Thelma and Louise in a sponsored post brought to you by Accor Hotels
If you were born in 1991, the odds are you’re driving a car and have never known life without a mobile phone. Put me in the nursing home now. To me, twenty years seems like nothing. Here’s a snapshot of the defining moments of the last two decades, as seen by me.
1991 Thelma and Louise hit the cinemas, and I formed an instant attraction to country music and a young actor called Brad Pitt. I got over the country music.
1992 Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated. I don’t know why anyone was surprised. They hadn’t appeared to like each other very much since their wedding day. And even then…
1993 I spent this year living in a share house with my friend Jacqui and her boyfriend Chook. It’s a bit of a blur. Apparently Dyson introduced the bagless vaguum cleaner in April that year. Oops, missed that. In fact, we missed any kind of cleaning device.
1994 Lisa Marie Presley married Michael Jackson. I remember calling my sister and asking if she believed it. She said, ‘Of course! No one could make that up.’
1995 I flirted with the idea of buying a house. But the average house in Brisbane was $147,000. Outrageous! I stayed in the share house.
1996 Bridget Jones’s Diary was published. This was the book of my time. Dodgy boyfriends, too much wine, not enough focus. Note to self: Dig out and read again.
1997 Princess Diana died. I held a ‘grief get-together’ (at another share-house) and cooked Steak Diana and served it (somberly), with Princess Potatoes.
1998 Amazing lolly-coloured iMacs were launched. I was working for Apple’s ad agency. When my ‘berry’ computer arrived I had never seen anything so stunning. Until my mate Damian unpacked his ‘teal’ one.
1999 Spent the year planning for the millennium bug. It never arrived. Strangely disappointing.
2000 Sydney Olympics. Everyone went a bit mental and spent too much money on tickets to Greco-Roman wrestling and unattractive commemorative caps.
2001 Al Queda attacked the USA. The USA started looking for Osama bin Laden.
2002 Kath & Kim arrived on the ABC. They were noice, different, unusual.
2003 Nicole Kidman won Best Actress Oscar for The Hours. Few people saw the movie but nobody missed her nose.
2004 One of that year’s biggest news stories involved two singers, a boob and a football match. I’m sure other stuff happened, but you’d never have guessed.
2005 Hurricane Kartrina devastated the south coast of the USA. On the upside, we got to see lots of footage of Brad Pitt being manly and helpful.
2006 Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died. Everyone was shocked at how shocked everyone was.
2007 Kevin Rudd became Prime Minister. In a lucky break for the Labor Party’s ad people, ‘Kevin,’ rhymes with ‘Seven.’
2008 I pulled my car over to make my kids listen to Barack Obama speak after being voted the 44th president of the United States and the first black one. My kids couldn’t see why it was a big thing, which made me happy and sad at the same time.
2009 Masterchef arrived on Australian TVs and soon we were ‘plating’ instead of serving dinner.
2010 Catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Still, was nice to catch up with Brad Pitt. You have to wonder what the man does with himself between natural disasters.
2011 Here we are, more than halfway through. Will hold judgment on the defining moment until November, at least.
So much has changed since ’91 when Accor Hotels first came to Australia but so much is the same. My home is a mess, but because of kids, not slovenly housemates; my computer is a sophisticated brushed metal, not ‘berry’; Thelma’s young cowboy is a father of six and Accor Hotels are still providing superior service.
YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
Fairmont Resort in The Blue Mountains
Accor Hotels is Europe’s largest hotel group and this year they’re celebrating 20 years in Australia. To celebrate they are inviting you to look back and share the most significant moment you have experienced in the last 20 years.
20 years is more than 10.5 million minutes of memories for the Accor hotel staff, guests and friends. That’s a lot of weddings, business trips, room service steak sandwiches, meetings, weekend getaways and family holidays. If you add your moment you will receive a $20 voucher for your next stay at an Accor Hotel. You will also go in the draw to win one of 20 $200 Accor Gift Cards for hotel stays throughout the Pacific. Take a moment to reflect and share your moment today at http://www.20years.com.au/
A lot can happen in 20 years so share your moment with the other Mamamia readers before going to the Accor website for your chance to receive a $20 voucher.
and have a browse through my 20 year snapshot here
A young Brad Pitt
What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you in the last 20 years?
This is a sponsored post from Accor Hotels. Comments on this post are just for this post. If you want to talk about the IDEA of sponsored posts or the choice of advertisers please click here. We will be reading all those comments too for feedback
Comments
88 Comments so far
I was born in September 1990. For me the most memorable of world wide events is the death of Diana, I remember seeing it so clearly and the shock and sadness I felt. The attach on the twin towers is also still a vivid memory. Waking up and watching the coverage all morning and not really understanding what it was going to mean but knowing we hadn’t seen the worse of it yet.
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1991 – i was three, my sister was 1 and my brother 5. I went to 2 kinders
1992 – more kinder probably…sliced my thumb open the night of the christmas concert
1993 – prep, remember making gingerbread houses at school with the other kids and their mums
1994 – grade 1, hatched chickens at school, had an electric pencil sharpener
1995 – grade 2, remember learning about how to verbalise numbers (eg one thousand, two hundred and seven), the teacher was mean to the kids who didnt get it. I was the only girl not in the choir.
1996 – grade 3, moved schools, met people I am still good friends with.
1997 – grade 4, had an argument about the ownership of a glue stick with a girl I am still really close to.
1998 – grade 5, sex ed was so awkward this year! Went on a family holiday to Perth with our bikes, had to ride from the airport to the hotel at midnight, good times.
1999 – grade 6, frequent episodes of bitchiness in my friendship group. Family holiday to central Australia, climbed Ayres Rock.
2000 – year 7, my best friend was too scared to come to school. Enjoyed the year though.
2001 – year 8, didnt enjoy it, just wanted to move on, attempted violin, the teacher said i played every note wrong.
2002 – year 9, nothing exciting comes to mind, just school, friends.
2003 – year 10 – went to America for 3 months on exchange, first time travelling overseas. So so so glad I did it.
2004 – year 11, changed friendship groups post US trip, still friends today. First kiss this year.
2005 – year 12, worked really hard, wasn’t sure why but it paid off in the end. Did better in my LOTE subject than English haha.
2006 – first year uni, studying nursing. Lost my virginity to someone who broke up with me two weeks after, heart broken!!
2007 – second year uni, more boyfriends, discover I like dating. Travel with my brother.
2008 – third year of nursing, work hard, steady boyfriend,
2009 – grad year of nursing, still with same boyfriend,
2010 – get a permanent job at hospital, travel to asia, come home and break up with bf of 2 years, such a relief!! Travel to Europe
2011 – same job, different boyfriend, plans to travel to Europe.
Its funny writing it all down and looking at it. So much has happened but I can really only think of one or two things for each year. I’m so excited about the future. I love reading about other people’s stories, my favourite parts are when they meet the love of their lives or the end a relationship and find someone better. Gives me hope.
Love to all MMers.
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Brad Pitt in Fight Club… NUFF SAID.
I can only go over the last 15 years… so…
1996:: I was born.
1997-1999:: I don’t even know.
2000:: Preschool. Learned that sand doesn’t taste that bad, and that wet hands + monkey bars = broken arm. Started extension tutoring at PLC Croydon.
2001:: Started Kindergarten. Started getting bullied. Made a few friends, lost a few friends. Decided to be Cruella de Ville when I grew up.
2002:: Started my first British obsession, with the Worst Witch. Quoted my first line in an English accent… And now look where I am.
2003:: Received my first detention for violence. Almost got kicked out of school for another incident, also violence.
2004:: Bullying got worse. Started reading Max Remy, and decided to get into espionage (yes I called it that) when I grew up. Accounts were hacked by a kid in my class (Third Grade… I know right), almost got kicked out of school… again… Would have been kicked if we hadn’t proved the teacher wrong. Got told to do everyone a favour, ‘and go kill myself’. Started reading Harry Potter. Fell in love with it.
2005::Moved schools. Made friends. Started ice skating regularly. Fell in love with the sport.
2006:: Got suspended from school for four days for violence. Almost broke another kids arm. Loved my math teacher. Started English extension tutoring. Kept skating.
2007:: Year 6. Finally got graduation shirts. Wrote ‘Emma’ on the back. Should’ve written ‘Kevin’ for shiggles. Started math help tutoring. Decided I was fat. Kept skating. Broke my nose.
