Eldamar

2012-02-04T21:44:00.001+11:00

2012-02-04T21:26:00.000+11:00

Coco's 8th party today was delightful! Special thanks to Mum, who did a sensational job running the games, and Serendipity, who created Coco's brilliant costume! This pic is just after pass the parcel, in which everybody won at least one small koala, and Tasmin won the orange dinosaur she is proudly hugging!!

We're just home from a simply delightful summer holiday!!

2012-01-16T02:44:00.003+11:00

Our campsite had this fabulous little walk-over entrance - it felt like another world.

We Ady ladies are very much looking forward to our spring holiday in Dorset!

I am so very thankful for my dear little family, and for each of you!

Love Meg

Eowyn's lovebird Kiki (whom we've had for 2 years), and Coco's lovebird, Waxy (brand new!), named thusly because 'his beak looks like a wac!' (singular form of wax!)

2011-12-21T19:44:00.000+11:00

Follow the White Rabbit!

2011-12-11T00:55:00.002+11:00

Cosette in Wonderland!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-08T22:27:00.000+11:00

I tried to make funky Christmas cards to send good cheer all around the world. It didn't work. I tried to order Christmas books as gifts for our lovely UK family. It didn't work. I want you all to know that I love you, and have good intentions... I've put the photos that would have been on the fabulous Christmas cards right here on this blog. I love you all very much.
Mxxxxx

2011-11-09T20:31:00.000+11:00

The girls and I are in the magazine for the National Gallery of Victoria, which is one of my most favoured places in Melbs. (I shall take you there when I visit, if you like, as I did Karen!)

We are soooo tired at the moment. A month's holiday would be superb...

Love Meg xxxxxooooo

2011-10-26T21:59:00.002+11:00

When Eowyn and Coco met the Queen

Eowyn is on the very left at 1.15 in this newstory, proudly holding her Aussie flag. Coco is offstageleft! The Queen and my girls were right next to each other, and my girls curtsied beautifully!

All these years with my beautiful, Royalist mother makes this very moving for me! My darling American husband just doesn't get it!

This newstory is especially significant, as it is introduced by Jeremy, one of my closest friends in journalism school!

I still can't believe E and C met HRH Queen Elizabeth II!

Long live the Queen!

Writing Group!

2011-10-24T22:19:00.000+11:00

Here are my wonderful writing group, Ingrid (top left & bottom middle), Melissa (top middle) and Valeria (bottom left), meeting this morning around our kitchen table. Melissa has recently been in New Zealand, where a friend described her writing group as being very strict, lots of rules, no social banter and certainly no food.

Our writing group, on the other hand, is filled with laughter, conversation, delicious food, and, today, key lime martinis! (An early cocktail hour!)

Afterwards, Mum, Rachel and I had luscious massages together, and coffee with little David too, and I went 2nd hand book shopping, and visited dear Martina, Mark, Sara and their brand-new-born-today-darling-David-Jun-Yan! We've just had family dinner - bacon and pea quiche - and I've read to Coco from E. Nesbit's 'The Would-be-goods', which I purchased today, published in 1911, a century ago!

Eowyn, alas alack, has grown out of bedtime stories. She IS an absolute book worm, but only occasionally, when the book is to her liking, will she join Coco and me for bedtime reading. Bens has yet another essay due, having handed one in by midnight last night, and lots of exams coming up.

I return to work tomorrow. I am a little daunted - it has been so very lovely and relaxing lazing around all last week. I want to do more lazing around!! I am feeling sad at the loss of Ronan, and sometimes still achy of tum. Thank you once again for your loving support!

Much love,

Meg

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000+11:00

Bens, Eowyn and Coco came to visit me in hospital. "You need some light and fresh air," said Bens. "you mustn't leave the hospital grounds," said the nurse. "I have the perfect place to show you," said Bens. "It would be very dangerous if you were to bleed," said the nurse.

"Hmmmmm," I thought. "I trust my husband. Off we go!!"

This pic is where Bens took us! I love having a husband and two girls. I am deeply sad that I shall never get to meet the little one who was growing within me, secretly, unbeknownst to me until I experienced some of the most excruciatingly painful moments of my life. My body was grieving the loss of this little one, whom I love, whose face I haven't seen.

