A Brighter Week

Well after last week, we have had a much happier and less worrisome week. The clean up effort after the floods has been amazing. So many willing volunteers as well as tradies giving up their time for free. It is amazing how they have cleaned out and dismantled the inside of houses so that only the shell remains and now they are on to rebuilding. Whilst the city has miles to go to recover the signs are promising and very positive.
Craig has been working, working, working. It will be good to have him home this weekend. We did have a lovely BBQ at one of his work friend's home last Saturday evening. Very impromptu and relaxed considering it was very difficult to access food due to the lack of it caused by the floods.
We spent a wonderful Sunday at Petrina's parents' place on the north side of Brisbane. They have a beautiful home with land around them for the children to play and it was so good of them to include Penny, Nick and myself in their family lunch. My good friend, Petrina and her family from Bundaberg were on their way home from a NSW holiday and it was great to catch up. The children even had a ride on a motorbike. Penny was the first to put up her hand for a turn, She is turning into such a thrill seeker.
The children attended intensive swimming lessons this week at the local pool which they enjoyed, especially the play before and after in the various fun pools and slides. I even made a new friend who I hope to catch up with for a coffee when the children return to school.
We picked up the kid's uniforms on Wednesday and they are very bright and will look lovely. Penny tells me she is excited about starting Prep and Nick is looking forward to making some new friends. We found their classrooms which weren't flooded but plenty of work is going on to ready the flooded classrooms for the end of the first week. Unfortunately the ovals and swimming pool were inundated with muddy water so play is restricted and the pool will be out of action for the first term.
Alex and Lachlan (cousins) came over for lunch and a play yesterday afternoon which the kids loved. They all have such fun together.
Today we are awaiting the arrival of good friends from Bundaberg (Jason, Shane, Zarlee and Locklin) to spend the weekend with us. After storms and heavy rain all week, we have a beautiful sunny afternoon - perfect conditions for a champers and nibblies on the deck. Nick and Penny are beside themselves with excitement in anticipation of their arrival.

Well this is a very long post and hopefully you are still with me. A post is much more interesting when there are photos which I have been very slack on taking but I did do some scrapping in the week prior to the flood so here are the LO's. They're a little simple but I figure that is the only way I am going to catch up.
Schools back in on Monday so I'll return with some first day photos then.
Also a  big get well soon to my sister, Robyn and her partner, Ian who are battling a nasty virus ATM.
Have a lovely weekend.
Rach xxx

Brisbane Floods

Well I can assure you I have had troubles sticking to "relax", my one little word this week. Whilst we have been so very lucky so many down at the end of our street have been much less fortunate with water up to their roof tops. (photo above) The devastation is enormous and very depressing. Craig helped some people down the street move all of their furniture out yesterday. We had Craig's work colleague and his family of 4 (plus dog) stay with us last night. Luckily the flood levels didn't reach those predicted and the water stopped inches short of their front door. Unfortunately there are sewage problems with their apartment complex though so they are off to a motel for a couple of weeks. I have been chief cook and bottle washer and baby sitter. Feeling pretty exhausted tonight and so lucky that I can have a more restful sleep in my own bed. My brother and his family are all OK too. After an anxious wait, the flood waters stopped 4 houses short of their place. Now for the waters to recede which they are already doing and the clean up to begin. Craig's offices and depot were completely inundated and will be non-operational for up to 6 wks so they have found a new depot to work out of so that fruit and veg can get moving again.

Keep you posted.

Rach xxx

One Little Word

It seems the trend for the New Year is to choose one word to aspire to. I have given this much thought and have come up with many words but one that shines bright. My word for 2011 is:

************* RELAX**************

As many of you may know I have a very control freak personality, almost bordering on OCD. This year I am not going to be stressed if the kids aren't in the bath at 5pm or the dinner isn't on the table at 6pm. As a friend told me recently there are far worse things in life - don't sweat the small stuff.

Smile was also in the top three but I thought if I relaxed more then there would be more smiling.

So there you have it. What is your word for 2011?
Rach xx

ps - 2011 goals to follow or is that too control freakish?

pps - On this day 16yrs ago I flew to Bundaberg to begin my career as a radiographer/sonographer - oh how time has flown.

Back From An Adelaide Christmas

We spent 5 days in Adelaide over Christmas, visiting my family. Most of the boxes were unpacked so I was ready for a relax. The weather was topsy-turvy as usual - 30 degrees one day and 19 the next! We managed to visit the beach where the children bravely entered the water. Too cold for the adults but the children had a lovely time.

