You'd think after all these years living in this country I'd understand that not enough rain falls from the sky to keep my garden alive. It kills me to turn the hose on particularly when it has not been very hot but the wilting leaves of my fig tree (most resilient of trees) convinced me that despite about two feet of mulch on the garden I would have to get the sprinkler out. The sprinkler is pathetic and shoots two small sprays of water a distance less than a metre so I see another trip to Bunnings in my future.
Also, my garage feng shui is not improved by the presence of an old desk, a bookcase I am in the process of painting, a chest of drawers and a dressing table I am attempting to strip the top off. All evidence of clutter (the work of the devil) and unfinished business. The desk represents a poor buying decision so I would like it gone as soon as possible.
Last week I drove to Sydney to collect the youngest from the airport. Since she was arriving early on Sunday morning, I went up on Saturday afternoon and made a side trip to the new Ikea at Tempe. Tempe: it was a temple of an Ikea. Large store with giant car park at the front, 6pm on a Saturday when it was closing in an hour. Everything in stock (not that I bought anything). It was one of those platonic ideals of an Ikea experience where you float through seeing many useful things but not feeling obliged to buy and leave with heaps of good ideas. I note it is only till 9pm on weeknights making it perfectly feasible to take an early mark, drive to Sydney, shop at around 7pm, go to dinner and come home. Possibly better with company but not requiring the whole of one's Saturday to accomplish with the other hoards. I almost like it better than the idea of Ikea in my own town where then every visit to someone's house would have one saying "oh, I've got that trolley/chair/lightshade". Also, I got the new catalogue which is nice for reading in bed.
Work is busy and a bit chaotic. We are in that bit of the beginning of the year with lots of people in new jobs where no-one is quite sure what they are doing. Plus lots of big country holidays to juggle work deadlines around - Australia Day (which is not so much a giant holiday as a last gasp attempt for people to take holidays at the beach), Chinese New Year, Carnival. My calls are full of "we can't do that week as it is CNY but then Brazil has Carnival" blah, blah. It will be Easter before we know it.
I am teaching the other kid to drive. She is a bit shouty but I was only shouty once when we reached the junction where her sister had a prang. I have noted that she, like her sister, approaches all junctions in the hope that nothing will be coming and she can sail through without changing down the gears. I get that driving an automatic is much easier in these situations but I am resolute that my children need to be able to change gear, parallel park and reverse into a parking space.

We are getting a brown and white border collie puppy. Ours is the one with the spots (techinically he is a brown merle). He arrives in about 3 weeks and we are beyond excited. I was filling up at the petrol station yesterday and there were a young couple in the car next to me with a border collie puppy. We struck up a conversation (well, really I gushed over the friendly ball of fluff) and the puppy came and played with me. Please expect lots of puppy nonsense upcoming.
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