Have you ever noticed how its the little things in life that give you the most pleasure? I had two instances today that made me thing of this.
The first was a question about what is your simple pleasure? My response was - to sit and watch the ocean. It's so peaceful and very calming. Even when the seas are rough and waves are crashing onto the beach with all of natures fury; it is still calming to watch. And it is free!!
The second - well I am sitting here enjoying a cappuccino that I have just made. Now if you're like me, you like to use a spoon to eat the froth. I started to think, how this bit of fluffy, melt once it hits your mouth bit of milk, can make your feel so good. As you put the loaded spoon to your mouth, it's like a mouthful of air but with flavour. Delicious!
Of course this then got me thinking about all the other things that make you feel good and have you noticed that the things you enjoy most, are things that are free or if not free, just about cost nothing.
A smile from a stranger when your out in the community, a friend who rings to see how you are doing, the smile of a baby/young child and their infectious laughter. A hug from your children or partner, or a 'I love you'.
What about when your out in your garden. Seeing the plants you put in growing or flowering. Watching butterflies or insects flutter from plant to plant, or the birds that might land to rest in your yard.
Doing something for other people without expectations can also give you that glowing feeling through your body. It might be you giving the smile or sharing plants or teaching someone a skill that you have learnt.
Sometimes I think we all need to step back.... take a break....and enjoy the here and now. Enjoy those simple pleasures and recognize them for what they are - Life at its best.
Friday, 15 June 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Dial a Sailor
I am sitting here going through a book that I have called The Mothers Book. Its a book that was given to me one Christmas by a friend. You fill it out and give it to your daughter or son. It was put out by a woman whose mother was dying and all the things she wanted to know about her mum before she passed. So mothers answer the questions in it, so your children really get to know you. One of the questions in it had me remembering this time in my life and giving me a giggle.
Actually it is two moments in my life. Both were 1982, the year I turned 20.
I can't remember which one came first, but we will start with the heavy metal band. A friend from school Tracey Latter was working for a skin specialist on Wickham Terrace. She rang me up and asked what I was doing that night. Being a Friday night I was only going to hang out at the Strand Hotel, so told her nothing much. She told me that one of the guys from Iron Maiden had been in to see the doctor and asked her to come out and bring a friend. 'Did I want to go?'
Hell Yeah!!! We met up after work, got ourselves dolled up, ready for a fantastic time on the town. How great was this going to be!! Tracey had arranged that we would meet the guys in the reception of the Park Royal Motel, where they were staying. They were waiting and said they had the night planned.
Oh what a night. Now your thinking, drinking, partying, wild times..... I know we were. What did we do? First we went to the movies to see Monty Python. Then it was off to Jo Jo's in Queen Street for drinks and for a friend of theirs to meet us. This guy sat down chatting. Turns out he was a tennis player. I asked him who he played for and he said 'here'. I was 'Here where?' Him, 'Here Australia'. 'Oh, sorry I don't know you'. His name - Pat Cash.
Anyway, after a few quiet drinks, the night wrapped up. It was funny as no one believed us when we said we had a really quiet night with them. Their reputation was not the reality.
The second thing I did that year was Dial a Sailor. Yes there was such a thing. The Commonwealth Games were being held in Brisbane and ships had come in from Canada. A radio station (I think it might of been 4IP) was running this thing where girls would ring up and put their name down to take out a sailor while they were in town. I rang and put my name down. It sounded like fun.
I had used work's phone number as my contact. If my mother even had a whiff of what I was doing, my life wouldn't have been worth living. I had been on holidays and got back to find that no one had rung yet. I rang the number that I used to register and they transferred me to a ship. While I was talking to them, someone from another ship rang - the Saskatchewan.
I arranged to meet the first guys with a friend at the docks and we would go to New York nightclub. The ones from the Saskatchewan I would meet on Saturday night. I roped in another friend from school, Ann-Veronica (who only recently said she didn't know how I talked her into it lol ).
So Friday night comes and we drive to pick up these first two guys. I guess Canadians aren't very patient as they had gone ahead instead of waiting for us. So as you do, I rang the guys from the second night and offered for them to come. They jumped at the chance and this saw us going to the nightclub with the ship's doctor and head chef.
We had a ball. We also met up with the other two guys there and it turned into a good night. At the end of the night, the guys invited me to a party on board the following night. Ann-Veronica couldn't come, so I said I would let them know, depending on if I could find someone to come with me - I might have been stupid, but I wasn't stupid enough to go alone. They gave me the ships number to ring the following afternoon to work out what was happening.
A friend from work, Judy, said she would come. So I rang the ship and ended up talking to the Captain. We were having a great conversation, and after warning me to wear jeans that night (due to the upward wind when you climb down into the ship), he said I was to say hello to him when I was there.
Now being the 80's and the height of fashion, I wore pink jeans. Anyone from that era will remember the canvas type fabric that coloured jeans came in haha. To get to the ship, we had to board another one, then they had a gang plank thingy over to the Saskatchewan. We then had to go down some stairs - yes with an upward draft - and into the dining room, where the party was to be held.
Again it was another good night, even when a sailor came over to me "Are you Kerrie?" a tentative "Yes". "Come with me". We went down this alleyway and it had doorways just like on the movies that you had to jump over the bottom of. He stopped in front of a door and opened it for me to go in. It was the Captains private party. I had a drink with them all and some conversation but left as soon as I could. The 'ladies' that were there to entertain them, were giving me dirty looks. haha. At the end of this night, we arranged to take the guys to the Gold Coast the following day.
