Sunday bread

 

So I baked a loaf of bread. 

Three and his lot popped in to show off Alice's new crawling skillz. 

I offered them the loaf of bread.

Amy couldn't wait until they got home!

I have another loaf proving. 

Last night Himself was shutting the house up and I had forgotten to close the doors to the craft room. Methinks a cat had knocked the shuttle off the loom.

But it was definitely a dog that chewed it into matchsticks. I didn't take photos - I was too sleepy and pissed off.

These are shuttles 

you wind the yarn around them to weave the fabric. I have one less of this size now!

A productive day

After a very chilly night we had a glorious sunny day. Himself weeded the rose garden, laid down geotex and some of the left over chip bark from the back garden bed. We need about another half a cubic metre to finish it. 

I finally finished the scarf. It took me longer to do the hand finishing than it did to weave the bloody thing! I then warped a scarf for Sally. Being kid sized it won't take me long to make. She asked me and who am I to refuse her?

Last night I frogged the jumper I started for Himself. I got caught up with the german short rows which are a bugger and almost impossible to unpick. I really shouldn't try and knit in front of the telly if I need to concentrate but for some reason if I knit during the day I feel guilty. Weaving, fine. Crochet even, fine. I am a bit of an eejit.

Alice is finally crawling but I don't think it will be long before she's walking. 

Because Himself worked so hard today (in the rose garden which he hates but does it for me) he has decided we will have takeaway pizza for dinner. This black duck ain't complaining!

Andrew reminded me of Fast Forward in his post today. They were some of the funniest Australian comedians and probably wouldn't past PC muster today. This send up of the series Kung Fu is one of my favourites. 

Friday

Where do the weeks go? It will be August next week. One more month of winter. 

Another month gone where I have achieved none of my goals - walk more, eat less, worry less, relax more.

Himself went to the Shed for their last Friday of the month sausage sizzle. He didn't partake of the greasy offerings but by crikey he certainly brought the smell home with him and it's now in my car. They had a guest speaker who happened to be a solicitor talking about powers of attorney - very timely. The inlaws' useless solicitor can't even provide a statement of the sale of shares which we need to see if capital gains tax applies. We need to know when the shares were originally purchased. When my parents shuffled off our solicitor had all that information and the tax liability available as part of the settling of the estate.

Sally has her first dance exam shortly which has meant extra lessons after school. Yup, grandparents to the rescue. I had to sign her out of class half an hour early to make it in time (actually 15 minutes would have been plenty). I rocked up to the office and said I was hear to sign Sally Surname out as per her mother's request. Long pause. And who are YOU? her grandmother I almost whispered, quivering in my boots. Nothing changes with schools, does it?

While she was having her lesson we ducked into Aldi and I bought some really good educational books that were only $5 each. She read the one about animals all the way home. Out loud. That plan didn't work.

Dinner is the other half of the quiche from the the other night. Last night's salmon was great. The key lime pie was too sweet. I need to make my own stuff as I find the purchased stuff just tastes of ... sweet.

Today I baked another loaf of bread (Himself has already eaten half of it) and a batch of biscuits. Vanilla with a hint of nutmeg this time. Very nice, if I say so myself. And not too sweet!

I didn't go to craft and I am yet to hear if anything went down. I hope for everyone's sake R has calmed her farm.

It has been another cold, damp day.

Himself went to his parents' solicitor to collect a couple of cheques. I met the solicitor when he went to their house to arrange Powers of Attorney. He looked like he should be in a Dickens' novel. And the way he has handled the estate only confirms this. In hindsight we should have got our solicitor to handle the estate as she was very thorough and efficient with my parents' estates. His tardiness cost money as the share market has plummeted. He wanted to charge an extra $3k for work he did but Himself objected. Considering Himself did most of the work getting all the share information, banking information and the like they are very cheeky saying they did extra work.

Sally is here colouring in her beloved Harry Potter pictures. Thank heavens for the internet and home printers!

Craft group is on tomorrow. I have been asked if I am going but have not committed either way. I am 90% sure I won't go as I really don't want to be there if things get crazy. I am not sure if my presence would calm or exacerbate the situation if R goes off.

Dinner will be last night's menu. Which reminds me, I'd better take Mr Aldi's pie out of the freezer. I baked another couple of loaves today. I have found a smaller loaf is easier to cut so I made one for us and little wee one for Sally to take home.

Tomorrow will probably require some biscuits to be baked. 

So far the dogs have stayed off the black mulch and it's looking like it's fading which suggests the excess dye is leaching out. Goodo.

And now for something completely different

I might have mentioned briefly in passing that Himself has had the occasional issue with the dogs and mud in the back garden.

