Charlie Spies A Loose Sheep

by Twitchy on May 22, 2013

Instincts are strong. A city boy has to make do.

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1. Charlie does the “Sheep Creep”.

2. Ahhh. Take 5, Sheep.

3. There’s nothing quite like job satisfaction..

 
Linking with
My Little Drummer Boys

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21 x 2

by Twitchy on May 21, 2013

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On Monday I turned 21 for the second time around. (That’s how I’m going to put it, ok.) This birthday feels more significant than 40 and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the sense that change is coming.

A huge apricot rose by my window bloomed magnificently- way out of season- just for me. Maybe we’re both late bloomers.

A very dear friend organised an intimate table for a ladies’ High Tea for Sunday. It was the most thoughtful thing. Yes, I do love a High Tea (who wouldn’t?) but she wanted to do this because the weeks surrounding my 40th were a health disaster. Thanks to shock liver poisoning from a rare allergy, I was sick and yellow and couldn’t have a party. Recovery took weeks, even months. On the night, my husband and I just took a hotel room for a rest, a massage, a sleep in and brunch. It was very nice indeed, yet not quite right. Perfect for an anniversary perhaps, but big birthdays are meant to be had with friends.

I looked forward to High Tea for weeks. I thought I was excited about the whole lot but as soon as I arrived and saw my beautifully dressed, smiling friends, (anti-candida notwithstanding) I knew the rows of sweet delights were not at all why. I had the company of a handful of lovely, busy people all taking the time to stop and be with me. It was a gorgeous afternoon and I felt enormous gratitude. Not just toward my beautiful friend who arranged this, but universal gratitude for my good fortune in knowing such wonderful people, who are happy to know me back.

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Later, two of us left standing went to cross off another activity on my wish list: to celebrate a Eurovision Grand Final party, with Twitter, at a gay bar in front of a wide screen. Man that was fun and interactive. For some inexplicable reason, there were young folk in animal onesies EVERYWHERE. Or maybe the unicorn was quietly one half of the UK coat of arms? Poor old  Bonnie Tyler. No one votes for the UK. One lone Irish supporter loyally waved his flag. But the cheering for the Irish drummers and Romanian Vampiric Opera singer were wild. SO much fun. Thank you S for being my date!

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Monday morning, a lovely timing co-incidence occurred. My dad came around as he often does, to update me on the house building and ask me why coffee isn’t ready yet. Then he fixed our bathroom taps and sat down. Next, my mother turned up. How about that. There I was, alone with both my parents’ undivided attention. Who CARES how old I am? It’s still cool!

It’s been over half my life already they haven’t been together- they’re more like brother and sister now. The point is, they are happy to see each other and cross paths often. They call each other for updates on my Dad’s elderly parents (who are still my Mum’s surrogate parents- hers are long gone).

Mum’s known my grandparents since she was sixteen and to them she’s still the daughter they never had. Some people find this hard to get their heads around. I guess it’s when that happens I realise how unusual it might be and again how lucky I am, to have such a close knit and unconditional family. Yes I got some lovely treats and trinkets, but family and friends who care about you will always be the greatest gift. It’s just when birthdays come around, I get spoilt all at once. Sometimes, all you do need is love.

Linking with Essentially Jess for #IBOT.

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My Hero Files: Anna of ABBA

May 17, 2013

The month of May brings so many highlights on my personal calendar. There’s the Celebrate Me festival that runs between Mother’s Day and my birthday next week, but it’s also Eurovision time of year again! Host country is Sweden, which is the perfect segue to my next topic: Agnetha (aka Anna of ABBA). Abba’s stratospheric [...]

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Tooth Fairy On Standby

May 14, 2013

Break out the Fairy Welcome mat, it’s looking like tomorrow night is the night! Though Miss6 feels like she’s waited an eternity to catch up and lose her first tooth (at least a year now), for me it doesn’t seem all that long ago we were teething and getting new teeth (hard to forget). If [...]

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Just Another Manic Monday

May 13, 2013

It was Mothers Day yesterday. I always brace myself for Mothers and Fathers Days- with everyone local it’s always a feat to balance. This year, at least my husband was home. Last year and the year before I took myself and the kids out for brunch, just the three of us, before heading out to [...]

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“Mediocre” is the Envied Scourge of Today.

May 7, 2013

I’m disturbed. This time beyond generally speaking. There’s a fine line somewhere, dividing the tipping point between the healthy pursuit of our best and the consuming, obsessive need to be better than everyone else. Last week in my post about “success” (Average Is A Dirty Word), I hope I explained this. Today my news stream is [...]

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Parental Initiations

April 30, 2013

If the poem says “They f*ck you up, your Mum and Dad”…well I don’t reckon kids just sit around polishing their halos, either. This gig aint for the faint hearted, nor the weak of stomach. Even if you’re not good at finding your intestinal fortitude under pressure, they’ll put you through boot camp, alright. Like [...]

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Average is a Dirty Word

April 26, 2013

We live in a culture of Success and Achievement. Career pinnacles, celebrity, fifteen-minutes-of-fame, reality show contestants, people looking for their big break. Little kids want to be famous! Everyone seems to be following their dream, or pushing someone else to achieve theirs. Ribbons, certificates, letters, prizes, titles, dollars, peer approval, a name; we want them. [...]

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Teen Is Rude To Mother. Mother is… pleased?

April 23, 2013

Your thirteen-year old speaks to you with disrespect. You: a)     Are incensed and pull rank or dole out a punishment. b)     You ignore it. c)     You laugh it off. d)     You are proud as punch. While it may seem an odd reaction I was c) & d), [...]

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Vale Chrissy Amphlett, Rock Goddess

April 22, 2013

In the 80’s, there was one Aussie rock chick who kicked arse and made no apologies: Chrissy Amphlett of the Divinyls. I always thought she was enigmatically brilliant. Sometimes she seemed quite off the planet with her style and some say she scared them. Mainly she was a fearless, sexy, talented performer and rule-breaking rock’n’roll [...]

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