Charter Boat! what Charter Boat

Ryan wants to go fishing for his Christmas present...so our running joke at the moment is Ryan saying Charter Boat and Steve saying What Charter Boat!...I live in a house of funny buggers lol

Now my task is to find a Charter Boat and book it for the few days we are all on the Sunshine Coast before Steve has to fly back...so it's now me asking What Charter Boat?




hmmmm I am a little worried about these!


But if he has this experience it will be all worth it!
So off to the web I go and onto the phone from there. I am so glad it's Steve going so far the shortest  tripis 5 hours! good father and son time xoxo

6am Alarm Set

 My little angel has gone to bed fully dressed complete with socks on ready for a 6am rise! It's just gone 10 o'clock PM! and her last words were...I hope I hear the alarm it's pretty late and I am tired! I hope she hears it too!
She wants to get a ride in before we do some school...yep Sunday School again! Steve needs a hand to put a mill back down next week when it dries out. So we don't want to miss anymore school and will do an extra day tomorrow.

Oscar and Jess are getting ready for camp...they are off to Glenelg Equestrian Centre run by an old friend Keith Low. This is Jess and Oscars Christmas present and Jess is over the moon just hope Oscar is as enthusiastic as she is! So the prep has begun with riding and keeping Oscar looking good. I can see by the disapearing Show Sheen she's comitted to the task just wish she was this comitted to her school work!

Dotty

My little girl...
The second picture for some strange reason made me think of Anastacia!! the little blonde singer...it's the glasses...funny how you think of very different things way off target.

I Cry

Here is a picture the morning we left Dad to head home. We are heading back south on the 1st December for how long I am not sure. The hard part is Steve can not stay he has to come back and will spend Christmas by himself. I love my husband truly, madly deeply and I can't imagine what it will be like to be away from him for such a family event. Steve never complains, hugs me without a word when he sees the tears streaming down my cheeks and shares a tear with me.

I have been reading Kirsty's blog and it has been touching...sometimes I feel like I am the only one in the world this is happening to...then I read other peoples pain and think of friends and family who have lost loved ones...it makes me mad that so many people young and old with plans, dreams and ambitions are taken away from us.

I cry because I am going to loose my dad
I cry because my children are going to miss their Pop
I cry because Dad wanted to help Steve with jobs at Dalby
and I cry just because....

Ryan and Jesse

Another shot by Mel Driscoll from Mel Driscoll photography Ryan and Jesse competing in the 40cm jump

Jess and Ruby

A great fun photo taken by Mel Driscoll Jess and Ruby competing in The Wagon Wheel

Gymkhana Fun

What a great day we all had Saturday! Very busy but loads of fun.

Our club uniform is White Shirt, Beige Jodhpurs and Maroon Tie. All the children looked great and I was so happy that everyone made the effort to try to have the correct uniform. It's all about having a go and trying your best.

My two were little stars they both sat up there with big smiles and had a go at everything...I am a very proud Mum!! Ryan had a buster off Jesse in his first event but got back on to finish the day and was second in his age group. Jess did a great job on Ruby and she came first in her group.

For all the headaches the day caused prior it was a great success with smiles everywhere.

Friday is Wash Day

A lot of people have been working very hard to organise a Gymkhana for the Hughenden Pony Club. My kids are very excited and looking forward to the event.

Big day tomorrow getting ponies and tack clean and ready for Saturday. BUT first school must be done before "the good stuff starts" so Jess called it tonight! The only time cleaning is fun when it's washing horses for a competition!

Sleepless Night

I had a sleepless night dreaming of things that could have happened but didn't...why?

Why is it sometimes your brain runs a muck with the craziest thoughts?

Just one of those days but spoke to Dad this morning and he's feeling and sounding better xoxo Dad

School on a Saturday should never happen, the little cherubs are fighting over pencils! Give me strength as someone said to me the other day "sometimes I know why animals eat their young!" we all have those moments, if it's not with the kids it's definitely with your significant other. Do you want fries with him??

