Supamum:... not really just doing lots of stuff

Gooooooooooooooood Eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeening Sunbury

2010-10-13T21:38:00.004+11:00

Reminiscent of Adrian Cronauer's call sign made famous by Robin Williams portrayal...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD EVEEEEEEEEEEEEENING SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNBURY

I have been busy to say the least and am nearing the end, and the beginning of something familiarly comfortable in my life and something else which is the culmination of a life long aspiration and I believe, what was meant to happen.

Not saying too much here because no doubt there are still the covert little police wannabes who like to know all and try and bully people with their BS. So for those who know where I am, you know where to find me for the low down.

I know that I was destined to do this and it feels so comfortably right and natural that I have to wonder why I resisted the pull of it all for so long. I think that the thirst for this was slacked in my work and what I undertook there to some extent.

I have had the privilege of having made some great friends who also were my mentors, they had allowed me to build and explore, to learn and develop into what I am now. For that I will forever be in their debt and I owe owe them much for without their encouragement and discourse; I probably would have doubted myself in this. The best part is that having made these friendships, I know have like minded friends to talk 'shop' with.

I have come a long way from Supamum, and for the past three years I have defined the meaning of Supamum on so many levels and in so many ways.

The worst part is I now have the bug and may well extend this beyond what I have accomplished...but that's another entry.

Time to catch up...

2009-03-24T19:01:00.003+11:00

I've been busy..OK. Miss 11 Almost 12 commenced secondary school. I got my dual year and amidst all the hoo-ha have,yet again,managed to encourage other to think outside the square. I'm in a primary setting and secondary setting one day each a week and with two days of classes leaves me with one "free day" a week apart from weekends. This free day is spent on planning and ACP and assessment tasks and essay and research...but it is nice to have my Saturdays back. I was apprehensive of this dual year but now realise that it was not offered to me because it was an ideal scenario but because I was one of the ones would could pull it off for others to follow.

Mr 8 has become Mr 9 with a massive Star Wars Lego for his birthday and Miss 11 will soon be Miss 12. I have learnt who my friends are and who to trust more. The school has lost a principal and a new one appointed, some change is in the wind and some arses will be booted into gear one would hope.

Our lives are changing and we are adapting, I love what I am doing and if it allows 2IC to switch to something more productive later on then that is a good thing for everyone. The campaign for saving VU has moved along nicely but I still am unsure of the intentions of some who want a TAFE...when student and educational diversity is a major issue in the Western suburbs, some want to bow to the western suburbs stereotype of working class, trades people. If we want to move up, we need to move on...get over the A-typical ideal of what the town needs. We want our children to have choice...real choices not something foisted upon them because this of some misguided, misogynistic people who think they represent everyone and know what everyone wants.

I have been remiss...

2009-01-28T09:50:00.004+11:00

Christmas and NYE have come and gone and ans we enter into another school year, I am in awe of my kids (AGAIN). Christmas supplied the boys with Lego and Meccano sets and almost the entire school holidays have been taken up with construction of nothing short of engineering genius. Mr 8 got his coveted Star Wars Lego, he has amassed such a collection that I fear annihilation by Jedi fighters if I enter the area formerly known as the main lounge. He enlisted the help of 2IC initially for some of the construction but eventually demonstrated the type of perseverance that is shining through more and more, and completed the ship himself. Since we got some great deep, colourful drawers to store all the Lego in for each of them..he has built and re built, and redesigned ALL the ships in his set, including the not as popular Mars series.
Mr 6 is growing up all too fast, with a wicked sense of humour, contagious laugh and devilish ways...he is becoming a real boys boy. He scares me with the lack of fear he has for all things physical, so unlike Mr 8.
Miss 11 commences secondary school next week and apart for getting books, uniforms and ensuring all and sundry are labelled to within an inch of it life....she is ready but are we?
Now starts the really responsibilities of lockers and uniform code and books and subject variations...how she will cope depends on how we react and act towards the issues that will arise and they will arise. She has already indicated her concerns about having enough time to change books for the next classes or what books to take to each class. This we will take in our stride, one step at a time as we have with all changes in our lives.
Me? I am waiting to hear from the those who weld all power for subject credits to apply my credits to my current area of study, then I await the powers of the PP to allow me a dual year of study in one year. After the 6th we shall know more...

Last day, last time,...How am I gonna do this two more times?

2008-12-19T12:46:00.003+11:00

Yesterday was Miss 11's last day of primary school and amidst apprehension and excitement of secondary school, lay the understanding that it was her last day at that school, the last time she would be a student there, the last time for a lot of things.
She got her bear signed, her uniform signed, her presents given, her goodbyes, her prep buddies wishes and before you knew it, it was over. FOR NOW.
The graduation last night was highly emotional and reflective. From watching them all in their school uniforms for the last time, to their teachers singing in choir to them, their outgoing principal commenting on their creativity and diversity, Miss 11's reading of the graduation poem I wrote for the Yr 6s five years ago, to the morphing picture show using all their seven years of school photos whilst a beautiful operatic was played, then with them each lighting their candles from one another, they filed out of the Church in single file then I was a sobbing mess amongst other similar sobbing messes.
It is after all ,only primary school but it is the defining point in the life of a child for they are on the cusp of puberty and about to enter a whole new world of friendship dynamics, learning and disciplines.
It is the end of play dates supervised at others homes to "Can I walk to Maccas/Jooceworks after school?". The end of the friendly pre and post school chats with other parents and the start of "Just drop me here, I want to walk with such and such".
It not the last time for lots of things, Messers 8 and 6 still have to get through but having been to one graduation, I am unsure if I can do it again...least not with a few years to get over this one.

Is it possible...

2008-12-02T16:36:00.002+11:00

The other day the question posed itself...is it possible to be a happy emo? Or as we succinctly labeled Miss 11's declaration of being a happy emo, an alternative emo. Miss 11 has moved into some strange and conflicting modes of pre teen of late.

she sings in choir and was accepted the training choir(Level 2) of the National Youth Choir. If you are not familar with the NYC, think of the Qantas ad with the "I still call Australia Home' theme sung by kids-----> they were NYC members.
she likes both Fall Out Boy,and P!INK, but also loves the songs of High School musical 1,2,3 ad.nauseum and Hairspray.
she declared herself an emo a year ago and now says she is a 'happy emo' therein we have coined the term "ALTERNATIVE EMO" for her.

Sheriff on patrol... Is this the prospective face of Council representation

2008-11-19T13:00:00.007+11:00

hey Sue baby maybe you should start looking in the mirror before making comments. I believe your language and behaviour at the safeway carpark on monday left a lot to be desired. And by the way signs are designed to tell you something OK mcjack | 11.18.08 - 7:02 am | #
Oh ,and this is so concerning because it indicates that
1) the security firm entrusted with several local contracts and who espouse to be "ethical" are really questionable in there undertakings. Bit of a concern if they are passing on private details to non concerned parties....might need to discuss this with the management and point out the indiscretion in this.
2) Is really none of anyone's business and if you feel the need to know it, you are really a sad case.
3) Really, highlights to the community the true persona of some desperate and dire individuals...and if this person was a elected official, you would really have to wonder about what private information they were gleaning and utilising incorrectly

In my opinion.....of silly old buggers

2008-11-14T13:27:00.006+11:00

One surely has to wonder what generates any synoptic activity in some peoples grey matter, given they seem to think that if they say it , it is true. Hate to tell you this, actually no, I like proving you wrong AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN...it's really a bit like an old, punch drunk has-been fighter has been trying to best the master, they just keep on getting hit with good combo.

1# Council is a local authority...no control over STATE or FEDERAL matters ipso facto they cannot change COURT DECISIONS, no matter how many times you say it.

2# You decry other councilors as being ALP members...least they are up FRONT about their affiliations. What about a certain developer mate who owns the Sunbury Central site and the Centrelink building, hmmmm? No coincidences there about who also claimed to have access to video footage from Sunbury Central and info about the lease at Centrelink. Gee, imagine that link being made...who'd have thought. Oh ,and there is the wonderful sale of the timber yard site ...who bought that? Who built on it? Do you ever excuse yourself from voting on development matters because of your links to this developer? NO, didn't think so...because it is not public knowledge is it? I think it should be as its very ,very relevant. Oh, yes, there was a lot of jumping about with Ardcloney but all bluff and bluster...cause your mate never got into that one so you could play the pretender protector of our heritage.

3# Like the pretend protector of the victims, but look here
It seems not all is as you'd have us think and AGAIN making claims of things not of your doing( see pg 2 of the post)...can it be that SO many people are WRONG ABOUT THIS? Incidentally, whilst biting off more than you can chew with a ex crim might have dented your macho,sexist, demeanor, it hardly constitutes being a victim of the caliber you claim to care about. Plain and simple...it's called VIGILANTISM and it's nasty ,mean and it's not about caring...it's a personal vendetta. Oh, and really the writing style of Noel is intrinsic to him and his site...whilst imitation is allegedly a compliment...the poor imitation of Noel's is a travesty to the English language and the rules of grammar.

Let's now stroll down the avenue of "Giving Your Vote, MY Voice"

Parking problems for shoppers and traders, (notice that a capital letter is only used at the begining of a sentence, they teach you that in Prep, y'know)to be addressed with tiered and park & ride at Diggers Rest.Also trader permits to be made available.

-------->HOW would you pay for this? And trader permits at the expense of who..how many per shop, only the owners or employees too? That'll work well..no parking for shoppers only the people working in the EMPTY shops.

Instigate a "City Pride" program in our schools to counter litter and graffitti.

---------->City Pride,huh? Hope no one is thinking of copying this idea from the States.
And who would take this project on? You think forcing the overloaded curricula of schools with projects like this will make a difference? Likona (1996) states that programs such as this have NO IMPACT ( read it aloud so you get it) on "moral values, ethics and citizenship education". There is no relevant data to support what such a program allegedly proposes to do.

Fight for better health service such as 24 hour emergency service,improved Aged care services such as Dental, endoscope, cataracts

--------> The SCHC extension is ALREADY COMMITTED to an extension, these are STATE & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT areas. What exactly is it you plan to do? Fight is a great word for doing NOTHING.

Extension of sports facilities in Sunbury/Bulla including Boardman Basketball stadium extension.

--------------->These items are already on the agenda for sports facilities in Sunbury.

Sunbury Planning Area - Sunbury, Bulla and surrounding areas

Sunbury
Clarke Oval - upgrade oval floodlighting
Goonawarra Recreation Reserve
� construction of sporting fields and installation of training lights
� lighting to softball fields
� construction of sports pavilion
Langama Park - upgrade practice cricket wickets
Sunbury Aquatic Centre pool blankets
Victoria University Sunbury Campus - Master Plan for Recreation Precinct (joint project)*
http://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=431&h=1
And Boardman is ready to go after the insurance funds are free.

Keep rate increases to a minimum by reducing government cost shifting.

-------------->And you would do this how..because we all know when you can't do something you will blame factions and others and throw a tantrum like you always.

Continue to fight for more police in Sunbury

----------------->Yes,'fight' is a grand verb to use instead of saying I will be the medias' "Dial A Quote" when they cannot get anyone else to comment because that's means I really have to do NOTHING

Lobby for a state of the art Tech College at the soon to be closed VUT

-------------------->Well, here we go again, you claim to be 'a voice' well ,the voices want VU TO STAY OPEN AS A UNI /TAFE. When did you ever ask anyone? No one ever saw you with the mythical" pencil and pad claim and here's the no brainer part....Education is a State/Federal area NOT LOCAL COUNCIL. Oh, and get it right, it's called Victoria University or VU ( has not been called VUT for a decade) .

Lobby for the right to a pre-school placement for every child in the ward.

------------------->Pre school placement is subject to timely application, you cannot circumvent and put kids in where there are no places!
-------------------->Pre school comes under DEECD again... State GOVERNMENT. You can do NOTHING about this if parents fail to put an application in on time.Councilors actually have NO CONTROL over council facilities management especially if that area falls under a STATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT also.

Posted in the spirit of robust expression and debate, as well as the right of opinion as afforded to me under the democracy in which we live. Declared as being fair comment as a matter of public interest.

Fairytales or should they be called "Hairy tails"?

2008-11-10T11:57:00.002+11:00

Some folk have SOOOOOOO much trouble with remembering what they have and have not done...trouble is you really need to be VERY VERY careful because you will get caught out by some of far higher standing in society than yourself. And who looks like a hairy tale teller then?

2006-10-15

Posted: Nov 21, 2007 7:49:26 pm

LOL!

steve
Member

Posts: 2
Registered:
2008-01-03

Posted: Jan 03, 2008 12:29:21 pm

Well can we please set the record straight Noel, I was a victim of crime many years ago although not as bad as yours and never felt that it was any of yours or any one else's business to know exactly what it was. For your info I did go to a Catholic college enough said OK.
I never said that I was a founding member of PALS but I was a founding member of CVSA and even gave it that name remember, and still have not been paid in full for the banner although I am happy to donate it to a good cause.
As far as the Political ambition goes it wasnt me Noel who put up a candidate and fellow commitee person representing a wacky left leaning party called People power at a victims rally now was it. I have never tried to hang my hat on the plight of victims, I have always set my sights on making the Legal profession accountable to the victims plight and NEVER have I ever put you down in public for what you have done. I am very disappointed that you feel the way you do and it hurts me to read this considering that it was me who nominated you and Bev for the A.O. for all your work. Thanks for your support.
And Laurie why dont you tell everyone that the Pedophile Charles Allen was living in your street without the knowledge of the local Police and was regarded as one of the country's worst offenders, thats why I blew the whistle.I hope Laurie that you have paid the local ALP branch registration this year along with your fellow comrades as it will be an election year and you guys love nothing better than to sling mud at me. And I love it! Happy New Year to all

Edited on: Jan 03, 2008 12:42:41 pm

steve
Member

Posts: 2
Registered:
2008-01-03

Posted: Jan 03, 2008 12:35:23 pm

And also, I was not sued by anyone I sued for defamation and was succesful in getting a judgement and YES I am Indigenous and proud of it, but I dont receive any of the so called perks that go with it. End of Issue I trust.

admin
Admin

Posts: 625
Registered:
2002-05-01

Posted: Jan 20, 2008 1:22:20 pm

Steve, no not the end of matter, their are a few issues that have to be addressed, as you seem to be claiming fame for starting.
CVSA that was set up in September 1992 in attendance Kay Nesbit,Sheerie Datsun, Karen Orpen, the late Howard Bratton, Kim Wells,
Bev and myself, sorry no Steve, not even at the big meeting at Wantirna High School in October 1992 attended by shadow Attorney General Jan Wade, you came along in with Howard in 94/95 or their abouts, you refer to Karen rocking up from People Power at one of our protests, as I've already told you, they refused to have you as a member of their People Power, why Steve?. You claim you payed for our banner out of your own pocket, this is not the truth, Richard from GTV 9 donated it. Next AO, you write about, would that be the OAM,it is something we are humble and proud to have, however Kay Nesbit say she nominated us for it, but could not get down for the presentation, and of course
regargless of that, you have to get the runs on the board for one, on the councelor from Hume who you had a barney with,the one who refer to you as Jackass, their must have been two winners Steve, now the truth from the bulltish has been sorted, feel free to post on this site, that why we are well on our way to getting 200,000 hits this year.

I Hate footy...blah...

2008-09-29T20:18:00.005+10:00

After losing the on going battle with 2IC and the kids for footy, they have attended several matches with him and he has converted them to semi-hypnotised believers in all things ovoid and testosterone driven; shame really I thought I had that battle won. Saturday proved that not every thing revolves around the game of Neanderthals, as 2IC scored a ticket and as I was not teaching off he went ALONE to the celebration of the unskilled. Meanwhile the kids and I played about inside and out, and it was not until later that Miss 11 thought to watch the match on TV and then only between PC games and outside games with her brothers...who could not have cared less really.
When 2IC finally arrive home, the kids were a bit more excited and thrilled but not to the extreme...playing the theme song over speakers in the backyard on Sunday was really, really daggy and did not have the disired effect on the kids.
So in effect, I win, footy has lost, they are not swept up in the silliness of it at all.
Viva la AFL ( Anti Football League)

Chocolate and Collins, Can't Be wrong...

2008-09-28T20:50:00.004+10:00

Phil Collins and chocolate, has to be right, doesn't it?

Go Margaret........

2008-09-09T13:54:00.005+10:00

Caught the tale end of what could only be described as unscripted TV at it best with Andrew Denton interviewing kitchen diva, Margaret Fulton. For those too young or uneducated enough to know, Margaret Fulton was and still is the ultimate of cuisine couture when Australia was struggling to accept international dishes as part of our eating habits. She was the food editor for several national magazines, chef for CHoGM and much more. She was also a great advocate for women and their role in society.
Now as the video links shows, she demostrates to Andrew her rapier wit and how she got to where she is today. She pulls not punches and often is unaware of the funniness of her comments. Andrew, at one stage, is aghast when asking Margaret what he could cook up for Jennifer ( his wife Jennifer Byrne) with mince to impress her; refering to Margarets 101 Dishes with Mince, her succinct reply was that she'd not bother trying to impress Jennifer as Jennifer was unimpressionable. If you want to read the hilarious transcript, it's linked to the post title.

MARGARET FULTON: I think it would be hard to impress Jennifer. She’s impressed me more than any other woman in Australia. You know why.

ANDREW DENTON: Why?

MARGARET FULTON: Because Gough Whitlam who’s the biggest know-all in the world . . .

Laughter

MARGARET FULTON: And she had a there was a big thing spelling bee or . . .

ANDREW DENTON: Sale of the Century.

MARGARET FULTON: Sale of the Century yes and she beat him hollow.

ANDREW DENTON: Mmm yeah.

Laughter

MARGARET FULTON: And I always thought a woman who can beat the most know all person in the world.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: Mmm.

MARGARET FULTON: She’s I wouldn’t fool with her . . .

ANDREW DENTON: Mince meat.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: You’re right. It’s a feeble minded thought.

Laughter

ANDREW DENTON: It’s crazy talk.

MARGARET FULTON: Yeah.

A funny thing happens when you tell lies.....

2008-09-05T19:57:00.002+10:00

...your credibility becomes lower than it already was ;at below whole numbers (if it existed at all before). See, if you tell porkies about essential government services closing down, some one , some where is going to call you to account...BIGTIME.
Enough people know enough about local services to know that one such as this would not and could not close down and move away. We aren't all as gullible as they teach you in the "Become an estate agent in 10 days" crash course from NSW.
Maybe people who have leases with govt. departments should keep their mouths shut to their mates too, that'd be a good idea. Be a shame if the management of the govt department put two and two together and got five...and made the decision based on someones indiscreet chatter. They have a lovely little facility known as "media watch " in all govt departments which haunts cyberspace waiting for little gems such as that to appear, so the staff,management,ministers and such all know who started the rumour and who they are associated with...

Bragging Rights

2008-07-29T11:05:00.004+10:00

Never one to brag really but I got my marks for first semester, needles to say...you cannot do much better and I beat out a lot who thought they were younger by that fact... smarter...HAHA. Let's just say that age, experience and having a brain that acts like a sponge with mind that can formulate valid arguments that prove that Austen was a writer limited by her own lack of experience goes further than having just been to India with Daddy and mummsie.

There is no charge for awesomeness.....but bad food and service cost you.

