Yuk! I hate getting out of bed when it's this cold. Am currently sitting ON TOP of the heater in a vain attempt to get warm and cosy. Little Miss M was up twice thru the night, her teeth must be bothering her, poor thing. By the time I got her settled again, of course I couldn't get back to sleep. Never mind, might as well get up and have brekkie and start some blogging.
I start work at 9 am so haven't got that much time anyway. I'm doing some office work for a friend which is great. I quite enjoy organising things for her and it helps her out too. And just between you and me; it is nice to have some baby-free time and think different thoughts for a couple of hours a week. Daddy is wrapped to have this Daddy-Daughter-Day too, so it's a WIN-WIN situation!
We've been talking about finally getting our lovely little boat in the water. It's about time too, we've had her for almost 2 years now! We've been working on her, fixing and painting and improving, but now it really is time to have some FUN! She is called 'Petit Bateau' which is french for little boat. She is a Hartley trailer-sailer, a New Zealand design. We now hope to have her in the water (and floating) in October, ready for the long hot summer. We already got a little life-jacket for Miss M; SAFETY FIRST.
Hopefully the weather is better tomorrow, so we can go and check out some moorings in Fisherman's Bay. Ahhh, I can already see myself laying back in the sun with a glass of SavBlanc, enjoying the sounds of the water lapping against the boat...
On that note... better get ready.
Hooroo!
www.888dag.com
Showing posts with label 4 MINUTES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4 MINUTES. Show all posts
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Welcome to our 888-Family
I would like to be the first one to welcome Furball into our DAGgy family! She came over to my place this afternoon and we spend some time setting up her blog and generally getting a feel for it. So watch her space at 888furball@blogspot.com and make her feel welcome.
I've just come back from another boxercise class where I teamed up with a guy this time. Talk about the difference between man and woman... I thought I threw an ok punch up until tonight, but I think I'll have to refrain from getting into any real fights for a while longer! :) My hands are shaking so much, it's hard to type this.
Other than that I had a pretty uneventful day. Did some laundry, vacuum-cleaning and dusting, paid some bills (incl. a parking fine; I HATE wasting money like that!!)and of course had my daily phone call with the people from Belkin. Yes, that's right, the wireless situation still hasn't been resolved. Today they suggested moving the desk so it's more or less in-line with the phone connection. I'm thinking of getting on of those computer nerds in to solve the puzzle for me, as moving furniture is not an option at this stage.
The Beautiful Miss M is finally and definitely teething so that's cause for more needed cuddles and smeares of Bonjella.
My poor husband hasn't seen me more than 5 minutes so I think I better show him some lovin'.
Hooroo!
www.888dag.com
I've just come back from another boxercise class where I teamed up with a guy this time. Talk about the difference between man and woman... I thought I threw an ok punch up until tonight, but I think I'll have to refrain from getting into any real fights for a while longer! :) My hands are shaking so much, it's hard to type this.
Other than that I had a pretty uneventful day. Did some laundry, vacuum-cleaning and dusting, paid some bills (incl. a parking fine; I HATE wasting money like that!!)and of course had my daily phone call with the people from Belkin. Yes, that's right, the wireless situation still hasn't been resolved. Today they suggested moving the desk so it's more or less in-line with the phone connection. I'm thinking of getting on of those computer nerds in to solve the puzzle for me, as moving furniture is not an option at this stage.
The Beautiful Miss M is finally and definitely teething so that's cause for more needed cuddles and smeares of Bonjella.
My poor husband hasn't seen me more than 5 minutes so I think I better show him some lovin'.
Hooroo!
www.888dag.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Fingers Crossed...
I just spoke with my parents and after about 7 months they've finally had someone interested in buying their home! It is too early to get all excited, but I can't help it! I need everyone to cross their fingers for us. I have to go back to work in January and it would just be so perfect if they could be here then. And not just for me, I think for them it would be great too, if things would move along now. Once you've made a big decision like immigrating you don't want things to stagnate and draw out the inevitable.
Will keep you posted...
www.888dag.com
Will keep you posted...
www.888dag.com
WORLD PEACE DAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2008
I just watched the clip that The Miracle Mile posted and was thinking we should do something. Why don't we get together somewhere in a park or something and have a huge picnic. If we all tell one friend it could grow into something quite big. And it'd be fun...
