MerryChristmas

Once again seems ages since i last updated my blog. Time flies by and here we are it's Christmas Day tomorrow.  Have been busy since my last blog  - i have finished my trainee visits with the office of the Public Advocate and now have to complete my training - that will happen in February and if all goes well i will be appointed after that.
I have been doing some scrap booking since my last  but not enough to catch up!! I have a new camera and  have taken a lot of photographs.
The Grandsons are doing well. Koby is cute and talks a lot, he loves exploring outside in the garden, turning over rocks to see what is underneath. His passion at the moment is dinosaurs. He has lots as he tells me and is learning the names!!
Last Sunday David and I looked after Zac for the morning - we then took him to a party at a local play centre...we were able to hand over to Dad (after about 30 mins) and retreat to a quiet spot. Zac loves the play centre. he wasn't quite sure which party  he was attending as he had had two invitations - both parties at the play centre, so he enjoyed food at both parties...!! He is a little angel when with me, can't believe that he could possibly misbehave at Kinder!! Fergus is 9 and a half and great company - i am looking forward to having him stay with me next Wednesday.
At the moment David and i are cooking our Christmas dinner. Having it tonight (Christmas Eve) as we are going to Shelley's tomorrow for Christmas Lunch. We have had our anti-pasto platter and just waiting for the turkey to finish cooking. It's been a while since I cooked a turkey, but we are quietly confident that it will be excellent. We cook a lot together and have had many successes, so this will be another one!!
Still busy with my walking, Zumba and yoga, never seems to be enough hours in the day to do all i want to do.
It was my mum's birthday on 22nd December - she is 91 and amazing We all enjoyed Matthew and Genvieve's wedding in October.  - lots of fun! Gail took some great photos - must get some to put on the blog.
An old family friend Mike Stander died i  Perth last month. Fond memories of  happy times in Greystone park when the children were young. Vale Mike.

Trish preparing Xmas dinner

David  in the kitchen now

Zac & grandma in the city

David and Trish in Hobart - windswept!

To my family and all my friends - we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and lots of good wishes for the new year. Till next time take care, love from us all here in Melbourne Australia x

It's been a while between Blogs!

I was reminded a couple of weeks ago that I hadn't updated my blog since July! thank you to my friends who read it!!  Time has flown by.
I have been doing all the usual things, looking after Koby  on a Monday, catching up with Fergus and Zac, lunching with friends,  & visiting the family. All well although Zac had his forehead 'glued up' after a minor mishap

I have started back at Zumba classes which is good and still keeping up with the walking and yoga. I love the early morning walks along the beach track, especially now that it's a little warmer here in Melbourne. We have had a few warm humid days just lately.

  

Koby



Zac

We had a lovely day at the Melbourne Show in September. It was a day for the boys with show bags, animals, motorbikes and the rides! David and I did manage a ride on the Bumper Cars, some of the other rides look a bit scary. It was David's first trip to the Melbourne show - I don't think he was disappointed. We took some good photographs.

David & Zac

Fergus and I  went to the Tutankhamun Exhibition in Melbourne during the last school holidays. We both enjoyed it - I did think it was over rated and perhaps overpriced! Zac and I went to the Aquarium the following week. Zac loved his outing  - his first big outing just with Grandma,  it was special for me. He was as good as gold  - we were delayed for about three quarters of an hour in the train, but he coped with that, passengers commented on his good behaviour!!!

I have got back into the scrapbooking which is great as I am so far behind. I have decided to work backwards so trying to get the most recent photos scrapped. I have found a craft group close by which is great. I have taken quite a few photos with the new camera. I do enjoy seeing the photos scrapped and in the album. Not so good with the journalling though. With all the outings it's not surprising that the photos are piling up

David & I went to see The Manganiyar Seduction  - part of the Melbourne Festival. It was an amazing production. Exhilarating and exciting I could imagine the  Whirling Dervishes dancing to  this music. Perhaps check it out.

We have been out and about listening to music, mostly blues which we both enjoy. We went to a lovely venue in Upwey with friends to have dinner and  listen to Collard Greens and Gravy. It's called Burrinja Cultural Centre. It was a great evening. I am looking forward to going back there soon.

I have started my volunteer training with the Office of the Public Advocate. I am a trainee community visitor. The work will be challenging -  I am working in the disability area. I will be a trainee for 3 months.

Finally......



David, Zac & Fergus enjoying pancakes



Koby and Grandma



It has been a while, I won't make excuses. I have a new camera - so some photos will be included with this posting.

Last time I blogged we had just celebrated Zac's birthday, since then we have had Koby's 2nd birthday on 1st May and Fergus' 9th birthday on 17th June. I can hardly believe that we are more than half way through the year.



