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I nearly wrote “the heat is on” as my title, but that was too close to yesterday’s happy post 😉 The fact is I was getting very organised yesterday and getting my rotation in order, to set up the new few upcoming rotation slots, making sure everything was all kitted up and ready to go … when I spied something at the top of my list … Racing Cars charity block due for mailing 15 July … my little mouse rushed off to the corner of my screen to see the date … aaarghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! So last night I went into total panic mode – today was my final catch-up day for the last 5 blogs outstanding, but they’re going to have to wait a couple of days again now … in fact all blog reading is back on the backburner again for a few days – seeing as I hadn’t started this project yet, and it’s got a LOT of stitching in it (I’ve had to cut a few things out just to get it to fit on the fabric hmmm), so as it is I’m going to be struggling to get this one finished ready for post …

So, with no more ado, I’m off to pick up a needle, as I’m going to try for a full 8-10 hours stitching on it today yikes! Then I have a dragon one due on 15 August, so I’d better start doing some stitching on that too afterwards so I’m not in the same predicament next month!

Here’s my progress for 3 hours yesterday – which is why I’m panicking … this is only about 1/8 of the total stitching for this block, with loads of backstitching (excuse the crappy photo, as it’s not in focus – but I figure there’s no point taking another one, as there’s not much to see yet! LOL). OK, enough yapping … off to my stitching corner I go!

(Updated) Well, I managed to stitch for a solid total of 11 1/2 hours today … and oh boy am I feeling it now! But I managed to get almost one of the cars finished. I wish I took more time to think about the project yesterday – if I was really clever, I would have just used one of the cars, and added a chequered flag border to fill it out … I thought about that when I was about 1/3 through the first car – a bit late by then! Would have made the deadline a lot easier though. Oh well, c’est la vie … here’s my progress to date anyway – I’m back at work tomorrow and not on great stitching hours, so there probably won’t be much progress over the next couple of days. Thanks for your supportive comments … it’s much appreciated 🙂

Well, actually I have the “heat”! Woohoo!! My landlord has just been in – I now have the vent reinstalled in the toilet ceiling, and the ducted heating has been re-lit. He’s very impressed with my tenancy, and has said it’s OK to add a couple of picture hooks in the lounge … AND it’s OK for me to have a cat!! Now I have to make the decision whether to go ahead or not … it would be so lovely to have the company – I really miss having a cat around, as I adored Rio, but I also have to weigh up the extra costs etc too. He’s also asked me if I intend staying here long term, as he’s thinking of getting rid of the real estate agent, and I can deal with him directly – which is fine by me, as the landlord seems really nice, and very fair and easy to deal with. I have his email addy and mobile number so it’s easy to contact him, and he only lives just around the corner, so it’s very handy. He’s most impressed that I’m putting up curtains too haha.

So, that’s all my news from this morning – not very exciting to anyone but me, but I’m rapt! Now I’m off to The Warehouse to check out cheapo glasses, if they have them – and tonight I’m off to a Hotline team dinner at The Curry Club in Richmond … which will be fun 🙂

Another quick post to wish my American blogging buddies a Happy 4th of July – hope you enjoy your celebrations, whichever way you decide to celebrate 😀

OK, I finally pulled my finger out and completed this tonight … and realised I’m just in time to actually start this tomorrow, 1 July – awesome!! So, here goes … the list of the century (for me, anyway) – it will be interesting seeing if I can get things crossed off in time 😀

101 THINGS
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie represent some amount of work on your part).

Start Date: 1 July 2006
End Date: 28 March 2009 (thanks Jenna for working those out and saving me the time LOL)

STITCHING/CRAFTS
1. Finish a Teresa Wentzler design
2. Try a new embroidery technique at least once a year
3. Spend at least 3 days a week doing some form of stitching, even if only 10 minutes a day
4. Complete a stumpwork piece by Jane Nicholas
5. Complete 3-4 charity quilt squares every year
6. Complete a Chatelaine design
7. Join in with a needleroll SAL once every month
8. Learn how to make a flat-fold finish
9. Learn how to make a tuck pillow
10. Learn how to make a quilted wallhanging
11. Learn how to dye my own floss and fabrics
12. Make an inventory of my embroidery fabrics
13. Organise my embroidery stash better (eg get some Ikea drawers/bookshelves etc)
14. Get a display unit for my embroidery smalls
15. Make a quilt for my bed
16. Make a mosaic top outdoor table
17. Stitch at least one Christmas ornament every 1-2 months
18. Stitch a design by Just Nan
19. Stitch a design by Drawn Thread
20. Stitch a piece of Hardanger
21. Try stitching a piece of Schwalmwork
22. Go the Victoria Embroiderers Guild at least once every two months
23. Keep my stitching journal and photo album updated every month
24. Attend a Stitching & Craft needlework show in Melbourne

