Things I Know About Mobile Phones and Not Having One.

It has been some ten days since I was last able to hold a working phone in my hot little hands. 

How I have survived this long I know not. How I am supposed to survive any longer seems almost unimaginable.

For some fifteen years I have been the proud owner of a mobile phone. 

Fifteen years I tell you is a blooming long time to become attached to something. I have seen first hand how the mobile phone transformed from a heavy brick needing it’s own bag to the slip in your top pocket, hold the world in the palm of your hand that it is today.

I had a mobile well before I even had anyone else I could call with a mobile phone. Having a job selling them meant that it was pretty much expected I buy one for myself. Back then I remember going to telecommunication conferences where companies promised that before long our trusty mobiles would become part and parcel of everyday life. They would have the capacity to take photos, store countless contact details and even quite possibly connect to the world wide web. (Which back then was what the internet was more commonly referred to.) I was equally parts dubious about such possibilities as I was in awe. As if video calls will ever be anything more than part of a science fiction movie?

Yet here I am, all those years later. Mourning the death of my very own little piece of science fiction. If only the whole waterproof qualities had been adequately developed by now.

I know that the first few days without my beloved device were much easier than the last few.

I know that public phone boxes are not as easy to locate as what they once where. I wonder if Superman struggles with this as well?

I know that some would say I should embrace this opportunity to live in the moment a little more. 

I know that sometimes having a phone actually helps you survive the moment a little easier. Take today for example. Bather shopping with a teenager. I was forced to sit outside the change room for what felt like hours staring at the blank walls while she tried on endless pairs of bikinis. Having a phone would have eased my burden no end.

I know that in the absence of my phone my beloved followers have missed some of the most mundane moments of my life and I wonder how the will survive. 

I know (or at least like to think) that sharing my relentless battles with motherhood via social media is bound to make at least one person’s day.

I know that sharing my relentless motherhood battles on social media somehow makes it all seem a little less of a battle.

I know I have checked the status repair some seven hundred times in the last few days.

I know the waiting for the return of a new device is driving me insane.


I know that the thought of carrying on into the distant future without a mobile device is unfathomable and impossible to comprehend. It really is a case of life as we know it ceasing to exist.

I know that I love being able to share my woes with the likes of Ann and Grace and their awesome link ups, makes up for some of the attention I have missed out on via social media.

The top things I have known this year

So here we are on the very last Friday of the year.

image from here

I know that I have said it before but by golly I will say it again as well. How did the time fly past so fast?

I know that the regular host for Things I Know, Miss Cinders, is off enjoying time with her family but the opportunity to blog presented itself so here I am.

I know that through out the year I have written a total of thirty Things I Know posts. Some have joined in with other linkies like FFS with Dear Baby G and FYBF with With Some Grace. Others have been where I myself was the hostess with the mostess. Which just quietly I loved and thanks for all the support from those that joined in.

I know that out of the thirty TIK posts for the year these five were the ones that were read the most.

Things I know about reality, holding on to it and having it slap you in the face

Things I Know About Breast Cancer

Things I Know About Help

Things I Know About Time Flying

Things I Know About Banjo Paterson

I know that for the most part I am pretty happy with that list. Sometimes when I make these lists or look at this type of thing I cringe because the posts involved are (only in my eyes) not worthy of being there. 

I know that I am working on being less critical of myself.

I know I am going to join in with some blog flogging over at With Some Grace

Things I Know that make me go FFS

Now I know that for the most part I am all airy fairy, lovey dovey, Miss peace and happiness, but of late that has not been working out so well for me. So I thought I would try something a little different today. 

image from here with thanks

I am still sharing some things I know, because Miss Cinders is one of my most favourite blogs and I just love joining in with her. However today I am sharing things I know that make me go FFS and also joining in with Dear Baby G

I know that there is a recurring theme to most of the things that make me go FFS.

Can you guess what it is?

I'll give you a hint, it is a 8 letter word, starts with c and ends with n.

No? Well here is another hint.

I have three of them and honestly I know that some days they should be bloody thankful that they live to see another day FFS

I know that seriously I wouldn't really throttle them to within an inch of their life (and some days possibly even a little further), and I shouldn't joke about it on the internets, someone could get the wrong impression FFS

I know that most of the FFSness around said children mainly revolves around the eldest. Though she manages to get me so worked up that it doesn't take much from the other two to have me screaming and pulling my hair out FFS

I know that is didn't expect the teenage years to be trouble free but I most certainly didn't expect them to be so bloody hard before they even arrived FFS

I know that I have done more deep breathing, counting and walking away in the last two weeks than I have ever done before FFS

I know that it is all hormonal and this too shall pass and all that other crap that is hard to remember when you are actually living in a daily hell because someone refuses to abide by the rules FFS

