Confessions of a bad citizen....

I truly had every intention of voting yesterday.

As I made sure youngest daughter was ready for her first real day at the deli at the local IGA supermarket - I thought to myself... must vote today.

As I crept back into bed and had some extra sleep because it is weekend.. I thought to myself - must vote today.

When I got back out of bed to tidy the house for the inspection of our fire alarms by the landlady - I thought to myself - must vote today.

When I went to the butchers; came home and unpacked all the meat for the freezer and returned back out to the supermarket, unpacked that and started the washing - I thought to myself - must vote today.

While my house was full of boys playing on the Xbox and PS2 and I was tripping over them trying to organize the house - I thought to myself - must vote today.

After cooking lunch at the washing up sink I thought to myself - must vote today.

Organizing some pictures I wanted to paint on the windows at work for the children as I waited for the girls to finish work - I thought to myself - must vote today.

Whilst taking Anna on her driving lesson (and enduring a couple of very close calls to parked cars - she has SO got to learn depth and measurement type stuff) and explaining why her theory of putting the blinker on 300 meters before a corner because that way it is only gear change and steering she has to think about is still just not the way to do it.. we actually drove past a couple of polling booths and the one I was going to get her to stop out she seemed a little stressed by the drivers of cars opening their doors as she drove past... and I told her to go straight ahead. Once again the intention was there.

While attending one of those awful buy stuff "parties" (such a terrible use of the word party)and then visiting the art show at the Botanical Gardens (which turned out to not be the one I wanted to see - that one had shut yesterday) I thought to myself - must vote today.

Then buying some seedlings for the garden and discussing silicon for our leaking boat, and coming home and fiddling around with that stuff - I again thought to myself - must vote today.

I started cooking chicken parmigiana and the fresh carrots and beans from our garden for the family - and again I thought - must vote today.

At the dinner table - William's friend Damien was sleeping over and he asked me ... "Who did you vote for?" and I looked at the time....

OH SHIT. I think that is gunna cost us $150.

Joy rang me at 10 pm really excited about the Labor victory. She was so excited and at her local electorate Labor candidates celebration party I decided it wasn't the right time to confess my crime. When she rang I was in the middle of resizing Finding Nemo characters to paint on the wall for the two year olds at work.

Then earlier I checked on some of my favorite blogs and of course every other citizen at least has an opinion.

I am a Labor supporter usually. I wasn't all that fussed with the Labor candidate in our electorate because of my families dealings with his family (ok namely I didn't like his sons visiting my daughters late at night when they were only 13, I find the boys rude and obnoxious and I once attended a job interview at his office and found his attitude egotistical and obnoxious and reminded me why I hate working for lawyers) On the other hand - I should be the LAST person to point the finger at parents for their children's behavior, and I am aware this candidate does do some lovely charity work.(So do I actually - I am the eternal volunteer it is just I really don't seem to have any ambition other than a bigger boat and more holidays)

I still had every intention of voting Labor. And it is the thought that counts. At one stage I agreed to hand out flyer's at the polling booth for an hour too - but I managed to avoid that person ever since and they didn't find me.

Shit. $150. I could of bought lobsters, smoked salmon, oysters, prawns and bubbly and still had change and shared it with MOTH & the kids and even a girlfriend or two and her family..... Shit...

I noticed Scorpy and others had interesting comments both for and against Howard. I always admired his eloquence. I think I am a Labor voter simply because I find it difficult to admit I am probably more a Green's supporter and I come from a working class background and hope that the Labor party will protect me and mine more so than the Liberals. I do understand how horrid it is when you cannot fire someone because of rules and unions etc but I would more sympathize with an individual who lost from the Industrial Relations changes.

Or - I just no longer give a shit about politics. Any system is always going to have flaws. The flaws are more likely to give me a headache than anyone. But - I reckon if I can still float on the water and look at the birds.... if I can still play with the kids and marvel at their intelligence.. if I can still appreciate good food and seek company that will make me feel comfortable.. that will do...

Meet my nephew Logan

He is wearing Anna's brand new hair extensions she bought the day with Jeanette at Paddy's markets.

I said to him.... "Do you go to preschool?"

Logan said... "Yes!"

I said ... "How many days a week do you go to preschool?"

Logan said... "100"

Hmmm... I bet we have all had weeks just like that.

We were playing "I spy" in the car. Logan said.. "I spy with my little eye something beginning with P"

Jane - "Purple flowers!"

Melissa - "Patterson's curse!"

William - "pretty flowers"

Christian - "potholes!"

Jane - "pigs!"

Melissa - "park brake"

William - "passengers"

etc

etc...

We give up..... the answer was ROAD. Don't play I spy with someone who cheats! (Or cant spell yet, whatever!)

When Christian took Sparky the dog into the Dog on the Tuckerbox statue Logan seemed fascinated with the money in the fountain. So I gave him a handful of change to put in it himself. He quickly stuck it in his pocket. I asked him if he was going to throw it into the water... and he looked at me like I was completely mad and said "No way!"
Okay in that photo from the left is my youngest daughter Jane holding my nephew Logan, my Dad, my son William, my brother Peter holding his youngest son Kyle, Christian (who strikes that pose for every formal photo?) my daughter Anna shivering in the cold but refusing to wear sensible clothes, my oldest neice Miranda and Sparky the dog.

The younger nieces were at Barellan attending a swimming carnival this day of our holiday and we met up with them later at the Temora Aviation Museum that was pretty interesting and worth attending!Raquel and Azelyn amused us in the evening gifting us pretty finger puppets they made and telling us stories.

Logan also gives me kisses and cuddles on command. Most impressive. (So delicious you could eat that one!)

Meet Sparky

Sparky is my brother's border terrier. Sparky is dreadfully cute. Sparky has already won an award for "Best trick" at a dog show. His other trick that I doubt my brother and sister in law have shown is ... he humps his bedding. It is hilariously funny.

I probably didnt have to drink all that scotch when I visited my brother and sister in law. But .. oh dear oh dear - Sparky was funny as all heck.

Meet Seth

Seth is the water dragon lizard that lives at my daughter Sara's house. He has never lived in the wild and his preferred abode is in Sara's shoes. He didn't like us very much.

Wonder why..... We liked him. Oh - he wont eat cockroaches either. When I offered him one I caught he looked at me ... rather annoyed and ran away.

Yep - Seth didn't like us very much at all. Maybe we smelt bad?

Meet my Grandson

Jay is a "chip off the block" for sure. I already miss him heaps.

He has his grandmother's ability to pull funny faces. A trait that will serve him well.

In the middle of our holiday

Our first day was driving to Tweed Heads to our dear friends house - and the second day at Wet & Wild. We had a ball.Wednesday morning we flew into Sydney and where met by my daughter Sara and her partner Chris. Three of my family opted for the Harbour Bridge Climb. I am way too wasted to work Sara's scanner so we just took a photo of the photo!
Sara, Jane, Jay, Chris and I ate lunch at the Harbour View Hotel and took photos of the adventurers as well as offering wonderful words of encouragement. (Ok so we laughed at their funny suits and waved our alcoholic drinks at them)
Then we all caught the ferry back to Manly and home to Sara's.
Today we visited a art exhibition and my cousin Jeanette gave us a wonderful guided tour of Sydney. That is William and me at one of the art thingos. Made me miss my dogs.
My oldest two daughters...... I find them both so very beautiful.
My daughter and me.... and a few extra (or 15) kilos that must go as soon as I .. have time.
My cousin Jeanette and me at Bondi Beach.

I have loads and loads of photos. Be scared. Tomorrow we head to Cootamundra. It just continues to be exciting.