My stitching corner

This is my stitching corner. As you can see, I at times have a view out the window. I keep the blind closed when the neighbours are home... it's a kinda psychological wall I prefer to have up - they seem less THERE when it's closed. Heremia is up for inspiration. That wall is the 'display' wall of sorts because there's a nice spotlight pointed at it and my newly framed projects go there. Warpony was displaced by Heremia and Heremia, in turn, will be displaced by Golden Ice once he is finally done.

At the moment Golden Ice is being neglected. Still. I sent off the 1st of the 2 horses for framing. It'll only be ready on 4 Feb... late for mom's birthday but I'm sure she won't mind TOO much. If I finish the 2nd one soon and send it for framing it might be ready in time for G's mom's bday.

After I've finished the 2nd horse, I have a tiny bit of metallic thread stitching to do on a small bookmark, and then I have a small purse to make. G's mom gave it to me for (if I recall right) Christmas last year, and it's been waiting. I think it may just queue-hop and jump ahead of Golden Ice.

I must say that this past while of being at home, even while G works, has made me extremely reluctant to go back to work. I know I have to, but it really seems even less appealing than it ever did. It makes me very eager for the end of 2009 when I'm in my home-stretch of working here and can think seriously about resigning.

G and I went through a bit of Aus immigration stuff last night. We'd chatted to Sis's bf (who has a visa to emigrate to Aus), and he was telling us about the application procedure, what we'd have to add to the application such as skills assessment/police clearance certificate/medical report. Ugh, a bloodtest. Not looking forward to that (yes, I'm already feeling squeamy about that!) but I'm really excited and amped to DO THIS!

Most of the 'application stress' is on G, but I'm sure I'll be more than 'stressed' by having to prepare stuff to move.

As we are 5mb away from being capped this month I will post this and leave it at that... To Be Continued!!

Christmas contemplation

Why do things have to be difficult. Sometimes you really just don't need things to be difficult... they don't HAVE to be difficult, but they just are.

Tomorrow is xmas eve. The tradition in my family* is to wait up until midnight on the dot and THEN open presents. It has been that way ever since I can remember, and when I was small it was a serious ordeal, getting through the DAYtime, to be able to stay up late; midnight would take its precious time in getting there. It has been like that the past few years, it's remained a tradition. It's been kept up, even after dad died, after me and sis got boyfriends (and now husband!), but this year, I'm not sure.

<* family = mom, dad, sis and me>

It actually makes me a bit emotional, thinking about it. It usually is at mom's place, but this year, mom's more 'busy' than usual. By busy, I don't mean busy in the conventional sense. She's rather... unfocused... I don't want to go into detail, but she's overwhelmed by stuff sometimes and can't focus on what is REALLY actually important/priority. It leads to clutter at home, and her being distracted and stuff GENERALLY being a crisis/chaos when it really is in fact nothing at all. So she's not keen on xmas eve. I've said we'll have it our place this year (like last year), so that she doesn't have loads of cleaning up to do. She said, however, that she wasn't really feeling up to the 'xmas mad show', ie festivities. We also have (since I started going out with G) had xmas lunch at his folks' place (cos their tradition is opening gifts 1st thing in the morning), and then boxing day lunch at my mom's place. That way we get to open gifts at mom's on xmas eve, then we get to open gifts at G's folks on xmas morning and have lunch there, then a '2nd' xmas lunch on boxing day with my mom. So in that situation, there's no rushing between the 2 places, cutting short a lunch/brunch with either because of having to go to the other place. Also, it sort of cuts out a bit of driving when the roads are probably maddest.

But now, it seems that it is a no-go. Xmas eve, mom sms'd me saying she doesn't think she'll come.

I don't know why it upsets me. I'm not crying... but I feel... hollow. It's almost as if things are really (again) falling apart. Mom isn't focused, and things go wonky (stuff at home, the house/garden etc), and sis complains and fights with her. Sis doesn't help at home at all (she's always had an attitude of not wanting to help because a) she can't be bothered and doesn't even think of offering to help... doesn't notice that you may even NEED help... and b) if you ASK for help, she's got this attitude of it being a HUGE undertaking, that if she did even 1nanometre more work, she'd be bearing the entire workload (which is so far from the truth it's actually pretty lame and her 'tone' as she says that kinda thing really pisses me off).

So we have mom, not 'coping' in a way, and sis, not helping but complaining and fighting.

