Busy busy and even more busy than before

Seems time flies when you are fighting for your kids rights, have been to Early Intervention Program (EIP) goal setting on Monday morning; this involves setting goals that you want your child to achieve in EIP, I'd like Mr5 to master fine motor skills such as buttons, regain lost toileting skills (which we worked out regressed when his kinder teacher was away) and improve his receptive language and listening skills...Ideally I'd like him to be accepted by his peers at kinder but if the parents are complete dolts when it comes to diversity, what can you do??

Monday night saw a strange phenomenon, a kinder committee meeting sans minutes from last meeting or treasurer report....... Thought the meeting had to be rescheduled if such items could not be tabled,motioned as passed and reviewed? I attended as the additional needs kids in the kinder are being somewhat vilified by the other children and indirectly by the parents, council attended to advise the committee of HCC's (Hume City Councils ) stance on the matter of inclusion and such, the EIP co ordinator attended to offer support to the parents and offer her advice to the committee and parents on the matter of inclusion, HCC supplied no less than 3 representatives...Why, I do not know. The committees reception was mixed to put it one way.

It was a relatively peaceful encounter, the committee wants to abolish fruit duty (preparation of fruit by volunteer parents)as it limits the time with their kids..Yeah right. The real issue is that it was a matter for which the previous teacher stood her ground on and this is their little power play, they even have the support of the other kinder teacher who no doubt was vicariously involved in the covert "get rid of Rachel" campaign. Tuesday saw a day of writing and re writing a letter to the committee, whilst playing trains with my boys and getting Mr 2 some new shoes. Friends visited at 5.00 and their kids ate dinner with mine..They all left at 8.30!!! Their school age child had a curriculum day on Wednesday...But mine don't!!!

So today we had kinder which Mr 5 did not want to attend because two boys (whose names I will not print ) bailed him up in the fort and threw balls at him on Monday, he has been telling me about this since Monday afternoon. Obviously he was hurt (physically and mentally ) by this act and where was the teacher or responsible adult when this was occurring? So after convincing him it would not happen again and that I would talk to the teacher..Which I did, I mean stuff like this happens but Mr 5 was really really caught up in this matter so I thought I'd let the teacher know plus when upset he's hard to understand and this is amplified if you aren't used to his nauces of speech. I also took delivery of Miss 8's replacement Tamagotchi (bought of eBay) so she was very pleased that Mum came through on that (even thought the day after I won the auction the local Toyworld got a delivery in..DRATS).

Saturday we all went to the market to get fruit and vegetables, a weekly excursion but usually it's Dad and boys, mum and girl sort of thing...We had to collect and choose fish for the tropical aquarium and also have a water sample tested. The kids picked one small Angelfish each, some Guramis (?) a Silver tailed shark and we transferred three Black Widows from the cold tank to the tropical (they can be kept in both) Apparently, you only buy small fish with a tank set up as the tank can still "crash" (enviro melt down) Must admit it is very relaxing to watch them and the kids learn so much from them.

Had been trying to get some information about PSD (Program For Students With disabilities) testing along with the EIP co ordinator, we had not heard when Mr 5 would be tested...And lo and behold the letter came Tuesday...Not a lot if info just that a DET (Dept of Education and Training)psychologist will contact me regarding test date. Hope it's not when there is an incursion at kinder..Could be disruptive.

Careful............

Had to comment on the events of the last 24 hours...Bombs on the London underground and bus system...Really baaaaad stuff. At least not many were killed/injured as in the WTC but that's not the say it wasn't bad. Now Blair is in a spitting match with who ever did this, with his poor attempt to equal Churchill with insipid, pseudo inspiring speeches. You have to be concerned given we have the Commonwealth Games next year, but it seems that it's not events being targeted but daily activities and times when maximum damage can be caused . Just hope things don't go overboard with retaliating within society. People need to understand that factions such as the ones who caused this, are in the minority...So if they are Irish,Islamic, Arabic, Jewish, Koorie, whatever they do not necessarily support the ideals of the majority.

Society need to be aware of tarring all and sundry with the same brush. I do not believe in the continuing English rule over Ireland, but do not support the killings and bombing of the IRA, yet I believe that Gerry Adams can change Ireland for the better. Evil can be found throughout history in all facets of all religions/ beliefs/ideals, but it is the evil acts which scar the belief, leaving it forever for all to see, causing judgment as to how it occurred when all memories of its birth are forgotten.

Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it .

A day in my life.....

Seeing how this is about learning,expressing, being creative..Whatever , I suppose. I thought I'd do something a little untoward and different;least I hope it will be seen as different. A time table of my day...
0430am Mr 2 arrives in parents rooms for cuddles
0450am I wake up enough to take him back to his own bed
0500am Mr 5 comes into parents room "I'm frightened"
0530am After cuddles and comforting (there really are no monsters under your bed) Daddy takes him back to his bed
0600am Mr Supamums alarm goes off, hit snooze and go back to sleep
0610am Alarm goes off again, hit snooze and go back to sleep
0620am Alarm goes off again, remind Mr Supamum he'll be late
0630am-0645am Lay in bed dozing whilst alternatively awaiting stomp,stomp of little feet and being blinded by Mr Supamum turning light on and looking for things
0650am Mr Supamum leaves for the bus to station, get up an turn off bathroom light, heater light and air vent .
0700am Dozing zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *SNORE*zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"toss" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"turn"zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
almost asleepzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ITS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SO I CAN DO THIS ANY OTHER DAY I'D BE UP AT 0630am
0710am Mr 5 enters and asks if its day time yet..."no it';s still dark ,You cuddle mummy in the big bed" Don't mention the "S'" word or he'll be up and off. Hoping he dozes off the sleep (fat chance)
0730am Mr 5 announces it is daytime and "sun is up" and so is he, God help anyone who may want to sleep.
0740am Give in and switch on TV to Nicklodean Junior (love that Foxtel) Go back to bed
0800am Mr 2 awakens and comes in to cuddle and alternatively kick mum in the kidneys, back, legs, head.
0810am Mr 2 decides he will watch TV also, by this time Mr 5 has a train set out and is playing with it.
0820am I am in the shower, with alternating visits from the boys asking if "I have boobies" and them showing me their "boobies", asking me to show them my belly button, and them showing me theirs; whilst attempting to wash my hair, and stop them from getting into the shower fully clothed. Get dressed..Try and find clean t.shirt...stuff it wear one of hubbys.
0840am Start breakfast..."What do you want?" "corn flakes with honey" Get cornflakes, and as milk is being poured on them "no no no I want weetbix" comes the cry, me too announces Mr 2!!!
Explain that what he asked for was cornflakes ( have been though this before and know not to give in) Pouting, and slouching by both boys. Leave breakfast in front of them..Eat it or not. Miss 8 is still sound asleep and may not grace us with her presence till 1000am or so.
0900am Boys eat breakfast , whilst asking for more juice (limit of one glass per person per day)or milk or whatever. I put washing on, and empty dryer (used only sparingly in winter to dry out clothes properly after they have been on the line)
0910am Clean up breakfast bench, sweep/mop floor beneath boys seats or let dog in to clean up excess first (depends on how much food and drink is spilt)Empty dishwasher for re load.
0930am Try and have breakfast..if I have something different from the boys they want it too.
0940am Tidy up and fold washing to be put away. Bribe and coerce boys to brush teeth and hair.
1000am Screaming starts, "he's in my room, they woke me up" and the destructive duo stomp from their sisters room laughing, she storms after them swearing a death promise that only could have been heard on "Lizzie McGuirie"
1020am Miss 8 still in a huff, no good asking her what her breakfast wish may be, continue to fold washing
1040am "Mum ,what am I having for breakfast?" "What do you want?" "I dunno"
1050am Destructive duo have gotten to half folded washing and decided to play tents with the sheets and make super hero capes from the towels complete with underpants on their heads.
1100am "Muuuuuum ,what am I having for breakfast??" "what would you like?" "I dunno"
1110am Gather up washing that was previously known as folded, usher boys outside to play (its 16degrees, allow them to put gumboots on and rug up, its ok) Ask Miss 8 what she'd like for breakfast..."Do we have raisin bread?' "No" "Do we have Coco Pops?" "No, we only have junk cereal once a month and you had it last week" (don't tell her last week was last month technically) She looks at the calendar and works this out for herself.."mum, last week was June, now its July so it's next month so we can have junk cereal" "Well, I haven't any junk cereal right now so you will have to have what's there" "When will you get some because it's next month right now" "When I go grocery shopping" "When?" "Maybe tonight after dad gets home" (hoping to get out by myself for a while even to do shopping) "Can I come?""We'll see, now what do you want for breakfast?' "Do we have Coco pops?"..............................Eventually, Miss 8 has toast. It is now 1150am!!!!!
1210pm Washing has been finished for 1 hour but still haven't got to hang it out, boys have all cubby house interiors out to create a space ship and are now chasing dog about the yard, yelling that she is a space monster!!!! Miss 8 has plopped on couch in PJ's to read a book, ask her to brush teeth and hair ..I am talking to a mannequin!!! I realise I haven't brushed my teeth yet.
1230pm "We're hungry" comes the cry from the back door amidst boots being kicked off.
1240pm Make lunch for boys, peanut butter for Mr 5 (on wholemeal bread I hide in a regular bread bag) Vegemite and cheese for Mr 2, fruit for after which will be partially eaten and the rest tossed about on the bench, squished under plates, made into "cakes", whatever.
1300pm Attempt to hang out washing..."Mum, what am I having for lunch?" "What do you want?" "Do we have.....? (refer to 1110am entry to get the gist of this conversation)
1330pm Miss 8 decides to have fruit for lunch
1340pm Complete hanging of washing, boys have now turned front lounge into Spencer St Station with three plus train sets out in various formats and styles and are now landing helicopters amidst the trains. Miss 8 tells them this cannot be done and attempts to correct the perceived error..fight ensues....one child who has been bitten, one who has been hit, one who has been kicked in the "nads" (his sisters new, improved, weapon of choice). Made to aplogise, explained why hitting, biting, etc is wrong,sent all to rooms and I pack up train sets. Sobbing and crying continues.
1400pm Grab a banana to eat outside whilst checking on what's out of cubby and needs to go back and what I could toss whilst they aren't about.
1420pm First of three ventures outside to see if he can play, "If you put the things back into the cubby" "Awwwwwww NO, that my space ship" OK ever tried explaining your area of expertise or job to a novice or someone from another field?? That's what logic is like for a child with dyspraxia..there is no sequence, no consequences, no results...this moment is all that matters to him. He cannot grasp the notion of it possibly raining later if it's not raining right now. So I put the stuff away, with Mr 5 trying to stop me every inch of the way. Miss 8 enters the scene , dressed but without shoes and comes out to help. Mr 2 is running about without shoes or a top and with a "baggy, saggy" nappy to boot.
1430pm Fight with Mr 2 about the wearing of footwear and tops in winter when outside
1500pm Cubby house interiors packed away, I suggest we do something, ...sticker art which involves putting little sticker shapes in and around a picture in lieu of colouring. Its good for Mr 5's fine motor and colour recognition skills, Mr 2's fine motor and Miss 8's imagination and it's fun.
1600pm Mr 5 wanders over to TV and wants to watch Dora the Explorer (I think its finished) we check and find yep, missed it by 1/2 hour or so, tears, tantrums and general unacceptable of the show not being available. Meanwhile Mr 2 and Miss 8 are fighting about who's watching Hi 5 or Animal Planet ( Did I say I hated Foxtel???)
1615pm Bad smell about, ooooh Mr 5 has reversed his role as chief "do it in the loo" boy of late eeeeeewwww. Change, clean and disinfect.
1630 All are merrily watching some cartoon, I try to finish folding washing AGAIN. "Mum. can I have some thing to eat?" This comment is an anomaly as usually they just help themselves, must be the double application of child proof locks on the pantry which has caused this request.I get them some potato chips in bowls....return to washing folding...."thats mine" "no it's not" Yes, It is is has the picture of the fairy on it, yours has Spot the Dog" HIT, PUNCH, KICK, BITE. Here we go again. Tears, bruises, bite marks, off to their rooms ( ad infinium)
1715pm Give up on washing folding and attempt to get tea ready, make salad and put it on fridge...no mean feat with little hands grabbing at carrots, lettuce, cheese, whatever.
1815pm Start cooking tea, steak for Mum and dad, marinated lamb cutlets for the kids
1840pm Dad is home, rough housing with boys who are not yet bathed or behaving
1900pm Tea time, children try to all talk at once AT dad, one is eating his salad but not his meat ,one is eating his meat and telling all and sundry the "salad is yukky" Miss 8 has eaten her meal and is asking for ice cream. I have only just sat down and Dad is still getting the kids their drinks.
1930pm After the umpteenth attempt to have the boys sit and eat, we tell them tea is over and its bath time, Miss 8 is still asking for icecream. I have managed to eat 1/2 a salad and two bites of meat.
1940pm Boys in bath, and out of bath and in bath and out of bath, get it? Dressed in PJ's they are allowed to watch some of the Disney channel. We try and finish our tea. Miss 8 is now asking to be allowed to come with me grocery shopping (RATS!!!)Mr 5 has come over and is now polishing off his meal and the remainders of everyone else's. Stack dishwasher and switch it on, if left to Mr Supamum, he'd forget.
2015pm Boys in bed (for now) Miss 8 and I head off to hunt and gather.
2100pm Love shopping at night...whole shop to yourself almost, carry in proceeds of our venture and start unpacking and putting away, Miss 8 is having a bath ...then we hear "get out" Mr 2 is attempting to get into the bath with his sister.
2130pm Miss 8 realises she has lost her Tamagotchi (virtual pet hung from a lanyard) she was playing with it at the checkout and after a check of the garage and car, its thought it has been lost in the carpark at the supermarket...tears ensue, these damn things are a rare as hens teeth and a friends mum got this one for me from an obscure toy shop in Keilor.
2145pm Sit down and watch re run of L& O have (missed House, MD)talk about our day
2200pm Read some of Jonathon Kellermans "Twisted" Miss 8 out and about "I can't sleep"
send her back to bed(this is a regular occurrence)
2230pm Feed animals, turn off kids night lights, and radio, remind Mr Supamum that I have done these things...he's dozing on the couch
2300pm Go to bed
2315pm Miss 8 visits "I can't sleep" is allowed to get into bed with mum till dad comes to bed
YAWN*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*SNORE*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
WELCOME TO MY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Skool holidays, Fishy Tales,TV and Other Stuff.

It's the second week of the school holidays which means Miss 8 is home, Mr 5 has no pre school or therapy sessions and Mr 2 is upset because he has no "mum and him" time. Needless to say there is yelling, fighting, hitting, pinching and a bit of biting going on...And that's just me..LOL just kidding. It seems that when together for huge amounts of time, some kids cannot cope with their sibs. Miss 8 has her own room, if she wants to be alone she can and then the destructive duo decide they love their big sis sooooomuch they just have to be with her in her room...Which she doesn't want to happen. So starts the screaming, then the push me,shove you, then the hitting and pinching and biting and then the tears and denial. Love the denial when the fist is still raised to hit again!!!! We have been to the drive ins the see "Herbie" which was REALLY cool, lots of good music and funny storyline...kids loved it and mum and dad did too. Drive ins are rare in Melbourne I think there are only two..one at Coburg and the other in Frankston. The kids love the idea that you can SMS your food order and have it delivered to your car..We've yet to do it but they love the idea. Miss 8 has "issues" with a girl in her class at school, who she says"thinks she is popular and so good" everyday this girls name arises in some manner, and during the school holidays it has risen with the onset of a temper outburst of some sort. Unsure if this child is tormenting Miss 8 at school in some way or if Miss 8 genuinely likes this child and want to be friends with her but is rejected, or if as Miss 8 is the youngest in the class and is just her immature social skills shining through...What ever it is, her brothers and myself are suffering the brunt of her trantrums and outbursts of anger. She will discuss it when she calms down..This I know from experience.

We collected Mr Supamum from work on Friday and went to Coburg Aquarium to get some more fish for our fish tank (freshwater, Jebo 350l, if anyone's interested) the kids picked out some Black widows (Tetras) and 2 fantails, whilst showing the kids the reef tank there, Daddy was looking at a tropical set up...Something we said we'd do when we mastered the freshwater and had moved (both which have happened) and before I knew it, Mr Supamum had a deal for the tropical set up, tank and all, plus 10% discount for accessories (plants, rocks, etc.) and had arranged delivery for that night (delivery was at the cost of 1/2 dozen Crownies, as the guy lives in Sunbury) Expensive night to be had by all. It took all weekend to set up the tank, and the cost of an extra heater, which got broken when it was not fixed in properly and fell onto some rocks...GREAT! Now the tank is up, running, filtering and settling...This weekend we get the fish. FYI: freshwater tanks need to run for 24-48 hours and tropical for a week before you add fish.

As to TV, haven't watched much but for my addictions, Last Man Standing was on again last night and amidst Adams lesbian sister wanting his best mate, Bruno( who is also her ex lover) to father her and her partners child..There was the inevitable goof up with production again..This is ongoing it seems. They must think the viewing public are stupid. This weeks goof is the location managers problem. Adam and whatshername are going to Daylesford (Spa and health resort country, very bohemian, relaxing, said to be overrun with lesbians...But I have never really noticed and I love the place)anyway the scene shows them stopping the refuel and restock on munchies...Where is the scene shot? The BP service station at Werribee South. Geographically no where near the route to Daylesford, even if you lived in Werribee South or Altona...And Adam lives in East Melbourne (near Apollos Gym off Spencer St) So my little fault picking exercise seems to becoming a weekly thing..Let's see how many more we can find in the weeks to come. Doesn't deter from the entertainment factor but it's annoying and I know that a good production supervisor and location scout would not make such an error on a locally made show.

I have to applaud Bob Geldoffs et. al. efforts with the LIVE 8 production, not asking for money but raising awareness was BRILLANT. Publicly telling the G8 representatives that the world is watching their every move and highlighting the fact that whilst they are playing golf and eating meals in Five Star hotels that children are dying. I also applaud anyone who sponsors or decided to sponsor a child/family as every bit helps. What is needed is clear concise guidelines as to the help needed, infrastructure, utilities, the means and know how to build and maintain them..Not awarding the work to an already established country's business, when the aid money goes to them (at an inflated price) and they have the ongoing contract to maintain the system forever(more money going out of the country who needs it). Trade agreements have to be upheld with no subsides paid to the parties own producers (not naming anyone, Mr Bush). Countries have to be able to participate freely in international trade, none of this "we'll buy your corn but you have to buy our beef" rubbish. This is not a game, this is life and many of them.. This is freedom to have the rights allocated to other countries of this world. We have to look after one another, not look after ourselves, every one is your brother and your sister, the G8 leaders need to look to the needs of the many instead of the few..This is the chance to change history, make poverty a thing of the past and to become history for the right reasons. THINK ON IT!!


'

The ABC of Me

I am doing this as a dare as I was told I have an answer or knowledge of just about everything and I needed to apply it to myself.
A is for animals, I love all and every kind
B is for babies, which I swore I'd never have
C is for cats, of which we own two
D is for dancing which I studied at school and uni
E is for eggs, can't stand the smell of or eat them
F is for fear, I fear dying young and leaving my family
G is for God, supreme being, whatever, whoever, I believe what I want not necessarily what I was taught to believe
H is for Highpoint, one of my favorite girl and mum shopping places
I is for idealistic, what I am told I am
J is for jealous, I am that too
K is for kindred, something I feel with some people I met, sometimes
L is for love, which I feel immensely almost all the time, either for someone or from someone
M is for mum, mine who I miss terribly, but hope that I can be half of the mum to my own kids, that she was to me
N is for no, something I have trouble saying if asked a favor
O is for objective, something I can be if I REALLY apply myself
P is for patience of which I have NONE
Q is for quiet, which my voice is not either
R is for realistic, which I can be or can't be...Depends who you ask
S is for stupidity, which I have no patience for
T is for tense, which I am most of the time
U is for under appreciated, which is how I have felt in every position I held except one.
V is for vicious, which I can be if it relates to somethng which affects my children
W is for wary, of door to door salepeople, strange cars in the court, suspicious people, etc
X is for xenophobia (ha thought I'd get stuck here didn't you) I have no tolerance for this, it is not an illness!!!! But conditioning.
Y is for yelling, what I know I do a lot and wish I did less of
Z is for zenith, which is the optimum stage I want to achieve in all I do.

There you go, the ABC of me, hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment or even write your own..But it has to be about YOU!!!!.

And the winner is.......

Ok enough is enough, just what is that makes Shane Warne so great? Apart from being able to bowl? He has ABSOLUTELY nothing going for him. He is the personification of the A- typical suburban cricket hoon, all mouth and an ego to match their perceived notion of their own skill level. If he is SMS'ing women here ,there and everywhere and having torrid affairs...Isn't that between his wife and him? Personally, he would've been out the door with his manhood stuffed in his "box" and I would've had the locks changed when the issue first arose...But, hey, that's me!!! This guy has had the cricket world in a frenzy forever, he's not an all rounder and I think there have been better and there will be..He is damaging Australia's reputation and the ACA. HE is the winner of my GRAND WANKER AWARD.

MDA (Medical Defence ????) is back on TV tonight, a great Aussie show about medical law suits and the investigations and the defence team who defend doctors against malpractice suits. It is enthralling and all encompassing...Last years ratings where poor so it may not continue, it has a four part series starting tonight. They have roped in local stars like Sigrid Thornton (god if I could look like her at when I'm her age) to help revive the failing ratings. But Aunty ,you have a good show and with some more promotion, it can and will be great...Look at the cult "Sea change" created. This is the winner of my Best Aussie TV SHOW AWARD.

Now on TV shows, I also watch a Aussie show called "Last Man Standing" on Mondays at 2130. It's like Sex In The City but with guys and set in Melbourne not NY. It's funny and well done but the continuity person has a lot to answer for in Mondays episode...Call it nit picking but it peeved me. In one scene, Adam (complete spunk) enters his work place in a leather jacket, it's raining outside, rain running down the window of the office..His hair is not even wet..But that's not all..He chats with the girl (forgot her name) who he had it off with the night before and she's wearing a halterneck, backless number like it was 39degrees outside...get real guys. On another note, Cam is supposedly landscaping and paving, he's wearing gloves that look like welders gloves, using "brickies sand" instead of a washed sand/cement dust mix and is leveling with a lump of 4by 2 instead of a spirit level!!!!!Now being married to a landscape gardener(no longer on the tools) and a dab hand myself I know that you don't wear gloves to pave as you can't get the bricks/pavers in close enough, I know brickies sand (orange /red) is for concrete and such and that spirit levels come in 1m lengths with smooth edges for just this purpose. Call it picky but a bit of realism please. They was also the gratuitous but ingenious "product placement" they visited a mythical Mega Mitre 10 warehouse in the show, we have Mitre 10 but Bunnings is the king of warehouse hardware places...But in the ad break came ads for the OPENING of TWO MITRE 10 MEGE WAREHOUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!BRILLIANCE IN STELLAR FORM. Winner of two awards:
1) Stupidity in story line, continuity and realism
2) Excellence in product placement and making zillions in advertising revenue with the story line link

Now to the next award.....The illustrious "I"m with stupid, oh no I am STUPID" I give to past Labour Party leader, Mark Latham. If you are going to be in a party, that's what it is a party...group legislation, assurance on the majority of issues (at least) common goals, etc....You don't go writing a book and kicking the party that fed you in the guts. I have little time for pollies, call it jaded, but saw too much, learnt too much, in too little a time to trust them, their parties or their motives. But I think that if you have the respect and trust of the party you belong to; to the point that they elect you leader of the Opposition...you should honor that respect....Don't ask, don't tell does not apply here...Simply don't tell!!!! He probably had a ghost writer anyway as he was forever being watched by the eagle eyed spin doctors of the party, the guy has the morals of an alley cat and has proven he was never to be trusted. Let Big Kimmy have a go, he might not be a poster boy like Latham but he's got knowledge. So Latham wins the "I'm with Stupid, Oh no, I am STUPID" award.

Because we're women..................

Because women's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get the sack and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get bashed we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nyphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a "real man" and if we ask our doctors too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect community care for our children we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggresive and "unfeminine" and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still cannot get a safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and.... For lots and lots of other reasons we are part of the womens liberation movement. Joyce Stevens, Womens Liberation Broadsheet, International women's Day, 1975.

Thirty years on this piece remains as one of the icons of the women's lib movement, some of it still stands true today. I have had this piece for many years, it has been inside the cover of every school diary since I was given it when I was 14, it has been confiscated many a time by teachers who thought it wrong for it to be my personal mantra and guide. I had copies, lots of them. It has been framed in every workplace I ever slaved in and on the wall of all my offices. Given the questions now raised by women who believe they were "mislead" by their mothers about "having it all"..I had to resurrect this piece; given that it was my personal life guide; to see if it really affect my ability to "have it all" or at least my concept of having it all.
Yes I worked in male dominated workplaces where the "old boy" school reigned, but you don't have to be one of them to beat them. I worked in totally male oreintated fields such as insurance and vehicle repair...Many a contractor entered my office enquiring "where's the boss, love" or a solicitor would ask for the manager ( THAT WOULD BE ME, IDIOT) I reveled in their embarrassment and quite enjoyed my discussions about repair techniques etc. As far as "trapping" a man, well boy meets girl, both agree its not really heavy..no joint bank accounts etc and four years later boy asks girl to marry him...laws of nature. I don't expect community care for my children I have the option to stay at home and care for them, but many do not.. and until ALL the businesses of this society get their arses into gear and realise the untapped potential in all women and create some adaptive workplace practices in regards to hours and subsidised childcare, they that do not; are only missing out on the rewards. Women have freedom of choice even if that means the choosing to follow a religious creed which directs you to remain answerable to your husband/partner/significant other as long as that choice is made without duress or pressure, it remains their choice. As is with abortion, religious zealots aside; it is a personal choice made by that person (and perhaps their partner) for their own personal reasons..no one should interfere. I cannot claim to ever understand what it would be like to tetter on the edge of such a decision and think they that do, deserve others respect for their wishes..it cannot be an easy decision.
I think the concept of "having it all" a personal one...is to "have it all" to have it all at the same time...fulltime work, children, family life...it's really hard. I don't think our mothers and the libbers of the '70's lied to us ..they gave us the means by which to make the decisions so that we could "have it all" but perhaps they did not mean all at once... do the career thing,have the family, do the kid raising thing, change careers to suit the family dynamics, whatever. But no one was ever meant to have it all at once. We owe a lot to the pioneers of women's rights....they suffered the slings and arrows to make it easier for us...the fact that some think it made it harder is a fallacy created by their own inabilities to see the creed as many shades of grey and not just back and white.

Dog People

Having been a "dog person" but now reformed I find this little piece quite funny....I used to compete in Obedience not Show, but it still holds some truisms to both Show and Obedience dog people.

Dog People Are A Special Breed...

Dog people are a special breed not usually recognised by the public. They...

Think everyone has crates in their living room

Have messy houses..even thought their kennels are spotless

Can always fins a show catalogue from somewhere within arm's reach

Have kids who know more about the "birds and the bees" when they are 5 than most people know when they are 40!!

Drive trucks, vans ,station wagons especially equipped to haul dog crates

Can never be reached on weekends, they are usually at a dog show

Will drive 400 miles, spend $100 on petrol, $200 on a motel and $150 on meals to bring home a 25cent ribbon

Have kids who regard "bitch" as just another household word

Have lush, green beautiful backyards...and have never bought a bag of fertilizer

Get up at 6 am to walk the dogs, can be ringside , dressed to kill at 8 am but have trouble getting to work on time

Will usually give up a $150,000 home in the suburbs to move to a shack on 10 acres, so they can have a $150,000 kennel

Never miss a closing date for entries-but pay the mortgage 10 days late

Would rather be audited by the Tax Office than investigated by the Canine Council

Use dog food bags for trash cans and 300 gallon trash cans for dog food

Talk for hours on the phone to another dog person in a language known only to dog people

Have parents who think they've lost their minds.

This is reflective of my life before children (BC), working, training, trailing,committee meetings, etc. Although we didn't do all of the above...Close to..I know many who did and still do. I think that people who have a extra interest outside of work and home life have something else to contribute to society and the world. If any of the beginners I help train 10 odd years ago, came away with a better understanding of their dogs or even went on to competition; I feel I accomplished something. If I learnt nothing more except persistence, I'd be surprised..I trained one of the most stubbornest dogs who had the most pleasant nature with people but could not stand Rottweillers or larger male dogs. He was attacked at the age of 6 months by a Rottweiller which is all we could put down his subjective aggression to.

He was the most wiley, street smart, ring wise, little SHIT you could imagine. Tolkien was an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) he would be 17 now we lost him when he was 13. He was the biggest brute of a heeler you'd ever see...True working dog stature. He would work and work and work for me, training and training, till we were almost foot perfect..In the ring he knew I could not correct him...So he'd play up.

We must've been the biggest joke in the obedience world...But I didn't care nor did Tolly..He was happy and so was I, we were doing something.

Gardening Mums

A friend gave me this years ago, after Miss 8, who was then Miss 4 and her friend picked every daffadil, freesia, tulip. and every petal from just about every plant in the backyard...I think its cute:

PRAYER FOR A GARDENING MOTHER by Debbbie Farmer

Dear God, give me the strength to grow a garden.

Give me the perseverance to find a portion of dirt in my backyard that's free from

old ice block sticks and sand pit toys, and not being used as a tricycle parking lot or a soccer field.

Bestow on me the ability to say names like "Acacia melanoxlon" and "Zanthoxylum braclayacanthum", since I am stuck living in a high -maintance planting zone that seems to be conducive only to unpronoucable flowers.

Give me the courage to face the fact that the crate of bulbs that took six weeks to be delivered and three hours of back breaking labour to plant , can be dug up in five minutes by a two year old with a toy shovel.

Guide me through the garden over plastic toys, irrigation systems, and wire mesh to untangle the dog from the watering hose for the fifteenth time.

Help me to accept that everyting in my garden is either expensive, high maintence, or unpronoucable, and the only thing that looks the same as it did in the mail order catalogue is the dirt.

Grant me patience when my daughter waters the bulbs with apple juice because "they looked thirsty".

Give me the strengthto remain silent when my husband puts saucers of beer around the backyard to get rid of the snails.

Comfort me when all the saucers are empty and the dog is staggering around the backyard trying to do the limbo under the low brances of the apple tree.

And when it rains (and you know it will ,God) give me the strength to spend all afternoon on my knees in the mud blowing the moisture off the new shoots with my hair dryer so they don't catch 'a fatal fungal disease'.

In your infinite wisdom, show me how to turn off the automatic drip irrigation system that has been on since sometime in mid November.

Grant me serenity when my son presents me with a bouquet of freshly ripped out daffadils crammed into an old plastic sand bucket-and the ability to smile when he tries to replant them.

And if I ask too much God, just give me the foresight to know that, no matter what I do, by the end of summer the flowers will be run over by rollerskates or sat on by the dog, the garden stakes will be used for goal posts, and the fertile soil will, once again, be filled with old ice block sticks and sand toys- and it won't bother me one bit.

Debbie Farmer

Five Things..............Bang...You've been tagged.....

I've been tagged by Caz mumontherun.blogspot.com, so here goes....................
A Lifetime is like a blink in eternity
5Years Ago, I had a baby boy who would not sleep and I gave up working
1Year Ago, we were trying to sell our house and changed agents
Yesterday, was the past and that's that
Today, can only be better than the day before because I am still here
Tomorrow, who knows? Its tomorrow don't wish the days away wondering what it will bring
5 Snacks I Enjoy:chocolate, fruit, potato chips, chocolate and Chocolate
5 Songs I Know all the Words to Even Without the Music: Two Outta Three Ain't Bad: Meatloaf(?) Why do Birds...:Carpenters, To Sir With Love: dunno who did original, cover by Kate Cerbrano, Angels: Robbie Williams, Cold Hard Bitch: Jett
5 Things I Would Do With $100,000,000: Pay off the house, do what we want to the house, pay off my friends mortgages (x5), buy hubby the car he wants (Astra Convertible but with that much cash he's gonna want a BMW or such maybe), set up school funds for my kids and all my friends kid for tertiary/vocational education.
5 Locations I`d Like to Run Away To: Daylesford, Ireland, Carribeannan,Tasmania, UK
5 Bad Habits I Have: eating chocolate, drinking Coke, yelling, leaving washing till the last minute, answering the mobile just because it rings
5 Things I like Doing: sleeping, reading, reading in the bath, playing outside with the kids, writing
5 Things I Would Never Wear: high heels, miniskirt, bikini, g string, designer label gear ($10 top with $100 name to it)
5 T.V. Shows I Like: ER, Last Man Standing, desperate Housewives,CSI (any and all),Cold Case
5 Movies I Like: Sweetest Thing, An Officer And a Gentleman, Oceans 11 and 12, any Star Trek movie, any Monty Python movie
5 Famous People I'd like to Meet: John Cleese, Richard Gere, Mr. Bean, Paris Hilton (to slap her silly ) Nelson Mandela
5 Biggest Joys at the Moment: my boy coping at kinder, my girl excelling at school, my baby's hugs and kisses, my hubby's cuddles, and chocolate
5 Favorite Toys: PC, bath bombs, mobile phone, Tamagotchi (bought it for the kids, honest)Dymocks bookshop
5 people to pass this tag on to : Guruann, More Australian Ramblings, Jen, Jenz, and whoever else reads this and may be interested

ENJOY!!!!

JOIIS : What it REALLY means....

Several bloggers and Internet junkies in Sunbury refer to a local, well mediaed, elected official as JOIIS (Jack Or Is It Steve) refering to his duality of names used in his two lines of public life. I have received information that JOIIS actually stands for The Joint Operations Intelligence Information System!!!!!!! Which is something to do with goodness knows what..I don't have time to look it up right now ...anyone else care to check. Sound like an oxymoron that the Defence Department or the US Military would use, don't it?

Too much, too little time

Have been busy,busy,busy...Mr. 5 has had to have a hearing test for the Program For Student With Disabilities(PSD) criteria...Nothing wrong there..So waste of time and resources. Mr 2 nearly 3 had croup and needed steroid mix (Predimix?) for 3 days, getting medicine into some kids is like getting expecting Donald Trump to be humble..Never gonna happen. So despite the fact that it had to be after food (directly) I had to mix it into juice (he usually has water with meals so he suss from the start)and then he tasted it and spat out the juice!!!! So out came the syringe and I just blasted the dose down...Sounds bad but not really, he is sooooo like his sister who will not take medicine either. Mr 5 will take all medicines and wants it even if not ill and someone else has it...Something to watch out for, believe me.

Have been floating about a new community forum http://sunburycommunit.10.forumer.com/ it is interesting even to the uninitiated of the Sunbury community and will get bigger and better with more following. It TRULY allows for comment not libel, on an equal footing for all users. Not sure who started it but have heard whispers (people talk on buses and others listen and tell )SAY NO MORE!!!

I have been a bit desolate lately as Mr 5's kinder teacher is away and he seems ok but asks about her a lot, I'm reluctant to tell him what I know as it was told in confidence, but he needs to move on and accept what's what..Maybe over the holidays.....I miss her as she was the rainbow to Denise's(asst teacher) sunshine and I'm sure the kids miss her more than the parents realise.

Hubby returned from OS with yet another supply of DVD's, Blade Trilogy (his thing not mine) Madagascar (for the kids) it's ok but nothing like Toystory or Shrek. We share the DVD's about friends and family, plus Miss 8's class gets to see it on Friday as a break up gift from the teacher. Speaking of which.. had parent teacher night last night and Miss 8 is a delight to have in the class, always helpful and caring and kind...was wondering if this was the same child who pinches. Hits and bite her brothers and takes their toys. She is very creative (gets that from her mum) and academically is advanced but it can't go on the report (but of course) Ohh well AIM assessments will occur in August and you get a report on your child's level in regards to expected level, State levels, school comparisons,. Etc so we will see then. Sometimes I wish I had looked at her IQ score when she was tested, but its a preconceived notion, bit like Briggs Meyers..If you know the expected score/grading, you r expectations change in regards to personality and achievement levels. Incidently, I am INTJ on Briggs Meyers scale and my IQ is........

FOR Caz, Thanks 

OFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT

IT IS OFFICIAL, CAZ OF www.mumontherun.blogspot.com is a total, unequivocal, and great ......

LEGEND

All my links work now..I had to backspace in the " after the site address to the / makes sense...NOT!!!

Who cares Caz got it happening...And thanks the Guruann and OzRamblings for offering earlier in the peace but you have other important stuff outside of helping novices. So I dedicate the whole page to the LEGEND..................................................................................................................

And the beat goes on........

Nothing much today...It's been RAINING...But its ruining vegetable crops because there's hail in WA. Funny how if you're from a family in the primary industries of crops, dairy and cattle; you tend to be a bit of a whinger about the weather and when it comes and how much. Some of my friends just don't get it when I say its too much at once or the suns too hot after a storm....Farming is a fickle business and less and less family are going into it. Big corporations are putting the little ones out of business, our milk once went to Bayles to the butter factory, now it'd be collected by an agency who sells it (and everyone else's ) in bulk to Pauls or whatever. Composite buyers buy produce in bulk and resell it (in bulk ) to major corporations like Coles Myers, some corporations even have there own buyers who buy up big for the co. Edgell did it years ago for crops like asparagus...But you had a five or ten year contract and if your crop failed one year you were guaranteed the previous years money anyway, sort of a loyalty incentive as you sold NONE of your crop to anyone else.

Anyway enough of the basics in primary produce economics....We have no trains, the bus system seems to be working (kids are getting used to Daddy getting home later)there was an interesting article in The Age about the same rail system in the UK, but it was so boring I stopped reading it all. We are supposed to be getting the Macedon St duplication started (deja vu) but that will start when there's a good photo op. For whoever..Let's see I think JOIIS, Joanne Duncan and Batchelor or Bracks will get their heads in this one.

Speaking of JOIIS, he's BAAAAACK.. On SOLhttp://sunburyonline.com.au seems he has relented and is reiterating that he never received a copy of the electoral roll, never asked for one, etc....And I am being misquoted on GuruAnns http://guruann.blogspot.com blog in the Comments about same by InTheKnow ...For the record:
I have never said Medcraft used the electoral roll to locate my address and visit my home, he openly admitted to me at same uninvited visit that he "got my address from Jack Ogilive"..Which InTheKnow says came from an e.mail I sent to Jack O about another matter
So InTheKnow, you are InTheToilet with the CRAP you are talking.

I am STILL waiting for a certain Team Leader in Early Childhood Services to call me back regarding matters raised a week ago and phone call on Thursday (9/6) and e.mail on same day..I'd hate to have to go to the papers with it..although Alex loves a good story.

Mr 5 has brekky at kinder tomorrow, still trying to convince him that it'll be ok to go to kindy in his PJ's and get changed there..He's adamant that he's getting dressed here and having breakfast here too..Oh well suppose he could have two brekkies.

Reports come out end of this week, then parent/teacher interviews the week after, will be interesting to see what Miss 8's teacher says ,as she only turned eight this year and is in a composite class of 3/4, the eldest child being 11. Last year in Grade 2 she was reading at Grade 5 level and doing Grade 4 maths...Scary, have to wonder about it. I ;mean; yes she lives in a house full of books and the kids have their own bookcase which is chockas with books and we have read to them since they were babies...But I hated maths, but Daddy has one degree in Hort Science so the math comes from him I guess, still you have to wonder....................................And why can the teachers tell you this but are not permitted to put it on the report...Apparently the report can only indicted where your child is in the class in which they are placed..But the teacher can verbally advise you that they are reading above their level, but not put it in writing.

How Typical.....

How incredibly typical...Contacted council to lodge complaint regarding vilification of my child by parents (and their children) and requested that they send out a newsletter/info pamphlet advising benefits of inclusion for all children, also info regarding their stance on discrimination and EEO info. Got palmed off back to teacher for her to put it in the newsletter...

1. The teacher is on sick leave till the end of the week and the Team Leader would have known that when she spoke to me
2. The teacher has enough issues with the parents right now regarding their perception that the additional needs kids ( and parents ) receive more than their fair share of the teachers time...Her putting this in the teachers newsletter would really set it off
3. The incidents are occurring outside of the kinder jurisdiction...Pick up and drop off times, parents talking nastily about the kids elsewhere (remember six degrees of separation??)THEY ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEACHER.

I really have to wonder where they find such people...Talk about handballing. I will be calling this TL back and telling her how it is and what I want done..This is getting beyond a joke when kids are name calling in front of their parents without correction and I just get an inane smile and shrugs of 'what can you do?'...I'll tell you what you can do is teach your...nah lets not go there..

Mr 5 has a much improved pencil grip now and despite the fact he's yet to be tested and will probably not score in the range to qualify for specialist school...I am sure he'll be OK. I plan to commence him on learning to read phonetically (how we learnt 10-20 years ago) so he's ahead of the others at the start of school and if he lapses will not fall behind too much.

I FINALLY received a reply from DET regarding SLD funding, despite my letter being specific and not general. I received a standard "spin doctored" response which addressed none of my letters issues...After FOUR months and god knows how many drafts it's a wonder any one still knew what the original letter was about...Come to think of it ...

So I will be ringing (not writing) again for specific answers to my questions, like why is John Munro (Melb. U) cited as the person who developed the new whiz bang Language Disorder Program, but he refuses to comment on it and says "it has nothing to do with his work" HELLO..You supposedly developed a program which has placed thousands of SLD kids outside the realm of individual funding and this has nothing to do with your work....Yeah right because YOU ARE NOT A SPEECH THERAPIST OR PATHOLOGIST, you are an educator of educators , thrice removed from the realms of the REAL WORLD of teaching because you live within academia. When was the last time you stood before a class of kids and taught? And a class with SLD kids? YOU HAVE NO F%$#@$% IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a nicer note ..has anyone seen Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy ??(got DVD from os)or even into "the bard of the eighties"?? I thought it would be hard for anyone who's not read the book/s to follow but it was good to see it completed after all this time..hoping they do the whole series. I got Miss 8 into it and offered her my books which she says she'll try after she attempts the Harry Potter series.

Last Man Standing

Just wondering if any who watched the premier episode of Last Man Standing and thought it reminiscent of a male Sex In the City?? I like the show but the idea is a bit worn I thought, Candice Bushell did it first, people and it was a book before it was a hit series.

I thought it down to earth and funny, very "blokey", but then again I can recall a male colleague commenting to me when SITC commenced that it was about " women trying to be like men".( who'd want to) I think Australia will relate well to it as it is an Australian show.

Calm...calm...calm...calm...calm

As the title implies...I have calmed down enough to write again and not rave...I don't think any one really wants to read about my sleeplessness over a few narcissistic mums at a local suburban preschool...but if you do wish to read such rantings..feel free to visit but it will only be updated when I feel the need.

I am very very happy because Mr 5 has managed to get the idea of toileting....oooooh yuk you say...but he trained for bladder control 12 months ago and its taken another 12 months to get the "other" bit happening. If you have a child with additional needs you tend over look the stuff like toilet training as a small part of the bigger picture, but it shows what perseverance, a good psychologist and lots of big time bribery can get you.

I will be interested to watch the interview/show with Rod Astbury about Graham Kennedy...Derryn Hinch claims he will be vindicated. Still cannot agree with his "outing" of someone who chose to live "un known". If people wish their sexual preferences to be known they will let you know, if they do not, no one has the right to assume, insinuate or tell it like it is.

Miss 8 has created a reading corner in her room, it consists of a sari thingo Daddy bought her from a Malaysian trip, "Post It"'s on the wall telling you what it is and what book/s are currently being read there, cushions and toys...we will see how tidy it remains. Found it a bit hard to vacuum around, had to lift it all and replace it all...DRAAAATS.

All three had a lovely time at their "big" cousins 18th yesterday afternoon....don't care what anyone says but there were in excess of 8 teenagers there too (18 and over) all who looked out for the littlies, danced with them, played with them, and went out of their way to make them feel included....Thank you , Craig, Sarah, "Mosh", Wayne, for teaching Mr 5 to dance and helping him when he got discouraged. You are very special people, don't every change.

And to my niece..please no more piercings or at least don't tell me...MIL(nana) is at me and at me to tell what I know oh and ..........................................................

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, AMY

IN A FRIGGIN' RAGE TODAY...DON"T COME HERE

I am ROPEABLE right now and its 2 hours plus since I made my little discovery...apparently there is a parent/s (unsure of this fact) who has a problem with my son being in kindy and the amount of time she perceives the teacher is spending with him......FUNKELL ..I just want to call Early Childhood at council or confront them ALL at pick up time or what I just dunno. What problem could they have...The class has TWO aides who are there to help the teacher...Extra pairs of hands, so to speak, plus the regular teachers assistant. The aides are not exclusively for the use of the two special needs kids but for all the kids in case one of the S/N kids is undertaking a task with which they need one on one help. I did a letter at the beginning of the year to all the parents ; as my son's disability is not visible and invited them to ask questions..Why are they doing this??? I might put a sign up directing them to this site so they can read what I think and feel because I cannot trust myself right now or in one hours time to confront them without getting REALLY CROSS ( look I 'm typing in red and caps)I have a PSG meeting this afternoon and I really need to find out who the parent/s are/is but I'll not be told due to confidentiality.....FUNKELL (sorry can't bring myself to type F&*^%$ Hell so abbreviated/bastardised format) I just wish people would get over it...I don't think this is really aimed at my son but at the teacher and they are using the S/N kids issue as a fulcrum to their designs against the teacher, why I will never know.

But they'd better know that if I find out who they are...And I WILL they will be getting a mouthful plus I will lodge a compliant not only with council but the EEO for discrimination. Vilifying any one for any reason is illegal, let alone using the additional needs of a child who may not have your child's capabilities in your vain, silly, narrowminded,ill conceived,petty, illiterate,stupid,inane,F$#@ed UP little game is beyond me. I will find out who YOU are and you will be sorry to have crossed me or involved my child in your game. I think I will post this site address at the pre school and we'll see what we flush out...And I do mean flush because the person is SHIT!!

I apologise to all my regular readers for this little tirade; normal programming will return as soon as I calm down or commit manslaughter..what ever comes first!!!!

Gra-Gra, Gen X ers and When will the book come out...

Graham Kennedy passed away last week and his memorial "show" was yesterday..it was not a religious service but a celebration of his life and achievements. Funny how I , as a Gen X er, (didn't know this until someone told me I was) remember lots about some one who was a pioneer in the entertainment business. Perhaps because my mum had a bit to do in the industry for a while..She always seemed to know someone or something about the TV and radio personalities of the 60's,and 70's. I have re read a book of my mums by Mike McColl-Jones called "My Funny Friends" which encapsulates the memories and antics of people such as Gra-Gra, Dave Gray, Bert Newton, Mike Walsh, Don Lane, Nolene Brown, et.al during the 60's , 70's and 80's. I think I bought the book for my mum in about 1981 or 1982, so its old but a good laugh.

I have to wonder, how many others of my generation, have such memories or was it just because my parents were older in comparison to my counterparts or was it because my mum took a genuine interest in the people she worked with; as people not celebrities.

Graham Blundell, who was in "The Odd Angry Shot" and "Dons Party" with Graham Kennedy has for years been working on a biographical piece on Kennedy..He has had an on/off relationship with the subject in regards to his (Kennedy's) wanting the book done and being willing to contribute; I think Blundell wanted him to have a say in it. I wonder what the final chapter will say but I bet it's on the shelves before the end of JULY!!!!

And to quote Stuart Wagstaff at the farewell...." Attempted the second Kennedy assassination of our time..." As did Derryn Hinch on his radio program...Although his column in Sundays HUN attempted to make amends, he still attempted to justify his "the dead are owed only the truth" philosophy by siteing instances he perceived to point to Kennedy's homosexuality. What you learn in a business about people should stay there, within that realm. If Kennedy was gay..So what...If he chose to keep it to himself, his choice; no one has the right to take that choice from someone by "outing" them after they are dead. The dead may be owed only the truth, but truth in fact not in innuendo.

Parallels, Justice and Strange things that happen

Funny how things pan out, today after spending a lot of the night before drafting a letter to Council about the fantastic kindy teacher we have...(the letter is on behalf of myself and 3-4 other mums of special needs kids who "hunted" down the teacher and badgered council to get them in a group with her...) I was thinking about all the good she is doing and how no one really knows or acknowledges her work and thought it sad.

Then today, whilst a friend was trying to get her DVD player to work, the special telecast of Schapelle Corby's trial decision came on...I had forgotten all about it. We watched as the film portrayed her actions and for about 2 minutes thought she'd been cleared, then realised something else had happened..Once we got the sound working...We found the sentence was 20 YEARS...TWENTY FRIGGIN' YEARS. I could not believe it, not only was the case flawed beyond belief but the chain of evidence was invalid, the reasonable doubt questionable and the whole case a farcical miscarriage of justice of such proportions that it is a joke. Here's a girl, who at 27 is now facing the best years of her life in a prison system which: if she survives; will age her beyond the 47 years of age she will be upon her expected release. The judge has a reputation as a hardliner, good in some cases but case by case and each on its merits..PLEEEEEEASE. I am no expert in Indonesian justice...But as a human with the logical, reasoning God gave me.. I know that this is so wrong. Why would you take drugs into a country where it is readily available on the streets of that country????It makes no sense.

And as for Johnny (I'm not saying sorry)Howard..His inference that we would not like another country interfering with our justice system reeks of hypocrisy...What do you call extradition agreements...Allowing a person accused of a crime in another country to be removed to that country for trial and viz a viz to their own country for trial in regards to criminal activities in another country...Such agreements work TWO WAYS!!!!

I'm cross, I'm sad, and I'm wondering why such stuff happens...You see the parallel is that my Dad called tonight to tell me my aunt has cancer of the liver, she fought and survived breast cancer 6 years ago, now she is in palliative care and the specialist says it'll be "sooner not later".
this is a woman who has an OA (but didn't even tell her family about it) has dedicated her life to her family(six children, seventeen grandchildren) and the church..Never asked for anything...Was always there for us and always helped anyone in the community without judgment. I have no regrets but its sad that I maybe will not see her again as I am never strong enough to visit sick family or friends, I don't go to funerals unless I have to (reading or such) and never ever attend the cemetery.

So much in the world is wrong tonight, I can't fix it, I can't make it go away or change it, cannot magically turn time about and change would haves, could haves and should haves into do, dids and done.

Lookee here.....Pratice What You Preach

Seems things have caught up with local Crs, have to question Nardella's motives (State involement in Local Governanace) but very nice to see that something is being done this possible misuse of facilities

http://tex.parliament.vic.gov.au/bin/texthtml?form=Hansard.adv

SEARCH under Medcraft

So now the Cr has to answer the question and maybe with the VEC amendments a new broom may sweep clean...if one can be found in the closet (hahahaha)Or under the wall paper perhaps!!!!

Put him on a plane and let him play...BY HIMSELF 

Meeeeeeemories LIke the corners of my mind....???

Never could remember the words to that song from the Strieisand/Redford movie...Anyway found a good site for locating old school friends in Australia. Most sites are US based and cost $$$. This one is Aussie and to get e.mail credits, you just refer the site to someone else...Right now you get 2 credits per referral. http://www.aussieschoolmates.com.au is the site and I'm unsure if the e.mail goes to your own address or relies on the site notification....I found one of my bus buddies on line (I caught two buses to high school, 1.5hrs each way)

But its a fun site and you can muck about and list other schools and look for other people too....On some you can list teachers too.

Also found Bravenet http://www.bravenet.com which has freebie bloggie stuff...Like counters and such ..And stuff I wouldn't try yet. Way Too Scary!!!!!Sound like I was in PC heaven last night...Well got on a roll once I worked out the template codes and went searching and surfing. But soon got tired and went nighty night..So better go now because my pal, Max (Maxine)who was supposed to be here at 0930 thought we had a date for 1200...Silly, silly. So she's on her way now

And watch out...Things should run in threes....Someone who is involved in Mr 5's education is pregnant( knew a month ago can't say who it is because its not announced yet) a friend from school who has had x3 children by IVF has fallen pregnant au naturale and now finds out its TWINS!!!!!!!

So watch out you could be next........oooooh hang about I know who no 3 is, its ok....I know who it is, NOT ME. Can't say who, too early.

Ta-Da,DUM DUM,DUM,DUM

Finally I managed to get the bloody, stuffin' links to this to work..If you can't see them or they don't work...Care Factor right now is negative 1,000,000,000 give or take.

So now all and sundry can look at the sites I like to look at too...Sharing is good, I tell my kids.

Won't tell you how I worked it out but suffice to say that Mr 2.5 have a BIG "nigh nigh" this afternoon and Mr 5 was playing trains and Supamum decide to give it one last go and looked at every resource I could find to teach my self how to write the template rather than the stupid cut/paste crap. (Which I now do in part)

Is the colour change driving you batty???? TUFF because I'm happy and colour make me happy and shows happiness...Because I mastered something(big deal to PC wizs but haven't self taught anything since Access, yonks ago)
No more purple for you,Jen..Too much will make you silly!!!

So now I understand it a bit more I am searching for some stuff to "hoon" up the site...See the counter at the bottom?? Did ya know you can rig them to a predestined number then load it?? Cheaters!!!

So HAPPY,HAPPY,HAPPY..Small things,huh??

Books, now let's try music....

OK last "tag" thingo was fun and learnt lots...Now let's try music, and show our age and preferences....

1. Best ever disco (cringe!!!) song? Hot Stuff: Donna Summer
2. Best guitarist: Mark Knoffler (Dire Straits)
3. Best percussionist (drummer): Phil Collins
4. Best song writer: toss up Bruce Springsteen and the fellow who writes for Meatloaf
5. Best Female singer: Cher/Belinda Carlise (GoGo's)Melissa Etheridge
6. Best male singer: Jimmy Barnes/Bruce Springsteen
7. Last concert you went to: Cher
8. Last band you saw live: can't remember...May have been Dire Straits
9. If you could take one album/CD/tape with you as the only music you could listen to forever, what would it be? Born To Run: Bruce Springsteen
10. If I could sing like any one I wished, I'd want a voice like....Melissa Etheridge

Bingo....Hit Shackin' Up with Caz, Guruann , More AustralianRamblings,Jen (sparkling,dangly, you know who you are) and Jen( who couldn't get on my site)

My World....Your nightmare

Got to admit, prior to having a child who is classed as "special needs"..I had no idea there was a whole other world of mums,dads, grandparents, etc out there. Sure, I had gone to school with a autistic girl who it was explained to us by the nuns was "special". One of my friends in high school became a paraplegic in an accident when we were in Yr 11 and did not to return to complete Yr 12 with her group but returned the following year. And , yes, family friends had a daughter, who in those days was labeled "retarded"...And I saw no difference in neither the child with autism or Roxy..Perhaps because I was a child myself then.

But this other world of carers...Well, its like another place...Sure I have been at EIP for over 2 years, met tonnes of people, made lots of friends, but the strength of the network and the range it encompasses is AMAZING.

You go to the supermarket and your son is playing merry hell with everything from the lolly aisle( which we avoid like the plague) to the trolleys and the donut stand. Not just touching but spinning, pushing and "rearranging"...You have one toddler who you are trying to shield (hahaha) from this behavior (monkey see, monkey do), 3 litres of milk (which by now you don't care if you drop it all over the shop floor) and some vegies ( which I could've just tossed in the air and no one would have noticed because of the havoc around them).....SUDDENLY a heavenly voice says....

"I'll take him with me to the seat out front, you settle down and get your shopping"

Now I don't know this lady from a bar of soap and she explains her son is austistic and has language problems so similar to Mr 5 that she thought he was there (he's at school), turns out she visiting friends here and she's from the other side of Melb!!!!Now I am not in the habit of letting my child go off with anyone...But she understood and HAD BEEN THERE and was NOT JUDGING !!

It was one of those moments, you hear about...I instinctively trusted this unknown woman,could not tell you why...Even now as I write this..But I did. Now this is what I'm talking about...That there is another breed of people out there who understand, live it, know it and just are there. I did let this woman take Mr 5 to the seat inside the Safeway store, she chatted with him, told him about her little boy and when I got out to them, Mr 5 tells me about "hers boy same like me"...I almost cried.

We chatted about things in common, therapies, EIP,schools, etc....And after about 20 minutes parted ways...I never asked her name,nor she mine...We were just intrinsically linked by a common factor, she saw a need, offered aide and that was it...Another world.

Ten Reasons Why The Government Is Stuffed...

1) They sent troops to Iraq based on WMD info which do not exist and our people are still there

2) They kowtow to the Bush Administration

3) They really believe they have a MANDATE to do as they wish...SCARY

4) ministers are starting to bring religious and personal beliefs into Government legislating

5) They are starting to get into some scary legislation which will take us back to the Dark Ages...controlling women's IVF treatments, who can and who cannot

6) When was the last time (if ever) any of them worked for a minimum wage without perks?? They are out of touch with reality..OUR REALITY

7) They cannot control the departments they have, there is no accountability....If any one else SNAFU'd like Vanstone has in any other job they'd be hauling a cardboard box with their pens and paperclips home on the train.

8) Costellos swarmy smirky smile....YUK

9) John Howard....he who will always and forever be known as the one who can't say SORRY

10)They support the Bush Administration ..I know I said this already but its worth two mentions its SOOOOOO bad

NOW this is my personal opinion and site, so you can agree or disagree....

Books, Phone calls and paperwork

This is a fun questionnaire I picked up off Shacking Up with Caz www.aiyanati.blogspot.com, thought it'd be fun seeing how I'm a bibliophile and any one who wants, just add on. Caz tagged 5 people but I don't know any one really to tag unless...hmm , Guruann, OzRamblings, lemme see....hmmmmm...Jen?.....mmmmmmm that'll do, donkey, that'll do....

1)Total number of books I've owned: over 1,000
2) The last book I bought: Sex In The City, wanted to know how Candice Bushell REALLY wrote
.3) The last book I read: Needs to be more as I read 4-5 at a time Honour Amongst Thieves/Antiques and Collectables Price Guide/2006 Program for Students with disabilities Guidelines/Language Manifestations and behaviors
4) 5 books that mean a lot to me: A Separate Peace (how strong a friendship can be and how it can go wrong) Catcher in the Rye(teenage maladies at it best)Angelas Ashes(bog poor Irish/Catholic/alcoholic father scenario prevails against the odds) The Power Of One (how cruel apathied can be) Gardens Of Stone( brilliant writing) A Harp In the South ( Austrailan literature personified)
Tag 5 people and have them fill this out on their blogs: Did this already...Almost

So over the past few days I have been organising hearing tests for Mr 5, because even if your child does not have a hearing prob...You need to prove it with a test within the last two years; last one we had was 2002 just before his diagnosis. So we needed a new referral for that from the GP and we needed to change the pediatrician appointment so we can get the letter from her for the application...Then there's the PSG (Parent Support Group ) meeting for kindy staff and early intervention staff in early June...Because all this stuff has to be sorted before 15th July. Then there's applications to schools and visits and appointments with principals, and because we don't know what his test results will be 'dual enrolments,visits, interviews, etc. And then there's the INEVITABLE..."What school is he going to next year?" WHAT DO YOU CARE? I want to scream..All they are really worried about is that he may be a the same school as their precious little darlings and might hit them with a truck or spill water on them( he did this today a kindy and it was photo day!!!!) ha ha ha.

So if you really don't care, why ask?????It's too hard to explain that we might still decide to repeat kinder and go to school at 7, or do 3 days a specialist school and 2 and mainstream..Might just refer them to this site so they can read what it's really all about and I have it easy compared to some mums of special needs kids!!! AND whilst I'm VENTING..The mums at Mr 5's kinder really need to get a life and stop BITCHIN' ABOUT THE KINDER TEACHERS....If you are not happy, I could get people who'd give anything to have the two teachers we have...The parents of the four special needs kids in the 2 kinders they teach at "hunted" them down and badgered council to get their kids in a group with them...GROW UP AND GET A LIFE..ITS KINDERGARTEN AND YOUR KIDS HAVE TWO OF THE BEST TEACHERS THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE...PUT UP OR SHOVE OFF

AND whilst I'M ON IT...IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, STOP BAILING THE assistants UP TO ASK QUESTIONS..ASK THE TEACHER!!!!!!

BOY, THAT FELT GOOOOOOOOOD!

ALL DONE..LIKE THE PURPLE JEN??

What They Never Tell You.....

Yesterday Mr 5 had his bi annual check up at the pediatrician, he is at worse 15months delayed in some things and at best 12 months...Now the hurdles commence. His primary diagnosis is severe language disorder (SLD) which brings along with it behavioral problems associated with not being able to make himself understood; add to that Global Developmental delay, which gives you a five year old with the emotional level of a two year old, the gross motor skills no where near his peers and the fine motor skills of his 2.5 yr old brother. What a kabooosh!!!

So under Program For Students With disabilities (PSD) he does not qualify for INDIVIDUAL FUNDING unless we try got intellectual disability(he's have to score less than 68 in the cognitive part of the WISC test)...There is no denying his need of a aide at school, but the SYSTEM will not allow his behavioral issues to be allocated because they are part of his SLD. So we can hope that he FAIL the cognitive part of the test so he scores low in that area and qualifies for special school which would get him ongoing speech and occupational therapy...Sad, that you have to hope your child fail an IQ test to get what they need to get through school. If he qualifies, he'd go to special school part time and mainstream the rest of the time and gradually intergrate into mainstream.

Its a travesty that if he goes to a Catholic school and they get funding they can use it as they wish...So he may not get speech therapy, if he goes to a State school the Language Disorder Program (LDP) may not guarantee he gets speech either. Don't get me wrong...We are not welching...We have private health insurance but private health insurance covers only $600 per year for speech and at $90-$100 per session on a weekly basis it does not last long. Neither we nor Liam did anything to create this disorder and it affects many,many children...The Govt needs to take notice of the multitudes of families affected by disabilities from the severe to the not so severe, the while range.

Incidentally, the PSD application date has been bought forward to 15th JULY...Almost a whole term. Most childrens tests are organized for August/ September, so if you are up for funding again or need to organize specialists ...START NOW ( refer Section 3 and 4 of PSD 2006)

How Confusing.......

Seems I got Parenting Payment mixed up with FTB....DUUUHH.. See what happens when you read too many reviews and watch FOX News too much. Parenting is when your spouse is on Newstart/whatever.....FTB is what SAHM get for staying at home. Thanks to "YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE" for clearing that up for me last night.

Now, if your partner loses his job, he gets Newstart and you were probably getting FTB A & B before when he was in work....If he's out of work, you get FTB A (old child endowment) and instead of B, you get Parenting (roughly equal to Newstart) this is where Pete gets you, you have to look for work too...Hip hip hooray. So both of you, have to attend inane mutual obligation seminars at Centrelink, attend interviews at Job search/IPA/whatever, and find childcare for the kids who were once happy at home with mum...Lets just muck up kids minds, shall we. Of course, Pete and Tanya's little darlings ,when they were young ,never had to worry about that...No, Mrs Treasurer was too busy at tennis backing the tax funded Tarago into bollards on a regular basis.

Had a nice swim session last night at SAC, few too many people not enough space...Need to expand the pool not he gym I think...Not biased I use the gym more than I use the pool, but first things first.

And another piece of info which may not be widely known...if you get Carers Allowance from Centrelink...Pete is giving another "one off" payment of $600 per cared for child/person. Seems the many campaignsby vast organisations are achieving their goals....it shoulod be made every year...such carers save the Govt millions in costs.

Here's Jack.......

EMAIL REMOVED AFTER ADVICE..I did not have author permission to publicise email.
Now Cr 2#gets in on the act and emails me to cast personal assumptions on my being better...nice to know people are reading the site though. Still have to question why it came up ages after the original posting. Here's my reply:
Gee and I thought no one read my site...put it in commetns _____ so all can see. Has nothing to do if "i"m better than that"...your opinion is yours, mine is mine. Its my site and I can say as I wish thats what democracy is about. If we're on the case of people being better why'd you give someone my address last year any way..thought you were better than that!!!!

I'd already suggested how the system could be better...simple matter of the right program/system....same as they use for rates/ animal regos, etc...like I said I don't have to show my rates receipt to the rubbish collector or my dog rego to the ranger.
Do stay in touch

Money,Money, Money

So another budget for Pete, number 10, never ceases to amaze me the spin they put on things to make it look good...Yes, some will get more $$ but then petrol will rise, private health insurance just did, school fees will increase, it'll cost more for the everyday stuff like bread and milk and HEY PRESTO, Petes gift that keeps on giving,IS GONE!!!!! Cynical , I know.

Then there's the getting people off welfare and back into the workforce rubbish for single parents and SAHM (Stay At Home Mums). Dunno about any one else but I don't feel like I 'm on welfare because I get $100 a fortnight for staying at home for my children. And 84,000 childcare places is not going to help!!!!

The HR and Workplace Relations needs to be OVERHAULED completely across the board to encompass an equal playing field for all. Why do Commonwealth employees have paid Maternity leave and hardly any one else does?? Why do some Federal buildings have children sick rooms and in house child care, subsidized by OUR TAXES, and Coles don't? All employers need to look seriously at flexible work hours, job share arrangements, parental leave, special leave instead of the bottom line. Your most important asset is your employees!!!!

We are talking about forcing parents in to the workforce which cannot sustain the influx, this would lead to an increase in casual/part time employees with little or no IR rights, workers in low paid unchallenging positions which they would resent (I WOULD) We need to talk about respect and self worth. So Pete, take my $100 odd per fortnight and shove it..Because my kids are more important..I'll go back to my REAL job when it suits me NOT YOU, and on my terms, NOT YOURS!!!

Pete's mate Tony, (or maybe they're not talking any more) needs to talk to his BIG BUSINESS buddies about REAL LIFE, you know, where we don't have nannies and au pairs, Botox and beauty treatments, the real world not the 4 car garage, Mercedes,4WD ,Porsche and SAAB life of must be seen parties and such.

Taking his bat and ball and leaving the building...

Finally someone has got to local Cr and told him to leave off the politics forum at SOL as he was damaging himself and others.

THEY HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING ....TWEET>TWEET,TWEET (sounds of silence)

I truly believe that they have done irreparable damage to themself and any one associated with them...The Leader needs to look at SOL and just see the rot that is sprouted about, print it and they're outta the running in an instant. Funnily, enough; another Cr emailed me, (27/4/05)about childcare fees; wanted me to call him..I told him I didn't use childcare, he said he'd "heard from another source" that I'd posted about childcare fees on SOL...He reiterated that he'd "looked at my comments " and still wanted me to call him about it. It was nought to do with child care but kinder teachers having to recheck receipts for each terms payments. I replied asking who told him it was me? (ONE GUESS) and that I knew two other SueH in Sunbury. He still wanted me to call him..I declined, given that the issue was raised many moons ago and that this interest in my issues came about after I posted on Evans WONDERFUL site..I think the discussion was going to be JACKSIDED.

On a nicer note, I had a lovely Mums Day with a sleep in, home made and school stall bought pressies (the best) and shop bought stuff . Went to MIL's and then to Bunnings (my fav place next to Dymocks, Collins, Borders, Dusk, BodyShop and Collectors Shed) to get a pot for tulips. YES, people it is time to put 'em in, BULBS..Luckily I dug up most of mine from the old house before we sold (don't tell the new owners they are about 30 bulbs less than what they saw in spring last year)but have a new order of tulips, freesias, etc to plant as well as 100 daffs.

My little sausage chops is getting bigger and speaking better, he sees his pediatrician on Friday and may undergo WISC testing (IQ, receptive/expressive language, cognitive skills). We'll see!! When you have a child who was unable to tell you he loves you till he was almost 3.5yrs; every little thing matters...Today I was told that Buzz LIghtyear is AWESOME, MUMMY. For any one unaware of Buzz, watch Toy Story, Pixar have been the lifesaver in Mr 5's case as he relates well to Buzz and inso far as superheros go, he's got manners and is not too violent.

And I 'd like to THANK my pal, Max (Maxine) for visiting today....We don't see enough of each other and I miss our loud laughs, silly, jokes about mundane stuff...But she coming by again in a few weeks so we'll catch up again then.