Boxing day '09

Knuckle heads waiting for Daddy to pull out more deccies

















cheeky child





















Old cage is still there, will keep it for 'nesting'

Hello family. Wendy I'm glad yours was a lovely christmas. Ours was also, no fanfare and I didn't even put out bickies & dip or chippies or lollies b/c I know my boy would eat all that stuff and end up sick but they loved their pressies. Out of all the dolls and bits that Angelina received the one she's favoured and carried around all day yesterday and today is a little car, twice the size of a matchbox car, which Greg bought for her. She loves it.

Mark phoned in the morning on christmas day too, it was truely lovely to hear from him. They had snow on christmas eves eve, first time in the ten years that they've been there.

Tony started on the laundry wall today. He's putting an external door in it for Marc to access his shower and toilet so then we can lock the house when we go away. Tony's removed the inside bricks (it's double brick) and will do the outside tomorrow.

I have been searching high and low for Giancarlo's Nintendo DS unit b/c I bought him a game for it for christmas. He'd left it lying around a few weeks ago so I picked it up and put it in a safe place and there-in lies the problem. It's so safe I can't find the danged thing. Been driving me nuts.

My baby quarians are coming along nicely. Parents abandoned them when they went into the aviary. My fault, I should've waited 'til they'd weened them before moving them but they're ok. One much bigger than the other, who is still half bald with bougly eyes but being hand reared they'll be great little pets.

I have no news to tell but thought I'd sign in and jot a few thoughts, pictures aren't much either, the aviary and the kids putting up the tree but that's it. I will sign off now and wish you all the best, time with the family would be lovely,

Sara XXXXX

Anna Bay antics

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, KNOW THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY RIPPING INTO YOUR PRESSIES ABOUT NOW BECAUSE THE BIG RED FELLA HAS BEEN AND GONE FOR YET ANOTHER YEAR. SO I WONT DISTURB YOU ALL WITH PHONE CALLS.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES.
LOVE MEG AND CO XXXXXXXXX

Merry Christmas from Maclean

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a good day.
We have celebrated early this year, all the family were together last weekend so we had an early Christmas on Monday before they had to go there separate ways.
Carol is still with us and it looks like we will be going to Coffs Harbour to join David, Raylee, Nat, Russ and whoever else will be there on Christmas Day.
I am gearing up for a buisy and very hot time at work, needless to say while everyone else is enjoying the holidays us poor old cleaners hate them.
Well I only got on here to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, stay safe.
Love to all
Wendy.

bernice back

Hi all just a 'Short note' to wish you all a' Happy Christmas' and a hopefully safe healthy happy new year!!! I am getting visitors tomorrow and then we are going away for new year so I most probaly will not be on the blog until after that so until then.....see you in year 2010!!! stay safe well and happy...bye for now love bernice & Ken xx

Anna Bay Antics

Hello everyone, 4 days to go until my big boy arrives home. 5 days until the red fella arrives. well not to my place but I'm sure you wont miss out.

Ive been dragging myself around after night shifts. Don't feel like doing much of anything let alone getting into the spirit of things. Pretty slack of me I know but that is how it is. I took mum to the bus when I finished this morning. She arrived safely at Saries mad house and menagerie . Jacob will stay with them when he arrives on Thursday and have Christmas with all in Bellmont. I will be working as I said before, so will Marcus.He is not working on Christmas day tho.

I woke up today at 11:30 and did the weeding thing for 3 hours until I got sick of it. Planted another bag of grass runners that I pulled up from Greg's other house. People are still commenting on what a vast improvement it is. That gives me the incentive to keep going. Ive reached the footpath now. I really dont think that I will get it all done before christmas. It takes about an hour to to a 5' x1' length. It feels like I have arthritis in my hands.

Marcus is healing from his confrontation with the rocks last week while out surfing. He has been back in the water and on the board today. Melissa he will give you lessons when you get here. It will be a lot of fun. I will have to be there to have a laugh ok.

Last night was busy at work. we came on to a full house. one 31 year old near drowning in a swimming pool. full of grog, blew.229 on the bag and had fallen into the pool hitting his head on the pool pump and breaking that. To cut a long story short he is ok and we transfered him onto the John Hunter. 2 18 year olds intoxicated and throwing up in the waiting room. Fu.... lovely. Maxaloned them and sent them home with mates to watch over them. a cellulitis of the leg from a coral cut. A 3 year old croup. MVA rollover where the driver absconded and he and his mum came into cas to be checked out. Mother said she was driving????? yeah right. an ice addict and all the rest of the rubbish. Today was a cooler day so I hope the night will be a bit quieter, cant see that happening.

