Baby Love

Something ocurred to me today as our school had our annual swimming carnival - I miss my little people who are now 25 and 23 years old. I love 'em now - but I miss the complex, cute little people they were back then. I was taken back in time, watching the parents with their kids at the carnival. I guess this is why Grandparents love their job - you get to re-live that time when you were caretakers of these amazing little individuals.

Bag Lady

Apparently what you carry around each day in your favourite bag says a lot about you - mine is quite minimal compared with some I could name (Eliza - I'm talking about you) so here it is:

• Red wallet


• comb (rarely used)


• lipstick (rarely used)


• small notebook


• pen


• small diary


• mobile phone


• house & car keys


• stamps


• bandaids

So I guess that this says I'd like to be well groomed but don't quite get around to it, like to write down random things, haven't learned to use my Nokia for diarising, still occasionally use snail mail and often walk too far in unsuitable shoes and give myself blisters....

w00t! it's the weekend..

....and we are going to my good friend and colleague's 4oth birthday celebration on the rooftop of the Glenmore Hotel. It's an historic hotel in The Rocks - we'll be under those white umbrellas enjoying a misty view of the harbour. (It's raining - and noone is complaining about that).

The Rocks were the subject of a lot of controversy in the 1960's as developers wanted to raze the area. A building unionist, Jack Munday, placed "green bans" on the area, and ultimately saved it - and I for one am very glad he did.

Humility

Sitting here safe in Sydney, we can not imagine what people are going through in the devastation of the fires. Aussies are generously donating money and blood, offering shelter and goods. We don't know these families who have been lost, but we feel as grief-stricken as if we did. Fires are never far from anywhere in Australia - it is only ten years since lives and homes were lost in the suburbs of Sydney; the Blue Mountains are always at risk. If ever there was a time to re-think your priorities, this is it. Something sticks in my mind - a young man, broad Aussie accent, interviewed in front of the ruins of his home: " Mate, I'm alive. All this stuff - it can be replaced."

Inferno

Our country is burning - 85 dead so far. Whole townships wiped out. Words can not express their pain.

Bubble, Bubble...

Wandering through Hyde Park (our "mini-me Central Park) last week, I was as entranced as the kids with Bubble guy. Isn't it refreshing that children are still enraptured with simple things like bubbles?