If you’ve ever driven the Great Ocean Road you already know how beautiful it is.  The beaches are rocky and rugged, the wildlife is abundant, and the waves kick up enough salt and mist to make the sunsets even more spectacular.  It’s truly one of the best stretches of coastline that I’ve ever experienced and the journey is always worth the slight motion sickness that I get towards the end!

A couple of months ago my big brother told me that he was going to be in town for his friend’s wedding, and he mentioned that he’d never seen The Great Ocean Road or the Twelve Apostles.  Obviously we had to make it happen, so we packed the car (and the puppy) for a long weekend and made a road trip out of it!

We’re lucky to have friends in Apollo Bay who run a bed & breakfast, so planning our trip was a breeze.  The accommodation is incredible and I’m going to have to devote an entire post to it!

Our trip down the coast was just spectacular.  It was clear and sunny, but not hot.  Harry was calm the entire way, and approached each stop with enthusiasm and a waggy tail.  It was a really happy day.

How’s that for a sunset?

By this stage of the journey we were almost at our destination.  We were having our friends up to the house for dinner so we knew we had to get there and unpack quickly or they’d be starving!  However, we couldn’t resist one last stop when we noticed a bunch of cars pulled over on the side of the windy road.  It could only mean one thing…

Koalas, in the wild!  It was about this time that I realised what a city kid I have become, as the only koalas I’ve seen in the past decade have been in zoos.

(Don’t believe what you see on TV, Americanos.  Well, except for the kangaroos.  We all have one of those to commute to work.)

So that was Day 1 of our wonderful long weekend.  More photos to come!

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (@scarletwords) you’ll already know about the tiny celebrity that we’ve been hosting for the past week.  We’ve been looking forward to meeting this young man for months but like many we were nervous about his reputation for unpredictable outbursts.

During his stay we hoped to interview the 5 month old known as Archie, and ask him how he felt about his notoriety.  Was there any connection between his nicknames (Fuzz Nut, Bubba Chubs, Drools Flannigan) and that stint in juvenile detention?  Who is that mystery brunette he’s often photographed with?  Any regrets about that Wiggles tattoo on his backside?

We were disappointed to discover that he was completely silent on these issues, and after our months of preparation his refusal to answer even one of our questions was a crushing blow.

So I suppose it was to be expected that when it came to the photo shoot Archie was just like any other celebrity on set.  He showed up late and brought a sullen looking entourage.  He also insisted on wearing his own absorbant underwear for the shoot (we couldn’t help but notice his compromised motor control on the day) and half way through the shoot he simply removed them entirely.

The crew decided to press on with the shoot despite Archie’s vulgar behaviour.  These exclusive photos are a revealing account of one young man’s spiral of disgrace and disrepute.

After the shoot there were tantrums when he discovered that his sippy cup had not been filled with dew collected from the morning’s roses, as had been specified in his backstage rider.  I guess somebody also forgot to remove the brown M&Ms from the bowl in his dressing room.

Disaster.

Thank God his manager was able to calm him down before he called in the lawyers.

Archie is my cousin’s latest masterpiece, and is actually a lovely little bundle of smiles and toes and wobbles.  Auntie Liz misses that face very much, and hopes that he and his entourage come back very soon x

Whew!  What a month this has been.

Our little Christmas was perfect, but just a few days later it’s hard to believe that it’s all over!  This month has been full of preparations – not only for Christmas Day itself, but for the enormous party that we threw for our extended Melbourne family on December 23.  Plans for our outdoor candlelit dinner party were thrown into disarray at the last minute when the forecast mentioned thunderstorms and a heatwave, so we quickly sourced some trestle tables and turned our living room into a Christmas wonderland instead.

But, in true Melbourne style the forecast wasn’t correct.  There were no thunderstorms that night, although they would have been very welcome to break the sticky humidity!  It didn’t really matter though, we still had a lovely meal in front of the airconditioner and it was a really happy night.  My cousin broke some exciting news too, so there was an extra reason to celebrate (although she had to toast with a glass of water!)

Once the happy chaos of the big family dinner was behind us things were a lot more relaxed.  We celebrated Christmas Day with my parents, who are staying with us for 2 weeks, and it was such a perfect day.  We all had a great sleep-in, I made breakfast, and while we opened our presents we had phone calls from my brother in London, my grandmother in Brisbane, and Tim’s family in the States.  The presents were thoughtful and it was great to have our little group together.

I had hoped to be writing here more while my parents are in town, but I’m finding that I’m enjoying having them around too much to spend time on my computer!  We’ve been doing lots of shopping, day tripping, eating and catching up on each others’ lives.  Dad has been doing odd jobs around the house that we have ignored (hooray!) and the furmonster has been desperately trying to track the movements of the extra two members of the household.

It’s all very exhausting, but it’s lovely.

