catching up

Got a bit to catch up on given the time that has elapsed since I last posted.

First of all baby Skye is plumping out nicely and she can hold her head up with all the other North shore babies and their fancy prams. Her smooth-action red buggy is not out of place with the other designer carriages jockeying for position in the elevators of Chatswood Chase shopping centre.

I'm sure there's a breeding program in full swing in the area. Must be the baby bonus set up by the Howard government to encourage a 'baby for the country.' Ed and Cris did their bit with Mathew and my suburb is obviously busy working on it. Mind you the strollers are not so fancy in my neck of the woods.

Thanks to Tizzie Hall's settling techniques, Skye gets herself off to sleep beautifully. She has started to smile although she gives them out sparingly and after some encouragement. Is this a sign of the nature of her personality I wonder or is it early days of practising something new? We will see.

On another note two of my writing buddies and I had a successful day selling copies of Better than Chocolate this week to a delightful group of women of the Chicken and Chablis set. More money for needy children's education,, thanks everyone. I wore my pearls for the occasion but they shrank in comparison with the big orbs strung around one woman's neck.

Have sent three short stories to competitions this week but now I really must get down to re-reading the latest version of my novel and finishing it once and for all.

Annika and Mathew spent the night with me last weekend, the first time I have had both of them stay over. I thought there might be an argument about which bed each would want but there wasn't. Mathew had the single bed, and after a reading session about Bullwinkle the Fire moose, and clutching a moose ornament I happened to have he went to sleep without fuss. Annie and I watched Masterchef Australia together then she went quietly too.

The next day we went to the pool, tried the Aquatic centre at Homebush first but it was closed for ANZAC day so we ended up at my aqua pool with a promise of McDonalds afterwards. 'But grandma you said you would never take us to McDonald's' pipes up Annika. 'I know but you've had a disappointment so it's a treat,' says I. She'd been so excited about showing Mathew the Olympic pool for the first time, I felt sorry for her when we couldn't go. But it's back to the 'No Mcdonald's rule now, same as I did with Melissa.

April has been one of the warmest on record and it has been beautiful. This weekend is promising to be pleasant again after a rainy day yesterday.

I booked my o/seas trip this week using frequent flyer points: Sydney - New York on Sept 8 returning on Oct 24 with a month in UK and a visit to Graceland thrown in. It is my 70th birthday treat to myself. Before then I have the Darwin - Broome trip which will be pretty tropical. After this I really must settle down!!!

I'd better quit. I want to get to the grocery store before the hordes converge. Campsie is becoming overcrowded and unpleasant, all that breeding I suppose! I will make a concerted effort to attend to my blog more frequently from now on.

Skye-larking with the new granddaughter

You know all those images you see of mother breastfeeding contented baby? Well spare a thought for the ten mothers behind that picture of serenity; the ten pairs of cracked nipples; the ten intakes of breath when baby latches on with her vice-like jaw; the ten stifled cries of pain; the ten toes curling up in agony; the beat of ten breast pumps; the baggy eyes; the tears. Can't show that in the parenting magazines; it might mean the end of the human race!

In spite of all that baby Skye is thriving. She sleeps well and cries when she wants to feed. But we have to be ready on the spot before the roof caves in with her fury. You know exactly how she feels about having to wait!!!! She wants it NOW if not before. She keeps us on our toes and in a fog of half sleep and confusion. We have to keep lists and charts to keep track of it all.

Last night we put the clocks back, a time to savour usually, that extra hour of sleep. Not with a newborn. It is more like an EXTRA hour of daylight, time to do more things.

However, it is fun. Especially when she smiles, even if it is wind sometimes. It is a promise of things to come. Worth the broken sleep, the late lunches the snatched showers.

Tardy blogger

I have an excuse for not blogging last week,namely things medical, namely a cold and now a hacking cough which woke me every hour last night.Ugh!!! I am now on my 3rd round of antibiotics with a 4th to follow. At least they dry up my dripping nose but I'm scheduled for a sinus wash out. Mind you since I heard about the post op care, (I'll spare you the gory details) I'm really hoping the drugs will do the trick and I can cancel.

