Day 5: Betty's green earrings

Today I'm expressing gratitude for one of the central women in my life, my mother-in-law, the wonderful Betty Armbruster, by wearing the pretty green earrings she gave me as a birthday present a few years ago. The colour is appropriate, it's Betty's favourite, and reflects one of her favourite places in the world, Ireland.

Angus and James with Nanna Betty 2016

Betty is a loving mother of five, grandmother of nine and great grandmother of one. With a lust for life and so full of energy, I find it hard to believe Betty turned 80 earlier this month. Today, she is marking her birthday with a celebration in Armidale, which I'm very sorry to be missing. As a voracious reader, a history buff and an avid follower of current affairs, Betty is engaged with the world in deep and thoughtful ways. She's a great communicator, and far better connected on social media than most of us! In the last decade or so it's been wonderful to see Betty have the opportunity for international travel. We've had the joy of meeting up with her in London and in Florence, and hearing about her many other travel adventures - a tour of New Zealand is next on her list.

Gelati outside the Duomo, Florence with Betty and Kerrie, 2011.

Angus in Chewie costume 2016

Betty is generous beyond words, ever ready to jump on the train to come and help us juggle the work/life balance, usually arriving with a container of freshly baked peanut biscuits in hand!  Her sewing skills are legendary - keeping my two boys in the best costumes over the years.

Aside for all her other talents and attributes, Betty was a key link in the chain that reunited Rob and I, which places me forever in her debt.

Day 5 began early for me at the Thompson house, woken at 5am by the Molly dog wanting to find her pal Ted! Grrr! Trying to get back to sleep I opened the newspaper, but the stories emanating from the US left me in such a state of despair I had to stop reading. Despite what some people thought before the election, Trump means what he says... and what he says is despicable. But how to respond in this new Orwellian world? I'm still not feeling overly sick from the chemo drugs, but the toxicity of the political era is gut-churning.

I was fortunate to be distracted with a fleeting visit from my life-long friends, Maddie and Bill, bearing tonight's dinner. Gratitude. After a relaxing day at Cazy's, Ree and I and Miss Molly are back in Alexandria. Can't wait to see my boys tomorrow.

Some late party snaps courtesy of my Aunty Eilee: