ChalmersClan8

...and a Happy New Year

2010-01-04T14:28:00.003+11:00

Dear all

Just a quick note to wish all my readers (I am sure I have some out there somewhere!!) a Happy New Year and here's hoping that 2010 brings with it peace, love and happiness for us all.

For a lot of reasons I am very glad to see the end of 2009 - it was a year of ups and downs with the downs being unbearable for my extended family and the ups struggling to hold their heads high in amongst it all - but nonetheless I celebrate them here.

My little (or not so) family made it through another year of job searches (successful), academic achievements, sporting highs (and lows - just to even it out) and the general pursuit of happiness. For us, I hope that 2010 will bring with it new opportunities - new friendships to make, jobs to find, courses to do, games to win and lose, time spent with family, time spent with friends, travel, laughter, tears, sunshine and rain - just life really.

I wish the same to you and yours.

wish it was monday cause I am a bit manic....

2009-11-26T10:59:00.006+11:00

hey all. Again my apologies - it has been awhile...

My head is abuzz with ideas about things I want to be creating. Unfortunately I do not have enough hours left in the day by the time I finish work to tackle many of these things. I am frantically scribbling things down on bits of paper and leaving visual reminders everywhere so that hopefully I don't forget anything before I have a chance to make them. I feel I am in a manic phase - which is probably a good thing as I have markets on Sunday I am getting ready for so a slump right now would not be a good thing at all!

this collection of goodies is begging to be made into some phone sox - the colours are cute as and self striping too - can't wait!

these babies are on the table blocking and waiting to be joined together in a christmas banner, a bit like...

these!

Also on the table are crocheted flowers waiting to be attached to hair ties (that is the blue wool in the corner of the photo of the white stars - I did take a photo but it was a bit blurry....well it was early okay!), a ball of red wool to remind me that I want to make a set of birds as well as the packet of hair ties to remind me of all the flowers I still need to crochet and attach. In the cupboard and out of sight (but not mind) is a bathmat WIP as well as a whole lot of hair clips that need to be packaged.

And these are the just the things that have managed to make it from my head and into fruition...believe me - my head is nowhere you want to be at the moment!

Hope you and yours are all doing well...come and see me in the mall on Sunday if you happen to be in the area!

Watcha doin’?

2009-10-23T21:07:00.001+11:00

Well it is a nice rainy Friday night in Armidale. Comfortable on the lounge updating the blog, doin’ a little bit of facebookin’, checking out the others in blogland and generally just chillaxin.

So – a couple of things I wanted to check in with – firstly a laundry reno update…

before – well after a little bit of emptying of all contents other then washing machine and dryer – remember this is where we have showered for the last four weeks!

after – the removal of the exterior wall to allow access for the cement

and the view from the outside

the cement truck moves in!

in the thick of it!

So now the cement sits and just does nothing but dry out for a few days before they come back and start putting it all back together again. Bring.It.On!!!

On another note – what do you think of these?

A little knitted town – well the beginnings of one anyway.

So if you happen to be in Armidale this Sunday come down to the mall and check us out at the markets!

See ya

Cilla Mary

Hey there…

2009-10-15T21:08:00.001+11:00

Okay so it has been a while I know… no excuse springs to mind that would be in anyway acceptable – it’s just the way it is.

So what has been happening I hear you ask – go on, you know you want to – well, a lot, but at the same time not much – you know how it goes.

Leesa and I again braved the dismal Armidale weather and worked the September markets with some success. Not a lot of people around again (it was a truly horrible day) but we did okay despite that.

We now both have our regulars as well which is quite comforting – you know, that they actually want to come and buy something else from us!! I can’t speak for Leesa of course but I am constantly surprised that anyone wants to give me money for my knitting – probably shouldn’t spread that around I guess, keep it to yourselves won’t you!! We are both busy gearing up for the run-up to Christmas and hoping sales will skyrocket.

On the home front we have had builders in for a bit more than a month now and, fingers xxx’d, we will have a functioning bathroom this evening – well except for the toilet that is – that will be sorted early next week and until then we still have the old one to use. So our open air showering days are over!!! Like – YAY!!!!!!

bathroom at the beginning of the work

our makeshift “shower room” – the existing laundry

creating our new shower

things looking much more civilised now

new tiles and everything!

Okay so that is it for the teasers – it is all but done now but I will post “the big reveal” when it is absolutely complete – painted and everything – so stay tuned!

School holidays have also been happening of course but as both St Blair and I have been working we haven’t really done much but it is still nice to have a break from the ~~yelling~~ ~~and~~ ~~screaming~~ gentle encouragement that is the normal soundtrack to our mornings.

