My Heart - It Pays to Maintain Your Health

After the wedding on Monday 28th March, 2011, I went to my regular yearly appointment with my Cardiologist to check a problem with a leaky valve in my heart. I was referred to a Cardiologist by my GP two years ago after finding an irregular heart beat. I went to my GP and mentioned that I was tired more than normal and that my heart felt heavy and had some slight pain. I was monitoring any irregularities with my heart because my Mother had died from heart disease and both of my brothers had heart attacks. My oldest brother recently had quadruple bypass surgery. I wanted to make sure to avoid heart surgery by maintaining a healthy heart and to keep regular check ups. This wasn't to be. On the Monday after my echo-cardiogram my cardiologist advised it was time to operate. To get the process started he booked me in for two tests, a transoesophageal echo and an angiogram on Thursday 31st March. The first revealed how severe the leak was in my heart and the amount of damage to the mitral valve. The second test revealed my arteries were clear (no blockages). The next step, a surgeon visited and chatted to me about the details of my problem, the types of surgery and setting a date. The surgeon advised my mitral valve could be repaired and that I was eligible for keyhole heart surgery which is slightly a higher risk than open heart surgery. I have chosen this option and am due to have my operation towards the end of May. I am so thankful for medical advances, dedicated nurses, doctors and surgeons that give us a better quality of life. My mother may have been alive today as I think she may have had a similar condition. When she was in her fifties, I remember her mentioning that a doctor had noted to her after an x-ray, that she had a spot on her heart. She didn't investigate it further. If there is known heart disease in your family I would recommend to have heart health checks regularly. To all, stay safe, keep healthy and love life...God Bless.

My Son's Wedding to Ana Marquez

On the 26th March 2011, my one and only son married a beautiful Filipino lady named Ana. It was a beautiful wedding. Her uncles, aunts, cousins, sisters and friends made it an occasion that my husband and I will remember the rest of our lives. They worked hard and contributed to the wedding in their own special way. My son announced by SMS on the 19th February, 2011 while we were holiday in Perth that he and Ana had set a date for their wedding. It was not too much of a surprise for Ana's family or us as Dale mentioned in January that he was planning to get married. In just over four weeks, family and friends organised the Church, reception, flowers, cake, decorations, DJ and photographer. It was amazing and done on a low budget. The key element in the wedding plans for Dale and Ana was their love and closeness they have as a family. Thank you all, Gordon and I are truly grateful. 

Reception - tables and chairs decorated by Ana's family

XXVRY PXERSON IS IMPORTANT - YOU ARX THX KXY PXRSON

Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works vxry wxll - xcxpt for onx kxy.  You would think that onx kxy not working would hardly bx noticxd, but just onx kxy out of whack sxxms to ruin thx wholx xffort.

You may think to yoursxlf - wxll, I’m only onx pxrson, no onx will noticx if I don’t do my bxst.  But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx bxcausx to bx xffxctivx, an organisation nxxds activx participa­tion by xvxryonx to thx bxst of thxir ability.

So thx nxxt timx you think you arx not important, rxmxmbxr my old typxwritxr. 

My Wonderful Grandmother

About my sister Kaye:

My dear sister Kaye is very creative. She has done many things in her lifetime. I would say her creative style is unique. She has shared this ballad of our grandmother with me and I am now sharing it with whoever would like to read it. She is married to Russell Coglan, the man next to her in the photo left.

A Ballad about Grandma Wegner

by Kaye Coglan (my sister)

Refrain:

Low down in yonder valley Beneath Mt Whitestone’s peak
lies a dairy farm where watermelons grow

With Granny tilling the earth at her feet. 

Alone with fourteen children

farming till dawn till dusk

planting pumpkin and potato seeds,

digging and kicking up some dust. 

Milking became easier for granny

machinery lessened the load,

a supplier for cheese started to flow

around the windy mountainous roads.  

(Refrain) 

One night when the moon was ripe

she went out and got a fright

with children sleeping she shut the door

and wondered what was in her sight?   

Chickens clucking making a fuss

in a moon lit coop dingy and dark

the struggle became loud then it ran,

a cunning fox ripping the chickens apart.  

