Yesterday, when I got back from Queensland, there was a parcel from Joules waiting for me amongst all the chaos! It contained not only a copy of her Dream Decoder book but the The Mummy DVD; loads of chocolate [including a lemon mousse bar! Yum!]; a CD of her and GoodTwin's holiday pics (ottersottersotters! trainstrainstrains!) plus a slidey-pen style keyring from Stonehenge! Squee! My first bit of Henge-tat!
But wait there's more...
There were also a couple of particularly gross keyrings for the cubs [which they loved, thanks! :) ] and - ottersottersotters - bookmark, postcard, pin and card from the New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park! Eeee!
And last but not least there were also a couple of more offcuts of gorgeous green material and a postcard featuring a photo portrait of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. That photo there on Wiki, in fact... (Now what would Lutra - a noted luddite and anti-19th Century, er, person - be wanting with a photo of one of the era's most noted industrialists? In short, I'm not actually sure, but despite my antipathy to the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the bourgeoisie I've always been captivated by that pic. It's a stellar example of photo portraiture, very evocative.)
Thank you, Joules! That was a lovely pile of treasure to come home to!

So how was my holiday? It was great, thanks! Queensland (or rather, Noosa, the bit where I was) is beautiful but I wouldn't want to be there over Summer. In the fortnight I was there the temperature ranged from 24-29 degrees during the day, and between 16-18 at night. Not so bad but the humidity was a little uncomfortable. Nothing incapacitating - especially as we were down on the coast with the sea breezes - but I really don't like sweating for no good reason. :)
Did a lot of stuff...
Visited the ginger factory at Yandina. (Won't give you the url cos it involves disturbingly cheery music.) Took a train ride around the plantation plus went for a couple of spins on a 'tunnel of love' sort of ride where the boaty thing trundled around past animatronic dioramas of different countries. Very entertaining. No, really.
We travelled further North for a few days to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, the 'world's third largest sand island'. Beautiful, beautiful spot. World heritage listed area, the interior only accesible by 4 wheel drives. No roads as such but Mad Mouse sand tracks that threw you about in a most jolly (read: bone jarring) manner. We only drove maybe 80 kms on the island but when you're travelling at an average of 15 km an hour while gathering bruises, it feels so much longer. Wonderful beaches, however. Endless skies. <happy sigh> I want to go back.

On our second last day Mum and I visited Underwater World in Mooloolaba. Lovely little place, not as big as Melbourne's aquarium but it has seals! And otters! Loved it. :)

As you might have expected, I've brought back a lot of tat, and, hm, I appear to be collecting pelican postcards. <eyebrow>
Photos... I took a lot of photos. Must be close to 1000. I'll put selected highlights up on flickr over the next couple of weeks. Wouldn't want to bombard anyone with the slideshow of DOOM. <g>
Anyway, had a great time but it's (mostly) good to be home. Missed my cubs, and my cat. Time to get back to work.

[Edit: D'oh, so excited about my new treasures I forgot to mention just how good Joules' new book looks! Not only in the 'this looks like a great read' sense but the layout, the graphics. All very cool!]

Right. Cos Joules is a genius I'm able to post again. Woohoo!
I've been in Queensland for a week already! Blimey. Weather that I would grizzle about back in Melbourne (warm and humid) is lovely here. <g> Probly cos I'm on holiday and not having to do all my usual chores. Heh.

The trip up was very boring. Mass transport is mass transport whether it's by road, rail or air. Sardines squished in a box. Fortunately it was only for a couple of hours so it was tolerable. Unfortunately, given that I was in an aisle seat in a row by a wing I was only able to see out of - at most - the top half of the 'window', but the few glimpses I did get were wonderful. Love being above the clouds...

Mum and I are staying with my brother; he lives about 5 minutes walk from the beach! Haven't spent a lot of time there - been busy doing other things - but I did go paddling for a bit the other evening. Odd, the water was warm. I'm used to getting into the sea and it being cold.

This coming weekend we're off to Fraser Island for a couple of days. Should be glorious. <g> No doubt I'll add substantially to the 600 photos I've already taken.

The other night my brother and his partner, Kirsty, went to see the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Brisbane. Fabulous band, anyway, first he sent me a pic of them taken with his camera phone - that made me squee - then later he rang me while 'Under the Bridge' was being played! Oh, I squealed like a 12 year old, and sang along with it. I was in the shower at the time so I can't claim it was 'just like being there' but still... :)

Joules posting on Lutra's behalf.

