Where does the time go?

The deafening silence coming from this blog is an indication of how busy life has been for the last couple of weeks.  So some dot points to keep everyone up to speed ;-)

#  We have moved my dear mum and dad from their unit in the retirement village in the hostel (low care) facility on the same complex.

It is very difficult to see your loved ones lives reduced to one room.  When they moved from the property (where Dad had lived for 74 years and Mum 49 year) to town it was a huge life change and a massive culling of goods and chattels.  Then from the town house, where they had hoped to see out their days,  to the Retirement Village, another scale down.  They have had five very happy years in the village, made friends and coped with the challenges of growing old.  They've been so blessed to be together and have muddled along helping one another.  Dad went blind about eighteen months ago and this has also been difficult for Mum in that she had to become his carer even though she is quite frail herself.  Recently when Mum was ill and had a couple of falls I think we all realised that the move, which they had applied for six months ago, was just in time.
This afternoon when asked how the first day in the new apartment had gone, Dad answered that it felt pretty much like the old place.  We hope they will be happy here and God willing see out their days there with out the need for high care or hospital.  It is in the Lord's hand.

Middle Hall at the Range College.
Once my High School (Boarding )
Now an Aged Care Facility where my parents live!

# Preparations for the Centenary Celebrations of farm and family are coming along swimmingly!

Our little committee is very pleased with the response from family and friends far and wide.  As often happens, the event will probably end up being bigger than Ben Hur!  When you are organising for a large number on a rural property there are all sorts of things to consider.  THE WEATHER!  Marques, tables, chairs, portaloos, occupying the dozens of children, displaying memorabilia.  Also we have put a lot of thought into the  "official" side of it, planting of trees, launching of Uncle's Book.  Then there are farm tours, tours of town, church, cemetery. Phew!  It is going to be grand!

# Beef Australia

Every three years Rockhampton hosts the Beef Australia Exhibition.  The town is decorated with (more than usual number) of bulls and lots of corny captions such as Valu-bull, Irrisista-bull you get the picture.  The streets are teeming with blue jeans and Akubras and the show grounds are humming with cattle , horses and all things pertaining to the land.  Coming from a farming family, it has been great to catch up with many of them this week.  It also meant we had lots of hands for the move on Tuesday.  I didn't venture out to the exhibits feeling rather too weary from all the other goings on.  We did however attend the local production of  "The Man from Snowy River".  I really enjoyed all the humour and the kids dancing, the beautiful horses re-enacting the poem.  Oh, I do love a good recitation of "The Man"!

# One hour on Friday
My friend Petunia and I agreed to meet for one hour or so on a Friday this term.  Just the two of us.  We are both in this very busy season of life tugged between teen agers still being home schooled, married adult children and grand children, our parents growing old and finding time to spend with our husbands!  We used to spend a lot of time together when our children were small.  We used to read and pray together as well as generally socialise and help one another.  Now there doesn't seem to be a moment to catch up so we decided to make the time. This has become a special high light of each week.