Look here what I found................

Look what I found.
Don't ask how, I was a tad bored ok and mucking about on search engines....Yes, ok I was searching "rude words" .Bit like looking them up in the dictionary but 1 to the power of 6 BETTER. I know some people who would not need it at all yet they may have been the model for it even. LMAO .I seem to have time to do that but not fold the washing, or vacuum ( I hate vacuuming) I have been doing some eBaying and some writing and lots of work with Mr 6 whose numerecy is lacking. After 6 hours of school and then home reader and either numerecy work or speech pathology work...He's had enough most days. His temper is getting the better of him and he is yelling and shouting his disapproval with it all. His speech is very coherent during these outbursts my reply is "I can't hear you if you shout like that" to which he has taken as a cue to increase his pitch and yell louder.
He was Terrifc Kid a few weeks back which has fallen by the wayside as the other day I was called to the classroom by the teacher at home time and told that he had "exposed himself" ( her words not mine) in the yard at lunch time. He actually dropped his daks would be my term and I have no real issue with it; for not wanting to sound generalist; as it is a" boy thing". I think most; if not all boys and even girls to some extent; "expose them selves" to their peers some time in the pre school/ early primary school years. Its a form of protest anyway. LOLThe idea that she felt he was "bragging" about it later needs a lot of imagination as he doesn't even have the expressive skills to lie let alone brag. So I spoke to him in front of the teacher ( paying lipservice to what I think she wanted) as I saw no reason to re hash something he had already forgotten about.
Don't forget to polish your shoes

Easter Bunny, chocolate and what the hell am I doing?

Well ,the Easter Bunny has been and gone and left behind his trail of chocolate offerings ( and I do not mean rabbit poo) The kids got far more than they needed but 2IC (whoops, I mean the Easter Bunny) does so love to set up the egg hunt, so I let it go. He had to be very creative this year as the pup has magical climbing abilities (read no fear, no sense and the ability to jump straight up four feet) so the eggs had to be hidden somewhere almost doggie proof ( for those who are unaware chocolate is like poison to dogs and can kill them ) . All in all, everyone was happy with their score. Needless to say, the catchcry for lunchbox fare is chocolate and I only do this on rare occasions.
School life is moving along nicely and Mr 6's speech pathologist is doing a school visit next month, she is hoping to spend some time with him and his aide...However, to put a spanner in the works as Mr 6's funding came through in term 2 and there are other children with requirements, they are advertising the aide position, so the aide he has now may not be the same one he ( or any other child will have) in a few weeks. I blame myself, as I asked about the position being advertised with a view to one of his kinder aides applying so to eliminate establishing limits etc. Maybe they just kept the same person on year after year without advertising and then I ask about is being advertised....Who knows. There is so much limited information about the process for the Catholic Education Commission ( they now are known as the CEC not CEO) . Miss 9 has changed friends again, and seems to be doing a round robin of playmates, its almost seasonal...So long as she is happy. It is awkward when a mum asks why she hasn't had so and so over to play in a while, who am I to tell her what her child hasn't , that they no longer play together. Miss 9 ( I like to think) tells me most things and what she doesn't tell me, she tells Daddy...Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get out of her what's bothering her; but usually its straight forward.
Mr 3 , well what can I say...He counts, he draws, he paints, he likes to be read to, many of the things I feel I "missed" with Mr 6 at the same age. Don't get me wrong, I do not blame Mr 6 for anything, but at 3 he was ;actually he still is rarely; never still...From one activity to another until all the toys would be out whilst I was hanging washing, he would dump the contents of his drawers, pull covers from doonas all whilst you were preparing tea. Despite, Mr6's shortcomings, it makes me appreciate more Mr 3's growth...It has been ;and no doubt always will be ;a fine balance with the two boys.

Six Weird Things About Me

I am on a roll here ,as Superm0m tagged me not once, not twice but THREE times, so here we go again ( this might just cure my addiction to MEME's, but we will see)

1. I cannot see without my glasses and have been known to wear them in a pool, even to water aerobics...How else would I see the instructor???

2. I like my kids in clean clothes when going out, this stems from my father making us dress up to go ANYWHERE I think, but I do not make them wear good clothes to go out.

