It’s an Easter hiya from Me and Mister C…

Hello! Firstly, Me and Mister C wanted to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Easter break coming up towards the end of this week, starting with Good Friday (can’t forget to eat some yum fish too!). For other families who celebrate differing special events (religious and non-religious), we hope you have a restful time as well; with everyone able to spend some quality time with family and friends. On a sadder note (unfortunately), our hearts go out to the communities affected by the most recent tornados in the US. Mother Nature is certainly rearing up her all-encompassing head once more. We hope everyone stays safe and our thoughts are with you over the massive clean-up efforts now underway. According to NDTV … ‘The death count from a major storm system that has lashed the south-central and eastern United States with devastating winds and destructive tornadoes rose to at least 26 by Sunday, officials said. Tennessee, one of the hardest-hit states since the storms began Friday, initially had seven weather-related fatalities, but the count there later rose to nine, according to Memphis-based news channel WREG.’ https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/death-count-in-us-tornadoes-storms-rises-to-18-officials-3913074

Sadly, also due to the high amount of rainfall we have experienced over the past year, numerous small to medium sized grey gum trees on our property have suffered due to water-logging on our land. We have now counted more than fifteen beautiful gums have now perished (boo-hoo!). We have been lucky enough to find a good gardener, who has been coming to our property to help with gardening and cleaning up each fortnight since the end of last year (thanks M!). I’m hopeful to replace some of the gums with more suitable oak trees over the coming months, once the dead trees have been fully removed. I am so thankful for the ongoing help, due to my ongoing injuries since the car accident, I have been unable to undertake such tasks as mowing or doing much gardening work like before the accident. This makes me sad, as everyone knows how much I love gardening. It has always been good for my mind and soul to get outdoors, smell the fresh air and do some gardening to feel better. I hope over time I will one day be able to do more gardening and feel like I can contribute to the large area we have to maintain.

Our gardener was able to chainsaw the smaller dead gums (so sad); however, we had to get a quote to have large branches removed from around our house (due to excess blocking of debris in our gutters) and remove the larger gums (a big job for a qualified arborist). I was worried about the girls and Mister C playing (spending time) outside near the big dead gums, so Husband helped me to mask the trunks with hazard tape, hoping nothing will happen! My gardener said to me that these gums are often referred to as ‘widowmakers’ or ‘dead-man’s trees’. I had to look this up (naturally), according to the internet the… ‘fractured branches are usually light-coloured and are difficult to spot, especially in a broad canopy. That’s why it can cause accidents and deaths of loggers and tree fellers, hence the name’. https://www.google.com/searchq=why+are+gum+trees+called+widow+makers&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGBAU1043AU1043&oq=gum+trees+called+&aqs=chrome

Flossy reminded me this morning, there are only two days left of school and bye-bye term one (for our side of the world)! The girls have been working hard on completing their assessments and exams over the past few weeks. We are so proud of them both and applaud their dedication, focus and commitment to completing their set tasks-well done! I attended a phone parent/teacher interview with Mister C’s classroom teacher yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised (and quite relieved) how much better Mister C is doing in the classroom and his commitment to his schoolwork- well done too Mister C! The girls with Mister C and I (and Husband in between his work) look forward to having one or two (or more) pyjama days together, relaxing, playing some games and spending some quality time together.

I have been experiencing further pain (along with my other ongoing neck and shoulder pain) with further sensation changes in my right foot, leg and right side of my lower back and decided to see my GP for further investigations; so, I too look forward to some rest time (and no physio this next week), until we can get to the bottom of these ongoing ailments. Today will be six months since our serious car accident back in October 2022. I am so thankful I can be here to continue to tell the tales, but at the same time, I feel some melancholy (today particularly) about my ongoing pain and injuries with my long recovery and the journey to find a new sense of self-identity. Luckily, Husband booked a small surprise for us and Flossy and Mister C in ACT on Easter Sunday (Widy will be away with her boyfriend). We also look forward to spending some quality time with a dear friend on Easter Saturday night (Hiya M.M) and visiting with Granny and Grandad on Easter Sunday morning (Hiya to you both!).

My dear uncle emailed me about two weeks ago and reminded me it was World Poetry Day on March 21, 2023 (of which I already had anticipated). Not only was this special day my fourteenth wedding anniversary with Husband (my rock!), but it was also World Poetry Day, the same day I was able to release my new first poetry book (so proud)! I was also thrilled that my Uncle agreed and wrote a special Foreword for my second poetry book coming up next month- very exciting! (love you P.P & W.M). According to ‘Google’… ‘World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21 every year to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry across the world. The day is an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and power of poetry, as well as to acknowledge the critical role it plays in inspiring social, political, and environmental changes.’ This day is very special to me, not due to the fact it is my anniversary and symbolises my love for Husband, but also due to my love of writing and reading poetry. Words are so powerful and you can really express yourself without images or pictures- just words! Why don’t you try and write a few words or lines down, you never know what you might be able to create from your own unique thoughts and words (I dare you!)… https://www.google.com/search?q=world+poetry+day+2023&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGBAU1043AU1043&oq=world+poetry+day&aqs=chrome

A Word from Mister C…

Mister C was on the laptop playing his favourite ‘Roblox’ game. It was bedtime and I called out, “It’s time for bed, Mister C !” Mister C moved his chair and replied, “Oh, Mummy, just a few more minutes, please?” I sighed and called out again a few minutes later. Mister C hopped off the PC and began to walk to the bathroom. Mister C sighed and said, “I wish we had fifteen hearts, just like my avatar on ‘Roblox’- my ‘Robloxian’!” Looking up at Mister C, I replied, “Oh, why is that, my son?” Mister C walked back into the lounge room and said, “Oh, it would be so good to have many hearts, just like cats, who have nine lives. They can fall from buildings and land on their feet and survive! I bet they get new hearts every time too!” I smiled, “Oh, well, my son. We have one special heart, a wonderful one though to look after and to not jump off any buildings with.” Both laughed… ❤️

Stay tuned…

Flossy and I have collaborated and completed the next illustration motifs for my second poetry book (is quite exciting!). I am thrilled Flossy agreed to spend some quality time together; we have created some wonderful motifs, they come straight from our minds and hearts to you- the readers! My designer is working hard to have this next book completed in the coming weeks (thanks so very much L.F) as my designer is having a well-earned break and heading overseas for a period of time (we are a little envious). We will be taking a short break over Winter, then Mister C and I will be collaborating on our second ‘A Word From Mister C: A little Book Of Stories’ (Part Two) children’s storybook towards the end of the year (quite a few illustrations to complete there!). We look forward to our next bookstall at the Rotary Markets in Goulburn on Saturday 15th April (a week later due to Easter) and our special Storytime events coming up mid-May at both of the wonderful Queanbeyan and Goulburn Libraries (so excited!). Stay safe, hugs Me and Mister C 💕