Weather

We've had a lot of it!

I dusted and vacuumed on Tuesday morning.  The security system person came and fixed the thing so we have phone/back to base alarm AND the internet.  While he was here I had a look at the shutters and realised that what I had thought was more smoke was, in fact, dust.  The strong winds had whipped up dust from god knows where (country Vic I think) and dumped it on Melbourne - along with a sprinkling of rain.  So every surface in the house was covered in black dust.  And any surface near a window (I had most of the open a bit to get a breeze) was covered in a find layer of mud!  I have just about cleaned it all up.  There are few areas I need to tackle but they can wait until I do my next big clean.  And some dust has resettled so will have to go over the areas we use regularly.  sheesh.

I briefly caught up with The Mermaid yesterday.  Things are still looking grim for her and she cannot sell her shop.  On top of that both her kids have moved back home and expect her to provide for them.  She can't provide for herself at the moment.  I'm hoping that she will realise that sooner rather than later she will have to get rid of what stock she can and just walk away.  Or she stands to lose everything.

Three had his first presentation at TAFE today.  The thing I like about TAFE over uni is that they really do have a vocational focus.  The kids had to dress as if they were giving the presentation in the work force (so a suit for Three rather than grungy jeans).  Sounds silly but by the time they come to do all this for real it will feel so familiar.  He assured me he WASN'T NERVOUS but I was still relieved to get the text message to say he had "aced it".  

Now, what to do for the rest of the day.  Seeing as it's nearly lunch time and I've just had breakfast!  I slept in (still on annual leave!) and then went for a walk/jog down to the beach which was just lovely.  Cool, breezy with a bit of drizzle.  Most invigorating.  Then I did a little bit of work on the fitness ball and bunged some washing in the machine (the stuff that was on the line when the dust storm/rain came the other day).  I'm thinking of going and getting some fish for dinner and popping into the aquarium to see why I have had several fish in the tank die.

Or I could clean out the appliance cupboard.

Or I could cross stitch.

Or, if I got off my arse I could do it all!

Speaking of cross stitching ... we had some more violent winds yesterday and our power supply was interrupted.  We have a couple of torches and dinner could have been cooked on the bbq if necessary.  I was cross stitching and it was getting hard to see.  Himself nipped into the supermarket and came back with an LED head light.  It made stitching so much easier.  I'll use it in the evenings when we're watching telly and don't want all the lights on.  And if I ever decide to go for a walk down to the beach in the dark it will illuminate the path.

Now I am going to do something!

Teeth

So I went to the dentist.  I saw the hygienist first.  She commented that my teeth really needed a clean.  *blush*  So she scraped and scraped and scrubbed and polished and now I can feel the gaps between my teeth and my gums.  She also identified that several of my teeth have cracks in them.  OH SHIT  I do NOT do dentist stuff.  The dentist then came in ... a really lovely bloke and we chatted about how well Two's teeth had come up (in fact everyone I came into contact with at the surgery commented on how well Two's teeth had come up!!) and then he had a look and confirmed that 3 or 4 (can't remember) have tiny cracks and one needs attention asap.  He told me what was involved and started to tell me the cost ... I don't care about how much it costs, how much will it HURT?  He assures me it will be fine.  One visit only (as opposed to at least two for a crown) and I will be in the chair for an hour.  Erk.  And he will keep an eye on the others to see if they deteriorate to a point where they will need fixing (porcelain somethingorothers).  I asked him to do them all but he refused.  So I guess I'll HAVE to go back in 6 months or risk breaking a tooth and needing a crown.  Bugger.

