OrganiSed Chaos

Not exactly sure who looks the happiest here, Poppy or Zoe.
It’s hard to tell I think.
There is nothing quite like the bond between grandfather and granddaughter is there?
I must give credit to Kelly for the pic, which was taken at Christmas.
There were many more she took, but this is my favourite, if for nothing other than the happiness that is evident in both of them.

So Christmas 2009 is done and dusted.
We had a good one.
Went and did Santa with the part of the family we weren’t spending it with before we left, and made 2 children very, very happy, plus delivered a very special teddy bear, to a very special little boy, from some very special friends.
On the plane the next day to see those we see far too little of in normal times.
Santa came to Mark and I throughout the year, so we didn’t do the present thing for each other.
Between a trip to America {which included a Christmas in July}, a new laptop and flights down south we figured we were out close to 20k, so we decided being together with family was enough for us this year.
Given we’re also going back to America this coming July as well, we thought that would add to the booty we already have/had!
Sounded like a plan to us anyway.

We will hold in our memories and hearts both the brilliant time we had in July and the wonderful time we had watching 5 of our 8 grandchildren rip open their presents on Christmas morning, and the priceless gift of being grandparents to those same 5, who we don’t get to spoil very often, and then of course there was a madcap Skype call!!

It was fabulous to see my Dad too.
I’ve not seen him in close to 3 years, so as you can well imagine I enjoyed the few short hours we had.
With Christmas out of the way, my mind turns to the New Year, and what awaits us.
First and foremost, for me anyway, will be a new blog name and tagline, plus a new theme to play with.
That will happen at midnight on December 31st.
The New year for me heralds a new beginning and a whole year to enjoy life and whatever it has to offer as I thank the stars I’m alive with a wonderful husband and family to share it with.
Work holds much before the end of February with 3 stock takes to be done, and all that after end of half year.
Hmmm. Thinking about it that way makes me wonder if I need to add another vitamin to my morning collection??
Could be an idea.
Before the end of December we have little miss Zoe’s birthday {tomorrow actually} Caleb is in early January, as is Isaac, and it also sees a good friend have a birthday, so I’m sure there will be some mayhem to create there!

February will see Mark and blondies birthday {on the same day} Wil’s, March has us into Sarah, Stella, Kelly’s and Steve’s birthday, April will bring Melissa’s, May is mine, our anniversary and Mother’s day all within a week of each other.
Mid June sees Lucas turn 1, then on top of that I’ll have end of financial year at the end of June, then we’ll be on the plane to Boston in mid July, so before we know it half the year will be gone again!
Scares the bejesus out of me when I think about it that way, but that’s life I guess?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
Time is a predator.
It waits for nothing and noone.
It stalks us until it decides there is none left for us, one by one.
Other than the new blog name, I don’t think there will be another post before the new year, so I will take the opportunity to wish everyone the best for 2010, and I hope all your dreams come true.
I’ll try to do the rounds before then, however make no promises other than I will do my best.
I hope your Christmas was everything you wished for, and that Santa was good to you with nothing less than you all deserved.

This week Malarky Monday is brought to you by the Christmas fairy.

He may not be a happy Christmas fairy, but he is a Christmas fairy all the same.
Also, we have a guest appearance for you to giggle over!
DILLIGAF has graciously agreed to join the mayhem that is MM, and has an absolute blinder for us!
I nearly bloody choked when I heard this, and it gives the 12 days of Christmas a whole new meaning, trust me!
Please be warned though.
This is strictly adult content.
Do NOT have your kids around when you play this video
As always we have the other contributors to MM in Mark, ~m, Grimm and {maybe} Muffy.
Onto my small contribution to the madness we all hope makes you at least smile, and if we’re extra lucky, we’ll hear a damned good belly laugh.
Given Christmas is almost upon us, I’ll stick with the seasonal snippets because there are just so many of them around.
Trying to pick the ones to post was my problem, and I can only hope you enjoy them.
To start with, the only word for this is awesome!
It’s bloody well done, so take the time to have a look.
{Thanks Pam!}

The obligatory funnies are next.

