Category Archives: NaBloPoMo

I Survived NaBloPoMo!

Posted in me, NaBloPoMo, Nora Corbett by

NaBloPoMo_November

When I started planning this in late October, I actually didn’t think that I would carry thru. I don’t have the greatest track record & I find it easy, too easy, to drop things if it’s just for me. Home and work pressures mean I usually crawl up & drop off whatever only affects me (craft, writing, baking, walking) but stubbornly hold onto reading (cue the “you’ve left the light on” “but you’re watching the bloody tv!” bedtime arguments).

But this has been mostly fun and not a chore. Mostly. I put this down to planning ahead, allowing some repetition themes (WIP Wednesday & You Can Quote Me on Thursdays) and not pressuring myself to be flashy & original & trend-setting. What you get is what you get; this wasn’t designed to gain more followers (but hello & thank you – especially to those who comment!) but to try & establish a habit. To be satisfied that I could stick to a plan. Another bonus is that I have been more disciplined about other crafting – I finished three projects during November with the two birds and the fairy letter (which goes to the framers on Wednesday! No photos of the finished item until after the recipient recieves it, sorry) & told myself that I need to finish an older WIP before I start something else

Woohoo – job & knock, as the engineer in the household would say. So what’s next? December Daily, a trip to Sydney & surrounds, Christmas shopping, Christmas food prep, work (only five weeks till Rachel returns & I can hand off a full third of my load!!! I am excited about this, despite it being quite lame to others), stitching  & spending time with my family. Upcoming posts – I plan to use Myfanwy’s October prompts for upcoming posts & the 30 Day Book Challenge (which will not happen on 30 consecutive days). More craft, more travel, more gardens. See you soon!

It’s the Little Things – NaBloPoMo twenty nine

Posted in family, house - gardens, me, NaBloPoMo by

Wow less than a week till I go on holiday! I can’t wait. This week has been hard at home and work. The Screaming Teen is out tonight with a mate; they’ve gone to XFactor auditions (to watch) & I’m planning on being a nana and going to bed early.

Because we’re having to move the boys around (one of the concussion recommendations is to move B further away from the centre of the living space) is very noisy. Very noisy. Complaint central.  So I got outside and started one of B’s chores, the lawn.

Actually that was the highlight. Listening to QI podcasts (I find the facts and comments hilarious) and seeing the difference from wild to even.

Also had the reward of seeing the new fruit, both on the Thumbelina Apple and the Boysenberry Brulee. Which I have netted off now. I want those berries for me!

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Friday Finish – NaBloPoMo twenty eight

Posted in family, friends, me, NaBloPoMo by

Normally today would be a stitchy Friday Finish. However, today’s topic isn’t my general crafty theme. It’s about the end of a life.

Six years ago today, I was sitting at my desk when I got a call from my partner. He was at AirNZ in Christchurch and had just been pulled aside & told that he needed to attend a briefing. The gossip was that a plane had gone down overseas. I then rang our friend E, whose partner had been scheduled to sit in on a test flight in France. E confirmed our worst fears. The plane had gone down and no survivors were likely.

I met Muz years before the accident. He was part of the Metalshop at AirNZ, and Si joined there in May 1996. They instantly became as thick as thieves, and could generally be counted on to be at the centre of any mischief or mayhem. They spent all day together then gossiped for hours on the phone (teenage girl syndrome!). We socialised together with Muz and his then partner, were pregnant together (B is only 14 days older than his son H), grew up together. The “grow up” bit could at times, be arguable. That’s all part of the fun!

I’d talked by phone to Muz only a few days before the accident. He had been in Germany at that time, loving the opportunity but missing home and his son. We’d been out East Auckland to view their new house, a house which was handed over while Muz was in Europe and he never loved in. He was so excited about his new life, new love and everything in general.

My December Daily of this year is unfinished. The entries are either our basic Christmas things or related to the awful weeks after the crash. I guess that in itself is a story. Media speculation was rife and hurtful; a gossip magazine had camped out on both Muz’ parents door and E’s door before the names were even confirmed and gave no sympathy. To this day I don’t touch any “weekly” but most especially New Idea. The article they eventually ran indicated that E had given an interview; instead they clipped portions of a news conference and twisted what was said. Asshats.

In all the mess the staff at AirNZ were wonderful. They supported the families, sheltered them as much as possible, made it easy to go to Perpignon and tried to find the answers we all needed. Rob Fyfe in particular was amazing. Upfront and honest. It was a different world for these families and the sympathy and empathy was exactly as needed.

So six years later where are we? I didn’t know until nearly a month after his death, but I was pregnant. Muz would have found this hysterically funny. E delivered my M, a nice circle.