I know  though that hormonal or not there is still no excuse for me having to ask six thousand and seventy three billion times for the dishwasher to be emptied FFS. The same can be said for putting clothes away and picking up wet towels FFS

I know that rain on my washing days (is it only me who hears Alanis when they read those words?) makes me want to scream FFS very loudly. Even though it justifies me using the dryer, I know have a massive power bill to look forward to. FFS 

I know there is just no pleasing some people FFS.  The fact that I am complaining about not being able to fit *all* my towels in the dryer at once FFS is testament to that. I am sure there are many out there screaming at me but at least you have a dryer FFS. yes yes I know

I know that as much as I don't like to swear on the blog, going FFS all the way through this post has made me feel a lot better than when I was screeching like a banshee at the kids this morning FFS

And last I know that joining in with all these lovely bloggers below makes me go anything but FFS

here

here

here

here

Some late edition FFS's include the little buttons not lining up where I wanted to and then when the where as good as I could get them there were no links included FFS (all fixed now though) Of course this was after loading the image sent me to distraction and back because the silly programs didn't want to work properly FFS

Things I Know

Hello Knowers and happy Friday!

Image found here

The first thing I know this week is that I was beyond excited to see three lovely Knowers come and join in the Things I Know fun last week. I know I would love even more to come and play this week.

I know that in a bid to create some more knowledge about the wonders of Things I Know I will be pimping myself all over the the Internets this weekend. FYBF and Weekend Rewind, I am looking at you. Anyone else know some good weekend linkies?

I know that I am trying very hard not to explode at Mr Awesome (who quite frankly right now is not seen as so awesome by my eyes) when he comes down stairs.

I know that he didn't really mean to delete TreeWorld from my phone. It was all in an effort to get iOs7 on my phone. Because you know clearly the world will stop spinning if you don't update the instant updates are available.

I know that he wasn't really hiding the modem cable from me but instead Lovely. The poor girl is currently consumed with an internet addiction (no idea where she might have got that from) and for her own good (and our sanity) it is best if we just remove temptation sometimes.

I know that typing this out without the distraction of the internet will probably be a whole lot quicker. And I am trying to keep hold of that thought rather than let my frustrations get a hold of me but some things are easier said than done, even when they are right.

I know that the peace and quite that comes with being up well before 6am is worth the early rise.

I know that by lunchtime I may well reconsider that statement.

I know that I don't know how long this post is so far because normally about now I would do a preview (I blog straight into blogger usually none of this draft nonsense for me) and see how it looked. Which is pretty much my basis for whether a post is long enough or not because let's face it, I know I could ramble on forever some days.

I (now) know that it wasn't actually that hard to find the necessary cords to make the modem work again. Turns out I just needed to put some lights on and stop and think about it all for a minute.

I know that I am sorry your links won't have a pretty picture to go with them today. I will try and look into before next week. Turns out the early hours of the morning are not my prime time for figuring things out. Well at least that is the case today.

I know I would love for you to grab the button and share all the things you know.

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Things I Know About Love Your Sister Supporters

Right now the first thing I know this week is that my head is currently bursting with things I want to write about.

From the moment that I received the email saying I would have the opportunity to talk to Samuel Johnson when he came to town I just knew great things were in store for me.

Now I know this to be be true!

I know this photo really made my day.
Well actually my day was already pretty awesome already by this stage, this was just the icing on the cake

I know that the fact the Love Your Sister campaign has such great supporters and sponsors makes all the difference. This means that ALL funds raised go directly to breast cancer research. 

I know that the Bendigo Bank are just one of many businesses lending a helping hand.

I know I was going to list them all but there were a few to many and this page already has it covered. 

I know I mention Bendigo Bank over the others because today local workers were hard at work cooking snags and raising funds. They also held a raffle, with the prize being to swim with Sam and Chopper the Croc

centre photo: Bendigo Bank mascot with Mick, winner of the swim with Sam and a Croc raffle.

I know that the event put on today in the mall was all kinds of exciting. There were live animals, whip crackers, great dancers and of course crazy unicyclists.

From top left: Mick from Mick's Whips shows Sam how to crack a whip, One Mob Dancers, Sarah and a big snake
From bottom left: Sam rides a very big uni, Joseph (15yrs) does so to, Sam rides a not so big uni and cracks a whip

I know that I was a bit proud of myself having the balls to go up and introduce myself to the Lord Mayor who was there to welcome Sam to town. She had just retweeted me though so I thought it was only appropriate. (Hi Katrina if you're reading)

I know that it is frightening to think that one in four women diaganosed with breast cancer are under the age of 50. While the average age of those being diagnosed is 68 breast cancer is not something that only old women get. In fact 1% of cases are male.

For more breast cancer information check out this info sheet from Garvan.

I know the sooner we can find a cure for breast cancer the better.

