There are many, many things that serve as a reminder as to how small the world is these days. The fact I can sit in my kitchen in Perth on a hot summer's evening, type and share this thought with people all over the world in an instant is clearly one of them. Especially knowing there are people out there actually reading them. Some of whom are in places where it is snowing at the moment. I know you know this. Clearly you know this if you are reading my blog but sometimes it just hits home!
I got a facebook message from my sister's friend this morning (she is travelling around NZ) to say my sister was in emergency (she was ok) but their phones were playing up and could I please let our mum know. Mum was able to get hold of her a few hours later, but I could facebook message back and at least they knew that our parents had the information.
My friends from interstate and overseas can get news and updates on my family at the same time as people who live locally.
TV shows are the same. I can order books from the UK. Transfer money within minutes.
Such a small world.
What prompted this post? I was reading a blog post from another blogger who had bought the same bin (well it looked like same one!) from Ikea for her almost-born baby that I bought for my girls last week. It wasn't until I read the term "diaper" rather then "nappy" that it even occurred to me that she lived in the USA.
Ikea is apparently on the list of the great world-wide uniters too!!! Have I mentioned recently that I love Ikea? I bought new bookshelves from there yesterday. So happy! There will be a very, very over-excited post this time next week because I am having a few friends around for a bookshelf putting in party (ones who can drill stuff).
End of happy, random blog. Feel free to stop reading here before it changes to D&M type blogging.
I intended the post to end the loving Ikea (which I do), but as I was typing all I could think of were the ads that used to be on tv (probably about 20 years ago now. Argh!) about how it is not the "Third World" it is all one world. Which I strongly agree with. It should be one world. It is one world but the gap between rich and poor seems to be getting greater by the day. And I think that as the developed world gets more and more unified the gap gets even bigger. It just made me think.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday randomness
One of my facebook things that I like to do is post in a 'Thankful' group. Friends of mine got sick of the constant complaining and negativity and created a place for people to remember to be thankful for things, both big and little.
For me it has been great! There is nothing like the challenge of thinking of something everyday and the mindset of finding things to be thankful for can only be a good one. A bit modern-day Pollyanna of course, but really I think we could have worse role models.
This morning I woke up incredibly stiff. I went to a polefitness (aka pole dancing for exercise) class yesterday for the first time in about two years. Then, those of you who read my post from yesterday will remember, I walked to the baseball last night. Not far, but I don't think sitting in the cold helped (and it was very cold considering we are in the middle of summer).
But back to me being thankful. We went to church this morning. My poor sore thighs were not dealing well with having to sit then stand then sit then stand (you know how it goes), and all I could think of was that I was thankful we don't kneel! If that had been part of the agenda for the day I don't think I could have made it.
What are you thankful for this week?!
For me it has been great! There is nothing like the challenge of thinking of something everyday and the mindset of finding things to be thankful for can only be a good one. A bit modern-day Pollyanna of course, but really I think we could have worse role models.
This morning I woke up incredibly stiff. I went to a polefitness (aka pole dancing for exercise) class yesterday for the first time in about two years. Then, those of you who read my post from yesterday will remember, I walked to the baseball last night. Not far, but I don't think sitting in the cold helped (and it was very cold considering we are in the middle of summer).
But back to me being thankful. We went to church this morning. My poor sore thighs were not dealing well with having to sit then stand then sit then stand (you know how it goes), and all I could think of was that I was thankful we don't kneel! If that had been part of the agenda for the day I don't think I could have made it.
What are you thankful for this week?!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Take me out to the ball game
This post is for all you American people out there! The girls and I went to our first baseball game tonight and had a great time. I am now feeling very multicultural. Sport in general isn't my thing, but I like supporting local events and watching anything live is more fun. Plus someone else organised it which is always a bonus!
Here is Australia, baseball isn't that big, but there is a .... um ... I am actually not sure of the word to use here? Stadium? (It doesn't look big enough to be a stadium). Field? Anyway you know what I mean, and there is one near us. Our state won! Which was very considerate of them for our first time.
We went with a few friends. One of whom had organised a barbeque beforehand and we all walked down together. I still have no idea what was going on though. Luckily a few of the people we went with did and answered all the girls' questions (mine too). Funny moment was when one of girls answered something I'd asked and when I was sitting there flabbergasted, she (I think it was Erin) calmly told me she'd learnt it from playing WiiSport! Apparently it is educational.