3. I do not wear dresses or skirts, high heels or women's shoes. I live in t shirts, shirts, windcheaters, jeans, roll ups, x trainers, and bare feet. I hate dresses I do not have the body shape for them, I have a problem with my ankles and have to wear orthontics which do not go well in ladies shoes, high heels but I go through almost 3 pairs of x trainers a year at over $100 each so I equate to most women's shoe wardrobes in price.

4. I like to smell perfume but not necessasily to wear it,
5. I suck Smarties one at a time but do not eat blue ones ( they are just wrong)
6. I like look at old diaries to see what I was doing on a certain day a year, two years, a decade ago..Then I get all melancholy.

Six people to tag: hmm..I may be pushing it here...Any one who wants to OK?
Don't forget to bring the washing in

Seven Songs

Another tag from my blog sibling( blogsib,LOL) in the US, Supermom

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they are any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. I might like you better...some rap chick/girl band???

2. Photograph: ummm dunno who sings it

3. Lucky : Melissa Etheridge

4. Save a Horse, Ride Cowboy...not sure some CW/ Rock outfit

5. Cold Hard Bitch: Jet

6.Summer Rain: Belinda Carlise

7. Our Lips Are Sealed: Gogos or more recently Miss 9's Duff sisters version

Hmm, lets see whom to tag....I don't know 7 bloggers :(
Guruann, Crritic, Jamie, Brian, any one else......

Four Things MEME

Can't help myself, I tagged Supermom and she tagged me, so here we go...

Four Jobs I've Had :
worked part time in the QV market
worked in a bank: marketing, teller, ledgers, (yuk)
control officer in a mechanical workshop ( Govt)
accident investigator/state insurance manger for the Govt and again for a private com

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over :
The Sweetest Thing
40 Year Old Virgin
An Officer And A Gentleman
Sneakers


Four TV Shows I Love To Watch :
Desperatee Housewives
Commander and Chief
West Wing
NCIS

Four Places I'’ve Been On Vacation :
Queensland
NSW
Tasmania
Portland


Four Tunes That Play In My Head :
Bananas In Pyjamas
If you go down to the woods today
I might like you better..
Photograph


Four Favorite Dishes :
Pasta (except with seafood or egg)
chicken( roasted, filleted, cold, hot,anyway)
salads (not egg or pasta but with lots of diverse vegies)
ice cream , yes its cheating but Norgen Vaaz,puleeze...



Four Websites I Visit Daily :

Koolie Club
DOL
Jamies and Brians


Four Books I Really Love :
A Separate Peace
Catcher In The Rye
My Place
Angelas Ashes


Four Places I'’d Rather Be :
Queensland with my cousins
At Webbers Plant sale
Ikea
reading in the lounge


Four Bloggers I'm Tagging :
Jamie
Brian
Not The...
Any one else????
Yes, I know I once promised NT6 not to be tagged agian but that was like a "at the govenors pleasure "reprieveive and it has now expired.
Don't forget to put the washing away

Prepositions, girly friends and ??????????

Today marked Mr 6's umpteenth speech pathologists visit, although its really only about his 6th or 7th. Just seems like he has been seeing Rhonda forever they just mesh. He did wondrously with his prepositions ( for those who forget ,that's where something is in relation to another thing: the bear is in front of the wall) He did really well in giving clues as to what something was in a game, clues like it's a form of transport, you sit in it, it has wheels. Given that in August last year he could only tell the testing psychologist from DET one thing about a car, I am very, very proud. And an added bonus this week is that he was made his classes "TERRIFIC KID". Which is a part of the "YOU CAN DO IT " program which is run in many schools. So , my terrific kid does terrific things and had no time outs this week at school.
Miss 9 has had a bust up with her "best friend of last week and had to have her at her slumber party", I stay out of her friend bust ups unless its obviously worrying her. She had a good friend from Prep to Grade 2 and although that is not long for an adult, for a child ;it is a lifetime commitment. For better or worse ,this child and Miss 9 had a falling out, whatever, ( I know what I was told by Miss 9 but I never heard the other side so will not comment)it affected her greatly and she has never really had any friends she stays with for any prolonged period of time. Does this concern me?? Yes and no, yes because I would like her to have what I had in school ( one very best friend) and no, because it can be difficult to make new friends if you have never had to ( like me) She's resilient, probably too much so sometimes. She's adorable and bossy (show me a 9 you who isn't) so I don't think I have too much to worry about.

