Happy New Year Everyone,
Let's make this the best year of our lives.
Let us single this one out to make some big strides to accomplishing something wonderful and create new excitement in our lives!!!!!!!
Let us start working on it now!!! Think up big and go for it.
But I hope, before clearing the way, you had a fabulous Christmas break and ate and drank to your hearts content because now is the time to take a grip!!!
Lapping it up!
Oh dear the kilos have found their way onto my stomach but I am back on the job!!! Well, I think you can let yourself go sometimes - so long as there is control most of the time. I THINK!
Miss C and her best curtsy
My Christmas activities started the week before Christmas when I took Miss C to see Angelina Ballerina. Call me organised (this once!) but I zipped off to Clark Rubber beforehand and bought a large piece of foam, slid it into a cloth shopping bag to make a perfect bolster cushion so she could see over the heads of adults.
Waiting for the show to start
The show was held at the Sydney Opera House and her first trip inside the glamorous Concert Hall. Hundreds of eager children arrived for this event. Many of the little girls were dressed in ballet outfits, or tulle and flounce, wearing fairy wings and ballet shoes. Those were obviously the Angelina devotees. None the less, Miss C looked like an angel and was quite happy with a pair of mouse ears to dress up and a program.
We were glued to the characters and the music was wonderful and quite amazingly could be hears over the chatter of small children. Quite a different experience from my usual concert hall ones!!! Small children enviously eyed Miss C's bolster cushion as they knelt on their knees or sat squirming on their parent's lap.
It's Angelina herself...
After the show Miss C asked me why the characters didn't speak......well, it was a ballet after all but I wished she had asked me earlier!!!!
Anyhow it was a delightful grandma and granddaughter memory to treasure.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Wow, we had our big Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve, a new experience for us. Everyone arrived midday and the partying began. We started with a gorgeous antipasto platter and champagne. Quite frankly, I was full then...but there was more to follow!!!
The large turkey followed, cooked the Gordon Ramsay way I might add, was a hit. There was also pork, ham, lashings of roast veges as well. We were stuffed liked pigs at this point, but gee, you just have to forge on because there was dessert.
The pudding was boiled for a few hours and then covered thickly in brandy butter and custard.....the calories were mounting up like nobodies business!!! I decided to drink another glass of champagne and not to care!!!
So Christmas Day itself was a quiet affair as the kids were off with their inlaws. Actually, we spent the day recovering from the day before!!! We had hired a wheelchair for Mr G's mum and took her on a four kilometre walk down to the beautiful Iron Cove Bay and sat and watched the people and the pelicans.
Mr G and I got a good workout and Mr G's mum got a sore bottom!!
THE GRAND FAMILY HOLDAY
Hey...it's holiday time
Wow, what a fabulous holiday we had. The whole crew set out for Port Macquarie and hopefully had a ball!! Well anyway, everyone said they did!!
Mr G and I were over the moon to be up close and personal with our family for 7 days and everyone was relaxed and happy on their return which was what it was all about.
We laughed non stop, drank and ate way to much - this was a very bad patch of consumption I must say!!!
We had a cocktail evening where each couple bought the ingredients to make up our own personal favourites. I can't remember the names of the others but I do remember one tasted like liquid fruit tingles!!!! Now that was heavy going!
The grand cocktail 'shake off'!!!
My favourite cocktail of all and the one I chose to do, is excruciatingly named Orgasm. It is 30ml each of Cointreau and Baileys Irish Cream - a superb mix on ice and I think I had a few converts by the end of the holidays. We laughed alot about how many Orgasms we had had over the holidays - well we laughed alot really which was probably due to the Orgasms!!!
Beautiful Flynn's Beach in Port Macquarie
We had beautiful weather thankfully (about time as it seems to have done nothing but rain lately) so we swam at the glorious beaches; visited the Koala hospital and historic house; went wine tasting and we took a walk in the Rainforest on a timber walkway.
Whilst some of us stuck with the tour guide on this walk, and were actually given a brilliant tour of what could have been boring bushland, Miss C took off with her mum and a couple of the others and gave her own guided tour. This was fortunately was videotaped and will go down as one of the all time greats in our family videos. 'Getaway' here is a future presenter coming right your way.............
