Hi,

I just signed an emergency petition trying to  save the crucial climate change talks in Bali, Indonesia right now by telling the US, Canada and Japan to stop blocking an agreement. You can sign it here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_emergency/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Almost all countries have agreed to cut rich country carbon emissions by 2020--which scientists say is crucial to stop catastrophic global warming, and will also help bring China and the developing world onboard. But with just 24 hours left in the conference, the US and its close allies Canada and Japan have rejected any mention of such cuts.

We can't let three governments hold the world hostage and block agreement on this desperate issue.

There's still 24 hours left to turn this around -  click below to sign the petition - it will be delivered direct to summit delegates, through stunts and in media advertisements, so our voices will actually be heard. But we need a lot of us, fast, to join in if we're going to make a difference. Just click on the link to add your name:

Thanks!

I have just torn out the carpet in my living roon and bedroom. Very satisfying it was too. HOWEVER. It means the work has got to begin. Now. And continue until it's finished. If it were just the floors that need relaying, that'd be one thing. But as I surveyed my denuded floors I realised that before the new floor goes down, the skirting boards really should be painted. That would be the sensible order to do things. And if you paint skirting boards, architraves necessarily follow. Which, it turns out, is a hell of a job because the last coat of gloss was painted directly over the original gloss without any prep whatsoEVER. And so it's peeling off in sheets. Which will be totally obvious if we don't strip all the paint properly. And well, the walls need redoing too and it would be sensible to do that before the glossing. See how this is getting out of control? There are some repairs needed to the plaster before painting the walls and then once the floors, walls etc are done the 20 year old ceiling paint will look awful. So add that to the list!

 

My molehill floor has just turned into a mountainous reno. Never mind! It had to be done, but it all seems a little overwhelming right now:)

Ok, so it was Halloween last night. And my kids wanted to go trick or treating but I said no. No, I said, that is an American tradition and a waste of time as you will get virtually nothing for your efforts. And no, I did not buy lollies for the 6 children I expected to turn up. Why? Because last year when I attempted to get into the spirit of things, all but the above mentioned half dozen were even constumed. It was mostly teenagers walking by on their way to somewhere else who spied our skull and crossbones and thought they'd get some chocolate for the walk they were taking. Even last night I copped an attitude filled 'whatever!' from two 10 year olds who happened to be following the costumed six around on their scooters (in their normal clothes - no attempt at anything resembling a costume) when they saw my sign on the door saying I had no lollies this year. And when I closed the front door and turned off the lights so we could eat dinner in peace we got several pissed of thumps on the glass panel next to the door. Little shits. Do they think I will suddenly change my mind if they attempt to break my windows? Ill bred little brats.

 

Yeah, so. Grumpy 'bout that. Like I need an extra hallmark occasion to add to the budget. Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks.

 

E and S are both battling at the moment with the growing pains of friendships with other girls. To this day I have no idea how I dodged all this girly bullshit as I was growing up, but my daughters have not been so lucky. Poor S has been introduced to the concept of some friends being better than others and that being 'pretty' matters and that being told that you aren't is a crushing insult. She had no clue that we all couldn't just be friends together. And so she is cranky and emotional All.The.Time. And E, bless her, has been copping grief for standing up for the class leper. She is staunchly anti-bully and backs herself up by telling people to leave their victims alone. And when it came to telling her best friend to pull her head in, the best friend turned her sharp little claws on E. Every day is filled with so much uncertainty. The BF is moody and fickle and incredibly demanding. If she is ready to play and E is not, then E can't finish her lunch. She must stop and go play. And the BF often decides she 'needs space' and ditches E with no one to play with while she goes and plays with girls who bully E. I was preparing to write a letter to the vice principle to make sure E and BF are placed in the same class next year but E has said not to. E seems to pick these same sort of girls every year and it makes her miserable. Are all kids arseholes and I'm just clueless or have we just landed in a patch of neglected latch key kids who have virtually no parental guidance?? Do I switch schools or is this just the way it is these days? Where parents depend on time strapped teachers to teach their kids morals? I do know that if I want to be gauranteed a school filled with the children of like-minded parents, it's going to cost a bomb. Public school just can't deliver that particular thing.

