Some things are meant to be!

Well the phone call I'd been waiting for finally came today, and alas, I am not to resume my engineering career at this time! To be honest, I'm actually somewhat relieved...

I'm fairly confident from my conversation with the fellow who was contemplating employing me, that a job would have been offered had I not been pregnant. The timing just wasn't right.

Anyway part of my relief stems from the fact that I have been contemplating further study, albeit online, and for some perverse reason that excites the heck out of me! I know for sure that I want to return to work sometime after this next bubs is born (perhaps 1 or 2 years after), and now is the perfect time to do that, especially since so many courses are offered online and can be done at your own pace.

Gosh there was a lot going on today...M had her first day at creche/occasional care for 3 hours and she did great! I've got no expectations for next week, we'll just see how it goes, but she really did seem to relish being in the space with all the different activities at hand.

Lastly but definitely not least you must check these out!



My gorgeous 1-2 Go Bags (have I got that right?) from Jacki at The Complete Fabrication. The sewing is impeccable! And best of all, a small project fits into my handbag! Thanks Jack! (Those are the first of the longies I'm knitting for bubs you can see there...)

Let the fun begin!

We had a lovely time away with my long time girlfriend and family. I was the teensiest bit nervous about it as we don't often (if ever really) share accommodation with anyone other than family and I just wasn't sure how it would go...but the truth is K and I have known each other for such a long time now that it was so easy and so relaxed. As much as we may have changed over the years it seems we still have just as much in common as we did 25 years when we met and became firm friends.

The only real issue (and it wasn't so much) was trying to keep my early birds quiet in the morning (not possible) as they were up a good 3 hours before K and her kids. We managed though. And even though I lost a game of Scrabble, G and I managed to narrowly win a game of Trivial Pursuit so that had us pumped!

I wish I had some photos of the beautiful day we had at the beach, but alas I was too busy enjoying it all to take any that day. K will hopefully forward me some soon from her camera.



I do have this lovely shot of the view from the property where you can see all the way to Apollo Bay. I don't remember it being so exquisite when I first visited 20 years ago, but I guess young teenagers don't always tend to notice these things. When K first lived there, her whole family (mum, dad and three kids) resided in an old train caboose with an annex attached. These days that is used for casual accommodation for weekenders and the main house that K's dad built is used by K and her family. I don't feel at liberty to post a pic of the house without permission, but needless to say it was gorgeous and the feel inside reminded me of a gorgeous French or Italian villa...

And here I present to you F's kinder slippers...



After trawling the shops for a pair of plain slippers for inside kinder wear, I failed to find anything that didn't have a cartoon or licensed character on it (did I mention this is not kosher at our preschool?) The decision to make our own came pretty quickly and these where whipped up likewise quite quickly. I still have to make a bag for him, but it's going to fairly simple - I'm thinking of just a transfer onto a calico bag to which I'll add some buttons.

So it all starts this week. Playgroup tomorrow. Creche for the wee one Wednesday. Not sure how I'll cope as I haven't been as organised as I'd like of late. As usual though, somehow what absolutely has to get down is rarely overlooked...It would just help my peace of mind to be a little more on top of things.

PS: Oooh I must mention that while my WIPs languish I have started my first pair of newborn longies!! Natural possum...oh they are going to be gorgeous. I can't tell you how exciting it is to have a real winter bub on the way!

Off to the bay...

Well when F said he wanted tomato on his cracker the other day I couldn't resist picking this beauty from the garden. It tasted...just like a tomato! We've eaten herbs and silverbeet already, but this is the first 'real' bit of fruit we've had!



Anyway we are off for a short break to a dear friend's place in Apollo Bay...I haven't been down there for years, infact probably around this time exactly 11 years ago, when G and I were first 'courting'...I hope it hasn't changed too much...

Sunday Wrap-up

The truth is, I suck at surprises...so when the lovely Sam visited on Friday, I had to reveal the 'secret Christmas knitting', which has since become the 'not so secret future birthday knitting'. I'm sure she won't mind, and at least now she can hold me to finishing it!

And at the risk of offending not only vegetarian friends but also those with a cleaner sense of humour than me, can I just refer you to the following pic.



So who's a rude boy then?

PS: I don't really cook *that* many sausage rolls...although you'd be forgiven for thinking I did.

My Two Peaches

Gosh since when did this blog become all about the food!!

Last night DH got stuck with leftovers because we had too many of them to waste. He had his pick though, of roast lamb, spaghetti bolognese, or red chicken curry. Having already eaten half of all those over the last few days I was thinking salad
for me...

Then by the time I got around to it I was thinking a potato (or 3) might be nice too...