2008:: Started high school. Private, all girls, Christian school on the North Shore. Knew no-one. Got suspended for another three days for ‘invasion of privacy’ and ‘destruction of property’. Realised I could have gotten arrested for it. Sad that I didn’t. Realised I was good at math. Had to quit skating. Started going to Youth Group. Got a Facebook, back when it wasn’t that known yet. Man, I was the original hipster in our grade. Decided I was fat. Started trying to diet. Started diving. Decided 45kg was fine for a 12 year old. Went into hospital for allergy testing. Gained 7kg in two weeks. Decided I was fat (again). Vowed to develop an eating disorder.
2009:: Year 8. Got suspended for a day for violence. Teachers thought it was provoked. Started figure skating lessons. Bought my first pair of figure skates. Thought I was fat. Became obsessed with eating disorders. Bought an iPod with my own money. Got a shit phone.
2010:: Became obsessed with Doctor Who and Torchwood. Started Year 9. Finally had a group of friends I was happy with. Gained the name BlackMoth. Found Tumblr. It stole my life. Tried to develop an eating disorder. Didn’t work. Self-harmed. Obsessed my way through Jennifer Saunders, Gemma Arterton, Billie Piper, John Barrowman, David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Dawn French and others, non necessarily in that order. Watched ‘The Italian Job’. Started becoming known as ItalianMini online. Decided to drive a Mini Cooper when I grew up. Did Duke of Ed. Gave up on Duke of Ed. Discovered I am bisexual. Went to a formal. Fell in love with Lady Gaga. Failed PDHPE on purpose. Pulled an all-nighter with my friends.
2011:: Obsessed my way through Gemma Arterton, Alex Kingston, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Helen McCrory, Glee, and others. Bought Born This Way three days before it was meant to come out. Picked up a job application for the first time in my life. Currently dieting successfully for the first time ever. Discovered a talent for writing sex scenes, aka my own sexual fantasies, but censored and made appropriate for the audience. Had a girlfriend. Lost the girlfriend. Best friend ever moves to America. Watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 in Gold Class. Cried so hard I had to stop eating and almost broke Didi’s fingers from squeezing her hand. Realised I have an insane memory. Bought new figure skates. Bought bras without a parent. Accepted that I am in Slytherin. Love being a Death Eater and a Slytherin, and a Pureblood. Started role-playing. Cosplayed for the first time ever as Marla Singer from Fight Club.
Sorry for the essay guys… I kept remembering things
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1991 – Year 10
1992 – Got my driver’s licence! Freedom!
1993 – Finished school and entire family packed up and moved to Sydney
1994 – Worked two jobs, went to Europe. More freedom!
1995 – Parents split up. Come back from Europe – go to Uni
1996 – Met my lifelong friends at Uni. Loved it.
1997 – Turned 21 – more of 1996 style goodness.
1998 – Got first real job. Moved out of home. Partied very hard. Meet future husband on NYE.
1999 – Worked hard to get ready for Y2k. Realise current boyfriend is a huge tool. On NYE. Sigh.
2000 – Re-meet future husband. Enjoy the Olympics with him. Buy unit.
2001 – Happen to be watching TV when news of 9/11 breaks. Think it isn’t real.
2002 – Move in with boyfriend. Finish Master’s degree
2003 – Engaged.
2004 – Move to Qld. Get Married
2005 – Buy house. Seemed to so expensive. In hindsight, wish I had bought two!
2006 – Pregnant
2007 – Delightful baby boy arrives
2008 – Move back to Sydney
2009 – Lose my grandmother
2010 – Life goes on..
2011 – Hubby goes back to Uni
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I think managing to live in 3 different countries is pretty cool!
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Twenty years ago, people where a lot less “in your face” when they told you how you ought to be living your life.
I almost miss the people who were known as wowsers. They’d “tut-tut” and roll their eyes at you and just talk about you to like minded souls in private. Nowadays, you’re castigated on a blogsite !
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Hmm, just the highlights perhaps
1992 – repeated Yr 12 (most humiliating year – seemed like the end of the world at the time!)
1997 – Sent to the middle of nowhere for my first teaching position – the town was so small that I missed it the first time I drove there. I reached the sign that said “Thank you for visiting”, had a little nervous breakdown in the car, then got on with it!! Enjoyed my first year of teaching immensely, but only stayed there for a year.
1998 – Met the man who would be my husband – gave all the staff and students at the school something to gossip about – fancy two staff members getting together….ummm mahhhh
2000 – Got married
2004 – took time off to get pregnant – was so stressed at work that getting pregnant was really difficult
2005 – had first baby and became a SAHM
2006 – made a drastic move from city to country for husband’s work
2007 – had baby number two and continue to be a SAHM
2011 – missing teaching and looking forward to returning to it in 2013!
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I repeated year 12 in 1992 too. It was a bit humiliating but worth it in the end
Oh and I went into teaching as well, but im a part time SAHM and part time teacher now.
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1991 – Year 6. Dux of tiny little country primary school. Aspirations of being a marine biologist with primary school best friend and we shal both drive green bubble cars (this may be because I had never really studied science!)
1992 – Boarding school. Meet loads of new friends including new best friend. Discover that boys pay attention to what I look like (small country primary school was with boys I had known since birth no o sideways glances there – they were like brothers, and there was only one boy in my class of 3 … yes, there were only 3 Year 6 students!)
1993 – year 8 nothing amazing
1994 – Year 9. Went on school camp, had liason with boy in my year (who happened to marry my best friend later on!) which shocked the year group because I kissed him (OMG!!)
1995 – Year 10 – got suspended for drinking at school. The girl boarder numbers at my co-ed school exploded. I went from being the only girl boarder in my year, to having 6 other girls my age!
1996 – Year 11 – dated a bloke in Year 12 and we never passed kissing
1997 – Year 12 – had a ball! Was named house captain, got suspended again (captaincy revoked), school took a girls Hockey/Netball trip to the UK and Year 12′s went post-VCE exams – managed to sneak in a cherry popping fling in between exams and trip OS.
1998- Turned 18. Started my journalist traineeship with local paper as sports journo, spent loads of time seasoning my liver with Bundaberg Rum, going to country pubs, BnS balls, rugby matches and having a good all round time! Lived at home for first time in years (thanks to Boarding School) Got a BF who I thought was Christmas – apparently I was just trying to fix him from a pretty freaked up childhood. Went to his Dad’s funeral after he committed suicide (he popped $50 in a Christmas card to his kids, said have a nice life, gassed himself in a car which he then left to BF’s brother … nice!) then broke up.
1999 – shifted across to a little country paper that came out once a week and had a ball meeting the locals, did plenty of socialising. Started dating a bloke who Was much better than previous boyfriend.
2000 – started with big rural newspaper moved to Sydney, met older bloke (8 years older) who made me laugh lots and lots, and was mates with boyfriend at the time. There’s a hazy patch in the middle where I hadn’t quite broken up with boyfriend and started seeing new bloke… Boyfriend refused to drive to Sydney to see me when I moved there, new bloke said he’d drive the 8 hour one-way trip every day if he had to … decided new bloke was more committed to me. Also volunteered at Sydney Olympics got to go to finakl full dress rehersal of opening ceremony. Also got to go to Paralympics for work. Awesome experience.
2001 – 21st party – middle of summer, black tie, 43 degree day. Had a blast! Then got transfer with work to – Boy and 5 work dogs moved there too and in with me.
2002-2004 – roving journo/photographer for paper. Loved it. Got engaged. Work sent me to Canada to the Calgary Stampede and 3 week tour of Canada (instead of a pay rise).
2005 – Shifted again with fiance’s work. Got married – still love our day and wouldn’t change a thing.
2006 – had a baby. Thought my world had ended when I went from writing the news to now being able to see what was happening the world for days on end through blur of child learning. Shifted again.
2007 – Shifted AGAIN. Year of not much.
2008 – Had 2nd baby. Totally different to the first, cried for 8 weeks solid and not helped by the fact husband broke 2 ribs the day after I got home with crying baby.
2009 – baby #3 arrives after going to a Festival 3 weeks before I was due for freelance work for newspaper, seeing powderfinger put me into labour. happy memories.
2010 – decide to get husband to give up his job and move so I can take on my dream job. Shift again.
