Saturday 4 November 2006

$10 well spent ...

Saturday morning, the best morning of the week climaxes
with a scrumptious brunch at THE best cafe in Sydney's
inner west. We've eaten at over two dozen cafe's and
each time we thought we'd landed ~ something would go
awry. Bad service, hard eggs, a cold meal, there was
always something that mucked up the treat.

Today we were set to enjoy when a young boy, set himself
up, two shops away and began busking playing a clarinet and
for the first fifteen minutes it was funny but as scales
plus the lack of any recognisable tune it began to grate.
As our brunch arrived, Moi, the shy retiring one, saying
nothing got up from the table and as I walked towards the
boy I looked back to see my mates were aghast ... what
on earth is she doing I could hear them thinking!

As the boy began to pucker, ready regale us with another
bout of a sound somewhere between a cat being killed or him
screaming as I put my hands round his throat I quietly said
to him ..."Excuse me" he stopped blowing and as he smiled I
saw a mouth full of metal " if I gave you $10 would you mind
going and playing somewhere else?". He smiled the most angelic,
metal mouthed smile at me and replied "Sure!".

We laughed and laughed at the thought of the boy going home
to Mum saying "A lady gave me $10" neglecting to mention it
was to go away. We laughed more at the possibility that Mum
had probably had enough too and had told him to go and play
down at the shops.

The girl in Monica's shoppe next door laughed when we told her
then we all laughed more as she said she would have contributed
to get him to move on as even playing the some great clarinet
music full bore couldn't drown out the wailing of that boy's
'licorice stick' ... Ohhh I love Saturdays ~ always a laugh!!!

Friday 3 November 2006

PRIDEFUL or not ...?

I once had dealings with a religious fanatic who repeatedly
admonished all and sundry whenever the word pride was mentioned.
That made no sense to me. I wondered why was pride such a bad
thing? I'd always been taught that having pride in yourself
e.g. appearance, achievements etc were all the positives in
life. The opinions of the God botherer were perplexing!

The following trivia has confused the issue more. I'd always
considered myself a person who took pride in many things and
now ... Prideful ... who made that one up??

Do you make sense of it all ... I'm still perplexed ???

Your Pride Quotient: 33%

You're a little prideful, but nothing out of the norm.
Like everyone, you enjoy attention. But you're also good at sharing the spotlight!

Saturday 14 October 2006

I Belong in Summer ... maybe not!

In beautiful Sydney the last two days have been scorchers.
Thermometers hit 38 degrees! The weather man says
temperatures are the highest for any October day in the
past 150 years!

As I realised it is a month since I've posted here I
discovered the following bit of trivia! It's true I've
always adored sun, sand, surf and brown bodies. I
think I'm ready for a change with my wider girth, feet
that puff up and being seen constantly swigging from a
plastic bottle of water as people wondering whether I
am back on the Gordons ...


You Belong in Summer

Energetic, creative, and very curious about the world...
You're not going to let anything hold you back, especially a cold day.
Whether you're chilling out at the beach or partying all night, you live for the warm weather.

Monday 11 September 2006

Arr ... what's ya Pirate name me hearty?

My pirate name is:
Dread Pirate Flint
Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!
Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Saturday 2 September 2006

As you age ...

Today a wise woman told me the following as we
compared the complexities of middle aged women.

“As you age you become the distilled essence of
what you always were.”

This lovely lady drives past five post offices to do her
posting and purchasing at the best post office in Sydney.
We were horrified as we witnessed one of our kind, perform
with her curt manner, totally lacking in any mirth on a bright
Saturday morning when the staff were going out of their way
to make everyone cheerful. As the staff dealt with this middle
aged horror we glanced at each other in the queue, we knew
we were on the same wave length.
Outside we chatted and wondered what middle age does to
some women to make them such right cows?

For years I’ve put the attitude of these witches down to a lack
of hormone replacement. Have you noticed how their mouths
purse, how they always whinge despite usually being way better
off materially, than you or I might ever be? Have you noticed
amongst their miserableness they lack a sense of humour
especially, when it is a joke about themselves, how many of
them are experts at backstabbing, empire building and ‘running
with the hares and hunting with the hounds’, in other words
playing their cronies against the each other?

The majority of these women adore back stabbing, survive
on playing the victim, always trying to out do the members
of their clique and appear aghast at any insinuation that they
are ever in the wrong or are harbouring any of the atrocious
mannerisms I’ve described. Trust me, I've known them!!

Me … well I say it like it is. Am renowned for being funny,
forthright, friendly and yes, I took my hormone replacement!

Saturday 19 August 2006

No Google at School.

I heard late this week that the Education Department has
banned Google from school computers.

The question is ... why??

Is it to benefit the pupils and if so how? What ... no more easy,
quick research and referencing?

One can only wonder will this stroke of bureacratical genius
hinder the teaching staff as well as the students? What ... are
they going to re-open libraries in schools, send the kids back to
the books and remove computers from the libraries??

Do the decision making genuises think that Google is the only
search engine on the web?

Interesting too that not a word about this decision has been in
the media ... makes you wonder doesn't it?? We're living in the
computer age yet our future generation is being deprived of the
encyclopaedia of their era!!!!

Friday 11 August 2006

Tess, Martin Place 1941

Doesn't she look the epitome of glamour for that era??

While still thinking about her today I dug out some clippings I
found in a 1950s Good Housekeeping book. I'd say they'd been
clipped from an English magazine and they remind me of Tess
and the way she viewed life which would have been influenced
by such articles.

VITRUES OF A DAY’S REST.
A day in bed is a remedy for so many ills. So many of us are
overworked and underpaid, and have to live from hand to mouth,
that it is small wonder our nerves are rasped and jaded sometimes.
We do not get enough sleep, we do not get time enough to eat out
meals, and we scarcely have time to breathe; certainly we have no
time to breathe fresh air. But just spend the day in bed with the
window wide open, give your tired brain enough sleep and spare for
once; take plenty of time over your meals, and your stomach will
rejoice and be glad. It will think the millennium has come if you lie
still after a meal and break your rule of bolting your food and bolting
to the station to catch the morning train.
Yes, a day in bed for the over worked.


LOOK AFTER THE EYES.
Eskimos will detect a white fox in the snow at a great distance away,
while the Arabs of the desert of Arabia have such extreme powers of
vision that on the vast plains of the desert they will pick out objects
invisible to the ordinary eye at ranges from one to ten miles distant.
Among civilised people says “Health” the Norwegians have better
eyesight than most, if not all other, as they more generally fulfil the
necessary conditions. The reason why defective eyes are so much on
the increase in this country and un Europe lies in too much study of
books in early life and in badly lighted rooms.

THUMBS LARGE & SMALL.
Someone has been telling the character of women by their hands.
It is said that women can be divided into two classes, those with
large thumbs and those with small. The first are supposed to be far
more intellectual, and have a natural taste for study. Small-thumbed
women have more romantic inclinations, and are very sensitive; they
are the coquettes, the women who will consider love above all things
and who fascinate no matter what their age. If a woman’s thumbs are
large her head will rule her heart, she will be a good business woman,
clear headed and tactful.

Happy Birthday Tess.

Happy Birthday Tess.

On this day, August 11 1921, Irene May arrived in the world.
The only child of Roy & Rene she had a more sad, than happy life.
Here's Tess (as her Dad called her after the heroine of the movie
"Tess of the storm Country") aged 14 in 1935 the same year her
Dear Dad was killed on his way home from work.
How sad she looked.

Thursday 10 August 2006

A How to Cure Asthma & Snoring Tip!

I got cheesed off with this blog, photo's wouldn't load, so I
spat the dummy, took my playlunch and left the room!

I'm over it all now ready for another round of blogging!!

The big tip for this episode is one I learnt from a wise friend
who has taken up the didgereedoo!

Did you know that circular breathing, the style you use when
playing the didge helps asthma and snoring??
Well that's the word ~ I can imagine lots of you heavy breathers
taking up the didge one day soon - Enjoy!

