Last two posts...

Um, photo blog sans photos, not so great. Silly me, I wrote the posts a while ago (unable to publish due app problems). The photos are now no longer on my phone, but the (new) app made it look like it was all ok. *grumble grumble* will have to fix it up later. Sorry :(

Kittehs update

Hellooooooo

Playing, I promise

Best of friends

 
 

K&B's wedding - hanging with Isaac

Wrote this straight after the wedding, a couple of weeks ago... but the app I use has been playing up... here 'tis now, with a different app...

Weekend trip to the central coast to hang out with a bunch of the Penrhos boarders and their families, who were visiting to attend Karen & Ben's 2nd/Aussie wedding. To cut a long story short... Matt and I babysat Isaac, while Skye & Marty were at the reception. Had a ball hanging out with this super little man, as well as catching up with his parents, and the other boarders and their families.

The train trip up. We have done it a few times but should go more often. So cheap, yet so stunning.

Isaac helping to make his dinner.

Matt has an essay due so took some study with him. We (Isaac and I) had to interrupt him briefly and they (Matt and Isaac) decided to do some typing together.

Next day, silly selfies.

With Skye too

And a proper one.

Matt and I solemnly promise that we will get over to Perth to catch up again soon. xoxo

Sunday afternoon

A tough few months

To all my friends and family, especially those who have been trying to get in touch or I have been wanting to get in touch with, I want to apologise for not consistently returning messages and just generally being 'off the grid'.

Since about November last year, it has been one thing after another, nothing 'catastrophic' but constant stressors or highly emotional events. On reflection I think I am a bit emotionally fatigued. Some things I have mentioned, like Mr Smokey's passing, having pneumonia over the summer holidays, Matt starting uni and fertility struggles, but some things are too personal or sensitive to share here. I would love to say things are getting better but there are still a few issues ongoing. 

I am well but I ask for your understanding if I continue to be a bit withdrawn for the next little while.

Thank you XO

On a lighter note... the kittens! They have confirmed names now. The ginger girl is 'Scout' and the black & white boy is 'Jasper'. Scout is a bit of a princess and knows to meow if anyone is in the kitchen. Jasper is very energetic, almost manic, hopefully he will settle a bit as he gets older. Despite their differences they are best mates.

 

Introducing... tiny terrors

What started as a conversation about mice escalated quickly to these two... names to be confirmed. 

24hrs and they have made themselves at home quite nicely. No toilet accidents or escapees yet (fingers crossed!)

 

Excuse me, need to take one more photo to be included... um... help

 

 

 
 

 

Liam's ding! Level 25

Great night out to a Brazilian BBQ house for Liam's birthday, that little bit more special as Liz organised it and she is vegetarian.

Green says go, red says stop. One by one, peeps around the table joked that these funny little things were traffic lights, only to be told 'yes' that's exactly what they are!

Moight

January, Jacquie & John

So our summer holidays haven't been awesome. Matt's new job is going well, but a little stressful as he 'finds his feet' being his own boss and everything. Mr Smokey's illness and subsequent passing made Xmas & NY a major downer. And just to top things off... since new years, I have been sick, really sick. Some sort of flu thing with the works - fevers, chills, body aches, headaches and a horrendous cough - wracking my whole body until I (occasionally) throw up. I was even tested for whooping cough - which came back clear, thankfully!

In among this we did have a highlight, a visit from Matt's mum, Jacquie and her husband John. They caught the train down from Brissie (not as nice as they had hoped) and stayed in the city. Matt met up with them most days and I ventured out a couple of times. We showed them around our 'hood and Jacquie wanted to visit Vaucluse House. They bought Matt and me passes to the 'Historic Houses Trust of NSW' (http://www.hht.net.au) and we visited a few sites/museums.

Addison Road markets

In the carpark, lol!

Ferry to Manly with Jacquie's friend, Karin.
Matt and I also enjoyed catching up with Karin again, she's a cracker.

Elizabeth Bay House

Great weather for sight seeing!
This day we did an air-conditioned car trip.

Farewell Smokey

Today we said goodbye to Mister Smokey. He lived a long and loved life. He may have only lived with us for the past 2 years & 2 months, but Matt knew him since he was a kitten and in the time Smokey lived with us, he had a big, positive and lasting impact on our lives and relationship.

Rest assured, those who knew and loved this little guy, it was peaceful. In the past week his body just failed around him. He was increasingly lethargic, stopped eating and became rapidly thinner and weaker. Even this morning, he could barely stand but insisted on putting his head on our laps or hands and even wrapped his paw/claws around our fingers. We took him to the vet for what was due to be an injection for his arthritis but we strongly suspected what the prognosis and advice would be be.

He passed away under the gentle intervention of two Vets that clearly cared for him too, with his head in Matt's hands and paw wrapped around my finger.

Smokey McMillan

Sept 1993 - Dec 2012

Both of these hoomans belong to me

Kitchen Garden - November 2012

A fairly big reorganisation with the news that we will staying here at least another 12 months (yay). Making way for planned expansions.

Making seed tape

Under spotlight. In this small space is: sunflower, corn, tomato, capsicum, summer squash, zuchini, sweet potato, luffa, carrot, lettuce, strawberries, brown onion, spring onion

Herbs near the kitchen\back door

Away from the wall - better access, air flow and sun

The start of the mushroom kingdom

For tonight's stir fry dinner

Jake in Sydney

Less talk more photos...