Becoming a person who says streamlining.

Right you lot, my life needs streamlining. In so far as I am starting a new job soon and I will be re-entering grown up life and the human race and my brain may be a little at sea for a while.
So, I am thinking that perhaps a daily blog will be a tad ambitious, my day job will soon involve words, lot's of them and I am thinking that my mind might hurt a little.
But I am feeling quite at home in blog land so an at least weekly blog will be my new offering. It will not be bridled by an exacting title as my other two have been,  it will be a foray into the unknown, changeable, diverse and well, whatever pops into my head really.
It will have the auspicious title of 'Random musings from a crowded brain.blogspot.com', and I can guarantee you that random will be the key word. Basically, I will be telling you noteworthy things that have been running around riotously in my head, whimsical thoughts from the dark depths, some philosophical nonsense and some good old fashioned banter.
Will it make me a better person as the other two blogs tried to? Not sure, but it will be of service to me, a turning of a key and opening the door kind of action. To you, a communication of sorts, an ongoing starting where we left off conversation.
So, stick around, have a nosey and I'll leave you with this one insight; think of it as a promise of things to come…….words make stories and stories make life and I really need a new pair of shoes if I am going to be streamlined (what does that mean anyway?).

Change #14….I can be such a b##ch.

We have no water, there is a blockage in the something and air in the thingy and we need a whatsit. It is boring and tedious and I don't actually care about the details, intricate or simple. I married a man that can cook, vacuum, is great with the kids and that has never expected me to be the stereotypical wife. But if the job needs more than a hammer, we are in trouble.  Power tools are not his friend and he will kill me for writing this but fixing stuff is just not his thing. 
I was not very nice about the water thing, in fact I was a down right you know what. Our two doors down neighbor is helping him in the dark right now (thanks buddy!) and he came with kit, a pump and tools and boy stuff. I can hear fixing noises and my husband is creating the illusion that he knows what he is doing (I am going to be in a world full of trouble for this blog). 
But well it's not all bad, because I do feel bad for putting him down and I will make an effort to change that. I will be happy and content in the fact that he is not a typical bloke and that he reads and can converse on topics other than sport and beer. He is a Dad that is more than present and put's us before rugby.  If there is no water in the morning I will still smile, tell him he did his best, practice my new improved attitude, and then quick as can be….. I will ring the biggest, blokiest and dumbest plumber that I can find. Change #14….I can be such a b##ch.

Change #13….A collaboration.

You all did good today, did you know that? You probably didn't even realize, why would you? You were all busy running around after kids, work, going to the dentist, walking the dog, doing goodness knows what. But, well you also took part in creating an unconscious change and you did all that by just reading my blog. You all pushed me to do something by reading my words.
I never expected to have an audience, but I did and I have and you have given me back my courage that had gotten lost somewhere along the way. You pushed me to do something that I otherwise would not have and it has paid off.
So good for you, while I have been bending over backwards for this change business you lot just hustle on in and as easy as that you have actually changed the course of my life. Thanks are in order, worldwide celebration can now take place and you can all feel wonderful. Change #13….A collaboration.

Change #12….Giving Dora the heave ho.

When did the TV become a babysitter? I remember when I was a kid and being allowed to watch a programme was a treat, a reward for good behavior, a privilege. The muppet show was the ultimate, it didn't get much better and I would tidy my room and eat my broccoli when I knew it was on. My mother owes a lot to Kermit the frog.
 But nowadays it's used as a tool to get work done, a mind zapping, calm inducing shrine of worship. The kids bow down to it's all encompassing power and we parents, scurry around putting our houses, lives and minds in order. Or we make a cup of tea and go back to bed.
We like to give it a name, 'down time', as if we think it's doing them good. Reading a book is 'down time', drawing a picture, talking to the cat…..TV is zombie time and nothing more.
I have three kids and the usual overloaded life, the Disney Channel and kid zone are my mates, my fall upon friends when it all hits the fan. Turn on the telly and down they flop, couch, beanbag, upside down, hanging off the back of a chair, wherever and whatever way, they chill. Add a bag of chips and I am sweet to do what should have, but hasn't, and what must, but couldn't, get done.
Now, I am not going to get totally crazy here, I am not going to start a riot, because God knows the little darlings are capable of civil unrest. I will be moderate and sensible and realistic and I will limit TV to a few shows in the afternoon. 
You may well scoff at my half pie change, but come on, if I had just announced that telly would be banned from our house, do you really think it would last? I'll answer that for you, no it would not, the kids would kick me out of the house and sell me to the circus. It would make a wonderful reality show, but well this is my life with three feral children and it is very, very real. Change #12….Giving Dora the heave ho.

