An Update ...

Hello, everyone ... well, it's been awhile. I am still in the land of the living ... gosh, have I been living ... too much to do, too little time !! I actually wish I was bored, just so I could have time to sit and do nothing ... but ... being bored is really no fun either, is it !!

That being said, I have been getting in some reading (whilst having breakfast, in the few minutes before falling asleep, and the odd other brief moment !!). I have sort of finished my course (the official bits of it ... the tests and stuff ... now I just need to get into some writing, to practice what I've learnt). I have sort of finished my parent's DVD of their photos from their German trip (we have spent ages putting music to it ... mum has gone through her whole collection, picking out the "just right" german songs to go with all the sections of the DVD) ... I just need to burn them to disc, check how they turned out, make the covers, and do the finishing touches. Work is keeping me busy ... usually 3 days a week, most of them ending around 5.30/6pm ... starting at 9am. Weekends always have something on ... even if it is only being Chicky's taxi !! Laundry and housework are always needing to be done. You know the deal ... I imagine most of you are just as busy as me ... only you all seem to still find the time to blog ! I guess I need to get myself more organised !

I bought myself a webcam this week ... only I don't like it ... I don't like how I look in it ... eeewwww ... I don't think I want to share myself like that LOL. Much better to remain anonymous, I guess !!

My Bambi kitty is doing well ... getting more affectionate day by day. She is so cute.

Chicky is happy in high school ... 3rd term is almost over ... her interim report was pretty good, we are pleased. She is showing genuine interest in boys, these days. She already has had a few boyfriends (although, they really only just call themselves boyfriend and girlfriend ... they don't actually get into the kissing and stuff yet ... thank goodness !!).

Hubby is busy working, and getting his 4WD ready for the anticipated "big trip" (getting all the suspension up to scratch, the airconditioning regassed, new tyres and wheels). Yep, we plan on another big trip sometime in the future (I don't know if you remember, but we did a 7 week trip to Far North Queensland back in 2005). Unfortunately, it won't be such a big trip ... 4 weeks max, I reckon, due to Chicky being in high school ... I really don't want her missing too much school. We can space it out over the school holidays (2 weeks), with one week of each term on either side. At this stage, we probably will head to the Centre of Australia. Hopefully sometime next year ... fingers crossed.

Only another week, then it is the end of Term 3 for the Victorian school year. We will be heading off next Friday afternoon, for a week at a resort in Numurkah (near Shepparton, in north/central Victoria), then another week at our caravan in Bonnie Doon (our caravan is up for sale, so hopefully this won't be our last visit there ... although, if it does sell, we will buy an off-road camper, and can still go to the caravan park to holiday, as casuals rather than permanents, only it will be somewhat different ... back to using the public conveniences ... darn it !!).

Hmmm, what else can I tell you ??? My plan (whether it happens or not, is another story) is to visit each and every one of you during the course of this week, as we will be away for 2 weeks after that, and probably won't blog during that time. After that, my plan (also, who knows whether it will happen) is to get back to regular blogging ... weekly at least.

Huge apologies, once again, for being a neglectful blogger. And thank you, all you amazing people, for your emails, voicing your concern about me ... I AM OK ... just really, really busy !!

Big hugs to you all.

Take care,

Take care,

I Am Still Here ... Only Not As Often !!

Hello everyone,

I owe another huge apology ... last post I promised I would get around to visit everyone, but once again I haven't. It's not that I don't want to, I really do. I just can't seem to get the time to sit and blog for hours like I used to. I am really, really busy ... life is a whirlwind. I haven't even been able to give my Travel Writing course the time it needs ... I have to finish all the assignments and exams by next week Thursday ... OMG !! I am also putting together a photo story DVD of my parent's photos from Germany ... all 1400+ of them ... adding transitions and music and stuff !! This will take some time, but is fun to do. Then I am working most weeks 3 days ... Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I don't know how you all do it, those of you who work full-time

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to say hi to you all (as the little photo show above shows), and let you know I am still alive. I will get back to regular blogging eventually, and I will try to drop by to visit as often as I can. Please don't forget me ... I appreciate all the friendships I have made via blogging ... you are all amazing people

Till next time

Take care, hugs to you all,

What Have I Been Up To ?

Hello Everyone ... I'm back again !! Seems like I keep having these blog breaks, unintentionally of course, but that's the way it is in my world at the moment !!

So, what have I been up to ?? Well ....