I have to say that this was a great day. Driving down, we were having digs at each other as to who drives on the wrong side of the road. There was a lot of laughter. One of the places we went to was the 'Chew and Spew' (not its real name, but a cafe in Coolangatta). While sitting eating lunch there were some birds outside on the footpath. They asked me what they were. Not wanting to admit I didn't know, I told them they were finches. 'Oh in Canada we call them Sparrows' was the reply to that. "Really!!, What a weird name" I told them haha. I can just imagine these poor guys going back to Canada and telling everyone that in Australia we call sparrows, finches haha.
That afternoon Judy and I dropped the boys back. It really was a weekend to remember and one that always brings a smile to my face. It was a good year, as it was the one when I left home and moved to the Sunshine Coast to live.
Actually it is two moments in my life. Both were 1982, the year I turned 20.
I can't remember which one came first, but we will start with the heavy metal band. A friend from school Tracey Latter was working for a skin specialist on Wickham Terrace. She rang me up and asked what I was doing that night. Being a Friday night I was only going to hang out at the Strand Hotel, so told her nothing much. She told me that one of the guys from Iron Maiden had been in to see the doctor and asked her to come out and bring a friend. 'Did I want to go?'
Hell Yeah!!! We met up after work, got ourselves dolled up, ready for a fantastic time on the town. How great was this going to be!! Tracey had arranged that we would meet the guys in the reception of the Park Royal Motel, where they were staying. They were waiting and said they had the night planned.
Oh what a night. Now your thinking, drinking, partying, wild times..... I know we were. What did we do? First we went to the movies to see Monty Python. Then it was off to Jo Jo's in Queen Street for drinks and for a friend of theirs to meet us. This guy sat down chatting. Turns out he was a tennis player. I asked him who he played for and he said 'here'. I was 'Here where?' Him, 'Here Australia'. 'Oh, sorry I don't know you'. His name - Pat Cash.
Anyway, after a few quiet drinks, the night wrapped up. It was funny as no one believed us when we said we had a really quiet night with them. Their reputation was not the reality.
The second thing I did that year was Dial a Sailor. Yes there was such a thing. The Commonwealth Games were being held in Brisbane and ships had come in from Canada. A radio station (I think it might of been 4IP) was running this thing where girls would ring up and put their name down to take out a sailor while they were in town. I rang and put my name down. It sounded like fun.
I had used work's phone number as my contact. If my mother even had a whiff of what I was doing, my life wouldn't have been worth living. I had been on holidays and got back to find that no one had rung yet. I rang the number that I used to register and they transferred me to a ship. While I was talking to them, someone from another ship rang - the Saskatchewan.
I arranged to meet the first guys with a friend at the docks and we would go to New York nightclub. The ones from the Saskatchewan I would meet on Saturday night. I roped in another friend from school, Ann-Veronica (who only recently said she didn't know how I talked her into it lol ).
So Friday night comes and we drive to pick up these first two guys. I guess Canadians aren't very patient as they had gone ahead instead of waiting for us. So as you do, I rang the guys from the second night and offered for them to come. They jumped at the chance and this saw us going to the nightclub with the ship's doctor and head chef.
We had a ball. We also met up with the other two guys there and it turned into a good night. At the end of the night, the guys invited me to a party on board the following night. Ann-Veronica couldn't come, so I said I would let them know, depending on if I could find someone to come with me - I might have been stupid, but I wasn't stupid enough to go alone. They gave me the ships number to ring the following afternoon to work out what was happening.
A friend from work, Judy, said she would come. So I rang the ship and ended up talking to the Captain. We were having a great conversation, and after warning me to wear jeans that night (due to the upward wind when you climb down into the ship), he said I was to say hello to him when I was there.
Now being the 80's and the height of fashion, I wore pink jeans. Anyone from that era will remember the canvas type fabric that coloured jeans came in haha. To get to the ship, we had to board another one, then they had a gang plank thingy over to the Saskatchewan. We then had to go down some stairs - yes with an upward draft - and into the dining room, where the party was to be held.
Again it was another good night, even when a sailor came over to me "Are you Kerrie?" a tentative "Yes". "Come with me". We went down this alleyway and it had doorways just like on the movies that you had to jump over the bottom of. He stopped in front of a door and opened it for me to go in. It was the Captains private party. I had a drink with them all and some conversation but left as soon as I could. The 'ladies' that were there to entertain them, were giving me dirty looks. haha. At the end of this night, we arranged to take the guys to the Gold Coast the following day.
I have to say that this was a great day. Driving down, we were having digs at each other as to who drives on the wrong side of the road. There was a lot of laughter. One of the places we went to was the 'Chew and Spew' (not its real name, but a cafe in Coolangatta). While sitting eating lunch there were some birds outside on the footpath. They asked me what they were. Not wanting to admit I didn't know, I told them they were finches. 'Oh in Canada we call them Sparrows' was the reply to that. "Really!!, What a weird name" I told them haha. I can just imagine these poor guys going back to Canada and telling everyone that in Australia we call sparrows, finches haha.
That afternoon Judy and I dropped the boys back. It really was a weekend to remember and one that always brings a smile to my face. It was a good year, as it was the one when I left home and moved to the Sunshine Coast to live.
