Decisions and Changes

Wednesday 25 September 2013  

Well that worked! I even managed to publish the post....wonders will never cease :)

Not even going to try and figure out how to add photos though.

This morning I wasn't quite so tired when I woke up. I think I've had one of those random 24-48 hr viruses the last couple of days.

I managed to check my emails and banking on my phone though I much prefer using a computer. Not proficient at using two thumbs to type...yet. One finger typing is a bit slow. I must admit I do like the predictive word function on this phone. Certainly makes it much quicker :)

No need to guess which is which!

The old one was chomped over 2 years ago by Frosty's puppy!

Amazingly it lasted...and was still going but I'd finally got enough for a new one :)

Ok falling asleep now so will have to finish this tomorrow.
Find the phone screen a bit small...making my eyes tired!

It's now Thursday 26.
Pa's computer has just returned so I'll add a bit to this before I'm no doubt interrupted again.

So to remember what happened yesterday!

After checking emails etc I decided to make some porridge for my breakfast.
I prefer the oats finer so put them through the food processor before I cook them. I do a few cups at a time and store them in my fancy (not!) storage jars. Old peanut butter jars I saved years ago when we were first married. They've served me well :)

Duty calls! 

Pa is still sorting through things from his old home. 57yrs worth of things.
Quite a lot of paperwork which he has burnt.
But many other things too.
Family are able to request items they would like to have.
My brother, Vidot, is coming down this weekend to take the kitchen table & chairs, fridge/freezer, chest freezer and a small sofa and seat that are a set.
That has all been arranged so all good.

While I was stirring my porridge Pa commented that since Vidot was down taking those things he could also take anything else that wasn't wanted/hadn't been claimed!
Huh?! was my reaction. Why?
Pa said obviously no-one wanted anything as they hadn't been to take things!
I pointed out that last year all had agreed that I would catalogue things and let people know what is there.......when Pa was ready for that to happen.
As he was still living there he needed some things:- bed, table & chairs etc!
He has still been sorting before he had the strokes and major operation.
For a while he wasn't well enough as he was recuperating.
Then Callista had her Aortic Dissection and her and her family were recovering there.
Since they moved back just a couple of weeks ago Pa has been sorting paperwork.
Despite me asking he hasn't seemed to want any help.
I mentioned that I don't have the ability to mind read.
There didn't seem to be a great rush.
All of a sudden, this morning, that seemed to have changed!

Whilst this discussion was happening I could hear Frosty and Jester quietly talking.
They suggested they go and help Pa move/lift heavy things.
Also that they could move in and rent the property.
Pa said well, yes, that was a possibility!
Another Huh! moment for me as I thought it was pretty set that Absent-Minded Prof and Moneypenny were going to rent it.
All of a sudden things change.

I sent a text to Absent-minded Prof to ask him to call me today if he got a chance.
He called almost immediately and I let him know of the change.
As the youngsters would say......Awwwkwaaard!
I suggested he leave off telling Moneypenny until he got home from work.
After all she has only 6-7 wks to go with her pregnancy.

So the decision was made that I would take Pa over to his house.
Frosty, Jester and Globug would go over to help.
Oh and Globug has a new name.....Mr Magoo. He is now 4 months old.
Brains and Locket went as well.
I saw them in and showed Jester around the house as he'd only been in once very briefly.
Then I left them to it as I was going to meet a friend for a catch up/coffee.
Vi and I have been friends since primary school.
We've known each other since we were 5 yrs old.
 Both being busy people it's hard to find time to catch up sometimes.
Vi works full time so her days are busy too.

It didn't take me long to drive from Wadestown to Newlands where Vi lives.
We had a grand old chinwag.
As I'd arrived later than I'd expected I stayed till it was time to pick up Pa.
A couple of hours. And I'm sure we could have filled a couple more!

Then it was back to Wadestown to pick Pa up and take him to visit Ma.
I then went home and had a short time to fill before I took Brains and Locket to the dance studio.
Today they need to be there at 3.30pm.
So out to Tawa, drop off and return via the Countdown in Tawa as I needed to pick up a few groceries.
Just enough time to run in and get those things before picking Pa up from his visit with Ma.
Home again, home again jiggerty jig!

