ipe Daily Bliss: June 2007

Daily Bliss

Today's lovely moments are tomorrow’s beautiful memories

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Shock! Delight!

Penn State University research has shown that, despite conflicts and complicated emotions, the tie between mothers and daughters is so positive, so strong and so enduring that 80 to 90 percent of women at mid-life say that they have/had a good relationship with their mother – even though they wish that relationship were better.




This blog I dedicate to two very special people - my mother, Janet (1930 - 1993) & my youngest daughter, Gabriella (b 1988).

It's a blog of giggles because my big announcement for this blog is that my daughter has cleaned her bedroom! Need I say more? Mothers around the world will be doing Mexican Waves in sheer delight! LOL


posted by Felicity | 9:12 pm | 0 comments

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Kitchen Renovation Update


Last week we removed the tiles from the central part of our house(entrance, gathering room & hallway to the bedrooms). The dust from the jack hammer & concrete grinder was unbelievable & has settled in & on everything. We really should have packed up & moved out before doing that task!

Wednesday reached a low point. I finally sat down and cried about the hopless situtation of our kitchen. It's the hub of the house, empty of its usual stuff. This 'stuff' is stored in the other rooms of the house so we have nowhere to live once we stop our busy bits in the late afternoons. I'm sick of using a towel on our bed in the evening for a dining room table! I seriously can't stand the sight of the barbeque & I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm dying to watch television!

Then, hysteria set in for a moment & I seriously thought about going somewhere (or should I say ANYWHERE?) for 2 weeks whilst I wait out the time for trades people to get their acts together. This came after my tile man told me on Tuesday that it would now be late July/early August before he could do the tiling - he was booked in for next week but had, without telling me, changed his schedule.

I fantasised about leaving everything for all of 10 seconds. I decided, however, that I couldn't leave Gypsy the cat alone in the house in its present state. Whatever would she do? Actually, I know what she would do. She'd find a (forbidden)bed & make herself comfortable.

Then, the telephone rang three times in quick succession. First call was from another tiler, the second from a plasterer & the third from a handyman doing an odd job (not actually related to the kitchen renovation).

"I've got a delay in a job. The owner needs to source 20m2 of tiles. I can start your job on Monday, if you are still wanting someone." said the tiler.

Instantly, my tears dried. Would you believe I was so dumbstruck that the only thing I could think of to say was that I'd check with Paul & get back to him shortly. Paul simply said

"Where's his number? Call him back and say 'Yes please, see you Monday!' "

To cut a long story short, it's go, go. go again here next week. We'll have a tiler, a plasterer & an odd job man here working on the inside of the house &, quite possibly, a water tank installation team working on the outside.

Figuratively speaking, I'm happy dancing again. In reality, I'm up the ladder painting the gathering room yet again (the tile removal did a fair amount of damage to the walls, would you believe?).

Happiness & laughter always,

Bliss

posted by Felicity | 7:55 am | 0 comments

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Birthday Party - Great Time Had by All!


posted by Felicity | 7:28 am | 0 comments

Monday, June 18, 2007

The Living Doll Turns 21





First there was the Crown Princess. Miranda was born in 1981. I knew she was loved before she was born. The love IN her parents' lives had become the love OF their lives, as the saying goes. Next came the Crown Prince, David. He arrived in 1983. I was a bit worried for him prior to his birth because I loved his father & big sister so much I didn't think that there was any more love to give. I don't know why I worried - after all, David means 'beloved'. I guess the reality of 'Love has no boundaries' still hadn't dawned on me. Neither baby's arrival prepared me for the birth of my third child.

The 18th June 1986 will go down as one of the red letter days of my life because I fell in love at first sight. William thinks it was my blood pressure dropping suddenly, but that's not true. 'Love at first sight' had happened twice before when I was much younger & more impressionable, so I knew what it felt like, it's just that I had always assumed that this thunderbolt kind of loving was reserved for the men who might come into my life - not my new-born daughter.

I took one look at that tiny, nameless, scrap of humanity & I was agonna! Today is my Diana Helen's 21st birthday. I have since had the cadet princess (Gabriella) & acquired, by marriage, three step-sons (Michael, Luke & Nathan) so have 7 lovely off-spring to treasure. They are all very much loved as individuals. Each has their own place in my heart. Diana's place is still, after all these years, as my walking, talking, squeaking, squarking, living doll.

