Still Waters

Am off tomorrow for a few days out of town – going to Mansfield, close to the High Country and The Great Dividing Range

Its about a 2 hour drive for us and is in one of my favourite parts of the state.

Read about it here and here and here and here

I’m taking my knitting and a new book called One Sunday by Joy Dettman and am hoping for a quiet time with fresh and warm sunshine. As we are staying at the country club which has a golf course I’ve ‘allowed’ DH to put his golf clubs in the boot of the car :))

Thanks to all those who have popped in recently – its been nice to see you all and read your comments.

Will be back early February

It has been a quiet week caring for my aunt and having fun with grandchildren still on holiday from school. Lovely warm pleasant days and as the new school year starts next week they are trying to fit as much in as possible.

We went to see a fabulous film called The Water Horse and one I would recommend even if you don’t have children. Not really a film for little ones as there are a few scary scenes and war scenes that make you jump a bit but certainly for maybe 10 years and over. Story line has lots for everyone and the scenery is magnificent.

Oh and I did some unexpected rearranging and sorting out at home which all started when my unt wanted her linen cupboard tidied up.

When she moved to her new place others ‘put things away’ for her and for quite a while I’ve been itching to sort this cupboard out but needed her to ask so it didn’t look like I was interfering. To me it was obvious she couldn’t reach where the towels were or put her sheets in the spaces allocated but she kept on insisting all was well so I heaved a sigh of relief when she finally asked me to help. So after sitting her in front of the cupboard I started to take things out and ask questions about how often they were used, would she be using them again etc. This gave me an idea of which shelf to actually put the stuff back onto.

Anyway when we got to the bottom shelf it was fancy linen time and all of a sudden the tears started to flow. I got stories of traders in India (where she was born and raised and lived till 1947) and how they spread all their goods out on the lawn for the ladies to peruse and how her Mother always bought something as she didn’t like to hurt their feelings. Beautiful embroidered tablecloths, crocheted cloths, white on white cloths, making me feel guilty with envy cloths.

I was putting them away when she asked me if I’d like to have them – so as I say it all started when my Aunt wanted her linen cupboard tidied up.

Of course this meant I then had to sort mine out at home…………………….. Which was a good thing because it made me reassess storage and institute some changes here.

We only have one double bed in the house – the other is queen size – so the double linen is now in a drawer in that particular bedroom

The tea cloths were sorted and some given new jobs as I also came home with a dozen brand new never been used linen ones bought as souvenirs over the years. I left them in the same spot in the cupboard as they need room plus there is no drawer available in kitchen

Face washers/flannels are now in a drawer in the bathroom and not stored with the towels and folding towels in a different manner has also given me more space, which means I can see what I’m looking for – not always possible before:(

I took the spare single doonas off the floor of the cupboard and put them in clear storage bags on the very top shelf as these only get used if the grandchildren want to curl up on the floor in the winter – I want to hold on to them as they belonged to their parents, are in very good condition and still have years of use ahead of them.

All the new tablecloths and other pieces went into a chest of drawers in the spare bedroom. That’s where I keep all my table linen now so there was no problem there.

A little while ago I made a couple of other changes to a more personal routine and these have really worked out well.

Unfortunately I have to take some medication each day and these tablets used to be kept in a cabinet on the wall in the bathroom and (hangs her head in shame) would often be forgotten.

Now my morning tablets are on the bedside table and taken when I wake. I don’t worry about them being visible as the grandchildren who come to the house are all old enough not to touch the packets. The bedtimes one is kept in a drawer in the bathroom, the same one as where I keep my toothbrush and paste so now I see them when I go to clean my teeth.

Oh wouldn’t it be great if all changes came as easily and worked out as well as these few have:))

Well after looking around several places I think I’ve finally found what I hope is the answer to not taking a commercial water bottle (as in a bottle that had bought water in it) out with me.

In todays post Rhonda at Down to Earth is talking about a challenge she intends to takes.

Thinking about it made me realise that’s something I could do as well.

