Sunday, July 31, 2011

Favourite Photos Time - July!

Welcome to my monthly set of favourite photos which didn't make it onto 365 Project or anywhere onto my Facebook page. I hope you enjoy them as much I loved taking them. There's a lot this month as I went out a lot... phew!... what a month this has been!


Me at Triple M Studios with Jo (the afternoon show host) recording my promo for Triple M a couple of weeks ago. It was so much fun! Mum has a blast too!

The Brisbane Eye by night! What a sight it is. I took this one from a bus window while we drove across Victoria Bridge at around 9pm on the same night we were at the Triple M studios.

My finished piece of new art called 'Curved'. It took a month to do and I'm so proud to say I did it and am please with the results. All my friends love it too.

A local Kookaburra who keeps hanging around for my lawn grubs. He's getting really fat from them! He's become so accustomed to us that he just lets me photograph him all the time... isn't he cute?

A couple of horny pigeons. They were dancing around each other a few weeks back, made a funny look at one of the units before they both flew off in a hurry! :)

Geoff and Viv sharing a laugh with his Dad at the coast on the phone. I caught his two faces blurred purely by accident; but I couldn't get rid of this photo as it's just fantastic.

The La La car of Woodridge. I see this car parked at Triple C Shopping Centre once in a while... la la... :)
This structure is on Roma Street. I don't know what it is; but it was very cool to photograph at night!

I hope you love these photos. I had fun taking them. See you next month for another lot of great photos for August! :D

Do Something Different

I've had a hell of a month; really I have... and it's because of how social my calendar has been. From the first week to this last weekend, I've been on the go and not stopping; not even a cold could slow me down. Actually, it nearly did on the first day of it when I went to the doctors and they couldn't do anything for me and advised me to take Zinc to help it on its way. I did and within the day it was outa here!
But I'll start at the beginning, shall I? My month began with an art opening... a very cool one... at Barsoma's in Fortitude Valley on the first Friday of July. I showed up after getting a little more than lost around the Valley and enjoyed myself. However, this weekend ended up being one of the coldest nights Brisbane saw in a long time! By the time we found our way out to The Bay, it was around 3 degrees, brrrrrrr! By the following Sunday, we had a unit fire. I was sitting out the front of my place reading in the sun when I heard a smoke alarm going off for around half an hour. I thought it was the Indians making Naan bread (as it can set off our smoke alarms when you make it from scratch) but we were all shocked to find it was one of our units down the front where an elderly lady lives. She had left a pot of soup on the stove and forgot about it before walking out the door. We were thankful nobody was hurt in the fire.
On 16th, we attended a Mexican Costume party which celebrated Katrina's 39th Birthday. We had a ball eating great food, talking and drinking and listening to live music put on by Gabe and his mate Darren. Gabe and Kat also provided the coffee and we had the most delicious dinner of Tortillas - with two different fillings! There was the one for the meat-lovers and one for vegetarians. Her cake was made by Kate Koppenoll (our cousin, who's a pastry chef) and we all took off before midnight. The whole party took part as the rain fell around us... and it was really cold outside, yet warm inside.
I received a great surprise the following the week from Triple M (this is a rock'n'roll station here in Brisbane) when they called me and said I had won a tour of the studios and a free 'Living End' cd - their new one! I could bring along one person and I chose Mum. Well! We had a ball. There was food and drink and three announcers from the daytime shows (Bangers, Jo and Woody). And we all got a tour of the place and the winners got to do promo work in 'The Cage's studio (the morning show of Triple M). I was so thrilled! It got funny when Mum lost my camera case for about 10 minutes, then realised it was in her hand the whole time with her camera inside it! Then, when we were almost at the bus station, I thought I had lost my Go Card, we got back to the station and I found it in my bag... the problem was that the lighting on the street isn't good enough to find stuff in your bag. Overall, we had a great night and the staff at Triple M were wonderful about our stuff ups. After being at the studio, I made a major decision about my portable music. I've found that my MP3 player isn't working all that great since Digital Radio has come into play. So, I think it's time to upgrade to an iPod. I'll be shopping around for one over the next month or so until I find one that I'm happy with.
Over the last weekend - including Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons - I was right into the Early Spring Cleaning Mode. I began in the back yard and didn't stop. Trust me to look at my back kitchen window and think it looked dirty... then get all clingy about it! Once I started cleaning, I just couldn't stop cleaning! It was amazing to note that once I was off this computer and the net, I'd attack the next room - or area - with vigor, not wanting to stop until I was happy with it. After I finished the office, I found that I had burnt myself out a little and took a day or so off; and really, I deserved it. Also, I couldn't fit anymore crap into my wheelie bin; so had to wait until the next afternoon to get back into cleaning again.
However, I didn't do anymore for a few days. I had to stop. I was just too tired and needed to kick back for a while. And kick back I did! I went out last night to Helensvale - you know - and enjoyed myself. It felt good to not have to worry about dinner, cleaning or organising for the first time in a few days. When I was asked what I had been doing, I said Spring Cleaning; and they said it does feel good when you can see your own house for what you want it to be, doesn't it? And you know, I have to agree that it does feel good to have a good proper clean out once in a while. But next time, I won't leave it for so long (which is 8 1/2 years!). Well, these are the highlights of the month; and what I got up to. This month was fun; and I felt like it was never going to end. I'm just thankful I didn't get sick this Winter - but then, it's not over yet, is it? Until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Jeremy's 35th Birthday Party