Bens, Eowyn, Coco and I named our baby Ronan Isabella Elrond Samwise Pippin Ady.

Thank you for your love for me. I feel so surrounded and sustained right now. Kindly people are feeding us and listening to me and ringing up and praying. Thank you. I love you all.

2011-08-13T18:45:00.000+10:00

I love being mother to these dear girls, and wife to Bens. I am feeling very contented at the moment, thankful for our family life, friends and extended family, excited about springtime, Karen coming to Seattle (our first American guest!!!), and the love we all share, dear blogging community!

Bucca, Coco and Ginger at Ady Acres', Bens' childhood home!

2011-07-19T21:03:00.000+10:00

The Ghassaeis put on a lovely 'Hot Cocoa Party' for Coco today!!!! Thanks!

2011-07-19T20:57:00.001+10:00

Bens and Coco are having a lovely time in Seattle!

2011-07-19T20:55:00.000+10:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING REUBEN!

2011-07-11T20:18:00.000+10:00

HAPPY B'DAY SAMWISE!!!!!

2011-07-09T23:53:00.000+10:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR AUNTIE ANITA! LOVE THE ADY 4!

2011-06-30T21:32:00.001+10:00

2011-06-16T19:47:00.000+10:00

Hello! I guesss I've not been blogging so much of late. I have been reading even more avidly than usual, and work has been intense (I think that is the nature of work with homeless youth), and I have been putting the energy left over into time with Bens, Eowyn and Coco. Bens and I went on a date last week, and firstly went to a bookstore on Lygon St and purchased a book for each of the four of us. I have just finished reading Coco's to the girls, and it was beautiful. Mine is by a favourite author, Siri Hustvedt, and I'm enjoying it very much. When I've finished, I shall give it to Mum for 'plane reading on the way to England, and after that, any of you in England who'd like to read it may. It is nice to be able to share books across the oceans. I feel very connected to you, lovely blog community, having recently stayed with all my Jones of England, and seen Caro, and spent time with Mum and Dad and Rachel and David and Seren and Jonathan here in Melbs, and had intense conversations with Karen. Gimena and Jonathan and Monica, does this mean a visit to Argentina and the USA ought be in store, so I can see you all too? And is there anybody else who reads my blog?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA!!!

2011-05-15T15:36:00.000+10:00

Whilst I was selecting this picture, I heard a strange noise, and wandered into the kitchen, which was on fire. All is well now. 'Tis ironic that this picture is so very WATERY. Could have come in handy if it were realer!

2011-05-15T15:33:00.000+10:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

2011-05-15T09:15:00.001+10:00

(I am trying to put a picture of the girls with a sign saying 'Happy Birthday Becca, we love you' onto this post, however, alas, alack, 'tis not working. However the love is there!!!)

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY DEAR EDDIE! WE LOVE YOU!

2011-04-25T18:58:00.000+10:00

Much love, Cousin Coco, Cousin Eowyn, Uncle Benjamin & Auntie Megan!
PS We saw Karina's pictures of you and Sebbie playing cricket in your Bombers' outfits, and wished we were there playing cricket with you!!!!!!!

sydneyǃ

2011-04-24T09:41:00.000+10:00

Guess where these pics were taken??!!!! (Drinks on David Jones!)

2011-04-08T02:00:00.002+10:00

2011-04-05T03:00:00.000+10:00

Hello! Coco and I are at Abu Dhabi Airport. It is very lovely, to think about our holiday in London, and our richness of connection with those there, the conversations back yard cricket, delish food, fine liquor, mmusic, llaughter, frustration, trampoline bouncing, brusque cabbies, brilliant accents, beer on the house at t & a's sunday pub, cousins sleepovers, airport waves, love, etc.

We have to wait for our plane to Melbs, and at the other end, my paarents await us. i think mother shall enjoy my gimmicky will and kate gift!!

llove and thanks for having me and loving me,

meg, who has oh so recently seen tom, anita, eddie, sebbie, roo, stella, nina, karina, caro, sam, becca, zach and martha!

ps photos galore on mmy facebook page...

Eowyn's 9th Birthday Party

2011-03-20T19:05:00.000+11:00

Aha! I have worked out a new way to put pictures on my blog. Victory over technology (is always temporary....I must revel in the moments of seeming control!)