Change #11….Yeah right.

We are a funny lot us New Zealanders. We are a bit backwards in the selling ourselves stakes and completely useless at compliments; giving and receiving. We are pretty good at a few things though. We are second to none with put downs, we are damned good at cutting one down to size and dab hands at sarcasm. We are the derogatory nation, so don't be getting big headed around here because you won't last a minute.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's all bad and it beats being a nation of self proclaiming, full of our own worth tossers. I mean the 'Yeah right' attitude can be golden…..but well, maybe just a little less, just a slight adjustment, a small tweak…….an incey change towards giving each other a pat on the back, a compliment without an aside added. Just now and again, once a day perhaps…..small baby steps are needed.
I will try, oh yes I will and I'm telling you now that the gauntlet of sarcasm was handed to me at birth, rather than a silver spoon. My family are bloody good at it, we thrive on one upminship, and live and die by our double edged sword. I can't promise you sweetness and light, but I will tone down the cynicism a notch and I might even tell you you look nice without pulling a face. 
So enjoy it while it lasts all, because I' m not sure if this change will stick…….but you never know. Change #11….Yeah right.

Change #10….Let them fall.

Today I let my 8 year old daughter canter around a paddock and jump a pony unaided by me. Why is this note worthy?  You may well ask. Well, in this day and age where kids are so wrapped up in cotton wool, bubble wrap and therefore themselves, this is something that some parents may say is irresponsible. I held my breathe, inwardly cringed and stopped myself from not looking. But, you know what, she was fine, more than fine, she was jubilant.
It's hard to let go of the reins, in this case literally. We want to have control, keep our kids from harm and shield them from disaster. But instead we are teaching them how to be reliant, frightened and feeble. Life and getting through it needs a certain toughness of character, an ability to fall off, get back on and start over. My daughter didn't fall off, but one day she will and I will let her, but I will also show her how to pick her self up, dust herself off and and smile in the face of it all. Change #10….Let them fall.

Change #9….A thematic moment.

I just read all of my entries for this blog and my other one in one foul swoop and I do believe that unbeknown to me a theme has appeared.  It gets quite a few mentions, more than the odd nod and a tad worryingly it seems to be an essential part of what makes Carly, Carly.
 It's life giving, mind calming, it makes me a nicer Mum, reminds me to breathe and it makes me sit down. My cup of tea.
But not just any cup of tea, it has to be a certain kind and I am quite fanatical about converting the masses to my choice of brew. This must mean that I have finally matured, that I am actually a grown up and that I am acquiring habits and rituals not unlike those of my Mother's. Gosh, that is pretty hard hitting and more than a little scary.
But anyway, let's take another track here, away from the cliff edge of middle age musings and I will let you in on my change. I've never really paid a heck of a lot of attention to where things come from even though I have seen all the terrible facts about child labour, environmental abuse etc etc and been disgusted etc etc.
 I just never took the next step to apply it to my own life, my own ideals and my daily cuppa. So, some research is needed. Where does my tea come from and is it ethically ok?  Right so give me a moment to trawl the internet………….go have a cup, actually no, look your brand up and see what you find. I'll race you……….
Five minutes has passed (did you do your homework?  Or look at Facebook instead? ). I am pleased to announce that I can rest easy that my daily dose is ethically good as gold (part of the ethical tea partnership) and yes, I did go further a field than just their own site. Thank goodness actually because changing my tea would have caused a major malfunction……It may have even pushed me to alcoholism. Time for a brew, I'm gasping, as my Mother would say.  Oh dear. What have I become? . Change #9….A thematic moment.