Apart from the ongoing grass issue we have a large garden bed in the middle which was covered in creeper when we moved in. I ripped out the creeper and planted a variety of bird and butterfly attracting plants, some of which flourished and most didn't. This is the bed that has the flowering gum which the honey eaters love.

Anyway, for a variety of reasons. Well, two. German Shepherd shaped. This bed became a muddy mess with puddles in it. Yesterday after cracking a doozy of a hissy fit the night before, Himself cleared it of all bar the 3 plants that weren't weeds (the gum, a grevillea which may or may not survive being moved and a Kaffir Lime - we are nothing if not eclectic). He then laid some fancy schmansy material that we got from the bloke that asphalted the driveway as weed mat and covered it with black chip mulch. It looks amazing. The downside? The chip mulch is dyed black. When it gets wet the dye leaches out. Potentially onto large german shepherd sized paws. Which will come into the house onto the carpet. Did I say dye? As in permanent? We are hoping that some showers and sunshine will remove any excess and fix what remains. 

Happy days!

This afternoon I will collect Scallywag and we will go to the new Coles opened near her school and I will see if I can source some salmon for dinner. Himself will take the kid to dance practice and then home and won't be back til close to 7 so I will have dinner ready for him. For some reason I associate fish with summer (unless it's fish and chips) but Himself loves fish so I will be a good wife and surprise him. I will bake it on a bed of onion, zucchini, capsicum, tomatoes and spuds and will sprinkle it with fresh basil. I have a frozen key lime pie which I will defrost for dessert. After reading Ms Moon's recent post about Key Lime pie I would love to have a go at making my own but for now Aldi's recipe will have to do. It might actually have been that post that planted the seed in my subconscious about having fish, too. Funny how these things work.

Today will be the first day I use the new booster seat we bought at the weekend. I really hope it's idiot proof. I'll take the book of words with me just in case. Himself has installed it so it's secure in my car - I just have to make sure I do the same thing with the kid.

I am starting ever so slowly to feel a bit more human. I still have some lingering issues from the Covid and other bugs but fingers crossed I am on the mend. Finally. No news regarding my ultrasound so that could be another good thing.

Later...

A change of dinner plans. We went to the new supermarket and it was BIG. And very swish and I couldn't find anything and the dogs had been left at home and and and. I found a zucchini but couldn't find the capsicums or the fish but I did find the quiches and the brussels sprouts so that is what we're having for dinner. I went to find the pet mince which I thought would be with the dog lolly dispensers like it is at my Coles but no. What was opposite the dog lolly dispenser was Harry Potter stuff. So someone was very spoilt and came home with Harry Potter stuff that I know her parents can't afford.

The key lime pie will wait until we have fish which may or may not be tomorrow. Enough pastry in one meal!

Mummy must have forgotten it was dance tonight as Sally's hair wasn't in a bun. Granny had 3 boys and couldn't create a bun if her life depended on it. Sally was told to tell the dance teacher that Granny is very sorry her hair is messy but, you know, boys. Although if I had boys now rather than in the '80s I am sure I would be a mean hand at a bun.

Grumpy is off doing the dance run and return home and Granny is sitting down with a glass of red. 

Granny is very glad grandchildren can be handed back and cannot understand women over the age of 50 wanting children of their own.

Paranoia

 I caught up with J today. She knows the person I saw yesterday and I trust her opinion and her confidentiality.

We came to the conclusion that this person (R) is suffering from some sort of paranoia. She believes her delusions and that is what makes her so believable - until she isn't.

She thinks there are people following her everywhere. There are people who spend all day in various places just waiting for her like the carpark at the walking track. She sees these people every time she goes there so they must be stalking her. There is a bloke who has coffee at a local cafe at the same time every day. He's waiting for her. Her anger, fear and frustration are palpable and downright scary. 

She has targeted one of the women in our craft group as a spy for the neighbour she is convinced is behind all this and is going to call her on it one day soon. I am at a loss. I feel I should tell someone but whom do I tell? If I tell the women in the group they will either laugh at her or call her out and I will be in the shit because I told them. I do not want R targeting me. She was adamant that I was somewhere she was when I wasn't and wouldn't believe me until I insisted it wasn't possible and then it became someone else from the group. 

I have decided to take a biiiiiiig step back from the craft group which I was planning to do anyway as it has become very small and cliquey. If the manure hits the fan I may not even hear about it and that could only be a good thing. I just cannot have anything more to do with R and kick myself for being so friendly towards her. I felt bad because others were cruel so I offered the hand of friendship and by crikey I wish I hadn't. I am a sucker for the underdog. 

I feel so sorry for R as it must be horrible to live with the constant feeling you are being stalked, watched and followed. 

I can only hope that those who know her and care for her (and I fear there are few of them) can intervene and get her the help she needs.

I don't believe she is a threat to herself or others, just to clarify. If I did I would have to think of something. Her threats are of a legal nature and I doubt anyone would take her seriously.

