REFLECTIONS

Reflection of the Croydon Library ..... the lake was next to where the Remembrance Day Service was held .... where war veterans, family and civilians reflected on past wars and how fortunate they are living in a wonderful free country - AUSTRALIA ..... !!!!!

THE 11th OF THE 11th OF THE 11th

Today is Remembrance Day.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918, after more than four years of continuous fighting in Belgium and northern France, firing ceased along the Western Front.

So at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we remember those who died or who had suffered during wars. After the end of the Second World War, the name ‘Armistice Day’ was changed to Remembrance Day so that day would commemorate all war dead.

As a mark of respect to those who have suffered and died, people in Australia are encouraged to stop what they are doing at 11 am to observe one minute’s silence and reflect on the loss and suffering caused by war.

Ern and I went to our local service - IT WAS SUCH A HOT DAY - I felt sooooo sorry for those veterans wearing suits and ties (Ern was one of them .....) ..... but noooooo way would they not dress up for the occasion regardless of the weather.

The Melbourne Shrine of Rememberance is 75 years old today.

The red poppies which bloomed on the battlefields at Ypres in 1915 inspired Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write the poem, In Flanders Fields. He was a Canadian surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade during the battle of Ypres.

2 NEW DRUMCARDERS

I bought a Louet Junior Drumcarder ..... it is a lovely machine and with fine teeth. This one will be used ONLY for my REALLY GOOD fibre.

I also bought the fantastic WILDCARDER from Ashford. This will be great for my art/novelty yarns.

SPINNING IN PUBLIC DAY

Today is Spin In Public Day (SIP) ..... so here I am spinning on our nature stip outside my home. Admittedly I wasn't spinning there very long, but at least I participated !!!!!

Before I went onto the nature strip, I had been spinning on the front lawn where passers-by always wave and say hello. They must be used to seeing strange things at our house - eg, strange fleeces drying on the front lawn, dyed skeins waving in the breeze from the front porch and dyed fleeces and rovings swinging from the clothes line !

Tuesday Card Day

When I can, I like to go to Ferngully Stamps for a card making class on Tuesday mornings. I went this week where we made 3 cards using the roller stamps ... my first attempt. Our tutor, Marlene is so patient with us .... is it because we talk so much?
For the top right card, we used black mulberry paper. To fray the edges, drag a wet cotton bud along the sides of a ruler and then tear apart. It's such a lovely textured paper to work with.

I'M HERE ..... AGAIN .....

Motivation and commitment are especially needed for keeping a blog up-to-date .... and these I have not managed to have over the last few months.

Stress eating has me stacking on the weight since I last wrote. Of course, when you feel FAT you loose self esteem, confidence and certainly motivation.

A week ago, I had a dear friend measure me .... cause I wanted to loose some of the blubber! Again, lacking motivation I thought "well this is going to be hard" ..... until Ellen measured my hips ..... OMG the tape measure didn't meet !!! Hells' bells !!!!! about three inches ...... and that was the clincher !! One week later the tape measure nearly meets .... yaaahhhhh (mind you I didn't loose much anywhere else)

Now I have joined Curves gym AGAIN, signed in yesterday and went for my first session this morning. Ern met me and we went to Allan's Bakery. I even took Chloe to doggie school but will be changing class to time to 9am next week.

My mum rang to ask how to post a picture to a blog. Whilst helping her, I decided to write something in my own blog ...... so here I am once again !!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN ??

2008 was a non-year .... and here we are in March 2009 and what have I been doing with my life??

Last April my husband, Ern (who has alzheimers) went missing for a couple of days just before ANZAC day. I had been taken to hospital with a possible heart complaint and Ern came with me in the ambulance. When we were told that I had to wait 12 hours for another blood test Ern went home. He was to book a taxi at the hospital reception desk, however, surveillance camera shows him leaving through the front door to ........... ??

26 hours later he was found 22kms from the hospital and no where near home. Apparently he walked all the way. It was a frantic 26 hours - I discharged myself from hospital - there was TV and radio coverage, helicopter surveillance and family, friends and neighbours looking for him.

He spent a week in hospital (badly cut from blackberry bushes, dehydration and kidney probs). His memory has deteriorated and I feel that I can't leave him for long periods of time. Yes I could get respite, but I just don't want to yet.

I have had to change my lifestyle greatly. I no longer go into my favourite place, The Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic. I miss my voluntry work there and especially my friends/members. I haven't done very much spinning either ..... until this year. I have knitted umpteen beanies for the Guild's charity "St Mary's House of Welcome" for the homless. So I still feel useful.

Early February 2009 Victoria experienced their worst bushfires in history. Over 200 people perished, whole towns burnt down and 2,000 homes destroyed which left thousands homeless. These fires changed many peoples' lives.

I personally didn't know anyone who perished. However, I look at things differently now. Amongst other things, just how much wool and fibre do I REALLY need?