Monday 26 February 2024

Four Somethings February

I thought this Blog Hop would be a good way to reflect back on the month that was as well as meeting new people. This blog hop is run by Jennifer and can be found here..


Something Improved Upon


Let's start with this one this month! Something improved upon this month/year has been the way I work in my role at work. This month I went into my third year with Western Health as their Aboriginal Health Service Liaison. I love my job and work closely with Aboriginal Community members and elders whom have chronic health conditions. I do outreach work as well as run Social and Emotional well-being programs including a for-nightly yarning circle and weekly swim and gym program. I work every day except Mondays (Long weekends every weekend) but sometimes it can feel like a full-time job. I took on a lot the last three years and my ambitious nature had me feeling pretty worn down at this time last year. So I am improving my work ethic this year, planning programs in advance and cutting my daily client ratio in half. Last year I was working after hours and always felt behind in my book work although I wasn't so this year I have halved my daily clients for a more cruisier work lifestyle. It's also given my clients more time with me and I feel I can be a better listener not having to rush them for my next meeting, phone call or home visit. Here is a look at our program for the next few months.




Something I have Loved


This month I have loved spending time with my David. Our blog has taken off and is receiving comments and clicks regularly. We have been on a ghost tour, visited a Sunflower field and the Monopoly tourist attraction in Melbourne. We have enjoyed a few nights away too. I have loved our adventures so far and the thought that goes into each. Check out the blog here..



Something accomplished


Well I'm actually excited to announce this. David, Jie, Nevaeh and I are all working and/or studying. David has been in his role now for 9 months which he enjoys and is training the new guy. He is awaiting the next step to work for Metro which is one of his goals. My son Jiedyn, now 18yo is studying year 12 at a school in North Melbourne, is working 2 jobs, goes to the gym in his spare time and is focused on his health. My Daughter Nevaeh attended her first day at her new school in Ballarat this week and enjoys time one-on-one with her youth worker through Melton Youth Services. I had a work appraisal last week and my manager is happy with my growth within the organisation and has given me new opportunities to improve my skills especially in finance. I have my own office in Bacchus Marsh and work from Melton once a week now also. I am so proud of where we're all at in our lives, all working towards better future for ourselves. It feels good.

Something I have Noticed


Three things I've noticed this month are, 

1) Our socks seem to be going missing and is the most whinged about thing in this house which is annoying especially because I buy 10-15 pairs at a time for David, Jie and Nevaeh to share. I think I'll need to put in a new order. But I'd still like to know where all the missing socks are!

2) Everyone in the house has been contributing without me having to ask with the chores. I have a daily checklist on the fridge including feeding the pets, dishes, washing a load of washing, watering the plants etc. But it's the things not listed that David and the kids have been doing lately that has been making my heart sing. Like taking the bins out as soon as they're full, sweeping the kitchen and refilling the toilet paper in the toilet. Now, if they can just leave the toilet paper on the toilet roll holder and not on the floor, I would be the happiest mother in Bacchus Marsh!

and 3) Our bedtimes routines are all working well at the moment and everyone is up for when they need to be up for school and work. This is a biggie in our house especially when our schedules change as both kids are gamers and movie buffs and so any extra time they get goes on their screens. Hot nights throw out Davids sleep schedule and my binging on Netflix and now Disney+ had been known to throw out mine. We don't really have bedtimes, its each of our own responsibility to get enough sleep for ourselves and so far so good. Very proud of us all.

~

Overall its been a really good month, I'm not allowing others negativity to bring me down and the absolute highlight was my valentines day gift from David..



My first ever gold bracelet <3
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Monday 29 January 2024

Four Somethings January

I thought this Blog Hop would be a good way to reflect back on the month that was, get back into the groove of blogging again - as well as meeting new people!


Something I disliked this Month

So I came into this month with a plan to save this year for a trip overseas BUT I am yet to put any money away as yet as bills have piled in including a bill from back in September when our Unregistered Dog got out leading to a $700 fine in total. 

Something Improved Upon

David and I have come into this month/year with a clearer idea of what we both want and need in life and in our relationship. From April last year one could say our relationship was a shit show. David was seeing and speaking to two of his Ex's behind my back, suggesting that we have an open relationship and at one point he even took Marriage off the table altogether. My goal as my children are getting older and because I had them so young, is to travel and soon. Chronic Health in Indigenous people like myself are known to start in our 40s and I'm already 35yo. This is very real for me and my family both of may parents and grand parents haven't lived over 54yo.  I'd like to be able to travel while I am still healthy enough to enjoy it so after much conversations David most likely wont be travelling with me (unless its by boat) and I'm becoming okay with that. We did separate on two occasions last year but the space and time away from each other I feel only validated how much we wanted to be together and solidified our relationship to what it is today. This year we are taking more control of our finances, prioritizing each others wants and needs and focusing on our individual goals. Definitely an improvement from how we were living before.