(Refrain) 

The fox got away with its meal

everything quieten down after its steal,

stillness in the midst set in the valley below~

the moon shone in the midnight glow. 

Granny fell asleep on the rocking chair~

dawn broke upon her face

children laughing around the place~

Granny sits and crochets doilies and lace. 

A Tribute to Annie Matilda Wegner (My Grandmother)

I had coffee with my dear sister, Trissie. I was telling her about researching our genealogy. She shared with me about how she meet with our grandmother, Annie Matilda Wegner, when she lived near her at Fordsdale, Qld; and how she loved listening to her stories about her beginnings and history on the farm. I don't remember much about my grandmother. My grandmother died age 83. My brief memory when I visited her as a child, is that she worked hard managing a dairy farm. My grandfather died in 1952. I remember all the lovely cakes she would bake on her wood stove for the big morning teas on the dairy farm. She had nine children and lost the first in child birth as there were not many doctors in those days. I recall Mum telling the story often how it was a painful experience for her. On our birthdays, until she died, she would buy something for our glory box. I do not know what it is called today. It was something practical like tea towels, hand towels that she crotched and doilies. Even though they were unusual gifts for a child, I looked forward to receiving them as I felt the love, care and time she took in adding a special hand-made touch. They were always pretty colours too.

I asked my sister to share some of the stories my grandmother told her with me so I could write them down and add them to my genealogy history. She said she couldn't remember. At the right moment, I am sure she would remember just like I remembered the little snippets I have shared in my blog.

I would encourage others to share their family memories to keep your family and their spirits alive. They make a difference.

Grandparent's Journal

My Dad is 87 in a couple of weeks. My husband and I visit him as often as we can. He is reasonably healthy and fit. My sister Trissie and her husband Leon live with him and cook most of his evening meals. As with most men, he is difficult to buy for as he has all he wants. He usually is happy with some scratchies or unusual pickled food. At Christmas time, I was browsing through the gift section on one of my favourite sites fishpond.com and came across "Grandparent's Journal". I thought it would be the ideal gift for him as he had used an old diary to write his short story. There is a lot my Dad never talked about when we were younger. Now he likes to talk quite a lot about past years which he would have found difficult when he was younger. Things like the war and his struggles of every day life. Here a link to his story http://beingme4u.blogspot.com/p/family.html.

I thought the journal was the perfect gift because it asks questions like, "where did your mother's family come from" and other questions about childhood memories. Questions that you don't think to ask your Dad when your talking with him. It has worked out perfectly too because I am currently doing the Brisbane_Smith genealogy which I started after Christmas  from a conversation with my niece's husband Gary. I am hoping Dad can fill in the missing gaps with our family tree and I can add some interesting stories. One story he often talks about is, he had an opportunity to be a boxer in the Olympic Games. I am hoping he will write in down before his memories are lost. Take opportunities while you can...

1974 Floods Australia Day Weekend Memories

My heart goes out to the people who have suffered so much loss. I am sure it is an experience that you  won’t forget. My prayers and thoughts are with all the flood victims. It is a chance for a new beginning, to clean up and start afresh. We don’t know the reasons why this has happened. I am thankful to God that where I live and have lived  has not been affected by this flood or the 1974 floods on the Australia Day weekend. 

On the Australia Day weekend, January 1974, I was living with my Mum and Dad at Seven Hills, Brisbane, Queensland. I recall it was an extremely hot day in the high 40°C. To feel a little cooler we decided to have lunch underneath the house.  I remember looking up at the sky which was dark green in colour, almost black and thinking to myself that there would be a down pour of rain, big hail and cause destruction. I even had an irrational thought was this the end of the world due to the darkness of the sky. We already had extremely bad storms that month.

During that time, I was working as an office/payroll clerk at Watson Ferguson (Printing Company) in Glenelg Street, South Brisbane on the bank of the Brisbane River.  I knew it would be affected.  I saw our building during the news on our black and white TV over the Australia Day weekend.   It was more than 14 feet under water. The whole bottom floor was covered where all the large printers (thousands of dollars worth of equipment) were stationed.  I worked in the office on the top floor.