I know that earlier in the week I promised more on what it was like when Sam went swimming with Chopper the crocodile. Rest assured I have not forgotten, there just turned out to be so much that I wanted to share, I have had to change my original plan a little. (yes those that know me well, I did really have a plan and as always nothing went to it :)

I know that if you pop back on Tuesday I will share more of the swimming with the crocodile antics. 

For now though, have you met Chopper the Croc?

I know that to help spread the Love Your Sister story as far as possible I am linking this in with both Grace and Miss Cinders. 

Please share amongst your friends and make everyone booby aware.

Happy Birthday Jess!!

Now I don't know if you have heard or not...

...but the ever awesome Jess, creator & head honcho over at Essentially Jess is having a birthday, today.

Without at doubt Jess is one of my most favourite bloggers. She is open, honest and totally caring about everyone else much more than herself. Which made me think I wanted to do something a little bit special for this auspicious occasion. 

After all a mum only turns thirty once. Or as Jess likes to put it awesomeness, since that is what she was counting down to.

Naturally my first thought was a rather awesome blog post about how awesome it is to be thirty and how awesome Jess is, but we all already know what a super star she is.

So I put my thinking cap back on.

And then it hit me.

A vlog.

Ah huh. You heard. A vlog by yours truly.

Buckle in and hold on as I present me, presenting a birthday wish to a very lovely lady.

Ok so not surprisingly but that didn't go quite as plan, but go it did so go me I guess? The poor sound quality and shaky hand can be put down to first time nerves I think. That and the fact it was rather late when I got around to filming.

There were so many things in there that I forgot to say. I wanted to give thanks to Ness because it was her favouriting of my tweets that gave me the intestinal fortitude that I needed to go ahead with all of this. I also can't believe that totally forgot to send some birthday fairy wishes and butterfly kisses over to Jess. I tell ya the excitement of it all just blew me away.

You should totally head over to the Essentially Jess Facebook page and leave your own special birthday message for the birthday girl. I am sure it will totally make her day.

Things I Know About Breast Cancer

Happy Friday beautiful people!

I know that earlier on this week I said I was stepping back from the whole linky party thing for a bit but I could no more miss sharing the things I know than I could blogging on a Tuesday.

So here I am.

Though there was another reason that compelled me to put fingertips to keyboard today. Funnily enough it was stupid* Karl Stefanovic on the Today Show when he was interviewing the rather lovely Samuel Johnson.

As you may or may not know the incredibly wonderful Samuel Johnson is riding his way around Australia.

On a unicycle no less.

Image via the Love Your Sister Instagram feed

Why is he doing that I hear you ask?

His sister Connie has terminal breast cancer and this is Samuel's way of raising awareness and vital funds for this terrible disease. According the Love Your Sister website it all started as a joke in the kitchen but turned into a promise.

I know that the Love Your Sister campaign is beyond awesome. If you haven't already head, over and check out where Samuel is. And if you have some spare cash, there is a donation page there as well.

I know that I am hoping to get the opportunity to talk the man himself. If you have any questions you would like me to ask then send them through.

I know that breast cancer affects far too many women. In 2008 there were 159,649 women alive in Australia, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 27 years.

It is estimated that in 2013 14,940 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That works out to approximately 40 women every day. That's right it is expected that every day this year 40 women will discover they have breast cancer. Crazy huh?

It is also estimated that this year 2700 will lose their battle with breast cancer. That is on average 7 women a day dying as a result of breast cancer.

On the upside though there are also a whole heap of statistics to show that the 5 year relative survival rate from breast cancer has increased significantly in recent years.

If you would like to read more about these check out here, which coincidently is where I got all the above info from.

I know that one of the main messages Connie and Samuel want to put out there is the importance of early detection. There is every possibility if Connie had been diagnosed earlier the story would be different.

Be breast aware peoples. Be. Breast. Aware.

Self check regularly. If you don't know how to self check make an appointment with your GP and get them to show you. While you are at the GP though get a pap smear as well. You can also check here for some more info on self examinations for breast lumps.

I know that all cancers are best fought with early detection. If you have a family history of cancer make sure you regularly check in and get tested for what you can.

I know that while writing this I have decided to that I will also Flog it With Some Grace, because the more people that read this the better. Please do your part and share, tweet and like. There are plenty of buttons below to help you.

*Karl just in case you read this I actually think you are more annoying than stupid and this is based mostly on the fact of your job. I am against all morning show hosts. I find them all annoyingly stupid. I fail to see how anyone who gets up at the ridiculous times they do can be as chipper as what they are. All the time!

Writing dreams with coffee

Sitting there in front of the computer screen, her mind was blank.

source

Totally void of any and all thoughts or ideas. 

But then that was nothing new. It was like the screen, or the keyboard or maybe even the chair, something anyway, seemed to suck every sensible consciousness out of her being when she sat to write.

Letting out a deep sigh she got up and walked away. Maybe a coffee would help.