The hassle with her yahoo! account being hijacked has left her unable to log in to blog. She's asked me to advise everyone on her behalf: she'll get back to normal as soon as possible.

(She seems to be having a great holiday so far!)

Grrrr... Looks like some bastard's hijacked my Yahoo account.
Pissed. Off.
I mean, I don't use it for anything really personal or important (except Flickr; and that right there is the main reason I'm resistant to this trend of linking accounts. If one's compromised then that puts the others at risk. Are you listening, Google/Blogger?) but, dammit, it's mine. <grump> Yahoo can apparently do something about it if I snailmail/fax account details plus my written permission for them to go delving. I'm going to do it, I think, cos I've had that account for ten sodding years and for sentimental reasons if nothing else I don't want to give it up. (Quite aside from the issue of Identity Theft. Bastards.)

Right. Just a wee bit stressed at the moment anyway. Mum and I are off to Queensland next Tuesday and I've been darting about getting ready for that. It's not just me I've got to get organised but the cubs and their father. And the cat. <sigh> Eh well, I'm mostly ready - I just need to pack my suitcase without packing the cat...

In more fun news... We won first prize in the school's Easter Raffle! Soooo much chocolate. Mwahahaha!



See that white blobby blur one of the cubs has a hold of? That's a huge plush rabbit - also part of the prize.

And finally a very belated response to Joules' sort-of challenge about people not posting pics of themselves. A photo of me that doesn't make me wince. <g> Taken by one of the cubs:



The lovely purple-patterned wrap I'm wearing was given to me by Soulsis. :)

On ICQ, leading directly on from a conversation about slimy dead frogs was this:

Lutra: <happy sigh> *finally* got a copy of Kate Bush's Suspended in Gaffa...

Joules:..... <blink> um - right.
whatever turns you on
(Is Gaffa some sort of bondage tape?)

loved the song since I was 12, or something...
it's the grey stuff they use to tape down wires
link

I thought that was geffer tape.
gaffer I mean

yes, that

so what the hell is Gaffa?
(Never heard the song, in case you hadn't gathered)

<g> I'll send you a copy if you like
gaffa/gaffer same thing

so it IS a song about bondage!
I think I have to hear it now

ROFL!
it's not! well, not in any obvious way... [link to lyrics]

uhuh.....

I can tell you don't believe me

<blink> and there's an advert for polythene bags on the page and you're STILL trying to tell me it's not about bondage?

this is the ad
Polythene Bags
Millions of bags in stock Call Nick Boyes 01277 626100
www.tetrasoc.com/Pages/polyt

link's not working

I'll have one of whatever she was on when she wrote it.
I have a suspicion it's a mishearing of 'Eyeless in Gaza', personally

LOLOL!
eh?

link doesn't matter - fact is the ad's still there!
Eyeless in Gaza

which is?
(<shakes head> I'm trying not to think too hard about polythene bags and their use in bondage)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeless_in_Gaza
ROFLMAO!!!

incidentally, I also have a copy now of Venus in Furs

YAY!!!
love a copy when you've a spare minute or five

neato. I'll add it to the list
ooh, interesting book

never read it myself. been on the list for years

nevertheless, the song is called Suspended in Gaffa, and I've always had the impression it's about being held in pl-
<sigh>

<snicker>
<poke snicker poke>

<giggling slap> oh piss off : ) this is why I was never any good in debates

<smirk>

[Incidentally, in the course of transcribing that text, I inadvertantly discovered how to make text blink...]

Tch, Summer's dragging its heels this year. 37 today, 34 yesterday. <grumble> Problem's been that we've already started acclimatising to the recent spate of lower temps so when it gets hot again... Erk. Eh well, we've got a week of mid-twenties or lower to look forward to from tomorrow. I really hope this is the last of the stupidhot, not least because poor Badger's been getting blood noses...