There are 3 things where I think I could make a behavioural change.

Plastic bags are a pest and it’s when I don’t think ahead on my way out and I end up at the shops bag less that the problems start. I try to carry small purchases out of the shop in my hands or in any other bag I might be carrying.

In the boot of my car is an insulated cool bag and 6 green shopping bags as well as an assortment of other bags all contained in a much larger bag bright red from Bunnings All of these are for using at the supermarket or elsewhere when shopping,

Now the trick to reducing my use of plastic bags is to remember to take them out of the car when I go into the supermarket and also to return them empty to the boot the next day. That second action is the critical one as half the time they sit on the back deck outside the kitchen door where I have put them ready to take to the car

The green grocer we use has degradable ones so I use those for the rubbish but I’d like to get out of that habit as well. DH does that shopping so to begin with I’d have to keep reminding him about the boxes he could use that are available at the front of the shop Nothing organic (we composting and I have a worm farm) goes in the bin so much to my annoyance most of the household rubbish is plastic packaging in one form or another. Some of the cardboard could be put in the compost or used for mulch and any over could go in the recycling bin.

The issue of Plastic Water Bottles is a tricky one as I really need to drink lots of water during the day and I still haven’t found the ideal water bottle to take out with me. I don’t buy many bottles of water because I rinse and sterilise the ones I have before they are refilled from the tap but when I do its to take the place of one I have thrown away

We have lots we’ve been given as volunteers (sports type), but they are quite bulky and the tops taste awful. They have such wide necks it’s almost impossible to take the top off and try to drink that way. There are ones enclosed in an insulated fabric suit that children use for school and have a sort of pop top for drinking from but as I said both these and the sports bottles are quite bulky and that’s fine if I have a larger tote bag with me but they don’t fit comfortably or neatly into any of my handbags for when I’m out in the city and not carrying a tote with me.

I’ll continue to use the ones I have but will definitely be on the look out for a neater refillable one – I don’t intend to buy any more water from the supermarket.

My other change (and this is a personal one maybe not seconded by others) will be in the use of Paper Tissues for the blowing noses and wiping other things.

These days lots of people seem to be overly concerned with cleanliness – germs and hygiene are stress makers for some so paper tissues fit in well with a disposable way of life – use it, toss it and the germs away leaving someone else look after the problem. They don’t take up much room in the rubbish but I don’t know how long they take to rot down and even tho they are a paper product certainly don’t want them in the compost or be fed to the worms.

Down side is once used they are no more and we have to renew the supply which can be costly in time and money and once in contact with liquid they disintergrate quckly – who has memories of that elusive one that tried to swim in the washing machine.

There are rows and rows of paper products in the supermarket and elsewhere all made from trees in a forest somewhere in the world and viying for our eye (or should that be nose).

Rhonda has said this challenge is to reduce the environmently challenging things we do so this is what I have in my mind.

Tucked away in a drawer in my bedroom are more than a dozen very pretty ladies handkerchieves. In another drawer in the same room are also more than a dozen very much larger gents handkerchieves.

None of these have been used for quite a while so next time anyone sneezes in my house I will be off to the bedroom for a hanky and not to bring out a box of tissues. 🙂

Hankies as opposed to tissues durable – they will last quite a long time.
They are reusable – can be washed and sterilised
They are economical in that as well as buying them new they can be made from soft recycled materials – to your own measurements as well.
Even tho we think otherwise they are more hygienic than tissues – we don’t end up with germs from nasal discharge or phlegm on our hands or fingers
They are easier on the nose and skin than some of the paper tissues. Some brands promoted as ‘softer than normal’ contain chenicals that are not
They are easier to store – we need less space to store them than large boxes of tissues take

I used to do this regularly when our children were young. Money was tight and there were always good bargains to be had in our area. In those days the op shops were usually small in size and run by local churches or charities.

This was long before Trash and Treasure Markets, Garage Sales and Ebay became popular places for people to dispose of their ‘surplus goods’ – things were given in good faith hoping that the said charity would earn some welcome cash. Nowadays large organizations like Goodwill and The Smith Family have huge warehouses and charge the earth for rubbish.