Things I have learnt tonight:
1. Always ask what the colours of the team you are supporting are prior to the match to avoid children having a panic attack. (In case you were wondering they ended up being red, black and white. This was lucky because Aimee had lots of red stuff. Otherwise there may have been tears).
2. Google basic rules in advance or take someone with you who knows what is going on.
3. Doesn't matter if it is the middle of summer, better to take a blanket with you then to not.
4. Things aren't always like they appear on tv (but they did sing 'Take me out to the ball game'. I was so, so excited).
5. Possibly actually something about baseball. We will have to wait for next time thogh to find that one out!
So that was the new thing we tried this weekend and I think we will go back :)
Here is Australia, baseball isn't that big, but there is a .... um ... I am actually not sure of the word to use here? Stadium? (It doesn't look big enough to be a stadium). Field? Anyway you know what I mean, and there is one near us. Our state won! Which was very considerate of them for our first time.
We went with a few friends. One of whom had organised a barbeque beforehand and we all walked down together. I still have no idea what was going on though. Luckily a few of the people we went with did and answered all the girls' questions (mine too). Funny moment was when one of girls answered something I'd asked and when I was sitting there flabbergasted, she (I think it was Erin) calmly told me she'd learnt it from playing WiiSport! Apparently it is educational.
Things I have learnt tonight:
1. Always ask what the colours of the team you are supporting are prior to the match to avoid children having a panic attack. (In case you were wondering they ended up being red, black and white. This was lucky because Aimee had lots of red stuff. Otherwise there may have been tears).
2. Google basic rules in advance or take someone with you who knows what is going on.
3. Doesn't matter if it is the middle of summer, better to take a blanket with you then to not.
4. Things aren't always like they appear on tv (but they did sing 'Take me out to the ball game'. I was so, so excited).
5. Possibly actually something about baseball. We will have to wait for next time thogh to find that one out!
So that was the new thing we tried this weekend and I think we will go back :)
I hate this question
I feel today is a landmark day. I went to a second-hand bookshop and didn't buy a single book for myself. Probably less remarkable because thanks to my cousin moving interstate I have one and half boxes of books to read, but still this is very impressive. Normally there is at least one book in the bargain book for a dollar or two that I just have to get.
Naturally I had to post this groundbreaking news on facebook. Probably not surprisingly someone commented they don't know when I get time to read. I hate this question. I never know what to say. Honestly, I can't *not* read.
Example: As I type, it is just after midnight. I have just got home. And I am about to go to bed. I might only read a chapter or two, but I know I won't be able to go to sleep until I have read a page or two ....
PS Hmmm ... halfway through writing this I have a feeling I may have posted a similar post before? Argh! I am too new a blogger to sound like a broken record already.
PPS Before you are too impressed, I did buy each of the girls a book. Including Reanna who wasn't with us. Her sisters insisted she would like the particular book ... and I wanted to read it too. But this doesn't count! Does it?!
Naturally I had to post this groundbreaking news on facebook. Probably not surprisingly someone commented they don't know when I get time to read. I hate this question. I never know what to say. Honestly, I can't *not* read.
Example: As I type, it is just after midnight. I have just got home. And I am about to go to bed. I might only read a chapter or two, but I know I won't be able to go to sleep until I have read a page or two ....
PS Hmmm ... halfway through writing this I have a feeling I may have posted a similar post before? Argh! I am too new a blogger to sound like a broken record already.
PPS Before you are too impressed, I did buy each of the girls a book. Including Reanna who wasn't with us. Her sisters insisted she would like the particular book ... and I wanted to read it too. But this doesn't count! Does it?!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Grandma duties
I would like to begin by saying that I do not have any pets. I do not need any pets. I have three children and an ex-husband. I am pretty sure this is enough for any person. I am not against the idea in principal. I think they are great for kids and I think I would like one, one day when my nest is empty.
The girls however have a rabbit (Misty) and goldfish (assorted names). My ex has a budgie (Boris) who lives with me (short version of a long story, we used to babysit the budgie when the ex went away and one day he just moved in. The bird, not the ex. There was slightly more discussion before we moved in together).