 

It has been a grump inducing week and I am glad the weekend is coming. We have a birthday 'party' for my brother on Saturday. Well, we will make it a party cos my kids won't hear of taking him a present without accompanying fanfair. We will get candles and sparklers and my brother will have to suffer through my kids' excitement. Teehee. So not cool if you are 14. And on Sunday a cousin they ADORE is coming for the day. And that will rock even more than the birthday. And my babies need a break from the big bad world. Who'd be a kid again? It was hard enough the first time and this generation scares the crap outta me as an adult. I wish Richard Branson would hurry up with his lunar hotel. The moon seems a good option to me today:)

At Satch's kindy they have a teddy called Shaggy and a blue duck called Quack who go home in turn with all the children. Yesterday we got Quack for the second time this year and because it was a Wednesday, we get him until Monday when kindy's back in. Last time Quack came to visit he was treated to a bubble bath but unfortunately had to go in the dryer in order to be ready for kindy the next day.

 

 

 

This time, although hoping to mend the relationship, Quack found himself at the immunisation clinic where both Satch and Caitey got their shots. Being fair handed as I am, Quack also had his shots. He even went first so the girls could see there was nothing to worry about. I think that secretly Satch was thinking that this shit is bananas, who the heck does this to themselves?? But she was brave and didn't cry at all. Daddy, who was holding her, looked more likely to faint.

 

 

So anyway, Quack got a super duper Winnie the Pooh bandaid for his trouble. He felt faint and went a bit drama queen on Satchel's leg but was, in the end, philosophical.

 

 

Ever the optimist, Quack is hoping the weekend will make up for the unending torture he seems to encounter with our family. It's Indy weekend and we are having lots of rellies to stay who are always lots of fun and spoil the girls. Maybe they will spoil Quack too. Heaven knows he deserves it!

There is not a creature on the planet who compares to Rosie in Caitlin's eyes. In a rare moment of stillness Caitey took advantage of the cat's willingness to not run away and brought her bowl to her. When she still didn't bolt, Caitey then went and fetched a museli bar, drink and a fistful of playdoh to smoosh into the carpet and the girls just chilled for a few minutes:)

 

Tonight I laid with the girls as they were going to sleep. Satch asked me to tell a story, knowing full well how terrible my stories usually are compared to her Daddy's. I think she figured I'd run out of steam fairly fast and swap with the 'real' storyteller. But I told her Love You Forever and substituted The Baby with the names of my girls.

 

So I got to the first rendition of the song, I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, and as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

 

I told the next part of the story and sung the song again with Satch joining in at the last note with a shy hum.

 

And with each section of the story she sung a little more with me, and repeated the part where the mummy rocks her baby back and forth, back and forth...

 

And we reached the end, where the mummy gets old and the 'baby' sings to the mummy which completely choked me and Satch hummed the tune for me.

 

When the story was done and we were quiet in the dark for a few seconds she rolled over and put her mouth right up to my ear and whispered "Mummy, I LOVE that story".

 

Another minute or so passed and she gently reached over and put her hand on my chin and started rocking my face side to side. I could barely hear her muttering 'back and forth, back and forth', and quieter still, she sung the song back to me. And when she finished she stroked my hair, said "Good Night" and rolled over.

 

And Ellie, who'd been pretending to be asleep rolled over from behind me and put her arm around my waist and squeezed.

 

I'm trying out some new windows live software to post here but obviously it's still in beta for a reason! I'll stick a picture over in the photo bit.

 

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Meanwhile, I was looking at this website this morning. Go get a hanky and download the story. It's so simple and the best thing I have heard in a long time. I think I will get the kids each a copy of this book for Christmas. Thanks Brenda, I discovered it through that new website:)

 

Seriously, do it. If you are at work, shut your office door;-) (Not that you aren't working Catherine!! lol)

It's been a while since I have had the time to write an entry here. The last four weeks or so have been insane. Sometimes life just swallows you up as if you are caught in a stormy surf. It feels like you are getting nowhere yet you are fighting like mad and exhausted despite having such a long way to go to reach a calm moment.

