That may sound strange as it seems so many women these days are against the male of our species and at times I can understand why and others not.
What I am talking about here is size....yes body size. Now I am a quite tall, large lady and since using insulin my girth has increased by about 4kg and unknown cms which makes me rather statuesque especially side on. I am fortunate in finding some loose fitting summer dresses that don't fit tightly and I also wear loose fitting tops during winter. We women don't need a fly in our trousers so mine all have elastic waists which fit nicely. I am not any smaller wearing that style of clothing but I feel I don't look as grotesque as women who wear tight fitting clothing and look like advertisements for Michelin tyres. That may sound rather bitchy but it is true. I do try to see myself as others see me but I guess others "frankly don't give a damn" to quote Clark Gable in "Gone With the Wind". Maybe there are so many big women around these days many have given up caring what they look like which is rather sad.
My daughter is a little on the large side as well and she too has always dressed according to her size and to me always looks very elegant, much more so than I ever do. She seems to have a flare for choosing the right clothes for her.
What is all this leading up to, you ask. Let me explain. MOH who has been using insulin for longer than I have and who always had quite a good waistline has put on about 14cms around the middle and now has a paunch, something he never sported before. He has gone up two trouser sizes and because he is not very tall needs a short or stout fitting which seem unavailable today. This means if he can find trousers to fit around his waist they will be many cms too long. I know for some reason men these days wear their trousers with wrinkles galore around their ankle but neither MOH or I think that looks terribly elegant.
Now with track pants and their elastic waists MOH is still wearing those he's had a while as they S.T.R.E.T.C.H but he now has about 3 pairs of good trousers in his wardrobe that just won't do up any more because they don't stretch. If only men could buy good trousers with elastic waists as we ladies can all his problems would be solved but he can't so it looks as though the trusty sewing machine will have to come out and new trousers will have to be shortened to a comfortable length for him.
Men's casual shirts (polo shirts and the like) also tend to rather hug their bodies and unless they wear sports shirts hanging out they can't hide that bulge as we can with our flowing tops. Casual shirts are fine in summer but usually you have to IRON them...shock horror.....we put the iron away several years ago as we both wear drip dry. I offered to buy MOH a couple of nice Hawaiian shirts that he could wear hanging out and I can't explain the look that came on his face. You had to be there.
All of this may sound a little nonsensical but I do feel for the poor man as he is now becoming conscious of this body problem he has whereas I've been conscious of mine for many years although now it is of course getting worse although I've not put on any weight now for about 2 months so perhaps it has really stopped going up. One can always hope.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS
Our beautiful little friend is celebrating her 11th birthday this week. We got her from the Cat Haven in December 11 years ago when she was no more than 6 weeks old so we estimated back that her birthday would have been around about the 14th October so we have made this her official birthday.
We actually brought home 2 beautiful little kittens...a white and grey one and a grey one with a touch of tabby. Poor dear Henry died in his sleep in August 3 years ago. Precious and Henry were both lying in front of a fan heater when it happened and she immediately knew something bad had happened to Henry and for some months afterwards she wouldn't come into the living room and acted quite strangely. It took her some time to get over the trauma of Henry's death but eventually she was OK. Henry had been the dominant cat for most of the 8 years they were together but Precious gradually began to make her presence felt and now she is the boss of the house.
This morning as MOH and I got out of bed Precious came into our bedroom miaowing more tunefully than usual as though she knew it was her special day. No ordinary meow but more a sort of yodel....marowow marowow...if that makes any sense.
We both hope that our little mate will be with us another few years and that we too will be around to enjoy her friendship and to care for her as she ages. We think even now she is spending less time out of doors in the daytime and sleeping more. She is obviously having more 'nanny naps' than before.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS xxxx
NOW YOU CAN SEE IT!!
See what? you ask. My wonderful daughter has now helped by showing my new blog "Dear Mum and Dad" on my home page so if you do want to take a peek at some more meanderings of this geriatric great-grandmother you can. No promises of anything interesting but just yours truly having a chat with her folks about things that pop into her mind from time to time.
My loving thanks to K for interrupting her busy life to make this possible computer illiterate mother of hers. xxxx
My loving thanks to K for interrupting her busy life to make this possible computer illiterate mother of hers. xxxx
Saturday, October 13, 2012
MY NEW BLOG
As I promised I have begun my new blog and from now on will try and write about my daily doings in a letter format to my folks.
