Attained: 11-18°
Hee, treated myself to Skyfall again this evening. Do so enjoy that movie. It was great reliving the sh*tf*cksh*t! moments. :)
I like the new Q, too.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Forecast: 16-22°
Attained: 16-21°
Weird sort of day. Despite another bitty, rubbish sleep I was quite energetic - didn't feel like napping once at work. It being the last day before hols might have had something to do with it. (4 days off - 1 day on - 7 days off!)
Also, the carpet is finally dry now, just in time for the Easter close down. :)
~=o>
A friend's lent me the first three books of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. (Paranormal AU modern-day London.) I started reading and was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of snippets of information about past events. They were great! Through them I was slowly building a sense of the world frame and characters. T'riffic idea, I thought.
And then I realised I'd started with the third book. [sigh]
But that was the odd thing. Usually when I start a series in the middle, these sorts of references can be really annoying. I feel adrift within the world, and need to read the previous stuff to get a grounding. These snips, however, were dropped so casually in to the narrative it was like they were important, sort of, but not vital for understanding the story. They added a pleasing richness.
Eh well, I'll start over with the first book, anyway.
~=o>
Attained: 16-21°
Weird sort of day. Despite another bitty, rubbish sleep I was quite energetic - didn't feel like napping once at work. It being the last day before hols might have had something to do with it. (4 days off - 1 day on - 7 days off!)
Also, the carpet is finally dry now, just in time for the Easter close down. :)
A friend's lent me the first three books of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. (Paranormal AU modern-day London.) I started reading and was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of snippets of information about past events. They were great! Through them I was slowly building a sense of the world frame and characters. T'riffic idea, I thought.
And then I realised I'd started with the third book. [sigh]
But that was the odd thing. Usually when I start a series in the middle, these sorts of references can be really annoying. I feel adrift within the world, and need to read the previous stuff to get a grounding. These snips, however, were dropped so casually in to the narrative it was like they were important, sort of, but not vital for understanding the story. They added a pleasing richness.
Eh well, I'll start over with the first book, anyway.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Forecast: 22-34°
Attained: 22-35°
It's felt like a friday all day again today. Though it kinda is, in a way, cos this is my last day at the main campus before the hols.
~=o>
Ugh. Hot hot day today, slightly less hot yesterday. Made bearable cos there's at least a week of reasonable temperatures to come. :)
~=o>
Attained: 22-35°
It's felt like a friday all day again today. Though it kinda is, in a way, cos this is my last day at the main campus before the hols.
Ugh. Hot hot day today, slightly less hot yesterday. Made bearable cos there's at least a week of reasonable temperatures to come. :)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Forecast: 16-32°
Attained: 17-32°
On the way to work.
Two cups of coffee? No, one cup of coffee plus a cup of milk for my cereal. Due to rubbish sleep I got up late and didn't have time to eat breakfast at home.
When I got to work I found this:
I knew about the flooding but because I hadn't actually seen it yet I assumed this was just the carpet not drying out over night.
No, apparently, there was another leak. That's new wet on top of the mostly dried old wet.
By the end of the day it was looking much better though, despite there being a problem with the condenser.
See the wet spot at the back by the cluster of chairs? The unit had got blocked and started leaking. Fortunately a new unit was found forthwith.
~=o>
Attained: 17-32°
On the way to work.
Two cups of coffee? No, one cup of coffee plus a cup of milk for my cereal. Due to rubbish sleep I got up late and didn't have time to eat breakfast at home.
When I got to work I found this:
I knew about the flooding but because I hadn't actually seen it yet I assumed this was just the carpet not drying out over night.
No, apparently, there was another leak. That's new wet on top of the mostly dried old wet.
By the end of the day it was looking much better though, despite there being a problem with the condenser.
See the wet spot at the back by the cluster of chairs? The unit had got blocked and started leaking. Fortunately a new unit was found forthwith.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Forecast: 15-26°
Attained: 14-23°
I don't work on Mondays but I got an email from the boss today, letting me know there's been a flood at the secondary campus, which is where I'm rostered to work tomorrow.
