An Aussie Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas; there wasn't a sound. 
Not a possum was stirring; no-one was around. 
We'd left on the table some tucker and beer, 
Hoping that Santa soon would be here; 

We children were snuggled up safe in our beds, 
While dreams of pavlova danced 'round in our heads; 
And Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his shorts, 
Had just settled down to watch TV sports. 

When outside the house a mad ruckus arose; 
Loud squeaking and banging woke us from our doze. 
We ran to the screen door, peeked cautiously out, 
Snuck onto the deck, then let out a shout. 

Guess what had woken us up from our snooze, 
But a rusty old Ute pulled by eight mighty roos. 
The cheerful man driving was giggling with glee, 
And we both knew at once who this plump bloke must be. 

Now, I'm telling the truth it's all dinki-di, 
Those eight kangaroos fairly soared through the sky. 
Santa leaned out the window to pull at the reins,  And encouraged the 'roos, by calling their names. 

'Now, Kylie! Now, Kirsty! Now, Shazza and Shane! 
On Kipper! On, Skipper! On, Bazza and Wayne! 
Park up on that water tank. Grab a quick drink, 
I'll scoot down the gum tree. Be back in a wink!' 

So up to the tank those eight kangaroos flew, 
With the Ute full of toys, and Santa Claus too. 
He slid down the gum tree and jumped to the ground, 
Then in through the window he sprang with a bound. 

He had bright sunburned cheeks and a milky white beard. 
A jolly old joker was how he appeared. 
He wore red stubby shorts and old thongs on his feet, 
And a hat of deep crimson as shade from the heat. 

His eyes - bright as opals - Oh! How they twinkled! 
And, like a goanna, his skin was quite wrinkled! 
His shirt was stretched over a round bulging belly 
Which shook when he moved, like a plate full of jelly. 

A fat stack of prezzies he flung from his back, 
And he looked like a swaggie unfastening his pack. 
He spoke not a word, but bent down on one knee, 
To position our goodies beneath the yule tree. 

Surfboard and footballs he left for us two. 
And for Dad, tongs to use on the new barbecue. 
A mysterious package he left for our Mum, 
Then he turned and he winked and he held up his thumb; 

He strolled out on deck and his 'roos came on cue; 
Flung his sack in the back and prepared to shoot through. 
He bellowed out loud as they swooped past the gates
  

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, and good onya, MATES!'

 

 

To really know another....

As human beings we want people to really know us, and like what they see.  We were made to be in relationship with others, not to be hermits hiding away from contact with others. 

I believe this fiercely, though through the years I have been challenged on this view. 

First and foremost, that men and women cannot just be friends. That there always has to have a sexual side to the relationship.  Let me say from the outset that I have many friends that are platonic friends, there is nothing more and we have shared many joys and tears with each other through the years. 

How often do we panic about others getting to know us?  I have described it like peeling an onion, one layer at a time.  Our fear is that a layer of ourselves will be exposed that is too much, that we will be rejected, laughed at and hurt.  So instead we fiercly protect our layers and let very few into who we really are.

We have all had that experience, or at least I have.  You meet a new person and you start learning about other, you feel that uncomfortable opening up a little more than you are really happy to do, and suddenly the other person is talking to someone else, the next ‘bright shiny’ and you are left feeling exposed, naked and unsure of what just happened.

None of us are perfect; some are just very good at hiding the bumps, warts and scarred bits. Sometimes with bravado sometimes with humour but always hiding parts we are sure will never be accepted.  I have yet to meet a person that hasn’t been hurt, damaged or worse, by life.  What we really want is to show those parts of ourselves, we find embarrassing and ugly and find acceptance, true acceptance that says “I can see you and its OK, I will not turn away.”

I read something today as I pondered this post today about someone receiving a rejection email that has inspired me today:

Out of this disheartening situation, here's what I did: I chose to bless the decision-makers of the organization with positive words, and I wished all those other speakers who they had selected a brilliant future. And I encourage you to do the same: Whoever has rejected you this year or in times past, bless them and wish them the best. Send positive vibes their way. You don't need the negative energy you'd otherwise incur, and there is simply too much work to do now.

