ScrappinPom....RFI

(Sort of!) flourishing.....

2010-10-02T00:20:00.002+09:30

...tho' NOT the way I was planning/thinking/hoping...
DH is doing his own thing now, away from me and kidlets
Work has had its busiest moments/weeks since I can recall from the start of my working life (25years)
Inspite of the end of, what I thought was THE "(im)perfect marriage", it isn't/wasn't to be...
Still, I have flourished.
Got the house, filling it with love/light/brightness; got a new car to transport us safely & worry-free; got up-to-date with bills and money/budgeting; eating better/fresher/less; got more friends/contacts/social life; got support; got sorted/organised/clearer; got more relaxed and 'at ease'; even got myself a neighbour who taps on her window to say "Hi"...Just because.
Not in the way I hoped but still, I have flourished.
I am more honest (like I wasn't enough already!!), can deal with 'uncomfortable'; I still do 'everything' though now with mindfulness and a little more grace....
I am me. Imperfectly perfect. And I've done it/I do it................yep, too right:
............................................
......... with a f l o u r i s h !!!!

(WOTY) "F L O U R I S H"

2010-01-05T14:36:00.002+10:30

My year's word is 'F L O U R I S H'....I nearly plumped for nurture
From last year's lack of contentment- yet plenty of content!- I intend to flourish and blossom; to be my usual effervescent, expressive self, full of joy, enthusiasm and confidence in me.
I intend to seek a permanent house (i.e. our OWN!!) and begin to fill it with love, fun, treasures and light, letting us all flourish within its walls.
I like this word 'cos it incorporates 'OUR' and that's what I think we lost in 2009.
Not only do I intend to flourish, I hope to nurture flOURishing once again
I intend to.
Will do.
Can do.

7 month gap....winter of discontent?

2009-11-08T22:17:00.003+10:30

Hmmmm, all's not quite the contented life I was expecting to be living. I guess that's the 'life's what happens when you make other plans' theory...
Me, I'm working, working, working...then working some more at home it seems.
DH is now back on the 'self-employed' track after 'retrenchment'; I am doing a temporary senior role (until end Dec '09) then I get nearly FOUR weeks off work!!!!!! WoooooHooooooo!! I'm actually really enjoying the change from my previous role as well!!! :)
My life has pretty much run on the 'much of a muchness' theme for some months now...I've lost my mojo along the way since DH had a crash in our brand new car (April 29th); 5 days old it was and then some eejit slams into the back of it.
He's not been the same (tho' he won't admit it- pretty distant, irritable and 'rundown') and I've found the last few months to be a real emotional strain to be honest. I've not handled it well at all. Maybe it depressed me for a while there, I'm not sure.
Working F/T; up then out the house for nearly 12 hrs a day, 2 hrs of that is the travelling, then back home where I often spend a couple of hours doing housework, sorting kidlets etc....whilst DH is often either asleep or playing Poker on a certain website....hard trying to keep everything together when I feel more and more 'pushed away/rejected'. I'm a tougher cookie though, I can rise above it.
I finally get to 'relax' around 9pm and am tired enough not to do any creative stuff: just end up doing things like play games on a certain well-known site that begins with 'F' and people contact each other on (the same one DH plays Poker on!!!)....
Anyhoo, the upshot is that I have been able to juggle things around enough to deal with my friend (still living here!) and the merging of our lives for a longer period of time than was expected. I have dealt with alot of inner doubts and conflicts about DH and the way he's been and I have decided that, although my word of the year was 'content', I suppose I can be content that things aren't worse than they are.
On a material content level, I have FINALLY (after YEARS of coveting one!!) got an Apple Mac...LOVE it.
I got an iPod (good deal!!) for my- self-purchased!-Mother's Day present and now an Apple Mac for my- self-purchased- birthday & Christmas pressies so, after years of coveting these lovely things, I am well happy. It means I can actually use my own laptop (most of the time!!) DH's having the other laptop he bought fixed (kidlets. too many downloads or dodgy links!!)
We still have a roof over our heads, bills are paid (well, under control anyways!!), food in our bellies, I can get to work to earn the regular income.....
All will be well again
all will be WELL
All is well.
Content?
Hmmmm, maybe not so much. On the other hand, maybe alot?

So little to add after so long a time but still, friends are the mainstay of life atm

2009-04-26T23:35:00.003+09:30

...yes, sad but true!!
Well, if I really put my mind to it, I could find heaps of stuff to add but I've not uploaded the relevant supporting photos mainly due to a lack of finances/time/motivation!!
All is on the change tho', DH has a new job....at last!!! Now, we can- hopefully!- look to reacquainting with our plan and look towards buying our own house.....we shall see....
We have a friend and her daughter staying whilst she sorts out her life 'out of marriage'...
We have friends coming to stay next month as well
I have friends who support me through all that is unpleasant and difficult-to-digest
I have friends who make me laugh when times are tough and very, very hard indeed.
I am grateful
Grateful I am
Grateful.

Loooooonnng, loooooong time

2009-01-25T10:17:00.002+10:30

....since I blogged!!!
Mainly because my life became bogged down with moving (then 'fighting' a claim from ex-landlords); overseas visitors (here for 4 months); work hassle and 'busy-ness'; DH working interstate for a few weeks; Christmas and NY season; reduced money (I'm now an excellent 'juggler', err, I mean accountant)and so and so forth....really quite boring but has been quite overwhelming for me, particularly as the 'dynamics' in our family unit were different for a time.
Now, all is just a hazy memory as, from Tues, life will be back to how it was: Me working- via train/bus; LOVE it! DH being the SAHF- he gets to spend time with kidlets and we reduce our outgoings!! and DH looks for work here, not interstate etc. Ridiculous palaver and such a negative impact on our little unit. Just not worth the extra dollars.
My "Word of the Year" is going to be CONTENT.
Content as in happy and Content as in well, content. What's contained within: both me and our lives.
Richer, I intend to be. And not in a fiscal sense.

A VERY looooong time.........of JOY

2008-10-30T22:28:00.003+10:30

....since I've been around here!!
I have been busy with moving house etc (and a jolly nice place it is too!! Near the sea- love the sea!)
We've had a fair few 'incidents' along the way since I last posted.... like the ex-landlords wanting an excessive amount, well ALL, of the bond! Nastie Pasties.
DH is still looking for work, I'm still trying to find peace & harmony, work's been really busy (ridiculously so!!), we have guests from the UK, I've been trying to reclaim my 'mojo', been trying to keep up with all things scrapping (tho' I have snuck in a few pages!!), trying to settle the kids in their new school, trying to keep up with communications (letters, emails etc), trying to keep my patience with telcos..........perhaps my word of the year should've been 'trying' or 'try' rather than'jOy'!!!!!!!!!!!
Still, inspite of everything, there IS joy. :)
Deep, quiet, inexplicable, smiling, robust, calm, knowing and overwhelming JOY.
Strange but true, oh so true.
The Universe smiles; bestows upon me; this I know now. I could not be happier
Truly
Madly
Deeply
Joyfully
Joy

Give with one, take with the other....

2008-06-26T12:08:00.002+09:30

...that's how it's been the last week.
Got the residency approval (Yay)and DH is made redundant (Nay)
Me & DH get ill then better (Yay) then DD gets ill (Nay)(but is getting better (Yay)
Optician tells me I could be diabetic (Nay) but, after testing, I'm not (Yay)
Somewhat surreal. If I'm off with DD on Friday, this will've been my shortest working week ever!!!
And that could only be a Yay.
Oh JoY, jOy,JOY, joy.......

Been a gap...again!!

2008-06-15T13:51:00.002+09:30

...since I last updated this blog!
It's not even as if I've been doing anything drastically time-consuming either!!
I've finally heard about my reclass and got it!! Yay!
The day before I got this news I got the call that I'd been accepted to be a co-facilitator in the Aggression Management Training! Woo hoo!
So, aside from us all being ill with cold-like symptoms- one after the other- things were looking up.....
.....until Friday 13th.
This is the day usually associated with 'bad luck' and we were certainly served a bit of a 'downer' via DH's firm. They want him in Melbourne. By the end of July, if you please!
Currently though, it's not quite so easy to work round: we are still waiting for PR to come through (so I will still have to work for them for 1st 6 months of the visa-at least until Dec), have the kids schooling (and yet another move!) to organise, the rental on this house isn't up until the end of Sept and we have DH's DD & her bloke coming out early Sept!!
So, the timing's just a tad bad for us!
Certainly, if we moved to Melbourne, we'd have more spare money each week (than we ever did when we just had my wage coming in at the start of our Adelaide journey) and I can be a SAHM and help the kids settle. And that's with the current offer on the table of DH's firm paying relocation costs but no more in his wage packet.
Trouble is, as I said at the beginning of this post, things were starting to look up for me at work!! Such a dilemma!
So, we shall have to see how it pans out, do the research etc.
In the meantime, I need to get to grips with the LOs I've done over the past few weeks...not so many as I've been "busy" being tired, ill, oh, and I did go out one night the other week- what a larf that was!!
And I'm off to see Jimmy Barnes in a couple of weeks as well!!
Go me.......to Melbourne or otherwise!!!!

If they can't beat me, it seems they'll join me...

2008-04-21T11:14:00.004+09:30

...in scrapbooking!! I am sooooooo loving that- DS1 especially!- they're getting more into wanting to and doing their own LOs and crafting. We've been out to trusty Spotlight and the DD's bought a heart shaped board book, DS2 has chosen a scallop-edged tag book and DS1 has chosen a SB page set in purple!!!! Armed with a journalling pen each we left the store with their creative mojo itching to get going!!! Here's DS1's LO first...
They're made up. I'm made up. Not that they've exactly been deprived of papercrafting stash before now, believe me, I have embraced their time crafting as it allows some time for me to go undisturbed in my own 'creation station'!!!
DS2 has proudly just handed me this:

.......see, told you they've not bee deprived!!
oh and here's mine for the pre-crop challenge on UKS:

Bad blogger.....

2008-03-16T11:28:00.000+10:30

....because my PC's still playing up with the darned 'pop up' box every time I click on something else; I'm being stingey and don't want to fork out for a Norton prog so I tried the free downloadable Comodo but the box is still there!! Aaaaargh!!! Also the internet connection settings keep 'dropping out' so I've been trying to fathom that out for the past day or so.........sussed that now though!! Yay!
I could swear but that subject's a big deal in our house currently; the DD has started coming out with the 'eff' word and the 'pee' word rather too frequently for my liking! Turns out,there are kids at OSHC who swear and nobody tells them/talks to them about it. Perhaps I need to 'let it go' but it's not nice to hear DD calling her brother nasty swear-names especially in front of her friend she's had for a sleepover. And how do i help her to realize that she has a more intelligent vocab than swearing? If I ignore it, she thinks she can get away with it and carries on; if I'm too punitive, I'm the one feeling horrible and she still does it!! If I'm blase about it, she carries on! For crying out loud, she's 8 and she'd rather swear in front of people than apologise- in front of people!- for hurting her brother's feelings!! Stubborn or what!?
So, of course, I now have the whole afternoon where I could scrap (I've done the ironing whilst watching the Martha Marathon!!) but I've got myself into a lather about the swearing.............let it go, let it go, let it go...................................................................................................................................feels better. A bit.
So, other reasons for not blogging- working,scrapping, shopping,house guests, tidying,laundry,weeding,ironing,mopping,cleaning and chasing after another set of twins in our house. This time it's kittens- Bill and Ted. Gorgeous, they are.
I've also been distracted by the reclass thing for the nurses career stucture as well which is just farcical really. I work as a L2(paid as L1) but I have to prove I do (according to the guidelines) and find/supply evidence which reflects that I have 23 years experience, 17 of them qualified and at senior staff nurse level running an acute i/pt ward and, prior to that, carrying a case load of 60+ clients as a case manager/coordinator!!! That's enough of that; it just creates angst and I don't need that. I have decided to 'go with the flow', 'let it be' and not let it define me.
For now, I need to make (temporary, no doubt!!)peace with my DD
jOy.JoY.joy. JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fourth Place...

2008-02-03T14:04:00.000+10:30

...to scrap!
Yep, I'm like a 'mobile' scrapper. I was scrapping in the dressing area off our room then I moved to the spare room. A few weeks there before MIL came to stay and that room now has a queen size bed in it so, no more scrapping in there. Whilst MIL was here, I'd moved back to my original spot but quickly realized why I'd upped sticks from that spot- no light and no power point to put a light without trailing wires all over. So, after mulling over it, I've moved to the area (officially titled the dining area) which has a big desk and my laptop, printer etc there as well! More light, some power points if needed and sligthly away from the noise of the TV in our room or DH clicking away on his laptop.
Still managing to get some scrapping done and ENJOYING it.
(I think I'm over my 'shyness' about scrapping in a more 'public' place as well)
It's all good.
All will be well.

One month...

2008-01-26T08:19:00.001+10:30

...of not doing housework (MIL has been here and ironed everything in sight!!) has made me feel very lazy! I now have a 3 day break to 'get back in the swing' of working at work then working at home. Oh well, perhaps I will enJOY this process and appreciate it alot more rather than feeling lacklustre and resentful about it. It's a strange, almost unsettling feeling when another woman does what you'd normally do; I'm not territorial but I did feel a bit of that 'it doesn't feel like my home'. But that was my reaction and how I chose to react. After the 1st few days I realize I should just- as Ali E would say!- 'Go with the flow'.
'Course the kids are upset that Nanny has gone because they now feel we're the worst parents for not stuffing them with chocolate, pancakes, biscuits and cakes all day!! Tricky one to play and balance out so that everyone's wishes are included yet not have to compromise too much on teaching the 'right' and reasonable limits to our 7 and 8 year olds!! I certainly don't want to raise children who are ungrateful and have an 'entitlement' attitude.
Still, we will settle back down into the JOY of everyday life which includes me being able to do more scrapbooking and even get on with the creative A-Z journal I was supposed to start on the 5th Jan!!
enJoy. EnJoY. enJOY. JOY. JOY.

A hint maybe from my laptop??!

2008-01-22T18:26:00.000+10:30

Finally, I get the adaptor sent from the U.S. of A (took all of 8 days-woohoo!!) Then, I go and get a Trojan bloomin virus. I reckon it's cos the kids are 7 and 8 and have been innocently searching the net about what men and women may do in the privacy of their own bedrooms!! Say no more. Needless to say, I have an issue as to which anti-virus stuff to get etc. This is the 3rd thing to go wrong on my laptop since October, Hallowe'en to be precise!!! Spooky? I think it's a hint for me to have a new one!!!?? Ah well, we'll see.
Twins have both had chicken pox over the summer hols which has meant we've not been able to go anywhere-responsibly!!- in public since NYE. That's the MIL's month here been spoiled somewhat. Mind you, she's also not got her driving licence with her so she can't blame us entirely for nnot seeing any sites of S.A. Still, she's only here to see and spoil the grandkids....and, boy, has she spoiled them. They've eaten more sugar the last month than since her last visit in August 06!!! I'm OK with the help with the housework- I've had to be!- but I'm still not entirely settled with ironed knickers and towels!!Still, only til SAt.
My word of the year? JoY. joY. jOy.
(Just remember that when you're knee deep in iron, scrappinpom!!)
Must fly, make sure the house is still sanitised before the others return from shopping.........except eldest twin DS who has loadsa poxy poxes.

