2010 Ponderings

For Auld Lang Syne my dear, for Auld Lang Syne..............................

Happy 2010 everyone!!!!! Woooo-Hoooo (cue the party poppers and French kissing)

We had one of THE BEST New Years Eve's I have ever put in.

About 20 great friends gathered ( some bought their caravans )at a very tolerant friends place ( thanks for letting us invade Russ), good company, good conversation, good wine, good food and GREAT singing!!!!! What more can you ever ask for in life?

We hit the golden oldies sing along about 11pm and it went downhill from there, and by that I mean the singing.

Which brings me to wonder what Auld Lang Syne is. I know all the words of all the verses, but I'm not sure what it's all about. Sometimes, I live my life like that. I go through the motions and don't really consider why I am doing something. Perhaps we all do that to a degree for many things, but seeing as it another "NIKE year" for me, I think I will pay more attention to the details of little things that we " do because we do".

I am off now, to sort out the Auld Lang Syne issue. Watch this space if you are interested in knowing..................seriously, I will find out.

Watch this space......................I know you will.
May 2010 bring you much happiness and challenges. After all, if we don't have the rain, we don't appreciate the sunshine.

Stay Beautiful,

K xx

p.s LIKE A COUGAR!!!!

Why is it so?

Have you ever noticed that stuff hurts more the older you get? Like horse riding for example. As kid, it NEVER hurt, not even the day after. Dancing like a crazy woman ( sorry is that just me? ), it never used to hurt. Now I book a session with my Chiropractor the day BEFORE I go dancing.

Stuff just hurts now.

I have recently spent a week doing water sports. Not just swimming and floating with cocktails in hand. Almost.......... but not quite extreme sports.

And it hurt.

In the above picture, I have included an example of "hurt on the water". I had nothing left in my arms and hands, and if you look very closely, you will see the very tiny hold I had on the handle of the ski rope. I finished with a 360 spin and never even got my hair wet.

The next day, it hurt......................everywhere. Unused muscles were jolted into action and they were MAD..................for days. Until I dealt with the fact they couldn't hurt ANYMORE and kept using them. I'm a fast learner that way.

Stay beautiful,

K xx

Better Late...................real late, than never!!

Well Helllloooooo to you all in blogland.

All of you who have commented that I haven't been blogging, be silenced now!!!! I am back!

Actually, it's kinda nice to have been missed.

I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas and as we move in to 2010, I pray we keep all the resolutions that we make.

For the first time this year, I kept my resolution for the WHOLE year. I can be a bit of a procrastinator, so I thought I would draw some inspiration from NIKE. I have had a 'Just do it!" year, and because it worked so well, and it actually got me through a really tough year......I reckon I will take it one step further and do it again this year. That, and because I can't think of anything else I want to do besides lose weight, ......and we all know how THAT resolution goes.

We are on holidays at the moment and are back from whence we came. I could move back here in a heartbeat, but at the same time, I DO love seeing different parts of Australia. We spent Christmas with Andrew's family at a local dam known for watersports (an fishing for some) and we had a blast. 17 people, 9 kids and barely a cross word spoken among the kids and none among the adults. I reckon that's pretty amazing.

We had a week there and now are in with Mum and Dad ( bet they are pleased ) and enjoying getting around seeing them and other great friends here.

Leaving for home around the 7th Jan, and will be back at work and back to normal by the 11th Jan. Still got some time to go and New Years Eve to be had. Bit hot at home and raining there also. We would like to say that we bought the rain with us, so cough up local councils!!!

Hope you enjoy the late Christmas pic, we all wanted to be in it this year. Not dressed real fine, but it was a spur of the moment thing.

