Edna the Wondercat

One year ago tomorrow, Edna the Wondercat adopted us.

She turned up one Sunday morning when I was pottering around the garden. She had gotten up onto the fence between us and the unit next door, but she was too little to get back down again. So she mewed at me a couple of times, but I couldn't reach her. I called out to Bloke to come and get her down. We gave her a bowl of milk, which we now know is a no-no.

That was it for Edna, she was staying.

Our plan was to take her around our complex to see if someone owned her. No-one did, although one neighbour did say that she had seen her around for about a fortnight before she turned up at our place. By 7pm that night, it became evident that we would have to feed her for the night, as she had not left our back yard. I would not have her inside the house, as I am allergic to cats. That little cat did not leave. The next morning, her little face was looking at me and smiling to me through the bathroom window. That night, she was nowhere to be seen, so we assumed she had gone "home".

The next morning, there was her little face smiling at us through our bedroom window. That night, she was still there, so she was allowed into the laundry as it was freezing cold outside at night. By Friday, no-one had come for her, so we decided that we had to take her to the vet to see if she was microchipped, as she was such a beautiful natured little thing, we figured she had to belong to someone who loved her. So we bundled her into an old saucepan box and off to the vet we went. She wasn't having any of the box - she wanted to see all the lights of the cars around us. What a sight we must have been, thundering along Plenty road with a kitten sitting up at the window like a dog. She was good as gold at the vets. I was quite emotional, as I had bonded with her by this stage, and would be devastated if she 'beeped' and we had to leave her there. The vet got her up on the table and scanned her all over with her scanner....

No beeps. Our girl was OURS! I was so relieved I cried.

The vet estimated she was about 4 months old, but very small for her age. We suspect that she had been abandoned when her owners moved residence.

The next week she was in getting fixed and microchipped. Because she kept biting at her stitches, she had to wear a bucket collar.

This is our girl now, and she rules our house and hearts.

Happy anniversary, Edna Mabel!

The Catch-up Post

Has it really been since August?

What's happened? The Eagles didn't win that last Derby, nor did they win last night's. However, they are improving and rebuilding and I expect that my patience will be duly rewarded at some stage - please let it be soon.

Bloke and I got married, which was all very lovely, but a freezing cold day. Everything went off without a hitch - most guests got hammered and had fun, so a good time was had by all. I managed to get through it all without having a major blow up with my parentals, so that was a bonus. Our honeymoon was lovely, but not long enough.

Changing my surname with everyone has been a nightmare - not so much the changing it - but the perfecting of my new signature. I feel like I'm retarded every time I sign something - I feel like asking for a scrap piece of paper to practice on. My Vicroads licence looks like it was signed by a window-licker, and I have to put up with that one until 2018, so I'm not real happy about that. I wonder how long it takes before it's second nature?

Bloke and I went fishing on Easter Monday - Kerford Road pier in Albert Park, if you must know. It was very early in the day, and there was very little in the way of fish being caught. Just as I was getting bored - Bloke was well past the boredom threshold and was wanting to go home - I hooked a fish. Bastard fought me to the death, but I won, and took home a 65cm elephant fish. This fish was the ugliest thing ever - Google image it if you don't believe me - but he was quite tasty on the BBQ that night. I froze the rest of him for later consumption.

Bloke is not a keen fisherman and, for me, going fishing with him is like going fishing with a 4 year old. He doesn't like to bait his own hooks, he can't rig his own line, and if he's not getting "nibbles" immediately, he loses interest. All that said, the fact that he's willing to come with me occasionally, and help carry all the associated paraphernalia, makes me very happy. The fact that he's willing to do something that he doesn't enjoy, just because he knows I love it. Perhaps I will have to go to a basketball match this year.

I went fishing to the same place again this morning, as Bloke was at work earning money to pay his speeding fine, but I didn't catch anything for dinner. Oh well, there's always next time.

Other than that, it's been very quiet in Reservoir.

The Wedding Countdown

Less than three months to go. Damn, it's going fast now!

I had a dress fitting on Friday night - the fifth such pain in the arse fitting; and the dress is finally perfect. No more fittings! Yay. I pick it up next Saturday. I finally finished paying off my silk flowers, so they're in the process of being mailed to my mum. A couple more payments to go on Bloke's ring, and that'll be another thing to cross off the list.

