Its that time again.........

Well my (hopefully) final semester has begun. Blogs will be scarce.....

The Clan is well, just surviving a very cold winter? After 3 years in Queensland I am thinking this has been the coldest for sure. Poor Karma has taken immense strain. She has aged suddenly and is looking and acting like an "old" dog. She has a bad hip/back and the arthritis is bothering her. We got to the point where she was refusing to walk.....would just stop and stare at us.




So she is now on some meds for her pain and has brightened up a bit. Shani is her normal hectic self and is still needing lots of exercise.



The cats are either in bed or on your lap. They are not enjoying the cold much either....wish I could spend as much time as they do in bed!



And me? ....... well I am not too bad actually.......my latest medication has helped my fibromyalgia pain and I can "MOVE" again........its been great!

Gotta Go

Si

I hate toast tagged me....

1) The FAQs and some FUQs (unasked) about the name "Its Character Building".

I have had some some "Character Building Years" sort of started about 11 years ago.......nursed two fathers with cancer , Den's with Pancreatic Cancer and mine with Lung Cancer. Had "at gunpoint" robberies in Johannesburg, emmigrated country, had a husband who has had a rare life threatening tumour known as a Pheochromocytoma.........and then Oral Cancer 18 months later....given a 15% prognosis..... have been told by many "Its Character Building"...........

Its not........it sucks but hey what do you do.......cope.....got 2 kids to raise and wailing doesn't help (I tried)

2) How I met my manboy.

In a pub in Kimberley South Africa..... 21 years ago........am waiting for my medal for putting up with immense amount of sh..t!

3) I make bad stuff.

Not sure.........don't make stuff?

4) I keep stuff about yurts and tiny homes for retirement.

Nope not me...

5) I love the smell of cat and dog paws. They smell like Fritos.

Not sure they smell of Fritos........but after 20 years or more of working with animals I have smelt hooves, paws you name it.....Fritos have not come to mind......

6) I have never had a job for which I applied.

Uh.....had some pretty awesome jobs......been in the "right place at the right time"......put it down to networking...........

Doing nuthin........and loving it!

Sometimes its more important to do nothing... than to run around like chicken without a head. This week I have some time off, because my next lot of studies have not started I have been able to do some stuff I never get to do anymore. I went to the "Big Smoke" for a dinner out and a sleepover with a friend who was up from Sydney, I watched movies, I read a book, I walked the dogs, I ate chocolate, I shopped, I caught up with friends, I lay in bed and just did what I wanted......



Thats what I call doing nothing....... its not often that I get to do that, I guess I got to learn to work smarter......not harder.

It is freezing here.....down to 7 degrees this morning, for Queensland thats cold. We are not used to these kinds of temperatures and are not organised for them. Even the birds are taking strain, J brings them in for a cuddle and they nestle in under her jacket...



The cats have found an alternate heat source to humans..... not sure if its good for the computers but the kitties are warm....



A had her hair cut again..... as soon as its long she wants it short...



Only problem is that I could get used to this lifestyle....

See ya
Si

Getting chilly here now..........

Winter always takes me by surprise in Queensland. I think it is because it gets so hot in summer I can never imagine it being cold. But this last week has been a little cool ... kitties are diving under the blankets and cuddling very close. They are as demanding as ever, if not more. Bindii caused a neighbour to complain as he had gone into her garden and beaten her cat up a few times... other people have teenagers that get into trouble...I have Siamese.



The greyhounds are wearing their jackets again and are reluctant to get up too early. The days are still pleasant and a balmy 23 degrees. Things are ticking over in the household in its normal dysfunctional way. I am feeling much better health wise and my pain has been minimal luckily. New medication has been very successful and I am feeling more able to attack the chaos.


I often wonder if other homes are as strange as mine? Is it just my kids that are so messy or do other folk also battle endless mess? The girls are on holiday for two weeks and did some housework today while I was at work.....I was very impressed.



I need to get out and take some more photos for the blog..... and do some interesting things to blog about. I get complaints otherwise, my sister told me that I can't just "Start a Blog" and then not update it for a month.......




So this one is for her.....with jokes to keep you smiling......

