Today has been a day full of doing stuff. The kind of day when you start out in the morning with a couple of things planned then a couple more get added and you fit in a few more things and suddenly the day is full!
When I arose from my bed this morning, I had a plan in my mind of what I needed to do. The calendar told me that we were expecting 16 gentlemen from the Men's Shed at Halliday's Point for the morning and lunch. Peter and I had that under control. Peter had organised the workshop yesterday so that they could spend time up there. First up was a wood turning demo, then the men would be able to explore and experiment with all the other boys' toys!
Before they arrived, I had to do some (as Peter calls it!) 'hunting and gathering', which necessitated a trip to the supermarket in Wingham. I don't usually like supermarket shopping, in fact, it is one of my least favourite chores (running a pretty close second to the laundry!), but first thing in the morning, I don't mind doing it for a variety of reasons.
The first is that it is pretty mindless. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I am not a morning person, so getting up and getting going is a huge effort at the best of times! At least going to do some shopping I don't have to think, as long as I have my list!
The second reason I don't mind is the drive. I love driving! I turn out of our drive and head eastwards towards Wingham. It is a lovely country road drive. It is always interesting and always different. This morning, the very first thing I saw before I even left the property was a lolloping kangaroo making his/her way across our paddock. It always give me a thrill to see them. We've seen a few lately because it is so dry! The scenery is beautiful, driving between dairy pasture land and then up through the rising hills. I try to take a moment at the breathlessly beautiful Brushy Cutting lookout. The vista is so magnificent it is hard to describe, but especially in the morning when there has been mist or fog in the valley below. Sometimes the mist rides right up over the road in an arch which is truly incredible!
The third is arriving in Wingham itself. It is so pleasant to drive into this sleepy little country town, where peak hour is three cars at once at the roundabout and the streets are populated by kids walking to school, mostly on their own 'cause it's safe enough for them to do so.
So the shopping was done, the crusty bread purchased and I returned home - shopping trip over and done with in about half an hour!
Then I prepared the dining room for the men to have lunch - barbecue style to pretty easy to do. I was pleased with myself because all I had to do now was put together a tossed salad and make sure everything was out and ready to serve when it was time, which meant I could relax and take my time for the rest of the morning, until I remembered...... bother! I have done relief teaching for the last two days and as we had full house over the weekend, all the bedrooms had to be restored to rights ready for the next guests. That was the end of my relaxing morning. Not a housekeeper, but there is satisfaction in seeing the three bedrooms set to rights, looking beautiful ready for the next guests. Again it is a pretty mindless task. So my mind tends to wander as I work!
Which brings me to the highlight of my day (other than entertaining our 14 men)! Whenever I make up the rooms I always think of my bestie Kathy, as she created the patchwork quilts for each of our bedrooms. Yesterday, I sent off a parcel to her and for once the Post Office Fairies got it right and it arrived in Tassie this morning.
I have been holding on to this little surprise for a couple of weeks now and it was great to hear Kathy on the other end of the phone so excited. It wasn't anything totally spectacular that I had done, just a record of her o/s trip, but I was hoping she would enjoy. The timing of its arrival was perfect too which made it even better. So pleased she enjoyed!
Now you might think the day has finished, but no, tonight it continues. Peter and I are involved in our local Chamber of Commerce and it's the monthly meeting this evening - means we get to have a lovely meal out at the local pub as well and the networking is great.
By the way, the lunch went off really well and all the blokes had a fantastic time!
Wednesday 30 October 2013
Thursday 24 October 2013
Melbourne - my surprise trip
I think I'm really spoiled sometimes. I've been with Peter for twelve years now and we have this amazing relationship. Life has been an incredible roller coaster over the years, especially with my health, yet he has stuck in there like Super glue!
Granted I have had to teach him a few things, especially about springing surprises! This last week, he excelled himself. For my birthday (earlier in October) he organised three days away this week. We ended up going to Melbourne. I didn't know where we were going until the day we left! We haven't been to Melbourne for about 11 years, so I was very excited. We flew out of Newcastle Airport just two days after it had been closed because of bushfires! I was very excited passing through the Security checks because my hip set off the alarms for the very first time - I know, small things amuse small minds! The flight was uneventful, which suited me down to the ground! We sat with an interesting guy who writes for a couple of auto mags and was going to Melbourne for the launch of the latest Holden 4WD!
