August

August is probably my favourite month. When we lived in England, it was the season of holidays, long summer evenings and plenty of picnics. Time to enjoy a slower pace of life. Here the weather can be wintry, even snowy and yet some days like today are beautiful with the promise of spring. The wattle blossom is out, camellias in bloom and it is my birthday month.

This year is extra special as I mark a milestone and plans had been made well in advance. A number of years ago when dear daughter was in the early stages of wedding preparations I came across a beautiful tiara. Now I had never worn one of these crowning glories and as a ‘child of the King’, I wondered if I could. Dear daughter’s suggestion was to buy it to wear on my 50th birthday. It was waiting …

As a bonus my birthday fell on a Sunday and a family-oriented day was planned. Presents had been arriving by post all week and were ready for opening …
I had enrolled at a craft class which was being conducted on the Saturday, the day before, where I was to make a book. What great timing! I chose “journey” as my theme – a reflective, grateful look at my life thus far (half a century!) and had collected photos and quotes, drawings and memories and was ready…

The “happy birthday” bunting was to be hung above the dining table for breakfast …

and afterwards we were to head for the hills and gather for a birthday lunch at Sassafras …

My dear family had booked the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant so we could celebrate by enjoying our evening meal whilst leisurely touring the streets of Melbourne …

And the birthday cake was baked …

What a beautiful birthday with my precious family awaited!

Then the call came. My father (who is rarely sick) had been taken to hospital, had deteriorated overnight and was in the critical care unit of a hospital in Perth. He was unconscious and no-one was sure of the outcome. Oxygen was being pushed into him after respiratory failure.
What to do? Would I be letting my family down after all their careful planning? Should I fly over immediately, or wait just one day (my birthday) and then go?

I went. My sister flew from Newcastle to Melbourne and we joined the Perth flight together that evening. One of my brothers drove three hours to Canberra, left his car at the airport carpark and for the first time in his life, boarded a plane and arrived in Perth not long before us. Before midnight we were met by our second cousin and went straight to the hospital –

Only one person at a time could see him but Dad was conscious, was so pleased we were there, and my birthday had begun.



After a few hours sleep, I woke up feeling quite excited and the day turned out to be most memorable. We spent much of the time at ICU and Dad continued to make progress. Soon two of us could see him together which was great. My sister, brother and I set off for the beach for fish and chips for lunch, then back to the hospital. Our cousin’s family kindly decided to have a baked dinner that evening to mark the special day – a day spent with family after all but just not what I’d anticipated.

Leaving Dad settled for the night, we arrived back at his place to get ready for dinner, only to be greeted by this:


The house had been broken into and the place searched. Things were everywhere and Dad’s poor little Jack Russell, Toby, was very distressed so I took him for a walk to calm him. As we don’t normally live there, or even visit often, we really didn’t know what had been taken except for my brother’s car keys. After calling the police, we had to wait for their arrival as well as a glazier to repair the smashed door. Time was passing, birthday time, so I donned my tiara while we waited and realized the birthday dinner would be a midnight feast.

All patiently waited until the police had been, the glazier returned with the repaired door and the house made secure again. All the scattered contents had to remain until forensics came the next day. With the birthday cake in hand and tiara still in place, we set off and the birthday dinner began.

I learned much through the experience. Dad doesn’t really have any attachment to material possessions; he leads a simple life and could pack his ‘treasures’ in a suitcase and close the door behind the rest if he had to, without a backward glance. It was several days later that we told him and it did not perturb him. Thankfully they didn’t hurt Toby and Dad doesn’t keep cash in the house (believing he would just be a target for thieves). They didn’t take anything that was special to him and they left his keys, so he doesn’t need to change locks (but it was a bit of a problem for my brother with his vehicle at Canberra Airport) but they did take two large tins of coins that Dad puts aside for missions.

It was wonderful to see Dad continue to improve and when we left a week later he had been moved to a general ward.

Flying back into Melbourne I reflected on the difficult week, glad Dad was better, but I was so pleased to be home. My sister stayed overnight with us so she could meet her little great-niece, Belle, then flew back to Newcastle and her own family.

As my own precious family had missed my birthday (12th), on Tuesday (21st) we celebrated a ‘Blessings Day’ together, complete with ‘Blessings’ bunting, a delicious meal and thoughtful presents. The Tram Car Restaurant meal is still to come …

It is all part of the journey of life!


"JOURNEY: Travel or passage from one place to another; hence, figuratively, a passage through life."

Term time

These days I am being carried along by the term time tide, so apologies that my postings are few and far between. Nevertheless, life continues along merrily.

Little Belle is now six months old and growing apace. She has a sunny nature, heaps of curiosity and a strong attachment to her mum. We love seeing Dear Daughter, her Prince and little Belle so regularly and feel blessed in our close proximity to them.

Our boys are also into the swing of term time. Charming Son has deferred his uni studies this year and is currently working at a school while the Delightful one is still at uni. Both are away this weekend as leaders of a youth camp. Consequently my darling and I have a weekend together and surprisingly, due to other commitments, we are in the city.
*There is a chance of snow at the cottage so we may travel there later tonight.

Lately I have felt challenged about the use of plastic containers. I guess this is an extension of refusing plastic bags for purchases and not buying plastic wrap. Slowly I have been replacing our plastic storage containers with glass ones and as well as being a healthier option, they look wonderful on the shelves. I recently purchased six lovely french 'Le Parfait' jars for 99 cents each. They hold 500 mls (2 cups) so I have been using them to store leftovers in the fridge as well, the only drawback is the weight when I cycle to school with my lunch the next day - they are hefty!

The weather has been kind and the blossoms are beautiful. A family of kookaburras has taken up residence in the bushland nearby, venturing out during the day, and I love hearing their cheery, laughing call. One morning recently, they sounded so close and on investingating I discovered they were perched on next-door's chimney. My darling and I plan to take a quiet walk through the bush just on nightfall this evening to find out where they are roosting. Our little spot in the city does have many delights.