I had hoped to show this new blog on this page but have spent so much time trying to find out how to organise it to no avail. I just do not understand any of the instructions they give as they are obviously 'talking' to people with a full understanding of computers and blogging in general.
Until such time as some kind person can spend a little bit of time assisting me I doubt anyone will find my new blog anyway. I titled it Dear Mum and Dad.
I have also been trying to find out how to show a list of blogs I follow on my home page but that is also beyond me. I now have to go to my daughter's home page and check through the list of blogs he follows till I find those I'd like to have a peek at. This is very time consuming as well as frustrating.
You are all so clever in being able to show all the things you choose to show on your blogs and sometimes I often wonder how I ever actually managed to have a blog of my own! Perhaps it was before they made changes and complicated it all so much more than before.
Anyway I am now off to cook dinner...a simple grilled pork cutlet with salads. The weather turned very warm suddenly and so salads were bought but now the day has become quite cold but salads it is going to be 'cos I don't have any other vegies in the fridge right now.
Hopefully all the above problems will be solved shortly and I will have a blog page with all the gadgets I want on it...I think they call them gadgets or is it widgets??? Honestly I really only understand plain English so they've lost me. I need leading out of the wilderness......soon....please!!!!
I had hoped to show this new blog on this page but have spent so much time trying to find out how to organise it to no avail. I just do not understand any of the instructions they give as they are obviously 'talking' to people with a full understanding of computers and blogging in general.
Until such time as some kind person can spend a little bit of time assisting me I doubt anyone will find my new blog anyway. I titled it Dear Mum and Dad.
I have also been trying to find out how to show a list of blogs I follow on my home page but that is also beyond me. I now have to go to my daughter's home page and check through the list of blogs he follows till I find those I'd like to have a peek at. This is very time consuming as well as frustrating.
You are all so clever in being able to show all the things you choose to show on your blogs and sometimes I often wonder how I ever actually managed to have a blog of my own! Perhaps it was before they made changes and complicated it all so much more than before.
Anyway I am now off to cook dinner...a simple grilled pork cutlet with salads. The weather turned very warm suddenly and so salads were bought but now the day has become quite cold but salads it is going to be 'cos I don't have any other vegies in the fridge right now.
Hopefully all the above problems will be solved shortly and I will have a blog page with all the gadgets I want on it...I think they call them gadgets or is it widgets??? Honestly I really only understand plain English so they've lost me. I need leading out of the wilderness......soon....please!!!!
Friday, October 12, 2012
FAMILY MEMBERS 4 and 5...TWO NIECES
I spoke in length about my adopted brother Len and his wife Jean. Apart from mum and dad they were the only family I knew although mum did have a father and a married sister in England but of course I never met them and only knew of them through letters they wrote to mum.
Finally my family grew.....after several years of hoping for a family Jean found she was expecting their first child and this caused great excitement as they had almost given up hope and had actually begun to make arrangements to adopt a baby.
My first niece, Penelope (known always as Penny) was born in 1948 when I was 16 and although it is difficult to believe, it was the first time in my life I had had anything to do with a baby or even a very young child. She was a bonnie baby with blond curls and much loved by both families.
My second niece, Wendy was born in 1950. She was also a bonnie baby but she tended to have straighter hair but to me they were both gorgeous. I always enjoyed being allowed to have a cuddle of both of them when they were tiny.
In unfortunately missed both their christenings. When Penny was christened I was ill in bed and at the time of Wendy's christening I was away on a working holiday in Melbourne.
Our family lived only a few streets away from them in North Perth so I would quite often call in to their home on my way home from work. I used to walk from Perth to North Perth most nights as I always enjoyed walking.
Eventually they moved to a more distant suburb so we saw less of them but Wendy when she was about 13-14 used to come and stay with us on weekends and during school holidays so we got to know her better than we did Penny.
In her late teens Penny went to the eastern states to work so we saw even less of her.
We did attend both their weddings and they were really special. Penny at her wedding breakfast had pipers playing (her maternal grandmother was a Scotswoman) but strangely enough Wendy, who had her wedding breakfast in the beautiful back garden of her parents' home, did not have pipers although she actually did marry a Scot.
After the girls married and grew up we only saw them very occasionally which I felt rather sad about but that's the way life goes. They both had two children each (a pigeon pair in each case) and now have grandchildren of their own of whom they are very proud.
