the birthday celebration February 22, 2010

Well we headed off to Newcastle for the night.

Its a funny place Newcastle.

It's a city surrounded by beautiful beaches and lakes, it has a nice foreshore area and harbour, (it's one of the largest coal exporting harbours in the world), yet it still remains a bit of a shithole.

It's a real blue collar city. A steel city. BHP set up business there in the early 1900's and employed just about everyone until 1999 when it closed down.

And now it doesn't seem to know what to do with itself. The main street is trashed. Burnt out shops, graffiti everywhere.

 

For-sale

Jo-and-hearts

Poets-page

Sushi-sux

 

And there's this great dirty railway that runs right between the main street and the foreshore. There are plans to rip it out and put in parks and whatever which would be really nice and sort of flow on better. But of course there is the Save The Rail Group who oppose anything to do with pulling out the rail line. I often wonder if any of them actually ever catch the train to town. So basically the water is right there behind the bottle shop and at the end of the line the blue you can see is the sea.

 

Railway

 

So you cross the line, turn right and you're on the foreshore, which is developing nicely with restaurants and bars. Nice to sit there in the afternoon.

 

Foreshore

 

This place always makes me laugh. We sat in there and had dinner once. Its just a little shed attached to the restaurant.

 

Scratchleys

 

And we sat at The Brewery for a while where we had to listen to a really bad singer. Here I am with my beautiful boy.

 

Brewery

 

Then we walked down to Isobar for dinner. Kind of wasted my time doing my hair. This place was crap. We booked for 6 then when we got there they said they needed our table at 8 for the next booking. Then they hovered around us wearing their stupid headphones and hassling us all the time to order or we'd miss out.

 

Bad-hair-day

Hair-bear

 

My bestie Jem and I.

 

Besties

 

We went to visit Chicken Little as well. As you can see she has special powers. Lasers shoot from her eyes.

 

Chicken-and-her-laser-eyes

 

And my gorgeous daughter.

 

Sexy

 

Gave me this lovely little plant that cost her $ 3.00. And I only had to pay $ 15.00 for a pot and potting mix for it to go in.

 

Birthday-plant

 Anyway it turned out to be a pretty huge afternoon and evening.

When I woke up the next morning I had to go to McDonalds and have 2 large iced coffees and a large fries to start recovering.

 

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happy birthday to me February 19, 2010

So on this day, 46 years ago, I was born in this hospital.

 

Hospital

 

I had my appendix out there when I was 9 as well. That was back in the day when the local doctor had to do everything. No sending you off to a thousand specialists.

My mother turned up at the hospital that day saying she was in labour but they sent her home saying it was a false alarm. So on the way home she got Dad to stop at the bakery and get her a couple of meat pies that she ate. Then of course she was back there later giving birth to me while digesting a stomach full of pastry and meat.

But all went well. And by the look of this photo I was taken home when I was about 5 hours old and handed over to the siblings.

 

Baby-me

 

But I survived that as well and grew into a really cute little baby. This is one of the photos my mother coloured. That was her job, painting black and white photos. She was very good at it. Spent a lot of time on the little details. Like the eyelashes on the cat, things like that.

 

Too-cute

 

And went on to become best friends with Roslyn. Seen here blowing out my birthday cake candles. We spent all our time together after we met in kindy. We were besties for years and years before she went away to boarding school when she was about 15. Then we lost touch.

 

Birthday-girl

 

And now here I am. All these years later. My own kids have grown up and are getting about on their own, they are lovely and capable and kind, business is doing well and pays me a wage, hobbies are still interesting me, I have good friends. And now I have some spare time. I have to think about how I want to use it.

But one thing I am certain of is this – language warning.

 

Year-of-me

 

I just realised I have the same haircut I had when I was 5.

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photo time December 8, 2009

I've been having a shocker with the 365 day photo thingo. I take them but then forget to post them.

But when I get back from Thailand I'll be able to bore you for weeks with photos. I was thinking today that its very inconvenient, how when you're trying to get ready to go overseas, normal life keeps going on and taking up time.

So, some photos.

Here is my friend Jem. We were out celebrating her birthday.

 

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And here she is with her hubby.

 

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Here is my foxxxxy daughter Kimba, the devil, and her good friend, Cleopatra getting ready for Cleopatra's birthday party.

 

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And here I am with Big Ears.

 

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And this is Betty chewing on the hindquarter of a small elephant. Or something.

