Grateful spends a Day in the Life

Kymmie at A Day In the Life of Us is hosting us this week.



There she is up there in all her fancy-pants gorgeousness, say hi, Kymmie!

Pop on over to link up your grateful post and remember to say good morning to at least one perfect stranger.

Baby, I was born to run...

... off at the mouth, apparently.

Because while you have all been wondering 'whereforartthere Maxabella?', I have been busy whoring myself around the blogiverse as a guest postie. Not once, not twice, but three times. All I need is a pole.

Find me belatedly over at Cherie's blog, A Baby Called Maxabella (oh, okay, her blog is really called A Baby Called Max), where I posted a whole week ago. Cherie's been going through a mad time recently and the call went out for guest posties and seeing as I've got loads of time on my hands because my own blog is idle, of course I put my hand up.  Except that my own blog was idle, I would have posted a link a week ago. Sorry about that Cherie!

And number two is over at Oh Good Golly That Gorgeous Miss Holly (or something like that), but she hasn't actually posted that one up yet so I'll let you know when it goes live. It's really just a whole lot of me running off at the mouth about self confidence, which is kind of ironic when you think about it.

And number three is... well, what do you need me for? I'm thinking that despite guest posting being ultimately 100 times more terrifying than posting on my own blog, I might make a career out of it for a while... so, baby, contact me... I'm available.

[Image via our old friend, the untraceable weheartit]

When will I ever learn?

I'm too personal.

I shouldn't write about others the way I do.

I say stuff lightly that others can't lift.

I wish I didn't link to Beth in my post last week. I've regretted it ever since. I was being light (and I felt light  - I loved Beth's post, which is why I linked to it) but some people didn't see it that way and I regret that.

Some of the comments on my Follows Back post also made me realise that I can be too harsh and judgemental.

I try not to be judgey. But I just am. Maybe I'm a bit of a nasty bully after all. The thought of that makes my heart soggy.*

So, apologies to my dear friend Beth. She knows I love her, but now you do too.

And apologies to the Follows Back people. I shouldn't have judged.

I'm not going to be posting for a while. I'm a bit tired of myself, to be honest.

Happy days to you!

x

* Thank you, Maxi-Taxi, for describing so well a feeling that is mostly indescribable.

[Image found (rather randomly!) here]

This week I'm grateful for... advice

Time away to just ponder is so necessary, don't you think? When I set out on my big truckin' adventure (honk, honk) the rain was bucketing down, I got stuck in gnarly traffic jam 15 minutes from home and I did find myself thinking "what the farm am I doing?" But then as soon as I left the city the rain lifted and the most magnificent rainbow was suddenly before me - arched across the road such that I had to drive right through it to be on my way. A sign, surely a brilliant sign.

I did a lot (a lot) of thinking while travelling solo. Many of the ideas and directions I came up with were good ones, some were not.


So, this week I'm grateful for...


157. Advice - a caring, careful sounding board is a blessing indeed.


158. Pondering - what a great, meaty word that is. What great, meaty ideas come as a result.


159. Riding solo - turns out I'm actually pretty easy to get along with.

So, what's making you smile today? Add your Grateful post to the list below (and please, we love you, but it really does matter that your post is one about being grateful, not just a random), add the button (grab the code from my sidebar and paste it into your post) and pretty-please add a link back to me. Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine.




[Image by Ahndraya Parlato]

Comfort

It occurs to me that above all else, the blessed ones in this life are the ones who reach out and offer the quiet gift of comfort.

Of reassurance, of taking time to notice, of hearing.

Such a warm, golden, often-overlooked treasure.

How long has it been since you've comforted another?

[Image from here. The girl in the picture needs a sandwich. Even a cracker might help. Some comfort food? Just saying.]

Something new to add about blogging?

Back when I was thinking about doing my 'first birthday' blog post, I was wracking my brains for some interesting blog-type tidbit to pass on and darn if I couldn't think of anything unique to add to the discussion.

