I think the head of programming at Network Ten is a psychopath (either that, or the minion in charge of placement of my favourite program is!).
After 4 series of stuffing us around (See here for the backstory), (Series 1 was stuffed around by another Network), we are in the home stretch of the final series.
We thought the Network couldn't stuff us around any more.
We were wrong.
They lulled us into a false sense of complacency by putting it on regularly on a Monday evening for several weeks in a row. Then they took it off the air - rumours were that they were keeping it for the ratings period, and so we wouldn't see it during the December/Janury holidays.
Then they put a double episode on Christmas night.
The week between Christmas and New Year, they scheduled it every single night - and showed it.
The week after New Year, they scheduled it every single night - and didn't show it.
The next week they didn't schedule it. Last week they scheduled it for two nights - and showed it once.
There are people who look forward to this bit of sunshine in their viewing calendar, and who valiantly stay up until the 10.30 timeslot they believe it warrants only to find they were just jerking us around - again.
And last Friday, after again believing it might be possible they again kyboshed our wishes - and I realised.
There is someone in Ten who is messing with our minds.
Allegedly it is on again on Friday - but that is no guarantee.
My life is work and volunteering and being a mum and more work and occasional online relaxtion options - obviously not much blogging in front of the computers these days - and I really like my fix of Outrageous when I am promised such treats.
I think it cruel that they keep toying with me.
I even rang them and spoke to Jess about the situation. Before she hung up on me, she told me the reason they put it on so late was due to the content (it is up there - but then, they have kid killing on all the cop shows at 8.30 and I find that far more revolting) and the few who watch are staunch supporters (we have to be) but too few to be any influence (possibly because of the way they are treated).
I am nearing the end of my tether with them - if they don't show it this Friday, I am going to bite the bullet and do something that I have never yet done.
I am going to buy the series before it is finished showing on the local station from overseas. I am going to make their asterix * that little bit smaller and I am going to increase the NZ GDP.
So there.
(* - international symbol of negligible ratings)
Showing posts with label Outrageous Fortune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outrageous Fortune. Show all posts
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, December 04, 2009
Bathing - the adventure of a 39 week 2 day pregnant woman on a Friday night.
There was nothing on the tv, and after a harsh morning cleaning (the tuckshop) and the overwhelming (olfactory) urge to bathe, a decision that the black hole in entertainment between 'Salina's bedtime and Outrageous Fortune coming back onto Free-to-Air television in Australia (to see what that may mean to me, I have a thing for Outrageous) (oh, and if I were in Auckland I would definitely do this) would be best filled by running the tub and submerging.
So the bath was filled (yoga positioning required. Lean forward and gently toward the taps, hoping desparately that the centre of gravity would remain in the legs section of the torso and not suddenly tip into the leaning bit - gravity truly sucks sometimes), using the occasional dabble of the right foot for temperature control. There is a conscious thought process on the advisability of adjusting the temperature too finely, as the above step of balance is to be taken seriously with every nudge of the taps.
Getting in to the bath is itself convoluted and requiring several steps.
First, ensure that you are far enough from the plug end to allow room for the eventual placement of legs after lowering - this also means not so close to the slopey (sp?) end of the bath that the tailbone may impact above the bend.
Once correct positioning has been reached, attempt a squat - as you pass the point where your knees may get close to collapse, take the weight off one leg and try to extend it forward WHILE balancing on the other and extending your arms to catch the side of the bath. Continue the downward trajectory until such time as gravity takes over and you plummet.
The "getting into the bath" stage should take place when the water level is not going to be too adversely affected by the Archimedes principle under pressure.
Once in the bath, you are able to use your right foot to adjust the water temperature and turn off the water once the plumb line has been reached. This is a good thing, as there is a very non-pregnant chance in Hades that you would be able to reach down to your ankles and adjust manually.
Now the bath has been run and horizontalish as been achieved, soaking, reading and wallowing may be contemplated. Ignore the water temperature, as once the water is off there is no factor that can be influenced in that matter until removal of body from the bath. Therefore it is adviseable to stay in the water until 7 minutes before unbearable to take full advantage of all the effort that has led to this point.
Once upon a non-pregnant time, the deadline used to be 2 minutes to allow for 2 minutes ablutions before arising, effortlessly and Venus-like, from the waters.
At 39 weeks 2 days pregnant, washing is not the mindless activity that thence it was. You will need all of the 4.5 minutes you allocate for this task just to attempt to reach all frontiers with soap - rinsing is somewhat easier, as you can throw water in the general direction.