 

Well I have reached the relative calm that has come after Satch's kindy fair. I have been pulling late nights and all nighters for a month in order to present with a stall full of products that are made from felt - either hand made felt (by me of course!) or premade felt. I also had kits of wool fibre and related paraphenalia as well as an activity table so that the kids could felt their own picture square or purse. I had examples of a range of things you can make by either wet or dry felting wool but my main earner was my range of felt hair clips. It took an insane amount of effort but I sold a respectable $93 worth of stuff/activities. Considering people like to get a free balloon and a barbequed sausage in bread and little else at these events, I was surprised and pleased with my success. I will be setting up another blog to sell stuff through. I'll post photos of some of my clips and slides  soon.

 

School holidays are about to arrive. This is a mixed blessing. It's expensive in the extreme to feed and entertain kids for two weeks. They get stir crazy if you don't do stuff though. On the up side, I can wear pyjamas for all home based activities hehehe:) In an attempt to be truly mummish, I may plan out a loose schedule to get us through the fortnight without injuring each other too badly.

 

I intend to do lots of cookie baking, art and craft and perhaps even some gardening. I can't promise gardening though. I can promise a trip or two to the video shop. God, I'm bored already.

 

Anyway, I've lost my way here and am just jibbering so will sign off now and take some photos of the hair clips. Exciting, I know. Let's face it though, if you've read this far you're bored enough to look at anything hehehe!!

 

Ta-ta!

 

Well, I did a lot of research yesterday and along with my gut feeling that Satchel's leg is broken, I came up with a fairly solid scenario as to what was going on from a medical standpoint.

 

There is a fracture called a 'Toddler's Fracture' that is very difficult to pick up on initial xrays. After 4 to 10 days the bone starts to heal and the resulting sclerosis becomes more visible on xray. So I chose to give it one more day to either heal completely and need no further intervention or for the break to become more obvious.

 

So it was confirmed tonight that her leg is indeed broken and that the first hospital missed the fracture on Sunday night. The private hospital K took her to was packed with kids because no one trusts the Gold Coast Hospital anymore. They are making so many mistakes up there because they are so stretched. Apparently 2.3 people per thousand will die at the GCH. That is the same number as are killed due to drink driving. It's getting to a point where the system will be only a little better than a third world system. You only get a decent standard of care if you can pay. And that sucks. We pay more tax than the majority of the world in order to have health care.

 

I am feeling a need to start getting political. Watch out governments!

Time: Sunday Night at Dinner Time

 

Place: Bunk Beds

 

Participants: One twitchy six year old and a pink tutu wearing four year old

 

Incident: One small fairy mistakenly believes she can fly. From the top bunk. Hits the floor. Hard. On left leg. Mayhem Ensues.

 

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So I run to my fallen fairy who is screaming, rolling around on the loor clutching her leg. In the background one ashen faced big sister with tears rolling down her cheeks knows this is a little worse than the normal scrapes around here. We think a bone is broken but concentrate on calming Satch down to see what is what. After 20 minutes she is calm enough to eat a little dinner, but the calm doesn't last and so she and I head up to the hospital. Long story short, it's packed, full of freaks and the elderly who cannot afford a GP or nursing home accommodation. The triage nurse gives her ankle a good squeeze. Satch fails to jump out of her skin so she is deemed well and we are advised to leave. We come home and then we get her ready for bed. I rub some pain relief gel into her ankle and wrap it in a 'magic' bandage but she's crying. Eventually the gel kicks in and she sleeps.

 

Two hours later she's crying in her sleep. We cannot comfort her but having already been to the hospital we persist and she exhausts herself. An hour later, it's the same story. So, just before 2am we head back to the hospital. It took four hours to be seen and magically her pain seemed to disappear inside the ED. Again, she is declared well, probably having sustained a sprain. We leave as the sun comes up. Good times.

 

Fast forward to today. She is apparently in no pain. We have poked, prodded, twisted, squeezed, bent AND stretched her foot and ankle. Never so much s a flicker to register pain. And yet... she refuses to walk. She is crawling around the house, scooting about, doing her thing quite happily. But she will not walk. She finally stood today, but when we finally got her to attempt walking, she looked genuine in her inability to walk.

