A Brand New Start

I am excited!!!! I have a new job!
I have been going for so many interviews which has been a great experience. A bit scary too!! I am actually amazed at how many places need staff and especially mature staff. I do come under that catergory.
The job that's been offered is at a Chiropractic Clinic at the front desk. Something I have wanted to do for a long time. Medical Receptionist. I was going to do a course at Frankston Hospital, but on the job training is much better.
So, today i work a couple of hours, next week about 15hrs and then it will increase.
I think I can cope with the more hours per week, because I don't have to worry about preparing classes or thinking about classes etc.
Although working in the Scrapbook industry has been an amazing experience. It has given me confidence dealing with people and lots of other skills. Now, I can really scrapbook just for myself and for gifts etc.
So, where the one door has closed there is definetly a new one opened. Again, I feel very blessed.

Lots of fun

What a great weekend. The weather has been really mild and encouraged lots of outdoor time. Saturday afternoon we spent with Andrea, Blake, Orson and Sahn coming over for a bike ride and a walk. It was so relaxing and fun to be with the kids and Andrea. Orson fell off his bike so many times, and I had to take a photo of his 'sore-sore' everytime he stopped. Sahnie isn't happy to sit in the pram and be pushed along. She has to walk and walk she did. We were out for over an hour and she walked the whole time.

Blake is very proud of himself because he can ride a two wheeler without training wheels. Except when he is going really slow and then he gets the wobbles.

We all had home made pizza for dinner and then Monty came over cuz he was sleeping the night so we thought we'd better have Blake sleep the night too. Now that's a challenge!!!

Some chemical reaction is set off when those two grandsons are together! They are sooooo naughty, and they know it!

It was with some relief when Sara picked up Monty this morning, and we had only Blakey to entertain.

We took him for a long walk to feed the ducks. He loved it. Chattering the whole way, asking lots of questions. He really loves some one on one time.

We went to Church together and he was the best behaved boy.

Tonight we dropped Blakey home and then went to Martin and Tambi's for dinner. Three more gorgeous grandchildren to spend time with. And they were all in the funniest moods, keeping us laughing all the time.

How blessed I am. I have such a wonderful and close family. Four great children and ten fantastic grandchildren.

Friday I went for a job interview. Yikes!!! Actually I wasn't nervous at all. That may be a bad sign! It would be nice to get the job, but if not, that's OK too.

I learned something over the past few days. There has been the biggest fuss made in the US about a very big disagreement between Stacey Julian and Heidi Swapp. Unfortunately, Stacey Julian made a big boo-boo by writing an email with some non nice comments, and mistakingly sending it to everyone in her address book. Which included a lot of people. So, it all blew up. the 2peas forum has quite a discussion on it. Everyone with their own judgments etc. So, I decided to go to Stacey's blog and check out a bit more.

She had written a big apology and expressed a lot of remorse at the situation she had created. I was really impressed with her humility. She then wrote about the fact that humility was something she had been trying to work on, and here she was in this horrible situation. And, for her all she could do was say what she was feeling. Regret and admitting her mistake.

I feel a lot like her too. I made some mistakes a few weeks ago, with emails. I regret them too. And I am trying really hard to make amends as much as I can. I can't be responsible for how other people respond to me. All I can do is be sincere. And try to do better.

So, this weekend I have had fun, and I have learned some good principles.

Can't get it much better than that!!!!

The Best News

Yesterday my little grandaughter Sahn had to go back to the ear specialist after having had surgery for grommets and having her adenoids out. Prior to this operation her hearing was less than 50%.

Now, she is within the normal range. How fantastic is that!!!! I am so excited for her. She has been so different since this operation. Much more confident and I believe that her speech will develop really fast now. She is such a sweet and cute and now very cheeky little one.

Here she is last easter - happy but not walking or talking. Now she runs! And now she can hear! What a blessing!

Monday, Monday

It's Monday!!! Colin has gone back to work!!! Yeah!!! We enjoyed a week together to just relax and not have any pressures - but it's nice to have a little time to myself now.
I have lots to do today. Phone calls, and appointments. I am excited.
When I woke up this morning I felt good, which is a wonderful feeling to have on a Monday!
Alison, thank you for your lovely comment. I will miss Scraptacular too. I don't think I miss actually working though!!! lol
I had a lovely weekend. Caught up with most of my family which I always love. Those little grandchildren help me realise what the priorities in life really are. And when I hear little Orson (3yrs) so excited that I have just knocked on the door and then later giving me a cuddle and telling me he loves me my heart just melts and I know what is important.
Went to Church at Cranbourne Ward yesterday, in their brand new Chapel. It is gorgeous. The style is called 'Legacy' which is what all Chapels around the world are now built in. Our Chapel didn't have any water due to massive renovations and extensions going on.
So it was a great opportunity to surprise Martin and his family and Andrea and her family by us coming to join in their meetings.
It's so nice that no matter where you go for Church meetings, it is exactly the same spirit, and lessons etc as when we are meeting in our own Chapel.
It was nice to catch up with some 'old' friends too.
Well, better get started with this busy Monday that I have planned.

