the nightmare in victoria.........

My family is healthy, I have all of my "stuff". As the smoke haze reaches Ballarat today, I will be thinking of all those who have lost in the Victorian Bushfires.

I am also thinking of all those who are helping and how proud I am to be Australian - the money that has been raised is utterly amazing, the volunteers helping feed, cloth, house those in need, everyone helping the animals.... but moreso those who battled the blazes and who continue to... I came across this video and thought it conveyed my message better than I could...

our big first day...

First Day of School

I say "our" because its a huge day not only for Bain, but for all three of us. So the day started out fairly cruisey with breakfast, then a little rush towards the end only to end up quite early at school.

His teacher Mrs Campbell is lovely and we put all our things away. He settled on a table with one of his kinder mates Liam (pictured) and happily drew away.

We said our goodbyes and it was no big deal to him. He had been so excited and waited so long for school, so it was no surprise that he was so keen. I didn't cry, perhaps as I had to rush off to work - my boss had already let me be half hour late. I did feel a little anxious most of the morning.

He ate all his fruit and chicken sandwich, and his small piece of our banana-carrot cake. I figured a little piece, homemade and with fruit/veg in it wouldn't be classed as junk. He did send home his crackers - water crackers - as I was trying a salt reduced dry bikkie, it didn't work.

All in all, a GREAT day. He was happy, his teacher said he listened well, she even took his photo with a great big - non cheeky - smile, half her luck. And the most important thing is that he wants to go back tomorrow!!

Thanks heaps for everyones well wishes!!!

our mini-holiday

We decided, that with school drawing closer, we should take off for a few days. We'd be wanting to stay with Jon's cousins in Torquay for a while. We had a yummy meal at the restaurant - Front Beach - where his other cousin Ben is head chef, we visited Torquay market - which was excellent, spend time at the beach and just hanging out. We finished up with a night in Geelong, tea at my favourite Wharf Shed and a day at Point Lonsdale rockpools with bro and Mum. We only had four days away, but with the sun, beach, eating out/takeaway, ice creams - it felt like a real break. So heres a slide show.

2008 year in review

here we go again... doesn't seem like that long ago I was doing the 07' version...

Anyway - here are my standouts and points of interest for 2008.. hope you've got a spare 10 mins...

Standout Music
Albums...


Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
Really enjoying this album, mush more than Because of the Times, this seems more rock. Would have loved to see them live, oh well.


Ting Tings - We started Nothing
A recent favourite, but I'm loving it! Will be listening to it all summer and more. Bain sings to himself 'I ain't faking, I ain't faking it, shut up and let me go - ah!'.
Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All his Friends
Really enjoyed the next installment by Coldplay, we listened to this a fair bit at the winery, good memories for good music.
...and my album of the year....
The Presets - Apocalypso
What a great album! No wonder it won Aria album of the year and Triple J album of the year, well deserved, will be listening to this for a while yet, Bain loves it to, think he has pretty good taste actually.




bits and pieces

• Kayne West Love Lockdown - really like this song, I like a bit of his music just can't listen to an entire album.
• Ladyhawke Paris is burning - my criteria for listening to an album is at least 2 songs I really enjoy, I love this but again not enough for an album, great song though.
• MGMT Electric Feel

favourites as of the end of 08' but getting big into 09'
Empire of the Sun - I'm loving Walking on a Dream, great summer song - have a listen...


Laura Marling - a Joni Mitchell thing going on, so I'm drawn in, quirky, easy, pretty, eery...

Live..
Sadly, Big Day Out was the only concert I attended this year. Although I HATE HATE HATE the new venue (dusty, no grass, NO grand stands), I absolutely loved seeing Bjork. I have loved and adored her for so long, it was surreal to see her in the flesh and she didn't disappoint! Then Rage Against The Machine come out - wow! What a awesome show, so powerful and political, even Zach and the band were pleased to hear we'd voted John Howard out.
Other really good acts were Silverchair, Faker and Grinspoon.

Standout Movies
well, I hardly watched anything but i did enjoy..

• Dark Knight
• WallE
• Iron Man
• and yes, I enjoyed Step Brothers.

Standout TV shows
The Office (US version) - always hilarious and always leaves me wanting more, although I wish Holly was still around...
..not much else..


Standout websites
Kirin Notebook - a Melbourne based designer, into crafts, design/prints her own fabrics, recently started own printing business with 2 other friends. I absolutely love her designs and find her blog very interesting as its what I'm into at the moment. She also gives great address to fellow crafters, is very down to earth and a sense of humour.


