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....