so, what's been happening???

Well a lot really!!

I have added in a few more pics to the website, out in the garden. So go and have a look!!

Here a couple more, just to save a bit of space as I am rapidly running out of room (78.84% used)!!

Just a Hollyhock


More of the Hollyhock!!

Also, I have taken Norah Jones off, but in place, we now have Celine Dion (or silly don as L puts it)! We (she) was a bit optimistic about buy her latest CD. It is the first one she has of her work, and now somewhat seems to have "Entered the Granny Brigade" Speak for yourself!!!

My car is (again) in the panel beaters, after a truck decided that he wanted to 'share' my lane. The only point is, he forgot to ask me about it!!!! All things being fair and good, AAMI have told me that it should be back on Friday!!!!!

Cheers

Will someone turn off the shower!!

Well, I think that enough is enough, for now anyway! So, will someone please turn OFF the shower!!

Our backyard is now suitably flooded, the garden is now soaked, and a bit of sunshine now, would be just fine! It will give the garden time to suck it all up, do what it has to do, and set everything to blossom! We now have our Hollyhock's beginning to flower, an abundance of Hippies flowering (more than ever really), all of the Hydrangea's are looking good to, with Multiple heads getting ready too!

Out the front, the Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is also now in full bloom too, and is looking (and smelling) great!






Our roses are also flowering really well, with them also putting on a good supply of 'Water Shoot', which are good for future years growth. When it comes closer to Christmas, I will be giving them a good 'Boy Prune' to ensure a good crop of flowers through to winter!

Our lawns are all at saturation point, or, water logged, so please TURN OFF THE SHOWER!!!

disappointed

For a year now I have been waiting for the opportunity to purchase a Kerrie Lester artwork of my very own. I discovered her artwork accidentally and ever since have been researching and seeking its availability, which led me to the Australian Galleries in Paddington. Apparently they carry odd bits and pieces of her work throughout the year, so I called them a couple of weeks ago and they kindly offered to put me on the invitation list for the opening night of an exhibition she was having 19 October through 13 November. I couldn't believe it, this was clearly a sign that I was going to finally own one of her paintings. Fate had led me to making the call only weeks before opening night, and I could actually afford a 30cm x 30cm hand stitched, oil on canvas creation.

So why disappointed? Well fate dealt a cruel blow. I recieved my invite and a catalogue of works a week ago. I decided immediately the one I wanted, made sure the necessary funds were available and organised that I would leave work super early in order to be at the gallery with B before the scheduled commencement time, to ensure we were first in the doors. All went to plan perfectly, we were 45 minutes early, however, upon deciding to take a sneak preview by peering through the glass door, B quickly noticed and pointed out that many of the paintings already had 'Red Dots' indicating they were SOLD! This was confirmed shortly by the curator of the gallery who upon seeing us at the door, buzzed us in. I couldn't believe it, what was the point of an opening night if half the stuff is already sold?

I was, and am still so disappointed.

it's been an x-Box day.......

What do you do, when you cant do anything????

Play x-Box of course!! Today, as I could not go to work because of my bad back, and with it being raining all day, I was bored as so I decided to play x-Box! I have not played it for such a long time, and as in a previous post, Dr Muto had been the game of choice. However this time, I thought that Voodoo Vince should get a go. I remember that Voodoo Vince was a lot harder than that of Dr Muto, and I was right! I spent ages trying to get over a particular section, and FINALLY, I did it (with a little help from a friend (onto the net, found a walkthrough, and was able to find out what to do, yeah!)).

Anyways, fun was had, and in no time at all, the phone rang to tell me that L was now on her way home from work, then to the Kerrie Lester exhibition, but I will save that for L!!!!

....and it just keeps getting bigger!

Further to last weeks post, one of the Hollyhocks in our garden just keeps growing. It is now over 7 foot tall. B took this photo of me with it last Friday.


....and it just keeps getting bigger! 

We have both been kind of busy..working, studying, gardening (the front garden is now home to summer annuals, and the pot at the front door with Kalanchoe), and if that wasn't enough I have also been stressing out.