But I think I have something new to add after all!

Because I have lots of lovely, engaged 'followers' (man, I hate that word!), I often get emails from new bloggers asking me how I built my community so quickly. I generally respond with the 'big three':

1. Enjoy visiting lots of blogs and leave comments when you can
2. Write at regular times so people know when to find you
3. Ask questions in your post if you are interested in a response

Like I said, the usual suspects.

But I think I have something new to add after all!

I had a little bit of time to browse on Tuesday and I did something I haven't done for a long time. I 'hopped' from new blog to new blog to see what's out there. I'm sure we all do this, usually clicking on links we've never been to in the blog rolls on each blog we visit. Standard stuff.

But I think I have something new to add after all!

Because what I did, and have always done without realising what it meant, was read the comments on posts that interested me and then I clicked on a comment that interested me and then I visited that person's blog and if I liked it, I left a comment and if I really, really liked it, I followed. That's how I built my community, you see, by finding out about the blogs of people who are already commenters.

You see?

We all know stacks of great people who read many, many blogs but don't tend to leave a comment. Which is just fine (although I don't know how they do it, I can't shut up myself). But if you want some engagement and interaction on your site (which, I don't know about you, but for me is the best bit about blogging) then look to make friends with the commenters.

That's all. Probably not so revelationary after all now that I see it written down (which is so often the case, isn't it!), but it was a big 'jump in the air' moment for me when I suddenly realised what I was subconsciously up to. Do you do things like that?

And now, in the true spirit of blogging, I invite every single person who is reading this post to leave me a comment to say hi. Even if it's just a 'hi' or even a dreaded :) and even if you stay Anonymous.

Just so I know you're there.

[Image originally found here]

Maxabella Hearts Life too

Yesterday (yes, YESTERDAY) the lovely gals at We Heart Life asked me over to play. I can't believe I forgot to link up with them. Carly interviewed me about the things I love and it was so much fun talking about myself. You know how it is...

So, please, head over and say hi. We Heart Life is a great site full of positive vibes and great advice.

I need you to visit so they don't think I'm a bad bloggy friend. C'mon gang, let's rally!

x

[Image via weheartit]

This week I'm grateful for... Monday night drinking

Aha! Blogger is back!

So, where was I? That's right...

I can’t remember the last time I went out drinking on a Monday night… maybe I’ve never done it? Monday drinking just seems so… committed. And foolhardy. That’s certainly how I felt when I woke up on Tuesday and realised that I’d somehow come down with a terrible virus overnight. Isn’t it funny how that happens? And then the realisation: oh my freakin’ god, it’s only Tuesday.

Of course it was the crazy, social world of blogging that had me out on a school night. For the first time ever I mixed my URL with my IRL* and met a whole bunch of bloggers at the Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers** launch party.  Highlight was definitely knocking back a couple of contraband ciggies in a back laneway, in the rain with Woogsy, BabyMac and Lori. Hardcore. Felt like I was eighteen again. There were so many fabulous bloggers there that I can’t mention them all, but a quick shout out to Chantelle, Kirrily, Fox in Flats, Kellie  Kerri, Farmer’s Wifey, Clare, Caitlyn and, of course, that gorgeous gal PPMJ.

So, this week I’m grateful for…

124. Monday night drinking – ‘cos it’s just so great to invest in shaking things up and doing new stuff, even if you have to pay for it the next day. I actually think the majority of my hangover was mainly due to the 227 cigarette I smoked (I haven’t been a ‘smoker’ in about eight years!) and the 1768 shelled peanuts I ate at the laneway bar we washed up in. Couldn't have been those,oh, 3 wines I drank... right?

125. IRL – I’m so glad I now know some of our lovely bloggers IRL.

126. URL – But I’m equally as glad that I still love them (and so many, many more) in URL.

So, what's making you smile today? Add your I'm Grateful For post to the list below (and please, we love you, but it really does matter that your post is a Grateful one and not just a random), add the button (grab the code from my sidebar and paste it into your post) andpretty-please add a link back to me.  Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine. 

