Not your average Christmas

Funny how a little red spot can cause you to throw your Christmas plans right out the window. Readers beware, this post contains medical and sensitive information, read on if you dare ......

The red spot which was noticed on Friday evening had mutated overnight into a fully fledged red, angry boil. Oh no, not me, no (phew!), it was poor Matt. My darling husband who was designated driver for the 5 hour return trip to Canberra on Christmas Day and where was this boil? You guessed it ..... right in the crease of his backside! *I have paused here so that you, dear reader, can pick yourself up off the floor, wipe your eyes and stop laughing*

So it came to pass that Saturday, Sunday and Christmas Eve saw no improvement in the situation and the boil grew in size and the pain level increased. The poultice from the chemist was doing its job and I was suddenly designated "nurse" twice a day doing dressings.

Come Christmas Day and it was obvious that sitting in the car was going to be impossible so I went to Canberra alone and Matt had Christmas lunch with Rocky and Lou Lou (woof woof). At least he was able to play with his trains as the layout in the shed has been built on a table which is chest height.

I had a lovely time with my family and even enjoyed the drive because I could play my favourite CDs as loud as I wanted all the way. On the return trip, the local cops were conducting RBTs and pulled me over. I was fine - no booze at Ians. The cops were all wearing Santa hats which looked so cute.

Christmas Day was not over yet and as luck would have it, the boil burst late that night and I found myself playing nurse again at 1am. Crikey, the bloody thing looked sooooo painful and I felt so sorry for my darling.

Today it is a lot better but we are going to see the doc this arvo anyway. He still can't sit in the car or on the lounge chairs but the dining chairs have the back out of them.

So, if someone asks him "What did you get for Christmas?" He can honestly say .... A boil on the BUM!

Till next year, have a wonderful time one and all

Ho Ho Ho - nearly here

Well, Christmas is just around the proverbial corner and what have I done? Another year almost over and a new one almost begun (apologies to John Lennon). It has been an eventful year and for a change instead of spending Christmas Day at home with the dogs, getting drunk and full of good food, we are going to spend Christmas Day with my brother and his 3 little girls (8, 4, and 3) in Canberra. Dad is there already having arranged a cat sitter for his beloved ginger cat Monty, and he will spend several days with his granddaughters. This is the first Christmas without Mum so there were no cards sent as she always took care of that sort of thing.

As usual, I was told to go and buy my own gift. God bless Matthew, he always wants me to have something nice but at this time of the year he is working such long hours that he can't get to the shops. So, as I have a naked ring finger on my right hand thanks to a slight re-arranging of my current collectionof finger jewellery, I went to the local jewellery shop and bought myself a lovely garnet and diamond ring. Funny how all the ones I tried on were my exact right size. I have small fingers. So I chose one and said "wrap the little bugger up"! Now it is under the tree with the other gifts waiting to be released and on my hot little hand Christmas Day. Fortunately there are 6 other gifts under the tree that I don't know what they are (from Marilyn in the USA and my in-laws) which will be a nice surprise when we open them.

I bought Matt his favourite Darrell Lea chocs and a pack of Christmas candies for me. I love them. I wanted to buy him a "Casey Jones" train driver's hat (he has started playing with toy trains and creating a huge layout in the shed) but couldn't find one online large enough for a man's head. Oh well, might have to look overseas.

We have had some rain which has been marvellous although our dam is still only 14%. That is a lot better than 3.2% which is what it got down to early this year. The grass has come back and the garden looks a lot better.

