I just can't believe I haven't been on Minti for so long!  It honestly didn't feel like a whole month had gone by.  In fact, thinking back, it ties in with some stuff that has been going on.  Mum has been a little unwell, and I think that has taken up a LOT of my focus of late.  She is OK though.  Just waiting until Friday to get some results back, waiting until she heals to start treatment and in a few months she can leave this little hurdle behind her - hopefully.  (Fingers crossed).  Otherwise, all else is ok.  I missed art classes in first term, but started back last night which was great.  Was a bit funny.  I was staring at an unfinished charcoal I had been working on in 4th term 06 and wanted to finish it.  And it felt like looking at a blank piece of paper all over again - I didn't know where to start.  Not to worry, I got into it after about half an hour - hah!  Chatted and caught up with the other attendees during that time.  I forgot how completely engrossed I get in the piece I am working on and how fast time flies.  I remember stifling a yawn and looking at my watch and on seeing that it was 8pm, thinking I had a whole hour to go and how tired I was feeling.  So I continued working and then I looked at my watch again and it was 9pm!  I love that feeling of losing time in creating artwork.  Very fulfilling.  I have taken time of work - just a week and a half - to see mum through after her op (she can't drive for a wee while) and have been having a lovely time with her.  It has been really funny going shopping with her and meeting her friends.  Boy, going shopping with her is an experience.  She is such a bully!  She says I am bossy.  Hah!  This of course all comes from arguing with her over who is going to pay for what.  She is hopeless!  I can't look at anything and show even the slightest interest in something or she will pick it up and buy it.  I got wise after going grocery shopping with her earlier in the week, so only brought home some tins of soup that she insisted were wonderful and that I should try, even after saying over and over that nobody but me would eat it.  Oh, and some choko's (sp?) which again only I eat.  Oh well - it's all fun and I think part of the game we play each day.  And I can tell you - I sure don't miss going to work!  This time off has really helped me to put the whole full-time working thing into perspective again.  Work gets me down from time to time - everyone there takes stuff so seriously and you can really get caught up in the whole personal development thing and the feedback you get and your performance rating.  It really is demorilising (sp?) stuff sometimes.  Even though I do fine each time, just the day-to-day pressures and deadlines and expectations really do seem so overdone and unnecessary - especially from where I am looking at it this week.  Know what I mean?  I sit here sometimes and wonder how I can bring in the money I earn without having to go to work?  Grrr... necessary evil.  It's not that it is a bad place and goodness knows I have some great friendships with people in that place, but there are just so many other things that I would prefer to be doing with my time and life, you know?  I have been enjoying picking up #2 from school in the afternoons and have been able to achieve so much just from this one little exercise.  Reconnecting with some mums I have met but rarely see.  Meeting the lady that runs the tennis lessons after school on Monday's and signing #2 up.  Dropping into #2's classroom and quickly catching up with his teacher.  Nice stuff.  And with mum, we had a lovely slow lunch and afternoon.  One of her girlfriends came around for an simple lunch and then we spent time slowly walking around mums front and back yards looking and talking about the plants.  Her garden is not spectacular or anything, but nice.  It really was lovely to just 'stop and smell the roses' so to speak.  And when we were out the front, we spied one of mums neighbours across the road, and so walked across and spent time in her front and back gardens.  We took cuttings from both gardens (mums and neighbours) and discussed where and how to grow them.  And laughed.  I learned so much - it really was a lovely time.  Something out of yesteryear.  Anyway, I had better run.  Need to pack lunches, shower and get ready.  Am going to bingo with mum today and honestly - I can't wait!  I really have cherished being able to spend this time with mum.  I feel like we have reconnected all over again - great stuff.  Take care everyone - see you soon.  Love K.