Talk again soon,

Stay Beautiful,

K xx

Sorta back on

Well, we have traded up to a new computer and it's a bit noice I must say. Just got to get all my programs off the fried one and on this one and I am back in business.
Lots happening with us, Amanda got dux of her year. I'm sorry if I mentioned it, we're kinda proud. Andrew went to Brisbane this week teaching and on Monday, got the call from school to come and get Josh, he's broken his collar bone. Yep, the kids is SPECIAL. Couldn't go for more than a year without seeing the inside of a hospital. Quite a bad break, but as he said.........."I've had worse". Without a doubt. So he's trussed up like a chicken for the next 6 weeks. yay,......not.
I became a great-aunt again last week with the safe arrival of Lauren Taylor Ramage. Congrats to Honnet and Ramo, we are so proud and you are so clever to have such a beautiful baby girl. We thought it was a boy, so the surprises just keep coming. You may address me hereafter by my title Great-Aunt Lella!!!
Went to the movies last night and saw New Moon. Not sure what to think, but it was a little cheesy in places. The kid who plays the part of Jacob Black really buffed up and he obviously worked hard for his new body. I feel like a dirty old woman, but .......man that boy is FINE!!!! 'Nuff said there. Amanda was practically drooling on herself and Josh was looking at his guns to see if they compared...............they didn't. Nice movie though, think I will have to see it again to form an opinion.
Well, that's it, have to go to work now.You know, the mail MUST get through, through hail and sleet and snow. Yeah right!! Stinking hot here and there certainly ain't none of the aforementioned in this part of the world. Have a great weekend and
STAY BEAUTIFUL
K xx

Technology....friend of foe?

Hi all, just wish to inform you that our computer crashed.....fried actually, so am reduced to typing away on DH's laptop. Won't be posting for a bit as I can't put pics and so forth on. I just don't think words alone are enough to hold your interest!!!
So while I have your attention now, I would like to say how PROUD we are of our daughter. At the school awards ceremony, she got 2 gold medals. One each for sciences and maths. 2 silver certificates for English and social sciences and THEN.......................got announced for dux of year 8. There was a stunned silence from our little family and we were shocked. Amanda was shocked..... there were crickets chirping and mozzies whining. THEN, the realisation kicked in and she was able to stand and make her way to the stage. She has worked so hard this year and .....well....she really deserves this. Maths and science were her weakest subjects, so the victory is all the sweeter for her. Good onya Manda!!!! Woooooo Hoooooo.
Until sometime in the future,
Stay beautiful,
K xx

Computers, Birthdays and Alcohol...........inks

Ever feel like you are so alienated from the world, you just don't know what's going on anymore? I do. The 'puter went awry this week and wouldn't turn on, then wouldn't turn off, and wouldn't work in general. I was so lost it was crazy. The kids were lost, but I was REALLY lost. This gadget has become a life line to the world for me. I can find out anything, anytime, anywhere, all the while sitting in my pyjamas. THE NET DOES NOT JUDGE ME!!!! LOL

Still busted, still going to have someone look at it. I can't be without my lifeline!!! LOL

Also, my girl turned 13. Yep, I don't look old enough, I know. Still, it happened. Not sure how I feel about having a young lady on my hands, but she is an unreal kid. I am so blessed to have my life how it is. Small things make it great people, small things!!

Her 14 year old brother made the cake. YEP, THANKYOU Masterchef!!! Thanks Jos, you did a wonderful job, and MAN, did it taste gooooooood.

I have been having a fiddle.....................with alcohol inks. I have collected a few, so just have been dying to have a hard core play with them. Still nailing techniques, but can't let all the backgrounds go to waste, so when life hands you glossy cardstock with alcohol ink on it...................make cards!!!

Stay beautiful,

K xx

p.s thoughts to my wonderful Dad who had some botox on his knee!! Good luck getting rid of THOSE wrinkles DAD!! Hope all went well. K xx

WHAT THE ??????

Found this sign at the ice skating rink. I reckon it's pretty clear.............................but still open to interpretation.

Stay Beautiful

K xx

Holidays Nearly Over............

Well, as the QLD school holidays draw to a close, I thought I should do something with the kids. They have been home alot on their own as I work afternoons, so we decided to get out and about. If you read the previous post, you will be familiar with the faces in the pics that aren't of my womb, but they might as well be. I just love 'em.

I now present to you, with much pleasure and pride, the nomadic and world renown icecapades..............

