Well Christmas is in a weeks time, yeah I know some of you are thinking what already, others are thinking it will be glad when its over, some are thinking both things. I am thinking I wish it would last a bit longer then it does, but also will be glad when the day is done with as you all saw on yesterdays posts my dinning room table is covered in presents so no room to sit and eat there which is ok only eat there on the weekend when the girls are here.

The next time will be Christmas Eve when all the girls and Michael will be here for tea, it is a new family tradition that I will have tea here Christmas Eve for the girls and grandchildren as they all have their own families and things they want to do Christmas Day. Kathy-Lee has Michael’s family to see on Christmas Day not sure what the other two are doing, they can come to my parents place if they want to but I am not expecting it.

We had Leo here last night and Jess said not to take him home too early she wants a sleep in, I said now school holidays are here she should get a few more sleep ins, she nope, Leo gets up way too early so I said maybe during the holidays I might be able to have him an extra night here and there so she can have a sleep in.

Although no one took my children so I could have a sleep in, ok that is not 100% true there were the odd time when Tim would get up with the girls and let me sleep in a bit but didn’t happen very often and there were times he would watch them while I went and had a nap in the afternoon again not often but it did happen.

I don’t know why but this morning I have been thinking about how as parents and friends we will at times listen to someone bitch, moan and groan about their partner, spouse, boy/girlfriend this happens from time to time with my girls, siblings or mum. I don’t mind listening when they need to vent but what I do that some people do not do is accept that just because someone is venting to me doesn’t mean the person they are going on about is a bad person. I will not think badly of the person, it will not change how I feel about them, I do not necessary side with one over the other that is not why I am being bitched to, I will say things like “I understand” or “ I get that” and I usually do get it but just because I understand why you are bitching and venting about what your other half did doesn’t mean I will decided the other person is a bad person. That is just me.

Well now Tim is up and in his office and Leo is still asleep on the lounge the house is still quiet as I have not turned the telly on yet, have no need for it on and it will only disturb Leo and I don’t want that yet. He will wake up in time.

One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men: Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh.

• Frankincense was a perfume used in Jewish worship and, as a gift, it showed that people would worship Jesus.

• Gold was associated with Kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings.

• Myrrh was a perfume that was put on dead bodies to make them smell nice and, as a gift, it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.

Christmas itself is really about a big present that God gave the world about 2000 years ago – Jesus! One of the most famous Bible verses, John 3:16, says:‘God loved the world so much, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life.

All over the world, families and friends give presents to each other. Most children around the world believe in a Christmas gift bringer. It’s often St Nick, Santa or Father Christmas, but different countries have different gift bringers.

These presents are also left in different places! In most of Europe, the presents are left in shoes or boots put out by the children. In Italy, the UK and USA presents are left in stockings, often left hanging by a fire place. In many countries, presents for friends and family may be left under the Christmas Tree. In the UK, they are often opened on Christmas day morning with all the family together. My family leave a Christmas bag out for Santa to fill. The custom of hanging stockings comes from the story of St. Nicholas.

Presents are opened on different days over the world as well. The earliest presents are opened is on St. Nicholas’ Eve on December 5th when children in Holland of ten receive their presents. On St. Nicholas’ Day (6th December) children in Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and some other European countries open some of their presents.

Children in the UK, USA and many other countries, such as Japan, open their presents on Christmas Day, December 25th. The latest presents are opened on January 6th (a month after the earliest). This is known as Epiphany which I expalin in another post.

One popular way of giving presents in groups such as clubs, school classes and workplaces is to have a ‘Secret Santa’. This is where you pull the name of someone else in the group out of a hat (or other container!). You then buy a present for that person. When the presents are given out (often at a Christmas party) each person is given their present but they have no idea which person in the group bought it for them!

Blood hell its hot, another day with temps in the high 30’s or low 40’s, last night was a stinking hot night as well but thankfully we have an air conditioner in the bedroom and it went all night. Leo has gone swimming to day for the schools end of year reward for his year at school, so has Blain but to different pools.