I had a great surprise last week when I received a phone call from an old friend that I have not seen in (gulp) 17ish years!!!! She and her partner were on their way in their truck from Brisbane to Sydney and were coming through Armidale and wanted to call in and say hello – which they did. Isn’t it funny how you just fall back into the same patterns with close friends – like, we have literally not laid eyes on each other since my biggest boy was a baby and as he is just about to turn 18 that was quite a while ago – of course we have kept in touch via e-mail, photos, this blog and the occasional phone call – but it was like we had just seen each other a week ago – we still laughed about the same things we always did, she certainly still looks the same and all in all it was a fantastic visit – brief but satisfying…thanks Pip – it was really great to see you again – may it not be another 17 years before we see you again – but of course it won’t be will it…we will see you in January right?

Caitie, Maibz and I also managed to fit in a flying visit to Warialda to see the Piggy Queen – you know how I love to do that and once again we were not disappointed – again, all too quick but far better than not having seen her at all!

So that about wraps up what we have been getting up to to on the home/family/craft front – not a whole lot of knitting going on but I did finally get around to the whole knitting with fabric thing (see below) which has been fun and has opened up a few possibilities for future projects so I shall keep you posted – in the meantime enjoy the pics and let me know if anything takes your fancy.

take an old sheet, some chunky needles and a couple of hours and…voila! a new bath mat – this also gives you a hint of what the floor in the bathroom looks like!

…and a little bit more fabric and a crochet hook and tada! I think these will become brooches…

So there you go – let me know what you think.

Cheers

Cill

Quick one

2009-09-15T18:04:00.001+10:00

Just a quick one to show you what I have been working on lately to get some feedback before they go on sale at the next markets.

These little beauties are pretty cute I think and I am relying on them being big sellers too…

Whaddya reckon?

As for the next item, it was a bit tricky to photograph as a whole but I hope you get the idea. I think it would be quite delicious hanging from a window in a nursery, or from a cupboard door or something like that.

Let me know what you think. Suggestions are always appreciated.

Keep smiling…

My little fairy

2009-08-29T19:23:00.001+10:00

You’ve seen my dolls before right?

I have had this vision in my head for sometime about a particular doll I was wanting to create. Seriously, it was keeping me awake at night.

I wanted a fairy doll. Deliciously soft made with cotton and bamboo, in my signature colour scheme of pink and whits (of course), with beautiful lacy wings on her back.

The doll I could do – it was the wings that were keeping me up nights – how would I make them, I wanted them slightly stiffened – how was I to do that. I made one prototype which were a disaster – went away for a few days and came back to it with fresh eyes and came up with these…

Sooo – I was happy with the overall look of them (the colours are really not working for me tonight in any of the posts) now I had to work out how to stiffen them. Lightbulb!

I gathered my ingredients…

…and got cooking…

…dipped…

…blocked and crossed…

Waited a few hours drying time and then attached.

But, I thought she was missing something…Lightbulb (yep twice in two days – a record!)

What does every fairy need?

Why a wand of course…

Ahhh – maybe now I will get some sleep!

caped crusaders

2009-08-29T19:06:00.001+10:00

A showing of Miss Lish’s latest Textiles assignment.

The brief was it had to be made from at least 50% recycled material.

So after a forage through the linen cupboard to “reclaim” some sheets, a few weeks of work in the textiles room at school this beauty emerged…

The creator at work.

She would like to thank her younger sister for modelling – right Lish? Yep I thought so!!!!

bloggy breakfast

2009-08-29T18:58:00.001+10:00

We like eggs for breakfast sometimes here. I am not, however the chief egg cooker – it is not my forte. To this end, and knowing that St Blair was going to be away quite a bit in the mornings due to work commitments, when we were in Sydney last I purchased a couple of tricky egg cooking gadgets from Peter’s of Kensington – an egg cutter and a timer that distinguishes between soft, medium etc…

I cooked the eggs for breakfast the other morning. Most people in this house enjoy their eggs on the softer side and Miss Caitie will not often partake of a googy at all. Monday morning she surprised us all by agreeing to have an egg but requested one that was a little harder – so I popped one back into the saucepan and cooked it a little longer, got the toast going and readied my implements…

This is an egg cutter – cuts the tops of beautifully, well mostly, when just the right amount of pressure is applied, and the scissor action works to rule, the sun is shining in the sky, the rooster has crowed three times and you jump up and down on one foot - you know the drill…however, apparently when the conditions are not quite right this happens…

Ooooops!

come and get it…..