Happy weekend to you!

* This rather magical term was coined by MultipleMum at the AMB. Love your work, Aunty Coo.

** You can vote for me here. Don’t be shy

[Image via weheartit]

Dealing with Difficult People #9: The Desperate Newcomer

It's true I have a love-hate relationship with People. I love to meet new ones and make friends; but at the same time I loathe the general public and am wary of newcomers. I know: another complete contradiction in my life. Just call me Ms Hyjekell.

I think one of the reasons that I am wary is because I have been bitten many times by the Desperate Newcomer (DN). That friendly person you meet at playgroup / the park / the pub whose company you find pleasant enough such that you casually swap phone numbers and a ‘we must meet again'.

Only there’s nothing casual about it.

We must meet again.

You catch up for coffee with the kids in tow. You go to the pub for a quiet glass of whine. After that they are stapled to your sleeve at every social engagement you find yourself at and before you know it, they've invited themselves to your family BBQ.  People soon refer to you as Besties and thus you bewilderingly find yourself ensonced with someone whom you barely know and are fast starting to loathe on sight. Don’t they have any other friends?

So, just how do you edge out the DN before the claustrophobia sets in?

1. Be wary of anyone who talks incessantly about how many friends they have
They haven’t got any.

2. Be alert around the Pinnerdownerer
The Pinnerdownerer is that person who when you vaguely say ‘we should get the gang together soon' says ‘how about tomorrow at 7, my place, you bring dessert, Mary's on nibbles?’ Every group of friends needs a Pinnerdownerer or no one would ever actually meet up. We would all just stay home cosy and comfy in our little nests watching How I Met Your Mother A Thousand Shows From Now re-runs. So, while we acknowledge that the Pinnerdownerer is an important organising role it is very easy for them to tip into DN territory. Try not to be pinned down too regularly.

3. Time the first contact
Both the timing of and the duration. If someone you’ve recently met calls you within a matter of days and spends at least 10 minutes getting to the ‘come over on Saturday point, you will not want to be available on Saturday.

4. Observe during the Uncomfortable Absence
Sometimes you meet a family and you all just get along so fabulously that before you know it you’ve spent the past three weekends together, are planning to share a holiday house over Easter and your children are wearing each others’ clothes. Regardless of how much you like the family, how similar you are and how great your time together is, you will wake up on the Monday after the third consecutive Sunday BBQ and think ‘Oooh. Awkward’. Whereby you will avoid them like the plague for at least two weeks before happily resuming your friendship. This is normal, they feel the exact same way and they will be avoiding you right back.

If you receive any type of contact from the other family during the two week Uncomfortable Absence period, you can be sure they are Desperate Newcomers and no further contact should be made.

5. Sadly, you can’t just avoid them
If you fail to spot a DN and soon find yourself the object of their affection, it’s tempting to use our favourite Difficult People technique: ignore them until they go away. Unfortunately our old stand-by just doesn’t work with the DN. Ignoring them makes them perkier and more time-consuming than ever as they try to win their way back into your heart. You have to remember that you are new forever best friends with this person.

No, the only way to successfully eradicate a DN is to find them a new best friend. Have a chat to your social team and find out if anyone else has a DN they are trying to palm. Introducing DNs to each other is not just a community service, it’s a match made in everlasting heaven.

I’ve lost full years of my life trying to avoid DNs. Have you experienced one and lived to tell the tale? Do you have some other techniques to share with the group?

[As always, Difficult People image by Suse Bauer via Revoluzzza... note that Desperate Newcomers often look like butter wouldn't melt but there are always big sharp teeth involved. Don't let that innocent face (and rather scrumptious fabric choice) deceive you!]