The cause of my stressing out started a couple of months back though, and was the result of feeling undervalued in my workplace, and applying for a new job, which I successfully got interviewed for (twice) and offered the position. The stressful bit has been trying to determine whether I am better off in my current workplace or taking the new job. Friday, I decided that I was better off where I am given my uni study, and the opportunities that have come my way since. Added stress has been that upon declining the offer, they have asked me think further about it so that they can have discussions with the General Manager, so the saga continues.

To relieve the stress B and I paid a visit to Star City on Sunday night where we were the guests of the Endeavour Room...some sort of highrollers room where the drinks and buffet are free. Don't ask me how we got an invite because I can't tell you *cheeky smile*.

bloody Telstra!!

That's all I can say, and I am sure that A will agree!!!!

I have just gotten off trying to sort out why, I cant log on, and upload the changes to the website!! I mean, it only took 50 mins and 3 phone calls, hey!!!

The first call, put it in the .... 'too hard basket' and told me to ring a 1800 number!
Then I was told that they only handle the .com ones!!! But at least he put me in the right direction!!!

Then I spoke with Shaun/Sean. He was great and immediately told me that yes there was a know problem and took all my details and filled out a form and was submitting it to the 'advanced' technical support section!!!

Alas, it will take up to 2 days for them to look at the problem, sort it out, and then get back to me, so you will all have to wait a couple of days to see the new guest book, the revised 'Spicy Fish' recipe, and the additional recipes I have added, (boiled fruit cake, and a Thai Chicken Dish to name a few!!

So, stay tuned!

smelly smelly sunday!!

Well,

this morning, we woke early (6am) and went out to water the newly laid turf! Whilst we were out there, I could smell ..... well sewer! L however, was totally oblivious about it all and we left it at that. Just a figment of our (my) imagination!

After about an hour, I was now out the front rolling up the hose, and damn it, I could STILL smell it! L, still none the wiser, thought I was mad, so I went down stairs and started to iron my shirt for the GAP AGM/picnic day. Whilst I was ironing, I could hear this ..... well gurgling sound. You know the sound when your stomach is twisting and turning it a fit of hunger! Well I called out to L, appropriately dressed in almost nothing, to see if she was doing anything upstairs, but to no avail! Back to ironing.

Next thing you know, it was back!! Gurgling like there's no tomorrow. Damn I says, I am going to track it down. Listening away, I tracked it down to our downstairs toilet bubbling it up through it!! OH NO me thinks, is this going to be NASTY????
L came down in a fit, now fully dressed, and then the next thing you know, well look at the pic...


The start of the sewer overflow!

Oh no! This is the last thing we need. Now it is 8.20 Sunday morning and we need a plumber!! How much is this going to cost? Who CARES I think I just want it fixed, and no more sewer smell! So I called our Strata company, thanks S, and she arranged for him to come over. So off I went to the GAP picnic day, leaving L to manage it (which she did very well!!).

Here are a couple of pics too from the picnic day too....


Help me out of HERE!!! 


GAP AGM 


What tha??!!?? 


The DAY!! 

sunny sunny saturday

Today we:
- went to Windsor to collect 6 rolls of turf (to fill in the bare patch down the
side of the house),returned home and laid the turf,
- collected Blythe number 2 (Madamoiselle Rosebud)from the Post Office
- tidied the Star Jasmine and Wisteria
- went to an open house,
- bought Macc a new bed, and
- voted.

All in all, it was a busy day.


Macc trying out his new bed. 

B has created a page in the gallery section of our website to view photos of plants that are flowering in our garden. Amongst these photos is one of the Hollyhocks we have growing.


6' plus Hollyhock

It is thanx to mum deciphering the verbal description that we now know what they are. We planted them as seedlings and a couple of them are now 6 foot plus. They were planted before we went away in June and I actually didn't think that they would survive without us to water them regularly. When we got back I wasn't sure if they were weeds and couldn't remember what it was we had planted. We will post more photos when they come into flower.

see the biggest flower in the world!

B wrote this...

For weeks we’ve been watching it grow.
By god, it’s been terribly slow.
But when it did spike,
We started the hype.
So now look at what is on show!

this...