Tonight, I went out to a party; my third for this month! Wow, it's been a very social month for me. I'm amazed I've still got the energy to run around and do everything I've needed to do. Today, I got in and did three loads of laundry, got it hung out and most of it dried. Then, the washing up was put away from last night, Little Miss Stevie was fed and I folded the t-towels for the kitchen and put away the 'green' bags to put into the trolley for shopping. There were a few other things that needed to be done before I went out tonight; but they could wait until Monday. I jumped online and checked all my mail, read a few blogs and played a little bit of Farmville (I don't stay on that game very long; as it'll take up too much of my day). Then, I uploaded a picture onto 365 Project and chatted on Bookcrossing and sent an e-mail to a BC member about a book baggie before getting offline and having a nice hot shower. I washed my hair and let it dry while I tidied up more and organised my outfit for tonight and played the piano for about an hour or so.
Tonight, though, was great. None of us had been to Options at Helensvale before; and it was one of those great pubs which was in an out-of-the-ways places that it attracted the right kind of people but didn't get violent. There's a family restaurant, an upstairs entertainment area, plenty of security, dancefloor, two pool tables, a massive bar and the staff are really nice. It attracts the young people and older generations as well. Jeremy picked well with this place; and yet he'd never been there before either. Vivienne and Geoff and I found the meals were massive; and I had potato wedges which looked like it was meant for two people!
Once we found ourselves out at the lounge area, we settled in for a few hours and his other friends from work showed up; one of them had made him a cake which was in the shape of a turntable! Very cool; and the chocolate was delicious! The great thing about this place was that the music wasn't too loud and we had one guy offering to take photos with our cameras for us. It was so courteous of them. Before long, it was time for us to leave; as Viv and Geoff had a long drive ahead of them. So, after Jeremy had his sparklers lit and we all took photos of them going (and I filmed it on my camera with funny results), we ate a piece each and had to say goodnight. It was a great night and we all agreed that we had to go back there again!

Friday, July 29, 2011

End of the Working Week.

I saw this on the back of guy's shirt.I asked if I could photograph it.He said yes!
Yep, it's the end of the working week and I'm looking at the sun outside with clouds smattering the sky.  This morning, on my way to the bus stop, I heard the loud, distinct cackling of the Kookaburras in the tall trees between the unit complex and the fire station.  They let out all their laughter for a good two minutes, flew off to the next stand of trees and then did it all again!  Aaah, yes, we're in for rain this weekend.  So, it's just as well I decided to go out today.
I caught a bus to Garden City to get some last minute things done this week.  I had to buy some medications, the most current copy of 'Good Reading' magazine and make sure I have enough money to see me through until next week; which is always the way.  I only need about $10 to see me through until Tuesday night and that's it to cover me for milk and the Sunday paper.  Otherwise, there's enough food in the house to feed me.
I walked around the shopping centre - which I noticed was heated for some unknown reason.  As you know I've decided to look for an iPod to update my portable music.  I won't be getting anything too big, but something that can get the radio, but can also carry my favourite tunes as well.  So, I'm hoping to get it at a good price by my birthday.  
Anyway, I ended up getting all I needed done - the meds, magazine, pricing of the iPod and browsing through a bookstore (with the purchase of a slow cooker cookbook) - in time for a 20 minute break at Gloria Jeans and in time to catch the bus at around 11:30am.
On the way home, a lady caught the bus at Bunnings with her little girl in a stroller.  As they settled, the girl pulled one of the seats down and began writing (now this little girl is only 3 1/2) and she was very articulate, loved books and drawing.  The lady said her daughter is very smart and looks like she'll go far in life.  I said that I was similar to her daughter when I was young; and the funny thing was the young girl had red hair too!  It was like looking at myself at that age; her Mum was so proud of her daughter.
Soon, my stop came up and I walked up to the post office to check the mail - but I had none - and I came straight home.  I've been here since.  It was a nice morning out; and I arrived home while the sun was still out.  Yep, it's been nice and warm for Little Miss Stevie.  
It has been a busy week for me though.  I had a weekend of cleaning out the house and filling up the wheelie bin, a slow day on Wednesday, a very busy day on Thursday at the Logan Art Gallery and then, a morning out today.  Tomorrow night, I'll be out with friends enjoying a birthday party with them.  You know, this will be my third party this month!  A very social butterfly I've been this month; who-da-thought it?  Well, I better be going.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Day Off to do Nothing

