This years christmas present challenges

Charlie and Owen Penhall Dec 2010

It took me by surprise when Charlie placed a very specific order for Buzz Light Year (BLY), not one but two.  It is incredible that at the age of three he is understanding concepts and communicating in full sentences.  He knows that BLY is cool too!

I walked all over Marion Shopping Centre, dodging crowds of people to find BLY but BLY was very popular and had sold out at Big W, Target and Kmart.  By that stage I was getting tired of shopping but was determined to get what my little boy wanted.  I dragged myself to the most expensive store David Jones and to my delight found BLY with a 30% discount.  Awesome!

Later while the children were sleeping, I carefully wrapped all of the presents and placed them perfectly underneath the brightly decorated Christmas tree. I felt exhausted but excited.

The other Christmas present challenge was to stop the children opening them before the big day.  Many of my friends suggested ways of keeping those presents safe.  I visualised a baby gate totally surrounding the tree with tinsel on top.  Another friend was using a bean bag to deter her one year old son.  My mother thought I was absolutely mad.

The temptation was too great and the children were too little to understand.  As far as Charlie was concerned all presents were Charlie's presents.  As far as Owen was concerned all wrapping was Owen's wrapping.  In the end I decided to hide the presents inside our bedroom wardrobe.  At least they would be safe there.

On Sunday morning I was deeply engrossed in a phone conversation with a cousin who's having a baby and Jamie was busy too when Charlie appeared in front of me with Buzz Light Year (BLY).  To my surprise, BLY was no longer wrapped.  Did BLY break free of his wrapping in the night?  Or maybe he had a little helper like Woody? 

I ran into the bedroom to find all of the presents unwrapped and all over the floor. I found it amusing that Charlie had gone through every present to pick out any chocolates and put them in a neat little pile on our bed.  I actually thought it was funny and was not upset because how could you be angry at a three year old child who wants to open up ALL of the Christmas presents.  Bless him the Cheeky Little Monkey. 

Jamie and I re-wrapped the presents and put them in a safer place.  Times like these will be remembered.

I'm looking forward to Christmas Day.

Creative Life Writing

I'm gaining a new confidence to say out loud "I love to write". 

There's something in me that just wants to get in down on paper.  Gorgeous little stories about my life and my forebears has been a meaningful topic of late.  I've always kept a diary/journal and now I blog. 

Recently I met this wonderful lady Lindy Warrell - Anthropologist/Writer.  She runs a Buddhist meditation group and various types of writing courses.  She lives next door to my brother at Aldinga. 

When I heard she was doing writing courses I thought it would be a good idea to do the Creative Life Writing course.  I wanted to learn new ways to get my story down on paper.

Every week we focused on a different topic.  Some weeks I struggled with the concept.  As a shy person, it was hard bringing up stories about my life that were both personal and sensitive to a group of strangers.  Sometimes I found it difficult to bring out emotion, and tell the whole truth because of embarrassment and privacy. 

The practical side of the course was very interesting and provided us with insight into our own life. At each session we were asked to write short stories. Lindy would give us a few minutes to write a short story about a topic eg. write a short story about when you said yes to something when you really wanted to say no. Then one at a time we would go around the group to share. The different stories that came out of these practical session were amazing.

If we were not happy with what we wrote we were not allowed to say sorry otherwise we would have to put invisible money in the invisible money jar.

The different stories that the other ladies told about their lives were incredible.  Their ability to provide imagery to their piece and with feelings of emotion that excited the group.  Some sessions were like counselling, although we were always reminded not to council but provide a support of silence because many stories were very personal bringing up the stories of rape, abandonment, cruelty to children, physical and emotion violence, drugs, and more.  All of these things that were very personal to the writer.  Importantly, we were always reminded to keep it confidential and not discuss out of the group. 

Personally I struggled with the week we discussed emotions because I couldn't seem write the whole truth and Lindy and the other ladies knew this straight away.

Write about what we learnt here when i find my notes..................

Throughout the course, I wrote some lovely short stories and my final essay (was rushed sorry thats $10 in the money jar) but could be expanded upon with interesting feedback from Lindy and the other ladies.  One of the ladies who I adored said that I need to come more outward, give more emotion into the stories eg what it feels like to do my karate, the passion, the feeling, the emotion, and provide more of a sense to who I am as a person.  This person who is interested in all of these things, but what it is like to actually do it.  What I am like at home when I am angry, etc too.  This is definitely something I can work onto paper.  Positive feedback no doubt.  Write more about the feedback here. 

I loved all of the other ladies stories too.  They were all gifted writers and lovely ladies too with amazing stories. 

I have put my name down to do the course again next year because I will continue to grow, different stories will arise from each session about my life and Lindy will change the course outline and examples.  Some of the ladies have been doing the course more than once. 

My life story will become more outward onto paper which will be a lovely keepsake and it will help me work through different issues in my life too.  It will also help me gain confidence in both writing and public speaking too.

Nine months of...

At 34, the most important event of my life was the birth of my boys Charlie and then at 37 Owen. What an amazing thing to give someone life.


Nine months of pain, heaviness, mood swings, morning sickness and lack of sleep in exchange for the most amazing and deep feeling of love. Nothing can be stronger than that true love between the mother or parent and their child.

The first time I met them was incredible. Their little eyes staring back at me. It was like I knew them already. I just couldn’t stop looking at them. I was so happy. Remembering that feeling makes me want to have another baby.

Nine months of pain, heaviness, mood swing, morning sickness, and lack of sleep. All worth it.

I’ve forgotten that, and I have two beautiful boys to cherish.