He stood sentry in the driveway for quite a while. Just after I took the photo, he flew off to chat to some crows.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Our friend
He's been keeping us company while we work in the garden. I just watched as he took a stroll around the front of the house...
He stood sentry in the driveway for quite a while. Just after I took the photo, he flew off to chat to some crows.
He stood sentry in the driveway for quite a while. Just after I took the photo, he flew off to chat to some crows.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Ok, Blogger's doing that thing again
I can't comment on Andie's blogpost! Just wanted to say it looks very pretty. Also, I don't know if maybe I've just been an infrequent visitor, but the blog layout/background is awesome!
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Just for the record:
I HATE GOOGLE INSTANT!
It keeps reinstating itself when I'm signed in on gmail/google account, DESPITE clicking DO NOT USE Google Instant.
Yes, Firefox clears the cache when I exit the browser, but REALLY, come now! If I select 'use only https', and that setting is remembered, WHY CANT THIS setting be retained?!?!?!
GUHHHH!!
It keeps reinstating itself when I'm signed in on gmail/google account, DESPITE clicking DO NOT USE Google Instant.
Yes, Firefox clears the cache when I exit the browser, but REALLY, come now! If I select 'use only https', and that setting is remembered, WHY CANT THIS setting be retained?!?!?!
GUHHHH!!
While I was at *work* today...
Yes, you read that right, I was *at work* today.
We were, as we have been lately, sleeping 'late', til about 9am. I've been meaning to gradually get our 'wake up' time earlier, so that we don't go back to our weird day-time of waking at 9am and going to sleep past midnight. So I got a phonecall (voicemail) at 8:50 this morning, from a recruitment agency (the only one which has actually been looking to get me a job - that I can tell!), asking if I want to do a quick one-day assignment, today! I phoned back, trying to sound more awake than I was, and despite being hesitant and slow-thinking, I managed to say 'yes, I'll do it'.
I got ready as quick as I could, which entailed ironing my outfit as I hadn't pre-ironed it in preparation for such an occasion (who woulda foreseen this?), and I got there at 10:30 (thanks to G's chauffeuring skills). I walked in and was about to announce myself to the lady at reception, when she greeted first "ah, you must be H..!" and she almost immediately showed me the ropes, and then took me to meet the admin manager who had arranged the job with the recruitment agency. He greeted me warmly and then without further ado told the lady to show me the ropes right away. Evidently I was much needed, as their receptionist was off sick rather suddenly.
All in all, it was exceptionally quiet. The phone apparently rings no more than 50 times per day, AND there are admin assistants who 'back up' the receptionist in answering the phone (in that company obviously the receptionist doesn't have to "put her hand up and ask the teacher if she may leave the room" as I had to in my previous company!). All I really did today was answer the phone, courier 5 parcels, fold and envelope a stack of letters, and update and print 4 copies of a 'meeting schedule'.
Stupidly enough, I didn't think to ask the recruitment agency what the pay would be for the day (I think it was too early in the morning for my brain's negotiating faculty to fire up ye olde lasers), so I have no clue how much I'll get for my 6 hours. But I'll send through the timesheet tomorrow (unless they call me in again), and hopefully I'll hear about it soon. Also, hopefully they'll call me in again, as it was nice working there (not that I'm hoping their receptionist stays sick for a long time!).
Luckily I had my phone with phone-msn though, so I was able to keep up to date with G with all the news at home, because a) without it I'd have died of boredom once the work was done, despite the fact that the receptionist had 2 antique magazines at her desk, and b) otherwise I wouldn't have heard about my parcel until I got home!
Now we know what they do when they have a parcel to deliver - we've been pondering it, thinking that they pop a postal-item note in the postbox, but no, they merrily leave it at the front door! What a marvellous country this is! After getting home and savouring the fact that I had An Unopened Parcel waiting for me (you gotta make that feeling LAST!), G and I sat down to a mug of tea each and I proceeded to tackle the parcel.
I lovingly opened the parcel, which contained my birthday present!
Apologies for the spooky looking lighting in the photos, my camera doesn't really like photographing without decent light. But I really couldn't wait til morning to blog about this!
I haven't worked any further on Gentle Strength, due to working til 5pm today, so no pictures today. I am going to be good and work my little heart out and finish Gentle Strength before starting with Spirit Horses. Also, I would like to try finish Wedding Blessing... no, I haven't forgotten about it!
Watch-o this-o space-o!
We were, as we have been lately, sleeping 'late', til about 9am. I've been meaning to gradually get our 'wake up' time earlier, so that we don't go back to our weird day-time of waking at 9am and going to sleep past midnight. So I got a phonecall (voicemail) at 8:50 this morning, from a recruitment agency (the only one which has actually been looking to get me a job - that I can tell!), asking if I want to do a quick one-day assignment, today! I phoned back, trying to sound more awake than I was, and despite being hesitant and slow-thinking, I managed to say 'yes, I'll do it'.
I got ready as quick as I could, which entailed ironing my outfit as I hadn't pre-ironed it in preparation for such an occasion (who woulda foreseen this?), and I got there at 10:30 (thanks to G's chauffeuring skills). I walked in and was about to announce myself to the lady at reception, when she greeted first "ah, you must be H..!" and she almost immediately showed me the ropes, and then took me to meet the admin manager who had arranged the job with the recruitment agency. He greeted me warmly and then without further ado told the lady to show me the ropes right away. Evidently I was much needed, as their receptionist was off sick rather suddenly.
All in all, it was exceptionally quiet. The phone apparently rings no more than 50 times per day, AND there are admin assistants who 'back up' the receptionist in answering the phone (in that company obviously the receptionist doesn't have to "put her hand up and ask the teacher if she may leave the room" as I had to in my previous company!). All I really did today was answer the phone, courier 5 parcels, fold and envelope a stack of letters, and update and print 4 copies of a 'meeting schedule'.
Stupidly enough, I didn't think to ask the recruitment agency what the pay would be for the day (I think it was too early in the morning for my brain's negotiating faculty to fire up ye olde lasers), so I have no clue how much I'll get for my 6 hours. But I'll send through the timesheet tomorrow (unless they call me in again), and hopefully I'll hear about it soon. Also, hopefully they'll call me in again, as it was nice working there (not that I'm hoping their receptionist stays sick for a long time!).
Luckily I had my phone with phone-msn though, so I was able to keep up to date with G with all the news at home, because a) without it I'd have died of boredom once the work was done, despite the fact that the receptionist had 2 antique magazines at her desk, and b) otherwise I wouldn't have heard about my parcel until I got home!
Now we know what they do when they have a parcel to deliver - we've been pondering it, thinking that they pop a postal-item note in the postbox, but no, they merrily leave it at the front door! What a marvellous country this is! After getting home and savouring the fact that I had An Unopened Parcel waiting for me (you gotta make that feeling LAST!), G and I sat down to a mug of tea each and I proceeded to tackle the parcel.
I lovingly opened the parcel, which contained my birthday present!
Apologies for the spooky looking lighting in the photos, my camera doesn't really like photographing without decent light. But I really couldn't wait til morning to blog about this!
I haven't worked any further on Gentle Strength, due to working til 5pm today, so no pictures today. I am going to be good and work my little heart out and finish Gentle Strength before starting with Spirit Horses. Also, I would like to try finish Wedding Blessing... no, I haven't forgotten about it!
Watch-o this-o space-o!
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Gardening day
G and I took a break from weeding the back garden and today focused on the front lawn. G weeded and I raked for ages, and it looks a good deal tidier.
I got a bit carried away with raking though, and raked the plant bed/mess corner/depression in the ground where bushes are growing. I'm not sure what the point is of that thing, but it's a half-circle hollow in the ground, with a plant-bed around it in the shape of a C (the flat-side of the half-circle is against the fence). Maybe it used to be a koi pond? Who knows. There are currently just bushes growing there, half-drowning in leaf litter, but now I've raked the C-shape bed clear and it looks a good deal more civilised. If I owned this house I'd get rid of the bushes and put some pretty flowering plants there (like marigolds/daisies etc). This just looks like somewhere snakes and spiders would make a home, which isn't very nice to look at.
While I was raking that mess, a pied butcher bird came and hung out with me. At first he was hesitant to come near if I spotted him - maybe he wasn't sure how I'd react to him (if I'd chase him away) - but we got a sort of a rapport going and I raked whole-heartedly and he ogled the ground attentively, watching for insects. It started thundering a short while later, and then he serenaded us for a bit from a high-up tree.
Pic belongs to: Steve Happ Photography - used in admiration!!
I then raked under the tree-wall plant bed which runs along the one side of the driveway (separating the lawn from the driveway and front porch). It's also just trees, with no flowers, and the actual bed is covered with a thick layer of leaves. Also very welcoming to spiders etc, so I raked with the energy of someone not really close to the action: the rake is nice and long! I uncovered a gap in the plant bed, which must have been a path through it. I wonder if we could trim the trees so that the gap is more visible, so we don't have to squeeze past the window to take the bin out!
I must say that although it's private having trees by the front of the house, it's also a bit odd, because you can't see or enjoy the front lawn much. Can't tell if the postman's been or if the bins are still out... but maybe if we trim the trees a little bit we can improve the view/outlook without being reprimanded by the rental agency. Maybe we could even plant some flowering plants out there!! We do seem to live in the 'wilder' house on the block as the other houses all have these prim, manicured-looking front lawn and plant beds and we just have bushes!
