Snip Snip

From the time Ella started kinder, school holidays became haircut time. In the first week of each holidays, so only a few times a year, we head of to the hairdressers for a cut.

Although Leila isn't yet at kinder, she still feels they're her holidays as well and therefore it's become her routine too. I'm lucky, both my girls LOVE going to the hairdressers and would go much more regularly if they were allowed.

Our holiday routine also always includes going to the movies and again, Leila joins in on that now, although she tends not to sit still like her big sister, which means it's no longer as relaxing as it once was. This break I think it will be Monsters vs Aliens, although some interest has also been expressed in 17 Again!! We usually have at least one overnight stay with nan and pa, as well as afternoon dvds. This break Ella wants some mum time, as we just haven't had much of that since school started. Her wish is for getting our nails done (not something we've ever done!), going to the theatre and then out for dinner!! I haven't actually looked into the logistics of that yet, but I think I may try and work around it somehow.

What are your holiday routines/treats?

Fearless

This morning Geoff's work had a social club sponsored family day at Luna Park. For two hours we had the place to ourselves, all rides were free. Two hours went surprisingly fast.

Ella is now of an age where things that would previously have evoked a "NO WAY" response, all seemed like the must do rides. Geoff went on some gross spinning round, up and down puke inducing thing with her. I did the Scenic Railway/Big Dipper. On that one Ella laughed her way through while I kept my eyes firmly shut, screaming not quite like a girl as I've lost that range, with one arm clasping her tight and my knees jammed hard against the seat in front. Geoff did two rides on the Ghost Train with her and another on some thing that you can see went up and then dropped suddenly leaving your stomach at the top. Give me real fear over quease, those rides I can't stand, I think my fear of puking is more real than the possibility of dying on a ride!

Feline Love

When I was small - between the ages of about 3 and 5 - we had two Siamese cats, brother and sister, Pippi and Suzie. Suzie was my favourite. She was quite a fiery cat, but with me she became a cat ragdoll. I took her everywhere, usually dragging her by the neck. I dressed her up in dolls clothes and made her dance on her hind legs. She came to bed with me every night and would lie there, clutched to my chest, until my mum would rescue her, her fur wet with my perspiration. Mum said my interest in and love of Suzie never wained, even as the years passed. I could have been tormenting her into her autumn years had she not been hit by a car.

Pippi, her brother, lived for at least another 10 years and was quite the character too. He would jump and pat at the doorbell, thereby ringing it, when he wanted to be let in. If you have even known a Siamese, you'll know that they "talk" and he did a lot of that.

We have been waiting on a litter of Tonkinese kittens and coincidentally this week have been looking after my sister-in-law's young cat. Elly was a stray they took in, but she's very sweet and as you can see, she seems to be enduring the same loving attention from Leila that Suzie did from me.

Pattern

I love seeing where others work on their crafting activities, but I never show my own. We don't have a big house, my crafting is done on the fly. It moves from the dining table to a basket beside my bed, to our very narrow computer table - it doesn't make for pretty pictures.

I'm publishing this photo though to share my new found respect for those of you who make and share patterns regularly - it's not easy is it?! It's not the idea that's the problem, it's the reworking of the one idea until it's just right.

I was really taken with the puppies I made earlier this month from an Allsorts pattern. It got me wanting to make some other animals in the same style - hence the pattern making. I know what's wrong, but onto version 3 I'm still perfecting. I'll give it another shot today, trying to get it just right with the cheap stuff before cutting into the loveliness of the Winterwood felt that arrived this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks

Jamie, for the second issue of your mag, kindly brought to my attention by Kikimiss. This edition showed subscription prices adjusted to AUD and they're far less daunting than the Sterling ones in the first issue - we'll be signing up.

I particularly liked the article on Hotel du Midi, which was Elizabeth David's favourite restaurant, written about firstly in a piece she had published in Vogue, but which also went into her book, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine. I read this book years ago, but the Jamie mag reminded me of it and that it was perhaps time to re-read.

Geoff and I had a week's cycling holiday through the Dordogne region in France, around 2000, and it was one of our best memories of Europe. We cycled around 50kms a day, from one lovely regional hotel to the next. We ate and drank like kings (and queens) but the fact we were cycling, canoeing and swimming every day made us feel very worthy and as if the spoils had been truly earnt.

I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm a dreamer and that I love the time I spend alone inside my head. There aren't that many people who I feel really understand how I feel about things, and in turn I find it hard to understand how others cannot feel as I do. I guess I fantastise a lot, I reminisce a lot too. I have a lot of dreams and I combine them with my real memories, such as that cycling holiday in France, and come up with moving the family there to live in the countryside for a couple of years. My dear husband is a different person to me (thank god) and I guess he keeps me grounded, or keeps me down, depending on how I feel about it on the day. If we were the same type of personality I doubt we would have stayed anywhere or stuck at any one thing for more than a couple of years at a time. Being able to re-read gorgeous books such as these, the memories they revive and the new dreams they inspire, how can you ever put a price on the ongoing pleasures that a good book can give.

No photos

which is both a blessing and a curse when raising the two topics that are on my mind today.

As a teenager I was fortunate enough not to get many spots at all, in fact I can remember the most significant one that appeared in the middle of my nose on the night of my senior school dance. So I have been lucky never to have been cursed with lots of spots at any time, but when I get one I get a good one. Can you believe (firstly that I'm actually sharing this!) that today my top lip was actually swollen as if I'd been punched because I woke up with a spot that big between my top lip and nose. I kid you not! It is not really visible (aside from the swelling) but it is so sore and I honestly have no idea how it happened. Gross I know, but how does whatever's in there get in there? I considered a day off today, but instead opted for pointing out my condition to everyone I met before they had the chance to see and ignore, I find that so much worse. So, for this I'm glad for the lack of photographic record.

Secondly - did anyone catch Spicks and Specks last night? The gorgeous Pete Murray was on and I swear (Karen are you listening?) I almost hyperventilated at the end when he took his shirt off and all I saw were his shoulders, what shoulders!!!!! So, is anyone has any photographic evidence of this lovely, unexpected treat, please share.

Woof Woof

Two little pups, one in flannel/cotton the other felt/cotton for babes of friends. Such fun to make, easy and I think very effective. I'm inspired and although this pattern is only for one's own use, it's inspired me to develop my own patterns for other little critters. I'll share the results when they've been perfected.