Hi there… It’s Mister C and Me…

Hiya! It certainly feels like Winter is well and truly here at present- don’t you think? Not only was it (really freezing) cold this morning (was minus one earlier), there was thick fog and dew everywhere. Mister C was most dismayed, he didn’t get the snow that we had been forecast for the last few days. Mister C crossed all of his fingers and toes, and even said a little pray in his loft bed (too cute), wishing for some soft white fluffy snow to fall on our block. Flossy walked out this morning wearing her blue sports shorts; I had to rouse on her to go put on her sport track pants instead (she grumbled back to her room to change- sorry Floss, it’s too cold for shorts). I hope you and your family are staying warm and comfy; while also staying away from any nasty ‘flu’ bugs that are going around at present (always the way in Winter). Mister C and the girls (and us too) love being able to snuggle up with our blankets and doonas in bed, but we do miss the sunny, warmer days, and the sunlight later in the afternoon- not this dark at four-thirty thing at present!

Well, as I mentioned last blog, I had booked myself into the Covid Clinic in ACT, to get my first Covid ‘jab’ done. I can report, I did survive the jab (phew!); my arm was quite sore and stiff for about two full days, along with feeling generally quite off for about four days (sorry to say). I did hear the second jab is worse (with symptoms); I am bracing myself for the next set of post symptoms (sounds fun- had to book in during the school hols too!). Regardless, I am pleased with how the whole appointment went; thank-you to the (very) professional and kind staff I met in the Clinic, where I look forward to completing the course. I (we all) know it’s a ‘necessary evil’, to work together and help our country and communities, fight this terrible virus (and to go overseas sometime soon?) … Our hearts go out to all Victorians; we know you have all been through a lot lately with the unexpected (horrid) floods and re-emerging Covid cases (love to my family too). Keep on going, we know you can all do it!

Mister C and the girls enjoyed another day at home this week, with everyone celebrating (or acknowledging) the Queen’s birthday long-weekend on Monday. I think it’s a good time to have another day off school, with this very cold weather at present. Saving our pennies at present, to soon commence the next renovation work at our house, with a new bedroom under the patio downstairs for Widy, (then we can move Mister C out of his ‘cave’ downstairs with us soon); Husband and I took the kids to Mittagong for a lovely lunch at the local RSL club (so nice- thank-you!) and spent a few dollars at the local ‘Big-W’ (love that store) instead. Speaking of renovations (a new knee for Husband?), we still hadn’t heard anything (no letter) from the hospital, regarding Husband’s upcoming knee surgery. I was getting a little concerned (Husband still can’t walk well); so, I asked Husband to ring the Specialist’s rooms, to find out what happened to his request form (RFA). I had also rung the bookings office, to find out if they had received the RFA; of which they had not (arrg!). Husband commented after the phone conversation with the Specialist’s rooms, “The secretary just said the RFA has gone missing, and the Specialist has to write a new one!” We both sighed and Husband was fittingly annoyed (as I was), as he realised his request for surgery had not even been lodged with the local hospital, more than four weeks later (oh no!).

Going into problem solving mode, I rang the rooms back and arranged to pick up the completed RFA, then take it home for Husband to write out his details again (four pages) and then take it to the hospital myself (what I should have done in the first place). While I was checking the RFA, I asked Husband which knee was being done; Husband looked puzzled and called out, “It’s the left one to be done!” I looked at the front of the RFA and my heart sank- it read the right knee (oh no!). I quickly crossed the word ‘right’ out and wrote ‘left’, hoping this would help save confusion later on (when Husband was on the theatre table). However, being a legal document (silly me- I should have remembered), the Specialist needed to sign the change (correction) off, before the form could be lodged into the booking’s office! (another delay now-sorry Husband). All we can now hope for is that the form can be lodged next week, so Husband may have the procedure in approximately four to six-weeks time (fingers double crossed). Looking forward, this delay may well work out for the best; with school holidays looming (in two weeks) now and the work for our renos to begin shortly (Husband will need some space and time to recover). Let’s hope Husband doesn’t twist his knee the wrong way, as he surely won’t be able to walk at all well if that happens (be careful Husband?!) …

