We're Not All Bronzed, Blonde Beach Babes...

We're Not All Bronzed, Blonde Beach Babes...http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/I live in the beautiful centre of New South Wales Australia, facing the worst drought in over 100 years but still managing to laugh, drink, and be who I am without having regrets.en-AUhourly82000-01-01T12:00+00:00We're Not All Bronzed, Blonde Beach Babes...http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/e8/586a2aa617fb1d05a8d455a18a2d3e_160x200.jpgmehttp://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/me~1441662/2006-12-15T16:02:39+01:00 <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=1036641"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/641/1036641_1f2bc58a3a_s.jpg" alt="Donna-Lee" title="Donna-Lee" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="157" height="180"></a> <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/me~1441662/#comments">Comments</a>

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]]>When did I get old???http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/when_did_i_get_old~581658/2006-02-21T21:39:30+01:00 I can't believe I have no kids at home?!?!? When did this happen? My image of "empty nesters" are just a tad older than me - whoosh - they're not here! I thought I would post a photo of my pair just because I miss them (Mr 19 is down in Melbourne working before the Australian Army whisk him away in a couple of months and Miss 16, my baby, has just arrived in Switzerland for a 12 month !!!!!! Rotary exchange). So proud but miss them so much.<a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=376102"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/102/376102_7e0773a49b_m.jpg" align="" alt="My Precious Two" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/when_did_i_get_old~581658/#comments">Comments</a> I can't believe I have no kids at home?!?!? When did this happen? My image of "empty nesters" are just a tad older than me - whoosh - they're not here! I thought I would post a photo of my pair just because I miss them (Mr 19 is down in Melbourne working before the Australian Army whisk him away in a couple of months and Miss 16, my baby, has just arrived in Switzerland for a 12 month !!!!!! Rotary exchange).

So proud but miss them so much.

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]]>Putting a toe in the water......http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/putting_a_toe_in_the_water~581629/2006-02-21T21:31:42+01:00 They say you should be careful what you wish for don't they? After all my tears and frustrations about not being at work (recap - fractured shoulder) for 6 weeks, I went back to work for a few hours this week. I can't believe how foreign it felt - it was as if I had been gone a year! I was almost disorientated and felt completely lost. It was all a little overwhelming really, and I don't get flustered or emotional easily. I suppose there is a little emotional healing required too. My colleagues were all wonderful, but I imagine that my expectations were too high - I simply cannot just slip (no pun intended) into the same high heel shoes and act if everything is the same I suppose. I came home after only 3 hours and burst into tears just inside the door. So many lessons to learn from a simple lettuce leaf on the floor..... <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/putting_a_toe_in_the_water~581629/#comments">Comments</a> They say you should be careful what you wish for don't they?

After all my tears and frustrations about not being at work (recap - fractured shoulder) for 6 weeks, I went back to work for a few hours this week.

I can't believe how foreign it felt - it was as if I had been gone a year! I was almost disorientated and felt completely lost. It was all a little overwhelming really, and I don't get flustered or emotional easily.

I suppose there is a little emotional healing required too. My colleagues were all wonderful, but I imagine that my expectations were too high - I simply cannot just slip (no pun intended) into the same high heel shoes and act if everything is the same I suppose. I came home after only 3 hours and burst into tears just inside the door.

So many lessons to learn from a simple lettuce leaf on the floor.....

