Back Into It!

Over the last couple of years, I've been methodically cleaning out my house.  So far, I've been very successful with my kitchen, the bathroom, my office (well, okay, that still needs a bit of work as my book collection is constantly growing and needs room to move), the living room and now I'm onto my bedroom - at long last!
This afternoon, I had an hour to myself.  So, I made myself a nice ice coffee, grabbed the cordless phone and a couple of rubbish bags and headed to my bedroom where I opened up the wardrobes to put away my laundry.  But instead of putting it away, I began sorting out my bath towels and folding them, then I pulled out my skirts, shirts, jeans, short and then opened up a drawer in my duchess and tipped out all my Summer shirts from last year onto the floor.  
Spontaneously, I began quickly sorting through what I'd wear this year, what was going into the charity bag and what I'd keep as painting attire.  Seeing I find this easy to do now, this didn't take long.  However, when it came to putting the shirts back, I found the drawer didn't have any liners.  So, I hunted down the liners I'd been using and cut them to size and neatly organised my drawers so that the everyday shirts were on the left, and the evening wear was on the right; easy-peasy.  
Then, I happened to look in where my sheets were and found a set of sheets I was given, but have never liked or used.  so, I pulled them out and put them into the charity bag too.  If I don't like them why have them?  Anyway, I pulled out the hanger with the skirt attachment on it and hung up all the skirts that would fit on it, folded up the rest and put them away, put away all my other bigger shirts, then sorted through my jeans and shorts.  And I found a pair that I bought last year which I love but have been able to wear because they are too long.  So, I kept them separate to do the hems up on them and pulled out the Sherryn Football so I can get it pumped up at my parents' house someday (I've had that for years too and it's been at the back of my wardrobe doing nothing). 
By the time I had done all this, an hour had passed.  So, I put away the folded up bath towels, the pajamas I found and had folded, any socks I happen to find that were clean and scarves that were on the floor and needed to be put away as well.  then, I put everything back onto the chair and in the basket; ready to be sorted out tomorrow afternoon - or on Thursday.  
So far, I'm pleased with myself.  I have sorted out one drawer, put away most of my skirts, found a pair of jeans I want to wear and also my football I've been looking for.  And this means that one charity bag is half-full for Endos... there's another one to go before I put it next to the front door to be taken away.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Monday Monday

Today, I woke to a lovely, sunny, warm morning; but I didn't want to get out of bed until later.  Actually, I didn't have a good night last night as I was feeling really sick in the stomach and had to take something for it before bed.  But once the pain went away, I was asleep before I knew it; and slept straight through to this morning.
But once up, I fed the pets and readied myself to go out for a walk to the Big Apple Fruit Store to get myself some yoghurt and to enjoy the early morning.  There's nothing like a nice morning which isn't too cold or hot and yet, you don't have to do much around the house for the day.  
Once home, I opened up the house, prepared breakfast, put on the laundry of woolens and took my time eating while the radio played.  I enjoy breakfast.  It's a nice time of the day.  Unrushed.  Quiet.  Nothing can wreck it.  And once the laundry was hung out, I prepared to go out again to check the mail and planned to be home by around 9:45am.  However, one of my neighbours is home with his foot up from injuring himself on his work site and so I thought to drop in on him on the way home.  Ray and I chatted about the weekend and what plans we have for the next few weeks and other such things.  Otherwise, we watched a bit of news and had a laugh before I was on my way about an hour later.  I returned home at around 10:30am... so much for best-laid plans; oh well, I don't plan my days too much anymore as it's something good to enjoy times that aren't too structured.  Life gets boring that way.
When I opened the door of my place, I noticed that none of the windows downstairs were open; so I did that straight away, opened the back door and went outside to check on the plants.  However, I rushed  back in, grabbed the camera and slowly went back out to the back yard as I had spotted a lovely Kookaburra sitting on my fence scoping my back neighbour's yard for food.  She wasn't home, but her yard is a little overgrown and so is a rich source of food right now.  Well, this lovely Kingfisher saw me as I slowly stepped toward him and took some photos and he ended up flying away.  I do love those birds, they are just so lovely.
Well, it was getting onto 11am and I still hadn't done much around my place except some laundry, fed the pets, checked the mail and ate breakfast and visited a friend.  There was the washing up to do, some cleaning around the house and a pile of laundry to put away... a big pile.  So, there's still work to get done around here.  I kind of look forward to getting it done as I do need this place to begin looking like it's tidy in the next few weeks because it's my birthday coming up and I'd like to have my family to come and see this place for what it can be; and not what it currently is.
So... how was your weekend?  Mine was long.  It felt long to me.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Ten Years Ago Today....

