5 Sentence Fiction - Sacrifice

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At night Annabelle headed out into the cold, she travelled by train into the city, the opposite direction to everyone else. This is how she felt, opposite to everyone else; when others slept - she was awake; when others were awake - she was asleep. 


Annabelle opened the little grey door in the grate at the back of the huge store, she put down her handbag and picked up her tools: mop, bucket, broom, brushes, sprays, cloths and bandaids. She worked hard moving from floor to floor cleaning the checked tiled floors and the doors and the elevators and the toilets, her hands would bleed from scrubbing off the marks left from thousands of pairs of shoes. 


When she felt tired or sorry for herself, she opened the locket around her neck, inside, a faded photo of a little boy with rosy cheeks and a hopeful smile, she soon returned to her brushes and sprays knowing that it was all worthwhile.

I have based the above story loosely on the 5 sentences below. I wanted to write about my grandparents' sacrifice - so I did. I hope you don't mind.

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My grandparents left the country where their families were born, where they had friends and family, jobs and bank accounts, churches and schools, pet rabbits and clogs. 


Holland was growing quickly, filling up with people from all over the world, expanding in every direction, life was changing quickly. With big families, full of lots of strapping boys they decided to load their children and what they could of their lives into suitcases and put them onto boats as big as buildings, they endured a long and arduous sea journey for many days and many nights. 


They started a new life, took jobs below thier status, worked incredibly long hours and endured ridicule and shame for their language and culture. They were my grandparents, they believed for a better life for thier children and for their children's children, they saw opportunities for us all in Australia, I am grateful for their sacrifice.

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction. 

10 Things - How To Have A Picnic

How to have a picnic in 10 Easy Steps... 

I hope that this reminds us all that heading out of town for a few hours is well worth the effort. Our Cool Kids have talked about this adventure a lot!

1) Head somewhere nice 

2) Put down some rugs

3) Use a cute tea set

4) Enjoy some yummy food

5) Play some games 

6) Take some photos of sunflares

7) Go for a nice walk

8) Enjoy the journey

9) Have an adventure - even the loos can be exciting (or a bit scary if you are 3!)

10) Take the long way home

Life is Cool: Is B Crafty?

I thought I would venture into the thriving 'Craft Blog' market and blog about some things that I have made. I sew (a bit), I scrap (a little bit less), I crochet (a bit less again), and I dream of quilting and other lovely homely style things. But... let's be real.


I know how to shop.


One of my sisters is very crafty, she sews beautifully, she crochets like a rocket, she knits like lightning, she beads like a speedster... She really is quite the craft-a-holic. She shall be referred to as TSS (The Sewing Sister) from henceforth....


My mum is the daughter of a tailor. He began his career in Holland and came to Australia in 1950 with his wife and nine children. My mum used to spend hours and hours learning my Opa's craft by sitting at his feet talking and learning the fine art of finely made clothes.


I wish I had known it as a child, but I used to wear home-made designer clothes all the time... I just thought everyone's mum whipped up dresses, pants, shirts, jumpers, toy's clothes, toys, bags, curtains, upholstery and all those kinds of things all the time. I was raised to think that buying things from the shops was kind of cheating. Fabric shopping was a day out and picking out patterns and designs from my mum's Dutch sewing magazines was part of the fun of getting new clothes.


TSS was bitten by the sewing bug when she was about 12. Mum and TSS used to spend hours and hours on Saturdays and in the holidays happily sewing, sewing, sewing. But I just didn't get bitten by the same bug. I used to get really jealous that TSS often had new and groovy things to wear to church and I did not....


I have always had a problem with spatial perception. As an adult I see it so clearly. I have trouble giving directions requiring left and right and cannot read maps to find myself. As a child I just thought I was so dumb. I could not for the life of me understand sewing patterns and how they were meant to fit  together. I also require lots of talking and discussion about how things fit together and why.


