What I'm Learning

It has been an awfully long time since I have written ... And I've missed it.  Here, this space, has always been where I've shared my creativity, feelings and thoughts. 

Life is one big learning adventure and sometimes we have to do things over and over again

before we learn the lesson, I often say I like to learn my lessons practically ...

Currently I'm learning that as much as I want to learn/know/do all the things ...

sometimes I have to ask for and/or accept help.

This is one of the hardest ridiculously difficult things for me to do ... to actually say, 'I need you to help me because I can't do this/don't know how to do this' ...

Since the flooding and Mr B going to America for work ... I have phoned a man to come clean out our gutterings *tick job done* cleaned out one of the drains that was blocked before during and after the flooding *tick job done* dealt with the insurance company *tick job done* taken lawnmower to repair shop *tick job done* asked for and received help with checking my bike after it took a tumble off my car *tick job done* 

Rightly or Wrongly I was brought up in a world where clearly defined life skills/jobs were gender based and I believed I couldn't do things because either my father or my husband would do them ... Over the past years my beliefs/upbringing/societies norm have been challenged by myself, life and my frustration with whats currently happening in the world around me and how that could affect those I love ... 

All my *tick job done* jobs were achieved whilst wearing a little black dress, heels, and red lipstick - ye gods that motor mower was heavy to lift in and out of my car tho

... and this amongst other things I'm learning, is why this year I chose to further my studies and do more womens studies papers through university - I think I am the eternal learner/student/academic - 

Monday March 13th

Today I am grateful for fruit trees full of seasonal fruit to make my breakfast

Apples and Figs both homegrown

And a new smoothie recipe book to experiment with  

and for perfect timing ... we were literally able to throw things ruined from the floods into the jumbo bin/skip which was already on our driveway
So very grateful the driver of the truck (maybe it was his first day) didn't take out the peach tree as he removed the skip off our driveway 

For sun, I am so grateful to the sun shining days which have followed and allowed us to dry furniture sodden to the bone 

And definitely grateful for pretties hanging on my clothes line 

The flash flooding that hit New Lynn, Auckland ... these streets and shops are a 10 minute walk from my home ... the path the flood took started at the bottom of our street 

Tis the season .. .. ..

There was so much crammed into the first two weeks of December - School trip to the Art Gallery, Christmas cards, Christmas tree and house decorated, annual Santa Grotto visit with friends, non school uniform days, Secret Santa gifts, school reports, my busiest time of the year work wise and all done whilst Daddy made endless trips away for work.

Life is hectic, as any Mum of school age children knows only too well.  My organisational skills have been tested to the max this term, however, with learning to say no to the endless 'end of year' social events we were invited to, we survived intact and here we are at the welcome start of an eight week respite from school routine. 

Hallelujah, we are all so, so ready for it.

Now summer and the school holidays are finally here and the children have flown down to my Mothers, I have fallen into a more relaxed morning routine. There is no school lunches to make, no rush, no deadlines and no stress .. .. .. A cuppa tea or coffee in bed and a spot of knitting. 

 

There is calm, there is peace, the house is tidy!  _and_ during the day in-between clients there is time to catch up with a friend over coffee or tea, whilst in the evening my Mr B and I can train at the gym together, take in some theatre or a movie, the world really is our child free oyster.  

We are truly blessed my Mama seamlessly and effortlessly takes over the parenting reigns for a week (or longer) every school holidays and the children get magical memory making time with their Grandma and Grandpop.  Win/Win .. .. .. it takes a village!

I hope you are all doing good in the run up to Christmas .. .. .. I hope you are happy and all is calm and bright in your days.

Secret Garden Birthday Party

Miss P aka Tsunami turned 7 the day after we returned from Hong Kong/Korea

Not happy with a Disneyland birthday, she wanted to be at home with her friends to celebrate . . . I have no idea where she inherited her socialising skills from *looks away*

Keeping it simple was the order of the day for me . . . 

A very talented friend made the cake 

Rainbow, Secret Garden with the door, was requested.

Bunting and Balloons

An afternoon party with Mamas finest pretty china

Old fashioned lemonade

Ham and Cheese sandwiches

Scones, jam and cream

And lots of lovely little girls

Miss P has some amazing adorable wee friends who I am very fond of 

Lovely girls

Rainbow cake as requested . . . Everyone needs one of these at least once in their life time _right_

As I said I have no idea where she gets her socialising skills from . . . 

