Term one report

Goodbye Term one!  It's hard to believe the last ten weeks passed on by so fast and it has been quite a busy term with my home and social life, craft meets, bowling leagues and school commitments. Even managed the time to seen a couple new releases movies at the cinema.  And probably see one or two movies with the kids and friends over the school holidays. So, what have you been to lately?

 

We inherited another cat into this household earlier this month.  This feline is a female approximately the similar age as Gismo. She originally lived at one of the houses in the next street but it seems when the owners moved she either was left behind or travelled back to her old address.  It was one of their neighbours rescued this cat and handed over the cat to us because the neighbour knew I was more the cat person who would accept her. She has different personality traits then Gismo.  They seem to get along as great friends but like all forms of life, there is their off days.

 

My girls seem to have settled into a new year of learning routine but I am not sure if the kids or teachers are coping well with the new national curriculum changes that was introduced to Queensland this year.  Only this week I had my parent teacher student interview with Rachel's teacher.  Not surprising I was expected to hear Rachel is struggling with this year's workload.  Her teacher expects me to be more the educator to teach my child at home as the new curriculum changes doesn't include slow learning students to magically catch up overnight.  What is the point of sending your kids to school to learn if the teachers don't have the time to teach all kids at different levels?

 

This week both schools had their cross country event..  Rachel came 2nd and she does qualify for the districts event when term 2 starts in two weeks time.  Monique has her cross country event at her school today.  Going by the past year I don't think she will make it to the top ten placings.  She has slacking off in her effort to run well since she become a teenager.

 

Tragically my Dad has been ill and had to be admitted to hospital for an emergency hernia operation this month.  The surgery went well and he is going fine with his recovery since.  But it was enough for me to cope with.  Going back to the same hospital to see the wards and remembering the hospital smells, brought back memories of 2010 when he will ill after the cancer removal.

 

Junior bowling tournaments had resume back last month.  Both girls have been involved in a couple of tournaments.  There is now two intercentre tournaments played monthly or bi-monthly.   Monique hasn't won any individual placings for either tournments.  But the centre she represents for the under 21 intercentre tournament had came 1st and 3rd so far. The last match was played in Toowoomba which happened last weekend.  One of the bowlers bowled his first 300 game!

 

Rachel has an Easter tournament to be played on Saturday afternoon with other junior players at her home centre.  Apparently the kids will win Easter goodies. Monique was involved in a casual in home tournament last month at her home centre and she came 2nd overall.

 

All the best for an enjoyable Easter with your family or friends next weekend.  If you have any travel plans, I hope your destination spot will be a safe return.

A busy week

A week has past since my last weekly posting which has been busy and a mixed bag of emotions as well.  Four days of this week has been busy of not being barely at home.

Last weekend's plans went out the window as I had my Dad admitted to hospital for an emergency hernia operation.  The operation went well and he is now at home recovering.

This week has been busy with normal commitments as well as attending two craft meets.  On Tuesday I worked on some Easter cards and yesterday I went to the scrap workshop to do a simple layout.  

Today I went to Southbank to visit the craft and sewing expo.  For further details go to http://www.craftandsew.com.au/ This show started today at the covention centre and ends on Sunday.  I chose today to go as I am busy on the other days.  This show had all forms of craft from sewing to papercrafting.  It was display all stalls in one exhibition hall only. In 90 minutes I visited all stalls and managed to spend under $300 on a new diecut set, two stamps, five scrapbook templates, an inkpad, three sets of colouring in utensils, three packs of mounting tape and a patchwork quilt kit.  Consider I am not a patchwork sewing person I only purchased the kit because it has cats all over the quilt. I know a couple of people who do patchwork quilting so I am sure I will get my throw rug size before the year ends.

Since MKR started a new series last month I have been following this show religiously. This week has been the elimination week on MKR.  There has been four nights where one team gets eliminated off from HQ.  Each night each team has to cook a meal in one hour by using the key ingredient chosen by the hosts of the show (Manu and Pete).  We had meals made each night with cheese, citric fruits and mince.  What would you make?  The twist was the two hosts and judges were the jury from four eliminated teams came back to vote each meal made.  The lowest two had their sudden cook off.  The lowest scored team leaves HQ. Next week is the semi finals. Who do you think will win?  I have my prediction who could win this week.

