Oh yeah. One more resolution to add to the list:
BLOG MORE!
I'm sorry that I've been neglecting this poor old online journal of late, and you, my readers, as well. I am determined that I will be a much more diligent writer in the new year. The writing is good for my brain, helps me to remember my days, motivates me to do more with my life. I like the writing.
So, I will be posting on a regular basis - weekly, definitely, and more if I'm organised enough :) Not sure what time I will set aside for it, but the point is that there WILL be a set time for me to write.
Just letting you know!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
That was 2008
The year has finished already? I'm amazed, are you?
Elora started child care in January and I went back to work, full time at first but part-time eventually.
The kids grew and grew. Elora is a little chatterbox now, mimicking her closest brother constantly. Atti has come along really well except for a couple of convulsions in the middle of the year which means that he's back on his meds. He can now (mostly) write his name and numbers and starts preschool next year! Dante completed his Preliminary Piano Practical Exam (got a B+ - did I tell you about that?) and is going into Year Three next year - the "Primary" part of school, no longer "Infants" any more!
Not much else has really happened that I can think of. I took a sewing class in the latter part of the year. It was great fun and I learnt a lot. Still trying to decide if I'm going to go to the next level (which is during the day for four weeks in March). I've done a bit more sewing of clothing and started some more projects. Did some more knitting as well... Took a sock knitting class in April. Dan went to the USA in June (and finally got his American passport a little later). I moved into a new office at work after 9 years in the same place! Made some closer friendships there as a result. That was nice.
So now, time to consider the coming year. 2009. I don't generally make new year resolutions but I will make a few this time:
Well, that's far more than I expected to write. They are all pretty general - nothing too specific. But that's okay by me :)
Happy New Year everyone. Hope you are having an enjoyable break and that the New Year is a happy, productive and safe year for you all.
Elora started child care in January and I went back to work, full time at first but part-time eventually.
The kids grew and grew. Elora is a little chatterbox now, mimicking her closest brother constantly. Atti has come along really well except for a couple of convulsions in the middle of the year which means that he's back on his meds. He can now (mostly) write his name and numbers and starts preschool next year! Dante completed his Preliminary Piano Practical Exam (got a B+ - did I tell you about that?) and is going into Year Three next year - the "Primary" part of school, no longer "Infants" any more!
Not much else has really happened that I can think of. I took a sewing class in the latter part of the year. It was great fun and I learnt a lot. Still trying to decide if I'm going to go to the next level (which is during the day for four weeks in March). I've done a bit more sewing of clothing and started some more projects. Did some more knitting as well... Took a sock knitting class in April. Dan went to the USA in June (and finally got his American passport a little later). I moved into a new office at work after 9 years in the same place! Made some closer friendships there as a result. That was nice.
So now, time to consider the coming year. 2009. I don't generally make new year resolutions but I will make a few this time:
- Cook more.
- Continue my enthusiasm for keeping the kitchen clean and tidy.
- Sew more. Sew more clothes and use up all that fabric I've been buying this year!
- Knit more. Craft more in general, I think.
- Exercise more. I've been going for jogs and going to the gym. I want to keep that up in the new year. (I can't believe that I've put on 2Kg in the last six weeks! Blasted festive season and all the eating it entails).
- Shout less. That's going to be a hard one.
Well, that's far more than I expected to write. They are all pretty general - nothing too specific. But that's okay by me :)
Happy New Year everyone. Hope you are having an enjoyable break and that the New Year is a happy, productive and safe year for you all.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fairy lights
One of the things I like best about Christmas is the excuse for fairy lights. Whilst I'm not a huge fan of the streets completely lit up (mainly because of the waste of electricity), I'm partial to a few little specks of light and colour here and there.
Last year I bought a bunch of fairy lights cheap at Ikea in the post-Xmas sales, and couldn't resist picking up a few more recently. I strung them up around the dining room on the weekend as we had our friends over for our annual celebration. It was a daytime thing so their effect was not as pronounced.
But then last night after I'd gotten the kids to bed (Dan was out) I went downstairs, turned them all on again, turned off all the lights and sat in the glow of the lights. It was just beautiful. I could have sat like that all night, except that I fell asleep for a little while. I tried to take a picture, but if didn't work out. Just use your imagination :)
Today at work I was inspired by last night's delight and found some lights that I'd had stashed on a shelf. Pinned them up on my (still sparse) notice board (need to finish settling in to my office one day!) turned off the office lights and smiled.
It's probably not the best light to work from... might be an OH&S issue. I'm thinking of bringing more lights in tomorrow. There's only three days of work left in the year. I think we can survive it :)
Last year I bought a bunch of fairy lights cheap at Ikea in the post-Xmas sales, and couldn't resist picking up a few more recently. I strung them up around the dining room on the weekend as we had our friends over for our annual celebration. It was a daytime thing so their effect was not as pronounced.
But then last night after I'd gotten the kids to bed (Dan was out) I went downstairs, turned them all on again, turned off all the lights and sat in the glow of the lights. It was just beautiful. I could have sat like that all night, except that I fell asleep for a little while. I tried to take a picture, but if didn't work out. Just use your imagination :)
Today at work I was inspired by last night's delight and found some lights that I'd had stashed on a shelf. Pinned them up on my (still sparse) notice board (need to finish settling in to my office one day!) turned off the office lights and smiled.
