Monday Musing, 21st October 2019

Here we are again, where has the last week gone, blink and it's passed me by.  It's been a busy time of it. Had some huge highs and some very very low lows over the last 8 days or so.

Currently I'm waiting to hear from my sister as my dad's been taken to hospital again by ambulance earlier this morning.  (he was only taken last Tuesday night) This getting old malarkey and this cancer bullsh*t is enough to raise the old blood pressure to alarming rates some days. But I know I'll get through this, I usually do. Staying focused on the positive and getting more done around my little hovel.

It's funny, yesterday I got hubby to get some things down off the top of my huge craft desk.  Stuff is only put up there when I don't need it during my every day routines.  As far as I can tell, I've nothing left up there since yesterday, yes!  Now to get to the shelves  and hanging baskets and be 'ruthless'.

I have the biggest pile of brown packing paper that my Stampin' Up! orders use to come packed in.  It's going to help me save some money on bubble wrap at the moment that's for sure.  Yes, it was up on top of my craft desk's hutch. No way I could have reached it down by myself. As it was I had a 'domino effect' with some that hubby didn't get down.  Handy tool that long handled 'grabber' I've got ;-)



Whilst hubby got one particular box down that I'd not opened in probably 10 years, I'm so glad he did.  I did a walk down memory lane from many different swaps I use to take part in from the late 1990's til I think about 2005 or 6 that box had stuff from.

My kitchen bench was all cattywampus for hours.  Now there's a word worth musing over. Here's what I found when I searched it's mean. It's now up there with my two favourite words "serendipity" and "extemporaneous" !

cattywampus  adjective

The definition of cattywampus, often spelled catawampus, is not lined up or not arranged correctly, or diagonally. An example of something cattywampus are the positions of the items on the top of a coffee table after a two year old has been playing with them and moving them around.

Man did we make some amazing things this box of gorgeous memories was telling me!  Check out photos of this creation!  Yes Louise Magetti, I've kept this all that time! I'm not sure of the date, but I think it goes back to either Stamping Top 50 or The Scrappers Stash days, or maybe even the old OzStampers yahoo group.  Yes, that long ago!

[gallery ids="1764,1765,1766" type="rectangular"]

And this funny card, which I can still chuckle about but I was being 'subtle' to my father, didn't help, he still got lung cancer and my Mum has been gone since January 2007! Both of them heavy smokers, sigh...



Check out this gorgeous card, yes I do own the stamps so I can't be sure if I made this or it was in a swap, there's no writing or post it note inside to jog my memory. I love this bear, it came with a front & back.  I recon it's coming out again real soon! Ooo & I have some crown stamps as well ;-)





Whilst I potter around the house and await any further information on my father, I'll leave you with these gorgeous creations my Mum made, yes she was a very talented parchment crafter. These would have been created around 2003 to 2006.

[gallery ids="1770,1771,1772" type="rectangular"]

Til next time, remember

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

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Monday Musing - 16 September 2019

Hello there,

Yes, musing on Monday again.  Had a fabulous weekend, it was Aiden's 4th birthday party and so much fun! See that photo of him in the Buzz Lightyear tshirt?  That was my Ben's Tshirt which had been saved in a draw for nearly 22yrs!  Aiden did many tshirt changes through out his party but he finally put the Buzz one on and stayed in it!  How that warmed my heart!  We played totem tennis, we laughed, we ate pizza and cheese and crackers and dips and Aiden and I shared a pink musk stick lolly too. Ah he loves his GinGin and Herbie like he loves all those around him who love him so much.

  

  

  



Father and son got to battle out the totem tennis and yes Ben, ya mumma's arm did bruise, but not too bad, a bit like having a vaccination shot, I'll live ROFL.

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HOWEVER...

... the last few weeks have been hard. Really hard.  You see I took my father for a check up with his urologist 2 weeks ago and last week for his 3 monthly oncology check up.  Within the space of those 2 appointments, I saw my father, my Daddy, deteriorate into this feeble old man (his mind is still a 'naughty boy' mind though LOL)  He was completely different from one check up to the following one.  I've not cried, I think I've done so much of that but this time, I don't know. I think Dad and I both knew something wasn't quite right and we talked about it and we agreed with his oncologist's assistant that we expected there to be a return of the cancer in his right lung.

