Waiting for Christmas

The girls and I have had a wonderful time last week over the two days they came to mine. We decorated my little tree, wrapped presents and made cards. It was so hot we could not go outside. It got to nearly 40C at my place.

Underhill is crispy dry and we can't get down to pick the apricots and "blackberries" so at least the birds won't starve this Christmas. The roads keep getting closed with fires all around Sydney so no moving anywhere at the moment. But no fires at Bungonia yet. Even if we go down we can't boil a kettle so we'd have to call into Cal's on the corner to beg a coffee and he does not get up early.

A sleep over and a garden hunt

Last week Jen and the girls came for a sleepover. It is always such fun with 4 in my bed. Ivy is allowed to sleep with me. Of course that means Heather also wants to sleep with me but she won't go to sleep without Mummy. So Jen sleeps with me until Heather falls asleep then takes her out to her cot and stays out there. But 4 in the bed is a bit of a squash.

I had the girls the next day anyway so we went on a photographic garden hunt. Lots of aphids on the roses.

The mushrooms on the orchid stump are interesting too.

But the tongue orchids are just about finished.

There are so many colours in my nasturtiums. As well as the ordinary orange ones there are...

Here is a bee on the Tradescantia. Click on the photo and it will be enlarged.

And finally the grape flowers as we went back inside when the wind came up and made me sneeze a lot.

Thursday at Ma's

Ivy, Heather and I had a great day on Thursday. It was so windy outside so after a quick session painting the fence (which I had promised them) and mixing up sand and water as tea and custard while I put the washing out we came inside.

Amongst other activities we made a cubby house.

We also cooked up some pancakes from a mix I had bought from Natural Evolution, an Australian company that makes flour from left over and damaged bananas, sweet potatoes and other things then also creates cake mixes etc.

They were so yummy and I have even frozen some as they reheat really well in the microwave.

School Holiday adventures

Over the last week or so I've had a few days of entertainment balancing devices, activities and outings with grandchildren all in torrential rain.

Alex and Luke had a day and a half at ANSTO enjoying workshops during which I mostly stayed out there in the cafe (very comfortable) finishing a quilt and catching up on some computer work. I even succeeded in creating a hot spot with my phone to get internet.

The boys and I visited the girls for an hour or so one evening. They enjoyed playing lego together. We were even able to "herd the cats" to get a photo of them all on the lounge, even Ponyo.

On Friday we went ahead with our planned tour to the city. First a trip to Geoff's work where we started by having a look through the Westpac Bank museum. The boys were impressed by the free food at Geoff's work and spent time playing battleships from the many board games they had to choose from. They were also introduced to the Cathedral game.

We then had time to fill before lunch so walked up Martin Place to the Reserve Bank museum of money.

As I needed some cash from an ATM we went back down to the Commonwealth Bank and were awed by the original features in the bank that we'd already seen in the Westpac Bank Museum and discussed there.

Lunch with Ellen and Geoff then a quick visit to Ellen's work before heading to the Royal Botanic Gardens in the rain.

In the Calyx glasshouse there is a fantastic display of carnivorous plants.

Luke was fascinated by the misting pool and watched it for ages.

After 17000 steps on Friday my weekend was filled with another trip to town with Linda to dinner and the opera and my normal Sunday church and singing, then Geoff et al came for dinner Sunday night.

On Monday Ivy came early and had time on her own with some of the Britains model farm upstairs. She has been waiting all her life to be allowed to play upstairs and was thrilled by the opportunity at last.

The boys came again and joined her upstairs, something they have rarely done.

They found the Cathedral game and played a few rounds with Alex including Ivy in his moves. It was great to see them all playing it so well together.

The weather did clear for long enough to be able to play outside and we were able to avoid devices all day!

Eventually I dropped the boys out to Heathcote then headed home for Ivy's pick up.

Then I collapsed in front of TV with dinner and a glass of wine to recover from a very full week and a great opportunity with the grandkids.

Where to next

A good day yesterday with a long visit from Geoff, Jen and the girls who were quite excited about their visit to Ma in hospital. We sat out in the courtyard for a while and it was nice to see the Sun and feel it's healing powers on my skin. Heather liked to help Ma walk. Holding my hand she would walk slowly along saying "gently, gently" as we walked.

Ivy and I had some fun in the courtyard singin about elephants balancing and looking at all the leaves that were not green.

Two sessions of gym where I have started putting body weight on my operated leg. The nurses are very pleased with the wound and are amazed at how little the bruising is. They are also quite amazed that I have no previous medical records.

Linda came with the twins and Ellen came after dinner.

There is a chance that I'll be able to transfer to St George private for day rehab which suits me a lot better.

In all I am quite positive at the moment.

Full House for 3 Months

Since just before Christmas Geoff, Jen and girls have been living with me. Now that baby Heather is nearly two months old and Jen is able to drive again they have moved back to their house albeit temporarily perhaps.

During their time here it has either been in the high 30s or even low 40s during the day and often very hot at night during January/February then teeming with rain for days on end in February/March.

When Heather came home it was so hot that I had to have the aircon running upstairs day and night and the stair room was the only cooler place in the house. This meant that it was a very crowded room both day and night.

So much for swaddling a newborn!

In early March Ned and Gill (UK) came to stay and Chris and Michael came to visit us. Of course Ned and Gill were lucky to see any of Sydney in fine weather as it rained the whole week they were here.

Luckily the really hot weather had all but finished by the time Arianne came to stay with us all while she continues her TAFE course in Sydney. Upstairs now has lots of theatrical costume creations and Bertha is dressed again.

It has been a lot of fun with a house full, in fact the last 3 nights being completely on my own have been very quiet. Of course there have been tensions exacerbated by the heat and rain but in all it has been a wonderful time and I'd do it all again. It is great to have a house full! There have been huge benefits though - I have had lots of time with my grand daughters and Geoff has found lots of projects to dabble in to help me in the house and yard (more later).

Ivy's first day at playgroup

Ivy had a wonderful time at playgroup last week. Geoff and I took her and although she was reticent for the first 2 minutes, she did not want to leave 2 hours later.

Our new arrival

Baby Heather was born today to Geoff and Jen and Ivy. 3330 g, 50 cm.

Mum and bub are both well and coping with life.

Congratulations to the little family.