The smell they say it’s like fish,
But this fish you won’t find on a dish.
It’s more like a horse,
Or a rotting old corpse,
You can get close, but only if you wish!

and this...

Jamaicans, they love their Bacardi.
The Botanist, Odoardo Beccari.
He stumbled across
This monster ‘The Boss’
Let’s hope this flower is hardy.

for the limmirick competition that the Royal Botanic Gardens is running in conjuncition with the flowering of the Titum Arum, the worlds biggest flower. This flower has caused quite a bit of excitement as it is a first for Sydney, not only is it big but it has a couple of interesting traits; during flowering at night, the plant gets so hot it steams, releasing foul-smelling chemicals to attract pollinators earning the Titan Arum the name Carcass Flower.

A and I met B in at the gardens last Thursday PM for a look at the flower before it opened. B has since been in to see it opened and smelling. Mum and Dad also went in to the Gardens at 11.00pm to take a look.


Amorphophallus titanum
 


Amorphophallus titanum
 


Amorphophallus titanum
 

new collection begins

B and I are collectors and we do not stick to just the one thing. Some of our collections are:

• Noddy (L)
• M&M's (B)
• Noritake (pink label 50's style cups and saucer sets)
• Vintage Sewing items - cotton reels, pin cushions, thimbles, tape measures, buttons, buckles, braids, etc)
• Linocuts,
• Martin Boyd pottery,
• Shorter and sons pottery,
• Melba Ware,
• Deco stuff,
• things Greyhound (nice ones, including a live one)
• Dinosaur designs, and
• Blythe dolls, I think I could count as a new collection as I now have 2, well almost, the 2nd is on the way (new ones of course).

We have many collections, as you can see, but that didn't stop me today. I have admired Lea Stein jewellery on many an occassion, and a trip to the antiques and collectibles fair at Wentworth Park today saw me walk away with a purrrfect specimen - a sleeping cat with a ticked coat and aqua eyes brooch. I have since been to ebay, and international sellers abound, so I suspect that kitty won't be lonely in the jewellery box for long.

Lea Stein Cat

Lea Stein sites found from a quick trip around cyberspace - Deco Girl, and French Bijoux (good for dating pieces).

three little fish

I am home again for a few days. Yay! And have finished the body of the trout. I purchased this Elizabeth Bradley kit in England earlier this year. When it is finished it will have a navy background, and the plan is turn turn it into a long cushion. I have some pink toned fringing which I plan to edge the cushion with, and funky it up.


Rainbow Trout

Further on the fishy theme, this morning B and I did a brief survey of the backyard, including the fish pond. We were considering what could be done to liven the fish pond up, noting that a few (3 or 4) of our bright red goldfish seemed to be no longer. Was it birds? Natural attrition? or some other factor? When B spotted a tiny little fish. I couldn't see it at first, but as we continued to peer into the water, we found not just 1 but 3 new additions. Unfortunately they are not the brightly coloured orange ones like the original inhabitants but, a deep reddy black colour, which is a bit difficult to see. We know who one of the parents is - last summer we added a large reddy black fish to the clan, and these are the same as that one, just a lot smaller.

she's arrived!!!!!!!!!

Blythe arrival!!

I couldn't wait any longer as the parcel arrived the other day. It has been secretly deposited somewhere about the house where L would not find it!! Sorry L, I just had to do it!!!!!

She is larger than I (we) thought too!!


Looking at the arrival proceedings

getting closer

WOW!!! Isn't she cute!! 

Close up 

and again... 

Ooooohhhhhh, what a cutie! 

pheeeeewww!!!

What is the biggest flower in the world???

Well if you were to go to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney to see Titan Arum you can see it for yourself!!

Cheers

please explain!!!!

As the title says, PLEASE EXPLAIN!!!
I do not understand it how Chanel got through on Australian Idol, and how Emelia, aka Pauline, got the boot!! Ok, whilst Emelia is very much the novice (in her own words), what an experience for her, she gave it her all, well done!
And as to Chanel, I mean, how much of this girl can we bear? I don't know about you, but I am sick to death of how she puts on the 'cutesy' (if that's a word) look all the time. I find her boring, cant sing, and certainly can't be cute while trying to sing!!!
And then there's Marty, poor soul, felt sorry for him too last night about again being in the bottom three, but then again he was boring as hell on Sunday night too!!!

views of our garden

Here are a couple of the things that are flowering in our garden right now!
As you can see, we are having a bit of colour, and the Star Jasmine out the front is also about to flower, so wait for that pic!


