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, August 29, 2015

Two More Sleeps

The time has come to bid a fond farewell and I will be flying out early Monday morning.

It's kind of bittersweet.

I'm looking forward to seeing Adoring Husband and sleeping in my own bed and cooking in my own kitchen and triking in the warm Winter sunshine, but I feel really sad to be leaving BGWLBH. I know that she has some tough times ahead of her and I wish that I lived closer so that I could visit more often.

We don't even need to talk. It's just about 'being there'. It's difficult to 'be there' when you live 1500 kilometres away!

We had a good day today. We picked up my new car ... because I'M BATMAN!


BGWLBH drew out a winner's name from the barrel ...


I submitted my photo for the flickr challenge "Australian Wildlife". This is a male 'Mallee Ringneck Parrot'. Very prolific in this area, but highly sought after in my neck of the woods.


I think BGWLBH is planning on waking me early in the morning so that we can get photos of mist on the lake, so I'd best get some sleep .. it is, once again, almost midnight!

Nite all.  

Friday, August 28, 2015

Oh The Juicy Stuff

It was a beautiful day here today. It started off a little bit cold at 4C but warmed up to a sunny 15C. A sunny 15 is much nicer and easier to handle than a cloudy or wet 15, believe me!

So I had lunch with my old workmate today.

Oh the juicy gossip! There was something for everybody! Extra-marital affairs, marriage breakups, alcoholics, children whose paternity is questionable, forced out of town transfers, divorces, overseas drug use leading to psychosis, sexual assault charges, serious medical conditions, boss and supervisor troubles and the list goes on.

We barely took a breath for the entire lunch hour. I don't even know how we ate our lunch! A most thoroughly enjoyable hour where I spent a lot of time lifting my jaw off the ground. I simply was not expecting ANY of that and loved every second of it!

It's a shame we only had an hour.

Here is a photo of BGWLBH and I, taken by her brother, with my camera, at Dad W's wake...


She bought me a beautiful silver frame, so I will print this one out and put it in the frame.

I can't believe it's almost 11.30pm .. it was only 9pm what seemed like a minute ago! Best go climb into my cocoon.

Nite all.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

X-work visit

Just want to express how much I appreciate that BGWLBH has gone out of her way to provide me with takeaway coffee every morning while I've been here. Not only does my body, brain and heart appreciate the early morning caffeine hit, but it starts my day with an explosion of happiness and love that is difficult to express!

Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!

BGWLBH had some business at my old place of work today, so I tagged along and bumped into a few X-workmates, one of whom I've booked a lunch date with tomorrow.

This works out well, because BGWLBH has an appointment nearby around the same time.

I spent the morning with Mum W, and ninety minutes of that time on the phone checking out what sort of aged care packages were available with the new changes that came into effect in July this year. I spoke to a young lady, who informed me that she was 6' 4" tall .. I only assume that she was young.

After that, we had some business in town and of course .. coffee!

I'm feeling very self conscious about my teeth and have made the decision to do something about them upon my return home. My front left incisor is very crooked, very deformed, very loose and makes it difficult for me to bite anything, because there is pain when I put pressure on it. It's definitely time to take action.

I've also been day dreaming of my inner hippy and the lifestyle in my imagination ...






It's getting late, so I'm off to bed.

Nite all.

Newbie Maybe

I spent a lot of today browsing through a gozillion old photographs of Mum & Dad W's families, going WAY back. Great Great Grandparents and maybe even further back.

I love seeing the old photos and hearing stories about family members from the past. Almost everybody has at least one juicy story to tell about somebody from the family tree!

It makes me want to delve further into my own family tree. I know that there are some interesting mysteries out there about family on my Dad's side that nobody has solved and I'd really love to follow the few clues that I have and fill in the blanks.

One day maybe.

