Studying

Hi there readers. Is anyone out there??!!!!
Today I started studying with on line university. Something different. If I can stick at it, and succeed, I will get a Bachelor of Behavioural Studies sometime within the coming millenium. I logged on to the website today and was immediately overwhelmed with the amount of information to read through. I'll get there, but it's a bit tricky finding where 'there' is as there seems to be lots of hidey hole places that they publish all this information! Ah well, it's a great learning experience. At least I know how to use the computer. :-)
Our 'little' music group is just going crazy at the moment. Last year we saw steady growth all year (at times the growth was actually explosive but it always seemed to settle down after a couple of weeks). This year we're getting new families every week! We've had to say goodbye to a couple of families who are moving interstate or overseas so you'd think the whole natural attrition thing would kick in, but it doesn't seem to be. We had 31 families today over two classes and when many of these families have two or sometimes three children it makes for a very busy time! I'm glad my friend "Mrs Wiggle" has the energy to keep up with them during the singing time. I certainly get my fair share during play time too. The families really are great and it's just nice to get out and meet lots of different people from really different backgrounds each week.
I've been having a big battle with Centrelink lately - why can't anyone in that organisation get their information correct? For a couple of months I've had people telling me that it's ok to study part time, and that I will still be meeting my obligations to get the Parenting Payment. Then last Tuesday a lovely young lady in my local office explained that I actually need to be studying full time, or I need to get some work as well as study part time! Stike me pink! I thought I was doing the right thing! I came home and tried to enroll in another subject but of course enrolments closed two weeks ago so I can't! I just love Centrelink. I think I've kind of got it sorted now (after a meeting with the Manager of my local office) so we'll see how we go.
I think my psychologist is doing her job well - since I've been seeing her my emotions have gone to pot! Now that I've moved house it seems that there were a lot of issues I hadn't really given a lot of 'air time' to that are now demanding some attention. I'm really thankful that I have a psychologist who is sensible and intelligent both at the same time! Who'd have thunk it?!
Have had lots of 'explosions' with Madame I. Her Asperger's issues are quite prominent at the moment. There has been a lot for her to deal with- going back to school, moving house, being in a small room with a younger sister who knows just which buttons to press to get a big reaction, etc. I was thinking today about the Clipsal500 being set up and I remember last year going to see her psychologist when the roads were closed, then I realised it's the same time of year again. Perhaps it's something we'll have at the start of each year as she adjusts to the new grade, new teacher, new classmates, etc. So I'm going to just sit it out, love her lots and see if it settles down soon (I'm hoping it will!).
I've loved reading the blogs from Ozimum, a good friend who has just come home with her new daughter (and husband....) from China. It's been an amazing, beautiful journey and they have the most beautiful little princess. She's just gorgeous. It's been really nice seeing the joy she's already brought to their family.
Still haven't heard whether I'm allowed to have a garage sale, so keep watching this space....

I love to mess with Madame I's Asperger's brain sometimes.... this morning she wanted to do a bit of crafty stuff before school and she was dawdling a bit. So I told her if she wanted to do it she would have to get her skates on - and she looked around her feet on the floor for the skate! It was so funny! I then explained to her that it means you have to move faster and she goes "Oh, ok" At least she can laugh at herself.


On a different note, yes, CJL I am actually getting rid of Tupperware. I'm sure there is some law against this somewhere in the world - it just feels wrong! I am very proud of myself though for being able to let things go. I'm not quite at the stage of throwing away birthday cards immediately after reading them (not looking at anyone PKE)..... I think I still have some birthday cards in a box from when I turned 7!



Being in this new house reminds me a lot of when I was living on my own just before I got married. It was the first time in my life I'd lived on my own and I loved it. The bizarre thing is that at that time I took over the lease of a friend who was getting married and moving the the country - and now my next door neighbour (and landlord) are that friend's sisters-in-law! How weird is that? So all these connections, and living in a small 2 bedroom place remind me of that time when I lived on my own. It's a time of discovering who I really am, what I want from life, what kind of parent do I want to be (without having to consult with another parent for a consensus first). It's a very powerful (and sometimes intimidating) time and place for me. To have a chance to start all over and have the freedom to be me.



Today I went to lunch with BF to an amazing authentic Ethiopian restaurant - not that I know what authentic Ethiopian food tastes like, but I know there were lots of Ethiopians having lunch there so that's good enough for me. It was nice to be out doing 'adult' stuff and no-one having expectations of me. Sometimes I think I slip into the whole thing of people expecting that because I'm recently separated I will be a certain way, and I will do certain things and I will not be happy and stuff like that. It was nice to be in a place where no-one (except BF and she doesn't have expectations of me anyway) knew my story, and I didn't have to play a 'role' for anyone, and nobody expected me to behave in a certain way. I guess kind of like when someone's partner dies and they catch themselves laughing over some silly little thing, then they feel guilty about feeling happiness for a few seconds. It's just nice to be in a place where it's ok for me to be happy (and to be able to forget all the other stuff for a while). I think being surrounded by Ethiopian men may have had something to do with my mood......mmmmm........ The food was great :-)



Tomorrow is my first day here of being on my own (girls are with D) and I plan to get lots more unpacking done. I can't wait til I don't have any cardboard boxes left in the house. Then it will be time to start Uni....

This home is so comfy, it feels like we're in a holiday park. We have great neighbours who we've already met, and there are a few other children here for the girls to play with. It's just beautiful, and feels so peaceful.

To CJL - re. collections: if I get rid of a lot of my Tupperware and as you suggest we all need our collections, what else could I collect? It will have to be something fairly small as I don't have a lot of room for storage.....any ideas?