Up And About!

Yesterday, I committed a sin in my house... this sin was watching daytime television!  Yes, it's a big no-no to turn on the television and watch anything from the television times during the day as it makes one a couch potato.  And this was a promise I made myself years ago; the main reason why my television is always switched off at the wall.

Anyway, I had finished stuffing around on the computer here and thought to go downstairs and see what I could do there.  My foot was hurting more than usual after my shower, so I thought to surf the channels to see what movie was on... not much, until I found 'The Doctors' on channel 90.  This is a panel of 5 doctors who are from different fields who help people through a television show.  There's an ER doctor, a plastic surgeon, a women's health doctor, a nutritionist and a GP.  And they all work together on this panel... it's a good show and goes for an hour.  Then, after it finished, I turned over to channel 7 where 'Dr Oz' was having fun with his audience; getting them to interact and look at their fingernails and understand about house hold cleaners... it was funny and good.  Meanwhile, I sat on the lounge and worked on a painting that had been sitting idle for about three months.  Over the two hours I sat there, I made it look good... and I'm glad I got something done on it.

Today, I woke up, looked outside and realised that yesterday's television viewing wasn't going to happen again.  I needed to get back into my usual routine of laundry and keeping the house running - sore foot or not.  So,I grabbed a rubbish bag from the office and stuffed my dirty laundry into it, tied it up and tossed it down the stairs where it landed against the front door.  Okay, that was ready to go, I readied myself to get down the stairs in a more orderly fashion.  

Once downstairs, I opened up the house, went outside and pulled the towel off the Basil plant and looked around, then put on the first load of laundry - towels - and started the washing up.  Then, once the first two loads of laundry were out on the line, and I had eaten breakfast, I readied myself for the long walk to the post office (I say long because my pace has slowed somewhat since last week).  

Anyway, once there, I faxed a bank, sent off a cheque from my health care fund and got money out and had a chat to the people who ran the post office as they asked me what happened for me to be on a walking stick.  It was then time for me to recharge my phone at the service station across the road.  So, I did that and chatted with the lady there too before returning home.

All of this took me about an hour when usually it took me twenty minutes if I didn't have the broken toe.  By the time I had returned home, I thought to phone Will and see how he's doing and we chatted for 20 minutes and he was happy to know I'm healing well.  He thought my shopping day was funny - with me in a wheelchair for the day - and said he had Sunday and Monday off and was looking forward to them. 

Well, that's been my day so far.  I've still got a few things to do around the place before I finish up for the week.  However, tomorrow is sure to be a big day for me as it's The World's Greatest Shave day... and I'll be out of the house before 8am.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Promises This Winter

I'm making myself promises this Winter to change a lot of things around my place.  And seeing I've got some thinking time to do just that, for now, I thought to get in and write them here.

I've been saving up big to get in and organise my garden.  Now, I've been saying that for a few years; and this year is the year where it will happen.  The crazy neighbour of the unit complex has left and now is the time to fix up the yard - to strike while the iron is hot - to make my place look classy and nice.  First the front garden area.  Years ago, I made it look a piece by making it into a lovey desert garden full of succulents and cacti.  However, some of my more selfish and destructive neighbours destroyed that.  So, I moved all the plants that survived out the back and let my front yard go to waste.  Now, I'm going to cover the ground with white river stones and border it with black uncut granite (they are bigger and less expensive) and leave the full-grown Small Leaf Jades in with the blue stone so that their colour pops more.  This will cost a bit, but I'll get that done first so it looks good now.

After I've saved up more money, I'll go and buy pots and potting mix and plants then get my butt into the backyard and repot most of the plants there while they are all dormant and 'sleeping' through the Winter.  By Spring and Summer, they'll be ready to grow and bloom again.  I'll also be adding to the yard some new plants to bring my yard some privacy, life and make it truly my own little universe.  

