It's lovely to have you back

When Firegazer returned early this morning after a few days away on business I said how lovely it was to have him home.

However I mentioned that ...

I will miss being able to leave the doors open and the blinds up at night so I can welcome the sun as it rises.

And I will miss being able to leave my bedside light on as long as I please and read for as long as I like. In my bed.

Such is life when living with a modern caveman. He just doesn't like morning sunlight and late night reading the way I do.

Luckily he has other redeeming qualities. :-)

What can you get away with when the other half is away?

Happy Birthday Firegazer!

I'm not allowed to tell you that Firegazer is 41 today. So, please don't tell anyone. Ok?

(I was going to tell lots of Firegazer tales but he keeps looking over my shoulder...)

Cat Wrangling: because Tara Says So

KelpieBlossom (9) is a big fan of Tara Dennis and Better Homes and Gardens. Come 7.30pm Friday she is glued to the Plasma hoping to glean whatever domestic pearls of wisdom Tara has for her that night. This is why we only have OMO washing powder, why this week we had to cut up plastic bottles to make scoops (actually quite handy, see pics below) AND why we had to BATH OUR CATS today.

While our older cat, Biggie, was introduced to the pleasures of bathing at a young age; our 18 month old Marble had thus far avoided the dreaded bath. Apparently this week on BH&G Tara instructed KelpieBlossom to bath her cats, and to do so at least once a month.

Excellent.

Luckily, Firegazer is an experienced and capable cat wrangler and managed the job without loss of eye or limb.

Fractured Holidays

Aaah holidays. I don't know why I should feel different when the kids are on holidays. I mean during term time the kids are at school for five hours a day. Isn't that a holiday? But no; term time means hurried breakfasts, the dreaded packed lunch, homework and horror of all horrors - after-school activities. And that's without the Last Minute Project, the School-Play Costume and We Need a Parent Volunteer for [add activity here]. No holidays are bliss.

What is it with all the Play Dates? I have mentioned before that I deliberately planned a quiet, in Sydney, holiday. No major events planned, no over-scheduling, just wake up and lie around in jammies until lunchtime. Ha! I didn't plan on the kids being invited on play date after play date. It's not that I mind them disappearing for several hours, and the kids love them, it's just that I feel that I should reciprocate - and I JUST DON'T WANT TO (for the Jammies Until Lunchtime reason). So I will be Bad Reciprocator this holidays.

Still, apart from the play dates it has been quite relaxing. The kids have been trying out a new swim school by doing their SwimVac program and I'm REALLY IMPRESSED. This school (Carlile Swimming) actually focuses on stroke correction; the last two schools I've tried just pump out the laps.

I get to read books, yay! I finished Carpentaria just before the holidays started and have since finished March by Geraldine Brooks (which had being laying unfinished for some months) and Theft by Peter Carey. All good reads so far.

Now I am onto Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough. This is the eighth book in the Masters of Rome series and is definitely up to Colleen's usual standards (Although she has annoyed me with her apostrophe use eg. Octavianus's - I prefer Octavianus'). Colleen is one of the world's great experts on the Roman Republic and her point of view on this stuff is really worth reading.

Here's the bit about the fracture. Yesterday the kids went to a Baseball clinic - Baseball being their chosen summer sport this year (Hilariously, Firegazer is their Match Coach! I think he may have once watched a game of baseball). During catching practice (without a mitt), where balls were fired rapidly from a machine, KelpieBlossom sustained a green stick fracture to her Pinky and now has it strapped up. Great look for her upcoming ballet exam...

What is a holiday without some sort of fracture anyway?

Dear Diary: I cannot adequately account for myself I'm afraid

Monday: Back to real life with thud after weekend away at Melbourne Writers Festival. Day starts early with whipping KelpieBlossom off to doctor to look at weird rash developing all over her trunk. Looks like chicken pox but luckily is non-infectious thing. Take reading groups in Padawan Learner's class. He "sings" his reader again. Excellent.

Tuesday: Canteen Duty at the kids' school. This is the one day per term I must make small talk with the Canteen Supervisor and whichever other mum is on duty. Our usual hot-seller at recess is the Rice Cup (hot rice, with/without soy sauce); however, the committee has decided that it must now include vegetables stirred into the rice. Sales down by more than 50%. Sales of hot cheese rolls go through the roof. One kid came back for his fourth and we had to say "no more until you've eaten some fruit". Recess is only 20mins, where do they put all that food?