The back garden will take a while to look half-decent. There's a creeper plant growing in over the fence, climbing up the one tree. Gotta hack that thing back (maybe even cut it out from the outside as it's obviously been done before, unsuccessfully), and trim the lower branches of the other tree. It's a bit offputting having these spider-webby lower branches in your face when you want to weed near the tree...
We're going to have to mow, though, before finishing the weeding job. G's been weeding and I've been grass-ripping - pulling out the grassland-style grass so that the lawn-grass can grow and fill the gaps. It's quite astounding how solidly packed and close-to-the-ground some of the patches of weeds are... if it were just those plants you wouldn't even need to mow, they're that tightly packed.
But, mow we must, as the inspection is Friday. I'm going to ask whether we can get a 'green bin' (for garden-waste), to go with our yellow (recycling) bin, because at this rate, we're going to be mowing almost weekly, and raking about as much too. It's in the owners' interest to get us a bin though, as by doing the gardening, we'd actually be increasing the value of the house!!
Ok that's enough garden-talk for now... I'm probably going to settle in and stitch in a while. We might pop out to the shop though, to buy more black bags and an extension cord, so that we can mow and finish raking (yup, there were that many piles of leaves out there, and I haven't even finished raking!!)
I got a bit carried away with raking though, and raked the plant bed/mess corner/depression in the ground where bushes are growing. I'm not sure what the point is of that thing, but it's a half-circle hollow in the ground, with a plant-bed around it in the shape of a C (the flat-side of the half-circle is against the fence). Maybe it used to be a koi pond? Who knows. There are currently just bushes growing there, half-drowning in leaf litter, but now I've raked the C-shape bed clear and it looks a good deal more civilised. If I owned this house I'd get rid of the bushes and put some pretty flowering plants there (like marigolds/daisies etc). This just looks like somewhere snakes and spiders would make a home, which isn't very nice to look at.
While I was raking that mess, a pied butcher bird came and hung out with me. At first he was hesitant to come near if I spotted him - maybe he wasn't sure how I'd react to him (if I'd chase him away) - but we got a sort of a rapport going and I raked whole-heartedly and he ogled the ground attentively, watching for insects. It started thundering a short while later, and then he serenaded us for a bit from a high-up tree.
I then raked under the tree-wall plant bed which runs along the one side of the driveway (separating the lawn from the driveway and front porch). It's also just trees, with no flowers, and the actual bed is covered with a thick layer of leaves. Also very welcoming to spiders etc, so I raked with the energy of someone not really close to the action: the rake is nice and long! I uncovered a gap in the plant bed, which must have been a path through it. I wonder if we could trim the trees so that the gap is more visible, so we don't have to squeeze past the window to take the bin out!
I must say that although it's private having trees by the front of the house, it's also a bit odd, because you can't see or enjoy the front lawn much. Can't tell if the postman's been or if the bins are still out... but maybe if we trim the trees a little bit we can improve the view/outlook without being reprimanded by the rental agency. Maybe we could even plant some flowering plants out there!! We do seem to live in the 'wilder' house on the block as the other houses all have these prim, manicured-looking front lawn and plant beds and we just have bushes!
The back garden will take a while to look half-decent. There's a creeper plant growing in over the fence, climbing up the one tree. Gotta hack that thing back (maybe even cut it out from the outside as it's obviously been done before, unsuccessfully), and trim the lower branches of the other tree. It's a bit offputting having these spider-webby lower branches in your face when you want to weed near the tree...
We're going to have to mow, though, before finishing the weeding job. G's been weeding and I've been grass-ripping - pulling out the grassland-style grass so that the lawn-grass can grow and fill the gaps. It's quite astounding how solidly packed and close-to-the-ground some of the patches of weeds are... if it were just those plants you wouldn't even need to mow, they're that tightly packed.
But, mow we must, as the inspection is Friday. I'm going to ask whether we can get a 'green bin' (for garden-waste), to go with our yellow (recycling) bin, because at this rate, we're going to be mowing almost weekly, and raking about as much too. It's in the owners' interest to get us a bin though, as by doing the gardening, we'd actually be increasing the value of the house!!
Ok that's enough garden-talk for now... I'm probably going to settle in and stitch in a while. We might pop out to the shop though, to buy more black bags and an extension cord, so that we can mow and finish raking (yup, there were that many piles of leaves out there, and I haven't even finished raking!!)
Monday, May 02, 2011
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Beginnings
And that's my progress for Day 2.
This one feels much smaller than Wedding Blessing, which is a complete lie as the entire fabric will be covered in stitches with this one! But it already has a 'spirit' (currently looking a bit spooked, and spooky too).
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Lack of inspiration
I've hit a bit of a rut with Wedding Blessing. I've got it down to '3 colours left til I'm finished this bit', 'then 6 colours and I'm finished everything except for the last 3 colours' and '3 HUGE colours which are left til last and make up the biggest portion of the design'. Which really breaks it down for me and usually makes it easy and so close to the goalposts/finish, but I just... bleh. Hit a rut. But I've added a pic for now.
I sat for a while, ogling/envisioning the next two, Gentle Strength and Motion, only to feel uninspired there too because of a) not having a big enough Q-snap and b) not having the threads, respectively. The fabric required for Gentle Strength is 19" x 22" (which made me think the Qsnap wouldn't be big enough at 20" x 20") but the actual finished design will be 11" x 13.5" (if I've calculated it right: 14ct fabric, design being 189 x 154 stitches) - why the oversized fabric requirement?
I was originally looking to buy the threads locally so as to get them straight away, but here threads cost +-Au$1.30 each, where on 123Stitch they're US$0.44 each, AND the flippin' exchange rate is US1.09 for Au$1!! So, with shipping included, the batch of thread is STILL less than half of what it'd cost here! And a Qsnap locally costs Au$30+, 123Stitch has it for US$17. W.T.F. So I placed an order with 123Stitch for threads and Qsnap. I only worked out afterwards that the Qsnap I have IS big enough, but now with 2 sets of Qsnaps I can have 2 projects 'in progress' at the same time, which ROCKS! Can't wait for my stash to arrive :)
Anyway, so here I sit, with Wedding Blessing in the Qsnap but ready to be unclipped and to wait for the new Qsnap to arrive to be reclipped, and with Gentle Strength's fabric blank and unclipped but loosely folded over the Wedding Blessing/assembled Qsnap to check for size. It really isn't going to be that big (a bit bigger than Warpony), which is exciting.
But, I'm tired and don't actually feel like gridding the fabric right now. I was superkeen earlier today, but I think it's a bit late to start anything, being 21:37, and we went to karate so I'm also worn out from that.
That's all for now. Hopefully the fishtank is nearing the end of the cycling process, ammonia has remained low and nitrite has dropped, nitrate hasn't really increased though. The fish are still resentful of all the waterchanges but hopefully once it's done they'll get over it!
Ciao for now.
I sat for a while, ogling/envisioning the next two, Gentle Strength and Motion, only to feel uninspired there too because of a) not having a big enough Q-snap and b) not having the threads, respectively. The fabric required for Gentle Strength is 19" x 22" (which made me think the Qsnap wouldn't be big enough at 20" x 20") but the actual finished design will be 11" x 13.5" (if I've calculated it right: 14ct fabric, design being 189 x 154 stitches) - why the oversized fabric requirement?
I was originally looking to buy the threads locally so as to get them straight away, but here threads cost +-Au$1.30 each, where on 123Stitch they're US$0.44 each, AND the flippin' exchange rate is US1.09 for Au$1!! So, with shipping included, the batch of thread is STILL less than half of what it'd cost here! And a Qsnap locally costs Au$30+, 123Stitch has it for US$17. W.T.F. So I placed an order with 123Stitch for threads and Qsnap. I only worked out afterwards that the Qsnap I have IS big enough, but now with 2 sets of Qsnaps I can have 2 projects 'in progress' at the same time, which ROCKS! Can't wait for my stash to arrive :)
Anyway, so here I sit, with Wedding Blessing in the Qsnap but ready to be unclipped and to wait for the new Qsnap to arrive to be reclipped, and with Gentle Strength's fabric blank and unclipped but loosely folded over the Wedding Blessing/assembled Qsnap to check for size. It really isn't going to be that big (a bit bigger than Warpony), which is exciting.
But, I'm tired and don't actually feel like gridding the fabric right now. I was superkeen earlier today, but I think it's a bit late to start anything, being 21:37, and we went to karate so I'm also worn out from that.
That's all for now. Hopefully the fishtank is nearing the end of the cycling process, ammonia has remained low and nitrite has dropped, nitrate hasn't really increased though. The fish are still resentful of all the waterchanges but hopefully once it's done they'll get over it!
Ciao for now.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
News and views from the past week
The past week felt rather unaccomplished, mainly for silly reasons. We weren't able to find ammonia (clear ammonia), and despite the hutch part of the buffet+hutch being swapped over, the replacement one has a worse chip than the original one did!
We went to karate on Monday, had a helluva gruelling 'fitness' session. Apparently this week was 'fitness week' and the sensei said that if we chicken out and don't attend, the other sensei will see it on our attendance records and just extend fitness week until we're all up to speed. Of course, all transpired to make us seem like uber-faders, because both Tuesday and Wednesday G was feeling off-colour (faint/nauseaus), and Thursday I had a super painful stomach cramp... yay! Of course if we go there and try and explain, they'll just think 'they doth protest too much', *sigh*.
On the upside though, Spirit Horses shipped out on Monday, and should be here soon. Not soon enough, of course, due to the Easter holidays delaying everything :P
This week I did, however, manage to varnish the wood plank, although it now requires sanding because of droplets hanging over the side underneath. This week, too, I decided to forego the fishless cycling of the new tank (see lack of ammonia above), so I went to the aquarium shop and bought a LOAD of plants, plus 3 glowlights (there were only 3 left) and 8 black neons.
