Happy Christmas Day

It is Christmas Day evening, and I am tired. We've had a lovely day with family, sharing food, laughter and pressies, and remembering those who are no longer with us, including Pete's dear Mum.
I have had my surgery, and am currently very sore and bruised, and impatiently waiting for the dressings to come off. Now I wait for a pathology report on January 3, and what ongoing treatment I should have.
I've had lots of messages, and lovely cards and gifts, and for everything I am very grateful.
Good night.

In the pink

Christmas isn't far away, and since I last blogged I've been for a routine Breastscreen, had the call-back phone call, been back for more scans, ultrasound and ultimate biopsies, and voila! I have Early Breast Cancer. Those words, initially scary and scarier, I now find easier to say, and easier to tell those I care about. It's been detected early, I've read the pathology, I've met my McGrath Breast Care Nurse, I've got a 'Care' package, and I've got a whole new respect for everyone involved with the care of women with breast cancer. I am having surgery this Friday, after a fairly scary visit to radiology on Thursday in Ballarat in which I will have radioactive dye injected into my right breast, and hopefully I will be back home for Christmas.

The responses I've had to my situation have varied greatly, but all have been tinged with shock, concern and love and affection. I am surrounded by warriors, and most importantly, my Rock warrior, Peter, previously called Laird Peter in this blog, is by my side and is the most incredible, loving, caring, protective and funniest person I could ever have with me to keep me sane, focused, happy and on track on this unexpected journey.
That's enough for now. The only thing left to say is: pink takes on a whole new meaning.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

Christmas trees. Here's a very special one, the one that I published a pic of a few nights ago.

The little figures were painted and decorated by my delightful students, and they decorated the tree.
I am very proud of them.

In the pink

Goodness, it's a month since I last posted! Gee! Have been busy though, and as is usual at this time of year there are lots of things happening, breakup parties and last days of class/school, etc. openings and all sorts of things that distract one from doing work and blogging.
Today, for example, we had an exhibition 'opening' of my Intertwine students' artwork and another teacher's students' photography. It was set up in Intertwine's new space, not far from us and right next to Cato Lake in Stawell. I was very proud of my guys. I might put a pic here as I am so proud of them.

this is a painted pillowcase

On Tuesday we had our last class for the year and they had an opportunity to decorate our UB Stawell Campus Christmas tree with their own beautifully-made decorations. 

I am going to leave it there for tonight. There are many things to think about, and lots to do so I will be back another day.

All Hallow's Eve with a dram of whisky

This may be my last post for Highland Titles' blog competition, but I am addicted to blogging now so will continue doing so. I have just been reminded by Laird Peter that I may also be addicted to single malts of the isles and can hardly wait to get reacquainted!

We ARE counting the months, weeks and days until we return to Scotland. I think we have been driving our family and friends mad with enthusiastic plans and more plans for the trip. They probably would like us to go tomorrow so they can regain some peace.

Laird Peter has just shown me his latest Scotland Magazine with a lovely pic of Dunnottar Castle which apparently inspired the latest Disney movie Brave. Now he wants me to find out where it is! He is waxing lyrical and we both understand each other so well that we really don't need to discuss it, we just KNOW.

Today the weather has been quite warm, as it should be but tomorrow (or even tonight) will see a cold front come through and of course because I will be in Ballarat, it will be colder and will rain on me.

I am a little tired of having Halloween pushed in our faces, all scary masks and silly pumpkins. Oh dear. All Hallows Eve for me and him, and a little dram of something Scottish thank you. I have just posted a couple of silly pics on my facebook page, and thought I should add one here. It is of dolls and puppets, and I can proudly tell you that my Mum made some of them over 40 years ago. They are all due for new hairdos - and hair! My sister Ell gave me a bag of goodies from the Pomonal craft market where she sells her spinning and wool and knitting and was quite excited about the contents. Several packets of gorgeous doll hair of many colours and styles, and guess where they'll be used!
So here they are, in my little room, and I'm heading off for a wee dram with his Lairdship.