While I'm working on the plants, I'll also work on getting some statues and making it look and feel like it's bigger than it actually is; and find out what I can do with some of the space and work out some good little rooms I can create if I can.  I'll keep you posted about that plan of the yard.  I have photographed the yard in its present state, but what I really want to do is make the lawn space a little smaller and give it more character so I can look at it and know I've done a good job as well as not have to work on it too much (does that make sense?).  Well, until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Grocery Shopping

Today, I went out shopping with Mum and Dad's assistance.  They hired a wheelchair from the chemist down the road from them and picked me up.  This was a first for me - ever - to have this much help when it came to my shopping!  But it had to be done.  

As they arrived, it poured rain!  That'd be right... just as I was about to leave the house, I get wet and have to try and run to the car when the doctors ordered me not to do any kind of exercise.  Well, I made it to the car and hopped my way into the front seat without getting too wet and we were on our way; firstly to the post office.  Dad checked my PO Box and I found I didn't have any mail.  So, that was good - no mail, no bills.

We drove to Woolworths at Logan Central and parked underneath where it was nice and dry.  However, we though we might not find a park; but we did.  There were plenty of spaces to spare!  Mum picked one and the chair came out, I plonked my butt into it and we were on our way to shop at Woolworths for my fruit and veggies.  It didn't take long and we found there were a few things I couldn't get because they were going out of season; never mind.  It happens.

Once we were done there, we were back in the car and drove to Logan Central Plaza where we parked and I was back in the chair again.  But there's no undercover carpark here, so we had the weather to contend with and huge puddles of rain water across the carpark.  Dad and I jay-walked across the road, made it across to the footpath and Mum came up to us and said that a bolt fell out of the chair and handed over a long bolt to Dad... hmmmmm... wonder where that came from?  So long my butt didn't suddenly fall out of the chair I was happy.

Dad was off to the toilets while Mum and I went to Woodys' Music Store to pay off a layby.  Stephen served me and asked exactly what I did to end up in the chair; then laughed about how I broke my toe; especially when Mum said I was drunk! Hahaa.. gotta laugh at it really.  I paid off my layby and we went outside to wait for Dad.  He soon caught up with us and we walked down to Coles where he and I waited for Mum (as she was off to use the Ladies' loos).  And soon enough, she was with us and we were off going up and down the isles of Coles grabbing things off the shelves and getting into the serious grocery shopping.  I stuck by my list and made sure I bought only what was on there.  I did forget a few little things and added them to it; but I ended up coming in under budget.  How cool is that?  We also avoided anymore rain by walked up through the complex again to get to the car.  I had more people who worked at Coles who knew me as a regular customer ask me what happened and I told them quickly.  They hoped I was back on my feet again quickly.  Dad commented that a lot of people knew me; and I said that I always shopped there and so they got to know the regulars.  It's good to know that I'm one of them.

Well, now I'm home, the shopping has been put away and one of my friends has been around for a visit.  She asked how it all went today.  Truthfully, I'm tired from the outing and the half hour it took to put all my groceries away with just one good foot to lean on.  Otherwise, it's been a good day.  I will be sleeping well tonight.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Thinking Time

With my whole week turned into slow motion with the assistance of a walking stick, I have found that everything has to be done in its own time.  I can't rush anywhere or I'll feel like somebody's pushing a sharp stick straight through my left foot!  And with that pain, I feel sick to the guts.  So, going slow, not twisting around too quick and making sure I'm on a flat surface does me wonders. 

I'm also planning ahead for the day.  Yesterday, I found myself hobbling around the lounge, tidying it up so I could stretch my left leg along it comfortably without bumping anything.  This was harder than I thought possible.  I had to make sure all the remote controls were within reach, as well as the cordless phone (thank god I got new batteries for that thing!) and my mobile, camera and my iTouch.  Then, I piled up the books from next to my bed that I wanted to sort out, my journal, the book I'm writing for Riley, a notepad for the shopping list this week and my knitting bag with my needles inside it.  It was then I had to also make sure the television was switched on at the wall as well and figure out if all the dvds that I wanted to watch were where I thought I had left them (and they were).  

