Another of My 'Quirks'

I don't like brushing my teeth. I never have. I like the 'clean mouth feel' but I don't like the brushing. I do have sensitive gums and that has been one issue. Mainly though I just REALLY don't like the taste of toothpaste. I actually dread it. My tastebuds begin to curl up and try to hide at the thought of putting that stuff in my mouth.

I am tired of having a fight with myself twice a day just to take care of basic hygiene (yes I am 39 not 3) so I have taken the big step of buying an electric toothbrush and trying a new toothpaste with more of a taste of cloves than fake mint. I am reasoning that even if I just to a very short clean, it will be more productive with an electric brush than a manual alternative.

And I don't really like the clovey toothpaste either but it is better than the mint version. And if I can't convince myself to keep using it, then I will be heading for the kids section of the toothpaste aisle.

Sigh ....

Artwork of the Day

"Vase with Daisies and Poppies"

Vincent Van Gogh

Photo Challenge - Clean

Learning to Drive

A friend is learning to drive. Now in New South Wales, once you have your Learner's permit you need to drive for a certain number of hours in a variety of conditions before you can actually take the driving test.

She has been doing the big trips with her partner but has asked me to come with to practice 3-point turns, parallel parking and the like so we have been out for a couple of times to do just that.

It is an honor that she trust me and has asked me. It is confronting to have to manually think about everything that I now do automatically (fortunately Miss L does have a 'real' instructor, she is just practicing with me). It is fun to spend time with each other. It is a little disappointing (from a purely selfish perspective) that she will have her licence soon and this moment too will have passed.

Maybe it is more important that the moment happened ....

Just for fun :-) The sound isn't the greatest and I am not sure why the video is of dogs (something for Abz and Pita) but give it a go.

View from the Cafe

A Wonderful Day

Okay I know it is only 3.30 pm but I have had the best day.

Whilst at my last job, I worked for a few months with an amazing woman named Amber and today, after what seems like a million failed attempts, we got together for lunch. We treated ourselves to the views and atmosphere of the cafe at Park Beach where the food was great but the company even better.

We laughed, we chatted, we laughed some more. I met her partner. Three hours flew by without any effort at all.

You can see from the photo we moved out of the protection of the cafe to the windy outdoor area and as much as that is not good for my hair style (what style!) it was refreshing and prevented the day from being too hot.

It was amazing and we won't be waiting so long for a catch up next time :-)

Photo Challenge Updates

Sometimes it surprises me how fast the weeks travel by. Maybe it is becasue we are getting closer to the end of the year .... have you noticed that this week's list includes October!

This Friday 18 September: Clean

Friday 25 September: Fruity

Friday 2 October: Season

Happy clicking folks :-)

Nighttime Munchings

Next to my house is a grass strip which possibly could be a driveway for the house at the rear of the block next door. They access their by car place using a back lane so it is just used it was a walkway. Now I have never met these people. I know there is at least a woman and a man and a baby. There is often other people and children walking down the little alley and I have seen a total of at least five dogs and two cats. Now I am not sure that all of these people and animals live there - in fact I am sure they don't - they just randomly show up (okay the people are visitors but as the appearance of the dogs and cats don't appear to correlate with any of the visits).

What mystifies me is that between 10 pm and midnight each night something comes to the grassed lane-way and eats ... well grass. I can hear the grass being torn from the remaining stalks as each mouthful is taken. I have a big bamboo screen so, short of pulling out a torch and having a good gawk, I have no idea what this animal is. My first guess some months ago was a sheep but there is no other evidence of the animal existing on the property.

Even if I consider the possibility of native animals it doesn't get me much further - you can hear kangaroos come and go so it definitely isn't one of those, do wombats eat grass (and do they live in my area), what else if big enough to take significant mouthfuls?

The whole thing has me puzzled ....

Photo: "Night-walker" by Mon-artifice

Just For Today

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.

Earl of Chesterfield

Photo: "Blue" by Linnette

Whaling Legacy

I have memories as a child of going to a whaling station where they were cutting up "the catch". Or at least I thought I had memories of it. Somewhere along the line I got the idea that commercial whaling in Australia had closed down before I was born. That wasn't too big of a deal - I just rationalised that I must have seen a movie when I was young. The problem with that idea was that I remember the smell and whenever I hear or see of stories about whaling the smell comes back as part of the memory.

