Holidays Over and New Semester Begins

WOW - where did that time go??

I haven't posted since 29June - how rude is that??

July just passed without even a mention?!?!

And I promised that I would be more attentive dear reader.

(I know there's at least one peep out there taking notice!!!! Thankyou!!!)

Where to begin??

Netball NSW State Age Championship's were held in Newcastle at the beginning of July school holidays.

It was amazing - tiring - exciting - a blast.

3-days of netball mayhem - never seen anything like it - but it was an absolute hoot!!

I had the honour to manage a wonderful team of ten 12 year olds.

The girls all played wonderfully - better than they have ever played before.

It was great.

Bring on next year!!

After State Age we took our time getting back home - spending nights at various friends homes - as we made our way back down to Canberra.

We were away a whole week.

Two nights here - one night there - it was super mad - but great to catch up with so many people that we haven't seen in a very long time.

We consumed vast amounts of champagne and red wine - talked up a storm - did 'Paddy's Markets', 'Yum Cha' in China Town and a Rugby League match all in Sydney (P'matta V Rabitohs) - and generally had a load of fun.

Friends are precious - even if you only get the opportunity for small amounts of time together.

All very worth the time.

Second week of the school hols were spent just lounging around at home, washing copious amounts of dirty laundry, watching films, catching up with home friends, and generally taking things nice and slow. (Poor MrW had to go back to work - so he didn't have so much fun - life returns to normal so fast!!)

21July saw school return for the kids - and back to Uni for me once more.

Already things are flyng past quick - we're already into to week 3 - I'm sure the rest of the year will now fly past before I know where it's all gone!!

Saturday netball has resumed in ernest.

School activities keep the girls all very busy.

MrW has had a couple of trips to Adelaide with work.

I have a heap of assignments due this semester.

And life rolls on as per normal.

Oh the joys of a busy life.

(wish this ride would slow down at times - to let me get my breath!!!)

MissG Is Getting All Growned Up!!

Stop the world - I want to get off!!
The last 9 years have flown - and now my eldest has started High School.
I can't believe how my little girl has grown - in what feels like - such a short time.

Here's a pic of MissG age 4.....



And here's a pic of the girls today...


It's a bitter sweet thing this 'mummy-ing' - as you want them to grow up - but then you look around - and don't know where all those precious years have gone.

I'll be honest - I am a little scared of the teenage years - but I'm looking forward to this next chapter - and to the many exciting adventures that lay ahead.

It will be OK - won't it?????????????

So........I'm Back!!!

Yes - it's true - I am still very much alive.
I have apologized profusely to this blog - and after much consideration (and a complete make-over) - it has kindly allowed me to return - with full posting privileges!!
(can I just say......PHEW!)
I hope that I can do this blog, and you - my reader/s - proud!!

SO much has happened since I last wrote here - I have much to report.
Life has - as always - been far, far too busy - but I hope to neglect you all no more.

Rather than make one HUGE post - I shall make a few seperate posts - with some photos - to get you all up to speed (all you 2 readers out there in Blogland. You may be small in numbers - but you are extremely important to both this blog and to me!!).

So, I shall just say - I'm healthy, the family are all well (this week!!), we have a new family member (ooo - the suspense!!), I'm still studying (YES - still) and generally life is treating us all fine and well.

I shall return soon - I promise!!
Poss. xxx

Our Car

It would appear that our car has been somewhat possessed - or at the very least temporarily cursed.

On the way home from our skiing adventures - we were just minutes away from home - when disaster struck - and it struck with an almighty BANG.

We could see the lights of Canberra up ahead - and were starting to look forward to showers, dinner and relaxing after a busy day on the slopes - and a full 5 days away from home - when suddenly - on the road - directly in our path - a large, metal, cylindrical object loomed in the headlights - and as traffic was rather busy (Friday night - many snow-lovers traveling to and from the snow - in this - our best snow seasons in 17 years...........) there was not much space to move - and missing the object completely was - well - out of the question.