Lemme know what y'all think.
www.888dag.com
Lemme know what y'all think.
www.888dag.com
Amazing Street Art
Whilst browsing Google for some early morning inspiration I came across these drawings by an unknown street artist. How incredible! How talented!
www.888dag.com
www.888dag.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
*888*Access Denied*888*
I was talking today to one of the Bundeena Ambo's about the situation regarding access to Ambulance Services here. Basically the below-mentioned Officers have been volunteering their time, but without much support at all from the NSW Ambulance Service.
As we already know, Ambo's are over-worked and underpaid like other healthcare workers, but in this case the officers were on Stand-by outside their normal rosters and thus suffered extreme fatigue.
It seems to me that the solution is so simple. Surely it is possible to build a 'Bundeena Stand-by' into the rosters of these three officers. This practice might even get adopted by other 'remote' suburbs!
I really think it's ridiculous for a suburb with the same postcode as Cronulla to have such limited access to basic services. You would think we live out in Woop-Woop.
This whole story certainly doesn't follow our Principles of SAFETY, ACCESS and INCLUSION!
I've copied an article that appeared in the local Leader 10th July 2008
FOR the past 15 years, residents of Bundeena and Maianbar, on the edge of the Royal National Park, relied on local ambulance officers to be on call between shifts and on their days off as the only emergency medical service in the immediate area.
Other than three local ambulance officers, residents have just one part-time GP and no after-hours emergency service. There is no local taxi service and the ferry stops at 7pm.
Danelle Brown, of Maianbar, said she had to wait for between 35 and 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive from Engadine in January last year after her three-year-old daughter, Esprit, collapsed and stopped breathing.
She stopped breathing again in December. This time a local ambulance arrived within 25 minutes, she said.
"If they [ambulance officers] were at a station, it would have been 10 minutes. I think if there was a service in town it would probably be used more.
"I think people realise the waiting time and they panic and jump in the car and deal with their problems themselves and go to Sutherland Hospital," Mrs Brown said.
One local ambulance officer is due to retire in two years, one has a wife who is terminally ill, and the other has three children under 10. They are fed up working up to 20 hours straight and decided in May to withdraw their on-call services due to extreme fatigue and a lack of support from ambulance management, a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the Ambulance Service of NSW says.
The submission says the Bundeena ambulance is stationed at Engadine, under an ambulance service directive issued in May. It could therefore "easily be more than an hour" to get a person to a hospital, "posing serious risk to emergency patients", the submission says.
Last year, the three local officers - who each work at different stations outside the park - responded to 190 calls in addition to their normal shifts and overtime, the submission says. They were unable to respond to 20 calls.
The submission says the final straw was when two officers were "reprimanded and dictated to" after telling management they were too exhausted from having worked 20 hours straight to start another 14-hour shift in a few hours.
An ambulance service spokesman said the number of call-outs was not high enough to justify a full-time local service, which the Bundeena/Maianbar Ambulance Action Group wants.
The ambulance service has proposed that a scheme in which NSW Fire Brigades' officers act as "first responders".
The fire brigade supports the idea because its officers are trained in advanced first aid and can provide basic life support, a spokeswoman said.
The action group said in its submission to the inquiry that the proposal was unacceptable because the Bundeena-Maianbar area was too far from a hospital and fire brigade officers were not able to make medical diagnoses or administer drugs.
www.888dag.com
As we already know, Ambo's are over-worked and underpaid like other healthcare workers, but in this case the officers were on Stand-by outside their normal rosters and thus suffered extreme fatigue.
It seems to me that the solution is so simple. Surely it is possible to build a 'Bundeena Stand-by' into the rosters of these three officers. This practice might even get adopted by other 'remote' suburbs!
I really think it's ridiculous for a suburb with the same postcode as Cronulla to have such limited access to basic services. You would think we live out in Woop-Woop.
This whole story certainly doesn't follow our Principles of SAFETY, ACCESS and INCLUSION!
I've copied an article that appeared in the local Leader 10th July 2008
FOR the past 15 years, residents of Bundeena and Maianbar, on the edge of the Royal National Park, relied on local ambulance officers to be on call between shifts and on their days off as the only emergency medical service in the immediate area.
Other than three local ambulance officers, residents have just one part-time GP and no after-hours emergency service. There is no local taxi service and the ferry stops at 7pm.
Danelle Brown, of Maianbar, said she had to wait for between 35 and 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive from Engadine in January last year after her three-year-old daughter, Esprit, collapsed and stopped breathing.
She stopped breathing again in December. This time a local ambulance arrived within 25 minutes, she said.
"If they [ambulance officers] were at a station, it would have been 10 minutes. I think if there was a service in town it would probably be used more.