After four days of cleaning out my town house, I woke up this morning after a broken night's sleep (seeing that I got a very early night and found that it was hard to sleep when I did that), I thought today would be a good one to just sit around the place and do nothing but absolutely needed to be done. 
So far, I've put out some laundry, wiped up a little, checked the mail (both PO Box and e-mail), did some internet work and changed Little Miss Stevie's papers over; as I have been ignoring the cleaning of her cage lately.  Otherwise, the rubbish guys arrived on time today (yay!  That's a first in two weeks!) and all the bins were emptied.  My bin was about half a foot from being completely full because of my clean out.  So, I was looking forward to having it emptied so I could fill it again next time. 
I've put up my photo on 365 Project, been on Bookcrossing and caught up with the threads on there and looked through a few blogs I normally look through; and it's only 11am or so.  And seeing I have the day to myself, I might get in and practice the piano today or get into reading 'Owls Do Cry' by Janet Frame or 'The Confessions of a Shopaholic' (which I began a few nights back.  I haven't read anything outside for almost a week because I've been cleaning and cleaning.  
Yesterday, I took on the hardest room - my home office.  I didn't think I could do it, but I did.  It was something that took a lot of effort for me not to walk away from halfway through; and you know, it really did work out to be a good thing I didn't.  Usually, this room does it for me.  I find it's too much effort, there's too much here for me to go through and I just can't get into it.  However, I knew that if I didn't, I would never have it done. 
Another thing I did yesterday was find a good frame for my photo of my Trafalgar Tour in 1997.  It took a bit getting the photo in - and straight - but now it's up on a wall behind glass after fourteen years of being in a crappy cardboard frame.  I had been meaning to get it behind glass for such a long time; and now it is it's a load off my mind, and I've been able to throw out the old frame.  I've hung in my living room, giving it pride of place next to the front door where I can see it when I come home; and it'll be the last thing I see each day I leave the house.  My Darcy Doyle print is now upstairs in my bedroom; and looks pretty good there too.  I never thought of putting it there; but am finding it compliments the room really well.
Tomorrow, I've got a busy day out and about at the Logan Art Gallery... this is why I'm not doing anything exciting today; and just relaxing.  I hope to be home early enough tomorrow to put up a photo on 365 Project and get in and work on my blogs.  Until then, I better be going.  Take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Home-Office: Part One

Well, the home office is taking longer than I expect; as predicted.  I've done a lot with it so far and I'm damned proud of how far I've come with it (as I am with the rest of the townhouse).  I'm just amazed at how much crap one person can accumulate in 8 1/2 years!  And believe me, it's a lot!
I got off the internet at noon - as usual - and turned my chair around and just looked at my office!  What a mess!  I almost expected the cleaner from the Pro Hart commercials to come through the door and say that with a sigh; but she didn't!  Instead, I opened the door of my wardrobe and began unpacking it.  I was totally surprised to find how much I had crammed into this wardrobe; and didn't wish to cram it with this much crap again.  I needed it to be easily accessible and I wanted stuff to be found, not hidden to the point of embarrassment.
So, I took the two legs from my bedroom mirror downstairs where I found I had to unpack the storage facility to fit them in laying down and right at the front.  Then, I pulled out some of my brother's massive posters (which I tried to ask if he wanted them, but I've yet to hear back from him).  Anyway, he and I will talk about them tonight and see what he wants to do with them.  I won't do anything unless he says so.  I moved them to my bedroom wardrobe and laid them down at the back behind my box of journals.  Then, I took all the handbags off the doorhandles and put them on my bed and found out I had a set of rolled up posters that I had laminated but haven't used; the reason is because I don't have the space for them around here.
The set of plastic drawers were put into the wardrobe once everything was taken out - which included two pieces of luggage, a box of boxes which house my LOTR goblets and a large glassed-in print of LOTR which has to have the glass replaced - and three bags of macrame.  I put two briefcases of Grandpa's into the wardrobe, my Rollerblades - with safety equipment, minus the helmet - and my Christmas bag and Halloween bag (these bags house all the things I use for those times of the year).
I looked around, grabbed a rubbish bag and began sorting through a pile of rubbish next to the first bookcase at the door.  It was going really well.  I sorted into piles of books, notebooks and bookmarks, shredable and rubbish.  The notebooks are where they're supposed to be - so are the books and bookmarks and the rubbish is in the wheelie bin outside.  I went through each pile systematically and found my fair share of notebooks and a lot of printed up stuff I had written (which ended up in a 3-ring binder) and then I vacuumed up all the paper and crap as I went along.