To Highland Titles, thanks for the opportunity and idea to start blogging, and we look forward to visiting our plots in 2013.

In reflection

I'm going to paste something I wrote a couple of days ago on my facebook page. I had cause to think quietly about life and friends on my way home from Ballarat on Thursday night:

As I sat on the train on Thursday evening, watching the sunset across squelchy paddocks, it occurred to me that sometimes we have to stop for a bit, take a big, deep breath, and remind someone we know/love/respect how much they mean to us. We have been reminded quite often of late, just how precious life is, and it can be gone in a flash. I'm not sad, just reflecting on life, love and the joys of friendship.

There you go. That's all.
More another day.

a late evening postscript with pictures

Just a few pics I've found on my pc. Here they are, from our UK trip three years ago.

 

 

Bubbly's nice occasionally

It's much warmer today. The weekend was good, the highlight being our lovely friends David and Tim staying with us for two nights. It was David's birthday on Saturday and he got his present early, at breakfast coffee, before we went out for breakfast.
On Friday night I made a venison stew for the guys, and it turned out well.
As we had to attend our combined Stawell High School/Stawell Technical School Reunion on Saturday, the guys went for a long hike in the Grampians, and when they came home they cooked dinner - beautiful succulent roast chicken with mashed potato and green beans, followed by Tim's gorgeous Jam Rolypoly. And cream. Yum! I had drunk quite a bit of champagne at the reunion, so after making my tipsy entrance promptly fell onto the mattress in the lounge and fell asleep!
Now it's Monday and I've been doing some creative things. Must put up some pics of what I've been doing.
Maybe I can find the pic David took of my venison stew...

While I have a Milo...

It's trying to rain again. Got most of the washing in. We're in excitement mode about our trip to UK next year, but around that we've had a week of sad events. Laird Peter's Uncle Bob died last week and we attended his funeral on Saturday, saying ruefully to his many cousins that we only seem to catch up at funerals. A longtime family friend succumbed to a long illness, and a too-young student of Peter's died also. Other things happened as well, and amidst all the devastating news we have been able to view pics via facebook of friends overseas enjoying good things.
It's the first week of term 4 and holidays are behind us, so I must away to see what's for dinner.

October and more posts

I've just checked the Highland Titles website information about the blog competition - ah, I have another month! So, just as a little comment for today, I've been checking out Highland Titles Facebook page. Some fantastic photos by Jacky Cooper, 'resident photographer for Highland Titles'. As we've just had confirmation yesterday that I have long service leave next year, we are in excitement mode as we can now plan and book for our UK trip, a fair chunk of which will be in Scotland.
And, just to add to that excitement, on TV last night we watched a repeat episode of Martin Clunes's Islands of Britain, which included the Shetlands, Lewis and Harris, Barra, and a lovely island we saw from a ferry - Eigg. Here's a pic Laird Peter took.

It's supposed to be spring!

As forecast, today is bleak and freezing cold! The sun was out this morning, but we only had to step outside to walk up to our Saturday morning breakfast to know that the second cold front is almost here. It's Grand final day (Australian Rules Football, folks) in Melbourne, and the weather will be lousy. Snow down to 500 metres, rain, hail and wind. two days ago it was in the high twenties (Centigrade) and we were in short sleeves. We were in Melbourne, and yesterday morning when we ventured out to catch a tram, it had rained and as we sat on the tram there was an almighty crack of thunder and down it came. Ah, raincoats in our case back at our accommodation! Things were being set up for the AFL football parade. Normally players sit in the backs of utes or sporty cars but they were inside this time. We weren't interested as our team didn't make it to the Grand final.
Tomorrow is my Mum's birthday. She would have been 88. I still miss her.
Here's a piccie of her from the 1970s.

Spring is in the air at last!

