PEOPLE I MEET: LADY WALKER

Are you a people watcher? I am, in the worst possible way. I am fascinated by people around me and love to sticky beak. So much so Justin has even gotten up me for staring. I can’t help it, people fascinate me. I love to look at them and imagine what their life story is.

When Jarvis and I were at Bribie last week I saw this woman. I had stopped on the ‘calm side’ to take photos and she walked past. Walked? Power walked! She was so speedy. Which had me questioning why the walker frame? She was obviously agile and fast. So I stopped and watched her walk past and imagined a life story.

Do you do this? Make up random stories about stranger you see? 

BREASTFEEDING JARVIS

My breastfeeding journey has come to an end. Neither Jarvis nor I are happy about it. I remember on one hospital visit the mid-wife asked if I was going to breastfeed. I answered I would if I could. She then proceeded to give me an hour long lecture on the benefits of breastfeeding. I ended up cutting her off her tirade. (We asked for a new mid-wife soon after this visit, for this and many other reasons.)

Jarvis one day old

Even though I was stoned from the cesarean, I still knew how important it was to latch Jarvis on as quickly as I could. What an excellent feeder he turned out to be! What the mid-wife did not understand, I always wanted to feed Jarvis, as I did with Tamika, but I understand not all of the time do we get what we want.

Being a stay at home Mum afforded me the luxury of demand feeding Jarvis. Which I did until he was about 14 to 15 months old. I stopped the day feeds as my weight was dropping off way too much. But I kept up the sleep feeds. Both of us loved it. Jarvis would snuggle in my arms and look at me with such contentment when feeding, I knew I was doing the right thing by continuing the feeding.

However, last week on advice from my doctor I need to take a different medication, one in which I cannot breastfeed. So, as of Thursday night last week, I stopped feeding. It has been torture for us both. Jarvis will scream for over an hour, tearing at my chest trying to get a feed. He screams and arches his back; I am scared I will drop him. This from a child who rarely cries and has never thrown a tantrum. It goes on and on until he falls asleep, and it is not a good sleep he whimpers and if I even attempt to put him down, he wakes and starts the crying all over again.

So each morning and afternoon, I sit and hold my child for at least three hours. Yes that is over six hours a day. He is so unhappy it hurts my heart. At night I have to go to bed with him, and he will lay there holding my hair in his sleep as if I am going to leave him. During the wake time he has been a little bit clingy, not only to me but to Justin and Tamika as well.

Logically I know I need to take this medication, and that breastfeeding has to end at some point. But Tamika self weaned at around 22 months and it was easy for both of us. Jarvis and I are not finding this easy. Plus there is the added pain of having concrete boobs that are leaking. So much for those people who said I would not have enough milk at my age! And of course when Jarvis is crying and throwing himself about, he head butts my chest and milk goes everywhere, which makes him all the more upset.

I know this will stop, but right now it is not easy.

 

Jarvis a couple of hours old. Latched on easily.

TOURIST TUESDAY: BRIBIE ISLAND

How do I talk about a place that holds so many memories for me? My Grandparents moved there in 1972 and my family stayed there for every single school holiday. I remember the outcry, the outrage as the bridge had a 50 cent fee to cross.

Among the facts of Bribie Island…

The only Morten Bay Island that you can drive to.

Bribie Island is connected to the mainland by bridge and is only 45 minutes from Brisbane airport.

The island is 34 kilometres long and 8 kilometres at its widest.

A bridge from Sandstone Point on the mainland was completed in 1963.

The ocean side of the island is somewhat sheltered from prevailing winds by Moreton Island and associated sand banks and has only a small surf break. What we called the Surf Side.

The lee side is calm, with white sandy beaches in the south. Known as the calm side.

Most of the island is uninhabited national park (55.8 square kilometres) and forestry plantations.

The artist Ian Fairweather lived on Bribie Island for many years in self-inflicted poverty

However to me Bribie Island is a place so intertwined and connected to my childhood, I cannot separate the two. My childhood is Bribie. Then, when I left home, I got my first job on the island and lived with my Grandmother; so Bribie is also the place I started to grow up on.

For other people Bribie is a beautiful beach escape, close enough to Brisbane doing a day trip is easy. A gorgeous island escape that is popular with nature lovers, water sport enthusiasts and families.

This was a visit for Mum's birthday, so Jarvis and I only went to the calm side, however there is so much more to the island,

Crossing the bridge always makes me feel like a child again.

Dale Marsh Painting on a billboard.

The Jetty

Red Beach

EDUCATING WOMEN

Empowering Women

In spite of countless international agreements affirming their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They usually have less access, than men, to medical care, property ownership, credit, training and employment. They are far less likely than men to be politically active and far more likely to be victims of domestic violence.

Empowering Women through Education

Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process.

Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for girls and women. This is true not only because education is an entry point to other opportunities, but also because the educational achievements of women can have ripple effects within the family and across generations. Investing in girls' education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty.