2011 – come to the realisation that I cannot do dream job and have 3 little people at home considering the insane logistics I have to go through to get care for them 5 days a week.
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1991 – married the love of my life
1992 – won a Contiki tour around Europe
1993 – worked and saved hard
1994 – 1st miscarriage then at the end of the year the birth of our first child
1995 – dealt with moving, PND and a very sick child. Spent more time in hospital than at home that year.
1996 – another miscarriage, then pregnant with twins, lose one twin, my grandmother passed away suddenly (which I still havent got over), horrendous pregnancy which resulted me on complete bedrest for 3 months in hospital, arrival of a perfect little boy
1997 – move town again with hubbys work, hated the town we moved to
1998 – still hating the town we moved to
1999 – finally moved town with hubbys work, eldest child started school
2000 – realising youngest child has Aspergers and severe Anxiety among other things.
2001 – busy with kids and school
2002 – had 3 family members pass away one after the other.. shit year!
2003 – took kids to Australia for a holiday came home thinking “hmm we could live here”
2004 – M.I.L passes away, grandfather passes away, uncle passes away, another shit year
2005 – life is just one big blur with school, kids and specialist appointments
2006 – Hubby got another tranfer and we made the big move to Australia!
2007 – loving life in Qld, so many friends come stay
2008 – hubby job change, stressful.. but ends up good. Take kids ‘home’ for Xmas, ohhh sooooo cold!
2009 – more visits from friends and family
2010 – decide to build our dream home. Sold our house without it being on market! Move into dream home
2011 – another great year.
Life is great and looking back over the past couple of decades we only had a couple of ‘shit years’ and we are truely blessed for a wonderful life.
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This is your sister speaking. Who the hell were Jacqui & Chook? I have no recollection of you ever living with them. x
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I have changed the names to protect the innocent. Not that they were.
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1991- I turned 1 in feb
1992- Parents split
1993- Started 3 year ols kinder, I have memories of my dad and I playing fairies on the trampoline before kinder
1994- 4 years old kinder
1995-Started primary school, my teacher was not a very nice and friendly Prep teacher
1996- Grade 1, met my bestfriend who would be with me throughout primary & high school
1997- Grade 2, bestfriend told me what sex was after learning from her mum (isnt it funny the things you remember!)
1998- Usual primary school things
1999- Started becoming friends with boys at school, first crush on a tall gangly kid
2000- Turned 10 woo hoo
2001- Graduated primary school, had a brief time where my best friend and I were set to go to different high schools but in the end we went to the same school
2002- year 7- was one of about 7 kids from my primary school that went to the biggest secondary college in the area, had my first kiss at my bestfriends first mixxed birthday party
2003- ‘dated’ said first kiss for nearly 12 months (be barely spoke or saw each other)
2004- met the first boy it thought I was madly in love with, we didnt go to the same school so it ended a few months later
2005- Kissed and fell madly in love with above boyfriends friend. We were together for 8 months
2006- Turned 16, the above mentioned boyfriend broke up with me on my birthday (still slightly traumatised about that)- had a few random crushes and met the most amazing boy, we became inseparable, he was my best friend
2007- Started Year 12- spent my spare time with the amazing boy, graduated high school, thought what the hell and I going to do with my life, accepted into a uni in Melbourne to complete and Arts degree
2008- Boyfriend and I moved to Melbourne to start uni (lived separately), hated my course and hated living in Melb, boyfriend was living on campus and having the time of his life, drove home to country Vic every weekend, joined a gym, met one of the gorgeous Personal Trainer’s, broke up with boyfriend, moved home, started dating gorgeous PT
2009- Go back to uni in hometown and start Business Degree, PT and I become more serious
2010- Start working full time, studying part time, PT and I buy a house together, stupid long house buying process nearly takes all year, get our first puppy, fall madly in love with puppy, get a new job, move into house in December
2011- Get second puppy, fall madly in love with puppy- so completely happy with my life
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91-95 A blur (mostly via vodka, lime and sodas) of graduating uni, travel, living in a share house, starting my first professional job,partying, having my heart broken
95-99 Meeting my husband, changing jobs, quitting work for 6 months travel, then settling down, buying a house, getting married and starting postgrad study
00-04 finished study, moved cities for the “dream job”, got pregant with G so had to leave dream job, moved back to hometown, pregnant with T
04-09 a blur (mostly via sleep deprivation), part time professional work, PND breakdown, made redundant
10-11 new decade, new job, G&T both at fulltime school, new lease on life
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I was actually glad to start scrolling down and see plenty of people who weren’t 4 years old in 1991 – I was starting to feel reeeeeallllly old, LOL!
(For the record I was in year 9 in 1991).
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1991 – Turned 29, moved into a sharehouse (currently being demolished) with a nutty female flight attendant, went to Great Keppel Island.
1992 – Joined dating agency, met some nice women, and one not-so-nice as it turned out, moved out of sharehouse to my own apartment.
1993 – A generally nice time…nothing spectacular stands out
1994 – My first trip to Europe, then met Mrs MM
1995 – Moved in with Mrs MM
1996 – Promotion at work, and mo’ money !
1997 – Stepfather died suddenly, 1 week before Princess Diana
1998 – Another promotion, work trip to Bangkok
1999 – The dreaded Y2K project.
2000 – Y2K pphhfffttt !
2001 – Made redundant 2 weeks before Christmas, with a large payout
2002 – Out of work for the entire year.
2003 – Finally got a new job
2004 – Mrs MM cancer scare…turned out OK. Started Uni course.
2005 – Lost 23 kg
2006 – Finished Uni course; distinctions all the way !
2007 – Ah yes, there must be something !
2008 – Joined a band. Bought a house, after looking all year.
2009 – Car stolen, bought a new one
2010 – Trip to Singapore & Malaysia
2011 – Mega trip to Europe. Mrs MM made redundant.
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1991 – I was 2. Mum & dad bought a house and my dad lost his job, in the same week.
1992 – I started preschool & my mum went back to work.
1993 – My favourite thing to do was wash my doll’s clothes & hang them on my little washing line.
1994 – I started Kindy, age almost-5. I was the youngest in the class & cried when mum left me.
1995 – I was in a composite K/1 class, although I was in year 1. My teacher got divorced & changed her name halfway through the year.
1996 – I was in year 2. Nothing particularly exciting.
1997 – My family uprooted & moved to Tweed Heads for a year. I hated it. I had one friend & really struggled because of my age (& crossing education system boarders -went to school in QLD) I had to repeat year 2.
1998 – My family moved to Canberra. I started year 3. Had a nice group of four that I used to hang out with. My teacher was a bit of a cow.
1999 – Changed schools (again!). Disliked the new school. A lot. Was introduced to the Simpsons episode where Burns becomes a ghost and scared the bejeebus out of myself.
2000 – Moved schools again. Found a nice group of friends.
2001 – Was in year 6. Horrified that my principal played the 9/11 footage at a school assembly to show us that there were “evil people in the world” and that we must “pray that God forgives us for our sins”. She was reprimanded. As she should have been. It was a freaking primary school.
2002 – Year 7. I was put in the “wrong” house to all of my friends. Ended up being moved in the first week. Really struggled with highschool.
2003 – Was mercilessly picked on by a group of girls at school. Went progressively more insane.
2004 – Moved to a Steiner school for the year.It wasn’t a bad year, but I was so sad from the year before. My best friend also moved to China with her family.
2005 – Moved back to my old school. Everyone seemed to have gotten over the whole “Ella is a freak” thing. Went to China to visit my friend for 3 weeks.
2006 – I left home at the end of the year.
2007 – In year 12 and very, very ill. Darkest place I’d been in for a long time. No stable accommodation. I bounced.
2008 – Moved to Sydney.
2009 – Progressively more unwell. Spent 4 months in an eating disorders unit which I hated but ultimately saved my life.
2010 – A bit of a blur of medication, hospitalisations but I managed to graduate my nursing diploma with distinction, despite almost failing based on attendance.
2011 – Dark place earlier this year. Things are getting better. Studying my reigstered nurse degree, working in a job I love, have moved house, put a man in jail for an assault I experienced about a month ago, but rudely shocked at how quickly this year has gone!!!
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1991 – Started Kindergarten
1992 – 1994 Learning lots at school
1995 – 1996 My first crush
1997 – My Grandfather committed suicide over a court case he was involved in. My family still took his case to court and they won. I wish I could turn back time and tell him everything was going to be ok.