I was looking after Mr Magoo from 4.30pm.
Frosty had cooked us some dinner even though her and Jester were going to friends that night.
Jester had got the fire going which was great.
The days have warmed up and when the sun streams in the windows we often don't need the fire going during the day.
Evenings are a different matter as it cools down quite a lot.
A lot of folk may not light one but I feel the cold and prefer to be warm :)

So it was play time with Mr Magoo.
The weather was pretty wet, low misty rain and windy.
Brains and Locket needed to be picked up at 6.30pm.
Thankfully Boar arrived home just in time to go and get them.
That way I didn't need to take Mr Magoo out in the yuck weather.
I popped him in the front pack while I finished getting the dinner ready.
He seemed to like seeing what was going on.
Mr Magoo wasn't quite so impressed to be in the Jolly Jumper while we ate dinner.
No, that's not Mr Magoo but a promo shot.

When Boar had finished his dinner he got Mr Magoo out and played with him.

I finished scoffing my dinner.

Then it was bath time for Mr Magoo, followed by his bottle and bed.

He settled really well and was asleep soon after 8pm.

I had hoped to continue adding book titles from Pa's place to a catalogue I'm creating.

I'll keep the ones I want, let everyone know the titles that are there and then list the rest on Trademe.

If they go they go.

If not I'll earmark them for the big book sale in May next year.

Moneypenny text to say she'd heard about the change of plans and understood the reasons why.

I was glad she didn't seem to be upset. 

I called sis Sheri up to update her with what was happening, Pa's fall and also to find out her thoughts on the prospect of Frosty, Jester and Mr Magoo renting the property.

Ma had put it succinctly to Pa.

She was happy so long as it was a properly drawn up contract and the rent got paid!

No flies on Ma even though there are many things she doesn't remember! 

Pa had wanted Sheri consulted as she is one of the EPOA's for Ma & Pa.
Vidot is the other one.

While talking with Sheri I discovered that some books I really wanted had gone.
Pa had said Sheri could take them and sell them on Trademe.
They're only books....but they were one's Ma had collected and I had as well.
The understanding I had with Ma was that when she no longer wanted them I could have them.
Add to my collection of Chalet School books.

After the phone call I decided to tuck up in bed.
I continued reading Jane and the Chalet School
It is one I haven't read before and I'm really enjoying it.

These are re-prints of the original versions and I began collecting them a couple of years ago.

I never knew until I was reading about them that the copies I read growing up and own, published by Armada, have cuts in them....i.e. chunks missing. In some cases whole chapters.

Occaisionally I had wondered if I'd missed something when reading some of them.

They didn't quite flow as I thought they would.

I've earmarked a date in October to go and meet some of the other people who enjoy reading them and meet every so often.

After reading it was sleep....blessed sleep!


Computerless!



Tuesday 24 September

Well I've decided I'm not that great at the whole blogging business!

Partly because I need to share a computer with others. And at the moment we're completely computerless :(

Our one is with a friend being sorted, the one that Brains has been given is as well. Hopefully it will return with wireless capacity.

We've been lucky enough to have the use of Pa's. Today though he has needed to leave it with one of the people from his church so that she can input some financial data.

We're hoping to have it back tomorrow.

So I decided I'd try to use my new phone!

Since it's hooked in to our wireless it won't cost me data time if I do it when I'm home.

A bit slower but better than nothing :)

A week ago I wouldn't have been able to do even that as l didn't have my new phone.

Need to save this now as need to go pick up Pa.

Ok, finally found time to get back on to this blog.

As well as computer troubles life has continued to be busy.

I won't bore you with a blow by blow description.

One thing I will mention is that Callista, my niece, and her family are all back in their own home in Masterton.
So that is great. They've been back for a few weeks now having moved back at the beginning of September.
Settling back into their own home and finding a new normal.

Today has been a bit busier than some. I caught up on a blog I read. I usually do that after checking emails and bank balances. I was able to use Pa's computer to do that this morning.
As well as our own banking I check the balance, deposits and withdrawals for the accounts of the dance studio that I do the business administration for.
It doesn't usually take too long.

Later in the morning Pa and I headed out. We went out to Porirua to Warehouse Stationary as Pa needed to get some ink for his printer. We are hoping this is the reason it isn't working. As it hasn't been used for a while the ink may have dried in the cartridges. We tried to get some at Dick Smith Electronics but they had none and the shop assistant suggested Warehouse Stationary. We walked in, down to the area the ink was in and were handed some by a helpful assistant who was stocking the shelves.

