Category Archives: me

Saturday and I’m winning

Posted in family, grateful, league, me by

Out of the house before 8:30. Z to one muster, B over an hour early to his first ref assignment and we were late to M’s muster at Ellerslie.

But all settled down and M actually was player of the day!

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Back to Fowlds just in time to see the ref call the game off after the second red card to Z’s opposition. Z was at the bottom of the heap so it was a good thing I missed that bit!

Wendys to reward both for their efforts then back to Cornwall to watch B ref the second of his games.

Now I am more than ready to head home for a cuppa & a little bit of lazy. How was your day?

Me at 41

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I did this for Bran & it’s one of my favourite posts. So I thought I would repeat for me, & maybe you’ll learn something new. Maybe I will too.

DISCLAIMER: I stole the questions from a Spark People page. Not Spark as we Kiwis have to put up with tho! There were originally 50 questions, but of course I’ve dropped a few. Awkwardly not answering 41, but I’m such a rebel.

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Here are the questions and my answers:

  1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name is a family name – it was my mother’s first name & she never used it, & didn’t like it. So logically she gave it to me!
  2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last week in sheer frustration. The office biatch told me I didn’t deserve a cake and the Screaming Teen was, well, screaming. Then the eReader crashed & I stubbed my toes and it was all over Rover.
  3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Because I type so much I do a “sample” write before I do any journaling or write in a card. I think my style is fairly unique so yes, I do like it.
  4. Not answered – this question was lame!
  5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Just the right number. I didn’t get clucky at pics of the new Princess, no not at all (looks around dodgily)
  6. Not answered – this question was lame.
  7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Oh yeah – I live with an Englishman and work with a couple. It’s the quick or the dead around here.
  8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes (what kind of question is this?!)
  9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Been there, done that – was bribed!
  10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I’m still on the hunt. Not bland stuff tho, I like fruit bits.
  11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they have laces, but I am most often found in ballet flats.
  12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I can be. I can also be very, very stubborn and just not give up.
  13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Much Moore’s Passionfruit Ripple. But I have ice-cream maybe once a fortnight, so not a big fan.
  14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The way they act towards others.
  15. RED OR PINK? Red. My only pink thing would be my Women in League T.
  16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I hate photographs. This one is from Anzac Day this year, so at least it’s fairly recent.
  17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? There are more questions I have for my grandparents. I wish I had more time with them.
  18. Not answered. Related to the Spark site.
  19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black suede ballet flats.
  20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Satsuma mandarins – I go thru these when in season.
  21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? LifeFM radio.
  22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Soft sky blue.
  23. FAVORITE SMELLS? English gardens – roses, lavender etc.
  24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Jigisha at one of our stores.
  25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach house – I love walking along a beach.
  26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Rugby League, which is a good thing.
  27. HAIR COLOR? Mousy brown. Yuck.
  28. EYE COLOR? Blue.
  29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I should do but I find them awkward at work.
  30. FAVORITE FOOD? Is it too cliché to say “anything I don’t have to prepare or collect myself”?
  31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy happy happy.
  32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Imitation Game. Loved it.
  33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Not. Lame!
  34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Too limiting!
  35. HUGS OR KISSES? Both!
  36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Strawberries when in season.
  37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Walking or swimming, that’s as complicated as it gets.
  38. Not answered – this question was TMI!
  39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? This changes nearly daily!
  40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A mouse?
  41. ANY TATTOOS? I am not a follower of fashion so will probably get one as soon as they become passé.
  42. FAVORITE SOUND? It’s a split between the kids laughing and that moment of blissful silence when everyone else in the house is fast asleep.
  43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Again, too limiting.
  44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME IN 2015? Wellington – the other end of the North Island.
  45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Organisation. Nothing that will overwhelm the Ms World judges, sorry.
  46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Waipukerau, in the Hawkes Bay. Yeah, most peeps drive straight thru. Has a good info centre with clean toilets, however. Hope that was useful for you!
  47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Auckland – westie thru & thru (except I don’t own black jeans and I don’t go to the supermarket in my jammies).
  48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Ok. Time to stop stalking.
  49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? White. Like the last one – so after 5 months after we brought the new car, one workmate twigged that it was different. Doh.
  50. ANY PETS? Just the fish – no cuddles. But we work full time and play hard, so to have a dog right now would be selfish.