There are many practical steps that can be taken to reduce inequalities based on gender, which hinder the potential to reduce poverty and achieve high levels of well-being in societies around the world.

The Challenge Today

There are 600 million girls living in the developing world. Two-thirds of the world's uneducated children are girls, and two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women. Around the world, girls and women continue to suffer from a lack of economic opportunity, inadequate health care and education, early marriage, sexual violence, and discrimination. Numerous studies have demonstrated that educating women and girls is the single most effective strategy to ensure the well-being and health of children, and the long-term success of developing economies.

There are compelling benefits associated with girls' education:

• Reduction of child and maternal mortality
• Improvement of child nutrition and health
• Lower birth rates
• Enhancement of women's domestic role and their political participation
• Improvement of the economic productivity and growth
• Protection of girls from HIV/AIDS, abuse and exploitation

Girls' education yields some of the highest returns of all development investments, yielding both private and social benefits that accrue to individuals, families, and society.

Sources: The Global Fund for Women, The World Bank, The Clinton Global Initiative

Note: the images are not mine

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These images could be titled Justin, the Wife and Me. Yes, Justin’s love affair with the bike formally known as Ranga, has grown to such an extent she is now known as the wife. So I guess it only fitting that she becomes part of my 52 Portraits of my Family series.

On a side note, it is also the first time both Justin and I have been apart from Jarvis. He was with Tamika for our bike ride, but as you can see from the image of him, his little face shows he was unsure about us both going. He also pulls his fingers when nervous. I know as soon as we were gone he was fine with Tamika. He adores his big sis, but it was new for him.

All of the images this week were taken by Tamika.

There are a few, Portrait a Week options out there. A lot involve taking a portrait of your children each week. Jodi over at Che and Fidel has inspired me to pick up my camera and turn the focus inward. Since I already take 100s of photos of my children each week, so I thought I would twist the idea a little. What I never seem to get is group shots, images of the family together, whether it is my two children, Tamika and Jarvis, or me with the kids, or shots of Justin and I. So I am going to challenge myself to get one image of "my family" per week.

Oh and if you are in the sharing of love mood, jump onto this blog's Facebook page and give it a like! Also feel free to join me o Instagram. 

The links are to the top right of the blog. 

BUBBY'S NEW OLD DINING TABLE AND FOUR CHAIRS

Tamkia, I guess now that she is almost 21 and about to move out with her partner I should stop calling her Bubby? Tamika and Guy have very little belongings, so Guy has been on the hunt for cheap bargins via Ebay and Gumtree. He found a dining table and four chairs cheap, so it came to rest at my house until they move.

The dining table and structure of the chairs are nice. However, Tamika hated the fabric of the chairs. Fussy girl didn't like the colour of the fabric or how it was worn.

So a quick trip to Spotlight and a purchase of three metres of curtain/upholstery fabric was made. (Three meters is needed as I have another upcycle project for them I am doing)

Almost done. Only thing that is stopping me I am short a couple of screws. Hmm sounds like a lame joke Justin would tell. I have swapped the original screws over for longer ones.

The other thing stopping me is my inability to lift my arms…. Ahhh the agony of stopping breastfeeding. But that is a whole other post. 

SHOULD HAVE. COULD HAVE. BUT INSTEAD

Today I had planned to do all of the house work. Should have. I have a stack of sewing for myself and others that needs doing. Could have. But the warmth of the winter sun called me. Instead of doing what my OCD mind was telling me. I gave my flu riddled body a break. Time out, and instead I lay on the grass.

Too lazy to even get a rug, I lay with my body touching the earth, and watched Jarvis happily play in the sun.  All I had was my camera and my box of tissues.

I watched how happy Jarvis was with his ever present rake, just pottering about in the sun collecting leaves, and I reminded myself yet again, sometimes it is okay, not to doing anything, but enjoy the moment.

When Jarvis come over for cuddles and lays down on me, he always has this habit of pushing up my shirt and laying his face on my belly. Skin to skin.

 Then he likes to blow raspberries on my tummy

TOURIST TUESDAY: KINGAROY LEE FARMSTAY

A couple of weeks ago Justin and I were talking about where to go for our six year anniversary, each year we try to find somewhere unusual, and something different from our normal getaways. With Jarvis’s love of animals I thought of a farm.

We found Lee Farmstay a farm located just outside of Kingaroy, which is a part of the South Burnett region, Queensland. The animals offered on their website are “sheep, West Highland Terriers and puppies(when available), chooks and chicken, pigs, birds, miniature horses, the draft horse, charolais, and Scottish Highland cows.” So this Queensland farm stay sounded like the perfect week-end getaway.

It took us just over three hours by car to get there; the first two were easy as Jarvis had his morning nap, the last hour was spent with me in the backseat keeping Jarvis amused. With a quick pit stop in Kingaroy for food, we arrived at the farm and at once we were impressed.

Our two bedroom cottage had a pot belly stove in the lounge room. It also had a kitchen, laundry, bathroom – including a 2 person jet spa, BBQ facilities and garage.

