Blogging When Away

I'm not sure how much blogging I'll do when we're away. I'm expecting to do heaps but might be restricted by access to wi-fi spots. I have to turn off the cellular data, otherwise the ipad will keep looking for telstra. Plus, I don't think I can upload photos from the ipad direct to blogger. I can easily import the photos from camera to ipad now that I have the nifty little camera connection kit (it takes seconds to go from sd card to ipad) but I can't work out how to go from ipad to internet. Maybe I can't. Anyway, I'm sure there's a way and I'll just keep playing until I work it out. Otherwise I might need to go from sd card to cd (at a photo printing shop), then from cd to blogger (at an internet cafe). Where there's a will, there's a way. I can easily email photos home to the kids and family too so blogger photos might have to wait until I return.

The Final Countdown

Not long now! All I have left to do is treat some chooks and pack (and vacuum). Meg has gone to Brisbane (she just rang - she bought an ice-cream maker at Robins Kitchen), Drew has driven himself to work and Gibbo is at the office. And it's raining. Mum came out last night and we had pizza for tea.

I meant to post a few photos last week but didn't get around to it. A blog is boring without any photos and too many words.

Peter came for a visit; Meg picked him up and dropped him back.

Meg loves Pepper.

The Dancing Dog.

Milking Time.

The original tomatoes from January.

Not Long Now

I can't believe that in three days time I'll be leaving the country - and my children. After writing a long list last weekend I've slowly worked through it, doing a couple of jobs each night so as to be as stress free as possible on the weekend. The only things left to do are to ring T, remind the kids how to restart the pump if it goes out and transfer some money (oh and vacuum, but that's last on the list).

I took up Gibbo's cricket pants and jeans; Drew and I finalized Canada; I photocopied the itinerary and all the other docs for the kids and my Mum; I took Drew's passport appln in for processing; replied to a formal invitation at The Stamford during Ekka week (an apology, phew, had to leave the country to avoid that one, don't do social events all that well); cancelled the papers, got a new side mirror on my car; had a hair colour and cut; put a request in for an audition date for Drew at USQ; distributed the PEB minutes and agenda for August meeting; went to Twba for ear appointment one day and back again the next for the first of this term's Drama workshops and worked, teaching Sarah what I can about my job (and tracked down 200 rogue EU tags).

Gibbo spent Mon and Tues in Brisbane at endless rounds of meetings. He's really not the meeting type. Today he closed off a big deal that's been dragging on so he's pretty relieved.

Drew drove to town today (twice), his first trips driving alone. The leadership team went to school at 6-30am and cooked breakfast for the teachers who have two days of pupil free for the DLP work; so he has today and tomorrow off.

We had good news all round on the medical front. Meg's cyst is ok and won't be operated on; my brother got the all clear on his op and my ear problem appears to be caused by a tiny, tiny bone that sits inside the ear and vibrates to let sounds in and out. In my case, it's stopped vibrating, therefore letting less sound in and not much sound out at all - hence the pulsating sound I hear 24/7. It can be fixed by having an operation to replace it which I'll consider having when I return home. I can't bear this noise in my ear for the next 30 years.

So tomorrow will be busy tying up ends at work and rescheduling arrivals after another big purchase then home to finish things here. Saturday I'll pack and we leave early on Sunday to go to UQ Open Day to have a look at Languages, International Relations and Leo's College. Then maybe Gibbo will go to a Bronco's game while I go to Mary Ryan's. Drew will come back home with K & L and stay with Grandma; we will stay with Ben and Lillie - then fly out on Monday at 1.55pm to Singapore. But - I'll be home in less than three weeks!!!!

Too Tired to Blog

Not that there's much to write about really - three trips to Twba in three days last week, to Bris on Sunday to check out the Creative Industries Precinct at QUT Open Day and a lot of last minute jobs to finish off before we leave, including a family meeting to discuss the do's and dont's of not having any parents in the house - does that make sense? You know what I mean!

He Did It

Another milestone was reached yesterday - Drew passed his provisional licence exam. He is now able to legally drive by himself.