There will be a cookbook 2 to be released at newsgents from next week.  I already got the first cookbook and CD so you shouldn't be surprise I will be out there to get the second cookbook. I love this show!  It educates on what kind of meals you can create. I feel this series has more inspiring meal ideas on what to cook.

Time to go and get myself organised for bed.  I shouldn't have a late night as I have plans to be out for most of the day tomorrow. Plans on going to the movies and out for lunch with a friend. 

An interesting week

Hi everyone!  How's your week been going? It was pretty much a normal week with normal commitments that keep me off the streets. 

 

Yesterday it was National Anti Bullying Day where you wear anything orange to support the cause to stop bullying.  Seriously do you really think bullying will ever stop while mankind lives on Earth?  While I witness yesterday's assembly at the primary school, I noticed alot of students and staff members wore orange. It sure made the hall quite bright.

 

Last night the school hosted a disco for the kids while the parents sit and have cheese and wine with the P and C committee.  I didn't drink because I knew I had to drive home with Rachel again.  Going by the number of the crowd attending, I think it was a successful event with the kids have a great time with music and consuming pizza for dinner and most parents socialized with other parents.  Not sure how many more discos they plan to continue throughout the year.

 

This week has been interesting!  We have now added a new pet to this household.  A cat was rescued from our local community.  Somebody moved but forgot to take their precious cat with them or she returned back to their old address.  This cat would be very similar aged to Gismo but she doesn't seem to be a friendly cat towards him. She already has ruled this house by letting Gismo know she's the boss.  She loves me through!  Each night while I am watching TV, she comes up and sits on my lap.  BOY!  Gismo isn't impress with that one. One thing about this princess, she reminds of a cat I used to own while I was growing up.  The only difference is the colouring and sex gender.

 

This week also marks World Greatest Shave Day where people fundraise for the Leukaemia Foundation. For further information go to www.leukaemia.org.au   When people signed up to join this event, they ask for sponsors throughout February and March and on the day they get their head either shave, wax or dyed in bright colours.  The primary school didn't get involved this year but I did see a parent at junior bowling yesterday with bright green hair.  I assume he was involved in this program. Here's the website link for more information about the biggest fundraise event of Australia.  Go to www.worldsgreatestshave.com

 

What's on your agenda for this weekend?  We will be busy as Monique has a bowling tournament to be played tomorrow. She will be bowling four games in a five man team.  It was two weeks ago she last bowled in a mini tournament at her home centre.  She came 2nd! As for bowling leagues we have been going up and down on the charts.  No rewards lately! 

 

Term one is coming to a close quite fast.  The kids only have two weeks of school left then they will be on school holidays for two weeks in April.  Not sure what will happen but I am thinking of going away on holidays for a week, if all's well with my Dad.

 

The next two weeks will be busy as a couple of events are coming up.  Both the primary and high school will have their annual Cross Country event and AGM meetings with the P and C members. I only attend to the meetings at the primary school because the high school has their general meetings on the same night as the primary school.  I will get more involved at the high school once Rachel starts high school next year.

 

The primary school decided to have their parent teacher student interview on the last week of term.  It seems the education system is now changing.  Back in the old days it used to be only the parent teacher interviews but now they introduced the interview with the parent and their child to attend at the same interview.  This school decided to have the interviews early so the parent knows how their child is progressing and for the student to discuss with their teacher on what needs to be improved.  These days it seems the school are focus more on reading.  It has been discuss many times during assembly or newsletters on how important to have our child to read nightly. If you have a child who is a bookworm, you won't have an issue and the school staff would be happy with your child.  But if you have a child who is not keen on reading, you have an issue. 

 

Rachel isn't a keen learner or wishes to read! So she had to supposely attend to reading sessions in the mornings before school.  This new incentive program started three weeks ago.  She missed the first week but she managed to attend once or two mornings since.  She isn't a morning person so it is impossible to get her out of bed early every day.

 

Better go as I have afew things I need to do this afternoon.  Have a good weekend! 

Term one closing

Over the weekend I read my emails up to date as I don't intend to log on daily these days. 

