Music Makes Me…NaBloPoMo seventeen

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Generally my music tastes reflect my mood – so if it’s Seether, walk away. Just walk away. Day-to-day I listen to a mix of “talkback” radio (at the time I listen, 6am for twenty minutes or so it’s just news) on Radio Live, Lifefm when I’m at work, or a mix of favourite tunes or podcasts. Lately I’m into podcasts and audio books. I think I might have reached saturation point tho as I am

  • Listening to JD Robb Naked in Death at work
  • Listening to JD Robb Delusion in Death on the way home (takes up to an hour in the afternoons, ick drive)
  • Reading “The Talented Miss Highsmith” on my Sony (and hating it, actually)
  • Watching Bones & Castle marathons at home

So a big decision today. Have left Delusion at home deliberately and am considering giving up on Highsmith. Seriously – she is not a person I would put up with IRL and actually sounds quite nasty (apart from liking her cat). But I hate not finishing a book!

I must be in a good mood as today I think I will listen to Lady Antebellum or Kate Vogele – the later artist was introduced to me by my g.f. Kirsten. Not really known in NZ but I like that sort of thing.

And if you pray, can you please add another g.f. Sangeeta to your list. She starts chemo soon and is understandably nervous about the experience and how she might react. Pray for peace of mind and quick recovery please. Thank you!!

IT advice – NaBloPoMo fifteen

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I was listening to the podcast from QI called There’s No Such Thing As A Fish (episode 31, if you care. Episode 33 was boring tho). Apparently the very first piece of IT advice was to not turn the computer off then on again!

This related to Tommy Flower’s Colossus which was the first supercomputer. Flowers was a post office worker and his first attempt gained a “no” as it couldn’t function with all the valves and whatnot. Same with the second attempt. Persistently Flowers carried on, building Colossus IN SECRET in a room in Bletchley Park (I find that odd? Secret room in a secret spy agency?!). Apparently there are still parts from Colossus in machines in the British post office buildings today. And some trains operating on MS-Dos. Commodore 64, anyone?

Friday Finish – NaBloMoPo fourteen

Posted in NaBloPoMo, stitching patterns by

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This little design was sent to me as part of the facebook NZ Cross Stitcher’s fantasy exchange earlier in the year. I stitched some fairies and finished them as a double-sided hanging ornament (lots of Kreinik blending filament so it would sparkle). This was the first time I’d seen an ornie finished like this – currently it lives on my bathroom shelf next to the coral piece B made for me a couple of years ago. And lots of shells.

Finishing instructions can be found here: http://stitchitagain.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/patriotic-cross-stitch-ornament/

Really clear pictures here: http://meadows08.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/gift-for-my-aunt.html where the stitcher has used chipboard coasters as the underlying form

Plus there are plenty of pintrest boards to follow! #enabling

You Can Quote Me Part II – NaBloPoMo thirteen

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Here’s something that applies to work and personal life. I used to dwell on something, absolutely obsessing (just ask Si) until in the midst of our separation I made a decision. My thoughts weren’t healthy, they weren’t productive, they weren’t constructive. It was time to let things go.

So I did. Eight years on and I am (for the most part) living here + now. If I make a mistake – correct it and move on. Life is about making mistakes and learning, and I guess I forgot that for a while. Mostly, I have the opportunity to correct mistakes, not hold grudges, ask questions, learn. So I do.

WIP Wednesday & Cupid Stunts is on the rise – NaBloMoPo twelve

Posted in books, friends, Journal, me, NaBloPoMo, Nora Corbett, stitching patterns by

So. We came second last night! Yay! However we haven’t told Si (who was at the ARL Referee’s AGM) that there were only two teams J We’re planning on stringing him along for as long as we can. Bringing along the “Youf” may not have helped tho! There was a small collection of wine glasses in front of her, so maybe we have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe. We also got the announcer in the last round, as she totally mispronounced our name.

Small start to NC188 the Scarlet Tanager. Like the other two birds, this is on 25ct white Lugana and there will be some thread changes. This is about 4 hours work, mostly while watching TV or listening to JD Robb’s Delusion in Death.

NC188 Tanager 1

Travelling Bunny… (A Giveaway)

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I just responded to an email – exciting as Bunny will be coming to Auckland! I have plans for Bunny in felt as well as stitch. Look for photos soon!

*Wisher*'s avatarPretty Little Things In A Box

Hello My Dear Friends and Readers..

Happy November.. and hope your Halloween Weekend went well for you.
Did you collect much treats this year?

I had a bag of chocolates from a dear friend of mine but, I’ve saved it for hubby instead..
He is much of a Choco-holic then me  😀

Anyhow..
Sometime ago, I had the honor to win the Travelling Bunny from Chris over at
UK City Crafter.
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The adorable bunny has landed safely in Singapore and I had such a lovely time stitching it.