2009-08-17T10:45:00.001+10:00

I love our dining table – it is the heart of our house. It sits right in the middle of the front room – the family room and kitchen area and is always in use by someone or something. I love it when it looks like this…

It is clear of clutter and the chairs are all neatly placed around it – but perhaps it is lonely - I think it wonders where everyone is.

At least once a week it looks like this…

and that is ok too – it gives a sense of productivity to the table – it hums with energy and the pleasure of jobs getting done

Mostly though, it looks like this… Full of bits and pieces of our everyday lives. Works in progress, shopping, bits of washing, computers…you know, stuff! I don’t think it minds being like this – I like to think it feels a part of things, a part of our daily lives.

But for me, the most pleasure comes when it looks like this…

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

What’s in a name

2009-08-16T15:07:00.001+10:00

Not sure if you have seen my pinknits banner or not. It looks a little bit like this…

It hangs over the stall like this…

Well a nice lady at the last markets asked me if I made them to order. Now while I thought someone might want one I wasn’t entirely convinced that anyone actually would and if they did, would I actually want to make another one – so thinking very quickly on my feet I said ‘yes of course I could – what name would you like’. So I took all her details, told her it would be three or four weeks and off she went. I came home and got started.

Her choice of colours – a soft appley green and a lavender sort of colour with maybe a touch of cream. The triangles came first and then I had to think about how best to tackle the letters. I thought crochet might be best…

I kind of liked the ‘r’ but the others were a little bulky…

I think you can see what I mean. Ayhugh I came up with a compromise and churned them out.

Blocked them…

Attached them…

and then got working on the final touches.

And here it is…

I hope Grace loves it…

It’s in the bag…

2009-08-16T14:43:00.001+10:00

You might remember this little pic from the other day when I did all the washing…

Well after a bit more knitting and then quite a bit of bashing about with really hot water and sunlight soap it has now turned into these…

What do you think?

They are for the stall at the next markets. I only had one on the stall last month and it was snapped up so thought they were worth another shot.

I like the flower embellishments…here’s a close up

They are even labelled…

Honestly it is easier to read on the bag!

So, if they take your fancy come on down to the markets on the 30th and take a closer look.

Cheers

Cill

Pigs might fly…

2009-08-07T16:45:00.001+10:00

These babies are on their way to Dubbo. Fortunately by road because as you know pigs don’t, you know, fly…

Mondays round here

2009-08-03T14:11:00.001+10:00

My Monday so far as follows:

Did some washing.

Hung it on the line.

Ironing.

Folding.

(The following image may scare some readers, if squeamish look away now - Mary Ellen, this means you!)

Sorted the socks and undies.

Found a bit of time for this though.

Emmett, on the other hand did this all morning…

Hope your Monday was good wherever you are and whatever you did.

Cilla

Woolly gifts

2009-08-01T12:18:00.001+10:00

I just wanted to quickly share with you pictures of the beautiful gift I received last night.

View Full Album

Beautiful, beautiful wool from New Zealand. It is delicious and I have to say that the photos don’t really do the colours justice, but believe me when I say they are divine.

Thanks guys – a very special gift indeed.

Ahhhh – that’s better…

2009-08-01T11:52:00.001+10:00

Notice anything different? Look a little closer, here, let me help you…

That’s right – I removed her eyebrows. After a brutally (not really) honest comment left by my sister suggesting that the eyebrows were taking away from her overall ‘cuteness’ I had a really good look at the doll again. I came to the realisation that she really was kind of “Brooke Shieldsesque” – and sooooo not in a good way – so it was off with the brows and voila! I think she does look cuter. I so totally do not know why I even put eyebrows on her but you can now all relax knowing that it won’t happen again!!!!

Feel better? I know I do

Cheers

Lovely Ladies

2009-07-31T19:06:00.001+10:00

This little lady is currently on her way to sunny Wee Waa where she will be a present for a new baby. I was asked to make her by a friend for her to give as a gift – it turns out the gift is for the new baby that was recently born to my cousin and his wife. Their second daughter which was lovely. Anyway, it is kind of nice that she will, kind of, stay in the family. I like her – a.lot.

This one has been sitting in a container making an appearance at the last couple of markets – but no takers. That no one has shown any great interest in her I like to blame on the fact she was made in a big hurry as I needed a doll to display at the first markets we did. I liked her but I wasn’t lovin’ her, and I think that vibe shone through. Anyway, last night, after finishing off the above little lady with a different (cuter?) dress than I usually do, I decided that maybe the poor neglected dolly would do better with a new dress. So, there she is…better, certainly, but am I lovin’it yet?