I am very fond of the pets overall. It is nice coming home and finding Boris there being very excited to see us. Misty is very cute and I have always wanted goldfish. But they are not my responsibility. The girls do a great job of looking after them and I think I have posted before about them leaving notes for me to remind me what to do when they go away. This is fine! Grandma duties :)
We went away for a few days. I arranged for a friend to come and feed and water them and to play with the rabbit and talk to the bird. I even left him in front of the TV so he didn't get lonely. He didn't talk to us for about three days when we got home. Seriously. When we spoke to him he put his head under his wing (and I have never seen him do that before!) or would turn his back. For three days we all, me included, attempted to get him to speak to us. He did. Eventually. But not before I felt bad! Isn't mother-guilt bad enough? Now I have pet-Grandma guilt!
But wait ... there is more! Our rabbit may or may not be pregnant. Sadly through the girls being responsible pet owners and taking her for a play in the backyard. Unfortunately the next door neighbours rabbit was there too. My colleagues thought it was hysterically funny listening to me trying to work out what was going on when Erin called me at work (my little sister was babysitting by the way).
And in amongst all this, my ex is talking about buying a dog ....to keep at our house. Hmmm ... my theory here is he can foot all the bills! But I have been broken into several times in the last couple of years so I am not actually totally against this. However I take pet owning seriously and this is a big call.
His latest plan is thinks the girls might like chooks. The might. But all I am saying is "I don't think so!!"
The girls however have a rabbit (Misty) and goldfish (assorted names). My ex has a budgie (Boris) who lives with me (short version of a long story, we used to babysit the budgie when the ex went away and one day he just moved in. The bird, not the ex. There was slightly more discussion before we moved in together).
I am very fond of the pets overall. It is nice coming home and finding Boris there being very excited to see us. Misty is very cute and I have always wanted goldfish. But they are not my responsibility. The girls do a great job of looking after them and I think I have posted before about them leaving notes for me to remind me what to do when they go away. This is fine! Grandma duties :)
We went away for a few days. I arranged for a friend to come and feed and water them and to play with the rabbit and talk to the bird. I even left him in front of the TV so he didn't get lonely. He didn't talk to us for about three days when we got home. Seriously. When we spoke to him he put his head under his wing (and I have never seen him do that before!) or would turn his back. For three days we all, me included, attempted to get him to speak to us. He did. Eventually. But not before I felt bad! Isn't mother-guilt bad enough? Now I have pet-Grandma guilt!
But wait ... there is more! Our rabbit may or may not be pregnant. Sadly through the girls being responsible pet owners and taking her for a play in the backyard. Unfortunately the next door neighbours rabbit was there too. My colleagues thought it was hysterically funny listening to me trying to work out what was going on when Erin called me at work (my little sister was babysitting by the way).
And in amongst all this, my ex is talking about buying a dog ....to keep at our house. Hmmm ... my theory here is he can foot all the bills! But I have been broken into several times in the last couple of years so I am not actually totally against this. However I take pet owning seriously and this is a big call.
His latest plan is thinks the girls might like chooks. The might. But all I am saying is "I don't think so!!"
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Freedom of speech
Told you I am back :) I am still busy catching up on blog reading from the last few months, so don't be surprised if you get random comments on posts you made a while ago.
Being back aside, today I need to have a bit of a rant. (If you don't want to read, come back tomorrow! Otherwise continue at your own risk. You have been warned).
I love blogs. I love facebook. I love the internet. But I have to admit I sometimes find it very hard to bite my tongue (sit on my hands?) about some of the stuff people post. Sometimes I am ashamed to admit I can't restrain myself. My Dad had a favourite quote when I was little (and probably more importantly when I was a teenager): "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". I have no idea who's quote it really is, but in my head it was Dad's*. In his head he meant it, even though I am not sure how well he really applied to teenage daughters. Now I have almost teen aged daughters I am a lot more sympathetic about this too. Remind me again why it was a good idea to teach them to think for themselves? But I digress!
I do agree. I really, really do. But it is hard when people are saying things that are racist or sexist or ageist or classist or just plain ignorant. Sorry, but some things are. Where is the line? At what point does it change from respecting their view to it being *me* assisting to perpetuate the biases by keeping quiet?
Thanks to things like facebook this is a whole new area of etiquette that not only we have to learn as adults, but also that we need to teach our children. Another minefield!
All this aside, there are so many wonderful people out there, who look at things in ways that are different to mine. Who have had different lives, different beliefs and cultures and experience and I feel so privileged to be able to learn from others and expand my understanding of the universe. And, most of the time, this makes it all worthwhile.
*According to Google it was Voltaire who said it originally. I wonder if he had teenage daughters?
Being back aside, today I need to have a bit of a rant. (If you don't want to read, come back tomorrow! Otherwise continue at your own risk. You have been warned).
