Emotion – Page 8 – Unraveling…

Shopping with Sam

Sam took me shopping today.
I found a swimwear shop I wanted to go to so off we went to find Luce Del Sol.
It is a lovely wee shop full of wonderful swimwear and a very helpful owner.
I walked in and said I don’t wear black, and Sam added that I don’t do Nana either!
So that said she found me everything that was colourful.
I spent ages trying on every swimsuit in the shop – well it felt like every one!
But nothing was really rocking my boat.
So I began looking at the black suits.
And guess what?
They looked great.
And I found the one I loved and felt so good in.
Once I had that nailed I then started trying on two pieces.
Then I found a bikini – yes a bikini!!
Haven’t worn one since I was in my teens.
Never ever thought I would or could again.
I love it 🙂

I was telling my girls recently that after watching a few TV shows like Botched and Beauty & the Beach I have finally decided that at my age and stage in life I am finally perfectly happy with my body.
I’ve had 11 pregnancies, birthed 10 babies – and none too small either!
I’ve breast fed them all – each of them for quite some time.
I don’t have any stretch marks, my boobs aren’t hitting my ankles.
The excess flab around the middle is being dealt to gradually, and I am not getting too hung up about the lack of abdominal muscle tone anymore because my babies made short work of destroying that!
So I am now going to totally get my Queen on this coming summer in my new beach attire 🙂
And maybe, just maybe, I might get a photo up sometime 😉

After the marathon we were both famished so wandered up the street and found Roots & Greens smoothie and juice bar.
Got some wonderfully energising smoothies full of beetroot and stuff to kick us into the afternoon.

I love the quaint old buildings around Fremantle.
These ones were just across the road.

We found another shop which had a sale on.
It was a hellishly expensive place but I fell in love with this scarf.
Dithered muchly and then decided I would really regret not getting it.
So I did and I am happy 🙂
It is very different to any other scarf I have.

Jesika met us at Sam’s and then she and I went off for a massage.
It was so good.
The guy worked wonders on my shoulders and also my calves, especially the right one which has really knotted up since my altercation with a tow bar a few months ago.
I am going to have to get some on going treatment once I return home.
Sam arrived for her massage just as we had finished.
Then it was back to Jesika & Evan’s for dinner and bed.

Ev’s 40th – Party Time

Saturday night was party time.
The All Blacks had just beaten the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup for the 2nd time in two weeks so all was well in Evan’s world and he was ready to party by the time the full time whistle was blown 🙂

Jesika had made a fantastic photo board for him.
He was sporting the satin shorts from Shoshannah and the flashing lit up horns & jandles that Marah sent.
Perfect party attire.

I presented Evan with a celebratory picture that I had painted on my way over.
It’s carrying my main present – which was too big for me to bring in the flesh, so he has to come home and get it 😉

The other main man was also suitable attired to attend the Kiwi themed party.
Welcome Fred Dagg 🙂
He was really rocking those gumboots.
Fred Dagg aka John Clarke has always been a favourite of our family.
One skit in particular always made Tim laugh and he was always commenting that ‘the front fell off’ when things didn’t go to plan 🙂
Jesika went all out as did her Chilean friends Jacqui & Javier.

Me and my girl
Jesika & Sam getting the cake finished
Cheeky cousins 🙂

There was quite a storm blowing outside the marque so lighting candles took skill
Evan with workmate Tracey and her daughter

Ev with Sam’s present – yes he drinks tea 😉
The ulteria motive was to stop him drinking her cups of tea when he visits!!
Ev with ‘old’ school mate Tracey.
There were 3 Tracey’s at the party so we had to differentiate with clarification nicknames. IMG_9366 (1)
A major amount of drunken hilarity occurred of course.
Measure biceps at this point…..

Wal lost his wig later in the evening – somehow looked a lot better on Bud methinks 😉
I love this last photo – it was the last one I actually took that night and it shows the birthday boy in full swing.
He was really enjoying himself 🙂

Meeting Constance

Saturday morning it was wet.
Perth has been experiencing the coldest winter in 20 years and it is also very wet.
So I didn’t need to pack any sunscreen!
Just the same old winter stuff I’ve been wearing for past months back home.
I went with Jesika to the Manning Farmers Market.
The rain was heavy and then it would clear, and then down she’d come again Trev!
It was a lovely market, Jesika has her favourite vege and fruit stalls so we wandered between them and the others that I was interested in.
Like food and coffee and crafts etc.
The crepe stall did really really good avocado wraps with spinach.
The coffee cart next door looked better than it tasted :-/

On the way home I checked into Facebook, as you do.
And saw to my delight that Constance was signing her books ‘Like a Queen’ at Subiaco today!
Jesika wasn’t going to take me, no way, not ever 😉
All good – she had a party to prepare for.
So I called Sam, pretty sure she’d be keen and yes she was.
So we drove up to Subiaco and discovered Constance is a one very popular lady.
We already knew that she has a world wide following on her blog ‘Queens of Constance’ and Facebook but seeing so many local women queuing cemented that.
In fact the line of women and the occasional husband/partner & children went for miles up the stairs and though the hallways of the Subiaco Hotel.
So long in fact that we were queuing for around 2 hours!

Was it worth the wait.
You bet it was!

