Lightening Online

Remember a little while ago I hinted that I was getting something pink for Christmas?

Well, our Christmas has come a little early this year so now I can show you.

Do you know how long it is since I’ve owned a bike?

Hang on a minute while I work it out……

I was 12 and now I’m …..

……

……

I’ve run out of fingers but let’s just say it’s been a while.

I gave up riding due to 3 catastrophic events:

1.  We moved to Melbourne from Port Pirie and Melbourne has WAY more cars!!!!

2.  I tried to ride it down our street (at our new place) which had a HUGE hill and stacked it first time!!!

3.  They brought in a new law saying you HAD to wear a helmet.

Truth be told, number 3 was the major deciding factor.  I mean, what self respecting, almost 13 year old wants to be seen dead in a helmet????  Different these days - it’s more “normal” now.

It even saves me having to do my hair properly before I ride to the shop.

Only then you have to wear your helmet in the shop so no-one can see how bad your hair looks!!!!

ROFLOL.

Anyway, Farmboy has been trying to convince me for years now that we should buy one another bikes.

I keep putting him off.

Until we went to the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo on our big trip and hired bikes to ride around on.

And I HAD A BALL!!!!

So, this year we bought each other bikes for Christmas.

And no, you haven’t missed Christmas.

Because we’re having a short break at his parents shack now, we decided to get them early.

We’ve gone for a ride every day that we’ve been here so far.

The kids are loving it!

And because all the holiday makers haven’t moved in yet, it’s been nice and quiet traffic wise.

There has been one little problem….

Given it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a bike….

Can anyone say saddle sore????  ROFLOL.

Yesterday Farmboy and I took off to do some Christmas Shopping.  The closest regional centre is a little over an hour and a half away (in either direction) and with harvest coming up on us so quickly, we hadn’t had a chance to do much Christmas shopping.

The kids finish school next week (and it’s a busy week too) so we decided it best to hurry up and go while we still could.

We had a lovely day out together which included a nice “date lunch” at the marina.

As a bonus, I got to see my niece and nephew who we haven’t seen since the June long weekend (due to being away on our trip and then a series of illnesses that have kept us from going for a visit).  My niece has gone from a newborn to a 6-month old.  I got to have a lovely cuddle!!!! 

The shopping expedition was quite successful.  Farmboy and I found what we had decided to buy each other for Christmas.  And they were cheaper than we were expecting to pay (probably not the highest quality BUT this way we can see how much we use them and if they don’t last due to lots of use, can buy better next time).

I’m going to keep you guessing on what they are but mine is pink!!!!  (Farmboys isn’t ROFLOL).

I had to concede defeat and purchase Singstar Princesses hearts desire without getting a bargain.  Only 1 store had them and while they were supposedly on “special”, the special price was full price at other stores.  It was either pay that price or risk not being able to get it.

Next step will be to get everything out and work out exactly where I’m up to.  I know I need 1 thing for Trailer Boy and a beach towel for Singstar Princess (hers got damaged while we were away).

I still have extended family gifts to buy but I knew I could do those when the kids are with us in just over a weeks time (I have an appointment so knew we would be back).

We did buy 1 impulse purchase.  That happens to me most years.  We have everything worked out and then add on another little gift.  It’s something the whole family will enjoy though. 

I just CAN’T WAIT until Christmas now.  It’s my favourite time of the year!!!! 

How is your Christmas shopping going?  Is it making you smile or making you frustrated????

Or Not….

This cracked me up when it landed in my inbox this week.  Hope it makes you smile.  :)  Thanks LS.

Leave a link to your Smiley Saturday post in the comments section.

Happy Smiley Saturday one and all. 

P.S.  Kids are playing Christmas music and having a ball.  Planning to put the Christmas Tree up today (hopefully).  Lots to smile about here - I LOVE Christmas!!!!

This joke was recently shared on one of my yahoo groups.  It really made me laugh.  Hope it makes you laugh too. 

David  staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking  buddy, Paddy.   He took off his shoes to avoid waking his  wife, Kathleen..

‘Well,’ Kathleen  said, ‘it could be the open front door, it could be the broken  glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood  trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but  mostly …… it’s all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall  mirror.