Fergus & Grandma wearing our 3 D glasses



I have been 'getting' on with my retirement, mostly enjoying all that comes along, but still missing aspects of work. I talked about reviewing/evaluating my first year of retirement, but never did around to it!! I think it  became a joke.

 I started work on a project in Sydney through Indigenous Community Volunteers in January, apart from a brief visit to Sydney at the start of the project, I have worked from home, not quite as fulfilling as my projects last year - to be honest I didn't really enjoy working from home. The project has come to an end however I will stay on as a volunteer consultant with the Aboriginal Health College for the rest of this year.

I have decided to do some other volunteer work here in Melbourne, and I will let you know when it happens.

Have been doing lots of nice things over the last few months, looking after the boys at different times. David and I took Fergus and Zac to see Circus Oz, it was great fun I have never been before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been to Theatre, concerts, movies, listened to music at Y&J's and other places caught up with old friends and colleagues and continued to walk in the mornings despite the weather. i started a course at the Victorian Spiritualist Union - one class a month and homework! ( I haven't done the homework as yet)

My back still plays up but the specialist told me just to get on with whatever I wanted to do.  I still enjoy my yoga and meditation.

I am  a bit over winter one more month to go,  and am looking forward to the lighter evenings and perhaps some warmer weather in spring. No major holidays planned. David and I are going to Hobart in November for a few days.

Koby before the haircut!

I hope all my friends will notice that I have finally blogged!!! Take care and more next time

Grandma, Darrin Fergus Zac and Koby



grabdma & Koby







Been a while between blogs!!

Zac blowing the candles - Koby and Fergus - Koby and Grandma

Yes it has been a while since I last posted news to my blog. Time seems to fly by with one thing and another.

We celebrated Zac's 4th birthday on 27th February at the Silly Seahorse. He had lots of fun with his friends and Family and lots of presents! I was fortunate to be able pick him up from child care on his actual birthday on 23rd Feb, we spent a couple of hours playing together before his Mum picked him up. I took quite a few photographs at the party but most were disappointing - I have reset my camera again, but I think I will have to buy a new camera. I also took some pics of Koby when I looked after him overnight, but again not the best at all.

Koby was very good - he went to bed and about7.30 and woke up the next morning about 7!! Easy and we had lots of fun.

I treated myself to a new TV and sound system, I really am enjoying it, In the process of setting it all up however I think I did aggravate my sciatic nerve and have been in some pain, however 6 weeks later it is starting to feel much better. The CT scan showed up the wear and tear on my back!! but I have lived a little and done a few things over the years, so not going to worry too much about it and I managed to dance/shuffle on Sunday afternoon - the first time for 6 weeks. However tomorrow I am going to the specialist for some more info. as I want to get back into the dancing and Zumba

I have been to a few movies, finally saw the Kings Speech on Sat evening and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Managed to catch up with ex-work mates which was good. Great to catch up on news.

I have started looking after Koby again on a Wednesday which is lovely I can spend time with him and also visit the Mornington market at the same time.

I have been out and about quite a lot with movies, Y&J's fish and chips in Mordialloc (I love being able to take my own food into the wine bar. We can order fish & chips and enjoy it with a lovely bottle of wine in the wine bar.) yet another food, wine and music festival in Mordialloc, dinners and picnics. - You may have guessed having someone special to do it all with is lots of fun!

I will post a couple of photos even if not that great.... Hopefully not so long til my next blog post!!!

Cooler weather after the storms!

Quite a bit cooler today after the steamy humid, rainy weather of last week. We had a taste of monsoon rain on Friday evening! What a downpour - flooding in Mordialloc!! Not quite what happened in Brisbane thank goodness, nor did we experience the fury of a cyclone as in Far North Queensland, but enough to cause havoc on the roads and quite severe flooding in country areas. The amount of water laying around on Saturday and Sunday was amazing. The bush fires in Perth are unbelievable one side of the country wet and the other dry. the country side was extremely dry when I was in Perth and there have been some scorching days over there this past week. Also in Sydney extremely hot weather - what is happening?
A sad week for us - my lovely Auntie Maimie (my Mum's younger sister) died in Dundee Scotland. I have so many happy memories of my Aunt, the times I spent with her while working in Dundee in the 60's and the visits and holidays Shelley, Darrin and Mike and myself spent with her and Uncle Ian in the 70's before we came to Australia. She will be so missed by Uncle Ian, Diane & Ian and families. My mum will miss her so much - I don't think they ever had an argument or disagreement in all those years!! Even so far apart they talked to each other every week. All the letters written between the 3 sisters over the years since the 50's would make wonderful reading. Sadly only my mum left and her brother in Monifieth Scotland. I think it has been the wonderful communication over the years by Mum and her late sisters that has kept all the families in touch.
I am so looking forward to having my lovely grandson Koby, and daughter in law Candice home tomorrow after 2 months away in South Africa. I hope that Koby remembers me!!! he will be two in May. My beautiful Zac will be 4 very soon - later in the month. He is a character - I am going to have him stay over soon. Fergus started back to school on Friday, I looked after him on Thursday, we had fun (well I did) I got to play snap, also a new card game that we hadn't played before, we had a lovely picnic in the park and enjoyed hitting a ball backwards and forwards. It's lovely being a Grandma!
I enjoyed a lovely walk and picnic in Sherbrooke Forest on Sunday with a friend. Was quite cool after all the rain, but very peaceful and good for the soul.
Thinking of my friends who are not so well at the moment.
Til next time...

