Annie

Q

Apart from gardening (and like you Cimarron - we have that great clay base too - so lots of terraces and lugging sheep yard soil up to the top of the farm where the house is) - but it's worth it, especially in Spring when the roses are blooming.

I also do relief teaching at a local Catholic college (the relief is when you walk out at the end of the day and have no marking or prep. to do :-) ) and I'm secretary of the local Uniting/Anglican Community church; I do volunteer work at a local Children's Home tutoring some young guys around 14/15 who've had a fairly rough deal out of life (I find this very rewarding although fairly tough and I'm never sure if what I'm doing for them is right but you plough on anyway); we run a farm (one we try to earn money out of) and I love to make preserves and jams from our own produce. In between that we have 4 children and 2 grandchildren (2 and 4), my mum and dad and our larger family group, and they are all very important to us. We love to see them as often as possible. Most weekends they descend on us and we sit around at night (when football season allows) and play board games like Balderdash, Risk, Scrabble, Pictionary etc. We love to have friends around to dinner or a bbq and I also love to read novels (I go to a bookclub once a month which is fun) and I do cryptic crosswords (the London Times especially, which is found in The Australian). In fact I have 3 girlfriends (all teachers) who are also cryptic crossword fanatics and we go away once a term for a weekend somewhere - with multiple photocopies of about 30 crosswords and spend the weekend solving x-words together, having the odd Cab. Sav., food, etc. and having a great laugh and yes, a good gossip. Very good for the soul!

And yes, like Pebbles, I try to keep the old figure trim (for me,it's a losing battle against gravity!) by going to the gym on Mondays if I'm free, and walking around the farm.
Barb

Sabine

I love to read (gardening books mostly) and surf the net. Most of my time is spent caring for lots of critters: ducks, chooks, kids etc.

I had rearranged my life a bit so I get could get along to a TAFE shortcourse on Carving Feature Bricks. It was cancelled for lack of numbers, and deferred until next term. Grrr...

Amanda

I too confess to getting annoyed when (non-gardening) people just drop in. Gardening friends are different because they want to walk around the garden with you and share your excitement at seeing buds appearing and other changes no matter how small!

Must admit, I am probably boring to non-gardening people, as all other activities outside work, home and the garden are garden orientated. Leisurly drives with friends up into the hinterland for lunch and nursery hunting, Qld Rose Society meetings and activities, visits to the library for ... you guessed it, gardening books, trips to the hardware store and landscapers.

I even spend time in the garden at night - watering can only be done after 4pm, then I hop onto the net and surf garden sites and pop in and out of the gardening forums. Oh God, I did'nt realise how boring I must be to other people.

Too bad I reckon. This is the way I am, and I love it.

Like leyla, been dabbling in the idea of mosiacs myself. They are gorgeous!!! I've contacted a place running a course on it!!

It ties in with my eventual hope to install a mediterranean fenceline,instead of the eyesore colourbond.(not for a long long time though)

I have a pattern in my minds eye on what I'd like to design onto the wall. Either in mosiac or leadlighting glass, still deciding on my limitations etc.(Both physically and financially and creatively)

As you all know I have a yucky colourbond fence,due to termites, it became a quick fix. But it certainly doesn't do anything to improve the property values or appeal to the eye.

Leyla do you read home and garden mags???
A few months back I saw the most amazing celtic design mosiac, in the garden wall. I looked to see who the company was, that produced it??

Did you know it was designed by the owner of the home themselves.I prefer modern an original designs,not just mass produced stuff.

Well a side interest anyway.

I love animals.I went on to study a preliminary to vet nursing. Currently I work in retail. I enjoy my job. And am also in the process of considering to do a science degree.

It is also a matter of finaces if I can proceed. But those a some of my goals.

I went back to school, after my job of 10yrs,folded. And did adult courses and became computer literate. I decided to pursue the field of work,which means the world to me. But doing it, little by little.

I'm also considering to do a japanese speaking course by night, to help me on my way.

Granville, I feel the same as you,that if opportunities present, even in a small way,I think we make a world of difference.

Good on you, for helping those kids.
For giving them an opportunity they may not ever have had . It shows strength of character!!!

I really enjoy meeting / knowing all of you, as you all seem like genuine and nice people and I'm glad I stumbled into this forum.

jlst

JLST where do u find enough time and energy in the day??It's great to see.

Myself I'm mid 30's and work full time in a job that involves indoor/outdoor work and plenty of variety. I am happy with it although to own a bed and breakfast would be a 'future' preference.

I have laid down the footy boots/cricket bat/triathlon gear and now resort to fathering our two young boys (6 & 2) although I may be picking all that up again soon to keep up with them. I love running regularly and escaping to the roses and pondering my next garden venture at all hours of the day and night such as now at 2.15AM...??

In the new year we are starting a new life in countryish? Don Valley on an acre with plenty of projects in mind ahead. Our kids will also be going to a Steiner school in the Yarra Valley which will also be 'unique' and take a little getting used to, particularly on my part. From what I have seen thus far the way children are nurtured and educated is amazing and I would imagine they won't start ruining others gardens and the like when they tend to their own and cook their own breads at such a young age.

Anyway I have to enjoy computers or I wouldn't be here and love interacting with you all and gaining inspiration from your wonderful idea's.

Garry

Not only am I a roseaholic, I've turned into a knit-aholic too! I scour ebay, I find out about new and different yarn shops online and in the "real" world.... I buy too much.

Anyone want to buy some scarves or hats before I bankrupt myself? LOL

And I make little dragons like the one in the link below (scroll down the page a bit to Sage) only mine aren't sad, mine are goofy 8-)

Oh and I fund all of this with full time work, so I get a lot less time to do the fun things and just enough mney to indulge myself with!

anon!

Lynne S

It keeps me busy - I buy papers and never get to read them. I have also opened a small B&B which is booked on weekends and so one day a week I am flat out making it all beautiful and then I try to keep a low profile on the weekend so the guests can have as much privacy as possible. That's when I go shopping as the shops are all a long way away so I head off to look at nurseries with the dogs in tow.

Life is truly wonderful.

Granville44 - if you ever need a treat for some kids who would like a few days of country life and who would be kind to my animals, I have a 3 bedroom B&B on 5 acres just 2 hours from Sydney and would be happy to offer this to a church or charity group occasionally - I once had a teenage son who had some serious problems so now that I am older, I would always like to be able to put some joy back. Email me if you wish
Kevarose

I was going to send you an email and so I have just read your home page and found out that you live in WA - silly me, I made a wrong assumption that Granville meant you were in the Sydney region. Better stop making assumptions

Pamela or Kevarose

Cheers, Jules