2009

Dear Stef,

YAWN.

Brilliant night. Lots of VERY good champagne, excellent food and an interesting bunch of people making conversation excellent.

Scarlett loved the fireworks and made all the appropriate sounds.
















Natalie was overcome she did clap before the fireworks started but didn't seem to respond, possibly it was because she couldn't see a thing.
















The old broad and I - note that the Pavlova has started to slip not unlike the person who made it (starts counting the seconds until a response occurs)
















Good ole Sydney fireworks - nothing quite like them (though what you are doing may just be close).

















Leaving with you a photo of Harley who is going to audition for Edward in the next Twilight movie.
















Love Mum xxxx

NYE

Dear Stef,

I am very glad you are taking your Aunt's advice and staying away from the terrorists at Time Square, sounds like you will have a wonderful time anyway. The forecast is for -9 and snow so I suggest you take your coat.

C and I are leaving for a small sojourn to Port to stay with the other Aunt. Young Travis has kindly offered to stay here while we are away to keep the cats company.

Will update whilst away so do stay tuned. Photo's posted here http://inthislife1.blogspot.com/

Love Mum xxx

Facebook

Dear Stef,

The photo's on Facebook are very interesting. Frightening but interesting. Thank you for your comments. It is rather intriguing that each time I have spoken to you the first thing you mention is you miss Harley. The. Cat. I think I am getting that you miss Harley. The. Cat.

Have been out every night this week, am totally exhausted. I put some very interesting photo's on photo blog go have a look it's worth it, very good one of Mr B.

Twas lovely to talk to you today God Bless Skype :-)

Love Mum xxxx

Money

Dear Stef,

There is an old story. A young man (away on holiday suprisingly enough in New York too) wrote to his father (in the old days there was no email only a thing called a Telegram, you were charged for each letter that was typed)

No Mon
No Fun
Your Son

His Father responded

Too bad
My Lad
Your Dad.

Having said that I have deposited money into your account for Christmas. If you need any more ask Sue I'm all out of love and money (well maybe no so much all out of love).

Love Mum xxxx

Fruitful

Dear Stef,

The biggest sign yet you are not here.

Today I went to get a Panadol from the medicine box.

AND....

There was some there.

I wanted Panadol and I was able to get immediate gratification. No screaming at you trying to find out where the last box had gone and how could you possible go through so many and why coudn't you replace them or at least tell me you had taken the last one.

I just went to the box and took two.

As I was putting the box back I saw something that made me have to sit down with shock, I just couldn't stop staring.

There was Nurofen there as well.


Finally got the first tomato's off the tree.
















This is Harley cracking up after I told him a dog joke.
















Tried calling but your clearly in some remote part of New York that doesn't have reception, or there is a blizzard so bad that the phone lines are down or the most likely option - you forgot to charge your phone.

Love Mum xxxx

Merry Christmas

Dear Stef,

Merry Christmas my Moo.

I can't believe your not here but the two sms you sent me at 5am helped me to pretend you were.

I hope you kept the tradition going and got a photo on Santa's knee, if you didn't it would be only the 2nd time in 23 years that you didn't (the first was when aged 2 you refused to even go into a store that you knew Santa was in, so getting you to sit on his knee just wasn't going to happen).

I loved last year when we did the midnight shopping run and Santa was still there so (with the help of a bribe of $20) you went and willingly sat on his knee. Santa thought all his Christmas's had come at once and promised you anything you wanted, even a new car.

Yup.

Will call you tomorrow. I hope you have a White Christmas.

Stay away from terrorists.

Love Mum xxxxx

Mummy there's a Fly in My Soup

Well at least a bug on the wall.

And it was quite a bug.

A HUGE bug.

C was asleep, Harley was out so it was just Rani and I.

She looked at me as if to say, 'well when are you going to get it' and I promptly told her SHE was the cat so get it. NOW.

She looked at it.























And looked at it.
















And looked at it some more.























Somebody had to do something and it clearly wasn't going to be Rani so I swatted it and it fell on
the table. Then she pounced.























Then it buzzed.

Once.

She got such a fright that she immediately let go.

And we were back to this.
















Hope you are keeping warm.

It was minus 7 this am in New York I was going to sms and tell you but I figured you already knew.

Love Mum xxxxx

Dear Stef,

We hung your stocking last night, we know your not going to be here but it was weird without it.

Thank you for not sending me any text last night. I actually think all these text are to make me feel like you are still here and waking me up each night as you stumble home and try to find the spare key.

