Bloke's work is apparently very quiet at the moment, so his boss sent him home around 2pm yesterday. Evidently, on his way home, Bloke detoured to Bunnings and purchased a pruning saw thingy, in order to get in touch with his masculine side.
Now, I'm not sure if I've mentioned before, but our backyard is an unmitigated disgrace, due to our landlord being unwilling to either put proper lawn down, or pave/concrete it. We have been thigh-deep in weeds for nigh on 6 months now, and unable to use our clothesline as a result. We went through winter drying our laundry on two clothes airers in our study. Finally, about a month ago, our landlord arrived like the messiah with a 5 litre bottle of weedkiller, and told us to go for our lives. Bloke did, and as a result, the weeds are dead, and he's cut them down with the since-returned whippersnipper.
Yesterday, pruning saw purchased, and permission obtained from the landlord, Bloke took to the lemon and plum trees with vigour, and I now have access to my clothesline! Huzzah!
Now, for the landlord to pave or lawn the area, so that we can have people over for a barbecue without being embarrassed right down to our underpants.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
We're Going to the Zoo, zoo, zoo; How About You, you, you?
That's right folks, at the ripe old ages of 35 and 30 respectively, Bloke and I headed off to the zoo yesterday. Hot as buggery, kids everywhere, but what can you do?
Bloke has decided he wants a meerkat as a pet, I want a platypus. The new elephant enclosure is awesome, I must say.
Other than that, nothing exciting happened on the weekend.
Bloke has decided he wants a meerkat as a pet, I want a platypus. The new elephant enclosure is awesome, I must say.
Other than that, nothing exciting happened on the weekend.
Monday, November 13, 2006
An Unexpected Reaction to an Expected Event
Bloke and I were at Altona Gate shopping centre on Saturday morning. This shopping centre is completely out of our normal rotation of shopping centres, but it's near Bloke's work, and we were en-route to Tasman Meats, which explains (partially) our appearance here. We were randomly browsing through one of those cheap and nasty homewares shops, just rummaging, when the 10 o'clock (I think) news came on the radio.
The news that Belinda Emmett had lost her battle with cancer was met with a very sombre reaction on my part. It really rocked me; why, I don't know. I knew she was gravely ill; she had looked very unwell for quite a few years, kind of haunted/hunted. I think the thing that really shook me is how young she was, she was only 2 years older than me. Now, I hate her husband (Rove McManus) with the fire of a thousand suns, but I couldn't help but feel admiration for this man who, knowing his sweetheart was terminally ill, married her anyway and stood by her regardless. I felt only compassion for this man, and could only wonder at the depth of his pain.
Bloke was quite disturbed by my reaction, and tried to understand it, but how do you explain something to someone when you don't understand it yourself?
Anyway, Saturday night we ventured out to hillbilly banjo territory (Upper Ferntree Gully) for a countery at the Royal Taverner with a friend from work, whose whippersnipper I had held hostage for nigh-on 12 months. Excellent steak and a couple of bevvies were enjoyed by all, before heading home, sombre, sated and contented.
Sunday morning Bloke and I headed into the city, as it was time to purchase a new handbag for me (the old one in danger of exploding under pressure), a blanket to take to the Speedway, and generally have a look around, and start thinking about Christmas Shopping. Bloke managed to find presents for his sister-in-law, whose name he drew in the Secret Santa ballot, and also managed to find a shirt and shorts to wear over summer. I found a pair of shorts as well, so it was a day well-spent on all fronts.
How steamy was it yesterday? The thunderstorm in the evening was a blessed relief from the humidity.
The news that Belinda Emmett had lost her battle with cancer was met with a very sombre reaction on my part. It really rocked me; why, I don't know. I knew she was gravely ill; she had looked very unwell for quite a few years, kind of haunted/hunted. I think the thing that really shook me is how young she was, she was only 2 years older than me. Now, I hate her husband (Rove McManus) with the fire of a thousand suns, but I couldn't help but feel admiration for this man who, knowing his sweetheart was terminally ill, married her anyway and stood by her regardless. I felt only compassion for this man, and could only wonder at the depth of his pain.
Bloke was quite disturbed by my reaction, and tried to understand it, but how do you explain something to someone when you don't understand it yourself?
Anyway, Saturday night we ventured out to hillbilly banjo territory (Upper Ferntree Gully) for a countery at the Royal Taverner with a friend from work, whose whippersnipper I had held hostage for nigh-on 12 months. Excellent steak and a couple of bevvies were enjoyed by all, before heading home, sombre, sated and contented.
Sunday morning Bloke and I headed into the city, as it was time to purchase a new handbag for me (the old one in danger of exploding under pressure), a blanket to take to the Speedway, and generally have a look around, and start thinking about Christmas Shopping. Bloke managed to find presents for his sister-in-law, whose name he drew in the Secret Santa ballot, and also managed to find a shirt and shorts to wear over summer. I found a pair of shorts as well, so it was a day well-spent on all fronts.
How steamy was it yesterday? The thunderstorm in the evening was a blessed relief from the humidity.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Flatpack Furniture Gives You Blisters
Well, we had a win with getting the tallboy and bedsides in the Bombadore, as the stuff was flatpacked.