Childhood Memories
Don't you think that kids today have a rough deal? Yes they have better technology than we did and the world is a much easier place for travel, but they really miss out compared to how it was for us.
Back when I was a kid (sounds like I am 100 haha), nearly every family had their own veggie patch and chickens. You would always be woken by a rooster crowing somewhere and the eggs had an almost orange yoke, not the pale yellow of today's store eggs. The flavour of the food was so much more intense. One of the main things I miss, is the tartness of Granny Smith apples. Its one of the reasons I now don't eat apples. I loved the way that first bite would send that little shiver in your mouth and the sour juice would run down your chin. Tomatoes actually had a scent and flavour. Yes they made sandwiches go soggy if they were packed for lunch, but when was the last time you had a tomato that would actually do that?
Because we had a cow, I got to drink fresh warm milk and didn't die because it hadn't been pasteurised or homogenized. We would skim the cream off the top and it would be used to make butter in our butter churn. We made our own mayonnaise - 1 tin condensed milk, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. The only takeaway stores were fish and chip shops - wrapped in newspaper and Jimmy Wah's the local Chinese shop that had the best cat I mean hamburgers. I never got to try pizza until I was in my teens and tuckshop was only on Fridays at school.
Not all food has left happy memories. For the life of me I cannot eat pea and ham soup or tomato soup. We had this constantly. Peter for the same reason cannot eat chicken soup. Because we would butcher our own animals, dad and Lenny Maroske would make sausage and black pudding... one word YUK. But the ducks that dad and I would shoot on our weekends away were lovely, even if you did have to spit out pellets while eating it.
Kids use to be more social within their neighbourhoods. It didn't matter what school that your mates went to, everyone hung out. After doing your homework, you could go and play until dark. Any small creeks meant fishing for yabbies that you would take home for mum to cook up. I was sad to see that a lot of these small creeks from my childhood are now no longer there. And you certainly wouldn't let your children wander the neighbourhood now.
Saturday mornings once we reached high school, were spent going into town to meet friends. Going to Coles to sit either in their booths or the stools at the cafe counter and having a lime spider to drink. Or getting a creamy smooth malted milk in a glass sundae type cup.
How about school holidays and being lucky enough to be home when the baker came around. It meant that we would get a cream bun. Mr Whippy and his nut sundaes - ice cream, chocolate topping, crushed nuts and wafers. Have your kids every seen a Mr Whippy? The home ice cream van just doesn't cut it.
We never had time to say we were bored. There was always something to do. I spent my childhood riding my brothers push bike, fishing, dissecting frogs, playing with the neighbourhood kids, riding my horse and dad's motorbike. We built cubby's in the bush, used ropes to play high jump, skipping and so much more.
Recently I was showing a young person where I use to live and the route I walked to and from school. They were amazed and really when you stop and think about it, not many kids do walk to and from school these days. Oh and I am not talking about a block or two. I use to walk a couple of kms.
Its sad that kids today don't get to experience the fun we had on Guy Fawkes night, or being able to pick the grapes straight from the vine of yours or your neighbours place and stamp on them in a bucket to try to make wine. Even at school they don't seem to do the art class using your Easter egg wrappers to make pictures or the string art on nail and black velvet that we did. Think about how at school we seemed to do all the basic crafts such as knitting and darning. Now its your buy and throw away society.
Today they seem to grow up too fast in some ways and they are very naive in others. Whether its because the world has gotten smaller through the media or because the world has gotten worse, we now don't allow our kids the freedom to play how we did without worrying.
Sometimes I just wish we could go back to a more simple place to live in, or maybe I just wish I could go back to a time when I could be a kid.
Back when I was a kid (sounds like I am 100 haha), nearly every family had their own veggie patch and chickens. You would always be woken by a rooster crowing somewhere and the eggs had an almost orange yoke, not the pale yellow of today's store eggs. The flavour of the food was so much more intense. One of the main things I miss, is the tartness of Granny Smith apples. Its one of the reasons I now don't eat apples. I loved the way that first bite would send that little shiver in your mouth and the sour juice would run down your chin. Tomatoes actually had a scent and flavour. Yes they made sandwiches go soggy if they were packed for lunch, but when was the last time you had a tomato that would actually do that?
Because we had a cow, I got to drink fresh warm milk and didn't die because it hadn't been pasteurised or homogenized. We would skim the cream off the top and it would be used to make butter in our butter churn. We made our own mayonnaise - 1 tin condensed milk, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. The only takeaway stores were fish and chip shops - wrapped in newspaper and Jimmy Wah's the local Chinese shop that had the best cat I mean hamburgers. I never got to try pizza until I was in my teens and tuckshop was only on Fridays at school.
Not all food has left happy memories. For the life of me I cannot eat pea and ham soup or tomato soup. We had this constantly. Peter for the same reason cannot eat chicken soup. Because we would butcher our own animals, dad and Lenny Maroske would make sausage and black pudding... one word YUK. But the ducks that dad and I would shoot on our weekends away were lovely, even if you did have to spit out pellets while eating it.
Kids use to be more social within their neighbourhoods. It didn't matter what school that your mates went to, everyone hung out. After doing your homework, you could go and play until dark. Any small creeks meant fishing for yabbies that you would take home for mum to cook up. I was sad to see that a lot of these small creeks from my childhood are now no longer there. And you certainly wouldn't let your children wander the neighbourhood now.
