Whilst on our Melbourne jaunt, we had some very special shopping to do. Farm Girl, our free thinking, bold, individualistic free spirit had a birthday looming and Melbourne promised to be a fitting place to source suitable gifts.
Happy 17th Birthday, Farm Girl – and thank you for being so kind about my haphazard cake decorating.
I love that her current soundtrack pretty much parallels that of mine at a similar age; the Fleetwood Mac poster advertises a concert held in my first year of high school. Blondie was the person I dreamed I’d one day grow up to be (side note: not even close, but a girl can still dream) and it fills my heart with joy that she feels the same way about bolshie, uncompromised, big voiced-big opinioned, unapologetic Stevie Nicks. That The Smiths circa early 1980s speak to her and, often, for her makes me incredibly happy.
At least we got the music right.
The world is one hot mess at the moment and I kind of feel like we fell down on the job; we were meant to make it a better place. Yet, here we are: our planet still reverberating with war and hatred, selfishness and environmental disasters. When I was her age, I clearly remember having it all sorted.
Why can’t we all just be kinder?
Truth be told, while I know now that when you’re aloft the ivory tower of power reality tends to squew, it’s still my core belief. You’ve Got To, in the words of another voice from my youth, Try a Little Kindness (high five, Glen Campbell).
So again happy birthday to you, my glorious, gracious granddaughter.
Sorry about the mess – but at least we got the music right.
Union Homestead 
I can tell from your posts that your granddaughter is a very special person.
We think so 😊
First of all Happy Birthday to FG!!
FG says thank you with a very large smile
Oops..there was more to say…though less important of course. Her birthday reminds me that I began following when she was 7….a decade ago! Souch has changed, Both as this lovely person has grown, but also for the whole crew. It’s been a privilege to be along for the journey.
Our life has definitely changed in the last decade and thank you for your kind words. It must also mean a decade has passed since you graced our shores!
Yup. Hard to believe but there it is. I still would love to return but it’s unlikely. Cost for one and wheelchair for another. Neither make it impossible, but they do make it daunting. Thank goodness I can visit virtually.
We’re a long way from anywhere and it’s a big investment – in both time and dollars – to get here. Virtual travel has its benefits…every night you get to sleep in your own bed, for one 😊♥️
So darned cute! A very, very happy birthday to your granddaughter. She sounds like a wonderful young woman.
Thank you on her behalf. We are very proud of her.
It is frustrating that the millions of people of goodwill in the world seem to have so little effect on the people who are busy making everyone else miserable. The best we can do perhaps is to try not to add to the chaos.
I reckon you’re right, us low-level bit players need to live as we’d like everyone to. It seems a bit unfair, though
It is definitely unfair.
Never mind the haphazard cake decorating! Was it chocolate? Happy birthday to Farm Girl! One more year and she can vote. I hope she is interested in what kind of country she would like NZ to be.
Farm Girl is definitely. a chocolate cake girl – preferably made to a particular recipe gleaned from one of Nana’s old books which only folk who have their own chickens would consider making😊 Farm Girl has definite ideas on where she wants our country and the whole planet to head; she’s very excited about getting her official say!
Thumbs up to Farm Girl!