Silver And Gold

This badge takes me to a time long ago, when our children went to Sunday School.  Sam didn't pay much attention in class.  Sarah did, and she got all the questions right.  Sam, on the other hand, winged his way through it.  When singing "Silver and Gold", for the third line, he would always sing:

 "....He was asked for his arms, but through in his palms..."

The girls called him T Rex.


These are the correct lyrics.  YOU probably know them....

Peter and John went to pray.
they met a lame man on the way
He asked for alms and held out his palms,
and this is what Peter did say"
Silver and gold have I none,
but such as I have give I you.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in Jesus' name rise up and walk.
The man went walking and leaping and praising God,
Walking and leaping and praising God,
"In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, In Jesus' name rise up and walk".

Growing the Business

As I sit and type, I can hear the constant drone of the bobcat.  It is our Sam, working on dispersing the mounds of soil in the paddock next door.  This soil (fill) will become the 'base' for the concrete slab and the very beginning of our new venture - the addition of another Workshop - meaning the expansion of our family company.

I was talking with Grandpa this morning and we were discussing how many businesses in our own industry and other industries are having to close their doors and walk away from companies they've poured their heart and soul into.  It saddens me to think about them, as we (the Machinist and I) know all too well how this feels - especially to be so close to - well- to closing down.  I am constantly in awe as to how much work has come our way.  But moreso - how the work has come our way.  From the most unsuspecting sources:  from acquaintances of friends, from other business associates and sometimes - even out of the blue. 

In all of it, though -  the excitement, joy and challenge, -   the health and well-being of my family is of the utmost importance.  My greatest quest, but also the most difficult task is to assist, to calm, to encourage, to nurture a house full of dear hearts – all of different ages, needs and desires.  Oftentimes, I find it hard to motivate  myself and sometimes, my dear hearts don’t want or need assisting! Oh and our home is not always peaceful either.  As anyone who has experienced this will attest; living and working under the same roof is sometimes – well – difficult.

I think of my mam – Granny – at this point.  In the midst of her many busy days when we were youngsters I would hear her say under her breath:

“God, give me strength…”

FIGURES, HIPS AND OOPS A DAISIES!

For those of you who have read my blog for some time, you may have a sense of knowing how I roll.  For those new to my blog, I say "Hello!" and "welcome" and "thanks for visiting".  I have made some new adjustments, which you will see right at the top.  I've added 'buttons' - (yep, I'm getting fancy!).  These buttons will tell you a bit more about me, my family and my Manufactory.  It may make what I write and ramble on about a bit clearer. 

Chin chin!

Over the last months (since my brother's birthday post) I've taken the Grands to a number of doctors and specialists appointments, in various towns.

My brother went on holiday to the UK.  On his return, mam and I went out with him to celebrate.  (Celebration is good, there doesn't have to be a reason).   Anyway, in our celebration mode, my mam turned too quickly, and even though her arm was hooked in my arm (singing as we went), she fell and I couldn't catch her and she was slipping away from me - ever-so sloooowwwly.  I couldn't catch her and it was horrible.  Mam was still laughing as she fell and hit the ground, saying "what a silly fool I am.." and then "...Helen, something's cracked..."

And so - hospitals, operations and more specialists.  Mam is an ox. No partial hip replacement will keep her down. (I'm exhausted).

Still, you have to stay on the bright side, and even when I load the walking wheelie trolleys into the car, I chuckle, despite the skill it takes to load everything including the shopping.

What else?

Lots of paperwork for the Council, as we are building a new Workshop.  Lots of paperwork for the bank, as we are hoping the Bank is going to pay for said Workshop.  Lots of paperwork and book-keeping for the Accountant, as he is putting the numbers in an attractive way for the Bank.  It's all in the figures.  This is the circle of life....

Oh and we hit a kangaroo on the way home one night after a movie I enjoyed, but the Machinist disliked.  (Ok, I'll tell you the name of the movie: Wuthering Heights).  It's an horrific experience hitting a kangaroo.  He stood there, suddenly but defiantly glaring into our lights.  He hit the front light, then the windscreen, roof, landed on his stealthy legs and bounced off.  From inside, we saw the windscreen shatter, but it didn't shatter in a glass-strewn-all-over-the-place type of way.  More of a spider web getting bigger kind of way.  Then the airbags exploded.  White puffy clouds in front of us.  We couldn't see a things.  The Machinist guided the car to the centre of the highway.  There was a sickening smell, with smoke coming out of the dashboard.  I shouted to the Machinist "...get out - quick!" as I was convinced the car was going to catch alight.  The Machinist, ever so slowly (????) got out of the car and started gagging.  I was convinced that he had internal bleeding.  The car neither caught fire and the Machinist doesn't have internal bleeding.  The result?  A massive bill for the windscreen and an even bigger one for the replacement of the airbags. 

Machinist "....I knew I shouldn't have watched that stupid movie!"