Road Trip

It's been a pleasant end to an otherwise tedious and difficult week. On Friday, knowing I would be inclined to stay home and do what the funeral director suggested (have a doona day) I had made an appointment to get my hair cut. So we headed off to Geelong, and hair done we had a lovely long lunch at a waterfront restaurant, did a little shopping and visited Lakeisha before heading back home. On Saturday we made our way down to Lorne, a bit of a hike to Erskine Falls, a coffee, Fish & Chips on the beach and lots of photos.

Giveaway

Who doesn't love a party, especially when it includes a gift!!! To help Janet celebrate Scrapville's very first birthday they are going to give away the entire Echo Park Wintertime Collection!

So who's up for the challenge? All you have to do is become a follower on the Scrapville blog and leave a message to say "Happy Birthday" to Janet and Scrapville then spread the word by posting it on your own blog or facebook or twitter, email friends etc.

The worst day

I think today ranks up there with the worst day I can remember for so many reasons.

We lost our dear dad on Sunday. He was just 7 weeks short of his 87th Birthday.

Today was his funeral. I can't even begin to describe this day and I'm not even sure I want to. Although if there is anything positive to find in all this sadness, it's that even after being out of the public eye for many years, it was so nice to see so many people who remembered him and came up to say how he had touched their lives. And the incredible eulogy written and delivered by Shane was such a touching part of the service.

I'm pretty sure we did Dad proud and I am certainly proud of my gorgeous man and loving daughter for whom I give thanks every single day of my life.

RIP Dad. We love you always.

A tough week

It has been a very tough week so far and I will be very glad to see the tail end of this one. My Dad suffered a heart attack on Monday. He's stable, but you just know in your heart that this can lead to no good for him. With already little quality of life, this can only make him weaker. It's such a sad thing to watch anyone close to you get old, and sometimes old age can be just the cruellest thing.

Sitting in the emergency room with him was just the most surreal experience and not in such a good way. If it hadn't been such a worrying time, the sight of the middle aged female doctor attending dressed in a leopard print top that barely made it around her ample proportions, coupled with the short "Best & Less" denim skirt and high cork heeled shoes, complete with "bed hair" would have been funny enough to point and laugh.

The giving and taking of Joy.

For us - life revolves around what brings us joy. We have made a conscious effort to focus on the things we love and try to set aside the things and people which take us in the opposite direction of what brings us joy.

I know that for both Shane and I, this is very much a trigger response from our past lives and the experience of having your joy taken away or sabotaged constantly. These days we embrace the notion that you own your happiness and pursue it with vigour rather than being content to be unhappy and allow others to sap the happiness from your life. It's one of the things we are very conscious of with each other, valuing those things that bring both ourselves joy and and also highly respecting that which brings our partner great joy.

So I suppose it's not unreasonable to admit that when I see it happen with other people too, I get somewhat defensive. I don't understand why people are so thoughtless at times. Criticism has it's place in the world as long as it's constructive, but condemning others just because they have a different preference or view is just uncalled for especially in a public space. Making others feel bad for their choices isn't the right of any individual in my book. We are all entitled to our opinions but it's in such poor character to judge anyone simply because theirs differs from yours. Through difference we grow and those who refuse to embrace this are the poorer for it.

And so recently I have seen another side to a few people which has been disappointing. It's interesting how you may have never met someone but know that you really never care to just from what they have written.

The new project

I'm very excited about our latest project and plans. Turning this place into a home finally after many years has proven rewarding. It never ceases to amaze me how Shane and I have similar taste in things but even just making these plans brings out those similarities out where I can easily visualise what he sees for the final result and I believe he for me as well.

The plan is for an entertaining area essentially, but moreover both of us want to see this as a place to relax and enjoy and recharge. What we are starting with is a carport between two sheds. In our first days of living here it was used for a run for the show dogs - an undercover area which kept them dry when they were groomed for a show and a spot for the house dogs to spend time outdoors. It's been neglected now for a long time with no dogs to occupy it. I just thought it would be an ideal spot to renovate and become a real asset to both the property and our lives.

And so I thought some before and after photos as well as the progress was a necessity (I guess that's the scrapbooker in me). I also hope it will be a part of my vision to have something special to view from every window in the house. I think it's a long term project so I'll

update it when there is something to update.

Welcome November

And it's hoped that November is kinder than the end of October. Unfortunately Shane was made redundant in his job which has been one of those "expected shocks" that come your way sometimes in life. While we knew the company couldn't continue in the downward spiral financially that it has been, its still a shock when the official word comes through that you no longer have a job. And so the job hunting begins.

As usual this beautiful man has made me proud by the way in which he handled the situation. With such class. He never ceases to amaze me. I believe there are few men I have met who would deal with most situations the way he does. I am so very proud of him and I know that he deserves so much in life that there must be something really special for him just around the corner.

This past week has brought with it some fairly eye opening moments where we learned things about the people in our lives. Some of them were things we probably would rather not know. It just serves to remind me of how truly affected we all are by our past lives. No-one escapes. And often knowing what others have to deal with in their lives make our own existence seem far less troubled. But so much of it makes me sad knowing the unhappiness and tragedy of life. The power struggles, the control, the hurt, the manipulation. Watching people pretend to be what they are not, put up with crap they don't deserve, and being controlled by partners who do nothing but put them down. I may have 4 failed marriages behind me but at least now I'm being true to myself and not living my life in a relationship I detest.