School holidays are done and dusted

SO it has been three weeks since the kdis started their holidays. They have had a good time but on Monday they go back to school. I really have some goals for this term. Goals that probably every other family automatically do but we have not done for a long time, and I think it will help our family run a lot smoother.

1. Keep to a routine. Chores, homework, free time etc
2. Do homework every single night and HAND it in.
3. Read every single night with the kids.
4. Have one room of the house that I clean each afternooon when I get home from work, no matter how tired I am.
5. Putting their uniforms out the night before so there is no running around looking for things in the mornings.

If we can stick to these things I think things will go a lot smoother. I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can.

The Party girl is home

I went to my sisters 18th birthday party last night. I helped my mum blow up the balloons and hang the photos on the walls. Rushed home got changed and drove the party girl and her friends to the party. Chopped up cabanosi, cheese, handed out dips and chips. Drove a boy to Casula to get some lights for the party atmosphere and then stood outside all night near the fires they had going to keep warm. It was alarming to me to see how drunk some of the kids got. They were all 18 but still. I felt so vulnerable watching the girls who could barely walk or stand on their own and grossed out by the boy who spewed in the bush. Mum cleaned that one up. It was also alarming to me to realise that when these kids were born I was 19 years old already. LOL.

That I stood outside because the music was too loud and drove me crazy and that I was ready to go home at 9PM but didn't actually get into bed until 3.20 AM. Thats right AM. I was so tired this morning, in fact all day I have been moving like a sloth. Late nights aren't as much fun anymore, why is that?

And the DJ continually played Michael Jackson songs. Over and over. One cool thing was all the kids were on the dance floor doing the Thriller Dance.
Mum and I had a little groove together in the kitchen but after a time even in there it was too loud.

But we did look so so cool.


At least I felt cool until a young pup came up to me and said that he wanted to introduce himeself to Stephs mum. I looked around to find mum and then realised he was holding his hand out to me.!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about a confidence shaker. I never experienced a party like this when I was a teen and I am glad that I only experienced it visually as an adult. I feel happy that I can have fun and a good time without getting blotto.

I've been everywhere man.

This last week has been full on. My hubby and I went to Townsville for the weekend.

Townville is up the right hand side of Australia near the top. And it is so so beautiful. Tropical. Balmy. 25 degrees during the day and that is in winter. Just gorgeous.

We went to visit a church up there that is run a bit differently. They have just brought an old night club and done it up to use as a church. It is a massive massive building. It has a functioning cafe and everything in it. Every floor or room has it's own sound system and bar. Not that that would be a great use for a church. Plus it has its own dance floor. It really was an amazing amazing place.

We spent Three days up there. Looking around. Meeting the people at the church. Eating A LOT. We went to this amazing Turkish restaurant. The food was SOOOOOOO good but very very expensive. Luckily it was their shout. This is what I had.



From our hotel balcony we got to watch the speed boat races. At one stage there was a Red Baron little seaplane racing the boat to see who was faster. The plane won.

There was also a vintage car parade which we accidentally ended up in. The woman driving us back to the hotel turned left into the middle of the parade. The cars were so cool. Took me back to my childhood. We were in a 2009 Statesmen but I still waved at the crowds. LOL.

I used to get picked up for Sunday School in a car like this one.


My mother in law came up from Tasmania (see the map look right at the island on the bottom) to watch the kids for us. That was great. She cleaned the house for me and had everything perfect when we came home. Sadly it didn't last after she left. I think I could be such a good housekeeper if only I had a cleaner that wasn't me.

So we got back on Monday and back to work on Tuesday. My co worker hasn't been well so I have been flying solo at work for the last two weeks. It has gone ok though.

And a shout out to my sisters. Alison and Stephanie have their birthday on Sunday. I can't believe how grown up they are getting.
This is Steph. She turns 18. She is in Year 12 at school. Likes being on the computer, having coffee with friends and shopping.


This is Al. She turns 20. 2nd year Psychology at uni. Loves Rovers or rangers or something scout like that. Loves all outdoor things like camping, hiking, abseiling, things that are really beyond me.

And that is my week in a nutshell.
So how was yours?

Tea Parties and Marie Antoinette Balls

Remember a while ago I told you all about a tea party that we were holding at work to raise money for the cancer council? Well we raised $380. Pretty good hey?
The above photo was all the teapots we collected to make a display with. We really did have some amazing ones.
We had a tea tasting booth where you got to try all the different teas and write down as many as you recognised. It was harder than it first sounded and I don't think I would do that again. Especially with dementia clients.Fun though.

These were all the teacups and saucers we could find around the place. I think tea tastes much nicer from a teacup.

Here is an overall picture of the display. We had a lot of fun decorating the room.

Here is a small section of the room. We had 12 people RSVP and all these people turned up. We were pulling tables out and running around finding food and chairs and it was a tad chaotic for a time. But worth it in the end.

