an explosion or two

i'm thinking of renaming this blog the perils of Pauline Fran.  or, the misadventures of Fran.  i'll start at the beginning.  last night i finally got into bed and had read one page of my latest book (it's about reincarnation) when i heard a bang. i thought it was my back gate but didn't hear anything else so ignored it.  then i heard another two bangs and people talking so of course i got up to investigate.  i looked out of the spare room window which faces my car park and lo and behold there was lots of black smoke coming from over in the other car park.  my unit is in a u shaped block and we have two car parks.  there were flames which weren't visible.  i rang the fire brigade and they said that they were on the way.  next thing the flames rose above the house between me and the other car park and loud explosions with firework like effects.  it was very scary.  i heard the fire brigade arrive and saw their lights.  it took about 20 minutes to get it out.  of course the neighbours were out in our car park wondering what the heck was going on.  someone said that the car had been stolen.  i was watching all of this from the spare room window and talking to my son on the mobile.  he also had fire engines in his street which is something of a coincidence.  well, after nearly an hour i went back to bed and finally went to sleep.  then ... at precisely 5:30 am i was woken by a loud beep beep.  i thought it was the battery in the smoke alarm so when it didn't stop i got up, got out the step ladder and took out the battery.  i went into the bathroom and i heard it again.  beep beep.  oh, it's the downstairs smoke alarm i thought. when i went downstairs it went off again and was def. upstairs.  please remember i was half asleep and a bit slower than usual.  i was at a loss as to what it could be.  not my mobile, not the tablet, not the alarm.  next thing it went off again and it turned out to be the portable phone on the side table.  bloody hell, i didn't hang up properly when i rang the fire brigade many hours before.  drrrr.  so i hung up the phone and unsuccessfully tried to go back to sleep.  i think i got an hour before the alarm  went off.  i don't think it would have caused problems for the fire dept. as they'd have more than one line.

not much left of it is there?  the one park next to it didn't fare well either

the beetroot incident x 3

ahh, what can i say.  beetroot is a bitch to clean up.  esp. when it's all over the bench and most of the things on said bench.  luckily, it didn't go on the floor or cupboard doors.  phew.  firstly, i tipped a container of beetroot over in the fridge the other day.  you don't want to know about that cleanup.  :(  today, i was making a delish salad wrap for lunch when ...  i tipped over the container of beetroot.  it went everywhere.  but that's not the best bit.  i picked up the container and it slipped out of my hands and went all over my wrap.  another sad face :( lol. i think on reflection that it is the container that is at fault here.  i need one with a tighter lid.  so i cleaned it all up.  the dish washing water looked a bit ominous.  then, a very sharp knife got knocked off the bench and onto the floor.  this is where i think the accident fairies were looking after me (where were they before?).  it missed my foot by mere millimetres.  phew.  i had thongs on (my feet) and it could have been nasty.  so, it's all cleaned up and i've had a cup of coffee.  i don't know whether to go outside and sweep up some more or go up and have a shower.  my son and dil came over yesterday and we shifted some pot plants and garden stuff.  it's a mess but it's better than it was.  we did lots and were dirty and tired when we finished.  i was supposed to go up and see the kids for lunch today but my daughter couldn't make it so i went back to the garden.  might be time for a shower and a nana nap.  :)  enjoy your sunday

i found this lovely blue and white ball at the shop the other day

my son and g/daughter having a swing after gardening yesterday

lovely son and lovely dil Sharlene

remember the tree the council cut down recently?  it's growing again. my dil said i should have shade again in about 15 years. to be fair the tree is starting to rot from the inside.  it's not very healthy

me gardening.  i'm such a klutz at times

the beetroot mess, well some of it anyway

 

a new post

about absolutely nothing.  well not much anyhow.  i saw the g/kids on the australia day holiday.  they are doing well and back at school.  cookie joined the scouts last year and she really enjoys it.  ants is not a good scholar and doesn't like school which is a shame as he'll need to buckle down as he is in year 10 this year.  i will ring them later today and have a chat.  we may even skype.  :)

work is the same same.  nothing to report there.  always changes to cope with, some big, some small.

the spare room is looking much better.  i wouldn't say it's finished as there is always another box or drawer to go through but it is much improved.

the garden is alive and well and i haven't lost anymore fish.  there were five and now there are two.  their water looks clearer too which is nice.

i am going to see neil young in march at the entertainment centre.  my son and dil bought me a ticket as a gift. they are so good to me and i am lucky to have them.  i'm going with my son and a friend.  cool.

i'm looking forward to cairns in may but i am missing bali very much and i still want to go to vietnam.  never enough time and being the queen of procrastinators doesn't help.

here are some pics that i took recently -

Margaret's wedding cake made by a work friend who is  so talented.  gorgeous.

a banana that i found in the bottom of my crisper.  goodness knows how long it had been there.  ewwww

cookie biking along the river.  the tour down under was in full swing 

my curly leafed hoya finally flowered.  i've had it about two years and it's thriving