It takes a village to raise a child and I am blessed with some amazing fellow Mummy villagers 

Happy 7th Birthday Miss P

And That Was April

Marvelling: At home grown goodness - from garden to plate 

Knowing: I need to replant more carrot seeds and tend to my garden 

Wishing: There were more hours in the day to achieve everything I want to

Thinking: How when I was so sick last year this amazing Mama simply told me to put my kids on a plane and send them to her!  

Liking:  Being in Wellington on a Mama and me weekend.  Liking staying with bloggy friends who have become IRL friends who have become family friends.  Catching up with lovely Wellington bloggy friends.

Feeling: That this is what blogging is all about - connections.  

Wanting: to find my blogging mojo again and not to be scared to write.

Needing: To grieve - To show emotion

Deciding: Death is nothing we can expect (even when we were expecting it) or imagine (until we are experiencing it) and 'hiding/suppressing' our grief in the public eye was not the right way for me 

Buying: Coffee

Drinking : Coffee

Smoothie and morning coffee

Coffee at the gym 

Coffee at the airport

Coffee after the gym

Coffee whilst event planning

Coffee sitting outside listening to the rain

Making : my summer crochet blanket - (that I started last summer)

Reading: Text books Text books oh and Text books - Medieval Europe so much easier on the heart mind and soul than Gender Violence

Watching: Netflix . . . loving it . . . Upstairs Downstairs 

Wearing: A timing chip on my shoes for my 2nd 1/2 marathon training race

Noticing: How other peoples comments still affect my heart

Getting: Fitter and Healthier 

Looking: At paper piecing 

Pondering: Life and Death 

Hoping: I find my paper piecing knack as I have a giraffe to make 

Playing: On the swings before my Boxing Bootcamp

Giggling: Like a child

Feeling: Free ... Flying through the air

Considering: Doing this more often - it frees the mind

Enjoying: Exercise !  I love it ! 

I'm fit and healthy and I get to hang out and exercise with amazing friends all in the name of exercise.

Loving: Exercise

Waiting: for a bus .. .. .. wall sits!  honestly who's idea was that?

Wondering: Why people never commented on my weight 18 kilos ago but yet they feel compelled to now I've lost it?  hmmmmmm

Taking Stock

Making : Breakfast in bed for Daddy
Cooking : Homemade toast with homemade (by Grandpop) Peanut Butter

Drinking : Coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice 

Feeling: the temperature drop

Noticing: hail/ice that hasn't melted - that one time is was "Auckland Cold"

Wanting: to build a snowman

Reading: The Nicomachean Ethics

Enjoying: the peace and quiet

Looking: at my beautiful tea pot, milk jug and cup & saucer, gifts to me

Playing: catch up on my studies  

Deciding: The Classical Era was not a good time to be a woman or a slave

Wondering: when our views on certain topics changed

Needing: Coffee

Loving: Cuddles from a wee man who sleep walked from the bedroom to his Mamas lap, curled up and continued sleeping - awwwwww

Watching: him sleep and frown

Hoping: I'm getting this right, some days and some questions are so hard

Waiting: We do A LOT of waiting here .. .. ..  A LOT 
Learning: patience 

Pondering: Why isn't there a "I hate coming here" "This place now gives me panic attacks" button 

Knowing: One day we will look back and smile on these days 

Wearing: His new onsie

Contemplating: Spots and Dots and Lego

Buying: Tend Magazine

Bookmarking: "Mothers Matter" - Finding Value in Motherhood in a Society that Devalues Family 

Getting: a lot of crafts done for the upcoming School Fair

Admiring:  Flowers from my garden

Smelling: Scented Yankee candles

Liking: Lemon cupcakes

Thinking: how fortunate we are

Wishing: for health 

If you want a list you can get it from Pip at Meet Me At Mike's too!  

In Sickness and In Health

Earlier this month my Mr B had an exploratory operation

The same weekend he was discharged from hospital

Tsunami came down with Rotavirus

A whole weekend and two days off school just hanging out with Mama and Daddy 

"I'm looking after my Daddy - look Mama" 

"Mama, Daddy needs a cuppa tea"

"Mama, Daddy and I need a nap" 

Thankful for the friends who looked after Philospher and Tsunami whilst I was in hospital with my Mr B

Thankful for the friends who brought the 'girls night out' to my house when all I wanted to do was cry

Thankful washing machines, dryers and tea tree oil!  My house has never been cleaner!

Tsunami is fully recovered

My Mr B is taking each day slowly whilst we wait for the next test and the next decision and possibly the next operation?