My parents returned home from their trip to Germany last Thursday. It was wonderful to see them, it was a very loooong seven weeks. They had a brilliant time, touring areas they had never seen, and catching up with lots of friends and rellies whilst over there. They took a heap of photos, which I am still yet to see ... soon, I hope.

I worked on Friday, which ended up being a reasonably long day ... I'm not used to working 3 days, rather I usually do only 2 ... Monday and Wednesday. But, the money is always nice .... I went out today and lashed out on a new gadget for my iPod ... an iFM, which turns my iPod into an FM radio with a little remote control. Really cool, I loooove gadgets !!

On Saturday, Chicky and I went along to a netball match, where her best friend was playing. It was a grand final, a great close game, but unfortunately, her friend's team lost ... only just, though. We then headed off to do a bit of shopping, then to catch up with my mum and dad. Saturday night, Chicky has a sleep-over party at another friend's place. Seems they decided not to sleep all night, so when I picked her up Sunday morning, she (and all the others, too) was an absolute mess ... pale, tired and grumpy !! What fun !! A sleep-deprived 13 year old girl is not the best person to be around !! I sent her to bed early, and she went quite willingly ... surprise, surprise !!

Sunday was a potter-around, doing housework, kind of day !! Caught up on the washing, and my house now looks sparkly clean again !!

Monday I worked all day, then Chicky had a dance class in the evening. Whilst she was in dance class, I sat in the car (for an hour and a half) and read. I don't mind this, it gives me some me-time, in the little coccoon of my car, with the radio or iPod playing. I am still reading the Harry Potter books. Since the new one came out a few weeks ago, I read it, then went back to the beginning and started again. Now, after reading all 6 older books, I am back re-reading the latest one ... and I am discovering stuff I seem to have missed the first time around. They really are great books ... J.K. Rowling is a brilliant writer ... at least I think so !!

Now, today, I am in computer mode ... I hope to get around to many of your blogs today, and the remainder during the rest of the week. I have been browsing, through Google Reader, and goodness ... some of you sure have been busy. I look forward to having a good old read, and leaving comments.

I have been honoured with another award ... a Nice Matters Award ... this time from 2 wonderful ladies ... Merle and Connie. Thank you, both of you ... I constantly feel priviledged to have met you all, and love this blog world we all play in.

Now, I need to choose 8 people to hand this award on to. It has been doing the rounds, so I probably will be doubling up, you may have already received this award. Now, who to choose ...

1. Chloe
2. DaybyDay
3. Diane
4. Melinda
5. Greeneyes
6. Clare
7. Nicole
8. Michelle

I could have chosen many, many more ... next time !!

So, what have you been up to ?? Hope you had a brilliant weekend.

Enjoy the remainder of your week.

Take care,

Since I Last Posted ...

Hello !!

It's been almost a week since my last post ... OMG, where has the time gone !! So, what have I been up to, you ask ... weeeeeellllll ...

Ever since I had my cleaning frenzy the other week, and have relocated the fish tank ... this is what the cat spends a lot of time doing ...

Sometimes she sits and watches, other times she bats at the glass, scaring the bejesus out of the poor wittle fishy !! Cats !!

On Friday night I went to a party plan thing at a friend's place. It was a Body Shop party. There was some lovely stuff there ... of course I had to buy something !!

On Saturday, Chicky and I went to the netball, to watch another of her club's teams play in the grand final ... they won, yay !!

Saturday night we went to a Netball Presentation Night. It was fun, there was a disco for the kids (and the adults, if they so desired !!), and all the kids got trophy.

Hmmm, what did we do Sunday ?? Can't remember, oh well !!

Monday was a work day, then Chicky and Hubby attended a dad and child evening at school ... they did a cooking activity, and bought home a yummy Pineapple Upside Down Cake that they cooked together (and apparently made a heap of mess in the process !!).

Tuesday I had a lovely visit with Gina, at her place. She has an amazing house, with the most wonderful treasures throughout. She showed me all her linen, tablecloths, stitchings, shared some photos, her swapcard collection, and all sorts of fun stuff. She made us a yummy pizza for lunch, and we chatted the whole afternoon through. Thank you Gina, it was a great day ... hope we can do it again sometime soon.

Wednesday I worked again ... long day.

And, today ... Thursday ... I did my groceries, and then popped over to my parent's house, to drop over some milk, flowers, a cake, turn on the heater, tidy up a bit ... they are coming home from a 7 week trip to Germany, tonight. I can't wait to see them. It feels like they've been gone forever. We are off to the airport in a couple hours, to have a quick dinner, then wait for them to arrive ... whoo-hoo.