And then there's me. The whole situation drains me. Mom's not in a state to sort herself out, and anything I try to say or do (like encourage mom to do stuff herself - a person can't 'rescue' someone in this situation... it's a behaviour-change issue), is completely cancelled out by sis's negative input and complaints and criticism. And then mom calls out for help and encouragement... which I find so hard to give, because the things she prioritises (to sort out) are completely pointless and DO NOT SOLVE ANYTHING...

I feel like I'm talking myself into a circle. Downward spiral. I don't know what to think about it. The only solution I can see is that mom GETS HERSELF OUT OF THAT SITUATION. Puts her goddamn foot down and kicks sis to the kerb... because sis is in a way 'sponging'... and then takes charge and sorts herself out from the ground up. I can't buy mom a new house. Even if I did, there's so much junk and STUFF in the house she has that she would never be able to move in time. I can't explain. It's a problem that I can see but can't put into words... I dunno.

I'm tired. I'm actually now not feeling very xmas-spirited either. It's not the same. Why can't things be normal? Why... can't... my family... be normal...

Why.

Ex-jeweller

The saga of the ex-jeweller gets more complicated as time goes on.

Basically, he didn't finish the rings in time. He phoned G the weekend before the wedding (while G was at his bachelors!), to say the ring is ready for fitting. We didn't contact him, because it's ridiculous and unacceptable that wedding rings not be finished and ready AT LEAST a week before the wedding, ESPECIALLY since we first approached this guy in August. We decided that we would give the ring that was meant to be mine to G's dad to drop off at the jeweller's place, *at his dad's leisure*, and his dad would tell him that the wedding has passed and he can keep the rings.

We also decided that we'd use my engagement ring + G's dad's wedding ring (which no longer fits him but happens to fit G perfectly) as the rings for the ceremony - that way we use special rings and there's no mad rush to find a replacement in 1 week.

This moron tried to phone G at 4pm on the wedding day (!) to say that the ring is ready to be fitted. Gee, thanks, dude. That's really erm, useful to us... thanks (?).

According to G's dad's email after dropping the ring off, this guy was apparently VERY upset that we didn't have the proper wedding rings for the ceremony. He apparently told G's dad to tell G to contact him when we got back so that something could be arranged (ie we still pay for those rings, no doubt). Needless to say, G didn't phone him back.

About a week after we got back from honeymoon, this guy phoned G, basically to find out whether the rings are still happening, and G told him, "sorry, look, you didn't finish the rings in time, we've made another arrangement, we're no longer interested in this any more". He got so upset with G on the phone, basically saying "you should have kept reminding me of the wedding date, how am I supposed to remember all these things in my head????". Dude, that's why the fuck you TAKE NOTES. The whole damn point of wedding rings is for them to be used as WEDDING RINGS on the WEDDING DAY.

We thought that was the end of the saga. Sadly, not.

He phoned G this afternoon: what is happening about the rings, are we going to take them, the whole thing could have been handled better (no shit, sherlock!), etc etc. G told him that the rings weren't finished in time, that we're no longer interested, so this guy starts saying that we 'used' the ring (the ring that was to be my ring) and then gave it back after the wedding... that there was 'stuff' on the ring which proves it was used, and that I wore it at the wedding but gave it back. G told him it wasn't, and he persisted and so G repeated that it wasn't. He repeated, so G asked him "are you saying I'm lying?" he says "no, the ring was worn at the wedding"... G says "are you saying I'm a liar?" then he says "yes, the ring was worn at the wedding and given back". G, at that point fed up with such immaturity (and surely insanity?), told him to piss off and hung up on him.

What is wrong with this guy? Clutching at straws, for sure. Maybe he made no money this year (would serve him right, if he does business in this manner!) and he has no money for christmas?

Dude, that is the way the world goes. You fail to deliver, you don't get paid. It's a WEDDING RING, you make it in time for the wedding SPECIALLY if the people approach you 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE, you've REASSURED them that these rings 'won't take long at all to make..' and you've told them to come back in a month. Also, dude, TAKE NOTES. If you measure the people's fingers, WRITE IT THE FUCK DOWN so you don't have to KEEP CALLING THEM to try the damn rings on every single goddamn weekend. Oh and if you say you'll call someone back? CALL THEM! And finally, if someone has told you they no longer need your services... back off GRACEFULLY, don't fight like a petulant child when you were CLEARLY in the wrong.

What a damn ass-hat. Hopefully this is FINALLY the end of THIS saga.

How weird

This has been a rather interesting past while. >>> warning LONG BLOG POST<<<

Ok... first of all - the story about the bird.

A guy came to fetch something from me (from hbbm). The receptionist called me and I took the parcel to the frontdesk... and saw the front door open but the guy crouching near the door. He called 'there's a baby bird here' and I went to see what was going on. True enough, there was a baby bird - a baby witogie/Cape White Eye. It was just sitting by the front door, calling out, while its parents were calling and calling at it. I suggested we leave the bird there because he obviously was learning to fly, but the guy refused and said "I can't be cruel, this is the middle of the city" so I got a paper-box and we put the bird in it. I put the box aside, helped the guy and reassured him that I'd take care of the bird.

A while after he'd left, I popped my head out the front door, because I could still hear the bird's parents calling for him. They were perched on the branches closest to the front door, staring intently at me, calling very loudly. They seemed to know that I was the one who took their baby into the building. I went back in, still hearing them calling. I decided to take the box outside and let the baby bird out as there was far more hope for him in the care of his parents than with me hand-feeding him, living in a complex with cats etc. Plus, the whole reason he was on the ground is because his parents are trying to egg him on and encourage him to fly, much like an antelope mother makes her calf stand and run very soon after birth - survival behaviour.

I took the box outside, and crouched down by the door, opened the box to take the baby bird out. I hadn't even scooped him up yet, and one of his parents had flown down to about a metre away from me, waiting with an insect in its mouth. No fear, just politely keeping its distance, but so definitely waiting for its baby to be returned. I put the bird down on the porch, put the box inside and stood in the doorway to watch. He bumbled around a bit... but his parents were very much in attendance. They kept encouraging him and urging him to try and fly. The one instance I saw him plop off a bar of fence and onto the step, he'd hardly even touched the step before his parents both flew down to check on him and as soon as they saw he was fine they buzzed away, to keep encouraging him.

I kept peeping out the front door afterwards to see how he was doing and he was still there, hopping and buzzing around. I heard chirps from the tree outside the front door when I left at the end of the day, so I reckon he managed to get up there in the end.

Work finished yesterday. Thank heavens. It nearly killed me.

Usually on the last day of work, we get pizza (cos one of the bosses' birthdays is near to the end of the year). For the last 2 years, we closed at 1pm. This last day of work, the pizza was scheduled for teatime (10am), so everyone assumed we'd close at 1 again (if the pizza was at 1 we'd assume we'd close at 5). So everyone rushed to get their work finished ready to leave at 1. But then, we all got an email from the bosses, saying that the internet usage has been high and not work-related and that we mustn't use it anymore. And no one was told when we were closing. 1pm came and went, and still nothing. So it seems that they were 'punishing' us for using up the internet. In the end, there were only 4 of us left (excluding the bosses) as everyone else left early, in a sense 'rebelling'. The people left? Typist, accountant, admin assistant (me) and a guy whose last day it was so he didn't HAVE anything to do. The receptionist left at 3 because she was getting a lift upcountry at 5pm so she HAD to leave then. So I was receptionist until the end of the day. Boy was I pleased.

How mature is it, to 'punish' the staff in this way? Way to go, ending the year on a 'positive' note. Only at probably 4:30 did the boss/es find out that no one was left but us 4... so presumably the rest are going to be shouted at next year. That would only be fair, seeing that the bosses were being childish.

I've been rather comtemplative of late. One thing that I've been thoughtful about is hbbm. He is seeming very old nowadays... and it bothers me for some reason. He recently had a minor surgery, and has been complaining about the discomfort related to it every now and then. He's 70 now, and it appears that he is getting old and is also feeling his age now too. I'm not sure whether it's because of dad's condition etc that it's making me feel strange, but I feel almost anxious/uneasy for hbbm. It may be because everything related to what happened to dad I've sort of put away in a mental vault, never thought about (not sure whether it's voluntary or involuntary).

I counted, and I have officially 237 working days next year. Yay!

On the emigration-side of things, G and I are looking to apply early next year. The application process takes about 15 months, by that time G will be finished with his work commitments and hopefully we will be ready (pretty much) to leave. The application itself seems pretty straightforward, just the practical stuff that will be tricky, such as packing our stuff, getting it all treated, finding a place to stay, getting our stuff sent over, etc etc etc. We are so keen to move though, even though it'll be a seriously hectic change.

