Halloween has Arrived

Hannah and Lauren with 2 friends have just gone off to a Halloween party. I bet Kell will be glad to go, it has been a house of whirl winds. Lots of coming and going. Tomorrow I will take Kell to Crockwell to stay will Tom. Must go and try and get some sleep.

Belinda xx

Back again

Third or fourth time I've been here in as many weeks, doesn't rain it storms! Anyway, good to see Aunty Kell arrived safely at Lyn's, no doubt it was a safer trip than that to the city the other day! I went in again yesterday to take Meg to solicitors, took baby for a drive so she had her morning sleep on the way. I parked in a loading zone so stayed in the car while Meg was upstairs, just in case the ever present parking officers booked me. Yes, they book wheelies too. Well, a dozen or more parking officors must've walked by but not one so much as looked at the vehicle praise the Lord as we were there for four hours. Naturally the girl woke up and I entertained her as best I could, she slept again on the way home and was so unsettled last night that I had to take her out of the cot and put her in with Hokey and I to settle her down. She rolled and tossed over most of the queen sized bed before comming to rest at Hokeys feet and falling asleep. I pulled the fan off the top of the wardrobe to circulate the air as it was stifeling in there.

The stir fry that I made, Tony said it'd be alright, that he'd "jazz it up a bit". I tried his finished product but preferred my own. He boiled rice and mixed it in, along with a can of tuna, kidney beands, mortadella (wog for devon with bigger lumps of fat and olives in it) and cheese. Yes, you read right, cheese! Not jarlsburg or some nice wog variety either but your garden variety Home Brand SLICED cheese!!! He ate two servings and by then it was more than two days old so he wouldn't eat anymore. I'm the tip rat around here who has to eat all leftovers to avoid waste, no wonder I can't lose weight, it's not my beloved grog! No really, I'm not an alcho' but I wont deny myself a beer or a wine if I feel like one.

It's 7am and the house is still quiet. Amazing. Hokey will be up soon though. I gave Angel a bottle at 5 when she woke but she went back to sleep so I've indulged in a whole hot cup of tea and enjoyed it without having to reheat it and a little blog time but I hear Tony up so will have to go make sure he doesn't eat or have a cuppa because he's supposed to be fasting for a blood test at 9:30. He will drive me mental 'til then! F***, he's having a cuppa and it's pointless my arguing with him as he is 'right.' I will phone the doc' and check but will probably have to reschedule. It was good in Crookwell because Meg would pull in on her way to work in the morning with all the gear and we wouldn't even have to get out of bed. She'd take the blood to work with her and it'd be sent for testing without further ado!

Anyway Hokey's up now so my time's up. Ciao and I'll be back, one day...

Love Sara xxxxx

OK She's Here

I drove down to Wilton today and picked up Aunty Kell. We are safely back in Canberra and have just had a big storn with lots of lighting and a little rain. Kell looks great and I am sure she will put on weight while she is here as we have just eaten a big roast lamb dinner with home made apple pie that Hannah cooked.

I was at the Bottle shop tonight and bought a drop of red, "Moculta" Cab Sav from the Barossa. No it only has one O and we haven't tried it yet so not sure what it tastes like, but nice to have the name anyway.

Well bed time I will put Kell on tomorrow.

Night All Belinda x

So it's "Official"

So it's official then? I not only write blog entries in my head but also on the net and am steadily sending myself crazy. Like I need to be more crazy than I already am!