It is with mixed feelings that I discovered that the whaling station in question closed in 1978. So my memory is validated (which is good) and then again, my memory is validated (which is not so good).

I am so very glad that era is over. Long may they swim free.

Photo Challenge - Guide

Sorry folks, I missed this one. Having a bad run with the back and it's all a bit too hard this week :-)

Photo Challenge - Updates

I know we have had this banner for nine months now but I have to admit I love it. And no, it isn't because it is a compilation of my photos, it is Miss Kylie's artistic work that I admire. Every week it is like a little ray of sunshine.

Maybe I am rambling but sue me. I love it :-) (not the notion of being sued but our logo)

So where are we up to?
This Friday 11 September: Guide
Friday 18 September: Clean
Friday 25 September: Fruity

The One Day in September

It is that time of the year when the football (in all codes) begins to wind down. There is one aspect of this that find particularly pleasing - and that is that this ad is back on tv. Now I say plainly I am not a fan of the game but I do love the ad :-)

Friendship

It has been five months since my garden (the whole 2 square metres) had any attention - despite offering generous payment for assistance. It was the middle of June since I was last able to have my home-help come by and do the floors.

None of it has been a big deal in the context of the whole world but it has been playing on my mind - especially as I have an inspection by the real estate agent coming up next Monday.

Then the magnificent Abz swept in. The garden has been weeded and the soil turned. My cobwebs have been eradicated. The kitchen floor has been swept. She is coming back on Sunday to vaccum and plant my new plants.

And during all of that she inisisted that I just sit and chat while she went about her business (not that I would have been able to do much anyway).

It was all topped off when she picked some flowers and brought them inside.

I feel so loved and nurtured. I am beginning to learn to receive as well as to give. Dance dance dance :-)

For Al and Matt

Thinking of you and the family .....

They're Back!

Or maybe they never really went away ....

Yes I had a knock on the door yesterday and was greeted by a young Guide and her mom selling cookies - and at only $3 a packet why not.

Now to step back a moment I was a Brownie in my youth (which was for girls too young to be guides - although I think things have changed now and they are all Guides) and I remember the cookies visibly - they were the worst. I have no idea what ingredients they used to achieve flavors like that but suffice to say they were bad. Which I guess is why I assumed they had all, along with the idea, buried in a deep hole for the last 30 years.

So back to yesterday. I took a punt - it was only $3 and it was for a good cause. And my young visitor apologised that they had sold out of the plain biscuits and only had the chocolate dipped ones left.

So, for the verdict .... they aren't too bad. I am sure the chocolate isn't slave-free but otherwise they are edible. They have come a long way in 30 years. And now that I have had my taste, does anyone want a cookie?

Kitchen Kitsch

I love cook books of all shapes and sizes but I hold a special place in my heart for kitschy books. I know I am not alone in this - Nigella featured a book with Elvis's recipe for Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich at one point.

Now the way to determine whether a book is worthy of the category is that it must make you laugh, cringe ... and then contemplate having a go at one or two of the recipes.

But I think I now might have the ultimate in kitsch books - "What's Cooking at Twitty City" by Conway Twitty's wife Mickey Twitty. This features recipes, photos (including their house 'Twitty City' and their buses "Twitty Bird One' and 'Twitty Brd Two'), a bit of family history and an explanation of who's favorite each recipe was.

My own piece of heaven :-)

Asparagus Musings

One of the advantages of the arrival of spring is fresh, local asparagus.

Now I usually expect to be able to make my first purchase in about the second week of September but as spring sprang early this year I have started my search. I can buy asparagus from the US and Peru (I didn't even know we imported things from Peru) but none from Australia - let alone anything from within my 100 mile zone of preference.

Sigh ....

And did I mention I even have an asparagus peeler (bought for $2 from a garage sale) that is ready to go?

Photo Challenge - Alone

Photo Challenge Updates

So, what are our latest themes for the Challenge?

This week (Friday 4 September): Alone

Friday 11 September: Guide

Friday 18 September: Clean

Happy clicking folks :-)

A Surreal Moment

I was at a local beach today - just having a moment to absorb the ocean ambiance when I found this on the ground. Yes it is a ticket to the Dali exhibition in Melbourne some 1400 km away.