Dinner tonight is homemade tomato soup with Ikea meat balls and homemade bread rolls. I need focus on something other than the craziness that is R.

Wow.

I had my abdominal ultrasound this morning. It was an interesting experience. I got to see my innards in glorious black and white fuzziness! My GP will get the results tomorrow so if I haven't had a call by the end of the week I shall assume I passed.

I caught up with the woman from the craft group. That was a very strange experience.

She is convinced her neighbour is stalking her and recruiting people to stalk her on his behalf. Including a member of the craft group. She was convincing until she wasn't. It was actually quite scary and I have grave fears for her mental state. 

We took the dogs to the dog park just before the rains came and it has been a damp day since.

I had hoped to post a funny anecdote about today but I am too concerned and upset so I will bid you goodnight while I try to work out what to do - if, indeed, I can do anything.

Doesn't this describe certain inequities perfectly?

Sunday - not a day rest for this bunny.

I have made headway in the clean up although at the moment it just looks as if I have moved shit around.

Another few days of this and I should have things more or less under control. Then I need to convince Himself to get rid of the white timber venetians and work out what to put in their place. I had hoped to get away with nothing but people walk past and look in and I feel like I'm living in a fish bowl. Tinting would work but that stops the glorious heat of the winter sun so a firm no.

Last night we were woken at about 2.45 as Murphy had an upset tummy and needed to go out (and in and out and in and out) but wouldn't go with Himself cos he had yelled at them in the morning. We then ended up with two dogs and the cat on our bed. Himself finally fell asleep and purred. At least that's what I tried to tell myself it was. Then he went through periods of apnoea which was even worse.

We caught up with One and his family for their various birthdays and it was very pleasant. Himself and Three went to a car show in the morning. They are on different ends of the political spectrum and both very opinionated. I'm glad I wasn't in the car but did get a blow by blow from Three when he got home. Neither of them can understand that I really don't. give. a. shit. about American politics.

Homemade pizza for dinner. I really hope I can get it right this time.

Ultrasound in the morning and then a mysterious coffee with an acquaintance from craft who wants to talk to me about something but won't say what. I think she's a bit of a nutter (she's the one that others have been quite cruel about/towards) so heaven knows what's on her mind. 

I shall let you know tomorrow!

 

The doghouse is getting a bit crowded

Himself decided to spend a lot of time and money grassing the backyard to repair the grass the dogs had obliterated and the dogs are now repeating the process with the new grass and won't accept that a bright orange safety fence means keep out.

I know I have mentioned this before but every time it happens you'd think it was the first time and someone gets really angry and the dogs try to hide behind me which makes getting dressed difficult.

I have a camera. I have had it since 2013 when Two was working for Michael's Cameras and was about to leave to go overseas. It's nothing fancy - a Canon 600D and I haven't used it for years. The bloody animals must have heard me thinking that I really should start using it again because this morning when I got up it, and my two extra lenses, were lying in the middle of the floor. The case everything was in had been dragged off the shelf (granted a bottom shelf but it has been there forever) and given a bit of a chew. One lens has some minor tooth marks and the screen had been licked. I need a new battery and stuff so I can't really check to see if it's OK but I'm guessing hoping it will be. I'm thinking the cat (only one would do this - Max, I'm looking at you) dragged the strap and the dogs did the rest. There was a very chewed piece of black plastic and I was frantically trying to work out its origin when Himself told me it was a comb. The very comb that I used yesterday to comb a reluctant and mightily pissed off Max. "Here dogs, have this as well".

That didn't help the atmosphere in the house this morning.

It was One, Ebs and Lily's birthdays in the past two weeks. We went to L'arte this morning so I could buy presents for the adults. A delicious scented candle and some bath salts - candle for him and bath salts for her or whatever. I'll chuck a bottle of red wine in as well. I was chatting to the owner/florist about craft things and Covid and tiredness and stuff and she gave me a jar of bath salts as a gift for me. And she gave me a very decent staff discount on the stuff I bought. She is a lovely, lovely person. 

We then went to K-Mart at Cranbourne to buy Lily a present. I cannot believe that people actually eat in the food court there. There are other options that don't have food sitting in a bain marie for hours on end. Ew.

I called Ebs to find out if Lily had a particular Barbie and they were at Lily's birthday party at a play centre. I am damn sure that all the kids on her side of the family will have been there but Sally didn't get invited. Lily will be invited to Sally's party in October. Once again I am reminded of the hierarchy of family politics and how low this side sits.

We trotted back to the car with Gymnast Barbie only to remember that the main reason we wanted to go to K-Mart was to buy a booster seat for my car as Sally has well outgrown the one we bought when she was born (suits birth to 4 years - she's about to turn 6). Bad grandparents!  Back we went through the food court, past all the people 3 deep at the food counters, trying not to trip over meandering idiots who don't know how to walk in a straight line and purchased a booster seat. 

