It Takes the Flu to Ruin A Weekend!

I picked Miss 7 up on Friday afternoon and she declared that she wasn't well. No doubt she wasn't her usual self but as I had one of my oldest and dearest friend's 40th birthday parties on Saturday night, I safely left her (and the 11 year old) in the capable babysitting hands of the grandparents while Dear Husband and I went out to par-tay!!

Now, the party was at Kangaroo Point in the most beautiful place, with sweeping city views. Nice....right! And the prospect for catching up with old friends and acquaintances would normally be something I'd look forward to. But as the night progressed, I started to feel the same symptoms that Miss 7 had been experiencing.....aching muscles, sore throat, fever, dizziness, headache etc. What timing! So as I eyed the beautiful stack of cupcakes that was the birthday celebration 'cake' I didn't have my usual desire to eat the whole lot of it (unusual to say the least for me...even though I never actually would!) and I ended the night early and the babysitters were relieved before midnight! Darn!!!

I spent Sunday bedridden! We were supposed to go to the first birthday party of twins who belong to friends of ours (damn, I'd spent ages in Pumpkin Patch the previous week picking out the most delightful outfits as pressies, too!) but of course had to cancel!

And on Monday, when the alarm went at 7.45am to prod me into getting out and getting kids ready for school, I was so dizzy and feeling so awful that I made a spur of the moment decision that perhaps school wasn't necessary on this particular Monday after all and treated all of us to a sleep in and a day off! The 11 year old said that he woke at 11 am (yes, he is a true night owl!) and had to check 5 different clocks in the house to make sure that he wasn't dreaming that he'd missed school! I, on the other hand woke just after 11.30 with a fever just below 39 degrees! I also realised late last night that I completely forgot an orthodontist appointment for the 11 year old that had been made a month earlier! Grrrr!

But being sick does have its advantages. Firstly, my dear mum came up and cooked dinner for us all (m-wah, love you mum!) so that was one chore that I didn't have to bother with. Then, when Dear Husband came home from work, I calmly pointed to the washing in the machine which he, in turn had to hang out (although too bad that he only shoved half of it into the dryer!)! But, he did spent most of Sunday running after my every need! Hmmmm....I could get used to this! And when you are bedridden and dizzy, then you really don't see all the chores that need doing in the house and consequently have no guilt! Ha! Works for me!

So now I am left with a nasty cough and am living on Ventolin. I have absolutely no energy and feel like I have been hit by a bus! Yep...it takes the flu to ruin more than a weekend!

And as a PS.....thanks to all those who sent lovely comments about my son's recent appearance in the latest Powderfinger video. It is so much appreciated. He has been acting like Mr Cool...as if it doesn't affect him....but his teacher told me this morning that he told her all about it! And I did notice that he sat in front of Video Hits on Saturday morning until it came on tv! So he is obviously pretty excited. I have added another picture from 'behind the scenes' here. And for all you who want to know which one he is, sorry but I did say that I am very wary of publishing too much info here. I will tell you that he has a pretty big part though. Does that help? And no....he isn't mini Bernard (although I will say that IRL mini-Bernard and his parents are the loveliest, loveliest people!)!

Excitement and a Touch of Fame

I have pondered as to whether I should post this. I am usually very protective of writing/publishing stories that identify my children but considering that this is such a huge event, I thought that I should share it here.

A couple of weeks ago, both of my children auditioned to be in the new Powderfinger video. Yes, yes, I know.....I'm a bit of a PF fan, so imagine my delight at even being there. In his audition, my son was asked what his favourite music is. His reply was, "Wolfmother! But I don't mind some of Powderfinger's songs because my mum plays them all the time in the car!" Rofl! Embarrassing but probably true.

Anyway, a couple of days later we got the call to say that my son had been selected for one of the roles. What followed was 2 days (over a weekend) of excitement and an experience into the world of filming. And let me tell you, it was just like what you'd see on tv: big booms, cameras, makeup and wardrobe stylists everywhere, the director yelling 'Action' across a crowd of screaming kids....it was like another world really.

One highlight for me was meeting Darren Middleton, from the band. And yes, I did the most embarrassing thing and asked him to sign my cd cover. He is a very quiet guy but was totally lovely to everyone....especially the kids. He signed autographs for them all and had photos taken with them. He really seemed like a nice person.

I have learnt a few things, too. Firstly, that I am sooo not a stage mum! Standing around sets all day is tiring...especially if you aren't doing anything. The 2nd day's shoot went over time and we were still there at night - freezing and exhausted from doing nothing but standing around all day!

The other thing I have confirmed is what a truly incredible son I have. Sure, there are times when I could dearly give him away, but he just amazed me. He was confident and performed on cue as soon as the director yelled 'action'. Who would have thought he had it in him??!! I asked him afterwards if he had the acting bug now. "Mummy", was his reply, "This is a once-off"! Ahhh well, so close to having a little star in the family and yet now so far!

So here is the clip. The song is called 'I Don't Remember' and it was filmed at Samford, one of the outer Brisbane 'burbs! I am not going to tell you which one my son is (although all my friends reading this will know already) but I will give you a hint....he is on the stage! Watch out for it this weekend on the tellie, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i61fD2Co7k

More Water Tank Progress

Ok, bad photos I know because I had trouble trying to get behind the tank and take photos (fences/rock walls and space got in my way!) but here is the half-finished product! The concrete went in on Saturday and yesterday we laid the tank on top of it. All that is left to do is to plumb it into the down-pipe drain. Oh, and I want to put a screen up in front of it so you can't see it from the front of the house. Unfortunately, because our back yard is like mountain goat country, this is the only place we could put it without having to dig into an embankment!