So now, to those that have not liked what they have seen in me or found me wanting, I smile and wish them well and move on.  It is true; there is too much fun and enjoyment to be found in life to be caught up with negative thoughts. They will zap me of my emotional strength and cause me to doubt myself instead of embracing who I am and what I can become.

Thank you.....

Defrosting the Freezer

I walked into one of our work kitchens today to find one of our Directors, knife in hand, 'defrosting' the work fridge.

Commenting on the fact that a knife, even a semi blunt one, will perforate the freezer, I have decided to do some research on the best methods to defrost a freezer and even how to prevent it frosting up in the future.

In researching the said ‘clogged freezer’ problem I found there are not many ways to sort (not sure my Dad would approve of the blow dryer coz of electricity and water so close to together)

Hot Water Method
Take a pan and fill it with water, get it nice and hot on the stove or use a bowl in the microwave. Place the hot water inside the freezer and close the door. After about 5 minutes remove the pan or bowl and reheat then put it back in the freezer. Continue until ice is melted.
I personally hate the hot water method of defrosting the freezer. I find that the ice under the hot water melts first and the pan or bowl sticks to the ice as it cools off. It’s annoying to come back every 5 minutes and it doesn’t seem to help the ice melt that much faster.

Fan MethodSet up a fan outside the freezer with the freezer door propped open so that air circulates faster. More air flow will help the ice to melt faster.
However, you might not have a fan that you can angle properly and if your thawing a unit above a refrigerator it might not be worth the effort.

Blow Drier Defrosting MethodLets think about this for a second. The goal is to turn ice into water. Blow driers and water are not a good combo. This is not the safest method. It is not recommended for safety reasons.
That said I’ll admit I’ve tried it. At first glance it doesn’t seem to do much. But what happens is the heat goes to the back and then up.
So after awhile the ice on the top will defrost away from the freezer, however with thick ice you most likely won’t see this. Instead large pieces of ice just start to break off the top.
In my experience this method along with the scrapper method and lots of towels is the fastest way to defrost the freezer.

Scrapper MethodScraping the ice is probably the most common way of speeding up the process of defrosting the freezer. But we have to make sure to do it safely. And that, my friend, means no sharp objects.
There are two reasons for this. First you could hurt yourself. Second you can scrape or puncture the cabinet of your freezer. Well, it doesn’t sound like a big deal, puncturing the stuff behind the freezer cabinet could cause a leak and make your whole freezer useless. It’s not worth the risk.
A dull object, like a plastic spatula or spoon, works better. Think of it less as ‘scrapping’ and more as ‘assisting’ large chucks of ice to come out before they melt.
This method works well with the blow drier because as the ice starts to defrost off the wall or ceiling you can get the spatula under that and take out larger chunks.

Wooden Spatula Method (did sound the same as the scrapper method)

Whilst the freezer is completely empty, use the wooden spatula to gently scrape the sides, top and bottom of the freezer, but don't force anything that won't come away, and do not use anything metal for this job, and particularly nothing sharp like a knife, as you might pierce the delicate plastic walls (regrettably I speak from experience , which is why I had to buy a new fridge).

Preventing Frost in the Future

Once your freezer is completely defrosted, there are a few actions you can take to prevent this problem from developing as quickly again in the future. First, wash all the walls and shelving in a mix of water and baking soda. This will not only clean up the last of the ice, but also leave your freezer smelling fresh. Then, dip a cloth in a small amount of vegetable oil and brush it along all the surfaces of the freezer. This will prevent ice from reforming for much longer.

Tired and Sad

Today I said goodbye to my Auntie.

I know she is in a better place and I feel her service was one of both dignity and hope.

I do feel better for having found out why she died. 

It's funny how things take on a huge importance, no one seemed to know how she died, she went to hospital with Osteoarthritis and died.  There was awhile I felt only my sister and I were concerned to find out why and how she had died. 

She was a troubled soul who hid away when life was hard.

I see parts of her in myself, so much so that as I had found things tough lately I had been hiding myself.

Coming back to the land of the living and stopped hiding from my friends, pretending all is well when really I am crying inside.

The best tribute I can give to my Auntie is that I will try very hard, to stand firm and not shrink ad become less than I am.

Rest easy now, you are home.

What is going on?