Isnt our Orange Blossom Orchid nice!


Camellia japonica


Our first Rose of the season!! 

the birthday celebration that was not!!!!!

Well N, sorry to say this, and A will agree, dinner was a huge success!!!
Not only as good as the last time, but this time I added in a new element........CHILLI!!!
Sorry you couldn't make it, but alas, someone had to make sure that the 'office' was manned!!!
Oh by the way, I have sent a parcel home with A, so make sure you get in contact!!


N, look what you missed out on!!

a blonde moment

Yes I know, 1 October is next week. So it isn't Jasmine's Birthday at all today.

This is going to provide B with hours of entertainment. Especially, as I have organised him to cook a special dinner (chicken of course) and special guests have been invited (who will hopefully be bringing the Toberlerone Cheesecake).

the cats birthday

It's our little Jasmine's birthday today. She is three. Well actually its her guesstimated birthday. As she is far from pedigreed, coming from a backyard encounter (B's mums ex-neighbours' tabby cat had with a local persian/chinchilla...got that!) we are not really sure of the exact date. And as her human parents at the time were the most irresponsible cat owners, allowing their cat to have up to 3 litters a year, they couldn't remember the date Jasmine was born. So we settled early on that her birthday would be 1 October.

Being a 98% of the time indoor cat, today she has been shown the door and given the opportunity to roam and investigate the backyard biodiversity, as well as bask in the sun.

I visited Loobylu's site earlier and she had provided some commentary regarding her dislike for cats. I must say that we too went for the boisterous kitty of the litter (we actually had a choice of two by the time we rescued our Jas). I wanted a female, and of the two (both identical) she showed the most spunk. Now I have had cats before and they were very docile, so one with attitude would be nice for a change however, as with the nursery rhyme... when she is good, she is very very good, but when she is bad, she is rotten - and I have the scratches to prove it.

Jasmine is a beautiful cat (not biased of course), she has beautiful large eyes, impressive whiskers and an equally impressive tail. She is very playful, playing fetch with bottletops, and is also extremely inquisitive. I wouldn't trade her for another, however she does command respect.

Thank goodness for Macc who provides us with lots of cuddles and affection. It is funny how individual and different the personalities of cats can be. I am not sure with all breeds of dogs but you can be sure of one thing, greyhounds are all very affectionate and gentle. It is so sad they are so misunderstood and that someone, and I refer to the article B posted earlier today, could be so cruel to such a gentle creature. The sad thing is that this is actually more common than the article reports.

What a sad state of affairs.....

Below is a copy of a story in the Tasmanian Mercury. Isn't it disgusting what some heartless people can do.......

THE RSPCA is hunting a cruel killer after a greyhound was found mutilated and left for dead near Hobart yesterday. The dog was found by a young man early yesterday after he heard whimpering coming from a popular dumping area off the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk.
The dog's ears had been hacked off to hinder identification and it had been buried alive under several large rocks and a sheet of tin.
The dog was an older female with a black body, white chest, white fur under its chin and two white "socks" on its back feet.
RSPCA Tasmania chief animal welfare officer Graeme Lewis said the RSPCA was determined to catch the culprit, who faces a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and/or 18 months in jail under Tasmania's Animal Welfare Act 1993.
Inspector Lewis said the dog had obviously outlived its "usefulness" for greyhound racing or breeding and those responsible for its death knew the tattoos on its ears would help trace the owner.
"This poor creature was left to suffer for a long time," he said.
"When the young man discovered her, she was suffering immensely and near death.
"Her rescuer then put the dog out of her misery. He is extremely distressed and traumatised by what he found."
Insp Lewis fears the perpetrator may also be responsible for the death of at least one other greyhound.
"We found evidence of another dog being dumped in the same spot and found the remains of another greyhound's vertebrae, head and a jaw," he said.
"We are very anxious for information that will help lead to the person or people responsible, before they can cause any more suffering."
Mike Stiles, the chairman of stewards for greyhounds for Racing Services Tasmania, said DNA testing would hopefully identify the dog and therefore its owner.
Mr Stiles said he had not heard of an incident like this in his five years as chairman of stewards, as most older greyhounds found loving homes once their careers were over.
"It's certainly something we would frown upon -- I wouldn't think people would treat their pets like that," he said.
"This is not the right way to get rid of them. That's why we have the Greyhound Adoption Program to try to find new homes for them.
"We would certainly like to find out who did it and trust that the maximum penalties would be enforced."