This week I'm grateful for... new friends

I've ranged this week from 'nurse' to a 'bugged' Cappers (her words); to 'host' of an Australia Day gala; to 'cleaner' as I prepared for and recovered from said gala (such a lot of vacuuming involved when one hosts a party!); to 'proud mumma' as I watched my Tsunamis take to swimming with a vengeance; to 'stressed out and freaking' wife at a little scare LOML gave me today (nothing to worry about!). It's been grand.

I do also admit to going a bit stir crazy, as I always do when faced with a house, three children and me, just me. Not great at being a stay at home mum. I get better after a few days... I need to find my 'home' groove and dance to that. We get there.

So, this week I have lots to be grateful for, but to narrow it down...

1. New friends - how lovely to find newbies that you have lots in common with and really, really like. It's so great to drag out fave stories for an appreciative new crowd. And beyond fab to get to talk about all the stuff like 'how you met' and 'where did you grow up?'... love it.

2. Older children - at 6 and 5 years old, my two bigger Tsunamis are growing into the 'older child' bracket. The bracket where you're at a party and you don't see them for hours. You practically forget you even have children. Of course, a warm, melting Badoo on the lap on a hot day keeps it real.

3. A cool breeze at day's end - we sweltered on Thursday but then a light rain fell and brought with it a cool stirring. Sheer, welcome relief.

So, what's making you smile today? Grab my I'm grateful for... button from my sidebar if you like, add your I'm Grateful For post below and please add a link back to me in your post. Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine. Happy day to you!

[Cute little gingerbread image by C-L-K]

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Don't forget to pop over to the Fibro's SENSATIONAL giveaway. You can win a 5-week online writing course with the Sydney Writers' Centre! Brilliant stuff! Click on the image below.

Adopt a Softie

You've seen the 'Pay it Forward' posts, right? Well, instead of sending out something handmade to her top five respondees, Brenda at Mira Narnie has offered to make a softie to donate on your behalf to the Hope Softies drive run by Mon Petit Poppet.

So if you love the idea of the Hope Softies but are HOPELESS at SOFTIES, this is your opportunity to contribute.

Pop over to Brenda's and be one of her five!

Remember, when you're paying it forward, 'handmade' is a very generous word. Made by hand, remember? Bake a slice, make a pet rock, buy some pretty ribbon and tie it in a bow... you don't have to wear clever crafty clogs to be a 'handmade' guru.

Pay it forward.

Oh, and speaking of being really, really nice, do you think if you have a moment, you could pop over to Sugar Coat It and vote for my sister And then there were four in the side bar? She really wants a blog makeover and if she doesn't win Melissa's then I will have to do it... so, pretty please?!

[Softie image is by Revoluzzza - my fave - which may or may not be indicative of what Brenda has in store for your donated softie...]

My own sorrow

A darling friend of mine passed away last week after a seven year long battle with cancer. Oh yes, she fought the good fight. She was always a strong, graceful woman who dazzled with her elegance and wit until the very end.

The funeral was today. Forgive me my public wallowing, but though her death came as a release of sorts, we are all devastated. This letter that I wrote to her in her last week might reveal a little of why (she won't mind me sharing, she was always so open and generous).

Dear Philippa

It has been too long since I have seen you, but, of course, we have always been this way. It is our way.

I think you know how much you mean to me, how fundamentally important you are for me being me. You came into my life at a time when I desperately needed a mentor, a friend to confide in and trust and guide me. You helped me face up to and understand something that happened to me that had blown my understanding of myself and the world off track. You listened, you loved, you gently guided me back. You did so much to help me grow into the person I am today.

I often close my eyes and see your dignified, elegant self. With eyes so compassionate and warm and knowing that we mere mortals are lost in them. Your presence in my mind is calming and inspiring and delightful.

It is 24-year old me who thanks you from the bottom of my heart for your wisdom, intelligence and bottomless compassion. It is me today who will miss you endlessly when you leave us.

