Just dont know....

hi everyone...

i know this is going to sound weird...but we feel like we have lost a whole lot...again...

Eli's cow "moowhistle" passed away yesterday afternoon...the word 'devastation' comes to mind for so many reasons...She delivered K.T. really well...but when pete got up there yesterday morning...he felt she was looking crook...he raced home to get some antibiotics and by the time he got back, she had passed away...

We have NO idea what the hell is going on...we have had vets advice on what the likely theory is..."Black mastitis" is one very good bet. A terrible and lethal bug that results in death very quickly. Its a bacteria that cows can pick up and it gets into their udder and does damage from there...We had a vet come out and do some sampling on moowhistle to work out exactly what is going on and whether any of the other cows may be at risk...

We are just so sad...we just loved moowhistle...she was the matriarch of the herd, bossed everyone around (including us!) really well and she was one of a couple that we can hand feed. She loved jubes, apples and carrots and was fantastic with kids. We gave her to Eli when Eli was born and have gone on to sell her first calf "steve" and donated the money we got for him to charity...We were hoping to do that with all of her calves, to keep eli's memory alive.

We feel like in some ways we have lost Eli all over again...one of our strongest connections that we had with him is now gone...But, we will move forward...and our focus now is just to keep a very very close eye on the rest of the herd to try and prevent this happening again. We are hoping to get the results of the tests next week.

We think we have 3 left to calve...so it will be all hands on deck...

On a brighter note, K.T. - Moowhistle's calf has gone to live with "poppet" the other little calf who lost her mum a few days ago. Pete said that K.T. is very fiery and really different to poppet. We know she will be in a good home and will go well...

anyways..best go 

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Some news...

Hi everyone!

Fence posts in - check, timber bought for the rails and being fitted - check, small poddy calf in the backyard offsiding pete while he works - WHAT THE!!!

sometimes you just got to wonder why life is like it is....
we went to buchan on sunday and found we had 5 calves waiting for us! One calf had a very sick mum and unfortunately we lost her last night, and we ended up with a little poddy calf in our shed...crash course on poddy rearing. We were stoked we got her drinking a bottle at 7 o'clock!
we had hay for her bed all sorted...neighbours who were warned there may have been some noise through the night and a pretty nervous simpson family hoping everything would be ok!
well, it has ended up nicely...we found a very caring home for her this morning and she is off to swan reach to grow up this afternoon. I went home for a quick lunch and found pete 'ruffing' up the calf, the cat was very upset about pete's attention being on the calf and then the calf very happy curled up near one of the posts near melon's garden...nice way to leave for work again!

So, i think pete has some pics and we will try and post them over then next couple of days...Moowhistle had a baby yesterday...a beautiful baby hiefer that we have called K.T. - after 2 very awesome people we know that looked after melon...she will be a keeper!
anyhoo...best fly
luv and hugs to all
the simpsons
xox

The fence has started!

Hey guys

well, another week down...it has gone so quickly and has been a fantastic week because we have both been home for a whole week without being somewhere down the line overnight...it makes an amazing difference, all the housework gets done without rushing on the weekends, we can eat together...ahhhh...so THIS is how its supposed to be :-)

We have signed up for "Light the Night", an event run by the Leukaemia Foundation which will happen on the 16th September at the Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne. Pete and I have been asked to be the gold balloon ambassadors - something we are very much looking forward to. People holding gold balloons are remembering loved ones lost, blue balloons, supporting or have supported someone through their treatment and white balloons to support survivors. The event starts at 5.30pm and goes until around 8.30. Although Light the Night has been run out of other cities, its the first time they have run out of melbourne and apparently it is a really moving thing to be apart of. So we are inviting everyone to come along and help us celebrate Eli's memory.  For those that are interested, just go to "www.lightthenight.org.au". 

Even though the event will work like World's Greatest Shave (sponsorship), we are NO WAY looking for any $. All of you gave so generously for WGS and we thank you for that...If you are interested in seeing our webpage as 'gold balloon ambassadors', you can access us by going to the light the night website, sponsor an individual and type in Jodie Simpson - Alexandra Gardens. AGAIN...NO NEED FOR ANY $$...

If you would like to join us on the night, please let us know by 21st August, that way we can organise a balloon for you. At dusk, we 'switch' on our balloons and go for a walk...apparently it looks amazing... you can let us know through eli's email - eli-simpson@hotmail.com

So, enough of that...

we are starting our fence officially today! we have got our posts and concrete...and we are very very excited...the garden looks fantastic...all our flowers are starting to 'bud up'...and we are getting the most beautiful flowers. Its just an absolute delight!

Anyhoo...best get cracking...the garden awaits! Will try and get some photos of it on soon...

luv to all

the simpsons

xox

some photos for you all as promised....

The Worlds Greatest Shave Trophy journey begins!