Saturday mornings once we reached high school, were spent going into town to meet friends. Going to Coles to sit either in their booths or the stools at the cafe counter and having a lime spider to drink. Or getting a creamy smooth malted milk in a glass sundae type cup.
How about school holidays and being lucky enough to be home when the baker came around. It meant that we would get a cream bun. Mr Whippy and his nut sundaes - ice cream, chocolate topping, crushed nuts and wafers. Have your kids every seen a Mr Whippy? The home ice cream van just doesn't cut it.
We never had time to say we were bored. There was always something to do. I spent my childhood riding my brothers push bike, fishing, dissecting frogs, playing with the neighbourhood kids, riding my horse and dad's motorbike. We built cubby's in the bush, used ropes to play high jump, skipping and so much more.
Recently I was showing a young person where I use to live and the route I walked to and from school. They were amazed and really when you stop and think about it, not many kids do walk to and from school these days. Oh and I am not talking about a block or two. I use to walk a couple of kms.
Its sad that kids today don't get to experience the fun we had on Guy Fawkes night, or being able to pick the grapes straight from the vine of yours or your neighbours place and stamp on them in a bucket to try to make wine. Even at school they don't seem to do the art class using your Easter egg wrappers to make pictures or the string art on nail and black velvet that we did. Think about how at school we seemed to do all the basic crafts such as knitting and darning. Now its your buy and throw away society.
Today they seem to grow up too fast in some ways and they are very naive in others. Whether its because the world has gotten smaller through the media or because the world has gotten worse, we now don't allow our kids the freedom to play how we did without worrying.
Sometimes I just wish we could go back to a more simple place to live in, or maybe I just wish I could go back to a time when I could be a kid.
Monday, 4 June 2012
Beliefs
Everyone has beliefs, but not everyone has respect for others beliefs.
Some people believe in God, a Higher Being, Angels, religion of some sort. Others do not. Some believe in a combination of religion and science. Everyone, no matter who they are, has some sort of belief system.
I have found that there are people who do force their religion on others. They might be the door knockers that come around, someone on the computer that sends you religious messages, or a friend that might just tell you to go to church with them at every chance they get.
Then there are those that mock religion at every chance or do the same as above and send you messages on your computer about atheistism (don't know if that is a word, but it is now lol).
What both of these groups of people don't tend to realize is that they are the same. "What!!" I hear you say. "I am not like them." Well guess what..... you are. You don't respect what others believe.
Why am I writing about this? Well its simple. I feel because of these two groups of people, that I have to watch what I say. If something happens to one person, I won't go in and say that they are in my prayers as they would get offended by it. The same as I don't go into posts where people are asking your to pray for something that I don't believe in.
They say a lot of wars are caused by religion and yes that is true. But isn't it also true that a lot are started because of someone else's intolerance to the religion that other people believe in.
So what are my beliefs. Well they are complex. I believe that yes the world was created millions of years ago and the evolution of man. I also believe in a God/Higher Being and that they created the universe that allowed all this to happen. I believe in the ascended masters and that above all of them is a higher being ( you can find them here http://www.celticgardens.com.au/Ascended-Masters.html ).
I believe in psyhics, crystals, meditation and various other therapies/beliefs. I also believe there is a lot about creation and religion that we don't know. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that when our time is up, its up and nothing we do can change that.
I have heard a lot of people ask about faith as its something you can't prove. My thoughts are - neither is love. You can't see love or prove it. Its a feeling, a belief. Faith is the same thing.
But I will go on how I do now. I tend to keep everything neutral when talking to someone eg I am thinking of you, rather than I am praying for you and I try to respect their views. At Christmas time I tend to go a general Merry Christmas. Some people don't celebrate Christmas and that is fine. I am not going to stop being their friend because of it.
Being and thinking differently is what makes the world what it is today. Respect for fellow human beings is what will make it a peaceful place to live in.
Some people believe in God, a Higher Being, Angels, religion of some sort. Others do not. Some believe in a combination of religion and science. Everyone, no matter who they are, has some sort of belief system.
I have found that there are people who do force their religion on others. They might be the door knockers that come around, someone on the computer that sends you religious messages, or a friend that might just tell you to go to church with them at every chance they get.
Then there are those that mock religion at every chance or do the same as above and send you messages on your computer about atheistism (don't know if that is a word, but it is now lol).
What both of these groups of people don't tend to realize is that they are the same. "What!!" I hear you say. "I am not like them." Well guess what..... you are. You don't respect what others believe.
Why am I writing about this? Well its simple. I feel because of these two groups of people, that I have to watch what I say. If something happens to one person, I won't go in and say that they are in my prayers as they would get offended by it. The same as I don't go into posts where people are asking your to pray for something that I don't believe in.
They say a lot of wars are caused by religion and yes that is true. But isn't it also true that a lot are started because of someone else's intolerance to the religion that other people believe in.
So what are my beliefs. Well they are complex. I believe that yes the world was created millions of years ago and the evolution of man. I also believe in a God/Higher Being and that they created the universe that allowed all this to happen. I believe in the ascended masters and that above all of them is a higher being ( you can find them here http://www.celticgardens.com.au/Ascended-Masters.html ).
I believe in psyhics, crystals, meditation and various other therapies/beliefs. I also believe there is a lot about creation and religion that we don't know. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that when our time is up, its up and nothing we do can change that.