Run out of time got to go to work. Love to all
Meg

Saturday 19/12

Hello Family, I have absolutely no news but thought I'd sign in and say just as much :o/.

Have been sitting out the back with Tony while he finishes off the aviary for those danged quarians. They still have two chicks in the nest, 1 about a week older than the other and sitting on another 3 eggs! The avairy is about 7 or 8 foot high, 5.5wide and 4ish deep. It's right against the window of this office so it'll be nice to sit and watch them. I'll stop and get some gum branches on my way home from church tomorrow and Tony will cut a log out of the dead bottle-brush to put in there.

Bathed the cats this morning, they were pretty peeved at me for a few hours thereafter but are ok now they've dried off.

I am about to vacuum now then mop then do dinner, baths and bed. Nothing else to add so I'll bid you hoorah 'till I login in a couple of days.

Bye now,
Sara xxxxx

Grafton Finally Blogging

Well, this was the most convoluted way of going about it, and I still do not know how I did it, but I did it! Nothing big of course, just finally cut and pasted my blog entry, but if you knew how long this took - (probably would have been quicker to retype) but anyway, here goes from a few days agao...

Hello Family,
Sorry that I have not been on for a while. First, I was too busy having fun, then got busy at work. It has all finally settled down now so I can relax and catch up on all the little things. Wow, where do I start?
Sara you sure were right with the blog entries. I checked a few weeks ago and there was only one, went on again last night and wow, took ages to go back and read them all. Excellent reading to all of you, thanks.
I think I had gone HSC marking in Coffs Harbour when last I wrote? Anyway, it was great fun to catch up and hang out with Jane when we were not marking. Sara, Jane did ring Mark when she was in London, but only spoke to Dianne. She was meant to tell me the rest of the story but we never got it finished (she had lots of stories to tell).
I think it was two weeks after HSC marking that Ronny and I took long service leave for a week. We rented a shack down at Wooli, a little beach town about 35 minutes away. The shack (it was pretty basic and old) was fantastic as it was right on the beach. We did it last year too and it was a hoot! We just relaxed, swam, fished (well – I only caught a sting ray!) drank and ate, drank and ate - and did I mention that we drank and ate!!!! Then when the week was up we went to Sydney for the weekend. We went to the ballet at the Opera House on Saturday night and it was brilliant. We had a fun weekend then we attended HSC lectures on the Monday, flew home Monday night.
When I got back to work it was all systems go. I run a Drama Club for year 7 and 8 students at lunch times and we moved into the final stages of rehearsal before we went ‘on tour’ - two weeks later. I wrote a pathetic play about Christmas, but it worked ok on stage. I had 24 excited and loud students and the ‘tour’ was Tuesday this week. The kids were brilliant and we all had fun. After the play was over ( it went for about 20 minutes) the kids sang a few Christmas Carols. I was so surprised when they started singing in rehearsal – they could actually sing! It was not the usual yell out the words, they actually had harmony ( nothing to do with me though, I stick to drama) We did five performances at infant schools and nursing homes. We went to the nursing home that Aunty Wyn lived in and one of her friends was still there, Lorraine. She threw her arms around me and said ‘see, I’m still kicking’! It was a great day, but it was Grafton’s hottest day in 6 years, 42 degrees. Not one kid complained about the heat, not even the kid who played Santa. It was an inspirational day!
Last weekend Ronny and I went up to Mum and Dad’s and stayed the night. They were well and Dad was in good form. He has good days and bad with his memory, but all else is good. He still does the washing up and hanging out the clothes etc. Mum keeps him moving. Mum is working hard at dieting and it is working. She goes to aqua aerobics now and is enjoying it. Mind you, she is no skinny stick, but she has lost about 6 kilos and going down and she feels good.
Have spoken to the Egan family this week, all is well and they are starting to gather and head home for Chirstmas. Stewart is fine and all going well in Brisbane.
Well, I have enjoyed my rambling but I will end off now.
Will try to get on again soon,
Cheers, Lisa

still trying!

