Dammit! I'm Sick!

I hate getting sick - and it's not that often I do catch something.  I mean, the last time I was sick with something everyone had was around 2 years ago!  Yep, that was a long time ago!

Well, I woke up with a sore throat on Monday and it's gotten worse over the last two days.  My nose is running off and on, my throat is sore and dry, and I'm having the lovely hot flushes too... yeah, menopause doesn't stop for anything.

So, with all that going on, I've had to still keep on going with paying the bills, going out grocery shopping and doing everything I normally do... and you know, today hasn't been that bad.

I got to get my work onto the wall this afternoon, treated myself to 'Reeces Pieces' at K-Mart and found that the Rochedale Fruit and Veggie Market has reopened and has better bargains than ever! So, even with my cold blasting my immune system to bits, I'm going okay.

And yes, I'm exhausted and my eyes are constantly watering. I can't hear myself swallow and can only taste chocolate; otherwise, today hasn't been bad.

I only hope I can sleep better tonight than I did last night.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Really Strange Week

There's strange weeks, and there's strange weeks.  I've had weeks where I have missed whole days and had to try and figure out what's been going on... and then, there's weeks where stuff goes on that I just don't want to figure out.

This week was one of the latter.

My weekend was one where I sat and wrote some really strange stuff.  None of it has been edited and I don't think it'll see the light of day; but I wrote it nonetheless.  It was interestingly weird and funny weird at the same time... stuff that just goes around and around in my head and eventually gets written but I don't let anyone read.

Well, Sunday was my lazy day where I just rested my arm and did nothing much.  Okay, I washed up, looked outside and photographed my garden... but it ended up with me vegging out in front of the television.
One of the neighbours, not far from me, put on some really loud music.  I don't mean, 'Oh that's annoying.' I mean, 'Crap I can hear the lyrics over my damned television!' loud... yeah... that kind of annoying.  So, I thought I was within my rights to ask them politely to turn it down a smidge.  By all means, play the music, but don't interrupt my afternoon with it... instead, they invited me to hang out.  I thought why not?  There wasn't anything much on television and I was vegging out anyway.
Within about 20 minutes another neighbour from the other side of the complex - who I don't get along with - rode past on his motorcycle, without a shirt, helmet or shoes on.  No, he's not good-looking.  He's overweight, a drunk and makes out we're friends - we're not.  He drove his bike right into the middle of the party - yeah, dangerous - and attempted to flirt with me.  I went home.  When I heard him go away, I thought that I had been invited and went back... at which point he returned - inviting himself to the gathering - and made the whole get together dreadful.  It was meant to be a chill-out, but he was rude and horrible.  I ended up going home for dinner and when I came back an hour later, he hadn't left.  About an hour after that (and after everyone watched him drink himself into a stupor and then get stoned, at which point I went home permanently), he totally wrecked the night...
He was reported to the right people about this.  However, there's too many people like this in the world, who think they can do this and it's okay to do this.  It annoyed and aggravated everyone that I found him a threat; and that - even when they stopped talking to him - he didn't leave.  However, the stranger thing still was that it wasn't until after he started smoking the pot, did he get paranoid and then sent himself home.  I wasn't there to see that, but was told the next day.

Yesterday was Melbourne Cup Day and for the first time in a long time, my family didn't have anywhere to go for lunch.  So, Mum, Dad and I had nibblies at their place and watched it on the big screen.
However, Dad and I noticed one of the horses wasn't looking well... it was sweating and its eyes were really big.  We commented on it and yet it was still raced.  After it was taken back to its stall, it laid down and never got back up.  So, even though my horse came second, I still felt we all lost in a big way yesterday because of that first horse... then not long after a second horse had to be put down because it kicked and broke its leg in a way it couldn't be fixed.

Today, I put the money I won into the bank.  Usually - in the past - I would have spent it.  But I've gotten into the habit of putting money I've made or won into the bank; which is a good habit to get into.  Also today, I spent far less money than I got out of the bank... just as well, because when I returned home, I looked at my watch and found it had stopped.  So, tomorrow, I'm off to Stones Corner to get the battery replaced.  I'm going there because where the watch was made and bought by Mum; and I don't want to take it anywhere else.  I also have to donate some clothes and items to Life Line Super Store at Logan Central and post off something overseas too.  

So, this week has been really strange - not all that busy - but just really strange, and sad too.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

The Busiest Time!

I seriously haven't had any time to do much for myself... so the house is a mess!  I can wash up a little, but then, it'll get messed up again while I'm cooking.  Then, I'll make the bed in the afternoon - when I have five minutes to myself - and I mess it up later that night when I sleep in it.  So I've given up on that.  The Livingroom is always getting tidied up in the morning, then messed up in the evening so I can paint or sew... 

Yep, I just don't feel as though I'm settled anymore.  The place is being sorted, but it's slowing down because I'm at a crossroads.  I need to get Mum and Dad to help me this time.  There's a sewing machine that needs to be dumped and another one to be installed in my bedroom; along with a glory box that used to be in my Grandma's house.  this glory box will be something I can use for the duvet and some things in Summer and the quilt in Winter.  It's gotta have some TLC first, something I have the time and patience for fortunately - and Dad knows I'm capable of too.  He's seen me fix up a century-old cutlery box of my Great-Grandmother's and is impressed I can get in and work on something without losing interest.  He forgets that I'm an artist, and working on something is a part of my life - I'm always working on something.