So, it's only 119 days 'til the final Harry Potter book is released. I don't envy JKR - no matter what she's written she's going to cop flak from somewhere. I wonder if she's been keeping an eye on the fansites? I wonder if she's ever felt like she had to change the ending cos we're too damn close to what she had planned? <g>
I've reserved my copy and while I have to admit I'm interested to see how she's going to wrap up the series I'm not wildly hopeful of the results - unless she's a better writer, story teller, than I've given her credit for. (Gah. Grammar. Blame the heat...) I have my speculations, naturally. I think Snape's going to die, regardless of whether he's 'redeemed' or not. There'll be another consequential death, as well, one that'll push oor Harry in the direction he needs to go to do the thing he's got to do. Sirius' and Dumbledore's deaths (oh please, don't squeak about spoilers now. It's been almost two years since HBP was released...) were traumatic for our hero but those charas could be considered parental. It'll be the death of one of his friends that'll kick him into UberRighteousAnger.
Other ideas? The Hogwart's inter-house rivalry will be healed when they all join together at the end and Harry and Draco will have hot smex. (Ok, perhaps not that. Especially as JKR is apparently precious about her charas being slashed. Mwahahah : )
And it's only 111 days 'til the next HP movie's released. <g> Not sure which event I'm anticipating more, to be honest...

Heh, it's almost the end of term. Already. Only a couple of weeks to go.
And then I'm off to Queensland for several day! Woohoo! (I'm deliberately ignoring the niggling wee things about this holiday that've gone awry so far...)

<beaming> Yesterday, Niki and Soulsis hosted a fondue party for my birthday! Sooo much food! We started with a steam boat (was that what it's called, Niki?), more Chinese than Swiss, meat and vegies cooked in a ginger/garlic/lemongrass broth. Meat. Mmmm... Marinated pork, chicken and steak, and some rolled plain steak which - in my case - even made it into the soup before being scarfed.
Later, much later, we had a more traditional chocolate fondue. What can I say? The phrase 'chocolate bliss-out' just isn't adequate. We dipped fresh fruit, cake, lollies and <drooool> glacé cherries. Going to do that again, real soon, and I can cos I've now got a fondue set of my very own! Bright red! : )
I had a great time, thank you! And 12 hours later, I still don't feel hungry. <g>

Hehehehe. My poor cubs with their delicate sensibilities. "Don't look at the screen," I said, "I'm writing sex..." Never seen him move so fast. <snerk>
Yes, sex. I've just finished a short piece for the latest Pervy Werewolf Fanciers challenge. Did research and everything. I now know more about men's bottoms than I ever really wanted. :)

For my birthday I treated myself to a copy of Cleolinda Jones' Movies in fifteen minutes. Gods above it's so funny - though like a lot of parodies and spoofs I can't read more than one item at a time cos the humour dulls with close repetition.
But! Just thinking about her version of Attack of the Clones, or the LoTR trilogy, or Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Sorcerer's Philosopher's Stone makes me fall over laughing. I don't know that serious movie buffs would like this book - it takes the piss too well - but I love it .

And now some words of wisdom from 20 Sided: the DM of the Rings - a comic based on LotR as likely to be played by modern Dungeons and Dragons hack-slashers. Hee. The comic itself is very funny, but some of the DM's comments (at the bottom) are priceless. I've played with gamers like these, heck, to my shame I've been gamers like these. Though in my defence, I got better...

That which does not kill you was simply not permitted to do so for the purposes of the plot.

The DM will do a lot of talking, but if he’s not rolling the dice then what he’s saying is probably not important.

No matter how difficult or absurd you make a puzzle, your players will find an even more impossible and preposterous way of solving it.

Never provide a dungeon without treasure. The longer they search and find nothing, the more your players will be convinced that the treasure is bountiful and exceptionally well-hidden. If left unchecked, they will eventually dismantle and excavate the entire site in their search for loot.

No matter how epic the battle, once begun, the thing sounds more or less like a bingo game: People shout out numbers and other people get excited about them.

Players may blunder through dialog with shocking ineptitude, forget the name of the country they are in, or get confused about which side they are on, but once it comes time to roll for initiative they all turn into Sun Tzu.

... and finally:
Ask any fighter: A hammer is just a really heavy set of lockpicks.
Oh, so true. <smirk>

<eyes full of sparklies> I'm being well and truly being distracted by the Kylie Showgirl Princess program on the ABC at the moment. I'm envisioning a range of teddy bears modelling the gorgeous costumes... oooh, that could keep me amused for hours.