Loved this sculpture – I thought is was representing all the queens floating out of the hotel after having our books signed and our few moments with Constance.
The best thing along the way though was meeting and chatting with other women who were there from all walks, ages & stages of life.
Her blunt honest way of communicating about the reality of life in the fast lane of motherhood has broken through so many barriers because we all identify with her in some way or other.

Afterwards we were right hungry we were, so headed home asap, stopping at a supermarket along the way to find food.

Surprise x 2

I had inside information because I had been pumping Jesika for several months.
I knew that unbeknownst to Evan she was taking Friday off work to pick up his best friend from the airport and to prepare for his party.
So Jacqui and I rocked up at the house early arvo to surprise Jesika only to find the place all locked up.
I unloaded and waited around the back, thinking they wouldn’t be long.
After about half an hour I messaged her asking how the party plans were going and I received this photo.
She and Bud were out lunching!
Great ;-/
Soon after Evan arrived and on hearing me knocking on the back door got the surprise of his life to find his favourite mother-in-law on the step.
We had a cuppa and a catch up, then he told me that Jesika was on her way home from work.
Mmmm, I agreed, knowing the other side of the secret 😉

She messaged him saying she was going straight to Sam’s to do party prep & for him to come there, to which he responded ‘Come home now! The marquee has been put in the wrong place and I am not happy about it’!
Unbeknownst to us his caused a major meltdown at the other end 🙁

So we hopped in his car and drove round to Sam’s and on the way passed Sam heading our way.
Ev commented to me that there was a guy in the passengers seat and that it was ‘probably her other husband’, as he refers to her best mate Blair as!
I knew exactly who it was!!
So we ended up at Sam’s with me giving Jesika the surprise of her life – she was shell shocked to see me so I got lots of hugs and tears.

Then Sam returned with Bud so there were man hugs and tears when Ev saw him.

We couldn’t have bettered the plan if we’d tried!!

Jesika was making the birthday cake and vodka jelly shots so I helped where I could and the guys retreated to the living room with their beers to talk guy talk.
As it was Evan’s actual birthday I took the opportunity to unpack and unload the excess from my bag.
He loved the tee-shirts
As did Jesika.

Her birthday was a week back so I had bought her over a bone carving made by our friend Fumio.
It represents & symbolises the paua, fern leaf, waves and fishhook.

To celebrate we put on our glad rags and braved the torrential rain.
Took an Uber ride to Tony Roma’s for dinner.
Happy Birthday ole fella 🙂

We had a great night.
Food was really good.
Our waiter was excellent, so good in fact that the guys made sure we all tipped him extra.

The place is a carnivores dream.
I had the chicken salad.
It was excellent.
Perfect balance of salad and not too much meat.

The desserts were not only very good, but they were very generous servings.
I danced with chance and on the young waiters recommendation ordered Tiramisu.
I am very particular with this dessert so normally do not risk it.
It didn’t fail – for once it was nailed.
Sam had to sample Blair’s sundae with some help from Evan’s finger!

Torrential rain again as we ran to the Uber car.
Great night but we were all too tired to go clubbing so headed back home for some sleep.

It’s time…….

I’m finding it incredible at the timeliness of Becca Lees poetry coming to my attention and speaking the words that my heart is trying to say.

These rings are such an integral part of me. They represent the binding of two hearts. The constancy and love Tim & I had.

I have worn my engagement ring for near on 39 years and my wedding ring for coming up 38 years.

I have continued to wear them because I haven’t been ready to let him go, I’ve worn them to hold connection and also for protection.

But yesterday my heart was ready.

The years of wear have left their mark. A mark which will fade in time but never the memories they represent.

I’m not ready to release them entirely.

They are not being relegated to the top drawer.

I’m not a big jewelry wearer, I wear only what I really love

And I really love these rings.

Just as I loved the giver.

So they are now adorning my right hand. Still connected directly to my heart.

But not in a way that shouts ‘No Vacancy’!

I’m exonerating my heart, laying aside the burdens, making peace with the past.

Venturing forward to discover & embrace a future that is waiting to greet me with open arms.

Do more of what makes you happy

Tiki-touring on the way home took us to the end of a road.

Going down is fine – but every step down has to be reclimbed in an upwards manner 😉

Hey Sibylle! Where are your shoes?
Wet!

Obstacles do not block the path,
they are the path.

You can shake the sand from your shoes,
But not from your soul.

Take me to the beach and I will show you joy 🙂

Taming a prehistoric beast!

Cave creatures

Looking back from whence we came.

Hello world!

After 10 years of blogging about life in the fast lane of motherhood, ménage, motivation, marriage, and mourning, I have decided to begin anew.
So welcome to my new blog.
I’m not too sure how this will develop but knowing me it will be at times deep and meaningful and at others, light and fripperous 🙂
Don’t you just love that word – fripperous?
It is so fun and happy and carefree.
In setting up this new site I have stumbled upon the works of Becca Lee.
I am a lover of words.
They move me, they speak to me and and feed my soul.
They nurture, they soothe, they help me process.
When I discovered her Instagram site my heart leapt.
I fell upon her words like a starving ravenous wretch.
As I begin walking toward the light after so long in the darkness this quote fuels my soul tonight.