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So the story goes back (if you followed all the links on the blogs) that a kind blogger started the Travelling Bunny on its journey by sending the pattern together with a few goodies to another Blogger who made the Bunny and then passed the pattern on to another Blogger with some more goodies, that Blogger made the bunny and …- you…

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Cupid Stunts – NaBloMoPo eleven

Posted in friends, House, Journal, NaBloPoMo by

Wow. Day eleven of continuous posting. Just quietly, this scheduling stuff is working for me. Yay for planning!

Tonight is Pub Quiz night. It started a couple of months ago, when Si and a few of his fellow Dockyard apprentices got together at a pub to reminisce (we’ve reached that stage of life apparently!) and by accident came third in a quiz. Now we meet every second Tuesday, wives & hangers on included (do you know how weird it is to be at the pub watching one’s own child drink?!) and the best we’ve ever come? Third. That twenty buck voucher has our name all over it! And the title? That’s our team name. Try saying that ten times fast. Points if you know the movie reference 🙂

Also today I had a moment where I thought I might have to start a Give A Little page to pay for the rates. Our property value has gone up $170K in three years (cough, choke, this is freaking stupid money!!!). That’s probably fairly median for Auckland; it’s more than the MILs or SILs raise tho. I am not looking forward to paying the huge 2015/2016 bill and the accompanying loss of council services – as I am not naive enough to believe that increased rates mean increased services. So far we are a “super city” with increased councellor and mayoral salaries and an increase in overall staff members compared to when Auckland was five or six different regions. Come back, Bob Harvey (or even Tim Shadbolt) – anything would be better than this!

lifeFM – Bigger Better Stronger – NaBloPoMo nine

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I am far too much a casual Christian. I don’t attend a regular church or Bible study, and I should. I know I should. I am a better person when I read/study the Bible regularly; more patient, more giving, less selfish. I could attend the MIL’s church; the kids are welcome, I’m welcome, the pastor is lovely but I don’t feel full when I leave. So a summer goal is to shop around for something that will fill me up.

strong-man-and-slogan

Anyway, almost daily I am filled and feel blessed listening to the message coming from lifeFM. If you are in (most parts – frequency list at the bottom of the web page) of NZ or listen online (www.lifefm.co.nz) and want upbeat, CLEAN, current music with a good message, I totally recommend this station for everyday listening. Secular music plays (as long as it is clean, so it’s more attractive to the teen), the hosts are by turns funny and insightful, not smooth & slick (try the 7.30am news for a laugh), normal stuff is talked about and they have a sense of humour! Plus it’s clean. Did I mention clean? That’s important to me given the kids soak stuff up like a sponge.

 

Coming around to the point, there is a frequency auction coming up soon. Rhema Media is trying to raise a million to help pay for some extra frequencies to spread the Word. If you can give a little, it would be appreciated. Click here:

https://donate.rbg.co.nz/

And this person? Amazing on air, amazing IRL. Holly, take a bow J She does so much – announcing, promotions, organising – BAKING – interviews – lots of stuff

http://www.lifefm.co.nz/shows-djs/days

Bonfire Night – NaBloMoPo nine

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Let’s start off with this – I am Madam Miseryguts and I want the retail sale of fireworks banned. Not only because the freaking idiots letting them off every night for a month screw up my sleeping patterns, leave sh*t on my roof, scare kids/dogs/cats, set off fires so causing a high workload for Fire Service staff & leave the rest of us to foot the bill but because every year some backyard Rambo maims himself/someone else. One year that was nearly my brother D’s eye; I still remember blood, tears and my mother ranting (it was a justified rant and not at dad) & panicking.

If we aren’t paying for Len Brown’s personal gym at Town Hall then there is plenty of money to spend on public displays and plenty of appropriate places and vantage spots in Auckland.

Anyway, rant over. Last night we went to the FIL’s for a bonfire. FIL is a widower whose stepdaughter has JUMPED at the chance to live almost free in her mother’s old house, relegating the FIL to a small cottage on the property. This is regardless of the ammt of money FIL put in over his marriage to J (and I think he is only just realising that he’s been stiffed by the will. If it wasn’t for J snagging him, a married man at the time, there would be no house/orchard/business). I can’t stand this woman; she is mean, small minded, petty and grasping. Her husband is almost as bad and both like to blame breakages on anyone else – including my children who are so rarely there it’s a joke. So I was really looking forward to this evening. Yeah, right. Whoops, that’s another rant.

We didn’t really congregate with this D and her “friends”. We brought our own! Which sounds kind of bad, but really, no money changed hands!

I’ll leave you with this thought that I heard as part of a comedian’s soliloquy – is it unfair that we celebrate the activities of a domestic terrorist given today’s global situation? Is it just plain stupid?