Today has been described as having weather conditions as bad as Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday.  They have amended the top temperature from 32C to 26C but the winds are the issue.  And, boy, is it windy.  And overcast and smoky.  I had planned to go to the movies but need to be here for the security system people (who were meant to come yesterday) to come and fix the system they activated last week.  The techo didn't put the right gadget on the phone line so it was internet or security.  Guess which won?!  I miss our old internet and cable TV but we don't have the facilities here so it's all via Telstra phone lines and satellite.  I vacuumed and dusted this morning and am doing bits and pieces of washing and just bludging today.  Unfortunately my plans for tomorrow have also been mucked up as I have to wait in for the TV people to come and fix the damn thing AGAIN.

Dinner last night was homemade quiche (including the pastry!) and salad.  And left over lemon meringue pie.  Tonight I plan to have spag bol with left over frozen sauce from the other week.  Just need to get some pasta and salad.  Last week I bought a Kenwood Chef as I have had a hankering for baking - now I need to replace the baking tins I tossed when we moved (they were rusty).  Then I shall bake away and take the results into work.  We share kitchen space with the volunteers and I'm sure they wouldn't say no to something yummy for morning tea.  And that way I get the pleasure of baking without the kilos on the scales.  

And now I shall go and do some cross stitching ... quite domesticated, I am!!

Autumn

At last.  Yesterday saw the first day of autumn.  We will still experience days over 30C and the bush fires are still a serious threat in country Victoria but OFFICIALLY summer is over.  The days are noticeably getting shorter (we will have the autumn equinox in three weeks) and even the hot days have that lazy, late summer feel rather than the intense, agitating heat of early and mid summer.  

I am halfway through my break and haven't done much!  Last week I cleaned out the pantry and fridge and will attack the appliance cupboard this week.  And maybe our wardrobe.  And I plan to see at least one movie this week.  This afternoon I am seeing the dentist.  Oh joy.  Not.  It's only for a checkup and clean but that is enough to send me into spasms of terror.  I might take my iPod shuffle so I can concentrate on something else.  The only reason I made the appointment was I had to go and finalise Two's account after all his orthodontic work and something in me made me make the appointment.   And they had a cancellation for today so I  didn't even get a week or so to pluck up my courage.  Oh well.  It will all be over this evening.  And yes.  I am a terrible coward when it comes to the dentist.

I have regained so much weight after my wonderful efforts of 2007.  It is making me very depressed.  I know that I can do it but it is quite daunting.  Oh well.  Himself is in the same boat so we plan to nut out some strategies this afternoon.  We both need to move more and eat and drink less.  

Yesterday One, Two and GGF came over for golf and then we had everyone except Three's girlfriend for dinner.  It was a lovely evening with lots of laughs.  Himself made a slow cooked casserole with mashed peas and I made a lemon meringue pie.  Good wholesome, home cooked food.  Good family company.  We are blessed.

OK.  Time to clean my teeth and make my way to the dentist.  I often think that dentists must see life through a haze of spearmint!  Rather like the queen who, wherever she goes, smells fresh paint!

What a lovely day

We had a very enjoyable evening at the club last night.  The food was better than usual, the company was great as always and it was just a lovely relaxing dinner.

I don't know if I have mentioned before but we have an issue with our balcony.  It has rather a slope on it.  We have brought it up with the builder who says various things but ultimately they mean "not our problem and we ain't gonna fix it".  Himself has been a bit like a terrier with a bone and won't let it go.  Yesterday we had an 'independent' person (paid by the builder!!) around to look at the balcony (and our shower which has NO slope and the water pools - and the builder has said there's nothing wrong with THAT either!).  The upshot is that this bloke agreed that the shower is wrong but, whilst he agrees that there is a slant on the balcony, because there are no building standards applicable to balconies (other than appropriate water run off - off which we have plenty!) it can be used as designed.  I knew this would piss Himself off but it really upset him and he woke up quiet depressed and anxious.  I thought we were in for a pretty crap weekend.  We went shopping for bits and pieces and he wasn't terribly helpful but then we came home, had a quick (very late) brunch and then went for a bike ride.  Apart from the fact that the saddle was very uncomfortable (and Three has since verified it's a "bitch" to ride on!) he enjoyed himself.  We then wandered down to the beach where I had a lovely paddle and then came home.  It turned into a lovely Saturday.

