Chapter One - From the beginning

Here is my story from the beginning.

I was born in a little country town in NSW. My mum was working as a check out chick at Woolworths at the time and my dad was a roof tiler. The first 2 years of my life were spent in a little unit in the middle of town where I was known to spend most of my time climbing up and down the stairs in my nappy. Mum and Dad didn't have a lot of money and had to return to work almost immediately after I was born so I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunties and cousins. From what I have been told I really enjoyed sitting on my Great Grandfathers knee getting lots of cuddles. Unfortunately he died when I was 2 so I have no memories of him. I have been told that I got my sporting abilities from him. Mum and Dad built a house during this time which we moved into and remained in for the next 23 years.
My Nan and Grandad lived on a property at the time and have told me stories of how Grandad would tell me to stand against the gate and not move while he drove the tractor through, and Nan use to sit me on the back verandah to look at the sheep which I would then try to make the same breathing noises as them. There are photos of me on the tractor with Grandad and in the hay sheds. I really wish I had real memories of these things as I know I would have enjoyed it immensely.
I'm not sure how old I was when the family sold the property and moved in different directions. My Nan, Grandad and Aunty went to Dubbo as that's where Grandad had been working, my Great Aunty and Great Grandmother moved into town and we remained in our little house.
At the age of 4, Mum, Dad and I packed our bags and hopped on a Bus to Alice Springs to visit my Great Uncle and Aunty and see Uluru. It was a long, long trip on the bus. I have memories of not being able to sleep and annoying everyone (as little kids can do), getting a flat tyre in the middle of the night and watching the poor bus driver change it, stopping for food somewhere and causing chaos with Mum and Dad because I thought we were going to miss the bus, sleeping on a mattress next to mum and dads bed, having a massive water fight, driving to Uluru with a friend of my Uncles and not wanting to put my seat belt on. All in all a lot of memories for a 4 year old.
At the same age I began playing hockey. Mainly because my Mum was the hockey president and I was with her all of the time and I enjoyed it. My Grandma and Pop bought me my first ever hockey stick which I still have today. Every Saturday I would go to hockey with Mum and join in the Minkey group and then wander around with my hockey stick and ball. My Mum was my first hockey coach.
At 4 and a half I decided it was time for me to go to school (yes I decided), Mum and Dad were going to make me wait another year, but my cousin who is 6 months older then me had started school and I was determined to go to. The school allowed me to start school as I displayed many independent abilities, however they would monitor me closely. Of course I had no idea of this and just went along my merry little way and did the best I could. According to my reports I did ok because they allowed me to move on to Year One the next year. During my Kindergarten year my little brother came into the world. I don't remember much about this other then Dad taking me to my Great Aunties. My comment once seeing my baby brother was 'oh, but I wanted a sister'. I was a very proud big sister and of course loved my little brother a lot. My imagination was fantastic at this time as my news items and school usually consisted of me telling the class what I had done with all of my sisters on the weekend. This too was noted in my school report.

Well, I am going to stop here for the moment as one of my favourite shows is about to start... I will return with the next installment of my childhood soon :) Pictures will be uploaded when I find them