I feel today I have done nothing but when I thought about it I have shopped ( major groceries once a month) taken Mr 6 to speech , discussed an upcoming school visit by his speechie with his teacher, fixed up some eBay stuff, had a very interesting phone convo, made dinner, found out 2IC was going to the footy and would not be home for dinner,folded washing, put it away, cleaned..So why do I feel I have done nothing?

I came out...................

Hahahahahahahh May you all look and gasp and read on with great interest, didn't I ? Don't deny it, you all did. All 3 or 4 of you. Well, I did come out in a way I guess, you see I was /am a "closet blogger" for want of a better term. Very few people who know me, knew I had a blog ( actually only one did ) and it was NOT 2IC!!!!
In the course of a convo about blogs and such, I told him something about blogging, not sure what it was and he asked how I knew, did I have one...So I said yes. It took another 10 minutes or so for me to tell him where it was and the site name and he had to promise not to laugh, comment or criticise...Not that he would but I had to be sure.

So now I am OUT but not the way you'd think. HAHAHAHAAHA
Don't forget to clean the fishtank.
Luv ya 2IC xoxoxo

Happy Birthday to my baby girl

Today is Miss 8 Almost 9's birthday, she will be 9 at exactly 2050 today. Today is day two of her camp and her brothers miss her terribly and there were no drama acts at dinner last night, no singing in the toilet, no drawings for the day at breakfast and no towels left on the bedroom floor...I miss her.

Miss 9 ( now as she will be known) was in utero for 42 and 1/2 weeks, they tell me I was so relaxed after starting maternity leave at what was thought to be the 37 week mark that my body slowed down and the hormones that start labor did not kick in. SO much so that my waters broke without labor that I knew of......
WARNING: IF GROSSED OUT BY BIRTH STORIES DO NOT READ ON
and I spent Easter Sunday that year leaking every time I moved ( yuk) on the Monday they put me in hospital and I had to walk about to try and bring the labour on..I had no labour pains at all but was 4cm dilated. At about 1600, (two hours before my ob. Told me he would) they had to put me on a synthetic hormone drip..Yes, I had a needle in the back of my hand (but the midwife wrapped my hand in a bandage so I did not see it as I began hyperventilating)and once that synthetic hormone kicks in ,forget what they tell you about labour building gradually...You go from zero to 9.5 straight away! So any way ,I went from 4 cm to 10 cm in 3 hours which they say is really bad , but it wasn't really bad if you just breath through the contractions and think nice thoughts and bite your partners arm. I did not have pain relief, did not have stitches and after she was born asked for the drip to be removed even before I held her, see , really,really HATE needles ( no go, there I needed to have antibiotics pumped in whilst in labour and they had to finish) So, I held Miss 9 and when I looked at her and into her face, I understood why I did what I did and why I faced my biggest fear and sat with an IV still attatched and nursed her. I looked into her eyes and saw the face of my mother smiling,I heard the voice I had missed for so long telling me I had done well and all was ok. I had a little girl and I was a mum.

What has he done???

Mr 6 awoke yesterday complaining of a sore leg/hip/groin, he was limping slightly and was having trouble telling us what happened. Bitch mother, that I am, sent him off the school as he was not limping that much and tends to overrate things PLUS it was Wednesday and last term Preps had Wednesdays off...I thought he was putting it on a bit. Maybe I was overzealous in my sending him to school because I had Miss 8 Almost 9 home all day the day before...who knows.
Anyway I went to school at pick up time and his teacher helps him out the door carrying his bag and I feel REAL bad, she tells he he has been hobbling about all day and complaining of the pain, now I feel REALLY BAD. I tell her I will take him to the doctors as he was not too bad that morning. I try and get a doctors appointment...nothing till the next day,( now I feel REALLY ,REALLY BAD) I pull rank a bit and tell them he cannot walk on his leg properly ( not a lie, I had to carry him the the car) so they tell me to bring him straight in. During the 45min wait after being checked by the nurse, we try and get out of him how he hurt it...it seems it is the hip/groin area and we find that Mr 3 either jumped or fell on him the previous night whilst I was at gym and 2IC was in charge. The doctor checks him out and rules out twisted testicles (OUCH) but wants an x-ray because his movement is limited and he has poor muscle tone anyway. So off we troop; yes, I had all three with me; to the Radiology section of the old local hospital, wait 45 mins, have an x-ray,then we are told that we could go, I told the technician that we were required to take the x rays back for the doctor to view, that starts the little bombasity about how I should have told the desk clerk that, I said I did not know that ,as there are no signs stating that and no one asked if Ineeded to return with the films ( HELLO, I am carrying about a 6 year old who cannot walk, does'nt that tell you something) So we are told to wait (lots of waiting going on today) and after 20 minutes we have the film and off we go to the doctors again. Wait in the treatment room at the doctors for another 30 minutes ( its not too bad as I consider us lucky to have got in and we are queue jumping)Doc looks at x rays, nothing broken, no infection in the joints, even though he has an elevated temperature, no fractures, no ruptures...needs to have a poo though(doctors words, not mine as a full bowel shows on x rays in case you did'nt know, too much info, too bad).

