goodbye October nothing new.

I tried very hard to not let October overwhelm me and yet it always does, my boy was very sick.....my girl managed to sprain her wrist and I was working then a death of a close family friend.   Such a hard hard time and then we finish the month with Hallowe'en and our wedding anniversary.  I did manage to mostly Buy Nothing New that month.  I hadn't considered our wedding anniversary however that didn't prove to be such a challenge after all.  My other half was very happy with his present of a designer beer glass and I wanted a mixing bowl or 2.  Both were secondhand and we loved them no less.  Did they fit in with crystal well they did in our minds so that is all that mattered.

This is my anniversary present notice the butterflies very appropriate and the next one too.

An early present from my lovely Mother-in-law on a recent girls trip to Bendigo. What fun that was!

Just before our anniversary we attended a funeral of a close family friend.  I was meant to meet up with her that week and her birthday was coming up too. I was looking forward to seeing this lovely lady and listen to her amazing stories and her words of wisdom.  Talking about my parents whom she knew so well, her love and caring for me and my family.   Her wealth of knowledge and insight into people was wonderful, now gone........ 

so can you buy everything from secondhand shops?

I have been avoiding the shops lately well not all the shops but mainly the big shopping centres. I get so shocked at all the prices of things that I desire or like that I have been thinking can I get what I want from Op shops or Secondhand shops.  Do I have to add to the problems of landfill and consumerism or can I avoid this?

Is it possible to avoid buying new or is it necessary at certain times.

So I am testing my theory.  I have been looking for things specifically when I go to op shops or second hand shops.  So far so good.

Skirts for work, found.  Tops to go with skirts. some I already had, some I found.

I put in a request for blue as it's my favourite colour to wear and lo and behold they appeared.  I have never really got into looking at clothes at the Op shops until just recently when I realised that I could actually work through and find things that I required at a very reasonable cost and have money left over. Normally impossible if I went to Department store and usual shops. I have been very happy with my recent purchases probably more so that usual, as I am not confronted by super slim women trying to show me things that would not do well for my body shape or size.  At this stage in my life I tend to know what is going to work and more importantly what isn't, no false comments "ohhhh that looks so good on you, suits you so much" you know how it goes.

Fluffy jacket and/or vest for my Petal (managed to get both), so cute.

I think my favourite one to date is the one that I managed to with the help of my other half and my son get a better than hoped for car game. I had some mini micro's (funny) cars and I was saving them for the right moment.  I gave them to my Red Headed Hurricane last week and he was thrilled carrying them everywhere. When My Other half took him shopping whilst my Petal and myself had a girls day out to Bendigo (that is another story).  They went looking for certain items. One was a present for my boy for Hallowe'en a meat clever and the other was training wheels for My Petal's bike.  I found her a basket with flowers  and a cute flower seat so it has come up quite good.  My Petal hates it though, she cannot get her balance and after talking to her Occupational therapist and myself and my study buddy watching her we came to realisation that training wheels or at least one would be the best thing for her.

There are some things that she needs extra help with and this is one of them, it's as simple as that.

  There are so many things that you can get from Op Shops and Secondhand shops and i am just learning what you can get.  I found some accessories for my jacket so happy about the beautiful pins, knitting needles which are lovely and green, books, 70's glasses and bowls that match my set, (missing pieces are great to find) some hallowe'en things for my boy.  Now I need to go and look at a few more
things, wondering what I can find next!

my girls anniversary

Today is the day that we have a picnic in the cemetery.  We take flowers and balloons and the children play there if it's not raining.  I used to set up the picnic next to her grave now there are more children there so we sit nearby. I think of all the amazing things that my Lily would have done and wonder what it would be like to have two girls here with me.

My darling other half put up the pictures late last night. I was so happy whilst lying in bed looking up at them.

We try to be extra kind to each other today.

i can remember exactly what I did 8 years ago today.  I with the events started to blur however they remain vivid as ever.  I always wonder what I could have done that would have prevented this.... although now i just wonder before I racked myself with guilt.

The children are home from school, today we try to stay together.  I know that from past experience if we separate the day becomes a bit of a nightmare instead of the gentle time that normally spend together.

All the stress in the lead up to today vanishes as the day unfolds.  

I ask the world please send me a butterfly today.... I ask that i have one simple gesture that my beautiful girl is with us still not just in our hearts.

next week

Next week is a big week for me. I am working again.  No not massage appointments or anything like that I am working doing a 9.00am - 5:00pm job.  I haven't done this for a while so I have been thinking about what this means.  I am only working for 2 weeks well 9 days all up.

I have no clothes, so I am having been getting a couple of things, wondering if it's suitable.  Shoes which I haven't given a second thought might prove to be very interesting.  I am sure that I can find something suitable.  No runners and pants and polo top and hair up.  Oh my goodness I wish I had had a hair cut.... too late for that now.  (Where are the sharp scissors!)

What does neat casual mean? I have never worn casual to work before especially in an office type environment when I was temping which was many moons ago, is this what people wear to work now? I am not going to the city so no corporate wear required, thank goodness as this would be an investment that I am not interesting in making.   I was thinking of skirts and tops which look neat.... I need that I think to get through the day.  I don't have enough clothes but I will make do.

I don't really know my duties I am sure I will find out soon enough when I start.

I haven't timed this well, I did manage to say no to starting on Monday, I received the call on the day of the funeral for my father-in-law.... I hardly remember what was said.   This Monday is my daughters anniversary.  I would like to say that they get easier, however when you having someone missing from your family it is never easy nor does it get better, especially when it's a child.  Our first child born to us still and so very quiet, tiny and perfect.