Happy Start to 2008!!

2008-01-06T13:02:00.000+10:30

My boys are now 7!!
My MIL is here visiting for a month and has already commandeered the washer and purchased a new mop bucket. Nice to have help.
Trying to think of my 'Word of the Year'. It was 'grateful' last year and, in a way, I want that again as I don't think I really grasped it until the end of the year! I'm now veering towards 'Harmony' or 'Joy' though 'Integrity' is also appealing.
The A-Z is up and running on IACW and I've got a blank already!! Sounds good fun.
In the meantime,the decs are ready to put away,washing's done, place is tidy and the fam are all out at the Zoo soooooo, I'm going to scrap my little heart out and try to recall what I ordered last week and look forward to the delivery of goodies this week and another parcel next week.
Maybe 'Bliss' should be my word?......

Another hiccup

2007-12-29T09:26:00.000+10:30

...but all's well!!
The hiccup is that, after the HD went on my laptop and I had it back for 10 days when the battery pack went. As it was bought in the UK, I can't get the darned thing over here for love nor money so I have to rely on the occasional donation of 'online-time' that DH deigns to allow me!!
Still, I've had the opportunity to exercise some 'inner strength' stuff and I am feeling 100%.
On top of the usual pre Christmas blitz on the house getting done, we planted herbs and veggies and the kids have gotten into scrapping!! Waayyyhaaaaaaay!! More reasons for me to do scrapping!!
I'm well into my Gratitude journal and am lovin' it. Even it's taken me a whole year to finally get the full meaning of my chosen word for the year!! So GRATEFUL. I'm thinking I'll use it alongside my A-Z project with It's a Creative World. Can't wait for that. There's a bunch of UKS girls doing it as well so will be a good thing for the year!!
As for the family, Christmas was lovely, just right- not too much rubbishy wasteful expense then a good time with our 'adopted' family & friends. What this l'il fam is looking forward to most is the MIL visiting for a whole month!!! Arrives NYE so should be an absolute rev-up for the bairns!!!!
All in all, a roller-coaster year which has taught me a great deal about my- and our combined!- ability to deal with lifes ups and downs with relative ease and positivity.
And GRATITUDE.
Soooooo grateful I chose that word.
Now, what to think of for next year's word.....

Long time....

2007-11-24T11:57:00.000+10:30

...no blog/websites/emails etc.
4 days after my last entry, my laptop totally died on me. Lost everything. Pictures (I do have the 'proper' ones, only they're still in England as MIL didn't send them over, boohoo), digi-kits for scrapbooking and a lot of lovely fonts. Although I have saved alot of the stuff to disc, there were some things I didn't get round to. Still, I can only be GRATEFUL that I do have some of the stuff. I can download other/same fonts again. No point crying over lost bytes, eh? (Of course, when I got home, DH was already on my laptop; I then spent an hour and a half on it before he, once again, took over it, claiming he's having trouble on his own laptop to get online!!! Didn't seem to be an issue 2 nights previously when he was wirelessly gawping around ebay. So selfish.)
In other areas- work, visa-related included!!- I've had stress to deal with; most importantly to me: eldest twin DS is having a tricky time again and I do think he has some ASD traits that are not officially recognised. I think we need to get some more help for him but DH thinks "he's just a normal little 6 year old boy". Bit tricky when we're not singing from the same page.
(Bit like this morning: the gas canisters 'expired'; I rang up to order some, thinking they'd be delivered today. I wasn't clear to the gas-man, fair enough, and now DH's acting like it's my fault the gas has run out, that I didn't get them delivered today(they don't deliver w/ends!)as well as forgetting to find out how much it would be!!. The fact that he was there when I rang and, if I was on the phone to a friend, he wouldn't have bothered about putting in his twopenn'orth.) Still, another criticising-opportunity for him, I s'pose. Angrily, he has taken one of the canisters to get it filled!!
I have spent the last 3 evenings doing chores so that, this w/end, I don't have to work my butt off here and then feel guilty for 'relaxing' i.e.scrapping. That cheeky DH says last night, "How much a week would we have to pay an au pair?" ! ! ! ! ! ! What I should have said was something like, "We don't need an au pair; she wouldn't be here to do what I do anyways. If you just got off your arse and helped me, it would be a lot easier and cheaper" I bottled out. Silly me. Now I'm bubbling with that resentment feeling- again....
...I am trying to relax and, in spite of it all- the interruptions, criticism, uncertainty- there have been some high points over the past weeks' being 'laptop-less!:
1) it was my birthday on 14th Nov. I'd bought myself an old school-style desk, y'know, witht he lift-up lid to put stuff in. $35. Bargain. And I now have my own space. Not that I get the chance to use it often but I'm persisting and have managed a few LOs!!
2)I was able to order Ali Edwards' book- finally!! Ordered Thurs 15th, got it yesterday and have even had a chance to sit down with it on 2 occasions
3)I've been to the library, got some cracking books and just finished 1 last w/end and the other today!!I also bought a trilogy(see GRATEFUL for No.6!!)...
4)I managed to get my hair trimmed the other w/end(the 1 after the laptop died!)Mind you, it was $30!!
5)Laptop's been mended..........yaaaaaaaay!!! It wasn't the motherboard, just the HD; I could retrieve the data but it would cost alot of dosh!!
6)I've been to work (once) and come back (twice) on the bus! Takes 3 buses (but one trip-cost!!) and it means I have an hour to read(see point 3!) on the 2nd bus! Whilst we only have the one car, I'm going to get the bus from now; though it means DH will have to do the school run, I'll get to work earlier- and thus can finish earlier for DH to pick me up!- and DH gets to work alot quicker and earlier than when he has to drop me off! Works all round.
7)Applied-and withdrew from interview!- for another job here in our town. Transpires that, when I asked DIAC for proof of lodgment to show possible future employers etc, my current employers hadn't even submitted it!! Nightmare/panic then ensued getting them to sort it and culminates in me taking it by hand into DIAC itself. 1 week before expiry of current visa. I've been reassured that all is OK and it will be OK but we still don't have that letter saying it's being processed etc. Hey ho. GRATEFUL that, although I didn't even go to the offered interview(and poss missed out on a good chance of getting the job!), at least I was able to sort out a potentially risky issue!!! If I hadn't, we would have been ignorantly blissed out to our (potential) unlawful status. So, so GRATEFUL.
8)Although DH hasn't told me (???why not?;I discovered it doing an online bank check!), we have his tax rebate so we can now pay my friend back her $3K.(loaned to help tide us over until our bond was repaid!)
No doubt my next stressor will be talking DH out of immediately spending this on a car for his DD overseas......still, GRATEFUL, so GRATEFUL for an end to financial worries!! All the bills are paid!! We can afford Christmas, bus fares, OSHC fees etc.

My absolute main thing to be (more than)GRATEFUL for is DD's recovery from a bike injury on 8th Nov. 24hrs in hospital, she came back home after GA for lip repair! Very brave. Horrible thing for her- and us! So, so, totally GRATEFUL. All the other listed things are relatively insignificant and almost trivial really.

My (few!!) attempts for UKS CyberCrop

2007-10-27T19:37:00.000+09:30

So there you have it...my attempts!! It's always a battle for me to realize my scrapping desires, mainly owing to a 'scrap-intolerant' DH!! He thinks it's all hogwash and me, like a ditz, will 'minimise my activity' (aka hide!!) so as not to offend!! Mind you, I must admit, I'm better when I'm not in the same room as someone else; a 'lone scrapper' I s'pose!!
Oh, missing this one....

All coming together now...

2007-10-23T22:38:00.000+09:30

...yes, life is getting better slowly and our 'Australian dream' is beginning to look more like real life. I'm not going to bore even myself with the details but ALL IS VERY WELL.
For this, I can certainly use my word-of-the-year (a la Ali Edwards whose book still doesn't seem to be available here in Oz!) GRATEFUL.
I am finally feeling the knots unravelling in my stomach and am feeling a little more relaxed, chilled out and 'comfy'. My skin's even clearing up!! Yay!

New school....

2007-10-15T20:49:00.000+09:30

...and all is well!! (So far any way!!)
Kids are all in separate classes though near enough to not fret about where the others are. They have had a nice settling in/first day at, what we would call, a 'proper' school- fenced in, friendly, positive, respectful atmosphere. DS1 (my 'Indigo' boy/'square peg'/'different drummer'!!) certainly seems to have settled immediately within a calmer, less frantic/busy/confusing arena. I do hope it continues. He was able to make the 'right' choice and walk away from a boy who tried to goad him a bit!
Maybe they're all 3 just lulling me into a false sense of security but, hey, "It's all Good" for today and for that I'm GRATEFUL!!!
1st day back at work was a breeze and, inspite of my fretting re: kidlets, went without too many hitches. All's well and, again, I'm GRATEFUL for that too.
Paid two bills and am organised to pay our PR visa $$ this week as well!!
I've checked into UKS and I'm scraplifting another member's work- should be interesting! And fun!! I even managed to do 5 of the classes set from last weekend, the 1st of the 3 birthday Cybercrop weekends!! Had a ball doing that and at a more leisurely pace.
Life's good.
GRATEFUL
All I need now is Ali E's new book and I'll be guffawing with gratitude!!!

So Contented

2007-10-06T20:41:00.000+09:30

.....here in the country!
Let 'The Girls' (aka the 5 chooks!!) out in the a.m, generally run around with towels for the kids who are in and out the pool all day, make nice things to eat in the lovely kitchen area, don't stand washing up for ages (I have a dishwasher now you know!!) and keep just standing back in amazement at the loveliness surrounding us!!
Now, I want to buy the place, not just rent it, buy it! Oh, if only my luck would run just that little bit further! I mustn't be too hasty here; we have only been here a week!!
Now, I must try and get up to some stuff for the UKS Cyber Crop which is now running over 3 weekends. It is tricky to keep up with stuff being over the other side of the world but I'll try. Have managed 1 LO since I've been here but, as the DH has purloined my cheapo digital camera, I'm a tad limited! Plus the darned ink decided to peter out yesterday and funds atm will not run to that. Hey ho. Such is life.
Funds, however, did run to a bargainacious pack of KI Memories papers....tons for $16 (about £7 ish!!) Marvelloso!! And a good old fashioned mixing bowl- just like I had in the UK that was a replica of the one my Grandma had. Plus some lovely floral embellies and some glue tape...............from Spotlight. Love that place. They have a new one in Mt Barker. All those lovely vintage kitcheney things in pale blue, pink or green............just lovin' them. The Chrissy decs are a bit tasty too........mmmmmmm, wonder what some of my DH's tax rebate will go on!!!
Right, off to stroke the new papers and have a go at the classes on UKS...............tho' I have had a few glasses of wine today......

Moved !!!

2007-10-04T10:50:00.001+09:30

Yep, finally, finally we have escaped the dull, dismal, dreary, depressing abode we were in for 18 months or so and we are here in the countryside
More to post when I have time to pause for breath!!!
Lovin' it!
Lovin' the eggs
Lovin' it
Soooooo grateful!!!

On the move...

2007-09-09T21:27:00.000+09:30

Yes, finally, we're moving to a place that we'll both prefer!! Where the kids will have more room to move about and run, oh and a pool; I will have a bigger scrap space oh, and a dishwasher!! We'll have chooks and fruit as well as a shady spot to sit outside without neighbours being able to peer over the fence at us! Nor will we hear their spa droning on all day right outside our window. I can walk into the town to shop- or the kids can cycle- we can even walk to school when I'm off work!! And no big 6 lane highway to interrupt the routines of everyday life....
I have longed to live the 'smaller town' life again and I cannot wait.
I am so GRATEFUL for this opportunity. I will feel so much freer...is that the right spelling, not sure. And did I mention, I can't wait!!!?!
(I'm also grateful that we'll be leaving our current agent behind but I'll not be bitter!!)
Not much on the scrapping front though I did do a 'me' page that will never see the camera for uploading!!
For now, I'm just dreaming of no stairs to vacuum!!!
I can't wait.........have I said that already!!?

Happy Dance!!!!

2007-08-27T21:02:00.000+09:30

Yep fiiiiiiinally got news from the Big Boss at DH's firm that we can stay in Adelaide!! Wooo hoo!
There are stipulations but, hey, there's no wage drop and we'll get sorted with whatever is meant to be. So that's why there were no jobs for my specific requirements in NSW!! Meant to be! Fate!
I'm sooooooooo G R A T E F U L !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also GRATEFUL for my MIL who's going to try and send me some Wispa bars that are coming out again for a limited period of time due to popular demand. Now they are DIVINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Dance HAppy Dance Hap Hap HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!

If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!!

2007-08-19T22:42:00.000+09:30

Everyone else seems to do it reasonably well......oh no, not me and my 3. This weekend has been an incredible taster of the hassles I will face during their teenage years, I'm sure!
They have lead me a right merry dance, lied, backchatted, shouted/screamed/shrieked alot. They acted out in the store today as if they have never been socialized! I was sooooo racked off/disappointed/upset/angry. Came home. They carried on. I threatened to leave. Horrible, I know. They cried. They carried on.I ignored them. They carried on. I put them in their rooms. I let them out after their recommended age-time thing. They carried on. I fed them. They shut up. They carried on. My stomach's in knots. I think my brain is about to explode.
Thank God I can look at my nice new bag from Target and look forward to my PDO Monday.
All NINE, yes, NIIIIIIINE, neuf, neun wondrous hours TO MYSELF
For this, GRATEFUL.

Something fun

2007-08-16T20:32:00.000+09:30

Feeling v. fed up. Still don't know where we'll be based and time is getting tight re: visa! DH put the phone down on me tonight as it's something he feels I'm naggin about and he thinks he can't ask his boss about. Nightmare. Frustration. FED UP.

Can't even get the darn linky thingy going on but try the flower quiz on thisgardenisillegal. Apparently, I'm an Echinacaea!!

CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

2007-07-23T18:47:00.000+09:30

........for this lovely lady's new book!!!
Want it Noooooooooooooooooooooooooow!!

My mate, Pete's a DADDY!! 8lb 6oz girlie!!

My 2 scrapping orders on their way!!

Downers: Friends moved to Brisbane today.

Art Journal...finally!

