End of January 2007 coming up

Has been a while since I last put an entry in. But it is that time of year where I am juggling work and home and mummy things. And, quite frankly, I do not always feel like blah blahing unless I have something to say.

The vegetable garden finally got planted out. Initially I bought packets of seeds and planted them into boxes with the intention of doing things from scratch. Unfortunately I am not terribly patient and yesterday went out and spent $65 on seedlings and planted them. Much easier I think. So, whilst growing vegetables is a nice thing to do, it appears that the way I do it is not so cost efficient. When I bought the seed packets and seed raising trays I think I spent at least $50 - makes me laugh. But I am enjoying all of it and that is what counts.

Three of us went to see Miss Potter the other night. What a gorgeous film. It did gloss over some aspects of her life and it may have had a few inaccuracies but all in all it was a lovely film. I fully intend to get it on dvd when it comes out. We went Gold Class which is really nicely indulgent I think.

I have my car for sale at the moment but I am not sure just how quickly it will sell. Totally depressing selling cars. Just so boring. Anyway, I do need to learn the skill of being patient.

I noticed in the last couple of blogs that I have mentioned things I was going to do and have not.

One is that I was going to get a pair of Crocs - have decided not to after 1. trying a pair on and 2. reading that grown ups who wear Crocs look like Smurfs. Hmmmm, not a very good thought that one. Anyway, I have now ordered another two pairs of clogs - black and red and now feel I am complete in the shoe department. Today I am wearing a pair of black school shoes and really notice that my feet are not happy in them - but I cannot wear white clogs with what I am wearing. So, when the black ones arrive next week - I will never be out of clogs no matter what I am wearing.

The other thing is a Bikram yoga session. Have decided that since I almost vomit or faint or both after a hot bath, being 1.5 hours in a hot yoga room is not going to work with me. Lately I have been into walking and riding my bike - plus some pilates.

Our clothesline is one of those pull out ones that stretch across the yard. Over time it has started to sag and we intermittently tighten the cord. Recently two cords snapped and I was left with three saggy lines to hang my clothes on. Today one of those lines snapped (full of washing) and we now have to replace it. I want a fold out line against the garage and K said that was fine but then realised that before we did that, he had to replace the rotted weatherboards. So, now this new clothesline has become a bigger job than anticipated. So much for a relaxing weekend!!

Today I am unsure what I am going to do. I really, really do have to go into work today but I really, really just could not be bothered. Really, really truly do not want to.

Had a rotten period this month. Combined with headaches and period pain and high snitch 'n' bitch factor and a gurgly gut made the past few days stressful. Plus so many pain killers just stop everything working. Almost over, so that is the main thing - until next month at least.

Today is rainy and windy and a bit like Winter. Good for the garden I suppose.

Well, that is it for now.

Ciao

LC

My Frontyard

Thought I may upload a couple of pictures of my front yard. Mainly my vege garden which is waiting to be planted out. K was a bit against the idea of doing the wog thing and having veges on display, but I say be free and happy and dig.



I love my little Bungalow despite the fact it is pretty high maintenance which combined with the inclination to be a bit lazy makes for a lot of work. I have put a photo up along with a painting that someone did of our house as a thanks for baby sitting his boy a couple of times.

The picture of the green trees is just to show these wonderful things. They are a type of twisty Grevillia and do so well in the hot weather and dry conditions. Initially I had them in a pot and decided to plant them out and they just get bigger and bigger. I am quite attached to them now. Eventually I will plant underneath them but with this dry weather I am a bit hesitant. May just go with the straw/farm look for now.

Just also want to mention just how much I adore my clogs. In fact, a friend of mine is getting a red pair after seeing mine. So am I. Then I will have a black, red and white pair.

Am selling my Honda soon. I will be driving K's dads car for the next six months and then buying something else. I am pretty sure what I want and know that it is not going to be a London Taxi no matter how much I want one. Reality check here. Am planning, at this stage, on a French car. Love those Euro cars - just so nice.

Well, off for a cup of green tea and a relax.