I have heard a lot of people ask about faith as its something you can't prove. My thoughts are - neither is love. You can't see love or prove it. Its a feeling, a belief. Faith is the same thing.
But I will go on how I do now. I tend to keep everything neutral when talking to someone eg I am thinking of you, rather than I am praying for you and I try to respect their views. At Christmas time I tend to go a general Merry Christmas. Some people don't celebrate Christmas and that is fine. I am not going to stop being their friend because of it.
Being and thinking differently is what makes the world what it is today. Respect for fellow human beings is what will make it a peaceful place to live in.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Our Humour
One thing I love about my friends, is that they get our sense of humour. It's also sometimes amusing to view others reaction to us. Some are shocked, disgusted and some just think we are plain weird - and we are not denying that.
Unless you have been in a situation the same as ours, you will never know how you will react. This saying says it all.
When Ryan was diagnosed, there were another 8 boys in the Ipswich area with DMD. He is the only one of the 9 left. We were told he would only live up until 20, but here he is 23, nearly 24. Every day he is with us is a blessing.
At every cough, sniffle or pain - we panic. If someone comes to the house who is unwell, I spend the time from when they have gone, spraying the house with disinfectant. Even when we are unwell, we try to spend little or no time near Ryan.
Now in saying all of that. We could just sit around and cry and be upset. But if we did that, then life would be harder. Ryan or ourselves wouldn't enjoy it and to be honest, I don't think he would be here if we lived life like that.
So instead, we laugh at the things we can't change. We make fun of each other to relieve tension. Just imagine you spending 24/7 with your teenage/young adult child and not working out ways to knock them off when you have had enough of each other, but still have to stay together lol.
When we joke around, it doesn't mean we don't love each other, it means that we do and have the type of relationship that we can talk about anything.
So if you happen to come across another crackpot family like ours, remember that the way they are is probably their coping mechanism. That if they didn't laugh, they would spend their time crying. The laughing items is what makes the best memories and they are the things that will never be forgotten.
Unless you have been in a situation the same as ours, you will never know how you will react. This saying says it all.
At every cough, sniffle or pain - we panic. If someone comes to the house who is unwell, I spend the time from when they have gone, spraying the house with disinfectant. Even when we are unwell, we try to spend little or no time near Ryan.
Now in saying all of that. We could just sit around and cry and be upset. But if we did that, then life would be harder. Ryan or ourselves wouldn't enjoy it and to be honest, I don't think he would be here if we lived life like that.
So instead, we laugh at the things we can't change. We make fun of each other to relieve tension. Just imagine you spending 24/7 with your teenage/young adult child and not working out ways to knock them off when you have had enough of each other, but still have to stay together lol.
When we joke around, it doesn't mean we don't love each other, it means that we do and have the type of relationship that we can talk about anything.
So if you happen to come across another crackpot family like ours, remember that the way they are is probably their coping mechanism. That if they didn't laugh, they would spend their time crying. The laughing items is what makes the best memories and they are the things that will never be forgotten.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Strange things I now know.
Following my holidays so far this year, I have learnt a few things and possibly should share this info haha.
1. If you are paranoid about public toilets - do not go on a cruise. There is no way you can squat with all that swaying.
2. Men are only allowed to do number 2's in your room or toilets also set up for disabled. The men's toilets in open areas only had a urinal. My way of thinking with this, is that they know that yes, men's shit does stink and only their wives/partners should suffer the smell in their rooms haha.
3. Drinks are reasonably priced, bingo is expensive. They also only play 1 game per card eg 1 line then onto next game. So with 5 games you pay $30 and the games are 1 line, 1 line, 2 lines, top and bottom line, full card.
4. Ugly Dave Gray is not dead as we thought, but entertaining on cruise ships.
5. You don't roll out of bed when its a bit rough.
6. Its fun to watch the shower water pooling in the tray swish back and forth.
7. When metal detecting, don't go to an area that has recently had council work done. You will find an assortment of drill bits and bolts and nothing else lol.
8. Too many bubbles in a spa, sends you out looking like a giant meringue.
9. The trip back home, always seems quicker than the one there.
10. Don't try and finish that book before getting home. I spent the last night reading a book I couldn't put down but that had me bawling for the last quarter of it. Was a wreck in the morning lol.
11 and finally. The more people you talk to and get to know, the better your holiday and life will be in general.
Now my updated list.
1. Read 50 35 books in the year. Doesn't matter what type but as long as its 50 and I will be able to keep track with my new kindle.
2. Do another cooking class. At least 1 but hopefully 2. So far done 5, one of which was with Jamie Oliver and one on the ship
3. Go on a holiday, hopefully to Melbourne. I was last there in 1984, so just a few years ago lol Well I didn't get to Melbourne but have had a holiday
4. Go to a horse 'cup' day - going to Ipswich cup next month
5. Go down another 20kgs (gotten a bit stuck at the moment)
6. Get a lot more writing from my autobiography done - Been doing heaps of that
7. Have lunch or dinner at Bretts wharf or Aria Brisbane
8. Go through the glow worm caves at Springbrook hopefully when the glow fungi is out as well or the fireflies
9. Do a charity event - with not a lot of walking done today MDAQ walk
10. Have a tarot reading - have the name of someone really good in Fernvale
11. Go to a musical (booked for Jersey Boys in July)
12. Go to gold class movie
13. Go on a cruise
14. Get a fish - either fighter or gold fish or two. - Ryan got me one (Elvis) for mother's day
15. Go to a zoo
16. Go to brisbane city markets
17. Brisbane's koala and river cruise
18. Toowoomba carnival of flowers
19. Attend a dawn service
20. Go to Q1 lookout
21. Have a flying lesson - Changing this to do the flight stimulation first, then maybe a flying lesson
22. crystal castle at mullumbimby
23. do a cross stitch
24. have a facial Have had a couple now
25. have a massage
26. try a new food Tried dragon fruit and poppadoms and some vegetarian dishes so far and now macaroons
27. aqua aerobics classes. Done and going to do more
28. be part of a flash mob - now where does someone find these people
29. Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring.
