Moving Right Along…

I can’t believe we’re nearly a week into the new year!

For some reason I haven’t found it as difficult to remember the date (2023 instead of 22) when I’ve had to sign things so far, so that’s a plus 😀
We’re back in the business of looking for houses. Had a look at two on Tuesday, and have put in an application for one that we haven’t yet seen, but will have a look at tomorrow. Of the two we saw, one was nice but smaller than where we are now. The other was a lot bigger, and had plenty of space at a good price. It was also a museum of the 70s (although in very good condition). The wallpaper was either metallic floral or various patterns and flocked. Some floors were tiled, some were a very plush pale cream carpet – this included the internal stairs. Pretty much every single room had different wallpaper and flooring, which was slightly disorientating. Downstairs was partly taken up with a “rumpus room”, complete with wooden bar and fake wooden beams on the ceiling. It was unfurnished, but I could almost see a pool table and dartboard in there… The kitchen was original, including the ancient dishwasher, which, when opened, had a note inside saying, “Do not use. Brokken”.

The boys hated it.
I actually quite liked it, although I can imagine it would get annoying if we lived there. I enjoyed looking round – it felt, for a few minutes, as though I’d slipped through a crack in time to my childhood. I hope someone who will appreciate it gets to move in. It’s obvious that the previous residents loved it enough to maintain it well over the decades.

The house we’re looking at tomorrow seems closer to what we want, and hopefully we’ve sorted out the problems that might have been keeping us from getting places we’ve looked at previously. We shall see!
In the meantime, this new year still needs some plans and dreams in it 🙂

Here’s a song to ponder on, and keep priorities (and promises!) in view…

Published in: on January 6, 2023 at 2:55 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Dreaming Into A New Dawn

Once more we are standing on the brink of a new year, and it’s all about goal setting and sorting “it” all out.
Of course, it’s really just another day – there’s no magic reset button, and last year’s problems don’t just disappear…

It is a chance, though, to take the time to reassess and rearrange, and to jump into the year feeling like you have a fresh new start!

I feel like last year had a lot of interruptions and false starts. I don’t really know what tomorrow will bring. I can only plan my course, and see what happens.
One of my Christmas presents was a bundle of virtual challenges, where you get to choose how to complete the challenges, and get a medal at the end of it 🙂 Some will be for physical activity – I need to get back to regular walking – but some will be for various creative activities. The 2023 medal will be for the same activity as the 2022 medal. It keeps me on a regular Bible reading schedule – one chapter = one kilometre.

I saw some fireworks from our windows, but we’re not planning to formally welcome in the new year. I hope you’ve had a good evening, however you are spending it!
Here’s a more traditional new year song…

…and a song to muse on and be inspired by.

I hope your new year brings you dreams to walk in, and hope fulfilled.

Published in: on December 31, 2022 at 11:43 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sing, For The Day Has Come!

Published in: on December 25, 2022 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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This Is The Story

Published in: on December 24, 2022 at 9:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Child Who Sees Us

Amidst all the flashing lights
there are still glimpses of darkness.

We don’t really get the full experience in Australia – Christmas here is in the season of light and heat, rather than the northern hemisphere Christmas of short, cold days and long dark nights. We can still ponder on the Christ child, born into a time of darkness, come to bring light to the world.

Published in: on December 19, 2022 at 7:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Silence And The Stillness

Christmas Day is just over a week away.
It’s hard to believe that this year has gone so quickly, and it seems that the bustle of the average Christmas season has passed us by.
For various reasons, and in various ways, this Christmas will be quite muted for us.
We wait.
In stillness.
In silence.
For our hearts to light, and the flame to brighten.

Usually, I love all the glitz and glitter of the trees and presents, the jingle of the bells and carols.
Sometimes, though, it’s just the right time to sit, and remember, the coming of the baby King – the beginning of the story that culminates in death, redemption, and resurrection.

And so – we hold on to faith, and we wait.
For God, in His love, will not tarry.

Published in: on December 15, 2022 at 8:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Rockin’ Into The Season

We’ve decided not to put the big Christmas tree up this year. Doesn’t seem much sense in unpacking boxes at the moment!
I’m still feeling a bit neutral about it all right now, but feel like I might regret not decorating in some way…I put some lights and other bits up today, although I forgot the batteries!

Gingerbread, reindeer, and a couple of gnomes.
The boxes make a handy background!

I also found a tiny tinsel Christmas tree at the charity shop today. It even came with teensy teddy ornaments 🙂

I might start playing some of my Christmas CDs soon.
I haven’t got the CD this came from, and I initially didn’t think I would like it anyway, but I had a listen. I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard 😆

There’s something about Jimmy Barnes yelling at me to have some pumpkin pie that cheers me right up!

Or maybe you’re feeling a bit down and you’d rather something about what Christmas really means…

Published in: on December 9, 2022 at 11:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Earth Still Smiles

Still peering through the gloom, and we’ve not been feeling very festive.
I’m not even sure whether to put the Christmas tree up, although I might stick some lights up at intervals on our cardboard boxes!

The frangipani tree has decided to suddenly break out in flowers…

So nice to be living in a world that still blooms into new life, whatever else is going on!

Published in: on December 3, 2022 at 10:05 pm  Leave a Comment  

Grey Gloom Rising

Anybody got a house to spare?
Another knoockback, on a house we really wanted, on a grey, rainy, cold-for-summer day. We applied as four adults on the app, so the “sorry, but…” emails came four times, one after the other. I suppose there’s a reason we didn’t get it, but we’re feeling a bit flat about it all.
Maybe even a bit like this!

😆

We are trusting that God has a place in mind for us, but we’re taking a bit of a break on hunting and viewing. I’ll still look at the real estate site, but only look at places that are just what we want. Hopefully things will be clearer after Christmas.
Until then…

Published in: on December 1, 2022 at 4:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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At Home With The Fairies

Apparently it was National Fairy Bread Day today! 🙂
I hadn’t had a proper round of fairy bread for ages, and I had to go to the shops to get hundreds and thousands this afternoon so I could make one for tea.

Many years ago I went to a playgroup party with my Biggest Boy. We were living in the U.K. at the time. I happily turned up with a plate of fairy bread, never dreaming that they don’t eat it over there! Everyone was a bit wary, but most tried it eventually. Not sure they added it to the regular party menu, though.

We’re still waiting on a house. Still packing randomly, trying to decide what can be packed away and what needs to be left out for the time being. Who knows where we’ll be next week/month/year?

In the meantime, I can still enjoy a slice of fairy bread. Or an episode of Time Team. Or maybe just an unexpected pallet of flowers outside a charity shop on a main road.

Sweetness can be found in all sorts of places…

Published in: on November 24, 2022 at 11:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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