snuggles). She felt so soft and cuddly and tiny. Later on that night when I had recovered a little more I asked to see her. She was in the premmie nursery in a humidicrib. I was told I had to wait till morning but the wait was worth it. She was so beautiful - and that special little cry was something that will remain with me forever. When I was allowed to nurse her, she curled her little fingers around my index finger and held tight.
Time wore on and she grew from a tiny baby into the crawling stage, then walking and teething. Her laughter pealed out loud during her playtimes, mealtimes - in fact, all waking moments. She was such a happy little girl who grew up to have a wonderful sense of humour. A brother came into our little family just over three years after her birth, and she cared for him and protected him and looked out for him during all their childhood years. Her love for him is the kind of love that all Mum's and Dad's would love to see exist between their children. That love for her brother has never faltered.
She cares for her friends deeply and is the best friend a Mum could ever hope to have as well. She has grown into a compassionate, loving, caring woman and still retains her great sense of humour.
For her birthday today, she arranged for a huge bunch of roses to be delivered to our house for her Mum. They arrived at the exact time she was delivered 30 years ago (I seriously did not arrange for them to be delivered at that time - just a freaky coincidence). They are so beautiful and each one of them represent the beauty I see in my wonderful daughter. A daughter who has come so far in her life - not in years - but in the way she cares for her friends, Mum, Dad, brother and sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins (a very special cousin included) second cousins and her beloved pets - her two kitties. She has battled with major illness and beaten it and is settling well into a new life in a new State - a brand new start. I look at her each day with pride brimming from me and I am sure that her grandparents will be looking down upon her today from heaven with pride in their hearts as well.
Happy Birthday to our beautiful Honeybunches. May all your dreams come true and may life always treat you kindly. Continue to approach life in the same manner you do now and with your great sense of humour. We are so proud of you. You have brought so much happiness into our lives. May God Bless You Always.
Lots of Love always
Mamma and Dad
Saturday, February 21, 2009
OH. MY. GOD...
Days til I'm 30 - 1.
This is getting seriously scary.
Still waiting for the wisdom that comes with age to arrive. Maybe it will arrive in a card tomorrow.
This is getting seriously scary.
Still waiting for the wisdom that comes with age to arrive. Maybe it will arrive in a card tomorrow.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Family Jewels
My brother and sister-in-law have arrived to help celebrate my birthday.
Day one was a wonderful day trip to my favourite place in north-west tasmania (Devonport). Unfortunately I got very car sick and the trip was cut short (bummer - I never EVER get car sick usually).
Tomorrow - my favourite place in Launceston and a picnic lunch.
I am so pleased to spend my birthday weekend with my favourite people - each family member is a precious jewel to keep.
Days till I'm 30 - 4.
Day one was a wonderful day trip to my favourite place in north-west tasmania (Devonport). Unfortunately I got very car sick and the trip was cut short (bummer - I never EVER get car sick usually).
Tomorrow - my favourite place in Launceston and a picnic lunch.
I am so pleased to spend my birthday weekend with my favourite people - each family member is a precious jewel to keep.
Days till I'm 30 - 4.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla (from Old Norse Valhöll "hall of the slain" is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, Norway. Valhalla - Tasmanian Gourmet Ice-Cream.
As a scandinavian descendant, is it any wonder I love Valhalla!!!!
ps - A great big sorry to the Superteen that they only started selling Valhalla at the local supermart a week after he went back home.
Countdown to 30 - 6 days!
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Paper Pusher
My mum, brother and I spent a great deal of my childhood and teenage years teasing my father about being a typical public servant - someone who pushes pieces of paper around the desk in a fluff and looking busy. Peals of laughter always followed when we joked about the paper pushing, the tea lady and her tea trolley, unfathomable amounts of unnecessary stationery, delegation of the highest order. We would laugh until tears rolled down our cheeks. Even dad had a chuckle (which was very hard to illicit so it usually encouraged the merryment to a a feverish pitch.
