Cross Stitch, Stash

A teensy bit of stash

Today I spent a wonderful few hours browsing and chatting with Karen at Dragonfly Dreams (soon to be renamed as The Stitching Post) in the Blue Mountains.  As always, I feel as though we’ve known each other for years, and feel really comfortable in their company.  I managed to come home with a few guilt-free goodies … guilt-free ‘cos I’ve finished the 50 project challenge!  I haven’t taken photos, as I can’t be bothered trying to find the camera right now and uploading the photos … I might update this post tomorrow with piccies if I get time … maybe 😛

Anyway, following are the goodies that followed me home today:

I’m really excited at the prospect of stitching again – since my last finishes I haven’t lifted a needle at all … while I’m here in Glenwood I usually only have the time and energy to put a few stitches in on Sunday nights.  By the time I do my 5 x 12-13 hour days, I’m ready to collapse in a heap on Friday night, and I’m sure if I did stitch, I’d just have to rip out all the errors again on Saturday, so I avoid it big-time!

In less than a week, though, I’ll be sat merrily stitching away until my hands are ready to drop off, and I really can’t wait – I’m so incredibly excited at the prospect of all the projects that I really really want to start (and also those that I want to finish).  I’ve even taken an extra day off work just so I can sit around all day and stitch for one day … I’ll have no furniture in the flat at that point, but I intend propping myself up against the wall, while sitting on my duvet inner and blow-up mattress, listening to DVD’s and/or talking books on the laptop, and celebrating the fact that I am no longer having to commute a million miles every week … I’m feeling all dreamy now just thinking about it!  As for the furniture truck, it can take its merry time to arrive, as then I’ll be flat out unpacking instead of stitching haha.

I’m looking forward to meeting a few more stitchers in Sydney in 2008 as well – and over the last couple of weeks I have been considering opening my flat up for a stitching day … I just have to work out how many people we can fit it as it’s such a small flat – it might not end up being an option, but it’s worth considering anyway.  It would be lovely to meet a few more stitchers up here – spending time in Karen’s company, surrounded by those wonderful goodies in the shop, makes me realise how much I adore being in contact with other stitchers.  I have been missing my good friends Tannia and Sharon very much over the last few weeks for that reason (although I’d love them if they weren’t actually stitchers!).

Rightio, time to head off and kit up a couple of ornies for our ornment SAL challenge on one of the Yahoo groups – I’m hoping to get one of the ornies stitched tomorrow night (or close to being stitched anyway), but it takes me forever to kit it up then start stitching, so much better to get organised in advance!  Plus I also want to kit up Ladybug, Ladybug (Little House Needleworks) – I’m itching to start the Sampler Lady by LHN, but I’m still waiting for the threads to arrive from back order … then once my Ladybug, Ladybug piece is finished I need to start some serious stitching on my CA Wells piece – so far I’ve managed a whole 2 flower heads, because I’m having to stitch in hand (need my sewing machine to sew on some side strips so it will go in the Qsnaps), and I detest stitching in hand.  That’ll be a much better project to start concentrating on when I settle into the new place.

Rightio, time to get cracking ‘cos I’m starting to get heavy-eyed … time to move the body … and maybe time to get a chilled glass of Chardonnay to help with resuscitation haha.

Cross Stitch

Happy New Year!!!

Here’s hoping 2008 is a wonderful year for all of us – filled with everything our hearts desire 😀

As it’s now 2008 ‘down under’ in Australia, I’ll finish the year with a photo of the Sydney fireworks over the harbour last New Year – compliments of the online Sydney Morning Herald.  Unfortunately I’m not out at the harbour seeing the fireworks first hand (that’s the plan for next year though!) – I’m seeing the New Year in with Mark and Leisa and some of their friends at home … where I’ve been happily supping Jim Beam and L&P all night after finding a small asian supermarket near work that sells L&P … I’m a happy girl 😉

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Not only that, though – I’d also like to offer something, in way of thanks to everyone who has been supportive and a regular reader of my blog throughout the last two years, especially when I haven’t had chance to reciprocate with regular reading and support of my own.  I am going to hold a prize draw for something stitched by me … I can’t guarantee it will be received by the winner this side of February, but I would like to give something back in thanks for the friendship I’ve received, especially during my most stressful times in 2007!

