Hello… It’s Me and Mister C…

Hi there… What a glorious sunny Spring day yesterday (Saturday)? We enjoyed spending the day with our dear Granny and Grand-dad; who kindly came up to visit us this time. We all went out for a lovely lunch, at our local club; spending time together as a late catch up for Father’s Day (thanks for coming up D & J L.B!). Mister C (and of course the girls too) love their Grandparents; Mister C said later in the afternoon, “I love Granny and G-Dad (our nickname for him); they give great hugs, and have a really BIG spa bath!” Mister C also likes to have a joke, involving previous American Presidents (Mister C is named after Jimmy Carter- thirty-ninth President) with G-Dad; while chat with Granny on all things from the US, including different food types- like ‘fish tacos’-many funny stories there! (Granny is from Texas USA) …

All Widy wanted for her birthday last week (apart from ‘Mars’ bars and bubbly face masks), was to get her Learner’s permit; so she could start driving! After having further tests done in relation to her ‘mystery’ illness last month, and attending her specialist review; Widy was cleared from any longstanding health issues; her heart did have an issue that was treatable and now resolved (thank-goodness!). So, over the past few weeks, Widy has diligently studied the permit practice questions online. She finally got the whole test right (nearly 50 questions there!); and felt confident to sit the actual test, in the Service NSW shop-front in town. I asked Widy if she felt ready to do the test; she assured me she was (no pressure or time limit to not be though!). I didn’t think I was READY for our daughter all of sixteen, to now be SO grown up; to start driving yet, either!…

I paid to book an appointment online at the shop-front, the following Monday morning (only time left). We were both a bit nervous; I reminded Widy to breathe through the test; to re-read the questions, and do the ones she felt confident to do first. Widy was given the opportunity to use the headphones (she had to wear a mask too), but refused (not sure why?). Unfortunately, she failed the first test; and walked back over to me looking quite disheartened (think she was distracted by the noise in the area). Widy then asked to re-do the test (another forty-seven dollars later mind you!). I agreed and reminded her to take her time; there was no time limit and to USE the headphones. Widy finally passed the second time round (phew! -well done young lady!). The look of relief, contentment and excitement on her face, once all over; was payment enough, for having spent more the one hundred and twenty dollars that morning…

That first step now done; Widy asked me to take her driving the next day (hold on to your horse angel!) … I was still nervous on the idea of taking our (in my mind) sixteen-year-old driving in my car (what if she crashed it?) … Many chats later with both Widy and Husband; I felt more prepared to take Widy out in the car, to begin learning how to drive (learning to drive is not a new thing- teaching it is however for me!). I did the right thing and studied the driver’s manual guide; while purchased more ‘L’ stickers for the car (can never have too many I say!) and a rear vision mirror; so, I could stick it on the front windscreen and see out the back too (thought it would help?). I can report, the first time we went out- a day or so later; Widy didn’t crash the car, or scrap the wheels (well done young lady!). Husband and I could breathe a sigh of relief (Widy may be a natural on this?); only to realise, we still had two more children to teach to drive down the track!?…

Back to 2017 (I know!) … It’s mid-April; we celebrated a quiet Easter celebration with the girls and Mister C (kept a choc egg stash for moving!); while remembered our dear Opa together… Final arrangements were made for us to move house; over seventy boxes were now tightly packed! Husband and I, had great relief on securing a good tenant with a twelve-month lease; to fill our place after we moved, the following week later. Our busy and exhausting moving day soon arrived (21st of the month). There was only so much organising that could be done; “The rest is up to the Gods!” I said to Husband, as I crossed my fingers; hoping we could shift everything, by then time after-school care finished for the girls, and picking up Mister C before dark at day-care.

Husband commented, “Well, over the last week, me and Wife have packed over fifty boxes, her most of them… House settlement for property went through last week; Wife collected keys today!” I attended the settlement day with all the kids; Husband was away for work and couldn’t be there. I had made a good list (with help from Husband-thanks!) of all the items to check; with Husband reminding me of a few other things too. Husband also commented, “First time back at work in over eleven days. Moved house, very glad piano fitted in rumpus room downstairs! Overall, quite happy; main negative thing is, another loud dog barking across the road; but only barked half a dozen times a day for a few minutes- is at least one hundred meters away, so no big drama. Maybe I will come to see this house as our forever home. It is wonderful to not worry about neighbours, and can sit outside at night and not hear neighbours’ voices like at the other houses”…

I recall standing in the empty lounge room, feeling worried about the new staircase; only the main frame was able to be completed by the day we were moving in. The three large toughened glass panels (that were to be inserted to sides of the stairs) were to be made and installed the following week (super thankful the stairs could be built in that time-frame- such a wonderful job was done too- thanks heaps!). Husband had a good idea of packing some of the lighter boxes up, to create a wall on the side of the staircase that was open; we didn’t want any of the kids-particularly Mister C falling down the cavity where the stairs went down into the rumpus room. I recall it did look a sight; at least eighteen boxes all lined up and on top of each other- like a box wall- pretty funny indeed!… One of the next jobs on my list, was to tackle the staining of the beautiful Tasmanian maple wood staircase (couldn’t walk on it without scuffing it- as was raw wood). I have never painted a staircase before; but felt okay knowing Opa was with me in my dreams, guiding me through…

The first nights in a new house are always crazy and unsettling; sleeping on mattresses, not knowing where anything is! I recall the kitchen was very old, but functional. I had managed to pop over a few times after getting the keys; to have the carpets steam cleaned, and paint some feature walls in the kid’s rooms. The girls also helped me clean and paint up the old pantry, that was in the second part of the old kitchen; making it easier to unpack items straight into a more functional space. The views from every room were (and still are) breathtaking; beautiful wood lands (reserve land) and wildlife surrounding us, so peaceful and quiet (apart from the loud dog barking at times- we could never get away from it really!) …

A Word from Mister C…

Dad was driving Mister C to school last week. Mister C looked a bit mournful; Dad was going to be away (again) that night for work. “Daddy?” Mister C sighed; “I wish you didn’t have to work in another state.” … Dad thought that was a nice thing for Mister C to say; he didn’t want Dad to leave our town for work. Mister C, then said giggling, “Daddy, I wish you worked in a different continent!” Then he yelled, “No! I wish you worked in a different galaxy; no actually, a different universe!” … Dad looked a bit sad, “But my son; you would cry yourself to sleep every night; with me not being there to comfort you!” … “Oh! No, I wouldn’t, Daddy,” Mister C cried… “Oh, Yes! I probably would,” he then mumbled. “I could come visit you in the other universe, then?” Mister C and Dad both laughed, as they arrived at the school gate…

Stay tuned…

For more zany Mister C stories… We unpack too many boxes and start settling into our forever home. Duggie (our wonder dog) is unsettled in his new surroundings; as he leaves some small deposits around the house (of which Husband is most dismayed about!). The girls and Mister C really enjoy their new surroundings; we set up the swing set and the old trampoline for lots of fun. Husband moves to a new area in his work department; lots of change there for him. I continue to enjoy my new work area; developing my new skills in Renal Services and forming good work friendships…