Time to look around and smile

I have decided to post something "different" today, having had chance to sit back and think on my previous postings and reflect on their nature and tone etc.........

Some of you reading this will know who I refer to from here but I shall for obvious reasons keep her "anonomous" where possible............

My Blog, usually speaks of doom and gloom...........is somewhere I off load my heartache and pain.........someone to talk to in a quiet world I guess? I am ashamed however that I have only used it in this way! Its true to say that I have found it necessary to "off load" the bad days BUT it must be a terrible bore for anyone reading it to hear little other that moan after moan about MY life when I am sure the reader has their own "fair share" of personal problems to contend with. This is where my friends Blog comes in to play...........she is a cancer patient.........and has been blogging the most incredible and enviable account of her feelings and research for her friends and families to share. The Blog is well written, chirpy and informative, provides lots of potential for reflection and consideration and is a pleasure to read - unlike mine I feel?! The lady in question has just posted a "happiness scale" entry and it has generated much in the way of response and I am sure has had many a person thinking about their lives and how they see them - my own included. It is easy to be as I have been and feel YOU are having a tough time, that YOU are miserable because..............., that YOU don't feel well, YOU don't have much quality to your life, YOU don't have, have, have............. The list would be endless BUT the fact is that in fact, as she cleverly points out in her writings we are ALL very lucky and should really appreciate what we DO have not we DON'T................... I don't actually think she MEANS he entries to be directed in this way but somehow they are and I am grateful that I for one have had them to guide me to where I am today...............

On that note, I want to tell you what I have done this week............(In the past I would have moaned that I have had a sore throat/cold virus!) but even with that, I have enjoyed my week so far..........a simple one full of laughter and smiles............I packed a simple lunch for myself and the children on Monday and we took a Bum Boat over to Pulau Ubin. Ubin is such a contrast to busy Singapore and we had such a lovely time just "listening" to the world about us.............crickets chirruping, birds calling, wild boar squeeling, we laughed and laughed at some of the suggestions Heather in particular came up with for what was causing some of the noises! It amazed even Frazer as to how vivid her imagination could be when relying purely on the sense of hearing, to identify her surroundings! We lunched standing up from a bag whilst skimming pebbles in to the quarry and generally had a super, though simple time.

Frazer and I have made chocolate muffins .......... sewn felt toys for Heather...........grown crystals and a multitude of other things. Heather has eaten muffins................played with felt toys.............stirred the crystals and been to the zoo for the day without seeing any animals!!! (She decided the playground was much more fun!)

Frazer and Heather fight terribly in the main and in the past it used to drive me almost INSANE! I now know its "normal"...................they are just young.................different in age, ability and interest.................so I TRY to stay calm, TRY to deflect the troubles............provide new tasks and activities to settle the situation....................failing that I will see the Dr and resort to medication ;-)

The sun is shining, its warm on our skins, we have fresh fruit and vegetables in our fridge and life IS good.................... My eldest daughter is making me proud..............a delightfully polite young lady who has now started work and is now a "grown up"! It doesn't seem like yesterday that I brought her in to the world and yet here I am an "old lady" with a daughter almost as old as I was when I gave birth to her (I hope she doesn't follow in my footsteps................there is plenty of time Amy if you are reading this ;-))

I AM lucky.......................In fact, I am also HAPPY......................noone said there wouldn't be rough with the smooth...................NOONE promised a life without worry or pain.................its all part of a normal existance, its how we manage it that matters? My life was perhaps a glass half empty, now I think its a glass half full................in fact, I am known for giving good measures so perhaps I should say its "almost full"?!

Once again..................

"Appreciate what you DO have, not what you DON'T"

Thank you dear friend for helping me to start forming a "new me" ..... a calmer, happier person as a result of your direction.......................I am going to make my family proud of me............I am going to be a good Mum...............I AM GOING TO BE MORE POSITIVE..............