My beautiful daughter No 2 was involved in her own melodrama's over the last week - and I have tried hard - yet not too successfully to keep my sarcastic (read really funny fantastically witty brilliant)comments to myself.
She looks beautiful red faced, strewn with tears in the tiniest bits of clothing... that are not purchased from an adult shop. Really - someone should put that girl in the movies. She attended a party after a bit of prodding from us - her misery at some nasty teenage girl/boy stuff was about to provoke her to the entire "Camille" performance and ... who the hell wants to hang around with that all night?
She works at 7 am tomorrow morning. She will be absolutely unbearable when she gets home. Maybe the rest of us can manage to be out.
Daughter No 3 is loving her work - albeit at a fast food store - but it is the financial independence,her excitement at the kiddies birthday parties and her tales of the customers that frighten her.... that make me so proud of her. She helped me make dinner tonight with a lovely togetherness and happiness.
Except - I suspect I could be one of the customers that scare her.
Oh well.
William rang from his Dads - he and his uncle Paul will be home tomorrow morning. It has been a long time since I have seen Paul - and I always enjoyed his company.
I considered writing a New Years Resolution List. But when I sat and thought about it... it usually entails me giving up something. So buggar that.
I made daughter No 2 walk with me and the dogs uptown today. No real reason - just to get us off the sofa. I hate holidays - I get so bored. Christian doesnt think too far past food, adult entertainment, boating and fishing. My taxi duties are multiplied by ten. Daughter No 2 duly points out if we are walking all the way uptown to ring Christian to pick us up - why cant we just drive up town and save the walk. SHE MISSED THE WHOLE POINT.
Rocky (wonderdog No 1) was a complete bastard for the first 25 minutes. He pulls so hard - passerbys must want to ring the RSPCA to report us. He makes non stop CHOKING noises and it takes both arms and constant restraint to hold him. Dotti climbed into the fountain at the Yacht Club. I had fun - but I had to keep telling Jane she was having fun too.
I will too! Tomorrow when I make her come with me again!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Saddam
WITHOUT wanting to join any arguements on who or what Saddam was... I was still astounded at the joy my friend announced his death (I cant figure out how to make the free tv channels come on - the kids are away and I just mess remote controls up)... My friend is a reluctant barmaid who doesnt like people much anyway... why the glee at his death? People are always good at shocking me... but something so remote from us/her and her pleasure at the EXECUTION of another human being. Watch the related video... and it seems to me.. rather... alarming.
The whole "weapons of mass destruction" and the execution before the trials had even finished...the figures of the deaths he caused versus the figures that amass daily in our war for freedom.... freedom against weapons of mass destruction... and .. err ok it just all seems so rediculous to me.
Hey - it is just me.
And hanging? We had to put down a puppy a few years ago .. and it was so so quick with the injection at the vets. It was still quite horrid... but so quick it.. became bearable for our memories?
I dont feel any joy at this execution. I was surprised my friend did. I felt nothing but sadness. I felt sorrow at the memories of when I was at Uni and we did debate and discuss such topics. I particularly remember watching footage of the United Nations talks and thinking.. no one is listening to this man... I felt a little pang of guilt that all I really give a hoot about is my kids, spouse, family, friends and dogs. Not necessarily in that order either.
I felt shocked she felt it such an occasion that we should celebrate. But I have NEVER knocked a reason to drink alcohol.
I think it is unlikely I would ever feel joy at any execution of a human. Maybe Martin Bryant excluded.. but he too could have the digntity of the injection we gave that little puppy.
I also made the mistake AGAIN of looking at Tim Blairs blog. Thank heavens I have never felt ... anywhere connected to these people.
The whole "weapons of mass destruction" and the execution before the trials had even finished...the figures of the deaths he caused versus the figures that amass daily in our war for freedom.... freedom against weapons of mass destruction... and .. err ok it just all seems so rediculous to me.
Hey - it is just me.
And hanging? We had to put down a puppy a few years ago .. and it was so so quick with the injection at the vets. It was still quite horrid... but so quick it.. became bearable for our memories?
I dont feel any joy at this execution. I was surprised my friend did. I felt nothing but sadness. I felt sorrow at the memories of when I was at Uni and we did debate and discuss such topics. I particularly remember watching footage of the United Nations talks and thinking.. no one is listening to this man... I felt a little pang of guilt that all I really give a hoot about is my kids, spouse, family, friends and dogs. Not necessarily in that order either.
I felt shocked she felt it such an occasion that we should celebrate. But I have NEVER knocked a reason to drink alcohol.
I think it is unlikely I would ever feel joy at any execution of a human. Maybe Martin Bryant excluded.. but he too could have the digntity of the injection we gave that little puppy.
I also made the mistake AGAIN of looking at Tim Blairs blog. Thank heavens I have never felt ... anywhere connected to these people.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Christmas Meme
It is strangely quiet now the little kids have gone. I have already seemed to run out of things to read on the internet. I found the Christmas Meme over at PC's... (Her trifle recipe ingredients could buy us a four stroke motor I am sure! Sounds wonderful... HAVE I BECAME MY FATHER AND THE SCROOGIEST PERSON ON EARTH?)
Anyway - on with the meme.
1) Do you have a tree, and if so what is hanging on it?
We have an old, cheap, plastic tree that has serviced us for the last five years. Before that we used to use real trees and spend the three months still vacuuming up the pine cones. And Australian “real trees” don’t look anything like our Northern Hemisphere friends tree. (Or on the tv – whateva)
The kids and I went to hang our stuff on the tree – but Anna (almost 16) was disgusted at their age, their lack of sparkle, the handmade pieces (INCLUDING the ones she had made for me) and in the end – I was only allowed to keep two. Anna said she would buy new ones – but then her trip to see Robbie Williams and her desire to be extravagant for family members (who deserve jack chit) – DELAYED this purchase. And – yep – this year the poor tree only had the tinsel and one green bauble that William made for me from pre-school (Will and I both begged for it to be saved) and the crocheted snow crystal my friend Carrie sent me years ago adorned our tree.
I didn’t sit the beautiful angel B sent me from Canada on the tree – deciding instead to show her off on the sideboard because she looked rather.. strange alone on top of a tree no one can see.
And I swear I looked for two days – and I couldn’t find our lights. And I KNOW we have heaps of them. Dotti the wonderdog managed to find old baubles and .. redecorate them.
This house is the same size as a postage stamp (I can use poetic license – I have scotch too!) and the tree is on a hall table not built for a hall this small. There is absolutely no other place it could of fit. Actually, too many of the things I have cant be used for what they are designed to be simply because of the space issue.
I suggested we string popcorn up at least… and my girls were horrified. Even when I told them we have done it many times before. I did tell them we wont eat the stuff… fly poop and all considered….
2) What's the most successful bit of Christmas cooking you've done so far?
I kept this year really simple and am so glad I did. No stress moments.
Christmas Eve we had oysters Kilpatrick and natural – and a cob loaf with banana prawns, smoked salmon, every cheese I found in the fridge, cream, garlic, coriander, cumin, parsley and onion (I was too mean to pay $4 for a bunch of shallots) and a few finely chopped left over vegetables. It was delicious and messy. No one – even William – even spotted the vegetables.
