The simple things...

Today I walked up a mountain.

No, it wasn't a metaphorical mountain that I needed to climb to conquer my depression, it was, literally, a mountain. Mount Franklin to be precise.

We had a lovely day actually. We packed a picnic lunch and headed up the muddy (and sometimes snowy and slippery) dirt road into the Brindabella Ranges. The last time we went up that road was around this time last year, when the four of us went and had a lovely day at the snow:
It was one of the last big things we did as a family, which I guess is why it's stuck in our minds. Oliver remembered the road, and the places that we pulled over to check out the snow. We had a couple of sad moments along the way, as the memories hit. Especially Anthony, who'd taken the boys up to the Brindabellas (but a different part) one day while I was busy writing reports.

For a little while, we were the only people at the Mount Franklin Chalet, which was very nice. It was so quiet and peaceful, and there was just enough snow to have a bit of a snowball fight and build a snowman.

Then Oliver decided he wanted to walk to the summit. Which was only about 1.5km away, but up a steep (in places) hill covered in snow, so needless to say it was hard going, especially for super unfit me. I did vow though, once I'd reached the top, to come back at the same time next year and go up twice as fast! Hopefully I can do that!

The view at the top was definitely worth it, with lovely clouds rolling in and (behind them) a view for miles and miles...
We're so lucky in Canberra to have this beautiful scenery all around us. I can see these mountains from my front door, and it's always very nice to go up there. It's also nice to know there is a place where there's snow, but not lots of people (and ski bunnies, who are not real people as far as I can see!). Then we have Sydney within 3 hours drive, the coast in about 1.5 hours, and many other lovely places in between. At the same time getting to live in this beautiful city.

So all in all, it's been a great week. I've done a little bit of work (not too much though folks, don't worry!); I've been bike riding with Ollie out at the whiz-bang new Stromlo Forest Park;
We went and saw Toy Story 3, which was lovely (I love Pixar movies); I spent a day playing with Photoshop and getting our tax paperwork organised (I can cross off number 16 on my list! yay!!); And then I spent a lovely day yesterday just doing stuff I wanted to do, by myself: taking photos by the lake, going to a photographic exhibition (which made me feel very good about my skills - on par (or better?) than many of the photos displayed), going shopping in the city, all of which was topped off by a great dinner out with Anthony and a DVD snuggled up on the couch (thanks Mum and Dad for having Ollie!)

I guess these kinds of things are helping me with this depression stuff (as well as the drugs), and I hope I can keep them up, because I feel pretty good at the moment.

Well, back tomorrow with my photos.

Mental Health Update

It's been 2 and a half weeks since I started taking drugs for the depression. So I thought I'd update.

Although I was fairly resistant to taking at first, I can feel that they are helping. I have more energy (I have actually done some exercise every day this week), I am doing things (I have even crossed one or two things off my list), I cleaned up a bit (shock! horror!), and can smile a bit again.

There's a long way to go, but I guess the doc made the right decision. I'd like to keep talking about it with you, as I think it's important. But not now, I'm going to go and have a nice day with my little family; driving up into the mountains for a picnic.

50 Things

It's been done to death I'm sure, but I thought I'd write a list. It does happen to coincide with the latest Blog This challenge; their 50th and a very popular one at that. But I'm just using it as a inspiration, as I reckon this post is hilarious!

There are a few things that I could (and still might) write a list of: my favourites songs; my favourite movies; the best things about Canberra; my favourite books; my favourite children's books; naughty things I've done; good things I've done; things I'm grateful for (to go with my previous 10); places I'd like to visit; as well as the more serious ones, such as: 50 things I'd say to Sam if I could; 50 things losing a child has taught me; 50 regrets etc.

In keeping with my recent 'theme', I thought I'd list 50 things that I would like to do before I'm 40. But I got to about 12 and realised that I couldn't really think of 50!

So I thought I'd write a to-do list, some things to do on my extra day off (and other days). Maybe I'll even be able to cross some of them off soon!

1. Work out what to do with Sam's ashes.
2. Work out what to do with Sam's bedroom.
3. Work out what to do with Sam's mural (or a place for people to go to remember him).
4. Organise Sam's drawings/photos into a scrapbook or something.
5. Organise Ollie's drawings/photos into a scrapbook or something.
6. Learn more about drawing (something I started trying to teach myself a while ago).
7. Teach Oliver how to sing/play the guitar.
8. Do some stop-motion animation with Oliver.
9. Get back into a regular exercise routine.
10. Learn more about photography.
11. Take a photo a day.
12. Master Photoshop.
13. Finish the scarf I've started knitting.
14. Clean out the linen cupboard.
15. Organise my photos and back them up to disc.
16. Get the tax paperwork ready to send off to the accountant.
17. Plant the fruit trees that (should) be arriving soon.
18. Do some major weeding out the front.
19. Write the kid's book I've been thinking about.
20. Clean out the kitchen.
21. Clean out the bathroom.
22. Clean out the laundry.
23. Go swimming at least once a week.
24. Go to an exercise class (might tag along with you one day Deb!).
25. Fill up the frames I've been buying.
26. Take some nice photos to use on cards/in frames.
27. Get a whole lot of stuff ready to sell at trash and treasure.
28. Clean out my car.
29. Get organised to start growing sprouts (to eat).
30. Set up our home theatre/surround sound system.
31. Write a book.
32. Sort through the 'memory' chest.
33. Prune the trees and the grapevines.
34. Update my CV.
35. Write my transfer application.
36. Sort through all my school stuff and get rid of a lot of it (why did I collect all those resources? I never use them!)
    