From there we went a few minutes south to Kenepuru Hospital where Pa had a Physiotherapy appointment. He is doing very well all things considered. He did have to admit to having a fall yesterday. He was waiting for a bus and when it arrived forgot
didn't notice that there was a step down to the footpath. He went kersplat! Thankfully he didn't do too much damage. A couple of grazed places on his right hand and a bruise on his right cheek, also the right knee. Another passenger and the bus driver helped him up. The passenger later gave him a couple of band-aids as he noticed Pa's hand was bleeding. I had no idea of the fall until I picked Pa up later in the day. I did suggest that it may have been a better idea to call me and I could have gone and picked him up rather than him catching two buses. . . .but this is the fine line between independence and making someone more dependent on you. Sometimes things will happen.

The physio suggested Pa have his vision checked as it is a couple of years since it has been done and it may have changed in that time, or as a result of his changes in health lately. Apart from that she felt Pa just needed to carry on with the walking and everyday activities he is doing. He doesn't have another appointment scheduled although one can be made if it is needed.

After Pa's appointment was over we had a bit of lunch at the small café in the hospital foyer. Lunch over we carried on south to Tawa to the Post Shop. Pa had a couple of books he wanted to post to an old friend. Also a card to buy as it is Jamila's birthday today :)
We found both things Pa wanted and got the package posted.

Southward a bit more to D's home. Here Pa was going to instruct D how to input data to a cash management programme as she is taking over the job from Pa. Which is good as it is one less thing for him to worry about. Having turned 87 a few weeks ago I think he's entitled to do a bit less!

I took a book to read as I don't like to sit doing nothing. I'm currently reading Jane and the Chalet School, one that I haven't read before.

Ok need to take a break as my eyes are getting tired. Small screen of the phone methinks!

The rest of the day went pretty much as per usual. When Pa was finished at D's home I dropped him off for his visit with Ma at Johnsonvale. Then home to do a few things before I liked Pa up, dropped him home.
Then on to ballet with Brains & Locket. Being Tuesday I stayed as after ballet I take Locket and E to Hip Hop.
Then it was home again, dinner and not too much later an early night :)

The last two weeks - Part One

Since the last entry a few things have happened.

Brains and Locket have been dancing with L-M for a few years now.

Last September her nephew was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma.

This is a type of cancer.

Nick battled the cancer well.

However, sadly, he died on the Wednesday of that week.

R.I.P. Nick.

The night of the 23rd August I went off to sleep.

I think I'd only dozed off half an hr before a text came through on my phone.

It was around 12.30am on the Saturday.

It was to tell me that A's waters had broken.

I asked if they wanted me to come over and the answer was yes.

So off I went to Titahi Bay where A lives.

Yup, her water had definitely broken!!

A was having contractions, they hadn't become regular though yet.

That is common in early labour.

A managed to doze between the contractions and I made a note of them.

B (mum-in-law) and I stayed awake most of the night.

I think B fell asleep somewhere around 3am.

I curled up on a chair but didn't really doze off.

At one point in time I lay down on the floor in front of the fire with a couple of cushions and blankets.

B was a bit scandalised when she woke!

She would have rather I was in a bed.

But I was comfy and the fire was warm on my back.

Around 8am the midwife called to see how things were going.

She decided to come for a visit around 10am.

At the visit it was decided to head in to the hospital. Not much progress had been made.

Due to a condition called Thalassemia A needed to go to Wellington Hospital

A was going to need an IV with Syntocinon

It was a long day and night for A and her husband V.

Around 2am on the Sunday morning the decision was made to do a Caesarean as the labour was not progressing.

Baby was not coming down despite A pushing for all she was worth.

As A had an Epidural which had been put in a couple of hours before she was able to be awake.

V went in to the theatre with A.

I waited in the whanau (family) room.

At 3.07am their baby boy was born. 7lbs 5oz, a good size despite predictions he was going to be small.

Mum and baby were doing well. V was a bit shattered by the whole experience.

V was told he could stay so I wended my way home.

Got home and fell into bed around 5.30am.

I'd had about 30mins sleep in 48hrs...since I woke up on Friday morning.

I managed to sleep off and on till noon.

Got up then as I know from doing night shifts years ago if I didn't I wouldn't sleep well that night!

Moneypenny arrived with Little Sunshine soon after.

She'd decided to come to us and go in with me later to see A again. And her new nephew of course.

