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The Family Bandwagon

Our family is spread out across the country and across the world, and what better way to keep in touch than a collaborative digital journal?

Tuesday 31 May 2016

Sad news

After having a wonderful family day on Sunday with Elaine, she passed away in hospital on Monday. She'd had a turn late Sunday evening and was taken to hospital with very low blood pressure. They were unable to fix the problem and she died with all of her family around her. Arnold is lost but the pancreatic cancer was incurable and Elaine said she didn't want to end up a vegetable.
Mum is so pleased we got to see her and that she was looking well. She even gave Mum an orchid as a birthday present and a handmade card. Lovely memories.Many photos taken and some by Clive so I'll post them when I can.

Saturday 28 May 2016

Cardiff Capers

Firstly, a bumpdate (taken just now).
This week I've had the joy of swollen ankles at the end of the day (where did my ankle bones go?! 😱). Bump is getting biggest and heavier - I sound like an bear when I roll over in bed or get up off the couch.. and there's still two months to go!

Work is still busy - I worked the last two weekends. The first was a conference in Fareham (3 hour drive). The conference was at a spa hotel and I made the most of it. :-)  I arrived on the Friday evening, just in time for dinner and drinks (non-alcoholic ones for me). Saturday morning we were all woken abruptly by the fire alarm - imagine a constant loud blaring at about 6:45am! Not a good way to wake up. But since I was up so early, I went for a swim (ooh, weightless bump!) and booked in for a massage. Got to make the most of the venue! ;-) After my massage, I set up and delivered my two workshops and, after packing up, that was my official work done. Although I did go to some of the conference talks because they sounded interesting (and were). Saturday evening was the fancy-dress disco - the theme was The Letter T. Can you guess what I went as? (note: that's non-alcoholic champagne, Mum, and a roll of cardboard as my 'ciggy').

The conference finished on Sunday - I spent the first session getting a pedicure (I struggle to reach my toes now.. and if I look straight down, I can't even see them!), and listened to a couple of talks before driving back to Cardiff. *phew*


Last weekend I headed up to Newcastle for another conference (flew there in an hour, got the train back and it took about 5 hours!). This was the RSC Outreach conference and all I had to do was take part and to help facilitate a table discussion or two. Easy. The conference dinner was in the Centre for Life (a science centre) and we got to play with the exhibits. Good fun! 
Centre for Life, Newcastle
Playing with perspective
Music creator
I also managed to find some time before the conference for a look around Newcastle - the Castle Keep was interesting and had some great views from the top (loads of stairs tho! And I didn't even have my fitbit!).
Views from the top of the Castle Keep

I'm glad that it's finally the weekend and I don't have to work! And it's a long weekend at that. Yay! We might go to the movies sometime but otherwise I'm enjoying not having to do anything! 

Lisa, you and your family haven't guessed bub's birth date etc. Neither have you Damien - have a go (there'll be a prize.. of some sort):   http://bit.ly/mini-family  

Hopefully we'll catch up with you all online soon.

Friday 20 May 2016

Church St Chatter

Hi to Dayna and Bruce. How are things going? I think about you often but don't catch up on line very much. I hope you are feeling OK Dayna. Probably getting to the feeling enormous stage. Enjoy. Baby is where you know and is happy. No broken nights sleep yet so make the most of the chance to sleep.
Good work Damien and Cheryl for organising Trinity and Daria's birthday gift from the family. I'm sure they will benefit from the lessons. All Oz kids need to know how to swim.
Night without dancing tonight. Unusual for a Friday. Home alone to watch TV and do some felt flower making.
This morning Clive borrowed my mower to do Nana's lawns and drive, The rain and warm weather means plenty of growth. We called at the op shop to drop off some more from the caravan then got fish and chips for lunch  to share with Nana. I'm sure she enjoyed the company.He has taken the mower to do his place now. Nana's is at Denise's for Pete to check out.
Yesterday Denise and I went to three op shops and the Marketplace. She is making the most of being able to drive again after seven weeks. Doing well and the surgeon said it will take three months for the swelling to go down in the leg. Denise and Pete have bought a caravan so looking for melamine dinnerware (light) and curtains to separate the bed from the lounge.
I phoned Arnold earlier in the week. He said Elaine appeared to have recovered from the brain trauma. They were keeping her in hospital for observation while continuing the radiation of the brain to try to stop the tumours.Hope it has continued OK and that no news is good news.
Love to all. Haven't booked the flight to Sydney as yet as the cheap fares had gone. Maybe they'll come back?? Planning July 27th to August 2nd and will book next month regardless,