By around 2:30pm, I put anything I didn't want - and was going to a charity - into an old IKEA bag outside the door, the rubbish was sat on the other side of the bathroom door, all my books had a place to live and I have found I have more floor space than I ever thought!  And now, there's only three bags to go through in front of one bookcase... and that's it!  after that bookcase, I'll have the room I need for this home office.  But that will be part two of the Home Office Clean Out.
Well, that's all from me for now.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Bedroom!

Wow!  I'm so tired!  And I did the easiest room of them all:  my bedroom.  Seeing I do most of my living in it, it didn't take long to clean out what needed to be cleaned out, kept or sent into a 'charity bag'.  I was online until around 11:30am when I shut it off hoping to get myself going and working on the second-last room of my townhouse... really I couldn't wait - seeing I'm on a roll - to get this done.
The vacuum was brought upstairs with the extension cord and the duster had its fluffy thing replaced with a new one and I grabbed the 3-step ladder and I was set the to do out the bedroom; starting with my chair.  Now, this chair is one of a pair that Mum and I are sharing. There's one at her place and one here; and both are in our bedrooms holding onto one thing or another.  Mine was mainly holding cushions, shirts I've been looking for since Summer and bandannas with cool patterns on them.  So, once they were cleared away, I put the chair in the office and poked at a large black rubbish bag that has been sitting behind it on the floor for about 2 years... yep, anything could be living in it by now!  However, nothing was; but I did put it out in the back yard to deal with it later on.
I grabbed the vacuum and plugged it in and then went over the floor, along the skirting and collected a lot of dirt and dust out of the carpet.  Then, I moved the old Singer Sewing Machine Cabinet and vacuumed under and around that and put it back.  The chair came back in and I put two orange cushions on it and put the boomerang pillow and other two cushions away in the linen closet (where all my sheets go normally).  
Up the top of my wardrobe after I cleaned it out
I then tackled the wardrobe; opening its doors wide and pulling up the ladder so I could get to the top level.  I found a lot of X-Rays and bags that were there in no particular order.  So, I pulled the whole lot down, wiped it over with the duster and put up only bags that I would use and wanted to keep.  All up, around three bags went in the bin (being unable to fix them) and another three went into the charity pile).  I put up all the large shoulder bags, back-packs and a cane bag up the top; along with the X-Rays back in the same spot where they were before.  Then, I put another Glo-Mesh in with my other ones and any other evening-type bags on a hook on the inside of the door (which were hanging off my bedroom door).  Two beach bags also went up the top which were just hanging off my linen closet too; making the place look and feel cleaner already!
Then, I moved the little bedside table and dusted and vacuumed around that, put it back and moved the bed and cleaned underneath it completely.  Once the bed was back in place, I did out the duchess by my bed and I found a lot of stuff I didn't need on that duchess; and a lot of dust.  Then, I went to the other duchess up against the wall next to the door and cleaned up all my jewellery - putting it away - before moving my boxes to the bed, wiping it down and then putting all back neatly.  All my jewellery was put away, all the receipts were picked up, looked through and sorted into shredable and binned.  I then put all the stuff that was going to a charity into a rubbish bag and emptied the rubbish bin into a fresh bag and unplugged the vacuum, wrapped up the extension cord and started putting things away.  Yep, this room was almost finished.  I found a place for my Robbie Burns horseshoe Mum gave me (in my office where he belongs - in amongst other writers) and then - once I had the hallway cleared of junk, rubbish and charity items, I went off out the back and sorted out that rubbish bag in the back yard... it had a large white sheet in it.  For what?  I'm not sure.  But I tossed it in the wash to clean it up seeing how musty it smelled and made use of the black rubbish bag.
So, that was my clean out of my bedroom.  It looks better, cleaner and must less dusty than before.  I've left the hardest room until last - my home office - which I'll be tackling over a few days as it will be difficult to do.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

No Rest For the Wicked!

Today, I thought I was going to have a nice relaxing day of reading the paper.  However, I ended up working with my big Spring Clean-out instead.  Before I did that, I went out and bought a newspaper; dropping in on some of my friends on the way.  I found out that Amy Winehouse was found dead in her flat in London and that Norway had another horrible tragedy that could have been avoided.  A nut job went on to a small island to a teen camp and killed 92 people while he was there.  What a waste!  And the survivors of what he's caused will be traumatised for a long time after this.
After breakfast, I finished cleaning out the bag of papers and receipts that I had sitting around, put out the bag of rubbish from it and then I jumped onto the internet for a few hours while I drank my home-made milk drink; just to chill out for a while before my afternoon of work.
Before I cleaned it out...

