I’m writing this post using my iPad. It’s been a rather steep learning curve, but I’m absolutely LOVING have an iPad, and the kids are too. We almost need a roster for using the jolly thing!

Anyhow … the purpose for visiting NZ was to celebrate with my Mum who had her 70th birthday.

Because it was a special birthday, I felt a special present was in order. I have mentioned my friend Jenny of Elefantz in a number of previous posts. She started publishing her own online “Homes” magazine, which each month includes patterns for some of her beautiful creations (she’s an amazingly creative lady). Anyhow, she had this beautiful cushion called “All you need is love” and I just knew I had to stitch it for Mum. I mentioned this to Jen and she offered to make me up a kit (because she’s a super star like that). So next thing a package arrived in the post and I made a start on the cushion. I was a bit nervous because it’s been quite a number of years since I’ve done any stitching, but I really loved it, and often sat in front of the tele in the evenings, stitching merrily away. I had a few months to get it done, and managed to finish it in time. Phew.

Mum was thrilled with it on her birthday, and the kids bought her a jelly roll too. She’s become a bit of an avid quilter which is so lovely. Tomorrow I will show you what she gave me for Christmas and my birthday. But for now I will leave you with a photo of the birthday girl having fun at her party (which was lunch out at an all you can eat restaurant … Mmmmmmmm)

Back soon with more on my trip. Now I’m sticking with my New Year resolution to go to bed on time!! It’s back to work tomorrow for me … The holidays are, sadly, over for now.

Fee x

I’ve been a reader of Stephanie Howell’s Just Me My Soldier and our 4 Little Chicks blog for a few years now.  A friend recomended I read her blog to check out her gorgeous scrapbooking style.  I don’t know about you … but I have a list of my “faves” that I like to check in with every now and then, and Stephanie would definitely be one of my top blog reads.  She’s funny, honest, down to earth and truly inspirational being the wife of a Soldier (who is frequently absent from home on deployment) AND Mama to 4 little girls age 5 and under (that’s NOT a typo – last 2 were twins).

Anyway, she’s had this “Blog your Heart” challenge going in recent times, and after reading her New Year post today I feel inspired to “Blog my Heart” ~ so here goes.

2012 & New Years Resolutions (in no particular order):~

* 2012.  This is the first time in quite a while that I actually feel positive about the coming year.

It will be 4 years in February since G and I separated.  They say that time heals all wounds and I really do believe that … but gee at the time you are in the middle of “hard stuff” it doesn’t feel like it.

2011 I dubbed “The Year of Procrastination” because there were lots of things I kept putting in the “too hard” basket.  The financial split in a divorce settlement is a difficult thing … how do you put the almost 19 years of marriage you had into dollars and cents? The fact that you give up 10 years of your “life/career” to be at home with your children, homeschooling them and enjoying the lifestyle that you are privileged to lead ~ how do you “make up” for the lost income and superannuation?  What’s “fair”?  What’s “equitable”?  This isn’t a whinge session … this is just trying to put into words how I felt.  In my mind I knew I HAD to deal with it all, but it was easier to try and pretend it wasn’t there, perhaps hoping it might magically disappear.  Of course it never does … and eventually I knew that I HAD to get on and sort myself out.  I spoke with a Mortgage Broker who assured me that I would be able to remortgage the house so the property can be transferred into my name alone (my biggest fear was that I couldn’t afford it, or that the Bank wouldn’t loan me money).  I finally had my tax return done just before Christmas – after procrastinating since July – because I was expecting a big tax bill.  Thankfully, instead I get a small refund.

All of these things were huge and weighing terribly on me over 2011, and yet when I finally plucked up the courage to confront my demons … everything worked out beautifully.

God has provided amazingly over the 4 years that I have been separated.  We don’t have a lot “extra” but we don’t go without either and a trip to NZ for Mum’s 70th plus a trip to Vietnam this year were like mini miracles to me! It’s OK to be able to say to the kids that I’m not going to buy big Christmas presents for them (because I can’t afford it) – but yet still be able to give them gifts that I know they will enjoy all the same.