Little Koala recovering from her injury
I must say I spent hours lying in the pool at the resort. I am glad I don't have a pool at my house as I love it way too much. No pool has definitely saved me from ruining my skin by too much sunning and soaking. But oh, what a joy it is when you are on holidays. Hey, this is the perfect time to let it all hang out!!
Port Macquarie has the thumbs up from me. It used to be a sleepy fishing village and some people are sad to see it developing and becoming sophisticated. But honestly, I love this all new look. It is visually beautiful, there is so much to do, gorgeous restaurants, divine beaches and you would need a couple of weeks to do all the attractions. So book in and have a great holiday. On a good run, it is only about four hours north of Sydney.
Such lovely memories. I hope you enjoyed yourselves over Christmas too......
Let us know if you got away.
What is your favourite holiday place?
Do you have a recommendation?
PLASTIC SURGERY AT 82
This is mumsie before her operation - looking pretty darn good for 82 already if you ask me
Our very own writer Roslyn Motter has been talking about her mother's pending plastic surgery for ages and finally, Mumsie actually did it. Yes, Mumsie was so adamant that she would do it that she set aside any risks for her new look.
In my book bravery doesn't adequately describe her adventure!!
Roslyn looked after her and diligently took photos for days on end so we get to see detailed results. They are astonishing. This is a must see article for anyone contemplating a facelift and have a laugh as well as you join Roslyn and her mum during the post operation dramas. Roslyn has a natural talent for making little dramas into hilarious happenings!
A big thankyou to Mumsie who allowed herself to be photographed and the star of this amazing story.
And now I am sure Roslyn's mother would much prefer to be called 'Gorgeous' rather than Mumsie in the future!!!
FITNESS FIRST
How are you going with the fitness? Bad time to ask? Gosh if you are like me, you didn't really exercise over Christmas and are now paying the price!! But be like me, and try not to feel like it is now a hopeless cause......!!! Don't despair; just jump back into your routine and give it your all.
At KiMax the other night I spoke to a Wisewomen I see regularly at the gym. She is looking fantastic because she wisely used her holiday break to attend the gym for three hours a day on some days!!! You certainly get results when you put in the hard work that was plain to see. Ummm - mental note - must increase my attendance!
Yes, it is hard work but the rewards are there for the taking. I literally dragged myself to PUMP tonight in a grand effort to get back in the swing and oh how it hurt, but hey, I did it. That's the whole point.......don't give in to your lack of motivation!!! Get into your clothes and go.......
I keep reading articles and books that tell that exercise is a way to youthful looks and energy. It is so often overlooked as a youth treatment....but it is free to everyone and not only do you end up looking good...your body will be healthier and happier!! Great reasons for getting on out there and either banging the pavement or working out at the gym. Whatever you choose, you will benefit all round and the whole thing is - it is at your fingertips and completely up to you.....
Come on, this is a new year and you want a new you don't you!!!
Why not click here to gee up your enthusiasm and a laugh.....by watching this!
NOW WHY NOT WATCH THIS UTUBE CLIP which is nothing about exercise at all really but I had to pass it your way!!!!!
This one was sent to me by my sisterinlaw and I am totally addicted to it!!!! The clip has gone viral and the group are very very happy they say - ecstatic actually!!!!
Take a look and bop along!!! You won't get this song out of your head or check the original one to a different take!
LANA'S WISE WEEK
You will all be thrilled to know that Lana is back on deck and check out her Wise Week to see what she has been up to. It will be good to have more of her stories coming to you, and I know she has something special coming your way soon....so keep posted...
QUOTATION
Just a little bit of inspiration from Andrea Boydston when she says:
If you woke of breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!!
So as this is the theme of this Wise Week....shake yourself up, break out of the mould and grab your chance. This is the time to live your life....
THANKS
Thank you everyone for your Christmas wishes and for all your feed back over the past year. Lana and I look forward to bringing you more Wise women this year....
Hi there Wise women,
CHRISTMAS IS ON ITS WAY..
Ho Ho Ho!!! Merry Christmas to one and all.
Yes - the countdown is on. Honestly, can you believe? We were celebrating Christmas just the other day, weren't we! Time flies so quickly and here we are again, buying presents, making puddings, flitting from one Christmas event to the next.
This Christmas we are celebrating a slap up lunch with all the family on Christmas Eve. The kids were thrilled as they could have a full day with us and then on Christmas Day, they are all off to a full day with their in-laws.