Now even though it is stinking bloody hot Leo insisted on wearing long pants he doesn’t like shorts this year, at least I make sure the pants are light weight so he doesn’t get too hot in them, although he says he doesn’t get hot. I packed board shorts for him to wear in the pool and I hope he has a good day.

Blain is suppose to be walking from his school to the pool, it is a bloody long walk and so bloody hot I hope he is ok as he does suffer from heat stroke.

I have been up since just after 5.30am again and got all Natasha’s washing done and dried and folded except for her work rags they are still on the line all this was done before I took Leo to school.

When I got into the car to take him to school it was 28°c outside on the way home it was 31°c not sure what it is now but I am pretty sure it is hotter still.

Saw the doctor yesterday about my back pain she wants me to have another CT scan done of my lower back and prescribed Panadine Forte for the pain, what the hell I need something stronger than Panadine Forte for those who don’t know what Panadine Forte is it’s paracetamol and codeine strong pain relief just not strong enough in my opinion.

I cannot stand for more then a few minutes without pain, hanging washing on the line to dry is agony as is standing or even sitting to wrap presents and how the hell I am going to cope on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day cooking is beyond me but I will because that is how I roll. I cannot walk unaided more then a few feet which is why when I go shopping the first thing I do after I park the car is find a shopping trolley for support.

Well I have rambled on about the heat and my back pain for long enough I will now post this and then finish writing my Christmas cards and this afternoon I want to finish wrapping gifts. So much work for one day but you know what I love it.

So I was wondering what I would write about this morning and while on Facebook I see a post from my sister about mum, so that is what I am going to write about this morning my mum or more to the point her pain and suffering.

For the last few months mum has been in a great deal of pain, first with her knees and then from what she thought was problems with the sciatica.

Well it turns out the problem is something called Trochanteric bursitis which is an inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sac near a joint) at the outside (lateral) point of the hip known as the greater trochanter., understand that, yeah me too. Well when this bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, it causes pain in the hip. This is a common cause of hip pain

Trochanteric bursitis typically causes the following symptoms:

• Pain on the outside of the hip and thigh or in the buttock.

• Pain when lying on the affected side.

• Pain when you press in on the outside of the hip.

• Pain that gets worse during activities such as getting up from a deep chair or getting out of a car.

• Pain with walking up stairs.

All of which mum suffers from.

What causes trochanteric bursitis?

Well it seems it is caused by things like an injury to the point of the hit such as falling onto the hip bumping the hip or even lying on ones side for too long. It can also be caused by running up stairs, climbing or standing for long periods of time trust me mum doesn’t do any of those things. Bad posture can also be a cause as well as stress on the soft tissues as a result of an abnormal or poorly positioned joint or bone which can be caused by arthritis of the lower spine and other spine problems, mum has arthritis running the length of her spine. It can be caused by other deceases or conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout and thyroid disease none of which mum has. Another cause is hip bone spurs or calcium deposits which would not surprise me if mum has. Bursitis is more common in women then men and in the middle-aged or elderly, all that said there are times when the cause of a persons trochanteric bursitis may be unknown.

How is trochanteric bursitis treated?

Treatment usually includes reducing pain and inflammation, while preserving mobility, and preventing disability and recurrence. Treatment recommendations may include a combination of rest, splints, heat, and cold application. More advanced treatment options include use of anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections which mum may have when she has the ultrasound on Monday. She is also having physio on the area. If all else fails there is surgery.

Most cases of bursitis improve without any treatment but that isn’t the case with mum.

Here in Australia, Christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays! Children have their summer holidays from mid December to either late January or early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas.

Because it’s so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. Many volunteer bush fire fighters are involved in saving people and property and travel from all over Australia to help in other states.

Australians hang wreaths on their front doors and although some sites you may check out about Christmas in Australia will tell you that sometimes we go out Christmas carol singing on Christmas eve, I have never heard of people doing this.