So, if you’d like to go into the draw for something stitched by me, please leave a comment in this post – I’ll leave the draw open until the end of January, when I’ll draw a name out of the proverbial hat, complements of random.org 😀

Finishes, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

Another happy dance

Yippee, I’m so happy to announce yet another happy dance – housesitting has been so good for getting some stitching done, it’s wonderful to get back into the swing of things again, even if it’s shortlived.  I’ll be moving back into Brenda and Nigel’s again on 6 Jan for another three weeks, so it’ll be back into the “work-sleep-work” mode again … but after 24 Jan I’ll have a personal life back again during the week, and I can’t wait to make better use of my evening hours rather than spending it all travelling from work.  Even if it takes me 1/2 an hour to drive to and from work, it will still give me back another 2 to 2 1/2 hours private home time, ah heaven!! 

Next week I’ll finalise the removal truck details (which is costing between $1500-$2000 yikes!!!) , and I have to fly down to Melbourne for a few hours to tidy up the last bit of the storage unit into boxes (we just threw some things into it the last time we were there), then let the removalists into the unit.  Then hopefully I can organise for them to arrive Fri 25 Jan, which will give me the whole weekend to unpack things and try to make everything fit.  After that, the sofa bed is available for anyone who wants to pop over to visit 😀

Anyway, back to the important stuff … here is my happy dance for the weekend … although in fact it’s three separate happy dances – firstly, there are two happy dances for the two projects I’ve just finished – as well as getting the Necessities Sampler finished, I also sneaked in a new start/finish which is the Geranium House sampler.

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Necessities Sampler by Little House Needleworks
Stitched on 32ct hand-dyed Merino linen by Country Stitch
with recommended threads

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Geranium House by Country Cottage Needleworks
Stitched on 32ct Light Mocha linen
with recommended threads

Photobucket The biggest happy dance, though, is that I have now – FINALLY – finished the 50 Project Challenge!!  Yippee!!!  I have to admit, I didn’t complete the challenge properly in that I did buy a few charts during the year, and I was originally going to stitch a new project for every new chart bought, but to be honest I’m a bit ‘over it’ and want to take the pressure off myself, so I’m not going to bother stitching to make up for the slight splurges.  I really want to start off the New Year with no stitching commitments or pressures, aside from my CA Wells class pieces – after such a crappy year in 2007, I’m looking forward to smooth sailing in 2008.  And after having precious stitching time over the last few months, I really want to enjoy my stitching again by stitching what I want when I want, and buying new charts on a whim whenever I feel like it as well 😀

One of the first things I’ll be doing in the New Year is fixing up my heap of crap car!  I’m still having problems with it, and now it’s starting unlocking itself during the day – it’s like the damned thing is possessed!!!  (Maybe I should start calling it “Christine”!)  So my first job will be to take it to an auto electrician and have the entire car re-wired, I guess – which means my dashboard light will work again so I can see how fast I’m driving at night … my windows will all actually open again, not just the drivers side window, which is really helpful in this summer heat … my locks will actually stay locked when my back is turned … and the car will stop cutting out on me – then at the end of 2009 I’m hoping I’ll be in a better position to replace that heap of crap with something I actually enjoy driving … Mazda here I come !!!!!!!!

Rightio, enough prattling on … time to do get the housework done before Mark and Leisa return home tonight … then my job this week will be to catch up on a few blogs and outstanding emails, and finally finish the book I started a couple of weeks ago when I was catching the train!! Peace and quiet is shattered out here, as the neighbours are having a party it seems (this is such a noisy neighbourhood, I’m so glad I don’t live here permanently!).

Christmas Ornaments, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Works in Progress

A bit of Christmas stitching

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day – here in Sydney I spent a lovely day with Brenda & Nigel, and Brenda’s sisters, nieces and cousin.  As always Nigel did an awesome job with the food, and we all ate like Kings.  The rest of the day was spent, in my case, stitching in front of the TV while we watched Scrooged and the final episodes of the Vicar of Dibley.  I’m glad I went prepared and took a wee LHN design to start – it gave me something to do while everyone else was snoozing at odd times during the afternoon.  And if I’d got all the DMC threads to hand, I would have almost finished it!!  My needles were definitely smoking yesterday (and until 3am when I got back ‘home’ as I still couldn’t put it down).  Here’s my progress so far – I just need to buy some more DMC (3371, 739 and 3011) then I can get it finished.  Unfortunately I took a drive out to the shops today, forgetting that everything is still closed for Boxing Day, so it will be sitting unfinished for a wee while now as I’m back to work tomorrow.

lhn-necessities-sampler

Necessities Sampler by Little House Needleworks

Seeing as I can’t finish my LHN piece, I have no choice but to start one of my CA Wells pieces … which means I have to start concentrating on my stitching again yikes!!

On Christmas Eve I managed to finally put the finishing touches to a couple of ornies that were stitched during the first part of last year.  I really really need to get back into my stitching routine so I can stitch a few more for next year!  Anyway, here are the latest ornies in their finished state (I forgot to take a photo of one, which I gave to Kerrie at the weekend).

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christmas-rose-finished merry-yule-2-finished
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And here are two that Mum stitched for me, that I’ve also finally finished into ornies:

mum's-ornie-1-finished mum's-ornie-2-finished

I’ll finish this post with photos of my friendly flatmates right now – they’re both so incredibly friendly and cuddly … the photos were taken from their visit onto my bed this morning 🙂

mark-&-liesa's-kitties-1 mark-&-liesa's-kitties-2

Finishes

At last … a Happy Dance!!

I can’t believe it’s taken me nearly two months just to stitch two whole blocks of Snapperville!  I happened to spy a Spotlight sign on the way home from work today (they let us finish 2 hours early, yippee), so I ducked in and picked up a skein of DMC 434 so I could get Snapperville finished tonight.  And here’s the finished product … sorry it’s a bad photo as it’s getting dark outside and I couldn’t get a decent crisp photo of it.  I’m not bothering to put the little snaps around the border (mainly because I don’t have any) – I have to say I have really REALLY enjoyed stitching this project.  Thanks so much Cathy for your generosity in sending me the charts and fabric, it’s been a real joy to stitch 😀

snapperville

Snapperville by Bent Creek
Stitched on 32ct natural linen
with recommended threads except for DMC 434 instead of WDW Hazelnut

Next up should be my CA Wells project pieces, but instead I’m going to kit up a smallish LHN design to start stitching tomorrow at Nigel and Brenda’s place for Christmas Day.  I can’t guarantee I’ll have another happy dance this side of 2008, but I’ll at least make a start on a new fun piece, and I still have one more selfish stitching day (Boxing Day) before my housesitting people return home and I’m back at work and no stitching again 🙂

Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Round Robins, Works in Progress

Christmas with a Bite!

My mail has finally started arriving in Sydney, after having a detour into Melbourne first – which means my Quaker Friendship Sampler has arrived home at last. I have to admit, I prefer other choices of colours after stitching on everyone else’s samplers, but I do still love this one … with its bright cheery colour! I’ll have to wait to post a piccie, because I’ve left it at Brenda & Nigel’s. Actually, I might pop over to the SAL blog and see if I can snaffle a piccie that Becky took of the finished sampler (cool, thanks Becky for post that piccie so I can borrow it!!):

anne's quaker sampler

Which also brings me to another job that is way, way overdue … believe it or not, I haven’t forgotten that I have promised to give away my original chart, and I made a quick list of all the people who originally put their hands up to go into the draw. Well I can finally advise that Judith is the lucky recipient of this chart, and in the New Year I’ll get it into the post for you (it’s currently packed up, so just as soon as I can get to it, it’ll be on its way to you).

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Thanks for your patience everyone who put their hands up to go into the draw!

Which brings me to the next one … after finishing It’s Halloween by The Drawn Thread, I’m putting that chart up for grabs now as well. It has slight creases in the chart, but the chart is totally legible – it is just showing the strain of all that travelling between house sitting jobs in Melbourne!! Anyway, please leave a comment that you’d like to put your name in the draw, I’ll pull another name out of the hat (or via the list generator, anyway), in a couple of weeks time.