Wendy was sadly widowed in June, 2009 but she is still enjoying her life and has her sister, her family and lots of friends. Penny and her husband live in a semi-rural area and carry on an import business and seem content with their life.
I have included Penny and Wendy in my family as they were quite a big part of my life when I was a teenager and into my 20s and 30s.
Finally my family grew.....after several years of hoping for a family Jean found she was expecting their first child and this caused great excitement as they had almost given up hope and had actually begun to make arrangements to adopt a baby.
My first niece, Penelope (known always as Penny) was born in 1948 when I was 16 and although it is difficult to believe, it was the first time in my life I had had anything to do with a baby or even a very young child. She was a bonnie baby with blond curls and much loved by both families.
My second niece, Wendy was born in 1950. She was also a bonnie baby but she tended to have straighter hair but to me they were both gorgeous. I always enjoyed being allowed to have a cuddle of both of them when they were tiny.
In unfortunately missed both their christenings. When Penny was christened I was ill in bed and at the time of Wendy's christening I was away on a working holiday in Melbourne.
Our family lived only a few streets away from them in North Perth so I would quite often call in to their home on my way home from work. I used to walk from Perth to North Perth most nights as I always enjoyed walking.
Eventually they moved to a more distant suburb so we saw less of them but Wendy when she was about 13-14 used to come and stay with us on weekends and during school holidays so we got to know her better than we did Penny.
In her late teens Penny went to the eastern states to work so we saw even less of her.
We did attend both their weddings and they were really special. Penny at her wedding breakfast had pipers playing (her maternal grandmother was a Scotswoman) but strangely enough Wendy, who had her wedding breakfast in the beautiful back garden of her parents' home, did not have pipers although she actually did marry a Scot.
After the girls married and grew up we only saw them very occasionally which I felt rather sad about but that's the way life goes. They both had two children each (a pigeon pair in each case) and now have grandchildren of their own of whom they are very proud.
Wendy was sadly widowed in June, 2009 but she is still enjoying her life and has her sister, her family and lots of friends. Penny and her husband live in a semi-rural area and carry on an import business and seem content with their life.
I have included Penny and Wendy in my family as they were quite a big part of my life when I was a teenager and into my 20s and 30s.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
FAMILY MEMBERS .. #3...MY BROTHER
As you know I was adopted when just a wee baby and I've explained who my adopted (adoptive?) parents were. My dad had been widowed when his son was very young and with Len having been born in March of 1911 and me in January of 1932, Len was nearly 21 when I was born. He had left the farm by that time and was working in Perth. I think he used to come home on visits as I have a very old photograph taken near the farm in 1932 and Len was part of the group and I was a tiny baby.
We moved to Perth following Mum's illness in about September of 1937 and at this time Len was working for a firm of taxis known as Yellow Cabs. He had to wear a chauffeur's suit complete with leggings and a cap and he always looked very smart when he left for work. When we first arrived in Perth we had rooms in a big house at the east end of Wellington Street but after a short while rooms became available in the house where Len had a nice little flat situated in the back garden.
I think it was when we moved into Goderich Street that I began to get to know my big brother much better. I guess in some ways, owing to the age difference, perhaps he was more like an uncle. I do know though that we became very close and he was always very nice to me.
In the year prior to the declaration of the beginning of WW2 Len decided to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He was stationed at what was then called Pearce Aerodrome and one of first his tasks was to colour by hand a life size photograph of King George VI. I think it was then placed in the Officer's Mess. He had always been quite artistic in his youth and he eventually became a photographer in the air force.
During WW2 he was on loan to the American Air Force situated in Darwin and actually took part in a big air raid on the Japanese oil wells in Borneo. As his job was to photograph the result of this raid theirs was the last 'plane over the target. They were chased way off course by Japanese fighter 'planes and as on their homeward journey over the Timor Sea the fuel gauge showed EMPTY.
They had no idea if they would make it to the northern shores of Australia so the fellows began saying goodbye to each other and even paying back small loans to each other. I feel they had an extraordinarily good pilot as he managed to keep the 'plane airborne and glided in and made a landing on a northern beach. As the 'plane dug into the sand it nose dived resulting in all the men being plummeted towards the nose. They had all congregated at the rear of the 'plane thinking this was the safest place for them to be. Poor Len ended up under the pile of men and his was the only injury....a very bloody nose.