2007-07-18T23:33:00.000+09:30

Yes, I have finally mustered up the courage to play, make a mess, mistakes and merry with an art journal. I already have a 'Freedom Journal'(random stuff re:me, life, words etc; a diary/journal; an 'Ideas for Scraplifting Journal'; this blog and now an 'Art, Play & Stuff Journal', more of a 'practice' thing and I've had great fun just not monitoring what's in there, the neatness etc. It's all just about the visual stuff I love and am grateful for! And, boy, did DD look at me strangely when I was inking the pages!!
I've gone through a load of SB mags and cut out the images for my 'I4S/L' and that felt really kinda cleansing. Needless to say, it leaves room for perhaps 1 or 2 of those lovely new books...Heidi Swapp's 'Just for Looks', the new Autumn Leaves one or maybe the 'Real.Life.Scrapbooking' one??? Hmmm, which shall I choose!! Can't wait really for Ali E's new one to come out...I will be all over that one!
Anyhoo, I'm off to try and find out who sings the gorgeous song on Lea's sit, y'know, the one that goes "If I lay here, will you lay with me and just forget the world..." that one I love love love it
Even better, should fathom out how to do the whole music/video doohickey link thingy on here
Oh, and pics of a few of the LOs I've done over the past few weeks/months but haven't been able to take pics of but I can now ...'cos I bought mesel' a -v.cheapy- little digital picture-taking doohickey(lovin' that word!!)camera-type thing!! Go me!!

Hectic

2007-07-15T09:24:00.000+09:30

Life's been kinda hectic lately even though I've been off work and the kids are on 1/2 term hols.......it's like plaiting fog doing all of this on my own!! I thought they'd be easier to entertain/keep busy and occupy whilst I actually sit down and get some scrapping and housework done!! Ohhhh no! Not likely! When my kids realize Mama's doing what she wants to do, it's interruption after interruption!!
There is nothing I can do for it but console myself with a new camera as mine's finally died BH(Beyond Help) and I'm missing so many chances just to snap the everyday stuff. I missed an awesome rainbow as well last week.
And I've bought a pestle and mortar so I can console with homemade pesto....mmmmmm.
made Orange Cake last weekend- gorgeous. It was a recipe from a BHG mag- 1st time in ages I followed a mag recipe that worked out!! (I usually burn 'em or miss out a vital ingredient to the success of the dish!!)
Hey ho, off to get the kids ready for a party then I'll go via a camera shop , maybe even to Scrapbook Station..........is that too scary though with 3 post-party-sugared-up kids!? I'll see how it goes.....
So nice catching up with the blogs I like and Emily Falconbridge's 2nd daughter also has a gorgeous name- Yindi. And I was amazed because I knew it was an Aboriginal name- picked up something since we got here!! Brain's not totally mushed!!

2007-06-11T20:20:00.000+09:30

My attempt for the 1st 'Secret' challenge!!

2007-06-11T09:47:00.000+09:30

I'm making a point this weekend and doing the bare minimum of housework/chores/cleaning/tidying/laundry etc........I think it's got on DH's nerves a bit but, tough. Basically. I got really racked off last w/end when I spent the whole 2 days doing just that, chores, chores and more chores. Never have a damn day off. This w/end, I decided, "Nope, no can do...need 'me-time'". So, I gave them all 30 mins warning, put the timers on and told 'em that, what they didn't put in the wash, didn't get washed!! It worked and I only needed to do 2 lots rather than the usual 4 or 5!! Whoopee!!
It's also worked in that I have had more time to scrap! Unfortunately, I ended up back in 12" by 12" mode so can't scan them in (can't do the fancy 'stitching' thing!!) and my digi camera has flashed it's final flash!! I have done a 8 X 11 LO for 'The Secret'.......just need to stick/sew it down now!
So, whilst DH and the 3 kidlets are washing the car, I'm going to play!!!

The Secret

2007-06-03T19:28:00.000+09:30

.....is out!! It's an idea by Anita Mundt who's doing some prompts based on the book every Friday. Just what I need currently to focus on the +ve rather than -ve. Will give me something else to focus on while DH is away. Even if I can't upload, I may just tinker about with it here!!!

After all, this has come as a welcome note tonight after I've spent the w/end working real hard and DH has just sat on his 'A'. No weekend off scenario for me is there...oh no!!!!

So, now to re-focus it to a positive slant as well as get back into the groove with my 'Word of the Year' (a la Ali E!!), I'm going to find what LO I can come up with that's about being GRATEFUL!!!!!!!!!

Missed my laptop....

2007-06-02T15:15:00.000+09:30

.....more than I thought I would!! DH has been using it for his new job in Sydney....but no longer from Mon 4th!!! Yaaaaaaayy!!
How easily have I got hooked!!? I missed reading blogs I like, going on my 'regular' sites and generally wasting time instead of getting my mojo out of the doldrums!!
Anyhow, it's been weird, what with DH being in Sydney. Secretly, I'm really rather enjoying myself!! I can watch all my Mon evening programs, straight through and without interruption!! I can sit at my table down or upstairs and scrap and, from Mon 4th, I can even get round to printing stuff!!!
The kidlets are adjusting well to the change in 'parenting' routines of the week and are thoroughly enjoying their time at OSHC!! (Well, they've wanted to go there for a year now!!)
So, here goes........off to scrap!!

Sydney Bound.......!!!

2007-05-12T13:02:00.000+09:30

.........in the next 6 months!! What a turnaround! What an opportunity! DH's landed himself a good job in the sign industry so, for now, we'll be a 'broken family' for the weekdays anyways!
I don't know how the legalities re:visa change or'upgrade' etc works but I've got some great folks helping me out on that!
Just need to get myself organised with a bloomin' updated CV/resume thingy! I wonder whether or not you put in stuff like being told off- again!!- for being "..too happy..." at work!! Yes, I've been reprimanded for this again. Apparently my colleagues "..can't always deal with/understand (my) continual bubbliness.." Perhaps the Sydney thing is my answer to those fascist, miserable bigots at work who, incidentally all claim innocence re: said criticism of myself! Frankly, my dears, I don't give a damn! Particularly as my informer said that "..it's not about you as a person....or your work and the way you are with clients..." My natural response to this was, "Well, could you tell me exactly what the *"!& it is about?!" Apparently 'it's saying more about others' than me (!!???!!) but I need to be aware of this opinion from my colleagues. I still do not 'get' this kinda mentality. Of course, when I 'reined myself in'(as advised to do!) on Fri, folk were wondering what's wrong with me!! Can't bloody win!
Crikey! Seems all whirlwind-like around here! What with all that hooey at work, Sports Day on Friday and the DH returning from his 1st week in Sydney on Thurs (our TENTH anniversary of our very first meeting!), youngest twin puking on Weds night!, not a chance of having much 'downtime' really since the CC w/end !! Hoping to get a chance to do some tomorrow as it's Mother's Day here and I even have Mon off- Pupil free Day at school!! I've even heard from the parents in France!!!
Told you, weird, surreal, funny old week!!

2007-05-01T21:04:00.000+09:30

I've thoroughly enjoyed the CC on UKS.....just a shame that the kidlets and DH decide they want me more than ever when I want some 'me-time'!! Dh, after all my attempts on a daily basis, to have family meals i.e. all together suddenly decides that "..it'd be really nice for us to eat together....THREE times a day... Oh and that coincides with the CC? Oh dear, never mind!..." Cheeky beggar!
Anyhoo, I'm chuffed to nuts. I did MY FIRST EVER DIGI LO!!!!!! Yep, basic but ALL digi!! I really enjoyed it so I did a couple more......then Picture It froze on me when I tried a fourth one.
Here are my (pathetic!!) attempts.......The blue one with Love everyday is my 1st ever digi!!!
I should do the credits but I'm still coming down from a bit of a 'cyber-high'....and all the cleaning yesterday on my Paid day Off(PDO).

Busy Cybercroppin'....

2007-04-28T13:54:00.000+09:30

Yep, it's the time of year for the CC at UKS and, even though my DH, DD and twin DSs all seem to resent me doing this, I LOVE it!! I'm no good, my entries are rushed- because of the time diff and then they've put time limits this time for uploading stuff!- but I just love it! I'm in the Diamonds team and we're currently 3rd; who cares!! It's just a great laugh and soooooo enjoyable and a great way for me to pick up my mojo from wherever it's lurking!!!
These are my 1st 3 entries

'Bout right!!....Weird!!

2007-04-05T21:47:00.000+09:30

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Reviews....

2007-04-03T21:39:00.000+09:30

Aaaaw, bless my three wee bairns!!
They've done their 'student-led' interviews tonight.....I mean, they're 6 and 7 years old and they have to do this: " Please Mum & Dad and let me show you work which I have chosen because..." stuff!! So false, forced and wooden. They tell me what they've done all the while and this seems almost staged?? IYKWIM? Sooooo bizarre.I know what the theory is behind it all but, gi'e me a break!! They are SIX and SEVEN!!
and if we'd been sooooo late for appointments, we'd've been labelled 'bad parents'!!

Dance

2007-03-31T16:08:00.000+09:30

......like no-one is watching....dance"
just part of one of TWO fab books I've read this week!
'A walk on the beach' by Joan Anderson and '12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know' by Michele Borba.
Talk about making my heart soar!! Amazing.
I'm really not too bad at this 'ere mother lark after all!!

And, to add to my joyous state today and, yes, inspite of having nearly $2K of bills to pay, MY DH DID THE IRONING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about happy. My overwhelming thought/feeling?....we're like a team again!! Even without a picture for me to scrap this momentous occasion, it's gloooooooorious!!
I am soooooo GRATEFUL!!! (I'd started to regret my word choice for the year a la Ali E)Good enough.
Now, off to play with my new acrylic paints and I've finally replaced my Fiskars cutter blade and I'm going to use some BG papers. (Remember: 'good enough')
Life is good.
All is good
All will be well
All is well

2007-03-11T11:50:00.000+10:30

Although I'm no publishable scrapper, I still feel the need to post some of my better stuff..well, better as in my standards!!! I've not got round to taking the photos of my LOs to upload to the PC and did so in a real rush yesterday as I realized I would actually get time to go on the PC uninterrupted......well, that all came to nothing as twin DS1 was naughty at the party he was invited to so an early return occurred, rendering me- once again!!- PC-less and elbowed out by the family. Still, gave me time to do loadsa housework-nothing new there then,eh!!?- and struggle with trying to get a LO to work!! Hey ho, it's all good.
I've been having a right laugh on .....got on a thread that Julie-Ann started and it's just snowballed....it's all about, what I call 'webiquette'-responses(or lack of, as we're all convinced we 'kill' threads!!) and whether or not you repeatedly reply to PMs or not!! So good to be in touch with folk over the ether and have such asmile whilst it's happening......though I am smiling anyway as I am the Serial Paranoid Thread Killer Extraordinaire Supreme.....Mwaaaahaha

Not much....

2007-03-06T20:32:00.000+10:30

...has been going on really. I'm mojo-less, fed up and am worried about money- again!! Not because I love it but because I need it for the visa, kids school fees, car rego, passport renewal and the general living purposes of course!
Not helped by the feeling and frustration of being the only person who seems to do jack around here. My DH seems to have gone on a "I'm-working-and-getting-up-earlier-than-you-and-I'm-back-to-collect-the-kids-from-school-and-then-be-on-the-PC-til-you-get-home-so-that-absolves-me-of-any-need-to-do-anything-like-housework." sort of mentality.........well, I say 'gone on one'; don't think he's stopped being on one for a long while now. Delusions of bloody grandeur f'you ask me!!
On top of feeling crap for not regaining my self-esteem/confidence/autonomy, my guts decided to rebel on me this a.m and left me with no illusion that work would be an embarrassment-free zone, IYKWIM!!! Now, I feel hungry but I don't know what to eat that won't make me feel dodgy again......and I don't do being hungry very well.
I'm buying the HS 'Love Your Handwriting'and some BG papers as a consolation this week anyhoo (bargains, not full price, BTW!!!) A coupla weeks ago, I bought some gorgeous stuff from SBStation to kick-start my mojo but not happening, well apart from a quick-ish LO at the w/end and several more unfinished. It's that thing again about 'being watched' or the kids interrupt me when i sit at my desk. So frustrating. And, I'm sorry, but as much as I love my bambinos, they are not going wild/carte blanche with me Scenic Routes or my KIMemories, oh no!!
Hoping for some upliftingness this week and for this I will be GRATEFUL.
All is well
All will be well.

Turnaround.........

2007-02-19T20:03:00.000+10:30

again!!
The main manager says he 'misunderstood' what I wanted in respect of changing our visa to permanent residency!! Still, upshot is that the company will sponsor me!! Yaaaaaaaaaay!! Now, instead of 10K, we need to save about 4K......somewhat more achievable but still annoying as we didn't know/weren't told/supported with the info that, if we'd done the change within a year of the medicals, we wouldn't have had to do them again!!
I hope I can be instrumental in preventing others who come over from being in the same predicament as us!
Skint as atm as well!! Andy's boss (our neighbour) has been away so, inspite of what I thought was good financial planning/juggling, it's all gone to *!&£ and we are now counting the cents until they come back on Weds!!! Horrible situation to be in and I hate, hate, hate having to ask if I can borrow money.
All will be well....pay day Friday..... car rego to pay, rent & and school fees....always something!!
All good...........soooooooo over it!!
Grateful? Hmmmm, not that sure if I can appreciate my 'word-of-the-year' today!!!

2007-02-10T17:12:00.000+10:30

Hope this works but, apparently, you get put into a draw for one of their fabby kits!!
It's on my 'to-do' list to re-order my order but, every time I want to place an order, I can't justify treating myself!! This time it's been 'cos of DH's new job and he won't get paid til end of Feb!!!!!!!!!
Still, having a whirl at this.....never know, I could be lucky!!
"Gotta be in it to win it"
I really like this Angels concept and followed the UK one as a 'lurker' for a while- it was a bit like a comfort zone thing when we emigrated over here.