I love blogs. I love facebook. I love the internet. But I have to admit I sometimes find it very hard to bite my tongue (sit on my hands?) about some of the stuff people post. Sometimes I am ashamed to admit I can't restrain myself. My Dad had a favourite quote when I was little (and probably more importantly when I was a teenager): "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". I have no idea who's quote it really is, but in my head it was Dad's*. In his head he meant it, even though I am not sure how well he really applied to teenage daughters. Now I have almost teen aged daughters I am a lot more sympathetic about this too. Remind me again why it was a good idea to teach them to think for themselves? But I digress!
I do agree. I really, really do. But it is hard when people are saying things that are racist or sexist or ageist or classist or just plain ignorant. Sorry, but some things are. Where is the line? At what point does it change from respecting their view to it being *me* assisting to perpetuate the biases by keeping quiet?
Thanks to things like facebook this is a whole new area of etiquette that not only we have to learn as adults, but also that we need to teach our children. Another minefield!
All this aside, there are so many wonderful people out there, who look at things in ways that are different to mine. Who have had different lives, different beliefs and cultures and experience and I feel so privileged to be able to learn from others and expand my understanding of the universe. And, most of the time, this makes it all worthwhile.
*According to Google it was Voltaire who said it originally. I wonder if he had teenage daughters?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tales from an absent blogger
31 August 2011 since my last post?! Wow. Really?! .... I am way too embarrassed to read the last blog I actually *did* post. I am sure it was full of promises I wasn't going to stop again. So if I repeat my excuses it will either sound very genuine or like I am totally waffling ;)
I have really missed blogging and I have missed reading blogs, but it did just fall off the radar. Uni got insane. I decided it was irresponsible to blog at work (how grown up am I getting?!) and my darling daughters' dancing schedule takes up so much time! [Side note, after swearing black and blue I was not goin to put up with the same dancing timetable as last year, this year has gone from 4 days to 5 days! Not sure how this has happened, but I actually think it will work better. Strange but true - I hope so anyway!].
My big thing was Erin getting sick. Quite sick. It has all been resolved now, but I seem to have spent months in doctors' surgeries, at the children's hospital, waiting for test results, organising baby-sitters and updating people whether it was by text message, phone or email. Some lovely people just got the "she is fine, but can I tell you in person? I am too tired to explain it all again!". Short version she is fine now and hopefully will stay this way. It was huge for us and our family, but through the whole process it all just made me feel so, so lucky that overall my babies have been happy and healthy. So many people are not this lucky.
We also had an idealic few days down South with one of my sisters and her family. Had a visit from another sister and my nephew who lived interstate for Christmas. Survived another semester of uni and I am now entering my final year! (Admittedly I will be completing it over 18 months, but this is not the point). Reanna graduated primary school (with much crying, mostly by me but she had her fair share of tears on her last day).
I am sure more has happened, but these have been the key points in a nutshell. There may be a few later posts with retrospective tales!
Happy New Year everyone and I am looking forward to much blog reading and writing in 2012.
I have really missed blogging and I have missed reading blogs, but it did just fall off the radar. Uni got insane. I decided it was irresponsible to blog at work (how grown up am I getting?!) and my darling daughters' dancing schedule takes up so much time! [Side note, after swearing black and blue I was not goin to put up with the same dancing timetable as last year, this year has gone from 4 days to 5 days! Not sure how this has happened, but I actually think it will work better. Strange but true - I hope so anyway!].
My big thing was Erin getting sick. Quite sick. It has all been resolved now, but I seem to have spent months in doctors' surgeries, at the children's hospital, waiting for test results, organising baby-sitters and updating people whether it was by text message, phone or email. Some lovely people just got the "she is fine, but can I tell you in person? I am too tired to explain it all again!". Short version she is fine now and hopefully will stay this way. It was huge for us and our family, but through the whole process it all just made me feel so, so lucky that overall my babies have been happy and healthy. So many people are not this lucky.
We also had an idealic few days down South with one of my sisters and her family. Had a visit from another sister and my nephew who lived interstate for Christmas. Survived another semester of uni and I am now entering my final year! (Admittedly I will be completing it over 18 months, but this is not the point). Reanna graduated primary school (with much crying, mostly by me but she had her fair share of tears on her last day).
I am sure more has happened, but these have been the key points in a nutshell. There may be a few later posts with retrospective tales!
Happy New Year everyone and I am looking forward to much blog reading and writing in 2012.
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