Amazing Grace

Colin has had all of this week off, due to not really having any time after his Dad passed away. He was struggling at work last week, and the Doctor has given him this week off, to relax.
We have gone for long, long walks each day. And that's been good for both of us. The past month or two have been pretty bumpy and it's nice to slowly let go of it.
Today we went to see a great film- Amazing Grace about the abolition of slavery. What an inspirational movie that is. I had a few weepy moments as I saw the struggle and the lack of care that William Wilberforce endured year after year. Until eventually he did get the bill passed.
Just makes me think about the hic-cups in my life. I can choose to make them something I learn from and grow from, or something that will pull me down.
I tend to be an 'emotional thinker' at my worst times and that's not the time to make decisions and I've decided that is my 'challenge' to work on right now.
Had a lovely chat with former workmate Anita. She has all my belongings to return to me so we're getting together tomorrow.
It will be nice to have all my scrapbook albums at home for the first time ever.
And, now I'm tired to going to have dinner and relax.

It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

This past couple of months have been so difficult for me.

I think it started when we had to put our dog of 15yrs down. She wasn't in the best health anymore but because she was such a beautiful and faithful friend we kept putting of this horrible decision.

Needless to say, once the decision was made the emotions were more than I expected.

Then Colins' dad (who has been more of a dad to me, than my own dad), had a bad fall in the nursing home and was taken to hospital.

Whilst there he developed pneumonia and other conditions that he didn't have before this fall. It must have been his body just not coping with the stress and trauma of the fall he had.

We visited him every day/night. Most nights not eating dinner untill well after 9pm. As well as keeping up both of our work commitments.

After 3 weeks in the hospital they told us there wasn't anything more they could do for him, so he was sent back to the nursing home for palliative care.

Three days back there, and we got a middle of the night call to say he had passed away. How sad! We hoped in the car and went to see him in his room, for the last time.

So began the horrible things you have to deal with. Funeral arrangements, cleaning out his belongings from the nursing home. We then heard that because of his fall there would be a coroners report required to determine cause of death. Which meant having to go into the coroners office to identify him. Then we heard that an autopsy would be required. This poor man was 91yrs of age and we felt very sad that his body was being violated that way. But realised it was necessary.

We had his funeral, without him being there. His body was not yet released. However, we knew he was with us in spirit. Especially his humor.

The next day we went back to the cemetery, just Colin and I and said are last goodbye.

He has been a very funny, special and devoted gramps to all of our family. And we are surely gonna miss him.

Then, Colin who is struggling big time with a very bad case of psoriasis wasn't coping too well going back to work. So, he now has this week off. Resting and relaxing, and getting some new treatment for his condition. Hopefully it will work. It is a very debillitating thing to have. Especially when it's practically over all of your body.

As for me.....well.......I didn't handle things too well for a while there. Meaning that I quit my job over an issue that just seemed to consume me and became very emotional for me. Even knowing that the business was being sold in only a few weeks.

Niavely I felt confident that the new owner would have me as part of her team, but that wasn't to be.

Everything was just horrible, and overwhelming and I spat the dummy. If I could go back and undo some things, but I can't.

So, now it's time to move on. I have some new plans/ideas for my future. I am just taking my time getting my head around things.

I havn't been able to scrapbook since all this has happened. I am pretty lost at the moment but maybe that's because Colin is home and we have been going for lots of walks, and just getting some rest here and there.

We do get some laughs around here too. Our two kittens, Balou and Bizkit are so funny and so sweet.

I am in the process of applying for my passport. Anytime, if my aunt in Holland passes away then my sisters and I have five days to get there for her funeral. Which is something she really wants us to do. I hadn't given it a lot of thought, thinking this was just some illusive idea. But considering she is 89yrs old one of my sisters prompted me to at least get a passport ready, because I wouldn't be able to get one in just 5days.

That's it for me. Gonna work on my 'plans'.

ps: just an aside - if anyone reads this, and was the recipient of any emails I sent when I spat the dummy I apologise. I was hurting big time although that's probably not an excuse.

Ok, I got it a little bit wrong

I got the name of the author of the Book of She a little bit wrong. Her name is Kobi Yamada. After checking Claire's blog I realised I had it totally wrong.
Anyhow now that I've cleared that up, I'm going to my scrapbook room to 'plan'. Layouts I need/want to do and in what order. ETC. ETC. ETc.

'Book of She'

I am just loving participating in the Book of She that Claire has organised on the Scraptacular website.

Anyone can join in. Each month there is a new quote which is what your page is based on. I love it.

It really makes me think about my journalling. It makes me dig a little deeper to achieve something more meaningful than 'life was OK'. It makes me confront a little more but in a creative way so that I can bring happiness to the page as well.

The quotes are great and can from the Book of She by Kyobi (can't remember her last name!), but it really is all about being a woman. And what that means to each of us is different and can be expressed in our journalling.

However, I think I need some new photos of 'me' cuz I can't keep using the same ones.

Had a busy week preparing a lot of 'stuff' for Church. I made cards to cover lots of different situations and helped make assignments for two of our members who had been in hospital. So they could get some meals when first at home. And did some shopping to buy fun stuff for a soon to be new mum, and little gifts for 'just because we care' type of thing. Nice to spend someone else's money!!

So, although I had 3 consecutive days off work. I was pretty busy.

I was pretty chuffed with the cards I made and decided to take some photos and upload them to the gallery at Scraptacular, but my camera has decided to not recognise the USB connection. Just out of the blue! So, now I have to take it back, and they have to send it away, and I might be without it for a few weeks. Darn! Or, as one of my grandsons said at age 2, "Crap Guy!"

I really need it back because on the 24th of this month it's McKenzies 2nd birthday and I can't not be taking any photos.

Had a lovely sleep in today. I woke up at 10am. Pretty neat really! I guess I 'needed' a good sleep!

I've been having a lot of fun making collages of photos on Picasa2. It's a photo editing software that you can download for free. It's run by Google. And it's great for those times when you take 189 photos of one day, and you want to scrapbook them all!!!! You can make a collage of 8 or 12 or 24 - whatever you want and then print it off. Then you get that many photos on one page!!! There are also some great colour effects options too.

If I just would get off this puter then I might have some time to scrapbook!!!!!!!

But - I've gotta finish our Family Puffing Billy Day first. It's going to end up being a whole album. If only I had discovered Picasa before getting so many photos printed.

It's Been So Long

I can't believe that it has been months since I last wrote on my blog. What have I been doing with my time???
Well, I don't really know. It must be the Puffing Billy Album I am still working on. I have never made a Scrapbooking Album all about a one day event. However, our family trip on Puffing Billy was so much fun, and as everyone does these days, I took 200 photos that tell the story of the entire day.
So, with my papers and photos under my arm all I have been doing in the way of scrapbooking is this album. And I never thought I would say it, but I am tired of Urban Couture!!! Yep, that's what I have been doing the album in cuz the colours go so well with the train. But after months of working on this album we have only just gotten off the train!!!!! And that's not the return journey, it's on the way to Lakeside.
I am having fun with it though.
But, now I want to play with the gorgeous new Basic Grey that's arrived. I think it's their best ever!!!!! I'm in love - again!
Personaly, I am enjoying not working as much. Although, I can be found hanging around the shop attending a class or two or having fun joining in the crop days. Well, where else would I be??
I am tired of summer. I am tired of feeling tired, and hot and sweaty. I can't wait for the crisp days of winter to arrive. I am tempted to move to Chicago. I saw their temperature overnight was -20F. Perhaps a little too cold!!! How could you live there??
I have been spending nearly every weekend babysitting. I say 'I', because Colin doesn't do much apart from drive the car to and fro. I have to bath and feed and generally take care of little people. Whilst he sits there getting dramatic if one of them falls or hurts themselves.
After family dinner tonight, we went for a walk and I said to him, 'I am over little people for a while!'. Just need some relaxing quieter time for a week or two.
I wonder if that will happen!!???
So, this week I am planning to scrapbook and make cards. I have some cards to make for Church, so that I have a little 'stash' on hand. I want to make some for myself. And I need to organise them better than I do. And I want to finish puffing billy and start on something new with some new papers. Brighter ones!!
So, that's it for now.