Onto other stuff; another manager is going to see if he can make sense of our visa situation though I may still have to have another medical and do Aussie Police Checks as we're over the year mark after our others were done.
It'll be as it should be, no doubt. Que sera an' all that serendipity stuff.
All will be well.
Totally slummed out today-even been to the famous fast-food place (with that strange yellow or red haired thing with stripes and long feet!!)Mojo fading and need to regain it to do some playing at my scrap space.
It's all good

'Racked off'

2007-02-09T13:06:00.000+10:30

All because I listened to one of the bosses and didn't get it in writing. I've written-in July 06- and emailed -in Oct 06- to sort out getting permanency. Had a reply from my email saying he'd pass it to his assistant to deal with as he was going recruiting overseas!! Nothing heard.
When I emailed the other day, he says they don't get involved!! Also claims not to have seen anything I sent!!(Even tho' he replied to me? Or was it him?....)and that I have to apply for the visa independently!! That's going to cost the best part of $10000, take the kids out of school, find cover for work etc all to come back in to continue-only slightly differently- from before we would leave!!
Also, what are they promising others who will be coming over? And where's the information and support for those coming over? At least he's said that I'll be given written support letters re job etc and, don't forget, I'm obliged to work out my contract with them. That's another thing, my work contract finishes Jan 08 but my visa finishes Nov 07....how can I work after then? That would be illegal and I am not in the habit of doing illegal! Then, I'd be in breach of my contract-that is not my way of doing things.
I'm looking to other routes and people- based on their (far easier!!)experiences of this. Plus I know it's not just me who has been led to believe that it's easy; it's been said to a colleague and her friend. So, maybe I'm feeling a little stressed but it's almost like a 'conspiracy' against me!!
How bizarre all this is!!
Hopefully it will work out OK. I hope so.
Meanwhile I shall be grateful for my family, life and work. This is, perhaps, a way of teaching me to be grateful. My word of the year.
Jump, and the net will appear?
I do hope so.

Daunted

2007-01-28T21:15:00.000+10:30

....by the prospect of returning to work after 2 weeks of lazin' and just chillin' with my gang. Not a happy bunny. I so want to just be the 'stay-at-home' mum. No deep-thinking, working out the work dynamics, trying to be professional and non-confrontive etc....not a happy state atm.
I want to spend my time doing more meaningful stuff, like making fresh pasta for the kids after school, pies and good, wholesome lunchboxes. I don't relish the prospect of rushing around to get them to school then get me to work etc...so not good.

On leave....

2007-01-13T21:59:00.000+10:30

Yup, just about came up and whacked me on the neck it did! I actually went into work on Thurs when it was s'posed to be my 1st of 2 PDOs(paid day Off!!) What a berk I felt!
Hey ho. It's all good and I was GRATEFUL that I did go in as I had loads of stuff to do that would've left things in even more of a mess than I've left them in!
Still, good week. got my lovely chocolate brown linen Princess line dress. Gorgeous. Ordered a black one as well!! Felt good in it and even got a coupla wolf-whistles!!
So, I'm getting myself into that 'frunky' mode: free and funky. I.E Not fretting too much about what folk think. Accessing my boho-chic/hippy leanings. Have even got the frunky glasses now- DH calls 'em my 'Joe90' specs but, what does he know?
Went to see "Happy Feet" yesterday- on my PDO!!!- and it was great. Kids were really good as well.
Today, I had a mini-meltdown: done 5 loads of laundry, drying, sorting, bed-changing etc. I went out for 45 mins and got some snide remark from Andy then, when I'd folded towels and linen a la Anthea Turner's 'Perfect Housewife' hints, they were upturned all over the floor!!! I was LIVID!! I certainly did not feel GRATEFUL for AT's tips then, I can tell ya!!!
Threw a load of the kids clothes around their rooms; explained that, when they undo the work I've done to contribute to them having clean stuff etc, it makes me feel incredibly sad to have it messed up that way. DH? Just sat on his arse watching some history Channel prog. Then told me I was 'mad' when he finally ambled upstairs to see what the commotion was upstairs (i.e when the kids discovered the mess in their rooms!!)Needless to say, I'm on an unofficial 'sent him to Coventry' protest though he'll never ask why, just carry on as if it's all my fault and no business of his to get involved in the darned housework and somewhere along the line it'll be because "...you've been too busy scrapping...".......If he so much as dares to say that, seeing as I've not done anything since last Sunday.
I suppose, though, that I will, once again, talk myself into believing/'realizing'that-somehow- it's my fault that I get so upset that I'm working 40+ hours a week, up at 0630hrs daily, come home , do h'work and yet DH is the 1 who gets the lay-ins at w/ends,little housework(washes up & cooks),goes out when he wants-without children being required to go and without time limits and/or snide remarks on return!!- on top of which he wants 'marital relations'.......I am being such a darned mug here. I don't ask for much and maybe I will start to do that.
Otherwise, I'm GRATEFUL...................?????????????????????????

CZ is Baaaack!!!!! Yay!

2007-01-06T09:58:00.000+10:30

Missed this cool lady on her blog! Good to have her back again. Lovin' the sequel book as well!!
Had some fun making fairies on though not being a techy wizard,I have to remind me of the way to get the link thru Photobucket or something!
Taken the decorations down today.
Although it looks bare, there's also a sense of relief and orderliness to the place again!! Like 'spring-cleaning'!!
**Grateful**

Word for the Year

2007-01-05T23:23:00.000+10:30

GRATEFUL

Great.
Full.
Satisfied with my lot, life, laughs, lows
That is my 2007 word...
...and I am grateful for it.

Back into music again!!!

2006-12-08T22:26:00.000+10:30

Yep, found a cracking store near work that has some real bargains........inspired by replenishing my collection from the UK(that never made their way here!!!) of Robbie Williams CDs. He was playing here in Adelaide on Tues...couldn't get tickets when I could then actually afford 'em, but, hey ne'er mind. Got my Robbie collection back now. DH can buy me the new one for Christmas!!
Today was a little success story at work so I went and treated myself to a Foo Fighters CD,'In Your Honour'. Fab. Wanted it for ages....nearly bought that as well the other day but restrained myself. Couldn't resist today. My 'reward' for 3 months of 'chasing' and searching. It's like finding my scrap mojo again!! Like finding my hipster, music-loving self again who longs to go to a great festival/gig again and bop around like a daft thing!!
Got Green Day as well t'other day and Joss Stone. That place is going to be my solace , I think!!
Loving the rawness, the rough croaky strains...just fab!!!

There are more CDs I'll buy in the next few weeks I'm sure; they always have $10 bargains out the front.

I've also treated myself to 2 tops when I went shopping with KB from work. retro, long top shirts....groovy. Deffo finding my 'mojo' again. Finding 'me'.
It's all good.

Wolves. Decs. Scrapping. Ink.

2006-12-02T22:27:00.000+10:30

I've not blogged for a while, mainly 'cos of lack of time but also because of the usual lack of time to type for as long -or as short a time- as I want to! I've been all busy-barring and inspite of interruptions and lack of understanding about Scrapping from the family!! Been on the Harry Potter CyberCrop last weekend which was actually really enjoyable and I managed to get 175 points for the team I was on, Ravenclaws. We were last over all but, hey, that didn't matter. It was all good.
I've managed to buy a Notch & Die Tool from an Aussie scrapper so am planning to play with that tomorrow!! Also bought myself some lovely papers; a whole heap of diff ones like KIMemories(probably my most favourite ranges!!!), Scenic Route Paper, Chatterbox, BG, MME Wild Asparagus, some vellum sheets, some KI letters and some L'il Davis stickers. FAB!!!! Just waiting on my Cathy Zielske-The Sequel book so, alongside my 3 SB mags that finally arrived in the local-to-work newsagency on Friday, I am well set up for a month or so to get on with some scrapping again.......the main reason being as well.....tadadadadadadaaaaaaa...................I've finally got some more printer ink!!!!! Waaaaayhaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!! I did manage to buy some last Fri(day of the CC) but the colour ink cartridge of the pair was dry as a bone!!!! Had to fathom my way round that one but, hey, it was OK!! After all scrapbooking was being done way before computers!!!
Now I can print out some of those fab photos of the kids posing last weekend when we put the tree up!!!
Yep, this year we have a tree. Red decs. Train that plays tunes and travels around the round track underneath.........kitschy, tacky but seeeeeeriously cool.
I s'pose 'cos we had very little in the way of decs last year and, despite that the kids didn't moan/mind, we still made it a happy time and this year it's perhaps made us all appreciate that we are indeed blessed and rich in more than just money.
But I still want my own scrapping space!!!!...............

Had a great day today with the kids. Been up to my friend, Emma's house in the Hills. Wonderful. Growing all sorts of things there. We picked a load of cherries which are just gorgeous. Admitted to Emma that I was experiencing a bit of the 'green-eyed monster'(not in a nasty way!!!) but at the same time, like the tree thing, it made me realize just how I seem to be meant to meet people for a reason and that I am blessed with having met nice people here in Aus as well as my friends in the UK. These people seem to then highlight/balance out the people I meet that I don't want the kids to use as role models.........like people at the barbie we were at tonight; swearing in front of their-as well as our- kids(and I'm not just talking a little "oh, damn" type swearing, I'm talking the real, hard-core swear words that can be really offensive!! Listen, I'm not a prude,but I cannot understand the rationale that they are OK with swearing in front of their kids etc but would not want their kids to say those words either to them or to others and would tell them off!!! Contradictory to me. Do as I say, not as I do. Don't understand it. Don't want it. I will also not feel that I am 2nd rate for speaking out and protesting about it. Still at least it gave the people concerned something to talk-and swear!- about repeatedly for the remainder of the time I stayed 'til:" People should expose their kids to the real world from an early age".....Couldn't bear it any longer. Also 'cos DS1 was the only 1 of the 7 children there not to get a lollipop; 'lucky dip' was held for the last 2 children(whaaaaaaaaat!!!!?!); of course there had to be 1 upset unsuccessful child; it happened to be DS1. He thought it was 'cos he didn't eat BBQ sausages(he doesn't like meat)or he'd not behaved himself. Poor little man. Why didn't the kids just not get a lolly? If you don't have enough, don't give any out.

Takes all sorts this world. It's always made me squirm when there is that nasty element to people's comments or behaviour, that 'wolf in sheep's clothing' stuff.
I mean, I've been nasty here but I haven't named, shamed and personalised it; just made general statements as I saw it and how it puts people in an unnecessary awkward 'spot'; no need.
Like the stuff in the scrapping world lately about certain -very talented, committed, amazing, I may add- scrappers being slated on blogs etc............so wrong.
Memo to self: negative doesn't always create the positive!!!
Long-winded blog.
Needed that.
All is well.

2006-11-18T07:35:00.000+10:30

Well, my 'blog prompt' was about imagination........not sure I have any/much!!
I tend to imagine and dream about how I'd like things but then, as reality lets me down, I tend to find that I get disappointed in imagination!! I do think imagination is a marvellous thing though- it's certainly helped me to escape from 'real life' and allow myself to gain insight into other people and situations that I probably would never have considered. Even using the internet requires imagination!
I like to think that imagination is unique to each person and, of course, is then interpreted differently each time so it's another way to express yourself, even if others don't 'get' it!! To me, it's almost like a 'safe place' to be, plan, think, develop and nurture my reality; helps me problem-solve so, all-in-all, I am grateful for the brief times I have to imagine!!

I need to practice my imagination skills as well as I'm taking part in my 3rd CyberCrop on UKS next weekend!! Harry Potter theme-hence my flashing Ravenclaw motto!!! I've also sorted my wand out- a 9", oak, unicorn. I'm imagining it's a good one!!!

9", Oak, Unicorn
You scored 52 wisdom, 5 bravery, 36 emotional, and 16 martyrdom!

Oak signifies wisdom, endurance, protection, and authority. Your unicorn's tail hair core means that you are pure of heart and care deeply for your loved ones.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 70% on wisdom

You scored higher than 0% on bravery

You scored higher than 96% on emotional

You scored higher than 27% on martyrdom

Link: The Harry Potter Wand Test written by sputnik845 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

2006-11-16T21:32:00.000+10:30

This sort of thing is just wonderful to me..........so inspiring! oNly thing is, it makes me feel a bit sad that I cannot seem to make the time or personal space to darn well do anything like these lovely creations!! I then look at them, so in awe, and then freeze thinking, " How am I ever going to come up with something on that level??!!!" Then I remember..............
Why I like scrapbooking......
Why it helps me.......
Why I treasure what I make.........
Why my kids enjoy what I create.........
Why I am better for it..........
Why it opens my eyes...........
Why it opens my heart..........
Why it's all good...........

........then it all feels OK.
I still don't get much done nor do I have my own scrapping space but it's still something I can do in any room in the house, at any time of day and I can even have something SB-related with me at work!!!

I am blessed and living an abundant life.
Simple living and gracious acceptance, knowing that all I have is all I need has been highlighted to me this week and, for this, I am grateful.
It's all good
It's all OK
All is well
All will be well.

40 today...

2006-11-14T19:52:00.001+10:30

.......what else can I say!!!!!!!!!?

Sat/Sun

2006-11-12T20:46:00.000+10:30

Weeeeell, what can I say?!
I feel so relieved about the windfall that it's put a whole new slant on things. Dreadful really that it should be money-orientated but I am feeling far more relaxed and less worried. I now feel as if this is the life I was meant to live as I'm actually going to be earning what I should be earning and that the windfall was also like a really hard way to save up!!! I have stressed to DH that we're not going to just blow it but spend it wisely on things like school fees and stuff for Christmas(our deccies never made it over here)
DH told me that when he'd mentioned to DD that he'd been looking at Christmas trees(a couple of weeks ago), her little face lit up saying, "Aaww, wow, Dad, can we really have a tree this year?! Made him fill up. I mean, last year all we had was the cards we brought with us pegged up on string, a long bit of tinsel around the bannister and a string of lights that trailed all round the house. Should be a different scenario this year.....I've seen some great decs I love in a cheapie shop- the sort that are 'country christmas'-like and I won't feel guilty about buying them at all!! Besides, they'll last a while anyways. Not like they'll just be for one year. Good 'investment'!! Y'know, signs that say 'Santa Stop Here' and a lovely wreath for the door.
I could even buy some stuff that we weren't going to get 'cos of having to 'tighten the belt'!! Woo hoo! Man, do I feel happy.
I'm off to the SB Station tomorrow lunch to check out what I'm going to treat my stash supply to and check out the cheapie place for a laptop, get some ink cartridges for the printer(not had any ink for 3 months!!!!!) and order some B&W prints from Harvey Norman!! All ready for the Harry Potter CyberCrop in a coupla weeks time......can't wait!!
And I'm going to order me some lenses!!

Kirsty & Scott's wedding was really nice......on the beach square etc, meal overlooking hte sea then a fantastic thunder & lightening storm over the ocean.....amazing!!

Life's good.
It's all good.
All is well.

50 years from now.....

2006-11-11T11:10:00.000+10:30

the UKS prompt was about how my scrapbooks would appear to anyone finding them in 50 years time........
Hmmmmm, they would probably see that I never had enough time or stash to do them 'properly' but they would see that I love my family and life by the expressions and the journalling therein.
Hopefully they would see that they are timeless and not 'trend-driven', more that the LOs are thought about and heartfelt rather than cluttered with tons of embellishments! As the kids are the centre of my world, so are the pics in the LOs.
That's what I would hope they would see; whether it would turn out in reality........