I was going to write a whole lot more, but I think the slideshow says it all, don't you?

Happiness & laughter always,

Bliss

posted by Felicity | 6:04 am | 1 comments

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Maroons Take Out Game Two - & the Series

No picture or fanfare for this entry, folks. I simply forgot to blog this little fact. I can't imagine how it slipped my mind. Could it be that I'm a NSW supporter?

Fortunately, no one wanted a 'double or nothing' bet with me. Sadly, a few cheeky off-spring had the gaul to rub my nose in it. LOL

All in good fun.

Honest injun, I didn't watch the game (no television watching possible at this stage of renovations) nor do I know the actual score, just that we lost.

Next year, hell or high water, my darling SIL & I are going to watch our first game from the stands of the Brisbane grounds. She's a diehard League supporter! Watch out, Queensland! Paul says you won't know what hit you!

Happiness & laughter always,

Bliss

posted by Felicity | 7:25 am | 0 comments

Thursday, June 14, 2007

What Kind of Bra are You?

I bet that heading got your attention!

The things I do to fill in time before going to bed when Paul is away in Melbourne! Here's a Blogthing called 'What Kind of Bra Are You?'

I am a Lace Bra!
(Waa! I so much prefer the idea of being a flashy red bra like my youngest princess.
The image is so much more appealing, don't you think? LOL)



But what does being a lace bra mean?

It means that
I'm Dreamy, romantic, and ultra-feminine.
I'm a womanly woman who makes guys feel like men.
My perfect guy is strong, determined, and handsome
with a softer side that only I can draw out.

I can live with all that!

But, but, but, if I was that flashy red bra
I'd be considered outgoing, friendly, and fascinating,
a charmer, with my pick of the men.
Oh & I'd be wanting a man who's as magnetic as I am who can keep up with my all night gab fests!

What? Talk all night? Which night? I've gotta plan that much loss of sleep.

Paul's the all night talker. You know how it is: you are just asleep & your darling love adds another sentence to the conversation you had at 6pm. I use the nights he's away to catch up on my sleep! LOL - I exaggerate.

So how did I get to be the lace rather than the flashy red bra?

Simple - & almost nothing to do with underwear at all!

Apart from admitting that I like underwear that matches bra to panties rather than pulling on whatever comes out of the drawer, the rest was a hotch potch of absolutely nothing that would dictate what I am in terms of undergarments!
Oh, & nothing about breasts came into the survey!

I said that I prefer Orlando Bloom to Colin Farrell & Prince William
- who wouldn't?
I want to learn Italian
(because I already speak fluent French & German -
the other options for the question);

Oh, and I lied on the questionnaire. In truth, that alone means I'm probably the bra equivalent of Bonds Cottontails.

I said that I read Elle magazine
rather than the TV guide when waiting for someone because
The World of Cross Stitch wasn't an option.

It filled in the time. It's now late enough to go to bed.

Oh by the way ...

What Kind of Bra Are You?


Happiness & Laughter always,
Bliss

posted by Felicity | 9:12 pm | 0 comments

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Take it from one who knows! Hammer & chisel will destroy almost anything in a house. Only person I know who can do better than us (& someone to avoid employing at all costs) is Steve King at Leader Constructions who, in 1992, pulled down the laundry & toilet in my Townsville house to hurry me into signing a contract I wasn't ever going to sign (I'll share that disaster - the only other disaster I've ever had in my nearly 30 year renovating history - another day). Crown Princess & I have spent this morning demolishing a built-in wardrobe in the spare room. It was fabulous de-stress therapy, let me assure you.

This week's update on reno jobs:

Tuesday morning saw 5 gorgeous hunks (hunky enough that Cadet Princess was prepared to wag English Poetry exam to stay home and supervise) come and jackhammer up 80m2 of floor tiles. The dust is incredible but we won't be doing the big clean up until the concrete grinder comes next Tuesday. Thankfully, I managed to cover most treasure with plastic sheets.

The spare room is also getting a makeover. It's relieving frustrations while I wait for new kitchen to be installed. Hang the chaos! We are soooo over renovations, a bit more dust can't make it any worse. Today the wardrobe, tomorrow the old carpet.

I hope all's well in your world

Bliss

posted by Felicity | 5:40 pm | 0 comments

Friday, June 08, 2007

Update on life without a kitchen

The kitchen renovation has meant that normal events of life have kind of been ‘let slip’ for a couple of months, blogging included. Some days are diamonds, some days are stone & some days have quarry face written all over them.

