Once again I borrow from Kath

The top 10 things and 10 bottom things about 2008 and I also will start with the bad and finish on a good note:-

Bad things

1. My darling mum being diagnosed with cancer - huge big and scary thing we are all still dealing with
2. My Nan having a nasty fall and breaking her hip necessitating much care from all of us and realising that she will never be the same again and it has aged her considerably
3. Workmates being mucked about .................................
4. Realising that some situations ain't never gonna change and it is time to close the door and move on

Wow I don't have 10 bad things I can say so that is a good thing right

Truly that is all that I can say that was bad about the year - but the first two were I have to say FUCKING HUGE and truly knocked me arse over kettle

Good things

1. Started cycling with a good and serious intent and met my good mate Wayne who has been nothing but supportive in getting me to my goal of cycling well and long and coping with hills
2. Work, I am blessed to work in a great branch with great people and enjoy going to work everyday where I get to be with my raison d'etre - BOOKS
3. I have continued to progress steadily with my Karate training and continue to realise benefits unforeseen when I first started
4. I continued to nibble steadily at my mortgage and can see some tangible difference infinitesimally small but discernable nonetheless
5. I have my 3 furballs who give me joy and humour every day and just are happy to be wherever i am
6. I have my inner strength and determination that will see me through everything and anything this life will throw at me and I will come out on top - This has been confirmed with me this last year
7. I have great family members and beloved friends who are supportive in all manner of ways and ideas
8. I bought new toys like a MP3 player to listen to even more books and I am having fun with that and a Garmin Nuvi Satellite Navigation system that works a treat and makes sure I never ever get lost again - it's bloody unreal
9. I am making positive moves for my career and I have a very supportive boss who encourages me every step of the way, how lucky am I
10. I learned 23 things which was a hoot
and a bonus one
11 I got a great flatmate - yep I fluked the scary lottery of housemates and got a great one Pete - he is considerate, good company, great with my furballs and genuinely likes and plays with them and pays his rent and share of bills without complaint and is pretty good company to boot

So all in all - with sunshine comes rain, with sadness comes happiness, with low funds comes high funds, so everything balances itself out

I am a happy, blessed and lucky gal really

Thanks Kath for the inspiration...

I have been pondering upon my next post and reading one my regular blogs, http://thesleepydumpling.blogspot.com/, I have cottoned onto it! After all why reinvent the wheel