We were able to go upmarket with our accommodation because several month's ago, I won a competition for which I earned enough Hilton Honour's points for us to stay two nights in Hilton Park View on the edge of Melbourne city. She's a grand old lady, subdued splendour. We had a 16th floor room overlooking Fitzroy Gardens and the city itself.
We ventured out using the Myki tickets on the trams. I just love using the trams in Melbourne! They kind of trundle along at a pace that you can sightsee as you go. The trams that passed the hotel took us right into the middle of the city itself onto Collins Street or to the transport hub of Flinders Street Station - couldn't have been better.
We arrived in Melbourne by mid-morning so we hit the shops before lunchtime. The weather was rather patchy but this didn't stop our exploration of the laneways of Melbourne. We went from the north to the south and east to west and found some fascinating little nooks and crannies. My favourites places were the Royal Arcade and The Block!
The Royal Arcade is beautiful and full of the most amazingly different shops. Gog and Magog guard one entrance on either side of the clock. Down one side we found this interesting shoe accessory shop where one wall was covered in small sections full of every kind of shoelace imaginable. Several other shops could be called 'Bits and Bobs' shops and their window displays were fascinating. The best shop of all was, of course, the 'Babushka Shop'. I resisted the urge! I also found a shop totally devoted to everything miniature and by miniature I mean extremely tiny. While I was perusing this, Peter was in a shop opposite full of Australian-made craft.
I loved The Block as well. Definitely a window shopping arcade. The architecture is spectacular and the floor mosaics equally so! I found a shop totally devoted to everything miniature and by miniature I mean extremely tiny. While I was perusing this, Peter was in a shop opposite full of Australian-made craft.
We ate afternoon tea in The Causeway.
Monday evening we used trams to get to Lygon Street - where else would we go for dinner! We found a nice little restaurant called 'Seasons Providore'. I think the choice was made because of the platter of homemade gnocchi in the window! The food was beautiful. Peter had the gnocchi and said it was as good as his mother's and nonna's - high praise! I had a tasty chicken roulade. Dessert was tken next door in the Gelato Parlour!
On Tuesday, we ventured further afield, out to the Docklands area, again by tram! We spent a while in Harbour Town - a DFO -, breakfast at Le Cirque ( beautiful little coffee lounge, with purple tables!, found an unusual UGG shop and then wandered around the foreshore. The weather was unkind! We found this most incredible mural of Past and Present Entertainers, huge but finely detailed full of perfectly recognisable talent. Several detailed statues stood nearby as well.
Then we returned to the city and on the outskirts we ventured to the Fox Car Museum - a collection of collectible cars which belong to Lindsey Fox of Linfox fame. From Mercs, to Jaguars, Ferraris and Porsches and even the humble Volkswagen. Even I found it interesting, especially some of the prior ownership of the vehicles. However, I wasn't reduced to drooling as Peter was!
Because the weather had closed in, we returned to the hotel and had a lazy afternoon, reading and enjoying a dip in the hot spa pool. We then left to go and eat in the city before going to the Regent Theatre.
King Kong the Musical was the highlight of our trip. The music and storyline were quite good, but what the production incredible and very clever were the special effects. The stage sets were a combo of solid construction and lighting you would not believe and the major use of lasers and lighting throughout was extraordinary. Then there was King Kong - a full size (as in I reckon approximately 9 metres high) puppet. Unless you see it you cannot imagine how inventive it was, the movements from the big arm and leg movements right down to the nuances of facial expression. It was the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time. You could see the puppeteers but having said that, you could almost believe King Kong was alive!
Wednesday morning was a write-off unfortunately as I had a migraine - bugger! Peter looked after me so well. At one point I didn't know whether I'd be able to travel home, but eventually it eased enough.
The return trip was a bit of a blur as I slept on and off until we arrived back in Newie. Home was a beautiful place to see. As we entered the Manning Valley I said to Peter, "Thanks so much for taking me away, but thanks so much for bringing me back home again!"
