Away Journal Entries

136 creative works found

• Everything
• Images
• T-Shirts
• Calendars
• Writing
• Journals

• Redbubble break
  by Mel Brackstone

  Arrggghhh….I’m going to miss you all so much! Leaving tomorrow for a second honeymoon in NZ….not going to be much time for the bub, s…

  Arrggghhh….I’m going to miss you all so much! Leaving tomorrow for a second honeymoon in NZ….not going to be much time for the bub, so I’ll just have to say hooroo and will catch up with you all when I return. Gotta go pack – cameras, lenses, tripod, cable release, lee filters, batteries, battery chargers, power leads, extension cord, powerboard….these are all essential, of course. Clothing and toiletries are optional extras… Take care all you lovely people, I’ll log in if I can, but it’s not going to happen often, I suspect.

• Off RB for a while
  by Mariaan Krog

  Hi there dear friends & fellow artists! First of all, let me apologise for not being around so much I have a few “fires” to put out!...

  Hi there dear friends & fellow artists! First of all, let me apologise for not being around so much I have a few “fires” to put out! My presence & activity will be less frequent in the coming weeks as well! I decided to embark on a journey that would leave me with almost no spare time! It is a route that I had to take years ago, but I simply did not have the courage or faith to act upon it! The past few months (eight months!) I was depressed, full of fear & bitterness and not strong enough! The Lord has not forsaken me and through the Holy Spirit it was easy to see the light even though I was getting negative feedback from people in different vocations! I want to thank you all for your wonderful support since I first came here! It would not have been possible to grow as an artist had it not been for you all! What is going to happen? I will try & upload all the images I already edited for publishing on RB and all my other websites in the mornings ~ when I can I will try & get to your bubblesites at night My days will be filled with activities that would bring me closer to my goal: the decision I finally made! Some of you might probably remember what I was busy with when I first started here and I am sure you will agree that it is high time I finish what I started! Lastly: Keep on being as kind & gentle as you are and enjoy your time with RB friends! I am disabling my bubblemail but you can still reach me at my private email address (see front page) I am also removing all of the people on my watchlist but I have saved your bubbles in my Internet Explorer Favourites ~ thus I will still be able to check on you when I have time! PS: To all the hosts & moderators of all my groups: Thank you for choosing so many of my images as favourites to be featured! It was so encouraging to know that my art was good enough to be shared with RB members! And remember that I will still be around and that my portfolio is going to still be here! / :D Hugs to you all / Mariaan Another PS: Please do not feel offended when I remove you from my watchlist or when I remove my bubblemail! It is purely because I do not want to be tempted to sit down & spend too much time viewing & commenting! Your work is so fabulous and I enjoy viewing & favouriting & commenting on it!

• I'm Giving Away All of My Work Including Source Files
  by Grant Bissett

  I don’t like copy-protection. I don’t like spending effort on stopping an idea from spreading. In my not-always-humble opinion, the debat…

  I don’t like copy-protection. I don’t like spending effort on stopping an idea from spreading. In my not-always-humble opinion, the debate around copy-protection for online content is a waste of time, and has nothing to do with creativity or growth as an artist. Like any of my work ? Please, take it. “Right click”, if that’s what you’re into, and save it to your laptop. Email it to your myface. Post it on your blog, it’s cool with me. If you like something, wherever possible I can give you the original photos and layered photoshop files of any of my works for free. Just ask. I’ll send you the files under an Australian CC attribution license so you can do whatever you want with them, so long as you give me a nod. I’m doing this partly because it costs me nothing. I reckon artists/musicians/writers/marketers can win when they realise that direct communication with someone who likes their stuff is worth so much more than the fanciful income they lost from stolen hits that never were.

• Been Away for a While!!! .......Two Features!!!
  by blossom

  Came back from being away, only to find that two of my works have been featured: Watery_Jewel...

  Came back from being away, only to find that two of my works have been featured: Watery_Jewel has been featured in Colors_of_Water and Beyers_Cottage_-_Hill_End has been featured in Goldrush_and_Ghost_Towns THANK YOU!!! to the moderators of Colors of Water and Goldrush and Ghost Towns!!!

• Step away and so much happens!
  by snapdragon823

  I was away for the weekend with out internet access at a Women’s Retreat at Spring HIll Campgrounds in Evart, Mi. If anyone reading this…

  I was away for the weekend with out internet access at a Women’s Retreat at Spring HIll Campgrounds in Evart, Mi. If anyone reading this is from Mi, I would totally recommend this!!! It was so beautiful and fun and adventurous. And OMGosh did I get a LOT of amazing photos (which I will be working on and adding later this week). While I was away, several fun and exciting things happened!! Silhouetted Love is featured again this time in the group Beginner’s Corner. / / I’m blown away at how many have favorited this and featured this photo! I hate to be boastful, but man, I’m proud! Its my first photo that has really become something many many appreciate. I feel like I know what I’m doing now, or I’m getting better or something! Thank you to all of you for the awesome feedback, and thanks to the mods of Beginner’s Corner for choosing it to be featured! With that feature in Beginner’s Corner, I also have my FIRST FEATURED ARTIST nod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! That feels amazing! I am so honored to not just have a piece of work featured, but also MYSELF! To be honest, I almost cried when I saw that!!! Haha! My photo Playin’ in Puddles placed 5th in the challenge “Scent of Rain” in the group Prize Challenges. / / This is my all time favorite photo as it is my son Cooper’s feet. Its my first photo that I took and looked at and said to myself, “That’s a work of art.” Not the photo itself per say, but the moment and the capture of it. It has since become my trademark photo for SnapDragon Photography. Its the first one you see on my website and on the back of my business cards. So I am very proud to have this photo get recognized at any time! This is my baby! So thank you all for the votes!!!! Lastly, I wanted to let you all know that I have three works in a photography exhibition in Gallery Moncalm in Greenville, Michigan. If any of you live in the area, I hope you will get the chance to peruse our local photographers there! Look for my three works: / Playin’ in Puddles / / Splash / / and Addisen’s Baby Brother / With all that said, and with a very very busy weekend put behind me, I’m so freaking exhausted right now!!!!!!! I’m going to go collapse in my bed! I’ll resume my Favorite of the Moment journals tomorrow!

• I'll be away
  by Mui-Ling Teh

  Well not that I’ve been extremely active; most of you already know that I haven’t been active since school started again. But anyhow I ju…

  Well not that I’ve been extremely active; most of you already know that I haven’t been active since school started again. But anyhow I just wanted you all to be aware that I will be away from Sept 25th – 29th. I’m going south for a school field trip visiting Cuma, Baia, Pompei, Capri, Paestum and Sperlonga. The past week I had two big deadlines; one was a casestudy of the Tiber Island, where the temple of Aesculapius, the god of healing, was built: Legend tells that there was a plague in Rome in 293 BC and the Romans sought to retrive the deity of Aesculapius from Greece. They brought back his sacred serpant, who slipped off the ship and made its way to the island, and the Romans saw this as an omen that Aesculapius wanted his temple built there. The Island was modeled in the form of a ship to commemorate this event with a sculpting of Aesculapius holding his serpant. While my group was investigating this Island I just had to take the opportunity to get this tourist shot: Well today Aesculapius is faceless. To see more of what the Island looks like, I suggest doing a google image search. I’ve been really busy lately; aside from dealines I’ve been trying to find new housing since my current place is far from my school and my landlady’s son might need my room in december. Hopefully I can find something good and move there for November and December; currently living in Monteverde but seeking a place in Trastevere. Got a lot on my hands, but for now I have to get packing for my field trip! Ciao!