Friday 21 July 2006

Testing photo upload - and YeeeHaaaa!

Been talking to Nephone and Veronica about being unable to upload
pics to the blog and thought I sneak over and give it a go ...

Voila........... here's the Pearl as we speak!! I'll be back ...

Saturday 15 July 2006

What kind of knitting needles are you?

Didn't you always want to know what kind of knitting needles you are?

I delivered a new scarf to MJ and swore I will choose wool
more carefully in future. I was bedazzled by the colour and
missed the fact that the wool was a boucle, synthetic mix that
didn't move on the needle and picked up every other loop along
the way ... despite that, the scarf was well received!

It's a lovely, wet, lazy, Peter Alexander style day today, browsing,
buying,sorting, lazing and purring are the order round here ~ enjoy
the following...

Drat ~ I can't get the HTML to work - you'll get my drift!!

http://images.quizilla.com/L/larissmix/1077233136_turbo.jpg">

You are "turbo" charged.Fast moving and classy, you get things
done with power and grace. Your expensive tastes can be
deceiving, since what you really value is quality and
efficiency. As you're careening around those corners in life,
finishing a dozen knitted objects each month, stop and smell
the roses.
Don't miss the beauty of process!

Sunday 9 July 2006

If you want something done...

MJ once told me "If you want something done ask a busy
woman" well that's me lately. I swear there's not enough
hours in the day to get through what's going on round here!
It's all good, though I'm having trouble sleeping the hours
Ineed to keep this finely tuned body and brain firing -
courtesy of a new feline/greyhound in residence upstairs.

The lovely neighbour, who brought Pearl into my life, was the
owner of a very large, very loved, old cat named "Meaow/Mao",
depending on how you said it. The poor old fella, the cat
that is, became very sick, spent a week in the vet and
unexpectedlyturned up his paws. My neighbour had been to the
vet's each day sitting with his pal and was devastated at
his death.

A few days later the vet called my neighbour asking would he
be interested in giving a home to a cat. My neighbour was
thrilledand not daunted when told that the puss had been found
by thelocal police, in the gutter, after being hit by a car.
The police hadtaken the puss to the vet and had taken up a
collection to pay forit's care. The vet had had to amputate
the puss's front left leg.

My neighbour went to the vet's every day to sit with his soon
to be new son, talking to him and getting to know him. Two
weeks ago he came home. This little fellow is a charmer, a
playful,attentive personality who even after complications, his
wholeleft side shaved and looking like he's been stitched by a
quilter races through the place belting his left stumpy, shoulder
on thefloor as he pelts around upstairs.

BUT ... a few days ago my neighbour decided he would make
Mao a winter bed in the bedroom, on the window sill so Mao
get's the morning sun at the exact same spot directly above my
head.

The building is old, where there's no concrete separating the
floors but creaky, old wooden boards, when if it's all quiet you
can hear, EVERYTHING above, and I mean everything.

The new Mao has taken to early rising and playing - right above
my head, each morning at any time from 6am onwards.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm an insomniac, that hears the
grass grow even while sleeping. So after going to bed at 2am I
am not happy jan about the early morning feline olympics /greyhound
training sessions ... But what can I do??
The cat is adorable, the neighbour is one of nature's gentleman.
I've explained my predicament, he's concerned ... but the
cat rules his life!

Pearl's not happy either, she's a night owl like me and looks bleary
eyed as I appear early in the morning cussing under my breath.
As I write she is close by I am sure wishing me to stop pounding the
keyboard and probably wishing me to go to blazes ...

I know how fortunate I am to have the tiny problem as my only
gripe in life - but take a look at Pearl - says it all doesn't it???

Sunday 25 June 2006

What Flower Are You?

I know, I know three in a row!
No, I'm not in search of myself. I know who, what and how I am!

I'm in the throes of creative deadlines. Bargains keep getting in
the way ~ am re-organising my house ~ not sleeping properly
there's too much bad ju ju in my boudoir with all the upheavel
so I meander off in need of some light entertainment and look at
where I land. Those who know and love me will say it's all true ~
the rest of you ~ try it for yourself!


I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?



"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend.
You are quite the prankster that loves to make other
people laugh."


Saturday 24 June 2006

what Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Haaaaaaaaa ... I just had to go and do another of those quirky
tests ... Famous Last Words ... Waaaaaaaa what a classic ;~() !!

Your Famous Last Words Will Be ...
"Nice doggy."

>

Friday 23 June 2006

What Colour Blue Are You?

The Marvellous Maureen had this on her blog so I went and
tried it and here's the result ...

You Are Ocean Blue.

You're both warm and practical. You're very driven, but you're also very well rounded.You tend to see both sides to every issue, and people consider you a natural diplomat.

Thursday 15 June 2006

A visit to the Sydney Craft Show.

We were in the queue before the doors opened, money
burning a hole in our pockets, lists of dream purchases,
comfortable shoes that felt like they had wings on them,
high on the prospects of a mega shoppathon, doses of
inspiration and motivation and the thought of the
OoHhhhing and Aaahhhing that awaited.

All was accomplished in grand company.

Now feet are throbbing, back is aching, savings are depleted
but the creative juices are teetering near boiling point with
beautiful ideas that are so simple it makes you wonder how,
after sewing for so many years, you didn’t think of it first!

The catering needs a mention. $7 for a bread roll with a slice
of roast beef and fetta cheese. $3.50 for 300 mls of fruit juice
(even the girl on the register apologised, embarrassingly, about
the prices). $6 for fruit salad which would have measured out
to about three dessertspoonfuls, totally outrageous prices yet the
hoardes queued for miles seeking sustanence to be further visually
dazzled and to max out the fantastic plastic!

It’s not so much that we cared about the cost, more so that we
were horrified when we first bought a bottle of water and were
charged $3 – "Wottha!" ~ highway robbery ~ especially when you
consider ~ us crafty women love our tucker!


Tuesday 13 June 2006

Ozzee, Ozzee Ozee Ozzeeeeee, Oi, Oi, Oi!!!!


Pearl with her yellow and green eyes is proud to be an Ozzie tonight
as we watched our Australian Socceroos beat Japan in the first round
of the World Cup - C'Mon Aussies, C'Mon!

Saturday 10 June 2006

Yo Bro!

Little Willy's 60 today
But in 2001 cancer took him away
Damn ~ I miss him more each day...
Yo Bro.










This pic was taken in 1990 late one night after devouring
thousands of cool refreshing glasses of happiness! This was
our era of finally getting to know each other.

We became a formidable team when he was in town.

For sure my Bro will have his elbow on a bar somewhere right
now, placing 50 cent bets on anything that is racing, kicking or
crawling up a wall while chatting up sheilas, shouting drinks for
the bar, telling bad jokes and behaving like a total yobbo.
All at the same time!

Onya Bro!

Friday 9 June 2006

Why Buy a Mohair Rug?

While op shopping today I spied a gorgeous rug in pink-ish,
mauve-ish, and pale-ish blue hues the label read 100% Mohair
Made in Australia, price - $8. For some reason I had to have it!
Pet looked at me, I shrugged “I dunno, I have to have it.” I was
thinking maybe I’ll felt this, do something crafty, give it to my
pal Veronica, I dunno – I had no idea.

When I arrived home I took it out of the bag, left it on the floor
while I unpacked the shopping then went to change. When I came
back out I knew instantly why I’d bought the mohair rug …


WHILE SEARCHING FOR MY CREATIVITY ...

This year my creative life has lost its splendour. Looking after
my Dad, boredom with the creativity I adored and feeling stale
has contributed to much gathering with little outgoing. Plenty
going on my head, gorgeous items all produced in my imagination
but nothing to show. I’m hoping to pick up the pieces soon. I’ve
started to knit, made postcards for a swap with a US group and
purchased some beautifulness to endeavour creating something
different ~ so watch this space. During this time I’ve been devouring
books and magazine to try to reignite the spark and heave me out
of the gloom.