Anyway, this week has been busier than usual.  Since Friday, I've been going out every day; and I'm now ready to crawl under my duvet and tell the world to nick off... seriously to go away and leave me alone for a while.  
On Saturday, I went to my Romance Writer's group and chatted to the ladies there.  There were only three of us, but it was a nice gathering.  Afterwards, we had lunch and I met with a lovely lady who's getting married next year and has seen my Crafty Pegs coathangers and asked if I could do some for her... I hope to have some commissioned works by Christmas to get done in the New Year.  Anyway, that afternoon, I got home, packed the car and had something small for dinner before getting an early night.
Sunday was a freezing cold day all round.  Nobody came to the markets, and we didn't sell anything.  I sold two Beautiful Coathangers and gave away one pencil.  Not very promising... oh well, sometimes that happens.  I'm not fussed, it's not something I can control.  And besides, it was the first weekend of the Winter School Holidays; the parents aren't tired of their kids yet.
On Monday, I had my craft group.  They were talking about what was going on next Monday; which is a day out that I had missed out on.  Bummer!  Oh well, next time.  But I started working on new stuff for the markets next month - brighter pencils and over-sized pegs... woot!  How much fun is that?

Then, on Tuesday, I went out and did some grocery shopping for Mum and Dad.  How exhausting!  I got it all done, washed up and threw out some things in the rubbish and used the Glen-20 around the house to keep it nice-smelling.  And just as I was settling in at my place, they arrived home at theirs; and invited me over!  So, I drove back over there and saw them!  They were so thrilled to see me and to see I did a good shop for them... and today they had yet to fully go through what I bought them at the shops - but were more than happy to know that there was everything they expected; and more!

Today, I went out and did my own grocery shopping for the next two weeks.  Yep, I do my shopping on a bulk basis... it's cheaper and easier for me.  If I spend less time at the store, I spend less money there too... and know what I have at home.  Therefore, there's less food wastage... pretty smart housekeeping when you think of it.  I've just about found my food limit and price limit too - at around $200 per fortnight - and found that it's good to have a bit more money than you need really for the day in case you see something you like or had forgotten to write down.  
Anyway, I found some honey Mum and Dad had told me about at Coles and bought it for them.  Mum was thrilled that I thought of them; and thought it might have set me back - but it was only $4.00 or so! - how's that for a bargain! 

Well, now, I'm home, sitting here typing away on the computer.  Dad's thrilled I gave him the old HP Pavilion that he can rebuilt himself - along with some bits that Ricki gave me - and he even happier that I have a new computer from friends who are new and right next door... he reckons they're worthwhile keeping in touch with too.  I think so too - and not just because Ricki knows about computers, both Ricki and Vanessa are lovely people and have been good to me since they moved in early this year.  
Dad's really happy the car's going well.  He told me that the car might be running a little rich, but I'm not sure about that.  It's going through a lot less fuel than the Pajero ever did!  It's costing me less to fill it - and I mean under $40 per half a tank - and so I think he's thinking of a bigger car, and not mine.  Well, I guess we'll figure it out.  He's worried about how much oil I put into it because it might be burning it instead of using.  I hope not, I didn't put in that much.  Well, I guess we'll see how it goes when I see them next.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and warm in this chilly weather and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Day Today

Today I'm hoping to get a few things done while I have the stamina.  It's cold here as there's an Antarctic Wind charging up the coast making us all freeze through a cold snap.  So, I'm hoping to be able to get in and do some work around here in the way of making a difference around my home.

This morning, the first thing I did was put a Command Hook on the inside of one of my wardrobe doors so I can hang up a couple of my handbags.  I'll be adding to that hook with more Command Hooks so there's more use of them and I can put my bags away, rather than have them on the floor.

Then, I moved the old bathroom mirror from inside the spare room wardrobe to behind the bedroom door... it gave me more room in the wardrobe and I was less likely to break it accidentally.  I have a few other things to get done before the day's out here, but I need a box for my wrapping paper stuff for Christmas and Birthdays next week while I'm out shopping.  

Anyway, I'm going to finish tidying up the bedroom by putting away the clothes on the chair and all the cushions too.  Then, I'm going to get in and vacuum as well and dust too; and that bedroom will be complete.  The hall table will get a dusting and I'll finish doing out the bathroom and give the floor a once over and that will be finished up too.  I've yet to get the curtain for it though - that will still take time to do.

Downstairs, I have to wait for the hand-washing to dry - this will take until later this afternoon - then I'll put away the clothes horse, fold the laundry, put away some hand-stitching stuff, dvds, clean up the lounge and dust the place then vacuum and lounge room and wash all the floors.  The downstairs will look better than it used to; as it's easier to clean than it used to be. 

Now, there's a few things that still have to be looked into - like the home office - but I have left this room until last as it's the toughest room to work in.  I have so many things to organise in here that this will be my final attempt at working on it.  If I can't pull this room together this time around, I'll just leave it the way it is, accepting it for what it is - a junk room.  I hate saying this, but it will have to be something I hate and despise until I get my head around what is in here - junk - and I can let it go without thinking I'm going to worried about it.

Decluttering is a highly personal thing.  Nobody can really help you with it, you can only do it yourself and it takes courage to take on your own house by yourself... and once you do start letting go of things you don't need, it does become easier.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

First Day Out Grocery Shopping

Today was my first day out grocery shopping with my Little Green Machine.  I had only half a tank of fuel and the day started out quite cool.  But I couldn't wait to get going.  
However, I found it was going to be just one of those days where nothing was going to go right.  First off, my keycard didn't work at the fruit store - so I had to use another one to buy my fruit and veggies.  Then, I came home to pick up my old key card, only to be advised by my care-taker that one of my brakelights had blown.  So, I headed over to Mum and Dad's house to get it fixed up.  Dad and I spent a little time fixing that, put it back together and then I was off to the shops again.
On the way to their place, I noticed an accident outside the post office.  Two cars were involved; and the culprit?  Well, somebody had parked their vehicle in between the driveways and blocked the view of the street for people getting out of the small shopping centre up Kingston Road.  The person getting out didn't see the car coming through and slammed right into them.  This has been a hazard for years.  I've complained about it to the Logan City Council a number of times and they won't fix it.  So, today, I saw what could happen to my car.  What's worse is that I have applied to the Logan City Council to put a yellow 'No Parking' line between those driveways to keep that area clear but they won't.  It's disgusting.  I told my Mum what happened and she said it's time I told the LCC what happened today and that it's proof they need to put that line in now.

