Let me jog your memories about Paddy.... she is the lady who instigated a group called COPPA (Carers of Protected Persons Assoc.). She is the lady who instigated the Legislative Assembly Inquiry into the Guardianship Board and the Office of the Protective Commissioner. She's put her heart, soul and all her money into fighting for humane rights for those of us thrust into the clutches of the two abovementioned bodies against our wills. It was a total surprise yesterday to return from shopping and have a message on the answering machine from her saying she was here and would like to see me.

We sat and chatted for a couple of hours and I found out that COPPA now has a web site, which, if you want to be horrified as to how these 2 bodies have the legal right to take away individuals rights, go have a look. It could happen in your country too.... maybe it already does...

http://www.coppa.com.au

I was in tears as I read the stories because it brought back memories of what I had to put up with for 4 years.

One of our TV news shows is spending the entire program on this subject next Sunday morning. For those of you residing in Australia, it's the Today Show. Those being interviewed are using their own names and their faces will be seen since they appeared at the Legislative Assembly Inquiry and made their submissions in person and it seems that because of that they no longer have to have their faces hidden as their stories have become a matter of Public Record. For those of us who put in submissions in writing... when the LA Inquiry publishes their decision (which I believe will be around September this year) our submissions will be Public Reccord too and available for viewing by any and everyone.

This last month has been a period of tiredness and depression for me. That's the main reason the Journal wasn't updated 2 weeks ago. It was the 2nd anniversary of my Dad's passing and the 13th of this month was Mum and Dad's wedding Anniversary. It's so hard to believe the time has gone so fast. The end of this month George will have been gone a year. And what's even more depressing is that on the 3rd of July I will be another year older!! <GRIN!!!!>

So, the middle of the year is not a good time for me. Anyway, it's almost over and life must go on. Now.... what else has happened since I last wrote???

My kitchen isn't finished yet, waiting for wall tiles which won't arrive until the 25th of this month... damn. I'm also waiting for a new range hood which was supposed to installed the day the kitchen was put in.. the guy disappeared saying he'd be back in an hour (that was the 23rd May) and he's not been back! They say women lose track of time.....

I've been going through the boxes individually that I stored in my bathroom and tossing out EVERYTHING that's been old and unnecessary. Still not finished.. I said I am a HOARDER! BUT at least my computer area is nice and tidy. I threw out my old bed and got a new one which is so pretty. My friends in Florida have one in their spare room and I wanted one ever since I saw it.

I've been feeling really off... I guess all the hard physical work finally caught up with me, after all I just finished 4 bedrooms, laundry, 2 bathrooms, toilet, kitchen, living, dining, family (TV) room, hallway and entryand my computer room ALL BY MYSELF. So I guess I have a right to be pooped.

Jared joined the Soccer team at school this year so since Jason works Saturday mornings Mum and I have been taking him. His team hasn't lost a game yet! It's been getting colder as each week passes, 11C degrees last Saturday morning which was OK except for the stiff breeze.. brrrrr..

I thought it would be boring but listening to the parents yelling out instructions to the kids as they're playing makes me laugh!! I guess parents are the same the world over but these are Under 9's for heavens' sake *S* They're gradually improving and learning to spread out on the field instead of bunching up together. They were lucky about 4 weeks ago to draw the match because the other team kicked a goal for them (in the wrong goal area) Ha! But they've either drawn or won on their own merit all the other games.

Mum and I took a couple of days to go shopping for rugs for the hallway. Being a main traffic area we could see the white carpet wouldn't stay white long. If it were just Mum and I there would be no problem but we have an 8 year old who forgets to take off his shoes and a 32 year old who does likewise *S* That's the trouble with Hervey Bay, there's not much choice. So I drove 3 hours to Maroochydore (normally a 2-1/2 hour trip but there was roadworks) and came home with some beautiful rugs. We had lunch and headed home because I hate driving in the dark. The council workers in Australia finish at 4pm every day so we weren't held up on the way home.

Jason, my son is going through a bad period (it must be catching) he's got his migraines back, with a vengance. He's had cat scans and been to specialists with no luck. Even my Bowen Massage Therapist hasn't helped this time. So he's been to a Naturopath who did blood tests on him and it seems he's deficient in Iron, Magnesium, B group vitamins and a hoard of other minerals which I can't remember. This has been depressing him which has caused him to think about his life and he feels it's going nowhere fast.

Now for the first time in many years he sat down and talked with us about it. He was in tears. I've always stressed to him that it is OK for grown men to cry and I thank God I did otherwise all the stress builds up inside and who knows what would result. Jason keeps his problems to himself so naturally as he breezes in and out of here like a whirlwind each day BECAUSE HE DOESN"T HAVE TIME TO STOP (unless he's after something) I get shitty (oops) with him because he's no sooner gone than I remember something I wanted and needed to discuss with him... too late!