The greatest laugh ever had was on Dad's last day before retiring. We were absolutely convinced that dad would arrive home that night with his plush, leather executive chair trailing along behind. That was dad's first major stationery request when he became a manager. It followed him from office to office. The running joke was that no-one else would ever be able to use it because Dad's behind was permanently imprinted in the seat.
The other great joke was that Dad only ever moved paper around his desk four days a week then flexed off on Friday. Dad was the flexi-time king. Dad never worked on Friday. It was like his sabbath. On Monday to Thursday, he paper pushed, and on the fifth day he rested.
Now that I have recently joined the illustrious ranks of public servant I have found out just how true all those years of teasing were not far off the truth. I have two days off this week for annual leave. I have one (and possibly) two days off next week for flex. I have two trays on my desk in which the paperwork gets routinely moved about. The difference is I do actually work.
Truly.
p.s. Did you know that to get rid of hiccups, you just drink water upside-down???
Countdown to my 30th birthday - 7 days
The greatest laugh ever had was on Dad's last day before retiring. We were absolutely convinced that dad would arrive home that night with his plush, leather executive chair trailing along behind. That was dad's first major stationery request when he became a manager. It followed him from office to office. The running joke was that no-one else would ever be able to use it because Dad's behind was permanently imprinted in the seat.
The other great joke was that Dad only ever moved paper around his desk four days a week then flexed off on Friday. Dad was the flexi-time king. Dad never worked on Friday. It was like his sabbath. On Monday to Thursday, he paper pushed, and on the fifth day he rested.
Now that I have recently joined the illustrious ranks of public servant I have found out just how true all those years of teasing were not far off the truth. I have two days off this week for annual leave. I have one (and possibly) two days off next week for flex. I have two trays on my desk in which the paperwork gets routinely moved about. The difference is I do actually work.
Truly.
p.s. Did you know that to get rid of hiccups, you just drink water upside-down???
Countdown to my 30th birthday - 7 days
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Perils of Growing Old
In a grand total of 8 days (well, 7 and a half really) the feared 30th arrives.
In recent months I have had growing trepidation at the thought of the milestone. My knees start cracking every time I get up after bending down. I like to have nanna naps on the weekends when I can (and would happily have them at work as well if I could). I start looking at kids in their teens and can't really remember what it was like to be 18, or even 21 for that matter. Their music is loud, annoying and undecipherable. Screaming children at the shops or in the city drive me to distraction. A good night out is now a lemon, lime and bitters at the pub with some friends followed by dinner and home by 10.30pm (I'm usually asleep by 11). I don't like the young girls at the check-out calling me love, dear or darling... and shock horror, one of them called me ma'am the other week.
Have I really reached Ma'am age????
And then I remembered. I hated everyone telling me I was just a babe when they heard I was in my twenties (now I'm officially an oldie). Everyone I meet always thinks I'm about 8 years younger than I really am (bonus). For the most part, men in thirties are more mature than men in their twenties (I do, however, know some men who are the exception to this). When talking to the girls at work in their twenties, I have the benefit of hard earnt wisdom and hindsight (I actually feel like I know things now).
This turning 30 lark is way better than I thought it would be!
I have thus decided that my thirties will be way better than my twenties.
It still doesn't make the "what do I want for my birthday" question any easier to answer though (would a man be totally out of the question??!)
In recent months I have had growing trepidation at the thought of the milestone. My knees start cracking every time I get up after bending down. I like to have nanna naps on the weekends when I can (and would happily have them at work as well if I could). I start looking at kids in their teens and can't really remember what it was like to be 18, or even 21 for that matter. Their music is loud, annoying and undecipherable. Screaming children at the shops or in the city drive me to distraction. A good night out is now a lemon, lime and bitters at the pub with some friends followed by dinner and home by 10.30pm (I'm usually asleep by 11). I don't like the young girls at the check-out calling me love, dear or darling... and shock horror, one of them called me ma'am the other week.