1998 – Prob best year at primary school, year 6. Started “going out” with a boy.
1999 – Started high school & met my 2 best friends. Broke up with my boy, never saw each other anymore due to all girls school.
2000 – Olympics, got to see my favourite tennis stars compete in Sydney
2001 – Father was involved in (he was in the police) terrible hostage situation. Very difficult time for the family having it splashed across the paper.
2002 – School days…
2003 – Moved to co-ed public high school in order to do all the subject I wanted to complete for my HSC. Very hard transition period as I was the “private school girl”. Friendships were already deep set by year 11 & was very difficult to fit in. Met a lovely guy at school & dated for 1 year. Broke up at the end of year 11.
2004 – Completed year 12 & realised the love of my life was right in front of me. My tennis coach!
2005 – Began University
2006 – Went to America on a family holiday. Was the best memory of us as a family together.
2007 – 2008 Mother diagnoised with cancer. Still hard to talk about now, nearly lost her but thankfully she is still with us. I worry when she gets sick that there is a bigger health problem than just stomach pains etc.
2009 – 2011 Working, working working…
2011 – Marrying the love of my life in October.
2012 – Trip of a lifetime to Europe in May. Who know’s what after that…. Babies????
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my 20 years sounds really similar to yours- my mum was sick at that time 2007 – 2009, I started kindy in 1992, Went to the USA and Canada in 2006 and to the Olympics in 2000!
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In 1991 I was turning four.
I started school in 1992, stayed at that school until year 3, changed to a Christian school which I hated and left in year 7, started year 7 in 2000.
Here is where my story starts.
Met my best friend in year 8 2001. Got bullied until year 9 in 2002, started getting naughty at school and wagging a lot. Found my sexuality. Fell madly in love with the token ridiculously hot, popular guy.
Met my very first boyfriend in 2003 year 10. Thought it was love and stayed with him for three months. Met my three best friends in year 11. Went to a heap of backyard parties (bourbon still takes me back to those parties!)
Year 12 was a lot better. Got to discover my love of creative arts, writing and acting. Fell out with my friends at the end of the year after the ‘ring leader’ of the group started spreading rumours about me and I confronted her. She never spoke to me again after that.
I left school in 2005, spent much of 2006 finding work, turned my life around in 2007 and went to uni to study journalism. Met my ex who I was with for 3.5 years. Moved in with him in 2009. Worked in restaurants and made some AWESOME friends. Started working in a newsroom Sept 2009, broke up with ex in March 2011, graduated uni in April 2011.
Wow.
Best thing? Finding my creative side, my inner bohemian. I love Shakespeare, writing in poetry. I love beautiful words and phrases. I love beautiful images that can be created with the right wording. I love that I take so much time to think about things. I have gotten to know myself so much better since being out of school.
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One of my best hotel stays was in the Fairmont.
Even though I was riddled with a virus I couldn’t help but have the best time. I think that was 95 or 96 kids
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Well I’m one of the ‘youngins’ born in 91
1991 – Born in May, twisted shoulder in birth, and had 4 months of physio as a baby
1992 – Received more physio on shoulder. To this day, the left side of my body is weaker.
1993 – Trip to South Molle Island with parents and grandparents.
1994 – Younger sister born, and we move house.
1995 – Start attending local pre-school. Pretty sure it was more for Mum’s benefit than my own. Started dancing and horse riding.
1996 – Started Kindergarten, went to QLD with parents & g/parents. Got lost at Sea World and tried to take myself swimming with dolphins.
1997 – Got given a small film camera by my g/parents, which I think sparked my passion for photography. Mum started to refuse to buy me film, because I would use one or more rolls each week.
1998 – Grade One at school…another trip with parents [this time to Melbourne] Titanic came out and all my friends went to see it. I whinged at my parents, so they took me and it scared the daylights out of me!
1999 – Nothing really notable
2000 – Had a really bad year at school, horrible teacher. I often see her at the supermarket now and she smiles and tries to make conversation.
2001 – First year I can remember having a massive crush on a guy
Parents renovated house. Changed friendship groups.
2002 – Nearly got suspended from school…nicked the Sex Education teacher’s sample box of roughly 200 tampons, put them all in water, and then hung them all around the staff room.
2003 – Changed to an all girls Catholic school. Made some friends, but had a massive falling out with them not long after.
2004 – Start of high school…got braces. Tried to get myself back into friendship group from start of Grade 6
2005 – Spent a lot of my time at home sick, because i didn’t want to go to school. Started self harming.
2006 – Diagnosed with bi-polar, and some form of anxiety disorder.
2007 – Started working part time, as well as going to school. Met guy at work, started dating him. Broke up after a few weeks, because I got bored. Went on holiday to Cairns, and had a really bad quad biking accident. I know have two disc bulges because of the accident. It was also discovered at that time that I have scoliosis and lordosis. Had to quit dancing and netball.
2008 – Started college, started a new job, started seeing a new guy. He was only around when he wanted something, so I soon called things off. Have since found out that he is bi-sexual and was cheating on his boyfriend with me. Also found out that he wanted to hunt my next boyfriend down and assault him. July 2008 started dating a guy from work. I’m still with him =D
2009 – Finished college and finally could see what a horrible place school was for me. Was so much happier afterwards =)
2010 – Started uni, and loved it. Move in with my boyfriend in August. Got engaged in October. Screwed up one of my exams at uni, and was informed I’d have to repeat the subject. Decided to change degrees. Went to test out a horse to buy and fell off and broke my hip [stress less, it was just a piece of bone off the top of my hip, not the joint] and screwed up my back even more.
2011 – Spent three weeks doing a business degree and decided I hated it. Dropped out of uni, and started looking for full time work. Got a casual position that can offer me as many hours as I want [currently working 57 hours per week] and have returned to uni this semester, to continue studying what I was doing last year. My partner & I also got ‘fur kids’, a kitten and a cockatiel, and we’re in the process of picking out a breed of pooch we like. Have set a date to get married as well
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Wow, interesting post. Ummm…
1991: aged 23, living with parents, working for a retail bank, dating G.
1992: I can’t remember exactly when, but about now G & I bought land on the central coast, with a vague idea of building on it.
1996: my father died suddenly at home of lupus, aged 57.
1997: my sister’s marriage ended, she met a new man, fell pregnant, my nephew was born at xmas (yes they’re still together). Land was sold approx now after changing our mind re the commute to Syd. Bought a unit off the plan in the inner west. Also change jobs, to a specialist home loan company.
1998: G & I move into our unit.
2000: I change employers again, same industry.
2002-2004: these few years are blurry. G announced he was seeing someone else, left me for her, came back when that failed, did the same again. The second time, though, I was more prepared for it. Depressed after the 1st separation, incl suicide thoughts but not intentions. Gave up gluten after feeling so tired for so long, but I’m not coeliac. Had a ‘get back on the horse’ fling with a guy I worked with. Realised I’m bisexual, shared news with a choir acquaintance M (oh yeah: joined an awesome choir in 2003 as a social life post-breakup) who was overseas.
2005: came out to friends as bi when M & I announced our coupledom.
2006: dumped M, to disappointingly little reaction, but she & I stay friends. Grandma dies & leaves me some money. I enrol in a massage & aromatherapy course part time. Soon quit my job and. Study full-time. Love it!
2007: finish full time component, still a few p/t subjects. Need income, hurt my knee, get offered a receptionist job at my GP’s. Go to a party hosted by M, meet her boyfriend T, have a one night stand with him.
2008: still dating T. I move house, he comes to Sydney for a couple of weeks & stays LOL.
2010: I take antidepressants (which I should have done years ago), get on top of some self-destructive habits, see a psychologist about my anxiety. Participate in the Spencer Tunick naked photo shoot at opera house.
2011: joined another choir, doing some massage of friends & thinking about getting a job. Still deeply in love.
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1999: mum moved to south coast near my sister.
2000: married an old friend of dad’s.
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1991: was born in August
1992: turned one
1993: became a big sister, and asked the priest if the holy water would make my brother walk at his christening…am yet to live that down
1994: it is rather hazy, but I’m pretty sure that’s the year we went to Ireland for Christmas with Mum’s family
1995: started kinder (3 yr old) and moved from Cranbourne…anyone from Melbourne should understand why I am thankful for that. My love for Jane Austen began with my discovery of the BBC series of Pride & Prejudice (yes, the one with Colin Firth) at the time I just thought they were so awesome for drinking tea in fancy cups.