• Away for a while.
  by Dave Warren

  Hi All, sorry if i have not been commenting on your work lately, i have been very busy at work and home getting ready for our first holid…

  Hi All, sorry if i have not been commenting on your work lately, i have been very busy at work and home getting ready for our first holiday, so i will be away now for the next 11 days, so i apologise for not commenting and will try to catch up when i gaet back. / Thanks, / Dave

• please forgive me everyone
  by Christopher Ewing

  hey all / i havent had the chance to really get bubbling lately / have had a lot going on / actually working out two jobs now / just got hire…

  hey all / i havent had the chance to really get bubbling lately / have had a lot going on / actually working out two jobs now / just got hired yesterday at the local grocery, going to be learning how to cut meat! lol / and, last weekend got with this professional photog, and ill be doing shots of the people tubing along the river! / so during the week ill be cutting meat and on weekends hanging out along the river shooting tubers :) / this photog has some serious plans for us in the very near future, meeting up with this guy was a golden opportunity for myself / some might have heard of him ..Wilson Reynolds / This guy is definitely a pro, a NG photog, goes all over the place giving photog classes and such. / and then the other things in life going on / so i apologize for not keeping up as i normally do, i even have A LOT to ketchup on in the fog group..so guys hang tight, ill be commenting again soon!! / from what ive browsed in on, things are looking great!! ill only have about 20pages to play ketchup on! lol / oh yea..this is the tubing site we now have going up tubingphotos / just put in dates..may 24th and 25th and you can get an idea of what ive been shooting lately :)

• WOW....... 716 Views..That's huge for me!!!!
  by Naomi Frost

  I just had to shout this one out before I go on my trip. – I can’t seem to make the break from “the bubble” . Every chance I get I’m on…

  I just had to shout this one out before I go on my trip. – I can’t seem to make the break from “the bubble” . Every chance I get I’m on the site before I have to leave….my husband is getting rather annoyed as it is making packing very difficult. BUT…. I was looking at my ‘Art’ and noticed that I have had 716 views of my image for the photoshopcreative07 challenge. / Now, I know some of you would be saying “716, that’s not many…” but considering that my next highest is 127, 120 and then they’re mostly in the the 60’s…I’m really excitied. / I’m so happy that so many people have stopped by to check out my entry in the comp….and everyone has been so nice and left such wonderful comments. So… THANK YOU to everyone who has had a peep at my work. Ok. The time has come. After I post this I’ll have one more look at my activity and then I’m outa here….........at least until I can find another computer somewhere to check-in…........maybe one of those internet cafe’s…........... / See ya

• Missing RB already................
  by Naomi Frost

  Just wanted to let you know that I will be away for the next week and won’t be able to access RB as much as I would like….(I’m sufferin…

  Just wanted to let you know that I will be away for the next week and won’t be able to access RB as much as I would like….(I’m suffering withdrawals already..). My son has won tickets to see Bob The Builder so we are off to Sydney to stay with my parents…just in time for the APEC Conference. (Yay) / They live relatively near the beach, so because they can look after the boys, I think I’ll get a chance to get some stupid o’clock shots in. Hope you check out the last few images I uploaded and I’ll be sure to catch up with everyones latest uploads when I return. See ya / Naomi.

• I'M BACK!!
  by Steven Novak

  Holy moley green guacamole things have been busy lately! Lots of work and lots of family stuff has made it a wee bit difficult to get …

  Holy moley green guacamole things have been busy lately! Lots of work and lots of family stuff has made it a wee bit difficult to get around to putting up any work or commenting on anyones work, or even singing into Redbubble lately. Add all of that to the fact that I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping and you’ve got a recipe for disaster more annoying than a weekend long marathon of Ben Affleck movies. (Which, as you might imagine is AMAZINGLY annoying!) Anyway, hopefully I’m entering a bit of a downspell and hopefully that’ll mean throwing something up on here more often. Hopefully. I don’t like making promises, so we’ll just stick with hopefully. Hopefully is good. Hopefully leaves the door open for failure, and since failure is a very real possibility at this point I think I’m making the right choice in leaving it open. While I was away I sold a couple shirts (many thanks to whomever bought those) and fellow Bubbler ROBIN MONROE who is a beck of a talented painter, bought a card featuring my SAILING THROUGH HOKUSAI art. Thanks Robin and I hope you like it. Before I wrap this up, my wife has been snapping some pictures of me early in the morning and we think that we’ve discovered the reason I’m not getting any sleep. The stupid cats seem to think my head is their bed. (Don’t give me any guff on the black and white stripped quilt. I’ve had it since I was a kid, it’s ugly as sin, it needs to be thrown away, I’ve heard it all from my wife more than once. I’ll tell you the same thing I tell her…it’s not going anywhere. That’s right, I’m a thirty year old Linus. Deal with it.) Steve! /

• TWO Features!!!!
  by blossom

  Wow!! Just noticed that I have had 2 of my works Featured: Rusting_Away...

