Monday 29th March 2010

Another incredibly busy week has flown by. I have just about beaten my virus after two full weeks, having just the last little struggle with a stubborn cough.

Tuesday 23rd March 2010 was my golf day which was a stroke match that I struggled through that. My playing partners were Rosalie Dyer and Shirley Daly & we had a lovely day as Rosalie played really well and won her division. We did have some good highlights through the day so it was not all bad for me.

Wednesday 24th March 2010 Peter played in a Seniors Cricket match all day so I went over to the golf club gardens and tidied up over there as we had a special visitors day on Thursday.

Thursday 25th March 2010 we had a really nice day with our visitor Joy Reardon from Toukley Club. My playing partners were Robin Incoll and Yvonne Wilson & our team did not win any prizes but we had a good day with me leaving my best effort for the last nine holes which was just a tad late. We played an 8.00am shotgun start. It was a good social day with many players coming from other clubs and it was late afternoon by the time we wound the day up.

Friday 26th March 2010 I spent the day in my gardens at home - cutting the hedges & weeding and watering the rose gardens. Friday evening was spent cleaning house & catching up with the ironing as we had a busy weekend ahead.

Saturday 27th March 2010 after the mandatory shopping we had a 3.00pm garden wedding at the golf club to prepare for. I just managed to get it all finished before the bride arrived so stayed on to watch the wedding before going home to prepare a Mum's Lamb Roast for tonight's dinner as we were expecting Dale & Barry to arrive about 5.00pm. They arrived pretty much on time so while dinner was cooking we went back to the golf club to have a pre dinner drink & to pick up the results slip so I could update the golfer's blog. We had a nice dinner & some good red wine over some long chats which was good as we had not had a catch up with Dale for a long time. Dale is on her way to Sydney to catch a plane to USA to spend some time in LA with Bec which will be lovely for her. We did get to bed before midnight - but only just.

Sunday 28th March 2010 was a lazy breakfast and some more chatting before Barry & Dale headed for Sydney & we set off for golf. Rod, Anne & Joel were at Nowra for the weekend to attend a family wedding so we did not see them this weekend.

Our golfing partners were Ray & Norma Presdee who are always good company. Peter had an exceptional game & scored 44 points & won the Singles Event - obviously the red wine the night before relaxed him. We stayed for dinner at the club with Norma & Ray which finished off a good day.

Monday 29th March 2010 (today) we had a huge F-Troop day starting at 7.00 am & we did not get home until 5.00 pm so it was a long, long day but a lot of good work was achieved. We had 15 workers in F-Troop today which is very encouraging. Rod, Anne & Joel arrived home from Nowra about lunch time & called in and saw us at the club so we could catch up.

Tomorrow the golf course is under maintenance so we are having a fun day playing the same 9 holes twice. It is raining while I am writing this so I hope it is clear tomorrow otherwise it is going to be a very tough day out on the village green with the greens just cored & sanded. I am looking forward to my babysitting day this Wednesday when I have Joel all to myself for a whole day from 6.30 am through till 4.00pm.

Monday 22nd March 2010

Well, so much for my Peter free week. I have been busy every day & fighting a throat infection at the same time which meant I did not get to appreciate my "free" time.

Tuesday 16th March 2010 I played golf in our special St Patrick's Day Event which is a dress up in green day. My playing partners Yvonne Wilson, Rosalie Dyer, Kath Payn looked resplendent in our Irish Leprechaun outfits and I still cannot believe that we did not win the "best dressed". We had a good fun day although our score was not wonderful we did not win the wooden spoon.

It was an enjoyable day even though my throat infection was getting worse.

Wednesday 17th March 2010 I was up early to be over at Anne & Rod's by 6.30 am to take over baby sitting duties until Anne got home at 4.00 pm. I had a lovely day with Joel. He was really well behaved, ate and drank everything I offered him & had three day sleeps before Anne got home that afternoon. Joel is a very affectionate child and very easy to look after. He loves all of his toys as you can see by the attached photos. I stayed and had dinner with Rod & Anne before going home for a good nights rest.

Thursday 18th March 2010 I was up early to cut some roses for Heather Bock for her birthday. I made an attempt to clean out my mail inbox and filing. I overheated the shredding machine so gave up in time to head into Gosford to have lunch with my good friend Heather Bock. It was Heather's birthday on the 16th so we had a catchup over a nice lunch at the Frangipani Coffee Shop. My cold was not improving so I got some Cold & Flu tablets from the chemist before calling into the Golf Club in the afternoon for the results slips so I could update the Golfer's Blog & try to get a good night's rest.

