It's Christmas!

I'm not going to blame my lack of posts on this. Nope, I'm just damned lazy.

Yeah, that's it. Also I haven't been feeling great lately, either. I've lost a few more friends in the past few months; and just withdrawn a little more - not a good thing to do. But in doing that, I've concentrated on my art, my knitting and my garden.

So, when the time came to head down the coast, I was more than happy to get down there and chill out painting, walking in the early morning sunlight and get some serious photographs. 

It's always good to get your head straight when things aren't going well, isn't it? And the best place for me to do that is away from the city, by the ocean. It's just how I've worked. I got in and read half a good book, started reading another one, and did some painting, finished up knitting something and went out with my Mum to a few places around Brunswick Heads. 
Yep, it was a perfect time away for me. We ate mud crab, had good laughs, watched reruns of 'The X-Files' and Dad thought my night-talking was hilarious (I mumble in my sleep). 

Well, it's coming to the end of the year, and when I came home from the coast, I walked through the door of my house and thought: 'What a completely messy place I live in!' I hadn't unpacked when I started decluttering around my place! I had to, I just can't live like this. There were bags of things I sorted out, a grabbed a box and filled it up and stuck it next to the door and found I was unpacking from the coast and packing other things for the closest charity store at the same time.

I'm really looking at what I want in my house - and it's only days away from Christmas. The good thing is that I've got food in my fridge, the backyard is flourishing, the lawn is finally growing (from seed) and my good friends who looked after my yard for me did a great job. I gave them a lovely box of chocolate for being there when I needed them. And yesterday, I gave away 2 handbags, a set of drawers which sit on the counter, upcycled another set of counter-top drawers and filled a box with old paintings, clothes and other things I no longer need. I'm going to be doing this again this coming week, in readiness for the charity stores opening again. 

And next year? Well, in the first two weeks of January, my house will be cleaned out so fast and well by that time, the place will be unrecognisable. I'm not going to let it get filled up like it has been again. I'm not sure what's happened lately, but I just can't live with the crap around me like I have done in the past two years. 

So, what about you? Are you suddenly cleaning up and throwing things out? Are you doing a big clean out and giving things away? Or is it just me? Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here. Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the coming New Year. 

Long Weekend Starts October!

This weekend starts October and ends the school holidays. It started sunny and ended raining. It started with me not wanting to do any type of house work for money, and ended with me ironing for my Mum (which is something I absolute detest) and cleaning out my tupperware cupboard completely.I also watched 'Pompei' with Dad we found that main enemy in it just wouldn't die... and I kept calling Corvus (who was brilliantly played by Keifer Sutherland) a cockroach - for the obvious reason that no matter what happened to him, he just seemed to get back up and keep going; just like a cockroach. Dad found this hilariously funny and loved it that I had a name for characters like him in movies - and I said I called them that name in books too; because they just won't die.

Otherwise, I've been working on a couple of paintings, doing more needlepoint for my next markets and looking at some of my finances quite seriously. I'm also looking at finding a part-time job very soon to plump up my bank balance. All of this will be coming up to something that I don't want to make public - not just yet. It's something I'm working towards that needs to be looked into by me which will mean a big step outside my comfort zone - bigger than me being a Life Model (which was something I never thought I'd be in my life, but yet, I do this work now). 
Yes, I'm keeping a surprise from you all... but don't worry, like all surprises, it's worth it. And you'll love it when you find out. And only a few people in my immediate circle know about my project. Anyway, it's a slow process right now; which I think will speed up very quickly once the wheels are in motion. 

Otherwise, I've been busily looking around the garden and tidying that up before the rain hit today. Then, this morning I went to put some dropped palm fronds from outside my house into the green bins at the back of the complex when I found that somebody had shoved their recycling stuff into those green bins instead of the big recycling bin. You gotta be blind to not see the industrial-sized yellow-lidded bin sitting to the right of the bin bay... but then, I ended up putting everything from those green bins into the recycling bin - otherwise the green bin guys won't touch it. 
Once home, I washed my hands and got right into the washing up and cleaning up and put my coffee on - yep, I hadn't eaten breakfast as yet. So, once I ate that and kicked back to listen to the radio, it was then the skies started to look as though it was going to pour rain. I got a lot of the washing up done, put some of the plants out in the rain and then made my second ice coffee for the day and have come back upstairs... yep, it's a good internet day, as the rain settles in. I hope you had a great weekend.

