‘Cause we got a bonus!
Exxxcellent.

As a special treat, we bought the dog a new bed. The old one was thin and stinky. The new one is luxurious and full of beans. But it makes a funny noise when you touch it – consequently it’s way too scary for the dog to actually sleep on (although she will lie next to it, spreadeagled on the floorboards). Despite our best efforts, it seems there’ll be no rest until the old, favourite bed returns.

Taking some laundry off the washing line this evening, I noticed a piece of mission brown painted timber nestled near the base of a climbing rose bush which has entwined itself in and around our back porch. I also noticed that a reasonably large piece of the porch eave was missing. It seems the rose bush has taken a bite out of the porch and then proceeded to deposit the giveaway debris in an unobtrusive location.
It’s a bit scary really.

One of the architects we’ve been talking to about the proposed house renovation has rhapsodised at great length about ‘texture’ being one of the great features of our home in its current incarnation.
Hmmm. Never really thought about ‘texture’ as being either here or there in terms of a feature in my house. What about the leadlight, the floorboards, the ornate cornices… And texture? Seriously? That’s the best thing he can find??
In reality, he’s smitten with the imported, extra-insulated UK wall paper in the hallway. It’s got texture, it’s fabulous! (Almost a shame to tell him it’s going as soon as we get around to it!)
My key concern at the moment is removing excess texture. Smoothing down those walls, sanding back those skirting boards – I’m de-texturing as fast as I can!
I wonder if we can come to a happy medium?

Not only did my reluctant plasterer do a fantatic job with making my bedroom look 100% better – with the addition of a little plaster board and cornice work, he also staked up the quince tree in the front yard as an added bonus. With the help of a piece of metal put out for hard rubbish, a stick he found out the back and some wire, he has ensured not only that the tree will grow straight and true but it will also NEVER be stolen. It’s now wired into place and not going anywhere. Well done George. I’ll have to send a few quinces his way when they’re ready to pick.

I know I can have a bit of a ‘rural’ accent – I use it when on the phone with my family and it is definitely detectable after spending a bit of time in the country. I didn’t realise I may have a more ‘international’ accent though – until I was recently speaking to someone at Uni in regard to their research proposal to complete the MA Comms. She is interested in looking at whether people from English-speaking countries experience difficulties/dissonances in terms of language when they travel to other English speaking countries to live/study. Someone from the Philippines coming to Australia to study, for example. This represents her personal experience and she’s interested in examining how this plays out in a broader context. “You’d understand”, she said to me, “you’ve definitely got an accent. Where are you from?” Rats. I could only tell her I was from the country originally, not A country, just the country. Not very exotic at all, I’m afraid.

… not updated in some time.

Too busy? Too introspective? Too … errrr… lazy? Maybe.
February came and went, starring (in no particular order): sunburn, a new umbrella, architects and vets, a reluctant plasterer, dentistry, lawn bowling, mistaken identity, very expensive cheese, tricky questions and the cycle of life.
March brings autumn, the start of a new semester and homework avoidance strategy number 87 – a return to blogging.

Said a sad last goodbye to a lovely old lady yesterday. At 93 she had had a long, full and happy life. 93 years. What an amazing lifetime. I think she would have liked the ceremony – quite plain and simple – but followed by a wake filled with lots of stories, lots of cups of tea and lots of good country cooking. It was a very fitting way for us to remember her.

As a hair clip.
As seen last night in a restaurant in Carnegie.
Different.

We have an ongoing mouse issue here. They keep trying to share the space and we keep trying to ensure they don’t. Occasionally one will taunt us for a day or two. Thus the distribution of mouse catching devices about the place. There’s been one in the study for a few days recently. I’d managed to avoid it (as had the mouse) until a couple of nights ago. When I stood on it. Time slowed as I came to the clear realisation that I was, in fact, standing on the trap and as soon as I moved it would go off. And probably hurt me. Ouch. A quick remove? Or steady and measured? What would cause least damage? Shouldn’t have worried as it wasn’t one of the old fashioned hair trigger devices guaranteed to cause a sharp sting at the very least but a more modern, “humane” model. Didn’t actually bite back at all, just sort of crumpled underfoot. And it was suitable for immediate reuse in a less occupied-by-me spot.