Somedays life sucks

I found out not long ago that my good mate from school's wife has brain cancer. a 29 year old lady with two little boys. Devoted to her family. Good people, hard workers, the type that would be the first on your doorstep when times were tough. I have never heard a bad word about these two, not ever. And again I find myself asking why do bad things happen to good people?

Tonight I started a post about how tired I was, how my legs hurt and how I was sick of my little boy's being unwell, but I couldn't finish it. It felt wrong. To know that good people are suffering so terribly makes my woes seem so insignificant.

And so rather than complaining I want to send hope, love, prayers, and a little bit of magic to my friend and his wife. I want to send them strength to survive the here and now, the treatment, the being away from their little boys. I want them to know that there are many many people who are thinking of you both and willing you better. I want to hear that the prognosis is good, because you two good people deserve only happiness.

This week Im loving......

Hello Ray-Ban Vagabond come place your little cats eye goodness on my face. You see while everyone else is sporting wayfarer's, I find I cannot, as I look completely and utterly stupid, with a capital S. But Vagabond, you my friend fit fine and I love you. Its true.
Yes these little beauties will be my next fabulous purchase, or perhaps I may plant the seed for my birthday next month, because I think you would make a fabulous birthday gift.

Reflection

Last week my blog pal Amy wrote a post that I haven't really stopped thinking about and Amy not because I enjoyed hearing that you were having a rough time, because it resonated.

The fact is becoming a mum has been my greatest success, my great love, my greatest achievement. I love my boys with more love than I ever imagined I had. However coming home from the hospital with that first little baby in my arms, I really had no idea just how much my world had just turned upside down, I felt elated yes but I also felt more lonely than I had ever felt before in my life. I couldn't describe why, of course I was tired and confused and was hoping that you couldn't give a newborn baby baggage....but that loneliness has never really left me.

I have a life fulfilled, a loving husband, a great (sometimes eclectic, most times crazy) family, a job that provides me satisfaction, and even with children I still manage a pretty decent social life as well. So I wonder, how is it possible that that loneliness sits. Most times dormant, but on occasion it raises it's ugly head and sends me into a spin.

I think part of is also grief. I grieve for my old self before children. The one who could stay up til 2.30am reading and not have to worry about an early morning wake up call. The one who could go to the gym straight after work, who could sit on the couch and watch trash all day Sunday without being invaded by episodes of Dora, who didn't know the meaning of sensible shoes, I grieve my own company.

I honestly feel that only a mum can understand. (Please no offence to those of you who are not mummies, I love you lots and am slightly jealous - all the time!!) Even my ever suffering husband simply doesn't get it.

So Amy, I write this post to you, and to all the other mum's to send you virtual hugs and big high fives. Because sometimes I wonder why something so perfect is so tough as well. xxx

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door to door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard—their secret hiding place—and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released.



Sixty Years Later: Sarah’s story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup. In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own future.

I have to begin by telling you that this is the best book I have read this year. I devoured it in a day, I tried to put it down, to catch up on washing and other uninteresting household tasks but every time I looked at it, it said very loudly and very clearly, pick me up, read me.

The story like all stories that involve the holocaust or any reference to the holocaust is a devastating one. The storyline is gripping, tragic and involved. The characters are complicated, both past and present.

Books such as Sarah's key not only provide book lover's with the enormous sigh that completes a wonderful book, it also means that we don't forget, the atrocities that should never have happened and work to make sure that we live in a world dominated by peace and hope that one day, this whole world will be a lover, not a fighter.

A big fat five out of five. If you are looking for an amazing tale, do yourself a favour and make this it.

Three things that have made my jaw drop this week:

1. So it looks like Posh finally got her little girl (That's Victoria Beckham for the uneducated) and for a moment there I thought she got it so right with the name - Harper only to have it spoiled with the middle name of Seven. Seriously? Harper is the prettiest most adorable name and I don't care how special the number Seven is to you or your husband its just a downright stupid middle name.

2. JLO and Mark Antony - now that one seriously left my mouth open for a good 60 seconds. I know its hard to take JLO seriously sometimes, OK alot of times...all those rumours about all white dressing rooms and 50 thousand white flowers of some kind, the Bennifer chronicles and the whole Puff Daddy debacle but in all honesty I had more faith in these two, they had twins, they got through it and lived to tell the tale, but it appears not and like many other fallen Hollywood couples these two have now added to the statistics.

3. Thermomix. Ok so these are a relatively new addition to the Australian market. I went along to a demonstration today (never one to miss an opportunity with friends remember?) and I am in some seriously love. Is there anything this baby doesn't do? In the space of two hours we were presented with Sorbet - made with home made icing sugar, dip, coleslaw, bread rolls, risotto and the most delicious custard, oh yes I held my bowl up for a second helping. Damn it I want one...but $1900 says it won't be happening anytime soon.

Winter you will kick my butt no longer

I mean it, you cold old hag, you have messed with this little lady one too many times, and I am now donning my armour and fighting back.

For one: I am determined that I will return to the gym on a regular basis. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy the gym. I need that time out, I need to feel hot and sweaty, I  need to have my music cranking and to do funny little dances in between sit ups and squats. For some reason you dirty old thing, you have managed to make me think that it is too cold to go - but I know what you are all about. You want me to have that wintery covering, so that I don't notice you so much - sorry love, but I don't do tuck shop arms, your game is up.

Two: my little boys have had enough. Sorry ice queen, but my boys are not germ incubators, even though you have given it your best shot. From now on my boys are getting dosed up with vitamins and lots and lots of vitamin C. How do you like them apples? And DD and I are dosing up too, just try and stop us.

Three: you thought you could send me broke with your big, huge wintery electricity bills but ha, I went and got myself some solar panels didn't I. Sorry witchy poo, but my last bill was a quarter of what it usually is. A Quarter.