I am still undecided. What do you all think?

Pictures of the past

2009-07-28T18:20:00.001+10:00

I received a great e-mail today from my beautiful niece in Newcastle with a whole heap of family photos attached. It was great. Photos of my mummy and daddy when they were young – courting photos and wedding photos – delicious.

Weren’t they beautiful. So elegant and dapper in their finery. My mother always skites that daddy was able to span her waist with his hands – she is tiny and he was a tall man, so I guess it could be true. Anyway, I love these photo’s. They speak of such happy times and remind me that our parents were once young and responsibility free. Then I guess life got in the way for them too, just as it does for all of us. Seven children, hard years living on the land and then finally again, happier times – with children grown and gone and time for them to just be them again – not enough time unfortunately – but some.

To market, to market …

2009-07-26T13:43:00.001+10:00

Ok – so Leesa and I did the markets. Up and out of bed scarily early on another cold Sunday in good old Armidale. Again, not a huge turnout of either stallholders or buyers, but, we did okay. Truth be told, Leesa did very well and I did okay. It seems we take turns in doing really well. The first month Leesa sold heaps more than I did, last month I did a lot better than Lees and this month it was her turn again – can’t be fairer than that!

Anyway – we will brave the weather again next month and do it all again. We also have plans to tackle markets further afield – in particular, Bellingen – and we are open to suggestions of any other markets anyone might know of. Leave a comment if you have any suggestions.

Until next time…

Cheers

Cilla Mary

Elephants and pigs – oh my!

2009-07-20T19:14:00.001+10:00

A few pictures of what I have been working on lately.

Leesa and I will be at the markets again next weekend – looking forward to selling lots of these babies.

No words

2009-07-20T16:34:00.004+10:00

Hey! Here I am - not as soon as I promised but here none the less...the only thing is - I have no words - nada, zip, zilch.

Nothing to say, too much to say.

Pinknits

2009-04-18T19:33:00.002+10:00

Dear all

Yeah yeah I know - long time no hear right? Ahh well what can I say - lets just all build a bridge shall we and get over it ok? Ok.
So....what has been haappening in the Clan's household over the last little while. Well, we got through the birthday season, the whole Christmas thing, the me being back at work full time thing, the school holidays and the start (and finish) of Term 1, 2009. And so, here we are...

2009 so far has been a year for "me". I initiated a fitness campaign at the beginning of the year, dragging my sorry arse out of bed every morning to go walking - this was unfortunately hampered a wee bit when I tripped over an uneven bit of biketrack and broke my ankle!!! (Bloody Armidale Dumaresq Council!!!!) Hello to crutches and cast for four weeks. On the upside it did mean a week off work - which brings me to another change I made this year - finding the positves in every situation - anyhugh we got through those four weeks and the day after I had my cast removed I was out flogging the pavement once more. As a family we are avid viewers of the Biggest Loser at the moment which is very motivating and keeps me on track (most of the time anyway - I didn't walk this morning - bugger!). Lets see, what else....
The second born boy child started high school this year which has been traumatic to say the very least - I won't go into it here but let me just say two suspensions in seven weeks is not a good way to start your secondary schooling!!!!!
We had visitors from Sydney who came and spent a lovely weekend with us which was topped off by "a day at the races". And we have just returned from an all too brief trip down the "big hill" where the girls stayed at "NanandPa's" and the boys had a couple of nights on a commune - no joke - i have pictures of showers being had under downpipes (did I not mention - it poured for a good day and a half...)to prove it - ahh yes and a lovely pic of Pete's version of a long drop dunny too if anyone is interested???? No? OK! Moving on then.....
The children are all doing the usual children like things - eating, sleeping, fighting, growing up - you know how it is - life goes on.
But onto the real reason for this post...I am going to re-invent it as a forum for me to post about my knitting and other semi-crafty pursuits...and ok there will be the odd mention of the children I am sure -if anyone is interested. So check it out in the future and if any of the items take your fancy - or you know of someone who might be interested in some of my items - then please forward the link to them.

That is it for now - I will be back soon to unveil "pinknits - handmade just for fun".

Till then - ciao.

Quick one...

2008-09-09T12:48:00.002+10:00

Hey there...a very quick post just to say hello to everyone. Am actually taking 5 mins at work to do this one...naughty I know but I will take it out of my lunch hour I promise!!!