I mean, the Western Bulldogs won the AFL Finals on Saturday - after a 62 year drought. I earned some money doing some ironing for my Mum, watched a very cool movie where a volcano blows it top and destroys a city and all who lives in it during the Roman Empire... then, I do out my Tupperware cupboard, cutting its contents in half. It's been a pretty good weekend... until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

School Holidays

I seriously don't like school holidays - and I don't know any parent who does. 

All the kids are home all the time and a lot of the times they're bugging everyone who will listen that they're bored! But they don't want to do anything around the house which looks anything like chores, because ... well, that's just boring!

And when you live in a unit/townhouse complex, having kids right outside your house and near your car port makes life that much more stressful.

We're coming into the second week of the Spring Holidays and the kids around here are pushing the parents to breaking point. One of the kids here annoyed the crud out of me and other people last week with her smart mouth, and this week has started off the same way - and this time, she's bullying the younger kids, then telling the adults off as well.

Before we condemn this child though, I have to tell you about her background. She comes from a broken family. Her Dad is a nice guy. He's trying his best to bring her up in a good, stable home, with lots of love and compassion and strict house rules at the same time... but her Mum is where her attitude comes from, and her smart mouth. A few months with her Mum and all his love and hard work is all undone. And this is where he wishes he could have her all the time; and sort her out properly.

Today, I talked to him about how much she lies and smart-mouths people. He ended up going and talking to her and she lied to him again, at which point he asked her the question of why would I lie to him about what she was saying and her attitude (as I told him that I would never make anything up about her, and what I was telling him was the truth - he believe me as he's had complaints about her before). So, this afternoon, he made sure to keep a close eye on her - closer than he did last week - and she behaved herself. But she only behaves when he's around; and he knows this.

It's such a pity that there's kids who don't have the love of both parents; when one parent is trying so hard to do the right thing. This is the one time I really don't like living in townhouse complexes... and it'd be better for me to live in a real house away from others.

Brisk Winter Days

School holidays are almost over and the days and nights have turned lovely, cool and windy.

I love this time of year because of these days.

I cook so much lovely hot, stodgy food and drink so much hot chocolate it makes me go out and buy another tin of Milo. 

But this Winter, I came down with Laryngitis, causing me to hibernate more than I usually would - and I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I did get a fair bit of reading and writing done. And a huge painting is a quarter way through; and I watched around 8 movies that I haven't seen in yonks! All in the complete silence of my house. This meant I got pretty darn sick of my own company really darned quick!

So, I started looking at the garden and thinking about what to do with it to make it more private; and once I was better, I started moving things around again. This was great to do - and I hope to do more of it, as I'm hoping to get in and do more planting. I've bought a Ficus and am going to put into a large pot and let it take up the side fence of my garden.

I so do enjoy this time of year. I'm still getting into my craft as it's such a joy to do. I've begun knitting a throw as I have enough yarn to do it now. It's looking good - even though it's just the beginning of it. Well, that's all the news for now. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Week...

This week which is the busiest for a lot of us. Christmas is on its way and there's presents to buy, food to make, people to accommodate for and roads to safely drive along... and I really mean it on that last one.

This week is filled with public holidays.  It's gonna be a hot one for Aussie and anyone in the Southern Hemisphere and a challenge for us to stay cool; and vise versa in the Northern Hemisphere.  However, Christmas is Christmas for everyone, everywhere... no matter who you.  Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, it's still going to be public holidays out there.

This week, I've gotta get a lot done.  But today, I got more done than I expected.  There was the mail checked, the banking done, money taken out, money put across, money, money, money... yep it makes this damned world go round don't it?  

It sure does!

But we need it to get things done.  And done I got the needed things worked on.

Tomorrow is another busy day of me doing what's needed for my place.  This includes packing most of my gear, washing the car, cleaning up the house as much as I can and making sure I have everything all sorted out to go by the end of the week.  
Then, I have to make a dip for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  No probs... it won't take long.  And then, before I know it, those days will be here... rushing, hurrying us along like a fast-running river, making us, taking us along on the hot sunny days of the Orgy of Greed (aka: Christmas Day) and I'll be there taking it all in... enjoying myself with family.

Yes... life will be slowing down once I have a few days off.  A few days... yeah... to enjoy the sun, the salt air and kicking back and reading books and writing a little.  And maybe to go out and do some driving around Lismore and Mullumbimby.  Now, that'd be wonderful to do before I get home.  