COOKING
25. Learn to make cappuccinos on home coffee machine
26. Have people round for dinner at least once every 6 months
27. Try a new cocktail once a month
28. Cook at least one recipe out of every cookbook I own
29. Do some sort of baking once every two months
30. Use breadmaker at least once every two months
31. Cook from a new recipe at least once a month

TRAVEL
32. Travel to Perth
33. Travel to Ayers Rock
34. Travel to Hong Kong
35. Visit Coffs Harbour and buy pottery mugs by my favourite potter
36. Fly business class on an international flight
37. Go to CATS in Hershey
38. Travel to Canada and visit Dad’s side of the family
39. Have a photo taken with the tigers at Dreamworld
40. Visit every Australian state at least once
41. Drive from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour up the East Coast
42. Visit Sydney
43. Visit New Zealand

CULTURAL/GOING OUT
44. Go to an AFL game
45. Go hot air ballooning
46. Go to the theatre
47. Go to the ballet
48. Go out for breakfast to a café once a month
49. Go to the movies at once every 6 months
50. Go to the Melbourne Museum
51. Visit the Immigration Museum
52. Go to an “Ice Bar”
53. Meet some more of my online blogging pals face-to-face
54. Take a ferry ride from Southbank to Williamstown
55. Go 4-wheel adventure driving
56. Go up to the Observation deck of the Rialto building
57. Watch at least one new, previously unseen, movie every fortnight

READING
58. Read at least one fictional book every 6 months
59. Read a book of poetry
60. Read at least one non-fiction book every year

EDUCATION
61. Learn how to build a website/blog myself
62. Learn to use Microsoft Access database
63. Learn basic French
64. Learn how to use my Nikon digital camera properly
65. Take, and complete, a new class at least once a year (eg correspondence course or physical class in any subject)
66. Learn basic woodworking skills
67. Take a basic HTML course

HEALTH & WELLBEING
68. Lose at least 20kg
60. Start doing yoga at least once a week
70. Complete a body combat session at least once a week
71. Drink water daily
72. Listen to music at least an hour every week
73. Go for a bike ride around the bays
74. Manage to wear a size 16 top
75. Go out walking at least 3 times a week
76. Do a walking track (eg Milford Track)
77. Take multivitamins every day

OTHER
78. Sell something on Ebay
79. Put curtains up in lounge and fix curtains in main bedroom
80. Sell Nikon SLR camera bodies
81. Try a SuDoku puzzle
82. Start up photography again
83. Get an iPod
84. Plant a herb garden in pots … and keep it alive!
85. Have a proper bra fitting, and buy some pretty matching lingerie
86. Buy a new 3-piece lounge suite that I will want to sit on and use, and make my home environment more inviting
87. Blog at least 3 times a week (both writing and reading)
88. Get a new UK passport
89. Get my duck watercolour painting framed and hanging on a wall
90. Be better at remembering birthdays and special events – send a birthday card/email at least once a month
91. Get a facial with eyelash tinting and brow shaping at least once every six months
92. Get new glasses for driving
93. Clean out my wardrobe leaving only those items that make me feel good and give me pleasure to wear
94. Organise a RAK at least once every 6 months
95. Keep the dining table free of clutter every week
96. Finish unpacking and get rid of clutter in spare bedroom
97. Get a piece of stitching or artwork framed once every year

FINANCIAL
98. Pay off my credit cards
99. Start a separate savings account and put away $50 every month

LIST ADMINISTRATION
100. Update this list every month
101. When 1001 days are up, update this list and start the process all over again 😀

That’s how I feel right now … tonight’s shift has been the worst one we’ve had in AGES! I managed to smile through the whole thing, but I feel absolutely exhausted, and my shoulders are killing me from all the tension they’re holding … the phones haven’t stopped all night, and it’s just been feral, for want of a better word. Three airports were closed due to fog, and people stranded all over the place, and we copped the brunt of it all trying to rebook people, and take their abuse when we can’t get them on a flight at the time they want etc … because we rule the weather, of course!! They’ve been offering overtime all night, and normally I’d jump at the chance of the extra money, but I just didn’t have the energy left to deal with it … and like the Supervisor said, we’ll need our energy resources for tonight, so no point pushing ourselves too hard.