I love living near my nephew David Nicholas, my sisters Rachel and Seren, and my parents Mum and Dad!

2011-03-20T18:49:00.000+11:00

I am very much looking forward to spending 2 weeks with my nephews Eddie, Seb, Roo and Zach, my nieces Martha and Stella, my brothers TOm and Sam, my sisters Anita and Becca, and my friend Caro!
(And I adore my little family Bens, Eowyn and Coco!!!!)

All four of us have had optometrist appointments recently. B, C and I have glasses, E has special eye strengthening exercises to perform twice daily.

2011-03-20T18:45:00.000+11:00

2011-03-18T22:22:00.002+11:00

Coco and I are VERY excited to be off to England soon!!
Hurrah hurrah!!!

2011-03-14T20:17:00.000+11:00

Hello! I am trying to put some pics of Eowyn's lovely horseriding party, and once again am getting this nasty little red exclamation point, saying 'server rejects'. THis is why i consider computers to be more trouble than they are worth. They unique vexation of feeling utterly powerless in the face of this machine which works for all of your blogs, and not for mine! I shall, again, put a link to facebook, to the album with the photos of the horsey ride! Here 'tis: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150105081600988&set=a.484381295987.259493.678575987&theater

EIGHT SLEEPS until Coco and I fly to England, to see you!!!!!! (Gimena and Karen, we shall see you again too, sometime....!!!!) And the rest of you, we'll see on our return! So blessed are we to have such loved ones in our lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coco and my masterpiece, for Eowyn's horse riding party tomorrow!

2011-03-12T21:42:00.000+11:00

Well, I can't seem to get this picture on to the blog, which doesn't give poor ol' Eldamar a very good prognosis, given that it takes a millisecond to put something on facebook, and 10 frustrating minutes to NOT put something on this blog. Hmmm. I am a little worried the ears will melt (on the cake), as it is really hot here at the moment, and the cake isn't until after the ride, and we don't have a cold box. We had one in the USA. There are still a lot of things we don't have here. The idea of throwing off the shackles of material items was lovely in theory. However in practice, it could mean the horse's ears, and alas, the entire cake, melt before their time. If you are curious as to what this cake looks like, you may view it on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150104362410988&set=a.484381295987.259493.678575987&theater

Our marvellous Eowyn is NINE!!!!

2011-03-07T20:47:00.000+11:00

The beautiful cake beautiful Coco made beautiful Eowyn for her 9th birthday!!!!!!!

2011-03-07T20:43:00.002+11:00

2011-03-05T22:05:00.000+11:00

thank you anita for the lovely flower love eowyn xxx

2011-02-28T21:56:00.000+11:00

Thanks one and all for your lovely birthday kindnesses unto me!

Coco's Unicorn Party!

2011-02-05T21:21:00.000+11:00

This is a fabulous game Mum created in which Coco came out with little changes in her outfit - bling! bling! - and the child who noticed the change was given a party popper. At the end, they all pulled their party poppers and cried 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY COCO!' Every parent present asked if Mum was available to do parties for other children too!!!!!!!! Thanks Mum!

Seren did a fabulous unicorn horn activity, which the kids LOVED. Here is cousin David perfecting the last touches of Coco's unicorn outfut!

We're all ready for Coco's unicorn party in the morning, and now our blog matches Harewood Row's!!

2011-02-04T23:15:00.000+11:00

Celebrating our superb seven year old!!

2011-02-03T11:01:00.000+11:00

Coco's 7th birthday
* Movie and breakfast in bed (on the tray Bens brought me breakfast in bed on in the caravan of love by the Skykomish River, 27/2/2001, and every Ady birthday since!!)
* PRESENTS!!
*A day at LUNA PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Coco is writing these exclamation marks!!)
* we met gemma and pepper and we saw mads!) (Coco wrote that entire sentence!)
*Street Theatre
*Mac 'n Cheese, sausage rolls, white chocolate mousse and a unicorn cake decorated by Eowyn and Mummy.
*Reading all the books Coco received for her birthday (including 'Black Dog' from Great Auntie Nancie, which Coco read by herself, 'Stories for 7 Year Olds', which Uncle Sam, Auntie Becca and Cousin Zachary (and Twinkle Martha??!!!) gave Eowyn for HER 7th, and which Eowyn gave Coco, and one of my favourites from childhood, Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree collection - was delightful seeing my girls meet the folk of the faraway tree for the first time! Big wide excited eyes!!!)
*Seven Times One, by Jean Ingelow
"... And show me your next, with the young ones in it-
I will not steal them away;
I am old, you may trust me, linnet, linnet!
I am seven times one to-day."

