Luck Be This Lady!

What a great near end to the week.

My team at work were falling over themselves yesterday morning to tell me that the job position that I am currently temping is has been advertised as a 5 month fixed-term contract. Yay! They have also advertised a permanent full time job in the front-end department that works with us, Double Yay.

I have started writing my applications as we speak and am hoping that I will be a shoo-in for one of them!

Kiddies - Consider Yourselves Warned!!!

Don't ever break the law. EVER!

Today, as a part of my new job I had the privilege (?) of taking a tour through the underbelly of the police station watch-house, remand centre and prisoner tunnels to the courthouse.

It is seriously SCARY. Seriously. The cells are dark, smell horrible and look terrible to have to spend any amount of time in. The officers who man the watch-house and remand centre are big dudes. Huge dudes (they were incredibly nice to me, but I'm sure that would change should I ever have the misfortune of being arrested). The further into the rabbit warren we delved the more determined I become of never finding myself entering through the prisoner entrance.

For everyone that has kids, send them to me and I'll make sure they never find themselves on the wrong side of the law. I might even organise a tour for them. Shock therapy works a treat. I'm sure that many of the adults and kids that go through the system might not be there had they seen how it really works when you are in trouble.

Seriously scary stuff!!!

A Whole Lotta Love

I am in love!!!

I had my first day back at work today and I had a ball. I have never, ever described any job I've ever had in this way. I have also never had such a good time on my first day.

Even though I can't mention whereabouts I'm working on this blog, I can tell you that it is so interesting. I get so see people from all walks of life, and see some of the processes that keep our lovely state running.

I have my fingers crossed and am saying my prayers every night that I might get a permanent job out of this and not just a temping contract.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Back To The Salt Mines

In one hour and 20 minutes, it's back to work *sigh*

After having taken a lengthy time out today I head back to work - and I'm freakin'!

Why oh why must we all work?

Mending Fences

We (meaning Dad) are currently rebuilding and repainting the fences surrounding our house.

The cats literally turned themselves inside out and gave us headaches because they weren't allowed outside all day unless they had harnesses and leads on as the deck, drive and garden are not currently fully enclosed.

Guess it's going to be a noisy few days until the swanky new cat enclosure is complete.

You Like Me, You Really Really Like Me

Yay - as of 4.07pm this afternoon, I am a working woman - albeit temporarily.

Whoever would have thought that I would get excited about going back to work

Fingers crossed they decide to make the job a permanent position.

If I Were Shoes, Where Would I Hide???

Mum sends in the sniffer "cat" to locate her missing shoes!!!

I Get Knocked Down.... And Can't Get Up Again

Olympic boxing at it's best.....

Both boxers KO'd each other and hit the mat at the same time.

ECW Wrestling Federation is probably lining up to sign them both as we speak.....

I'm Gonna Wash That Red Right Outta My Hair

The Request:

Please get rid of the red that you somehow managed to get in half of my hair yesterday along with the honey blonde.

The Result:

I am now two shades of red.

Flipping heck - my only option now (aside from finding another hairdress, paying more money to fix the muck-ups) is to try washing my hair two to three times a day and try and wash the colour down to a manageable level.

I detest looking for new hairdressers!

Climb Every Mountain

Or in this case, climb a trailer full of "stuff" covered in a silver tarp.

To the cats, a snow covered mountain top - that makes them taller than me!

(Look black cat, you can see for miles and miles!!!)

(What Yeti?? I don't see a Yeti???)

(I shall smote thee with one look unless you bring me food.... NOW PEASANT!)

Ain't No Sunshine

Mummy, where did the sunshine go???

What's Your SGP?

Secret Guilty Pleasures!!!

So, I guess it won't be so secret now, but I absolutely LOVE soft boiled (well, I like them really runny with the whites just cooked - I have this down to an art when boiling!!!) eggs with soldier toast.

Runny eggs and soldier toast was what mum always let me have when I was sick as a kid. And it became the comfort food of choice when I was sick or feeling a bit down as I grew into a teenager and now into my adulthood.

