Hi! It’s me and Mister C…

Hiya! Well, school went back this week… It’s always a happy-sad time, and a busy time for us parents, getting school items and shoes ready for the big day. By happy-sad I mean, happy that the kids will (hopefully) stop complaining how bored and hungry they are; sad that we will indeed miss them being around, after the LONG (but needed) six to seven weeks at home with us. It is vital for our children to have a good break and rest from school and activities, to be able to relax and enjoy some down time at home with family and friends. Of course, us parents (I know for me), I feel like I haven’t had a break in months (in between the kids and work for three of the six weeks), a bit frazzled and can’t quite think straight (especially in this heat at present!). ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’ my Nan always said to me; this is true, for us with our kids (AND Husbands and Wives too!). For our family, some school years are a little more exciting than others, like starting Kindy and High school; nonetheless, still worthy and proud.

This year, the girls were excited (a little?) and happy about the thought of going into year six and year nine. Our Flossy is to be a ‘prefect’ for the year, and is finally settled with her friend group. Widy the eldest, knows what is expected, has formed some good strong friendships to help get through a busy year in high school. However, for Mister C things were not so happy. Not every child and parent are looking forward to going back to school, particularly if there are ongoing issues that haven’t been resolved. For Mister C, he had some bad dreams about school and was adamant he, “Didn’t want to go back to school ever!”… After many chats on his bed about why he didn’t want to go back to school, it became apparent there were some unresolved issues that did need addressing. I felt quite worried and had that tight knot in my stomach (anxious), about Mister C being SO unhappy. This worry was showing through in his mood and issues with not sleeping arose again…

Husband came to the rescue (as he usually did); we had a few chats about the issues, spoke with Mister C about, ‘giving it a go’ at school for the first week, and see how things went and who his teacher was going to be etc. Unfortunately, it only lasted one day (the first day!), both Mister C and I felt sick in the stomach with worry from it all. Husband comments, “I remained totally chilled out, cause I’m a chilled out and relaxed kinda guy!” (most of the time dear Husband?!) Anyway, Mister C plainly said, “Mummy, I want to change schools now. Can I please?!” So, after some decision-making we decided to change schools only for Mister C (making it three different schools for the three kids!); Flossy was given a choice, and of course she decided to stay for her last year. Mister C felt quite relieved, and looked happy on seeing the new school and meeting the new Principle (so did I!). A ‘fresh start’ can always be a good thing, and that is what Mister C is going to do next week on Monday (tomorrow-eek!) …

Moving on, back to January 2015… So, the kids and I moved early January 2015, about five days before Husband would join us (mainly due to work). We had celebrated the new year with my dear Sister and her family in Sydney (hiya all!), which was lovely and relaxing (thank-you!). The thought of not having to drive so far back home, the next time we were to visit, brought such JOY to us! I have to say, it was a difficult and tiring time for all of us (never again, I hear you ask?). I met the removalist truck at the new house, after packing and moving most of the bigger items from the old house, including the precious piano. The girls were in the school holiday program and Mister C was at the old day-care centre for the last time (thank-you!). The removalists and I held our breath, when the large upright piano came out of the truck last. It didn’t fit through the front doorway; we helped support it as it was moved around the back of the house (please don’t scratch it, I kept thinking). Phew! We all said, as it squeezed quite well through the back-sliding door (thank goodness for the ‘dolly’ mover), into the small living room off the kitchen (only sustaining a tiny mark on the side- we could cope with that, considering its travels!). I managed to get good ‘muscle help’, with most of the furniture in the right rooms and up the winding staircase (thank-you strong removalists!).