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Yesterday I spent the entire day in my PJ’s and managed to get loads stitched on Snapperville … and I have to say it was the most amazing comforting feeling to be stitching again.  I have really REALLY missed my stitching, and it helped to bring back a feeling of normality to my day.  Uunfortunately I don’t have any Weeks Dye Works Hazelnut thread, or DMC 434, here with me, so I can’t put the finishing touches to this piece.  Boohoo.  I may have to take it with me on Christmas Day to Brenda and Nigel’s where one of my other kitted up projects is holding DMC 434 so I can get it finished. Right now, though, I just have the door left to be stitched in the final block, along with the final part of the border (a few swirls and one more tree). Fingers crossed this will get finished before the end of 2007!

snapperville-23dec07

Today no stitching was done, but instead we had a very social occasion out at Kerry’s place (Brenda’s best friend).  Now, Mum, please do NOT read any more of this paragraph, as you’ll have nightmares for days!!!  Nicely fed on a lovely BBQ, a couple of us were still sitting outside chatting about our previous European travels, while the rest of the group were inside the house … all of a sudden the guy opposite me says “oh my goodness, there’s a snake!” – I turned around in my chair, and sure enough there was a bloody great snake slithering over the porch, and it disappeared straight through the door into the kitchen!  Thankfully no-one inside startled it, and no-one got hurt, but all of a sudden here was a mass exit of bodies coming back outside the doors carrying out all pets.  Next thing Chris (the husband) put his steel-capped boots on and armed with a spade went back inside to keep an eye on it, along with Nigel who was armed with his camera to help keep guard (I’ll put some photos up just as soon as I can get hold of copies).  A phone call was made for help, and eventually (about 3/4 hour later) the snake man arrived to remove the unwanted red-bellied black snake, who was about 5 feet long, and a very decent size in width.  It’s the first snake I’ve seen in the ‘wild’ since moving to Australia, and hopefully the last one!!!  It’s the first one Kerry’s ever seen, either, which makes me feel better that it’s not ‘normal’.  Anyway, it was rather exciting and gave us something to chat about for ages afterwards … not to mention the humour when I nearly peed myself as Nigel dangled a rubber snake in front of my nose shortly after – payback is going to be a bitch for him one day!! 😉

Anyway, after seeing a bit too much of Sydney’s nature, it was time to head back home to chill out and relax … and in case I don’t get chance before the “big day”, I wanted to make a very quick post to say ………

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ALL THE BEST TO ALL MY ONLINE FRIENDS, AND YOUR FAMILIES, FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON – MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, AND I WISH YOU EVERY HAPPINESS FOR 2008.  IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE MEETING YOU ALL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR RELATIONSHIPS NEXT YEAR.  WITH HUGE HUGS AND LOVE, xxx

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Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishing, Works in Progress

Oh heck – I made a big boo-boo!!!

Note to self – don’t post your new address on the blog until you’re 100% concentrating and awake!!!  My address is NOT PO Box 1306, but rather PO Box 688!!!  Sorry ’bout that – a seriously major blonde moment!!  Now you know why I don’t blog at the moment – I’m usually too shattered to think about it … and that’s the result!!  Doh!!!

Anyway, just a really quick post again, to post some stitching piccies while I get the chance – I finally managed to put the finishing touches to these FUFO’s a week ago:

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vicki's-wallhanging-finishe

starry-starry-night-finishe

That may end up being the only ornie finished by me this year … such is life I guess …

Also, here’s the latest two finished blocks of Snapperville, plus the teensy start on block #5 – you’d never believe it’s taken two weeks to stitch just this part, would you?  Yep, smokin’ needles is definitely a thing of the past for me for the timebeing – the only stitching I’ve been getting is about 2 hours on Sunday night ho-hum 😦

snapperville-blocks-1-and-2

snapperville-block-5

Cross Stitch, Finishes, Travel

Katoomba & Blue Mountains

First of all, my apologies if this post is a bit ‘abrupt’, but I’m pretty shattered … I do want to put our ‘journey to bed’, though, so here goes …

The final expedition of Mum and I was last Tuesday – my final day of freedom before starting work on Wednesday … I was originally going to drive to Katoomba, but needed to drive to the train station to pick up a timetable and work out where I’ll need to park my car etc for the commute into the city.  In the end we opted to take the train into Katoomba instead of driving – and I have to admit I do regret the decision!  It would have taken us approx 1 to 1 1/2 hours to drive there, but instead we were on the train for almost 3 hours (there were some track works, it seems, which slowed things up a wee bit) – it was a lovely train trip, but very very loooooong.  Coming home was a much shorter 2-hour trip!

