I bought this hat for the wedding.

I really like winter hats, but am always too scared to don one. Peta does hats well, it makes me very jealous.

 

Finally, for the wedding I bought a woollen beret from Big W. Out the front of Big W they had a woollen stall with gorgeous felt hats for $80. I felt very tempted, but as I was by myself I didnt trust my opinion (or Darcy's) to buy one.

 

I am happy with my cheap woollen beret. I do want to go a good hat though, but will probably wait until next year.

Con likes my hat too. he came out in it last night. I think he looks like he has a turban on.

 

 

Im currently very very very very involved in my Niccolo Rising books the word 'Turcoman' features strongly throughout them. And that is what Boy reminds me of when he has the hat on!

 

As all the family and friends know. I LOVE my Francis Crawford Books. The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnet are my most favourite books in the entire world. I discovered them about 12 years ago, and my only wish is that I had actually found them about 5 years earlier than that, because I may have actually been able to meet DorothyDunnett when I was living in Scotland in 95. And I most certainly would have been able to go to all of the places in Scotland, and indeed, over Europe, whilst I was there and had my car and had my very good teaching job that made me lots of money and had no children or debts. But alas I did not.

 

I read the Lymond books with anger, joy and tears. I only wish I was a cleverer person, because they are so amazingly written and I know I would understand them so much more if I was smarter.

Anyway, Dorothy Dunnett finished the Lymond Chronicles in 1971 or something like that and for years people would cry to her 'We need more FRANCIS' (I know why! I want more Francis too!). Finally, Dunnett submitted, but in a backwards kind of way Instead of writing more Francis books, she wrote the Niccolo series. Now, they were written in my discovering time. So I had to wait with baited breath for the last 2 books of the series to be published before I found out all the endings and special links.

The first time I read the Niccolo books (about 10 years ago) I HATED Nicholas. HATED HATED HATED. How could she make this bumbling fool her hero after Francis. They were NOTHING ALIKE! However, by the 2nd book I had softened towards him and by the 3rd I could see that he and Francis, although different, shared alot.

Since then I have read the full Lymond series twice more, and the last 2 books in that series about 3 times - especially Checkmate. About 8 weeks ago I decided I would read all the Niccolo books again from start to finish. Well, I am 10 years older and wiser now. I have children of my own and a near failed marriage and from the start of the first book I fell in love with Nicholas.

 

I am now up to Caprice and Rondo - the 2nd last book. I have devoured the first 5, taking them with me every day in my handbag (as my friends know!) and get it out at any opportunity to read. Now that Im almost done (only half this one and Gemini to go) I am trying to savour them.

 

With Casey and Daniel here at the moment I am feeling VERY sorry for myself. Very sorry that I am stuck here in Australia and dont get to be over there in Europe, able to go to the places that all these things happen in. The 5th book has a section set in Treves. As I read the book I remembered an excited phone call from Casey about 18months ago where she said she had been to where Daniel's father was born, a place in Northern Germany called Trier. I kept reading and was thinking, this is the same place, it must be. I rang my mother at 11pm on the night before the wedding to see if Dan was still up so i could ask him, (I couldnt he was in bed! Dont know why! lol) However mum looked it up in the Encylopaedia - and it IS the same place! Dan's dad talks about how when he was a little boy he used to play with his mates down by the river and pick up old roman coins and skip them along the water. I mean OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My current book is set, for some part, in Poland. Some of it in Gdank, or Danzig as it is called back then (and still called that by the Germans). I have photos in my photo album from when Mark and I were in Poland of this old medievil crane. This crane features in the book!

 

Ok ok, Im rambling. Im sorry! Instead of typing Im going to go to bed and read. However, before I go - here is the extract from Wikipedia about the Niccolo books. And you can also see the link here for the Lymond Chronicles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymond_Chronicles I have gotten Peta hooked to Francis. She has bought the whole set from Amazon (after having just CHeckmate for a few years because that is the one with the BEAUTY in it!) I am doing my best to get Lorraine hooked. She has borrowed my set from me and is starting to like Francis (you dont like him to begin with). If only I could get Casey hooked. She is over there - she can GO TO THE PLACES IN THE BOOKS!! She would LOVE Checkmate!!!