Why did someone wait until they got to this exact spot to discard their ticket? Or did it fall out of their pocket? All very surreal and most fitting really :-)

Just Say It Right

Now I need to have a rant but I obviously need to set some boundaries at the start. This rant does not apply to tourists, or those new to Australia, or any new area within the borders, or even people on Telethon (assuming that still happens) - it is aimed squarely at the media and those who should know better.

I am tired of people mispronouncing place names. This specifically applies to places in WA because now that I am on the east coast I more aware of how many times it happens. Journalists have as much responsibly to double check pronunciation as much as to ensure the accuracy of spellings of names or other details of their stories.

On top of my list is Albany (the "al" is pronounced as in 'pal' not 'mall'). Then there is Bunbury in which is said 'bun-bree' not 'bun-b-u-ree. And the favorite for getting it wrong - Mandurah which is said 'man-j-ra'. Today I heard the most famous fish and chip shop in the state Cicerellos (as in Siserellos) called Chiserellos!

Now some place names I can sort of understand (the small village of Cowaramup which is pronounced 'cwaramup' or the indigenous community of Wangkatjungka pronounced 'wonka-jonka') but all you need to do is ask someone who knows (ring the local council for example)and not come up with your own guess - especially if you are in the media - and yes this includes those in the ABC.

I am stepping off my soapbox now.

Running

I went for a long run last night.

I was on the beach and the sun was shining but it wasn't hot. I could feel the breeze on my face. I could feel the sand between my toes. I could feel the cool of the water on my feet. I could feel my heart pounding.

I wore a white singlet and denim shorts. My hair trailed behind me and bounced with each step.

The sky and the water were trying to out-do each other in being 'blue'.

Yes I went for a run last night and the sun was shining but it wasn't too hot.

Photo: "Run on the Beach" by cyran082

Photo Challenge - Eight

Nasturtium

Camellia

Click for maximum effect ....

Thought for the Day

Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination.

Roy M Goodman

Photo: "Joy" by jago1984

So Wise

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.

Booker T Washington

Art: "Contentedly Yours" by MissShyly

Photo Challenge Updates

Spring is springing, the flowers are blooming and the world is turning. Not bad for the heart of winter in Australia lol. Mind you it has been a great time to take photos. And just in case you need some inspiration, let's have a look at the current list of themes ....

This Friday: Eight

Friday 4 September: Alone

Friday 11 September: Guide

Happy clicking :-)

Crossroads?

If we don't change direction soon, we will end up where we're going.

Professor Irwin Corey

Art: "Travelling" by Harmony Summer

Peas Please

When I was young (back when the dinosaurs roamed the planet) I remember eating fresh peas (as in from the bush) and even spending time shelling peas and then cooking them. That was many moons ago.

I, like many others, have moved to the convenience (and lack of other options) of the frozen variety. And I have never had any complaints - they are green and tasty and always available.

I cooked some peas last night and lo and behold, they tasted just like they were freshly shelled. While my tastebuds danced wild rumbas of joy I contemplated that I had never noticed this from other frozen peas.

Was this a new variety (they look green and round), did I cook them differently (surely not - boiling water, wait until they float), or ... well I have run out of other possibilities. And why hadn't I noticed the change in flavor before - did my memory of a "real" pea just fade away and when did that happen?

Now if they could just pack the flavor of a real tomato into a store bought one my world would be complete.

Time to Get Serious (Almost)

If I was a responsible adult I would be starting a serious investigation into wheelchairs, gophers and other forms of assisted mobility.

I have had a bad run over the past couple of days but even if I set that aside, movement is becoming an issue. I can walk around the house ok (most days) but supermarkets are difficult and shopping centres are not an option anymore. And that is not even beginning to look at beaches, the jetty, parks or other forms of socializing.

I know a regular wheelchair isn't for me cos I can't wheel it without further pain. And relying on others to wheel me around isn't practical for so many reasons (including issues of pride). A motorised option sounds more practical but I can't get it in the car so what is the use of that. Abz has suggested a motorised one I can wheel into a three-wheel motorbike. I like that idea but really, do I have $30,000 + spare at the moment!

