memories from long ago

as you know i'm sorting etc etc etc.  spare room.  it's a slow process as i went through photos yesterday and this morning i started on a box of cards.  fairly recent ones and then, i spotted another box of cards and they are very old.  from old neighbours long ago, cards from my mum and dad.  i found a card from 1954 that mum had written from my sister and me to my father for his birthday.  wow.  i found baby cards for both my kids and my son is 42.  wedding cards and of course condolence cards when mum and dad died and then my husband in 1991.  ahhh, so long ago.  i found cards from people i have either forgotten or hardly knew.  i'm going to recycle some of them.  i'm sorting the photos into members of the family for now.  my son, daughter, sister, bali, etc.  i only have three photo albums and wonder if i should leave them in boxes or put them in albums.  the latter take up more room, or perhaps not.  i don't know.  i also have a bad case of insomnia lately.  can't sleep although i'm tired.  i think last night my mind was too busy with the photos and thinking about stuff that i couldn't sleep.  but, and here's the good part, i didn't have to get up early, so it's not too horrible.  i'm trying not to have a nana nap during the day coz then i really have trouble sleeping.  the weather here has been great.  real summer weather (or what i wish was the usual summer weather).  about 30 degrees.  i even stayed in my spare room yesterday and it was only 25 in there.  usually our weather during the summer is STINKING HOT.  tomorrow and wednesday for example is predicted to be 35 and 37.  much too hot for me and i can't go upstairs when it's that hot during the day.  a cool change is predicted for thursday.  yay.  i'd better get back to the cards.   i look around me and can't see an end to this sorting and cleaning business.  at least it keeps me occupied i suppose.  enjoy your day wherever you are

cute cats - well i think so

someone sent me this link. 

cute cat pinups

i wish you a merry christmas

i've been cleaning

i washed the car today and just finished giving the bathroom upstairs a good scrub.  long overdue.  i'm cooking the turkey and i've made the tiramisu.  i won't tell you about the accident i had with the cream mixture.  let's just say it was messy.  and of course i licked my fingers during the process so felt a bit sick.  i don't usually eat a lot of sweet things.  the yoghurt i bought today is really yuck.  i got the low fat/no added sugar one this time.  big mistake.  i've wrapped the presents and have the sitting room and kitchen to do.  it never ends.  i have a few other things to do but i'm not stressing about them, if they don't happen they don't.  no biggie.  i hope you all have a wonderful christmas with your loved ones and you enjoy your day.  i went into work today to collect some loans and wish them all a merry christmas but forgot they were closing at 2pm.  i arrived at 10 to.  oopps.  my mistake.  i was almost one of 'those' customers.  people were still arriving when i left.  merry christmas everyone. 

 

 

 

 

awwww a christmas kitty.  he doesn't look happy does he?

morning tea, lunch and dinner

firstly little Caiden is still in hospital and i think today his blood condition is improving.  let's hope it continues to improve.  he's had a few ups and downs 

now for the title of my blog.  it's my last weekday (i have to work saturday) tomorrow and we are having a day of eating and partying.   morning tea first.  i must remember to buy something sweet.  council is paying for our lunch so we are having platters and fruit.  and then, we are going to my retirement dinner in the evening.  it's at a local indian restaurant and the food is really good.  lots of old workmates are coming so i'm looking forward to seeing them and catching up with everyone.  yay.  we are experiencing a mini heatwave atm and saturday is expected to be cooler. 

i'm off to one of the other libraries soon to make christmas treats with Lan.  that should be fun. 

he's here

Caiden Edison Maurice.   Caiden is growing on me.  not at all what i was expecting.  Edison and Maurice after the dad's grandfathers.  he is in the nursery because he has low blood sugar and it isn't regulating.  he also has a heart murmur but this in not uncommon and not serious. lots of babies are born with one including me.  i grew out of it by the time i was six or so.  cookie was born with severe heart problems as i've probably mentioned here before.  she's had four ops the first one at six weeks.  she's doing well now.  my daughter is staying in hospital tonight to be with bubs even though she could have come home tonight.  i think she's better off in hospital and hopefully she's resting.  i was out shopping yesterday when i got the call and stayed up there with the kids last night. their dad is home with them tonight and daughter should be home tomorrow.  she had a few problems with her blood tests but nothing serious. baby was 6 pound 11 ounces, not a big baby but a good size.  he has dark hair and dimples like Anthony.  actually he looks a lot like Anthony did when he was a baby.  hopefully all will settle down soon and they can get into a routine at home together. 