We went in later in the afternoon and had a short visit.

I gave A a wash as her skin was feeling all itchy. Apparently the medications.

B (mum-in-law) had given her a wash earlier too.

The midwife caring for A that night was someone I've known for years.

We left the hospital around 6pm.

Headed toTawa first to drop off Moneypenny and Little Sunshine.

Then on to Titahi Bay to drop off V.

I had a quick cuppa before I went on home.

I was still feeling pretty tired.

Monday One of the ladies from church dropped off a pair of curtains for me to repair.

I'd said I'd do them some weeks before.

Before life went a little crazy!

Then I took Pa to an appointment at Kenepuru Hospital.

We'd been rung a few days before as there was a cancellation.

It meant we got to see the Rheumatologist earlier than the initial appointment.

She thought that Pa's arthritis had been grumbling away for a while before the strokes.

She prescribed a course of prednisone in the hopes that the arthritis would settle down.
This would mean Pa could get more function back in his right hand.

Then it was home and a quick change before heading out again.
This time to pick up Al, another mum who is at the dance school.
She has known L-M for over 10 years.
L-M had asked us both to attend Nick's funeral.
I picked Al up from The Terrace where she works.
It was a lovely funeral though I was a bit perplexed by it.
Photos, but none with his grandparents, aunts & uncles or cousins.
Perhaps the family were closer to their friends than their actual family.

I managed to get the curtains repaired and drop them off.
At least I'm pretty sure I dropped them off on the Monday!

Tuesday Absent-Minded Prof was sitting his restricted licence.
I went with him as a fully licenced driver is supposed to be with a learner.
Despite booking online you still have to fill in forms at the licencing venue.
And you need proof of your address.
A-M Prof forgot to take any. So I had to do a mad dash back to their home to pick some up.
Unfortunately A-M Prof didn't pass.
They are pretty strict.
He failed on the reverse parallel park.
Apparently he tried to do it in a way different to the way he normally uses!!
Of all the times to choose to do that.
So he will have to re-sit.

A lot of folk fail it first time around.

Later in the day I went in to pick up A, V and Baby.
They were being discharged.
At 1.30pm.
I arrived before then.....to find things had changed.
A paediatrician had weighed baby.
This is not usually done till day three.
He'd lost 10% of his birth weight.
Most babies lose some weight.
The paediatrician thought they should stay in.
They wanted to go home.
I was looking at a baby who seemed to be behaving as a normal newborn does!
The midwife on duty agreed.

So in the end they went home.
We picked up Locket on the way.
Dropped A,V & baby at Titahi Bay.
Back via Tawa to pick up Estelle who we take to Hip Hop as well.
 Then home!

Life Quietened Down? Not quite! - Synopsis VI

The days kept rolling along.

Pa was continuing to recover and be a little less tired.

He had several check-up appointments with an Occupational Therapist.

Also a stroke nurse.

Callista has made good progress as well and the family are going to be moving back to Masterton soon.

Things seemed to be settling down.

And then came the news that our daughter, Frosty, and her fiancé, Jester,

along with two month old Globug had to move out of their rented home within a week!

This happened suddenly....a dodgy landlord, who claimed not to be the landlord.

Can't really say any more than that.

They had nowhere to go and Frosty asked if they could use the Compact-A-Van

This photo is from when we were camping in the summer.

It's better than no roof, or a tent.

Not ideal really, but better than the street.

They mainly use it for sleeping.

Jester has hooked up a TV in there too!

It has a double berth, a single and a hammock type 4th berth that fits above the lower one.

Globug sleeps in the hammock type berth and the two dogs! sleep in the lower berth.

Though I did take out the mattress/cushion as the dogs sleep on a blanket.

So the household has swelled again!

Frosty, Jester and Globug have the use of the house too.

We share the cooking, sometimes I do it, sometimes Frosty and Jester cook.

They have been looking for a new place to live.

Not easy.

Sometimes real estate people don't get back to them.

One real estate person didn't turn up to an appointment!

They have come to the point where they are prepared to give up their dogs.

Most places won't allow 1 dog, let alone 2.

They will be able to re-home both dogs,

but it's not an easy thing to do.

They managed to pack up Jester's 10 years of stuff in just a few days!

That is how long he had been in the previous home.

Most of it is stored in a friends garage.

It is a testing time for them but they are pulling together.

We are able to build a closer relationship with Globug which is lovely :)

Apart from that happening life has been busy.

