Place.

I am interested in how people decide where to live- did you choose your place or did it choose you.

I am writing from my friends living room. In Preston. It's early (ish) on a Saturday morning and I have just strolled over to the Preston market, had a coffee, bought some flowers (cheap and fresh- how novel) and done some people watching- so much history, tradition and diversity in the people and the produce they are selling. The cheeses, the coffee, the baked goods, the breads. Ahh, you can take the girl out of the deli but you can't take the deli out of the girl! (Yes, deli chick from way back, here!)

I was enjoying my own company and felt a deep sense of contentment.

I love Melbourne, I was in the city yesterday and felt that very same 'heart ping' of happiness and contentment. I feel at home here, comfortable here but I do not live here. I think it is a good place for be to be when I am alone- Mr Apple doesn't enjoy too much Melbourne (despite the fact that he used to live near the corner of Collins and Russell Streets in the very city!) and Miss and Master Apple love the novelty of getting around on public transport, buskers, eating fresh store bought nori rolls and other excitements.

It's my place rather than theirs, though, I think it's fair to say.

Then I start thinking about home.

I admit,  I don't love our house. It gives me a bit of a headache! 

But I do love our country. It is silent and fresh and green (at the moment). It is big and wide and we are free in it.

We don't have ready access to shops and entertainment but then we don't have massive billboards and the constant onslaught of advertising to navigate.

I know I have talked about this before, but 'sense of place/ home/ community' really draws me. Some people seem better at moving house. I had the same bedroom for 18 years and don't think I cope with stress or change very well (I am noticing this more as I age). My brave friend Kate upped and left Australia with 3 children under 7 at the time and still hasn't returned from Chicago (hmph!). 

And then there's me, 20 kilometres from the farm I grew up on- from that bedroom I spent the first 18 years of my life in. My parents are still there (obviously I am not from gypsy stock!) and my children now sleep in that bedroom when they visit.
I feel connected to, and like my roots are firmly planted in that area, and I love that and feel thankful... and I hate that because I don't feel like I could even consider saying 'let's go live in, hmm, say, Broome, for a bit of a change!'

Edited to add-Home now and how nice is that? Very very nice!

As they say, if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger!

I wasn't keen (totally out of my comfort zone), but felt it was the right thing to do.

Both our local Pollies turned up for the photo opportunity- oh, I mean to lend support- which was great.

Glad it's over, glad I did it! 

The Stove Cake- and hooray for a photo!

She was turning eight, and somewhat inexplicably had her heart set on a stove cake!

It was pretty fun (read- easy) to make and she loved it!
In case you are wondering- on the left is a pan of tomatoes and on the right we have fried eggs and sausages. Obvious, ain't it!!!

The Wizard of Oz

Thanks so much for the comments and emails about the tricky school stuff. You guys are the Wizard(s) of Oz and I am the Lion. You are giving me bravery encouragement- I will report back.

By the way, I am getting very cross with lack of photo putting in ability- Mozilla just seems to have stopped working and now I have to remember how to use Internet Explorer. Oh for a Mac- one day!

Standing up

It's all stupid computers and dodgy photo goings on her. So just a few words tonight.

Do you stand up for what you believe in?

I am School Council President for my kids school and we are having such a frustrating time with the 'Building the Education Revolution' funding- that schools around the country have received or are in the process of receiving. Some of you will have heard about it.
I have been asking myself, 'do you accept what you have been offered' or go 'hang on, this doesn't seem right to me'. I/ We are doing the later. I wont bore you with all the details but I thought I finished protesting when I was finished with Uni- I feel abit old for all this!
I think it can be really hard to do what you think is right sometimes. It's easier to go with the flow- well, that's my natural instinct anyway.
I just think- how great for our school to be given so much money for buildings- let's make sure we get value for money and something appropriate and not waste it. I don't think we are being unreasonable in asking for a conversation about how this money is being spent on our school- and that is what I have to keep remembering, so I don't keep getting stressed and wetting my pants about it all!
Thanks for your ears. I feel better now!
I have been sewing and baking up a storm so lets hope that the camera uplaody thing works soon so I can do abit of showing and telling.

In April I signed up for Carolyn's challenge- to make something lined.

I have an Aunty who likes to make up appropriate names for the driver,  from the three letters in number plates. Apparently the number plate of my first car will never be topped.

It was IBL. I drove into her drive in that car for the very first time and she shrieked with laughter (I wouldn't be surprise if she had tears running down her face actually). When she could speak, all she could say was "I'LL BE LATE"- before some more shrieking. 

Apparently it's fitting.

Anyway, I digress- I am showing you what I made for Carolyn's (ahem) April challenge!

I like this fabric and was happy to make something which would sit out, under my constant gaze. I made an overlocker cover and a machine cover, which I didn't get a photo of. 

Why I lined them I have no idea. 

Grandmother Bernina and Granddaughter Bernina

Del and I had a bit of a sew last week. She lugged (it's quite heavy) her machine over from Bendigo and we stayed up far too late- very fun at the time! It's the machine she learnt to sew on- which I think is pretty great. She has just had a couple of things tweaked on it and I tell you, it's nice. 

As in life, there is wisdom with the elderly- this Bernina record (from the 70's I think), is solid, gutsy, smooth and beautifully all mechanical. 

I do very much love and appreciate my clever more recent Bernina but I think it pays to respect our elders and remember that 'out with the old, in with the new', doesn't always ring true- you could miss something fantastic!