Spring really is in the air.  It's going to warm up towards the end of the week. We will be in Melbourne for a couple of days which will constitute our 'holiday' for this term break. Oh well. Before we know it we'll be into term 4 and rushing towards the end of the year. We are hanging off making any bookings for our UK trip next year until I get the go-ahead for my long service. Don't you love bureaucracy? In the meantime I've juiced (with the help of Laird Peter) a pile of our lovely limes and we've frozen some as iceblocks, I've cleaned out cupboards in the bathroom and I've washed a large collection of old plain pillowslips to use with my students. It's a good drying day.Nice to do those sorts of jobs.
Enjoying a sit down and have been chatting to a friend who is in hospital in Ballarat. Isn't technology wonderful?

September is almost over and officially it will be the end of the Highland Titles blog competition. I enjoy doing my blog, and will be continuing it. I don't get to do it as much as I'd like, but it is nice to do and to reflect on what's going on.

I might finish this one with a pic. Haven't got a lot, but let's see...

A Sisters' Lunch

The weather is trying to decide whether it's still winter or should it be spring. Nice to go out though. I had lunch today with my two sisters - something we don't do often - nice to be girly and talk about girly stuff. We had good food and coffee then went for a bit of retail therapy. Inevitably we ended up in a dress shop where things were 50% off so of course we all bought something!

Last night we saw one of Gryff Rhys Jones' programs on Rivers. Just happened to be on the River Tay in lovely old Scotland. Ahhhh!
It was filmed in autumn and the colours were glorious. We're just under twelve months off our trip to the UK, where we will be spending more time in Scotland, and of course visiting our wee plots! There are always programs on TV to tempt us further and if you read this blog regularly, you'll know that I spend a lot of time writing 'AAAAAHHHH!'

Gosh, it's already September and nearly holidays. Oh to be in Scotland now! (midges and all).

Almost time for Milo and a good sleep

We are busy making plans for our UK trip next year. It might be twelve months off, but we are happiest when planning where to go and what to do. We've already booked some accommodation in Scotland, including two weeks in Edinburgh, during the August festivals, and a place not far from Fort William, which will allow us to visit many places, including our wee plots in Glencoe Wood. Maps are endlessly fascinating, as are using google maps with street views. A friend recently took part in the Sting in Stirling, an incredible adventure race in which teams ride, run, canoe, climb, canyon and scramble over five days of competition. We were able to keep an eye on his progress, through the incredible website, and also through the dear old facebook. Sometimes our modern forms of communication are really sensational. Of course, the incredible views and footage of Scotland made us really homesick. Yes, I said homesick.

Life is as usual challenging, interesting, exciting and never boring. There are lots of things happening, and Spring is nearly upon us. Well, I must stop here, but with promise of more reflections about the places we yearn to return to.

Let me get a cuppa and I'll tell you something

Had a lovely weekend in Melbourne with friends, going out for coffee and cake, lunch, the theatre and a movie. Since being home again, watched a program called Three Men go to Scotland - the Welshman, the Cornishman and the Irishman - and oh what views of lovely Scotland! Worth watching: http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/24970
Apart from wonderful seaviews and aerial views of Mull, Skye and the Small Isles, the trio's visit to Fingal's Cave set my heart racing. The aerial views also took in the country where we have our precious little plots, and we can hardly wait to get there!

Even the shots of the Caledonian McBrayne ferry got us going. We spent a lovely day on one visiting Rhum, Eigg and Muck, and even saw some dolphins close up. We then got back on the ferry at Mallaig and did the crossing to Skye. Ahhh, the Cuillins!

Nearly time for a Milo

The evening is fast becoming night-time and therefore nearly time for a Milo. I have a lovely pic of my Mum-in-law Monnie beside my computer. It was taken at her 90th birthday last year.

The funeral was on Thursday, and it brought many family members together. The weather was fine, but very cold. Many words spoken about Mum's faith and belief in people and her boundless love. I managed to stand and read my small eulogy (with Peter beside me) and felt good about doing it.

Today we visited Dad, then went for a visit to the graveside in the sunshine.
Mixed feelings there, having Mum in a grave - so different from being able to spread/place my parents' ashes in places they loved. Saw a doco tonight about Orkney, and the amazing archaeological dig there. So much to think about. Neil Oliver presented the program, and we were truly transfixed.

