Month: June 2010

Have to be quick – this b……thing is likely to drop out anytime
Will be back when the ISP decide to give us what we pay for
That would be the knowledge we can go online any time of the day for as long as we like
Without being cut down in our tracks
Bye for now
Cathy

Have to start by sayng thank you for all the wishes for a recovery from this beastly virus I seem to have picked up.  Three days into the ‘wonder drug’ and the coughing has almost subsided, the raised temperature has gone and vitality seems to have reappeared.  Today I pottered about in the sunshine in the garden, did some washing as well as a bit of cooking so all in all it was a good day.  Theres a promise of 16c/60f – almost like a Spring day tomorrow mind you its going down to 5c/41f overnight.  Lets hope I don’t collapse in heap lol

After my recent discovery of clutter covered surfaces the other day – and not recently covered I must say lol
I laughed when I read this post on one of my ‘favourite’ blogs. 
http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/06/video-plagued-by-clutter-clear-a-surface.html

I’ve been a fan of The Happiness Project for quite a while, not all of the posts are about housework although this months focus is on clutter, many are interviews,  theres a weekly tip day – there are loads of interesting articles on Gretchen Rubins site about The Happiness Challenge which isn’t as nerdy as it sounds.  Some you might agree with – you may have your own thoughts about others.

Recently she has been doing weekly you tube videos which makes the posts a little lighter than just reading the written word and todays post was entitled Plagued by Clutter – Clear a surface.  How timely !!

Remember this recent post of mine – http://stillwaters-cathy.blogspot.com/2010/06/open-your-eyes-and-look-inside.html

So the other day after I moved :-
The shopping bag and Melways to the car
The bottle of Eucalyptus Oil, the jar of emu oil cream and the jar of Vaseline to the bathroom
The craft lamp, box of quilting pins and packet of sewing needles, the length of lace and the large cutting out scissors to the craft shelfi n the spare bedroom
The bird book and the novel to the bookshelf
The mobile phone and charger as well as the small transitor walking radio with the earphones into one of those baskets along the wall where they ususally live
The small bits of notepaper, large roll of sticky tape, rubber eraser, calculator, large round plastic protractor (relic of someones schooldays), pencil sharpener and permanent marker to the box where they normally live
The golf balls and golf hat to the very large golf bag in the boot of a certain someones car
The teacloth in the wash basket and the glass bowl back in the cupboard
The metal tape measure back into its special place in then garage as well as the plastic plant id tag but where I can see it as I want to get that plant again – its for a fuschia I somehow managed to ‘kill’
The cat flea comb back in the proper box wth other cat things
And sorted all the various bits of paper and either tossed or put them away where they should have gone in the first place

Phew now where was I – oh yes after I had done all that
I had a clear kitchen bench – sorry no picture.  It did look good at the time but I seem to have left a few bits and pieces there again already lol

Drop in and have a look – I don’t often recommend other sites as I sometimes think my likes aren’t the same as others but I’m sure if you go through pages at The Happiness Project you may find something of interest somewhere in there amongst the archives

Yes we are on the way down or should I say on the way up

Which ever way it is we have turned the corner

June 21st has been and gone meaning the Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice arrived.
We had our shortest day and longest night and now like this woodchopper in Sydney I can look forward to a change.

Festivals and events have been happening all over the country
Some deep and meanngful others just plain fun

Hobart  Adelaide Cairns  Melbourne Sydney Canberra

For me it means that as the days go by they will gradually become longer and warmer and this big black whatever I’m carrying around will go away. 

Hopefully this rotten cough will go as well.  I finally gave in and went to see my GP yesterday morning. 

Now I rarely go to see him but had felt so crook over the wekend I just turned up (9am) when the doors opened on a chance, walked to the desk and Annette (the receptionist) just looked at me, nodded her head and pointed to a chair (she was on the phone). 

Even tho there were others waiting I was called in next and as I sat down and looked at the doctor I just said  “I don’t feel very well”  (trying not to let the tears fall as I spoke) he stood up came round to look at me and (bless his heart) he said ‘My dear you don’t look very well either’ 

I then began to wonder how awful I did look lol

Result of examination – some viral thing with no name – so no antibiotics unless it does turn into a chest infection but he did prescribe some Panafcortelone (a cortisone – prenisolone) to ‘calm’ the cough. 
I am not bothered about side effects some friends have told me about – it is working. 

After resting and dozing at times by the fire all the afternoon, I had an early night and best of all, slept most of the night for the first time in weeks without coughing and feel so much better now late this Tuesday afternoon.  The dose reduces over the next few days and it wont be a permanent medication . 

After the heavy fog lifted at lunchtime today and the fabulous sun came out I even felt bright enough to pop up to the local shops for a few bits and pieces.  Yes I’ll take it easy but hopefully it’s going to be great from here on in. 

Better be or I aint going to be happy lol

Dh had this forwarded to him – if an IT nerd did this I think they have more time on their hands than they know what to do with lol

Its quite amazing, its a detailed fixture calendar which will be updated as results come in so click on the link if you’re interested. 

All the details are there as you move your cursor round the circle – countries, groups and dates and places. 

Even I who does not like the game found it interesting

http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html

To me the past few weeks have been grey, really cold and wet, yes I know its winter but to be like that for days on end means I haven’t been out the door unless its been necessary.  Front door to the car – go wherever and do whatever was needed – and then home again to the ‘fireside’ and my knitting.

However the weather man said we would be surprised over this long weekend – Queen’s Birthday Weekend here in Victoria so no work today ‘Monday’ for many of the workers – for me ‘cose I don’t have commitments on Monday it was business as usual, the surprise was to be dry, sunny, reasonably warmish days.  Tonight is going to be testing tho’ as the overnight temp in my suburb is forecast to be 2c/35f and that is b……..cold.  lol

With the promise of dry days and knowing some things had slipped by ‘cose I haven’t been outside; haven’t been inclined or even had the energy to think about being out there courtesy of all the cold wet rainy days we have had – I did mention its been cold and wet didn’t I? – I decided it was time to start clearing up before the real winter days arrive.

They got it right – the past two days have been glorious. Dry and sunny – comfortably warm – well warm enough not to need a coat just a fleecy top – so I have spent most of them outside working in the garden   In the garden clearing up all the mess thats accumulated over those wet windy days I was telling you about

Roses were pruned, leaves on my side of the fence from next doors oak tree were raked and bagged ready to use for compost making over the next year, perennial plants tidied up, manure and other goodies spread.  I turned the ground over a bit ready for the next load of rain coming our way and then will mulch it just before we go away in August.  Hopefully it carries on raining and doesn’t dry up in the meantime.

I lifted some Eucomis (Pineapple Lily) and gave them a new home; while I was in the shifting mood had a look at a great big clump of Dietes that had grown too wide for its spot.  Took ages and a whole lot of puff to dig out – so Dh split it into three and they now have new homes as well.

Didn’t take any photos of the garden but I did notice loads of different sorts of mushrooms growing around the place so will post piccies of those another day.  Early bed I think, started the day with aching muscles from yesterdays effort and finishing in the same state.  Hottie is in the bed warming it nicely, just need to find the Lectric soda to put in the bath water to sooth those said aching joints and muscles