Maybe letting go of that crazy notion that there was indeed a writer within her just waiting to be unleashed would help. Though she had held onto that crazy notion for so long now that she doubted whether letting go of it was really possible. It felt like it was ingrained upon her soul. Her destiny if you will.

A destiny that she thought she had been heading towards for as long as she could remember. A childhood dream that had stayed with her as she grew into a woman. Niggling away at her as she tried to find her place in life doing other things.

For as much as she longed to do nothing but write words to be read by the masses reality told her the chances were slim. Very slim. After all there were thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of other people who held onto similar dreams. Some of whom actually managed to get words out when they say down to write.

Unlike her.

Thankfully somewhere along the line the Internet came into being. Just the answer that wanna be writers the world over had been waiting for. An outlet that allowed them to feel like they were writing for the masses. Provided of course they remain oblivious to things like stat counters and the like.

Sitting back down with her hot coffee her gaze returned to the blank screen. Which by now had gone to sleep so the blankness of it all was even more evident. Taking a sip from her cup she could feel the warm liquid travel down her throat. It's golden goodness filling her veins like some kind of inspirational  blood. Or at least that is what she hoped would happen.

She always lived in hope.

Joining Grace and the gang for

Things I Know Early In The Morning

Well kind of anyway. It possibly should have been called A whole bunch of random things I know but I kinda did that the other week and I didn't want to bore you all with the same title again. Plus I am sure by the time I actually finish writing this post it will actually be early in the morning.

How can I be so sure of this you ask? The fact that it is currently 11:58PM gives it away really.

But enough of the drivel because Friday is nearly upon us and we all know that Friday here at A Parenting Life is all about flogging your blogging and sharing what you know. Plus I am tired and more than ready for bed but I have made myself a little promise to blog everyday so here I am.

I know that the post I wrote yesterday (which was actually only about half hour ago from when I am writing this to maybe my little promise to myself might be better off it was to appear as if I have blogged every day) will probably not actually get read by as many people as I think it should.

I know that posting at nearly midnight is pretty pointless unless you plan on linking it up somewhere and promoting the hell out of it on social media the next day. Yet I still do it. Far to often.

I know that it is with mixed feelings we return to school on Tuesday. I do really love having the girls around, they are the loveliest of company but they do hold me back from doing somethings.

I know that going to the Wave Pool today was a brilliant idea. It was the perfect way to wind down the holidays. And celebrate a lovely friends birthday. And spend time with my beautiful sister.

How could hanging out here not be a brilliant idea?

I know that I am super thankful for a few little opportunities that have been thrown my way of late. If all goes to plan I should have enough funds to get my #DPCON13 ticket! Oh so excited.

I know that when I started this post it was just going to be short and sweet due to the stupidness of the time and the few little opportunities that I just mentioned.

I know that if I didn't have said little opportunity then this post would actually be about politics and how I feel terribly wronged by Julia. Wronged so much that I now don't know who I want to swear my political allegiance to at the next election. Never fear though I am pretty sure that post will still surface in the not too distant future. Which I just know you are waiting for with baited breath.

I know that I do love joining in with Grace, Miss Cinders and all the crews on a Friday

Things I Know About School Holidays

I know that I really and truly love the school holidays. I am by no means one of those mum's that dreads the start of school holidays. Nor do I long for them to come to an end. In fact quiet the opposite.

I know one of the things I love most about the school holidays is that time almost ceases to exist. There is rarely a need to be anywhere at any particular time, particularly before 9 am in the morning.

I know that I do not miss the morning chaos that comes with the school term. Not at all. Not one single bit. Quite the opposite in fact. The peace and tranquility that resides over the morning during holiday time is pure and utter bliss.

I know that school holidays are all about having fun and getting outdoors so we can make the most of our time together. It means we get to do things like...

early morning kayak paddles

 climbing to the tallest tower

 frolic in rock pools

 hang out at public pools

have pancake picnic breakfasts

I know that the fact there is only one week left of the school holidays makes me a tad sad. Actually it makes me a lot sad.

I know that even though I am sad about the holidays ending there is also a lot of good that will come of it. Like being able to slot in a run without anyone complaining that they don't want to go.

I know that while it has nothing to do with the school holidays you should totally go and enter my giveaway for a Personal Planner. They are seriously all kinds of cool.

Giveaway entry page can be found HERE

I know that I am going to share all I know with all those who know to flog their blog WithSomeGrace. If you are after some great blogs to read, that is the place to start.

If you know stuff you should totally go over to Miss Cinders and share all the stuff that you know, it seriously is the best way to get Friday underway. Not only that it is a great way to interact with some great blogs that you may not have already known about.

Tank Thursday

In a bid to get some feed back about this little old blog, I asked Mr Awesome if he had anything to share. In my wisdom, I thought that if anyone had some advice on how I could shake things up a bit it was him. After all who knows me better than him?