Happy Smiley Saturday everyone.

I’ve seen this before (not sure if I’ve even posted it before). It’s always worth a repeat though. Makes me laugh every time.

I saw it on My Little Drummer Boys, along with the following Aussie Quiz.

Come to Australia !

How Aussie are you ?
(compiled by Dee from Downunder)

1. Been dive bombed by a magpie Thankfully, NO.  We had a resident dive bombing magpie at one place I worked but they never went me.  Scary things they are though!!!!
2. Have seen a crocodile Many.  First saw a few when we went to Darwin in 2002.  Then again when we went to Northern Queensland on our big trip.  We even saw one in the wild near where we were fishing (we were up high on an old bridge thankfully).
3. Have seen a snake in the wild - In the wild?  Try in my backyard!!!!  It’s one thing I really HATE about living rurally.
4. Been bitten by a snake or other aussie wildlife Was bitten by a pelican when I was a kid.  It decided it wanted the piece of bread in my hand so came up and took it and bit my finger in the process.  Freaked me right out!!!
5. Patted a koala Many!  My favourite was the Cairns Zoo where staff got a number of koalas out of the enclosure and we had lots of time to pat, touch, admire etc.  It’s the most animated I’ve ever seen koalas.
6. Seen a kangaroo in the wild - Too many.  Thankfully I’ve never hit one while driving but I have been in the passenger seat when we’ve hit one.  Sadly, they are pretty much pests around here (eat our crops).
7. Climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge - I only SAW it for the first time on our recent visit to Sydney.  We went over it on the train.  I was surprised at how OLD it looks.  I think I like it better all lit up on New Years Eve.
8. Climbed the Story Bridge in Brisbane I’ve never even HEARD of the Story Bridge in Brisbane.
9. Visited the Sydney Opera House - We walked there in the rain on our recent visit to Sydney.  Was just a quick visit but we did have a look in the foyer.  Would love to go there to see something one day….
10. Swum at the beach Last night.  We’re lucky that Farmboy’s parents own a shack at the beach about 40 minutes from here so we get a beach holiday every year.  Plus day trips.  Sadly, we didn’t get to swim in too many Qld beaches - too many crocodiles!!!!
11. Had fish and chips on the beach My favourite!!!!  Just don’t try getting fish and chips at Mooloolaba beach unless you want to take out a second mortgage.
12. Been stung by a jellyfish Thankfully no, but someone got stung while we were at the beach last night.
13. Had sunburn that peeled Only the odd bit on my nose.  Have never been really badly sunburnt thankfully.
14. Camped under the stars Not directly but have in a tent and a camper trailer many times.
15. Visited Uluru - We had a quick visit there on our way to Darwin in 2002.  Farmboy climbed it while I stayed at the bottom with the kids.  I did get to walk around it though.
16. Driven the Great Ocean Road in Victoria 3 times.  My favourite was doing it with Farmboy when Lleyton was about 18 months old.  We were on such a tight budget but it was so much fun!!!!
17. Seen the penguins on Phillip Island Victoria Yeah, a couple of times when I lived in Melbourne.  LOVE it!!!  Would LOVE to take the kids there one day.
18. Had an outdoor BBQ with Friends Often
19. Played backyard/beach Cricket It used to be a regular boxing day event in my family when I was growing up.  These days I much prefer to spectate.  Or even stay inside with a good book!!!!