He was nervous and more so when he realised that the car he would be driving for the test wasn't the regular one he'd used with the driving school. The examiner was a woman unfamiliar with our town layout so she asked him to take her to a roundabout and a stop sign. When I got back to pick him up he tried to look downbeat but he couldn't hold it for long - he broke into a smile a mile wide and threw his arms in the air. I gave him a big hug and kiss in the main street.

We then went to Twba (I drove!). He just couldn't stop smiling and laughing - he was so relieved and still couldn't quite believe that he would now be allowed to drive on his own.

We had the first part of the tb test then met with the lady from WEP for the Canada interview. The three pages of questions went for about half an hour then we chatted for another half. It all went very well and he said all the right things; she told him he had a good attitude so I think he might be in. We should hear definitely in a week or so.

We visited my brother in hospital; took him lollies and made him laugh so I hope that helped.

Drew drove home and we met with Kat (and Kylie and Lydia) at the CC to tell K about the interview as Lucy has hers next week.

Then we went out for dinner with the Ph guys; it's always good to catch up with them. We'll dine with them again tonight. Sure beats cooking and washing up.

AAARRRGGGHHH

Scream, Scream. There is no paper run any more - it has been cancelled. The papers will now come with the mail on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sob. What's the point of getting a newspaper the day AFTER it's published - or even two days later for Saturday's. I loooove my paper in the mornings and late at night. I don't feel like my day is finished unless I've read, or even flicked through, the paper.

I thought it was unusual when the paper wasn't at its' usual drop off point on Saturday morning but I just thought that maybe the paper man was sick. Then this morning it wasn't there again and I immediately jumped to the conclusion that someone was helping themselves to my paper - MY paper (that's how rational I am (not) when it comes to my paper. So I rang the local newsagency - to be told that my section of the paper run (ie the gravel section) had been cancelled and that they would only be driving from Town A to Town B on the bitumen road from now on. I was also advised that my papers would now be delivered with the feedlot mail. Well thanks very much for ringing me and a) letting me know of the change and b) asking me if the new method of delivery was acceptable and did I wish to continue receiving the papers. I thought that this was appalling customer service considering a) it's a relatively small town b) I've been having the papers delivered for 15 years and c) I know most of the people in the newsagency. I had no idea this was going to happen - they could have at least put a wrapper on one of the papers delivered last week to advise their clients of the impending changes. No-one gives a toss any more about customer service.

So the outcome is that I've cancelled the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday papers and will continue to receive the Monday, Wednesday and Friday editions - at least they won't be old news by the time I get to them.

Lucky I've got an ipad hey?

The Week That Just Went

Week 1 Term 3 has gone; 9 to go. Monday was pupil free and also my tuckshop rostered day so I've only got maybe 3 of those left.

Drew was a waiter at the launch of the Business Excellence Awards.

Megan had a scan and ultrasound that found a 4.1cm ovarian cyst.

I took Peter to hospital for his op.

Went to a P&F meeting; not many of those left either.

Drew went to see Fame at QPAC.

I went to the dentist - again. No more visits now for 9 months.

Gibbo was picked up at the airport and flew to Wylarah, Goonoo, Canobie and Brunette where the entourage inspected cattle in a one million acre paddock. One. Million. Acres. Even with a camp at each end, how do you cover that much ground?

Drew had a haircut and got new passport photos.

Peach, the baby goat, was born.

WEP rang and arranged an interview for Tuesday in Twba.

Drew went to an overnight party at J's for her 17th. There had been quite a lot of anguish one night during the week once I found out a) there would be no adult supervision and b) the venue was a public camping ground - a bunch of 17yr olds partying at a public camping ground - no way. I told him he couldn't go under those circumstances - I was NOT his favorite mother at that stage. I tried to explain the reasons but they fell on deaf (teenager) ears; it meant nothing that Gibbo, Meg, Chris and even the entourage all agreed that the scenario was asking for trouble. Then late Friday afternoon the venue was changed to J's house and her 22yr old sister (a friend of Meg's) would be there - so he was allowed to go. Gibbo drove him out after work and I picked him up the next day. They had a great time, everyone was safe and all was well. It was vveerrryyy difficult to tell him he wasn't allowed to go (lots of grumbling about how I was the only mother who thought like that, I'm never allowed to do anything !!??, everyone else is going, L's mother told her she was old enough to make her own decisions etc etc) but I was strengthened by the belief that I was doing the right thing and I stuck to my guns. Lucky those curly ones are few and far between.The argument left me sad and deflated for a little while though.