Righto, let’s go back to 2019 (nearly half way now)… If I recall correctly, Husband and I had just celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary with getting some ‘ink’ done; while also taking the kids down to our happy place for a few days (was so great). Duggie had made a full recovery from his leg surgery (yay!) and had completed his four-week course of steroid injections into the leg (of which I was administering). Duggie was still favouring the other leg when he ran, but thankfully he was putting his leg down and walking very well (full marks from the vet). Now early April, Widy was feeling a little brighter within herself, as she diligently attended her counselling appointments through ‘Head Space’ (a wonderful organisation, thank-you!). At home, we were as understanding (Mister C was still his usual cheeky self) as we could be (I think myself more so), as to where Widy was now at, with her own head space and mood. Unfortunately, Widy was still having some issues at the local high school (of which we were closely monitoring); we had a good chat with Widy about moving schools, but she wasn’t quite ready for the change yet (and we were hopeful for some adequate support). In order to support Widy a little more, we invited a close friend who went to another school, to come over for regular visits and sleepovers- it really helped (thanks J.T).

I was starting to feel a bit sluggish (a bit like now in 2021) and had no upcoming house projects on (how unusual?) for a few months. I had spoken with Husband about painting the outside of the house, as it really needed doing. It was going to cost many thousands to have it professionally painted, so I offered to do it myself (what?). We all know how much I love to paint; so, I made plans to get the correct paint colours and codes for the house (let the fun begin!). We decided to keep the gum green colour (mist green), but do half strength for the walls and full strength for the windows, with a pale grey (shale grey) for all the down pipes and features. I started prepping and sanding the first main wall, thinking it might take a week or so; but it ended up taking twice as long (and my right shoulder was playing up again). Husband later told me, he had this idea of my painting for a few hours each weekend for a month or so; but was shocked to see it actually involved more like forty hours of painting, over more than two months!

I have fond memories of many, many hours of painting to my favourite ‘Queen’ and ‘Elton John’ music. All up, I think I counted the entire project taking me over nine and half weeks to fully complete. I have painted other houses in the past, but this was a very big project, with it being a double story house. I was very proud of my efforts (losing quite a few kilos too), by adding more value to the property and the house did look AMAZING when it was all finished! Husband commented, “Wife is on day four of painting the house. I am thankful to her for undertaking the project, but worry about her shoulder and wrist. Wife works so hard; I hope she doesn’t over do it! I can’t wait to see the finished product!” I am pleased to write, Husband and the kids did do a little painting to help; Mister C grabbed a brush and painted for about one minute and said, “Painting’s not really for me!” and then he ran off… I have to add, it was nice to have some company while painting for all those many weeks, particularly when it began to get a little cold closer to Winter.

Husband always reads Mister C a story from one of his books and then a ‘real story’; a make-believe story that Husband tells, with Mister C in the story line. They both always end up laughing for several minutes. The most recent ‘real story’ often involves hitting the neighbour up for free hotdogs! As some would know, Mister C’s laugh is very infectious to others, and most all end up laughing uncontrollably for no reason at all. Husband commented, “Last night after reading Mister C his bedtime story, he and I were laughing crazily. I kept pretending in our ‘real story’ that Mister C was calling characters ‘scumbag’ and they would respond with, ‘Don’t call me scumbag’! Mister C would then reply with ‘okay scumbag’; he has such a great contagious laugh!” …

A Word from Mister C…

Mister C woke up and hopped into my side of the bed, for early morning cuddles; Dad was still asleep and snoring very loudly. “Gee, Mummy, Dad’s snoring so loudly,” Mister C whispered. “He’s snoring just like a giant dinosaur!” … “I know, my son,” I sighed; “Why is Dad snoring so loudly?” I then said, hugging Mister C. “Well, it’s because Dad, is as big as a dinosaur and has big blocked nostrils, just like ‘Ferdinand the bull’!” … “Oh dear, that’s no good, my son- is it?” Both giggled quietly; Dad woke up and muttered something, then rolled over still snoring- Mister C and I kept on giggling…

Stay tuned…

For lots more silly stories from 2019… Our third book is now at the Printers (very exciting!) ; we should have a hard proof to see shortly and we will organise a low-key book signing very soon (most likely in between Husband’s upcoming knee surgery)… Thanks for your continued support, without you we wouldn’t have a working blog… ❤