By this time, I was out of breath and really needed a drink to pull my sugars back up.  I grabbed the walking stick and limped off to the kitchen and made myself a nice, tall ice coffee... yum!... and then found it twice as hard to take it back to the coffee table!  I had to play a silly game of relay with the glass!  I put it on the kitchen counter, then had to leave the kitchen, round the corner, down the hall, into the living room, grab the glass, put it onto the kitchen table, then move a bit closer to the coffee table and then, pick it up again make sure I didn't spill any as I put it on the coffee table as I balanced on my right foot along with the walking stick... it was like having a home version of an obstacle race in slow motion.  And it was annoying as hell too.

The best thing I did was call a friend of mine I hadn't talked to in months.  We've been friends since high school and can pick up from a conversation from last year after 6 months... and that's very cool!  She heard about what I happened on Saturday morning and said it will take ages for the pain to leave me alone, but I'll be okay.  Then, we laughed about funnier things - like when her brother cooked a rotten egg, thinking he could cook it out!  Yuk!  It was one of the funniest things I've ever heard!  I told her about the book I'm doing up for Riley and she reckons I'm one of the best examples of an Aunty she knows; one who is supposed to spoil their niece (because that's how it goes) seeing I don't have any children myself.  We talked about Dad's new car, relationships, hexes and other things as well before she had to go.  And when I looked at the time on the phone, we had been talking for 1 1/2 hours!  For the next few hours, I watched a few sitcoms, wrote out the shopping list and sorted through a couple of books that were piled on top of my coffee table, and before I knew it, 3 hours had passed!  It was a good afternoon of rest for my foot, but it was also time for dinner.  So, up onto my feet again I was!

Today, I'll be doing the same thing after I take a nice hot shower and washing my hair.  I wonder how many books I'll be looking at today.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.  

Changed Plans This Week

Isn't it funny when you do one little thing that it can change your whole world for the next week?  Amazing, eh?  Well, as you've read, I'm off my feet - literally - for the next week.  So, I have to change my plans for a few days.

First things were first, I went out and bought a paper.  This took about 20 minutes; when it normally took 2 minutes.  How frustrating!  But I got to see and talk to people I don't normally talk to.  And it was a nice - if not slow - start to my day.  My breakfast was cold by the time I sat down to it... oh well, doesn't matter, porridge is porridge.  

But that's when I began planning what I needed to do for the next week.  I had an appointment to cancel at the CRS tomorrow morning and my shopping list to get written today for Mum to take me shopping on Wednesday.

However, I'm going to mainly be sitting down and reading and knitting today and tomorrow as much as I can.  I know that sounds dead boring to some of you, but really, I have had a pile of half-read books by my bed that I need to finish that have been there for the last 6 months!  I kid you not!  They are my guilty pile I keep running into and it's time I looked at them and figured out if I'm ever going to finish them; and this week is the perfect time to do just that!

So, today, I pulled out my trusty backpack and brought it upstairs with me and have piled about 10 books into the bag to take with me downstairs to pile onto the coffee table so I can work through them.  If I can finish a couple of them, great!  If I pick one up and find it dead boring, well, I suppose it's not meant to be.  I have a book or two that are borrowed from a friend; and he's asked if I'm finished with them.  The first one is in this particular pile and I'm going to look into reading this first book.  I hope I do get into reading it and enjoy it as it's a Sara Douglass book and she passed away recently.  

I've also got some serious knitting to get done. So, yesterday, while I was getting ready to go out, I tidied up my living room of all the balls of yarn and stuck them into the green bag by the credenza.  When I arrived home, I put that bag next to the lounge so I can easily pull my knitting out and work on it.  It'll still be there this week for me to work on when I'm not reading.  I've also got some dvds I'd like to watch before the week is out as I've got some looking at me through the glass where the stereo sits waiting for me to watch (and Mum got me them months ago and I still haven't watched them!  Sorry Mum, been busy) them.  So, I'm going to watch them too.  

Well, I thought I might be bored this week... along with my shopping day on Wednesday, I will have a lot to do.  I might even get in and do a little organising on the garden more... and see where I can save more money.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Oh Man! I'm A Clutz!

