Forecast: 15-20
Attained: 15-20

Not sure how many people have seen this.
Amazing bit of footage, but my first thought on seeing that mass of starlings was to wonder if they were edible? Chuck a net amongst that lot... :)

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

The song is available on eyetoons, too. Is very tempting...

~=o>

I overheard the cubs talking about the possibility of 'getting a place with their friends' in the future. Made me smile, cos when they were about 6 they informed me with all seriousness that they were going to stay with me forever and ever, even if they got married.

Forecast: 22-26
Attained: 22-32

Hah! I knew it got to more than 26 today!

~=o>

Spidey has reappeared behind me, across the room but still up high. I'm resisting the urge to glance over my shoulder every few seconds...

From Hyperbole and a Half. Spiders are Scary.

I take heart that I'm not quite as paranoid as this anymore.

~=o>

Cubs are back to school on Thursday. We picked up their stupidly expensive speshul calculators today - $165 each, which is better than the $190 quoted - then fought through the other back-to-school shoppers to stock up on stationery. I'd set the cubs the task of going through their booklists and writing out what they needed. As it happened they had a lot of stuff left over from last year so it wasn't too big an expense.
Was thinking about uniform stuff for them as well but they've got a couple of extra pairs of school trousers that I never quite got 'round to hemming last year so they were never worn. See, procrastination sometimes pays off. :)

Forecast: 21-35
Attained: 21-35

No sign of the spider. As long as I can't see it I won't fret...

~=o>

I've posted the pics from yesterday's trip to the Museum on FB. I'll put them up on Flickr when I'm not wilting... (It's still hot...)

Museum, Jan 2012.

~=o>

I know how it's going to end but I still jump, every time. :)

Forecast: 22-34
Attained: 20-30

Phew, busy day! But good... :)
My brother et al are down in Melbourne for a few days. Cubs and I met up with them today at their sky-scrapery apartment...

(View from the balcony. Where I bravely stood to take the shot...)

... before trooping off to the museum!

(Main hallway, with the skeleton of a Blue Whale).

(I'll post more pics at Flickr or FB when I've got relevant permissions.)

It was hot though, and we did lots of walking. [ow-feet-ow]

~=o>

Gah. There's been a huntsman spider lurking around the house for a few days, moulting and such. Didn't have a problem with it until now...

It's above my computer desk now. It has a leg span of about 10cm. Really not happy with how close it is...

Edit: Just tried to shift it on using a long pointy thing, but it attacked the pointy thing!! [quiver] Very difficult trying to type while keeping one eye open for sudden movements from above...

Forecast: 16-29
Attained: 17-30

I've been using the TAFE carpark near work for the past 18 months cos technically I was a student there for most of it. That finished at the end of 2011 but over the end of year holiday season the TAFE gives out passes so the hospital workers can use the carpark while the students are away.
Alas, even that brief respite has reached its end, and from next week I'll have to park half a kingdom away. [sigh] I suppose the walk will do me good, or something... :)

~=o>

Tch, my phone's being a prima donna again. Not sure what set it off this time...

~=o>

Off to the Melbourne Museum tomorrow with cubs, and assorted other family members!

Forecast: 14-26
Attained: 16-24

Australia Day!
Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown! Only 2 of the songs I voted for got in but that was okay cos one that I'd meant to vote for got in as well. What was No. 1? In a surprise to no-one, it was Gotye's 'Someone That I Used to Know'. :)

(Fun fact: I never quite caught the actual figure but apparently there were over 1.5 million votes in the countdown this year...)

~=o>

Having the day off was lovely but my time sense is all over the place now. It feels like the end of a weekend. I'm expecting to meet Penny for coffee tomorrow, as I normally would on a Monday...! :)

Forecast: 19-26
Attained: 21-24

I saw this pic online today and I LOL'd.

Because to me it looked like she was wearing one of these...

[snicker]

Forecast: 20-34
Attained: 21-34

Lord love a duck it's been hot! I'm anticipating the day when I can whinge about the cold weather. :)

~=o>

It's the Year of the Dragon! Go me! Rarrr!

Wen Long by Yee Chong Silverfox.

Forecast: 20-34
Attained: 19-33

Hot today, but not humid at least...
I was at Penny's this afternoon, enjoying her new air conditioner. That was nice. :)

~=o>

I really don't have anything else to say.
Have a cute... um... thing, instead.

Tenatacle Pot Pie. (Picture nicked from the site.)
Heh.

Forecast: 18-31
Attained: 17-33

I vacuumed the house today. Yes, this is a wonder. It helps that the floors are still fairly clear from the inspection clean-up. :)

~=o>

Browsing old pics...

Tewantin Ferry, Noosa Heads, Queensland. April, 2007.

Forecast: 18-28
Attained: 19-28

A good day.
I sorted out the 'puter desk drawers this morning, then had a nap, then spent the afternoon/evening eating chips and chocolate and sorting out the sewing desk drawers.
Very satisfying. :)

~=o>

Australia Day next Thursday! Public Holiday! Day off!
I shall be listening to the now traditional Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown!

~=o>

Bwahahahaha!
Joules showed me this earlier today. [giggling] Someone had way too much fun with this!
BadgerCub made an intersting observation about it. He's not entirely sure but he thinks the glowing 'bots in the clip are ones who died in the first (G1) movie. Which would add another level of geek irony. :)

Forecast: 15-24
Attained: 17-21

Can't think of anything to say.
Have a cute cannon, instead...

Forecast: 15-25
Attained: 16-23

Eventful day. The owner came over to check the stove. He says there's nothing wrong with it, the gas I'm smelling all through the house when the oven's on is 'just a build up'.
I call BS on that, but, will do as suggested (having the grill on at the same time to clear this 'build up') and see how we go...
(I wasn't here for this, mind, I was in txt communication with one of the cubs while I was at work.)

~=o>

On a happier note, the cubs and I went to see the Muppet Movie tonight!
Couldn't stop laughing in places! So many in-jokes, so many celebrity cameos to spot! [bg] And one of the most... interesting versions of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' I've ever heard.

Also! There was a preview of the new Aardman film, The Pirates. Already looks good but the anticipation was notched 20% higher cos 'Swords of a Thousand Men' was used in the trailer. :)



Love that song. I was briefly in the Tenpole Tudor fanclub back in the early 80's...

Didn't update yesterday cos I was too busy finishing the cleaning for the inspection.
So, some catch up weather.

Forecast for 17th: 24-35
Attained: 24-34

Forecast for today: 24-30
Attained: 21-24

Heh, reading the straight figures like that the temperature sounds almost reasonable, doesn't it?
However, consider: when I went to bed last night, it was 29 degrees. When I woke up it had only dropped to 25. The 'low' of the day came around lunchtime, and the 'high' around 3pm...

The inspection went ok. I was working but the cubs were home and texted me when it was finished. I don't know that they were happy to be here on their own but they did it, my wonderful children.
They're going to have to do it again tomorrow though, cos the owner's coming over to check out the stove and fire alarm. (I'd noted for the agent that they needed repair/replacement.) Haven't been able to use the oven for months: everytime it's on there's a strong smell of gas throughout the house. Not good, I'm sure. Stove top and grill are fine, just the oven is worrying.
As for the (mandatory) fire alarm, I tested it a couple of days ago and it didn't work. When the new battery went in, however, the damn thing wouldn't switch off! The unit is ancient and almost certainly needs replacing anyway...

~=o>

After Mum had had her stroke and I was toiling up and down the Warbie trying to get her unit sorted out, I stopped one Sunday at the local market near her place. I was worn out and depressed, and had rebelliously decided to give myself a small break before continuing to tackle packing up Mum's stuff. It wasn't a restful break as it happened. Mum and I, and frequently the cubs, and Soulsis et al, had been dropping in to this market for more than ten years. Wandering around it that day, knowing that I was never going to be there with my mum again was very hard. I bought myself a little succulent that'd caught my eye. After all, I would be moving in to a new house before the end of the year and it would be nice to have plants again...

I didn't look after the plant though and over the next few months it withered but I couldn't bring myself to throw it out. Not sure why. Anyway, this poor scrap of a thing was transported to the new place, where it sat hidden amongst the stuff piled up on the kitchen table. Everytime I cleaned up I'd find it, and still wouldn't be able to get rid of it so back it went, out of the way, still neglected and unwatered.

Several weeks ago I found it again and this time I decided to give it a good soaking and put it out in the light and see what happened. I reasoned that if it stayed 'dead' then it was dead and I could finally throw it out. However, astonishingly, it started to revive. I wasn't sure at first, I thought the leaves looked a tiny bit plumper but couldn't be certain. So I soaked it again, and again.

It came back. :)
It now lives quite happily on the little freezer under the kitchen window, and I smile everytime I look at it...


Feed me, Seymour...

Forecast: 16-33
Attained: 15-33

[flop] I can haz stop nao?
The battle has been hard fought but victory is close. The chaos has been forced to retreat step by step. Now, only a small pocket of resistance remains. On my bed. I'll deal with it tomorrow...

~=o>

The house shortly after we moved in at the end of 2010...

The house today, a year-ish later...

The house today after Penny did some pruning for me. :)

Look there at the fence! I haz a hedge!


KittenKong. Helping.
I'd just cleared that spot...

Forecast: 13-24
Attained: 15-22

Right! Bathroom, laundry & toilet are finished: everything else is half-to-almost finished. :) I've cheated a bit: the stuff I couldn't put away has been stuffed back in to boxes and stacked neatly. Still, there's less of that this time so I am pleased.

However. Gods above, I loathe grouted tiles in bathrooms. [grumple] So stupid fiddly to clean. At least in this place they're reasonably big tiles, instead of the manky little ones at the old place that meant even more grouting to scrub. If I'm ever in a position where I can chose the sort of wall/floor stuff for my bathroom, it will not be tiles...

~=o>

This time(ish) last year...

Cubs helping me move a wardrobe in to the house.
Well, when I say 'helping me', I mean I told them where to put it. :)

Forecast: 15-23
Attained: 15-20

Cos the inspection's so close I'm only really doing damage control tidying up now, that is just making neat piles of what's left rather than sorting and clearing away.
Not nearly so much fun but considerably quicker. Eh, there'll be more organisational stuff to be getting on with after Wednesday. :)

Will start looking out for another thin (40-45cm) bookcase or two. Can definitely squeeze them in now that I've rearranged the lounge room.

~=o>

Wow, I think it's been almost 3 years since I was last at the Melbourne Aquarium. Been meaning to get back there. Hopefully will do in the next month or so.

King penguins, parading. May, 2009.

Forecast: 14-22
Attained: 14-20

I had a delicious dinner tonight. Grilled steak and tomato, with garlic and mushrooms sauted in far too much butter. Nom. :)
And then I had one of the sachet hot chocs Joules sent me. Banana/choc! Surprisingly yummy. I want another one now...

~=o>

Hee, halfway through season 3 of DS9. So far we've clocked up the Mirror Universe ep, the Time Travel to Earth's Past and try not Screw up the Timeline ep and Everyone Gets Weird and Uninhibited ep. Gads, I love the ST universe...

Forecast: 13-21
Attained: 13-21

This is a very cool story:

Elusive Burmese monkey captured on camera.

However, this line made me do a doubletake:

While researchers obtained a number of other deceased animals and observed them in the wild, the monkeys had never been photographed.

[snicker] What's wrong with that sentence? :)

Forecast: 13-19
Attained: 13-19

Melbourne! Where it's unwise to completely pack away your winter clothes during summer...

Pic taken at work today.
What it doesn't show very clearly is the wind whipping the rain around...

The stupid hot days are bearable cos I know the weather will swing back down again. :)

Forecast: 15-21
Attained: 14-20

First day back at work! Had trouble getting to sleep last night, but managed to stay awake today. :)
Just for fun, here's a list of the ways my holidays differed from work:

- barely wore shoes
- didn't get up at stupid'o'clock
- wore no polyester
- didn't get to bed at a sensible time (very often)
- hardly ever ate lunch
- got to relax with the cubs rather than chivvy them around
- napped in the afternoons without fear of being discovered

[nods] Was good.

~=o>

Aaaand got the notice of inspection letter from the agent today. Scheduled for next wednesday. Dun dun DUN. Lucky I've been doing all that clearing and sorting, eh?

Forecast: 15-24
Attained: 15-24

Cleaning up the house discombobulates KittenKong. The problem is she develops specific tracks around the place and if something's changed it can throw off her whole progress.
It is funny though, the look on her face when she jumps up to something that's no longer there...

~=o>

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Severus...

Forecast: 21-27
Attained: 20-28

Bit ambivalent about going back to work on Tuesday. I really like my job but the past couple of weeks have been great and I'm reluctant to relinquish that. :)
Mind you, this break has proved to me that no matter how much I like my job, if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't.

~=o>

[snicker]



see more Fandom

Forecast: 17-31
Attained: 15-29

Not a lot of clearing got done today, but I did manage to chip away at some of it before I had a nap attack. :)

~=o>

Aquarium sink.

You'd never get me out of the bathroom...
(Pic nicked from an AVG images search.)

Forecast: 14-24
Attained: 14-24

I can hardly see straight but I'm very satisfied.
Wait. That didn't sound particularly savoury..
Anyway.
I did a lot of work on the lounge room today. Unearthing neglected corners, rearranging, vacuuming. Was loads of fun! The sofa is no longer almost clear but the overall chaos in here has been reduced considerably.

A little concerned about the vacuum cleaner though. It's a Nilfisk, inherited from Mum, and it's fairly powerful and efficient but the interchangeable plastic heads are very fragile. Bits crack off when they're dropped or smacked hard against something; not uncommon with my clumsiness and inability to hold things securely for very long. Eh well, I don't think I've damaged them so much they don't function any more.

The best bit about this reorganising spree is that cos I've already done some work in my bedroom there's akshully space for stuff from the lounge room to go to! (The wardrobe in my room is all shelves and so is being used for crafting storage instead of clothes. Mind you, I don't have much in the way of clothes anyway.)
There is now nothing in the wardrobe that isn't meant to be there. :) Go me!

~=o>

Hee. I have that pic of John M.F. Watson from yesterday as my desktop wallpaper. I keep sneaking looks at it...

~=o>

In the kitchen the other day I heard a weird scrabbling sort of noise...

KittenKong had found a flattened box in the recyclables tub...
She was quite pleased with herself. I think she slept there that night.

Forecast: 12-23
Attained: 15-21

Snapped awake at 5.30 this morning then couldn't get back to sleep so decided to get up about 6. Cleared the washing up and de-decorated the xmas tree before deciding I needed a nap at 8am.
Had meant to get up again around 9.30 but ongoing problems with my 'phone means the alarm doesn't work. Or rather it works, but only once, despite being set for snooze, and I never hear the first alarm. That's going to make going back to work interesting. May need to get another small alarm clock for my bedside. (Really, really, really don't want to have to get another 'phone just yet.) I still have the secondary, jarring alarm across the room but if I can roll out of bed before that goes off it's a much better start to the day. :)