Bits about Books

Posted in books, me by

I was going to do a full sub-series for April, based on books. I downloaded the prompts and all. Then I decided that no, I had enough on my plate so I’d just answer those I can right now. You might learn a little about me; you might find something to read here too. And if you can answer the questions too, please do so in the comments. I’d love some recommends too.

DAY 1. – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just end already. Like half the fantasy world, I wish George R Martin would hurry the heck up and finish the series. Who ends up on the Throne? Where can I buy a dragon? Is it practical to have a dragon and work full time (probably not).
DAY 2. – Favourite side character. This is easy. Silk, from David Eddings’ Belgariad & Mallorean series. I loved his humour, sly comments & all the things he got up to. Except when I first started reading the series I was ten, so I didn’t understand HALF the things he got up to until I was in my twenties. Slow, that’s me.
DAY 3. – The longest book you’ve read. It probably isn’t physically the longest, but Hilary Mantell’s Bringing Up the Bodies just seemed to go on and on…but I loved Wolf Hall. Not sure about watching it on TV but probably will, as Si prefers that medium.
DAY 4. – Book turned into a movie and completely desecrated. Oh please. This list would be far too long and you have a life to lead. Next!
DAY 5. – Your “comfort” book. & DAY 6. – Book you’ve read the most number of times. This is easy too – Pride & Prejudice. I would probably read this once a year. I love the flow of the words, the hidden meanings, the way Austen linked everything together & how she created some memorable characters. It’s nearly a perfect book. The BBC adaptation was nearly perfect too.

DAY 11. – Favourite classic book. DAY 20. – Favourite childhood book.Has to be Winnie the Pooh. My favourite early memories are curled up with my Gran reading AA Milne in my bed at her house in the Wellington Hills (Fantail Grove – wow I remember the name of the street!) or on the chaise. Gran’s reading-out-loud style is one I use today; I can hear her voice in the rhythm of “Disobedience”. Louise chose that as her poem for the school years ago too.
DAY 22. – Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise. Misdirection or assumption – used in far too many romance books. Often leaves the hero/heroine in the TSTL category.
DAY 30. – Book you couldn’t put down. Unbroken. Also listening – Z chose a Michael Morpulgo called Private Peaceful. It’s harrowing and topical (given that we are commemorating WWI this year and looking at the prospect of WWIII) but we couldn’t stop.

DAY 27. – Book that has been on your “to read” list the longest. To Kill A Mockingbird, preferably before the “sequel” comes out!

disobedienceDisobedience

By A. A. Milne 1882–1956

     James James
     Morrison Morrison
     Weatherby George Dupree
     Took great
     Care of his Mother,
     Though he was only three.
     James James
     Said to his Mother,
     “Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town,
     if you don’t go down with me.”
     James James
     Morrison’s Mother
     Put on a golden gown,
     James James
     Morrison’s Mother
     Drove to the end of the town.
     James James
     Morrison’s Mother
     Said to herself, said she:
“I can get right down to the end of the town
     and be back in time for tea.”
     King John
     Put up a notice,
     “LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
     JAMES JAMES
     MORRISON’S MOTHER
     SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
     LAST SEEN
     WANDERING VAGUELY:
     QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END
     OF THE TOWN—FORTY SHILLINGS
     REWARD!”
     James James
     Morrison Morrison
     (Commonly known as Jim)
     Told his
     Other relations
     Not to go blaming him.
     James James
     Said to his Mother,
     “Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town
     without consulting me.”
     James James
     Morrison’s mother
     Hasn’t been heard of since.
     King John
     Said he was sorry,
     So did the Queen and Prince.
     King John
     (Somebody told me)
     Said to a man he knew:
“If people go down to the end of the town, well,
     what can anyone do?”
 
    (Now then, very softly)
     J. J.
     M. M.
     W. G. Du P.
     Took great
     C/o his M*****
     Though he was only 3.
     J. J.
     Said to his M*****
     “M*****,” he said, said he:
“You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-
     if-you-don’t-go-down-with ME!”

