OK, OK, I know I shouldn't be here, but this is my 'therapy' (along with the gin bottle, that is - and I've already hit that this evening :o)
I should be packing - or unpacking. Or cleaning. Or organising. But I'm knackered. We're doing quite well. I have taken boxes and boxes of stuff over the house - a lot of it *shamefully* that we haven't even touched since it was packed up in WGC! It's been sat in the garage in a little time warp; gathering mouse shit and dust. Some of Paul's clothes that I discovered are almost back in fashion! I SAID ALMOST! ha ha ha.
Had a little 'lump in the throat' moment today. It would have been Dad's birthday and as I was merrily unpacking a box of kitchen stuff, hidden in the bottom was a bottle of Famous Grouse - Dad's favourite tipple. It was like a sign that Dad was with me. Probably stupid, and it was only a bottle of whisky (that we sneaked through Customs which Dad would have approved of, I'm sure), but I found it comforting - especially given the relevance of the date and the fact that I chose today to unpack this box.
I had another moment like this in the week when Mum sent me though a necklace with a pendant on it with 'best daughter' on it. Mum and I have always had an on-going laugh about the 'No 1 Mum' pendants that you can buy in Argos. She threatened me for years with buying me one for Christmas, or my birthday, or Mother's Day, or.... well, she just threatened me a lot with them as they were my pet hate :o) But I was really touched that she'd sent it. Sometimes I think I'm the worst daughter in the world for moving to Oz and taking the grandkids with me; but it was just something we had to do. I think having lost my Dad and Paul's Dad fairly young in life, it was a big wake up call for us both and we didn't want to reach retirement age without having 'experienced' life - or at least had an 'adventure' of sorts. It warms my heart to think that Mum doesn't resent me for doing this. It was the hardest thing we had to do that day we left for Heathrow, but..... I don't know - do you ever feel that things happen for a reason? The way that our plans all fell into place? We couldn't have planned the timing any better than it happened. I just have a strong feeling that in years to come, we'll know WHY we had to move here. Be it that Adam runs for Parliament, or Darcie becomes a Vet (her current career choice) or Sam joins the Australian Navy (after his favourite TV programme)..... there's just something that will be a 'eureka' moment and the penny will drop. Anyhow, I just want Mum to know that I love her heaps. I miss her everyday; there's not a day when I don't think about her or think 'I must remember to tell Mum that', or email her with the day's goings on. Thanks for supporting us (in every way). We all love you with all our heart Mum- thank you :o) OK... blink tears from eyes and move on......
OK, melancholy moment over (that'll be the gin - lol - or the anti-depressants (which you probably shouldn't mix with the gin, but I'm smiling all right????!).
Darcie had her assembly yesterday and was brilliant! She had a few words to say right at the end of their item and addressed the school with such confidence!!
I should be packing - or unpacking. Or cleaning. Or organising. But I'm knackered. We're doing quite well. I have taken boxes and boxes of stuff over the house - a lot of it *shamefully* that we haven't even touched since it was packed up in WGC! It's been sat in the garage in a little time warp; gathering mouse shit and dust. Some of Paul's clothes that I discovered are almost back in fashion! I SAID ALMOST! ha ha ha.
Had a little 'lump in the throat' moment today. It would have been Dad's birthday and as I was merrily unpacking a box of kitchen stuff, hidden in the bottom was a bottle of Famous Grouse - Dad's favourite tipple. It was like a sign that Dad was with me. Probably stupid, and it was only a bottle of whisky (that we sneaked through Customs which Dad would have approved of, I'm sure), but I found it comforting - especially given the relevance of the date and the fact that I chose today to unpack this box.
I had another moment like this in the week when Mum sent me though a necklace with a pendant on it with 'best daughter' on it. Mum and I have always had an on-going laugh about the 'No 1 Mum' pendants that you can buy in Argos. She threatened me for years with buying me one for Christmas, or my birthday, or Mother's Day, or.... well, she just threatened me a lot with them as they were my pet hate :o) But I was really touched that she'd sent it. Sometimes I think I'm the worst daughter in the world for moving to Oz and taking the grandkids with me; but it was just something we had to do. I think having lost my Dad and Paul's Dad fairly young in life, it was a big wake up call for us both and we didn't want to reach retirement age without having 'experienced' life - or at least had an 'adventure' of sorts. It warms my heart to think that Mum doesn't resent me for doing this. It was the hardest thing we had to do that day we left for Heathrow, but..... I don't know - do you ever feel that things happen for a reason? The way that our plans all fell into place? We couldn't have planned the timing any better than it happened. I just have a strong feeling that in years to come, we'll know WHY we had to move here. Be it that Adam runs for Parliament, or Darcie becomes a Vet (her current career choice) or Sam joins the Australian Navy (after his favourite TV programme)..... there's just something that will be a 'eureka' moment and the penny will drop. Anyhow, I just want Mum to know that I love her heaps. I miss her everyday; there's not a day when I don't think about her or think 'I must remember to tell Mum that', or email her with the day's goings on. Thanks for supporting us (in every way). We all love you with all our heart Mum- thank you :o) OK... blink tears from eyes and move on......
OK, melancholy moment over (that'll be the gin - lol - or the anti-depressants (which you probably shouldn't mix with the gin, but I'm smiling all right????!).
Darcie had her assembly yesterday and was brilliant! She had a few words to say right at the end of their item and addressed the school with such confidence!!
Here she is in full flow.