Well, I got in and did my shopping.  I was an hour later than I wanted to be.  And I wished I didn't have to be, but it couldn't be helped.  However, I felt more relaxed than ever... I have my own car and I didn't feel as though I needed to rush to get home.  
I paid off a layby at 'Woody's' of AC/DC's Back In Black vinyl, then I was off to K-Mart to look for a hair dryer.  I found a Vidal Sassoon one for $45 with all the bells and whistles... but I had to buy a brush for it at Coles.  Oh well, can't get everything with it.  I also dropped off my prescription at the chemist (boy!  Were they busy!).  
Coles was a breeze.  I didn't spend too much money, just what I needed and that was it.  Soon, I picked up my prescription and was off to pack the car and get my butt to a service station to fill the car up.

Now, I used a discount docket and filled up my car.  I thought it was going to cost me more, but instead it cost me a mere $25.70!  How cool is that?  Very cool!  I'm happy this little car is going to cost less to run than the Pajero.  And that was when it was half empty!  So, I'm happy with that.  

Well, that was my first shopping day with my Little Green Machine.  Tomorrow, we're off to the Hyperdome where I need to get some varnish for my pegs and coathangers and then back to Woodridge to get some blank cds to burn more music for the car and put some photos on for an art proposal for and exhibition I'm hoping to get.  Yep, I'm busy this week.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday Busyness

This morning, you'd swear I was on a mission... a true mission!  I was out of bed before 8am, had a nice hot shower and washed my hair and dressed by around 8:20am and then put on the first load of laundry of towels just as I got my breakfast ready and opened the house up.

Then, after I put out the towels and the hand-washing, I finished my toast and paid the phone bill and got myself ready to go out.  I had my list of things to get done and then I was out the door just as the rubbish truck was coming through the gate out the front.  So, I pulled the Pajero around in front of my neighbour's house so I didn't get stuck face to face with a big J J Richard's truck halfway through this place, and waited for them to come through... but they didn't.  Instead, they backed out and drove away.
So, I spent a little time reporting this to the right people and then took off on my errands around the place.  I had to go to A-Mart All-Sports to suss out some hand-weights.  I want to get my lazy muscle back into some kind of working form again; as I don't feel or look as good as I could.  Besides, I have 'tuckshop arms'... oh, yuk!  These are things I promised myself I'd never have, and now I do!  So, I'm not going to let my body go any further into the lazy muscle stage, it's going to be worked on ... I bought myself a nice box of hand weights which add up to 10kg... there's a piece of paper inside where it tells you how to get started and I can work on my arms now, and when I graduated from this stage, I can hand them onto Mum and Dad; and they can use them.

Then, I was off to the bank to deposit the cash I raised for the Lukaemia Foundation.  I have to post off the book to them - and I'll be doing that tomorrow.  And then, I went to Bunnings and found a nice little plant to pot into the large half-pot one of my neighbours gave me.  And it looks just so pretty.  It's a succulent and flowers from Spring through to Autumn, and is just green in Winter.  It's self-seeding and so I can keep and eye on it through that time and it flows over the edge of the pot, so it looks lovely and it attracts butterflies to the garden - which is a plus!

Once I was home, I potted the plant, unpacked the weights and organised myself.  I'll be doing a lot more stuff over the next few days.  I have to keep working on a few things and get my butt into gear for the weekend... I really need to put away laundry, find some photos, and my Peace Flags.  Otherwise, I'm okay with the house work for now.  How's your week going?  Busy, busy, like me?  Or just average?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Epilepsy Awareness Day

Today, it's Epilepsy Awareness Day, and the colour to wear for today is purple.  So, I sorted out my wardrobe last night, and am wearing my purple shirt, purple stocking-socks, purple underwear, have my purple handbag and went out today to do my grocery shopping... very cool. 

However, I spent a lot of money.  Damned inflation. Oh well.  At least I didn't spend any more money than I had to.  I spent money only at Woolworths, Coles and at the Big Apple Fruit Store.  So, really, I only bought what I needed and came home.  Not a bad deal really.

But the last few days have been very tiring and I've been feeling very burnt out; and this is because I spent most of last week out and about doing things for the next Creative Markets.  Then, I hit a wall and had to slow down and make myself go to bed well before midnight - this didn't mean my body wanted to sleep; or my brain - it just meant that for a good three hours in the night I was wide awake trying to sleep.

Not fun.

As of yesterday, however, I had finished up everything I needed to do with my market.  The rest of my works were all sprayed, wrapped up and put into the stock box, then I figured out how much stock I had made (money-wise) and it was a lot!  So, I made sure I had my money right, and put everything away and sat down with a glass of ice coffee and felt very pleased with myself; and very tired. 
This week had taken it out of me... really taken it out of me.  So, for the next few days, I'm going to finish up a few things around the place have been ignored, do some reading, do some writing and put away things I've been meaning to put away and make sure I have the float for the Creative Markets by Friday night... then spend Saturday just chilling out and writing the end of Fry Nelson: Bounty Hunter - book 3.  Yeah, that sounds good.

So, what are your plans for this weekend?  Anything grand?  Anything interesting?  Or just hanging out and watching the world go by?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Gardening Work Again

Around this time of year, I get back into my garden; and I love it.  It's funny how I do look forward to doing this, and yet it's something that - in the past - I haven't been able to do in larger spurts due to not having transport. 

