Life is like...

Work life balance and the will to win

2009-05-13T22:56:00.003+10:00

That is a myth I think.

It's Wednesday I have been working for 2 days (I had Monday off) and finished late at 7pm both nights and for one of those nights I have woken and thought about ways to solve the problem till I finally succumbed to sleep.

Last week I was at work late most nights and working till midnight working on the same problem.

Over the last two days, I have been trying hard to resolve the problem and reach a viable solution, because we must submit a paper which outlines 2 options, recommends a solution and explains the risks of both options.

Every step of the way there has been this woman who is so counterproductive in the way she works the only impact she has on me and my team is to make us chase our tails and work in circles - it is excruiating.

It is absolutely incredible how that unproductive woman stays in her position. This problem has been haunting some of my colleagues for nearly a year and it finally landed in my lap. I can reach an outcome, but the woman who has kept this going for the year, the counterproductive one is working against me at every step and will keep doing that right till the death - that is the way she has always worked against me. She must be my nemesis.

I will get an outcome, despite the complexity and history of this problem (approximately $100 000 has been spent getting legal advice on various ways to solve this problem).

Despite my hearing of the death of my Aunt on Monday night, despite me occassionally breaking down in tears in my office over the last two days about the loss of my Aunt, the stress of the work and the problem making caused by this other woman and despite the guilt that I feel because I have to leave it all to my sister to help my mother (my Aunt's carer) through this time, I will finish what many people have not been able to solve.

I am resilient. I can achieve. I will win.

2009-05-02T16:00:00.001+10:00

I don't know what has posessed me to return to this blog? Probably the euphoria of having a computer that makes uploading my photographs easier. This was actually taken a long time ago, Spring in November 2007 to be exact. I suppose with our heading into winter I am drawn towards the end of the year already when things will bloom again. This is a view from down my street. It makes feel lucky to live in this street.

Return to work

2007-01-25T22:24:00.000+10:00

Hard to believe, I am at the end of my first two weeks of being back at work. Unfortunately I returned to act in the most senior position in the Division, which meant of course I was the boss. Lots of meetings mainly and dealing with staff, dealing with staff, dealing with staff. It seems that is my main occupation at work these days. Some days however I feel like I work for them and not vice versa!

In the midst of this P's dear Grandmother died after a slowish decline from about November 2006. When I was told the news less than a week ago, I mainly felt relief. I guess because since November there was such an outpouring of love for her from the family that we actually got to say "I love you" and basically without words "Goodbye." She wasn't conscious in the final couple of weeks, so I also felt that she had already gone by then too.

It was a fairly big deal not just because of the loss of her beautiful soul, but because Elliot was close to her and there was some explaining for us to do.

We had the funeral on Wednesday, and we asked Elliot to come and speak if he wanted to. Elliot spoke of her in front of the family during the ceremony -we were very proud of him.

I wanted the words to come from him, so we lay on my big bed together 3 nights ago and got out the lap top and I asked him what did you think of when you think of Nanny, he said " Lots of feeling" and then when I prompted him " Well she had great catching hands!" Not bad sentiments I know but I knew I could extract more from him so I tried the old tried and true acrostic poem and this is what he came up with and said at the funeral:

My GrandNan - an acrostic poem

G -GrandNan was a great lady;
R- Rated highly by me
A- Always remembered my birthday
N- Never got mad at me
D -Dear to my heart
N -Nicest person I will ever know
A- Always happy to see me
N-No one will take her place

I was a very lucky boy to have a Grand Nan and we got to know each other very well and I will always remember her love and kindness.

It was a touching moment, Nanny's children spoke, her grandchildren spoke and so did her great grand children - a loving tribute to a beautiful person that I am so much better for having known her - I will miss you Nanny.

New Bathroom?

2007-01-12T14:12:00.000+10:00

These are the tiles for our new bathroom which is to begin by the end of the month. P used his computer skills to work out how the feature tiles will map out. The chocolate brown tiles at the bottom are actually the floor tiles he didn't have time to 3d properly.

The shower will also be inside a semiframe.

Not bad P- he has actually chosen it all!

dialogue

2006-12-28T15:01:00.000+10:00

"Sank you Mummy!" with her drink in her hand.
"Thats all right dear" I say.
"No, say - My pleasure!" she replies.

"I've got an idea!" she says quite brightly to me, as we are driving off to do some grocery shopping.
"What?" I inquire.
"Don't say what!" she says.
"Sorry, I mean what's your idea?" .
"Don't say what!" she says again
"Okay tell me about your idea?"
There is silence....I think the idea has been forgotten.

Ever the diplomat

2006-12-07T17:11:00.000+10:00

Recently turned 3 and a sophisticated miss, and very much adored by all and sundry. She is also very friendly, when I picked her up from day care on Friday, I was told she charmed another Mummy, by putting her arms around her and made comments about her lovely earrings and makeup - Gabriella loves all the trappings of femaledom.

When I ask her "How much do you love me" she usually replies "Like Daddy" - Daddy gets the reverse reply when asking the same question. I wonder where she learned diplomacy?

I was looking for my gingerbread recipe so start the Christmas baking and read some old posts - I wish I could start writing again I just miss that process, but two years down the track life is so much busier than it used to be its quite sad really, last night I was in bed by 8.30pm.

Work has calmed down finally and I no longer wake up before the day starts properly and dread what result I could possibly be asked to produce this week, I was very much dreading work for the first time in ages.

Though not an excuse for my intermittent posting I worked out the Blogger beta move is working against me when I have gone to post a picture to this blog or my cooking blog it takes ages to load so I lose patience and give up.

Cricket Fever

2006-10-17T20:21:00.000+10:00

Dear Gabriella has caught cricket fever from Elliot. This is Elliot's first year of club competition with his first game beginning last Saturday morning. I knew he was looking forward to it, but I didn't expect him coming into our bedroom at 5.30am in his underwear and pads reminding us that he was playing that day -gently admonishing him I called out yes, yes, we know its the big day, but please put some pants on before you put your cricket pads on!

I took him to buya helmet on Saturday afternoon, it was fun but definately a venture into new territority for me as P normally takes the role of taking Elliot's to sport shops for bits and pieces. We were going to buy gloves too but I have this thing about kids getting things all at once, and then expecting things to happen all at once when their adults. I think there are some good lessons to learn from understanding there are advantages in delaying gratification and managed to placate him with a promise to revisit things like shoes, gloves, cricket bags and cricket clothes over the next month or so. In looking at all the pads, gloves and helmets that can be purchased I honestly felt like I was kitting out a gladiator not a mere 8 year old boy!

News

2006-09-29T17:32:00.000+10:00

I got my job. Of course though when I return to work next week I take on a new role and will be acting in a higher position. This new job is vacant and I will get to sit in it for a few months and will apply for it as well! So who knows... stay tuned more change is a coming.

Spring Cousins

2006-09-24T18:38:00.000+10:00

Is the title of the folder with these photographs in it. We went to New Farm park today for some updated photographs of the Elliot, Gabi and their cousin Mason. As usual I underestimated how difficult it would be. Gabriella has to hell "monkees" for the photos or we get her wincing instead of smiling when instructed. Plus she just wanted to run amok in the park... as children do. Some great photographs of Mason and Elliot, and just darn cute ones of Gabi even if she was doing something odd at the time. Never a waste of time to have them done I think.

Waiting...

2006-09-20T21:05:00.000+10:00

to find out if I am going to be offered my job. If your in the Service you will know what I mean. Yesterday I had an interview for my job. My job is the management role I have been working in since May this year, although it's not technically my job. I have been acting in it. The person who owned the job vacated it and went to another agency a sideways move. Lots of change management going on where I work.

So I fell into this position not long after the project I have been working on for the last 2 years started winding down. First I went to the top floor where our most senior execs are, I was one of the more junior officers but a promotion nevertheless from my project job. Then when this new job became vacant, I was asked to fill it. Then when it was advertised, I applied for it and based on my written application I was interviewed yesterday and now I wait to see if they will offer it to me.

I haven't done a formal interview since 1999! I have interviewed people but have not had to subject myself to this process for some time, I have been making sideways moves through the service basically on 2 page resumes asked for by people who know my work and essentially I have been able to work somewhere else other than in my permanent position.

This will be, if I am offered the job, my first upwards move since 1999, and it will be up two levels. I have some worthy adversaries, one person has also acted in the job and the other person is well-regarded by our management - I respect both of them I think they would be excellent so it won't be too hard if I lose to them. I am pragmatic if nothing else about jobs, it will only be the seond time in 10 years that I have applied for a new job, the first time I was confident they wanted me, this time, I think they would like to give it to me, it will all depend on me of course - the quality of my interview compared to my adversaries!

The interview
I spent most of last week procrastinating about preparing for the interview. I ended up looking at some things, Strategic Plan, some theory on making policy, my agencies other agencies policy positions, but didn't dedicate any real time to it. In retrospect I know why I procrastinated, because on the day of the interview I finally sat down and devoted a few hours to the task and while I did that, I realised how many gaps there were in my memory, what is the agencies vision? purpose? motto? the major themes of the strategic plan? what are our major challenges and projects? what is the history to some particular policies and what is our position now and so on and so on ... till I had a true crisis of confidence and thought I just don't know enough, how the hell can I do this job!

Just before I left home to go to the interview, I rang P and fessed up about how I know nothing, he calmed me down with this "You've been doing the job haven't you?" to which I replied "Yes, I am doing the job"

I also got a great vote of confidence from one of our senior executives leaving the building the night before the interview, she said "I hope you get the job, I think your good" so I began to focus on some positives thoughts before I went to the interview.

I still think I could have done better in the interview, and after Ell woke me up around 1.30am this mornig due to his having a sore throat I then spent about 3 hours reliving the interview, recalling every stupid thing I said and every good thing I should have said...

If I find out by the end of the week I will post again.

I have always felt this was my year for great change.. have to wait and see.

New shoes pads and the box

2006-09-10T21:46:00.000+10:00

New pads

I wasn't the only one who went shopping today.

P took El for new shoes today and picked up some extra stuff. Elliot couldn't stop talking about "the box" once he got home. I told him I knew what the purpose of "the box" was protection etc. and that he need not talk about it anymore it's just not that novel.

The point of all the new equipment is that this season he will play competition cricket. P wanted him to get used to the equipment so took him outside for some practice.

The Gabster didn't go without either.

2006-09-10T21:16:00.000+10:00

Rainy Sunday afternoon tea

Story about the scones over here.

I am posting

2006-09-10T20:54:00.000+10:00

up a storm over at the food blog. I don't know what this means, but now that the government is back this week I may not be posting for another 2 and a half years. I am so damn busy at work, it makes it very hard to find the down time for this. But instead of packing it in I will persist.

Some fantastic news, P and I are buying Ms Laura Ashley with Quinces, the photo id I use. It was meant to be. After nearly a year I noticed she is still available and contacted the artist, it will be a lovely 10th wedding anniversary and I plan to redecorate our bedroom around her. Can't wait till she is home.

I have booked P and I are double treatment at my favourite day spa as an anniversary treat as well. I am used to such treats and it P will be a day spa virgin. I am sure he will enjoy he will just have to give himself over the the absolute relaxation. Afterwards dinner at our favourite bistro around the corner.

I am possibly being interviewed for the job I have been doing for the last 4 months, crunch time indeed!

Home

2006-08-29T10:51:00.000+10:00

I am here I am not at work. In fact I have not been at work for about a week and two days! On holidays so I have to enjoy it while I can. We did go somewhere else and dined here and here.

There were no kiddies for 3 glorious nights - just big fluffy pillows and lots of sleep and good food, company and shopping. P and I dream of moving to this city we love, love, love it down there.

But being the slack buggers that we are, we won't put the effort into moving but who knows.. one day.

So apart from going to Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast I am spending this week with my very hilarious daughte who keeps us very amused with her growing vocabulary and impish antics.

Not all fun and games unfortunately I have to find her some alternative day care for about 3 days - while her Aunt recovers from pneumonia. It has been difficult but nevertheless it has been arranged and at a cost of course. She is quite a confident child so I am hoping that having this change will not be too hard.

So what does a busy working mother do in her down time well yesterday I cleaned my oven and pantry out - what enormous jobs they were especially since the oven was just belted this winter with roasts galore.

I will return to this later I am feeling bad that I am writing instead of spending time with Gabi.

Not guilty

2006-06-25T20:58:00.000+10:00

I certainly no longer have the sense of guilt I used to have when I neglected my posting. I simply don't have the time I used to. I worked out the other day I am lucky to work below 50 hours a week these days. So coming home and getting ready for the next day or staying up to midnight to do some work, means I just don't fit in anything from my former life.

I don't get to lunch with any of my former colleagues or leave the office very often during the day. The 10 hours in one office can fly. I have an expansive view yet I am surprised the other night when I leave that it is raining.

I have been getting a few questions about my lifestyle choices at the moment or maybe my lack of work-life balance. Alot of women, mothers, who don't work or work two days a week simply can't comprehend what I am doing.