in the closet

firstly, no baby news
secondly, i was going through my closet last night and moving a few things.  i have a water cooler, an analogue tv and a video player to get rid of and still not much room in there. why do i have 53 blankets/quilts/covers/throws?  they take up so much room.
thirdly, i found a stash of old love letters.  whatever do you do with them?  do i keep them and let the kids find them when i die, or, do i throw them out now?  i 'spose it depends how much they mean to me.  i'll sleep on it.
i've got library disease atm. for those who don't know what this rare condition entails, it's the urge to sort/arrange/purge/clean/tidy/store/label etc etc everything in sight. i don't get it often thank goodness as it's very tiring, however, it feels great when i do have it.  there's nothing like it.  a half empty drawer/cupboard is a lovely thing to behold.  i was thinking with all the spare time i'm going to have on my hands (see my cousin's comment below) i would clean out/purge the house room by room.  not an easy task and not a new one.  i've been blogging about it for years.  i went through my clothes recently and got rid of a lot.  still too many.  i have so much 'stuff'. 
i've got to buy a christmas present for Maz today.  she's so hard to buy for.  i have left it rather late because i can't think of anything.  my cousin told me that because i'll be retired with nothing to do i can help her with the family history.  filing. what????????????  kill me now. filing is the most boring thing ever invented.  yes, i know i have library disease atm but it's not that severe.  nothing to do?  is she insane?  also, they are begging me to go back to work as a volunteer.  i should feel flattered i suppose but it's too early to tell.

thank the goddess it's friday

it's been a busy week for most people and next week will be too i suspect.  no news yet about the baby.  daughter went to hospital for a procedure day before yesterday but nothing has happened.  bubs will come when he's ready and not before.  cookie was successful with her application to a local song and dance theatre group.  yay.  i have four working days left but who's counting?  oh yes, i am.  anthony was having girlfriend problems last night when i rang.  oh dear.  i'm off to work.  have a lovely day wherever you are

an overgrown beetle

graduation

we went to Cookie's graduation last night and it was lovely.  the class did two performances and of course there were speeches and then the presentations.  one teacher did a rap which was really good about all the students in her class.  lots of photos and then the kids were served dinner by the teachers. it doesn't seem so long ago that my grandson Anthony had his graduation.  Cookie looked lovely as did most of the kids.  some boy wore suits and the girls wore lovely dresses.  i bet they are tired today.  :)  my daughter is ready to give birth any time now.  she is due tomorrow and was worried that the baby would come yesterday and she'd miss Cookie's graduation.  no news yet.

Cookie, her dad and grandad with her little cousin

with her dad and her teacher who rapped

8 working days to go

today is the second last saturday that i will work.  i'm going around to an old neighbour's house after work to try and set up her ebook library on her computer.  she gave me her kobo last week and i've set that up.  she's in her late 70's so well done to her.  i love it when seniors tangle with technology.  years ago i used to teach basic computing and internet to library patron's which was at times trying indeed.  when someone has never held a mouse it's difficult to get past that.  we used to tell them to play computer solitaire to get some mouse skills.  it works.  i'm not really into it now and most of our customers these days don't speak much english.  we have two volunteers who take the classes now and although i've thought of returning to volunteer at the library i do not want to take back this task. 

blogger is broken

i continue to have problems with blogger.   i can't change my backgrounds anymore.  the feedjit thingy doesn't work and hasn't for a while now.  yesterday the layout was all wrong.  i've sent feedback but nothing happens. 

