10 lines from me

...

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

I must remember to remove my glasses before I put eyedrops in my eyes!

Hot Night Delight!

...

At the end of a hot summer’s day, what better way to cool the body for a good night’s rest than a spot of stargazing from under the Southern Cross, afloat on the cooling waters of the backyard pool, palm trees gently swaying in the breeze… I am a tiny dot in this wondrous Universe, yet I have my place in it.

Fire Training

At work I attended the hands-on demonstration in Bush Court on how to use a fire extinguisher.

We froze the bases of several trees with generous amounts of carbon dioxide.

Now I know what to do next time I have a hot flush — just pull the pin and aim...

Healing Flow

...
Tonight I attended a short remembrance service at the hospital chapel, along with about 30 others who were also grieving the loss of a family member at the palliative care unit in the past few months. The Chaplain, gifted with a deep understanding and sensitivity in this area, had the knack of touching hearts and releasing feelings so healing could flow.

It was good to have supper together, bonded by our shared experience of bereavement, and to have faced the challenge of returning to these familiar buildings and garden which had become so indelibly imprinted on our lives.

The quiet love and support from the beautiful staff and volunteers knows no limit! Religion is irrelevant—this is God’s Perfect Love
lived out for the dying and the living at this place.

End of an Era...and a New One Begins

...
Ten weeks ago, on November 29, my Father died at the age of 85. So ends an era in my life, yet whilst grieving, there is a feeling of completeness and peace. Dad lived a full life and had prepared himself and his family for this time. There were some rough passages in the last years, but with excellent palliative care in his last days, he departed this life in dignity and peace.

Now with our first grandchild due in June, one generation makes way for a new generation. Come to think of it, Barry and I have now moved up the rank to next in line! Ah, but there's a lot of living to be done before then...

~To Staff and Volunteers at Palliative Care Unit,
Hollywood Hospital, Nedlands:
You are God's finest Angels~

Through Times of Change

...A strand of DNA

"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to harvest,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild,
A time to cry and a time to laugh,
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4 NLT)

And sometimes it all happens simultaneously!
Such is my life; always colourful, never boring.
Praise God!

Inner Strength

...
Since my trip to the Eastern States, family and work have been quite intense and taken my focus, but I intend posting regularly again. Thankfully, God is dependable in providing my inner strength and peace.
~~~

If you can start the day without caffeine,
if you can get going without pep pills,
if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy
to give you any time,
if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
if you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
if you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
if you can face the world without lies and deceit,
if you can conquer tension without medical help,
if you can relax without liquor,
if you can sleep without the aid of drugs ~
Then you are probably The Family Dog!

~Author Unknown~

The Attitude of Three Hairs

There was once a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today," so she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw she had only two hairs on her head.

"HMM," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today," and she did and she had a grand day.

The next morning she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw she had only one hair left on her head.

"Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and it was a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"


Remember you may not be able to control what someone says or does or some of the situations that life throws you, but you can sure control the way you react.

~Author Unknown~

Landed...

...The heavily loaded Boeing 767 soared smoothly home. Two and a half weeks have passed since I set out from Perth, and now as we fly westwards, we break through Melbourne's winter blanket of fog and low gloomy clouds, towards Perth's winter crisp blue skies and warm sunshine. There is still little or no rain in a drought that extends throughout the country, and which is desperately in need of extended soaking rains.

Sandwiched in the middle seats over the wings I could see nothing, but I was compensated by comments of a young lad of about 5 years who was sitting with his mother across the aisle and behind me. The bright young boy was fascinated by and giving a running commentary of every aspect of the flight to his weary mother who soon tired of answering. How I would have enjoyed sitting next to him, interacting and sharing in his enjoyment of flying!

Maybe when I'm zipping around the skies as an old-age baby-boomer traveller, he will be on the flight deck, weaving us through the stars...

To sleep or not to sleep – that is the question!

...
Tonight I fly to Sydney on the 'Red Eye Special', four hours across Australia from coast to coast in the wee hours of the morning. Most people try to get a few hours' sleep, but it may be more comfortable for them if I try to stay awake. Can't risk another 'dream scream' on Qantas!