I later drove back to the old house, picked up the kids and bid farewell to all (over three hours of driving mind you that day!); went home to do the dinner and bath thing, and finished packing our suitcases and tooth brushes, after the girls were asleep on their blow up beds and Mister C in the ‘portacot’. The next day (a happy Wednesday) we were off on our adventure to our new place (I think ‘Maccas’ was the preferred meal item that day!). The girls and Mister C had their goodbye hugs that morning with Daddy; who had to stay for the rest of the week, to finish up on work duties before his leave. Husband, who thought was going to have some much anticipated relaxation (on his blow up mattress and camp chair), cooking a little of his special mince curry (yuk!); little did we know the floods was going to happen. Husband comments, “So, for the first time in seven years, I have the whole house to myself overnight, I am EXCITED! Have list of ingredients for mince curry, and will savour a bottle of Cab Sav!” Husband did get some relaxation the first night we weren’t there; unfortunately, the next nights were a disaster… Husband recalls, “A bit more red wine was needed the next night, to take away some of the stress of half the house flooding from massively leaking toilet tap”….

All the while, super Mum (me of course- don’t know how I did it really!) was running around trying to unpack the kid’s rooms and set up beds on my own (the girls were a big help though). Mister C started at the new day-care centre (just two days per week), staff were very lovely and so pleased it all went well (thank-you so very much all!). Mister C was of course tired, but happy within himself (he slept like a dream that night which was good!). The girls didn’t start their new school till the end of the month, so we had time together exploring our neighbourhood, the local play parks and surrounding areas (was a breath of happy fresh air!). We managed to unpack most of the kitchen by the time Mister C came home, he loved the boxes, the girls and him played happily in them until tea was ready (probably good old spaghetti on toast and custard for dessert!).

So, the next evening (the kids and I were in our new Town), Husband got home from work, he expected to find a peaceful house for the evening again, but instead saw that the water tap connected to the toilet had been spewing out water for many hours, and saw that half of the house had flooded! His feet were near ankle deep in water through the girls old rooms, hallway, bathroom and toilet and part of kitchen/dining room; the look on his face would have been priceless (sorry Husband!). Luckily there were tiles in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen/dining areas; however, the carpet in the girl’s rooms was soaking wet and were surely beginning to smell already! Husband commented, “Well, I went to the TAB after work, then went home to find the hall and the girl’s bedrooms FLOODED, the carpet ankle deep under bloody water! Well, drama drama, so much for three relaxing nights alone in the house. After the cleaning company helped me fix everything the same day, lending us blower vacs to dry out the carpet; the next day I went to the shops for 40 mins and came home to find most of the dried and fixed area RE-FLOODED after the toilet hose had come off AGAIN!” Husband recalls… “A guy can only take so much stress. So, this time I actually turned the toilet tap fully off, not taking any further risk and proceeded to put towels and old sheets left at the house down everywhere”, (poor Husband!). I managed to come back down with the kids over the weekend, to help with the clean up. Thankfully, the blower vacs worked a dream, the carpets were completely dry (no smell too!) and ready for steam cleaning the Monday morning. The new tenant was picking up the keys on the Monday afternoon! (Phew!)…

A word from Mister C…

Mister C and big Sis went for a walk with Duggie the wonder dog yesterday. They took their new walkie-talkies with them, and the third one was left with Dad in the kitchen; so they could chat about stuff. “Daddy?”, Mister C called, “I want to play a game with you. I want to play ‘I Spy’. I can see something beginning with C.” Dad looked at me and we both laughed, as we couldn’t see what Mister C could see. Dad tried to explain that he couldn’t see what Mister C could. Later on, on their way back, Mister C spoke again, “Hey Daddy, guess what? Sis and I found a plastic bag on the ground. We opened it, and inside is a cooked chicken from ‘Coles’. Why has it been left there? Should we bring it home?” Dad was laughing again; I was puzzled by the find. Dad said, “No my son, don’t touch it, I’ll come and take it away soon.” Mister C got home, and proudly said, “Well, that was a good walk, we got to play a game and found a chicken for dinner too!”…

Stay tuned…

For more moving in stories and strange things keep happening in the house (is there a ghost?). The girls start at their new school, and we buy a cute bunny rabbit and a budgie (just want a rental property needs)…

Thanks for your continued support over these months, without you we wouldn’t have a working blog! Night from me and Mister C…❤