People also decorate their houses and gardens with different Christmas decorations the blow up ones are very popular around my area, my brother has many in his front yard and of course Christmas lights are popular.

Some Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of ‘Christmas Bush’, a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream coloured flowers. In summer the flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks (generally by the week of Christmas in Sydney).

In each State capital city there is a large Carols by Candlelight service. Famous Australian singers like The Wiggles, John Farnham, Anthony Warlow, Colin Gery, Niki Webster and many more help to sing the carols. These carol services, held in different cities, are broadcast on TV across Australia. There are also huge Christmas pageants in each state capital city, that are also broadcast across the country. Most towns and cities have festivals and parades. In some places, there is a fireworks display at the local park.

Many towns, cities and schools also hold their own Carols by Candlelight services, with local bands and choirs sometimes helping to perform the Christmas Carols and songs. As it is the middle of Summer in Australia at Christmas time, the words to the Carols about snow and the cold winter are sometimes changed to special Australian words! There are also some original Australian Carols.

When he gets to Australia, Santa gives the reindeer a rest and uses kangaroos or ‘six white boomers’ (a popular Australian Christmas song!). He also changes his clothes for less ‘hot’ ones!

On Boxing Day most people go and visit their friends and many hit the beaches it is also the start of the famous Yacht race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania.

The Flying Doctor Service has to work all though Christmas. On Christmas Day the people who live in the outback send Christmas greetings to each other over the radio network.

Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is normally eaten at lunch time. Most people now have a cold Christmas lunch or some have a barbecue with seafood such as prawns and lobsters along with the ‘traditional english’ food.

On Christmas Eve, fish-markets are often full of people queuing to buy their fresh seafood for Christmas day.

Many Australians often have Christmas Crackers at Christmas meal times.

Ok saw this on Facebook, don’t believe it happened but it did give me a giggle so thought I would share here in case others would like a giggle.

While conducting some business at the Court House, someone overheard a lady, who had been arrested for assaulting a Mammogram Technician, say, “Your Honour, I’m guilty, but…..there were extenuating circumstances.”

The female Judge said, sarcastically, “I’d certainly like to hear those extenuating circumstances.”this is her story.

“Your Honour, I had a mammogram appointment, which I actually kept. I was met by this perky little clipboard carrier smiling from ear to ear and she tilted her head to one side and crooned, “Hi! I’m Belinda! All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear?”

I’m thinking, “Belinda, try decaf. This ain’t rocket science.” Belinda then skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, “Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?” Fine, I answered.

I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck to finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other breast wedged between those two 4-inch pieces of square glass) when I heard and felt a zap!

Complete darkness, the power was off!

Belinda said, “Uh-oh, maintenance is working, bet they hit a snag.” Then she headed for the door.

“Excuse me! You’re not leaving me in this vise alone are you?” I shouted.

Belinda kept going and said, “Oh, you fussy puppy…the door’s wide open so you’ll have the emergency hall lights. I’ll be right back.”

Before I could shout NOOOO! she disappeared.

And that’s exactly how Bubba and Earl, “maintenance men Extraordinaire” found me…half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and the other part smashed between glass!

After exchanging a polite, ‘Hi, how’s it going’ type greeting, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible, “Uh, yes, I did but thanks anyway.”

“OK, you take care now,” Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I’d been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin.

Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, “Oh, I am sooo sorry! The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?”

And that, Your Honour, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps….”

The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said, “Case Dismissed!”

Ok it’s Christmas season so that means time for a few Christmas posts about Christmas. I will do more then one post about the history of Christmas so let us kick of Christmas posts with this one.

Christmas is celebrated in many parts of the world on 25 December. Protestant and Roman Catholic churches hold Christmas Day services on 25 December. The Eastern churches – the Ethiopian Orthodox church, Russian Orthodox church and the Armenian church – celebrate Christmas on 6 or 7 January. There have been rituals, parties and celebrations at this time of year for thousands of years

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus is ‘the son of God’, the Messiah sent from Heaven to save the world.