Anyway, while I was asleep I had an interesting dream. Me and some friends - the Islandkateer group plus others - went on a trip. A ferry would take us out to the middle of the bay, then we'd all take our turn to perform some small piece to the group. Everyone had brought food so there would be noms, and laughs, and then places to sleep. (A bunch of single-beds jammed in to a room. I'd claimed my berth with a hot pink coverlet.)
Was a fine time, enhanced by a surprise appearance of John Barrowman - arriving bum-first through an overhead hatch - and being a bit lewd and very entertaining. (It's ok, I know where that bit of the dream came from. I'd watched a clip from one of JB's shows last night so no surprise there!)
All the same, I knew that the middle of the bay wasn't the best place for the ferry, especially not with the storm clouds gathering in the distance...

~=o>

Cubs and I, and their dad, went to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows this evening. Started off a little bored, admittedly, but the story started getting exciting about halfway through and I was loving it by the end.
I must once more reaffirm my allegiance to John M.F. Watson...

(Pic nicked from somewhere online then cropped.)

Forecast: 18-24
Attained: 19-22

[happy sigh] I've just had my first cup of tea in 4 days. It's been too hot to even think about hot drinks...

~=o>

Don't look now but the sofa's almost cleared of stuff.
Almost.

~=o>

Crafternoon with Penny today! Very relaxing... also, Penny gave me a handful of little lapidary (lapidaried?) mineral eggs. Why, just the other day I was contemplating the half dozen mineral eggs I already had and thinking I should like some more. :)
See? Just have patience and all that you desire will appear.

(And I've set myself (another) challenge for this year. For making stuff in a crafty fashion I'm not going to buy anything extra but make do with using bits from the not inconsiderable stash I've already got. The exception might be for specialist equipment that I don't have, like felting needles. But between mine and mum's stuff I have just about everything I could possibly want!)

Forecast: 24-35
Attained: 24-30

Almost finished watching season 2 of DS9.
I find myself strangely attracted to Cardassians.

~=o>

I've been sorting out more stuff. It turns out I have a lot of empty containers. Almost certainly more than I could possibly need. Time for a cull perhaps?
Though perhaps not quite yet. There's still boxes and boxes of stuff still stored at other peoples' houses that needs to be gone through...

~=o>

Temperature's come down at last. We should have a few days of reasonable weather before it gets silly again.

Forecast: 22-40
Attained: 20-40

Watched GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra today on dvd.
... what a load of rubbish. I'm very glad I borrowed it from the library and didn't spend any actual money on it. I dozed through half of it - don't think I missed much.
The only bright spot was Brendan Fraser. :)

~=o>

... I thought I had something else to say but no, iz too hot to think. (32 degrees at 11.30 pm. Ridiculous...)

~=o>

My chicken calendar is up. Happy 'bout that. :)

Forecast: 19-35
Attained: 19-33

[grump] I dislike sweating.

~=o>

I thought I'd managed to give myself a blister on my foot yesterday - my own fault, hot day, shoes that rub and no socks - but I'm wondering if it's actually a bite. I can't see anything that looks like a bite site, but it's damn sore and very red. If it is a blister it's one that's gone deeper than just the superficial epidermis. Needed panadol last night before I could sleep.
It's a little better today but still owie.

~=o>

Zomigodkewt!
Listen to their widdle voices!

Forecast: 17-32
Attained: 18-35

Happy New Year! [fireworks, etc.!] :)

~=o>

Cubs and I went to see Puss in Boots today (NYE). Was very funny, and the animation was fabulous! Jack & Jill were hysterical! Definitely one to get when it comes out on DVD.

~=o>

NYE was spent with Niki and Soulsis et al, watching Time Team and nomming on N's excellent home-smoked salmon. Mmmm... We watched the Sydney fireworks at midnight. A good relaxing evening, helped immeasurably by Niki having aircon. :)

~=o>

While in the supermarket today...

IT WASN'T EVEN JANUARY!

(pic taken 31st December, 2011)

Speechless. Srsly.