Looking Back - Visiting My First Blog Post

I've had a wonderful few days away and now it is time to get back into this blogging caper.  Jacinta at Live Life Now has been digging into the past to re-post her first blog.  She has tagged me visit my first blog.  The challenge was started by started by Sarah at Just Me.
          Sarah wrote:

What I want you to do is repost your very first blog post. I want to see how things are different now, if you write differently, if you write about the same topic, if you did a “hi this is why I’m blogging” sort of post or if you just got straight into it.

Then I want you to tag five people to do the same.

The Betrayal  was my first blog.  It was a verbose rant about my cleaners having the audacity to want to go on holidays.  I had arrived home to find a note telling me that my cleaners where going on a special long holiday for seven weeks over Christmas and January.  I was horrified at the prospect of having to clean up after myself and was oozing self-pity.  As promised in the blog, I managed to get the house into an absolute pigsty for them to clean up when they returned.

My single comment was from Jacinta which I have included for your reading pleasure:

livemorenow said... bahahahaha oh that makes me laugh to the point of being a bit sick. Why don't you check into a hotel?

I was overwhelmed by her compassion.

It's interesting that I should revisit this post now as the house is once again looking like a pigsty.  This time, however, it's completely of my doing: I've canceled the cleaners for a few weeks.  The Ignore Reality household have been complete chaos for the last month.  Both my in-laws have been in and out of hospital and have not been able to look after themselves.  My father in-law has been living with us while he recovers and my mother in-law has been moving back and forth between hospital and respite care.

I still like the images I used in the original post.

Normally in this situation a cleaner would be welcome and much needed assistance but for a major flaw in my personality:  I have to have the house clean before the cleaners arrive.  I can't deal with the prospect of
knowing that somebody will be coming to my house when it's a mess, so the night before the cleaners are due, I can be up until midnight making sure everything is tidy.  Yep, I'm getting value for money there.

It was fun visiting the past and, rather than limit this to five people to do the same, I'm going to tell everybody to blow the dust of your first blog and bring it out to play.

Macro Monday: Shells

The Australian Museum is showing the Wildlife Photographer of the Year winning entries.  The photography is stunning and if the exhibit comes to your town I recommend a visit.  Sadly for Sydneysiders it finishes today.  Sorry about the late notice ... if you run now you might still make it.

The exhibit includes a photo studio where you can mess around with your camera and take some macro shots of shells, bugs and some long dead stuffed birds.  I managed to elbow the kids out for the way to take a couple shots.

A good photographer would have taken the time to find out the type of shell.
I didn't bother.

Don't forget to visit Macro Monday at
Lisa's Chaos to see more macro and close up photography.

Sunday In My City: ANZAC Day

It's appropriate today is grey and rainy.  It creates a solemn and reflective mood for Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.

The name Anzac originally comes from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.  The name has now broadly refers to all those who died and served in military operations.

A small suburban war memorial 

A cross indicates Killed in Action

Rain collects on the floral tributes.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

Australian Flag hangs heavily in the rain.

Visit Unknown Mami for more Sunday in My City

Remembering

ANZAC Day 2010

Both my Grandfathers fought in World War II. Happily they both survived the war and lived full lives. It's been many years since they passed away and life seems to move on so quickly. ANZAC day is this time when I find myself thinking about their experiences during the war. To my shame, I know very little about their service history. I know that one served in New Guinea and Borneo but the war was never discussed by my family.



Other members of my family also fought for my country or took on war time roles but ANZAC day always makes me think of my Grandfathers. I wonder if I would have the strength to go to war if my country needed me. I feel deep gratitude for their contribution.

Macro Monday: Rain Drops

Rain Drops on Frangipanis doesn't have the same musical ring as Rain Drops on Roses but I've managed to murder all my rose bushes, so frangipanis will have to do.

Catching the morning sun after a shower of rain.

Lots of good stuff to be seen at Lisa's Chaos. 
Go there now.  It's worth the visit.

Scenic Sunday: Milford Sound NZ

I'm having some mobility issues after my fall this week so this weeks Scenic Sunday comes from the archives.  This photo of Mitre Peak and Milford Sound was taken a on a trip to New Zealand's South Island.    It had been raining heavily all day and I had about 5 minutes between storms to grab this shot.

Visit Scenic Sunday for a spectacular view of the world

Perspective

Warning: Self Indulgent Post

It's been a tough few weeks.  Two elderly relatives are no longer able to look after themselves and dealing with this has pushed me waaaayyy outside my comfort zone.  This had been coming for some time but they couldn't be convinced that they needed to think about the future.   They were determined to stay living independently in their home and wouldn't consider other options (would I be different?  Probably not).  Sadly it took a health crisis to change this view.  I can't provide the level of care they need so I have been trying to find a path through the maze of the Aged Care Health system.

For the uninitiated, the Aged Care System is a scary place.  English is not the primary language and for the last few weeks I have been trying to put all the pieces together.  Yesterday was a breakthrough day.  An incredibility helpful lady from the Aged Care Assessment Team put everything in place for me.  I now know what the next steps are.  They're not easy steps to take and it will take time to achieve the solution needed, but it's a huge relief to know what needs to be done.

someecards.com

Through all of this I have been feeling sorry for myself. I didn't realise how traumatic this would be and I wasn't ready to deal with this situation. I tried to escape for a night out last night out with friends, but it wasn't to be.  Add to this I'm still in pain after my spectacular (and funny) fall earlier this week (previous blog) and I am wallowing in self pity.

This morning things are in perspective.  I subscribe to the NY Times blog Lens.  This is a photojournalism blog that feature photographs from current events around the world. The photography is always stunning but today featured the rescue effort in China after the earthquake: Picture of the Day: Rescue Efforts in China

This was my reality check. Things don't seem so bad now and I can deal with whatever I need to do. I'm good.

 

 While you are there, have a look at the stunning photos of the landscape around the volcanic eruption in Iceland :

Images of Iceland's Vast Landscapes.