I'm sitting here at the computer, catching up on some of my favourite blogs, with The Bear hanging over my shoulders.
The Bear: "Mum, can I please play the Barbie games?"
Me: "No darling. It's a lovely day. We're going outside."
The Bear: "Awww, please Mama?"
Me: "No darling."
The Bear: " If you let me, I'll still love you."
Me (trying not to laugh): "You'll love me anyway."
The Bear: "No I won't."
Me: "Well I still love you."
The Bear: "Oh dear."
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Listography - Last week? Can barely remember this week!
Kate Takes 5 wants to know what we did last week. So I am going to take her lazy lead and show you in pictures.
I didn't achieve much last week as my brother and his partner had a baby girl which made me a first time aunty. Well, on my side of the family. I'm already Aunty Jeans three times over on Mr. H's side. But it's so exciting when it's your own family. So off we went up to New South Wales to have a cuddle. So here's how my week went.
1. Continued with my Spring Challenge with my personal trainer. There was a lot of tummy work.
I didn't achieve much last week as my brother and his partner had a baby girl which made me a first time aunty. Well, on my side of the family. I'm already Aunty Jeans three times over on Mr. H's side. But it's so exciting when it's your own family. So off we went up to New South Wales to have a cuddle. So here's how my week went.
1. Continued with my Spring Challenge with my personal trainer. There was a lot of tummy work.
2. Baked some biscotti .......
.......... and cooked spaghetti bolognaise.
3. Met my beautiful brand new niece.
4. Spent seven hours driving to and from the gorgeous little bundle.
5. Worked all weekend.
Pop over to Kate's to see what everyone else got up to.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Bath Time!
I have hot water! Endless hot water. Yay!!!!!!
The day before we moved back into our house, our brand new, instant gas hot water system decided not to function. "What the #@*??? Urgent phone calls to the company were made, they sent out a service man (a plumber) that afternoon who was unable to fix it there and then. He rigged up a temporary electric system and said he would be back in a week with parts. He came back and still could not fix the problem. So he ordered a replacement unit (what he should have done in the first place). What he didn't make clear was whether he was requesting the current model or the one down from that. Attempts to contact him, by myself, Mr. H and the company, were futile. He didn't return any of our calls or emails. The girl I was speaking to at the company was terrific. She was patient, listened to my venting, persistent, and consulted management when necessary. Long and the short of it, she ordered the replacement unit, arranged for a different, more reliable plumber to come and install it, all the while keeping in constant contact via email.
So, for three and a half weeks, we have been putting up with a set-up that only holds fifty litres of water, and heats up on a needs basis. That is, The Squeeze and The Bear bath in three inches of water. We then wait an hour for the water to reheat before Mr. H has a shower, and then another hour before I have a shower. If I rushed, I could just have enough hot water to wash my hair. Not to mention timing washing the dishes so we don't buck the bath/shower system. Terrible isn't it? Oh the drama!
Until today. I have just been very un-waterwise and had the longest shower ever. Heaven! Looking like a raisin never felt so good. And my bossy, bolshy, pushiness has paid off. Actually, I have been quite patient and diplomatic which has even surprised Mr. H. He is quite proud of me.
The day before we moved back into our house, our brand new, instant gas hot water system decided not to function. "What the #@*??? Urgent phone calls to the company were made, they sent out a service man (a plumber) that afternoon who was unable to fix it there and then. He rigged up a temporary electric system and said he would be back in a week with parts. He came back and still could not fix the problem. So he ordered a replacement unit (what he should have done in the first place). What he didn't make clear was whether he was requesting the current model or the one down from that. Attempts to contact him, by myself, Mr. H and the company, were futile. He didn't return any of our calls or emails. The girl I was speaking to at the company was terrific. She was patient, listened to my venting, persistent, and consulted management when necessary. Long and the short of it, she ordered the replacement unit, arranged for a different, more reliable plumber to come and install it, all the while keeping in constant contact via email.
So, for three and a half weeks, we have been putting up with a set-up that only holds fifty litres of water, and heats up on a needs basis. That is, The Squeeze and The Bear bath in three inches of water. We then wait an hour for the water to reheat before Mr. H has a shower, and then another hour before I have a shower. If I rushed, I could just have enough hot water to wash my hair. Not to mention timing washing the dishes so we don't buck the bath/shower system. Terrible isn't it? Oh the drama!