I got a phone call at work...."Have you had a call from you parents, No? Are you sitting down, your Auntie is dead"

I wait for the rest of the day for my Mother to call me, but she doesn't.

As soon as I get home I start trying to phone my parents, finally I give up at 9pm.

Going to work early I finally get my Mother....Yes my Auntie is dead, no they don't know how she died, she was admitted to hospital with Osteoarthritis and now she is dead.

My parents went on holidays for a week today, the funeral has been put off till they get back, and no they didn't have time to even find a photo of my Auntie Margaret before they left...

What is going on?? 

This was not an evil person that had abused their children this was a person that had serious mental issues, so much so she had been treated with electroshock therapy before they closed it down.  

She deserved our support and love.  I had a photo of her with my sister and I from when we were about 10, it is now on my mantel.  There is something deep inside me that wont allow me to let her pass without the respect everyone is due in death.

I know, as does my sister that she is now with God, her faith was childlike but Jesus said we only need the faith as small as a mustard seed.

Rest in peace Auntie Margaret, I will not forget you. 

Looking for open doors

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.
- Alexander Graham Bell

I feel that I could be at this place myself.  Is it the itchy feet, the restfulness or the sense of doing the same thing all that time, that is making me grumpy and dissatisfied.

I want to feel that excitement when I wake, wondering that will happen not the trudge I feel at the moment.

It can be very difficult to stop looking longingly at the closed door.

So today I start looking for that open door, that door that offers the promise of new shiny things, well not really but new adventures and new people.

I gaze out the window at the wonderful spring day ( well it will be string in 3 days) and know that there is something new for me to do, today I start looking.

Ack! the tea bag committed suicide!!

Have you ever had one of those incidents in the work kitchen where there is just no saving it.

I went to make a morning tea cuppa.

There really isn't a lot of thought needed in getting a tea bag out of the canister, putting hot water in the cup, jiggle the bag, and add milk.

It's a time of day where you can ponder as much or as little as you want.

This morning was no different.  As I reach into the canister to get my tea bag I'm thinking about life the universe and everything and suddenly I notice something odd.  A second tea bag has not attached itself, but rather, come along for the ride and as I move my hand from over the counter to 'no mans land' it decides that it is sick of being a tea bag, waiting for someone to choose it, and it falls to the ground.

Now I know you are with me, there is no 5 second rule for tea bags in communal kitchens, there is no putting that tea bag back into the canister, well I really hope everyone in my office agrees with me, because I really don't want to use a tea bag that has been sitting on the floor for any length of time.

Ode to a tea bag

There once was a sad old tea bag

Who wanted a new tag that said his name was Chad

He saw his escape

Jumping free for new landscapes

Alas it all went wrong

Now I’m singing his final song

That poor old tea bag named Chad!

Change of thinking...

I hate being sick!

It seems that every winter now, no matter how careful I am, I will get the flu, which then turns into some chest infection, and I am sick for weeks.

I get grumpy and irritable, short of breath and very exhausted.

Only 15 days left of winter.

Bring on Spring I say, when the weather turns warmer and the sun shines.

I read something that gave me hope yesterday, 

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

 I am making a determined effort to live this way.  

Not to worry about the things I am missing but focus on the things I have, the beauty in life and the wonderful people in my life.

If I find a person that makes me sad or even upsets me, I am going to try and put it behind me, shrug it off as best I can and move forward.

Look for the fun and beauty in life and not the ugly and mean.

So instead of feeling down and depressed because I am sick and struggling to get well again, I will dress warm, take my time to get places, so I don't have to rush and look for the wonderful things that are coming my way.

The end of a extremely hard week

Today is the end of a very hard week.

As a person who loves to wear bright colours, today I am dressed in black.  

I still have trouble going past the office of my workmate that died last Wednesday, we still have to pack up his office.

I have never seen an office in grief before, people really do so very inappropriate things like "I wont sign the card I didn't know him well, I will leave room for other people"

I almost smacked that person for being so insensitive.

I have never been to a Requiem Mass before I am not sure if I can prepare myself and I still feel the need to be there for the others in the office that are going, but I know that I need to look after myself too.

Pray I get through the day

Personal bubble infringement

I know I have to shrink my personal bubble on public transport but come on guys!