While teaching your children gives you a good insight to what's going on in the school system, it is something I find hard to cope with. The pressure of being responsible for the grounding they receive that will shape there future, is something I am struggling with. I worry about my little minnow's in the big ocean. Life is pretty easy here. Will they be prepared?

I need to build a bridge and worry less What Will be Will be...go Doris!

It's Rained Again!

What an amazing year it is with rain, rain and more rain. Only 5.5 mils last night but every little bit adds up.

It is sooo nice to look out and see green grass and not hard baked ground. The hot summer days are depressing when everything is dry and barren looking. All the experts say it is going to be a big wet and I hope for the cattle and our sanity they are correct.

It is nearly November and the weather is perfect today maybe a little too perfect...look out things have to change...

On the keen side of my sewing ha ha I will get there just have to tackle the mountain of ironing and folding first but that's after I finish school and washing from camp all the boring stuff before the good...that's life!

Back and Keen

I have been checking out other blogs this morning and I am so inspired!!

My mission today is to tidy my sewing area and think about some Christmas gifts for my brothers girls inspired by Sharron. A pencil roll and a cute little bag to start so will look for some pretty material on line later.


Kids have both been to camp and on the verge of sickness nothing new there!

We are doing testing today on audio so schoolwork will start on Friday and we will be full steam ahead!

As usual busy busy Gymkhana coming up and Melbourne Cup day in Richmond to look forward too.

My dad has his Op on Thursday to make things a little more comfortable for him. XOXO

Mustering

Tomorrow Steve and the kids are going mustering and I am going to town!

It is great now the kids are keen and I must add very capable of helping Steve. Great time to spend together working with our little herd, they do plenty of helping and mustering for the property owner but it's nice to do work that will benefit our family. So my next dilemma is what to give them for their help? I don't want to give them money and we don't have enough cows to give them one each to keep track of their calves (yet anyway the debit is too big!) So it's my job to think of something to show our appreciation and reward their great work.

The kids understand that the cattle help pay for us to go on Holidays and campdraft/show/dressage competitions so they help us have a little fun, but I would like to reward their personal effort.

Meanwhile I am going to town for horse feed! that's a never ending occurrence. If we didn't have so many animals we would be rich but our life would be poor...I couldn't imagine not having animals!

Dotty is my little Jack Russel and she's going great, very different to her mother Sarah a little more loving! I am hoping her nature stays that way, her mother is not the most loving girl but devoted to Steve. They say they are very devoted dogs so I can only hope Dotty will feel the same way about me as Sarah does about Steve.

Baby Dotty

Yackandandah Townshiphill Motel

Snug little bugs the blankets were all off by the morning the rooms were warm and the beds warmer first time we have used electric blankets!

Jess waiting for a lift!!

Back @ Gilgunyah

We are back again in the northern warm weather sitting listening to the hum of the air conditioner instead of the crackling fire. What a contrast and what a time we had. The people were fantastic everywhere we went. I didn't keep track of the kilometers but we covered plenty of the state, from snow covered mountains to the rugged coast and panning for gold in between. I can't pick one highlight from the trip the whole ten days were full on and action packed.

Kids and their Great Grandmother

Visiting Omi

Spencers in the Snow

It's raining It's pouring....

I am sitting in a motel in Cowes on Phillip Island a beautiful place famous for the Fairy Penguins and a place my family visited when I was a child. I am shocked that the penguins have had a name change! from Fairy to Little Penguins. We all went to the Penguin Parade last night and it was a fantastic sight 1400 little penguins waddled up from the wild sea. It was freezing but as soon as the penguins started waddling in the oohs and ahhhs kicked in and the cold was forgotten.

We have had an amazing trip so far this is the first really wet cold day but there is still plenty to do. Steve and the kids have gone back to Churchill Farm for the afternoon displays of working dogs and blacksmith. Tomorrow we are going Trout fishing Indoors before heading to the big smoke and the Melbourne Zoo Thursday...everyones had a great break not looking forward to going home!

My Dad

My blog was always going to be light happy and no bad news but....