Anyhoo, have had a nice rebate from the Tax Office so I may yet be able to buy some lovely stamps and papers(AL Flourishes are a-calling me, I'm sure!!!) and then possibly get that little laptop so I can do my own thing without too many interruptions or delays!!! I've been longing to get some more daily disposable Contact lenses (my supply I brought from the UK ran out ages ago.......
DS1 found the missing part for the hosepipe so we can water the lawns tomorrow(mind you, there's a fair bit of rain atm!!!)
To top off a good day, we're off to a wedding on the beach later....Congrats to Kirsty & Scott!
It's all good. It really is all good today!!!!

Q

2006-11-09T21:26:00.000+10:30

If I were Queen for a day, it would involve alot-and I mean, alot- of 'me-time'.
I would wake up when I wanted to, get showered, dressed when I wanted to, have what I wanted for breakfast. I would then sit at my desk, my PC with my stash and email & write letters or phone all my friends in the UK. After doing some online shopping for general supplies-and SB stash- I would then be driven to the CBD, have a coffee in Starbucks- or Gloria Jeans in Borders (after buying some books in Borders!!) here in Adelaide- before hitting the shops to search for some nice boho chic/vintage/retro stuff for which, of course, money would be no object. I would then go to the scrapping store and buy up a load of stash, go home and then scrap, scrap and scrap. Of course, during my shopping spree, I would have taken lots of pictures (with a fast-snapping digital camera) and printed all of them off when I returned to my 'palace' which would have been cleaned & tidied whilst I was out. Whilst the pics were printing, I'd try on my new stuff- it would all look really great!!- then welcome the kids home with open arms and a home-cooked meal and lots of interesting stuff to end their day from school with.
How selfish a Queen would I be!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
Y'see, I wouldn't want just one day of that, I'd want at least a month!!!! Without bills to pay, debts to worry about; someone else would do that so I wouldn't even have the hassle of it when I wasn't Queen for the Day!!
Ultimately, that's what I'd like; all my major, ongoing hassles and worries sorted out on that one day and then I'd still feel like a Queen, even if I didn't have a pile of money to spend(I'm quite happy in a thrift store really!!)
Hmmmm, would I want all that?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!!!!!

UKS Tuesday Blog Prompt

2006-11-07T21:12:00.000+10:30

.......was asking about history/mystery in families etc
Well, the only thing I want to know more about really was when my Granddad H used to play the piano and organ for various folk. Rumour has it he played for well-known folk,like Frankie Valli, Vaughn and the like! Wonder if that were true? Engelbert Humperdinck was also mentioned years ago as a familiar name to my Granddad. My Granddad D used to be a lamplighter- before the days of street-lights as we know 'em; I wonder what that must have been like as well.
In the late Victorian times there was a rumour about one of the females scooting off to the U.S and experiencing some ne'er-do-well life (illicit substances an' all apparently!!!) Perhaps that's where I've developed some slight rebellious traits from?
Who knows?
On the whole, not a mysteriously, amazingly, dark, deep-secret kinda family but, if I could afford all the fees to join these genealogy sites, I'd certainly go for a deeper delve!!
Certainly makes me wonder what stock I was bred from and, if I were living in those times, what would my life have looked like? Would I be happier or sadder than I am now? Would I be better/worse off than I am now? Would I be in the U.S living an ill-fated life?
Makes me feel very grateful for where I am in my life and who, more importantly, I have in my life...though I may not always have the right mind-set to appreciate it, especially after a day like today!! (Long story: involves DD stealing again and loads of confusing/conflicting info at work!!)
Really want the Pencil Lines blinkie to put on me blog....perhaps it will spur me to regain my 'mojo'!!!!

Prompt #2

2006-11-05T22:56:00.000+10:30

I've not been to a fireworks display or had any at home as they're generally banned over here because of the fire risk! Last year we were in the UK, went to one at the BIL's work and the kids just moaned about the loud bangs!!
Anyhoo, back to the prompt #2: how and when did I get into scrapbooking and what got me hooked etc........
I started in 2002 when I saw, by chance (trying to keep the kids entertained!!) a QVC programme and then Alan & Barry on the 'Create and Craft' programme. They had guest scrappers on-Alicia Tucker and then Jane Dean.
They were the ones who got me into it as their enthusiasm was obvious and they both conveyed that you didn't need to be a designer or a 'professional' artist to be involved in scrapping. I was never 'creative' in the more conventional view i.e. 'arty', 'alternative' or able to rattle off a drawing without a great deal of concentration or mistakes!
So, right from Jane's tip about cutting out the back of the paper from behind a photo-makes your stash go further!- I've been hooked for 4 years!
I love the fact that I can do this with as little or as much stash as I can afford (usually the former!!), that there are few rules, that I can record the mundane, everyday as well as the big events in mine and my family's life. The kids love looking through the pages and are not swayed by the fact that I don't have all the latest chipboard letter designs and digital brushes. They just love looking at themselves and that is the point of this obession, I suppose.
I wish I had more time to scrap; I wish I'd started it many, many years ago. I wish I had tons of stash and printer ink to do the things I'd like. I wish my husband 'got' scrapbooking! I wish I could take better photos with a better camera.
For now, I'm happy grabbing what time I can to do it and try to make the best of what I have.......in life as well as scrapping. As Ali Edwards says, "It's all good".
I'm a 'scrimple scrapper'-simple and scrimp on supplies and LOs! I love paisley, flowers, kraft BBP,buttons, Chatterbox, Basic Grey, KIMemories, clear stamps, flourishes, whirligigs and fonts, fonts, fonts.
I love love love scrapbooking!!!

Blog Prompts(UKScrappers)

2006-11-03T21:13:00.000+10:30

Thought I'd just rattle this off seeing as I actually have the time today!!
Thursdays prompt was about a dream home:
Mine would be all one floor, ensuite and another separate little room-off mine & DH's room-for crafting with French doors into the garden and overlooking the sea!! Kids rooms & bathroom separate off the 2nd family room/rumpus. Kitchen would be open plan and incorporate a breakfast bar and those big wide doors that open back on themselves onto a lovely fragrant potted-plant covered deck.....flyscreens in place of course!!! the colours would be earthy-beige, brown, grey, taupe with splashes of colours in rich muted colours-green, blue, burgundy,jade and prints of a retro/vintage look, alliums and flower pics around with one wall in the entry way with B&W photos/pics in black frames. Old furniture-form but functional, possibly rustic-like or French stylee. Big loungy chairs-nothing stuffy,not that 'Victorian-posh'. Nice wooden floors, terracotta-look tiles or slate grey in the 'wet rooms' and nice rugs in the lounge area. Would love those lovely window panel style blinds with lovely long swooshy curtains to draw when it's cold/wintry.
That'd do me nicely thank you.

Friday's prompt was asking what would you be like if fear was removed from your life:
Calmer, less frantic and tense. No inhibitions. Confidence at work and home......more assertive , I s'pose. Sense of certainty, assuredness that all really is well.
On the other hand.....may just start taking things too much for grsnted, let myself go etc, not enjoy/appreciate who and what I have in my life.
I suppose it would depend on the source of the fear and whether it was imagined or not!! My fears would definitely stem from being rejected/disliked/offending people, 'breaking the rules'. and yes, I realize that it limits me in some of the decisions I would make/things I'd say or do but I've also learned to adapt that so it's a 'win-win' situation!
Hmmm, thought-provoking stuff.
Thanks ladies.

Pretty well-balanced then!!!!

2006-10-26T20:21:00.000+09:30

***You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained***

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?
http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/

2006-10-24T06:50:00.000+09:30

Want this badge?

No need to say any more!!!

Wildlife

2006-10-22T16:21:00.000+09:30

........no, not the children!
Went to Cleland Wildlife Park today and, apart from DS1 being a bit of a pain(I blame the Cocopops sent from Nanny-it's the only thing he's different lately and he's lost some of his 'common sense')
Anyway, I digress. Had a lovely time, spent a good 3 hours there and fed kangaroos, ducks-not emus, they were too far away and kept walking further from us!!- wallabies (in our family, usually known as 'wobbolies' because DS2 couldn't say it a few months back!!). Saw koalas, bettongs, all sorts of birdlife, turtles,echidnas, lizards, dragons, bats, dingoes, wombats......fascinating place. I bought the obligatory tacky/kitsch p/card to send to my mate Karen in Uk!
Of course, life's not perfect.
Still feel like a slave and at everyone's beck-and-call; no-one ever seems to think to ask what I might like to do/buy/see. Seems OK for DH to announce that he's going fishing with the lads on Sat; that leaves me getting woken up at 0430 by his damned snooze alarm and then not getting back to sleep. Then I have til 730pm to look after the kids and include 5 hours ironing, the laundry, washing & tidying, cooking, playing with the kids. Up at 0730 this a.m as kids were up: washed up twice already, once before the trip and then after Sunday dinner.
Now, the kids have taken advantage of me having some 'Me-time' by spreading and wasting a load of damned bubbles & water in the bathroom. 'Course, DH is asleep after dinner under the pretext of watching a film. No, life is far from perfect or at least as I would want it be.

Rest Day

2006-10-17T20:32:00.000+09:30

Not in the official way but a 'sickie'; have had that pain I get now & again which can be excruciating and darned uncomfortable. I'm able to manage it with 'controlled' walking/moving and resting(with a warm compress)-not something I can conveniently do at work though. Don't like taking painkillers, they just floor me so, when I need to, this is what I have to do. Most times it happens, it's manageable; just 1 of those things that happens now and agin since I had the 'Milton op' after the twin DSs were born!!! C'est la vie. Ok now and so it's back to work tomorrow.
Whilst I was dealing with the pains, I did some clearing for the 1/4ly rental inspection tomorrow. Always get a bit worried about those; considering we have 3 kids, I don't think we've (well, I've) done too bad a job keeping the off-white/light-grey walls and white kitchen units reasonably clean! What silly colours to have for a family rental!! Also, the paint is not that 'wipeable' stuff. If ever I had a rental for families, I'd go to the extra expense

Settling and skint!!!

2006-10-15T19:46:00.000+09:30

Yep, I've settled into doing some scrapping...even with the family and DH around!! Yep, although I'm never confident in things I create, it's seeming like my 'obsession' has become more accepted around here!! Kids are really into using up my scraps and that makes me happy (except if I see a nice bit of Chatterbox paper stuck on as a pair of curtains on a cardboard box house that I could've used!!!) Still, I can also dream of the lovely papers I can replace my quickly-depleting stash with!!!
Settled at work.
Money has been tight but now DH's earning a few extra dollars each week this has helped us get back on track; so much so that, after Friday, we'll only have the extortionate electric bill outstanding!!! How good will that make me feel.....'til the next lot!!!
Going to sort out the recent LOs for posting now.

First-born is 7!!!

2006-10-03T06:55:00.000+09:30

Yep, my darling first-born, DD is 7 years old today.
Can't believe it. Time certainly does fly.
She's opened her pressies already and it's only 7 o'clock!!! Birthday tea later with us lot and the neightbours....poor lass, having a birthday during the Spring Break fortnight and everyone's away!!! Poor timing there then.
Still she likes what she's got
Happy Birthday my darling beautiful, clever, bossy, sassy 7 year old.
Love MUM.

New Month, new start

2006-10-02T15:41:00.000+09:30

Well, a month since I've posted and , basically, life's ticking along as nicely as it can......I've even managed some scrapping and taken my LOs to work where folk were really quite encouraging about the pages I've done. Weird how other folk looking at them helps you to see the LOs in a totally different light? Still, I'm always critical of what I do and can still only dream of the ability and finances to do some of the techniques, styles, tools, colours, designs that others use!!
Good to have dreams though.
I'm fancying the idea of an art journal, only because I bought a $2:50 one in a bookstore yesterday!!!! How can a non-artist do one of those? I can try, practice, mess about with it!
I've not even started on any of the blog prompts, well, I managed one before I forgot my password to get into Blogger!!! Dozey me!!! Nor have I got started on the anniehafermann/aliedwards challenge!!........look good!
I have been busy around the house and have altered a clipboard to encourage my writing letters to Blighty. I've even found a bargain garden table & 2 chairs for the balcony so I can put that to good use!!!
Life is great!

2006-09-03T09:27:00.000+09:30

Your Elf Name Is...

Spicy Fruit Cake

What's Your Elf Name?

Seems strange....fate?

2006-08-27T21:10:00.000+09:30

but now the house is back to normal.........whatever 'normal' is!!
Yep, everyone's waiting for mum (me!) to do stuff around the place as per usual!!
Nice day today though...got brought brekkie in bed! We then went and treated the kids to these Beanie bear things that are all the rage and then had a nice lunch out.
Me and DD then went to scrapbook store wher, strangely enough, who should I meet there but my 'partner' in clinics!!(I run 1, she runs the other!!). Found out, not only our common interest in SB, but our feelings about work etc. We certainly sing from the same page! How nice is that!
Then went over to see the lovely Thai neightbour and her friend; turns out she lives not far from my work and is seeking some 'female' friends to natter with. Working in a male-dominated job and only female in her family, she's feeling kinda lonely. Have given her my contact details and said that we could meet up for lunch maybe. She's also going to cut my hair mid-week (she'd had too much wine today!!) Bless her.
Strange how frienddships and links sometimes come about, eh?
I'm starting to feel alot more 'comfy' in my skin (iykwim!!) at the moment.
'All is well in my world'- funnily enough this has been the 'Heal Your Life' Aspiration card I pulled out the box on Monday---how apt!! Wonder what tomorrow's will be?............
All is well

Nearly over.......

2006-08-25T08:28:00.000+09:30

the visit from the rellies from UK!! How awful does that sound but I really kinda want my house back!! Sick of the water wastage, overly-tidied place!! And no, I will not continue to iron socks, knickers, towels, sleeping bags when MIL has gone on Sat!!!
Will blog/moan more at the weekend hopefully

UKS Blog challenge

2006-08-20T00:26:00.000+09:30

Saw this on my fave site and thought I'd give it a go!
Today's is to tell your 14 yr old self 3-5 pieces of advice that you wish you'd known.......
1) Save money for a rainy day and don't rely on credit....always pay your bills.
2) Never be swayed by the market for all things 'label' or trendy, fashionable, expensive etc just to keep up with 'friends' Be true to yourself and develop confident virtues. Be assertive
3) No-one is perfect. Perfection is not achievable and not in others' lives/behaviours!! Be yourself. Be true. Be honest. Best things in life are not things.

Peace Out!!!

2006-08-19T11:38:00.000+09:30

Yep, peace once again prevails in the house! Both DH and his DD have overcome their pride and sorted out the misunderstanding that occurred on Thursday morning!!! Yep, nearly 2 days of cold-shoulder war!!
Last night me & the DH went to the neighbours for tinnies and pool(game, not swimming!!) Was nice to be out on our own without fretting too much re kids--got a built-in babysitter whilst MIL is here!! Got a bit tipsy
Looked at the good things on UKS and would like to try the challenges set by Ann H....gotta go though now as DH back with kids from swimming!!!