I usually reply - I have to work full-time I get asked to do jobs more senior with more responsibility. I can't and don't say no, its not like I am giving up work anytime soon or even going part-time. It comes with the territory.

I have gotten to an age when I have to think will it be me who is the boss or will I report to someone else for the rest of my life. I find it very difficult I have never managed people as such and now I manage about 10 people. I don't think I am even terribly good at it, sometimes I get told No I am leaving I don't have time for the work you want to give me, so I take it back to my office and I do it! I have always promised myself not to talk about work, this is coming dangerously close.

School holidays started so I dropped El and Gabriella up at my mother's for the week. It is always a rest for P and me to only have to deal with ourselves and work. Miss them madly already though. Especially imploring Gabi to please, please keep some clothing on - it is winter after all! P will miss waking up El to watch the soccer tomorrow night too.

Maybe I will get a chance to catch up on posting this week, especially cooking I cooked a classic dinner for some good friends leaving to reside in Tasmania this week. I was encouraged to try my hand at an English roast - rib on the bone, yorkshire pudding and potatoes in goose fat, beans in lemon butter. And a steamed golden syrup pudding.

We have been quite madly entertaining lately. I say madly because nearly every weekend I bring home work so on Saturdays it is full steam ahead, washing, vacuuming, washing the floors, dusting, tidying, shopping, cooking and then more cleaning. They are the dinners we must have rather than the dinner parties we want to. Sundays we are shattered. There is just no time to smell the roses!

The dream - World Cup Glory

2006-05-21T20:39:00.000+10:00

I love that P enjoys putting so much effort into helping Elliot with his homework. Frankie the school bear came home this weekend.

P and E decided this photograph of Elliot and Frankie in the Australian soccer kit would really add something extra to the diary recital. Lately Elliot is keen to have P help him, but not willing to do much to assist.

We told him that P’s effort is to reflect Elliot’s effort, which means the ante must be upped, especially if E wants to produce exciting work that other students will enjoy too. So after P did the photograph, Elliot, my boy whom I thought would never develop fine motor skills two years ago - wrote in his very best hand, I am so impressed.

Birthday week

2006-05-21T08:43:00.000+10:00

A week that began with Mother’s day and incorporated a birthday can’t be all bad.

In fact I was feted and spoiled. Tuesday was the day, and I went to work as usual. Being in the service there are many employees who I have encountered that view their birthday as an excuse to take the day off. I am not one of them.

Why stay at home, fairly much alone after the morning ritual of birthday greetings and breakfasting and the family go about their day. I mean it’s not their birthday so they will go to school, care or work.

When you go to work on your birthday, those of your friend’s who will know it’s your birthday leave you little gifts, arrange to meet you for coffee, or lunch and generally treat you especially nice. I also baked some cakes to share with my new team in the afternoon and went to lunch with some good friends who shouted my lunch.

My birthday loot wasn’t bad either. I will post a picture of the beautiful bromeliaed, a gorgeous shawl (I plan to wear to dinner in Melbourne in August) Jamie Oliver’s latest Italian cookbook, a fairy cake cookbook, eye rest, vouchers to buy a lovely white shirt I have seen and a great necklace. My mother bought me the comforter set of my choice for our new king-size bed.

I really need to redo all the bedrooms; painting and roman blinds for every room would be the first things to get in order. I have started with the linen for the beds and the wall colours will eventually follow – that’s because P has to do all that stuff.

Strangely enough, I unexpectedly had Wednesday off, Gabi's aunt having the flu meant we were looking for other options. P actually took her to work on Tuesday, it was too late to change my plans to watch her. The next day off however was a welcome break, this year I have really upped the ante with my work committments.

This weekend I am relaxing, some cooking (made one of Jamie’s eggplant, tomato and bocconcini pastas last night) a little bit of catching up with work and generally enjoy the warm days. We also enjoyed a bottle of a Brown Brothers red (1995) we had kept for the last 6 years. Time to drink well and truly.

2006-05-14T20:05:00.001+10:00

Gabriella's card

2006-05-14T20:05:00.000+10:00

Elliot's Mother's day card

2006-05-14T20:03:00.000+10:00

Speaks for itself!

Last two words in case you can't work them out: "house work"

P had to restrain him from writing "all" instead of "most".

Some email stories

2006-05-13T13:09:00.000+10:00

Story one.

Yesterday I was sent an email from a colleague - to let me know what the project is that he is involved in and I suppose to keep me in the loop.

I reply: It is my plan that the team use a central tasklist compiled by another team member to track our work. So if anyone is away we are informed and can take action their projects/tasks need attention etc. etc.

He replies: "Does this mean we have to be team players?"

My thoughts (as boss of two weeks and having known this fellow about one week of it): Is he joking? I am forcing my views on the team? Does he want to be a loner? Is he implying that I should lead by example and be a team player - I interact with my old team quite a bit maybe he doesn't like that?

My email reply: Long and rambling, not forcing my views on anyone, though hope you recognise the benefits of working in a team., I don't want to know your comings and goings just what your projects are......etc. etc. etc. blah, blah, blah.

He pops by my office: "It was a joke."

I drop by to see him later: "Well the problem with me is I over-analyse every word - occupational hazard being a lawyer. I cite a recent example, a male friend sent me an email to congratulate me on my new position, and used the words "nice to see people rewarded for their longevity"

I of course then spent about 15 mins pondering - does he mean I am old!, could he mean because I have been with the organisation 2 years - is that considered a long time these days?

I forward his email to another friend for a second opinion and ask her what does she think he means; she replies "He means congratulations"

Story two.

Yesterday a long day - some hiccups in the morning, and spent half my day trying to sort out something which would not have been a problem if I had been given the correct version of the document in the first place. Lots of exasperating things I am spending time on without any feeling of accomplishment.

At 5.30pm at the end of a long week, I decide to send my last email attaching a number of documents, I cc a host of people throughout my organisation and the recipients and another organisation.

My good friend (the one who I asked the second opinion of above) is standing by me as the spell check automatically begin, the final check before the email is sent .

I tell her how I the other day - I accidentally allowed the spell check to insert the word "cello" over the acronym for a job title of a person in the organisation so it read something to the effect "the cello will review the document." Felt like an idiot of course.

As I relate this story, my spell check moves to the word "anticipate" and in the context of the email it says " X and Y anticipate". In my tiredness and my hurry to leave for the day I have misspelled anticipate and as I talk, I am clicking the mouse, before I know it I have replaced "anticipate" with "antipasti" and the email is gone. gone. gone. gone.

Friend and I laugh hysterically, I have now sent an antipasti email!

On Monday they will all get the antipasti email.

I ask, and if there is anyone reading, I really want to know because I feel like such a tool, do I compound the email error and send another email to all saying I meant to say "anticipate".?

5 Things Good

2006-05-09T20:17:00.000+10:00

Okay, I actually do feel like posting today, but my main issues weighing upon me to write about would be things I am doing at work and as I don't post about work or try very hard not to, it means I have to do a meme instead via her.

Man most of the time I run a million miles from meme - who woulda thunk it!

Given that work is a good proportion of my life lately it's remarkable I can find anything else to occupy my free time - that isn't related to a domestic duty or relationship - so isn't dreary or drudgey or whinegy or just too damn busy (that's the relationship side).

So here they are after much thinking 5 Good Things

1. Movie: The Constant Gardener - a wonderful almost new movie I got to see for a change. It made me examine my social conscience or lack thereof. That it was shot in Kenya and they were the real children of the region, for once I couldn't divorce myself from the make-believe because there was none.

A good friend of mine described herself as "a head office princess" I think that would accurately describe my entire career too- never at the coal face always back at head office!

Today I had a brush with social and justice issues again. Only the scoping of a policy that will eventuate. I thought of the people on the ground and have great admiration for their dedication. I feel so totally inadequate in the face of the enormity of the problems facing some of our society - I am glad there are people out their who think about the issues, pose solutions and who keep getting us together to work on the issues from one angle or another.

2. Loving the Delicious magazine subscription I was given this year.

3. This wonderful weather - days of sun, and cool nights to snuggle and lots of comfort food to make.

4. Our new king-size bed after 11 years we finally have a great big bed, which means when your child is with you it doesn't make a difference to the quality of your sleep.

5. My husband playing me new music - and music he has found on this website. (One of the contributor's is Dooce's husband) P who does not read Dooce but knows that I do was surprised to make the connection.

2006-05-09T20:10:00.001+10:00

Mummy helps Daddy dress Gabi day.

2006-05-09T20:10:00.000+10:00

Daddy dresses Gabi day.

Surprise, surprise a meme that might by youyou

2006-05-03T21:58:00.000+10:00

For some reason this one really made me feel like doing it, its truly inexplicable, found it via her and her.

Accent: Years ago I recall being constantly told I had a polished English accent. I don’t get told that so much, so maybe my accent has broadened. I have been wondering why Gabriella sings nursery rhymes like she listens to a lot of ‘Kath & Kim". I quote: ‘Loike a Diomond in the skoi" I have captured her on quick-time I am tempted to post it a-la- dooce and Leta. I also speak quite fast

Booze: Not as much as I used to, I can really leave it these days. Like to have a few with the girls after work – nothing like a hard day’s work and a few wines and a giggle.

Chore I hate: Going to the Directorate meetings indeed nearly all meetings these days. Last meeting I went to I was only in the job 4 hours and I knew that one of my staff would be getting bad-mouthed, luckily I went with two other very level-headed individuals.

Dog or cat: 1 dog and no more cats – started to think about the impact of cats on the environment so when I returned the cat I got in the cat-swap I decided no more.

Essential electronics: Television and the Computer

Favourite cologne(s): lately revisiting Oscar De La Renta , wouldn't mind investing in some Chanel No. 5 again, sometimes I use Chloe and Shalimar.

Gold or silver: Rose gold for me.

Hometown: Has to be Brisvegas it’s where I have lived most of my adult life.

Insomnia: Whenever I start over-thinking legislative issues. It has happened a few times already this year: due to some draft legislative provisions and the scenarios I was trying to make sure they captured.

Job title: For the last month I was the Acting CLLO, and for the last 2 days I have been Acting Director (Strategic Policy) – means nothing to many but those in Government would know what I have been doing. To people I meet I usually say I work for the Government.

Kids: One boy 7 and one girl 2

Living arrangements: One man, one boy, one girl and one dog – 3 bedrooms needs a new bathroom, large deck, large yard.

Most admirable trait: Thinks strategically and will commit and will rise to a challenge, when needed.

Number of sexual partners: 2000000000000000000000……….only joking, I don’t kiss and tell.

Overnight hospital stays: 2 periods thus far and hoping that's it too, and were baby-related.

Phobias: Fear that I will be found out that I am not as smart as people think I am.

Quote: Can’t remember a joke nor a quote to save my life, if you were test me I would commit one to memory and after the test immediately forget it when some other more useful information needed to take up the space in my brain.

Religion: Not sure, not entirely averse, but mostly not sure - sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a believer. I was waiting for the bus one morning and a nicely dressed young woman sat beside me and pulled out her bible and I looked at the underlined passages, what is she getting out of that I thought, is it something that will happen to me ever?

Siblings: One brother haven’t seen since 1994 and one sister – who I see regularly.

Time I wake up: Mostly between 6am - 6.30am week days and 8.30am weekends.

Unusual talent or skill: Being bored out of my brain in Legal Practice lectures I taught myself how to write with my left-hand ( I am right-handed of course)

I would also compile some pretty nasty nude tunnel ball teams made up out of some of my University colleagues sitting around me for one of my males friends for fun.

Vegetable I refuse to eat: potatoes in stews.

Worst habit: My husband would say staying up late watching trashy t.v. the latest object of my affections "Hotel Babylon" last one was that Hairdressing show - English again, love my Brit t.v., Doc Martin, Red Cap, some of those dark, dark detective murder, suspense, political type things on the ABC.

X-rays: Most recently on my mouth for periodontal treatment oh boobs too - beginning of free mamograms!

Yummy foods I make: see www.gourmetaddict.blogspot.com

Zodiac sign: I rarely ever read star sign predictions. I am an a-typical Taurean, my husband Cancer (we're a good match so the stars say) Elliot - Scorpio and Gabriella Libra, I haven't even read about Gabriella's star sign!

Link overhaul - way overdue

2006-04-29T12:54:00.000+10:00

I know I have ignored just about everything in my life lately for the lure of work. I really can't explain why. I sat through an afternoon tea for a fellow who I will be replacing next week - 28 years with the same organisation.

The testimonials about him were many, long and he was clearly puffed up by the open adulation. I on the other hand sat in my chair at the back hoping no one would say and next week we will have LL who is coming in to fill those enormous shoes.

I couldn't wait till people started milling around so I could slink out of the room and wonder what the hell I am thinking how am I going to live up to him!

But my view is - great corporate knowledge he may have - but a builder of strategic relationships - I think that is my forte hopefully I can add some value despite the fact I have been with the organisation a fraction of the time he has.