Hasn't affected the books but it's down the end of the library where all the computers are. Consequently, and via OH&S' recommendation, no one is allowed to use the computers there. This is incredibly annoying for the students/med staff doing their training/researchers that regularly use the library.
Engineering says they've fixed the leak - should bloody hope so! - and the cleaners were up there quickly with the wet/dry vacuum thing.
Big fan dryers will be going overnight to help with the drying. Whether that will get rid of the wet carpet smell remains to be seen. I'll see what it's like when I go in tomorrow.
Only the plus side, the library may get a new carpet out of this. :)
(Image nicked from here. My edit.)
~=o>
Attained: 14-23°
I don't work on Mondays but I got an email from the boss today, letting me know there's been a flood at the secondary campus, which is where I'm rostered to work tomorrow.
Hasn't affected the books but it's down the end of the library where all the computers are. Consequently, and via OH&S' recommendation, no one is allowed to use the computers there. This is incredibly annoying for the students/med staff doing their training/researchers that regularly use the library.
Engineering says they've fixed the leak - should bloody hope so! - and the cleaners were up there quickly with the wet/dry vacuum thing.
Big fan dryers will be going overnight to help with the drying. Whether that will get rid of the wet carpet smell remains to be seen. I'll see what it's like when I go in tomorrow.
Only the plus side, the library may get a new carpet out of this. :)
(Image nicked from here. My edit.)
Forecast (yesterday): 14-25°
Attained: 15-24°
Forecast (today): 14-25°
Attained: 15-24°
I dreamt while I was napping this afternoon.
I picked up the cubs and their friend from somewhere. I had KittenKong in the car with me but she escaped when the door was open and the cubs were getting in. I went after her, managed to catch her and went back to the car... Except the cubs (and friend) had 'borrowed' it and were driving away slowly. I jogged after them, cuddling KK who was quite happy to be carried.
I saw the car stop a little way ahead and they waited for me though I was anxious that they'd take off again before I got there. KK and I continued on, me looking for glimpses of the car as I somehow had to go through peoples' houses and garden - and part of an old hospital! - to finally catch up with them. Once there I was too relieved they'd waited to be angry. Reclaiming my car, KK escaped again, but I wasn't too worried cos I knew she'd come to me when I called. Which she did, little white paws flashing as she ran.
The really interesting thing about this dream was that the cubs (and friend) were primary school age, wearing their uniforms. Even their friend, who they didn't meet until they went to highschool, was wearing the same thing.
Weird, eh? Now if that's not a dream detailing my anxiety about the cubs growing up and moving away from me I don't know what else it could be!
~=o>
And now some adorableness...
~=o>
Attained: 15-24°
Forecast (today): 14-25°
Attained: 15-24°
I dreamt while I was napping this afternoon.
I picked up the cubs and their friend from somewhere. I had KittenKong in the car with me but she escaped when the door was open and the cubs were getting in. I went after her, managed to catch her and went back to the car... Except the cubs (and friend) had 'borrowed' it and were driving away slowly. I jogged after them, cuddling KK who was quite happy to be carried.
I saw the car stop a little way ahead and they waited for me though I was anxious that they'd take off again before I got there. KK and I continued on, me looking for glimpses of the car as I somehow had to go through peoples' houses and garden - and part of an old hospital! - to finally catch up with them. Once there I was too relieved they'd waited to be angry. Reclaiming my car, KK escaped again, but I wasn't too worried cos I knew she'd come to me when I called. Which she did, little white paws flashing as she ran.
The really interesting thing about this dream was that the cubs (and friend) were primary school age, wearing their uniforms. Even their friend, who they didn't meet until they went to highschool, was wearing the same thing.
Weird, eh? Now if that's not a dream detailing my anxiety about the cubs growing up and moving away from me I don't know what else it could be!
And now some adorableness...