Well no said Roland when he walked in to to have a closer look of all the scans. No no, no no, we can't be certain.  You see your father is in this research trial, the radiation treatment was nearly a full year ago but it is still doing it's 'job', this shadow could still be the scarring forming.  But Dad was really breathless that day.  He said he's usually like it when he has to get up earlier than he usually gets up. Well to me getting up at 9am is not early but for Daddy it is, he's usually up about 11am'ish.  Anyway, Roland said Dad needs to get back to his respiratory specialist because this not being able to breath and the fluid/phlegm he can't seem to cough up from his lungs (it gets stuck in his throat) needs to be checked out.  Dad's on some antibiotics to help with what infection the oncologist feels is there.  A referral has been sent to Wyong hospital and Dad's letting me know when that appointment will be.

Now  to make matters worse, Dad can receive calls on his landline but for some strange reason no one can hear when calls are made out from his landline. Dad's paying for all these phone calls only to be hung up on because they can't hear him.  Talk about funny in a way because it's Dad's that going deaf! I feel the need, the need to call Optus faults and let rip again.  If I have them say to me on you'll have to get your father to call I will freak'in loose it!  I had more than 5 months of that at the beginning of the year.  Don't tell me that B/S all over again.  We know where that landed don't we!  Yes with the Telecommunications Ombudsman!!!!!

Between Dad and my sister, using her mobile is a comedy of errors.  You see my sister is mildly intellectually handicapped so relies on my father, as he does her.  She doesn't drive either, never has. My sister and I agree that we don't like Dad being on his own when she's got to/wants to go out. My sister can be quite independent but she doesn't handle change/technology/bad news very well, doesn't and can't mentally repeat things she's been told that she needs to tell others, she just hands my father her phone but poor dad can't hear properly on a mobile phone, sigh.

Talk about caught between a rock and a hard place!  My blogging, my crafting, my regular FF@F'o'clock'ish and Tutu Tuesday posts have taken a back seat for now.  I drove nearly 800ks in the last two visits and back. Taking Dad to oncology is not like in Sydney. I've got to drive up the day before to Chain Valley Bay North, then drive down to East Gosford, then drive Dad back up to Chain Valley Bay north then drive back home to my place in Sydney.  It's a lot of driving when the sun is getting warmer and bright sunshine hurts my eyes so very badly.  I have my own 'issues' and the sun makes them worse. Think lupus SLE and fibromyalgia for a start.

Any-who, if you read this far, thank you.  Writing some of this down helps me get out some of my frustration and grief without having to repeat myself.  I'm trying to cope as best I can but summer is coming. Our Ben's wedding is 30th November and the ceremony is outside.  I think I need a new hat!  A nice red one to go with my outfit I am wearing. Yes?  Yes, a new red hat may be perfect!

Bye for now, and remember,

happy stamping colouring & creating!

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FF@F'o'clock'ish, 28June2019!

Ah the joys of  having house repairs done.  It's been a busy couple of weeks. The Hovel is still surrounded in scaffolding but that's coming down hopefully within the week. We've a brand spanking new 'original' ColorBond roof on both the house and the garage and bbq area up the back too.  We have found out the last roofers did NOT use original ColorBond brand roofing and as for the whirly bird air vent, it wasn't even the right model or colour. They'd hand painted it to look like the supposed matching colourbond one. It was pink when it was removed the paint had faded and peeled off, I kid you not!   Hubby's work shop has been rebuilt  as well.  I am currently "wrapped in plastic" IE my craft area has been sealed off from the kitchen and my kitchen has been sealed off from the rest of the house, agghh!!



Now my kitchen/family room ceiling is being partially removed as I type and new sections installed.  This is a two day job so my poor kitties are shut outside in their enclosure right now. They don't know what's happened to be shut outside this early in the morning, poor babies.  Nibbles the oh so vocal one cried for nearly an hour this morning.  Pippy has discovered the dog kennel is nice and warm. Nibbles? He's laying at the gate, in the dirt and damp grass, daft cat!