My stint at 2 RPH yesterday afternoon was so so. I had to run out of the studio part way through the afternoon to cough. Enough of that.

I'm going to a fun evening tonight, my friend Yvonne's book launch, 'A brush with Mondrian.' It's lovely to share my writing buddies' successes. Another one, Teri has won a place, one of five, at a mentor-ship for romance writers. Not my genre but there's always a demand for romance novels.

Meanwhile I've finished my first novel... for the second time, or it may be the third, I'm losing count. It's a few thousand words short of what's acceptable so I've got to fix that. Fortunately on the way home from the radio station I heard a progam on the radio which gave me an idea to do just that.

Also I wrote a short story while killing time before going to 2RPH yesterday. Will submit to a writing competition, word limit 750 words.

The exchange rate is looking good for my forthcoming o/s trip later this year. Well may the upward trend continue.

Saw the kiddy-winks at the weekend. Mathew looked so cute in his football outfit, a Portuguese club naturally, courtesy of his big sister. Naturally we played ball in the garden, not football but batting a beach ball with a tennis racquet. The kid blamed me for ALL his misses. I pointed out that they were not all my fault, sometimes he just missed them. Then he started saying they were 'a accident grandma.' It so reminded me of my kids when something went wrong, they said exactly the same thing. Kids cotton on fast don't they? Annika swanned around in her tutu.

The annual portrait painting competition is on again. It seems to come around so fast. It's called the Archibald, and I try to see the exhibits every year and vote in the people's choice competition. It opens to the public next week.

I'm going to aqua aerobics today, brush the cobwebs away. Hopefully I'll have time for a nap before facing rush hour traffic going to the North side for the book launch tonight.

Nudies on the Opera house steps

It is the first day of Autumn and that American photographer was in Sydney this morning marshalling a few thousand nude people to pose on the opera house steps. A bit ironic since it is the first cool morning we've had in months. Look for goose bumps!

We had a lovely baby shower at Maxine's yesterday, a wonderful eclectic group of family and friends, not to mention the delicious food Maxine prepared. Many of us brought our favourite children's books for Baby Meinecke's library. A highlight was the 'Dad's Survival Kit' Cristina made: goggles, (for squirts and throw-ups) masks, (for odours) ear plugs (for screaming, both baby's and parent's) which Dirk promptly put in his nose, and rubber gloves (obvious, yuk!)and tongs (for non-touch technique). It was hilarious.

Only four weeks to go. I'm getting excited.

I've made some decisions about the novel I feel good about, and will start putting some changes in place this week. I think it will make my main character more sympathetic.

I have been reading a manuscript of one of my writing buddies this weekend, very enjoyable but needing some work. This same author has a short story in the Women's Weekly this month, very sweet. I'm also looking forward to Yvonne's book launch. (another writing buddy) It is called Brush with Mondrian and is in the shops today but we are having a little party to celebrate later this month. I wonder which one of us will get a publishing deal this year!!!

Well the Tsunami didn't hit us but those poor Chileans copped it badly. There seems to be a major climactic disaster once a month. Australia's disaster will come gradually I think. All the rivers will dry up, agriculture will fail, famine will ensue etc....

Meanwhile we live our little lives trying not to think about it and hoping the politicians and scientists get it right.

Have a good week people. At least I didn't get a parking fine this Monday (as I did last week). I didn't go anywhere.

Things I have learned...

After a couple of days with Mathew at my place, things I have learned about him are:
if you want the answer to be yes he will say no;
his (whatever it is) is always the biggest, the highest, the prettiest, the longest, the strongest....you get the picture.
his feeling are easily hurt;
when he wants something he wants it NOW
he always eats 2 breakfasts
he sleeps still, unlike his sister whose legs flail all over the place;
he knows all the words to the Roary video and has almost got Chuggington's down;
he loves throwing things, hammering things, and whizzing things round and round, preferably near the television;
he loves showing off, especially at the swimming pool before he jumps in.