This will be my last post for 2007. I can't believe that this year is almost over. They certainly fly by when you are over 50 so be warned!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone whether you read my blog or not. Peace, health and happiness to all. Enjoy the chocolate and we diet in the new year bwahahahahaha - :-D

Linda

I'm having one of those days/months

It all happens at once. My back has been acting up lately. Had to have a day off work for that. Been feeling a bit off and then Monday I went to the doc about the pain in my left foot that I have had for 2 months. I was feeling every step when I was walking the dogs and I had had enough. He referred me for a scan and then he kindly gave me a cortisone injection which I was allergic to (found out the hard way) and spent 2 days drugged to the eyeballs on pain killers and limping from room to room on a walking stick because my foot had swollen up and the pain was agony. My 3 middle toes were sticking out like little fat sausages. Thursday I managed to get a shoe on and could leave the house. Today I returned to work on panadols but it is still a bit sore. The perils of being over 50 I suppose.

*sigh* Looking on the bright side, if it all happens at once, then I can look forward to about 12 months of good health - he he he

Cheers

Happy Birthday and the rest

Well, here it is a month since I wrote and 5 weeks since Mum died. I'm doing well and so is my Dad. We had been expecting Mum to go for such a long time that she and Dad planned what he would do when she was no longer here. He is keeping busy and going to things he couldn't go to for the last 3 years like his High School reunion at Waverley College last week. The 4 of us kids are coping well. Sure we have sad days but basically we are all getting on with it.

One lovely thing is that Samantha, my brother Ian's youngest daughter, has told him that "Pink Grandma" comes to visit her at night and talks to her and cuddles her. By the time Sammy was born, Mum was too sick to be able to hold her so she never got to cuddle her. Also, Mum was wearing pink when she died and Sammy is 3 in a few weeks time so I think she is too young to be making it up. We all think it is great and I hope she gets visits from pink grandma for a long time.

Now birthdays...... There must be a time when you can say "OK, I won't have any more birthdays because I am OLD ENOUGH NOW"!
LOL LOL LOL Well I was old enough a few years ago but for everyone else who likes to remind me .............. tomorrow I am 54. Eeeekkk! I don't feel 54 but there is a woman in the mirror that I see every day who looks it!

One of the advantages of being over 50 is that EVERY bloke starts to look good. Even the blokes from the bowling club - LOL.

But ..... My Nana (mum's side) died at 54...... My grandpop (dad's side) died at 52. My other two grandparents died at 84 and 80 so I think I have all bases covered.

I wonder what I will get for my birthday? I can bet on some chocolate and wine knowing my darling hubby.

Enough, I am off to open the wine...........

Cheers Big Ears :-)

Death of a Loved One

My mother died on Tuesday night after a very long illness. We were all expecting it but when it happens it is still a shock in some ways.

I was fortunate enough to spend Mum's last day with her and with Dad. She was slipping in and out of consciousness during the day but did manage to say a few things here and there. Dad and I were both sitting with her holding her hands when she passed. She had been very sick with Pulmonary Fibrosis for over 3 years, on oxygen 24/7 for 2 years and Dad has been her full time carer for just over 2 years. I will never know how he did such a wonderful and difficult job which took up all of his time in the last 12 months, he is amazing considering he is 77 years old. Mum wanted to die at home and had the community nurses in daily and she was under the care of the most remarkable Vietnamese doctor, a lady who went out of her way to look after her.

Mum had not been able to leave the house for over 12 months but she sat in her chair every day beside the picture window and was able to watch the world go by. She was a keen knitter making clothes with donatee wool for the local fire brigade to raffle off. It was only in the last week of her life that she was unable to even do that. The last little jumper she was making was almost finished. All she had left to do was knit the neck band and sew the sleeves in so, although I have not done any knitting for 15 years, I sat in her chair after she died and finished it for her.

For most of Tuesday, Mum required morphine injections every 3 hours which I was authorised by her doctor to give (I am a trained nurse though been out of the profession for 30 years) and she finally passed just before 11pm Tuesday night. It is the most difficult thing I have ever done but I am so glad that I was able to be there with her. It was a blessing really for her to go as she had suffered so much.