The Travelling Dillberries............( hear crowd shout )

Stay beautiful

K xx

The Women

I couldn't fit this photo in the previous post. Here are the 'women who know what's going on.'...forget the 'men in charge'!!!

Stay beautiful,

K xx

Travel all over the countryside....ask the Leyland Brothers

You know that saying that people come into your life for a reason...blah, blah, blah? Well, it is so true. I believe that every person we meet either adds to, or detracts from us as people. We try not to have too many of the 'detractors' in our lives, but the 'adders', well, we try and gather them to ample bosoms and hold onto them.

These people definitely are 'adders'. We have known this family BEFORE they were a family and since before we were married ( some 17 years ) and have kept in touch ever since.

For those of you not blessed to have been involved with the Defence Department, you tend to get used to being posted here and there and meeting heaps of people, but some are special. Being 'in touch' with these people means you don't need to write to or email them every week, or even ring once a year. These special people know that you care even though you aren't seeing them regularly. You meet up for the occasional New Year and discover common things you never knew. When you meet up with them, regardless of whether you saw them last week, or 10 years ago, things are still the same. You can just pick up where you left off. That is the mark of great friendship.

This family is special to us. This is why we harass them to take us places in North QLD, so we can explore. ( And 'cause the men might get to drive on some dirt, or sand, or rocks ) We have had some adventures with them and we hope we have many more.

This is last weekend.

I can't tell you where this is..........it's so secret and remote.

And because I can't remember the name of the beach.

I do know that the orange cast on the photos is because of the ash raining down on us as the authorities burn off in the dry season. There was also dust from the dust storms mixed in there as well.

Thanks again Mack D family, we love ya all more than cake.

Stay beautiful,

K xx

The Beauty Within

Well, we have had something lovely happen over the weekend.

My girl, I just lover her. She is my anchor in the storm some days, and some days she is just plain weird, but I love her...........even when she's weird. That's something that is becoming more often these days, but it's OK. I still love her.

Amanda decided she wanted her gorgeous hair cut off. She had had enough, but I honestly didn't think she'd do it. Well, she did.

Please see before and after photos of my gorgeous girl. I can't stay long...........I'm off to build the cage to lock her in until she's 30. She looks WAY too grown up. *sigh* wonder if a new haircut will make me look young and vital and gorgeous like this. Nah, don't think so either, but thanks for NOT laughing,

Stay beautiful,

K xx

Great Ideas?........I am full of them.

Our teenage son, Josh, has been struggling to realise the true value of the dollar. He needed new clothes due to a MASSIVE growth spurt. I swear if his growth is in relation to what he eats, then the lad will be a MONSTER!!

Anyhow, got this great idea from friends of ours. I gave Josh a sum of money. $150 to be exact and told him to outfit himself within that budget. It was agreed I would buy jocks, pyjamas and a pair of shoes, but the rest, he had to buy within that $150 and any change he could keep. He was most excited at this prospect, because I think he thought he was going to pocket $149.95!!

Off we went to Stocklands here in Townsville on a Thursday night. Must have been a full moon, as I saw some sights there that have been only spoken of in legend. EEEwwwwww!

He had an idea of what he needed and was going to buy the lot at Rebel Sport..............yeah right. He saw a t-shirt he wanted for $49.95 and I pointed out that would take a third of his budget. He was OK with that he said and I kept my mouth shut. ( No, really I did )By the time he got to the checkout, he spotted a table with 2 shirts for $40. I could see a re-think taking place and he ended up with 3 shirts for $60. Wow, said he, I just got 2 shirts for what it would have cost for just 1!! ( just smiled and told him he was a great bargain shopper ).

For his money he ended up with 3 t-shirts, 1 pair denim shorts, 1 pair dress shorts, 2 belts and a pair of shoes he picked up for 1/2 price. I think he did well with money and I enjoyed shopping with him and watching him weigh up the options. We DID walk 275 kilometres around the shopping centre though and I put in an extra $60 to buy jocks, a pair of shoes, and PJ's as promised.

This one is the kicker though and made it all worthwhile for me. "Wow", said Josh "this is just me and you have 3 kids to outfit as well as you and Dad". AMEN, thank you, I am brilliant, I know.