But here's the odd thing. I don't like runny eggs and soldier toast for breakfast. For me, the guilty pleasure is in eating runny eggs and soldier toast for dinner (and maybe for lunch if I really am hankering after it). It's weird - there is something so satisfying about having eggs and toast for tea. It's kinda of like having grilled cheese on toast for lunch. It's not a heavy meal but it just fills you up in a way no other food could.

BTW - this doesn't mean I refuse to eat eggs for breakfast. However I only like poached eggs or eggs benedict for breakfast. I am very fussy about what sort of eggs I eat at certain times of day.

Hmmm - I wonder if eggs for dinner and eggs for breakfast would be overdoing it????

I See Red!!!

I hate to admit it, but I get my hair coloured - blonde. I'm not dyeing it lighter as I am naturally blonde but I like to change the shades of blonde I have. Until recent months that is, when I made the decision to go darker. A shade of honey brown I think it is.

I loved my hairdresser in Queensland. It took me forever to find one that I truly loved and I hated leaving her. She got my hair. She understood my hair. And better still, she always understood what colour I was talking about, no matter how vague my description was.

Today I braved uncharted waters and tried a new hairdresser here in Tassie. I put if off for as long as I could but I couldn't deny the fact last week that my hair was driving me nuts. It was time for a cut and colour. All was going great guns during the hairdressing session and the immediate hours following.

Until I got home........

The front half of my hair has turned this odd reddy/coppery/strawberry colour. Which wouldn't be so bad if the bottom and back half were not the nice honey colour it was when I left the hairdresser. The damn woman who washed the initial colour out of my hair obviously didn't get it all out because it wasn't like this when I left the salon. Aaargh!!!!!

So, time for round two. I've rung the salon, told them what happened and they have told me to come back tomorrow to fix it. *fingers crossed* it had better work this time. Because I don't particularly want to walk around town looking like Bozo the clown!

*sigh* I wish my old hairdresser would move to Tassie. Life would be so much simpler.

Do YOU Know The Way To San Jose?????

I got lost. Totally lost. Heed this warning - do not ever give me navigational responsibilities if travelling with me.

I headed into town this morning for a job interview (got offered the job but turned it down - long story but I know I was right to turn it down. Bah, will I never learn?).

Anyway, I was trying to find their office. Launceston city is not big by any means - well not at all. But I'm finding it hard coming from the "big smoke" (Brisbane) where I grew up and knew my way around blindfolded. Now, I'm the one wandering around town with a map in hand trying to find my way.

You might as well set me loose in a maze next time because I'll be just as effective. I spent over ten minutes walking the streets trying to find this office. I couldn't understand it - according to the map I was only one street away but it was never the street name on the sign post.

It occured to me after some time of aimless wandering that I had the map upside down. DUH!!!!!!

And no, I did not stop and ask for directions. Then I would have looked like a real loser!!!!

It's Not Stalking If You Have A Key...... And Other Fond Obsessions!

I don't know what made me think of it, but today whilst doing some more unpacking (that nasty beast) something made me think about a wonderful attitude towards obsession that an old friend of mine holds dear (a little too closely in my opinion).

Said friend is an avid Brisbane Lions supporter. She holds season tickets and never misses a home game - rain, hail or shine. She organises her entire social calender around the football season. She also worships the ground a certain player walks on. To the point that a discussion one evening after several beverages turned to the fact that her favourite player shopped in the same supermarket she used to work in. It eventuated that someone working within the store actually knew where this certain player lived. What then followed was a lively argument regarding the pros and cons of visiting his lovely abode.

This is where the word stalker first entered the discussion and the fact that only a stalker would turn up at player's house uninvited. After pondering this fact, my friend then delivered a gem of a thought. "It's not stalking if you have a key". I'm not sure where she intended to get a key (all part of my "but officer, I didn't know she got a key made" defence), however it has remained imbedded in my memory and cropped up in several drinking topics over the following years.

Ok, getting off topic slightly. After surveying my room after unpacking more boxes today, I felt the need to be ashamed (I wasn't though to be honest, even though I probably should have been). Very ashamed. I can't believe how much disney stuff I have. And it occured to me, I think I may be obsessed. I am way too close to thirty for comfort (I intend to stay 29 forever!!!) and am a disney obsessed freak. I wonder if it is normal to be my age and so enthralled by all things disney. I am, however, slightly comforted by the fact that my soon-to-be SIL is just as obsessed by disney as I am. I'm not sure if that makes it ok, or if it makes us both freaks (my poor brother though, he lived through my disney obsession and now he's moved in with another. He must have killed a muppet in a former life!).