So, what are you plans over this time of year?  Anything fun?  Anything interesting?  Or are you just kicking back and watching the days travel and cruise by with a few drinks and family close to you?  Until my next post, take care on the roads, stay safe out there and Merry Christmas to you all... I'll be doing another post or two before the New Year.... and as usual, I'm always here.

A Week Out!

It's a week out from Christmas Eve and I've got a few things I really need to get done.  There's still some cleaning to happen around here, packing for the coast and I have to re-charge my re-chargeable batteries for the digital camera.  Otherwise, there's the top-up shop and I have to make sure I only buy enough food to see me over for a week instead of 2 weeks... as I'll be at the coast for a few days.

I'm looking forward to being there as I'll be able to get over my virus there.  Yep, I've had a sore throat lately and was off to the doctors where they told me to just drink a lot of liquids, get plenty of rest and take it easy.  Then my doctor asked me what I've been up to and I told her about what my activities have been over the last 6 months and she was amazed I've been so busy, and I gave her a business card for Crafty Pegs.  She was thrilled to see I was on Facebook about it all and took it to look at it.

I've been working on pegs to get them ready to varnish at the end of January next year for the Creative Markets in February and then I'll have another lot of work to sell.  I can't wait!  I'm looking forward to getting my butt out there to sell to the public.  This time I'll be more organised and I have a few more ideas to work with too.  

In the last week or so, I've finished up my Christmas Shopping and I'm currently waiting for two items to arrive in the mail from some online shopping I've done last Thursday and Friday.  I hope the items arrive before Christmas so I can wrap them up and they'll be ready to give on the big day/night.  It'll be great to see them when they arrive... I know one will arrive this week, I just hope the other one arrives before Christmas.  If not, well, I'll see it in the New Year and use it to my heart's content, as it's coming all the way from Canada.

So, what have you been doing to get presents together?  I shopped online for a couple of things, went to second-hand stores, the markets and Garden City to get some of my presents... and then wrapped everything up and it's all under the tree waiting to be handed over and opened by the people I love and am closest to.  However, between now and then, I'm hoping to get my bag packed, work on making sure I have enough stuff to take with me and enjoying myself while I'm at the coast for the few days I am.  I'll be working on the last chapters of the Fry Nelson Book 3 and am hoping to wrap it all up.  I'm not sure to make it an open ending or wrap up all the loose ends and complete it totally... I'll see what happens when it comes.  Might see what other writer friends recommend.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

A Day To Pack

Today, I woke to a dull day, but I got up, fed the chickens and found that it wasn't getting any cooler or warmer than it was going to be for the day... so the cloud cover from yesterday afternoon had stuck around and kept the temperatures down for the day.

But today is going to be used to packing everything.  It's not going to be necessarily be busy, just fiddly.  I'll be packing up my clothes, computer gear and painting stuff.  Then, I'll make sure I'll have all my bathroom gear and then pack up any food I can and be ready for tomorrow; to go home.  I just hope it doesn't rain too much.

I'm looking forward to going home, mainly because I can move around more easily than I did when I arrived here.  My surgical stitches have healed really well and the dissolving stitches are gone now... just have to wait until the sticky strips fall off and make sure I'm healing okay properly and then get back into my yoga to get my muscles stretched properly again and back into my walking again; as I'm really out of shape and have slowed down.

But today, I'm cooking up a nice cannelloni for dinner... a big one.  I'm making enough for Gabe and Kat too, for when they arrive home so they don't have to cook anything, just put it in the oven and heat it up and eat it, and it'll be ready to eat.  Very nice!  Oh, and the one I'll be making is on the Recipes label on this blog, in case you want to have a go at it.  It's a great recipe to have up your sleeve in winter and when you have plenty of pumpkin of sweet potato in your crisper.  And you don't have to have just that, so long you get the herbs right, you can put anything in cannelloni shells.

Anyway, I've done a little bit of work this morning and am looking at doing more this afternoon and then, there's just a bit more tomorrow morning then I'll be home by tomorrow night.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

A Week Away

Today, I woke to lovely sunshine and looking forward to going away to spend a week at my brother's house at Brighton.  This is to help me recover from my surgery; and all I'm going to do there is knit, paint pegs and read... and most definitely sleep.