A true reading joy came via The Sydney Morning Herald
'Good Weekend Magazine' in the stunning edition produced for
the 175th anniversary where I discovered the following two gems ~

Read #1 ~

‘Life under Rations” by Ruth Park.

Identity cards for civilians were part of life during World
War II. Without one, you could not get your food and
clothing ration coupons or a hospital bed or a job, and
certainly not entry to any official place or building.
Ruth Park found hers among some old papers years later
and the memories came flooding back.

The shortage that affected me most was needles. (Anything made of
metal was certain to disappear sooner or later.) I can still remember
sitting up in bed in my parachute nightdress, between mattress-ticking
sheets, crying because I’d lost my needle. You can’t imagine what it’s
like to be without a needle, with no hope of another till the war ends,
which was probably never,
Where did it go, for I never found it. Down a crack, I suppose, like

those long-ago years when we laughed, and had our hearts broken,
and made eggless, butterless, sugarless cakes, and waited for the boys
to come home and life to start once more.

Makes me realise how fortunate I am have own such a
bumper, creative stash.

Read #2 ~ Adoring all things Art Deco this is gorgeous ~

THE FLAPPER BY ONE WHO KNOWS HER.
August 21, 1926.

Certainly taken en masse she would seem to be a painted, pleasure
loving, cocktail drinking, cigarette smoking, thoughtless little lassie,
whose thoughtlessness to her elders and the aged in many cases
amounts almost to heartlessness. She would appear to have one
thought, and that thought, self and how much juice of pleasure she
can squeeze from the orange called life, and throw away the rind.
Traditions are trampled under her feet; youth is paramount.

Yes, all this is true, or so it would seems collectively. But,
individually, what so we find in the Australian lassie, anyway? A
clean-limbed, wholesome, sports loving girl, who can play a
game of tennis, golf, or hockey with anyone, who can row a boat,
or run a car all day if need be, and dance half the night, but who
can, also equally well, run a business, nurse the sick, make cleverly
and daintily her won and oft times her mother’s or sister’s frocks
and undies; who reads much , and oft times quiet deeply, who can
organise and committees, and provide for meetings for the benefit
of these same charities. She can, and does, all the time, look smart,
trim and fresh, as she goes about her business or pleasure.

I admit that oft times she is loathe to relinquish her gay freedom
and take-on the responsibilities of matrimony, but when she does
she can keep her home as well as any of the lassies of a former
generation, can be as faithful and loving a wife, as tender a mother,
as thoughtful as a daughter-in-law, as thrifty a housekeeper; and can
entertain her own and her husband’s friends, even better than the
young wives of former generation, for her style is more open, more
free – there is, to my mind, more of a comrade between the sexes,
nd less of sex thoughts than there used to be in our grandmothers’
time,

Yes, the flapper of today, with all her faults – and I admit she has
them – is yet to me a nearere perfect girl than any that has gone
before her. Miss Australia, all hail; I raise me hat to you, and I’m
one of your own sex, and old enough to be your mother.

Don’t you just breathe a sigh of relief at not being a ‘flapper’?

Tuesday 16 May 2006

MY MOTHER'S DAY 2006.

Mother’s day for me was spent with the best daughter any
mother could ever ask for! We went to the City of Shadows
Exhibition at the Police & Justice Museum at Circular Quay.
It was fantastic and to anyone looking for something to do
on any weekend in Sydney do yourselves a favour and don’t
miss this amazing tour of Sydney in days past. The faces,
the fashion, the language, the crimes, the harpies and sharpies,
crooks and ginger joints is amazing. The set up of the exhibition
is marvellous. The information and the opportunity is look
through an historic Sydney police station, cells and courthouse
shouldn’t be missed.

We strolled along Circular Quay. The sun was out, the buskers
were entertaining and the water glistened. We were heading to
the Museum of Contemporary Art for lunch but found they
were only serving a two course set menu – too much for a Sunday
lunch for us! So we wandered through the MCA onto George
Street at the Rocks and into The Rocks Café. A table out of the
breeze, in the sun and the best calamari I’ve ever had (that’s
a big wrap) made my Mother’s Day a scrumptious delight.

After lunch we walked up George Street peering in shop windows,
watching the passing parade to Dymocks where I found the book
I’d been looking for for ages. Through Myer’s to Borders and
the latest copy of Belle Amoir as well as another book I’d been
lusting after.

Hope your Mother’s Day was as blissful as mine ~ I’m one
lucky Mother!

Saturday 13 May 2006

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers!





Born 1921 this is the happiest image we ever saw of Tess
Devoured by sadness
Her beloved obsession of two men became her illness.

She never let us know her
Set free in 2003 - peace and happiness at last - we hope
Happy Mother's Day Darling!

Sunday 7 May 2006

PEARL the GIRL.

This was taken the other night.

It was 2 am - what do you reckon she's saying???

She's got her eye on me that's for sure.

She's finally relaxing. Two days ago she found there's a bedroom

in the house. She's not ventured past the litter in the bathroom,

She sleeps lot's. Talks as I come into the room. She purrs at

every chance - she's getting a sleeker, furrier coat, she's begun

to play under the flokati rug so tonight I've made toys for her

and we've had her first play.

I think she realises she's here to stay!

Wednesday 26 April 2006

The new Kit on the Block.
















Allow me to introduce you to my new companion.

Resuced by a neighbour last week and known as Tibbles previously
the much loved companion of a lady who'd died was all we knew.
Tibbles had wandered the neighbourhood and was found being
mistreated by residents at a boarding house. She's malnourished with
wobbly legs, a skinny tail, bones that need some flesh on them but she
purrs like a luxury, expensive, highly tuned BMW.

My neighbour rescued her, carrying her home in a shopping bag over
the shoulder. The neighbour had a much loved, fat cat, that didn’t take
too kindly to an "intruder". Barriers were established. The fat cat in the
living room, Tiddles in the bedroom, always on guard, always awake,
extremely nervy with a scared and wary look in her eyes.

We’d auditioned her a week ago under the impression that Tibbles was
Mr. Tibbles. If I was having a house mate it was not going to be a
male of any description. The neighbour thought another home had
been found for Mr. Tibbles. I was disgusted and suggested that if he
wouldn’t live with this neighbour then why would he send Mr. Tibbles
there. It didn’t last and within 24 hours Mr. Tibbles had been chased
with a broom, not been fed and required rescuing again. Even more
distressed as well as in dire need of a manicure, we discovered that
Mr. Tibbles appeared to be Ms. Tibbles, her fate was sealed, she
moved in with me.

Along with a new home she was given a new identity.

Her name is now Pearl. She’s been sleeping since moving in on a fluffy
purple towel on the back of my couch. We showed her around including
where the litter was - only once - and at some stage during her
first night she ate some fresh chicken morsels then found her way to,
and used the litter. What a genius cat!

She's slept almost non stop and says a little 'Meaow'. A feeding pattern has
been established with Optimum dry food in the morning and as I prepare
my dinner at night she is served two dessertspoons of canned food.
Tonight I tapped the tin with a spoon and she came running. She devoured
only the gravy but at midnight she polished off the lot and then went to the
bathroom and back to her spot on the back of the couch.
We'll take her to the vet later in the week for a check up and shots!

I am happy to announce I am now the Mother of Pearl!

Sunday 23 April 2006

The Crack Up - I'm Over It!

Crikey where has the week gone I wonder? – having a darn
crack up that’s where!!!. Wearing that nurses uniform was so
out of character for me but a good result is taking place and
the button pusher is in rehabilitation, making a comeback.

I’ve found out who my loved ones are and they know how much
they’ve held me up through it all. Lessons have been learnt as
they usually are when a crisis hits me. My philosophy is there’s
no such thing as a bad experience, it’s all part of the lessons of
life. Out of something bad always comes something good – a
twist on an old adage that has stood me in good stead. My wisdom
has expanded, my inner self has become calmer. Thank goodness
I hear loved ones say!

I'm searching for a companion ~ a furry, mature aged, desexed,
kind. Purely for therapeutic reasons - yeah right ;~)
Then I'll be even more eccentric ... And loving it!