"I think people realise the waiting time and they panic and jump in the car and deal with their problems themselves and go to Sutherland Hospital," Mrs Brown said.
One local ambulance officer is due to retire in two years, one has a wife who is terminally ill, and the other has three children under 10. They are fed up working up to 20 hours straight and decided in May to withdraw their on-call services due to extreme fatigue and a lack of support from ambulance management, a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the Ambulance Service of NSW says.
The submission says the Bundeena ambulance is stationed at Engadine, under an ambulance service directive issued in May. It could therefore "easily be more than an hour" to get a person to a hospital, "posing serious risk to emergency patients", the submission says.
Last year, the three local officers - who each work at different stations outside the park - responded to 190 calls in addition to their normal shifts and overtime, the submission says. They were unable to respond to 20 calls.
The submission says the final straw was when two officers were "reprimanded and dictated to" after telling management they were too exhausted from having worked 20 hours straight to start another 14-hour shift in a few hours.
An ambulance service spokesman said the number of call-outs was not high enough to justify a full-time local service, which the Bundeena/Maianbar Ambulance Action Group wants.
The ambulance service has proposed that a scheme in which NSW Fire Brigades' officers act as "first responders".
The fire brigade supports the idea because its officers are trained in advanced first aid and can provide basic life support, a spokeswoman said.
The action group said in its submission to the inquiry that the proposal was unacceptable because the Bundeena-Maianbar area was too far from a hospital and fire brigade officers were not able to make medical diagnoses or administer drugs.
www.888dag.com
Much better, thanks!
Today has been much better. Started gargling with salt-water last night. Home remedy courtesy of my friend Matty. It's disgusting but does work and is completely natural. The trick is NOT to swallow!
So packed up my Precious this morning, and her nappy-bag, a rug, some toys, something to eat 'just in case', as well as my towel, yoga mat and bottle of water, and made my way to another boxercise class. Honestly, I'm a pretty organised person, but it still amazes me how much shit you have to carry with you when you go anywhere with a baby!
It was all worth it as it was truly invigorating working out in the park. There was even a new mum there, who only gave birth 2 weeks ago. So I salute her!
I've never been one to exercise much. I did the gym-thing sporadically 'cause I felt I should, but never really got into it. I could certainly never understand those people that got addicted to it! But being outdoors makes all the difference to me. And it's kinda liberating to punch someone with all your might. It mellows me out for the rest of the day, and nothing stresses me much and that's gotta be good, right?
www.888dag.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
I don't like to complain, but...
I feel like death warmed up. Flaming headache, coughing-fits that I'm sure can be heard in outer-space, hot and cold flushes, muscle-aches and just enough energy to drag myself from the bed to the lounge. Unfortunately having a 10-month old crawling around the place is not conducive to curling up and feeling sorry for one-self. That, and I feel guilty whingeing about having a cold when I know there's people out there who are much worse off than I.
So there's nothing else to do but soldier on. At least the flu-virus looks very pretty in the picture.
ah-choo!
www.888dag.com
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Another Day in Paradise
Woke up to another gorgeous, sunny, sparkly day in Paradise with my lovely family this morning. How lucky am I?! I'm not going to let the endless mountain of laundry get to me. The machine does it all anyway.
I'm going to go out into the streets of Bundeena and find some inspiration. And perhaps find the Sunday paper and a cup of tea at the local coffee shop.
And then when we come back I want to start measuring out our planned vegie-patch. I've been reading up on growing our own vegies. I'm excited about it, tho I'm by no means a 'green-thumb'. But surely growing a couple of lettuces, some tomatoes and herbs can't be that difficult? Watch this space... I might turn into a Vasili yet! (Have you watched Vasili's Garden on SBS?)
Hooroo!
www.888dag.com
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Powerful Stuff
I have just spend the last hour or so reading Katrina's Social X-Rays. What a powerful blog! I have never met you, Katrina, but reading a story like yours puts my little complaints in perspective. I'm sure the grated apple/rice shot was the best you have ever tasted! I haven't commented on your blog yet as we are back on dial-up for the moment, so everything takes forever. But I look forward to meeting you one day. You've been an inspiration to me today.
It's good to know you are SAFE and that you have ACCESS to all the LOVE you could possibly need.
*888*Wishing you all things Wonderful*888*
http://www.888dag.com
It's good to know you are SAFE and that you have ACCESS to all the LOVE you could possibly need.
*888*Wishing you all things Wonderful*888*
http://www.888dag.com
I'm Ba-ack!
