Wordless Wednesday - A New Family

The New Family

Me the Honourary Auntie!

Things I Know - Volume Nine

I know I'm linking up again with Shae at Yay for home!

I'm know also flogging with Glowless from Where's My Glow?

I know someone bestowed my first ever blog award upon me this week.

I know I will write more about that soon.

I know that this week has been pretty good.  Certainly a lot better than the last few weeks.

I know I am very glad about that and I hope it continues.

I know we have a very lazy weekend planned.

I know I'm looking forward to it.

I know I took a tonne of photos when I made 'The Best Pizza In The World' a few days ago.

I know there might be a tutorial coming your way soon.

I know that you should go and read this article.  It could have been written by me.  (It wasn't, but it could have been)

I know you should go to Liz's blog and while you are there make sure you vote for her in the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards.

I know we have some very cool things going on in the Castle grounds at the moment, not the least of those is this rose bush which was a housewarming present.

I know I spent several months feeling convinced this rose bush was going to die.

I know I am very glad I was wrong.

I know there are also sunflowers growing almost before our very eyes.  I hope I remember to take a photo of them on the weekend.

I know a pay increase with back pay is wonderful.

I know the tax on back pay is bullshit.

I know we are going to put the back pay to good use on a road trip to NSW just after Christmas.

I know that just when I think people are starting to understand where I'm coming from, they do something that makes me realise they actually have no idea at all.

I know I am over Christmas and it hasn't even started.

I know I do not understand the need for Christmas themed nappies. 

I know there is a baby about to be born to some of my best friends.  I hope everything goes smoothly for them.  I'm waiting by my phone for the news! Please don't buy any Christmas nappies!!!

What do you know?

The Year that Was 2010

Aunt Becky did this meme, and then she said I had to as well.  I don't like to argue with her.


1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Lots of things! Some good and some bad.  Buried my Dad, built a house, joined Weight Watchers, started this blog!


2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make them.  I'm not calling it a resolution, but in 2011 I aim to be happier and healthier.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yup.  One of my bestest mates, Kells, had a beautiful baby girl and called her Ruby.  She is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen!


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Technically it happened in 2009, but I'm gonna say yes to this question.  I miss you, Dad.

5. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More happiness.  More holidays.  More Money.  A new car.

6. What countries did you visit?
Just this one, the best one, Australia.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
January 4th.  Funeral.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Building the Castle. Getting help for my PTSD.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Falling off the Weight Watchers wagon towards the end of the year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder reared its ugly head again.  Chyken was hospitilised with pneumonia.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Castle.  And the new couch.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chyken's.  Seriously, this husband of mine is amazing!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No comment.  Those who need to know, know.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On the Castle.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our Castle.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Time To Say Goodbye

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier

ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner (a little bit!  Yay!!)

iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, but a homeowner!


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Dude, Meme, Christmas is over.

21. There was no #21. I don’t know why there was no 21.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Yup, with my husband, all over again.

23. How many one-night stands?
Not enough.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Escape To The Country

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a very strong word... But, no, I hated them already.  :-)

26. What was the best book you read?
I re-read The Pillars Of The Earth

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Tooth Jazz!!!

28. What did you want and get?
A Castle.  And eventually, a Bertie Beetle.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Despicable Me

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to Echuca for the weekend and ate too much and went for a ride on a paddlesteamer with great friends.  I turned 33.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More cake.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Extremely similar to 2009, but with more vests.

34. What kept you sane?
My Chyken, my sister, my friends and my cat.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I find it best not to get involved in politics.

37. Who did you miss?
My Dad.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kristen and Brian. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
There is always help available, you just have to ask! 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
'Whatever gets you through the night... It's alright, it's alright'

Bits Of My Weekend - Volume Seventeen

Here are some bits of my weekend...

Went to the Castle... The bathroom just needs a shower screen now...

Kitchen might need some more work...

Lunch with friends on Sunday...

Lemon Meringue Pie. Home grown lemons and eggs!

My current two favourite pictures of my second cousin, Oliver...

Found some puddles on the way home. Believe it or not, this is after we 'rinsed' some of the mud off...

What happened this weekend in your corner of the world?

Bits Of My Weekend is a concept stolen from Michelle at 6 in the City. She's had some stuff going on in her life that have meant she hasn't posted for a few weeks. If you have the time, please go over to her site and show her some support.

Bits Of My Weekend - Volume Five

Another week gone already? Here are some highlights of my weekend...

Saturday night we had a get together with some of my work mates. Here's me and Chyken being silly.

This is Me, Donna and Jenni being VERY silly.

On Sunday we visited our newly erected bricks.

This is the back wall of our house.


Then we caught up with some very good friends for a surprise birthday lunch for Mary and Christine. Here is Mary with Oliver, my extremely cute second cousin.


A very relaxing weekend all round.


Bits Of My Weekend is a concept stolen from Michelle. When you're finished here, you should go to her blog and see what the rest of the world did on the weekend. (Be patient, she is in the USA and her weekend isn't usually finished when I post my Bits!) Then you should come back here and leave a link to a post containing bits of YOUR weekend!