Friday 19th March 2010 I tried to have a sleep in and have a restful day as I was not feeling at all that well. My sore throat had developed into a head cold & chest infection.

I spent most of the day doing nothing much until Peter got home from Nelson's Bay about 5 o'clock. Friday Evening we had a visit from Vashti (daughter of my late friend Jenny) who stayed & had dinner with us. Vashti lives in Brisbane so we do not get to see a lot of her so it was nice to catch up.

Saturday 20th March 2010 we managed to do the household shopping before going to watch Joel have his swimming lessons. Anne & Joel were off to Sydney for the weekend as Rod was working both days. Sam & Shane were spending the weekend at Lyn & Richard's caravan at Diamond Beach. There was a 3.30 pm wedding at the golf club so we spent the afternoon at the club with me tidying up the wedding garden & Peter doing some painting inside the club. We stayed there until 6 o'clock so I could get the results to update the Golfer's Blog & then it was home for a quite night as I was still feeling off colour with my cold.

Sunday 21st March I was up early to cut some roses for Gwen White to take to her mother who is in hospital in Sydney. The family (Shane, Rod & Co) were doing other things this weekend so we did not have the traditional family breakfast which was probably a good thing as I was still fighting off my cold. We played golf today in 34 degree heat which was a bit of a battle. Our playing partners were Steven & Annette Cross who were delightful company. We stayed & had dinner with them at the club after golf. We beat the boys for the keno ticket which was a highlight for us girls. I came in the buffer zone which was another highlight for me.

Monday 22nd March 2010 (today) was F-Troop day & we were over at the club at 7.00 am for a big days work. I wanted to pull out one of the older gardens & I was lucky enough today to have two garden helpers. With all that girl power we cleared out the garden & all the F-Troopers helped to clear away all the rubbish so we could leave the place respectable. It was a good days work. In the afternoon I went to the chemist to get another dose of Cold & Flu tablets to get me through this coming week. I am playing golf early tomorrow & also have a shot-gun 8.00 am start on Thursday so I have to be good for that. Another busy week ahead.

Monday 15th March 2010

I have had a good recovery week - busy but not too busy. We have had a bit more rain earlier in the week that was good for the gardens.

Tuesday 9th March 2010 I played golf with Pauline Norman and Lea Southon which was a lovely day as I had not played golf with either of them before. We had a good day even though my golf score was not wonderful we did have some highlights. Pauline won a nearest the pin.

I had three 3 putt greens which I was not happy with.

Wednesday 10th March 2010 it was a showery day but I wanted to do some gardening at the club along a new garden path we have called "Camellia Way" because we have just planted an avenue of Camellias on either side of the path & I wanted to get them all chipped & weeded.

I persevered for a while but in the end it was just too wet so I had to give in.

Thursday 11th March 2010 I had another go at the paths at the golf club & worked until about 1 o'clock getting most of the hard work done before I ran out of gas.

Friday 12th March 2010 was our 44th wedding anniversary. Not to be put off my project I spent the morning finishing the "Camellia Way" before going out for a quiet lunch. That night we were at the Golf Club for dinner as Peter had been rostered on for the raffle night duty. We had dinner with a group of our golf club friends & then it was home to write up the Golfer's Blog.

Saturday 13th March 2010 (Lyn's birthday) was our traditional shopping day. We went to Aldi first up to check out their specials and low & behold we found a coffee table that fitted exactly between the two new lounge chairs. The result being it was not a cheap shopping event. Rod called in after work to watch some foxtel & road tested the table & lounge. I called into spotlight to buy some green ribbon for a headband I was going to make for our special St Patrick's Golf Day next week. What should be in the aisle but a whole table of St. Patrick dress up outfits so of course I forgot all about the green ribbon & came home with a vest, bow tie & top hat to wear to golf. When I got home I rang my golf partner for next week (Yvonne Wilson) & told her what I had done - so she went straight over to Spotlight & bought the same outfits for the rest of the team & then she & Des called in to show me the outfits & had a chat over a bottle of bubbly. By the time I got all the ironing done so that Peter had all his clothes ready for his week of Golf at Nelson's Bay - it was a pretty long day.

Sunday 14th March 2010 Rod & Joel came early for breakfast so that Peter could see Joel before he left for his week of golf at 7.30 am. Anne was at work so Rod & Joel were staying for the day which would give me an opportunity to practice looking after Joel. Shane & Sam called in for breakfast but could only stay for a short while as Shane was playing bowls in a Championship match. (Shane won his match & will go on to the quarter finals). It was lovely to have Joel for the day. He was very well behaved & managed a couple of sleeps during the day. He is crawling very well now & is starting to stand & pull himself up on the furniture. That evening I went to Golf Club for presentation & had organised to have dinner at the club with Yvonne & Des Wilson.