30. Get family tree in order - got heaps of this done
31. Go on a retreat
32. Go to the comedy club
33. Play blackjack at the casino - done and won
34. Swim in the ocean - haven't done this for many many years
35. Go to an opera or listen or an opera singer - don't know if I could sit through a whole opera.
36. Spend a night at maleny/montville
37. Hold a snake - to overcome a fear (Went on the Brisbane wheel to overcome fear of heights but had to get off, so only went around once. Never again lol )
38. Attend the good food festival
39. feed the homeless - was looking into this a couple of months ago but didn't do anything about it. (contacted agencies but none have gotten back to me yet)
40. do a belly dancing class - well I have enough belly to wobble haha
41. try a new drink tried lots of new ones now lol
42. queen mary falls walk
43. drink a cocktail
44. host a murder mystery dinner party - have the game here, now to organize
45. Put $5 a day into money box - use it for something special at the end of the year. - been doing this
46. Have a games night with friends
47. Put $50 on black at the casino for my first and only bet at the table. and won
48. Trike ride from Gold Coast to Mt Tambourine wineries
49. Ride on a carousel
50. Have a kick arse birthday party (venue, dj, food sorted. Decorations started)
4. Go to a horse 'cup' day - going to Ipswich cup next month
5. Go down another 20kgs (gotten a bit stuck at the moment)
7. Have lunch or dinner at Bretts wharf or Aria Brisbane
8. Go through the glow worm caves at Springbrook hopefully when the glow fungi is out as well or the fireflies
10. Have a tarot reading - have the name of someone really good in Fernvale
11. Go to a musical (booked for Jersey Boys in July)
15. Go to a zoo
16. Go to brisbane city markets
17. Brisbane's koala and river cruise
18. Toowoomba carnival of flowers
20. Go to Q1 lookout
21. Have a flying lesson - Changing this to do the flight stimulation first, then maybe a flying lesson
22. crystal castle at mullumbimby
23. do a cross stitch
28. be part of a flash mob - now where does someone find these people
29. Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring.
30. Get family tree in order - got heaps of this done
31. Go on a retreat
34. Swim in the ocean - haven't done this for many many years
35. Go to an opera or listen or an opera singer - don't know if I could sit through a whole opera.
36. Spend a night at maleny/montville
37. Hold a snake - to overcome a fear (Went on the Brisbane wheel to overcome fear of heights but had to get off, so only went around once. Never again lol )
38. Attend the good food festival
39. feed the homeless - was looking into this a couple of months ago but didn't do anything about it. (contacted agencies but none have gotten back to me yet)
40. do a belly dancing class - well I have enough belly to wobble haha
42. queen mary falls walk
44. host a murder mystery dinner party - have the game here, now to organize
45. Put $5 a day into money box - use it for something special at the end of the year. - been doing this
46. Have a games night with friends
48. Trike ride from Gold Coast to Mt Tambourine wineries
49. Ride on a carousel
50. Have a kick arse birthday party (venue, dj, food sorted. Decorations started)
Monday, 21 May 2012
Holidays Galore
What a wonderful 2 weeks we had on the Sunshine Coast and boy did it live up to its name. I know they have had some terrible flash flooding and heaps of rain, but apart from one night with a quick shower, there was no rain until coming home today.
We arrived on Monday afternoon, unpacked and relaxed. Tuesday was spent doing a grocery shop and having a look around Stockland shopping centre. Good to see nothing has changed there. Ryan and I went for a walk along some of the new paths beside the water and checked out the new decks in the park next to where we stayed. Can't wait until the path is finally finished all the way to the broad walk at Bullcock Beach. The markets on a Sunday will be an even closer walk lol.
Wednesday we went to Kings Beach Surf lifesaving Club for lunch. Lovely meal with a great view. Took some pics and we confirmed that we are going to get our ashes thrown off the point, which is where we had our wedding photos taken. Back at the unit we got ready for Steve and Cindy who were coming over for dinner. I had made some pumpkin soup the week before which I had frozen, so thawed it. I also made some bread and chicken sausages which was served with asparagus, broccoli and baby carrots. Cindy chose well with dessert of apple crumble cheesecake - 2 of my fav desserts in one. So lots of laughs, conversation and a lovely relaxed night.
For the first time ever we had carers on holidays. People don't realize that going away - which we love to do - means that it is a lot more work for us with Ryan. We don't have the help 4 nights a week and the 2 overnighters. It can be very tiring and a lot of the time we normally spend sleeping during the day in shifts. This time though was heaven. We asked the agencies down here if they could brokerage to an agency up the coast the hours we normally have. One (the one that comes out of our dsq package) said yes, and they were able to get a fantastic guy to come in the 4 nights a week. He was great with Ryan and fitted in with us very easily. He finished his time with us, by giving us his number and saying that anything he could do to help - if we wanted to go up and someone to spend time with Ryan or watch him for us to have a night alone up there, to just ring and he didn't want any payment for it. We would never take him up on no payment, but it was so lovely for him to offer.
