Canberra

We've been trippin again and so the blogging has suffered. I spent three days at a genealogy conference in Canberra and then two days doing research at our National Archives and National Library so I didn't take many tourist type photos.

Although the weather was beautiful I didn't even visit Floriade as the lure of records in the archives and library was more appealing than the beautiful display of flowers at Floriade.

Conference Venue - The Hellenic Club

Reading Room - National Archives of Australia

Newspaper and Microform Room - National Library of Australia

Calm Conference Convenor

Words with Friends

As a child I loved playing Scrabble with family members whom I now realise probably let me win more than my fair share of games. I was very excited when someone in my Dad's family gave me my very own Scrabble set (which I still have) as a birthday present when I was about ten.

Over the years I haven't played much Scrabble probably because Mr Geniaus doesn't share my enthusiasm for word games but I have always enjoyed wordy activities. Before I retired I mentioned to a friend that I might join a local Scrabble Club for a spot of activity but I never did because Words with Friends came into my life. It is a Scrabble type game that one can play on an iDevice, an Android device or via Facebook on a PC.

I love WWF because I can get a Scrabble fix without ever leaving home and I can play it in my own time and at my own pace.

My elder daughter got me hooked, then I started playing with her Mother-in-law; that would have been over twelve months ago. My list of playmates has grown but is not huge and contains a nice mix of people from my life. Among them is a colleague from work days, a distant cousin of my mother, my best friend, my 12 year old grand-daughter and her younger brother, a couple of geniemates and now my younger daughter. Because of spelling issues I don't play with any of my friends from the US but restrict myself to opponents who use The Queen's English.

We all  play at different times and at a different pace, with some opponents I have multiple games on the go and with others just one. Some mornings when I open up the app I find that I need to play a dozen moves and sometimes there may be only one or two. I usually check the app first thing in the morning and last thing at night and, depending on my activities, once or twice during the day.

I can recommend Words with Friends as a great way of giving the brain cells a workout.

A Helping Hand

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Pictured below are some of the people I have helped; looking at his gallery makes me realise how fortunate I am and how easy it is for me to make a difference to their lives.

-Jill

Grandparents' and Grandfriends' Day

Mr Geniaus and I had a super time with one of our little men at Grandparents' and Grandfriends' Day on Friday.

The Grandpaparazzi were out in force

Kindergarten takes to the stage

The Ballboy becomes a Bellboy

BobBob enjoys a maths challenge

And I love that he shared my catering secrets with the world

Reminder - don't fill child's mouth with food just prior to photo

A Ballboy at school...

 ... making music on Grandparents' Day.

Thanks to the school for inviting us along.

Cookies, Crisps, Juice and Strawberries

Mr Geniaus and I have a special outing planned for tomorrow. We were thrilled that we were able to accept the following invitation.

Although the young gentleman who issued the invitation will have his school lunch we'll be taking along a few extra goodies to share with him.

Cookies, Crisps, Juice and Strawberries should do the trick.

St Jude

In my very short career as a nurse I was looked after by a nun, Sister St Jude. She informed me she had taken that name as St Jude was the "hope of the hopeless" and that's what she considered herself to be.

I just finished an inspirational book "St Jude's" by Gemma Sisia who happens to also be an ex-student of my Alma Mater, Vinnie's. I remember when I was on the staff of Vinnie's that Gemma came to address some of the girls; it must have been my day off as I missed out on the visit.

When I saw Gemma's book at the recent Galston Rotary Book Fair I purchased it as it was on my "To read" list. I couldn't have predicted how much I would enjoy the book and how touched I would be by the guts and determination of young woman who has set up a school, The School of St Jude, for poor children in Tanzania. In her book Gemma constantly referred to St Jude, the saint to whom she prayed when things seemed hopeless; she called the school St Jude because of all the support she has received from St Jude.

I commend this book (available from St Jude's Online Store); the story of how Gemma started with just $10 and a dream.

New Wheels

One Ballboy is learning to reverse in our new electric car. Thanks Aunty Jenni for the addition to our fleet.

Do you struggle to finish each book you start?

As a reader who rarely gives up on a book I found this infographic from GoodReads shared by Stephen of Stephen's Lighthouse quite illuminating. Only 38% of those in the sample read right to the end.

Stephen caame across the infographic here: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/38-of-readers-will-finish-a-book-no-matter-what_b76285

Father's Day

Today, the first Sunday in September, we celebrate Father's Day in Australia. It is a time when families get together with their Dads and when, those of us who are a bit older, think of the special times we shared with the Dads that are no longer with us. I dug into the family album to find some snaps taken on Father's Day of the Fathers in my family.

Father-in-law 1986

My Dad 1994

First Grandchild and her Dad 

Another new Dad

The brand new tshirt says it all 

Surprise

Mr Geniaus loves plants

and silly cards

They are Dads but also kids at heart

Last year there was a Christening