It wont let me paste, have tried eveything. Will have a go again tonight,
sorry,
Lisa

Another Sunday in Belmore :o/

No news really, pics are from Fridays school concert. His class got up on stage to sing several carols and Madam wanted to go up too. "You can't, Hokeys class have to sing a song", "oooohhh, but I want to go up". "Alright then, off you go" and away she went, not next to Hokey but right up the other end and copied the motions that all the kids were going through. I was on the other side of the room so didn't get any pictures but I'm hoping one of the other Mums might have. A real social butterfly she is, not in the least bit shy or stage frightened. Just like her mother. Yeah, Right!!!!!

Aneet, Heba, Jordan, Luis (behind in white t-shirt), Hokey, Aaliah and Faith

Jordan, Luis, Hokey, Daniella and Faith

No captions needed

Me and my little Elf

Tony's building an avery out the big, bloody quarians have been at it again. We have one young'n, two chicks and mother's laying more eggs. I'll have to get that male in a seperate cage.

It's 3:35 and I've nothing organised for dinner, had best go get some meat out of the freezer.

Lisa, I just tried a dummy copy/paste and it worked just fine. Perhaps if you use the keys instead of the buttons? Highlight text then Ctrl C to copy, go to where you want to put it and Ctrl V will paste it. Don't know, might just be your settings.

Ciao now,

Sara xxxxx

grafton still trying

Hi, have been trying to post my blog entry and about to give up. Too late now so will sign off. Am off camping on the weekend, so if i have to, I will retype the letter on Sunday night as I can not copy and paste.
sorry about that - you have to love and hate technology!
cheers,
lisa

Grafton supposedly checking in..

hi all,
I wrote a note on word document and now I can not copy and paste it on here. Will keep trying, but is there somethingI should be doing other than cut and paste from word document?
help!
cheers,
Lisa

Anna Bay Antics

wellll helloooo there everyone, nice to hear from you all.

Bernice thank you for the great photos, I have the plum head as a screen saver. How perfect are those colours and markings. Well done Kenny, 4 new editions. I bet you were stoked with the babies. I was anyway, for you.

Aunty Kell I am well and happy and enjoying life. Mum is poking along. Not much that I can tell you about how she is if you have already spoken to her. As Sarie said, she is very lonely. I cant do much about that. I pop in nearly every day and take dinner up to her. She will give Marcus a call if I've been on nights and he takes her to the shops.As do Greg and I when she wants to go. I dont go anywhere apart from work the beach and the front yard pulling weeds. So our outings are pretty restricted. I have been doing 10 hour night shifts often with only one day off then a morning and a late occasionaly thrown in. The nights knock me around because I only manage to get 3-4 hours sleep using a sleeper. Im often tired and cranky so stay away from everyone when I am like that as I am not my usual beautiful self and turn into nurse nightmare.

I can appreciate what your life must be like with Uncle Peter. I see it everyday at work and how the familys struggle with the heartache. You are fortunate that you have the support of your wonderful family to help you through this time in your life. God Bless them all, and we are all praying for your strenght to cope with each day.

Yes Uncle Bill and Aunt Mona are dynamic people, the pillars of the Pilot Mound community> They are Pilot Mound that is for sure. We love you both and are so very proud of you.

The Chrissy lights are so pretty, I can just envisage them as if I were there and how the snow flakes glisten in the glow of the street lights when they are falling. It is very pretty.

Ahhh but I cant pass up the fantastic view I have of the sun setting over the ocean of an evening when I get down to the beach. And how the silouettes of the surfers as they head out to catch that perfect wave are like oil paintings. No second is the same view.
The joy and squeals of the children as they run into the water or hit the ball when the play beach cricket with mum and dad. The dogs, my gosh so many varieties shapes and sizes all sniffing each others bums and siziing each other up as they are unleashed and let run free for a short time. I could watch it all for hours. I love it when its Hot and I mean 0 degrees plus and I can feel the sweat running down my back. Thats my swimming gauge. Then I donn the togs and waddle of to do a Dawn Fraser between the 2 rock out crops. Then end up turtling it back to shore, drip dry then head home. Life is good.

My little boy, he terrorises the poor little fishes with the threat of a spear gun. Dont worry the scaley little blighters are safe from the point of his spear. He hasnt brought home a fish for so long that I think he does it for show only. He is as brown as a chico. Spends all his free time at the beach with his mates surfing, boogie boarding ,spear hope fishing or just tuning the chics as they say. He is pretty laid back.