Meg arrived with Aunty Kell yesterday arv' just as I was reversing out to pickup Hokey from preschool. I jumped in her car and we drove round to get him. When back at home we swapped luggage to my car and drove Aunty Kell to the city. Bloody Meg kept on about me being a "wild" driver only served to make the peak hour traffic more of a blur. At the lights coming onto Frederick Street at the back of Ashfield the lights were red. As it was peak hour I knew the outer lanes were "clearways" at that time so I moved to the outside lane as two sets of lights ahead there would be traffic banked up to turn right onto Liverpool Road at Ashfield and I wanted to keep my run smooth so seeing the green light I moved forward with the cars in front of me. Half paying attention to the green light and half to the police car lights on the other side of the road which was turning up a dead end street I slowly drove ahead to honking horns and sharp breaks. The "green" light was an arrow and fortunately no-one was hit on the wet road. Talk about put a knot in my gut, as if I wasn't tense enough to start with I was really feeling it then. I appollagised to Aunty Kell and rode out the rest of the trip. On the way home some moron in a van almost ran into me. Again in the outside lane I was cruising along when the bloke in the right lane started to merge into my lane. I thought my lane might've ended but no, he was turning left into Norton Street at Liechardt and it was a case of whoever's nose was in front had right of way AND he was Anglo, well, white in colour whether or not he was Anglo I will never know. It was still raining and there was a motorcyclist between me and the cab 10 foot in front of me. Bloody idiots the way the drive/ride in the wet. Both Meg and I were relieved to arrive home.

Lisa, I am very interested in your drumming. Where did you learn? Please bring your drum next time, I'd love to see you belt out a beat.

Angelina has found the case of Splashe under the chair here, the bruise on her nose in fading now. Poor little possum, it was a nasty fall.

Oh and Lisa, you said it isn't the "drink" that puts the weight on but the food that is eaten with the drink. Thankyou, does that mean I can drink more and eat less? Sounds like a good theory to me! Tony just asked me if he'd driven me to drink. Naturally I said "yes" and he says "you know what W.C. Field said"? "It was a woman who drove me to drink..... I must send her a 'Thank you' note"! Well yes dear, my sentaments exactly!

I chooffed off a quick email to Jacob earlier. I haven't heard how he is lately so hope all is well.
Where is Paula Payton? I know she has net access because I still get the occassional "fwd".

I cooked a lovely stirfry last night and filled it with Udon noodles but still Tony didn't like it. "It was like eating paper" he said, "not enough flavour"! THAT is why I DON'T cook much in this house. I'm the only one who likes my cooking, Hokey is too fussy and Ango' was not feeling like food last night. So I have a whole pot of stirfry which I have to eat, good thing I DO like my cooking! Mind you the diabetic's BGL is down to 11.6 at the moment so that is good.

Tony is downstairs working on the Ford. He hopes to spray it tomorrow and get it on the net soon after. It's looking good too. Hokey calls it "my black car" and Tony is wondering when the exchange of ownership took place.

Guess I'd better go. I really wanted to go down to Kenny & Bernice this week for Bernice's birthday on Halloween but Hokey has "Big" school on Thursday and I really don't like the thought of driving home in peak hour that morning so I guess we'll have to come another day. Meg says "just throw the kids in the car and go down for a drive". It's obviously been a while since she's "thrown the kids in the car"!

Ok, ciao me and I'll see me next time :oP

Sara xxxx (in case I forget who I am)!

?????

Faaaaiiiiir b****y dinkum, I was certain I'd been on here since Steve & Jo. I'll have to step taking mental notes b/c it seems to be driving me MENTAL!!! Seriously.

I'm lost, can't think for thoughts, kids going crazy, husband sending me mad. What's a wife to do?

I have spents DAAAAYYYYS on this computer trying to sort out internet connections and broadban updates etc yet can't seem to get a thing done as my connection keeps dropping out.

Now at the bottom of my screen there's a message "Error on page" so I'm going to log off before losing any more dribble :o(

Bye,
Love Sara xxxxx

Who's the Photographer

WOW, what gorgeous children. Who took the pic's? I can't get on to flikr again. Am I getting the spelling wrong? Is it flikr, fliker or flickr?

Oh, for the nurses, Mark SMS'd me the other day, Dianna Gaynor passed away on the 15th, Monday I think that was.

I finally got this wretched internet sorted out I think. After HOURS on the phone to Telstra and having a new modem sent out. Been at it for the past 2hrs and I now have a headache.

Yes Belinda, fine by me for the photo's. Still have to post that old one to you but I seem to be about as organised as a headless chook so are you able to copy it off the net?

It was great to see you too Lisa and finally meet Ronny, he really is a lovely man. Yeah, remember when it used to be a long walk to the shop? 1/2 a block away. Pretty soon it'll be our turn to shrink too!