Now, I have a set of wheels, it's a lot easier and I can enjoy my gardening more.  So, I've been getting more than one bag of potting mix at a time, more than one pot at a time and being able to look at better plants to pot lately - especially seeing how there's a new back fence to play around with, and I have a half-pot to hang off it.

Over the last week, I've backfilled a few plants, repotted a couple of others and bought a new pot for a plant that's been without a home.  I'm looking at working at getting myself a nice plant for the halfpot and hanging that up before long.  Then, I'll look into working on making sure I have enough room for other things for my plants.

I want to get more plants into my yard, buy some solar lighting which actually works, and a few other things to keep my garden looking nice.  There's a feel I want my garden to have and it's not quite there yet... I want more statues hiding amongst place for people to find and I want to have plaques around the place, a couple of things to place the plants on - to get them off the ground.  I'm hoping to work on making my yard have a look to it that will make me want to be out in it - as well as my friends want to be out in it too.

Before the year is out, I want to replace at least two of the coloured seats that are outside.  They are all rotting and I want to have something that gives people a reason to go and sit down and chilll out in the shade... a reason to relax without wondering if the seats are going to give out on them, which is a feeling they have with the chair around the place currently.  Even I have the uneasy feeling that those wooden seats aren't going to hold my weight most days as they move and creak under my light frame.  So, this year is the year I get rid of them.  

So, what are you up to this week?  What's your main plan for your place, your garden, your main thing while you're busy making other plans... until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

What A Day!

Hmmm.... where do I start?  Today was shopping day.  Yep, pay day... and so I was up early, had a nice shower and washed my hair and got ready to go out.

The fencing guys didn't arrive, so I took off by 9:30am and had checked the mail, bought the fruit'n'veggie and scored $50 worth of petrol before going to Woolworths for my chocolate.

Then, I was off to Logan Central Plaza where I looked around for some hangers for the half pot that I've had under one of my seats in my yard for about 3 years... I want to hang it on the new fence once it's finished - along with a few plaques I have had my eye on at Bunnings to make my garden really look lovely.
I went to the chemist and Coles and then, before I knew it I was outa there and home!  And the guys still hadn't shown and I had arrived back at around 11:30am... so I packed away the cold stuff - dropping the yoghurt in the process - and then planned out my afternoon.

If they weren't going to show, I was going to get the rest of the stuff I needed for the week today.

I took off to Bunnings first to get 3 bags of potting mix, 2 hangers and a new pot to replace one that had gone brittle in my yard.  I found those just as I bumped into one of my friends who works for Bunning and I don't see them often - Kym Phox.  She used to live in unit 7 for a while and did up the back yard, adding value to the place, before she moved out.
We caught up and had a cool chat and caught up with each other.  I showed her photos of what I've been up to with the Creative Markets and she was really proud of me.  And then I told her Dad was buying me a car too, and she was really happy.

After I packed the car, I was off to Garden City to get some art stuff.  I needed some paint and ties at Riot Art.  I bought all that stuff and thought to see if K-Mart still had wooden coathangers in stock before they closed down for the extention.  But they didn't.  Oh well.  I didn't worry, I thought to leave it anyway.

I drove back to Mum and Dad's via the highway and they were watching 'Boardwalk Empire' on dvd.  Dad told me that the television was playing up... or recorder... or something about the two.  Either way, they couldn't watch television properly as it was all hot pink and blue.  However, they've had nothing but problems with this set since Dad bought it from somebody at his workplace about 5 years ago.  Nothing works properly on it and yet he won't get anyone out to look at it.  And yet, when I got a brand new television, and it screwed up, we had Panasonic looking at it straight away... strange.

Well, I arrived home at around 3:30pm and found myself unpacking the rest of my groceries, making a pizza dough and then settling in for a few hours of reruns on channel 11.  It was nice to settle back for a bit.  Before long, it was dark outside and I watched about 2 hours of 'Supernatural' and it was time to lock up the house.  But before I did that, I looked around for my newly-bought art gear and didn't think of looking in the car... where I had left it at around 3:30pm and forgotten about it!  
So, how was your day?  Busy? Slow?  Or just average?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday .... what can I say?

Today was my Dad's Birthday.  I gave him a Super Cheap Membership Card.  Very cool... he loves it.  But I was up very early today to get petrol for the car.  However, seeing everyone put their bins out behind my car, it was near impossible to get the Pajero out of the car port.  So, I got a great idea:  photograph the problem and e-mail it to Dad (or anyone who cares about this problem).  And I did... well, after his lunch anyway.

This morning, after the petrol was gotten, breakfast was eaten and milk was bought, I was hanging out here online when my mobile rang and the service guy was here to fix my washing machine.  It had begun to make a high-pitched singing sound - this is called grinding and isn't good for the machine.  It's the seals wearing out and they normally put some gunk around the seal to make it stop singing/grinding for the next few years.
Well, once that was done, I paid the man and he was on his way, then I jumped on the phone and called my folks.  Mum had told me that she was thinking of taking Dad out to Runcorn Tavern for lunch and I was invited.  So, I took them up on the offer.  But I had to shower first and get myself into some clean clothes after washing my hair.

We had our lunch, sat around with our coffee and hot chocolate at the club there, scored ourselves some free hats at the bottle shop not far away... then we were off!  Mum and Dad had to drop in to the Medicare at Logan Central. 
This turned into a small shopping trip for them both.  Dad needed to go to Coles and I walked around there with him helping him find stuff and we found the checkouts were all closed - except one - and we had to go through the self-service checkouts (something he hates but I don't mind).  Anyway, we met up with Mum and were on our way back home before we knew it.  It was nice to be out and about around my way... Dad didn't mind it too much.  He was amazed at how well I knew my Coles, and that everything was packed in so tightly.  