Aside from all of the festivities I’ve also been thinking a lot about next year, and making some plans. One of my big projects will be another round of 101 Things in 1001 Days and I am working very hard to complete my list before January 1! I’m going to have a section of my site devoted to my new list, but it might be a few weeks before I will find time to build it. My 1001 Days begins next week though, eek!

Anyway, it feels good to have checked in here and to share some news. My parents are here for another 8 days, and then my little cousin arrives with her tiny baby for a week-long visit! So excited about meeting baby Archie and kissing those chubby cheeks of his. Also? Look out Chapel St, my cousin is on a mission and that girl intends to SHOP.

I hope your Christmas has been as wonderful as ours!

Today was Gran’s birthday, and the first one we’ve spent without her.  It’s only been six months since she left us, but in that short time she has already missed meeting two brand new great-grandchildren that she would have adored.  In those few short months her house has been sold, her belongings divided amongst her loved ones, and two handsome baby boys entered the world all because she was born on this day, 88 years ago.

Yesterday I glanced through the search terms that my visitors have been using to reach my blog, and discovered that somebody had found their way here via this phrase: ..dear gran i miss you very much.

Whoever you are, I’m so sorry that you miss your precious Gran.  I am missing mine terribly, especially today.

This little secretary desk used to belong to my beautiful Gran, who left us suddenly in March this year.  It was a pretty difficult time for our family (especially Mum and her siblings) because instead of being able to pause and grieve her passing, they were thrown into suddenly packing up her house.  Gran had sold her house only a couple of weeks before she passed away and to meet the settlement date my Mum, Aunt and Uncle had to work pretty hard.

I spent a week helping Mum at the house after Gran’s funeral and gained some insight into the enormity of the task.  It wasn’t only Gran’s things that we were sorting, packing and sharing amongst the family.  It was also the things that belonged to my Grandpa, and my Gran’s brother Uncle Gordon.  There were moments when I just need to stop and take in the book I was holding, to read the inscription, or to close my eyes and remember what my Gran used to serve in a certain crystal bowl.

Somehow there was enough “stuff” to fill three houses, and yet their house never seemed cluttered.  They had the sort of storage space I could only ever dream of, though.

Mum asked me, before this process began, if there was anything I wanted to have to remember my grandparents by.  I remember saying that it would be nice to have a special book, maybe something from Grandpa’s desk, or a little crystal trinket from Gran’s dressing table.  Nothing big, just something from their daily lives to carry with me as time marched on.

Lots of Gran & Grandpa’s belongings were already intended for certain people, and Gran used to talk a lot about who should have what.  What was left was put on a big table for the extended family to choose from, and my cousins and I were told which pieces of furniture were going to be given away.

I think each of us was able to take away something special.  My special thing wasn’t just the trinket I had originally asked for, it was Gran’s desk.

Washi tape, and hoop art from Gretel Girl Draws – Etsy / MadeIt / Blog

31 Photos in 31 Days

When we were kids my grandparents lived in a coastal town called Caloundra, a bit over an hour’s drive from Brisbane.  They lived a block away from Shelly Beach and some of my favourite memories of my cousins were formed in that house.  There was a backyard to play in, and Grandpa’s workshop down the back was always full of mysterious projects and smelled of sawdust.  There was a high stool next to his workbench for curious grandkids who wanted to see how to french polish a chair leg.

My brother and I, and three of our spunky cousins

Good memories.

The “hub” of the house for Gran was her little desk.  If we asked to borrow a pen or a piece of paper, if she needed to know somebody’s telephone number or their birthday, this is where she would find it.  Mum told me recently that Gran was so excited when she got her desk, that she had wanted it for a long time.

I left it to my Mum to go through the contents of Gran’s desk when it was time to pack it up.  Ordinary objects, like scissors, pens and old unused stationery was put in one pile, and my Mum said I could keep what I wanted.  Not much of it was terribly noteworthy, but it was Gran’s.  Her old scissors, never replaced because they still worked.  A vintage pack of Redheads matches.  A stripey, double-length pencil that Mum said would have been as old as me.

It seemed important to me that some of these little things stay with Gran’s desk.  I also kept a mismatched collection of unused envelopes, because I know that Gran would have intended to use them one day.  There were a couple of old, yellowed writing sets and notecards still in their boxes.

Tucked in between Gran’s old letter sets is a stamped, self-addressed envelope in my Gran’s handwriting.  I really like knowing that it’s there.

It might sound like I’m keeping this desk as a shrine to my Gran, but I promise I’m not.  Aside from being full of memories of her it is a beautiful and functional piece of furniture in its own right.  Her little treasures sit alongside lots of my own things – my collection of blank journals, boxes of beading supplies, my paper trimmers and some of my washi tape.  I’ve mixed my own letter writing sets in with hers, and I feel like that has breathed new life into some of her old things.

I feel very lucky to have Gran’s desk.  And I’ll never replace those old scissors as long as they work.