Since he sat and opened his heart I now understand why he is the way he is. I told him he should have done this a long time ago and it would have stopped some of my moods about him. He has to remember we are a FAMILY and we're all he's got. We can't help if we don't know what's going on in his head. I think the 'gypsy' he lives with is a crackpot and that doesn't help. But Jason needs company and I think that's why he's stayed so long with her. I'm sure if he had the chance to meet someone else life would improve. He's even stopped using his mobile phone because she was on it every hour checking on where he was.

The 'gypsy' had a birthday recently and I made a nasty crack about the fact she'll soon be able to apply for the OA Pension... I'm a bitch *S* She's about 8 years older than Jason... The crack didn't go down well.. I couldn't believe I said it... I might think it but I don't usually put it into words, especially in front of him <grin>.

Lord it's so hard to remember what else has happened this last month. If I don't make a note every day.. it's gone forever.

Oh yes... important stuff...

My computer got upgraded... new CPU, new 20.4gig drive (I now have over 30gig) 3 x 148meg (or is it 128meg) of RAM, a new printer and yesterday I bought myself a new 17" monitor (yet to be installed) and a new keyboard (only because I liked the look of it). Jason has installed it all for me so he really isn't too bad after all. BUT I am having problems with the windows system which has to be fixed because it's driving me nuts. I have to back up all my files and then Jason's going to wipe everything else off the computer and reinstall a clean Windows. Some bug must have got into it somewhere along the line.

Jared is getting my old C drive and this monitor because his monitor isn't working properly. When it's on a while the screen starts to fade. Hey, can you believe this 8 year old grandson of mine has taught himself to install games on his computer!!!! He got sick of getting no assistance from me (I play dumb otherwise I'd never be left alone to play on my own computer) Only problem is he installed every one he could get his hands on and ran out of room! He couldn't work out why they wouldn't work <grin>. Jason reckons that by Christmas Jared will be able to install stuff on my computer for me... doesn't that make me feel insignificant! Ha!

Jared will be on 3 weeks holidays from the end of this week... yikes! How are we going to fill in the time???? Of course all the other schools only get 2 weeks!

Well, I think that's about enough of my boring life for now, if I think of anything else I've forgotten that you REALLY need to know about, I'll put it in the next episode. What's that you say.... "Thank God!!!????" Be nice :-)

Be kind to each other....

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity"

Jamie

The new head of the department (Protective Commissioner & Public Guardian) Ken Gabb, sidestepped every issue in the name of the "client's interest". He said that his office's only concern was that of their client. If it means selling the family home (INCASE funds are needed in the future) SO BE IT! Doesn't matter if the wife or husband AND THE CLIENT are still living in that home!

He's been with the Protective Office for 18 months and has well and truly been brainwashed. He sidestepped issues like the embezzlement of clients funds by HIS STAFF... no suggestion that the client's be recompensed for the funds stolen!

One 76 year old lady was at the brink of being FORCED into divorcing her husband (who was in a nursing home) in order to save her home from being sold by these pigs. Her husband's death saved her home.

This is what would have happened to me. They had the mortgage for our home which they hounded me for almost 4 years before I had no other option but to sign. They were thwarted by George's death one month later. It was almost as if George knew what was going on and passed away to save me further torture from these animals. I might add ... it is almost 12 months since his passing and I haven't yet received a release (in writing) from that mortgage. According to their 'laws' this was supposed to be released IMMEDIATELY upon his death. I have this in writing.

Another gentleman interviewed on the program had been injured in a car accident. However, he had all his faculties (mentally). It took him many years of hard physical work on his part to regain some semblance of normality in his life. He drives a car... so that should tell you something! He should have control of his OWN assets since he has regained the mental ability to do so. BUT NO... they still control his funds! WHY??? Because it would cost him a fortune to go to the SUPREME COURT to have control removed from their clutches. He would lose a great part of his compensation in court costs, not only for himself, but he has to pay court costs for the Protective Office too!! I think he's waiting for the outcome of the Inquiry, which should be available some time in September.

I spoke to Paddy Costa (COPPA) before she left Hervey Bay to return to Sydney and it seems she has inside information that (hopefully) the results fo the Inquiry will benefit the clients, future, present and past. All we can do is wait and see. I'd like to see the place demolished and the department abandoned but we all know that won't happen.

I find it so hard to believe that the politicians in NSW all wear blinkers and had no idea of what is going on in this department. Bob Carr, the Premier (Leader) of NSW should be hung, drawn and quartered! He's been leader for many years and you cant tell me he knew nothing about this!