Anyway this is a long way coming round to the fact, that I am trying to pay attention to some other parts of my life and recently started looking into the links I still have but really only find the time to visit a handful every so often. So it was a big surprise to find that infernality I linked to is a intelligent, articulate law graduate entering the workforce and she has turned into a boy hard rockers blog and Katie - is this another side of the same woman I linked to a year ago - Katie liked cooking and knitting and going to Art Galleries in Boston - this new Katie likes parties, drinking and partying by the look of things.... not that there is anything wrong with that because at Katies age I had more in common with the latter Katie than the earlier Katie.

Just amused me entirely.

A serious talk.

2006-04-29T12:43:00.000+10:00

Recently one morning in the family room I was picking up Elliot's pyjamas yet again so I mentioned to P that Elliot never seems to put his pyjamas in the right place.

P dislikes me using the never word. His reasoning being that I use it in the wrong context - like "P you never close the shower curtain after you have finished in the shower" or "P you never check the washing carefully to remove my handwashing". I think he is right sometimes.

Anyway I said to P the fact that Elliot never puts his pyjamas in his bedroom was a very accurate statement this time. So we both decided to talk to him about it and as he emerged back into the family room, we both called him over and using our most serious tone said we had something to talk to him about. Of course we decided for fun to overplay the whole 'serious talk' - that's just our nature can't resist a good wind-up if there is an opportunity.

So I told Elliot to sit down in front of me and I sat down in front of him and held his hand and said "Elliot there is something we need to talk about and we have been meaning to talk to you about this for some time" and before I could continue about the pyjamas, Elliot looking quite earnestly into my eyes said " I know, I'm adopted!"

P was looking on and can only say that we just burst out laughing, where the hell did that come from, you could not meet a child that looks more like each of his parents. Serves us right for trying to trick him in the first place - we did end up having the serious chat about the pyjamas - and for about two days I think it worked.

Baby steps

2006-04-25T20:44:00.000+10:00

Okay reason for the lack of posting - due to working ridiculous hours leaving me very little time for life outside of work and the immediate family. I have accepted a second promotion in less than a month so while hard work is being noticed I don't see me getting less busy.

All work and no play makes me a very dull read.

Snapshot - Gabriella - singing riffs from Wolfmother lately... have you been to the carnival.... dnnnnnnner, dnnnnnner, dnt, dnt, dnnnnn.

Snapshot - Elliot: Writing epics on cricketing families today, learning to ride a bike no trainers.

2006-04-25T12:46:00.000+10:00

Party pooped

2006-04-07T07:53:00.000+10:00

Gabriella - beach shadow

Weird times

2006-03-12T21:53:00.000+10:00

I think I clocked up around 65 hours at work this week. It is the culmination of the two year project I have been working on, and it now make it or break it time. I spent the last 16 hours over 2 days reading every word of a 330 page document that needs to be as close to good as it may ever get - though it is bound to be tested by many legal eagles including quite a few judges and probably the court of appeal in the course of the coming years.

One of the most nerve racking things I have done in the past two weeks is try and devise with the help of other lawyers a big change in the legal system in the criminal justice arena. I have been lying awake at nights looking for the loop holes and I came up with one this morning. Though we have come to the conclusion that sometime it is just a vehicle that court are looking for to find a way around something so no matter how tight we try to make things there is always an alternative interpretation even if it is a bad one.

My brain is just about fried lately too many words it is either working at a million times an hour or hardly working at all.

I have hardly seen the kiddies. I saw Gabriella three times during the working week and each time she was in her fairy dress. The times I saw her on the weekend she was addicted to wearing her swimmers. With Elliot, he is going well, but I haven't been here for the homework or the spelling though he did very, very well anyway - so maybe he doesn't need to see me so much.

It has been one of the most difficult projects I have ever been involved in at times I have felt I know everything yet nothing, and yet I feel my career is on the cusp of great change. Which may ultimately mean I will definately forge ahead, but I feel it will be at the expense of time at home.

In between all the hard week, I have relapsed as I once did at university into finding the need for comfort food as there is no time to consider something healthy nor do I crave it. Today it was risotto.

I did manage to keep up with some mummy type duties and when I came home last night from work around 7pm, I made P, El and Gabi some raspberry and white chocolate muffins and some sultana muffins as well.
It should tide them over till I came back to normal in the following weeks.

2006-03-05T00:11:00.000+10:00

"Look at me, look at me" she said, and so I did.

Visiting, my mother and the vacuum

2006-02-18T23:38:00.000+10:00

My mother is here while P is in Sydney for a family wedding. She is tidying up my linen closet - no small job. As an aside she just informed me that my vacuum cleaner bag is clean.

She chastised me yesterday for the state of my vacuum cleaner bag- you know the one that holds the dust, dog hair and old bits of food left on the floor by Gabriella.

She wondered how does my vacuum continue to work given the state of this bag. Well excuse me, I thought those bags were for the express purpose of getting dirty by virtue of the fact that we suck up dirt and associated material up the vacuum cleaner nozzle. My mother continues to perplex me as ever.

A recent revelation

2006-02-04T17:31:00.000+10:00

On Friday, when talking to my colleagues at work, I revealed the existence of my food blog. It wasn't like I just came out and told them, but I had been talking about how much cooking on the weekends we had been doing of late (our fourth feast to prepare tomorrow)when a friend asked me if I kept a diary.

I said that I did and with photographs as well. Sometimes I wonder if he already knew about my blog life because he was being particularly pointed and interrogative and I would have had to lie really say that I didn't have a food blog.

Of course my friends asked me for the address, to which I replied, that I wouldn't give it to them they would have to find it and of course I didn't use my name or address in it. They immediately began a search for it (the food blog) so I made a point of remembering to separate my blogs last night in the event that it is discovered I would prefer this blog keep its annonymity for now. By the way if anyone who knows me (apart from Sugalu and Damien) ever do find any of my blogs I would hope they would leave a comment to let me know.

The last couple of weeks have flown, getting Elliot prepared for school wasn't too bad, Grade 3 at the same school is neither a beginning nor an end so it had a certain fluidness(is this a words?) ah! seamlessness (better word and used extensively by transport planners and the like) to it that I enjoyed.

Milestones nevertheless continue to be reached in our house, with Gabriella in her own bedroom and Elliot in his! Elliot came to my bedroom this morning before we all got up and I had to say to him how amazing it is that he is sleeping in his own bedroom so far from ours when he had slept for five years below our bed on his own mattress.

The milestones however do not come without effort and this one involved obtaining children's bedroom furniture. On the Friday after Australia day, I took the day off and drove to the land of broken dreams and promises - Ikea. Two and a half hours and I left with of course, the ubiquitous 100 tea candles and some curtains and a curtain rod for Gabriella's room. No bed, no toy storage, no drawers, no bookcases. I very well resented buying the curtain and the tea candles and almost didn't given that every piece of decent furniture they advertise never seems to available.

I left Ikea and went to KMART and found a great chair for Elliot to use when playing with his X-box and a small bookcase for Gabriella's room. I also got Elliot some great bed linen at Pillowtalk. We sourced Gabriella's bed and bed linen two days later and we now have semi-organised rooms for them - ceiling fans and painting and cupboards need to be organised further.

After 3 weekends of intense cooking for the various feasts we have prepared for our guests we are down to one more this weekend for P's mother and father and grandmother. Which will be a late Sunday afternoon dinner, with Antipasti ( I have a hankering for figs, prosciutto and gorgonzola) in the back yard then some slow cooked pork belly and truffled mash, finished with a luscious berry and custard/cream trifle.

Those pesky resolutions and incoherent musings on the state of my happiness

2006-01-13T19:49:00.000+10:00

I started this post not long after the latest comment was left on my post about not wanting stuff. I think I will let it stand to prove there is a very good reason why I don't delve into anything philosophical on this blog as I just cannot for the life of me put into words a coherent discussion.

So here is my answer to Miroslav - I think it best if we imagine that I am writing this after some champagne, some nice sauvy blanc, a pinot and some sticky.

Okay so I had hoped not to go into any great detail on my second resolution for this year which is "Not to want so much". But Miroslav, who commented below has called me on it and asked why - how did my my not wanting resolution come about.

The beginning of the New Year is a time to reflect on the previous year and plan for the coming one, which also includes time to assess my finances after the impact of Christmas. What goals should I have, what to do - travel, the house, the kids what are my financial goals this year. I would certainly enjoy a new bathroom, and a couple of interstate trips and dinners at fine restaurants and the rest...the shoes, or the dress, or the necklace, or that outfit for my child, or the handbag or indeed the KitchenAid (but help me I really do still want the KitchenAid and it will only be a matter of time!)

And what does it say about me that once I have the thing I want, there is another thing that I want isn't there always going to be more to want? And in the process my my credit card continues to take a battering from the continual wanting. I guess if I am to clarify, what it is I want to not want are basically material possessions. I am sick of my wanting all the time. I have convinced myself that my inability to get the thing/s I want will make me unhappy.

Something P said to me one day last year " Am I really so unhappy" resonated as soon as he said it and realised I wasn't unhappy and that P would think that I was, really surprised me. I was not unhappy, but for all intents and purposes the outward indicators are of a woman unhappy with her lot. I get moody, and unfortunately it happens mainly at home - I recognise it from Elliot, he tries his hardest at behaving outside the home, at school, at his grand parents at his friend's place and then when he returns home he is able to show his less well-behaved side. I get moody when I am tired, I have been fine all day and then wham, I feel exhausted and one of the children says or does something that pushes a button and bang I don't want to hear or see them for a few minutes because I am so annoyed by what happened.

That's why I think my moody behaviour occurs at home it is sometimes the only opportunity I have to just turn, like that. But yet it got me thinking about happiness and unhappiness. I really wanted to post a link to an interesting article I was sent in my first week back at work - it was certainly timely given my thoughts about happiness and the "not wanting" resolution unfortunately the link now means you will have to pay to see it.

I was hoping that this year I would want less material posessions and that somehow I would be happy or even happier with what I have.

2006 - first update

2006-01-13T06:00:00.000+10:00

So I am 13 days into the New Year and and 9 days into work and already I have committed more time than I should have analysing matters while potentially affecting my work are really more administrative in nature being ostensibly about personalities and inter-office conflict i.e. gossip! Though in my defence I only have these discussions with two other people.

As for my resolutions, at least number one is going well, the lids are being screwed and put on bottles firmly. Number 2, however, "not to want so much" and the closely related number 3 " to maintain a budget" - well this place and its phenomenal sale was (and remains to be) the scene of the dramatic downfall of my 2nd and 3rd resolutions.

Prior to even coming here for this purge, I took items off my wish list and into the shopping basket - more energy will be soon diverted to ensure I show restraint and dont' remove my credit card from my wallet.

STOP WANTING!

2006-01-01T18:15:00.000+10:00

Smile for the camera: my fairy has had a change of heart. The other day, Gabriella requested that we put her fairy dress on her and then she wandered around zapping everyone she could lay her wand on, the dog included. I asked her to pose for the photograph above, and I adore her effort.

Speaking of effort, she is currently charming all and sundry with her impeccable manners, whenever she is given something it is an automatic "sankyou" though to me, it's "sankyou Mummy" in fact so much so that when she responds to P it more often than not comes out "sankyou Mummy,Daddy or sankyou dammy". Of course she has us beaming with pride at our barely two year old automatically using her manners that I really don't care it she does combine our titles.

Open House New Years Day 06 C&J's place

2006-01-01T17:46:00.000+10:00

My friend's C&J had an open house New Years Day soiree, they invited us by text to drop by after 2.30pm, and tempted us with a sausage sizzle and cold lasagne. There were other goodies there too. C & J are the last of my DINK friends (though with two cats) and they are making the most of they lifestyle choice at this time by doing as much renovating as they can, afford.

They bought a cute inner city cottage about 18 months ago and have turned it into a cool haven. It is painted in muted browns, greys and whites, with natural accents here and there I love their caramel floors which you can see in the collage. They have an eye for great lines as evidenced by their choice of chairs.

I think apart from catching up with their diverse collection of friends they wanted to show off their new front yard (and justifiably so) it is a fabulous reworking of their small front yard space into a groovy little private terrace where we could chill out and have a drink while enjoying their tasty morsels. They did all the work themselves, if P and I had a fraction of their motivation....though it should not be forgotten that we did paint the hallway this weekend!

2006-01-01T12:32:00.000+10:00

News Years Evening - at SIL and BIL, great ambience and company and it goes without saying.... but I will say it anyway fabulous food.

Goodbye 2005

2005-12-31T08:52:00.000+10:00

Okay a 2005 wrap up. Tonight we will be enjoying a lovely meal with the BIL and SIL and will see 2006 in, on some fabulous mediterrean style food and very good wine, it bodes well.