And lastly, that little thing you do that makes me crave greasy fatty fried food is not going to work. Don't you even try. (Well ok maybe once a month or so, but not on a weekly basis ok.)

Snippets

"I love you mum"
"I love you too Ollie"
"I love you all the time mum"
"I love you all the time too Ollie"
"How much do you love me mum"
"To the moon and back Ollie"
"The moon? How do you do that mum"

Good question Ollie!!!

"What are we doing mum"
"Dad is putting petrol in the car Ollie"
"Why do we need petrol mum"
"We give the car petrol to make it go"
"Why does petrol have wee in it mum"?

Snort.....then it all turned upside down and round and round and then I was telling Ollie that no cars do not need to go to the toilet.

"Could I be a fireman when I am older mum?"
"Sure Ollie you can be whatever you want to be"
"But I don't have a fire-engine mum"
"But you might if you become a fire engine Ollie"
"Hmmm Firemen are too busy mum, I think Ill be an Ambulance man instead"

"Mum, could you please turn off the machine that is making it cold outside?"

Id love to mate, bring on Summer already.

Hope your little joys are entertaining you as much as mine are.

Plastic Fantastic

This year I have attended no less than 5...yes that is right 5 Tupperware parties. Never one to knock back an invitation that will mean a catch up with the girls, I have said yes over and over again to the plastic fantastic. Now add to this I have knocked back two more Tupperware invitations, it is possible that I could have attended on average one per month this year. ONE A MONTH.

Now don't get me wrong, I am happy to admit that I'm partial to a little bit of plastic organisation in my life, and for the first couple of parties I poured fervently over the catalogue oohing and ahhing as much as the next person, but when it came to number 4 and number 5, it seemed that the novelty had worn off just a little.

What has my life become? a juxtaposition of late night parties and day time plastic parties - and not the type that would go hand in hand with the partying I am afraid. Something has got to give, I'm thinking all of it! Tupperware you might be practical and flip my mind with the idea of  a catalogue pantry but for 2011 I think we are done.

And for the record, I didn't book a party to help out a friend's sales. I may have booked a linen party though, who doesn't love bedding?...but that's another story.

Hey Kate

Or should I say Catherine Duchess of Cambridge. I'm just wondering if you want to send me over a box of your hand-me-downs. Because seriously you are the epitomy of elegance. Ive been watching over a few of the little lovelies you have been sporting on your Canada tour, and seriously - you got it going on.

For a start, you did Canadians proud when you rocked a number from one of the locals - Erdem

And then you went one step further and dressed up in Canadian colours, and still managed to look freaking fabulous. (Lucky you Canadians - Red and White are so freaking hot, try making Green and Gold look chic....not so easy ay?)

Then when I didn't think it could get any better, you step on out in this fabulous fabulous dress and I am in dress awe.

 

And you know - I am really not a purple fan, but honey, hot dawg...You certainly put the R in Regal.

So what do you think? I mean I know you wear things twice and all, but these have been super public appearances, surely you don't want to be seen in them again? Surely you want to donate them to little old me?

What a Princess. You almost...almost knocked Mary off her great royal pedestal with that little outfit showing.

This week Im loving......

My slowcooker.

The good old slowcooker and I didn't get off to a very good start. Everything I made dried out and tasted horrible. Then I discovered that slow cookers need to be at least 1/2 ful - lightbulb moment. Stupid me thought Id buy the biggest slowcooker on the market, you know, just in case the Queen and her cavalary turned up, and as it turns out, that big old slow cooker doesn't really cater for meals for two.

Along comes mum with a small, much smaller slowcooker in tow and finally I am learning what the fuss is all about. And I have to tell you when Im walking in the door in a fluster after work, there really is nothing better than knowing that dinner is already done.

Now to test out a few of those previously miserable failures.

Kicking it

It seems I might be having a mid 30's crisis, because lately I find myself out kicking my heels up more often than not. Out past midnight, high fiving fellow revellers, and feeling far more tolerant of "kids these days". Admittedly its not been for the hell of it, a number of functions and important rugby games (seriously, the local derby is not to be missed!!) have meant that Ive been calling on sleepovers at Mama's rather regularly - and I thank the heavens that Mama is mostly happy to spend precious time with her Grandson's.

And I have to admit, I'm kind of loving it, and kind of remembering what used to draw me out each and every weekend in my younger days. Ive had my camera in tow most evenings and have had lots of little giggles over the "selfies" with whoever is ready and willing, and my check in via face book has left some funny comments on my pub going ways. Side note - got to love letting the world know that you have a life via face book and feeling kind of glad that Iphones and face book where not about to detail my whereabouts 10 years ago.

So what have I missed.......the "What am I going to wear" moment. I'm loving having to actually think about what to put on and I'm loving that my heels are seeing the bright lights. I'm loving dancing with my friends and DD until the early hours, that first moment of each songs where you get excited because it is yet another song that you love. I'm loving the laughs, the sarcasm, the antics and most of all, I'm loving a few new younger friends I have made, simply for being out on a Saturday night.

What have I not missed....well I bet you can guess the big one, hangovers. I'm not a big drinker, but one too many a couple of weeks ago certainly reminded me why I am restrained where alcohol is concerned. I don't miss the tired lethargic Sunday after (and certainly if there were not kids involved and I could sit and watch trash, that might move to the what have I missed...) and panda eyes, so not a pretty look, and even though I clean my face, those panda eyes are a stubborn reminder of a late night out!

My run is over now for a little while, and I'm not unhappy about that, but what I have realised is some things never change, I was once a bit of a party girl and it seems she is still lurking deep in there, slightly more restrained than my younger self, but shes alive, and I like that.