(Ok, I've grudgingly switched over to the new Blogger system. How the hell do you keep the font from reverting to the default while you're doing an update?)

(Oh hang on, it appears to be staying...)
(Nope, have to reset it everytime I come back from previewing the post. <grump>)

Right...
It's been such a long time since I've bothered with a post that there's now, naturally, far too much to say, so a quick summation, perhaps?
I'm on to chapter 4 of the new novel. Though it's taken a looong time to get there. Procrastinations'r'us... <g>
Um, spending a lot of time at the school library this term, (and probly for the rest of the year). The school's been given a grant for rebuilding the library catalogue. Mwahahaha! Lots and lots of books. And I've got library monitors! Four of them, including the cubs. :)

I've managed to shoehorn some more furniture into my house. I think I mentioned that some time ago... Anyway, it's here now (thank you, Soulsis, Niki, Leonie!) and it's meant the taming [sort of] of the chaos corner in the kitchen. Going to be even betterer when I get the bookcases into my bedroom. Hee.

<snerk> Cubs' father brought me this soap back from the Phillipines...


It's been a mostly hot and humid month. Very unpleasant, though, fingers crossed, we seem to be heading towards Autumnal temperatures now. There'll be at least one more flare of hot weather - over my birthday weekend, as always - but then we should be in the clear. Having said that:
Imagine a sultry night, and a woman lying naked atop the bedclothes. And now imagine her reaction when - having recently had an altercation with a huntsman spider - she feels the lightest, ticklingest touch on her hip...
Yep, shat myself. Startled the cat, too, cos of course it was KittenKong's wee paw grazing my skin as she went to climb over me to get to the window. Tch.

Velvet Goldmine is still my favourite movie... Le sigh... :)

"In the war's dying throes, it was discovered that Peter Pettigrew had taught the Animagus transformation to Voldemort's inner circle. Voldemort wanted loyal warriors who inspired fear.
[snip]
Harry and his friends, with the Order of the Phoenix, had fought through inferi and Dementors to the heart of Voldemort's lair of evil. There they found the arch-villain himself, protected by a goat, two chickens, a wildebeest, an armadillo, three snakes, and a rat..."

<falling over laughing>
That's a quote from Animals by Busaikko recently on Pervy Werewolf So funny! Busaikko is always good value. <g>

(<head->desk> Housemate is 'educating' the cubs in classic anime. They're watching Robotech. Bloody Min Mei - she's a MarySue, I swear. No wonder I loathe her; she gave anime girls a bad name for years. Still makes my teeth hurt. And lets not mention the generally execrable dialogue I can still hear over the headphones. I refuse to believe the original Japanese is any better...)

Hee, I've pre-ordered my copy of the next/last Harry Potter book. My descent into HP geekdom continues. Gods, I'll be writing Snermione next.
No! Nevah! Not het...!
<smirk>

<giggling> Spotted this in an op shop yesterday.


<still giggling>

Oh yes, something else about Xmen III. I was impressed with how Hank McCoy's agility and strength were portrayed in the fight scenes. Gave a really good idea of just how efficient he is in combat.

<snerk> One of the cubs' bits of homework concerned television programs. Badger (they've got nicknames now, remember? :) filled out his imaginary program schedule with gems like; Box Wrestling; 20 minutes of Toilets; the Lame 40 Minute show; the 3.52 news, and More Box Wrestling. We have cable telly, can you tell?

(And at the party last night the cubs were thrilled to bits that people recognised who they were sposed to be. I think - like me - they get tired of being around people who have no idea what they're on about and it's always exciting to discover you're not the lone loony in the wilderness of mundanity. <g>)

LOL! Went to log in to Flickr and on the front screen was a note that 'Flickr is having a massage'. Scheduled maintainance perhaps?

Feeling kind of shiftless. The cubs are out at a party with their dad...

Their costumes: Spy vs Spy.


First week back at school and on Friday night the cubs had taken themselves off to bed - and were asleep - by 10.30. Puir, wee tired things. <g>
So far so good, they're enjoying being year 6; they've got Prep buddies to look out for! They remember their own buddies very fondly, which helps.

Oh goody. We've actually got two wasp nests, one in the front, one in the back. Still waiting for the cubs' father to deal with them. :) (He'd better do it soon, he's off overseas for a fortnight in about a week.)