Greg is hard at it at work at the moment, he is well and fighting fit. Spends a hell of a lot of time out surfing as well. He goes in search of the WAVES. He and Marcus spent all last Saturday off looking for the waves. Drove over to Hawks Nest, all the beaches here and Newcastle as well. They didnt catch a wave that day. Bloody waste of time if you ask me. They could have helped me pull weeds and I would be that much closer to having a lawn to mow. That is if Greg finished off fixing my mower that he has pulled to pieces and is sitting in bits down the back.!!!!!

He rang me yesterday to search for his wallet. So I did a bit of a scout around for him and concluded that if he lost it it wasnt here at home anywhere and let him know. When I finished work today I had 2 missed calls from him and a text asking me not to put the wheelie bin out tonight as he wanted to go through the rubbish to see if the wallet was in a bag of rubbish from his car that he threw out on the weekend. Shit just great. Here I have filled the bin to the brim with my weeds which weigh a tonne. Never mind, so here I am after work still in uniform rooting throught the rubbish and have a big pile of dead weeds beside me until I finally get to the rubbish bags. Oh the smells of fermented trash, just love it. But low and behold it was worth it. For in a bag of Maca's rubbish and left overs was his wallet. I sent a sms off immediately to allay his worries to let him know of my find. Yes he was very grateful for my effort and find. Little does he know I will now ask him for a couple of hours of his surfing time on days off to help me with the weeds. I so want to have them all out for Christmas. Today a neighbour across the road offered to pick up some rolls of turf for me during the week, I took him up on the offer and am very excited to think that I will have real grass on the footpath soon. (soon as the bloody weeds are gone) I'm also waiting on some poison for the penny royal that is growing rampant, it was supppose to be here last wednesday. It didnt come, now I have to wait until this Friday. If it doesnt work I will be devestated.

So thats an update on the weed saga. Knew you would be excited about that.Ha ha bored you to tears yet????

Sarie bloody hell, you destroy more bloody cars than get trash in the V8 supercars. Maybe you should offer to be a driver next time. You have more experience than those drivers of ripping off car parts, side mirrors tyres, side swipes etc etc. You put them to shame.

Bet the kids are getting more excited everday with Santa coming soon. I would love to see the joy on their faces Christmas morning.

Jess way to go. In Sydney now starting a new chapter in your book of life. I wish you well in your career and hope you are settling in ok. I will ring because you probably wont read this anytime soon.

Lisa how is Uncle Steve and Aunty Marg, have not heard from your end for awhile. Know that you are probably busy with school and would Janey babe be. She has not got on and filled us in on her trip os yet. We are all anxiously waiting to hear about that.

Hello Stewart, how mows the lawns up there? I know that you are a blog reader but cant drive the apparatus to log on. So I will just send my love to you and depend on Lisa to fill me in on whats been happening with you ok.

Toni you out there in cyber land? Get Lauren to get on the blog for me and fill me in on whats going on in Tanilba. You will be flat out now at work I can imagine. I will try and get over to RT to do a bit of a shop. But you know how much I love shopping so dont hold your breath


Yes I have my interview on Friday for a permanent position at the hospital. Well I only found out today that they are not full time positions going but part time. Not happy Jan. But never mind because I might not get the job anyway.

Well this is just tiredness rambling on with a lot of rubbish so I will say goodnight. Its 11Pm and the wind is howling outside at the moment, we could be in for a bit of a shower.
Take care all.
Love Meg

Sunday in Belmore

Incredible isn't it? First a blog drought then a flood. Good to see we all at least keep an eye on it so we are still all here.

Aunty Kell, I haven't spoken with Mum today but she 'seemed' ok yesterday. I call every second day and Meg calls in on her daily and takes meals down to her. Mum is very greatful as she's feeling the loneliness more and more. She hates being alone at night which is something that's never bothered her before. I will send an email when I can, not right now though b/c my little mate has shown up and I'm going to have to sign off.

Oh just quickly before I go, I ran into a car on our way to Roselands this morning. I was SOO PISSED OFF, I was going to pull out onto the main road from a little side street. There was only one car coming but I misjudged where I was going and that he could see me and would move to another lane. I tried to pull back into the outside lane to let him pass but he was already in that lane and I pushed in both the doors and he ran up the gutter and lost his hub caps (one shot out across the road in front of me and eventually, after being hit by several other cars ended up on the other side of the road). Praise the Lord I had Tony with me (who was remarkably sensitive toward me, considering I have a habit of destroying cars which we can ill afford). He got out to sort the details with the other driver who had lept out of his car cursing and yelling. Tony just told him to calm down, it was an accident and no-one was killed. The bloke (looked like a Paki') backed off and was suitably calmed then. His car was only about 5yrs old and Tony said the damage would cost at least 2K to fix, well 1K and 1K labour but still that's alot of moula. I will call the insurance mob tomorrow. Not a scratch on our car though, go figure!

Okilly dokilly, I'm outa here. Will take pics of our lights when Tony finishes putting them up tonight. He put a string of fairies on the old dead bottle brush last night and they look lovely. OH, THAT reminds me, when we got home from that little trip I asked Tony where he'd put the tree that he'd planted out the front. He said "It's there where I planted it". The tree was in a big concrete pot but someone had come along and pulled it out of the pot and left it on the footpath but stole the pot. Tony had planted it where the pot was. I assured him I could not see the tree when we pulled in so he walked out the front and after a minute or so came back in the gate with a handful of branches, cursing the lowlifes around here. We assume it's the same people who stole ther pot, came back and dug thr tree up. They'd taken the time and trouble to bring a small saw or large garden clippers and trimmed the tree before they took it. I tell you, the f***ing balls on these people, it's incredible. The tree he took with him when he had to sell his property in Roselands. There were 5 or 6 and cost about $100 each at a smaller size. They are well established now. We are certain it's a neighbour as we live 50mtrs from a very busy intersection and the traffic is always moving. Tony's adament he will get the gate up as the next project. I'd still rather he knocks the hole in the laundry wall for his brother so we don't have to leave the house open for him all the time but it's up to him whichever he wants to do first.

Okaaayyyy, I haven't cooked a 'proper' dinner for a couple of nights and really don't feel like cooking now either but alas the small fry need to eat so I'd best go and tend to them (I don't need to eat though. My beautician told me yesterday that I'd put on weight (like I didn't already know) and said I looked pregnant. Bloody skinny little China woman)!

Ciao all, Love Sara xxxxx

Dear Family,

SHE thinks SHE is the only one who has Chrissie deccas!!! Ha! Ha! I have

my deer looking out for my (our!) safety on the front lawn (Did I say

LAWN??? ) SO there! Perhaps I'll be

able to get a picture of MY lights tomorrow night. Too much of the white, fluffy stuff on the back porch

to be able to get any pictures at the moment. Bernice, I CANNOT believe how much trouble you go to for Hallow'een!!! We NEVER see that sort of dedication over here. Probably too cold most years. Yours looked fantastic. I'm glad you got pics. of it all, & thanks for posting them. Meg,

some news of Tom if you can please??We talked a few days ago, & she SEEMED well, & was very chatty. We had a good yarn. Thanks Sari for your dedication to the blog. We appreciate the time you take to "keep connected". It must be hell for you, with all you have on your plate!! Yes

Bernice, Pilot Mound would probably disappear if Mo & Bill left town. They are both so dedicated, & capable, others just don't step up to the plate. This is a VERY bad time for Mo, as she has the "Christmas Cheer", & that takes ALL day, for the rest of the month, before she is done. They are both very involved in the church, & now, with Bills' "official" ordination, (he has been a deacon for years, just not official). Now it IS official. Come March, he will be a fully fledged Anglican minister. Mo will be "officially" a deacon too, although she has been one "in practice" since fore ever!!! They are both held in very high esteem in the Mound, & I am proud of them both, as I see first hand, how dedicated they are.

I hate winter!! I HATE snow!!! Belinda Jane, I miss you on the blog, & I want you to come & do a bit (no, a LOT!!!) of shoveling!! It's about time you logged on??

Hannah, I am SO ashamed!! I have been "going" to write you since "forever", & congratulate

you & Sam on your engagement. Please forgive me. I havn't been on the blog either. By the time I GET time, I am completely "brain dead", & 'phoning & writing just aren't an option then.

I think of you often, & "write" letters in my mind. Obviously, it doesn't translate to a REAL

letter!! Good intentions!! Here I have been, prattling, as usual, & really not had a lot to actually say.

Life is NOT good here. Same old, same old, day in & day out. When I take time off, just to "get away for a break" Peter is quite upset. Whilst I'm in view, all is well, when he can't see me, he panicks. The last few weeks there has been a considerable change in him. However, he is physically VERY healthy, & will probably out live me!!!