Monday 15th March 2010 was F-Troop day so I was up early to be at the club by 7.00am.

It was a good day to work & we got a lot of good jobs done including trimming one of the feral bougainvilleas out the front of the club and starting on another garden that has to be refreshed.

I worked there until 2 o'clock. Shane & Sam picked me up about 5 o'clock & we met Rod, Anne & Joel at the Haven at Terrigal where the boys cooked us a bbq dinner. It was a beautiful day & it was just gorgeous to sit at the picnic tables there at that time of day. It was a full on day but very enjoyable. I have had a bit of a funny throat all day today & I hope it does not develop into anything serious as I have a busy week ahead including golf tomorrow ( our St Patrick's Day), babysitting Joel on Wednesday & having lunch with my special friend Heather Bock on Thursday.

I do not have time to be sick.

Monday 8th March 2010

I am still in recovery mode after a very busy weekend. It was all go for two days straight & then followed up with F-Troop early this morning.

Friday 5th March 2010 (Phil's birthday) I spent quietly at home catching up with computer back ups and gardening as the weather was threatening again. I managed to cut back the ivy on the front veranda without trying to electrocute myself this time. It poured rain on Friday night for most of the night. It was good for the garden as I had not long put out fertilizer on all the roses. The Yellow Piano Restaurant are having their 10th anniversary tomorrow night & I had to finalise our booking for 36 people which was a bit harrowing having had extra people wanting to come & others that had to drop out due to sickness which is par for the course when trying to organise big groups.

Saturday 6th March 2010 I was up very early to pick roses to give to all the ladies on our tables tonight. There were a lot of rain damaged blooms but I managed to get enough to go around.

After the mandatory grocery shopping in the morning we were back over at the golf club preparing the wedding garden for a 3.30pm wedding. I was expecting that it would be too wet to have the wedding outside but luckily for the bride the weather cleared and it was perfect in the garden. We arrived back home to find Lyn & Richard waiting for us after their return from Canberra.

Lyn & Richard had a nice couple of weeks in Sydney & Canberra. They really enjoyed having some time with Tammy, Trent, Bailey and Noah at Canberra. I think Lyn had to be dragged away kicking & screaming from the grandchildren as she does not have many opportunities to be close to them.

At 6.00 o'clock we left for the Yellow Piano restaurant at Wyoming not too far from where we live as I needed to decorate the tables for all our guests that were arriving at 6.30pm. We had a wonderful night helping Trevor & Jody (proprietors) celebrate their 10th Anniversary. As we were one of his first customers and I think the longest standing regular clients Trevor asked me to say a few words on the night. We must have all had a good time as we were very late home and of course were the last to leave - as usual.

Sunday 7th March 2010 I was up very early (after not much sleep) as Rod, Anne & Joel were coming for our traditional breakfast - Sausages, Bacon, eggs and orange juice today. That gave Lyn & Richard a chance to see Joel also as he is a new arrival since their last visit. Joel is well and truly on the move & negotiated our lounge room step very easily. We had to be at golf for a 11.15 hit off so we left everyone at home to lock up when they left. Lyn & Richard were heading to their caravan at Diamond Beach for two weeks R & R to get over their holiday in the big cities. It is flooding in Queensland where they live so it was lucky they still had a couple of weeks before needing to go home.

Our golf partners today were Mark Stimpson & Georgina Lamb. Anne (Mark's wife) was injured and not able to play golf so Georgina filled in for her. I was so tired after only a few short hours sleep my golf was rather dismal with not a lot of highlights. The company was good & we stayed and had dinner at the club with Mark & Anne & a few of the other golfers. By the time I got home & got the golfer's blog done I was well and truly ready for some sleep and was in bed by 9.30pm.

Monday 8th March 2010 was F-Troop day starting at 7.00am at the club. Georgina Lamb has joined F-Troop to help out with the gardens so she & Di Beechey gave me a hand in the gardens & we got quite a bit of work done around the course today finishing up about 1.00pm. Shane & Sam came over this afternoon with their washing as their washing machine was out of action.

Another early night will be appropriate as I have an 8.12 am hit off at golf tomorrow. We have been lucky that the weather has held the last couple of days & tomorrows forecast is hot but clear. The dams are full and the course is looking lovely & green after all the rain.