If you want to have a look at what we got up to, click on the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2EuPpbePcc
Granted I have had to teach him a few things, especially about springing surprises! This last week, he excelled himself. For my birthday (earlier in October) he organised three days away this week. We ended up going to Melbourne. I didn't know where we were going until the day we left! We haven't been to Melbourne for about 11 years, so I was very excited. We flew out of Newcastle Airport just two days after it had been closed because of bushfires! I was very excited passing through the Security checks because my hip set off the alarms for the very first time - I know, small things amuse small minds! The flight was uneventful, which suited me down to the ground! We sat with an interesting guy who writes for a couple of auto mags and was going to Melbourne for the launch of the latest Holden 4WD!
We were able to go upmarket with our accommodation because several month's ago, I won a competition for which I earned enough Hilton Honour's points for us to stay two nights in Hilton Park View on the edge of Melbourne city. She's a grand old lady, subdued splendour. We had a 16th floor room overlooking Fitzroy Gardens and the city itself.
We ventured out using the Myki tickets on the trams. I just love using the trams in Melbourne! They kind of trundle along at a pace that you can sightsee as you go. The trams that passed the hotel took us right into the middle of the city itself onto Collins Street or to the transport hub of Flinders Street Station - couldn't have been better.
We arrived in Melbourne by mid-morning so we hit the shops before lunchtime. The weather was rather patchy but this didn't stop our exploration of the laneways of Melbourne. We went from the north to the south and east to west and found some fascinating little nooks and crannies. My favourites places were the Royal Arcade and The Block!
The Royal Arcade is beautiful and full of the most amazingly different shops. Gog and Magog guard one entrance on either side of the clock. Down one side we found this interesting shoe accessory shop where one wall was covered in small sections full of every kind of shoelace imaginable. Several other shops could be called 'Bits and Bobs' shops and their window displays were fascinating. The best shop of all was, of course, the 'Babushka Shop'. I resisted the urge! I also found a shop totally devoted to everything miniature and by miniature I mean extremely tiny. While I was perusing this, Peter was in a shop opposite full of Australian-made craft.
I loved The Block as well. Definitely a window shopping arcade. The architecture is spectacular and the floor mosaics equally so! I found a shop totally devoted to everything miniature and by miniature I mean extremely tiny. While I was perusing this, Peter was in a shop opposite full of Australian-made craft.
We ate afternoon tea in The Causeway.
Monday evening we used trams to get to Lygon Street - where else would we go for dinner! We found a nice little restaurant called 'Seasons Providore'. I think the choice was made because of the platter of homemade gnocchi in the window! The food was beautiful. Peter had the gnocchi and said it was as good as his mother's and nonna's - high praise! I had a tasty chicken roulade. Dessert was tken next door in the Gelato Parlour!
On Tuesday, we ventured further afield, out to the Docklands area, again by tram! We spent a while in Harbour Town - a DFO -, breakfast at Le Cirque ( beautiful little coffee lounge, with purple tables!, found an unusual UGG shop and then wandered around the foreshore. The weather was unkind! We found this most incredible mural of Past and Present Entertainers, huge but finely detailed full of perfectly recognisable talent. Several detailed statues stood nearby as well.
Then we returned to the city and on the outskirts we ventured to the Fox Car Museum - a collection of collectible cars which belong to Lindsey Fox of Linfox fame. From Mercs, to Jaguars, Ferraris and Porsches and even the humble Volkswagen. Even I found it interesting, especially some of the prior ownership of the vehicles. However, I wasn't reduced to drooling as Peter was!
Because the weather had closed in, we returned to the hotel and had a lazy afternoon, reading and enjoying a dip in the hot spa pool. We then left to go and eat in the city before going to the Regent Theatre.
King Kong the Musical was the highlight of our trip. The music and storyline were quite good, but what the production incredible and very clever were the special effects. The stage sets were a combo of solid construction and lighting you would not believe and the major use of lasers and lighting throughout was extraordinary. Then there was King Kong - a full size (as in I reckon approximately 9 metres high) puppet. Unless you see it you cannot imagine how inventive it was, the movements from the big arm and leg movements right down to the nuances of facial expression. It was the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time. You could see the puppeteers but having said that, you could almost believe King Kong was alive!
Wednesday morning was a write-off unfortunately as I had a migraine - bugger! Peter looked after me so well. At one point I didn't know whether I'd be able to travel home, but eventually it eased enough.