1996: grandmother died suddenly at age 66, back to Ireland for a couple of months…got a taste for school life at Mum’s old school
1997: started prep
1998: took up ballet as well as continuing jazz and tap
1999: got my first major injury that required stitches in my knee. also developed some whacky rare disease called ‘kowasaki disease’ which we referred to as ‘the motorbike disease.’ got better, but baffled many doctors
2000: was amused by the fact that I had lived through two decades, two centuries and two milleniums all before I reached double digits
2001: reached double digits! remember vividly praying for America in class when 9/11 happened
2002: Went over to Ireland again, visited LegoLand in England
2003: graduated from primary school
2004: started high school
2005: attended one of my best friend’s mum’s funeral, we were 14 and she died of cistic fibrosis
2006: what a year…fell out with my ‘group’ at school, was shunned for the better part of the year, was diagnosed with epilepsy. Gee I knew some really empathetic people…NOT
2007: considered moving schools, decided to stick it out
2008: first school formal
2009: YEAR 12!! graduated high school
2010: started bachelor of arts at Deakin Uni, qucikly found apart from lit, it was not for me
2011: Have changed to nursing and am LOVING it!!
Obviously since my whole life is the past 20 years, it hasn’t gone that quickly…but the past 2 years after finishing school has gone unbelievably fast!! I can only imagine it’s going to get faster!!
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YAY! Another nursing student! Hello
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1885- born to 17 year old mum and 21 year old dad
1986- parents still gobsmacked with what to
Do with me
1990- mum started home schooling me
1994- beginning of the population explosion in my family consisting of three brothers
1998- off to boarding school
1999- stil homesick
2002- off to Japan to live, fall in love
2003- back to Australia, somehow struggle through a degree in an alcoholic haze
2007-decide I want to be a doctor
2011- 8 weeks away from being that said doctor.
2012- hopefully falling in love again- fingers crossed
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1991 grade 5 read all of Rol Dahls books, James Herriot, victor kelliher. Lived in a 100 year old queenslander, with magnificent verandahs and mango tree. All of us still at home- 9 people one bathroom. Aspire to be a vet
get one of my brothers to witness, swear him to secrecy. My parents still don’t know. My husband joins the army, we move to Sydney and three weeks later he deploys to East Timor. We are 18 years old
1992 grade 6. Had the best teacher of my life mr Hollis taught me a love of words and writting. Learn debating. My first nephew is born exactly 19 years today
1993 year 7. My best friend since I was 3 starts noticing I have boobs. Friendship becomes awkward
1994 my grandma dies from motor neuron diease. Age 63. I still miss her. Still aspire to be a vet.
1995 meet my first husband, aged 14. Spend the next few years in a drug smoking drinking partying haze . Forget my aspiration to be a vet.
1996-1998 senior high school. Kinda blurry spend a lot of time with first husband, graduate high school just scraping into arts/ science degree. Moved out of home.
1999. Get married. Wore jeans
2000 husband home from Timor . I am studying. Meet my best friend. Get my first ever dog to keep me company because husband away so often
2001 9/11. Terribly scared my husband and best mate would go to war. Husband deploys to east Timor again
2002 graduate from Sydney uni. Marriage ends in spectacular style. Move to my very first ” own house” . Spend my first night alone, ever. A year of experimentation and inappropriate relationships. Start law degree.
2003 get my shit together, pass exams and boards for officer training.
Start at duntroon . No time to scratch myself. Meet the coolest most wonderful group of women ever. Still talk to all of them most days. Stupidly sleep with best friend. Luckily our friendship survives it
2004 graduate duntroon. Brief reconciliation with ex husband, accidentally fall pregnant
2005 my beautiful girl is born Back living in a queenslander up the street from the house I grew up in. Study and love my little girl
2006 back to work as an officer. Meet Mr cat ( I was his boss) fall head over heels in love. Get married. Fall pregnant immediately. Mr cat goes to Iraq. I miscarry our baby.
2007 posted to darwin, then Sydney. Finish law degree.
2008 posted to Townsville. Mr cat deploys back to Iraq
2009 posted to Sydney, I get out of the army and move state while mr cat is in Iraq. Start legal career.
2010 Canberra. Daughter starts school we buy our first house. Marriage hits a snag as we try to figure out how to live with each other after 10 months apart. Separate, sell house. I buy a town house for me and my daughter.
2011 we sort our marriage out, Mr cat moves back in with us. Then deploys to afghanistan… We are only half way through this year! I urn 30. My daughter has aspirations of becoming a vet
So weird to see that all written down, and that is not even the half of it!!!
It has gone
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1991 grade 5 read all of Rol Dahls books, James Herriot, victor kelliher. Lived in a 100 year old queenslander, with magnificent verandahs and mango tree. All of us still at home- 9 people one bathroom. Aspire to be a vet
get one of my brothers to witness, swear him to secrecy. My parents still don’t know. My husband joins the army, we move to Sydney and three weeks later he deploys to East Timor. We are 18 years old
1992 grade 6. Had the best teacher of my life mr Hollis taught me a love of words and writting. Learn debating. My first nephew is born exactly 19 years today
1993 year 7. My best friend since I was 3 starts noticing I have boobs. Friendship becomes awkward
1994 my grandma dies from motor neuron diease. Age 63. I still miss her. Still aspire to be a vet.
1995 meet my first husband, aged 14. Spend the next few years in a drug smoking drinking partying haze . Forget my aspiration to be a vet.
1996-1998 senior high school. Kinda blurry spend a lot of time with first husband, graduate high school just scraping into arts/ science degree. Moved out of home.
1999. Get married. Wore jeans
2000 husband home from Timor . I am studying. Meet my best friend. Get my first ever dog to keep me company because husband away so often
2001 9/11. Terribly scared my husband and best mate would go to war. Husband deploys to east Timor again
2002 graduate from Sydney uni. Marriage ends in spectacular style. Move to my very first ” own house” . Spend my first night alone, ever. A year of experimentation and inappropriate relationships. Start law degree.
2003 get my shit together, pass exams and boards for officer training.
Start at duntroon . No time to scratch myself. Meet the coolest most wonderful group of women ever. Still talk to all of them most days. Stupidly sleep with best friend. Luckily our friendship survives it
2004 graduate duntroon. Brief reconciliation with ex husband, accidentally fall pregnant
2005 my beautiful girl is born Back living in a queenslander up the street from the house I grew up in. Study and love my little girl
2006 back to work as an officer. Meet Mr cat ( I was his boss) fall head over heels in love. Get married. Fall pregnant immediately. Mr cat goes to Iraq. I miscarry our baby.
2007 posted to darwin, then Sydney. Finish law degree.
2008 posted to Townsville. Mr cat deploys back to Iraq
2009 posted to Sydney, I get out of the army and move state while mr cat is in Iraq. Start legal career.
2010 Canberra. Daughter starts school we buy our first house. Marriage hits a snag as we try to figure out how to live with each other after 10 months apart. Separate, sell house. I buy a town house for me and my daughter.
2011 we sort our marriage out, Mr cat moves back in with us. Then deploys to afghanistan… We are only half way through this year! I urn 30. My daughter has aspirations of becoming a vet
So weird to see that all written down, and that is not even the half of it!!!
It has gone
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Wow – that is a wonderful story – so much has happened to you! Shame we don’t get to hear about the next installments
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Stupid auto correct ! That should be “zelicat” lol. Weird to see your life written like that. Thanks Willa way.
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1991-Rocking grade 5 in a small catholic primary school. Life is good.
1992-Commence grade 6 and become seriously ill, miss a term of school before making a come back and managing to graduate.
1993-Begin Year 7 at an all girls school,find myself utterly depressed by the lack of males…
1994- Find my tribe with the best bunch of girlfriends anyone could wish for. All still besties today
1998- Just scrape through year 12 after opting for partying over studying.
1999- Get my Diploma of Tourism, continue partying.
2000- Attend new year by the pier in Geelong, wait anxiously for signs of the millenium bug at midnight. Wake up in the front seat of my friends car, stretch and clear foggy window to find we are parked in front of a church and a congregation of eldery people are gathered and staring at me, sink in seat. Later this year meet the man of my dreams!
Attack man of my dreams at local night spot. He doesn’t seem to mind.
