52 Week Project Week 24

The Bump Edition

Outdoor vista...

Indoor view...

I'm in love - again.

Linking with Fi's 52 Week Project @ My Mummy Daze

Shar + 1 :-) :-)

With a Bun...

Now with extra waddle...

So... around the same time I was kidding  (but quietly hopeful)

about becoming Mum on the Run with a Ton (of cash),

I excitedly discovered that I had in fact become

Mum on the Run with a Bun (in the oven)
instead.

While the two would have gone hand in hand quite nicely,

I would happily trade all the make-believe megamillions in the world

for the prize I have right here.

Right here in my swelly belly.

I can still hardly believe it.

We're going to be welcoming another little one into our family

- and have already welcomed her/him into our hearts

(not to mention my rapidly expanding bod).

Is it appropriate to scream now??

Yyyyyeeeehhhooooooooo!!!!!!

I'm just brimming with gratitude and appreciation.

I'm well aware of the many, many individual, blessed, little miracles that have
taken place in order for me to see that beautiful vision on the monitor today.

I know how many hundreds of thousands of things had to 'fall into place'

and 'go right' for me to be where I am right now.

Excited, exalted, ecstatic... don't even begin to describe it.

For the record, a very happy Master Magoo has placed his order

 for a 'brudda' or a 'boy sister' and has named the bub 'Muppet'.

I have felt like the latest version of iDeath for weeks.

All the usual ails -

 headaches, nausea, weird tastes, nausea, stupid levels of tired-ness,
 nausea, sniffer dog tendencies, nausea, twinges, twangs and aches, nausea...

And I couldn't be happier!

Shar +1 :-))))) xx

P.S.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep your virtual

bloggy mouth shut for eight whole weeks????

How tempting it is to '52 Week Project' your bump beginnings???
How difficult it is to avoid '52 Week Project'-ing the tell-tale bosoms and pimply face??

How many people have made innocent comments about glowing skin/

expanding the family/having a daughter/being pregnant

that have given me goosebumps?

Point + Shoot : Howzat Weekend, Eh?

She was a bit o' alright, my weekend.

Strollin' in the sunshine wif me family.

Little bit of biscuit mixin'.

Chin wag and lunch wif me ol' mate.

New threads that make this codger feel a million big ones

- without costing anywhere near that much dosh.

A right proper tea party for the little tackers chased with a boozy barbie for the ol' lads.

Bit of a Bunnings jaunt in there.

Followed by a bit of shiftin' an a bit of liftin' round the house.

Not bad, not bad at all.

What'd yous lot get up to?

Linkin' wif

Lou's Point + Shoot

and

Mandy's Sentimental Summer

Shar :-)

(Sonia's not playing 'Wonderful Weekends' this week.
She's going all serious, like, instead.
It may or may not have something to do with Blogger
dropping her from my reader and her being mortally wounded an' all that.
I'm finking it may.)

Sorry and Sorrow

Eden's Fresh Horse's Brigade is a sorry one this week.

I mentioned here last week about my irritating, incessent apologising

for any little thing, every little thing and all the rest.

I also mentioned that the 'big sorries' didn't always come as easily.

The shameful, burning face, 'I-really-plucked-this-up' sorry that takes guts.

That's been a learning curve.

This week I have felt a lingering sorry though.

A big sorry.

Not because I've plucked up, or stuffed it, hit send or spoke too quickly.

Because I've been lucky.

Supremely, incredibly, wonderfully lucky.

And others haven't.

I'm truly sorry for them.

For what I now represent to them.

A tad like survivor's guilt, I guess.

Sometimes, we don't have to be at fault to be big sorry.

I guess that's where 'sorrow' comes from.

Shar xx

Grateful For ... Miscommunication

A day behind the eight ball - but that's okay.

'Cause I'm the boss of here and I say so.

Any dramas... please take a number.

It's been that kinda week!!

This crazy week, I am grateful for when miscommunication goes good.

A couple of times this week I have been misheard/misunderstood

and I have misheard/misunderstood others.

The results have been hilarious.

'Falty Towers' style hilarious that still has me chuckling a few days later

- and looking a tad deranged as I walk about.

I'm grateful for those moments when you realise that the person

in front of you is talking about something else entirely

- and therefore your contributions to the conversation so far have been quite ridiculous.

I'm grateful for friends and colleagues with a brilliant sense of humour

 and appreciation for the absurd.

(Late) linking with Maxabella's 52 weeks of Grateful tonight.

Happy (rest of the) weekend to you.

Shar :-)

Just A Wondering...

Are we the sum of our thoughts or actions?


See no evil, hear no evil!

 If I think of doing something impulsive and not-so-nice, but refrain - am I nasty?

If I think of doing something compassionate and oh-so-sweet, but neglect to - am I lovely?

Is it the intent or the result that determines the value of something?

