New Day - New Year

And thank Goddess that last one is over.

The kids saved the day yesterday, Emily made her father take her down and get the doings for sushi and a trifle (what I had requested for my birthday cake) and set about making both.  She put up balloons and put a cloth on the table and banners up.  We had the sushi and some other nibbles and it was nice.  Then the kids decided they'd go for a swim, it was freezing, we sat out by the pool with them and I ended up going in up to my waist.  Later we lit the candles (61 as that's all we had, leftover from Em's 16th) and they sang Happy Birthday and the trifle was excellent.  That was all I wanted, a little bit of a fuss like everyone else has.  Call me childish but I think everyone should have a fuss made of them on their birthdays.
Phill made curried sausages which were horrible but I had some to be polite (the better person).  After only a week on my new eating pattern they really made me feel sick and I longed for some fresh fruit and vegies.  I watched tv in bed for a while and was glad to turn the lights out on another horrible birthday.
The loveliest thing that happened was that my daughter, who had surprisingly sent me a birthday card with gorgeous photos of the kids last week, rang me while we were out by the pool.  I honestly thought I'd never hear from her again after finally saying enough was enough of the head games and the running hot and cold as I tried to get our relationship back on track and to be a positive part of her kids' lives.  We had a really nice talk and little Harvey got on the phone and said "Happy Birthday"  and later "I love you Granny".  I cried again this time from happiness.  It made my day.  I also talked to my sister and Kate so I guess the day wasn't a total misery really.
I got up this morning feeling positive and peaceful and will carry on as I began.
I have so many plans and ideas running through my head and feel positive for the future.
Josh is going to Uni next week!  A university in Canberra has invited students from our school to go across there for an information day and Josh was selected to go.  The school is really recognising his talents and abilities and looking past all the other stuff which is wonderful.
Emily has been doing some amazing art work.  We got her an old desk and a chair and set up the shed in the backyard as a studio and last week we bought her an easel and she's done two paintings already which are hanging in the house.  I have commissioned her to do a large canvas for the lounge room, abstract, to match the colours we have in there, chocolate, gold and red.  She is still spending most of her time in her room but I can see small changes in her every day, and am gently encouraging it and not allowing her to be too morose and bring the rest of us down with it.

This is the locket, I have to say Phill can choose jewellery for me that I would choose myself, I'd never let him buy me clothes (I'd end up looking like his mother!) but he's great with the bling.  I want to put a photo of Sarah in one side and some of her hair in the other.

My watch.  I need something easy to read and easy to just slip on, both my eyes and my arthritic hands require it.  It's pretty too.

What was left of Em's sushi, it was great!

Why you little............

They love me!

My birthday trifle.  What she did was get a raspberry jelly and set it with fresh raspberries.  She layered savoiardi biscuits then some tinned fruit then the jelly, then custard then cream and some organic dark chocolate grated on the top.  It was delicious and so fresh tasting, different from how I make mine.  I love that she is clever in the kitchen and does things differently to me.

 

In other rivetting news, we moved our six seater outdoor table over by the pool and put an umbrella in it and four chairs around it.  So the area where it was outside the back door was bare.  I put the two remaining chairs there and went down to Vinnies and bought a cute little glass top table for $10.  It's perfect.

Today I am going to do some healthy baking for school for Josh and for us with tea etc.  I'm making myself a lentil and vegie curry and probably rissoles laced with puree vegies for the rest of them. 

I would like a swim but it's only forecast to get up to 19c today.  If the kids get in after school I might join them but housework might just have to be my exercise for today.