Moneypenny's sister-in-law A is expecting her first baby.

A has asked me to be at the birth as a support person,

sort of a Doula

Besides birthing my own six I've attended the births of all three of my grandbabies.

It's quite special to be asked to be at the birth of A and her husband V's baby.

I've got to know them fairly well over the last few years.

A is a little shy of asking some questions.

Also there can be quite a lot of information to take in.

 I am able to answer most of their questions or go over the information with them after appointments.

Ok so that's the final synopsis. Yipee!!

From now on I'm going to try to blog every day or so.

I do not know why but I've been having an error message pop up on Blogger when I use the main computer.

One blessing is that Pa has a laptop :)

And I am allowed the use of it.

We upgraded to wireless internet as Pa had it at home.

Plus it means he can use his computer/internet if someone else is on the main one.

Pa settles down around 8pm each night.

So that is the time I am able to use his computer!

And since it is wireless I am able to sit in bed with the laptop and use it there.

Nice and warm :)

Right now I'm about to shut it off as I can feel my eyes are trying to close.

I might manage to read a bit of the Fifth Cadfael omnibus I'm currently reading.

Probably not much though :)



A Very Close Shave - Synopsis V

I'm back in July still.

To be precise Wednesday, July 10 2013.

We were in the middle of the meetings for Smurfette.

Around 9pm that evening I got a text from my sis Sheri.

It said that my niece-in-love Callista had collapsed earlier in the day.

Her aorta had split the text said.

 

This is often a killer. So far Callista was still alive.

The correct term is Aortic Dissection

Usually the Life Flight helicopter would transport her.

They live in Masterton.

But it was too windy to fly.

So they had to send a specialist team over to Masterton.

Then bring Callista to Wellington Hospital by ambulance.

They arrived about 2am Thursday morning.

Kato, Callista's husband, was told she could die at any time :(

It was a very looooong night.

 

I was praying for God's will in the whole situation constantly.

Think I slept for maybe 30 minutes all night.

I'd been in contact with Kato and offered any help.

Kato and Latisha, Callista's oldest daughter, had gone to Wellington Hospital.

We thought that Callista would be wheeled into surgery straight away.

However she was stable enough that the decision was made to wait till 8am on the Thursday.

 

Kato and Latisha arrived at our place around 3am.

They'd waited to see Callista settled into ICU

After a few hours we went in to see Callista before she went to surgery.

Hard, very hard for Kato and Latisha as they knew it may be the last time they saw Callista alive.

 

Sheri had been looking after Callista and Kato's four young children.

I offered to go and get the children as they needed to be with their dad, Kato.

 

So after the meeting on Thursday for Smurfette's issue I went over the Rimutaka Hill

The children were pretty happy to see me.

I think Sheri was as well.

The children are all active wee people.

They are: Hana, 6yrs; Caia, 5yrs; Akiva, 3yrs; Uriah, 2yrs.

3 beautiful girls and 1 strong young lad :)

 

I had a list from Kato of what to pick up and a few messages to pass on.

When asked by the children I said that their mummy was in hospital being looked after by the doctors and nurses.

Enough info for wee ones.

Sweet Hana got a pillow for her mummy when Callista was lying on the floor.

 

I'd got to Masterton about 3.30pm.

Was waiting for any news from Kato.

A case of no news is good news.

 

The surgery was Open Heart Surgery

and involved heart bypass

My understanding is that a patch/graft is in the aorta to seal the bit that leaked.

However I may be wrong.

I do know the Aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical one.

Surgery was expected to take 8 hrs, maybe more.

So no call meant things were going as expected.

 

The news came around 4.30pm.

Callista was out of surgery and doing as well as could be expected.

Back in ICU.

 

I got home around 6pm with the four young ones.

Akiva and Uriah had fallen asleep.

Hana and Caia managed to stay awake.

 

I'd even managed to prepare some food in the morning before I left.

When I walked in the door I was greeted with the news that Jamila, Kato's s-i-l and my other niece-in-love, had brought dinner around for us 

I really appreciated that. And it meant I had dinner ready for the next night too.

 

There were many people praying for Callista.

 

It was a very busy few weeks.

Kato and the four young ones stayed here for the first week.

Latisha stayed some of the time, and with her boyfriend other times.

 

Locket and Brains were fantastic with helping me look after the little ones,

who were really missing their mummy.

