Look at this!

Can you believe this? Look what I got in the mail today ! 

Happy Birthday lunch!

A trip down to Geelong today to have a family lunch to celebrate my niece Sarah's 20th birthday! Was lovely to see everyone .

Wish I could sing!

Last night I went to the school performance of Les Miserables. Wow! Some serious talent. You forgot you were watching an amateur production. I came away wishing I could sing!

Reading......

An oldie but a goodie, a nostalgic favourite ' Seven Little Australians' by Ethel Turner. I remember loving the tv series on the ABC in the 70's and being given a copy of the book by Aunty Tanya. We farewelled her in a funeral service only a fortnight after Greg. She had fought more than one battle against cancer and went peacefully. I saw this edition of the book the following week and just had to have it. It is just as enjoyable to read now all these years later.

Remembering.....

This is how special friends in Broome, Western Australia honoured Greg on the afternoon of his funeral........

I 💜 my sister xx

Not only did the ' horsey' one come home but my sister arrived from the UK on the Friday before Greg passed away. She hadn't been back to Australia or I hadn't seen her for almost 9 years. It was amazing to have her here and without her and Mum I am not sure how we would of managed. As well as being a school nurse Kirsten works in a hospice a night a week and once she arrived took over all the medication etc. Her being here allowed Greg to stay at home, something I am not sure we would of managed otherwise. Along with Greg we had lots of laughs, in fact he referred to us as the ' double cacklers' as we spent a lot of time cackling!! We sat up one night to watch our wedding DVD , what entertainment that was , full of the 80's fashion and people not seen for years! We didn't finish it  but what we saw was lovely. I will never be able to thank her enough for her support or love.

Guess where??

After being at home for 6 weeks the 'horsey' one returned to the UK to finish what she started. It broke my heart (and her brothers ) seeing her go but she had to. We raise our children to explore the world and make the most of each and every opportunity but most importantly to fulfill your obligations. She was happy to return (too happy !) and even happier to be immediately on summer holidays until the end of August. She met up with another girl doing a similar thing from home and they had a whirlwind fortnight visiting the Greek Islands, Venice and Paris, loving each place more than the one before! She is now staying with my sister and her family which is good for her. Off to Euro Disney for a few days next week with a group of girls then back to York for day trips and to prepare for the new school term. Oh to be young...... I am counting down to Christmas and her return home !

One day at a time.....

Well here I am, back again, taking it slowly, one day at a time, sometimes only an hour at a time, each day I seem to manage something else from 'before', something else that adds to the new normal, the new routine. All the while the physical ache increases and the reality hits hard, this really has happened, I can't pretend it hasn't , I just have to manage and survive. I haven't picked up any stitching or quilting yet, my mind is not quite clear enough yet. The support, love and prayers have given us such comfort and reminded us that we are not alone.