So, here I am just for a couple of minutes while waiting for my electric blanket to crank up a tiny bit of heat … just enough to take the chill off the sheets will be plenty, then I hope to fall into an exhausted sleep. I usually struggle to get 8 hours sleep on this shift, and usually get quite a broken sleep, but fingers crossed I’ll sleep through this time … I need to get some decent sleep, ‘cos otherwise I’ll be stuffed when I get up, and I have important stitching to be done! 😉

I have to say today that I LOVED listening to the start of The Narrows book – it was wonderful! I really love the fact that it ties in characters from Blood Work as well, as that’s the only other book of Michael Connelly’s that I’ve read. For those that have commented, I can get limited books on tape at the library here, but the selection is a bit sad, and not many of the ‘main name’ authors – I’ve been hunting for The Narrows for a while, but no luck so far, and I’ve been aching to read it for months. I do have to admit I’ve been reading a book for the last week for about 1/2 an hour each night as I’ve been going to bed, but it’s a book that isn’t on my “must read” list, so I don’t mind dragging out the reading over a month or so – when I read my fave authors everything else in life stops, as I can’t put it down … hence the reason I don’t want to pick up a ‘good book’ right now, as I know my stitching commitments will well and truly go out the window … the book I’m reading is Dean Koontz’ “Seize the Night” – I’ve never read his books before, and I’m enjoying it so far … he has a very easy reading style, with a touch of humour to his characters, with a Stephen King style type of book theme.

Anyway, enough yapping – I’m off to take a chance on that blanket … it’s 5.45am, and beddy-byes, here I come!!!

Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, but I spent money on stitching stuff today … shhhh……………

Well, actually, it’s not technically correct that I fell off the Wagon, as this is a stitching accessory that’s not actually a stitching item ;P … I’ve been dying to ‘read’ Michael Connelly’s sequel to The Poet, and my priorities have been more with stitching than reading lately, so ………..

I succumbed to the temptation and bought it as an audiobook so I can finally sit and listen to it yippee!! The prices of audiobooks are certainly not cheap, are they? This might just be a one-off … unless there’s an Ebay sale on audiobooks haha … But I’m very very happy to finally get to read it 😀

I miss reading …

I kept changing my mind all the way into work yesterday – on one stretch of road I was imagining sharing with Sheree and all was good, then on the next stretch I was loving my own space … I have to admit, my gut was telling me I’m not ready to move yet before I actually left home, and when I got to work Sheree didn’t even bring the topic up throughout the whole time. She has two weeks left before she has to move out, so I guess her needs are greater, as I’ve already said I won’t break my lease for it, and have two months left before my lease is up. So, to some extent, that made the decision for me – I’m staying where I am for now, in my beautiful and idyll location (if less than idyll flat LOL) … but I’m going to start getting “home alerts” via email with new flats as they come up so I can keep an eye on the market if something better comes up back in Box Hill/Doncaster that’s cheaper but still good quality accommodation, and we’ll see what happens. It means that way I can start getting the bond money etc together and putting it to one side ‘just in case’ – but in the meantime I’m going to continue enjoying my time here 🙂 That was definitely an interesting exercise to go through though …

Today I start my overnight shifts, from 9pm to 5am so I’ll be less than sociable for a couple of days haha. Tonight I get my hair cut before work, though, and I can’t wait!! My hairdresser got married and took a month off work, so I had to wait for just over 8 weeks to get my hair cut again – it was due for a cut while I was in NZ – last week, the day before my hair was being cut, I find out she’s resigned and I don’t have a hairdresser anymore – would have been nice to know it was happening, as I could have got my old Auckland stylist to cut it hmmm. So now I’m getting another hairdresser in the same salon in Box Hill to cut it – I hate new hairdressers, it’s so hard to find a good one … it took me over a year to find Fiona hmmm. Oh well, it means I have about 1 1/2 hours to kill before I start work at 9pm, so I can have some dinner at Box Hill at one of my fave restaurants yippee … see, there’s always a silver lining! 😀

Rightio, I’m heading off to stitch like crazy to get my RR ducks worked on … that deadline is soooooo close – better get cracking!!

Thanks for all your comments of support – they’re much appreciated! 😀

… As I knew would happen, I had a broken sleep last night, and now feel like I haven’t slept – still mulling over all the pros and cons of moving vs staying etc. I have to admit, the main pros of sharing with Sheree is the financial differences – but then again, Sheree has a very high taste in accommodation, so the monthly rental overall will be higher (but of course split between the two of us, so still a general saving) … she was talking about paying $180 a week when she was looking at shared accom – and seeing as I’m paying $240 a week on my own, that’s a saving of $60 a week in rent on its own, and of course the phone etc would be halved too.

To be honest, though, my preference is still to live on my own – although with Sheree, she’s a shift worker at work as well, so you’d get a lot of time to yourself still. It would also be nice company occasionally … but in answer to your question, Heather, no she doesn’t XS and is a different personality, probably partly due to the age difference – there’s 10 years difference in our ages, and she’s a ‘party animal’ and out dating all the time – so I’d probably have to put up with having people over regularly … which isn’t necessarily all bad, but I’ve got used to having quiet time in my home hours, I guess.