Happy birthday dearest Martha! Happy birthday dearest Cosette!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-01T23:13:00.000+11:00

2011-01-31T20:01:00.000+11:00

Today I was informed that I got the job, as Homeless Youth Nurse, based at Anglicare in Preston!!!!!!!!

2011-01-27T11:04:00.000+11:00

I saw this regal, gentle, ancient tree yesterday, and wanted to share it with you. One thing which was extremely hard for me when we moved from Bag End to Australia was how different the trees, the light and the aromas were here. Australian trees tend to be much more pale than their Pacific Northwest counterparts. I ached for the trees in my old back garden - the Mountain Ash, the Plum Trees, the Horse Chestnut, the Cedars, the Douglas Firs. That mourning and sorrow means it is extra significant when, here in Melbs, I feel that old surge of tree delight, as I felt yesterday when I encountered this sacred Salmon Gum!

2011-01-26T23:46:00.000+11:00

Coco and I discovered the most magnificent garden today, between the botanical gardens and the Myer Music Bowl. We shall be back, and I'd love to take you there, too!

Sebastian, we're joining your 4th birthday undersea celebrations, down under!!!!!! We love you!!!

2011-01-20T16:26:00.001+11:00

2011-01-09T01:05:00.000+11:00

last night, Eowyn, Coco and I pulled our orange kayak up onto that far sandy beach, having paddled down from our campsite, swam to the river mouth where the ocean's frothy waves almost spilled into the river lagoon, dune jumped, sang 'You Are My Hiding Place' as a round, ate the native dune plant 'Pig Face' (which Aboriginal People have eaten for millenia), felt the sand beneath our toes (and in our hair!), and paddled back, against the wind, to the campfire Bens had built, where he was playing guitar, surrounded by people we've been camping with the last 2 weeks, and we joined them, toasted marshmallows, sang songs and ate freddo frogs.

Here are Eowyn, Grace and our kayak!

Coco in the apple myrtle at our campsite

The one I love to be serenaded by!

Coco's tent was a favourite meeting place for her little friends - we went with a group of her classmates and their families and friends.

now we are home, with clean hair!!!! i am going to look at your lovely blogs, catch up (and get excited about Coco and my trip to the UK!)

thanks so much mum and dad for giving us your car, camping gear and scrummy food for our adventure!

love you all,

meg

2010-12-25T20:32:00.000+11:00

A very merry Christmas dear hearts, and a happy twenty-eleven!

We've had a simply delightful Christmas celebration, with Mum, Dad, Rachel, David, Serendipity, Jonathan, my lovely little family, Merry, Paddy, Bev, Andrew & Verity! (And skyping Sam and Becca was both wonderful, in having opportunity to interact with them, and very funny, trying to get it to work!!!!!!

Off we go, in the morning, with camping gear and car Dad and Mum have VERY kindly loaned us - all we have to do before we go is pack the freezer food, the kayak, the bikes and watch Doctor Who's Christmas Carol!!!

Let me see if I can find a pic of the place we are camping, so you can envisage us there!

Eowyn and Coco are cracking me up, running around with the mp3 players Bens gave them for Christmas, singing really loudly, not realising we can't hear the music, just them!!! Bens gave me a Kindle. And I gave him a fishing rod, fishing knife and a fishing licence!!

MUCH love,

Megs xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-15T22:46:00.000+11:00

These cute seasonal treats are from one of my workmates - it was our Christmas party today (and I was by far the worst at pinning the tale on the donkey!) I'm feeling disappointed that this job is a maternity leave contract which is about to finish. I really like the people I have been working with, and the job. I have been busily applying for jobs and having interviews, but not with success as yet. We're in a tight spot financially, as there needs to be money in the bank for all of January's rent, leaving minimal wriggle room. It feels so much easier when there is that wriggle room.

I am very thankful for the people in my life ... these three here photographed, and you, my delightful and much cherished blogging community.

Happy happy holidays, and love,

Megs

Peter Pan!