Christmas breakfast was French toast, leg ham grilled, the boys had eggs, mangoes and corn on the cob. My mother started the corn on the cob for Christmas breakfast years ago… and I just love being able to get all buttery and messy for breakfast.
And lunch was just roast turkey thigh fillet and leg of lamb – all the condiments and five roast veggies. I even forgot to put anything green on. No one complained. I didn’t even worry about an entrée this year either. Dessert was just parfait glasses with jelly, strawberry mousse and when I said I will make some banana custard… everyone said.. “Don’t bother with the custard – we will just eat the banana’s” (Good comes from bad – Cyclone Larry saved me a bit of cooking?)
3) And the least successful?
I am hoping this is just for this year – cause in past years I could go on forever. Like ditching my own idea of Christmas lunch for families – to find they served day or more old cold chicken, sliced ham from the deli and salads. Ex-sister in law and I once starved ourselves for three days thinking Christmas dinner was going to be the full roast thing – and arrived to find spinach leaves with lemon dressing with cold grilled fish. Fine for a lunch with your girlfriends.. but not Christmas day!
This year the lamb was too rare for Anna’s taste – but ok for mine. I didn’t put it on the table so it would offend her.
4) Which bit of your Christmas shopping are you happiest with?
It is so very hard shopping for teenagers. I felt like I should of provided more expensive presents in accordance with what they tell me their peers are receiving. But I simply couldn’t. And I also suspect that if I could – I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t buy myself an $800 phone. I do not have the $ and am not sure I want Will to have a $3k motor bike. IF he did we would need much more because Christian would need one too to go with him. And that sounds all like yet another worry for me.
The competitiveness is so awful – and yet I still cringed when I heard any of the kids asked what they received for Christmas and felt a bit like a “loser” (I hang around teenagers sorry) as I cringed as they replied.
I bought my mother a digital camera that I think she will love. But I am so used to our cameras – the camera thing is something I will blog about later. I KNOW my mother will get a kick out of being able to show me her latest rose bloom or bird visitor in her garden. But I bought it off eBay and it arrived to late to get to her on time….
The boat motor is KINDA Christians’ present. And that – at least – I know he not only deserves but will use to the best of its.. usefulness. And he loves.
5) Have you opened any of your presents yet? What was it / were they?
The BBQ was my present to me, and Anna bought me the oysters and prawns. My mother has been making me a patchwork quilt and that will arrive soonish. My closest two friends gave me wine – and I gave them exactly the same thing. Shades of my life – I actually didn’t receive any gifts. But I also spend 365 days a year telling anyone and everyone not to give me things.
6) Do you have any bad Christmas associations that will have to be tackled?
None that I want to tackle again. My own ISSUE over Christmas in a divorced family situation is that children should be able to have access to both sets of families. I can’t change the past – all I can do is make sure I don’t make those mistakes. And hell – sometimes being nice/civil to the “other side” is so damn hard. I bit my tongue every single time my three children purchased lovely gifts for their family. (Usually with my money – excepting Anna who has her own money)
Bloody wonder I managed to eat so much at all really.
7) What's your favourite carol? Why?
I am always a crier. But “The Little Drummer Boy” just chokes me up no end.
As a kid we sang this at the Opera House – and I felt like a bit of an orphan the night that should have been a wonderful night…
I love listening to carols. I always think the malls are so lucky they play them because otherwise I would get in a worse temper.
8) Which part of your Christmas plans is most likely to go awry?
I am so glad I kept this year simple. There was nothing that could go wrong this year. I didn’t expect my mothers present to take so long to get here. That certainly went awry. I have always had easy transactions on eBay.
9) What's your most favourite thing about Christmas?
Wow – it is family and friends. Even though this year I deliberately kept it at just my kids and us. Although I didn’t put myself threw the huge paces of being nice to the ex’s and visiting friends etc… I did spend many moments remembering the NICE times about when we have done this. I guess there wont be all that many times left I will have just the kids home …and heaven knows some of my girlfriends are simply better at celebrating for 24 hours plus than me…. (Yes Robyn you!) I love the big feast – but hell I can make any excuse for one of them if I want to.
10) What's your least favourite thing about it?Being so far away from family and friends so that I can’t just rock up and visit them when I do have my little nostalgic moments about them. I also hate mince pies and fruit cake.
11) What Christmassy thing have you seen or heard in the street or on the teeve or in the blogosphere that has
(a) touched your heartI got all teary at the front page of Saturdays “The Courier Mail” with the picture of Terry, Bindy and Bob Irwin. But it doesn’t take a lot to get tears from me.
And last week on the Christmas Harbour Cruise when I finally met people Christian knows from work who foster up to 12 children at a time and the two beautiful girls they had with them that night.
(b) hit a nerve
My nerves were hit raw with my kids desire to purchase their “other family” wonderful presents. Ten hours of shopping for people that do jack chit for them.. seemed senseless to me.
or (c) made you want to barf?
William walked past Anna’s plate after eating his breakfast mostly with his hands (corn cobs require this – but eggs and ham do not) and pulled pieces from her mango off…. I felt her pain at that.
12) Who do you wish you had contacted to say Happy Christmas but haven't so far?
We were pretty slack and didn’t do cards or many calls. Tough – I love so many people it would of taken me too damn long. And lets face it.. it is such a hectic time of year. I don’t like to bother people. Or I hate to be bothered myself.
Anyway - on with the meme.
1) Do you have a tree, and if so what is hanging on it?
We have an old, cheap, plastic tree that has serviced us for the last five years. Before that we used to use real trees and spend the three months still vacuuming up the pine cones. And Australian “real trees” don’t look anything like our Northern Hemisphere friends tree. (Or on the tv – whateva)
The kids and I went to hang our stuff on the tree – but Anna (almost 16) was disgusted at their age, their lack of sparkle, the handmade pieces (INCLUDING the ones she had made for me) and in the end – I was only allowed to keep two. Anna said she would buy new ones – but then her trip to see Robbie Williams and her desire to be extravagant for family members (who deserve jack chit) – DELAYED this purchase. And – yep – this year the poor tree only had the tinsel and one green bauble that William made for me from pre-school (Will and I both begged for it to be saved) and the crocheted snow crystal my friend Carrie sent me years ago adorned our tree.
I didn’t sit the beautiful angel B sent me from Canada on the tree – deciding instead to show her off on the sideboard because she looked rather.. strange alone on top of a tree no one can see.
And I swear I looked for two days – and I couldn’t find our lights. And I KNOW we have heaps of them. Dotti the wonderdog managed to find old baubles and .. redecorate them.
This house is the same size as a postage stamp (I can use poetic license – I have scotch too!) and the tree is on a hall table not built for a hall this small. There is absolutely no other place it could of fit. Actually, too many of the things I have cant be used for what they are designed to be simply because of the space issue.
I suggested we string popcorn up at least… and my girls were horrified. Even when I told them we have done it many times before. I did tell them we wont eat the stuff… fly poop and all considered….
2) What's the most successful bit of Christmas cooking you've done so far?
I kept this year really simple and am so glad I did. No stress moments.
Christmas Eve we had oysters Kilpatrick and natural – and a cob loaf with banana prawns, smoked salmon, every cheese I found in the fridge, cream, garlic, coriander, cumin, parsley and onion (I was too mean to pay $4 for a bunch of shallots) and a few finely chopped left over vegetables. It was delicious and messy. No one – even William – even spotted the vegetables.