I will tell you all about it next post.

Gotta go, hope you are all well ... till next time.

Take care,

Chicky at Healesville Sanctuary

Hi Everyone,

Hope you have been having a great week. Mine has been fairly quiet ... I worked Monday and Wednesday, went grocery shopping Thursday, and spent a lot of time reading. I have had a nice, lazy-type week !!

Chicky, however, after being unwell on Tuesday, recovered nicely, and was able to attend a planned school excursion to Healesville Sanctuary.

"Healesville Sanctuary is only an hour from Melbourne, but a visit there will take you closer to Australia’s unique wildlife than you ever thought possible. Featuring wild encounters and unique experiences with Australian wildlife amongst the sights, sounds and scents of the stunning bushland surrounds."

Healesville is one of 3 stunning zoos here in Melbourne ... Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo are the other two. Healesville is full of amazing Australian wildlife, and there are many opportunities for interaction with the animals and birds.

Chicky was one of a group of 16 year 7 and 8 students who attended on the day, chosen from amongst those who had a "High Achiever or Honours" level in their Grade Point Averages. The school subsidised the day, so we only had to pay $10. This included a teaching program ...

Predator! The Devil in Peril: Years 7 & 8
Investigating the facial tumour disease in Tasmanian Devils

Students investigate the complexity of issues surrounding the endangered Tasmanian Devil and the impact of the facial tumor disease. How do we identify a diseased Devil? What scientific and veterinary investigations can we apply? How do we recognise diseased tissue?What impact would it have on the food chain if the Devil as a top order predator became extinct? What solutions to the problem can students develop and suggest? How can the captive breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary help? Students are challenged to examine all the issues and investigate the disease at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre.

Apparently this disease is making a huge dent in the population of Tasmanian Devils, and will quite possibly wipe them out, if a solution cannot be found. Chicky told me of some really sad photos that were displayed, showing these poor animals suffering from this disease. It sounds like a very cruel disease. As much as they are really ugly, smelly, strange little animals, they deserve as much of a chance of a good life as any other.

The kids had a wonderful day, and Chicky took a bucket-load of photos. Here are just a few of them for your enjoyment ...

(Red Kangaroos)

(Chicky and a wallaby)

(A Dingo)

(A couple of nosey Emus)

(A Wedge Tailed Eagle)

(A Tasmanian Devil)

The birds of prey presentation was amazing. You get to sit in an ampitheatre type area, and trained birds ... eagles, owls, and various others ... fly overhead, swooping down to catch the mice and other food that their trainers have for them. It is quite common to feel the bird's wings touch your head, as they swoop low.

It was a very long day ... they left from school at 7.30am, returning at around 5pm. Chicky sure did sleep well that night !!!

So, my friends, it is Friday afternoon, just after 1.30pm as I write. I would like to wish you all a wonderful weekend ... hope the weather, wherever you are, is good (not too hot, or not too cold). Enjoy your days off (if you are not working), and have a good time.

Take care,

Tuesday Trivia ...

Hi Everyone,

Not much to say today, really, but thought I'd check in anyway !!

Chicky came home from school this morning, about an hour after the school day started ... she is all stuffed up with a head cold, and was feeling totally crap. She spent the day on the couch ... isn't it amazing how as the day goes by, and it is almost normal school finish time, those "sick" kids suddenly are feeling really well again !!!

I have finally started snail-mailing out the Blogger Songs CD that I wrote about many, many posts ago. I have sent out all the Aussie ones (I hope ... oh yeah, Gwen ... I need your address, please ... I will email you !!), and a few overseas ones. I will continue to mail out a few each week, until they are all done ... hope some of you don't mind waiting a little longer ... they will get to you !!

I checked out my blog through Firefox the other day ... OMG, my poor dancing kitty is going at 100 mph ... looks really freaky. Think I prefer it through Internet Explorer !! Although, with a few of your blogs, I need to use Firefox, as some freeze with Internet Explorer ... what's with that !?!?

It's been an extremely windy day here today ... the cat is going psycho ... what is it with cats and the wind !! I haven't, yet, had to rescue any washing from the line ... it is all dry, though, but I have been too lazy to take it in !!

I am working tomorrow ... should go quick, as Wednesday's are pretty busy.

Nothing much else, really. My dinner is almost ready ... better get to it before it burns.

Enjoy the remainder of your week, everyone.

Hugs to you all ....

Take care,