Aunty Kell, Beverly Hills station and I think, going by the directory, you come out onto Morgan street and turn right, walk to the corner and cross over the bridge to the other side of the tracks. That busy road is King Georges Road, don't cross it though. Then turn right and walk a few more metres down to the car park, that's Tooronga Street. I'll pick you up there, it's all of about 50 metres I'd say.

Stephen & Joanne

Greatings from Calgary
I just wanted to send along some pictures. I tried to get some done today with all three kids but that was a gong show!! I will however try again.

Hello

Well I am at work and taking a break. Nothing new to report I am just resizing images and I only have about 100 to do. "BORING" I have been looking at Picture Australia and think we should have all our photos linked to it ( through flickr) what do you all think, any objections? Have a look at the site and let me know. It is part of the National Library of Australia. Do a search for Mooculta Station and see what you get!

Hope every one is well Love Belinda

Trying Photos again!

Just trying to post the photos again!
love Lisa

Greeting from Grafton!

Hi all, hope are keeping well.
Just started back at work, and boy, so busy. Would like to stop the clock to get all my lesson prep done, as it eats far too much in to my leisure time!!!!!!!!!!
Still chuckling at Sara's comment. She thought Jane's husband was a dentist, but corrected her - optometrist. She obviously has not seen Aunty Marg's glasses in the past 23 years!!
As Sara said, managed to catch up with her in Bourke. It was such a bonus to catch Sara and her family - AND Aunty Tom in Bourke. Johnno was great, looked great too. Always cheerful. Am encouraging him to head east(Grafton) for a holiday in January, and he sounds keen. He has not taken the hint that a lot of family have moved that way!!Plenty of family to visit - Ces and Ray, Aunty Wyn, Ronny and I, Wendy and Len, Mum and Dad, Jane and Patrick, Aunty Cook and Danny, Stewart, Paula and family in Brisbane! Phew, hope he has lots of time!
It was great at Johhno's place. Last time I was there was when Nana was there. It felt great as there were people coming and going, little children there, just as I remembered as a kid. One thing though - for some reason, the town has shrunk! Could not be distorted memories of my childhood, surely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara was amazing as usual, nothing phases her. Aunty Tom was great too. My only disapointment was that I did not get decent photos of Sara'a little girl Angelina and her 'smiling eyes'. She is gorgeous. Hokey is a great looker too! Watch out later Sara!
Ronny and I headed west for almost two weeks in our van. We had many adventures, lots of laughs and amazing sights. All too numerous to mention.
The rest of the family is doing well. Sebastian is back from India - his comment - he is sick of curries!
Have not caught up with Aunty Wyn yet - will do that on Wednesday afternoon. Am taking the photos of the holidays to show her.
Looking forward to seeing Aunty Kell soon. Mum has her flight and she will be at the nurses reunion too.
Will catch you all later,
Sara, was just lovely to see you, your family and Aunty Tom in Bourke. It really was the icing on the cake!
Love to all,
cheers and have a happy week,
love Lisa and Ronny
Hope to include photos of when we went on the paddle boat on the Darling River. Sara, Aunty Tom,Ronny and Johnno. Plus, a great one of Hokey!

Crikey!!!

I just read a page of entries and it has sparked off a few hits in the old grey matter so I'll lay them on while they're fresh in my head.

Yes, a HUGE THANK YOU to Aunty Cec' and Uncle Ray for all your time out with Johnno and for the clean floors and beds. Mum stayed too. Tony and I slept in Johnno's old room in 2 single beds. Mum was in Nans room in Johnno's bed (he wouldn't have a barr of her staying anywhere else and insisted she sleep thyere and he'd pull his swag up in the lounge. Hokey slept on a fold up bed next to mum and Angelina slept in Johnno's cot on a woollen doona I took out with me for that purpose. She quite liked it, 'roughing' it in the country. Johnno loved her and Hokey. I was certain after day one that he'd be happy to see the back of us but even with Hokey as wild as he is Johnno seemed content. He looks great too, I will plug my SD in asap and flikr the pic's.

Aunty Kell, works for us. You staying overnight here before you fly out?

Lyn I don't know if you were out home or not but I didn't see any Tull's at all. When we were driving through town with the sheep Jessies car was in the yard but as previously mentioned in my last post no-one was there when we went round in the afternoon.

