Never enough time!

Hello again : Please note when changing designs I lost my followers so please add
yourself again :)

I am sure we can all agree that there is never enough time: Time to clear my desk at work,(which I did this arvo I am pleased to report) read all the wonderful blogs I enjoy, forums, catch up on my own blog (hey,I am doing that now!)and the list goes on....

Have been enjoying reading on a new forum. The address is http://www.gourmetbackyard.com/forum/. It provides info on gardening, livestock, using your own produce and so on so go and check it out. It is run by Cai whom I came across on my all time favourite chooky site BYP (Backyard poultry)The more I read, the more I learn and the more I realise how little I know :)

Been busy at work. I had a line off today but had to spend it organising for the relief teacher who will take my classes on Friday whilst I am at a course. Highlight this week was a presentation by a colleague teacher who gave up his spare time to visit my Animal Studies class. The presentation was on the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
I ran into him at the photocopier, asked about his holiday and then of course once I had heard, I just had to ask if he would do a presentation for me. In the last school holidays Greg and his partner visited Malaysia and stayed at the resort and went to the Sepilok Centre. I must put this place on my bucket list: places to visit before I die! Greg was saying that years ago when he had been in Malaysia one saw many rubber plantations and now that has been replaced by palm trees for the oil as there is more money in it. Trouble is the trees are not a suitable habitat for the orangutans and so many are orphaned when their habit is destroyed.

Time has passed more quickly than one would like as two weeks ago we celebrated Kim's (my other half) 50th birthday. For his 21st I gave him a surprise party at a flat we lived in, In Sydney. For his 40th I put on a big bash, money over the bar and nibbles etc plus a band (helps to have friends in a band). Once again it was a surprise. This one was pay your own way so people were asked to join us for drinks at The New Sydney Hotel. We then had a private function room upstairs where we shared a meal together, people just ordering and paying for their own which was nice and easy. In the arvo Irish music was on and in the evening a popular music band. It just so happened that two of the band members were in the same band that had played ten years before (though that time I had paid them!)Was a good night. The highlight was being on the dance floor with our kids and their partners! Another highlight was the attendance of my cousin Elizabeth and her husband Stephen. We had lost contact quite some years ago and we have facebook to thank as that is where Elizabeth found me. They were down from Sydney for the weekend and we all got on like a house on fire! Pic below was taken upstairs at the hotel of Kim and I by friend Leeanne whom I met when we were both training to be teachers. Mind you, I ordered a cake and organised my friend to pick it, which she kindly did. She never really looked at it so when the kitchen brought it in, instead of wishing Kim a happy birthday it was Tim! Cake was yummy but pity about the wrong name. The evening was great with six friends staying overnight at our place. In the morning served up hot breakfast, with lovely fresh eggs from my chookie girls. Later in the day our friends Marion and Tony C came for an afternoon cuppa and to drop off gifts that Kim had been given. Old school mate of Kim's Tony B also popped in with his 13 yr old son after they had been at football. In the evening Krystal (younger daughter) was with us for tea, along with a friend so quite a social weekend.

Recently we sold these alpacas. I always take pics before and then afterwards at their new home. I had to be at work so helped Kim load them but could not go with him and he did not think to take a pic afterwards. He said he had a cuppa with the new owners and one could sit and watch the alpacas, whilst sipping and chatting! I hate selling them but we have sold quite a few lately to cut down costs.
The names of these ones are Titan (guardian wether) Queenie and her young cria Princess, Mary, Cocoa and Black Pepper. Cocoa and Black Pepper are young wethers and Mary was born on Christmas Day last year. A cria is a baby alpaca. A wether has been castrated and therefore unable to produce offspring. If one leaves them intact they can become agressive and it is unfair to an animal that you will not be using as a stud male. Cocoa won second prize at the Huon Show last year in his division. Although he had won ribbons he was not good enough for a blue (first). Black Pepper is the cutest ittle boy. He is very small for his age and will be a good pet and lawnmower. I would have loved to have kept him but if I kept every cute alpaca...


Over recent weekends we have found the time to go to a dinner party with friends, move our eldest daughter Melanie and partner into a new place as well as last Sunday helping youngest daughter move her furniture. Her house has been sold and will soon settle so she and her ex can move on with their lives. Only son is finally getting married! He and Kathryn have been going out together since they were 15. At 21 they became engaged. They have since bought a house together and have three fur babes, one dog and two cats. This year they turn 27. The wedding is in April next year.

Lost an Isa brown hen recently. She went downhill quickly and was one of the older girls I have for egg laying. She had a happy life here.

Having withdrawals from MasterChef The show finished on Sunday with Adam taking the title. He did a great job, as did runner up Callum who at 20 is an amazing cook. I believe they took it up a few notches from what was done last year.

Happy Chooking, Cooking, Caring or whatever it is that you do :)
Michelle