Missing Mum

Well we have had a good weekend here especiallay now spring is here and it is lovely and warm weather with lots of sunshine. I miss Mum more than I can say. I always thought it would be bad (not that I thought about it that much!) but I miss her very much every day. This afternoon I just wanted to do some sewing in peace - because I'd feel close to Ma - I used ot love sewing with her. There was a time (before the twins) when any school holidays spent with my parents meant mum and I making a quilt together. We'd talk for ages and discuss our various projects and passions of the time. When P gave a eulogy for Mum he mentioned that when she made something and gave it to loved ones - she was really giving a part of herself and how our houses were all full of such things (Mum quilted and embroidered mainly). In the photoes here Hannah is wearing a lot of dresses made by Mum - for her first granddaughter who is 16 now. They still look great. And I have to say how true those sentiments feel. Just yesterday I was hanging the brats' cushion covers ont he line - ones made with so much love by their Nin Nin. This Wed Mum would have been 68. It was also to be her and Dad's 48th wedding anniversary - I don't know what to say on that except - I am so worried for Dad. I can only imagine his grief. I wish there was so many more things I could do to help him through this time but I don't even live in the same state as he.

Buddy Walk 2008

If you click on the link - it will take you tot he flyer for our buddy walk where a certain chocolate faced brat makes a return appearance. Last year we had a lot of fun - hopefully the weather is as kind this year.

Poor Neglected Blog

Well it has been an intense time down under for the shams. I have been in Brisbane with Dad. Mum did not make it home from the hospital this time. We had the unspeakably heartbreaking time of supporting Dad and each other as we directed the doctors to stop treatment and manage pain relief until less than 48 hours later Mum passed away. The pain she went through while they were treating her (treatments which weren't working) was so distressing to see. She kept pulling at her canulas, crying out as a particular antibiotics were administered and itching all over most of the time. In the end her kidneys failed and then the morphine worsened her respiration and her heart stopped. It was about 5.30am on Sunday the 7th September. At that time I was lying in bed looking out at the sunshine, listening to Ave Maria and saying a prayer for Mum so in hind sight I a pretty sure she came by to give us a wave.
We met some wonderful people during that time. I'll never forget their kindness and the love and care my father gave to Mum too - his incredible strength as he lost woman he had loved for 50 years. He had some very definite ideas about saying goodbye once she had gone - lovely sad farewells that will go on until he joins her one day (hopefully not for many many years!).
I am back in Sydney and the pain is raw. Still I give thanks for all the wonderful memories and the love and other gifts my mother bestowed upon us all with selfless generosity. May her soul rest in peace. Amen.

The twin's aunty signs Batman Saves the Day for them at bedtime. Hannah now knows the sign for 'aunty'.

3 wise monkeys

Exercise theme for usic lessons:

Nan and their Dad's birthday celebration

Mum is back in hospital again. I can't say anything more on that - well I don't know what to say really ... anyways I spoke to her earlier tonight and she was sitting up and although she sounds tired and my poor father sounds so brave yet the most dispirited I have ever heard him ... lots of prayers are going their way I hope she is able to rest and come home soon.

"Pooh sat down on a large stone, and tired to think this out. It sounded to hi like a riddle, and he was never much good at riddles, being a Bear of Very Little Brain. So he sang Cottleston Pie instead:

... verse 3 ...

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,

Why does a chicken, I don't know why,

Ask me a riddle and I reply:

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie."

A fun and busy weekend. On Sat night we took the twins to the local club for a kids party - which included the kids disco - Kit had no interest - was happy to run around with his friend (I can see two left feet in his future!) while Hannah had a ball.

I bought myslef a copy of Organic Vegetable Gardening by Gardening Australia from the ABC shop the other day ... plantings due in a few weeks time once our new vege patch is ready!

Lordy - technology - why do it geeks like to stuff around with it?????? Now I think I've gone and changed y husband's google password - cos in our house I use our email address for blogging but he uses it for googling - and they were traditionally two separate activities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bugger - he isn't going to be too happy - of course I have recently set up y own google gmail account - so I can let the flylady clean up my act - but do you think I can recall any of it???? or that it would work on y blog given that I use our joint eail address..... do IT geeks ever think of incompetent tech heads like me?????????

Turkey

I am so lucky to have the fantastic friends that I so - here is a very special bunch at the now annual 'turkey fest - Five Dock' ... we had a ball!

Carving ...

The 'kids end' o fhte table for our recent Turkey Fest. The brats and I 'made' or should I say 'painted' the table cloth on the big table- we did some free form art and so me 'hand turkeys' too.

Well it's saturday now and I have officially regrouped! The funeral on Thursday was lovely - exactly what Audrey would have wanted I am sure. It hailed like the fury on the drive to the cemetry - not sure what THAT might mean! Anyways things are calmer int he shams after a night in drinkinga bit too much red wine and wathcing the opening ceremony fo rhte Olympics. P has taken Kit to his first football game - to see the Jets play. I still have a wee cold so am at home waiting for Hannah to wake up so I can go tothe shops to get something for dinner and visit the library too I think. If I could only find the right lead I could download some photoes to post ... no idea where I put the thing!!

Oops - she's awake - we're off...