The ‘Christmas story’ tells of the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, the angels announcing the birth to the shepherds in the fields, and the Magi (wise men from the East) visiting the stable and offering gifts to the newborn child.

A Roman almanac confirms that 25 December was used to celebrate Christmas in 336 AD, although it was nearly 600 years later that the churches created a liturgy – a service for public worship – for the occasion.

The choice of date is believed to have been influenced by the northern hemisphere winter solstice, as well as ancient pagan rituals that coincided with the solstice. These rituals included the Halcyon Days in Greece, a period of calm and goodwill when it was believed the sea was calm for birds to lay their eggs; and the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, a celebration of the god Saturn, which involved wild parties, the exchange of gifts and the temporary suspension of social divisions between slaves and masters.

Christmas trees are part of a long tradition of greenery being taken into the home at Christmas to brighten the dreary winter. Mistletoe was popular with Druid priests because it remained green throughout winter. Holly placed over the doorway was believed to drive away evil. Placing branches from trees in the home was first recorded in 1494, and by the beginning of the 1600s there are records of fir trees being decorated with apples.

The story of Santa Claus has its origins in the legends surrounding the humble generosity of Saint Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on 6th December. Saint Nicholas was a 4th century Christian Bishop from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) who became the Patron Saint of Children. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed up as bishops begging alms for the poor. Later, the Christ child ‘Christkindlein’ was said to have accompanied Nicholas-like figures on their travels. The 1822 poem ‘Twas the Night before Christmas forged the link and Saint Nicholas (Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Christ Kind, Kriss Kringle or Sinter Klass) became known as Santa Claus.

Monday afternoon around 4pm, my middle finger on my left hand started to hurt, this is due to have arthritis in the fingers but most of the time it is ok but not Monday afternoon by 6 pm it was still very sore and causing me pain, in fact it was closer to 7pm before the pain stopped.

Tuesday evening I started to feel very tired and generally unwell so I was in bed earlier then normal, woke up drenched in sweat during the night and turned the air con on to help me cool down while I changed my nightie to a cooler one. Tim snapped that he was cold and to turn the air con off I only had it on for a couple of minutes and told him so.

Wednesday morning woke up to a cool and wet day, so decided to let Tim take the car to work if he wants to do so as I will not need it to get Leo from school this afternoon.

Mum and I had planned to go to the cemetery but I am just not feeling up to it so will give it a miss this morning.

Natasha dropped Blain off for me to take to school and her washing which I do not know if I will do today or tomorrow depends on how I feel when I get home. Also if tomorrow is going to be a better day weather wise I might leave it till then. I asked her what time she will pick him up this afternoon she said arn’t you driving him home, no your dad is taking the car so then she asked what her sister was doing I have no idea what Jess is doing this afternoon you may just have to come and get him yourself Natasha.

Speaking of Jess she rings me last night I was already in bed because I wasn’t feeling well, anyway she was rolling out some pastry and found some flour in the cupboard and used it on the bench so the pastry wouldn’t stick only to discover the flour was three years our of date. So she rings me to make sure she wouldn’t get sick but as she only used it so the pastry wouldn’t stick and because flour is fine for a bloody long time.

I am around a 3^rd through my Christmas cards, the problem is that my hand starts to shake a lot and ache after I have done a few so I have to stop for a bit, also my back aches so I need to sit back and rest a bit.

All over the news is how Victoria is going to try and introduce voluntary euthanasia laws, it will not be easy lots of strict rules will be involved. I personally feel about bloody time, we don’t let animals suffer for years so why do we let humans suffer for years when there is no cure for the cause of the suffering.

In other news KFC here have brought out a candle that smells like KFC chicken, what the hell……………no, at the start of the year they brought out sunscreen lotion that smelt like KFC chicken and that was gross as well.