We hit it hard - and pulled over quickly to the side of the road.

Friends, travelling behind, followed us - and with shocked faces - explained that they saw numerous sparks flying - and were worried what on earth had occurred.

In pitch darkness - and with just a small flashlight to inspect the underside of the car - not much could be seen - so we eventually decided to attempt driving on - and after a few tentative moves forward - we were back on the road again. Albeit - extremely slowly as the car did not sound 'well' at all.

We limped home - and once in the driveway - the full damage could be seen.

It's amazing really that we even made it home.

A huge 15 x 20 cm hole was gaping under the car - between the wheels - sort of - in the middle - around the 'transfer box' - so I am told.

I won't even attempt to explain further (as really I'm a girl that knows little about the full workings of the car) - but let's just say - it could move no further - as when an attempt was made to back in down the driveway again - a horrible metal-on-metal sound escaped from the underside of the car - and a large broken bolt fell out onto the concrete.

A few days later, we had the car picked up and taken to Ford here in Canberra - after many and varied discussions with our insurance agency.

And here's when the real fun begins.

Over at Ford - the young mechanics were taking the car off the back of the truck - when they lost control - and our car ended up pinning a young apprentice against the wall?!?!

Young mechanic was taken to hospital - and Zesty (that's the name of our car - or should we re-name her 'Christine'??) had large scrapes down one side - and dents left where the young man was once pinned.

Since then - apparently the car has behaved itself - and it is on the mend.

And so is the mechanic. (phew - I was wondering whether to send him a Get Well card from the car?!)

The broken underside has been replaced - and she now goes in for some metal work and little bit of spray painting.

It's been over 3 weeks now - and I seriously am dying to get back my car.

Hopefully, all will be well by the end of this week. Including all curses and possessions completely DELETED.

ICK!!!

All About A Bunny

We've had a couple of rough weeks here in House O Possum.
And it's all because of a Bunny.

Name: Bouncer Bunny
Age: 1.5 years
Breed: Miniature Floppy Ears
Nature: Extremely Cute

Two weeks ago, said Bunny escaped from the back yard - and after numerous searches, he was nowhere to be found.

Picture this - 3 girls - various levels of emotional distress - depending on the age and the capacity to feel the full effects of the loss. Mum and Dad just trying to console as best we can.

We just started to move past it all a little - when 1 week later - neighbour tells us that someone up the road had found said Bunny - and had handed it into the RSPCA Animal Shelter - half an hour away - on the other side of this fair city!!!

Photos were gathered to prove ownership. Family flew down the road hoping that Bouncer really could be found. Excitement reigned. Bouncer Bunny was there - and he was brought back to his family home, safe and sound.

(I even had quite a few cuddles over the past few days - and smiled deeply as I watched him once more bounce freely around our backyard during his 'Bouncing Times')

Late yesterday - something was wrong with Bouncer.

He didn't jump away when MissG went to collect him to replace him in his cage. He was in fact rather limp when held - and he was struggling greatly to move at all.

We checked him out. We tried to coax him to move. We attempted hand feeding and giving fluids gently with a tube. I sat for hours with him on my chest, starting to realise that something was just not right at all.

We tried to make him comfortable and warm for the night - hoping that the rest would do him well and he'd be a little better in the morning.

This morning, after dropping off said girls (again in various degrees of grief) off to school and preschool - I rushed straight to the Vet.

I immediately couldn't stop crying as I saw that Bouncer was in fact even weaker than the night before - and this was the same Vet that had to put down both our dog and our cat many years beforehand - on two very seperate and traumatic occasions.

The Vet's plan of action - try to rehydrate - give him a thorough physical - keep him warm and medicated for pain - and see how he was in 2-3 hours. I got to the car and fell into a heap.

Bloody rabbit. Bloody pets. They make our hearts bleed when they're sick.

I kept myself busy for most of the day. Praying, hoping that my worst fears would be swept away.

I called. Not much change. He hadn't moved much all day. Wasn't interested in food. Prognosis wasn't looking real good. But we left it another 3 hours just to see how he would go.