If I mean well but stuff it up - is it okay?

If I mean harm but manage to avoid it - is it okay?

If I don't verbalise it, is it still who I am?

Does having social filters actually make me a nicer person - or just a more controlled one?

Hmmmm.

Shar :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 23

Self snapped this week as Magoo and I entered the holy grail of Ikea.

In full view of the general public.

Luckily Magoo hasn't quite realised that there should be an element of shame associated with his curious "Why you doin' camera, Mum?"

I love a trip to Ikea

- for nothing

(which translates to a minimum of napkins and some useful/pretty little thing)

or for something

 (which translates to a whole room overhaul, overloaded car and explanation to Hubby).

I was disciplined this time -

 (2 plates, 1 block of chocolate, 0 napkins and a fantastic catch up with a bestie),

but I intend to take my trusty pack-horse Hubby back before the week's end.

One whiff of swedish meatballs and he'll be flatpack toting putty in my hands!

Linking with My Mummy Daze and Fi's 52 Week Project.

Shar :-)

P.S. Hair appoinment in t-6 days. Help is on the way, soldier.

Point + Shoot : Good Cop, Bad Cop

Can you guess who's 'Officer Bad' in our household?

Hubby and I usually play the bad cop/good cop parenting game

in a pretty subtle and balanced way.

One that ticks along just fine.

I don't need to be catering for my son's every last

(and often ridiculous)

whim for Magoo to know how much I adore him or for him to love me right on back,

so I seem to be the consistent, firm one - and that's okay with me.

On Saturday, the scales went a bit haywire around here. 

The good cop/bad cop routine went up a notch and it more resembled

 'greatest mate/worst Mum ever'.

I'm all for cramming as much fun into our day as possible,

but occasionally my nearest and dearest leaves me out there

swinging in the breeze on my own in discipline land.

In fact, the good cop seemed hell bent on causing chaos

and encouraging a sugar-fuelled feral uprising!

I cleaned, washed, tidied, cooked and nagged my way through the day

 - trying in vain to bring back my usually fairly well mannered,

 rested and obedient little man.

But I was the Chief of the Fun Police with no back-up.

The meltdown (Magoo's - not my much tamer version!)  - she weren't pretty.

The poor boy was so hyped, exhausted and lacking his usual comfortable

boundaries he toooootally lost it by Saturday evening.

Thankfully, on Sunday normal transmission resumed around these parts.

Balance was restored, manners re-instated and we could ALL have some fun.

It was a blissful day filled with everyone's favourites - and minus the tantrums.

The delicious Donna Hay brownies I won over at Posie's place.

Photo by Master Magoo.

Halle Berry eat your heart out.

Are you the good or bad cop on your beat?

Linking with

Lou's Point + Shoot

Sonia's Wonderful Weekends

and

Mandy's Sentimental Weekends

Nasty Officer Shar :-)

Grateful For... Tasty Humble Pie

I say 'sorry' a lot.
In the annoying way.
I'll apologise to a motionless mannequin, a fellow path user, every player on the opposition and all of my own teammates, the grumpy teller or idiotic driver - whether I'm in the wrong or not.
It's irritating to be around.
Sorry.

But the real apologies in life, an actual admission of real guilt/resposibility/error - that hasn't come easy.
I'm from a long line of obstinate non-apologisers.
It's in my blood to stubbornly persist or deny involvement.
(See how I deflected the blame there?!)

It's taken many years of de-programming this wiring to seperate humility from connotations of weakness or failure.
I'm a work in progress but I'm proud to say (without apology!) that I now generally acknowledge when I've mucked up.
I fess up and I 'do' the confrontation/take it on the chin thing I've avoided for so long.
From the little ones like "whoops that was me who left the back door open" to the biggies like "I wrongly completely disregarded your wishes" I'm a-retraining all the time.

This week I was a tad hasty.
I took the bait.
My hackles went up and I gnashed my teeth a little when someone took a tiny little swipe at my cub.
I pressed 'send' when I know I should have walked away.

Nothing serious at all, but enough to compromise my own standards.

So, I heated up that humble pie and cut me a big ol' chunk.
Ate two whole pieces - one after the other.

And it tasted great.

Neither person (yes, I did it twice!!!) was particularly offended, but man, did I walk taller and step lighter after looking them in the eye and admitting that I wasn't proud of my tone. After conceding that I'd directed my frustration in the wrong direction and that I was genuinely sorry. (Not to mention embarassed.)

I'm grateful for the grown-up somewhere deep inside that is developing.
I know she's in there.

Linknig with Maxabella's 52 Weeks of Grateful.


Shar :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 22

Um, excuse me Miss?

I, um,  forgot to do my 52 week project homework and I, um, I remembered when I was plonked on the couch and so, um, this is it.

Don't worry about the lighting, I have a thing, you see, Miss.