Now, for that Milo...

In memory of two mums

The holidays are over, we went to Orange, had a lovely time. But all the time we were away Peter's' Mum was in hospital, slipping quietly from us. When we arrived home and went to see her, she was asleep and had been sleeping peacefully for a couple of days. We visited her again last Wednesday morning, saying our usual soft goodbyes and stroking her hair. In the late evening neither of us wanted to go to bed, instead staying up to watch the Tour de France. The phone call came just after 12.30. When we saw Mum, she looked just the same: peaceful and relaxed in deep sleep.

We are so thankful that she didn't suffer. I think I said in my last post that she was 92. She was 91. She had been married for nearly 69 years. She loved her family - everyone - without limit or prejudice. Long ago, Monnie and my Mum were very close friends. Their friendship remained over the years, occasionally declared afresh by the giving of bears, especially angel bears. A little Eileen angel bear watched over Mum before she died.

Love you Mums.

Way past Milo time

I have been tossing and turning for three hours, no sleep to speak of and got thinking about many things. I've been off colour for a few days, have had to cancel classes and it's almost holidays. Some of my younger students sent home a card with 'hope you're better soon' wishes, and included some pics of yours truly in the classroom with very attentive students. That, and all their signatures, made me weepy.

It's freezing cold and not the best time to be out of bed. Laird Peter is snoring peacefully, unaware that I am in the lounge, tapping away. Thoughts of Milo remind me that I've just finished (a one-day read) a beautiful first novel called Past the Shallows by a young writer called Favel Parrett. The book is set in Tasmania, and mentions familiar places. Not only did it make me nostalgic - we went to Tasmania for our honeymoon in 1989 - but the story, about three brothers growing up in the remote south, features, among many beautiful things, Milo. I'm not being silly. The youngest brother, Harry, gains comfort in his lonely existence from simple things: finding small treasure in the sand, befriending a kelpie pup and its master and a big mug of Milo.  This book is our read this month for book club (which is tomorrow night) and I can't imagine anyone not loving it.

Being awake at 2am brings forth other thoughts about places, places we long to see again.
In twelve months' time we will be back in the UK, and, of course, visiting our wee plots in Scotland.
We are already making lists and making plans. We will be there at the end of summer and through autumn, and can hardly wait.

Closer to home we have many things to think about; the most important at the moment being Peter's Mum, who is in hospital. I've known her since I was a baby, and she has just had her 92nd birthday.

Now I'm going back to bed, to sleep, perchance to dream.

Sharing a hot chocolate, gazing at the world

Winter weather makes me hanker for hot chocolate. It is freezing at the moment, and very wet.
The rain is good, as we haven't had a lot. Our friend David came to stay, and we drank hot chocolate with marshmallows at our favourite cafe and watched the world go by. Simple pleasures. Time with friends. It is almost the end of term and I can't wait for the holidays. We will be visiting friends in New South Wales and can't wait to get there.
Almost time for a Milo, or a hot chocolate.

Memories of milk and milo

Over dinner tonight we reminisced with our niece about our Milo-drinking habits when we were kids.

As I think about it we probably drank more Ovaltine than Milo. I drink Milo every night before bed these days, and occasionally have one during the day when I'm marking assignments. It is pretty cold at the moment, and there's nothing nicer than a hot drink by the fire (heater, actually).

At the moment Laird Peter and niece are watching the Wallabies play Wales in the rugby union international, getting nostalgic about Wales and, of course, Scotland.
We watched 'Town' the other night on TV and it was about Perth (Scotland). Of course we got all soppy and misty-eyed as we want to visit Perth next year.

And we have watched the telecasts of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, loved the views of the Thames with the River Pageant, loved the interior shots of St Paul's during the service, and we can't wait to go back in 2013.

And we will be visiting our wee plots of course!

