Happy New Year-2012

It’s that time of the year again, when we reflect on the year that has passed. For me, it has been a year filled with incredible highs and lows. I have been blessed in so many ways. A loving family and loyal, generous, friends who have always been there, no matter what, you know who you are- thank you !!!!
I wish my friends good health, happiness and personal fulfilment for this coming year. May 2012 be a year where we are all mindful and remember those who are doing it tough.

Seasons Greetings!

Wishing you, your family and friends greetings for the Festive Season – a time for sharing food, reflecting on the past year, giving gratitude for what we have and remembering those who are no longer with us.
Warmest regards
Maureen

Back after a self imposed hiatus.

Here I am back again after a self imposed hiatus.I really have not had that much time to blog and when I have, subject matter has been scarce.Nothing worse than a boring post LOL.

Since the last post, plenty has been happening on the home front and I have been working extrodinarily long hours  too. When I arrive home , all I feel like doing is resting and recovering for the next day. The Holiday break of 4 days is going to be bliss and I am making certain that I am not commiting to anything.

I have been enjoying a quiet Saturday morning before venturing out later to pick up D’s Christmas present.Thought about going up to the new Ikea( the largest in the southern hemisphere) and Homemaker Centre as I have yet to check out the new store but I am certain half of Melbourne will be there today.Searching for a park and jostling with hordes of people has turned my off that idea! D has been seriously unwell a couple of months now and as he will not be well enough to work for some time, he went in to work and resigned this week. I support his decision as his health is more important.

I will post more later next week so until then try not to stress out about Christmas becuase it is not about gifts or food but being with the people you care about:)

 

The Wedding

Hello! It’s good to be back and much has happened since the last time I posted. The most important being Mum and Bill’s wedding which was lovely. The wedding went off without a hitch; Mum and Bill were both over the moon and it was fantastic to see them so happy. Everyone had terrific day and seeing the family together again was wonderful. Every aspect of the wedding was superb and Mum and Bill are heading off on their honeymoon next week to New Zealand.

Here are a few photos of their big day.

Grateful for the week end!

I decided to some time out from writing while i got myself organised health wise but now I am back and will endeavour to update more regularly.

Today, is bitterly cold. Quite unusual for Spring weather but it has been this way all week. Torrential rain which disrupted traffic and the rialway services. I did not arrive home until 8:15 one night due to flooding and train cancellations. I was soaking wet, cold and feeling worse for wear as the trains were so packed! Never mind though. I did arrive home safely and that’s all that matter

Plans for Mum and Bill’s wedding are finalised and the day is approaching fast. It will be lovely and also good to catch up with family and friends. Last night I went out with a couple of the guys from work and enjoyed relaxing after what has been the week from hell. I decided to go home relatively early but they kicked on and made quite a night of it.  I think all of us needed to unwind and put to bed the past week.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I am going to an exhibtion in the city and will also take the opportunity to look for a new outfit to wear to the wedding. I will look for something that I can continue to wear for work too.

Now off  to watch  the AFL Grand Final. My team is not playing but it is always a spectacular event.

Happy Fathers Day to all Dads

Since the last post, I have been tied up with end of month deadlines and haven’t had much time for anything other than work, then sleep.The work load is taking its toll and I have had to push myself each day just to get out of bed! I am looking forward to Mum and Bills wedding and the 3 day break.Plans are going well for the wedding and they have asked me to read aa verse at their wedding,  which I am delighted about. I am uncertain about what I will be wearing but there is still another month to decide so I am not stressing about it.

Yesterday  I was supposed to join Prue,D and friends for a lunch at a local restuarant but I woke feeling worse for wear, so spent most of the day resting in the loungeroom. I was disappoined because I had been looking forward to it but I am certain there will be another opportunity to catch up for lunch.

This morning I have been searching the internet for a spa package for another member of staff who is leaving. I have been elected to  organise the gift , so I asked her what she would like. I think too many times,well meaning gifts are cast aside and I would rather give her something she would never buy for herself. I know I would be over the moon to receive a day spa gift certificate! I have book marked several places which I will discuss with colleagues tomorrow before we decide which one we will buy.

Happy Fathers day to all Dads and a special greeting goes out to Bill, who will officially become my Step Father very soon, although I have thought of him as family for many years now. Have a lovely day Bill!

 

What a great night out!

Last night I attended the farewell dinner for a colleague and good friend Laura, who was one of the Health Team ( Psychologist) and will be sadly missed by all. It was a BIG night and although I don’t drink at all, I am feeling rather tired this morning.

As I have mentioned here on previous occasions, my colleagues really embrace the opportunity to let their hair down, so yesterday I drove to work to ensure a couple of them actually made it home safely!We all headed to a local restaurant about 5:45 and enjoyed  a few drinks and plenty of conversation while we waitied for others to arrive. We are a rowdy lot but the restaurant is used to us. Former colleagues and their partners attended and a great night was had by all!

During the week, I received an invitation to attend the 80th birthday of my uncle, the last remaining sibling of my late father. I am looking forward to attending and catching up with him and the large army of cousins and their families, who are also attending. Lately, I  am thinking more about extended family and how important it is for me to do all I can to ensure Prue gets to know them.D is definitely not into family at all and I know it is going to be a task to get him to come with us but if he decides he doesn’t want to go, we will go and enjoy it regardless. A few weeks after, it will be Mum and Bill’s wedding and .then I am off to the Annual work conference for 3 days. I know I am going to rest up big time to prepare for all of this socialising!

Rostered Day Off (RDO)

Enjoying my RDO, listening to some early morning music!

Another resignation overshadows a good week at work.