Jenny and Meagan swung by to visit too before we were to go off to the Jandra for a cruise with Lisa and Ronnie. Meagan is the image of how I remember Rod. Jen says Briony is a total teacher. She eats, sleeps and lives to teach. Meagan had been working at Saint Ignatious for 3 months and was headed back to Wagga the next day. Lindsay is into the body building and works in the deli at IGA. Apparrently there are two little dark girls from Bre' who have asked the security guard for "that white boys name in the deli" and they come in calling out for that Lindsay and talk on to him. Jen does the voices really well, those of you familiar with the indiginous know what I'm on about. I reckon they just want a bit of 'white' meat. No, the punn wasn't intended!

Ok, I'm doing my Celine Dion impression as "I Go On" and on and on, I'm forgetting. Hey Stewart, great to see/hear from you. I always think of you and asked Lisa but she said you don't have the net on at home. Oh yeah, and here I was thinking all the beautiful teeth came from the dentist but it's really the slick specs. Lisa, if you please .....

It's 10:30pm, I'm outa here.
Ciao, Red XXXXX

Hello again, it's been a while ....

Hi there, I'm back but barely. Aunt Mo' I replied to your email with all questions answered but by the time I pressed 'send' my connection had timed out and I could not get back on. This silly wireless broadband. I'll be stuffed, it's done it again as I type this. I will just save thise dab externally before reconnecting. Anyway, a lot of it I copied to put on here whenever I managed to logon. So here it is, oh and by the way, I have not had a chance to read all postings or any for that matter since I last logged on:-

We went to Bourke last Wednesday, 2nd Oct', left here Tuesday 1st October and stayed o/n at Dubbo. It was great to be home and I really enjoyed it but would have been much happier if Tony was well. Johnno took Hokey and I out to move some sheep from a property, Nulty, near Janbeth to a paddock on Mooculta. I really did enjoy it, being covered in dust and playing mum, telling Hokey not to race near the sheep etc. Hokey delighted in the whole thing as he wasn't restrained with a seatbelt in the truck and could spin around to watch the sheep in the back. When we got to Mooculta we went to the tank that the bloke said to check but there were no sheep there so we took them to the other tank he said to take them to if none at the first. There were no sheep there either but he said "there if not at the first" so we decided 'there' they would go. Hokey jumped and screamed as Johnno unloaded the mob and they raced off. One sheep fell over going down the ramp and was balking all the others. I was sure it had broken a leg but Johnno insisted "leave it, I'll get it up later". So I remorsfully waited while he made some others jump over it. Then Johnno pulled the sheep off the truck and it was laying on the ground, again I insisted the poor creature was injured, "it'll be right" he assured me. After offloading Johnno came round and lifted the sheep and off it raced, "just lazy" Johnno said. The bloody thing!

That afternoon I walked around to the 'Tull's' but no-one was home. Johnno had said Liz' was taking the girls to Sydney for a wedding but I didn't remember this until there was no answer to Hokeys knock on the door, DANG, my foot was killing me too.

The weather in Bourke was beauitiful but Lord have Mercy I was NOT prepared for the flies. Naturally I bought the appropriate netting from the loacl hardware store but Hokey refused to wear it. I think I had my net on everytime I walked out the door.

Lisa and Ronny were passing through too so we all got to catch up. It really was fantastic. Lisa tells me she plays some sort of drums which has really taken my interest and I may look into further as a good drum basghing occassionally would do me good, easier than that wretched didgeridoo which my lispy stroked out lip has trouble getting a grip on anyway. More reason for me to use the thing I guess!

Baby is asleep and Tony has just come home from being out with Hokey and organising things for work. Mum is doing the wadhing but my machine isn't like Johnno's. She had all the sheets washed and dried before we left yesterday. Amazing!

Well, that was all I'd typed and saved from the mail I tried to send you Aunt Mo'. So much more to say but I can barely cope with the thought of the amount of time I'd need to type it all out. That was about a week ago when I typed that. Well 4 or 5 days, they fly as all those with children know :op

Angelina has been out of sorts again today, teeth I think. The little cow would not take to Johnno until the day we were leaving then she sat quite happily on his lap and chattered away. This travelling with children business is definately a once a year thing but I am going to try to do it again next year but at easter.