10 Songs that Make You Sad

Inspired from reading Another Mom Blog, I thought I'd create my own list.

1) Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton. This is weird but on the way to the cemetery....while driving in the funeral procession for nanna 1, this was playing on the radio. Then, 2 days before my FIL died (some years later) it was playing on the radio again. A month or so later, while shopping in a fruit shop, it was muzak in the background and the next day my grandpop died. Seriously sad. Everytime I hear it now I wonder if I'm going to hear of a death afterwards!

2) Ah May the Red Rose Live Always....Stephen Foster as sung by Suzy Bogguss. A really old song with a modern twist but was played at my nanna 2's funeral and brings back tearful memories.

3) Angel by Sarah McLoughlin....I love this song but it is so sad, too!

4) The Anzac by Adam Brand. Every Anzac ceremony that I go to that plays this song, I end up in tears at!

5) These Days...Powderfinger. I love this song. In fact, I'm sure that they were chanelling my life when they wrote it. Makes me sad because it is so damn accurate at times and perfect for anyone feeling that pinch of mid-life.

6) To Where You Are....Josh Groban. Lyrics say it all, I think.

7) Till Kingdom Come...Coldplay. I thought about putting The Scientist here, too. In fact, a lot of Coldplay songs make me sad...in a good way, of course! ;)

8) So Far Away....Carole King. When I got my first job 2 hours away from home, a friend made a tape for me to listen to on the drive there. He put this song on it, along with lots of songs about friendship and love and for years I cried everytime I played it. Sadly, the friendship didn't last but the memory of the song did.

9) Watch Over Me...Bernard Fanning. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when he sang this at last year's Arias.

10) Better Be Home Soon...Crowded House. Sadness for the memories of a youth now replaced by laugh lines and responsibility! And sadness too for the memory of Paul Hester - who I actually met IRL once and who appeared as gregarious then as he did on the screen and stage. How sad that he was obviously battling his own demons. And if you do watch the link to this song right through and remain dry-eyed, then you are much stronger than me because I cry everytime Neil Finn starts his opening verse.

11) Can I add an 11? It seems that no list of mine could be complete without a Robbie reference and Nan's Song always makes me sad as it's about him losing his nanna......and having lost mine a year ago next month, I can so feel the pain!

In fact, I could add heaps more. But I'll leave my list there. Perhaps others can make their own.

Sausages!

We were watching the dvd of Charlotte's Web. There is a scene in it where Templeton, the rat tells Wilbur that he is going to eventually become 'sausages'.

"Mummy", says a surprised Miss 7, "Is that what sausages are made from?"

"Yes," I explained, "They can be made from pork or beef or even chicken sometimes".

"Oh," says Miss 7 seriously, "I thought they were made from dog...you know....like 'Hot dogs'!!"

Holidays Are Here Again!

It's that time again when every mother wonders why on earth they had kids and how on earth they can stay sane while they count down the days till school goes back! Yes....it's school holiday time! And at the moment I am the first to put my hand up and say that my patience has been sorely tested for many, many days now. The sounds of bored or fighting kids are only broken by the sound of the television blaring children's shows out into our living room at regular intervals. The house naturally looks like a bomb's hit it and my polite requests of asking to 'clean up after yourselves' has turned to nagging and screeching! Hmmmmmm! Get the picture? It's not pretty!

So, apart from marking days off on my calendar, I currently have a new hobby which is called, 'Find out how many different ways we can entertain kids for the cheapest possible value'.

Naturally, because I am on holidays too, there has been the necessary threat of 'wake me up before 9 and you don't go anywhere today!' Then it's the usual go-slow around the house so that to even contemplate going anywhere before midday is a scary thought.

So these holidays, we have done the 'out to lunch' day (ie cheapest possible place to eat and still give us an outing which usually ends up being the local shopping centre eatery or McDonalds....hey...they have a playground!), and we have done the 'visit relatives and friends'. In fact, I got so enthusiastic, that we actually had a friend sleep over.....which we all survived. Tuesdays are always marked on our calendars as the days that we do movies and rent dvds ('Cheap Tuesday' around our neck of the woods!). We have ear-marked days to visit the local library for free activities and of course we always do a day or two of baking so this week we actually have real, home-made chocolate chip biscuits to offer visitors who drop in trying to escape their own holiday blues!

But my favourite today was the trip to the beach. Now last week, it rained and was unusually cold and miserable so we stayed warm and close to home. This week, however, we are back to the lovely Queensland winter days.....warm and blue skies all day and cold at night. So we ventured down to Redcliffe for fish and chips on the beach and walking, collecting shells, climbing trees on the foreshore, counting boats and ships sailing by and skipping rocks across the water.

For any Queenslanders reading this, I can recommend the very busy fish and chip shop called Red Dolphin Cafe at Margate for nice food . Once your food is cooked, you can cross the road, spread a rug out and eat while watching the water and small beach. Further up the road (and a nice little walk) are playgrounds and the like at Suttons Beach. Along the walk are clusters of volcanic rock mounds (leftover from deceased volcanoes) that make great exploration spots for the kids (make sure they wear shoes along them though). And there are walking paths adjacent to the beach for those who prefer to ride bikes, blades etc and just don't like getting sand between their toes. My kids, however enjoyed skipping the rocks across the water and collecting coral and shells along the beach. They both agreed that they had a great day, too, so it is well worth the trip just for the simple, inexpensive fun!

We Have A Water Tank!

Woo hoo! We have now joined the growing number of city dwellers who own a water tank. The only problem is that ours actually isn't installed yet! Watch this space to keep up to date with the progress though. Next week, the ground is to be leveled, followed by concreting and then installation!

Here is our tank...just waiting sadly on its side....ready to go in!