When Tuesday came, I was not sure what to do about work whether to go or not. We did not have a phone so my Manager could not contact me.  As I was payroll clerk, I knew employees would be looking for their pay which was paid in cash in those days. On Wednesday 31^st January, I decided I would venture into my work at South Brisbane.  I had no idea what to expect or how bad it was as where I lived had heavy showers but no sign of water anywhere. I knew the water at South Brisbane had gone down by the Wednesday and trains were running. Before going in, I phoned work on a pay phone near our home. I thought I might be needed.

My Most Embarrassing Moment 

I didn’t think about what it would be like and no one had advised me what I should wear.  I dressed like I normally did for work which was not sensible considering the circumstances.  I remember exactly what I wore because I was very embarrassed during and after the event. I wore a very short black spotted dress, the fashion in those days.  I wore stockings and my clean white cork sandals.  I headed off to work. I arrived at South Brisbane Station and made my way down to Glenelg Street.  It was a site, mud and debris everywhere.  Every step I took I realised I was foolish to go in dressed as I did and wished I had not made the decision to come in. The footpaths and roads were muddy.  My shoes twisted and turned in the slimy mud. I think I took off my shoes as I was worried I would fall over. By the time I reached my work my stockings were covered in mud. There were men everywhere cleaning up the downstairs area. I spoke with one of the managers of the printing section. He looked at me and said with a smile on his face, “What are you doing here?” “Go home.” He said everyone has been paid, one of the other office clerks had been contacted to help out with the pays. Everyone was dressed appropriately for working in a muddy environment.  I think I turned a bright red. I have never felt so useless in my life. I turned around as quick as a flash, embarrassed but relieved and headed back home to my comfortable and safe environment. As you can see I have never forgotten that moment.

I was amazed and surprised how much cleaner everything looked at South Brisbane, the surrounding areas and my work by the following Monday, 5th February, 1974. It was almost a short memory. The men must have worked very hard in just a few days. It was their livelihood.
Heritage

I am currently doing my genealogy and have discovered that my great, great grandfather and grandmother and grandfather on my Mother’s side came over on the Duke of Westminster in 1884 from Germany to start a new life. I think they were pioneers of Fordsdale, Queensland. I also discovered my grandfather on my Dad’s side fought in World War 1 and my father fought in World War 11. Without their fighting spirit and determination to give their generations a future, I would not be here today. I am grateful to God for them. I hope that  I can make the same difference they did.
A New Beginning

It makes me think now to cherish, enjoy, appreciate and be thankful for the times when we are safe, comfortable, have family, good friends and have a place to come home to. Everyday is a new beginning.

Make It Count

I was taking down my Christmas decorations that took so long to set up and admire for a few short weeks, though it was all worth it. These pictures were part of my decorations. When I was taking them down, I took a closer look and admired the work and detail of the artist. I have many of these pictures from a card making program that I purchased years ago. I think they are from a time when greeting cards were hand painted. I have always thought they were beautiful and looked for ways I could use them. This year I printed them out on sheets and laminated them and placed them over a sightly brickwork window sill which is part of our sunroom. I can now view them every year during the Christmas Season. The detailed, hand-crafted beautiful pictures and the love they reflect made me think of the coming year; to make everything we do in our lives; to make it count towards the respect, care, giving and love of ourselves and others.

Christmas and New Year

This Christmas New Year season for me has been the best in my lifetime. As a child, Christmas was a stressful time for Mum and Dad with six children. I enjoyed the Christmas New Year seasons when Mum and Dad enjoyed them.

I realise this year was special to me because I spent time decorating our home and creating special things on my computer for decoration. The focus has not been on buying the right presents for family. This year we did a secret Santa with a minimum amount. One present was purchased instead of buying for the whole family which is costly when the six of us are married with kids and grandchildren. On reflection, I think Christmas has meant more this year because I am thankful to God for the blessings he has given me; they are, a loving family that I can serve and spend time with; a lovely home to decorate; my creative ability with computers and the experience of the technology today. The memories and joy of these experiences cannot be taken away. It is only when I let the difficult times and the stresses of this world consume me that the moments disappear. I have learnt so much in my life's journey. The mind can keep you a victim of circumstances. I continue to keep my thoughts on what I have got, what I have achieved and look at what I can do to make someone else's life better. God is gracious...Thank you.