I slept in today

 which was not in the plans.  Paris had to work early, I had a task to undertake with 'Salina after and a dozen potential properties to peruse.

We are by no means ready, but if we waited until we were ready nothing would ever get done.  I am still viewing it all as practice runs.

 

As 'Salina had awoken early to undertake her task, she beneficently bestowed her navigation skills and critical eye to the project and within an hour, we had whittled that down to a possible four.

(The pictured property - a two-board white fence, shady green trees overhanging and a neat verge - first a view of the side yard from the south - south-east and then a view from the back and the driveway.  This is in the middle of town and not for sale - absolutely amazing block though, with the most unassuming front yard and private house)

As none of those four had pressing open houses, I returned home to cook gluten-free chocolate squares (I have book club and a work morning tea coming up in the next few days), make the shared areas presentable and write a list for the planned menu.  I had one curry from the freezer, one to use up from the pantry and intentions to make one of my favourites of late - Beef Kerahi (I am going to have to find the link to the recipe I have written down).

I had used precision timing, with the squares due from the oven at the time I would have to leave the house to collect Paris from her shift - however I forgot that the instruction was "ice while hot" so the quickest ever icing was ever concocted, maintaining the no gluten (and no dairy - the metric tonne of butter in the base probably makes that a futile gesture). 

(The pictured parkland is across the road from our current house.  This is one of the many mobs of kangaroos that live in my neighbourhood.  This picture has nothing to do with my day today - its just a picture for effect.)

Technically, I was two minutes late for the end of the shift, but I have solemnly promised Paris she is not in the blog so she shan't be. 

We went to see the one house that had a few very - quaint features, and a few - well, quainter features.  Unfortunately the real fireplace (although a hybrid between Brady Bunch and Jetsons styles), circular driveway and swimming pool attractions were  doused by the Edwardian room layout, the two burner stove, the rollercoaster pitch laundry path and the orange toilet.  

Darn I wish I could tell some of her stories, though.  There was a corker stimulated by this house visit.

Late edit - I have been expressly allowed to tell this story.

Paris said that the moment she stepped into the house, it was like she was in a time machine.  She channelled a 1950s housewife and started to have an anxiety attach that the children would be home any moment and she wouldn't have supper ready for them after homework.

The agent was the first one to actually sound at all enthused, but given the pool that I have access thus far is only 3 and the other 2 were male, it may not be statistically sound sampling yet.

Still, the number reduced to 3 maybes and a possibility. 

 When we came home from shopping and cursory coos at the cats at the shelter, I made my curry.  I chopped it all nicely and displayed on beautiful matching plates - and then completely forgot to take any photos.  That is the quality of food blogger you deal with here.

I did take a photo of the end result, though.

(yes, that is still the special 1970s that my phone has implemented as its standard filter)

Date night, as Paris went out to the movies tonight with a few other kids and one of the other kids lives down this end also, so I did the drive in leg and we had several hours before the others drive her home.

But realistic in our goals - a nice dinner and a bit of an episode of the Lee Mack 1% Club.   Might even lash out and do the washing up at some point.

Saturday night - how is yours? 

The minutiae of not much

 Of an update 

(Please note - photos are in no way related to post...)

As you yourself know all too well Debby, stuff somehow magically happens or it does not. In the hands of a higher power.

Cathy and River - by thinking "gee that date on the milk bottle resembles one familiar to today" and "I think I remember the path to mozzarella can be found with a junket tablet" and "I remember that I once bought junket tablets". Detours were caused by discovering my expensive cooking thermometer selection would work for a roast and would work for candy but was completely inadequate for cheesemaking purposes, discovery that a declutter had caused the demise of the Citric Acid, which had been deemed rarely required in modern life (salvaged by the juice of the last grapefruit of the season), discovering the inadequate thermometer had broken on the bench between bouts of curd-creating curdles on the stovetop, winging it, draining it, beating it, microwaving it and completely failing to get it to anything remotely resembling "stretching it and folding it". Despondent but resolute not to waste, the whey became pikelets and the cheese was refrigerated to take on my trip as "Goldie" (a complete typo in the previous post but I'll keep it) is my dream food inspiror. She is who declared it ricotta and it became a recurring feature of the feasting held.