I arrived home, opened up the house and didn't really want anything for dinner.  So, I made myself a light salad and had some Green Tea and watched some Supernatural.  Before I knew it, it was around 10:30pm and I'm now on here... woah!  Where did my evening go?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

New Priorities

This year, I've got myself into the organising mindset.  Yep, it started with the new boxes for the Christmas Decorations, then I organised how the extra books were arranged in my office, now, it's time I looked into getting a hall table.

Now, the first time, initially, backfired big time... but I've learned about that and I'm going to get my butt into gear and find a new one that doesn't look like it's going to fall down when I sneeze near it.

I went shopping today - grocery shopping - and I had to buy a few things that weren't normally on my shopping list. 
So, I gave Life Line a quick look, but that's all I did... just look.  I didn't buy anything.  Then, I went to the fabric shop down the way and bought 3 metres of Calico for my stall for $4.95 a metre... which was pretty good.  What I'm going to do is hem it, iron it and make it a cloth for the table and then put the nice fabrics I bought years ago for a summer skirt (which I didn't buy enough of at the time) and drap those pieces over the top to give the stall a little bit of character and colour.

After going to the fabric store, I didn't go to Woolworths - as I already have chocolate.  I went to the car and drove to Super A-Mart and looked at their hall tables.  Now, I did go online first but it said they didn't have any instore... what rot!  They did!  And there were 4 different styles, heights and widths.  But I loved the most basic, two-drawer one they showed me first which was $209... but I had to order it in.  This is something I don't mind doing as I'm going to look at my money and how I spend it over the next few months; and over the next year.

You see, my priorities have change since last September when my hobby business - Crafty Pegs - started up.  I'm working harder at creating pieces for the Creative Markets next month (which are on 23rd, February for those who aren't on Facebook) and I'm hoping to have more than enough stock to sell by then.  
Also, I'm trying see if I can get a second-hand desk for my craft area so I can put away all my gear over the next year.  I want to be able to put away all my sandpaper, pegs, tubs of paint, notebooks and other things as well, so when I go to bed each night, the desk I work on is clear and clean of everything except of the items drying overnight and the things I have to work on the next day.  It makes sense when you think about it.

Anyway, that's how it's hopefully going to work for me this year for Crafty Pegs.  But it will take time, and time is something I have plenty of.

I'm also working on organising myself and my house so it's tidier than it was last year.  I want everything to have a place and a place for everything... and this isn't an impossible thing, but it's time-consuming.  And so far, I'm going well at it; as I've slotted into my life bit by bit.  I've made sure my life has become a little more organised as each day and week passes by... and I'm proud of myself as this is something I've wanted for so long.

Anyway, how has your week been going?  All good I hope.  Busy like mine?  Or more relaxed?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Last Grocery Shop Before Christmas

Today was my last shopping day before the New Year... yep, I braved the crowds and headed out earlier than usual today to get my shopping done as soon as I could and avoid the crowds.

I hate the crowds at this time of the year.

Well, on my way out, there was a white van that's been dropping around to pick up the Islamic ladies to take them wherever they go each day.  The driver zooms around here at 20km/hr when the speed limit is 5km/hr.  Well, he picked up one of them, while I had to squeeze past his van illegally parked outside the unit, and I putted around the place at the right speed limit (as I've seen some families around here with small kids; and those kids just seem to pop up out of nowhere when you're driving a car).  Anyway, he was suddenly, right on my tail.... itching to get out.  I kept my speed slow and he kept revving the engine.  I almost stopped the car to just tick him off, but didn't.  Instead, I just went on my way and minded my own business.  His time will come where somebody will stop him from speeding; but it won't be me.

I found a car spot under the shade of the trees at Woolworths today... and that was wonderful, and rare!  And I also went off to Life Line to see what lovely things they had on offer there.  They had an original Prada handbag which looked a little worse for wear; and then the man at the counter went out the back room and brought out a brand new Charlie Brown bag... he said he looked it up online and found they were being sold on e-bay for around $65 each.  So, they put that price on it.  I inspected both bags, and picked up the Charlie Brown bag for $55 because of my Life Line card discount... very cool.  I know it sounds like a lot to buy a bag for; but when I looked at this bag, and I mean, really looked at it, it hadn't been used.  It still had the Charlie Brown perfume in it... so, instead of thinking it over, I jumped in and bought the lovely thing; and I don't regret it a bit.

My shopping at Coles was good.  I had a few calculating problems at the self-serve checkouts... I'm just not a mathematical person... then I got a few messages from Mum.  But when I went to answer them, my mobile wouldn't let me type anything, let alone read the message.
This had been happening to me a lot lately.  The smart phone Gabe gave me last year has been screwing up over the last month - at first it was just little things, like the battery going dead within a day, then it was becoming more annoying things.  For example, I'd open the phone to see if I'd miss any calls while I was out and it would say: 'Sending text'... um... when did I send a text, let alone write one?  I'd get a message back from Mum asking me why I sent her text with no message and I'd call her saying that phone did it on its own and I didn't.
But today, it screwed up royaly!  I had left the message alone until I was out of Coles, then Mum messaged me again (it was about Christmas Day and where we were going to have it and with whom and she wanted to know if I was cool with it).  Well, I couldn't answer her because the phone wouldn't let me text anything, or call anyone.  So, I waited until I got out to the car, turned the phone off and on, and it still wouldn't let me do anything unless I pushed on the screen so hard I thought I was going to crack the glass!  And to make it worse, I was halfway through my text and the stupid damned phone sent my message to Mum without me touching anything!  So, I kept typing until I was finished - telling her what had just happened, and that the phone is acting up and I need a new one before I break this one - and so she got 2 messages from me (an incomplete one and a finished one).  I very nearly smashed the damned thing on the ground right there because I was so mad at how it was performing - or not! - but I didn't.  I got a message back from Mum: 'Hmmmm...' I hope to find a solution to this phone problem soon, as not too far into the future, I won't have a phone because this one will just stop working.