Thanks to Glynn and all the team at the Lakes Entertainment Centre who have supported us so well over the past 2 years of being involved with the shave...the trophies will be on show at the Centre for another week or so, then will make its way to Gippsland Lakes Community Health. Say gidday to "Glynn" while you are there!

Belinda and Kate hard at work making our 'gift tags' for the craft stall in September...to raise a bit more money for Angel Flight...

And thanks to Nat as well for her 'expertise' in craft 'stuff'...bloody awesome...

my first ever crack at a 'gift tag'...yikes!

And my second...you will be pleased to know we have around 90 of them now...the 'charity chooks' are working very hard!

Jen from the Leukaemia Foundation collecting a cheque from the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club for just over $3000. Well done to Jason and his team for supporting the UGLY campaign!

Hmmmm....good looking sorts!

Yep, it all came off again...cant see my grey hairs in this piccie - phew!

Our beautiful mates Alison and Rae-way...2 absolute champions of the world who nursed eli when he was so sick...you guys rock...keep doing what you do...Very very special girls these ones!

Our gorgeous friend "Bella" and baby "Jack"...Gaynor and Paul's little bubba who was born in January this year...clearly a 'stunner' in the making!

Cheeky little bugger!

Hi guys

just a few pic's of our journey over the past 4 weeks or so...i love posting these photos...they always bring a smile to our face!

All is good with the Simpsons...we are looking to Incorporate Eli's Foundation over the next month and have been working hard to get the paperwork side of things in order...once we are incorporated, we will work out the tick-tacks of having melon's cottage under the foundation's umbrella. Obviously we cant welcome our first 'guests' until our house is built, but excited by the fact that we are at the drawing stage, so fingers crossed our new 'family' home will be started by the end of the year...

We have a fair bit to do though until then...and we will definitely keep you posted!

hope you have a lovely week....happy birthday to all of you who have celebrated birthdays...and we hope we get just a wee bit more rain...no sign of any babies from the cows as yet, but it must be getting close!

all the best

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

Not much news to report this week!

Hi everyone...

not too much news to report this week...we are hoping to get the fence posts around melon's garden by the end of the month, and we have been busy working on a bit of a 'craft' stall to raise a bit of money for Angel Flight at the end of september...

The old "BLA" - Bairnsdale Ladies Auxuillary has a new name "Charity Chooks"...we are in the process of becoming incorporated with the primary aim of raising money to help others, including "Eli's Foundation" when all the paperwork is through. So the girls are concentrating hard on making 'crafty' stuff for our little stall (so if you are happy to help out, let us know!)..all proceeds will be donated to Angel Flight with the stall happening on 26th September...

Pete and I are also looking forward to a new initiative by the Leukaemia Foundation called "LIGHT THE NIGHT"...it will be a night of 'rememberence' for us and will be held in Melbourne at the Alexandra Gardens. For those who have lost a 'loved' one, we will carry a gold balloon, for those that are undergoing treatment, a white balloon will be carried, and for those who are supporting leukaemia sufferers, a blue balloon will be for you...

we are excited to get involved in the inaugural event and have been asked to be the "Gold Balloon" ambassadors. I think around 4,000 people are expected and it will be held on the 16th September. The Leukaemia Foundation are looking to organise a bus from Bairnsdale to allow people from the country to travel up...and we are extremely keen to get the message out to all our family and friends in and around Melbourne to come along. It would be fantastic to share an event like this with you guys and to say thanks to all of you who continue to support  us. We are looking at being involved to share our story and to advocate on behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation about the great work they do. As a 'gold balloon' ambassador, we will be 'switching' on our balloons (balloons have a groovy light in them)...and when they are all on, we go for a walk around the gardens. Apparently "light the night' was held in a couple of the other capital cities and this is the first year in Melbourne. My understanding is that it was a fantastic night, and a great opportunity to show support for other families who are either supporting loved ones through their treatment, or for those who have lost their loved ones. Apparently James Reyne will be there as well as a couple of bands. Keep an eye on this space as details come to light...we will certainly keep you posted...as always..u can send us a message at eli-simpson@hotmail.com

its a night we are very much looking forward to, and we hope you can join us!

The other couple of things worth mentioning is a "movie for Challenge"...something that is in the works for the "charity chooks", and again will probably coincide with the September Holidays. Proceeds of the movie ticket sales will be forwarded to Challenge - Supporting Kids with Cancer. Last year, we did a similar event and raised just under $500 for the Leukaemia Foundation which is fantastic...hopefully we can get this one up and running as well..

So, plenty of things coming up over the next couple of months. If you would like to contribute something to our 'craft' stall, please get in contact...things that dont sell on the day will be kept and sold at little markets around the area and proceeds will be donated to other charities that are near and dear to our hearts.

One last thing (and here i was saying that not much is happening!)...we have booked in our venue and date for the ANGEL BALL - yes, its happening once again...so no excuses for you not to attend...It was a fantastic night last time...and we are looking at having a "CHRISTMAS IN JULY THEME"...so, we are pleased to say the Bairnsdale RSL will have us again, and it will be on Saturday 24th JULY 2010....book it in ur diaries! 

