Tag Archive for brothers

2010 the start…

03/01/2010 Joh family, home, relationships

My year has began well. I have rearranged my furniture and cleaned the house. It feels more spacious. I have removed some clutter. There is always more to let go of. I noticed yesterday how I just move things that have no value to other places. I want to rid myself of it. I really love being at home.

My intentions for this year are:

to let go of possessions that aren’t serving me

to regain my fitness and live a healthy lifestyle

to complete the course I have applied for (and hopefully got into)

to listen to my loved ones with more attention

to channel my imagination into creative pursuits

to be positive about my work or find something new that I feel passionate about

I enjoyed New Years Eve. The kids swam all day in our little pool and we played ‘Cluedo’ after dinner. I forgot how much fun it is to play board games. I have a competative streak and I am keen to win Monopoly, yet so far have remained badly defeated by Darin. J(8) asked me the other day, “How come daddy always wins Scrabble when you are a teacher Joh?” That’s a good question! When the kids were asleep we simply enjoyed each others company. I heard from my children New Years Day. I like to know they survived the festivities.

I have lost track of what day it is lately. It feels like a week of Sundays. The kids returned to their mum yesterday. The house is quiet and I am pottering, my favourite thing. I want to catch up with my brother Brendan today before he goes back to NT. It’s been great having him here for this festive time.

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Stopping

28/12/2009 Joh family

On Boxing Day I went to my brother’s house in Lara for a family gathering. It’s the first time I’ve been there and it was great to see him and his wife and the beautiful home they have made. I enjoyed hanging out with my four brothers. It’s not that often they are altogether. They are all so different. I had Asha for company from Melbourne as we travelled to and from her place together. It was great to have a bit of one on one time with her after all the bustle and coming and going of the week. I can’t help but admire her when I spend time with her.

Darin went to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart but was disappointed by the weather conditions as they couldn’t get out. He arrived home today. It’s his birthday. I don’t envy him having a birthday on this date. Today we have just lay around watching DVDs. It was good to have a recovery day, but I couldn’t help feeling we should be celebrating his birthday in a more lively and social manner. This year he has supported my whole family in making our celebrations more memorable each of us in different ways. I did manage to cook dinner though and poke an abundance of those skinny candles into a cake for him. It was low key though. I did him another favour by not singing happy birthday to him. I know…kind!

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The Jolly Blur that has been this week

25/12/2009 Joh family, friends, gratitude, relationships

It’s hard to believe it’s less than a week since Asha’s 21st. What a packed week I’ve had! It’s all been lovely and I have seen most of the people I love this week. I miss Kate and Tom today, but had Tom here this time last week for the weekend, which almost makes up for it. I’ve had two phone conversations with Kate this week so that’s pretty good too for someone who lives in the UK.  My brother Brendan is home from Darwin and Jane and Sam were here last weekend from WA, so these things have been the real gifts for me this week. Watching my daughter shine at her 21st and entertain all her family and friends with the beauty and grace she carries with her was also a priceless treat. I’ve had Darin by my side cooking, entertaining, cleaning up, holding me up when I’ve had a panic and just generally being rock solid there for me is worth more to me than I can say. I feel absolutely surrounded by goodness.

I received great stuff too, as you do at this time. I especially appreciated the camera from my parents. Darin and I bought a camera recently that has disappeared. I’ve really missed having a camera. I didn’t realise how much I would. I got it in time to capture some of the delight of Darin’s beautiful kids opening their presents today and the smiles and glee at playing with all their new toys. I’m not going to list all the other lovely things.

I’m off to bed, full of gratitude for all I have in my life. I hope all readers have had a safe and lovely festive season.

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School finished for 2009

15/12/2009 Joh family, holidays, relationships

Today we had our breakup for school. We had breakfast together, a liturgy and then a lunch. At last! This school year is over. My office is empty at the junior campus. I think I’ve got everything completed there.

