This is quite thought-provoking. Moved me a bit, especially talking about all the mass murders of past. Maybe we are far removed here in our little world in Darwin from the USA where this is clearly focused on, but all the same – they were once as ‘safe’ as us. Scary.
I was grilling some burgers and hotdogs for my family on Thursday, and I ran up to the supermarket because I needed more buns, some potato salad, and other things that I never remember I ran out of the last time I had a cookout. I drove the three blocks to the market, hopped out of my car and was greeted by the sight of a middle-aged white man strapping a shotgun on his back and walking into the market just ahead of me. My initial reaction was irritation. Why is this guy bringing an apparently loaded firearm into the grocery store at 6pm on a Friday? Is he trying to intimidate people? Trying to make a political point? I wanted to go to the store manager and register a complaint, but I found it hard to call up my rational objections to carrying loaded guns in public places (objections…
Happy birthday to my big brother Ben – 35 years young today! He is simply the funniest and most talented person I know! He has a big heart and so much love for everyone – especially his little family! Love you stinkin’ frick ❤ ❤ ❤
Okay, so the once a week blogging went right out the window, didn’t it?
May is such a gorgeous time in the Top End of Australia, the “Dry Season” has officially started, glorious cool nights are back, the town is over-run with Backpackers and of course the World Famous Mindil Beach Markets have started up again!
So much has been happening in my life that I don’t know where to start (isn’t it funny that when someone asks you – like Paul’s Mother did the other night – you say…”uummmm not much” and then he goes…blah blah blah… makes you realise you can get very busy doing stuff all!!
My biggest one is that I have GIVEN UP SMOKING! Yeehaa, 3 pats on the back for me! I will not lie, it’s been crappy, I’ve been grumpy, Champix makes you sick and I really miss having a few drinks and a cigarette, but it is for the best…please tell me it is?!?! I am into my second week (have been doing it for a month but I had a few days here and there that I gave in so I’m officially into my second week).
Secondly – I have changed jobs! I have been saying it for a while, and well, here I am! I have officially joined the Monday-Friday working crew with no late nights or weekends. I’m doing Administration and Accounts for a little Mechanic shop in the City, owned and run by a local family for better money than I was on before. Maybe this will be more than the 6 month break I was looking for to de-stress? So far, I love it!
Thirdly – I have been through a little journey with Paul. After breaking up last year and having no contact for quite a few months, we have been working through our issues. That’s pretty much all I want to say on that – he will probably kill me for this hahaha – but I am extremely happy and excited about the future ❤
My very first blog got a really cool little response from some guy in Wales, UK: (I know this because I looked up his I.P address lol)
Looks like you have a lot to learn about running a blog… Rule number one is don’t steal. In this case you are using my 2014 wine image without paying for the reproduction rights or even asking for permission.
Just because you found an image on Google doesn’t make it free for use. It belongs to someone, me.
Taking without permission is no way to kick off your blog. I’d be grateful if you could remove it.
I’ll be honest – I got a fright! I certainly don’t want to break any rules… and then I got a bit pissed off hahaha I wrote a nice little response saying that I actually didn’t get it from Google, I got it from a Facebook page, and that he must lead such a boring life to follow every single time his image is used… and how on Earth did he track it to me?? And then I deleted my response, his comment, and the picture. CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES 🙂
NEWS HOUR
Mum has been a bit crook since before Xmas, and on a recent trip to Sydney (To watch my cousin Holly on The Voice!) she hurt her back quite bad – or so we thought! Turns out after X-rays and MRIs etc that she in fact has a yucky Abscess on her spine. So without all the back and forth and storues of her possibly being shipped to Adelaide, I just got the update that she is waiting on a Pathology report and that will determine the IV antibiotics required to fight it. Poor bugger, she’s so gracious about everything but I know this has upset her after she just got back to work having finished Chemo and Radio… love you Mum xox
Hopefully you all saw Holly on “The Voice Australia”?! Well she has chosen Joel Madden as her coach and we are all pretty darn excited for her… stay tuned!!
MY PHOTO PICK:
Taken at the Chocolate factory in Margaret River! What a great time I had with Paul, and him finally showing me where he came from – although it was a short trip, it was a blast and I can’t wait to go back – I may actually get to a winery this time! He finally sent me the pictures 🙂
HANDY HINT:
If you have lifted your 4WD it changes the type of CV joints that you need – I learnt that at my new job!!