Saturday 15 April 2006

Howard of the Overflow!

For those of you who don't know the Australian Prime
Minister is being a prime chump over a deal done with
Iraq and the Australian Wheat Board! The following
was sent to me by a dear mate, Flick, written to the
classis Australan poem "The man from Snowy River"
get an Aussie to read it to you - you won't believe how
clever this is ~ enjoy and read with gusto!
Whoever wrote it deserves a coldie - or ten!

Howard of the Overflow.

(must be read out aloud with gusto)

I had written him a letter, which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him at the wheat board,
years ago. He was chairman when I knew him, so I sent
the letter to him Just on spec, to make the point that
"Howard doesn't want to know". And an e-mail came
directed, not entirely unexpected (And I think the same
was written in some Middle Eastern bar). 'Twas his CEO
who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: "Trevor Flugge's
gone to Baghdad, and we don't know where he are".
"But when he left Australia, he was going to meet with Alia,
A trucking mob in Jordan, who were keen to grease the
wheels. For 10 percent commission, they could swing
Saddam's permission To get our wheat accepted; it's the
mother of all deals". "But I guarantee, Prime Minister,
that there's nothing at all sinister. The chaps at DFAT
told us that the sums looked quite okay. When you're
selling wheat in billions, what's a quick 300 million? If it
keeps the Nationals happy, it's a tiny price to pay."
Sitting here at Kirribilli, I've been thinking, willy-nilly,
That it's somehow reminiscent of the children overboard:
But I can handle Rudd and Beazley, as I always do, quite
easily By endlessly protesting that there's nothing untoward.
I'll tell Bush next time I meet him at The White House,
when I greet him, That I'm sure he'll understand about the
wheat board's quid pro quo. He'll forgive this minor error in
the global war on terror When I look him in the eye and
tell him Howard didn't know.
_____

Friday 14 April 2006

Easter Egg Wrappers - The Collectors

Friday night at 8pm the ABC shows a quirky 30 minute
program 'The Collectors' that makes me feel not so odd.

This weeks Collector Cam was a gal who saves Easter Egg
wrappers! Now's your chance! Don't let the kids throw the
wrappers away. You can sit for hours slowly rubbing the
creases from the foil as the aroma of chocolate tantalises
your senses. Slip them into an acid free folder, colour
co-ordinated and each time you open them the sweet
smell will be there to remind you ... for next Easter and ...

What a yummy way to spend Easter - for now and forever!

Postsecret

My PIC sent me the link to Postsecret so do yourself
a favour and go take a peek!

Like my PIC it's gorgeous!!!

Thank gawd it's Friday - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter all!

I'm having a day off from the button pusher.
Sun is shining, I'm catching up on my domestics
and feeling as happy as a lark.... how does a lark
feel I wonder ~ Ooops look out I'm rambling. Too
much time has been spent in the twight zone...LOL!

Wednesday 12 April 2006

Are you missing me?

Popping in to say I'm still in a nurses uniform.
Maybe I'll take to wandering. The Button Pusher
is coming out of the twilight zone, letters have
been written about the unit manager. You read the
stories about the hospital system and when you
least expect it you're amongst it.

Management has a lot to answer for. The staff
are doing their best. Management don't talk to
each other, the staff, the family and least of all
the patients.
Today I met a woman who's relative had been
taken to the wrong nursing home from the same
ward where the Button Pusher currently resides.
The woman's relative had been badly treated and
when discharged was to be transferred to a new
facility. She'd come to the hospital to get her
relative, with dementia, transported. The staff
told her she had to move him. She went to war,
telling them they took him there and it was up to
them to get her relative to the correct place.
She was then off to see another relative in the
cardiac ward ... my lot seemed not quite so bad!

I'll get back to you shortly!

Sunday 2 April 2006

Next Wednesday trivia!

On Wednesday of next week, at two minutes and three seconds after
1:00in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
You'll never see that again!

The Week That Was.

For the past week my life has been turmoil! The Button Pusher
has lost the plot and is in hospital. Dehydrated, stroke, urinary
tract infection ??? any, either or all of the above. The Button
Pusher wandered off yesterday. No cause was determined. Questions
need to be answered. Then restraints were fitted. I arrived and
turned. Staff was removed from the section. Today I'm back there
like a dog without a bone. Tomorrow Pet and I will get to the
bottom of the episode. Letters will be written, heads will roll!

Thought I'd been the April Fool - Not!

Sunday 26 March 2006

Was it the Melbourne Games or the Commonwealth Games???

Missed me anyone?? Engrossed in the Games has kept me
away from cyber space. But I've come away wondering
whose games was it?

Melbourne will take all the cudos, but what about the rest of
our gorgeous country? What about the blonde haired, blue
eyed, fresh shiny, beaming faced angels (girls and guys) who
won medal after medal? Double the number of the UK with
no other nation in coo-ee of such a total but were all these
bronzed Aussie winners from Melbourne - no way - but you'd
have thought so!

Channel 9 who broadcast the games and tonights closing
ceremony wants a floggin' for a number of fuax pas! The
audacity of switching to a commerical break "to pay some
bills" according to Ray Martin during John Farnham's
performance. Yep I am a Farnham fanatic! Why not an ad
when the Bollywood extravanganza was taking place??

What about the channel 9 nob head who after interviewing
the amazing Melissa Lui asked her to cross back to the studio
and when she missed the cue he proclaimed it as a "Bronze
medal" performance? C'mon you loser I was screaming, she's
13 years old, she a legend - disgraceful.

As for Channel 9, Ray Martin should have stayed home here
in Sydney instead of, under the guise of commentary, plug
"his" show with interruptions of brilliant moments with his
innane and self proclaiming banter.

Channel 9 made plenty of blunders - too many to mention here!

An another thing - what about the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in India?? Whenever we've seen a travel show from that country
- right back to the days of John Saffran on that ABC show 'Race
Around the World'- viewers have been appalled and saddened at
the poverty of India. The starving children begging on the streets,
kids running beside cars in the last series of 'Amazing Race' begging
for money. What about the experiences of pretty girls travelling and
their stories of how Indian males poke and prod femaile tourists at
every opportunity and we're expected to send our sporting beauty
talents there? Holey Dooley.
One can only wonder what's the bill for the extravaganza we've
just witnessed?? How in 2010 is a country rife with poverty and
population explosion expected to produce a similar extravaganza
when it's unable to feed its children??
Something's not right.

But Melbourne takes the cake - the home of Aussie Rules! Oi
did they forget that Sydney Swans are the current Premiers??
What, doesn't anyone play Rugby League or Soccer down there??
What about the lovely ditty recited by the actor at the beginning
where he included a line about "the fingers of Shane Warne" - are
they the same fingers that sent R rated texts to women?
EeeUuuWww! Melbourne can have him.

Where was some indigenous representation ???
Oh that's right Paul Kelly and Casey Donovan got the gig!

Aussie's are celebrating across the land at the prowess of our
sporting heroines and heroes, Aussie families are glowing with
pride, some international athlete's have absconded but who'd
blame them, the games are finished the closing ceremony is over ...

So does that mean Melbourne's closed now???

Friday 17 March 2006

GET UP has Got THEM in their sights!

Get Up is at it again and good on them.

We're 11 weeks into the Cole inquiry over the AWB wheat bribes
scandal and everyone's eyes have glazed over. In this drawn-out
tale of corporate scheming, accountability loopholes and legalese
it's become almost impossible to keep track of the facts, much
less why the public should care. Unfortunately, this just lets the
government off the hook - which is just what they're counting on.
That's why GetUp has created a new ad, to get past the spin,
jargon and media fatigue, and drive home the real story of AWB.
Watch the ad now, then send it to five of your friends: http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/AuthorisedBribes The real
story here is simple and very serious. Under the Howard govt.,
Australia's monopoly wheat exporter paid Saddam Hussein's
government almost $300 millon in bribes, a rort of the oil-for-food
program that Saddam used to get around UN trade sanctions, and
buy weapons. The Howard government received at least 24 clear
warnings of these bribes, but instead of investigating the allegations,
it chose to vigorously defend AWB to our allies and the UN. Last
October, when the UN inquiry finally revealed what the government
should have known all along, the official reaction was a stock-in-trade
response: deny and delay. Eventually, they announced an inquiry
with limited powers to question the government; silencing the critics
while ensuring a third party gets all the blame. It is crucial that people
understand the seriousness of this scandal before it slips off the radar.
We've created an ad to explain it --- can you forward it to five people
today? Click the link below to watch the ad and send it to your friends: http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/AuthorisedBribes
Sometimes a bit of direct humour can send a strong message.
Australians deserve to understand why AWB matters.