With the last 2.5 minutes, exit strategies must be used.
First, sit up.
(ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Please use whatever handholds the bath offers to achieve this - there is no pride available in this step.
Next, cross legs - again with the yoga, I know, but it is a step that is required when your ankles have no flex left and you have to get to vertical somehow.
Now, grasping the end of the bath, try to twist your legs around to one side of your body, hopefully ending up with both of them facing the same way and in correct order. You may need to rock a bit to achieve this, as momentum can be your friend but can also get you stuck if your timing is off.
With both legs to the side (left is my preference) you then need to attempt to raise your torso enough to get said legs to a position approximating beneath you.
Now, lean forward to place your palms on the bottom of the bath and raise yourself onto all-fours. Move through whatever tortures are required to get to Downward Dog and, using the sides of the bath, bathroom fittings and whatever furnishings within reach until vertical is achieved.
Congratulations!!
So the bath was filled (yoga positioning required. Lean forward and gently toward the taps, hoping desparately that the centre of gravity would remain in the legs section of the torso and not suddenly tip into the leaning bit - gravity truly sucks sometimes), using the occasional dabble of the right foot for temperature control. There is a conscious thought process on the advisability of adjusting the temperature too finely, as the above step of balance is to be taken seriously with every nudge of the taps.
Getting in to the bath is itself convoluted and requiring several steps.
First, ensure that you are far enough from the plug end to allow room for the eventual placement of legs after lowering - this also means not so close to the slopey (sp?) end of the bath that the tailbone may impact above the bend.
Once correct positioning has been reached, attempt a squat - as you pass the point where your knees may get close to collapse, take the weight off one leg and try to extend it forward WHILE balancing on the other and extending your arms to catch the side of the bath. Continue the downward trajectory until such time as gravity takes over and you plummet.
The "getting into the bath" stage should take place when the water level is not going to be too adversely affected by the Archimedes principle under pressure.
Once in the bath, you are able to use your right foot to adjust the water temperature and turn off the water once the plumb line has been reached. This is a good thing, as there is a very non-pregnant chance in Hades that you would be able to reach down to your ankles and adjust manually.
Now the bath has been run and horizontalish as been achieved, soaking, reading and wallowing may be contemplated. Ignore the water temperature, as once the water is off there is no factor that can be influenced in that matter until removal of body from the bath. Therefore it is adviseable to stay in the water until 7 minutes before unbearable to take full advantage of all the effort that has led to this point.
Once upon a non-pregnant time, the deadline used to be 2 minutes to allow for 2 minutes ablutions before arising, effortlessly and Venus-like, from the waters.
At 39 weeks 2 days pregnant, washing is not the mindless activity that thence it was. You will need all of the 4.5 minutes you allocate for this task just to attempt to reach all frontiers with soap - rinsing is somewhat easier, as you can throw water in the general direction.
With the last 2.5 minutes, exit strategies must be used.
First, sit up.
(ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Please use whatever handholds the bath offers to achieve this - there is no pride available in this step.
Next, cross legs - again with the yoga, I know, but it is a step that is required when your ankles have no flex left and you have to get to vertical somehow.
Now, grasping the end of the bath, try to twist your legs around to one side of your body, hopefully ending up with both of them facing the same way and in correct order. You may need to rock a bit to achieve this, as momentum can be your friend but can also get you stuck if your timing is off.
With both legs to the side (left is my preference) you then need to attempt to raise your torso enough to get said legs to a position approximating beneath you.
Now, lean forward to place your palms on the bottom of the bath and raise yourself onto all-fours. Move through whatever tortures are required to get to Downward Dog and, using the sides of the bath, bathroom fittings and whatever furnishings within reach until vertical is achieved.
Congratulations!!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday night
is DATE night in Paradise.
Ah yes, while we live a life a quiet contemplation the other six nights of the week, Saturday night heats up around here.
During certain times of the year, our methodical approach to life does allow a little more latitude, but as of two days ago, we are fixed on Saturdays again until October (or November or whenever they think footy season should cease for 08).
Not that I complain about the Footy. If it is a half-decent team, I might sit beside V and tease him while keeping an eye on the game. And if it is a half-crap team, I get to check on blogs while V has a snooze in front of the game. Heck, if it is Parramatta and St George, I might even get to choose the movie.
Actually, that is bs. If it is a half-decent team, I will be yelling at the ref with the best of them, but as for all the rest, it is true. Unless V really needs someone to help him yell at the ref.
