Nice to see you!

Three major events occurred for me last year (2010), all in the space of about 2 weeks. I turned 50. The following day I got married. Two weeks later, my oldest daughter became pregnant with her first child and my first grandchild.

Most middle-aged people will tell you that in their minds, they still feel 20 something. It's the same for me.

Wasn't it only yesterday that I was planning a night out with guys from the surf club? That gorgeous new perm. Flaired, cuffed denims and the red t-shirt with the off-the-shoulder frill. Corked platform wedgies. **sigh**

Suddenly I'm looking in the mirror and wondering how 30 years can flash by so damned quickly!

So here I am in cyberspace, sharing my genuine shock and horror with anyone who'll listen and maybe I'll even meet some other over 50s who find themselves in the same predicament!

Welcome to my dilemna!!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Day 48 in a Year of my LIfe

Yet another exhausting day with the energiser bunny, Chicklet.

I got to babysit again this morning while Mama and Dadoo went grocery shopping.

Chicklet and I went for a long walk along the river path while I drank my morning coffee and then we came home and had some breakfast of yoghurt, nuts and crackers.

We watched some kids TV on the ABC - Bananas in Pyjamas and the Pig show (I am a bad grand mother and cannot remember the names of the shows).

Not long after that, Chicklet went for her morning nap before we went to lunch at my favourite eating place nearby, and I got to have my favourite Duck Quinoa salad and then a delicious dessert, of the house vanilla ice cream!

It was a good idea to walk off all that delicious food, so we headed for the park!

Oddly enough, there was less playing on the equipment and more of Boz carrying Chicklet around the park, until Mama suggested that we go to the swings!

I got to take lots of photos of Chicklet giggling and having fun, and even Mama had some fun on the swing.

Finally, in yet another state of exhaustion, we walked home and once again, collapsed on the couch.

A bit of Playschool on the telly, a good healthy feed of apple, cucumber, banana, orange and nuts.  Lots of water to drink and then Mama and Chicklet shared a chocolate icy pole.

A shower with the mother and baby ducks.

Brushing the teeth was a bit of a struggle until Boz got her toothbrush out and we all did it together :D

Bed time.

**sigh**

This is my last night here.  Tomorrow I head off for the photography night shoot in Brisbane with some friends from the flickr group, which I am looking forward to very much.

I will definitely miss my baby though.  I've had such a lot of fun with her and I'm definitely feeling very grandmotherly now - exhausted, but happy :D

Flickr seems to having trouble with the site tonight so I can't add the links to the new photos of Chicklet.

I will attempt to do that tomorrow night, if I have time.  Otherwise it will be Sunday night .. if I have time.

Don't be concerned if I don't update in the next two nights.  There is a lot happening and I may not have time.

Today I am grateful for having such an amazingly happy and full life.  I feel like I haven't had a moment to myself for months, but it's been a fabulous and satisfying year and I can't wait to recap here, after Christmas, on the year that was mine.

If the Mayan Calendar is correct in predicting the end of the world in a week's time, I will leave this earth happy and content.

Nite all.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Day 47 in a Year of my Life

We are all Zawsted!

Even Chicklet is exhausted after a very big afternoon at Underwater World.

You remember that it's my favourite place in the world, right?  Except maybe in the 'real' underwater world, which I have never been to ... never scuba dived and never snorkelled!  Can you believe that?!

Through the first door, was the 'touch pool' where Chicklet got to touch and hold a blue starfish!  What an exciting start to the day!  She wanted to touch EVERYTHING after that, and luckily was happy enough to touch the glass that protected all of the sea creatures.

She loved the fish and sharks and she loved the turtles.  We ALL loved the underwater tunnel and the Bare-chested Chef took lots of photos with his Samsung Pad.

I took my camera, but didn't take any photos.  I really should have attempted to get some photos of Chicklet in different areas, but I was too busy either playing with her or wandering through the tunnel in awe with Vegan Chickie.

Chicklet loved the room that viewed the seals underwater and spent most of the time climbing the giant 'step seats' with her teddy and then scooting back down.

She got to stand up at the glass wall and see the seals up close.  One of the seals came down under the water and put her nose against the glass really close to Vegan Chickie and Chicklet.  What a thrill!

I think Chicklet enjoyed the acoustics in there too because she was singing and laughing and talking REALLY LOUDLY!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8268462373/in/photostream

It was ok because she scared all the other people away and we had the room to ourselves most of the time!

When we were leaving, out of all the stuffed toys at the gift shop - colourful sting rays, star fish, seals, sharks, crocodiles, frogs, clown fish, sea horses, eels, turtles etc etc, Chicklet fell for the fluffy brown otters,  which was quite strange because we only saw the otters for about a minute before they disappeared down their tunnels and out of sight.