Christmas breakfast was French toast, leg ham grilled, the boys had eggs, mangoes and corn on the cob. My mother started the corn on the cob for Christmas breakfast years ago… and I just love being able to get all buttery and messy for breakfast.
And lunch was just roast turkey thigh fillet and leg of lamb – all the condiments and five roast veggies. I even forgot to put anything green on. No one complained. I didn’t even worry about an entrée this year either. Dessert was just parfait glasses with jelly, strawberry mousse and when I said I will make some banana custard… everyone said.. “Don’t bother with the custard – we will just eat the banana’s” (Good comes from bad – Cyclone Larry saved me a bit of cooking?)
3) And the least successful?
I am hoping this is just for this year – cause in past years I could go on forever. Like ditching my own idea of Christmas lunch for families – to find they served day or more old cold chicken, sliced ham from the deli and salads. Ex-sister in law and I once starved ourselves for three days thinking Christmas dinner was going to be the full roast thing – and arrived to find spinach leaves with lemon dressing with cold grilled fish. Fine for a lunch with your girlfriends.. but not Christmas day!
This year the lamb was too rare for Anna’s taste – but ok for mine. I didn’t put it on the table so it would offend her.
4) Which bit of your Christmas shopping are you happiest with?
It is so very hard shopping for teenagers. I felt like I should of provided more expensive presents in accordance with what they tell me their peers are receiving. But I simply couldn’t. And I also suspect that if I could – I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t buy myself an $800 phone. I do not have the $ and am not sure I want Will to have a $3k motor bike. IF he did we would need much more because Christian would need one too to go with him. And that sounds all like yet another worry for me.
The competitiveness is so awful – and yet I still cringed when I heard any of the kids asked what they received for Christmas and felt a bit like a “loser” (I hang around teenagers sorry) as I cringed as they replied.
I bought my mother a digital camera that I think she will love. But I am so used to our cameras – the camera thing is something I will blog about later. I KNOW my mother will get a kick out of being able to show me her latest rose bloom or bird visitor in her garden. But I bought it off eBay and it arrived to late to get to her on time….
The boat motor is KINDA Christians’ present. And that – at least – I know he not only deserves but will use to the best of its.. usefulness. And he loves.
5) Have you opened any of your presents yet? What was it / were they?
The BBQ was my present to me, and Anna bought me the oysters and prawns. My mother has been making me a patchwork quilt and that will arrive soonish. My closest two friends gave me wine – and I gave them exactly the same thing. Shades of my life – I actually didn’t receive any gifts. But I also spend 365 days a year telling anyone and everyone not to give me things.
6) Do you have any bad Christmas associations that will have to be tackled?
None that I want to tackle again. My own ISSUE over Christmas in a divorced family situation is that children should be able to have access to both sets of families. I can’t change the past – all I can do is make sure I don’t make those mistakes. And hell – sometimes being nice/civil to the “other side” is so damn hard. I bit my tongue every single time my three children purchased lovely gifts for their family. (Usually with my money – excepting Anna who has her own money)
Bloody wonder I managed to eat so much at all really.
7) What's your favourite carol? Why?
I am always a crier. But “The Little Drummer Boy” just chokes me up no end.
As a kid we sang this at the Opera House – and I felt like a bit of an orphan the night that should have been a wonderful night…
I love listening to carols. I always think the malls are so lucky they play them because otherwise I would get in a worse temper.
8) Which part of your Christmas plans is most likely to go awry?
I am so glad I kept this year simple. There was nothing that could go wrong this year. I didn’t expect my mothers present to take so long to get here. That certainly went awry. I have always had easy transactions on eBay.
9) What's your most favourite thing about Christmas?
Wow – it is family and friends. Even though this year I deliberately kept it at just my kids and us. Although I didn’t put myself threw the huge paces of being nice to the ex’s and visiting friends etc… I did spend many moments remembering the NICE times about when we have done this. I guess there wont be all that many times left I will have just the kids home …and heaven knows some of my girlfriends are simply better at celebrating for 24 hours plus than me…. (Yes Robyn you!) I love the big feast – but hell I can make any excuse for one of them if I want to.
10) What's your least favourite thing about it?Being so far away from family and friends so that I can’t just rock up and visit them when I do have my little nostalgic moments about them. I also hate mince pies and fruit cake.
11) What Christmassy thing have you seen or heard in the street or on the teeve or in the blogosphere that has
(a) touched your heartI got all teary at the front page of Saturdays “The Courier Mail” with the picture of Terry, Bindy and Bob Irwin. But it doesn’t take a lot to get tears from me.
And last week on the Christmas Harbour Cruise when I finally met people Christian knows from work who foster up to 12 children at a time and the two beautiful girls they had with them that night.
(b) hit a nerve
My nerves were hit raw with my kids desire to purchase their “other family” wonderful presents. Ten hours of shopping for people that do jack chit for them.. seemed senseless to me.
or (c) made you want to barf?
William walked past Anna’s plate after eating his breakfast mostly with his hands (corn cobs require this – but eggs and ham do not) and pulled pieces from her mango off…. I felt her pain at that.
12) Who do you wish you had contacted to say Happy Christmas but haven't so far?
We were pretty slack and didn’t do cards or many calls. Tough – I love so many people it would of taken me too damn long. And lets face it.. it is such a hectic time of year. I don’t like to bother people. Or I hate to be bothered myself.
Merry Christmas from Dotti and Rocky. (Or is it - my owner sucks when she thinks its cute to make us wear this shit?)
You thought they were discussing the fact they only got a Smacko Stocking with a ball and some treats in it?
Nope - Rocky took on a Christmas toffee and had a buggar of a time eating it.
Dotti says - "Table is set! This must be my seat in front of the airconditioner!"
Rocky waits for us girls to leave the table and trys his luck with the boys.
"Can I have a toffee?"
My dogs remember NOTHING! But they had a marvellous day. As I type - they are both lying belly up at my feet.It was nice with no stress of travel and visiting! But then again - Christmas with friends and family is nice too - I just cant take my dogs and chose them this year.
It was just us - until the ex-brother and sister in law came to pick up the younger kids to take to Rockhampton to stay with their Dad until Friday. Now it is just Anna and us. Anna has some pleasant new friends - and a walk around the beach is a good idea shortly to.. compensate from some of the excesses of lunch.
But - a very simple Christmas here - that was just lovely. And I am hoping everyone else had a lovely one too. I thought of many friends and family today... And even the reminiscing was lovely.
Cheerio! A bottle of scotch is calling me!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Quick post on the Jackeroo Tuscany BBQ - AGAIN!
I noticed I got a quite a few “hits” to my little waffling blog from referrals searching about the Jackeroo Tuscany BBQ. So – if that is what you are looking for I have mentioned it here and here. I love my BBQ - and therefore feel quite happy to sing the praise it deserves... to the tune of Falalalalaa la la la la...
I have cooked everything I could think of in it. Indeed – the very first week I used an entire 8.5 kilo gas cylinder up. I have been a little more moderate with it since then. I haven’t yet bought the rotisserie – but will along the track.
I find it does roasts just fine. I do always place roast meats on top of bread. I have to keep an eye on it… the temperature so easily gets so hot. The side burner holds the huge pots necessary for crabs. (Of which we have only caught ONE LEGAL SIZE one – and so tomorrow will be smoked salmon and banana prawns.)
BUT… tomorrow our Christmas lunch will be a turkey thigh roast and a leg of lamb. Everything will be done out on the BBQ – and no cooking inside the house. Previous years the oven competed with the air conditioners… and the oven wins.
Regarding how I originally lost the instructions manual? Christian FOUND* me another one, and we decided that the manual would not of been a terrible lot of help with the assembly ANYWAY. So - if anyone also searches for the instruction manual and cant find it.. I would be happy to scan it and send to them.
For big celebrations – I will drag it out the back. But because we live so close to the ocean I worry about the effects – and the front porch is more protected.
Yep – I really do love my new bbq.
And it so smells like Christmas - but cooler! We havent even turned the air conditioners on yet! The mangoes make the room smell so lovely. The kids are still excited about presents under the tree. The dogs have chewed up as many things as they could - the baubles from the trees look sad actually. For some reason I like them better this way. Righto - I best set the jelly and walk up the supermarket to see if any last minute specials are to be had!
*Found – he walked out of the shop we bought the BBQ from with the manual on display.You can take the boy out of the 'Didge - but you can't take the 'Didge out of the boy.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Television Meme
Television meme - pinched from Elsewhere.
1. Earliest remembered television?
Playschool and Sesame Street. We were the last people to get a colour TV in our neighbourhood – but the very first to get a vcr. In my mind – Jemima, Big Ted, The Cookie Monster and others were completely different colours. I imagined them - hell these guys were my idols... and then! Cookie Monster was BLUE? Sheesh an adjustment and it took me a while to get used too. I also felt I related better to the colours from the Australian and UK TV shows and that there was something odd about the ones from the USA. I wonder if that was imagined? Or are the colours really different?
2. TV series you would want on a desert island
Would I want to watch TV on a desert island? Ok so it is a very dull island and the fishing absolutely stinks? And I am not enjoying no telephone, no errands, no money to think about, no washing to do and no need for a vaccum cleaner? There are no seed pods to examine or rocks to count all the colours I can see in them. The water is not making wonderful ripples and the sun is not playing with the colours on the water either. I still roar laughing at Absolutely Fabulous? Oh no – question is too hard. Can I have a book instead maybe?
Anna just said “Lost” so she could figure out how to survive. That would do maybe. Besides I fell asleep threw so many of those episodes and I do mean to try watch it again.
3. TV that made you laugh
Woops I already answered that! But – I am easy to amuse. I loved The Young Ones also. Faulty Towers and Allo Allo. There is probably something messed up with my brain that it is so easy to amuse me.
4. TV that made you cry
My second daughter and me are born criers. We cry at the NEWS. Tears wouldn’t stop for me as I watched the Cronulla riots and the miners freed…. Lassie ! Oh my goodness… House and Greys Anatomy … I cry at the documentaries on the Discovery Home and Health documentaries all the time. The plastic surgery that corrects a deformity, babies first steps, the fat person gets skinny! The makeovers!
5. TV crap that you enjoy
Will & Grace! We love it. How embarrassing!In the privacy of our home we mimic Karen too. Sad, but true. And we think ourselves terribly funny. And we like Gilmore Girls too. Until this year – I was an absolute Big Brother fan too. In the past I have even left a full trolley of groceries because I have looked at the time and decided if I didn’t leave now I wouldn’t make it home by 7pm. Tragic – but true. (Sorry to anyone who works in a supermarket!) But this year I was cured.
6. TV you'll never forget.
9/11 coverage of the World Trade Centre. I don’t think it is meant to be news stuff. Ok. Umm… Molly from A Country Practice dying. Man that was a lot of crying! And! Anna wasn’t even alive then! Imagining how she would of cried is pretty fantastic too!
I loved I, Claudius. And Nancy Astor.
7. Favourite TV adaptation.
I loved Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. And Day of the Triffids. But I was a teenager then. And I watched them with my Dad. There wasn’t a lot a teenager and my Dad had in common – so watching the tv together was our time.
7. Favourite nerdish program
(Elsewhere said DR WHO was nerdish. Damn and buggar I am a nerd through and through then. Maybe I have the wrong definition of nerd? Doesn’t everybody love Dr Who?) I watch heaps of shows on the How To channel. I think how they make Twisties and Peanut butter at the factories is absolutely fascinating. And Lifestyle Food channel too. Tragic I guess. I just adore Two Fat ladies .. still. You know their food will kill you – but man it looks and sounds so good! Wrap the already fatty meat in more fat.. cover with pastry and baste with fat…from the fattest ducks or pigs in the world… Cook it in butter – and then add more butter. Add more wine. It is just fantastic.
8. One TV program you are currently watching
For the past week all I have done is flick threw all the bloody channels – find nothing – or of course recognize I already watched that last week and give the remote to someone else. And then remember I have stuff to do.
The Worst Jobs in History. I don’t miss that one. And I recently really enjoyed Thank God you’re here!
9. One TV show/series you have been meaning to watch
Well – I will have to get hold of Six feet Under now I guess.
10. Now tag five people:
No – you can do it if you want too. Or remind me of all the fantastic tv shows I forgot to mention.
1. Earliest remembered television?
Playschool and Sesame Street. We were the last people to get a colour TV in our neighbourhood – but the very first to get a vcr. In my mind – Jemima, Big Ted, The Cookie Monster and others were completely different colours. I imagined them - hell these guys were my idols... and then! Cookie Monster was BLUE? Sheesh an adjustment and it took me a while to get used too. I also felt I related better to the colours from the Australian and UK TV shows and that there was something odd about the ones from the USA. I wonder if that was imagined? Or are the colours really different?
2. TV series you would want on a desert island
Would I want to watch TV on a desert island? Ok so it is a very dull island and the fishing absolutely stinks? And I am not enjoying no telephone, no errands, no money to think about, no washing to do and no need for a vaccum cleaner? There are no seed pods to examine or rocks to count all the colours I can see in them. The water is not making wonderful ripples and the sun is not playing with the colours on the water either. I still roar laughing at Absolutely Fabulous? Oh no – question is too hard. Can I have a book instead maybe?
Anna just said “Lost” so she could figure out how to survive. That would do maybe. Besides I fell asleep threw so many of those episodes and I do mean to try watch it again.
3. TV that made you laugh
Woops I already answered that! But – I am easy to amuse. I loved The Young Ones also. Faulty Towers and Allo Allo. There is probably something messed up with my brain that it is so easy to amuse me.
4. TV that made you cry
My second daughter and me are born criers. We cry at the NEWS. Tears wouldn’t stop for me as I watched the Cronulla riots and the miners freed…. Lassie ! Oh my goodness… House and Greys Anatomy … I cry at the documentaries on the Discovery Home and Health documentaries all the time. The plastic surgery that corrects a deformity, babies first steps, the fat person gets skinny! The makeovers!
5. TV crap that you enjoy
Will & Grace! We love it. How embarrassing!In the privacy of our home we mimic Karen too. Sad, but true. And we think ourselves terribly funny. And we like Gilmore Girls too. Until this year – I was an absolute Big Brother fan too. In the past I have even left a full trolley of groceries because I have looked at the time and decided if I didn’t leave now I wouldn’t make it home by 7pm. Tragic – but true. (Sorry to anyone who works in a supermarket!) But this year I was cured.
6. TV you'll never forget.
9/11 coverage of the World Trade Centre. I don’t think it is meant to be news stuff. Ok. Umm… Molly from A Country Practice dying. Man that was a lot of crying! And! Anna wasn’t even alive then! Imagining how she would of cried is pretty fantastic too!
I loved I, Claudius. And Nancy Astor.
7. Favourite TV adaptation.
I loved Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. And Day of the Triffids. But I was a teenager then. And I watched them with my Dad. There wasn’t a lot a teenager and my Dad had in common – so watching the tv together was our time.
7. Favourite nerdish program
(Elsewhere said DR WHO was nerdish. Damn and buggar I am a nerd through and through then. Maybe I have the wrong definition of nerd? Doesn’t everybody love Dr Who?) I watch heaps of shows on the How To channel. I think how they make Twisties and Peanut butter at the factories is absolutely fascinating. And Lifestyle Food channel too. Tragic I guess. I just adore Two Fat ladies .. still. You know their food will kill you – but man it looks and sounds so good! Wrap the already fatty meat in more fat.. cover with pastry and baste with fat…from the fattest ducks or pigs in the world… Cook it in butter – and then add more butter. Add more wine. It is just fantastic.
8. One TV program you are currently watching
For the past week all I have done is flick threw all the bloody channels – find nothing – or of course recognize I already watched that last week and give the remote to someone else. And then remember I have stuff to do.
The Worst Jobs in History. I don’t miss that one. And I recently really enjoyed Thank God you’re here!
9. One TV show/series you have been meaning to watch
Well – I will have to get hold of Six feet Under now I guess.
10. Now tag five people:
No – you can do it if you want too. Or remind me of all the fantastic tv shows I forgot to mention.
My hunter - and my BBQ
William is becoming my little legend. Second morning in a row he has caught my brunch! A 37 cm Grunter was his catch today.
Dotti - as always - was impressed!
Placed in a washed banana leaf, marinade of coriander, basil, garlic, sweet chilli sauce and a dash of oyster sauce prepared....
Basted and baked for ten minutes...
And a perfect meal.
Still no sign of those crabs though....
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Crabbing - or the lack thereof?
Our first day on the water - we caught one blue swimmer crab. This created an anticipation of magnificent crabbing to be had! Such excitement and salivation.. I was planning my Christmas menu around them. However - in our haste to consume the unfortunate bugga... we rushed home to cook it! And yes it was delicious. Fresh crab is always best. But maybe he warned his mates or something.......
Thankfully I do have some Ingham Turkey Thigh Roasts in the freezer for backup/alternative. (Cheap, impossible to ruin and DELICIOUS)
Three days later and many hours out on the water - and not one sighting even. An undersize cod gave us a brief moment of excitement - before we realised what it was.
Christian is blaming the bait. I guess we have just been unlucky. Other fisherman seem a little coy about the amount they are catching. We did watch two lucky blokes haul in a large mud crab not 100 metres from where we fished and waited for crabs to enter our pots.
Because I whinge about the sun and the heat - under bridges is just the perfect place to fish sometimes. I took Anna's MP3 player thing yesterday - and strangely enough the "Harry Potter soundtrack" that I had curled my nose up at previously - was just lovely bobbing around on the boat waiting for the tugs. I will have to get myself one now.
Today I had to stay at home because someone has to do the washing, cleaning, pay the bills (I didn't get around to that) figure out the easiest way to figure my mothers digital camera and send it to her (yes - I am aware it will be late now no matter what), drive Jane to work etc etc (all the things that occupy my time that I never seem to get done or am always late at.)
William went instead, and proudly delivered me a 27 cm bream still swimming around in the bottom of the bucket. I am not usually fond of bream. I am also happier to be presented with fish already dead. Looking at them swimming and looking back at me has never stopped unnerving me. I hated fishing before I met Christian and I ... do have some hangups about it. I like the kindest quickest kill always and I am completely happy to "waste money" by letting a fish keep the hook if removal will hurt it. I will get pedantic and risk everyones safety insisting on climbing over the boat to find a tape measure to make sure and if I cannot identify a fish it has to go back in the water. I feel no remorse when we get home and it is proved to me it was a wonderful eating fish and perfectly legal.
However - he was so pleased to present it to me I felt obliged to eat it. I cooked the hungry hunters and girls (who spend their time on the internet, out with friends, throwing clothes on the floor and parading in front of mirrors - and giving me orders on where and when to taxi them..another story but a whingy one.. I was pleased to be able to confer with a girlfriend today that I am not alone in the "my girls treat me as a servant and show me no thanks".... buggar waffling again... back to story)
.... chicken breast fillet burgers and simply wrapped my fish in foil and threw it on the bbq. I decided to eat it with just soy sauce and wasabi... and it really was wonderful. So simple, so messy but so very wonderful. I wont knock the humble bream as much anymore.
Tomorrow we will have clocked the ten hours driving time with the boat motor so it goes in for a service.
Anna bought Christian (her stepfather) the new lights for his boat today. I had a wonderful time climbing over the very expensive boats. Of course it gnawed at me for a moment that we could have one if I simply worked full time like every other person in the world.... but my natural laziness has argued with that all afternoon. I have to think of the dogs... you know!
Jane enjoyed her first shift at work and looks forward to a birthday party on Friday. No one else I know would like to dress as a clown or fairy and host a party for kids. I know we have all done it... but to actually enjoy it?
My girlfriend M found me a wonderful long sleeved shirt to wear on the boat to avoid the sun and sand flies. Christian amused me (ways not suitable for blogs and) madly soldering and cursing the new lights.
Peasant living can be so very satisfying you know. I may get frustrated about the small stuff - the state of the floors, the sofas, the socks up the hallway and power tools on the coffee table. But all in all... we are surrounded by so many wonderful things.
But not instruction manuals. They completely "suck". Not in any fun way.
Waffling again.. best I be off...
Cheerio!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Feel good Monday story? Another bow to Ms Fits
We can always count on some people to amuse us. Ms Fits never lets me down.
Today's blog she is simply using her clever wit to demonstrate the stupidity of Australia's immigration stance/history etc ... and if that is not interesting ENOUGH... one of the comments alerts us to this absolute gem.
Do not keep scrolling. Watch our esteemed treasurer of our country. He must of got bored with simply increasing the anti muslim/fear fanatics/if you don't eat meat pies, spit and are a member of a cricket or football club. He clearly indicates he understands "Australian values" and in accordance with his understanding - if anyone doesnt they should leave. Oh I know - how boring - that was Costello's PAST antics.
And then he attempts to ridicule one of our rock icons. Regardless of whether you like Garrett's anti nuclear, definately green conservationalist and look after our workers ethics........ I found using his music (I danced to this as a teenager for heavens sake)for his own political agenda TODAY... twenty years later. (Should clear this up too - I am certainly anti nuclear, anti war, anti destroying anything unless we absolutely have too and cant see why we need tax cuts for the rich any more than we already have...and am no Liberal supporter)
I think Peter Garrett mouths the word "FAG" but others have thought he mouths the word "FUCK". I guess both work?