This ought to be a good thing for me as the place is nice and quiet.  And it's a good area too.  I'm going to take a lot of food with me and enjoy the time alone to get over my surgery scars - which aren't hurting as much as they did when I arrived home on Tuesday.
The sticky strips are going well and wounds aren't sore anymore and aren't red either.  But I'm making sure I eat plenty of good food and get as much sleep as possible to help with the healing.
The only problem I have is a sore throat and a runny nose; but that from the change of season, and I'll be okay once that gone too.

Seeing this is going over the Winter School holidays, I'm sure this will work out well.  I also hope to see my niece too - but if not, that doesn't matter - so long she has a good time during these school holidays.

So, what are you up to this school holidays in this part of the world?  And if it's Summer where you are, what are you doing with yourself?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm, and remember, I'm always here.

It's Only Friday?

I have had the longest week.  Truly I have.  Yesterday, I was up bright and early running around my brother's back yard after the black chicken who got out - again! - in my pajamas (stop laughing, it wasn't fun) at 6am.  Then, just when I thought the fun was over, the stupid thing got out again... so I thought, screw it!  They're coming home today, they can deal with it.  I had fed the chickens when I got the black chicken in at 6am and so she couldn't have been hungry, just cheeky.
So, I dressed, packed the rest of my things, curled my hair and got my bags all ready and packed up, zipped up and make-up on to done to go home.  Then, there was breakfast to be had and the house to open and other things to get done.  Fortunately the washing up had been done the night before, and the vacuuming had been done on Tuesday afternoon.  I had gotten all their laundry done on Sunday when we got that wonderfully scorcher of a day here in Brisbane.  
Anyway, about an hour after I had breakfast, I called Mum and asked if they were on their way, and found out they were were 10 minutes away... so I went and opened the car gate for them and waited for a few minutes and before long, the white Pajero showed up.  It was so good to see them all; and this included Jay the dog!  There were hugs all around from everyone; even Jay got a lot of pats and hugs... she didn't know what to do.

Mum put on some tea and Gabe and Kat grabbed their gear out of the back and we had some music on, they opened their mail and a parcel that had arrived the day they left.  They were really exhausted but happy there wasn't really anything to do seeing a lot of housework had been done.  So, I showed them what had been growing in the yard, and how many eggs they had and that the chickens loved a plant growing at their back fence... and they were bummed that the same chickens had also dug up a newly planted Paw-Paw Tree (and I hadn't noticed until Thursday morning that it was leaning... boy was I peeved!).  But they knew that there had been plenty of rain, a bit of heat and the chicken would have dug at freshly dug soil; and I wouldn't have noticed.  So, they pushed the plant straight again and put pavers around the base.
We finally sat down and had some tea letting Gabe and Kat tell us some wonderful stories about where they'd been, what they did and the types of seafood they had been getting into.  It was a wonderful adventure for them; and they want to see the South Island now.  Mum, Dad and I all said the South Island is very green, and lush with a lot more rainfall.  But it's prettier than the North Island.

Before long, we were off to pick up my television from Panasonic where it had spent 2 weeks getting fixed.  But the guys there told us that it was working fine; and it was the antenna that needed fixing up, not the television.  So, we spent a good hour or so getting to this place and then getting back to my place where we unpacked everything and I spent the afternoon unpacking my stuff, plugging in my television and visiting The Big Apple down the road to get some fruit and veggies.  This place made me grateful of how close everything is here; compared to where everything is at Brighton, where it takes around 20 minutes' walk to get anywhere.  The buses are great, but it's the distances between shops and places that really bother me. 

Today, I was off to Garden City to pick up a few things, get some banking done and find a birthday gift for a friend - whose party I'm going to tomorrow at Slacks Creek.  While I was there, I received a phone call from my folks asking where I was and when I told them, they said the antenna guys wanted to fix the television antenna.  Seeing I couldn't be there, I let Dad go in my place.  Anyway, I got my shopping done - this includes my Easter Shopping at David Jones, picking up something to help hang a picture at the Riot Art shop and then getting some fresh fruit and veggies and cage-free eggs... I was home by a bit after midday.  And just as I was coming to my door, I found Dad locking up my house.  The guys had been and gone, changing over the booster for the antenna for a new, different, one and we tried out the television and it worked brilliantly!  And today's only Friday!  It's certainly been a long, long week!  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.      

My Last Day In Brighton

Last night it rained.  Just before midnight, I put some pot plants out from under a cover and the way of the rain and just minutes after I closed the door to the guest house, I heard the rain pour from the dark night skies.  