2001-After dating man of dreams for a year become pregnant at 20. I blame my friends open bar at her 21st.
2002-First Son is born! Adopt Daniel Bedngfield’s “Gotta get through this” as my anthem for the year.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJyg8u9JzFw First son didn’t like the whole “sleep” thing.
2003-Loving the mum gig. Become Engaged!
2004-Marry, go on honeymoon, come back. Second son born around 9 months later. We move to Melbourne for work reasons.
2006-Work asks if we’d be interested in relocating to Hobart for two years, we decide we’ll move while boys are young. Rename place Slowbart and make arrangements to return to Mainland ASAP.
2007-Buy and move into Our first home!
2009-My younger sister diagnosed with cancer, struggle to cope. She responds well to treatment and recovers! I start getting pins and needles and convince myself I have MS. Turns out to be Guillian Barre Syndrome, I slowly get better.
2011- So far has been a big year of self discovery and life lessons! Looking forward to returning to study in 2012 and changing direction.
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1991- Started highschool – four times the size of my primary school made a heap of awesome friends.
1992- Mother diagnosed with Leukaemia
1993-
1994 – Landed a lead role in The Wizard of Oz. Greatly needed boost for self esteem.
1995 – Started Senior High and developed a serious crush on my chemistry teacher.
1996- Went to dance camp in Sydney and met some people who changed my life.
1997 – moved to Sydney to study Naturopathy.
1998 – ran out of money so graduated as a massage therapist instead and worked six days a week to make ends meet.
1999 – mother finally lost battle with Leukaemia
2000 – Olympics, moved back to home town and fell into a day job in politics while teaching dance at night
2001- Dance school closed, got first promotion, crowned Community Princess and free trip to USA (don’t ask) met Ms Right, 9/11
2002 – Got promoted to top job, commitment ceremony with Ms Right.
2003 – worked 10 to 12 hour days 5 to 6 days a week. Don’t remember much else
2004 – Fell pregnant and gave birth to daughter just weeks after federal election.
2005 – resigned from politics to be full-time mum
2006 – moved to Tasmania
2007 – fell pregnant and gave birth to son
2008 – father-in-law died from cancer
2009 – separated from Ms Not So Right After All
2010 – moved to Hobart and landed a job I love with people I adore
2011- studied massage again and just started my own business
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1991: My mum died very suddenly. She was 46. I was 15.
The next few years were awful, a mixture of alcohol and low self-esteem.
2000: Meet handsome Aussie stud in pub. It
was St Patricks day. In Ireland. We both like drinking. Enough said!
2004: Get engaged. Move to Oz with stud.
2006: Get married.
2007: Have my daughter
2010: Have my son
2011: Regain my wedding figure! Well that’s the plan.
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1990 – aged 4 move from England to Paris and meet my future partner, J
1991 – return to England
1997 – move to Australia very reluctantly
2000 – take a month out from year 9 to tour europe. have awkward conversations with 14 year old J but fall in love with his beautiful french city
2001 – realise i am happy in australia with great friends
2002 – win scholarship to study abroad in germany for 2 months
2003 – graduate high school with straight As
2004 – begin university
2005 – painful relationship ends. move to france for six months on study abroad… within three days of arriving begin dating J
2006 – complete degree, J visits Australia for a month
2007 – move to France, live unofficially with J, travel incessantly
2009 – return to Australia with J, begin masters degree in journalism
2010 – finish degree and return to France with J so he can do his masters!
2011 – more travelling (43 countries and counting!) lecture in English at french university
2012 – who knows?!
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Out of all the snapshots in the article September 11 by far seems to be closest to me. I cannot believe that’s 10 years ago! I had just spent the summer in NY on summer camp with a great bunch of kids and young adults, September 1st I was on the top of WTC, and on my brother’s 21st I watched CNN in disbelieve as the towers came crashing down. I’ll never forget the day. Luckily none of my immediate friends were hurt, but one of the guys who brought down the aircraft going to Pentagon was the brother of one of my friends. Such a hero.
I have since then moved to Australia, gotten married, had a baby… the usual.
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1991- 4 yrs old
1997- had cyst removed from ankle
1998- moved to australia
2000- started high school
2004- graduated high school
2005- no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Generally unhappy
2006- moved interstate, started over. Best thing ever.
2007- lost my virginity. Fell in love. Got depression. Lost friends. Came home.
2008- turned 21
2009- started at my current job which I love. Awesome small group of friends. Boys here and there
2011- saving for overseas holiday
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wow, nothing like a bit of reflection to make you feel old. Memorable life moments for me include getting married, September 11 (remember the day so acutely), the olympics, graduating from uni with honours, travelling in Europe, finding out we couldn’t have children, buying our house, going to New York. I tend to think of my life as pre and post children.
But the most memorable day was when we found out I was pregnant with my daughter. We had been doing IVF and it had been a hard road. We had done 6 IVF cycles, pretty much back to back. I was dejected, feeling like we had no more options or chances. We had changed our protocol and this cycle was more intensive with the drug regime, so I was a bit of a hormonal mess, but I still didn’t think it would work. It was also a frozen embryo cycle, and the last one we had. We went in early for our blood test then went home to wait. The usual time they called past and we were very anxious so I did a home test. Just as the phone rang I saw two lines appear. The clinic was on the phone, confirming we were pregnant. My husband and I just stood and hugged each other, tears rolling down our faces. 9 months later Miss C arrived, and just over 2 years later we were blessed with Master A. But that moment will stay with me forever, always reminding me what is possible if you hope.
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1991- Not Born
1992- Not Born
1993- Born – Thanks Mumma
1994-1997- General Small Children things
1998- Prep
1999- Brother Born (changed schools)
2000- Millennial year, grade three and got a commemrative medal, first crush
2001-2004- primary school ( was teased in grade 5 for getting boobs)
2005- Started high school.
2006- Met best friend and future boyfriend Yr 8
2007- Drank lots and lots, did little work and still passed and managed to conceal any signs of drinking from parents yr 9, Got together with now boyfriend, made awesome friends more like family.
2008- Drank more, lost best friends group in a stupid fight over nothing, found out i was pregnant, tried to have an abortion, parents found out, went to queensland
2009- did year 11 while at home pregnant, gave birth in june, celebrated 2 years
2010- did half of years 12, raised child, kept up with relationship
2011- more child raising, getting ready to move out, celebrated 4 years with boyfriend, studying
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The first two cracked me up!
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Haha thanks
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1991 – celebrated first wedding anniversary
1993 – bought first house
1994 – miscarriage followed swiftly by cancer
1995 – cancer cured
1996 – baby boy born
1999 – major depression – black dog stuff – eventually fixed
2000 – second baby boy born
2004 – separation
2006 – divorce
2007 – university
2010 – graduation from university
2011 – new life as a high school teacher ….looking forward to the future
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1991 – I turned 30 and we bought our first flat (I’d been married for two years then too)
1992 – working away in the state public service
1993 – moved jobs to a great big corporate
1994 – went to Europe for the first time and got pregnant shortly afterwards!
1995 – first baby, a beautiful boy
1996 – a blur of motherhood, and return to work part time at that big corporate
1997 – Diana (born the same year as me) died. Cried buckets – I was pregnant again too. Bought a new house to accommodate growing family
1998 – second baby born, this time a girl! Was most excited. My darling grandmother passed away soon after though
1999 – back at work, part time again at that big corporate. Endless meetings in prep for Y2K
2000 – lots of juggling being work and motherhood
2001 – turned 40 and got pregnant again (planned!). Eldest son started school
2002 – last baby born (and lovely boy). Voluntary redundancy from big corporate – ya!
2003 – lovely year at home with kids
2004 – went back to work at another big company. Renovated house. Juggled childcare. Daughter started school. A crazy year
2005 – more of the same but no renovations!
2006 – and more! Family holidays by the beach to make life fun.
2007 – horrible year at work. Quit. Went back to first corporate to work with lovely people
2008 – all kids now at school with biggest at highschool
2009 – family holiday in NZ. Celebrated 20 years of marriage
2010 – family holiday in Vietnam. Changed jobs to yet another big corporate
2011 – sold house we bought in 1997 and
purchased new one a few streets away. Daughter started highschool. Still to come – I’m going to England for a holiday and I’m turning 50. Yikes!!
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Well, I’m a 1986 baby so in 1991 I was five and in kindergarten at a private catholic school in the inner eastern suburbs of Sydney.