Christmas Joy

Here are three of my Christmas grandchildren. Everyone has already gone home and these three, Blake, Orson and Sahn are mucking around and i'm trying to get a nice photo shoot of them wearing Christmas hats. No!! Only Blake wants to co-operate and Orson and Sahn are just into making it funny.
Well, it is real life art isn't it???
We had a wonderful Christmas day. I was spoiled with gifts but the best gift was having those I love share the day with me. My DH, my kids and their spouses and my 10 gorgeous grandchildren.
We had yummy food, lots of laughs. We played games and sang some carols and told the Christmas story. Because amidts all the celebration we also tried to focus on why we celebrate this wonderful occassion.
Hope you all had a wonderful day too.

For The Memory

Another rare event! An update on my blog! Hi Lyn. Thanks for reading my blog and for your good wishes to our friend Talian. Unfortunately the news for her hasn't been great. Her surgery only removed part of the tumor and she has to have chemo when she is strong enough to cope with it. The worst part is that she has been given up to 5yrs to survive this kind of tumor. It isn't good news. She has a beautiful new baby son and a gorgeous little daughter so it's very sad. She is now having rehab to make her body strong enough for chemo and that is just going to drain her body right back down again. Such an awful time for them all.
Well, last night was our Team Scraptacular Christmas Break-up. We had a yummy dinner at Doyle's in Mordialloc and then went back to Jodie (Boss!)'s home where we exchanged Kris Kringle gifts, laughed a lot, took photos, played with cameras, scrapbooked (well I made some Christmas cards) and watched the movie Scrapped.
I went to bed at 2:30. It probably took me an hour to get to sleep and then awake again at 8:30am to face a busy but happy day.
For my Kris Kringle present - Robbie gave me a beautiful decorative metal stand with a glass lamp shade and gorgeous candles to burn inside.
Jodie gave us all a 'big bag' of bits and pieces. Scrapping stuff (all mauves and light aqua!!), chocolates, cute things from smiggles and other unique stationary places. Some personal stuff like bath salts. It was a real treasure bag!!!
And Kimmie gave us all a necklace with tiny coloured christmas bells so we all jingled along for the rest of the night.
I had fun taking photos of all Jodie's christmas decorations. And I can tell you she has a lot of christmas decorations. Thought the photos might come in handy for my next Hard & Fast class which is a Christmas theme.
Tonight we had family dinner at Dan & Carolinas. Boy the kids were all ratty and Grandpa (also known as Colin) was a grump as well. We're going to have a break until Christmas day now before we all get together again.
Now for some exciting news!!!!! Drum roll please!........................Safeway have dogfood on special this week.!!!!! IGA had it a few weeks ago so my stash is really quite healthy.
Time to do a page on this important part of my life.
I have sooo many Christmas projects on the go. I hope I can complete them all in time for Christmas. Fortunately I have a few days off this week. Tomorrow I hope to complete my Secret Santa gift. Then I can get on to the gifts I need ready for Christmas day. And before that I need to finish the Christmas cards I have started. I havn't made christmas cards for a few years now. I remember why I stopped now that I'm in the middle of making them!!
Time to go to the blanket show.

I totally forgot to write about our wonderful day going on the Puffing Billy train. All 19 of us!! Ten little grandchildren and 9 adults. We had such a wonderful time.
The adults were just as excited as the children and we had a whole carrage to ourselves because there were so many of us and there was so much noise coming from it that everyone else took one look and kept walking.
The photo is of Me of course!! With my daughter Sara behind me hugging her son Monty and Joshua and Riley and McKenzie and then Tambi taking a photo as well.
I just loved the whole day. We went all the way to Lakeside and the scenery and just the beautiful rural countryside was fantastic.
It was also fantastic to all be together as a family having this experience together. I only took 188 photos!!! Lots of scrappin to tell the story of our one day out.