This is a bit of a blog meme doing the rounds. I don't in any way think that you should HAVE to do anything, but these are things you could pick from to enrich your life. You could make your own hundred things you want to do or have done (or both) that is important to you. I may add a few more to the bottom:
1. Started my own blog- one as required to for work and I have run with it big time!
2. Slept under the stars- under duress when required to
3. Played in a band- Nope, but played the piano as child/teenager and want to go back to it one day
4. Visited Hawaii- not a top 10 destination for me but wouldn't sneeze at it if someone shouted me a trip there
5. Watched a meteor shower- Yes I think I have,not terribly gifted as an astronomer
6. Given more than I can afford to charity- No have always had much than those who need the charity so can't really say that i have given more than i could afford
.7. Been to Disneyland/World- No - see answer 4 for more detail
8. Climbed a mountain- Does Mt Timbeerah count? Otherwise no they were just big hills that felt like freakin' mountains
9. Held a praying mantis- Nope not in this lifetime
10. Sung a solo - Yes - Singstar has a lot to answer for
11. Bungee jumped - Not in this lifetime
12. Visited Paris- One day
13. Watched lightning at sea- Yes many many times been a bit too close to the show
.14. Taught myself an art from scratch - Nope not yet
15. Adopted a child- No but have been sponsoring a child for many years
16. Had food poisoning- Yes, usually due to my own cooking efforts which is horrid and really bad when both ends are exploding.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- Not yet
18. Grown my own vegetables- Nope brown thumb but want to one day
19. Seen the Mona Lisa- Not yet
20. Slept on an overnight train- Yep usually on our yearly trip to Sydney as my mum refused to fly and her family were located there
21. Had a pillow fight- Yep and usually one
22. Hitchhiked- Nope, too much of a sook and my dad would have throttled me to take a chance like that
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - It's called a mental health day
24. Built a snow fort- Yes when I went on a skiing trip in my senior year, couldn't ski so built a snow fort instead
25. Held a lamb- yes and many other baby animals - calves, foals, puppies, kittens, chickens,
26. Gone skinny dipping- Yes and loved it surprisingly
27. Run a Marathon- Not in this lifetime
.28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice- Not yet
29. Seen a total eclipse- Yes indeed
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- yes many times and never ceased to be stunned by its beauty
31. Hit a home run - Not yet
32. Been on a cruise- Nope - movie Titanic has a lot to answer for
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- Not Yet
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors- Not Yet
35. Visited an Amish community- Not Yet
36. Taught myself a new language- Does fluent swearing in Italian count otherwise NO.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied-I have always had enough if only by the skin of my teeth
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- Not Yet
39. Gone rock climbing- Does indoor rock climbing count? Otherwise No
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David- Not Yet
41. Sung karaoke- A few times, my lord do I sound bad but always fun especially when snookered
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt- Not Yet
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant- Not Yet
44. Visited Africa- Not Yet
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight- Yes many times
46. Been transported in an ambulance- Not yet, but probably only a matter of time
47. Had my portrait painted- Not Yet but would like be done in charcoal if anyone cares to do one of me
48. Gone deep sea fishing- Not myself personally actually fishing but been on the boat with others doing it
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person- Not Yet
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- Not Yet
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- Not in this lifetime
52. Kissed in the rain- Not Yet but on the list of things to do
53. Played in the mud- Yes many times
54. Gone to a drive-in theater- Yes
55. Been in a movie- Nope unless home movies count
56. Visited the Great Wall of China- Not Yet
57. Started a business- Nope
58. Taken a martial arts class- Yep and 1/2 way to black belt
59. Visited Russia- Not Yet
60. Served at a soup kitchen- Not yet
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies- Nope, but was a brownie and sold their biscuits.
62. Went Whale Watching- yep
63. Got flowers for no reason- Not yet, unless I have bought myself a bunch but a gorgeous bunch of red roses on my 19th birthday from the girls I worked with, brought me to tears
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- Yep many times thanks to an old work mate Fiona Robertson-Cuninghame
65. Gone sky diving- Not in this lifetime
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- Not Yet
67. Bounced a check- Not yet but bound to happen one day
68. Flown in a helicopter- Not Yet
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- No but favourite books yes
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial- Not Yet
71. Eaten caviar- Nope
72. Pieced a quilt- Nope but one day I will learn to sew proper like
73. Stood in Times Square- Not Yet
74. Toured the Everglades- Not Yet
75. Been fired from a job- Not as yet
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London- Not Yet
77. Broken a bone- left arm being dragged off a horse
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle- yep
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- Not Yet
80. Published a book- Nope
81. Visited the Vatican- Not Yet
82. Bought a brand-new car- New to me, but classed as 2nd hand by dealer
83. Walked in Jerusalem- Not Yet
84. Had my picture in the newspaper- Yes, a couple of times.
85. Read the entire Bible- yep
86. Visited the White House- Not Yet
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- Not personally but been there while it happened
88. Had chickenpox- yes
89. Saved someone’s life- couple of times
90. Sat on a jury- Yes a murder trial very gruelling and not something I care to repeat.
91. Met someone famous- yes, assorted people
92. Joined a book club- Nope
93. Lost a loved one- Yes
94. Had a baby- Made a choice at 15 that I would not be a mum
95. Seen the Alamo in person- Not Yet
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- Not Yet
97. Been involved in a law suit- Nope
98. Owned a cell phone- a fair few but was late in life getting one compared to friends
99. Been stung by a bee- Yep but being stung on the face by wasps was way way way more painful
100. Ridden an elephant- Not Yet
So there's my replies to the list someone else created. Here's a few others I have done and think would be great experiences others could do if they haven't already:
Again Kath reminded me of similar things undertaken by me
1. Done something way out of my comfort zone - Yes turned up at a dancing class by myself and made myself go again and again until I made friends - something I did for six years, great time of my life. Then decided to do it all again by undertaking martial arts training
2. Read a book in a single seating - Yes many times often through the night
3. Spouted liquid via nose or mouth when someone has made you laugh - - Yes a few times especially at the kitchen at Chermside Library with my workmates - Adrian Kunde was a devil for making me laugh just when I sipped my coffee, he often wore it as a result - It was quite the party trick for me as a small child too until I had my cleft palate repaired!
4. Had my first white Christmas when I was in the states for 2004 Christmas and it started snowing on Christmas Eve - it was very special

and it passes......

into the annals of history, yes another family Christmas! It went well and no tears or blood was shed and people were almost happy.