Bernice, re: "home coming". I had planned on getting a couple to come over e few times through the week, to eat & visit, just to get Peter used to them, then come Hannahs' wedding, I was going to have them "move in". However, the way he is now, that isn't going to work. I can't look forward to late next year, or early the year after, at the moment. I would think, that by then, peter would not know me, then I could have him in an institution. However, one can't predict the future. I can only surmise that I COULD get away by then. It is a hell of a life, & I wouldn't wish this on my worst, WORST enemy. Time will tell, of course. It was good to hear from the Tullys. I had a good yarn with Cec a week or so ago. Also Mrs. Cookie. They keep very busy, which is great I think. It was raining when we talked.

I was checking my "e-cards" a few days ago, & 50% of those to whom I have sent birthday/ Anniversary cards, have NOT opened them. Wendy May, Egans, Meg, Lisa, Stewart, Tullys.

That is all I remember, but I know there were more.

Anyway dears, I have nothing of interest to say, so will say "HooRoo" for now, & look forward to hearing all your news. Take care, & love to all. Kell

Re Reunion Date

Hi Me again!!! sorry I meant December 2010 Janurary 2011 Mona..soz about the confusion.

Hi

Just a quickie! Re reunion ..thats ok Mona I thought you wanted 2010 and Kell summer and Dec or jan but it doesn't matter its more a date that suits all of you Canadians as you do the most travel and cost so When are you all planning your next visit and we will look at that time? As in us Aussies here we can wait til then I'm sure and or catch up another time..again any ideas are welcome.

Mona I didn't post your pic from my email as it had "spam' written so I didn't open it ..Sorry. Man you never stop doing stuff' for your church and your Town! you both are so good hearted, I truly don't know how you do it!! the town should be grateful. Good on you.
Halloween is not like that here, Its just picking up here ,some people don't like it as they say its "A American thing' but I say Well you follow America with everything else politics, fashion , music, etc etc.. its a lot of fun for the kids and they love to dress up and they haven't got to the "pillow Case" size yet..Ha! just little bags so far! Have to sign off now hope all are well bye for now love bernice xx

Me again.

I sent this (below) to Bernice, then thought I would share it with everyone, but can't get the LOVELY photo of me to blog on !! Can you put it on Bernice? I thought it was so cute, and a great likeness ! Mona

Lovely Story About Me
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who did not whine, nag or bitch. (That would be me...)

But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day. The End

Pilot Mound at it again!!

Morning all. No, sleep well all! You should be in bed now. I am up to start cooking my 24lb sausages for 'Breakfast with Santa' on Sunday morning. Have to get an early start, I am away all day tomorrow and this afternoon have to get snow (Lots of it ) cleaned from the cemetery and then locate a site for a grave for a burial on Saturday. I will be alone as Bill has to go to Cartwright (1/2 Hr drive ) and get a truck load of stuff from the school for Christmas Cheer. They always (the school kids) have too much stuff to fit into my car, so Bill takes the truck!
The cemetery is different from ours at home. Families buy a plot with as many as 8 graves in it, so I have to find the plot, and then measure in every direction to make sure I'm not putting someone down on top of someone else. Difficult in summer and really difficult when there is snow. Anyway, I must get on the go. Thought I might throw a few decorations up if I get time.
This is really in reply to Bernice about the reunion. January would be out for us. I can't get back to read your note, but I think you said 2010? Maybe in 2011, ??? But if 2010, we just couldn't be there. It is too early to call Kell, but I know she couldn't go either. But we both said to go ahead for when it suits everyone at home, and when we do go home we will try to visit everyone
ourselves. Love the pictures you put on. Congratulations to Ken on his birds, and you go to more trouble with decorations for Halloween than they do over here! Looks great! I know it is your birthday, but our anniversary also and I HATE Halloween. Teaches kids to be greedy. We have kids who come for treats with a pillow case already FULL, and they will admit they have been home to empty out already! And no child should get that much sugar ! (I will send you a little Email to explain my feelings!! ) Must go, the day is awasting ! Love to all. Mona

Me again

I just posted pics don't know how to write next to them but the "bird' is what ken bred' "plumhead' neat aye..and there r halloween pics...I wil do "fiji" next blog...I know you cant wait.. cheers bernice xx

Hello again

Hi all...great to see some of u back on the blog... great to hear from you Wendy..your bags were great . I do a xmas shoe' box for the "poor Kids ' every year and the lady was saying "Bags are the most important thing! as they don't have draws or cupboards and need to put their lil treasures in the bag' How sad is that..so great job anyway..