So there will be a bit of mutual sharing on the Day itself so we won't be completely abandoned.
IT'S GOOD TO BE FAT
Isn't this the news you need to be hearing right about now!
Being a little bit fatter is a little bit better, and who is sprouting these cheery words you might ask. It is our very own Aussie Professor Leon Flicker out of WA
Yes, it's the good news that those extra pounds can just help you along in your older age we are reliably informed.
Now this is truly music to the ears of all of us trying to budge those persistent pounds. Our bodies actually know what is best for us it seems...it stacks on weight because apparently it is good for it!!!
'They found that those overweight were 13 per cent less likely to die from any cause over a 10-year period, compared with those of normal weight.
Those underweight were 76 per cent more likely to die, while obese elderly people had the same mortality risk as those of normal weight.'
I wonder if having extra body weight means: that you are eating well, which means you can afford food, which means you can probably afford the Doctors visit, chemist requirements, dentist and complimentary alternatives that will help to keep you alive.
And of course those glamorous' thinbees' are actually heading towards frailty because they are owners of thin crispy bones for nasty breaks, less muscle tissue for supporting joints and thinning skin etc. Ouch!
What to do! We are told the road to being desirable is thin thin thin....but who is thinking about desirable when you get older!!! Only joking!!! But will the glamous thin baby boomers be unwittingly reducing their life span the thinner and more desirable they get!. How does all that work I ask!!!!
Whilst making mad passionate love in the mad effort of remaining desirable, we will end up crushing our thin bones - Ha! the mind boogles!!!!
I think I will have another biscuit!
SO WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING LATELY!
It has been ages since a wrote a long long blog so it is time to let you know a few of the things that have been going on in my life - those wiser years that we all have going now!!!!
DOCTOR'S VISIT
I finally got around to making an appointment at the doctors to have some seborrheic keratose removed from my back. You know summer is coming up and you want to look your best don't you!
Well, in my mind the whole thing is an ordeal - you have to remember to make the appointment, and steal yourself for the event. I didn't care which Dr at my medical practice could do it and so I got a very young newbie - Dr Chong and I am sure I have scarred her for life!!! I sauntered in and explained I wanted all of them removed. 'Let's have a look'. She combed my back gently tapping and umming.
'Which one bothers you?' she said
'All of them' I said. She diligently measured and agonised and announced the one I was really concerned about was over the 6mm size. 'It is too big - you will need it cut off' she said. 'Put your top on and we will talk about it'
'Ah Ah!!! I am not leaving these premises,' I said, 'until you have removed some of them so I will wait here while you get the cylinder to freeze them off!'
She was frozen to the spot with my reply I think. I sat there not moving.
She sighed and said ' I will have to fill up the cylinder'.
Oh...so was that the matter....pretty scary filling up the cylinder!!! Anyhow she came back and I almost had to break her leg to do three. What an effort the whole thing was. It cost heaps and I only got three done and goodness only knows whether they have been done properly!!!
TERRIFYING TEETH CLEANING ORDEAL
Due to the Lichen 'planusoid' condition of my gums, the doctor and the dentist recommended the health Hygienist. The only people who would front up to be become Dental Hygienists would have to be a masochists!!!! My god, I thought the whole experience was the most dreadful thing I have ever done.
I have had my teeth cleaned at the dentist many times with the sand blasting - but why not take a further step if you dare - into the nightmare world of periodontal scaling!
Firstly the Dental Hygienist surveyed the damage (which thankfully was not bad) and then she started with the ultrasonic water blaster. This a tool of torture and is excruciating in the extreme. The gum around every tooth was peeled back to reveal the upper tooth area!! She spent an hour blasting this horrible instrument along every tooth line (those cold teeth felt the pain like no tomorrow) and between each teeth which I felt like teeth removal. Ouch! I was lying there thinking, I can't believe I am sitting here letting this women inflict such pain on me. I was rigid with tension.
When she finished that I sighed in relief, I could make my escape - but no, the 'scaling of plaque and calculus was the next step. A horrible tool called a 'hand scaler' was driven across each tooth so strongly I assumed I wouldn't have any teeth left when she had finished. I thought it sounded and felt like tooth extraction.
Finally, finally, finally, when that was finished I had a green sludge of fluoride painted on my teeth and left for 2 minutes. Even though I could only spit it out and not rinse for an hour, it was definitely the highlight! That was it thank goodness!!