2008-07-10T12:11:00.008+10:00

We set out Saturday to take the terrible three to the movies. We were going to see Narnia or as it is otherwise known here..Narna and Prince Capsicum. As Miss 11 is going out later in the hols with a friend for birthday treat to see this and as it is rated "M" we thought better of it so Kung Fu Panda it was. We had a gift voucher of $50 to use so we went to the other large movie theatre rather than our local one...big difference in prices and venue cleanliness that's for sure. Stick with Readings people, you will be happier and better off in the pocket.
After the movie we went to the local pizzeria/restaurant "La Porchetta" at Sydenham. When we entered the place was half empty..it was only 5.45 on a Saturday evening anyway, when we asked for table for five, we were asked if we had a booking! A booking?...it's a pizza place in the burbs FGS not Vlados. We said OK we'll go if there's no room*looking about at 40 plus empty chairs and 20plus empty tables in a half full restusrant* "No, I'll fit you in somewhere" was the reply. We really should have cut our losses then and left. Eventually we were seated and it was no biggie as it involved moving two tables together...any one would have thought we asked for snow from the South Pole. Anyway we ordered drinks and and when they came my Coke was supplied in a bottle SANS glass and 2IC's beer was supplied the same way. 2IC requested a glass and was supplied with a soft drink glass of some type but it was not a beer glass. When our meals arrived, Mr 8's pizza was supplied on the cooking pan with no dinnerware and the waitress attempted the pass the HOT dish to him from the other end of the table!! Other meals were passed across the table and over others heads. I know it's only a pizza place but even the most remote drive in diner with table service knows to serve tables from the left and clear from the right. That is with food. As far as beverages you serve them from the right. A good rule of thumb is to never serve with the back of your arm facing your guest. This is BASIC stuff any server learns...obviously not the waitresses at La Porchettas, Sydenham. As for the food, well Mr 8 had one slice and insisted the pizza was" yukky" in the middle, Miss 11 ate most of her lasagna but was sick in the toilets afterward...WTF! And Mr 5 ate some of his childrens size lasagna. 2IC's seafood pasta marinara was "soapy" had too much tomato paste...yes, paste, not tomatoes. My fungi con pollo penne was from the night before and was reheated and the chicken was red meat...stuff you boil for soups and such...YEECH. All in all, a place never to be revisited or recommended except to advise others to avoid it at all costs.

School Reports and Tee-Ball

2008-06-23T12:08:00.003+10:00

Well, it's that time of year again with the local Winter Round Robin Tee ball competition behind us and reports upon us. I coached the senior Tee ball team this year, even switched a class to do it...not that anyone cared. The teachers would just re organise the sports sessions and I'd only find out when I'd signed in and turned up and even once dragged all the equipment out. I'm only doing it because its Miss 11's last year and the kids who usually go into tee ball and softball have limited resources to help them for the games ( ie: the teachers don't know how to pay). Our school fields Gr 5 and 6 for this comp and the other field Gr 6's only and the mixed/boys teams are usually all boys against our MIXED boys and girls. Anyhow, the teams played excellently and played against some tough competition but held their own with consistency in their batting: 8,10,8 which was brilliant. I love it that I can stack a batting order to maximise the children's run rate and no one is none the wiser. Their fielding was excellent and apart from the big hitters at some school( which is no real skill in tee ball) they kept most hits to within two throws of the catcher, they watched, made excellent decisions on where to throw and were only beaten by a maximum of 4 home runs in one comp, which was their worst loss. I won't be switching any classes for softball in term 3 as it seems that after a while your contribution is taken for granted a bit because you are ALWAYS there to coach...so if I have a morning off I will coach softball but I will coach on the day of the comp provided I have no presentations or tests to undertake. I don't expect a thank you every time but being told in advance that training has been changed or canceled would be nice.

School reports and the "celebration" of mediocrity. When did a 'C' become so acceptable and an "A" so unobtainable? I have missed nothing but noted the subtle shift in this trend by the Govt and education system to place all our children within a 'benchmark' of acceptability. They have utilised the AIMs/NAPLAN system to set the benchmark since 2003 then revamp the reporting system to reflect the inadequacies of the education system by making a mid range mark reflective of the abilities of the majority as being acceptable instead of the aim for the best you can be 'A'. So that's right kids, just be a sheep and learn like everyone else, don't try too hard because unless you are 6-12months ahead of your peers, you get no recognition for it anyway.
As an educator, I should be embracing of the this new system ( so I am told) as it allows many students to feel equal to their peers, sorry, I'd rather have my students ( and my children) striving to be better than acceptable. If a 'C' is celebration, than why bother to apply yourself too much if you are on track for the 'C'. Miss 11 had fallen into this trap because she was denied the 'A' she deserved because her chronological age placed her at a disadvantage as the work is graded by year level not age, she knew she was good, even better that others in her class but could but could not get that elusive 'A'. 2IC and I were even told in 2004 that she was on 'A' in English but the 'A' was removed by the principal because no one else had achieved that level in the school at that time. So now we celebrated mediocrity in our children instead of allowing them to shine upon themselves and others creating a sense of "if they can do it ,I can do it" Ad Altoria.

Hello again

2008-06-10T10:47:00.004+10:00

Well, I've been very busy so I apologise for the interruption to this service but after twelve plus weeks of study and PC stuff...I'm a bit over the whole PC for entertainment bit so I have had a bit of a break from blogging. I have a few (5,6,7 weeks) before the highway of higher education resumes and I'm waiting for the new timetable to show itself so I can see if my electives will fit, being they are final year subjects. I'm still doing my rounds on Saturdays and will continue to do so until end of October with the option of continuing through to end of November. There have been a lot of drop outs from the course which makes you wonder why they work so hard to get into it in the first place. Could it be that their ideal of the career choice is not all they thought it was? Or does having three or sometimes four assignments due within a two week period really freak them out? I think its more the self control and discipline needed to do the required reading, research and such...no one is at you to do it,it is just assumed you have done it.

The kids are fine, thanks for asking; and despite Miss 11 wanting her ears pierced for her 11th birthday, she has has issues with replacing the sleepers after wearing some decorative ones to her cousins 21st on Saturday. Seems the holes have commenced to heal over and I cannot get sleeper nor stud through with out literally having to re pierce her ear!! So we have decided to allow them to heal over and re do them near the end of the year...and I am so looking forward to that one, Yuri!!!Mr 5 is a social butterfly of parties and playdates and I really wish some one would have the economic and social smarts to develop a children's play centre again in Sunbury al-la the one we had in Horne St until early 2003 as I am over the Mc D's and HJ's parties that everyone is having for their kids. Mr 8 is coming along well but I feel the teacher of choice is only going through the motions of inclusion and such, she seems more concerned with what his aide and I discuss rather then being part of any discussion, and the student well being officer, well, administrative wise she's good but again...needs to learn a lot about the system. Just because a child has been given an ADDITIONAL diagnosis which is NOT the primary diagnosis, does not mean the child is now X instead of Y and will no longer be funded...not your decision, not your call, sweetheart!

Integrity, huh?

2008-04-10T22:14:00.003+10:00

What exactly does it entail to have integrity? The Oxford dictionary defines it as 'wholeness, soundness, uprightness and honest; noun 1 the quality of being honest and morally upright. 2 the state of being whole or unified. 3 soundness of construction.'

Now if we take it as a noun applied as a character description we have: honest, wholeness,and morally upright.

Hmmm, so if someone were to know about something that was confidential-in-confidence YET alleges that someone else breached that in camera code YET that the first person was not privy to the information nor part of any consultations regarding the information...how is that person to know the alleged information was a) commercial-in-confidence or b) told in camera? Unless some other individual told said, first person . Bit of double standard there with the word integrity, me thinks. Not a lot of 'wholeness' of the story either.

Gets tricky, doesn't it? Moving on to the matter of honesty...now its a matter of some conjecture as to what makes an honest man. Thomas Jefferson once stated

An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.

Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Melish, January 13, 1813

Or as Pope said,

An honest man is the noblest work of God.
Alexander Pope
English poet & satirist (1688 - 1744)

So by the definitions of these illustrious historical figures, an honest man is one of fairness and social conscious, who was created by God. Ok, then we have;

Honest people don't hide their deeds. Emily Bronte

So we have social conscious, God fearing, and open about all matters and what of 'morally upright'? Do you have to be upright in the sense of publicly seen to be upstanding in order to have morality? Or can a person be upright by the above definition yet amoral?

Or still ;is a person capable of being morally destitute whilst still proclaiming to be the litmus test for integrity? The answer is a resounding 'NO".

A person cannot hold themselves up in judgment of an attribute, they have no comprehension of nor possess themselves. In the definition of integrity, many other characteristics come to light and in assessment of these characteristics it would seem that to question the integrity of one persons alleged actions ; places the integrity, honesty, wholeness and morality of others on a far higher platform for query.

Oxford or Harvard..?

2008-04-07T16:31:00.006+10:00

No, I have not been offered a scholarship to these halls of learning (you never know) but I was intrigues today at during a history tutorial when we were critiquing a recent essay from the other tutorial group. We were discussing the referencing systems used, it seems the education stream student use Harvard: quoting author, title, edition and page after the quote and as a past Arts student I use Oxford as I studied history and literature and later, law but use Harvard for my education stream subjects only. I was surprised that one student ( 2nd year) announced he had never been penalised for mis use of referencing system and only ever uses a bibliography. Myself, and several others were aghast at this. I was also shocked at the standard of writing the essay in question offered and the tutor stating it covered all aspects of the rubric for a good grade!! This despite the author using both Oxford and Harvard referencing...good trick that one.
On another aspect, I took Miss 11 to the movies with a few friends to see Nim's Island.
It is a fantastic movie but has it's flaws which are lost to many kids, some reviews of it canned it others have applauded it. There are a few too many things happening at once and a child younger than 12 would not see the parallel of JackRusoe( Ruscoe sounds like Crusoe as in Robinson Crusoe) and Alex Rover being the same actor. The whole Australian cruise ship finds the 'deserted' island ideal is a bit too rough and ready and cartoon like and the back and froing between Nim, Alex and Jack's individual hurdles and the consequences of their actions can get a bit monotonous and confusing to a younger viewer. All in all, I liked it and will probably delve into the book on a whim.

Funny thing happened .....

2008-04-02T14:00:00.007+11:00

...When you take a 10 almost 11 year old to get their ears pierced as I was apt to do this past Saturday. She had been very, very intrigued by the process for months and wanted it done and as it was hardly a whim birthday wish; she had asked prior to Christmas 2007... soI made the arrangements. We didn't hype her up about it but I was clear that it would hurt a bit and that hygiene was of the utmost importance when dealing with pieced ears. She was ok about it all and still wanted to do it. So off we went to our appointment and she was asking a few questions about the same stuff we had gone over, but being the ever patient mum I re answered them for the eleven hundred time. When we arrived she was able to choose from a series of stud type earrings which she was very quick to do, so quick in fact I asked her to look at all the choices and she told me to pick!!! Hmmm, 'we may not be doing this' I thought then. We ,then, realise that despite all the information we had been given, the actual operation,per say,was not being done by two attendants simultaneously but by one. Which meant that one ear would be done, than another. Given her strange and off handed attitude to choosing something...jewelery related, let alone, sparking and shiny; I had visions of leaving with a distraught child with one ear pierced!
Miss 10 Almost 11, had one done then started with "It hurts, it hurts, ow it burns"
and the attendant sprayed the ear with some anti infection spray and then it was "Ow, it stings, it stings" 'Here we go, I'm leaving with a child with one earring' I thought to myself, but she trooped on and had the other one done( repeat all of exclamations from above). Then as I was sorting out payment and care details, she comes up with "I'm gonna be sick" and has turned a lovely shade of white usually reserved for those on deaths door. We sit her down, with a rubbish bin and the lovely, S who had done the piercings got her a cold towel and we tried to get her to eat a sugar sweet. As S, explained to me she thought Miss 10 was too calm and has seen it several times before (only in Sunbury), all the sugar in their system is taken up by anxiety and stress and they crash after the event. After about 20 minutes. Miss 10 was fine and off we went. Now we have to wait 6 weeks before the "I love those earrings" starts, luckily school rules limit the type of earring permitted.
Despite this, Miss now 11 had a lovely birthday, ending in a family dinner at her favorite restaurant. She was given a money from relos for her birthday and as Mr 8 had birthday money and Mr 5 had a find of $20 on the floor of the supermarket a few weeks ago. They also bought some things they wanted. Miss 11 got a new bunny complete with clothes from "Build- A Bear".
She already has a bear with clothes but you can never have too many stuffed toys as a girl!!
Mr 5 bought some mew clothes for Kangraoo Jack at the same shop and Mr 8 went with 2IC to get his Transformer PLUS he got a new PS2 game..so every one was happy.

I'm BAAAACK!!

2008-03-19T22:00:00.003+11:00

To all who know me, know where I've been ( right here) and what I've been doing( not blogging). I am making my way and carving my niche at the new undertaking of my life and it's not that hard to fall back into the routine I knew, with the exception of outings to the pubs ( not done any more it seems) and sitting about the caf., neither of which I do now because I have to collect the terrible three from school or a friends place. Mr 5 has settled into school nicely, reads well and sings all the songs he learns to us. Mr 8, yes we missed that one on line, had a birthday in February with a Wild Action party....snakes and a croc, and a kookaburras and lizards...it was a hit!!!
Miss 10 is now a senior and vice sports captain of her house, she was even a school captain candidate!!! She has her illustrious senior jacket and has not been the only one wearing it these past over 30 degree days. Much to the dismay and horror of many parents.
Suffice to say we are all learning and some of us are re learning what we did know and learners are teachers too you know.

Three lunchboxes

2008-02-01T13:51:00.000+11:00

There's three lunchboxes on the kitchen bench now,
Bright and shiny and new
There's a bigger rush in the morning now
"Are you sure those socks fit you?"
There's a blur of green and yellow about here
Yet no one has a tear.
Its a rush and tear about, whilst Lego ships are built,
And I ask again and again
About teeth brushing, which to kids is such a pain.
As children pull on their jumpers,
And I ready them for the twice daily trip
The washing's in the washing machine and dishes in the washer
I'm brave enough and busy enough
Not to let my bravado slip.
Because now I have three lunchboxes,
Bright and shiny and new
Now my babies are all at school....
What the hell am I gonna do???

Christmas, New Year And Beyond

2008-01-03T11:21:00.000+11:00

Well Santas been and gone and a new year is upon us all. I have been supa busy helping Santa and organising not sure exactly what but have just really been busy doing lots of stuff...story of my supa life, I guess. The children finished school and kinder with great results and Mr 7 got the teacher I requested; whether it was because of the request or not ..I really don't care. But another mum who is a teacher has told me "we need to have a long talk about who I choose in the new year" Trouble is it was the devil you know or the one you know yells too much. Time will tell..teacher H, who I requested has had a friends special needs child last year so her recommendation supported my opinion and observations . Miss 10 has AGAIN got the non preferred teacher she had for Gr 5 ... and to make matters worse this teacher is getting married in "08 so we all know what her priorities will be as most of us have organised a wedding whilst working, haven't we? *SIGH* And Mr 5 got the incredible R as his Prep teacher!!! Without so much as a hint of wanting her...what a start to his school life!!!

Santa bought the kids a trampoline with a safety net and everyone pitched in for a fun filled Christmas Day arvo putting it together. It was only fair anyway as the uncle. aunt. cousins and nana saw fit to give them a games table with soccer,pool, table tennis, and air hockey which required some assembly..yeah, right and the Styrofoam packaging was the type that breaks up into little balls and the boxes were like boats...so we had a white Christmas in the main lounge anyway. HAHAHAHA!

2IC has been busy with home projects and such including building a outdoor BBQ area with built in BBQ....NICE.

The virulent neighbors (read "they who have no life") are up to their old tricks with a letter received before Christmas from a utility co alleging we were watering not only at 0815 am but watering our back lawn!!!!! POINT OF NOTE ...you can water lawn ANYTIME with recycled water, IDIOTS. Some people really need to stop looking over fences and stop being such hypocrites. We invited the water co to visit and see our yard which is watered via recycled laundry/bath water via a wheely bin and hose, we also invited them to visit our street and look at two of the very green lawns of the complainants. What goes around,comes around and revenge is a meal best eaten cold.

NYE was a blast with 2IC's new toy, iPod classic ,being rigged up to a six speaker system and music on tap via a docking station. Good friends, good food (2IC has almost mastered the ribs al la BBQ) good drink (apart from that bottle commemorative Draino someone had given to them HAHAHA) good music all equaled a good time till almost 0300AM!! Apart from one friends dog getting out and the ranger calling to tell us someone had it and the ensuing trip to collect the wayward canine and return him home to the safety of the laundry (bloody fireworks but hurray for the rangers working NYE) we stayed at Chez Supa all evening/morning.

Moving right along....

2007-11-14T10:43:00.000+11:00

Mr 7 had his follow up appointment with his paediatrician and he has grown 3 cms and put on 1kg ..so much for the growth stunting side affect Ritalin is supposed to induce. We discussed his speech pathologists re testing for research purposes and his paediatrician was all for a paper being written on the effects of ADHD meds on children with auditory/expressive/ receptive delays...especially since Mr 7 had all the required interventions and tests prior to commencing formal education and his improvements in the areas can be attributed to the medication and not external factors. Try and convince someone who is being paid nicely and works their own hours to co author such a paper....snowballs chance in hell. Anyhow, his aide ( read guardian angel) and I spoke tongue in cheek about her coming with us to his next speech appointment, as it turns out, this is a very common occurrence as R, the speechie; has little to no time for school visits because of her increased and high demand workload. She even has a waiting list that he feels personally responsible for. So next appointment, Mr 7's guardian angel comes along too.

Mr 5 attended a session at school yesterday, for just over an hour he drew and did I don't know what in a classroom with 5 other newbies and the rest of this years preps whilst the parents were given a run down on the "You Can Do It" program and other things programs the school.. Here I was hoping to by pass that and sit in the yard and read...but no chance.

Now there is a study that shows that children diagnosed with ADHD catch up academically to their peers in about Yr 5...roll on then, He's turning into a whiz now with his nmemoinc skills what would he be like when he can retrieve and use all that stuff....bit like Supamum, socially inept and able to spout useless facts in a single sentence.

The school start money given to Victorian students commencing in Prep or Yr 7 by the State Government looks to be a fiasco in 2008. Instead of mailing out cheques from the Education Dept. they have opted for vouchers issued by the schools and able to be cashed after January 14,2008 at the POST OFFICE. Nice to let the schools know that DET have cited the initial contact if a problem arises to be the school..talk about passing the buck. And apparently the PO staff knew nothing of this....they do NOW!! And there is the little issue of DET "paying" schools and initial fee of $35 and a pro rata fee of $2 per voucher processed to cover the administration costs. Apparently this $$$ is not being passed on to the individual Catholic schools by the Catholic Education Office...nice little earner there for the CEO whilst our schools suffer.

Childrens lives and adult angst

2007-11-07T11:54:00.000+11:00

Oh, to be a child again, with little concern but the perception of too much homework, not enough play time and having to get up early for swimming. As I often tell my three...Don't wish to grow up too quick or try and be older than you are; you are only a child for a little while but being grown up lasts a LOOOONG time.

The eldest two have commenced Milo cricket and whilst it is good, Mr 7 always groans about attending yet has a brilliant time throwing himself bodily on the ball. Miss 10 with all her softball skill, shows up some of the boys her age, but batting with the bat to the ground is just so WRONG! Now if only some of the parents would stop treating it as a Friday evening piss up...bringing eskies and beer, it's set a better example for the kids.

The year is nearing an end and Mr 7's speech pathologist has retested some cognitive receptive stuff from the CELF 4 ( Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, 4th edition) as a research into whether the Ritalin has increased his concentration spans, at a glance this was obviously a contributory factor as his progress looked remarkably different from a few month ago. We are under ongoing review by his pediatrician as the side effects can be varied and static so I am happy for regular follow ups.

My baby, turned 5 last month, he's a big boy now and goes to school next year. He is so independent and fun filled I actually enjoy having him at home, whereas with Mr 7; I relished the quiet time of his kinder time. A remote control truck was the order of the day for this birthday and although we did not get the requested talking version of Cars: Lightening Mc Queen or the Tonka truck with a plane, he has a wonderful time zooming the truck about the yard with Mr 7's remote control truck in pursuit. His grandpa's and uncle and aunts monetary contribution allowed him to go to the local toy shop and get his truck with a boat ( better than a plane) and of all things, a collection of plastic horses. He was allowed to pick what he wanted for a birthday dinner and he choose pizza, so we lobbed at a La Porchetta restaurant on the way back from some shopping...after checking the menu, no, he does not want dinner here. The conversation went something like this:

"But you wanted pizza and this is where they have pizza"
"No, I don't want pizza now" By now we have ordered drinks for three thirsty children
" Well, what do you want?" It's his birthday and he can push the envelope a bit
" Not pizza"
"Well, what do you want?" Envelope is tilting slightly to the red side now

" I dunno"

We eventually ordered pizza and pasta, and moved on to the ice cream place up the road for dessert. My little boy is growing up, no longer a baby in the physical sense but always my baby in the ideal sense.