Saturday night nearly time for a Milo

It is late, Eurovision semis are on TV and we can't quite help watching it. Oh dear, here is a young male singer singing "Love is Blind" and oh, my gosh, he's wearing a sequined blindfold! Um, he's taken it off and has done a one-handed cartwheel (I missed it cos I was typing) and I think maybe he should just sing...

So much big stuff has happened in the last three weeks that I haven't been blogging, and all I want to do tonight is talk about fun stuff. I have been making artwork and discovering some new techniques - I've also been visiting our local op shops quite a bit and finding lovely treasures. The weather has turned very cold this week so all the winter woolies are out. I've even worn my Skye beanie which is blue and red and has provoked some comment. Laird Peter and I won a Mother's Day raffle at our local cafe recently and we were chuffed.

The Governor of Victoria visited our Skene Street Specialist School on Tuesday, and Laird P was there to witness some of the younger students accompanying His Excellency around our wonderful school.

On Thursday, while I was teaching in Ballarat, Laird P was entering the final battle in the PC game Diablo III. I rang him to say hello and was informed that he had failed in two attempts to kill the big D.

He later rang me back to say I was lucky as he had finished Diablo off, then, within an hour or so, the weather changed dramatically in Stawell. There was a massive hailstorm and a downpour of rain, 30mm of rain, he recalled, and 19mm of hail. The temperatre dropped 10 degrees, then the sun came out. Climate change anyone?

In Melbourne today the football game at the MCG was dumped on, and yesterday Melbourne had its wettest day in May for about 18 years. And it's not winter yet.

I'm going now. I might put some pics in here soon.

Tea and Banana Cake and Laughter

We're back into work with Term two, but there is always time for a friend's visit, particularly a friend who makes Banana Cake! Today we went to our local Farmer's Market, stocked up on Olive Oil, pastries for lunch and some lovely locally grown pumpkins.  The Olive Oil man gave us some delicious treats to go with our oil - green olives stuffed with feta, some semi-dried tomatoes and two cakes of olive oil soap. Then we drove out to Pomonal (the weather today has been glorious) and visited the market there. My sister was very surprised to see us. She spins fleece from her own English Leicester sheep, dyes some and knits the most beautiful lacy shawls. I espied a ball of beautiful lilac yarn of Alpaca fleece and silk. The gorgeous Ell gave it to me. It is so soft and light. The market was busy and there was lots to see. We went to the local shop/post office for some coffee and carrot and walnut cake, then drove home.
I found some plastic goodies in a bag at work which included a tiara and a pair of 'Edna Everage' glasses. Much fun was had trying them on, taking photos and giggling. There's nothing better than a good giggle.

Hello, it's Easter Monday!

It's a long time since I last blogged. It is Easter, the weather is cool and showery and the Stawell Easter gift final happens this afternoon. The professional running event has been in Stawell for over one hundred years. Some famous visitors have won the Gift, including George McNeil from Scotland.
Our lovely green chairs are beautiful and so comfortable we think we are sitting/reclining on clouds.
So much has happened in the last month I cannot begin to discuss it here. On the theme of sharing a cup of tea, a wonderful friend turned up unexpectedly last week and we had a cup of tea, and of course, great conversation. On Saturday we went out to the Grampians (near Stawell, not in Scotland) to watch a performance of Romeo and Juliet against a dramatic background of sandstone rockface. The company, Ozact, tours Victoria regularly, doing shows in outdoor venues. Wonderful.
The rain stayed away and the weather was pleasantly cool. I am enjoying the short break from work, and having time to blog.

How much can one hanker after a cup of tea?

A cup of tea can taste like nectar after a long night and a longer day and another night without anything - that is, being in hospital and in waiting for an ultrasound, one has a little sign above one's head saying 'Nil Orally'. Hmmph. This happened to me last week and after the first night complete with attached IV, not only was I constantly aware of it standing sentinel over my bed, but that I had not had anything pass my lips. Crushed ice is pretty good. Eventually. A cuppa is better. So is icecream.

