Family Album: Me, Myself and I

As I am a member of this family I have had to do a couple layouts of my self. 

Family Album: Moment with my mother

There are three layout here of my mother at different stages in her life. The first was before she had her family, the second is with her first born (my big brother), 2006 and the last was about 12 months before she passed away. I love that I have been able to capture the difference in the woman she was. 

Family Album: The Viljoen's

These are very old photos of my maternal great grandparents. My grandmother was the last biological daughter (born 1904) of 5 children, the first 3 of which are in these photos. 

Family Album: Olwage

These are my maternal great grand parents. I know nothing at all about them unfortunately and only saw these pictures for the first time in 2006/7 when the family photos were sent over from South Africa. My mother never met you grandparents either. Many stories have been lost through the years but we have photos, many faces are strangers to me but through a bit of effort I end up working out who they are sometimes.

Family Album: Watson

My paternal great grandparents. I have spent years looking for information on my paternal grandfather, without much success. Nonetheless I have a few photos which have lasted over the years.

You Show Me Yours: Hugh

This months photo chosen by Lucy for the You Show Me Yours challenge was Hugh Jackman.

Even though I have busy with laptop OS reinstalls and other stuff, I was able to create this:

Go and check out the other beautiful creations from the other contributors. If you are interested in joining us  (and I can tell you, with photo's like this one, it's a lot of fun) please visit Lucy's Blog to get all the details.

Below are listed the ladies who have already joined in

Lucy Muraca -   Red Chi Chi

Emma Stafrace -  Just a Girl with Ideas

Debi -   Debi's Joy

Val Thorpe - Val-Belle's Ramblings 

Annette Gearside -  Moment in Time 

Margaret Mifsud - Margyz paper Games

Kerry-Jean Watson - www.kerryjeanwatson.com

More Puzzle Pieces

About two months ago I went for an Irlen screening after a number of months researching this condition. During the screening it was made quite clear that I was suffering from scientifically what is known as Scotopic sensitivity syndrome, better known as Irlen syndrome. I was given two plastic overlays sheets of turquoise and grey to help me in the interim until I could get my filters.  

I began using these overlays immediately and found an improvement in quiet reading and had less discomfort reading off a white page.  A week after my screening I went for a second consultation to establish what my filters would be for my glasses which I received four weeks later.  

The filters arrived in the morning of my one and only exam which I was quite delighted with. I was able to comfortably sit the exam and answered as many questions as I possibly could. I notice during the course of that very first day that my head wasn't hurting and I felt a lot more relaxed and lights didn't affect me as they once did.

I have now been wearing the Irlen filters for a full month and have noticed further improvements in reading comprehension retaining of information, I much calmer in shopping centres and brightly lit areas and notice a massive difference if I'm not wearing my glasses at all. During this last for weeks I have also completed an essay assignment for one of my online units which was proofread and found to have a lot less mistakes in it as well as the proof reader mentioning that the writing flowed a lot better. Unfortunately I am still waiting for my results from that essay, hopefully I don't have to wait too much longer.  To date I am very pleased with the outcome I have achieved and experienced with having the Irlen Syndrome filters, as it has made a vast improvement to my functioning capabilities.

I unfortunately have still been plagued with an auditory sensitivity when it comes to loud noises and crowds and busy shopping centres. I began investigating sensory processing disorders and found that I fitted into the auditory processing disorders.  After attending a screening yesterday V consultant informed me that she believed I definitely do have auditory hypersensitivity and that there was remediation for this condition to allow me to function better in situations that I currently am uncomfortable and tend to have an extreme emotional reaction to.

It appears I have been on this journey for the last two and half years of discovering things about how my brain works and finding out that I don't just have to put up with how I process my environment around me and that I do have the opportunity to improve my functioning in our society. The reality that something can be done about many of these neurological dysfunctions of mine is very satisfied.  Hopefully with all this work I am doing on myself I will come out of this a lot happier, a lot healthier and with a clearer understanding of the difficulties many other people in our society face.  So, bring on the neuroplasticity and let get things changing!!!

Family Album: Raymond Watson

Birthday Card

In memory of a father

I got word at the start of this week that a very good friends father had passed away. Being so far away, I desperately trying to figure out what I could do to help, even though I knew there was nothing that I cold do. The friend buys cards from me for family members, so I figured I would make him a sympathy card. What I ended up making was a little bit different. The final creation was more a photo stand than a card. 

 RIP Lindsay, your family loves you and will remember you always.

Family Album: Memories

Family Album: Mini Me

Family Album: Group photos

Mini Album: The Shindig

I made a mini album for a friend who was visiting her sister last month in Perth. The purpose of the visit was a rather special celebration, and after the sister saw the mini album I had made, she wanted one for the photos of her celebration. This is what I made for her.