The penny had dropped, and really, isn't this what it's all about as a parent? Getting your kids to UNDERSTAND and be GRATEFUL for what you do.

I went to bed a very happy Mummy.

Stay beautiful

K xx

A little poem for Thursday

http://retromummy.blogspot.com/

If you like to sit and sew,
Here is something good to know.
Drop on by to the above link,
Leave a comment stating what you think.

Then if you're lucky-I bet you are,
You could be her new blog star.
Chosing a prize would be the best.
To create and decorate your little nest.

Thankyou and good night. I'm here all week......try the veal.
Stay beautiful
K xx

Hey Evil eyes.............

If you are feeling blue,
I know what to do!
Click on this link,
Tell me what you think,
I bet I already have a clue!!

Stay beautiful,
K xx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93CPo0sBVZc

AND this one time, at Scrap Camp.......................

There was this girl who took the same photo without knowing ......................and scrapped it twice!!!!

By the time she realised, there were 2 layouts done and she cherished the knowledge....................she was not a crazy woman.........................or was she?

Stay Beautiful

K xx

So....a Persian and a Politician go to this party........

Yep, there was a party, we were invited and it was dress up. You had to dress as something starting with T, J or P as they are the birthday boy's initials.

In this pic we have a Politician, a Persian, a Pirate, a Piece of fairy bread AND a Tennis Player.

Lots of laughs were had and I just LERVE Andrew's 'man-dress'. Yep, did it for me. Every time I looked at him, I couldn't stop laughing.

Pics, by Scott and Em's photography.

Stay Beautiful,

K xx

I vacuum for free at home

Please, Please let me go to my PAID employment.

You know, at work it's my job to vacuum at the end of the day. The customers often express sympathy at me wrestling with an enormous vacuum that is held together with postie tape and came out on the ark with Noah. I'm sure I could suck up more stuff with a straw than this thing. Anyway, a lady said to me yesterday, "You poor thing having to vacuum here and at home". I smiled a knowing, smile and said, "at home I do it for free, where here I get paid".

Yep, I reckon if I was paid to do what I do at home, my family couldn't afford me. I'm not about to have a whinge, just stating a fact.

I usually do an afternoon shift at the Post Office, say, 1 or 2pm-5pm.

Before I actually go to work this is what I do after taking the kids to school, and I do realise that most Mum's are doing the same as me.

Tidy, sweep inside and out and run the mop over if needed. Make sure my bed is made and do any ironing or washing to make a full load. Dust if needed, usually weekly ( who am I kidding, this is the dustiest place in Australia. And I have lived in a few! ), clean my bathroom ( the kids do their own) and have afternoon tea ready for when the locusts hit. THEN I go to work.

No wonder I am tired at the end of the day. I do love having this shift though, as I can do what I want in the mornings and have all things organised as I hate living in a mess.

AND let's not forget being paid to vacuum....................how GOOD is that?

Josh had his senior baseball grandfinal on the weekend and they WON!!!! YAY Josh's team. They played well and the mercy rule was invoked. Josh took an amazing catch and had some great hits. The eye exercises are paying off. And the best thing? He's is actually turning into a pleasant human being.....................most of the time. About time kid! Josh was fortunate enough to have his Cousin Scott and Scott's gorgeous partner Emma come and watch him. Thanks guys for the family support, you rock!!

Hope you like the pics of the grandfinal day. I think they have loaded backwards to what I intended, so just think backwards ok?

Will post pics of something crafty tomorrow.

Stay beautiful

K xx

Like a Cougar!!

While in Tamworth, I was fortunate enough to catch up with our baseball club, the Cougars. Andrew always described the team as mates who play baseball, and the members of the club and their wives became great friends. I didn't tell them I was in Tamworth, so Nikkers and I cooked another fib to get them to the Leagues Club for dinner. They were all there and I just walked in. There were laughs and even a tear or two. Well, let me tell you, we laughed all through dinner and well into the waffles we HAD to have for dessert.