I made a big pot of pea and ham soup - hocks, split peas, onion, carrot and leek - using a combination of two recipes. One was from Gourmet Traveller and the other from the TV program, River Cottage. It was delicious. We had it for tea last night and the balance is now in the fridge, set thick and green and just waiting for lunch. It's always better the second day. I remember that Mum used to have a pot of soup on the stove top for days and days and she'd just keep adding to it. It was filled with everything imaginable including chooks feet, hearts and gizzards. The feet and gizzards were my favourite bits.

A new week awaits. It's busy, with a driving test, 2 trips to Twba for tb tests for Canada, the interview and final preparations for our trip OS.

A Peach is Born

Remember that fat goat called Pepper that came to live here 5 weeks ago (feels like 5 years ago now). Well yesterday - it gave birth - all by itself! How clever! It didn't even wait for Megan to prepare the birthing kit (iodine, scissors, phone number of experienced goat birther, towels, dental floss to tie off umbilical cord etc etc) and Meg never got the chance to be a birthing partner! How disappointing.


I went to check on the progress of some chickens at 3pm and instead of chickens I found a kid sitting in the goat pen, all dry and licked clean and happy. It' the cutest little thing you've ever seen and has been out for a walk already. It's name is Peach.

Megan is worried about it getting cold and wants to bring it inside to sleep in front of the heater. I said No to that 'cos we'd have to bring the mother in too. Megan wishes her father was here because she's quite sure that he'd let her bring it in (she's probably right too).

The next few days should be interesting.

1986

Hampstead Heath Youth Hostel

July 7, 1986

Leanne, Maryanne, Therese

Heading to Wales

My Ipad and Friend

with wireless keyboard.

Just Do It

I am amazed and proud and heartened (and sometimes a little in awe of) the things that my kids have done over the years. The debating; the public speaking comps; the musicals; the eisteddfods; the leadership roles at school (and College) that they have both taken on; the field that Megan has chosen to study and work in. They have never had a problem putting themselves out there - definitely a trait they inherited from their father; all their other qualities are mine though :-).

So Drew tells me he wants to audition for a tv show that Fox 8 is calling auditions for. In my world - why would you ever want to subject yourself to the torture of something like that? In their world - it's exciting and fun and I'm so gonna do it. (Actually, that's Gibbo's and Kat's world as well). One of his answers on the on-line application was that he "finds anxiety and fear give him an energy rush". All anxiety and fear gives me is a headache, a loss of appetite and a sick feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.

So by rearranging the weekend, Meg and Drew set off this morning from the Hodges, heading for casting call at West End. On arrival (at around 8.30) the woman asked Drew what his "session" time was and he said he didn't know. He filled out a few forms; Meg signed as his legal guardian. They went off and checked his emails on the ipad - and found that an email was sent at 10.50 last night, telling him that his session time was 1.20pm! He'd last checked his emails around 10.30pm! They'd arrived a bit early but that was ok - the farmers markets were on so they bought some goat cheese and olive bread and went to see Chris.

When they came back Drew had to fill out another form or two; Megan was standing beside him. The girl asked Megan if she was auditioning; she said "no, I'm with him". The girl said, "well I need you to wait outside". Meg was a bit miffed; she wanted to go with him. She rang me with a lump in her throat; she'd lost sight of him then saw him walking up some stairs with a bunch of other kids.She is so her mother's daughter.

To cut to the chase - he didn't make it through to the next round. About twenty of them went in together and were put into pairs. They had 30 seconds to tell the other person about themselves then had to tell the judges what they'd been told. Then around eight numbers were called out - these people had to do some improvisations then only three of those were picked.