But from now until that date in Spring, my window of late-night deep and meaningful conversation with an adult has been pared back to Saturdays.
As many of you reading are parents, you know full well how prepared you have to be to contemplate such d&m activities. And as most children are getting older and wiser by the day, you will also know how these preparations need constant refinement to get the full depth and meaning you anticipate.
You have to start early. Saturday morning is not too early to start your big night preparations. We try to greet 'Salina brightly (or at least respond her her morning sunshine with as much enthusiasm as possible) at the hour of morning she chooses to alight from bed - or the hour she has chosen we have to be up with her, anyway.
After ablutions, food negotiations and budget strategies have been wrestled with (by one adult while the other regales her with interesting facts and figures or decluttering activities), I get her to style up and hit the town.
The aim of this endeavour is to make her walk as far as possible, through as many supermarkets as possible while keeping just below the whinge threshhold. She keeps on, as I dangle the tempting delights of "fast food for lunch" in front of her as inducement. I love that my child considers Sunshine Kebabs her favourite junk food!
She gets a breather on the way home, and then we all put groceries away. If we are extremely lucky she has a playdate or finds something to do with Boy Next Door. Later in the afternoon, V will play with her outside while I get my downtime (V has his while we shop). If we are really, really lucky, she is exhausted by the evening, and bedtime is a breeze.
After 8.30, when we are all washed up, showered, the child is in bed and we are contemplating the day, our DATE begins.
Okay, its not all romance and candles and fine music. Sometimes it is limited to the last of the wine in the house and what the tele has to offer. Sometimes we have discussions that run the gamut of politics, parenting (or step), past life experiences and possible future ventures. We even sometimes bring up the "wedding plan" discussion - which quickly gets shelved again, as the list on the whiteboard is working well in its failure to move things to a deadline there.
Last night, we had a special treat - a Melbourne internet friend who is also an Outrageous Fortune fan found Series Two and the Christmas movie length special on DVD and let us borrow it. Honestly, folks, beg your local television stations to buy this New Zealand gem and hide it from all except the late night surfers - it is so f*ing funny. Well, it is unless you have a thing about swearing, sexual references, drug references, adult themes or the occasional bit of family violence - you probably would be flinching to much to notice I suppose.
So anyway, with such entertainment options, we have to have munchies and unless I am on a health kick (heck, even if I am on a health kick) we can generally organise a late night feast.
Ah yes, we aren't spring chickens any more but we still know how to have fun!!!
Of course, Sunday mornings tend to be a bit the worse for wear. And 'Salina still rises with the sun, being as wonderfully chirpy as ever - so we do our best not to groan at the late night after-effects. And we can smile at the memories of our Saturday night.
Just noticed that Series Three DVD is on sale after Easter in New Zealand. And we still haven't seen an episode of it.
While reading Channel Ten forums - they seem to have finally got them working - I find out they have no intention of going with Series 3 and we may have to buy Foxtel to see it. Cheaper to find NZ friends, eh?
Also sad information - Boy Next Door is moving. Waaaaah! About 6 hours away. Double Waaah!!
Ah yes, while we live a life a quiet contemplation the other six nights of the week, Saturday night heats up around here.
During certain times of the year, our methodical approach to life does allow a little more latitude, but as of two days ago, we are fixed on Saturdays again until October (or November or whenever they think footy season should cease for 08).
Not that I complain about the Footy. If it is a half-decent team, I might sit beside V and tease him while keeping an eye on the game. And if it is a half-crap team, I get to check on blogs while V has a snooze in front of the game. Heck, if it is Parramatta and St George, I might even get to choose the movie.
Actually, that is bs. If it is a half-decent team, I will be yelling at the ref with the best of them, but as for all the rest, it is true. Unless V really needs someone to help him yell at the ref.
But from now until that date in Spring, my window of late-night deep and meaningful conversation with an adult has been pared back to Saturdays.
As many of you reading are parents, you know full well how prepared you have to be to contemplate such d&m activities. And as most children are getting older and wiser by the day, you will also know how these preparations need constant refinement to get the full depth and meaning you anticipate.
You have to start early. Saturday morning is not too early to start your big night preparations. We try to greet 'Salina brightly (or at least respond her her morning sunshine with as much enthusiasm as possible) at the hour of morning she chooses to alight from bed - or the hour she has chosen we have to be up with her, anyway.
After ablutions, food negotiations and budget strategies have been wrestled with (by one adult while the other regales her with interesting facts and figures or decluttering activities), I get her to style up and hit the town.