I went to the bar to get a drink, and when I came back, the crew were sitting there with hats on and facing away from me. I didn't look twice, as they tend to do some weird things that don't warrant an eyelid bat. On closer inspection, someone had organised the special 25th year anniversary Cougars club caps with our names embroidered on the back. I was almost reduced to tears. Talk about being thought of when we live so far away! I was touched beyond measure at the gesture and when I brought them home to the family, they were SO touched as well.

This club supported us when Josh had his accident last year more than our church did!! We have made lifelong friends there and these wonderful people are just one of the many fortunate and life changing things on our 'journey'.

Thanks Cougars, you don't know what you mean to us.

Featuring in the pic is Amanda and Ethan sporting their Cougars caps.

I have to say "Like a Cougar!!!!!" as they compete in the baseball grand final this weekend. Don't disappoint us.

Stay beautiful

K xx

Feelin' the LOVE!! VERY LONG POST

Back again after a lengthy absence, I know. I have been doing some great stuff. I have been busy being busy.

Firstly, I went back to Tamworth for a week to see Mum & Dad and to go to the CPR at Lake Keepit. ( Country Paperarts Retreat ) Thing is, Mum & Dad (and Megan)knew I was coming, but the scrapping chicks from Tamworth did not.

This post is testament to them and how well they know me.

When I left Tamworth in January, it was to be Marnie's job to find a pilot, service him and in return he would fly here and pick me up, take me to CPR and fly me back again. Things were looking grim, until the 11th hour at Marnie's Cub pack. In walks a pilot ( complete with flying suit ) to pick up his son, or daughter, (it isn't really relevant which). Marnie would have turned on her considerable charm, smirked her way through the (I'm sure ) witty and engaging conversation and did her best to woo him to "the dark side". SO DID NOT GO WELL. Before any indecent proposals could take place, he was gone..................like a fart into the wind.

Thanks Marn, but sometime ya gotta do stuff yaself.

SO, I who LOVES a covert op, boards the plane and I had a bit of a layover in Sydney. I was feeling rather chuffed with myself after getting this far and not blowing the secret AND being chatted up some guy in a suit who wanted to have a drink with me. So I immersed myself in my coffee and Judy Nunn novel, all the while trying to look like the worldly traveller I'm sure I could have been. Next thing, phone signals a text. It was Pauline. (of course it was) The text read, "sorry you're not coming to scrap camp...................or ARE you?" Who DOES that? I wasn't game to speak to her in person lest I give the game away, so I did the only rational thing.......and lied.......by text.

Got to Tamworth, late flight and it was freezing!! Mum and Dad were there to meet me as well as a surprise Megan who turned up to roll out the red carpet for me. There is SO no place like your Mum and Dad's place is there? You can just be yourself and rest easy. Thanks Mum & Dad for always making me feel like your home is a place I can go for 'soul rest'. It's not an easy thing to achieve and you guys do it unconsciously. You are not allowed to die, cause I love ya's more than chocolate.

Next day, we laid low as I didn't want the "girls" seeing me. Having a coffee with Mum & Dad, there's a car out the front. "SHIT SHIT SHIT".........I called in a very ladylike way, "SHIT IT'S BRONNIE". By this time Mum & I were in full alert mode and diving around trying to pick up all my stuff I had spread around the house in a mere 12 hours. I had never seen her move so fast.....except when she chased me with 'the thong', but that's a whole other can of woop ass. "What do you want me to tell her?" asked Mum. "I DON'T CARE" I said , in again, a voice that would befit the Queen. Anyhoo, Mum let her in, I hid in a bedroom, and when the conversation went for a while, I couldn't stand it any longer and presented myself in the doorway. Man, I wish I had a camera. It was like a version of punk'd. Loved the face Bron, and loved the love more.

This brings me to Maryann. She had rung me the night before I left. There was a package for me at her place as I had forgotten to change my address. I was trying to talk he into letting Mum & Dad pick it up, as I was wanting to use them at camp. But, NO WAY was she having a bar of that one! She was sending me a package right or wrong. She has no ESP obviously, or she would have heard the subtle signal I was screaming at her. I even tried mind influence, but I must be really bad at that, cause she didn't hear that either.