20. Watched a real cricket match live *snore* Cricket is SO boring!!!!  Although I would like to go to a 20-20 match.  I think that would be great!
21. Betted on the Melbourne Cup Once in workplace sweep where it was easier to just “go with the flow” than try to explain I’m not a gambling person.  It was kind of fun actually and I even won a few dollars.  LOL
22. Attended the Melbourne Cup Live from Flemington Can’t see that happening any time soon.  I’m really not “into” the Melbourne Cup.
23. Attended a live Aussie Rules or rugby football game Been to a few Aussie Rules (at AFL level) matches.
24. Ridden a Melbourne Tram Too many times to mention!!!!  Every day in year 12 and then most days to Uni.  I miss Melbourne!!!! 
25. Snow Skied in the “high country” of NSW/Vic Been to the snow a number of times but the most adventurous I get is tobogganing.  Not co-ordinated enough to ski!!!!
26. Visited the Great Barrier Reef YES!!!  And it rates up there as one of my life’s BEST experiences!!!!
27. Been to Kakadu - Funnily enough, no.  Went to Darwin and visited Litchfield but didn’t get to Kakadu.  Left that for another time!
28. Crossed the Nullabour by road - Not yet but planning to in the next few years (unless we decide to fly/train it - we’ll see).
29. Gone down the Murray River on a paddle steamer I’ve even driven one!!!  My great uncle restored an old one - just beautiful!!!!!
30. Survived a cyclone Thankfully we live a LONG way from cyclone country and I think we’ll keep it that way.  The very thought scares the bejeebers out of me!!!
31. Survived a bushfire Closest I’ve even gotten was the Port Lincoln fires (killed I think 5 people or something like that, including one of Farmboys school mates).  We were about an hour away when they happened.  Well, there have been closer fires (national park near here - Farmboy fought for a week) but not life threatening I don’t think.
32. Experienced a big flood Ha!  Ha!  Plenty of drought - no floods!!!  Although there was one time when Farmboy couldn’t get home because the road floaded where the creek goes through.
33. Know who the Wiggles are. Yeah!  We’re kind of passed that stage now though.  Been culling our Wiggles stuff.
34. Know who Humphrey the Bear is. HUGE fan of Humphrey!!!!
35. Watched Play School as a kid or mum of a kid Both!  Was interesting that some of the presenters were the same for me as a kid as they were for my kids!!!  Great show!
36. Watched Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Not very much as we didn’t have a TV for most of my childhood.  Did see a few episodes though.
37. Own an Australia Flag - Nothing “official”, just a few toy ones.
38. Know the words to Advance Australia Fair First verse - yes.  Rest of it - bit patchy.
39. Eat Vegemite - My favourite!!!!
40. Drink Milo Nearly every day in one form or another!
41. Know what lamingtons are HATE cooking them (too fiddly for me) but LOVE eating them!!!!
42. Know what Pavlova is Love it!!!!  With lashings of cream and strawberries or fruit salad!
43. Know what Tim Tams are Mmmm….double coat!!!!  And I’ve just tasted the white ones and they are good too!!!
44.Eaten a meat pie As long as I don’t think too hard about what might be in them!
45. Gave or received a “dead arm” ROFLOL.  I had totally forgotten about those!!!  OUCH!
46. Have owned an Akubra hat Farmboy has one for around the farm.
47. Own/owned an Australia Cattle dog - We have sheep dogs around here.
48. Been to a B& S ball - or know what one is - Know enough about them to know it’s not really my scene. Not the ones around here anyway.