So this first day of the six weeks ahead is mine at last. When I got home Darin had picked up the girls from childcare to have a swim in the pool. I’m not sure if I mentioned it before but we bought the kids a blow up pool. It’s awesome. I hitched up my white dress and had a wade in there myself. Then I had lots of cold cuddles before he took them back and went to work. The house is quiet and empty and I’ve enjoyed a nap and am now beginning to clean.

It’s a new moon tomorrow night and I want to give my home a major cleanout before then. I am excited about the next few days. My brother returns from Darwin tomorrow. Tom returns from Hamilton Island on Friday. We have Asha’s 21st on Saturday night. This day has finally come :-) .

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Excited

10/09/2009 Joh family, health, music, relationships

Tom is coming home tomorrow. I haven’t dared to think about it too much over the last two weeks but recently I can’t hide from the longing to see my son. Everywhere I go lately I have bumped into one of his friends who share my anticipation. Darin and I are planning a gathering over the weekend so close family and friends can all catch up with him at the same time. I’ve been invited to the party with friends as well so it seems like an action packed weekend is ahead. Again.

After last weekend I was exhausted so I started exercising again yesterday morning. I woke up really early Wednesday morning (possibly from such an early night), so I got back on the cross trainer and again this morning. I feel great for it. I needed some extra energy to get through these closing days of the term.

Tonight we are off to see Paul Dempsey at Ruby’s Lounge in Belgrave. I first saw him as a soloist on Rockwiz (see below)and loved his voice. I’ve been enjoying his new CD that I downloaded from itunes on Tim’s recommendation.

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Midwinter

21/06/2009 Joh astrology, family

The winter solstice today marks the shortest day. Aquarius Papers has an article about this year’s solstice, although based in US it’s the opposite season. We’re heading back to summer now.

Last night there were celebrations all around such as this one at Federation Square. In the wikipedia article I read with interest that the celebrations are to combat depression and malaise brought on by the darkness of winter.

I had a housewarming I was meant to go to last night at my brother and sister-in-laws. I didn’t go. I feel bad about it. I hope they had a great night. I really want to visit them in their new home, but the end of term, the middle of winter and with Darin working Saturdays, it didn’t feel doable. I had an early night in last night and I needed it.

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New Moon in Aquarius – Monday 16th January 2009 – Solar Eclipse

24/01/2009 Joh astrology, friends

Aquarians, well what can I say – weirdos – no, not really…. I have an Aquarian mum and brother and some Aquarian friends. I find them hard to define…that’s my problem. They all seem so different, it seems to be what they have in common, they aren’t very alike. Unpredictable!

The astrologers I read have all indicated this is an awesome time for making big changes and starting a fresh chapter. Eclipses are times of dramatic change, beginnings and endings. In the innovative, passionate, humanitarian sign of Capricorn, I think it will be a very positive time for us all. I refer you to the articles I’ve read, because they explain it best: Mystic Medusa:Monday’s Eclipse wraps it up quite simply, This New Moon expands on the influences in an easy to understand way, Linda Hill’s:Solar Eclipse! The Aquarian New Moon: The Birth of a New Creative Impulse is uplifting and inspiring and if you want the technical version, you can’t go past Aquarius Papers:The Solar Eclipse of January 25-26, 2009 in Aquarius

 It is also the start of the Chinese New Year. It’s the year of the Ox, but I’ll look at that tomorrow probably. It’s also Australia day… big day out… triple J’s hottest 100…huge!

I had an excellent day today. A very positive visit from a real estate agent to bring me up to speed about renting out my house. She had a son in my English class last year and gave me a discount on the agents fees for renting out my house because I’d taught her son and he’d liked me. It was unexpected and lovely… I’d never met her before and had no idea she was a parent of one of my students. I also squeezed in a long, refreshing swim and quick laze by the pool with Rhonda, what a life! My dad has sanded back my bay windows for me today. My parents are awesome… they have done so much for me lately… not sure how I’ll ever repay them.