Friday, March 22, 2013
Forecast: 14-24°
Attained: 15-20°
The phrase 'Wouldn't say boo to a goose...' means that someone is timid, meek.
They're sensible, I say. Gooses are vicious; look at them the wrong way and they'll 'ave you! There's a reason they're used as guard dogs...
When I were a wee lass, living in England, Mum took me to visit a farm. I think we were there to pick up some goose feathers for myRed Indian Amerindian headdress*. Anyway, I refused to get out of the car cos the resident geese scared me. They were almost as big as my five year old self, for a start, and there were a lot of them (in my memory the menacing flock counted in the dozens but it was probably less than that.) So I stayed in the car, keeping a wary eye on these huge birds and anxiously waiting for Mum to return.
(* I loved that headdress. Mum sewed the feathers to a long piece of fabric braid. Sort of like this:
(Image nicked from here.)
Toby, the boy next door, and I played 'Indians' for hours amongst his family's gooseberry bushes - bonus snacks! I had the headdress, he had the bow and arrows, it was perfect. :)
Unfortunately, the headdress was one of the things that didn't come out to Australia with me. Not sure what happened to it, but I do remember missing it. Perhaps it was falling apart and had been tactfully removed when I hadn't been paying attention. Or, possibly it couldn't have come with us cos of quarantine restrictions. I wonder if there's a photo of me wearing it? I haven't looked through all the old family photos yet, hm...)
~=o>
Attained: 15-20°
The phrase 'Wouldn't say boo to a goose...' means that someone is timid, meek.
They're sensible, I say. Gooses are vicious; look at them the wrong way and they'll 'ave you! There's a reason they're used as guard dogs...
When I were a wee lass, living in England, Mum took me to visit a farm. I think we were there to pick up some goose feathers for my
(* I loved that headdress. Mum sewed the feathers to a long piece of fabric braid. Sort of like this:
(Image nicked from here.)
Toby, the boy next door, and I played 'Indians' for hours amongst his family's gooseberry bushes - bonus snacks! I had the headdress, he had the bow and arrows, it was perfect. :)
Unfortunately, the headdress was one of the things that didn't come out to Australia with me. Not sure what happened to it, but I do remember missing it. Perhaps it was falling apart and had been tactfully removed when I hadn't been paying attention. Or, possibly it couldn't have come with us cos of quarantine restrictions. I wonder if there's a photo of me wearing it? I haven't looked through all the old family photos yet, hm...)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Forecast: 13-29°
Attained: 13-28°
As neither their dad or I could make it this afternoon, the cubs took themselves off to the P/T interviews.
I asked them if they felt more relaxed without us there; unsurprisingly the answer was 'yes'. :)
~=o>
I'm gamely resisting counting down the days 'til wootholidays, but not successfully. Five working days! [bounce]
~=o>
Attained: 13-28°
As neither their dad or I could make it this afternoon, the cubs took themselves off to the P/T interviews.
I asked them if they felt more relaxed without us there; unsurprisingly the answer was 'yes'. :)
I'm gamely resisting counting down the days 'til wootholidays, but not successfully. Five working days! [bounce]
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Forecast: 11-25°
Attained: 12-23°
So there I was last night, happily asleep, when I was suddenly woken by the thumping arounds of cubs.
1.30am
I growled at them via text cos a: they'd woken me up, and b: what were they doing still awake at 1.30am! (That they managed to get to school on time is impressive, however.)
Very not happy, cos of course it took me ages to get back to sleep.
~=o>
Never underestimate the innate nobility of gooses.
~=o>
Attained: 12-23°
So there I was last night, happily asleep, when I was suddenly woken by the thumping arounds of cubs.
1.30am
I growled at them via text cos a: they'd woken me up, and b: what were they doing still awake at 1.30am! (That they managed to get to school on time is impressive, however.)
Very not happy, cos of course it took me ages to get back to sleep.
Never underestimate the innate nobility of gooses.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Forecast: 13-21°
Attained: 13-21°
... when I have an idea about something to blog about I really should write it down.