This morning I get on the bus, and I have to stand, not a problem, I find a good spot and get as comfy as you can while standing in a moving bus.

The guy in front of me is tall, yeah I feel a little ant like behind him but think hey there is plenty of room for both of us.

As the trip goes on he inches back and back, till his bag is brushing my scarf.

HELP! Personal Space Invasion!!!

He even at one point turned so knew I was there kinda like an elephant does to an ant but still he doesn't move forward.

The only thing I can think is, inside his personal bubble he stands to the back edge, I on the other hand stand right in the middle and as any good aussie, and  have a larger than  normal bubble, extending in all directions.

Talk about a way to set of anxiety first thing in the morning that lasts for the rest of the day.

Grrrrrr, outta my bubble you gits!!

I don't get it!

Yesterday started off with such promise and it was a great day right up until one of my friends came to my desk.  Looking up at him I knew something was wrong, I had not put in an IT issue but you never know when there are updates and the like that are being done.  I could see he was upset and when I asked 

'Hi, how are you' he said not good I just came to say goodbye.' 

My head started to spin, did I really hear him say Goodbye, your brain is trying to keep up with events at this point, and so you keep asking clarifying questions, are you leaving? whats happened.

It them spills out, he and another guy in IT department have been retrenched!

I just want to say right now I really hate this new term for loosing your job, it's like collateral damage, you are just trying to sanitize a very ugly thing.


He had been retrenched earlier in the week, bundled in a taxi and away from the office.  This was the first day back and I talked to him till his 'farewell lunch' he didn't want to go but felt he should.  I think he was braver than I would of been.


You may be thinking yeah well these things happen, it wasn't just him 6 people were retrenched.  All have live, responsibilities and commitments.  Some are going to find it easier than others to get another job due to their age, I pray for every one of them as this is going to be an exceptionally hard weekend.


I still feel a numbness today, do I feel equally anxious about my own job, who doesn't!


I am not looking forward to the next day in the office, there is an anxiety and grieving that is hanging over the place like a toxic cloud.


Thank goodness it's Saturday!

Light at the end of a dark tunnel

It hasn't been the best couple of weeks but today I feel things could be looking up.

Sometimes it doesn't take much to be able to see that bend in the road.

Walking to the bus this morning a workman said he like my scarf, poor guy did have to say it three times before I realised he was actually talking to me.  The bus was right on time, empty, so I got a seat and I am about to go and get a coffee from the good coffee shop up the road.

Those little moments in life, those unexpected comments and things working out better than you expected, truly do make a day.

Today I smile!

Sliding ......

I realized today as I fought off the tears, that I just couldn't explain, that I have slid into depression...again.

I really wish I wasn't that person, the person that when she is hurting and in need of a friend, hides herself away from everyone, making excuses because I don't want to inflict myself on anyone else.

It's such a scary time when you can identify the sliding happening.  

It starts off so slowly, a bad day where more than a few things that would frustrate you happen all at once.

A friend you really want to talk too is too busy and kinda brushes you off.

All these things seem to take on mammoth proportions and even though you are fully aware of the irrational nature of your mood, can't help yourself.

So I find myself, this morning, crying quietly to myself, over nothing in particular but realizing that the depression that I have struggled with most my life...

...has returned.

 

Those nightmares you can't shake

 Yesterday, I had the pleasure of talking to the sweetest group of elderly ladies you could ever meet.  One of them, after my talk came and shared with me an experience her daughter had had when she was a teenager that as I listened I realised, to my horror, she could of been telling my own childhood story.

I left the ladies feeling a little shaken and very exhausted, the past that we try so very hard to shake, can often catch us unawares.

Last night I had the worst nightmares, so much so that when I woke I was not sure if they were real or not.

I know this will have a residual effect for the next couple of days, making me unsure of myself, paranoid even, quiet and very uncomfortable around people.

My way of dealing with this?

To be so bright and bubbly people think I am hyper and had too much coffee *sigh* if only they knew what was really going on inside of me.

You just have to laugh!

We had such a laugh about this today. 

A friend at work was showing me some Twilight Barbies that could be purchased and I noticed this Aussie Barbie at the bottom of the page. 

Note the Koala Bear attached to ankle.

