When I was a Child (Part 2)

• my sister and I at one time shared a bedroom and we use to take turns at singing each other to sleep.

• My mother must have stroked my hair as a wee toddler or baby (I dont remember) however I get sleepy when anyone plays with my hair

Outside we had a swing that my father made. I would spend hours swinging in it and “flying through the sky like a bird”

We had a pararubber pool. Dad use to play in the pool with us. Creating waves and allowing us to climb up into his arms to be “sky rocketed” into the water. It was freestanding by that I mean it could have been sunk into the ground or surrounded by a deck but it wasnt. It had silvercorrugated type sides. It was round and big and ours I think it was probably before pools had to be in a fenced off area but Dad fenced it anyway. We were under strict instructions not to go in unless we had asked permission.

At primary school I use to go to the library and write out poems. This allowed me to get away from the bullies. I use to hate it when the library wasnt open for whatever reason

The most valuable part of my education was being praised by the headmaster. He use to come in and say “theres my smiling friend” I use to look out for him and when he came in I use to smile at him. he was nice

I also loved and was good at English.

Once a week we had Bible in schools where I am sure a seed was planted in my heart. I remember as if it were yesterday looking out our class window and seeing one of the Weeping Willows. I thought God made that.

One summer we went to a river. Mum, my sister and I slept in the tent while Dad slept in the trailer that was attached to the car. We roughed it. We had no electricity. One night there was a storm and we all ended up in the trailer with Dad. Us girls, played in the river during the day. Once our buckets floated away down stream we were most upset. Dad waded down stream to get them. My sister and I cried even more. We thought we were going to get in trouble with Dad. When he came back with our buckets Mum told him we were upset enough already. He helped my sister and I build a dam with the river rocks so we wouldnt lose our buckets again.

We didnt have a lot to do with our grandparents. I remember my paternal grandparents house. Their kitchen/dining room that had a pew for us kids to sit on at the table, their lounge, where grandpa would sit in his chair. Their hallway that had huge family portraits hanging on the wall. I remember going out into their back yard and looking at their vegetable garden. When they came to stay at our house Grandpa would give me big hugs on the sofa in our lounge. They would nearly squeeze everything I had within me out. They were GREAT BIG bear hugs. But I didnt seem to mind too much.

With my maternal grandparents my Nana died when I was 5. After that time Pop use to sometimes come and stay at our house. He had been in the war and had a bad leg. His last horse before he died was a one room cottage. I had never seen such a small house as his. He lived on some land and I think there were horses. My sister cut her finger badly on his barbed wire fence.

When I was a Child . . . (Part 1)

This morning I have been inspired by a longtime blogging friend of mine :) Amy

When I was a Child . . .

I had a special doll called Margaret. She was originally a bridal doll. I got her one Christmas. I had a teddy bear too. I got him when I was a baby. I still have him, hes packed away lovingly as hes been on his last legs for years now.

I believed that fairies lived in a hole (close to the ground)in the old apple tree in my parents long garden.

I collected the Secret 7 books by Enid Bylton

I LOVED Alberton House but one day I had gone up the maids very steep stairs to see where they use to sleep and I got stuck!!! I have a fear of falling and heights. I couldnt move!!! My father eventually talked me down

click on the photo for more info about this old grand house

Wordless Wednesday

Simple Womans Daybook

FOR TODAY... 26 April

Outside my window. . . Havent ever looked yet - its dark I know coz I let the cat out

I am listening to...the tv news

I am thinking... about the week ahead

I am thankful for...God, and knowing Fridays incident could have been much worse. Not looking forward to beggin for food but at least I still have my car

I am wearing... my dressing gown its just 7am.

I am going... to social welfare this morning

I am currently reading...nothing just finished another young adult book for my reading challenge

I am hoping... today will be a good day :)

Around the house...not much needs doing - B14 needs to tidy the lounge again - teenage boys are so messy

One of my favorite things . . .my first coffee of the day :)

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . .Social welfare this morning, home schooling, work

Got the $$ for food :)

Got a bit more than I needed and stocked up on canned food as well as the usual :)

From my picture journal..

I was inspired to wear pigtails today

what do you think?