I had to prize my fingers from the edge of the chair to sit up! 'That was absolutely awful' I said. 'Oh it is not supposed to hurt, but this is your first time - next time will be much better'.
Next time, what did she mean - next time!!!
She then proceed to teach me about how to clean my teeth and all the new devices there are on the market to make it easier to keep them looking brilliant. I will be buying every single implement and I will use them like a person obsessed.
When she said 'See you in 6 months' I almost fell down the spiral staircase. After paying and dragging my still rigid body to the car I phoned Mr G to describe my past hour and a half. He said I was exaggerating and maybe I am and maybe I am not...but let me just put it to you this way, I am not looking forward to my next session. I will need a tranquiller dart I think!
I was so cheerful when I went in and left a shuddering wreck of a woman!!! But hey, I now have the pearliest white, shiniest, glamorous teeth in town!!! Yep, there was an upside!!! I liken it to childbirth really!
OPERATION RESULTS
I'll be back!
Well, I did say I would report back to you when I had my last visit with the Dr. I was very keen to hear what he had to say,
I visited him at the surgery in November.
'Ummmmmmmm. Hold you arms this way, that way. Ummmmmm. You'll need to have that side done again'
DING, DING, DING Red alert!!! I was fearing those words and now I heard them. You see, the left side is astonishingly brilliant. I have the underarm of a thirty year old. But the right side although it is devoid of the excess flesh, is just not quite right side of 'completely devoid'!
Oh darn!!! In a way it is lucky I had a good experience in the hospital last time so I am not that worried but it is just such an inconvenience. So next May ladies I do the whole thing again to get my desired underarms.........
I am getting so old that perfect underarms seem like a weird and peculiar desire!!!!
Oh well, I have come this far and so the journey continues... I will have to keep busy at the gym to keep all that area trim and tight!!! So yes, there are benefits in this long drawn out saga. I'll keep you posted.
HOME RENOVATIONS
I am dreaming of rainbows
Yes, we are at it again. Last time I wrote about this topic I said that it could ruin my marriage. Well, this time Mr G tried to kill himself and then me!!!!
Electricity is not a thing you play around with and with all the carefullness in the world Mr G decided to come up close and personal with a live powerpoint. As he yelled and flew across the room, my daughter and I looked on horrified. He was OK thankfully but it could have turned out badly.
Then a few days later as I was helping to remove a magnetic board from the wall it moved upwards and knock the family crest which spun down and hit me on the head. This crest weighs as much as a brick and was like a sledge hammer blow.
As a crept around the house with my hands on my head saying things like 'this is really bad, I mean this is really dreadful' and Mr G saying 'Oh you'll be alright'. I took my hands away to find they were coated with blood, my hair was bright red and there were red gushes down my forehead. I had a feeling the damage would be bad!!! After washing away the blood and applying a cold pack to my head I managed to avoid the hospital for some stitches. I eyeball that crest now, with sheer dislike!!
But our new painting and flooring job gives me such delight the dramas were worth it...I say this only because we are still alive to enjoy it though!!!! Ha!
GATHERINGS
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM US TO YOU
Well, folks I have met up with Lana a few times over the past few months due to our shared granddaughters end of years activities..... the Kindy and Dance Academy spectaculars. These events are what we grandmothers live to enjoy.
Miss C graduates from Kindy with her dad (my son) and mum (Lana's daughter)
Miss C took to the stage like a pro this year. Last year had her from peering from behind the curtains to this year - taking to the stage like she was born to it. What a difference a year makes. The Dance School was her 4 minutes of fame.
A little dinosaur
Centre stage she played a dinosaur in the prettiest green tutu you have ever seen and told her mother that she loved the stage and didn't want to get off. Who knows where all this could lead?
Lana is in fine form and very busy with a new business venture which is why she hasn't had the time to share with you at the moment. Travelling and organising means her heart and energies are being directed to that while it gets going so I look on in awe as she tackles something yet again.
Good luck Lana as you embrace another challenge
WORK CHRISTMAS LUNCH
The great bunch of people I work with.
WHAT DO YOUR CLOTHES SAY ABOUT YOU
Well, that's the name of Trinny & Susannah's book on clothing help! But have you ever wondered what you clothes do say about you. Do they say I am fun and interesting or are they shouting, tired and boring!!!! They might be saying I am expensive so I must show style or they might say I don't have any taste in clothing at all.
