yesterday and a horse called Shocking.

Posted on Nov 3rd, 2009 by

Yesterday was Melbourne Cup Day when all of Australia practically stops for a horse race. The first tuesday of November in every year. Its an institution and people who would never gamble or be interested in a horse race suddenly are experts and want to put $2 each way on the favourite.

I dont know how it ever got started. We are not particularly known for our gambling as a nation. I never gamble but one year I won $570 on the trifecta. The odds were so long. I paid bills and at the time it was a drop in the ocean of bills I had facing me but it was salve for my angst about the money I owed. I dont like owing money which is why I dont gamble except on Melbourne cup day.

It brings us together. It has become part of our culture, part of being Australian. I rang my parents to see which horse they were backing. They were going in a $2 sweep so didnt know. So you see we dont really care about the outcome we just enjoy the process. Today I'll ring my sister to see how she spent her Melbourne Cup day.

Colin put a few dollars on a trifecta for me. I didnt win anything. I watched the race on a 12" TV set with about 10 other people at my work and we all brought food to share. There was an old lady waiting to see a nurse in our waiting room when the race was about to start so we just took her in to watch the race with us and gave her cake. She had a lovely time.

We talked about things like how Marina's sister had twins one year on Melbourne Cup day just as the race started and her husband was listening to the race while she was in labour. He had a little transistor radio glued to his ear. He wanted to name the babies after the winner and runner-up but Marina put her foot down and said no.

This year the winner was a horse called Shocking.

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/melbournecup/

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Happy 18th Birthday Amy

Posted on Oct 18th, 2009 by

Jenny

Dear Amy

The past 19 years have been challenging, rewarding, fun,

filled with love, friendships and interests, difficulties and satisfaction.

Your part in this has brought colour to our lives with light and shade,

depth and contrast.

It has at times brought joy that fills our hearts to overflowing.

It has brought angst and fear for you as well as pride and happiness.

We hope you have had a satisfying and funfilled 18 years.

We hope we have done enough to prepare you for adulthood.

We hope that one day you get to experience the fullness of life and love

that we have experienced in creating you and raising you.

You have brought our family together and taught us a great deal

about what a family is.

You continue to do this without even trying.

Happy Birthday Amy

with love and big hugs

Mum and Dad

XXXQQQ,

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For Josh

Posted on Oct 4th, 2009 by

Jenny

Last night we learned that a beautiful friend of my daughters died. They had known each other since kindergarten. He was a talented singer and a beautiful soul. This world was too harsh for him. He would have turned 18 this thursday.

Don't Look Down

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What experiences do you think are important for children to have?

Posted on Sep 18th, 2009 by

Jenny

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for September 18, 2009:

Children need to know that someone loves them unconditionally, whether its a parent, a grandparent or any other relative or person who is important in their lives.

They need to know that somebody loves them just because they exist and for no other reason.

They need to know somebody loves them even when they are doing something that may be disapproved of.

They need to know they are loved even when they cant love themselves.

Children need to run with the wind, shout as loud as they can and spin around in circles till they drop to the ground.

Children need to share their world with animals.

Children need to try really hard to achieve something, then experience the satisfaction of having achieved without getting too much help from another person.

Children need to enjoy the company of other children without their mothers hovering over them.

Children need to know the joy of make-believe and be able to entertain themselves without the aid of technology.

Children need to be believed even when what they say would be better left untrue.

Children need to experience the delight of just being children.

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Tagged with: Q&R, children, experiences, childhood

Survivor

Posted on Sep 14th, 2009 by

Jenny

Deep deep

massive ancient body

powerful and purposeful

moving steadily

no hurry

turning switching

tail writhing

watching waiting

fearless giant

moving

I am not afraid

no, this giant

could open his jaws

and eat me

but I see his beauty

respect and awe is what I feel.

I am so close I am aware

of his breathing

animal breath

so close

I see his eyes

and feel affection

respect and awe

O ancient beast

such power

such wisdom

survival for

a hundred million years

or more

Jenny Strong 2009

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when a mother too hurt

Posted on Sep 8th, 2009 by

Jenny

a child has died

......................

a child has died

......................

the world is a lesser place

heartfelt surges

bring us face to face

a child has died

and we dont know why

blood on our hands

and in pain we cry

a mother weeps,

in the dark alone

the balance is cut

the world is gone

How guilty are we

for this to occur

how guilty are we?

when a mother too hurt

has blood on her hands

darkness comes and

the world is wrong

.........................

the world is wrong

c Jenny Strong 2009

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early morning watch

Posted on Aug 14th, 2009 by

Jenny

Pre dawn birds singing

captured by ocean's breathing

swallowed into waves

of salt water weaving

silent men jogging

camera woman watching

waiting for signs

of new day dawning.

Jenny Strong 2009

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Rollercoaster

Posted on Aug 3rd, 2009 by

Jenny

They say

Life is a rollercoaster,

so is work

On Friday

two children were taken

into "care".

They were children

I had been seeing

for some time

helping them to recover

from the last time

they were uprooted

and taken

into "care"

They are beautiful children.

Their parents tried hard

to be good parents

but

it wasnt enough

they went into care anyway

the children hurt

the parents hurt

I hurt

and wondered

about the lack

of communication

in bureaucracy

I wondered why I do this work.

Today a child came to see me

and brought me a gift

a little frog

and a beautiful card

thanking me

for my support

love and care

and helping her

get through a difficult time

and sticking by her

till it was over

she turns 10 on saturday

Tears filled my eyes

and I thought

This is why I do this work.

this rollercoaster

this life

has highs

and lows

Tomorrow

I will work

for the parents

and the children

once again

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Remembering Kahlil Gibrans writing on Children

Posted on Aug 2nd, 2009 by

Jenny

On Children  Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,  For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,  which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them,  but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,  and He bends you with His might  that His arrows may go swift and far. Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies,  so He loves also the bow that is stable.

This always helps me get my perspective back when things around childcare, childraising and childloving become difficult.

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ethics proposal

Posted on Aug 1st, 2009 by

Jenny

I finished my ethics proposal yeeehaaa!!!! about time too, its taken forever.

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