Tonight, BGWLBH and I went out to dinner with a bunch of her workmates. It was a great night. There are some crazy personalities in the group and a few good belly laughs were had by all as they told some funny work stories. I always enjoy myself when I get to spend coffee mornings or dinners with those girls (and sometimes a boy or two).

I gave these blog details to one of those girls tonight and maybe she'll log in one day .. or maybe she won't .. but here are some things you need to know if you have found your way here...

I never name names. Everybody has a pseudonym. Sometimes you will figure out who I'm talking about and sometimes you will have no idea who I'm talking about. So be prepared to be confused.

Sometimes I get very motivated and share great recipes here with step by step photos taken in my kitchen .. they will always be healthy recipes, reasonably quick to prepare and generally fairly easy.

On other motivated days, I'll share health information.

Now that I'm no longer studying, I expect to get out more often with my camera again, so I'll share photos here.

On my lazy, unmotivated days, you will be bored out of your brain with what I write. A blow by blow explanation of my very boring day from what time I get out of bed, to what I eat for each meal of the day and what time I'm going to bed.

So don't get excited about what you might find here each day. It's very hit and miss!

I have a nice cosy little audience of about 25-30 readers (that I know of) each day. Dad W was one of those readers. He hated it when I put recipes here because they were too healthy for his liking.

He wanted me to share more photos and he especially liked it when BGWLBH and I had our road trips and he would follow the blog carefully to see where we were and what we were up to and loved to see those photos.

I always thought of him as I wrote the blog each night and I already miss his presence in my cyber life.

So, to the girl (she will love that I call her a 'girl') who may or may not be joining my readers, your pseudonym, in future, will be 'Little Pattie'. I can see the confused look on your face and that's the way I like it :)

It's well after midnight so ..

Nite all

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Much Ado About Everything

So much to do, so little time.

It's cold. The maximum temperature did not go higher than 10C today. The air was still damp with the heavy rains that we experienced over the last few days and the humidity was over 90% all day. I can feel the cold in my bones .. the girl who doesn't feel the cold, is DEFINITELY feeling the cold!

At least the temperature is predicted to reach 16C tomorrow!

I saw my old hairdresser today .. I could tell that he was disappointed in my current hair situation and he advised me to put a special shampoo in my hair. I wish I could remember what he said. Maybe BGWLBH will remember .. maybe 'silver' shampoo??

Back in the day, 'Magic Silver White' or 'Magic Silver Rose' were popular after putting blond in your hair, so I wonder if that's what he is talking about? I should have asked more questions, but I felt embarrassed. Not necessarily because I've let my hair go 'a la natural', but because it got rained on yesterday and it's fuzzy from the humidity and I didn't straighten it the last time I washed it, so it's very messy and fly-away and kinky.

At least I got some washing done today. Some of it I dried in the clothes dryer and the rest is hanging up in my bedroom .. the weather certainly is not conducive for drying the washing on the line.

More beautiful flowers arrived today.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day, and then we have a date with some friends tomorrow night so I'm off to bed.

It's time to start thinking about returning home. I'll make my decision tomorrow.

Nite all.

Monday, August 24, 2015

The Sky Cried

We knew as soon as we opened our eyes this morning, that the weather was NOT going to be kind.

BGWLBH and a couple of family members left the house early for a 'viewing' before the funeral and being the saint that she is, she stopped on her way back home and bought me a large take away coffee! Just what I needed to help kickstart this emotional day.

The thunder rolled in the distance, the rain steadily increased during the morning, from a light mist to a heavy downpour, the clouds grew darker and as we drove toward the cemetery, the lightning flashed across the sky.

By the time we reached the cemetery, the heavy rain had created thick red clay mud, and it was difficult to find solid footing between the mud, the puddles and tiny clumps of grass as we walked the 50 metres from where the car was parked to where the service would be held.

I think that the worst part, was the fear of being struck while walking across the grounds with an umbrella as the light show continued above us.

There were two gazebos set up on the lawn. One with Dad W's coffin and a dozen folding chairs. The other right beside it with some matting on the ground and with enough room to shelter about fifteen people standing very close together.

Water poured through the gap between the two gazebos splashing onto the ground and creating a very moist atmosphere.

A couple of minutes before the service was due to start, about 60 people emerged from their parked cars, all opening their umbrellas as more lightning flashed across the sky and the sound of booming thunder followed immediately after.

There simply wasn't enough room under the gazebos, so everybody stood in the rain for the service, some sharing umbrellas, some very elderly, some in work uniforms and all looking very sombre.

The service was wonderful and the celebrant did a great job of reading the eulogy and the tributes. People laughed at some of the stories that were shared as they recognised Dad W's silly sense of humour within them.

There were moments for all of us where we struggled to hold it together, but 25 minutes later, it was all over and everybody was rushing to their car to find shelter from the weather. It did not let up for the entire service and in fact, I think it got heavier during that time. The only thing missing was wind!

BGWLBH requested that instead of receiving people in the wet, that they all go to the Leagues Club to pay their respects, so we were all able to get to dry ground as soon as possible. I think that was a suggestion appreciated by everyone.

When we arrived at the wake, there was one wall adorned with photos of Dad W, the staff with whom he had worked over 30+ years as Manager of the Griffith Leagues Club, as well as photos of the renovations and new buildings that he oversaw during his time. There were a number of gentlemen all looking at the photos and recognising old friends and telling a few tales about the history of the club.

The Leagues Club generously gave the family, the use of the auditorium and provided all of the food and drinks for the wake, as their token of respect for the man that Dad W was, and for two hours, his friends and family shared stories and we all felt the love.

One elderly man asked me to take a photo of him standing beside the oil painted portrait of Dad W and he told me stories of Dad W's generosity and friendship over the years. He was obviously sad to have lost his friend and if the weather had been better, he would have given his own tribute at the service. I have promised to send him a copy of the photo.

BGWLBH gave a thank you speech, which was a bit emotional and well received.

I met up with some people from my past and caught up on lots of news.

About two hours later, the crowd had dwindled to just a few family members, so they all took Mum W home and BGWLBH and I spent some quiet time together debriefing and going over our perceptions of the funeral and the people who attended.

We arrived home later to find the living room lined with chairs and family were all in little groups and filling the room with chatter. Tea and coffee had been served and the strong scent of the many bouquets of flowers filled the room.

By now, I was beginning to feel quite exhausted and as we all made our way next door to brother W's house for another barbecue to use up all the meat and salads that had accumulated over the weekend, I was grateful for the opportunity to sit quietly in a corner and eat my dinner, then sneak out and head back to the main house to have some alone time.

At 7.30pm I was struggling to keep my eyes open and BGWLBH decided to get an early night herself, so I washed all the tea and coffee cups and headed to my room.

It's been an exhausting, emotional and full day.

Now I need to close my eyes.

Nite all.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

This is it!

It's time.

It's time to say our last goodbyes to this wonderful man who, I have learned, is loved my many. There are so many stories about his goodness, his strength, his loving and supportive nature and his generosity. The big man with the big heart, who quite obviously will be deeply missed.

Of course, it goes without saying that we are all dreading the final goodbye.

By the same token, it means that everybody can begin the difficult task of moving on and learning to live with that huge empty space that he once filled.

I wish that I could do more to ease the burden and lessen everybody's pain, but I know we all have to travel the grieving journey in our own way. It's difficult to watch.

Today, we received more flowers, more food and more family and friends.

It was a very full and very noisy house for a while.

Right now, it's very quiet and I am all alone in the living room, surrounded by flowers and cards and photos. It doesn't feel peaceful though .. I don't know if it's just me, but the tension feels quite heavy in the air.

It's time for me to attempt sleep. I will also 'attempt' to post here tomorrow night, but don't be concerned if it doesn't happen.

Nite all.