I'm Back!!!!

I haven't posted for a couple years because , well just because. Lots of things have happened including another grandchild, Ellady Paige, born on Sept 30th 2009 and me turning fifty. I've taken a photography course and started my knitting again so I'm going to use my blog as a place to post my photos of my creations and other subjects. I might write the odd post as well, ha ha!
Anyway, since this is the eve of Mother's Day I thought I'd write about my kids and how I feel about being a mum. I always wanted to be a mum, I never had any ambition to be a teacher, nurse, whatever, I only ever wanted to get married and have kids. Thankfully I achieved that, four times. Each pregnancy was different as was each birth but one thing they all had in common was the rush of all consuming love that I felt when I looked upon the face of the baby I held in my arms. From the moment they were born, I loved each one in such an intense way that I knew my heart would always belong to them. And it has.
Motherhood isn't an easy journey. It is filled with pot holes, twists in the road, mountains to climb and canyons to cross but is the greatest adventure a woman can ever take. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's unrewarding, sometimes it's downright frustrating and your purse will always be empty but when your child smiles at you, hugs you, kisses you and tells you he loves you, it hits home that all the hard work is worth it for the reward that money cannot buy, a heart full of love.
I have loved my own adventure and continue to do so even though they are now grown and don't need me as much. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I probably would have been richer in monetary terms but I'd rather have an empty purse than an empty heart.

Don't want to say Goodbye

My favourite aunty goes home on Saturday. Lana will be flying back to Australia and I am really going to miss her. I know she's in a quandry because as much as she wants to go home to her family she doesn't want to leave her English family. It will be hard for all of us to say goodbye.
Lana is very special to us because she lived with us when we were children and was like a big sister. She had a big influence on our lives for many years and we loved her dearly.
She taught me how to put my makeup on properly, how to dress with style and told me never to refuse to dance with a boy because it took a lot of courage for them to ask. That piece of advice meant I always had a partner for the last dance at school when many of my friends had to sit it out!
When Lana left to go to Australia, thirty two years ago, it was like losing a limb. She was a confidante, a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with, to tell secrets to and the best friend I'd ever had. Then came the wonderful invention of email and we could keep in touch regularly again. But nothing compares with the opportunity to meet her again. I've realised she is still that funny, big sister, best friend, beloved aunty she has always been in my memory, that the years may have changed her in some ways but in all those important things she is still the same.
I will miss her all over again but I wouldn't have given up this chance to get to know her again for all the tea in China. We love you Lana, God speed till we meet again!

Here Comes the Snow!

We've had some snow! We haven't had snow this often for a long time. Apparently, it's the coldest winter since 1992. All I know is it's COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD. I hate snow, I really hate it. I hate driving in it, I hate walking in it BUT I love to look at it, from behind the window in my warm, cosy house. There's nothing quite as pretty as a winter snow scene before anybody's walked on it. I've always wished I could paint because I've always wanted to have a painting of a snow scene. Anybody out there who can donate one? No? I'll have to be satisfied with my amateur photo's then, I suppose.

Another Year

Well. we're into another year again. It's true what they say about how the years pass quicker as you grow older. I can't think where this last year has gone.

Anyway we had a great christmas. Jim and the kids stayed with us for four weeks. It was so nice to have them here and get to know some of my brother's kids, who were really great. Jamie loved them being with us. Our aunty Lana came over with them. She is mum's youngest sister and has been in Australia over thirty years now. She is still here, staying with mum until March 5th. Having her here is such a treat for us. We love her so much. She was like a sister to us kids when we were growing up and we miss her a lot.

Mum and dad celebrated their Golden Wedding on 27th December. We had a party, a really fantastic family occasion. Most of the family attended and we had a proper knees up.

The Douglas/Mcgovern clan

Mum and Dad, cutting their cake

John had his eye operated on but had to go all the way to Cambridge to get it done. He's still got a long way to go with healing. He still can't open his eye and any light shining in it causes him pain. His healing process will be long but at least he is healing.

He can see blurry images which is a good thing so he may just get some sight back.

Hopefully this year will pass without any mishaps!

So Much for Christmas Spirit!

My husband was attacked on Friday night by two cowardly b**&^%ds. They didn't want his money or his mobile phone they just wanted to beat a defenseless man. They kicked and punched him in the face. Why does that give them a buzz? What is in their heads as they are doing it? Would they get the same buzz if faced with somebody bigger than themselves, I think not. The scum that commit these crimes are cowards and if faced alone by somebody bigger would run a mile.
They split his eyeball open and he has had to have it stitched back together. His lens has fallen behind his eye and he may have damage to his retina. Which means one more op to reattach his lens and probably another to repair damage to the retina. He will lose some sight, maybe all, in that eye and is going to be at least six weeks before it is healed. He can't return to work until it is fully healed so it will be the new year before he does.
The police meanwhile can't do anything because there were no witnesses, no cctv and the scum had gone by the time the police got there. So scum of the earth get away scot free while we suffer the consequences.
I hope one day they get theirs and though I won't be around to see it, I'll be praying that they do.

It's nearly Here!!!!

It's nearly here again. I can't believe I'm writing a post about Christmas again.
I love Christmas, I know I've said that before but I do! They say that as you get older you lose the spirit and it's only for children but I disagree. I still get goosebumps when I hear a choir singing Christmas Carols and I love putting my decorations up. I love choosing and wrapping presents and I love the giving and receiving of them.

Does this mean I've never grown up? Maybe. Do I care? NO!

This year will be extra special because I have my lovely, big brother staying with three of his thirteen (YES, 13, no he's not Catholic, he's a mormon!) kids from Australia. They are over for my parent's Golden Wedding anniversary on the 27th December. It will be wonderful having a full house again for Christmas. So bring it on, cos I'm ready!!!!

I'm Menopausal!

Well, I have finally reached that milestone every woman dreads, the menopause. I have been peri-menopausal for about three years which is the beginning apparently. I haven't been to the doctors or anything, I just figured it out. My periods have been awry for years and then they started getting less frequent. I've gone a full year without one now so I guess that makes me officially a member of the club. Although, I haven't really suffered major symptoms. I do have the odd hot flush, usually in bed when I throw off all the covers, annoying hubby somewhat, then wake up shivering and hike the covers all onto my side, upsetting him again! I have suffered a few mood swings, but hubby insists that they are normal and nothing to do with the menopause. I've also been a little forgetful lately, you know walking into a room and forgetting what you came for, and I am tired a lot too.
Reading that back, I see I have all the symptoms really! So there we have it, I'm officially middle aged. Am I bothered?
Not on your life! I love not having periods every month. They were the bane of my life. No more horrible cramps, no more PMS. I love it.
I've seen some women hating every minute of it, but not me! Here's to old age and all it's freedom!