Invitations went out last weekend. We've had great comments back that our guests love the invitations, so that makes us happy. Bloke's mum has already sent her acceptance back - she wanted to be the first. Bridesmaid is madly trying to lose post-baby weight so that she can start looking for her dress. She's the sort of bitch that would look good in a flour bag, so she'll have no dramas there. Plus, she'll have breastfeeding boobs to die for, so I told her to make the most of them.

Now, the Eagles only need to win today's Derby, and it'll be a great weekend.

Nuts - The Bane of My Existence

No, I'm not dead. Just slack.

Reading another blog, whose owner is afflicted with the same problem as me, was the inspiration for this post.

I'm allergic to all nuts. Peanuts, cashews, macadamias, almonds, pinenuts, brazil nuts etc. I could die if I have them. I carry an epipen with me everywhere I go, and Bloke is just itching to one day have reason to use it on me. His time, I'm sure, will come. Dining out is a minefield, and at every new place we go to, I have to be very particular about ordering. We have our favourite, no fail places, which we love. But we also like trying new places as well. One day, this trying of new places will be our undoing, and Bloke will get to stab me with adrenalin.

I also have a penchant for recipe magazines. Always have. However, it pisses me off to no end that at least 1/3 of all the recipes call for the use of nuts. Surely it would not be too much trouble to dedicate one issue per year to "nut free" recipes? They do special issues for diabetics, gluten intolerants and all manner of other food "issues" - why not nut allergies? It confuzzles me.

Anyway, wedding dress trial is tomorrow night. I hope it fits.

Hope you're well.

Becoming Grown Up - It Evidently Happens to the Best of Us

Wow, is it really that long since I've paid attention to this little blog? What's happened since then? Um, we travelled the Great Ocean Road a couple of weekends ago, and stayed the night in Warrnambool. What a beautiful town it is. Lovely houses with beautiful gardens. And the scenery on the way there and back was wonderful.

Went to the bank one fine Monday, and finally did it: THE JOINT BANK ACCOUNT. Also, I took out a personal loan, paid out my credit cards, and cut them up forever. Goodbye financial oblivion. What a cleansing experience it was.

Can I just say, I'm having a little difficulty getting used to this budget thingy? We've allocated ourselves a certain amount of money each week as "play money". It's not, by any means, a stingy amount. However, the same week the BUDGET was initiated coincided with my once-in-three-months trip to the hairdresser for my colour to be tarted up. The BUDGET week starts on Thursday, my appointment was on Saturday morning. Suffice to say things were a bit skint until the next Thursday morning, when I could visit my friend the ATM again.

So, I started afresh this Thursday, only to have the harsh realisation that Bloke's birthday is this coming Tuesday, so things will be a little snug this week as well. How long does it take to get used to being a mature and responsible adult? Does it ever happen?

Nothing happening on the wedding planning front. I'm a slack cow lately.

Avoiding Future Bridezilla Moments

Well, they say it's all in the planning, and I hope "they" are right.

So far I have ordered my dress. I originally said I didn't want a wedding dress per se, and went out looking at bridesmaid's dresses to be worn as a wedding dress. Nothing really took my fancy. However, I must've been looking at the right time, as it seems it sale time on wedding dresses, so I tried a couple on, just out of curiosity. And there went the original idea, right out the window. I ended up ordering the complete bridal catastrophe; ivory, strapless, big skirt, embroidery, beading, boning, etc. It's supposed to come in some time in April, and I can't wait.

Meantime, back in WA, dad has booked the reception venue, is still canvassing caterers and meeting with photographers. I have to contact the celebrant some time this week and make arrangements for that.

So, I'm madly thinking about working on toning up my bingo wings and moving a little bit of weight to look good on the day. We've sorted our guest list, and I've been researching flowers, hairstyles and bonbonierre.

It's all systems go.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Well, what an eventful Christmas. Bloke lovingly proposed. I accepted. It was all very romantic.

I rang my best friend to ask if she would be my bridesmaid, and she was over the moon. Maybe I just caught her at a bad moment last time? I dunno, but she definitely sounded different this time.

So, my parents have gone into "Stealth Wedding Planner" mode. Dad's booked the caterer, mum's running around organising marquees and somesuch, future sister in laws are organising flowers and bonboniere, future parents in law are organising alchohol. I have to say I really appreciate their help, as the wedding will be back home in WA, and we live in Victoria, so a lot of time will be spent on teh intarwebs researching bits and pieces.

Anyway, short post this time. Trust you are keeping well, Santa was good to you, and you have a good New Year. Ciao for now.