I have had to move the spare key, too many of your friends now know where it is and (Travis?? I suspect) used it to go to the toilet AGAIN!!! Problem was this time he didn't put it back and left it in the door!!!

We found this on the way home on a random stop (one of many).
















Stay warm and please stay away from anything more dangerous than Harley.

Love Mum xxxxx

PS Photo's of trip you requested now on other blog let me know if you can't remember address.

SMS

Dear Stef,

Please kindly refrain from sending me text messages in the middle of the night especially when there is reference to alcohol, you being pissed and snow.

I will then promise not to post any more beach photo's.

Maybe lol.

Love Mum

Beach to Snow

While you are freezing your skinny ass off with your two pairs of gloves and HAVING to have your coffee indoors, I had my coffee whilst sitting under the shade of an umbrealla in a dinky little beachside cafe sitting in my shorts and tee. Good coffee, good bacon and egg sandwich, good company and very warm.

PS Whilst I would not have swapped this for the snow decked halls of NY I am mightily tempted to hop on a plane for an adventure of your sorts this week.

*sigh*

The Loch Ness Monster Joins the Nativity Scene

Needles to say this was Charlotte's idea.
















Noice photo of Harley as well.























I finally got to the bottom of your washing basket. I would love to know how long you actually spent looking for the box of Cold and Flu tablets that I found at the bottom. I am also intrigued as to how they got there.

Shame you are not here I have learnt how to make Rocky Road.

And it is Good (capital intended).

Love Mum xxx

The Weary Traveller Returns

Slightly Hungover


















Very well fed (think fresh prawns, beautiful wine, french bread stick and lashings of butter)

















Suntanned, fit and gorgeous.

A Short Break in Transmission

Dear Stef,

I am off for a small four day jaunt to places unknown and unforseen, whilst not as exciting as Times Square it will still be an adventure.

Hopefully I won't make the Headlines.

Love Mum

Pure Exhaustion

Competition

My Dearest Stef AND anybody else who reads this,

(From Harley and Rani)

We have competition. Two CLEARLY ill bred, inbred moggy type creatures are out to have better adventures than us.

Oh how we hold our sides laughing, how we rock about in mirth.

We cast flea ridden disburtions (surely that is a word) upon their so called adventures.

Love Harley and Rani

Two Flea Bitten In Breds

Christmas Cake

Dear Stef,

I am sitting in the shop eating Christmas Cake REALLY good Christmas cake. The onus is on me to make the Christmas cake this year - it isn't going to happen.

I really like the fact that you don't like Christmas cake or crackling.

I am very glad you didn't tell me about the mad mexican trying to break into your room till yesterday. I am impressed with the fact you had the foresight to arm yourself with ...... nail scissors, they would have done a lot of damage. Yup lots of damage.

????

Your sister graduated form Year Two this week. Her teacher told me she was a delight to have in the class and was also the first person to comfort another child when they were crying. She also said if Charlotte was cross with another child she wasn't afraid to stick the knife in she also said she was capable of twisitng that knife as well. Nice quality.
























Charlotte the Pirate.

Love Mum

Only in Our Family

Dear Stef,

Only in our family could we have a ceremony to bury the ashes of your Grandfather and have such arguments over whether to scatter or to bury (bury) and then where to bury them, who was going to dig the hole (you) and then the very moment when the ashes are poured into the hole nobody realised I was upstairs getting Charlotte a band-aid. SO I missed it.























Only in our family would one sister insist that we wear tea-towels over our faces so that nobody swallowed any ashes.
























Only in our family would the neighbour be trying to peer over the fence to see what illegal activities we were up to (none) while asking if we had received her letter of complaint over the trees on our property.
















Only in our family would one of the sisters still be traumatised from the scattering of your Grandmother's ashes, as she had left her mouth open in shock and swallowed a mouthful of ashes that were being flung into the air by your Grandfather who had not liked our lovely idea of gently scattering the ashes under each plant and digging them into the earth.























He would have been SO cross that you dug up his garden to bury his ashes but loved the idea that you looked like a tea-towel terrorist as you did it.

Love Mum xxxx

Forty, Fit and Fabulous

Dear Stef,

I'm not sure who the toothless, tatooed young man is that called out 'Hi Stef's Mum' as I walked through the plaza this morning but I hope you don't associate with him very often. He is NOT marriage material.

I know we did not come to any arrangement about the amount of times I expect you to contact me - after all you are now 22, but three days is too long to have to field calls from your Aunts asking if I have heard from you.