Today is a special day; very special.  On this day, I did something really big, massive!  Ten years ago today - on this date - I moved out of my parents' house and into my town house I live in today.
The first time we inspected the place, it was was shown empty.  The carpets were white and clean and it felt very welcoming; much more welcoming than other places we'd been to.
I remember staying here - hanging out here - for about an hour to listen to the surroundings, on how noisy the place really was.  After all it's right next door to the Woodridge Fire Station - how noisy could that place get?  Well, we put in our application and waited... and I got the place.
Within weeks, I moved in.  Mum and Dad helped me and it only took 3 trips with their car and the trailer attached.  Not much when I think about it; but then, I didn't have much.  After all, I did live out of a spare room for two years; and I did have some things in storage facility to get too.  And by the end of the weekend, all my stuff was unpacked, the phone was connected and - by the end of the week - my address was redirected.  Yes, I was settled.

But over the next decade, I learned a lot of things about living alone.  I found people thought I was a bit of a doormat if I didn't stand up for myself.  Even if I stood on some toes, it got the message across that I wasn't to be stood on.  Strangely enough, I had people want to be friends with me.  And in a unit complex, it's good to have friends who will help you with things, but yet they're not so close they'll bug you.
I've seen my place go from a wreck to my own little castle.  The backyard was once full of weeds, yellow paper daisies, prickles and Scotch Thistles and now, it's not.  However, the yard underwent a lot of transformations before it came to the one it is now.  First, I just wanted a new lawn; and the caretaker we had then - Greg - helped me with that.  He took me out to Bunnings and even helped me out with transporting a bird bath home from a second-hand place in his truck.  Once the lawn was grown and looking good, I wanted to grow herbs and veggies; and I did!  Potatoes, carrots, zucchinis, tomatoes, capsicums, lettuce... all the good stuff!  I also grew herbs.  All kinds of herbs from Basil, oregano, sage, thyme and chilis too.  However, one by one, they all died because we had water restrictions and we weren't allowed to use our hoses.  So, there went my herb garden, and my dear green lawn until the rains came back; but it was too late.  My plants were all dead.  So, I decided to stick with plants that wouldn't die on me:  succulents.  And they were a big hit!  Since then, I've grown all kinds of them and in all kinds of pots around the yard.  However, due to some neighbours' kids being not so grown-up (as they were adults and acting their shoe size), I cleaned out my front garden completely and moved it to the safety of my back yard on a permanent basis.  My front garden is now due for a clean up, update and prune and I can't wait.