So after 2 and a half hours of waiting rooms, treatment rooms, x-rays and manipulations; there is naught wrong with Mr 6's hip but deep bruising which has yet to surface. At least his sister got off the camp today without too much of a hassle ***SIGH**

Gremlin fairies Or why I can't get out to get a pressie

Well,Miss 8 Almost 9 had a small filling yesterday morning, the intention was that she have the procedure and then return to school...But oh, no the little grimy, grotty fairies whom ruin the best intentions of mice and men, but more importantly...ME soon put that idea to rest. I really cannot blame the fairies and SHIT HAPPENS and I hate my plans being upset. Miss 8 Almost 9 had her filling without anethestic; the dentist said it was so small it was not warranted or needed. So, I took that as "expert opinion" and went with it...Apart from the fact I HATE needles and have had 8 fillings ( the most recent 2 weeks ago which was 5 sided , after a tooth got hit and cracked) all without anesthesia. Well, Miss 8 Almost 9 took it well, she put up her hand as told to when the discomfort became too much, only to be told by the dentist "just a bit more" after the second, "just a bit more" I asked him to give her a break, and he complied. She was very ,very brave. After she was happy and ready to go the school and whilst I was settling the bill ( $19 after the private health fund kicked in...yah yah yah) she went outside to wait, and promptly proceeded to THROW UP!!!! She was pale and looked absolutely awful, and in a matter of minutes she had gone from a little girl who had just had her first (minor) filling to a wrung out rag. She had no temperature and the dentist says it happens to a few kids when they have their first procedure apart from regular checks, its just nerves. Anyway, I kept her home from school for the day and was unable to proceed with my plan for birthday shopping for her 9th birthday this week. Mr 6 was devastated, I hear from his teacher, as he could not find her in the playground at recess or lunchtime.

I ,finally, got out today to get her something. She has gone to school today as after a 2 hour sleep and some reading yesterday she was fine...Plus she goes to camp on Thursday and really wants to go.

I don't resent her being ill, I think if any of my plans; no matter how meaningless they are; get cancelled or messed about...I cannot cope. I mean, I got want I wanted for her today...So why did it matter so much to me that I did it yesterday??

Welcome to my world...Alphabetically

I got tagged by Jamie, this is a new twist on my old ABC of Me

Accent - Not sure, it's Aussie I know but in regard to States, I don't think people from interstate have accents here.
Booze of Choice - Absolute Cut, bourbon, or Brown Brothers
Chore I hate - dusting
Dog or Cat - two dogs, one cat. Cannot be without dogs
Essential electronics - mobile, PC
Favorite perfume(s)/cologne(s) – Angel, Oceanis
Gold or Silver? - either
Hometown - Nar Nar Goon
Insomnia? sometimes
Job Title domestic engineer
Kids? - three
Living Arrangement - big house on big block, with husband , three kids .
Most admired trait-don't know
Number of Sexual Partners - a lady never tells ( no one say I am not a lady or I will thump you LOL)
Overnight Hospital Stays - As a baby: 2 months in from birth, throughout childhood: too many to recall, after giving birth: no1: one week, no 2: 6 days, no 3: 4 days
Phobia - needles
Quote - " the decision to have a child means accepting the fact that you heart will forever walk around outside of your body" - unknown
Religion - born and raised a Catholic, became a questing atheist, a Jedi Knight and now lapsed Catholic who still questions the church's role much to the ire of many.
Siblings - one little brudder
Time I wake up - school days: 0630-0700, weekends: Sat 0800 Sun: as late as possible, school holidays: whenever the kids get up
Unusual talent/skill - mimic a dog barking and growling or a cat fight.
Vegetable I refuse to eat - asparagus
Worst habit - drinking Coke,being loud
X-rays - yep, dental too many to count, ditto with arms, legs, feet, etc
Yummy foods I make - cake ( any) , pasta, truffles
Zodiac sign - Leo, which is the reason I am such an BITCH :)Same as Jamie

5 People I tag are:
Guruann cause she hasn't' been chosen for a while
Crritic cause he just should do one of these anyway
The Curator they might wake up from their slumber of almost 6 months!!!
Whoever else would like to play

Don't forget to feed the birds.

