Weekend away in Sydney

World famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

My lovely friend Michelle and I, met up for a weekend of Inspiration at the "I can do It!" conference in Sydney.

My arms weren't quite long enough for a great photo, but here we are enjoying our Friday afternoon doing the tourist thing in Sydney. We had a harbour cruise, a ride on a mini-train around Darling harbour, took a trip on the mono-rail and rode the Ferris Wheel (more photos to come).

It was great to be away from home and responsibilites and just relax together.

Thanks Michelle!

Puppy School Star

Sarah and Bella graduated from Puppy School last night. We had a wonderful 4 week course and they both learnt such a lot. It was great fun and gave Sarah a chance to interact with other dog owners, both adult and her peers. She was amazing.

For the final night, there was a prize for the best trick, well Sarah taught Bella to do 3 tricks. The first to 'nod' when she asked her if she liked puppy school. The second to 'drop and roll over' and her finale was to jump over a pole. Now those little legs, didn't allow her to jump very high, but she was wonderful.

Every puppy then got a chance to wear the graduation hat and have their photo taken, so here is Bella - STAR PUPPY!

Happy 72nd Birthday Dad

Sunday was Dad's birthday. We had such a lovely roast dinner down with Mom and Dad and I had the chance to have this lovely photo taken with my Dad.

It hit me for the first time ever, that he is 72 - he is so strong, healthy, active and well, that I never think of him aging. Still we are both getting older and it was lovely to share this wonderful meal together.

Dad, I know you plan to celebrate at least your 140th birthday, so I guess we will have a lot more of these photos together.

Flower Power Puppy

Sarah has completely fallen in love with her puppy. Bella is happy to run around with her in the garden and then fall asleep on her lap.


Today Sarah discovered the JOY and FUN of playing dress-up with Bella. The daisies are in full bloom and Sarah decided to decorate Bella, who patiently sat and had her hair dressed in flowers.

Sarah's grin and Bella's patient look says it all!

24/7 - 365 days per year

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906-2001) American writer and aviator.

One of the most difficult things about being a housewife and mother (otherwise known as a 'Stay-at-home-Mum) is that there appears to be a perception that staying at home is the same as 'having a day off work' - except that it happens every day.

Now I have been a 'Stay-at-home-Mum' for nearly 22 years and I wouldn't swop it for the world. I just wish sometimes that I could get paid for it and have 2 days off per week, like everyone else.

The joys have been seeing my children through every moment good and bad, even to being able to take the time right now to 'home-school' Sarah through her difficult patch. I have loved the social aspects of Mother's groups, Kindy groups and yes I do have some 'ME' time during the day . . .

But . . . from the moment I wake up in the morning and get up to feed the dog, the puppy, make the breakfast, the lunches, do the dishes, the washing, the cleaning, the school drop off, the accounts, the appointments, the food, the school pick-up, the homework, the dishes, the tidying up, the counselling, the tidying up, the prayers, the goodnights and falling into bed each night - I am on duty.

My job is 24/7 - 365 days per year . . . and funny I feel as though I am the most blessed person in the world. I wouldn't swop my job for anyone else's. I love what I do.

Could someone just pay me something for it - other than just a compliment???

Or maybe, they already do - and the financial reward is not what is important. Rather it is the happy, successful, joyful family that I have and the time that I have to write this post.

So to all Mothers and Housewives I say - congratulations - you are the best workers in the world.

Back to my studies!

Semester 2 of university has started.

I am only doing one course this semester, as I am home-schooling Sarah for term 3 and this is going to take up a lot of my time and attention. I don't want to short change her, but I also don't want to give up completely on my studies.

So I have signed up for American Literature and had my first seminar today. Dr Hilary Emmett is my lecturer and is FANTASTIC! She is so knowledgeable and interesting and we have a good size group at 22 students. The seminar will be conducted with 30 mins of background lecturing and then discussion time.

We are covering some amazing material from Walt Whitman, Hawthorne, Emmerson and Thoreau to Poe, Melville and Henry James. We then move into the 20th Century and look at Faulkner, Ginsberg and McCarthy. The reading list is extensive and I am going to experience a variety of genres and styles.

I just can't wait!

So look out for some reading recommendations and wish me luck, as I will have a 2000 word essay to write, 5 x 200 word online discussion posts and a final exam worth 50%, which will be the most difficult for me - as 'remembering' stuff is not my strongest skill.

Something to think about

"If you think you can you can. And, if you think you can't, you're right."
Mary Kay Ashe

This is very similar to a saying that I grew up with and it is:

"There is no such word as 'Can't' it is actually 'Can try' - I guess in life if we decide to do something before we even try it, we will at least have a chance at success, but if we decide we can't before we even try, then we are certainly going to fail.

Something to think about.