Until today. I have just been very un-waterwise and had the longest shower ever. Heaven! Looking like a raisin never felt so good. And my bossy, bolshy, pushiness has paid off. Actually, I have been quite patient and diplomatic which has even surprised Mr. H. He is quite proud of me.
Sunday, 21 August 2011
"Here comes the sun, di di doo da"
It's Sunday morning, and I have been happily folding laundry while the rest of my family sleep in. I can imagine there are a lot of puzzled faces out there so let me explain.
First, yes I have trained The Squeeze and The Bear well and they sleep in on the weekend, most of the time. If only they would do this on the weekends I don't work. But then, if they did, I would have Mr. H nudging me instead!
Explanation number two: it is my weekend on deck at the hospital. Hence me being awake and out of bed early on a Sunday morning. I could be out of bed early on any Sunday morning just so Mr. H would LEAVE ME ALONE! (Menace.)
Finally, it's sunny!! Not foggy, damp and chilly. Well, it's still a bit chilly but I managed to get four loads of washing done yesterday, and hang it out in the sun to dry. And it dried! Most of it, anyway but that's because Mr. H forgot to bring his work clothes in off the line - his fault. At least I'll be able to answer "yes" when he asks tonight "Have I got any clean work clothes for tomorrow?" I just can't guarantee they'll be dry. We have the same conversation almost every Sunday night.
Mr. H: "Have I got any clean work clothes for tomorrow?"
Me: "I don't know, have you?"
Mr. H: "Well have you washed any because I'm out of clean work clothes."
Me: "How am I meant to know you're out of clean work clothes if you don't tell me?"
Mr. H: "Because,... coz,... you just should. It's your job"
Me: "Hmmmm, is that so?"
Back to my sunshine. I love it when the weather starts to warm up, and not just because the flowers are blooming, and the trees are blossoming, and the air smells like freshly mowed grass. It's also because my house can cease to look like a Chinese laundry and go back to looking like a home that has been recently renovated. Ahhhhhh.
First, yes I have trained The Squeeze and The Bear well and they sleep in on the weekend, most of the time. If only they would do this on the weekends I don't work. But then, if they did, I would have Mr. H nudging me instead!
Explanation number two: it is my weekend on deck at the hospital. Hence me being awake and out of bed early on a Sunday morning. I could be out of bed early on any Sunday morning just so Mr. H would LEAVE ME ALONE! (Menace.)
Finally, it's sunny!! Not foggy, damp and chilly. Well, it's still a bit chilly but I managed to get four loads of washing done yesterday, and hang it out in the sun to dry. And it dried! Most of it, anyway but that's because Mr. H forgot to bring his work clothes in off the line - his fault. At least I'll be able to answer "yes" when he asks tonight "Have I got any clean work clothes for tomorrow?" I just can't guarantee they'll be dry. We have the same conversation almost every Sunday night.
Mr. H: "Have I got any clean work clothes for tomorrow?"
Me: "I don't know, have you?"
Mr. H: "Well have you washed any because I'm out of clean work clothes."
Me: "How am I meant to know you're out of clean work clothes if you don't tell me?"
Mr. H: "Because,... coz,... you just should. It's your job"
Me: "Hmmmm, is that so?"
Saturday, 20 August 2011
The Gallery: Black and White
I'm very excited to be joining The Gallery at Sticky Fingers this week. This little amateur photographer has been inspired by all the other photos posted by fellow bloggers, and not just from this week.
I love the theme for this week because there is a certain nostalgia created when looking at old black and white pics. So I have chosen some oldies to share with you.
I love the theme for this week because there is a certain nostalgia created when looking at old black and white pics. So I have chosen some oldies to share with you.
I think this was taken in the late 1920s. That's my maternal grand-mother in the pram, "Winkie" with her mother, my great-grand-mother "Gran" standing behind her (check out the hair!) And how about all those cloche hats. Aren't they fabulous! I think the other women are various aunts and rellies.
This is Gran in her younger years as a nurse.
One of my favourites - Mum and I.
And lastly, something a little more recent. In a time before babies, when Mr. H and I had time to do things like go fly-fishing (one thing I am keen to get back into this summer).
Pop over to Sticky Fingers and have a look at all the other fantastic entries.