Tonight, I'm supposed to be out at a '80's Icon Party for a birthday.  However, instead I'm here writing this post with my foot up on a dis-used, broken shredder.  Yep, you read right, my foot.  I have broken a toe in my left foot and it hurts like hell.  

Okay, today was supposed to be different, fun, enjoyable, relaxing, silly... anything but agonising and feeling like I wanted to cut off my foot and put it somewhere until the pain went away.  I know that sounds stupid, but that's how I feel about pain; I want to disconnect and have it leave me alone until everything's okay again.  But our bodies don't work that way; and it'd be dangerous if they did.  

So, after I organise the rest of my outfit, I trundled downstairs and missed the last two, ending up on my knees... not a great sight or feeling.  It was horrible.  I sat up, swearing and cursing knowing I was a complete clutz for missing the steps I normally knew were there; and yet, as I stood, I felt immense pain in my left foot and sat back down again.  By the time I pushed my foot into a shoe and gotten myself to the shop and back, I knew something was wrong... as it never took me 10 - 15 minutes to get there and back (and getting back took longer than going there).  So, I called Mum and Dad and then the doctors and by 10:40am, I was off the doctors (this was after I climbed the stairs and shimmied down them twice on my butt - stop laughing, my foot hurt really badly).  

Dad arrived with the same walking stick I used for the recovery from my Melanoma and took me to the doctors where she confirmed it that one of my toes were broken... damn!... and she wanted x-rays.  So, we were off to the one at Rochedale; which ended up being closed... double damn!... so Mum called up the people at Woodridge and we made it there in record time and I ended up being the very last patient for the day.  And yep!  I have a hairline fracture on the tiny bone between the end bone and longer bone that connects to the foot itself... how bloody painful can it get?  Thank god I took three painkillers before I left the house!  They worked a real treat for the day.  I hung out at Mum and Dad's place and stuffed around on the net too... it was a good day.

Mum made me lovely lunch with a home made ice coffee (a big one as I needed the sugar) and then, she gave me some very sweet seedless grapes...it was a good day.  But soon enough, it was time for me to go home.  I just wanted to be in my own place to have something to eat and settle in.  

When I did arrive, the truth stared me in the face that I wasn't going to the costume party... bummer!... and I really did want go to.  I had to learn to navigate around the house with this damned walking stick and my foot in a flip-flop!  My foot stiffened up, so I massaged the arch and then the toes ached swelled up, so I iced it... and once that stopped, I put the packed ice back in the freezer.  It's not going to be fun, but I'm hoping to keep off my feet by doing something I can do on my butt.

This something is sorting through and reading what I haven't finished by my bed.  It's a good way to keep it all in some kind of order.  If I can finish them - great!  I'll do a review and pass them onto another Bookcrosser.  However, if I can't finish them, I'll just chalk it up to a book I can't get into and give the said books away in a giveaway (I'll think of a name for it yet.  I'll just have to find out how many there are of books that I haven't been able to read).

So, that was the beginning of my weekend... not a great one, but not a great loss!  How was the beginning of your weekend?  What are you getting up to?  Let us all know.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Which Mug?

As quite a few of you know, I've got a good mug collection in my kitchen cupboard.  And also, a few of you Brisbane-based friends and relatives of mine have been to my place for a cup of tea or coffee and have been treated to a few of my favourites.  

Then, just yesterday, I was treated to a lovely post on the Romance Bandits where one of their writers talked about mugs and how many they have and what types, styles and colours.  Well!  We were asked about our own collections and I told them of mine.  I had never had so many questions about my own collection before.  To me, my mugs are just a part of my furniture; something that isn't all that special.  However, to my dear friends on that blog, these mugs are lovely and to behold.  So, I thought to talk about them here.

I have about twenty or so (which shocked a friend of mine on the phone yesterday; who has only 3 mugs in his collection).  

I have a JRR Tolkien mug which has a crack running through the handle - so I can't use it - but it stays in the collection.  I has a lovely drawing of him and a large paragraph down the side.  It's very nice and cool; all in black and white. 