 

I have, of course, consulted Dr Google and have decided that the best answer to her symptoms is that she has a spiral fracture which are notorious for not showing up on xray for days or even weeks. Unless the Drs are looking for them that is.

 

Sadly, the doctors and nurses charged with her care were overworked and obviously fed up with the world's media and the federal police dogging them for the last month. I doubt they were looking that hard.

 

The other option is that there is actually nothing wrong now, but that the initial injury has scared her to the extent that she won't risk another injury. Either way, I have no clue what to do. Unless she rises up before the end of the week, it's going to cost us at least $500 to go to a private hospital to find out one way or the other what we are dealing with.

 

I'm just tired, is all. She seems to be quite perky and positive about her new situation though. Ah, what to do in the meantime huh?

Ok, I was just taking the rubbish out to the bins and noticed that someone has been right up into the middle of my front garden, maybe two metres from my bedroom window, and stolen my Venus birdbath. They left the plinth, just took the statue and bath. The thing was awful. It was installed by the nan and grandad who lived here before us. But still, that ain't the point. I hope the little bastards dropped it on their toes. I think I know who did it too.

 

The other night I was getting in my car when this hellishly loud trailbike came up the street. It was unregistered and the rider was without a helmet and I gave him the evil eye all the way up the road. I have called the cops on this little scrote before because he has made Caitlin a nervous wreck with the way he rides past our place at all hours of the day and night. Anyway, minutes later he came back from where he had been and gave ME the evil eye all the way down the road. And because I stared him down he didn't like it.

 

K got all pissy with me because I may have started something nasty with  someone bad. But fuck it if I am going to cower in my house in the 'burbs afraid to stand up to the antosocial little buggers who choose to disrupt everyone's normal lives. It makes me mad. I know where he lives too. Well I know what street and I know what street his mate lives on too. I just have to come up with a plan to fix his little red wagon. Maybe his parents might take the thing away from him if I go talk to them. I swear, I have fantasies about owning an air rifle and shooting his tyres as he passes. I need to get out of the city.... aaarrrggghhhh!!!!! The best revenge will be some time down the road, when he has a baby of his own and a little bastard in a car or on a bike waking the kid up.

 

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Ellie's school just called to say she was in sick bay with an upset tummy and could I come and get her. I know she's faking. She's been working up to it for at least a week now. She's been asking to have a day off for no reason because apparently her two friends have dome this. Then yesterday her best friend got collected early because she was supposedly sick. I would wager that if the BF is off today then the child sees no reason as to why she should have to be at school on her own.

 

Again, from the School of Ironic Punishment, when I bring her back she will be immediately dressed in pyjamas and tucked into bed only to be allowed out for toilet breaks. If she's really sick that's all she'll feel like doing anyway, but if not, she'll be driven to distraction, hehehehe:)

 

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UPDATED TO ADD: Ellie was faking and quite happily admitted it. The scumbags who took my birdbath also stuck a screwdriver in the driver side lock of K's car. So this is what happens when you look at someone wrong. Very fucking nice huh? Law and order in this town? Don't make me laugh. Grrrrrrr!!!!!

Early this morning:

 

Satchel: Ellie!!! My wee is yellow!

 

E: (unimpressed) yeah, I know.

 

S: Yellow is my favorite colour!

 

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Does life get better than that?? I mean really, making one's own favorite colour with one's own body and completely by surprise?

 

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Last comment which is anon - Lee is that you?

I have been a woman on the edge. Ellie and Satchel are like little wild animals, fighting and screaming and hurting each other. They can be relied upon to wake Caitlin from her nap Every.Single.Time.

 

So, this evening, having shouted myself hoarse, I had an idea. Originally from an old episode of Liz.zie Mc.Guire, the punishment for driving mother completely fucking batshit crazy, is that they are to spend every waking moment together. And if they don't, I will be heading down to my local adult store to purchase handcuffs.

 

I WILL desensitize them to each other if it kills me. If I don't, it's gonna be the end of me, I swear. I'll let you know how it goes. Please, wish me luck......

