Friends are Forever.......



When my eldest daughter started school I was nervous. Nervous about her making new friends, nervous about making friends myself. I don't socialise effortlessly and easily like some people do. I always feel self conscious, like I'm going to say or do something wrong, like everyone is staring at me and thinking 'What an idiot'.

After a while, I started to see the same girls (ladies really, but to make us all feel young and hip I'm going to say girls) everyday. We would chat at school drop off and pick up and then we started meeting each other for coffee, shopping and birthday parties. My insecurities slipped away, I was part of a group....and a wonderful group at that. The BBQ's started, the social gatherings. We could count on each other to take care of each others kids and to pick up  the pieces when our lives went wrong. New babies arrived and they would fit in amongst the group, the children, the husbands and us girls.

Women make wonderful friends. We love and laugh big. We give it our all, we care. Our hearts are permanently on our sleeves.

Then, we found out that one of us has to leave. To start a new life somewhere else...a long way away. We know that she'll be back, her and her wonderful family, but for a while there will be a space, just waiting for her, for when she comes back.

Last weekend we said goodbye. Not in a crying, hugging kind of way. We escaped....just us girls....on a weekend getaway. We said goodbye with laughter, love and fun. We said goodbye while cracking jokes, eating tonnes of food and relaxing.

So, to our dear and darling friend. We wish you all the best, we wish you happiness and health in your new home. And we'll all be here, waiting for your return.

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Busy, Busy, Busy!

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My brain is on the fritz. This is not uncommon, in fact I find the whole debacle of bringing up children enough to send me quite batty. Lately, it's been worse than normal though. It feels like I have a whole host of dilemmas to deal with and not enough hours in the day to deal with them all.

Over the next two months life is crazier than crazy for this household.

Next week, two of my favourite people in the whole world are getting married. Eeeek! So excited! But with the wedding comes a fair amount of organising to do. I have to pack for us all to go away (the wedding is at Lennox Head -Northern NSW)  we will be staying there for three days. I have to try and cut down on my 6 minute wedding speech (I do tend to ramble - in case you hadn't noticed) I'm handwriting all the place cards and I have to - at some point- beautify myself. Seeing that I am a bridesmaid I do have to make some effort. I don't think walking down the aisle with three months regrowth and the hairiest armpits in the universe will do....do you? Now I am not complaining, the poor bride has way more on her plate than me (duh!) I'm just slightly freaking out.

My Daddy is in hospital. He is OK. Hopefully he will be out soon. But I kind of feel like I should be camped out in front of the place until he gets the all clear...you know what I mean?

We have to find a house to move into...preferably one that is not mouse-infested like this one. Now, we have been very lucky in that for the past few months we have lived in my MIL's house rent free while she has been away. But she will be back within the next  month so we need to find a house to rent pronto. Trouble is I'm a bit fussy. I've already looked at quite a few properties and not one had lived up to my expectations. I have three to look at before this week is out and I'm really hoping that one of them is acceptable. Even if it is OK it is quite likely that the owner will look at our application, see that it says 'Four kids and a dog' and shudder with horror...I know I would.

I also have a weekend away in Noosa to plan and get organised for (oh, poor me, such a hard life!) My daughter's 9th birthday to fit in (Can't believe she's nearly 9! Where did that time go?) and our yearly camping holiday to prepare for......Yaaaaaay!

Oh, and I almost forgot, I guess I should at some stage I should start to get ready for Christmas.....Oops! And Hubby's birthday (Christmas Eve)

So, please excuse me if I'm missing from the blogging world for any length of time. If I'm not around much be assured I'm either busy, exhausted or my brain has exploded!