2010-12-11T18:32:00.000+11:00

Today, Eowyn and Coco met Melbs' Peter Pan! Eowyn met London's Peter Pan when she was 18 months old, and Coco shall, God willing, meet London's Peter Pan (and Martha, Reuben and Stella!!!) in 3 months!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CAROLINE!!!

2010-12-07T20:42:00.000+11:00

We love you VEEEERY much!

I am so looking forward to seeing you in 2011!!!!

Love, Meg

2010-12-06T17:00:00.000+11:00

That's the 'Spirit of Tasmania' setting sail in the background... ah,to be at sea!!

2010-11-11T22:46:00.000+11:00

This is about 2 minutes from our front door ... you are welcome at ours!

I have a job interview tomorrow, and another one on Thursday, at 'Stephen's Hospital', the Children's Hospital, Centre for Adolesescent Health, Chronic Illness Peer Support. I'm feeling exhausted by all this anticipated transition.

Bens and I are going to Leonard Cohen on Saturday night. Early in our marriage, we went on holiday and drove across the Cascades on Highway 20 - the mountains are jaggedy and snow-capped and utterly beautiful - into Eastern Washington, which is very dry, where we stayed at Methow Valley Ranch. On the drive, we listened to Leonard Cohen, and let the magic of his lyrics soak into our imaginations. His music is part of our story together. I'm excited for Saturday night! As is Bens! As are the girls, who are staying the night at Grandma and Gumps!!!

2010-11-06T00:31:00.001+11:00

Aussie Hallowe'en was pretty good...

2010-11-04T16:51:00.000+11:00

I have entered a phase of avidly reading 'The New Yorker'.

2010-10-30T21:55:00.000+11:00

I get so involved in each article I'm reading, and have just been poking around on the internet after finishing a thrilling read. I thought I would share with you the comment I wrote on this blog in response to Tom Robbins:

I loved Janet Malcolm's 'Iphigenia' article. (I also love Tom Robbins' novels!!) I like the way she includes herself in the story - it really is rather brilliant. As a journalist myself, I found her commentary about our profession fun, thought provoking and particularly interesting in painting the picture of journalists in court, and the community created around a long case like this one. I also very much appreciated her delving into the spaces between "fact" and the stories we create. And she really IS much harder on lawyers than she is on journalists: "We go through life mishearing and misunderstanding so that the stories we tell ourselves will add up. Trial lawyers push this human tendency to a higher level. They are playing for higher stakes than we are playing for when we tinker with actuality in order to transform the tale told by an idiot into an orderly, self-serving narrative." ('The New Yorker', May 3 2010, p.38) I appreciate Malcolm's reference to Macbeth there, 'life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing!' Macbeth murdered Duncan in vain; if Marina murdered Daniel, it was in vain. But did she?

2010-10-07T16:30:00.001+11:00

2010-09-28T00:13:00.002+10:00

NO NO NO Bens, it's CRICKET, not baseball!!!

Off to school!

2010-09-28T00:04:00.000+10:00

Ours is the back apartment, lowest level, you can see our balcony with the lovely bay tree Seren gave me for my 40th! We have broccoli, and a tomato from Mum, and orange flowers from Bens growing inside!

The 112 tram goes right along our street! This is just in front of our home...

...and this is our neighbours across the road.

Like in Seattle, almost all our friends here are very financially wealthy, more so than us. This was really hard for me in the first months here, but in the last month, with the help of my good friend Martina, I have been focusing on contentment and thankfulness, and it is working!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taught my American family how to play cricket! Hang on, these pics are today, at Brighton, our picnic-in-the-freezing-rain!

2010-09-27T22:43:00.000+10:00

2010-08-25T00:08:00.000+10:00

Sydney Luna Park - aka heaven, when I was a child! Coco and I went there with Naomi, and 2 days later, spent the day at Melbourne's Luna Park, as Eowyn decorated and wrapped up the Luna Park pass she won, and gave it to Coco!!!! Coco loooooooved it, and would be happily laughing away on the terrifying up-side-down rides, whilst I hyperventilated, sang hymns, clutched her close so she wouldn't fall out, and laughed hysterically with her. It's a treat, having all this lovely Coco and Mummy time!

Best of Friends!