  Wow!! Just noticed that I have had 2 of my works Featured: Rusting_Away .... Featured in Bits_and_Pieces and The_Wreck_of_The_Cherry_Venture ..... Featured in Rusty,_Crusty_and_Falling_to_Bits Thank You so much!! I am truly honoured!!! Thank You to all you wonderful people on RB who support and encourage me!!! I am so very thankful to you all!!!

• Life in the jet set
  by Andrew Walker

  well, just to let you all know I will be away from the Bubble for a week or three. Work is sending me to the back of beyond, or as they l…

  well, just to let you all know I will be away from the Bubble for a week or three. Work is sending me to the back of beyond, or as they like to call it the Falkland Islands. I have borrowed a couple of half decent lenses and scraped together 9 gigs worth of memory cards and the first thing packed was my tripod and an extra jumper. I’m looking forward to it I really am. For three whole weeks I will be able to say I was in the same hemisphere as Paul Vanzella and Mel Brackstone! So whilst it will be work I think that they are going to have a struggle to get me to do anything like work :-) now what’s the best angle to photograph a penguin from?

• Hey Everyone ! Miss ya !!!!
  by bamagirl38

  Just wanted to write and say hi to all of my wonderful friends here on RB… Im alive lol…. I so much appreciate all the mail, You all …

  Just wanted to write and say hi to all of my wonderful friends here on RB… Im alive lol…. I so much appreciate all the mail, You all mean so much to me…. I had to go out of town, came home last night, and the unthinkable happened…. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr lol, My new computer, had been struck by lightning while I was away, so thats what Dell says…. and is just all messed up… Im praying my stuff on my hard drive is all still there, I think it will be though… anyways lol… to make a long story short…. the Dell Service Technician wont have the parts until Thursday, and then he has to call to set a time to come out here, so until then, I wont be too active…. I dont care for this laptop lol, and alllllllllllllllllll my stuff is in my pc…. So im like a chicken with its head cut off right now and that aint too good ! LOL I miss you all very much and am so touched by all the emails, bubblemails and etc…. Know that I am thinking of each of you and will talk to you as soon as I can… If I DONT MAIL YOU BACK RIGHT NOW, its not that I dont wanna, its that Im really behind, REALLY BEHIND LOL, on all mail ! Hugs and love you always! / Bonita / WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BABY! :)

• 20,251 views ... I'm blown away! :o)
  by Karen Cook

  I’m a little late in posting this, because I was going to do it as soon as I hit 20,000 views, but better late than never! I’ve just log…

  I’m a little late in posting this, because I was going to do it as soon as I hit 20,000 views, but better late than never! I’ve just logged on to find that my art has reached 20,251 views!!!!! :o) Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t been on here as much as usual lately ~ I haven’t been feeling the best :-( I’ve been trialling a new migraine medication but it hasn’t kicked in the way I would have liked, and I’ve had a few ups and downs, so sincere apologies for the lack of views and comments. My heart (and head!) really hasn’t been in it lately. On a positive note I did get out yesterday and took a few photos so will hopefully get the chance to post a few soon. A huge thank you to you all for your words of encouragement over the past year ~ gee how my time here on the bubble has flown by!! It has been most enjoyable! I promise that I will endeavour to get back into the swing of things very very soon. I must extend a personal thank you to Karin Taylor for her friendship and understanding and for putting up with me when I’ve sent her long convoluted bubble mails, but it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know her better and discover all the little things we have in common! Karen x