I’m very glad we decided to head out there, though – I really wanted to take Mum to see Karen and the shop at Dragonfly Dreams (as well as being very keen myself to say “hi” in person).  It was a very hot day, and Mum and I walked from the station to the shop … when we got there I was thrilled at what a wonderful haven Karen has put together – we loved every minute of being there!  Karen was an exceptional hostess, and it is so easy to chatter away to her as if we’re long lost friends, instead of strangers … and every room we entered at Dragonfly Dreams I’d say “but wait, there’s more!!!” … every room hosted a treasure trove of goodies … sheer bliss to a stitcher’s soul! 😀

After spending a couple of hours with Karen, Mum and I headed off with goodies in hand to the end of the street where we were most impressed with the sight of the Three Sisters.  Unfortunately by the time we got down there it was too late to do any of the tourist trips, but we enjoyed the scenery for a while before starting the arduous trek back to the train station again.  Brenda has offered to go with me again one weekend to do the cable car trips with me … which is awesome!

Following are some photos of the Three Sisters – and the first one shows the cable that the cablecar travels over … with a glass bottom car!!!  I might need a stiff drink to get into it, but it’s just gotta be done one day!! 😉

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three-sisters-1

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We got home around 8pm, and just had time to eat dinner before having to hit the hay for bed – and thus it has been ever since I’ve started work!  On the previous weekend, though, I did actually have time to put a couple of stitches into fabric, and finally managed to finish off It’s Halloween by The Drawn Thread.

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Here endeth the fun part of moving to Sydney … from now on the drudge begins … 😉

I’ll tell you about the arduous task of getting to and from work another day – ‘cos it’s now almost bedtime … already! 😦

Cross Stitch, Home & Family TO BE FIXED, Works in Progress

There will be no hope for me in Sydney!

Oops, I just realised I’d started this post days ago, and I haven’t finished it off!!! …  So I’ll start off with my original post ..

Check out what I’m going to have to contend with when I move … how am I going to keep myself amused?  Check out all these lovely stores I’ll have on my doorstep in Sydney:

And I already have a few offers of people that are going to come visit me while I’m up there – I’m really looking forward to having visits from my good pal Sharon, who was my first real stitching pal in Melbourne (I’m gonna miss you heaps!).  Also one of the girls at work who is no longer talking to me ‘cos I’m leaving haha, is already planning a girls weekend away so we can see the sights during the day, go to the theatre, then party the weekend away – I’m excited already at all these upcoming social occasions, and I haven’t even moved yet!  Of course, I’m sure I’ll be visiting Melbourne occasionally at the weekends as well … it’s only 11/2 hours by plane, which is great 🙂

Now I must say today I also spent more money that I shouldn’t be spending (yeah, so what’s new lately? haha) … and it’s all the fault of Rebecca (that friend from work who’s coming partying in Sydney) and Mel – I went on a buying spree to buy some Bud Ducks for them, as Highpoint Shopping Centre have an awesome selection … well, I walked in the door and found they’d just received shipment yesterday of some brand new designs … whaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!  Yes, I have to admit, two of them came home with me … well, what’s a duck-mad girl to do???  The two that I bought for myself are these ones – International Duck and Angel Duck … how could I resist them??  The International “Mile High Duck” I just thought was so appropriate for me and my new job – travelling interstate, but also working in the travel industry … just wish my passport had all those visa stamps haha.  And I also bought some teeny weeny little ones to come travelling with me – well, I gotta have at least ONE duck in my new room right?  But then it’s not fair to let one duck make the journey all on it’s own, and it just HAD to have company!  I really LOVE the blue Angel Duck – the colour is gorgeous.  Check out these new little additions to my travelling kit:

ducks-18oct07

And there are sooooooo many more that I really really want!! I guess you could call me the Imelda Marcos of ducks!!! 😀