'International relations'

2006-08-18T15:45:00.000+09:30

......are currently not good in our home!
MIL and DH's DD are visiting from the UK and, as well as the inevitable statements re: 'going back' and missing us etc, we now have to deal with a stand-off between DH & his DD. Not good. She was cheeky to him, bad attitude etc then, although their relationship is often based on banter and repartee, she swore at him calling him what is prob one of the most insulting words one can call anyone, let alone your parent. She claims that he's always calling her etc so feels that it's ok and he is feeling that the female(older) members of the family are all against him so has shunned us with the silent treatment!!! Needless to say, this leads to strained relationships in the household which does not bode well for a happy weekend. Me, I shall just try to engender peacemaking activities but I am not going to be drawn into 'taking sides'. How ridiculous.
think I'll take advantage of the 'silent' house and get into some scrapping this weekend!! Might even go to the SA fair on Sun......though DH & I are invited to a wedding as well that day....starts at 4pm. The Fair starts at 9am.....we'll see.
MIL has been spoiling us; very nice an' all but I feel as if we fall short of the mark somehow in achieving the standards she would require! She is dissapointed in DH not having a job as it leaves us just managing rather than able to splash out a bit more. Our aim is not to be 'splashing' out all the time anyway!!!! Had enough of all that 'keep up with the Joneses' crap in UK. Ah well, half way through. Maybe DH will hear something more definitive about that job? Would be nice to relax a little about money rather than juggling bill/rent/car payments each fortnight/month.
Hey ho, it's all good.
All will be well.
All is well.
Be still.
Peace.
Love.....
......Harmony.

2006-08-10T22:15:00.000+09:30

Feeling a bit fed up......again!!! What a gloom-bucket I am! All this talk of terrorism and my folks are flying over to see us as I type. soooooo worried. Can't really add a great deal more to this today except to say that things are the same and yet different all at the same time!
Nope, can't concentrate Will blog again when I know the gals are ok.

2006-07-30T21:54:00.000+09:30

Well, where shall I start so I don't sound all negative & whingey!!!?
Had the Hen's Night out which was really good fun and I laughed 'til I cried at the comedy club....fantastic.Must try and get hold of some of Dave Flanagan's comedy stuff....v.funny indeed!! Went for a boogie afterwards but was overcome by tired-vibes by 1a.m.....well, I am nearly 40 and have been getting up at 06:20 all week!
My week off was not great though we did discover my wages hadn't been going in as they should have so that was a nice surprise........trouble is, it didn't get paid in 'til the Thurs by which time the week was about over!! Had parties to take the kids to both weekends either side of my week off and, needless to say, got very little 'me-time'.....soooooooo need some 'me-time'!!!
Quando, quando, quando, quando? (Always sounds so much better than 'when, when, when, when' doesn't it!!?)
Mind you, it was really cool not having to get up at the same time in the a.m and just chill out and be a home-bod for a change. Just wish-as per usual!!- that I'd had more scrappin' time, or at least not constantly being interrupted! Hey ho.
So, now I'm back at work. The good news there is that the lady I've swapped with is now leaving(loadsa folk breathing huge sigh of relief!!) and now I'm being 'targetted'/persuaded to consider staying at the other place full time!! It would be ok but alot easier if I had use of a car etc which, going off this company that DH was going to work for, is not looking likely!! They've still not even sent him a contract through yet!! Still my main workplace is nice really and, practically etc, is a lot easier to get to.(At least I get to see the kids in a morning, even if I go on the bus!!!)
I still suffer from pangs of homesickness and seemed to really struggle with it when I was off. Maybe I had more time to think about what I miss there and what I'd usually do on a week off work in the UK. When I think about it realistically though, it's not a great deal different only the 'friend' factor is missing. A huge factor for me really in that I have no-one who 'knows' me really well and will do that thing where you don't even have to talk or, when you do talk, it can be as deep/meaningful or as trivial as, say, sock styles, and your bestest bud is there with you....iykwim!!! That I miss big stylee.
There is so much more here though in terms of quality of life/air/food etc. We've been to Victor Harbour today and it was blowy, but lovely. Even looks nice in the winter with choppy sea....and it's clearer!! Wouldn't be anything like that in Skeggy!!!
Still, I've managed some scrappin';it's still an issue-silently, within- that I don't have my very own workspace where no-one else sits. Constraints, both financial and equipment, prevent that, I know, but it kinda galls me that the desk, etc was set up under the guise of me having that space/time etc. When I do get near it, it's a case of catching up on emails, letters, blogs etc that I've not had the time to check, ramble on pouring out stuff when I could really be spending my time getting on with the scrappin' I dream of during the day!!!
Life's good really. Am off to do some planning for pages and poss for my Book of Me as well.......mind you, the venepuncture study day is on Wednesday,hmmmmm, now which do I prefer??!!!........
It's all good
All will be well
All is well

Homesickness

2006-07-16T20:40:00.000+09:30

Been feeling very homesick lately. Don't know why. Keep getting waves of sadness and regret that I left people behind who I care about and vice versa. Wondering if I've done the right thing and if I should tell DH. Will it make him upset/angry with me? What would our lives be like if we moved back? Stayed? Maybe it's because we're having a run of yet more bad luck vibes atm and I'm getting myself in a lather for no real reason.
Scrapping has become a battle again wherein my time, space, stuff is limited and I have to keep moving, packing up etc so the kids and DH can do their thang!!!
Maybe I'll get some 'time off' this week as I'm off work-my 1st full week off since Jan!! P'raps it's why I'm a bit fed up too- been working solid(more-or-less) for 6 months and haven't really had a 'break' from family/work/housework etc.
All will be well.
All is well.

2006-07-05T21:33:00.000+09:30

Just some of the LOs I've managed to do just recently, albeit rushed, I've tried to stick to my new-found philosophy of 'scrimple' scrapping: simple and scrimped on the supplies!!
It's been alot easier this last week or so as our stuff came over from the UK. Some of it is noticeable in its absence however, like my light box and my heat gun!!! Not been able to emboss stuff but, hey, I've got tons of other stuff to play with including some of my lovely Chatterbox papers. I still have to fit around the kids wanting the PC or DH snoring in bed/watching TV but it's seeming like my 'making a mess with paper' is a tad more acceptable now!! The kids appreciate my efforts and really, that's all that matters. I have been able to scrabble together my 'Dream Home' book. It's a reeeeeeeally basic scrapbook, y'know, the sugar paper ones that we all had in school? One of those! Yup, and I love it! I've separated it into sections and can write about it. That's not what's pictured though.....there's alot more to go before I'll even dare to show that one!!
The swap is going OK for me....not for the lady who the swap was for though it seems! She seems a tad negative and I'm getting wind of her 'moaning' and stuff! Ungrateful or what considering all the extra time/travel I have before and after work just so she can have a break. Well, I've told the 'powers-that-be' that, if it's such a chore for her, she can return and I'll carry on in my main position. And as for why it's all too much, I'll never know!
Hey ho! Off out Friday for a Hen's Night....should be a good girlie night out! My first 'real' girlie night out in Australia!!
Prob post weekend(if I have time!!)

V. Tired!

2006-06-27T21:02:00.000+09:30

Went to work at the sister team today for my first 'official' day there. Quiet etc and reasonably ok.
I'm shattered though as I now have to leave the house at 7am (but will have to make it earlier as I'd just missed the 7:15 bus!) so got the 7:30 bus, 1/2 hr ride(gave me time to journal-on the bus!-first time ever I've done that. Not so busy at that time so it's possible-aside from the bumpy ride at times!!) V. enjoyable though! Then I have a 10 min walk the other end so, after leaving at 7, I finally get to work at 8:10!! There was no way I was hanging around 'til bloody 1640 tho' so cleared off at 1615!! Well, that is 8 hrs. I know I should do an extra 1/2 hour to make it official but, hey, it's my 1st day of this new routine and I was-still am!- done in. Not physically, that side of things was ok; it's the mental energy I have to use getting used to new people, clients, locations of things etc. Plus the lady I've swapped with was off sick so 'my' clinic was left to agency staff which means there'll be loads of stuff to sort out on Fri p.m when I get back there. Talk about grind you down!! I can't wait for the week off at half-term; yeah, I'll have the kids but it'll be like a reeeeeeeally long weekend!! I'm thinking I may just cancel some days I've booked off in Aug (when the MIL and step-DD come over) and split them seeing as I can't take any more A/L til Jan '07! Sounds like a good idea and will break the time up a bit for me and considering DH will be working too, there's a 6week break to cover child care-wise, though Andy & I will get the usual Public Holidays off then anyway. Time enough to fret about that though, eh?!
Right, off to chill out and do a bit of scrapping. I may even get to sort out some LOs ready for uploading here for the weekend at this rate.......hmmmm, all of about 5!!!! Oh aye, really on a roll here!! (She says, sarcastically!!!) Still, I'm enjoying it.
It makes me happy.
All will be well.

Stuff!!

2006-06-26T20:23:00.000+09:30

Yaaaaaaaaay!! Our ship's come in!!!
Yup, our stuff from UK's been delivered! Fab. Feels more homely and I can now do the washing at home!! I have my stash/scrap stuff-except my heat gun and cutting shapes!! Hey ho, isn't like they're not available here.
Some things I wanted didn't get bloomin' well packed, sadly but, again, apart from a few sentimental items that I try not to think about, they're only things. They can be replaced.
So, this weekend has been scrapping, scrapping, scrapping time! sorted things out so I can now either work up or downstairs and still be productive. The kids are less 'pestery' when I'm scrapping, DD even joins in in her own sweet way and has her own 'stash' which she keeps in a KMart calico bag!! She loves it! So proud of her 'Bratz' scrapbook/journal!
DH has left me alone to scrap on the odd occasion but I'm getting braver about scrapping when he's vegging in the bed! Need to stop thinking that I can't 'play' with my toys if he's watching the Socceroos or the England team!! Mind you, I'm quite ok not to scrap during these matches in spite of the lack of sleep 'cos of the time difference!
Life with eldest twin DS has eased a little; he's been a diamond for the rest of the week at school and a star for the weekend again!! See, he's had less overwhelming/noisy environment, calmer people/adults around him and he's been kept occupied with things/puzzles/books/maths/moving about/time on his own with Mummy or Daddy when he's not wanted to just 'be'. Had his hair cut at the barber's who thought he was just great. And he is. Great.
Of course, so are the other two offspring. They're all adorable, curious, sweet, witty, funny, doolally, clever, feisty, sassy, greedy, persistent, learning, good-looking, healthy, happy bundles of primary school magic!
Oh, and yes, I was asked the 'S' question this weekend! Brief, honest answer given..... DD replied with, "Oh, right. I see. Can we mix the cake mixture now?" ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Turnaround.........

2006-06-18T20:55:00.000+09:30

........this week.
Feels like something's clicked within me and I'm now allowing myself to do as I want to!!Bizarre, but true.
I wish I could identify the source of the 'lightbulb' moment but, no, it eludes me! I'm on the scrapping production scene again-scrimple LO's- but am going for it!
Despite interruptions, I've got a crafty way to sort it and it helps when it actually comes to doing the pages!! They're nothing like the ones in the mags I'm addicted to-as well as 'Notebook'!!- nor are they LOs that Ali, Cathy, Elsie would ever own up to, but they're mine, mine! I'm getting my mojo back and it feels sooooooo good.......no, damn good!!
I've found a source for white gel pens and have clocked onto a couple of good sites so I can find things around Oz easier!
My stuff comes on Friday-all being well and customs not banning any of my stuff!!- I can't wait to reacquaint myself with my stash-ooooooh, the joys!!!!- my gorgeous books, the kids' toys and our clothes plus all our crockery and kitchen things we love, like our coffee percolator.......lovin' it!!! The real smell and taste of coffee is to pervade through our house!! Can't wait!! It'll feel more like our 'home'.
Eldest boy is not doing so well again and my suspicions re: ASD/PSD are once again rearing their heads. School's had a complaint from another child's parents about DS1 scratching and near-strangling another child. Mind you, makes me wonder if the lad's told them what he was doing to DS1 before that happened. Doesn't excuse what DH has done.......DS1 told us he'd been mean to a boy(he never names names!!) because he was mean to DS1 and that was the day it happened. Transpires that it's happening quite alot i.e that DS1 is spending less time playing and more time being punished for anti-social behaviour as there's teachers reporting his 'bad' stuff almost daily. Trouble is, it's a bit scary when DS1's teacher is saying, "I just don't know what to do". Grief, where does that leave us!?
....DS1 sees the world differently in my eyes. He becomes confused by loads of noise, activity and mixed messages just baffle him. He's a sensitive lad and is striving to be good but, as he calls it, 'my bad brain keeps stopping me'. He wants nothing more than things to stay the same, folk to be peaceful, kind and not lie to him . He doesn't 'get' lies and the process bewilders and upsets him. The concept of lying is really hard for him and he cannot bear it when he knows that any of our other 2 are lying. DS's view is that people are kind and then tries to copy..trouble is, he copies the ones who are not kind(in most folks view!) but he thinks they are! When he then translates that to other children, of course, it's too rough, not kind etc so he-because he can't get lying/doesn't lie- is once again the scapegoat. Bloody right cycle of unfairness/confusion for him. If you ask me, it's other folk/children that need to be more like DS1 than DS1 being like them. Of course, DH won't consider that our firstborn-son-by-3-minutes is not going to necessarily live the life we want him to lead. I must keep researching and, in the meantime, keep being my DS1's champion. I will not stand by while others make him the scapegoat for their own intolerances/ignorance/rudeness/impatience/unkindness etc.......grief, he's only 5!!!!
I love that he helps me look at things in a different way.
I love that he is sensitive and robust
I love that he is clever and bumbling
I love that he is creative and imaginative
I love that he is adoring of me
I love that he responds to how I feel(sad or glad)
I love that he is helpful and caring and kind and thoughtful
I love that he is clumsy and messy and silly and impulsive
I love that he is funny and deep-thinking
I love that he's active and contemplative
I love that he's mine
I love him.

He's all good.
It's all good.
It'll be OK.

Big Downer.....