UPDATE

the car is ok

I was driving off and heard a rubbing noise

drove back to where my friend and the tow trucker were and told them

My friend took it for a drive

when he got back the tow tucker driver who had been telling me the worse things that it could be realized it was just the mudguard rubbing on the tyre thank goodness

Im off to the social welfare today to beg for food money :( Had to pay the tow truck driver and it took all my food money :(

Got My Car Stuck In A Ditch

This afternoon I was working

part of my work requires me to chase up the catalogues that havent been picked up 2 days after they were dropped off

I have been working in a country part of the Hawkes Bay and was looking for the house where I had left a catalogue a couple of days ago

Useful people leave them in their letter boxes when they have finished looking at them

I was looking for a certain house

I went up a driveway thinking it might be the house I was looking for

it wasnt so I reversed

the driveway was graveled and all too soon I felt the car slipping down into a ditch

I tried to go forward the car slipped more

I got out of the car and decided I couldnt do anything

I was stuck

so then I walked up and down the road looking for a helpful farmer

but couldnt find any

so then i rang my boss

but she was busy

she tried to ring her grownup grandson but he was out

so i rang a friend from church

and he came to my rescue kind of

he took a look at the car and decided that he might do more damage bu trying to more it

so he rang the AA

they came and took a look and decided I needed a tow truck

the tow truck driver finally pulled my car out and told my friend that it had only been 2 cemeteries

after from tipping over

it was a nerve racking time

but im ok

my youngest this morning

CONVERSATION

Me do you want breakfast?

D4 yes :)

Me what would you like?

D4 weetbix

as I was heading out to the kitchen to get it

D4 4 tonnes

Me what? of weetbix?

D4 yep

guess he must have been hungry

SLIGHTLY LATER

he made a bed for the cat

and sang lullabies to him

Last Afternoon of the School Holidays

Warning long post about my keys

Yesterday being Saturday here in New Zealand was my house work day.

Before I cleaned and tidied most of the afternoon

I had been out to deliver a few products to my customers

I had locked the back door (the door we use most often) as I had a box load of products on the dining room table and I didnt want anyone to steal them (unlikely but it would be costly if it did happen). Although B14 was home he was plonked in front of the computer and might not hear if the back door opened.

Upon returning I unlocked the back door and carried the box of products (that had been on the dining room table) back to my room awaiting delivery next week.

I then began to clean, wash clothes, hang clothes, vacuum and generally got stuck into my house work for the week.

I paid extra attention to our school room in preparation for next week. The children in New Zealand have been on school holidays for the last 2 weeks and school begins on Monday. The school room needed a good tidy and vacuum.

I also paid extra attention to my bedroom. Throwing out a lot of old papers.

Just before dinner time I wanted to put the box of paper into the car and also a box of plastics for recycling after church in the morning. The problem that I had caused me to spend another almost 2 hours frantically and anxiously laboring over was the fact that I hadnt seen my keys since returning home earlier in the day. I could not for the life of me work out where they could be.

Usually they are in my pants pocket but no they werent there. I usually put them on the dining room table but no they couldnt be there and I did look. I had taken everything off to put a new table cloth on that. I looked on my bed, under my bed, under the sheets, in my washing basket where my old sheets had been put when I changed my sheets.

I wanted to check my handbag but it was in the car. I really didnt think they could be there as I had to have had them to unlock the back door. I tried several times to break into my car. However I have no idea how to.

I searched though the recycling. I searched everywhere. I stopped for dinner. My mind only half on my food the other half wondering where on earth I could have put my keys. Immediately upon finishing dinner I looked where I had wondered where they might be while I had been eating but no.

I enlisted the boys to help look. I just couldnt understand where they could be. I had a clean house after all. We looked under the sofas in the lounge. B14 brought his cat in for an extra brain to think about where the keys could be. Together they remembered they had a hidden key to the car. I hadnt even known about this key. It was the original key for the car. It was in a "special hiding place" in B14s room.

We unlocked the car, I had to pause to thank the cat :) D4 jumped into his car seat thinking all was ok now and although it was time to visit friends. I had mentioned the possibility hours before. Before I had to tidy the school room that B14 said hed do last Saturday but never had. I explained to D4 that although we were able to get into the car we still hadnt found my keys and wouldnt be able to lock the house up. Besides which it was too late to visit friends. I had spent extra time organizing the school room. We might go and see them after church.