My dad has been given 11 months and it's not fair. We are in Yackandandah visiting my Omi, a bit of a shock it has been two years since I last visited. So I rang dad at 4pm from Euroa and he gave me the news in his words "I have been ripped off, they've given me 11 months they could have made it an even 12 months!" that's my dad so bloody casual. He said he was going to have a few rums and get out a little more!

We last saw him when we went to his 70th birthday on the 9th November 2009. Dad has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, Spinal degeneration, Asbestosis and a neurological problem that's made it near impossible to get around and now CANCER... it's not bloody fair...I held it together and was very brave which is really unlike me.

What to do now...I need to spend sometime with my dad but that means spending time away from Steve but he's been so amazing and supportive telling me to do what I need so now major decision's to make but that will wait until we get home.

Then there i is Omi she's frail and forgetful but she's also nearly 90 so doing well but it was a big shock. We have been spending time and sightseeing so everyone is happy.

Ready and Waiting

We are all sitting in Townsville ready and waiting for our trip to Victoria. Kids are jumping out of there skins with excitement but not at the thought of school! I have packed school but only asked they do half an hour per flight. They are also going to do a diary of there trip. Jess has taken photo's already!

I rang my Omi (granny) and she's been in hospital and was a little fuzzy but that's to be expected when your nearly 90. She keeps chatting to me in German but I have no idea what she's saying, I wish I had learnt German when I was younger.

I haven't checked the weather yet am a little scared think we will jump in feet first. We only have a short walk from airport to hire car then three hours in the warm car will be OK!

Good night and I will chat from Victoria toodley doo (that's what Omi always says!)

All Packed Up!

We are all packed and rearing to go! a very excited house tonight...looking forward to heading south.

As usual I have made the plans and booked the flights, organised motels, hired the rental car and packed but it's all part of the job so my husband tells me. The old your better at all that stuff than I am but it's not just holiday plans it life in general! I was talking to two different friends and they both had the same complaints "my husband doesn't do any of the bills I do it all" so I am not the loan ranger in this problem! but I was thinking how I go off if things go wrong and probably safer for Steve if I do it. It would be easier to console me if something stuffs up than listen to my whinge if something he organises stuffs up!! but I am expecting smooth sailing or should I say flying...

Snoring Husbands

Ho Hum I have a snoring husband...I should be sleeping but not with the noise coming out of Steve!

What do I do?

He has started snoring on his side so rolling doesn't work anymore !

Anyone got some ideas?

He keeps telling me I am not tired enough to sleep...that's not the case.

There is a break in the rumble so I am off to try and sleep again, maybe I will dream of our holiday only 2 and a half sleeps to go counting this half!

Goodnight

Packing for our Southern Adventure!

I have started packing for our trip to Victoria it hard to get excited about winter clothes when it's so hot hear today. We will be going from one extreme to the next but very excited to be visiting my relatives.

Our trip starts Tuesday with the flight to Melbourne via Brisbane and Tuesday night we will be in Yackandandah  about 3 hours north of Melbourne and close to the Vic/NSW boarder. Close to the beautiful town of Bright known for the beautiful Autumn leaves and on the way to the snow! We are booked into a motel for three night so will have plenty of time to visit Omi and have a look around.

Next stop Ballarat to visit my cousin Ken who I haven't seen for too many years. Steve and the kids are looking forward to visiting Sovereign Hill and if the weather man keeps his word it will be very cold but dry so fingers crossed it stays like they are predicting.

From Ballarat we head south to Inverloch to catch up with more family and also a trip to Phillip Island to see the fairy Penguins. Wednesday and Thursday we are booked into the Princess Park Motor Inn and a walk to the Zoo and it all ends with us flying back on Friday 13th OH lucky I am not superstitious.

I had better keep packing!!

Welcome to the Spencers Blog!

Hello and welcome to my first blog attempt...Inspired by my friends Mel and Sharron I am giving this ago!

This will be a blog of everything and nothing just whats happened and happening to the Spencer family who live @ Gilgunyah Station....

Let me introduce us...

Stephen and Jaki  with our two cherubs Ryan and Jessica.

We have Horses, dogs, cats, chooks, calves, budgies and a pet Galah Mike...all too many mouths to feed but wouldn't dream of parting with any of them.