Late night - T+5

 Oh my. I always forget that the best laid plans etc etc...

This is actually fairly reasonable time in the morning of the day after - I hit the wall last night and slept until well after the sun was up this Sunday morning...  but why ruin a good parallel (even if I am the only one who can see it) with the truth!

So the move happened. 

While the panic merchant within me always foresees disaster (& V doubly-so), all potential missteps throughout the day were pulled out of the fire at the last minute, so we will count it all as a win.

Let me lay the deck of the last five days.

Image: a cafe table laden with food - V had corn fritters with a poached egg and avocado and Paris and I both went for the smashed avocado which is served with marinated mushrooms and feta on sourdough toast with baby spinach,a poached egg and a wedge of lemon.  The garlic on those mushrooms was next level.

 

Optimism started our Tuesday. We could do this.

 

I was tempering my urge to crack the whip for it needed a crack. However the payoff was a delicious breakfast together.

Image: higgledy-piggledy collection of furniture and mattresses that greeted us after the removalist left - thank goodness the refrigerator isn't in that mess because that may have broken us.

 

I shall not give you a blow by blow account of the day, but this is the result of some blokes wanting to knock off early. One should not have to haul furniture when you are paying someone to do so for you.  Thank goodness for Paris and her boyfriend to lend some muscle to the unearthing of beds, table and chairs.

Image: Avocado, toast with toppings, jar of marmalade and a lemon whose diameter equated to that of a piece of toast.

 

I must admit, I did not breakfast on our first full day at the new abode - I woke with my traditional "post major event" migraine that comes from running around like a headless chook and not eating and drinking properly.

 

My favourite breakfast is one slice of toast with marmalade - currently on a jar of Dad's grapefruit but previously had a cracking half-jar of lime using Mrs Breton's method. I have a prolific lime tree beside my driveway..

 

And the other slice with Vegemite, avocado, lemon juice and cracked pepper.  That lemon is courtesy of the tree on the OTHER side of my driveway.  B-L-I-S-S 

 

I was back at work on Thursday and Friday, however work is now less than a quarter hour away so I get home in time to truly enjoy a bit of afternoon and the occasional sunset. 

Image: wooden paling fence dominated by gum trees from the park beyond and a most delicious array of colours across the sky courtesy of sunset.

 

Not too shabby - although that back fence is on the "to do" list as it is probably the most rickety of all components of the new home.

 

We have been doing a bit of that - compiling the list of what needs to be ticked off.  

Image: Dawn sky backlighting power poles and palm trees with a spray of cirrocumulus (please correct me if I am wrong) clouds.  

 

Doesn't stint on the dawns either.

 

The "new washing machine" wheels were already in motion but took a little time to get the tick because a warehouse far, far away failed to send one part - we finally got a partial tick on Friday afternoon and so a lot of my Saturday (after that gorgeous dawn) was putting through laundry that had piled up since the old washing machine got sent to washing machine heaven last week. 

Image: box of clothes that I don't fit into, that neither daughter will ever wear and which I will pass along to an op shop in the hope that someone will enjoy

 

I have let go of some memory boxes and considered it the first step towards Swedish death cleansing.  Its and tiny step when I contemplate the boxes still in the back shed to be opened and sorted through.

 

I have nearly fully set up the spare room and office, the kitchen I would declare as about 40% done (hopefully closer to 80% by the end of day today) and I have access to all of my clothes -  well, those left after a cull!

Image: boxes and cardboard packaging from the monitor.

 

Now, what do you see?

I see a robot's head , but from a slightly different angle I see a Nutcracker. Could come in handy for the "OMG we have moved to a competitive level Christmas neighbourhood" panic. Which is when we will discover just how uncrafty I am.

Image: Gangsterrr hiding out in the top of Paris' cupboard.

 

The G is still very VERY wary of the new digs.  Every bedroom has built-in cupboards with one mirror slider on each - and she is none too pleased with there being another cat in every room she visits. 

Image: as table set for two with flowers and curries and a tiny tele with a tiny man talking about gardens

While Paris was on shift last night, V and I had our first "home cooked" (well, unearthed from freezer) meal.  

This is as romantic as we get - I believe that goat compost was being discussed on our viewing of choice.  We may not extend to goat compost ourselves. 

Image: A smiling sandwich

So it may not have the beach (its now 15 minutes away), we are definitely relaxing and enjoying our new Paradise.

Work is 12 minutes away - although when school goes back tomorrow I will have to go back to leaving at the usual time unless V takes Paris in the mornings, as it is no longer "on my way" but a very slight backtrack.