Well, I arrived home to find two kids from across the road - who don't live here in the complex - using our swimming pool.  The moment the gate opened, I drove through, paused, looked over at them and they got this terrified expression on their faces.  They know who I am and that I will talk to them if they're found here again.  Children under the age of 10 aren't allowed to swim in the pool unsupervised - and if you don't live here and are children under the age of 10, you're tresspassing and the police will be called to report you.  I've told them this, and this has scared them enough to know that the next time they see me, to be gone.  I know which house they live in too... so it looks like there's going to be a report to police soon about these kids as they're not allowed here, especially when they lie about living here to us all (yeah, I'm not the only one to see them running around here). 

Well, that was my day.  It was good, bad, ugly and everything else in between... but most of all, it was my last shopping/grocery day before Christmas.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

The Heat Is On!

It's been a humid day and I still went out.  I had to go to Garden City to get some last minute Christmas Shopping done and then I could waste the remainder of my week away here at home painting my pegs and enjoying the rain and catching up on housework.

Today, I drove to Garden City, picked up a Gloria Jean Christmas mug and found out they made a Christmas Ornament - Yay! - and so I bought that too!  And then I was off to get myself a calendar for next year - another retro one - and found it down near K-Mart.  Then, I turned around and saw Riot Art just behind me and thought it would be wise to stock up on magnets for more Magna-Pegs (yeah, I know I have plenty, but you can never have too many Magna-Pegs).  But they didn't have any magnets I wanted... so I bought some dolly pegs and a tub of gold paint for when I run out of gold paint - which will be over the next month or so.

I drove home, nearly ran into a car on the way through my unit complex - only because it was illegally parked outside somebody's front door.  I called out for the owner to move it or next time I'll run into it - and that today was rubbish day and the truck will definitely run into it (seeing how fast they take the corners around here).  Then, I opened the house up and realised the heat wasn't just me... it was a really humid day!

I got changed, set up my painting gear and jumped online to check my mail.  After I stuffed around on here for about 2 hours, I turned off the computer and went outside to photograph some of my plants.  The Gloxinia is coming along so beautifully and will be in full bloom in less than a week!  I can't wait!  It's such a happy plant and there's so many little buds waiting to burst open and show how pretty and pink they are.

Tonight, I had a salad because I just couldn't be bothered cooking anything but an egg... and it was so humid!  And a few hours after sunset, it poured rain and we got some thunder and lightning... but it's still raining off and on; and the humidity is still sticking around.  I only hope I can sleep - let's just hope there's a nice breeze around tonight, eh?  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Few Days

Today was shopping day; and I got out there and bought everything I needed and wanted.  Yes, I spoiled myself a little with a few little ornaments for the piano from Coles and bought up more groceries than I needed.  But I do this around this time of the year; as I don't wish to be caught short as the real Silly Season draws near... you know the type I mean; when people rush around and forget things at the shops and act a little strange in the shops.  I've seen them... they look like they need to go to the toilet in the check-out line when they've got one item.  Thank goodness for the self-service check-outs, eh?

Well, today, I paid off my last lay-by for the year, bought my Topamax for the next month, and spent a lot of money at Coles... yeah, I over-spent a little, but that's just me at Christmas.

Once home, I unpacked and put everything away and found that my pantry and fridge were both bursting at the seams with food!  Yay!  I love it when that happens.  And it's the most wonderful feeling to have food in the house - I often feel like having a dinner party; but who would I invite???  Most of my friends can't make it or are overseas.

Anyway, I spent my afternoon online and then had a few hours working on my Crafty Pegs, mowed the lawn (where a nest of Green Ants were peeved enough at me to attack!  One bit me on the ball of my left foot! Yeowch!) and then I had a nice cool shower, washed my hair and began thinking about dinner as I watched 'Happy Days'... I love that show; but then who doesn't?  They keep on playing the repeats on channel 11 and it's wonderful to see it keeping on our televisions when everything else fades away eventually.

I made a salad for dinner, watched a little more television and did a bit more painting and then packed up my paint, brushes and locked up my house to come upstairs.

However tomorrow, I'm not going to be sleeping in; as I was hoping to do.  Nope... I'm going to be over at Springwood to get some plastic boxes to store my Christmas ornaments - big boxes - so I don't have to have the cardboard boxes in the wardrobe anymore.  And I'll buy another one for my Halloween stuff too.  So, I'll be able to put away the wreath that hangs in my window too, as well as the scary skull I put on my door for Halloween and all my ghoulish stuff into another box.  Sounds good, eh?  
Then, I'll be off to Bunnings to get a table where the legs fold in.  I saw them advertised for $40 each.  This will be my own table for the Creative Markets; and will save me borrowing the light metal one from Mum and Dad every time - as I know they want that one back.

So, tomorrow morning, I'll be taking some stuff out of the back of the car, putting down the seats and pulling things out of the storage facility to return to Mum and Dad's place... and I'll be out for a few hours before returning home with some goodies.  I can't wait... I'll have some great things to organise, but my wallet will be a fare bit lighter.  However, I know it will be worthwhile.  

What are you doing for the rest of the week?  You know that tomorrow is a busy day for me.  Friday is my rest day, before I'm out and about on Saturday for the Volunteer's Morning Tea at the Logan Art Gallery and then off to little Zoe Treagus' 1st Birthday Party at Thorneside that afternoon.  On Sunday, I'll have a cleaner house, hopefully, and be able to dust and vacuum it by then.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

A Few Days Off

Today was the last day where I was sitting and working hard on my Crafty Pegs; and boy, did I feel like giving in!  I spent my morning sitting by my back door hoping to have a lovely quiet morning.  But my back neighbour - who was Turkish - was screaming at her baby, who was also screaming.  Then, her friend was screaming over the top of the baby... and if that didn't drive me nuts enough, they had the pressure cooker on and it went off and then they all screamed!  What a pain the butt!