breakfast

i don't eat breakfast anymore.  well, hardly ever.  years ago when i was pregnant with my daughter the specialist said i have to have breakfast every morning and so i did from then on.  now i'm doing the 5:2 diet and i don't feel like breakfast so i don't have it.  i've lost 10kg and it's the best 'diet' i've ever tried.  basically you eat normally for 5 days and 'fast' for 2.  when i say fast it's not really a fast as you are allowed 500 calories a day when fasting.  men are allowed 600.  when i fast i only eat an evening meal usually but if necessary i'll have a cup of soup mid afternoon.  i drink coffee, tea and lots of water.  i'm fasting today actually.  at first i thought that there is no way i'll be able to do it and what do you know?  i can.  :)  i won't say it's easy as some days are easier than others.  i've only failed once on a fast day.  i usually do very well.  sometimes i'll have a few more calories than i'm supposed to but if this way of eating is anything it's flexible.  it fits in around your lifestyle not the other way around.  when i tell people i'm doing the 5:2 i get so much negativity.  most people say they couldn't possibly go without food for that long.  anyway, enough of 5:2.  yesterday i had some beautiful little tomatoes in the fridge and just felt like some fried tomatoes on toast.  nice light rye bread toast.  i prepared everything and it looked gorgeous.  i made a coffee and was all set to go when i thought i'd better put some water in the frypan to soak it a while.  that's when it happened.  i turned on the tap and had forgotten to switch it over to unfiltered.  it's one of those old fashioned bench type jobs that needs to be switched to either the sink or the unit which supplies filtered water.  and yes, my delicious breakfast was under the filter and got soaked.  luckily my toast was safe but the tomatoes were nice and watery.  i made a decision then and there and tipped the water off of them and proceeded to eat them.  they were delicious and i enjoyed them.  you couldn't tell they been drenched.  trouble was after eating breakfast i was hungry all day.
here are some images from the facebook page for earth porn. 

a graduation shopping trip

my daughter and i took cookie to the shops yesterday to buy her some things for her graduation which is coming up soon.  she starts high school next year.   we got her some new shoes, some pretty underthings, some jewellery and a few other bits and pieces.  my daughter's friend is going to do her hair.  she already has her dress picked out.  i will take a photo on the night and post it.  anthony stayed over at his girlfriend's house overnight and i picked him up on my way through.  they are both growing up so fast and soon we will have a new baby in the family so that we can start all over again.  :)  they put their christmas tree up for their mother the other night and did a very good job.  i think she supervised from the sidelines.  the dog helped too

fear

i've always been scared stiff of mice, rats, snakes and sharks.  it's fairly easy to avoid the snakes and sharks but unfortunately the former two have been plaguing me of late.  it started when i noticed poop on the back veranda.  could it be rats?  yes it could.  we have had a very wet winter in adelaide and as i live next door to a cemetery and a park my theory is that the vermin got flooded out and moved into my slightly dryer shed.  there's lots of poop in there too.  today, between loads of washing, i leaned on the couch and looked out the window into the back garden just thinking about nothing in particular.  it's a little courtyard garden with a pond and lots of pot plants.  then i saw it.  out of the corner of my eye.  was it my imagination?  no it wasn't.  a mouse (i hope it's not a baby rat) ran out of the shed and into the back garden and it was horrible.  it's out there now.  running around the pots.  very sneakily and quick.  omg.  what to do???  i can ask my dil to put more baits in the shed i suppose.  i wanted to go in there and get the lawnmower out today but now i don't think so.  i was out there last night to water.  did i mention that a month or so ago there was a large dead rat out there?  luckily my dil removed it for me.  she's from the country thank goodness and not a fraidy cat like me. telling me that they are more afraid of me than i am of them isn't helpful.  i know this to be true but it doesn't help.  in my defense, i am not afraid of spiders.  there are red backs in the front garden. 

social media or ewww too much information

my grandson has a girlfriend now.  he's sixteen.  all good so far.  trouble is he is always having issues with the relationship and posts every little bit of it on fb.  his g/father has unfriended him because of it.  my daughter doesn't really like Julie (not her real name) as she thinks she uses a lot of emotional blackmail on my g/son.  ahhhh  young love.  i hope they work things out or at least part in a way that is as friendly as possible.  you know what i mean.  i suppose i'm worried because i think my g/son is going to have his heart broken and really there is nothing anyone can do about it as it's a part of growing up.  i got him his christmas present today.  he'll like it as he asked me to get it for him.  surprisingly it wasn't very expensive which was good. another friend posts on fb nearly every day and tells the world how sick she is.  fair enough i suppose as her health isn't good but surely she can post something else or just don't post anything at all.  personally i think she should just either go back to bed or go outside and get some fresh air.  just back away from the computer. don't mind me, i'm a bit grumpy today and my tolerance meter is broken.  i worked this morning and everybody had several problems each and they wanted us (staff) to fix them.  i'll have a nana nap and a nice cup of coffee and go away now.  :)  maybe outside to get some fresh air.
look, i found some old photos on my computer.  very old.  it's me and my dog Daisy (wearing my very trendy Twiggy dress), me and my first boyfriend and me and my dad.  ahhh so long ago