The instructions were easy enough to follow, so I started assembling the first bedside on Saturday night (I'm such a raging party animal, aren't I?). All that was required from the toolbox was a hammer and a Philips head screwdriver, which is good, as our toolbox is very limited. 3/4 of an hour later, I have assembled the bedside, and have a blister about an inch long on my thumb. Oh joy.
We rose about 8am yesterday and headed to the Pipeworks markets, as neither of us had been there before. Did a couple of bogan laps around there, then headed to Northcote Golf Course so Bloke could have a hit. I walked the course with him, which was a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours, before enjoying a late lunch and heading home to put the other bedside together.
Putting the second bedside together wasn't as easy as the first, as I had my sore paw to contend with, but I got it together while Bloke was whippersnippering the jungle of weeds that passes as our backyard. I contemplated putting the tallboy together, but by this stage my thumb was very painful, and I made the executive decision to put it together tomorrow (thumbs up to the public holiday for a horse race, btw) while Bloke is watching the races on TV. Now, you may be wondering why I was putting furniture together, instead of Bloke.... he's really not a handyman, which he made me aware of up front, when we first got together. As long as he's there to tighten screws that are too hard for me to do, I'm happy. Plus, I really get a buzz out of being able to do this stuff for myself.
Bloke then cleaned his barbecue while I organised the salad for dinner, then we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Another enjoyable and productive Old Fart's Weekend.
The instructions were easy enough to follow, so I started assembling the first bedside on Saturday night (I'm such a raging party animal, aren't I?). All that was required from the toolbox was a hammer and a Philips head screwdriver, which is good, as our toolbox is very limited. 3/4 of an hour later, I have assembled the bedside, and have a blister about an inch long on my thumb. Oh joy.
We rose about 8am yesterday and headed to the Pipeworks markets, as neither of us had been there before. Did a couple of bogan laps around there, then headed to Northcote Golf Course so Bloke could have a hit. I walked the course with him, which was a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours, before enjoying a late lunch and heading home to put the other bedside together.
Putting the second bedside together wasn't as easy as the first, as I had my sore paw to contend with, but I got it together while Bloke was whippersnippering the jungle of weeds that passes as our backyard. I contemplated putting the tallboy together, but by this stage my thumb was very painful, and I made the executive decision to put it together tomorrow (thumbs up to the public holiday for a horse race, btw) while Bloke is watching the races on TV. Now, you may be wondering why I was putting furniture together, instead of Bloke.... he's really not a handyman, which he made me aware of up front, when we first got together. As long as he's there to tighten screws that are too hard for me to do, I'm happy. Plus, I really get a buzz out of being able to do this stuff for myself.
Bloke then cleaned his barbecue while I organised the salad for dinner, then we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Another enjoyable and productive Old Fart's Weekend.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Random Nothingness
Well, our weekend was predictably blissful and relaxing, apart from being hit on the head by random clumps of clay at the Speedway on Saturday night. Bloke thought it was quite a joke, and wanted me to let him use my cameraphone to take a photo of my misfortune. However, since said phone was ensconced under 14 layers of clothes, and it was colder than the dark side of Pluto, there was no way I was letting any cold air in to get the phone out.
I cooked the spaghetti bolognaise, like the good woman I am. It was very nice, and I even had enough left over for lunch for myself the next day.
Our friends' horse ran 4th in the Sale Cup, but had drawn the widest barrier, so it was a pretty good result.
My major win of the weekend was going into Officeworks and getting a generic brand printer cartridge. This thing is so wonderful I want to marry it. I printed an A4 size photo of Bloke and myself, and this cartridge printed as well as a proper photo; I was so impressed I went out and bought a frame and put the photo on the top of the bookshelf in the loungeroom for all to see.
Anyway, hoping for another quietish weekend again this weekend. We'll see how we go.
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Update: Bloke's tax return has come through, so we're off to the shops tonight to buy the following, which will replace the dresser I've had since I was 8 years old, and doesn't match anything else in our room. Huzzah!!!!
Do you think it will fit in the boot of a VS Commodore, or are we kidding ourselves?
I cooked the spaghetti bolognaise, like the good woman I am. It was very nice, and I even had enough left over for lunch for myself the next day.
Our friends' horse ran 4th in the Sale Cup, but had drawn the widest barrier, so it was a pretty good result.
My major win of the weekend was going into Officeworks and getting a generic brand printer cartridge. This thing is so wonderful I want to marry it. I printed an A4 size photo of Bloke and myself, and this cartridge printed as well as a proper photo; I was so impressed I went out and bought a frame and put the photo on the top of the bookshelf in the loungeroom for all to see.
Anyway, hoping for another quietish weekend again this weekend. We'll see how we go.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update: Bloke's tax return has come through, so we're off to the shops tonight to buy the following, which will replace the dresser I've had since I was 8 years old, and doesn't match anything else in our room. Huzzah!!!!
Do you think it will fit in the boot of a VS Commodore, or are we kidding ourselves?
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