How not to spend days off ...

On Wednesday evening I stitched Three's jeans. Just as well the kids like the scruffy look! But at least he doesn't have a massive rip in the thigh of one leg of said jeans and he's happy so this is good. Dinner was really nice. A good Wednesday evening.

Yesterday I got up early for the kitchen guy. Who didn't show. I rang him 45 minutes past his due time and he was most apologetic that he had forgotten to ring me to tell me he couldn't make it. At least he was honest and didn't feed me some bullshit excuse. I went for a walk down to the beach and back - most pleasant. Then I stitched the hem on the circular skirt I made for the Mermaid ... that hem went on for EVER! And went and visited The Mermaid. My plan was to have lunch with her and leave around 1.00ish to get home and sew or shop or sit or something.

She had a turn last week (which sounds like Meniere's disease) and has been taking stemetil tablets to stop the dizzinesss. Only yesterday morning she decided that she should cut down (WHY?) and was feeling a bit better so she didn't take one. You guessed it, she started to feel a bit giddy and took one but it was too late. She had an attack so bad that she couldn't walk, could barely stand and then she started vomiting. After an hour of this I got another tablet into her and the vomiting stopped but she was still very pale and sweaty and obviously very unwell. What to do? I had been answering the phone and dealing with customers (great when you know stuff all - fortunately the customers were understanding and knew what they wanted and once I worked out how to open the drawer of the cash register I could at least make change!) but I had to get her home. I rang her son who said he would come down but it would take nearly an hour. I rang Himself who came and sat in the shop (we put the closed sign up) and I drove her home with bucket gripped tightly just in case. As we were leaving a woman came up and I explained the shop was shut as the owner was really sick and I had to get her home. She wasn't impressed which just reinforces the feeling that she really needs to get out of that business. She has no fall back and if I hadn't been there when the attack started who knows what she would have done. I got her home, her daughter left work early and came home and took her to the doctor who gave her a shot and a referral to a specialist which she will see on Monday.

Today I went over to Two's old place to clean. It wasn't too bad but needed a really good clean to make it look fresh. It's a very old place with cracks in the walls, the lino in the kitchen hasn't been laid properly and squishes when you walk on it and the sealant in the shower has mould growing under it so no amount of bleach will get rid of it. But between us (Two got there about half an hour after I did and GGF came after an exam) we got it looking pretty sparkly so I hope that they get all their bond back and that they let it tomorrow after the open for inspection. That would give the kiddles a few hundred much needed dollars.

I had thought it would only take me a couple of hours but I was there for 4 and a half hours and I think I'm going to be a bit stiff in the morning. That also meant that my plans to go fabric and pattern hunting came to nought. Not to worry, though. The kids were so grateful it was worth it. Two has also asked me to show him how to keep on top of things in the new place so they don't have to do it again. I told him I was more than happy to help this time as the first apartment is often less than sparkly due to ignorance. If it happens again, though, it's laziness! I'll show them how to do a quick weekly clean and what to do to keep on top of the big cleans.

Tomorrow I WILL get to Spotlight and I will sew this weekend.

Himself has spent the day trying to get his new mobile phone to communicate with the bluetooth handsfree set in his car. He is currently at the manufacturer of the incar kit getting some new software installed. You wouldn't think it would be such a big deal. The car is only 12 months old but the software in the new Nokia won't talk to it. I hope I don't have the same issues when I upgrade my phone.

It's nearly 4.00pm. I think I will go upstairs and sit!!

Wednesday, lovely Wednesday

I now have 4 days off.

Tomorrow I plan to see The Mermaid but may have to wait for the phone guy at Two's place for a few hours.  No problem.  I have my book and my cross stitching.  Himself will be home so it might be a good excuse to leave the house!  And the kitchen man is coming at 8.00 to replace a strip of laminate.  

On Friday I am going to clean Two and GGF's old place.  It shouldn't take long and the carpet is being cleaned tomorrow so I will really only have to clean the shower and the kitchen and get some marks off the wall.  They were quoted between $350 and $400.  I don't think so!!

Tomorrow night I am going to Soooz's for a champagne evening for a friend of hers.  Could be fun.

The weekend has no plans as yet.  I have a pair of jeans I need to fix for Three (might do that now as I am sitting in the sewing room and my machine has black thread in it).  I have fabric to cut out for a quilt (sheba's) and also fabric for pjs for a boy.  Not sure which boy, yet.

I also want to go to spotlight to get some patterns and fabric to make stuff for ME!

Dinner tonight will be smoked salmon and prawn salad.

Catchya ...

experiments

I have uploaded a couple of panoramas I took last year.  If you click on them you might get a better look.  If not then the experiment didn't work!

Jan, thanks for your comment yesterday ... send me an email and let me know how you're doing.

Work was good today.  Himself got SENT HOME from his work cos he was obviously full of cold.  I wonder if they thought he might start oinking.

He is currently cooking dinner - but not to MY specs so he'd better not stuff it up.  And he's making a fat splattering mess which I bet he won't clean up.  Hurrumph!!

And on that ungrateful note I shall go and sit and stitch.

Dr Teacher rang me this evening.  He is settling quite comfortably into single life so it's doubtful he and Mrs Teacher will get back together.  Sad.  Very sad.  But I'm glad he's had the guts to address the situation and seek a solution.

Happy Hump Day for tomorrow!!  I like Wednesdays almost as much as Fridays. :)

I do like to be beside the seaside.

I would rather be there than at work but when all is said and done work isn't too bad at the moment and it does help to finance things.  

