I should never go more than two days without blogging. Even every second day can be too long. There’s too much to write about. I have a good reason for going that extra day, though. It was my full intention to check in here, but I was in bed at 9.30 last night feeling nothing short of exhausted. There was no blogging in me whatsoever.

I managed, thankfully, to drag myself outside late in the afternoon, though. Once the rain stopped I did some weeding. Gardening always brings a smile to my dial. It was wonderful also watching Charlotte digging for worms and fearlessly picking them up to show me. The other day, She had a few worms in some dirt on a table and was covering them up with a cloth and putting them to bed. Too cute.

Her Daddy and I don’t have a whole lot of fear with all things buggy, but unfortunately Charlotte does.  Anything that buzzes around or nips like ants, mosquitoes etc and She’s panicking, often in what appears to be an unreasonable way, but that’s to us grown ups. (more…)

I’m having troubles with my ‘new’ computer, so it is currently being reloaded. I intended doing a post here last night, but it was in the too hard basket. Besides, a funny thing happened. I fell to sleep with my daughter which isn’t unusual in itself, but normally I awaken not long after and get up to do some work. Last night however, I awoke spot on midnight, so you could say, I was in bed before midnight for a change, but it wasn’t my bed. So, I actually got up at midnight, but 1/2 hr was all I could cope with.

I want to chat about labelling tonight and not the kind that you sew onto articles of clothing. I’ve never liked the term ‘terrible two’s. It just, to me, feels like we are putting children in a box before they’ve been out in the world and there’s an expectation for that behaviour, so our kids probably take it on board in a subliminal way and display what is expected of them at different ages.

Charlotte didn’t go through the ‘terrible two’s’ or threes or fours for that matter. She just had and has challenging and non challenging behaviour with every age. Labelling will take place all too soon in a childs life, so they surely don’t need to hear these labels from the people they need to trust the most. (more…)

Me? Stuck for words? That’s how it feels tonight as I wonder about my blog and what to write. Now that I’ve started, it’ll probably flow.

Let me start with approximately 3 o’clock this morning. Charlotte was tossing and turning, feeling hot, couldn’t sleep. She sat up and started chatting to the cat, me, her Dad, anyone who would listen. She did TRY to get back to sleep, but by 4AM, I knew what was coming. Charlotte wanted to get up. I didn’t!  But, we did. LOL  Mind you, I wasn’t laughing out loud back then.

Every so often, we are up together having a feast, drawing, chatting. Charlotte is incredibly articulate & animated If I feel any anger about the situation, it tends to diminish very quickly. I just love observing her and having conversations about all sorts, although having got to bed after midnight (surprise, surprise), so only 3 hrs sleep, I was not as talkative as usual. particularly at home, but at that time of the morning She seems doubley so.

Knowing I had to be up in time to go out and that Charlotte would probably lie in a bit longer, didn’t help. It is rareheading to the hairdressers for 9am. I made it and on time. Grandad is here, so he took the reigns whilst I headed off. It was lovely to sit back, massage chair switched on and have my head massaged as it was given a shampoo and condition. I don’t use regular shampoo or conditioner. (more…)

And another weekend bights the dust.

Yesterday, I actually managed to get Charlotte and myself ready to go out in 1/2 hr. Somewhat of a record. I just threw everything conceivable into bags to cover all bases and off we went to Lake Wellington in Gippsland. I’d completely forgotton about the AGM at the Yacht Club there, so after a rare breakfast in bed (cuppa’s are regular, but not the full breakfast) my partner reminded me about the event.

It was such a lovely day and a beautiful place to visit and there were no complaints from Charlotte when I mentioned the possibility of going. She LOVES throwing stones into the water there and has spent 2 hrs doing so with Grandad by her side, whilst I have been on the yacht with Peter for the race that takes place once a month during Summer. I only managed a couple of races last Summer. Hoping to put in more next Summer provided someone can tag along to care for Charlotte.