If anyone can help us out with some gifts/prizes to raffle off again, that would be fantastic... just get in touch through eli-simpson@hotmail.com. This year, we raised just under $7500 for Angel Flight and are looking to go even better next year...

Look after yourselves, and i will try and get some piccies up of the worlds greatest shave 'thankyou' really soon...

luv and hugs

the simpsons

xox

In loving memory of 'ninny'

Hi guys

It has been a year since our beautiful nanna passed away, Eli's ninny. 

Nan was a mum to me, like she was to all of my cousins, and indeed her own children. Nan was also a loving and beautiful wife to our pa "RAY". 

Nan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer around the same time Eli was diagnosed with leukaemia. Nan chose not to undergo treatment and passed away on July 5th 2008, just 4 days after Eli got out of transplant. 

We think about nan all the time and know that she looking after Eli with all the love she gave us. It makes our hearts heavy to know she has gone, but it certainly makes the stars shine brighter at night knowing she is with melon and they are both no longer in pain.

So, just know nan, that we think about you every day, we are all looking after pa, and your shoes and bags are being well looked after by all of your grand daughters!!!

We will enjoy a beer out of a vegemite glass, we will cheer harder for the sydney swans this weekend, i will look at our photos of you with beautiful memories and we will say 'foof' just a couple of times. 

Love you loads nan, now and forever...you make sure melon doesnt give you too much grief!

xox

What a week or two it has been for the simpsons!

Hi everyone...

well, like most of the beginning of each 'blog'...we have been pretty busy yet again...back and forth to melbourne a bit, but we have had some other stuff going on as well...

i would like to just remind everyone that this year we are celebrating "YEAR OF THE BLOOD DONOR"...coz i like to 'walk the talk' - well occassionally!!, i gave blood last tuesday arvo. For those that havent done it, im probably the biggest sook when it comes to needles...but it really is just NOT that bad...all up..i think it takes about an hour of your time and it really is just so very important. While i used to donate here and there before I had Eli, it now has a very regular 'spot' on the calender...every three months. The blood you give helps people like Eli...towards the end of his life, eli was receiving a blood transfusion every second day, and plasma products EVERY DAY for nearly 5 weeks. It does make a difference, and it really is no problem. So if you have thought about it, and HAVENT done it...please make an appointment...you will not regret it!

Righteo..will get off my soap box now!

The other thing that we were involved with on Monday night is the UGLY Bartender of the year for the Leukaemia Foundation. Thanks to Jason and all the staff at the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club for putting their 'bits' on the line to raise some $$ for the LF. I think all up they raised an enormous $3,100 which is fantastic! UGLY stands for Understanding, Generous, Likeable, You. There are 3 clubs/pubs in the running for a ticket on a cruise ship to Vanautu for the club that raises the most money...so go LAKES! and well done on running a very successful evening.

Speaking of the Leukaemia Foundation, we went to Melbourne on Thursday evening to participate in the Worlds Greatest Shave THANKYOU event. It was a group of people who got together to celebrate the success of the Shave (a whopping $12 million dollars NATIONALLY and just over $2million in Victoria)...

Trophies of 'appreciation' were given to the top 30 Fundraisers this year. It was awesome to know that Gippsland had 4 groups that made the top 30 which is just terrific. It was just so lovely to catch up with them all as we hadnt had the chance...

anyways...so when it hit the top 5 fundraisers, team MELONHEAD had not been called...got to the top 2, still no melonhead...top fundraiser - TEAM MELONHEAD!!! we nearly fell off our seats and boy, was it an awesome feeling. So an absolutely MASSIVE thanks to every one of you who was so inspired to give to such an awesome cause. Together, we raised around $29,200. The melonhead team members came from all walks of life to do something a little 'different'. Absolutely fantastic effort. A huge thanks again goes to Jenny from the LF who helped us organise all of the fundraising stuff. Her enthusiasm is infectious and im sure it helped us to get us to number 1...Thanks also to the staff at the Lakes Entertainment Centre for holding such a great event...and i hope it inspires them to keep going for a long time to come! Also, to all the local businesses who helped us, whether donating raffle prizes or putting posters in their windows, and putting tins/boxes in their business...well done..every cent counts!

Oh yeah...we also snuck into 25th position NATIONALLY!!! which means we matched it with the mining companies, the big corporations and banks! How fantastic.

I told the crew on the night that the trophies will be like the melbourne cup/or olympic torch. They will make their way around Victoria and Queensland over the next 12 months, hopefully with a photo at every 'counter' or home it enters! Thanks again guys...you seriously ROCK!

The last person we want to thank is Eli. He is our inspiration and will continue to be. I just wish he was here to share it with us. But he is not, so THIS ONE'S FOR YOU MELON!

love and hugs

the simpsons

xox