As you can tell, there’s also no stitching happening at the moment … I just can’t stop yapping on here instead – plus spending 2 entire hours yapping to Mum on the phone today haha.  Now I’m sat in front of the TV watching So You Think You Can Dance … perhaps I might find a needle to pick up … perhaps … 😉

Rightio, going by the TV reference to So You Think You Can Dance, I guess I started typing this on Thursday night last week …  Now it’s time to update with the latest news!

As a matter of fact there has been a little bit of needlework happening out here in Pascoe Vale South – I’ve managed to finish off another block of Snapperville, and almost managed to complete the border around as well … a couple more hours and I’ll knock that off pretty easily.  I must say after not having much stitching mojo for a while, I’m absolutely LOVING stitching Snapperville … I just don’t want to put it down!  I think the Winter Snappers will be jumping on the Q-snaps quite quickly after I make the big move up north as well – I just love these little charts! 🙂

snapperville-wip-2

As for what else is news … I’ve spoken to someone from work who moved to Sydney a while ago, to see what his flatting arrangements are now (he used to flat with the girl whose job I’m taking over), and it seems he’s just bought an apartment and prefers to live on his own for now as his partner may be joining him in the future … but he’s said it’s OK if I get desperate that he’ll never see me go without a roof over my head and has offered ’emergency housing’ if I need to while I’m searching (Brenda has family coming over in the middle of December, so I have a maximum of 4 weeks to find somewhere).

BUT, I just had a phone message out of the blue today from someone else who worked with me 3 years ago – he’d just had lunch with a friend from my office who told him my news, and apparently he’s moving to Sydney as well and wanted to know what my planned living arrangements were going to be … I’ll have a chat to him over the next few days about it, as that could be another option – but that would probably mean having to freight my belongings up north … probably …  Herc should also find out about his interview results by the end of tomorrow as well, which might be another living option (probably my preferred one overall, as Matt is quite young and a bit of a party animal, and I’m that much older and just looking for a simple quiet life) – anyway, time will tell, and at least there are a few more friendly faces in Sydney that I know from work … yippee!! 🙂

As for work itself, they haven’t approved my leave that I wanted, because it’s Melbourne Cup week and they can’t afford more people off the phones.  They’ve given me Fri 9 Nov only, which is cr*p … let’s just say I’m a bit disappointed to say the least – it just depends who you are, I think, whether they want to make an effort to help out or not … and all I’ll say is that “I’m not Greek” … one of the Managers has a bad reputation for that – she’s Greek, and has a few family and friends that work there, and let’s just say they can get away with murder … that’s one thing I’m not going to miss – the office politics!  I don’t usually let it get to me and turn a blind eye, but everyone thinks their decision is appalling due to the circumstances, especially after doing so much for the company during my time there – but there’s no point getting cranky about it, it just gives you ulcers and doesn’t change anything.  Anyway, I’ve sent an email to the “big boss” in our office stating that if I can’t be given the extra two days leave, could I please use my 8 Luv Ya Work Awards in one day (the maximum is supposed to be 4, ie 2 hours off work) … that would let me leave 2 hours early which means on a 6am shift I could be hitting the road at midday.  Now all we have to do is work out if it’s still worthwhile having Mum fly over and driving up the coast, seeing as we’re two travelling days short.  Oh decisions, decisions …

As for Muffy here, I have to admit over the last few days she hasn’t exactly been endearing herself, and while I think she’s a beautiful dog on the whole, I have had the urge to turn her into a winter coat a few times … usually at 1am and 3am when I’m answering her pleas to be let outside.  The occasional night isn’t too bad, but I had a moment there when it was 4 nights in a row, and I was feeling severely deathly because of it.  Luckily the late night shifts have been perfect, because she goes outside as soon as I get home, and today I even got a sleep-in until just after 8am … 6 1/2 hours straight sleep … sheer bliss!!  The fleas still seem to be a problem, but not quite as bad … I have managed to track down and drown 3 of the little b*ggers over the last couple of days though hmmm.  Mind you, today she woke me up again at 7am, after 5 hours sleep, and I feel dreadful … I started losing my voice at work last night and getting bunged up, so I fear I have picked up a head cold … Muffy just decided it was time I should be up, and didn’t want to go outside at all … I nearly strung her up from the nearest fence!