So to wrap up this incredible ramble … 2012 feels like a year full of promise, of exciting challenges (like my trip to Vietnam in February giving out shoeboxes with Samaritan’s Purse), of being at peace with myself and my situation, finally accepting the demise of my marriage and moving forward, even being open to the possibility of new relationships in the future (which up until now just wasn’t even an option to be considered for my broken and battered heart).  Yay for new beginnings! 

And now on to New Years resolutions …

Do More Exercise (actually, do SOME exercise would be a definite improvement for 2012).  I try to walk with a friend once a week which is a bit hit and miss depending on what’s going on.  However I scored a FREE cross trainer yesterday and I bought a second-hand Thigh Master at the end of last year for $10 – so the plan is to set up a workout station AND ACTUALLY USE IT!!  Heeee, I am SO not motivated to exercise … however as I inch ever closer to (fabulous) middle age ~ OK if I’m honest, I’m actually past it! , I know that time is running out for me to actually just get on and DO IT.  For the first time in my life, weight is creeping on, I have a few “rolls” which didn’t used to be there … and “being good” for a week or so in the food stakes doesn’t see a reduction when I hop on the bathrooms scales. Soooo 2012 is the year to move it and lose it (I hope!).  But it’s also about being more active and keeping a strong, healthy body into old age (perish the thought).

* Menu plan.  I am a shocker for not being organised when it comes to cooking meals for the kids and I.  I am one of those people who would happily pop a pill if someone would arrange for all of my nutritional requirements to be produced like that.  Unfortunately I have 3 growing children who need feeding on a regular basis (darn it all) … so this year I want to actually plan meals in advance for the week and do grocery shopping accordingly.  I have a fussy eater which makes life a bit tricky at times, however he is improving and I hope eventually he might eat like a normal human being (instead of slathering everything in sight in tomato sauce before it goes down the hatch). 

* Spend more TIME with the Kids.  In our busy lives, it’s often easy to forget to do things with the children, to turn off the computer/TV and spend time together as a family.  G is great at taking the kids to the beach and for bike rides – me not so much, so this year we’ll be pulling out the cards and board games and doing fun things together, riding our bikes, going for walks, just hanging out together.  Angus will be 14 this year, so there won’t be much time left of him wanting to hang out with his dear old Ma.

* Reduce my Computer TIME.  Every year I say this, and every year I don’t do it.  Like I said above, I have blogs I enjoy reading … but honestly I waste A LOT of time sitting in front of my computer screen each day.  I bought myself an iPad the other day (I got given some money for Christmas and decided to “treat” myself).  I recognise that the potential for more screen time wasting is huge, so I plan to give myself a daily limit (say 30 minutes) and MAKE myself stick to it.   I think I might actually journal screen time in my diary to keep myself accountable.  This should also help with the point above enabling me to spend more time with the kids (I hope)!

* Project Life.  I have bought a new Project Life kit for 2012.  I LOVED using the kit last year (I must remember to take a few photos to show you how it all looks).  It felt good to be printing photos and documenting what we got up to 2011.  This year I would like to take more “life” shots of what we get up to every day.  It’s easy to take pictures when you are out and about or of special occasions, but things like our house, the car we drive, the kids shoes & clothes, what we eat … those are things I find interesting looking back at my own childhood photos – so I hope my kids will enjoy that too in years to come.  It’s a fantastic system, and I hope to go back and capture the kids’ earlier years too so that they each have an album of memories to keep, aside from our family albums.

* Do some Crafty Things. I made a cushion for Mum for her 70th birthday (more on that when I get back to my NZ trip posts) and it was so lovely to be making something and being crafty.  Bella is a little girl who LOVES to make things.  For Christmas I bought her a stack of material and embroidery thread, so she can make herself a dolly which is in one of her craft books.  I photocopied the page with the dolly from her book and wrote her a little note to tell her that the materials were for her to make a dolly of her own.  The look on her face was priceless, and I’m sure she would say it was one of her favourite presents (and probably least expensive).  I grew up with a Mum and Grannie who were both amazing sewers, and Grannie also used to spin her own wool, crochet, knit, weave, etc.  She even taught herself to tat before I got married and made all the lace for my wedding dress.  Both Mum and Grannie taught me some of their skills, and this is a heritage I feel a responsibility to pass on.  My daughter obviously loves craft and making things, and it will be lovely to share crafty things together.

