Goodbye Summer

Hard to believe yesterday supposedly be the last of summer but I don't think it will end for QLD just yet.  Storms have been forecast for this week but we don't seem to be getting any as yet. Guess the weather man will eventually get the prediction right!! 

I was in Ipswich yesterday for a craft day with friends and I noticed good storm clouds were brewing out SW. While heading home towards the highway, I spotted how good the lightening was near the mountains.  I don't know how far the storm went but it didn't seem to follow me home to Brisbane.

This month was a busy month for me!  Besides animal sitting for a couple of days as the owner was absent, I am supporting my friend who is dealing with his terminally ill father who quality of life is going downhill fast as he is riddled with two brain tumours and now cancer in parts of his organs. This patient (aged 80) has been in palliative care for the past week. Very weak, frail and bed ridden!!  The family are trying to spend a lot of time with him but the patient feels frustrated most of the time dealing with his family fussing over him.  I only been up once to see him briefly on the weekend. Majority of the time the patient wants to sleep which is more likely the best thing for the patient right now.

 

I have managed to scrapbook afew pages at craft workshops this month.  I had attended to three all day meets in Brisbane and Ipswich.  The one in Ipswich was a hot day (43 degrees) which most of us didn't stay the full day.  The meet in March has been cancelled as most people will be away on a craft retreat that weekend.  I have been invited to a retreat in July for a lot less in cost then to other venues.  This one costs only $300 for 5 days.  We can do any craft projects we wish to please to do!! I will see how things go for the next couple of months before I make my final decision. 

My grand-daughter is now 7 months old.  She is crawling, sit up, hold the bottle by herself and now trying to feed herself with a spoon.  We think she might become an early walker as she is trying to stand up now.

 

Better go as I have to get organised for today's plans.  I have an appointment to attend to at lunchtime then a 4 hour trip to Hervey Bay this afternoon to spend two days with all of my girls. I haven't seen my youngest daughter since NYE!!  Have a good month!

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Goodbye 2016! Hello 2017!!

Welcome 2017! And we are already half way into January.  After spending over 2 weeks stay at my bf's house I finally went home last week to do the normal...job hunting and so on. I have two job interviews this week, related to the work I am interested in.  Wish me luck!!

When I am at home I have been following summer tennis on TV.  This week Australian Open in Melbourne had started. Afew Aussies lost after first round!

First craft workshop was held on 8th January.  It was more to do your own projects which I was busy playing around with my scrap supplies.  Just recently purchased a new backpack on wheels.  I thought this would be ideal and teach me to pack more lighter when going to workshops. My regular Tuesday meets resumed today but I couldn't go as I had three appointments to attend.  The last one was the job interview which happened three hours ago!! I won' t know until this Friday if I was the successful applicant or not. 
Where the job interview had taken place, a public pool was next door!  Consider how hot today was and walked a km to get to and from the interview venue I was attempted to go to the public pool and jump in...clothes and all after the interview!!

My Sunday league resumes back this week.  We have afew new members joining our league.  We will be bowling for 47 weeks and then have our break up party after. We will have our first social event next month.  It's more to get to know our new members.

This month I managed to see two recent movies at the cinema. I watched Red Dog with my bf and SING with my daughter. Next month 50 shades darker will be on and I can't wait to see it.  Has anyone read the book series??
Does anyone have any new year resolutions?  I have afew thoughts but I learnt not to share because 9/10 I don't intend to stick by them.
Have a great 2017!  Sadly for one family I don't think it will be a good year as my bf's father is terminally ill with two brain tumours. It was diagnosed on NYE!! The old fella was very sick over Christmas but couldn't see the doctor until the public holidays ended after Christmas. Its a very aggressive tumour and the doctor wasn't hopeful for a good outcome.  The patient is currently getting radiation treatment for extra quality time with the family. The doctor was only giving him six weeks!!! They think he might suffer a stroke in the end because of where these tumours are.  He already lost his hearing!!!  He turned 80 last week!!! Very sad indeed!  He is a lovely guy who loves his family!!

