Mother's Day Weekend

This weekend, we celebrated Mother's Day with a couple of indulgences. During the week, I had organised a brand new wood fireplace to go into my lake house, and an electrician to move the TV (add points, etc), so that when we arrived on Friday night, I would be able to enjoy my fabulous view, my toasty fireplace and the TV all in the same direction. I wasn't sure if my plan would work, as the space is a little tight, but when we arrived on Friday night, after a 7pm hockey game from my oldest son that didn't finished till 8.30pm (after a late start), at 11.30pm at night, it was better than I expected. My firewood had been dumped on the front lawn, and I was going to get the boys to move it on Saturday, but it was too late to get a fire going as soon as we arrived so we went to bed…

An hour or so later, the rains came… and hard! All my lovely red gum firewood was getting soaked, and wouldn't be able to be used in the fire. At 6.30am I managed to get myself out of bed, put a jacket on, and dig deep into the wood pile to find any wood that was just a little bit dry. I found about 8 pieces and took them inside.

As it's an eco-friendly fireplace, it suggests only to use wood kindling and firelighters - no paper or cardboard to get it going. It has air vents to manage the heat, and heat banks to store the heat for when the fire has died down. So as it was now 7am, and I was wet from collecting all the dry wood in the rain, I was desperate to get this thing going. I didn't have any firelighters, I found some dry pinecones and branches in the old woodstore out the back, and did what I could with a packet of matches. Until they ran out… I had one match to go, so I grabbed three tissues and lit them over the kindling and miraculously, I HAD FIRE!!! Once it turned to embers, I put on a red gum log and I was happy.

It was lovely looking out on the cloud-capped mountains, the greenness of the trees and the receding lake (it's currently at 68% capacity, and I've been told it will start filling up again now, as they drain the lake to help the fruit growers in the nearby Goulburn Valley over the hotter months).

After the fire was set, I got myself ready to go into town to get some supplies. I had to go to my neighbour's to find out what was happening for dinner, as it was her birthday last week, and we were going to celebrate somehow. The local restaurant is now closed for the winter season, and we could go into town for a meal, or just stay at home. It was decided that I would buy all the ingredients for a roast lamb dinner, an apple crumble and I had in mind to get the birthday cake too. A couple of our friends up there had told me that they wouldn't be there this weekend when I was up there 2 weeks ago, but somehow they were both there, but one was leaving that afternoon to start a new job… so we had an extra body for dinner, and I had to go tell him not to pull anything out of the freezer because it was 'roast night.' So I went over, we had a little chat, and the other friend dropped something off on his back door, and strangely didn't even say hello. So I saw a flash of him walk passed, got off my seat and said hello. But he didn't want to talk… saying he was leaving now and got into his car in a bit of a huff. The other friend and I just thought he was probably annoyed that I was there, and hadn't gone to see him yet, even though he didn't understand the reason why I was there… anyway, it was his problem.

The roast dinner was a smash… a few laughs, a little bit too much alcohol and the birthday girl was appreciative of her little birthday surprises… after all, it was her 'birthday week.'

This morning, I got out of bed a little jaded, the boys gave me some chocolates, a card, an iTunes voucher and said that they left a couple of presents at home. Dexter my dog, slept on my legs keeping me warm, and somehow managed to wake up to the smell of the unopened chocolate box and managed to peel the protective plastic wrapped off, but I got hold them before he got too far. But that was about it for Mothers Day love in the house, as I had to get the house ready to say goodbye. (I love my house on the lake… wish we could be there always). I did the rounds and said goodbye to my friends, then took my boys to 'High Tea' at the Flowerdale Estate, in Strath Creek… about 1.5 hours from my lake house, but on the way home to Melbourne. It was a beautiful estate which has accommodation, a health spa, a gorgeous dining room and lovely grounds to wander around. Dexter sat on the front verandah as we enjoyed our delightful lunch in the gracious dining room.

We had cucumber sandwiches, a tiger prawn with melon sitting on a lettuce leaf, a chicken pie, shallot and cream cheese croissant, vegetable quiche, a roast beef, aioli and watercress ribbon sandwich, a hazelnut macaroon, red velvet cupcake, salted caramel tart, pistachio nougat, walnut brownie and I think that was about it… all tiny little morsels perfectly presented… and of course, all with silverware and cups of tea.

It was lovely look out the headlight windows into the autumn foliage. After our High Tea, we walked around the grounds and found a dam the boys could skim rocks into...

Then the boys found the maple tree and tried to see who could find the biggest leaf!

It was a perfect autumn's day in the country.

After our walk, we returned to the dining room for lemonade scones (I must admit, mine are better), with jam and cream. Before setting off home… the long way through the CBD, thanks to Sat Nav.

So that was my Mothers Day weekend. I really can't complain :)

Happy Belated Mothers Day!

Just thought I would send happiness and peace to all those wonderful mums, step-mums, grandmas, aunts and special friends who help nurture our children into the best people they can be!

I will say, that from yesterday, I have only heard 'happy' Mothers Day stories. Children have done lovely things for their mums, dads have been extra helpful and loving, some announced that they are going to a new mum and special friends acknowledging pseudo-mums to make them feel special. There haven't been any disappointing presents, there haven't been any ignorant spouses and there have been many stories that have included some special unexpected surprises. It's been really nice to know that there is a general spirit of warmth and love around.

