Hello Spring

I'm so glad that you are here and it looks as though you have brought some nice weather along with you. At last, because as you know I am well and truly ready to kick winter's butt somewhere, where the sun don't shine.

So the great reveal begins, a little bit of skin, a little bit more and the knowledge that I'm probably going to need to pull out a razor and some fake tan. Sheesh, have I neglected myself that much? My poor husband.

And what does this really mean....shopping, oh yeah baby, a few additions to the wardrobe for some spring summer joy. Summery sandals, and a dress or three - any excuse really.

I'm so glad to have some sunshine on my face. Its been a rough few months and its amazing what a little bit of sunshiny warmth can do.

RIP little Daniel

One of the most high profile cases in Australia over the last 8 years has been the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe. Daniel was abducted while waiting to catch a bus in December 2003. He was on his way to do some Christmas shopping. His family and friends have always described him as a really great kid and his parents have never ever given up on finding him.

Finally a few weeks ago a man was arrested for Daniel's murder. Finally a breakthrough after all this time, and an area to now start looking for his little remains. This past week, some bones were found and a pair of shoes and today it was confirmed that those bones belonged to little Daniel.

This case has broken the hearts of all Australian's. We have held the hearts of his parents and Daniel in our hearts over the last 8 years, we have walked along side his parents Denise and Bruce Morcombe as they continued to appeal to the public for ANY information that might give a further lead on their little boys disappearance. Finally it has happened. The Morcombe family have closure and all over Australia, our hearts break for this family who have never given up, and never let this country forget that their little boy was missing.

I sit here tonight, Ollie by my side and I hold him tight. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and anguish that Daniel's parents have suffered and will continue to suffer.

And yet this tragedy has inspired the Morcombe family to dedicate their lives to Child safety. Such good people dealt such terrible cards yet still finding a way to do something positive out of all of this.

Educate your babies, don't delay stranger danger. Love your babies with all your might. And please please please keep the Morcombe family in your thoughts as now put their darling little boy to rest.

Spread your wings Daniel and soar above as all, and finally be in peace.

The Bark Cutters by Nicole Alexander

Honestly, I found it dull. Ive read alot of these Australian, return to the family farm type stories (seems to be some kind of theme for Australian authors...who knew?!)

THE BARK CUTTERS is an Australian family saga that centres around the family property, Wangallon. Past and present interweave in a story that traces the Gordon family from the arrival of Scottish immigrant Hamish Gordon in Australia in the 1850’s to the life of his great granddaughter, Sarah, in the 1980’s. Full of action, romance, tragedy, family secrets and misunderstandings this novel has a bit of something for everyone but particularly the discerning commercial women’s fiction reader.

I wouldn't exactly call it a saga, really there was nothing sagaish about it. Sure there were a few family secrets but they won't have you jumping out of your chair screaming "what" "no" "surely not". No these family secrets are of the mediocre kind and you may even work them out for yourself.

I guess what I'm saying is read it if you want, but I'm sure you could find better things to waste your time on.

2 out of 5 for the so called saga.

Oh yes it was...

That good, the wine that is - Billy Kwong Bio dynamic red. I loved it so much I cuddled the bottle. The dinner was amazing too...AMAZING. We ate Pork Belly pancakes. Crispy Skin Duck with organic orange sauce and Billy Kwong fried rice - not a pea or a cocktail prawn in sight. It truly was a birthday to remember.

And you girls are wearing me down by the way, the pressure the pressure to give you an outfit post....!!!.maybe I might just start with those fabulous RayBan's...maybe I said!

Hint Hint

Nothing like a good ol hint huh? Ive heard along the grapevine these babies are coming my way.

Got to love family and not even the hubs....best not get my hopes up just yet but I'm telling you its looking promising.

In other news, My husband and I love to eat, we have a long list of must have restaurants that we are working are way through and next on our list is Billy Kwong we are both massive Kylie Kwong fans, her recipe book is our most loved and most used. We love her commitment to organic local produce, we love her television show and we love that her recipes are so easy to replicate.

We tried to go when I was pregnant with Flynn, but my blood pressure was so low and I felt so dreadful that we canned it, you see Billy Kwong does not take bookings, you have to turn up just before 6pm and hope that you get a table. I don't think I would have managed to stand for more than 5 minutes let alone feel like eating. Although I possibly could have capitalised on the fainting pregnant woman.....but sadly its not my style!

So anyway this Friday (my birthday incidentally) we are going to line up and try our luck. I'm so super excited, its been so long coming and I couldn't think of any better way to spend my birthday.

Yay me, yay Kylie, Yay Billy.....its going to be a yay kind of day!

Call to Arms

As Ive complained about often, for 3/4 of the year, I am a rugby widow. I probably do not give my husband enough credit really, he coaches the first grade team and he puts his heart on sole into it. It consumes him, he dwells, worries, takes young boys under his wing and is a leader and friend to his team. He does not get paid, he does it for love not money and he does it damn well. Its a huge commitment to a small part of our local community and many young men benefit from his commitment and knowledge.

I have to admit, it is not all bad, the club do their best to be family friendly, they are welcoming and I have made some of my closest friends through his association with the club.

However there are some days that make me feel extra proud and yesterday was one of them, and not for the reason that you might think.

It was our local derby (and Ill try not to be too excited when I say the last game of the season...) - a huge grudge match (which we won, yay us!!) however we chose this match as our Call to Arms match. What is Call to Arms you ask? One day a year Men's sporting clubs/teams are asked to wear yellow to raise funds and awareness for Cancer in Men. It asks that men go to the Dr regularly and have regular checkups it tells us that if the men in our lives do this that they may save their own lives.