Fair bloody dinkum, this wireless broadband is upgrading itself and stuffing my connection about.

My puss-cat is dead. I think he snuck outside as we were leaving and hid out for a week. I'm certain I heard him Wednesday afternoon but when I went out to call he did not come. Thursday I went to plug the front hose in to water the plants out front and then I saw him lying under mums car. He must've been hit by a car and crawled under there to die. Didn't look like he'd been there too long so I called out to Tony to dig a hole down the back the next day. The next day he was sick and wasn't going to work so I drove Meg to the city to see her solicitor and scolded Tony to NOT go to work if he felt better. We left here just about 8:30 so copped all peak hour traffic. I drove the capri as I knew it had fuel in it and the pajero was running on empty. That little thing is so close to the ground Meg was freaking out thinking we were flying. I thought that one day too but saw cars banked up behind me in my rear mirror and saw I was only doing 40kmh. Well, Meg did have cause for freakiness as I was a bit over but we got there on time but the wretched car kept stalling. I was getting wild, I'd have to slip it into neutral when we slowed down then rev' the thing high then whack it back into drive when all was clear. I knew there was a problem with it before I took it but I didn't realise the extent of it. Anyway by the time we got home after lunch Tony had already gone to bloody work so puss was still out front and probably a little fatter with the heat so he didn't get buried that day either. Tony was going in to work yesterday so I told him to bag up puss and take him to work so my little black mate was rather unceremoniously disposed of in a wheelie bin outside a used car yard. I don't sound it but I am sad he's gone and without anyone with him to nurse him. He was a very nice cat.

Stuff it. I can't reconnect. I will save this again and try again later. Ciao and love to all. I will Flikr photoes when I can.

Sara XXXXX

Canberra Calling

Hi from the capital! Its very windy again today but sunny. Yesterday we all went to a family friends wedding, it was held at Lamberts Winery at Wombin just out of Canberra. It was a great day and the country side looks good even though it's dry.

There is a picture of the Glam Jessup girls!!!

The wedding shot is just for Kell and Mo to see the countryside.

The wild man from Borneo was there as well.

P. Creek FINALLY checking in

G'day my maties,
So many things going on!! First & foremost, Cec & Ray. I can't think of enough words to say "thanks" to them. Three months out of anyones' life is a big sacrifice, & the more so when there was a brand new baby in the family. Congratulations to Roddy & Jacky on their big event, & congrats. to Cec & Ray for the first Neal grandson. Nice for Ray to have the name carried on.
Johnno seems to be taking everything in his stride. Mo & I ring fairly often, & he is always very upbeat. He is beginning to get a little sicker after the treatments now, so he will know that the sailing wont be so smooth from now on.
Happy birthdays (belated, though I did contact most folk) to Stew Sept. 10, Robbie Myers Sept. 11, Mandy neal Sept. 25, Mum R.I.P. Sept. 26, Toni & Matt 17 years Sept. 29. Brother Bob today, Sunday 7th. Bernice later, Oct. 31, & Mo & Bill 37yrs. 31st.
Thought of you all, & will be thinking of those still to come! I'll have a wee drop of the doings for you & Bill Mo. May have a few extra incase you can't!! I want to echo Mos' comments regarding Lins' weaving. A beautiful piece of woork Lin. We are very
proud of your achievements. Keep it up!!
Next day. Got a bit behind yeaserday, so will try & keep this part shorter. I don't get a LOT of time to get things done, so am always behind. Have had a fairly big project going for the last couple of months. The Lions Clubs around the world are trying to raise 250,000,000.00 to use in the treatment, & prevention of blindness. Our club decided to have a "Walk in the Dark". It Has
taken a lot of planning & meetings etc. The plan is for people to get sponsors, & walk a set route, from our Ag. grounds, down main street, following the float we had in the parade in July. Float all lit up. Walk to our camp grounds, then get "glow sticks" & walk back to the Ag. grounds, this time taking the river path. My job is to feed them all when they arrive back. Since we do not know
how many will be walking, I am going "by gosh & by golly"!!! & preparing for 1000. I do have a good team, but the organising
has been up to me. Hence a lot of time at meetings etc. The walk takes place on Friday, 12th @ 7,00pm.

