Meet Cate. The Other One.

I think I'm having a fairly ordinary week. A few nice things and generous people have made me smile, some people have made me laugh and get over myself, but on the whole I feel a tad drained.

It started Monday. At 4.30am to be precise. Husband had to get up to jet off to Queensland for two whole weeks. He's been in this job since February and we're kinda used to him not being around much now - so much that when he gets home we stare at him, wondering who the hell he is for the first 5 minutes, and then my memory kicks in and I immediately ask him to take out the rubbish and change a light globe - but this two week stint away is coming fairly soon after his two weeks in Hong Kong & Singapore, and a week in Sydney. Not much time at home at all. I mean, when he's here, he farts and stinks the joint up, disrupts my Twitter time, annoys the kids, leaves the newspaper and coffee mugs all over the place, and checks up on the credit card bill... but at least he's here, y'know?

Anyway, I couldn't really get back to sleep and have woken up at 4.30am every morning since. Weird and exhausting. If I fall asleep part way through this post, you'll know why. I have also had a sore shoulder and back and was popping anti-inflammatories. Then I had no hot water. The dishwasher blew up, blowing a fuse, and I had to wash the whole weekends worth of dishes by hand, with sore shoulder. Eventually I worked out what was happening and got the hot water back on, but alas, dishwasher has carked it. First world problems, I know.

And it was my Dad's birthday. He's 89. That might be good news, ordinarily, but he spent his birthday have needles injected into his eyeballs in an effort to save his eyesight from macular degeneration, and will continue to have regular treatment with no guaranteed outcome. If it doesn't work he'll go blind. We just have to hope.

When I thought things were bad enough, I checked my emails and discovered an old friend from school, netball and tennis had died of cancer Sunday night. And I cried for her. Younger than me, leaving a husband and kids. Tragic. Bloody fucking cancer. And so I threw myself into sending emails and trying to get donations of goods and vouchers for my Girl's Night In Cancer Council fundraiser (more on that in a later post) with renewed vigour. Three solid days of researching, phoning, emailing, inviting, begging, and perhaps some whoring. I may have promised my virginity to somebody. (boy, will they be disappointed) And it's tiring. My brain, fingers and eyes hurt and it sure isn't healing my shoulder. But I'm doing it. I have to. I want to.

I also haven't been feeling particularly healthy. A bit of a gastric issue (of which I'll spare you the details, though I do know how some of you love a good poo story) coupled with the insomnia has left me feeling very flat and lethargic. I'm tired and I'm sooooo over it.

And last night when I was feeling very sorry for myself I thought of Cate. The other one. And I gave myself a fucking huge kick up the arse.

I'm talking about Cate Bolt.

I cannot possibly articulate her entire story here, but I will give you some links to look at in just a moment, so please, please, take 10 minutes out of your day to look at them.

But just to get you to sit up and take notice....

Cate has nine children. Not a typo. NINE.

Cate was homeless.

Cate started an orphanage in Indonesia.

Cate had a heart attack and has suffered some strokes, one as recently as this week.

Cate has brain damage from the strokes, affecting her motor and linguistic skills, but certainly not her thoughts.

Cate's first worry is not of her own health, but of the kids at the orphanage.

Cate does not want you to feel sorry for her, but do what you can to help her causes.

Cate never moans publicly about her own problems. Nor privately, I suspect. Unlike me.

Cate continually tells me "I can't believe you're 46." She hasn't seen me in real life yet. I actually look 72.

Cate did not ask me to do this post.

Cate is fucking amazing.



Please read this article by Peter Run to get a more in-depth look at Cate's awesomeness.

Then go to this site to vote for Cate's dream. And vote from every email address you have access to.

Check out Foundation 18 and see if there's any way you can help.




I really hope you don't mind me nicking your photo for this, Cate.