I found 2 beautiful butterfly prints that make me happy.  I have been looking for a while however nothing, I stopped and there they were, just waiting for me.  I think they need to go in the bedroom.  I love looking at the beautiful butterflies and thinking of my girl.

what can you get for very little.

Lately I have been very thrift and found things for myself and others which cost very little or nothing.

We are still (yes my poor friend does not have a fully functional kitchen yet) working on the kitchen.  Her request was that she has a bigger sink and I have been looking for a bigger one for a while not really finding the right one.  Then can you believe a free one in almost perfect condition came available for FREE and local.  We dashed off and picked it up. (notice the "we" that would be the royal we, when my other half goes for a drive and I organise it!)  So after a quick clean with ajax liquid, didn't want to scratch it, Good as new!!!

Although I did like the white one, my friend is the one using it AND she has requirements that must be considered.  So with this not stretching the budget any further we were able to look for the light and low and behold I found one on ebay with a starting bid of 99 cents.  Normally this pendant is $119 and I was able to get it for $15.50 and again a local pick up again.

So with these new things we will be able to keep working away on the kitchen and having a light for above the table. I like when they are lower over the table which seems to work well.

Now for my find... I haven't been very confident to find clothing in the op shops. I have a quick look but soon get overwhelmed very quickly.  well this changed the other day and I was able to find some for both myself and my Petal.   She has this absolute need for tactile clothing and with this cold weather that we have had lately I could justify 2 furry things.  A vest and a coat.  Perfect for the requirements warm and feels lovely.  (Both are machine washable and just come up lovely).  For myself I always need tops, I never seem to have enough or the right ones and well this one just screamed "take me home".  It was very crushed when I found it and didn't look so very good but after getting it home and cleaning and ironing has come up just right.

I was actually looking for something that I could wear to work but well I couldn't pass it up.  Pretty!  I have a black jacket that works well with this top and still shows it off.  If you look closely you will see my beautiful pendant that I wear with it, a gift from a very VERY dear friend and just looks so lovely.

On a totally different note, I realised today for the first time that I don't have a "comfort food".  I have been racking my brains what I would use for comfort in the form of food.  I have comfort knitting which I do when I am feeling very low or sad.   I have a comfort drink, warm vanilla milk which I have when I need a little pick me up but nothing in particular with food. Being lactose intolerant ice cream is never ever going to work to provide comfort, chocolate I have no really interest in so that too is out.  Hopefully someone can suggest something for me. I know that Tom Yum soup is craved when I am sick with a head cold.  Helps clear the sinus with the lovely hot chilly.

I think I sew or make things or bake!

Op Shopping

We popped in yesterday on the way to the shops, just because I couldn't stand being at home. I have so much study and work to do and needed to get out for a while.  I had class in the morning overloaded and had some frustration and that was that.  We went to a different op shop, I have been many years ago however not since for no good reason. We found a Blake 7 video for $1.00 and I decided it was about time that I introduced them to another show that I had found very enjoyable when I was younger.  

We are having a lovely time with the old tv shows.  The list to date that they are enjoying is:

The Tomorrow People original series
HR Puffenstuff (found a few video's at the op shops in new condition still with the plastic on)
Rocky and Bullwinkle (only on you tube)
The Storyteller
Dr Who current and older series.
Round the Twist
the Magic Roundabout (original) which started everything off. i had a lovely ring tone when my girls were born from this show, haven't been able to get another one. I had a relative from England visiting us and realised straight away what it was, he started laughing at my phone.  So what is next I wonder, always exciting as to what we will find at the op shop.

I think me and the other half have enjoyed it as much as the children. They wait patiently sometimes for the next video from the op shop or impatiently I go searching on ebay for something else.

some time....

Sometimes life takes over and this blog is totally forgotten or maybe just that nagging feeling that something should be said.

My course is almost effectively on hold at the moment. My father-in-law is fighting for his life in hospital at the moment and we are praying that he wins.  We always ask what his quality of life will be like after his stays in hospital however we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

i have been totally horrified with how quickly the demensia has taken hold and just consumed so many part of his memory.  Skills have disappeared.......just so very sad.

I am still massaging and still working on my assignments but the urgency and final exam has gone.  I didn't need this pressure on top of everything else. I know I would have just thrown my hands up in disgust and walked away.

I haven't seen a lot of my friends for so long. I am sad about the distance that occurs when life gets too really hectic.

Ok enough so now on to the good things.

My beautiful amazing fabulous friend gave me tickets to.....

FABULOUS show, the right amount of humour and wit that I needed to draw me into this wonderful world of Paris 1920's.  I enjoyed every moment and would highly recommend if you need a good laugh to go.

I went this time with my sister in law (Louise).  I met her at her home and we swapped unexpected presents before we left. I had an American theme for her, a pink pie dish (I found on Etsy and found it very hard to part with, especially with my Petal who absolutely loves pink) and some American spending money for her special trip next year.

We have been busy collecting things for the garden and designing and having a lovely time.  Lots of work is going to be done soon we have only just started.  So here is the design that we are going to work with....

What do you think?   Do you think it will go well with a French provincial design?  We have a few plants, a couple of olive trees and a pot and things to add to it. I will post more pictures as we go.  I think some lovely herbs would be good to grow around the edge. I keep changing my mind. We are re-using bricks that we have and recycling and trying to keep the cost down to a minimum as garden designs can add up very very quickly.  The circle needs another layer yet but this is just the planning stage.


We need something to take us away from all the stress and nothing like a bit of outside in the Spring Garden to help this.