2010-08-22T21:41:00.000+10:00

2010-08-21T19:02:00.000+10:00

I love Coco's company!

I'm home...

2010-08-21T18:58:00.000+10:00

THIS is the Australia I missed so much whilst living overseas!

Wicked was soooooooooooooooooooo sensationally brilliant! Coco was mesmerised...

2010-08-21T18:57:00.000+10:00

Thank you Naomi dear!

We even had a cousins' photo!

2010-08-21T18:41:00.000+10:00

The cousins' photo is on Judy's camera...
Here are Abigail and Cosette at Taronga zoo.
It was such a lovely visit to Sydney - summery weather, so we could swim at my favourite beach in all the world, Palm Beach, LOVELY time with brilliant people, Coco loved almost every moment, Wicked was sensational, Naomi a marvelous hostess, and we are utterly exhausted now, having just arrived home!

Coco and Megs had a ball in Sydney!!!!!

2010-08-21T18:35:00.002+10:00

Eowyn and Aliya at Seatac Airport!!!! Woooo hoooooot!

2010-08-15T18:52:00.002+10:00

EOWYN AND BENJAMIN ARE IN THE USofA!!

2010-08-15T08:29:00.000+10:00

...and Coco is playing with her dinosaurs and mumbling piratey phrases! She woke me up very early this morning, wanting to play... I'm tired...

2010-08-14T18:12:00.002+10:00

Eowyn and Benjamin are safely away. I feel so happy and relieved, in that sense where something which has been 'future' for so long, becomes 'present', delighting many, and especially the very excited Benjamin and Eowyn! Please keep them in your prayers for safety and wonder and Eowyn's solo flight... Thanks! Coco and I are having a fun time at home, leaving cupboard doors open and chewing gum!!!!!!!!!!

Just between you and me...

2010-08-05T10:01:00.000+10:00

...I am feeling really sorrowful that our family will be spread across the globe for two weeks. I like to think of myself as a strong, feminist, unfazed wonderwoman, but alas alack, in reality I am ratherly dependent on my little family, and feel anxious, sad and scared about Bens and Eowyn being away. I am very thankful Coco and I shall be together. And I see how very excited and happy B and E are about their adventures, so in that sense, I am very glad they are going. But in my heart sense, I feel ever so daunted. Every day I am spending some time organising Eowyn's time. Our friends in Seattle are amazing, and so wonderful and kind, especially Karen, who is playing Mommy to Eowyn whilst she is in Seattle. I wanted to say this somewhere, and my blog, with you lovely band of people in our bloggy community, seemed the perfect place. The girls and I are home sick today, which is cosy and lovely except for the sick part! We are going to our lovely Jewish Dr this afternoon, who perhaps shall wave her magic wand and make us all better! Bens is healthy, and hopefully shall stay so. I am going to see if I can find a picture for you! Hang on a mini!! Hmmmm - that is not the picture I intended to put. However, it is there, so there it is! This pic is of a ship from Belfast which Bens and I dream of sailing off in - a ship in port just isn't happy - being at sea, with all the rhythms, the waves, the wind, the radar, the peaceful sounds, is where a ship is meant to be. I love that we can see ships from our bedroom and kitchen and dining room windows!

2010-07-29T23:17:00.001+10:00

2010-07-29T23:15:00.001+10:00

2010-07-29T23:09:00.002+10:00

Coco creating chocolate souffle for Auntie Seren!

2010-07-23T19:52:00.003+10:00

Happy birthday darling Serendipity Rose!!!

2010-07-10T21:41:00.000+10:00

Eowyn is an exceedingly kind person. We are realising that Coco has difficulty distinguishing between auditory ground and figure (background noise and what somebody is saying to her), and that Eowyn often 'interprets' what Coco has missed, so that Coco understands. We have booked Coco to see a very good Audiologist named Lesley Tan, who is in high demand, so the appointment is not until October. Coco has had a difficult time adapting to the routines of her new classroom. It was a conversation with Seren, celebrating Solstice, which helped me realise what has been happening for Coco.

2010-07-10T21:37:00.000+10:00

Coco has so much energy! Walking down the street is an exciting battle, an African savanna, a medieval castle, a complexly choreographed adventure. And she is always so delightfully sure that I'll want to play her game!

2010-07-10T21:35:00.000+10:00

29! Samwise!