As I said this is just a very quick line to say hello before we dash out of town for a couple of days. I think I have mentioned it before - the Chief Clansman is meeting up with a bunch of old school mates for a day of golf at the illustrious Bonville Golf Course at Coffs Harbour - well that is happening this week. The children and I are tagging along purely with the hope of catching some sun and surf after what has been a long, cold winter (which continues I might add). So I hope to get away from work on time, duck home and start packing....YAY!!! I am really looking forward to it and aim to do not much more than lie by the pool and read a book while the children swim, eat some beautiful fresh fruit and veg bought along the way from our favourite fruit and veg shop just outside of Bello and that is about it...who could ask for more!

We have been busy at home over the last few weeks doing what started as a few jobs around the house but has ended up being a relatively major reno project!! I will post some photos around that on another day - but I have to say that it is looking pretty good.

Well I guess I have used my five minutes up now so had better get back to it...but I hope to bring you some photos of our fun in the sun when we return from our little getaway!

Cheers

Wee Waa 40

2008-08-22T03:13:00.007+10:00

I know, I know, finally a post about the WW40.

For those of you not in the know there is a group of fantastic people that I am blessed to be able to call my friends. These are people that I have known since kindergarten, with a couple of newer ones thrown in, and despite all living in various parts of the country we all still keep in touch and try very hard to stay involved in each others lives.

Over the last 18 months we have all turned 40 and so we organised recently to all meet back in good old Wee Waa and have a combined 40th birthday celebration. It was fantastic - after the first 5mins, once I realised that none of us have changed and it was like we had never been apart. A great time was had by all (from all accounts anyway) and we have all promised to do it again very soon....can someone else organise that one though please?

Following are some photos - and I would like to acknowlge the work of Paul, Jo, Michael and Merredy in getting these out so quickly -I haven't even managed to download mine from my camera yet - I have, however, finally managed to unpack my suitcase!!!!

the WW40 Crew

the cake

a few of us

a few more of us

There is nothing quite like your old friends...

In a couple of weeks we are off to the beach to join up with the Chief Clansman's old school buddies as they partake in their "Tour de40" so we get to do it all again. I will let you know how that one goes...

early morning...

2008-08-22T02:08:00.001+10:00

Well here I am in the very wee hours of Friday morning. Can't sleep...again! This is not entirely unusual for me and can be attributed to any number of things. This morning it is work related and that really annoys the crap out of me to say the very least. Too many hours are wasted on work as it is without adding the early morning hours as well - anyway I thought that perhaps a cathartic "blechh" on the good old blog might see me right. I would ask you all for advice but am still processing a few things, so maybe later...

The Chief Clansman is sleeping quietly next to me, wearing the sleep mask that normally adorns my face to protect him from the glare of the computer - yep, am typing this in bed...way too cold to sit up in the lounge room at this hour of the night/morning - the heater does not click on until 5.40!! Anyway, he doesn't really need the mask as after years in the navy (that was in another lifetime) he has the amazing capacity to sleep in any conditions - but he is humouring me...bless!

Number one son has just switched off the TV after watching some Olympic style basketball, so the house is,once again, blissfully quiet, other than the annoying tapping of the computer keys...oh hang on, that's me!!! Ahh well (see previous post)

Sooo, what to tell you all I wonder. I have been very busy lately, not just with work but around the house as well. I have been painting - and once I finish scraping the paint off the windows, hang some blinds back up and hang some curtains I will have officially finished my second room. I do feel a bit pleased with myself. Mind you it does come at a cost - the rest of the house has been completely neglected for the past four weeks and as per previous post it is still largely not fit for human habitation - but I am getting there and can now see some light at the end of the tunnel...thank goodness.

My piggy queen is coming to visit this weekend which I am so looking forward to. The Piggy Queen, Lynnoi, MrsShortz and myself, have been lucky enough over the last couple of years to get away on our own for a "Girls Weekend" - this has so far seen us driving to Brisvegas where we saw "The Boy From OZ" and became Hugh Jackman's 'Armidale friends' (I will tell you more about that another time) and last year we had a weekend in Melbourne where we shopped, drank, ate and laughed and laughed. This year though we all seem to have way too much on to commit to going away anywhere so the Piggy Queen is coming to us and we get to have our weekend close to home this year - before she and her family wing their way to Africa at the end of September (lucky ducks). It will, unfortunately, be a very quick weekend and will actually be not so much a weekend as a dinner and maybe a movie - but I am totally grateful for whatever time with them I can get.