the real economy in the long run

That is the topic for this morning, with the focus on production and growth.

I'm home again for a few days, this time on study leave. I get a whole 3 days study leave a semester, and I have taken them at this time to get my assignment finalised and submitted by Friday PM. I am not too worried about it, as it is essentially finished, but unlike an essay, this one is entirely multiple choice. So you are either right or wrong.

I will also be having 3 days off next week, this time annual leave, however, I will be using my time in a similar way, to continue with the study. I am going to rethink my strategy for next semester, I seem to have had a lot of leave but somehow the more time I give myself, the less motivated I am to get through the work. I think the old saying "if you want something done, ask a busy person" rings true in my case, as the more I have on my plate the more I seem to get done.

I think getting the career blues a few weeks back, kind of upset my drive to get things done. Although I made some changes as a result, which have had positive outcomes already.

what a weekend.......AGAIN!!!!

Well, what a weekend. It all started on Friday, my flex day, where I went to see the Thunderbirds movie with A. And I must say, it is a hoot!!! Very cheesy in the send up of it all really, but it is worthy of seeing!
Saturday, when we got the call from the MIL, I just knew it was going to be a bad day, we went off to the dinosaur Design that L has mentioned. What she failed to say though, is a phone call to the bank manager should have been made as well!!! For it was not only just the Saturday that we went, but L also went on the Sunday to get some MORE!!!!!!
And what's more, I was at PetFest for HCC all day on the Sunday for GAP, and all MACC could do was try and get into the tent and sleep!!!! It was a good day though, with a lot of people coming to the display we had set up. Even an old mate S and girlfriend R was there with their puppy too!!! Today, S mum is flying out to London to meet up with her other son and his GF. I hope that she has a good time, for I wish I was going with her, I am sure she could utilise my services as baggage handler, visitor guide etc....
Well, I had better go, as I am busy preparing for a presentation for Sydney In Bloom, being held here in the Domain, and it is also going to be the same presentation for the HCC Garden Awards this coming Thursday night!
Cheers

dinosaur designs

B and I were up and out of the house early today, thanx to mum. She let us know about the Dinosaur designs clearance sale at Strawberry Hills. I really love the designs, colours, and feel of the their stuff. I have quite a few pieces now, and today was able to add 2 pairs of servers, a small dish, round lidded bowl, a couple of small spoons (one really tiny), some buckles (for when I get around to making some bags) and some buttons. All in all quite successful.

Now that I am home however, I wish I had bought some of beads, and a pair of their silver inlay earrings. I didn't want to push my luck with B though, who was ever so patient, and had already had to walk a mile to get some cash out for me. Also, as it was total bedlam with people pushing and shoving it was good just to get out of the place in one piece with our existing purchases.

Thunderbirds are go!!! Well, nearly!!

Well folks, it's almost here, Thunderbirds are go!!! This week will see the opening of the movie, I hope it is as good as it is made out to be!! Although so far, the reports I have heard that it is a bit sad, but heck, it is a spoofed up version anyway, isn't it???

I left for Wagga Wagga last Sunday, just before the mother of all storms hit Sydney. You can see some of the pics here! Wagga was so green, not to mention wet!! Charles Sturt University put on a fine conference. Although, for the field trips, the tour that was the "Highlands Trip" left two people behind (clearly no school teachers there doing a head count) and had to get a hire car to get back to the Uni, the tour that was to the "Irrigation Regions" upon return to the Uni, took a wrong turn and required a Uni tractor to get them out of the bog it found itself in, and we ate most of the food of the third tour, as they got lost and arrived 2 hours late!!