I do apologise for taking so long in getting some sort of schedule ready. I think I have a rough draft, so will pass it by you all,
& it will be up to you to let me know if that doesn't work for you. I arrive on 21st., early, so will see Tom & Sara for the day.
Go to Mrs. Junes', ( I didn't ring to check, but will.),
with Junie, go & see Toni & family, & Meg & Greg. 24th, go to Kiama, (June will come I hope) to see Wendy & Lens' girls, 25
Tom , reunion 26, 27, 28. Canberra eve of 28th, or 29th. ??? Wagga, (depending on transport availability. ) See Nath, & Cecs' girls, & with REAL luck, Raelee. 4th Nov. Dubbo, catch up with Rita, Ian & Merle, & Eve Jackson. ( Have not talked to anyone yet, so plan it tentative) 4th, 5th. Johnno on 6th. Leave Dubbo on 7th or 8th, depending on aforementioned folk. Taree 8 & 9th. Grafton, Lisa & Win. !2th, Wendy & Len. 14th. Steve & Marj. 15th, 16th Cook & Danny. 17 Jane. 18th or 19th, Stew & Paula. (Would be great if Bob & Trish happened to be there!!) 20th, fly back to Sydney, fly out on 21st.
For anyone not on the blog, could their families please pass the info on, so all will be included. I havn't "seen" Ken & Bernice at this point, as I don't know when they will be back from Cowra, so please let me know Bernice, so I can " finalize" plans.
I do hope this will work for you all, but I need to know in good time to make changes. Today is 8th, 11th & 12th will be "taken" with the Walk in the Dark, so I'm not looking at a lot of time!!
Peter is holding his own, I see slow changes. He now seems resigned to the fact that he will be with Kate. I have spent SO much time getting HIS things in order re: his last house, & am not finished yet. I couldn't get insurance for him & that was a lot of wasted time. I did get a substitute plan, but it does not include treatments, just air transport from one hospital to the other (his) one. All the ringing & running around is very time-consuming.
I apologise for this being so long. hope to hear from yo all fairly soon. Love to all, Kell

hey Stew Babe

Just arrived home after another social outing. I have some NZ students staying and I have been out evernight and if not at work busy with them. They leave tomorrow so will write over the week end, soooooo good to hear from you. I miss you. And rocky is cute Huh? Just like Peter dog/Mac

Hope everyone is well Love belinda

virgin blogger

HELLO EVERYBODY,Stewart here ,I am at the egans after my camping weekend with lisa and ronny,....NOT A GREAT TYPER so please bear with me, ....finally read a few bloggs all sounds as good as everyone says.... Rocky looks very cute just wish i had the techno ability to post a pic of my Bruce, when i get back online at home flikar watch out,...the camping weekend was a hoot, 5 star camping with the hunts ,fab food, wine and company and i beat Lisa at scrabble(a personal highlight). Camped on the arara river (between glen innes and grafton) one of the few rivers still flowing in this country ,it was clear water flowing over a sandy bed,while quiet fresh but i spent a lot of time swimming and floating...the property we camped on (friends of l & r)has a dance floor out in the bush! we were there for an annual party featuring a few bands and loads of jamming ...the dance floor is a raised hexangle structure with dj booth and stage it was really' somthin else '....we went back to l&r 's monday night ...they went on to Bourke and I went to mum and dads ,they're really well which is great to say as usually when i go home i think they look older an i leave worring .......(did i mention i am on a weeks holidays)..... now at the egans, spent the day at the beach with Grace and Brydie and Jane ..Patrick tested my eyes this arvo and collect my new frames(and stronger len's)before i leave......Anthea arrived this afternoon for a few days also ,she is very happy, she got a teaching job , starts in a few weeks (the day after she finishes her degree)she is going to teach at Biloela (near Rockhamption) her mother and father are very proud......this has taken ages to write with my slow typing and all are in bed so time to go , will try to write some more before i go home, Jane has me up at six am to do a ten k walk, my glutious maximus are killing me (think buns of steel)..nighty nighty...Stewart