You came twice

Yip, my birthday came twice.
Perhaps a little bit of selfishness on my part, but i got to paaarty twice!
Such pleasant and fun times with a few of the amazing friends i have. One time i will have a great big party where loads can come - maybe in 4 years when the big 40 strikes!
One party in my home-town with new and precious friends.
One in old home-town with old and dear friends.
Both had great food and beverage. both had laughs, photos, and chattering.

It's great to get dressed up, even though my first outfit was a nightmare. i could not control where the 'off-the-shoulder' sleeve wanted to fall and all night i was annoyed and hacked off with it. Mental note to self: don't wear that again in a hurry!
The first was at a fav cafe in old-town.

The second was at friends.

Curry was cooked, dessert was baked and all i made was this lucious drink (freeze blueberries with cranberry juice in ice cube trays and when ready to serve, add lemonade!). It was popular but not as favoured as the incredible curry eaten around the table together, or the fabulous puds made by my lovely Hannah!

I always say it's good to celebrate, even when your birthday is close to Chrissy-mas. And it is. Make sure you do, whatever the ocassion. It is perfect for being with people you love.

Good times

Dear Sarah (what a cool name)

Loved catching up the other night on the phone! I wanted to write and share a few of the cooler moments from the Lonsdale family holiday. Going away before Christmas is wonderful but provides a false sense of ‘calmness’ before the sometimes ‘storm’ of Chrissy. When I went grocery shopping yesterday after arriving home, I had to remind myself to relax, as I navigated my trolley around the place. Great to be home. Amazing to have been with my family.

Somehow each day on holiday, I managed to stay asleep in my bed, while my mother and Matty looked after the girls. I think it was mostly mum (secretly getting the girls to make birthday cards for me) but Matt had a share in that.

Horse riding (Yes, even me!), rock climbing, water sliding, archery and the flying fox were highlights for us all.

Times where we just sat together while the kids played lego or cards or dolls. Beautiful. Often hilarious.

Getting the family Christmas ready with the kids and then having it. Uncle Jeremy giving us presents that were our own already! Sneaky guy stealing our stuff to wrap up. Very funny.

Loads and loads of good food and of course a lot of coffee.

A moment of reflection and thanks to my family for their support over the past few years of crazy-ness. Some tears, of course.

And Sezzy – loads of playing cards and even me teaching our family and friends (30 at one stage) to play Danish rounders! Whoop whoop! Missed you my beautiful friend. It won’t be long till we see you again – someone recently asked if I was heading to the UK next year! How funny. Do you think they will pay?

Thanks for your generosity towards me. I anticipated this being crazy-hard with the girls going. But it’s been good. It’s been softer and it’s been more comfy having the familiar around in the unfamiliar time. Matt and I have snuck coffee’s when we could, I’ve taken him to my fav café, we’ve even watched a bit of ‘The Wire’ (how many bad words are in that? poor Grandma!).

“Presence is a delicious word because it points to one of our truly great gifts. Nothing else can take the place of presence, not gifts, not telephone calls, not pictures, not mementos, nothing. As the person who has lost a lifelong mate what they miss the most; the answer is invariably “presence”. When all are ill, we don’t need soothing words nearly as much as we need loved ones to be present. What makes shared life – games, walks concerts, outings and a myriad of other things – so pleasurable? Presence”.

Love you Sarah. You are one beautiful wahine. Talk soon, love me.

see you next week

We are off on our trip tomorrow, so no blogging from me for over a week and then it will be birthday photos, family photos and all the family fun we've been having.

I will miss you blog, you are so good for me and my wee heart.

See you soon, love me xx

go away dragon lady

Wow i've done 109 posts, that seems impressive as i would have given up writing a diary way before 109 posts. Well done me.

I'm not worried at all about the christmas rush (although i am hating some of the traffic) as i've enjoyed making wee cute things to give people and the rush (that comes from giving) of doing that outweighs the work of it, i'm thinking.

But somewhere along the way, i seem to be a psycho mum, waaaaay too much.