Well, you have to think about it and when you are older and wiser it is a challenge that's for sure. What in the heck do you wear to help you retain your youthfulness? There is the fine line between looking ridiculous in trying to look hip (and I admit I do go there) or trying to look 'within your age group' ! Ha, who wants to be respectable if that means boring.
Self Portrait - special record of me wearing a dress!! My first one in decades!
I don't want to look or be boring. I imagine myself in the future as an old old woman wearing incredible combinations and flowers in my hair as I try to avoid the geriatric look.
If I can't wear Chanel that WOULD scream style - then I'll opt for oddball!
But seriously, I think we all want to look stylish and beautiful but it is hard when you are grappling with an - dare I say it - older body. I know a lot of women say they can wear what they bloody well like now they are older - and whilst this is absolutely true it is a bit of cop out to give up!!
There are lots of lovely shops that cater for our shape and really, the fashion industry have realised we are out there and we want style. There are a couple of really good options - Blue Illusions has a terrific selection of flattering stylish clothing that anyone would be proud to be seen in.
Try looking at Metalicus with their layers upon layers of interesting shapes and colours - take your cheque book though!!! I am a little bit in love with Charlie Brown's glorious fabrics and trendy styles. Look around your shopping centre and discover the shop that delivers the clothes that will say what you want them to say.
The thing is never to be shy. Get the accessories happening and let your clothing reflect your inner you. But for goodness sake don't be boring.
LET'S GET FIT
Well I wrote the bit about having extra pounds as a good thing before I launched into let's get fit. I have only lost another couple of pounds since my last blog and whilst this seem a miserable amount I am actually as fit as a fiddle and firming up. So there is the conundrum!!! I go to the gym often - and the last three weeks have been doing body attack followed by KiMax - 2 hours of hard core. For two whole hours of jumping, running, punching and side kicks I am on such a high when I leave.
Exercise provides me with some sort of inexplicable vim and vigour that nothing else does. Honestly it does - try if for yourself.
Just because you are older don't be ashamed or embarrassed about going to the gym. Just get your body moving and have a great time. I must say I feel pretty proud of my wiser body as I leap and bound like the young ones. There is something very empowering about that, strange as it may seem!
So as I regale stories of my 'gym going' I am really trying to inspire you to take a chance, and risk a launch into a world where agelessness is given to you in hourly doses.
So get started, keep motivated and get your endurance happening.
MOVIES - loved both of these.....
GOOD OLD AUSSIE - RED DOG
What a great little Australian film even if the star was actually American - and I'm not talking about the dog here.. Josh Lucas, he was meant to be a Amercian in the film, is totally divine. How have I missed out on noticing him before. The dog was absolutely brilliant - but I believe there were a few dogs!! it is a feel good movie - but take it from me - it is tears at the end.
VERY WOODY ALLEN - MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
I really got into this feel good movie. Owen Wilson stars and is fantastic in this delightful adventure that has you smiling from start to finish. A must see.
WORDS OF WISDOM
For a sweet, simple and to the point here is a lovely quote:
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful - N V Peale
I wish you a very happy, healthy and safe and beautiful Christmas and also wish you every dream come true in the New Year.
We'll be seeing you then....
Love
Well, Hi there Wise Women,
'Long time no see' over here in Wise Week - but I have been trying to write bits of interesting information in the new section of Daily Blogs.
So you can catch up with me there at the moment - click over to Daily Blogs for a bit of updated Wisewomensworld.....
Looking forward to catching up with here shortly for a long overdue Wise Week - but for now check out Daily Blogs.
Don't forget to look at the list at the right of the blog for previous blogs. Or use the calendar to go back even further.
You can even do that here at well and find out what I was doing 3 or 4 years ago......have fun discovering new and old things!!!!
DAILY BLOGS
See you soon
Love G
Hi Wise Women.....
It is terrific to see you back and you have been wondering where we have been I am sure. Well, busy, busy, busy and because our Blogs take a while to write up - I have put up Daily Blogs we can keep in touch more or less Daily!!!! We'll try to pop something up to keep you entertained more often!!!
So check out our Daily Blogs......
Love Gigi
Hello Again Wise Women,
What a busy, busy lives we women seem to be living these days. It's funny, the older you get, the busier you seem to become. We pack so much into our lives plus trying to keep healthy and fit; this of course is the the key to relishing it all.