I do not like shopping centres and I particularly loathe Cranbourne. But it's close, parking is free and it has K-Mart. 

Tomorrow I plan to stay home and work out how to animal proof my life craft room.

Hooray - I hope.

I signed out of blogger and signed back in and so far so good.

I went to pick Sally up from school yesterday. Remember the 100 days of prep? Well, it's next week. Sally was the only kid dressed like an old lady. Her teacher was amazing and said she could show everyone what they should wear next week. Sally thought it was quite funny and said no-one teased her. Amy was a gibbering mess. Poor thing. She can't take a trick at the moment.

I saw my GP today. Blood pressure meds increased. Back on reflux meds. Ultrasound of the liver/gall bladder. Ease off the wine. Lose weight. Referral to another psychologist. I declined her offer to increase my anti-depressants. I don't like how they make me feel as it is. The ongoing cough and weariness is the effect of Covid and will take up to 3 months to pass. Happy days.

Himself had a lunch with The Shed yesterday at the local RSL. He sat next to one of the bloke's partners and had a lovely conversation with a like minded soul. I was invited but feel that these things are sometimes best without partners. Today he has gone to have coffee with an ex work colleague. I like it when he sees this chap as it makes him realise his lot isn't that bad after all.

I read that the Medicare form that one uses to register the birth of a child no longer asks for mother's name. It's Birthing Parent. Methinks things have gone a bit crazy out there.

I watched a mini series (I think they call them limited series now) on Netflix called Alias Grace. It was quite well done and I just love the Canadian accents. The main character is Irish but it is set in early Canadian times. A bit of a whodunnit with a twist and an insight to how hard things were back then.

Himself has gone to get Sally from school. We will have fish and chips tonight and tomorrow I will see if I can find where the straight and narrow is hiding and get back on it. 

Biscuits

I cannot post on my pc. Doing an entry on my phone ain't going to work.

Send help.

And wine.

And chocolate. 

If you don't get the biscuits reference you need to watch Bluey.

Hopefully normal service will resume shortly.

An unexpected road trip

Well, not quite.

I picked Scallywag up from school (Himself now has something on Wednesday afternoons at the Shed so I will need to remember this) and brought her back home. The school had PJ day and it was most strange seeing kids and teachers in their jammies, dressing gowns and slippers. Tomorrow is 100 days of prep (the first year of school in Victoria) and the littlies have to dress how they think they will look when they're 100. I told Amy to keep Sally home and say she was dead!

The powers that be are continuing with the major road upgrades which meant more detours which puts our little backroads under huge stress. The roads near Amy's work are also in chaos for similar reasons. We decided I would take Sally to daycare and meet Amy there when she picked Alice up. On the way I was delayed in traffic and Sally fell asleep so I offered to take her home.

It's winter

It was getting dark.

I got lost!

I took the long way to their place as I thought there was a turn off where there wasn't. Dropped the kidlet off and decided to go home the back way to avoid traffic.

When will I learn?

Tootling down the road I thought I was on (watching a magnificent sunset - it will be cold cold cold tonight) and came upon a roundabout that was larger than I thought it should be. I turned in the right direction and tried to work out where the hell I was. Satnav map (which I wasn't looking at cos I knew where I was going) showed me the road I thought I was on was coming up on my right so I tootled down there and eventually got the roundabout that took me home. Through traffic! Suburban traffic that shouldn't be on a country road in the dark (with a magnificent sunset) when I am lost. 

When I got home I looked up trusty google maps and realised I was way off the mark both going there and coming home. 

I had popped a bottle of pinot grigio in the freezer when I left for my 30 minute round trip. 

I am currently enjoying an icy glass of white wine that I feel I have earned!

Sunshine

Today was a glorious winter's day. The sort that Melbourne does so well. Bitterly cold this morning. It was only 4*C when we walked the dogs at 10. But clear blue sky and sunshine which was very pleasant as there was no wind.

Himself went to the Shed. He is going a fair bit lately and this pleases me.

Amy came around after the sleep consultant had been. She is working on getting Alice to sleep properly. She has also been approved for 30 hours of counselling which is bloody brilliant. Sally has her first parent/teacher interview this evening and Amy was on the phone to Three working out what to do for dinner. I offered to walk with her around to the Langwarrin General Store (fancy grocer) and bought a couple of their ready made meals for them and some add boiling water wonton soup thing for Three to take to work. I bought them a new rice cooker from Amazon which arrived yesterday so she took that home with her as well. 

My anxiety has started up again. I didn't realise that it had abated somewhat when I was sick. Maybe I felt too crook to care! I had a blood test yesterday and see the doctor on Friday. Having worked in oncology I am not a good patient and tend to imagine the worst case scenarios of everything and then bury my head in the sand. This may catch up with me one day.