I adore you, as always. For always.
Your everloving friend.

x

[Image via tumblr]

For Lori

Be embraced by the universe, Lori and little Chop and Bump.

Ave et vale Tony.  10.1.2011.

A change of plan?

I wonder... I wonder if it would be okay with everyone if instead of using random.org to generate a winner for the Gorgeous Giveaway, we just very unrandomly choose Jane at My Pear Tree House.  Jane is a long-time follower of Maxabella loves... and a fun, generous supporter of many of our blogs. And, oh my, she's going through a really, really tough time right now. 

Please let me know via comment if you are okay to forfeit your entry and send all the prizes to Jane. If I get a enough comments saying 'yes' then that is what we will do. We'll send her a care package full of all these lovely handmade presents from all of us in the blogging community. 

Thank you Posie Patchwork, Scissors Paper Rock, Mira Narnie, Ivy Designs and Loved for being open to this idea.

Please let us know.

x

Here's a little post about Glen

Have you met Glen? I haven't either, but boy do I like him.  His blog is irreverent and funny and honest (and every now and then he does these weird posts pretending he's some Hollywood wannabe dude called Breeze Van Santo which I totally don't get but read anyway), but that's not why I'm dedicating this post to him.

I've mentioned him before because up until Sunday when Loz joined the gang, Glen has been my only (unrelated) male follower. He comments and everything (his comments are extremely funny. Check out his musings on my love of birds here). I used to wonder why I didn't have many male followers (they are so, so welcome). I'm definitely not a girly girl - I know how to roll my own cigarettes, drink bourbon straight up when the mood catches me and I'm a hell of a pool player after a couple of them bourbons. But really, let's face it, I'm hardly one to shy away from a... delicate subject, am I? I kinda put it aaaall out there. And I do like pretty. A lot.

So, I'm just in love with the fact that this bloke (and he is a BLOKE) would diligently stick with all the posts about female toilet habits and pretty pom-poms and garlands and strutting your stuff and childbirth and breastfeeding and even, god help him, bikini-line waxing. He reads them all. He says they "scare the hell out of him", but he reads them anyway. I like that in a man.

So Glen, I know you're reading this and I just wanted to say, from all of us scary women in Maxabellaland, that we love blokes like you. We really, really do.

Do you have any male followers? Do you also admire men who won't let women's business get in the way of a decent friendship?

[Image blatantly nicked from Glen's Life. He looks a bit psycho, but I'm sure that's just his Halloween face... right Glen? Glen?]

Blogliciousness: Baby Mac

Blogliciousness n 1 Desirable, yummy, inspiring and/ or entertaining blog. 2 A potential new blog to love.

"Return of the Mac, it's return of the Mac..." 

Oh, sorry... I was drifting into embarrassing lyric mode again there. Admittedly not quite as tragic as my Happy Days moment, but still.

The reason for my mis-spelling of Mack is the feature of this maiden voyage of Blogliciousness.  

Baby Mac

Have you met Beth?

She's quirky and honest and very, very brave. Just weeks ago she tree-changed with her darling husband and two littlies. It must have been daunting to leave the inner-city and move to the country, but she has soft landed into one of the most gorgeous parts of the world. Better still, she's moved straight into the pages of Home Beautiful and we get to turn green watching her pull her desirable home together.

So with Baby Mac you get self-reflection, cynical wit, home decorating and acute observations of country life all rolled into one lovely blog. She's pretty handy with a camera too. What's not to love?

Best wishes for your Home Beautiful move, Beth. I'll be right there for all the good times and the bad times.

Pop over to see Beth, but before you scamper, tell us about a blogger whose lifestyle you admire. Don't forget to add a link so we can check them out!

[Image from Baby Mac, of course!]

Things I learned this week including that I'm happiest when I'm being creative

Happy Friyay!

As I write this I am looking out my hotel window at the sweep that is Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland. Am I on holidays again, you ask? No I am not.