So, Megan came to collect me and we fronted up at camp. I nearly had to lock my legs around Marnie's waist ( and that would've been ok, as we know each other well) to hold myself upright. I tell you, NOBODY on this earth hugs like Marnie. With full abandon and heart and soul into it.

Pauling smugly wandered over to inform me she wasn't the least bit surprised to see me. Bron, had seen me all before earlier that day and Maryann was a mixture of disbelief and that " you lied to me and now I know it". I was privileged to meet Marcy from Wagga as we had met online. Marcy, that would sound deliciously sordid if you were a bloke, and Sheree from Maitland who was a friend of Marns. Thanks for a great weekend ladies, you know what I'm sayin,' nuff said.

Which brings me to this long and drawn out point. I have lived in all places around Australia and made friends with lots of different people-some we have kept in touch with, others not. I'm so grateful for each and every stop on Andrew and my 'journey' as I can't imagine my life without these people in it. I have made a connection in Tamworth with these ladies and it felt like I had never left. I also got the opportunity to close the door on out life there. We left so suddenly, I grieved for the place, but mostly for the people. Flying into Tamworth, I felt like I was coming home, but by the time I left and I was flying into Townsville, for the first time, I felt like THAT was coming home.

So beautiful ladies, thank you so much for yet another gift you probably don't know I have received. Closure, not on our friendship, but our chapter in Tamworth. You will never know how badly I needed to have that so I could walk forward in my life here in Townsville. NOW I can start a new chapter in the book of 'Our Life', that I was struggling with before.

Stay Beautiful, I love you all.

K xx

p.s Just re-reading this, it sounds like a suicide note..................it's not. I still got stuff to do.

p.p.s The pics is a full moon over Lake Keepit

How do ya like them apples?

I so miss my man when he goes away, I do.

BUT things run so very smoothly when he's away. Dinner is on the table on time, kids are bathed and ready for bed, homework done and handed in.........on time and away to school........yep.........on time. There seems to be less stress and I am more relaxed. It has occurred to me it's because I don't have to split my time yet another way. I try to give time to all and it's important to put time into your marriage, but I had no idea I put in SO MUCH TIME. Much more than I thought. Perhaps that's why we are still going after 16 years of marriage. And we aren't even THAT old!

Anyway, the thing I think I hate the most when DH is away, is sleeping. I just don't. I'm not scared or anything, just.......alone. I can't sleep when that chainsaw noise he calls a gentle snore isn't next to me. Perhaps the silence is the issue. Ponderings for today methinks.

Anyway, it all ends tomorrow approximately 6.45pm when the place lands, and our crazy life can resume again.

I love you more than cake baby.

Stay beautiful,

K xx

Making Time for Taking Time

Yep, we live in a world full of gadgets to make our life less busy and all we are doing is filling that 'spare time' with other 'stuff'.

It's a well known fact that I'm not the most patient person cooking with kids. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I do so much baking with 3 hungry kids and 1 husband,that I want to be in and out and onto the next thing.

Saturday, I thought I would change that. After the morning on the run with sport and kids' social engagements, my 7yo DS and I arrived home and decided to bake. He was desperate to make gingerbread men and decorate them. So in amongst cakes and a billion biscuits he made them. He did most of the baking himself including the rolling of the dough and cutting. He did really, really well. Into the oven and then he actually waited and watched them while they cooled.

All this time we were chatting away and singing songs and having a lovely time.

Gingerbread cooled under his watchful eye and onto the decorating. He was there for ,I swear, 2 hours doing the piping of the icing (in zip lock bags. God bless whoever invented THOSE) dropping a zillion silver cachous on the floor and having them bounce into my scrapbook bag (yes, they bounce) and carefully placing heart shaped sugar in all the strategic places. He sang and talked to the gingerbread men all the while and my heart swelled to enormous proportions. I have never seen place so much care and pride into something.