Keeping with my intention to think positive or see the lighter side of life every day I present to you the following fluff found on facebook. You have probably seem them but they made me giggle (almost as much as reading Andrew's old blog posts).

The dog is fine ... can't say the same about the owner

This is a Halti. It is used to control a dog when walking. There are variants on the theme.

See the happy smiling doggy face. That could lick you and even bite you if the mood took the dog.

These are muzzles. The dog cannot bite or lick you. Even if they wanted to.

My dogs have Haltis. One of them is even pink.

Please stop asking ...

a) if my dogs are dangerous 

b) why are they muzzled 

c) can I pat them

The answers are and always will be ...

a) no 

b) they're not 

c) thank you for asking and yes you may.

Actually please don't stop asking the last question. It's the random kids people who assume they can pat the dogs without asking that do my head in. The kids ask.

Diet

 

Andrew has started posting his daily food intake (diet but not that kind of diet). It always makes me think about what goes in my gob when I read/hear about what others eat. I have been a cereal serial dieter all my life. You name it and I have probably tried it. I have drawn the line at drugs and surgery. I admire those that have gone down the surgical route as it's not a cop out or easy fix. It's bloody hard. But it's not for me. Yet.

As I get older I think, stuff it. Life is too short to abide by society's ideals. Health is another matter, though, and I really should lose weight for my health. I have some symptoms that are a bit scary.

Maybe tomorrow.

Speaking of Andrew, his is the next blog where I have gone back to the beginning. I am really enjoying it. I am only up to Feb 2005 but he has made me laugh out loud, gasp in shock and might have made me shed a tear. I am in for the long haul and heartily recommend all to go and have a look. Apart from anything it's fascinating to see how things have changed over the past 18+ years.

Yesterday I made cheese scones using the lemonade recipe but substituted soda water and threw in a handful of cheese. They were light, fluffy and delicious. Must be eaten warm with lashings of butter.

Maybe the diet will start next month!

I see my doctor on Friday to discuss stuff. I am not completely irresponsible. Just a bit.

Saturday musings

 

I mentioned before that I have been slowly making my way through back posts of blogs I have recently(ish) discovered. I pinched this from Pixie. It is so true. And when you get home after being high functioning you fall in a heap. But no-one other than those close to you know.

I have always been vocal about depression and post natal depression as I have experienced first hand how insidious a disease they both are. The problem is that many people don't want to hear and you have to be careful not to come across as negative. Amy (who has PND) was accused of "bring the vibe of the team down". She works in customer service at a panel beater for fuck's sake. She does her best. 

Pixie and I share so much. We were both born of mothers who would have grown up in the same area of England at the same time and are the products of these mothers. We both have lived our lives feeling that we don't fit in. We have both worked (she still does) with cancer patients. Reading her blog was like reading so much of my life. Obviously we have many, many differences but this is why I love blogs and blogging so much. Even when I wasn't blogging I was always reading. 

Himself and I went for a walk. He walks the dogs most days but I have piked until today. I did well until the choice of a hill or flat near home. I took flat! I really am starting to appreciate my good health (now that it's not here) and am getting some understanding of how those with chronic respiratory conditions struggle to just function. 

Three and his lot dropped in today. He thanked me for being so supportive of Amy. He didn't need to. I like her. If I didn't I would be supportive but not a friend if that makes sense. I taught Alice to high five. 

Himself and I still sound like we should be in an iron lung. Do they still have iron lungs? Do people who need iron lungs cough? Probably not as their muscles don't work, do they. Hence the need for the iron lung. Hmm. I shall ask Dr Google but not right now.

I wonder if people could see the damage caused by diseases like Polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough ....... would they still be so rabidly anti-vax or even just complacent.

I am sure that many of my generation (the much maligned boomers) will remember going to school with someone who wore leg braces (polio), who was deaf and/or sight impaired (rubella for both and measles for vision), who would have ended up infertile (mumps), who would have died of an untreatable encephalitis in their teen or young adult years (measles). Babies that died because of whooping cough. 

Don't try to preach to me about the evils of vaccines. I will have discussions with you but I am telling you now I will not be swayed by the science of facebook. 

Things that made me smile today:

• high fives with a small hand
• hugs from Three
• cuddles from Sally
• seeing Amy happy and relaxed
• toothless one toothed grins
• purrs from nowhere (black cats are ninjas)
• doggy kisses
• Himself and his precise arranging of dinner's vegetables
• baby giggles
• daffodils poking up where I thought there would be none
• a glass of bubbles cos it's Saturday.

Comfort food

 I took this the other night when I went to bed. I love the light and shadow in the clouds.