Anyway last week while the girls were here we took a 20minute drive to Healesville for something to do. Managed to find a park behing the main street in the shade under a huge tree and gettingout of the car oneof the girlspointed to a sign painted on the back of one of the buildings – Op shop .

They asked if they could go in and look for books – sounded ok to me.

There’s not a lot of spare cash in their house so books aren’t on the shopping list, Grandma supplies most of their reading matter and if Grandma can get it at reduced prices she’s happy.

Grandma came out very very happy :))

She managed to snaffle several Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings books for less than a dollar each and some Babysitters Club for 10c each.

These days I willingly give all my surplus stuff to a small op shop but I might be tempted to start looking around the shelves again closer to home and see if there are more bargains like that to be had.

We finished off by walking down the street to the Ice Cream Shop with a spring in the step and I didn’t mind spending nearly $5 each for an absolutely delicious double serve (2 different flavours) in a waffle cone. :)))

Edited: Spelling incorrect Morris not Maurice

The bush fire season is well and truly in full swing, fire ban days one after the other and fires burning in several places in Victoria.

This week we have had some stinkers, yesterday was about 41c/ 106f again but then again we have also had a couple of those lovely lazy hazy days that are a pleasure to have around.

This week we’ve also have been minding 2 of our grand children (summer holidays don’t finish here till the end of January) and they also have been a pleasure to have around. Hot days mean trips to shopping centres and the cinema.

The afternoon we went to escape the heat in the cinema we saw Alvin and The Chipmunks, which was quite funny for a children’s film. Some of these so called made for children films are terrible and the trailers shown on TV highlight the small amount of funny bits so it’s bad enough when ‘I’ sit down in the cinema and don’t find it funny without listening to them grumbling all the way home.

Plus I always feel as tho I’ve wasted my money taking them:(

Another afternoon we did some food shopping and there were the inevitable questions about why I bought this brand and not that one – I did a little educating on why I felt the most expensive wasn’t always the best choice for me but I’m not sure if any of stuck. The other question from them is why I buy fresh vegetables to be cooked and not frozen or in a tin.

They eat an awful lot of processed food and don’t always ‘like’ what is put on the table at Grandma’s so it’s a battle of wits some days when they are here but they usually leave the table full and I try to have a special pudding on those days.

It’s funny but lately, as they have become older, it’s been easier to relate to some of the grandchildren and yet with others it’s becoming harder. Those who were quiet as littlies have now found their voices and opinions and the noisy ones seem to have become quiet and moody. Most of them are girls as well so enough said 🙂

Talking about food – after my pity party the other week I had another word with the GP and he suggested I take my thyroxine on a completely empty stomach so instead of last thing before I go to bed I am now taking it first thing before I even get out of bed and not having any breakfast for at least half an hour after that.

At that time I would have had at least a six hour fast and the stomach would be completely empty – and guess what – I feel so much better for it. I’m not eating any differently and because of the heat I haven’t started walking again yet somehow I have misplaced 2 kilos/nearly 4.5lbs since that time. I am not looking for it tho – whoever wants it can claim it:))

Yesterdy was New Years Day and I did nothing:)

I sat on the couch with the airconditioning going full belt and I read and watched the Cricket.

Not good for the environment I know but once things are back to the usual routine it will most likely have been the only time I was able to do that. I did enjoy that feeling of not actually ‘doing’ anything – shorts and tshirt day, rummaging around in the fridge day, if you want it you can help yourself day (within reason I said to DH), too hot to do anything day.

Yes it was as the kids say – a stinking hot day – another over 40c/102f this time it went up to 43c/109-110f in my back garden – yes stinking hot!! But then looking at what Rose over at Quilted Hills is putting up with I’m not sure which is the worst of the two!! 12f is about -10c not my idea of fun LOL

A cool change came through late in the afternoon and oh, the welcome relief that brought. All the doors and windows were opened and it was sheer pleasure to feel the cool breeze blowing through the house.