Just Waiting is Awful

This week has been a really difficult one. Close friends, The Brady family, are going through one of those straight from hell moments. Their daughter in law who is only 21 and a mother of a 16mth little girl has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She was 8months pregnant with their second child. The doctors had to do an emergency C section to deliver baby to save her. All week she has been in an induced coma and of course a full range of tests being done. This has kept the family on tenderhooks waiting for results. Our family, particularly my daughters and daughters in law are very close to Tee and have also been waiting anxiously.
Yesterday Tee went into surgery at 9am and by 4pm was still not out. The tumour is 5cm and very deeply inbedded in her brain. Poor, poor darling. She has a new baby boy, Cody who she hasn't been able to bond with, and who she can't breast feed. She barely knows that he has been born.
The doctors had said to prepare for the worst which is not good news, but at least they can move from that position to a better one without any distress as opposed to doing the opposite.
I guess that by now the family knows the result of the surgery. The initial report was that it was inoperable but obviously the surgeons decided to make an attempt.
It's times like these when your faith is really tested and the answers to questions such as Why?are ones we may not know for a very long time.
It's good to believe that there is a God and that He does love his children. It is also good to know that this life is only part of His plan for us.
It is also good to believe that He hears and answers our prayers. They may not always be answered in the way that we want but to know there is a reason for that is also comforting.
Anyhow, this week has really made me think so much of how fragile our life is and how I take it sooooo for granted. These are the times you want to surround yourself with your family and hug them and tell them how much you love and treasure each of them.
These are the times that I appreciate my friends and family and be aware of how much they contribute to the quality of my life.
As Jerry McGuire once said: 'they complete me!'

Caught in the Act!!

I didn't have to work today but seeing as how I was in the area I decided to pop in to Safeway and just buy a few more cans of .... wait for it....Dog Food. What else?? There I was quietly waiting at the checkout and I got sprung by boss Jodie. What are you doing here? She asked me. Could I tell her?? Actually I didn't have to tell her. She saw quite clearly what I was doing there. The cans of dog food gave me away!
So, that prompted the discussions of having to do a layout all about my obsession with buying dog food only when it's on special. And, from what I hear I am not the only one!!! That's good to know!
Claire, thank you for your lovely words of encouragement in regards to blogging. I will have to take the suggestions on board and go for it.
I also can't wait to get my scrapper exchange layout from Claire. She has done the most amazing work for everyone.
So, I got to try out my new camera. Of all days to have a school trip planned for the Zoo it happened to be Thursday. The only day we have had some descent rain in Victoria. I went with Sara and Monty's Prep class. And it poured and poured and we all got absolutely soaked. Which we didn't mind. The kids loved the puddles. Some of them couldn't remember what a puddle looked like.
It wasn't until after lunch that I finally got to take my camera out. Because, of course I wasn't going to take it out in the rain. I got some great photos. And after rushing to the shop to have them developed the same day I was very happy with the results.
Now, tomorrow I can have the best opportunity with all of my family going on Puffing Billy!
I can't wait.
Lots more scrapping to do.
I had a wonderful opportunity (a free one!) for a facial and a 1hr full body massage today. It was absolutely marvellous. I thought I was in heaven. So, now I feel a new me!
Just got to shake off those kg's and then I will look like a new me!
Well, now I need my beauty sleep just in case I can get into a photo or two tomorrow.
Gonna try and put a photo of the Zoo in my blog. I havn't had too much luck with getting pictures uploaded but will have another try.

Just my everyday

Hello there everyone. I guess that most of my 'fans' (aka: friends) have deserted my blog because I havn't been here to update anything for nearly a month.
Thanks Claire, for the little push to get something on here again.
I have been super busy at work this month. We knew that October would be a full on month and it certainly has been. On top of which I have tried to stay up to date with my classes.
And.....I am now up to date. It feels great.
So in the past month these have been the special highlights:

• Monty grandson turned 6
• Sahn grandaughter turned 1
• I myself had a birthday - no, no numbers!!!
• Today is our wedding anniversary - 36yrs. I was a child bride!!! Believe me!
• Dog food was on special at IGA so I bought a whole months worth. Nearly out now, but wait....there's more. Safeway now have it on special this week. Can't believe my luck!
• I bought my own birthday present. I pre-empted a shopping trip to buy clothes with my DH. He has very different taste for me, than me. So on the way home from work I bought a new camera.
• Yep, I finally have an SLR - but it's a small one. It's a fuji and I love it. It's still small enough to carry comfortably and has lots of great features.

So, I think I've had a pretty good month. Not doing too good with the weight loss goal though. Trying to loose 10kgs by Christmas and the weeks are flying by without the Kgs flying off me!

I need something magic that doesn't involve giving up chocolate!

Well, time to get some dinner organised for DH. I don't need any because Jodie (BossMavis) gave me some Thai chicken and rice for lunch. And I am still full.

I'm looking forward to having some time now to evolve my own scrapbooking style. It isn't very often that I can scrapbook my own stuff - ie: not for classes but now I have some time to do that.

But first I have the scary task of sorting and tidying up my scrapbook room because it is a disaster.