I read one of the school newsletters via email that was received on Friday.  One of the DP at the high school stated there is only three weeks of term one left.  It's hard to believe the past seven weeks have gone out of the window so to speak.  How's your term been going?

I am not sure this year will be a good start for some people.  I have heard about a couple of celebrities passing and what mother nature is up to in the south east states of Australia.  There is towns in NSW and VIC are coping the unindated floods from recent days of rainfall. 

Of course I had my share of moments with the news about my Dad's health annouced, the death of one lovebird and just recently got myself involved in a mild car accident for the first time in my life.

Well like most people say, life can only get better.  Hopefully this will be true as I am tired of dealing with negative moments.

One of those days

Today has been one of those days where I wished I didn't had to get out of bed. Hopefully my evening at bowling will be alot better. 

While driving to the cinema, I had a close call of hitting a child on her bicycle at a quiet street near my home address.  Really it would of been her own fault because she didn't have any road sense to look before she crossed the road on her bicycle.

Secondly I had a mild car accident at the shopping centre. The first time in all the years I have a driver's license I had my first accident caused by me.  It was just that split of a second where I misjudged my car spot.  The carpark was dark inside coming from brightest natural light outside to a dark undercover didn't helped the cause either. I accidently hit the side of a small 4WD where driving into my vacant spot slowly.  It was my car that copped most of the damage with a huge dent and holes on the left front corner of my car's bumper.  My left indicator had a broken plastic cover as well.  My spouse has fixed the bumper as the best he could and went to the wreckers for a new part for the light.  He was lucky to find one to fit my car otherwise it would of cost me $150 to buy brand new.

Only about an hour or so ago, I read online that Ian Turpie has passed away today.  I never knew he was ill with cancer and it is frightening to hear because my parents are very similar to age as him. It was a huge shock to me as I can remember when he hosted a game show in the 80's.  It was called THE PRICE IS RIGHT where you have contestants guessing how much an item is worth to win that prize.  At conclusion of the show, there was a major prize where the winning contestant has to place in order (from lowest to highest value of 7 prizes).  Prizes were based with home items, holidays, boat, caravan and even a car included.

Is it autumn yet?

Good evening readers and followers!  How was your week?  It's hard to believe we are already into the eighth day of March. We had a partly sunshine week with warm days still.  But I have noticed in the last day or so we are starting to have cooler early mornings.  Apparently NSW is coping so much rain that is causing floods to happen.  I text to some of my relatives earlier in the week to find out how they are going because they live in NSW.  So far they are fine!! 

I had a fairly busy week with normal commitments and attending to the school's P and C meeting on Tuesday night.  Afew topics were brought up but mainly our discussions was about the uniform changes, new signs, sausage sizzle on State Election Day, Easter raffle and next week's disco for the kids to enjoy.

At the primary school a new reading program was introduced last week.  The purpose of this program is for students who need boosting up in their reading level.  My 11 yo daughter has reading issues and it was only yesterday I had a phone call stating my daughter really needs to get involved in this program.  She went there early this morning and I was told she read to her school's principal.

For the past 24 hours or so, I feel my life at present time is a repeat of 2010.  For people who don't know, my father became quite ill. In late 2009 he was diagnosed with early stages of prostate cancer.  He was the lucky patient to have the problem early so it was decided to have the organ removed in early February 2010.  It was the side effects of the operation that made him ill for the most of 2010.   

Lately he complained about stomach pains so he visited his family GP and had further tests and an ultrasound done. Only yesterday I got the news stating he has got a big movable hernia in his groin area.  The doctors say my Dad should have surgery ASAP because of the size and position of the hernia.  They feel it might become a threat to the bowel area if this hernia keeps on growing fast.  A surgery date hasn't been scheduled but my Dad will have his first consultation with a specialist on 19th March to a private hospital in the city. Please add my Dad in your prayers for him to recover quickly from his ordeal.

Time to go as my favourite reality show, My Kitchen Rules is just about to start.  Tonight's episode is the elimination round cookoff between two NSW sisters and Dr Evil (from QLD). For further information go to http://www.mykitchenrules.com.au/

February report

Goodbye February!  Hello March!  If my Nanna was still alive, it would of been her 102nd birthday today.