The result was a very odd assortment of lettuce, tomato, baby beets, tuna in chilli oil (ooh Sirena tuna is the best!) and three potatoes topped with sour cream and pepper. Despite it's weirdness (to me at least), it was extremely tasty...but I think I went a bit overboard as I only ate 2 thirds of it!



Here's the wee ones trying to do a 'cheesy' face. They love their peaches, and I of course love them too.

Mental Paralysis

I mustn't be the only one who suffers this.

I'm waiting on a phone call that hasn't come. I'm trying to step away from the computer and as a result end up here twice as much (kind of like a diet gets you obsessing over food).

The more I think about everything that needs to be done the less I end up doing.

I wish I could break this vicious cycle. What needs to get done gets done, but it happens begrudgingly...

Truth be told I think I've been this way most of my life. I'd like to change but have no idea where to begin!

Dinner

You know I don't have much to say when I post pictures of dinner. Although this is a roast...so it's a little bit special.

My apologies to the vegetarians out there...I don't mean to be so confronting!

Procrastination

So what does a knitter do when life seems pair shaped, when there are things that need doing but all you want to do is put them off, when even your favourite knitting project or novel doesn't appeal right now?

You start something new of course...



This is the beginnings of a bag of some sort. I'm making it up as I go but it is beginning to resemble a free online bag pattern I've seen about the place.

Remember that yarn I got from Wendy Dennis that was supposed to be for the Jo Sharp coat? I am stranding that with some olive Studio Mohair. The effect at the moment is quite pleasing, but I do intend to felt the bag some and I have no idea how this will go what with the Studio Mohair being 50% acrylic. I'll let you know though!

The Chat...

...went OK. The main things I was concerned with (such as revealing my pregnancy and my very limited availability) were not huge issues in the end. Obviously they are not ideal, and you'd be hard pressed to find an employer happy about it (afterall they'd much rather have you for 80 hours a week if they could), but people in my field are limited so there is a certain flexibility there.

So despite my nerves, I made it through and it seemed all good...until the fellow I was chatting with mentioned the next step would be a Formal Interview and he would call me next week. Of course it's terribly obvious now that that *would* be the next step...but geez I wish it wasn't. I don't know if my nerves can handle it...

Fresh

Most weeks I find grocery shopping/meal planning a dreadful chore (as much as I love actual food), but I do love bringing it all home. A box of organic goodies...aren't they lovely?



One more sleep until the 'chat'. I haven't done any prep yet...YIKES.

Simple can be delicious!

Mightn't have time to knit, but somehow I still have to cook dinner every night!



That would be a ham/tomato sauce getting ready to go on top of some rice. Generally I'd use bacon, but the ham is leftover from the huge one DH got from work before Christmas. This is comfort food, pure and simple. I've grated in a carrot and a zucchini, but even without those goodies, the bacon, onion, garlic and tomatoes would be enough. Oh and chilli, I do love pepper and chilli!

Last night I just *had* to have some Tom Kha Gai soup. Didn't matter that I'd already eaten dinner, or that it was closing in on 8.00pm. I uhmmed and ahhed and waited for G to offer to go and get me some, but finally gave up and ordered it myself. Two serves mind you. And I ate them both...

So it's all about the food at the moment...and now I'm off to chop up some rotten fruit for dessert...stay posted!

What have I got myself into?!

Firstly, I must show you a wee pic of these flowers which were given to me on Friday (no, not my DH - I should be so lucky). We had a lovely evening with just six adults in all, our two littlies and a 10 week old. In the end it was the perfect blend and number...I got to spend time with everyone, and we could all join in the conversation at once. Also, I had enough crockery, and as there was only one slice of pav left I'm figuring it was just as well there weren't more of us!

On Friday I also got the phone call I had been waiting for about next week's interview. After spending several hours shopping for the right outfit today I have decided to start crapping myself. I've spoken to two people within the company now and both times the vibe has been relaxed and casual, and I've lulled myself into thinking I'm just going in for 'a chat'. (Those are the actual words that have been used anyway). So now I'm not exactly sure if I am going in for 'a chat', or an interview, and truth be told I'm not sure that there is even a difference between the two! (Guessing not, hence the crapping myself) And if it is just 'a chat', is it OK that my top isn't actually a shirt with a collar? And I haven't even got started on all the old work notes I still need to peruse, and researching some info on the company! Can you tell I haven't had an interview in about 8 years?

So onto the knitting. I can assure you it ain't gonna be much to look at but that there below is 66 cm of black stockinette. Only 10cm to go until arm shaping - and keep in mind that I have done the back and sides thusfar in one piece so after the shaping there will only be the sleeves and the collar left to do. I am getting quite excited about the prospect of actually finishing this thing in January!! Must remember to do some actual knitting tonight though. I think it's been about 3 days since I've knit a stitch.



