Happy 'not 48th' Birthday to me!

 

Recently I celebrated what has become known as my ‘not 48^th’ birthday.

Just to reiterate and for the record yet again, I am not nor did I turn 48 on my birthday. However, the cake that was put in front of me, is indeed the one you see in the picture complete with a ‘4’ and an ‘8’….and a few extra candles!

To complete the picture for you, some time before the cake was actually placed on the table in front of me, there was gross frivolity in the kitchen. Loads of laughter flooded the air and I simply put it down to the possibility of the children trying to find the right amount of candles for the cake or the possibility of the challenge of getting them lit without getting burnt by the sheer number of candles or before the first one burning down to the level of the cake itself!

As the cake was put before me proudly, our 12yr old daughter Cholae, spoke up with great certainty that her efforts would be rewarded. She announced that, “We didn’t have a ‘5’ mum, so we had to improvise!”

….and so my ‘not 48^th’ birthday was celebrated!

Improvising is a skill – it requires spontaneity, quick thinking, a willingness to fail, a Plan B without time to plan and sometimes a hope that, as in this case, the receiving party will have a sense of humour about your solutions or better yet, be oblivious about any sense of improvisation at all!

We are a people who are known to improvise well though aren’t we? We come from generations of ‘number 8 wire’ thinkers.

If you can buy it, build it.
If it’s broken, fix it.
If you don’t have it, close enough is good enough.

Improvising is in our DNA…
Improvising within our calling, however, can be a whole other ball game.

While there are practical things that we can improvise on – a change in a programme, a need to step in and carry out an interview, a change in the order of our day, an unexpected visitor…

There are some things that you just can’t improvise.
There are some things that you just can’t substitute.

Christ cannot be substituted
There is no substitute for

His undeserved favour
His unconditional love or
His amazing sacrifice.

As you go about the duties of your calling this week, wherever God has placed you, may He sustain you, may He supply all that you need, may He give you grace to handle the unexpected, may He give you patience to work around the unforeseen, and may His presence be upon you as represent Him authentically, in all that is required of you.

May the skill of improvising without compromising be with you in abundance!

Spring Dreaming

We're only hours away from 'daylight savings' - what better time to muse! As we prepare to push those clocks foward, the fatigue within me from parenting our young three screams, "Are you SERIOUS???!!!"....and yet, it will happen, with or without me!

Spring, despite being in September for us, has such a fresh feel to it. New beginnings are all around - it's almost like we get a second chance at our New Year's resolutions! There's cherry blossoms everywhere, people are trading their full-length active wear for slightly shorter versions, sunglasses are almost essential and BBQs everywhere are nearing their annual scrub down and prep.

Like everyone else, I'm breathing a little more deeply every time I'm out in the fresh air, taking in the changes of the season. And I can definitely feel, perhaps like everyone else as well, there's a sense of something new happening all around.

Problem is, I am terrible at starting and not finishing! I have more than a few crafts still awaiting that final sprint to the finish line. On average, I have about 12 books on the go and, unless it's a novel, I very rarely read from cover to cover! I dip and dive, take an idea here, a thought there...and however long I spend with whatever I'm choosing to focus on, it's just long enough to birth or rebirth another venture with gusto.

Fortunately for those I work with, I've learnt how to meld that natural desire of mine into my work so that I don't go starting multiple projects that never get finished! I fear I am still guilty of not finishing or following through on a fair few though...sometimes there are just not enough hours in my days!

This year, what I feel I want to begin is actually something I want to finish...ironically! Years ago, and I really am old enough to say that with clout, I discovered things I loved. Photography, reading, writing, creating, crafting...the list could really go on. With all that life brings though, it is just so easy for the things we love to fade into the background and, as I say that, it is not without a deep love and appreciation for the foreground. With life and love comes choice and a laying down of some things in order to pick others up. It has meant the most amazing of memories have been created but it has also meant that some of me has been squished to the edges. This Spring, it's time for the edges to thicken a little, and I do not mean my waistline!

I'm looking forward to smiling more, that just happens at this time of year as we start the build up to Christmas. I'm looking forward to starting more (personally not professionally!), and with that perhaps finishing a little! And I'm looking forward to where starting and finishing will lead me with 2019 just around the corner.

For now, this is as good a start as I can manage and I'll pay for how late I've stayed up to start but start I have. For you, what dreams float around the edges of your life? Which ones are ready to meld into who you are today and where do you find yourself this Spring? Muse away but be warned - you really do not have as many hours in today as you did yesterday! Don't forget to put your clocks forward tonight!