 

I will make sure Peta reads the Niccolo ones next. I dont know who I picture as Niccolo. I see Jude Law as Francis. I always have. Niccolo, I need someone with 2 gorgeous deep dimples. Browny hair, grey eyes, very square jaw, not handsome but strong and tall and oh so amazingly clever. *sigh*  Ironically, DD wrote that she saw Colin Firth as Nicholas. Not perfectly, but the closest she could envisage. No way can I see Colin Firth a) he is not tough enough. Anyway - Ive had a nice old dream about 'the boys' now. Im going to bed to my book!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Overview

The eight volumes of the The House of Niccolò are part of what Dunnett viewed as a larger fourteen-volume work, which includes the six novels of the Lymond Chronicles series. The Lymond Chronicles was written prior to The House of Niccolò but is set chronologically later, telling the story of descendants of characters in The House of Niccolò in the following century. The House of Niccolò includes occasional foreshadowing of events in the Lymond Chronicles. Dunnett recommended readers read the books in the order they were written, beginning with the Lymond Chronicles and then reading The House of Niccolò.

As with the Lymond Chronicles, the series features a number of historical persons, many as important characters. Both the historical and fictional characters are, however, taken from a wider variety of occupations and social classes than in the Lymond Chronicles. There are significant differences in narrative approach and writing style between the series, reflecting in part the very different personal journey taken by the central character in each.

Nicholas de Fleury

On the first page of the first book in the series, the central character is introduced as Claes, a large, cheerful, goodnatured eighteen-year-old dyer's apprentice, in whose wake trouble and upsets of the most grand and hilarious kind often follow. Of unfortunate birth, Claes was taken in by relatives-by-marriage of his mother's after she died, and has been raised as an apprentice and sometime companion to the son and heir of the Charretty company in Bruges. It soon becomes apparent that Claes, or Nicholas, who at the time goes by the last name van der Poele, is a polymath and polyglot, and is turning himself into a leader of men and player of great games. He loves creating and solving puzzles of all kinds, he is highly numerate, and applies himself to learning whatever he can (languages, engineering, warcraft, courtly manners, philosophy), both for practical purposes and for the sake of learning. From apprentice, he rises to merchant, banker, master of warcraft, and adviser to kings.

Nicholas believes, having been told so by his mother, Sophie de Fleury, that he is the legitimate son of the beautiful Simon de St. Pol of Kilmirren, a Scottish lord, champion jouster, and merchant. Simon denies this, claiming that Nicholas is a bastard born to his first wife, and no get of his. Nicholas's desire for acceptance from what he believes is his father's family, and their disdain for him, are the force and conflict that drive much of the series, which takes Nicholas and his friends and enemies across most of the known world.

The series

The eight volumes in the series are:

Niccolò Rising (1986)

Set largely in Flanders, Burgundy, and Italy in 1460.

Spring of the Ram (1987)

Set largely in Trebizond, last remaining outpost of the Byzantine empire, on the Black Sea, in 1461.

Race of Scorpions' (1989)

1462-1463. Set largely in Cyprus, during the wars between Queen Carlotta and her half-brother James de Lusignan (Zacco) for control of the island kingdom.

Scales of Gold (1991)

1464-1467. Set largely in Venice, Spain, Madeira, and Africa, during a voyage to discover the source of West African gold, and a West-East route to the Christian Ethiopian kingdom of Prester John.

The Unicorn Hunt (1993)

1468-1470. Set largely in Scotland, Flanders, the Tyrol, Italy, Egypt, and the Sinai peninsula.

To Lie with Lions (1995)

1471-1473. Set largely in Scotland, Iceland, and Flanders.

Caprice and Rondo (1997)

1474-1476. Set largely in Italy, Poland, the Crimea, Persia, Russia, and Flanders/Burgundy.

Gemini (2000)

1477-1483. Set largely in Scotland and France.

 

 

Last Thursday I had my appointment with the eye specialist as a follow up to the neurologist.

I had to have a plethora of tests to check my focal range and my retina and my optical nerve etc etc etc. It took about 50mins all up - quite intense.

 

The upshot is that EVERYTHING with regard to my eyes is great.

