Leaving the nest

I've revealed in my past blogs that I have a farm but I'm also a city dweller, and I like fashion illustrating but my main endeavour for the past 23 years has been the nurturing of my 3 beautiful daughters....a huge success, even if I do say so myself. But at what cost...now they are ready to fly in their own directions, I find myself a little lost and in a quandery as to where to go next. I have a dear friend, who's inspired me to start this site but she is so successful at it...I've yet to reveal to her my blogspot...I guess practice makes perfect.

Back to 'London calling'...one of my daughters has flown the coup, only last week, in fact...she's a job in London, and has booked to come back for her's and her twin sister's 21st in Dec. Friends all say she'll be back sooner than you think, ...but my gut instinct tells me, if she's anything like me, this is the start of her new life as an independent soul...and that's how I planned it....and really wouldn't want it any other way but, boy, it takes some getting used to !

I suppose I wouldn't be so lost if I had pursued my own interests more seriously...and now after all this time find it hard to gain the confidence to try new challenges - and to come to terms with my own ageing, and my new role in their lives. A restless soul dying to get up and go but doesn't know how.

Jury duty

Got up this morning bright and early to catch the bus into the city to report for jury duty, my first ever call up...dressed insignificantly conservative, even deciding to not to wear my trademark red lipstick (hoping this would give me the edge to sitting in the box),packed my lunch, put my book in my bag, and trotted off disguised as a city worker starting the new week. Following the bus route of days gone by, I felt quite nostalgic, and excited, with the prospect, I'd be doing this for the week. It all went to plan on arriving at the Sheriff's office to report for duty with a horde of others...all randomly selected - strangers who would be thrown together for days to listen and decide another's fate.

On telling people about receiving the summons, people have a mixed reaction, my husband sniggered, as he has already done it and was bored sh------, most, I spoke to, dread the idea and think it a waste of their time; me, I was quite excited and was looking forward to how it all works - fly on the wall sort of stuff. After sitting for an hour, listening to instructions, and a video, numbers were called out - ballot form - and each lot of 35 were assigned a case and marched off to the appropriate court to face the next selection criteria. Six groups of 35 were called and dealt with before my number came up in the very last 35, ...it was a grievous bodily harm case.

But, alas, the accused changed their plea to guilty, and so, we weren't required...at all for any other case either...that was it...I didn't even get to lunchbreak. I was already, profiling my fellow jurors, and wanted to see who would get chosen, and try and work out the rationale of the selection process. What a downer !

Walking through the city on my homeward journey, I popped into a bookshop to see if a new book would console me and take me on another adventure...I'm now well away from the world of crime and misfortune, 'La Vie Parisienne' by Janelle McCulloch...who wants the basic, when you can have joie de vivre.

Yabberup Hall meet n' greet

I love to sketch fashion illustrations, and so thought I'd include a sample as a way of revealing something of myself...when I'm on my own at the farm, I can spend hours drawing and designing clothes, if only my sewing skills matched my ideas, I'd have the perfect wardrobe.

I've actually just returned from down south, where I introduced myself to my neighbours, at the local trash 'n treasure. It was wonderful but long overdue showing my face-we've owned the farm for 2 years now, and this is the first time I've made it to one of their meet n' greets. The meeting place is Yabberup Hall and on the outside wall was a plaque to Thomas Chapman, a pioneer of the area and the original owner of our farm, so I guess we have a responsibility to take part in the community activities.
I bought chutney, jams and a lemon balm plant...hopefully next time I'll have something sell.... But best of all I met some friendly faces.


Our farm is a 3 hour drive south from our city home...a beautiful drive taking in the hills and fields of properties between the small townships en route. It's always a contemplative journey for me , esp. as I'm more often than not on my own...with other family members catching the train down. On arrival, I check the chooks and collect the eggs, and call the horses to let them know I'm back...its wonderful and its all our's. I know I have a fortunate life.

Just Do It

I've procrastinated over starting this blogspot for weeks now...falling at the first hurdle - choosing a name for the site! All of you out there seem to have something groovy, quirky, and inspirational...and I wanted to join you but nothing seemed to match my enthusiasm, nor gain unanimous approval from my darling daughters, who were also eager for me to start off with a whoopla, rather than a wimper. But I've bitten the bullet and this is going to have to do till I get experienced in this cyberspace world. So in the words of that famous brand...I've decided to 'Just Do It'...and so I've arrived.