Lightening Online

There’s no doubt about it.

Parenting is a tough gig!

You show me someone who thinks it isn’t and I’ll show you someone living in la-la land.

Bringing up children to be well-adjusting, happy young adults is a tough ask.

Navigating the emotional turmoil of life, relationships, homework and education…. the list is never ending.

BUT, at the end of the day, our job as parents is NOT to be a child’s friend.

I’m not advocating a lack of mutual trust and constant bickering.

But at the end of the day, there are times when a parent needs to be the unpopular one.  Needs to say NO!

NO, you can’t have a facebook account before you turn 13.  I want to teach you to respect other peoples guidelines and NOT to become someone who will forge/lie their way to getting what they want.  I want to protect you from the possible dangers facebook can present (and we’re kidding ourselves if we don’t concede that facebook comes with it’s risks - at any age).

NO, you can’t watch M-rated shows at 13.  I don’t care if your whole class is watching them, they contain scenes you’re not ready to see (maybe not ever in some shows/movies).

NO, you can’t roam the streets with your mates.  No matter how good your kid is - get them in a “pack” and stuff starts happening.

NO, you can’t go to a party at a person’s house I don’t know.  Maybe it’s not YOU I don’t trust!

I could go on and on with this list.  None of the items are stand alone.  Some are “age appropriate” issues.  Do we really need to allow our children to “grow up” so young?

My point is that when we say “yes” when we really should say “no”, we do a disservice not only to our children, but to parents all around us.

Parenting is a tough enough gig as it is, us parents need to stick together!

Disclaimer: I in not way think I’m getting it “all right” when it comes to parenting.  I don’t even always say “no” to my children when I probably should stand firm.  But I AM getting so frustrated at feeling like I’m the “only one” making a stand at times (although I know I’m not really).

While Farmboy was climbing to the top of Ayers Rock, the kids and I drove around the other side and did a short walk to a Gorge that was marked on our map.

Fortunately for us, we were just behind a tour group and overheard the tour guide tell her group to turn around and have a look at this:

I doubt we would have noticed it otherwise.

Beautiful isn’t it?

Apparently.

Well, I didn’t get that far up Ayers Rock.

But I did do the entire Rim Walk of Kings Canyon (just over 6km including plenty of steps to get up there - the hardest part was coming down the slope mind you).

And it would seem I do have a small chip out of my left ankle.

Nothing too serious (well, no more serious than the serious sprain we thought it was).

However, it does mean I’m unlikely to play anymore netball this season.

And it does explain the amount of pain I am still having.

Especially when hubby rolls over during the night and kicks or brushes my ankle with his foot.

So, rest and physio and sitting on the sidelines at netball is what my immediate future holds.

Bet there aren’t too many people who can say they climbed Ayers Rock with a broken foot!

Image via Wikipedia

If you look at the image above, I made it to the top of the rocky bits.  You can see where they finish about 3/4 of the way up the image on the left hand side.

It wasn’t hugely high in the scheme of the over all climb but not too bad an effort with a broken ankle, eh?

I just clicked through a link someone posted on facebook and I have to share it.

It’s called The Spoon Theory and it’s quite a powerful way of explaining things to people who have never suffered from “You Don’t Look Sick” type illnesses.

As someone who has struggled with a number of these throughout her life, it even helped me understand MYSELF a little better.

I need to get better at keeping a “spoon in reserve” rather than always using up all my spoons and then falling in a hole.

If you have a moment, it’s well worth the read!

It’s not really something I’ve ever thought about to be quite honest.

I always think of Ayers Rock as a hot, arid, place.

But in the rain, it is SO different.  Unfortunately, pictures don’t really do it justice, but we did try to capture the experience as best we could.

This is on the way out to the rock in the morning.  It looked like a volcano with steam coming out the top (but it’s really just cloud):

All around the rock were streams of water like this one, flowing down the rock:

Now, I know you’re going to struggle to believe this next one is really Ayers Rock but you’ll just have to take my word for it!

It’s a small gorge at the base of the rock and in the rain, water just streams into it.  It was quite cold in this spot with the water spray chilling the air (when you got back from the rock, away from the water, the temperature was warmer).  Evaporative air conditioning at it’s most natural!

It was great to find a spot where we could take refuge from the rain in a cave-like section of the rock:

It was quite a popular spot so wasn’t easy to get a photo without others in it!

And a visit to Ayers Rock in the rain wouldn’t be complete without this:

A little drink direct from water coming down and dripping from the edge of the rock!

He certainly provided plenty of amusement for others visiting the rock.