This Fabulous Friday I'm going to share with you a few photos of past projects that some of my newer readers may never have seen.  They were on my old blog which since the end of 2017 ceased to exist. But lucky for me, I kept copies of most of it ;-)

First is this fabulous card in a box. Well not just one but a few.  Please note, most products in the older ones are retired but you can so recreate them with all the gorgeous new products available now.  Place an order with me through my online store during July and I will send you the PDF for free! Just remember to register with my online store so I have an email address to send it to!

    

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These next few photos are some of many many creations I've made. I have thousands of photos of my creations. You can see over the years, all the gorgeous products Stampin' Up! have released.  Everything can be recreated using current products!

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Lastly I'll leave you with some photos of the creations I made for a Local OnStage presentation that was held at the Sydney Hilton Hotel. I loved being given the opportunity to showcase new products that were being released that year and people loved my book marks especially.  If you were lucky enough to be at Auckland in April this year, you may have received an updated version of that giant paper clip bookmark too!

Well, that's all I can do for now, it's too cold to sit here with all the doors wide open and all the noise happening. I'm going into the lounge where at least I can have the heater on.

til next time, remember,

happy stamping, colouring and creating!

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Thursday Thoughts, 20June2019!

 

Well hello there, glad you could stop by.  Today I've been going through tons of old photos and I'm having a huge walk down memory lane.  Oh I've thousands and thousands! I think I need to do some digital sorting soon.  Anywhoo,  last year I turned 60 but this year one of my dearest  friends, who I went through high school, with turns 60 as well. Last Sunday actually and we've been reminiscing!

I can't believe how long Gwendolyne & I have known each other.  We lost touch over the years only to come together again through our love of all kinds crafting! Plus some of her family move in the same circles in our church life as we do. I'm so thankful Gwen and I found eachother again.  We've had some wonderful times together.  This post is dedicated you my darling friend, many happy returns for this milestone birthday. We both know it's one we are both thankful to reach hey hon!

So I'll leave you with some fun photos from over the years. I know Gwen won't mind me sharing them.

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Christmas 2017 before I stopped having foils/colour in my hair and before I finished working too.

These were taken during our high school years. That's me bottom right sitting down and Gwen is in the right hand photo on the left standing up!

I love this photo, from left to right Gwen, myself and Nicole. What a fabulous night we had back in 2015 at the official opening of Jamberry in Australia. Shame Jamberry went bust, sigh but we had fun whilst it lasted.

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And this last one was taken at my 60th birthday dinner last July.  I hope I'll have some lovely ones after this coming Sunday too!  Left to right Nicole, Patrik, Herbie, myself, Michelle and Gwendolyne!

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til next time, remember,

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

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Monday Musings, 13/May/2019

This is for those of you who only know me as Wirg/Wirgie and don't know my real/given name and it's meaning and how/why the nicname 'Wirg' came in to being.

I looked up my real name's meaning for my friend Rhonda recently and found this on Wikipeadia ..... I now know why my mother gave me this lovely name and why I embrace it these days too.

Quote:  Virginia is a feminine given name derived from the Ancient Roman family name Virginius, a name probably derived from the Latin word virgo, meaning "maiden" or "virgin." According to legend, Virginia was a Roman girl who was killed by her father in order to save her from seduction by the corrupt government official Appius Claudius Crassus.[1]

The name was the 34th most common name for American women and girls, according to the census of 1990. It was the 545th most popular name given to baby girls born in the United States in 2007.[1]

Virginia Dare was the first child born to English parents in North America. Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter that prompted the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun. The most famous Virginia is probably the English modernist author Virginia Woolf.  End Quote.

So where did I  get “Wirg/Wirgie” from?

Someone (well many) asked me didn't they ROFL. This is what I shared on my personal facebook wall over the weekend with a friend.  No, you won't see it if you are not in my friends listing but you will what I've written here and on my business Facebook page.

Here goes....a direct copy with a bit of editing to make it a bit more 'polished'.

Many years ago in a land far far away called 'the Australian Public Service" I use to work in a government agency prior to the last one I worked at. You know that one from which I retired (ie Medicare's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme/PBS). That first government agency was named "The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency" or 'The Agency" and it shall here in after be named the "place that gave me lots of money to make me redundant.