Well if you’ve made it to the bottom of this post – you most likely deserve a medal!  Thanks for visiting and reading my blog.  I do so appreciate your comments and encouragement.

I wish you and your nearest and dearest a year ahead full of blessings, of special moments, of love & happiness … but also some challenges and trials thrown in for good measure – because those are the times when we grow and learn more about ourselves, come to understand who we are, what we stand for, who is there for us, and what really matters and is important in these amazing lives we live.

Love and hugs to you all,

Fee xox

A beautiful friend just dropped this over for the kids and I … isn’t it spectacular?  We attempted our own version of a kit Gingerbread House this morning … sadly it looked NOTHING like this, and pretty much fell apart … but we had fun making it! 

I had hoped to do another post with more NZ visit photos … but it hasn’t happened.  I came back to Oz with a cough which has progressively gotten worse and left me feeling pretty lousy.  I’m hopeful that the next 2 weeks off work will allow for lots of rest and relaxation.

Promise to be back soon with more NZ news, but in the meantime I hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebrating with your nearest and dearest.  My family are travelling from Perth to be with us for a couple of nights – so looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow.

Love to you all …

Fee x

Well, it’s a week already since I returned from the Mother Country.  I might have to update you in a few different posts … otherwise there will be photograph overload in the extreme.

Needless to say it was an absolutely FANTASTIC time away, especially to be with my beloved Mum to celebrate her 70th birthday.

So, from the beginning …

My Sis-in-Law, Lynda, and I flew on the red-eye special from Perth to Melbourne, arriving at some ungodly hour of the morning (Perth time).  However we fortified ourselves with a hearty breakfast in a rather lovely cafe in Melbourne Airport (the name of which escapes me just now).  Then transferring to good old Air New Zilland for the hop, skip and jump to Wellington to be collected by Lynda’s bestie Julie and her hubby Marty.

Marty, Julie & Lynda

The weather was overcast and cool-ish, although not as cool as I had mentally prepared myself for – which was a pleasant surprise and in fact the whole holiday I didn’t have to break out the polar fleece once!

They drove us up to Mt Victoria which overlooks Wellington harbour in many different directions.

which included a view over the Wellington International Airport airstrip … with sea at either end.  You surely do hope that the day you land is not overly windy, and that the Pilot has had copious amounts of coffee to keep him awake and alert for the landing!

This greeted us as we walked to the top of Mt Victoria:

and there were a number of Tui’s flying around in the bush as we walked up the hill.  One particular bird did NOT want to look my way as I tried to photograph him, but I got a number of half-decent shots all the same:

and an Antarctica monument (which Julie said they had to put the guards up around, because kids were skateboarding up the sides – Imagine!!). 

Then off for a drive around the streets of Wellington, which are such a mix of old and new, lots of hills …

and Parliament (the Beehive to the left)

and awesome Street signs (with a Buzzy Bee on the top) … how I miss Kiwi quirkiness …

So, that was day one of our travels.  Back soon with more …

Love Fee x

This is Bella’s 3rd year of doing ballet (she’s in the Preliminary Ballet class, which means she’s not a beginner, but not quite a junior!).  She’s still loving it and keen to keep continuing with it next year.  They danced to Pinocchio’s “Got No Strings” music this year which was lovely, and they had a change from the “normal” tutu of the past 2 years.

I was a bit startled when I downloaded this photo from my camera … just how grown up she looks.  Now she’s got one (and a half!) big teeth up the top – she’s looking more like a BIG girl.  How fast they grow.

Life has been frantically busy as the year winds up.  This weekend I’m heading to NZ with my sister-in-law to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday.  It’s been 4 years since I last went home so I’m really looking forward to spending time with Mum and Dad and visiting the Mother-land.