February being the last month of official summer season in Australia, I was quite busy with normal commitments of school routine and activities, SAHM stuff, craft workshops,bowling, caught two new release movies at the cinema and spending time with a friend. 

Majority of TV shows have returned from their summer break.  At present time I am following MKR, Packed to the Rafters, The Amazing Race and the shows on Thursday night from 8:30pm. Also I started to watch REVENGE on Channel 7 on Monday nights.

My MKR has a music CD now available.  It's a two CD collection to listen to while cooking or dining.  The first CD is the one the kids and I love the most.  It has been playing alot in the car.

It seems my Dad has really been in the wars since retirement. All the years he was in good health and never barely went to any doctors, it is now different when you are over 65.  He retired early because of his back crisis but in late 2009 he was diagnosed with early stages of prostate cancer. He had the organ removed but it was the side effects after surgery that made him ill for most of 2010.  Since then he has complain about groin pain which an ultrasound done on Friday.  There is definiately something there and the doctors are saying it might be a hernia. My Dad will be back to his own GP this week which I am sure he will be off to a specialist for further testing and so on before surgery is scheduled to happen soon.

Last month he was at a medical clinic to have his first colonoscopy done.  From what I heard this procedure isn't a pleasant procedure to experience for any male or female. Most patients are over 60 when they are asked to be done.  If you don't know, it is a procedure done by a mini camera inserted through your anus while you are in a twilight sleep mode to see if the patient has colon cancer or polyps. In my Dad's case he was free from cancer but a polyp was found and removed which it's not cancerous either.

Goodbye summer, Hello autumn!

Hi everyone!  How's things? Where did February go?  I can't believe it's now the first day of autumn but we still have summer temperatures here, which I think it will continue to be about for abit longer. But I have noticed our sunrise and sunset times are now changing.  I have to start walking at different times now in the late afternoons.

 

This week has been a mix bag of emotions.  Tragically we lost one of our peachfaces on Monday.  It was Monique whom first discovered the dead bird in the cage at breakfast time.  It was quite a shock to see a dead bird as I wasn't even thinking of it dying so soon.  I heard peachfaces can live up to 15 years. And this bird we lost was only 7 years old.  Causes were unknown in this case!

 

Now I am more concern about Gismo (our 2 yo cat).  On Tuesday afternoon we heard one of the new neighbours at the back has a dog that harms any cat.  Apparently this dog intends to jump over fences (up to 4ft tall) and hangs around in other yards, seeking trouble. Our back neighbour (we have known since I moved here) told us he seen a young cat (very similar age to Gismo and this cat was in our yard alot last month) in his yard and was harmed by this staffy breed dog on Tuesday afternoon.  The kids help our neighbour seek for the injuried cat but they couldn't find where it may of hidden.  I don't think this cat would of survived through the night as it might of had serious injuries. They think this young cat might of hidden inside of the drainage in their street and died in there.  Guess the community will know by the bad odour in a couple of days time.  Yesterday this dog showed up at my back door while I was on the phone to my Dad. All I could think of at that time, where was Gismo.  Luckily Gismo was outside in the front yard.

 

Had a good week at bowling.  Bowled all games over average on Sunday night and yesterday I won all the points in our social league. On Sunday Monique played in her first tournament for the year.  She didn't bowl over average or win any individual medals but the centre she represented for, came 1st!  Five kids who bowls for them went home with a medal or two for individual placings.

 

Last Saturday night I was out for dinner and movie to see THIS MEANS WAR with a friend.  We went out for a nice dinner at a league's club on the other side of town.  And watched some local entertainer singing some good songs.  Also I had a quick play on the pokies and managed to win $20.  Believe me I only spent $1 too!  It was around 1am by the time I was driving home from the destination. What a beautiful sight to see for the first time, the city lights from the Gateway Bridge.

 

This week I had two scrap meets.  A casual meet at the craft store on Tuesday and last night I had my first monthy workshop about creating an album about ourselves.  It's the kind of album you give to your kids. We completed a title page where you had to add some brief information about our name.  Where it came from and so on.

 

Better go as I have afew things that requires my attention this afternoon.  Have a nice day!