However, the interior of my house has improved markedly too.  I have seen huge changes here too.  It's a great thing to see so many things come and go in the decade I've been here.  I'm on my second fridge, third television, second stereo system, first turntable and third computer tower.  Wow!  That's a lot for ten years.  Over that time, my book collection has gone from around 100 books to over 1,000.  I moved it from the living room to my spare room - where I wasn't getting as many visitors as I thought I was going to get - and I transformed this room into a home office.  I went from owning just one bookcase to owning four.  My computer set-up is a permanent one and I no longer own a printer; as they shut down after a while.
My lounge room went from having a lawn chair and a plastic box in the middle of it to having a very comfortable lounge, coffee table and a large television to watch.  There's quite a few big pieces of furniture in the living room and each one is preloved.  I know the back-story to each piece, who owned it and where it came from; and one of them is a musical instrument.  I have Grandma's kitchen table too and my kitchen is well-established with all the things I'd ever need to cook - from a slow-cooker, rice cooker, a wok, pots and pans, 8 casserole dishes (of all shapes and sizes) to knives, equipment, spoons, wooden spoons, measuring cups and other things as well.  I have everything I need to be able to cook a good, decent meal from my very own kitchen.  So, who really needs to buy takeaway food?
But really, it's not the stuff inside the house that make my house my home. It's the history I have made with this place.  It's the art on the walls, it's the people I'm friends with around the complex, the yard I've cared for, my plants, my little budgie - who joined me in living here 7 years ago - and it's the times I've had in the walls of this place with family and friends.  My home is now my castle; and I'm proud to say it is because I've put so much effort into making my mark on it.  And as each year passes, I'll put another mark on this house's historical wall to show I once lived here.  But until that time comes, this place is my home.  So, celebrate with me this day of my 10th year of living at my townhouse; with all its ups and downs, problems and resolutions, joys and sadness... it's my home I come to when the day comes to an end.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Ten Years On  

Feelin' A Bit Like Summer

Last night, I went to sleep with the moon rising late and a cool breeze moving the curtains.  I dreamt I went back to high school; that I had to graduate and better myself.  But everyone there didn't like me  and if one person wasn't stealing from me, another was breaking all my favourite things.  At first, I didn't react to them - acting all nice and sweet and polite.  Then, one of them screamed at me as they broke the handles off a favourite handbag of mine (a new one I had bought only a few weeks back too), throwing it across the dorm.  I snapped, I shoved, I screamed and ... I terrified her!  I demanded she stayed out of my face and she fix my handbag (after all we were in high school, and she could learn to fix such things in a class, right?).  She stammered an apology - as everyone else did as they returned my things - and they all left me alone.  
My alarm went off and I awoke to a lovely, sunny warm day.  I wondered about the dream.  It was as though I was back in year 8 again and people thought they could push me around; well, until they copped the blunt end of my temper.  But today, I snoozed for another half hour until 8am, simply because I felt like it - and because with a cold going away, I have make sure I don't push myself too hard either.  
It's been a good day so far.  The mail's been checked, I washed up, I remembered to feed the fish (unlike last night when I forgot!) and Little Miss Stevie is in a great mood.  She jumped onto my hand and flew around the room, snuggling up to me after she landed on her cage.  She's now enjoying the day, the sun, the breeze that comes through the window.  Yes, it's a hot day today, but it's also a special day too.  Besides it being a Friday (and who doesn't love Fridays? Seriously... it's a great introduction to the weekend) and it's a lovely day to be outside or in the shade reading a book, I have been preparing for something important - well for me anyway.  But I'll tell you about it tomorrow, when the time is right.

But it is feeling very much like Summer right now and I'm lazing the day away here in my office while it's bright, hot and sunny outside.  However, I'm not just sitting here writing to you guys.  I've been searching my office high and low for photos of my past.  
For those who know me well, I have a foul memory and take photos and write in an offline journal so I can remember what has been happening in my life.  Some of it sounds boring and trite while other entries are pretty good and fun. It's hard to have a bad memory and to rely on photos and diary entries for a good part of the time; while other times, I'm pretty sharp.  There are times when I don't have those memories coming to me so well; and I wish I did.  But being told them by family members is like being told a great story and learning something new about myself... even if it turns out bad.  Have you ever had that happen?  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Kick Back and Relax

Over the last few days, I've been working hard to have my house a little tidier so I can recover better.  Truthfully, I burned myself out a bit; but it was well worth the effort.  I got my laundry done, changed the sheets over and vacuumed my room and dusted too as well as aired the house out.  But I was very tired from it all last night and crashed the moment I went to bed.