2006-06-10T22:12:00.000+09:30

On a bit of a downer at the moment.......I've been battling off a big cold, feeling really tired, put on some weight 'cos I'm sat on my ass most of the time-at work and home- and I'm getting absolutely no time to myself. The kids interrupt my time on the PC and, if I go on it at night, DH's vegging in the bed so I can't even get on with doing any scrapping. I don't have decent light over the desk either so it strains my eyes and I get a headache and feel more tired. What moments I could grab during the day(obviously only at weekends!) is hampered by a child at the desk on the PC or DH watching TV!! I just can't win.
I know the kids are important but so am I and if I don't get myself some 'me-time' and space, I'm going to go nuts.
Work is better on the morale front though now I'm starting to feel like I don't want to go to the other team.......what if I do stuff up? See, a downer. I'm not usually so hard on myself about my work abilities though I do overly-criticise myself. Perhaps it's cos I've just been fitting around everyone else that I feel a little bit devalued and don't have an identity as such or the confidence to break the mold and make what would be seen by others as selfish, unreasonable requests.
Perhaps I should put some thought into this and how to tackle it.
Stuff comes on 23rd........yay. Minus the pasta machine 'til August though....dammit.
Most important thing lately is.........DH got a job! Starts 3rd July so it'll be a few more cents for us. Wonder if he'll be motivated to do a bit more housework instead of thinking that it's down to me to do it all on my weekend off work!!? Huh, off work........what is that? Come home from the paid job to do unpaid work. Somewhat wearing. Some things, doesn't matter which country you live in.

Working with Turncoats

2006-05-23T20:17:00.000+09:30

Yep, so it seems.....
..without harping on, someone has said things to my line manager about my lack of reviews and that I'm always having breaks. It's totally out of context and, to be honest, I'm feeling quite down about it. After all these are supposed adults I work with and secondly, on hearing the criticisms that have been dealt me, alot of the folk I work with alot of the time, say it's complete poppycock!! They're either really good liars or a turncoat is amongst us. We have a collectively fair idea of the dynamics behind the comments made which, in alot of ways, makes it easier to bear. The folks I respect at work are 'on my side'(if it's going to be juvenile then that's how I'll express it!!). In a positive way, the negative commenter has done me a favour and helped me to be assertive in asking people if they feel my work is shoddy, slack, lazy etc.......they have all disputed the criticism. I am my own worst critic. I am well aware and self-aware of my weaknesses and areas for improvement. I just wish the person/people had the same assertiveness and approached me about this directly rather than going along the 'snitching' route. Their negativity, however, has actually backfired on them. Kindness, positive approach, warm, caring, enthusiastic attitudes are now pervading the workplace and a new 'team spirit' of camaraderie and support has developed. Perhaps that's what they wanted.....strange way to achieve it then not actually be a part of it!!! Bizarre!

Despondent, dejected.........naaaaaah!

2006-05-18T20:57:00.000+09:30

Yep. Despondent.
About the best way I can describe how I feel after this week.
Firstly, we've confused ourselves with the electricity bill-I though DH had paid it, he thought I had......$650 to fork out on payday, Friday.
Then, the day after I've arranged with the leccy co. that we'll pay the bill on Friday, DH gets stopped by coppers saying our car is not registered and he might be arrested for this. Whaaaaaat?!! Turns out we're s'posed to have some form or other that we're then s'posed to have taken to the Rego place and transferred into our name.......$540!!! What a right royal pain. I sort out with the car dealers we bought from, DH gets stopped by the police again, right outside the darn school!! How embarrassing! Swines.
Well, that's my wage gone for the fortnight-what do we live on for a fortnight? Get some money transferred over. Have to. Got the darn rent to pay as well! Nightmare.
I hate debt. Bills.
On top of that, today at work, I get told that I'm not pulling my weight, having too many breaks, not doing enough 'reviews', distracting others, not using my time effectively for work purposes etc etc. Juveniles.
If people have nothing better to do than comment on my work-or perceived lack of it!- then what exactly are they doing?!!! Have folk nothing better to do than criticize others? What about all the organising, updating, clarifying, arranging, juggling, adapting, coordinating, networking, reviewing, researching, developing? Oh and the client rapport-building, client appointment-aligning, follow up, phone calls, helping other team members with their work? Not enough? Tough.
This is me. I enjoy work. I like work. I work. Well.
I work hard.
Got issues?
Sort them.
Do not use me as your reason for feeling like crap.
Negative comments from you are far outweighed by positive responses to me, my work and how I work with others.
Get a life.

Yep, sorry, I'm feeling reeeeeeeeeeeally jacked off with comments that have found their way to me today. And believe me, if I'm not doing my job properly, I want to know about it. Need to. Have to. I need that feed back so I can improve.

When it is justified.

I don't like conflict for conflicts sake. If folk have a gripe with me, speak to me. Directly. Not through someone else who actually doesn't share your view but is in a position to have to put your gripe forward.

Grow up.
Relax
Just be.
Chill.

On top of that, no scrapping done........too tired.........working too hard.....not that some folk would agree!!!

Why do folk do this????

Her's hoping for a better weekend!!

Tired but(quite!) happy

2006-05-12T20:21:00.000+09:30

Yep, I was dreading this week.
Working at a different site for 2 days then a conference for today so I've only been to my main work base for 2 days!! Weird! And how I missed 'em! It's strange how you begin to realize how much a part of something you've become and then it's turned upside down. This has happened because I've responded by saying 'yes' to a colleague (who is feeling worn out/fed up etc) at another site and agreed to swap for a while......trouble is, I'm just getting used to my little 'niche' and then I've to swap & chop 'n' change. Now, I don't mind variety but.....
The colleague in question is now adding 'extras' like instead of the original '..just for a couple of months..', it's now '..stretch it to 4..' even 6 months has been mentioned!! Also that I would attend the team meeting there rather than my main base etc.....getting to the point where I'd be there 4 days 1 week and 3 the next so,basically, working more at another base than where I am now.Aaaagh. I know it was our decision to move here but, come on, I've already done alot of changes etc for work in the short time I've been here! Strewth, no wonder I'm confused! My immediate line manager assures me that it is not a permanent thing and if that's how it's going to be seen by the other team, then-he says- the swap's off. Now, I'm kinda wishing I had a strong enough basis to say 'No'. Not sure I do. Need to speak with the manager on Tuesday
In the meantime, I have 3 days off now!! Yay!
Mother's Day on Sunday and a PDO on Monday. I'm also led to believe by the kids that I'm 'not allowed to go shopping' with them tomorrow.......hmmmm, wonder what they'll be buying!!? Also, it means a bit of 'me-time' surely!? My reward for a hard week of confusion, rushing, organising, helping out etc.
It's also been an enlightening week for me in that I've discovered alot of positive things about me that I thought wouldn't be missed or noticed......
I'm (apparently, from other sources!!!) friendly, approachable, got an excellent,confident, relaxed approach which enables clients to feel at ease, easy-going, tolerant, loud, entertaining, lovable, funny('a nut'), warm and organised!! Makes me sound like 'Wonder Woman'.
Isn't it strange, how we perceive ourselves to be somewhat different to how others see us? My, when I read that list back it doesn't sound like it describes me but I know I have those traits and can use them well. My modesty actually prevents me from saying, "Yes, I am all those things and I am grateful for all of it." oooh, no; not me. I just go, "ah, well, shucks", have a warm fuzzy glow for a few mins then start with the negative vibes of "Do they really mean me? Am I that good? Have I mislead them 'cos that would make me feel terrible and what if I have they'll hate me and think I'm a fraud......"
What a nightmare I am!
On other days, I'd just think, "Hey, yeah, I am. Cool." Not on many days though. I start to analyse things too much and try to suss out what folk are really thinking about me.
Blimey, I am rattling on now
Although it's been a tiring week, I'm tired but happy.
Reaffirmed. Enlightened. Empowered.
All will be well.
All is well
Just be.

Got a

5 days in May...

2006-05-05T20:07:00.000+09:30

...and not a scrappin page in sight! Boy, have I felt weary this week.
Had a few changes asked of me at work and had soooo much paperwork to catch up on that my brain's gone to mush!
I've been asked to cover another lady's clinic to give her a break(Hers is way busier than mine!) but it's on the understanding that it is NOT permanent so I'll be working across both sites. Cool. Bit more variety. And I'll meet some more work dudes.
1 girl at work has got into scrapping so I've given her a load of my cast-off mags(Well, they're duplicates as they were free with CK and others!).
Well, what else? I'm sooooo behind on my letter-writing: had a letter to my mate Emma going for about two weeks!! She'll be thinking I've forgotten all about her with me living way over the other side of the world! Naughty friend I am!
I've been able to keep up with the internet side alot easier; boy, I wish Em was more computer-minded...even had a PC!!
1 thing that's really odd for me atm, is the fact that we're going into winter and my former homeland & the US sites I visit, are all going into Spring! I love Spring as well. Mind you, at least I can still look forward to it later this year! It is odd having the seasons the 'wrong way round' after 39 years! Yep, I'll be celebrating my 40th birthday in the Spring...that'll be odd!
Well, after starting this post yesterday and saying I've not done any LOs, I've actually managed some in the Australia album today; only in the last hour or so because before that I was cleaning the house from top to bottom and I'd pretty much got the pages ready in my head so it was ok.
I've decided I'm a 'scrimple' scrapper: scrimping and simple!!

Ordinary Life

2006-04-29T12:13:00.000+09:30

'Encyclopaedia of an Ordinary Life' by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
I cannot find this darn book anywhere in Australia it seems.... certainly no online search has been successful! Darn it. I got wind of it through reading about it on Cathy Zielske's bit on CK (at least I think that's where I found it!!); anyway, it intrigues me and each time I see the pic of it, I so want to pick it up and read it!! Maybe one day, when I'm rich and can afford to have things mailed from the U.S, I will appreciate the read all the more!
In the meantime, aside from my current scrapping 'bibles'--Clean & Simple (Cathy Zielske) and A Designer's Eye (Ali Edwards)-- I got some books from the library, ones I've been meaning to read: Snow falling on Cedars by David Guterson; The Street Lawyer by John Grisham and Paperback Raita by William Rhode. Should keep me out of mischief for a few more weeks til my books arrive from the UK!!
I can't wait to clap eyes on my cookery books(though using the recipes is limited by my family's reluctance to try different radical dishes at times as well as my tendency to be reluctant to waste money on foods that will also be wasted!!). For me, though, just looking through them, inspires me.
I also can't wait for my inspirational books which help me to focus, get real and try to be a 'good' person, like The Virtues Project; my Dalai Lama 'Daily Meditations' book and Daniel Coleman ones too. As well as my Becky Higgins Sketch Book,CK Ideas Book, Quick & Easy Pages and the rest I probably shouldn't have!!
Ah well, I've been catching up on blogs and other sites I've not been on for a while, or just 'found', and I could be using the time-whilst DH is golfing and the kids are watching a film!- rather than sitting here and then regretting the interruptions I will no doubt get later on when I get round to some scrapping!!
In the meantime, I've been asked to 'act up' in a-slightly more!- senior role at work and, in a few weeks, work at a different site-2days a week for a couple of months; strewth, things change all the time! For me, it's a good experience and way to learn more about the Aussie system and to meet new colleagues/future friends.....who knows!?
It's all good.
All will be well.
All is well.
PS. Crikey, I can't find the Rhonna Farrer Clear stamps either on the sites here......soooooo want to get those swirls, scrolls, birds and beautiful thangs going on in my scrapping!!

Room for Improvement.

2006-04-25T13:23:00.000+09:30

These were my lowly efforts...in a strange way, I'm kinda proud of them as they were done in a hurry and without fancy tools & techy stuff...well, some PC assistance!!! Also done with the pressure of family still needing my attention.
Not too bad.
Room for improvement.
Should be my blog title!!!

I didn't realize this has published twice.... the site went down or something when I published this last night so I thought it would need doing again then, when I check my blog.....it has actually done yesterday's!!! Sorry to be repetitive!!!

2006-04-24T21:45:00.000+09:30

Well, I managed 4 LOs for the CC on UKS......sooooo enjoyable but, grief, I wish I could have the time to myself to just join in and be in it without the distractions....sooooooo frustrating.
Crikey, I had to rush.....as you can tell. First, I'm no expert and secondly, I've very little time or products to produce work of outstanding interest!! The main thing is that I love this scrapbooking lark.......I find that I get 'lost' while I'm scrapping, it makes me happy and time-unfortunately- flies by whilst I'm doing this. My kids are still too young to let me 'get on with it' whilst I give them the bits I'm not keen on to mess about with!!
Still, I grabbed those 3 hours and was totally euphoric!!! Wow, I wish I could churn out stuff like Ali Edwards(who was on UKS CC Sat night as a Surprise guest along with Rhonna Farrer!!! How cool!!?), Cathy Zielske, Becky Higgins, Elsie Flannagan, Britney Mellen, Stacy Julian... but my style is my style though I've not ID'd it yet!!! I've got the 'A Designer's Eye' book to help me decide.....I think I gear towards the simple yet I love, love love the Rhonna LOs etc!! Aaaaah, the power of choice. And, boy, I wish I could do that doodling thing.....love it, love it!!!!
Anyway, life's good here. I should be grateful as I actually do have more time really than I did in the UK!!! I just need my stuff which doesn't come over til mid-end June......I so want my pasta maker!!
Anzac Day tomorrow. It seems to be quite a respected day all in all over here; I suppose like D-Day celebrations and Remembrance Day in the UK. I look forward to seeing how the Australians celebrate it.
Currently, DH is over at the neighbours......!

Mardi Gras

2006-04-23T19:56:00.000+09:30

Well, I've only done 4 LOs for the UKScrappers Mardi Gras CyberCrop but, as I only had 3 free hours this morning, at least I was able to contribute if only on a clean & simple level, my kinda new approach!!! Mind you, stash-minimalism forces that issue atm!!
I get a real crabby mare though because it's like the kids & DH have it 'in for me' when there's something like this I want to do. They're either ill(DH was on the last CC w/end!!), demanding, needing stuff.aaaaaaaagh!!!
And it's like, after my 3 hours this a.m, DH starts to muscle in on 'my space'; as you know, I prefer to scrap alone especially as I'm an amateur.
I'm off for a tinnie and possibly do some more scrapping.
Cheers, Sharron

2006-04-22T11:13:00.000+09:30

I'm going to try and get involved with the UKScrappers Cybercrop. Difficult as I'm the other side of the world and there's the old time difference thang going on. I'm ahead so when it's time for the class postings etc, I'm onto the night routine and so I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do.
Plus, we haven't the luxury of me being all alone for the whole weekend to do it. Currently, I'm having to babysit whilst DH gets the kids some new clothes-it's cooler weather here now and our shipment won't be ready for delivery til mid-end June. Boy, will I love getting that stuff here...my cutters, inks, stamps, papers, Quickutz, albums(of course!), Robox...I can't wait!!! It'll be like Christmas in June!!!
Then, in August, the MIL's coming out with DH's eldest daughter. That'll be lovely.
So, I'm now going to try and catch up with the Mardi Gras Cybercrop and 'mambo' around for the weekend........mambo around the kids, the DH, the cleaning, the laundrette, ironing, the letters I've still to write and the blogging then, maybe just maybe, I'll rustle up a couple of pages!!!!....
See, I said I'm a frustrated scrapper!! Feel more like a 'mardy arse' than a Mardi Gras today!!

