Monday, July 07, 2008 11:07:36 PM
 

Why have I called myself the Angel of  Oz?  I was told that no one would find my site on the Net, if I used that name.  Well, I did and I was found by many people.  I decided now, to update my pages and give them a new look.  Oz is our slang, short, for Aussie or Australian.  Like the Wizard of Oz, I became the Angel of Oz because I love angels.

I am the mother of six children but only one of them are at home in the ‘nest’ at the moment, although this changes from time to time.  The family is comprised of four boys, Mark, Paul, (Andrew) and Matthew and girls Louise and Jacqualine. ranging from 22-38. My son Andrew died from cot death or SIDS, when he was eight months old and is in heaven.   I have 4 grandchildren, Andre, Kenji, Carmen and newest is Jesse born 14th November 2005.

My real name is Carol Anne and I live in Sydney, Australia.  My wonderful, husband is David and we have been married nearly 30 years. I have been using the Net for about 12 years and it is of great interest to me and I learn more every day.  I enjoy T.V. shows like House - Hugh Laurie, Boston Legal - James Spader, Grey's Anatomy - Patrick Dempsey E.R,  (well, this is true and I must be honest) Oz program I watch is All Saints. This is Your Life and R.P.A. (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital)   I nursed there with Elle McPherson’s mother, Fran.  I met her again many years later, when she had a business with her then ex-husband Peter Gow, at Miranda Hi Fi.  At that time, Elle was Eleanor and she was one year older than my son Mark.  I believe that she was about four years old then.

I grew up in Lakemba and went to Mc Callums Hill Primary school.

I commenced my High school studies at Kingsgrove North, a brand new school in 1959, as one of the first group there.  Because the family had moved to Hurstville, I was should have attended Kingsgrove South High but it was not completed in time for me to start there.  When it was finished, the Dept. of Education decided that I could stay where I was, to complete my Intermediate Certificate there.  

My favourite screen actors are Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman, Hugh Laurie, Patrick Dempsey, James Spader, William Shatner, James Dean and singer/actor Gordon McRae (who was a singer in many of the films of the past).  The actresses that I most like to see are Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Meg Ryan, Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, Shirley Jones and Drew Barrrymore.  Some of these are better known for their singing, than for their acting skills.  I love romantic stories, made into movies and feel that I have really enjoyed myself, when I have had a good cry and leave the theatre feeling “kinda” relaxed and contented. 

Stage shows that I have seen and really enjoyed were Chorus Line, Buddy (Holly), the King and I and They’re Playing Our Song.  As for the movies, I loved Carousel, Showboat, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I, West Side Story, Singing in the Rain, High Society, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Brigadoon and Tammy.  By the way, does any one out there have a copy of this movie? I have done some small musicals at Concord Hospital in the 70's tap dancing and singing.

Singers and groups that send me into “outer space” with their songs/melodies/music are Barry Manilow, Anthony Warlow, The Bee Gees, Perry Como, Deep Purple, The Beatles, all British Rock Groups, The Supremes, the wonderful soul singers (with those might powerful voices), ACDC, Phil Collins, The Three Tenors (particularly Nessan Dorma) and many orchestras performing any of the Strauss Waltzes.  

Of course, the music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s was great and many numbers released in the 80’s and 90’s.  Let’s all go back to the ‘good old days.  Rock and Roll and the Age of Aquarius were my ‘kinda” music and I was there singing and dancing at every opportunity.  I still dance sometimes in the supermarket----much to the dismay of my children and they simply disown me.  Who can blame them?  My father used to sing all the Al Jolson songs to me and I still miss him so very much, even after all these years. He died of cancer in 1975. 

I went to many concerts to see Johnny Ray, Bobby Vee, Wayne Newton, Bobby Rydell Johnny O’Keefe and Col Joye and have wonderful memories of those events.  I also visited T.V. Studios to participate/dance at Bandstand and 6 O’Clock Rock with my friends.  Even managed to get to see Barry Manilow up close and got his autograph.

All things that are beautiful really touch my soul.  Music would be the most important to me and art is a pleasure for my eyes.  Angels, Cupids and the Victorian Era have always intrigued me.  I have spent time on the Net, looking at the work and pictures on these subjects.  Hours of work as gone into visiting the sites of others, who have mastered their own Web Pages.

I put this on the ‘backburner’ for a long time, to start one for myself.  I had been afraid to venture out into this ‘unknown’ language of HTML.  Eventually, I decided to ‘go down the path’ and try it.  Front Page 98 was a BIG HELP, at this time.  There were many attempts and this is a major update of my original pages that were put on the Net and hope that those who visit will like the improvement.

My husband is the Guru, who does all the loading of the programs into the computer and I simply use what I want.  He has just completed building ten computers and I think he is very clever to do this on his own.  However, he has not shown any interest in a Home Page for himself, so it was either I did it or it was not done at all.  Today, we us a combined effort and have achieved some major breakthroughs.  To most of you out there in the wide world of computer ‘buffs’, what we have done may seem to be very, very small. 

I listen to the radio, Mike Carlton  and Stuart Boking, Clive Robertson, Tim Webster, John Stanley afternoons, John Kerr midnight to dawn weekends and Steve Price in the mornings on 2UE  I learnt ballroom and tap dancing and have participated in many amateur shows, using lots of the songs that meant so much to me in the past.

One of my pet causes is the Environment and I believe we must all do something to help protect it for the whole world for future generations.  For years, I have been making all my own laundry liquid soap for the family washing.  It costs so very little and does not harm the ocean, when it arrives there with our household discharge.  Recipe here

I attempt all kinds of Craft and have worked on folk Art, Decoupage, Heritage Books, Knitting, Crocheting, Quilling and some sewing.  Unfortunately, these days it seems that I spend more time mending.  I really enjoy cooking and cake decorating, although I have not worked on anything large.  I compose personal poems (bottom of this page) using the initials of Christian names and I print them to give as presents.  I make all my own cards and print them on my HP printer & I create personalized Guardian Angels that I frame for newborn babies and give this to new arrivals. 

Within Australia I have travelled to have been to South Australia, Victoria, far North Queensland, South Molle Island, Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef other places in Queensland and many within New South Wales.  I really enjoy flying and seeing sights, scenes and towns, outside the area where I live. I have had many overseas trips with my family and yearn to do more when they older. Over the years I have seen Spain, France, Denmark, Malta, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Switzerland. Bali, Hong Kong, Hawaiian islands, Dubai, UK, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji.

Since having my page up and running I have ‘met’ some wonderful people and they have brought another dimension to my life.  The world is a smaller place with some very, very, nice people, who reach out from afar, caring and helping each other. I feel comforted by those, who have contacted me, after reading my pages.  I have found school buddies and some lost relations and this a real bonus. 

Remember.. Keep smiling...