...and after I finished the floors.
At around midday, I turned off the computer and headed off downstairs to collect together some things for the bathroom; as that was the next thing on my list.  I had to clean that room from top to bottom - complete.  I grabbed the 3-step ladder, washing up detergent, Windex and other stuff that I needed too.  The whole room got a once over it hasn't seen since I moved in.  I completely cleaned the shower to the point it looked good enough for a house inspection, the blinds were cleaned of the dust, dirt and pollution and then the top of the closet was washed down with hot water and detergent too; then I used the surface cleaner to make sure no dust was left on top.  The Windex was used to clean the mirror, window and any glass around the room and then I scrubbed around the doors of the shower screens with Gumption and wiped the tiles down with a cloth especially designed for that purpose.  After the toilet was cleaned and the washing was folded and put away, I did out some of my wardrobe, I was stuffed and very hungry.  I had been up and down that ladder more times than I cared to remember this afternoon; and I needed something to eat.  So, I went out and bought myself a special treat:  a Chiko Roll!  Yummo!  
Tonight, at around 7:30pm, there wasn't anything on tv to keep my interest, so I washed the bathroom floor with Handy-Andy, put everything back, threw the dirty water out the back, washed up and put the rubbish out from the kitchen.  Yep, it was a very busy day!  I'm tired, but I'm ready to work on tomorrow's list of what needs to be done... and that's my bedroom.  That shouldn't take very long seeing I'm always working on making it as tidy as possible (let's hope) and I have to live in it every day and night of my life.
Well, until tomorrow, and my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Saturday Clean-Up

Today, the Big Clean-Out continued!  Yep, I had a list and I was stickin' to it!  I found that list and found out what needed doing downstairs and pulled out the vacuum cleaner with all its attachments (yeah, after just tossing them into the storage unit willy-nilly, I actually found them laying nearby.  Funny how things happen like that).  I moved Little Miss Stevie to the screen door where there was a patch of sunshine for her to flaunt herself in and vacuumed up all the seed husks she had tossed behind the credenza from her beloved Millet.  What a messy little bird she is!  I even found a Chi Card I had been looking for behind here and picked that up with tongs before starting up the vacuum.
After I finished that, I did the rest of the room with the small attachment head so I got all the hair, seed, bird poo and bits of knitting yarn I may have dropped.  I also sucked up bits of newspaper and dirt and grass from me walking it all through from the back yard when I did some gardening last month.
then, I cleaned up the front door area - once Little Miss Stevie was put back in her right place and the front window was opened up to let in some fresh air.  And even she took part in the clean-up in her own way... Little Miss Stevie had a few bomb-dives into her bath and sat sorting through her feathers while I dusted and cleaned around her.  Then, I pulled up the inside mat and took it outside to bash it against the bricks and sneezed my head off while I was out there; leaving it outside while I vacuumed and dusted around the front door foyer area of the house; then I put it back where it came from (really, I need a new one).  Then, I did the internal staircase; got halfway up, then grabbed the hand-held vacuum to do the rest.  By the time I emptied it, I found so much more dirt and dust in the filter of that thing, it was unbelievable!  
Well!  That was the vacuuming done!  So, I got out the Windex again and cleaned down the back glass sliding doors and the entertainment unit, China cabinet and any other glass I could find downstairs before putting it all away and throwing out a lot of black paper towel that was once creme!  Yuk... and I'm breathing in all that pollution! 
Well, I looked at my list again and put on some music (yep, it always motivates me to do more around the house when there's a good solid beat of 80's music pumping through the speakers of my stereo).  Once 'Dark Side of the Moon' was on the turntable, I filled the sink up and washed up everything I could find around the kitchen - including the cutting board - and then I cleared the kitchen table and cleared off the bench.  I put most of the I had piled onto the bench onto the table and worked hard to clean the tiles and the bench; using Gumption to get the harder stains out.  Then, when I was happy with the first half of the bench, I sorted out what I needed and put it back, sorted out what I didn't need and tossed it out.  It was easier than I thought.  I did the same thing with the other half of the bench; but it took a little longer... this was because there was a lot more paperwork and I found so many receipts!  So, I sat down and went through them all one by one to make sure I knew which ones to shred and which ones I could just toss.  Then, I went through the little set of drawers next to the food processor and found there were a great many things in that I didn't need either (like a lighter - that works - and one that didn't; and a cigarette butt collector for smokers... now why would I want those for is beyond me).  So, I left those on the piano until I needed a break and walked down to Lisa & Betty's place to give them to them.  Betty thought the butt collector was a brilliant idea; and thanked me for the lighter.
My kitchen - before and after I took to it this afternoon! What a difference!
By this time, it was almost 4pm, I was stuffed and I had played around four vinyls; including Peter Gabriel's 'So', and RHCP's 'Mother's Milk' as well as the Pink Floyd one I played earlier.  After we chatted, we all went our separate ways and I began looking into getting something to eat.  I bought pizza for dinner and baklava (as a treat; which was delicious!) and I have enough left for tomorrow night's dinner ... yummo!  
So, there you have it... downstairs is almost finished.  Just little bits to be done before I finish up and get into doing the upstairs rooms... scary... me?  Doing the office.  Wow... I've half-done it, but getting all done is going to be the freaky part!  Stay tuned for that one (tune in the 'Twilight Zone' theme song... you never know what I may find in this here little room!).  Until my next post, keep warm and safe, and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Cleaning Friday