The hassle with fish-in cycling is that you have to check the water quality every day (at least once a day, twice is better I guess), and when the water quality dictates it (pretty much every day), you need to do a water change to prevent any damage to the fishes' nerves/blood vessels etc. So I've been doing a hectic lot of waterchanges the past few days (our waterbill will be high, I'm dreading it!), but the fish seem 100% fine. It has been interesting watching the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels changing as the tank goes through the nitrogen cycle. Once ammonia and nitrite are 0ppm, and nitrate is up (but less than 50ppm), the tank is cycled.
I hope the plants all survive, because the tank looks pretty beautiful all green and cheerful. I've decided I'd like to get 5 more glowlights (so they are in groups of 8), plus 8 cardinal tetras, as the maximum a tank of this size can take is about 20 of these tiny tetras. I wanted to get Cochu's Blue Tetras but apparently they're hyperactive and have a tendency to decimate the plants and gang up on the other fish. Cardinals are beautiful too, and I've been keen to get some for a while as well (I just couldn't previously due to lack of cardinals in the shop).
On Thursday evening, G and I tried some 'pancake mix' - instant pancake batter, just add water! They were SUPER-sweet, and not quite what we were expecting. Evidently 'pancakes' here aren't quite the same concept as pancakes in SA. We had made a spinach + feta + sunflower seeds mix as a filling, but with the sweetness and weird texture, it wasn't as yum as they usually are when we use our own batter.
On Friday we had an unexpected thunderstorm with almost an explosion of rain. It was only then that we realised that the rain's hardness wasn't only due to the actual rain, but also due to the fact that the gutters were simply overflowing. Yesterday G climbed up to take a look: yup, the gutters were completely full of leaves and muck. Found out from the neighbours today that the previous tenants were two women, who probably never went up to check.
While we were chatting to the neighbours earlier (we popped across to give them some Easter eggs), the mom went off to find the toddler. She wearily came back to us and the dad at the front door and said to the dad, "we aren't gonna get any sleep tonight - guess who finished your can of Wicked..?" (Wicked is an energy drink). G and I had quite a chuckle about that once we got home!
I could have sworn I posted a blogpost before this one, with a pic of the fishtank all set up and 'alive', but it seems not. Well, here's a pic of the fishtank, taken about 2mins ago:
And just because he/she is so cute, a pic of Bird:
And just for good measure, a pic of my work-station, where you can see Bird, my Xmas-gift lamp, my current WIP (Apache Wedding Blessing), and my laptop.
I have to mention something I'm doing right now. I'm probably going to seem like the biggest country bumpkin ever, but I'M USING THE DISHWASHER!! Yes, this house has a dishwasher, and we hadn't used it yet. I'm quite excited. I know, this is the 21st century, and I DID grow up with a dishwasher in the house, but G and I never had one (and wouldn't have had space) in the previous place, in CT, so I had to wash all the dishes. It was a pain on numerous occasions, simply because G and I are big procrastinators (and he's the dryer-upper). But now, I've cut down the washing-up pile by sticking most of it in the dishwasher. I have no clue what all is and isn't dishwasher safe, but at least I've left out the plastic things and the wooden spoon. *crosses fingers* hope nothing breaks. I've put it on a 50C cycle, so hopefully it won't be too damaging. Will keep you posted. Ohh, and it's SO QUIET!! I think I'm in love!
We went to karate on Monday, had a helluva gruelling 'fitness' session. Apparently this week was 'fitness week' and the sensei said that if we chicken out and don't attend, the other sensei will see it on our attendance records and just extend fitness week until we're all up to speed. Of course, all transpired to make us seem like uber-faders, because both Tuesday and Wednesday G was feeling off-colour (faint/nauseaus), and Thursday I had a super painful stomach cramp... yay! Of course if we go there and try and explain, they'll just think 'they doth protest too much', *sigh*.
On the upside though, Spirit Horses shipped out on Monday, and should be here soon. Not soon enough, of course, due to the Easter holidays delaying everything :P
This week I did, however, manage to varnish the wood plank, although it now requires sanding because of droplets hanging over the side underneath. This week, too, I decided to forego the fishless cycling of the new tank (see lack of ammonia above), so I went to the aquarium shop and bought a LOAD of plants, plus 3 glowlights (there were only 3 left) and 8 black neons.
The hassle with fish-in cycling is that you have to check the water quality every day (at least once a day, twice is better I guess), and when the water quality dictates it (pretty much every day), you need to do a water change to prevent any damage to the fishes' nerves/blood vessels etc. So I've been doing a hectic lot of waterchanges the past few days (our waterbill will be high, I'm dreading it!), but the fish seem 100% fine. It has been interesting watching the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels changing as the tank goes through the nitrogen cycle. Once ammonia and nitrite are 0ppm, and nitrate is up (but less than 50ppm), the tank is cycled.
I hope the plants all survive, because the tank looks pretty beautiful all green and cheerful. I've decided I'd like to get 5 more glowlights (so they are in groups of 8), plus 8 cardinal tetras, as the maximum a tank of this size can take is about 20 of these tiny tetras. I wanted to get Cochu's Blue Tetras but apparently they're hyperactive and have a tendency to decimate the plants and gang up on the other fish. Cardinals are beautiful too, and I've been keen to get some for a while as well (I just couldn't previously due to lack of cardinals in the shop).
On Thursday evening, G and I tried some 'pancake mix' - instant pancake batter, just add water! They were SUPER-sweet, and not quite what we were expecting. Evidently 'pancakes' here aren't quite the same concept as pancakes in SA. We had made a spinach + feta + sunflower seeds mix as a filling, but with the sweetness and weird texture, it wasn't as yum as they usually are when we use our own batter.
On Friday we had an unexpected thunderstorm with almost an explosion of rain. It was only then that we realised that the rain's hardness wasn't only due to the actual rain, but also due to the fact that the gutters were simply overflowing. Yesterday G climbed up to take a look: yup, the gutters were completely full of leaves and muck. Found out from the neighbours today that the previous tenants were two women, who probably never went up to check.
While we were chatting to the neighbours earlier (we popped across to give them some Easter eggs), the mom went off to find the toddler. She wearily came back to us and the dad at the front door and said to the dad, "we aren't gonna get any sleep tonight - guess who finished your can of Wicked..?" (Wicked is an energy drink). G and I had quite a chuckle about that once we got home!
I could have sworn I posted a blogpost before this one, with a pic of the fishtank all set up and 'alive', but it seems not. Well, here's a pic of the fishtank, taken about 2mins ago:
And just because he/she is so cute, a pic of Bird:
And just for good measure, a pic of my work-station, where you can see Bird, my Xmas-gift lamp, my current WIP (Apache Wedding Blessing), and my laptop.
I have to mention something I'm doing right now. I'm probably going to seem like the biggest country bumpkin ever, but I'M USING THE DISHWASHER!! Yes, this house has a dishwasher, and we hadn't used it yet. I'm quite excited. I know, this is the 21st century, and I DID grow up with a dishwasher in the house, but G and I never had one (and wouldn't have had space) in the previous place, in CT, so I had to wash all the dishes. It was a pain on numerous occasions, simply because G and I are big procrastinators (and he's the dryer-upper). But now, I've cut down the washing-up pile by sticking most of it in the dishwasher. I have no clue what all is and isn't dishwasher safe, but at least I've left out the plastic things and the wooden spoon. *crosses fingers* hope nothing breaks. I've put it on a 50C cycle, so hopefully it won't be too damaging. Will keep you posted. Ohh, and it's SO QUIET!! I think I'm in love!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Project 50l fishtank
I previously did a course of blogposts, with a title like "Project Fishtank", and I'd like to start a similar series now. Just to get thoughts out on virtual paper. My apologies if these posts are extremely boring...
I've unpacked the fishtank, washed it out with warm water and set it up temporarily on my chest of drawers (previously water-damaged, so not a problem if it gets watermarked again), filled it up and it's currently proving itself able to withstand the pressure of 50l of water. I wanted to check it before putting in hours of hard work, and also before putting it onto the buffet table, to be sure there wouldn't be any problems with it leaking. If a heater or filter doesn't work, that's fine, but if the thing springs a leak, then we've got trouble!
We need to go to the local hardware store (hopefully tomorrow), to buy a piece of wood and ask for it to be cut the right shape for us, to varnish and use as a base for the fishtank. I'd rather a piece of wood get pressed and splashed on than the buffet, plus it'll act as a vibration buffer for when the cupboard doors and drawers are used. I'd put foamalite under the tank but it doesn't seem particularly strong, and the bottom of this tank has a 'rim' which makes deep lines in the foamalite too, which probably would make it a bit less stable.
Once we have the base, I'll relocate the tank to the buffet, set the whole thing up with heater, filter, thermometer and water, and while that's doing its thing, I'll wash the gravel. I've already been soaking the driftwood for the past few hours, I still need to boil them to get most of the tannins out. Then they will go in, with the gravel, and once that's all settled, the pH and temperature will probably need a bit of tweaking. The water conditions I'm aiming for are 25C and a pH of 6.6. It's pretty acidic, but the fish I'm hoping to get do fine with that pH.
The tank will need to run for about a week like that, before fish and plants can be welcomed. Apparently it's better to buy one kind of fish at a time, so that they can have a chance to adjust. I guess it also avoids the problem of losing 20 fish at once if something were to go wrong.