49. Drive a ute For many years as our main vehicle (4-door).  Now only around the farm.
50. Say G’day Not all the time.
51. Can cook damper -Yeah, we have the occasional fire in non fire ban season complete with damper and raspberry or apricot jam!
52. Can make billy tea -I don’t think I’ve actually ever tried.
53. Supported a sausage sizzle - Frequently
54. Own John Williamson CD/Music -Not big country music fans here.
55. Owned backyard chooks or know what chooks are - Pretty much the whole time we’ve been married.  Just waiting for our latest batch to start laying.
56. Call the toilet “the dunny” - Sometimes but  not often.
57 . Wear thongs (on your feet…) - Currently own 3 pairs - 1 with pink flowers, 1 gold and 1 black with sequins.  And yes, they are ALL the kind you wear on your feet!!!
58. Support Aussie music - Yep
59. Enjoy a beer - HATE the stuff.  I’m more of a “pink champagne” girl.
60.Swallowed a fly - YUK!!!  I prefer not to think about it.

How Aussie are you ?

If you decide to give this a go, make sure you leave a link in the comments section so that we can come and have a read!

Happy Smiley Saturday everyone.  Hope you can find something to make you smile.  And somewhere cool if you’re in Australia!!!!

Remember this:

Ha!  I thought it was going to take forever to dig him out of my library and then I discovered a search funtion!  Easier than I expected!  Yah!!! 

I haven’t seen him for a while - forgot how much he makes me smile just looking at him (or is it a her?).

I feel like I’ve been a lazy blogger of late.  No photo’s or images.  Mostly just ‘brain dumps” (oh yeah, guess that’s what blogging is kind of about anyway isn’t it - being able to do a brain dump?).  Anyway, I’m struggling with really bad fatigue and brain fog which is making decent blogging kind of challenge.

STILL….

There are plenty of things to smile about so without further ado….a Smiley Saturday post!!!!

Things that made me smile this week:

1.  Having a day out with Farmboy with some retail therapy.

2.  My new “toy” (another “retail therapy” only Farmboys this time not mine - even though we’ve bought it for me to use).

I sent Trailer Boy to take some pictures for the blog for me.  ROFLOL.

Can anyone guess what it is?

3.  This post by Cathy from Cathy’s Capers (thanks for brightening my day Cathy).

4.  Looking forward to heading to Adelaide with Lleyton for Sapsasa tennis.

And that just about wraps up my smiles for the week.  What has made you smile this week?  Feel free to join us with your own post or add your smiley moments to the comments section.

What?  No Linky?  I still have to work out the new Linky site.  Feel free to leave a link in the comments section to your smiley saturday post.

Happy Smiley Saturday everyone!!!!

I have decided to take a break from Smiley Saturday while we are away.  I don’t want the pressure of having to post on any set day so it makes the most sense.  It won’t hurt to have a break and I’ll reassess when we get back whether or not I’ll restart it.

My BIGGEST smile at the moment is coming from the excitement that the trip is SO close.  Everything else seems to be paling in comparison right now.  In fact, it’s been difficult these past few days to get my head into other stuff that’s happening before we go.  All focus is on the trip and getting ready (head-space wise anyway).

Today is my last netball game which doesn’t really make me smile (oh, playing it does, leaving it doesn’t).  Not that I’d give up the big trip in order to play the rest of the season but I will still miss it.  Let’s hope my playing today makes me smile (and not frustrated).

Friday I had my first professional massage which was nice (although did hurt in many places).  I’d always thought of them as purely for pleasure but it would seem there are a lot of health benefits too.  I think I probably need a few more before all the kinks and knots are worked out enough to fully enjoy them.

And this weekend my parents are visiting.  The kids are very excited as they’ll have Nan & Pa watching them play sport.  :)  They’re here to pick up our cats to “cat-sit” while we’re gone.

I hope you’re having a Smiley Saturday!!!! 

Last weekend, Singstar Princess had her first dance performance as part of our annual community talent concert.

She was SO excited.

I was SO nervous.

Instructions came home and what to wear and what make up.

Eek!!!!

This was the part of dance I was concerned about (and why I held off letting her dance for a while).  Fortunately, her teacher is wonderful when it comes to costumes and we all pay a set fee per year and she handles all the costumes.

So, it was really only her regular dance clothes, get her hair into a neat bun (no mean feat when it’s layered) and put on red lipstick and blue eyeshadow.  The make up had me a bit nervous.  How much?  Do I put foundation etc on as well?  Etc.  Etc.  Anyway, I asked around and in the end realised I had nothing to worry about as they all wore it slightly differently.  LOL.

Here she is all ready to go:

She looked SO beautiful!!!!

When we got there, most of the other dancers were actually wearing CLOTHES over their outfits - not just a jacket.  I felt like a bad mother for not dressing her more warmly.  LOL.  I shouldn’t have worried because after her performance, she was running around WITHOUT the jacket on.

It wasn’t easy to capture a picture of her while dancing - she kept moving on me!!!!  I nearly missed the whole dance trying to get some nice photographs.  Thankfully Farmboy recorded it.

She did SUCH a good job and didn’t look like someone who had just started dance.  Even more importantly, she looked like she was having SO much fun!!!! 

But the biggest smiley moment came after the performance, watching my little dancer have a cuddle on her daddy’s lap while watching the rest of the concert.  :)  I kept missing the concert because I wanted to keep staring at the two of them.

