Well, attempting to write a blog post once a week has certainly worked extremely well for me hasn’t it?
Life keeps on throwing those damn curve balls our way. Nothing new about that! Just keep ducking and weaving… ducking and weaving.
Doug ended up in hospital with another respiratory infection not long after my last post. All is well again for now and at least for this week life has been somewhat slower. With house plans to decide on and 18 years of ‘stuff’ to sort through mixed together with some follow up health visits to Melbourne for Doug and Mum looming in January, I have been wallowing in the ‘non-eventful’ bliss that is the void between Christmas and New Year like a happy little pig in shit mud.
Something wasn’t right about Christmas though. I didn’t get stressed! I know! Huge right? Although I think I must have internalised it quite skilfully until about two days after Santa had been because about then my right nostril broke out in the most hideous cold sores. Yep, ‘plural’ cold sores. Merry bloody Christmas Sandra. I’m aware this is probably too much grose information. You know, gotta keep it real.
I nailed the ham glaze again this year. Go me! I even managed to carve that scrumptious morsel without any of the drama of last year (plastic sleeves left on knives do not slice very well at all) so there wasn’t quite the amusement level provided by me this Christmas in the kitchen, much to the kids disappointment. I even had the presents wrapped two days before Christmas! I must say I kept waiting for the disaster to happen. And there wasn’t one. It was kind of spooky!
Oh, I did forget to buy Bon Bons. I mean you can’t have a festive table without Bon Bons can you? So I sent out an SOS to the oldest man child to bring home Bon Bons from the swish store he works at in the big city. That was a mistake. Whenever said man child was imposed upon to assist we heard how he had already fulfilled his Christmas day contribution by driving three hours from Melbourne delivering the Christmas Crackers to complete the table. Obviously a medal was expected… but not awarded.
Quote of the day goes to number three man-child “Oh my god, I used to get excited about unwrapping an Xbox, now I get super excited when I unwrap good quality bed linen… how things have changed”. This was followed by a happy dance and a bear hug.
The four children have spent the best part of their childhood in this house so it meant so much to Doug, Mum and me to have them all home for our very last Christmas and add yet another beautiful day to our memories to cherish. And I didn’t get sad. Not once. I was incredibly happy.
So, as I touched on earlier, the New Year is going to begin just as I believe it will end… very, very FULL ON. We have purchased a block in town about a thirty minute drive from where we live now and intend to build a new wheelchair friendly home closer to family and health services. The last few months have been an absolute whirlwind of life changing events to say the least.
During this whirlwind we have been on the receiving end of so many acts of kindness I don’t think I can even begin to tell you. The lovely lady who purchased our home offered for us to continue living here and rent the house until we found something suitable to move into. This has been a god send for us. Trying to find somewhere to rent to accommodate the wheelchair and personal needs was going to be tricky. Now that we’ve decided to build instead of renovate staying where we are in our purpose built house certainly alleviates a whole lot of stress until the new build is complete. Cue indecision over house plan holding up the show.
Doug’s’ sister came down from up north for a week and sorted through the bulk of his shed. THE dirtiest and time consuming job of them all. What an absolute bloody gem.
We’ve had so many lovely messages of love and support and many offers of help with the packing up and impending move. It’s been truly heart-warming.
My lovely friend from Rhonda Locker Photography gifted us some beautiful photos of Doug and me in our garden. When Rhonda learned that we had decided to move due to health reasons she wanted to give us some moments in time to treasure. She certainly did that and so much more. Such a generous soul. Doug and I were truly humbled.
That’s about it for now. Thank you all so much for being here with me over this last year. I love having you all in my camp and stopping by to read and leave comments on my posts. I look forward to us all sharing this space together again in the year to follow.
I’d leave you with some pics of Christmas but for some reason I can’t get them off the damn phone and on to the computer. Frustration levels are high. For now I’ll just have to leave you with one of the very special pics that Rhonda snapped for us. (Check out her site here and if you are down Geelong way in Victoria and are searching for a lifestyle photographer Rhonda is your girl). And one pic of Doug and I taken at our family Christmas Party by my cousin Lynne.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Much love, Sandra Xx
What an exciting year ahead for you all Sandra. Your Christmas Day sounded perfect and so lovely that you had everyone there. It’s all about whose around the tree not what’s under it, but I totally agree I would happy dance too receiving good quality linen! Happy New Year to you all x
Hi there lovely Shellie!
It was a really great day. Lots of change happening for us but we have such amazing friends and family to share the highs and lows with so I’m sure we’ll surf it out okay in the end.
Much love and happiness to you and your beautiful family Shellie. I certainly hope you are on the recieving end of some quality linen in 2018! It’s pretty good gear I hear. 😉 Xx
Love reading your stories, well done to the eldest man child, I’m sure it was quite a feat and he needed recognition haha. Thank you for your beautiful words, I was so happy to be able to play a small part in telling your story and creating some forever memories for you.
Now the fun part starts, enjoy your planning and the building of your new home. Wishing you and Doug all the best for the New Year. May 2018 be full of much happiness and good health xxx
Thanks so much for stopping by Rhonda!
I’m still so much in love with your beautiful photograhpy. Very blessed are we. Hoping 2018 is a wonderful year for you guys too. Big changes for us both.
Much love and best wishes. Xx
That was perfect you cute little pig in pooh!! I can sense a theme with you & l…..will it go wrong?……….NO………. it will to go well!!!