Says it all doesn't it?

When STUFF Becomes Art.

There's no greater hoarder or maker of wonderful things out of found
objects than Moi. MJ is now capable of opening the fridge when others
have wailed "there's nothing to eat" and created a feast for the
famished.

My CV includes "the ability to make something out of nothing"
and the word is out!
Read on ~

Make Do Exhibition at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery

Make Do
is an exhibition of recent works by Maggie Stein and
Robyn Moloney showing at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown,
from the 8th to the 19th of March.

Both artists have been inspired by what others discard and love to
transform pieces they find into objects of beauty. They frequent
Reverse Garbage and local Op shops and can be seen rummaging
through stuff dumped on the street, often finding items which catch
their eye and imagination. In making their art they love to play with
colour, pattern and texture.

For Robyn Moloney “make do” brings together her petit-point
tapestries and ‘around and around paintings. They are made from
wool and canvas from discarded tapestry kits; cardboard from
cereal boxes and found frames and bits of wood .She is inspired
by anything that has that home made, make do feel about it,
anything that has the mark of its maker – like patchwork rugs
and nice bits of wood.
She says “A couple of years ago I began a project called ‘Goes
around comes around’. The rule is to make do with what’s around
– to buy nothing new. I don’t know what’s more thrilling – making
art or finding good junk.
Birds and flowers seem as good a subject as any. Some are a record
of what’s around me at the moment. They bring some joy to me in
my semi- industrial part of Marrickville.”

For Maggie Stein the title “make do” expresses a desire to make do
with what we have and also expresses her sometimes compulsive
desire to create.
Maggie enjoys working on wood in a variety of shapes. She uses a
mixture of media and techniques (paint, collage and assemblage)
to adorn surfaces with a rich patterning and over layering of shapes.
Her inspiration comes from many sources including ancient cultures,
architecture, her inner self and the natural world.

She says of her work
“I like the idea of an object having a previous life; some of that
patina/ history contributes to the direction of the work. I enjoy
the intuitive process of working not really knowing where it’s

going but feeling compelled to take the journey”

Venue: Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Pidcock st, Camperdown.
Hours: 11am to 5 pm Wed to Sun until the 19th of March.

SOoooo......... now you all might understand why I'm up at the crack
of, garaging, why my fave saying is "out with the old, in with the older".
But why there's been no exhibition of my work???
Pop round some day and you'll see why!

Make Do sounds like a perfect Artist's Date doesn't it??

Saturday 11 March 2006

LOST ALONG THE ARTIST’S WAY!

At Week 6 “the Recovering a Sense of Abundance” AW journey was progressing nicely. Mmmm abundance had a pleasant ring to it. Plentiful, yep I have loads of enthusiasm, talent, positivity, modesty, this week will go well. NOT!!!!!!!

That God word appeared again. That was it for me. The lights went out the shutters went down and AW became buried under gorgeous copies of Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper & Scissors, and anything else in reach that didn’t include the G word.

The G word produces an irritation that makes the hairs on this fair flesh stand upright. Despite years of discussion, listening to points of views of believers and non-believers, as well as almost coming to terms with the thought that god is really within each individual, when the G word appeared on p.106 foe me it became an I’m Over It reaction!!! Questions like “what if god’s a woman" …well … hello, what does it matter?

Don’t get me wrong here. People who believe have my utmost respect. If it makes them feel better then it makes me feel better for them too. Such personal opinions have long made me wonder why the word offends me. How the over use of it by the G blamers …those who won’t accept responsibility for their own actions as they echo “G made me do it” make me want to scream … Nah you did it yourself. We have choices. We have a subconscious and using the G word as a reason for how, or when, or why and why not something was or wasn’t done is a cop out!! Phew glad that’s off my chest.

So with that revelation AW, MP’s and reading was put aside. Not out of my thoughts though.

Today - Day 52
The AW commitment had been made. As a woman of my word the feeling of letting myself, only myself, down irked me.
So today, the afternoon of Day 56 AW’s returned to my daily life!
Morning pages plus reading and journalling from p.106 to p.149 the end of chapter 8.

Briefly:
WEEK 7 –
Jealousy doesn’t exist in my life so the exercise on p.124 is not for me.
Archaeology exercise has all been dealt with an not where my creativity lurks.
Positive Inventory, taking stock of the good I have to build on in the present is everything – all is good in my life!

The Tasks 1 – 7 were inane.

Task 8 – Five Fave Films
The Generals Daughter
The Angel one or is it Michael with Travolta – anything of J Travolta
Moulin Rouge
Old black & white’s

Task 9 – Fave topics to read about
Positive Thinking
Memoirs
Australian history
Stories of survival
The Irish diaspora
Week 7 Artist’s date - was book shop trawling – coffee – craft store = Heaven.

WEEK 8
I was confused as to why Cameron writes that all artists’s must learn the art of surviving loss. Isn’t that a human experience that all people whether artistic or not have to face? Flagging and mourning loss has been done over and over for me so I found this topic of no value. I did agree with her observation that academia harbours a deadly foe to creative spirit. As a mature age student, in 2003, I earned a degree in Sociology. But what a slog it could have been had I not realised, early on that academia wanted to hear what they wanted to hear. Criticism and argument had to be addressed in a format that had been around for hundreds of years. No individuality, no off the wall research and no criticism of them. Academia is for academics. To hold the outside world in awe, to separate themselves from the status quo and to squash any glimmer of individuality that might challenge their hallowed halls – bah humbug.

This AW sends me off on tangents that stroke and make my thinking creativity blossom – but drat – that’s not why I’m doing this …that’s another story!!
I agreed too with her “every end is a beginning” that old adage “one door closes another one opens” is a much used personal fave as well as her “HOW instead of WHY ME’. Cameron has played with my thoughts. From irritation to agreement she has got my creative thinking, creatively writing nut just as she get’s me calm she throws the curved “too old” number and I’m Over It again!!
Early Patternings exercise was all done in my life years ago.

The tasks were back onto the “DREAM” routine again and like I’ve said before, I don’t dream. The “list 5 things you are not allowed to do” Come ON … there is NOTHING that I am not allowed to do!!!! So for me these exercises detracted from the zillion positive things to think about and accomplish – these exercises were a load of codswallop!!! Gone sufing!


WEEK 9.
Julia’s reminding me that my artist is a creative child – well how come this kid has the money to gain and gather the goodies needed for the upcoming projects of beauty and wonderment I’m about to let loose.

I’ve Blasted through the Blocks minus resentment.

Week 9 Artist’s Date was stupendous today. With my PIC the most amazing visual feast of all things any artist could need was discovered plus finding another stunning publication heralded that creativity is flowing in the right direction and loaded to the hilt with FUN!
Stay Tuned!

Sunday 5 March 2006

THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY SHOW an Artist's Date.

Week 6 Artist's Date was to The Amazing Body Human Body
Show and amazing it was!

My most learning moment was to see how high up in our
body the heart and lungs are. I couldn’t stop thinking of that
old adage “my heart was in my mouth” often exclaimed when
shocked, surprised or frightened – now I know why. That the
heart is surrounded by the lungs was a learning experience
too. However more amazing was the delight felt at having
given up smoking twelve years ago as I saw the appalling
condition and discolouration of the lungs of the
“specimens” and “speciwomen’s”.