 

My vision is spot on. My eyeball pressure (yes - you read correctly!) is 17 - and the average is between 15-20. To check the eyeball pressure I had to have yellow anesthetic drops squirted into my eyes (ouch) and then he had the machine come in in in in in and TOUCH my eyeball. FREAKUS!!!!!!!!!!

 

My periforal vision is fine, and so is the back of my eye.

 

In fact that was a really interesting and good test. I had to have the drops put into my eyes to dilate the pupils, then had to go away for 15mins and come back for him to do the test. He took photos of the inside of my eyeballs!! And then views them up close on teh computer, checking for cholesterol on the veins and arteries (NONE!) and damage from high blood pressure (NONE) and damage to the optic never (NONE!)

 

He was an awesome dr and was really talkative and open in explaining everything he did. He then gave me pictures of my eyeballs!!

 

So I have scanned it in to show you!!

Also, that afternoon I was driving to dancing (shouldnt have been, wasn't supposed to drive for 4 hours, but thought I felt better!) anyway, I took a photo of my eyes to show how big the pupils were - and in this photo they are actually  not as large as they were 3 hours previously, when I had the tests done!! (Mum came down and drove my car home from the Drs as there was no way I could have driven home.)

 

So, all in all a great results. The cat scan results look ok to me too. I have to go back to the Neurologist on the 11th August to give him all of hte results, but Im pretty sure he will just say that the migranes are, unfortunately, just one of those things. Which is much better than having a brain tumour!

 

 

 

Scary me with the big black eyes and yellow rims. The kids were frightened every time they looked!

 

What looks like a pair of boobies - and is actually the inside of my eye. The white dot is the optical nerve.

Men shit me.

 

We women get home from work and don't stop. I literally walk in the door of an afternoon and a) put dinner on b) put the washing on or hang it out or both c) put the dishwasher on or take it out or both d) find the dancing clothes for that arvo, make the food for dancing e) find the school clothes for the next day and make the lunches for the next day f) check my emails to see if there's anything re work g) pick up crap left trailed along the floor from front door to any room in the house h) hound kids to do homework and practise. Plus countless other things.

 

Now, my friends know I am no way a clean and tidy person. My house is a pigsty. However I think how much more of a pigsty would it be if I didnt do all of the above every afternoon. How COULD he possibly manage - he couldn't...

 

Mondays & Wednesdays I do all of the above before 4.30 and then go out and teach until 7.30. I just do it because that is what has to be done. I dont do alot of things. I dont put clothes away from the ironing pile very often. And when I do they get dumped in any drawer in the room. I rarely iron - hate it. Mopping and sweeping and scrubbing get done very rarely, dusting NEVER gets done.

 

However at least I DO do what I feel needs to be done so that we can function from day to day.

He walks in from work, sits on his arse and doesnt move off it.

 

IM SICK OF IT

 

The kids are absolutely FERRAL atm. Unbelieveably tired and whingy and cantakerous.

 

Connor is sleeping at Nanna and Poppas and having a day off school tomorrow to spend it with Casey and Danman. It was going to be Tuesday, but the Waldeckers are climbing the bridge that day!

 

This photo of Darcy (taken at the wedding yesterday) is how the 3 of them have been all day today - so yes Lorraine, I think I SHOULD change her name to Dacry!!!

 

Today was the marriage blessing of Casey and Dan. They got married on the 12th April last year in Germany and the only Aussie contingent was Mum, Peta and Ceilidh.

 

Today - we turned the tables!!

The church ceremony was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Absolutely beautiful!! Darcy and Cj walked down the ailse first, then Dad walked Casey down. Con stood like the proudest of boys next to his Danman.

 

Peta and I said readings at the Blessing and Ceilidh and Connor said Prayers of the Faithful. And they did them so well. I was so proud of them.

In the renewal of vows Casey started to get choked up and then Dan cried. It was sooooo beautiful!!!

 

We then had a WONDERFUL party afterwards!!!  Casey and Dan changed into the Drindle and Leiderhausen for the party!!!!!!!!!!! Mark made a great speech. I was so proud of him. He did a good job and was in a great mood all day.

 

What a magnificent day!!!

 

  

Before we went into the church, the kids with their winter coats on.