Monday, 15 August 2011
Listography: Guilty Pleasures
Oooo Kate Takes 5 is challenging us again this week to open up and bare all. Guilty pleasures, I have a few of those. But let's face it, don't we all deserve to indulge ourselves periodically? I need to indulge myself in certain pleasureables, otherwise I become quite unpleasureable! So let me pleasure you by sharing my guilty pleasures.
1. Chocolate. Dark chocolate to be specific. I have been a chocoholic since I can remember. I once vowed to myself on New Year that I would go twelve months without chocolate (and anything chocolate flavoured) just so I could prove to myself I could do it. I did it. I didn't enjoy it but I did it.
2. Shoes. I LOVE gorgeous, pretty shoes, new or vintage. I don't own a ridiculous amount of pairs of shoes, but when I buy a pair, it's a splurge. Earlier this year, a friend of mine asked me if I could help her list some vintage shoes on Ebay.
Friend: "I have these red, Ferragamo wedges that used to belong to my grand-mother. I thought I'd sell them on Ebay."
Me: "What size?"
Friend: "Seven."
A look of absolute excitement takes over my face, and I check my balance by holding onto Friend's arm.
Me: "Bugger Ebay, I'll buy them from you."
Friend: "Oh no, I'll give them to you. You don't have to buy them from me."
Again, I recheck my balance. But I try to insist on some sort of payment.
Me: "Really, I'll pay you for them. You were going to sell them on Ebay. I don't want to ruin that."
Friend: "No, seriously, you can have them. I insist.
Me: "Thank you sooooo much!"
I then skip off with glee. A few days later, friend gives me said shoes. They fit perfectly and they are gorgeous. I give Friend a tiger print, high heeled shoe made entirely of chocolate!
3. Sleep. I mentioned in last week's Listography that I don't handle tiredness very well, so any chance to stay in bed a wee longer is a treat.
4. Having the house completely to myself for any number of hours. I do love Mr. H, The Squeeze, and The Bear, but ahhhhh, a few moments peace is always bliss. I think you would all agree?
5. This last one is a bit deep and may sound a bit egotistical. Loving myself, and feeling worthy and deserving of all I am and have, and all I aspire to be. It was a long journey to achieve this sense of security and conviction, so I own it and I flaunt it with glee.
Whatever your guilty pleasures are, own them. You deserve them, guilt free. Pop over to Kate Takes 5 to indulge in other people's guilty pleasures.
1. Chocolate. Dark chocolate to be specific. I have been a chocoholic since I can remember. I once vowed to myself on New Year that I would go twelve months without chocolate (and anything chocolate flavoured) just so I could prove to myself I could do it. I did it. I didn't enjoy it but I did it.
2. Shoes. I LOVE gorgeous, pretty shoes, new or vintage. I don't own a ridiculous amount of pairs of shoes, but when I buy a pair, it's a splurge. Earlier this year, a friend of mine asked me if I could help her list some vintage shoes on Ebay.
Friend: "I have these red, Ferragamo wedges that used to belong to my grand-mother. I thought I'd sell them on Ebay."
Me: "What size?"
Friend: "Seven."
A look of absolute excitement takes over my face, and I check my balance by holding onto Friend's arm.
Me: "Bugger Ebay, I'll buy them from you."
Friend: "Oh no, I'll give them to you. You don't have to buy them from me."
Again, I recheck my balance. But I try to insist on some sort of payment.
Me: "Really, I'll pay you for them. You were going to sell them on Ebay. I don't want to ruin that."
Friend: "No, seriously, you can have them. I insist.
Me: "Thank you sooooo much!"
I then skip off with glee. A few days later, friend gives me said shoes. They fit perfectly and they are gorgeous. I give Friend a tiger print, high heeled shoe made entirely of chocolate!
3. Sleep. I mentioned in last week's Listography that I don't handle tiredness very well, so any chance to stay in bed a wee longer is a treat.
4. Having the house completely to myself for any number of hours. I do love Mr. H, The Squeeze, and The Bear, but ahhhhh, a few moments peace is always bliss. I think you would all agree?
5. This last one is a bit deep and may sound a bit egotistical. Loving myself, and feeling worthy and deserving of all I am and have, and all I aspire to be. It was a long journey to achieve this sense of security and conviction, so I own it and I flaunt it with glee.
Whatever your guilty pleasures are, own them. You deserve them, guilt free. Pop over to Kate Takes 5 to indulge in other people's guilty pleasures.
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