I really went overboard with lists of jobs & food preparation for a smooth Christmas, it really paid off the boys & families enjoyed it all, the most amazing thing was l baked eye fillet & lamb roasts & had high praise from Matt who loves to cook.
Warmest regards to you & Doug.
Julie
Hello there Julie!
That theme you speak of has definitely been the under-current of my life… MY LIFE! Always on the look out for the catastrophy I’m sure will happen while at the same time trying to be a half glass full person for my own sanity. Sooo exhausting, lol!
High praise from your man child Julie! Sounds like a great day. My oldest man child quipped “Glad to see the table setting and decoration is taking precedence over getting the food started!” I replied “Really? You actually expected this year to be any different?” Tsk, tsk… silly man child 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by Julie. 🙂 Xx
Beautiful, just beautiful, so, so glad you had a great Christmas. May 2018 bring great joy as life takes you forward into the next chapter Sandra. xo
Hey there Majelly!
It really was a lovely day. I was thinking of you with your family home. Hoping it was as heart warming for you as my day was for me. Catch you soon.
Thank you so much for stopping by my friend. 🙂 Xx
I glazed my first ham this year, baked loads of things and thoughts of you popped into my head as I know, like me, how much you hate bloody cooking. How wonderful that you could all be together at Christmas xx
Hi Kooks!
Ha ha that’s awesome you glazed your first ham and really got in the Christmas spirit in the kitchen by the sounds of it. The sun must have been shining and those solar batteries charged up for the house 🙂 And, naw, thank you for thinking of me bloody hating cooking while you were in the thick of bloody hating cooking too. I feel a kindred spirit!
Hoping 2018 is full of sunshine, full batteries, no mud and a new house for you. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂 Xx
Your Christmas sounds perfect! I had to laugh at the bonbons. I’m such a tight arse, I always buy them in the after Christmas sales! I love those photos of you both especially the one in the garden. Rhonda’s got skillz! It’s all happening on Planet Sandra – hope 2018 is full of good health, good fortune and a good move!
Hello Sammie!
Apparentley he bought the cheapest pack of 8 from his store and they were $30. I certainly wouldn’t have paid thirty dollars!!! But you know, he just wanted out of there at closing and to hit the road. No time to shop around. And they were very pretty.
Wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy and joyous 2018 Sammie. Thanks for all your support and encouragement from afar over the last year with my blog and life in general. It’s lovely having you around.
Thank you for stopping by lovely one 🙂 Xx
Those photos…. LOVE… serious big time love. You are such a brave and inspiring woman hun, you and Doug deserve every happiness in the world… and it’s coming for you. I can feel it, I truly can. May this coming year be full of nothing but joy, laughter, health and wonderful new memories. xx
You are a real sweetheart Son and I love having you in my camp! Beautiful words. Thank you so much for stopping by. May 2018 be joyous and oh so fulfilling. 🙂 Xx
How wonderful to have so much love and help . New Years and new changes and much love xxx
Hi there sweet Edie!
We truly feel blessed to have such wonderful ‘Framily’ by our side Edie!
Best wishes for the year ahead to you and yours. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂 Xx
Love those pictures. How exciting about your new house and how lovely that you can stay where you are until it’s ready. Looking forward to seeing it progress. As for blogging weekly…dreamin’!! A very Happy New Year to you!
Hello there Meryl!
Ha ha dreamin’ about sums it up nicely Meryl! I’ll wait with continued anticipation to actually surprise myself, ha!
A very Happy New Year to you as well. Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂 Xx
Wow. That is SOME uodate . I loved the photos & think it is so important to capture the memories as well as you both now. Very loving photos to treasure. I am pleased you have sold but can stay on as you plan & build a special needs house. I hope there are people and organisations who can help you navigate this too. In this day & age of the NDIS i would bet there would be some. You are so practical in your approach but I also understand the underlying sadness associated with the reasons for your next move. Sending all good wishes for the months ahead. Onward! It is the only was forward isnt it? Denyse xx
Hi there Denyse!
Oh yes, onward, no choice but to keep moving onward.
The NDIS hasn’t been completely rolled out in our area yet. Quite frankly it scares the hell out of me. But, that’s fear of change talking. Sadly though, experience with health support services have taught us that change isn’t always for the better. Still, have to work with what there is and we are grateful for the many services available that help keep Doug at home instead of in care. We’ve been speaking with OT’s about bathroom design etc but I find good old google is great for dimension info and the like.
This year has been a doozy in more ways than one for you and for me. You’ve been so inspiring all through your diagnosis and treatment and I wish nothing but a joyous filled 2018 filled with good times and good health.
Thanks so much for stopping by Denyse. 🙂 Xx
Hey San,
Wow, whar busy time of it you’ve had! Congratulations must be in order for all that you do, and all that you are!
Photos look great and if a picture tells 1000 words, I wonder what words you would put down for these pics?!
Let’s hope 2018 is to be the start of something good for us all!
Much love
Lissy XX
Hi there Lis!
I’ll hold that hope with you that 2018 may be the start of something good for us all. I’ll ponder what words I would put down for these pics – now you’ve got me thinking!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your beautiful thoughts and words here as always.
Love you. 🙂 Xx
I’m so glad Christmas was lovely and relatively stress free. Looks like the path for 2018 is clear and hopefully doesn’t throw too many curve balls. People are generally awesome and those photos are beautiful.