 

 

    

Renewing their vows.

 

Prayers of the Faithful

 

 

With Father Robert.

 

Zee Griffith and Waldecker Families!

 

 

At the reception

 

 

Arriving at the reception

 

  

Dancing with the children.

 

  

Ceilidh and Nanna                                            Casey and Mumma

 

 

Darcy and Nanna                                                    Mark and Danman

 

 

Doing the German Waltz!!

 

  

Dee and Mummy

 

  

Casey and Dacry being Princesses. Posing for the camera                         The girls and the Waldeckers!

 

After the cleaning up!                                         Cousins!!

Some funny things the kids have been saying recently...

 

Darcy the other day was talking about how Casey and Daniel were going to go back to Germany and that Casey was staying a bit longer than Danman. I said 'How do you know that?' And Miss 3 told me 'I feel it in my bones.'

 

Connor was telling me today that he knew the real name for boys boobies. That they were called 'nibbles.' I said 'Do you mean nipples' 'Yes, that's it' he said! Also, yesterday I had my eye test so my pupils were really REALLY dialated (there's a blog in that, but it can wait tillnext week!) Anyway, Con told me that my pimples were very big. Well thanks matey!

 

Typically, there are lots more of this but I can't think of them at the moment!!

 

Con and CJ are very VERY jealous of Darcy because she has gotten to spend Friday and Thursday with Casey and Danman and they have had to go to school! I have promised that they can have a day off next week to spend with them.

 

Wedding tomorrow!

 

 

Well, schools back and dancing's back and Casey's back - so life it back to it's hectic self.

 

I am working a few extra days this term.

To start with I am working the first 2 Mondays - as they are important work inservices, and hey if they are gonna pay me I will go and sit on my bum and eat yummy food and drink their coffee (go the Krispy Kreme donuts hey Sal!)

 

And then i am also working every 2nd Friday for the term, out with Sally at the HighSchool. I was supposed to start this Friday, but Misstally said I could have the day off as, tax-wise, it actually isnt worth me working the 3rd casual day this fortnight. So I start the 2nd Fridays on the 8th August. Edit note - I am now working this Friday - new pay fortnight next week - woohoo!

 

It will be VERY good to have the extra money as a) we somehow missed a mortgage payment in June - not sure how it happened but now we owe the back another $2k. And b) CJ has been asked to have some ballet privates leading up to her exam, so at $33 a private I need to have some extra money!

 

 

So, now I have time to blog and to tell you how amazingly awesome it was at the Pope Mass on WYD!

 

We arrived at Nannie Beau's place (Mark's Mum) at 7pm on Saturday night. Her flat has a view of the racecourse - so we could see STRAIGHT to the stage! (although it was far away!)

 

CJ was so excited about that! She kept getting the binoculars and checking things out.

We had dinner and sent CJ to bed and Beau and I talked until Midnight.

Got up at 6am and Beau made us Eggs Bennedict - for the pope! lol!

 

Then Cj and I rugged up and walked across the road to the racecourse.

ALready there were 1000's walking around, and 1000's indeed 10s of 1000s in the Racecourse who had slept over.

 

We walked around, and checked out the merchandise tent. Bought Ceilidh a beautiful scarf and beanie, plus a braclet for the other 2 and another cheaper scarf. Then we headed to confession. CJ had confession with an Italian priest, who spoke english, and my priest was American.

 

We then walked further forward to have a look around, and that's when I realised that there was a little bit of room in a spot and decided to make that our place for the mass. We were still ages away from the stage, but about half as close as we should have been (according to the tickets we were given outside the gate). We also had a perfect view of a screen. Ceilidh had a spaz attack becuase she thought we'd get into trouble for not sitting where we were supposed to - my little God child!! lol

 

9.30 was the 'papal flyover' and then 10am came around really fast. We tried to see the Pope for the motorcade but he didnt come past where we were sitting.

 

The mass was great. It was phenomenal to be saying the responses along with half a million other people!! We had Danish people to the left of us, and French pilgrims in front! A Danish pilgrim gave Ceilidh a friendship braclet at the end of the mass.

 

To hear the Creed as a gregorian chant and the Our Father in Latin as the Pater NOster (sp?) was phenomenal.