We were furniture shopping today - as a family, so we probably asked for this - and as I was walking about with the three girls, one, who should remain nameless but who I will publicly shame (SATCHEL!!), pulled down her pants and mooned me! And worse, the lady behind me!!

 

Of course she was severely chastised on the spot, but it was clear that I was trying not to laugh at the absurdity of her not so little display. Ahhh, good times.

 

It was the technique that was notable. It went step-step-swingrightarmaroundtheback-hookrightthumbinwasteband-WHOOSHKA! So smooth, she never skipped a beat. There was no stopping the inevitable.

 

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On a different note, there is a new message board getting under way called Hideous Monkey. I guess the main theme of the board is that it's pretty non-judgemental and anyone is welcome as long as they bring a sense of humour and some manners. It's a place to discuss books, movies, house renovations, landscaping, relationships, kids and whatever else you want to chat about. It's be great to see it get some support:)

I think I am going to limit access to this blog a little bit. Details on the other blog - that way I know where you've come from and that you're probably trustworthy. Sorry to be a pain!

Well another year has been marked in the life of Satchel and as always the cold weather has turned up to help us celebrate. Yesterday she turned four, although she just wasn't/isn't sure if she wants to be four, thinking three is much more fun. Every time she was asked how old she was, she pretended to forget with a shrug of the shoulders and an apologetic look for the enquirer.

 

However, we soldiered on with the birthday and enjoyed it despite the uncertainty of what being a year older means. Satch chose a pinata cake which involved a cake topped with treasure hidden inside a chocolate shell to be smashed open with a hammer. I nearly lost my fucking mind making it. Seriously. Pictures over in the photo bit to the right. We took it to kindy and the kids loved it. Sanity restored.

 

Then for the family birthday I made about 4 dozen tiny cupcakes (about an inch and a half across the top) and we all iced them together after school and munched on them after Satch's chosen dinner of Daddy's Super Special Spagetti With Squashed Up Meatballs. Again, photos over there ->

 

Enjoy!

We are kicking off early tomorrow with a party at 9am at the local indoor playcentre. Satch's little friend is having a party in The Princess Room so we went birthday shopping today. Satch chose My Lit.tle P0ny underware (a vest and 4 pairs of undies) and a Lit.tle Mer.maid doll with mauve hair. They make really good Mocha Lattes there, which at 9am on a Saturday I will need. The place should be pretty quiet at that time though so I am quite looking forward to chatting to the other parents rather than screaming over the kids - much like I did in the days of loud clubbing!

 

In the interests of fairness Ellie has been permitted to have two (count 'em) friends to sleep over tomorrow night. Make up will be used and much giggling and bitching at Satchel is expected. It's going to be a LONG day.

 

In addition to that I have to go hunting for specialist cake making equipment to make Satch's pinata cake for her birthday Tuesday. I am still in two minds about whether to give her a full-on party because the cost is through the roof. All her friends seem to be having one but I just don't have $200 to spend on party and cake (minimum) plus a gift. It's so out of hand but it sucks for yours to be the kid who doesn't have the shit-hot birthday party. *Sigh*...what to do, what to do? Ellie has had quite a few extravaganzas and Satch has not had even a single kiddie party but at this point, K's job change means that cash is tight. Even worse is that it probably won't be an issue by the time Ellie's birthday rolls around in August so she'll get the party again:(

 

Anyway, I have to get the glad rags ready before bed so I'll be off

....after the last post to say that the kids and I have calmed down considerably this week and it's been a nice time even without Daddy here. In fact it is so much better than I could ever have imagined it getting in just 10 days. K arrives home tomorrow morning and I think I will have to insist that he just does as I direct him for a while so that hopefully the New Zen can continue. Because it's really good.

 

All we require now is that his new job delivers boatloads of cash which will eliminate about 95% of the remaining stress in our lives and we will be able to say for the first time in many, many years, that our cups are truly full to the brim.

 

Just quietly, I do wonder sometimes what our relationship would be like when we are not struggling for our very survival every minute of every day. Things have always been hard for us in one way or the other. I just hope that easiness won't be intolerable. Make any sense? Meh. 'Easy' hasn't happened yet so I probably shouldn't worry just yet that it ever really will. *Sigh*....