Boud - no, indeed sought location is close to work - I drive about 30km each way (taking 1/2 -3/4 of an hour depending on school ). It will be a lot easier to commute.

Kelly - Debby is right, Power of Attorney. My aunt is relatively healthy if you consider she is 84 and has had health issues all of her life. POA wanted to ensure family were aware and nobody was taking advantage of anyone. Lovely lady. Up there with anecdotes as was the aunt.

Jeanie - it is one of those promethian conundrums, will womankind ever get to tick off the "sort $#!+ in office/spare room" checkbox.

Rita. I know. Who is this woman and why is she wearing my clothes?

BTW ai is getting very smart. I have a select group of commenters, more by chance than design - and I recently received a spam comment that was a work of art- either they have paid that monkey well or there is a tortured poet in PR purgatory. I left it there but be warned, the webpage attached to Jean S's name is selling something!

Apologies for complete lack of comments, replies, picture descriptors or links - I had done the latter and I touched the wrong thing apparently.

Night all. Tomorrow is another day (of work work work work then dr appointment (not for me - for the 3rd day in a row) then dinner, declutter and Ted Lasso). Life balance.

not much of an update

 since last time

• saw one RE agent
• made myself a new list
• accidentally made ricotta 
• work work work work work
• visited a wonderful friend Goldie
• ate wonderful food and nourished my soul 
• saw my aunt and her POA 
• work work work work work
• spent a weekend with Mum and Dad
• work work work work work
• made a better list
• booked storage
• had a car go clunk
• found out car can still clunk carefully until next week
• went to poetry
• started working through list.

This actually isn't on today's list, but I had 10 minutes between "mowing" and "sort $#!+ in office/spare room" and thought that maybe it should have been. 

Ahead of me is all that list, sell a house, buy a house, move, be present for family near and far and work work work work work... 

MIA

 I know, I have been missing (although if you look at my posting pattern for the last 16 years, that is not so very unusual) but do believe, it has been a very much IN ACTION type of missing.

Work has been crazy - I work full-time, and its generally 110% required. This week, three key players in my 7 player side (2 of the 7 being new recruits) were on leave, including my boss who I am 2IC to.  Crazy busy doesn't even start to cover it.

I went to visit my parents last weekend.  I also took the opportunity to give my sister a flying visit (haven't seen her in what seems like forever).  Next weekend I will be down at the Goldie to see a friend and also visit my Mum's sister with her POA so we can go through what she wants done with all of her house stuff should she ever decide to go into care (or have the decision made for her by fate), so may take that opportunity to give my sister outlaw a flying visit (ditto).  I have all weekends through to Christmas almost mapped out for me and I don't get a lot at home.  

On top of that, we are contemplating what is required to enact a possible house sell/buy/move in the next 6-12 months.  So far V and I have written a 4 page list of what may be needed to achieve the first bit, spare time is in contemplating what the second bit might be possible and we haven't even started to think of the headache of the third.

This was set off by a chance phone call, and as we had been discussing it thought "why not have a look at what may be".

The what may be person was going to come and give us an idea of what effort (and indeed, what money) we need to throw towards 3/4 of our list as frankly, our home will likely be sold on position rather than aesthetics of the house this morning - so my "do it before the what may be person comes" list was burning in my hands this morning.  Luckily I gave myself a 10 minute cup of tea break to check my emails, as he has asked to move it to tomorrow - I will have to move work hours.  My "do it before the what may be person comes" list now seems much more doable. 

So now, I am off to check out a few blogs with a more relaxed cup of tea, toast some of the bread I made last night for my breakfast, make pikelets with the whey from the mozzarella I also attempted to make last night (we will find out in 24 hrs how it went.  As total cost is time and a junket tablet - all else was in the "use it or throw it away" category - the very frugal part of me made that decision) for my book club later today and relax a little more.

Anyone want to spend a fortune on a home with a great view?

 

One Week Later...

I was so darned organised.

Packing en pointe. Carry on with absolutely required items only (still weighs a doggarned tonne). Tickets and passports and things needed to get in easily accessible nooks and crannies.

I had even checked-in online on time. Made sure that Paris had the window seat and me next to her all flights.

