Nice to see you!

Three major events occurred for me last year (2010), all in the space of about 2 weeks. I turned 50. The following day I got married. Two weeks later, my oldest daughter became pregnant with her first child and my first grandchild.

Most middle-aged people will tell you that in their minds, they still feel 20 something. It's the same for me.

Wasn't it only yesterday that I was planning a night out with guys from the surf club? That gorgeous new perm. Flaired, cuffed denims and the red t-shirt with the off-the-shoulder frill. Corked platform wedgies. **sigh**

Suddenly I'm looking in the mirror and wondering how 30 years can flash by so damned quickly!

So here I am in cyberspace, sharing my genuine shock and horror with anyone who'll listen and maybe I'll even meet some other over 50s who find themselves in the same predicament!

Welcome to my dilemna!!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Apologies

I apologise in advance because this is going to be the shortest post on record.

All I want to say is

My crazy little Chicklet is the most precious little piece of heaven and this weekend has already been amazing.  I still have tomorrow morning before they head south and I just can't soak up enough of her!

Photos tomorrow :)

Nite all

Friday, October 12, 2012

It's here!

Gratefully, I didn't have to endure the long drive to Bundaberg with Adoring Husband to pick up the camper van today.

I got to spend some precious peaceful hours at home alone and then some even more precious hours with my little Chicklet and Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef.

By the sounds of it, the drive home was less than enjoyable for Adoring Husband and the borrowed car did not handle the drive well with the strong winds and a camper van behind.

I'm pleased that I missed that particular experience!

However, they (and by 'they', I mean Adoring Husband AND said camper van) arrived home in one piece and while the rest of us sat around waiting impatiently, Adoring Husband took approximately fifteen minutes to set the van up so that we could make the inspection.

It's neat and compact, light and airy, with plenty of room for three psychotic dogs, laptops, cameras and 'US'.

Now Adoring Husband has his heart set on a new car - a Suzuki something or other, so that will be the next step to ensure our safe travelling in the future.

No photos today, but I will definitely have some to share tomorrow night!

Nite all.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Spaghetti - CHECK!

I was inspired by my 'Self Portrait' shot last month, for which I came third.

I decided to incorporate that lovely mask in the 'Spaghetti/Portrait' shot for the photo5 competition.

Here is the result...


Now I have an idea for the 'Tissue Paper/Strong Colour' brief.

I will have to wait til Vegan Chickie, the Bare-chested Chef and Chicklet are here, because I'll need two or three people to make it work.

After that, I'll only have 'Fishing Wire/Black and White' to contend with!

A couple of lazy shots from this morning.




We've had gale force conditions here today and huge storms this afternoon.  The light after a storm is always beautiful, but when the sun is setting after the storm, it creates a pretty special picture.


Unfortunately, I saw it too late to get to the river for something better than this, but I really wanted to share the colour.

Big day tomorrow.  Driving to Bundaberg to collect the camper van and I'll be seeing my baby Chicklet toooooooo!  Oh and Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef as well :D

Nite all.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Couple a pics

Down on the beach today...



Things are pretty quiet now.

The caravan parks are emptying out.  The school kids have all packed up and gone home.

I expect that Mother Nature will come out to play any minute now!

I cooked up a big batch of spaghetti for the photo5 competition today.  Tried a couple of ideas and failed miserably, so now I have a big bowl of cooked spaghetti that I can't eat, because it's not gluten free!

I think I might spend 30 minutes playing with it before I go to bed.  See if I can't come up with something miraculous.

Wish me luck!

Nite all.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fun TV

Tuesday night is currently my favourite TV night.

I enjoy watching Big Brother, X-Factor, Big Bang Theory, Winners and Losers and Greys Anatomy.  Trouble is, they are all on different channels and on at staggered times, so it's tricky to record them and keep up with them!

My problem tonight, is that I am so tired, I don't know if I can even stay up for my shows.