1993 – my Dad retired (I had older parents) and moved us to a farm in teeny tiny town an hour away from the nearest town (which was toowoomba) in Qld where my school had two classrooms and only 50 kids. A big adjustment that I never really made – hated that farm the whole time we were there. Love the city too much.
1995- my Gran was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Moved back to Sydney with mum to look after her. Very tough time.
1997 – Gran put into a nursing home. Mum and I moved back to the farm.
1998 – changed schools to one 1hr away
1999- started highschool
2001- changed schools again, to one where I met my best friend
2002- Gran died. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. My mum stopped being able to eat solid food (long story).
2003- was accepted into a drama course at USQ which I did during grade 12. Began my “promising singing career”. Graduated highschool. Moved out on my own to Brisbane. Met my first boyfriend.
2004- started Uni. Was tested for cervical cancer. Found out I was pregnant with my son. Moved to the sunshine coast.
2005- moved back to Brisbane. My son was born. Found out I was pregnant with my second son.
2006- second son was born. Moved to Melbourne. Left my abusive partner.
2008- back to Brisbane again. Got a job at a law firm. Went back to Uni. Met my now fiancé, who coincidentally i went to school with at the small country primary school
2009- moved to the gold coast.
2010- got engaged. Found out I was pregnant with my daughter.
2011- my Daughter was born. Moved to Brisbane AGAIN.
So, a lot of moving, children and adjusting really.
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1991 – I was in year 7, my two best friends hadgone to another school and I was pretty sad, although found some new friends. My parents had just built a new house. I was in LOVE with a boy called M in year 10! I had braces on my teeth.
1992 – Year 8, shuffling along, chose French as an elective, bad idea! Had a great maths teacher – his name was Mr Wright, thought that was pretty funny, I was in LOVE with a boy called P in year 10, still had braces on my teeth. None of these boys ever took the slightest bit of interest in me! Mum and Dad decided to sell the house and move to another country town, DEVASTATED!
1993 – year 9, started at a new school in a new town full of bitchy girls, braces came off my teeth, mum and dad built another new house!
1994 – year 10 – can’t remember much about this one!
1995 – year 11 – had my debut with a lovely boy called R who became my boyfriend later in the year, girls still being bitchy.
1996 – year 12 – broke up with R, but remain friends (still friends with him actually!), did well in VCE but no idea what I wanted to do really! Got a job at McDonald’s…still the most stressful job I’ve ever had!
1997 – started a business degree that I wasn’t really interested in!
1998 – Moved away to begin my teaching degree, went out with a dumb boy called A, met a nice boy called C, drank lots and had lots of fun!
1999 – Went out with C, studied, drank and started working cleaning motel rooms (fun…NOT!), turned 21, moved in to a very dodgy flat with C.
2000 – Got engaged to C, studied, lived in 2 different dodgy flats. Cleaned motel rooms.
2001 – finished my teaching degree, cleaned motel rooms, got two teaching jobs, lived in dodgy flat with C.
2002 – Started teaching job, got married, lost a heap of happy weight, loved life until about August when C got a job that meant we had to move away from family and we had to live separately for 18 months. Lived in dodgy flat. Mum and Dad built another new house!
2003 – Worked at teaching, saw C on weekends! Lived in dodgy flat, with mum and dad and with inlaws. Got new teaching job near to C’s new job.
2004 – moved to be closer to C and new job, bought our first house. Met some awesome new girlfriends, played lots of netball.
2005 – worked and lived!
2006 – worked and lived!
2007- had a fabulous overseas holiday, sold house and bought a new one, moved and fell pregnant! Worked!
2008 – Worked too hard, had my little girl B, stopped working for 6 months, suffered terribly from PND, went back to work full time.
2009 – mothered, worked and lived
2010 – mothered, worked and lived
2011 – mothered, worked and lived, fell pregnant and miscarried, hoped for another baby!
WOW! That was very therapeutic!
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1991: walked around school singing “I’m a decade old!”
1992: Depression starts
1993: Grade 7, singing with Julie Anthony at some huge concert wearing a white dress.
1994: Start high school. Discover boys.
1995:Bullying and sexual harrasment starts at school. This will continue until I finish grade 12.
1997: realise I want to be a muso not a Dr
1998: Grade 12. Get into music at UQ. Start to discover who I am.
Phase 2!
1999: Meet man. Start degree. Make friends. No bullying! I am cool!
2000: Move in with man. Get cat. Get diagnosed with depression.
2001: Get dog and 2nd cat. 9/11: spend the day in shock at uni. Very worried about brother/boyf having to go to war (my uncle was conscripted for Vietnam)
2002: Finish degree. Get 2nd dog.
2003: get married, celebrate in my parents back yard!
2004: decide want to be priest (BIG decision). Start new degree.
2005/2006: teaching and studying. lalala.
2007: Start working from home, have big girl.
2008-2009: teaching and studying. lalala
2010: get cancer. get pregnant!
2011: have baby brother. Resign myself to never sleeping again. Hopefully finish degree!
My life looks a bit boring like this but I love it.
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JosieY, are you kidding?
So NOT boring, very interesting indeed!
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I feel so old LOL, where to begin……
1991- started first full time job. Oh , and met my birth parents. Whoa:)
1992- started crap relationship.
1993-1996- moved to the country with said crap relationship. Thank god it ended.
1997- met soulmate:))
1998- married soulmate. Best. Day. Ever.
1999- gave birth to my first daughter. True happiness
2000- the Olympics!!
2001- IT boom crashed, moved back to city, worked full time and it is all a blur:(
2003- almost lost hubby in bad motorbike accident. Lost sis in law to cancer. Look back and wonder how on earth we managed to hold on and keep going. Tough years/(
2004- little one started Little Athletics. Years of sunburn and anticipation begin LOL
2006- beautiful second daughter arrives and we buy our first home. Overachievers lol
2007- 2010- lots of happy family moments. Life is pretty good
2011- major health scare but makes me look at life and decide to out me first for a while. Whole family benefits and are healthier and happier. Who knew lol
Through it all have read the equivalent of a small library, become obsessed with some wonderful music, movies and TV shows and am happily approaching middle age with a sense of optimism.
A holiday would go down well though lol
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I was 5 in 1991. This post has made me realize how boring my life is.
siiiiiiiiiiiiigh.
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Thank god. I thought I was the one with a boring life lol.
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1991 – I was in year 8. Dealing with extremely depressed mother, and brother is using pot which makes him violent toward me.
Hoping we have a honeymoon one day! Hoping we can start TTC in 2012
1992 – Awful year at school, was bullied and lost all my friends. Spent every recess and lunch hiding in the computer room.
1993 – Got my Braces removed YAY
1996 – Started Uni. Got my tonsils out. Realised not all men are drug addict alcoholics, so break up with Fiance.
1997 to 1999 – In hospital most of this time for asthma. Put on 70kg in 1 year from steroids. Almost died several times. Designated 0 life expectancy and 0 quality of life. Somehow manage to do my uni work in hospital- hard as course doesn’t have distance education, and teachers refuse to post me notes from lectures or tutorials. Finish Uni in 99.
2000 – Gallbladder Removed. Worked as a temp.
2001 – Start work at a coal mine. Lose a lot of weight gained.
2002 – Braces on for the second time! Start getting sexually harrassed, takes 7 months for my bosses to take me seriously.
2004 – Braces off again YAY
2005 – Find out I’m pregnant – shock, always told I can’t have kids. Miscarry the next day, Chronic Pain started. Made redundant. On Disability.
2006 – Dad diagnosed with Cancer, become his Carer. Buy some books on ebay and the seller delivers them.
2007 – Become engaged to that lovely ebay book seller
2008 – Marry that lovely ebay book seller. My Dad passes away.
2010 – They find a tumour, remove. Thankfully benign. Very weird- tumour in same spot Dad’s cancer was, but I’m adopted so it’s not genetic and it’s extremely rare.
2011 – Want to have a baby so do the battle on opiates/benzo’s etc etc. Hard fight but I win! Getting healthier slowely but surely. Still madly in love with that ebay book seller
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i just wrte a long ass post…. but wont post it here, thanks for the memories MM, sometimes it’s so great to reflect!!!
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20 years ago I was 17 and in year 12.
Since then I have become a Mother, (three times over) which has undoubtedly been significant.