Is it just me or are there unacceptable obsessions to have at certain ages??

Out and About - 17 August

Since arriving in Tasmania, I have suffered from itchy feet syndrome. There are so many places around the state that I'm dying to visit and photograph. So it's no surprise that I already had this weekend somewhat planned in my head. Saturday turned out to be a bit of a non-event since Friday was spent driving to see the heavy snowfall that occured during the weekend. I now have new favourite towns and a little scottish coffee shop that is divine! I'd go every day if I could (there is also a danish restaurant that I spotted in Devonport today that I can't wait to go back and try).

However today was market day (Yay - I love markets!!!) in LaTrobe. I thought it would be bigger and better than it was. I wasn't overly impressed with it, however they have several antique stores (one called Reliquaire is my new doomed store - I'm doomed to visit and never leave empty handed. They have soooooo much stuff, and art deco home reno stuff.... I can totally hear my credit card groaning from the pressure now) that look oh so enticing.

(Frogmore Lane - don't you feel like playing leap frog!!!)

From here, it was a drive down Frogmore Lane (I could totally see several of my family members playing leap frog down this lane - it is gorgeous!) and then onto Devonport. Now I like the new town we are living in. I love the city we live near, but today I fell headlong, head over heels in love with the north-west of Tasmania. Even though I'm stuck in the North-Midlands at the moment, the North-West will be my aim to move to when the time is right (aka when I can afford to move out).

(Waving to all our family on the mainland from all of us here at Mersey Bluff)

(Mersey Bluff overlooking the entrance to the Mersey River. No, we are not in

Liverpool and do not need tuppence to cross it!)

(looking at the snow on Cradle Mountain from the hills of Devonport)

Oh, did I mention the most FANTASTIC chocolate factory, cheese factory and rasberry farm that are along the highway just outside of Devonport. I have worked really hard and lost some weight for my brother's wedding but I'm sure I put on 3 kgs just driving past these places today (ok, there is a small chance that we stopped at the chocolate factory for coffee and ice-cream but hey, for only $1 more you can get two scoops, right mum???) Seriously, don't ever, EVER get the double scoop ice cream from Anvers unless you starved yourself for three days prior. Truly!

And because I am such a trooper I will make a return trip to Anvers asap to get a photo of said double scoop for everyone reading this. 'Cause that's just the kind of girl I am.

Hmmmm, now what to plan for next weekend?????

Things that make you go hmmmm?????

I was reading a family members blog and read some comments posted from a US reader. He was quite thrilled when he found out that there was a Cleveland, Australia. It made me laugh because it reminded me of some funny times working as a travel agent.

Now, technically there are two Clevelands in Australia (I know this because one of them - the QLD one - I used to live the next suburb over and there is one in Tasmania I found out the other day). Did you know there is a Melbourne in Florida, USA. I didn't until I had a client call me in tears because she booked a flight online from Brisbane to Melbourne and couldn't understand why it was thousands of dollars instead of a couple of hundred. Upon checking the ticket she booked, it turned out that she had booked a flight to Melbourne, Fl instead of Melbourne, Vic. I felt sorry for her but a little disturbed by the fact that it didn't twig that a flight to Melbourne doesn't cost $3000.00.

Then there is the delightful women I met whilst working in group travel. This bright spark called wanting flight costs and times from Brisbane. The conversation went like this.

Woman: I want a flight from Brisbane. Can you tell me the cost and flight times?
Me: Not a problem. Where were you wanting to fly to?
Woman: Well, where does Qantas fly?
Me: *Dead silence for 30 seconds while pondering my answer* Well, they fly to pretty much every city with an airport within Australia. Which city did you want to travel to?
Woman: Well if you tell me where they fly I can tell you!

At this point in the conversation, I really felt like asking her if she wanted me to list every city i Australia that Qantas flys to in alphabetical (sp?) order or start from the bottom of Australia and work my way up?

It ranks right up there with people who walk into a travel agency and when you ask them where they are looking at going, they give vague answers..... "somewhere hot" "what's on special" "not sure really".

It's memories like these that make me glad I don't work as a travel agent anymore!!!!!

Bollocks, Bugger and Darn It All!!!

A lovely day today. Mum, Dad and I went cross-state driving this afternoon to see some more of our new home state. It was beautiful. We nearly made it to the snow as well. But, as with all great days, there are nearly always downers.

I had a job interview this morning. I kind of got the feeling when I walked in that he had no intention of hiring me. This was confirmed by a phone call at 4.00pm this afternoon. Bugger!

I started to feel sick (probably car sick - very unusual for me though) while waiting for Dad to pick his new car up. Bollocks! (Feeling much better now though - yay)

Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett didn't win gold medals in their races today. Darn it (however all of the gold medals won by Australia so far have been won by the girls - take that fellas!!! yay)

Southern Cross have crossed from the olympics coverage to the AFL match. Bugger - I prefer to watch the olympics (it also means I won't get to watch the end of the cycling and probably some of the swimming. Double bugger!)

No matter, I probably wouldn't have liked the job that I interviewed for (and I obviously wasn't meant to get it anyway), I was only sick for an hour or so and recovered enough to eat mum's vegie patties (yum yum), Leisel and Libby swam their best (and you can't ask for more than that) and SBS is still covering some of the games (just wish it wasn't women's soccer).

As always, a day of ups and downs.

Bring on the weekend!!!!

Welcome to all who come (unless you don't like cats)~!!!

After welcoming so many wonderful (and even more not so wonderful) trades people and sales people through our home in the last month, I have posted the following sign on our front door.........

Rules for Non-Cat Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About My Cats:
1. They live here. You Don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
3. I like my cat a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me they are my adopted children who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and do not speak clearly. Cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes and don't need a gazillion dollars for college.

Bread crusts will make your hair curly (and other lies my mother/grandmother told me!!!)

I've just started to put dinner on, and while cleaning up the brussel sprouts to put in the pot (yes, I do eat sprouts - I love sprouts!) and I started to think about what my mum and nanna used to tell me and my brother to get us to eat certain foods.

1) Eating your bread crusts will give you curly hair (ummmm, yes my dead straight thick hair does have one errant curly hair - I think it's called frizz).

2) Eating your carrots will help you see in the dark (sure, so long as I can get my night vision goggles in my glasses prescription strength).

3) Eating spinach makes you strong (well, I guess if it worked for Popeye - But I still refuse to smoke a pipe!).

4) Broccoli is just little trees (well, do you see me knawing on the tree trunk outside????).

I'm sure there were more, but these are the ones that really stick in my mind. Mum should be proud that here I am, nearly 30 and finally eating my greens voluntarily. She must have done something right.

Trouble a'brewin!

Not good. Not good at all.

I have now ventured into the Launceston town centre twice. And in two trips I have already managed to suss out my new favourite shops. An umbrella/cool knick knack shop. A homewares shop (with all of the cool and funky kitchen gadgets I love). Shoes (gotta have the shoes). A housewares shop (lots of fab art deco lights/lamps and house decs!). Cafes that look fab (with yummy hot choc as well - and possibly naughty things to eat - yum yum!).

I think I am entering very dangerous territory!

Hung Like a Trojan Horse

Last night, I came down with a virus. And no amount of panadol would make it go away. Last night, the laptop got sick. Very sick, it didn't die, but it wasn't feeling well. I tried to give it a vicks bath, I tried a steam bath, nothing worked. It had it's annual flu shot - but it still got sick.

This morning I performed emergency surgery and I'm pleased to report that the laptop is now resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery.

I should have been a doctor!!!! (My brother will be so proud - I fixed it all on my lonesome!).

Yay for Stephanie Rice who just won our first gold medal!!! Brisbane knows how to breed olympic champions!

A Sad Sign of the Times

I've been flicking through the cable channels this afternoon for some background noise while writing job applications and came across the show "Party Planner with David Tutera". Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy planning parties and decorating. It one of the reasons I love christmas, easter and halloween so much - the decorating and getting into the spirit of the season.