• PRETTY BLOWN AWAY!
  by linaji

  SASSI SEEMS TO BE UP TO SOME PRETTY SWEET SAYINGS.. AND I AM SO BLOWN AWAY.. / Ok.. it is like this.. Red Bubble has a forum for ‘Most He…

  SASSI SEEMS TO BE UP TO SOME PRETTY SWEET SAYINGS.. AND I AM SO BLOWN AWAY.. / Ok.. it is like this.. Red Bubble has a forum for ‘Most Helpful Red Bubbbler’...and I just got an bubble mail.. from Jo O’Brian.... I have been nominated!!! Now I really really like the feeling.. that Sassi and a few others said such wonderful things.. but. the thing is.. I really really want to buy your calenders.. and I was thinking.. if I win.. perhaps I could put everyone’s name by a number and then I can post the numbers.. and you vote for the numbers.. not knowing who’s number is who’s.. I will before you vote send the nameS/ number list to a trusted fellow bubbler and we can make MY WIN YOURS!!!!!!!!! SO IF YOU WANNA PLAY WITH ME AND GET A CALENDER SOLD.. VOTE FOR ME!!! / HERE I LOVE YOU AND AM SO VERY SURPRIZED AND THANKFUL.. YOU ALL ARE MY DEAR FRIENDS.. XOX LET’S GET A CALENDER SOLD!!! PS.. OK.. I KNOW I GET THE BEST END RESULT AND I AM GONNA KEEP EVERY ONE OF THEM!!

• will be away
  by susan davies

  im off to the caravan for a few days, so may or may not get internet there, so will comment as and when I can, needed rest after the l…

  im off to the caravan for a few days, so may or may not get internet there, so will comment as and when I can, needed rest after the last few days on redbubble , anyways hope if anyone can make the meet on the 28th june you will as its a great day, it will be my fourth and ive loved each one, dont worry bout weather it doesnt dampen our spirits. ITS AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS, NR CARMARTHEN, WEST WALES, 10 am dont forget your red balloon to those who cant make it hope to maybe see you on the next one thanks everyone, see you all soon hugs suexxxxx

• Fly away in a week!
  by Mui-Ling Teh

  My flight to Rome is due Aug 24th, a week + a day from now! I’ve been really busy with the packing and preparation lately; and have been …

  My flight to Rome is due Aug 24th, a week + a day from now! I’ve been really busy with the packing and preparation lately; and have been slow on comments; I still come on RB everyday though and look at a few works, and for those new works I haven’t left a comment on, it isn’t because I’m trying to be ignorant! I’ve been running around, but I’m never totally away from the bubble; though I’m less active now than I used to be. My packing is almost done but I’ll probably be going back to see what I can take out of my luggage to ensure I don’t go beyond the weight limit :P. I’ve always managed to be below the weight limit; but this time I’m going away for 8 months; accommodating for both the hot season and the cold season (Rome is very hot in September; and London can be very cold in winter); plus I have to carry some school stuff with me this time, and I can anticipate that I’ll be buying more things in Rome; and maybe London too. To Europe and back I can have two luggages checked in, each weighing up to 50lbs. plus one carry-on – this I am used to. However, while flights within Europe are cheap, the luggage limit is more strict; Ryan airlines allows one check in up to 15 kg (33lbs.) and one carry-on so I have to try to not bring too much now anyhow (If anyone knows some better deals I’d love to hear! A train ride option would be nice too if any :) ). Aside from packing I’ve just reformatted my laptop. During my previous school semester my laptop kept running into many problems and I had such a difficult semester partly because of that. Strangely though, after the semester was over and I began my internship, I stopped running into those errors – as though my laptop had a personality of its own and just decided to go on strike during the school semester (Hmmm, maybe it’s time I give it a name :p). During school I always have to do so much work on the computer; doing heavy graphics from time to time, and keeping the computer on over night – I make it work hard; it must really hate school :P So the past 7 months I didn’t run into problems but decided to reformat to be on the safe side; let my laptop forget all the torments from school in the same old town and let it enjoy brand new memories in Rome ~ so long as it doesn’t get stolen :P (has happened to some students who went to Rome in previous years). If that happens I can’t share my Rome photos with you lovely people here so let’s all hope everything goes smoothly! Ciao!

