Devastating fires...

...speechless about the fires in Victoria...over 100 people dead...gosh...

Eric's 1st Day at Prep...

Eric: "Mum, do you HAVE to walk in with me?"

Me: "Er, yes, I need to sign the book!"

Eric: "Oh...all right then. I guess you can come in."

Hurumph!!!

So much for the tearful leg cling. Mr Independent is such a big boy now...

Facts I learn about Eric when I'm not with him #104

- he loves to dance & is very free & uninhibited when moving!

(His teachers didn't seem surprised because both his parents have been music teachers...however I found this very interesting. I think it's more the fact he's ALL BOY & needs to burn off energy during the day...LOL!) 

What am I doing?

I'm starting to fill out the paperwork so I can enter the wonderful world of teaching & education again after an 8 year break...although this paper forest seems to be more determined to keep people away from doing casual rather than encouraging people to return to the work force...I guess they need to be extra extra sure I am actually who I say I am & not some total nut job...hmmm...

I'mm exhausted. D & Bon are at school & this morning I fell into a sound sleep while Eric watched Teletubbies...I am exhausted. Must have needed that? At least I have finished the 7 Harry Potter books so I don't have to try to read read read before school goes back...yet I always feel a little unhappy after finishing a book. It's sort of sad...now I'll get back to the Narnia series? Can't seem to get my energy back after that little health issue...

I guess I'll have to venture back to the gym at some stage?

That goes for work too...

Blauch!

Been sick...gotta love food poisoning?

I've been laying around so much that my neck has packed it in & I'm off for physio. The pain was so mindblowing that I had some of D's special super-strong drugs from his secret post-cancer stash! Can't wait to have someone work on this neck. I feel like an old granny who is falling apart...

Joe's miraculous Ground Zero story

Listen to Joe Torillo

What an amazing story.

Popcorn

Sitting here munching on popcorn...a hundred thoughts buzzing through my head. Reading #5 of the Harry Potter collection...I've bought Eric his joggers for Prep (mostly white, velco with Spiderman written on them) because it's all about Spiderman really. And other male role models - like Dad!! Boys are so fascinating you know...

At Target this morning everything I wanted in Bonnie's size - funky shoes, swimmers, etc - seemed to have disappeared at the start of a sale yesterday. I told myself it didn't matter if I didn't get to the start of the sale but I was WRONG. Let that be a lesson to all women - GET TO THOSE SALES OR YOU MISS OUT!

I'm sitting in funky indy long purple pants that a good friend gave me. I feel pretty HIP...I love purple. 

I was just about to write a huge outpouring of frustration here, but realised this is a public site that anyone can access, so I don't think I will... but I am proud of David & he's passed an "evaluation" with flying colours - as of course we have been telling the people that requested the evaluation. How's THAT for cryptic? He's such a lovely man. So gracious in the face of such deception...

But enough of THAT...

It's been HOT HOT HOT here in Sydney. Weather to make you melt! Our air-con has been helping us survive. David has become Mr Snot though & kept me up half the night blowing his nose & getting up & down. Worse than a newborn...LOL!!!!!!!! Hence the pretty lazy day. I told the kids they could wake me early so we could get to the sale...mistake after a no-sleep night. Bright & early those perky ones met me. I had enough brain activity to somehow make my mouth move to say "No sleep, I'll be up soon, go out please". Wow!! Why can't we get a wage for parenting like that hey? Or parenting marks on actually forcing the mouth to have a conversation with kids on no sleep, then dragging the body out of bed - while still pretty much asleep - to throw kids breakfast into kids bowls while making coffee??? 

I am typing to avoid cleaning up the clutter around my computer which is breeding...paper paper paper!

But, I am feeling pretty organised about starting the school year in 2 weeks. I've helped the kids sort through their pencils & textas & paper & books & got all their requirement & labels & contact etc. I've organised their homework area & Eric & I are now sharing this computer (ahem!) to save space. We've been through the kids rooms & tossed out heaps of clutter that was breeding in their rooms too. So feeling stoked...feeling lighter somehow. 

Anyway, off to read some more Potter & grab some caffine - which they said will help me from getting alzheimers on the news last night. Don't know about that, but I certainly enjoy a nice cup...

Away

I am sitting at my in-laws computer. 

Finally got to visit a few fave blogs tonight...

After nearly 2 weeks up here we are looking forward to clicking our ruby slipppers together tomorrow & heading home. 

For the last three days Eric has been saying "I want to go home Mummy"...

Me too. 

I have been pampered & spoilt up here, but I want my own space now.

I want my own bed, my own things, my own kitchen, a bigger range of clothes (we stayed much longer than expected) but it's been fun...

...& I hope to learn to put some photos from MY NEW CAMERA on here when I get home & unpack the gazillion things we seem to have picked up while visiting. 

Before we left David's words were: "We can't bring home more than we take up!"

:-)

Yeah right...

Oh, Happy New Year!

C.S. Lewis

A quote I was sent today:

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us;

we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."

One of my oldest & dearest friends sent me an email this morning asking me to pray for them.

Her husband was in Liverpool ICU with suspected Meningococcal Meningitis.

My heart broke & I thought this is how people must have felt last year when I told them that David had Leukaemia. Helpless. Sad. Shocked. Prayerful. 

Tonight news came through that he was responding to the drugs. 

What a relief...though it's serious & he's in isolation. 

We are all so fragile.

David got home from a bike ride with Eric last night & hoiked up his lunch all over the front garden. This is not the body of a healthy man yet. But he is trying sooooo hard to get some fitness back. I think Pilates is much better. I stagger around after gym sessions...so I understand. 

I took Bonnie to a birthday party this afternoon. Near me sat a Dad who survived cancer too. The birthday girl's mum spoke about her own Dad going for a walk one night & being killed - she was only 13. I don't know what's worse. Watching your father die, or never getting the chance to say goodbye? She also had a lovely downs syndrome son - who they were told to abort. Yet he is so precious to them. He kept pinching Bon's food when she wasn't looking which was quite funny...it reminded me that we all have our journey, & we are all walking along our own road, trying to encourage each other as best we can. Surely no-one can escape suffering?

Before I left a parent/teacher grabbed me by the hand & said how much she would miss D as Principal. I choked up & she choked up. Despite the fact that he's not in 100% of health, I think we are all going to miss him in that role. We feel like the rug has been  pulled out from under us...can't get our heads around it all...yet here's to 2009. We all face it together! My husband is alive, my children are well & we love each other so much. I know that the $$ will be tight - but surely we can make it through this coming year. We got through 2007, 2008 - surely we can do 2009?

C.S. Lewis - a brilliant man. Also a man that was no stranger to suffering himself so he doesn't write from some perfect ivory tower. Life certainly can be painful, yet I firmly believe that in the end there will be answers.