But the episode airing this afternoon was "Divorce Party". Now, I am all for throwing a party for the smallest reason, but I kind of think a divorce party is a bit disturbing. I just don't like the idea of celebrating the end of something that more than likely started out wonderfully, but for whatever reason, didn't work out in the end. I have no problem with people divorcing (even though it saddens me) but do we really need to through a party in it's honour? I really do think people don't value marriage as they used to.

For the record, should I ever get divorced (and yes, I am well aware that I need meet the love of my life and get married first) there will most definately NOT be a party.

p.s. Anyone who knows suitable candidates for the position of my future husband, I am accepting applications now. No references required.

To Tivo or Not To Tivo

I have been reading through the tv guide listings for the olympics and marking down what we will want to watch (swimming especially) and I saw a big ad for tivo just below the schedule. Do we have tivo in Australia? Apparently. All I know about tivo is what I've seen on Sex and the City and believe me, that isn't much. So when I saw how much tivo costs (we're talking nearly $1000 just to get all of the equipment) I wonder if it's really worth it. Couldn't I just get mystar from austar?? *shrug* I don't know. I wish I knew someone who had tivo who can tell me if it's really worth it?

Had a good giggle this morning though after Mel and Kochie discussed the whole physics of playing badminton and the drift that affects the "c**k". I thought Mel was going to start crying when Kochie started talking how they have climate controlled the badminton venue so there is no drift "c**k". Priceless!!!

Workin' It!

Sometimes I even suprise myself. Today was round one of interviews for finding work. I left feeling rather pleased with myself. Not bad when I usually leave thinking "I shouldn't have said that" or "I should have said this as well". I always think of the perfect thing to say after the fact. Today, however, I was on fighting form. So much so that *fingers crossed* a job has already been lined up for me.

I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself tonight.

So, while I'm patting myself on the back, I'm going to start planning my weekend. A visit to the markets on Sunday is sounding very tempting so far. Not sure what to do on Saturday. 'Spose I should probably do more unpacking. The excitement of unpacking is starting to wear off!

Oh, someone pleaes keep reminding me to get all of my address details changed over. I really must get moving on that! Bah, I'll do it tomorrow.

Productive (perhaps)

Today was a day for tradespeople. We finally have proper house heating (major time YAY!!!!) and the plumber who I thought may have been a mirage finally appeared (didn't fix the tap in my bathroom though - I may have to attempt that myself. It could get ugly).

Today was a day for phone calls. Friends have called to catch up (Hi Amy and Johnny!!! Waving merrily :o) I'll see you at the pub) and agencies have called to set up appointments (hello work!).

Today was a day for thinking about exercise (maybe tomorrow).

Today was a day for more unpacking (hello sunglasses - I've missed you. Oooh, found my long lost filo fax as well - life may now return to normal).

Today was a day for hot water bottles (according to the cats - my bed is now one big hot water bottle).

Today was a day for music (poor old stereo - it'll die of exhaustion tonight but I'm certain I saw it sway along to Jeff Buckley).

Today was not a day for cooking (because I just couldn't be arsed).

Overall, I think today could be called productive!!!!

Snow report: All lifts open, inches and inches of snow fall on Monday night and, wey hey, found out there is a shuttle bus that runs from the city to the ski fields so no driving up the icy road for this little muppet!!!

Evan Almighty - An Ark Inspiration

Have you ever watched a movie or heard a song or read a book that struck a chord?

Albeit a night later than anticipated I finally watched Evan Almighty tonight. Yes, I know it is a comedy, but there were moving undertones to the entire film. I did find it funny, chuckling along in all the right places, but for some reason it was the key undertones that got to me most of all. (If you haven't seen Evan Almighty, look away now) The last scene of the movie where God (Morgan Freeman) divulges that meaning of ARK and how to change the world. You change the world with one Act of Random Kindness at a time.

Having made some major changes to my life in the last 18 months it still doesn't seem like enough. I've always tried to treat people the way I would like to be treated. Now, though, I intend to do more. And I also would like to challenge everyone who reads this blog to bring a little ARK into your lives.

Remember, to change the world you do one Act of Random Kindness at a time!!!