Kaz was Here - Sister-in-laws blog. Always great to catch up with family, see all of her endeavours happening, I always know whats going on with these guys, love seeing pics of my niece and nephew.







Etsy - always a fave, slowed a little due to US dollar, still love it for inspiration.

FAIL blog - I discovered this during the year (thanks to Kirin notebook actually) Its basically stuff that has "failed", eg. this kids coat hook, bad labelling, Youtube vids etc. Its just plain funny, no real point.







Cute Overload - Bain and I love a good funny cat video, so this site is quite entertaining for us.Who doesn't love a cute puppy photo or a video of a Rottweiler puppy with hiccups...??.

Standout Events (personal)

• Completing Project 365. It got the better of me a few times, but I'm glad i kept going, thinking about starting again as I realise how little photography work i have done since.
  
• Felicity and Glenns Wedding - although it would have been nice to not have Bain in hospital, but great day and good photos if I do say so myself.(will post them soon)
• My 30th Weekend - Not just the party but the entire weekend, tea out with Jon's sissy's, picnic in the park with my fam on sunday - great to have all the family around

Jon's 30th Weekend - Loved having Karen and the kids here on the Friday night, then the party - easy with pizza tea and good company. Guitar Hero was entertaining all weekend.

• Bain playing the donkey in his kinder Nativity play! He had refused to do it in rehearsals and then on the day - he just decided to be the donkey!!
  
• and MOVING TO BALLARAT - majorly standout event, didn't start well with taking 2 months to find a house - but worth the wait, our house is just perfect for us. Bain made the transition to kinder here well and is so excited about school, luckily lots of his friends are going there too. 50cent profita rolls. Always stuff happening. Close to family - and its actually worked, we see Geelong/Surfcoast crew heaps! **It makes it even better when friends and family make the effort to come visit - so thanks to all that have!

Favourite Photos

...and lastly...

with that over with - I will now follow on from my SIL and others by choosing a word for 2009...

Looking forward, not lingering in the past, giving myself goals, developing myself, moving my family forwards in life, progressing in life - all in many ways - mentally, financially, physically, creatively...

christmas 08'

...was.... fun, busy, tiring, enjoyable, filling (from so much yummy food)...

I always love giving so I really enjoy Christmas, but I had been working fairly hard on the dollhouse... and at work, the doll house had consumed my mental and physical energy for so long leading up to Christmas, it was a huge release when I had it completed. It has gone to a good place with my Niece, who seemed completely overwhelmed by it! I was so happy with how it turned out, and keeping with tradition, I was still working on it around midnight of Christmas eve.

Here are some pictures, and some reminders of post reno's. Followed by lots and lots of pictures of Christmas day - hey I'm a photographer, thats what I do!


outside old and then new....





...with a great reno'ed door...



downstairs old...

downstairs new.... featuring my old furniture with new paint and cushions, new curtains (I had perspex windows but all were lost), lino cleaned up a treat...




upstairs old....

upstairs new.... featuring the bed Dad made, couch that goes with other furniture and new carpet of course..




Christmas morning at our place









Bain had already been given a bike from us earlier... Santa gave him a big tub of lego, a few transformers, Diamondhead, water pistol, light saber, new headphones for MP3 and some little stocking stuffers

First stop - my brothers before we head to lunch with jon's family...







and lunch with Jon's family....











Bain recieved some great stuff from his Uncles, aunts, nannas, grandmas, and cousins - a sleeping bag, rocket thing, pogo stick, books, kite, hummer and remote control car... he's a very happy and lucky boy!

Soon to come - my year in reveiw...

the silly season...

Wow, Christmas is just around the corner. I'm fairly busy at the moment, as most people are, but with all good things - a quick but very enjoyable visit from my Dad - great time spent in Geelong with the bros, work chrissy do, last day of kinder today - and a Nativity concert last week - which featured a cute little donkey named Bain!!! (so very proud..photos to come as he told me and kinder teachers he wasn't going to do it - so I wasn't ready), trip to Cohuna for a Xmas with Jon's Dad and rest of the Martin/Yates gang - awesome fun ahead!, and then it'll pretty much be Christmas... I also have to complete the renovations on my old doll house, for my neice Georgia, for her christmas present. Dad gave me a hand while he was down - BIG THANKS TO DAD. He also has made a bed for it (after photos to come).

I made mini cupcakes for last day of kinder, which they'll be having a little party and Santa visit. So cute I had to take some pics and share...
















Before photos of Doll House - just a little bit of work...




inside down stairs



inside upstairs

Bain helper..??..





Some snappies of a bike ride - Bain's early Christmas present - new bike!






Cheers and have a happy Christmas...