I took my boys out to breakfast in the morning at Ricketts Point Tea House... a coastal contemporary cafe on the edge of a marine sanctuary where the swans, pelicans and seagulls play, and if you're into snorkelling, you can see the sting rays, tropical fish, starfish and crabs playing in the reef. It truly is one of Melbourne's hidden secrets. It was an overcast day, so the water was a little dull, but we enjoyed our pancakes under the heat of the outdoor bar heaters on the beachside deck.

While we were finishing off our freshly squeezed orange juice, I decided to rename Mothers Day to 'International Good Children Day.' After all, that's what we all hope for on Mothers Day... that we don't have to deal with bickering, fighting, whinging and selfishness, and we get to enjoy being looked after by our favourite little people.

We went and bought flowers for my Mum (as well as myself, as no one buys me any!). We bought some beautiful roses and I had bought myself for my boys to give me, a French provincial jug so I can have a lovely vase to put some flowers in it each week. I set it up, and I must say, I am quite impressed with my little Parisienne themed entry table.

I had a lovely phone call from a friend who had just arrived from London, who I've planned to catch up with during the week, and then we drove down to Mt Martha to catch up with my family for a combined Mothers Day and a couple of birthdays.

I did get a 10 minute massage when we came home from my 11 year old and this morning, they both helped clean the house before I even got out of bed - all the vacuuming was done, the rubbish in the bins outside and the dishwasher was empty! I had a second Mothers Day! Lucky me!

I am so proud of my little boys for everything they do. They really are excelling in so many ways at the moment and it is so wonderful to see. I hope you are seeing some bright stars shining through with your children, and relishing in the joyous moments. Mothers Day is truly a time to reflect on all the love, kindness and pride you have for your children. Love, cherish, enjoy! :)

Parenting Vs Just Being Mum & Dad

I read an interesting article about the difference being a 'parent' and being 'Mum' or 'Dad.' It was written on the back of Mother's Day, so for the sake of this exercise, I will write 'Mum' instead of both 'Mum' and 'Dad' to make it flow better, but it's not in anyway to discount the wonderful Dads out there.

It essentially said, that being a 'Mum' has the nurturing, emotional tone. If a child wants their 'mum', they want someone to look after them, defend them, feed them, help them, do everything to show them that they are being loved. Whereas, when a child talks about his/her 'parents', it has a more practical and rational tone. The word usually comes up more in the teenage years, and usually they need to talk to their 'parents' to see if they can go out, get some money off them, get them to drive them somewhere. The child treats their parents as more of a negative imposition, than their loving caring 'mum.'

And I so get that... friends and people I come across, in their adult lives, often refer to their 'Mum' as 'Mum' because their 'Mum' has been the most supportive, loving, nurturing person who has always been there for them, been there for them at their graduation with flowers of congratulations, shed tears for them when they got married, helped them with all the uncertainty when they had their own babies, picked up the kids from daycare when a work meeting went into overtime. A 'Mum' always has your back, no matter what.

Whereas, a 'parent' usually takes the back seat. They watch you from a distance, tell their friends what you are up to, but don't actively participate in your life. They see that their job is done in raising you once you leave home, and it's now up to you to make your own mistakes or create your own successes. They don't encourage you, they don't give you surprise gifts for being their child, they are always too busy in their own lives to help you in yours, they just exist in your life, as your life-givers.


A 'Mum' will give you a Mothers Day gift because you too are a Mum. A 'parent' won't give you a Mothers Day gift because she sees herself as being the matriarch, and you are not 'her' mother.

Sometimes, throughout your life, you will find that your 'Mum' might certainly turn into your 'parent' as she go through menopause or some other life-changing event, and it's true the other way, that your 'parent' might all of a sudden become your 'Mum' because a life-changing event has happened, like she may have lost her husband to death or divorce, so she starts becoming more nurturing in her life because she needs to feel needed.

I'm sure those who have 'Mums' in their lives couldn't imagine their mother being just a 'parent.' Where those who have a 'parent' in their lives would dearly love having a 'Mum.'

I know I strive to be a 'Mum,' and I had one of those days that prove it... My oldest son forgot it was inter-school sports day and completely forgot to take his hockey gear to school. I was on my way to an appointment when he called. I turned around, called my appointment to say I would be half an hour late, I rushed home, got his stuff, took it to school hoping the sports bus hadn't left otherwise I would have had to go to the hockey field a few suburbs away, making me later, but luckily they hadn't left, and I got to my appointment only twenty minutes late. Once I got to my appointment, I had a text message from my youngest son's friend's mum saying that he had left his school bag at home... so Mum to the rescue... after my second appointment, I rushed home picked up his bag, took it to the school and I had a happy little man. Whereas, a 'parent' would say 'tough - you left it at home, you deal with the consequences.' To me, being a Friday, I know how hard my sons have worked on their homework all week, and if they didn't have their bag with their homework and their lunch in it, it would have been unfair that one little slip up could jeopardise all the effort they had put in. So I couldn't be a 'parent' I had to be a 'Mum.'

So this Mothers Day, try to be a 'Mum' for all the single Mums out there who have no one to spoil them, and show them that they are actually doing a fantastic job in being a 'Mum.'