Here was the special guest of honor my Charli girl. She so desperately wanted to come to the party that I couldn't resist. She had the best time. The oldies loved her. She loved them too.


Now onto today's function. It was Marie Antoinette Theme. Every group had to decorate a table and come dressed in the theme. Here are my groups efforts. I was really happy with them. We got runner up prize. A six pack of Crown beer. Now I am not a beer drinker, didn't thrill me, but my clients were thrilled.
This picture is of the chandelier that we made to hang above our dining room table. The ladies loved beading all the beads on it. In fact they spent a whole day just loving it. We didn't take this down to the event. But enjoyed having it in our room. So pretty don't you think?

Here is a kind of photo of our table. I didn't really get one of the table it looked so gorgeous.

This photo is a bit better but not really focussed on the table.

This goregous talented man dressed up as Marie's husband. What was his name again? And he was the emcee for the function. He also made us the most beautiful candelabra, hand carved out of wood and then covered in gold card as the centerpiece of our table. He has so much talent. He sings, dances, paints, sculpts blah blah blah. Now I only show this photo because he is so heavily disguised.

For our decorations we made these lovely eye masks. We sequined and hot glue gunned and perfected to our hearts desire. Added a chopstick to one side and whala. One beautiful eye mask.

The next two are clients who also had the headpieces we made. We got some toilet rolls, spray painted them gold. Attached them to a headband and went to town with the feathers, sequins and hot glue guns again. They are suppose to be like the big rolls of hair the women wore back then. I thought they were groovy. Ours had birds in them, chess sets, white roses(Sadly that one, was my fave but a lady dropped it as soon as we got there and it broke into pieces)


This is me with my gear on. Loving the orange.

And my co worker Sue who totally got into the day as you can see and looked absolutely splendid. It was a fun time


Tomorrow is the Blue Lagoon Day and then thankfully we are finished for another year. Will let you know how that go's in my next post.

Daydream Sunday

I should be getting ready for church but I am sitting here drooling at all the creativity and talent that people have.

Isn't this just gorgeous? I found it here at Kathy Jacobson.typepad.com It is a canvas decorated for a Marie Antoinette Swap. Love it.

And these tags are so so sweet.


A girl can never have too much pink I say.


Too sweet. So girly and pink and fruthy. I love it.


Yep gotta go to church. No more time for drooling.

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Ok I am back from church and was doing some surfing on the net and found this totally cool garden. Now I am not a gardener at all. In fact plants hear me talking about taking them home and they die then and there on the spot. But if I was a gardener I would definitely want something like this in my garden.

Concrete Canvas

Can't believe another week has come and gone. This week is just a blur. I have nearly finished all the headpieces for the festival. I will take some photos next week and post them. They are really groovy - if I do say so myself.

The kids and I watched this amazing show tonight called Concrete Canvas. It was so cool. This is the one we saw the man drawing. How realistic does this look? Isn't it incredible what you can do with a lot of talent. Sadly the man said he had to wash it off before night because it was the councils orders. Believe it or not people were just walking over this. How rude! I keep looking at it and my brain can't even work out how he did it. So so clever.


Here is another one. Not quite as realistic but so so cool.


Another cool one. I want to have a go at this.

Terrific Tuesday

Well Tuesday at least. I had such a busy weekend that I am longing for the next one to catch up on some rest. Lately I haven't been sleeping that well. I am either awake or in a very very light stage of sleep. It is so frustrating. I keep giving myself the mantra. You are still getting rest, you are still getting rest. But the truth is I am TIRED.

Tommorrow the festival begins at work. The theme is Time of your life. We will be going through different times in history and celebrating them. Because I work in the day centre three days a week I won't be joining in all of it but our three days will be. Australiana - tomorrow. On Tuesday it will be Marie Antoinette inspired day. And Wednesday will be the Blue Lagoon theme at our indoor pool in the village.

We have been pulling all our table cloths and doilies out to make early Australian costumes. Throw a shawl around their shoulders and they look so so sweet. We set a part of our room up in the style and it looks like a little homestead with a fire. A lady who works at the village who is in her early 70's lent us two big framed photos of her husbands wifes, Uncles family. Did you get that? LOL. These photos look like they are from the early 1800's. Amazing. We will be going to the concert tomorrow. We have made balls and chains. I think I am going as a convict or a bush ranger - not sure yet -not very enthusiastic about dressing up yet. Should be a bit of fun. Especially for the residents. I love seeing them smile and enjoy themselves.


Here is some interesting reading for those so inclined. I find this stuff so fascinating.

Margaret Dawson (c1770-1816) was a convict on the First Fleet sent from Britain to New South Wales in 1787. She had a long-term relationship with the surgeon, William Balmain, and was one of Australia's 'founding mothers' whose descendants still live in Australia and Britain.

