It's coming!

There is blossom on the trees. The king parrots have been having a lovely time eating all the old acorns - lots in the oak tree this morning. Daffodils blooming in the garden, the sun is up by the time I get back from my walk. Spring is coming!

The passing of an old friend

We've had a friend since we were married who has always been there for us wherever we've moved to. We've turned to this friend when we've needed comfort and cheering up, or when we've needed to sustain others. This friend has never asked anything of us, just to be used on a regular basis.

Over the years, this friend has become a little more battered. A bad accident early in our relationship didn't seem to slow her down, but lately, she has been struggling a little and on Sunday afternoon, it was all too much. In a great cloud of smoke, she departed this world.

Goodbye faithful sandwich toaster. We will miss you. No one could do a stripy toasted sandwich quite like you.

Now we are six

Birthday season has come to an end (almost - just one little party left). We now have a beautiful six year old who can conduct the Canberra Symphony Orchestra with style!

Steph's birthday was celebrated with lobster dumplings and a pyjama party, with a lovely pyjama cake made by Aunt Bink. A lovely weekend!

Expanding my horizons - Glenelg SA

So I went to Glenelg (Adelaide) for the day, for a meeting with the paediatric reference group working on a resource we are reviewing.

I've never been to Glenelg before. It was wet, early and not much happening on the pier.

The exciting thing about Glenelg was that a cafe there (Cibo) sold panzerotti de ricotta, like we used to have from Pasticierra Papa in Sydney. Not as good, but since I can't find them anywhere in Canberra, a reasonable substitute.

I had to take this photo at the airport - apparently people in Adelaide are a bit different.

See her grow

This is the oldest photo I could find of Claire on the computer, taken I think in December 2004. A gorgeous 4 1/2 year old.

Now she is 12, in her birthday dressing gown. She is clever and kind and an all round wonderful person. I am proud.

Suzi

Our lovely Suzi has suffered from arthritis in her right leg for some time now. She would be sore from time to time and stiff, and was being successfully treated with cartrofen and glucosomine to keep things fairly under control. And then she went severely lame. The vet's diagnosis was a ruptured cruciate ligament, requiring surgery. (Expensive surgery - enough said).

The vital part however, once the surgery is done, is the recovery process. Six weeks of confined rest, with little walks for ablutions. It is important that she doesn't do anything to strain the leg, like jumping or going up and down stairs. So of course, when we got home from the vet, and I was struggling to get the huge crate out of the car, what did she do? Jumped out of the car and went up the stairs.

So now my playroom looks like this. The children are sleeping there to keep her company. Not that this made any difference last night at 3.30am when she stood up in the crate wagging her tail against the bars. Enough was enough and I picked her up and put her on my bed.

That being said, having a large, lockable crate in the house does have some advantages....

Now we are nine

This is a late one, but of course, there has been a birthday.

Celebrated with lunch at the dumpling shop and then Toy Story 3 at the movies. Dinner was Rosemary's choice, with prawns and a chocolate chip ricotta tart.