School pickups - and attempts at keeping the troops busy. Not looking them in the eye. Explaining that he really was very very sick. Trying not to let on how upset I really was.

Then at 4pm - I made the call - and together with the Vet - we . decided to let Bouncer go.

So - tonight - I'm a bit of a mess. Until today I didn't realise how very attached I'd become to this Bunny. And now he's gone - and I hurt for him - and I hurt for my girls - who have now lost a very special friend.

RIP Bouncer Bunny.

You were greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Sick And Feeling BLAH

I've been a bit sick.

I was attacked by some rotten lurgy - and I've been in bed for the last 48 hours. Head pounding, fever, really sore throat, wicked cough - something this household has all come down with in various forms this last week - and it hit me HARD.

And it all hit after a very very busy week.

Last weekend I travelled by bus to Sydney with 2 girlfriends for a weekend away from the kidlettes.

It coincided with the Quilting and Craft Show in Darling Harbour - AND the many sales that mid-year Sydney retail produces.

We had a ball - lots of chatting, lots of walking, lots of shopping, good food, good wine, good company - a great weekend away.

Back at home - it's school holidays - and we have had a visitor staying for almost 2 weeks. My husband's 2nd cousin - from France - (MissC - 16yrs) - is in Australia for 6 weeks - and it was our turn to show her around our part of this big and beautiful country of ours.

It was a delight to have her here - as she slipped into our fam quite easily. She just became the oldest sister - and my kids had an absolute ball.

Her English was far more coherent than our non-existent French - so communication was relatively easy - especially as having fun is a universal language - so that's mostly what we've done this last 2 weeks.

She's seen almost all of the sights and museums that Canberra has to offer - and we even managed a couple of days without rain. (and I'm NOT complaining about the rain - as we've been in drought for a few years now - and the sound of rain on our roof is music to my ears - let me tell you!!)

Today I had to say goodbye to MissC as hubby and the girls have all driven up to Sydney to drop her back to his family - who will look after her for one final week before she heads back home to Paris. Hubby has a sister in Sydney - with 3 daughters - so MissC fits in well there also - and she stayed there before her visit to us.

Anyway - I'm still at home - obviously - as I seriously couldn't get out of bed - and I really thought it best not to spread this lurgy around more than it needed to be.

The fam should be back home tomorrow afternoon - and in the meantime - I'm taking things very very easy.

The kids have one week left of holidays - and so do I.

So I intend to have myself a whole lot of rest - some good family time when they return - and I'm looking forward to getting 3 more subjects finished by the end of the year.

Never a dull moment in House Possum - that's for sure!!!

All About Me

For those that don't know me -

• I am forever 21! (that's what I tell the kids - and that's what I'm sticking with)
  
• I am a wife to a wonderful, understanding, patient man - MrW - who has been my husband since 1990. He was a Navy man for 23 years (yep - the uniform did it for me) - but he now works for the Dept of Defence as a civilian.
• I am a Mum to 3 gorgeous girls (no bias at all!!), born in '96, '98 and '02.
• I was born & raised in Sydney.
• I attended High School at an Anglican School For Girls - and I survived.
  
• I was once an exchange student to Sweden. (yes - I learnt Swedish - and no - it's been of absolutely no use to me throughout my life - but the experience was a blast!!)
• I worked in the Travel Industry for 8 years - and travelled lots.
• I was an ENJO consultant for 3 years - and travelled some more.
• I now live in Canberra - since 2000 - and I really don't hate it nearly as much as I thought I would - hence - we're still here. (I kinda really like it)
  
• I am finally back at Uni to finish my Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching). I took a two year break to earn some $ and get my head back together - but now I'm back and should be teaching by mid next year.
  
• I love to let loose my creative streak every so often.
• I love to ski, scuba dive (although haven't done for some time), play piano, sew, travel, spend time with friends, drink champagne, create things, blog and breath!!

I'm looking forward to writing stuff about my life.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

Poss. xx