It's Springtime in Australia
I hope you are run off your feet too.....well, it means you are embracing life, so get on and do it with passion and excitement.
I know I have been short on time lately, and in my unorganised blithering way (well, it's not that good to admit that, is it), I seem to get through everything.
AN OLDER BRAIN IS NOT NECESSARILY A DISEASED BRAIN
I work part time for the Australian Association of Gerontology NSW. We put on a seminar recently and had a brilliant speaker. Dr Creasey is an 'expert' on older brains and her presentation was about how we have been scared into overdrive about the prospect of getting Alzheimer's or dementia.
You see, masses of money is poured into this field of diseased older brains in the hope of providing 'pills' to cure us of this terrible thing!
Dr Creasey
Dr Creasey's research and talk was about the fact that the ageing brain can be simply an ageing brain - not a diseased one.
She showed a photo of the fabulous late artist Margaret Olley living and painting in her house filled to the top with a mess of stuff. No-one complained about her inability to cope, tried to tidy her up or insist she maintain her living conditions or else be shuffled off to a hostel. She was praised for being a famous and brilliant artist and revered by one and all for living in a fascinating house. As far as I know, no-one said she was demented.
So maybe it is an matter of attitude, our attitude. We, the onlookers, should be mindful of how far we go with our relatives by not smothering with 'perfectionist' care. No older person can ever maintain that. If they seem to cope mentally and want to, who are we to say they have no ability.
Of course Alzheimer's in young people is a totally different kettle of fish and money should be spent in this area...but for the rest of us, keep yourself fit, eat well, keep blood pressure down and keep your brain active and you should have a well functioning brain - but a bit slower and more forgetful. Just let your relatives know how independent you wish to be before you get there.
Dr Creasey says something like: older people have a lessor capacity for brain function but it is because they have so many memories and information in there that they have to sift through it to find the answers. Young people are 'empty headed' so their brains work much faster! Hurray for that!
This seminar was available for anyone who wanted to go along, so sorry you missed it. Keep your eyes peeled for things that are on that might be interesting and stimulating to attend.
PLASTIC SURGERY
Miss C - perfect in every way
Now, I know you want to know what I had done!!! You have all been waiting for the big reveal!!!! And if you thought - plastic surgery to my face - well - thanks a million!!! Do I look like I need it!!! Ha! Maybe I do but sorry to disappoint!!!
This surgery was on a hidden part of my body and was done to eliminate something that shouldn't have been there. You probably don't have the problem yourself (lucky lucky you) but if you do you will be really interested in my story!!! Maybe you will be interested anyway!
I sailed through the whole thing but I am still swollen and the three inch wounds are still very visible so I cannot show you the desired outcome just yet. However, I have cringingly bared all so tell you a story and I can only say I have more bravery that I knew I had.
Click here to read about my plastic surgery journey!!!!
A VERY SAD AUSTRALIAN TALE: Daniel Morcombe
If you live oversees you may never have heard of this13 year old boy. But here in Australia his story has been covered in the media for about 8 years.
An abridged version is: It was just before Christmas and he had earned some money to buy his family presents. He was on the main road waiting for the bus. Unfortunately the bus driver was running late and did not stop to pick him up, as there was another 10 minutes behind. In that 10 minutes this young boy vanished. In the past week, his shoes and three of his bones have been recovered from the bush. His suspected murderer - a known paedophile is under arrest.
You feel extraordinary pain for the parents, his twin and his older brother. For years they did not let up in their search for him. As they have said - they held the smallest hope that maybe, just maybe, he was alive.
Imagine that, years of desperate hope whirring in your brain, in your heart - wishing for reunion at the end of the tale. But alas no, his death has just been confirmed. At least they know. And now, do they really want to find out what really happened to him!!! You just couldn't bear to hear it, could you.
The Morecombe's have spent the last years visiting schools regarding stranger danger and keeping the case open. And with their effort, the case has now been solved thankfully.
But his mum looks so sad and the harm it has done to her is irreparable. How do you climb from a body locked in hope, and fearing your worst nightmare. I really, really hope now she can find some peace in her head. That she can now look forward and enjoy life now with her husband and two boys who have lived with this hanging over their heads their whole lives.
I hope she can live in this world again, with joy in her heart knowing she will meet her boy in the next world some day.