I’m sorry that my blogging is rather infrequent these days.  When I first started this blog it was a bit of a cathartic release for me in being able to write the things I was going through with separation etc.  Nearly four years on, life has changed a lot and I find myself less and less writing those personal posts.

Divorce is imminent, so at the moment I am walking through the mine-field of sorting things out financially with G and negotiating what will be fair for both of us in the long run (we remain friends, and the settlement is amicable – but it’s still HARD dividing the life you had together, which all comes down to percentages and $$$s). 

I’ve lived a life in limbo for 4 years … not married, but not divorced; not married, but not single either.  It’s been great to have the time to work through grief and pain, loneliness and hurt but now this is the closing of a chapter … which I believe is necessary to tie up the loose ends and be able to look to the future.

Often I look at my life and wonder how I ended up in this place which was never where I imagined I would be.  Yet I have grown so much personally, and in my faith, and as much as it’s not a place I particularly WANT to be – I can accept that there have been blessings which have come out of separation and the huge upheavals I have gone through in the past few years.

Thank you for being my cyber buddies through the difficult times.  I imagine I won’t write much more about my personal struggles with separation because that phase in my life is over – but I’m grateful that I’ve had this blog, and your friendship and support over the past few years.

I will continue to share family anecdotes (mostly for you Mum!) and am considering a change of name for this little ‘ol blog.  Perhaps Pontification from the Land of Possums?!  Or not.  Suggestions gratefully received.

I will be back in a week or so to share of my travels and the birthday celebrations.

Love, Fee x

Yes indeedy … it seems that a few winter pounds have crept on – so I’m being good and TRYING not to eat chocolate (or any other naughty things) as much as possible.  This is VERY difficult for me, because I have a very sweet tooth.  Chocolate and chips ~ or crisps, as my new workmate calls them ~ are my total downfall.

However I have made it through ONE day with no sweet thing passing by my lips.  I wonder how long it will last??!!!

And some sad news to share … our beautiful Bosley cat has disappeared, we think he might have been hit by a car. 

R.I.P. our beautiful fluffy boy.  You are very much missed.

Fee x

It looked fascinating, and I will admit to feeling a bit of “small town envy” that we don’t get to experience such interesting things in our (somewhat) small neck of the woods.

Imagine then my surprise and delight when I read that The HMB Endeavour was going to visit Geraldton last week. 

The kids and I visited on the Friday afternoon (which was the last day of term), thinking that the crowds might be a little more sparse than on the weekend or the following week (given it was school holidays).  We were correct, and with not too many folk about – we enjoyed wandering around this beautiful ship and taking in all the sites.

What a fantastic time we all had.  The kids loved it … I handed over my camera for a lot of the exploration and Angus got some great shots.  Below follows a pictorial view of our visit aboard the HMB Endeavour …

Me crew … aboard the ship.

Checking out the dunny (there were only 2 on board) – it’s a boy thing!  One can only imagine what an interesting experience “toileting” would have been in rough seas??!!

Could you imagine having to cook on a beauty like this every day?

The meals area for the crew, with hammocks behind for sleeping quarters.  You can see there is a half ceiling where the hammocks are hanging – we had to almost bend in half to go through there … it was tiny!

Here is Bella (age 7) standing in front of the actual door which leads to the Officer’s area.  Angus’ comment was “it’s probably the only time in her life that Bella will be able to touch a ceiling without having to use a ladder”.  Too true.  They told us that Captain James Cook was 6’2″ and Joseph Banks 6’4″!  Could you imagine having to fold yourself in half many times a day to go through doorways like this?  I would imagine that sailors were generally smaller men?

Inside Joseph Banks’ room.

They let some crazy people have a go at the wheel!

Check out all that rigging!

Good job I’m not in charge of these ropes – because they definitely wouldn’t look neat and tidy like that!