How's that for timing?

Not long after, I climbed into bed, read a few pages of 'The Wastelands' by Stephen King and was off to sleep.  The rain kept on falling all night and I had to close the large sliding door so it didn't wet the carpet; the night cooled right down.

This morning, I woke to my alarm at 6am and heard a strange bird outside in the garden.  On looking out the window, I found one of the black chickens strutting around the lawn trying to look as though she was blending in with the scenery; and failing miserably.  So, I went out there in my pajamas and led her back to the chicken run, grabbed a leaf off a plant they all love and bribed her back inside.  
By the time I fed them, took some photos and was about to have my breakfast, I had to put her back into the run again and find out how she got out.  It wasn't hard, to find the hole she had pushed up... so I blocked that with a piece of wood and weighed it down with a paver and went about my day.  There was packing to begin doing.

I folded all my clothes and repacked my bag, sorted out the blue trolley, put the lids on the spray varnish (which never got used) and the mozzie repellent and put them both into the milk crate.  Then, I put away quite a few things in my Bookcrossing bag and organised myself well enough to survive the day.  In the kitchen, I found everything I needed to be able to grab it and pack it later tonight.  The mineral was pulled out of the fridge outside to warm up and the cranberry juice was left out as well so it could also warm up and I could pack it.  The dark chocolate was moved from the freezer to the fridge - right next to the cheese - and I made sure that I washed up everything tonight and vacuumed the whole house this afternoon while the repeat of 'The World's Biggest Losers' was on (exactly why channel 11 is putting that on every afternoon is beyond me, but it seems to pull an audience).  

Anyway, after I watched my usual shows tonight, I packed up my painting kit for the pegs, put away everything else that needed putting away, washed up everything possible, cleaned my stuff out of the bathroom and made about 4 trips to and from the house to get my stuff here into the guest house and ready to go for tomorrow morning to leave early.

I'm excited about going home.  I'm also very excited about picking up my television set from Panasonic.  You see, guys, I've had the biggest problems with reception on it.  But when we got it there, they couldn't find anything wrong with it and didn't bother telling me.  So, they were going to make me wait another month until they replaced something in it that didn't need replacing... stupid really.  Well, I can pick it up tomorrow and take it home.  The guy said it looks like it's the antenna; that we'll have to either get a bigger or stronger one, or that we'll have to get one where it's positioned higher and strapped down - seeing my house is situated lower down than most people's in the unit complex.

Well, there's still a few things to get done, but those jobs can wait until tomorrow morning.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.

Packing Day

Yep, I'm packing today... I'm also doing my last lot of laundry too.  It's a day of of cleaning up, tidying up and making sure everything I brought to the house is with me in the final sweep on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. As much as I've enjoyed being here, I can't wait to get home. 

However, there's also the account of my television too.  I put it in to get repaired on 5th, March and it's still waiting on parts to show up.  From what I've been told by the phone lady at Panasonic, I'll be waiting for it to be fixed until 15th, April!  Since when were we living in the 1960's?  I do believe in keeping the customer happy; and if you can't fix a television in 2 weeks, well, you replace it.  I told her this in a much more pleasant way and she agreed with me and told me that she'd get in contact with the repair guy... who has yet to contact me today about what's to be done.  I hope I'm not stuck without a television for too long.

Anyway, this morning, I was cleaning out the chicken's coup when I found a small Cane Toad in their water... so I picked it up and tossed the whole thing over the fence into the garden.  Well, I wore the water and let the toad out too!  Yuk!  And I was wearing clean jeans as well!  I grabbed the rake, found the toad, and flung it over the back fence so it didn't hurt the chickens. 
As I grabbed the feed for the chickens, I turned and found the damned toad had escaped the toss and was sitting on a length of wood near the top of the fence.  So, out came the broom and I killed it.  now, I had to clean it up... I found a brush and dustpan and made sure it was over the back fence this time nowhere near the chickens.  I cleaned out where the chickens slept, the laying box and gave them clean hay.  They're happy chickens now.
I did all this before eating any breakfast myself... and I still hadn't put on the radio or opened the house when I returned from the back of the yard.  I also put the jeans that were wet on for a wash (and anything else that needed a wash too) and also began packing a few things away for my trip home.

