Friday, January 28, 2011

Sleep, movie, chocolate

1. I've slept a bit better the past few nights. It's wonderful to not be so exhausted.

2. Saw the movie "Tangled" for the second time with the kids and this time we didn't miss the beginning. Fun movie.

3. Chocolate. Always chocolate.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Writing, view, strawberries

1. I actually wrote the first words of my novel today. I have been gradually thinking about plot and characters for a couple of years now, and i wrote a draft of the prologue a long time ago, but today I went to a cafe with a friend and we both sat and wrote. 866 words in an hour - the start of chapter one. I want to get the first draft written this year. It's very exciting to have some words on the page.

The view we had from the cafe was mostly mounds of dirt and wire fences, they were doing work on the park over the road, but beyond that was the lake; glistening blue-ly in the afternoon sun.

While waiting in my friend's front yard for him to be ready, I noticed some strawberries hiding in the bushes. They always say they have too many to eat, so I snaffled them. Ripe strawberries straight from the stem - fabulous.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Chat, clean-up, comfortable

1. I see a very pregnant friend (due 5 days ago) for the first time in a while, we have a nice chat and a cup of tea.

2. With 10 mins before friends come over, the kids and I do a lightning clean-up of the pig sty. It is amazing how much you can do in 10 mins, even if two of the group are only 6 and 4 years old. The house looks so much better tidied up.

3. The strapping the physio put on my shoulder yesterday is really helping: I slept a bit better last night and have been more comfortable all day.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Worms, childcare, koala sex

1. I dug all the leaves and dirt out of the gutter in front of the garage. It had needed doing for a long time - it was clogged up and breeding mosquitos. Most of it was at the stinky composting stage, but there were so many worms! The kids and I carefully transported them all to garden beds to turn the soil for us.

2. Orientation visit to Aiden's new childcare - he seemed to like it ok. Even though home is "funner".

3. Oprah's first hour in Australia saw her witnessing koalas mating. I've never even seen them awake!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Soil, plums, book

1. Planting out some new seedings. The soil is sun-bleached grey on top, but crumbly rich black underneath when I dig the holes.

2. Our neighbour's heavily-laden plum tree hangs over our back fence. I don't know these neigbours, but I am sure they won't mind if we eat the plums over our side. They are very small, but ripe; greeny-red skin but deep red inside. I have 2, Jasmine gorges herself on 13. Aiden has one bite and that is enough. I bring a bowlful inside for later.

3. A book I have been on a long waiting list for is at the library for me. My turn at last.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Home, email, nap

1. Home! We just spent a week at the beach then the weekend at my father's for a visit, but after a 6 hour drive home (plus stops) it was so good to be home. And I look forward to my own bed tonight.

2. Checking my emails and the blogs I follow.

3. An afternoon nap almost the moment we get home. Lovely.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Pasta, dinner, Fiddler

1. I watch my friend's husband making pasta - I chose fettuccini - it goes through the machine over and over, getting thinner each time.

2. Not having to cook tonight! The four kids have their dinner at a little table out in the courtyard while the grown-ups sit inside with wine and home-made pasta.

3. My husband is away for the night and I feel a bit lonely, but "Fiddler on the Roof" comes on TV to keep me company.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Reassurance, swim, TV

1. My student-physiotherapist puts his hand reassuringly on my back while his supervisor talks about the reality of my shoulder problems. I think he is going to be very good at his job.

2. My first swim of the summer; the afternoon has turned overcast but the water is not too cold at the local pool, it takes me about 20 mins to get neck deep but then I am fine.

3. We finally get a set-top box that lets us watch all the extra free channels, going up from 5 to about 12. I know I didn't really need any more TV, but it is fun to have some more choices. I watch an English home make-over show.