My audience of three

Until recently I used to worry about why people were no longer reading my blog posts. I know this from my blog stats delivered each month to my inbox. They tell me I have a regular audience of 3, which I can pretty much guarantee are my mum, my sister and my best friend. Like I said, until recently these stats would have caused me some agony over why, what to do, etc, etc.

2010 has become my year of reflection, not by my choosing, but nonetheless many insights have been gained and lessons learned. One of these insights has been that really I had lost sight of my reasons for blogging and in turn my blogging audience. When I started blogging several years ago it was to provide regular stories about my crafty dalliances and our lives in Melbourne. My audience was then 3, yes those same three who I no longer could share regular physical get togethers as they all reside in Adelaide. Over time I, somewhat surprisingly, gained other readers and an a new online community open upped to me. The excitement of finding like minded people encouraged me to blog more, to read more blogs, to join this community. However, at the same time I was battling post natal depression and as has now become apparent blogging became a way to hide from my daily struggles. Spending much of my time online became not quite an obsession but a habit.

As part of my recovery from PND I began to back away from my online world. My real world needed my attention, my involvement. It has taken a long time to regain a balance between my real and my online communities. It has taken a toll on some of my personal relationships. A toll that I now look on with sadness and bewilderment. Reflection has felt like I have had my blinkers and rose colored glasses removed. It felt brutal to start with but as sometimes can be the case, a good dose of reality has become strangely liberating. So now I feel I can blog with more freedom again, as I am aware that these posts are really for an audience of 3. But for those of you that also drop by from time to time, I heartily thank you for providing some bonus online hugs!

Until the next post, x Sam

should be in bed

this is one of Catia Chen's wonderful works that I can stare at for ages.

Should be in bed is becoming my new catch phrase as each night I can be found puddling around after midnight finishing work documents, sewing custom whizzme orders and various other school and home related things. For the last three weeks I have been working 3 days at PANDA, which is very exciting and presents lots of challenging brain stretching stuff. It also means that might delightful core skill of fluffing around has had to be shelved and I have been digging into the depths of my memory to find some organisational qualities. If this sounds like hard work - it is! But we are all fairly happy here in the Whizzme house as we enter this new phase of family routine.

Added to all this is the small trip I am making this week back to Adelaide to spend some time with my Mum who has just had some surgery. For a few days I am going to make her sit on the couch and watch movies and help me sew or something. Will probably be good for the both of us. Of course this week is Book week at school, and Miss Whizzme is doing her news presentation on Friday so just a couple of things to sort out before I leave... I figure this is all part of the new workout my brain has been getting which will hopefully stop me going ga ga in my old age* if news reports are to be believed.

I had hoped that my next post was going to be about the market and all the new stuff in my shop. I guess it will have to wait another week or two... Instead, here are some of my favourite finds in my late night trawls of the world wide information overload.

Have I ever told you I collect hippos?

anything from this little shop and this, and this,

and one of these please!

a pair of boots from here if they only delivered to Australia.

this gorgeous cupboard form Kast van een Huis

some Ninagawa Mika photography

and finally this

just appeals to me!

*any comments about how ga ga I may be already will not be dignified with acknowledgement!

routine - a dirty word!

For those of you that are kind enough to put up with irregular blogging at this little site, it will come as no surprise that once again there has been quite a time gap between posts. I have decided that the expectation of having a routine for our family is just asking too much, and that really we should just embrace our chaotic approach to life! I guess those of you who know the Whizzme clan well will be sniggering at the fact I have even attempted to talk about routine! Ok, ok - denial no longer for us. I have in fact decided to out myself as a chronoptimist and Miss Whizzme has the hallmarks of one too- much to Mr Whizzme's frustration. Now that I have that out in the open; I hope all of you read my ramblings will better understand the erratic nature of them!

Moving on....

A quick update for the past month.

- the market stall didn't happen in June, (don't even get me started!!) but I will be at Elwood Market on the 1st August. My wonderful sister is coming over to help me (she's the organised one).

- I still haven't updated the shop - so don't bother going there!

- Worked extra days at PANDA.

- The Whizzme clan have just got back from another visit to Adelaide.