Anyway... on to brighter things.........

Jared and I went to see SHREK today, it was fantastic. The animation is so lifelike and we loved the music and the story. It was easy to pick Eddie Murphy (the donkey) and I thought Mike Myers (Shrek) Scottish accent was a little suspect... but hilarious. This is one of the best kids movies I've seen in a long time. If you've got kids or grandchildren... make their day.. take them to see it :-)

Christmas came early in this household last week. We got a piano! We had been to Jared's school at the invitation of his music teacher to sit in on his music lesson. Mum and I had to stare out the window to hold back the tears. We couldn't believe what we were hearing. Now, Jared has done no practise at home since he started school this year.. because the place has been in such a mess. He's no concert pianist... BUT he played his first piece reading the music and not looking at the keys. OK it was slow.. but he played it perfectly. We were so proud of him. He's basically learned another language.

Mum was bound and determined from that point to get a piano! Didn't matter if we have no room for one... we have to make room. Well she won! It was delivered Friday and we found the room.

Just one thing.... we didn't plan far enough ahead.... We had a new rug for the TV room (which is the piano's new home) BUT it wasn't put down before the piano was delivered! The delivery guys were gone... and she wanted the rug down... NOW!! She'd help... right!!!! Give me a break... she's 76!

So to shut her up and stop her moaning I told her to get out of the TV room and leave me alone. She said "Ring Jason... he'll help." No he wouldn't! He's not stupid like me! So I didn't ring him. I got the rug by myself and started unrolling from one wall... had to move the TV etc... then I rolled it as far as the piano... which had to be lifted UP and OVER somehow. Did I tell you that pianos weigh A THOUSAND TON!!!! I edged it an inch or two at a time over the roll of the carpet. It ended up on the other side of the room from where it was to finally sit. I got the carpet fully unrolled then had to edge it inch by inch back to it's final position... I did my back in! BUT I moved it. Of course, I'm suffering now. But it's better than listening to a particular person muttering constantly about how it would be better if the new rug were down as well!! Hey, I love my mother.... but she just makes life so difficult at times.

I though Jared would go "EEEEEEW YUK!" when he saw the piano BUT HE DIDN'T! He said "AWESOME!!!" He's actually happy that we got one even though it does mean he can practise properly now. He's full of surprises.

By the way... this is what the TV room looked like a couple of weeks ago when we had to empty the kitchen cupboards to have the kitchen installed.

And this is what it looks like now :-)

....

Talking about surprises before... this was my Mother's Day present from Jared.... I think he likes to see me work <grin>, BUT it is beautiful... isn't it *S*

Well, what a great morning this is... (NOT), woke up to a screaming match... one sided.. my mother yelling at Jared then yelling at me about how SHE does everything around here and no one else helps.... how do I remain sane??? Sometimes I wish I could leave home *S*

Look, I know she's not been feeling the best lately.. so why can't she admit that's what's wrong instead of picking on trivialities and blowing them out of proportion? Doesn't matter what I say this morning.. it's all the wrong thing. God, I hope I never end up like that.

Jason was over ... he mucked up the installation of my CD writer and my other CD reader. I think he mixed up the drives or something (big expert *S*) so the backing up of my files is held up. Said he'll fix it Wednesday... I'm only his Mum, so I'll have to wait....

Tuesday 26th June 2001

Well, thank God yesterday is over! Talk about BLACK MOODS! O.K. I'm not going to talk about it, it's over...

At least I got my bathroom back.. all boxes, paint cans etc.... gone and everything tidy. That's the good thing about having a bedroom at "the other end of the house"... peace and quiet *S* Now I have to finish the bedroom. I can't seem to find places for everything :-(

Kitchen tiles are ready to be collected, gotta go pay my server, Mum has to go to the doctor... so not much getting done today.

Did I forget to mention I got myself a 17" monitor? Jared's monitor was beginning to fade, the longer it was on the lighter the screen became. So... great excuse... I gave him my monitor and got myself the new one! Lord... it's so blinding!! I don't even need a light on at night to see the keyboard!! Everything looks so clear and BRIGHT! I love it.

Hey! I just thought of something..... some of you already know this but for those of you who don't .... I am soon to have one of my poems published!! In a book produced in the grand old US of A no less! I submitted a poem to Poetry.com for one of their competitions and couldn't believe my eyes when I received a letter (snail mail) from them last week saying that my poem will be published in their new book coming out in the US winter. Imagine.... out of the 10's of thousands of entries... mine was chosen.... and my FIRST entry too! I'm on top of the world! I'm still in the running for the monthly and annual prizes BUT the publishing is more of a thrill.

You'll find the poem I submitted here.... ANTS!!

