anyresemblance

Travelling

We're in London, staying with this excellent person.  I felt like a refugee walking around tesco, the choice, the cleanliness, the wideness of the aisles, the products in stock, so unlike miserable australian supermarkets.  I wouldn't want you to think our cultural forays were only in the frozen food sections, we have also been to the V&A and Marks & Spencers.  What more could a girl want?

Today we are off to Edinburgh to stay with my sister who is a friend a very famous author who we do not expect to meet.  My brother's wedding is this weekend.  I have yet to buy shoes to wear so Friday will see me desperate in Jenners.  My sister tells me they sell Jimmy Choos but my budget is a teensiest bit smaller than that.  We are going by train and I am so excited.  I love train journeys.

Another legal victory

I secretly love the formality and ritual of the law.  Everyone files into the Consumer and Tenancy Tribunal and the registrar orders us all to go forth and conciliate.  Off we shuffle to a side room where landlord's lackey tries to tell me that the claim is only $4500 and not the $7000 they originally claimed and I point out that he has an evidentiary issue as he has no inspection report for either the beginning or end of the tenancy.  The mediator steps in and philosophies at rather some length about reaching a win win and we point out that all the other party has to lose is the $31 filing fee and I don't accept any of their claims so we agree that we will have to go to a full hearing.  And then we file back in and wait while several other parties are dealt with and then it's my turn.  And the clever registrar looks at all the documents and points out that the landlord's agent is claiming my rental bond which has already been paid so in fact he should really be filing for compensation.  And that has to be done within 30 days of the end of the tenancy.  And although he can grant an extension of that he can see no good reason to do so since they have no good reason for not turning up for the first hearing so the matter is dismissed.  yeah.

I feel good.  Despite getting an email from a sanctimonious git this morning.

The Rat King

I was sitting at the home computer yesterday morning and the kitten was playing around at my feet chasing what I thought was her little ball.  But then a furry grey thing ran out. "Eek, a mouse" squealed younger daughter. Bloody big mouse, I thought to myself as I tried to manouevre it out and into a box. It finally got back behind the desk and I had to give up and go to work while the cats kept guard. As I drove away older daughter called to say Misty had caught it.  She was crowing about it since I frequently tell her what an idle, useless lump he is. "I kissed him to show him how proud I was" she said smugly. "Eeuw, with that mouse breath?" I countered.

My stepson graduated yesterday.  I didn't go since he had only 3 tickets so his sisters and their father went.  I was glad they were all there for him.

I worked hard today. It was fun.  Tomorrow I am off to Consumer Tribunal.  Grrh.

Too much information

It has been raining for days though I quite like the serious, torrential rain which legitamises lying around in front of the television.  School sport was cancelled on Saturday so we did baked and filled the house with bread and lemon cake and chocolate brownie smells.  Older daughter went to a sleepover party on Saturday night so younger daughter and I were cosy together though she did not like being upstairs alone at bed time until I took two cats up to keep her company.

I went to collect the older one on Saturday morning.  Beautiful house which made me sigh about my own cluttered home but then I left envy behind and enjoyed their beautiful (and enormous) golden retriever who wanted to be my friend.

I watched Dave Chapelle's Block Party in evening.  I loved it.  I replayed the scenes of Lauryn Hill and the Fugees and Jill Scott and the Roots over and over.  It was so satisfying, so life affirming, such a great idea.

My sister sent me an email that annoyed me but I'm over it now.  I moaned a bit to this person. 

Then yesterday a work colleague confided in me about a matter that was troubling her greatly.  I am a bit shell shocked at what she told me since I have had to radically reassess my view of someone who I had previously liked and admired.  I actually face a bit of an ethical dilemma but given that I was given the information in confidence I have to respect that.  I slept badly thinking about it.

Fly away home

The doorbell rang at 7:30am this morning with a courier delivering the girls' British passports.  It differs from the old one in that it has British birds watermarked on the pages symbolising freedom to travel.  Hrrmmph.  I'd like to know what freedom there is in packing for variable seasonal weather.  I can't remember the last time I was in Scotland in late September but I've got a feeling that September Weekend can be cold, rainy and sunny all at the same time and when you factor in wedding clothing that suitcase is getting pretty, damn heavy.

On a positive note I am doing tuck shop duties this morning with someone who was at Nicole Kidman's wedding so I hope to get some girly gossip at least.  My daughter won't be there as she is off on an excursion to Parliament House where she gets to participate in a mock parliamentary session.  All that ten year old name calling and huffiness should stand them in good stead.

Just typing

There's a sound of clattering from younger daughter's bedroom.  She has fished out the electric typewriter and is writing a novel.  Or so it would seem from the reams of paper being consumed, screwed into balls and chucked into the wastepaper basket.  And the girls are arguing over whose turn it is to use the typewriter while our home's 4 computers (yes, we have an excess of technology) go unused.  Sweet.

Cyclone Anyresemblance

There's a rage growing chez anyresemblance. 

Landlord has managed to get rehearing on my bond matter. This is because the registrar dismissed the previous application but did not "determine" the matter.  (I am learning more legalese than I care for). So now I have go through the whole fecking thing again.

I suspect a significant person in my life is not behaving with integrity and I am wearied with the whole lies, recrimination, counter-accusation stuff.

We have entered the regime of micro management at work as though that might make a difference to our performance. Beatings will continue etc.

I am overwhelmed and underprepared for our trip in two weeks and need to get my act together.

Fortunately my girls are being perfect and loving otherwise the dam might burst.