Let's just say that after the conversation that ensued I kinda wish I hadn't brought it up with him.

The essence of his critique was that I should loosen up a bit and just let go every now and then. Apparently, according to Mr Awesome's wisdom, I am too structured and formal. This applies to both my writing style and the type of posts that I published. I am also too opinionated and my posts feel more like a debate than fodder for a mummy blog.

His first recommendation was to get rid of being thankful on a Thursday. After all who wants to constantly read what you are thankful for? (His words not mine) I was going to point out that I hadn't actually done a thankful Thursday post since November but instead I decided to take all further comments he made with a grain of salt because clearly the regularity of his reading needs to be questioned.

Just as I was about to ask him what I should write about instead of being thankful, he pipped me at the post and said "Tank Thursday" would be a much better option.

"Tank Thursday???" I queried with a bemused look on my face as I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for his ingenious suggestion to be explained further.

"Yeah you know how in the footy last year there were teams accused of 'tanking' their game so they could get a better route to the finals? Do something like that on a Thursday instead of that thankful rubbish" he replied with a look on his face that looked like he had just made the greatest discovery ever.

"Hmmmm, I will take in on board" was about all that I could manage in response.

Mr Awesome then went on to explain that most other mummy bloggers covered topics very differently to me. They seemed to put their own spin on child rearing and it really wouldn't hurt for me to share a bit more about the raising the girls. He even went so far as to say that I should write more about any problems or uncertainties that I have and that way I could ask my readers for advice.

This was right before he started to lecture me on how I don't ask enough open ended questions and give my readers more of an opportunity to interact with me. Ending it with "you know like all the other mummy bloggers do"

At this point I couldn't take any more. I just had to know which mummy bloggers he was a regular reader of, because he was well and truly making himself like somewhat of an expert on the whole topic of mummy blogging.

"Gosh I don't know their names. I just read some the ones that you are friends with and comment on. though that Jess is pretty good" he eagerly responded.

"Yes she is..." I started to say before he cut me off.

"Yeah you should try and write more like her, her writing style is really easy to read, I like it a lot..." He began to babble on. Though I had stopped listening, my pride wounded, I found it hard to take much more in.

He is right of course, Jess is a great writer and always makes for a great read, I just kind of thought I was too. Only every time he spoke he made me feel less and less like it. It's not that he didn't say I wasn't a good writer, in fact quiet the opposite.

According to Mr Awesome my writing is of a too high quality for mummy blogger readers and that I should dumb my writing down if you will.

"Uh huh" was my meek reply. Unsure of how much more I could take. Thankfully though my saviour came in the form of a child inquiring when dinner would be ready. I don't think I have ever jumped up to feed them so quickly.

So dear reader what do you think, should I find a way to create a proper Tank Thursday? Where I get halfway through a post and then throw the rest away yet still publish in the hope of a better final outcome? Or should I just keep plodding along and pretend we never had this conversation?

This rather awesome post is linking in withsomegrace

2013 The Year of ?

Everywhere I turn at the moment I seem to see people who are busily sharing how awesome they intend to be for the new year. There are all kinds of whiz bang promises and hopes flying all around. From eating no chocolate, to exercise more, to be kinder to oneself and others around, and everything in between.

It seems there is no denying that with the New Year comes resolution time.

Naturally this is a bandwagon that I tend to jump on as well. Especially in recent years. As a blogger I almost have an obligation to publicly share what I will successfully not do this year.

Back in 2011 I dubbed it the year of trying. This saw me try new things that caused me to try and step outside my comfort zone. I tried making new friends and being more social. I tried writing more and I when I thought about it, I tried to be the best person I could be. All very admirable I know but if I am honest I am not sure I tried as hard as I could. I rarely seem to, which was kinda why I thought I should dedicate a whole year to it.

Turns out last year was the year to make it matter. I say turns out because on Wednesday when I wrote about this time last year I was unable to find anything that remotely resembled my resolutions for the coming year. Which I found more than a bit strange.

As much as I may fail with the whole resolution commitment thing, I do generally give it at least some thought each year. I was sure that I had written somewhere in the new year of 2012 what wonderful things I envisioned for the year ahead. Only I couldn't seem to find it. The best I could come up with was a reflection on the discoveries of 2011.

Scratching my head I decided there was no point going over it any further as I still had this year to figure out.

Which naturally I still haven't done.

This post was supposed to help me nut out some fine resolutions, ones that I had little to no chance to fail at. I just don't see the sense in setting myself up for failure. I am quite good at not getting things done as it is, without adding any extras in.

In the process of trying to spit this post though all I have done is furrow my brow as my fingers struggle to type anything that seems to actually make sense.

I want something that I can take with me the whole year through.
Something that I won't lose interest in.
Something that doesn't need to much of a commitment.