Saturday 7 May 2016

Church St Chatter

Sorry I missed a chat. I do check on Sunday evenings to see if anyone is about.
After not dancing for four nights, we're back into it again. Clive went to Swan Hill on Monday to collect his sister and bring her to Bendigo for a medical appointment. She planned to return on the bus but VLine staff gave her the wrong place to catch the bus so Clive drove her home on Tuesday and returned on Wednesday. He had races on Friday so has been busy. I decided not to go the the dance on Monday by myself. Made some more felt flowers instead.
As I mentioned, I was called in for jury duty on Wednesday , selected and sat through a trial from Thursday to Monday. Now exempt for three years.
When I hear all of the crimes about, I had it lucky. We all agreed he was not guilty and had decided that on Thursday. No idea how this one got past the commital stage.
Tuesday I took Denise into St John of God to start her gym. Unfortunately the pool was broken so no hydro. I met Val Loomes for lunch and a chat at the Beechworth bakery, then dropped her off at the Marilyn Monroe exhibition before returning to collect Denise and take her to collect scripts, visit Mum( who decided she'd rather join us than War Widows) to Eaglehawk to get the script filled (and checked the op shop while we waited). Back to Denise's for a coffee then took Mum home where Jared was waiting and C,J & girls arrived soon after.
Denise has physio on Tuesday and Friday. Pete can do the taxi on Friday. Once Denise is allowed to drive she'll take herself.
Spinners on Wednesday. We made a fibre sandwich. I'd heard of them and knew the basic principles, but had never done one. A couple of people obviously had no idea what Ocean theme for colours meant so I pulled a bit out of my share. I've now spun it up and plied some with a pale green.Need to spin more of the green so I can finish it.Photos on FB on the Bendigo Spinners Weavers and Handcraft Group page.
Also been dyeing some mohair and silk so I need to get knitting.
Thursday I worked in the garden Front is much tidier now. Friday was Mad Hatters. we then went to a coffee shop for lunch since we're not impressed with the food at the Pub we meet at.( We do have a good room for the meeting there and we pay $5 a head for the room, coffee and biscuits so the Pub doesn't miss out.)
Tomorrow family is coming for lunch so I'm busy cooking a pav, zucchini slice and quiche. Look forward to catching up with the Bendigo contingent.

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Cardiff capers

I've been at home for the last week. I'd like to say that I've been relaxing and making the most of my leave, but I've spent most of it trying to find the balance between mobility and pain management. It was nothing serious - I seized my neck up putting out the recycling last Sunday. So foolish! So painful! 

Needless to say, Bruce has to deal with all of the rubbish from now on. And I'm much more aware of trying to lift things - just because I could lift it before, doesn't mean I should lift it now! Makes me feel like an invalid. :-(

Fortunately, it was much better by the weekend - I still have to be careful turning my head, but at least I CAN turn it now. 

Good to speak to some of you on the weekend. For those who missed the conversation, here's the latest bumpdate:


John and Gwen visited for the long weekend - they helped us move furniture around the flat. I'm happy to say that we now have space for all of the baby stuff we've been accumulating (and even more went to the tip or is ready for the op shop). 

On Saturday we went to see the Radyr and Morgantown Festival. It was very small.. A handful of stalls in the carpark of the church rooms and a tiny "procession" (local kids walking along with their parents, about a quarter of them dressed up in some way.. A handful of Roald Dahl characters and a few with team t-shirts and pom-poms). Fortunately, the local cafe was open (for once) so all we had a cuppa and cake. :-)

I'm back at work Thursday, so I'm planning on having a relaxed day tomorrow. What's your update?