Today has been lovely. Mid 20’s with a southerly (thats our cool wind – northerlies are the hot ones) The Weather Bureau says temps will start rising again tomorrow and we’ll have hot days again. Loooks like I’ll be doing some sorting out and cupboard cleaning.

I did actually get DH to go through his ties on NY Eve. Most of his working life he had to wear a tie and so has(HAD) quite a collection but since retiring as well as leaving his wrist watch in the drawer he’s only worn a tie about 3 times a year in the past 5 years.

So we disposed of at least 20 to the local opshop/thrift shop and there are still another 20 to ‘think’ about. Whats to think about I said – a remark not accepted very well – so they are back on the tie hanger up the end of the wardrobe with all the business shirts he felt he had to hold on to:(

I was waiting for remarks about the number of shoes on my side of the wardrobe so decided as it was HOT I’d go and make drinks and not push my luck:) Sort of cool the air.

Tomorrow I’m going to look at what is stockpiled in the garage.

I have several large packing cases out there containing lots of things I’ve stocked up on, I know theres some large tins of Milo and several bottles of dishwashing liquid and don’t tell anyone but I discovered the other day I have 120 rolls of toilet paper out there. Its about the only thing I can’t skimp on – recycled just doesn’t feel the same so when I see the ‘good’ ones on special I buy a lot. So 5 x 16 rolls and 5 x 8 rolls will last me a while …………………..quite a while…………………..but what am I going to do if I see it at a good price during the year or more this lot will last us LOL

Only one more sleep :))

It will be a fairly quiet day tomorrow – just the way it’s going to be this year.

One son and family will drop by in the morning and then we’ll walk round to a daughters in the afternoon. Oh and depending on the weather we’ll have a meal inbetween. After the hot humid days a cool change and even more rain has come through and its turned quite cold. We even thought about putting the heater on the past couple of nights as my feet were frozen.

If it warms up (prediction now is for 20c/about 68f) we may have a BBQ but if its anything like today its going to be cooked lunch followed by Christmas Pud. Of course in other parts oF Australia it could be sweltering hot so cold lunch is the only way to go.

There are a few traditional things we do here that carry on each year regardless of what is going on in the world.

The Boxing Day Cricket Test Match is one. Have a look at this humorous article about our Melbourne tradition. We’ll be watching the first session from the comfort of the lounge chair and listening to the rest on the radio. As its being played in Melbourne we don’t get all the game on tv unless its sellout – to protect the gate they say – and the profit they make I say lol

Another would be taking Christmas Songs from the Northern Hemisphere and parodying them.

Remember:
cossies = swimming costume
barbie = bbq
total fire ban = really really hot day when no fires are allowed in the open – declared by fire authorities and punishable by law now.
bangers = sausages
stubbie = small bottle of beer
Rusty Holden Ute = a car based pickup truck made by Holden
Esky = portable cooler
Kelpie = Australian cattle dag
thongs = flip flops
swaggy = very old term for what would now be called travelling out of work itinerant workers
Wattle = Tree with yellow flowers Australia’a Floral Emblem

Summer Wonderland

Cricket’s on, are you listening
On my brow, sweat is glistening
Crackin a beer, we’re glad to be here
Christmas in a summer wonderland

Come around, bring your cossies
And some spray for the mozzies
We’re havin a lark, in the caravan park
Living in a summer wonderland

In the afternoon we’ll have a barbie
Even in a total fire ban
Marinate the bangers with a stubbie
And give a glass of sherry to your nan

Later on, we’ll perspire,
As the temperature gets higher
(Santa) looks out of sorts
He should be in shorts
Christmas in a summer wonderland.