I know when John needed a chair he was concerned that everyone would be looking at him. I am not worried about that - primarily because I am sure that "everyone" has something so much better than to than to worry about looking at me. But I am aware that I will be admitting that I have lost some of my independence and that doesn't feel comfortable.

As I said, I would be doing all of this if I was responsible. At this stage I am choosing to bury my head in the sand for a while longer and continue to stay at home.



Photo: "Wheelchair" by razor-flower

Hot August Nights... or Days

Forgive me for complaining but in the southern hemisphere August means winter - and ususally the coldest part of winter. It is time to celebrate comfort food, electric blankets and cosy fires.

Today it got to 32 C (thats 90 F). Yes that is the sort of temperature when you wear bikinis, head for the beach and eat salad. And did I say this is supposed to be the middle of winter!?

Is this a result of global warming? Or, perhaps a conspiracy to 'get' me?

Whichever way you look at it, it is just wrong!

Photo: "HOT?" by Fatima AlKuwari

Photo Challenge - Sparkle

Did I Tell You My News?

I have started writing my "little bits" called 'Tales From The Lentil Club' with the intention (one day) of getting them published as a column somewhere. Aside from enjoying writing, it is also something I might be able to do with the change in my physical circumstances. And while it may sound like an impossible dream, you gotta start somewhere :-)

And no, I am not looking at writing a book - you can't make money out of doing that in Australia unless you are one of a very few. And, as much as I can talk about the arts etc, this project is something that I am looking at as supplementing my pension and not as the next 'great Australian novel'.

Anyway I asked someone who I respect incredibly (and who has considerable experience in being wise as well as the arts and is a published author with his own prestigious newspaper column) for some advice on copyright and he asked to look at what I had done. He liked them.

Dance Dance Dance

Admittedly that happened a week ago. And I am still dancing. And I now have a list of things a mile long that I need to do in relation to research and getting it all started. And I dance .... wildly :-)

Did I tell you he liked them?

Did I tell you that you couldn't wipe the smile of this face if you tried?



Photo: "newspaper" by hamstergeddon

Busy Busy Busy

It was only a few weeks ago I was complaining that I had nothing to do and was struggling to fill in my day. Oh how I laugh at that now!

My next term at uni starts on 31 August so I have had my head down in the books since Saturday to get some reading in. So far I have read Gulliver's Travels and Macbeth - both in conjunction with the sparknotes and cliff notes. In the next 10 days I also need to read Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", Homer's "Odyssey" and "Beowulf". I will also receive all of the reading notes for the unit lol. That is for one unit. The other is a study of Buddhism and according to the blackboard notes left by previous students there is a lot of reading for that too - I have got the three books already and I am sure the course notes aren't far away - with the first assignment due two weeks after the term starts.

Please don't misconstrue these comments as a complaint - my brain cells (a little overwhelmed though they are) continue to dance and sparkle with all the stimulation.

BTW - did I mention I got 84% for my first assignment?



Photo: "Literature" by Allurra66

Photo Challenge - Updates

Have you ever noticed that when you get over the hump of something (top of a hill, Wednesdays) the downhill run seems to go much faster? I say this as I contemplate that "September" is less than three weeks away (I know this because I wrote down our themes). Where has this year gone? Before we know it the commercial Christmas decorations will be up. Sigh ...

But back to the Photo Challenge -

This week: Sparkling

Friday August 28: Eight

Friday September 4: Alone

Happy clicking :-)

It Was My Birthday

Yes it snuck up on me but thank heavens my friends are more on top of things than I am. I arrived for a gathering of The Lentil Club to be showered with gifts and best wishes and love.

And then I came home to birthday greetings and special moments (via the telephone) with family.

PS: The photo is Kylie, me and Abbey (who never smiles in photos lol)

Counting My Blessings

I have the best friends in the world. Shall I list them all, no. But this week I have been loved, nurtured and supported in a way that brings tears to the eyes. No this isn't in response to anything, it just is. Maybe I am just noticing it now that I don't have work colleagues and other people to fill the day.

I have friends in WA that are cooking up a plan to fly me back there for a visit (even though I will need a wheelchair for bits of the trip). I have a friend that is offering to help me pay for my study. I have a friends who chats, debates and makes me smile. I have a friend who regularly sends me saucy emails. I have a friend who send me a big smiley face email. I have a friend who tells me all about her day at school. I have a friend who knows just when to call. I have a friend who is my own personal cheer squad (actually I have a few of them).

