Hi there… It’s Me and Mister C, again…

Hiya! The girls and Mister C made it back to school last week, and I managed to find some time to finish some writing and promotional work for our new fifth book (amazing!). I hope you were able to find some time to do something you wanted to do, or finish a hobby you have been working on lately? Husband joked with me last week and said, “I hope you can find some time to have a rest soon, I know you wanted to finish Mister C’s commemorative birth cross-stich design, you started nearly ten years ago!” A little embarrassing (has it really been that long?) that it has taken me nearly ten years to complete this work (many other things and events have filled my time, including publishing five children’s book to name a few!). So, after that insightful and mostly amusing comment from Husband, I’m determined to complete this design work by the end of Winter (I am crossing all my fingers and toes right now!).

Husband also reminded me that it was Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday (oh!); as most of you are aware, this not my happiest of days (neither is Father’s Day), both days bring an element of sadness for me, with losing both my dad and my Fix-it dad, while mostly estranged from my mother for many years now. I know time is short and we are all told to live our lives with no regrets and to the fullest it can be; however, there are some things and events that cannot be changed or fully comprehended, resulting in grey (moody) areas in one’s life. People have often said over the years, ‘You can choose your friends, but not your family’. Of course, we can choose our friends, but we can also choose which family we want to spend positive time with; for me, I am forever thankful for Husband and our zany, but caring children (and our extended family). Speaking of which, Mister C came out of his room last night, just after going to bed and gave me a big bear hug and said, “I love you, Mummy. You’re the best Mummy a cheeky boy could ever wish for; thank-you for putting up with my zany brainy moments and my grumpy moods.” My heart melted and I hugged him so tight, I nearly took his breath away. There’s no doubt that there are difficult times and people in our lives, but it’s the little moments like these, that make the difficult things fade away into the distance. Luckily, I asked my dear sister (love you more than words) and her family down, when we were there last week, for the day on Sunday- Mum’s Day; we all look forward to spending some more quality time together (means so much); those grey-moody areas will fade off into the distance, behind the glow of the soulful face in the moon…

Mister C has been a bit grumpy these past few days to note. I picked him up from school at the front gate last Friday afternoon, I managed to get away a few minutes late, after a very busy (and stressful) day at work. Mister C was waiting patiently with his friends, he ran over to my car and said, “I’m going to my friend’s house to play tomorrow and I’m also going for a sleepover at my other friends house too, Mummy!” He turned and waved to his friends and hopped into the car and clicked his seatbelt on securely. I smiled and replied, “Did you get an invite to go to your other friend’s house for the sleepover, my son? I know you are going to your friend’s house tomorrow, as it’s your friend’s last day at this school and you’ve been invited, but you do need to be invited for a sleepover.” Mister C began to become upset, crossed his arms together and banged his foot against the underside of the seat; “No, I didn’t” Mister C sighed, “I just thought I could go too!”

When home, Mister C dumped his school bag on the lounge room floor and went into his room and banged his door shut; he must have stayed there for a least twenty minutes. I popped my head into his room and saw him sitting on his bed looking worried; I sat on the edge of the bed and gave him a hug, then said, “You must be feeling sad about your friend moving schools. You will see him tomorrow and we can organise a sleepover another time, maybe next week? Mister C looked up and nodded, “Maybe I can go over after the fireworks night next Saturday, it’s my friend’s birthday then too, you know?” Mister C smiled and gave me a hug back, “Thanks, Mummy, sorry for being grumpy; I just know how much I’m going to miss my friend”…

Sadly, one of our sweet chooks, ‘Ginger’ girl, had been strangely limping around the chook yard area mid-last week; I went to pick her up to see what was bothering her and realised she has broken her right leg. I was most upset and felt terrible that I hadn’t noticed her injury earlier (had worked two days straight last week and Husband was away for work again). I quickly took her up to the house and met Husband at the gate coming home from work. I had a tear in my eye and was in shock about her leg injury. Husband took charge and went to google how to splint a chook’s leg. He came back into the laundry (where I was setting up a makeshift bed in a spare wicker clothes basket), with two reed diffuser sticks, a bandage, gold and red tape (from Mister C’s stash of tape) and a trusty plan, with having watched a You Tube fix chook leg video! About thirty minutes later the job was done (wow!), I had to trim her foot feathers to secure the splint properly and slowly but surely ‘Ginger ‘was able to stand up again (phew!). I couldn’t bear the thought of losing another chook this year; with only five sweet girls left, it would be a truly sad day if that did happen. I said to Husband, I would do my best to care for her until her little leg healed (it may take a week or more)- fingers crossed once more…

It’s Flossy’s fourteenth birthday coming up at the end of the week! It’s hard to believe our youngest daughter is turning fourteen- where has the time gone? We celebrated her birthday early this year, due to other events on next weekend and Mother’s Day too. Flossy and I always joke together about her due date being on Mother’s Day and what that would have turned out like (always special whichever day it fell on). Flossy wanted to go bowling up at our happy place in Mittagong with five of her close friends (thanks for having us); Widy and her close friend drove up with two of Flossy’s friends (thanks) and I drove up with Flossy and two other friends. We had a girl’s bowling party and had great fun (Husband kindly cared for Mister C at home this time). The afternoon went smoothly and all the girls got along very well; it was lovely to see Flossy smiling and having lots of fun. The bowling centre staff were so friendly and very attentive to Flossy’s needs, the food was fresh and yum too. Flossy even received a real (heavy) ten pin as a gift from the centre as well (thanks so very much); all the girls were able to sign the ten pin- happy memories for all… 🤸‍♂️🌈

A Word from Mister C…

Mister C reluctantly got ready for school on Monday morning, knowing his best friend wasn’t going to be there. Giving Mister C a big hug, I then drove him to school; in the car we chatted about school and I said, “Maybe you can play with another student from your class and they could join your ‘base’ group, with your other friend? That might be fun, don’t you think?” Mister C looked hopeful, then replied, “I’m going to miss my friend very much today, but with my other friend, we can chat about all the funny things we used to do together; we may even feel like he is still there with us, but from afar!” I gave Mister C another goodbye hug, before he got out of the car, “Try and have a good day, it will all work out in the end; it always does.” Smiling, Mister C waved and replied, “Yes, Mummy; I love you and guess what? I’m having my sleepover in five days; I wish it was Friday, today!” Mister C ran off, half skipping; a little happiness had returned in his step … ❣

Stay tuned…

For more words from Mister C and silly stories; it’s Flossy’s fourteenth birthday coming up towards the end of the week (so exciting!). We all hope you have a wonderful Mother’s day spending time with your grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts and of course beautiful children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren… Don’t forget it’s our last stall at Jamison Markets coming up on Sunday13th May; we hope you can make it along; join us for a chat, free balloons and Mister C stickers and a laugh or two… 🙃