Swim & Survive!

Today was the first day of the Sport & Rec Intensive Swimmimg lessons for 2014. It is always a big 9 days but also enjoyable and worthwhile. I am grateful for this opportunity given to my children by qualified teaching instructors, I am grateful for being able to provide my children with lessons and I am grateful for the good facilities small country towns have - like the Baradine Pool.

It troubles me the amount of people that think it is ok not to teach their children to swim. I think it is a necessity!

Isabelle looks forward to coming to Baradine every year for the lessons. She loves being in the water, hanging around with her cousins and being challenged to improve her swimming. She has a huge smile of her face on the last day when she realises that she has achieved the set tasks.

I don't think it's just the lessons Isabelle looks forward to. She loves the freedom, the opportunity to potter around outside and hanging about with Nan and all the family.

Each afternoon/evening we sit around outside. Splash some water about on the grass and sit and chat. Tonight was a little different. Hamish walked about watering empty pots and Isabelle gave Nan a hair make over. It was very funny. Nan was horrified that I snapped some photos.

It was also a little 'hairy' earlier this afternoon. Hamish took a huge crash over the back of one of Mum's lounge chairs landing on the top of his head, the crush ping his neck before landing on his back. I was up this street at the time. Mum had a heartattack I think! She said Hamish let out a scream and then cried but then went quiet - so that made her panic. I was just getting home at the same time. Watched him all afternoon and he was ok. Thank goodness!

A lazy Sunday

Yesterday we really didn't do too much - just a little tidying up, ironing and cleaning. It wasn't overly hot... I think we were just all a little tired! Hamish was grizzly and irritable. Just wanted his mummy all day. It was nice just to sit around and rest.

Lazy Sundays are something to always be grateful of! 

A lovely Saturday

Today was just a lovely day. A beautiful Saturday!

I headed off over Coonamble way with Melinda to go to Jo's Tupperware party in the morning. It was a really nice relaxing day. It was lovely to see Jo's 'new' home, her growing gorgeous boys (oh they are going to be heartbreakers ... Their eyelashes give a drag queen a run for money - they are so long and lush - they make their eyes come alive!) and to meet Jo's lovely Coonamble friends. Also Melinda and I haven't had a good chat for a while - so we made the most of the two hours in the car together. Such a nice day that we didn't get back to Baradine until 6pm!

Then Mum tells me that Isabelle has been a wonderful help with Hamish. She is such a responsible big sister. So loving and caring.

We also headed off to the pool this evening for a swim with Megan and the kids. Back to Mum and Dad's for a BBQ and loads of stories and laughs. Such an enjoyable evening... Except for when Gaz kept saying funny things when I was eating. I think I nearly choked 5 times! Lol

Finished the night off with some prank calls to Bradley & Gaz.

Is there a Mr Wall there? Is there a Mrs Wall there? Well what's holding up your ceiling?

What do you call a funny motorbike? A Yama ha ha

What do you call a dirty motorbike? A Pee wee

What do cows eat for breakfast? Moosueli


Today I am grateful for a lovely Saturday. 

Feeling hot, hot, HOT!

Feeling hot, hot and even hotter! So darn hot here in Baradine today. The mercury hit 47 degrees with a dreadful wind. It was blowing a gale with dust everywhere. It just didn't let up all day from sunrise to sunset and still into dark. Mum was worried all day that a fire might break out.

Mum's house just couldn't cope - fans, air conditioners, everything shut up but it was still about 36 degrees inside. Then at about 6.30pm the power browned out 3 times. Fear! Instant fear! How would we cope without power, fans, air conditioning? I'll admit ... I did start to panic a little and also regret not heading home with Paul this morning as Bathurst is about 10-12 degrees cooler.

Today it is very simple - I am grateful for power and air conditioning!

Apparently I do live in a CITY!

I have never really realised how absolutely lucky and fortunate I am to live in a CITY. If I want something I can just jump in the car and go get it - nearly anytime of the day and nearly anything I want. Never really realised that I take this for granted... Until Tuesday.

I headed up to the chemist to have Hamish's medication made up only to discover that they are unable to do it. The pharmacist could not even order the required drugs in. I was a little surprised by this ... I thought that if they couldn't make it then and there that they would at least be able to order it in and make it up for him - but no. So the next option was a trip to Coona.

Before we ventured in there I thought it would be best to give the Coona chemist a ring to check that they were right to fill the script. Nope! Floored even more! They were unaware of the medication or how to mix it up. However they were very accommodating and more then willing to assist us. I faxed through the prescription , they gave our regular pharmist at home a ring and before I knew it they had rang back to say that they were able to fill the script.

So Mum and I headed into Coona today to get the medication. Arrived at the chemist and they had it all ready to go. They were very happy to have helped me and they also sold it to me for a reduced price. I was very grateful today for wonderful customer service and generosity that went above and beyond what was required. I was grateful for the care that strangers showed us. And I am grateful for living in a CITY... Something I will try not to take for granted. 

It was also lovely to spend the morning with Mum all by myself.


Today was over 44 degrees at Mum and Dad's. Hot, hot, hot! This evening it is still stinking hot. Hamish just wanted settle down. He was tired but also hot! He ended up outside at 8pm playing in the sprinkler in his pjs and then playing with Nanny's kitten 'Cat' (also known as 'Tiger'). He had a wonderful time. Then Isabelle joined in. Isabelle was desperate for Mum and I to try to buy some cat toys in Coona today. We found some lovely little toys. It was so cute watching the two of them tease and play with the kitten. Hamish was giggling constantly!





Also on dusk we popped up to the oval to see the roos that have been coming in there to feed on the grass each evening. Apparently there are usually a lot more ... Didn't really matter if it was 7 or 20 as Isabelle was still excited to see them.

A New Year ... New Hopes

January 1st ... Another year has started yet again! For some reason I don't usually do resolutions... but this year I am feeling a little different. I don't know what it is or why I am feeling this way - I just am feeling something - something a little inspiring maybe? Wanting a change - a positive change in our lives.

Many times in recent months I have turned away from negative people ... Facebook was bugging me -feeds full of their complaining and woes ... I was ignoring them at work and when we were out and about ... I just couldn't stand the complaining over 'spilt milk'. I think part of all this began when little Georgie's health problems started. I was feeling 'guilty' and blessed for Hamish, and Isabelle's good health while precious Georgie battled on trying to live. The strength that Georgie and her beautiful parents showed really touched me... But most of all - it left me feeling very grateful.

So where to? What am I doing? Where will this blog take us?

I want this blog to try to be a way for me to document our lives, to capture special moments in our year, to have something special to reflect on next December 31st ... And to help me show gratitude. I'm not a poet or wonderful writer ... But I am doing this! I am changing! No more procrastinating!

Happy New Year to all our gorgeous family and friends. May this year be wonderful in so many ways! Lots of love to you all xxx


#1. I am grateful for special moments my children get to spend with their grandparents - laughing, learning, having fun, sharing stories, etc. Paul and I have have so many wonderful memories of our grandparents ... Now Isabelle and Hamish are creating their own. 

In today's case - Isabelle learnt how to make trifle with Nanny Nea. They made it to celebrate New Year's Day and they made it for Dadda. Oh and Isabelle chasing clucky chooks with Poppy Percy ... Now that was a sight! Lol

Many of my memories involve cooking with Nanny Rice or spending time in the kitchen poking around with her. Nan always made you feel important and she gently taught you what to do or how to do it. That's exactly what mum did today with Isabelle... The custard turned out lumpy but Nanny just kept moving along like nothing happened ... Oh and there was also some jelly 'transferring' with fingers - lots of giggles in the kitchen then! 

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