~=o>
Oh, I remember!
Cubs have got parent/teacher interviews this week but cos of the work-to-rule restrictions the only times available to book are between 2.30-4.30 pm which means because of work I won't be able to go. [sigh] I guess this is why the note this time didn't mention anything about mandatory attendance. Anyway, I've asked the cubs to organise their own interviews and we can discuss them when I get home. Their interim reports are ok, the usual smattering of 'needs attention' in regards to homework amongst the otherwise good stuff.
~=o>
And yes! I'm only rostered on for the one day I requested over the Easter slow week. Mwhahahahaha! Sleeeeeeep innns, precious!
~=o>
Attained: 13-21°
... when I have an idea about something to blog about I really should write it down.
Oh, I remember!
Cubs have got parent/teacher interviews this week but cos of the work-to-rule restrictions the only times available to book are between 2.30-4.30 pm which means because of work I won't be able to go. [sigh] I guess this is why the note this time didn't mention anything about mandatory attendance. Anyway, I've asked the cubs to organise their own interviews and we can discuss them when I get home. Their interim reports are ok, the usual smattering of 'needs attention' in regards to homework amongst the otherwise good stuff.
And yes! I'm only rostered on for the one day I requested over the Easter slow week. Mwhahahahaha! Sleeeeeeep innns, precious!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Forecast: 16-22°
Attained: 17-23°
Yay, rain! It's been weeks...
~=o>
I refuse to feel guilty about not answering the door. Everyone I want to speak to will either ring first or has a key. Anyone else is likely to want to talk to me about religion, be looking for a donation or want to convince me to change my electricity supplier. Pfft.
Oh, and there's the kids from over the back fence, looking for lost balls, but they have tactit permission to go look for them without asking first anyway.
~=o>
Attained: 17-23°
Yay, rain! It's been weeks...
I refuse to feel guilty about not answering the door. Everyone I want to speak to will either ring first or has a key. Anyone else is likely to want to talk to me about religion, be looking for a donation or want to convince me to change my electricity supplier. Pfft.
Oh, and there's the kids from over the back fence, looking for lost balls, but they have tactit permission to go look for them without asking first anyway.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Forecaste: 24-29°
Attained: 27-26°
Temperature hovered around 27°* for most of the night, dipping down a few degrees about 10am then climbing back up to 26° later in the day.
Sooo much better though than the past nine days. I may actually sleep tonight...
[* That was outside. It was 32° in my room when I went to bed.
(Happy cuddly cat is happy to cuddle now that the temps gone down. There's not a lot of that goes on when it's hot. :)
~=o>
Attained: 27-26°
Temperature hovered around 27°* for most of the night, dipping down a few degrees about 10am then climbing back up to 26° later in the day.
Sooo much better though than the past nine days. I may actually sleep tonight...
[* That was outside. It was 32° in my room when I went to bed.
(Happy cuddly cat is happy to cuddle now that the temps gone down. There's not a lot of that goes on when it's hot. :)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Forecast: 21-36°
Attained: 21-36°
Penny and I went for a birthday drive today! (My birthday's tomorrow; her's is on Thursday). Loads of fun.
Up to the Patchwork Teahouse for great scones and gooooood coffee, omgsrsly good coffee, then a happy browse of the fabrics. So much pretty, pretty stuff!
We dropped in to the Warratina Lavendar Farm on the way back. The iced coffees were acceptable but unfortunately it took a while to be served, due to a combination of a busy day and new staff being trained.
Got home about 3pm then flaked out cos it was hot. Was a good day :)
~=o>
Attained: 21-36°
Penny and I went for a birthday drive today! (My birthday's tomorrow; her's is on Thursday). Loads of fun.
Up to the Patchwork Teahouse for great scones and gooooood coffee, omgsrsly good coffee, then a happy browse of the fabrics. So much pretty, pretty stuff!