OK bedtime for the cranky one (not me just so you know, although that would be nice too...)

Today

I am 35. More on that later.

Yesterday mum had the kids and I watched the movie "Knocked Up" on DVD. It had it's funny bits, but you really have to suspend belief in parts. This would be OK if it were due to farce, although that's not so much the case. So many questions, like if you were repulsed by a one night stand once you were sober, how would being 'knocked up' change that? By all means try a friendship with the person, but would pregnancy alone make you want to kiss them and be in an instant relationship with them? And the scenes where she kept saying "I really do love you" just didn't ring true for me.

So the bit that I have in mind today, is where the two sisters are trying to get into their favourite nightclub. After the older, married-with-kids sister gives the doorman an earful, he proceeds to pull her aside and tell them exactly why they aren't jumping the queue. Mainly because she's too old and should be home with her kids (not to mention her 6 months pregnant sister). It is at this point that the older sister realises her 'youth is over'. It's a bit sad, and for some people, perhaps not necessarily true, but I can relate to it for sure. I can relate to her wondering when they are first out at the club whether she's still attractive to the opposite sex, or whether she's too old to be there.

I never thought I'd be one of those people who worried about ageing and for the most part I don't, but I think the fears live somewhere in my subconscious. I was talking to my 26 year old hairdresser yesterday when she mentioned she still feels like she's 16. And I had to say 'me too'. But the reality is I'm not. I'm a wife and a mother, and a woman. Why would I want to be a girl again?

Anyway if you want to send me something today, please send me some energy as I'm sorely lacking. I am only 35 afterall, and I'd probably feel a lot better about that if my body didn't feel about 75!

The One with the Cockroach

Did I mention F gets his own breakfast now? Not only that he gets his sister's too!



It all started when we realized no matter what we did, breakfast was always wrong. Not enough cereal, not enough milk, not that spoon, not that bowl, etc. Tantrums ensued and everyone was frustrated. Then I got smart. I could have kept fighting, and insisted on being the BOSS lady, but instead I saw the light. He wants to make his own breakfast, and if he makes his own and gets it wrong he only has himself to blame! I bought two bowls for the bottom drawer and a small jug for the milk. Now all I have to do is ensure the jug has milk and the bowls are where they should be. He does the rest. I made only one rule...you only serve as much as you can eat. Added bonus, he makes M's too!

Now about that cockroach. So I emerged from the bathroom yesterday, nude, with a towel on my head (as you do), and proceeded to chat to mum in the other room when she said to me

MUM: there's a cockroach on your towel
ME: are you serious?
MUM: honest to God

I whipped the towel off on to the floor.

ME: how big?
MUM: oh a big one!

He was under there alright, and gee to think if he was on the towel I was drying myself with, or if he fell off onto my person!!! My naked person!! How did he get up there anyway with all that towel wrapping etc?

(Yes I sprayed him...I'm not generally a fan of the chemical method of bug disposal, but I dislike massive cockroaches with towel fetishes even more)

Hello Baby!

The One with the Screaming...

This is a picture of my kids, today, before 7 a.m. So there's something great about a few days of hot weather afterall! (Not them getting up early, there's not much good about that, but the fact that they can be outside playing before the first blowies have even stirred seems like a good thing)

Yesterday came and went without much fanfare. I suspect it's been awhile since I made any real *resolutions* as such (why wait for a new year?), but I always have some aspirations floating around in my head. They usually involve being more organised, and being more present for my children (which would be easier if they slept a bit more...or maybe it's just me who needs to sleep!), less time on the computer etc.

I am trying to get some work before July - and although it seems a little crazy given the way I've been feeling lately, I think it will be good for both the kids and me to have a day or so away from one another. There is an interview tentatively lined up for next week, so things are already moving on that front, and if all goes to plan it is a company I could see myself with long term.

This *won't* be the year DH and I catch up on sleep, so we are going to have to look after ourselves a bit better to compensate for that. It's time to reload the mp3 player and pound the pavement methinks. Less TV is on the agenda, and I already find myself choosing a book over the box many days which has to be a good thing.

I also plan to take up the January FO challenge which has been set by Tania. This will leave me lots of time to prepare for the Stitch Sista Sock Club slots at Yarn Collective for March/April. Because I'm not watching as much telly, I'm also not doing as much knitting - so I'm not sure what my chances for success are, but it's good to have a plan!

Anyway the screaming...about that...seems to me to be a girl thing. M is doing a heck of a lot of it and mama is doing her 'nana in the process. If anyone has any tips for eliminating this deafening habit (besides giving her brother away), please let me know.