I have enjoyed being here at Brighton, but I really do miss my house at Logan.  I'm looking forward to getting back onto my computer, reading the books in my collection and getting back into my yard (particularly seeing it may need a mow badly) and that I will have my stereo system and turntable to play with too... yay!  Can't wait!  
But what I find when I'm on holidays is that I always return with new things.  This time, I have come home with a teapot, a vintage suitcase, a bag, half a paua shell and a vinyl.  Not too bad in the way of souvenirs if you ask me; and they're all second-hand too.  And I'm going to take care of them all and give them a second life in my house.  I have made sure they will all have a use in my life; and not just sit around and do nothing but gather dust.  

Well, I'm hoping to make up an album of what I've been doing and gotten up to here at Brighton this time around so you can all see it soon.  Until I do, I hope you have enjoyed reading my posts about this fortnight here.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.

This Weekend

It's not yet gone midday and I've gotten a lot done in my day.  I've got 4 loads of laundry done, the chickens have been fed and patted (to make them lay more eggs) and I've been to the store up the road to buy a paper and a few little essentials and milk.  The laundry was finished by around 10am and I'm glad it's turning out to be a hot day; as it's going to dry nicely.  I've also done a few bits of my own laundry so I don't have to do any when I get back home.

But it was yesterday that was the busiest day for me. I had a day full of visitors and they were my parents.  I haven't had people around here since Geoff and Vivenne came here with Little Zoe for dinner the week before; and so it's been very quiet here.
Dad got in and went to mow the lawn, but found there was no petrol or oil for the mower or whipper-snipper... this frustrated him as they really should have kept it up.  And the lawn mower he found didn't work properly, so he pulled the one from under the house and it worked but the catcher was small and he had to stop every now and then to empty it.  So, the job that was supposed to easy turned out to be something hard; this made him really impatient.  And really, I don't blame him.
But they were impressed that I have kept the house as clean as possible.  But the bathroom wasn't as clean as they expected.  I said I have been trying to keep things as tidy as possible by sweeping up, wiping down the counters and washing up as much as possible.  Mum told me a few home truths (which I can't put here as it's not right) and I said that I'm doing what I'd only do at home; she's pleased I'm keeping up with it all too.
By the time I did the World's Greatest Shave event at Redcliffe, and then had some lunch, Dad thought to have a shower and we wanted to have a cuppa... so we jumped in Mum's Pajero and I showed them Eclectea - the tea and coffee place I went to the other day.  Well!  They loved it.  It was full of stuff that Mum loved and Dad got in and remembered a lot of the things he used to see when he was young.  Then, the shop keeper turned around and remembered my name from my Facebook entry on their Facebook wall.  Mum was amazed the lady remembered so many people.  We got a coffee going and something to eat and sat outside in the nice cool breezes and drank our our coffees... it was lovely.  And seeing we were the last customers for the day, the owner got to kick back a little and talk to us too.  She loved my hair (as I hadn't washed the colour out yet) and she thought it was a good cause to support.

But today is going to be a hot one.  So, I'll be just kicking back here and enjoying my Sunday.  I've read the paper and had breakfast.  Might just surf the net and hang out and do nothing in particular... yep, that sounds good.  What are you up to on this St. Patrick's Day?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

A Tad Homesick

If yesterday is anything to go by, I really wished I was closer to home at Logan City right now.  Shopping yesterday was a train wreck and I hated it.  
As I pointed out, Life Line was a complete rip-off; as their prices were dreadfully high for a charity store.  And the things they were selling cheaply weren't supposed to be sold at the cheaper prices, but a little elevated.  The clothes - no matter how nice - should have been discounted more so to be competitive with Target and K-Mart not their equal.  I could have walked into Rivers and bought two dresses for the price of one dress in Life Line here at Sandgate.
And Woolworths was disgusting.  Because they have monopolised the town centre, they have the last say of who buys where.  So, they can put the prices up or down and people have to pay them.  This is very wrong.  Now, what they need to do is put a Coles in nearby and the competition would be equal and people would have a choice.  Sandgate Town Centre would grow and they wouldn't have to cut any bus services.
Yeah, you read right... they're cutting buses here.  They have a few of them running around the area and they are cutting one bus - 310 - and a train to Toombul Shopping Town.  Now, the latter is being cut for 6 months, but that's a long time if you don't have any other way to get to Toombul.  And they're not going to put in a connecting bus service between here and Toombul Shopping Town; which really is bad.

