Day 61: Red glass beads

I enjoyed wearing Soph's red sparkles so much yesterday I thought today I'd go for one of the other few red pairs I have in my collection. Mum bought me these earrings many years ago. They were made by a local Armidale jeweller, and Mum purchased at the Armidale markets for me 'just because'. This was while I was still doing my undergrad degree, so it means they've been travelling with me since at least 1988. The blood red glass beads sit on a long silver hook; they are very simple, but that's their charm.

Margie and Mum

The Bugden Clan sans David, 2014

As I've been wearing these today I've been thinking of Mum and the important people in her life. I've already featured two of her precious sisters, Eilee and Suzie, and today its the turn of Mum's second sister, Margie. Mum and Margie were very close, and I know like us, Margie misses her terribly. Based between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Margie lives an increasingly busy life with the arrival of 8 gorgeous grandchildren in quick succession over the past decade or so from her three lovely children, my cousins, David, Karen, and Anthony. The latest precious edition - Aurelia - was born to Anthony and Lani in January.

The Napier Girls at Dad's wedding, 2016

Before moving to QLD, Margie and Gary lived in Sydney. When we were kids, to get some respite, Mum used to pack us three 'big ones' off to them for the school holidays on the 'red rattler' train from Armidale. Poor Margie and Gary having three fractious girls land on their doorstep for weeks at a time!  They were living in Sylvania then, and had a swimming pool and spa - the height of luxury for kids from the country; we'd spend our days in the pool emerging with skin as wrinkled as prunes at the end of the day. They also generously hosted me and my best friend Maddie when we did our Year 10 work experience in Sydney - me at ABC TV when it was still at Gore Hill, with dreams of being a journo, and Maddie at a fashion industry magazine, The Rag Trader in Surry Hills, with her sights set on the fashion industry...as things go, we're not too far off.

When I first moved to Sydney in 1991 and Margie and Gary were still living here, they generously provided me with the lounge and dining room furniture I couldn't afford but desperately needed. Over the past few months, Margie's kindness has  been on display, with her sending me many encouraging messages of love and support.

I love these pictures of us at Margie's wedding, where she looked so pretty and happy even though it occurred very shortly after her beloved Dad, Harry, had died suddenly. I'm pretty confident it was early 1972. Despite our matching dresses, we three girls weren't flower girls - though obviously Linda is keen to act the part with the bouquet she's snagged from somewhere! I'm not sure what's making me so sad or grumpy (?) in the b&w photo, but in the colour shot I'm obviously very happy to be standing with Suzie, looking so pretty in lilac. Cazy is tucked in there under Mum's pink 'slack suit' top, with her birth a few months off. I think I still have Mum's sandals in my dress up box.

Day 61 has been very relaxing. A morning walk, an hour or two on the puzzle, and the blog has kept me occupied. With James out at rehearsals for his back stage duties for the school musical next week and Rob and Angus off to see the Swannies kick off for the season - thanks to Steph for the tix - it was a quiet afternoon.  Shame the Swans lost, but it's early days. The boys came home with my new cap, with a special message from Dane Rampe, which Steph organised for me. Love it! Cheer cheer!