I will definitely miss Dude :(

It's quite late now. I'm rather tired - so I'll say "to be continued" and publish this post.

I'm tired

... the sleep-bedtime style tired. Which is expected as it's 3 mins past midnight right now. 1.5 days left of work.

I had been meaning to write a deep-thoughts post, but it's so late now that all my brain is saying is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Maybe I'll blog it tomorrow as hbbm's not at work until 12th Jan. I will, however, be busy for the week 5th - 10th Jan as our LURVELY receptionist has taken leave (which I only hear about today). Boy is my 'sick of work' feeling back as strong as ever.

I will say this now though: I hope that 'Spud' is fine. A tiny baby bird, learning to fly, in the middle of the city. I will elaborate next blogpost.

*night!*

At work

I'm quite bored now.

Work has been quiet lately, things are all being wrapped up for the end of the year closing.  I've been working on invoices and stuff (the usual).  Hbbm's been busy but is more mellow these days.  I think he's feeling his age, to be honest.

Being bored at work, as always, gives me time to think of all the things I could be doing.  I've begun stitching again (at home, not at work), and Golden Ice is so beautiful that I want to stay home all the time and work on it.

The only other "problem" (due to being bored at work!) is that I've happened to find a cross-stitch kit which is quite pretty, and has wording on it which is very special.  It is called Apache Wedding Blessing, and it was encorporated into our service for the wedding.  I'd like to stitch it and frame it, to be hung in pride of place in our home.  I could add the wedding date to it, and maybe our names too, to personalise it.  Since I'm blogging via email, the pic I attach will probably come at the end of this post.  The kit is from Janlynn Corporation.

I will blog about the wedding some time, it's just that it was such a big thing I don't want to just type up bla bla quickly about it.  Let me just say everything went perfectly.

Tonight G and I are resuming our exercise schedule.  We haven't 'worked out' for such a long time now, and it feels a good time to restart it.  I am feeling fighting fit now, with excess energy ready to be put to good use.  It's great what a good long holiday can do for a person.

I know it's an old topic of grumbles of mine, but right now I actually feel (a bit only!) sorry for the woman next door.  Her kid (brat) has begun to have THE WORST TANTRUMS in the history of mankind.  They last for the most part of an afternoon, every afternoon.  It sounds as if he stands in the middle of their unit (open plan kitchen/lounge like ours), and BELLOWS.  That kind of wail/cry/yell/howl/bawl/bellow that makes your head vibrate and gives you a headache after a while - I remember it from when I was really small.  She shouts at him in response "TRISTAN I SAID STOP IT!", which he does not take notice of in the slightest.

Of course, we get to 'enjoy' it along with them.  It really is bullshit that because of their cigarette smoke we have to keep our back door and windows on the garden-side of the house CLOSED, AT ALL TIMES (unless they are out which is when we grab the opportunity by the balls and FLING our door+windows wide open, only to have to run to close everything up again on their return), which doesn't even help because the smell still comes in.  And now, yay, our kitchen window on the opposite side has to be closed too because of their tantrum/fight noise spilling out their kitchen window and deafening us.  Charming.  What is a person honestly to do.  The woman is struggling, but there's only so many afternoons in succession that one can listen to LOUD music (to drown out the neighbours) as soon as one gets home.  I really feel that if only they didn't smoke, things would be (a bit!) better.  If we actually got a chance to use and enjoy our garden once in a bloody bluemoon, their tantrums and noise wouldn't be quite as bad.  But it's just salt in the wound - no, you cannot use your own garden, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR INDOOR LIVING UNPLEASANT TOO!!  YAY!!!!!

Ok, enough ranting for now.  There are happy things going on too.  Despite the above seeming like a rant, I'm not ANGRY and raging about it.  It is however quite... accumulatorily draining having to live with a situation like that.

I need to buy more RAM.  Before I do, G and I are going to swap RAMchips to try work out whether it is in fact my laptop or the RAMchip that is faulty.  I hope and pray that it's not my laptop, because it doesn't bode well for the future.  I want to carry on scanning photos from G's family and my family albums.  That will be a truly exhausting task if I have to work on 512mb RAM.  I tried, and it nearly was the end of me.  I got to scan some pics with 1.5gb RAM, and it was bliss in comparison.  So hopefully the RAM scenario will be sorted out soon.  It really is a colossal task, which I'd like to tackle and try finish as soon as I can.

I think I had better call this a blogpost and press 'publish'.  Til next time ^.^