The return trip was a bit of a blur as I slept on and off until we arrived back in Newie. Home was a beautiful place to see. As we entered the Manning Valley I said to Peter, "Thanks so much for taking me away, but thanks so much for bringing me back home again!"
If you want to have a look at what we got up to, click on the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2EuPpbePcc
Thursday 17 October 2013
Well, I have been spurred into action by Fat Mum Slim. My mind meanders all the time and I need an outlet to process these meanderings. Today seems as good a day as any to start so here I am.
Last week I turned 63. Next week my darling husband Peter is whisking me away to a mystery destination for three days to celebrate the occasion.
He has not always been good at 'surprises'. That is something that I can claim I have taught him in the 12 years we have been together. When I first met Peter in March 2001, he did not celebrate any occasion particularly well. His family rarely celebrated birthdays in a big way and certainly not anniversaries or even Christmas, except with copious amounts of food (must have something to do with the Italian background!).
I love making a fuss, springing surprises and generally making the most of any occasions that I can dream up, even if it means I have to plan my own birthday parties!
Right from the beginning of our relationship we celebrated Lunarversaries - we've just passed our 500th! We did that every month until we got married in May 2003. From then on, we celebrated our relationship twice a year, in March for when we met and May for when we married.
Birthdays are always celebrated with some ceremony, some kind of celebration and Christmas!!!
I love Christmas. I come from a home which was full of little traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas. My home growing up was a religious one so there was always church on Christmas Morning. Before church we had Christmas pillowslips full of stuff (mostly stuff we needed as the incoming wages allowed). After church, we sat around our Christmas Tree and my father would read the story of the Birth of Christ from one of the Gospels, then we would sing some Christian Christmas Carols (no Santa in those days) then he would distribute the gifts. Mum would prepare a feast, which included the most amazing home-made Christmas pudding. It was one of the rare occasions there was alcohol in our teetotal house. Several weeks before, she would send my Dad to the Bottle Shop to get the required Brandy!
As I have grown up and acquired my own family, I have instilled traditions in Christmas that have survived through the years even though both my children are both adults. One tradition they will never give up is their Christmas Stockings. When they were very small, I made them patchwork stockings that survive to this day. They have puffy gold fabric paint names on them! As each new family member joins our crew, a new individualised stocking is added. However, tradition prevails and to have your stocking filled, you must be with me to celebrate Christmas! Now there's an incentive!
I love celebrations!
Last week I turned 63. Next week my darling husband Peter is whisking me away to a mystery destination for three days to celebrate the occasion.
He has not always been good at 'surprises'. That is something that I can claim I have taught him in the 12 years we have been together. When I first met Peter in March 2001, he did not celebrate any occasion particularly well. His family rarely celebrated birthdays in a big way and certainly not anniversaries or even Christmas, except with copious amounts of food (must have something to do with the Italian background!).
I love making a fuss, springing surprises and generally making the most of any occasions that I can dream up, even if it means I have to plan my own birthday parties!
Right from the beginning of our relationship we celebrated Lunarversaries - we've just passed our 500th! We did that every month until we got married in May 2003. From then on, we celebrated our relationship twice a year, in March for when we met and May for when we married.
Birthdays are always celebrated with some ceremony, some kind of celebration and Christmas!!!
I love Christmas. I come from a home which was full of little traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas. My home growing up was a religious one so there was always church on Christmas Morning. Before church we had Christmas pillowslips full of stuff (mostly stuff we needed as the incoming wages allowed). After church, we sat around our Christmas Tree and my father would read the story of the Birth of Christ from one of the Gospels, then we would sing some Christian Christmas Carols (no Santa in those days) then he would distribute the gifts. Mum would prepare a feast, which included the most amazing home-made Christmas pudding. It was one of the rare occasions there was alcohol in our teetotal house. Several weeks before, she would send my Dad to the Bottle Shop to get the required Brandy!
As I have grown up and acquired my own family, I have instilled traditions in Christmas that have survived through the years even though both my children are both adults. One tradition they will never give up is their Christmas Stockings. When they were very small, I made them patchwork stockings that survive to this day. They have puffy gold fabric paint names on them! As each new family member joins our crew, a new individualised stocking is added. However, tradition prevails and to have your stocking filled, you must be with me to celebrate Christmas! Now there's an incentive!
I love celebrations!
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