Today is normally a craft day but I called off because I'm crook and also because I need a break from them all.

Amy took a mental health day from work and asked if she could come over here to crochet as she didn't feel comfortable going to craft on her own. Not how I had planned to spend my day but it was nice chatting as we worked. I am blessed to have such a good relationship with her. She will never be my daughter (and nor should she, she has her own mother) but we do get on well.

Himself went to the shed and I am pleased about that.

Yesterday I craved carbs. Like really, really craved them. I googled colds and carbs and it's not uncommon to have this craving as your body needs the energy to fight the bug. Or something. Regardless, I gave in and had my favourite childhood comfort food. Rice with butter, grated cheese and lots of pepper. I was a happy little vegemite.

Speaking of which, I think I will have some Saos with butter, vegemite and cheese for afternoon tea. Another childhood comfort food.

Who remembers vegemite worms?

Thursday thoughts

Yesterday I was listening to the radio and they were talking about a report that states that the (silent) majority of people self censor so that they don't lay themselves open to abuse and criticism from the (vocal) minority.

It got me thinking and I realised that I do avoid certain conversations with certain people because debate and civilised discussion seem a thing of the past. You cannot hold a differing opinion.

There is a type who will shout you down and call you stupid if you disagree with them and their viewpoint. 

There is a type who assumes that you share their political outlook - and it's easier to just stay silent.

I think the past two years of lockdown and isolation combined with the frenzied rhetoric resulting from Trump's administration have contributed to this. (I am still gobsmacked at how much influence he held worldwide - he was a president of another country FFS yet people paid more attention to him than to their own political disasters).

The anonymity of a keyboard and the facelessness of social (oxymoron right there) media allow these cowards to spout their vindictive cruelty.

And I fear it is spilling over into real interactions with real people in real life.

We all need to take a deep breath, take a step back and be a little kinder. To ourselves, our world and everything and everyone in it.

Cough Cough

I needed a ball of wool that I knew I could get at a shop in Chelsea so met J for brunch. 

Bought the wool and then headed to a cafe.

And then the coughing started.

*OMG How Embarrassment! People were looking at me like I had the plague. You know. THAT one. 

Nothing helped. Not a glass of water. Not a butter menthol. I had to leave the cafe and hack up my lungs in the street. I thought I was going to be sick it was that bad. 

I would have left but J had ordered our meal. 

Finally things settled down and I was able to go and eat my omelette and  drink my coffee. 

I went to the chemist to get some cough syrup and they had sold out. I guess I'm not alone with this damned thing. I did get some tablets which contain the same medication so we will see if they help. There is something comforting about cough syrup, though. Maybe the foul taste makes us feel it has to be working.

Himself has gone to get Sally from school. She has a dance class at 5.15. Amy and I were working out how to get her there and for Amy to pick her and Alice up and it was getting rather complicated. Himself just said he'd take her home after her class and Amy can collect Alice from daycare and go home. Well how blindingly obvious was that solution!

*Who remembers Effie? I can't see Acropolis Now being allowed to screen in these politically correct days.

Bits and bobs

 

This is the first time we have had cats and dogs get on as well as these four do. We are so thrilled. 

Max sits on a chair and whacks the dogs as they walk by (he whacks everyone to be honest). They will turn and give him a lick.

I have had to cut back the cats' food as they were getting decidedly chubby. I have never, ever had overweight animals before and I don't want to start now! Especially as they are still kittens. It's hard to know exactly how much they eat as they share the dogs' dinner as well.

It's a miserable day here. It's cold, raining and damp. Himself and I are still dealing with our coughs and sniffles. Interestingly last night I didn't put the Vicks on my feet and was up a good part coughing. I shall treat my feet tonight and see if I am better.

It looks as if some of my daffodils might have survived. Whereas I was expecting at least 30 clumps I might have 5 or 6. Better than nothing I guess.

I have taken the latest scarf off the loom and am pulling fluffy threads through for bling. I will take a photo when it's done.

Aldi fishcakes for dinner. 

A productive afternoon

 

A decent sized loaf and 75 biscuits (the rest were still baking). 

Looked after Alice while Amy was at physio and got her to sleep in the pram rugged up on the front verandah again - hence the biscuits.

Himself and I are still not 100%. I go to bed at night with Vicks on the soles of my feet (I think it's a Pommie thing), a cup of black tea with honey and slug of scotch and a hot water bottle that I place on my chest/throat which relieves the coughing. I think this cold could last a looooong time - at least at bed time.

Man flu

Not sure if it's another bug or a hangover from Covid but Himself and I are both under the weather with cold and flu like symptoms. I feel vindicated for lying to my brother as we could well have been infectious on Thursday. It's not Covid as per RATs.

I checked my spam box and found a couple of comments from the past week or so. Sorry for not replying. I have also left comments on a couple of blogs that haven't appeared.