Jingle Bells Australian style

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts & thongs

CHORUS:
OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY

JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

CHORUS

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up

CHORUS

This is a fun one sung by kids

Deck the shed with bits of wattle
fa la la la la la la la la
wax and gum leaves in a bottle
fa la la (etc)
all the shops are open sundays
fa la la (etc)
Buy your dad some socks and undies
fa la la (etc)

Have to go, enjoy tomorrow and I’ll see you all in the New Year

The day that the rains came down Mother Earth smiled again;
Now the lilacs could bloom; now the fields could grow greener.

The day that the rains came down, buds were born, love was born
As the young buds will grow, so our young love will grow –
Love, sweet love.

A robin sang a song of love, A willow tree reached up to the heavens
As if to thank the sky above For all that rain, that welcome rain;

We looked across the meadowland, And seemed to sense a kind of a miracle
Much too deep to understand, And there we were, so much in love.

The day that the rains came down, mountain streams swelled with pride.
Gone the dry riverbed; gone the dust from the valley.

The day that the rains came down, buds were born, love was born;
As the young buds will grow, so our young love will grow –
Love, sweet love, rain sweet rain.

Words & Music by Pierre Delanoe & Gilbert Becaud; English lyrics by Carl SigmanRecorded by Jane Morgan, 1958 (#21)

How many of you reading hummed along as you read these lyrics??

Growing up in the 50’s in England we had our own pop singers but most of the music came from ‘The States’ as in United States and like most teenagers of that time I loved rock and roll (Bill Haley and the Comets were a favourite as well as dear Elvis aka ’The King’). I was also happy to listen to ballad type songs, country, blues, skiffle, trad jazz, – you name it – I tapped my toes and sang along.

And danced.

I loved to dance and suffered many ghastly partners (‘cept for my friend Anne) so when I met my DH and we ‘clicked’ the first time we jived I thought I’d died and gone to heaven lol ……………………We still have a go if there’s a band and he’s had enough to drink lol………………….. But these days its usually a slow waltz.

And even tho I hadn’t met him when that song was recorded it’s just the right tempo for a slow walk so I might just hum it to him later and see what happens :))

Yesterday and today here in Melbourne it has been very hot and humid and very very wet.

Storms to rival monsoons – just like last week – have come in the afternoons and for some reason this song kept going through my mind.

We do so need the rain, after so many years of drought Australia needs water. Melbourne needs water to fill its dams and my garden certainly needs water. .

I’m not sure all those who will be camping at Rosebud foreshore over the next 2 months will agree and even tho I love our long hot summers I for one won’t be upset if we have a long hot humid wet one if it means we get some water from up above

DH made this cupboard for the back deck a couple of years ago – its a great asset and we use as a bench when we BBQ – see below at one of our Christmas gatherings.

It holds a lot of my gardening bits and pieces including my wellie boots – well today the guttering above it leaked, water poured down over it and I discovered its not waterproof as instead of keeping the water out the boots were filled with the stuff lol

I am here again – just.

Having to think in list form at the moment.

Thoughts were entering my mind and leaving so quickly I found I was forgetting even the most usual of daily tasks. I seem to have written countless lists this past week or two.

The house has been cleaned and the tree is up along with other decorations. No pre – Christmas family gathering for us this year which is a shame, I really look forward to having them all here together on that one day. Eldest DD flew out yesterday to spend a few weeks in England visiting friends and in laws. Her DD is the only Grandchild on the partners side so its only fair they get a lend of her now and again lol

Others have had such busy time there was no day we could all arrange a time so its going to be seperate visits now over the Christmas festival.

All the pressies and other gifts are wrapped and under the tree waiting to given with love.

I had to go to a shopping centre today and couldn’t get away fast enough. What is it that makes people act crazy at this time of the year? Couldn’t blame it on the weather, as it wasn’t even hot but cool and wet. Yeah for wet rain lol.

We had a torrential storm the other Monday, reminded me of our days in Singapore and Penang when it was the monsoon season. I was driving to the station to pick up DH and down it came, roads flooded in an instant. I had to laugh tho’ as a couple of days later I got an email from a cousin in Nova Scotia asking if we were ok – it had made the news over there. The ground is as dry as a bone again so hopefully today’s little drop will be a help.

