Hello, it's your long lost blogger friend...

deciding to do a spot of blogging.  Yes, yes...I know.  Shock, horror, whatever...That's all I'm going to say on the subject.

Since I last posted, there has been a change in the work scene for me.  At 65, I've found myself another job.  I'm still working from home for four hours or so a day, but getting heaps more for it.  I used to work for this particular orthopaedic practice about eight or nine years ago.  A friend of mine is the practice manager and a couple of years back she rang me and asked if I would work for them again.  It wasn't the right time then, but about a month ago the timing was impeccable.  I really enjoy this work and it's lovely to be back with them...even if it is off site.

Three friends have had babies in the last month...one lady who I used to work with, had twins; our neighbour had a little girl and another friend I worked with until recently is having a C section on 14th.  As well as these three, the manageress of the bookshop where we have our monthly writers' group meetings had a little boy in May.  I'm surrounded by fertile women...thank God it's not catchinig!

Last Thursday was my youngest daughter, Suzie's 40th birthday.  I had said I'd  take her out for lunch, however, it was the last week of the school holidays and Harry was over visiting from New Zealand, so we decided to leave it for a few days.  Then around Tuesday last week, Gabbie phoned me and asked me to take Suzie to lunch as she, Brooke and Harry were planning a surprise evening for her.  Gabbie had told her mother she'd cook dinner for her that night.

I love partaking in surprise events for people...all the secrecy, biting of tongues and skulduggery that goes on...great fun.  The kids wanted to get their mother out of the house for at least the afternoon so I thought it was a good time have the birthday lunch.  We duly went to the Springfield Tavern where Jane's brother, Roger, is the chef.  Unfortunately, he had gone home sick so we missed him, but still had a lovely lunch.  Suzie had a fillet of Tasmanian salmon with Hollandaise sauce and Asian greens and I had Springfield chicken, which is breast with avocado, semi-dried tomatoes and Camembert cheese on a bed of sweet potato mash accompanied with vegetables.  We both had a glass of wine as well.

After that, we thought we'd better walk it off in the Orion Shopping Centre as well as seeing what was on sale.  Some shops are putting spring stuff out already...yay.  I've had enough of winter.  After about an hour and a half, it was time for a coffee and after that then drove back to my place.  Suzie wasn't allowed home until 6.30, so she jumped online and looked for a dress for Brooke's grade 12 formal.  What the girls are doing here, is going onto the American websites, ordering their dresses and having them sent to Australia.  The styles and fabrics are to die for and there is soooo much choice.  With the exchange rate and postage added in, the price is about the same as here, but with the attraction of the dress being sent from the USA.  Great resale value.

We spent a lovely couple of hours browsing through the designer's websites and I couldn't believe how reasonable the prices were. I've decided I'm going to have a look for next year's winter clothes that way...for me!

We finally left to go to Suzie's place which is about a half hour's drive from me.  I waited until Suzie had driven off, then packed all the food I had prepared that morning into an esky, grabbed a bottle of wine and followed her.  The kids had put up party balloons and streamers and those invited were there waiting for the birthday girl .  Suzie knew her kids were up to something, but wasn't sure what.  When she mentioned it to me...I just gave a non committal "Oh yeah" and didn't say anymore.

We had a lovely evening.  I didn't stay too late as I was going to the markets with Jane the next morning and had to be up at 4.30 am.  Three of Gabbie's friends arrived and everyone was making noises about finishing off the rest of the evening at the local pub where there was live music.  Whether they did or not, I didn't wait to find out.  Let's just say that by the time I left, a few sore heads were well in the making....

I've been working hard on my essay for our writers' group anthology, which we hope to publish early next year, as well as working on my book.  I was looking for a publisher a few weeks ago and found a local one.  Deciding it would be nice to support local business, I duly emailed a submission and a couple of chapters only to have it bounce back.  When I mentioned this at our last meeting, two others had the same experience.  As one said, the company was in business for a week...and we missed it!

I hope all is well in your world.  Below are some photos I thought you might like to see.  Now, I'm off to visit your blogs.

I couldn't resist this...it's a web made by a St Andrew's cross spider, so named for obvious reasons..  If you enlarge the photo, you'll see her behind her very artistic web.
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The birthday girl hamming it up with her glass of red.

Who brung this lot?  A lovely photo of Brooke...pity about the rest.

A family photo...and Brooke gets her own back.  From L to R.  Brooke, me, Suzie, Gabbie, Harry

Like mother...

like daughter.

When she was young, every time I took a photo, Suzie's head and grin would be in it somewhere.  Nothing's changed...and her daughter does the same thing,