State of Origin Game 1

The one time all year that I sit and watch footy is the 'State of Origin 'Game.
It's pouring down at the Sydney Stadium and the score is 18 - 28 QLD winning!!!
Yes I have lived in NSW all my life and I have been a traitor all my life. I have followed the queenslanders for as long as I remember, I know this is probably not a good thing to hear for some of u guys but unfortunately they are the better team LOL

Teacup Trio's

Our first fete at Northcott Tamworth was a huge success! It was the same weekend that Mother's Day fell on so, my contribution was these teacup trios filled with 2 teabags, small photo frame & some mints. I added some leftover shred from easter, wrapped with cellophane & tied with ribbon. We put $5 each on these and they were all gone in the first hour.
There were only about eight sets which in total cost me about $1.50each. The china was all picked up for $2 at a garage sale & the little frames bought on a card for $5 for about 12 & the rest of the goodies I had 'on hand'. I also worked on the craft stall and met many of the clients and their parents which I hadn't yet met, 'all in all' a great day!!

Sydney Trip

I had a very busy week, starting with flying to Sydney on Monday to learn more about my Respite program from another Manager at Northcott Disabilty Services, Roselands, Sydney.

I had only flown once before with my previous job, that was to Wadonga, Victoria so I was very anxious to say the least....

Instead of feeling nervous, I kept thinking about all the positives about the trip and my anxiety started to alleviate and soon I was feeling great & excited about my mini adventure.
These are the sights I seen looking over Sydney Harbour at 1pm Monday. (Actually I googled these photos, but it was so just the same)
I flew in on a Qantas Plane not Impulse, they're are the only ones that fly out of Tamworth.

This is what i might work up the courage to do one day............

The Bridge Climb

Sydney @Night

Party Ideas For Kids

Short on ideas for your next kiddies party?

what about the tweens?

Link into www.partyideas4kids.com

for some really kool & unique inspiration.

Wiggles Concert in Tamworth

Whoo hoo ........today I took a toil day just to spend it tagging along to a wiggles concert at the TRECC at Tamworth. My sister, my neice, her little boy age 2 & her little unborn baby girl.
The 5 of us had a great time sitting only 3 rows from the front..... way good seat!!!
Little Jayden didn't know what to make of it all & was literally shaking at first. He was over whelmed by the crowd & his favourite wiggle, Jeff. Little bubba still in the womb was kicking /clapping along with the show.
Hot potato, Hot potato!!! That Captain Feathersword took my heart!!! Oh I know, shouldn't be thinking like that but they were sooooo cute.

Ahhhhhhh Romance...........

Oh my how absolutely romantic.........
inspiration for my new bedroom makeover..............

One Mum's Daily Challenges

Next Sunday will be Mother's Day and I have been spending some time trying to find that 'perfect' pressie for my mum & something that fits within my budget. Somehow , whilst looking for inspiration for gift ideas on the net & as usual & somehow came across this news article in the Herald Sun recently.

This letter below outlines familiar stories I hear often in my position as a Respite House Manager of the challenges that Mother's ( & fathers) face everyday with their children who have ongoing challenges due to their wide range of disabilities.

Some of these mum's never get a day off, never get a break, never have time out. I wish I could offer respite to many more mums next week so they could have a day off & mayb catch up on their sleep, get their hair done or do some windowshopping but unfortunately the Government only allows me to give 6 places to children in a my region which can cover hundreds of families.
So, next week, on Mother's Day, I ll be thinking of those mums that I couldn't help to give a bit if 'time out' & I will be very grateful & appreciative that I am able to have a peaceful, stressfree, restful day when some other mums are doing it so tough.

Click on the link below & hear about one mum's challenges that she faces every day.
A mother writes of waste and filling forms Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog

Birthday Surprises

Got to love 'em.
My birthday has come and gone recently with not much excitement at all.
It was looking and feeling rather good though when hubby come up to me bright and early and said 'Happy Birthday Darling, Love you!!'
Yep I was surprised that he had remembered! Even though I did mention it a couple of times when out shopping the week or so before.
Of course I replied with Oh Thankyou Baby!!!
But it 's not until tomorrow!!!

Now I didn't get upset, because I secretly thought that if he hadn't got me anything then he had another day up his sleeve, didn't he? HA HAH!!
He couldn't use the ol' excuse of I 've been soooo busy , didn't have any time to get you anything or do anything etc, etc, etc........