Our guys ditched their usual blue jerseys and wore yellow. And at the end of the day they were auctioned with funds being donated to "Call to Arms". There were 22 ugly yellow offerings to be had, sweaty and muddy from the day's game and a room of approximately 70 men. Those jumpers raised close to $10000. In previous years we have been excited about 2- 3 thousand, but something a little special happened last night. I hope we see it again. And what's better is the opposition have vowed to do the same next year - take that awareness raising campaign.

I am so so proud to be a part of a club that is not afraid to talk about the hard stuff, that will talk about men's issues and that will support a club so near to so many of us. Good for us. I hope the magic continues.

This week Im loving......

Blue Velvet.

You see at the awards evening the other night, one of the nominees for the young entrepreneur category was wearing a fabulous midnight blue velvet dress, with even more fabulous patent red heels, and now I cannot stop thinking about how much I want a blue velvet dress and red patent heels.

I mean look at Penelope here:

But imagine if she had red shoes.....wowzers.

Or this simple little dress with a little bit of red...

I'm on a hardcore mission my friends and it will involve velvet and it will involve red shoes.

Update on the beads and an exciting event

I'm keeping them....I bought my friend a darling little photo album that she can stow in her handbag and bring out when bragging about her gorgeous boys, Vintage style, why you say? Well we all quickly pull out our phones these days when wanting to brag, I'm thinking its time to being the photo album back.

Now let me tell you what I got up to last night. I went to a regional awards ceremony that celebrates rural women. It was a fantastic evening. I accompanied my mum as she had been nominated for the Outstanding Family Leadership award.

Mum told me not to get too excited, She mentioned to me that she thought she had just been nominated because they needed to make up numbers. In any case it was a fabulous evening hosted by an incredible woman and with some brilliant musical theatre entertainment. Something so different to the usual social functions we attend and a room full of wonderful women. What more could you ask?

This........My mum won, I just cannot be more proud of her, and I was so honoured to be sitting by her side, she is a wonderful mother and has given love and guidance to us her children but also to so many other kids who needed it over the years, we have had runaways live with us, friends come over to talk through their problems, there is always a random at the Christmas table as my mum will not hear of anyone celebrating Christmas alone, she mentors for a program set up for children at risk and provides pastoral care for medical students. I think nothing of it as its always been the way it is in our home, but her generosity really is remarkable.

I love you mum and I am honoured to be your daughter. You make me be the best person I can be.

If you had all the money in the world.....

What would you do? (OK so its a dream, I'm not going to get into all the reasons and practicalities as to why this wouldn't work)

Me? Well seeings as you asked, I would follow Summer around the world. I despise Winter, but I live with it, because that's life right?

But if I could pack up and go wherever I wanted, it would be wherever Summer was. A permanent tan, long days living outside, swimming, boating, enjoying the outdoors.

Id own houses in Italy, California (Newport specifically seeings as I'm dreaming), And of course somewhere countryside here in Aussie Land. Maybe I might buy up some property in the Maldives too, it is a summer dream after all.

Id live in Shorts and summery dresses, my boys would have an everlasting supply of boardies, my Husband would have to watch his beloved Rugby from afar, but I'm sure sitting in the sun with beer in hand would suffice - and hey its my dream not his!!

Oh Summer, I miss you, if I can't have my dream could you please just come back to this Great Southern Land soon, please.

Dilemma

I bought some fabulous beads today and can't wait to wear them, but then I realised I need to send my dear friend Jules a birthday present.....do I part with the fabulous beads and send them to my friend?

I know she will love them and I know they will look great on her, but they are fabulous, and I do love them, but then I do love to give a fabulous gift.....

What to do, what to do.

Perhaps Ill go on a shopping expedition and see what I find for her and keep fingers crossed its something else!

Will the beads stay, or will they go? Ill let you know!

Happy Birthday Mumma.

It would have been my Grandmother's birthday today. I still sometimes can't believe that she is no longer with us.

I miss her dearly, picking her brains about how to salvage my garden, she always had an encouraging word and a little bit of good advice.

I miss the look on her face when I walked into her view, genuine happiness, and genuine love. I miss taking the boys to visit her, and how she loved to hear our news, no matter how menial it was.

My Grandmother was always so proud of us, and she had no qualms about telling anyone who would listen.

So often I have picked up the phone to ask a question only to remember you are no longer with us. But I still love you Mumma, every day.

Happy Birthday to you, I hope they are throwing you a cracking bash up there in heaven. xxx

Preschool politics

So it happens that in our town a place in preschool is like gold. If you get one, you covet it, and you don't under any circumstances give it up. I must admit I was a little naive when I decided Ollie would go, I sauntered on in at 9am one January morn, put his name on the list and then waited til August for my acceptance letter.

It arrived, I sent a message to my mothers group to see who else got their letter, only to find I was the lone ranger. Apparently none of us realised that you need to be there with the experienced, worded up mums, (Amy are you paying attention here) and be in the line at some ridiculous hour. So getting Ollie's place was just plain good luck.

So the time came for re-enrolment there were a few different options, but I knew the option I wanted 3 full days was going to go quick. So I wondered just how worded up I needed to be. I found out the gates opened at 8.30am. I opted for an 8am line up and with trepidation approached the line, counting down the line, was I in? Was I out?.....arghhh the stress of it all.

Yay we won, both myself and one of Ollie's favourite friends lined up together and kept our fingers crossed and 3 full days are ours. Ollie is beside himself with excitement and I too am glad that the heavens shined upon us for once.

My big boy, so much closer to starting school and so excited, how I love this little journey we are on together, how I love watching his thirst to learn increase and the golden little questions that he poses (today he wants to know how the world dances if it doesn't have legs).

But I have learnt, you mark my words - Ill be there with the worded up mummy's next time around and this coming January I will be lined up bright and early for my Flynny pops, I'm not taking any chances!