Added extras on the farm included a vintage trampoline (deathtrap which Jarvis LOVED!), dozens of pushbikes in all sizes, swing sets, and a tyre ride.

Not sure which was safer, this or the trampoline?

There were even more animals than were promised on the website, Jarvis was in animal heaven. He was so happy to have five dogs follow his every move. Even after he kept trying to bury them in the hay.

There is the added bonus of a morning and afternoon feed time, which all of the guest are invited to. You can also collect as many eggs as you want.

Jarvis tried so hard to catch a chicken

But they were having none of it

One week-end felt like we had been gone for ages, we all want to go back and stay for longer next time. 

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Jarvis had a make up swim lesson today (he has missed the last two classes because we went away and he has had a middle ear infection). So today Tamika was his swim buddy. I am not sure who had more fun, Jarvis or Tamika?

There are a few, Portrait a Week options out there. A lot involve taking a portrait of your children each week. Jodi over at Che and Fidel has inspired me to pick up my camera and turn the focus inward. Since I already take 100s of photos of my children each week, so I thought I would twist the idea a little. What I never seem to get is group shots, images of the family together, whether it is my two children, Tamika and Jarvis, or me with the kids, or shots of Justin and I. So I am going to challenge myself to get one image of "my family" per week.

LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A LINT STACK

Yesterday I finally got the time to sew. Was going great.... until I broke a needle in my overlocker.

I have two pieces of red cord that have been calling out to me for a couple of weeks now. One piece is about two and half meters long with a fine cord detail. This is going to be all mine, I am on the look out for the perfect pattern to make a pair of pants for myself. I am thinking 1940s inspired, high waist, with a wide straight leg.

The other piece was a small piece only 45cm long. With some imaginative cutting this will become a new pair of sarouels for Jarvis. I managed to get these cut out, always tricky when Jarvis and Tira both like to sit on the fabric I am cutting. Am I not the only one who likes to cut out on the floor?

Work in progress on the horrible cork floor in the office/sewing room

Two seams down, started on the third and one of the needles broke off in my overlocker. The top piece is still in the machine, I have found the middle piece, but the tip of the needle eludes me. I have dusted; I have even vacuumed the overlocker in an attempt to find it.

The piece I found

My questions to all of you in the know…do you think it would be safe to insert a new needle and to commence sewing? Or should I keep looking for the tip?

Also, I have never replaced a needle in an overlocker (I know I have had this for over two years and should replace them occasionally) do I just get machine needles from Spolight? Are the generic in size? 

The overlocker is a Brother.

LEAVING MY COMFORT ZONE

How do you know when it is time to move? Or time to stay. I have spoken about the issues with this house before; now the owners may or may not be selling. We feel we are living in limbo.

When I travel I am adventurous, and love the thrill of the unknown. Travelling to countries and immersing myself in the culture. The unexpected is what I crave. Yet at home, I like a life of simplistic pursuits. I like to garden, to sew, to blog, and most importantly be at home with Jarvis. One of the main things that 'holds' me to this house is this was our first home. This was the house where Jarvis was born. 

I went and looked at yet another rental today. The first question I always ask myself as I enter a possible new house, “can I see myself being happy here?” There were good and there were bad things about this house. How do you know when it is time to leave your comfort zone? 

A dream is your creative vision

for your life in the future.

You must break out of your

current comfort zone and 

become comfortable with 

the unfamiliar and the unknown.
Denis Waitley 

This was Jarvis's room back when he was Dim Sim

The dinning room where each night we sit and talk.

TOURIST TUESDAY: SYDNEY PART SIX

This is my final post on Sydney, with some images of our B&B we stayed at. Brickfield Hill is a small, friendly guesthouse in Sydney's historic Surry Hills.

It took under 20 minutes by taxi from the airport to get there, which was great after travelling on a plane with a toddler. Crown Street, Oxford Street, Chinatown and Darling Harbour are all within easy walking distance, and so too are Sydney Harbour and the Opera House which can be reached by  travelling past historic buildings and through some of Sydney's most beautiful parks and botanic gardens. We prefer to walk, but if walking is not your thing, then the trains and buses are easily accessible to this lovely B&B.

Brickfield Hill is a four-storey terrace house built in the 1880's. When the depression hit in the 1890's much of inner Sydney, particularly Surry Hills, fell on hard times. Surry Hill was slow to get a revival, but it now hosts a diverse mix of post-war immigrants, students, city workers and families, and it has become one of Sydney's most appealing suburbs.  

Bar for almost needing a step ladder to get up on our bed, we loved everything about this place. Plus, we were also lucky enough to have the whole guesthouse to ourselves during our stay. So took complete advantage of it to take many a photo.

The Bedrooms do not come with a sleeping baby.

Nor do they come with a sexy half naked man.

The Lavender room normally looks like this.

View from the back of the terrace house.

 Sitting Room

Dining Room

This image was taken by Justin.

Just so it is clear, this is not a sponsored post, I am writing this because we got amazing and friendly service, coupled with a great B&B