Soooo... April 11th....My birthday....Now, I hadn't been so ill affected by another birthday so much as this one. I don't know why but I felt VERY old on this one for sure.

AND as I awoke to a gorgeous April morn, MY Birthday, hoping to be wished and greeted with some lovely happy birthday wishes & showered with luuurrve!

I was greeted with the usual 'wanta cuppa?'...... Ahhhhh(what tha?) No thanks darlin'.
MMMMMmmmmmmm give him time .... sh@#! he's only had a year to work on a gift and greeting for me whats another couple of hours......

THEN... after a couple of hours........' I have to go down town & get some fuel'

OK YEP that's a usual bday thing..... I am expecting some flowers when he returns..... 'cause that's the usual bday thing..... PLEASE NO! PLEASE TRY to think outside flowers.

HE RETURNS............ 'Happy Birthday, darling' & he shoves a card and flowers into my bosom.

I act surprised and say ' Oh thankyou baby, love you!'

It's the thought that counts , RIGHT?
Are you kidding !! let me tell ya, there was no thought in this one!!!

The card is one I would probably buy for a friend & one that i didn't consider to be a best friend either. The card was UGLY and the flowers were mmmm soooo not my favourite....a dried arrangement.

Now, remember 18 months ago?? Craig bought me a diamond ring?
This will be your xmas and birthday pressie for the next three years!!! he said.
Don't forget it was also the diamonds I didn't get for my engagement ring?????
OK.......I GET IT!!!!

Just in case your reading this blog babe.......
here's the thing..........

a few words on paper........cost nothing
bake a cake & add a few candles.......cost nothing
blow up a Happy bday balloon.........cost nothing ... we own our own balloon, party decorating business for goodness sake!!
brekky in bed( i love brekky & brunch)..............cost almost nothing
plant me a potted garden of flowers so we can watch them grow........

& the list goes on............

Remember those footy shorts I bought you for chrissy that you hardly take off to wash???
Well I am seriously considering BINNING THEM!!!

Neighbours from hell

We went house hunting today to find our next dream home. We had an idea of the neighbourhood that we wanted to settle into UNTIL we seen one of these little fellas in the front yard!!! What Tha?? As we were looking for the right number along the right street. Craig looked over at me and said Did you see that? See what? A fella weeding his garden?? HUH??
'Ah No', the python sunning in the yard. Of course I said 'yeah right, I don't believe you!'
Craig swung the car around at the nearest driveway and said, 'there did you see it'. What ? that's a just a bit of old tyre laying in the guys yard!' Ah No Bull @#* ! he said, I ll go back again and this time open your eyes'.
Ah OK! There it was a 5ft or so big fat python!!!AGH!!! The guy had spotted us checking his mate out and picked him up and took him indoors AGH!!! The little fella was not a tyre tred at all.
OMG we didn't bother with the house just kept driving to the next neighbourhood.
I am not surprised every other house in the street is not 'up 4 sale!" HUH?

What a surprise!

Two weekends ago my two girls up and decided to come visit mum.
They phoned about 6pm on the friday evening and asked if I wa going to be home if they drove down, they wouldn't expect to arrive until about midnight. I was surprised, excited and scared for their safety all at the same time. I waited anxiously for them to arrive all evening. We kept in touch with the mobile phone along the way on their trip.Eventually they arrived at 1.00 am on the saturday!!!
We chatted for a while before heading to bed. Then Saturday morning after a 'sleep in' we headed down the street to shop of course ,what else! My oldest daughter bumped into her friend whilst down town and you wouldn't believe the screams AGHH!!!!!! screech!!!!!Head turning stuff!!!!So instantly we had another girl in the house, yep then soon after ..........
My step daughter arrived on the bus from her mums house around 11am.
It's been a while since we had all girls together and their friends too. Poor hubby!! No boys boo hoo.
Later in the afternoon we all headed over to see rellies at nearby town, Gunnedah.
That's my dad, with the girls below (in the photo, he has emphysema and needs to have the oxygen concentrator on him at all times). dad wouldn't let the go, he hadn't seen them for about 12 months and knew he wouldn't see them for a while again.
Funny thing... My dad said to one of the girls ....'you've put on weight, Nik?' It never comes out quite the right way for Dad. What he meant was 'you finally put on weight, Nik'. Nik was always very skinny as a child, people used to accuse me of not feeding her hehe.

Love you girls!!!xoxoxox