Storytime

I recently attended a Trivia Night. This one is our annual fund raiser for our Bookworms Relay for Life team. It is a fun night, mostly attended by work mates, and their families and friends. It's also a great way to totally understand your work colleagues and be amazed at what they 'know'. There are so many surprises. Who knew that person had a great knowledge of Australian prime ministers? Or who knew that person's passion was astronomy? I must admit to knowing nothing about either of the previous subjects. In fact while the astronomy round was on, I was happily doing one of the table games. (Yes I knew who lived in St. Mary Mead....and who in Whitehaven Mansions ) It's always interesting when there is heated 'discussion' over an answer. Some are adamant, others hesitant...some shrug and willing to go with the flow. Although had to laugh when Miss J and I attempted one of the table games----we knew 3 of the answers so guessed the rest. Surp...

I spent a lovely chilled and relaxing weekend with family. We had a house by the beach and even though it is winter, and it was freezing cold, mostly wet and very grey and foggy..I really enjoyed it. It was a time to relax, to chat, to play with a baby, to venture out for a meal, to stay in and nibble on leftovers and have a drink or two. It was also when I decided to draw a line. ________________________ There was a part of me doing the whole " OMG you have a few moments, why aren't you writing? You should note that down, put that thought onto paper before it escapes". Another part realises that these times can never be taken for granted. I could have chosen to write and ignored my family...but I chose them. Made them my priority. And maybe food. But, I also decided to stop beating myself up over not having spent the weekend writing. Or even today, my designated writing day, writing. Frankly, today I have spent the past five hours drivi...

I've just had two weeks holiday. Actually I have a few more days left of said holiday, but my two weeks are nearly up. Sadness 😢 It has been a very good two weeks...and even though I intended to sit back and do nothing, or as close to nothing as possible I have actually done a lot. I went to visit my sister and her menagerie. This trip I took my daughter and grandson. Nothing like some time in the country with family. Little Leobear loved it. So many animals to pat and see... And most enjoyed it. We walked...we played... we sat on the front verandah and pondered the universe. We went to the gallery to see some of my sister's art... It was a very much needed respite by all three of us. Then there was Mother's Day and I did this.. Mother's Day Classic...proving that I am fitter than I thought I was and that you do feel your legs after a very quick 8 kilometres are accomplished! I have done a hell of a lot of gardeni...

How on earth is it Christmas already? I'm sure the last time I looked at a calendar it was April...well maybe August. Definitely not December. Yet here it is and tis the season to share the love. So what are some wonderful presents you can give a writer? I have a few ideas. There are the usual notebooks and pens. I don't know about you but you can never have too much stationery. Well, actually you can, but a nice notebook never goes astray. Pens, unfortunately do. Grand children do love a cute pen...and if it's yours they seem to love them even more. There is of course writing software. I have tried one of these, and alas, not for this little duck (too much of a distraction). But others rave over them...so for some, it works. And works well. A massage never goes amiss. Espeically when you have been hunched over a computer for hours straight, trying to solve a huge plot problem. Or working tirelessly to a deadline. Yes, a massage is a good idea! Som...

It rolls around each year. The day we are meant to celebrate our fathers. Praise them to the skies. Buy them useless presents like socks and chocolates and soap on a rope (who on earth invented this and why!) And if you are a father you are meant to sit back and lap it all up. It's a day that frustrates me like Mother's Day and to a certain extent, Valentines Day. These Hallmarked days that tell you who to praise/ love and if you haven't got a father/ mother / lover or if you aren't yourself a mother/ father/ lover ..how much of a loser you are. Don't get me wrong it's always nice to get a phone call and a visit from your children, but that is just lovely on any day. Not a specifically designated day chosen by a commercially avid world. Rant over. I did phone my father on this special day. Had thought of a visit but due to my heavy cold and the fact that he's only recently out of hospital, figured it wasn't the best idea. Then I became designa...

Last weekend I had a visit from my sister and her hubby.Then of course, we decided while she was in town to catch up with our two brothers. It was a busy weekend, full of shopping, garden nurseries, meals out and familial catching up. (What a breakfast! Totally not the usual muesli or toast weekday events. And oh so pretty) It was lovely to catch up with everyone. And to notice the differences as well as the similarities amongst us. My family are a very artistic and eclectic group. One brother does this sort of artwork... as well as carving fence posts he has come across...as you do. My sister paints and creates (and I have plans for these two and an Etsy store and me taking my ten percent as manager!) Even my niece has this artistic gene running through her body. Alas my creativity doesn't run along these lines and that's okay. So not only was I amazed at their abilities and overwhelmed by my lack of said abilities it was interesting to note how...

We all have them, expectations that is. There are expectations in your workplace (mostly along the lines of do what you are meant to do and you will get paid)...there are expectations in your home life. The groceries are bought on such and such day, the magic fairy does the washing and ironing and cleaning of the house, beds are made, meals are cooked. And so many events seem to thrust more expectations upon us. Every holiday, whether birthdays, Christmas or the Easter just past, and we are bombarded with images of happy families and big groups of friends celebrating. Every image shows people happy and laughing. So what happens if that doesn't happen? People move on, family moves away or have other plans. Friends lose touch...and with so many blended families, life becomes more and more complicated. But we know what will happen, what the media tells us should happen...we should be with loved ones having FUN! Easter, for us, is a family get-together. There is...