I am sporting a media pass and covering the V8 Supercars race for my work. Oh, the glamour.

As I race about (pun!) dodging grid girls (fun!), I had ample time to reflect on what I learned during the week that was...

1. A friend asked me on Monday, "Besides your family, what makes you happiest?" and without hesitation I responded that time stands still for me when I'm writing, making and generally being creative. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, I would much rather be making something.

2. A 'flimsy' is a quilt top before the batting and backing have been added (thank you Sue at Charlotte's Cottage!)

3. Whenever you see a large group of idle teenagers, one will be plucking away at a guitar. It's best to vacate before they launch into a rendition of Stairway to Heaven because, believe me, it will happen and it will not be pretty.

4. Geocaching is a high-tech version of a scavenger hunt using GPS. There are hunts already preset that you can download here -  it really adds that extra something to a bushwalk. Check out the fabulous Geocache bag and goodies that Emily made over at her fabulous Saltwater Kids site.

5. I knew this already, but bloggers really do seem to be the nicest bunch of people on the planet. What is it about blogging that brings out the best in people? The delicious comments I received on the mermaid party post made the party even better. Generous, warm, inviting and supportive... I don't think the critics know what they're talking about!!

How about you? Did you learn anything new to share this week?

[Image by Kristine May]

♥ Mermaidia Magic

The Cappers is five! We celebrated with a Mermaid (and Pirates) party yesterday. 

I made the Martha tissue pom poms as promised. They were both easier (it's a simple thing to do) and harder (it's fiddly) than I thought. But the end result was very festive and presentable enough (don't look too closely!)

I added some seaweed and little fish streamers... very weedy.

These little 'ice creams' were a huge hit... marshmallows in the base, chocolate crackle top, dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles on the top... as yummy as it sounds!

Because the ice creams were hard-core sugar, I made wholemeal raspberry muffins instead of cupcakes and made them more festive with a mermaid cake topper (printed out a pic, cut out the circle, stuck them on a toothpick). Marshmallow and strawberry kebabs (Cappers enjoyed putting these together as I made the cake).

And, of course, the cake. My first time working with fondant icing and it was... sticky. 2am and I'm covered in fondant icing. I found it really, really hard to add colouring. The more you kneaded to try to spread the colour, the sticker things got. Even a quick zap in the fridge would only give me a few more kneads at a time. Any hints?

We went on a submarine adventure through the ocean - what can we see? What's happening out there? Quick, run from the shark! Totally impromptu, but they absolutely loved it. Another thing - forget about toy prizes, medals for winners were the best thing ever.

I made mermaid costumes for the girls (fabrics, hot glue gun, lei, wand and sticky face jewels, hello). Little girls just love it when they all look the same... something in that...

Random photo showing off The Badoo and her pirate cousin Mr 3.

The boys' pirate costumes came from the $2 shop and were... $2. The pirates enjoyed harassing the mermaids immensely.

It was a fabulous day and Cappers loved it. I was so proud of my little girl when she was prompted as to what her birthday wish was and she looked around at everyone and said "I love my friends". Yes, that's what it's all about, my lovely. Happy happy birthday. 

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My party inspiration and mermaid picture for decorations came from Living Locurto.

And because I never do anything even half as exciting as this in "My Creative Space" "At My House", I'm linking up at Buttons by Lou Lou's on Monday and Kootoyoo's on Thursday this week. I'm a long time listener, first time caller on both these fabulous memes.

I'm also linking up (as always) with Anna's Much Love Monday. I love it over there.

Could this be the most memed post ever? Talk about flogging the horse!!

Making friends with friendship

 

I'm a bit of a funny one. A friend once described me as the most introverted extrovert he'd ever met, and I think he was spot on. A social butterfly who prefers her own company. If I spend too much time in the company of others the walls start to close in and I feel the need to retreat (retreat!). But if I spend too much time by myself, I'm climbing those very walls and am itching to get stuck into the company and fun of others.