Today, I ate breakfast and have been hanging around on here, the net, for a good part of the day.  I'm not doing anything too hard and I think it's about time I slowed down as I felt stuffed last night just after I turned out the light.   And once I was asleep I didn't wake up until the alarm woke me at 6am.
But all I've done today, is eat breakfast, check the mail and visit a neighbour, who is off his feet with his left leg in plaster and bandage.  He did in his Achilles Tendon; snapping it as he jumped off the end of ute.  He's been stuck at home for about three weeks now, but he's getting a boot for his foot tomorrow, but he still won't be able to work until around October.  We chatted about things and caught up as we sat in his living room with the tv going.
Soon, though, I took off and he said to not be a stranger and to drop by whenever I'm around (might do tomorrow if he's home).  We've been friends for years.

This is the first day where I've done nothing around the house.  Okay, the washing up was done last night, the laundry is now finished, the vacuuming got done upstairs and Little Miss Stevie has been moved from her Winter Position to her Summer Position - simply because the days are nice and warm and a lovely breeze to bask in - but I haven't done anything that will exhaust me today, and it feels good right now because I'm feeling better in myself.  I still need to sleep more and I'm eating well but sleep is the most important thing that I need to do at night.  If that isn't good, the virus won't leave me alone as soon as I want it to.

Well, it's a lovely warm, sunny day outside.  I might get in and finish tidying up the lounge room... I did start on it the other day but was far too ill to finish it.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Resistance Is Useless...

Over the weekend, I came down with a cold; and it's made me feel very old, tired and not like myself in any way.  
Usually, at this time in the week, I've gotten all my laundry done over two days, the kitchen is tidied up, the lounge has been found - twice - and the wheelie bin is out (we have to put it out on a Tuesday night for an early Wednesday morning pick-up).  However, today, I slept in until 8:10am, showered, put on the laundry and had breakfast.  And by the time I had done all that it was around 10am.  Then, I had to go and check the mail at the post office - as it hadn't been looked at in two or three days - and by the time I returned it was going onto 11am.  
None of the washing up was done, the lounge was a mess, the recycling had to the put out and I had only just opened the house about 20 minutes before leaving the house to check the mail... talk about slack! But in between all the jobs, I was also blowing my nose, washing my hands in anti-bacterial gel and coughing continuously every time I sneezed.  This slowed me down the whole time.

I really do hate being sick... and keep forgetting how bad I am at being helpless when I am sick or injured.  I'm a rotten patient and hate being stuck and unable to be able to do anything for myself.  How stubborn am I, eh?

But once home and onto the net, I was okay.  I could relax a little and check my e-mail, do a few blog posts and upload a couple of photos.  And once that was done, I could stuff around and surf a little Google a few things and - by 1pm or so - jump offline.  Then, I grabbed a Cranberry Juice and went outside with a hat and a cushion and read the last chapter or two of 'The Drawing of the Three' by Stephen King.  This is the 10th book I've read this year; and now I can start on my pile of books for helping me recover from this cold.  The next book I've chosen is 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury; a recent purchase of mine, but a work I've wanted to read of his for some time.  Then, I'll get into another SK book in the Dark Tower Series.

Well, it's getting late and I must be going to bed now.  Sleep is the best thing for a cold or flu of any kind.  What do you do when you're down with a cold and you really want to do something?  Do you submit completely and just relax?  Or are you like me and very reluctant to let go and feel you have to be doing something around you place before you can sit down do some reading or enjoy something you want to do?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

I'm Sick!

I'm crook as a chook!  And I thought I was going to get through this change of season thing scott-free; but nope!  I went to the Logan Art Gallery and volunteered there on Friday and the guy I was supposed to be paired up with didn't show, instead another showed up and he wasn't all that well.  He had a runny nose and shared a large bag of chocolate-coated saltanas with everyone.  Normally, I'd say no... but they were something I've got a weakness for.  So, what did I do?  I took two handfuls of the darned things and got a cold from them because the guy who sat next to me with a sniffle.  