Now, my mum is lovely and has taught me some amazing things, but she is not a teacher. I am a teacher. I know how to explain things and I appreciate that sometimes children have to read something for themselves and figure it out in their heads before they can really 'get it'. So to save everyone's frustrations, I decided to give sewing a miss, but still wanted to be doing something...


So I taught myself how to cook.


I can't imagine how many hours were spent with Mum and TSS busy piecing together patterns and snipping and attaching buttons and being stabbed by pins while I stirred and simmered, blended and mixed in the kitchen, just to be near them.  I am now quite a competent cook. I even considered becoming a chef at one point - the working hours were horrendous so I decided on a different path.


A few years ago I bought a sewing machine. I did it in secret. I only vaguely asked TSS for advice and my mum was a bit shocked that I would even consider sewing. But, I thought I could make cute clothes for my girls and I also thought it would be handy to be able to fix things and stuff... So, I bought my machine, threads, scissors, fabric, pins and patterns. The first things I made were dresses for the girls for a good friend's wedding. I shocked everyone by actually DOING it - even myself! TSS did have to do some unpicking, and my mum had to step in to put in the zips on the day of the wedding, but all in all, for a first effort, I was pretty pleased. The photo at the top of this post shows off my beautiful girls, and the dress I made.


Since then I have made a few skirts for myself, lots of shorts and dresses for the girls, some maternity dresses for myself and have lots of dreams for future sewing projects.


A few months ago, I had one of those full circle moments.... TSS asked if she could borrow one of my sewing patterns and I asked her for a recipe for pumpkin pie.


So... there are some things that I have made and I thought I would add them to my blog. But, in true B style, I will add the stories behind the clothes. Stay tuned....

35 Cool things about turning... well....

These are in random order.... Except #1 - it is THE coolest thing...

35) You have your own credit card
34) You have owned clothes long enough for them to be back in fashion - Retro Rocks
33) Your shoe size doesn't change
32) You can finally afford the clothes that as a teenager you dreamt of owning (although now you are too responsible to actually buy them)
31) Your parents trust you with their cars
30) Your sisters ask for advice and are excited to see you
29) You have friends who appreciate girl time and write it into their diaries - in pen
28) People younger than you start calling you 'Mrs'
27) Fun nights out involve coffee, friends, laughing and stories.... Not short dresses, clubs and spiked drinks
26) Cool things to do involve: parks, juice, muffins and scooters... Not spikey hair and lots of eye make-up listening to pulsating music
25) Your hair dresser can keep your hair looking current without looking like an aged Bratz doll
24) Your mother-in-law asks you for fashion advice
23) Kissing isn't restricted to the car
22) You can laugh at teenagers and how stooopid they can be, and forget that when you were a teenager you were equally stooopid, if not more so
21) You say, "Oh, I remember that, I was in grade... " more than you care to admit.
20) You appreciate the importance of correct spelling and grammar
19) You don't have to worry about being stalked by creeps on facebook - you know they are your cousins
18) You appreciate the rare quiet still moments you get, like filling up the car
17) You are known for your children's achievements, and that is cool with you
16) Your parents are starting to enjoy seeing you work out how to deal with lippy children, it is like revenge for all the arguing you did with them as a child
15) You know what make-up suits you and how to put it on
14) You see the benefit of buying things that will last
13) You don't need to have a party to celebrate your birthday - nice food, bubbly and a good dessert is more than enough
12) You become cheaper to insure
11) You can leave your clothes on the floor of your room if you want to
10) Your kids think that hot chips are a rare delicacy
9) You don't look out of place buying kids clothes
8) You know what kinds of things children like to eat and receive as gifts
7) The people you hang out with don't really remember how geeky you were in highschool
6) You don't get confused filling in forms at the bank as much
5) You know the right things to say to get discounts at department stores
4) You can walk away from a bargain if you know you will never use the item
3) You can help other people in lots of cool ways
2) You are usually smarter than you were 10 years ago
1) You realise that life is good when it is filled with lots of people. Friends who are like family and family who are like friends.