I'm trying to focus on the 'calm' response. It's harder as my natural tendency is not that, at present. I think about being a fun mum as i'm having a melt down and that just annoys me. "Oh God (i speak to him) please help my kids still like me".

they leave in just over a week for ausi with their dad. i think i'm dreading it still and seem to be behaving badly because of that stress. ahhh it doesn't make sense. And i really don't want them to not like their mum. And then that stresses me.

And then a bird pooped on my head - yip it's true. I've had a week where my head has been the focus in my life - nits, my random crazy thoughts and now a poop. It was rather funny actually. all you can do is laugh. no photo sorry.

we head away on monday and that will be fab to be with my wonderful family. First time all together since the 'Sarah's marriage meltdown fiasco'. Ye ha. In amongst the fun of that, i hope i get moments of bliss with my girls. I want them to remember the nice lady who adores them so much.

I've talked to them simply about us being 'apart' at christmas. it goes kind of like this:

"remember two things while you are away: Remember the Lord and that he loves you no matter which country you are in. And remember your mum who loves you ......"

Simple, heartwrenching, the truth.

Far better than psycho dragon lady.

long lost sarah writes in

These things have been happening in the house of us:

girls and I had an afternoon with some friends making felt Christmas stockings. Crazy times with 7 kids sewing blanket stitch. The 5 year old boy was awesome at it. Liv was rather bored.

Been feeling a bit low in the evenings these last few weeks but had some people round for cook book club on thurs and realized I was isolating myself a bit at night and was glad of the hosting opportunity and the company.

Made these fritters: 1 C self-raising flour, 1 C milk and 1 egg plus grated courgette and carrot (you could add anything). A great mixture – cook them just like pikelets! The girls ate them which was cool (and of course they were threatened that I would eat their slice of bacon if they didn’t devour one vege fritter!).

I am frequently having to wear those granny undie thingies which apparently hold in all your extra buldge so your jeans fit proper. Yeah, nice but can hardly breathe at end of day and need to rip those babies right off! Lower riding jeans are all good apart from that muffin at the top!

Nits. Oh my goodness. I can hardly talk about them but I have seen many a nit over this weekend. My hair is now a darker chocolate brown colour and I’m just about to straighten the lot as to try and kill off any of the little blighters that might be hanging on. Poor wee one has had them in her thick hair so we’re trying the routine of creaming and combinb each night along with straightening. She looks delicious with straight hair. Emmm what fun. Not.

Making fudge (Nigella style – 400g chocolate, 1 tin condensed milk and 2 T butter melted in a pot. Add pistachios or whatever you like – I add apricots to the chocolate one and craisins to the white chocolate. Set in a tray but with baking paper as that makes it really really easy to cut and get out). Hoping to give it to neighbours and friends for Christmas in these tins (recycle tins, remove label, paint white and glue christmasy ribbon on.

Easy, cheap, love it!).

What a winner – I won a spot prize (a fairy down pillow) at our church volunteer dinner last night. Then I won the ‘peoples choice’, ‘volunteer of the year’. Cool nice surprise. Girls are very proud.

We’re reading this book at the moment, the story of our heritage in God. It’s a really cool kids thing, to remind them of their history in the story of God and his love for us. Hoping it will become a regular each year!

Our Garden is growing, we can officially eat our own grown lettuces! Everyone is very excited. First time ever for me.

People going to talk to D today re him leaving us. Good people. People from our body of churches. Wondering what they said, wish i could truly be a fly or better yet a pretty ornament in the room, listening, observing.

As was feeling low this week, i roused myself to do some more prayers and reading of God's word. That was a good remedy. Psalm 121 (even quoted in the Sound of music) - I lift my eyes up, to the mountains, where does my help come from? It comes from the maker of heaven and earth who does not slumber or sleep over you......

Volunteering at my church has been so great. Doing something for others make you think less of your own turmoil and bless others. Such a good move on the chessboard of our lives. To give.

Hope your weekends have been good - maybe some sunshine, a magic show (yip got to go to one of those which was AMAZING!), some Christmas cheer or maybe just relaxing!