I really am so excited and wish I could just set the entire fishtank up in one go. But, I must be patient, and I must be thorough and careful. I'll have plenty of time to admire and enjoy the fishtank once it's all set up ^.^
Ooh, newsflash: my birthday cross-stitch, the Spirit Horses pillow, is being shipped tomorrow. I cannot wait for that either!! I think while the fishtank is running itself in for that week, I'm going to stitch as much as I can on Wedding Blessing.
Watch this space for photos.
I've unpacked the fishtank, washed it out with warm water and set it up temporarily on my chest of drawers (previously water-damaged, so not a problem if it gets watermarked again), filled it up and it's currently proving itself able to withstand the pressure of 50l of water. I wanted to check it before putting in hours of hard work, and also before putting it onto the buffet table, to be sure there wouldn't be any problems with it leaking. If a heater or filter doesn't work, that's fine, but if the thing springs a leak, then we've got trouble!
We need to go to the local hardware store (hopefully tomorrow), to buy a piece of wood and ask for it to be cut the right shape for us, to varnish and use as a base for the fishtank. I'd rather a piece of wood get pressed and splashed on than the buffet, plus it'll act as a vibration buffer for when the cupboard doors and drawers are used. I'd put foamalite under the tank but it doesn't seem particularly strong, and the bottom of this tank has a 'rim' which makes deep lines in the foamalite too, which probably would make it a bit less stable.
Once we have the base, I'll relocate the tank to the buffet, set the whole thing up with heater, filter, thermometer and water, and while that's doing its thing, I'll wash the gravel. I've already been soaking the driftwood for the past few hours, I still need to boil them to get most of the tannins out. Then they will go in, with the gravel, and once that's all settled, the pH and temperature will probably need a bit of tweaking. The water conditions I'm aiming for are 25C and a pH of 6.6. It's pretty acidic, but the fish I'm hoping to get do fine with that pH.
The tank will need to run for about a week like that, before fish and plants can be welcomed. Apparently it's better to buy one kind of fish at a time, so that they can have a chance to adjust. I guess it also avoids the problem of losing 20 fish at once if something were to go wrong.
I really am so excited and wish I could just set the entire fishtank up in one go. But, I must be patient, and I must be thorough and careful. I'll have plenty of time to admire and enjoy the fishtank once it's all set up ^.^
Ooh, newsflash: my birthday cross-stitch, the Spirit Horses pillow, is being shipped tomorrow. I cannot wait for that either!! I think while the fishtank is running itself in for that week, I'm going to stitch as much as I can on Wedding Blessing.
Watch this space for photos.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Even MORE settled in ^.^
I'm so thrilled I just HAVE to blog today.
Companies in Aus don't seem to sleep late and are extremely punctual, and after SA's laxness, we weren't expecting our furniture to be delivered before 08:30 this morning. But the goods were delivered, and we've spent the day so far arranging things. And doing a bit of a tidy up - I finally vacuumed all the bits and bobs of dust+cardboard which have been lying around accumulating since we got our stuff.
Here are some pics of our new furniture, as they currently are set up:
The buffet-half of the buffet+hutch. The fishtank light is so incredibly bright and extremely blue, I just hope it doesn't glare quite as much once the tank is filled. The super-long extension cord there is because the fishtank light cord was JUUUUUUUUST not long enough to reach the plug-point. Uh, Murphy!
Our media-centre. The hifi and the tower will fit in the glass-door compartment, and our still-to-be-acquired LCD FAT-ASS TV will go on top. The hutch part of the buffet+hutch will go on top of the unit, behind the TV.
This is the hutch. It's not set up anywhere as there's a 'cracky' bit, plus the back-side of the back panels are a bit... dingy looking. But the cracky part is reason enough to get another one. For now though, once we get the replacement, it'll probably go in 'my room' and be used to store a few ornaments.
The tallboy has successfully been incorporated into the bedroom decor, G has put almost all of his clothes into it, so I am able to 'hog' the walk-in-robe. It's not EXCLUSIVELY my stuff, there's a good section filled with bedding/towels etc. Plus, my chest of drawers is full too. It's incredible how much clothing we have. We really need to go through it and do a cull (again). I don't think, in this climate, I'm going to need big fluffy stockings!
In the last pic above, you can see my Xmas present lamp, which will hopefully be a trusty stitching-accomplice. Also in the pic, if you really screw up your eyes tightly, you can hopefully see Bird, hiding behind a toy. Bird seems to like hiding behind the toy whenever we approach the cage, it's quite funny.
Bird also has a funny habit: when a large feather is discarded, Bird picks it up from the cagefloor, dunks it in the waterbowl and proceeds to 'paint' things. Bird seemed to enjoy just chewing the feathers at first, but has taken to dunking and licking/chewing the feather as if it was a prize piece of biltong.
Ok, that's all for now, folks! Til next time!
Companies in Aus don't seem to sleep late and are extremely punctual, and after SA's laxness, we weren't expecting our furniture to be delivered before 08:30 this morning. But the goods were delivered, and we've spent the day so far arranging things. And doing a bit of a tidy up - I finally vacuumed all the bits and bobs of dust+cardboard which have been lying around accumulating since we got our stuff.
Here are some pics of our new furniture, as they currently are set up:
The tallboy has successfully been incorporated into the bedroom decor, G has put almost all of his clothes into it, so I am able to 'hog' the walk-in-robe. It's not EXCLUSIVELY my stuff, there's a good section filled with bedding/towels etc. Plus, my chest of drawers is full too. It's incredible how much clothing we have. We really need to go through it and do a cull (again). I don't think, in this climate, I'm going to need big fluffy stockings!
In the last pic above, you can see my Xmas present lamp, which will hopefully be a trusty stitching-accomplice. Also in the pic, if you really screw up your eyes tightly, you can hopefully see Bird, hiding behind a toy. Bird seems to like hiding behind the toy whenever we approach the cage, it's quite funny.
Bird also has a funny habit: when a large feather is discarded, Bird picks it up from the cagefloor, dunks it in the waterbowl and proceeds to 'paint' things. Bird seemed to enjoy just chewing the feathers at first, but has taken to dunking and licking/chewing the feather as if it was a prize piece of biltong.
Ok, that's all for now, folks! Til next time!
Friday, April 15, 2011
The past few days
It is now Friday, G has just passed his driving test (hooray!!). I'll have to resume learning to drive now, and attempt to pass the test at some stage. Eeek!
Yesterday we trekked around by bus and foot to 2 interviews. I just heard back about the 2nd one (I wasn't successful), all the other interviews I attended have so far amounted to nil. I'm not heartbroken, just starting to find job applications a bit boring.
Wednesday we went furniture shopping, and should be receiving our goods (most of them) tomorrow. I'd hardly call it a splurge (despite the fact that it's cost quite a lot!), because it's all necessary stuff. We bought:
A TV unit, with a nice large space behind the glass-doors in which we're going to put my hifi (the glass hopefully should allow the remote control to work). It also has useful space to put a DVD player/remote/stuff, plus a bit of CD storage. This is in preparation for the day we get a BIG SCREEN TV. For now we're going to put the media desktop on there. Plus, the upper-half of this, which will go behind the TV:
This is known here as a buffet and hutch. I'd been looking online for a decent cupboard on which to set up the fishtank, and saw this at the shop, and rued the fact that it had a hutch. We thought the hutch was connected, but it in fact loosely balanced on top. So, the bottom half will be our 'hall' cupboard and fishtank stand. Plus storage for stuff like the fishtank accessories, budgie food etc.
We also got the 'tallboy' above. G left his behind as it was pretty badly eaten up with bugholes and we didn't want to risk customs/quarantine hassles with it.
We also bought 2 display cabinets, but there unfortunately isn't a picture on the furniture shop's website. At long last, I will have a permanent, dustfree display for ornaments and trinkets, possibly a Breyer horse or two! The cabinets are only coming in June, unfortunately, so for now I'm going to use some of the many boxes we have now and store them carefully.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we both went to karate. Tuesday's session was quite tiring, but Wednesday's session was a real bruiser. I have a 5cm+ bruise on my right forearm now, from blocking punches. G and I generally team up at the classes, because we can handle each other's punches LOL so we don't have to hold back as much as if it were a 'stranger' (rather than risk hurting them too much - there are some frail looking girls/ladies there!). Last night's class G attended without me though, as my arm was still sore and I was just completely mentally and physically exhausted from the day's trek + interviews.
Here's some food for thought for all those people who think chatting/instant messaging (at work) isn't beneficial in the slightest: my typing speed has improved from 35WPM upon leaving college to 80WPM currently. That's from not only typing at work, but racking up the typing-miles on IM as well. So there! :-P
After packing up my ornaments etc, I think our major 'to-do' is tackle the garden. The grass has overgrown badly, plus there are a few trees to trim. I cringe every time I check the post box, firstly because it's all gunky inside (sand/grime/dirt), secondly because the damn tree is in the way. Ok - scratch that - we should do the garden now, as it's overcast and the ornaments I can do regardless of the weather!
Ok, that's all for now!
Yesterday we trekked around by bus and foot to 2 interviews. I just heard back about the 2nd one (I wasn't successful), all the other interviews I attended have so far amounted to nil. I'm not heartbroken, just starting to find job applications a bit boring.