I went to meet the menagerie of pets at the next housesitting job on Sunday night, and it’s going to be ‘interesting’ to say the least haha.  Two dogs, two cats, two birds, and an aquarium of fish, all of which have various eating routines etc – but afterwards I can relax in the spa with a glass of wine, and watch Foxtel movies … I’ve told them I may change the locks and never leave! LOL.

Anyway, I’ll finish with a photo of a gift I received at work yesterday from groups organiser (this was for customer service over and above the call of duty for some VIP customers returning home … you can make up your own mind as to who) – I laughed at the card that came with it … that I’m allowed to hide it away when the Bledisloe Cup is on … but personally I think I’m going to pop an All Blacks beanie and scarf on old Wally and sit him on my desk – a perfect blending of my ‘two down under cultures’ 😛

wally

Cross Stitch, Home & Family TO BE FIXED

The countdown is on …

All going well, and I get some annual leave approved by work (assuming I can get 3 shifts swapped from 6am starts to 9am or 10am ones, that is), I’ll be hitting the road to Sydney two weeks on Wednesday (straight after Melbourne Cup day).  That is also assuming that Gail is still OK to come home and relieve me from housesitting duties early as well, of course …

I’m really struggling to find the time to catch up with everyone that I know in Melbourne in the short time I have left – even though I know only a handful of people, I only have a handful of days where I’m not working 4pm or 3pm shifts, meaning only a few days left to catch up.  If I had my own home, I’d offer an ‘open day’ at home for a day where anyone can come visit, but the only weekend I have free is when I’m moving between housesitting jobs, and it’s just not an option – so instead I’ll be driving to and fro to the opposite ends of the city on a regular basis until I leave.

I was hoping to catch Tannia singing last night, but ended up chatting on the phone for ages to Brenda in Sydney – but the great thing is that Brenda and Nigel are happy to put me up for a couple of weeks while I’m looking for new, and more permanent, lodgings.  There’s probably not much point organising anything else before I arrive – although I’ll be scouring the local papers for flats in the Mascot area pretty quickly on arrival 🙂

My threads finally arrived today from Dragonfly Dreams, although they were sent some time ago – Australia Post can be quite spectacularly slow for local deliveries, which is annoying.  Anyway, it means I can now probably finish off It’s Halloween this week – yay!  Yesterday, during the day, I started – and finished – one more block of Snapperville, and started another block.  I guess that means I’m approximately half-way through the stitching of that one now … double yay!! 😀

This coming week is probably the last chance I’ll get to put some stitches in before hitting the road … it’ll be interesting to see how regular working hours will affect my stitching time – the good thing about shift work sometimes is the plentitude of peace and quiet for stitching … hmmm.

Anyway, no piccies tonight ‘cos I’m too lazy to take one of Snapperville – and I’m supposed to be heading out to a ‘wedding reception’ party of one of our gay guys at work.  Kevin and Peter got married in Vancouver a few months ago, but only a few people were able to attend the ceremony, so they’ve organised a local shin-dig for us all tonight instead … to be absolutely honest I’d rather be curling up in bed early thanks to the Muffster giving me wake-up calls every night for the last 4 nights (twice in one night!) – thanks to having very broken sleep … it’s soooo hard to get back to sleep properly after being woken up at 1am or 3am! … I’m pretty shattered and so “not” in party mode.  Anyway, I’m going to jump in the shower and see if I can wake myself up a bit – it’s also awkward using public transport out in this part of town, as I don’t really know where I am, but I suppose I should at least make an effort … after all, this is probably the final shin-dig with work colleagues in Melbourne! …

I’ll close by saying it was fun seeing my Photo Hunt today … I loaded all those posts up so long ago now, even I get a surprise each week with the choices LOL 😉