Z is now wearing one of Muz’ Ts – Muz was a bit height challenged. He made up for this with his personality. Z barely remembers him; he was only 5, the same age as M is now. I still think “I should tell Muz that” and then have to hold myself back.

We have lost contact with a lot of people but I’m sure that today they will be raising a Steinlager Pure to Muz just as we will (that stuff’s awful, we only drink it twice a year!!). Sadly E is one of the people who has slid away. She has a new partner now and her family has extended too. I guess we are a reminder of loss to her as much as she could be to us.

But long story short, I miss Muz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XL_Airways_Germany_Flight_888T

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/9785004/Final-moments-of-Air-NZ-test-flight

WIP Wednesday – NaBloMoPo twenty six

Posted in 12 Days of Gifting, me, NaBloPoMo, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

Can’t quite believe that it’s less than one month to Christmas. I have brought a couple of things but am planning on buying when we’re in Sydney next month. Also can’t quite believe that I have made it this far without missing a day! Thanks for sticking in there too.

Z changed some of the 12 Things in the car last night. He’s the one who thinks long and hard about the right answer.

  • Five commando comics
  • Six Coruba RTDs (as he drinks Coke all the time, so my suggestion wasn’t special enough!)
  • Eight Wheels Washing (the kids will clean & valet the cars)

Ten is definitely Lotto scratchies then. Easy!

Today’s WIP isn’t large, as I finished the Scarlet Tanager on Sunday night. I think he’s gorgeous, lovely colours. I changed the background blues, more to match the other two already completed than for any other reason.

Tanager 3

This is another Nora Corbett – the Letter L for my L. Colours are being converted bc I can’t afford the Crescent Colours threads (and they aren’t colourfast) so it’s a little slower than first thought. I also haven’t chosen the replacement for the purple Letter interior. Fabric is 25ct beige Lugana.

L fairy 1

CC DMC
Bejeweled 562
Cobbled Peach 819
Key Largo 3817
Deep Fennel 502
Old Blue Jeans 501
La Tierra 840
Hickory Sticks 3031
Vintage Violet 3756
Cloud blanc
Argyle Socks ???
Mill Hill
42027 40123
02001 02010
02072 02053
12126 12286
02001 in hair 00557

A Personal 12 Days of Christmas – NaBloPoMo twenty five

Posted in Christmas, family, NaBloPoMo by

I feel quite safe posting this – not sure Si actually remembers that I blog, let alone the address! So this should still be a surprise.

I read a while ago about the 12 Days Project. It’s been around for a while, but I am clearly a bit slow <grin> This year I will attempt to complete this for Si. The trick will be convincing him that I don’t want anything in return. And getting little Mr M to keep a secret! I’m starting on the 13th, which I KNOW is not the right way around, but I just want to start 🙂

On the x day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

  1. A Batman tree ornament (press the button, it even makes the sounds!)
  2. Two movie tickets (for him and his bestie, as I don’t actually like going to the movies)
  3. Letters from the boys
  4. 4 in 1 photo frame with the boys each holding a word & L in the last space
  5. $5 lotto scratchie
  6. I’m thinking a 6 pack of Coke?
  7. Picnic with 7 food items
  8. NO FREAKING IDEA
  9. Packs of his fav chewing gum
  10. Might be lame but a $10 scratchie?
  11. Playlist with 11 of our favourite songs
  12. 12 memories – a calendar

The idea isn’t to spend up large, but to make the other person feel loved. What do you think of this? Commercial or cheesy or choice?

Hurry up and wait – NaBloPoMo twenty four

Posted in family, NaBloPoMo by

Today I had to take the Screaming Teen in to see the people at the Laura Ferguson Trust. Our clinician ran forty minutes late, a long time when you have NO PATIENCE AT ALL.  B read a DC comics compedium and attempted to teach me the difference between DC and Marvel dudes.

To be honest, I don’t care. Cue gasps of horror.

Long story short there are a few things that B can’t perform. Some are things I find hard too but some things were alarmingly easy, like connect the dots.

Again, concussion sucks.

Time Out or Bribery? -NaBloPoMo twenty three

Posted in family, NaBloPoMo by

When you’re sick, and dad is sick, the best remedy is rest. Our kids clearly think this is bs, so I took the Nigel Latta track this weekend. Say what you mean, & have something as a good behavior carrot. 

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Track. Geddit?

Any raised voices, off they go to time out. Took all day Saturday but I think they get it now. The quieter I am,  the scarier I am. And if they’re quiet, they get to use the remote control. M insists on the yellow car (the blur above). So far he is smoking the other two. And me.

http://www.goldfishwisdom.co.nz