Nearly all my break up lunches are over now, just one on Tuesday to go. Had a great time with my Red Hat Ladies at the Club Kilsyth, which won’t be the same after our visit there last week. Lots of groups lunching that day so we had lots of enquiries from ladies of a certain age as well as younger ones asking what all the fun was about. Some Mums going to be directed our way I think.

My aunt is still incapacitated with her broken arm, and most of my time over the past few weeks has been looking after her needs After spending a couple of weeks in hospital the medical staff said she was too frail and shook up to go home so as beds are at a premium in public hospitals she has now been in special accommodation trying to build up her strength.

She’s been there for 2 weeks now and is so bored she doesn’t know what to do with herself.

One good thing about this place is that I have been able to take her dog to visit, couldn’t do that at the hospital unless she stood out in the street so this has calmed her down a bit – she was becoming quite frantic in the hospital thinking her dog had been given away.

Then we had to deal with her thinking we’d sold her house and put her into a nursing home – this respite establishment is actually part of a retirement village complex that has a hostel and nursing home so all she saw were old people some of whom had dementia that was far more advanced than hers. . In the beginning she just would not accept that it was the Drs who said she had to stay there and not us.

One of my Granddaughters sings with Choir Victoria and I was able to take the Aunt to their carol service last weekend at the Police Academy Chapel. She could only be out for 3 hours, which was just long enough for her and gave her the chance to feel normal.

I was so worried about her that in the end I asked if she was allowed to go out for most of a day and this past week I collected her one morning, drove up the hills to the kennels so she could to actually pick up the dog herself, drove back down to her little unit and spent some time there.

After a cup of tea she seemed a lot better and more herself. So then we left the dog asleep in the courtyard and went out to lunch. Couldn’t have the drink I fancied, ‘cose I had to drive back up the hills to the kennels and then take her home and then take my self home. Lots of Booze buses out and about with lots of nice policemen manning them but I didn’t want to take any chances :((

She was able to take him up to his run and see where he’d been for the past few weeks and meet all the other dogs there, which really pleased her and meant I didn’t drive home feeling so bad. Mind you it was about a 120km/ 75.5 miles journey round trip from my house and back but she was happy and that’s all that mattered.

She’s coming home on Monday, and will be benefiting from a government aged care package designed to keep older people in the community, which somehow has miraculously appeared even tho we had asked for help before and were denied as she had relatives who could do all those things for her.

Rant over – new day tomorrow. Hopefully it will rain again and I’ll have more green beans and tomatoes on my plants.

Look up and read about POSSUMS

Here in my garden I have both ringtail and brushtail possums so love them or hate them we can do nothing about them as here in Australia they are a protected species. Catching and killing is prohibited – we just live with them. They are territorial so they will die or be killed by others if moved to another place.

Most years they are just a minor nuisance that takes a fancy to the new green tips of next doors huge oak tree and then sleep all day long in the boxes the neighbours have provided for them. We know they are around as they yell and hiss at each other during the night and have the most atrocious table manners and leave half of the tips on the ground above where they were grazing.

This year they are taking advantage of my good feelings and seem to have invited most of the local population to their all night parties. There have been a few fisty cuffs along with a good amount of bad language thrown in for good measure outside my window most nights recently.

It also appears that the short cut to these all night raves is via the trees adjacent to us, over our roof, and then via the trees on the other side of our house to goodness knows where.

How do I know that – well to begin with I thought something had fallen down in the house during the night and went back to sleep, then there was a rustling in the trees followed by more and more thuds and what seemed like size 10 boots running over the roof finishing off with more faint rustling on the other side of the house.

They also have been taking advantage of the power lines from the street to the house, which is a lot quieter but not quite a fast and devil may carish than the rooftop route but they seem to stop and natter half way. Going by the poop and pee on the boot of my car DH thinks it must be a couple of females ‘cose males only say G’Day and then are on their way whereas females stop and want life histories each time the meet.!!