Then, I have a Dr Who Mug, which I picked out myself at the ABC shop.  It was a good price at $12.95; and I love it.  I keep this one at the front of the cupboard and enjoy it because of what it's about and would love to get another one soon.

There's my two Gloria Jeans Mugs which I bought on two separate occasions; but they hold a lot of tea or coffee.  And to add to them, I have a Gloria Jeans Christmas Mug Collection (which stopped being made in 2010 because the coffee house found other things to support at the time and never made another lot of Christmas Mugs; what a bummer!).  I love these mugs; they hold so much tea or coffee!

There's my Stefen mug which I scored for free in 1998 at a jobs day at Brisbane City Hall when the man himself made an appearance to talk about how he made his money and where he came from.  I found it inspiring; and have never given away this mug because I love the colours.

I have the W.A. Mozart mug that Mum brought back from Austria for me (along with a collection of other Mozart things too).  She also bought me my Hawthorne Hawks mug that she found in - of all places - Mooloolaba!  How it got to be there, we still don't know.  But it was there and she bought it for me.

I have two Triple M mugs - one from the 1980's and one from the 1990's - and I love them both.  They are so brilliant and very cool; and I still listen to the same radio station after all this time too!  I also have an X-files mug as well.  I don't know anyone who has one of those!  And I also have a Phantom mug too - this one has his face all over it; something that they don't make anymore, so I don't use it much.

I have three sets of matching mugs.  One set is from a wine company which came around to my house last year and they offered up a set of free coffee mugs with matching spoons.  And so that's how I got those ones.  Then, I bought the next set from Coles of black, green and white ones that look like vines.  And then, I have a set of 5 Loony Tunes mugs.  I saw them and couldn't resist them!  They were so cute and I thought they'd be funny to use; and they are!

So, what kind of mugs do you have in your cupboards?  Are they old-fashioned and retro?  Or are they up-to-date and sophisticated?  Leave a comment and let us know.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Favourite Photos Time - February!

Wow!  It's almost a week into March and I forgot about this post... darn!  Oh well.  Better late than never!  Here we go on my favourite photos from last month! 

 

Fun, Wet Sunday

Since late last night, I've had songs of Jamiroquai bouncing around in my head.  Yesterday was just like a whole bunch of them... really.  I thought it was going to rain but it fined up and I caught my buses out to Eagle Street Pier and jumped on a City Cat to the Powerhouse.  And I arrived right on midday where the breezes were lovely, summery and warm.  The sun was out and pretty too.  Will was the only one there sitting on the picnic table and he called out to me.  We were all supposed to meet up at the gazebo, but there was a birthday party going on there; so met up at the last place we were at last month.

I joined him on the table and pulled out the cd I burnt for him on Saturday morning of Jamiroquai's 'High Times' and in turn he gave me a necklace he made for me.  I put it on and found it did help me during the meditation; keeping my mind on the visualisation.

Before everyone else arrived, I we chatted and I showed Will some of the gear I brought with me that I wasn't going to show anyone else; like my Witch's Wand and Book of Shadows.  He was amazed at how beautifully-made the wand was and sad that The Crystal Man at the Southbank Markets no longer sold them.  He did say that I got a good deal on it though; considering the size of the crystals and the stone that was attached to it.  But he wouldn't open my BoS; saying it was more of private thing, knowing it was something of a bible for me to read and refer to and write in.  I told him that there were only spells, oils, the meanings of stones and moon phases in it; that's all.  Nothing personal, but I did know a few darker spells and didn't know what to do with them.  Will said to get another BoS and make sure it's got a lock on it to keep the dark spells in; so that they are safer, which makes sense.

He looked at all my crystals and loved the Rose Quartz I had (which is the biggest crystal I have) and said that I had a good little collection so far; and the little bag of stones I showed him were cute.  He could identify most of them, but not all of them.