The following was a puzzlement -
Had the organisers of the show removed all identifying
information for any specific reasons? Had acadaemia decided that
these were only of scientific value therefore not worth, according
them, any identifying information? The commentator told how they
were all Asian people yet we were left wondering who they had been,
what age had they died and why? Were they athletic? We noticed
differences in their hands, arthritis in fingers, yet we knew little else
and we wanted more. Not for a macabre reason but to be able to
understand who these people had been and what they had done in
their lives. Had the woman had children, if so how many, how old
was she? How was her body different to say someone of a younger
or older age? Why was she right at the back of the display when
she should have been with the male at the beginning of the display!
This was a patriarchial event for sure!

The Sydney Morning Herald has a short video where lots of these
questions are answered and where the money making v the
scientific debate opens up as to what the real reason of this
"show" is about.

For twenty bucks admission plus another three bucks for a
recorded hand held device, too man questions weren’t answered.
The recorded commentary lacked. It was perfect for a bunch of
school kids. We could have saved that money as the printed sheet
told more. The lighting was appalling.The skiing guy was almost
in the dark, most of the display cards revealed little. Wasn’t this
“show” meant to be life changing, educational and controversial??
It was thought provoking maybe, hopefully life changing for any
smokers peering at the indigo coloured lungs of each body yet
overpriced and not well prepared for the general public.

From an anatomical perspective the exhibition was enthralling.
Personally it was life changing. Many years ago I willed my body
to N.S.W. University. Not any more. The thought of this wonderful
shell being ripped through a bandsaw to become one centimetre
slices is too disturbing – AND … there’ll be no more lamb grillers,
pork chops, or liver and bacon served out of my kitchen either.

Saturday 4 March 2006

Lost your block found a WOMBAT.

You know when you've lost something and
searched every darned where yet still can't
find it?? Well that's how it's been round here
searching for the block pictured. Ready to
to pull the doona over my head, the urge to
look in one more spot came - and voila!!

Yee - bloody - Haaaa! This was the take to
Nowra CQ Retreat block last November to
be embellished and emblazoned with all kinds
of magic. It shows traces of Crumebum and
Ms P but blocks made way for fun.

Now it's found it's to become the first in a new full of fabularity project.
Lost Block no more - WOMBAT for sure!
Watch this space ... game on!!!

Thursday 2 March 2006

The Topp Twins - are tops!

A rare night out tonight to The Topp Twins show. A
unique K- one-W-one musical and comedy duo we
laughed till we cried. The receptive crowd cheered
and applauded the music, their look at life on and off
the farm, their travels plus their sending up of anyone
in their sights!

@enmore was the venue. Unfortunately we stood for
the whole show wondering why these joints sell tickets
yet don't provide sufficient seating. Food was great but
the kitchen was overwhelmed - sad!!!

The Topps made it all worthwhile!

Untouch - able Girls ... YeeHaa!

Wednesday 1 March 2006

PAINTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES

BOXED ART PROJECT

Sydney's Canterbury Council is calling for community artists
to submit ideas to paint the more than 80 traffic signal boxes
in the area. They're those grey blue boxes at every set of
traffic lights screaming to be emblazoned with quirky art so
if you have never noticed them before, get ready to, as artists
turn them into their own community art canvas.

An exciting new website promotes the work of artists who have
participated in this community art project.

Check out the work of participating artists.

There is the potential to win monetary awards.

On the website are photographs of a number the remaining
boxes still unclaimed - linked on the website – “Unclaimed boxes”

Mmmm if only there was a box under cover ready to be CQ'd,
embroidered, beaded and bedazzled for all so see ..... if only!

What a great idea!

Monday 27 February 2006

BONDI BEACH - born and bred.

Last Saturday a tiny slice of land at Bondi Beach was sold for
$3.5m . This "postage stamp" is right where my Mum lived as a kid
from 1923-1925 in a three story block of red brick "flats".

In 1925 they moved to 148 Campbell Parade, (smack bang between Hall
and Roscoe St's) on the main drag, of Bondi. The trams rattled past their
front room eventually as a sad reminder of how Pa was killed when
he fell from a tram in Oxford Street Woollahra one night in 1931 on his
way home from work at East Sydney Tech. Life changed.

Mum and her Mum, Rene, stayed in 148 Campbell Parade. They saw
the bombs come over Bondi in May 1942 . By August that year she had
met and married my Dad.

Born and bred in Bondi has been a catch phrase of mine. My first
swimming lesson was at the now famous Bondi IceBergs Pool . Bondi Beach
Public School was my first school. From 1957 - 1960 148 Campbell Parade
became my home too.

My early married life was in Bondi, my kids were born and bred in
Bondi, my hubby used to surf South Bondi on a balsa board right in front
of the IceBergs.

With those and a squillion more memories if I'd had $3.5m I'd have
bought that smidge of dirt, but like I've said before ...
I was born beautiful not rich.

Sunday 26 February 2006

AW Week 5 & 6 in Review

Twpo for the price of one - Weeks 5 & 6

You might wonder - what happened to week 5 of
The Artist's Way.

WEllllll it really wasn't me. Too airy fairy. Too much about
wishes and those who know me know I don't wish. I'm a
realist and if I want something to happen then do my darndest
to I make it happen. Time is too precious to be wafting off,
daydreaming and wishing - get ya head out of the clouds, get
on with it or get over it - life's too short!

My 5 imaginery lives are - sort of the same, sort of not!

If I were 20 and had money - I would still do it all over again!

If I were 65 and had money - well we'll wait and see about that
one!

Ten way's that I am mean to myself - couldn't think of one!

Ten items I'd like to own that I don't - nope

My favourite creative block is - now I know here it's not meant
to be a Crazy Quilting Block - but that's what comes to mind!

My payoff for staying blocked is - don't have one as I am always
on!

The person I blame for being blocked is - well no-one because I
am not a blamer!
So there.............!

Week 6 - Recovering Abundance.

Money Madness Exercise.
my answers are in red

1. People with money are rich.
2. Money makes people rich.
3. I'd have more money if I won some.
4. My dad thought money was to hold on to.
5. My Mum thought money was to spend.
6. In my family, money caused us to live.
7. Money equals wealth.
8. If I had money I'd buy a house with an ocean view.
9. If I could afford it I'd have that house with an ocean view and a GSP.
10. If I had some money I'd spend it.
11. I'm afraid that if I had money I'd - wot is there to be afraid of??
12. Money is wealth.
13. Money causes - it depends.
14. Having money is not a worry.
15. In order to have more money I need to get off my butt.
16. When I have money, I usually spend it.
17. I think money is necessary.
18. If I weren't so cheap I'd - I'm not cheap.
19. People think money is the root of all evil and they're jealous.
20. Being broke tells me I was born beautiful not rich.

So there was then the pick the rocks, pick the flowers, clearing (I'm
always doing that), creation, (always doing that), communication
(ditto), acceptance (ditto), prosperity (there was plenty of that this
week) - I'm smiling!

I'm still up with the morning pages, the artist date was done,
synchronicity abounded, a week of health related high's and lows.

How can that be when I am only 39????

Synchronicity and Life took Over!

Gadzooks the last eight days have gobbled up the time.
If you want something done ask a busy woman says MJ,
I've been like the proverbial lizard drinking ... !

Briefly the last eight days have been ...

Sunday - The Stitches & Craft Show - The PIC, fun, laughter,
divas, inspiration, motivation, new horizons, broke the bank,
delirious delight!

Monday - Vitreous Floaters & Blepharitis.

Tuesday - The button pusher a haircut, facial & manicure.

Wednesday - Pulled the doona over my head

Thursday - The Portuguese smile created, MJ lunch.

Friday - The Artist's Date Bookstore browsing, books galore!

Saturday - Out with the old and in with the older.

If you can make sense of all that then we're on the same
page as Moi! If not - stick around and eventually all
will be revealed.

Synchronicity happened every day - Bliss!

AW Check in Week 5

The Morning Pages are still being done.
Today Sunday Feb 26 is Day 44.