Prayers to all of the Morcombe's......
39 YEARS AND NOT OUT!
My man and me
Mr G and I have just had our 39 wedding anniversary and 'ha' we look so darn good because we married so darn young. But most of us married young in 'the good old days'. You got educated, learned to drive a car, got married, had kids, got stuck into your career and then enjoyed your overseas adventures and the grandkids.
Not theses days though. It's get educated, go overseas for a years sabbatical or more, get stuck into a career, learn to drive a car, have kids and then get married!!! Grandkids - well GenY will be lucky to even meet their grandchildren!
OK, OK, I jest, but the hard part of our journey was done and dusted by 25. Yea for that. For GenY - these things will be chugging on well into their sixties.
I must say I am glad I have done things my way round. In the early days of marriage when you are struggling with relationships issues, you are so busy dealing with kids. You don't have the energy to even notice that your marriage has problems. Plain survival is the key....Then your kids all grow up and leave home at the same time, and you are still young enough to enjoy being married. Then you can travel.....
The chef tardies up our dessert with Happy Anniversary - a nice touch!
I digress: getting back to the Anniversary, we decided on a night out and chose Bistro Ortolan a 2 hat restaurant in Leichhardt. Wow what a feast. Silver service, superb extras, stunning desserts. I would thoroughly recommend it.
Stunning Art Deco Chelsea Park B/B
Then not to sssssssSTOP enjoying ourselves, we treated ourselves to a weekend away and booked into the fabulous Art Deco bed and breakfast 'Chelsea Park' in Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands.
We arrived about 9pm on the Friday night and were welcomed by Div who gave us pasta and hot bread super before we retired to our glorious bedroom.
Now breakfast was a feast that had me chocker block all day.
Ummmmmm - the breakfast to beat all breakfasts
A wonderful spread and to be eaten in the charming conservatory.
Arhhhhh - sweet dreams in the breakfast room
Weatherwise the weekend was magical and we set off to Berrima visiting wineries along the way. Naturally bought some bottles (well, thankfully my full stomach did allow me to sip wines!!)
We came across the Ancient Arts Fellowship practising their jousting in the park.
Is this Robin Hood!
These people really take this hobby/sport seriously as they don their ancient clothing and brandish their swords and shields.
'On guard' or is it 'ready for attack!!!
It was quite fascinating - but what I found more interesting was observing the sorts of people who actually do this!!!!
Mr G was ready for coffee but I gave that a pass and headed for the Alpaca Shop.
Lovely soft toys for the kiddies!!!
Whilst the products were heavenly, the cost prevented me from buying the divine black cape coat with the fur collar. Oh how I loved that thing but alas, a $1000+ coat was beyond my means. We said hello to the real live alpacas in a little corral outside the shop.
We wandered around the township and decided to take a tour of the Courthouse:
'Designed by Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis and constructed between 1835 and 1838. Quarter sessions were held from 1838 and in 1841, the first Supreme Court Assizes. Berrima Court House played a significant role in Australia’s judicial history, the very first trial by jury in the colony was held here in April 1841. The fine interior joinery is especially noteworthy, with curved cedar hewn by hand with an adze, basically a curved axe.'
How they carved these amazing doors with that implement defies belief!
There is a show in the courtroom. A screen is positioned where the magistrate would have sat. On that screen, a very stern looking magistrate peers out. The jury and the juridical members are mannequins dressed in period costume and their voices belt out over the sound system.
The old courthouse 'stuffed dummy' show
The trial is almost over: a man has been murdered - his wife and her lover are in the dock.
The magistrate's booming voice decrees that the murderers are dripping in satan's blood, should be hanged and buried upright so they would never be at rest, and their heads severed and sent to Research. By that stage I was hysterical laughter (and so was Mr G who happens to be a lawyer).
Wow, have this magistrate presiding over the court case these days and your clients would be doomed - even after they were dead, the dooming went on and on!!! We left the room laughing and the woman at the desk was amazed. Well, she said most people come out of there horrified because of the harshness - ooooophs maybe we know too much about the legal system!!!
We visited the Harpers Mansion, a pretty two storey house surrounded by beautiful gardens.
A glimpse yesteryear's grand living
This fine Georgian House was built in 1834 by James Harper, first licensee of the Surveyor General. One of the ladies selling the tickets told us a sad tale though. Apparently a young baby was placed in front of the fireplace to keep warm, caught alight and died. Imagine the horror of that!!! Out in the garden there is a terrific maze and whilst you could easily get lost, Mr G and I thankfully made it out of there without a search party being required!!!!