The other agency (the one that we pay for ourselves) said no they wouldn't brokerage it out, so instead Queensland Council of Carers said they would help at no cost to us and had someone come in 2 nights a week from 10 to 6.30am. She was someone who was also a great worker. She picked it up very easily and did a great job.
Having them both come in, meant that we weren't tired all the time and more relaxed.
On the Thursday we headed up to Sunshine Plaza shopping centre at Maroochydore. I always get some great bargains there. I found a dress for my 50th, a beach towel on special at Myers for aqua aerobics and some pressies for friends. I also treated myself to San Churro.
Peter and Ryan came back home on that Friday as they had a football match to go to. They also went to the Gold Coast on Saturday for Ryan to visit his girlfriend Jade and see Peter's mum for mother's day, before returning to the coast on the Sunday.
I on the other hand spent Friday going to a party shop and getting some decorations for my party. On the Saturday I went to Noosa to have lunch with some friends who I went to school with from primary school. I love catching up with Tanya and Carolyn. We had a beautiful Thai lunch before heading back to Tanya's house. About 7 hours after we first met up, I headed back to the unit. As I sat down to dinner, fireworks were being set off just outside one of the windows (but in the distance) and it seemed like a show just for me.
Mother's Day and the wonderful Lawson family arrived to spend the day, just beating Peter and Ryan returning. Again a day of laughing, fishing, talking and more talking and another great day. It wasn't to end then however, with Jade and her friend Jess surprised me by turning up at 10.30 that night. They came bearing flowers and lollies and what was going to be an early night in bed - which is where I was when they arrived lol - turned into a nearly 1am night after yakking to them in the bedroom. A great way to end Mother's Day.
The next day I knew that Ryan's girlfriend Jade was coming up for a couple of days to surprise him. As I was leaving with the girls to Montville, I said that a friend would be turning up in an hour. Ryan said he was going to leave my friends to wait by themselves until I got back. We all laughed and said 'yeah I bet you don't'. On returning, Peter told us that when they went down Ryan was grumbling, but as soon as he saw Jade his face lite up.
We on the other hand went to Montville. I got some thank you lollies for my party. An outfit for our Jade to wear and some yummy choc macadamia fudge. On the way back we called into the cheese factory. Nowhere near as good as Hunter Belle Cheese, but the yoghurt I got from them was so light in your mouth, with a true passionfruit taste from the pulp littered through it.
Jess and Jade left after lunch. Throughout all this I got invited to go to the Ipswich Cup next month, so my mind was racing as to what I would wear. I settled on the dress I had gotten for my party and we again went back to Sunshine Plaza to try and find a hat. I found one that had a white flower, but pulling it off, I put on a black one, got some blue feathers and blue diamantes to dress it up and I had a one of a kind hat. So my $25 dress is going to 3 outings so far lol
We showed Ryan's Jade (see how confusing my life is with 2 Jades haha) around the coast. That night Peter and I went out for a meal at the RSL. Bloody awful meal, but at least the $176 I took out of the poker machine covered the cost.
Jade left to go back to work and Uni. I was able to get presents for the 7 birthdays we have happening in the next month, so that made me feel that I was organized.
Thursday we went to Golden Beach tavern for lunch. For $10 my meal of fish and salad was wonderful. The boys had steak and commented it was cooked to perfection. Well worth going to is your ever up that way.
Friday lunch and Steve and Cindy came for lunch and brought Steve's dad along so he could admire the view. Speaking of the view, it has an awesome reaction from people. When Jess and Jade came, it was night. The following morning Jess walked out and he first words were OMG. The same reaction from Jo the overnight support worker. She arrived at night and when it got light enough for her to see the view, she was awestruck.
Saturday was the Coffee Club for lunch. Its right opposite the beach and very relaxing to sit and enjoy a meal while watching the happenings on the beach. Another old friend Julie came over that afternoon for a catch up.
Peter and Ryan left Sunday afternoon and I finished packing. I also got to spend a couple of hours with Judy the manager of where we stay. We get along really well and enjoy catching up on how each others families are doing.
As I drove home this morning, it was with a heavy heart and a wish that it was time for us to move up there. Have I mentioned that I am gradually selling any excess items I have? I am culling so that all we have left will fit in a unit.
So for another 13 months, it is goodbye Sunshine coast, lots of fresh seafood and great friends and view.
We arrived on Monday afternoon, unpacked and relaxed. Tuesday was spent doing a grocery shop and having a look around Stockland shopping centre. Good to see nothing has changed there. Ryan and I went for a walk along some of the new paths beside the water and checked out the new decks in the park next to where we stayed. Can't wait until the path is finally finished all the way to the broad walk at Bullcock Beach. The markets on a Sunday will be an even closer walk lol.
Wednesday we went to Kings Beach Surf lifesaving Club for lunch. Lovely meal with a great view. Took some pics and we confirmed that we are going to get our ashes thrown off the point, which is where we had our wedding photos taken. Back at the unit we got ready for Steve and Cindy who were coming over for dinner. I had made some pumpkin soup the week before which I had frozen, so thawed it. I also made some bread and chicken sausages which was served with asparagus, broccoli and baby carrots. Cindy chose well with dessert of apple crumble cheesecake - 2 of my fav desserts in one. So lots of laughs, conversation and a lovely relaxed night.