This week has been full of extremes. Overwhelming joy that this has been an exceptional week at work and sadness that yet another colleague is leaving. I will miss her terribly , not only for her professional attitude to her work but her sense of fun and good natured humour. Once again, we will all gather for a farewell dinner next Friday night.

Health permitting, I am looking forward to the company’s Annual Conference being held from the 20/10/11 at a new resort in country Victoria. It is scheduled for 3 days and will be an opportunity to catch up with colleagues rarely seen and executive management from Head office in Queensland. It will be a busy October; Mum and Bills wedding on the 16^th and the conference the week after.

A brief note of sincere thanks to my family, friends and colleagues for your concern and support since my health has taken a turn for the worse. Everyone has been wonderful and not made a big deal of the situation( just how I like it). I will continue to be guided by my health team and get on with life! Thank you everyone.

An afternoon in Greece via Oakleigh

Yesterday afternoon was great fun. As arranged, we went over the Bentleigh East and spent two hours having our hair done. The hairdresser was fabulous and she created exactly what I wanted and the same with Prue. We are both happy and I know my self esteem has been boosted considerably.. Lately, I have hated myself, my body and the way I look. Hating myself for being a burden to those who care about me. Hating my body for being unreliable(again) and failing me at a  time I should be enjoying everything life has to offer and hating my appearance(hair and a pale, tired looking face). It is amazing how good hair can lift one’s spirits, now I just have to work on the rest of me!

After finishing at the salon, we went to Oakleigh and met up with  Trevor( a freind and work colleague) and his wife Sharyn , for coffee at Vanilla. We sat and chatted for 2 hours, enjoying the superb coffee and the Mediterranean ambience.As usual, the restuarant was packed to the rafters and we were fortunate to be seated in the alfresco area( that is a benefit of being regular customers!). Trev and Sharyn left and we decided to buy a large Greek lemon meringue cake to take home for D, who had been working overtime.I really enjoy any opportunity for Prue and I to go out together like yesterday. With the demands of work, time to do much at all on the week ends is rare.

“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.”(Orson Welles)

A new do and catching up on life in BA

I am so glad of this week end.Returning to work so soon after the procedure was on reflection, a mistake. I have been in pain and feeling fatigued beyond belief! I think I expect too much from my body at times. Anyway, I will seize the opportunity to get some rest over the next 2 days.

Prue and I are going to have our hair cut this afternoon as my hair is now the correct length to have it styled into a concave bob, the style I had a couple of years ago. I would have done this sooner but the last time I had my hair cut the guy ruined any prospect of a bob by layering it and leaving me with a style which to me looked like a mullet ! For someone who is obsessive about having good hair, the past few months growing my hair out has been a nightmare. LOL. Fortunately, I have been referred to a great stylist who is proficient in modern bobs and I am looking forward to having styled hair again.

I heard from mum last night , which was lovely. Lots of chat about the wedding, accommodation , etc. We will go on line today and book the accommodation to ensure we will have a room for the night. Once the winter is over, accommodation can become scarce down at the Gippsland Lakes.

I spent quite a while this morning chatting to a friend and ex-colleague James, on Skype.He is having a fabulous time in BA and showed me around his new apartment in the bohemian area.He is the type of guy who will have a great time and make friends, wherever he goes.

Home again.

Back home and recovering from yesterday’s procedure.My doctor relented and allowed me to come home on the condition I call him if anything was amiss.Great to be home and resting here. My family, bed, shower and food !

Looking forward to the October 16!

I have just got off the phone from Mum and she and Bill are absolutely over the moon that all of the family and very happy about the news of their upcoming wedding on 16 October.They are delighted and looking forward to it being a large, happy, family occasion, complete with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are a big famly and this will be the firsst time we have all been together for many years. The excitement in Mum’s voice a she told me was lovely and she and Bill have been busy planning the reception, celebrant and even music for the reception. It is going to be a wonderful day for everyone !

The secret is out!

Today, I can announce that my mother and her partner, Bill are to be married in October! I am delighted for them and have found keeping their secret difficult for the last 2 weeks. They were concerrned that not everyone within the family would approve but as I said to them, it is their decison and theirs alone. They are not accountable to anyone and should not let any fears about family to come in to it. It is wonderful news. Two people  who found each other late in life and have enormous love and respect for each other. They have a beautiful life and the deserve every minute of happiness

I heard(Skype) from a very good friend and ex-colleague, James this morning from Buenos Aires. He left work about a month ago and departed Australia the week after that. He is a fantastic guy and I miss him very much. He will be travelling indefinitely and has no idea when he will return to Australia. For now, he has taken an apartment in the city and has wasted no time in circulating and meeting  people. He has friends there and hopes to work as a teacher or for one of the volunteer agencies.The women in BA don’t know what they are in for !!!!!

Big hugs to Lee for your mesages!

What can I say?

What can I say? I was overwhelmed by all the messages, cards and emails I received for my birthday last Sunday. Totally unexpected but very much appreciated! The day was lovely and I was spoilt big time. The celbrations went on for most of the week, including a lunch with colleagues and catching up with friends for breakfast. Everyone has beeen wonderful and so supportive about this week’s re-admission to hospital. I think they wanted to continue the celebrations to take my mind off it. To be honest, I am not worried at all. I know that no amount of stress is going to change a thing and I know I have the best of the best medical team and hospital. A few days off work , being cared for is not going to be hard to take. If I can sleep, even better.

I have Monday in the office to see urgent appointments and have cleared my diary for a few days. My employer has been good, as have my close colleagues who know what is going on. I know they can handle anything that may come up while I am away. I learned many years ago that no one is indispensible!

I will write when I can