Wednesday we went furniture shopping, and should be receiving our goods (most of them) tomorrow. I'd hardly call it a splurge (despite the fact that it's cost quite a lot!), because it's all necessary stuff. We bought:
We also bought 2 display cabinets, but there unfortunately isn't a picture on the furniture shop's website. At long last, I will have a permanent, dustfree display for ornaments and trinkets, possibly a Breyer horse or two! The cabinets are only coming in June, unfortunately, so for now I'm going to use some of the many boxes we have now and store them carefully.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we both went to karate. Tuesday's session was quite tiring, but Wednesday's session was a real bruiser. I have a 5cm+ bruise on my right forearm now, from blocking punches. G and I generally team up at the classes, because we can handle each other's punches LOL so we don't have to hold back as much as if it were a 'stranger' (rather than risk hurting them too much - there are some frail looking girls/ladies there!). Last night's class G attended without me though, as my arm was still sore and I was just completely mentally and physically exhausted from the day's trek + interviews.
Here's some food for thought for all those people who think chatting/instant messaging (at work) isn't beneficial in the slightest: my typing speed has improved from 35WPM upon leaving college to 80WPM currently. That's from not only typing at work, but racking up the typing-miles on IM as well. So there! :-P
After packing up my ornaments etc, I think our major 'to-do' is tackle the garden. The grass has overgrown badly, plus there are a few trees to trim. I cringe every time I check the post box, firstly because it's all gunky inside (sand/grime/dirt), secondly because the damn tree is in the way. Ok - scratch that - we should do the garden now, as it's overcast and the ornaments I can do regardless of the weather!
Ok, that's all for now!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Blah blah blah (frustrated)
First up, let me disclaimer this post by saying I suspect I have PMS so I may seem to be overreacting to things LOL
Our stuff is pretty much all unpacked, save for our clothes and books and other 'junk-room' odds and ends which aren't needing to be unpacked now. We *can't* unpack our clothes or books because we don't have enough cupboard space to put them.
Now, living in a 3 bedroom house, you'd think there'd be more than enough space, but no. We have built-in-cupboards in the 2 spare rooms, but they're on the opposite end of the house to the main bedroom and both of us would prefer to keep our clothes in the same room (the main bedroom) and use the spare rooms' cupboards for spare room/study stuff. We need to figure out a more practical storage system in the 2 rooms though, as in putting stand-alone shelves/racks into the built-ins to maximise space usage. And we need to buy a wardrobe or 2 and a chest of drawers or 2 for our clothes. Plus bookshelves or 2 (each). *sigh*
PLUS, we need an extra 1-door shelf/cupboard to put the last odds and ends from the kitchen (stuff like snackwich, waffle-iron, etc). The place is looking pretty decent otherwise, except for ANOTHER thing that needs furniture: keepsakes/ornaments/trinkets. I have quite a lot of them, and don't want to stick them in boxes again (otherwise they're stuck away in boxes and I can't enjoy them), so I want to buy display cabinets for them. That way they're on display and free from dust. The last thing I want is a cluttery, junky eBay house, and I've felt so discomfited the past few days while the whole kitchen counter and diningroom table was covered with crockery etc, I don't even want to IMAGINE my stress-levels if things were to be completely haphazard and filled with clutter.
Another compelling reason to go furniture-shopping is: I don't have a cupboard to put my new fishtank... I'm thinking a small 'buffet', which should be strong enough for a 50l tank, plus as a bonus it has cupboard space to put the fish-goodies and bird-food etc, with nice doors so it looks tidy. But it's frustrating because I have this lovely, brand new fishtank and am unable to set it up - I haven't taken it out of the box yet because of having nowhere to set it up... and I'm so excited (impatient) to buy fish too, because I helped Sis clean my SA (her) fishtank remotely over Skype and I MISS MY FISH!!!! So I'm dying to get a few beebees.
Here are a few pics of the beebees I'm keen on:
Cochu's Blue Tetras
Black Neon Tetras
Glowlight Tetras
Kuhli Loaches
It's not a huge tank, so maybe I'll stick with those for now. I've been looking for Cochu's Blues ever since I got my bigger tank, with no luck. Here's to finding them here!
I'm super-keen for something else: to get a job! I feel a bit adrift lately because of 'needing a job'. It's not critical, like we're going to die if I don't get a job, but if I don't, we're going to run out of money in the not too distant future. So, it's important that I get a job, and if at all possible, I'd like a GREAT job (or at least a decently paying one). Alright, I'll reveal my ulterior motive: I wanna buy nice things. Specifically, I spotted this:
* Not actual car
Call me a dreamer, wishful thinker of the highest order, deluded or whatever, but I spotted it from a distance while we were driving around somewhere, and it's like, our car!! Ok, I know it's not, but still, I wish I could buy it! It's an A4 Quattro, 1.8T. Ok yes, I am aware that I do not, as yet, have my 'open' license and I still need to resume driving lessons and go for my driving test...
But I'll still dream on and try get a lekker job, and I'll keep y'all posted LOL.
Our stuff is pretty much all unpacked, save for our clothes and books and other 'junk-room' odds and ends which aren't needing to be unpacked now. We *can't* unpack our clothes or books because we don't have enough cupboard space to put them.
Now, living in a 3 bedroom house, you'd think there'd be more than enough space, but no. We have built-in-cupboards in the 2 spare rooms, but they're on the opposite end of the house to the main bedroom and both of us would prefer to keep our clothes in the same room (the main bedroom) and use the spare rooms' cupboards for spare room/study stuff. We need to figure out a more practical storage system in the 2 rooms though, as in putting stand-alone shelves/racks into the built-ins to maximise space usage. And we need to buy a wardrobe or 2 and a chest of drawers or 2 for our clothes. Plus bookshelves or 2 (each). *sigh*
PLUS, we need an extra 1-door shelf/cupboard to put the last odds and ends from the kitchen (stuff like snackwich, waffle-iron, etc). The place is looking pretty decent otherwise, except for ANOTHER thing that needs furniture: keepsakes/ornaments/trinkets. I have quite a lot of them, and don't want to stick them in boxes again (otherwise they're stuck away in boxes and I can't enjoy them), so I want to buy display cabinets for them. That way they're on display and free from dust. The last thing I want is a cluttery, junky eBay house, and I've felt so discomfited the past few days while the whole kitchen counter and diningroom table was covered with crockery etc, I don't even want to IMAGINE my stress-levels if things were to be completely haphazard and filled with clutter.
Another compelling reason to go furniture-shopping is: I don't have a cupboard to put my new fishtank... I'm thinking a small 'buffet', which should be strong enough for a 50l tank, plus as a bonus it has cupboard space to put the fish-goodies and bird-food etc, with nice doors so it looks tidy. But it's frustrating because I have this lovely, brand new fishtank and am unable to set it up - I haven't taken it out of the box yet because of having nowhere to set it up... and I'm so excited (impatient) to buy fish too, because I helped Sis clean my SA (her) fishtank remotely over Skype and I MISS MY FISH!!!! So I'm dying to get a few beebees.
Here are a few pics of the beebees I'm keen on:
It's not a huge tank, so maybe I'll stick with those for now. I've been looking for Cochu's Blues ever since I got my bigger tank, with no luck. Here's to finding them here!
I'm super-keen for something else: to get a job! I feel a bit adrift lately because of 'needing a job'. It's not critical, like we're going to die if I don't get a job, but if I don't, we're going to run out of money in the not too distant future. So, it's important that I get a job, and if at all possible, I'd like a GREAT job (or at least a decently paying one). Alright, I'll reveal my ulterior motive: I wanna buy nice things. Specifically, I spotted this:
Call me a dreamer, wishful thinker of the highest order, deluded or whatever, but I spotted it from a distance while we were driving around somewhere, and it's like, our car!! Ok, I know it's not, but still, I wish I could buy it! It's an A4 Quattro, 1.8T. Ok yes, I am aware that I do not, as yet, have my 'open' license and I still need to resume driving lessons and go for my driving test...
But I'll still dream on and try get a lekker job, and I'll keep y'all posted LOL.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
OUR STUFF ARRIVED!!
Ok, the past week has been super-hectic!
Firstly, the 3 interviews became 4, with 1 being on Wednesday and 3 being on Thursday. The Wednesday one was in the afternoon, after G's driving lesson (he apparently should do well in the test, as there are a few things that they don't really bother with here that they're pretty anal about in SA).
We headed out by bus (I'm still gonna rave about the public transport here!), and had a quick lunch before setting off in the direction of the recruitment agency. Since I was fairly sure of where we were going, I slipped on my new work shoes (see this pic) thinking that we had a quick 5mins walk. Except, we walked in the wrong direction. So, wearing those *!@&*^$ shoes (I do actually like them, it was just unfortunate), we had to walk back to start and off in the opposite direction. And then the place was a little further along the road than I'd pictured. So, I became an Iron Woman, biting my teeth against a crippling pain caused, merrily, by 9 out of my 10 toes plus 3 places PER HEEL blistering like there was no tomorrow. The worst blister is about 2cm long.
I gritted my teeth and seethed that 'this interview had better be worth it', and we arrived either bang on time or 5 mins late (I forget). Regardless, the interview was fine, and, in fact, wasn't just a 'rectruitment agency' type interview (where they're basically expanding their pool of candidates), the lady raved about my skills and CV and was (is) going to put my CV forward for a *pretty well paying* job. I should hear about it hopefully tomorrow.
Thursday we had to get up at 05:30 as my first interview was at 07:30. We got there late, as we were completely flummoxed by the one ways and cul de sacs, but the lady there didn't even seem to notice. The job that I was going to be interviewed for had apparently been filled internally, but the agency themselves were happy with my CV and I may just have a job working for them.
The next interview was at 11:00, and so we had plenty of time to kill. We had a coffee + something to eat and hung ten, waiting. That interview wasn't as good (I felt), and the job doesn't appeal to me that much - it's a reception/admin position and I'm not so enamoured with reception anymore, to be honest!