The gorgeous gardens of Centennial winery
More winery tasting ensued and then back to the B/B to decide where to go for dinner. It's always a problem when your in some place new, isn't it! We chose a Thai Restaurant and it took ages to be taken to our table. Then nobody served us for 30 minutes and Mr G summoned a waitress and said we would leave if they didn't get someone to take our order in 5 minutes. It was then a chap came over with a survey. The huge Restaurant had only opened the day before and they were monitoring how it was going so we would get 10% off the meal!!! We finally got our dinner which happened to be really delicious but they got a bad report on timing.
Breakfast next morning was three cheese egg soufflé and bacon rolls. Stuffed like a pigs again, we said a fond farewell to our hosts and made for garden shops.
A colour filled holiday
This time of the year is so lovely, daffodils, camellias, azaleas, blossom trees, magnolia, tulips - everywhere you looked in town, the country side and the garden shops, were a blaze with colour.
I felt like the whole weekend was a beautiful immersion in a visual wonderland. I loved every minute.
A host of golden daffodils
The southern Highlands is a great spot to visit - a little bit of England - and there is so much to do. Only an hour or two from Sydney it makes a perfect weekend getaway.
Try it for yourself!!! and I couldn't recommend Chelsea Park more highly.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
To all the dad's out there, I hope you enjoyed a very Happy Father's Day. This was my first Father's Day without my dad so it was very sweet of Mr G to distract me by taking me on gorgeous weekend away.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - THE POT
Little Pot enjoying his dad's birthday!
Special 'happy birthday's' go to my second child who has just turned 34. Beautiful turned on a fabulous lunch for the family - exceptional food, brilliant company and lots of laughs with sing-star. Boy we love our singalongs and family get togethers!!!!!
ABFAB - looking absolutely fabulous
It's all about colour and a whole lot more...
Well, if you have been reading our blogs for a long, long time you will have heard all about the AbFab Girls - Sharron-Del and Michelle - the terrific stylist team that can sort your wardrobe.
They are putting on shows around town at the moment and I caught up with the Team and Lana last week. I had managed to co hearse a couple of Nurses I know to be the guinea pigs for the styling and I think they were pretty pleased at the outcome. In fact, they looked 'hot'!
But it was the first time I had seen the show and I personally learnt a lot that night. I worked out what colours suit me and that my clothing style is romantic - 'ain't that nice'.
Knowing that has made me realise WHY I don't like wearing some of the reasonably nice classical bits I have. You see, I think I should have classical clothing because I love it on other women, so I buy bits and pieces. I put them on and just don't feel right. So now I know 'just don't go there'. Learning about the other styles and knowing my own - I can now shop with a sense of purpose for my own look.
If you live in Sydney, you might be able to catch up with the AbFab team and learn some value dressing information.
We interviewed Sharron-Del and Michelle a few years ago
LET'S GET FIT
Hey, it's me on the Let's Get Fit campaign again. It has been difficult for me to do anything the past few weeks with the operation and all, but I made a commitment that after our weekend away I would pull out all stops to try and lose some weight. So back at the gym and eating well and already I have lost 2 pounds. Mr G has not been that pleased with his endless piles of cous cous and rice pilaffs but I am making a diligent effort in the food area. Of course the weekends I intend to break out, but if the week is held in holding pattern then the rewards will be there.
And I dragged Mr G to Zumba on Sunday morning and being the only male in the class he was feeling pretty sheepish when he realised. But he was fantastic - I am sure all the 'older' women were pretty impressed with his slick moves!!!!
So join me on the 'lose a few kilos' plan. Next time I write I will tell you how much I have lost and let's see if you are performing better than me.
The race is on girls....who will lose the most!!!
SEPTEMBER 11
Prayers to the whole world that terrorism is a thing of the past....
LANA'S WISEWEEK
I finally caught up with Lana girls, and she is busy helping the Abfab girls put on their shows at the moment. She has simply fantastic trip coming up and so hopefully you will hear from her then. She looks great, and is keeping busy.
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
And a lovely quote for you all by M Proust:
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Get thee a gaggle of gardeners.....
Have a wonderful few weeks until we meet again.
Love