Gap Filling

It would seem I need to fill the gap between 2010 and 2018! Let's just say, we've grown considerably as a family - these are our bunnies and life with them is pretty, freakin awesome!

To Sniff or To Blow!

There are days, like today, when I wish I could trade my nose in for a new one and yet, if this is the sum total of my problems, I'm well aware I get off lightly!

After dreaming of what might make an interesting blog yesterday, I've spent almost the entire day with a box of tissues at my elbow and have done rather little in the way of anything constructive today except, perhaps, look after my daughter, fire-up some neurons in that growing brain of hers and entertain the debate of whether I should sniff or blow everytime my nose ran!

The highlight of my day you ask? Feeding Cholae a chocolate biscuit! ....oh Plunket Schmunket to all of you who can hear your plunket nurses saying, "You do realise, you're setting up habits for life!" It was a chocolate wheaten afterall - there's nourishment in that isn't there?! And in defense of plunket nurses everywhere, my nurse is fantastic!

For every other mother out there who feeds the occasional chocolate biscuit, I hope you enjoy this....!

And to add to my parenting skills for the week, someone has just learnt to pull herself up...on everything!! Do you think this is too close to the TV even if it is The Wiggles??!



And as far as sniffing or blowing is concerned, I have to say I've ended the day not really caring just as long as it doesn't drip!!! :-)

Our Baby Girl!

Wow! How time flies and how things change...I simply can't believe it's been so long since I've written. It feels good to let my fingers fly over the keys for no other reason, really, than my own selfish need to unwind a little!

After all my ranting and raving in the last post, Cholae Julienne Baker was born on the 22nd January 2009 - not the way we planned but she came out with 10 fingers, 10 toes and a pretty healthy cry so we were happy! She was 7 pound 5 ounces and we have to confess - she is the apple of our eye! This smile says it all...

She is such a delight and there is always something that we're learning as parents. I have to say that I feel at times that my choice of parenting style goes a little against the 'kiwi norm' (if there really is such a thing!) but as I see the results in Cholae and as I see her personality and character traits starting to take shape, I'm pretty happy with what we're doing! You're all probably wondering what the heck we do differently but in a nutshell, we just don't let her 'cry it out' when it comes to sleep and I'm still breastfeeding after a year (and quite happy to keep going at this stage!). Might not sound like much but the advice to do exactly the opposite can at times be overwhelming!

Anyhow, Shaun and I are almost fully settled in Pukekohe - just a few more boxes to go this weekend...or next weekend. I hope to be able to write a bit more but no promises! We really have hit the ground running here and there doesn't ever seem to be a dull moment! Now I'm thinking through my to-do list for tomorrow wondering what moment might turn into a good blog....til tomorrow - or another day!

P.S. - more photos of Cholae on facebook :-)

How's this for interesting...

The bump is growing fantastically - 33weeks now. I regularly have all this movement where my tummy takes on a life of its own and there's all this squirming going on just under the surface. It's just the most amazing thing! An absolute miracle that's going on inside - I'm looking forward to when I can grab a foot or an elbow sometime in the last few weeks!

Anyway, the midwife was over the other day and we've been talking waterbirth/homebirth etc and going through all the information and options. Of course, when you mention this to others (after the silences or the gasps!), you get every horror story around - when you go on your own hunt for reliable information, stats and personal experience, the idea is not so scary, precautions and all!

Because of the different reactions I've had (which I haved weighed up with everything else!), in passing I asked the midwife why so few people outside of birthing/pregnancy circles were confident in natural birth and her response was, "You're a Christian right?" (to which I answered yes!) ...she then went on to say, "Well, that belief in God gives you and other Christians a confidence that your body can do what it was designed to do. It's like with everything you have to think about, you have one less worry because of your faith in God."

I was pretty impressed with that answer but I have to confess to a bit of a struggle as I've thought more about it all, for a slightly odd reason...most of the people who have reservedly tried to convince me that 'hospital is best' are Christians!

Now don't panic if you're one of them because I wouldn't have talked so much about it if I wasn't prepared to hear the good, the bad and the ugly - that's real life with friends and family! If you're also one of those women who went to hospital and cried, "Give me the drugs now!" or had some type of intervention through circumstances that were out of your control, you are still up there in my books - hey, you've actually had a child!! I'm still just planning to have one...although the reality is creeping closer by the day!