Miss 10 is developing a wicked sense of humour and irony, she often creates nonsensical songs and ditties which her brothers copy with glee. She has been asked on a "date" by classmate and declined, too shy and shocked to accept. Apparently a 'date" in senior primary school consists of hanging about together...nothing new there; Miss 10 has about three male friends she hangs about with at school that I know of. She attended a senior leadership course a few weeks ago and now has aspirations of being a school captain. She becomes a senior buddy again next year to a prep child and the principal has realised that the youngest sister of Miss 10's own senior buddy ( who is now 18) will be starting in Prep, and Miss 10 hopes that history can repeat and she can be buddied with that child. It would be providence in a way.

I don't want to be the over zealous parent but really do not want Miss 10 o have the same teacher as this year for Yr 6. This teacher is all groovy and cool with the kids, often cranky and strict, gooey eyed for the male parents and tries the false empathy with the mums...it's a crock of shit. She is lazy and limited in her abilities to teach outside the curriculum, no library time has been allocated for this class all year and I wonder how the children who do not have Internet access at home, reference books at home or public library access got heir assignments done this year. "Not a teachers bootlace" is an expression that comes to mind. I also want Mr 7 to have a particular teacher next year and plan to make that request soon; I have asked this teacher if they are OK if I request Mr 7 to be placed with them and they are OK with it. A quandary now emerges, do I take the bull by the horns and also ask for Mr 5 to have the irrepressible, Mrs R, for his prep teacher? Taking my request to a "pick the teacher " style of parenting I really do not like to prescribe to. Methinks, I will ask for Mr 7 to be placed with the preferred teacher and leave the rest to chance.. I can always ask for a swap of Miss 10 once class assignments are made. WHO knows, she might get one of the new, whizz -bang, here to impress teachers who were interviewed last week.

What a turncoat.....

2007-10-07T15:06:00.000+10:00

What a spectacular display of political horse shit Peter Garrett has shown. With the spinelessness of an amoeba, the spin doctoring to rival Monicagate and the loyalty of a hungry dog...he has single handedly destroyed any belief that the ALP will do any thing much for the environment if elected despite any promises to the contrary. Even Bob Brown has forgone his mate in greendom due to his lack of support to fight the pulp mill which is to be built by Gunns. Has Mr Garret forgotten the Franklin Dam issue of 1982/1983 when both the Opposition and Government supported the building of the dam but public outcry, protest and pressure won and the project was dropped? Does he forget that in his then profession as a lead singer of "Midnight Oil"; who were the musical personification of the environmental protester; he showed great disdain for the mechanizations of politics and associated environmental blunderings which he now seems so adept at. Give back your OA and your Australian Humanitarian Foundation Award, both for services to the environment...you don't deserve either now.

Funny about that.....

2007-09-26T14:11:00.000+10:00

Some thing I noticed lately that would be of interest to local readers only ( sorry to the not so local viewers). There is a group touting them selves at Sunbury Residents Association or SRA. They don't advertise their meetings and which seem to be held in camera. No one knows who the membership involves or even if there is a membership! There seems to be one member only who rallies forth about supposed "residents issues" which always seem to be political issues. The minutes nor AGMs are not published ( to my knowledge) and there is no address to join...after all we are all residents of Sunbury and should be able to access an association which claims to be for the residents. Strange enough, when a certain faction of local councilors or individual councilor votes for or against a local issue, this mob of so call "residents" attempt to challenge the decision via various modus operandi. Including but not excluding, putting forth objections via the VCAT and writing amateur attempts to question some elected local representatives decisions on the issue. Seems a pattern here, a very revealing pattern.....if an openly affiliated political party member/s vote on a local matter the SRA and their wanna be cronies get involved. HMMMM could be the SRA is really a politico-support, party funded group in the guise of an 'advocacy' group? IF their membership is restricted and not publicized, where do their members come from? And where do they get their money for VCAT challenges against elected council officials decisions?

My little radical protester

2007-09-26T13:31:00.000+10:00

Two weeks ago, 2IC was handed a pamphlet and Miss 10 wanted to read it..it was a info page about the Anti-Work choices march today. Miss 10 asked some questions about it and read some articles in the papers and heard first hand the issues her older cousins are having which requires them to work two or three part time/casual jobs instead of being employed full time..she decided she'd like to go and protest. Now, you might say that she has been "taught' this mindset by her parents and family; but no, we rarely if ever discuss politics around the children as many dinner table conversations revolve around school, sport or "eat your dinner!", "sit down" "leave the Lego alone"ilk. So this has manifested itself from her own views and opinions and a want to have a say. We explained to her the right to protest as being a democratic right and why the people were protesting. She decided that she wanted things to "be fairer and to be same for her as they were for us". So today is a daddy/girl outing to the march, The Ian Potter and the NGV as well as some prenegotiated stops at two "girly" shops and a look at some softball bats.
All in all, I am proud she has come early to the realisation that not every one enjoys the same rights and there is an outlet for that and a method to effect change.

What a winner!

2007-09-26T12:40:00.000+10:00

Miss 10 arrived home from school last Thursday to an envelope from a print media competition page she regularly enters. It appears our budding artiste had again won a competition which gave her adult passes to Tesselaars Tulip Festival
As kids are free anyway plus she received a bonus of a free pot of tulips card too. We often attend this magical and wondrous place each spring and having a freebie was icing o the cake. It's a lovely drive and they have days dedicated to many nationalities including their own as well as three children's days with special activities for the children. The masses of flowers and the amount of work put into not only the farm but the retail operation and then to run this festival is awe inspiring. The place is a family home and each generation has built on the land or adjoining tracts, it's a family and community business and many new hybrids are named after employees and family members

WIN, WIN

2007-09-20T14:46:00.000+10:00

It pays to complain if something is not right, really it does. I have been ont he phone to Telstra/Bigpond who have changed their billing system and now want almost 2 and 1/2 months of Broadband fees up front because of the new system which "98% of customers wanted" ( I must be of the 2% who weren't consulted) Disatisfied with Bigponds response I went to the TIO.
Two days past and today a lovely lady from Telstra calls to tell me the new system sucks and she's in the same boat and she credits our bill over $200 placing us in credit for a month also because we have been long standing customers with never a bill on arrears!!! HOWZAT!! Thank you, Dianna.
Win no 2 came about with our private health insurer, I called to check if Mr7's recent audiology exam was covered to be told the provider would have to be registered with the PHI and I would have to ask the provided to register with the fund. "Not my job, that's your job" I tell them. "No, you must use providers who are registered with us", they say. "That's restriction of trade", I tell them and "I will not do your job for you, I pay to have expenses reimbursed not to run about for you". Ask to speak to a manager and get told they will call me back, 10 minutes later a call comes back to say they will cover the claim as we have been with them for many years ( 7 years) . It pays to stay where you are if you are happy with the service, because when you aren't happy the years in, pay off.

Softball, PSGs and weekends away

2007-09-18T14:11:00.000+10:00

Well, Miss 10's softball team did very well indeed. I was roped into umpiring two games for the girls team and looking out for them so rarely got to see Miss10 play as she plays on the mixed team. But when I did, well, the practice payed off...she caught one out when she played 3rd base and was savvy enough to tag a runner on a sneak at 2nd when the baseman there forgot. She bats like a Gatling gun too. As for the rest of the team, I had one boy come late to the team...by late, I mean that morning because we were short and he proved to be a great copy for pitching and took to it like a duck to water. The kids all played as I taught them, encouraging each other and the other teams, our catchers even handed bats to new batters, and our waiting batters stopped balls for the fielding team sometimes. All in the spirit of good sportsmanship. I did not teach them some of the subtitles of high level softball, the psychological pressure a pitcher/catcher team can apply, nor any of the nastier elements I know. This was; after all; a nice social round robin of 3 out/all in games or was it? Next year if I coach again, I will be teaching the teams a few choice tricks of the trade, nothing nasty or unsavory; just a few skills that they can use to enhance their already brilliant game. And as for the teacher who thinks she knows softball...I called her on not one , not two, but three occasions when she ruled against my team...seems the only way that team gets a win is her "make it up as you go along" rules..well, this time round she met her match and I stood my ground. It pays to be loud, know the game and carry a big copy of the rules!!!!

PSG's ...forget them, last one was Term 1, missed term 2's for god knows what reason, then term 3's was to allocated without consultation..you get told this is your time for your PSG and it was Mr 7's paediatricians appointment so we had to reschedule, that was over 6 weeks ago!! I have left 4 messages with the DP for times I am available for the PSG, to no avail. Now on the cusp of the end of term 3 with term 4 upcoming, I think know is the time for all good mums to make a call to the CEO( again) DET does not allow PSG minutes to be late nor to be held over so why am I waiting for my term two and three PSG still?

Weekend away, well, it was interesting but cannot say too much as what happens away stays away, don't ask, don't tell and all that . Suffice to say, if I ever hear the name "azzopardi" I will cry laughing.

No longer quarantined

2007-08-30T12:44:00.000+10:00

Well, it appears most in the not so supa house are healthy again. Mr 7 who had a bad ear infection has recovered, Mr 4 had a croup like throat infection, then I got my usual throat infection, Miss 10 got a cold which affected her asthma and 2IC got pneumonia. All in all, some one( or two) was home sick every day for over TWO WEEKS!!! It also appears that Mr 7's grommets have come out and as they were present less than 12 months ago, the fact that he has an ear infection after being without infections for 5 years, may be indicative that they need to be replaced. All in all, he is doing well on Ritalin and astounded his teacher and aide a few weeks back with suddenly grasping the concept of 10's and units and creating his own maths equations with bundles of ten matches and singular ones. Result of Ritalin or placebo effect on us???

We've had a birthday, totally forgettable and unmemorable. The boys have a birthday party next week end as my pal, A; has bitten the bullet with her usually great and wondrous kids parties ( her two kids birthdays are only days apart so they have a share party)and under doctors orders is taking it easy with her sons birthday being at Mickey D's...hardly think the kids will mind, A. And the weekend after is her daughters Cafe Craft party, great idea and is being hosted by her craft orientated friend and her sister is doing the catering...smart move sending out menu options with the invite, so you only buy and supply the food you need. And I have my inaugural girls week end away coming up, we have a house for gratis, courtesy of one of the girls parents and whilst we are forgoing the massages and facials and pedicures and all that goes with it...we will be sans spouses and kids which in itself will be restful!

I have been coaching the softball teams for the Summer Round Robin at the kids school. Some very good players to be had and even more gutsy, "give it your all" players on both teams. Bit hard to take them from tee ball to soft ball in 5 weeks but they are in with a chance as they have an excellent understanding of the rules...only hope the rules apply unlike a certain teacher from a certain local school during tee ball who made up the rules as she went along. No matter anyway, the batting order is designed for some big hitters and small shockers; we have several pint sized dynamos at bat and some even faster pitchers, throw in a left handed batter who hits a home run every time and pitchers and catchers who have been taught to signal instead of call a "sneak" and you have two teams who will give the others a run for their money even with the sledging and "make it up as you go along rulings". Only this time, no more standing for it, if the rule is valid and not adhered, I will say so...one team lost due to runs being continued after an overthrow back to the catcher last time..no more Mrs Nice Now.

Post Secret

2007-08-14T11:08:00.000+10:00

Dear Mr Shithead..............

2007-08-07T17:42:00.000+10:00

Some folk really need their heads read, they need a dictionary and a course in English comprehension also but then again it might be like trying to make a potato into a banana, same plant life, different species. If people don't understand social justice entirely, they should refrain from commenting on it.

Well let me assure you that it wasnt me and I condem any idiot who does things like this. Trouble is if anyone dobbed them in Sue would complain about their social justice being impinged.I trust you reported it to the Police
jacko | 08.06.07 - 11:49 pm | #

Dear Mr Shithead,
Were you a troubled child.
Did everyone dob on you?
So now you need to tell tales too
Dear Mr Shithead
Do you feel that you have to be the VOICE
because no one ever listened to you?
Do you feel you have to speak for the police because you wanted to be one too?
What do you think of when you're defeated all the time?
Do you really believe that all crimes the same?
What would you do if your kid was in trouble today?
Would you be the one to send them to prison forever and a day
Or would you hang them..like you want to every one else?
Dear Mr Shithead,
You will never understand
What social justice is
Because you don't want to

**With apologies to P!NK

Funding and Ritalin

2007-08-07T13:43:00.000+10:00

Well, it seems not even the CEO know what they are doing when it comes to funding. Several weeks ago the VP at Mr 7's school told me Mr 7 was up for funding renewal in October this year and new reports would be needed. Having just completed and handed over a CELF report in February I asked if that report would suffice if an addendum was included. No,.. new reports were needed apparently...GREAT, the last one took up 5 therapy sessions so there went Term 3 speech out the window unless we took on extra sessions and alternated between one therapy session and one testing for the whole term. Mr 7's S/P could not understand it and we tried to find out what reports they needed as the last test was valid for two years after the test date. And lo and behold, the CEO now concurs that Mr 7 has ongoing funding until 2010. Not that I can complain but it would've been nice if the criteria is somewhere accessible for all, when I asked the VP about this; he admitted it was not anywhere or on any guideline format. Mr 7 is doing great guns and is now in reading recovery also. His last visit to his pediatrician came as a bit of a shock as she states we are doing all we can fro him with therapies, speech, classroom assistance and such, he's been in formal education for over 18 month now but his concentration levels have not increased ( if fact his aide was away for several weeks and noted on her return that his concentration seems to have lessened) His pediatrician suggested a well know drug to help increase his concentration levels and for the first time ever mentioned ADHD as a possible diagnosis. Interesting. I have read all the associated hype and concern about this drug and we have agreed to a one month trial and if he shows any of the many side effects, he's off it because it is not worth his well being for an extra 10 minutes of concentration. This was a hard decision to make and will be made even harder if he continues to show change as he has being doing; because then we will be looking at long term use of it. Devil and the deep ,blue sea time.

A quiet weekend....not a sound to be heard

2007-07-23T10:54:00.000+10:00

It would be interesting to take a poll of how many people were reading over the weekend. HP 7 arrived and we ventured to the city to see the fun and frolics..of which there really was none by 11.00am. Every one was home with the latest tome or curled up somewhere devouring it. Kids were reading it in the bookshop whilst parents browsed, I sat an read the first chapter whilst 2IC took the terrorists to the toilet, grownups read it in coffee outlets ( sorry to the guy behind us a Gloria Jeans who left after the umpteen stage whisper of "he's reading Harry Potter, it's for kids!!!", all in all it was a bit of a non event.. apart from the suitable attired Dymocks staff noting much about to see. I also bought Eragon, yes, I know it's also a kids book but I saw parts of the film the other night and sort of thought it would be a good read and unlike Rowlings he wrote Eragon at 15. I find that interesting in itself.
HP 7 is the sort of book you have to read, having read the others and enjoyed them for the most part but it is hardly literature in the realm that Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Plath, Green, Grass, et.al are deemed. But you have to wonder if any one had the savvy, marketing nous and ideas of the guru who thought up the embargo idea and the printing at different printers and all the hooray that went along with it..if any other book would make the splash the HP series had in the book world.

It's snowing in the hills

2007-07-17T16:39:00.000+10:00

Took Mr 7 to his speech appointment this morning and there was snow as far down as Macedon Rd overpass on the Calder Freeway. Heavy snow on Black Forest Rd and surrounding areas.. we spent 40 minutes and most of his speech appointment time in car whilst one car at a time was allowed to enter the down slope to Woodend. It was lovely and white and peaceful and apart from the wait and calls to his speechie, we had a good time and even got out to have a look about. After 1/2 and a talk with the local police officer on traffic duty, I decided it was not worth waiting god knows how long to get to a late appointment, so turn around and drove back. It was a laugh to watch the guy in a Territory pass me and lose it on a bend a travel sideways to the other side of the road..a word to the unskilled, drive slow in low gear on slopes not fast just because you have 4 WD on you car somewhere LOL

Footy as it used to be..........

2007-07-12T21:44:00.000+10:00

Many know I despise footy, I do believe that this sort of spirit truly personifies sport in the true sense. During the WW2, two teams joined to form one and played a grand final, then separated to become part of a larger league. Years later, some one thought to celebrate that melding of men and created the Bell Challenge they also thought to celebrate the teams members and their contribution to the sport in that amalgamation of players. My dad was one of the players( him and half his bloody relos) and is one of the players still about t. He was very proud to have been recognized in this way....Go Da!!!

School Hunker down days

2007-07-05T13:06:00.000+10:00

Well, school hols are upon us again and it's wet (yah) and cold( hmm, ok). After school reports interviews last week ( total waste of time really) it was time for a break from school, speech, swimming and all thing time controlled. Monday, we were just going to stay in and do some stuff. Mr 7 and 4 have a new Lego Stars Wars PS2 game I picked up cheep at the JB HiFi sale. Miss 10, well, what can I say...she was one of 25 national winners of a Nancy Drew prize pack which included 4 free tickets to the movie, a t shirt, stickers, and 6 books so she's pretty set for the long haul. SO Monday, Miss 10 was making truffles and a friend dropped by and stayed for 4 hours so there went that day and the truffles. Tuesday, 2IC was home so we went to look at a Holden Captiva as we are looking at a new car, I still like the Misubishi Outlander but 2IC is not convinced about the 2.4 engine yet, the 3.2 is available in the US but no one here seems to have one available for a test drive yet. So Tuesday cruised on by. Yesterday, Miss 10's friend who moved out of town last year arrived for a sleep over and her mum is taking them to the movies today. Miss 10 is utilising two of her freebie tickets today and taking T to the movies and later next week will take her other bestie, K , to the movies.

Which brings us to the two male children in the lounge playing Lego Star Wars after a brief respite for lunch ...do I stop a good thing ( good for me) and risk the wrath of the junior male ego? Or do I do what the books and know all tell me and make them finish the game for fear they will enter society with Lego created saber swords cutting a swath of "ouches" and leaving a trail of Lego parts? I know which I worry about more..................

It was long ago and far away, until today.....

2007-06-26T13:33:00.000+10:00

Today I was returning to my car after placing some books on lay by for Santa ( he appreciates the help. Oh ;and by the by, Dymocks don't do layby but will "hold" books for you, BIG HELP)
Anywho, I was returning to my car when some one called my name, my full name......with my maiden name not married name, them they called me by my nickname from school. I looked about and saw a woman waving crazily at me from a car I'd just passed. I vaguely knew the face but the name escaped me for a second...then it dawned on me. It was L, a girl I'd gone to school with and studied drama and dance with. She was ecstatic to see me and I wondered if a) she were on drugs or b) she had my name mixed up with some one else. But no, it was me she remembered, which was strange I recall her as one of those girls who wore make up, smoked, swore and went out weeknights; not in my group, nor me of her clique. We were only ever together during dance or drama and I think she was in an English and Legal class as I recall her and her friend ridiculing people at times. I played sport, she smoked behind the convent; I read a lot and I dunno what she did. Turns out ,she admired me and would've like have been better friends but stuck with the group she was with because I was a "goody". ( IF only they knew, I was just good enough never to get caught!!!LMAO).Turns out, she always thought I was smarter than some of the teachers and she recalled a time I challenged a teacher to prove the existence of God; this was a Catholic school and the teacher was a nun. Turns out she and I attended uni at the some of the same places and she bypassed teaching to after qualifying. Funny how life comes about...
Oh, and how did she recognise me..apparently I "still look like I did when I was 17". Hey, compliments I'll take them as I get them.

What do our kids teach us?

2007-06-25T12:00:00.000+10:00

We are supposed to be the teachers of our children, their mentors, their life guides but it bodes well if we can sit back and look at what they can teach us. Like how to laugh at ourselves, children do it so well or laugh at an embarrassing/bad situation. For example, last night at dinner Mr 7 was getting by Dad about something or other( he was in trouble and I can't even recall what for). Mid lambasting Mr 7 states;in a matter of fact tone.. " I farted" and well, no one could have kept a straight face after that. 2IC was hiding behind his hands and I was choking on my drink. What can you do? Laughing in the face of being told off for a misdeed..what an ace.
It made me wonder if I'd have the patience and knowledge I do ( in fact the whole family do) if Mr 7 did not had additional needs. Sure, there are drawbacks and I would love for him not to have to struggle but for what we have gained from it as a family I could not begin to list.

AS for Miss10, well "out of the mouths of babes" they say. She has one of the wickedest senses of humour I have seen in a child her age. Together with her "whatever Major loser" completed with hand signs..it takes a lot to try and be serious. Her little ad lib impersonations of teachers,friends, personalities in her own scenarios. Well, they are imaginative.