What this area needs is a collection of shops to connect everything together.  There are spots of shops and cafes, but they are in little clumps where nobody goes, buses can't get to them and nobody can just walk to them on a whim.  I spotted a cafe in a clump of shops I wanted to look at, but I can't get there unless I catch a bus - and time it right - and I really, really want to, walk home.  This will suck badly.  So, what they need to do is make it worthwhile to get there.  This place is too spread out, with everything too far from each other and not enough people talking to each other.  I haven't spoken to a single neighbour since I arrived here over a week ago; not even to say hello, and this makes me feel very isolated.  But if I was at home, I'd have plenty of people to say hi to in a morning or afternoon.  

In the last few days, I had a big problem with ants.  They had invaded the guest house and were making themselves right at home.  I fought them off and used cinnamon sticks and vinegar to keep them out of this place.  But getting rid of them initially was hard.  I was going to spray them with insecticide but there wasn't a single can of the stuff in the house.  I knocked on a neighbour's door across the road, and he wasn't home.  However, I found that most people weren't... so I wondered how I'd get rid of them until I found the above remedy online.  
This invasion has really bothered me though.  I don't like the idea of having to battle something on my own when I can't lay my hands on a can of surface spray... even I have some of that stuff sitting around my house just in case I need it.  I've even got Ant Sand for the bigger nests of ants; but not here.

But I have been homesick because of all the above things.  I'm so used to having a green grocer down the road all the time.  It's so good to know that if I ever need anything at home, I can just take a wander down to The Big Apple and all I need is right there for me to pick up.  I've missed eating at 'Rocky's Bakehouse' too... yeah, I really have.  I miss the bus ride to Logan Central to do my shopping where everything is very cheap and I can walk everywhere and catch a cab home that is under $15. 
Most of all, I'm really missing my place.  I miss books, vinyls, kitchen, garden, piano ... everything about my place... in particular, my bed!  There's something about having your own place that really makes it real.  I don't mind living like this; but if there was a green grocer and a few things that were of interest nearby, I'd have more fun being here.  However, there isn't.  It takes money to get anywhere... whereas I could walk to a thrift shop or across the road to the post office or just 10 minutes to the chemist or 5 minutes to buy the Sunday paper.  It takes much longer here.  Well, it's just homesickness... and I hate it.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Monday Morning

The weather has turned nice and warm around Brighton; and for this, I'm glad as I can get in and do some laundry.  So, this morning, I slept in a little as I couldn't sleep last night.  Bummer... dunno why, I just couldn't.  
By around 8am I was up and had fed the chickens and changed over their water, then made sure they were happy by giving out some pats to a few of them.  They didn't seem to mind.  I programmed the computer in the house to be on Triple M for the day and ate breakfast, washed up everything and wiped down all the counters after I opened up the front blinds and door to let through the lovely breeze.  
It was around 9am by this time and I grabbed all the towels in the bathroom - except the hair towel - and put on a load of towels; then sorted out what needed to be washed from my room, then collected together all the clothes pegs I could find on the deck from the clothes horse (this meant pulling the laundry from last Thursday).

It took me about an hour or so to do all the rest of the laundry.  The sun is out and the wind has picked up nicely; without a single spit of rain coming from it!  How good is that?  What a lovely day for the laundry to be done.

While that was being done, I made sure I had everything on my shopping list on my iPod.  Now, this shopping list app I have is brilliant.  You get it off iTunes for free and it's called shopshop.  You can have up to 4 shopping lists and call them whatever you want.  I have all 4 of them used up, calling them: Garden City, Shopping List, Fruit'n'Veggies and Brighton.  It's a great way to keep my shopping lists separate and working... and yes I have an on-going list too called: List for 2013 which is a list of items I want to get for my house for this year.  Pretty cool, eh?
Well, yeah, I got my shopping list done, the house tidied up and some of the paper read - eventually.  Then, I watched an old classic movie of 'Goodbye Mr Chips' with Pete O'Toole in it - the 1969 remake of the original black and white version; which I like the best.  But O'Toole does a pretty good job anyway.  

For the rest of today, I'll be hopefully getting my laundry dry and keeping an eye on the weather so it does dry in some way.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.
  

Saturday!

I woke to birds outside and a little bit of rain.  But I woke just as my alarm was beginning to go off; and I thought that was cool.  I heard the chickens and wondered if they had found another way to get out, so went down there in my pajamas to check on them and found they were all in the coup.  Seeing I didn't have anywhere to really be today, I went back to bed.