Stoopid Blogger.

I am so close to deleting Facebook but something keeps stopping me. That in itself should ring alarm bells. It's partly a fear of missing out and missing people.  Of feeling isolated again. I have met people and made friends through Facebook. I have found new hobbies. It's just such a negative, nasty place sometimes and noone needs that energy in their lives.

I have toyed with opening another Facebook account and being very selective. That might work in the short term. 

C and J and I were going to catch up for C's birthday tomorrow but J is unwell. Probably a reaction to the stress of the end of last week with the nastiness in the craft group. This means I have a very quiet week on the horizon. We will have Alice tomorrow when Amy goes to physio and we will pick Scallywag up from school tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was going to go to Angela's knitting group on Wednesday but unless I am feeling 100% I won't go. I think I probably need some downtime to lick my wounds. 

I walked with Himself down to the dog park this morning. The longest I have walked since getting Covid. I managed but was short of breath when we got home. It's not far at all but I plead walking up a hill in my defense.

I have been spending time reading over past posts of blogs I have recently discovered and am loving it. This is my happy place at the moment.

Dinner tonight is a sticky stir fried pork from the latest Coles magazine. It only has 4 ingredients and Himself is making it.

This is the cover. It is full of yummy recipes and it's free.

Dinner's ready. See you tomorrow.

Boys! (and men)

Things I've been asked/heard as the wife of a man and the mother of three boys now men. They still send a chill  through my soul!!

Mum I'm at the police station (OK he's making the call - this is alright) - turns out he'd been mugged on a train going to see a girlfriend when we though he was at a mate's place. Lesson learned, Three. Don't bullshit to your mother. She WILL find out! He was OK. He didn't want to tell us - the cops insisted. 

Where are the bandaids (over and over again and generally results in a bloody mess - there's the need for a bandaid or a tourniquet!) The latest was tonight "what happened?" "I opened a tin of sardines for the dogs" It was more than a bandaid but not quite a tourniquet.

Don't panic but ... (too many times)

Should my "insert body part" be this colour (sometimes yes and sometimes definitely not)

The ambulance is on its way (after three launched himself into his bedhead while I was at work and Himself was in charge - no major damage done; the ambos reassured Himself and left without any passengers)

This is Sgt XXX from YYY police station (not good) a story for another day that is now quite funny.

The bleeding's not that bad (it's not until it is - it could be a minor scratch or a haemorrhage - they don't seem to know the difference)

How do you get blood out of XYZ (see above)

Should my toe/finger stick out of my foot/hand like this (if it's not straight up then probably not)

Can you pick me up? I'm outside CDE cop shop (this one was a bit messy but it taught a certain kid valuable lessons - don't trust arseholes and it's ok to dob them in)

I remember standing in the school office (I was president of the PTA so doing fundraising stuff and not really taking notice of what was going on around me) and seeing a kid with blood running down his back from a cut in his head. "Shit - don't envy that parent". Hi Sparkling ... glad you're here - you need to take Two to the doctor for assessment.  All blonde primary school aged kids with blood streaming from their heads look the same from the back OK? Don't judge me for not recognising my own!

The lesson for today.

 

And that, folks, pretty well sums up the day. 

The craft group has a newish member (5 weeks maybe). She came at the invitation of another member. She has been cruel to one of the women who has some challenges but isn't stupid.

Why are some people (and I hate to say it's usually women in this case) so horrible.

You don't say "You are special, so so special. We know you are so very special" in that tone of voice thinking you are being so funny.

Bitch. Which is an insult to dogs.

I love the smell of baking in the morning

I heard a new birdsong this morning. This beauty and a friend were in our flowering gum.

I think they are rainbow lorikeets. Regardless they are stunning.

I baked a loaf of bread and a batch of biscuits. I added some ginger and spice to the mix. They have an interesting bit of heat. Himself loves them which means I will be baking again soon!

I removed myself as admin from the craft group. I shall go tomorrow and then decide on a day by day basis. Himself told me to step back. I agree.

Angela suggested I go along to her knitting group. I might just try that. It's always a challenge to walk into a group of people who know one another but I know her face!

I try to please all of the people all of the time. I realise that with some people you can please none of them none of the time. I have soothed ruffled feathers. I have stood up for those who have been spoken about badly. I can't do this anymore and nor do I want to. The final straw was pathetic bleating by one person who didn't want to share her birthday with a belated celebration for someone else.

I quit the psychologist. She lacked empathy. She didn't listen properly and just doled out advice. I told her I lacked purpose in my life. She told me to plan a holiday.

Sorry for the whinge. It's been one of those days weeks months. 

Anyone would think it was Winter.

A white lie

I piked.

The weather tomorrow is forecast to be horrible.

