Happy Birthday dear Madeleine!

17th October 2012

Darling Mads is 7 today. I was sitting at the same desk I am now when the news of her birth came through. I remember running excitedly around the building telling complete strangers. My first grandchild!

Here is a photo retrospective to celebrate her first seven years which have been full of adventure in so many countries.

Modelling Mere's perfect knitting

Stuffing it in in South Melbourne

Dressed up as Mere - Frankfurt

Anglesea

South Melbourne park

Childrens Garden, Botanical Gardens, Melbourne

Anglesea

One of many dress ups

Ice cream in Florence in the middle of Winter

Snow Angel - Germany

Flamenco in Spain

The Mighty Fighting Hawk

"Sam Sam" - Paris suburbs

Schuletute for the first day of school - Frankfurt

Hil's Garden

The Beamii have recently acquired a plot in a community garden.

They are growing vegetables, berries and herbs.

Caspie is an enthusiastic helper.

But there is time for fun and games too

 "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
(Marcus Tullius Cicero)

Bug's Birthday

I remember my parents turning 70: now it's my siblings. The family gathered at the North Fitzroy Star for a long lunch and two long speeches. Maureen told us all how fab we are especially Fadge and what a fab sex life they've had. Ails did her party trick. Then we all talked about our redundancies. There were three recent ones and a couple of repeat offenders. Oh, and one or two still gainfully employed.

It was great to catch up with everyone. If only the Triple Ms could have been there too.

Soft tissue injury

Footy injuries. Hammies, ACLs, knees, corkies and soft tissue.

 I think the one I have is what club medicos, deliberately vague, call General Soreness. It sounds like a failed military man from the Crimean War but it feels like a whole body and soul ache, a sign that something is WRONG. 

The Hawks are vanquished, workplace morale has taken a dive, my home town has become a dangerous place and Summer refuses to arrive.

Getting ready for the Granny

I'm feeling very nervous about tomorrow. We deserve this one but justice is not always done in footy.  Hil has made me some Hawthorn biscuits to help ward off the cold and provide a sugar hit if it all gets too much.

It's going to be cold and wet and I have a seat in the open. I've borrowed a poncho and I'm going to wear a scarf we've had since the 80s - that great era of seven consecutive Grand Finals.

Go the mighty fighting Hawks!

The Mighty Fighting Hawk

Heart and SOL

Friday was the last day of my secondment to SOL.

I accepted my flowers, ate my cake and made my speech. I gave my Hawks team photo to Shaun and my Leunig calendar to Andy. I saved a few files, cleared out my desk and left.

Only problem is I don’t really have a position to come back to – not for long anyway thanks to the vile Baillieu government. Instead of spending our tax dollars on education, Big Ted is spending it on smoking out the pumas, panthers, cougars and jaguars on the lam in Gippsland. And so lovely leafy Lilydale Campus is closing.

With a view of a Wilson’s car park at home, I get my greening at work. The undulating lawns, the avenue of Manchurian pears, the abundant wattles, the lake, the parrots, the ducks, the bunnies, the occasional fox.

Lilydale is where I breathe. It’s where I work with the lovely leafy Lilydale library ladies. Our mutual support crew easing each other through our dangerous years, dealing with cantankerous parents, insensitive husbands or recalcitrant children. And an interesting array of health issues. What happens now?

SOL Kinda Feeling

Winner! (Well - runner up)
After decades of entering footy tipping contests and providing the money to pay the winners, I have actually come in second this year. I win $100. Yay!!!

Go Hawks! But don't come second.