I decided to start my cleaning early this weekend; a day early, seeing I didn't have any other appointments or anything else to do and the weather had warmed up enough to open the windows of the unit and air out the stuffiness of Winter.  
So, once the windows were open, I put on a load of washing of all my calico bags and hung them all out and grabbed the broom and swept out the carport, front door stoop and out the back (moving the chairs out of the way).  I pulled out the stray bits of sick-looking grass and moss from around the brickwork and concrete around the hot water system; it made the whole back area look clean and nice.  Then, I got out some paper towel and the Windex and cleaned the kitchen window.  Once that was done, I went inside and pulled up the blind to clean the other side of the glass.  However, the blind's brake didn't hold and the whole thing had to be held up by me with one hand while I cleaned with the other.  After I got the glass cleaned, I called my landlord and told him of the problems I had with the blind and he said he'd look into it.  
After the phone call, I looked at the whole blind to make sure it would hold for the weekend (and hoped it would) and then found that the top of the fridge looked disgusting!  So, I pulled everything off the top of that and washed that down with a bit of Gumption and hot washing up water to get the grease off.  It took a while, but it was worth it.  I also washed up everything that was on top of it - the large pot and a set of containers too - so that it looked nice and clean.  Soon, everything was back on top and ready to be used again.
I took a break and had some Cranberry Juice and began getting the washing up together.  I changed the water and washed up as much as I could for the afternoon; but forgot to wipe down the counter.  I put everything back next to the fridge and folded up the 3-step ladder and sat it in the hall just outside the kitchen.
Then, I collected together the newspapers, sorted through them and found out which parts to keep and which ones to toss in the recycle bin; and did just that.  I then, sorted through the bills that I have paid on the kitchen table and put them into a pile and picked up the green bag full of paper that I had put off looking through for the last two months or so, got a rubbish bag and began looking through receipts, paid bills and mail that I needed to file.  I spent around an hour and half just reading and sorting and throwing out while listening to Santana's 'Lotus' (the 3rd vinyl) up loud with the lovely breeze coming through the window and the sun shining brightly.  Then, at around 3pm, I stopped and looked up at the clock.  I was tired; and the kitchen table looked like I hadn't done anything all day.  So, I put the rubbish bag on the floor, the shredable bag to one side and the pile of bills that have been paid next to it; and the table looked a bit more presentable.  
The house still needs a lot of work, but I've made a start.  I did get the lawn mowed and out the back looking a little more presentable yesterday.  And this morning, I cleaned the sliding glass doors - on both sides - before coming up onto the internet; along with all the glass on the front of the china cabinets, the television and the entertainment unit.  And I also wiped up from yesterday and put everything away in preparation for today's clean-up.  So, what have you gotten done around your place that you're proud of lately?  Is is a clean out or a piece of art work?  Is tidying up your car?  Or something else that you've done that's completely different (and not to do with cleaning at all)?  Leave a comment and let us know.  Until my next post, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Friday, July 22, 2011

Music, Music, Music!

As you all know, I love my music - whether is be on cd or vinyl or sheet music, it's all good!  And in the last few days, I've been listening to some great music in all kinds of places.  
Yesterday, I made the great decision to get an iPod and update my portable music gadgetry... and I'll be buying it on my birthday so I have something great to look forward to.
Then, while I was out yesterday, I found a great vinyl of 'The Eurythmics' from 1983:  'We Too Are One' for $10.00 at Rockaway.  So, I'm looking forward to listening to that over the weekend.  However, I'm really looking forward to today's listening pleasure of 'The Living End's new album which arrived in the mail from Triple M!  Yes, I heard it on Wednesday - up nice and loud - but I'm looking forward to hearing it in my own home before anyone around where I live listens to it.  I have it next to the stereo ready to slot into the cd player this afternoon for a hour or so of listening pleasure!  

