Here are the hits for you… A litle late I know, the 5am club went on strike today. I guess it was all of the WEEK adding up.. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.

1.  BLOOD DONORS BLOOD DONORS.

The kid got her top up of the good stuff this week- a little earlier than anticipated, but still in great timing for the festive season. So, I’d like to send out a big thank you and virtual cuddle to all of the wonderful blood donors who give up their precious red stuff for our kid, and kids just like her. Without you we wouldn’t have much of a life, to be honest, and we definitely wouldn’t be able to GO TO THE USA for our Festivus celebrations. THANKYOU ONE AND ALL.

2.  All of my wonderful patients, who, without even a hint of grumbling annoyance, rescheduled their appointments so that we could go ahead with point 1 above. I am so lucky to have such a gorgeous group of lovely, understanding people to work with. Blessed I tells ya!

3.  You lot.

This week I have had such lovely feedback about the blog. I have had people complimenting my writing, telling me they like coming here to visit, sharing with me the things that make them laugh and cry as they sponge up my tales of whinging and general carry on. We might be perched here in a tiny little corner of the internet, but to all of you who come on over and read From The Ashers, thank you. Thanks for reading, commenting, sharing and just generally being part of this community. I love that you bother to stop by.

4.  This book.

I finally have a copy in my hot little hands, and almost want to cry just looking at the cover. It was written by the clever, humble, patient and incredibly persistent Allison Paterson. I’ve only read a tiny bit so far, but I can already tell it’s going to be a cracker. I’m so proud of her for forging ahead with this massive project, creating this important work and giving heart to these pieces of Australian History.

5.  All of the small things.

The delicious crumble of home-made shortbread. The sound of rain on our tin roof at night. The snuffling movements of our children sleeping. The gentle winking of Christmas lights. The joyful noise of children splashing in the pool. The salty fragrance of warm, wet air. The crackling anticipation of the record player. The pungent smell of the first coffee of the day in my hideous Christmas Mug. The delivery of gifts from far away. Colourful paper. Curling ribbon. People who say thank you and mean it. Fresh new haircuts. Juicy Summer fruits. Laughing with friends. Silly Christmas movies. Getting dinner cooked for me. Music. New ideas. Almost sunburnt skin. The calming lull of cricket on the telly. Home-brewed ginger beer. Long days. The whisper of ceiling fans that stir the hairs on my arms. Life.

Small things. But they add up okay. They make a big life.

So what are your hits people? Any big wins this week? (Don’t be shy- we are a community, remember.)

…From The Ashers

Well, it’s been a week.  A short one, but a week of hits none the less.

1.  Fancy Champi with friends at Mum’s place.  What kind of (overgrown) kid would I be if I didn’t have a party (of sorts) at my parent’s place when she is away.  I only hope I arranged the cushions properly when we left, otherwise I’m gonna be busted…  Hope she doesn’t read the blog.

Note: Two glasses. Sorry fellas.

2.  Finding my old English assignment- what was then called an ‘Option’.  It is neither good, nor insightful, or even well put together (However, much of it IS excruciating).   But I do remember loving doing it, going through the process of creating something from nothing, and having free reign to do so.  It was probably about the only part of the work in my later years of schooling that I actually liked.  It is interesting to note that I didn’t recognise how much I loved to write until this late stage in life, and so instead went off doing science degrees and the like.  Which is not at all my forte.  Lucky I had my eyes on the career at the end of all the mindless biochemistry, or I would have been stuffed.  Finding it was a fun trip down memory lane.

3.  Cooler nights: not a hit, but uggies and early nights and watching telly under a blanket, well that was kinda nice.

4.  This book:

I’m only just wading in, but it’s pretty good so far.  Intense, but good.  I think we will be great friends.  And in other news of books, one of my patients, Allison Paterson, has just completed the finals on her book called ANZAC Sons, a compilation and story behind over 500 letters sent from three brothers on the Western Front.  Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.  I can’t wait for its release (Remembrance Day this year).  A final bit of book news: you know Anna Spargo-Ryan?  Well she is one of my fave authors, and this week she sent me a bit of her novel-under-construction to read, for which I feel humbled and honoured.  As you would expect, it is wonderful.  I am by turns insanely jealous, and stupidly excited that this will soon be a thing.  Well done both of you girls, your tenacity and ability to write such a lot of words, is frankly, quite amazing.

5.   The soccer World Cup starting tomorrow morning… NAH, just joking, I couldn’t give a shit!!  But it’s 10pm, I’m tired, I worked my tiny phalanges to the, well, phalanges today and I can’t think of another hit right now.  So go Aussies, fare you well, and in another more interesting front: GO DOGS.

P.S.  For those concerned souls who have been asking, Woofa the Shitcat’s eye appears to be fine.  Over a grand later, we called enough, and just didn’t make an appointment for yet another (fifty dollar) eye pressure test.  In all my vetinary wisdom I took her off the meds, and we went about our business.  Liam and I did the ocular testing (hung a thingy in front of her eye and watched to see if it looked like she could see it, shone a torch into her eye to see if the pupil responded- being the old school type of vets we are) and she seems fine.  So fingers crossed all is well, because I don’t suppose we can go back to that vet again…

Happy Second Long Weekend if you are in Maroochy Shire (bastards), otherwise, Happy Normal Weekend.

And don’t forget to send me some of your shit poetry as mentioned on the blog yesterday.  I know you have it saved up somewhere.. Janine and I can’t be the only ones.. Can we?

…From The Ashers xx