I’ve spent my days doing a lot of painting, plotting & planning, all the household jobs, all the cooking on the back garden BBQ & much of the ferrying to the city for Paul’s work because of his broken foot. I got to the point a few weeks ago that I could have killed for someone else to make me coffee in the morning! Thankfully, we are getting back to the normal morning routines now that my darling can put his foot on the floor again. Mmmm, hot morning coffee!

The one really nice part of having do kitchen organisation twice (& it took me several weeks to find this nice thing, believe you me) is that we get to do the replanning – one usually thinks about all the things one could do AFTER one has committed to a new venture. This way we have a second chance!

Unexpected good news came on Wednesday morning in the notification that the kitchen production has been moved forward on our new contractor's job list. We have been told that we will have our kitchen in 6 weeks - in time for our Christmas in July weekend that's supposed to be happening on the 28th July. Happy dancing, happy jigging!

Work wise, things are quiet for me. I’m not doing any teaching at the moment with my arm the way it is (frozen shoulder), but will probably be back to it in 4th term when all renovations are done. Someone has asked me to do a contract. For Paul, it’s the opposite. The poor bugger is juggling crutches, a head cold & frequent plane trips to Melbourne for meetings.

We are taking an overnight escape in a swank hotel at Southbank this weekend. While we are over that way we have reservations at one of my fave Italian restaurants & we'll pop into the semi-annual Lifeline bookfest.

Happiness & laughter always,
Bliss

posted by Felicity | 5:23 pm | 0 comments

Saturday, June 02, 2007

This is My Life Rated

I did this quiz in May 2006. The results are as good as last time despite the kitchen dramas. No small portion of this is due to the wonderful people in my life. Thanks everyone!

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:
 6.8
Mind:
 6.3
Body:
 6
Spirit:
 5.8
Friends/Family:
 8.1
Love:
 9.1
Finance:
 6.7
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Your Life Analysis: Your life rating is a score of the sum total of your life, and accounts for how satisfied, successful, balanced, capable, valuable, and happy you are. The quiz attempts to put a number on the summation of all of these things, based on your answers. Your life score leaves room for improvement. You can make changes to improve your trouble areas, and this will bring you greater satisfaction. Focus on your weakest points and set about to change them. Do not delay your happiness and success.

Mind: Your mind rating is a score of your mind's clarity, ability, and health. Higher scores indicate an advancement in knowledge, clear and capable thinking, high mental health, and pure thought free of interference. Your mind score is not bad, but could be improved upon. Your mental health is not weak, but you are not achieving full mental clarity and function. Learn how to unclutter your mind. Keep learning, keep improving, continue moving forward

Body: Your body rating measures your body's health, fitness, and general wellness. A healthy body contributes to a happy life, however many of us are lacking in this area. Your body score is fairly average, which means there is room for improvement. Keep a focus on your physical health. Protect your body as it is your most valuable physical asset. Nutrition, stress reduction, and exercise are key.

Spirit: Your spirit rating seeks to capture in a number that elusive quality which is found in your faith, your attitude, and your philosophy on life. A higher score indicates a greater sense of inner peace and balance. Your spirit score leaves room for improvement. Consider making a concerted effort to redefine your attitudes and focus your beliefs. Boosting your spirit will lead to greater life satisfaction.

Friends/Family: Your friends and family rating measures your relationships with those around you, and is based on how large, healthy, and dependable your social network is. Your friends and family score is quite healthy. You have a social network you can depend upon. Count your blessings, but never forget that these bonds need to be maintained. Keep your friends and family close.

Love: Your love rating is a measure of your current romantic situation. Sharing your heart with another person is one of life's most glorious, terrifying, rewarding experiences. Your love score is very high, which means you are in a very happy situation right now. Do all you can to keep it strong.

Finance: Your finance rating is a score that rates your current financial health and stability. Your finances are somewhat in the middle, neither bad or exceptional. Keep doing what works for you, and improve what doesn't. Focus on long-term financial stability as your goal.

posted by Felicity | 7:27 am | 0 comments

Friday, June 01, 2007

First Day of Winter

Good weather for knitting is here at last!

posted by Felicity | 11:09 pm | 0 comments

Copyright © 2007-2023 Bliss Davies.

Last template update: 2nd August 2023