Hmmmm what else can I tell you. The children are all well. The Number One son (previously referred to as the recalcitrant one) finally got a job yesterday. He has been employed by Subway!! To say that he has finally got a job is not entirely fair I guess though as he does have his basketball refereeing that he has been doing for awhile but is only three (sometimes four) sessions a week. But use of the word finally is justified I think when you consider that he signed himself out of school at the beginning of term and has been hanging around the house ever since - completely, I might add, ruining my two days a week leave from work, that were meant to be my first childfree days in almost 17 years!!!! So I have made it very clear he is to seek shifts (double if necessary) on Thursdays and Fridays so that I can get back to enjoying some "home alone" time!!! Anyway, we can only hope that this is the start of great things for him.

First born daughter is still doing well at holding down her three jobs and keeping her grades up at school at the same time. She has recently chucked in piano though which has lightened her load a little I guess. She was supremely frustrated with piano lessons as they were just not challenging enough for her - she is one clever cookie that one, has a great ear, great voice, great composition skills and will, no doubt, go far.

The rest of them are all doing well at their things with the "little" boys coming to the end of their soccer and hockey seasons and the "little" girls coming to the end of netball. They are an interesting mix to say the least - all very clever in their own way - and all very different, which is of course as it should be...six children is an awful lot really, when you think about it...and I say that seriously I am not trying to be funny - but they are all so different and all need different things from you that when you stop and think about it, it is no wonder that most of the time the Chief Clansman and I feel stretched to the limit. Which is, I guess, why we don't stop and think about it too much - for one thing, who the hell has the time to think!!!

Ahh well...

touching base

2008-08-07T11:35:00.002+10:00

Just to let you all know that I am still here! Have been very busy lately re-constructing our house - children are on the move, rooms have been painted, curtains have been hung, heaters have been installed, ovens have blown up, cooktops are missing bits, new ovens and cooktops have been ordered, snow has been waited for, soccer has been played, netball has been played, hockey has been played, work has been attended, school has been attended, mice have been caught, other nocturnal visitors have been heard, gardens have been watered, skips have been filled, Austar boxes have blown up, Mystar has been ordered, clothes have been washed, birthdays are being counted down, knitting has been done, coffee's have been had, red wine has been drunk, inventive meals have been created...and all that just since last Thursday!!!!

Whewww no wonder I feel tired!!!

And unfortunately it is not finished yet...I would show you a picture of what the house currently looks like , but truly, it would give you nightmares!!

See ya.

ahh well...

2008-07-24T18:55:00.002+10:00

This is always being said in our house and is slowly encroaching its way into the vernacular of a few family members and several friends. It is a very useful little saying...you fell over pet...ahh well, cricket rained out AGAIN...ahh well, I didn't get the job I went for today and really wanted...ahh well (I can only think that the universe has something else in mind for me - we will wait and see I guess).

I am in real need of serious blog time but alas alack I do not think it is going to happen tonight. I am in the first stages of a cold (you know how horrible that is don't you?) and it is perhaps the most cold, miserable night of the winter so far - so things are a little bleak here...ahh well.

Maybe tomorrow the sun will be shining and I may well be seduced by a spot in the sun where I can perch my trusty laptop on my knee and tap away to my hearts content and tell you all what I have been up to...maybe, maybe not...ahh well.

sombre...or joyful?

2008-07-11T21:46:00.002+10:00

Listening to the Rufus Wainright version of Hallelujah (yes ok, it is a favourite of ours...any version) - but this one is a little more sombre than others I think (bit ironic considering its origins)...anyway at the same time reading another Blog about knitting and it reminded me of my current project (well one of anyway). I was terribly affected by the recent passing of the beautiful Jane McGrath - I don't know why, I didn't know her personally, but her strength, her courage and her obvious commitment to her husband and family has always struck a chord with me and while I guess I knew her illness would have its obvious conclusion it hurt and upset me more than I thought anything like that would - (to the point where the boss offered me compassionate leave because he could see I was so upset!!) To be fair though I was less upset and more just plain cross that this woman had been taken away from all who loved her... anyway the upshot of this is that the first born girl and her friend Ezzy Mez are in the process of organising a girl's night in and I am knitting pink socks for all attendees (see the connection now to the blog re knitting...sorry if it took a while). Anyway we are working toward a great night with all of us in snuggly pink socks and raising lots of money for a great cause. I look forward to showing you many photos of the night when it happens.

Just wanted to get that out there!

Cheers

And so to Friday...