Well gotta go... we're hitting the doc's first....

Friday 29th June 2001

We went out on Tuesday with the main purpose of picking up the kitchen tiles between 4pm and 5pm. You guessed it.... we took care of everything else and at 5:10pm I was getting into the car at the shopping centre and it suddenly struck me... TILES!!!! SHOOT... I forgot qll about them!

I rang the next morning to apologise and as it turned out the guy had been there until 6pm. He didn't say he was waiting for me... AND I didn't ask :-( Anyway they got collected, installed on Thursday and grouted today. I'm glad I waited the month for them to come in, they look great.

Now, the guy who installed the cupboards came Thursday and took away 2 doors that he was supposed to make longer (a month ago) so that they hide most of the new Range Hood above the stove. So since the doors are missing I haven't taken a pic of the finished work yet. I hope he doesn't take another month to replace the doors and install the range hood.!! I'll be really ticked off if he doesn't turn up early next week! See.... it doesn't pay to fork out the entire cost in advance! If I still owed him money I guess I'd get better service! Won't make THAT mistake again.

My computer was supposed to go to the technician today to get the C Drive wiped, but I'm still doing backups. So, it'll have to wait until Monday. I lay down for a couple of minutes about 1:30 this afternoon and woke up about 7:40 this evening!! I vaguely remember Jared coming into my bedroom and asking me for $1,240 for a lap top computer...!!!!! I remember telling him to "GO AWAY!!" That must have been around 5pm when his Dad brought him home... I thought I'd dreamt it.... seems I didn't!! When I finally DID wake up, I thought it was morning! DUH!!

Jared was quietly watching TV... seems when I told him to "GO AWAY!!" he took my advice :-) Poor little fellow hadn't had any dinner, dogs weren't fed, Mum was in bed too! I can't believe he or his father didn't wake one of us up when Jared came home. So he asked if we could have KFC.. I didn't argue... it was a bit late to start cooking!

By the way, he was serious about the Lap Top! No need to tell what my response was now that I was wide awake and thinking clearly! No different to that when I was half asleep.

It's bucketed rain today on and off. The cool weather should have me in a working mood but I just can't seem to get motivated. My back aches from moving the piano last Friday.

I'm getting a single garage put up in the garden where the pool is. Can't get one next to the house because this was originally 2 blocks of land which I had amalgamated into one BUT an easement runs right up the middle (where a garage should go). I need a place for bikes, tools, storage etc. I've tossed about everything out that I can and have no room for all these other things. Had to opt for a garage instead of a shed because it would be constructed better, sealed better. I've got a small shed but everything (creepy crawlies) gets in through the gaps at the bottom, and it isn't weatherproof as far as rain is concerned. It gets in through the bottom... runs off the slab.

My Dad built some shelves in the shed many years ago and I haven't been in it in many months. I went to clean it out last week and was met by an army of WHITE ANTS (termites)!!!! I don't know how the shelves were still standing because the supports had been eaten away on the inside. So I placed all the wood and the ants in big plastic garbage bags, sealed them tight and had them taken to the dump. Don't really need THEM in the house gobbling up my furniture!! Lord, it never rains but it pours! Every which way I turn something needs fixing or replacing. Will it ever end??

Saturday 30th June 2001

Well, THAT'S IT!! Half the year is gone already!! I'll be another year older shortly <groan> Last week we were talking about the day I left High School. I remember it better than I remember what happened yesterday.... was it really THAT many years ago???? I used to wonder what it would be like to be 21.... 30... 40... 50...... I wondered if I'd feel different, think differently... Now that I've passed all those stages, I still don't think or feel any different (inwardly) than I did when I was 16. I still have the same ethics, morals, hopes and ideals. Done the 'courting' thing, been married twice, widowed once, travelled, had good jobs, had rough times and smooth and hopefully have learned from my mistakes.

I've lost most of those closest to me but still have my mother... how many others have even one parent for 56 years? I had my Dad for over 53 years and my second husband for 30 years. My first husband is still alive though he's had a heart bypass, and we've remained friends. I have a wonderful, loving grandson living with me and I wouldn't change that for anything. My son... well he's an enigma, I never know what he's thinking and he never seems to learn from his mistakes. I've given up trying to advise or suggest ways to improve his life.. it's easier that way. Sometimes I feel so sorry for him and the times in which he lives.. my growing up years (18 to 50 and I'm still growing) were so much better, so many more opportunities. But we have to make the best of what life deals us.

Hey... does everyone think about these things when another year is about to pass them by???? <GRIN>

Well, that's it for another month. Hope I haven't bored the socks off you <smile>

Catch you in the second half of 2001....

"Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live "

Hugs,

Jamie

PS: I almost forgot... HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!