anyresemblance

Day tripper

We went on a day trip to the sea side. It was the best day but I’m exhausted. 

On the eve

It's been another busy day with so much jam packed in as tomorrow is a public holiday.

I finished meetings at 5 and hot footed it to Ikea to get billy bookcase extensions which keep going out of stock.  I finally got wise to ordering on line and then doing click and collect and it was a breeze - park outdoors, go in and get them given to you on a trolley, load the car and off.  Mind you, they are still in the boot as I had too much to carry upstairs as I did a side trip to Costco for loo roll and soap powder.

Charlie and I just went for a twilight walk and it was so lovely with lots of people picnicking or walking their dogs.  I watched a girl launch her water hover board (no, I don't know what they are called) and glide out over the harbour to the lake.  She looked so cool.  She seemed to have a control in her hand so I am guessing it was electrically powered?

Tomorrow I am going to the seaside with S and Charlie and I am super excited.

A betrayal

I was at my desk at 6am this morning doing some stuff I couldn't be arsed to do yesterday afternoon.  I am much better morning working do did that and another thing, walked the dog, got a coffee and was still there for my stand up at 8.30.  I even had enough time to do Wordle, my harmless little joy.  I did it past midnight a couple of times but was then sad when it was not there to complete in the morning so now I make it a morning ritual of no more than ten minutes.

I actually blocked out a lot of time in my diary to do some catch up and consequently have a more positive head space.  The pets hung out with me for a bit but the cat has moved back to the bed.

I made the dog eat the leftover fake chicken and he gazed at me with such a look that told me I had betrayed him.   He really is such a good dog.

 

Sunday stocktake: candle lit edition

1. Reading: the latest Mma Ramotswe by Alexander McCall Smith. 
2. Enjoying:  having lots of candles in the house.  It feels like late summer and I light them at twilight and enjoy the flickering light.
3. Wanting: to cut my hair to shoulder length.  Like really, really wanting to.  I wish there were a wig I could put on to try it out for a few days.
4. Thinking: about my late sister who would have had a birthday this week (she's the one in the middle, I'm not yet born)
5. Finishing: clearing the storage locker and putting the money to my savings account instead.
6. Watching: Cheer Season 2 and Ina Garten on the SBS food channel.  Ina is so soothing.
7. Hoping: that travel plans come to pass.  Qantas have reissued another flight credit in a more usable way so I have my fare to the UK covered but given I have two to apply towards it, I can’t do it on line.
8. Feeling: good at cleaning the cobwebs off the deck.  I was so impressed with my neighbour’s pristine tiles I felt compelled to sweep and hose my own verandah today.
9. Hearing: my sister telling me she had written to her MP twice to demand BJ resign and was on the middle of composing another letter.
10. Eating: revolting soy masquerading as chicken. No, no, no.

Home improvement

I got some help via airtasker and a man with a can and cleared the last of my storage locker this morning. I’m trying out the old coffee table for a bit. I was going to sell but am reminded of what a good size it is so will try it on for a bit.

I saw my upstairs Neighbour in the basement garage this morning and she invited me for a drink at 2pm. She is an older Greek lady and lives in the penthouse with her much older husband. Their place is the same size as mine but with a much more formal fit out. It was immaculately clean (when I came home I mopped the floor with shame) and full of that formal European furniture. They have a giant tv which I was not hating on.

We sat outside and drank camomile tea and are baklava she had made (delicious) and beautifully sliced nectarines while she told me astounding gossip about her former daughter in law. Of course I google when I got home and it was all true but so singular that I could not share but OMG.

She would not let me leave without trying a cumquat liquor from Corfu in crystal thimble glasses and now I want her to befriend me and invite me to her gin rummy nights.

Gunboat diplomacy

I've been listening to a new (to me) podcast series on Real Dictators.  My s-son's wife had recommended it without knowing of my special interest in old Mu'ammar so I listened to the episodes on Gadaffi with interest.  I'm not an expert, merely a person who lived in that country during a tumultuous time.  Looking back, I find myself astounded at risks taken and how close we were to danger and with the bullet proof assumptions of youth.  Now, I realise how much it has shaped my ability to manage difficult times.  I think it made me a better listener and more stoical.

I've been dipping into my father's letters to me at that time.  In 1984, when the UK had broken off diplomatic relations with Libya, my dad was asking me to call them if possible and alluding to David Owen suggesting the UK should channel Palmerston and send a gunboat.  Clearly, Priti Patel is channeling some of that energy.

I read a really interesting article in the FT about Dover's migrant front line (paywall but believe you can read once for free).  In the meantime, Australia continues its inhuman treatment of refugees.  

List Love: Stinky

I'm back and feeling much better.  I had a good chat with one of my work mentors this morning and am putting in place some things to help me not be quite so overwhelmed at work.

I was on a work call and the cat did the stinkiest poo in his litter tray which nearly floored me.  I need to move it to a greater distance from my nose.

Under the weather

I am feeling quite unwell and not in a covid way and am planning to finish work early and climb into my pjs.  It has been raining on and off all day.

I finished Love Me and watched Alyssa Milano being terrible Brazen.  I was thinking about it after and it was like she was Phoebe in Charmed but with zero humour.  I need something engaging but with no violence.  Maybe second season of Cheer?  

Pinkle purr

Look at this little bundle of mischief.  It's a good thing he is so adorable asleep as awake he is a kitten menace.

I am swelteringly hot today made worse by taking Charlie and my Covid neighbours dog for a walk in 80% humidity.  I have one more work thing to do and then I am going to stand under a cool shower.

There are some workmen on the street outside and, much as I love the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, hearing at full volume, 10 times in a row from a tiny boom box stretches tolerance.

 

Sunday stocktake: the time got away edition

 

1. Baking: Danish pastries which didn’t quite work.  I need to think about what I did wrong.
2. Sipping: Tea, lots of it, and doing more tea from a cup and saucer.
3. Reading: a lot.  This coincides with finding nothing that interests me on streaming services.  I finished the McIlvaney/Rankin book.  My daughter asked me why my sat nav had Glasgow street addresses and it was because I was trying to reorientate myself to the geography.  I also read two Mary Lawsons.  I didn’t like the first one but A Town Called Solace was so delightful, I stayed up late to finish it, got too tired but starting reading it again at 6.30am this morning.  I am 7 books in for the new year.  It’s good to give myself some space for when I fall behind!
4. Thinking: I need to go to the sea.  The kid and I are going on the next public holiday.
5. 5Enjoying: giving stuff away.  Some nice people came for my old desk which I have had for more than 25 years.  Despite its size it has moved 10 times but this latest space and the angle of the door defeated it and it has been stuck in the hallway.  I posted it on marketplace and had lots of time wasters but a nice couple came today with a trailer and a trolley and whisked it away and gave me a box of Favourites for my trouble.6
6. Appreciating: having the youngest and her boyfriend here for a night.  They helped move some stuff from the lock up and took an old cupboard to be their linen cupboard.
7. Eating: last night I had a salad of charred capsicum and preserved lemons, broad beans double podded and tossed in butter, grilled salmon and some rice which I tossed lentils through.  The Charlie broke my favourite plate while he was charging around like a mad thing but I forgave him.
8. Liking: Monty the kitten who came to visit this morning as we had a family breakfast.  I burned the bacon which was sad but we had a nice breakfast just the same.
9. Noticing: how green the grass is as we have had so much rain which results in more frogs ergo more snakes and makes me vigilant walking Charlie
10. Feeling: good at doing my Peloton classes even though my knee is still giving me trouble.  I am on an Ally Love binge at the moment and enjoying her motivation and cheerfulness.