Vegie gardens... we done well with Colli and broccoli only the dust storm put too much dust in them..now we have ..celery,lettuce,cucumber, tomatoes,capsicum,parsley, basil,mint,chives,rosemary, and "Corn" Yeah! get down bobbi-lee bo deen!!!! we are real farmers Ha..just hope they grow!!!

Re family reunion next year i was thinking 1st January 2010 is a Saturday how bout that maybe some can make it new years eve if they want but make the sat our nite and whatever before and after?? does that suit everyone ? I was thinking of the Canadians as they have to travel the most plus their holidays r different...and that way everyone can plan and have their xmas and the Reunion afterwards..what does everyone think...let me know and I wil start putting plans in motion ...open for ideas xx

I am goiung to try and put some pics on so hope they turn out! i wil write again later...the bird is for you Meg xx

i better sign off so u know who wrote this( as if) just in case my pics don't turn out!!) Oh by the way meg tell Greg I am in the process of getting a good pic of "Alma Jean: for him..he wants to paint her.. Bernice xx

Anna Bay

Wow and Wow again Wendy, what a great idea and the bags look great. I might put that one to the hospital auxillary as they are always trying to make money for the hospital. As far as sewing goes, I got my Janome out the other day, had it for 20 years and was WAS a great little machine. Mind you all I ever did was hem hem hem pants and skirts, sometimes shirts. If only I had have saved all those cut offs how many bags could have been made with that!!! Anyway the machine has been in Gregs garage for about 3 years. Now it is rusted through. I was so disappointed. I dont think it is worth salvaging now. I will buy myself another simple one to operate to perform the above mentioned tasks. I have 3 work shirts and 2 sets of trousers that have to be hemmed and cut down to size. We only get 2 sets of uniform when you are casual so a kind hearted work mate gave me some of her extra shirts. She is size 18..... so there is a bit of cutting down to do. I look terrible in the uniform, but I am not there to model. Not yet anyway.

Lovely to hear from you Wendy and what your crew are up to. Give them my love, and christmas wishes. Say hello to Nat for me too when you are speaking to her next.

Aunt Mona the photos where georgous. I can just picture it and it feels like Im right there.
Congratulations Uncle Bill, you do look regal as Bernice said. I am proud of you and you to Aunt Mona to be ordained as a Deacon. I have just been trying to locate one of the Anglican Ministers from Crookwell. I worked with his wife and have lost touch.Their Christmas card I sent came back. Ive got Jacob on the job for me tracking them down on facebook.

Bernice always lovely to hear from you, such entertaining communication and I love it. I dont know if anyone is aware but I have been on the blog all the time. So when someone does get in touch again its nice to have them acknowledged. I am sure lots read it but are too pressed for time to jot a g'day folks every now and then.

Jacob is doing well, he is working 8 hour shifts everyday 11-7pm. He said he is madly saving up to come home and is excited about our holiday to Coffs again in January. His hair is long so I believe, thats the stlye over in NZ apparently.

Marcus is at work at Woolies at the moment, he finishes at 10pm. Uncle Greg is going to pick him up tonight as I will be in bed as soon as I finish this post. I didnt get much sleep today, then spent 4 hours weed pulling. Its very social, everyone stops and tells you what a great job you are doing and to keep at it. Bastards wont offer to pull a few weeds while they talk. If they did the job would be finished now.

Wend I have a vegie garden too this year, it consists of 2 sad specimens of tomato plants, variety unknown in the green house. 2 Good fruit bearing tomato plants in the back yard surrounded by a pile of horse shit and a few vegie scraps. I have no idea ,plants that have sprung up from the vegie scraps, could be pumpkin or squash or something I just dont know what. I water them diligently everday and have enjoyed watching them grow. So Carol dont blame you for not wanting to leave your garden unattended for any length of time. Mind you how does the neighbours grow. Beans that Jack would be proud of, tormenting me as they look down over the fence when I water my tomatoes ( For Tommy when they ripen). Next year I will go in competition with them all.

Way to go Kenny, great news on the plum heads, please please post a photo of them Bernice. I know how much you love the birds. But I would love to see photos of them. Yes Sarie its a miracle that you too were able to breed the little birds. Im proud of you too.