SO it’s back to the Frisbees on the power lines, parking the car in another spot and accepting the population has grown this year. One good thing we are thankful for is that they haven’t fouind their way into the roof and use it as a bedroom during the day.

And brought me a new apron :))

Yes my apron from Rhonda Jeans Apron swap arrived in the mail yesterday – my partner was Jen who lives up in Queensland.

Not only did she make me a very pretty vintage style half apron in a material featuring green and yellow flowers on a brown background trimmed with green bias and also green and yellow ric-rac but she added some other little goodies to the parcel.

There was the loveliest large white felt star set off with a very festive bright red button on each side which will look very nice on our big tree when it comes out of hibernation in the garage this weekend.

There was the dinkiest little naive type tree decoration made I think from fleece. It was formed into a sort of angel with net wings and tied very niftily with embroidery thread.

Then she included the one thing I’m always looking for – a tape measure. I must have about half a dozen but do you think I can find one when I want it??

This is a nice long one using both inches and centimetres.

Another lovely little touch was that she’d made a really neat little purse for it from felt finished off with a clasp utilising a neat white retro type of button. I fell in love with it when I saw she’d personalised it be embroidering my first name initial C on the front.

And Then there was the prettiest little miniature scrap quilt in soft pastel colours complete with hanger. I have lots of small craft things hanging around the walls of the laundry near the back door and that will be the perfect spot for it.

Thank you Jen. You made my day :))

There is just one problem today – the camera is still not working so I can’t take photos.

How do find the reel of cotton that was in your hands just the other day?

No you don’t go and buy another one – well at least not just yet.

First you wander round the house muttering about how could it grow legs when you were sure you put down in the sewing basket.

Then you clear / sort out all the bits and pieces in every corner and every other thing capable of collecting bits and pieces. No cotton reel but lots of things going back to the places they usually live.

Then you check the old sewing machine – called the old one because last week when it finally gave up the ghost and wouldn’t even go and was rendered useless – it then gained the company of a new much much younger version courtesy of the sale the Janome shop was having. No cotton reel there either.

So after much wandering and clearing and finding things lost you decide maybe you’ll just nip up the supermarket and get a new reel. Grandma in Belfast would’ve a fit if she knew shops were open a Sunday but I just say thanks goodness for 7 day trading.

THEN you get home and drop something on the bedroom floor. What do find when you look under the bed.

The reel of white cotton – plus several other things and an awful lot of dust.

Jen – if you are reading this I promise your apron will be in the post SOON

Well after my pity party recently I really took a long hard look at myself and life in general and decided I just had to take things as they come.

Haven’t had time to blog as I’ve had some really busy days and on top of all that my elderly very independent but senile (85year old ) aunt who won’t go into a shared care place was feeding some local ponies over a fence and what I call a proper horse came over and nudged her. They have a longer face and neck and seem to be stronger (sorry for my description – even tho one son has horses (racing kind) I never know how to describe them) so she stumbled and was pushed backwards ending up with a trip to hospital with a broken arm.

That was a week ago and because of her age and frail state has been there ever since. Which means I’ve been up and down the road every day since. She won’t be going home straight away but will go into some sort of convalesce care possibly tommorrow which will help to get her back on her feet again and able to cope with one hand.

This is a funny time of the year in Melbourne, often the weather is very changeable, if you asked me the other day I would have said summer had just begun – well thats what it semed like the other day! We’ve had several very very hot days that sent me indoors and reaching for the air con switch.

Recently DH and I thought that even tho they aren’t that bad we’d try and economise on some of the energy bills next year ( thinking of another overseas trip later in 2008 so will need any cents we can save) but temps in the high 30’s, humidity and strong northerlies are not my idea of fun and like the food situation all the good intentions went out the door.