So he missed out but he's not disappointed. It was a great experience in handling nerves (and he was VERY nervous) and it was good to actually go through the process of a casting call. I've always told them that you only need to do something once to then have an understanding of it which means next time, the situation won't be so daunting.

Tonight Meg is going to take him to her favorite Indian restaurant; they'll enjoy that.

Sitting in a Motel Room

Here I am, sitting in a motel room in Murwillumbah. We're here for another exciting cricket match - not that I stayed long enough at the field to watch the first ball bowled. I hightailed it to the nearest coffee shop.

It's been an up and down week with plenty happening and not much blogging. Sometimes I don't want to write about stuff until a few days have passed. I need to wait until there's a bit of distance between what happened and being able to look at it rationally.

A chronological assessment of the week goes like this:

Monday
Worked - nothing unusual there.

Tuesday
Gibbo flew to Roma then Surat then back to Dalby (nothing unusual there either). I worked the am then Drew and I drove to Toowoomba for my ENT visit about my weird left ear. I dropped Drew at the movies then headed to my appointment. In short, my ear isn't blocked; there's something else going on with it; maybe a blood vessel trapped behind/near it or something more "esoteric" (a strange choice of word I thought). Anyway, I then had to make a booking for a hearing test and an MRI. The suggested clinic for the MRI couldn't fit me in until the Friday before we fly out which was way too close for comfort. After the appointment I went and bought a wireless keyboard (see below) for my ipad. Then I had a coffee at Coffee Club; then I walked to Maccas and had a burger and hot apple pie; then I read the paper and waited and waited for Drew to come out of the movie theatre. I was actually out of the doctor's surgery before the movie even started!

Eventually we got home and I set up the bluetooth so the keyboard would talk to the ipad. The process took all of 30 seconds; it was so easy - and it's so so cool to be able to type on my lap.

Drew knows about "sliprail". He came right out and asked me if I blog and I couldn't lie. He was surprised I'd been doing it for 20 months. I felt vindicated in one of my reasons for blogging (to remind us of the little things in our lives that would normally be forgotten). When I told him that the very first entry is the day in Nov 2008 that he and I went to the Cellar Door at Jimbour and had a Water Tower Burger, milkshake and cappuccino and that a butcher bird kept coming to the table he couldn't remember doing that. The reason he asked is because, last night, he was reading through the written diary that I had made of my overseas trip in 1986 and he wondered if he should make one of Canada. I suggested he make a blog; he went on to ask lots of questions (which I could answer of course). He wondered how I seemed to know so much about making one; so that led to the question which led to the "I cannot tell a lie" answer - Yes, I do blog. He asked me a few questions about what's in/on it - but he didn't ask for the name or address and I didn't offer it. No doubt it will come.

Wednesday
I rang the ENT surgery to see if I was able to try somewhere else for the MRI and they said sure - the only reason they suggest the clinic as per yesterday is because they bulk bill. I rang St V and got an appointment for tomorrow - as easy as that. In fact, I could have had ten appointments if I'd wanted them. This alleviated a little anxiety as at least I'd have a result well before fly time.

I finalised the Canada application - photocopied it and went to town and sent it off. I'm glad to have it gone; it feels right. This is something I really want Drew to do for his sake; it will be very difficult for me but I can deal with it.

I had to feed 9 visitors; Indonesians plus AR. I bumped them from the house to the feedlot though; it's a lot less work for me to have lunch down there.

We went to town to the R's to watch State of Origin. The girls made pizzas; Qld won again; I fell asleep in the recliner.

My older brother has been diagnosed with PC and will go in for an op next week.

Thursday
I had the MRI (take one); the technician showed the scans to the doctor and I had to go for another scan (take two). For someone like me, this was disconcerting. Was there something wrong that meant they had to look at it from a different angle? Gibbo's take on it was that the technician stuffed up (glass half empty vs glass half full). I waited for the scans and report then walked them across the road to Mr ENT - who wasn't in and wouldn't be back that afternoon.

So sitting on the couch at home that afternoon, Drew tells me about a new show starting on Fox 8 and that they were calling interested young people, 17-20 for auditions. To read what happened next, go to the next blog entry.