I also think she wants an apartment building again, with security doors and secure parking – whereas there are some things about apartment living I like, I’ve recently been considering the cons about it as well … perhaps another reason why I was quick to start looking at options of moving as well. I love the security – especially on the 3rd floor, I have no problems with people breaking in through the windows etc. And while I have a parking spot at the back of the building, I have to admit I’m getting sick of having it covered in possum poo all the time! LOL. The main thing that I’ve been thinking about is that you’re at the mercy of other tenants … in that if someone leaves something electrical on by accident, the whole place goes up in flames, even if you’re always really careful. It’d also be quite nice to be able to do a huge pile of shopping and stock up, without having to take 50 trips up 4 flights of stairs …

If it was for the accommodation alone, I’d jump at the opportunity of moving to a single level unit. The thing that’s really tugging at me to stay (and the only thing) is the location, and how it makes me feel here. I love coming home – I love to see the lorikeets flying overhead every night when I’m home, and I love knowing I’m so close to the beach, even if I’m not spending time there. It’s also lovely knowing I’m so close to the cafe society at Acland Street … it’s awesome to wander up with visitors and spend the day – but then again, I don’t go there as often as I could on my own …

Then again, I miss being close to a really good supermarket – Coles at Elsternwick is appalling, so I end up buying most of my groceries at Safeway in Camberwell before driving home. I do miss some of the asian restaurants at Box Hill, though.

I’d already said to Mum etc earlier that I’d do my 12 months here, and then decide whether I should move back out east to save money … so I guess the time is up to start thinking about it … if I move out with Sheree, I don’t have much time to decide – but if I move out on my own, I have leisure on my side (as long as my agent doesn’t put the rent up … he originally wanted $265 a week for this place, but no-one was renting it – the owner took on a new agent, who got him to drop the price, and I was lucky enough to be the first to look at it and grabbed it rightaway).

Anyway, better start getting organised for the day … I’ll have my thoughts hopefully more in place after talking to Sheree … 🙂

… My mind is ticking over, and it has nothing to do with stitching … I’ve just spent the last 4 hours since coming in from work poring over rental accommodation website listings, and my mind is working overtime. The fact is one of the girls at work, who I like quite a lot, has had her flatmate move out, so she’s having to find somewhere else to live, and having a hard time finding a shared accommodation that she likes etc. Initially I thought “hmmm, perhaps an opportunity to share rent with someone” … then I dismissed it as I love living on my own most of the time. Anyway, I started reconsidering it again today, as there are many benefits, not only financial – that of extra company etc, and being able to afford a nicer place between the two of us etc. We haven’t had time to sit down and chat about it yet, but tomorrow we’ll take some time out and talk about it a bit, to see if it would be viable.

But it all got me thinking, and I’ve been online checking out 3-bedroom places that would be options for us … boy, oh boy, it beats my crummy little flat big time! Now don’t get me wrong – this place has served me well, but it’s far from being a perfect home … and I’m starting to think that I’d be better suited moving back to Box Hill again – I absolutely adore the location where I live, but that’s part of the reason I’m paying through the nose for a scummy little flat that’s had very little work done to it since the 1960’s hmmm. Well, I could actually pay the same amount of money and have a unit all to myself, where I could even have a little back yard or courtyard, as well as a kitchen that I’d actually like to cook in … and a separate laundry, rather than having the washing machine in the bathroom.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me – I’d really miss the beach etc here, and being a stone’s throw from Acland Street cafes etc, but then again I’d save in travelling costs, and I’d be closer to my new friends Sharon and Gina … tonight it all seems like a bloody good idea – I guess I’ll have to see what daylight brings haha.

Regardless, I have another two months left on my current lease, so I’ve got plenty of time to mull things over and see if I really want to go through all the moving again … plus I’ll see what Sheree has to say tomorrow … Don’t know if I’ll be getting too much sleep tonight mulling everything over … Plus I’d also have to come up with about $2,000 up front again, with the moving costs on top ho-hum …

No, it’s not yet another re-run of Poltergeist … but the return of the Dratteds 😀 I felt absolutely miserable and sorry for myself today, so I cheered myself up with starting my rotation again – I didn’t think I’d ever say the Dratteds would bring me so much joy, but it was definitely what the doctor ordered. I sat all day with my bung knee, bunged up and intermittently dripping nose, and heavy eyes due to lack of sleep (add to that a certain monthly visitor showing its head today hmmm) and stitched my little heart out … and I enjoyed every minute of it. My eyes are now like little squints, but fingers crossed I’ll sleep better tonight.

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I worked on the Dratteds (and any of my rotation, for that matter) – it was December last year since they saw daylight … so I’ve decided to do a ‘before and after’ shot to see the progress 🙂 Basically the entire left hand side is now 100% finished yippee. I’d dearly love to see them finished before year end, even if none of my other goals are met … hopefully it will happen … As they say in Arabic, “imshallah” (God willing) 🙂
Before

After