A. A. Milne, “Disobedience” from The Complete Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh. Copyright © The Trustees of the Pooh Properties reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Limited, London.

Source: The Complete Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh (Dutton, 1998)

One Little Word

Posted in me, OLW, photos by

I got stuck on the February prompt. A vision board? What the?

Today, in a hurry, I’ve created my version of the board. It’s in a Stampin’ Up PL protector (so odd sizes) but instead of worrying because it’s lacking and incomplete, I’m really happy with what it reflects. And there is room as I grow with my word.

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And here’s a little extra. In case you can’t read my writing: Mase collected these cards through Feb/Mar by being good and doing chores. BRIBERY = SERENITY.

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WIP Wednesday & Smalls SAL check in

Posted in freebies, me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, Smalls SAL, stitching patterns by

Hello!
I’ve been very busy, in between painting the house, refereeing the brats, work and the cricket world cup (& amazing laugh filed brunch with stitching girlfriends) but I’ve completed my Small this month.

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This is a Joan Elliot design from the same book as the Orient piece. Much nicer to stitch! This is on a simple 6*8 frame for Sarah, one of my work mates who has a gorgeous garden. It’s her birthday on Sunday and I wanted to give her something special.

I’ve decided to stitch the rest of the bead stars on Stargazer. I’ll pick up some invisible thread to do that with. In the meantime I started one of the free cherubs from the Mirabilia site.

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I’ve changed the background colour from 310 to 823. So far I hate the hair colour but let’s see how adding more colours changes it. I’ve already frogged a section due to cricket excitement so that’s not a problem anymore.

I’ve also tentatively decided what to stitch for the Round Robin. I’m very lucky as Zeb is lending me some of her charts to snip some small portions from. As of today, this is how I look:

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What do you think? I am short one section still…

On Awards

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versatile-blogger-award

I have trouble accepting awards but THANK YOU to Mindy from https://mindysneedleworkmania.wordpress.com/ for thinking of me. Nice to know someone considers me Versatile!

The rules are:

  • Show the award on your blog.
  • Thank the person who nominated you.
  • Share seven facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 15 blogs.
  • Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know.

Seven facts about me:

  1. I have Rugby League qualifications in team coaching, management & refereeing.
  2. I desperately want another Shetland Sheepdog, but I promised Si I wouldn’t buy one. So someone, please give me one!
  3. That phobia Si has about household pets dying is annoying me more and more every year. I think sometimes I will pop & come home with something other than a fish. Z has told me to divorce his father so we can get a pet!
  4. I think about the worst case scenario before I start something.
  5. Despite that, I don’t have an emergency supplies kit in case of an earthquake or whatever. I do have a first aid kit in the car tho.
  6. I am a book slut and will try nearly any genre/author at least once.
  7. Walking or swimming is my favourite form of exercise. I snigger on the inside every time I see someone on a Katy Perry, as Si calls the eliptical…

I won’t be nominating any other blogs (so no pressure, peeps) but if you want to let me know your Seven Things, I’d love to read them!

So much for preparation

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Yesterday was the first day back at work after the stat holiday break (I haven’t taken leave yet). Only four days away from my desk, but man-flu turned me into a mess. I packed my lunchbox & stashed it in the garage fridge on Sunday night, and left a note on the front door…

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I didn’t forget my lunch box. I forgot my breakfast instead….muppet.

Oh, I wish it was still NaBloPoMo!

Posted in family, Journal, me, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler by

the subtitle could be: Hard evidence that I haven’t planned any blogging!

Blog. Posting has slowed down a bit. I’m looking forward to Myfanwy’s prompts for January, but I wish she would publish them now so I can write them down and feel like I’ve planned a bit! Hint hint! I think however I will plan a third theme day into every week; I’m sure you would love to know what I’m reading/watching. Right?

I’m under more than a little pressure. Christmas dinner won’t be at mine this year, which means I have to transport numerous cooked and chilled items plus kids plus presents. Presents are actually no excuse; let’s face it, I can take them up to the SIL’s as soon as they are wrapped. Kids? I have to take them with me anyway, it’s the law. Food? This is where I need to sit down and plan carefully with the others. Let’s hope for good weather so we can eat outdoors!