We dropped in to the Warratina Lavendar Farm on the way back. The iced coffees were acceptable but unfortunately it took a while to be served, due to a combination of a busy day and new staff being trained.
Got home about 3pm then flaked out cos it was hot. Was a good day :)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Forecast: 22-34°
Attained: 24-35°
... six days of 30+ temps so far. My inner monologue at the moment is made up of mainly whining and swearing. Only four more days of this...
~=o>
Popped up to see soulsis et al this afternoon! We grazed on cheeses and dips and crackers and lollies, mwahahaha, and watched Harvey and Dr Doolittle (the original).
And, I got a present...!
He shall be called Paolo
He is a magnificent brute.
(Better pics tomorrow, when there's daylight. :)
Thanks, soulsis! [bouncing]
~=o
Attained: 24-35°
... six days of 30+ temps so far. My inner monologue at the moment is made up of mainly whining and swearing. Only four more days of this...
Popped up to see soulsis et al this afternoon! We grazed on cheeses and dips and crackers and lollies, mwahahaha, and watched Harvey and Dr Doolittle (the original).
And, I got a present...!
He shall be called Paolo
He is a magnificent brute.
(Better pics tomorrow, when there's daylight. :)
Thanks, soulsis! [bouncing]
Forecast: 21-32°
Attained: 21-33°
Wow, there's been times I've never thought this day would actually get here...
When the cubs were but wee (adorable) babies their father and I had the good fortune to be talked in to setting up ASG education scholarships for them. The monthly contributions were sometimes hard to manage but we - mostly me - kept them going. I have to admit, the secondary school payouts have been a bloody godsend. Things would've been much, much harder financially without them.
But! The tertiary part of the scheme has finally matured, which means no more monthly contributions! This is a good thing, they were a sizeable chunk of my income. Now, all being well, the cubs will have a small monthly payment to help out when they're at Uni.
~=o>
Attained: 21-33°
Wow, there's been times I've never thought this day would actually get here...
When the cubs were but wee (adorable) babies their father and I had the good fortune to be talked in to setting up ASG education scholarships for them. The monthly contributions were sometimes hard to manage but we - mostly me - kept them going. I have to admit, the secondary school payouts have been a bloody godsend. Things would've been much, much harder financially without them.
But! The tertiary part of the scheme has finally matured, which means no more monthly contributions! This is a good thing, they were a sizeable chunk of my income. Now, all being well, the cubs will have a small monthly payment to help out when they're at Uni.
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Forecast 6th March: 19-33°
Attained: 19-33°
Forecast: 22-33°
Attained: 22-35°
Yay! We are required to have a 'go slow' the week after Easter! Only one person rostered for the major campuses that week. I'll be volunteering to go in on the Tuesday. Purely mercernary, that's the only day that won't be covered by holiday leave.
~=o>
Ah, I laughed so hard... :)
~=o>
Attained: 19-33°
Forecast: 22-33°
Attained: 22-35°
Yay! We are required to have a 'go slow' the week after Easter! Only one person rostered for the major campuses that week. I'll be volunteering to go in on the Tuesday. Purely mercernary, that's the only day that won't be covered by holiday leave.
Ah, I laughed so hard... :)
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Forecast: 19-32°
Attained: 19-33°
Hee, Branagh's Hamlet is coming up this weekend at the Astor. Just in time for my birthday!
~=o>
Attained: 19-33°
Hee, Branagh's Hamlet is coming up this weekend at the Astor. Just in time for my birthday!
Monday, March 04, 2013
Forecast: 16-31°
Attained: 15-32°
[sigh] Another week's worth of 30+° forecast, but hopefully that'll be the end of it and we can start the slide in to what passes for winter here. :)
~=o>
There's a chance the library may have to close over the Easter break, as part of the health service's budgetary measures. I'm kinda hoping we do, actually, even though the boss is resisting. Feeling the need for a break...