The kiddies will be coming too which is nice, one of the reasons why we prefer the stay at home New Year Eve's these days instead of the wild and euphoric lead up to the New Year which used to culminate in a long and depressing journey home as you wait and wait for any available taxi, all the while longing for the comfort of your bed until finally you hit the road and start walking the however many kilometres it takes, along with all the other revellers desperately seeking a haven from the city. Been there done that, don't feel the urge to revisit.

We had a few firsts in our household this year, we threw Elliot a 7th birthday party, it is also a last, what a labour of ..? don't think I would call it love, but we did it for love I guess. I swear our marriage nearly came unstuck on the preparation of this party. Small things like what games to play, why are the medals your making costing us $50! who was invited.

Some advice, don't let you child invite every child in the class because you will definately get the ones with ADD, instead make it a careful choice based on the local gossip about who is better behaved. Two, no more mixed girl and boy parties, while the girls didn't have ADD, they have other attention seeking behaviour, sore tummies, ant bites, nothing that a lie down and some ice and some soothing comments won't fix, but time consuming nevertheless.

Aside from that party, the children continue to grow and be a source of happiness and challenge to both of us. Gabriella's personality is sooooo, what can I say we are enamoured of her, she is acrobatic, daring, funny, cheeky, beautiful, loving and openly affectionate. She recently embraced the concept of the "Ya You" (Love you) as Elliot first did.

Now Elliot, he is becoming quite the wit, and I love his clever ways of making us laugh. For Christmas he gave us a book of his work, I will quote the opening page which is a MEME, or as it is in his book ME ME ME:

Happy, clever, thinking me
Friendly, quiet, shy me
Sporty, smart, super me
Me, Me, Me

I agree with every word. He also began a new tradition this year of each of the table guests toasting and saying some kind words about the birthday person. We have embraced it each birthday and some lovely heart felt things have been said to each birthday person that probably would not have been said otherwise, I hope we will continue with this tradition always.

Work, I have six more months on my two year project then who knows, I wish I knew what I wanted out of my work . My biggest challenge will be getting HR to recognise that I was transferred at level, (they can't find the paperwork of course and have only recognised me on a six month project as this stage), so I have to get them to accept that in six months time they must continue to pay me, because my old department has accepted that I have moved on.

I am hoping for more holidays, more trips than this year, mainly because Gabriella is older. And more importantly my Mother returned to within a 70 kilometre radius and not the 10000 she used to be. I had a relaxing week with her and the kiddies before Christmas, it was nice to be 'mothered' again.

We will be catless in 2006, our dear old cat Grizzie died last year and she now rests under one of my mother's azaela bushes, she was part of a cat swap performed with my best friend. Grizzie died in a fall we think. Sylvester will be returning as my friend's problem neighbour appears to have moved away. I think we have had our share of cats for a while now, maybe one day.

I have considered starting a business, but who knows what will happen, it takes effort. We also toyed with the idea of moving to Tasmania. P is super keen especially after the heat of the last two weeks (maybe one airconditioned room would be good!). His work has changed and isn't as challenging as it used to be, so he needs to think about changes too. I don't know if I am game enough to leave the bosum of the family, and some of my closests friends and pioneer it out down in Tassie.

We will enter the New Year with a freshly painted hallway, I fear we went too strong, I imagined the colours of a stuffed olive, the red on the end, the green on the walls, hmmm it's strong is all I think at the moment especially when the rest of the house is currently quite subtle, we may have opened up a can of worms. It was because of my beautiful new painting by an artist called Deann Cumner, my painting is entitled "What an Angel" and she is stunning. I also would like something by this artist especially that first painting because I spent a few years of my early twenties in a romantic white Laura Ashley dress.

Laura Ashley's Quinces

P liked her work too, but my periodontal work in 2006 has priority and is about the cost of one of her works.

We are planning to attend two gastronomic events, Tetsuya's hopefully in February 2006 and then Vue de Monde in August 2006.

So on that note of the expectation of wonderful things to come, (though getting to the healthy gums won't be so wonderful) I would like to wish any of my kind readers left, best wishes for the future and a toast to your health and happiness. I promise more sporadic posting, I can't imagine giving it up altogether but I can't promise to be as regular as I once was either... but then again who knows?

Beating the heat

2005-12-29T08:17:00.000+10:00

Last night, I opened the curtains way back in my bedroom, and the breeze rushed into our bedroom, combined with the gentle whir of the fan (and the hum of our neighbour's airconditioning unit) I felt envious (of the neighbours) yet both invigorated and glad to be alive as I listened to the the swaying palm trees outside my windows and reflected that we had survived yet again another Christmas where I have mopped the perspiration from my brow and got on with the tasks of preparing the house for Christmas guests.

This year, 16 adults, 11 children. We prepared an early dinner, the tradition of christmas day lunch has long disappeared and won't reappear unless there is a fully airconditioned room where we can all eat in comfort.

Our deck however, is spacious enough and catches most prevailing breezes so it is perfect for a sit down Christmas buffet style early dinner. Plus our backyard is perfect for a dozen children to play while we monitor from the deck. The only problem was, that a storm brewed and hovered around the house from 3pm till 6pm making it impossible to send the little ones downstairs and away from our house so it made for a chaotic time, trying to control the excited sugar loaded, Christmas spirited kiddies along with a panicked storm averse dog, who tried to ride out the storm in the pots and pan cupboard. I would estimate there is about 30cms of head room in that particular cupboard and a bit of a squeeze for a 20kilogram dog.

Once the blasted storm that decided not to be had passed over the house, we sent the kiddies downstairs and things settled into a semblance of normality at least as close as it can get when having nearly 30 people in your home that is, and we got to sit down and enjoy, the Christmas buffet which consisted of:

hot roasted pork belly,
cold turkey,
freshly carved leg ham,
a pear/parmesan and rocket salad,
my brother-in-laws traditional Canadian potato salad,
tomato, boccincini and basil salad,
a mixed garden salad, and
a roasted pumpkin, baby spinach, feta and pinenut salad.

Then later dessert:

My tradional trifle,
Aunty Sue's perfect pavlova, and
a Cheesecake.

I should mention the starters involved first up: where some lovely fresh prawns served simply with a cocktail sauce, and rocket, chilli and macadamia pesto and some barbecued prawns in a chilli marinade and a dill marindade with sliced fresh baguettes. My sister and brother-in-law also prepared some tiny cherry tomatoes filled with basil pesto and rolled slices of roasted capsicum filled with tuna. We had also made a christmas punch (courtesy of the ubiquitous Women's Weekly) a watermelon and blood orange softdrink mixture which could be combined with some champagne for those not doing the driving.

I posted some of the photographs of Christmas day below, the children woke up and discovered their presents from Santa, for Elliot a ping pong table (he received the bat first and a note directing him under our house for the rest) and for Gabriella a large porcelain doll (which Elliot at first exclaimed was a bigger present than his bat!), and Toy Story 1 and 2 being the major gifts.

We inflated and filled our little pool and they got to have paddle around that morning after some french toasted brioche and ham and ham and english mustard on toast (my husband's family tradition). We also got to swim in our neighbours beautiful pool for an hour or so when they headed off for lunch (we have an open invitation to use their pool!) and after we had finished off our chores in preparation for the hoardes who would come later.

Now we are enjoying the post-Christmas relax, where every day is a holiday and the only other traditions we had to complete involved the watching the first day of the Test at the MIL and FIL place (mother/father in laws). My Canadian BIL came too and decided as per his tradition we were to eat Chili con carne, which was surprisingly appetising in 30+ degree heat with approximately 80%+ humidity.

Yesterday we made it to Narnia(warning spoiler alert this paragraph), where I cried with sadness and joy to see a story so much beloved by me as a child come to life on the screen. I bought Elliot the complete Chronicles as a gift last year from Gabriella on her naming day, so I was glad that he had heard the story (as read by his father) before he watched the movie. I cried as I first cried when Aslan met his fate, nothing could console me when for the first time I read the story, not even his later resurection could make the deep sadness that I had experienced when I read what happened to him disappear. I would have to say the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had the greatest impact on me as a child discovering the world of fiction, so I was so happy to see the movie has been executed so faithfully and well.

A few more photographs will be posted as I want to have a few other details committed to this record.

2005-12-29T08:11:00.001+10:00

Christmas day dining table flowers

2005-12-29T08:11:00.000+10:00

Christmas day buffet flowers

2005-12-27T17:59:00.000+10:00

Christmas all wrapped up.

Christmas best so far

2005-12-05T20:04:00.000+10:00

I know I could do much better with the photography but this will do for now, it is too damn hot to get the kiddies in better clothing. I put up the tree the Sunday before last, it took me ohhhhhh 4 hours.

I decided on an overall theme, blue and silver balls, and popcorn strands to emulate the snow, yeah snow on the tree in my family room , in 34 degree heat - I am nothing if not a dreamer.

I

Whinge moan and complain

2005-11-30T16:24:00.000+10:00

Okay here it is Virgin Blue.

Last Saturday morning P and I were discussing a wine deal which involved purchasing two cartons of wine and getting a free return ticket. However the deal stated that we would have to pay the taxes and charges on the ticket.

So in an effort to find out just how good a deal it was we decided that I would find out what taxes and charges are for a Virgin Blue Flight. I selected a journey on their website and then did some comprehensive searching to find out what the tax and charge would be however, there was nothing on their site that assisted. So we decided I would call Virgin Blue and ask them what proportion of their ticket price involved a tax or charge.

Of course I was on hold and on hold and on hold - listening to some extremely tinny "rock muzak" I was on for so long I had to turn the phone away from my ear it was that annoying it was beginning to physically hurt having to listen to it. The muzak was occasionally interrupted with a ~~helpful~~ suggestion that I go to their website where I would find the answer to my query. Well been there and done that - your website absolutely NO HELP!

I also decided that while I was on hold that I would ask another question that was not able to be answered by their ineffectual website - like what the hell is the happy hour countdown about, because no amount of searching their site would assist in my finding the answer.

Finally someone picked up - a giggly boy named Jason I recall, who did
not understand my initial query but after a few giggles abandoned me on
hold again with the crap muzak. He then returned without an answer of
course but a few more giggles and I soon realised I had to put the question again - in words that has less than 2 syllables each " How much
of your fare consists of a tax or charge i.e. a return flight to Brisbane to Sydney $89 down and $75 return - how much of each fare is tax?"

"Okay" he says I will have to put you on hold .. yet again except this time he doesn't, because pretty soon I am listening to the unmistakeable sound of having just been dis f#%*king connected!

Two explanations:

1. Jason is sooo inept he did accidentally disconnect me; or
2. He is quite shrewd and intentionally disconnected me because of his
wanting to avoid the obviously too hard question that he or anyone else
he spoke to while I was on hold couldn't answer.

I was fuming - no answer to anything, half an hour wasted of my Saturday morning listening to crap music plus I didn't have time to go through it all again even though I dearly wanted to let rip into the next Virgin Blue Staff member I could connect with. I so wanted to write them a letter of complaint, but I consoled myself with the fact that I could vent right here the next time I got a chance to.

So Virgin Blue - I don't care how cool you think you are with your cluttered and busy website, your tasteless choice of hold music and your
clearly inept staff but I think your crap and NOT cool!

2005-11-16T13:16:00.000+10:00

That's not my fairy - her face is too unhappy!

Free advice

2005-11-14T16:39:00.000+10:00

If you were thinking, like me, that the recent spate of comment spamming might have just been a phase and it is over now and are pondering whether to turn off word verification- then don't do it. I turned mine off last night and then got hit about four to six times in the space of a couple of hours.

Hosting a 7th birthday party for Elliot

2005-11-14T16:34:00.000+10:00

I am having lots of trouble generally with organising this event, but the one thing driving me mad in particular is trying to find some toy medallions for Elliot's Commonwealth Games themed birthday party we are
hosting for him soon.

I don't know why it is that we can organise parties for 60 or more people, involving adults and children and lots of food and drinks, yet a themed birthday party for a child is very problematic for P and me.

We have over the past two weeks both spat the dummy at various times over the other person's reception of his or her idea. Words have been said. Indeed accusations thrown: whose bright idea was the theme when it is so bloody hard to find bits and pieces for and whose bright idea to invite the whole class including his teacher?

Given that we have never thrown a themed party for Elliot I think it is well past due. We have certainly had lots of family parties for his past birthdays, barbeques, dinners, special days etc, but a party which involves his peer group has not yet come to pass. In my view, a themed child's birthday party is an incredible amount of work, the games, the prizes, the supervision, the venue. The food, well that will be the easy part - pizza from a pizza chain store.

The Venue however, we are hoping to host the party at a park near by but we also have to consider the fickle weather. P has always been concerned about the heat in late November, while I worry more about the rain. I believe that kids cope with heat it's the adults who do not, and this is, after all, a party for the kids. However, if it should rains it will probably mean 20+ 7 year old kids running around our house for three hours.