I went to the Longy this week and I missed having you there with me. I met a lady who knows you, in fact her daughter thinks you are wonderful. I had to clarify that we were talking about the same person and apparently we were.

Was a very funny night and nobody ended up in hospital - a first. You know I am still getting over the night I rushed myself to hospital with my (as then) undiagnosed heart condition and when you found out I was in hospital your first words were, 'are you having your stomach pumped'. Maybe your friends need their stomach pumped after a couple of drinks but I do not.




















Please note my brilliant cleavage - Rodney helped.

I had a great conversation today with a lady from Scotland. I told her the story of you running out the house before you went on your Hockey tour of Scotland and grabbed your bikini shouting, 'oh here it is I couldn't find it anywhere' I don't think anyone has ever worn a bikini in Scotland but I could be wrong.

It's -7 in New York today that is MINUS 7. I hope you are able to get your hands on something a little warmer than your rain jacket. I would suggest (though I know you don't like my suggestions) anyway, I would suggest you are going to need something a tad warmer.

Love Mum xxx

Spooky

She is missing you.


























So she has morphed into you.



























Be scared, be very, very scared.

A Mother's Burden

Thank you Stef for your wonderful updates. I am thrilled that you had the sense to put a table across your door for security in the dingy little Mexican hotel you stayed in. I am glad you turned down the night with a 'bowl of coke and hookers' WTF!!!!

I was not laughing at you when you went through the Custom gates and stood in the line that said Indian Residents only. I was laughing WITH you. I might add that if you manage to get deported from any country that you visit I will be telling them you are a resident of India and to please send you back there.


I found a library book of yours that was due back 93 days ago. I have dutifully returned it for you. (I actually read it first, it wasn't bad but I didn't think you would get a book out that had a Womens Weekly sticker on the front)! Yesterday when a letter from the RTA arrived my heart sunk to my feet as I thought you had managed to rack up yet another fine but thankfully it was just a letter to let your deceased Grandfather know he had to pass a test before the RTA would renew his license.

The place is quiet - and clean - without you, the novelty of having cheese and bread left in the fridge when I get home has yet to wear off. It is also quite novel to sleep all night long and not be woken by drunken laughter at some un-godly hour as you tried to get in the house with the spare hidden key that you always had trouble finding.

Harley and Rani are missing you dreadfully, the keep looking for you they have taken up residence on your bed, fleas and all.

Love you and miss you

Love Mum xxxx

Day 3

Dear Stef,
Thank you for the reverse charge call last night. I am glad you are having such an awesome time despite all the feral Disney creatures. I thought I was going to finally get our phone bill down without you there but clearly not. I have nearly done all your washing, only 5 more loads to go, I don't know anybody else who has 38 non matching socks - how did you do that?
Do you still want the 3 mascara tubes I found in various places around the house - hope not. I have yet to tackle under the couch but will next weekend.






















I have finally cleaned the car up from your little escapade just before you left. The neighbours are still recovering from the shock of walking out and seeing this.

















I had a very distressing moment this morning when I couldn't find my thongs that I had just taken off, 'bloody Stef' jumped into my head and then I realised I couldn't blame you. Very distressing. The cats and I are still falling over ourselves when we walk out into the hallway and try to avoid all your stuff and then realise it isn't there any more.

I am also still adjusting to opening the fridge and not seeing half eaten cheese put back in the fridge without being wrapped and dirty plates and cups everywhere. As for getting out of the shower and actually having my towel there ready to use - well that is quite novel.

Keep having a good time, stay safe and $5000 is NOT worth it!!

Love Mum xxxxx

PS The beer belongs to Wendy but she has kindly offered to give it to anyone who wants is.

Day Two Without Stef

Guess what this is????

It is the Hallway! Fancy there is a hallway and we had no idea.

This is the clothes line it is full of all the clothes Stef forgot to wash before she went away. That includes the undies, bra and t-shirt she left in her doorway just before she ran out the door to go away for a Very Long Time.














This is me asleep on Stef's bed, except it is now MY bed.















Today Mum drove Stef's car up to Lane Cove Shops (Stef has more petrol than Mum) and the keys fell out of Mum's pocket and she couldn't find them anywhere so she walked home and had a cup of tea. Later she found them in the shop where they had fallen out so she went home and had a gin.

Mum also said there is beer in the fridge and she doesn't want it so if you own it come and get it. Also there is a credit card here with the name of Jane Mulligan on it.

Love Rani and Harley