She came from Liverpool and in 1786 was employed in London as a servant in the house of Joseph and Frances Shetley. On the afternoon of Sunday 12 February 1786, while her employers were out of the house, Margaret collected a large quantity of clothing, jewellery, and money, and left the house. Mrs Shetley returned home and found the house in disorder and the young servant girl missing. She sent for Mr Shetley who set out to follow Margaret that evening. Knowing she came from the Liverpool area, he asked after her at the Golden Cross at Charing Cross and was told that a girl of her description had boarded the coach for Chester in the north at 7.00 p.m. Mr Shetley took a postchaise with a Mr Lowe, and overtook the coach at St Albans. Margaret was found on the roof of the coach, apprehended, and taken into a local Inn where she handed over the stolen goods from her pockets and two boxes. The goods were recognised by Mr Shetley, the only item missing being a guinea coin which she had used to pay for the coach. When asked if she had acted with an accomplice or was travelling with anyone, she said no. Margaret was then taken back to London and Mrs Shetley identified the items of clothing.

Her trial record, like that of most of her fellow convicts, remains completely silent as to motive. We can only speculate as to whether her rash action resulted from cruel or indecent treatment at the hands of her employer, a family crisis pulling her back home, a threat from an unknown person, or a simple failure to resist the temptation of an empty house.

At her trial at The Old Bailey on 22 February for "feloniously stealing" goods to the value of £12 4s 1d, Mr Lowe stated that she was so changed in appearance that he would not have recognised her. In her defence, Margaret said "I have nothing to say, I have no witnesses." She was found guilty and sentenced to the mandatory sentence of death. The prosecutor and jury recommended mercy on account of her youth, being only fifteen, and it being her first offence.

After ten months in Newgate Prison, in conditions where malnutrition, filth and violence were common, Margaret was returned to court. Here, on 4 January 1787, her death sentence was commuted "on condition of being transported for [a term of seven years], to the Eastern coast of New South Wales, or some one or other of the islands adjacent".

On the 26th January, she was delivered from Newgate to the Lady Penrhyn, then moored in the River Thames. Conditions here were no better than in prison, with the women on board described as "almost naked and so very filthy' and "where there are very many venereal complaints". She sailed with the Fleet for New South Wales from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787, arriving after a cramped and insanitary voyage of seven months at Sydney Cove in Port Jackson on 26 January 1788.

After allowing time for land to be cleared and huts erected, Margaret, along with the 189 other female convicts, went ashore on 6 February. Here, it was reported by one onlooker "the convicts got to them very soon after they landed, and it is beyond my abilities to give a just description of the scenes of debauchery and riot that ensued during the night."

In August 1789 the convict John Hayes received 50 lashes in a flogging ordered for his "infamous Behaviour" towards Margaret. Perhaps it was this event that brought her to the attention of the assistant surgeon, William Balmain. And perhaps she assisted Balmain in tending to the large number of sick convicts who arrived in mid 1790 in the Second Fleet.

In November 1791, Margaret and Balmain travelled together to Norfolk Island on Atlantic, along with Philip Gidley King, travelling to take up the post of Lieutenant Governor. Her penal sentence expired in January 1793, and soon after she signed a receipt for payment for some grain sold to the government stores, indicating she was literate, free, and farming some land. Their first child, a daughter, was born here in May 1794. The family returned to Sydney in August 1795.

Back in Sydney, Margaret bore two more children, a girl and a boy, with Balmain. The older daughter died on 4 September 1797.

The family left Sydney in August 1801, and arrived in London in March 1802, an absence of just under 15 years. In May 1803 Margaret, now pregnant with their fourth child, and the children, were sent to Ormskirk, near Liverpool.

On 17 November 1803 William Balmain died. In his will, dated four days before, he left a yearly sum of £50 to “my dear friend Margaret Dawson, otherwise Henderson ... whose tenderness to me, while in ill health , claims my warmest gratitude and by whom I have had two natural children … and who is now ensient”. On Margaret's death his executors were to provide £12 10s for her “last sickness and funeral expenses”.

No doubt due to her convict status, in contrast to Balmain's professional position, she was unable to marry him, and she and the children had taken the surname 'Henderson”, which was Balmain's mother's maiden name.

Margaret left Ormskirk and gave birth to the fourth child in London. Little is known of this baby, except that it was a girl, and still living with the family at Clements Inn in January 1807.

Although she was receiving some rent from properties in New South Wales, it is likely that Margaret would have had to earn a living, perhaps as housekeeper. With the help of Balmain's friends she continued to encourage her son John William's education, and he was to return to New South Wales in January 1829 as a surgeon (like his father).

On 16 February 1816, while living at St James's, Westminster, Margaret died, and was buried in the churchyard of St-Giles-in-the-Fields, where Balmain was buried.

While not renowned for any noble deeds, Margaret Dawson was typical of many working-class British women who, having made a grave mistake, were able to rebuild their lives on that fatal shore of New South Wales. Undoubtedly she was a faithful companion to her partner, and a loving mother to her children. Rather than taint their memory with the image of a “convict stain”, Australia can be proud of the founding mothers who provided the first generation of native-born children of European descent.