All is not lost however I have ordered the themed cake and so much cheaper than a Baskin and Robins one - $35.00! We are getting team bandanas made up by P's mum. Only those damn medallions elude us. Making them means purchasing expensive materials gold, silver and bronze paint,having the medallions made buying ribbon ($1 a metre) which is way more trouble and expense than we wanted to go for something some child's parent is going to chuck out when the child returns home with it. Oh
we are trying to buy a marquee for the park - P has started to consider the purchase of a karaoke machine as a wet weather option!

Not to mention the physical toll, I lay awake last night thinking of ways to devise an obstacle course - Survivor style. Can't wait till this party is behind it, on the bright side if it turns out we are failures as our child's party host and we do a bad job maybe he won't ever ask us to do one again.

2005-11-13T22:04:00.000+10:00

I think you can guess what she sees a good deal of around our house. Also here is her hair prior to the cut I carried out on the post below.

I was baking on Tuesday (see my latest foodie post) while she was doing this. I was home taking care of Elliot. The 24 hour bug I thought he had lasted for oh about 7 days! Glandular fever was our Doctor's diagnosis. Poor chap did have just about everything, vomitting, fever, diarrohea, congestion.

I am just loving mucking around with picasa at the moment especially the collage - though like any new feature I am sure my ~~over~~ use could become tiresome (just like the use of the striking!)for ~~every~~ anyone left reading my posts. I am feeling somewhat invigorated about the whole blog thing and particularly inspired after reading some local blogs and the photography. I may start taking my camera around again - it may keep me motivated.

2005-11-13T21:07:00.000+10:00

Hair - by mummy

I attacked her hair on Saturday morning I think the bob really suits her rather than the longer hair - I was worried it was quite crooked and then the hair dried and settled into this neat look. She looks way more cherubic and more my baby with the shorter hair I so am hoping that time can slow down, but with our relentless schedules how the hell can it.

We had some friends over for dinner on Saturday night, a big effort again, though all food I had cooked within the last week so no major concerns. But boy was I hungover today I was completely shattered no headache thank goodness but the lethargy was chronic. It must have been the Kaprioska's I decided we should start with. We had a classic one (muddled, brown sugar, fresh limes and vodka) and then one made with passionfruit, lychees and pineapple juice - FANTASTIC! I am sure it reduced the amount of wine we would otherwise have drank.

At least it made me have a big sleep this afternoon ( after I took Elliot as promised to McDonalds I think I could count on one hand how many times I have bought him Maccas this year so I felt bad trying to weasel out of it once I acquiesced) and I woke up and took Gabriella on her new tricycle to the local park - I will have to post a picture of it next the perfect little girls trike - with parent handle so fantastic for a spin around the block too.

Melbourne Cup 2005 - Pink Thai

2005-11-06T17:24:00.000+10:00

I'm back - while I have been quiet on the posting front it has not been so quiet in my kitchen. I have been producing in the kitchen however my photograpy has been slack so I am loathe to post without pictures.

The ubiquitous cupcake was useful for our work Melbourne cup day function - I did the marshmallow flowered cakes and they were a hit - the whole 80+ of them. The thai food was great too, however some people at work forget that $15 a head doesn't entitle you to all you can eat and some people missed out. A lesson learned - we ordered on the basis of portion control so we need some people to serve and enforce the portion control!

2005-10-23T17:40:00.000+10:00

Miss new 2 at her pool party

We had a small party for Gabriella at her Aunt's place and I have never been one for making kid's birthday cakes so this is one from Baskin and Robins - a beautiful Hi Five decorated cake with World Class Chocolate, Gold Medal Ribbon and Cookies and Cream, well worth the nearly $80 we paid for it. I think the price is a little excessive until you start eating it and then it's worth every penny.

What a difference a year can make.

2005-10-15T19:44:00.000+10:00

2004

2005

We are busy making plans for a little pool party for her in the next two weeks. I am amazed it has been two years - I have fallen in love with this age - so challenging yet so adorable.

A long time between drinks

2005-09-27T20:23:00.000+10:00

and posts for that matter. Time has flown since I last posted, due no doubt to those pesky school holidays and my acting in the other job.

The universe returned to its normal place with me back in my usual job and the kiddies back to their usual routine.......... and yet ......having not taken the week off that I had primed myself to have 2 and a half weeks ago, I feel as though I still deserve a break from the routine of having to get up and go to work. People through no fault of their own are just getting on my nerves much easier than usual and I find myself just switching off mid-sentence so as not to get too annoyed by what they are saying.

I am having this Thursday and Friday off, and yet it is not enough. I envy those people who say I have five weeks holiday coming up. The greatest time I have had off in the last nine years involved my birthing and caring for children - giving birth and waking up every 3 hours just doesn't cut it as time off relaxing in my books!

One day.

We finally had the entire family over for late lunch/early dinner (is it lunner?) on Sunday - it was well overdue. 10 adults and nine children and one more on the way. The announcement of the lastest addition to the clan being announced at the lunner.

The lunner went well, which has put me back in the mood to entertain again. I had taken such a break since my birthday I really wasn't looking forward to getting back into the entertaining mode. But it was smooth and we kept it simple, marinated chicken and lamb - which were later kebabed and barbecued, salads made by my mother-in-law. I made some fresh pita bread and tried strawberries in balsalmic with the best vanilla ice-cream for something different. I certainly recommend it - the strawberries were a taste sensation.

Our social calendar is filling up for October and then before you know it Christmas will be here, but not before my mother comes to visit which I am looking forward to. I remember posting how traumatic it was last Christmas, but I have decided I am going to be better and pretend I am like a well oiled seal and I will swim through the troubled waters with ease. I just won't give into stress and have a talk with my sister too, so she doesn't set off any fireworks either. Just enjoy.

Have I mentioned how addicted to eBay we have been in the last 2 months - we have been eBaying legends. I bought two handbags and one Ralph Lauren navy polo for the father-in-law, more wine and a massage table for my sister's birthday. I have to admit some self-interest in the last purchase, my sister gives fabulous massages and beauty therapist ( so more pedicures for me this summer!) Though it is really for her to make some extra money and have a choice about whether to work full-time.

My only negative experience with my latest eBay ventures involved the Kukui nut necklace that I tried to purchase from a lady in Hawaii, it seems that Border Control decided to pick me as the example, and as I write my Kukui nut necklace (as worn by Sarah Jessica, and Jessica S) is being held hostage by Border Control for $46. My options are, as presented by Border Control 1. pay them $46 have my nuts irradiated and in the process possibly damaged or 2. they can use my $46 to return the nuts to the seller, or 3. I can do nothing and write off the $20 I paid the seller in Hawaii for them. I chose the third option of course and have written that one off to experience, even though given the seller's feedback I appear to be the only one to have had this experience.

Oh well I live to live and learn.

And yet another lesson this week, involved my visiting the Dentist for the first time in 6 years and the 2nd time in 15 years. So I was kind of expecting the full x-rays and the soon to be prepared referral to the periodontist. Which is why I reduced my hospital cover (no more having babies so no more full cover!) and upped my extras cover for "Project - get my teeth in order) It is just ridiculous how I prioritise my time so that I put off a visit to the dentist that cost me all of $20 due to health cover I have ostensibly had for the last 7 years all because I ensure that the children and work are all okay first. Well not anymore, my teeth are going to be put first for a change.

I hope it only takes three visits to the periodontist like my sister's - fingers crossed.

Upside down

2005-09-12T19:47:00.000+10:00

Last week was what I called my convergence week, it was the week within which my social and work life collided and I was so busy working and going out I sit here today in front of my computer and don't know whether I am Arthur or Martha I am soooo tired.

For one I was supposed to be in Noosa tonight after having spent the day at the beach with the kiddies. But where am I? I am at home by myself, while the kiddies and P left this morning to go to Noosa and rang me at work around 11.45am to tell me they arrived safe and sound and were heading for the beach.

Why didn't I go too? I had been planning to go up to Noosa and Caloundra for the last month and up till last Thursday afternoon I still was, till I was asked to consider "acting up" (and that's not misbehaving!) for the next two weeks - it was such a big leap - up 3 levels that I thought I may as well, because if I don't take the opportunity I may not get asked again and everything at work seems to be a moveable feast at the moment.

I ended up having to go out socially, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday each evening held a surprise of its own.

Wednesday night, an announcement by our hosts that they are having their second child. After that I got home I finished off some work till midnight.

Thursday night, checking out one of my best friend's new nose job and wondering whether there was botox and lipo had for good measure - she looked FANTASTIC, she has only admitted to the nose job, but what's that saying "in for a penny in for a pound!" I have to admit it was the other girls who suggested the "extra work" I said her having a 4 week holiday inclusive of time spent in Scotland, Barcelona and Rainbow Beach, might be making her feel and look even better! Also Great Vietnamese food that night at this great restaurant.

Friday night - one of the bosses shouted drinks to congratulate our reaching a MAJOR milestone, it was also as one of the women in my team said "a great day for shoes" all three female members of the team (me included) wore new shoes.

We all thought we looked pretty damn good, we went on to a girl's night out with some other women from work after the drinks. On the way to the girl's night out part of the evening (which we were late for by an hour) we three ladies left to catch a cab after the drinks. My good friend F who is also my boss, had a terrible accident in her beautiful shoes and fell smack bang in the middle of the road where the cabs pulled up - personally I blame the damn unicyclist who caught our attention.

I hate to say it but the fall was coming, because F said that she felt unstable in the killer shoes that morning while completely sober let alone after a few woines, and some fresh air. All I can say is that it was the biggest prat fall and even now I shake my head and wonder how she was not seriously injured (only a grazed knee and bruised elbow thank goodness).

We renamed her shoes shortly after the fall, the "Jumanji shoes" (they were Zebra skin - she wore all black with a camel poncho and carried a Louis Vuitton so all up it was a very very big but stylish fall) We still went out after the fall and were the last three to leave West End that evening out of about one dozen ladies - I think I was hungover for about 2 days and the 9.30am 2 year old birthday party on the farm was the last thing I needed.

I am falling into a dangerous new zone at the moment, probably not the best one as a mother, it involves lots of hard work in between the evenings out and going to work early i.e. 6.45am and constantly thinking and dreaming about work. It's almost no surprise that when we got a chance to let our hair down it was about playing hard too.

I may be losing my balance too for while as I am asked to consider taking on more responsible positions. First up though I am going to go easier on the Friday night drinks for a while so I can slip back into my safe routines again.

2005-09-10T22:29:00.000+10:00

A collection of photographs from this morning when we attended the 2nd birthday party. It was a beautiful morning and the Barnyard Babies were there, pony rides and 3 flying foxes. One of them went over the creek and 2 were on land. I loved the look of the country- side there even though we only drove about 20 mins away from our place.

2005-09-10T22:28:00.000+10:00

Two of the flying foxes and plenty of participants

2005-09-10T22:27:00.000+10:00

There were even lovely looking weeds.

2005-09-10T22:26:00.000+10:00

First ever ride, bet you can't half tell.

2005-09-10T22:24:00.000+10:00

At least there was some water in the crick!

Eddie.. part 3.

2005-09-04T17:11:00.000+10:00

Elliot and Eddie yet again!

Eddie has returned from Switzerland and made a ~~welcome~~ return to our home last week. I think this is the third visit now the second one being before he left for Switzerland and we had to have Suzy Q twice instead, I don't think I posted about her she was a sweet little cow who went to the boys soccer match one day I have posted a photograph of her that is cropped from the other children as I don't like to post other people's children without their permission. She and Elliot were also photographed riding my sister's flatmates lovely red motorcycle - of course all the kids in Elliot's class thought that was so cool because the story Elliot wrote from Suzy Q's perspective (it is her diary after all) said that Elliot gave her a ride on the bike.

On Thursday night when Eddie returned we had to brainstorm about what cool thing Eddie did that night so they decided it would have to do with Elliot's new sport activity Taekwondo (he is doing it once a week on Wednesday nights) P stayed up that night after Elliot went to sleep working on the photograph on Photoshop and unfortunately went to print it and bumped the hard drive and lost all the work and had to re-do it. Not a good thing when your planning to be at work at 6am.

The next morning after P had gone, Elliot woke up and I showed him the photograph, he was not happy. When I asked him why he replied that he didn't like his face and he thought that children would laugh at him. At first I tried a guilt trip, how dare you be so ungrateful when your father stayed up late to do this photograph for you, it didn't work of course, he was still not happy. Then I decided to try another tack and said;

"I know you like to make people laugh when you speak, well this is another way you can get them to laugh. Also if you take yourself too seriously people won't be able to have a joke with you, it's much easier if you can laugh at yourself when others find something your doing funny too." This approach appealed to him and that's the way the photograph went into Eddie's diary.

2005-09-04T17:09:00.000+10:00

Suzy Q

If you need some motivation then do I have a suggestion for you...

2005-09-04T14:58:00.000+10:00

Elliot has always had problems with constipation. I don’t want to bore you with the details but suffice to say it has been challenging for him and us from day to day and week to week and year to year.