My Birthday has been and gone!

Well it was a fun birthday - not quite what I had previously planned but fun never the less. No photos - the only photos are the ones Shelley took with the boys, which I haven't downloaded as yet. I can take plenty pics when I have my party later in the year.Shelley, Fergus, Zac and I spent most of the morning at Edithvale Life Saving Club cafe, the boys played on the beach and Shelley & I drank coffee and relaxed. Zac wanted me to have a cake with candles and we ate cake and sang Happy Birthday back at at Shelley's. Had a beautiful birthday dinner at Windows on the Bay here in Mordialloc, the previous evening it was dinner at the Cafe Bar at Doyles with the girls, so was beneficial to get back into the walking and yoga after enjoying all those extra calories.

Two weeks since I wrote here - pleased to report that the visits to the physio helped the injured back and now that Yoga classes have started back for the year as well as my walks and daily exercises, it is much improved.



I enjoyed the recent warm humid weather, did some great walks along the foreshore, enjoyed the sunsets/early mornings. Last Saturday I went to the Briars in Mt Martha for a walk and picnic. I am missing my walking companion John on the early morning walks.. hoping his leg heals quickly and we can once again enjoy the early morning walks in Parkdale.

Last week I had Zac and Fergus round at different times - was good fun - Fergus and I went out for dinner then went to the movies the next morning. We saw Gulliver which was fun. I picked Zac up from Kinder and he was quite happy playing around then a a look at the boats on the creek and a trip to the park.

Darrin came home on Friday evening - Candice and Koby staying on for a few more weeks. Missing them both I hope Koby remembers me when he gets back.

Lucky enough to go to Gold Class movies last Sat night for my birthday, went to see the Tourist - movie not so great but thoroughly enjoyed Gold Class, first time I have been. Last night I went to movies with the girls - we saw Morning Glory with Harrison Ford, what a laugh, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

Lots to look forward to for the rest of this week and next week. Start back to Zumba tomorrow evening, usual weekend fun, out with friends. Next week I am heading off to Sydney. I am starting a new project with Indigenous Community Volunteers on Monday. It's a project involving the set-up of a new library at an Aboriginal Health College in Sydney Most of the work will be completed at home however I will be visiting the College next week to meet with staff. That will help keep the brain ticking along! More about that later.


Mum's taking me out for lunch tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and I think that's the last of the celebrations. The days seem to be flying by

To my friends who are not so well at this moment - take care, sending loving and healing thoughts

Til next time

Happy New year

The New Year has begun, myself, Jill, John, and other friends welcomed in the New Year at a the Sandringham hotel. It was a fun evening catching up with many friends, dancing and listening to the music. Mid Life Crisis (MLC) were playing with special guest star Jimi Hocking - Jimi was great as usual and the highlight for me.
I have had a good start to the new Year (apart from hurting my back). I did a walk from Cape Shank to Bush rangers bay last Sunday and have got back into the daily walks along the beach in Mordialloc. Today I took the train to catch up with friends in Geelong , we then took the bush to Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove, not too hot but I managed to get sunburned! Good to be out in the fresh air. Tomorrow I am looking after Fergus not sure what we will do as yet apart from loading music onto he MP player.
Next week is my birthday and I will be reviewing my first year of retirement!!! I won't conduct the review on Tuesday - will chill out and enjoy the day, moment by moment and wonder where all the years have gone!!! I can do the review on Wednesday !!! this has become a little bit of a joke my review!!
Thanks for New Year Greetings and news via face book and emails, and to my friends not feeling so great at the moment lots of love to you, thinking of you and hoping this year will be a good one for you.
Til next time.....