AW remains inspiring, changes have occurred, patience
has been tested but the whole task and it's outcomes are
a joy!

So much to tell, so little time, I'll get back to your shortly!!

That's a Promise.

Saturday 18 February 2006

VODKA - uses for when you're not drinking it ... or if you have any left over!

Another illustrious, highly talented, Virgo, Maureen, posted
the following on other uses for VODKA ..... I have gallons of
it since I signed the pledge - now which one of the following
will I use it on first? Mmmm???

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with
vodka.
The solvent dissolves adhesive.
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a
trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set
five minutes and wash clean.
The alcohol in the vodka kills mould and mildew.
3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft,
clean cloth dampened with vodka.
The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.
4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting
]your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving.
The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
5. Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, and then
blot dry.
6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent
to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.
The alcohol cleanses the scalp removes toxins from hair and
stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle and spray bees or
wasps to kill them.9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup
water in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshable
ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.
10. Fill a clean, used screw top jar with freshly packed lavender
flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun
for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the
tincture to aches and pains.1
11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and
back as a liniment.
12. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.
13 Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.
14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove
the urushiol oil from your skin.
15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth.
Your gums to will absorb the alcohol to numb the pain and if the
pain stops then keep drinking is my advice!

They all sound so good don't they? If non of them entice you to part with
your Vodka then may I suggest - fill a long glass with ice then top it with
three or four fingers of Vodka (depending on the time of the day of course)
top with soda, a dash of squash and a twist of lemon ........ TD4 ... hic!!!

Friday 17 February 2006

The Department of Me

Some time ago before thinking it possible to personally blog
I discovered The Department of Me and have never been
able to go online without popping there for an peek.
Love and adore your work Kate!

My posts been scarce these past days. So many things to be over
would have made me a whinging woc ... RU486 ... Yeah at that
result ... even that didn't quell the conniption.

KP's financed state farewell ...Grrrr ... Dana Vale's ludicrous
comment ... loonie neighbours to contend with and long over due
creativity to catch up on. All done and gorrrn so now I have a
clean slate.

Off to The Stitches & Craft Show on Sunday to learn, be inspired,
catch up with good friends and spend money ....wot more could
you ask for on a sunny Sunday?

I'll get back to you shortly!

Tuesday 14 February 2006

SELF PORTRAIT TUESDAY.


The theme for February's Self Portrait Tuesday is

"All of Me".

Here's the first...

Hair restyled,

gob wide open, (how unusual).

Losing all of me

including breakfast was the fear.

During - I was Over It! Afterwards - I wanted it again!

Follow up to RU486 with my MP's reply.

Let's have three cheers for my local member for the
following reply to the email I sent via the GET UP
site.

Thank you for your email regarding the abortion
drug RU486.

I believe Australian women should be able to make

informed decisions regarding personal health issues
with their doctor.

The availability of RU486 will assist women to retain

some control and dignity, in what I can only imagine
as being very difficult circumstances.

RU486 should be dealt with like any other medication:

that is, it should be the experts at the Therapeutic Goods
Administration who should determine if this drug is safe,
not the Health Minister.

It is alarming that the Health Minister Tony Abbott is in

a position where his moral views on abortion interfere
with the decisions he makes in the health portfolio.

I have always, and will continue to advocate that decisions

regarding women’s health issues should not be made by
politicians, but instead by women themselves in consultation
with their doctors.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Albanese MP

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Shadow Minister for Water
Federal Member for Grayndler

www.anthonyalbanese.com.au

Electorate Office:
334a Marrickville Rd,
MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204
Ph. (02) 9564 3588 Fax. (02) 9564 1734

Parliament House:
R1 60 Parliament House,
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Ph. (02) 6277 4031 Fax. (02) 6277 8445

Monday 13 February 2006

The Artist' Way - Week 4 - Check In.

Week 4 has given me the irits over the 'Reading Deprivation'!
For me it's too off the wall.
Reading is not a reward, not therapy, it's pleasure.
Like how far were you expected to go? No reading
emails, the TV guide, recipes, snail mail, blogs, bill
boards, the back of shopper dockets, love letters,
postcardsfrom friends overseas, did I miss something
in the translation?
Like the inference that you could do other things instead
of reading is crap to me. Wash the dog, don't have one and
ifI did reading wouldn't stop me.
Rewire the lamp, paint thebedroom, go dancing...........Haaaa!
I could still do all or any of that and read as well - no not at
the same time - at well spaced intervals of course!
Can ya tell I'm Over It??
Why in hell's name deny yourself something that is pleasure,
not bad for you and part of every day life that surely doesn't
impinge on your creative self - well not mine anyway?
So I'm Over week 4 - well and truly.
Nope I still haven't missed a Morning Page. I am not thrilled
with the tasks this week either and NO there was nothing
significant in my creative recovery ...... NEXT!!

Artist's Way Week 4 Check In

Ok I'm not going to drag this out but Week 4 has really given
me the irits over the 'Reading Deprivation'! It's offensive,
intrusive and too off the wall. Reading is not a reward, not
therapy, it's pleasure. Like how far were you expected to go?
Like no reading emails, the TV guide, recipes, snail mail, blogs,
bill boards, the back of shopper dockets, love letters, postcards
from friends overseas, did I miss something in the translation?

Like the inference that you could do other things instead of
reading is crap to me. Wash the dog, don't have one and if
I did reading wouldn't stop me. Rewire the lamp, paint the
bedroom, go dancing...........Haaaaaaaaaa!! I could still do all
or any of that and read as well - no not at the same time - at
well spaced intervals of course! Can ya tell I'm Over It??

Why in hell's name deny yourself something that is pleasure,
not bad for you and part of every day life that surely doesn't
impinge on your creative self - well not for me anyway?

So I'm Over week 4 - well and truly.

Nope I still haven't missed a Morning Page. Nope I am not even
thrilled with the tasks this week either and NO there was nothing
significant in my creative recovery .......... NEXT!!

Sunday 12 February 2006

Ptolemy ll - it's in the Stars, again...

Ptolemy ll has done it again with the STARS in Saturdays
Sydney Morning Herald. Don't think I'm taking this seriously!
Those who know me know I love a laugh and so here's this weeks
dose ...

VIRGO

Cheeky Alpha Centauri has been taunting Virgos for weeks in a bid
to get them to loosen up and live a little. With another year of work
stretching glumly ahead of you, now's the time to surrender to your
inner child. Set aside some time each day to climb a treet, roll in the
grass with a puppy, and make a smell in the presence of grown-ups

Tell me that your not laughing - no way - I don't believe you!




Saturday 11 February 2006

Proud to be an Aussie!

Proud to be an Aussie is how it feels watching the telecast of the
Opening Ceremony at the Torino Winter Olympics 2006.

The man behind the stupendous extravaganza is Ric Birch.
An Aussie boy with a vivid imagination, sensational flair with other
people's money and the talent to make it all work. What a genius!
Adored the 80s discomania belting out as the teams came out - where
was the mirror ball! Memories of Patches and other night spots of
the era came flooding back!

And to top it all - 8 Women carrying the Olympic flag!

On with the games - Onya Rich Birch!
Oi, Oi, Oi!

Whether UR or R not for RU486...

Whether you are for it or against it is not the issue as Melody
has reminded me. It's the audacity of the nobs elected to
represent us, the voters, in Parliament that gets under the skin
here. How dare they flaunt their bias, their personal beliefs and
uneducated opinions.

The use of RU486 has been giving a better quality of life to many
people living with cancer. The scandal mongers in the media
have blown the use of this drug into the laps of the right for lifers.
You should see them as they haunt the local residents, jingling their
rosary beads, always standing alone, so they can't be nabbed for
an illegal protest, on one of the main streets of the inner west staring
at the building where supposedly pregnancy terminations are done!
One local resident keeps threatening to turn the garden hose on them
but is more concerned about the waste of H2O during the water
shortage in this fair city!

RU486 is another example of uneducated bureaucracy playing the
parent. Doing the so called keeper of our best interests at heart
routine when their time would be better spent looking at how much
their cronies are spending on OS jaunts ... if only.