Recently we implemented a newly named week for him, it goes like this: Sunday, Pooday, Tuesday, Pooday, Thursday, Pooday, Saturday and so on. We had to take this regimented approach after he was failing to poo after about 3- 4 days and then coming home sick from school - he has refused to use the school toilets since pre-school, plus it would take him up to ½ an hour it is all too difficult at times. We had to leave work to pick him up of course whereupon he would go to the toilet when home and was perfectly fine after that!

Part of Elliot’s problems in this area have certainly been behavioural as well as, initially physically. I have many times considered taking him to a professional to obtain some guidance but we have soldiered on and read lots and spoken to many other parents and Dr's (who really only recommended medication which does not augur well for a relaxed day at school).

Our latest regime, however, appears to be going extremely well (touch wood), and we have found ourselves having to remind him less and less to have a try. The other morning, he decided to go himself and as I was in the bathroom I decided to praise him to reinforce the behaviour and mentioned how proud I was that he was going regularly now and without reminding. We also discussed his methods for relieving himself as impaction had been a part of the physical problem in the past. ( I know this is too much detail for some of you and Elliot is going to absolutely kill me one day!)

Anyway Elliot replied that what he likes to think about when trying is that there are ants in his bottom and because he hates ants so much he tries to push them out as fast as possible. Naturally I was surprised and amused, indeed I had to contain myself from laughing out loud but said instead reasonably seriously that his idea sounded like an excellent way of motivating himself to get the job done.

So there it is some motivation for anyone who might be suffering with this problem - just think of the creature you dislike the MOST in the world, imagine it is inside your bottom and away it and you will go!

2005-08-23T20:44:00.000+10:00

The view January 2005

2005-08-23T20:43:00.000+10:00

No View August 2005

What a difference 8 months has made to the perspective I once had from my office window. While I am feeling sorry for myself, I also count my blessings, I don't have an internal position on the floor so I get to actually see what it looks like outside and I am not in the building directly opposite this one where all the barristers chambers are.

2005-08-23T20:42:00.000+10:00

Celebratory Tim Tam and soccer trophy

Well I noticed I posted the photograph sans the biscuit in his hand, let me assure you there is one there.

I took this photograph not long after Elliot and P returned home on Sunday from the trophy ceremony. Gabriella and I stayed home which is what we did for almost the entire soccer season, an adventurous, active and inquisitive two year old and Saturday morning soccer just are not a good mix. We did make it to his last game of the season and I am very glad that I did. Luckily I happened to look up from the playground with Gabriella to catch Elliot about 50 metres away scoring a goal. I actually managed to see him score 2 more that day. He was playing like a person possessed. I believe the pep talk P gave him beforehand to go out there and enjoy it as it was the last time they would play as this team and his last season of soccer for a while, he really played his best. I was/am so proud of him.

It is amazing what progress the team had from last season. While they did not play the first season together as a team, but the fact that it was all the players second season just meant they played with more confidence and won quite a few more matches.

Looks like it's cricket in a few weeks and then next winter AFL before it gets to rough so P says.

2005-08-23T20:41:00.000+10:00

Competition entry

This is actually an old entry for a Big Rooster competition to win a trip to New York and go to the Zoo. It was from about 8 weeks ago during the holidays when the latest animated movie came out, Madagascar.

I really loved his entry and it was actually in colour, as you can see we didn't help him at all, because if I did it would have been presented without spelling errors. A pity it didn't win, I thought it had some charm - pity I wasn't a judge then again.... bias and all that.

Finally,

2005-08-20T20:32:00.000+10:00

I have returned from my self-imposed exile. I am surprised when I get my stat reports that anyone comes at all given my lack of attention these last few weeks - so my apologies.

I blame work of course. I have been writing, a lot. At work. I am into 40plus pages of a document with more editing and re-writing to be completed over the next week. I have also actually had to be at work 5 days a week lately due to some attrition within our team. I felt as the sole senior team member I really should come in Fridays, which I have dutifully done the last 5-6 weeks.

Naturally this means I have less time for everything else in my life which are actually the more important things. Hopefully my work-life balance will come back soon.

Gabriella is still awake at this late time this evening having had a late afternoon sleep. Hopefully she will sleep through though I was up around 3am for about half an hour last night settling her. In an effort to encourage her to go back to sleep without our intervention, we had to move Elliot out of their bedroom and he has returned to the mattress which is pulled out from under our bed and returned each day. The more things change the more they stay the same. We had an 8 month reprieve from having a child in our bedroom. I don't know how much longer this will last but at least we are sleeping through the nights most evenings these days so it seems a small price to pay for some sleep and sanity.

In between writing I am also reading to her and dealing with her videos. Apart from the sleeping issues with Gabriella she is in a very whingey and annonying stage about 30% of the time I spend with her. If her favourite video finishes she cries until it is rewound and replayed. I call it the 'rewind' phase as we experienced much the same with Elliot. Whenever tape finished we had to wait till it was rewound which meant we spent much of our time saying "it's rewinding, it's rewinding.." like they know what we mean!

Gabriella and I are home alone this evening, P took Elliot to the Lion's game so no doubt they are having a great time. I can't complain as the last two Friday evenings I have stayed at work to have a drink with some colleagues I guess that comes with the territory when you start working Fridays you feel that you are entitled to that end of week drink which then turns into quite a few, although I was home by 9.30pm both times (we did start early though and didn't have dinner so I feel much worse for the wear when I do get here and somewhat guilty that I haven't seen the children for 12 hours).

I think I will have to do some posting on my food blog next I have a quite a few recipes to catch up on. We had a public holiday on Wednesday for the exhibition and all my plans to take the children to the park dissipated with some visiting to my mother-in-law and shopping and working in the yard and finally cooking and baking. I managed to make, sushi for lunch, 2 batches of cranberry, pecan and white chocolate cookies, one flourless orange and chocolate cake, minted pea soup and butter chicken in the afternoon.

2005-07-23T22:24:00.000+10:00

Who said that kids.....

2005-07-23T22:08:00.000+10:00

...need toys.

The story about the birthday hat.

2005-07-23T11:00:00.000+10:00

About a year ago we were shopping for birthday presents when we found this hat. We decided to buy it on the basis that it would become entrenched as a part of our very own family tradition - we call it the "Happy Birthday hat of humiliation" and the person celebrating their birthday must be photographed wearing it at least once during the day.

Well technically it is not Elliot's birthday I do have a photograph of P wearing it from last Thursday night however that is not the one for this post. That night dinner of the P's choice was butter chicken, tandoori chicken, indian breads, basmati and then some lovely tiramisu (see below) during dinner there were many toasts to the birthday boy which included a first from Elliot who toasted his father for being so kind to him. A big thank you also to my sister who came and cooked this dinner for us as well, to make up for my late return from work. P's only other desire for a successful birthday evening was to be able to watch the start of the test - which he did.

While preparing dinner I had jokingly asked my sister's flatmate a.k.a to Elliot as Uncle D, (who had been invited and kindly made the beautiful tiramisu) if he would indulge us with an interpretative happy birthday dance after dinner. Instead, Elliot piped up and decided that he would indulge us later with his highly entertaining "Irish dancing" wearing the "HBHOH".

Basically Elliot's Irish dancing is a mockery of Irish dancing. Don't get me wrong I went to a Riverdance concert during the height of it's popularity and took my mother and Aunt so at one stage I was rather partial to it. Elliot was introduced to the concept at school on St Patrick's day and thought it was somewhat absurd that this style of dancing involved so much feet action but little to no upper body movement.

When Elliot performs his Irish dancing for us what we enjoy most is his facial machinations which make up for the lack of his upper body movement and he really does have quite good footwork.

Blogger is playing up so I will post a picture of the birthday tiramisu later.

Finally here it is

What a relief!

2005-07-19T22:06:00.000+10:00

My grown up looking babies.

I don't have to be my boss - oh happy days! My boss stays my boss she was told today and she was so relieved as well. Finally a job where I don't have to watch the accident waiting to happen slowly unfold in front of me. We had to buy some champagne to celebrate the fact that we are not being promoted - I suppose to many people that would seem quite strange though not to us, we want to finish our project as well as we can and within the limitations we have with our family responsibilities - rising up further for both of us would have put our family work life balance at too great a risk. Thank God our big boss saw the light and wasn't so egotistical not to ask for one of the senior staffers to return to us and help us again and make this all possible.

On a sadder note I attended a funeral today to celebrate the life of the father of a close girlfriend. I feel I am on a path- no more 21st's (until our children's) no more marriages (unless they are second marriages or our children's) no more children (unless they are grandchildren) more divorce, illness and funerals. While I shed tears for my friend and her family, I thought of the times ahead for all of us and I hope I will be able to cope with my inevitably sad times ahead with as much grace and good humour as my girlfriend and her family did today.

Help Wanted: preferably a wife.

2005-07-12T20:53:00.000+10:00

Within the last two days I have attended 8 meetings. Of those 8 meetings only 3 were under 1 hour.

Last night I left work after 6pm and returned this morning before 8am. For some people this is par for the course for me it is not my preference. It is not the amount of work that bothers me so much as the impact on my contribution and in particular the decrease of my participation in my domestic life.

This morning while moving between meetings I spoke to my team leader (she is also my best friend) about how busy it has been for us since we have been one team member down. We discussed that we both agreed it best to take work home rather than stay in the office. As it was better to put in an appearance at home even if it meant we did not get back to finalise our work tasks till after 9pm which was the case for both us last night.

She also mentioned to me that her husband would be leaving for 5 days to work away and that it had become more common that he would be doing more complicated work. She had hoped that as she had supported him through a particularly busy period of work only recently, that he agreed to return the favour. It wasn’t to be - he was being paid far more for his work than she was for hers, so in the scheme of their family life the demands would have to be greater on her supporting him and the three children no matter how pressing her full-time work than vice-versa.

So knowing how busy we were next week she said she was going to have to possibly ask her mother to live with her for a week to get by while he was away (they have 3 school age children). I jokingly mentioned that perhaps we needed to combine households as my husband had agreed to step-up and help more with the domestic side of life or that maybe we should just pay him to stay at home for us. She said the solution really was that what both of us needed was a wife - it was something that another extremely busy girlfriend of hers had always advised!

I realised however, her idea however wasn’t such a big joke tonight as P and I helped Elliot with his homework, it suddenly dawned on me that we had forgotten to attend an interview that afternoon with his teacher, despite the fact that we had chosen the appointment last week. I am completely gobsmacked as I have to tell the teacher I was so busy at work that I just forgot about my other obligations. I feel even more careless and stupid because I had even marked it on our events calendar.

Now if only I had a wife who was on top of all these things then I would have been reminded about the parent-teacher interview.

Food glorious food

2005-07-10T11:06:00.000+10:00

The only action I am posting about lately still seems to have a focus on the kitchen! (Probably it's the only area of my life I have control over at the moment, sick children, and broken sleep because of it and work is up in the air)

If your interested I have posted several new additions to Not Just Desserts - Seafood and pumpkin chowder, roast pork (several days earlier), a few quick canapes and a discussion on menu planning for next week.

Work is actually quite over whelming at the moment I may soon be thrust into the position of the top job with my project team against my better judgment. I really didn't think it was such a concrete possibility I always imagined me supporting a new boss for the next 6 months instead it might be more like me looking for some new support while most of the team is away.

Why didn't I run earlier which is my usual instinct? I guess this time though I thought it was time to stand up and take some responsibility and very soon lots of responsibility for the future direction of my organisation will rest quite heavily on me. So I am preparing to kiss my reasonably balanced family and work life good bye for the next 6 months.

I hope the career woman who is causing this to happen- she is leaving on maternity leave does what she says is going to happen and comes back earlier i.e. 3 months. She has a different perspective to me about her involvement with home life I don't begrudge it all - it's a personal choice.

I have deliberately stayed clear of being suggested for higher jobs, by keeping an extremely low profile. If I can I rarely attend meetings with senior executives so naturally they think "lushlife who?" That is to be no longer shortly, I will only be with my beautiful girl ostensibly 2 days a week and I may have to work on my weekends and long days as well.

I will miss the one day of contact I have with Elliot at school too, I had hoped to attend his next excusion after he implored me one morning on the way to work to come and help with some school things - of course it broke my heart.

I really don't care about the pay-rise it's a means to an ends. I have to just get with the program, it's me or it's me teaching someone else. I am definately having a crisis with my confidence to push the policy agenda of a place I have been with for 1 year in a policy position which ultimately relies on a indepth knowledge of the changes in policy, culture and legislative history for the last decade and a half and it's partnerships in the whole system!

This is definately the cross-roads for my career it is a maker or breaker. I just thought I would be making this decision when Gabriella was older. If I post in six months time I am opening a restaurant - you will know I have failed..........

2005-07-03T13:20:00.000+10:00

Some recent kitchen action captured in Not Just Desserts.

2005-07-02T20:13:00.000+10:00

Holiday cooking time.

On Friday I had a friend of Elliot's come over and to pass the time I had them bake some cupcakes and decorate the cakes themselves. I will post to move photographs of the outcome:

These are Elliot's friend's cakes which are quite colourful especially when compared with Elliot's who seemed to be fairly monochromatic in his colour theme.