DVDs. Seen lots of DVDs recently.
Constantine was a bit of a romp. <g> And there's just enough of the Catholic schoolgirl left in me that parts of the movie made me twitch. Keanu isn't the world's best actor but he chooses roles which suit. I got the sense they were just skimming the top here, that there was a lot more could've been said, but as it's based on a comic book that's not surprising.
Finally got 'round to seeing Xmen III. That's another one where I felt I was only watching half the story, for the same reason. Good, though, enjoyed it - not enough of the winged-pretty, however.
Mrs Henderson Presents. Not as good as I thought it'd be but infinitely better than, oh, 98% of the main-stream US product available to rent. Judy Dench was wonderful. :)
(Um, there were more but I've lost interest. Heh.)

Woohoo, up to chapter 3 of the new fic. Once again I have no idea how long this is going to be. I'll just write it and see where it goes.

It's Australia Day. Go us. :)
Monty Python sums it up nicely, I think. (Quoting from memory so possibly not entirely accurate:)

Australia, Australia, Australia.
Here is the wattle, the symbol of our land.
You can stick it in a bottle, or hold it in your hand. Amen.

<g>

Well, the gardeners came back yesterday to tackle the backyard, but had to abandon the project when they disturbed a wasp nest. Oops. I rang the council to see about getting rid of it but they don't come out to private properties any more. The couple of quotes I got from professional pest control companies were all over $100, which we can't afford, so looks like we'll be dealing with it ourselves. The cubs' father has volunteered. Probly just as well. I don't have anything resembling protective clothing, not even boots.

Awww, my cubs are growing up. They started their first lay-by yesterday, with their own money and in their own name. :)

Heh, we've xmas candy canes all over the house at the moment, far more than there were during xmas. Why? They're so cheap right now as shops try to clear their xmas stock!

Hee! Last week's Shakespeare Revisited was Taming of the Shrew! Definitely the best of the series so far! A good, workable adaptation of characters and plot - though this Petruchio wasn't nearly so horrible to Katherine as the original was - and so funny!

He's going to taunt me with a week's worth of clean knickers, then throw them in the pool, isn't he?

<g> Definitely one for the library.

Squeee! I would love to have a tent like this...



(Snapped at last weekend's Medieval Festival in Launching Place.)

Some time late last year I mentioned that my neighbours had organised (and paid for) someone to come and tame the front garden for me. I also mentioned that they didn't consult with me first - cos they'd obviously had enough of it being a blight on the street and so decided to take matters into their own hands. Even though I was horribly intimidated I can admit it was a fair cop, honestly, I know I was never going to get 'round to doing anything consistent about it. So anyway, the gardening people were back again today (again without consultation) but I spoke to the woman in charge and - long story short - they'll be here regularly and I'll be paying for the service. Very reasonable rates, too. Once the backyard is under control (and at a suggested $50 that's much easier to stomach then the $200 I was quoted by someone else) it'll be $25 a fortnight for front and back. Manageable, and I won't feel like I have to skulk when I leave the house in order to avoid the neighbour. :)

On my list of 'Things I Need' is a new doona. I've had mine for 20 years, and while it's done sterling service it's getting a bit fragile. Coincidentally one of the shops in the local emporium is having a 25% off bedding this week! I've got a brand new doona on layby - and as all my sheets are getting a bit tatty - a 100% cotton bed sheet set as well. (They were a little bit pricey but I'm awfully fussy about my bedlinen. Poly/cotton is just not acceptable. <g> ) I could start thinking about new pillows, too...
As for my old doona, it won't be going in the bin. Oh no, I'm sure I could do something useful with the remains.

Cubs and I have just spent the weekend at Mum's, and it was better than I anticipated. To clarify, I was so cranky on Saturday - because of the gods-awful weather - I was thinking that being forced into close proximity with the cubs and my mother for 3 days would be a nightmare. <g> It wasn't - in fact it was kind of relaxing. Helps that the weather cooled right down, of course.
Didn't do much on Saturday, just a little shopping, but on Sunday we traipsed along to a Medieval Festival at the local archery park. Lots to see, lots to photograph (heh, 134 pics later...) The jousting was fun to watch, and, oooh! Pavilions! Now that's what I call camping in style! Yes, they're bulky and a pain in the arse to transport, but I want one!
Cubs had a ball. They loved looking at the weaponry and armour, were dead impressed with the jousters, and got to fire a crossbow! That was the highlight for them, I think. <g>
We stayed for a few hours then, as promised, I took the cubs swimming afterwards. I only stayed in for an hour - all the earlier walking combined with not-quite-warm water made my feet feel twitchy and pre-crampy - but the cubs kept splashing around for another hour at least. I really like the pool near mum's; it's not stupidly crowded like the ones around here, even on hot weekends, and the staff are not stingy about letting the patrons play with the centre's equipment.