Himself is still not enthusiastic about going to see my brother and sister in law.

I told Dr Brother that Himself had a nasty head cold.

Strike me down with lightning now.

I am not sure what will happen with the craft group. I caught up with J today and we both agreed it may have run its course. The yarn cafe now has groups every day and most people seem to want to go there which is fine. 

We will see who turns up on Friday and make the decision then. Regardless I am this close to shutting my facebook account down. I only had it for two groups and this was one of them. The other group I would be sad to leave but needs must. I don't see them in real life.

Don't mention the war

On Thursday we are going to see Dr Brother's new place. It is a couple of hours away in South Gippsland near Wilson's Prom.

(This is from the real estate listing. You can see The Prom in the distance. The white building is their house.)

Himself and Dr Brother's wife inevitably get into "discussions". Unfortunately she spouts opinions (usually about climate change and political stuff) but can't back them up with references and Himself is a stickler for supporting documentation so to speak.  She ends up in tears accusing him of making her defend her science (she's a teacher) and it's all horrible. He can be a right bastard when he gets like this and although I disagree with a lot of his opinions I do understand that you can't just repeat what someone else said and call it fact.

In February there was a massive incident involving Himself, this woman and Other Brother. I thought I would never speak to either brother again.

Other Brother is still being a twat and refusing to speak to Himself but he's in Italy so it doesn't matter.

Dr Brother has done the right thing and has invited us down to see the property.

I don't trust Himself not to be a twat. I have asked him to not mention the war but I will be on tenterhooks until the day is over.

This makes me very, very sad. I love my husband but sometimes I don't like him very much. 

Dr Brother hates conflict as much as I do. We are like our father in that respect.

Fortunately I have this ...

and them ...

and him ...

And they make me happy.

(One of Fawlty Towers' classic bits but I doubt it would be screened today).

Happy day

 "T was going to look after the kids but has covid - can you look after the kids while Amy goes to physio?"

It was a glorious winter day and we went to the shop around the corner. We had to pass our local park.

Lots of smiles like this ..

She was yawning in the pram on the way home so I stuck her dummy in her gob, tucked her into her snuggly fleecy blanket and left her outside in the fresh air watching the leafless branches waving in the trees. She was asleep in 30 seconds. It made me realise you don't see many kids sleeping outside these days. 

The only downside? 

Sally talking to someone of my vintage at the park: "See that old lady with the pram? That's my Granny".

"sigh"

A Sunday Drive

Last of the big spenders, that's us.

We decided to ignore the skyrocketing cost of fuel and go for a drive for a few hours.

It was a perfect day for it , blue skies and sunshine.

We drove down through South Gippsland which is one of my absolute favourite parts of Victoria. I would live there if I could. Especially Poowong. I don't know why but I have always loved the area around Poowong.

Is it not just delightful?

As we drove through Lang Lang I saw kettles hanging off the road sign for Kettles Rd. I didn't have time to stop and take a photo but Mr Google found me this

with this explanation.

Gotta love the Aussie sense of humour.

On the way home I had a hankering for hummus. Himself dropped me off at the new shop just around the corner (his ageing bladder couldn't wait) and I bought a couple of varieties. They were closing up and one of the young girls offered me a quiche and a spinach roll for nothing as they would have been thrown away. I grabbed a couple of vanilla slices for after dinner as well.

Chris asked me what a vanilla slice is. I'm sure they would have something similar in Canada.

This is a vanilla slice

and this explains what's in them.

The important thing is to get the texture of the custard just right. Too sloppy and it's messy to eat and too hard and it's like rubber. And you must be able to taste the vanilla in the custard.

Hummus, roast chicken with spuds and veg and a vanilla slice for afters. The fire is burning and I have a glass of red to hand.

A perfect end to a lovely Sunday.

Hearts and flowers

 It was a very small group today - just 3 of us! We sat in the florist section of the cafe with one of the owners who has asked us to crochet/knit pieces to yarn bomb the trees outside. Her husband initially suggested we teach some of their clients but the wife said they didn't have the motor skills necessary to learn to crochet. So we are going to make pieces and the kids ('cept they're not kids but I can call them kids cos I'm an old lady) can decorate them with ribbons and buttons and bits and bobs.

We have also been asked to make hearts and flowers. The heart is part of their logo and she wants them on the trees and the flowers reflect the florist.

We have been given some yarn (and can use our own, obviously) and I am going to make pink and yellow hearts and Amy is going to make sunflowers. Hopefully we will have a good response from the group.

We were all given a beautiful bunch of flowers when we left. They give away bouquets that won't keep over the weekend but they are still fresh and lovely and it was a lovely gesture. 

I have said before but I will repeat myself. I am an atheist and have little regard for organised religion but these people are true Christians who practice their faith by giving support and love to their community. They are good people.