Hiya! It’s Me and Mister C…

Hello! How are you all going? Did you remember daylight saving this year? I thought it was coming up at the end of October; Husband kindly reminded me (thanks love!), it was coming up last night. I had to work the past few days; I’m really enjoying my new workplace (not so new anymore). I can report I have a uniform, a locker and a neat badge- I really feel a part of the team now! (thanks all very much!). Saturday night, I managed to reset my alarm clock (and ensure it was set to alarm) to read the future-forward time; I went to bed earlier than usual (as was tired too) and managed to get to work on time. Wow! I haven’t worked many Sundays for quite a long time; let alone a ‘special’ daylight saving one. Of course, the wonderful night staff, were happy to be finishing earlier (due to the time change). They had worked the extra hour earlier in the year; rightfully so, they should finish earlier to make up for the time change…

How do we all feel about daylight saving? I know it has been around for many decades; I do wonder why we have to keep it going, when it does disrupt all young children and older folks (even pets can be unsettled). Husband commented, “Queensland ruled against it continuing years ago; it made their days too long and some days in the year it seemed there was TOO much sunshine- my Bro said! It is nice to have longer afternoons, if it’s warm enough; but not, if it’s still cold outside, like is nowadays. I don’t think any of our states would be able to amicably agree on the topic anyway!”…

Growing up, I was always confused as to which way to change the time, when daylight saving came around. Do I go forward or back? – too confusing when you’re a single young girl living on her own! (for a few years anyway). According to ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ (April 2020), daylight saving was nationwide in 1917-18 and 1942-44. It was reintroduced in 1971, for all Australian states and territories; and has stuck with us ever since. I know as a parent, daylight saving really can disrupt a young child or even a new-born’s routine; causing chaos for the whole household. Children can be VERY unsettled for many days, after the clocks have gone forward (and back too). Just because it has been something, the country has done for a long time; doesn’t mean we have to keep on doing it? (food for thought?). For our family, I know we all feel a sense of ‘normality’ when the clocks change back to the ‘real (old) time’…

The first week of school holidays are done and dusted? Do we feel relaxed or frazzled; it’s a hard one to say?! It is wonderful having the kids home; but a lot busier with meals, washing and entertainment… The girls and Mister C haven’t said they are bored yet; so that’s a good sign! We have been busy with jobs around the house, craft and some gardening; not forgetting lots of ‘Lego’ creations Mister C has made and re-made! I took the girls to visit my sister and her family up North for the day, last Sunday (miss you guys! C, J, Z, D & G. M). Happy sweet twenty-first again our dear Niece; we had a wonderful time catching up- we love you! Widy did some terrific driving with her Learner’s permit, some of the way. Highway driving is so important in our view; particularly living in a rural town. Good long-distance driving skills are vital for any driver! Good job Widy, clocking up over eight hours driving time already; there will be no stopping you now…

Righto, back to June 2017 (I think?) … Ahh yes! It’s Husband’s birthday; it’s the beginning of June, and the beginning of another cold Winter… We had just sent out our invites for the house-warming, combined birthday gathering for mid-June (I know- a bit cold for a party? We had no other time really to do it!). Husband had a good birthday (are you fifty yet?) and recalls, “My b’day-hooray! Still a nice, low age; a lifetime away to that scary older age-I can’t even mention (fifty!). By then I will live in a different world; the kids will be older, will probably have a different job and live in a different place (no Husband- I said we would never move again!). I would like to have a better car to drive with all the commuting, and life should be much easier!” (can only hope dear one) …

I recall we had a delicious Chinese (take-away) dinner; the girls and Mister C set the table really nice for Dad, topped with fun presents too. I gave out sparklers and we took some silly b’day photos, to remember the moment Dad (Husband) turned another year older… As a tradition in our family; whoever the person’s birthday is, they get to choose what to watch on TV that night… I recall Husband chose to watch ‘The Incredible Hulk’ (the one with Edward Norton); I did endure it for the whole movie (we had seen it a few times before- things we do for birthdays!).

Before the party, we had a busy couple of weeks finishing the unpacking (such relief when I opened the last box!); more minor house renos, painting and lots of gardening. We were also getting to know our inherited five sweet chook girls, while busy raising our three new chook girls (1 -week-old Isa brown layets): ‘Flossy’ (Flossy’s chook-naturally) ‘Coco’ (Widy’s chook) and ‘Cookie’ (Mister C’s chook). Eight special chooks can sure make a big mess; but also lay such delicious eggs for us, every day! (lots of scrambled eggs there) … Husband and I, also tackled re-building the old swing set and trampoline (taken down from the previous house move); so, the kids could play outside before Winter really began to set in…

Husband also commented, “I want to etch in my memory, because it is so real and clear… This morning, just when I was about to leave for work early; Mister C popped out of Flossy’s room and out of the blue, called out to me: “Daddy, I love you and goodbye!”… It was so touching I nearly teared up as I was putting my shoes on! Being told by your four year old son out of nowhere, that they love you; makes all the years of hard work so worthwhile.”

A Word from Mister C…

In the kitchen making dessert; Flossy and Mister C, were busy making ice-cream cones together. Flossy was packing as much ice-cream (Hokey-pokey) into her wafer cone as possible, before the cone split. Mister C put his empty wafer cone up to his ear and giggled; “I can hear the ocean from here, Mummy!” He grinned, and then said; “I can hear the creamy ice-cream ocean, so loudly- Wow!” … We all laughed; Mister C bit the end off the wafer cone and shrugged his shoulders, “No more ocean cone now; it’s going into my yummy, tummy!” …

Stay tuned…

Blog a bit late this week- sorry! Lots of (nursing) work hours at once, can make a dull writer sometimes… Let’s try and get through to the end of 2017, the next couple of blogs (can hope?). Lots more fun and zany stories coming up in 2018; along with Mister C starting Kindy- WOW!… Night from Mister C 🥱