For the first time ever we had carers on holidays. People don't realize that going away - which we love to do - means that it is a lot more work for us with Ryan. We don't have the help 4 nights a week and the 2 overnighters. It can be very tiring and a lot of the time we normally spend sleeping during the day in shifts. This time though was heaven. We asked the agencies down here if they could brokerage to an agency up the coast the hours we normally have. One (the one that comes out of our dsq package) said yes, and they were able to get a fantastic guy to come in the 4 nights a week. He was great with Ryan and fitted in with us very easily. He finished his time with us, by giving us his number and saying that anything he could do to help - if we wanted to go up and someone to spend time with Ryan or watch him for us to have a night alone up there, to just ring and he didn't want any payment for it. We would never take him up on no payment, but it was so lovely for him to offer.
The other agency (the one that we pay for ourselves) said no they wouldn't brokerage it out, so instead Queensland Council of Carers said they would help at no cost to us and had someone come in 2 nights a week from 10 to 6.30am. She was someone who was also a great worker. She picked it up very easily and did a great job.
Having them both come in, meant that we weren't tired all the time and more relaxed.
On the Thursday we headed up to Sunshine Plaza shopping centre at Maroochydore. I always get some great bargains there. I found a dress for my 50th, a beach towel on special at Myers for aqua aerobics and some pressies for friends. I also treated myself to San Churro.
Peter and Ryan came back home on that Friday as they had a football match to go to. They also went to the Gold Coast on Saturday for Ryan to visit his girlfriend Jade and see Peter's mum for mother's day, before returning to the coast on the Sunday.
I on the other hand spent Friday going to a party shop and getting some decorations for my party. On the Saturday I went to Noosa to have lunch with some friends who I went to school with from primary school. I love catching up with Tanya and Carolyn. We had a beautiful Thai lunch before heading back to Tanya's house. About 7 hours after we first met up, I headed back to the unit. As I sat down to dinner, fireworks were being set off just outside one of the windows (but in the distance) and it seemed like a show just for me.
Mother's Day and the wonderful Lawson family arrived to spend the day, just beating Peter and Ryan returning. Again a day of laughing, fishing, talking and more talking and another great day. It wasn't to end then however, with Jade and her friend Jess surprised me by turning up at 10.30 that night. They came bearing flowers and lollies and what was going to be an early night in bed - which is where I was when they arrived lol - turned into a nearly 1am night after yakking to them in the bedroom. A great way to end Mother's Day.
The next day I knew that Ryan's girlfriend Jade was coming up for a couple of days to surprise him. As I was leaving with the girls to Montville, I said that a friend would be turning up in an hour. Ryan said he was going to leave my friends to wait by themselves until I got back. We all laughed and said 'yeah I bet you don't'. On returning, Peter told us that when they went down Ryan was grumbling, but as soon as he saw Jade his face lite up.
We on the other hand went to Montville. I got some thank you lollies for my party. An outfit for our Jade to wear and some yummy choc macadamia fudge. On the way back we called into the cheese factory. Nowhere near as good as Hunter Belle Cheese, but the yoghurt I got from them was so light in your mouth, with a true passionfruit taste from the pulp littered through it.
Jess and Jade left after lunch. Throughout all this I got invited to go to the Ipswich Cup next month, so my mind was racing as to what I would wear. I settled on the dress I had gotten for my party and we again went back to Sunshine Plaza to try and find a hat. I found one that had a white flower, but pulling it off, I put on a black one, got some blue feathers and blue diamantes to dress it up and I had a one of a kind hat. So my $25 dress is going to 3 outings so far lol
We showed Ryan's Jade (see how confusing my life is with 2 Jades haha) around the coast. That night Peter and I went out for a meal at the RSL. Bloody awful meal, but at least the $176 I took out of the poker machine covered the cost.
Jade left to go back to work and Uni. I was able to get presents for the 7 birthdays we have happening in the next month, so that made me feel that I was organized.
Thursday we went to Golden Beach tavern for lunch. For $10 my meal of fish and salad was wonderful. The boys had steak and commented it was cooked to perfection. Well worth going to is your ever up that way.
Friday lunch and Steve and Cindy came for lunch and brought Steve's dad along so he could admire the view. Speaking of the view, it has an awesome reaction from people. When Jess and Jade came, it was night. The following morning Jess walked out and he first words were OMG. The same reaction from Jo the overnight support worker. She arrived at night and when it got light enough for her to see the view, she was awestruck.
Saturday was the Coffee Club for lunch. Its right opposite the beach and very relaxing to sit and enjoy a meal while watching the happenings on the beach. Another old friend Julie came over that afternoon for a catch up.
Peter and Ryan left Sunday afternoon and I finished packing. I also got to spend a couple of hours with Judy the manager of where we stay. We get along really well and enjoy catching up on how each others families are doing.
As I drove home this morning, it was with a heavy heart and a wish that it was time for us to move up there. Have I mentioned that I am gradually selling any excess items I have? I am culling so that all we have left will fit in a unit.
So for another 13 months, it is goodbye Sunshine coast, lots of fresh seafood and great friends and view.
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