Hiya! Firstly, Mister C and Me want to wish our family, friends and our blog followers (everyone really!), (who embrace this celebration); a very Merry Christmas! We hope your festive holiday is fun and peaceful; may you and your family be able to spend some special time together too (is so important-right?). For others who celebrate other (religious or non-religious) festivities; have a wonderful event with your family and friends too. We all deserve some happiness, after the tumultuous year we have all endured. ‘Onwards and upwards’, a dear friend recently wrote- I love this, it says it all! I know for us; we are looking forward to a brighter and calmer New Year (let’s hope the fires stay away this time too! )…
So, another busy week for Mister C and the girls; with the last few days of school to attend (no more term four – let’s run out the door!) The kids also had their class parties (so much fun right?); along with transition days (some ‘Zoom’ time too) at high school, for Flossy finishing year six and commencing year seven; while Mister C heads into year three (now with the big kids- how exciting!). Widy didn’t get a camp (sadly- no-one did); but her year (nine) and some year ten students, were able to attend a great day out to ‘Jamberoo’; with fellow class mates, to celebrate the year (thanks GHS for organising and attending the trip).
I haven’t been sleeping well (how ’bout you?) these past weeks (too hot with those persistent menopause symptoms); particularly with Husband snoring like a dinosaur most nights! Husband has been using the plastic nasal strips for over two years (which had previously helped); but, over the past months (unfortunately), the snoring has worsened… I tried talking with Husband; but it is not much use, when there’s denial in the actual snoring, in the first place! (I had recorded the ferocious noise in the past- mind you). A woeful combination of lack of sleep, constant hot flushes (yuk!) and being (extremely) tired of having to write (and illustrate in dim light) downstairs, next to the ensuite bathroom (and toilet). I have to admit; I did lose the plot for a few hours (with constant complaints and grumpiness-sorry family!), last Sunday morning…
In the end, Husband and I came up with a plan (and a good deal). We spoke with Mister C, about moving his bed and items downstairs for the summer months; where my illustrating studio temporarily was. It did prove to be too hot for Mister C (unfortunately), to sleep up in his ‘loft bed’, through the Summer nights so far (I had to make a makeshift blow-up bed for him, underneath the loft bed anyway!) Mister C happily agreed to move downstairs (thanks, my son!), and said, “Cool, I can be closer to Daddy; we can have lots of hugs in the morning!”… So, the ‘Carter Cave’ was then created over this last week (too much work really- but should be worth it in the end). I spent two days swapping Mister C’s bedroom items, with my illustrating table and items; while repainted the feature wall in his old room (had to be just right-right?). His loft bed proved too difficult (and too heavy) to move, without taking three-quarters of it apart (arrg! thanks for your help Husband); it took many hours to rebuild (without any instructions mind you). A few tears and lots of sweat (ladies’ perspiration?) later; I put the bed back together-all on my own! (one small step for man-kind!).
Today, I can report; I am happily writing this blog, in our new office and writer’s studio, for both Husband and I. I am no longer stuck downstairs in the dim room (what we called the basement) trying to write, with no interruptions from Husband (sorry!) and the like! To counteract the issue of co-sleeping with a snoring ‘dinosaur’; I found a great (small and good price) double pull-out sofa bed (thank goodness for Ikea!- early Christmas present?). It fits perfectly into the office space; and can be used as required, and also makes the studio a back-up guest room!
Okay, let’s get on with 2018; I recall, it’s the end of the January school holidays. We had everything needed for all girls to go back to school(hopefully?), with Mister C commencing kindy (how exciting!). Husband and I, managed to coerce Mister C, to try on his new school uniform and shoes (to break in); and also measure his school pants (a bit too long), so I could sew them up before the big day arrived. The last few days of ‘fun day’ (early learning care) as Mister C called it, were happening over the last weeks of the holidays. We were all going to miss the wonderful and caring staff; we had grown together with, over the past three years or so. Without having much other support, by way of help/care of the children (living away from local family)- it was sad to see our family finish up at the centre; but also exciting moving forward, to new experiences and some challenges (thanks everyone!). Husband recalls, “Extra day at day care today, as Friday is a public holiday. So, only two more days of day care (fun day) ever for Mister C, and ever for our family!” …
Just as we were hopeful for a calm (and happy) start to the year; disaster shone down, with a terrible hail and rain storm! It blew in and thrashed itself about for many hours; the day after Australia Day (of all the lazy days!). I think that day we had received over 80mls of rain (and more hail) in less than an hour (and even more that evening too); along with huge icy hail stones- that unfortunately, had blocked most of our house drains and pipes… So, being an older home (nearly sixty years old), with a flat metal roof; the old girl (naturally) didn’t cope with the hail and rain, sadly flooding the front rooms of the main house. Luckily, we had tiled (waterproof) flooring in the front rooms-not carpet (thankfully); where it didn’t flood the girl’s bedrooms (thank heavens!)- it could have been far worse. (I kept saying to myself over and over).
Wait, it gets worse… As I ran out the back door (soon after the hail and clouds began to encompass the sky), to try to clear some of the ice away from the drains (with Husband); I accidently got my left foot, caught under the metal screen door, ripping a huge tear down the entire back of my heel! OMG, the pain shot up and down my leg; I literally dropped to the ground in such agony (it did stop me in my tracks!). Husband looked up and could see, I had done some kind of damage. He ran back to the patio, where I was in tears (and in a bit of shock); picked me up straight away and carried me back inside, to help stop the bleeding (my hero!). Being a (naughty) nurse, I refused to go to hospital, to get the wound looked at (I did regret it afterwards). I can admit now, it did need stitches, after it took many weeks for my (damn) heel to heal! (try wearing nursing shoes with a bung heel- it doesn’t work at all well!). I managed to get to work a few days later (no sick leave- thank-you very much); but I did look a bit funny hobbling around the unit (and at home too).
Husband and I did agree; it was a good thing, I had run around prior to Christmas, getting the kids items ready for school. There was no way, I was going to be able to hobble down to the shops after the accident, with school only days away. I will never forget, the following day, the front door bell rang; to my surprise there was a beautiful bunch of flowers, that had been delivered to our house. I opened the envelope; it was from my amazing sister (and family); who I had just rung the day before in tears, in need of a sister over-the-phone hug (love you C.M) … It gave me the strength to carry on; while arrange the NRMA assessor to come out to the house over next few days…
A Word from Mister C…
In the car driving home last week; after stopping at ‘Fifes’ to get some more chook food for our hungry girls. I hopped back into the car and said, “Oh, there are some really cute, fluffy white chooks in there today.” Mister C called out, “Ooh, can we get some Mummy?” … “Oh, no my son; they are all boys unfortunately. We can’t mix boys and girls together; the eggs would become baby chicks!” … “They are a lot of work,” sighed Flossy; “But, we could call one ‘Olaf’; it’s white and fluffy?” Widy was also in the car, sitting at the front; and said, “I would call one ‘Rudolph’, for Christmas.” … “What about Comet?” Flossy replied… “What about vomit?” Laughed Mister C. “No, that’s gross,” called Flossy; “What about Blitzen, then?” … “What, Pitzen?” called out Mister C; “Arm-pits?” Everyone laughed…
Stayed tuned…
We are all hoping for a peaceful and happy New year going into 2021. We look forward to sharing more silly, zany stories from Mister C and us. Merry Christmas! Thanks for your ongoing support with our blog. As I have said in the past; without you, we wouldn’t have a working blog- so THANKYOU! Hugs to all Mister C and Me… 🎄❤