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Hanging Out With Jane

22/01/2009 Joh friends

Yesterday I drove to Jane’s sisters house out in the hills behind Warrandyte. What a fabulous location! I’d never been there before. She lives in a mud-brick, multi level home that is unique and reflects the owners well in it’s expressive, earth-loving, vibrant nature. It was the most blissful day! I met the Jessa, latest addition to her family and watched her two beautiful girls interact and reveal their precious natures to me.

We watched Obama and shared the joy and hope he’s brought to the world. We saw an Echidna snuffling along. Rosie shared her joyful song about the saucepan stars. Jackie plied me with the yummiest homemade food. The perfect way to break a spell of not being able to eat properly. I watched her prepare food – it was a treat.

I get to catch up with Jane usually once a year and it always fills me up again. She knows me. We’ve been mates since we were six years old. That is a lot of witnessing one anothers lives and choices and mistakes and loves and heartbreaks and messes and triumphs. Our friendship is one of the treasures of my life.

Andy has been really caught out by Mercury Retrograde this transit. His internet service was disconnected. He’s back online now with some great photo’s about his recent beach visit. Too cold to swim in Tassie though. Glad we can here!

I also caught up with Tim and we briefly considered going to see Glenn Hansard who was playing in Melbourne last night. We are both huge fans and really wanted to… but resisted. It was nice to entertertain the thought for a little while. I also caught up with Wilma on the way there and on the way back and had a brief but lovely phone call with a man I adore. It was great to have a social day and now it’s back to the to do list. The phone interview went well I think. Today I need to keep sorting through my possessions and deciding what’s in and what’s out.

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Big Day Out

18/01/2009 Joh blogging, friends, music

I was feeling particularly house bound today, and misery was setting in. Sitting in my backyard in the sun, I decided that a little swim in Rhonda’s pool would be no more stressful for me than a bath! So I went for a dip. I can’t say I swam really, but I floated around and felt more alive when I got home from having made the effort! It was good to catch up with her. I feel ripped off my holidays.

I wrote a post last year when Tom was going to BDO. It was a brief rushed thing: ‘What to Wear to Big Day Out’.  I can’t believe how much traffic I’ve had the last couple of weeks to that post. It seems lots of people want to know what to wear. I don’t think I gave it enough consideration! I didn’t realise people went online about such things. Now I know!

My brother Tim has suggested I should attend BDO this year. Neil Young will be there and he is older than me:-) I doubt I will now, unless I win tickets from Undercover, then I’ll force myself.

I’ve done a little rearranging and simplifying of Joh Blogs today, but I’m still not satisfied. Expect more changes.

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Wow Wii

04/01/2009 Joh family, music, reading

I know that Wii is old news to most, but yesterday I had my first big play on it and understand now. It is really fun. I went to my brother Tim’s and he and his wife Nicole shared the joys of Wii with me. I had Nicole for secret santa this year and bought her a Wii Fit. I am not sure if it was a gift or a punishment today. My body is really sore from the 40 minutes spent checking out all the ‘games’ on it. After getting my age assessment …. a painful truth at having a body age a good ten years older than the reality, I had to really throw myself into the exercises, and now it hurts.

Asha came over and we played bowling and other games. I thought I would whip Tim on tennis, but no… I barely won a game. I did manage to do ok in the yoga section. It involved being still! I have to get back into my exercise and routines… ugh! I got some great action shots of Asha and Nicole battling it out in baseball. I’ll be keeping them for blackmail… the facial expressions are priceless. It’s amazing how much you get into it.

Tim

Tim and I shared our iTunes libraries and he told me all the concerts he’s been to this year and is planning to go to. We happily chatted about music, reading and film after the physical exhaustion of the Wii playing had depleted me. He has a great room full of the best music posters, autobiographies and films. I borrowed a couple of autobiographies… they are actually to be passed on to my other brother Danny, but I am going to read them first. My brother and his wife are awesome and I enjoyed my day with them. It was a bonus to see Asha too!

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