the fifo wife

Okay so yesterday one of the native trees in our back yard toppled. A result of all the rain and the fact my boys love to climb trees. It had been slowly been falling bending ever so slightly as the ground became more sodden and last week with one final blow from the wind it was over. The fact my boys hang from it like monkeys only helped its rapid decline.

So not knowing how to use a chain saw and absolutely determined that it had to be moved nor wanting to ask for help and knowing I could do it no matter what, I set about ‘hand sawing’ the little bugger. It took me three and half hours as I strategically removed boughs and branches to get it to shift. I used the boys as weights (no occupational health and safety here I’m afraid) and all awhile I was sawing away I remember FIFO husbands instructions on how to use a hand saw. Who ever thought that advice would come in handy? Apart from useing the right saw for the right job (it was clear to me after I sawed the tree down that I had infact used the wrong saw and should have used a cross cut saw instead of a rip saw…the difference outlined here). So his advice. Brace yourself arms tucked in and I distinctly remember rolling my eyes as he said pressure on the push stroke and lighten it as you pull out. It sounded very… ahem… much like the sex advice my very British neighbour tried to give me when I was sixteen it was also the same advice she gave me for learning how to do corners when I was learning to drive…go figure: corners are like catholic sex Deb she said slowly in and quickly out.  It sent me into fits of hysterics then and still does now.

So there my girls is my how to on how to use a handsaw and if you want better advice than that (and who wouldn’t you never know when it may come in handy) head here.

Today may be a long day…I can barely lift my arms or bend my fingers not to mention the blisters…gloves..no why would I use them..idiot I am.

Have a great day lovelies,

xxDeb

He went back yesterday. So adjusted are my boys to this lifestyle and that daddy is just going back to work that they opted just to stay home, say good bye and go to school. I was proud but disappointed that we couldn’t be whole for just a few more hours. B3 came though. There were no tears from him. We dropped FIFO husband off outside the airport doors as normal. We did the normal kiss and thank you for a fantastic month. Jumped back in the car before the surly security guard interrupted the serenity.

As we drove off B3 jumped up, head out the window and yells in his best 3 year old voice byyyye dad. Byyyyye dad. Byyyye dad. Loooooove you. He did that till FIFO husband was out of site. He wasnt sad. There were no tears that part came from me. Thats when for a split second you wonder if this is right. Thats what the tears are for. The tears they don’t last long you cant afford it to. We made the long drive home and well after allowing the rules to be bent just a little (they got to stay up late 830pm) just because I wanted their giggly chatter for just a little longer.

So here we are 530 am, first load of wash is done, chickens are fed and I’m about to make lunches and start dinner. Ahh the grind but what makes it worth it. FIFO husband called whilst we stopped for a quick coffee before we headed up the hill and said thank you. Thank you for all sorts. That thank you makes this all so worth it.

Thank you lovelies…have a great Friday,

Chat soon

xx Deb

I few weeks ago I wrote a piece for the fantastic website Stay at home Mum. You should visit has some great tips and tricks for surviving on one wage. Great ideas. Love it and Jodie the website creator is just the loveliest girl.

So passionate about this life of mine I wrote a round up of tips and tricks I use to manage. It was well recieved so I thought I would share it with you.

1. Honesty and Communication. Really this is a no brainer and its the same in any relationship but with FIFO both of you have lots of quite time to think and with to much thinking can often result in to much stuff happening thats not really a problem in the first place. So if you have got a problem talk about it. Its essential that any problems or concerns are aired. Talk about it until there is nothing left to talk about. Be honest with how you feel. Dont be hurtful just honest and dont wait until there is a problem.

2.Making Couple time. Im often frowned on because I will put my husbands and my relationship over my kids however my theory is happy mum and dad equals a really happy home and isnt thats what its all about. So I encourage dates and make an effort to be intrested in each other. After all there is a reason you fell in love in the first place.

3.Having routine for the kids. Im strict with my routine. Its been my saving grace. I have used one since my first baby was born and its still in place. With FIFO I think that routine is essential. Mine operates around meal times and the kids must be in bed by 730pm. I continue to use routine when dad comes home other wise its a nightmare when he goes back to work.

4.Daddy/ mummy isnt leaving he/she is going to work. I think telling the kids that mum or dad is off to work rather than he is leaving again is better and the kids can process that better. We dont make a fuss about daddy going back to work we just ensure that the night before is good relaxed quality time. We also have a map in teh boys room where daddy works so they can see where he is. For us our daddy is off shore so we can track him via a website depending on which vessel he is on. I think making a deal of the parent leaving could develop anxiety.

5.Look after yourself and dont be afraid to ask for help. Easy to say but please dont be afraid to ask anyone for help. If you are not coping thats okay. Our job is masive and sometimes it becomes to much. Outsource some work if you can. Use a baby sitter. I was too embarrassed to ask for help and it resulted in about of depression and exhaustion. So in saying that give yourself 15 minutes a day if you can weather it be walking, mediating or reading something for you. Its essential that you are well to get through your shift or swing until your partner comes home to take the load off and when they do come home. Take a rest even for a day be selfish for just a minute you deserve it.

Is there any that you use that you can share? Have a lovely Friday.

XX Deb

Want to know what my husband is doing right now? Sewing. Sewing on his janome. Fixing his work pants pocket and showing my B3 in the process. Does it make him less of a bloke. I don’t think so. I love it. He is the sexiest man I have ever met and even more so when he is fixing his own uniforms,  making me an apple crumble and even more so when he waltzed me around St Marks square in Venice. He is as ‘blokiest’ as the next man. In fact he is more man than Joe blow down the road who swills beer and chases pigs for fun and much sexier too.

Him and his five siblings where raised by his Nana and there were three things his Nana made sure they could do before they were let out into the big wild world.  Through lifestyle and necessity before they left home they had to know how to sew, dance (the old fashioned way) and cook. Each one of his siblings, four boys and one girl can cook, sew and dance to perfection.

To be able to take of themselves in any situation.

Its fantastic and its a legacy I would love to pass on to my boys.

So what do you want your children to learn from you?

Hope that you are having a wonderful Tuesday,

xx Deb

Braised Beef..Debs version

The original recipe is here I have changed it for a slower cooker and added some stuff so as per normal quantities and times are guess work

What you will need:

• 1 kilogram well marbled boneless beef a stewing steak or similar
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 8 onions, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced lengthwise (6 cups)
• 6 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• splash of port
• 1 cup of beef stock
• Salt and pepper

 How to:

Pat meat dry. Stir together allspice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl and rub all over meat.

Spread half of onions and half of garlic in a 13- by 9-inch with knob of butter on the base of slow cooker and arrange meat on top. Spread remaining onions and garlic over meat. Add a splash of port and beef stock. Tightly cover pan with foil and turning meat over after 1 hour, cook until meat is very tender, on which ever setting you would like.

Skim fat from pan juices.

The trick with this recipe is to ensure very little moisture escapes from the cooker otherwise it may be a little dry..its a fairly dry dish anyway but you could create a gravy to go with it?

I served with mashed potato and carrots..yum!