 

I won't go into all the details, suffice it to say that it was a challenging time for Kato and the four little children.

Latisha at 21 was able to understand what was going on.

All the little ones knew was that their mummy wasn't the one they remembered!

 

It is now 5 1/2 weeks since Callista had the surgery.

I'm very happy to say that she is doing really well.

There were a few setbacks, but that often happens.

The family are staying at Pa's old place.

Mainly because they were renovating their inside bathroom.

The toilet pan (bowl) is plumbed in.

But no cistern, no shower or basin.

The only bathroom is by the sleepout, in the garage!!

Which would entail going outside, crossing gravel to get to it.

 

Kato didn't want that for his beloved wife.

Also staying at Pa's means they are close to the hospital if there were problems.

Kato is working hard to get the home ready, there are some draughty bits.

So he is fixing it up.

From the sound of things they are planning to move back at the end of August.

The children will all be very pleased to get back to their own home.

 

As 3yr old Akiva said to me the other night, crying,
"I want to be in mine own home!"

 

Thanks be to God for the surgeons expertise and Callista's recovery.

It could have been a very different story.

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Curveball - Synopsis IV

There are times in life when you find out that a person is just not nice!

Smurfette had been enduring a situation for a while.

It came to a head.

Not in a good way for Smurfette.

She was accused of doing something she didn't do.

It could have had serious consequences for the rest of her life.

 

I have gone to bat for any of my children when needed and it was sure needed now.

Smurfette was devastated by the accusation.

It is just not in her character to behave in the way it was said she had.

I rang one of the ladies in church whose husband is a lawyer.

 

Over the weekend I spent many hours researching on the internet.

I wanted to have some knowledge at my fingertips.

Also I didn't know if I would have to represent Smurfette at a meeting or not.

 

Thanks be to God I didn't have to.

Not really my forte!

We were put in contact with a lawyer from the same practice as the lawyer at church.

We had a meeting with her on the Tuesday.

As I thought proper procedure had not been followed in the situation Smurfette was involved in.

The lawyer told us that it hadn't.

Wednesday we attended the meeting.

I was allowed to be in the room, however did not have a speaking role.

Probably just as well.

I behaved myself so I wouldn't be asked to leave!

The meeting was adjourned by our lawyer as Smurfette was given several pieces of paper to read.

This was info that could have been given to her before the meeting.

Our lawyer adjourned so that Smurfette would have time to read, process and respond.

The meeting would resume the next day.

 

We met with the lawyer again later on the Wednesday.

The next day.....there was some backpedalling by the other party!

I felt they didn't really even take much notice of Smurfette's version of events.

Almost as though their minds were made up beforehand.

And no thought on their part of admitting that they could be wrong.

 

Smurfette was adamant that she was resigning.

She had been putting up with some insidious bullying.

She had kept a log of situations.

 

I was very glad that Smurfette had the lawyer.

She did a great job and represented Smurfette very well.

Smurfette was happy with the result of the meetings.

 

I haven't gone into specifics as I don't think it necessary.

The people involved know.

And it offers a degree of protection to Smurfette.

 

Smurfette has handled the whole situation very well.

It helps that she has the backing of the whole family and her friends.

I'm very proud of her for how she has coped and for doing her best to stay positive.

It's not easy sometimes to do that.

 

Love you lots and lots Smurfette 

 

  



The rhythms of life - Synopsis III

I found over the next few weeks that the rhythm of life changed.

I guess that always happens when someone joins the household.

Pa had his routine at home when he lived on his own.

A fairly regular routine as I've discovered :)

He has his breakfast round 8am/8.30am.

Morning tea at 10am.

Lunch at 12noon.

Down to see Ma at roughly 2pm.

Home around 4pm.

Dinner when we have it organised!

Bed around 8pm.

 

In between times he rests, does the exercises he's been given to do to help with his recovery.

 

Soon enough it was July.

Butcher has a birthday on 4th July.

So here is a very belated Happy Birthday to Butcher!!

 

 

 

We love you heaps Butcher!

 

Which reminds me. Butcher's work is by contract month-to-month.

He was re-hired which he was really pleased about.

We all were.

He is being taught how to use some of the machinery at the sawmill.

Sounds as though he is progressing well.

I'm very proud of him for sticking to it and doing his best.

It's not easy when you have been out of work for several years to get back in the groove.

Learning anything new is always a challenge.