Gibbo's monthly reports were due today - I thought they were due tomorrow so we sat and did them at home and sent them off. Not something I felt like doing but a welcome distraction in the end.

It's a terrible feeling, wondering if there's something wrong with your health. After my lung scare in 2004 I can tell myself all I like that the mammogram/ultrasound/thorax ct/brain scan will be ok (after all, this is ME we're talking about - how could anything happen to me?). Yet, until I hear the words "all clear, no further action" there's a tiny seed of fear that sits inside, just waiting to be fed.

Friday
Went to work early to fix a couple of things, drag in some cattle and sort them (on computer that is) and wait until 9am to ring for the MRI result - which was, you guessed it, "all clear". What a relief. Well, at least my boobs, lungs and head are all ok. It still hasn't cleared up what's wrong with my ear but, for me, those three things are pretty major hurdles to have jumped.

Drew rang WEP to see if they received his application - and they were "processing it as we speak". He also asked about traveling - he will travel with a group of other exchangees to a central point from which they will split to travel to their final destinations.

Drew and I went to town for lunch with Kylie and Lydia. They brought up the Fox 8 audition; Lydia had seen it too.

After several changes in plan, the four of us finally got ourselves organized. Originally, Gibbo and I were heading off for the weekend (cricket in Murbah, trip meeting in Beenleigh on Sunday); kids staying home; Chris coming up for the weekend. However, because of the audition, we told Chris to stay put and organised someone to do the animals. We all headed off to Toowoomba and stayed the night at the Hodges.

Saturday
Gibbo and I left at 5am. The kids got up and left for Brisbane at 6.45. See next entry for the rest of that story.

We arrived at Murbah early and found a coffee shop for cappas and raspberry muffins. We found the cricket grounds and I left. I walked into town; not far, and just wandered as I often do on these days. I found a few nice little shops and browsed; bought a stainless steel water bottle to encourage myself to drink more water. I bought Coco a new food bowl for 50 cents at the Vinnies shop and just walked. I walked along the river for a while and took some photos

and kept in good touch with the kids. Drew was SO NERVOUS. I had another coffee and found our motel - and here I am, full circle, back at the beginning.

Tomorrow we head off to Beenleigh Bowls Club for the final meeting before our departure.

The Canada Application

It's all filled out, letters to host family written, signed in 25 places, deposit cheque attached and expressly posted.

Now we just have to wait and see if it's successful.

Little Beauties

I dug up these jerusalem artichokes this morning - Mate (my Dad) will be proud!

Washed and clean and ready to boil with lots of salt.

It's 24 Years Today Since I Flew to England...

and here I am about to do it again although under slightly different circumstances (and something about a lot of water and a bridge).

In an uncanny turn of events I turned my iPad on this morning and received a message from the only person I really struck a chord with on that trip; a girl from Canada that I met in a youth hostel in Colchester, where I'd stayed when tracking down the pub where my grandfather was (allegedly) born. She and I kept in touch for a few years following that but we'd lost touch. Last night when sitting on the couch, thinking about my trip, she popped into my head - so I facebooked her and there she was. I sent her a message and received one back today. Weird.

Then it got me thinking about contacting another girl who had roomed next door to me at Milton House in 1980; we had also got along really well and wrote to each other for years but then lost contact. I think I found her on fb but am yet to hear back. That would be really cool to find Susie.

We had 80 points overnight; great for the house garden :).

Chris arrived late last night; he drove up in his new second-hand car. Drew worked the early shift in town and has gone to Twba for the weekend for his friend F's birthday - Hogs Breath Cafe tonight, movies and Sunday shopping tomorrow.

Images of Pepper

Megan is vertically challenged - this is the only way she can reach the chick peas in the bottom of the garbage bin.

Today's Haul

We had fresh broccoli and zucchini with t-bone, potato bake and honey carrots for dinner. I had the one and only purple carrot that I pulled this morning (that didn't make it into the photo).

Planting more carrots and some oregano and italian parsley.

We Love Our Cows

and bullocks.