Well, today, after I had a weekend full of night sweats and almost no sleep, I found that this cold is viral... the doctors can't do anything for but let it run its course.  I hate it when they tell me that because it's going to get worse before it gets better. 
But what I do know is that what I've been eating is okay.  So, unlike most people who go and change their diet when they get sick, I'm going to make sure I eat everything I normally do every day I have this horrible thing.  But I've also gotten in and sanitised everything from doorknobs to remote controls to taps and my telephone with Glen-20; as I don't want it spreading around and I don't want it coming back on me.  And once I've used a tissue, I've been throwing it out.

I put my onion cough syrup onto my facebook page and a few of my friends wondered if it really works.  However, I reassured them that it does; as I've been using it for years.  One of my close friends asked me a few questions - through chat - about if it would taste like onions.  And you know, it doesn't.  It's actually very sweet; but it does have a strong onion smell to it.  So, if you don't like the smell of the vegetable, while it's raw, you might want to hold your nose as you take the remedy.  Otherwise, if you're not a Facebook friend of mine, here's the remedy:

Onion Cough Syrup

Ingredients:

1 Onion - chopped into small cubes
Sugar
Shallow bowl and cling wrap

Method:

Put the chopped up onion into the shallow bowl and liberally sprinkle the sugar over it.  It doesn't have to be any type of sugar.  You can use white, raw or brown, it will all come out the same in the end of this.  Sprinkle the onion until it looks like snow-capped mountains (about 4 tablespoons) and then cover with the cling wrap and put into the fridge overnight (6 - 8 hours).
The next day, before you do anything, unwrap it, get a dessert spoon the sip - not gulp - two of the dessert spoons of the syrup in the bottom of the bowl.  Don't eat any of the onion... it's not poisonous, it's just very strongly tasting of onions and it won't taste nice.  Keep to the sweeter syrup.

Throw out the contents of the bowl and make up another fresh batch of this every two days.  Due to the high sugar content, I've found it goes through me a little if I have it every day.  This syrup will loosen up your cough and help get rid of it sooner.

I hope you try this out soon and see if it works for you.  If it doesn't, don't worry, it's not for everyone.  And you don't have to like onions to do it (I don't eat onions because they burn my guts; and yet I eat garlic).  It's just the smell that may put some people off doing this one.  Have you got any home remedies that are tried and true that you have in your family?  If so, let us know about them.  Love to hear from you.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

No Sleep

Over this weekend, I haven't had much sleep.  This is mainly because I've had the sweats and have been coming down with bad sinus due to the change in the seasons.  However, my usual change-of-season cold has struck at it's regular time... so I'm not surprised about it.  And yeah, don't worry, I'm going to see the doctor about it.
However, having a little sinus yesterday didn't stop me from going out to Garden City.  I caught a bus from down the road - which was horribly late - and went to the bank after buying 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury.  Then, it was time to find Dad's present.  Seeing Westfield Garden City had been changing its shops around a lot lately, I had to ask at the Concierge Desk where the bottle shop was.  And once there, I found there was a great variety to choose from.  I picked out one that was on special (and it's a two-for-one deal) and I was well on my way home.  Then, I remembered I had gotten a phone call from Mum during my day there and headed off to Coles to buy some milk.  
I caught another bus to Springwood, walked through Centro Mall to pick up my 'Good Reading' Magazine and arrived at Mum and Dad's place.  Mum was expecting me, but Dad wasn't.  He loved the pressie and suggested we play some darts over some nibblies.  Well!  What fun it was!  I had played the game before when I moved out of home and Dad didn't know I knew how to play... but when it came to playing a more formal game, it was harder for me; but I kept at it because it was something to learn.  We played a game of 500 then we played Cricket... all to do with darts... and it was a lot of fun and used up 3 hours of time before I was driven home at around 2:30pm.  Dad said he had a lot of fun and enjoyed the present.

