Yes, I know it's no longer ours but...

...what have they done to the garden?


So this is one of the photos taken when our old house was on the market. Take note of the plants lining the walkway. You can't see very well but to the right where all native grasses placed strategically so they looked random but neat.



Now at the risk of looking like a deranged stalker, after driving past a few times I HAD to get a picture. Not only have they got rid of everything, but they just chopped the trees lining the path right through the trunk. Not even pulled out. Far out. If we knew that they wanted to do that we would have saved them the trouble and taken them with us in pots. They've since got another skip that looks just as full so I can only imagine what the back yard looks like. Poor Brian is devastated.

For the fashion conscious

You know, one day she'll look back at this photo and will wonder what the hell her daddy was thinking when he dressed in her tracksuit pants and cowboy boots. But for the time being, we'll let her keep adoring him.

Fattuccine

After being inspired watching a TV show this afternoon, Brian and the boys decided to make their own version of Fettuccine - FATtuccine. I'm very proud - they did a lovely job and everyone ate it.

And I heard you crying in the chapel

On this great big happy sunny day.

Yes that was me.
Standing out the front of the church with tears in my eyes.
All thanks to Helen and this blog post.
It's a really wonderful feeling to know that I've touched someone.
Thank you Helen. You made my day. xx

Celebrate, Remember, Fight back

Tonight I walked and walked and walked and unselfishly this time it wasn't for me...it was for Relay for Life. So what is Relay for Life?

Cancer Council’s Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It is an opportunity to get together with your community and celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Relay For Life is a unique event where teams of 10 to 15 friends, families or colleagues challenge themselves to take turns to keep a baton moving in a relay style walk or run overnight. There are no age limitations or fitness requirements – Relay For Life is suitable for everyone and anyone can join in the fun! Stay for the whole event, camp overnight, or just visit and enjoy the free entertainment, prizes and ceremonies that make Relay For Life so inspirational.

Each person on the team pays a registration fee which includes a polo shirt and breakfast at the event. Relay is a fundraising event where team members are encouraged to raise a minimum of $100 each.

Whether you are a cancer survivor, a carer, supporting friends or loved ones, or simply wanting to make a difference, Relay For Life empowers everyone who participates.

So tonight was the second time we've done Relay for Life and we plan to be doing it for a long time still to come. While a lot of it is fun and games during the day and really family friendly, the candle lighting ceremony is really poignant. Seeing all those bags lit up with not only messages from loved ones but photos as well makes you realise just how blessed you are.

Sometimes you just wish...

Yes, I had one of those days today.

A wise man once said...

"One door closes and another opens"

That's it. It's done. It's final. Settlement has done through.

New house here we come.

Settlement day

Well what was meant to be settlement day. Some sort of oversight on a signature or something on the buyers behalf. To say I'm upset is an understatement. Conveyancer is fairly confident that it'll go through on Friday. Fingers crossed.

Wax on, wax off

Now I know how Ralph Macchio's arms must have felt the day after filming this scene. I've just spent the day scrubbing every single wall in the old house amongst other things. It's been weird though. After my post on Friday about leaving this house it feels very surreal to be in here with it totally empty. It doesn't feel like my house anymore. I feel detached from it. Either that or the fact that I had to scrub a heap of snot of my feral child's wall has desensitised me.

And I mean REALLY.

Day two of no home phone thus no internet. Unless I use my mobile phone for either and let me tell you that is an ultimate fail in itself. I have walked in and out of every room in this house. Have been out the front, have been out the back and yes there is a consensus – 3 really sucks for coverage. And I mean REALLY.

On the plus side, I really like this house. I'd like it much more if the person who inspected it (who shall remain nameless since I've given it too him enough about it I think) failed to notice some not so little missing details – like the big hole under the bench where a dishwasher is supposed to go, like the absence of an airconditioner and to add insult to injury there is not even any fly screens on doors or windows so we can't even let a breeze run through the house unless we want to be mauled by mozzies. We have a brilliant kitchen though. Bench space galore. Cupboard space galore. Love it. And surprisingly the kids bedrooms are much larger than I expected. So we've managed to get all their stuff in them, so they're happy and feel like they're right at home.

Time of your life

So today is very bittersweet.
Yes it's the start of a new life, but I'm still feeling a little heartbroken for the life we're leaving behind.

This is the first place that was OURS. Not just a house - but our home.

This was the place that we celebrated our marriage with all our family and friends.



This is the place that we brought all three babies home.


This is the place that we shared many, many birthdays, Easters and Christmases with our extended family and great friends.


Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

And as one chapter ends, another begins

That's it - it's done and dusted.
After a few days of going back and forth, the buyers finance has gone through and the contract is now unconditional.

Look out new house - here we come.