2010-07-10T10:54:00.000+10:00

I'm fondly remembering Sam-birthdays across the years - the day you were born, hugging you for the first time and feeling your soft, warm baby skin, your 2nd birthday in Ky, when you were the cutest little waddling dumpling! Your 6th birthday when we'd just moved to Sydney, just after Stephen died, our camping trip to the Jenolan Caves, where you and I and laughed uproariously the whole way, mooning the moon on the roof in Perth, celebrating your 21st in LA and Seattle, Patricia's fabulous 'Samwise' cake, doing ad lib spontaneous public drama together in Fremont by Lake Union, seeing you last May in London, your wonderful appellations for people... !!!!
Love you, love being your sister, happy 29th birthday Samwise!
Love Meepsterooni!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR REUBEN! We love you! Now you are TWO!

2010-07-10T10:39:00.001+10:00

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

2010-07-04T21:52:00.000+10:00

We had a delightful 4th of July celebration today at Mum and Dad's. Rachel gave us this fabulous flag. Mum's cooking was divine, as ever, and I baked a delicious apple pie! (Actually, I bought it at a store, and my honest Coco foiled my otherwise successful masquerade!) My nephew David Nicholas was very charming. On the way home, with Dad, we basked under the winter sun. And I just finished 'The Girls from Ames', in the bath, a wonderful tome celebrating women's friendships.

Last 4th of July, with much pomp and ceremony, I became a US citizen at the Seattle Center (created for the World Fair in 1960. Bens and my first married 4th was a BBQ at Ady Acres, when I'd just found out
I was pregnant with Eowyn. Their whole church came every year. Makes
me a little sad to think of Sue being alive then and not now.
Our 2nd 4th, Samwise was there with us, and some friends, and we
climbed onto the roof - the boys carefully passing baby Eowyn up - and
watched the first 4th fireworks display after 9/11 - very grand and
patriotic, with a great big ol' plane towing a mammoth flag. No, Sam txted from his phone, "It was a humongous, low helicopter carrying a massive US flag!"
Our 3rd 4th i was pregnant with Coco, and our 4th 4th (???!!!!!) the 4
(!) of us watched the fireworks from the window nook (not the roof
this time!!!!)

I wish you all a very happy 4th of July!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST ANITA!

2010-07-02T12:37:00.000+10:00

We love you, wonderful Anita Bosma Jones!!

Les artistes...

2010-06-24T12:25:00.000+10:00

I have just talked with a piano teacher in our neighbourhood, and am taking the girls to meet her this afternoon, with the idea being to perhaps start piano lessons! They are expensive, but now that I am working, 'tis a gift I would like to give them. I wanted to learn as a teenager, and didn't have that opportunity - parenting is a lot about pendulums, isn't it, which is one reason we so enjoy having grandparents around - the girls are swinging back to them! I have an enormous grocery shop to unpack. Bens has been amazing, keeping the home fires burning whilst I am off at my new job, which is going very well. My mentor, a lovely woman named Jenny, said "I think you have the personality and "know how "to be an excellent Secondary School Nurse," which encouraged me immensely. Because the hospital job in Australia went so dreadfully, I have been rather anxious about this position - it seems it's a really good fit for me!

2010-06-21T22:55:00.001+10:00

2010-06-21T22:50:00.001+10:00

Solstice party...

2010-06-21T22:47:00.002+10:00

2010-06-21T22:43:00.002+10:00

2010-06-21T22:18:00.000+10:00

The Winter Solstice party tonight was wonderful! I feel thankful to be surro8unded by such wonderful friends and family!!!! (Thanks Mum for the marvelous Turkish gifts!!)

And work is going REALLY well - I feel very privileged to be able to be in people's lives in a way whihch is helpful and encouraging for them.

I am getting sick, which is hard - I'm not used to the early mornings and long days.

I feel very thankful and happy to have all these lovely people in my life, and to have you, my darling blogging community!!

Love Meg xo

2010-06-09T20:35:00.002+10:00

Coco lost her front bottom right tooth today!! And the tooth faerie brought letters and dinosaurs for she and Eowyn to put on the wall (rather than writing on walls!!)

Samuel's favourite Melbourne lane!