Padawan Learner had to give a talk on something to do with the water cycle. Talk hastily pieced together late the night before. He talked about snow. He ended his talk with "facts about snow"; the last of which was "Don't eat yellow snow". Wanted to be a fly on the wall in that one.

Wednesday: A blur. Cannot account for myself in any substantial way. Agonizing Pilates session involved. Resolve never to go at 9am Wed with the Elite Pilates Crowd again. If you do Pilates and are ever asked to do something called The Orangutan quietly pick up your shoes and make a quiet, yet quick, exit.

Day also involved taxiing kids to various activities and kids frantically completing homework tasks as Thursday is last day of school for the week. I think I might have done some grocery shopping. Hate Supermarkets. I shop on an emergency basis only.

Thursday: I went to the dentist; and for the first time in my memory I came away with a clean set of teeth but NO dental work to be done. Quite pleasant really after the (quadruple) wisdom teeth extraction (in the chair) I had earlier in the year. Kids go to dentist after school. Luckily they too just came away with new toothbrushes but no extra appointments.

APEC in full swing. Firegazer gets to work at 6.30am to avoid traffic on the Bridge.

Friday: APEC holiday. Living near the harbour sounds like we are in the middle of a Vietnam movie with all those helicopters whirring overhead.

Most of Sydney goes away for the weekend, we have the remaining two families over for dinner. I want to cook Fairlie's Blueberry Cheesecake Tart but remember that my Mixmaster is dead and decide to cook FarmDad's Apple Crumble instead (with homemade custard of course). Over dinner we try to remember the songs on the 1979 Australian compilation album "Screamer" but can't. I know one of them is "Sky Pilot" and also "Curiosity Killed the Cat". Couldn't even find them via Google. Does anyone still have this album?

Saturday: Finished The Time Traveller's Wife this morning. Loved it. M and Firegazer are taxi service taking kids to Ballet, Swimming and Ballet again. Almost forgot that KelpieBlossom has a party this arvo. Rush out to buy gift. Notice that the Wisteria is about to burst with flower. Must remember to photograph.

As much as I love the Driza-bone I can't help giggling at the picture of the APEC leaders on the steps of the Sydney Opera House wearing theirs.

Note to self: must get a "real" job.

Off to the Melbourne Writers Festival

I'm about to pack my bag in anticipation of my trip to Melbourne tomorrow afternoon. I will be staying with Fairlie and indulging in two days of Melbourne Writers Festival activities, being a 'blow-in' at Cousin It's 30th birthday and catching up with whichever members of the No. 1 Melbourne Ladies Bookclub are available to be at Domestic Goddess' house on Sat night.

When I booked this trip I didn't realise that Sunday was Father's Day. Ooops. However, KelpieBlossom assures me that she has the day fully in hand. I don't want to reveal too much in case Firegazer reads this blog; however, I hear that there is a Menu being planned. I don't recall ever giving KelpieBlossom or Padawan Learner lessons on how to make tea and toast but I guess they'll figure it out.

Luckily, the Fire Station is just up the street.

I will file a full report on my return.

Happy Anniversary To Us

M and Firegazer are celebrating their 14th Wedding Anniversary today.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I can stay up reading as long as I like

Firegazer has gone to Thredbo skiing for the weekend with his mate Snegri and has left me with the kids, and worst of all - his car. I'm all cool about the weekend away (I have a girls w/e in the snow next week), and I'm cool about having the kids, but the car - no way.

Y'see I drive a nice sensible car that fits all the kid stuff, is easy to drive and isn't precious; but Firegazer needed to take it to the snow because it has chains and a roofrack. His car is almost undriveable unless you are on the touring car circuit (wrap-around seats, low profile, touchy manual gearing). This car doesn't like to go under 100km/h which is a bit tricky in on narrow, windy, hilly Sydney streets.

Last weekend I had a "driving lesson" where the finer points of the touchy gearing were explained. KelpieBlossom was in the back seat covering her eyes mumbling "We are going to die, we are so going to die". Firegazer will be pleased to know that there is no damage to it yet, and the kids applauded when I safely parked at school this morning.