Weekend Away with Scraptacular

We had a blast at out weekend away. I had a photo in here but I pushed the wrong button and it's gone all of a sudden. Darn! Havn 't got time to re-upload it. Will have to do it next time. I had a ball at our weekend. With all our old friends and our new friends. Thanks everyone.

It's Moments Like These - Fathers Day

Fathers Day - it started out like most fathers days. Not having any of our children living at home anymore and the fact that Colin is not my father it was all pretty low key. Wished Colin a happy fathers day and thanked him for being a great dad to our 4 grown up children.
I got ready for Church. Today was a special day because baby Harrison was being blessed. This meant that all our children and their children would be coming to Springvale to our meeting. This was soo hillarious. Can you imagine 10 little cousins all sitting next to or very close to eachother and trying to keep them quiet.
Harrisons blessing was beautiful. As most blessings usually are.
The next part of the day was to all organise our assigned food and meet again at Carolina's (daughter-in-law) dads home for a lovely relaxing lunch.
So, our house was a bit of a central meeting point for 1/2 of our family. The kids were all ratty and irritating eachother so it was with relief that we made our way to Raul's home.
The food was yummy. Colin finally got his fathers day presents. Which I had had to keep secret because everyone contributed. We gave him the 4 seasons of '24'. He hasn't seen any of them so that will keep him quiet for a few months. He also got some aftershave's as well. So he did pretty good.
Whilst we are all enjoying eachothers company we could hear a child crying and in comes Monty with blood pouring from his nose and from his eye!!!!! OMgosh! One of Carolina's brothers boys (who is 12yrs old) threw a stick like a spear and it hit Monty right in the eye!! Good one! We put a clean teatowel to his eye straight away. However poor Sara (mum) lost it! She was frantic and panicking and getting Monty to the car to get him to a doctor. She wouldn't let us remove the teatowel to check where the blood was coming from. Carolina decided it best to call an ambulance which she did. After waiting about 15mts they arrived and took Monty and Sara to Dandenong Hospital.
So, I drove Sara's car there and Colin followed in my car.
By the time I got there Monty was already being seen. Fortunately his actual eye appears undamaged. He had a deep gash right in the corner of his eyelid which had to be glued and another under his eye. Poor little boy! The swelling and bruising was coming out and he looks a mess. Fortunately, again, he was able to go home!
He's OK! But he doesn't want to look at it because he gets frightened.
One thing I learned from this day was that I don't want Sara around if I ever have an emergency!!!!
By the time we got back to Rauls home everyone but Dan and Carolina and the kids had left. Poor Joshie, he had not stopped crying for Monty. He was pretty shaken by all the blood and seeing his cousin go off in an ambulance was too much for him. His little brother Riley said to me, "Joshie is crying for Monty" I asked him if he, Riley was sad for Monty and he just said 'No!'
That's a 3 yr old for you.
Now we still had a dinner engagement for the evening as well. So we went home for a brief hour. Much too brief! Met our friends at the appointed time and place only to find out that HE had forgotten to book. And it's fathers day!!! So, we got pizza's at Michelangelo in Aspendale and ate them at our house.
It was nice though. We relaxed and now they've gone home. The dishes are in the dishwasher and I am on the computer, about to go to bed.
Till next time. Adieu

Ali Edwards

I love this photo that I took of Ali Edwards as she was teaching one of her classes.
I did post a new blog last week but my computer froze half way through so I didn't have any luck getting it onto my blog.
Never mind.
Actually it was very important because I had found the dog food on special again this week. So that was very exciting.
I've been helping Andrea (daughter) quite a bit this week as she has been approved for a rental property and is moving out of Jethro's (estranged husband) house.
Fortunately we get lots of boxes at work so she has a hallway full of packed goodies already to go in a week and a bit.
It will be a relief for all of us when she is out of the house. He will not be able to just barge in whenever he pleases. And he may actually leave her alone.
Work has been good. I havn't worked as many hours this week which is OK. Although I do need money so I can start saving for a new camera. One day!!!
That's it. I'm off to bed and as this blog is very uninspired it's best to just stop now.
Nice to read your comment on my blog Lynne. Thanks!!