Three is home.  I am cooking chicken schnitzel for dinner and then settling in for some good old Brit telly.  Tomorrow we have our golf lesson with Two and GGF (One is in Bendigo with Jade - his new girlfriend - so he will miss out) and then Suze and Neil are coming over for dinner.  We are going to do a slow cook casserole.  Not really the sort of thing one would eat in February but, hopefully, it won't be too hot and it's easy to bung on in the morning and then forget about it so Himself, Two, GGF and I can play 9 holes in the late afternoon and not have to worry about getting dinner on.  I shall also make chocolate mousse in the morning.

I think I have got this holiday thing under control.  I emailed the gym yesterday and cancelled the personal training for now.  I am enjoying the walking and the bike riding and am over the moon the Himself is doing it, too.  So we can egg each other on.  I have never exercised well with him before but this time we seem to be OK.  Neither one of us wants to be seen to wuss out.

So on that note, I shall go and get dinner on the go.

Friday

Friday's always used to be my favourite day of the week.  I still like Fridays cos they are the gateway to the weekend but now that I work part time (and even more so RIGHT now when I'm on annual leave) they don't have the same edginess to them.

Yesterday Suze and I went shopping and to see Ghost Town.  I laughed out loud in several places.  I wasn't expecting much but thoroughly enjoyed it.  I bought a couple of tops (3 actually), some knickers, some facial stuff (and got bonus gift with purchase ... good value) and dinner.  Which wasn't quite a disaster but wasn't as good as the other meals I've cooked this week.  I tried to do like a chicken wellington and it just wasn't quite right.  Never mind.  We are going to the club tonight so I won't have to think about what to cook.

I really enjoyed the bike ride on Wednesday and plan another one today.  I have to go and pick a parcel up from the post office (not sure what it could be), buy a birthday present for a friend (who will be at the club tonight) and a few other bits and pieces so might not get the ride in as Himself is coming home a bit early so we can go for our walk.  He has tentatively agreed to a bike ride tomorrow.  We'll see.

It's rather overcast this morning with a few spots of rain.  A decent downpour would be wonderful.  At least the smoke isn't bad.

And on that note I shall get a move and get things happening.

Speedy

• dinner's just about cooked
• need to get it out of the oven and onto the table
• want to update 
• bike ride and walk yesterday
• shopping and movies today
• walk with himself in the evening (3 days out of 3 ... yay)
• dinner burning
• veges overdoing
• bugger
• tomorrow ...

Decisions decisions

I do NOT make them easily.  Yesterday I went to the supermarket and spent 25 minutes trying to decide what brand of breakfast cereal to get!  All Bran in the end, if you're interested.  I like the odd way it tastes and the way it all mushes up in the milk.  And I have it with fruit and yoghurt on top.

When Himself came home in the evening we went for the big walk (all around the river rather than just to the beach and back).  It was very pleasant.  The smoke haze was much less and there was a gentle breeze.  So I DID get some exercise in yesterday, after all.

Today I was meant to do stuff with Suze but we have changed our plans to tomorrow so will catch up with the Mermaid, grab some fish for dinner and maybe go for a bike ride this afternoon.

But the main thing today is that I was able to get up.  Granted, it was rather later (after 8.30 but I AM on holidays!) but I didn't have the horrible feelings prior which have afflicted me over the past few days.  It actually reminded me of how I used to feel when the kids were at school.  The sense of emptiness and not having anything to do.  Which is silly, I know.

Anyway, I got up because I had this blog to update and I started my cross stitching yesterday and enjoyed it (even though it has made me realise how poor my eyesight has become - my multifocal glasses aren't the best for this sort of work, might need to get reading glasses as well).

Better get a wriggle on, it's gone 10.00 and I have THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO GO :)

I might enjoy this annual leave, yet.