So the search went on. B14 and I both searching inside the car. B14 then went inside. Moments later I heard him yelling. Hed found my keys :) :) :) They were under some school papers that I have to send to the correspondence school soon. On the dining room table!!!

B14 told me to go and buy some chocolate. My daughter has told us it calms one down. When one has been anxious. He did a deal with me. We do lots of deals in our house. He said hed vacuum my bedroom thus completing the housework if I brought him a chocolate bar. He said I really needed one anyway. So off D4 and I went. I couldnt believe how many hours I had spent looking for the keys.

Whats On My 4th Finger Of My Left Hand

I have been pondering the idea of whether to get a tattoo or a ring dedicated to God and Jesus

Finally decided what to do

The pieces of my ring you cant see

Where The Wild Things Are MOVIE

This morning we went to see this movie

D4 sat on the edge of his chair for the whole movie

In the afternoon D4 and I delivered my products

he fell over and skinned his hands and knees

after a hug and plasters

we went to McDs for an icecream and a play

This morning I held the holiday program play group

D4 was able to come today which his friends thought was neat

Week 2 - Holidays - Monday

My youngest is home

from a week with his dad

I missed him really badly this time

this afternoon we went to the beach

the boys had fun

playing in the sand

the real sand

making a fort/wall to stop the sea reaching them

too bad the tide was coming in :)

then they decided to play in the sea

with their clothes on

I brought afternoon tea of chippies and easter eggs

which we all enjoyed

I saw a one legged sea gull

D4 and I tried to fly his kite

considering I brought from an op shop for a dollar

it flew

not too high but taller than B14

and it seemed to enjoy going crazy flying around and around in circles

I forgot my camera :(

we plan to go back again on Wednesday afternoon

hopefully Ill remember my camera :)

Sunday Worship

shoes

I brought these yesterday

Im hoping they will make the after effects of all the walking I do better

The proof will be ("in the pudding") later this afternoon

Have a good day everyone

Im off to work :)

The First Tuesday Of The Holidays

As I mentioned on My Tweeter (see sidebar) yesterday

I held the play group (my friend runs it in school term)

There was a good turn out and bless my friend shed half set up yesterday bless her

Next week D4 will be able to go

several of our friends are looking forward to that

In the afternoon I tried to have a snooze unsuccessfully

Then I took B14 around on his paper run

My Easter Weekend

A day that although its Autumn felt delightfully summery :)

After dropping D4 with his father for the weekend and next week. (We have week about in the holidays. Today starts a 2 week holiday for school kids here in New Zealand.) I worked all day :) Dropping both catalogues and products :)

Later in the afternoon went over to some good friends (Dee and James) whom I hadnt seen New Years when my daughter was here. Their daughter is going to come back to Sunday School next term after the holidays. We all feel slack that she hasnt been this past term. She started last year :)

After leaving them we grabbed dinner and headed for home :)

Got up at the crack of dawn and did the paper run as I normally do on a Saturday :)

B14 and cleaned the house together and inside I quietly fumed

what does the ex know nada

he reckons we have untidy house

nonsense!!!

Hes never been here and hes not welcome!!!

I worked a little in the afternoon

and dropped B14 off at Dee and James hes going to babysit their kids tonight while they go out :)

finally I got into a space where I could think about the exs latest affidavit and make my responses to it. See my lawyer next week.

Grabbed dinner from McDs and went to see Boy. While I happily munched I saw this cool NZ movie. Some of the scenes reminded me of childhood. If youve seen it or are going to see it - take note of Boys curtains in his bedroom. I had the same ones :) I had been allowed to chose them :)

On the way home I got a hot chocolate from McDs. I reckon they make the BEST hot chocolates :)

Church this morning :) Then after dropping off my recycling, went and picked up a piece of material I got on TradeMe. The lady also gave me 2 swan plants :) Went over to Dees. B14 is going to stay another night :) She set to and made me my curtains :)

Came home hung them and moved my plants closer to the clothes line - Im hoping I might water them more then. Despite working in a plant nursery when I left school I DONT have a green thumb :(

Tonight I watched The Lake House and ate chippies :)

Shortly after breakfast headed out for the day. Walking walking walking and doing my part time job. Wasnt exactly looking forward to it as it is

However had another successful day :)

B14 is out the movies tonight so spending a couple more quiet hours here :)