The real challenge for me in all of this was the perception of my midwife that there's a link between Christianity and confidence. I think that the confidence she was talking about is not just in support of labouring as naturally as possible but that she is also alluding to the ability to be able to make a decision confidently as a Christian and then relax, knowing/having a peace that God is ultimately in control.

The decisions there are to make around having a child seem to be endless as the time draws closer - there's always some new research to consider and a few more 'dos and don'ts' added to the invisible 'Responsible Parenting of a Newborn Baby' list but the challenge for me is clear - I have to do my part to make an informed decision and then confidently rest in the knowledge that God is in that decision and ultimately in control of the whole situation.

I hope that I'm one of those Christians that carries a Godly confidence in all that I do to the point where people wonder where it comes from and I get the chance to share.

...and until the due date, enough talk about how this baby is going to arrive!! I'm going to continue to wash all the little gifts of clothing and nest to my hearts content! I never thought I'd bake so much in my life...not that that alone is nesting but it is great to be able to be home and to have the time to do it all the same! If you happen to be around, drop in and enjoy the latest treat sitting in the pantry but be warned, Shaun may just beat you to it! :-)

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Man - where has this last year gone?!

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we were married!

The actual day of our anniversary (20th), we were away with about 50 other Salvation Army Officers at a 3 day fellowship/retreat so after some clever scoping, I found a little cafe out in Whitemans Valley, Upper Hutt and off we went on a sunny Saturday morning. It was seriously gorgeous! Child friendly even, so we will definitely be going back again!

After a year of marriage though, I can report that we are happily, happily married and can't wait for our first little one to arrive! Here's to many more years of fun, laughter, good times and challenges shared.

The bump is here!...

It has taken a while but somewhere about week 20, I popped!...
and here's the result!
I have a much fuller face than I'm used to so when I'm brave enough, I might put a full body shot in... watch this space!
Rest assured, I'm enjoying it all the same - especially now some movement has started. The baby loves to flip-flop at some odd times through the day!

In general, it has been a shamefully long time since I have blogged and I've had some cracker attempts in my head. I've been a bit of a shocker at taking time for myself though so again, watch this space - I fully intend to write more!

SOS - A Tribute to 'Uncle Bob'

It's been a shamefully long time since I've posted anything but I was moved to write today. I'm on holiday but in order to avoid the huge stack of emails in my Inbox on return, I've logged in and waded through them every couple of days.

Today, I was shocked to read of the passing of a great Salvation Army Officer - Major Bob Millar. I've only known Bob and Evelyn a few years but what a great impact they've both had on my life. It's funny reading Bob's blog (http://www.millarbug.blogspot.com/) as I've missed his stories!

While I was in Christchurch on out-training, Bob and Evelyn took me under their wing, looked out for me and treated me like a child of their own. I love catching up with them when I can. While I was there, Bob got me involved in the street ministry (SOS) and I learnt some of the biggest lessons of my life. I had my theology challenged to the very core and Bob barely said a thing - it was simply what he did.

He had a heart for 'the least of these' and his life challenged me to change and to action.

Evelyn - my heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you for all you did for me - you were my saving grace, your attention and encouragement were both timely and a gift from God.

Red Hot

Dear 'Anonymous' (aka 'too-chicken-to-leave-a-name'!!),

Regarding the post below, if you are referring to these...

...I would have to say I much preferred these!

Although at least our MC (some cagey guy from Blenheim hiding behind those other shoes!) waited until the reception to break the colour theme of the day...wise man!

Your sister in Christ

Mrs Baker

In a sleepy little town called Nelson...

...on the 20th October 2007, I donned some pretty cool shoes and...

...well, I walked down the aisle to the man of my dreams! Oh, sappy I know but it felt like a fairytale - it really did! From start to finish, the day was fantastic - everything went off without a hitch and, even though we're both back at work, we're still living the high which is great!

There are just so many photos to choose from I really couldn't narrow it down so, check out the photo blog over the next couple of days and I'll keep adding, and adding, and adding!!

In the meantime, here's a little something to keep you going!

Thanks to all those who shared in our day whether in thought or actually with us at Nelson - you all made the day that much more special!

Whizbang Weekends

Wow! - I've had a pretty packed weekend just gone by.

Shaun was over and our time started with dinner on Friday night with friends straight after picking Shaun up from the ferry. We spent the night at a cute little Italian restaurant right in the middle of town - it was a such a good time of catching up. Livi & Bronwyn are great friends for us here in Wellington!