 

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Oh yes, and these are Lloyds shoes. Because he thought it might be a good idea to buy a pair or white dunlop volleys to wear to all the summer music festivals he goes to. This was after Parklife.

 

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And these were my new nail polishes that you've seen before. And I don't really like either of them. But its ok because I have a newer smokin' rimmel red.

 

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365 day photo challenge October 10, 2009

its been ages since I posted the 365 day photos. I've had them here ready to go but I always seem to have something else to blab about. So the week that was 64 – 70

 

Charlie – the time has just about come for his annual shave, starting to matte up.

 

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This is a pretty vine that grows on our fence. It flowers for about 2 days of the year which is a shame

 

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Here are some lovely young ladies I had dinner with one night.

 

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This was our tree at the back door. First sign of spring.

 

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And again, with another perfect blue sky.

 

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My lovely daughter Kimba

 

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And the gorgeous Jem and Myself. You know people often say to me – what colour is your eyeshadow? But I don't wear eyeshadow. That is just my lovely natural dark eye colour. I've always been very dark around the eyes. I have photos when I was five and I was dark then. Maybe I need a detox!

 

70

 

 

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happy birthday to you September 3, 2009

Today my baby is 17. I said to Daz, I guess we should stop treating her like she's 13, she's almost an adult. The years have flown by.

So what was going on 17 years ago that I remember. Well I was enormous because I'd put on 25 kilos, and I spent amost every day in a pair of green bib and brace overalls. I had a four year old and a two year old and we drove around in a 1964 Valiant station wagon that broke down so often the NRMA man showed me how to fix it myself. Lloyd wet his pants at playgroup, I left Kimba there, drove home to get him some clean ones, the car broke down and I sat down on the step and cried. Thats when I knew I was having going to have a baby that day.

Sure enough at 3am I woke up Daz and said lets go to the hospital. Then we stood on the front verandah and had a fight about what car we were going in. I refused to get in the Valiant. He wanted to go in the Valiant because his mother actually drove to the hospital to have him in that very same Valiant. Cheryl came out and said – for gods sake kids, just get in a car and go to hospital. We didn't go in the Valiant.

I don't have any photos of Lizzie now. She refuses to have her photo taken.

So here she is when she was little and sweet.

 

Dancing

House

Phone

Lipstick

Mud-pies

 

And here she is when she used to let me dress her up and take photos of her. God knows what the neighbours thought if they were looking over the fence.

 

Hostage

Rebel

Dolls-revenge

 

And here's a sneaky one I got recently. Now she's sort of sweet and sour.

 

Sneaky

 

And here we have Jem and myself celebrating last night. I think we thought it was our birthday.

 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZIE.

MWAH, MWAH

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sweet dreams are made of this August 19, 2009

There has been way too much talk about vampires lately. I don't know if its from reading the Twilight series, or hearing about Emjay reading the Anita Blake series, it could be from watching True Blood, or even my old favourite Buffy. A combination of all of them I'd say.

But I have been having way too many vampire dreams lately. And even though they have all had elements of the ridiculous in them, they still freak me out. Last night I dreamt that a pack of vampires was travelling with a pack of fox terriers. By the time I woke up there was only one fox terrier left. (Watch out Chicken Little). What woke me up was some loud house creaking noises. I had to get up and open the bedroom door so I could keep an eye on the hallway, and it took me about an hour to get back to sleep.

I think I'll have to get out my little Bambi book tonight and read it before I go to sleep.

Comin' to getcha.

 

Vamp

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Leenda’s Meme May 24, 2009

I don't do these things very often. But it's Sunday morning and I'm home alone and I'm sure everyone wants to know these thrilling things about me so here we go.

 

What is on your bed right now? doona, pillows, usual suspects.

When was the last time you threw up? I never throw up. I refuse to. I talk myself out of it. I just won't do it.

What's your favorite word or phrase? Chihuahua. Although I'm almost over that. You say it instead of good bye. Well I do anyway. And you have to say it a certain way of course or people think you're weird.

Name 3 people who made you smile today? I haven't seen anyone yet today – it;s only 9.20am – I'm home alone

What were you doing at 8 am this morning? thinking about getting up.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Same as now: sitting at the computer. And washing

What is your favorite holiday? Oh god, the one years ago when we went (me, daz and kids) to Myall Lakes. It was so awful and stressful that now it's become hilarious.

