Tinkerblue

Girls Night Out

Not long after I moved up to Sechelt, Michelle came to visit and to treat me to a birthday weekend.  I've known Michelle for 7 (?) years now. She used to live in the same complex as me, then she moved across the road.

Over the last 8 months Michelle has been an awesome friend.  She's listened to me cry, rant, and worry, and she's made me laugh.  She's dropped everything to meet me for coffee so I can talk thing through when I've been so confused I can't think straight. We've traded texts at 2am when we've both been struggling with insomnia.  We've drunk more beer and wine and consumed more ginger gems that is healthy.

When she heard I was alone for birthday, she packed her bag and got on the ferry and came over the following weekend to celebrate. Michelle decided we were having girls night out complete with curly hair and dresses.

Two beers, some tequila shooters, a glass of baileys and who knows whatelse later, the photos were not quite in focus...

But we were still able to get up bright and early the next morning to serve breakfast to the guests, clean the room, shop at the Farmers' Market and bounce on the trampoline. I cannot remember the last time I was on a trampoline. The '80s?

Thanks for a great weekend Michelle.

 

Polli Made A Pendant

My Mum and Dad sent me this pendant for my birthday.  Isn't it pretty?

 

 

It's made by an Australian company called Polli.  According to their website my pendant is inspired by the floral embroidery in traditional Mexican fabrics.  I have some Mexican fabrics stashed in boxes in the garage I should check and see how alike they are.

Mum and Dad also sent me chocolate  and vegemite. The chocolate has long since been inhaled. I like these little packs of vegemite, they can go in my bag for when I eat out or am at a friends house and want vegemite on my toast.

 

Birthday Greeting From Jo

 

I think I've finally worked out how to share the audio greeting that Jo sent me on Whatsapp. Just click on the button thingy below.

 

 

Birthday Greeting from Jo

 

Happy Birthday Part 2

My Canadian birthday started of bright and early. Well early, not too sure how bright I looked or felt! For whatever reason I was awake at 530am. Way before my alarm clock was due to go off.

I received lots more birthday greetings today, from Sweden, Brazil, Japan, England, Ireland, Australia, Thailand, a dozen US States, and 4 Canadian Provinces.

The highlight was a last minute unexpected visit from Steph and Finn. I talked to Steph yesterday and said she should come for lunch. And she did. An hours car ride to the ferry, 2 hours at the ferry terminal, 40 mins on the Ferry and then another hour in the car on this side. All for me.

They arrived with balloons and chocolate cake. We had lunch here... Chicken and salad. Relatively healthy. But then we ate half a chocolate cake each! Before Steph left to take the ferry home, her and Finn took me out for a birthday beer.

I finished off the evening with a 3km run. Now I'm looking forward to a cuppa tea and a chat with Jo. I'm also hoping to catch up with my Mum and Dad and my brother and Kelly before I sleep.

I tried to thank everyone individually for their birthday wishes, I'm sorry if I missed anyone.

I truly appreciate all your thoughts and best wishes and the support that everyone has given me over the last few months. I have some of the best friends.

Thank you.

Happy Australian Birthday To Me

It's not quite my birthday here yet. But it's been May 3rd in Australia for the last 13 and 3/4 hours.

This morning I woke to a voice mail from Jo singing me Happy Birthday. I wish i knew how to post it on here. It was an awesome way to start my day. I've had an inbox full of birthday wishes from friends and family all over Australia. This evening I finished off the day on a video Skype call with Narelle and Justin and Tait. Tait is my Godson and we share a May 3rd birthday. It's his first birthday, it's not my first! Happy Birthday Tait!

Thank you to everyone who emailed, texted, phoned, Skyped, Facebooked etc I feel much loved.

This afternoon I also received an actual gift. Some flowers, a bottle of wine and a card. I wasn't expecting to get any gifts this year, so it was a nice surprise.

My plans for tomorrow? A run. A visit from Steph and Fin. Maybe some chocolate. We'll see.

Typically Taurean

I don't really follow astrology or anything like that, but it is fun to see just how true my star sign characteristics are.

I am a Taurus.  Taurus - The Bull.  Taureans typically:

• Dislike change
• Creative
• Practical
• Reliable
• Stubborn
• Clever
• Arrogant
• Hate to be rushed or hassled
• Loyal
• Hard to beat in an argument

See where it says stubborn? Loyal? Hates to be rushed? Practical? Arrogant?  Dislikes Change? Yep, all me. You've heard the saying, "stubborn as a bull"? It's not wrong.

Taurus is an Earth sign. Apparently Earth is the most stable, consistent and rigid of all signs. Once we make up our minds, we cannot be moved without huge efforts. Sound familiar?

Practical, patient, reasonable, and persistent are Earth signs. If you want to make sure a project gets done and gets done "right" call, on an earth person. Earth people are not much one for the limelight. If it can be done, an earth sign will do it without the need for recognition.