In case you hadn't already picked up on it I am not the commitment type. To anything. Except for Mr Awesome, the kids and a couple of nasty habits I would not rather admit to publicly just yet. Actually speaking of Mr Awesome and commitment. The Australia day weekend will mark ten years since we first went on that magical date which saw us cement our undying love for each other.

Just thinking about it makes my heart swell and beat a little faster. Even after an entire decade of being in each others arms I can believe it is all real. Every day I am thankful for being blessed with his love and the ability to love him back. Even in the deepest darkness I can still see his light and know that all will be alright.

But I digress. Back to the year 2013.


Back to trying to find a theme to make matter for 2013?

At this stage all I have got is this

 The Happiness Jar.

Each night we all write out what was the happiest part of our day and pop it in the jar. I am sure you have seen plenty of others pledging to do the same. Such a brilliant yet simple idea.

Rather than keep it all to myself it is something I have shared with the whole family. I had wanted us to have our own jars but everyone else thought it best if we just share. Which is good really because the five jars did take up a bit of room which our little shoebox of a home just doesn't have.

So it has been a truly beautiful experience. I love the way that Miss Six has embraced it so warmly and delights in writing it out herself. Though she has put her own twist on it and wants it to be about what she wants to remember most from each day. Which is kind of nice as well.

What are you goals, hopes and plans for 2013?

Do you actually have any or are you like me 

and just winging it for now?

Flogging my blogging with Grace and the crew over at  withsomegrace.com

Things I Know About My Blogging in 2012

It is hard to believe that the dawning of 2013 is nearly upon us, bringing to a close the year that was 2012. Weeks ago Grace mentioned that her Flog Yo Blog Friday for today would be a reflection on the year. A month by month blow of what went down. She hoped that others would join in, hence all the notice and stuff.

When I read it I got excited. I love having a bit of an idea to get me started. Plus with all the notice it was something I thought I could have already and waiting to go come Friday morning. Naturally though this is not how things panned out and Friday morning came without sight nor sound of a post being anywhere nearly ready.

In fact last night when I was wrapping presents, (which I naturally had to take a photo of and share on Instagram because I am a wrapping ninja and all), I was totally considered just putting up a post saying

Sorry I am busy wrapping presents and waiting for the world to end, no FYBY or TIK for me this year. Merry Christmas and thanks for reading

Or words to that effect.

Only where is the fun in that? Plus given that I am a self confessed linky junkie as if I could really not join in on the last ones for year?

I know that January saw me join in the Photo A Day Challenge for the first time. I didn't quite get every day. I did try again in February and managed even less. I gave up after that. I think that my favourite post for the month was this one on body image

I know that February was an awesome writing month for me. Or at least I thought I did some awesome writing in that month. After much thought, and re-reading I have decided that my favourite post is one called Sometimes I Forget to Remember

I know that March is one of my all time favourite months. Each and every year. Celebrating my birthday probably has something to do with that. This year was one of my best birthday's ever! Despite my initial doubts. As for my pick of the posts for this month? Well it would have to be I Think I Thought I Knew. Sums me all up right there I reckon.

I know that April saw me still flying by the skirt tails of my birthday. The height of my excitement was sky high when I when sky diving. Mr Awesome got me a tandem skydive for my birthday. It was truly awesome (as is he).

I know that May was a really hard month. I wrote little and seemed to spend a lot of time in Struggle Town. I don't like there. Not many people do actually. Too many people seem to spend too much time there. Mind you it is all just part and parcel of being a mum some days I guess.

I know that June was another quite month on the writing front. I also know however that June was the month that I really felt more like a writer than ever before. I was given the opportunity to interview Karen Seebohm. Mother of Olympic champion swimmer Emily Seebohm. She shared with me what it was like to raise a champion.

I know that July saw me write my two post read post ever. The first is about friends and coffee. Turns out there are lots of us that would like more of both. The second was an interview with Eamon Sullivan's mum. I know that interview made me feel all kinds of special.

I know that August was a fantastic month. Or rather there were a couple of days in August that were rather awesome. Like the day someone offered to take me the Kenny Rogers concert after reading this post. Oh man what a night that was.

I know that September was when we went on our road trip to Cairns. Best time ever. My baby sister married the man of her dreams and it was all just too beautiful for words. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful woman in my life.

I know that October is my least favourite month ever. If it were possible to rewrite the calendar and exclude October I would. Of course then Mr Awesome wouldn't have his birthday, but I am sure he would adjust. I know that I thought I was all kind of awesome when I tried to take on the big issues and discussed bullies and freedom of speech.

I know that November was supposed to be all about fiction writing. I also know that I didn't write nearly as much as I thought I would. In fact all in all it was a dismal effort on my part. I still live in hope that I will get round to using all those lovely ideas that I was provided with. November was also the month that the diary closed and mo's were grown

I know that I am glad it is December. December is all about good times with family and friends. It was also the month that I had this post featured in the Digital Parents weekly newsletter. Made me feel all kinds of special.

