Life Archives - Page 6 of 7

Am I a Neighbour Snob?

I know that some people mourn the way we used to live. Remember when we knew all our neighbours so well? People miss the ease of making friends based on proximity. Relationships rooted in cheery waves and coffee invites. The comfort in knowing a neighbour will water the plants and check the post while you’re away. Every house with a “Neighbourhood Watch” sticker on the front gate and the implication that everyone keeps an eye out for each other. That whole close community vibe.

Personally, I’m not big on socialising with neighbours. I don’t mind a wave or nod but that’s about it. I’m not terribly shy but I do value my space and privacy. In the past, I’ve wondered if I should make more of an effort to get to know my neighbours. Am I a bit of a neighbour-snob? I’m not the only one in my household. Why are we so reluctant to get to know the people that live around us? The experiences we’ve had recently have only reinforced our feelings.

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When I was 14, I forgot to buy my boyfriend a Valentine’s Day present. So I did the only thing I could think of and told his mate to tell him he was dropped. Everyone who told me that was a little harsh got a lecture about how it was “just a Hallmark holiday, anyway!”. I stand by that bit of the story, though. In hindsight, the “Tell him he’s dropped” probably was a slightly dramatic way to handle the situation. As a teen, I was maybe a little melodramatic. Maybe.
I haven’t had the pleasure of too many godawful Valentine’s Day gifts, thankfully. A few cards so soppy the envelope was starting to disintegrate, though. And my share, of course, of the useless, clichéd and tacky.

Nothing says “I think we’re soulmates” like a $2 chocolate from Target. Source.

Cynicism aside, Valentine’s Day is a nice idea. Ignore the commercialism, materialism and sense of forced romance. It’s a good excuse to tell someone that you love them and maybe spoil them a little. And guess what- you CAN do it without the useless crap currently on display in every shop! In case you’re wondering, this is the stuff I mean:

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Sometimes, life throws more at us that anyone could be expected to cope with. I know it’s happened to me; I look back now and wonder how exactly I got past it all.

Kate Shelby went through one of the worst times imaginable; her son’s cancer. Imagine having to go through that on your own. This is her story of where she drew the strength to not only get through an extremely difficult time, but how she regained her sense of self and changed her outlook later on.

Have you met Kate Shelby, from Australian Mum? She’s a blog writer, mother and lover of superheroes in tights. Kate is raising 3 children in Brisbane, QLD. She writes to tell her story and to allow other people to tell theirs. And today, she’s here to tell one of hers.

Kate Shelby. Source: Supplied

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I’m really not very good with bugs. Some don’t phase me too much; I can live with them with nothing more than a little whinging and irritation. Others (e.g. moths and butterflies) might leave me somewhat paralysed with fear. Some provoke a very loud reaction (such as screaming for my husband in a manner that sets back feminism by several decades but honestly, him dealing with the scary bugs was part of our unspoken but previously agreed upon marriage vows).

Cockroaches are one of the latter.

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Neighbours

Am I a Neighbour Snob?

Valentine’s Day: Avoiding the Useless, Cliched & Tacky

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“I was ready for motherhood, not cancer.”

How Not To Deal With A Cockroach