I highly recommend a visit if ever she comes to a Port near you …

And in other breaking news (because at the rate I blog, I will have been and gone by the time I get around to telling you) – I am going to Vietnam next February with Samaritan’s Purse.  Our Church took over coordinating the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes in our area this year and I volunteered to be the Area Coordinator which fitted nicely in my job description at the Church.  As a result I have been offered the chance to go to on a Discovery Trip to Vietnam next year which means I get to hand out shoeboxes to children (yay) and will hopefully also get a chance to work on a Samaritan’s Purse project while I am there.  Woo hoo.  Excited (and slightly terrified) about this wonderful opportunity as I have never been to Asia before.  Now it’s onto the serious business of fundraising to pay my way. 

Thanks for stopping by and getting to the bottom of this very photo-heavy blog post.

Love, Fee x

Spud & Snow White at 4 weeks of age …

Spud and Snow White settling in to the family nicely.  Mother recovering, slowly.

Over and out.  Fee x

Age: I was born in 1968 … you do the maths!
Bed size: Queen, which is currently shared with a 7 year old. 
Chore that I hate:  Bringing in and folding the washing … I don’t mind hanging it out – just bringing it in.  Thankfully I have trained the kids to sort it from the washing basket to their rooms.
Dogs: Don’t have one, don’t particularly want one … but if I did get one – it would be a Golden Retriever or a Scottish Terrier.  Angus on the other hand wants a Pug, which he tells me he will call “Frank”.
Essential start to my day:  Coffee!!!
Favourite colour:  I don’t really have one, but I like red & black (is that a colour?!).
Gold or silver:  I love silver, or white gold.
Height: 5’4″.
Instruments I play: Piano, sort of, and trying to learn the guitar at the moment.  Also have been known to torture people with the recorder (sorry Dad!)
Job title:  Operations Manager & Kid Manager/Wrangler/Hugger.
Kids: Three gorgeous specimens, 13, 11 & 7.
Live: Geraldton, Western Australia.
Mother’s name: Elizabeth/Liz – Hi Ma! 
Nicknames:  Fi/Fee, Mumbles (the kids call me that sometimes which makes me laugh)
Overnight hospital stays:  Just two – the night Angus was born and one for bleeding when I was pregnant with Bella.
Pet peeves:  saying “no offence” before you say something which is most likely going to offend … or saying “Guess What” when of course the person has absolutely no idea what you are going to say??!!!!
Quote from a movie:  “Go Ahead, Make My Day” Dirty Harry
Right or left handed: Right.
Siblings:  One brother, who is 6 years and 8 months older than me.
Time I wake up: 6.20am on a weekday … as late as I can manage on Saturdays! 
Underwear:  Cotton and comfy (and clean, just in case that’s the day you get hit by a bus!)
Vegetable I hate:  Mushrooms (blech)
What makes me run late:  I’d like to say the kids … but usually it’s my inability to plan to get everything done.  I’m trying to be better with this!
X-rays I’ve had:  Teeth … and feet.
Yummy food that I make:  Pavlova and Spag Bol are my specialties (although 2 of my children would argue that spag bol isn’t yummy – for them anyway!)
Zoo animal: Rhinos … because they are Angus’ favourite – there is a big male at Perth Zoo called Memphis who we used to visit frequently.  Every time we went to the Zoo we had to see Memphis.  They are such big tanks of things but rather lovely all the same!  Second choice would be giraffes or tigers.

So there you have it … facts which you most likely don’t particularly care about – but it got me out of tidying for 10 minutes at least.  If you choose to play along on your blog, leave a link in the comments.

Back soon with something other than useless information about myself.

Fee x

Nothing like a gaggle of gals to go for a ride, and we were definitely that!

Nervously waiting for our horses to be brought around.

Easy does it old girl (the HORSE, not me!!)   Her name was Bonnie and she was absolutely beautiful.

Hmmmm … what exactly am I in for here??!!!

Showing Mama how it’s done.

We had the best hour together, riding the trails, even managing a few canters!!  I had forgotten how relaxing it is sitting on a horse, meandering along.  It’s definitely something we will be repeating … and so lovely to have an activity we can share together.

Fee