A 'plane flew over the next day and dropped water and provisions to them but they had no idea how long they would remain on this deserted beach. After a few days two aborigines carrying spears and other paraphernalia came out of the bush. One of the Americans said he knew how to speak to aborigines and went towards them shouting "Yahoo Yahoo" to which the aborigines said "Good Morning." They had come from a mission station and spoke very good English. I believe the American looked somewhat abashed.
They led the men through the bush to the mission and Len said he was amazed how easily the aborigines moved through quite thick bush and the crew had trouble keeping up with them. Eventually they returned to a nearby beach and were picked up by a lugger and then returned to the air base in Darwin.
I think Len was actually involved in several aeroplane crashes during his spell in the air force which may have had something to do with his contracting Meniere's Syndrome in later life. He was discharged from the airforce in 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant although at one time had held the rank of Acting Squadron Leader.
I was always very, very fond and proud of my big brother and also of his wife Jean who he married in Perth in 1940. With Len being away Jean joined the Australian Women's Army Service although if I remember rightly she was always stationed in or near Perth.
The two of them were always lovely to me and I often stayed with them for a few days. As we grew older we unfortunately grew apart somewhat. I often felt they didn't approve of me obtaining a divorce from my first husband although they were always very nice to my second husband.
I have always been so very glad that I spent some time with Len the night before he died in 1986. He contracted lung cancer and I remember well his bravery in facing up to his impending death. His wife had been very ill with shingles so he had put off going to the doctor as he was so busy caring for her. He had noticed a severe shortness of breath but by the time he went and saw his doctor it was too late. The cancer had taken too big a hold if his body so we lost him when he was 76. His widow went on to live a full life and died in 2004, aged 87. They had two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Len, I think of you often, both of you in fact, and remember you with a fondness that will never die. I too remember that beautiful baritone voice you had and the numerous nights we would stand around the piano, at our home or yours, all singing but in particular listening quite often to you singing on your own. They were wonderful times that I will never forget. Thank you for being my big brother.
We moved to Perth following Mum's illness in about September of 1937 and at this time Len was working for a firm of taxis known as Yellow Cabs. He had to wear a chauffeur's suit complete with leggings and a cap and he always looked very smart when he left for work. When we first arrived in Perth we had rooms in a big house at the east end of Wellington Street but after a short while rooms became available in the house where Len had a nice little flat situated in the back garden.
I think it was when we moved into Goderich Street that I began to get to know my big brother much better. I guess in some ways, owing to the age difference, perhaps he was more like an uncle. I do know though that we became very close and he was always very nice to me.
In the year prior to the declaration of the beginning of WW2 Len decided to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He was stationed at what was then called Pearce Aerodrome and one of first his tasks was to colour by hand a life size photograph of King George VI. I think it was then placed in the Officer's Mess. He had always been quite artistic in his youth and he eventually became a photographer in the air force.
During WW2 he was on loan to the American Air Force situated in Darwin and actually took part in a big air raid on the Japanese oil wells in Borneo. As his job was to photograph the result of this raid theirs was the last 'plane over the target. They were chased way off course by Japanese fighter 'planes and as on their homeward journey over the Timor Sea the fuel gauge showed EMPTY.
They had no idea if they would make it to the northern shores of Australia so the fellows began saying goodbye to each other and even paying back small loans to each other. I feel they had an extraordinarily good pilot as he managed to keep the 'plane airborne and glided in and made a landing on a northern beach. As the 'plane dug into the sand it nose dived resulting in all the men being plummeted towards the nose. They had all congregated at the rear of the 'plane thinking this was the safest place for them to be. Poor Len ended up under the pile of men and his was the only injury....a very bloody nose.
A 'plane flew over the next day and dropped water and provisions to them but they had no idea how long they would remain on this deserted beach. After a few days two aborigines carrying spears and other paraphernalia came out of the bush. One of the Americans said he knew how to speak to aborigines and went towards them shouting "Yahoo Yahoo" to which the aborigines said "Good Morning." They had come from a mission station and spoke very good English. I believe the American looked somewhat abashed.
They led the men through the bush to the mission and Len said he was amazed how easily the aborigines moved through quite thick bush and the crew had trouble keeping up with them. Eventually they returned to a nearby beach and were picked up by a lugger and then returned to the air base in Darwin.
I think Len was actually involved in several aeroplane crashes during his spell in the air force which may have had something to do with his contracting Meniere's Syndrome in later life. He was discharged from the airforce in 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant although at one time had held the rank of Acting Squadron Leader.