I hope you’ve all got something to smile about this Smiley Saturday.

I’m giving up on Mr Linky.  If you have a smiley saturday post, please feel free to link to it in the comments section.

Well, I’m away at the moment spending time with Farmboy’s family.  We’re having the Cousin’s Birthday Party this weekend so I’ve been having fun with presents, birthday cake and party bags. 

I’ll be back in a few days with photo’s of all the fun.

In the meantime, here is an email that was forwarded to me by a friend (actually, my personal trainer LOL).  It made me laugh and I hope it does you too! 

It was titled: Good Advice From a Doctor...  Then she added in brackets “but you didn’t get it from me” lol.

Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that   cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A:  Your  heart is  only good for so many  beats, and  that’s it…  don’t waste  them on exercise. Everything  wears out  eventually.   Speeding up your heart will  not make you live longer; that’s  like saying you can extend   the life of your car by driving it  faster.  Want to  live longer?  Take a  nap.

Q: Should   I cut  down on meat and  eat  more fruits and   vegetables?
A: You  must grasp   logistical  efficiencies.  What does a cow eat?    Hay and  corn.   And what are these?   Vegetables.  So  a steak  is nothing more  than an  efficient mechanism  of  delivering vegetables to your   system.    Need grain?   Eat  chicken.     Beef is also a good source  of field grass    (green leafy vegetable).   And a pork chop can    give you  100% of your recommended daily allowance of    vegetable  products.

Q: Should  I reduce   my  alcohol intake?
A:  No,  not at   all.  Wine is made from  fruit.  Brandy is    distilled wine,  that means they take the water out   of  the fruity bit so you  get even more of the   goodness that  way.   Beer is also made out    of grain.  Bottoms   up!

Q: How   can I  calculate my body/fat   ratio?
A:  Well,  if you  have a body and you have  fat, your  ratio is one  to one.   If you have two bodies, your   ratio is two to  one,  etc.

Q: What  are   some of  the advantages of participating in a regular    exercise  program?
A: Can’t  think of a   single one, sorry.  My  philosophy is: No    Pain…Good!
Q:  Aren’t  fried  foods   bad for you?
A:  YOU’RE  NOT    LISTENING!!! …..  Foods are fried these days in    vegetable oil..  In fact,  they’re permeated in   it.  How could  getting more  vegetables be bad   for  you?

Q:  Will  sit-ups    help prevent me from getting a little soft  around    the middle?
A:  Definitely  not! When  you  exercise a muscle, it gets  bigger. You  should only be   doing sit-ups if you want a  bigger   stomach.

Q:  Is    chocolate bad for me?
A:  Are    you crazy? HELLO    Cocoa  beans ! Another  vegetable!!! It’s the  best feel-good   food around!

Q:  Is     swimming good for your figure?
A:  If     swimming is good for  your figure,     explain whales to  me.

Q:  Is  getting    in-shape important for my    lifestyle?
A:  Hey!  ’Round’ is   a shape!

Well,   I hope this has  cleared up any  misconceptions you may   have had about   food    and diets.

And  remember:
‘Life should  NOT  be a journey to the grave with   the intention of  arriving  safely in an attractive   and well preserved  body, but rather  to skid in   sideways - Chardonnay in one  hand - chocolate in  the   other - body thoroughly used up,  totally worn out and     screaming ‘WOO  HOO, What a    Ride’ AND…..

For   those of you who watch what you eat,  here’s the final  word  on nutrition and health. It’s a  relief to know the  truth after  all those conflicting  nutritional  studies.

1. The  Japanese eat   very little fat
and suffer  fewer heart  attacks  than  Americans.

2. The Mexicans  eat a lot  of   fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than    Americans.

3. The Chinese  drink  very little   red wine
and  suffer fewer heart  attacks than   Americans.

4. The  Italians drink a lot  of red   wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than    Americans.

5. The Germans  drink a lot   of beers and eat lots of  sausages and fats  and   suffer fewer heart attacks than   Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat  and drink what you   like.Speaking  English is apparently what kills    you.

I hope you’re all having a lovely Smiley Saturday.  Catch you all next week.