Everyone was amazed with the results and even 14 yo DS commented how fantastic they looked and how he should be very proud to have done all that fine work. ( and it was a genuine compliment )

BUT

The best part of my day, was at the dinner table when he stated that the best part of HIS day was talking with Mummy while he created his gingerbread men. *sigh* THIS is what makes the blood, sweat and tears of being a mother worthwhile. AND all he revelled in was my time.

This week, I will be making time to take time and just BE. I might even make it a habit like my NIKE year, but more on that later. I'll let you know how it goes.

Stay Beautiful

K xx

Heeellllloooooo Handsome

Don't know what is going on around here. The moon must be in Venus, or Mars, or Saturn, or wherever the moon goes on holiday. (kinda like a blue moon with no "gettin' jiggy wit' it " involved )

My man has entered the kitchen............again. With help.....again.

Don't know how he got there, don't care where he's been. He's there now.

He is also sporting his father's day apron from a year ago. If you don't feel like straining your eyes to read the words it says, "Big nuts...........massive spanner".

Hmmmm, I love how proudly he wears it don't you?

Here's hoping the moon stays in it's current orbit.

Stay Beautiful

K xx

Word for the day

emp·ty

a. Holding or containing nothing.

1. To remove the contents of:

2. To transfer or pour off completely

3. To unburden; relieve: empty oneself of doubt.
An empty container.

Therefore, I could use the word for the day in a sentence.

I helped to "empty" this bottle of Moet. And it was good.................very...good.

I hope you will try and include this word in your daily conversation.

Thankyou

Amen

Stay beautiful

K xx

I love it when a plan comes together

Hellooooo again. Long time no blog, I know. Y'all can stop the phone calls and emails, I am back!

Lots has happened, lots of visitors have been through the door, lots of boxes have been unpacked.

Yesterday was my DH's birthday and seeing as he is a man ( obviously ) I feel no need to withhold his age. 38 was the magic number for him!! Happy birthday babe, love you long time!

Amanda made his cake and I'm sure you will agree it's a major masterpiece. The cake was almost a mud cake, but lighter and the frosting was to die for. DH loves Jaffas, but of course we couldn't find any to buy once we decided what we wanted, so settled for orange M & M's. Fresh cream went in the centre and presto! A beautiful cake. She only had minimal help and I'm so proud of her.

Both DS's have also expressed interest in the kitchen, so will carefully cultivate that and throw my impatience at baking with children out the window. Thankyou Master Chef!! I might get a few nights off in the kitchen real soon!

Speaking of time out of the kitchen, my nephew and friend hit the sink to help clean up. We actually have a dishwasher, so the only reason I can think that they did this ..............................was to show off. Seriously, fellas who ARE YOU?????

Plan accomplished.

Stay beautiful,

K xx

How's your Winter?

Well, Mum and Dad have been and gone. Had a lovely time with them, but had to move house in the middle of their visit. That was a huge bummer as we would've liked to have done so much more with them. I misss them so much and it was much harder so say goodbye than I thought it would be. The kids miss them heaps as well, so oldies, if you think you haven't made an imoression on little people, think again. This will be a destination for next time.Next time, Mum & Dad...................next time. So many beautiful places to see, like this one. Magnetic Island.

Island of fantasies and daydreams.

We have more visitors at the moment, so Chateau de Chambers is full until August. Roz and Panch are from Tamworth and had booked this visit before we even left. So great to see them and we waited for them to come to go to Magnetic island. WOW!!!

We took the car over on the ferry on Sunday, saw the island, deposited Roz and Panch at their accommodation and came home. We loved it so much we are going back this weekend with more visitors. Might even do some snorkelling. Yep, the water is still that warm here.....snorkelling ( in case you didn't read the words properly ). I could seriously live on that island. Lifestyle so laid back, casual, infrastructure in place..................*sigh* real estate REALLY PRICEY. I think I would have to sell a child to afford it. That's not gonna happen any time soon. Lack of buyers.

Economy. All that.

Don't hate me for living in a Winter dream. Seriously, there IS no other place to be in Winter other than North QLD.

GO the MAROONS

Until next time,

Stay beautiful

K xx