I was always very, very fond and proud of my big brother and also of his wife Jean who he married in Perth in 1940. With Len being away Jean joined the Australian Women's Army Service although if I remember rightly she was always stationed in or near Perth.
The two of them were always lovely to me and I often stayed with them for a few days. As we grew older we unfortunately grew apart somewhat. I often felt they didn't approve of me obtaining a divorce from my first husband although they were always very nice to my second husband.
I have always been so very glad that I spent some time with Len the night before he died in 1986. He contracted lung cancer and I remember well his bravery in facing up to his impending death. His wife had been very ill with shingles so he had put off going to the doctor as he was so busy caring for her. He had noticed a severe shortness of breath but by the time he went and saw his doctor it was too late. The cancer had taken too big a hold if his body so we lost him when he was 76. His widow went on to live a full life and died in 2004, aged 87. They had two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Len, I think of you often, both of you in fact, and remember you with a fondness that will never die. I too remember that beautiful baritone voice you had and the numerous nights we would stand around the piano, at our home or yours, all singing but in particular listening quite often to you singing on your own. They were wonderful times that I will never forget. Thank you for being my big brother.
A NEW TYPE OF BLOG (I HOPE)
I am think of creating a second blog when I find out how to do that. The reason is because I often feel like popping on here and just talking about what I have been doing but realise that most of the things I do are pretty darned boring.
Recently MOH came in while I was on the computer and began talking about books from our childhood years. He mentioned Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows and we then began trying to think of other wonderful books from way back then.
A book suddenly came to my mind that I had read when I was between the ages of 10 and 12. It was called "Daddy Longlegs" by Jean Webster, and I remembered it as a book I had really loved and in fact had probably read several times. I don't get to the shops much so I hopped in eBay and bought a copy from a bookseller that sent it post haste and post free which I thought a good deal. The book is about an orphan who is helped to have an education by an unknown rich benefactor. All he asks in return is that she write him letters to tell him of her progress. It is a delightful book and one I would recommend to folk no matter their age.
Thinking more about this particular book and also my folks who encouraged me to read and were always buying books for me I decided on a plan of action. Dad would go to the auction houses and come back with a pile of secondhand books so there was always ready material for all of us.
To cut a long story short (I do seem to go on and on at times don't I?) I decided I would begin a blog called "Dear Mum and Dad". I could then 'talk' to them about what I have been doing as I am sure they would be interested and I'd feel I was just talking to them and not worrying about what others thought of what I was writing. Hope that makes sense to everyone and of course if you are interested you are more than welcome to have a peek as well.
Now all I have to do is find out how to begin a new blog but associate it with this one so it will show on the same page. When my daughter is not too busy I am sure she will be able to help me as she has 4 blogs linked together. So my dear if you happen to read this perhaps you could tell me how to go about it. I saw where I could click on start new blog but wasn't sure what to put as the address. Oh gee, I am just so computer illiterate aren't I? : )
Recently MOH came in while I was on the computer and began talking about books from our childhood years. He mentioned Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows and we then began trying to think of other wonderful books from way back then.
A book suddenly came to my mind that I had read when I was between the ages of 10 and 12. It was called "Daddy Longlegs" by Jean Webster, and I remembered it as a book I had really loved and in fact had probably read several times. I don't get to the shops much so I hopped in eBay and bought a copy from a bookseller that sent it post haste and post free which I thought a good deal. The book is about an orphan who is helped to have an education by an unknown rich benefactor. All he asks in return is that she write him letters to tell him of her progress. It is a delightful book and one I would recommend to folk no matter their age.
Thinking more about this particular book and also my folks who encouraged me to read and were always buying books for me I decided on a plan of action. Dad would go to the auction houses and come back with a pile of secondhand books so there was always ready material for all of us.
To cut a long story short (I do seem to go on and on at times don't I?) I decided I would begin a blog called "Dear Mum and Dad". I could then 'talk' to them about what I have been doing as I am sure they would be interested and I'd feel I was just talking to them and not worrying about what others thought of what I was writing. Hope that makes sense to everyone and of course if you are interested you are more than welcome to have a peek as well.
Now all I have to do is find out how to begin a new blog but associate it with this one so it will show on the same page. When my daughter is not too busy I am sure she will be able to help me as she has 4 blogs linked together. So my dear if you happen to read this perhaps you could tell me how to go about it. I saw where I could click on start new blog but wasn't sure what to put as the address. Oh gee, I am just so computer illiterate aren't I? : )
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