PERSPECTIVE

Mel asked the other day on her blog - does anyone read blogs anymore? Well I do. Why? Well, lots of reasons, but mostly cause I'm interested in what makes people tick and because some people just have a way of looking at things that puts life into perspective.

When I look at the people I have surrounding me at present, I can honestly say that there aren't that many who I'm really close to. As a 43 year old with a 16 year old, I seem to have wiggled myself into a place that is kind of just my own space. I work in a really small office so don't have close female work colleagues and my closest friends have young children and are therefore building new networks for themselves amongst playgroups and music groups. As a working mum who was always racing in and out of primary school to collect Caitlin, rather than being an integral part of the 'school' committee, I never really felt part of the gang when Caits was at primary school either and as a 'tenant' rather than a home owner, I've moved so many times, that neighbours haven't really featured highly either.

I think I need to start rebuilding my networks .......

GUTTED!

I had a phone call from a very upset teenager today when she discovered that her beloved 'home away from home' - Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club and the very popular - Maranui Cafe was gutted by fire overnight.
Maranui have worked really hard over the past two years to rebuild a dwindling membership and now have a keen nippers club and a bunch of fantastic teenagers who train incredibly hard and volunteer at beaches around the city throughout summer. This was supposed to be their big year of re-entry into competition and Caitlin was sooooo looking forward to starting her training again this week.

We checked out the damage today and it was heart wrenching to see the fire damaged memorabilia and ruined gear. I just hope that some of it can be recovered.

After a sleepless night, coughing my wee lungs out after my second dose of the flu in two months, I kept very quiet today as have a rehearsal tomorrow for my first show in a while and really don't want to miss it.

I had loads of fun creating with flowers, diamantes, vellum butterflies, Basic Grey and handstitching and feel that after a few weeks of struggling for inspiration, am getting my scrapping mojo back... YAY!

SOME STUFF TO SHARE

I don't often scrap 'myself', but have decided that in the name of history, that it is necessary so here goes ... the journalling on this layout reads ... "when my brothers and I were very small, mum used to keep us quiet while cutting our hair, by getting the button box out for us to play with. However, she obviously tied me down to create THIS fabulously straight creation".

My first ever entry at Aussie Scrap Source. ... Here is my version of the colour challenge (definitely not colours I would normally use) and also had to use the word "BELIEVE"....check out all the other entries at the Aussie Scrap Source site!

SCRAPPING AGAIN!

It was awesome to get my scrapping stuff out again last weekend, but frustrating not having everything at my fingertips like I used to. However, I did manage to put this canvas together for young Beth's second birthday. Given that I've been away from 'the scene' for the last wee while, I'm totally out of the loop with regards to what's cool and what's not, so am doing what I've always done. However, I'm sure Beth won't be fussy, she will love the bright colours and the fact that it is her picture on it.

SIXTEEN

It's hard to believe that my baby turned sixteen on 25th June. She will never forget the day itself, as it is the same day that Michael Jackson passed away. One of those 'where were you, what were you doing moments'... well Caitlin was busy turning sixteen and celebrating the fact that her dad bought her, her very own laptop. "It's a freaking laptop" she shrieked to anyone at the Lone Star who would listen.

Also exciting was the handpainted sign that Caitlin's friends errected on the roundabout fence at Cobham Drive on the way to the airport. It was so strange seeing it for the next three days as we drove to work and school and of course photos had to be taken (even if it did mean driving round and round the roundabout).

I am so proud of her and what she is achieving in both her school and extra curricular life. I've got no idea where she gets it from, but she has a fantastic balance of accademic and sporting ability and a jolly good dolloping of social skills to boot. What more can a girl ask for? An awesome bunch of friends and her own laptop. May she have many more Happy Birthdays like this one.

Catching up ..

Grateful for … my gorgeous modern office and fast technology

Enjoying … feeling almost 100% better than I have for the past month!

Wearing … black of course, I'm a Wellingtonian and it's Winter lol!

Feeling … motivated and loved... Yay!

Dreaming … of five more fillable jobs flying in the door (Yeah right)

Inspired by … a Saturday of scrapbooking at Crafthouse, the very first in a long time!

Wishing … I was a little better off financially

Making … a birthday present for Beth who is just about to turn two ...