Today, Monday, the cubs went swimming again while Nana was at her exercise class. I stayed out and kept an eye on them while I did some sewing, listened to music. After that we drove to a friend of Mum's to check out her furniture. She's moving from a smallish house to a miniscule unit and has to downsize: I've been given first pick of the loot. <g> I've earmarked a desk, table and benches, kitchen unit and bookshelves - all in varnished pine, my favourite. Mine, all mine, for free! Now I just have to organise transport. (Niki? In case you read this before I ring you... Do you still have the trailer? Oh, and thank you for the bread. :)

Normally, well recently, coming 'home' was always a bit of a downer. Perhaps it's the prospect of being able to clear some of the clutter soon, but for a change I was quite cheerful walking into the house this afternoon. Let's see if I can keep the positivity going long enough to get my teeth into cleaning and clearing the crap...

Had an interesting dream while I was at Mum's. Joules came to visit! Which was fabulous as it was the first time we'd actually met but I'd forgot she was coming. So not only did she have to find my place by public transport instead of me picking her up from the airport, the house was completely unready (read: filthy) for visitors, plus I had to find somewhere comfortable for her to sleep! I was embarrassed, knowing I was letting myself down as a good host, and under the circumstances her bad temper was entirely reasonable. :)
(And the house itself was odd: a pastiche of the past 3 places I've lived with added bits from a couple of other houses I've visited in dreams. An awkward, uncomfortable place, but - I knew - with so much potential to be warmly quirky and welcoming, if I just put in a little effort.)
Strangely enough, this dream has the same feel about it as the other 'travelling' dreams I'd had recently, only this time it was someone travelling to me. But, there was the same debilitating sense of unpreparedness. I'm sure my subconscious is trying to tell me something...

[Edit: The Blogger spellcheck threw up coasters for jousters; Ares for arse (thinking of Xena, that's spot-on); travesty for traipsed; and pica for pics. Hee.)

Bleurgh. It's been hot and humid for a few days now. Don't like it at all; sweating when you're expending no energy whatsoever is unnatural. <grump> We've had some rain at least - which is good, it's desperately needed - but it only cooled things down a bit while increasing the humidity a lot.
Well, according the Bureau there's only one more day of ickyness before we get a break. <sigh> I'm really not wishing for Winter to get a move on - don't want to wish away half the year before it's even really started!

Speaking of which... Egad, the cubs go back to school in just over a week! Not fair! I've only just got into the swing of being on holiday!
My babies are going into Year 6... which means High School next year... which means - ah, crap - I'd better get cracking on sorting out some of the little niggling questions I've been managing to ignore for the past few years, like, where are we going to live? (Cos that'll determine which High School they go to.) And, I need to take their father and my mother into consideration as well. Ideally (for various reasons) we'd like we need to be close to both of them... <head->desk> Too hard. Right now, a cool, dark cave - with internet connection, 'puter and full bathing facilities - is sounding reeaaally nice.

(Right, can I find something to not whinge about? Let's see...)
While lying sleepless the other night (not a breath of wind to relieve the stifling heat.. oops, I wasn't going to whinge, was I? Hah!) I managed to firm and expand the basic plot for my next story - oh yes, I'm writing another book; set in the Dystopia Universe. What happened to the first book, you might ask? Well, you can ask, but I'll probly be skittish and evasive.
Dammit, got distracted again. Yes, started another book. Woohoo! I'll finish the Snupin one day, an' all.

Cubs and I spent the day at Soulsis' yesterday! Was hot (<growls warningly at self>) but fun. We left the boys playing video games for a wee space of time while Soulsis, girlie and I trawled some op-shops and a second-hand place for furniture. Didn't find any furniture but got loads of other good stuff. :)
Andandand I've now got a biiiig plush Hello Kitty courtesy of Soulsis! Thank you!