I feel the need to progressively turn lights off

 around the house from about 7.30pm onwards.

It's one of my ways of winding down.

I know there's not much worth watching on tv anymore.

But, Miss, have you ever watched Grey's Anatomy?

Oh, it's a whole lot of, um, awesome.

There are episodes (and their associated soundtracks) literally etched in my mind.

I've cried for days because of the intensity in Grey's.

The sum of my medical knowledge was gleaned here and one day

I may well need to amputate a limb using only household items.

The patients tend to be easy on the eye - once they're cleaned up -

and the writing can be pretty brilliant at times.

The show also reminds me of my beautiful sister.

She's obsessed with it, you know.

Always has been - well, since it began.

When she flew over and stayed with us, the local video shop owner

(remember them, video shops?!)

asked me if she was training to be a nurse.

We watched season after season of Grey's together when baby Magoo slept.

She's ahead of me in Grey years, but I'll catch her one day.

Anyway, sorry about not doing my homework.

See you in detention.

Linking with Fi @ My Mummy Daze and her 52 Week Project.

Why not hand in yours?

Shar :-)

I Gots Tagged

I've been tagged by the gorgeous Anna @ Green Tea & Toast in the 'Ten Questions' game.
So... ten answers...


Describe yourself in 7 words:
Organised, efficient, colour-coordinated, fit (hmmm - bat-crap boring seems appropriate too then doesn't it?!), generous and social.

I think?!
Note the absence of 'confident'!

What keeps you up at night?

Apart from Hubby ... 's snoring - my plans, lists, neuroses and anxieties.
Just the usual head wrecking stuff.
Rarely ever Magoo - bless his sound sleeping cotton pyjamas.

Who would you like to be?  

Her.
You know, the self assured, stylish, more-than-one-marathon running Mum of ten who bakes wholesome food and never - not ever - uses inappropriate language or hissing tones in front of her adorable brood?
Yeah, her.

What are you wearing right now?

A striped singlet/dress type garment that I will race to the bedroom and replace with actual clothing if I catch a whiff of anyone within 6 feet of my front door.

What scares you?

Loss.
Big time.

What are the best and worst things about blogging?  

Best: The tippy tappy therapy that I find here. The connection with other people out in this virtual wonderland. The adult humour on tap anytime of the day.

Worst: The odd moments of self doubt. The re-reading of rubbish I published and can't quite figure out why.  Seeing negative responses, competitiveness and trolls around the place.

 

What was the last website you visited?
Sadly, my school website in order to access my webmail (and consequently add 43 more items to the 'to do' list).
Facebook, Westapc and B.O.M. get a hammering here too. (Again...booooring!!)
I did find some great team building activities for my students on http://www.businessballs.com/ this week though. Don't tell their parents my source!

What is one thing you would like to change about yourself?

Only one?
A large part of me wants to type 'breasts' (a not so large part of me) but that's shallow, man isn't it? And it's two things, anyway.
I would like to be more patient.
Particularly as I wait for my breasts to leave 1980 and finally find me here.

Slankets – yes or no?

Jury's out.
You have to ask me in Winter.
And tell me what colour/pattern exactly.
If it came with matching pjs - I'd be in like Flynn.

Tell us something about the person who tagged you?

Anna is a relatively newbie blogger who feels like an old timer!
To me, she just exudes beauty and class.
She's a fellow lover of children's books and shares my ambition to become a published children's author one day.
Just quietly, my money's on her.

And who am I tagging?
Lovely, lovely Lou @ sunny + scout
My gorgeous sister Fi @ Yours Faithfully Fiona
Inspiring Jennie @ Posie Patchwork The Blog
Brave Kate @ Our Little Sins
Hilarious Loz @ Ninja Tales

Right now, stop being so nosey and go save the world or something.
Shar :-)

Hopeless Romantic

You know, even though I feel that this Valentines Day caper is a commercial

rort designed to make some groups in society feel smug

(that'd be those dripping in brand new carats, I guess - oh plus the florists)

and make some others feel absolutely worthless

(that'd be those just dripping, I guess)

- I'm not heartless.

I like to keep the romance burning and that spark alive.

I still believe in holding hands and giggling under the covers.

See?

Today we explored Scitech with some friends

(including Magoo's gorgeous little lady friend!)

 and tonight we're having dinner with my in-laws.

Maybe not a cliche-perfect Valentines Day.

But pretty damn fantastic for a Tuesday, if you ask me.

Shar :-)

See, not totally heartless!

Love you, honey.

Everyday.

xxx

Point + Shoot : RIP 35

All this blogland talk of funeral songs on the weekend was most appropriate.

Hubby laid his 35th year to rest yesterday.

We thought it was fitting to commemorate the occasion at a brewery with buddies

 one day, then with family and cake the next.

35 would have wanted it that way.