Yesterday was February 29. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Some special people had birthdays. Tomorrow will be exciting. Our lovely green Stressless reclining chairs should be arriving. Hooray!

Now all we have to do when we get to sit in them is imagine our sandy worn carpet is the flora Glencoe Wood under our feet. Yes, they're green. Chairs, that is.

Whose turn is it to make the tea?

It is Sunday, the clouds are darkening and we are still hopeful for some rain. We had about 100 drops at 7am, but none since. My days have been busy with work, trying to make some headway and not quite getting there. I have a record number of students in my class in Ballarat, and logistically it's not working. I am determined to make it work. I don't have much to say today except February is marching on and I'm looking forward to cooler weather. I glanced at a newspaper the other day which had a feature on the Red Squirrel (in UK of course) and I think the figures I saw were: Red Squirrel population around 150,000, Grey Squirrel 2.5 million. More later.

Tea and time travel

Today I've had some time to relax with a friend over a cup of Monk Pear tea and, after attempting to solve some of the world's problems, we discussed the complexities of time travel. Of course I don't wish to travel into the future or the past in a blue police box, but I do want to be in Scotland. Where else?

a lovely morning tea to remember

Australia Day is also my birthday. We went to morning tea with friends who are leaving town soon. Then they visited us to have a taste of the Tipsy Laird trifle, and later on I set up for hosting book club's first meeting for the year. It was a good excuse to make a nice Hummingbird cake, and as one of the attending bookclubbers had her birthday on the 25th, we shared birthday wishes and a candle.

On Sunday night we watched the men's Australian Open tennis final, between Novak Jokovic and Rafael Nadal. What a marathon! It was the longest final ever, a slugathon which lasted close to six hours. Jokovic won by a slim margin, and both players could hardly stand up for the speeches.
Now the tennis is over, we can go to bed a bit earlier. But hey, now the cricket's happening!

tea at the tennis

I'm not at the tennis - that is, the Australian Open - but we've been watching on TV, and enjoying the wins by Aussies, particularly Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic, who, as it turns out, will be playing Roger Federer tonight. The weather is hot and looks like it may produce some thunderstorms. Young Tomic (about to turn 20) has revered Federer since he was a youngster but is not fazed by the fact that he's going to play him tonight.

We are nearly at the end of January, and there is change in the wind. Laird Peter and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary a few days ago and his birthday, and my birthday is on Australia Day. The day before is Robbie Burns' birthday so we have ordered a haggis (which is now in our fridge) and will have my sisters and their partners here for a Burns' dinner. We will serve it with neeps and tatties and a whisky sauce. We are also making Atholl Brose (very interesting) and will serve Tipsy Laird for dessert. We plan to recite 'Ode to a Haggis' and provide some appropriate music for the occasion.

Just recently we purchased some new reclining chairs (we both have back and hip problems) so in a few weeks will have the most gorgeous Stressless chairs in a lovely shade of bright green.

My sister's dry-witted partner commented that he could see Laird Peter and I parked in our gorgeous chairs on our plots of land in Glencoe Wood. Now, there's a picture!
Ah, and if you're new to this blog, go and check out these gorgeous plots for sale at www.highlandtitles.com

Now, back to the tennis. Rafael Nadal, who just won against another Spaniard in straight sets is wearing our shade of green.

And a happy new year to all

We are now breathing easier after a run of very hot days (try 40+ celsius) which included New Year's Day. We had a lovely time with friends down on the coast, and spent a lot of time eating, drinking and laughing. Now we are home again and doing things that are pleasant to do in cooler weather.
Thoughts of Scotland are never far away, and with the arrival of a calendar from our lovely friends in Skye, we pine a little more.
A couple of days we watched a lovely movie called Blessed (with James Nesbitt) which was set on Skye, and of course, brought some mistiness to our eyes.
Now these misty eyes must go and watch the Dr Who Prom Spectacular (I think that's what it's called).
I am a fan, and have been a fan since I was a little girl. Thinking about all the scary characters and monsters from Dr Who over the years, here's some of mine: