Reinvention...

Every now and then, we have to have a good hard look at ourselves, and think, am I OK? Well, over the last week (and a bit), I HAVE done this, and I am taking steps to fix things... Re-invent myself if you like!

Aalborg Sunset 11-25pm.jpg

There are more subtle changes, if you like, but I have also made a monumental step forward as well - or at least I think anyway! This was hard to do, but even so, harder to maintain! But its done now, and there is no going back. I will however, make a small purchase for a 'replacement' for another spot, as I do feel kinda naked without it, but I am sure that this will pass!

I am also having a new outlook on things, and last night/this morning, I have made steps to rid myself of negativity and hurt. This was in the way of an SMS, and I feel good about my decision!

So, where to from here...? Onwards and upwards is all I can do or say! I have made mistakes in the past, and whilst I can't turn back time (sing darl, just like Cher) I acknowledge that I've made them... BUT, I certainly have a new direction in where I want to go and what I want to achieve!

NOW, its all about re-connecting, I have a lot of blogs to catch up on (these will be done over this next week as I am just about finished setting up my RSS feeds again on new laptop), people to see and old acquaintances to find. It's going to be a great journey!

Hoo roo for now...

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Oh man... Macc AGAIN!!!!

Well, that was a great start to the week... Macc was once again in at the Vets, not as critically ill this time, but still quite ill... He once again started to become lame in his rear legs, although this time he also had significant amount of pain as well.

Saturday night, when getting home from a catch-up dinner with my old next door neighbours whom I had not seen for around 22 years, I let Macc inside. He was 'limping' but he had difficulty laying down, he would not get comfortable and was crying almost all of the time. This had me worried, and it took him a long time to settle. I had one of his pain medications left so I gave that to him. He also positioned himself right in front of the heater I might add! So, I thought it may have just be arthritis!

Sunday morning though, he was back to normal, not a sign at ALL of the nights prior symptoms... However, Sunday evening after taking L&M over to Toongabbie to look at a car, we let him inside and a return of symptoms; although no where near as bad!

Monday morning, he was again quite bad, thus the trip to the local vet. When we arrived, he was quite sore, and his normal vet 'Uncle Allen' was not in, but his sidekick Jim was there to see Macc. The case notes from his visit tot he ARH in July was there, and it was 15 pages of notes, results etc, so he was paraphrasing reading, whilst checking Macc. We came to the conclusion that he needed to stay for a little while, run some bloods and see what happens. Whilst listening to his heart though, Jim noticed that instead of the normal two beat rhythm, he only had a single beat... This was not sounding good. They also found that, after a LONG time waiting for a urine specimen, that he has a kidney infection as well! Anyways, two days in the vets (only charged for a single day though) and all his medications, he's back home nearly $500 poorer!!!

This is encrypted: ***

So apart from that, I am looking at firming up travel arrangements in December, I was thinking of Bali or Vietnam originally in late December, but it now looks as though the UK will be an almost certainty! This was to have included a stop-over in Japan on the way through, this may now not be happening.

Hoo roo for now...

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Blog Lovin... (Award??)

A very dear blogger friend of mine got this award, and I thought it was a great idea, so I thought I would do the same...

Basically this means we pass along the award, to be shared or just so you know, that I read you every day and your Blog makes a difference in my life....

So now I will do my duty and list 15 blogs that I read. Thank for making my life more full because of what you write.

1. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.

Thanks to Dackel Princess for originally posting HER award and allowing me to do the same... I had been reading your blog for many years now, and it was great finally meeting you in Berlin last year... You were also there for me, through the most darkest of darkest times in my life, to which I will ALWAYS be indebted to you...

2. Share seven random facts about yourself.

1. Whilst I have a Greyhound, my dream dog is a Blue Merle, Great Dane bitch... One day...
2. I suppose, and it's widely know, I like to travel... I calculated out my 'miles' the other week for a presentation I was giving. When I got home, I stumbled on a website that does it a lot easier than the way I did it!!
3. Coffee is my arch nemesis... I love it, instant, brewed whatever, just give me coffee... NOW!!
4. My favourite flower, is really something exotic... Strelitzia
5. I am driving my THIRD Suzuki... I have had one Suzuki Sierra, and two Grand Vitaras!!
6. I have been in the horticulture industry, primarily turf related discipline, for 27 years!!! OMG!
7. Ex gymnast/trampolinist, swimmer and footy player... Where did it all go pear shaped (body shape - its more of a beer gut nowadays!

3. Pass the award along to 5 deserving blog buddies.

Play along.... Go on, its free!!!!

Hoo roo for now... ------

Domesticity, Environmental Rant, Footy and a Wedding!

Last night, I needed to get stuck into the study room; it had become somewhat of a dumping ground. BUT, more importantly, it has files that I needed in order to do the last two years of L's tax! Her last year working and the last year of the investment property she had. I was also throwing out and clearing the amount of PAPER that has amounted! I just find it incredible that in today's environmental/sustainability world, we can not move to electronic statements and the like, especially from financial institutions and from Share Companies! But anyway, there's my rant for the day...

Today is going to be a busy one, and I am hoping that the bank will have my credit cards ready, if not, then I will be moving to another institution as there is no reason as to why they should not be at the Branch for collection... Time will tell!

Tonight is also footy night, with the Swans v Carlton, to be played at the SCG! I've only been to a single game at the SCG, mainly been to the ANZ Stadium, so I am looking forward to it. However, I am still waiting for my membership card to arrive so as I can GET IN! I am sensing that a call to the office, that assured me it would arrive in time. It means though, that I now have to leave work, drive home only to drive (or train) back into the city to go to the footy and then head back out home AGAIN!!!

I was hoping for some clearing, dry sunny weather over today and tomorrow, as the lawns really do need to be mown. Perhaps, as it is a busy weekend with footy tonight, a 101st (21st + 80th) party on Saturday night, that I might be able to get it done on Sunday afternoon... Time will tell! Not tio mention, though, that I am entertaining a friend who is up from Melbourne for the week, and he's bought the weather as it is nice and clear down there (so I was told yesterday it was 22c and scattered cloud)!!

Also, rumour has it there's a little wedding on tonight, my invite must have been with my Credit Cards; lost in the mail... What are you doing for the wedding, watching, or wide berth?

Hoo roo for now... ------

Saturday - Movie and dinner

Yesterday, which seemed to be passing as just another day, ended up being something of a great afternoon! I have had the last week off, mainly due to high blood pressure (and yes, its STILL high this morning), so I've spent a lot of time doing nothing and resting at home. So it was good to be going out for a change! The choice of the afternoon's entertainment, a movie "The Rite".

It was a great movie actually, but I could not help but recollect the many similarities to Anthony Hopkins performance in "Silence of the Lambs"!

"The battle against the Devil, which is the principal task of Saint Michael the Archangel, is still being fought today, because the Devil is still alive and active in the world." -Pope John Paul II "The Rite" is a supernatural thriller that uncovers the Devil's reach to even one of the holiest places on Earth. Inspired by true events, the film follows seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue), who is sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in spite of his own doubts about the controversial practice and even his own faith. Wearing his deep skepticism like armor, Michael challenges his superiors to look to psychiatry, rather than demons, in treating the possessed. Only when he's sent to apprentice with the unorthodox Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins)--a legendary priest who has performed thousands of exorcisms--does Michael's armor begin to fall. As he is drawn into a troubling case that seems to transcend even Father Lucas's skill, he begins to glimpse a phenomenon science can't explain or control...and an evil so violent and terrifying that it forces him to question everything he believes.

After the movie, we went (again) to La Mono for a 'Leb Dinner'... It is always great to go there, food, company and so on! I also got to meet two of M's friends from uni, N (who I'd met once before) and A who, well... was 'interesting'! But still it was a good night all the same!

We said our goodbyes (N&A going out to a pub) and headed for home. I was tired, headache and fuzziness so I wasn't going anywhere, so we quickly watched a little of the Election Wrap up ('interesting'?) in between the movie, The Da Vinci Code. But as it was getting late, M headed home and I went straight to bed, and I think I was asleep before I hit the pillow!

Hoo roo for now...

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What a day...

It all started early, VERY early... I was meeting up with a photographer mate of mine to get a shot of the latest logo jet, and thanks to the M5 motorway, I barely made it! I mean, I got there with like 15 minutes or so to spare, but, I would have liked to have gotten there just a little earlier... Anyway, I got the shot...

DJ VH-ZPQ

then, when I got to work, I found that my computer (replaced on Monday) did not have the software sent down overnight like it was supposed to. So a follow up call to IT, and by about 2.30pm, finally it was almost there after three weeks of 'issues'!

So by the time it came to heading home, I was SO looking forward to getting home, there was traffic issues almost right from the city... This was going to be a long drive...

In other news, its now 10 days (AKL) and 29 days (LHR & BRU)!

Hoo roo for now...

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The 'Naughties': a decade in review...

At the close of 2010, the first decade in the 2000's, A friend of mine posted her review of the decade. I liked this idea, and as such, I will do the same. Thanks Genesis! So in no particular order...

• Sydney held the 'Best Games Ever' for the Olympics! It was a great time to be in Sydney, and I have fond memories of the time.
• Celebrated our first wedding anniversary.
• I had many nephews and a niece born throughout the decade.
• Bought our first AND second house!
• I had my first international flight in 2004 to Japan, England, Denmark. I now have the travel bug very much in me now...!!! I also got my British Passport!
• In 2005, I had major spinal surgery to remove a disc bulge, remove a 'lamina' off one of the vertebra and also a reduction of the central canal where the nerve roots come out of the spinal chord.
• Commenced IVF treatment, and with it came 6 miscarriages. This was a roller coaster of a time, both for me and more so for L her, in 2009, suffered a Pulmonary Thrombo Embolism and died. This was the lowest of not only the year, or the decade, but for a very long time... Missing you xxooxx
• Have met some of the most amazing people this decade. Commenced friendships through blogging. Some include Senator Penny Wong in Bali for the UN Climate Change Conference, blogging friend and a true 'mate' Maribeth to name a couple!
• Commenced new friendships, of which I am confident, these will become long lasting as well...

I am also hoping to travel a little bit, either in 2011 or 2012 to the USA, Guatemala, India and Vietnam to name but a few.

So, with the passing of the 'Naughties' I wish you all a great 2011, and for the upcoming decade and into the future. , Hoo roo for now...

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Life, and going to Melbourne for a couple of days...

Lately, life, in general, has been feeling a little like this...

Luna Park Roller Coaster

BUT, as I am now seeing somebody about my depression and 'anger management issues' I am beginning to see a light at the end of a very long tunnel! So on Monday, evening at that, I book a flight to get me out of town for a couple of days (just 35 hours to be exact!) to get away... I will post about exactly what the trip was about, tomorrow, but suffice to say, it was a moving time for me, and I had a great time.

Prior to 'The Event' though, I grabbed a tram and headed out to St Kilda to Acland St for lunch. There are a lot of cake and Patisserie shops in this street, but I was good, not a cake was eaten!

After lunch, I walked past Luna Park, which was closed, and the old Palis Theatre. These are below...

Luna Park Entrance

Palais Theatre

Hoo roo for now...

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Contemplating things...

This is the chair that 'L' spent a lot of time in before she died last year. You see, it went into use when sewing, x-stitching and general craftiness. However, it is now tending to sit by the bookcase, waiting for another use as in this house it is all about the 'R' principle, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. So, what am I using it for now? Well apart from it sitting right there next to my turf journals from the International Turf Society, I am tending to use it to sit in, contemplate life whilst sitting in it when on the laptop as it is a little more comfy than lying to a side on the couch!

Contemplation Chair

That bottom shelf though, is full of cookbooks, craft books/magazines, cause she was a bit of a crafty person our L, and there is also her Fenton collection (well, some of it!).

This last week I have also been somewhat ill, constant migraines and so on. I went for tests to see why, and most of all, everything is good. WITH exception to my chronic hayfever. Yes, as a Grenkeeper and an Agronomist, I have allergies to pollens and (of all things) GRASSES! So I have been told to stay as clear as I can from my allergens (yeah right, I work at a Garden!!) and I am also on some fairly high steroids for respiratory aid. So hopefully, I will be able to breath, sleep and more importantly live a little more comfortably!

Oh, and before I forget, as I was backing up my phone (and don't ask me HOW I did it, it just HAPPENED), I have managed to wipe ALL of my contacts this morning; some dating back to old school friends... So please send me your details so as I can rebuild my address/contacts!

Hoo roo for now...

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A busy few days...

I know, I haven't posted for MORE than a few days, but in my defence, I have been busy! From general stuff back at work, to dinner with the girls who USED to work with me, delivering Passionfruits to blogging friends and visiting other friends and babies, then onto football (AFL) for my God-daughter and then getting my car cleaned and dropping off the SIL birthday present, and that was JUST the weekend!

Here are some photos from the dinner night out:

Mel & Clare

Stir Fried Prok Belly Geri choose

And from the AFL on Sunday morning:

AusKick 20 06 2010

Breanna Footy

Breanna Footy

AusKick 20 06 2010

When I got home yesterday, there was an Official Post Delivery Card in my door, saying that they had tried to deliver a parcel, but I was not at home... So, today after work, I went down to the local Post Office to collect my package:

My Parcel

My Parcel INNER

My Parcel in bedroom

Now, it's NOT where it was going to go (funny how when I was away, I had thought it was longer and was going to go somewhere else; but when it arrives, it just seems smaller...) so I decided to put it between the dressers and the bed. I think it looks fine here anyway!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I have an appointment in the afternoon that should be 'interesting', so lets hope it goes well.

Hoo roo for now...

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