Sunday Sessions

I'm trying to join in again to Thea's Sunday Sessions.  The idea is to pick an older song, then something new and share. 

The Black Crows - She Talks to Angels 

Today was actually the first time I'd heard this song. 



And for something newer - James Blunt's latest - Stay the Night (I always struggle to find a 'new' song.  I'm a fan of the oldies.  I'd rather listen to Van Morrison and  Carole King any day.



And I'm a new (but enthusiastic) fan of Angus and Julia Stone.  This song - The Devil's Tears is just what I'm in the mood for this morning.

So what are you listening to right now?  Naomi over at Under the Yardarm has joined in.  Why don't you?

I hope you're all having a good weekend.  Put on some mellow music and just chill with your family.  It's our plan for today.

Well crap....

You know those silly little internet tests????

It's hard to read, I'm afraid.  But I picked, as I always do, the number 4. 

I'm not even sure what to say????


Ah Crap.  Just worked it out with every configuration....they all get the same.  I cannot believe I fell for that.  My excuse can only be that I'd only had one cup coffee.

I'm too stupid to live. ;-)

Cheap therapy

It's been a rough few weeks, as you've probably gathered already.  I want to get back into posting, but am not ready to talk about how I feel about everything. 

So - a therapy post.  Just lots and lots of beautiful things. Pictures that calm my soul and warm my heart.  And some that just make me..want!

My newest shoe love - Mario Bologna.

This one is my favourite - this beautiful soft pink.  I have been lusting after this shoe all week.

I don't know if it's the fact that I'm not forced to be extremely serious about my diabetes (4 injections a day will do that to a girl) but I find myself suddenly just craving sweet things.

Like these dark chocolate brownies with ginger ice cream and salted caramel sauce....

Or this piece of deliciousness.  I showed Joel this one - so now he's craving it too.  Sucker.  If I can't have it, neither can he. ;-)

I crave peace and quiet. Nothing but the sounds of nature - birds, the wind in the trees, the sound of Joel's breathing, the pages turning in a book.  I can't decide if I want green - deep, dark, rich greens, interspersed with the colours of spring wildflowers...



Or peaceful, glorious blues - turquoise, aqua, cerulean.  The sounds of waves lapping at the shore, or against a boat.  Just him and I, sleeping in the sun, drinking coctails at twilight. 

I want to be surrounded by all things beautiful - flowers, dresses, jewellry, music.

This just made me smile. Nothing else - just sweet, romantic and lovely.

A little close to home

If you've had access to any news in the past few hours, you'll be aware of the explosion at the Pike Rive Mine near Greymouth, NZ.  My father lived in Greymouth, worked in the coal mine.

There are, at present, at least 27 miners still trapped an unaccounted for.  It is, at present, not safe to go in and find them.  Communications have failed.  My Dad says that there are a number of areas with several communication lines, when you go underground (as he did often), there are plans and procedures in place to get to these areas and establish contact.

He knows this mine intimately.  He is so scared for his friends.  He is not at all optimistic.  If this was indeed an explosion of coal dust and methane gas, things do not look at all good. 

I hope he's wrong.  I hope there's another amazing rescue, just like last month.
Meanwhile, the world waits.  My thoughts are with the families of those trapped.

It's entirely selfish, but I'm suddenly so,so glad he moved back home.  I thought he had made a mistake, he was so happy in New Zealand.  I had recently even encouraged him to go back.  But this is where he would have been. 

The Gag Order

I feel as though I have never needed this blog more in my life.  Physically, my health is as bad as it has ever been.  Which is playing havoc with me emotionally, of course.  Things with Samuel are impossible - I'm at a loss to know where to even start with that, and I want so much to ask your advice.  There's lots happening with Alexander.  My husband is still kind of adorable and I want to wax lyrical about him.  

My family (or his) is upsetting me, greatly.  It's occupying a lot of my thought space.  I want to talk about it.  There are friend issues as well.  But every time I try, they throw hissy fits.  Messages to me.  Texts to Joel, telling him to 'sort me out' (I truly would like to know what it is they think he ought to be doing,lol).  I've been 'banned' from discussing any family members at all on here.

Even though not a single one of you has ever met a single one of them.  Even though there is no way you could pick them out of a line up.  Even though you will never meet any of them.   Apparently, it's still not on.  It's 'destroying the family'.  Joel's family.  They've clearly stated it's "Joel's" family, not mine.

Except - this is my place.  This is where I 'talk' things out.  This is where I get things off my chest.  When someone irritates me, or hurts me - I don't want you to hate them.  I don't want you to send them emails telling them they are horrible people.  I don't even want messages telling me I'm entirely right and they're entirely wrong.

I just want to get it off my chest, the best way I know how.  And that place is here.

So my blog sits idle.  When I need it most.  My SIL checks my profile on Essential Baby (parenting forum) every couple of days, I'm guessing to check what I've written about them this time.   My two sisters, neither of whom I have any contact with (they don't even have my phone number), clearly are reading this blog, leaving passive-agressive messages on it.

For what?  What harm does this blog do anyone? I almost shut this blog down tonight. Rather than than be told what I can and can't write about.  But you know what?  Screw it.  I'm back.  I'm talking.  About whatever the hell takes my fancy.  If I thought the five of you had any actual interest in me, if I thought you cared about me or my family at all, maybe I'd reconsider. 

I'm going to whine about my back. I'm going to post pretty pictures.  I'm going to tell you when i'm ticked off. I'm going to ask you how the hell to sort out Sam, or help Alexander transition into next year.  I'll tell you when I'm blissfully in love or when I want to kick his ass. ;-)  I'll tell you when I'm feeling like I can't go on anymore.  Or when I'm happy. 

So.  Here's the thing.  If you know me well, or are related to me, and your name is not Joel, Pamela or Catrina, might I suggest that you stop reading.  There may well be days you dont' like what you read. 

Maybe start your own blog.  Feel free to say whatever you want about me.  I promise not to throw a tantrum over it.

What I'm listening to today

Honestly, I kind of can't get enough of them. 

The last post

I've deleted it.  I am not in a place right now where I want to get into an all out confrontation with either of my sisters (or sister in law's cowardly husband).  Suffice it to say, clearly that relationship has gone past salvaging.

Whatever.  Clearly it wasn't worth the effort in the first place.

It's that time again

So...it's Cup Day. (Melbourne Cup - for those of you from outerspace overseas.  The race that 'stops the nation' - though in all fairness, it doesn't take much in this country.  Any sport really).

I don't bet. Not a flutter, not so much as a dollar (I'm one of those irritating people who actually does believe we should blow up the pokies).

Having said that - I'm a bit of a sports nut.  I've been picking 3 horses since I was 14.  I used to pay a bit more attention than I do now.  I used to pick the whatever horse Shane Dye was riding, until I decided he was a d*ck. 

Now, I pick one of the favourites, then the two with the prettiest names (I'm such a girl).

So - my picks this year?

Precedence - a Waterhouse pick.  One for the girls.

Illustrious Blue

Profound Beauty.

What are your picks?  Are you doing anything today?  Going to Flemington?  Having a lunch?  Poor Joel is being forced to have a leisurely lunch with his workmates.  Sigh.  It's tough.