Grateful and Gluttonous(?sp)

2006-04-21T20:08:00.000+09:30

The last 2 days have seen me on a bit of a slump again(natural hormonal thang going on, iykwim!!)
Still, not particularly helped by an overwhelming amount of gluttony at work and huge bills to be paid at home!!
Our Team Leader finished to go to a new post; she was really nice to me when I first started working here; I mean, bless her, she was kinda dumped with me really. She welcomed me kindly and was always supportive--even when having to 'rein me in'( I do get a tad over-excited at times!).
What I learned?...... That when something comes along, and inspite of how hard it may be, an opportunity has to be grasped by the horns and, whatever comes at you, you have to 'go with the flow'. After all G was there for 5 years and changed alot of things in the Team-for the better, it seems! Such energy she has....Good Luck and Joy to you.
Needless, to say, there was food. And I ate alot. As usual.
What I learned?...... To appreciate even the most simple dishes; brought together by different people, a feast can be made! Crackers, cheese, dips, cakes, scones, cream cheese and kussundi(?sp) ,falafel, fruit........boy, it was good!
I may not have been able to move a great deal to even consider a project for Studio Friday but boy, has it been a shining week!!
Slump to scrumptious to shine.
Not bad considering I thought I was miserable.

PS I also found a backcopy of March's Notebook........how happy, shiny does that make me!!!!!

Inspiration...

2006-04-19T21:25:00.000+09:30

...comes to me from many places;
lately it's been through internet sites and blogs and yesterday it was from a simply, beautifully designed magazine cover!! I had to buy it and then download the pics for my desktop and for the printable bookmarks. It's called 'Notebook'-http://notebookmagazine.com- and it's lovely-quite inspiring and not patronising. Wish I could afford to splash out on the available back copies...Anyways, it'll be a regular purchase for me from now on...roll on the 15th of each month!
I've bought Ali Edwards' 'A Designer's Eye' as well; a major league scrapbooker/guru/artist whose blog I visit regularly www.aliedwards.typepad.com. Her views on scrapping, books, autism seem to hit a real note for me as a scrapper, reader and mother of a boy who, at one point, was considered to be somewhere on the autism spectrum.
Other blogs which I'm addicted to checking out are www.cathyzielske.typepad.com/bits_and_pieces/, www.stacysbigpicture.typepad.com/altogether_too_happy/ and through these ladies am finally allowing myself to believe that what I do "is OK!" I'm not by any means an expert- nor do I have a supportive husband when it comes to scrapbooking!-but the sentiments behind their craft, vision, work and approach is how I often visualize things then find difficult to put into words.
I'm learning that it's ok to be simple, complex, quick or take the time with pages and most of all that I enjoy what I'm doing.
I'm learning that it's ok to have a mixture of stuff going on in my life and not have to try & make sense of it or control/manage it well, just to be grateful for it all and, sometimes, just to 'be'.
It's very liberating and for that, I'm grateful. Thanks to those ladies. "It's all good". I may even give the studio Friday a whirl........oh, if only I'd taken the camera to work, I'd've captured the glistening, shimmering rain on the road with the glorious rainbow peeping through the grey clouds. Dang it, opportunity missed. Just looking for the topic is enabling me to look at things of the everyday in a different way though, so, even if I never post an amazing creation, I have gained a memory of one.
All will be well
All is well.

2006-04-16T09:43:00.000+09:30

The last five days have seen me coming down from the 'high' of having my own 'scrap space'.
I like to scrap in peace without folk in the room etc. Maybe selfish of me, I know, but it's just how I work better. The kids have taken to visiting the cbeebies site and, even though we've got 93 million TV channels downstairs, the DH has taken to getting in bed and watching terrestrial TV! So, when he's not sleeping/viewing, the kids are at the desk-"my space"- and I cannot do my scrapbooking.
The other annoying thing is that, whenever I do get a chance to go on the PC-like now, and I'm rushing this!!- I'm constantly interrupted as if I'm still not actually allowed to have the 'me-time' and respect of being left alone!!!
So, what to do? 1) Organise so my time is after the kids in bed but before DH retires.
2) Have things prepared to take downstairs when DH is watching TTV(even though he said he didn't want me scrapping at our gorgeous table....it's got a protective cover on it for goodness sake!!).
3) Get on with it and make a heck of alot of noise whilst scrapping so it puts DH off watching TTV in bed!!!
Hmmmm, I'm tempted to go with 3) and assert myself a little more without feeling guilty for my 'craft'.
Hey ho, all will be well.
Maybe it's a lesson I have to learn-or to teach my family!!-and perhaps because it's Easter? Who knows. Anyway, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" is another phrase, no? So, I took a pic of the boys dominating my space!!
There's a pic of just the 'space'--to be filled later when stuff is shipped over from UK!!
Anyways, another thing I want to start doing is the 'Studio Friday' http://www.tinesparkles.squarespace.com. It looks like a cool thing to do.
Not sure if I'm brave enough to do the self scrapping that's going on from UKScrappers member, Kirsty. My mug's not that photogenic plus I'm proving to be a bit of a klutz when it comes to 'self-photos'!! The light's wrong, the angles are wrong etc.....never be a Bailey!!

A week's a loooong time!!

2006-04-11T19:07:00.000+09:30

Since I've had my scrapping space I've hardly had a chance to use it!! Bloomin' thing sitting there and a chance I've had has been interrupted by either kids and/or DH watching the terrestrial TV progs on the telly upstairs!!! Bloomin' annoying. Hopefully, during my 4 days off at Easter, I might be able to get some time.
Amazing though, today, I came home to find that DH-who never irons!- had done half the basket!!! What a thing to be grateful for!!
Right, it's back to reality now and, as the time is limited, these blogs are getting shorter. I have to get the kids into bed as DH is helping the neighbours with their broken-down car!! No peace for the wicked!!
How I wish I could just sit down and scrap.
Ikea opens next week......hmmmm, containers for my scrap area....!
Hey ho, keep on dreamin'!

Scrapping Space

2006-04-07T21:45:00.000+09:30

I have my very own scrapping space. Yup, after all my having to do scrapping in 'private', away from DH's critical, non-comprehending stare, I am now the proud owner of a huge desk with myt laptop and printer on it and still room to move!!!
Have I mentioned this before? Oh, well, in case you were wondering, I have my own scrapping area!!! It's mine, all mine and the drawers lock. Have I mentioned how amazing this is for me? I am so overcome that I'm scared to use it!! I've been out and bought my own copy of the -long-coveted by me!- 'Clean & Simple Scrapbooking' by Cathy Zielske(also want the next one!!) as well as some gorgeous K&Co papers for my BoM!! I am just bowled over by my new-found freedom.
We're also getting sorted in the house now and we have a lovely dining suite and we're to collect a really comfy lounge suite tomorrow from a lovely couple in the Hills. Can't wait; it's the comfiest thing I've sat on in ages!!!
Life is good.
All is well.

Extraordinary!

2006-04-04T20:53:00.000+09:30

Epiphany! Breakthrough! Awesome! Amazing! Miraculous!
I have my own designated scrapping desk and area for me, me, me and me alone!!!
Yes, all mine-- and all okayed by the DH! I have a heeeeowge desk with filing drawers and room to use the laptop and printer without having to move it around to incorporate the scrapbooking!! I am exceedingly lucky indeed.
He's bought them for me today and it's more than I was going to get for myself! I would've been quite happy with a little desk and 'make-do' area; however, this has far surpassed my hopes. The drawers lock as well!! I am overjoyed and overwhelmed. So happy, so grateful.

Patience......

2006-04-03T22:02:00.000+09:30

....is a virtue.......but give it me now!!
We've got our money through from the Uk but now we need to spend it on our new furniture.
Gosh, what a hassle looking for good stuff at decent prices!! DH is even fussier than I am! If I'd been on my own today, I could've kitted us out for alot less than he'd do it for I'm sure.
On top of all that, I spent my whole PDO doing nothing I wanted to do, except get my hair cut--a necessity I feel rather than a luxury. Not a scrapbooking implement in sight.
Hey well, at least Georgie enjoyed his 'play-date'-he really enjoyed it and I'm so pleased that, of all our 3, he's the first one of our 3 to have one since we came to Australia!! Go, Georgie! Bless him. The boy's dad said Georgie was really good etc, etc. What a cool dude! Soooooo proud of him.
Anyways, we've bought the 'Goblet of Fire' Harry Potter film today as well. Pretty good. Kids up late though so I hope they don't suffer too much in the morning
Seemed a long day today but I'm doing quite well with learning this patience malarkey.
I just wish my wishes would occur a bit quicker!!
Patience, my dear, all in good time.

Breakthrough....

2006-04-02T20:22:00.000+09:30

...in the scrapping front. Yep, Dh played in a golf comp yesterday and I.......scrapbooked!!! Didn't even stop when he got home and he didn't go funny!!
How cool is that

Our story.....Unique. Different. Boring. Exciting. Ours

2006-03-31T21:05:00.000+10:30

We've sold our house-finally!- in the UK so we're now only a bit in debt!! However, it's more manageable a debt now and we can start to look at getting things here--not too expensive though!!-- that means we can give back the things we've borrowed from the really kind neighbours(now friends!) and feel a bit more self-sufficient!!
That's a nice feeling too.....seems to be the week for it!
The other nice feeling/'breakthrough' is that, hubby seems to be a tad more tolerant of my scrapping habit!!
Yes, how liberating is that!! Perhaps it's something to do with the new set of golf clubs he's bought for himself!!?..........
Hey, I don't care; if they've helped me make inroads into him actually waiting outside whilst I go into a dedicated scrapbooking store for a few sheets of patterned paper, then I love those golf clubs too!! I am a fool for being so bothered by his disinterest and almost sneering criticism but, I think, my patience has finally rewarded me!
Yep, my enthusiasm and encouragement regarding the clubs has helped him realize that we don't have to understand everything about each other; each of us has something different that makes us 'tick' and feel good. Mine's scrapbooking, his is golf. It doesn't mean we're 'drifting apart' or that we have different interests, it just means we have a separate interest that the other doesn't share/understand/care about!! That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not a personal attack or criticism that I like-well, love!- scrapbooking and he likes-well, loves!-golf, it just means that we have one thing we don't share. End of story/subject/argument.
And I quite like that 'cos it means I can be a little bit possessive about it and my things, just as he can with his shiny, spangly new clubs!!
So, here I am, just about to get out the bag of goodies I've been squirrelling away (until my stash is shipped!) and not feeling the least bit inclined to have to listen out for when he comes home to put it away.
After all, does he feel daft when he's swinging a golf club round in the garage or 'putting' a golf ball into a golf ball box?!...........Absolutely not!
So, why on earth should I feel silly about recording in a different way all the things about our move to Australia and keeping memories alive for the kids as they grow up in our adopted country?
This is our story.
Unique. Different. Boring. Exciting. Ours.

2006-03-30T20:21:00.000+10:30

What about the gaps in my blogging?
Well, there are a few days gaps and I can't think why! I mean, it's not as if I've done alot of things or been really busy after work!
This week has probably been my busiest working week because of getting my new coordinator role into some sort of order/context within the system here. That's also another story! By the time I've got home, I'm shattered but can't think why. Then, I realize, it's because, for some reason, the system here is somewhat more confusing than the UK's....and that could be confusing! It also means I have to do alot more unnecessary extra thinking to make sense of the system! That's why I'm tired!
What I do seem to be repeatedly getting the feel for is, that things are somewhat disjointed here and there's an element of 'pass-the-buck' then blame someone else when it all goes a bit pear-shaped! Still, all that aside, I've had positive feedback on my actual work with our clients and that has made all the difference. It made me feel that what I do, and how I do it, makes a miniscule difference along the way. That's a very good feeling.

2006-03-27T22:24:00.000+10:30

Isn't it lovely?
I've seen waterfalls but this, even though smaller than some of the world's wonders, just looked lovely to me. The picture doesn't do it justice and I was just 'wowed out' by this natural phenomenon. There's a beautiful (at first glance; on closer inspection, not so!) lagoon at the bottom but it's all fenced off for safety. We did mess about in the trickle that flows down from the fenced part, though, and that kept the kids entertained for a couple of hours!
The scene was so peaceful, inspite of walkers, joggers etc, that I imagine I may go there quite a few times-just on my own!- to read, reflect, think, write letters,maybe even do some scrapbook stuff........
.......talking of which.......I've been doing some! Yes, sorted out my prints I had done on a cheap deal offer at Harvey N's and I've started to do some cutting, ready for embellishing my Aus album as well as my BoMe!! And, what's more......all this in the public arena of the dining room where my (disapproving!) OH was wandering through now and again. I still sense the displeasure he has with my pleasure, but, hey, I'm not the world's biggest fan of golf or cars!
So there; slowly, I will infiltrate the house with scrapbook delights. After all, our 6 year old daughter already knows what it's all about and likes to tinker about with my-not so precious- stamps and inks........aaaah, I can only dream of the reunion with my stash of craft supplies......

Abusy day..a quiet evening

2006-03-22T20:46:00.000+10:30

I'm so busy at work; I've changed 'hats' and it's a bit of a chore swapping from one sort of work to another and certainly trying to tie up the loose ends of one lot whilst learning the ropes of another is not that easy plus there's an air of expectation from colleagues that I should know all about my new role and the clientele I work with. I'm knocking 40 years old. The 'can't teach an old dog new tricks' theory I suppose. Well, it's not new tricks to me really, they're just 'packaged' differently to how it was tackled in the UK, so I suppose that's why it's trickier for me to get a grip! That's my excuse anyway! Anyway, it's starting to get a little clearer and I've certainly not made any major errors!
On the way home from my work, we drove by a house up for rent in another Northern suburb; it seemed very nice actually and the area wasn't too run down or 'dodgy' looking! May have to ask around about that. It would certainly be easier and cheaper than where we are now but still need to check out the schools as the kids would have another change to deal with; bless 'em, they love their school at the moment as well. It makes me feel guilty that we may have to put them through another change. They're young enough to cope with the change but sometimes I start to fret about the long-term effects; when they're older, I wonder if they'll resent us for flying them to the other side of the world away from family and friends and then making them swap to a third school!
Perhaps the quieter evening has not done me any good as I've gone on a 'downer' really after being soooo busy at work-the day flew by....
One thing I've thought amongst all the after-school/work activity is that, life is often just about fleeting moments and, listening to George reading his book so well, that all the other times when I'm stretched and my nerves are a-jangling are moments that fade rapidly. The quiet times of calm and nice reading, then shopping with Charlotte (who was such a big help), are the times that are remembered and those chaotic, hyper times disappear.
Isn't it weird though that, at the time of panic, chaos and disorder it seems so much more significant!!?