By 1:30pm, I had finished up all the pegs I was ever going to do and got my behind outside with the varnish, the clothes horse and the pegs and spent around half and hour varnishing them.  Because I didn't have the car and it was so humid today, both layers of varnish dried quickly and - before I knew it - I was back inside to wrap up the sets of pegs.
I sorted them out into sets, made up the paper holders, clipped them all together, and then worked out how much cellophane I'd need to wrap them up.  It took me around 1 1/2 hours to get it all together and worked out.  And by around 3pm, it was done!  I stood up, stretched and woohooed a little before I put the lid on the stock box, put it away, and then ... then, I cleaned up the craft area.  I threw away excess paper, put away anything I've been ignoring and found a box for my sandpaper, bubblewrap and other items and organised it properly.  

Tonight, I wrote out my shopping list, did some washing up and put out the rubbish bin and organised what I was taking shopping tomorrow.  And the car has been returned to me for the trip tomorrow too.  I'll have a whole afternoon to myself tomorrow... well, jeez, I won't be painting pegs for once, so I'll be out the back yard reading a book I think... yeah, that'd be nice to get back into again, I think.

So, how has your week started out so far?  Busy like mine?  Or has it been go, go, go?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Foating Between Two Homes

I'm not home right now... well, I am, but I'm kinda floating between my place and my parents' house while something gets sorted out at my place with my neighbour's plumbing and their landlord.

This means being away from my lovely collection of books and my home for, well, I don't know how long.  So, by day, I'll be here at home but at night, I'm not.  I feel as though I'm homeless right now and it's crap that I can't be where I want to be - at home with all my stuff, my vinyls, books, art gear and where my food and everything.  

So, this means, I'm unable to read anything.  Yeah, I'm just visiting my house right now as though I'm a house sitting and nothing more; and yet I've lived here for over a decade and my neighbours have forced me to live somewhere else while their landlord makes me feel like dirt and horrible.  The body Corporate won't help me and now?... now, I want to move. I want to move away from here and to another place where people don't act like asshats and there's more space to move.  
I've already had a meltdown over the phone with my brother on the other end and he'd really pissed off about my situation and he has said he'll help me get out of here and get the place fixed up as much as we can.  But it's already done up... it's the plumbing next door we have to get the landlord to fix up and the place will be good enough to sell.

Right now, I have the great advantage of starting a lovely little business on Facebook and I'm stoked about it!  But at the same time I'm really down in the dumps and depressed about what's going on too.  I went out and did more shopping than I needed because I need food here at home and at Mum and Dad's place too.  This sucks big-time.  I hate my life.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Searching...

For the rest of this week, I'm going to be at home nice and quietly catching up with a few things that have been neglected.  

There's the housework, the vacuuming, the cleaning up and washing of the floors to get done.  I have a book to write - now the hard drive of my computer has been replaced yet again.  This is the 3rd hard drive my computer has been installed with.  The HP tech has never seen anything like this before.  I asked him what size it was, and he said it was 1GIG and yet my old external hard drive is only half-used.  So, I think I might need a bigger drive in the near future seeing the computer isn't handling what I do with it; and it's a brand new computer.  So, that's something to look forward to in the next few months.

Anyway, today, I went out for an hour or so to go window shopping for some second-hand furniture for my art area.  Yeah, I know that might have been a little out of place for me, but I thought this morning over breakfast that it might be the cheapest way to go; and the best, seeing some old furniture would work out better size-wise than newer storage units.  But I was mistaken.  A proper second-hand furniture store was far too expensive and I went to Vinnies and they didn't have anything I was looking for.  So, it looks like I'll be looking at IKEA furnture solutions in the next month or so.
Otherwise, next pay, I'll be off to the cheap stores - such as 'The Reject Store' and 'Sam's Warehouse' to pick up some planter pots and statues to put into my back yard... otherwise the potting mix will be coming from my local Bunnings, along with lawn seed!  Yep, in the next pay packet, I'll be very busy indeed working hard on my garden, making it look and feel like it should.  I'm looking forward to pulling it all together over the next month or so.  But then, I'm also looking forward to pulling together my house too; which will take a little more time than I expected.  

I have been totally enjoying myself over the last few months.  With the use of a car, I've been able to get places I normally couldn't and I've been saving money and spending it on things I normally wouldn't be able to.  This has been a wonderful experience, and I've watched my house transform from a dull, empty art canvas, into a beautiful place where I love to be.  I hope I can keep doing this kind of thing after my folks return from overseas and keep up my gardening and working on my house as much as I need to.  Until my next post, take care keep safe and warm, and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Warm Days

I've had a couple of busy days and am very tired.  Since Tuesday, I haven't slept well, but then I've also had a lot of things running through my head as jobs and chores to get done too.  