I’ve been meaning to write about this desk for a long time, and had been putting it off.  I want to say thank you to Melissa Goodsell for writing about her own little desk today, and giving me the inspiration to finally write about my Gran’s!

31 Photos in 31 Days

We had plenty to celebrate today!

A certain boy of mine turned thirty-two (hooray!) and we marked the occasion with this incredible flourless chocolate & brandy cake (and the Australian Census).

Meanwhile…

… the newest member of our family successfully completed his first day ever in this world.  A sweet, chubby-cheeked tiny boy with a mop of hair.  He’s a perfect little mix of his mum and dad, and he was lucky enough to inherit the world’s best big brother.

Congratulations to my little cousin Trisha, Dave & Jack.  We’re so in love with this little person and can’t wait to find out what his name will be!

What a day.  Happy birthday, birthday boys.

This is my big brother. 

We were born six years apart (almost to the day) and when I was a little kid I thought he was amazing.  He could do tricks on his BMX, he could turn his bedroom into outer space (with lego, glow in the dark stickers, torches and bed sheets) and he could hear any song and figure it out on piano.  Being this guy’s little sister was a Pretty Big Deal.

Our age difference was a bit hard on us, though.  We always lived on streets where there were lots of boys his age, but never any girls for me to play with.  And boys in groups were never all that good at playing games that included little sisters.

(Yesterday I discovered that the Slovenian word for “brother” is brat.  Coincidence?)

1986 was the only year that we were both at the same school - me in Year 1, and him in Year 7.  I used to visit him at lunch time and the Year 7 girls used to fawn over me and tell my brother how cute I was.  He tolerated my visits only because of the attention!  I missed him like crazy when I started Year 2.

The next year my family moved from Brisbane to Toowomba – 90 minutes away – and my brother decided to become a boarder at his school.  Being so close meant that we were constantly driving up and down that mountain range to attend his school events, but even though we saw each other all the time we haven’t actually lived together full-time since I was eight years old and he was fourteen. 

There were times when I felt like my parents had two “only children”.  Our different childhoods meant that we grew up to be very different people.  It drives me crazy sometimes, but it’s not usually a problem now that we’re older.  I notice that as adults we try to concentrate on the things we have in common (like our hilarious family) instead of our differences (see: politics). 

Last week my brother packed the last of his things into suitcases, and set off on a new adventure with a one-way ticket to London.  It’s something that he’s been working towards for a long time, and I know that this is the beginning of a whole new chapter for him. 

He’s had a lot of success in his life, but he’s also known some very sad times.  I think this is something he really has to do.

So safe travels, Superbrother. 

Use your powers for good.

Much Love Monday is a weekly blog post series, intended to start off each week with some positivity instead of the typical Monday blues!

To join in Much Love Monday, simply do a blog post that includes a picture of a heart and mention something you love. Then leave a link of your blog post over at Much Love, Anna.

What are you loving today?

Dear Grandpa,

There’s something I need to tell you.

It’s been two years, three months and two days since we lost you.  You slipped away just a few hours after Christmas Day in 2008, finally free from the cancer that caused you so much pain in those last few months.  We all felt so relieved that you had been released from your deteriorating body, but your absence has been felt deeply ever since.

We miss you so much, Grandpa.

If you were still here we’d have thrown a beautiful party for your 90th birthday weekend before last.  Maybe we’d have hung lanterns from Mum & Dad’s mango tree and decorated the garden for your party, or chosen a beautiful restaurant for lunch.  You’d have been surrounded by your children, grandchildren and great-grandchild (and the sweet littlest one on its way).

We’d have hugged you tight as you left, with Gran’s arm in yours as you carried her bag to the car.

Before you died, we promised you that we would take care of Gran as you did for so many years.  Your children worked tirelessly to give her the support that she needed to keep living in her home, to give her companionship when she needed to talk, and space when she needed her independence.

You’d have been so proud of your children for the way they guided her through those rocky years.  With love, and dignity.  We couldn’t replace you, but we all took such good care of your girl.

Before you died, I made one last trip to see you in hospital.  You had lost so much weight, the skin of your little arms had lost all its elasticity, but you lifted them to hug me several times.  We talked and talked while I held your hand, and I told you that I loved you.  You cried when I said goodbye, but I managed to keep smiling until I left your ward.

Grandpa, I didn’t get to see my Gran before she left us today – suddenly, and without any pain.  I didn’t get to squeeze her tight and tell her how much I loved her, and to thank her for creating the magical memories that I carry with my cousins from our childhood.

I didn’t get to say thank you for becoming such a wonderful friend to me in my adult life.

Maybe you could tell her all this when you see her again, Grandpa.  Let her know how much she was loved, and how blessed we were to have you both in our lives.

Take good care of her Grandpa.

We love and miss you both so much.

Love,

Miss EJ xxx

Tim gives me this evil eye at least five times a day.  I never, ever deserve it.

Ever.

… except for maybe sometimes.

<3