And I found this, too, in an op-shop a couple of days ago!


Neat, eh? It came with an appallingly cheerful yellow teapot. (Not pictured, cos the cosy didn't really fit it properly, so I used one of my other teapots to model. Tra la la.)

Right. Is it bedtime yet? More importantly - will I sleep?

Cubs went to a birthday party today, their first for the year. <g> It was hosted at the same 'indoor recreation centre' as the last one, so they had a ball playing laser tag and cruising in the go-karts again.
Party ended at 2.30 but we didn't leave there until gone 6! We hung around to watch the Robowars finals. Was more entertaining than I would've given it credit but half my enjoyment came from observing the engineering/mechanics geeks interact [the funky rainbow faux fur shorts were a winner in my eyes]. It was all very friendly, too, with good sportsmanship shown by everyone - winners and loser. There were some spectacular clashes. In one, a 'bot with a vertical blade was flipped and ended up gouging a big hole in the floor. That was exciting. Another 'bot used a CO2 fueled ram/flipper - some of its victims went a metre into the air. :) The sheet steel and polycarb enclosure took a fair amount of damage during the afternoon, too, not to mention the carnage inflicted on a defenceless vacuum cleaner (and old printer) in the 'demonstration' bouts. Heh, needless to say the cubs are terribly enthusiastic about it all now.

KittenKong is once again a happy cat. The cubs and I finished house-sitting yesterday and now I'm back home to pay full attention to her needs - as is only right and proper.
As a thank-you, Niki gave me a jar of delicious rhubarb chutney and a slab of the best smelling peppermint soap I've ever had the pleasure to snuffle! And as a thank-you for keeping an eye on an eBay auction for him, Richard gave me a beautifully tacky lobster fridge magnet. <g> Its feelers are on springs! They wobble!
It was good to get some time away from home, just the cubs and I. Gave me a chance to get some perspective on my current domestic arrangements...

Our ABC is currently showing a series of reworks of some Shakespeare plays. Last week was Macbeth, and while it was fabulously brooding and angsty, I'm not entirely convinced that setting it in the cut-throat world of top-class restaurants really worked all that well. It was a great adaptation but it seemed to be labouring in parts. Though having the 3 witches as garbage men was inspired! James MacAvoy was particularly good in the lead, and no wonder he was familiar - it wasn't just the incidental (numerous) UK telly productions I've seen him in, he was Mr Tumnus!
This week's offering was Much Ado About Nothing. This version was updated to a TV studio, and it seemed to have a more natural flow than Macbeth. A very good cast, which unfortunately, didn't do much to relieve my ambivalence about the story. This isn't one of my favourite Shakespeare's; much as I love the Benedick/Beatrice thread I always want to smack Hero & Claude (especially Claude) over the back of the head! Gods above he's so infuriatingly gullible!
Didn't catch what next week's production is, but I know Midsummer Nights Dream is on the list somewhere. :)

(Oh, and the cubs have decided they want nicknames. The S cub is now Rocket and the M cub, Badger. Yerrss.)

Le Frog: We leave immediately!
[strides off screen]
Henchfrog #1: What about supper?
Le Frog: [strides back on screen] We leave in five hours!

<rolling around laughing> That's a quote from Flushed Away - which the cubs and I went to see yesterday. It's been a long time since I've laughed so much during a movie. Oh, the frogs! Oh, the slugs! Oh, Ian McKellan the villain! <giggling>
It's an Aardman production - in conjunction with Dreamworks - and is peculiarly British. Which means toilet humour. Which is probly why it's not doing as well as it should, especially in comparison to the 'technically good but a trifle mechanical' Happy Feet.
Definitely one for the DVD list, even if we don't see it again at least once more at the cinema.

January! Calendars are on special! 75% off in one particular place. I treated myself to a 'manga art' (one I would've bought at full price but couldn't afford); a Van Gogh (with bonus fridge magnets!) and a very pretty Australian Birds diary. Oh, and the cubs got a calendar of Australian trams. All for $16. Bargain!

I saw on the news last night there's going to be another inquiry into Princess Di's preference for well-built poles er, tragic accident. Between my hearing and the noise the cubs were making I was sure I heard that the chief-person-in-charge-of-it-all's name was Lady Elizabeth Bucket Slops. <snerk> I was almost disappointed to find out her name was in fact Butler-Sloss...