But of course while wandering in You Tube - this one is just classic. I JUST LOVE THIS ONE. (I know people who say stuff like this and I am not allowed to laugh as loudly).
Ok - so I never said it was hard to amuse me.
Today's blog she is simply using her clever wit to demonstrate the stupidity of Australia's immigration stance/history etc ... and if that is not interesting ENOUGH... one of the comments alerts us to this absolute gem.
Do not keep scrolling. Watch our esteemed treasurer of our country. He must of got bored with simply increasing the anti muslim/fear fanatics/if you don't eat meat pies, spit and are a member of a cricket or football club. He clearly indicates he understands "Australian values" and in accordance with his understanding - if anyone doesnt they should leave. Oh I know - how boring - that was Costello's PAST antics.
And then he attempts to ridicule one of our rock icons. Regardless of whether you like Garrett's anti nuclear, definately green conservationalist and look after our workers ethics........ I found using his music (I danced to this as a teenager for heavens sake)for his own political agenda TODAY... twenty years later. (Should clear this up too - I am certainly anti nuclear, anti war, anti destroying anything unless we absolutely have too and cant see why we need tax cuts for the rich any more than we already have...and am no Liberal supporter)
I think Peter Garrett mouths the word "FAG" but others have thought he mouths the word "FUCK". I guess both work?
But of course while wandering in You Tube - this one is just classic. I JUST LOVE THIS ONE. (I know people who say stuff like this and I am not allowed to laugh as loudly).
Ok - so I never said it was hard to amuse me.
Holidays - and the crabbing & fishing begins
Christian finally got his new boat motor. It is a Tohatsu 18HP and he is a contented man.He built me a bird feeder a month or so back - and we have had many lovely late afternoons watching the finches and sipping a wine cooler admiring the little birds. He was rather miffed with them when they pooped on the brand new motor. The motor now gets a cover every night. Similar to tucking in the children I guess.
The milk bottle in the creek is attached to a rope attached to a crab pot. According with fishing regulations the pot and float have our name and address on them. Today our bait was chicken necks - however our reward was only one male blue swimmer crab. It is illegal to take the female ones.
We will be back out at sparrowfart tomorrow morning. His holidays have begun.
The odd thing is I was whinging to my friends about these holidays. I whinged about hours on the boat, and the complete changes his holidays give to my routine. And yet - after a late start this morning (I promised to get up at 5.30 but refused to budge till 7 am)- I LOVE meandering around the estuarys in a tiny tin boat. Always something wonderful too look at.
Watching dolphins play is always a plus. My camera is three years old now - a Fujifilm A330. And it has been a terrific little camera. We really have had a wonderful run with it. But - our next purchase will be a better one. (Or really I should find the manual and learn how to do the video with it? My daughters know how to do it but I don't know how.)
The amazing trees on the eroded banks, the cactus in flower, the wallabies sleeping in the grasses, the sea eagles making their catches, the splashes of the big fish; small fish and best of all the sting rays make the hours feel like minutes.
We had said we were only going out for two or three hours. Neither of us took a watch and I forgot my cell phone so we had no way to tell the time. We stayed out over five hours.
This bank made me think of chocolate? I think if you double click on the photos they will display larger.
I want to get to bed early now! We may be financially challenged these holidays but... judging from first day - we are going to have a terrible lot of fun.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
We just bathed the dogs.
The paw prints tell a story don't you think? It wouldn't of been possible for me to grab a camera when it happened. Needless to say - Christian and I are both very wet and very tired. (Rocky is the culprit really - Dotti behaves well for a bath)
I can't show the picture of the bathtub for fear that someone will ring the RSPCA to report extra disgustingly dirty dogs.
The eucalyptus wool wash works a treat on fleas though. And already they have
Thank heavens I didn't continue the painting today. It wouldn't of survived that ruckus.
Monday, December 11, 2006
I wonder if this is why I can never have a clean house?
Christian comes home from work like this. I need an outdoor shower next. I do sometimes ask what he was doing.
Ok - so most times I dont ask. I just ask him not to sit anywhere.
Jane's first "real" job
So – after a week of trudging though the stores in search of the suitable job interview clothes (and holiday lounging type stuff) SHE SEEMED PLEASED AS PUNCH TO DON THE UNIFORM. Another complete moment of mystification for me. All the positively gorgeous tops I showed her and she was HORRIFIED at my suggestions… and yet the uniform of the takeaway food giant thrilled her and she was trying it on before I had even put my handbag and keys away.
Best I keep my comments on the actual uniform to myself. Especially the fact it requires the horrible hot triangle thingy for flattening clothes. Arghhhhhhhh.
But – all very exciting for Jane!
This morning she was dressed for her interview without any prompting from me.
I have to take my car to the mechanic to find out the financial damage of the leaky radiator cooling thingo… but I need a “slow” day wherein I am not expected to be taxi, run errands or turn up to anything I am meant to. Wednesday is looking good.
In the meantime – I have to fill the radiator with water EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR ANYWHERE.
Anna informs me she wants a lift to the mall at 12.30. I tell her – I am taking Jane to Hungry Jacks™ at almost 10 am and she can hitch a ride. That isn’t good enough – she needs to be there at 12.30. I try to reason the car is not healthy and I don’t want to do any unnecessary trips. I ask her to check the water for me now – confident she has now seen me do it so many times that she could accomplish this minor task. Result – major argument. She did open the bonnet of the car but she didn’t check the water – and had I not double checked… car would be up the road somewhere and I would of spent the morning waiting for road service.
I made Anna come with me figuring she could at least keep me company as I tried to wait in the car. Anna and I sat in the car for.. oh five minutes maybe. I couldn’t help myself and said “We will just go in and share a burger and pretend we are just customers.” Anna responded with “I love you.. you are so hopeless.”
I think she meant that as a compliment.
So – trying not to peer and only making one gesture for Jane to sit up straight… Jane mouths to me… “I got it!” and the woman interviewing her returns to the bench seat with Jane’s uniform. Anna purchased the burger as I positioned myself as close as I could to listen. I doubt if anyone is ever going to employ me to go undercover anytime soon.
So – tonight she attended a staff training session on birthday parties and she starts her first shift next Tuesday. She has a booklet to read (I have already read it and told her most of it) the uniform to iron, the hat to wear and she is musing already on how she plans to spend her wages.
I had worried the fact she attends boarding school would be to her detriment in finding a job. But the manager told her that if she calls and lets them know when she comes home for weekends they would try include her in shifts.
Another daughter earning her own money, and another battering of adult life. She too has to learn how long an hour can take, what it pays for and the joy of being able to spend it exactly as she wants… NOW – because in years to come she will have to pay for her own living expenses.
I hope she buys cool stuff I can borrow too like Anna does. Payback for 14+ years of breaking, experimenting with, spilling, borrowing without asking etc etc may be a bitch. But I love it.
But – in running the girls where they needed to be in my broken car today, I amassed another 140 kms on the odometer. I accomplished about half of the things on my “to do” list. I stretched dinner for four into dinner for six. I argued with four people I love. It was necessary to have THREE heart to heart talks with my daughters.