Don’t laugh but after thinking I was finally going to expire on Tuesday evening the cool change came through yesterday and it poured nearly all day and I went shopping in jeans and a long sleeved top and even thought of turning the heating on last night. I washed the big wool blanket on Monday and packed it up not thinking it would be needed again. Had to close the windows during the night and was rummaging in the cupboard for something to put over the bottom of the bed as my feet were frozen 🙂

Its cool again today, the garden is revelling after all the rain – its far too early for to have those high temps – they usually turn up in the New Year. But as I say this is Melbourne, that could mean 4 seasons in one day sometimes 🙂

I have most of the pressies wrapped and ready to go in the post or under the tree. No toys as such this year, lots of books and I gave in and found some of the ‘games’ the grandchildren are all interested in.

ipods, xboxes, DVDs, CDs,PS2s, DSs,PPSs, and now Wiis – sounds like double dutch and code names to me – well not really some of them are fun, but why do they have funny looks on their faces when I talk about cassette tapes, LPs, EPs, singles or 45s and if we mention 78s it really puts a weird look on their faces. Generation gaps are fun aren’t they.

The other day I was teaching some of the girls how to play what I called five stones, also known as knuckles from using small bones shaped like knuckles and also jacks but you use a small ball with that game. They had never heard of the game and thought I was really past it when I tried to explain that you would have more luck not throwing the stones high in the air but to keep them down close to your hand. It came about because I was clearing an area of the garen where there were some small pebbles and hey presto my mind went back nearly 60 years to a game I played at school. Look at the links and see if you recognise the game.

I belong to several groups and over the next few weeks we will have our end of year functions where we bring a plate and a small gift. I laugh everytime I get asked to bring a plate as its not an expression I’d ever heard before coming here.

Shared meal, pot luck, casserole lunch – thats what I’d been used to – so you can guess what happened the first time I saw that on the invitation – yes one plate for each of goes to the BBQ.

Empty.

I thought it was ‘cose they were short of crockery so thats what we took, crockery and also cutlery in case there weren’t enough knives and forks to go round:))

For those gifts this year I’ve been busy using up some of my stash of beads making tree ornaments and also some of the book marks similar to the ones I made last year to take overseas as gifts .

Some are called book thongs and are like a lace with beads at each end and just goes between the pages to mark the spot with the beaded bits hanging down at each end of the book.

The other sort I’ve made are my own creation – meaning I’ve never seen them in books or on the web – using stretchy beading thread they are joined like a bracelet but don’t have beads all the way round,

Hard to describe but it goes over and round the pages like the wrist does with a bracelet, the beads are along the front cover of the book. I have seen some actually attached to books at the covers (means you have to make a hole in the cover and attach them) but these are seperate and can be used over and over again. Unfortunately the camera has gone on the blink so I can’t show you what I mean.

Must go now, thanks to those who popped in and left comments. Nice to see you all – I promise I’ll not down the despair path again. Thanks for tip Lynette, I’ll look in on your friend and see what she has to say.

I am overweight

I am 157 cms / 5’2” tall. This is not very tall.

I weigh 69kgs / 151lbs. This has been rising gradually over the past year.

My BMI measurement is 28.

Several web sites say that’s a healthy weight for an older adult –

I say Rubbish – I feel and I’m sure I look like a little pork pie. Fat round the middle and very bloated. Nothing fits me. I am ashamed to say I have a waist measurement of about 100cms / about 39”.

All that talk for the past few months about getting myself back into exercise mode has come to nothing. I’d psych myself up and be full of good intentions and there’d be the occasional walk and maybe a visit to the gym but for some reason my heart hasn’t been in it. Because I have been wasting my monthly subscription to the Leisure Centre I have cancelled it.

Not making any excuses but it seems this lack of enthusiasm has been more obvious since I was diagnosed with hypo – thyroidism. With my thyroid gland not functioning to best of its ability I have had to take Thyroxin (as do thousands of other people mainly older women) and yet the weight has still piled on.

So what am I going to do about it??

Maybe behave sensibly and not think it nice to have ‘sweet’ things in the house for company when they drop in would be a start.

Walking and Water go hand in hand also. The better weather will be a help where those two are concerned.

Thinking out loud doesn’t seem to make it any easier either lol