Have I really reached Ma'am age????
And then I remembered. I hated everyone telling me I was just a babe when they heard I was in my twenties (now I'm officially an oldie). Everyone I meet always thinks I'm about 8 years younger than I really am (bonus). For the most part, men in thirties are more mature than men in their twenties (I do, however, know some men who are the exception to this). When talking to the girls at work in their twenties, I have the benefit of hard earnt wisdom and hindsight (I actually feel like I know things now).
This turning 30 lark is way better than I thought it would be!
I have thus decided that my thirties will be way better than my twenties.
It still doesn't make the "what do I want for my birthday" question any easier to answer though (would a man be totally out of the question??!)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A New Life
Today I spent at the hairdressers and taking mum out for coffee at our local bakery. And it was while we were sitting at the back of the bakery in these beautiful wooden chairs with table watching one of the workers start preparing ingredients for the woodfired pizzas (and stoking the fire in the wood oven) and we chatted, I pondered over my friday night out.
Last night was celebration drinks and dinner for one of the girls that has fast become a great friend who is going back to uni, it dawned on me. I am finally making some great friends and getting out and enjoying myself.
This new life seems to be me. More than ever before!
Sometimes change is a good thing!
Last night was celebration drinks and dinner for one of the girls that has fast become a great friend who is going back to uni, it dawned on me. I am finally making some great friends and getting out and enjoying myself.
This new life seems to be me. More than ever before!
Sometimes change is a good thing!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Where Did January Go?
I'm getting there. Slowly.
Everytime I sit down to update my blog, I get distracted. Something else comes along and by the time I turn back to the new post page, I either forget the genius things I had to say or am ready to fall asleep on the keyboard.
Christmas came and went. Fireworks went off on Dec 31 and after enjoying a 3 day hiatus from work I was back with nose to the grind again. Each day I thought of wonderful things to tell you all. One week became two. Two became three. January became February.
And now........ it's only two weeks until my brother and sister-in-law come to visit me for *gulp* my. 30th. birthday. Oh my freaking god. It's nearly here. I'm nearly 30.
So, what does one do for one's 30th birthday. Well, we are going to the village fair at the next village over. Lunch at my very favourite 100 year old bakery. My favourite tasmanian ice-cream at my favourite chocolate factory, not far from my favourite knick-knack store in the world (well, excepting the cat shop at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco). A BBQ/Picnic at my favourite gorge with family, old friends and new. What more could a girl ask for.
And, wait for it, I've finally found new music teachers and will be starting soon. Now, if I could only find space for a piano, my life would be complete!
p.s. To my cohort - brissiemum - don't forget, you got in early for my birthday so you are off the hook ;0P
Everytime I sit down to update my blog, I get distracted. Something else comes along and by the time I turn back to the new post page, I either forget the genius things I had to say or am ready to fall asleep on the keyboard.
Christmas came and went. Fireworks went off on Dec 31 and after enjoying a 3 day hiatus from work I was back with nose to the grind again. Each day I thought of wonderful things to tell you all. One week became two. Two became three. January became February.
And now........ it's only two weeks until my brother and sister-in-law come to visit me for *gulp* my. 30th. birthday. Oh my freaking god. It's nearly here. I'm nearly 30.
So, what does one do for one's 30th birthday. Well, we are going to the village fair at the next village over. Lunch at my very favourite 100 year old bakery. My favourite tasmanian ice-cream at my favourite chocolate factory, not far from my favourite knick-knack store in the world (well, excepting the cat shop at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco). A BBQ/Picnic at my favourite gorge with family, old friends and new. What more could a girl ask for.
And, wait for it, I've finally found new music teachers and will be starting soon. Now, if I could only find space for a piano, my life would be complete!
p.s. To my cohort - brissiemum - don't forget, you got in early for my birthday so you are off the hook ;0P
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