Hiya! It’s Me and Mister C here…

Hello, we hope you have had a calm week? It’s a bit hard to remain completely calm (and sane?) at present; with all the Christmas busyness at the shops, and end of year activities at schools and sporting groups. I noticed on Facebook this morning, just how many birthdays there are in December. Speaking of birthdays, we wanted to wish our dear Grandad, a happy birthday for yesterday too (hiya J.B). Mister C loves Grandad; and wanted to say, “Grandad is the best ‘salty codger’ ever! Dad is the bestest ‘salty codger’, but Grandad is the second best with Opa (in heaven) too!”(‘salty codger’ comes from one of Mister C’s favourite shows) … Flossy called out yesterday, “There’s only three days left of school, Mummy! Three days left of year six; high school here I come!” Mister C then called out, “So, Mummy; no more school in three days-really? No more year two, in three days too! Wow, year three here I come!”… Flossy is having her year six farewell on Monday evening (so glad the school was able to organise something for the kids); Flossy is excited for the event (what am I going to wear?); but more so elated to be finishing primary school next week. We are very proud of Flossy (Widy and Mister C as well); particularly our second daughter, a wonderful milestone to be finishing primary school.

A busy day yesterday (Saturday); Mister C had been invited to attend the grading event in his Karate Dojo group in town (thank-you!). I attended the session with Mister C; he was quite nervous about the event, and had spent some time during the week practicing his Karate moves with his big sister Widy (thanks love!). As the session began, I started to feel quite nervous for Mister C too. Luckily, I had another close friend there at the grading with her daughter (hiya H & L. C- well done!); so, we were able to bounce emotions and ideas off each other, during our (quite) long two hour stand together (thanks hon). Both our children did very well; I felt so proud of Mister C- with all he has been through this year; it was wonderful to see him so focused and committed (yay- well done Mister C!)… I wanted to say a BIG thankyou to our Sensei and his partner; with all the Dojo team who assisted with the event (thanks heaps D & S.L). There were (naturally) many children and parents attending (difficult with Covid restrictions too); making it a very busy day indeed (more chairs maybe next time please?)…

Every year, it is a battle working out what Mister C and the girls, along with Husband and family, would like as gifts for Christmas. I ask the kids to write a wish list for Santa (which is always helpful), so we can gauge ideas on what they want (we prefer quality over quantity for gifts), so as to stop too much household clutter (never really works mind you). As we all know, it’s been a tough year for most (more so than others-but still a horrid one). I initially thought, why celebrate Christmas or other festivities around this time- what’s the point? But then I realised, there is a BIG point- most of us made it through the year! (sadly, some did not). That IS something to celebrate in itself- don’t you think?…

Okay, let’s go back to (wait for it) 2018! Yay, it was a New Year; exciting (and busy) times were ahead… I recall, we spent New Year’s with some close friends, and celebrated the night, until early into the morning of the first day of January 2018. I remember talking (we all had a few drinks on board mind you) about New Years’ resolutions together, amidst other conversations. Husband stated, “He was chubby, and needed to lose some weight; his resolution was just that.” We all went around the group, saying what we wanted to achieve for the year. I recall saying, “I want to finish writing my first children’s book and publish it!” …

Before the new school term was to start at the end of January; I tried to be as organised as possible. Mister C was starting kindy, Flossy in year four and Widy was, commencing an important first year (seven) at high school. It WAS going to be a very busy year indeed! I recall, I had purchased Mister C and Widy’s new uniforms, before the term break had started; while I was able to purchase their school packs early too. This helped, as we still had to gather other items, like school bags, shoes, socks and lunch boxes etc. (some cost there). Husband and I, spoke many times casually about starting school with Mister C. We read our booklet from school and also read our story; that I had written (not fully completed then) to chat about, what to expect when going to school. Mister C had also graduated from pre-school, at the end of the year (2017). He was still attending early learning care; while I was working through some of the school holidays. I recall one day in the holidays, asking Mister C to try on his uniform for big school; he flatly refused and went to put his comfy pyjamas on instead (it was going to be a battle)…

Husband commented, “It occurred to me this morning, that life must be easier overall. I have not thought about it in around six months; but around a year ago; I used to go around with a saw jaw (mouth); realising I was often gritting my teeth. I guess a new better job, good house and kids being a little easier to handle, has made a big difference.” Unfortunately, the issues with the annoying barking dogs at the property to the top of our house; were getting worse. Particularly with the owners going away for long periods of time, leaving five dogs to mainly fend for themselves; with someone turning up at all hours to feed them, or let them out/into the boiling hot shed. We had begun writing a barking diary; the council stated (when I rang for the third time) they would need this documentation, to even review the situation.

A (very) long story short, the Council wound up reviewing the situation; a ranger came over to interview us, then eventually the neighbours- when they were finally back. I did feel sorry for the dogs; very cruel to leave these dogs outside for lengthy periods, in both extreme heat and cold weather. I tried to speak to a family member at the house, after work one day (my eyes were falling out of my head from lack of sleep, due to the dogs barking most of the night); the person mentioned the dogs barking at possums; then shrugged his shoulders and walked off… I recall after we had put our initial complaint into the Council, the neighbours (as they were so friendly) parked a large white car outside our driveway; making it extremely difficult with young children, to get in and out of our road. This lasted for over four weeks, (where to this day, the neighbours still insist on putting their garbage bins out, right in front of our driveway-bring on our plans for a double carport on the other side road!)…

The excessive noise began to get to Husband; he recalls, “Friday night was hell with those dogs barking, the usual loudest one barked off/on from nine pm for hours; at one am. I went and opened the anti-bark device and tried it. But, it seemed to just make the other two dogs bark more; the barking went on until three am. I put earplugs in then!” Poor Husband, he really detested dogs that barked for hours. I rang the council the next day, to arrange for another ranger to review the situation, with no-one home and the obvious neglect that was going on at the property. Weeks later, we heard nothing; so, I finally rang the Council again; and found out the ranger had left the organisation, taking our paperwork and other complaint documentation with them!… We had to wait for an outcome; still nothing was resolved or achieved from our complaint, and also from other neighbours in our area, complaining about the same dogs barking. In the meantime, we looked at getting some quotes, to have retrofit double glazed windows installed; into all the bedrooms and our lounge room (might ease our minds from all that barking noise)- what else were we to do?…

A Word from Mister C…

“Hey Daddy?” asked Mister C; while swinging on the stripy hammock, with Dad pushing him. ‘Yes, my son,” replied Dad, smiling. ‘I love Christmas!” Mister C called out, giggling. “Yes, me too, my son. I love getting lots of hugs and opening my Christmas stocking.” … “Yeah, me too, Daddy. You look a lot like Santa, Daddy,” Mister C, continued to say… “No, I don’t!” Laughed Dad; “Santa probably weighs more than one hundred kilograms.” …  “Well, Santa is probably two billion times as big as you, Daddy! No, he weighs a million kilograms; because he is carrying all the loads of gifts for everyone!”  

Stay tuned…

For zanier stories of Widy starting high school, and Mister C finally agreeing to go to the big (rocky hill) school on the hill! We end up beginning 2018, with a bit of a battle on our hands; from the ongoing issues of dogs barking in our street (ends up disturbing most of the neighbours too!) to getting Mister C ready for school…

Also, I have just completed (yay!) my third book manuscript! I will be sending it on to our mentor-writer and editor (thankyou M.A!); to make the final necessary changes and adjustments. Then (all things going well over the New Year), I will start illustrating again (whoo-hoo!)… Night from Mister C ❤