You can make a difference - go to Get Up follow the prompts and lets
get Tony Abbott skulking back to the front pew with all the other
hypocrits!

Friday 10 February 2006

AW Week 4 - Buried Dreams

The Buried Dreams Exercise sound like a hoot so here goes ...
5 Hobbies that sound fun -
Collecting - anything
Playing poker
Glider flying
German Shorthaired Pointer showing
Travelling on the QEII

5 Classes that sound fun -
Sketching cadavers at University of NSW
A year at NIDA
Textile Art
Water colour painting
Learn piano

5 Things you would never do -
Live in a high rise building
Travel in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour
Be the person I used to be
Work in an op shop
Absail

5 skills that would be fun to have -
Juggle
Play the drums
Walk on stilts
To run a marathon
To drive

5 things you used to enjoy doing -
Gin
Bourbon
Beaujoulais
Amaretto
and all that went with them!

5 things you would like to try once -
Travel the world
Have no bills
Be published
Sculpting
Book binding

Now we enter the Reading Deprivation week.

Mmmm that's gonna be a challenge! Hang on I
might fail this one ... emails still need to be read
but I'll stay away from the books!
Updates will be interesting!







Blogging & Visual Journals

At Day 26 Blogging AW with the 'Morning Pages', book one, A4 size,
is filled. My choice is to only write on the right hand page, on every
second line with some doodles and thoughts occasionally on the left
hand page. Sounds lavish to some. Maybe it stems from being tortured
as a kid to write on every page. Being scolded, reprimanded as wasteful
when missing a page, chastised even more when, oh shame, ripping a
page out if an error was made ... obviously the reason for adult
extravagance. Money was short , times were hard ... not now!
Printing stuff instead of simply clicking on save, ephemera is adore,
magazines, note paper, the card I see and want in case ... of what???
MJ went nuts as I searched for the first 'Morning Pages' book "paper
isn't like it used to be" was my retort, "I'm Over It" was MJ's.

The inital idea was to cover each of the MP books. I'd already covered
5 VJ's as gifts, plus one for Moi and another that's almost completed
but is currently missing with the WOMBATS. Oh how the list of to do's
swells to garagantuan proportions and are now looming bigger than
the projects.

So ... I Googled Visual Journals. Gadzooks the choices blew me away!
I've signed up to a Yahoo group via aisling net How to Make Art and WOW!
The talent, the links are fabulous, there goes the rest of the night, stupendous!
VJ covers have taken over for the time being ... it's only early!





Thursday 9 February 2006

My Torus Mandibularis.

The button pusher started the day off with a 9am request for a
loaf of bread. Internally fuming, muttering "pass the pillow" my
feet hit the floor with murder on my mind!

The day could have been a disaster had it not been for an 11.30am
appointment.

My long centric and torus mandibularis (doesn't that sound
almost R rated?) are under renovation by the most luscious
Portugese deep sea diver!
SMILE!!!

Some of my best friends are NETBALLERS.

Those who know me know my netballer line! Thanks Flick!

The greatest faux netballer of all time Sharon Strezleckie aka
Magda Szubanski is making a comeback on Aussie tele.
Tune in to NINE on Feb 14 for "Magda's Funny Bit's" where
the gorgeous "Chenille" and all the other glamours we know
and love will have you wetting yourselves!
What a Valentine's gift!

My Dream Purse Exchange.

There's a new group started over at Yahoo called
My Dream Purse Exchange.
Have you got that purse or handbag as we Aussie's call
them, that you'd like to upgrade? Then how about swapping
it?
It's only early days for the group but it will take off. You have
to fill in an application so they know who you are and where
you are if you want to swap ... Fab idea for bag lady's everywhere!

Wednesday 8 February 2006

Beginner Blogger Blues!

DUH!!!
I feel a right TWAT... Twerp, Nob ... C'mon think of another!

Apologies to all you wonderful message leavers - just found a stack
of messages - left for Moi - since the beginning - and I didn't know!
It's been like findng that last prawn on the seafood platter, the last
skerrick of chocolate in the wrapper - thank YOU, thank YOU!


My profile went to the bottom of the right hand side for a week,
couldn't get the HTML working, still floundering with the links
but ask me to cater for an event for 1000 people and I'm there
with aplomb and you'll get a guaranteed spectacular event!

What a buzz to know someone has even been here!
YeeHaa ....Thanks Heaps!

A HOFF Replacement!

Last year we did The HOFF to death! MJ's party, emails, jokes, loads of laughs. MJ says there's a need for a replacement for 2006 and suggested Donny Osmond who apparently is about to tour here ... spare me!
My nomination is
BARRY MANILOW ... any other suggestions?

Blogging AW Week 3.

For someone who leads a charmed, placid life time flys and I've not kept up to date about AW. I'm taking my time and savouring it. I've not missed doing the Morning Pages. Day 26 has been done and the first book is almost full.
Week three annoyed me. Dredging up old stuff about childhood found me turning the page thinking, been there, done that, OVER IT! Nothing more to be accomplished by going there. Nothing about my creative self lurks there.....Ha....maybe that is the lesson methinks.... a lightbulb moment??? Mmm AW is working it's mysterious ways.

The Detective Work Exercise was interesting.

The aim was restore the person we had abandoned - the child.

1. Favourite childhood toy ... doll Jennifer
2. Favourite childhood game ...
3. The best movie I saw as a kid ...
4. I don't do it much but I enjoy ... walking along shoreline of the beach.
5. If I could lighten up a little, I'd let myself ... WOT THa??
6. If it weren't too late ... it's not too late!
7. My favourite musical instrument is ... piano.
8. The amount of money I spend treating myself to entertainment each month is ... plenty!
9. If I weren't so stingy with my artist, I'd buy her ... nothing she's got everything she needs!
10. Taking time out for myself is ... a joy!
11. I'm afraid that if I start dreaming ... then I'm Over It !
12. I secretly enjoy reading ... toilet walls!
13. If I had a perfect childhood I'd have grown up to be ... someone horrible!
14. If it didn't sound so crazy, I'd write or make ... a sows ear into a silk purse!
15. My parents think artists are ... weird!
16. My god thinks artists are ... sensational!
17. What makes me feel weird about this recovery is ... these annoying questions.
18. Learning to trust myself is probably ... normal!
19.My most cheer me up music is ... John Farnham
20. My favourite way to dress is ... not like everyone else!

See what I mean???

The exercises were a pain in the posterior. There's no dreamer in me, I'm all realist hence the annoyances.
Like...
Describe 3 traits you liked in yourself as a child...
A good speller, good at composition and good in the school plays........trust me there was nothing else.

Name 5 childhood accomplishments...
Topped the half yearly exams in Domestic Science aka Cooking.
Played the paino
Was good at stealing threepences and sixpences out of my grandmothers' stash ... no way was I going to be the only kid without money to spend!
Stumped for any more...........

Name 5 foods from your childhood
Fish & chips from the fish shop at Bondi
I was given a saucepan and sent to the chinese restaurant next door to my grandmothers to buy a serve of Sweet & Sour Pork ... that was take away 1950s style.
Buying Cream Buns with Jam in the centre, dusted with icing sugar from the school tuck shop.
Meat Pie and sauce with the stolen cash!
Vanilla Slices.

The exercises went on to Habits ... Who Me ???

I'll get back to you shortly for now ~ enough is enough!

An Arty Sensible Frock

The gorgeous and talented Prudence Mapstone from A Girl Can Never Have too Many Handbags & It's Not Just Knitting posted the link to this amazing dress in her latest newsletter.
It's art, it's fun, it's imagination and depending on where you are and who you're with it, some of this frock could save your life (if you know what I mean)!
What a sensible frock!

Saturday 4 February 2006

High Class Blogs invite...

It amazes me who reads blogs.
High Class Blogs have invited I'm Over It to be listed in their directory.
High Class Blogs
cars, law, pets, songs,
pop, rap, fun pics,psp, dating, & more cool stuff


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