The last interview was at 15:00, so we had LOTS of time to kill. Caught a train into the city centre, and had a nice time strolling around Queen St Mall. Had lunch, bought some CDs (yippee!!), bought two little Little Big Planet figurines (see pic below), then headed up to the recruitment agency which was practically next door to the one of the day before. I was early for that one, but took long enough filling in all the forms so it wasn't too bad. They also 'just got a job in that might be perfect for you!!' so I might have to go back for a follow-up interview at 2 places, eek!
Popped in to fetch post at G&E&E, then headed home and got all ready for the next day: our stuff was being delivered and we had to be up bright and early again.
We got up at 07:00, and were still groggily waking up, making tea and tidying up before the day's proceedings, when I heard a truck outside, at 07:20. They waited in the truck until 07:45 (apparently to let us wake up LOL), and then they worked SOLIDLY bringing all our stuff in! It was so exciting seeing all the boxes and remembering the time when it was all packaged, before our whole journey. They unpacked a lot of the big stuff, but we unpacked the kitchen goods and have only opened the book boxes.
The only real 'issues' that we've discovered, which obviously would have been due to the SA side of things, are:
* the handles of the Weber are bent
* my Xmas-present reading lamp (for Xstitch) has a permanently cricked neck now (broken) and has a bit of chipped paint
* a wooden ornament with 'little bits' loosely attached was taped securely so the 'little bits' wouldn't get lost, but now the ornament is all sticky from the tape
* the fridge's hinge is bashed so the door creaks now (it still seals fine though)
* a virtually unused cellphone, in its original box, is now no longer in its box and was probably slipped into someones pocket
That's all that we're aware of at the moment, we still have to go through our inventory and double-check everything. But OHMYGAAAAD it's SO GOOD having our stuff again!!!! Never has our bed been so comfortable, never have our coffeetables been so beautiful and just-the-right-height, never has metal cutlery been so amazing!
We spent pretty much the rest of the day unpacking and putting things in the right rooms, and most of yesterday washing all the kitchen goods. Today we washed quite a good portion of the rest of the kitchen goods, but we still have quite a way to go. Also been catching up on laundry, how exciting, LOL!
The only thing now is we need to buy some furniture. I need a place to put the fishtank (can't wait to set it up!), plus a few display cabinets for all my trinkets would be quite a useful investment. And it'd be nice to have a welshdresser (buffet and hutch, as they call it here), to put in all the occasional dishes and stuff. And then it'd also be great to have more bookshelves!!
Ok, that's all my (dull, rambly) news for now. It's been hectic (in a good way) this past week, here's hoping for a good week this week!
As promised, here's a pic of the Little Big Planet sackboys:
Firstly, the 3 interviews became 4, with 1 being on Wednesday and 3 being on Thursday. The Wednesday one was in the afternoon, after G's driving lesson (he apparently should do well in the test, as there are a few things that they don't really bother with here that they're pretty anal about in SA).
We headed out by bus (I'm still gonna rave about the public transport here!), and had a quick lunch before setting off in the direction of the recruitment agency. Since I was fairly sure of where we were going, I slipped on my new work shoes (see this pic) thinking that we had a quick 5mins walk. Except, we walked in the wrong direction. So, wearing those *!@&*^$ shoes (I do actually like them, it was just unfortunate), we had to walk back to start and off in the opposite direction. And then the place was a little further along the road than I'd pictured. So, I became an Iron Woman, biting my teeth against a crippling pain caused, merrily, by 9 out of my 10 toes plus 3 places PER HEEL blistering like there was no tomorrow. The worst blister is about 2cm long.
I gritted my teeth and seethed that 'this interview had better be worth it', and we arrived either bang on time or 5 mins late (I forget). Regardless, the interview was fine, and, in fact, wasn't just a 'rectruitment agency' type interview (where they're basically expanding their pool of candidates), the lady raved about my skills and CV and was (is) going to put my CV forward for a *pretty well paying* job. I should hear about it hopefully tomorrow.
Thursday we had to get up at 05:30 as my first interview was at 07:30. We got there late, as we were completely flummoxed by the one ways and cul de sacs, but the lady there didn't even seem to notice. The job that I was going to be interviewed for had apparently been filled internally, but the agency themselves were happy with my CV and I may just have a job working for them.
The next interview was at 11:00, and so we had plenty of time to kill. We had a coffee + something to eat and hung ten, waiting. That interview wasn't as good (I felt), and the job doesn't appeal to me that much - it's a reception/admin position and I'm not so enamoured with reception anymore, to be honest!
The last interview was at 15:00, so we had LOTS of time to kill. Caught a train into the city centre, and had a nice time strolling around Queen St Mall. Had lunch, bought some CDs (yippee!!), bought two little Little Big Planet figurines (see pic below), then headed up to the recruitment agency which was practically next door to the one of the day before. I was early for that one, but took long enough filling in all the forms so it wasn't too bad. They also 'just got a job in that might be perfect for you!!' so I might have to go back for a follow-up interview at 2 places, eek!
Popped in to fetch post at G&E&E, then headed home and got all ready for the next day: our stuff was being delivered and we had to be up bright and early again.
We got up at 07:00, and were still groggily waking up, making tea and tidying up before the day's proceedings, when I heard a truck outside, at 07:20. They waited in the truck until 07:45 (apparently to let us wake up LOL), and then they worked SOLIDLY bringing all our stuff in! It was so exciting seeing all the boxes and remembering the time when it was all packaged, before our whole journey. They unpacked a lot of the big stuff, but we unpacked the kitchen goods and have only opened the book boxes.
The only real 'issues' that we've discovered, which obviously would have been due to the SA side of things, are:
* the handles of the Weber are bent
* my Xmas-present reading lamp (for Xstitch) has a permanently cricked neck now (broken) and has a bit of chipped paint
* a wooden ornament with 'little bits' loosely attached was taped securely so the 'little bits' wouldn't get lost, but now the ornament is all sticky from the tape
* the fridge's hinge is bashed so the door creaks now (it still seals fine though)
* a virtually unused cellphone, in its original box, is now no longer in its box and was probably slipped into someones pocket
That's all that we're aware of at the moment, we still have to go through our inventory and double-check everything. But OHMYGAAAAD it's SO GOOD having our stuff again!!!! Never has our bed been so comfortable, never have our coffeetables been so beautiful and just-the-right-height, never has metal cutlery been so amazing!
We spent pretty much the rest of the day unpacking and putting things in the right rooms, and most of yesterday washing all the kitchen goods. Today we washed quite a good portion of the rest of the kitchen goods, but we still have quite a way to go. Also been catching up on laundry, how exciting, LOL!
The only thing now is we need to buy some furniture. I need a place to put the fishtank (can't wait to set it up!), plus a few display cabinets for all my trinkets would be quite a useful investment. And it'd be nice to have a welshdresser (buffet and hutch, as they call it here), to put in all the occasional dishes and stuff. And then it'd also be great to have more bookshelves!!
Ok, that's all my (dull, rambly) news for now. It's been hectic (in a good way) this past week, here's hoping for a good week this week!
As promised, here's a pic of the Little Big Planet sackboys:
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Whirlwind week
WHAHAHAAAAAAA it's been a hectic past few days...
Firstly, lemme get off my chest one thing: OUR STUFF IS BEING DELIVERED ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lemme say that again:
OUR STUFF IS BEING DELIVERED ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!
Ok *breathe* you have no idea how excited and impatient I am for our stuff now! Ok... now that's out there, onto other topics.
Our car went in bright and early for its checkup on Thursday, they kept it a day because they had to replace the wiper-blade arm (not the actual wiper-arm thankfully!), and they had to find where the car was raining in. They replaced/repaired the gaskets of the back door, and, it turns out, someone previously took the rear bumper off... I suppose that means the seal/waterproofing was broken or something, so Toyota sealed the car up as best they could. We caught the train and bus home after dropping the car off, and took the bus and train again to fetch the car. I mention that only because the public transport systems here ROCK! So far the car has been fine, no raining-in... here's to many years more of waterproof-ness!
That was Thursday and some of Friday. Most of Friday I spent applying for jobs. In total I applied for 15 jobs, and on Monday I applied for a few more. So far, I have 3 interviews, I did an online skills test and have been put onto a database or two of 'admin applicants' LOL. So, I think that's a good sign.
The weekend wasn't particularly eventful, we headed to other-G's place for supper and a movie on Saturday night, G hired movies and we watched one of them (The One - with Jet Li), and tonight we're gonna watch the next one, (Knowing - with Nicholas Cage). I don't want to go to bed too late as I have an interview tomorrow, but thankfully it's in the afternoon.
Yesterday we went to karate and begun the mad task of learning to kick. I'm ok stiffness-wise, but G's suffering a little bit. I think I may inadvertently have been stretching weird muscles in my legs over the past while because my laptop is currently perched on a cardboard box and hooked up to the external harddrive, the power + USB cords of which are pretty short, so I've been sitting on the floor for ages on end.
Today was interesting as well, because I have basically completed the process of converting my identity to Australianise myself: I now possess a QLD learner's licence! Hopefully that means no more carrying around passport + SA drivers + bank card + Medicare card + bank statement as proof of ID/address!
On the way back from the traffic department we stopped by at a local aquarium shop: Paul's. It is going to be my fish mecca, I just know it! As it is, I already indulged in a bit of shopping:
* Ignore the telephone in the background - that is a 'borrowed' phone, used to check whether our phone line was operational, we're just waiting for a chance to drop it off!