Sara rang – she only ever rings when she is miserable…and I get the feeling she didn’t tell me all of it. She feels the pressure of her two casual jobs, her family commitments (son, aunts, recent deaths, her cousins, visiting expectations, lack of money) too overwhelming and just needed to vent a little. She is doing great really. If she stopped for a minute and thought about all the responsibilities that have been thrust on her...(or chosen whateva) it is bloody hard and why people can't just always be nice, and why no one can wipe their feet, change a loo paper roll, give thanks or credit when they are due ... and the ability of the odd person to accept our tantrums.
I interacted with a total of eight teens or pre teens. Some of this was pleasant some of it was decidedly not pleasant. I was very very pleased with William’s end of year school report. I didn’t even bother complain when William and his mates decided to play ball out the back at the risk of my new garden beds. I haven’t prepared anything for the luncheon tomorrow; my painting the trims is still no where near finished; decorating Anna’s room is at a standstill; my promise to socialize Dotti the wonderdog has not happened; the dogs haven’t even had a bath in the last week!; in short since finishing work on Friday – I have achieved buggar all.
I think if I hear one more person in my house say "But it is holidays!" I may snap. Throw another watermelon. That was a good one... shocked the buggars for weeks.
Tomorrow I must sit and feed the ducks.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Catching up - the slack blogger
School holidays started last week for both my younger girls. Jane caught the train home on Sunday after a brief stay with her Dad... and she wants a job for the holidays. The financial independence her older sister has is very inticing... and hasnt been possible so far for Jane because she is at boarding school.
I worked last week (well - four hours a day) and now my work is pretty much finished until the 8th January or thereafter. After work I taxied Jane around to put in her applications, Resume and of course the cover letters at McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, IGA etc etc. If I have whinged about writing Resume's before for beloved friends over aged 30 - writing them for 14 and a bit year olds is even more difficult.
Jane arrived with a dismal wardrobe and it was necessary to find her clothes suitable for a job interview. I wanted plain black slacks and a nice top. The black slacks because many of the aforementioned employers do require black slacks ANYWAY... and her and my idea of what constitutes a nice top took many dismal (well for me) hours and shops..... The shops are complete mayhem with all the bloody holiday shoppers and I find shopping a miserable task even if I do have money to waste. Finally Jane and I found something we both liked. Her first interview is tomorrow at 10 am - and I will (of course) take pictures and go along and try very hard to just sit in the car and not peer threw the windows making gestures for her to sit up straight and smile.
Crap! I should of asked a friend to take her I guess.
Shopping with Jane was such a miserable task that I often came home not feeling like talking or even cooking. It has been a week. I get a bit cranky too because I get home from work to find Jane still in her pjs and the house a little messy. Anna and Jane "perform" for me... they fight constantly - and sometimes I find the drama just too exhausting.
It is me.. I am getting pedantic about things that dont really matter. I guess I just have worries of my own (holiday season, Christian about to have THREE WHOLE WEEKS AT HOME UNDER MY FEET IN MY WAY, we are going to run out of money quickly and that will make him more bored, my car is overheating and I think I have cooked the radiator - or something - doesnt matter... it will cost money!Tom (the kids sperm donor) and his family have actually COMPLAINED that I said.. you are all welcome to have Christmas lunch here with us but this year I am not driving up and doing all the cooking at Tom's house.... so my tongues rather sore from holding onto it.... (Three fooking years driving up to cook at a bachelors house who couldnt even remember to buy serviettes or matching fooking plates.... and he WHINGES constantly about my dogs being in his yard?)
Anna's hours have increased with school holidays so it is necessary for me to be on standby for lunches and uniforms ready etc. She can walk home during her breaks and its cheaper and healthier if I feed her. It took her a while but she has learnt that spending $10 a day on takeaway isn't as good as having Mum provide free hot food on demand. (All those years they accused me of cruelty because I couldnt afford didn't provide them with takeaway food. 'Cause all their friends Mum's provided takeaway food... EXCEPT ME!)
Wow - I make it sound as it has been a completely awful week.
It hasn't really. I have drafted a few art options for Anna's room. I have begun the painting of the white gloss trim around our postage stamp house. I roared laughing at the girls and their dismissal of all the wonderful ornaments for Christmas they once made and presented me so proudly. And I went with their wishes and we will buy brand new ones tomorrow. (Excepting one William made me that met approval after his complaints and my interference that it did actually fit with the chosen colour scheme)
It has been lovely to have Jane home and to talk to her. (The shopping events were however extremely miserable for me) Anna and her closest friends have been wonderful with their two hours dressing for one hour at the mall...M & L have lovely manners and are always a pleasure.
My girlfriend M has made careless comments about the girls and my wieght that has led to ... tension soothing... and my girls are so delightfully FUNNY when they are being bitches. There are moments when I am really not a good example in life. I am telling myself.. "Stop laughing, make the girls stop being nasty...." but for the life of me I cant. Then I have to pull faces at them to make sure they dont say anything horrid in front of......... oh... too hard sometimes. I completely see the girls point.. but I dont want them to be as mean?
Next Saturday is the purchase of the new boat motor - so Christian has been COMPLETELY USELESS (other than a few ways not suitable for here) because he has sanded back the boat trailers and one of the boats... and ... done stuff to them. I kinda listened and was present at some of the purchases at the hardware shop. Most of the time I was looking at other far more worthy stuff... and wishing men didn't have to do this stuff. He CHOSE to .. sand/grind make dreadful noises with hand held machines NEXT TO MY NEW GARDEN... so I caused a bit of an uproar when I turned on the sprinklers.
It rained every single night this week... and I got yelled at for watering the bloody plants. Sigh. Tonight he watered the plants himself and came inside to tell me he had done that. I wonder if men ever get it? They just don't do they?
I read plenty of blogs when I could. And M gave me a wonderful stack of old magazines. Years ago - I had a business wherein I could claim magazines as a tax deduction for decorating. At the end of the financial year I found I had spent almost $4k on the darn things. I love to read and look at pretty pictures. A couple of them (the blogs not the pretty pictures) really moved me.
The new BBQ! I used a 8.5 kilo gas tank in one week! Hahaa.... I really doubt this was the sensible money saver I thought it was going to be. But in August I purchased a new fridge and freezer assuming I would save money. And the next bill confirmed I hadnt. BUT - I cook a terrible lot. And my power bill is usually around $500 a quarter. So MAYBE... the power bill will be less. Like.. $30 a week less?
Ok - nope that probably isnt going to happen. More bills and most likely I will have to find full time work next year. Which causes a headache for kids sports, lifts, kid's afternoon tea (mine prefer hot fresh food) Anna's work, dog time (they hate being alone .. or I hate them being alone.. something like that), cleaning (which I am never going to get an award for) art time, lunch time, coffee with friends and strangers and crappy wine and nibblie nights. When I work full time I have to buy crap for wine and nibblie nights. They are more fun if I can spend a few hours or days preparing the food.
