for C

is for Coke the Cat

When my relationship ended while I was at University I thought it would be a great idea to get a pet to keep me company! I found an adverstisement in the paper, paid $10 and got myself the cutest little black kitten in the bunch! 

Her fur was pure black, there was not a speck of other colour on her and so I named her Coke. She was so cute and I remember her waiting for me on my bath mat while I showered and then when I got out she'd lick the water off my feet before getting in the shower and licking the water off the bottom of the shower recess! lol....

Coke travelled with me to Normanton when I got my first teacher posting, while I taught in Mt Isa she had to go on a holiday to Mum and Dad's (I wasn't allowed to have her in my share house) and then to moved with me to St George when I got a transfer there.

It was there that the unthinkable happened... She used to come in for dinner about 5/5:30pm and then I would lock her inside. There were far too many feral cats and dogs for her to be out at night and she had already had a run-in with another animal a few months before. One night she came inside for dinner as usual but then she was whinging at the door, reluctantly I let her out and even remember saying that she had to come back.....

..... she never came back.....

To this day I still have no idea what happened to her... 

She had a habit of sleeping in the weidest places...

for B

is for Boarding School.

It was inevitable that when I hit Year 8 I would head off to Boarding School. My older sister was already there and I could not wait to join her. Growing up on a farm about 70km out of town and our local high school only going to year 10 anyway meant that we had to go away to school and it seemed easier to make that change at the start of high school.

Boarding School is not for everyone, and I am sure there were times when I complained no end, but for the most part I loved it. What could be better than living with your friends you go to school with! hahaha...

In 'researching' for this post I dug out my old High School diaries and Year Books...wow....what a trip down memory lane! I was hoping for some quotes that I could use to explain life at Boarding School but all I seemed to find was a tragic tale of High School loves. I think some of my entries could be used by the writers of Puberty Blues! lol....

Year 12 was definitely the highlight for me (as it is with most people I'm sure!). I was voted Girls Boarding Captain, School Prefect, Mackay Clan Captain and Tennis Captain. I guess someone somehow saw leadership potential in me! lol...

And just what you have been waiting for....tragic photos from the '90s!

Five years in the Army Cadets

Can and will rock that bandana!

Not sure where we were going but obviously somewhere we were not allowed to show any skin! lol

With the beauty of Facebook I have been able to get back in touch with a lot of these girls!

Workin it!

Belle and Beau of the Year 12 Formal!

for A

is for Aunty...

On the 5th of January 2003 I became an Aunty for the first time and the joy has been bestowed upon me 5 other times since then with a total of 5 nephews and 1 niece!

 Dominic was the first and I was blessed to be there for his very quick arrival, was so sad that not long after I had to head back to North Queensland and thousands of kms away for work..

 Jack was next in 2005 and oh my he stole our hearts! Those eyes....! I was living out west when he was born so was a few weeks before I met him..

Benjamin John arrived in 2007 and once again I was there to experience the arrival! We thought we might like to call him BJ when he was first born but Dominic insisted that his name was NOT BJ, it was Benjamin! Now he's just Ben..

My one and only niece Jorja entered the world in a quick and dramatic fashion in 2009...Stand by for J for that story!

Then last year the Twinnies were born!!! Bradey (left) and Fletcher (right) were a little more reluctant to grace the world with their presence and took some convincing but arrived safe and sound in the end.

All 6 of them with my older sister (and Mum to the 4 big ones!)

Of course!

If I can't be a Mum, being an Aunty is the next best thing! 

Love all these kids to the moon and back!!

Linking up this first of my atozchallenge post with Essentially Jess for IBOT.. and if you want to check out other A to Z Challenge participants check out the official website here!

for a look back

This week at My Home Truths Kirsty asked us to link up a post from March 2013...

Scrolling through my posts March 2013 was a big month for me! It was a month of 2 major "NEWs"..

I got a New Car and a New Job!

Wowzers... hard to believe 12 months has passed....

What were you doing in March last year??
Head over to My Home Truths and link up an old post! Easy Peasy!

for my blog list

At The Lounge this week being hosted by Tegan at Musings of the Misguided, we have been asked to share our most loved blogs...

This could open a big can of worms! I am feeling the pressure to not forget anyone as I create my list. There are so many blogs I enjoy for lots of different reasons and at lots of different times. To be honest I only subscribe to a couple of blogs as I find it easier to save blogs into my favourites and click on blogs via link ups. I also feel the pressure in what order to put the blogs I enjoy so think for ease I will just list them alphabetically...

Colours of Sunset
Essentially Jess
Finding Myself Young
Five Degrees of Chaos
Have a Laugh on Me
Kimba Likes
Middle Aged Mama
Ms Mystery Case
Musings of the Misguided
My Home Truths
My Little Drummer Boys
Ness of Boganville
One Mother Hen
Over Cups of Coffee
Red Dolls
This is who I am....by Marleisa
Twinkle in the Eye
With Some Grace

Oh I really really feel like I am missing someone... If you think it's you please comment below and remind me!! There are SO many blogs I like and follow on FB!!

If there is a blog that you think I need to check out... Let me know!!!

for another edition of Wordless Wardrobe Wednesday...

My attempts at a full length mirror selfie!!

I tried Kimba I honestly tried!!!

Wordless Wardrobe link ups with My Little Drummer Boys, Twinkle in the Eye and Kimba Likes.

for another challenge!

As if my reading challenge wasn't enough (as well as my fitness bootcamp challenge and working full time), over the weekend I decided to sign up for a blogging challenge!!!


I stumbled across this one whilst catching up on my blog reading over at Over Cups of Coffee.... Psych Babbler is also joining the challenge.

So what is it and are you going to join me???

The Blogging From A-Z Challenge runs for the month of April, where you blog each day from the respective letter in the alphabet. What you blog about is up to you and some people find it easiest to have a theme. With some help from Psych Babbler I am blogging about...

I think it's kind of perfect...given that my blog is a bit of a random mix of ramblings about my life it seems to really fit. There was the suggestion that I also do stories from my teaching career so will weave that in as well.... I know what you are all thinking... "How awesome crazy is this woman?, she's always complaining about not having enough time!".. Well in response to that, I have now learnt how to schedule posts (Thanks Ms Mystery Case!) and I have 2 weeks off in April so SURELY I can get organised!

So...are you up for the challenge? I know Flood Proof Mum is also joining us...anyone else???

Linking up this IBOT with Essentially Jess of course!