Yep, I love my music - as much as my brother does I think.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep warm and safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thursday and Weekend Plans

It's only Thursday and I've had a big week of stuff happening.  Last week I went out to a Mexican Costume Birthday Party; which went off with a bang (and me burning my face with a party popper - not too bad, trust me, it just stung a little, that's all).
Then, last night, I had a blast at the Triple M studios in at North Quay with Mum where we - along with 9 other people and their friends - hung out in the large back room and listened to 'The Living End's new album due out tomorrow.  We were treated to drinks and food, table tennis and pool and a tour around the studios.  It was a lot of fun... and we totally enjoyed ourselves as we got to meet three announcers (Banger, Jo and Woody) and got to do a promo in 'The Cage's studio; very cool.  By the end of the night, we were given a poster and asked our addresses so the studio could send out a free copy of 'The Living End's new cd to us (this included our guests too!).  Mum loved the music and so she put down her address too as well as I did.
Today, I was off to the chiropractor.  So, I didn't spend much time on the computer as I wanted as I had to do some laundry, washing up and checking of the mail across the road.  It was just a busy morning of work that had to be done before I went out.  On my way to the bus stop, I found my MP3 player kept on cutting out on me and the radio station I had it on (Triple M) was sounding horrible.  I felt like I was either doing a strange type of Yoga in public or trying to hitch a ride off the planet Ford Prefect style... either way, my MP3 player wasn't doing me any favours with how I looked; which wasn't very cool.  This has been happening since Digital Radio came into play; and so it means I will need to update my gadgetry when it comes to portable music.  When I got to Mum and Dad's place, I made a decision:  I told Mum that I'll be getting myself an iPod.  She said that after all my MP3 player is 5 years old and it might be out of date.
This brings me to this weekend; which I think I'll bring up one day - tomorrow.  I will be cleaning out and cleaning up the place again.  I've been having a lot of fun lately and not had a lot of time to clean up the house and this weekend is the time to do it.  So, I'll be pulling out the vacuum cleaner and duster and cleaning up everywhere I can.  The laundry will be put away, any of my bags that can be put through the laundry will be... and anything that needs throwing out will be tossed, out after being sorted through.  This will be a weekend of catching up with things that need to be done... after all, I've had almost every weekend since the beginning of this month filled with social events; until now.
Well, that's all for now.  It's getting late and I'm ready for bed.  There's laundry - again - tomorrow to be done in the morning.  So, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A Night With Triple M!

It's very late and I'm just beginning to feel tired after a night of running around North Quay, Brisbane with Mum.  But I'll begin with yesterday... shall I?  
I received a phone call from Triple M Brisbane telling me that I had won a prize; which was a night at their studios and to listen to 'The Living End's new album before it hits the record stores.  I was blown away and immediately tried to call Mum to invite her along (as I do with all my prizes from them); but I couldn't get a hold of her all afternoon.  So, I called her after a couple of hours and she was thrilled to be included.  
Well, today, I forgot a lot of things while shopping; and could you blame me?  I forgot to transfer money over to my keycard account, forgot my shopping list and then when I tried to work from memory, I forgot four things I really needed.  I did get up at 7am, did my handwashing, washed up a few things and feed Little Miss Stevie and then, I forgot those things... then all afternoon, I was looking forward to this evening.
I polished my Doc Martens, picked out my shirt, socks and jeans and then the afternoon turned really cold and I found my black jacket and other warm things to wear.  

But once Mum and I caught the 111 bus to Roma Street Station and walked to the place, we were relieved to see that we weren't running all that late really.  The back room we were shown was huge and has a large screen; where they showed us a Touring Car Race of Bathurst (I'm not sure which year) while the music was playing.  Finger food was put out and there were drinks put out as well.  Announcers from the afternoon shows - Woody and Jo - and the weekend show - Bangers - showed up.  Also one of the producers of 'The Living End's current albums - Universal - showed up too.  There was table tennis and pool to play and plenty of lounges to sit in to chill out while the music played. 