Kiwi Scraps

I've been, I've conquered and now I'm back!!!
Kiwi Scraps in Sydney was great!!!!!!!. To tell the whole story is going to take me a while and if no-one can be bothered reading that's OK cuz this is 'my' story.
Robyn arrived on Thursday morning early and we waited for Kim and Linda to arrive. We heard a truck coming up the road - didn't realise that was Kimmie!!!! Not in a truck though but it sure sounded like it.
We struggled to get the luggage in but after pushing and re-organising finally made it. And off to the airport.
Got there safely, parked the car got out the luggage and of course had to have a few photos, which is very important for us scrappers to record the journey visually as well as in words. It was good to check in the luggage because it was sooo heavy. All those scrapbooking tools and things (I think it must have been all the adhesives I took!!!) weigh a heap.
We met Wendy S. at the airport although we did drive up behind her on the Tullamarine freeway and called her on her mobile to look out the back. There we were waving like idiots!
The plane was uneventful unless you can call Linda's brief lapse as she yelled out that she had been cheated because not only did she not get a window seat - there wasn't even a window there at all!!! Pretty funny!
Arrived in Sydney grabbed our luggage and got in a maxi-taxi to take all five of us to the Mecure Hotel about 8minutes away. Yep I really timed it!!! Nah, not really.
Checked in, which was a bit strange. We booked in May and yet they had us in the wrong kind of rooms. No, Robyn and I were not going into a smoking room and also not into a queen size room. They had one double room left. How can that happen when we booked in May and they confirmed the booking???
The hotel is really nice. The rooms very comfortable and the showers were great. When you learnt how to use them. I don't think Robyn appreciated me calling her early in the morning to advise me on how to turn the darn thing on.
The four of us decided to not waste the day and we headed of for the train. We went in several different directions trying to find it and it would have been a good idea to follow our initial instincts because that was the right way.
We took the train to Circular Quay and did the 'tourist thing' cameras and all. Of course!!! The bridge and the opera house. Then we took the Ferry to Manly. Mind you it was dark by then! We had dinner at a German Pub. Yummy fish. Then wandered the streets for a while before heading into Coles and buying enough supplies for breakfast and lunches for the next 3 days. Back on the Ferry and a taxi to the hotel.
Of course, lots of 'scrappers' were already there and a lot of familiar faces.
The classes with Ali Edwards were fantastic. I love her style as a creater of Art as well as a person. Very down to earth. Makes soooo much sense. Friendly, funny and a great teacher. She was sooo prepared. Colour copies of step-by step directions including photos. All three of her classes were great. I love what I made in each of them.
Donna Downey was a bit different. Very 'out there' personality. A lot of fun. She couldn't believe how chatty we Aussie women are in a class. She was a bit thrown by it at first, but then learnt that it wasn't a slight on her or her class....we just like to talk. The only way to get our attention was to shout out Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - and we did the OI, OI, OI, thing back. Then we knew we had to be quiet.
Her first class was in Robyn's words a bit of a 'downer'. It was very basic and finished in 1hr. This was very disappointing. It isn't even something I will use. I was a bit concerned about the other 2 classes of hers I had booked into. However, she came through with two great classes. So I was a happy girl!.
I didn't do any of Cathy Zielske's classes which I now regret. Everyone was so impressed and said they had learnt a lot from her.
I did meet her and we had a chat for a while....and of course the obligatory photos.
Robyn and I went to the Friday night Crop. That was madness. I don't think I would do it again. We sat at a table with Helen Williams who was real nice, and friendly. Also Karen from KKS who was also friendly. That was about it as far as friendliness went. It was very clickie (spelling??). and unless you were in a big group not much fun socially. Robyn got chosen to go and do the mystery class so I just stayed there and finished one of the class projects.
I actually felt sorry for the Kiwi Scraps people who were trying to make the evening interesting with some competitions etc., but people just would not shut up and show some respect by allowing them to talk. They had to yell above the din created. Didn't impress me one bit.
I think that there are too many 'big heads' in Australian Scrapbooking. A lot of 'elitist type' personalities who are basically a pain in the neck.
We were rather surprised on Friday evening as the four of us sat in the Hotel Restarant as very strange looking people started coming in for meals and generally wandering around the hotel. They were cross-dressers. Yikes!!!! We Melburnians are very sheltered from the 'weirdness' of life. The hotel was hosting a Crossdressers & Partners ball on Saturday night. So some of these yucky people were actually staying at the hotel and you would get in the lift and there would be 'one' in there.
Robyn and I got picked up by Marianne and Elly (my two sisters who live in Sydney) and we had some yummy pizza at Little Sicily. An ordinary looking place in a not so good neighbourhood. But boy can they make nice pizzas.
It was lovely to catch up with them and because by then I was pretty tired from three very full-on days I was just stupid. I laughed at everything and made stupid comments at or about everything. We had fun though.
I believe that Robyn has a bit of knowledge to blackmail me with now.
When we got back to the hotel the c/d's (weird people!) were milling around the hotel everywhere. We stayed around for a while then decided it was time for bed. But I wanted to watch a movie. So I payed 15.00 for a pathetic movie which I insisted on watching right through because I had payed for it. Robyn fell asleep after 5mts.
Last day in Sydney. Sunday and Linda and Kim had made up an itinerary for us for the day.
We checked out of the hotel and left our luggage there to collect later - booked a taxi to the rocks so we could check out the market there. It was a beautiful day - nice and warm. We wandered around there for a couple of hours then caught the bus to Centre Point.
We went up in the tiniest lift with Linda warning us she was going to have a panic attack (which she didn't) and came out to the most beautiful viewing deck.
360degree view of Sydney. Believe it or not we took lots of photos!!!
Then back down and we walked to Darling Harbour. Very much like our own Southbank but a lot bigger of course.
Big yachts and the rich and famous lounging around. Didn't see anyone famous though. Well at least not there, but we did see Kate Langebrook and Ian Chappel and some old guy who used to act a lot on the plane going to Sydney.
Back to Darling Harbour. We were all starving so stopped at a nice looking place and had a yummy lunch. I had a hamburger and then a chocolate tart for dessert. Very delicious.
We walked from one end of Darling Harbour around to the other end. I think I only took about 100 photos there. Pretty reasonable I think!!!
Now it was time to find a taxi and head back to the Hotel to get our luggage and to hop on the shuttle bus and head off to the Airport. Which, of course is exactly what we did.
Took a few photo ops whilst at the Airport. Couldn't find Linda and Kim when it was time to board - and they had left all they bags with us. What to do??? We went and asked if they could page 'the Mavis' but the girl was very dull and said we still have 62 people to board so just sit there and wait a minute or two.
The girls came running from afar when they realised that the plane had already boarded.
We were sooooo tired on the flight home we all dozed. It took an hour from when we landed until we got back to Kimmie's car. By then we were all soooo stupid! We laughed at everything it was soo funny. However, when a battery operated toothbrush is buzzing away in one girls suitcase (Kimmies) and in another Robyn's) there is a hairspray can shhssssing away it is pretty funny when you're tired.
The toothbrush buzzed all the way home! We took the scenic route home as well. We ended up in South Melbourne which is fine but nobody believed me. So, against my advise ( I have to stress that, cuz it wasn't my fault) we ended up going past the MCG and on to Punt Road. Can you believe that?
At last we got home at about 10:45PM. I had a fantastic 4 days. The highlights?????: Meeting Ali Edwards, Donna Downey and Cathy Zielske. Laughing heaps. Getting to Scrapbook - well sort of!, seeing more of Sydney than I had in past visits. Being with friends. Thanks girls I had a great time!!!
PS: Does anyone know if any of the Supermarkets have Pal dog food on special this week??? I've missed the junk mail!!!