I like KFC but don’t want the smell of it all over my body or all over the house, sorry but, no.

Well that is all for this post I have rambled on enough.

While out at my brother’s house/dog sitting I watched ANZAC Girls, great show really liked it. It told the real life stories of 4 nurses during World War 1 they were both Australian and New Zealand nurses and this inspired me to do a little research about them and share a bit about them with the rest of you. The nurses were Olive Haynes, Alice Ross-King, Grace Wilson, Hilda Steele and Elsie Cook

Today I am going to tell you about Grace Wilson

Grace Margaret Wilson CBE, RRC was born on the 25^th June 1879 and died on the 12^th January 1957,she was a high-ranked nurse in the Australian Army during World War I and the first years of World War II, she was born in Brisbane, and completed her initial training as a nurse in 1908.

After the outbreak of World War I she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service(AANS) and subsequently transferred to the First Australian Imperial Force. From 1915 until 1919 she was the principal matron of the 3rd Australian General Hospital.

She served as the temporary matron-in-chief in the AIF Headquarters, London from late 1917 until early 1918. Wilson returned to Australia in 1920 and left the AIF to work in civilian hospitals.

She was appointed the matron-in-chief of the AANS in 1925, and in September 1940 joined the Second Australian Imperial Force. She served in the Middle East until August 1941, when she returned to Australia due to ill health. She left the Army the next month, but from September 1943 worked in the Department of Manpower Directorate (Victoria)’s nursing control section.

She attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School, and began her training to become a nurse at Brisbane Hospital in 1905. She completed this qualification in 1908. During her period at Brisbane Hospital, Wilson became the first winner of the prestigious Gold Medal for nursing excellence. She subsequently travelled to London for training in midwifery at the Queen Charlotte’s Lying-in Hospital.

Wilson subsequently worked at the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic in London. She arrived back in Australia during July 1914, and became the matron of Brisbane Hospital.

Following the outbreak of World War I, Wilson joined the Army Nursing Service Reserve in October 1914 and became the principal matron of the 1st Military District.She enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force(AIF) on 15 April 1915 and was appointed the 3rd Australian General Hospital‘s (3rd AGH) principal matron. She and the rest of the 3rd AGH departed Sydney bound for Europe on 15 May 1915.

The 3rd AGH arrived in England at the end of June and was originally intended to be deployed to France. Instead, it was decided to send the hospital to Lemnos island in the Mediterranean to treat casualties of the Gallipoli Campaign. The 3rd AGH departed England in early July and arrived at Lemnos on 8 August. The ship carrying the nurses stopped at Alexandria during this voyage, where Wilson learned that one of her brothers had been killed at Quinn’s Post in Gallipoli. Conditions at Lemnos were difficult, and there were initially few facilities to care for the many soldiers who were being evacuated there from Gallipoli. Wilson led efforts to improve the situation, earning praise from both her subordinates and superior officers.

In January 1916 the 3rd AGH moved to Abbassia in Egypt. Wilson was mentioned in despatches on three occasions during the year, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross was also offered the post of Matron in Chief at AIF Headquarters in either late 1915 or early 1916, but turned it down as she wished to remain with the 3rd AGH.

Wilson was temporarily appointed the Matron in Chief at the AIF Headquarters, London in September 1917 while Evelyn Conyers was on leave in Australia. She remained in this position until April the next year, and then rejoined the 3rd AGH.

Following the war, Wilson was mentioned in despatches again in December 1918, and was appointed to the Commander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) on 1 January 1919. The 3rd AGH was disbanded in May 1919, and Wilson was posted to England to serve in the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. She returned to Australia in January 1920 and formally ceased to be a member of the AIF in April of that year.

From November 1920 to 1922 Wilson was the matron of the Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. During this appointment she sought to improve her nurses working conditions, and secured a minimum wage for trainees. In 1922 she resigned from the Children’s Hospital and opened her own hospital in East Melbourne. She was appointed the matron-in-chief of the AANS (which was a part-time reserve position) in 1925, and received the Florence Nightingale Medal four years later.