There's no way on earth that I could have done it at her age. She was absolutely fab and put her whole heart and soul into the songs.
Stunner :o)
She looked so beautiful too. She's growing up. Even Paul had to admit that I 'turned out a good one' (?) with Darcie.
Addressing the school.
We gave her an iPod as a reward afterwards. She's so placid and helps a lot with Adam when we're trying to work. She never asks for anything and she's had a rough time over the last few weeks with a few little hic cups that have upset her at school and we both felt that she deserved a bit of a treat. She was really chuffed with it and Sam loaded on some LBC podcasts for her along with all her favourite songs. A happy little bunny.
Sam has been a complete reprobate lately. I won't go into it here in great depth, but it involved a phone call from the Deputy Principal last Friday and Sam is in DEEP WATER!! I think he's having his 'attitude' delivered in bulk by a courier at the moment. Good grief, I didn't expect this sort of challenge from him at the age of 10. At the end of the day, he is Paul's son and it's the 'nature versus nurture' debate. The fact that they both clash is because they are so similar. I'm sure Sam will develop into a well rounded individual (ultimately), but he's a real challenge at the moment. His punishment is three months grounded and dog poo duty for that period, so you can gauge for yourself the severity of the 'crime' :o(
Adam has got over his 'blip' at school with 'piss-gate'. We think (after much probing) that the issue was caused by the teachers putting a ping pong ball in the toilet for the boys to aim at. Adam obviously took offence to this and decided he would rather piss in his joggers. Fair point! Luckily, the cleaners removed a pp ball from one of the stalls (trap one, Adam's favourite) and all is harmonious in his little four year old world once more.
The kids seem to be doing a tag-team of problems at the moment. Adam had piss-gate, then passed the baton to Darcie who was upset at school who then passed the baton to Sam who well and truly dropped it and has since been bashed round the head with it. Blooming kids! No wonder I’ve got more grey hair than a badgers bum.
I would say that Paul has been on my side and not causing any of the worries, but he’s had an eye test this week and they have decided that he needs glasses. His sight has been getting worse lately – he has trouble reading small(ish) writing when it’s close to his face (old age syndrome, I think it’s known as!). It wasn’t helped by me making the appointment for him and giving his name as Mr Magoo, the almost-blind cartoon character. I said to the receptionist to keep an eye out for him and if he was asking for an eye test at the butchers next door, matters were worse than we anticipated. We’ll get Mr Magoo some specs once we’ve moved and things are more ‘sorted’ – I know, I can dream, can’t I?
Sam has to give a talk to school next week on his future chosen career path. I thought it was really sweet when he said he wanted to be a salesman like Dad. See, I told you they are uncannily similar. Paul decided that he wanted to be a salesman too like his Dad as he quite liked the idea of a new car and being able to plan your own workday. I think Sam sees the nice things we’ve got and thinks he’ll have a slice of that too. Of course, it’s not down to the business, it’s our new venture ‘Dolphin on a stick’ that brings in the revenue…. Oh, and the thousands of dollars I ‘invest’ every week at the casino.
The weather’s turned now and it’s cold and rainy. It’s a soul-less place in the winter. Our new swimming pool has been cleaned and could be swam in now, so it’s as if its taunting us with its turquoise blue waters in the driving rain. Oh, well – there’s always next summer :o(
You can't see the iceberg from this angle.
We managed a trip out on the boat last weekend and took the kids to ‘five fathom bank’. No, it’s not a watery branch of the TSB (lol), but where the shelf plunges from 13 metres in depth down to about 40+ metres and all the fishy dudes hang out. We were hoping to catch a few said fishy dudes, but didn’t – we’re not very good fisher-people.
Adam took this photo of Darcie and I on the boat - not bad for a 4 year old!
There’s been a whale wash up at Rottnest this week. It was alive and they were trying to get it back into the water (NO! It wasn’t me in a swim suit before you comment!), but it had to be put down in the end. The coast guard is on high alert now as the whale carcass attracts shark. Free meal at the all you can eat Whale Buffet – hard to resist. Paul and I took the boat out for a quick blam last Monday whilst the kids were at school, just to keep the barnacles off the prop, and as we were headed out to the ocean, a pod of three dolphins were on our wake. They were scooting along, literally a foot from the back of the boat, riding along in the steam of water the prop was pushing out. They put on a lovely show for us – doing 360 degree turns under the water, so you could see their bellies. They also jumped right out of the water, level with where I was standing on the back of the boat. It was magical and I was really choked up. I didn’t have my camera with me though as we were only going for a quick scoot up the river – damn and blast :o( Still, I enjoyed it :o)
I’ve added a few pictures of Pentley this week for your delight and delectation. Yes, he’s still with us. The furry fleabag is a complete looney – every day he bashes his nose on the wall when he turns round; misjudging the size (for a change). He’s OK, but would be a hundred times better if he didn’t nibble things when we let him in the house; felt tips and pencils are his favourites and his personal best is 1 minute, 28 seconds from being let into the house and destroying something, having his arse kicked and being thrown back outside in the cold. Not bad going.
From 'AAAaaahhhhhhhhhh'
To 'EEEEEEEWWWwwwwwwwwwww'
Roll up, roll up. Place your bets. Which one's the dog and which one's the 10 year old?
No harmless animal is safe from the furry f*ckwit in 'destroy' mode as this innocent kangaroo shows :o( He has no mercy. When the poor toy screamed for his life, Pentley laughed - evil that dog - or maybe he's caught a virus from Adam during their love-in.