I spent the last 4 nights at home with Dad who is at somewhat of a loss as to what to do now but he was active in the volunteer community before Mum got really bad and he said he will go back to all his volunteer work in time. He has a strong network of friends and supporters so I know he will be alright. Mum and Dad had been best friends and married for 55 years. Mum did get to see all 4 of us children in the last few days and we promised her we would look after Dad.

I know that she is somewhere peaceful and happy and she is free of all pain now. Towards the end she said that she could see her cat Kiko. Kiko died 2 years ago and if there are cats in heaven, then that is where Mum is now.

I am continually amazed at the kindness and thoughtfullness of people at times like this. I hope anyone who reads this is happy and well and you should tell those people that you care about that you love them right now.

Goodbye Mum, I love you.

They're on the way home

The past 10 days have flown by and we did so much but still didn't manage to do everything. Marilyn & Keith arrived on Monday 17 after being delayed because of fog so instead of us collecting them at 10.30am at Canberra, it was 4.45pm. A very long flight for them. So after a couple of days rest and some local sight seeing, we took them on a 3 day road trip.

Marilyn wanted to buy some opals so we thought, where best to go? Lightning Ridge of course. Only 550km away so Thursday we put the dogs into the kennel for 4 nights and headed off. The trip there was great going through the changing country side, the drought has made its mark on parts. We arrived at the Ridge around 4.30pm so checked into the hotel and headed off to the bowling club for some liquid refreshment and later, dinner.

Next morning it was shop till you drop for opals. I just love watching someone else spend money and Marilyn certainly helped the Aussie economy purchasing a set of milky opals (2 rings, pendant, bracelet, earrings) in silver settings and a set of the blue/green opals (same stuff) set in gold. My darling Matthew bought me some earrings for my up coming birthday. We took a tour of the walk in mine which was great and saw the local attractions.

Next off to Mudgee for 2 nights staying with relatives, shopping and exploring the vineyards. Fair dinkum, Marilyn almost had to buy another suitcase to take back all the stuff she bought. I had fun helping her spend.

We arrived back in Cowra Sunday night and collected the dogs, who were thrilled to see us, Monday morning. They always smell when they come back from the kennel so it was bath time for both of them and hubby too. Anyone who has bathed a dog knows that they almost always get a bath too.

Marilyn and I headed off to Orange for yet another shop-a-thon and left the boys to their own devices. Marally Craft has a great range of Australian print quilting fabrics so once again, Marilyn contributed to the economy and bought up big. On the way home we stopped at the sheepskin barn and 2 pairs of ugg boots were given a new American home. Next door we visited what must be Australia's most expensive antique shop. The owner had stuff priced beyond belief! In the words of Darryl Kerrigan (The Castle) the bloke must be dreaming! Imagine an Arnotts biscuit tin for $29! and it wasn't even that old. I wonder who actually buys stuff from him anyway, it was fun to look around.

Tuesday it was a visit to Cowra's Japanese Garden and then we went to Canberra yesterday as they had to fly out early today and checked them into a motel. We did a little sight seeing and did a lap around Parliament House and the Lodge. Canberra sure ain't the easiest place to drive around unless you are a local. The Canberra Centre has to be the largest shopping complex I have ever seen and, as my sister works there, it was not so hard to navigate. We all had lunch joined by my brother and his 2 little girls and all in all it was a fun day.

I feel very special as Marilyn, my friend since 1983, bought me "a gift a day" whilst she was here. She must have bought a whole suitcase of things with her for me. I was so thrilled to receive 3 of her hand made quilts and lots of other things. We have a special connection and will remain friends until the day we die. Fortunately both our husbands get on really well and spent a bit of time together whilst we were off doing girly things and shopping.

Now it feels strange after having guests for 10 days to not have them. The dogs were wandering around the house last night looking for them. This was one of the best times I have had and I will miss them so much. Thank goodness for emails so we can keep in touch. It will be our turn next to go visit them. I don't know when that will be but it must happen before our husbands' medical conditions get any worse. You see, Keith has Lymphatic Leukemia and Matthew has Parkinson's Disease. Both of them are in the early stages of the diseases but, as there is no cure for either, we never know what will happen and how fast the diseases will progress. That's life!