Last night, I made myself a good lot of comfort food, scoffed into it and kicked back and watched 'Shrek'.  Then when that was over, I almost turned off the television, until I spotted 'Neverland' on there... and didn't realise it went until midnight.  Anyway, I was getting a fever and thought it would be good to break it while I was awake and not sleeping, and so watched the second movie; which went until just past midnight.  After I turned off the tv, switched it off at the wall and locked up all the doors, I headed off to bed.  But I didn't get much sleep there, tossing and turning all night as I sweated up a storm unable to get comfortable.
At around 4am, I tried to find some painkillers around the place only to find them in the little bag next to my bed that holds my medications.  So, I took three and waited for them to take effect - which was pretty quick - and turned out the light.  After that I slept very deeply.  

Today, I was out of bed by 7:30am, had a nice, long, hot shower - to clear my nose out - and then dressed warmly and headed downstairs.  Little Miss Stevie was happy to see me.  But she was clumsy in her flight around the room this morning; and wasn't all that happy until I took off the covers and showed her that the sun was out.  Then, I forgot the feed the fishies!  Right up until I began preparing my breakfast, I looked at them and wondered why they appeared so desperate... then it occurred to me that they were hungry.  Doh!  Silly me!  
Anyway, I've got the house opened up, some of the washing up done and music playing.  Today, I'm taking it easy... nothing too strenuous going on except maybe some reading in the sun.  That's about as strenuous as it's going to get.  I do need a fair bit of rest, but I'll rest when my body tells me to.  And I've been eating like a horse over the last few days too... always hungry for food that I don't need.  I guess that's how a cold goes... you feed a cold and starve a fever.  Well, I hope you're feeling better than I am.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember I'm always here.

Busy Wednesday

Yesterday was one of the busiest days of my week.  Not only did I have my shopping day to get done, but I also had to return a lot of Paprika!  Thankfully, the people at Spice Mart were more than happy to help me out with the Paprika situation and exchange it for another packet of Smokey Paprika (and really was Smokey Paprika; and not the hot stuff).  And then, I found a lovely belt at Life Line along with a gorgeous skirt I've yet to wash.  And then, I was off to finish my shopping.
I popped in Woolworths for the little bits and pieces I usually get.  Then, I was off for my longer walk between shopping centres.  I tried to get my pruners exchanged, but then the older gentleman showed me how to use them.  I paid a part of my layby off at Woodys' and then I grabbed some stuff at K-Mart and then finished off my shopping at Coles and called Mum.
A funny thing happened on the way to calling Mum though.  I had barely left the check-outs when my shopping trolley's lockable wheel did just that!  It locked up on me.  I wondered exactly why; as these are supposed to lock up 100 metres away, not 1 metre away from the shop.  So, I took it back to the trolley bay and the lady there helped me put my groceries into another trolley.  We had a laugh about it and I was on my way.
When Mum picked me up, she had brought along the other bag of hot Paprika and she and I went back to the Spice Mart and got an exchange for other things instead of another bag of Paprika.  While I was walking around getting a few other things to the value of my $5.99, Mum was wandering around the place.  She was in absolute awe of the place.  It has absolutely everything!  I hadn't seen the cookware, but then I didn't know they sold it.  Mum said she'd come back - most definitely.  We headed off to the K & B Pet Store next and she loved that place too.

After I unpacked everything and had time to sit down for an hour or so, Mum called me and told me that Dad was coming over to take me out computer shopping.
Dad and I spent about two hours or so at Garden City looking at Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and Dick Smith's for computers towers and modems.  Well!  Harvey Norman were expensive as hell - even though they were having a sale.  JB Hi-Fi was okay I guess.  As for Dick Smith's?  Well, if it wasn't a laptop, it wasn't worth selling.  But we went back to JB Hi-Fi and found what we needed and now, I'm sitting back in my office with my HP Pavilion and a Netgear modem all done up and on the net.  How cool!  I'm thrilled!  