Someone made mention of their inner child recently.
Given the time of year, I thought it would be a good idea to explore the things our inner child could do during the festive season.
Who knows, you may find yourself actually enjoying the season rather than dreading it.
These are but a few of the activities which occurred to me.
Go look at the Christmas lights.
Not only is it free, but it will make the adult in you glad you don’t do it because you don’t have to pay the power bill.
Get a body board and head to the beach for some fun in the surf.
There is nothing makes you feel better than tumbling through the surf then screaming like a little kid when you get dumped.
Perchance you have snow, get a toboggan or sled and find the biggest hill you can, then throw caution to the wind and fly down it like the 7 devils are after you.
I’m sure you did it as a kid, why not now?
Eat the decorations off the tree when noone is looking, then deny, deny, deny!
It’s such fun.
The worst that can happen is you get busted and grounded, so then you don’t have to go to work. Bonus!
All the more time to work on those edible hangy thingies on the tree anyway!
String popcorn for the tree.
This was one of my favourite things to do when I was a kid.
Nothing has changed, I still love doing it.
Get a tin whistle then run up and down the street blowing it.
Go to the movies and spend the entire time giggling at the teenagers swapping spit in the back row.
Find a slide then go down it as many times as you can in the shortest possible time.
Play on a seesaw while you’re at it.
Go buy a yoyo and see if you can still walk the dog.
Preferably one of those crappy plastic ones you get in junk stockings.
Get a hula hoop and give it a go.
It will be a damned good cardio vascular work out at the same time!
Wander around the streets after the stores close and look at their displays.
Some of them are brilliant, and damned well done.
There are a million and one things you would do at Christmas when you were a kid, so why not now?
I guess my point is this.
Forget about the responsibility and hassles of Christmas and do what kids do best.
Embrace it, enjoy it and make the most of it.
Just for one day.
Try and see it through the eyes of a child.
Who knows, maybe it will hep you see things a little differently?
What did you used to do as a kid?

There are some who do the BAH HUMBUG! thing at Christmas.
Not mentioning any names though, you all know who you are.

So, in the spirit of the Grinch, for MM this week, I have a few little Christmassy notes you can jot down and refer to when you’re doing your shopping, a couple of jpegs that took my fancy, and are certainly not in the spirit of Christmas, plus a little surprise at the bottom.
Once you’re done here, don’t forget to visit my fellow funsters in Mark, ~m, Muffy and Grimm.
Now, without further ado, we’re off to the races!
Shopping list:
1. A bottle of wHine is a great last minute gift for those who are constantly at it
2. If you have a brain explosion and decide to buy that C class benz with the huge red ribbon for someone, get them the cute ribbon collared puppy as well. With a bit of luck it will shit on the drivers seat.
3. When people ask what you want for Christmas, tell them you want everyone to stop asking dumb arsed questions.
4. For the one relative who seems to always expect the perfect gift, a giant bottle of disappointment will be sure to have them crying in their wHine. After all, an expectation does invite a disappointment
5. The ultimate gift however is the huge meltdown that always seems to happen on Christmas eve because of the pressure. You can give that one to yourself! You’ve earned it after all the shit you’ve been through in the last 2 weeks.

These 2 pics had me chuckling to myself, and I can only hope they amuse you as well.

These final ones are for those people who think Christmas holds nothing but crap, cos neither of these are crap, trust me!

As we hurtle towards Christmas, my mind, as it generally does, has gone into reflection mode.
It turns to times when all was well within my world, there were no family arguments, nor was the phrase “dysfunctional family” coined.
A time when family was first and foremost, no matter what.
Everyone was talking to everyone else, and whilst disagreements may have occurred throughout the year, we would always forgive and forget when Christmas rolled around.
In the true spirit of the season, anything from the previous 12 months was buried amidst our love for one another.
Goodwill abounded and, in the interests of seeing people we care about happy, forgiveness was rife.
Family came together as one, regardless of any perceived, or real, transgressions that had been visited upon one another since the previous year.
Slightly ashamed looks may be seen, heartfelt apologies made, and there were sometimes many, many tears, but there was not a recrimination to be seen. They were banished from the house.
I was bought up to believe that family must come first, and they must stick together.
I was also taught that whilst some things may seem unforgivable at the time, every dog deserves a second chance.
Maybe not a 3rd one, but absolutely a 2nd one.
As I grow older, I realise there is little point in carrying something on forever, because one day, the people involved {be it me, you or someone else} will be gone.
With their passing, also gone will be the opportunity to tell that person how much you loved them, regardless of how it may have seemed at times.
Without going into detail, know that I have first hand experience regarding these things.
Very close first hand experience.
I’ve been the one to make the first move when needed, and it’s quite the pleasant feeling to know I did the right thing.
Trust me on this.
Don’t let too many Christmas’s go past before you realise what someone means to you, and that whatever happened isn’t really that big a deal, no matter how bad you think it was.
You never know how many Christmas’s you have left to do it.
Besides, is Christmas not about a birth?
A birth is a new beginning, so there really is no better time, surely?