Have you ever been to another country? Yes Bali

What is the last thing you said aloud? Good morning little doggie

What is the best ice cream flavor? don't do ice cream

What was the last thing you had to drink? Coffee

What are you wearing right now? my new very stylish slazenger trackie pants with a black t shirt.

What was the last thing you ate? hmm, well that would be last night and they were these little pastry things I made with an ocean trout in white sauce thingo in them. I'm having the rest for lunch on a baked potato.

Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Yes – my new stylish slazenger trackie daks (which I didn't realise were so expensive until just then when I looked at the docket).

When was the last time you ran? friday – 5kms. Mind you there were several moments of walking included in that.

What's the last sporting event you watched? Oh joyous times. That was last nights NRL game when my wonderful Penrith Panthers gave Daz's woeful Sydney City Roosters a spanking.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Thailand – bring it on.

Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace/facebook? An old friend of mine – we were best friends in year 10.

Ever go camping? Yes, lots of drunken teenage camping trips have been had.

Do you have a tan? I used to tan all the time. I go really dark. Now I don't tan. Now I'm just all blotchy and pigmented from the tanning I used to do. STAY OUT OF THE SUN KIDDIES.

Have you ever lost anything down a toilet? Sometimes I lose the empty cardboard toilet roll down the toilet. Thats always a nasty job fishing that out. I usually get daz to do it.

What is your guilty pleasure? I try not to be guilty about any pleasure I get thanks. Messes with your head too much that sort of thing.

Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot? No. Only if I think people aren't going to get my warped sense of humour.

Do you drink your soda from a straw? I don't drink much fizzy and when I do I just drink from the can.

What did your last text message say? It was to Kimba last night telling her to stay safe because she was out on the tiles with her friends for more 21st birthday celebrations.

Are you someone's best friend? aww shucks, I think so.

What are you doing tomorrow? Monday usual – work, bit more running, groundhog day really.

Where is your mom right now? Probably sitting in her chair having a coffee.

Look to your left, what do you see? The next door neighbours house if I didn't have the ugly curtain closed.

What color is your watch? I don’t own one

What do you think of when you think of Australia? Oh well, here I am in Australia and I'm thinking about it but nothing comes to mind in particular.

Ever ridden on a roller coaster? NOOOO – I'm such a scaredy Cat. I never have a lot of confidence in the maintenance guys. The only roller coasters I get a chance to ride on used to come through town with the shows. And when you look at the carnies running them, well, I just don't trust all the nuts and bolts are tightened very often.

What is your birthstone? don't know – I think its purple though.

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? I only have takeaway about three times a year so I go in so I can spend a long time looking  at the board deciding what I want.

Do you have any friends on myspace/facebook that you actually hate? No

Do you have a dog? Yes, Betty.

Last person you talked to on the phone? Daz

Any plans today? Sunday here so not really

Are you happy? yes mostly

Where are you right now? office

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? nothing really

Last song listened to? Pump It – black eyed peas – its good to run to.

Last movie you saw? lol, I watched I'm Not There. But I think you probably need to take a lot of drugs before you watch that. Cate Blanchett is fantastic though. And I liked it, but I'm not really sure what it all means.

Are you allergic to anything? bandaids

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? joggers

Are you jealous of anyone? No

Are you married? yes

Is anyone jealous of you? Surely – I mean I'm so fantastic (thats where you should put a smiley face)

Do any of your friends have children? Yes

Do you eat healthy? Usually

Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Yes

How many kids do you want when you're older? Well none I hope. I already have three and I don't want any of those nasty middle life surprises.

How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 45

Have you ever been to Six Flags? I don't know what it is

How did u get one of your scars? The old appendix story. I have a huge scar, they must have had to have a dig around. Don't know why though, they were huge, about to explode. I got to keep them in a jar on my bedside table for years. They don't do that anymore do they – give you body bits to keep in jars. When I was a kid we all had tonsils or appendix floating around in murky liquid on the bedhead.

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twenty years April 21, 2009

Today is our wedding anniversary.

Well, either today or the day before yesterday. We've never been really sure. The marriage certificate was lost years ago and we can't remember if it was the 20th or 22nd that we were married. But whats a day or two matter anyway after twenty years.

So here we are twenty years ago.

I was drugged to the eyeballs. I woke up that morning and my back had this huge seizure and I couldn't stand up straight. So I spent the morning in the doctors waiting room and asked him to give me enough drugs to get me upright and pain free for the next ten hours.