A sombre snapshot and a few words of wisdom...

When you tire of the playground, gather your pals and line up for the 'Catch Me (someone else's) Dad!' game.

And when he tires of you, "attack!!"

While your child is occupied with a Dad, enjoy a drink and a cuddle.

Treat your Daddy real nice on his birthday.



He who stirs the mixture, eats the mixture.



Three is a great age to be - no matter how old you are.

Linking with

Lou's Point + Shoot

 

Sonia's Wonderful weekends

  

 and

Mandy's Sentimental Summer

 

Welcome to Monday!

Shar :-)

The Fresh Horses...Funeral Edition

This week Eden has taken a morbid twist with her Fresh Horses Brigade - asking us to share our funeral songs. As in the ones we want played at our own funerals.

It's not the sweetest thing to think about,

but it's definitely a car conversation I've had many times.

 

I feel spoiled for choice really

- from U2 to Xavier Rudd to Powderfinger,

I could keep 'em sitting there in the pews for hours with a beautiful playlist.

I figure I'm irritating enough in life though, so might spare people further pain in death.

As I reflect, I keep coming back to Robbie Williams.

Whether this is a sign that Robbie and I will be together (as he knows we should be) before I leave this world or whether it means he will finally see the error of his ways and turn up repentant to my funeral to pay tribute to the woman he let slip through his fingers - twice - 

I don't know.

But I do know he would sing these two...

'Nan's Song' by Robbie :

and 'Angels' by Robbie:



Poor guy.

I can only imagine how distraught he'll be - finally finding some true meaning for his lyrics.

Happy weekend folks.

Shar :-)

Grateful For Soul Food

I'll never tire of the belly laughs that erupt out of ordinary conversation.

Those gorgeous mouths of babes and way they can lighten any mood and brighten any day.

I'm so grateful for the perspective and joy that children bring to my work, home and social life.

This week's personal favourite...

          Pre-Kindy Teacher :   Magoo, what does your Dad do?

          Magoo :                    Sleep with my Mummy... Oh, and sometimes do the dishes.

Just what I needed after a heavy day doing what I 'do' part time.

Hubby is a construction manager,

but obviously he makes more of an impression in other areas of his life!

What is it exactly you do again, Dad?!

Linking with Maxabella's 52 Weeks of Grateful.

Come see what's making everyone smile this week.

Shar :-)

52 Week Project : Wk 21

Parent Night 2012



This is a nervous-dear-God-don't-let-them-eat-me-alive

-and-why-do-my-hands-have-to-shake face.

That smile says "heeeelllllp! Don't make me go.".

Give me 32 or even 64 students any day?

I can speak. I can joke and laugh.

I can be reasonably eloquent and somewhat cohesive.

I can hold the floor...ish.

Give me their beady eyed, sizing-you-up parents?

I can waver. I can quiver.

I can smile nervously and flap my hands around like a turkey.

I can clutch at 'playing cool' and convince nobody.

Linking with Fi @ My Mummy Daze and her 52 Week Project.

Come on over. We don't bite.

Shar :-)

Trusting Goodness

I have a seriously strong desire for balance.
A quest for fair.
A need for things to be square and symmetrical and right.

Life - real, smelly, vivid life - is none of the above.
None, whatsoever.
I know.
And mostly, we're all the better / stronger/ appreciative for it.

But...
Sometimes I get bogged down in the injustice, the unfairness of it all.

Why oh why oh why would such beautiful souls be betrayed by their fit, healthy physical bodies?
Why would a young, innocent girl be catapulted into a foreign world of oncology, fertility issues and hospitalisation while her friends lament a broken fingernail and obsess over the latest tunes?
Why would an actively 'clean' living woman be forced to endure the absolute horror of a miscarriage or stillbirth and then be subjected to walking past a number of dependent women smoking and rubbing their beautiful, big, healthy baby bellies as she heads home with her grief - and leaves her naivety behind?

Sometimes I (mistakenly) think I am the arbitrator of happiness.
I get mystified and depressed that the happiness is not being 'fairly' dispersed around here.
I tend to think I can 'have a word with the management' and sort it out.

When I watch a beautiful friend being knocked down repeatedly by blow after low blow from the universe - I struggle to comprehend. I struggle to keep the faith.
When it comes to those I love, I forget the 'big picture', the 'valuable life lessons', the 'strength we never knew we had' business and I just want to cry foul.


Living Juicy, SARK 2000

Then sometimes, like yesterday, the world turns the right way up for a while.
The universe, my God, whatever you want to believe plays fair and the news is incredibly fabulous.
I went to bed last night so, so smugly satisfied and elated.
I'm giddy with pure joy for my friend who deserves this. She so deserves this.

But then doesn't everyone?

Why isn't there enough happiness and good fortune to go around?
Who's hogging it?

Shar :-)