Ciao

LC

Childhood Memories and Other Stuff

My earliest memory is my third Christmas. I was holding a very big present that was wrapped in brown paper and I remember saying something like "this is daddy's because it is so big". As it was, the present was in fact mine. It was a big panda teddy bear that I still have. I remember I slept with that panda always and it moulted hair which stuck to my thumb that I sucked. It was a very squishy thing and was stuffed with foam bits. It bears the scars of many wounds being stitched by my mother. Recently S was saying he wanted another soft toy to have in his bed and I thought that he would just love to have my panda. What an ideal opportunity to share a childhood toy. So, I unpacked it from my junk trunk and brought it in and offered it to S. He shrieked and told me to get it out and where did I get such a scary bear! K looked at me as though I had brought out and instrument of torture to use on my son. I went back to the spare room and took a look at poor, rejected teddy and had to agree that it may have been a teeny bit too ugly for S. So, he is back in his little dark cave where I think he will be living out his days.

I still love him though and I did give him a big hug before I put him in the junk trunk and shut the lid.

In the photo you will notice next to panda a rather Nordic looking cardigan. This particular one was my mummy's. We all had one, my dad, mummy, older sister and myself. They were all the same, with the exception of my dad's. His was green. My mormor knitted them for us and I wore mine until I grew out of it, then wore my sisters and then my mummy's. When I look at it now I think it looks a bit like a horse blanket. A couple of years ago I said to S that part of the family tradition is that we all had to wear this cardigan and it would mean the world to me if he continued that wonderful tradition. He looked at it for a while and then looked at me and said "Okay, if it means that much, I will wear it". I said to him that it was okay, he did not have to wear it but the fact that he was willing to go out in public with it on to make his mother happy was fantastic. However, recently I asked him if he would wear it and he said "no way, that is gross". Obviously the urge to please his mother has been and gone.

When my niece came around a month or so ago, I dragged out the cardigan to show her and she said "you know, that would look pretty good if you wore it with a funky pair of jeans etc, sort of retro/Scandinavian groove". I put it on and felt like a five year old. We could not stop laughing at just how daggy it was. It now shares a space in the junk trunk with panda - relics of my past.

Ciao

LC

Clogs

Bought a new pair of shoes. Clogs. Worse than that, they are WHITE ones.

So comfortable that I am going to get a black pair.

I now know why my mother sent me to school in them each day - comfort. I have reached the age where comfort outweighs style! What a relief that is.

Ciao

LC

January 2007

Look at this! The New Year has arrived and life goes on. Today, however, is a bit of a celebration in that it is my 16th wedding anniversary which is a milestone I suppose. We are going out with some friends - all three of us - for dinner and to play pool at a local bar just around the corner. I have to say I feel okay about it all. Getting older, anniversaries, Christmas, New Years and all that stuff. It is like I have come into myself and settled.

New Years eve was spent at a friends house whilst K was working. S spent to whole time watching movies in the huge movie theatre room. House was rather big to say the least.

So what have we been doing? Not much really. Just hanging out and eating out and enjoying the peace and quiet. K has built me two sensational vege gardens in front yard and I just have to fill it with some more compost and I will then start planting. Am a bit excited about it all really. Keeps me entertained and busy and makes me feel relaxed.

Took the Christmas tree down yesterday - what a job. Took almost three hours and is nowhere near as exciting as putting it up. But once it was done I felt such a relief to get the house back in order and the room tidy.

We have decided to get a new TV as our one just does not cut it really. And I have to confess we are lashing out and getting an LCD since that appears to be the way to go. Unfortunately we have to modify some built in furniture so it will take time but I cannot wait to have a picture on the television that I don't have to wear my glasses for to see the detail!

I just have to put a mention in on my ironing level. It is of epic proportions once again. And, since I have bought some new clothes I just take things out of the wardrobe until there is nothing left and then I have to iron. But I am determined to get on top of it this year. Ironing monster will NOT win!

All this hot weather is giving me a bad hair day everyday. I leave the house with smooth and tidy hair and within the hour is a wavey and messy and untidy. Most annoying. And there is a limit to just how much hair product I can have in it otherwise I look scraggly. Still, such is the price one pays when deciding to have long hair. No matter how practical short hair is - it will never appear on my head.

Oh, other things to write for sure - but I am going to sort out the socks.

Ciao

LC