Imi

Imi came over tonight to visit for a couple of hours. Mark and Imi talk on the phone for HOURS every night and that has been for nearly two years now, (they aren't going out though!) she is a lovely girl.

PS...... please note Mark is OBVIOUSLY NOT gay - I can tell his hair isn't combed!!!!

Shorter Hair!

Rebecca cut Mark's hair today - he thinks now that it is shorter he won't have to comb it???!!!! Apparently NO BOYS OR MEN EVER comb their hair unless they are gay - WOW I never knew that!!

Max

Max loves his little basket! Especially now that it is right next to Mark AND near the heater!

A visit and an outing

Two big events today so I had to include both - Jane from the AFP crash investigation team came to visit Mark. She was at the scene of the accident and in charge of all the police side of things. She also came down to Emergency to see how Mark was going at around 5am. She was telling us that after the ambulances had left the police were there until 4am. She said none of them had ever attended an accident in such incredibly bad weather and that when they shone their torches around, the road was covered with frogs. None of them had ever seen anything like it. She said the road was about 2inches under water and that the creek under the bridge was flooding and almost to the road. She was amazed to see how well Mark was going.

Also tonight Mark went out for the first time with his mates.

Kyle and Stewie took him to the movies to see Toy Story. It was a big Maccas night there were about 100 Maccas staff there and then they took him to watch them play futsal. I might add that I was a nervous wreck worrying about him, but here they are all safe and sound back home!

Introducing Mark to exercise!

And now the work begins..................!

Bob and his playmates

I would love to let Bob out or his friends in but he would never survive in the wild - it is nice though that he now has lots of friends visit since he moved to his new home - some of his visitors are parrots, wrens and sparrows, as well as galahs

Watching History

I can see you!

I can see you!! Jackson enjoys looking through Mark's binoculars.

King Parrot

I thought I said don't bother me while I am having lunch!!!!

Meet the Wilson's

Alex Wilson and his mum Chris.

The night of Mark's accident Mark had driven Alex home so Chris didn't have to come out in the rain - Mark had just dropped Alex off at home.

Chris was wonderful while Mark was in hospital - I came home twice to find an esky full of individual meals for me to heat up, she even bought Mark two new shirts with wider sleeves so that he could get his arm into them properly. I had never met Chris before but she has become a very special friend. She and Alex have been wonderful over the last few months. Mark has certainly got some lovely friends.

PS have a look at Mark's gorgeous teeth - he had his final dentist appointment today. He is also walking around the house now - (and I have stopped following him and hanging onto his shirt in case he falls!!!!)

Bad Mother

Today Mark and I went to Rebecca and Chris' place for lunch. The first time we have been there for months. We had a lovely meal and a great time.

I wanted to take a photo of everyone having lunch - UNFORTUNATELY the juvenile delinquents at the other end of the table ruined it - As well as Lucy and Josh with their mouths full and wide open!!! BUT what they didn't realise was that little Sam has copied them!!! So my real photo of the day is Chris with the kids and the cake but I just had to share this photo.

Eastern Spinebill

This is an Eastern Spinebill just near my front door. He is very hard to get a photo of as he never stays in one spot more than a second - by the time you focus he is somewhere totally different - so I was very lucky to get this one! He is only quite small but isn't he gorgeous?

Flying Low

During the day, when I can, I am still going across the road to the reserve and following the little birds. There are far more varieties than I had ever imagined. Today though I spotted a Little Pied Commorant - they aren't really all that little though just smaller than other commorants.

New Shoes

Today I bought Mark some new shoes. He actually had none, only thongs and he needs strong sturdy shoes to learn to walk again- there was limited choice in his size but he likes these. I SMS'd him photos of the shoes for him to pick!! - I think I could have bought myself an entire new winter wardrobe for the same price!!!

A Huge Achievement

Today was the best day in over 14 weeks. Mark walked a few steps for the very first time. He has to wear a special brace on his wrist to use the crutches so his wrist won't bend incorrectly and break or give way and he has to not put weight through his hand mainly just balance with the right side crutch as he is unable to grasp the handle with his hand.

It was very hard for him but he did wonderfully and is allowed to use them up to 3 times a day for two weeks to go a very short distance and only at home. He also is not allowed to try to walk in the morning - he has to eat, drink and stand 5 times before practicing his steps.He has progressed with his leg far quicker than the estimated recovery time. He has another 4 weeks of hydro twice a week and then he will start gym work to build up his legs. Still a long way to go but today was very special. And yes I cried - buckets!!!

Bobs swing

Today I made a swing for Bob out of a branch from the apple tree - he hasn't gone near it yet so I hope he eventually does- although he was checking it out in this photo! - anyway it was fun using the drill!

Pruning

I am in total garden tidy up mode. Today I pruned the apple tree! Now all I have to do is wait 30years for all the branches to turn to mulch on my front lawn!!!

frozen car

It was a pretty cold start to the day! Here is Max's foot print in the frost and my little frozen car - this was at 9am!

It's a pity these baby spitfires didn't freeze too! They are pretty yucky even as babies!

Wombat home?

I know there are wombats on the reserve opposite my house but I have never seen one myself although I may have discovered one of their homes - not too sure. Either that or it is the home of one very huge snake!!!!!

All done!

Finally all done! Now all you have to imagine is some pots with colourful flowers - and that will have to wait till spring! And my next job - tidying up all the rest of the backyard!!!!

A Tabu Fairy!

Look what was on my doorstep when we came home from the hospital today! What LUXURY! and how lucky am I! Thank you mum I love it!

Drive-way garden

Remember when I decided I was sick of my drive-way and had plans to change it??? Way way back months ago (actually February 24)....... Well, I finished the top of the drive today and just have to do a little bit more - just the bit past Bob's cage! And it all cost me nothing just a lot of manual labour!

Visitors

Unexpected but very welcome visitors! - and they all have jeeps! My little car went into hiding!!

Fence Smoke

The fence defrosting in the morning sun!

Another special guest for dinner.

Tonight Lucy came over for dinner - she made a 'mouse' card all by herself which was really beautiful. She is growing up way too quickly.

Red-browned finch

I have been spending a little bit of time every day with a cup of tea, my camera and my mobile phone so Mark can phone me, and sitting across the road bird watching. It is fascinating seeing how many varieties of tiny birds there are on the reserve. Most of them are so tiny and so fast you never see them unless by accident.

Dusk in the Capital

Dinner Guest

I had a very special guest for dinner tonight.

OI YOU - What are you doing??

I was trying to take a photo of the pretty little robin again - when suddenly this fellow appeared in my lens!!! You can even see me reflected in his eyes. He is a very friendly magpie and eats out of my hand - but gave me a bit of a shock!!

Corin Forest

Every trip home from the hospital I say I will stop and take this photo - so today I did. This is Corrin Forest - finally cleared and starting to be replanted after the bushfires. The pine trees had re-seeded and started growing so had to all be cleared. Pine catches fire too quickly so the forest won't be a pine forest anymore! I am not sure what these little trees are but will find out!