2016

Consider I haven't blog much is the past couple of months I just logged on and discovered the changes. What happened to all the other bloggers I followed??

What is happening to 2016???  Its almost out the door and what a year it has been for some people.  Too many celebrities lives are gone. Unless you are classed as a superstition person, most people (as sighted on Facebook) are blaming the year is being so unlucky.  In realistic how can you blame some numbers?  Blame the big boss from above!  He is the one who makes the final decision of who's stays and who's been called back to home in his terms. Sadly it is part of our lifespan! I'm sure most of us want to live forever but its impossible for our bodies to handle real old age. We are put on Earth for some reason and then its time to depart at some point in life. Just unfortunate some people are taken way too soon. 

I had some ups and downs of my own, dealing with my parent's health issues and my children leaving home for good.  My eldest lives her partner and their baby (who is now 5 months old).  A lot of new milestones are introduced. My other daughter moved out and lives her father now.

I am enrolled to study my course but I had dramas in that department too.  I am still a job seeker!!  Its coming to the point its become an occupation in itself.  I am sure I am doing the right thing:  apply for more jobs then required and attend to interviews.  My past employment agent called me an interview queen as I seem to be the one successful of getting interviews but that seems where that ends.  I am not a size 8-12 attractive model but I feel its discriminate on against of my figure.  I don't bother wasting my time asking why I don't get the job because most of them don't even bother replying if I was the successful applicant or not. All I do now is like most people....keep busy applying! It's just another day's job for me!!  Shame our younger generation don't do the same thing.  I heard the government plans on targeting the under 25 on the dole to be more active in the job seeking front.  Most young ones are too lazy to look for work.  They waste their allowance on things they should have or do then they complain they don't have any money left to survive on for two weeks.

Guess that's all my rant for one day!  Now for good news! I became a Nanna since July.  I have a grand daughter who belongs to my eldest girl. Bowl well in my new league! And continue to do my craft work by attending to regular workshop meets and create for swaps.  I'm sure 2017 will be the same!  Just hope to get a job very soon as I had enough of been on welfare. Maybe I should consider starting my own business with very little budget to begin with.

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope 2017 will be a lot better year for all.

Melbourne Cup Day

Its now the second day of November. The highlight of this week was Melbourne Cup Day yesterday. It involves horse racing in Melbourne.  Its a public holiday for them but most cities host big luncheons at hotels or restaurants for a high cost. But I attend to one venue for half the cost for a basic roast meat buffet at a common hotel.  Most guests had hats on but I decided to go out totally different.  I was dressed up as a jockey!  And wasn't I noticed by hotel staff and guests!!

I didn't placed any TAB bets but I did get involved in the sweepstakes.  The horse I was chosen did not win any placing!  The group had multi-draw raffles going which I managed to come home with two prizes.  Two small bottles of alcohol and a painting.

Have you seen any horse racing?  I seen more on TV but I would like to watch a live event one day.  Melbourne Cup was held at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane but apparently the media started they lost power for over two hours.  Most people aren't happy because they didn't see the main race happened!

My Springy Report

Spring will come to an end next month but I think summer has already hit in SE QLD.  We had a couple of summer days of warm temps and storms started.  Most times these storms intend to go around us.  Today I woke up to a sunny and windy day but now its overcast and the wind has died down. Forecast to have light patchy rain overnight.  But looking at the sky earlier the clouds were quite dark out west like a storm was coming.  Will it rain or not?  Never know what mother nature has got up her sleeve!!

September has been and gone. Nothing special happened that month!  Just normal commitments happened.  It's almost past half way into October and new things happened by introducing to new craft groups. 

I just started going back to Stamping Up classes again after a short break this year. But this time I found a new consultant who lives near the bowling alley I bowl at. I attended to her first class yesterday to make a dozen Christmas cards  The small group are a friendly brunch!  I plan on attending to my second card class next Tuesday.  Normally my Tuesdays are busy in either in  Ipswich or in Brisbane but my craft friend is away at present time.