You know how I know you're .........?

I forgot to tell all ( all 3 of you who read) about the funniest film I have watched in a long time. I mean, I list "The Sweetest Thing" up there as an all time side splitter and a few friends and I can do the "Your penis is too big" song word for word...After a few drinks. Well, I have met the male counterpart in "The 40 year Old Virgin" now, I am not one to usually like the Porkys genre of film for adolescents, but both of these are aimed at adults. One has an underlying theme that all women really want IS a serious relationship despite the front and the other says the same of men.
One of the BEST, absolutely best banters from 40 Y.O.V is the "You know how I know your gay?" volley. The out take is totally out of this world( and not for the kiddies) but the film version very ,very good indeed.
So with that theme in mind I have started a new tag:
You know how I know you are ........?
RULES:
1.Choose three people and tell them why you know they are ......
2. Be nice, if they are not out/in do not make this an outing/inning.
3. BE NICE, no really explicit stuff unless you absolutely know they will not be offended (like you have it in writing from them that its ok to say it)
4. BE NICE!!!!
5. The tagged people in turn, tag three more each and so on.

Now I will include myself because I can and it's my game OK!!!

1. Supamum: You know how I know you are straight? Because you have that photo of the "pool man" on your screen saver for your phone and you send it to everyone.

2. Jamie You know how I know you are loved? Because you have such an insight into life and a manner for looking on the bright side of things, who couldn't love you.

3. Brian You know how I know you are a brilliant writer? Because you already have gone to the trouble to have a book published which means you have the guts to write your heart and place it on a shelf. Which is more than you can say for some "writer"

Enjoy!!

What have I been up to...God only knows

Well, here we are in the second week of the school holidays and I have absolutely no idea where time has gone. I know some parents wish the holidays to fly but I have so much to do, so many people whom we promised to catch up with in the holidays and now here we are on the second last day of them!!!!
I have had the kids half yearly dental check ups done and Miss 8 Almost 9 needs a small filling which will get done next week. Mr 6 had speech pathology last week and was all over the room like a blue arse fly, his pathologist was amazed as the past appointments have been in the afternoons of a school day so he would have spent 4 hours in school before attending therapy and is obviously more settled then. She asked me half way through the session if he is always like that , my reply was "Welcome to my world" He was unable to sit through one work session let only the 3 she had planned, he was on the floor, under the table, wanting to go to the toilet, at the computer, you name it, he was into it. She told him he was making her dizzy. He has a pediatrician appointment next week and I will discuss it with her as it is something his teacher has noticed in the last week of term also.
I caught up with my pal, Maxine and her daughter who is the same age as Miss 8 Almost 9. And another friend visited yesterday after Maxine left, she has a daughter with Aspergers whom I have been helping with learning to read for the past two years. Stevie (as I call her) missed out on funding at school and the school placed the onus on her parents to facilitate her reading deficiency, so I took over for the second half of Prep and grade 1, then Mandy got a home tutor who specialises in special needs kids. Stevie is now only slightly behind her counterparts and the school tried to take the credit for it!! Any way, Mandy and her tribe of two visited yesterday and she looks very well and very in control considering her diagnosis of MS and the fact that her son has a partial diagnosis of "some form of autism spectrum disorder". It never rains, it pours for this woman. But we have been friends for over 20 years, she was bridesmaid and her husband best man at our wedding and she knows I am ALWAYS there for her.
Speaking of weddings, it was out 17th wedding anniversary last Saturday, there is no listing for what is a traditional gift and what is a modern gift for a 17th, so I gave him some Lindt choccies and he gave me some Jelly Belly jelly beans...So the official 17th wedding anniversary gift is now,chocolates and Jelly beans!!!And on the subject of celebrations it will be my da's 80th on Saturday but his party is on Sunday at our place.
I have been training the pup, I have not mentioned him much as when I first mentioned him; there was an issue raised in regards to our existing dog ; with council. This was done anonymously and in a very, very covert manner and also contry to councils guidelines in regards to accepting complaints. Suffice to say, the matter is with a higher authority and I am entertaining the idea of issuing a writ against the council for accepting and entertaining a malicious and vexatious compliant in in a manner contary to their own guidelines which therefore was vilifying of our character and statue in the realm of the dog world. You see, we are both accredited dog obedience instructors and long time trainers and dog handlers, we are both stewards and members of many clubs and affiliations within the dog world. Heads will roll, I care not who complained or why, I care that local authorities feel they can circumvent their own guidelines which are in place to stop this sort of un warranted harassment. Watch this space.
anyway, the pup, (who for privacy reasons shall remain nameless) has been wonderful; we have been to a local park ( off lead area) today with our friend from Portland who's dog sired him. He needed to learn a bit of respect for other dogs so his father gave him a "bit of what for" . I do not advocate dogs fighting but there are times when nature needs to allowed to run its course...And he learnt his place in the pecking order without any blood letting. Having a dog on a lead and pulling it back again and again, does little except teach them to try again. Let them do what nature intended and the younger will learn its place and respect for it elders...As did someone today. We are meeting up again later for another play session offlead and tomorrow is a local Obedience Trial at Riddells Creek which I think I will peruse. Mr 3 has a party to attend tomorrow afternoon so I have some four year old shopping to do and I am debating attending obedience club tomorrow or visiting the trial and catching up with some friends.