• taking a break from the bubble
  by Imogene Munday

  :( exam week is this coming week so i have limited my connection with the internet, which unfortunately includes redbbule :( / so i’ll be…

  :( exam week is this coming week so i have limited my connection with the internet, which unfortunately includes redbbule :( / so i’ll be gone for this weekend and all next week until Saturday wish me luck! ps. i might pop into the forums occasionally XD / pps. i survived the 40 hour famine

• Please MURPHY ... go away and leave us alone .........
  by Jen Whyte

  I think it is time that Murphy picked another family to practice his ‘laws’ on …....... / Yesterday my daughter Jane, Andrews mother, wa…

  I think it is time that Murphy picked another family to practice his ‘laws’ on …....... / Yesterday my daughter Jane, Andrews mother, was knocked down by a car as she crossed a seemingly empty road in Newmains to go to the assistance of a girl who was having a seizure!!!! / Unfortunately there was an old chap in a little red car pulling away from the opposite side of the road which she hadnt seen! Thank goodness when he hit her he was only doing about 15mph or she could have been killed … as it is she has sustained a broken leg, concussion with a large bump on her head with a deep cut which required stitches, very badly bruised and scraped elbows and hardly a single other part of her body which is not scraped and bruised! / She was lucky in the fact that one of her customers was standing outside the shop at the time … he is a nurse! ... and it happened outside the local GP’s surgery so he came out to help! ... and last but by no means least, an ambulance had just passed heading for town and the paramedic had seen what happened in his wing mirror so he stopped and came back! ... so she had plenty of immediate assistance. I may not be able to be on here for a few days as I’ll have to go and look after her so please bear with me …... and please Murphy, if you read this …........... enough is enough!!!!!!!

• Busy with the "Wedding" Just weeks away now!!
  by TrEaSuReDiMaGeS

  I haven’t been much on rb this week because as some of you know our eldest son is getting married in about 5 weeks. This has been a busy…

  I haven’t been much on rb this week because as some of you know our eldest son is getting married in about 5 weeks. This has been a busy week of preparations and every week after this one will be too. It’s a very exciting time …... but just so much going on. So I won’t be on much, but I will be posting the interviews. I am sorry I haven’t been able to comment on all the beautiful work, but after the wedding I will sure try and get back to doing that. In the mean time, I hope this finds you all well….. and enjoying your creative art pieces. You’ll be in my thoughts and I look forward to when I can return!! Hugs / Deb

• AWAY FOR A WEEK!!!!
  by blossom

  Just to let you know that I will be away for a week and will not be able to reply to any comments or comment on your wonderful works!!! / ...

  Just to let you know that I will be away for a week and will not be able to reply to any comments or comment on your wonderful works!!! See You in a Week!!! Take care!! Regards / Blossom

• Updated Portfolio and Trying to get Back
  by InfinityRain

  Hey everybody / I want to appologize for not being around lately, haven’t been commenting or posting or replying etc. Life got crazy for…

  Hey everybody / I want to appologize for not being around lately, haven’t been commenting or posting or replying etc. Life got crazy for a bit, total chaos and my laptop blew…...so I’m working on getting back while also trying to get my home life under control and learn a couple new programs. It’s been a wild ride but I’m hoping to get back in here full throttle very shortly. / Thank you to all of you who have continued to come in and say hello on my photos even though I’ve not returned the favor lately. You are all such amazing beautiful people. group hug I also wanted to let you know that I managed a few moments earlier today to go through my portfolio and get everything marked for sale as canvas and cards as well as the others that were already marked. So maybe with the new cards and the fact that they are so inexpensive…..who knows!! Maybe I’ll just make my first sale here on RedBubble. whoo hoo won’t that be amazing!!! :) Again, thank you for your patience and friendships. / Rain