Wally

The bra buying blues

Bras are such a bugger to buy. I hate going bra shopping. I usually go to Target or K Mart or something like that and try on 27 different ones in about 7 different sizes hoping to find one that is moderately comfortable, contains the boobies without too much spillage and is not too tight, at a reasonable price. So when I do, I buy 6 of them and that lasts me for a couple of years. Every brand has a different size for me. Why is it that sizes are not consistent? It pisses me off.

Well, for a change I went to a proper Bra shop recently and got myself "fitted" by a professional bra fitter. Wonder what sort of training you need to go through - bet there aren't many blokes qualified to fit bras - ROFL. Anyway, crikey, I can't believe what a big difference it makes to your - ahem! "cleavage" to have a bra personally fitted . I had no idea I was an 18C which sounds HUGE but the bra I bought fits really really well and feels OK to have it on all day. I usually can't wait to get home so I can rip my bra off and let it all hang out - LOL.

BUT, there are only 2 down sides to the whole thing IMHO and they are - one - the Bra is what I would term "industrial strength" and - two - it cost $69.95!!! Just one bra! You may as well say it cost $70. It is a Berlei and made in China so what am I missing here? I bought 2 of them so I can have one on and one in the wash.

I have fond memories of those days in my 20s when I had a couple of "mini muffins" requiring no more than a little cotton and elastic covering to look good under a T-shirt. Getting older sucks insome ways but is absolutely terrific in other ways. More soon ......

Crikey, they are almost here

I can't believe how fast time flies. Marilyn and Keith will be here in less than 48 hours. I am so glad that I am not doint the 24 hours in a plane thingie. I remember 20 years ago when I went to Europe - the flight is sooooooooo darn long!

The house is spick and span and I even scrubbed the venetial blinds - not a job I recommend at all - yuk! But all is in readiness for my visitors.

On Thursday we are going for a 3 day road trip to Lightning Ridge then Mudgee, Glenbrook and home to Cowra. We will get all the visiting out of the way in one go and explore some of this wonderful country that even I have not seen before (Lightning Ridge that is).

Excitement level 10+++

Linda

Getting ready for OS visitors

I am so excited. My penfriend whom I have been writing to for 24 years is coming to visit in a weeks time and will stay for 10 days. Marilyn is from Ohio and has visited me once before in 1996. Hubby Keith is coming too. I am so lucky that Keith and Matthew (my hubby) get on really well. It is funny that after writing to a person for so many years, you come to know them well. We knew from the first few letters way back in 1983 that we were going to be great friends.

The first visit was so exciting for all of us as Marilyn & Keith had not been to Australia before and in 1996 Matt and I had only been married for a year. We were living in Hornsby which is only a short train trip to the heart of Sydney. I scheduled so many things to see and do that we were all exhausted at the end of 10 days. This time it is different as we now live in the country and everything is at least 1 hours drive away.

They will have a huge flying time as they have to fly from Detroit to LA then LA to Brisbane then Brisbane to Canberra. Canberra is way closer to collect them than Sydney (2 hours as against over 4 hours). So this time we will just head straight home from the airport so that they can recover from the flight.

I have started cleaning the house which is a marathon job. It usually takes something like a visit from friends to spur you on to do a "spring clean" - LOL. Plus with 2 dogs that spend a fair bit of time inside, there is a lot to do.

So.... better get of the 'puta and get into the cleaning. I can't wait to see my wonderful American friends.

Welcome

G'Day everyone, Welcome to my blog. This is something new for me as I venture into the world of blogs.

I live in Cowra western NSW with my DH and 2 dogs. I am a mad keen scrapbooker and work 2 days a week for one of the local solicitors. We have an office opposite the Court house so I am begining to know who the local crooks are.

That will do for a start. Best not to overload the senses. More soon.