Some of my friends have been around forever, some are newer, some I have never met personally. And none of that matters.

So many blessings :-)


Photo: "friendship" by draw-your-dreams

Photo Challenge Updates

Whoops. guess who forgot to post this yesterday :-/. Sorry for the late notice ....

This week: Identity

Friday 21 August: Sparkling

Friday 28 August: Eight

I have some spaces for themes for the remainder of the year if anyone wants to submit some ideas.

Capturing a Moment

Miss Weasley often comments that whilst I take photos. they aren't photos of me. In fact if you could find six photos of me (apart from when I am with her) I would be surprised.

This came up in conversation last time I visited Abz and was admiring her scrapbooking. I realized then that a photo isn't just a representation of what I was wearing or what style my hair was, it is capturing a moment in my life. Who cares if someone's eyes are closed or about to eat a spoonful of food. It is the moment that is remembered.

I also realise that I need to record the memories as I take photos as I don't have kids or nephews/nieces to indoctrinate with the stories as the grow. And should Miss Weasley's children, or Abz, or anyone else want to look at my photos after I am gone (I am looking at this from a historical perspective, not a morbid plan to die soon).

And so I shall take photos of me,l I shall start recording my history in ways that aren't limited to plates of food, or close-ups of something obscure - starting on Friday when The Lentil Club is getting together again.

Photo: "Just cosmos" by CasheeFoo

The Victim and the Martyr

Life is a funny thing. Families are even funnier. In mine (following the female line particularly) there is a tradition for the uninformed of being a victim or a martyr. I hate both roles - they rob you of life and relationships. Now I say up front that in the present generation, and for some in the previous, there has been a considerable breaking out of these moulds.

My biological mother and sister are not two of those. Now I know I don't talk about them very often (if at all) but I need to to reclaim my space.

I don't want to complain but I live in permanent pain. It is a bit like being a mushroom, only the depth varies. And then I have the "wonderful" possibility of 'twinges' that come in and overload it all. Although it has meant many changes financially, socially and physically, it doesn't worry me. After all it won't kill me. It just comes down to me sucking all of the marrow from life that I can given the new constraints.

Enter last week-ish. I had a run of higher than usual pain which meant that I was more limited in usual to do things. The obvious results was blogging, or computer use as a whole.

Now I have many boxes of really good pain killers around the house. I am have a prescription which limits how many I can have each day but obviously doesn't preclude me taking them in the first place.

So why did I go for 10 days without taking any - even though basic movement, hygiene and other functions were seriously impaired. To be honest, I didn't even think about it until yesterday when I was doing something mind-numbing (like the dishes which could no longer be put off if I wanted to live in a disease free area) and my thoughts wandered and I realised that I didn't want to be like my sister and be a victim. This meant just putting up and shutting up and shutting down (unless I was to complain in which case 'woe is me'). In my determination not to be a victim, I swung around to being a martyr in which case I was stoically bearing it all ('it's okay, I am sure it will pass).

Knowledge is powerful and has pulled me out of this cycle. I am me, I am the marrow-sucker. I will take medication when needed. I can be honest about my circumstances without whinging or looking for sympathy. I will not be deprived of my life.

Photo: "victim" by futosel

Blow Me Down

Tomatoes

I found some tomatoes for $2 kg so I have bought enough for a big pot of soup.

I started making it today. And no, this isn't done for an "Italian-momma" reason (unlike making your lasagna one day but not eating it until the next), I am just working around my logistics. I have cooked the tomatoes up with onion, garlic and seasonings. Tomorrow I will add the sugar, blend and season. I have some baby basil I can throw in towards the end.

There will be enough for about 4 - 5 meals so much of it will end up in the freezer (without the basil) for consumption at a later point.

Easy :-)

PS: Yes this is a photo of the little beauties lol.

New Things

I have had a bad week with my back - or probably 10 days now I look back to when I last posted - but I have decided that, unless I am in crippling pain, I shall blog each day, even if it is just something little. I love my blog, I miss my blog friends, I can do this :-)

It also gives me something to do and something to look forward to.

Yes, I like this decision.




Art: "Butterfly" by Sugarock99