Work is messy – I am putting off about 30 minutes of ick by writing this post. However I’ve told myself that once done, I can go to Kings Plant Barn & get my secret Santa present. Carrots again. Points if I don’t come home without something for me! Only 66 store emails when I peeped at that inbox earlier today. Ugh.

Craft. In the light of day 100 stitches seems nothing! But over the course of the year this is one area where I have done better than planned (in some areas – I didn’t complete 12 TW smalls, just three, although Stretch was one of them) and I didn’t touch Tapestry Cat (which I do want to see finished and I’m glad I didn’t pass onto a FB “friend” to do, as she turned out to be a complete liar) but my TUSAL jar is nearly chockablock (photo on the 31st!) and will stuff an ornament easily. Stitchers reading this will know about TUSAL and smile. FYI I set myself up with the large Moconna jar so was quite ambitious. I also didn’t keep up with all the surface embroidery techniques but I am happy I went to the class & want to do some more next year. Maybe start a little simply and chain/satin over an existing print to personalise cushion covers?

Pintrest. I’m itching to do a few things but these will have to wait for my leave in late January. Me and the sewing machine have a date, and by the end of the week I’ll have an amazing outdoor table plus covered seat. I love Pintrest; it’s a huge time waster but oh so gorgeous. Lots of funny things too. Amazing recipes, beautiful things. House envy sometimes!

I suppose I can share that there is a reason why I have the blahs. The Screaming Teen (who can be known as The Only Teen for another 15 months) did something incredibly stupid. And illegal. And has shocked the sh*t out of me, to say the least. I find it really, really hard to even hold a conversation with him, I’m that angry at his blasé /victim attitude. I’ll get over it, I have to; but he really took the shine out of his school award and behaviour. At home he now has all the chores that Z would do on top of his own and is grounded for the summer, with no access to anything electronic, including FB and his phone. Yes, I know it’s now the end of the world as he knows it, but he doesn’t seem to care! And to think everyone told me girls were awful as teenagers…they lied. Praying that Tough Love works as I don’t know what else. Boarding School?

Packing

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Trish2

I hate packing. This time it’s compounded as we are travelling light – just carry on over and then bag on the way back – I plan to do that much shopping. I could run a poll – prize for the person who guess what I will leave behind. Leave a comment!

Next few posts will be scheduled from Myfanwy’s October prompts, play along in the comments! And maybe a few pics of sunny Sydney – it better be sunny! See you later!

WIP Wednesday

Posted in me, Mirabilia, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns, Teresa Wentzler by

So after putting down my fairy (and forgetting to initial it, FAIL, so pulling it out again), I had to have a severe talking to myself. My WIP pile was growing and while not as large as some in any of the FB groups I belong to, it takes up nearly a whole drawer in my craft organiser. Right now (in age order)

  • Si’s country scene (a Stoney Creek design that bores me now & he’s forgotten about)
  • Teresa Wentzler Tapestry Cat
  • Z’s birth sampler which needs a whole section re-charted or frogged out
  • Teresa Wentzler Noah’s Ark – the frame broke so it’s just sitting on the bars
  • Nora Corbett Arezzo – who had the great idea of doing this all over one?! What a muppet. I’m waiting till true Summer so I can do this in daylight
  • Mirabilia Stargazer – which I started this year
  • Nora Corbett Mediterranean Mermaid – again, started this year & is my hospital visit piece

I didn’t consider either of the TWs (I would have to re-kit out the Ark and I’m up to the over one anyway) so I dangled a metaphorical carrot over my head. Do a decent week on a WIP and you can start something new. So I got out my Maria, which is on (un)evenweaved linen. 32 count too. Ugh. She looks good but it’s very, very slow compared to anything on Lugana. But having to slow down might help my wrist heal.

stargazer dec 3

The orange is what I’ve done since Saturday night…getting along. The gaps are where I need to bead – lots and lots of beads. She’s coming to Sydney too – eight or nine hours at airports or on a plane means a decent chunk will get done. The biscornu disaster is postponed again!