If that is my biggest problem for the day, then I am doing ok aren't I?  (I can imagine my kids rolling their eyes at that comment)

I didn't sleep well last night because I was so worried about Chicklet being sick on their flight home from Bali. (In case you are wondering, she is doing well now.  The Bare-chested Chef is not doing so well, so send your good wishes in his direction.)

Then a one hour walk this afternoon in cyclonic winds.

I am plum tuckered out!

Just one photo to share for the day.


He doesn't look half as windswept as I did by the time I walked off the beach!

Even Adoring Husband's delicious dinner tonight, of fish and salad hasn't given me enough energy to get through my shows!!

I really must not let Adoring Husband distract me from my studies tomorrow.  After some necessary housework in the morning, study is on the agenda for the afternoon.  (Are you listening Adoring Husband?)

Enough of this frivolity!

Nite all.


A La Vampire

When time doesn't move fast enough and you need to take your mind off things, the result can be ...


... after all, Halloween is just around the corner!

This reminds me of a horrible experience that I had in Griffith once.

Back in the 90s when I was still a smoker,  I smoked outside the house, and one night around midnight, I was sitting on the step outside, puffing away,  when I saw a girl running down the middle of the main highway that went past my place and out of town.

I watched her running and then suddenly she stopped and lay down in the middle of the road, on the centre white line.

I slowly walked toward her, hoping that, she would get up and keep moving and hoping that a car would not come along and run her over before my very eyes.

It seemed to take forever to reach her, and when I did, I stood over her and looked at her face.  Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving.  I said "Hey are you ok?"

With that, her eyes suddenly snapped open and they looked just like my eyes in that photo above. The were bright red in the glow of the street light.

I swear my heart skipped a beat.

She simply said "I'm tired.  I need to rest."

It took a little while, but I finally convinced her that the middle of the road wasn't the place to rest.  I helped her off the road and she lay down on the footpath on the grass.

Soon a taxi came by and I flagged it down and helped her into the back seat.  I knew the driver and he promised that if he could get her address out of her, he'd take her home or if not, he'd take her to the hospital because she appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

I saw him a few days later and he informed me that he had taken her home and that she didn't live very far from me.

My brain replayed the moment that she snapped her glowing red eyes open, over and over, during the weeks that followed that incident.  It was like watching replays of a horror movie.

Anyway, I never saw her again, but she certainly left her memory indelibly printed on my brain!

Nite all.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Good news. Bad news.

I thought I only had 3 weeks left to complete nine modules of study, but the good news is , I actually have 7 weeks left to complete it!

My first thought?  It's 'DO-ABLE'.

Now for the bad news.

After only 4 hours, I AM OVER IT!

Only a male could write modules with so much mumbo jumbo and ridiculous jargon and with step by step instructions that make you fall flat on your face with every step that you take.

Even Adoring Husband got confused, and he's the 'brains' in this partnership!

(In case you are wondering ... I am the 'common sense' in the partnership ... OH!  And the beauty!)

So I've de-cluttered my work area and made a nice study space to work in.  Opened all the doors to let lots of air and light in.  This makes me happy to sit here and begin my studies.

Until I have to lug, into the back yard, my camera, tripod, grey scale, computer, stool, pen and paper.

I begin the step by step instructions and spend 30 minutes outside trying to figure out what is expected of me.

I now possess one new frown line upon my forehead.

I begin to whinge and wine and swear and then I throw my hands in the air and shout "I CAN'T DO IT!!"

Adoring Husband comes to the rescue.

Three hours later and I am still no further advanced than I was when I asked for his help.

He, however, is now ready to submit this module himself!!

Mentally drained.  Spent so much time helping him, that by the time I got to do it myself, the light had gone and now I have to wait until tomorrow to complete just the first part of the module.

Males!!  The bane of my existence!!

bane: n  the source of persistent annoyance or exasperation

Through facebook, I have discovered two other people completing the same course and both at the same point that I am at, so there is support there.

They, however, have a lot more time than me, so their pressure is not so intense.

One has offered to race me to the finish.  Might take him on.  We all know how competitive I am and that's the one thing that might make me get a 'wriggle on'!!



Nite all.