Dinner at Sizzlers was great, it was truly a marvel to watch Travis eat, a dear boy, but my god this tall slim lad could put a Green Bay linebacker to shame when it comes to food intake. It truly an awe inspiring sight to see the food he could inhale. Let's just say that we as a family got our money's worth solely due to Travis, he may be banned from Sizzler's restaurants nation wide after this last effort.

I was happy with my presents, it is interesting what various family members buy me for Christmas, the aspect of my personality they choose to focus upon! For example, my sister indulged me with a 1/2 kilo of Ferrero Roche chocolates which i am still working my way through. She knew she was onto a sure winner there

I am currently enjoying the break and relaxing at home catching up on my reading and hopefully a cycle or two before being back at work on Sunday

Ciao for now.......

.......And so it begins.........

the low grade anxiety that starts to pool in the pit of my stomach in the week leading up to Christmas. Will everyone be happy and will she behave, she being my grandmother who I love but sometimes don't like when her behaviour is atrocious and abominable as it was last Christmas. I used to wonder, as a child, why my mother would be so tense and irritable leading up to Christmas though she tried to hide it well. It wasn't until I was an adult woman that my mother filled me in on the conflict that she endured every single year of her married life and onwards. After all I was a clueless cossetted child shielded from all the slings and arrows of life. I think of my childhood as Camelot, it truly was that perfect, I have no memory of sadness or tension or anything until my early teens. My god, was I oblivious or what.

Now as Christmas approaches I begin to tense up and gird my loins to endure the day as best I can. Due to my insistence on having dinner out in an air conditioned restaurant we are going out to Sizzlers on the day itself for lunch, hopefully that will encourage good behaviour and manners from all.

I am expecting some fireworks from family members due to the presents I purchased for assorted family members, now most of them will accept these gifts in the vein of humour and community spirit with which it is intended but some are gonna blow up big time. I have bought presents for all family under the age of 10 but the older ones get the community spirited gifts. I have purchased assorted farm animals, their products and tools from Oxfam in order to assist needy communities to become self sufficient. I am delivering these cards explaining these gifts this weekend so I will know by Monday if I have been expunged from my immediate family or not.

Fingers crossed for me.

A friend of mine put the idea in my head, if you are an adult, you buy the stuff you want for yourself when you want it. People give you stuff they think you want or need but let's face it 8 of 10 times, it's nice but not what you really want or need unless you have clearly specified a specific desire for a specific item. This particular friend of mine is quite outspoken about not wanting gifts for birthdays or Christmas and I am happy to oblige. Except for her 40th birthday last year I bought her 40 scratchies, her birthday is in November, she was scratching scratchies for 40 days until almost January of the next year
and it amused her no end and gave me a giggle or two when i would received the odd text crowing about her winning a few dollars on that particular scratchie.

Talk about the gift that gives!

To all my blog readers, I do wish a lovely festive season celebrated however you wish to and that the upcoming year is full of all the things you wish to accomplish, see and do

Take care and Felice Navidad


Kerri

The beginning or the end.....

of the week! Being Sunday, I never know when this is my week endeth or its beginning. It's been a lovely weekend. On Saturday I met Alexander James Finch, a lovely little lad of some 3.5 weeks age, the new born son of dear friends Kate and Joel. I was the first person outside immediate family told of his impending arrival simply because Kate was bursting to tell and we had lunch that particular day and she knew that I could keep a secret. I love hearing secrets like that, they are wonderful. I may have chosen to not have children myself but I celebrate and adore newborn children of family and friends, they are wonderful gifts to the world. I cuddled Alex and he obligingly slept happily for the whole time whilst in my arms and its a lovely weight to bear and you do the mummy rock automatically and pat their bottom rhythmically, it is automatic for me despite not having born children of my own.