Something Noticed 

Some time off over Christmas gave David and I some much needed one-on-one time. It gave me a chance to notice the subtle things he does for me without me even realizing. Like the way he makes my bed when I get up, does the dishes just in time for me to cook dinner after work. Like the way he puts my phone on charge when he leaves for work so I get up to my alarm and massages me throughout the day with photos of the different trucks he drives and trains he catches. Last year while we were going through our hardest days I focused on all the things he wasn't doing and how lonely I felt. At that time I needed him to buy me flowers, love on me and show me he still loved me. But what I noticed was that David loves so differently to me. His strengths include being with me, gifting me with his time and presence. He makes me feel loved with physical touch and acts of service. My need for words of affirmations and gifts were making me feel as if he didn't love me as much as I loved him but I have since realized that my strength of communication and giving nature is not who David is. Davids act of service love language has him cooking roasts on Sundays, planning weekly dates and checking things of our family chore checklist before I even get home from work. Last Sunday he completed everything off the checklist while I slept the afternoon away. I'm noticing the love he does have for me in the things he does to make my little life easier and I love him for that.

Something Loved

I kept the best for last. I have loved creating this new space for David and I to share our Date experiences on our new blog we are doing together. It's nothing fancy, just two people dating and sharing what we enjoyed and didnt enjoy about our experiences. As we know a lot of people have stopped blogging these days so I have created a FB page for followers and friends whom don't blog to stay up to date and be inspired. We have a goal of never stopping dating with the goal of 500 dates. Both David and I loved dating and when we stopped we found life repetitive and boring. Dates bring excitement and new conversation and unity as a couple. Three things we both crave in our relationship. We have bought a 100 date Bucket List poster that is on our bedroom wall in which he and I can look to when planning new dates. I am loving the time together, the new experiences, the fun we have and ending our weeks on a high! Intentional loving on the one we love.

~

Four Somethings 2024 is hosted by Jennifer and can be found here..


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Tuesday 8 August 2023

My 35th Birthday Month


The first weekend of July I spent the night out with my Daughter attending the Western NAIDOC BALL at Tabcorp Park. 

The second weekend David and I went to the footy on the Friday night and surprisingly David had booked a four star hotel on the east side for a night of luxury. 


The weekend after my birthday, David and Jie drove to the florist and the cheesecake shop to buy two of my favourite things for my birthday. 

I woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful bunch of flowers thoughtfully chosen and put together by my partner David. 

Then David and the kids sung happy birthday to me before we all enjoyed Black Forest cake in bed.


And on the last weekend of July we enjoyed an intimate night at a spa hotel just us two.

My birthday month was full of fun and surprises and thoughtful gifts and friends and love and good food and great times. 

Thankful to all whom made this year a good one! 




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Sunday 6 August 2023

35 years of Me!

 










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Monday 10 July 2023

NAIDOC 2023



As NAIDOC WEEK kicked off so did the school holidays! Asked about a month ago if I could help facilitate a cultural arts and crafts day for children at a local shopping centre; I jumped at the opportunity. Before the role that I’m in now I briefly worked at a primary to year 9 school where I was a cultural inclusion officer and I really miss teaching, especially littlies, so this one off gig for NAIDOC WEEK was so fun! Thanks Amanda for the opportunity sis! 

Next on my NAIDOC WEEK calendar was an invite to the Melton Salvation Army house for their NAIDOC WEEK event. 



Didgeridoo playing, a smoking ceremony, plenty of children of all ages getting involved in the arts and crafts, a beautiful dance performance and dance lesson by a 14yo proud young Aboriginal girl as well as homemade damper, fresh fruit and drinks!

This day reminded me that it really doesn’t take much to get community together. People will come to where they are welcomed, where they feel safe and free to be who and how they are and how truly important connection within community is. 

Thank you to organisers and people whom contributed to making the day everything that it was! 

And finally, an appreciation morning tea was held for those of us indigenous women whom work within western health Melton. 

All three of us received a pamper pack from our beautiful managers, coworkers and peers!


Thank you all for an amazing NAIDOC WEEK 2023 and I look forward to seeing you all at the Western NAIDOC Ball on the 15th of July! 

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Thursday 22 June 2023

Davids Birthday




Last month I took David on a bottomless brunch river cruise for his birthday along the Yarra river in the city.







Early June we also went to do an escape room together. 

It was David’s third time and my first.

We completed it with one clue and extra time.

David was the brute and I was the brains making us a great team.

Happy Birthday my love. 

And to many many more xx 

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Friday 16 June 2023

Family Movie Day

The day before I set off to Cairns, David the kids and I went to the movies together to see Fast X.
I love these three people more than anyone and anything in this world.
Spending time with them is always a joy.

 


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Blogging from Bacchus Marsh, Australia