2008-07-11T20:59:00.003+10:00

Soooo...finally it is Friday AND it is the school holidays. So the past week has not been quite the nightmare it usually is. The Chief Clansman and first and second born boys arrived back home to much frivolity on Monday night...will add the photos of that later...the camera is soooooo far away and so cannot possibly download!!! Ahh well. I have had my three days at work...I still cannot help but say that smugly...working three days a week is simply sublime...but alas, alack I am sure it will not last forever, so please forgive me if I crow about it a little more...and have now commenced 11 days leave!! Yeehah!!! That is of course 11 days in total...really only 5 work days (thanks to the new arrangements) BUT 11 days nonetheless!!! The true beauty of all this is of course that the children are on school holidays so we have been able to kiss goodbye to the whole school/work routine!!! YAY! No yelling to get people out of bed in the mornings, no lunches to pack, no extra curricular activities to get them to and (the best of all) NO WEEKEND SPORT!!!!!!!! Life is truly good!!
The hols have been quiet so far. Have just, however, farewelled our Canadian friends for the evening...have had a lovely time with them (they are truly hilarious and I do so enjoy educating them in the Australian way) - as well as getting some free psychological advice from Mr Canada (who lectures in the subject) re recalcitrant youth - with the added delight of a free firework show courtesy to 1. Holy Smoke who put it on, and 2. Our location which puts us in perfect viewing sight of O'Connor Catholic College where the festivities were taking place for, you guessed it, WYDSYD08 - yes it even affects us out here in the boondocks!!! Positive so far though! Well, come on, who doesn't love fireworks?
We are now sitting back and continuing to imbibe and listening to a few tunes on my poddy. Oasis on at the moment...what can I say?...it has been an eclectic mix so far though with KD Lang's version of Hallelujah (indeed), Dire Straits, The Smiths, Oasis and now a bit of Chisel....the fun WILL continue with possibly a selection from High School Musical!!! Well, I did say it was eclectic!!!!
The holidays will continue next week when myself and a couple of offspring (still to be confirmed) are off to the home of my birth...good old WW...

(I had this photo already on file) where we are having a reunion of sorts with "old" friends to celebrate various and sundry 40th birthdays. Will be travelling via Warialda where we will visit my beautiful Piggy Queen (a "new" friend -I will explain that one to my WW friends when I see them) and will then head on to the Cotton Capital (or is that Capitol...hmmmm??). Any-hugh (that is a whole other story) I am sure it will be a blast....for those reading who may be attending, I think i have everything organised!!!!!! Fingers xxxx'd!!!
We are onto Crowded House now on the hit parade.....VERY nostalgic to say the least...

Sunday

2008-07-06T10:36:00.002+10:00

Well, what an interesting week we have had here. Household numbers were decimated over the week and we were down to only five in the house!! As mentioned in a previous post the Chief Clansman and boy children numbers 1 and 2 have been in Albury , and now Orange, for a hockey fest. That left boy child number 3 as the "man of the house". A role he has very grudgingly tried to fill...sitting at the head of the table for breakfast, helping to put the rubbish out and of course monopolising the remote control - even to the extent of allowing me to go to bed when the footy has been on!! Whata man!! We have had fun really. It is amazing how the dynamics in a household change when some are absent...it doesn't seem to matter who it is that is away either... it is always calmer and way more relaxed.

So the travellers will return sometime tomorrow and while it will be a relief to have them back home safe and sound it will also mean a return to the more everyday dynamics of our household - back to eight people sharing the one toilet!!!! Ahh well. Which reminds me....should I clean it before they return??? Nahhhh, why bother really...

School holidays have started here so that normally heralds a relaxation in the housework...really what is the point of cleaning up when the house is going to be full of 6 children, plus various hanger-ons for the next two weeks - I can't see it myself.... Also I am hoping that we will make a little more progress on the reno's over the break, which will mean even more dust and dirt so again...what is the point??? I really can't see one...sooo should I put away the mop and bucket and vacuum cleaner for another day??? Ok...you convinced me!!

A little bit about me...

2008-06-26T15:55:00.009+10:00

Ok- so have spent a little bit of time this afternoon fiddling around with my blog page. Still very much a learner but it is starting to look a little like I imagined it. I have had a great day today. I have recently started part time leave without pay and so am currently only working three days a week. I work in admin - I hate the telephone and have never really been what you would call a people person - do you think I am in the wrong job -uh yeh - hence the cutback on work hours. That and the fact that getting eight people out of the house by 8.30am EVERY morning was starting to become just a little bit stressful.