I just... I missed having a fishtank too much! And, at least if we DO have to move anytime in the future, it's only within the same city, and not across the world. If I had been able to, I'd have brought along my 100l tank and fish and everything, but there's no way the poor fish would have survived the trip.
So, this is my new fishtank - or, at least, components of it. I've got to set it all up (once our stuff arrives), and let it cycle and settle for a week before I can put 'starter' fish in it (fish that start the bacteria going). I'm not really going for the medium sized fish like Congos now, I'm just going to keep little tetras, like Glowlights, Black Neons and Cochu's Blues... apparently Paul's gets them in occasionally and I've been looking for them ever since I bought ONE when I still had the 9l tank all those years ago. Oh and of course I'd like a Kuhli Loach or 2!! I'd love Marbled Hatchetfish again but I think this tank is too small (they apparently need a longer tank in order to satisfy their swimming needs), I'll ask Paul's what they think. They seem pretty clued up, unlike your average shop assistant at a mall pet shop!
So that's news for now... apart from that we had pest control in today and WOW they did the most thorough job ever! Sprayed for everything, everywhere INCLUDING the entire outside walls of the house! What's incredible is they said we didn't need to move Bird, as the chemicals are so specific these days that they don't affect other animals. I did get a mild hint of a headache (which might have been excitement about our stuff), but Bird was utterly unfazed. There are already 3 dead cockroaches and LOADS of massive ants lying around, which is a good sign. But boy, did the lead guy talk a lot. He had lots to say, but his poor 'side-kick' assistant was the most quiet chap, who obviously has to put up with yakking all day every day and no longer tries to join in on the small talk.
Ok now that really is all our news. Cheers for now!!
Firstly, lemme get off my chest one thing: OUR STUFF IS BEING DELIVERED ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lemme say that again:
OUR STUFF IS BEING DELIVERED ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!
Ok *breathe* you have no idea how excited and impatient I am for our stuff now! Ok... now that's out there, onto other topics.
Our car went in bright and early for its checkup on Thursday, they kept it a day because they had to replace the wiper-blade arm (not the actual wiper-arm thankfully!), and they had to find where the car was raining in. They replaced/repaired the gaskets of the back door, and, it turns out, someone previously took the rear bumper off... I suppose that means the seal/waterproofing was broken or something, so Toyota sealed the car up as best they could. We caught the train and bus home after dropping the car off, and took the bus and train again to fetch the car. I mention that only because the public transport systems here ROCK! So far the car has been fine, no raining-in... here's to many years more of waterproof-ness!
That was Thursday and some of Friday. Most of Friday I spent applying for jobs. In total I applied for 15 jobs, and on Monday I applied for a few more. So far, I have 3 interviews, I did an online skills test and have been put onto a database or two of 'admin applicants' LOL. So, I think that's a good sign.
The weekend wasn't particularly eventful, we headed to other-G's place for supper and a movie on Saturday night, G hired movies and we watched one of them (The One - with Jet Li), and tonight we're gonna watch the next one, (Knowing - with Nicholas Cage). I don't want to go to bed too late as I have an interview tomorrow, but thankfully it's in the afternoon.
Yesterday we went to karate and begun the mad task of learning to kick. I'm ok stiffness-wise, but G's suffering a little bit. I think I may inadvertently have been stretching weird muscles in my legs over the past while because my laptop is currently perched on a cardboard box and hooked up to the external harddrive, the power + USB cords of which are pretty short, so I've been sitting on the floor for ages on end.
Today was interesting as well, because I have basically completed the process of converting my identity to Australianise myself: I now possess a QLD learner's licence! Hopefully that means no more carrying around passport + SA drivers + bank card + Medicare card + bank statement as proof of ID/address!
On the way back from the traffic department we stopped by at a local aquarium shop: Paul's. It is going to be my fish mecca, I just know it! As it is, I already indulged in a bit of shopping:
I just... I missed having a fishtank too much! And, at least if we DO have to move anytime in the future, it's only within the same city, and not across the world. If I had been able to, I'd have brought along my 100l tank and fish and everything, but there's no way the poor fish would have survived the trip.
So, this is my new fishtank - or, at least, components of it. I've got to set it all up (once our stuff arrives), and let it cycle and settle for a week before I can put 'starter' fish in it (fish that start the bacteria going). I'm not really going for the medium sized fish like Congos now, I'm just going to keep little tetras, like Glowlights, Black Neons and Cochu's Blues... apparently Paul's gets them in occasionally and I've been looking for them ever since I bought ONE when I still had the 9l tank all those years ago. Oh and of course I'd like a Kuhli Loach or 2!! I'd love Marbled Hatchetfish again but I think this tank is too small (they apparently need a longer tank in order to satisfy their swimming needs), I'll ask Paul's what they think. They seem pretty clued up, unlike your average shop assistant at a mall pet shop!
So that's news for now... apart from that we had pest control in today and WOW they did the most thorough job ever! Sprayed for everything, everywhere INCLUDING the entire outside walls of the house! What's incredible is they said we didn't need to move Bird, as the chemicals are so specific these days that they don't affect other animals. I did get a mild hint of a headache (which might have been excitement about our stuff), but Bird was utterly unfazed. There are already 3 dead cockroaches and LOADS of massive ants lying around, which is a good sign. But boy, did the lead guy talk a lot. He had lots to say, but his poor 'side-kick' assistant was the most quiet chap, who obviously has to put up with yakking all day every day and no longer tries to join in on the small talk.
Ok now that really is all our news. Cheers for now!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Perseverance
Yesterday was our 2nd karate lesson, and there were only 4 people in the class: us 2 n00bs and 2 intermediates. It was enjoyable though, but it's weird for me to be the ABSOLUTE beginner in a class. It's weird to be The Beginner that the teacher is referring to when he says things like 'now this is something that we all will learn and practise a lot, no matter whether you're a Beginner or an Advanced'. I found when doing Scottish dancing that I learnt quite quickly and was able to keep up quite well and wasn't a trailing beginner. This, however, is a totally different kettle of fish and I feel very clumsy and slow. But not in a bad, beat-myself-up-about-it kinda way. There's no feeling of pressure, we're just there to learn, and to have fun of course.
That being said, it's unfortunately undeniable how unfit I am! I feel kaput after the warm up stretching LOL. We started learning our first kata though, which we're going to be practising more today. Today we're also signing up for 6 months and both of us will be getting our gi. I'm very excited.
Another reason for me to be excited, or rather RELIEVED, is that I've cancelled my driving test. Yes, cancelled. No, I haven't chickened out, I just realised a few things and phoned around to get further info.
Firstly, as permanent residents in QLD, we get a 3 month grace period in which we are allowed to drive on our SA licenses. During the 3 months, we're supposed to get QLD licenses by doing the written test and having a lesson (or 2, or 12904), and passing the driving test. If you fail the driving test within the 3 months, you're able to do the test again as many times as you like until you pass.
If you pass the 3 months limit, however, you are no longer allowed to drive unsupervised, you need to get the learner's license issued (by passing the written test you automatically qualify for the learner's license) and then need an 'open license' holder to accompany you whenever you drive (including as you practise) until you pass the driving test (again, you can do the test as often as you like). So in essense, you are a learner driver all over again.
Now, because we have SA licenses, if I fail my driving test and G passes his, I am able to drive with him as my supervisor, which is what I have been doing anyway as I'm inexperienced AND I'm getting used to our car. Also, because I'm over 25, I don't have to complete the learner's logbook (requiring 100 hours driving time to be filled in over the course of 1 year). And, because I currently hold an 'open license' from SA and QLD govt acknowledges it, once I pass the driving test, I get my QLD license instead of getting a P1 or P2 license!
So, I have cancelled my test, and will practise and have lessons and book my driving test when I am good and ready. For someone with as little experience as me, doing the driving test in 3 weeks' time when the 1st driving lesson is only 2 weeks before the test is a little... unrealistic. Not to mention a waste of money if I'm more than likely to fail.
A HUGE load off my mind - I'm so relieved. I just have to go to the traffic dept at SMILLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEE and have my learner's license issued. Can't wait!
Now we just need our stuff to arrive!! Just not on Thursday as that's when our car is going in for a check-up. But soon!!! It's time now! Quick quick, want our stuff plskthx!!
That being said, it's unfortunately undeniable how unfit I am! I feel kaput after the warm up stretching LOL. We started learning our first kata though, which we're going to be practising more today. Today we're also signing up for 6 months and both of us will be getting our gi. I'm very excited.
Another reason for me to be excited, or rather RELIEVED, is that I've cancelled my driving test. Yes, cancelled. No, I haven't chickened out, I just realised a few things and phoned around to get further info.
Firstly, as permanent residents in QLD, we get a 3 month grace period in which we are allowed to drive on our SA licenses. During the 3 months, we're supposed to get QLD licenses by doing the written test and having a lesson (or 2, or 12904), and passing the driving test. If you fail the driving test within the 3 months, you're able to do the test again as many times as you like until you pass.
If you pass the 3 months limit, however, you are no longer allowed to drive unsupervised, you need to get the learner's license issued (by passing the written test you automatically qualify for the learner's license) and then need an 'open license' holder to accompany you whenever you drive (including as you practise) until you pass the driving test (again, you can do the test as often as you like). So in essense, you are a learner driver all over again.
Now, because we have SA licenses, if I fail my driving test and G passes his, I am able to drive with him as my supervisor, which is what I have been doing anyway as I'm inexperienced AND I'm getting used to our car. Also, because I'm over 25, I don't have to complete the learner's logbook (requiring 100 hours driving time to be filled in over the course of 1 year). And, because I currently hold an 'open license' from SA and QLD govt acknowledges it, once I pass the driving test, I get my QLD license instead of getting a P1 or P2 license!
So, I have cancelled my test, and will practise and have lessons and book my driving test when I am good and ready. For someone with as little experience as me, doing the driving test in 3 weeks' time when the 1st driving lesson is only 2 weeks before the test is a little... unrealistic. Not to mention a waste of money if I'm more than likely to fail.
A HUGE load off my mind - I'm so relieved. I just have to go to the traffic dept at SMILLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEE and have my learner's license issued. Can't wait!
Now we just need our stuff to arrive!! Just not on Thursday as that's when our car is going in for a check-up. But soon!!! It's time now! Quick quick, want our stuff plskthx!!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Kit checkin' in
Before I post, lemme check what all I've posted about last - so I don't repeat stuff.
Ok. This evening we're going for our 2nd free introductory karate lesson. We're gonna sign up for 6 months for now.
Yesterday I went for a trundle around in our car - trying to get used to the clutch!! This car's clutch is (according to G, and I agree *grr*) far less forgiving than the Toyota Tazz I learnt in AND the Audi A4 we had, weird huh? So I'm... not doing exceptionally well with clutch control at the moment, to put it euphemistically. It's bad enough pulling away from a stop street, I wonder how I'll do when it comes to 3-point-turns and parallel parking, etc? Remains to be seen. But, I will persevere!
While we were driving off to hand over the import permit paper to the moving company, they emailed saying AQIS has pulled aside 2 items from our stuff - our 2 bar chairs, which have straw seat covers. So, because they're of sentimental value, we forked out $180 to have them treated. Yup, crazy, but they were engagement gifts from G's parents, and *our* bar chairs, man! Special to us. So hopefully we get our stuff soon!
Ok that's all I have time for now - gotta get ready for karate!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeers!
Ok. This evening we're going for our 2nd free introductory karate lesson. We're gonna sign up for 6 months for now.
Yesterday I went for a trundle around in our car - trying to get used to the clutch!! This car's clutch is (according to G, and I agree *grr*) far less forgiving than the Toyota Tazz I learnt in AND the Audi A4 we had, weird huh? So I'm... not doing exceptionally well with clutch control at the moment, to put it euphemistically. It's bad enough pulling away from a stop street, I wonder how I'll do when it comes to 3-point-turns and parallel parking, etc? Remains to be seen. But, I will persevere!
While we were driving off to hand over the import permit paper to the moving company, they emailed saying AQIS has pulled aside 2 items from our stuff - our 2 bar chairs, which have straw seat covers. So, because they're of sentimental value, we forked out $180 to have them treated. Yup, crazy, but they were engagement gifts from G's parents, and *our* bar chairs, man! Special to us. So hopefully we get our stuff soon!
Ok that's all I have time for now - gotta get ready for karate!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeers!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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
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
Friday, March 18, 2011
The good old days
Since I'm in the process of reading/learning the road rules booklet, and I recently paged through the user manual of our car, I decided to take a peek under the bonnet.
This car has got such a cute little bonnet, with a compact, tidy engine. Spotlessly clean, no evidence of dirt apart from dust which is to be expected as the car is under 3 years old.
Fiddling around in there, with G's help when checking the battery water level, reminded me of when I was small and I spent a lot of time playing in the garage while Dad worked on the Merc.
He would spend the better part of a lot of days bent over the engine, his hands covered in that unshiftable black that becomes part of your life the moment you touch an engine. He was always wearing 'working clothes': a scruffy, well-worn jersey over a faded, almost see-through shirt and dated, unfashionable trousers from the 70s.
I was always fascinated by what he was doing. Just looking at the engine, knowing what was what, and how the different parts worked, referring to the detailed circuit diagrams in his bible, 'the Merc book' as it was known in our family.
It was a book I loved looking through, despite it not having many pictures that were satisfying to look at - it was mostly engine and parts photos, with how-to series' of photos of boring detail - because it had pictures of Our Car. Not specifically our car, of course, but our car's siblings who had had a successful career in modelling.
The knowledge Dad had of that car was immeasurable, and yet he still wasn't able to know everything. He struggled for days on end, trying to take something apart, or put something back together, or getting a specific part out of the car, so that he could order a replacement. More often than not, he'd take the part to the spares shop, they'd order one for him, he'd bring it home only to find "bugger it, it's the wrong part!!".
The poor car was a W123 series 240D, a supposedly stable, faultless, troublefree edition of Mercedes Benz, but we suspected that our one was the scapegoat, bearing all the problems that normally would have been distributed fairly between all the cars of its pedigree. Eventually, as the car aged, Dad (who was the usual driver) had to get used to so many oddities of the car.
Every morning before taking us to school, he'd sit in the car, counting. The glowplug-ready light on the dashboard broke at some stage, so he'd have to turn the ignition, count a certain number of seconds and then turn the key, otherwise the car simply would not start.
Another odd thing we got used to for a while was the car not switching off at the ignition. Seeing how much trouble it took to replace the thing, it's no wonder Dad delayed fixing it for a while and during that time, the only way to switch the car off was to force it to stall. It made for amusing stops!
One last quirk I'd like to mention (rather than bore you with every single one), was the car's dislike for cold nights. It would refuse to start the next morning, so Dad took to covering up the bonnet with blankets! I forget what the fault was, and I do remember the car not doing that permanently, so it must have been one of the many things Dad fixed.
I guess this blog post is a sentimental ramble, and I think ultimately this post is to say that I miss him a lot. The stability, growing up, of Dad working in the garage most days, of me wandering in and out of the garage, helping by holding the reading lamp at a useful angle so he could see, and asking him questions. He did seem to like answering them, so I can only hope (assume is too presumptious) that they were intelligent questions - I do think I learnt a few things but not enough to be predestined to be a mechanic LOL.
I feel sad, knowing that I had and still have no clue just how much he knew, feel sad knowing that if he were still around, he'd enjoy so many things still. I'm sure he'd be blown away by how incredible computers are now; seeing how he enjoyed circuit diagrams so much, it seems an obvious progression that he'd learn about how computers work.
Ok this post is getting off-track, but still. The child in me fierily wishes I could learn everything electrical/mechanical/engine-related, so that I could know what I see when I look in the engine. The grown-up in me understands and just feels sad.
This car has got such a cute little bonnet, with a compact, tidy engine. Spotlessly clean, no evidence of dirt apart from dust which is to be expected as the car is under 3 years old.
Fiddling around in there, with G's help when checking the battery water level, reminded me of when I was small and I spent a lot of time playing in the garage while Dad worked on the Merc.
He would spend the better part of a lot of days bent over the engine, his hands covered in that unshiftable black that becomes part of your life the moment you touch an engine. He was always wearing 'working clothes': a scruffy, well-worn jersey over a faded, almost see-through shirt and dated, unfashionable trousers from the 70s.
I was always fascinated by what he was doing. Just looking at the engine, knowing what was what, and how the different parts worked, referring to the detailed circuit diagrams in his bible, 'the Merc book' as it was known in our family.
It was a book I loved looking through, despite it not having many pictures that were satisfying to look at - it was mostly engine and parts photos, with how-to series' of photos of boring detail - because it had pictures of Our Car. Not specifically our car, of course, but our car's siblings who had had a successful career in modelling.
The knowledge Dad had of that car was immeasurable, and yet he still wasn't able to know everything. He struggled for days on end, trying to take something apart, or put something back together, or getting a specific part out of the car, so that he could order a replacement. More often than not, he'd take the part to the spares shop, they'd order one for him, he'd bring it home only to find "bugger it, it's the wrong part!!".
The poor car was a W123 series 240D, a supposedly stable, faultless, troublefree edition of Mercedes Benz, but we suspected that our one was the scapegoat, bearing all the problems that normally would have been distributed fairly between all the cars of its pedigree. Eventually, as the car aged, Dad (who was the usual driver) had to get used to so many oddities of the car.
Every morning before taking us to school, he'd sit in the car, counting. The glowplug-ready light on the dashboard broke at some stage, so he'd have to turn the ignition, count a certain number of seconds and then turn the key, otherwise the car simply would not start.
Another odd thing we got used to for a while was the car not switching off at the ignition. Seeing how much trouble it took to replace the thing, it's no wonder Dad delayed fixing it for a while and during that time, the only way to switch the car off was to force it to stall. It made for amusing stops!
One last quirk I'd like to mention (rather than bore you with every single one), was the car's dislike for cold nights. It would refuse to start the next morning, so Dad took to covering up the bonnet with blankets! I forget what the fault was, and I do remember the car not doing that permanently, so it must have been one of the many things Dad fixed.
I guess this blog post is a sentimental ramble, and I think ultimately this post is to say that I miss him a lot. The stability, growing up, of Dad working in the garage most days, of me wandering in and out of the garage, helping by holding the reading lamp at a useful angle so he could see, and asking him questions. He did seem to like answering them, so I can only hope (assume is too presumptious) that they were intelligent questions - I do think I learnt a few things but not enough to be predestined to be a mechanic LOL.
I feel sad, knowing that I had and still have no clue just how much he knew, feel sad knowing that if he were still around, he'd enjoy so many things still. I'm sure he'd be blown away by how incredible computers are now; seeing how he enjoyed circuit diagrams so much, it seems an obvious progression that he'd learn about how computers work.
Ok this post is getting off-track, but still. The child in me fierily wishes I could learn everything electrical/mechanical/engine-related, so that I could know what I see when I look in the engine. The grown-up in me understands and just feels sad.
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