 

And then to receive communion! wow!

 

The pope said a really lovely homily, and spoke all about what were 'our generation' going to do to make the future a better place.

 

Then suddenly it was all over. We sat down for a while, thinking we were letting the crowd disperse - HAH! IT took us close to 2 hours to walk back to Beaus (a 10min walk - max!) We had to walk about 5km to get back there as there were one way walking only - so we neededto walk a whole suburb before we could turn L and then L again to walk back to Beaus suburb, then walk another km to be able to cross the road to walk back to her flat!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

 

It was an unforgettable day, and I certainly hope it is something CJ will remember forever. She thoroughly enjoyed herself and has been raving about it ever since! And what was really really lovely, was my Nanna ringing last night to ask us how it went and say that she watched it on tv and how proud she was of me for going and for taking Ceilidh.

 

The view from Beau's verandah.

   

Beau serving us Eggs Benedict at 6am in the morning!!!! Cj eating hers!

CJ and I on the verandah before we left - 6.45am

 

 

When we bought Ceilidh's scarf and beanie. This is about 400m closer than we were originally supposed to be. We wended up sitting about 50m in front of those white tents with the pointy rooves

 

The Pope is High!

  

Ceilidh and I waiting for Mass to start!

  

How close we ended up being (and Guy Sebastian performing

 

Pop-ie arriving.

 

 

The crowd in front and behind trying to get out!

 

 

Too tired - can't blog. Have walked about 5km today. Feet are falling off.

 

Shall fill in all the gory details tomorrow.

Was wonderful.

 

Feeling blessed!

 

Going to go to sleep and sing the Pope song that was played every 10mins last night! lol! Its stuck in the brain.

 

Thank goodness we slept at Beaus last night.

 

 

Going to bed now! Gotta work tomorrow - shock horror! Shall blog about Pope on Toast tomorrow.

 

NI NI!

SOOO exciting!!! My baby sister is home!!!!!!!!

 

It was so wonderful to see her at Nanna's today. She hugged the kids and just didn't let go!!!

 

Here she and Danman are with the kiddlets.

And Casey and Nanna Josephine!

 

Casey still looks 12! (she is now 24!)

 

Did any of you watch the Jamie Oliver show on Wednesday night? Did it freak you out, as it did me (as it was supposed to do, obviously!)

 

I felt, physically FELT sick at the end of it. After seeing all the fat and crap that was getting consumed and how much was in food.

I was really cranky to hear about how manufacturers deliberately put more sugar and salt in foods. That there is a huge rise from 50 years ago in what goes into processed foods. Sausages/meat etc.

 

I liked the bits where they would show a 'magic bullet' - like the baked beans. My kids have baked beans about twice a week. Often with something like sausages or fish fingers or nuggets. Not a good 'meat' to have it with - but thankfully - baked beans are really really good for you, not just becuase of the fibre (lol). I give the kids a little container of baked beans on the Saturday dancing day, when they are there for lunch. I know it's quick and simple for them to eat - and now am happy it's good for them.

 

Also, thankfully, they drink quite a bit of water, need to drink more though - and I certainly do!

 

 

Go and have a look at his website if you missed the show - http://www.jamieoliver.com/diary/2008/01/16/eat_to_save_your_life

 

A very frightening and thought provoking show. Well worth a watch - especially if it makes you (ME!) do something about what we eat!

Tonight we are having silverside and lots and lots of vegies!!!

1. Do you like blue cheese?  no - but normal cheese - Love it!

2. Do you own a gun?   Im sure there is a plastic musket in the toybasket

3. Wax or Shave your body parts?  ATM all shaved or plucked. Usually wax eyebrows but needed to pluck them the other day - no time to get to shops.

4. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

  Yes

5. Real or fake nails?  No nails - bitten to quick.

6. Favourite Christmas song?  silent night - just wish i could sing it 

7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?   If im out - a cappachino. If Im home - a cup of strong tea

8. Can you do push ups?   No - but ashamedly, my 3 children can!!

9. What's your favourite piece of jewellery?   Rowan's locket

10. Favourite hobby?

  Reading, reading reading - oh - sleeping.