Wilson became the matron of The Alfred Hospital in January 1933, in this role she oversaw the first Commonwealth scheme for training nurse tutors. Wilson travelled again to London in 1937 to lead the AANS contingent at the ceremonies which marked the coronation of King George VI.

At the outbreak of World War 11 in September 1939, Wilson was called up to a full-time position in the Army and resigned from her position at The Alfred Hospital. She served on the staff of the Director-General of Medical Services, Major General Rupert Downes, in Army Headquarters as the Army’s matron-in-chief.

She became a member of the Second AIF in September 1940, and served in the Middle East as the matron-in-chief of its nursing service. Wilson remained in this position until May 1941, when she was forced to return to Australia due to health problems. She arrived back in Australia in August and left the AIF the next month.

She was subsequently attached to the Australian Red Cross and oversaw an expansion of its activities. She was appointed the executive officer of the Department of Manpower Directorate (Victoria)’s nursing control section on 15 September 1943. In this role she controlled the staffing of all hospitals in the state of Victoria and had a personal staff of four trained nurses and eleven office workers.

She retired following the end of World War II, but continued to work on a voluntary basis for a number of organisations. These included the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association, Royal Victorian College of Nursing, Australian Red Cross Society and the Girl Guides’ Association.

She also worked as a trustee for the Shrine of Remembrance in 1953, Wilson became the first female life member of the Returned and Services League of Australia. Several nursing organisations also awarded her their highest honours.

She married Robert Wallace Bruce Campbell in London on 12 January 1954, she died on the 12^th January 1957 she was subsequently accorded a funeral with full military honours at Christ Church in South Yarra. Wilson’s medals and uniform from World War I were placed on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial in 2014

Good morning all here I am on a somewhat wet Monday morning but it suppose to be another stinking bloody hot day here.

My weekend was pretty good, busy but good, Saturday saw me doing three loads of Natasha’s washing that is ok I do not expect her to hang around when I am doing it as a load can take 90 minutes to wash so I picked up the laundry on my way home Saturday and did all the washing for her. She said she needed the clothes done asap as she had no clean underwear well it is done and it is now Monday morning at still she hasn’t come and picked it up.

I also went and did a bit of Christmas shopping on Saturday,and Friday and Saturday saw me getting some of my Christmas decorations up and yesterday I added a few more and my house is at last starting to have a Christmas feel to it.

Sunday I had a casserole for lunch all girls were invited only two turned up,yet again Natasha was a no show. At times I feel we only see her when she wants something this happens when she meets a new man everyone else fail to matter, well that is what it feels like to me and others in the family.

My mum hasn’t been good last week on the Wednesday she wasn’t with it at all, she was falling asleep mid sentence and while driving I had to say mum stay in on the road a few times.

For the next few days Sandra and Dave who see her daily were really worried about her, she was wanting to sleep a lot and did so most of the day, she is at last starting to be ok again. Both dad and Sandy wanted her to go to the hospital but mum couldn’t see the point and she didn’t feel up to sitting around the waiting room for ages so she wouldn’t go. I ended up telling Sandy that if by Saturday she wasn’t any better maybe she should make arrangements for mum to go see her doctor but as it turned out she was much better on Saturday.

Mum was telling me last night that she did her block with Landon (he spent Saturday night at her place) she gets up yesterday morning to find that he had taken a bottle of talcum powder and split is everywhere. Ok more like he had opened the bottle and pressed it together and spun around spraying powder all over the room on the walls, floor and over every bloody thing, it was a right bloody mess.

When his mum turned up to see him my mum told her to clean up the mess as she (my mum) wasn’t up to doing so.

He also opened a heap of my brothers old Matchbox cars and planes which he had since he was a little boy and were still in their original package but not any more.

Mum was so upset she just wanted to cry.