Ah well what else can you expect from a three year old boy?

We had a good time, swimming at Kit's pool, having a ride in her sports car, eating fish and chips, playing at the park, particularly the swings ('push me harder grandma!') more swimming at Canterbury pool, crayoning with his new 'no-mess' crayons (my coffee table is pristine)and reading about Bullwinkle the fire moose.
Thank you Mathew, we'll do it again some time.

convergence of cultures

Went to the shopping centre at 9am yesterday to beat the crowds. I barely made it, what with Saint Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year happening all at once. With Campsie being
Asian in flavour, people were streaming in to shop. The place is festooned with red, shiny balloons and hearts one side, red lanterns and good luck charms the other. When I left half an hour later, cars were queuing for parking spaces. I was glad to get out of there.

What is the year of the tiger going to bring?

Anyone born in this year is 'courageous, active and self assured. Optimistic, passionate and independent. Rebellious (watch out Maxine and Dirk!) dynamic and unpredictable. Quick tempered but considerate, affectionate but careless. The tiger is a natural born leader and symbolises power, passion and daring.' Oooh! Sounds exciting to have a tiger in our midst.

What is happening to the weather? Heaviest snowfalls in Lincolnshire for a long time and helicoptering in snow for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Now I believe it's pouring with rain there. Sydney has had floods this weekend and the humidity keeps on keeping on, well into the third month. Migraines have gone to twice a week instead of once a week as a result. That's why I had to go to the shopping centre... for more drugs!

A big mea culpa to Eddie for forgetting to credit him with fixing my letter 'e', not to mention jump starting my car last weekend, AND printing off the invitations and other sundries for the forthcoming baby shower. Where would I be without you!

Did my first readings on the radio for the visually impaired last week, 2RPH. It went quite well. The first time I sat in with two readers who were completely silent in between readings. The second time the readers and announcer were chatting, joking, and generally being hilarious in between. I was worried in case the announcer forgot to turn off the mikes. But it relaxed me and they were very encouraging. The first news piece I chose had a lot of Arabic names in it. Why I did that I don't know but I got through it okay. The second was all about theatre, which of course I sailed through. My next date with the mike is March 5 at 6am, the Breakfast show. Better have a few cups of tea on board for that one.

first cool (ish) night in months

It is pouring with rain and I have a flat battery...in the car that is although the personal one could do with some jump leads. This humidity is sapping. Sorry my American friends who are now snowed in and threatening to eat their pets. I guess we're never satisfied.

At least I've started writing again although re writing is more accurate. I am working on the first novel. It is going somewhere this year even if I have to publish it myself! Problem is there are no young people in it and no sex. Publishers like that. There is a litany of 'accidental' deaths though, that should count for something don't you think, with a publisher somewhere? I will press on regardless.

I am thinking of writing about my ex boyfriends, husbands and lovers. It would be a tragi-comic tale, mainly comic! It will need wit and verve most of which has etherised in the humidity. Never thought I'd say this but roll on winter!

Another of our writing group has her book published this year, on March 1. It is a memoir centred around Dutch paintings. It is beautifully designed and put together, and I can't wait to read it. It is called a Brush with Mondrian. Also another of our group has her story printed in the Australian Women's Weekly next month. She won $5,000.00 as a runner up. It's exciting to share in these successes, it keeps me going.

Having succeeded in the auditions, next week I'm sitting in at the radio station for the visually impaired, 2RPH. After that I become a 'reader'. We read newspapers mainly but also magazine articles and even stories sometimes. Our audience is about 150,000. Beats little old Mount Vernon where I did radio for a while. I've been getting the voice in trim, practising at home. It takes it out of you.

Meanwhile the Australian cricketers keep winning, my Fantasy Premier league soccer team has moved up to 15th place from 32nd and the family is in good health. What more could anyone want?
TO GET MY BOOK PUBLISHED THAT'S WHAT!!!!!!