I know through my psych studies that the true definition of extroversion is being externally motivated and introverts are just the opposite. So I know that deep down I am pure extrovert as I have zero capability to amuse and motivate myself if I suspect others aren't watching... but the social / not-social me is there nonetheless.

The extroverted side of me bullies the introverted side. All my life I've pressured myself to have more friends and be more social. I do love a party, but I'm not that good at hanging around just shooting the breeze with people who I don't find that interesting. And, confession time, I find most people just aren't that interesting. It took me a very long time to accept this and move on. I used to fret about not having a 'group' of mates that I kicked around with constantly. I'm still fascinated by the idea of a close group, but these days I've come to understand that the reason I never attracted such a group was because deep down the very thought of hanging around with the same bunch of people all the time makes me want to run for the hills.

Instead, over the years I've collected a friend here and there who became a bestie. So the friends I particularly love have been collected in unlikely places across a lifetime.  They mean the world to me, but I see them very irregularly and most of the time I'm more than okay with that. I am actually closest to (and spend most time with) Sisters A and C, but sisters don't really count as friends (as Sister C used to tell me when we were young and she was horrified to find herself hanging out with her sister yet again)...

But lately Cappers has fallen in love with Sammy, her Very Best Friend In The Whole World (as opposed to Lara who was last year's VBFITWW or Charlie who was VBFITWW the year before that). Cappers and Sammy have been making me a little melancoly for the dear friends in my own life.  So, I'm sending loving wishes to four lovely friends out there today.

Heather - who I met when we lived in side by side in semis in inner-city Sydney and had matching rowdy newborns. Dear Heather and I would swap houses regularly so I could listen to her baby refuse to sleep and she could listen to mine. Just to break up the routine, you know.

Cass - who I met in a spa in The Lakes District in England and who just 'stuck' from that day on. Cassie and her husband Clay are just gorgeous people who I could spend every day with and never get bored or feel claustrophobic.

Marina - my oldest schoolfriend who reminds me of life before responsibility. We can still talk for hours on the phone about boys (although these days the boys in question are on her daughter's mind, not hers) and she is someone I can call on day or night and she would drop everything to be there.

Jodie - who is a new friend, but a firm one. Our boys met at preschool last year and once we got over thinking each other was a bit nuts (as you do with frazzled mums everywhere!), we've come to rely on each other and laugh non-stop when we're together.

So, I feel like I've come full circle with friendships and am happy these days without the longed for group. It's lovely being content around others and even more content with the place of friendship in my life.

Have you also made friends with friendship? Do you have a close posse of friends, or are you a lone cowgirl like myself?

Brown paper packages, tied up with string

What did we do with Maxi-Taxi throughout the winter school holidays? Neither LOML or I could get time off work, so we prepared for lots of Holiday Care and WMG. Not so. We hadn't factored in the generosity of the Kinder Mum Brigade. Maxi-Taxi spent only 2 days out of 10 at Holiday Care, 2 with me, 1 with LOML and the rest in a variety of homes, all linked by kindness.

We made extra-special choc chip cookies (they have 3 types of choc bit plus mini-M&Ms) and took them along as a little thank you for having me.

It's amazing the difference in the way people live. One Thursday we drove up through the 'lawns' and parked in front of the 'staff quarters'. A horse wandered by. It was like walking onto the set of one of the house-porn shoots. To make matters worse, they're a really lovely family. I liked them so much before I saw their house.

The next home had a note on the front door 'I'm in my pjs, let yourselves in!' Place was a wreck. A child ate breakfast sitting on top of the table. Another child was in underpants only and promptly hid in the pantry never to be seen again. A motley dog wandered by.

No prizes for guessing which home I was more comfortable in.

Regardless of how or where or even what you live, we love you Kinder Mum Brigade. Thank you.


PS - This post is part of ♥Much Love♥'s [made it myself] week...