Saturday started with a photo-shoot of sorts they are for a surprise wedding present we know nothing about other than it requires some pretty specific shots from us... made for an interesting photo shoot at times - tempting to share those photos... but I won't!! Then we rushed to a Tupperware party where I ooo'd and aaaah'd with some friends over the latest kitchenware and decked out our pantry with a few plastic containers (only those that truly know me will know how soothing that afternoon was!).

From there, we raced back into town and went to the rugby (Tasman Makos vs Wellington) and caught the second half. Then... (yes there's more!)... we had a light dinner at Roxy's cafe in town again and went to see the Bourne Ultimatum and I LOVED it! I did get a bit of motion sickness with all the fast action shots, but it's awesome! If you liked the first two - this will just complete it all!

Sunday went by at a rate of knots as well! We had the service at Kilbirnie in the morning, then went for a drive around the peninsula and stopped at The Chocolate Fish Cafe briefly for ice-cream, wound our way back to Elements for another stop (it was Hot Chocolate time by then because it was so windy and cold!) and then, after dinner... here's the big thing... we went to the Ten Tenors and it was FANTASTIC!!

I just love tenor voices - Andrea Bocelli being my favourite - and this was like listening to 10 of him! They had a whole stage show which took you through the ages of music from some of the great classical songs to Cheek to Cheek to Rock'n'Roll and Swing numbers - even Hotel California and some modern day songs. And, of course, their encore finished with Nessun Dorma - just brilliant! It was a surprise for me from Shaun - this is where you all sigh! - not bad huh?! I'm thinking I'll keep him!

By Monday, all I had ringing in my ears was Nessun Dorma...ALL DAY!

Signs, Sponges and the Word

Ok... so I'm getting jibes about not writing for ages - again! I thought you might enjoy this then - just a little something I had to write for the Division:

Hanging Up Signs, Wringing Out Sponges and the Word

I’ve been bombarded by analogies and illustrations of late and to say that they have left me challenged would probably be an understatement of sorts so let me share!

I wish I could sit here and describe a typical ‘day-in-the-life’ of a Corps Officer or a Social Officer but, alas, that is not yet my privilege! I can however, describe an all-too-familiar day from my desk at DHQ. The emails roll in, the days just seem to disappear, the ‘interruptions’ are a plenty and the to-do list grows – candidates need ‘processing’ (horrible word that!) and as one event fades into the distance, the next grows, looming ominously around the corner…and the tendency to hang up the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign is tempting to say the least!

It wasn’t until someone said, “You’re just way too busy to stop for me,” that the penny really dropped. I realised that it is all too easy to hang up the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign, whether we mean to or not, and I NEVER wanted to become the type of officer that did that!…Challenge Number One!

Then there’s my kitchen tap at home. It drips. Constantly. Relentlessly. And believe it or not, there’s just no solution! As I’m the type who can’t drive peacefully if my keys are rattling in the ignition, you can understand how a dripping kitchen tap in the quiet of the night nearly sends me over the edge!!

How did I get challenged from a dripping tap you ask? Well, my life-saving answer to the dripping tap is the kitchen sponge - it acts as my silencer and absorbs all the drips but then something else happens. It gets so full that it can’t absorb another drop and then it just seeps into the sink.

When we receive spiritual food week after week, month after month, year after year, we can become like the sponge. We can absorb so much that we can’t take anything else in… unless we start giving something out. And that got me thinking – when was the last time I wrung out my sponge – even just a little? Am I giving out or just constantly wanting to receive and be fed?…Challenge Number Two!

And then there’s the Word. How many miracles happened when Jesus was ‘interrupted’? How often are we encouraged to do things for others? Here’s what has been playing over and over in my mind since Livefire...

Matthew 25:34-36, 40 (NIV)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' …'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

…Challenge Number Three!

If there’s a sign up in your life what would it read? If your life was a sponge how full would it be? Is it time to soak up some more or is it time to be wrung out? Wherever you are in your week – flat-out busy, humming along nicely, burdened or energised by your people, may God’s Word refresh you as it has me and continue to encourage and equip you for the journey ahead.

8 Random Things About Me!

Well, it's going around - I've been tagged! It's all over the blogging world and now it's my turn so here goes for 8 Random Things About Me...

1. My nickname when driving is RANDOM - a hard-earned name I have to confess. It comes from several near misses while, as any good woman can do, I would change my mind while driving and give what some might call, a faulty degree of indication! Can I say, not one accident has aspired as a result of my random driving skills!
2. I was born in a hospital that is now a retirement home... the joke amongst friends is that I can return there one day! If only it wasn't in Wellington!!
3. Once upon a time, I was in the Sea Cadet Corps where I gathered a few sailing and rowing certificates (despite my shocking ability to control a crew of 8 and a fear of deep water... go figure!). What it did earn me was a day trip on the frigate HMNZS Wellington which has now been blown up and sunk to become a reef off the coast of NZ somewhere up North. However, if you want to tie a knot, I'm your gal!!
4. Back when I was 5, I wore my sisters clogs outside on the footpath, tripped over (after a slight jog to get inside before she found out most likely!) and gouged my knees so badly, I still have the scars to prove it.
5. Don't ever antagonise me by saying, 'Na na na-na na...' over and over because I'm likely to bite you. Just ask my sister - she has the scar to prove it!
6. I've become like David Noakes!!... I carry a notebook with me everywhere I go, writing things down just in case I forget! FYI: Major David Noakes, ex Training College Lecturer, always found with notebook in back pocket, equipped to cope with any sudden onslaught of details/facts/reminders!
7. I hate doing the dishes!
8. I have two fetishes known to me (goodness only knows how many I haven't acknowledged yet!!). Bags and Plastic Containers...who would have thought eh??!

Well!... Have you heard the news?!

I have had a FANTASTIC weekend – Shaun and I are engaged!

We have had a pretty whirlwind romance when I look back but there’s one thing that has been key – God has been in it from the start and who better to play matchmaker eh?!!

What more can I say except that, even though I might be a little biased, I think I have the catch of the century!!

Assessment Weekend

I know Sammy is going to kill me for putting this photo up (centre left in case you were wondering!!) but it was the best one of an unruly bunch!!


Shaun’s assessment weekend was in the middle of June and they all had a great time. They were grilled with interviews all day Saturday and had a couple of written assignments as well as group tasks to try and squeeze in but this photo was taken Sunday morning when all the pressure was off and things were over apart from the morning meeting at Upper Hutt Corps and lunch pretty much!

They had a fantastic time of bonding and, with the results now in (!!), all five made the cut and have been accepted as part of the ‘Prayer Warriors’ session of 2008/9.
Yee haa!! ... is about all I have to say about that!

Seals Galore!

Queen’s Birthday weekend was a pretty good break. Shaun gave his first sermon ever at Blenheim corps – he did an awesome job preaching on God’s Love for us and how the effect of that should both look and play itself out in our lives – good listening skills eh?!! We caught up with Zane and Karen for dinner as well and then watched the rugby altogether back at home with Conway & Kath as well.

Monday we spent driving to Kaikoura which was just great because there’s a little waterfall that takes about 5 minutes to walk to, just off the side of the road along the coastline where you can stop and have a look at all the seals. At the right time though, apparently between April and June, the baby seals come all the way up this little river to the waterfall and just frolic about – it’s a fantastic sight but one you need a local to let you in on!

We drove there (stopping at that fantastic little café at Kekerengu on the way of course!) especially hoping to see the seals and there must have been close to 20 of them there – it was just great! Shaun, mad as a mad-hatter, stripped off to the knee and sat in the FREEZING cold water for a good 10-15mins patting the water getting the seals to come up and ‘say hello’ (how else to you describe their antics!!).

It was an amazing sight to see – if you touched them they could well do you an injury but if you were patient enough and let them come up to you, they were amazing little playmates for a bit! It was a freezing cold day but just so much fun – a bit hard to get any good photos without a tripod simply because of the lack of light but worth the drive all the same!

After fish’n’chips with Ma and Pa Baker it was back on a ferry for me…

Tristan

I managed to sneak up to Auckland for Mother’s Day weekend and spend some long overdue time with my new nephew. Talk about the easiest baby in the world to look after! We had a fantastic time together. Shaun came up from Blenheim as well and we spent Saturday looking after Tristan and catching up with people.

That's Lorinda (his mummy!) holding him...she has a fantastic way with children and now we can say... especially her own! He's a superb little boy in every way!

I got to catch up with Rach over the weekend. She and I had coffee in Mt Eden - yay for Auckland cafes!! She’s expecting her first baby in July so it was great to just sit back and watch her with Tristan – she’s a natural if ever I saw one!! Tristan didn’t squawk or fuss the whole time and we were there for a good couple of hours!