I feel so blessed and amazed to have had the opportunity to see such a magnificent part of Australia in the rain.  I’m sure the experience is one that is going to stay with me forever!

We’ve just got home from a couple of weeks away and after an hour and a half of unpacking, I decided I have earnt the right to put my feet up for a bit and catch up on some online stuff.

When I opened up my blog, what did I find?

BLOG COMMENTS!!!

Lots of lovely blog comments.

My poor blog has taken a beating in the lack of comments department this year.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m writing uninspiring stuff or not writing often enough or whether those who read are just too busy or what the reason is…

But I’d almost forgotten that “rush” you get as a blogger when you check your comments folder and find a string of comments to read through.

So, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to those who have taken the time to comment over the past couple of weeks.

I will respond to them over the next couple of days.

And to anyone out there who hesitates in making a comment because they’re not sure if it’s valued, it IS!

I don’t know a blogger out there who doesn’t appreciate people taking the time to comment.

Even if they don’t always respond.

I used to comment a lot more on blogs than I do these days.

I’m going to work on that.

Thanks again and if you’re a lurker, please pop your head in and say hi.

P.S.  Will have photo’s of our trip (including some of Ayers Rock in the rain) posted over the next few days (that’s the plan anyway!).

On a recent trip to Port Lincoln, we were fortunate enough to see the “One and All” while it was docked.

We had a friend who was heading off on a 5 day voyage so we were expecting it to be in Lincoln over the weekend.

Sunday morning we went to have a look.

The “One and All” runs youth development programs throughout the year.

It’s an awesome opportunity for young people to learn how to sail a ship, work as a team and achieve things they never dreamed they’d ever achieve.

Reports have it that kids are never the same after a stint on the ship.

Our school gets an opportunity to send students about once every 4-5 years.

But what we didn’t realise until speaking with staff is that you can nominate your child to travel on a voyage and they will slot you in to an available slot.

It’s a more expensive way of going on the ship but an awesome opportunity nonetheless.

While we were there, we were invited to come aboard and have a look at the ship.

We weren’t expecting to be able to go on board so it was a nice surprise.

We’ve told our kids that if they’re at all interested in going on the ship, we’d be happy to pay the money.  It would be an absolutely awesome and life changing experience for them.

And now that they’ve actually been on the ship, maybe they’ll even decide to do that?

I didn’t get around to posting during seeding this year about my tractor driving.

Life kinda got insanely busy!

Which means, I haven’t shown you our new tractor:

New to us anyway!

We bought it from Farmboy’s father who has semi-retired this year.

Now, tractors don’t come in a range of colours like cars do.

If you buy a John Deere, you get green.

If you buy a Case, you get red (our old tractor was a Case - I do like RED.  If I can’t have pink that is).

Other brands have other colours like blue and yellow.

Once upon a time, a family tended to buy all 1 brand.

These days, it’s more common (and more common sense) to buy the best deal or the features you require, rather than sticking with the one company.

This tractor is taking some getting used to when it comes to driving in a straight line.

The nose is a different shape to the Case.

Less square.

Which I find confusing.

Farmboy uses the wheel as his guide.

I use the nose.

So it’s been tricky.

But this tractor does have a second seat in the cab

Which is a bonus when I have one of the kids with me!

And this tractor suits our needs better.

I guess I’ll get used to it.

Or let Farmboy install Auto-Steer so it doesn’t matter.

Either way, seeding is over for another year (providing the mice don’t eat it all - the seed that is!)

Image via Wikipedia

So, today is my 37th birthday and right now I feel like life is simply flying by.

On the other hand, I’ve also done and achieved some pretty wonderful things in my 37 years here on this earth.  In fact, as you read this, I’m on my way Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon to  to see some of the amazing sights that make up our wonderful country.

However, I thought it might be time to mark this milestone by setting myself some goals for the next 12 months.

So, here goes….

37 Things I’d Like to Do Before I Turn 38:

1.  Lose 5kg.

My whole life is one constant weight loss attempt.  Slowly but surely my weight is creeping down at the moment and if I can just get it down by another 5kg, I’d be stoked!   I still wouldn’t be in the healthy weight range for my height but I’d be stoked all the same!

2.  Take Up a New Hobby

I have been contemplating this for a while now and done the research phase.  Now I just need to buy some materials and make a start.

3.  Climb Ayers Rock

This might be a cheat one given I’m on my way there now BUT it’s something I never expected to be able to do and would like to achieve.  I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to the top but just to have done some of it would be great.

4.  Attempt to make Macarons.

They’re supposed to be hideously hard although I think Donna Hay has brought out a packet mix.  Is that cheating?  We had some from Lindt cafe and they were lovely (some flavours more so than others - think I’d have to make chocolate).