Christmas day was spent having a long lazy lunch/dinner at my parents place.

Boxing day was spent at the zoo which we all enjoyed although the pandas were a great disappointment this time as they were sleeping. I think they must've experienced too much Christmas cheer as one had her paw covering her eyes.

On Monday we visited my aunt and uncle's "special place" (as Penny calls it) in the Adelaide hills. Although it was very cool up there we had a wonderful time as usual. All of my cousins and their families were present (26 of us), just my sister, Robyn unfortunately missing. The children had a great time on the rope swing, we had a treasure hunt around the property, we caught some red claw and the kids paddled around the dam in a boat. My uncle, Nigel has recently completed the construction of another vintage motor car which is 82 yrs old. Penny was first to put her hand up for a ride as she had such a good time in the Speedwell (in this post) when we visited in June. We finished up with a family photo as it has taken many years for all of us to be together (perhaps 15yrs). Someone will just have to photoshop Robyn in!

On Tuesday the shops opened again in Adelaide for the big sales (no Boxing Day sales). We had a little look although didn't have much room for purchases.
We returned to Brisbane on Tuesday night and a huge number of emails containing photos of the floods from our friends in Bundaberg. What a tragic event and we feel very deeply for those who have lost so much. It must be a rather smelly and depressing place to be and will be for sometime. The house that we sold is not flooded as it is in a higher part of Bundaberg. Thinking of you all.
Rach xxx

Moving Done

Well we made the big move to Brisbane last week. All went really well. The removalists were great and didn't break a thing. I have most of the boxes unpacked and everything in its place. The kids have coped well although are feeling a little cabin fever from waiting around for me to finish unpacking. We ventured out to the shops and the local library yesterday. My favourite scrapping shop had its final closing down day yesterday and I received 80% off my purchases! The cat travelled well and seems to love her new place. High fences, small yard and plenty of bushes to hide under.  The new house is lovely. The kitchen is huge. I am getting leg weary moving from one side to the other. Penny was over the stairs after the first day as they are quite steep. We all had sore calves for the first few days climbing up and down. We have a beautiful park nearby on the river which we have visited a couple of times. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas.
Rach xx

Cleaning Break

I really am missing my scrapping at the moment. I haven't scrapped for a month as I packed all of my gear up. I even handed out bought thank you cards! I am having a bit of a break from cleaning and thought I'd have a look over the LO's I completed in 2010. I came across these 2 that I haven't shown yet.

In other news we are right on track for the truck to come and collect our gear on Tuesday and hand over the keys to our home of 13yrs on Friday. We feel mixed emotions at present - sad to leave but excited for our future. The kids and I all had our last day yesterday. The lovely carers at Penny's daycare made us a card in which they all wrote messages - very touching. Nick received cards from some of his friends and teachers wishing him well. I had cake and yummy morning tea at work yesterday - thanks Tracey and BR staff. I walked out of the door after almost 16years yesterday and felt sad to say goodbye but am also so excited for what our future holds. I feel that we must be making the right move as everything has fallen into place so easily. I have just signed a contract to start work in 8wks, working school hours, 3 days a week. I am really looking forward to working at this practice.

So I must sign off for a week as my internet provider tells me it will be a little while before I am back on-line. Hope you have found your Christmas Spirit and are enjoying the season. Only 14 more sleeps until Santa visits!

Jazz, Tap and Ballet

Penny had her 3 dancing concerts this weekend. She performed the 3 genres in each concert. It was a lovely concert as any biased mother would say. Penny loves performing on the stage and was very sad to find out that dancing is over for another year. Much to our relief (and wallet) she has decided ballet is where her heart lies and so we will be in search of a ballet school in Brisbane.

In other news we have just been packing, packing, packing. My garage is filled with boxes. Cleaning has begun. We move in a little over a week. We have a lovely 2 storey house to move to, much to Penny's delight. Stairs were her main request. We are just praying for slightly finer weather than the torrential downpours we have been having in the last week.

My work friends took me out for a farewell dinner last week. I had a lovely night and was spoilt with gifts. Saying goodbye to the lovely friends that I have made over the past 16yrs is sad but I am starting to get excited about our new adventure.

Nick finishes year 2 this week and Penny will finish daycare. More goodbyes!

Have a good week.

Rach xxx