Back at Last

I think it's been more than a month since I have updated my blog.
I have been very busy at work. Robbie was away of course and then poor Jodie got sick so between Sarah, Anita and myself we kept the ship (shop!) afloat succesfully. But I did work about double the hours for a couple of weeks and was just too wasted to start typing on my blog.
Then I got very focused on finishing all my class preparations for this current calendar. And now I have!!! I'm finished (for a while!)
So, now I have given myself permission to update my blog.
I am very disappointed though because I cannot report a dog food special at the moment. I have had to buy some cans (not many) at full price! That's a horrible thing to have to do!
I am very excited however (I certainly am a person of mixed emotions!) because tomorrow we head off to Sydney for Kiwi Scraps Convention. I'll be meeting Ali Edwards and Donna Downey and Cathy Zielske. And I guess anyone else who comes up and introduces themselves to me!
Kimmie,Robbie and I should have our Team Scraptacular tees ready that we can wear.
I can't believe how much I have to pack to go there. I have the biggest suitcase. I think I may have to rethink that one though and aim to do it all a bit differently.
Working with Sarah today. But I'm a bit excited so I don't know if I will be much good. Although I am teaching a Heritage class this morning. Thank goodness I wrote a bit of an instruction list for myself - otherwise who knows what the girls layouts will end up looking like.
So, that's it for now.
Next post will be a commentary and maybe some pics of the convention.
I am going to try to put up a picture of the online class that Sarah and Jodie and myself did with Kimmie as a practise run.