5.  Clean Out The Office

PROPERLY!!!!  It’s a nightmare in there and we just have too much stuff (with nowhere else to put it).  This should be made easier by the games room we’re building but I really want have a decent clean out regardless.

6.  Buy a New Lounge Suite

This has been in the planning stages since we moved house 5 years ago.  We just haven’t found one we’re happy with yet.  I think we’re gradually getting closer though.

7.  Paint The Lounge Room

Can’t paint the lounge room until we decide on a couch so I can match up the colour scheme.

8.  Host Christmas At Our Place

This is possibly a cheat one as we are hosting Christmas here this year for Farmboy’s family.  But it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while so I think it counts!

9.  Finish putting my novel onto my novel blog

Oops.  Made a start and then stopped.  And I haven’t even gotten around to the bits of it I actually like yet.

10.  Try 5 new dishes using beans or lentils

I’d like to increase how much of these we eat and expand our tastes at the same time.

11.  Coach Netball

Okay, so this is probably another “cheat” one since I’m already doing it but it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to actually coach so I’m going to include it anyway.

12.  Play a Full Game in Centre at netball

This one is kind of out of my hands but it’s something I’d dearly LOVE to be able to achieve.

13.  Plant 2 more Fruit Trees

We finally have 2 thriving and 1 barely surviving fruit trees in our mini orchard.  Our soil is just dreadful so we have to dig huge big holes for the trees and add stuff to try and get them to survive.  I’m not sure what else I’d like to try and grow yet.  A Granny Smith apple is one (already have the pink lady and need the Granny Smith to cross-pollinate it).  The other is undecided.

14.  Grow something new in my vegie garden

I grow a few things but I think it’s time to branch out and try something new.  No idea what yet.  We’ll see….

15.  Have another baby

Did that wake you all up?  Bwahaahaa.  I always wanted 4 kids.  No idea if it’ll actually happen but I had to put it in here - you never know!

16.  Get Back to more regular blogging

I think the worst thing I ever did for my blogging was decide not to post every day.  Once I got out of the “habit”, things just slipped from there.  I’d like to at least get back to blogging 3 times a week.

17.  Finish the photobook I started of our big trip.

At the rate I’m going it’ll NEVER get done!

18.  Read a book by an author I’ve never read before.

Time to branch out a little in my reading habits.

19.  Declutter my make up.

I am HOPELESS with accumulating bits and pieces and not getting rid of stuff.  You think it’d be easy given make up has such a short lifespan.

20.  Sort out my jewellery.

It’s a MESS!!!

21.  Buy myself a new piece of jewellery.

It doesn’t have to be expensive but I need to accessorise better so I’m trying to build up a better collection of “bling”.

22. Try a new colour in my hair.

Doing something different with my hair always makes me feel good.

23. Try a fruit I’ve never eaten before.

Time to branch out in my tastes

24.  Try a vegetable I’ve never eaten before.

Ditto.

25.  Try cooking with a herb I’ve never cooked with before.

There are plenty given I’m not a very adventurous cook.

26.  Write a guest post for another blog.

Even if it doesn’t get published.

27.  Add 5 new ideas to my CandyCraft blog

It’s been a bit neglected of late.  It was only ever set up as a “google traffic” type blog but you have to keep it fresh in order to get the benefit from it.

28. Sell something on facebook.

Everyone else seems to be doing it!

29. Tell my husband how much I love him.

It’s easy to take our loved ones for granted isn’t it?

30. Tell my children how much I love them.

See above.

31. Do a 12km run/walk.

I’ve been wanting to do this forever and keep putting it off.  Instead of waiting until I’m fit enough, I think I just need to give it a go, even if I have to walk most of it.

32. Go out for coffee with a friend.

I never make enough time to do this sort of thing.

33. Have a dental check up.

Not a very nice one but it has been too long again (after finally getting everything up to date) and I REALLY need to do this!

34. Buy a new handbag.

Cos you can never have too many right?

35. Try out a new restaurant.

Always a fun thing to do.

36. Win something.

I LOVE freebies and winning stuff.  Rarely happens but it’s fun when it does, even if it’s something small.  :)  Will put this out there and see what happens.

37. Do an update on this list at least 3 times in the next 12 months to keep myself on track.

And now I feel REALLY old because 37 is a LOT of things to come up with!  It’s a lot to achieve in 52 weeks too but having a go will be a lot of fun.

Look out for an update in about 3 months (assuming I don’t forget!)

In the meantime, here’s to getting older!  It’s not all bad! (is it?)