Paris' work is less than 10 minutes away, saving us over an hour each shift in travel time (and the fuel!).

No more 14 stairs each time you need to go to the garden, the laundry, the car.

Ahhh,

So how was everyone else's week? 

Twas the night before

 moving 

And all through the house 

Were boxes and bags and bits and pieces yet to be done 

But I am done from the organisation exhaustion.

Of the trying to manage every moving part without looking like you are doing it.

I find the best disguise is to appear as inept as possible and they would never guess. Do never guess.

I've been successful in that subterfuge so far.

Image: flavours packed in the working pantry boxes on the waist height level of the box wall in the kitchen (Peach iced tea, pink grapefruit, lemon, lime and bitters - 3 Bickford's cordials - and Buderim ginger's ginger refresher)

I have managed to pull off quite a few items on the checklist today, but I really didn't help myself by leaving my phone in V's ute when I went to redirect mail and he the shops. 

Image: pills, keys and a box of redheads matches 

I contemplated using the payphone nearby, but there was a crazy guy on hold to a Monday & already overworked public service employee. Or maybe everyone using a payphone on a Monday afternoon exudes a certain madness. Maybe it was his Mum.

Next block two closing down signs. Both retiring, it seems.

I turned and started to walk along the main street into town in the hope of intercepting V.

Another block to the servo, and asked to use their phone to call him.

Image: an I ❤️ Paris with the Eiffel Tower pink cushion, an aqua and turquoise and gold (or whatever colour you call them) and black butterfly 🦋 cushion and a purple cushion with golden trim cushion on a faux timber background.

The guys at the servo were amazed that I knew someone's number as it seems in this day and age we are forced to think less so often. A good discussion ensued.

Image: Gangsterrrrr reclining on white laminate furniture, pink necklace showing off yellow tags highlighting the green in her eyes.

I left a voice to text message and left the servo and  not 20 metres from their door I saw V's ute sail past towards the Post Office. 

Only Four blocks, I think. He will find me about half way. I'll be fine in my "dress up for appointments in town and nice slip on shoes that are fine for nothing so serious as a seven block walk level too serious" outfit and shoes.

How quaint and old fashioned, I thought. No photo opportunities, no notifications, no "I should look up" interruptions or other people's ideas.

My big toe on my left foot by the fifth block began to whine just a little bit. That was annoying.

Image: Gangsterrrrr investigates rocks in the backyard of Paradise.

The sixth block had this beautiful arbour of eucalypts at one point, completely crazy because they had a severe flattop just below the powerlines.

By Seven I was resigned to walking the rest of the way.

I turned towards home and could see the driveway V had not yet arrived home.

I climbed the fourteen steps for one of the last times as he pulled in.

My right foot told me that it too was putting a complaint in to the union.

Image: meme borrowed shamelessly from the internet. If it's yours all credit to you ma'am or sir, you are quicker and wittier than I. It says "hi, sorry it took me five days to get back to your text. I myself am understaffed at the moment"

And tonight as I lay in bed avoiding my brain taking me through the list that I have to do tomorrow, my Gluteus Maximus, hips and the tendon straps holding them together have a chanting chorus that is not complimentary to the footwear of choice this afternoon.

My beautiful, gorgeous, talented, genius, hilarious and perfect daughter has just been told to go to bed, and so should I.

This time tomorrow..

We are entering the lasts...

Image: a black cat, young and sweet, supervises the packing, working out where she could fit.

It wasn't a very Eastery Easter, was it? Well, not for me. There is a lot to digest in the world right now. That and, well, we are moving in 8 days.

So driving, gathering and feasting were low on the priority list.

Image: yes, Ms Gangsterrrrr, I am aware of the too much stuff too little room theory of relativity.

Mind you, while I have had a weekend of pedalling furiously, I fear that little of it got results.

So the teensy tiny bit of socialising that I did have was welcome.

Image: artful organisation of boxes to allow a little black cat a few hidey holes.

Still, it's going to happen whether I am ready or not.

This whole move thing.

Image: she'll be apples - or maybe pears on special at a local Coles.

It has also unearthed artifacts of us, our civilisation of this ground for 19 1/2 years.

One of the memories unearthed was of printing and sticking labels onto school stationery. Suddenly, whilst realising that while we would never do that in Paradise again, I also realised that I may never cover stationary again. 

How liberating.

Image: may be the last pikelets cooked at Chez Paradise - but definitely the first cooked in the you beaut frypan Dad picked up in a "two for the price of one" tv deal.

