June 30. Day 182. Friends old and new

Teenagers are hard, hard work in an emotional brain strain kind of way. But toddlers, well that's a different kettle of fish all together. You forget but today I got a blast from the past. I was on baby sitting duty, just Elliott and I. He's a little pocket rocket, a tiny ball of energy and I was his new toy.  But who wouldn't be happy to play along with someone with a smile like that. And when he said things like "Climb the tree house, Aunty Susan" how could you say no? He's my new best buddy. And just to make the day perfect it ended with four school friends. We hadn't been in the same room for about 30 years. But friends are friends no matter if you rarely in the same city, State or even country. So raise your glass to friends old and new.

 

June 29. Day 181. The Bold and the Beautiful

It's hard to believe that an elderly woman having a fall can be seen as a good thing but in this instance I can't help looking at the bright side. My neighbour Margaret is becoming increasingly frail and has been having increasingly frequent falls but has pretty much been in denial. The number of times I have been called to lend a hand has been growing steadily. Yes, I'm happy to be like the Cyndi Lauper song "if you fall, I will catch you. I will be waiting, time after time" but in the end it would be better if something was put in place to stop it happening. This fall may be the reality check she needed and the trigger for a more formal help package. Up until now there have been explanations for why the falls had been an unfortunate accident. This time she seemed frail and scared and sad. That's not the positive. The positive is that after I hugged her and reassured her, she let me call an ambulance. Her blood pressure was "at stoke level" and her feet clearly affected by diabetes. A hospital and a visit by the Aged Care Assessment Team is what is needed. If, and it's a big if, she's allowed home measures should be put in place to make life safer for her. By lunch time she was far happier and looking forward to this afternoon's Bold and the Beautiful. That fighting spirit was back. I just hope it's channeled in the right direction.

June 28. Day 180. A job well done

My dogs walk all over me - literally and metaphorically. I can be lying in bed and one or other of them will stroll up my body and make him or herself comfy on the pillow. My pillow. No respect. But it's clearly a problem with the owner not the dogs as if that's any great revelation. Today was pooch parlour day and I was a bit early picking the children up. The finishing touches were still being applied to Rumple. He stood there as good as gold not moving a muscle. I can only assume the groomers are dog whisperers. I did ask if Winkle was anywhere near as good. Apparently she's "improving". From a very low starting point I suspect but thought it prudent not to ask. As a reward for good behaviour we went visiting. Elliott was most keen on seeing the dogs with their bows in. They were also keen to have a run with a very energetic toddler who likes to throw a ball and feed them treats. There was no standing still good as gold here. I rather suspect Elliott would have been most sad if there was.

June 27. Day 179. Ready to fight

I am a lover not a fighter. Indeed I hate conflict rather a lot. It's can be a strength not a weakness to pick your battles provided you set the bar correctly and I admit there are some fights I should take up but don't. However when push comes to shove I will not shun a stoush and I feel one brewing. It's one of those cruel-to-be-kind fights. The increasing frailty of my neighbour Margaret is a growing concern to pretty much everyone but her. She uses that age old technique of avoiding the issue and hoping it will go away. It won't. She had another fall today and again I was around to help her up. After she was righted and rested I went to visit and I used my stern voice when she started making noises like she might cancel her doctor's appointment this week. I know, hard core. But it really is time she was made to see sense and start putting sensible protections in place - and keeping them there. After all we did get her a panic alarm about 18 months ago but she sent it back. Not this time. This time I need to hold my ground in the face of what I know will be fierce opposition. My model might need to be the kookaburra which was waiting outside the window while Margaret and  chatted waiting for the dogs to leave. The crows kept coming at her but she stood her ground and when really provoked did adopt a most threatening posture. I need to start practicing that one. This may be quite a fight.

June 26. Day 178. Season's greetings

At one stage tonight my husband was wearing a paper crown on his head and had his face covered with a Boris Johnson cutout - as you do. This could be a tragic result of the Brexit vote (or perhaps a result of the tragic Brexit vote) but it wasn't. Well not entirely. This is the insanity that happens when you decide it's a good idea or celebrate Christmas in July and then for good measure hold the event in June. The bi-annual Christmas gathering (because once a year is hardly enough) with two other families close to my heart has been a "thing" for a number of year. It is a time to eat, drink and be merry and merry we were. It is such a delight to see our "children" now as adults but still getting on a treat and all enjoying the company. Now they also get the right to enjoy the mulled wine, champagne and cocktails. Silly Secret Santa has been a tradition too but this year we changed it up or down a notch to make and stuff a Christmas Cracker which would be randomly allocated. There were challenges, dares, games - and the Boris Johnson cracker which was indeed a cracker proving that the children may have grown up but the grown ups have no intention of doing so any time soon. A great night was had by all.

June 25. Day 177. Mister Cellophane

You know it's all an act but when an actor nails it that fact is quickly forgotten. I know I'm his mum so I would think that but I could feel the desperation in just about every bar my boy sang in Mr Cellophane in Fame's senior musical today. In the otherwise very, very upbeat musical Chicago, this song is a so tragically sad it's hard to believe. Being invisible is a state few aspire to (sure there are times we all crave invisibility and a cloak is a super power but it's something people want to use selectively).
So when your boy is up there in pain I just wanted to give him a big hug and tell him he was far from invisible, just the opposite. But then I'm his mum. And anyway, by the second act I know he's okay because he sings about it "I'm not yet dead" from Spamalot. And that's the beauty of the theatre and the power of the actor: so many roles and such an ability to transport. You have to love that.
Today's steps: 16, 606

June 24. Day 176. Fly free my friend

Big bird close-ups are a bit of a thing for me. Almost always, however, they are taken with my telephoto lens. Not today. Today, these up close and personal pics were taken with a wide angle lens which means I was close, very close. It says a whole lot about the birds. They were friendly and cheeky and clearly a great liking for people. Big personalities and clearly a great love for food. It all seemed rather fitting really. These fellows were hanging around the afternoon tea following the funeral of our family friend (and mum's bestie) Nita. Nita was one of life's characters, a great free spirit with a huge sense of fun and an ability to light up a room. I love my mother's story from her hospital bedside less than 24 hours before she died. Mum was reading an article from a women's magazine, "some ridiculous thing", Mum said. "Well, that's bullshit," Nita said from her death bed. A sense of fun until the end. So fly free, my friend and soar into the heavens.

Today's steps: 15, 837