Soooo -today I have dabbled in a little bit of housework, a couple of loads of washing (it was a good drying day in the New England today), a bit of work in Illustrator working on a hang tag for my knitted products, a spot of grocery shopping (the supermarket is a whole other world in the middle of the day), a bit of cooking - I have poached some pears in a vanilla syrup...

...they look yum anyway... and now the blog.

The children -well 4 out of the 6 anyway - are home from school. The baby girl and the middle sized girl are making a batch of choc chip biccies...

They are good at that...they keep the cake tins and the morning tea bags full that is for sure.

The baby boy and the middle sized boy are home too - both doing a really good job at avoiding homework or physical activity. Mind you they do a fair bit of physical activity on the weekends...

hockey...

...and soccer (up the hill last weekend...chilly!!!!)

The big boy and girl are both off doing their stuff this afternoon. The big boy is allegedly at school/basketball (and I say allegedly because he has been a little bit naughty lately and has taken to wagging school which has the Chief Clansman and I almost at our wits end - well me anyway...) and the big girl - well I believe she is shopping for a digital camera. She has been working very hard at two jobs (which is about to become three!!) and managing to save money for the camera. She is off on a school excursion to Brisvegas in August so wanted the camera for that. Mind you, I had it in the back of my mind to buy her a camera for her birthday/Christmas....so I guess it is back to the drawing board for me!!! Ahh well!!!! The Chief Clansman is, of course, still at work.

He and the middle sized boy (and the big boy too if I have my way)are off to Albury and Orange on Monday for PSSA Hockey. The rest of us will stay here and keep the home fires burning...although we don't have a fire to keep burning anymore, not sine the reno's started....let me take you back a bit.

This is what our house looks like...

It's not a bad house - big enough, nice size yard, reasonable location etc, etc. BUT - it had a stinky old fire in the front room which pumped out good heat but unfortunately also pumped out a lot of smoke, ash and dust. The 3am kickstarts were also starting to wear a little thin...so the Chief Clansman and I put our thinking caps on and came up with the great idea that we should take the fire out along with the wall that it sat in that separated the front room from the kitchen. So that is just what we did...

everyone (well almost) got in on that act...note the summer attire...no fire needed when we started!!

then it was just the Chief Clansman on his own...

...nah not really - he was really just the labourer - our beloved Pete was really the man in charge.

Anyway I will show you a photo of the finished product when it is - finished that is!!!!

It is almost there and is looking fantastic...but back to the beginning - we won't be able to keep the home fires burning, but we will have that split system fired up that is for sure.

Well time is ticking on. I feel I have had a reasonably productive day... and you know what? I get to do it all again tomorrow!

C ya.

Weekends...

2008-06-15T16:27:00.000+10:00

Don't you just love the weekends??? I do...even the ones that don't include public holidays!! Mind you, this one right now has been especially busy for some reason. There was the haircutting, the de-lousing, the birthday party present shopping, the soccer, the hockey, the netball...and that was all before midday yesterday!!! Since then we have handled call outs to check the alarms at TAFE, cajoled Laddie No. 3 to take the soccer field (he was a little stressed as he was playing against his former team...he took his new team to a 2-1 victory with him responsible for the 2 goals!!), shopped for Laddie No.2s new sandshoes and SKINS for his trip to PSSA hockey in Albury, delivered Lassie No.3 to the first of the two birthday parties she was to attend this weekend, done 5 loads of washing, watched the end of Lassie No.2s netball game, visited someone in hospital, dropped in on friends to collect Lassie No.1 and deliver her to her babysitting job for the night, dropped Laddie No.1 off at Midnight basketball where he was reffing...and then...phewww...we sat down and had a quiet glass of vino while we watched the last episode of Bed of Roses and then the fella's watched the Wallabies... I didn't stick around for that... a quick check out the window to see if it was snowing (unfortunately not) and then it was in to bed to read for a bit and wait for the phone to ring to collect those still out and about...of course it wasn't actually me that had to go and do the collecting...god no, that's a daddy job that one...but I was here providing moral support!!!! And that my friends was just Saturday!!!! Today has been not quite as busy but almost. Washing (it NEVER stops), ironing, hockey, hockey and more hockey (they are still there as I type...), a spot of baking and a bit of craft and now to the blog....and the rest of Sunday, a glass of wine, some comfy footwear, perhaps a spot of knitting, and oh yeah...the de-lousing of my own head....ohhh didn't I mention that?? Ahhwell...

So until the next instalment, have fun and keep smiling....

Public Holiday Monday

2008-06-09T14:54:00.000+10:00

Yippee...gotta lurve the public holiday Monday...the only time my "Mondayitis" retreats...