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]]>25 Questions - Doing the rounds......http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/25_questions_doing_the_rounds~579292/2006-02-21T03:05:16+01:00 1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? I really DO look like my mother 2. How much cash do you have on you? $10 and a few gold coins 3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST" Lest 4. Favourite planet? Saturn - no reason, just like it. 5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your mobile? Teenage daughter 6. What is your favourite ring on your phone? Very chinese sounding number- love asian music 7. What shirt are you wearing? Little white cheesecloth number I got off ebay for $5. Can't part with it 8. Do you label yourself? Always - but never in the right way. This is the year to change all that. 9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing. Diana Ferrari 10. Bright or Dark Room? Softly subdued behind curtains - sunny (bloody hot) outside 11. What were you doing at midnight last night? Chatting on MSN to daughter in Switzerland 12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? Your sister says hi. 13. Where is your nearest 7-11? 2 hours drive away 14. What's a saying that you say a lot? There ya go. 15.Who told you they loved you last? My daughter 16. Last furry thing you touched? British Shorthair cat 2 mins ago 17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days? Extensive painkillers for fractured shoulder, but nothing to give me any warm and fuzzy feelings. 18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? only 2 - now onto digital 19. Favourite age you have been so far? I like this age - it is causing both grief and growth at the same time. Big self discovery. 20. Your enemy? Calories 21. What is your current desktop picture? Kaoshiung in Taiwan. Hope to visit soon (few months) 22. What was the last thing you said to someone? I will be back after lunch hopefully. 23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose? Definately the money- I can always call Qantas. 24. Do you like someone? I like people even if they don't deserve it. 25. The last song you listened to? Doobie Brothers - What a fool believes. <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/25_questions_doing_the_rounds~579292/#comments">Comments</a> 1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? I really DO look like my mother

2. How much cash do you have on you?
$10 and a few gold coins

3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"
Lest

4. Favourite planet?
Saturn - no reason, just like it.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your mobile?
Teenage daughter

6. What is your favourite ring on your phone?
Very chinese sounding number- love asian music

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Little white cheesecloth number I got off ebay for $5. Can't part with it

8. Do you label yourself?
Always - but never in the right way. This is the year to change all that.

9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing.
Diana Ferrari

10. Bright or Dark Room?
Softly subdued behind curtains - sunny (bloody hot) outside

11. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Chatting on MSN to daughter in Switzerland

12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
Your sister says hi.

13. Where is your nearest 7-11?
2 hours drive away

14. What's a saying that you say a lot?
There ya go.

15.Who told you they loved you last?
My daughter

16. Last furry thing you touched?
British Shorthair cat 2 mins ago

17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days?
Extensive painkillers for fractured shoulder, but nothing to give me any warm and fuzzy feelings.

18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
only 2 - now onto digital

19. Favourite age you have been so far?
I like this age - it is causing both grief and growth at the same time. Big self discovery.

20. Your enemy?
Calories

21. What is your current desktop picture?
Kaoshiung in Taiwan. Hope to visit soon (few months)

22. What was the last thing you said to someone?
I will be back after lunch hopefully.

23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?
Definately the money- I can always call Qantas.

24. Do you like someone?
I like people even if they don't deserve it.

25. The last song you listened to?
Doobie Brothers - What a fool believes.

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]]>But work IS my life.....http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/19/but_work_is_my_life~573745/2006-02-19T04:25:25+01:00 I've been stuck home now for over a month (triple fracture of my shoulder tripping on a lettuce leaf in a supermarket would you believe?!?) and I absolutely cannot stand being at home another day. I've never experienced so much frustration in all my life - one minute, career, family, VERY independent - now I'm stuck with "easy to pull up" shorts and t-shirts because my left arm is useless, daytime tv and a feeling of utter uselessness. I simply had no idea how hard it would be to give up what I sometimes looked at as such a choatic life. But I miss my work and my colleagues so much. Every time someone says to me "enjoy your time at home, work is just a job" - well I think I want to scream. My work IS so much a part of my life and as each week passes I feel like I am being left behind. How DO people cope when they are forced out of the workforce permanently?? The thought of retirement is terrifying (I am still a good 20 years off that yet!). Anyway, I have begged my GP to let me go back just a few hours a day just to regain my sanity. It might be different if I had family at home to fill my day, but Miss 16 is in Switzerland for 12 months on exchange (only left last month, missing her terribly), and Mr 19 is away and in the army. Poor old hubby just quietly bears the brunt of my moody frustrations! As, I'm afraid, is anyone reading this! This DEpendence as opposed to my very comfortable INdependence has been such an eye-opener for me - and I just don't like it very much at all!! Give me back my high heels, my lippy and my self esteem please!!!!! <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/19/but_work_is_my_life~573745/#comments">Comments</a> I've been stuck home now for over a month (triple fracture of my shoulder tripping on a lettuce leaf in a supermarket would you believe?!?) and I absolutely cannot stand being at home another day. I've never experienced so much frustration in all my life - one minute, career, family, VERY independent - now I'm stuck with "easy to pull up" shorts and t-shirts because my left arm is useless, daytime tv and a feeling of utter uselessness. I simply had no idea how hard it would be to give up what I sometimes looked at as such a choatic life.