Like her Mum, She is not a very keen sailor and I can’t blame her. The lifejacket is so big, yet the right size for her if that makes sense! It’s so bulky and Charlotte doesn’t like wearing it as it is so restrictive unlike our lightweight ones. That means I have a very hard time getting my little pixie up on deck to enjoy the scenery and it’s rather miserable all ’round. I’m not a keen sailor these days for many reasons. Having lived on yachts I have encountered some frightening situations and my lack of skills make for a dangerous scenario should something happen to Peter on board, particularly if Charlotte is with us. (more…)

I’ve received many a comment that prompted me to want to write on my process with the Homeschooling decision.

Firstly, I’ve always thought it sensible and school was rather a strange idea to me. I didn’t, however, think I would qualify as a  Homeschooler having left school myself at 15. So when I read a couple of years ago that it is legal and anyone can Homeschool, I was over the moon. My partners support only added to my elation and for the most part, I have had positive feedback from others. People are curious to know why, but they haven’t been condemning and that includes my parents. I am baffled that the first thing people think of is the socialization process. How will you socialise your child? That one has definitely come up, but let me count the ways. Too many possibilities to mention. (more…)

I got to bed after midnight last night, but for very different reasons.

For several weeks now I’ve had a permanent hair colour sitting in my car. I’ve never had my hair dyed before and I chose Herbatint to minimise the chemical impact on my body. The most experimental I’ve been with my hair is to use one of those that washes out after 8 washes years ago and more recently a wash out in 36 (!) washes which had no impact whatsoever on the colour of my hair. Not a single grey hair or any other colour changed.

So, I decided to break out. The colour I chose was a lot lighter than my own and I worried that if I did it myself I’d come out looking totally ridiculous and like mutton dressed as lamb. So a phone call to my Hairdressing friend put my mind at ease somewhat when She agreed to do the dye for me. (more…)

I’m still not getting to bed before midnight. I failed dismally the last two nights even though I tried. Tonight I’m not even going to bother trying. I’ll get there when I do. LOL.

My daughter and I had a pretty cruisy day except for when it came time to head out. As always, Charlotte just wants to play 24/7 and getting her ready without stifling her joy is almost impossible. She’ll try to turn anything into a game and sometimes, it just aint appropriate ie when I have a gig to do at a certain time. We really butt heads on that one. But, we did get out of the house eventually and well in time. I’m not one to threaten leaving Charlotte behind although I have stated that I will go and sit in the car and wait which seems to do the trick and I will follow through on it, but Charlotte doesn’t give me a chance. (more…)

As I expected, I’m feeling somewhat flat after such a whirlwind few weeks with visitors, trips about the place and lots of laughs. I received a text not long ago from my cousin saying they have arrived safely back in England.

Thank goodness for my little girl, Charlotte and her Daddy although he was off on a working bee for most of today. Charlotte is great company and lifts my spirits no end and I have been outside with her on the trampoline & playing badminton. For a 4 yr old, She blows me away with so many things, her skill with a racket being one of them. The weather has been balmy as predicted.

After getting Charlotte to bed early for a change, Peter and I sat at the computer together and he taught me a few more things regarding my blog. It’s amazing to be around someone who knows what they are doing.

Peter’s 17yr old son and two mates are staying this weekend and have just arrived home. It’s 11.45pm and I didn’t quite make it to bed before midnight as I wanted to last night. Let’s see if I can beat the clock tonight. Now it’s 11.50. Must get cracking if I want to meet my deadline. lol.

That magical moment!

Well, we’re back home now and my relatives are on the plane back to England as I write. We sure packed a lot into one overnight trip.

I managed to get some wonderful sunrise shots despite having only 4 hours sleep for the second night running, but I was determined to see the light emerge. There is something magical about watching the darkness disappear. That moment in time where you can’t quite see the world around you has a surreal effect on my senses. Once the full sunlight appears, I feel rather depressed for awhile. (more…)

Tonights conversation HAS to be about Wilsons Promontory National Park on the southern most tip of mainland Australia. A childhood haunt and incredible place to visit anytime of the year.

Once again I am with my relatives, the last night with them   before they head back to England. My Dad is with us and my daughter. We are at a place called Yanakie in a cabin for the night and approximately 1KM from the National Park gates.

This is my first trip to ‘The Prom’ as it is affectionately named, in a few years. We couldn’t visit this past Summer due to the devastating fires, nor the one before. Everywhere seemed to be a ‘no go zone’ here in Victoria especially during February this year. Frightening times. (more…)