Wunderbar!

Monday was the day that G and I toddled on down to the traffic department to do our written test.  It is the same test that people do to get their learner's license, and it was very easy.  I read that road rules booklet quite a few times so it was straightforward.  I got 30/30, luckily!

Today, I phoned the traffic department to book my driving test.  The earliest I could get was 20th April, so I booked that one, G only got one on 29th.  Then I phoned a driving school to find out about lessons, and managed to get a test date for G on the 15th as I had booked a 'refresher' lesson for him.  The traffic department he's going to do his test at is far closer than the one I'm going to do mine at.  Because his new test date was booked through the driving school, he's not-obliged-to-but-should use the school's car to do the test otherwise the examiner might raise an eyebrow as the test booking is a 'driving school reserved' timeslot.

My first proper lesson is on the 8th, but I'm hoping to get one before that as time is really limited and I need to learn as much as possible and practise like mad.  I'm going to try go for a drive every day before the test, or at least every day when it's possible/practical.  I just need to make up for lost time.

This evening was my first ever karate lesson.  G used to do karate years ago and got up to green-belt level.  He's been keen to resume karate for a while now, and signed us up for 2 free introductory lessons, to pique my interest before signing us up for either 6 months or 12 months of karate.  For now I'm keen too... watch this space for more details LOL.

Bird has been relaxing more and more into the household, and doesn't scream every morning like he/she used to.  I'm not sure if it's because Bird is growing accustomed to the house or the wild birds flying around lately just aren't the type that set him/her off, but it's a nice change. 

Bird is also learning what we're about and is calmer with us around than before.  I've been taking Bird out of the cage every few days or so, and even got Bird to sit on the windowsill calmly without trying to fly through the window - something I've been afraid he/she might try and hurt him/herself.  The window was a gauzed-window, so maybe Bird can get used to the big wide open world out there withOUT flying into the 'invisible force field' that is glass.

Another thing Bird is quite understanding with is the scaly-face drops that we've had to apply every Thursday for the past 2 weeks (the vet did the first one, and there's one more to go).  I've had Bird on my hand, and persistently tried to stroke Bird's neck feathers 'open' (so that the drop can be applied to the skin), and at first Bird wasn't very keen and kept fiddling and trying to get away, but eventually seemed to understand what I was trying to do and today Bird just resigned him/herself to having a faux neck-scratch and a ghastly-tasting drop applied.  Bird sulked for a long time once he/she'd preened and tasted it - there's something inconsolable about a sulking budgie.

The only other news for now is that customs/quarantine has asked for the original import permit for the katana swords/African knife, which hopefully means we'll get our stuff soon.  I'm dying to sleep on a proper bed again, I'm tired of using laundromat washmachines (bleh), and using plastic cutlery + crockery for this long makes me feel like I'm in rehab or something...

Ok, that's all for now folks!

Oh, wait, one more thing:  I can't seem to comment on any blogposts now... J I wanted to comment on your 'what makes you want to stitch something' post but couldn't (can't sum it up here LOL), and Andie, I wanted to comment and say Sophias Mirabilia is looking gorgeous!  Hope Blogger sorts itself out soon.

Cheers for now :-P