However, the event that had the biggest impact of my life was the night I spent with my twin brother in an almost empty share house, when he became incredibly ill and due to delusions, lit his computer on fire. I will never forget having to call my parents at about 5 in the morning to tell them that something was spectacularly wrong, and waiting, with him, for them and the Crisis team to arrive. The next day he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. We were 20.
His life has been very painful, and he has handled himself with such dignity, all things considered. The pain he has gone through has always reminded me how bloody lucky I am to have the health I have, and my happy, ordinary family – a husband and three healthy kids.
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you are amazing, and so is your family. My brother is schizophrenic too, and i have also been around at times such as this.
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In 1991 I finished high school. It’s bloody frightening how fast the last 20 years have gone. I remember all of it like it was only a couple of years ago. I think I’m in the same age bracket as people in their 20′s, but I’m not!
From 1991 till 2001 I had ball working in fantastic jobs, living in different parts of Australia, falling in and out of love and travelling and living in different countries around the world for a few years.
In 2001 I met my (now) husband and in the last 10 years we have lived in 3 countries, got married, have two beautiful daughters and have been living in the same house for nearly 5 years – a record for me! The last decade has also seen sad times but without each other and the children we now have, those sad times would have been a lot worse.
Now, we are thinking about our next adventure. It’s time to do something brave and make something exciting happen for us. I’m looking forward to it
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I am a 1984 baby, so in 1991 I was turning 7 and going into Primary 3.
1989-1996 – Primary school – Cartoons, toys and sweets!
1996-2001 – High school – boys, friends, fashion!
2001-2011 – Growing up, becoming “me”, finding my one true love and having our daughter.
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1991 – the year after my dad left. I don’t remember much of it, I was 7-turning-8.
2000 – last year of high school. I have not seen a single person from high school since our last day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
2002 – met a guy named P-Daddy.
2005 – married that guy.
2007 – LittleDude was born.
2010 – AJ was born.
Gotta love the highlights reel!
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It’s like a Life Résumé…I really enjoyed doing mine!
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I was 9 and it was the year my youngest (and only) brother was born, which my sister (5) and I were so incredibly excited. Yesterday, we watched him enlist in the Airforce and waved him good bye at the Airport as he left home for the first time. Time goes just too quickly!
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Living in Thailand for two years in my early 20s (1992 onwards) and also in the Mediterrnean for a season of 8 months. Amazing experiences that I will never forget. Just thinking about it brings a smile to a dreary day…
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1991: Nevermind* released.
* that’s by Nirvana**, kids
** that was a band. They were really good. Dave Grohl*** played drums
*** yes, the guy from Foo Fighters
**** god i’m old
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I think you’d be hard pressed to find even a 15-year-old who wasn’t aware of all of those things.
Soundgarden, maybe!
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Where to begin! Oh, 1991, right. Easy!
1991: I was 4. Don’t remember what specifically happened this year.
1992: Some other stuff.
1993: Jurassic Park came out. Still my favourite movie of ALL TIME.
1994. My sister was born and my brother badly burned in an accident and parents divorced (hard one to forget).
1995: Lots of hospital visits and the Lion King!
1996: John Howard.
1997: Lost World Jurassic Park sequel came out and mum went with me on the first Monday. We wagged school together!
1998: Not a lot.
1999: Year 7, school captain, prime!
2000 – 2004: High school.
2005 – Present: The term of my natural life, working!
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Kind of strange to think that you’re just on the cusp of the 20 year journey from 25 to 45 that I outlined below…Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
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sh*t Rick, i’d always thought you were OLDER than me, turns out not so… im unsure how to take this news….
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I find a viewing of Jurassic Park will help. The dinosaurs on it are at least 65 million years old!
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lol you want a pet dinosaur don’t you Rick?
I watch the Jurassic park movies every few weeks, they’re awesome. I have a thing for Jeff Goldblum because of it, weirdly.
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Several!
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Aldi have inflatable dinos on sale, better get in quick!
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I. Am. On. My. Way!
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OMG Rick. I have shoes older than you ;P
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And probably much wiser too!
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I was born in March 1984 (hence the name hehe) so in 1991 I was a 7 year old child going to primary school! To be honest it feels like a hundred million years ago and I don’t remember much about 1991 other than playing elastics and marbles and watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and losing my two front teeth!!
Ten years ago in 2001 I was a 17 year old high school student which sometimes feels like AGES ago and sometimes feels like yesterday.
I also feel old when i line up at a bar and see that the “kids” in front of me were born in the 90s….makes me realise I’m getting older that the young people were born in the next decade. Is that how people born in the 60s/70s think when they see my date of birth i wonder??
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F**k yeah Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!!
Heroes in a half shell – TURTLE POWER
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1991…I was 25…unemployed during the Recession we Had to Have…
1992…Get a job in the NSW Public service…meet the woman who will become my soul mate…I am 26, she is 43…
1993…The year I become a toy-boy…and fall in love…
1996…I turn 30…piece of cake…
1997…We buy our apartment…we live in it still…
1998…I start working for the Olympic Security Command Center…this will prove to be both the most amazing and stressful jobs I will ever have…
2000…The Olympics! Wow! Sydney at its best…and we thought it would stay that way…how naive we were…
2001…I quit the Public Service and start working for a small IT start-up…
2003…Our small IT start-up is acquired by one of the largest technology companies in the world…
2004…We adopt our first cat…Rhalina
2005…We adopt our second cat…Cornelius
2006…I turn 40! I get a Tattoo….
2011…I join the MM community…I even get an article published…
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Nice 2011! (And 1993!)
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“The year I became a toy-boy…and fell in love…”
I’ve always wanted that to be the byline of a Hollywood chick-flick!
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JJ, the age difference between you and Soul Mate (R?) is the same as between my Dad and SpecialK. I don’t know that I would have the ability to look past the age, to see the person behind it. I’m so glad SpecialK saw my dad for who he was, and I’m so glad that you and R? did, too.
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Me and R were pretty much best friends from the day we met in 1992…it just took us a year to realize there was more than friendship going on…I still don’t see the age difference…she sometimes worries that she is getting too old for me…but I don’t feel that way…
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Hi JJ,
Do you know any fellow cat-lovers in Brissie? We’re emigrating to the UK in 3 Mths and sadly can’t take our beautiful girl Shushu (healthy, affectionate 11yo). I’m asking all around – thought it can’t hurt
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Hey JJ,
(confessional) I make a bee-line to read your comments when I see them (as well as a few of the other regulars’ insightful takes on the many varied subjects here on MM) – you’re always candid JJ, and/or introspective, witty, reliably intelligent (hope to see another JJ article on MM!).
Without overstepping boundaries, it takes an exceptionally special woman (secure in her sense of self) to have a relationship with a younger man (obviously also, secure in his sense of self). I’m writing this as a ‘Wow, What a Woman!!’ your R must be, and of her being ahead of ahead of her time (this is pre ‘Cougar’ label days after all, so it just wasn’t what many women could or would do – ie. not ‘fashionable’ or ‘accepted’ – 20 years ago). Which brings me to something close to my heart, that I only very recently uncovered. That my Great-Great Aunt, who family-lore reputedly had her as a ‘spinster’ (how I loathe something about that word) – and we’re talking about just over a hundred years ago now – married her 12 or 14 years YOUNGER guy when she was in her early 40s. Furthermore, she kept her maiden name and publicly listed it, hyphenated with his surname. Again, this was just over a 100 years ago…!!! Mind you, my relative was a photographer and being well ahead of her time in many ways, ‘society’ must have had conniption fits (but then her greatest strength and influence, my Great-Great Grandmother, was who She was, and that’s a whole other fascinating story about a fascinating woman).
Slightly off track there, but it’s on this basis that I believe women like your R and my relative are women who MUST be lauded for how they refuse to walk any other path in life except the one they choose and believe in. Obviously they don’t give a sh*t about what society deems as they live their life courageously true to what they believe in.
Kudos to R, JJ. And kudos to you too for recognising R for who she is
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Thanks…I’ll pass this on to R (She doesn’t read MM…so she’s not perfect…)
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Hey JAJ, I hope this is not too intrusive, how did people react to your relationship? Asking because am thinking of embarking on a new life adventure with a younger guy (9 years difference) but am a bit concerned about how his family and friends will react…
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It was never an issue…if you’d ever seen me and R together, you’d know why…
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