For Clare

My darling Clare,
I am sitting crying my eyes out, thinking how sad you must be about your friend Beth dying.
At the same time Im thinking back on my friends that have died, and how each of them made up a special part in my life. The joy of frienship and the sadness of death make up a tapestry, which becomes our life's journey- This journey is not always easy travelling, In fact often it's bloody hard, and I know there's a big black hole in you at this moment.
I have a special tea light, that I light when I think of my lovely friend Donna who died. It has flowers on it, which Donna loved, and when I light it, her spirit fills the room. I stop to light it now, and also a beautiful pink one for your friend Beth.
Do lots of crying, as it helps. Talk to yourmum and dad about Beth and how you are feeling. Ask them to cuddle you tight, when you need it. We all know this horrible feeling, and its because you have such a huge heart Clare and you love so much, that it hurts so much.
Im sending you heaps and heaps of all my love to help you in your sadness.
I love you, Zakky

P.S. I did some drawings of Donna, when she was dying, and after she died, as I did for other friends when they died, it helped me.I still have them, and will share them with you one day.

Sad News

Hi all
Clare and all her primary school friends were informed this morning of the death of one of their close friends who suffered a bad headache late yesterday and died of an apparent blood clot in the brain overnight. Beth was the girl Clare constantly competed with to be the tallest in class. Our sensitive little girl is feeling pretty sad and shocked at the moment. Annie and I are busy counting our blessings and thinking of her family, St Monica's friends of Annies. Needless to say - you can't tell your kids you love them often enough !

Steve

love from Steve and Annie

Greetings

Hi All
Just read your entry Kate and had to respond. The volumes of rain you are receiving are a lot like what we have been getting over the last month. Thankfully, we have some respite at the moment. I can actually see blue sky out of my window this morning.
Not much happening over here. I had only one shift last week. Thought I might have to buy a new washing machine but Jules fixed whatever was wrong. He's useful as well as decorative!
Wales had a good win of course in the Six Nations. Unfortunately, we didn't follow suit with our darts last night.
Jules and I are looking forward to visiting Darwin and staying by the beach. Fabulous!
Hope everyone is well and happy, despite the rain.
Love and hugs
Moo (& Jules) xxxx

Hi all,
Just checked out the Tiwi property-good luck Mart and Claire- coastal dwellers at long last, and how close?? do you get sea views-Im jealous already.
I dont know if you are all getting rain, but bloody hell, it is sending Hasi troppo.
From the 1st-5th feb Wgong area had 174mm rainfall, and the average for the whole of Feb is 124mm, and its still coming down.
We now have a mud bath in what used to be our front yard, thanks to Mirvac dumping a truck load of land fill on the vacant block next door! Bastards.
Hasi has a swimming carnival tomorrow which should be fun in this weather- lucky he is on toilet duty, at less he will be dry.
Great to hear the 39ers were out and about down the coast. It is so fantastic to hear that Jan is doing so well.
Theres a bit more lightning through the kitchen window.

Cheers for now, Love to you all, Zak
P.S. greetings from Hasi (watching some crap on the tv)

Photos

Trying to publish the photos which didn't work last night.

Cunjurong trip

Mum and I are just back from a few days at Cunjurong and Pyree.
Tuesday travelled down and had a fish at the mouth of the lake at dusk -no result- and in the channel of the lake at 11pm -1 small whiting and 3 small stingrays. Wednesday morning fished Manyana beach from Cathedral Rocks to the main beach on the low tide -no luck. I pumped some yabbies in the afternoon a lot more successful than when we were there Moo. The photo shows how many for the same time. Thursday on the low tide I picked up 2 big whiting -about the size of your biggest Moo- and the Uncle caught a bream -keepable size. No photos as the Uncle is pretty blasey about fish hauls.
Since we were there in December Uncle and the boys have added an extension to the deck which is in the photo. You will also notice that the BIG tree is down. There is heaps of firewood stacked all around the place and 2 big chunks of the trunk still lying there.
The last photo shows the permanent boarder. Uncle says the grandchildren feed it so it comes in each night for its fix. You'll note the boarder is sitting on the new portable BBQ. I believe, Annie, that your hamburgers were the last items cooked on the old one.
Mum and I had a couple of relaxing days with Murray and Jan -Friday night till Monday morning. Jan is a lot better and she and I did a 3km walk on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Mum has already told you about the trip -so enjoy the photos.
Great to hear the good news about Marty's latest acquisition. We checked it out on the web.
Heads down, kids especially Tom for the HSC and Liam and Lucy for the SC.
I'll try to put a photo of Lucy's home art and the sumptuous meal prepared by Fran on the blog.
Love to ALL Tjilpie and Grandma.

Canberra calling

Hi Everybody. Mum and Dad are so lucky to be at Cunjurong, feeling extremely jealous as they head for the coast on my first day back at work. Good to hear from you Kate, you're right, Claire would have loved Ghost Garden. Hope you and Marty have settled in your new temporary home. Spoke to someone from work who went to Bendalong in the holidays and called in to Cunjurong, I was extolling its beauties to her and telling her that I have been going there for over 30 years!! Hope you are doing well in cold Wales Moo. Anyway I will sign off . My holidays are now officially over,am feeling very sad -Hasi, where did they go!. Stephen said I will be checking on my spelling as I seem to make a lot of spelling errors. I am a music teacher, who needs to know how to spell. See you all later. Love Annie