As a final hoorah to Karen finishing up as manager of BCC, Jason and I got to go see the premiere of the Bourne Ultimatum last night. What a fantastic movie. I thought it was definitely better than the second one, but maybe on a par with the first. The fight scenes are pretty cool. There is this one scene where Bourne is trying to protect this journallist in a crowded rail station, and even though I know the whole thing is choreographed, it was amazing. Matt Damon is just such a cool actor.
Our Get Scrapped Getaway is over again for another year. Caitie, her mum, two of her aunties and I, all had a great time scrapping for a full weekend. We completed 5 layouts and 4 cards. I think this one of our Dunk Island honeymoon is my favourite, closely followed by one I did of Imelda and her sisters. I have to say that this is one of my favourites, purely due to the amount of time it took to hand cut the flower shape. If you want to see my other layouts, check them out here. Or you can check out some of Caities here.
With the move to our new office fast approaching, we have all been instructed to clean our desks (and surrounding areas). To aid the removal of all the rubbish, CW have hired a skip. They have hired one before and we filled it in less than a day. This second one is also filling up fast. The main reason for the speed with which it is being filled: Jason has cleaned up his desk! Two wheelie bins, and two rubbish bins worth, in fact. And this photo is the result. Now off to make sure the rubbish under my desk makes it to the skip too....
Last night we drove out to Eton with Jason's parents, to participate in Dad's live gig recording. When planning to go, never did I imagine we might take such a big role in the actual recording itself. When we got there, we just so happened to have sat at a table right adjacent to the main crowd microphone. Dad recorded 'Copperhead Road' and 'The Gambler'. Well, my foray into music recording, was with the later. During one section where I knew the crowd was supposed to pipe up, I did, but hardly anyone else did (this was the problem). Needless to say my lack of vocal skills has now been recorded for all eternity. Sad, very sad indeed.
This morning we played barefoot lawn bowls with some others from work. We played at Suburban Bowls Club on Wardrop Street, and it was a great morning. For a very small green fee, we were treated to a tutorial, and a fantastic bbq lunch. After Jason had a couple of brilliant practice ends, he fell away miserably. Losing to Duncan (and myself). Jason's nickname is now Crackerjack.
From my post earlier this morning regarding the bad news we received about my cousin Gavin, we now have a little (maybe a lot) of hope. Gavin has gone to the specialist today who compared his latest scan with that of 14 months ago. The tumor seems to be on the first scan as well, and it's the same size, which could suggest it is in actual fact, a benign tumor. All our prayers seem to be having an effect. We wait to hear further news, and hope that the first misdiagnosis is in fact a misdiagnosis.
Inspired by Ali Edwards' new daily creative idea, I've decided to give the same thing ago. Maybe not every day, but as often as I can. This gladioli was given to me by grandma from her garden today, when I visited her and mum for morning tea. Gladdies are the only flower I can grow, but I haven't tried since we moved into Garraway St. Grandma has kept them up, and each year they seem to be better than the last. I particularly love this yellow colour. And it seems fitting with all the cancer news of late, and daffodil day coming up.
To continue on from my last post, we were told last night that my 17 year old cousin Gavin, has terminal cancer. When Gavin was about 3 years old he survived cancer and lived cancer free until a year or so ago, when they found a tumor in his stomach. After a lengthy operation, in which they removed his stomach and made him a new one from part of his intestines, it seems to have now spread to his liver. Doctors have told him there is nothing they can do, but are going to carry out some further tests, to possibly determine the extent and agression of the cancer. As you can imagine the whole family is distraught. He is so young, and yet to experience a lot of what life can offer. His brother has suggested that they go overseas for a trip together, but Gavin's response was 'what to see a whole heap of mouldy buildings?'. His real wish is to finish school and get a job. What he is craving is some normalcy, and I hope with all hope that he is able to accomplish that.
I received an email from my friend today with photos of her brother's new puppy. She is so darling, and I am pretty sure is a King Charles Spaniel, but I am awaiting confirmation. The sad news that my post title refers to, is regarding my friend's mum, who has been battling cancer. She had to have a kidney removed over a year ago, and all seemed to be going well until a tumor was found near her stomach. This has also been removed, but she had been told that not much more could be done with traditional medicine. After she participated in a fortnight visit to a wholistic getaway especially for cancer sufferers in Victoria, I bumped into her on the planed back to Brisbane. She seemed upbeat and was bouyed by the information she had received at the getaway. Unfortunately, she is now experiencing shoulder pain, which could mean that the cancer has spread to her bones. This is really very sad. I cannot imagine what my friend and her family are feeling. Eventhough I experienced losing my grandfather to cancer when he was 56 and I was 14, it is nothing like my friend potentially losing her mother. My thoughts are with my friend, her mum, and their family. And I pray that this is only a hurdle in her road to a recovery.
After reading Ali Edwards' blog today I've decided to go home and clean all the airconditioning filters in our house. I know it's winter, and we haven't used the aircons in a while, but I should get it done while I'm thinking of it.
Caitie has done a fine job in getting a blog for our Get Scrapped Getaway up and running. Caitie and I organised the first Getaway weekend last year, with her mum and aunty attending. This year we have decided to run it again, and will be doing so on 24/25/26th August. The weekend consists of a number of layout projects where all materials to complete the kits are included. A scrap challenge is planned for the Friday night, and a card class will also be included this year. Take a look at the blog and see some examples of the layouts we did last year. We hope to expand even further in the future.
Last night I went with Mum and Grandma to a Liquor Party at Kristen & Brendon's. Definitely a lot more exciting than your usual tupperware party, and on arrival I wished that I hadn't volunteered to drive. The party consisted of several tastes of different liquers, ports, creme liquers, and high-alcohol beverages. A lot of them were 'injected' into a small ball of icecream, and then others were served in watermelon, or just straight up. Needless to say the ones with the icecream were my favourite, and in particular the Choc-Orange. I ended up buying a Choc-Orange and a Mocha-Choca for us, and then a couple of bottles for Mum and Dad for christmas presents. Both Mum and Grandma seemed to enjoy themselves. Mum even knocked back a shot of a zambuka-like liquer.
Kristen's dogs Aztec and Inca have grown since I last saw them. Inca in particular, as I have only seen her as a cute little pupply, but she has now grown into something which can only be described as one of the evil gremlins (particularly when the ears prick up and sit more out to the side).
Today is Jeans for Genes Day. I've decided to make a concerted effort, and at least once per month, participate in or organise some community participation. So, for work, I've signed us up for Jeans for Genes Day, ordered some merchandise which has been selling in the last couple of day, and bought a shirt from the charity. Hopefully my colleagues will participate today, and contribute to a very worth cause.
Tamie (my sister) finally sent up a copy of the photographer's proofs from her wedding. The photos are stunning. On the day I remember thinking that the photographer (and his assistant) were taking some pretty original-type shots, but I don't think I expected them to turn out this good. This one is my favourite of Tamie. She looked gorgeous the whole day.
Last night I went to Linda's place to help celebrate Toby's 6th birthday. Jason couldn't go as he had Aikido, but Karen & Daniel were able to pick me up. Reed has gotten even bigger since last time I saw him, and was doing this really cute gurgling when being held by MeMa (Imelda). Ben was really cute too, and wanted to give everyone high-fives as they were leaving.
Lee and Linda need to go into business decorating birthday cakes. Over the last couple of years we have seen number 5's covered with spiders, number 4's covered with a race track, and now for Toby's 6th they created a pirate ship. It was awesome, but I forgot my camera, so I will have to try and get a copy off Frank.