Also I thought of finding a new consultant for other craft group as I heard a rumour my current consultant might be retiring from the company. This new consultant I found has regular casual meets at her home address on Wednesday nights.  She lives very close to my daughter's address. It would be nice if I could attend to her regularly as I am so behind in scrapbooking.  At present time I am working on my daughter's school albums. I am about three quarters into completing them. I am hoping to have them finished by this Christmas.

Until next report, enjoy your month of November. 

Welcome Spring!!

OMG!  Where did the last two months go?  Its now time to say goodbye to winter and welcome Spring!  For some people they might dislike this time of the year as they suffer allergies from flowers in bloom but I love it!  Not because the flowers are in bloom but new wildlife is born and some animals might be out of hibernation.

Speaking of births I've become a Nanna for the first time. Monique's first baby, Krystal entered the world on 17th July. Eight days early!! Weighed in at 9lb 3oz (4.1 kgs).  She is now six weeks old and weighs 5.44 kgs,  She is growing up well and new milestones are starting to be introduced.  I tried to spend much time with I can with both of them.  This week I had two days of long visits as Monique needed me as a taxi for her appointments and errands to do with the bub.

First week of July Rachel had her week at her Dad's in Logan. Last month she moved out to live with her father in Hervey Bay.  I don't even know where they live as I haven't heard from her since she moved. 

On 9th July the group who organised the Big Morning Tea for Cancer decided to make it their last Fund Raise event after doing this for so long.  At their last event they mentioned to raise over $2500 from everyone who contributed on the day. 

Monique turned 18 on 23 August.  We had a pizza night out with her partner's family in Logan.  The pizzas aren't the same they used to make them.  I think homemade pizzas are better because I like more fillings on them.

Other days I had normal commitments and involvement with craft workshops and penpal swaps which I signed up to join in recently.

Better go and get ready for bed.  I had too many late nights and tomorrow will be a busy day with spending time with Monique and attend to another craft class in the evening.  Have a good month!

June report

Half the year is now over!!  Winter is definitely here this year!  Normally we have dry winters but this year it seems to be more rain about. We had two sessions of wild weather with storms (at coastal areas) with heavy rain and gusty winds to hit the south east coast of Australia.  Even had snow or sleet fall in the western areas of the state border (known as Stanthorpe). During the second case of a Sunday rainy day, I copped mild floodwaters (height around my ankles) at the roundabout at Toowong Cemetery. The water was coming down the hill from the Cemetery. I was in Ipswich all day and return home that night.

My normal lifestyle continues to be busy with normal routine of home life, study, job hunting, craft, bowling and spending time with my bf every weekend. Now its school holidays and plan to stay there next week while Rachel stays at her father's.

Rachel and I went to the club once to see a free movie "Daddy's Home".  The movie is about a Step Dad meeting the real Dad of the kids he got involved with.  How many relationships do you know involving step parent meeting the real parent of the child/ren?

Last month I had a two week training course to do through Tursa Employment Agency. This course was more detail about the workforce today. Most of it was common sense and have heard it all before.

Monique has moved out of her father's house in Logan and moved in to a new 5 bedroom house at Springfield Lakes with her partner and his family.  Rachel and I visited her at her new address last week!  Very nice house in a quiet area!! Compared to Logan, Springfield Lakes is more expensive to live.  I had to do some grocery shopping with Monique as they had barely no food. Who remembers to shop when you moved address?

The school holidays have started since last weekend. The first week is just about over! The first three days we were over at my bf's house to spent family time with him and his 1 yo cat (the former owner was his son who no longer wants the cat). The cat is very sociable for a moggy!! Loves to get cuddles and attention which Rachel done most of it during our time there.  Even the cat slept on her bed in the spare room. On Wednesday we went to the cinema to see Ice Age and had family dinner at the local RSL club.

To all the USA followers, enjoy your long weekend as I heard you have a public holiday on Monday. Happy Independence Day to you all!