37. Update my Flickr more regularly.
38. Clean the windows.
39. Cut back the boysenberry bushes before they completely take over the world!
40. Replant the strawberries and raspberries.
41. Plant some serious vegetable plots.
42. Fill my 'camera' money tin.
43. Buy some new lenses for the camera.
44. Buy a funky camera bag. These are quite lovely, but sadly only available from the U.S. Perhaps I should make one??
45. Go for a bushwalk.
46. Walk around Lake Burley Griffin.
47. Go for regular bike rides.
48. Bake yummy (but nutritious) recess treats.
49. Read.
50. Declutter!

Ok, for the last 20 or so I was probably reaching a little, but nevermind, it's done. It will be great if I can cross a few off...

I might do a list every month or so, the top 30 on the 30th or something. Would probably be an OK blog topic.

Stay tuned....

(Sunday's) Sensational Six

Oops I did it again!

I've been so carried away doing....absolutely nothing! And boy, has it been nice!
Well, actually that's not technically true!
Yesterday, I did a lot of housework (I know, so unlike me, but the house was pretty atrocious!). Then I played around with Photoshop a bit. Still so much learning to do!

Today has been fairly relaxed though. A bit more Photoshop, some outside stuff (it was a beautiful day today!), Anthony and I went into town briefly (and he bought me a second battery for the camera - very nice!). and then Sunday afternoon drinks. And what a lovely session it has been. Great company, and a really great time.

Of course, this all means I haven't posted my photos. And I know you're all desperate to see them!

So here goes:

A photo of Sam
This is in 2007. He had broken his arm not long after his birthday, at a local park. His dad was swinging him around on this big whirly thingy and he fell off, landing on his arm. Luckily he didn't need surgery, just a cast for 6 weeks. And boy did it stink when we took it off!

A photo of Oliver

Taken when he was 20 minutes old. He was so alert even then!

An old photo
This is one taken quite early on with our lumix camera. Not a bad photo for people who knew exactly nothing about photography! Like I have said, sometimes I think I took better photos before I started learning about photography!

An Interesting Photo
This was taken yesterday morning. It was foggy until well past 10am. I love a gum tree at the best of times, but shrouded in fog, they're just magnificent!

My weekly entry into the EB photo of the week challenge:

This week's theme is 'animals'. We certainly have plenty of them around here! As you can see, our cat is very patient (the one at the back is actually sitting on him)! It could use some editing, but I submitted it anyway, as I was running out of time.

Morguefile Lesson Photos

Lesson 3 - Lenses.
The final assignment in lesson 3 was about using the aperture and shutter speed to achieve an interesting effect. This wasn't quite the right thing, but I do love the perspective (the lego banana looks like it's the same size as the real one).

All quiet on the blog front...

I know, I know, it's been very quiet around here lately, but I promise I've been thinking about you!
Thankfully, now it's holidays, so I might be able to blog a little more regularly for a couple of weeks.

But when I last left you, I finished rather abruptly. On Thursday night I was writing the post when Anthony hurried me out the door. Which is fair enough, if not surprising (we are NEVER on time for anything!).

We had a lovely Turkish banquet with my work colleagues and friends. I love a good Turkish banquet: always WAY too much food, but delicious nonetheless.
We are lucky enough to have a wide variety of restaurants (as well as a supermarket, butcher, chemist, newsagents, gym, pool, clubs etc) less than 2 kilometres from here, so it's nice to know we can walk over for a meal if we want it (mind you, on Thursday we drove there!).

Friday was a busy final day of term, trying to get things wrapped up for the holidays. Then Anthony, Ollie and I settled in for a night of Dr Who. Ever since he got into 'The Sarah Jane Chronicles' on Nickolodeon, Ollie has been totally hooked on Dr Who. We have been working our way through all of the current day episodes; and getting very excited about them! We haven't watched the current series yet (as we wanted to get up to date), but now that we are, we are ready to catch up with series 5 (anyone got it on DVD yet?)

So that's been my week in a nutshell. I've had an ongoing back-and-forth with Adobe, who got very confused after I ordered Photoshop and Lightroom; but it's all worked out now and I'm trying to work out how to use them!

Speaking of photos, I will be back later with my sensational six, just waiting for the camera's battery to charge (must buy a second battery....) so I can upload some photos taken today. Might be a late one today! See you then.

One more day....

They say that teachers only like teaching because of the holidays. Normally I'd disagree, but today I'm very glad I've only got one more day of term 2 left! Soooooo ready for a break!

It's been a busy week, as usual. Hence the no blogging situation!

I've been trying to get home before it's too dark to complete my last morguefile assignment, but alas, have not been able to do it!

Today, we took Ollie to a pediatric surgeon to get his testes checked out. The GP was concerned about them the last time we saw him, so he referred us. Turns out that he does have retractile testes, but hopefully will not need surgery. Phew! It's not a major surgery, but anything involving a general anesthetic is a bit freaky at the moment, if you know what I mean!

But for now must run, we are off to dinner. Will post more later!