However, I upon my return, with a rather upset tummy, I decided it was better for both my tummy and for the toilet, that it is best NOT to have dinner that night, and as L has mentioned (first as I was not going to say a thing) yes, she burnt the rice in the MICROWAVE!!!

I what's more, I am blaming Loobylu for L obsession with the Blythe dolls, and her resulting purchase!!!

Well, that's it for now, so stay tuned!!!

No longer home alone

Things are now back to normal. B is home again.

My week home alone (except for my four legged companions) did not provide me with much to report on; work, study, feed and interact with said four legged companions, and sleep. I had to cook my own dinner each night and am pleased to report NO BURNT OFFERINGS, although I made up for that when B got home by burning the Basmati in the microwave.

Friday, picked B up from the airport and shopping with mum.

Saturday, we had a flyby visit from the littlest sister and her partner, in the area to look at tiles. A also visited for dinner and to show off her new phone. I was meant to study but was easily distracted searching out Blythe sites.

Sunday, another success on ebay with the purchase of Hollywood Blythe.

Back at work today.

Family Fireworks a Tradition for Fathers Day

Being Fathers Day today, the family gathered for lunch at mum and dad's. It was a bit of a frantic day for B & me. We had a few things to finish off at home - like replacing the backyard light and planting the last of the plants bought on Friday, all before 11am when we needed to hit the road to Willoughby for the Fathers Day celebrations. For B the celebrations were only in passing as after a quick bite to eat he had to be at the airport to catch his plane to Wagga Wagga to attend a conference on Weeds.

I drove B to the airport and returned to Willoughby to enjoy pudding and a cup of tea, and this is where it got interesting.... The 'sister-next-in-line' and SIL had an altercation, which saw both end up in tears and the favourite brother (actually the only brother), littlest P, and SIL leave.

Now by 'getting interesting', I don't mean I took any enjoyment in words being said, feelings hurt and tears being shed, but I seem to recall that last year on this very day, the littlest sister and I, got into a heated debate, that saw a similar version of events take place and end with me (and B) leaving the party early. I think this could be a tradition in the making, I'll let you know next Fathers Day.

its been a little quiet in my corner....

for the following reasons, and not in order of priority or significance:

• career blues,
• uni study,
• competition for the computer, and
• work.

Each of the above has been in combination at some stage or another which has ment a very up and down week for me. I do believe however, that the week ended significantly up, not only because I had a day off on Friday (organised on Monday, because I didn't believe I would make it through a week at work), but because work and the career blues thing might be sorted. The turnaround commencing Tuesday afternoon with a phone call from my manager, and a discussion about some options for the direction of our unit. I think I am valued! This is always nice to have reaffirmed.

So whilst the work front work might be on the up and the career blues put away until next season, study for uni took a turn for the worst with my complete lack of understanding of the calculations required to determine a firms optimal output with regards to marginal revenue and marginal cost. I just don't get it!! and its not likely I'm ever going to have to use it again if I ever pass this subject.

Is Father's Day going to be the appropriate time to get the littlest sister's fiance to give me a tutorial? Oh hell, is he even going to be at mum and dad's tomorrow? I need to finish this blog and further consult the textbooks. And besides B has just arrived in and will no doubt be wanting the computer soon.

GAL today!

Well, what a day!

Today we went and picked up the MIL and then headed down to GAL (Gardening Australia Live). We had a great time, looked at lots of great ideas for the garden, lots of interesting plants, and we even managed to buy a couple (more than what the budget allowed)!!!

We were there almost all day, and I was very tired by the end of the day! By the time we eventually got home, I was TIRED!!!

At one of the exhibitors, they were doing some cooking with herbs,mainly cooking a chicken breast on Kaffir Lime leaves, and another one on Lemon Thyme. For dinner tonight, now A, NO drooling here, I stir fried some chicken, then added some of the Kaffir AND Lemon Thyme finely diced, and then added some Vietnamese mint before some Coconut cream to make a bit of sauce. This I added to some rice, flavoured with the same mint, YUMMMO!!!!!

I have just gotten onto the pc, as L has been studying, and I am about to go to bed.

Night night!!