Traffic, Games, and the magic of surprise

So the Commonwealth Games opened last night here in Melbourne...My kids were totally fascinated with it all.
I was very impressed to see the EAD (elite athletes with disabilities) competitors as part of many contingents, this is a new era for the Games ;as these competitors are not only representatives of their countries; but the sports they are in are trail sports for future Games.

I thought it apt that Leunig's poem The Duck was used in the manner it was and that it was a person not normally seen by many in the community as a mainstream writer. Plus he's from Melbourne.

I wonder ,though, with all the traffic from the Games Village, and normal Melbourne traffic, how many people will be booked for driving in the now BLUE
LANES designated as GL (Games Lanes). We will see, call me a skeptic but looks like a bit of a revenue opportunity to me, what wrong with a "Hey mate, that lane's reserved for Games athletes travel only" "Oh sorry, I didn't know..There are no clear and concise signs telling me that"

Well, I am waiting for the hockey to happen, I am a hockey fiend. See the secrets out now. I love men's and women's hockey but not ice or skate hockey. Yes, I played for many years at regional and state levels, I wasn't very fast but I'm very strong and very deft, being ambidextrous helped too as I could play to either side by swapping hands. ( Why that pissed opposition teams off I will NEVER know LOL). Miss 8 was rapt to see her idol, Cathy Freeman carry the Queens Baton, and is very sad she has retired from athletics. Mr 6 was just enthralled by all the fireworks and peoples(sic). I did have to laugh that they had Ron Barrassi "walk on water" from the pontoons to the stairs....For those who are uninitiated to the religion known as football here...Barassi is thought to be the ultimate in footballs living legends as a player and a premiership coach. But I dislike football so would not know.

Don't forget to fix the leaking tap!!!

Miss 5 needs this type in the kids bathroom...LOL 

This is the type of toilet needed in my house!!!!! 

School Holidays, Commonwealth Games and ????

School holidays have been bought forward this year in Victoria( not sure about the other states) due to the Commonwealth Games being held here . So Term 1 was for a whole SIX weeks after a six week Christmas/New Year break, Term 2 will be 12 weeks with Easter off. I love how the Governments; State and Federal; just switch about the holidays to suit the multi media, mass production known as the Commonwealth Games. Now don't get me wrong, I don't work away from home, so it hardly effects me but if you have just split your leave between yourself and your partner to look after the kids during the summer holidays...What person would have accrued enough leave to have a further two weeks leave six weeks later???? And what employer ( apart from some PS departments) would allow you another lot of leave ,six weeks later????
Despite the Government paying lip service to "family friendly " policies...They counteract with the introduction of industrial relations laws which will strip away the right to even have the leave during school holidays let alone have all the entitled leave. Then they bring in this whammy...Yes, I know there are school holiday programs, which cost money and in some cases defeat the reason for going to work at all. The Government wants more women in the workplace, why? So we can be taxed more? So we spend more?Until the workplace becomes truly and equitably family friendly for ALL this will always be the downfall of any government.