But I miss my work and my colleagues so much. Every time someone says to me "enjoy your time at home, work is just a job" - well I think I want to scream. My work IS so much a part of my life and as each week passes I feel like I am being left behind. How DO people cope when they are forced out of the workforce permanently?? The thought of retirement is terrifying (I am still a good 20 years off that yet!).

Anyway, I have begged my GP to let me go back just a few hours a day just to regain my sanity. It might be different if I had family at home to fill my day, but Miss 16 is in Switzerland for 12 months on exchange (only left last month, missing her terribly), and Mr 19 is away and in the army. Poor old hubby just quietly bears the brunt of my moody frustrations! As, I'm afraid, is anyone reading this! This DEpendence as opposed to my very comfortable INdependence has been such an eye-opener for me - and I just don't like it very much at all!! Give me back my high heels, my lippy and my self esteem please!!!!!

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]]>When will summer end!!!!!http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/12/when_will_summer_end~555623/2006-02-12T01:03:28+01:00 Yet another day over 40 degrees. I thought when it reached 46 I would surely die! All I can say is thank god for Gin and Tonic and air conditioners! Just when I think I will tizzy myself up with a bit of lippy, the makeup melts five minutes out the door and I'm back to feeling like a marshmellow over a fire. I found myself watching a british movie last night where it rained all week - bloody sad that I can't remember a week like that for years! <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/12/when_will_summer_end~555623/#comments">Comments</a> Yet another day over 40 degrees. I thought when it reached 46 I would surely die! All I can say is thank god for Gin and Tonic and air conditioners! Just when I think I will tizzy myself up with a bit of lippy, the makeup melts five minutes out the door and I'm back to feeling like a marshmellow over a fire. I found myself watching a british movie last night where it rained all week - bloody sad that I can't remember a week like that for years!

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]]>Slowly working it out...http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/10/slowly_working_it_out~551184/2006-02-10T10:24:21+01:00 Ok, I have spent the last hour or so randomly clicking on blogs and through their friends, working out what it is all about (well, hopefully!). I think it is almost like a "dear diary" - albeit a public one. But also a place where others can comment, read, review, critisize etc. How novel! I will have a go, and either fade into insignificance where no one is really interested in my bits n pieces from the outback, or maybe, and hopefully, I might connect with other working women performing the same juggling act that I do each day whilst trying not to "drop the ball"! <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/10/slowly_working_it_out~551184/#comments">Comments</a> Ok, I have spent the last hour or so randomly clicking on blogs and through their friends, working out what it is all about (well, hopefully!). I think it is almost like a "dear diary" - albeit a public one. But also a place where others can comment, read, review, critisize etc. How novel! I will have a go, and either fade into insignificance where no one is really interested in my bits n pieces from the outback, or maybe, and hopefully, I might connect with other working women performing the same juggling act that I do each day whilst trying not to "drop the ball"!

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]]>So New & So Unsure!!http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/10/so_new_aamp_so_unsure~550944/2006-02-10T07:39:09+01:00 Having stumbled upon a "blog" I am keen to know what this is all about? Is this perhaps a way to meet other like minded people from all over? Any help would be gratefully received! <a href="http://donnalee.blog.co.uk/2006/02/10/so_new_aamp_so_unsure~550944/#comments">Comments</a> Having stumbled upon a "blog" I am keen to know what this is all about? Is this perhaps a way to meet other like minded people from all over? Any help would be gratefully received!

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