We had a good three hours at Underwater World, including lunch, so I guess we have good reason to be 'zawsted'!

So Chicklet has been there, done that AND got a t-shirt.

A good time was had by all!

Today I am grateful for sharing a family day and sharing a 'first' experience with Chicklet.  Seeing everything again, as if for the first time, through her young inexperienced eyes, was amazing, and watching her Mama and Dadoo enjoying her excitement was equally enjoyable.

I love my life.

Nite all.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Day 46 in a Year of my Life

Ugh!  Motion sickness on a train... blah ... it sucks!

Twenty minutes after I sat down, the wave of nausea descended and it took every ounce of willpower to suck it up and get through the two hour journey unscathed.

I had even ordered a big gluten free breakfast before I felt sick but was unable to even take a bite, so it is in the fridge ready for tomorrow morning's breakfast.

After I recovered from that, I got to be a grandmother all on my own for a bit over four hours.

It was the most mentally and physically exhausting fun I've had for a long time!  Challenging, to find just one more burst of energy to get through each new session of play time.

I have carpet burn on my knees from playing 'doggies' - because dogs, of course, should be on four legs at all times!  They should also be walking around the room constantly and chasing other dogs and playing with balls and barking at people through the front door.

Boz must not, for even a moment, lay down on the couch to rest.

A leisurely walk to the Pirate Park was the closest I got to relaxing, so I walked REALLY slowly, to make it last lol.

At least thirty times, my arms lifted Chicklet to the top of the slippery slide, so that she could race the other kids down the slide.

We climbed the ladder.  We crossed the bridge a number of times.  We made sand castles.  We made Chicklet's feet disappear under the sand.  We made mud fish in the wet sand.  We ran through the bark under the trees.  We studied seed pods.  We watched the ducks swimming in the river.  We bounced.  We jumped.  We scooted.  We spun.

We walked back home, getting coffee and 2 chocolate tiny teddies on the way.

We changed out of our dirty clothes, got a new nappy, cleaned all the toys off the floor, played doggies again until Mama and Dadoo came home.

We all discussed our day, had dinner, washed the dishes, showered Chicklet and now have all crawled into bed exhausted.

What a day!

Today, I am grateful.  I am grateful for today.  A perfectly delightful, delicious, glorious, wondrous, happy and exhausting day with my most precious granddaughter.

May there be many more.

There will be photos tomorrow.

Nite all.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Day 45 in a Year of my Life

Been procrastinating all day!

I did make a list and I am partly packed.

It's almost 10.30pm and I have to be up at 4.30am, so I am off to finish packing.

Today, I am grateful for 'to do' lists.

I am checking everything off the list as I go, so I should be in bed by 11.30pm.

Looking forward to spending some real quality time with my little Chicklet.

Nite all.

Day 44 in a Year of my Life

Lots of uneventful things added up to fill my day.

Bought my ticket to the Sunshine Coast for Wednesday.

Had coffee with my boys at the Seat of Knowledge.

Delivered some photos.

Had lunch with Adoring Husband in The Bay.

Did some grocery shopping.

Watched a movie.

Rushed to the river for a spectacular sunset, but the clouds blew away ... again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8261455498/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8261460092/in/photostream/lightbox/

That is all.

Today I'm grateful for failed sunsets ... without them, I wouldn't appreciate the GREAT ones when they come along.

Nite all.




Sunday, December 9, 2012

Day 43 in a Year of my Life

I haven't slept well since we came home.

Something about our bed just doesn't do it for me and I can't even remember the last time I got a solid nights sleep in it ... unlike the bed in the camper van where I fell asleep almost immediately every time my head hit the pillow and the only time I woke during the night was when a certain piece of my anatomy required emptying!

Having said that, it almost goes without saying, I am very tired tonight, so this will be short and sweet, so that I can crawl into bed and hopefully get a few solid hours in.

This afternoon, we got to see some old friends, who moved to Tasmania from here, over two years ago, and have now moved to The Bay.

'The Sex Therapist' and 'Laughing Buddha'.

SOOOO good to see them!

They asked me to do a quick photo shoot,  so that they could give framed photos to family for Christmas.

When I say 'quick', it was the fastest photo shoot EVER and I was lucky to get 15 minutes of their time!

Quick and painless.

I haven't finished editing the photos yet, but this is one that they have selected for their grandchildren.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8256676371/in/photostream

I feel a bit embarrassed because I know I could have done so much better with a bit more time.

However, they are happy, and that's what counts!

Today I am grateful to have old friends living close by again.  I look forward to some girlie time with The Sex Therapist - we always have a good old belly laugh when we are together.  I'm sure there will be fun times to be had in the coming months!

Nite all.