It was a busy day yesterday.  The modem may have taken overnight to get hooked up, but then, I wasn't worried too much about it. So long I'm back online and the books I have had in my bedroom end up back in here with me again and I have the space I need again there, that's all I care about.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

My Weekend

My weekend has been busy and tiring.  However, it's been great fun too.  Yesterday, I was up bright and early after a warm night's sleep.  I woke to a lovely, clear day for the Home Festival here in Brisbane.  It was around 9:30am before Mum picked me up and we were on our way to Pineapple park at Kangaroo Point where Sinclair Street was packed with parked cars already and there were still another hour and a half to go until the festival was to start.  Mum dropped me as close to the drop-off spot as possible and I found my way to the other artists who waved at me - greeting me with hugs saying it was great to see me.  Mum showed up after finding a parking spot, and I introduced her to them all and she said it looked like it was going to be a great day.

After I strung up my red pages in the tree with fishing line - and lost my green-handled scissors - I positioned my altered book so people would read it; with the Darren Hayes ipod music collection.  While people were listening to his tracks against the wall comfortably, they could flip through my book and read it; like they would if they were reading in bed or on their lounge - and you know - it worked.  People sat down, plugged in the earphones, and spotted my book and began reading.  Very cool!  And I mentioned my other blog - My Reading List - in the book and looky-loo's there have jumped from 10,985 to 11,009 overnight!

There was a jumble and suitcase sale going on all afternoon; which I went and had a look at with Riley.  And I loved seeing things I wanted and found them at the right prices.  We even took off and did some screenprinting and painted up our own bags with a printing of our choice!  I chose a typewriter in purple and Riley chose a Deer in orange... how cool!  But Gabe, Kat and Riley couldn't stay.  I gave them a bag of Paprika that I found was hot instead of smokey and they took it off my hands and thanked me very much for it.

Then, next to the installation, there was a stage where performance poets took part and entertained the crowds; as did the local choirs.  They were great!  Meanwhile, we found that the sun wasn't as bad as we thought it would be as the shade moved over us and cooled the day down.  None of us got sunburnt and were cooled down instead of being dehydrated.  It was a great day to be outside yesterday and I didn't want to be anywhere else.

By around 3:30pm, I smsed Dad's phone, saying I was going to begin packing up.  So, Mum smsed back and said she was on her way to get me.  I was stuffed and ready to go to sleep and was getting a headache; not that I wanted to complain.  But I really wanted to head off home before it got cold.  About half an hour later, I had packed up my book and cut the pages off the tree, and Mum had shown up.  She wanted to have a look around a bit and I said it was a good place to be.

As we walked around, we found the place was packing up the daytime markets and it was beginning to shift into night-time gear with the music and food.  The shadows began to pull long, the breeze started to turn cooler, and it was time to let the night-time part of the Home Festival to take over... we had done our part and enjoyed our day there.  I will most definitely do it again.

Today, I woke and found I didn't want to get out of bed; but I pushed myself to.  After getting the paper and milk, I washed up a little and made myself some not-bacon and eggs and jumped online.  As I was about to, Gabe called and said that the Paprika wasn't Paprika.. it was chili.  He said I was right in thinking it was very hot and to take back all the packets I've bought.  I said that I had put a liberal amount on some cheese last Wednesday and had copped blisters long my gumline... well he laughed and said that could happen with this Paprika.  I said I jumped up so fast and grabbed the yoghurt and milk I had it running down my chin before it stopped burning, then I started sneezing.  He laughed again and said that he felt bad about my experience but said to take it back and get the guy to taste it and that it had been labeled wrongly.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.  

Home Festival 2012