~=o>
Attained: 15-32°
[sigh] Another week's worth of 30+° forecast, but hopefully that'll be the end of it and we can start the slide in to what passes for winter here. :)
There's a chance the library may have to close over the Easter break, as part of the health service's budgetary measures. I'm kinda hoping we do, actually, even though the boss is resisting. Feeling the need for a break...
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Forecast: 15-29°
Attained: 14- ... hm, there's been no Melbourne BOM update since 6.30 this morning. Melb airport readings say it got up to around 28°. Felt like it was at least that here.
I picked up a copy of Anna Karenina (yay, ebooks for instant gratification!). Up to chapter 7 so far and I've already had a few 'oh, so that's what that was about!' moments in regards to the movie. I can also see where there's been cuts and how some dialogue has been shifted to different characters. Fairly standard stuff when it comes to movie adaptations of books, but interesting to see nonetheless.
~=o>
Speaking of adapting books, the cubs - one of them at least - has expressed an interest in doing a creative writing degree! I've checked out the course details and it looks like heaps of fun, and quite useful. There's a lot covered in three years - fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, advertising, journalism etc. I think it's an excellent idea, but they (he) will need to have excellent marks in English, and a portfolio of sorts. Will keep reminding them of this throughout the year. :)
~=o>
Just for interests sake, let's list what I'm currently reading, distinct from what I've started reading but put aside for the moment.
(Careful, these links are pretty spoilery.)
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Faceless killers - Henning Mankel
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (see above)
Black Wings has my angel - Elliott Chaze
Hm, that's quite a high proportion of non-English authors than usual, for me.
~=o>
Attained: 14- ... hm, there's been no Melbourne BOM update since 6.30 this morning. Melb airport readings say it got up to around 28°. Felt like it was at least that here.
I picked up a copy of Anna Karenina (yay, ebooks for instant gratification!). Up to chapter 7 so far and I've already had a few 'oh, so that's what that was about!' moments in regards to the movie. I can also see where there's been cuts and how some dialogue has been shifted to different characters. Fairly standard stuff when it comes to movie adaptations of books, but interesting to see nonetheless.
Speaking of adapting books, the cubs - one of them at least - has expressed an interest in doing a creative writing degree! I've checked out the course details and it looks like heaps of fun, and quite useful. There's a lot covered in three years - fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, advertising, journalism etc. I think it's an excellent idea, but they (he) will need to have excellent marks in English, and a portfolio of sorts. Will keep reminding them of this throughout the year. :)
Just for interests sake, let's list what I'm currently reading, distinct from what I've started reading but put aside for the moment.
(Careful, these links are pretty spoilery.)
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Faceless killers - Henning Mankel
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (see above)
Black Wings has my angel - Elliott Chaze
Hm, that's quite a high proportion of non-English authors than usual, for me.
Forecast: 14-27°
Attained: 15-26°
I went to see Anna Karenina this evening. There's a lot of hate for this movie but I loved it! Visually it was stunning, the blend of theatre/reality was fabulous, andBill Weasley Domhnall Gleeson can certainly act. :) There was a lot of extremely good performances from lots of people I recognised.
I may have to read the book now, though. Oh alas...!
~=o>
Attained: 15-26°
I went to see Anna Karenina this evening. There's a lot of hate for this movie but I loved it! Visually it was stunning, the blend of theatre/reality was fabulous, and
I may have to read the book now, though. Oh alas...!
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Forecast: 14-24°
Attained: 15-24°
Weird dream last night. I was at a very rural, quite dilapidated hospital, waiting to start treatment for cancer. I asked the nurse when was I going to start feeling like shit. My support person alternated between my brother and the cubs' dad.
Mind you, this was after waking up in the middle of the night and not being to go back to sleep for ages. :)
~=o>
Attained: 15-24°
Weird dream last night. I was at a very rural, quite dilapidated hospital, waiting to start treatment for cancer. I asked the nurse when was I going to start feeling like shit. My support person alternated between my brother and the cubs' dad.
Mind you, this was after waking up in the middle of the night and not being to go back to sleep for ages. :)