In case you wondered where I went; spend some time under the doona, a lot of time running around getting sicker, but MOST time trying to get our computer/modem/phoneline/wireless to work. Oh-my-Gawd, I tried to BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE, but ended up HYPERVENTILATING! And it still isn't fixed. Arrgh!!! If anyone has any bright suggestions about how to get wireless to work, I'm all ears. We have established that it isn't the hardware. So they tell me it is our house. But we had another wireless device work perfectly well when we were still on dial-up. I have to now race off as I'm running late for an appointment as I just spend another HOUR on the phone. But I am back, I promise!
In...Out...In...Out...
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
grab that paper-bag!
www.888dag.com
In...Out...In...Out...
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
grab that paper-bag!
www.888dag.com
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Safety cannot be under-estimated
One of the big things amongst us DAGgers is Safety. It really is easily taken for granted that we live in a safe society, in safe surroundings.
Just today I realised I wasn't being 'safe' in that I was taking flu-medication that I shouldn't have, as I am still breastfeeding. Didn't even occur to me! So I cut it out immediately and thus my flu has returned with a vengence! Never mind, I rather sneeze and sniffle a couple of days longer, that exposing my little Angel to anything that might be unsafe for her.
And yesterday, while I was preparing dinner this channel 9 helicopter kept circling right above our home. I knew it wasn't bushfires, and it couldn't be a plane that went down in the ocean either as it was pointed in-land. Turns out the second floor of a home in the street behind us had collapsed while they were pouring concrete. One man died. Just like that. I am shocked, and feel so sad for the man's family. I don't know who he was, but obviously he wasn't safe.
And then the poor citizens in Georgia. They're not safe. Mother's just like myself, leaving their homes with their children to find safety...where? And why? It's a mess in this world.
I wish I had the answer. Perhaps all we can do is being aware, and sharing that awareness with the world. And thus perhaps bring change, one conversation at the time.
Be safe, always
Schatzi
888DAG.com >>>
Just today I realised I wasn't being 'safe' in that I was taking flu-medication that I shouldn't have, as I am still breastfeeding. Didn't even occur to me! So I cut it out immediately and thus my flu has returned with a vengence! Never mind, I rather sneeze and sniffle a couple of days longer, that exposing my little Angel to anything that might be unsafe for her.
And yesterday, while I was preparing dinner this channel 9 helicopter kept circling right above our home. I knew it wasn't bushfires, and it couldn't be a plane that went down in the ocean either as it was pointed in-land. Turns out the second floor of a home in the street behind us had collapsed while they were pouring concrete. One man died. Just like that. I am shocked, and feel so sad for the man's family. I don't know who he was, but obviously he wasn't safe.
And then the poor citizens in Georgia. They're not safe. Mother's just like myself, leaving their homes with their children to find safety...where? And why? It's a mess in this world.
I wish I had the answer. Perhaps all we can do is being aware, and sharing that awareness with the world. And thus perhaps bring change, one conversation at the time.
Be safe, always
Schatzi
888DAG.com >>>
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Dutch-Aussie-Connection
Ok, I'll quit the Dutch-thing now, but thought this was quite amusing....
888DAG.com >>>
888DAG.com >>>
The Dutch National Anthem
Hi EveryOne and All!
Had a lovely day today. Started with a boxercise class out in the park. Got my muscles working and filled my lungs with lovely fresh air. Then two of my beautiful friends, Chris and Michel visited and brought a yummie and healthy lunch. We hung out and watched the swimming at the Olympics. Michael Phelps was pretty much winning everything. So I kept hearing the American National Anthem. Haven't heard the Dutch Anthem yet, so thought I'll just put it on my blog.
So, pass the Dutchie and sing along!
Hooroo!
*888*DAG.com
Had a lovely day today. Started with a boxercise class out in the park. Got my muscles working and filled my lungs with lovely fresh air. Then two of my beautiful friends, Chris and Michel visited and brought a yummie and healthy lunch. We hung out and watched the swimming at the Olympics. Michael Phelps was pretty much winning everything. So I kept hearing the American National Anthem. Haven't heard the Dutch Anthem yet, so thought I'll just put it on my blog.
So, pass the Dutchie and sing along!
Hooroo!
*888*DAG.com
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Feeling more DAGgy than 888DAG today!
We went out to Sydney Institution 'The Basement' last night and had a lovely dinner and watched a very groovy band. Unfortunately our long-awaited night out was somewhat tempered by my on-coming flu. My sister and her partner had kindly offered to baby-sit. Thankfully Miss M was very well-behaved and they didn't hear a peep out of her. Until of course at 5.30 am this morning, but by that time we were back at hand. I feel like an absolute zombie today, complete with sore muscles, headache, shivers and sweats. So not my most inspired day.