When I suggested that Elliot might want to use a bit more colour he did, the cake with yellow on it!

They really enjoyed themselves and I let go and let them do just about everything so it was good fun for me too.

You should have seen their eyes light up when I said they could change into some old clothes and play out in the back yard and get as dirty as they like, the yard is pretty wet after one week of rain. I would spy on them now and again and it still wasn't wet enough so they started using the hose on each other, after that it was a nice warm shower and a plate of nachos. In my view, even if it is wet that shouldn't mean they can't play outside at all.

2005-07-02T20:07:00.000+10:00

My stripey legged girl. I had a hankering to see her in striped stockings so I bought some from the new David Jones at QueensPlaza on Thursday.

One of the things I am most proud that my girl has worked out already, as I declared to my husband today, is that she already knows how to accessorise correctly.

For example, I chose the above outfit and she disappeared into her room and returned wearing the hat.

No fluke, because again today, I chose a beige dress, dark pink stockings with multi-coloured spots and a dark pink long sleeved top under the dress. Gabriella disappeared into her bedroom, (I had asked her to get her shoes being the original reason) and she returned wearing her dark pink hat! (sorry no photographic evidence but take my word for it I am one happy fashion maven and come to think of it she has done it once before and picking for herself the right floral hat for a particular floral outfit!)

2005-07-02T10:57:00.000+10:00

Special treat for the holidays - sleeping on the sofa bed in our family room.

Dorothy, Dorothy, won't you come and dance with me, cha, cha, cha

2005-07-02T03:58:00.000+10:00

What am doing here tonight, resuming a post after my self-imposed break from the internet? Well it's 3.30am and what else do you do after a bit of a surf and catch-up on the net while your daughter is dancing away the wee hours of the morning with Dorothy the Dinosaur. Although I must admit if she is not a bona fide, singing, all-dancing, romp-pomp-a- stomping, full-on Wiggles fanatic by the time I take her to the Wiggles concert in December then I want my money back!

I think the live concert experience for a two-year old is a particularly strange concept, I mean not so long ago she was searching behind the television for the people who apparently spent their day inside the box diligently performing over and over again for her entertainment. So what will Gabriella get from the whole live performance, the press of the crowd, the toddler mosh pit, the smell of the sweat of the live and much older Wiggle than the one she is currently watching on the up to ten year old videos - I hope she finds it simply thrilling.

I took Elliot to one concert only a Play School one - it was a disaster he was petrified and clung to my leg like a barnacle so I thought spending $50 to $60 on Hi-Five or the Wiggles in order to scare the living s*it out of your son just isn't the done thing. Gabriella though may be a differen story an altogether much more confident babe - witness the mega shopping mall experience - once out of her pram she is gone with the wind, crowds just don't appear to phase her.

Now why am I up tonight? Simple answer, it's my turn, P did the 2.30am to 4.30am shift last night so I guess it is only fair.I really don't know what else you do, when your 20month old just wakes up in the middle of the night and is "ping" bright as a light bulb and appears to be completely healthy, so no medicinal resources can be used to produce a drug induced slumber - dammit! To be fair the last two nights she wasn't so well, a bit of a cold but no temperatures, maybe an upset tummy but nothing you need to rush to the hospital about, unsettling yes and perhaps this is why I find myself here tonight.

I was going to try the no stimulation but she is so bright and having her climb all over us in bed to get out of the room or screaming in her cot just doesn't seem to be a sane solution, so we have decided to take the insane path instead taking it in turns to burn the midnight oil. I wonder how long this will last????

If I don't post again on Sunday then we are back to normal.

P.S My self -imposed break is my method of getting me reinvigorated about posting instead of whinging about my lack of enthusiasm about it every time I return.Though there will be another reason for my not posting for a while again, P has got two personal projects on the go, a website for our friend's beach house and some animation advertising for a neighbour which means he needs to devote some serious personal time to the computer.

Tuning in

2005-06-14T20:19:00.000+10:00

I think when your on a break it is even harder sometimes to start up again, and I am all where to start?

It's not that I haven't thought about posting because I think about something to write every single day. But then I sit down in front of the computer and read so many other interesting posts on other people's sites I run out of time to write my own.

So baby steps are always best.

On the weekend I actually posted some photographs and a couple of older recipes on my food blog for the first time in absolutely ages, I need to catch up on a couple of recipes there because if there is one thing that doesn't stop in my life it's my interest in the kitchen.

This weekend I was interested in all things Thai and bought lots of Thai basil, fresh galangal, lemon grass and Kaffir lime leaves. I also bought a fresh duck so it was a red curry paste (from scratch) plus duck and Pad Thai. The next day I tried the same curry paste with beef cheeks!

I also felt inspired enough to make some cinnamons rolls which I discovered on Small Hands site. I am most relieved to say they turned out extremely well and will post a photograph and the same recipe I used hopefully next weekend.

A disjointed post but I wanted to write a couple of things about Gabriella who is just sooooooo incredibly entertaining for us at 20 months old. Lately when I ask her to dance she races up to her and Elliot's little dining table and jumps up top and does a dance which involves alternatively stomping her feet and dropping her shoulders. I have no idea where she has learned about dancing on table tops but it certainly seems like she is starting young.

The other day P was playing "Wild Thing" on Elliot's guitar and she would run to the table jump on top dance around and then stage dive into my arms, giggling all the while. She really is our "Wild Thing."

This weekend she learned how to say reasonably discernably "Elliot" and "Mason" but the word she says most clearly is "HAPPY".

2005-06-08T20:04:00.000+10:00

My little ham

Highlights

2005-06-05T21:49:00.000+10:00

I had some highlights that I wanted to capture before they become a dim memory of yet another busy week followed by two jammed pack days of childrens' activities and adults activities and just being well, very generally full of stuff like Elliot's soccer, and cooking and shopping.

Friday afternoon enjoying lunch at a Bistro at Dockside on a banquette surround by big fresh yellow cushions, eating some gorgeous duck with a glass of crisp white. The company, a group of women I have known for 2 decades celebrating 4 decades of one woman's birth years. It was special and I felt special being invited.

Saturday evening - with P, a night at a play, "Vincent in Brixton" by the Queensland Theatre Company. A late night supper at my favourite South Bank restaurant chatting and staring out into the luscious darkened park occasionally sharing my Duck pie, mash and asparagus (couldn't resist the duck again!) a glass of pinot and trying some of P's Thai spaghetti with poached salmon, lots of mint, lemon grass and kaffir lime flavours.

Sunday morning a wonderful sleep-in without the children till 9.30am then I had to wake up and make our oh so indulgent breakfast, toasted soy and linseed english muffins with avocado, baby spinach, smoked salmon, poached eggs and hollandaise. It's been a long, long time since we have had so luxurious a morning.

Then I had to hustle and bustle to take Elliot to Bunnings to make a mini herb garden. Then more tooing and frooing with the children over to Nanny and Poppy's for the first birthday of the youngest cousin, then back from that and off to the fete close by.

Later on, I made time to make a comforting Sunday evening dinner of slow roasted lamb shanks and cannellini beans(I will post the recipe and picture on NJD later this week) mashed dutch cream potatoes, and sauteed zucchini,garlic and lemon! A lovely bottle of red again. Hmmm winter.

Off to bed, I am being reprimanded for starting to type just as I said I was also going to bed.

2005-05-27T22:49:00.000+10:00

How did this happen you may well ask?

2005-05-27T22:16:00.000+10:00

Cyclone Gabriella at it again.

This was a photograph I took not long after I posted about my morning routine and how close I was to pulling out my hair before getting us all out of the house on time.

The morning I took this photograph I think Elliot ended up 30 minutes late for school for the first time ever. I just could not get it together that morning and situations like Gabriella pulling things out of those drawers (which cannot be shut - we have tried) is something I simply cannot time manage.

I guess taking the photograph took a minute but I felt compelled to get this on record. I clearly recall the despair I felt as I sat on the sofa just opposite from the kitchen as with rising panic I put on my shoes quickly in an attempt to get out of the house. My head was down concentrating on my shoes, when my eyes rose this was the scene that confronted me. I just felt so overwhelmed - why can't I control the morning better why does it control me?

That day, once I realised I was going to be later than 9.00am I thought what the hell, I will just achieve everything I need to and then get going - hence a whole 30 minutes late.

That afternoon as I picked up Elliot I spoke to another mother about our daughters who are of a similar age and she asked me if Gabriella's busy fingers were bothering me. I replied that her busy fingers are driving me insane. I can't decide if I have simply forgotten about what 18 month old children were like (it was 4 years ago for Elliot) but Gabriella just moves seemlessly from one mess to another these days.

I am continually amazed at what I will consider giving to her for a few moments peace, knowing full well of the risks. Of course my trade-offs rarely pay-off in my favour, for example, a clip seal jar full of hundreds and thousands, a sealed tub of yoghurt, the open pantry, my handbag, my wallet. I know, some really stupid things when I write them now but at the time, it seem like a perfectly rational decision when compared with the hell I would have to pay if I did not let her and the screeching ....

Sometimes I have the resilience to deal with Gabriella's tantrums sometimes I don't. I have been watching Super Nanny and I do know that I am the one who must exert control and about 80% of the time I do, occassionally I am weak and I let her have her way but I am learning that the more I give in the more it costs me later.

On my brief holiday, I also decided I would have to get up earlier to reclaim some control over my mornings so I have started setting the alarm for 6am and getting up and having breakfast before the kids get up, so far so good so I thought until today as I arrived at school at 9am. Elliot is supposed to be in class by 8.50am and as I was hurrying Elliot out of the car I got a phone call from the school office checking he was still coming to school for his Under 8's week excursion - seems I still have a bit of work to do on my home time management!

Interview questions

2005-05-25T20:48:00.000+10:00

In an attempt to motivate myself to get back into the posting groove, I put my hand up for some interview questions from this person.
Here are the questions and the answers:

1. Do you arrange your CDs in any particular order? what is it and why?

I have all our CDs in two big drawers under our bookcase and there is an arrangement of sorts, jazz all together, classical all together, Australian rock, Brit Pop, mellow men, mellow women. It's certainly not arranged alphabetically or even in order of purchase but based on more of a musical style arrangement. I know I can certainly be anal i.e. the whole making coffee and dishwasher cutlery organisation but I have drawn te line at alphabeticising the CDs I think that would just be going way too far.

2. What was the best thing about the birthday party that just took place?
There were so many bests but I would have to say the top of my list is that I totally loved the company of my girl friends - I have great female friends who have always known how to party up a storm, I had them and many good times with them before I had the husband and I am glad that despite our having grown up and got responsible jobs and in the process of trying to raise our children we do know how to leave that stuff behind for one night and totally indulge ourselves in drinks and dancing and jokes and smokes!

3. How has the past decade been compared to the one before that?

In a word "busy."

The decade previous to the last was really all about me, me and more me and some travel and despite becoming a lawyer still trying to work out what I was going to be when I grew up and being with P.

This past decade has been about having 2 children, buying and selling houses, trying to forge a career yet not forging so far ahead that the children are forgotten. It's the decade where I have the least sleep ever in my life and earned more money yet spent less money on me.

4. How would you feel if Gabriella decides to adopt her husband's name if/when she gets married in the future?

Oh I wouldn't worry about it - if it is HER personal choice so long as her husband to be doesn't insist she change her name. If her husband to be insisted I wouldn't be too happy about it.

I have always said that if I had have married 5 years earlier than I did I may have changed my name too.

A secretary from our work who is quite a malleable young girl on the Friday night a week before her wedding was being harassed by our boss not to change her name. I thought the pressure to NOT change her name was just as bad as there being pressure to change her name - because she said her husband to be didn't mind.

5. What was Elliot's first word? When did he utter them and how did you feel?

Babies first words, I find are one of those milestones that it is really quite hard to determine exactly when and what was said. I think he said the usual da,da and I don't really count as a real word. I think he said something quite male really like "car" his obsession with cars started early I was amazed that he knew how to push a toy car and say "vrooom" when no one had ever even shown him how.

I can quite clearly remember him saying his first swear word though after I had dropped my heavy Le Cruset frypan on the floor, "Mummy, you say sit, sit" he said. "Where did you hear that ?"I asked him incredulously "You, mummy" he replies. I then feel about this small.

The milestones which are my favourites with Elliot is the first time he has he told me he knew what it meant to use his manners without being reminded and apologising without my asking him to do so.

These are the The Official Interview Game Rules if anyone else wants to play.

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."

2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.

3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

2005-05-23T21:59:00.000+10:00

Sky at Rainbow Beach.

I am so busy now that I am back at work I only have time to post a few pictures and will catch up on the narrative later.

This Rainbow Beach beach house is going to being available for rent and my husband will be preparing a website for it, so a sneak preview shouldn't hurt.

P.S. An update under the photo of the band about party night details.

2005-05-23T21:56:00.001+10:00

More Beach House.