 I was born in 1970, which makes me Year of the Dog. People born in the Year of the Dog tend to be:

• Honest
• Friendly and Playful
• Extremely protective of loved one
• Very private, you think you know a lot about them, but really you don’t
• Perceive things in black and white.  No in-betweens.
• Good judges of character
• Loyal
• Intelligent
• Trustworthy
• Stubborn

 See stubborn and loyal are mentioned again? 

 

My name - Rachael Jane

• Rachael means Ewe or Gentle as a Lamb or One with Purity (take your pick)
• It's a Hebrew name
• Rachael was a popular female first name from the 1960’s to the 1980’s (along with Allison, Jennifer, Karen, Melissa and Michelle)
• The more common spelling is Rachel. Try finding all the kids stuff with the Rachael spelling on it.  Almost impossible. 
• Some of the ways friends and even family have spelt my name - Rachel, Rachelle, Raechel, Raychel, Raquel, Rachyl, Raychl, Rachal, Rachele, Rachale and so on.

• Jane means God's Gracious Gift
• It's also a Hebrew name
• Jane is often used as a middle name or as the second element of double barreled names such as Sarah-Jane, Mary-Jane.

I'm not sure that anyone has ever described me as gentle as lamb or one with purity or as God's gracious gift!

Yes, I Still Celebrate My Birthday

This time next week I'll be another year older. Much has changed since my last birthday. Some good, some not so good.

The last 7 months were unexpected and a little difficult. Although my life is now moving in an unplanned direction, I am happy. I've learnt to live on my own again, to make decisions for me, that I have some really awesome friends, my family are always there for me, and that I will survive!

My birthday next Thursday doesn't just mean I'm a year older, it represents the beginning of my new life. It's the beginning of a new year, a new job, a new place to live, a new adventure. Who knows where it will lead or where I'll be when my birthday rolls around next May. I do know I'm going to enjoy the next year whatever it brings.

Yes, I still celebrate my birthday. I don't care how old I'm getting or that I'm in my forties. I know most of my friends and family don't care about their birthday and would rather just forget about it completely. Not me. I like getting birthday phone calls, texts, Facebook posts, letters etc. I like going out for lunch or dinner or having someone make me lunch or dinner. I love birthday hugs.

Usually I have a wish list a mile long. Not this year. We're in the process of packing up the house, and I'll probably be putting stuff into storage for a while until i decide what I want to be when I grow up. I don't need stuff.

This is my birthday wish list for this year:
To keep in touch with friends on a much more regular basis - Skype calls, emails, letters, coffee, texts, movies, hugs. Lots of hugs. No more once a year calls. The last few months have taught me how much I value my friends.

Last year Dave and I went to a Mexican restaurant for my birthday dinner, we celebrated with margaritas and deep fried ice cream. Then Rhonda and I went to Whistler for the weekend and had drinks with Alex and Sam.

Not sure what I'll do this year. My original plan was to invite 1/2 a dozen friends over for dinner.

But I'm going to be out of town. I'll be on the Sunshine Coast (here in BC, not in Queensland). The friend I will be with for the day isn't even aware that it's my birthday.

Don't be sad, I'm not. I plan on talking to lots of friends that day, even though I can't be with them in person.

I'm not yet sure what if anything I'll do for my birthday, however I can tell you I am going to enjoy it.

Maybe a nice glass of Tassie wine that I've been hoarding?

Happy Birthday Baby Brother

Today, March 29 is my baby brothers' birthday. Shaun's 39 now.

I had no problem turning 40. I'm not worried that I am now into the 5th decade of my life. I've never really felt like I'm getting old. But the fact that this time next year my little brother will be 40, that terrifies me. That makes me feel old.

Happy birthday Shaun. Have a great day. Yes, I'll send you a present. No, I don't know what. Yes, it will be completely and utterly useless whatever it is.

Love you.

My New Tree Topper

Remember how I said I no longer had a tree topper, because it went with Dave?

Well, lookee here.

I got a new tree topper.

Carlea and Andreas brought it back from Germany for me.

It's so pretty. It's glass. It's blue and silver. Carlea could not have picked a better colour combination for me. It's perfect.

I'm definitely leaving my tree up now. At least for a few days.

Thank you.

Advent Calendar Day #23 - Christmas Crackers

For years I've made the Christmas Crackers. This year, I didn't think I was going to have anyone to make them for.

Then Morag and I received a generous invitation to spend Christmas in Edmonton with Heather and Judy and their family. So the crackers were back on.

Oops I stopped saving the empty toilet roles and now I'm 3 rolls short!

Morag had never made Christmas Crackers before. Or tissue paper crowns. Now she's made both. Who knew Christmas with me could be such a learning experience?

Oops #2 - I didn't have as many toys/gifts/decorations saved as I thought I did.

5 crackers are complete.
1 cracker needs a toy or gift or something
2 crackers need to be made & thy need gifts.

Talk about leaving things until the last minute.