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. A summary of all that has gone down here at A Parenting Life in 2012. While I still have your attention, thanks so much dropping in. Especially those who keep on coming back. Fingers crossed that many first timers will quickly become greatly loved returns.

Wishing all my fellow floggers and knowers the very merriest of Christmas wishes and the happiest of happy new years. May your dreams come true and you never feel blue. May your days be filled with love, laughter and loads of fairy wishes and butterfly kisses.

Things I Know About Blogging Awards, Me and Life Itself

Oh hai!
It is Friday, which means of course it is the day to flog the things you know so here I go!




I know that seeing this post gave me all kinds of tingles with a heap of warm and fuzzy thrown in. It also makes me want to break out into song every time I see the title... Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows...

Our knowing hostess with the mostest Miss Cinders, along with the ever so lovely Rita over at The Crafty Expat have kindly bestowed upon yours truly

I know this kind of bloggy love just leaves me tickled pink and I am ever so thankful for the honour.

I know there have been many a time when I have read other bloggers receiving and handing out the same or similar awards and my heart has dropped a little when the realisation my name is not on the list hits. Reading blog rolls a similar effect. 

I know that some days it is hard for life to not be a popularity contest.

What I don't know is why I have such an urge to be popular. I have never been a popular person, the in crowd has never once let me in and for the most part I have been fine about that. Why now do I crave the attention so?

I know that there are a heap of question about me that need answering (as per the award) so I should probably get on with that. Because I just know you are dying to find out more about me

1. Favourite time of the year? Change of seasons. Up here we only really have two seasons, The Wet and The Dry. The lead up to both is very exciting but for greatly different reasons. I am not sure I could pick one of the other. They both seem to invigorate my soul equally.
   
2. Favourite festive movie? Hmmmmm... movies and I are not really friends. I don't have any real favourite movies full stop, let alone a festive one. Does Love Actually count as a festive movie? Anything that has old Hugh in it has pretty much got my undivided attention.
   
3. What is your passion? Writing. Oh and the girls.
   
4. Favourite colour? There was a time when I was obsessed with yellow. I had a yellow couch, sheets, kettle, toaster, teapot.  I loved yellow. As did the someone special I was in love with at the time. When the love dried up I stopped having a favourite colour. Since then I have never been able to commit to a new favourite colour. I did however manage to find a new favourite love and someone special so that is all that really matters.
   
5. Favourite time of the day? Writing time. Failing that bedtime, particularly if it involves children going straight to sleep.
   
6. Favourite flower? Hmmmm... Am I the only one that doesn't really have a favourite flower? If someone is going to the trouble of giving me flowers I am not overly concerned what flower it is. Beggars can't be choosers and all that.
   
7. Favourite non-alcoholic beverage? Totally the most boring answer in the world but by far the answer is water. When you are as constantly as hot and sweaty as you are when you live in the tropics, water really is your bestest of best friends. Or at least it is for me.
   
8. Favourite physical activity? I have two. They both are three lettered words. One is run and the other, well you can work that out I reckon.
   
9. Favourite vacation? Going to DPCON13 in March. Oh, hang on that one hasn't happened yet but I sure am looking forward to it. I guess my next pick is our road trip to Cairns

I know I am glad to be at the end of that list. Talking and thinking about me is not always top of my list of things to do you know.

I know that coming up with ten bloggers who haven't already received this lovely award is not exactly easy. That is of course not to say that I can't think of lots of inspiring and positive bloggers, because I can. It is just once again I am late to the party and everyone I know seems to have this little beauty already.

I know that all the bloggers I am about to mention are awesome. In fact they are more than awesome and I genuinely find them an inspirational. All for very different reasons.

I know that you should totally go and check out the following Sunshine Award recipients

The Mother Experiment

At the Bottom of the Garden

Slightly More Depth Than a Teaspoon

Family of Killers

Always Josefa

My Big Nutshell

The Surprise Beginning

Mummy's Undeserved Blessings

BlunderMum

Bachelormum Style

I know that I have no expectation for any of them to write a post about this. In case you didn't know, Christmas is just around the corner and everyone is flatter than flat out. I just wanted to let you (and them) know how wonderful they are.

I know that I am super glad I can officially say that the school holidays have started. We are not going anywhere or doing anything unusually exciting, just hanging at home with those we love, in a totally relaxed and chilled out kind of way. Bliss I tell you.

What is it that you know?

 Head on over and join on in.

What's that you want to flog?

Go here

What makes a blogging superstar?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my blogging. I guess being a blogger and all that is not overly surprising. A blogger should be thinking a lot about blogging. The very nature of the act leads one to do so.

