A life page turning

2015 started out quite badly with the death of our dog Smokey, he was 14 years old, which is old for a collie/blue healer mix. He hadn't been ill, he just couldn't get up on New Years day and the vet advised us that he had snapped his spine and would never walk again, due to his age advised us that the most humane thing would be to let him go now, with all of us around him feeling our love.

That was New Years day.

Since then we have made a Seachange to a lovely part of the world, a new furry member to our family, who has won all our hearts.

About 3 months ago I had an accident on my way to work which ended with me fainting, twice, in quite a bad part of town, I woke the second time to be surrounded by medical people who looked after me and hailed a passing ambulance.  Thing could have been much worse if more of the 'undesirable' elements of my town were around me instead. 

Yesterday I put in my resignation with a job I have had for the past 18mths.  I had enjoyed the job for the first 12mths, it was only with the arrival of a new General Manager that I realized that there was a parting of ways.  I started to look in earnest for a new job after my accident, and two weeks ago I found a job very similar to the one I was already doing, bigger organisation and passion filled people.  They read my resume, asked me to consider a more senior role, to which I was more than happy to do.  At the interview the Manager asked if I would consider another, more senior job (now two levels above what I was doing at present) to which I was thrilled.  

So today, Christmas Eve 2015, I have moved on.  The difficult year is over and I look with a level of excitement, I haven't felt in years, to 2016.

Trusting in God's plan, waiting on his timing has been a struggle, I just wanted to 'tweak the edges' push the timing.  As I look back at how things have unfolded now, I can't think of a better way for this to have happened.

To all my readers, I wish a Merry Christmas, and a happy 2016.

Fudge, fudge and more fude

This year I thought I would try something different.  Cooking my own fudge. 

Pinterest is a wonderful resource but oh my, there are so many recipes to choose from . 

Choosing my three recipes, peanut fudge, chocolate fudge and I decided to experiment, just a little, white chocolate fudge.

The peanut fudge was perfect.  Next it was the white chocolate, I mean how can you go wrong with 2 cups of white chocolate buds and a can of condensed milk.  Lastly the milk chocolate.

My aim is to make little packets with one peanut, white and milk chocolate fudge with a strawberry, wrap in cellophane and ribbon and give to my friends at work.  

So far the peanut fudge is cooled, cut and in the fridge and the other two still need to set.  I have read some disturbing stats of the 'not setting fudge'.  Not keen on some of the solutions, so I will wait patiently for the hour in the fridge before I see how set they are.

Christmas 2015

 I looked at my Christmas tree yesterday, as we decorated it.  So many memories with each decoration, chosen to represent something meaningful that had happened during that past year.

This year it was difficult to think of one specific thing and I couldn't go past our new little pup Mac.  He has bought so much joy to our lives, at a time where life was getting more than a little tough for a few of us.

I now understand what they mean by 'mans best friend' no matter what he is always excited to see me.  When its been a hard or trying day he will do his best to make me smile and when all else fails he will rest his head on my knee and just look up into my eyes.  It makes me realize that all is not lost and tomorrow will be a better day. 

So this year we have a new decoration on our tree to show the newest, and sweetest member. 

Trying new things

I have held out for ages regarding buying clothes online.

Today I have succumbed and I am receiving my first delivery of 3 dresses some time today.

I have to say, having you clothes delivered to your door is quite a treat but I have always believe that I needed to go and try on the clothes before buying. This being said I will say that there are times I just know something will be right and buy without trying on in the shop.  

I am both excited and just a little anxious that this decision will be one not laced with cognitive dissonance because I really don't want to regret my decision as I am rather prone to overthink things.

Jury Duty

Monday I turn up for jury duty.

I have to say it is with mixed emotions that I am doing this.  Not because I don't want to do my civic duty, but because of what I may have to see, listen to and in some odd way relive.

The thought of a good old fashioned white collar crime seems ok to me, fraud, embezzlement or even unfair dismissal.

The thing that plays on my mind is the idea of a criminal case, rape or murder.  Could I sit and listen to all those facts and not be affected, or is that the whole idea, I am to be affected because it is only in that do I become a peer that is able to, impartially view and decide someones fate? 

Maybe I am really just over thinking this and that the fate of a person is really in the hands of the judge and that the jury is really just deciding guilty or innocent and the sentence is handed down by the judge and that to think too much about what the final sentence may be is not the job of the jury and will actually hamper the decision process.

I am looking forward to watching our legal system work, I am more than a little sceptical of justice every really being served.

When it really comes down to it all, how bad a case can I possibly be picked on, when it is only a two week case.

 

One year on...

It has been one year since Mum died.  

Spending the day with Dad yesterday he told me of a dream he had had recently that gave him great comfort.

He was driving one of those motorised carts at airports, with all his luggage behind.  Mum was in front with her bag on wheels and she walked around a corner, to which he followed behind. 

Rounding the corner her bag was sitting but no sign of Mum, a friend was nearby and when Dad asked where Mum had gone, he said 

"Don't worry she has gone on ahead"

I have thought about this dream since and it has given me great comfort at times I am missing Mum the most.

She is not gone, she is just gone ahead.

I don't understand

What is wrong with people!

Yesterday I had to go and asses damage done to my house that was being rented.  

I don't think I will ever forget the smell of the
food, left to rot in the sink and the holes in and through the walls.  

What makes someone do this kind of damage.  I wish it was an easy answer to blame it on drugs, unstable personality that has some major anger issues or a world that teaches children that anything is ok.  

My heart broke as I walked through what was left of my lovely house and my prayer is now that everything can and will be fixed.  

Maybe I will be able to understand why this can and does happen, but for now I am still angry, sad and disillusioned. 


 

Serendipitous Moments

I am not quite sure why I am surprised at an amazing moment, and yet I often am.

I was trying to describe these serendipitous moments to a friend.  It is being IN the moment, time seems to stand still, rushing on around you as you are trapped in an inexplicable moment of time.

These were my moments from this week.

Thursday, while on a crowded bus on an extremely busy road I see, what I think is a peacock walking across the road.  Cars have not skidded to a stop but are certainly making way.  On closer inspection it is actually a mother duck walking her ducklings across the road.  What I had thought was the tail was actually the ducklings walking behind her.

Friday, walking out the train station I hear violin music.  I don't know why I am often drawn towards beautiful sounds, but I am.  There outside my coffee shop is a busker playing the most amazing classical music.  I can't think of a better way to start the day than drink a latte while listening to a violin. 

And just to show not all serendipitous moments need to be wonderful uplifting. While sipping my coffee I feel something drop on my arm, ohh yes, on looking down a pigeon has pooped on my sleeve.  I have to say not sure I get the whole you are super lucky when a bird besides you need to be pooped on but there you go.  After much laughter and me scrubbing my arm to get myself semi clean I was ready to head to work.  I can't say the last was good for me but it certainly gave he guys I was having coffee with a laughter point for the day. 

Maybe it was there to keep me grounded and take myself too seriously.

Life is such an amazing thing when you really think about it ....