Then, one by one, we were taken into 'The Cage's studio to record some promo work.  And believe me, it's harder than it sounds.  A few times, I had to repeat myself and ended up laughing my head off most of the time.  It was the most fun I've had in a studio (well, since 101 FM where I totally froze).  Mum took plenty of photos, then promptly lost my camera case.  It ended up being right under her nose the whole time; it was where she had put her camera while she took shots with mine.  Then just to make our evening more interesting, I thought I had left my Go Card at the studio.  When we went back to look for it, I found I had put it in my bag...  and it was still in there!  The staff at Triple M were so good about it all that I gotta thank them for being so patient.  Actually, Woody joked and said that he thought we were back because they thought we were volunteering to take the 9pm slot... it was coming up and he heard that I was a volunteer.
It was a fun night; and I'd do it again if given a chance.  I loved the excitement of hearing new music and Mum enjoyed the way the staff were with everyone.  Well, I better go.  It's almost midnight; and I'm very tired now.  So, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Windy Weather and Blue Skies

After a weekend of dreadfully cold, dreary, wet weather, we've begun our week with beautiful clear days and skies.  I also decided to get in and do my laundry yesterday; but did you think my clothes line was going to stay in one place?  Nope.  So, I pushed one of the ends down to keep the towels from touching the muddy, grassy ground and - without thinking - I looked to the ground (because I thought I saw one of my clothes pegs on the ground, but it wasn't there) and just before I looked up, I rammed right into the arm of the clothes line!  Boy!  Did I swear and curse!  Fortunately, I didn't break the skin and I didn't have a concussion; but it could have been worse.  Had I been walking faster than a dawdle, I would have hit it harder and really hurt myself.  I sat down for a moment and immediately began getting a headache from it and felt sick (shock).  
For the rest of the day, I didn't feel great, but then, who would with a lump on your head from running into a chunk of steel?  I took it easy and made sure I took painkillers when my headache became too bad.  The worse part was when I had to have a shower and wash my hair; the hot water didn't help with the pain, only making it worse.  But when my head cooled off, it did help to cool off the little lump there.  It's not so bad anymore; or big, and after a good night's sleep, I'm feeling a lot better.
Yesterday afternoon, I went out to a friend's house not too far from here to help her with looking for her cat, Gus.  He normally hangs around the her house and yard, but last Thursday, Gus decided to be adventurous and take off over the fence.  He hasn't been seen since.  Cate is worried sick about him and so I've put up two notices around the place - at the Slacks Creek Post Office and the service station next door to me - so people know he's missing.  When I arrived at her house, I missed him greeting me at the door as though to ask what the hell I wanted; and the tripping up his owner in an attempt to get his way around the place.  Tomorrow, I'll be posting the last two notices around the shopping centres I frequent in case somebody has seen him or - better still - has taken him into their home.  I just hope we find him; as he's a sweet cat to her.
Last night, I had a light snack to eat and watched my usual television shows and went to bed by around 10pm.  I was asleep by about 11pm.  Yep, it was an early night for me.  Until my next post, stay safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Mexican Birthday Party

Last night, I went out to a Mexican Birthday Costume Party at Keperra.  It was great!  Everyone showed up in all kinds of costumes ranging from Hombres to cowboys to one-off characters like our Mexican Bird Feeder (who was Liz from next door; who had bought all kinds of bird accessories and hung them all over herself and brought a bird feeder with a glo-stick inside it!).  Then, one lady showed up all dressed up with beads, feathers in her hair and the layered look of Frida and she didn't even realise she had dressed exactly like the artist until I mentioned she looked like her.  She mentioned it to her husband; and he spotted it then and said she was Frida!  So good!
 But we arrived there around 4pm and helped set up, cook up some food and blow up balloons and a few things too while Gabe, Kat and Riley got dressed up for the night.  I blew up an inflatable cactus, but it didn't seem to sit right; all flopping off to one side.  So, Mum put some water in the base and still it didn't want to behave; so she got in and blew it up more... well, you can see how funny that looked!  I kept my camera on me for the entire evening taking photos of absolutely everything around me; and they turned out fantastic!
The food was gorgeous!  The tortillas and with the two different kinds of fillers with salad was brilliant; and the people were great.  It was most definitely the best kind of Mexican night we've been to in a long time.  Gabe and his band got together for their first recital and they sounded wonderful.  



Kat loves all her gifts she received.  Mum made her a Quillow (a pillow and a quilt in one) and I gave her a copy of 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller, a leather bookmark and a large block of dark Rum'n'Raisin chocolate.  The book was wrapped in hand-painted wrapping paper... as I couldn't find any of the wrapping paper I usually have laying around the place (isn't that always the way?); and I used one of the cards that were inside Grandpa's old writing desk.  She received another book as well; so Kat's got plenty of reading material.



It wasn't an overly late night for anyone; as we all took our leave at around 10:30pm.  For a good part of the night, it had rained and was becoming colder as the hours ticked by.  So, I think that was the main reason why people were leaving; to get home to a nice warm bed.  I wanted stick around a little longer; however, when Mum and Dad wanted to leave, I had to go with them.
But once home, I could feel the cold and my tiredness begin to catch up with me.  So, I uploaded the photos from last night onto my facebook into a new album and then headed off to bed after it was all uploaded and done.  Well, until my next post, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.