Loon Patrol

Yet another heat pump guy out to give us a quote to remove the silly little wall heater and replace with a heat pump for the entire house is here. We've had an odd-ball collection of guys out here. We've had the nice gay guy who we all liked but stuffed the entire thing up (read earlier posts about him), the creepy old guy who I wouldn't want to be locked in a room with *shudder* and now we have annoying, loony guy. I don't know how many times we have to tell him that the french doors between the hall and lounge do not actually shut (thanks to the genius of the previous owners for doors that do not work). He has done two loops of the house muttering mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm, yuh, yuh, yeah well and repeats again. Well, if you could shut these french doors.... mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm, loony much????????

How do we always manage to find the sales rep nuts when we have people out to do quotes?? Must be a talent!

Fog Blog

It's not snow. It's not rain. It's fog and lots of it. It's 10.15am right now and outside my lounge room window it's looks like a rainy, overcast day. Up until half an hour ago, it was dark enough to be 6.00am. I had to drive half way into town to drop my car off for her first service and could barely see 5 feet in front of the car.

An Almighty Evening

I don't get to spend a lot of time just Dad and I hanging out. I suggested tonight that we watch a movie together as it's one of the few things we enjoy doing together (the other things being golf and walking/hiking. I am intending to add skiing and bicycling to this list over the next few months).

So, tonight's movie pick is Evan Almighty. I bought it ages ago but never actually sat down and watched it. Neither of us have seen it so Evan Almighty it is (I am still stunned that he said he would watch The Family Stone though).

Mr Not Scared Emperor Guy

I'me watching The Disney Channel right now having recently been introduced to The Emperor's New Groove.

Now, I am a HUGE, HUUUUGE disney fan. I love all things disney. I don't care if I'm 29 nearly 30 or 2.

But The Emporer's New Scool is a new discovery for me and I'm loving it!!! Hello, my name is Kuzco, Mr Not Scared Emperor Guy.

Hasta La Bye Bye!!

Games People Play

I didn't realise until last night while watching the nightly news that the Olympics opens on Friday night.

I've never been big on watching sports, especially watching a sport religiously. Much to my father's despair, I especially do not enjoy rugby league (this doesn't mean that I'm not proud of the fact that my dad played A-grade footy in his youth. Just the opposite - I think it's cool to be able to say your dad was a somewhat well known player in his day).

I'm interested to see what China comes up with for the opening ceremony. Our local news station covered the story about the leak from inside the dress rehearsal of the ceremony. It's a shame really, it takes a bit of the magic out of the evening I think.

I'm looking forward to watching the swimming and a few of the other sports. But I am also counting down to the 2010 Vancouver winter games. As much as I love the summer games, I absolutely adore watching the winter games. I am also hoping that I may even be able to go to the Vancouver games. That would be so incredibly cool.

Addiction, Thy Name Is......

Hello, my name is Tanya and I am an addict. A handbag addict. A shoe addict. A recipe book addict. A disney addict.

It sure is a good thing I gave up caffeine and nearly all alcohol (I maybe drink a half glass of wine every month or two), because my other addictions seem to have overtaken my life. I am spending a lazy Sunday doing some more unpacking. And I unpacked one particularly large box that to my horror was full (yes, full) of handbags. All sorts of handbags. Cute little shoulder bags, lovely casual day purses, evening purses, laptop bags, large carry-all bags, totes, general carry bags, bags bags bags. How on earth did I accumulate so many bags. And the worse thing is, a good portion of these bags are creeping onto ten years old. I even found my two favourite purses that I used when I first turned 18 and started going out to clubs and bars. I still have them. I have kept all of them (except for the very few that fell into such disrepair that it was cheaper to toss them or give them to charity).

What's worse is I haven't started to unpack my shoes. I'm afraid to even look in that box.

My bags and shoes lived all over my room in previous houses. Since I have a nice, large bedroom (cheers mum and dad for buying a such a big house) that I decided before the move to get myself organised shoe and bag wise. I bought covers for all of my bags, I bought shoe boxes for all of my shoes. And now I'm a little alarmed when looking at all of them neatly organised - there are so many. I haven't touched my book boxes (Dad is not so subtly hinting that he would like my book boxes to remain packed and stored in the shed until I move out) and barely started opening all of the china and antiques I have collected over my years.