Yes! we do all have a random Koala Bear attached to our ankles. 

Doesn't everyone!

What was that noise?

Let me set the scene.....

There is a meeting going on in my office that is including most members of staff on my floor.

The floor is quiet as everyone who isn't in the meeting is trying to keep the noise down. 

I hear a noise I can't identify, I look around and notice that a couple of people from the meeting are looking around.  I catch the eye of one of the people so I nod and see if I can locate the noise.

I look in the office next to mine and I identify the noise, the guy is fast asleep, snoring.

The couple of people that were facing my direction, in the meeting are looking at me as I ponder what to do.

Do you wake him up and mention he is snoring and disturbing the meeting?

or

Do you make a noise in his office, loud enough to wake him and run quickly back to your office so he is not aware that we all could hear him snoring?

Being the woos that I am I choose the latter, kinda clunked the sticky tape dispenser on the desk and ran.

The snoring stopped.

There were many smiling faces as the meeting finished and people filed out.

To this day I don't think anyone had told him he had been caught sleeping due to his snoring.

Still makes me smile when I think of it.

Happy Easter!

Today is Easter Sunday!

I love Easter, makes me think over the sacrifice made for me by one who had done no wrong.

I have bought little tiny eggs for a Easter Egg hunter, after church today.  I love to see the little faces running all around, excited looking for eggs in hidden spots.

The roast pork and trimmings is pretty good as well.

If you get past all the chocolate today, think about what Jesus did for you, for all of us.

Who was this man?

Was he who he said he was, the son of God?

Or is he a madman that has fooled the world for the last 2,000 years.

As for me, He is my Lord and Saviour.  He walks with me every day, guiding my every step, if I let him. He will never let me down.

Jesus has risen, He has risen indeed!

Inside out

Ever had one of those days when everything is a little inside out and upside down?

The other day I had spent hmm, half the day with a black tshirt, inside out.  It wasn't obvious but when you notice something like that you want to fix it right?

On turning the shirt the right way I find, to my horror, there is a HUGE Merry Christmas splashed across the front.

dohhhhhhhhhhhh!

Who does that??

Yesterday, while making my afternoon coffee I noticed some cupcakes someone had left for the office to share in.

No, that wasn't my issue.  The were mini cupcakes and someone had cut one in half and left half the cupcake in the wrapper.

Who does that?? Come on guys you have already partook in the sinful cupcake, eating the other half is not an issue, if you felt that  bad, don't eat the cupcake at all but eat half...

so not cool

Rain rain go away

I don't know why the rain brings out the grumpy side in me but today, with the rain bucketing down so much that it was a gum boots wearing day, I feel annoyed.

Annoyed with the silly people on the bus that insist on not sitting entirely in their seats so that their legs and knees are sticking out for you to trip over.

The people who, even though they can see its a packed bus, with people standing, feel their handbag deserves a seat too.


So even though I got to wear my polka-dot gum boots today, the grump is lurking beneath. (Jaws scary music please)


Beware unsuspecting annoying people, I will poke you!

To be one with nature

Recently, I had one of those moments, that you know you will remember the rest of your life.

Having traveled to a small South Pacific Island, there were a few things that you could do like snorkeling and going on a glass bottom boat.  I had been told earlier that the glass bottom boat was something you just had to do. 

At the time I thought hmm I would prefer to snorkel around than look through the bottom of a boat at fish but I trusted and went on the boat.

It was a half hour ride and we went about 300 metres off shore and were handed some old bread to feed to the fish.  

At this point I was thinking...dohh what a rip off.  

As the fish were in a feeding frenzy by this point the captain turned to us all and said, "Ok, you can go in with the fish now if you would like"

We all just looked at each other and one girl didn't need to be told twice, was over the side in a flash.

I put on my snorkel equipment and followed and I am sure I held my breath for a good couple of minutes, I just forgot to breath.  There were so many fish, all different types even a couple of small sharks.

I totally forgot about my underwater camera and when I did remember and go to retrieve it, it was to find out our time was up and we were going back to shore.

Later on that day I did get to see turtles, sea snakes and sword fish but nothing, nothing will ever compare when I jumped over the side of the glass bottom boat.  

Spectacular!