2005-05-23T21:56:00.000+10:00

Succulent, Rainbow Beach.

2005-05-23T21:55:00.001+10:00

More Rainbow Beach Sunday morning.

2005-05-23T21:55:00.000+10:00

The pavillion for the living/dining and kitchen area.

2005-05-23T21:54:00.000+10:00

The beach house at Rainbow Beach

2005-05-23T21:53:00.000+10:00

Sunday morning Rainbow Beach 100 metres from our friends new beach house.

2005-05-23T21:52:00.000+10:00

Elliot and the stingrays - Underwater world Mooloolaba

2005-05-23T21:50:00.000+10:00

Just across the road from our apartment at Mooloolaba

2005-05-23T21:49:00.000+10:00

This is what Missy Moo was up to behind that green bag.

2005-05-23T21:48:00.000+10:00

Missy Moo in the chaos that has been my life over the last week and a half.

2005-05-23T21:46:00.000+10:00

The band on my big night.

It was so worth all our effort. The venue a big hit - so many of the guests loved being in such a great space there are few who have been inside such an incredible use of so much space. In a couple of months my friends M&J will be renovating and creating two more indoor terraces and using some beautiful and enormous french doors that they obtained off a European Chateau on the warehouse. But that doesn't mean it takes any gloss off the fact that I got to have my party at unique venue.

All up there were about 60 people. I was one staff member down, but had some very helpful family and friends were there to assist P prepare the Chinese food which went down very well in these cool little boxes. In fact the food went down too well as so many people decided to have seconds that by the time the stragglers came to have some food they ended up missing out. My uncle (a chef) thought we had catered for 100 people - but what can I say they were a hungry hoard.

I believe it was because we didn't get around to putting out as much hot food as we would have liked, it was that staff member whose boyfriend rang an hour before she was to arrive and tell us about the "accident".

I have to say in my experience I have never in some 5-6 years of working in the hospitality industry been unfortunate enough to experience an "accident" on the way to work on a Saturday night. Maybe I am being a tad ungenerous but puhhlease Saturday night an hour before the time your to start work and your boyfriend rings for you!

Anyway back to the party which went on despite the absence of a staff member. The cosmos, wine, champagne and beers also went down well. There were quite a few nursing a hangover the next day, me included.

The 80’s theme dressing. I did make it optional so I would say only about 8 people all up came dressed but it was very well done by those eight and most of them "show ponies" who didn't mind making themselves the centre of attention. Two notable mentions, one friend raided her mother’s wardrobe and wore her long sleeved, dropped waisted, high neck (a la Princess Di) gold lame number complete with Alice head band, another friend came in her very own Country Road stirrup pants and bat winged brindle leather jacket and big hair. They were 80’s classics right down to the handbag complete with 80’s tampon.

Some of the quotes guests made to me at various stages of the night:

With cosmopolitan in hand: "I feel like I am on the set of Sex and the City"

In front of the band: "I feel like I am in the middle of a foreign movie set it’s so surreal with the lighting of the band and in this warehouse"

From a friend who thought I might be trying to fob a talentless family member on them: "When you told me your sister was singing I thought it might be a bit of a worry, but she is fantastic!"

Basically the feedback was very good, but never having hosted terribly many of my own parties maybe that’s what hosts get from kindly guests.

I decided to throw myself into enjoying the evening and moved around to all guests with drink in hand at all times. I didn’t want to stand around and be sombre and sensible. Later in the evening after my sister finished her set and the band started to move into serious muso jamming mode, I moved the contingent I knew would be into dancing back upstairs and we cranked up the 80’s tunes.

There was much crazy dancing recalling our best 80’s moves, limbo and then some skipping – yes skipping you know "Fish, fish come into my dish."

Of course there was also many more drinks, some darts (yes a real dart board - to bring back memories of my misspent youth in London pubs i am fairly handy with a dart) and by now drunken chit chat until about 2am when the last of the revellers departed and P and I retired to our cosy bed under our canopied bedroom in the middle of the warehouse.

It was the most fun, to have new friends, family and my very oldest friends (20 years) throw themselves into the revelry I could not have asked for a better way to celebrate.

My goodness

2005-05-11T21:50:00.000+10:00

so neglectful of my other world. It's not that I don't think about it, because there have been many times when I have thought about writing something when it was happening, but then upon returning home after a busy day of writing, or just a busy family day, I just can't bring myself to sit down in front of the computer... again.

I did the kiddie run this morning and although Gabriella turned up in my bed at 5.30amish, I didn't budge out of bed until 6.45am, that is a particular time which I recognise as being the latest I can stay in bed. For if I linger any longer, instead of cutting things fine, I am definately unlikely to leave the house by the ETD of 8am.

As soon as I was up I knew I had to make every second count, so before I could even leave the bedroom to release the dog I made my bed then moved straight into the kitchen to provide breakfast for Gabriella, while preparing my lunch, Elliot's lunch and Gabriella's, at the same time ensuring Gabriella didn't leap from her high chair. Then I made Elliot breakfast and asked him to eat it at the dining table away from the television. My rules are no television until he has finished his breakfast, dressed in his uniform and brushed his teeth. Although he knows the rules he still fought against my asking him to have his breakfast in another room.

I then prepared my breakfast. No time for my breakfast though, there are children to change out of pyjamas so find the clothes for the day, chase down Gabriella who regards the removal of her clothing everytime as an incentive for streaking. After they were taken care of, then and only then could I sit to have my breakfast at the dining table while I multi-tasked (again) and assisted Elliot with his homework. Then it's clean up the kitchen, find Elliot's soccer kit, Gabriella's pyjamas for that night and pack our bags with the lunches made previously.

Before my shower I decide to make Elliot's bed too. I look at my watch and it's 8am - what have I been doing, how could I have wasted so much time! I better revise my latest time to linger in bed, I am probably out by a good 20 minutes given that I wanted to leave the house at this time and instead I am still unshowered, in my nightie and big fluffy slippers and can't recall wasting a moment.

By the time I have showered, changed and applied my make-up, Gabriella is exhausted and starts to cry, Elliot refuses to listen to my many polite requests to brush his teeth until, I, given the furious pace of my morning finally combust and shout at him:

"WILL YOU PLEASE BRUSH YOUR TEETH!" I begin a tirade of "Why don't you like being asked nicely? Why do I always have to get mad before you do what I have asked?

I think I have heard this before, yes I am channelling my mother yet again!

At one stage when cajoling Elliot to eat his breakfast instead of watch television I said to him that next week while on holidays I don't care how much morning television he watches because we won't have to be anywhere by a particular time.

As my holiday approaches I am now questioning why I only decided to take one week off, given it is my first major break in the year since I returned to worked after having Gabriella (except for Christmas and that holiday comes with it's own unique pressure). I am allowing Elliot a break from school other than a scheduled holiday so it's not as if I would have allowed him 2 weeks off, but this morning I realised just how important it is that we as a family have a break from this furious morning routine for more than 9 days because if it's not me doing all the above then it's Paul (I do help him a little though as I don't have to leave as early as he does) carrying the burden.

Time to catch up.

2005-05-01T21:22:00.000+10:00

If nothing else, I feel I should write in order to catch myself up. I guess I have been busy, I certainly feel as though I have particularly with work and on the home front.

Two glorious long weekends in a row. I wish it were all our lives. It's just not as much fun unless your partner stays home too. Last weekend P and I made invitations for my birthday party which is on May 14. I finally committed myself to a party - A BIG ONE for the BIG ONE. In my view after 35 they are all BIG ONES, but this is one of those birthdays, the ones that happen every 10 years.

Theinvitation expresses my sentiments on this birthday exactly:

I am having one of THOSE birthdays.

SO COME AND ASSIST ME IN

ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING IT!

PARTY Therapy will involve copious

DRINK, FINE FOOD and DANCING.

If your inclined you're welcome to

WEAR SOMETHING INSPIRED

by the 80's or NOT!

I have had an awful time trying to decide what to do, run away, run away I kept thinking for a long time, Sydney, Melbourne I would love both, Tetsuyas, Vue De Monde lots of lovely dining choices... but the thing is, I decided this getting older business is much easier when you have amassed some great friends and family, so who better than to share it with.

The party is going to be held at a great venue. Our friends, M & J live in a warehouse in the inner city. We have been to many fun parties there. They live in an apartment in one section of the warehouse and on the second floor they have a reception area and rent space to a fellow who sells gorgeous upholstery fabric. M&J run their own business from that level too (landscape architects). They used to have a set of drums set-up smack bang in the middle of that floor but have sinced moved the drums down to the studio they built downstairs. It's a fantastic space and 80 people won't make a dent in it. M will convene a band for the night - cool jazz and my sister will sing and we will dance and dance and drink and dance. NO KIDS!

Now the ambitious part - P and I have decided to do the food. We decided we wanted to have more money for the drinks and some staff to help. My plan is that on arrival, there will be two cocktails, one is a Cosmopolitan (I know it was soooo last year but I still like them!) and maybe something with an Asian theme, Japanese Slipper or Singapore Sling.

To start we will serve sushi (avocado, cucumber and salmon) and vietnamese rice rolls (chicken and prawn). I am planning that we (my sister too) will make the nibbles on Saturday morning i.e. sushi and vietnamese rice rolls for 80!

For hot food - we are going Chinese. We are using those Chinese food pails so no plates, and no sit down needed. The Chinese food will be simple. P and I are practising on a couple of dishes tomorrow. I think a lemon, ginger chicken with almonds and a marinated beef with broccoli and bok choy and of course fried rice. I will be cooking them on the Friday before the party.

Dessert? I am not completely insane I am buying cakes from my favourite pastry shop, a flourless chocolate cake? a flourless almond and orange cake? a tiramisu torte? Maybe two or three I will decide later.

So lots to think about with that happening shortly, like the practical side where do you keep food for 80 people, do we hire a fridge or get a huge esky from some friends and buy some dry ice? The latter I think . How many glasses? How much sparkling, wine and beer etc? Coffee?

The week after the birthday party will be fairly busy but I am so looking forward to it. We have just booked to spend some time in Mooloolaba.

Elliot will be out of school but I just really need a break I haven't had any proper time off since Christmas and before then it was when I returned to work last May from having Gabriella and moved house, so time off as a family is way overdue.

When we get back from Mooloolaba we will be going to a wedding on the Friday night at Samford, dress is optional Victorian wite tie would you believe. I have a very formal long black Laura Ashely dress that I am going to wear. I have a black faux fur coat that I am going to wear over that (should be cold out there) and I had a groovy leopard skin pill box hat I had made for another winter wedding a few years ago i.e.

I decided to use this picture because the only other picture of the hat was one of two very skanky girls wearing MY hat with completey hideous outfits. This hat and a bright blue dress puhlease! I would rather be thought of by the internet as a ponderous Eastern European man than a skanky chick in completely uncoordinated garb!

Well my attire isn't particulary Victorian but I was not going to have something made that I may never wear again, and the dress is quite formal and long and I think I just need my wrap with beaded fringe when I am not wearing the coat - and maybe a black lace like beaded choker and that is it. I have a black handbag with some leopard skin trim on it and some high black patent Italian court shoes.

Given that there will be some women there with bustles I don't think I will look that out of place. For P white tie is optional I think he is going to wear a black suit.

The wedding itself is in Samford at the Glengariff (Historic) Estate (love that musak!) and the ceremony itself won't be until 8.00pm so I think we are in for a very interesting evening.

After that evening the next day we may be getting a lift with some friends of ours to go to the house warming of some other friends up at Rainbow Beach. Rainbow Beach is what Mooloolaba was about 30 years ago a relatively undeveloped beachside town. Fraser Island is just off Rainbow Beach and I think I was last there 10 years or more ago, doing this

and camping. It was a great time and I hope that when Gabriella is older we will be introducing our children to a few days of beach camping though somewhere a bit closer more likely Moreton or Stradbroke Island.

Our friends B&V built a beach house up there with another couple and it will be available for holiday rental. Knowing B&V I bet the house is very stylish - they had it designed so that there could be two separate pavillions so that two families with kids would not feel crowded in it. They are having drinks of the beach first then food back at the beach house.

It will be great but it is a bit of drive at least 3 and a half hours each way which is why we won't go unless we go with our friends. We will also stay over in Rainbow for the night - NO KIDS!

So that's a snapshot of my next couple of weeks.

On the food front I have been so busy in the kitchen I haven't actually had time to post about all the culinary discoveries I have been making on my no wheat, no dairy, no red meat diet, which I am seriously considering adopting for the long run.

Last night I made a pumpkin, leek and zucchini, garlic and lemon soy cream sauce to have with my rice pasta spirals it was very tasty. I have been surprising myself with the joys of mostly vegetarian food. I have made a pecan, date, fig and carrot cake with no dairy, little fat and no wheat. Wheat-free blueberry muffins, nourishing and tasty vegetable and lentil soups and curries, leek and spinach brown rice pilafs etc. etc.

In long and in short for me life is... currently..... good.