SONG OF THE WEEK:
I really love this song and it’s just a nice one to listen to today xx
RECIPE OF THE WEEK:
The only thing I have managed to cook this last week or so has been bacon and eggs for weekend breakfast – very slack!!
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:
People make mistakes. For many reasons. People do bad things without intending to. But forgiveness should always be in your spectrum, at least as a consideration. If you don’t at least CONSIDER forgiving someone for the hurt they have caused you, you carry it around and can’t move on. You need to let it go before it poisons you. Trust me on this one.
So I guess this is where I try and create a bit of ‘structure’ to my blog, after all, if I am going to be famous with a squillion followers, what are they actually going to be reading? Well hopefully all the really cool things that I have to say and all the wise words of wisdom that I have to impart…but reality is that it will probably just be a whole bunch of jibberish…
NEWSBREAKER OF THE WEEK:
I guess now that the adverts are airing I can say that we are so very proud of HOLLY TAPP for making it onto “The Voice” Australia. One of my favourite shows, I will definitely be tuning in this season! So in my family we now have a MASTERCHEF, a VOICE SUPERSTAR… who wants to enter “The real housewives of Darwin…”?
PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
Myself with Ross & Robyn Peatling. Dear friends who took me under their wing when I was a teenage run-amok! I worked on their Cattle Station after quitting school in year 10. After a few life lessons (Thanks Poppy!!) I returned to school to complete year 11 & 12. This year sees them leaving Alexandria Station after 23 years at the helm. A sad time after so long, but Robyn assures me that she is very excited to get on to their ‘own’ piece of land near their first Grandson – I wish them the best of luck xox
SILLY IDEA OF THE WEEK: Downloading “Slotomania”… this needs no explanation..stupid game preys on my addictive personality I am sure….
The digital age and where it is taking the next generation. Over a week without my personal Facebook (I still have a work profile but I don’t know many of the people on there personally, and it would be unprofessional to comment on random statuses etc..) and I don’t even actually miss it. I do miss seeing what people are up to, and after my Aunts funeral, I wanted to see all the pics that people had taken and put up, but really, I don’t actually care. It occurred to me as I was walking down the street, iPhone in hand, texting as I crossed the intersection, that we are completely missing the world passing us by. Luckily I was born in the time BEFORE all the new-age fandangles, but I have become quite reliant on them! I felt ill… I don’t want to be a tecno-zombie! It scares me. And as much as I say “My kids won’t have an iPhone/Pod/etc until they are…” things will be different again by then, will they be the ones teased for not having one? Will society be even more reliant on technology than ever before? Yep, I’m scared.
I could go on forever, but then you wouldn’t read my next post, so i hope you are all having a wonderful week no matter where you are! HAPPY HUMP DAY!!
What an adventurous time I have had since giving Facebook the heave-ho! Why? Well quite a few things, but mainly that I have been having a look around more! Taking note of what’s happening… and guess what?? Surprise, surprise, I have had more phonecalls/texts/emails from friends and family than ever before! It’s great to feel loved, and also to connect with the people that you are spending your time with in the present!
Sadly, the night that I deleted, we said goodbye to my Aunty Robyn Forscutt (Robbo). Although technically Mums cousin, I guess it is a respect thing that we have always called her Aunty. I am glad I left work to go and spend the last few hours with her that I ever will. Let it be known here and now that I am an advocate for Euthanasia. Not one single person that entered and left the hospice that day can honestly say that this is how it should be at the end. To be respectful of the people that are grieving heavily I shan’t go into detail, but I do not want my children/husband/parents etc to have to see me like that. I believe it adds tremendously to the pain and heartache.
On a brighter note, saying goodbye to Robbo gave me a nudge in terms of future plans. I handed in my notice at work a while ago with the idea that I would move to Perth after Easter. I needed a break and a fresh start. I had started looking at jobs and making plans, but in light of the good old mortality check that death provides us, I pondered the question… “what would I do if money were no object?” 2 strong things come to mind – Real Estate and my love of the land. It just so happened that on the weekend there were 2 jobs advertised that I am definitely checking out! Could that be a sign..??
Do I miss Facebook? Sort of. First morning was weird not picking my phone straight up to see what was happening. I do still think little quirky things and feel like updating my status. I started writing those moments down and got to today to realise how insignificant they are! By today, I am relieved. VERY relieved. Hopefully that feeling continues… 😉
meganrosecoutts 