Happy Holidays

Its just extraordinary how tired we were. That first week all we did was sleep and since we have a lovely new stove and we both love cooking so much, the other thing we've done is eat!

We've had one week at carlo point camping. ( weather beautiful) and planning to go again this week! How fast the time goes, then only another week and back to work.

I've included a photo of out stopover on Fraser Island. There's a great spot thats in the middle of Fraser, hervey Bay and Tin can bay that we can get to by boat. The fishing was great although on the day we were there it was "Fish playing with people" day and of course nothing was biting.

Here are my fellas soaking up the sun. A snap of me (thanks Russ ) after a stern talking to about how there needs to be photos of me for posterity. I had to use my angry eyes but he gets it now! Look at that lovely beach!

How glamorous!!!


Also a nice shot we've taken to getting of our shadows, and Alex reminding us that he is after all thirteen years old and a boy!


Its cold and rainy as we pack our gear this time. The weather people have promised sunshine for wednesday. Ben and Jake&Jess will be coming on Saturday for the night. We've promised angel steaks from the rainbow beach butcher for barbeque dinner. (they're a special cut of beef obviously, the other kind are way too hard to catch )

We're taking Max as well. That should be interesting...nothing adds a special something to camping like a fox terrier thats been playing in the mangroves. We'll take his little house and a lead and he'll be fine!

Not taking any papercraft this time. Took a lot for the last trip but did nothing, so this time just sketching and maybe some watercolours.... hey twinkling h2o's would be fun...and I could always do that onto some cards, and alex likes painting ...................
til next time
ttfn

Road Rager

Road Rager.

The other day I had a lady in a four wheel drive absolutely furious with me! It seemed I was completely ignorant of the “rules” and was giving way at a give-way sign (???), just where she wanted to turn. How inconsiderate of me!
I then had an amazing conversation with my boy Alex (13) at how angry people are all the time. For what seems like trivial reasons. They go from zero to fury in moments.
He suggested “Maybe they are too busy to know their own feelings; it’s quicker to make it everyone else’s fault”

Pretty insightful I thought.

So I imagined that lady’s world. It’s after school time and she’s negotiating an all terrain vehicle through suburban streets. The car is full of kids , tired, hungry and full of news. Going to an after school activity or several. Probably squeeze a trip to the supermarket in before home/ homework/dinner/family time.
So mix that with some whinging in the car, the petrol light might be flashing, her mobile phone is going , and someone announces that they can’t find their clarinet ( or soccer shirt, tennis racket, glasses or retainer…whatever) its little wonder that that pause at a give way sign would seem like the last straw.
I can understand that… trust me I’ve been there!

Taking a moment to take stock of how she was feeling would be my gift to her. The time goes too quickly in our family lives for us to race it away.
Our commitments can sometimes control us, but what are the more important lessons.
How to keep to a schedule, or how to laugh and let go.
To run yourself into a frazzled heap meeting the deadlines you’ve set yourself;
Or stealing some time back for you and the kids and have an ice-cream and a play in the playground . Leave the mobile turned off and grab your camera instead.
Trust me! The memories that they will treasure as your families grow to have families of their own are not how you always made it on time to after school sport, but “hey remember when we were stuck in traffic and we had a fart noise competition and Mum won cos her’s was the loudest!”
I told Alex.
“You have a lot of empathy for a boy your age kiddo!”
” Do I? he asked “How do I get rid of it?”
Teenagers!!!
Ta ta for now. Linda
PS Please be nice to little orange cars. Imagine I’m a giant orange M&M or smartie!