By the way Sister, great photo of you and my niece, good one of nephew in the pool, he looks like he is having a great time in it.

Thought I lost mum at the shopping centre today. She wanted to get a few things when I dropped Marcus off at work. I did what I had to do and went in search of her. It has happened before where she gets a bit bamboozled as to what door we came in so I thought this might have been the case. Well I searched and searched for 30 minutes and walked a city mile or to trying to locate her. I kept going back to Marcus and he was getting a bit irate because he was flat out at work. In the end I was striding at a pace past woollies and heard her calling me. I was the fool because Mum said she was in the shop the whole time. I just kept missing her. Yes she is just a shadow and easily missed. It all worked out in the end.

Lovely to hear from you all, keep up the good work.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE FAMILY FROM THE ANNA BAY CREW. STAY WELL AND HEALTHY AND HAPPY THROUGH OUT THE NEW YEAR. BE CAREFUL DRIVING OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD AND DONT FORGET DRINK THEN DONT DRIVE

Hey Melissa you georgous thing you, lovely that you had a speil on the blog. Yes you too can get on every now and then and keep us updated. you write such an entertaining blog and we all love it. love you too of course.

LOVE MEG

Scrappy Shopping Bags.

Every year the Maclean Patchwork and Quilters group have a challenge for our Christmas party.

I was the unlucky one last year and my name was drawn out to set the challenge for the year 2009.

As in every group there are always complaints made about the challenge, Cant afford to do it, don't want one of those, stupid idea, no time and so on and so on.

So early this year after a lot of thought I set the challenge.

We were all to make a shopping bag out of scrap, left over fabric, as we all have scraps there should be no expense.

The bags are all to be sold at our next Biggest Morning Tea in 2010 (A fundraising event held every year for Cancer research).

We are always frantically trying to get things made for our sales table at the last minute every year.

I was expecting the usual complaints when I set the challenge but to my surprise only got a couple.

We had our Christmas Party yesterday and to my delight I had 33 shopping bags handed in. There are only 36 members at the moment.

It was decided that if anyone wanted to buy a bag on the day they could, I sold 7 bags and made $95 to be put away until the Morning tea next year.

I was even more surprised when I kept getting comments that it was the best challenge for many years and how it inspired quite a few to make more bags for Christmas gifts.

All in all it was a very successful challenge and hopefully will make more money later in the year.

Our bags will also replace plastic bags and I think are much nicer.

Wendy

Thank you Bernice

Hi all,
Thank you Bernice for the very nicely put reminder to actually post something on the blog.
I usually check it out every time I log on but I will admit I am guilty and very rarely add anything to it.

Sarah I agree with Bernice, the photo of you and your daughter is a lovely one and your pool and garden look very inviting, good job Tony.

Mona I can smell and taste that beautiful fresh crisp clean air, how wonderful to wake up to a sight like that. I want to move from here as it is way too hot in the summer months for me now
(hot flushes and hot weather do not mix very well) but I have a very stubborn man who just wont move, he likes the heat.

We will have Lenice and Andrew here for a visit next week. They cant be here for Christmas so are having a few days with us before hand.

The Woollett family will be at Yamba or camping around here somewhere with Riks family so we should get to see them a couple of times before they leave, I hope so anyway as the three children are growing up so fast.

Carol is going to come here for Christmas but I don't know how long she will stay. She has taken up gardening, even surprised herself at the success she is having with her veggies so doesn't want to leave the garden unattended for too long.

I will be working as we are always very busy in the holiday period, but at least I will get Christmas day off this year. We have new managers and they are lovely people, (nothing like the old ones who were not so nice) and have told us all they will do anything that needs to be done on Christmas day.

Kell please keep us informed about Peter.

Nothing else to say.

Wendy

I'm getting GOOD at this ! Took this tonight when I turned the lights on. Bill put lights all around the railing on the deck,these are under about5 inches of snow. Look even prettier than in the photo. Mona

Morning all. This is what I looked out on this am. The trees I had to take through the window....wasn't dressed....the chairs and table on the deck, I just opened the door and snapped. So much for BBQing ! Bill is outside now finishing off the last of the outside decorations and cleaning snow off the driveway. I have to go to the school soon so will have a clean path! OOps, don't know what happened there, not going to try to fix it. Have to go. Love to all Mona