An hour later, my alarm woke me again.  This time I stayed in bed for another half an hour and then decided it was time to get up and feed the chickens and have some breakfast.  
With the FM Classic station going, I ate my breakfast and planned what I had to do today; namely to make sure the house was cleaned up, washing up was done from this morning and to see if my laundry had dried from the other day.  And I wanted to have a shower to wash my hair too; as it was a warm night. 

After I got the washing up done, I swept the floors, put out the rubbish and wiped down all the counters, cupboard doors and fridge and looked at the time.  It was going onto 9am and I had had my shower by this time too.  All my planned chores had been done and dusted... even the chickens were happy; but my laundry was still not dry.  

Tonight, a couple of my friends are coming over for dinner.  I've planned on making a nice dish for them of vegetarian pasta.  I hope it all works out.  We ought to have a good night as I've never had people over here before.  
I'm sure to find some great music on their collection to play - or if all else fails... I'll plug in my iPod and play an album off that instead.  In any case, we ought to have a great time here.  

So, what are you plans over the weekend?  Mine are to paint, read and hang out with friends over dinner.  Sounds pretty sweet, eh?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Monday Monday

Yep, today is going to be so busy, I just had to write it down twice!  I've gotten most of my stuff together and now, it's a matter of making sure I have everything on my to-do list packed and done around the house.  Then, tomorrow, I can happily take the tv in to get fixed - or held onto and fixed - by Panasonic.  

Today fined up a little for the first time in ages; but this gave me a little time to pull my house together and open all the doors and windows to let the air through so it doesn't feel so musty and closed up.  I can get in an vacuum this afternoon and dust too; which is a good thing.  After all, the washing up is up to date and I have yet to wash the floors and put the feeder in the fish tank for the fishies.

Thankfully, I got the lawn mowed last week and I'm looking forward to getting everything else done and fixed up before 10pm tonight.  Actually, it'll all be finalised by around 5pm this afternoon; seeing I'm a little ahead of schedule.  And doesn't it make you feel great when a lot of what you plan falls right into place?  Sure!  Of course it does.
Mostly the rain helped me along with my organising and packing because there wasn't anything else to do seeing how much rain we received over the last few weeks.

Really, I don't have that much to do in the way of finishing up my packing.  There's just the small things that need to be put away into my toiletries bag and a few little things - like my dream journal and dream dictionary - and that'll be it.  I know I'm only going for two weeks, but the last time I was at my brother's house I didn't take along my dream journal or dictionary and I had some really vivid dreams and couldn't write them down or look them up.  So, I decided this time to make sure I had everything I'd need to be comfortable.  Besides, I get my best story ideas from my most interesting - if not terrifying and uneasy-feeling - dreams.  

Well, it's time for me to take off from here for a few days.  The next time I post here, I'll be most probably at Brighton... you never know, I may put in some links of where I am.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.    

Last Minute Stuff

It's Sunday night and I'm onto the last minute packing for the next two weeks.  Fortunately, I have had the assistance of an app on my iPod to help me.  I put up two to-do lists onto it and I've gotten almost everything done on both; very cool.

It's been great today.  The rain has been really good in getting me working on packing - which was easy enough - and cleaning; which was even easier.
So far, 95% of my gear is packed and 3/4 of the housework has been done.  I'm happy with my progress today.  I have yet to post off two parcels tomorrow and, hopefully pay for my PO Box tomorrow as well.  Then, that'll be all my bills paid for and everything tied up neatly.  I'm not expecting any bills to arrive until next month; and that's a good thing.

The washing up has been done, I've soaked two plates of paint to take with me and I'm going to clean up the painting gear ready to go tomorrow night.  So, all I need to do is get myself ready completely by Tuesday afternoon; after my tv is fixed up at Eagle Farm (it's being looked at by Panasonic there, and hopefully they'll be able to fix it.  If not, they may have to replace it).  

I'm looking forward to this holiday away.  I'll have some art to work on, books to read and music to play while I'm there.  It's going to be great.  I'm also taking two recipe books of mine to use while I'm there; and with the chickens there in residence, I'll have plenty of eggs to eat.  And even thought it'll be raining, I'm sure I'll be able to keep myself interested in what I'm doing.
So, what do you do when the weather goes to extremes like it has here, for long periods of time?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.