Fairlie the White Rabbit Circa 1987

Gosh, it's not even Flashback Friday.

This is the photo I had intended for Fairlie's birthday blog post but hadn't sought permission. Given that a girl should be allowed to try and forget some aspects of her wild university days I thought it prudent to at least ASK.

Anyway, Fairlie has relented and has allowed the publication of this photo of her ready for the 1987 Opening of the Croquet Season at our university college in Perth.

Yes, we had such a thing. We also had regular "pondings" and other very Oxbridge-type rituals at our residential college. All fun and no study as far as I can remember. It was the time when a university education was free and we could repeat a year if need be. Aaaah, the olden days...

Edited: BTW this is my 150th post.

Good Grief, A Wreath

Our 9yo, KelpieBlossom is very keen on Tara Dennis and the Better Homes and Gardens team. There has been many a project that Tara has "instructed" KB to do THIS WEEKEND or even RIGHT NOW. And this festive season we have hit fever pitch.

A couple of weeks ago KB, as instructed by Tara, started making christmas decorations from the wrapping paper to be found in the current issue of BH&G magazine (she buys this in preference to tween magazines). This weekend she felt the extreme need to make a wreath for the front door. We have a Holly bush in our garden so I said "go for it", thinking that would be something to keep her occupied for a while.

So here how the project went:

KB: All I need is a coathanger made into a circle. Could you just do that bit.

Mum: that sounds like a dad job to me

KB: Daaaad, can you make a circle thingy from this coathanger?

Dad rustled around outside with pliers and wire until he produced a perfect wire circle.

KB: Actually, dad I think we might need TWO circles.

Dad rustles around outside with pliers and wire until a second perfect circle is produced.

KB: Actually, dad, I think the two circles need to be wrapped in winding wire.

Dad: I don't think we have any.

KB: Let's go to Bunnings

Dad: It's after 5pm on a Sunday.

KB: Why don't you ring them?

So KB and Dad whip off to bunnings. They come back with winding wire, and a Crunchie Bar each.

KB: Mum can you help me get the Holly?

at the Holly bush:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you cut it for me?

later:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you attach it for me?

later, after Mum has wiped all the blood off her fingers from attaching Holly:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you tie the ribbons on?

Once it is finished KB's brother Padawan Learner comes over and says:
"Wow, KB, that looks really good, you're really clever"

Definitely CEO material.

Fairlie is Fabulous but not Forty (yet)

I have a photo of Fairlie dressed as the White Rabbit on her way to our university college’s Opening of the Croquet Season in 1987. It’s fabulous, but I feel I need to have permission to publish it here and I didn’t seek it. Perhaps I could publish it by popular demand (sign the petition via the Comments form).

To me the photo symbolises the spirit of fun with which Fairlie approaches everything. She will not only go to the party, she will dress the part. Fairlie can equally work a room at a gallery opening as wrap herself in a doona and watch trashy TV. She’d make a killing as a consultant in popular culture and is easily one of the smartest people I know. And she has a library in her powder-room (how cool is that?!)

You know by now that Fairlie and I have known each other for over 20 years. We lived in the same uni college, then we lived next door to each other, she moved to Melbourne, then I did and now we live in different States. Sorry.

I miss the person who drove around to look after one child at 2am while I whipped the other one to hospital.

And I miss the person who came over late one night to just fold my washing when I was stressed out with a small baby and guests about to land on my doorstep.

At least we are living in the Age of Cyberspace and we can ‘chat’ by phone, email, SMS, Instant Messaging, and Blogs – sometimes all at the same time.

Happy Birthday Fairlie!

Why don’t you head over to her blog and wish her a happy birthday. The Festive Season can start from tomorrow.

Riflemind

Has this been your way yet? Fabulous, just fabulous. Grab a ticket if you can.

Written by Andrew Upton, starring Hugo Weaving with a stellar support cast and directed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman this was a gripping examination of self-destructing burnt out rock stars thinking about holding a comeback tour. Everything was spot on from the over-styled kitchen/living room set to the different demons facing each of the characters. What you expect, yet not what you expect.

However, not everyone agreed. The old guy in front of me yelled out "What a W*nk!" just as the last scene ended and walked out looking disgusted.

Is 1 December, Has Fake Tree, Is Done

Santa, we ready.