It's probably not the best light to work from... might be an OH&S issue. I'm thinking of bringing more lights in tomorrow. There's only three days of work left in the year. I think we can survive it :)
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Made me laugh!
Austenbook.
[P&P*, Facebook style.]
*Link to Wikipedia. Don't read the Plot Summary if you don't want to know the story (in case you haven't read it) - it's full of spoilers.
[P&P*, Facebook style.]
*Link to Wikipedia. Don't read the Plot Summary if you don't want to know the story (in case you haven't read it) - it's full of spoilers.
Curse you, Father Time!
It really irks me. There are six working days left in the year (for us fortunate University employees, that is). SIX DAYS! It's December! Christmas is almost upon us!
I'm in a bit of a panic. I haven't even started the Christmas gift shopping. And I think I'll have to abandon my idea for handmade gifts for teachers. Six days!
Curse you, old man Time. You've made the last six months whizz by at too fast a rate and it's just too much. I can't bear it.
Know what I mean??
I'm in a bit of a panic. I haven't even started the Christmas gift shopping. And I think I'll have to abandon my idea for handmade gifts for teachers. Six days!
Curse you, old man Time. You've made the last six months whizz by at too fast a rate and it's just too much. I can't bear it.
Know what I mean??
Thursday, November 27, 2008
500th post!
I've had a bit of a blog break - so much for NaBloPoMo!
I've been busy - work, craft, kids. Well, it seems just the usual life stuff, really. My trip to TI was wonderful. Warm (actually, hot and humid), relaxing (except that Elora wouldn't sleep much) and family-filled. But it was good to get home, too.
Now Christmas is less than a month away and things are starting to get quite busy - the social calendar is filling up quickly.
And I just realised that this is my 500th post! It's been almost four years since I started this blog - about 125 posts/year. That's an average of two posts/week. Not a bad, I reckon.
Lots of the craft blogs have giveaways for big events like this. I might do the same. I'm not sure exactly what yet. Perhaps some wool (I have a skein of Koigu KPPPM that I can part with), some fabric (some fat quarters) and something else yet to be determined.
Leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner in a few days.
I've been busy - work, craft, kids. Well, it seems just the usual life stuff, really. My trip to TI was wonderful. Warm (actually, hot and humid), relaxing (except that Elora wouldn't sleep much) and family-filled. But it was good to get home, too.
Now Christmas is less than a month away and things are starting to get quite busy - the social calendar is filling up quickly.
And I just realised that this is my 500th post! It's been almost four years since I started this blog - about 125 posts/year. That's an average of two posts/week. Not a bad, I reckon.
Lots of the craft blogs have giveaways for big events like this. I might do the same. I'm not sure exactly what yet. Perhaps some wool (I have a skein of Koigu KPPPM that I can part with), some fabric (some fat quarters) and something else yet to be determined.
Leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner in a few days.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sunshine, here I come
My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I'm off to Thursday Island, folks. Gone for five days - not sure about 'net access, although last time I was there I was able to blog. So, I may or may not see you!
I'm off to Thursday Island, folks. Gone for five days - not sure about 'net access, although last time I was there I was able to blog. So, I may or may not see you!
Monday, November 10, 2008
My latest craft infatuation
I've taken an interest in yet another type of craft lately... because I have SO much time to do it all!
This time it's origami. But not just the animal shape making that you usually see. I like making geometric shapes, out of lots of little modules. I like the portability of this craft - nothing needed but squares of paper and a flat surface to work on. And even the latter is optional!
It's actually not that hard - so I upped the difficulty by doing it in miniature. My paper is 50mmx50mm and I've just bought some smaller stuff - 40mmx40mm.
These two linked cubes are about 2½cm along the edges. Joining them up was a little tricky but fun! I can't wait to do more - I may even make a chain of them, perhaps...
(This last picture of the cubes with the iPod touch is just to give you an idea of size).
This time it's origami. But not just the animal shape making that you usually see. I like making geometric shapes, out of lots of little modules. I like the portability of this craft - nothing needed but squares of paper and a flat surface to work on. And even the latter is optional!
It's actually not that hard - so I upped the difficulty by doing it in miniature. My paper is 50mmx50mm and I've just bought some smaller stuff - 40mmx40mm.
These two linked cubes are about 2½cm along the edges. Joining them up was a little tricky but fun! I can't wait to do more - I may even make a chain of them, perhaps...
(This last picture of the cubes with the iPod touch is just to give you an idea of size).
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Sunday: follow-up
Ha! Turns out that these darn kids had discussed and planned their birthday pool party activities because nearly every single kid there who had access to a Nintendo DS wanted to bring it to the party. And nearly every single set of parents refused such a silly idea. Boy did I feel vindicated.
I say nearly every single set of parents because two kids did actually bring theirs, and would you believe it? Half the party was spent hovering around watching them play.
Kids! Ha!
I say nearly every single set of parents because two kids did actually bring theirs, and would you believe it? Half the party was spent hovering around watching them play.
Kids! Ha!
Sunday
Today I am the worst mother in the world because I won't let Dante take the Nintendo DS to a POOL party.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