Be back soon
Promise
Si

Longtime No Blog

It has been awhile since my last blog, but I have a multitude of excuses. I have been working fairly long hours, finishing off all the requirements for my studies this semester, supporting a very sad daughter and trying to run a household.

I think I am failing in a few of these areas......... J is missing her boyfriend terribly. But not much I can do to rectify that situation. My household is a desperate attempt at organisation, which has failed miserably. This is evidenced by little piles of "stuff" everywhere. I mean to find a place for them........but they seem to multiply until I feel overwhelmed by them. That makes me leave them for another week...... You see the problem yet?



My behaviour when I am studying, working and "not coping" is not something I am proud of. I can have tantrums, shout and scream and stomp off to my room and slam the door. I am so wishing I had never embarked on this studying. However I am nearing the finish line and it would be incredibly stupid to throw in the towel so close to the end....



I always thought that things get easier as you age but that is apparently not how it works. I seem to rush more, have less time and cope worse? What happened to my vision of arriving to "middle-age" with dignity, poise and control? This Owl does not seem to be getting wiser?

Ok enough about me and my whining.

Winter is fast approaching and the 4 - legged creatures of the house are desperate to avoid the cold. I woke up this morning with Siamese 1 in my arms, Siamese 2 on my head, sharing my pillow and Siamese 3 on my legs. I am apparently a giant hot-water bottle designed for their comfort.

Karma and Shani are once again wearing their multitude of "doggy-coats" that they have. Karma recently had a birthday and is now 8yrs old. She does not look old but I can see she is slowing down a bit. If you take her for too long a walk she starts to slow down and then just stops and stares at you. That means "Ok, enough" I am going home. This next photo was kindly supplied by E an awesome photographer!



Shani on the other hand will go and go....... a bit like a "Duracell Bunny".......

Be back soon
Si

Ups and downs.....

Life gives and takes. I am happy and sad. Happy because J and her Internet boyfriend E met and had a magical three weeks together............sad because now he has left and poor J is heartbroken. A difficult path to follow, but I am sure that where there is a will there is a way!

Happy because my Case Studies are submitted and the last straggly tasks are completed....... sad because today we had to say goodbye to a very special kitty. Mr Meow was a resident at Peninsula Vet for 15 years. He attended Puppy Preschool and taught the pups to RESPECT cats. He ruled the place. It was an honour to have your lap chosen at the weekly team meeting, he sat on your lap and purred his way through the meeting. Sadly after a long illness it came to the day... and we said goodbye. RIP Mr Meow.


No matter how long you do this job ... it never gets easier.......

The Greys are good... the cats are fine... the fish are swimming.....the cockatiels are chirping.....

While E was here he and J were eating some grapes, they had them in a bowl of water.....Ziggy thought that the bowl may actually be an indoor bird bath......



I guess things are ok

Ciao
Si

Old dogs......and new tricks...

I think I am becoming an "Old Dog"..... firstly there is my very obvious grey patch... nothing a bit of dye can't fix. Then there is the fact that I am learning new tricks. I am in my final year of Vet Nursing and really feel like I am out of steam. I have been Vet Nursing for 20 years.... since the time when no one really had qualifications... so I am now studying and am nearly finished... roll on year end ...roll on..... Only books I am gonna open after that are FICTION.

I find that working, kids, home, dogs,cats, birds etc etc.... is hard to juggle. I sort of need more than 24 hrs in a day. So if my blog has been a bit "slow" thats why!

J met a boy "online" a year ago, after a year of getting to know each other E has come to meet us. He is from the Netherlands. So 2 weeks ago E arrived to meet J and see if the online romance was real........ Well it has been a pleasure to meet E and have him stay. After 2 weeks he is part of the family and we are going to be very sad to say goodbye next week. They are making plans about repeat visits.....


Its weird how small the internet makes the world... communicating with people on the other side of the world is as easy as if they lived next door. Due to the internet I have found friends I have not seen for 20 years..... Very odd... but strangely fun! I am having a ball catching up with old friends , seeing how they have changed, what they have become, their kids...

In fact just this week I am meeting an old school friend who is holidaying in Australia...we have not seen each other since High School....

The cats are good, the dogs are fine....the kids are great......D is "cancer" free so I guess we're good!

See ya
Si