I think I'll head back to the lounge for another hot Lemsip and some TLC from the husband!
Hooroo!
888DAG.com >>>
I think I'll head back to the lounge for another hot Lemsip and some TLC from the husband!
Hooroo!
888DAG.com >>>
Friday, August 8, 2008
From all the Lands on Earth we come...
Currently there is an ad on tv that uses that song 'I am, you are, we are Australian". Now I am not Australian (yet). Our Daughter is. But I am Dutch and my Other Half Kiwi. I like that song, it is very catchy. 'We are One, and we are Many, and from all the Lands on Earth we come.' It made me think that probably not many people know where exactly I come from.
I come from a town near Rotterdam called Schiedam ( pronounced; 'skhē'däm'). It is famous for two things; Dutch Gin and the worlds Tallest Windmills. There are currently about 75.000 people living in Schiedam. Two of whom are the most important in the world! My Parents.
At the beginning of this year they made the very BIG decision to move to Australia permanently. Of course I am very excited about that. It'll mean that all the things a lot of families take for granted will be possible for us after being fragmented for nearly 20 years. Christmasses, Birthdays, Weddings, but also the small things, like popping over for a cuppa, or hitting the Sales with Mum (watch out, here we come!). Of course it'll be wonderful for Miss M to grow up knowing her grandparents.
Anyway, I am diverting. What I meant to say is; next time you find yourself in Holland. Don't just go and see Amsterdam. Take the train to Schiedam and check it out. And just in case you were wondering... they have coffee-shops there too! ;)
Happy Days everyone,
*888*
888DAG.com >>>
I come from a town near Rotterdam called Schiedam ( pronounced; 'skhē'däm'). It is famous for two things; Dutch Gin and the worlds Tallest Windmills. There are currently about 75.000 people living in Schiedam. Two of whom are the most important in the world! My Parents.
At the beginning of this year they made the very BIG decision to move to Australia permanently. Of course I am very excited about that. It'll mean that all the things a lot of families take for granted will be possible for us after being fragmented for nearly 20 years. Christmasses, Birthdays, Weddings, but also the small things, like popping over for a cuppa, or hitting the Sales with Mum (watch out, here we come!). Of course it'll be wonderful for Miss M to grow up knowing her grandparents.
Anyway, I am diverting. What I meant to say is; next time you find yourself in Holland. Don't just go and see Amsterdam. Take the train to Schiedam and check it out. And just in case you were wondering... they have coffee-shops there too! ;)
Happy Days everyone,
*888*
888DAG.com >>>
Thursday, August 7, 2008
*888*Crazy with Excitement*888*
Yay! Only one more day and the wait is over! We are just CRAZY with excitement here. I hope everyone has a Wonderful, Exciting and Positive Day.I'm off to see my very good friend Vanessa to share the love!
Schatzi
888DAG.com >>>
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
i'm forgetting something...
It's 22:36 and I was all nice and cosy, tucked into bed. Was up again this morning at 05:30, so one would think sleep would come easy... NOT!! I've got too much on my mind and I was going around in circles, driving my other half mad with my sighing and twisting and turning. So decided to get up again.
So what's on my mind? I didn't do any video-ing today, and I feel bad about it. I didn't do any blogging either. I DID do non-stop running around, getting groceries, paying bills, organising our little lives etc etc. Realised at 5 pm that I'd been busting to go since 2 pm!
And still... I'm forgetting something...It came to me as I walked down the stairs just then; I was forgetting to BREATHE!
BREATHE...
BREATHE...
BREATHE...
It's so simple, we all do it so automatically that we forget to do it properly. And when done properly it does bring such clarity, doesn;t it?!
Sweet Dreams EveryOne!
Schatzi
888DAG.com >>>
So what's on my mind? I didn't do any video-ing today, and I feel bad about it. I didn't do any blogging either. I DID do non-stop running around, getting groceries, paying bills, organising our little lives etc etc. Realised at 5 pm that I'd been busting to go since 2 pm!
And still... I'm forgetting something...It came to me as I walked down the stairs just then; I was forgetting to BREATHE!
BREATHE...
BREATHE...
BREATHE...
It's so simple, we all do it so automatically that we forget to do it properly. And when done properly it does bring such clarity, doesn;t it?!
Sweet Dreams EveryOne!
Schatzi
888DAG.com >>>
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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