2010-06-09T14:06:00.001+10:00

2010-06-09T14:04:00.000+10:00

I am living up my last days before starting work! This picture is especially for Sam, as he told me about this lovely, favourite lane of his in Melbourne!! I would love ALL of you who read this blog to come with me to this nook, and there eat, sip coffee, laugh at gilded butterflies and catch up, well 'n good!

Love Meg

2010-06-07T09:32:00.000+10:00

Telling the Jones boys a story 'by mouth' was so fun! I am really enjoying seeing the chronicles of Mum's adventures in London on the blogs. Johanna Winter Harper said what a wonderful privilege it is for us all to be so connected by having each other's blogs to read, and she is right. I am very thankful for each of you in our blogging community, and for all the little electrical (magical!?!) connexions between you and me!

2010-06-07T09:30:00.001+10:00

2010-06-07T09:29:00.001+10:00

2010-06-07T09:25:00.001+10:00

It was wonderful seeing Ben (Benjamin's Dad), Kat and Jim in Bellevue.

Georgi and Kiki

2010-06-05T19:27:00.000+10:00

Coco's yellow budgie Georgi, and Eowyn's green lovebird Kiki are having a happy time flying about in their bedroom. We're not quite sure how we're going to coax them back into the cage, but our ideology of freedom requires us to enter into this dilemma...

2010-06-03T21:05:00.000+10:00

I'm excited! Bens just bought us tickets to LEONARD COHEN in November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-06-03T10:09:00.002+10:00

This is Treebeard, as viewed from the deck at Karen's, a lovely place to be! I miss you Karen and love you dearly. xoxoxoxox

2010-05-31T22:20:00.000+10:00

You're invited to celebrate the Winter Solstice with our family, a long-time Ady annual tradition which we would love to share with you!

I'm going to make a main dish - feel free to bring a side dish, dessert or drink, or just your lovely selves, whatever is easiest for you!!

June 21st, 6pm, Eldamar!

Pondering. Wondering. Hmmmmmm...

2010-05-30T08:25:00.001+10:00

I love the close-knit-ness of this blogging community. I am thinking of you all as I sit down at our computer, this cold, cosy Sunday morning.

I have been offered a job as a secondary school nurse. This is exciting, in a lot of ways, and daunting. One specific concern of mine is that the supervisor is something of a tough 'un. She seems angry, and makes discouraging, suspicious comments. I am one who thrives on encouragement, and it daunts me to work with such a person. I don't know her well, so there is something to be said for waiting to find out more about her, but then again, my intuition is good, and I trust myself. I had awful experiences of being bullied when I worked as a student midwife at Blacktown Hospital special care nursery. But I am older now, and I think more able to stick up for myself. I had the most incredible, encouraging, uplifting supervisor in my job at PEPS in Seattle, and thrived with her. It's almost as if when I have somebody believing I am amazing, I am amazing. I'm not sure if I have the strength to do all that believing for myself? It is certainly worrying me.

Oh. I just found an Aussie $100 note. Wonder what that is doing here?

The girls and I are going to church this morning, riding the tram, as right afterwards we, Bens, Rachel and David shall lunch at Dad's - he's making us lamb chops, potatoes and peas! I am looking forward to this!! On Tuesday evening, he, Serendipity and I shall go to see King Lear.

Dad and I went on a hike together last Thursday. I shall find a picture from it to go with this post. The red birds were stunning, and it was lovely to have lots of time to talk. I am having a little trouble finding a picture. They're all on facebook, and facebook is very slooooooooooooow this morning!

I am very much enjoying my dear little family, Bens, Eowyn and Coco. Though I find myself stumped at the morning schoolday routine - vexation vexation vexation!

2010-05-26T12:38:00.000+10:00

Thank you Becca and Sam for your beautiful blogpost about my flying visit! I so loved seeing your dear family, and Anita and Tom's dear family! It was wonderful, and I cherish this time! I am excited that Mum shall be there with you very soon, and then Rachel, David and Seren in the fall. It is such a gift to have these moments together.

2010-05-25T13:23:00.000+10:00

It is soooo good to be home, with my darling Bens and Eowyn and Coco. I feel thankful beyond measure for this little family of mine, for all of you I saw on this adventure I've just had, and for this marvelous blogging community which keeps us connected, such a profound gift.

2010-05-23T15:22:00.001+10:00