I never really realised just how much stuff I have picked up in my lifetime thus far. Now I have done lots of spring clean outs and several major clean outs (that required several trips to the rubbish dump and I am sure quite a few thankyous from various charity shops - there are several I just about stocked from top to tail). I did the biggest cleanout ever prior to this interstate move.

I think ebay is about to get a new best seller customer!

p.s. I have this amazingly gorgeous pair of lavender Manolo Blahniks that I bought on ebay at a steal but turned out to be just slightly to narrow for me to wear comfortably. However they look gorgeous on Mum. I'm still trying to convince her that she should wear them to my brother's wedding in October. Go on Mum - you'll look smashing!!!!!!!!

Chicken Soup For Your Soul

Very recently the two year anniversary of my nanna's death occured and after a post by my cousin on her blog I have been thinking about her more than ever recently.

So after contemplating what to do for dinner tonight, I decided to make Nanna's old family recipe for chicken soup.

Anyone in our family who spent their years growing up with nanna, spending their school holidays with nanna, or visiting nanna for a weekend during winter when we grew older, you could always smell nanna's chicken soup as you drove into the driveway. Nanna was famous for her soup (though everything she made was always delicious), but this soup in particular holds a special memory in my heart. These smells are the smells of my childhood.

Nanna used to tell me how she and my mother would be in the kitchen together making this soup when my mum was young. Then, as I grew up, I used to help nanna make the soup - talking about life, love and all of the wonderful family stories and memories that I loved to hear about. Cooking with Nanna were some of the greatest times of my life.

Now, making this soup is a ritual between my mother and I. It isn't that mum and I didn't cook together when I was young. Indeed, there are some wonderful photos and memories of cooking as a child with mum. I owe all of my culinary skills to both my nanna and my mum. But now that Nanna is gone, it is a special time that I get to spend with just mum and I. All of those discussions and chats that I used to have with nanna over bubbling soup I now have with mum.

Today's soup making session left me with a thought. I hope if I am ever lucky enough to have a daughter that someday she gets to have that bonding experience over food with my mum that I had with Nanna, and I hope that I get to have the same as well.

Nanna, it's times like these that I miss you so much it hurts, there is no-one who can ever take your place. And Mum, you are the greatest mum in the world - I could not and would not want another mum but you. I love you both!!!

It's Raining, It's Pouring, My Old Man Is Snoring!!!!

Last night, I had a peculiar encounter upon going to bed. I turned all of the house heaters off, all lights out and climbed into my lovely, cosy bed (with brand new fluffly doonas no less). I had just done the "snuggle down" dance and got lovely and comfy and was starting to drift off and I heard the weirdest noise. I laid in bed and listened for a few minutes trying to locate it's source. I realised sleep wasn't coming until I found out what it was as I was certain the sound was the one of the heaters running, even though I had switched them off (yes I thought the heating gremlins had turned them back on behind me - or two very clever cats).

No, both heaters definately off. Checked the fridge for anything abnormal - all ok. Here I am, the middle of the night, tip-toeing around the house in pj's and unable to find where the noise was coming from. After 5 minutes, I gave up and went back to bed determined to ignore it and go to bed. However it was not to be - the noise persisted and sleep refused to come.

For whatever reason I then heard a heavy, dripping sound on the wooden path just up from my window and it dawned on me - it was raining. Not drizzling, not showering but full-on pelt it down raining. I am adamant to this moment that rain here in Tasmania sounds different to rain in Queensland. You might not believe me (even Mum and Dad did not think it possible) but it really sounds lighter and softer here, but you know it's throwing it down.

After discussions around the breakfast table this morning as to why it sounded different (apparently when you don't have a tin roof, it will sound different anywhere in the world) I still stand by my conviction that the further north and south you travel on earth the rain falls lighter!!! That or this cold weather has finally gone to my head (someone in my household told me that perhaps living in a higher altitude has got to me - nuh uh!!!)

Today's snow report - couldn't see snow for rain but I was assured on the news report tonight that six lifts will be open tomorrow. Swoosh!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I found my Take That cd's today - aaah, it so takes me back to senior year!!! Hard to believe I used to be a teeny bopper!!!