After that we headed to town to catch up with Shaun’s cousin Paul – and of course, it wouldn’t be a visit home unless I had my Borders fix along the way! The whole time Tristan just ate and slept, ate and slept – content as anything!

Wes and Lorinda got a whole day/night together in the process and it was so good to be able to do that for them. We ended up at Siobhan and Andrew’s for the evening with Tristan still just sleeping and eating, had dinner then watched episodes of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (fast becoming a favourite that one!!). Siobhan and Andrew love babies so that bathed Tristan and got him ready for bed – I seriously had the easiest day with a 3 month old that anyone could have had I think!

Bern came round on Sunday for lunch and even though we missed mum who was away in the Bay of Islands for the weekend, we had a good catch up. We were all vying for smiles out of Tristan but Dad beat us all hands down with this photo! I just got the ‘I’m seriously unimpressed with my auntie’ photo as all my smiles were away from the camera….truly!! They were just for me that’s all!

I miss my little nephew as he just seems to be growing up so fast but it won’t be too long till I get to seem again soon hopefully!

Melbourne

Back in April (I know how slack I’ve been at blogging lately!!), Shaun and I went to Melbourne for a quick holiday. We had an awesome time despite how quick the trip felt. I got to meet his younger brother Kurt and Kurt’s children Scott and Jessica – they were fantastic! We went out on a few day trips together and spent some good time just getting to know each other. They are great kids and Kurt has a great sense of humour which I really enjoyed.

We had a sneak peak in the Salvation Army Trade store but didn’t buy too much – it was in a gorgeous little suburb not too far from the city though… I would have lived there in a heartbeat! The streets were narrow and lined with great big trees over hanging the roads – you can just imagine the colours seeing as we were coming towards the end of summer and heading into Autumn as well! Cute little old houses most of which had been done up… *sigh*…beautiful – and of course a couple of great cafes in a nice little corner block of shops right in the middle of it all – fantastic I say!!

After some pretty hairy negotiating of the map, anyone who’s tried to drive Melbourne will sympathise I’m sure (!!), we stumbled across the Crocs shop (and couldn’t resist a purchase!!) then I introduced Shaun to the big, wide world of IKEA…it left even him speechless! By the end of the tour of the showroom however, he was fading, so after a few quick purchases we made for a Dressmart kind of shopping complex then home. Surprisingly, we didn’t actually spend that much money or buy that much but it was fun just to wonder and window shop – or it was for me at least!!

My trade-off, however, was the tour of the MCG – Shaun was like a boy in a toy store! It was pretty impressive actually, especially to learn that the biggest crowd ever was for a Billy Graham visit and that, not only had our guide been there for it, he had also been a counsellor on the night and was a retired minister! - we had great chats along the halls of the MCG! Another person in our group had also been there on the night… small world!! We went through all the rooms where the commentators sit and every chair was sat in (hence the photo!) – including the plush leather never-will-be-able-to-afford-these-seats chairs as well!

ANZAC Day was pretty special as we went to a classic AFL clash between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. Having a crowd of nearly 90,000 stand for 1min silence was pretty cool…despite the cellphone that went off just behind us! Shaun is a long time Essendon supporter but we won’t mention the score on the day…!

Kurt and the kids are coming over again in October so we’re looking forward to some more time there with them. It’ll be good to see them. I met some of the other family members – the infamous Aunty Liz and Uncle Ian, Michael and Donna and their children too. We got stuck in traffic trying to get to their house for dinner so it was a bit of a whirlwind visit but still good to put faces to names.

And that…was Melbourne!

A Woman's Worst Nightmare

I thought you might all appreciate a giggle at my expense...

I was in the bathroom this afternoon and, after washing my hands I looked up into the mirror to see what disheveled state I might find myself in. On being pleasantly surprised (ie - it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be) I decided to check out the rest of my appearance and, as every woman has to admit to doing, I asked myself the age old question 'does my backside looked big in this' or not... again, I was pleasantly surprised - the trousers were ok as far as I could see!!

You would have thought I left the bathroom on at least a small cloud 9 wouldn't you? Well I almost did but the rather embarrassing side to my story was that as I turned around to check out my 'appearance', my backside - despite how good it may have looked in the trousers - was big enough to start the hand dryer... all on its own!!

Absolutely and utterly.... shattering!! :-)