11. Do you have A.D.D.?  Nope - but Im sure Con does!

12. What's one trait that you hate about yourself?    lose my temper too easily

13. Middle Name? Clair - that until I was sixteen we thought was Clare

14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?  Casey  left 3 hours ago, Im cold, gotta have shower and go

15. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?  Coffee, coke, tea

16. Current worry right now?  how to find missed mortgage payment I didnt know we missed

17. Current hate right now ?   My  weight

18. Favorite place to be ?   At a musical

19. How did you bring in the New Year?  At Callala, on the beach

20. Like to go Shopping ? sorta - a) like to have money to shop, b) like the kids to be behaving c) like to go by myself

21. Who will complete this?  Ahh - it's on the blog, so does nae matter

22. Do you own slippers?  very funny green slip on crab ones - never wear them, prefer socks

23. What colour shirt are you wearing ?  green singlet

24. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?   Ahh - dont know, dont remember doing it

25. Can you whistle?   Yup

26. Favourite colour? green and blue

27. Would you be a pirate? If I got to bonk Johnny Depp I would.

28. What songs do you sing in the shower?  ATm - Blood Brothers

29. Favourite girl's name?  Darcy - since  I was 16
 
30. Favourite boy's name? Francis
 
31. What's in your pocket right now? nuffin

32. Last thing that made you laugh ? Conversation with Mark on the phone about his view of Pop-ey today.

33. Best bed sheets as a kid ?  can't remember - I did have a yellow bedspread I remember

34. Worst injury you've ever had?   umm - broken left arm twice. I think that is it really. Anything else and Ive blocked it out!

35. Do you love where you live?  Nope

36. How many TV's do you have in your house?  3,plus one in the garage for dancing lessons

37. Who have you been friends with the longest?  Oh gosh - probably Mandina - since year 11, so 20 years. Or, actually, a dancing friend would be more - Justine Daly from Newcastle. We've known each other since we were 5 - so 31 years

38. How many pets do you have?  one - Chewy the doggie

39. Does someone have a crush on you?  Oh how I would love to say 'Francis Crawford' but alas - no

40. What is your favourite book?   without a doubt - CHeckmate

41. What is your favourite candy  Ohh - twirl maybe/

42. Favourite Sports Team?  umm - Tig

43. What were you doing 12 AM last night?  Reading The Unicorn Hunt (was still doing it at 2.45am)

44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up "It's cold, Darcy stop crying."

45. Worst habit?  biting my nails

46. Do you play an instrument?  Not anymore... Used to play recorder, bagpipes, piano.
 
47. How long does it take you to get to work?   30mins

48. Plans for the weekend?  ohh - busy busy busy - Start with Friday - kids have dance workshop at Rockdale, get home and my drive up to Gosford for special dinner thing. Sat morn, take kids to dancing, in lunch break, bring them back to Nanna's to see Casey and Daniel. Then go back to dancing. CJ and I drive over to Beaus at Randwick to sleep thatnight. Got to Pope Mass on Sunday!

49. If you could eat anything in the world right this second? Fish

50. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes - she is my darling sister!

 

 

     

 

 

 

On Saturday we (amazingly) had no dancing! Which meant that we could go out and watch Sam's wonderful soccer game!!

The kids were so excited about seeing him play, and CJ asked if she could make up a sign for him!

 

Here they are at the game with their signs!! You can't see Sam's head! Dee is holding her sign up nice and high! LOL

 

....Say it's just a story........

The 'story' was brilliant! The Arcadians (www.arcadians.org.au) did a brilliant job their amateur production of Blood Brothers. The wee theatre was just delightful, so cute and quaint and the actors in the show were brilliant with the kids at the end of the show (instead of us taking photos of them, they were taking photos of the kids getting autographs!- Sal, that was Mr Lyons right? He is the IT teacher - he will probably put them up on the website LOL)

 

Sal.Peta, Jacob and I all cried during the last 10mins - as we should!

 

After the show we went to the beach - down to Bellambi beach. There was a great little park, and the kids had a play, then tossed rocks in the surf and raced around.

It was dark by then, so we headed home!

All in all a wonderful Sunday Outing!!!! With wonderful company!

 

"It's gonna be a  long long long.... Sunday afternoon.....''