an official letter

i got my reply letter today from the acting ceo of council re my retirement.  he doesn't know me but said the usual stuff, you will be missed, blah blah blah.  so it's official.  i'm having a morning tea and a dinner on my second to last day which will be nice.  my last day is a saturday and i only work 3.8 hours on saturdays.  i say 'only' but sometimes it feels like 8.  :)  i'm working this saturday in fact and our staffing issues continue.  we are very short staffed for weekends.  i'm still feeling a bit apprehensive about retiring but i must say i'm looking forward to it.  only 1 month to go. 
some vee dubs and a scooter.  it's pink. 

i touched a snake

hi there.  i'm back from bali and have unpacked first thing and settled in nicely.  i mention unpacking because i'm really slack when it comes to unpacking and usually take a week or more.  shocking i know.  i hardly bought anything, well not much.  i bought myself a magnifying mirror on a stand.  it was half price and although it's only 5x it is great.  i have a 15x one but it's very small.  i bought another small painting. i didn't travel with my sister which was a bit weird as everyone asked about her. i missed her.  bali has changed so much since my last trip.  they are bringing in a new law soon which will control the building of new hotels etc.  hence, everyone is going nuts and building new huge, ugly, western style, luxurious hotels.  and shopping centres.  huge with only name brand expensive shops and right next door to the old style markets.  we stayed in sanur for two days which was a really nice change and went to the night markets for dinner both nights. it's on the east coast and is much quieter than kuta where we usually stay.  we were planning to go to lovina on the north coast but fell into a lazy bali mode and it just didn't happen. that's why i hardly bought much although i did manage some presents for the kids.  i ate lots of great food, drank lots of delicious juice (mango and avocado mostly).  we caught up with lots of friends and had a massage or two.  Putu has been in hospital with dengue fever and is already back at work.  the weather was really hot but we enjoyed lovely breezes and swam a lot.  one of the hotels was brand new and very nice while the other two were more basic but still quite good.  i have to tell you that i touched a snake.  it was like velvet and so soft it amazed me.  we came across a man and a woman from the bali reptile rescue group and stopped to talk.  i would have given them a donation if i'd realized where they were from at the time.  the man was from australia and he had about two or three smallish snakes around his wrist.  the lady had a huge albino python around her shoulders.  of course all of them were active because of the weather.  i touched the python on his middle but wasn't game to go near his head.  he was quite tame apparently.  :)  i traveled to via darwin and from via sydney which i have to say i dreaded but found quite easy really.  years ago we came back through sydney and it was hell.  a sea of people all pushing in and it took forever.  i had to travel on a shuttle bus to the domestic terminal to get home.  i didn't sleep until later that night and feel fine now.  i am covered with very itchy mozzie bites although i used mozzie spray.    i'm going to add some photos (of course).  the new airport is pretty specky but is still having teething problems.  we waited in the new departure lounge and my flight wasn't called.  a girl directed us to some stairs and we went down to the old airport.  the pa wasn't working and it was crowded and hot.  our plane was delayed for over an hour so i was relieved to get on board. when we were taxiing out to take off the man behind me started vomiting violently.  omg it was horrible.  everyone was strapped in and the crew couldn't help him until the seatbelt light went out.  i love going away but one of the best things about travelling is coming home.  sorry for such a long post.

our first very basic hotel.  i grew quite fond of it.  at least it was clean.

Ipul after a swim

fire dancers at skygarden

my favourite beach.  geger beach.  i didn't recognise it.  there were at least three new hotels.  huge and very crowded

the new toll road built over benoa harbour.  all materials and workers came over from java.  a huge undertaking. 

my beautiful wooden carved bed.  a brand new room room was very welcome

our dear friend Putu who has been laid low with dengue fever for a while now

hard rock hotel

the wall light in my room.  lovely

i'd like one of these

i didn't taste it.  shiny tea sounds delish doesn't it?

folding bike. very useful

cremation procession down the main street.  when they got to the roundabout they went around it really fast many times to confuse the evil spirits

treehouse restaurant.  my favourite

music shop.  i got my son's christmas present.  lots of ukuleles

i love you too.  there were several of these down our lane