What I mean is, the last few days, weeks even, I have been paying more attention to my blogging outcomes and interactions. I know that all comparisons should be taken with a grain of salt, after all no two blogs are the same. I can't help but notice some blogs seem to attract more than others. Naturally I want to be in the more rather than less, deep down who wouldn't?

deep breath, slight choke, leading to a sigh

I have been at this whole blogging and Internet writing for quite some time. Like years. And years. This blog only dates back to 2008 but I do have a few things around the place that date back to 2007.

I worry that maybe I have peaked and somehow missed it all.

But then I remember how much I really want to be a writer. Not just a writer that is so, purely and simply because they write on a regular basis. That is not why I write. I write because I want people to read my words. I want to share and to connect.

I want much more than that as well. I want to inspire and bring hope. Let others know they are not along and all that. I want to spread love and laughter and bring happiness wherever I can. Really I just want it all.

Yet for some reason it just doesn't seem to be. And I can't help but ask why.
Deep deep down though I know I don't really need to ask, the answer is one I know only to well.

For as much effort as I put into to creating the wonder that is A Parenting Life I should be happy with the outcomes because really they are equal. If I want a greater outcome then it only stands to reason that I need to put in a greater effort.

I just want need to make sure that the effort is in the right direction and that is where in all my problems lay. How does one work out something like that?
Please feel free to offer any suggestions that you may have.

In the mean time I will keep ploughing through the some five hundred posts that are floating around here. I can't really explain why or how but for some reason I feel that the answers I am searching may be lurking in there.

Mind you some of what I have read already have made me shudder and wonder what was I thinking, others have made me give myself a pat on the back just for having a go and others have filled me with hope. If you subscribe to my Facebook or Google+ pages you will be privy to me sharing all my favourite ones.

Or you could of course have a poke around yourself. Go on I dare you. There are plenty of links in the side bar to keep you entertained for hours if not days.

Tell me

What is it I do well?

What don't I do well?

Do you think I have a worthy story to tell?

Go on spill the beans I need to know.

doing the usual Friday Flog WithSomeGrace

Mo Growing For Movember

November is a busy month. Not only are writers the world over trying to pump out a mere fifty thousand words in thirty short days, men all around the country are throwing their razors in the bin and growing a mo in bid to raise awareness, and greatly needed funds for mens health.

Before I was the blogging superstar (or wanna be take your pick) that I am today Mr Awesome once took part in this wonderful initiative. Of course I possibly wasn't as supportive as I could have been. I don't kiss men who have a mo and that's all there is too it. It's just not right.

Anyway, it's needless to say Mr Awesome hasn't bothered growing one since. Which was kind of a shame because last year I really wanted to blog about it but for the life of me couldn't find anyone I knew who was taking part.

Turns out I may not have looked very hard because as I recently discovered, my gorgeous nephew is taking part in Movember. In actual fact this is his second year, I missed the memo about it last year. Whoops!

And when I say gorgeous nephew I really do mean gorgeous, in every sense of the word.

Of course when I say my nephew I also feel incredibly old as well.

Now I know I might be a little biased but I just think it is awesome, actually beyond awesome that a group of young guys like Nathan and his mates are taking part in this fantastic campagin. It certainly gives hope to the men of tomorrow. Well it does for me anyway.

So lovely bloggy friends and followers I implore you to go and throw a few dollars towards this dashingly good looking mo. The link to his page is right here

I asked Nathan if he could share a few words about why he wants to be a part of Movember. Here is what he said

In the month of November I observed the gradual progression of Christmas lights, illuminating the usually lacklustre existence of the neighbouring residents. A sudden influx of wrapping, treats and trees adorned shop windows as I passed during my usual stroll. The wind attacked me with its newfound summer heat and I took shelter in one such shop. Relieved to have escaped the wind, I found an inviting bench where I could rest my weary legs. Looking around, I couldn’t help but notice a somewhat peculiar occurrence. Along with the usual changes of the impending Christmas, there was a high proportion of males with moustaches. I enquired to one such individual about these moustaches and he explained that he was involved in “Movember”, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Men’s health issues including prostate cancer and depression.”

Almost a year later a group of friends and myself decided to try and make a difference on these vital issues. As part of the process, we attempted to grow the best Mo possible, often will dismal results.  We hope that we can raise awareness of prevalence and problems of prostate cancer and men’s depression. These are two issues that many men find difficult to talk about and these problems often go unnoticed in the public sphere. This is the second year that I have been involved and I hope that I can raise more funds than last year. I also hope that I can grow a better mo, as last year it failed to grow in the middle area right under my nose. 

Regardless of my poor efforts with my Mo, it is the cause that is important, so please donate generously.

Naw bless him.

Please if you are in a position to help out in anyway it is a vital cause and will be greatly appreciated.

Flogging this post With Some Grace