At said agency there was a woman who was ment to be the IT expert, she wasn't but yeah she worked there anyway. I was ment to go home by 2.30pm most days as I had to get my son from school. Many times she would beg me to stay back and help her with the system back ups for all the computers. As I was only ment to be permanent part time, any extra I did was good because said Agency would pay me huge amounts of time & a half and also give me flex time so I could take extra days off when needed.

I always knew when I was going to be begged to stay back. Down the open plan windowed area she'd saunter all coy saying 'Wiiiirg.... Wirgie... pretty please Wirgie would you stay back and help me, I am overwhelmed, go on Wirgie, I'll sign your overtime sheet'

So I became Wirg or Wirgie and when I left the public service all together I didn't want either Agencies snooping on me. I knew they didn't know about the nicname so I ran with it. Both agencies had a privacy clause in my work contracts.  Much of what I knew/still know is highly classified. I would not want to be tracked down by other agency employees who left with grievances and wanted me to be a 'witness' to the unfair treatment. I walked away with my head held high (as much as a short person can) and the really cute nic name of Wirgie. And let's face it, it's been a conversation starter for sure.

End of the story from the far far away land of "the Australian 🤣Public Service"

til next time, remember,

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

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Monday Musings, 29/4/2019

At the risk of repeating myself,

blimey is it really Monday again?

Where have the last 3 or 4 weeks gone?  Life has been a roller coaster, just got a ride it!  (there's a song in there LOL).   Days have been blurring for me lately, so forgive me if I repeat myself.   This is my blog for creative sharing but it's also kind of a diary too.  Any long time friends, my family, long time acquaintances even. Just anyone who's known me for a long time probably realize this.

I can ramble a lot but I find, just like "The Bloggess", Jenny Lawson can do and does, it helps to write things down, either by typing or leaving myself notes here, there and everywhere (there's another song!).  My phone is also a record of dates I need to remember or want to remember LOL.  Just as well it is or my Daddy would be in the pooh, he chucked out last year's calendar with all the dates he needed to remember, but yeah, Wirgie had them recorded on her phone. Handy that, when technology works how you want and need it to.

So today I am share some quotes.  I have to thank my lovely friend Michelle Lark for a gorgeous, tiny women's quote calendar she gave me for Christmas last year.  I've been forgetting to tear of the pages. But when I do, there is always some amazing quote that sees me nodding my head.  So here's a few to muse on.

• "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make" - Jane Goodall (Monday 22nd April's quote)


• "I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves" - Drew Barrymore (weekend of 27/28 April's quote)


• "If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money" - Abigail Van Buren (Thursday 7th March's quote)


• "Despite the forecast, live like it's spring!" - Lilly Pulitzer (weekend of 2/3 February quote)


• "So you're a little weird? Work it! A little different? OWN IT! Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!" - Mandy Hale (Thursday 11th April quote)
  
  

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But wait there's more!  I shared a mosaic of photos via my Instagram account on the weekend .  It was of my note book received in my Stampin'Up! tote back at April's OnStage Live.  Here are larger photos to show you that I've started a new 'memories/ideas/art samples/notes' journal out of it. Like that one I shared in this post at this time (click to see the video in a new page)

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So thanks for stopping by, have a good week and maybe check out tomorrow's TuTu Tuesday's post, yes, it's scheduled, 'when you are on a good thing, stick to it" Aussies may know that quote, oh I crack myself up!

til next time, remember

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

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Surprize Sunday post-10 Feb 2019!

Hello there, yes it's Sunday and I am posting something that I thought may interest some of you. 

I have been thinking about this for a long time. Today I decided to bite the bullet and do it.  You don't need to have any particular types of journals to do this. One of my main ones is from a Stampin' Up! OnStage Local in 2016.  The others are small A5 art journals of which I have a nice supply from when my son was studying Graphic Design at University.  Handy that.

I do have an A4 sized one.  I've done some real arty stuff in it but have not got it out for a couple of years. It's not got a lot in it but I think this year it's time to rectify that. Stay tuned to see glimpses of that one later in the year.  For now, I'll share this Youtube clip made this morning.  You will probably see a glimpse of my FF@F ideas and posts too! Yes, I've been doing FF@F for a few years now!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU6RVh94C5c

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til next time, remember,

happy stamping, colouring and creating!

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