We got a great park at the airport and mother-in-law and V primed to wave farewells.

And then?

The booking card for Paris was mine printed twice. I showed Paris that it wasn't technically pushing in if we used the priority desk for a little Snafu of the airline's own making - and bonus, it gave the clerk a little one-upmanship leverage in workplace politics. Win.

Then we boarded. Word to the wise - apparently row 15 doesn't have a window. So struck out there.

Got to our connection city and going through the international connection gate had a problem with our  boarding passes AGAIN. It kept saying wrong date - so the lady did a manual override swipe and we entered the realm that was to be ours for the next 6 hours.

We connected to the airport wifi and made calls then went to see what was on offer for dinner on our way to scout the gate - but no flight, no gate and no clue what was going on.

 

Finally someone (hint, it wasn't me) had the bright idea to check the app - and there was advised second leg of flight was delayed by 10 hours.  On the upside, the airline put us up in a hotel and gave us some food vouchers - for inside the terminal, not at hotel. However, as Paris really wanted to shout us Chipotle's via Uber Eats we ate well. The beds were very soft and the pillows were way too fluffy. Luckily I had a spare shirt for the hot/cold changes so something to sleep in but no spare underwear!

This meant that we would miss the connecting flight from Brisbane, so after an interminable time on hold (thank goodness it wasn't a genuine EMERGENCY) I eventually got onto travel agent's 24/7 emergency response person (TA247ERP) to change flights. Given logistics of flights and customs, the earliest realistic flight I could get on was the next day (Tuesday) which meant I would have to stay overnight.  The TA247ERP said this is the airline's issue - check in chick advised it was in their charter and, on seeing our documentation, confirmed we should be eligible and she would put a note on our file for someone to talk to us about procedure at other end. That didn't happen but she had said we could send in a claim.

Motel we stayed at had firm enough bed, free shuttle to airport in morning and A-MA-ZING room service. We also had our luggage, so fresh clothes. The apartment was right at the other end of the complex to the office and free shuttle and the bags heavy, but heck, people pay to go to the gym.

Arrived back in home town - friend who had car garaged at hers collected - in her car, as my car wouldn't start. RACQ advised battery stuffed - got new battery.

Collected cat - paid for extra night. Cat yelled at us all the way home.

Dropped off cat and daughter and collected groceries. On way up with groceries, noticed a large puddle beneath toilet/pipes. Rang plumber. Amazing plumber came and fixed perished rings in toilet and advised no heavy work for toilet for 24 hours.

Used downstairs toilet for heavy work - discovered that downstairs toilet has same issue plus probably more. Used bucket from laundry sink to flush. Noticed washer in laundry also buggered.

Meant to be back at work Wednesday - on middle of night escort of daughter to downstairs toilet (its scary down there) felt a migraine niggling - took some drugs but was still a complete write off until about 2pm so first day back a sick day - all evacuations either end required a walk downstairs, get bucket of water from laundry and complete. Noted how filthy toilet was. Also had to call Cancer Care and move appointment for 3 year check up - not a fun activity when jackhammers are in the brain and nausea is threatening. Daughter put on washing (hooray) and washing machine stopped at final rinse. I think that I have worked out it may be related to washer issue in laundry as I got it to work by specifying "tap cold" rather than "cold/cold" for water temperature.

Called plumber again - couldn't come out to Friday morning.

 

Back to work on Thursday - as developer was finishing up other projects I couldn't get lowdown on requirements for fixing any issues raised with me until Friday, so spent day sorting spotfires and writing lists for Friday meeting.

 

Plumber back - downstairs toilet not only has issue identified but also apparently a crack in the base - will send a quote for that (but fixed problem).  Laundry taps so bad required complete replacement also.  It seems that my next holiday budget will be labelled "maintenance".

 

I rarely blog when in "real life" due to the brain drain that work is (they do get value for money).

 

All extra hours this week (and this weekend ahead) is devoted to catching up on family, yardwork and housework - and zonking out early - then up early because apparently time is just a concept!

 

Awoke at 3:14 this morning (pi time!!) and brain when into whirr zone. Am hoping that all the things I envisage happening today when I couldn't get back to sleep do actually happen. 

 

So - how has your week treated you?