Before we knew it, a few others showed up and we all put our food on the table and began to eat while Will spread out a tarp and his blanket to put out his massive crystal.  This was when I pulled out my crystals (minus my wand and Book of Shadows and Tarot Cards) to have them placed.  We ate and enjoyed the company of everyone as more arrived - but not as many as last month - and Will, Yang and I stretched ourselves with Yoga on the damp grass before the meditation began.  However before we could all sit, a heavy shower of rain came over and we sheltered under the massive tree.  A few of us had brought along umbrellas and I had fortunately thought to use my Boag's bag (which is insulated inside) and so none of my electronic gear got wet.

Once the shower passed and we uncovered the crystals, put out more blankets, we all sat around and Deb lead the meditation.  She did a Gnome Meditation this time; which involved crystals and personal messages.  It was great for me because I found I could concentrate better.  However, almost as soon as it was finished, and we had talked about our messages, we packed up and took off because it was getting dark and looking like more rain was on its way.  Will and I caught the next City Cat.  I got off at Southbank (as last time when I got off at Eagle Street Pier, it was completely deserted and spooky; and I got lost on the way to Lower Edward Street), and he stayed on board until his stop around the bend of the river.  Then, I walked to the bus stop on Melbourne Street and waited for around 20 minutes to catch a 555 bus to Springwood.  Once on board, I went to sms Mum when she called me and I told her what happened.  

When I arrived at Springwood the sun had just gone down and Dad picked me up.  He asked me lots of questions to do with this new group I was with.  Both Mum and him are concerned about how late I was getting home and I tried to explain that it wasn't my fault that it rained at 3pm when we wanted to do our meditation.  However, when I was on the phone to Mum later last night, I explained where I was in town and she relaxed knowing that Southbank was safe enough and crowded too.  

I tried to get an early night, after my shower and after eating some leftovers from Saturday night.  But, once the rain began (and I got the ABC channels back onto my HD Box - yay!), I found myself in bed by around 11pm.  I was stuffed, but I was glad to get to bed and asleep.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

What Happened To Shine?

Today, it was raining and I looked at the television times to see what old movies were on channel 22 for tonight.  Usually, they put on a double-header of old classics from the 1980's or really old black'n'white ones between 8:30pm - 12:30am... and there's no adverts to interrupt them once they get started; which is great!  I look forward to seeing these movies each week and when I pull the television times from The Sunday Mail.

However, tonight - at around 6pm - I checked channel 24 for the weather tomorrow.  Then, at around 7pm, I turned it over to channel 22 to watch the show before the movie 'Shine' (which I was hoping to watch tonight; as I love it) when it showed that the channel didn't exist on my HD Box.  So, I rescanned the box and watched it carefully as it went through all the channels; only to find that none of the channels from the ABC were scanned in.  I unplugged and replugged the box, pulled out the antenna and switched off the whole system from the wall and restarted it from scratch (which is really annoying, but sometimes it works)... but no go.  I called my folks to see if they lost the channels too, but they hadn't. 

So, I did the last thing possible:  I called the ABC in Sydney.  The number is a local Brisbane number, but it sends me to Sydney.  They hadn't had anyone from here in Brisbane call them with anything like this tonight and asked if Brisbane had had any storms.  I said no, but we have had rain; but that couldn't have done it because the channels were working right up until around 6pm.  This puzzled the receptionist as much as it annoyed me.  She put me through to the trouble-shooting section (which was a voicemail which wouldn't be looked into until Monday; but she told me that it's best if I report it so they know something's wrong) and I left my name, number and what was going wrong with my HD Box.

I called my folks back and told them what I ended up doing and Dad said that's all I could do.  It was a pity I couldn't watch what I had planned; and I ended up writing down 'Shine' to be a dvd that I put on layby next year so if this happens again, I can just toss it on the dvd player.  However, it looks like I'll be in for a new HD Box next week if this doesn't fix itself up by Monday morning.  I'll just go to Retrovision and get another one and throw this old 5 year old one out.  After all, I only bought this one to clean up my television reception; not because it was the in thing to get.  Now, I need another new one, and the good thing is that it's not going to cost me as much as this first one; it'll be a lot cheaper.  After all, I don't record on these things, I just watch the shows.

So, did the ABC drop out on you tonight?  If so, let us know... this means all four channels disappeared on you as well.  Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.