• The MacTime When My MacDad Passed Away
  by JulieMahony

  Back in 2000, on 14th August, came the sad news that Dad had gone on to meet the Lord. I was totally devastated. I did not believe in Go…

  Back in 2000, on 14th August, came the sad news that Dad had gone on to meet the Lord. I was totally devastated. I did not believe in God at the time. / Over the years as I was growing up, I had always been Dads ‘little helper’. Dad was a carpenter by trade but could turn his hand to just about anything. He fixed his own motorcars, and I was always covered in as much grease as him,. He made tin chimneys for peoples homes, I was there, passing this or that as he needed it. He was a grave digger for the local undertaker, I was Not with him on those jobs :0 . He erected fencing on properties, I was there, not of great help but there anyway. Dad did all sorts of odd jobs for all sorts of people. I was there whenever I could be. Dad had always been a heavy drinker but as a child, I didn’t see that, he was my Dad and I loved him. / After I had married, moved away then moved back, Dad and I continued with our closeness. Then one day, because of his drinking habit, we had a difference of opinion. It was a doozy. I didn’t talk to him for several years. Then he had a heart attack which thawed my heart a tad because he was not allowed to drink anymore, but I was still angry with him. Then he and Mum moved to Queensland. I missed them both so much. / After a few years up there, Mum and Dad, moved back to NSW. Mum and Dad both came to the Lord there. Then he had to have both knees replaced, major op. I went to look after Mum as she had had a stroke a couple of years before. Dad and I became close again, but it didn’t last. Another huge argument occurred and I went home. We made up after a time, and all was ok again as long as we were not living too close, the phone was good enough. Just three months later, God took Dad Home. / We all, five of us, converged on Mum. The time of arrangements went by in a blur. Dad was buried. We were all stressed. / My brother Allen, and his wife were Christians and I was amazed at how calm he was and how he went about the task of ‘executer’ of Dads will etc. The day after Dad was buried, one of the family, suggested McDonnell’s. Ok was the reply. I’m not keen on Macca’s so went to KFC for my chicken and……took it into into Macca’s Well, that is a ‘no no‘, against the law to take food from one outlet, into another. No problem, wrapped a Big Mac paper around my KFC box and tucked in :) :0 . / That was the beginning of one of the funniest ‘eat out’ lunches ever. We started (very discreetly of coarse), to mock, poke fun at, wave to and laugh at other people. The more we did it, the more we laughed and egged each other on. A lady on the outside, waved to someone inside. We all waved back to her. The look on her face was classic. Guess what? We nearly cried laughing at her. We were truly like little kids running amuck. Then came the throwing of our rubbish at each other. Allen’s wife, in mock disgrace at us all, move to another table. She didn’t stay there too long. We threw all the rubbish at her until she came back to our table. We laughed like we had never laughed before. Other people in Macca’s either laughed with or at us, or turned away in disgust at these grown ups carrying on as we were. (The youngest of us was I think about 32 years old?) We didn’t care, we were having fun. We needed the release. During the coarse of our ‘fun’, someone started to say ‘mac’ in front of all their words. Can you imagine the results of this. We all started to do the same. We stumbled over words, laughed about it, stumbled more and laughed more. / “MacPass MacThe MacSalt. . . . . MacThrow MacThe MacPaper MacAt MacAllen. . . . MacThat MacPerson MacHas MacTheir MacHat MacOn MacSideways. . . .“ MacEtc, MacEtc, MacEtc / We were MacHappy. We had the best time and MacLunch took quite a few hours as you could MacImagine J:) :-) / I remember later in the afternoon back at Mums house, after we had calmed down considerably and nursed our sore and aching sides, Allen saying, / “I defy anyone to guess that we had just buried our Dad the yesterday”. / The next day, Sunday 20th August, 2000, my youngest sister and I, gave our lives to the Lord. I didn’t stayed on the true path. I had a massive backslide. But the Lord tapped me on the shoulder again about 4 years ago. I am never going to get off His Highway again. I am so MacHappy with my MacLot now. / P.S. We did clean up our own mess in Macca’s too.