Friday, April 15, 2011

Sick

Poor me, took Miss R to drama on Mon evening with a little tickle in my throat; by the time I went to bed that night it was like swallowing razor blades. So I toddled off to the doctor on Tues morning who diagnosed pharangytis, gave me 3 days off work and put me on antibiotics.

Yesterday I felt absolutely no better - felt worse if anything. And the sore throat had turned into blocked ears and sinuses so I made the decision that I had been dreading.

I 'm not going to go to Melbourne on Saturday for the Australasian Quilting Convention.

Waaaah! We booked the tickets back in August and I've been so looking forward to it. But I often have trouble with my ears when I fly (I once flew with an ear infection and it was EXCRUTIATING) so I wasn't going to risk spoiling my day, as well as Theresa's, Claire's and Michelle's. So Theresa's sister Margaret is going to be me for the day. I don't know if she wants to go to the AQC, but she'll happily spend the day shopping in the city instead.

And of course, once I made that decision, I woke up this morning feeling much, much better....what's the bet I wake up tomorrow feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed and raring to go???

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Taking a Walk down Memory Lane

My brother recently sold his house, so he & family have temporarily moved in with Mum while they find a new house. He & SIL are sleeping in the room I used to share with my sister, so Mum has cleared all the crap out of the top of the wardrobe. Now, I thought I had taken all of my stuff over the years but apparently not - all my teaching stuff has now gone into the recycling bin (I see I habitually handed in assignments late) and I'm now ploughing my way through a box of old letters.

Back in 1983, I was doing my second year of a teaching degree (Early Childhood Education) and Dad was transferred to the Perth office. So Mum and my younger brother went West with him, and I moved into The Granny Flat. The Granny Flat belonged to my aunt's SIL (so known to the family but not actually related to me) and it was probably one of the best year's of my life. I was just developing a circle of friends and a social life, had a little bit of independence but was still being supported by Dad. Most of the letters in the box date back to that time - many of them from my parents....seperate letters as Dad would send me the fortnightly rent & living expenses cheques, and Mum would give me the lowdown on what was happening over there. What a hoot some of them are to read! Dad was only there for the one year in the end; he was sent temporarily to Sydney in 1984 so Mum & bro came back home and so did I, so no more letters from Dad. He passed away very unexpectedly about 5 years ago.....I think I'll be keeping those letters.

There's also heaps of letters from various penpals I had over the years. Now I know the idea of having an overseas penpal is to learn more about their culture, but I just found it incredibly difficult to relate to them, so none lasted very long. But I can see that I wrote to a girl in Barbados for a while (must have sounded very exotic!!), a boy in Scotland, a girl in the US (booooring) and a girl from Malaysia. I've dipped into some of those but will definitely chuck most of them. But the ones I'm enoying the most are from a girl in Melbourne that I wrote to from when we were 13 until we tailed off sometime around 20......I met her in 1983 when she came and stayed with me in The Granny Flat. Re-reading some of those letters has been hilarious - I would LOVE to know what I wrote back to her b/c I lived the most boring life imaginable back then (still do, really) and she seemed so much more sophisticated. It was probably all made up though..... I definitely think I'll hang on to those letters too.

Oh, and I googled her name and the only one I could find was an architect in Sydney. Wonder if that's her? She doesn't strike me as the type to change her name if she married.

And Dad's "temporary" move to Sydney? Lasted about 20 years.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Can you believe it's April already?

Seriously, there's only 2 more weeks of term - how did that happen??

Been busy here. We have agreed to buy the house at Victor which I'm still finding stressful but feeling a little more positive about. Many people have commented that they would stay there, so here's hoping they put their money where their mouth is. I've been spending lots of time online looking at prices for fridges, beds, couches etc....it has been a bit of an eye opener as I had no idea that beds were so expensive!! We want to keep everything light and airy, so most stuff will be from Ikea, although Kmart has a great range of inexpensive kitchen ware. We're heading down to the house later today to take some measurements - have to organise curtains and a shed as a priority.

Yesterday we caught up with Mr G's cousin and family for breakfast. The 2 girls go to school together, but we haven't seen Mr Cousin for ages as he spends a lot of time in the UK and the US for work (don't ask me what he does; I have no idea). So it was lovely to catch up and we could have chatted for most of the morning. But we had to head off to help my brother move - they sold their house (very quickly!) and are moving in with Mum while they search for a new abode. Didn't get home until 9pm but virtually everything heavy was moved so he was happy with that. Settlement isn't until Friday so they still have a week to tidy up the loose ends.

On the school front, Miss R is doing well. Seems to be keeping up with the homework, has a group of friends to hang out with and she got a part in the school production, so she's happy with that. Now I have to come through with my promise to let her have streaks in the hair. Her hair has gradually darkened over the last few years and she tells me repeatedly how much she hates it, but I refuse to let her start colouring her hair at 13!! (The hairdresser has told me that colouring will help with the oilyness but we both agree that she's too  young.) Anyway, I told her that I'd let her get lighter streaks IF she got a part in the school play, so looks like I'll be making an appointment for the school  holidays.

Work is ok for the moment. I don't hold out much hope for the job I applied for. Had to do an online test which was mainly logic problems - I don't do well in those kind of things, never have - so I don't think I would have scored high enough. Anyway, we shall see.

Not much sewing has been going on.....I'm so very sick of 2 1/2" squares......but I hope to have some photos soon. Mr G has suggested that I'll be making many quilts for the beach house, so that will be a good use of the stash.