I do make a mean pikelet though, and am looking forward to continue that in - what should the next place be called?

Image: apologies to Mum and my grandmothers for the language - but they would have appreciated the sentiment.

To work tomorrow - heigh ho. Four days to next five day stretch in which the move will happen.

Hi Vue

Image: red natal in afternoon sun. I sound like I know what I am talking about, but in reality it's "that pretty one with feathery seed heads that don't taste quite as nice as buffel" corrected by my gardening authority, auntie b.

Image: yep, auntie b and Dad both would tell you what all of this is. Mum would have known too. Anyway, all I can see is crap composition. Isn't self-talk rude!

Image: DOP 'Salina photographer 'Salina. The subject didn't quite get the camouflage but got darned close.

Image: needs no camouflage, a gum that could probably tell a few yarns, grounded on a flat, reaching into the clouds, with a chorus line of rocks and trees.

Image: the house on the top of a hill

Image: fiery sunset puffing purple, silhouetting leaves and trunks and hills.

We spent a 24 hour period with Mum and Dad. It's fleeting and too far to next time but time is not easy to grasp in the current clime.

Image: pink flower. Have I mentioned that I suck at this game? The Inner circle of yellow flowers raises it to very pretty status.

Image: fog encroaching: it was even visible on the veranda to the naked eye.

Image: if you look very closely there is an amorous - we, he's pestering and she's saying "we aren't freaking rabbits, Walter"- couple of 'roos and a Magpie looks on. Probably not a Magpie because why would a girl who for the majority of her life hasn't been able to see distance even contemplate bird identification? Who needs to get that close?

I wrote a poem. It's not getting published. It's not a good poem and went to places we do not need to explore together.

Image: what this Easter Bunny gave this year to Mum and Dad - over 50 years as chocolate manager for these people and I have finally got the memo.

 If it fails, it's compost. Move on. Learn with dirt on your hands. When a gardener is asked for just one tip you'll get more, possibly a cutting and some surplus in pickle or marmalade form. (Advice given on a gardening forum. If clarification required, not by auntie b OR Dad. By me, if you need to know)

Image: Paradise Skyline backlit in a palette I call delightful.

10 days.

It's Maundy Thursday

apparently. I know nothing of such titles, for although we weren't a pagan family, our brand of Anglican was very easygoing on connection with all that ritual nonsense. Pragmatic. And very non-maundy. Two big days across a long weekend was enough, more would be overreach.

Image: "Proof of Life (but doesn't my hand look weird)" DOP Paris photography by Jeanie 

So, anyway. Easter. Why am I always surprised that it's full moon at Easter? Like d'uh!

Image: proof of celestial wonder- glorious clouds backlit by the high beam of the full moon.

I remember getting into so much trouble, saying "d'uh". It is pretty rude when you think about it. Its so much the pity that the acceptance of "d'uh" back then led them to break a pathway to people being attacked in broad daylight for traffic infringements as our new normal. 

Image: spotlight on the noisy fan;

Blue baseline gurgle from the cat's water fountain.

We should have all clutched our pearls like my beautiful mother and we would have all been nicer to each other.

Image: Proof of procrastinating - the last gluten-free sourdough cinnamon scrolls and the last hot cross pumpkin scone.

Maybe.

Image: unedited photo by Paris. I think that Gangsterrrrr should sue. Probably should have used when she got bestowed her blog name.

Anyhow, tomorrow I travel 200km (yes, on a public holiday with threats of diesel rationing but with the justification of its Easter, and it's Mum and Dad) and will be re-listening to "Waking Romeo" by Kathryn Barker (Goodreads link)

Image: Luddite Jeanie can't work out - or can't be bothered to learn - how to do the book covers like the cool kids do.

I have to confess, the musical I was to see with 'Salina and Paris after book-club on Sunday was a bust! I had caused her to give a seat donation the week before, and she had caused us the same as we got the dates mixed up!

Image: a far more flattering angle of G, black cat, pink collar, yellow band bringing out the green-yellow of her eyes.

I once did that with a GYG order. Ordered in the carpark at work but spun the counter too far ahead so was going to get my enchiladas the next day instead of just another half hour ahead.

We had 'Salina over here twice this week. The first time we had a meeting of the cats, as a plan is afoot to get them to be friends.

That may take awhile.

12 days to go.

Bonus question: what sort of insult is "cinnamon blue"?

Link to trove

Happy (?!) Easter everyone.