Himself is still full of cold but left his work computer at work and seems a little less stressed this evening.  Two and GGF are settling into the new place well.  Three has picked up extra work in his holidays. One seems OK.  So for a moment I shall heave a big sigh of relief that the family are all good without any dramas.  I'm sure that will change as is the nature of families!

I am cooking a spag bol for dinner (and making a bit extra for Two and GGF as they are still busy and Two had to go back to the old place for something so wouldn't have had time to cook and they haven't had a proper meal in their new place so he can take some home).  I was reaching up to get the stock powder from the stupid cupboard above the stove with the narrow shelves (I'm sure everyone has one ... it's supposed to be a good use of the small amount of space left after the range hoods are fitted) and somehow managed to dislodge the shelf and everything came tumbling down.  Into the pan of bol. Which splattered everywhere.  The lid on the jar of pepper corns broke sending pepper corns all over the kitchen floor, the saffron threads scattered and you wouldn't believe the mess.

I've cleaned up as best as I can but am really pissed off as I did a huge clean last week and didn't want to have to do another one for a couple of weeks.  Effing sauce EVERYWHERE!!

I knew there was a reason Himself cooks!

He's tall.

Thanks!

It was lovely to see the comments regarding Tom.  Nice to know people do read this drivel every so often!  Tom seems a little better.  I think it's because I have been home a bit more.

And as I typed that he went and sat at the front door and started yowling!  Little shit!  I'll give him another week or so and if he doesn't settle I'll have to investigate the vet.

Two and GGF moved yesterday.  Himself hired a ute and did the big stuff and then he and I went to IKEA *groan* to buy them some furniture.  Needless to say the stuff we chose was out of stock!  We were able to get them a lovely couch and some chairs for their dining room table.  Like most young 'uns their decor could be described as eclectic (or a mishmash!) but it sort of works.  They are settling in well and it's lovely to see them so happy.

My overlocker is fixed and we picked it up yesterday so I am now going to go and finish some things left over from last weekend.

3 day working week this week.  I much prefer the two day working week!

Tom

When we were in the old house the two cats were outside cats in that they pretty well came and went as they pleased.  They didn't go far (to my knowledge!) and had their territory.  There were other cats in the neighbourhood and sometimes one or both of them would come home slightly the worse for wear after an altercation.

When we moved here we decided that it wasn't safe for the cats (foxes and snakes) or the bird life for the cats to be allowed free access to the great outdoors and we have them fenced in to the back courtyard.  They can sit on the balcony when we're home and watch the world go by and they can lie in the sun in the courtyard.  Except there is very little at this time of year.

Last week Tom snuck out the front door when I was saying goodbye to someone and we didn't realise until Himself went to put the rubbish out and found Tom sitting at the front door waiting to come in ... very pleased with himself.  I have no idea where he went but he obviously enjoyed it as he hasn't stopped yowling to be let out again.  It is becoming very annoying and I am worried that he is distressed at being shut in.  I also think that we haven't been home as much over the past few weeks and he's possibly  bored and lonely.  

I really hope he settles down soon or I will have to take him to the vet and see if there is anything I can do to stop the yowling.

*******************

I did a big clean today.  Cleaned the skirting boards, bleached the sinks, dusted the window frames as well as the usual dusting and vacuuming.  The place looks and feels great.  Soooz is trying to talk me into getting a cleaning lady to do the basics and I must admit I am torn but I do like the satisfaction of giving the place a thorough clean.  Maybe if I just had the floors done once a week I could do the dusting and other cleaning.

I am playing golf with a neighbour tomorrow and then we are having dinner at the club.  I'm really pleased that we are making friends outside the initial circle we had when we moved down here.

Two and GGF are moving into their new unit over the weekend and Himself will be helping them.  Hopefully I won't have to get too involved.  I have other things to do and there's not a lot I can do to help with the actual move.  All the boys will be helping so that should be enough muscle.  

It's suddenly got dark so I'll close the blinds and settle in for the evening.  I am cooking tonight so I'd better make it good!

a bit more information - in no particular order

One day last week (think it was tuesday) I got to work and found my boss had replied to an email I had sent her at 1 in the afternoon at 10.30 at night!  In a very negative way.  And then when she actually got into work and I started discussing another issue with her she shot me down in flames yet again.  And the opinions I was expressing weren't mine but that of one of the consultants we refer to when needed.  

I sort of snapped and pointed out what she was doing, how it was affecting me and why I was thinking of leaving.  It was a good conversation in so far as any of those sort of conversations can be and we cleared the air and things have been much better since.  Yes, I could have done this sooner but I am one who would rather walk away than risk any sort of confrontation unless I am so wound up it sort of spills over.  

Father in law had been taking medication that looks as if it hasn't been reviewed for some time and as a result he blacked out and fell into the glass inserts on their front door.  His stay in hospital sorted the meds out and Himself has laminated all our phone numbers so that if anything happens again like this we can be contacted.  But I am still so shitty with my brothers in law who didn't think to contact us.  My family is far from perfect but if anything happens to the parents we are in constant contact with each other even if it means telling someone something they already know.

My overlocker went into be looked at today.  It could cost me a bit which I will be really pissed off about but if I caused the problem I guess I can't complain (well I can but noone will listen!).  And it will be 7-10 days so I guess I will be doing a lot of patchwork.  And cross stitching.  I'm stitching something for MIL for Christmas and it's driving me batty.  I need to get a smallish area finished and then I'll be able to enjoy the rest of it.

and on that note I'm off to eat dinner, watch TV and stitch.

And Chris gave me a award.  My first ever.  I'm quite chuffed!