We have no debts at all. Whilst renting - not even a mortgage... and that feels so odd to me. The insurance, utilities etc all come in under $300 a month. And yet occasionally I feel so anxious about it? I dont have a bank ringing me all the time torturing me about the mortgage - I dont have three vehicles and a truck to remember the registration for and I am not finding nomination money every week........ And it was so long ago that I did have that? (If I am feeling sorry for Tom for heavens sake shoot me) I am not fretting about fodder and where to buy it from... (Wait a minute we have two cars and two boats and trailers and one trailer instead.... just not as expensive.. I still have to remember to pay the damn things)
Yet I still panic about money. I do nothing to earn more. I shun jobs that people tell me about. I am happy where I am. I hate too much change. The new boat motor will do Christian good. I kinda like boating too. Sometimes. Just not when it is hot and definately not when it is dangerous. Heaven knows he deserves SOMETHING for having to feed and support us for all my little kids lives.
There are reasons why I dont post huh? The dogs and the kids amused me as always. This week I should get some time back. But I plan to sleep in till almost 9 am every morning.
Anna is going to the Robbie William's concert this week. Go figure. William went to his first ever all night huge party. Jane is just dealing with me and my crankiness.
I worked last week (well - four hours a day) and now my work is pretty much finished until the 8th January or thereafter. After work I taxied Jane around to put in her applications, Resume and of course the cover letters at McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, IGA etc etc. If I have whinged about writing Resume's before for beloved friends over aged 30 - writing them for 14 and a bit year olds is even more difficult.
Jane arrived with a dismal wardrobe and it was necessary to find her clothes suitable for a job interview. I wanted plain black slacks and a nice top. The black slacks because many of the aforementioned employers do require black slacks ANYWAY... and her and my idea of what constitutes a nice top took many dismal (well for me) hours and shops..... The shops are complete mayhem with all the bloody holiday shoppers and I find shopping a miserable task even if I do have money to waste. Finally Jane and I found something we both liked. Her first interview is tomorrow at 10 am - and I will (of course) take pictures and go along and try very hard to just sit in the car and not peer threw the windows making gestures for her to sit up straight and smile.
Crap! I should of asked a friend to take her I guess.
Shopping with Jane was such a miserable task that I often came home not feeling like talking or even cooking. It has been a week. I get a bit cranky too because I get home from work to find Jane still in her pjs and the house a little messy. Anna and Jane "perform" for me... they fight constantly - and sometimes I find the drama just too exhausting.
It is me.. I am getting pedantic about things that dont really matter. I guess I just have worries of my own (holiday season, Christian about to have THREE WHOLE WEEKS AT HOME UNDER MY FEET IN MY WAY, we are going to run out of money quickly and that will make him more bored, my car is overheating and I think I have cooked the radiator - or something - doesnt matter... it will cost money!Tom (the kids sperm donor) and his family have actually COMPLAINED that I said.. you are all welcome to have Christmas lunch here with us but this year I am not driving up and doing all the cooking at Tom's house.... so my tongues rather sore from holding onto it.... (Three fooking years driving up to cook at a bachelors house who couldnt even remember to buy serviettes or matching fooking plates.... and he WHINGES constantly about my dogs being in his yard?)
Anna's hours have increased with school holidays so it is necessary for me to be on standby for lunches and uniforms ready etc. She can walk home during her breaks and its cheaper and healthier if I feed her. It took her a while but she has learnt that spending $10 a day on takeaway isn't as good as having Mum provide free hot food on demand. (All those years they accused me of cruelty because I
Wow - I make it sound as it has been a completely awful week.
It hasn't really. I have drafted a few art options for Anna's room. I have begun the painting of the white gloss trim around our postage stamp house. I roared laughing at the girls and their dismissal of all the wonderful ornaments for Christmas they once made and presented me so proudly. And I went with their wishes and we will buy brand new ones tomorrow. (Excepting one William made me that met approval after his complaints and my interference that it did actually fit with the chosen colour scheme)
It has been lovely to have Jane home and to talk to her. (The shopping events were however extremely miserable for me) Anna and her closest friends have been wonderful with their two hours dressing for one hour at the mall...M & L have lovely manners and are always a pleasure.
My girlfriend M has made careless comments about the girls and my wieght that has led to ... tension soothing... and my girls are so delightfully FUNNY when they are being bitches. There are moments when I am really not a good example in life. I am telling myself.. "Stop laughing, make the girls stop being nasty...." but for the life of me I cant. Then I have to pull faces at them to make sure they dont say anything horrid in front of......... oh... too hard sometimes. I completely see the girls point.. but I dont want them to be as mean?
Next Saturday is the purchase of the new boat motor - so Christian has been COMPLETELY USELESS (other than a few ways not suitable for here) because he has sanded back the boat trailers and one of the boats... and ... done stuff to them. I kinda listened and was present at some of the purchases at the hardware shop. Most of the time I was looking at other far more worthy stuff... and wishing men didn't have to do this stuff. He CHOSE to .. sand/grind make dreadful noises with hand held machines NEXT TO MY NEW GARDEN... so I caused a bit of an uproar when I turned on the sprinklers.
It rained every single night this week... and I got yelled at for watering the bloody plants. Sigh. Tonight he watered the plants himself and came inside to tell me he had done that. I wonder if men ever get it? They just don't do they?
I read plenty of blogs when I could. And M gave me a wonderful stack of old magazines. Years ago - I had a business wherein I could claim magazines as a tax deduction for decorating. At the end of the financial year I found I had spent almost $4k on the darn things. I love to read and look at pretty pictures. A couple of them (the blogs not the pretty pictures) really moved me.
The new BBQ! I used a 8.5 kilo gas tank in one week! Hahaa.... I really doubt this was the sensible money saver I thought it was going to be. But in August I purchased a new fridge and freezer assuming I would save money. And the next bill confirmed I hadnt. BUT - I cook a terrible lot. And my power bill is usually around $500 a quarter. So MAYBE... the power bill will be less. Like.. $30 a week less?
Ok - nope that probably isnt going to happen. More bills and most likely I will have to find full time work next year. Which causes a headache for kids sports, lifts, kid's afternoon tea (mine prefer hot fresh food) Anna's work, dog time (they hate being alone .. or I hate them being alone.. something like that), cleaning (which I am never going to get an award for) art time, lunch time, coffee with friends and strangers and crappy wine and nibblie nights. When I work full time I have to buy crap for wine and nibblie nights. They are more fun if I can spend a few hours or days preparing the food.
We have no debts at all. Whilst renting - not even a mortgage... and that feels so odd to me. The insurance, utilities etc all come in under $300 a month. And yet occasionally I feel so anxious about it? I dont have a bank ringing me all the time torturing me about the mortgage - I dont have three vehicles and a truck to remember the registration for and I am not finding nomination money every week........ And it was so long ago that I did have that? (If I am feeling sorry for Tom for heavens sake shoot me) I am not fretting about fodder and where to buy it from... (Wait a minute we have two cars and two boats and trailers and one trailer instead.... just not as expensive.. I still have to remember to pay the damn things)
Yet I still panic about money. I do nothing to earn more. I shun jobs that people tell me about. I am happy where I am. I hate too much change. The new boat motor will do Christian good. I kinda like boating too. Sometimes. Just not when it is hot and definately not when it is dangerous. Heaven knows he deserves SOMETHING for having to feed and support us for all my little kids lives.
There are reasons why I dont post huh? The dogs and the kids amused me as always. This week I should get some time back. But I plan to sleep in till almost 9 am every morning.
Anna is going to the Robbie William's concert this week. Go figure. William went to his first ever all night huge party. Jane is just dealing with me and my crankiness.
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