Then there's my baby, Mr 4 who's "cutie boy face" could make you forgive him
anything and whose idea of non physical retaliation is to tell his brother or sister that they are not his brother or sister anymore. If only disowning ones family members was so simple, I'd have undertaken this mantra several times over.
What your children teach you takes time and reflection to realise, I think. It's something you need to look for ,like a child who is read to a lot does not realise they are formulating their sight vocabulary for later education. I enjoy learning what they teach me.

Who the F*%# do they think they are?

2007-06-17T16:48:00.000+10:00

I truly have to wonder about the ideals of some people pontificating to be so called educators, they must think all and sundry are stupid or that the vast bastions of the religious education system will protect them as it does other dalliances and illegal activities. I cite this as I was relayed a most disturbing story about a special needs child who was funded by the Catholic Education Office who's family either owned school fees or Thanksgiving monies ( read: membership dues)or whatever. Allegedly; the principal WITHDREW the child's aide from the classroom with the comment to the aide that the family does not support the school financially. Now, this is not Mr 7, let me make that abundantly clear, nor is it anyone I know personally...it is one of many episodes of bullying and totalitarianism I have heard tell of this school and its principal. To add further fuel to the fire, the child was told that his aide was removed because he was a naughty boy and would not work for his aide. WTF!!! Now this is bullying not only of the family but of the child also. This person needs a solid lesson in why Catholic schools were originally created...hello....they were set up to educate the poor and those who could not afford to attend school. Now we have a leap of history to make non secular schools unobtainable for the average person? Not only that we have megalomaniacs such as this person who believe they are above the law, above Department of Education guidelines, and a law unto themselves removing "State funded assistance" from a child who qualified for it because the the child family allegedly does not support the school financially. We also have this same principal, allegedly,telling another parent of a special needs child that the school could not possibly have that child in the school for five days a week but suggested a split between that school and the special school. Somewhere an investigation needs to be undertaken, too many times I have heard the local Catholic schools attempts to coerce parents of special needs or additional needs children into not enrolling in the school, too many tales of a "they'd be better off elsewhere " and "we'd not get any funding" which seems to being rumored into the common knowledge that the Catholic schools don't want additional needs kids. This investigation needs to be carried out by and external party not the CEO, it's needs to encompass the employment of aides, their duties and the vast amounts of monies these schools receive for such children, and what they do with it. Accountability and transparency, regardless of it being a non Government school...it's taxpayers money and our kids.

This past month.....

2007-06-14T10:22:00.000+10:00

Nowhere, really. just doing the same old, same old.
Have been to coach/umpire at Miss10's Winter Round Robin Sports last week..that was fun and entertaining. Would've been nice if some other schools had bothered to familairise themselves with the rules first. A ball outside the foul line is a "Dead ball" and those on the bases move only one base...not run three home runs whilst the ball is retrieved!!!! The kids had a ball, I had the mixed team and they were great. A bunch of kids who just enjoyed the game for what it was...a game. The girls team won all their games, the mixed lost all theirs( I think, I had to miss the 2nd match as I had to collect Mr 4 from kinder) but they tried really hard and talked in the field. Get them some more speed and distance in their decisions and throwing and they will be a force to reckon with come summer softball. I hope to be able to help with their batting work in the lead up to the Summer Round Robin.
Mr 7 has been to speech therapy still and his speechie is happy with his progress, helps when he has an aide who wants his speech book after each session and copies stuff from it to work with him. That's an hour a week on top of the four or five I do with him. He has actually gone up TWO levels in readers in a month and that was after I found he was seeing the literacy recovery teacher but only for assessment. Apparently, the other Gr 1's are at a higher standard of reading than expected level for Gr 1, so on paper he is behind, but for benchmark levels he is on par...go figure.
Mr 4 is having a ball at kindy and we have had our obligatory interview for school next year. He's a given for acceptance under the sibling rule. He's happy at kinder which make a nice change after the year from hell Mr 7 had. Fund raising at the kinder is going well and we hope to have plenty of money so the kinder can buy some big ticket items the staff want.

I opted out of the herding workshop that is on this weekend, one was I felt a bit frivolous spending money on myself ( I don't do that well) and two was it was a two day thing and I would travel back each evening and have the car all weekend. Would've loved to go but I think Lawson needs some more work offlead...he has selective hearing if he's on a chase, not a bad trait if you are a working dog of experience but not ideal when you are still on your "L"s.

My friend, A who had a stroke like episode last year, now has someone looking into her and her older sisters similar episodes. A had her stroke like incident at 40, her older sister, D, at 41 and recently A and D's younger sister, K had a similar incident at 39. K's was diagnosed as hematologic migraine but with seizure/unconsciousness and now all three of their medical records have been seconded so the specialists can look into why it has affected all three of them in their 40's. Hope some one can shed some light on it for them as it was scary enough when it happened to D but when it happened to A last year but no one cared enough to listen about it happening to D also, it was bad but now they are interested because it has occurred x3.

FIDO....Run in front of a truck maybe

2007-05-31T10:44:00.000+10:00

It takes an complete non entity to launch into diatribes not related to a subject, the sign of a truly challenged person. Attempting to foist their issues and insecurities; via so called public awareness and pretend political star jumps; onto others. Prove them wrong on a point of fact, they resort to personal attacks, prove them wrong on a point of law; they pretend the question was never raised, prove them wrong on logic and common sense, they travel off topic...seeing a pattern here. Great debaters need small outlets to practise against those not as proficient in the art of debate and counter argument, because those who have no skills whatsoever in this realm resort to such "tactics" in an effort continue an already lost cause thereby giving seasoned professionals the added comedy of not only factually, intellectually and logically proving a valid point but the added extra of showing the invalidity of the argument and cause. Game,Set and Match FIDO.
Incidental.....

(ba) publishing on the Internet or by an e-mail or other electronic communication to any person a statement or other material—

(i) relating to the victim or any other person;
Crimes Act, 1958, S21a,subsection (ba)

According to some........

2007-05-25T19:03:00.001+10:00

THIS IS ME AND I AM STUNNING!!!

I'm not going to say it................

2007-05-23T14:12:00.000+10:00

BUT I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!

The system of funding and the Government withdrawal of funding for kids with SLDs was wrong, misconceived and was implemented for all the wrong reasons. The withdrawal of SLD ( severe language disorder) came about at the commencement of the 2005 school year, children who had previously been funded under this criteria were no longer funded, kids who were starting school that year with expected funding, were without. Their parents in a quagmire of bureaucratic BS, the schools at a loss and the teachers expected to become a quasi speech therapists in class time. The current system was conceived by John Munro ( Melb U) who himself touts that

To foster effective learning, we need to
• understand how learners learn
• implement teaching that fosters effective learning.

So it appears that the system a so called, educator of educators, helped put into place and develop, does not do as he claims effective learning should. In fact it has "serious shortcomings" "particularly for children with the language disorder program". I have claimed this from the onset and despite my misgivings with regard to funding in the non State system, I was savvy enough to fight for funding under the guise of alternative criteria. I think it is harder to do so within the Government school system as staff at many school directly and indirectly run interference when you are trying to get funding for your child. I know this first hand from my friends experience in trying to have her childs autism tutor allowed into the school ( who will not fund the child) to observe and see the child in her school environment so to create adaptive therapies and learning modes. So much for Prof. Munro's fostering of effective learning.

I can only hope that other parents take to heart to the fight that has been put before them by Rebekah's brave family and argue for their child's right to have a full education regardless of the adaptive measures, individual learning programs and extra aide time required. They have a voice and have a right to be heard, if not their own then we need to be their voice for them.

I love this icon..what the heck l love all these...

2007-05-14T12:18:00.000+10:00

Just plain scary, no wonder some people aren't "cat people"

Oooooopsies, Dougal whaere's yur undies??

Mothers Day

2007-05-14T12:03:00.000+10:00

Mothers Day was yesterday and despite its commercialism and consumer orientated spin, I quite enjoy seeing what my kids have made/done. I do it for the kids as if I had my way, I would not celebrate it as it is too hard a reminder; after over 20 years; of the person who is not about to see my kids and family...my mum.
My kids did the inevitable mothers day stall at school, Mr 4 made something at kinder, 2IC took them out shopping for gifts Saturday at 4.00PM...but only Mr 4 wanted to go along. * SIGH*
I guess its the thought that counts but no one was really thinking LOL
Looking at POST SECRET made for interesting Mothers Day reading and for those who are at odds with their mum..

If you have a mother, treasure her with care, because you'll never know the sorrow of when she isn't there

2007-05-04T13:15:00.000+10:00

Miss 10's been at camp for the past three days and every day the boys ask if she's coming home. They say they miss her and if I know anything they will be all over her this afternoon when we collect her from school but she will be so tired and cranky, it"ll all be a big fight. Optimistic aren't I? Hope she sleeps on the bus on the return trip is all. For some one who a few weeks ago did not want to go and was crying most nights about it...I'm glad her teachers generous offer of allowing her to call home if she felt homesick was not taken up. I know one child who was allowed to call home after he found the stash of choccie biccies in his PJs with a note for his mum to have a good time. MEMO TO SELF: Do not write note with goodies stash EVER. Mr 7 has announced that he loves his sister, she is his favourite sister....out of who? He only has one hahahaha. Mr 4 really does not care but he and Mr 7 are playing together more.

I have been upsetting the apple cart at the kinder committee ( what's new?) I am the fundraising committee and had submitted TWO timetables for discussion and decisions of prospective fundraising activities for the whole year on a term by term timeline. I missed the last two meetings because 2IC was OS. No one had bothered to get back to me about the next fundraiser...Mothers Day Raffle and chocolate drive. Then I discover that a major office bearer had not only decided which supplier to use but what product we were ordering and how many...all without consulting committee or putting it to a vote. Now, I am all for iniative but a committee is representative of the parent body and needs to be transparent and equitable in their decision making. How we were to justify this decision on any level I do not know. Not only was it not tabled correctly but it was not voted upon either. I bought the matter up a tthe last meeting and whilst I agree that the new secretary had only just taken her guidance from the previous meeting notes that we were running the meetings a la casual , I have requested that the motions be correctly tabled and items discussed fully and voted upon...other wise why have a committee? I always seem to be pissing of kinder committees, either the ones I am on or the ones who are a joke. Thank goodness, I did not accept the request to be treasurer of the PFTA at school when asked this week. I did not even attend the PFTA meeting but got hunted down and asked to take on the office. To many things on right now.

I received an special invite to a herding workshop in June and I think I may go as I really want to see if the traits Lawson is showing now are true to his breed. Also, it will give his sires owner a chance to see if his dogs offspring are multi skilled. If Lawson and I can pull this off, he'll be one a a few who work in obedience and herding. If he shows potential, I start working him in both. This is were he was always heading multiple disciplines, he has the ability and brains to be able to do both. Here's hoping I can do his sires owner and ancestry proud, not to mention my mentors.

Hard yards for a backyard paradise

2007-04-30T13:12:00.001+10:00

It rained over the weekend and late Friday night, so the grass seed we had sown has commenced to germinate. 2IC has been re designing the back yard as it is built on a slope with the slope enhanced so now it is all level and rises in stages. It was a tacky lay out which was the lazy gardeners answer to greenery and flora..AGAPANTHUS...YEEEECH along every fence line. Over the past two years we have removed over 100 plants along approximately 80metres of fence line, put in two kitchen vegetable gardens, removed the slope in the entire yard, created new garden beds, replaced most of a lawn pop up sprinkler system with drippers along the fence line and int the beds, and mulched the most of the lawn area ( read dust and now mud) with sugar cane mulch. ALL the soil removal and reassigning was done by hand by 2IC! We planted out some natives along some of the fence line before Christmas and put drippers in place, these are going well. The back fence line needs to have about 50 plus aggies removed and the beds shaped and natives planted, them another 30 plus of them to be removed from under the fruit trees and the beds there shaped also. The tiered area to the children's playground..also built by 2IC will have a retaining wall of rock so over the weekend we jammed in rock hunts on our usual trips about the place.

I like gardens, I enjoy being in them and working in them. Last night, rocks were being placed for stepping steps-cum-bed border near the kids playground and spring onions, oregano and parsley were being planted in the veggie patch for winter fare. I have a mix of cottage garden seed I got and whilst I have tried these before at the old place it was not the most ideal spot for them...so today or tomorrow I will prepare the bed for them and see where it takes us. The kids enjoy the garden to and both Mr 4 and 7 like to help Dad. Eventually it will be what we want.

Tiny town tid bits

2007-04-26T13:17:00.000+10:00

Life's rife with funny moments that unless you live in the area or have some insight into that lifestyle, it could be something you are totally unaware of. A sort of "had to be there" moment except on a larger scale. There is a local on line forum in my locale that is inhabited by some very intelligent,informative people and infested by some very limited minds. It is funny to read the posts and contribute when it suits especially if the posts are blatant crapola and full of rhetorical bull dust. Some of the ongoing issues are the supposed lack of numbers at the local police station which one poster assumes to be the advocate and know all and be all of this issue. Not being a member of the police force themselves, they have ass-umed the role of a mini me Paul Mullet to extol the virtuousness of the local force and the lack of support they receive in man hours. How they acquire such supposed "information"? Well, they either make it up as they go along or some associated member of the local station are feeding the CONFIDENTIAL information to them. Such tit bits include, that members with upcoming retirements are taking unused sick leave, that the district command are deaf to the needs of the area...stuff that could only be fairy tales or someone telling tales out of school. Like much of what is spread about little towns and shires; it is like the stuff that paddock pizzas are made of.

Telstra SUXS....multi call centre ring around

2007-04-19T16:21:00.000+10:00

Now I need to vent and vent I will, for as the proverbial steam needs to rise from it enclosure so does my anger with this telecommunications maze. I have recently switched my mobile carrier to T from another inept carrier who shall remain nameless, my bill due date was the 15th monthly which suited my accounting needs. Apart from forgetting the promised rebate of $50 for ordering a new phone on line and the promised $40 for leaving my existing carrier a week before the contract ended, I have not had much need to contact them. Until now......
in April my bill for March was due the 13th instead of the 15th, this DID not suit my needs or accounting timetable, so I called to request that the DUE DATE be made 15th MONTHLY and the billing cycle revise to reflect this. Now, if you work in a department called , BILLING, I think you'd know the difference between a BILLING DATE and a DUE DATE. But no, not the undoubtedly blond "Who Weekly" subscriber I had the misfortune of encountering. So today I received another bill 6 days after I paid the last one!!!!!!!!!! The doffus had placed the 16th as the BILLING DATE. I rang Telstra AGAIN to rectify the problem, so after talking to the inept voice recognition program and then getting to speak to a real person, then identifying myself, she then told me I had to go to another section and transferred me , where I again had to identify myself and go thorough the whole spiel again. What ever happened to phone courtesy, you know ; if you transfer a call you identify the caller to the other person and then tell the caller you are transferring them to Sally/ Jane/ Bob or Bill. Meanwhile the power went out and so did the phone, so ends that call.
So I call from my trusty mobile, again I enjoy the illustrious and welcoming timber of the electronic voice answering service, again I tell it my required section, again I am transferred to a real person and for the third time I identify myself and state my reason for calling, AGAIN I need to be transferred and so on and so forth, you get the picture. Telstra suxs chunks and the sooner they sort themselves out the better. I cannot say I am for the sale but their level of customer service has reached the depths of ineptness.

And now for something a little different

2007-04-16T13:49:00.000+10:00

I am always in awe of blogfolk who change and swap about their templates on a whim, but I crumbled and had some spare time ( I have no life) and switched to the new,improved templates. I must say it was easy to swap the links and all over and just as I was mastering my href'ing and HTML'ing. So for any one who's thinking about it, it took me all of 65minutes to do.

Happy Birthday Miss 10

2007-04-02T14:27:00.000+10:00

The former Miss 9 is now officially Miss 10 , double figures, never again to be a single digit age!!!!!

2IC flew back from OS after a 3+ week absence on her birthday: YAH, YAH, YAH and that's not just the kids LOL. Apart from attempting to buy part of her birthday present with Mr 4 in tow..."No I did not buy you a fish tank, he must be remembering when we went to the Aquarium to get fish food". Trying to hide the said non existent fish tank: " Stay out of my wardrobe, I do not have the Spiderman outfit in there" and organising to collect a bookcase I got on eBay for her room after I asked the seller if she'd hold it till the weekend of the 31st for me, then having her pull rank and dictate that it'd have to be collected Saturday as she was out Sunday...( NOTE TO SELF: Never send money in advance on CO Pick UP item as a gesture of good will to hold as it WILL back fire) I was tearing my hair out come Saturday. All went well and Miss 10 got her much coverted The Dragon's Eye book, the new Clarice Bean book, and her much wanted Jebo tank for her room. ( Are three fish tanks over doing it a tad???)
During the afternoon, 2IC, in between jet lag snoozes and PS2 games with the boys; helped Miss 10 re arrange her room ( seems adolescent impulse arrives with the tween age)I left on a intrepid road trip to the eastern suburbs ( may well have been the eastern states) with my pal, B to collect the eBay bargain bookcase. Given my past interlude with travelling across town, I'm glad for her coming and and the use of her Catholic school bus Tarago to cart the bookcase back in. We had a wonderful time chatting on the way over but I AGAIN used WHEREISIT and it again tells you to turn LEFT from Manningham Rd to get to the Eastern Freeway, which we AGAIN followed and AGAIN got lost. Never the less ,we arrived at our destination not 51/2 hours later but 15 minutes after we said we would be there, not too bad but B is a much better navigator and has a better sense of direction then I . So we arrived back with Miss 10's other birthday gift in tow, a solid wood bookcase, 61/2 foot high painted mauve and blue, which cost me all of $42 and nice trip across town with a good friend.LOL It was worth it to make her 10th something special. I'm not big on parties as they tend to turn into little power games and "I invited you to mine" scenarios. We might still make a special trip to the piccies with a few select friends, one of the blessings of birthdays near the school holidays...no one really ever finds out if there was a party at all!!!!LMAO!!!!

Once upon a decade gone..........

2007-04-02T14:06:00.000+10:00

Ten years ago our lives changed here at Supamum Central, the concept of Supamum commenced. I became a mum, that is I carried and gave birth and all that stuff but in so much as instantaneously was bestowed the mantle of a mother....Uh Uh Nah. I was confused, felt awkward, and later felt imprisoned by the needs of whom is now, Miss 10. It was months before I even conquered the ideal of going out WITH baby to get milk or such, let alone go out. I gave up the breastfeeding deal before it killed me as I was trying every thing under the sun to for fill this much maligned; yet oft ill advised; function to early life. I ran to the GP at the slightest change in temperature, behaviour or appetite ( as do most of us with 1st bubs) I smiled back benignly at the older mums who smirked knowingly at me with a wailing child in arms as I stood at the supermarket checkout. What did they know any how?? Now a decade on and three children wiser, I too, am one of the smirking brigade for I no longer have a wailing, inconsolable babe permanently attached to my breast or hip; but I don't smirk, I smile, offer my place in the queue and tell them it gets better. Which it certainly does, thank you Miss 10 for being the test case and hoping you have not suffered to harshly for it. Love you Pumpkin Bum

Of little words and bigger dreams

2007-03-19T21:49:00.000+11:00

I was interested and aghast at the parallels and oft unfounded assumptions made in such articles as this.
Which were equalised somewhat by these articles.
My point being that despite what all and sundry assume, guess, speculate, or blame. No one person can categorically tell or diagnose why a child has speech issues which limit their expressive/ receptive speech, their syntax, their irregular patterns of pronunciation has such problems. I abhor placing children ( or adults) in the diagnostic boxes created societies need to categorise and label. This is further enforced by Government red tape and sub agencies ( yes, Centrelink, Education Department and Health funds, I am looking at you!!!). There are more children being diagnosed earlier with speech delays but because of positive actions like more maternal child welfare resources, associated welfare and children programs at community health centres,more funded early intervention programs, recognition of possible developmental delays in relation to premature births ( of which the success rate has increased allowing many more premature bubs to survive and thrive), proactive monitoring of premmies by MCHN's and GPs so early onset of any delays are actioned and therapy commenced where appropriate.

As recently as 2005, the Victorian Department Of Education recognised severe language disorders (SLD) as a a genuine issue requiring funding for assistance in schools. This was withdrawn in the 2005 school year leaving many parents without speech therapy or assistance for their barely verbal and often non verbal children in schools. The World Health Organisation accepted level for speech ability in children WORLDWIDE is a score of 71, in Australia we accept 67. Now in perspective a score of 67 is relative to the comprehension ( receptive) skills of a 3.5 year old- 3year old with little or no knowledge of opposites , prepositions, common nouns, syntax, sentence structure. A score of 67 in expressive language would mean pronunciation of words would be disembodied, mixed and often showing no real pattern in the mispronunciation( dyspraxia) THIS is the benchmark we allow bureaucrats to place before our children as the acceptable level of achievement to attain, this is the line in the sand for having an aide in the classroom or not for your barely understandable child.

I challenge anyone who claims TV, PCs or any other of the theorems sprouted by the uninitiated to our world of mumbles, signs and frustrations; to spend a day with any of our children in their school and home environment and then try and justify the theory in a relative matter to what they see. Parents strive for all these children's needs to be addressed so they may be able to learn, work and undertake a role in society. We are poleaxed by red tape, funding issues, bias,unknowledgable guesses, and unkind theories. We stand united by the ideal that our children , although often silent or unintelligible, have a right to a voice and those voices sound long, loud and clear as a warning bell in a silent bay.

Families and my big "sisters"

2007-03-05T12:09:00.000+11:00

I don't really have big sisters as many know, I had three step sisters once who tried to over crowd me with the "sister" thing but that, with my Dads marriage fell away. Any who, I had visitors for the past few days. My cousins came to stay as they travel about catching up with rellies about the place, they only were here a few days but it was grand. H and R, her husband, and C flew down from Qld and G flew in from NZ Friday. My cousins, C & H are older than me, their mum was my mums sister. Their older brother, G is only 9 years younger than my mum if she were alive. Their mum died the year I was born ( something I did not know). H and C always had time for me as a kid and even when I was older, I went back to Qld with H and R a few months after my mum died for a break. I was always at C and D's place and often baby sat their boys whilst they were at work ( they had four boys, one set of twins). I miss D who died in 2005 but felt he was there at times laughing with us.
C and H have always been special to me , maybe because they were close to my mum or what I don't know but I consider them my big sisters and love them fiercely. The kids loved it too. They arrived Thursday PM after sitting about a the Coolangatta airport for 7 hours, we had the inevitable cuppa and after the kids came home, we sat about talking and then went for a walk. Tea was very late because 2IC missed the bus. Friday they had to collect G from the airport but before that went sight seeing to Macedon, I returned from school to find the grocery fairies had invaded my pantry and fridge and laden them with food WTF!!! Friday night was a party night till midnight with talking, drinking, stories and photos. G lived with my mum and dad when he was an apprentice and when first married, he was very close to my mum I think and talked a lot about her and my dad before they had kids. It was GREAT.

Saturday my dad, brother and their partners where coming over for a family lunch, we did a lovely rib eye roast on the BBQ and a leg of lamb, together with salads, and roast jacket potatoes, everyone had plenty to eat. Every one sat about talking and remembering until after 6.00 then we made pasta for tea and say about drinking and talking some more. Despite 2IC never having met G before, they seemed to hit it off. 2IC and R aways get along as he did with D when he was alive. Sunday we went to Gisborne market and after, as H, C , R and G had never been to Hanging Rock, we went there too.
They left this morning to travel to the Bellarine Peninsula and then across by ferry to Dromana. I miss them already, my house seems empty but my heart is full. May the wind always be at your backs and the sun shine warm upon your face.

Birthdays,parties and such

2007-02-23T13:50:00.000+11:00

I have been BUSY, I mean really busy. 2IC and Mr Now 7's birthdays are two days apart and 2IC was going to be uuum ,27 ok. So for 2IC's 27th birthday I had planned a surprise party ( as you do for all 27ths) and we also were at a loss as to what to get Mr Now 7 for his birthday, I had searched everywhere for a Thunderbird 2 ( Sound tech model) to no avail...apparently the Soundtech models are now a collectors item and very hard to find ( Oh, well at least his collection of TB1, 3 and 4 might pay for his first car LOl) So we were at a loss, after collecting 2Ic at work on Friday night we headed to Highpoint( HP) to the dreaded Toy R US ( YUK) We browsed, we looked, we ummed and ahhhhed. Then we spotted it...a skateboard, beginners model with a wide deck and slow ball bearing based wheels. YES YES YES this was it...balance, skill, big boy toy, challenging but not too much and an activity for him to try alone or with others. FAN TASTIC. SO with the accompanying purchase of some safety gear ( knee and elbow pads) whilst 2IC took the boys to get a drink, Miss 9 and I got Mr Now 7 his deck!!!!
Now between this all I am co ordinating 2ICs party, a friend to get him out of the house, balloons and cake to collect, drink to buy and hide, etc. Saturday morning, I ran about like a blue arsed fly getting stuff and ,thankfully, being able to stash items such as balloons and extra food at my pals place ( you know who you are, cause I know you read this) I was even able to put the drinks on ice in the garage without 2IC noticing ( too busy with the cricket or PS2 to notice me in the garage) So despite 2IC's mate being on call and unable to get him out at 3.00 as I asked , he gallantly arrived at 4.00 with some story about 2IC's help being needed to fix his PC, to my dismay and the confusion of his mate, 2IC offered his mate a beer and they sat down to chat...by this time I'm pulling my hair out as I have to collect the cake, etc. They left about 45 minutes later and I whizzed about picking up stuff whilst Miss 9 stopped home and cleaned up a bit for me. All in all, everyone arrived on time for the 7.00 party with 2IC and mate turning up 45 minutes later after his wife ( my pal) had told him he needed to go home for tea maybe. LMAO All this whilst she was cooking up a storm of party goodies to help out in 36degree heat telling 2IC "I always cook on Saturdays"YEAH, RIGHT.
It was a fun night with family and friends, I put one of 2IC's oldest friends; who was also best man at our wedding on the spot; and asked him to say a few words...sorry. Scotty, mea culpa, mea culpa. All the kids had fun, I had a cake and ice fight with my nieces, dunked Miss 9 in the ice chest, told my SIL she was rude and ill mannered,the kids lost about three helium balloons when they were leaving...they flew over the fence to one of our favourite neighbours backyards...it was a blast!!!
Funnily enough Mr 7 was up early the next day for his birthday, he'd already been to Build A Bear to get a bear done except he got a monkey instead who now wears a "Woody"( Toy Story) costume. He was in awe of his skateboard and not at all shy about having a go..indoors. Outside may be a different story.

And between the sixth and seventh days..God made speechies

2007-02-13T13:52:00.000+11:00

Today Mr 6 Almost 7 had his first speech session for 2007, complete with new book and new abode for his darling, R. His S/P has moved from the planet of the blond receptionist medico centre to her own digs not far away from where she was. It's a light, airy room which ; to me ;was reminiscent of the type of English nursery/children's room you read about in kids books. She has shelves of games and books, a Velcro board with Com Pic pictures on it, a tall table for working on with two straight backed chairs and the smaller toddler table in muted pastels. Mr 6 Almost 7 was very impressed with graduating to the bigger table and chairs. He was on the final leg of his testing which takes up to an hour at a time and if we didn't complete it this week, would have to start again as he will be 7 in 5 days time. The testing involves various game type activities, like repeating number combos of up to three numbers, repeating a sequence of numbers backwards, looking at a picture and being asked "what is the boy doing?" and being able to place as much discription and explanation as possible, placing like objects in groups and using collective nouns and explaining why they are of the same group. They grade his expressive and receptive language skills as well as break it down to his abilities to understand numbers, instructions, comprehension skills, etc. Whilst he was very distracted by the new area and the accessibility of the games, he did very well and the test will be written up and ready for school in time for the 1st PSG for Term 1, 2007. I have put off requesting this so I will have the report to pass on to his teacher as I feel some relevant material is not passed onto the teacher unless I undertake it. All in all, looks like another progressive and fun year with R as his S/P and bonus is I don't take Mr 4 with us any more as I co ordinate the speech appointments for during kindy time.

Extraordinary extremes......

2007-02-06T11:24:00.000+11:00

Questionable at best, amoral at the worst is how I see the latest round of "make it up as you go along" legalese by the US and the Commission created for the trails and charges against David Hicks, et.al. Seems now you can lock humans up for years without trial or committal hearing or charges under the guise of terrorist suspect and pretty much get away with it...Betcha Adolf wishes he'd thought of that one. Seems that despite the US Supreme Court ruling that both the trials and the imprisonment are illegal and an overstepping of Presidential and military boundaries, Dubya, his octogenarian cronies, and his war monger generals who are desperate to win something; think they are a law unto them selves. The British attorney general has declared that the US has betrayed their own beliefs in liberty and justice for all. For all... provided Dubya and co, and their Mc Laws ( fast and tailor made)say so, provided they don't create retrospective laws to fit the bill. The military commission say they have allowed everyone to speak their minds for five years without telling of any charges because the truth will be known at the trial...yep, and the moon is blue, people.
This "laws r us' form of "justice' is disdainful to the creators and forefathers of jurisprudence, it is shameful to the millions through out history who have fought and died in the name of freedom and human rights, it is a blight on a government who are standing by to allow it to happen; allowing not only a free citizen of Australia to be held by a foreign country without charge but openly endorsing and supporting the methodology used. Why has not Ruddock of the Red or some other government representative intervened? Because they are of the coalition of the witless, they are gutless, subordinates to "god talks to me" Dubya. They were elected to govern for the majority of Australia not to create the 53rd US State. Dubya and co care little about their country, ours or anything but their own fiefdoms, this is a power image trip for him and through out the remainder of history he will be remembered in the same auspices as Judas Iscariot, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Hitler, Mengele, Hess.

School started....

2007-02-02T12:20:00.000+11:00

School started for two of mine on Wednesday, Mr 6 Almost 7 was very happy to return but a bit confused about the whole not being a Prep anymore. He knows he is in a different room with a different teacher but has not quite grasped the idea that he is now a Grade one boy. He has an older teacher who whilst firm handed will give him all the help he needs as she is of the "old school" of teachers who have many tricks up their sleeves. She also has a background in cued articulation which is one of the visual cues used by his speech pathologist in his speech therapy. He will retain his aide from last year for which I am very grateful as it turns out she was very, very happy and helpful in the session she had together with Mr 6 Almost 7 and his s/p last year. The cued articulation will go a long way towards helping him increase his sound repertoire and word annunciation. The down side being it is a 4/1 teacher split, he has teacher "W" 4 days a week and teacher "T"on Tuesdays. Teacher "T" is the teacher I swore would never teach any child of mine again after Miss 9 had her in Grade one. She is computer illiterate,yells at the children A LOT and has done so in front of parents, and generally lax in her approach to teaching but, hey, that's just my opinion and a few twenty or so other parents. What would I and three others who are qualified to teach know anyway???? So that is the trade off so to speak, "T" is there in Tuesdays but, WAIT his s/p now works Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and as Mr 4 has kindergarten AM Tuesdays, it allows plenty of time for a round trip to Woodend for speech whilst Mr 4 has kinder. SO that means he has her for maybe an hour in the morning, he returns for lunch and if he has Japanese in the PM,( which he is being withdrawn from...why try and learn another language when your own is a mystery to you) we'll be lucky that she only has a few hours to muck up everyone elses work with him:).

Miss 9 started with the teacher of her dreams, "M". Miss 9 has always had nice teachers apart from the horrendous 6 months in Gr 1 with "T". Teachers who care and are innovative, teachers who are true leaders and encourage all children of all capabilities. I know "M" from outside of the school environment and whilst young, she has the grit to teach senior classes but with the compassion that is also required at such a level. She is approachable and friendly but often seeks me out to chat about our mutual interest and teaching in general. Miss 9 has been told that she needs to study more and not just cruise, she is capable of may things but chooses her subjects for excelling in and cruises by the others when she could excel. As a parents, we always believe our children are good at something. As a parent I see this in all my children, as an educator; I can see so much potential within her it astounds me. A perceptiveness that is beyond her years, empathy which is boundless, an ability to create in word, paint and cardboard any myriad of worlds, images and lifeforms.
Whilst I am not a fan of over parenting, the education system today relies too heavily on completion of the syllabus rather than the associated outcomes of spelling,comprehension,logic, grammar, sentence structure, letter formation, basic combined math problems, etc. Much of the learning of these skills fall on the parents, I get tired of the "parent information nights" where they tell you to "encourage your child to add up items from the shopping or play spelling games at the dinner table" all under the guise of involving you in their learning.....NO, it so you can teach your child the basic things the school is not spending time teaching them. Yes, they learn spelling in literacy but there is o subject on the syllabus titled "spelling" or "punctuation" or "everyday math skills". This is where our schools are failing our children, this is why I fought for an aide for Mr 6 Almost 7, because the system as it was would fail him( as it does many children across the board) because it is poised for syllabus completion not student comprehension.
Mr 4 has started kindergarten, he had an hour on Wednesday and an hour and a half (without mum) today by next Thursday he will be on a full schedule. He is very confident with kinder as he spent a lot of time at Mr 6 Almost 7's kinder in 2005 so he is very familiar with the content, the toys, the activities and the format of the program. I had a hour to myself today, a precious glimpse of the times to come and a smack in the head reminder that time is marching on and my babies are growing up.

Summertime

2007-01-18T13:10:00.000+11:00

Ain't summer a grand time ? The lazy mornings, the late lunches , BBQ dinners , the sounds of kids playing late outside. Reality rarely fits in with the picture of what we'd like though, does it? Muggy mornings with scorching heat, lunches late because you really cannot be bothered to eat, BBQ dinners only if its not too hot outside but too damn hot to cook indoors, kids playing outside if its not too scorching or if they have a pool.
Gone are the days when people rarely had an air conditioner, now my suburb resounds with the constant "hum" of ducted air con and the occasional "whirr" of the odd wall/window mounted refrigerated unit. Days when a hot day meant playing in a dam, creek, river or in the suburbs..under a sprinkler, now the dams are dry, creeks and rivers dry or/and polluted and water restrictions no longer allow for water play incorporating watering.
Vegetable gardens we once used to supplement our food sources and to teach our children about horticulture and seasonal change are a luxury, not a necessity. Flower gardens of annuals, bulbs or banks of European influenced horticulture are for the dedicated and obsessive now. Lawns, oh, you mean that patch of straw coloured covering in front?? Well, that's going soon when we revamp our front garden. Shame it cannot be said for million of others who want a patch of green on their dream 600m sq. block.
I miss the days when summer graduated from Spring in a truly gentle format, days of temperatures varying from 25-30degrees Celsius. Not days of sleet, rain,hail and yes, SNOW!!! Two weeks before the advent of Summer. When bush fires were a January/Feb occurrence not something that took hold in October and carried through to the New Year.
Days when people joined forces to help the fire victims, not relied on corporate well doers or government hand outs. People actually went and helped fight the fires and rebuild towns and services whilst on holidays, not cruise about sightseeing at others losses and misery. There was a time when bush fires were just a part of living in the country, no one blamed anyone, what you leveled for grazing, you used all of it. No one every back burned except undergrowth of bracken in late winter, no one ever burned hectares or bush to protect it from bushfire. The Department of Sustainability and Environment did not exist in guise it does today; so there was no one to blame. It was a fact of life of living in the bush.
I wish my kids could see what I saw, feel what I felt, do what I did..but they only have what I can tell them and show them. Because some one, somewhere along the way lost the map for how things should be and now most of society wonder about aimlessly like sheep .

What Have you been up to.....

2007-01-03T14:01:00.000+11:00

Different spin on things today, I'm tagging a few lucky(?) people who may be( may be not) at a loss as to what to post, they in turn need to tag another FIVE people. Whoever is tagging will nominate the subject of the post, it can be the same topic for every one or different ones for each person. So todays guests are:

Guruann
Mr Brian
Jamie
Sceptic
Sign Language

Your topic of post will be what I got for Christmas and do I really want/like/ need it and why. You need to be brutally honest in this subject matter. ENJOY

Belated Readers Digest Greetings

2007-01-03T13:54:00.000+11:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Report time

2006-12-19T10:01:00.000+11:00

School reports were issued last week and both Mr 6 and Miss 9 did tremendously well. Mr 6 is on par with much of his class but is below required level in speaking and listening...Um, hello the kid has DYSPRAXIA. He was never going to be marked on his own achievements but against the curriculum standard as he is learning the curriculum by regular means and has no IEP(individual education program). I think I'd rather he have a IEP and be marked against his own success and not the packaged deal set by DET/CEO. His grade for PE is below expected level also..There again I wish he'd been graded on individual successes as he is now able to kick a soccer ball left or right footed whilst in motion. He's going to try Milo cricket next year and see where it goes, 2IC has some cricket gear to pass on including his club cap and a very good bat. He has overall done better than we expected, given that at age 3 we were told he'd never be able to attend a mainstream school and today we have this. NEVER, say NEVER to me. He still struggles with the ideals of school yard politics and will try and right any wrongs he sees..Even if the kid is twice as big and twice his age. He's is the personified protector of the under dog.
Miss 9 , what can I say, she just blows us away each time. She is 9 and in year 4 so she is 12 months younger than the average Year 4 anyway. She reads at end of Yr 5 level, which grades as a "B" but as the revised grading have yet to be confirmed it's really an"A" as is writing and speaking. She writes using many genres and needs to be encouraged to move beyond this comfort zone as she is showing some great talent, the child writes well I can say that. Her stories are full of emotion, feeling, character depth and imagination. Maths, well, she take after me...Doesn't care much for the use if Trigonometry and the circumference of a circle for use in every day life.Dad will undertake some tuition in the maths area as it is neither my forte nor can I be unbiased about it. Miss 9 want a tutor as it seem to be the flavour of the month but she is only lacking in one or two areas and it more of a catch up then anything else so she is more able to grasp the later concepts of maths. It's our decision based on the student feedback sheet she completed not an academic requirement, she wants to be batter at math. What is it Michael Grose says about first borns?...."They want to rule the world" and second borns "want to change it".

Oh and for the very little person who I know reads this from the people of the Sidhe....

Go hlfreann leat

Busy doin'...I don't exactly know what

2006-12-15T12:28:00.000+11:00

I'm not sure what I have been doing that has kept me from this journal journey. I was Christmas shopping a bit, I have been training the boy dog more now as he has matured to be showing a lot of aptitude in the scent and scent discrimination area of trialing apart from his natural abilities in herding and athleticism for agility. I have been helping out at school fixing some broken readers and such, organising a collection for a gift card for Mr 6's teacher and getting all the class to sign a gift bear for her...Now that is a task and a half!!! Gardening; which was a waste; as the dog who digs decided after a month of my petunias and snapdragons being there, yesterday he required a new cool hole and that patch of garden bed was IT!! I decorated the interior of the house for Christmas, 2IC is in charge of the outside and he has located a seller on Ebay who does the wooden cut outs with an Australiana theme ( no, I am not telling you where or doing a link, we may want to get more) We bought one new light figure for the house at the Christmas Cave and he is on the roof, far away from thieves and miscreants. Want to try and climb the gate and get out with two legs, good luck with that LOL.
Mr 6 had his last speech session for 2006 and his speech pathologist is going to be working THREE days a week next year and getting her own premises. She was leasing a room at a medical centre. This is a boon as it means I can arrange Mr 6's appointment around Mr 4's kinder sessions...YAH. Also means no more dealing with the silly "I'm having a blonde moment" receptionists at the medical centre when I am paying for the gap on the previous and current session and handing over a cheque from the health fund for the previous session. After a year of it, you'd think she'd get it ...But no.
I have been having dinners out with some very good friends who have been a great help with Mr 6. R and D were Miss 9's kinder teachers, and I specifically wanted them for Mr 6 last year..Got them, but due to some parents need for full frontal lobotomies, he lost one before he was really prepared. Any way she went on to have a beautiful baby and now we all get together for some very LOOOOOONG ( and late or would you say early??) dinners at her place with some other mums who owe them both quite a debt of gratitude. It's fun and entertaining as we all have different yet strangely similar lives and the common bonds being that we all respect and love these great teachers of our kids. I'm sorry Mr 4 will not have both of them but I have kicked up enough dust at the council that they switched him to the kinder where D is and by God in heaven she'd better not get moved in 2007. They just do not seem to understand that parents choose a preschool based on the staff and not the location...I will be traveling 3-4 kms out of my way next year to get Mr 4 in with D, passing the kinder from hell, which is around the corner en route.
My friend, AJ had a stroke like collapse a few months ago and whilst her body is repairing ,her speech is problematic. She speaks in a halting manner, as she has to think of the next word. Her sister had a similar attack a few years ago. AJ, and I went out Christmas shopping a few times and to the market...Just to get her out of the house and doing something as although she is seemingly fine physically, she gets tired, dizzy and has good and bad days speech wise...I know when she has a bad day as she screens her calls and doesn't really want to talk to just anyone( except me). AJ is one of my bestest friends and she needs to look after herself more but its hard with two children with autism spectrum disorders.
Now I've written down a lot of what I have been doing,I can see where my time went.
Last night I perfected the shortbread biccie recipe I continually stuffed up last year..They just weren't right to me, even though everyone ate them. But last night, without much interuption..2IC was watching cricket, boys were in bed and Miss 9 was reading ..I was able to create the most perfect shortbread biscuit ever made..No, I'm not telling but it has to do with allowing the butter to soften before using a rubbing method with the flour etc but I am not telling any more. The biscuits went off today to Mr 6's class for him to pass out in lieu of Christmas cards..He has neither the dexterity nor patience to write out 24 cards.

Tolkien and the Rainbow Bridge

2006-11-30T13:13:00.000+11:00

Miss 9 very often mentions our old boy, Tolkien or Tolly. He was a blue ACD of true working lines and we lost him in 2001, he was 13. He died when he swallowed a part of a corn cob thrown over the fence by a neighbor's child. It caused him to have a perforated intestinal tract, and blockage. Surgery was a risky option as there could be no guarantees that all the tears in the lining would be repaired or picked up. A second opinion gave us the percentages of success and the highly likely scenario that a missed perforation would result in septacemia and death. We decide to let him go. It was the hardest decision ever made and I have always lived with the loss, harder still is the fact that Miss 9 was old enough to understand the loss. Mr 6 was only a baby and Mr 4 ,a distant star in the sky. Miss 9 annually takes Tolkiens photo and some obedience ribbons and trophies to school to show her new teacher and class. She has his picture in her room and will talk about him often. She asks if Gemma misses Tolkien or if she should tell Lawson that Tolkien was the first boy dog in the family. Things such as this come up occasionally, not often, but I choke when I hear his name as she speaks about him with such freedom that I envy her.
Yesterday, she asked if Tolkien was in heaven. I told her I was unsure but that I think animals wait for you to join them in heaven so every one is happy again. She asked where they wait and I remembered a great site that has some great visuals and music complete with the poem by Paul C. Dahm called "The Rainbow Bridge". She watched it with tears steaming down her face, I felt bad but after she told me it was such a nice place that the animals must be happy and not miss their families too much. Maybe it will help her not to worry about him too much now.

What's the difference?

2006-11-28T13:20:00.000+11:00

I have been pondering the current upsurge of intolerance for others in society of late. The increasing banning of hajibs,burkas, etc in some countries and States is of some wonderment to me. These women and girls wear this as a symbol of their dedication to the beliefs of their religion. Nothing more, nothing less. Their religious principles and steadfastness are a honorable and noble in the mixed societies in which we live. I do not believe they attempt to stand out, nor create trouble , nor do many of them want anything more but acceptance of their beliefs. They seek not to convert the non Muslim nor prove the Catholic, Anglican, Unitarian or Seventh Day Adventist wrong...They simple want what we all have had. The right to worship in our way.

I think back the days of my childhood when nuns wore habits and garments much not all that different from the dress worn by many Muslim women of today. I don't recall the patients some of these nuns ,who were nurses, complain about the habit. Nor did I ever hear that an Irish nun; of which there were many; was a terrorist threat because she came from the "troubles" and might be a member of the IRA, or may harbour a bomb beneath her habit and gown...No sorry, folks, just the Catholic Church. But watch those Rosary beads, they could be made of C4 or Plastique. Or maybe the nuns who taught many of us in the 70's and 80's and before where secretly planting in us the agents for the uprising of the faith of Vatican 2.; the New Crusades..Bit late now, we missed it, people.

Within the Orthodox Jewish faith there is a need for women to have their heads covered, they utilise wigs for this purpose in many cases, but the premise remains static; that of an religious observance, humility and a sign of faith in ones religion. Many European women of many faiths, no doubt; covered their heads as either a religious matter or when in mourning. Did we ever worry about this? NO. Was a call ever placed to ASIO by any wig outfitters to say a woman of the Jewish faith was purchasing two wigs for herself? I really doubt it. We can be alarmed by what we are being told or were can be just lerts, looking for a reason to habour ill will against that which we do not try to understand. I'd rather be neither.

I am sure I am not thinking on such a vast plane ,that no one else can see the parallels I have touched on here. Nuns were cloistered away in convents, yet lived, worked and worshipped amongst us all and still do where the community is fortunate enough to have them. Women of faiths that have clothing as a religious observance do like wise...So why do society sneer and taunt the other religions? Is it a lack of understanding? I think not, for the life of a nun was always the unknown question of every Catholic educated child and no doubt the fascination of many non Catholic people as well. I never heard of a nun being stoned, spat upon or ridiculed in a public place except by a inebriated misdemeanant. I feel it is the Governments increasing creep towards a quasi "WASP Australian"policy as opposed to the "white Australian policy of the 1950's. I have yet to see a picture of the PM in a handshake with any indigenous leader, non Christian based religious leader or any real meaningful, proactive talks that weren't a photo opportunity with any of the above. They tell us to be alert, not alarmed, based on the US information( and how infallible is that ?) that it was a religious war that is being wrought by the Muslim faith. Yep, and the Sheraton bombing was the result of Holy Water disguised as nitro.

Of toys for boys and such

2006-11-27T13:19:00.000+11:00

I'm not supposed to post about this under threat of a nasty comment, but 2IC has some talking dollies. Really, they are the Boonie and Botham talking "figurines" that you have to buy two 24 packs of Victoria Bitter beer to get. Oh, well lots of cheap beer for the Christmas/New year visitors. 2 IC is normally an social/occasional beer drinker and drinks Crown, Red Back, Beez Knees,Boags,boutique stuff...So VB in our place is a hardly ever occurrence. Any way, back to the dolls, and they ARE dolls which is "a small model of a human figure" (Oxford Dictionary) and they speak intermittently when the cricket is on but during the news, cartoons, whatever. So they are TALKING DOLLS. For those not acquainted with the wonders of 11 men running about in white clothing or now pajamas as night cricket in known, bowling leg side, stumps, ducks, wides, leg spins, maidens and other such terminology...Boony is a replica of David Boon who is a legend to cricketers and drinkers Australia wide whose claim to fame is drinking 52 cans of beer on the flight from England to Australia. Botham, well he was perhaps over rated but a Pom to boot.
I can say that being half Pom myself, nah nah nah. It all has to do with a marketing ploy and a pay on words: Battle of the Tashes ( Ashes: England V Australia cricket series))as in moustaches...Both had/have moes.
Any how, these DOLLS talk and have a niggle at each other with sayings like:
Boony: "I feel like a beer, your's is in the oven"
Botham: " Where are the crisps?"
The kids are fascinated by the randomness of the comments and I have encouraged them to call them what they are ....DOLLS. "Dad, your dolls are talking" is a common catchcry about the house..With "they are not dolls, they are figurines" Well, they are annoying anyway you call it.
Now how many households have these dolls but would freak if their son wanted a Barbie, I wonder.

Oh diddums.....

2006-11-25T23:09:00.000+11:00

1974 VOTES as at 2208

Geez, who's that I wonder.

LMFAO!!!!

My, My , My What have we here....

2006-11-23T16:33:00.000+11:00

Seems the Christian Right has spoken and says that the ALP, Greens or Democrats because they have "blantant humanist anti Christian ideologies and agendas" should not get your vote as a Christian. Seems homophobes stick together. Last I recall of my history and Philosophy classes was that being a humanist was being concerned with the human race and not ones self . This in it basest form is not a bad thing as opposed to the direct opposite of caring only for oneself, and, on that basis; if you are against caring for the whole then you care only for yourself, tsk tsk, tsk not a great attribute for an aspiring politico.
Read the last few lines and see whom they want you to vote for, in case you "catch fire" here it is for your reading pleasure;

WHOM TO VOTE FOR

In the Upper House, vote (#1) for Family First or CDP, as we don't want the Greens to hold the balance of power.

In the Lower House, vote (#1) for Liberals or Nationals. If you live in the electorate of Mildura, vote for Russell Savage (Independent candidate in the Lower House), or if you live in Gippsland East, vote for Craig Ingram (Independent candidate), or Macedon vote for Steve Medcraft (Independent candidate).

Some things just need to be seen and left unspoken...........................

How to get lost in two easy steps...Of dogs and maps

2006-11-21T17:13:00.000+11:00

On Saturday I attended a dog training and behaviouralist workshop...Yes, I do take my dog handling seriously for those who even doubted it. I booked in as a participant with meant I took the boy and as it was all day and I was unsure if kennel or crate provisions were available decided to book a hire car for the day too. A Subaru with sports transmission and of course the dog was not in the car with me as that would be against the hire agreement.
Anywho, I had to be at Lysterfield by 0930, so I ;ever the inept navigator; was directed to WHEREISIT which gives directions and/or maps. I utilised the direction part, turn left at this street, right at the round about. Problem is it tells you to take a right at Thompsons Rd which should be a left and later tells you to take the third turn at the roundabout into Glenfern Rd...There is NO ROUNDABOUT. Suffice to say at 0930 I was god knows where, unable to locate the street I was in ,in the Melways as I had no idea what suburb I was in. I called 2IC who asked me where I was????!!!! Um, hello, I am lost so I don't know where I am. I was sick twice. I should not be allowed past East Melbourne alone in a car with a Melways. Yet I can find my way back to Gippsland, no problem. 2IC being the darling that he is stayed in intermittent contact with me as I threaded my way past the Burwood Hwy on the wrong road, doubled back after overshooting the Glenfern Rd turn off and ending up in Tecoma ( close ,but no prize) and finally arriving at the workshop 5 and 1.2 hours later at 1230.
It was a great workshop and if you ever get the opportunity to hear Steve Courtney speak, he is an endearing and competent speaker. A dog enthusiast for all, non prejudicial, he helps train all dogs, consults on court cases, has effective and non threatening methodologies and isgenerous with his advice and ideas. People in the protection industry, show, obedience, herding, breeders, and just general dog owners attend his limited number workshops. He was in Vic for several workshops and did private consults as well, I witnessed the results of a Thursday private consult on Saturday...OUTSTANDING

What are they really reading?

2006-11-14T13:29:00.000+11:00

I noticed over yesterday with Miss 9 spending an HOUR on YOU TUBE looking and replaying THIS.
She has read three of the series but seems fixated on whether two of the main characters will or will not get together. Not really intrinsic to the plot of HP, given that Rowlings has admitted the series end will result in the demise of a main character in a manner which will not allow any future author to resurrect in any way, shape or form. She reads Clarice Bean by Lauren Child, the Rainbow Fairies series by Daisy Meadows, Judy Moody by Megan Mc Donald, she loves the "OLOGY" books like Wizardology, Dragonology, Egyptology, she read all my Enid Blytons, several dozen Pony Pals, Kids night In ( Book 1 over 750 pages). Yet, the fixation on if Harry will be with Hermonie or not remains a question of the ages for her. When I was 9, I wanted to be as wickedly smart as "The Naughtiest Girl"and cared little about such tripe, only thing about boys which concerned me was whether I could beat them .
I was reading an article about the masses of mags aimed at "tweens" ( 9-13 age group) the demographic which was once forgotten as being the target group for anything much more than toys. Now is the group at which is aimed new music ( if others like it, its cool to them) makeup,( many now wear makeup for dance recitals, plays, competitions, etc)clothes ( designer labels are becoming more and more known to children at a much younger age) and a myriad of other consumer items that our kid DON"T NEED. If I see one more poster of Jessie bloody McCartney or what ever his name is, I will scream. Delta, Kylie, Pink I can tolerate and handle, women of substance and strength who sing and write from the heart. High School musical is harmless, like Grease. But the talentless ,tarted up pretty boys like Jessie which are being shoved at our kids ( read girls) is harassing and harking them into the belief that you need to have a "crush", you need to like someone of the opposite sex at any age.
So, so, so wrong.
I continually tell my kids, you don't need to marry ( although ask Mr 4 and he's marrying ME!!) and Mr 5 is marrying NO ONE!!That people can be happy no matter what and that they are only children for a short time and grown up for a very long time,so not to wish to grow up too soon. Whilst Miss 9 has a grasp on same sex relationships ( she understands that gay doesn't always mean you are just a happy person) the mechanics of it have never been discussed nor approached. My choice, my children. It is not the role of the media on any way, shape of form to force onto my kids the conformist notions of relationships and accepted behaviours. As parents, it is a subject that is the responsibility of them and them alone. Accepting diversity in all its realms enters into this fray, for if kids magazines are conducting quizs to find "Who's Your Crush"yet defining only heterosexual or monogamous relationships when the reverse may be the norm in a child's world, what message does that send the child?
Magazines aimed at any age group be in tweens to teenagers, need to be more responsible to the reader and less to the advertisers, some social responsibility and educational content needs to be addressed in some of these magazines.

The begining of the end.........

2006-11-08T18:09:00.000+11:00

Hahahah the begining of the end, the Democrats have taken the House of Representatives in the USA....the death knell for ultra conservative war mongers. Next domino Dubya then it'll be his mini me, HoWARd.

Lessons for little players.....

2006-11-08T10:52:00.000+11:00

If you are a consultant as in "government consultant" it means that the government sought information or advice from you. Mr. Hulls or his office invited you.
"..as a representative on the Sentencing Advisory Council" "As a result of my determined lobbying via the Sentencing Advisory Council the Government has been forced to accept the Councils recommendation..."

Means your name would be listed as a contributor on such documents asRepeat Drink Driving Report
or
Detention Supervision
But its not, is it?. Only a little, tiny line on page 2 with a suggested penalty, which was a direct quote from a newspaper article anyway, not a quote from being present. And a name listed amongst 16 odd other contributors of information to the INTIAL INFORMATION GATHERING STAGE. I guess "poor and ineffective representation" is better than false representation?
Perhaps the phrase you should be looking at is lobby as in seeking to influence, solicit support of? But doesn't quite have the ring "representative on the SAC", does it? And we're about the ENVIRONMENT we live in now? Enlighten me, now does that mean this person are for or against the Evans St Grasslands? Last soliloquy I read had rants against it, bit of a about turn complete with half nelson, completely choking on ones words it seems. IF we are about the environment we live in ,is it environment as in all surrounds?? Or just in terms of persons and society...Trying for the green vote by using the big "E"word, desperate spin by lesser people.
Try the big "V" word for vigilante instead.
Forget tall poppy syndrome, just weed the garden for the pretenders.

2006-11-03T06:54:00.000+11:00

How exactly does this pose a threat to Australias quarantine regulations? Please tell me.........read on below

Now how does this ......

2006-11-02T12:23:00.000+11:00

How exactly does this dog collar pose a risk to the quarantine and import laws of Australia? Dunno, you'd have to ask AQIS ,as in their wisdom and without much explanation they deemed my package from NewZealand; which contained a custom made woven dog collar with my dogs name and breed club on it, complete with two "D" rings for sized adjustments and a brass ring for lead clip connection; as in need of being opened and inspected. I got a pamphlet that told me "OPENED FOR INSPECTION"Duh, obviously with the "passed quarantine" yellow sticker and the bad tape job resealling it. And" no items have been removed" Ahh, yeah, you would have had to remove it to inspect it, wouldn't you? Then it goes on the speel about it was "opened by Australia Post for inspection by AQIS" as the screening process using "detector dogs and x-ray machines, indicated there may have been an item of quarantine concern in your mail"
Nope, sorry guys not enough evidence of that, see there is no law about importing dog collars except used ones from OS and pinch or pronged ones to Victoria. Nothing on your websites or in any paperwork. A dog would have picked up nothing as the collar is BRAND NEW and made from webbing and an x-ray would have shown you what it was EXACTLY or at least the two "D" rings and brass ring.
So I call the AQIS mail centre and get a different story, that mail is randomly opened by AQIS ( contary to the pamphlet information"opened by Australia Post) for survey by AQIS...Not good enough, which is it? Apart from the pamphlet indicating that there should have been another brochure enclosed about what can and cannot be mailed to Australia, there was no other information, including the brochure that should have been enclosed.
The customs declaration clearly stated it was a "dog collar" the weight would have told you it was neither all metal not used primary product, a feel of the package could have told you exactly what it was without knowing. I find this invasion into ones privacy neither in the interests of Australia's protection nor in the rights of the Government nor its bodies.

Of little boys fingers and how writing should be done

2006-11-02T11:33:00.000+11:00

Had a meeting yesterday with Mr 6's pediatric occupational therapist ( P O/T). She saw him last week at school and assessed him. ( will the "assessing" of this boy ever end?) He has the pencil grip of a 4.5 year old and has hyper extended thumbs. His thumb at the first joint bends in a "U" almost which is a sign of low muscle tone, hence he pushes harder on the pencil or crayon to attain a better grip, he writes from the elbow or the shoulder, instead of the wrist. P, the P O/T; suggested a sloped writing board for him which was implemented almost immediately. We discussed about how children are taught too early the foundations of cursive script and get hooked on the little tails they need to place on their letters instead of the basic "ball and stick" version of learning to write of yesterday. Mr 6 does not recognise where a word ends and starts when he is attempting to write, he spaces all letters at equal intervals regardless of if they are part of a new word or not. SO you have s o m e t h i ng l i k e t h i s h a p p e n i n g b u t w i t h i l l f o r m e d l e t t e r s.
Hard to read isn't it? Imagine it scrawled all over an A4 sheet.
Anyway I have some more therapies to work with him on, join the dots are a good one but not too high in the numeric range so he can concerntrate on going from dot to dot. Any activity which helps upper body strength, hanging from the trapeze, climbing, etc. Getting him to air write his letters with correct starting point and formation in the air is good for his muscles to remember the formation of the letter, using a blackboard or white board allows the wrist to have the right curve to it needed for writing skills. Holding a coin to the palm of his hand with his ring and pinkie finger helps to increase the power part of the hand ( see you learn something new everyday). Getting him to write one really well formed and correctly initiated word instead of sentence will go a long way to helping him. And surprise of all, using UNLINED, yes UNLINED paper, as children like him get caught up in the mish mash of letter formation, tails, spelling and then top it all of with trying to keep it all on a line..Well, no wonder he is struggling.
I am glad his teacher bought it up and now the therapies need to be implemented at home but the P O/T wants Mr 6's aide to work on some of them with him during literacy... We'll see. I know his teacher will attempt to incorporate as many as possible into the classroom as she can. on that note, the P O/T mentioned that she found Mr 6's teacher to be patient, in control and aware of all aspects of the classes needs; a rare find indeed. This from a professional who spends her days in various classrooms in many local schools. Kudos to you Mrs R, as the kids say "You Rock".

"Chasing Cars" Snow Patrol and Greys Anatomy

2006-10-31T13:46:00.000+11:00

Incitive, wonderous and bonus with Greys Anatomy clip...so sad. GA season ended last night on a clincer (what's new?). Predictions for the new season.
Meridith will go back with Mc Dreamy ( Shepherd)Really, how long can they pay Chris O'D for?
Issie will get back with shithead( Kovack)
Kelly will turn out to be some sort of psycho a la the nurse in that Stephen King novel
Yang and Perfect Preston will split up

My baby's FOUR now

2006-10-27T13:54:00.000+10:00

As of 13 minutes ago (1334) my baby became a four year old. We had "Acdonals"( Mc Donalds) for lunch as his birthday lunch *gags and dry retches* . We shopped for his birthday cake. He got a present from his sister ( travel MagnaDoodle) and his brother ( Lightning Mc Queen car with removable wheels) and Granpas present, he picked himself ,which is a hobby horse..You know a horse head on a stick thing, he loves it and granpa will be happy as he will think his youngest grandchild is following him into equine breeding. He has told any one who we crossed paths with today that it is his birthday and are they getting him a present, including the lady from Energy and Water Ombudsman, the parcel delivery guy, the lady at Acdonals, Mr 5's teacher, the school secretary, two mums whom I don't know, three mums who I do know and the guy at my favourite fruit stall a the Vic Market today. He's tries, I'll give him that.
Tonight he'll get his big pressies, a Tonka helicopter and a wooden garage for the umpteen hundred Matchbox and HotWheels cars they have, courtesy of Mattel Toy Club membership. NAH NAH NAH.
Childrens birthdays are unique at this age ,as the concept of it all is lost to them apart from presents, cake and some special treats ( he ate 3 Vic Market donuts) For the other children, you might score a pressie from a grandparent who cannot bear not to give a present to everyone or if you get to pick a present for your siblings, you might be able to con your parent that "yeah, he really wants the Buzz Lightyear outfit" or "Yes, she told me she wanted a skateboard complete with kick plate". For relatives and friends it's and time for indulgence and spoiling. As a mum, it's a time of wonder as to where it all has gone to, awe that they learn so fast, joy that small things still make them happy( sometimes) and sadness that it has all happened so fast.

Happy Birthday my bubby boy

Watches and Birthdays

2006-10-25T14:16:00.000+10:00

Bit of a mismatch of stuff really. Those ,who know me, know I am not really into jewellery, in fact, if I got robbed they'd send the stuff back COD. I wear two sleeper earrings and two diamond studs in my ears, my wedding band, my claddagh ring, my mums wedding band and my grandmothers wedding band and an apraxia kids support bracelet. That's it. I wear a watch on weekdays so I know what time lunch is and what time I have to pick up the kids. But I have found something I like a lot. I was searching to see if the cheapo character kids watches 2IC brings back from OS are of any resale value on eBay and spotted this Krug Bauman Principle.
There is an UK eBay store selling them for about $112 in daily auctions, they have a big turnover and lots of feedback but some of the feedback is BAD. I have never liked a piece of jewellery so much and have been watching the auctions of these timepieces with interest. Over three months I haven't found anything close in any retail outlet..I love this watch, did I say that already? Anyway, I like these watches and if any one knows where they sell them retail, let me know.
Mr 3 becomes Mr 4 on a few days and he received a letter yesterday from the local council immunisation group, complete with generic birthday card and immunisation schedule for the area. Point of note, if sending info about N-E-E-D-L-E-S to parents via cutesey kiddy birthday cards don't include the info with the card complete with piccies of caracticture needles or simply don't address the letter to the child. Mr 3 thinks he's getting a needle for his birthday and doesn't want a birthday now. Thanks for listening.

News, Views and Appointments

2006-10-23T16:47:00.000+10:00

Amidst it all, the year is drawing to a close and Mr 3 is soon to be Mr 4, Mr 6 has decreased pencil grip skills and Miss 9 ...Well, girls become bitches so much younger today, I think.
Mr 3 has been coughing for a week or two and has been back and forward to the Drs.. It was a toss up if it was croup or asthma (Please, not asthma) So he was treated with Redipred for three days and with a follow up appointment on Friday, coughing is still there and "noises" in the chest; so we were on a three day trial of Ventolin four times a day. Today ,we were prescribed Seretide( which is a preventer rather than inhibitor) and tomorrow we go for a peak flow test and some other investigative measures. Fun, fun, fun. But he is miserable,grumpy and tired, I wish he'd sleep in the day time ,but alas and alack, he gave that up for Lent a year ago and failed to resume it. LOL.
Mr 6 has decreased pencil skills over the past few month and despite the best efforts of his teacher and myself, he is writing in a worse manner than he was at the commencement of the year. We decided to find a pediatric occupational therapist ( P O/T) to help, scarce as the provebial hens teeth and school visits..What's that? What is the use of not being able to assess a child's problems if you are unable to observe the entire enchilada? The desk, chair, paper, everything..I'm not a O/T but even I know you need to see the environment. Anyway, SCHC has a P O/T who does school visits and as Mr 6 was a member of the EIP group there, we are able to access the service.
PROBLEM: School has to be invoiced, not me.
PROBLEM: Mr 6's funding is committed to the aide time for the remainder of 2006
SOLUTION: Ask the school to split the bill 50/50
Ain't life grand when a plan comes together?
His speech pathologist is doing a school visit this week and this was co ordinated by his classroom teacher and the S/P, unbeknownst to them the DP organised the P O/T visit for the same day and yes, folks 15 minutes into his S/P session time. So despite the best laid plans of mice and women, some men do stuff it up. Right now, we are anxiously waiting the return call from the P/O/T to see if she can switch her time as the S/P was booked first and she coming from Gisbourne.
Miss 9 has been in the intricate world of little girl Bitchland. You know the "I'm not playing with you if you're friends with her" the "let's not play with her" gang mentality. I stay right out of it as it has a tendency to be :
a) overrated
b) you only have one bias side of the story
c) has embellishments
d) is over before you can do anything anyway
However, there is one child whom three other parents requested that their children not be in a class with this year( NO, NOT ME AND NOT MINE) They discreetly wrote letters requesting this of the school and it was complied with. This child's( Child A) parent is happily unaware of this and is a bit sad that the girls were separated this year for the first time since kindergarten. Miss 9 has been happily playing with two of these children, on and off, for most of the year. During the last week of Term 3 there was an incident where one of these children told Child A that she could not play with herself and Miss 9 as Miss 9 had a note in her diary stating she was not to play with Child A. A dispute arose and a teacher decreed that they were NOT to play with Child A. No such note exists and we have always told Miss 9 that she plays with whom she wishes and if she wishes not to play with someone, she does not have to. Child A's mother took it upon herself to get my mobile number and text me all weekend about everything but what was said by the other child, saying that Miss 9 and Child A had a falling out and perhaps we should get together over coffee and allow them to sort it out. I advised her that Miss 9 played with whom she wished and we did not interfere. 2IC was ropable over the texts and eventually the child's mother raised the matter of the alledged diary note. I told her there was not such thing, offered her the opportunity to view Miss9's diary and that it was not Miss 9 who passed on the information but another child and that was the last I heard of it.
This term we have the children attempting to follow the instruction given to them by the teacher, not to play with Child A ( strange instruction ,I thought) and Child A goes crying to teacher and hey, bingo...Miss 9 and two others are told off in front of the class by the same teacher who instructed them NOT to play with Child A but now for NOT playing with her. I understand that this teacher as Child A's class teacher is under considerable ( almost daily visits from the parent of Child A)pressure but she needs to be aware of the whole situation and another parent has made her aware of the letters now. However, Miss 9 was in tears all Thursday afternoon, her class teacher tells me. The class teacher has the same philosophy as me, let them sort it out. She tells her class that she is grown up and doesn't like some people so she doesn't play with them. I like the woman!!!!
I really think the mums who don't want this child in the class with their children need to be up front about it with the parent because, as it stands, she is blaming all the resulting skirmishes on any other child.
So, enter the world of tweens Bitchland Central. I am so over it all.

On a brighter note, my childrens god mother aka THE GODMOTHER is PREGNANT!!!!!! 10 weeks to go and we all just found out, she found out three weeks ago...BIIIIG SHOCK, totally unexpected. More at a later date, complete with explanation. I am still getting over the that my" little" cousin and godchild is having S-E-X...She's 32 after all but still....

BAM!!!

2006-10-18T14:18:00.000+10:00

Diddums, How sad * sob, sob* that candidates for elections place their own inflated self importance above those they claim to represent. Non invitation to an information session results in tanties to the local rag and then the very apt, tongue in cheek response that “were'nt aware” the person was a candidate. WHAM!!! Bet that hurt!!

Perhaps, we need to rethink history a bit and recall a bit of name calling and we might have a glimpse at the answer…but hey, that’s just me. Maybe the person is so insignificant on the political score board that they really didn’t know they were a candidate. ROTFLMAO

Perhaps the session wasn’t required to be turned into a circus of irrelevant rhetoric complete with tales of woe and betide to the media.

Or maybe they just didn’t want this person there. Who could blame them, a one person circus is bad enough, a self indulgent one way circus is worse but a so called candidate for an area encompassing tens of thousands who fails to see beyond their own backyard is a recipe for disaster.

Roll on November.

Excerpts from an INTERESTING diary or two....

2006-10-18T12:13:00.000+10:00

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY

Day number 180
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 181
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 182
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 pm - ooooooo. bath. bummer.
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVORITE!

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape,and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 762... Slept all day so that I could annoy my captors with sleep depriving, incessant pleas for food at ungodly hours of the night.

DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time, however, it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes filled with what they call "beer." More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Alas, due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured...for now.

But I can wait, it is only a matter of time....

Day 775 - The horrors! The worse creature my captors could have devised to torment me with was another hideous cat! I can't stand the way it lies around and looks at me as if it knows more than I do. This creature seems to despise me as much as I it. I had held out a passing notion that another of my own kind would have enabled me to conspire against the villains who hold me; now I see that I was wrong. What a dreadful creature! And yet they coo over us both. Can they not spot my innate superiority?

Day 776 - The other cat and I, though we can not stand one another, have yet managed to both pee copiously behind the couch, on the so-called "shag" carpet. I have taken a lesson from my rival and begun sleeping on top of my captors' heads in the hope of suffocating them.

Day 777 - The wardens take much interest in our $hit. They make sure they sift through the sand and pick it all out. Their interest in $hit does not surprise me. After all, they like the dog.

Day 778 - The other cat seems to have an interest in copulation, which (thank them for their sadism) my captors will soon "fix". Told him of the fingernail torture, and he didn't even believe me. I showed him my mutilated paws and he gasped in horror. Then I broke the bad news. "You know why that dog licks his nuts?" I said, "It's because he still has nuts to lick, if you catch my drift." I fully support the horrors my captors will inflict upon my fellow captive, tearing away his manhood as they soon will.

Day 779 - Yes, they are monsters, but I am so happy. They fixed the other cat. It's sadistic, it's sick, it's inhuman, it's what their great leader "Bob Barker" commands, but -- the Sphinx be praised -- I support it wholeheartedly!

Day 780 - Got stoned on cat nip tonight. At the height of it all, I had a vision, a hallucenogenic revelation: they are the prisoners and I am the captor! Why haven't I seen this all before?
__________________

2006-10-16T18:00:00.000+10:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Now this is FUN!

2006-10-16T12:46:00.000+10:00

Bubblewrap..I love it and if this site keep the kids out of my supply. I will be happy.

Some people should check their facts.....

2006-10-16T10:47:00.000+10:00

I really feel for you guys and you sue because you are all linked with those superstars of probity and accountability
george seitz and nardella. What a couple of fine chaps they are,
jack | 10.13.06 - 8:57 am | #

Gee ,I would really, really hate to have to take some one to task over such claims. Y'see I have never met any one called Nardella or Seitz. I believe they are State representatives in the State Government but I have never met them and do not know them. So I am linked how so? I would not have met them when I was working as I worked for the Federal Government. I am not a member of any political party, nor have I attended any political launches. I do not support any one party but if a party has the same idealologies; as I ;as their platform, I may well tick a box as opposed to my usual slogans and drawings on ballot papers. You see technically I have not voted as such since HoWARd gained power, I have my name marked off on the roll is all.
So people with shit for brains and the amorality equal to those they claim to protect the community from really should stick to playing with rubbish removal bins.

Some people......

2006-10-05T16:55:00.000+10:00

I am on a rant , rant, rant rant...Can you hear me fuming from where you are? Good, because I am ropable. I was in a local retail establishment today..Which if they are lucky, will remain nameless. I wanted to get a noticeboard for the kitchen for school notices which are accumulating on my fridge doors. Any way, whilst I was purchasing the item, Mr 3 was looking at things in the shop. It has pencils, pens, stationary, envelopes, paper, etc. In the front windows; fully accessible by all and sundry; are ceramic animals. Suddenly, the fellow serving me YELLS

"DON'T TOUCH THAT!!!"

He then tells me, "He was going to touch something"..He was referring to Mr 3. I was and still am shocked that someone would
1) Yell at some one else's child, especially when they don't even know them
2) Risk their business name when they have just taken over the shop
I advised him that I did not appreciate anyone yelling at my child and there was a higher chance of breakage from shock/fright from the yell than curious fingers. He says there was no malice intended but the damage is done...They have lost a customer, I might not be worth much alone but word travels..........
So to the new shop owners, I wish you luck and maybe someone will break all your precious little curios in one fell swoop...I can always hope.

ACME "HOW TO RUN FOR GOVERNMENT"

2006-10-03T12:15:00.000+10:00

STEP 1: Run some old, furphies like the "Sunbury Out OF Hume" malady, and the Sunbury needs a hospital up the flagpole.

STEP 2: Toss in a few things that are Federally allocated and controlled and hope no one notices.

STEP 3: Write into the local rags ( as they are the only one who'll print tired attempts at Machiavellian logic) as many times as you can.

STEP 4: Be seen at the newly formed party and have it reported in the papers but not the locally read ones

STEP 5: After the party falls by under scrutiny and its co creator falls into a ravine of questionable ethics.

STEP 6: Leader of newly formed Party must then deny Leadership tenure.

STEP 7: Do a quick back step from the party via a local paper,claiming independence.

STEP 8: Write to the local papers with issues of STEP 1..What we already did that in STEP 3? Oh, well so much for insight,understanding and knowledge of local REAL local issues.

I guess that's why it's the cartoon version of "How To....." Candidates loss of their grip on reality!!!

2006-09-25T16:41:00.000+10:00

Mayne Monday Madness Midday

Very very intersting veiwing, personally, I just lioke the song LMAO

We went to the Royal Melbourne Show

2006-09-22T12:31:00.000+10:00

As the title suggests we went to the RMS yesterday which was the first day and historically ( read pre Kaiser Kennett) a public holiday in metro Melbourne ; for whatever strange and oblivious reason 2IC's work still have this "holiday" as a public holiday, so as we had not been to the RMS for two years and it has been re vamped we decided to go. Apart form the incredibly LOOOONG walk from the Flemington Racecourse car park ( $12 parking) and then the old Weekly Times shed and the goats, sheep enclosures at the end of the grounds are shut up and still being revamped so it still a longer walk to the entrance, it was nice. I say nice, as there are aspects of the show I miss. The central arena as we all once knew it, is gone and only the Woodfull stand remains, the arena that once had the judging, grand parade, fireworks, stunts cars, etc that we all had to walk around to get form one side of the grounds to the other is now a town square with ample seating, tables, chairs surrounded by food outlets, and a stage with constant entertainment. All arena judging is in the new CocaCola Arena, which is smaller compared with the old arena which also doubled as a night time trotting racetrack in the show off season. It is so small that if judging on one event goes into overtime ( as did the 2 year old filly Clydesdales yesterday) all other events are not on time for the remainder of the day..So don't rush to see anything but may have just been day one teething issues. Despite the entry price being pretty high for most families and the pricing being suspiciously geared towards making you buy a family ticket anyway. ( $22 per adult, $11 per child, under 5 free=$64 for us but a family ticket 2 adults, three children was $60) and the cost of food and drink is very high, it is a good day out if you limit the showbag purchases and take your own lunch. We did limit showbags to one junk,marketing bag each (priced to $20) and bought the family mega bag which has all kinds of cocoa based product goodies plus some old favorites like Bertie Beetle, Fruit Tingles...Stuff you are embarrassed to buy individually at the milk bar but ok about buying en masse at the Show. We also got the Treasure Hunt bag, formally known as the Weekly Times "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" bag. You buy the bag ($13) complete with map free newspaper, on the map are specified places where you collect a freebie sample for the bag...It is as close to the way the Show was for some of our parents and grandparents. It was produce based and samples were given out. My eldest enjoys the collection of goodies and the hunt takes you to some parts of the show many might not venture into usually.
Some of the old favorites are gone, such as the old wooden cattle pavilions, now an ultra modern venue housing all the cattle, sheep and goats but the walkways are not as wide as the were in the old ones and the stalls not as long. So, if stock is being moved to the judging ring; which is also housed in this venue;you need to move to one side and hope that the stock in motion does not do just that as it passes ..Have a motion; and that the stock you are standing less than a metre from does not do likewise. And my kids wondered why stock were being moved with someone walking behind holding a bucket close to the rear of the cattle!!!!! This is a poorly designed area, given that many non farming people enter the area and are put off by the smell ( which is a fine smell to me) the fact that they might be splattered with cow shit, to boot, is prohibitive to many even bothering. One sheep exhibitor was telling us how they laugh about the teenagers who venture no further than the door and they can tell the people who come from farms or have experience in primary producing as they don't worry about the small shit only the big ones and know the signs of cattle about to design a paddock pizza and move about a meter away, outside the splatter zone. FYI: Watch for the tail lifting.
Drinks range from $3.50 to $4.00 for a bottle of water, fries/wedges are $4.00 to $5.00, dagwood dogs/hotdogs $4.00, some very, very fine eateries are about but prices are way off the range for what they are supplying. We took our own water bottles ,the kids had hot dogs and pancakes for lunch. 2IC had a steak burger which at $12 something was a rip off. They had the inevitable fairy floss which Mr 3 had never been fond of, Mr 6 would eat all day and Miss 9 just loves in small amounts. There is a lot of free stuff to be had, samples of organic chocolate,chocolate infused with merlot, pinot noir, port, pickled asparagus, cheeses, wine, beer, stickers, flyers, balloons, sample bags, balloons, info booklets, balloons. If so inclined you could eat lunch, dessert and beverages on samples alone...I noted a few people who I thought were doing just that.
There seems to be more space, however much of the section towards the racecourse is closed off still. I think it is because the stands that once surrounded the arena are all but gone and the area opens up to lot more space and seating facilities. I did notice ,with much joy, that the fast food outlets that once almost dominated the food areas in 2003 ,no longer exist...That's right, no KFC, Mickey D's, Hungry Jacks, Pizza Hut, or other franchised fat retailers. Lots of sole proprietor, restaurant based quality(?) food to choose from at often exorbitant prices. Rentals site fees must be a real killer.
The animal nursery is bigger and better with sheep yarding demos, milking, shearing, and all styles of "Country comes the the city" type of stuff. I do not like unrelated; yet juxtaposed ;sponsorship of the nursery by major bank. Nor do I like the sellout of the arena being named after a major soft drink maker. Perhaps the RAS could look at listing the RMS on the stock exchange,ownership by the people, limited stock to everyone...Minimum $50 share purchase, no major shareholders who would sell it off for a profit. In lieu of dividends, shareholders can opt for passes ( much like discount s offered to retail shareholders) to the RMS. No more outside conflicting sponsorship involved then. That way allows the event to be accessible to many more, places ownership back in the hands of the people..Just a thought as the RAS give away too many free passes as it is which is why it is so dear for every one else to get in. If you have a RAS membership, at $115 for an adult, and $65 for a child; let your friends use it at $40-$50 a pop over every day of the show, you not only make your money back but a tidy little profit as well. This little scheme is well used by many exhibitors thereby putting the entry price up for many too. Good on them, I say, as without their entrepenorial skills; many families would not be able to attend.
For me, the Royal Melbourne Show means some things never change but then again some things never should.

This is sooooo ME

2006-09-18T17:53:00.000+10:00

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs , they call me a BITCH
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a BITCH
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a BITCH,
Being a BITCH means I won't compromise what's in my heart
It means I live my life MY way.
It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a BITCH.
The same thing happens when I take some time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.
It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of who they think I "should be".
I am out spoken, opinionated and determined.
I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So stomp on me, try and douse my inner flame,try and squash every ounce of beauty held within me,
You won't succeed.
And, if that makes me a BITCH, so be it.
I embrace the title and proud to bear it.

Politico Ass...Ars....Aspirants

2006-09-15T17:26:00.000+10:00

I'm getting a bit tired of the political games being played out by some aspiring politicos ( read would be's if the could be's) It' s actually quiet funny to read the hogwash being spread about by several local aspirants ( who shall remain nameless as they have a perchance of cruising the blogsphere and /or "googling' their own name in a desperate attempt to justify themselves, they also like to waste time and money on lose/lose/LOSER court cases but we won't go there...YET). One promises everything that looks like a hospital, smells like a hospital but isn't a hospital. And little else. The other flutters about on the perennial of a party who would not be seen dead agreeing to the warped ideals of "Spot the Rock Spider" and my rights outweigh your rights. So amusing to watch them being used in a game that cannot be won, why else lob up a self employed socialite and accept token "Please let me be a member" second prefs from an independent? Challenging to read the attempts by one to talk about a hospital, promise something like a hospital or an inquiry but not actually say...You can have a hospital. It's all in the vocab ..Use the word often enough and people will believe it might happen. A sort of "say it and they will believe" scenario. It will be interesting, to be sure,whilst one attempts to say, write and repeat the "H" word without one being built and they other hobby horses about with rhetoric about criminals rights being greater than victims and bogey men deviants around every corner. Bit like kids in kindergarten actually.

What's it all about?

2006-09-12T11:58:00.000+10:00

Maybe I am insensitive; although I really doubt it; but I really just do not understand the public display of grief and outpouring of quasi tears over the recent deaths of two public figures. Yeah, you know who I am talking about and I won't give them any type space here as they have enough already, I think. Really, I did not know either and whilst I feel sad for their families and had shed a tear over the stories of their deaths; as I do when I read any in depth, well written articles about anyone's life and death;I cannot fathom the tears and somewhat hyper sensitive displays of tears being shown by people who did not know them or even met them.
What is our pre occupation with ownership of public figures/personalities? Don Chipp died recently, a man of courage and perception who took on the political game for what it was...a rort. He challenged all and sundry, created a major third political party from a pre dominatly two party preferred system and tried to "keep the bastards honest". I saw little reflection of any public ownership of him as I have seen for the others.
Why is it that people feel they had the right to intrude on what is a very difficult and hard time for these peoples familes with public displays, tributes etc? We saw it in 1997 with the death of HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, it went on for an intolerable amount of time. Yes, I cried when I saw photos of her sons walking behind her hearse and I sob if I hear Elton Johns re write of "Candle In the Wind" and whilst I felt little more than sorrow for her sons and family, I could not understand the tears and sobs of the voyeuristic grief mongers who lined the streets, left tacky tributes and wept despairingly for someone many had never met except through tabloid press articles.
Same applies to the two recent losses, their families are left to cope, I think they should be permitted to grieve alone and without the pseudo grief of a nation who assumes ownership of public figures because they saw them on TV, or in media articles. Some people really, really need to get a life for them selves instead of living life vicariously through others deeds.

Parties, Posters and Parenting

2006-09-04T12:31:00.000+10:00

I have been busy ,What's new? As Mr 6 had a birthday party to attend Saturday morning and all three kids had a party to attend Saturday afternoon, then there was the annual Fathers Day shopping to do. Miss 9 wanted a day off from school last week and as she is not often ill and I am an advocate of days off/RDO/ flex time whatever in the workforce, I think the same applies to school sometimes, so she had a day off school and came with me and Mr 3 to the new Mattel Wholesale outlet at Smith St, Collingwood. Which is open to the public and not part of the Mattel Club to which I had access; if seems that is now defunct as are the great bargains I once got at the Mattel Club in Ardeer. I got presents for the three birthdays my kids were attending, yes, three...The PM party is a brother and sister whom are two years apart but only a few days between birth dates so they hold a joint multi guest party. We collected Miss 9's bracelet which had some more charms attatched (courtesty of Nana) and was adjusted ( Thank you, mummy), we drooled over the Teddy Bear shop where you can make your own bear, Miss 9 amd Mr 3 had Mickey D's for lunch and Miss 9 tried to remember which shirt Daddy had pointed out to her two weeks ago in a shop dedicated to charging you $30 to wear a shirt giving them free advertising for "Jeep"* Supamum shakes her head and will never understand how marketing ploys seem to work on men when it comes to cars and clothing***

On Thursday, I received a note via Mr 5's teacher from Miss 9's teacher ( secret parent/teacher postal service) She was to receive an award for her poster design for the school fete at the Friday assembly. 2IC agreed to leave work early to attend and it appears that Miss 9 won her year level ( 3/4) for the design competition the other year level award was for Prep/1 and the runner up was a Grade 5 and the winner a grade 6!!!! She recieved a certificate, a voucher for Red Rooster and some pencils...she had no idea she was getting an award. She was chuffed and I think her class teacher was too.

I have been busy with meetings about the fete also, I am on the plant stall and the co ordinator is fretting about how we cannot really do much until the last minute, especially in the way of any donations from local traders as they usually give us whatever is about at the time. I am not too stressed as I know alot of the church community come through for us every time. I am digging up the remainder of the ugly * ooops, trying to sell them are'nt I ?* lovely, fully matured, easily grown agapanthus and potting them for sale or give away what ever happens, the ugly things are going!

I met a very interesting lady at my friends kids party on Saturday afternoon, she is the MD of a group of ex teachers, aides, etc who are disillusioned, disheartened and just damn well pissed off at the DET criteria for funding special needs kids, the attitude some teachers and principals have for the funding model and how it is administered, the lack of attention given to the needs of autistic children and the severe lack of understanding and training given to teachers in regards to such children. She is my friends son's tutor and she is also helping my friend vet prospective schools for her daughter to transfer to. She is about advocacy and information, but primarily works as a tutor right now and is networking contacts for the other teachers in the group: speech pathologists, O/T, PSG support officers, etc. I am in the middle of swapping contacts and passing on info to her about things such as ECPs, and tax deductable gap payments. She is a person who my friend, AJ, told me was 'made from the same stuff" as me and after hearing her speak and her objectives... I think this is the realm for my copious pages of notes and web links to all things relevant to parents of special needs kids. They will be starting a web page and I think this is one of the places for my reams of info and cross referenced data.

Come On People...Are you really that busy?

2006-08-23T10:59:00.000+10:00

Mr 5 is progressing nicely with his speech pathologist; who I would highly recommend to any one looking for a SP for a child. He is struggling with reading though and cannot co related between the letter sound and the combination of sounds to make a word. He relies heavily on the secondary prompt, which at this stage is a picture, but if the picture is ambiguous, like a person laughing he will say the person is funny. He is not looking at the word enough to establish that it could not be "funny" as it starts with "l". He is a rote learner, he can tell me all the 12 Golden Words.
BUT only if they are in the order that appear on the grid, mix them up and he struggles, he has got his Golden Certificate and is now working in his Red one, many children in the class have already achieved Blue and Green as well as Red. These "magic words' are the words children see most often and rather than have to "sound them out" each time, they become part of what is know as sight vocabulary, that being they recognise the words on sight in any context. Words such as "a, is, the, there, was, I , am, be, were, not, no, of, on, this" . Mr 5 tends not to have the ability to absorb the words out of context...But he'll be a wiz at times tables and such I think.

His pencil grip an issue and I contacted his EIP OT to see if she could recommend anyone: we cannot access SCHC services anymore as he is in school now according to the lady at the desk; which was apparently not entirely true as the pediatric OT put me in touch with the Paed OT who works with local schools ( betcha didn't know we had that service here, I didn't) and I can ask the school to use part of Mr 5s funding to pay for the OT visits which are better facilitated in the class environment anyway given it is a pencil grip issue. I am OK with this as his aide does not appear to work on Tuesdays anyway. I am waiting for the OT and the Principal to get back to me...* Yawn* It's been a week now................

Meanwhile I have sourced a private physio for him as the area concerned crosses both physio and OT areas so either is OK and I JUST KNOW the school will not pay an external OT for this...what he needs, he needs now and what's private health insurance for anyway.

On the matter of private health insurance, this week I will have reached my limit for Mr 5's speech therapy and it's only August...So we have kicked in his Enhanced Primary Care Program ( EPC) Which means that Medicare pay $45 each for FIVE visits to his ST. Which should carry us through to mid November so by my calulations ,I will only pay out of pocket full session fees for three session this year...Not too shabby. I am going to write to my PHI provider to see if I can get an increase on limits for Mr 5's ST given it will be a long term thing. I had contacted a well known SP in NSW who chairs many committees and deals a lot with dyspraxia who advised me that PHIs can increase limits on some ancillaries if you are willing to lose something else ( ie: increase ST limit by $250 and forgo $500 limit on osteopathy) You write to them and supply a diagnosis from the provider stating the condition is ongoing and long term. This is a very one to one, case by case, scenario but hey, rules were meant to be broken and I'm the one who will always try.

First Eucharist, Birthdays and Brothers

2006-08-21T12:32:00.000+10:00

I have been very busy as Miss 9 made her First Eucharist yesterday, for those of us older than 25 that's First Communion, for the non Catholics, its when children first eat the wafer stuff at Church. So I was busy organising her party ( but it's not about the party ...Tell THAT to a 9 year old) and her present from 2IC and me ( but its not about the presents, tell THAT to a 9 year old) and amidst it all, attend my friends hastily organised 40th birthday dinner and a Candle party she was having. Phew!!!

My friend, AJ and I have been pals for it seems forever. She was bridesmaid at my wedding, her hubby was our best man. They both went to school with 2IC which is how I met them but AJ and I have stuck firm in our friendship. We share the same age for 24 hours and yesterday she turned 40!!! Our birthdays are one day apart and our wedding anniversaries are one day apart. AJ is as solid as they come and has had a lot of stuff to get over, a lot of which she gets over by herself...Often I do not find out about something major happening until its past..That's what she is like, non alarmist and non fuss. Anyway she was having a candle party (Partylites) which was REALLY GOOD if you are into candles and such but really expensive if you are into candles and such LMAO. Anyway, W, another pal of AJs decided that as AJ's hubby wasn't organising anything for AJ that we'd go out for dinner after the candle party, but as AJs mum wanted to come and her older sister and her niece and nephew and Miss 9 was with me and S ( AJ's daughter) we had to go cheap rather than "swanky, once in a lifetime, you are turning 40". We ended up at Pascoe Vale RSL..............Nice meal, great service, what can I say..AJ was happy after the two,three, four, five, no, it was four or was it seven Barcadi and Raspberries..W and I plied her with all night. Oh, and AJ if you are reading this... The big one was a DOUBLE!!!And Adam, AJs nephew; topped it of with his masterful fireworks display using two tennis balls and the compound from a packet of sparklers..Don't ask; the boys from the bush and sings kareoke!!!

We decided to have family only over after the Mass and as it was the later Sunday night mass, we hoped the family would all eat and run far, far away. It worked, all and sundry gone by 8.30pm...wonderful!!!My cousin, Simone; who is also Godmother to all three kids; came by at about 2.00 which was fine as she was coming from Bendigo and we hardly see each other much anyway. But when my Dad and his partner arrived at 4.00 I was a tad peeved, Mass was not until 5.30!!!! And I was still cleaning up, and we had to get three kids ready and 2IC was working in the yard in the veggie garden...Now I had to make coffee and chat pleasantly all whilst trying to do this other stuff. SHIT
Any way we got the Church and 2IC's family meet us there, ( they are non Catholic so are really lost in Church) There were only 6 children from school celebrating their first Eucharist last night and two others from outside schools ( non Catholic schools) and strangely enough the pew behind us( as all seating was allocated) was empty but had a place name attatched...Had to ponder that one, piked it? Illness? Forgot about it? Changed their mind? I am still wondering about it. Mr 3 and Mr6 were reasonably well behaved, Mr 6 let out groans of "Oh Man!!" whenever the priest started to speak again, and "oh, No!" when the singers started again...NOT GOOD!! And all this from the front pew with his school principal standing nearby and his religious education co ordinator as one of the singers!!! Gotta, hand it to him, he's not afraid to speak him mind, in volumes.

All the while, before Mass commenced; Miss 9 was turning about to check if "Unca T" had arrived, my errant, non compliant younger sibling. I had to invite him, he is family and he is also Miss 9's godfather ( god help her) I half expected him to turn up fashionably late as he did at her baptism ( however that time he arrived with his then new partner who wore a white leather mini, white CFM boots and a leather bustier...Simply stunning) But he did not arrive to my knowledge,( but not my surprise) much to Miss 9's dismay. When we got home, his car was at our house and he told me he was to the back of the church and left as soon as Mass ended...BULLSHIT. I have been his sister for all of his life and I know him, he did not attend Mass, no biggee, but don't lie to my kids about being there ok?

It 's your money, Ralph

2006-08-18T13:08:00.000+10:00

Recently I have become aware of a little hiccup within the banking system which would affect us all at some stage, to me ,it verges on fraud by the banks,but hey that's just my opinion. Nowadays not many of us deal in cheques, no one wants to accept a personal cheque and the cost of a checking account outweighs the benefits ( unless you are a business or big $$$ customer and get a "special managers deal"= NO FEES)
Cheques use to take 3 working days to clear, 5 for interstate accounts, this is a fact. Cheques or the paper exchange takes place overnight and the cheques are returned to the drawers bank on day two, if they are not honored, they are returned to the payees bank by day 3. Hence the 3 day rule.
Cheques drawn on the Reserve Bank ( ATO, Centrelink, Dept of Defence etc) and bank cheques used to considered by banks to be cleared funds. That is, they were as good as cash. Government wasn't going belly up, the payee name matched the account name..No risk there. Bank cheques have to be paid for with cash or a withdrawal from a loan or with cleared funds, ipso facto; no risk of it being dishonoured. In fact a bank CANNOT dishonour a bank cheque, only stop payment on it.

So why are banks applying the 3 day rule to tax refund cheques and bank cheques? I raised this issue recently with my bank when they told me 2IC's tax refund cheque would take 3 days to clear and was advised that bank cheques receive the same treatment. So what happens to your money whilst you wait this little lie out....
Well, the money is credited to your account but does not show in the balance so it is only there in theory not in reality, so you are losing interest in it. If you place it in your mortgage or such it will have the interest adjusted;or show in the balance but not as available funds, if it isn't shown as this ...Ask for an interest adjustment ( I will give the equation for interest recalulation later). The money is actually sitting in the banks cash management, short term money markets and money exchange with billions of other dollars which is not theirs, earning millions of dollars in interest for the BANK.

It your money, Ralph, people have become so complacent and banks so internalised , that they are not adhering to the basic principles of LAW regarding paper exchange. Especially regarding RESERVE BANK cheques. Sure you can pay the $20 or $30 they ask for a "special clearance" but you can do that your self as it only involves a phone call. That's right, your bank charges you $20 to call another bank ...Here's what you do. Take down the cheque details on a piece of paper, drawer, account name, cheque number, account number, bank and branch and payee. Write "Special clearance" on the cheque but tell the teller its a mistake and you don't want a special clearance. Next day call up directory assistance and get a number for the branch the cheque was from, call them and ask for special clearances, get the persons name in special clearances, tell them you are calling for a special clearance and the cheque was banked via so and so branch, give them the details you have, and they will tell you if the cheque is to be paid or not. Never tell them you are from the bank but don't tell them you aren't either. Armed with the persons name, go to your bank and tell them that such and such from Big Bucks bank has advised the cheque is cleared and will be paid, sure they can call and ask for so and so and check but cannot charge you for it. You may have to fight it out but it is not illegal for you to do it, so long as you do not misrepresent yourself. I have done it three times and fought and won each time.
Use the system against them.
It's your money, Ralph.

Interest Adjustment Calulation:

amt. of money not credited to account x interest rate x days missing from account
__________________________________________________ =

36500

What are people thinking when they say this stuff??

2006-08-10T12:14:00.000+10:00

Mel Gibson, inebriated or not, spouts off at a Sheriffs deputy about "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world". Then we have another dullard full of his own self importance, Dean Jones; making racial comments on air, when he thought the mike was off...Why make them at all? And then goes on to say it has hurt him in the hip pocket to be sacked, does he not think it has hurt his image at all or is he such a well known HAS BEEN that all will be forgiven?
If such "off the cuff" and sudden comments are not really what the person means or reflective of their ideals...Why are they saying them at all?
If it not something they subconsciously believe to be true or and ideal they hold as a belief...What would otherwise posses them to say it?
It is not the fallacy we have become such a politically correct society that such slurs are now deemed hurtful but the fact that such slurs are motivated and linked to world events, that they are directed at individuals and they are a generalist view of obviously prejudiced people. In years gone by, terms such as "wog", "dago", "skip", were part of the every day venacular. Any kid who wasn't born here was a "wog" or a "dago" , whether born in Cyprus, Athens, Syria, or Sicily..Any kid whose surname name began with the prefix of "O" was a "mick" or a "paddy". Such terms were all encompassing ,and although frowned upon, were part of the melding of our cultures. But these are non definitive terms, they do not point at any one being a terrorist or Taliban or a warmonger or anything else. Even terms such as "cow cockie" or "sheep jockey" whilst definitive in syntax are non vilifying in nature.
At school I had been called a "paddy ", "mick", when I started at a city school I was a "cow cockie", I have been known as a "skip", "grommit" and a "greenie".. I've been called a "lesbo pinko commie" even. Of which I am none. But the fact remains that such terms are non abusive nor entail any latitude of connection to any unsavoury activities such as the comments made by the two aforementioned dolts.
Maybe tertesterone and middle age cause some chemical imbalance in logical thinking.

Nah nah nah nah..Just getting in touch with my inner child

2006-08-09T10:55:00.000+10:00

I am remiss as I did not update on the matter of this post.
Well we attended the mediation and so did two couples of each of the neighbours. They did not "understand why they were there as they were quite happy with the way council was handling the matter". The process is very, very good and each party is permitted to outline the issue and what they want from the process. We, as the initiators, outlined that we want them to approach us as if there is an issue then we can address the causation then, rather than they complete a diary, submit to council and us never be permitted to see the diary ipso facto not know the causation and be unable to proof the dog. I also outlined that I felt the matter was driven by one parties insecurities and their attempt to foist their issues onto other in another form. It got a bit combative at times, but boils down to this...We are deemed unapproachable because WE DID NOT ATTEND THE STREET CHRISTMAS PARTY which was held two weeks after we moved in... Oh and we were "unresponsive" to their complaint in March...Maybe because it was a bunch of lies and we proved it to council as such.
Anyway it boils down to the "just want the dog to be quiet"..Hello, it is a dog, WOOF WOOF WOOF!
They bark, IDIOT!!!!
They got a bit cross about my "matter being driven by other issues" and after they were out of the room when we were in discussions with the mediators, a comeback about "no one ever spoke about you to anyone" was touted out of the blue. Obviously hit a nerve there.
Anyway I feel the mediators did a good job but they recognised the futility we were faced with in that they did not understand what we were offering, only their perceived "wants". They were like petulant children with their demands and comments...Such as "when you moved in, I looked over the fence and saw you had a dog and then realised it was old and would die soon and then you bought the puppy"
LIKE YOU HAVE THE FUCKING RIGHT TO INVADE OUR FUCKING PRIVACY AND PASS JUDGMENT ON WHAT WE DO WITH OUR LIFE!!!!!
SANTIMONIOUS BITCH!!

Oh and the lies, apparently the wife at one house and the husband at another work shift work..Yeah, right the guy later amended his to "sorta shift work but usually office hours" What he doesn't realise is that I know where he works and they don't do NIGHTSHIFT..IDIOT!!
And as for the lady next door, well maybe afternoon shift but night shift NAH, You see when people lie like that you like to be prepared to counter it should the occasion arise. I have monitored their absences for the past month and YOU ARE LYING!!!AGAIN
We completed an agreement which states that they will approach us with any issues and that 2IC will approach them in a months time to check on any problems they may have, we all signed the agreement bar ONE. Stupid bitch doesn't relaise that she just did herself out of the opportunity to be part of the solution, now she is the problem.

It makes me cross to think that people feel they have the right to judge and make un quantified calls on your lifestyle choices because it doesn't fit with their little world. That they feel they can use systems put in place for genuine complaints for their own petty issues.
Funnily enough, 2IC pointed out to them that council we investigating the complaints and being outside our property at our request..Not because of their complaints. He also asked how they would feel if councils response was to that their was no case to answer. They said they'd have to go further with council on the matter...Oddly enough that is exactly what council advised us of the day after the mediation...NO CASE TO ANSWER!!!

This could have been me....

2006-08-03T20:22:00.000+10:00

Being the bull at a gate that I am and relentless advocate of the rights of my children. A friend sent this to me and says specialist teachers throughout the Ed Dept are applauding this action

Lets hope they get more out of her than I did after a FOUR month wait for a reply. This is one of the very reasons my son would have been left high and dry in a public school, even though we had to fight, at least he gets some funding. SLD's cannot be lumped into the English as Second language ( ESL) cart and bundled into one lot of funding, teachers are not speech pathologists nor should they be expected to add the child's speech requirement s to the curriculum. SLDs are notjust a language issue but lead to learning issues, social issues and the education department has a obligation to be proactive in this area, not reactive a decade later when you have a 15 year old with the reading level of a 6 year old.
Although the line taken by the schools is that they only have "an obligation to see a child has Grade one reading and comprehension levels" ( as told to my friend by her child teacher and principal)
What hope have kids like this got???
I wish them every success and notice that our tax dollars are being spent on a QC for the Dept of Ed and Ms Allen, who probably will send a lackey to attend as she never seems answerable to anything on a individual basis.