A Very Sad Loss

Today the Australian music industry and the Australian public lost a talented, nice and pretty spunky man - Darryl Cotton. When I was a teenager he was the lead singer of a group called "Zoot". They wore all pink, sang great songs and were very easy on the eye. My favorite by far was Darryl Cotton, you might say I idolised him. One time when I was in my 20's I was at the Royal Melbourne Show with my boyfriend (Paul)  I spotted Darryl and his girlfriend wandering around the show. Me being me grabbed Paul arms and dragged him along following Darryl ( stalking actually) around. Then in my 50's I went to a Mothers Day Show with a group of girlfriends to see Darryl perform. I will admit I was like a giddy school girl - he was still as sexy and as talented as he was when I was 15. I was lucky enough to talk to him and confess of my stalking incident, tell him how great I thought he was and I even got a kiss.

Thank you Darryl for bringing so much joy to this Aussie girl - you will be sadly missed.

My Pet Magpie

Today a few words about the bird called "Magpie" aroused a wonderful childhood memory for me that I thought I would like to share with you. Growing up an only child my Dad was the person who would bring home various animals that he would find injured. When I was a young teenager my Dad arrived home from work with an injured Magpie. It had broken its wing and was unable to ever fly again, so he - I named him "Sam" - and I became the best of friends. We would play for hours in my back yard, I would hide my little silver watch in my slippers and he would go and find it and bring it back to me. He also had the strange habit of try to help me with my acne problem by pecking at my zits. Magpies are wonderful mimickers when it comes to sounds. He was able to mimick my dogs bark to the point that they were difficult to tell apart. As a teenager I would also be constantly playing my vinyl records in my bedroom and Sam would sit on my window ledge and sing along with the songs he knew. I am so grateful I had such a kind and caring Dad that allowed me to experience the love between human and animal.

Sam retrieving my watch from inside my slipper

My poodle "Freddie" with my magpie "Sam"



Sam helping me with my acne problem!!!

Joy

With my recuperation going slowly but well and my "Motivational Magic" group theme for today being "Joy" I felt a little challenged. Because I'm still not allowed to do anything, how can I have a joyful day? What brings me "Joy"? Doing any sort of crafts? Problem solved - I will do some crafting today - between sleeps that is. First up I tackled the "Big Red Dice" I was making for my daughter Rachel to use in her school teaching. I didn't have much to do, just finish sewing on the last green dots, so it was finished on no time.

Rachel's Big Red and Green Dice

Next I decided tackle a project I have had on my to do list for a few years. It's not a finish in a day project, so tonight I can share the photos of my preparation but the final result will take a while. I will try and upload my inspiration though.

Firstly, I collected lots of used and cleaned potato chip packets. Lucky I am addicted to chippies!!

Cut into 2" x 4 1/2" pieces

Next it's onto folding all my little rectangles into tiny little rectangles to intertwine into each other.

Now all these little rectangles will eventually become a potato chip wallet. I have uploaded my inspiration below. Mine won't have the handle -

not sure how mine will look but I will definitely share with you.

This little bag is my inspiration but mine will be more of a purse with a zip.

Live In The Moment

This is really all we can and should do "Live in the Moment". It is so easy to live in the past, while allowing all the "stuff" that has already happened affect our now. Yes, the past does make us what we are at this very moment, but don't let it affect tomorrow if you don't want it to. We really shouldn't live for the future either as we don't know what will happen in the next 5 mins and should make the most of every second of here and now we have. May you here and now be the best it can possibly be.

My Next Adventure

I am feeling a bit better each day and am now starting to think about getting organised for my next adventure. In 6 months Shane and I will be heading of on our 12 month journey around Australia in our campervan. We do not plan to have to much organised, just follow our noses, so to speak. But tonight we sat down an pencilled out our initial preferred destinations. Although I will not have access to the Internet the whole time I intend to use my blog as my journal. I will also be using it as a tool to keep my family and friends up to date as to where we are and to also give my blog follows some examples of some of the beautiful locations in Australia. I am really looking forward to our adventure but will also really miss these two little people. But I intend to fly home now and then for my cuddles.

O'Shea and Mummy have a cuddle.

A kiss for Granny from Clare.

Words

Sometimes I hear a saying and it resonates so much in my soul I just have to share it. Here is one: You don't need to be perfect to make an enormous difference in someone's life. You simply need to show up and be present .... With an open heart, flaws and all. Denise Linn

Time to Pamper Me

It is now a week since I had my hysterectomy operation. I had it last Friday at about 5.00pm and was discharged from hospital and home by noon on the Sunday. They certainly don't keep you in hospital for long these days!! But I have been following the surgeons instructions and that was to do absolutely nothing. Not that I have been able to do anything - I have a shower and have to sleep again. Some people may find this strange and some will know exactly where I am coming from. I know my parents (since left me) where with me, especially my Dad. As soon as I woke in recovery I could smell my Dad. At first the doubting Thomas in me said it was just due to the anesthetic but I can't explain why it has happened twice more since, other than he is around watching out for me. Since my Mum and Dad left me I have been wanting to get a memorial necklace that I can hold a small amount of each of their ashes. I have finally got my piece but I had to get a dear friend of mine "Vicki" to do the job as I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I now have this most amazing and most cherished piece if jewellery to wear and know that the two people that made me will always be with me.

I must say that I am in two minds about posting this entry to my blog as it is the most

personal I have ever been. But I think this us what I need to do at this very time of my life.

My Boys

Here we are in Eden spending a few days with my son Shane, Stacey and my adorable grandson O'Shea. We drove the 7 hour drive yesterday arriving here about 4.30pm. The drive was pretty uneventful with just toilet and food stops along the way. Waking up this morning to O'Shea's cute little smile made my heart sing.

Shane is a very good guitarist and O'Shea loves to join along banging on the bongos.

 We all decided to go out for lunch today to a seafood restaurant that specialises in oysters - its actually an oyster farm. Our meals were very yummy and I meant to take a photo to share with you, but we all got stuck into our meals so quickly it was to late to get my camera out.