Inso far as the Commonwealth Games goes, well, its great to see the countries of the Commonwealth get together for a who's the fastest/strongest/best/whatever competition, if that is your thing. It's nice to see the creme' de la creme' of their sports represent their country all trained to the nth degree of their fitness levels, what has been pushed to the background as oft it does is that the both the Special Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for 2006 also.

I don't recall any advertising given to the SO or PO, those who attend are families and carers and others involved in the world of disability and special needs, I have yet to met a member of the general public who has ever attended a SO or PO just for the sporting aspect. As someone who has attended/seen both, let me let you in on a little secret..................
Wonderful though it was to see Cathy Freeman win the 400m in Sydney and the women's swim team win relays and the "Thorpedo" help bring back the glory days for Aussies in the pool....But for my sense of achievement and national pride, you will never, ever get over seeing Louise Sauvage win a wheel chair distance race or the joy on the faces of a relay team on the podium, or the utter disbelief of the winner of a 100m freestyle. For my money, these are the true sports people, they have no high octane sports institutes to attend, no high profile coaches and training teams, no real big name international sponsors, they do it because they love it, because they can and because they are grateful for what they have in life. So instead of buying that 10th ticket to see some sport you may not even like just so you can say you did, maybe look at attending the SO or PO this year, or make a donation to getting the PO team to Sorino.

International woman's Day

Today is International woman's Day(IWD), it is to commemorate the deeds of our foremothers and the selflessness of their actions to help women today achieve what they have. Little things such as the right to vote, the right of equal pay for equal work ( questionable, I know) the right to be not only a mother but an employee/employer or to stay home, the right to childcare facilities, freedom of choice in motherhood, relationships, sexuality; the right to say"no", the right of recourse via the legal system, the right to enter and serve in the armed forces, the police, the fire brigade, the SES, the CFA and numerous other protection and rescue services; the right to be whatever you wish to be; the right to education, be it tertiary or vocational; the right to serve on a jury, be the judge or magistrate, the barrister or the solicitor...........

In short, the women before us; be they our mothers, our aunts, our sisters, our cousins; gave us the rights and freedom of choices. How we use them, how we develop them, how we mix and match the product of our choices; is up to us. We need to ensure that they are not eroded by political agendas driven by guilt ridden rhetoric, that they are not cast into doubt by zealots who bring their beliefs to the parliamentary table; for they are our choices to be respected and unquestioned by anyone. Our foremothers did not suffer torment and ridicule, scorn and vilification for these steps ;they have made for us to rise above what they only were able to achieve; to be turned to rubble by those in society, business and politics who cannot accept the changing face of women.
We need to maintain the rage of our predecessors, fight for what we believe, what is our right, we need to smash the" glass ceiling" in the workplace in such a manner that the shards will be irreparable. We need to make it known;loud and clear; that to be a "stay at home mum" still makes us a worthy member of society, that taxpayers are not footing the bill for our leisure. That we are all of equal standing, be you working mothers or women who choose not to have children, or by fate, cannot have children, we are all united by a singular cause; that of furthering the rights of women; if not for ourselves; then for our children, our nieces, our god daughters , granddaughters and all who follow afterwards.

Play ball with the dog for chrissakes!!!!!!!! 

Weird, Strange and Random

I got tagged ( AGAIN, I am so excited by memes it's dangerous) by Jamie.
The rules are very simple and easy

1. Thank the person that tagged you.
2. List 5 random/strange/weird things about you.
3. Tag 5 other people.

SO THANK YOU, JAMIE.

1.I like to read crime/thriller books but cannot and will not watch them in a movie format

2. I have a pin in my ankle which hurts when the weather is going to get colder. This is real. Many people say this is a furphy..But I can say it's for real.

3.I like kids parties but I have to choke back tears at my children parties when I see them so happy and in awe.

4. I judge my writing by my own reaction to it, if a poem makes my cry each time; I know ( think) it's good, same with anything I write.

5. I read in the bath.

Now whom to tag....???/
No one likes to play such games about here very much, so I guess I will tag who ever wants to participate....OK.

Don't forget to play ball with the dog!!!!