In other abandonment-related news, no sooner did Firegazer drive off yesterday than the following minor-mishaps occurred:

• the central-heating stopped working. After 15 panicked minutes (it's cold) I realised that it was just a flat battery in the control panel.
• a light-bulb in the kitchen exploded leaving half a singed-looking light-bulb stuck in the socket.
• the house-key broke off in the lock as I was rushing to collect the kids from school

Co-incidences? I think not. Just a little bit of sabotage to keep me on my toes, to point out that he is needed and to not get too excited about being able to keep the light on all night reading. It has backfired 'though. I managed to fix everything myself AND I can still leave the light on as long as I want.


PS HP7 tomorrow! Yay. Warning: I may not answer the phone from 9.01am tomorrow until further notice.

The Clock on the Silo Says 8 Degrees

As former residents of the Great Southern City Firegazer and I hold this famous local landmark in high regard. This is "the clock on the silo". Or the BTR Nylex sign. It lives on Punt Road next to Hoddle Bridge which connects Richmond with South Yarra.





Not long after relocating to Melbourne in 1996 we were driving up Punt Road after an AFL game at the MCG while listening to Paul Kelly's song Leaps and Bounds:

I'm high on the hill
Looking over the bridge
To the M.C.G.
And way up
on high
The clock on the silo
Says eleven degrees

As these lyrics blasted through the car sound system we looked up and saw that, like the song, the clock on the silo said eleven degrees... So Leaps and Bounds became our "Melbourne Song". Still is.

We are now Sydney-siders visiting our former town. So today as we drove along Alexandra Avenue we looked up at the silo and played Leaps and Bounds (loudly).

Only this time the clock on the silo said eight degrees. Brrr.

Last Week of Term

The last week of term is generally fairly relaxing. Normally there is no homework due, activities have stopped and the kids have more free time in preparation for two weeks of holidays. This week has, so far, hasn't fit the mold. It's been relaxing but yet we've had more on than is usual for this time of year.

Staying with us this week is Fairlie and her daughters Queenie and Impossible Princess. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get around much due to the atrocious weather but it's lovely to have them here.

Other happenings this week:

First, KelpieBlossom played with her school band at the Yamaha Music Festival on Monday night. They were in tune and came away with a Silver. The band was marked on appearance as well as performance and they looked fabulous.

Second, you may remember that when the Fireworks Night was postponed one parent was left with 230 bears in her house which were destined for the "Adopt-a-Bear" stall. Well, that stall was held today at school. Despite the rain there was a bear-buying FRENZY. I was a little skeptical about the potential of this stall. I needn't have worried. They sold out quickly with disappointed children who missed out.

Third, I had forgotten that Padawan Learner had to learn, and recite, a poem for news today. Last night, Fairlie, kindly found the Spike Milligan poem "Worm" for him which was a big hit.

Worm
Little worm - wiggle wiggle,
You make me and my sister giggle.
You live in mud,
You live in wet,
Yet never ever see a vet.
You must be very healthy worm,
Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Squirm.

Fourth, KelpieBlossom, despite having a term's notice, had to write a book report in a hurry tonight. Her chosen book? Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days. Thanks must go to Queenie for her help with the last minute colouring in and help with accompanying poster layout.

Fifth, despite the promise of more inclement weather the school athletics carnival is scheduled for tomorrow. It looks like it will be cold, and drizzly. And, hurray hurray I am on "Long Jump" duty (even though I specifically requested not to be put on any timekeeping or measuring activity - words are my thing; Charlie Eppes, I am not ).

Roll on the weekend when the kids and I will drive down to the Great Southern City for a week with Fairlie and the girls, leaving Firegazer to hold the fort and keep the Plasma company.

Introducing "Firegazer"

Thank you to all of you who suggested a new alias for Husband No. 1. We loved the secret agent theme. However, for an alias one has to peer deep into the psyche of the person concerned. So Husband No. 1's new alias is:

Firegazer /'faie,geize/ n. 1. (hist.) Caveman who came back to cave after slaying beast and stared at fire all night. 2. (mod.) Man who comes home after slaying companies to stare at Plasma.