Since the front garden has been completed - and still looks great! - I thought to get in and begin my back garden; so it looks like my own little universe and I feel as though I'm a world away from the rest of the world and can escape from everywhere and everyone when I want to.  
So far, I've acquired some second-hand pavers from Gabe and Kat's friends and laid them along the back fence to help me know when weeds are coming through from my back neighbour (as she doesn't do any gardening at all; let alone go out in her back yard).  Then, I had to wait until this pay to do anything else.  I had two bags of potting mix and that was it.
Today, I was off to Bunnings with some money in my pocket and an idea to find some good pots and 2 more bags of potting mix.  And so, instead of going for the first set of pots I set my eyes on, I looked over all the pots in all the aisles and found out which ones were worth the money... and the two I picked out were the cheapest in the longrun.  I saved $12 - $15 all up buying plain terra cotta pots and two bags of $6.30 potting mix.  So, once home, I backed the car into the carport (knocking over some bins in the process; I mean, come on people, bin day was yesterday!  And they were picked up at 7am!) and then unloaded all my gear into my backyard.  Then, i was going to leave it all until tomorrow... but I found I wanted to get it done before the weekend.  So, I turned the car around and parked it nose in (so it wouldn't get hot), locked up the front of the house, grabbed the cordless phone, gardening gloves and headed out to the backyard and began working on uprooting the Aloe-Vera from its position with a shovel.
All up it took me around an hour to get it all done.  My right arm was killing me and I felt sick in the guts from the pain, but I'm happy it was done.  I even repotted the Gloxinia in the smaller round pot to give it more room to move this Summer... very nice!  And it'll be able to stay in the pot for a few years; as it was in its original pot for around 15 years.  
Next fortnight, I'll be looking around some cheap shops for garden statues to sit in my garden... nothing over $25... something like a sitting Buddha or something like a metal rooster or something fun which will be hidden amongst the potted plants.  I'm not sure what I'll get yet as I have to see what's out there.

Tomorrow, I have to catch up with my housework.  There's a ton of washing up, laundry, vacuuming and dusting to do.  Then, I have to pull the rake over what looks like a lawn but it's not, but I'll be getting into that on Sunday as I'll be dropping over to Mum and Dad's place on Saturday morning or afternoon while I'm in the area.  
Like I said I'll be over my folks' way on the weekend, and this is because I'll be at a workshop at the Logan North Library for a couple of hours during the day.  It's sci-fi month in all Logan Libraries and so I'm attending a workshop on how to build and create worlds and keep them... I can build worlds, but have problems keeping them in the minds of my readers; and in my imagination.  When my worlds are based on real places, it's not difficult because they're based on fact, but when it's imagined, it's more difficult and I find it hard to communicate it across.  I've always had this problem from the beginning; and I seriously need the help with it. 

Anyway, that's what my week has been like so far... busy as hell, but fun and a little painful.  But tonight, I cracked a few knuckles on my right hand and I felt and heard my elbow joint - where I have tennis elbow - pop and crack, a lot of pain went away!  This was good!  I think it's a sign of my arm getting better in some way - I hope.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Busy Week So Far... And It's Not Over!

I've had a very busy week so far and it's only Wednesday.  Over the weekend, it poured rain, but I made it to Mum and Dad's place to stay for a few days.  
On Sunday, I settled in, opened the house up a little, then it became really cold and I jumped online there, found it didn't work as well as it could have.  So, I downloaded Mozilla Firefox and then everything worked.  Before Dad gets back, I'll be uninstalling it off his computer so he doesn't fuss.  
Anyway, I made dinner that night and a shopping list for the next day (as I found there wasn't much in the way of what I normally ate here at home there) and then watched a few hours of 'Angel' and went to bed at around midnight.  However, I didn't get much sleep.  Some Indians from up the cul-de-sac opposite walked to the corner across the road and stood there smoking, talking and making phone calls for half an hour until I called out to move it along that they had woken me up.  I was polite about it and they apologised and didn't do it again.
On Monday, I was out the door early to walk to Woolworths to pick up a few things so I could stay there.  I also picked up a large 900gram tin of chocolates for the Queen Beez Craft Group.  Seeing I couldn't spend Mother's Day with my Mum, I thought to give back to the ladies who I spent my afternoon with that day.  But there were a few showers between the time I left the house and my arrival to the community centre up the road.  And what an afternoon!  We totally enjoyed ourselves chatting and laughing.  A lady sat next to me who's also has Epilepsy, but hers showed up when she went through menopause while I was born with mine.  She was lovely and good with jokes and laughed a lot.  Another two ladies and us talked for the whole time while we did our thing.  And my tin of chocolates went down a right treat too!  Everyone loved them.  I did come home with them though.
When I arrived home, I sat down at the computer and spent the next 3 hours from 3:10pm - 6pm writing.  I had signed up for a Writing Race on Facebook, so did my race at a time that suited me.  It was great fun and I enjoyed it, seeing it got me through chapter 3 of book 4 of Fry Nelson easily.  Then, I spent Monday night at my parents' house and I ate a nice stir-fry I made there.  Then watched 'Supernatural' on their massive television (I've never seen it on a huge television before and it was lots of fun!).  Anyway, after that, I washed up, closed up the house and turned on the computer; as it was still very early, and got back into my writing until almost midnight when I turned off the computer and went to bed.
Tuesday morning was spent running around packing all my stuff away.  I also made the bed, put everything I had brought with me into my backpack, throwing out food that was off in the bin and then checking the mail and paying a few things for Mum.  By the time the cab arrived and I got home, I realised I forgot to take out the rubbish!  Oops!  Well, I'll be back there on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend there until Monday or Tuesday afternoon before coming back home.  But before I left, I grabbed some meat out of the fridge and went out the back door to where I spotted two Magpies strutting around the yard.  They both began to climb the steps as they sang... the next thing I knew, I had seven birds gathered around me all vying for food.  Beeper was there next to me and so was a few others who ate right out of my fingers and one sitting right on my knee!  Before long, I ran out of food and they just stood around looking at me.  I showed my empty hands and stood and went inside, closing the door.  As I did, they all flew away, knowing I'd be back soon enough to feed them again.  
Now, I'm back home, I'm kinda relieved to be here.  I don't like being away from my own things for long as I know where everything is, I like my own kitchen, enjoy my own stereo system and like how I know how my entertainment system works too (which is a lot easier than how my folks' one works).  Anyway, I'm back over there tomorrow or Friday, I've yet to make up my mind.  I've got things to do here.  Until my next post, take care keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.