The Bag

Crash had been asking if we could make a bag for him to carry around his toy dog Buster. The bag of course had to be dog print. Ummmm, yeah I think we can do that. We finally found some fabric, it's flannellette pyjama fabric but he didn't know or care. Then I found a pattern online that gave me some direction.

The boys were fascinated to see the sewing machine and watch me set it up. They didn't even know I had one (I sew alot, can't you tell?). After showing them how it worked I then sent them to bed. And poured myself a glass of wine.


Cut. Oh measure and then cut. Right. Sew sew. More wine. I can do this!



Excellent one main part of the bag done. I was making 2 of course. Rowdy wasn't going to miss out. Look I even squared off the bottom corners!

Ok, next bag and more wine. The second one was easier as I'd worked out what to do making the first one!



Now for the front flaps - they are going to be messenger style bags. Hmmmm, measure, cut. Ummmm that's not a rectangle. Cut more. I'm supposed to round the corners? Forget it!

Interlude of dinner and United States of Tara and then back to the machine to finish sewing on the straps and their initials.

I reckon I did allright! I hung them on their doors for them to see when they woke up this morning. As I was getting ready for work Crash came in to see me and said "Mum, I just wanted to say thank-you!".

Makes it all worthwhile.

Amused

10 Things Guessing Game

Here's something for fun. Guess which of the following 10 statements is the INCORRECT statement (ie, all are true but one).

1. I collect Biggles books
2. I drove a Hilux Ute when I was pregnant with Crash
3. I've never had a speeding fine
4. I've sung in an SBS choir
5. I hate brussel sprouts
6. I don't have any fillings
7. I got kicked out of physics in high school for playing Uno
8. I've never been overseas
9. I have a fear of large bodies of water
10. I'm part Swedish

Hmmm, which one is the lie?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer:

And the winner is Bern of So Now What with her guess of "I hate brussel sprouts" - I actually love love love brussel sprouts.

So to expand on my statements:

1. I collect Biggles books - sure do and just love finding first editions with their original dust jackets on

2. I drove a Hilux Ute when I was pregnant with Crash - yep, a good look for a pregnant chick hopping out of a ute in a suit, but it's true

3. I've never had a speeding fine - never ever had one, just luck though I assure you.

4. I've sung in an SBS choir - sure did as a soprano - then there was some controversy with the director and it was on some current affairs show, but I'd left by then

5. I hate brussel sprouts - LOVE LOVE LOVE them (this was the incorrect statement!)

6. I don't have any fillings - none whatsoever and that is also luck and from eating those cherry fluoride tablets as a kid (or whatever they were)

7. I got kicked out of physics in high school for playing Uno - aha yes "if you want to play that game you can play outside!" declared the teacher. Oh ok then, so we left.

8. I've never been overseas - unfortunately not, one day I will I'm sure.

9. I have a fear of large bodies of water - surprisingly yes I have a big fear of water, which doesn't work real well when we own 2 boats and I have my boat license and love to fish. I can go on a boat ok, but if there is the slightest chance I will end up in the water then I have a massive panic attack. Huge.

10. I'm part Swedish - my great grandfather was Swedish and was in the Swedish Navy before coming to Australia.

Stress Management

Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile...

1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream..
2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.
3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.
4. No one knows your secret place.
5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.
6. The soothing sound of a gentle water fall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
7. The water is so clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater.

There!! See? It really does work... You're smiling already.

Old Fishing Pics

I found these pics online (bless you sir google). They are in old fishing club magazines and worth reposting (well at least I think so).

July 03 - This was the first time I'd handled a dead fish - yes, that look on my face is "ewwwwww". They weren't my biggest bream though. I can't find a pic of that one.

July 03 - My BIG flathead - this pic made it to the local paper (lame claim to fame hey!). Mr Chic has since out-fished me and got a flathead that was the size of Crash at 18 months.

April 05 - When Crash was a bub we held a fishing club weigh-in at our house. Before everyone weighed their fish, I put Crash on the scales. He looks suitably impressed. Such a chubby bubby!

Pant Wearer

I was reading this article today http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/845226/woman-faces-40-lashes-for-wearing-pants about the Sudanese journalist facing 40 lashes for wearing "indecent" trousers.

What crazy insanity is that law?! I will be watching with interest to see if she wins her fight.

When I received a letter of offer for a job back in the late 90's, there was a line in it that had me in stitches for ages "we prefer our female employees not to wear slacks". Yes, the 90's THIS CENTURY. This was a small suburban accounting firm with "old school" partners who made it very clear that females should be in skirts. At the time I thought it was funny and I didn't care, partly because the job was so close to home and I wanted it and partly because my backside had outgrown all of my "slacks".

Since then I've often thought I should have worn them and not given a toss - what the heck is wrong with a pants suit in an office, yet we could wear a floral dress and that would be fine (yes please cringe). The partners at the time did say that it was due to an employee working there who was rather large and wouldn't have looked any good in pants so rather than telling her what to wear, they told everyone. Nice. Incidently this employee once wore the same outfit for a week - day-in-day-out - and she didn't wash it. We could tell.

When the day came for the chief old partner to retire - the whole office wore "slacks".

Needless to say, I'm so glad I left there.

The Restaurant

A certain flyer which appeared amongst this week's junk mail has attracted the boy's attention, and it's not a toy catalogue. Crash and Rowdy have been pouring over it for days. They have even pretended the loungeroom was a restaurant and telling us off for sitting in the wrong place in "the restaurant".

Crash has been saying "Mum, Mum, can we please go to the CFK Restaurant??"

"The what?" I replied. I look at the flyer, it's for KFC. "sure dear, but it's a far cry from a restaurant!!"