Poor Daz, looks a bit confused about the whole thing. He was pretty trashed by the end of the night. We stopped by our house on the way to the motel to get my dressing gown and a tin of milo and he saw one of the cats and was leaning out of the car door calling, Marnie, marnie, and the effort of it all made him throw up. When we got to the motel we opened the presents and put them in three piles. Possibles, probables, and what the fuck were they thinking.

 

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Kimba got to come. She was almost one year old then. You have never seen a baby fed so much chocolate mud cake by so many different tables of drunk people in your life.

 

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My good friend Bubbles made my dress for me. I picked a photo out of a magazine of one I liked and she made it for me. We'd been drinking champagne because we were testing a few to see which one would do to put on the tables. And she threw the material out on the floor and started cutting it. I said – shouldn't you have a pattern for that, and she was all – nah, it'll be right.

It sat on the floor in the wardrobe for a few years after that. The girls used to dress up in it. Then one day I found the cat having sex with it. I looked in and there he was with a big wad of it stuffed in his mouth, another big part of it wedged between his back legs, and his front paws pumping away. So I left it there for him to have as his comfort blankey until he died and then I threw it in the bin.

So twenty years passed by. Well, more than that really because we'd been together for a few years before that. Sounds like a long time, twenty years.Hell, that is a bloody long time. And I could have all that to do again, twice even.

 

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filthy gorgeous March 9, 2009

Ah dear. Things you do.

The other day, when I was still painting, I suddenly thought to myself, I can't wait to just sit down at my computer and mess around with some photos.

And today I finally had time. So here I am. lol, ain't I the pretty one. Thats what too many paint fumes does to you. Good lord, must get those grey roots touched up.

Well, even though I look….. interesting, I was pretty pleased with this. Going to do Lizzie next. She can't wait.

 

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In fact looking at that, it's hard to believe I hatched these gorgeous creatures.

 

Girls

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weekend review February 23, 2009

Well I'm back, and I'm 45. Which actually doesn't feel much different than 44 did.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes – much appreciated.

I am only slightly sunburnt. That bit in the centre of your back that you can't reach. You sort of get sunburnt with scraggly finger marks on you.

We went with Jem and her crew because her husbands birthday is today and my husbands birthday is tomorrow, so we try to make a weekend out of it each year.

This is the beach we were at, it's good for kids. We were at the central coast (about an hours drive south of Sydney).

 

Beach

 

Now I know it looks like you have to swim half way to China to get some water past your knees, but when they take a couple of more steps they'll be in over their heads. Drops away very suddenly to deep water.

 

Swimming

 

Here I am with Lloyd. Who has turned into some kind of camera slut. He just can't have enough photos taken of himself. A couple of Jems gang in the background.

 

With-lloyd

 

Then we went to the pub for lunch. Where several people walked past and said – Do you own that little boy out there?

 

Anyone-own-this-boy

 

Thats Jems son,  he was wet and cold so we told him to go out and sit in the sun to warm up. But we were told that The Bar Staff said he couldn't sit there on his own. Well he wasn't really sitting, but we could see him and he wasn't running around. Actually the way she said it we thought she said The Master said he couldn't lie out there. But we went and joined him anyway.

 

Watching-the-boy

 

Then I don't know what we did. But we went out for dinner that night at the Club. Here I am with Lizzie ready to roll.

 

Ready-for-dinner

 

And here is Lloyds pizza. It was called the Outback Meatlovers. But when I was reading the menu I thought it said Outback Leftovers. Thought it was some kind of roadkill diner we were in.

 

Outback-meatlovers

 

And to wash it down, some slushies. I think they were blue lagoon, margarita and fruit tingle. Mine was the margarita, I always try to go for the least colourful drink – not so sweet. They weren't bad actually, except there were a few brain freezes.

 

Brain-freeze

 

Then we ended the night on cake. 

 

Cake

 

The next night we had curry for dinner. Daz tried to be a smarty pants and ordered his curry extra hot. This is him when he was eating his dinner. After he went blind.

 

Curry-night

 

Kimba couldn't come with us this year. She had to stay home and look after Chicken Little. Seen here realxing upside down on the lounge.

 

Chickie

So its out for dinner again tonight, then dinner party here tomorrow night, then we're all done and dusted for another year. 

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