I worked at Chermside with some of my old crew from when I worked there and other staff from 'round the ridges. It's always a good day and I enjoyed myself!



Tomorrow is another day off and I hope to go for a bike ride somewhere if it is not too hot! Of course always the housework to catch up on but that I will do - might make tomorrow night - clean sheet night depends if the weather cooperates

The books I have been reading have been the Stephenie Meyers "Twilight" series, and surprise to me I have thoroughly enjoyed them, they are a terrific read. I can understand why they are so hugely popular, they have romance, action, appealing characters and terrific scenery described, all very atmospheric!
Will start the last one tomorrow and it will be all done until she writes another!

Adieu for now........

Odds 'n Sods

Saw the movie "Australia" the previous Sunday, normally when a movie is hyped to the extent that Australia is, it means that I automatically don't want to see it! Hyper promotion has the reverse effect intended with me, you want me to see that movie that much, fine I won't!
But persuaded by my mate Wayne, I consented to watch it with him, I was most pleasantly surprised I thoroughly enjoyed it! I laughed, got teary, gasped with the audience at various parts. Its a rollicking good flick and definitely worth the numb bum of 3 hours seating.

I bought an iron on Sunday, jesus, who'd have thought there was so much choice and they all do the same freakin' thing, iron clothes and they all required you there to do that. The choice was wide and prices varied crazily, so as usual, I went middle of the road and bought a Russell Hobbs job, which has a light show indicating the temperature of the iron, about 4 pretty colours in all.

Dixie and I had a lovely time with Jo, Roy, Scruff and Casper out at their new abode in Burpengary. Jo and I went out for coffee and I returned some $250 poorer after clothes shopping. Jo is a woman of style and taste and is honest with her opinion and that's great when you are dithering over clothes as I do and she has a good eye and shoved me in the cubicle with an assortment of things, most of which I purchased. Well my summer wardrobe is sadly depleted as most garments are looking shabby and past it, and I have a few garments that will mix and match so extending their usefulness. Another couple of skirts and another pair of sandals and I am good to go for all occasions.

Spent the day doing housework which leaves me with a good sense of achievement because it's noticeable for a time anyway. Then I shopped for the those things you run out of after a few months like loo paper, toilet cleaner and detergent. I buy large packets of loo paper, I have three toilets in my little townhouse and I usually buy 24 roll packs x 3 for each of them and it lasts ages. But now with Pete living in the house he can look after his own loo!! (Pete is my flatmate)

I am a fan of Febreze, with animals in the house and all this rain, things can get a bit whiffy, but a squirt of Febreze sorts it out and leaves it with a pleasant scent until I get the couch cover washed for another time.

I am at Mitchelton Library for four weeks I started last Saturday, it was a lovely introduction, I had forgotten what a pain interfiling and then retrieving CD's & DVD's is but a small price to pay. It's a lovely library in a lovely location, the staff are terrific and the customers seem to really love their library. I know all the staff and feel happy and relaxed to be there for the duration.

Until next time

Oh my lordy lordy.... where did the time go!

It's the 2nd of December and I feel dizzy and somwhat a little fatigued when I think about all the things on my to-do list before the end of the year descends upon us.

I am in my last week at Carindale before sticking on my acting TL hat at Mitchelton for a month from this coming Saturday. I am really looking forward to this stint as a learning curve and opportunity to develop my Team Leader skills. I have been to Mitchelton today to have the "handover" as such and I start on Saturday, yep it means two Saturdays in a row but I will be rewarded as I will be visiting my dear friends after work Jo & Roy who have their beloved furballs Scruff and Casper who both get along with Dixie and I love having Dixie along too and she gets spoiled rotten there and indulged in all sorts of treats. Jo & Roy have moved to their new place and I have yet to visit them in their new abode, hence the locked in visit this weekend. It takes some doing to get a free weekend where we are both available.

In fact all my weekends are booked up until January now with work and other obligations. Karate training ceases next Thursday for a holiday hiatus, one richly deserved for all the staff at AAMA who work tirelessly to bring the best in our training every week and coax us along when we are staggering about.

Mum has her doctors appointment tomorrow to hear how the radium worked or didn't work so a little anxious about that. So fingers crossed a positive upbeat result is on the cards!

Until next time.....