You can keep your Xmas/New Year sales, it's the Back to School sales I look forward to.
Sure, I don't need that 3 kilos of stationary but, damn, it satisfies some deep-seated, primal urge. :)

(Nicked from Rakina)

Hee... I like daisies...

I am a Daisy What Flower Are You?

"You are just a sweet person. When a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, you are happy to offer yours with a box of tissues as well. Once in awhile, you wish you could be a little more dramatic but then sensibility sets back in and you know that you are perfect the way you are."

As I mentioned, I'm house-sitting for Niki. Niki has a lot of really interesting books lying around. Just read 'The Book, The Film, The T-Shirt' by Matt Beaumont. 'twas about the trials and tribulations of shooting a mega-expensive ad with big-name stars, and it's one of the funniest things I've read for a long time. Neat format, too: The story progesses through snippets from individuals rather than a continuous narrative. Of course, this means we're seeing events from several different - often conflicting - points of view. There's miscommunications, and frantic leaps to conclusions - hilarity ensues.
The only people we don't hear from are the two protagonists, which is intriguing cos you're never quite sure what's going on in their heads. It leaves several key factors in the comic-drama open to interpretation...

Excitement, adventure... I can be doing without any of that, thanks.
Long story short: the cubs and I are housesitting for Niki (yay! Air-conditioning!) but when we got back this afternoon from feeding my cat and shopping, I couldn't find the key! Eeek! Fortunately we found it in the first place we looked - the supermarket, where it must've been turfed out of my bag as I was rummaging around for my purse. Phew.
(<shifty> Uh, Niki? Best p'raps if you overlook this bit, eh...?)

The Snupin Lurve Secret Santa has been finalised and the authors have been revealed!
Here's my contribution - Iron Snupin written for Electromoon. It's a bit of a laugh, a crossover 'tween HP and The Iron Chef. I got a fair few happy comments about it, too, which was pleasing.
[A warning though: if slash (m/m) smut isn't your bag, baby, this may not be the best thing for you to read <g>]
Big huggles to Joules for the beta and Britlish. Thanks!
(Here's the master list for this year's exchange. There were some excellent fics posted. I spent probly more time there reading than I should've. Hee, gotta love that Snupin.)

And, thank you, onna! Your parcel arrived quicker than you anticipated. <g> The potholders will clash with everything, they'll be perfect!

It's too hot to sleep so I'm skulking about online, in front of the fan...

So, 2007, eh? I'm a bit ambivalent about it, to be honest. I've written a list of things to start/finish/get/do etc. I'll check it at the end of the year and probably laugh. Though, I do solemnly resolve not to let this coming year go to waste as well. Cos let's face it, I did a lot of farting around last year.

Just spent a couple of uncomfortable days up at Mum's. Uncomfortable cos of the heat, and sleeping on the sofa.
Had an odd dream last night. I was trying to get myself ready to fly to China but was coming up against all sorts of delays. Not being able to find things I needed, or get online to sort my finances before I left. And - this made me giggle - the promised police escort to get me to the airport on time almost fell through but I was offered the services of another policeman. But, at the last I couldn't go anyway cos I'd forgot to renew my passport. D'oh.
Actually, I think I was also going to China in the last dream like this I had recently. (Gah, grammar. Sorry...) What could my subconscious be trying to tell me? That though I would really really like to do something exotic and outside my comfort zone I have to be better prepared? Or just not try getting to China cos it's just not going to happen...

Went to see Happy Feet with the cubs, their father, Soulsis et al.
What a shnookums of a movie, I enjoyed it. Can't fault the animation but the 'messages' couldn't have been less subtle if they'd been applied with a brick! I didn't get into it as much as I expected but it was still money well spent. (The Latino penguins were the best! <g> )

Mum and I took the cubs to Hedgend Maze in Healesville. That was loads of fun, though it was really too hot, and one of the cubs was having problems with claustrophobia by the end. :)
We didn't attempt the mini-golf, or the frisbee-golf - maybe next time. It's not cheap to visit but the entrance price includes access to everything.
(There's a few pics up at my Flickr page, too.)

... Tch. Drifting. Am I tired enough to sleep? Time to find out...