This week are back at school (Miss Whizzme), back to work (Mr Whizzme), back to market prep (me)...

silence

(photo by melvelez on flickr)

That's what you get when a group of mums go away together - blissful silence.  I think it is the complete but unsaid knowledge that talking can be kept to a minimum without anyone being offended!  Two days without, "mum can I?", "mum can you?", "mum I need you", "mum where's the?" is like a week's worth of a luxury spa retreat - in fact it might be even be worth more than that.  Then there are the added extra's of being able to make breakfast for one, reading the newspaper, having a leisurely shower, doing your toe nails without having to keep everything out the way of little fingers, eating dinner - sitting down - from start to finish, going to the toilet on your own, sleeping in, reading your book until late into the night, sleeping in, not having the kids shows on, not having someone flick through all the TV channels, not even having to have the TV on!  Of course there is then the social outings that mean you can wander in the really expensive shops without having to grab things before they hit the floor, or be continually saying "don't touch that", or "just a minute", or "mummy just wants to look at this".  Browsing is such a luxury event when mums no longer have kids in tow.  And can be combined with enjoying a take away coffee without having to buy all the extra's to keep everyone else quiet so you can at least down it before it gets cold. 

Not having to share the chocolate. 

The rest of the Whizzme clan have been visiting Adelaide, and so I am quickly posting this before the silence is broken.  But don't get me wrong, as much as I have loved these last two days spending time with 'the girls', drinking wine, gossiping, watching movies, reading mags.  I cannot wait to see my family.  Even just two days absence, I have missed people telling me they "love me" and wanting hugs.  I have missed hearing their new ideas and experiences from their day.  And I missed having someone cuddle into me, knowing it is a safe place to be - with mum.  But I know that by tomorrow morning the spell will have broken and the routine will return, so, excuse me while I go and just soak in those last few moments of silence.

what happened to lazy summer days?

The whizzme clan is still hanging out here in Adelaide. It is absolutely scorching hot here which you would think (well I did) meant that you could laze around reading books, using the pool and generally just taking it easy. No, not US. We have to be either visiting people, eating and drinking with people, or visiting, eating, drinking and talking with people. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing all my friends and family, and eating and drinking is usually quite a favourite past time - not to mention my ability to talk. But when the weather man is saying it is over 40 degrees outside, and not a whole lot cooler inside I think go slow should be the order of the day. I have decided that we are just a debacle, so I'll guess I'll just have to live with it!!

Today, is the first day since Christmas Eve I have been able to sneak away, find a cool quiet location and fire up my little broadband lifeline. I am being as quiet as a mouse while the others are out in the pool. Feverishly reading and catching up on as much as possible. So, quickly before the wet wild brigade find me some business to attend to: I had forgotten to wish everyone the best in this brand new year, and to say thank you to all of you who stop by. My new year's resolution is to be better at getting back to those of you who to take the time to comment, but given my inability to be resolute about any past resolutions I apologise now to you if this doesn't happen. I do have the best of intentions. Now I really must get back to my reading, you have all been up to so much while I've been offline. And as I have no photo's uploaded to share, here are some inspiring images I have come across today.

1. White vinyl bird applique pouch, 2. Hexagonlove, 3. Feliz Natal a todos / Merry Christmas to all, 4. piggies back end, 5. reindeer 7, 6. Kup Kup artworks, 7. Handmade Soaps, 8. Dahlias, 9. gingerbread house

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Dear Santa

Well it is nearly Christmas Day, and I know I have left it rather late to be writing, but I hope you will still take this note into consideration when tallying up the nice people and not the naughty ones! I have been rather busy of late finishing presents (13 nightdresses, 3 art packs, 3 flower clips, a hooded cape and an Alice in wonderland costume at last count), packing up the car for the trip to Adelaide (presents, swimming gear, dog's gear, food, clothes, dress-ups etc.) and ensuring everybody had plenty of snacks and entertainment for the said car trip. With so much to think about I guess you wouldn't be surprised to learn then that I left two very important presents for Miss Whizzme hidden in the back closet. So, if you could please ensure Miss Whizzme could have something else off her Christmas list this year I promise to take up the baton again next year! I am also hoping that you enjoyed the Christmas singing that took place during our car journey which was in your honour! (Our dog Wally didn't seem too impressed so if you could pop something small into his stocking for being so tolerant of his owners during the 8 hours of car ride, it would be much appreciated). As for myself, I am hoping that the next two days can be enjoyed with much rest, a little eating, a little drinking and some time with my family. If you do seem to have something tucked away for me, I wouldn't mind one of those fairies that come and clean up the house while you are asleep! I have included a few photos for your amusement too. Anyway, travel safe Santa, try not to eat too many cookies and don't forget to rug up warm.

All the best

Samantha



P.s. The winner of this month's giveaway is Annie , but don't worry, I've got that one covered.



P.p.s. I'm not sure when I will get a chance to write again, but I will be thinking of you during the holidays.

40 years

The whizzme clan have once again been away, this time in Adelaide to celebrate my Mum and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary.  Spending time with family is always good for the heart and soul.  Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad.

Thanks for all the lovely comments about Linda's interview in the previous post.  Regular posting will (fingers crossed) resumed shortly....