The aim of this endeavour is to make her walk as far as possible, through as many supermarkets as possible while keeping just below the whinge threshhold. She keeps on, as I dangle the tempting delights of "fast food for lunch" in front of her as inducement. I love that my child considers Sunshine Kebabs her favourite junk food!
She gets a breather on the way home, and then we all put groceries away. If we are extremely lucky she has a playdate or finds something to do with Boy Next Door. Later in the afternoon, V will play with her outside while I get my downtime (V has his while we shop). If we are really, really lucky, she is exhausted by the evening, and bedtime is a breeze.
After 8.30, when we are all washed up, showered, the child is in bed and we are contemplating the day, our DATE begins.
Okay, its not all romance and candles and fine music. Sometimes it is limited to the last of the wine in the house and what the tele has to offer. Sometimes we have discussions that run the gamut of politics, parenting (or step), past life experiences and possible future ventures. We even sometimes bring up the "wedding plan" discussion - which quickly gets shelved again, as the list on the whiteboard is working well in its failure to move things to a deadline there.
Last night, we had a special treat - a Melbourne internet friend who is also an Outrageous Fortune fan found Series Two and the Christmas movie length special on DVD and let us borrow it. Honestly, folks, beg your local television stations to buy this New Zealand gem and hide it from all except the late night surfers - it is so f*ing funny. Well, it is unless you have a thing about swearing, sexual references, drug references, adult themes or the occasional bit of family violence - you probably would be flinching to much to notice I suppose.
So anyway, with such entertainment options, we have to have munchies and unless I am on a health kick (heck, even if I am on a health kick) we can generally organise a late night feast.
Ah yes, we aren't spring chickens any more but we still know how to have fun!!!
Of course, Sunday mornings tend to be a bit the worse for wear. And 'Salina still rises with the sun, being as wonderfully chirpy as ever - so we do our best not to groan at the late night after-effects. And we can smile at the memories of our Saturday night.
Just noticed that Series Three DVD is on sale after Easter in New Zealand. And we still haven't seen an episode of it.
While reading Channel Ten forums - they seem to have finally got them working - I find out they have no intention of going with Series 3 and we may have to buy Foxtel to see it. Cheaper to find NZ friends, eh?
Also sad information - Boy Next Door is moving. Waaaaah! About 6 hours away. Double Waaah!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Outrageous
Remember how I had a problem with a television station hiding and moving a show I discovered?
In fact, of late Network 10 has not only switched it back and forth between Sundays and Fridays to do Pavlov experiments on viewers of Outrageous Fortune. No indeed, they have decided a more sinister approach of stuffing any night they didn't have a clueless crap program to fill the latest shift with my new favourite show - see just how desparate viewers could be.
The answer is - Not That - I like my sleep and to plan on doing so a little in advance, so I catch every odd one when I am up to it but have resigned myself to not ever knowing the full story.
Last night, however, a new twist to my own personal Outrageous Fortune drama unfolded.
Last night, V and I were doing the last minute flick around before bedtime rituals were attended. We were on WIN (country folks channel 9) and the next program disclaimer came on - Mature Adults, all sorts of references. V asked if it were my programme, but we both dismissed that as it was the wrong station and we kept flicking. Five minutes later, the station we had landed on started spouting ads so we did another flick. Would you believe - it really WAS my new lost favourite show, but a previous season.
I have a feeling that Channel Nine may have read my blog (okay, maybe there are more than I watching it and the Summer ratings were reflecting), realised that they had a season of this up their sleeves and decided to adopt the policy of Channel 10 and fill some late night space...
Either that, or it is a conspiracy...
So now I know the background to the first ever episode I watched - and I discovered that the production qualities have travelled a l-o-n-g way since this first series.
So, have you ever discovered and lost a TV show?
I try not to take it personally, and I have already braced myself that this new-found wealth of riches will be pulled at the whim of a TV executive, but it still does sting a little, like the pain of lost love.
There was Eastenders - yes, I know it was a crap English soap opera, but it was my crap English soap opera and you never forget your first.
There was Thirty Something - whatever did happen? Apparently there were several seasons after it was ripped from my eyes, but I will forever be caught in the unfolding drama of an impending divorce between the brunette and her hubster, and the divorced ones sneaking around getting back together behind people's backs.
There were comedies whose names I forget, for my affair with them was so fleeting - but they didn't make the masses laugh and they were jerked from my screen before we could fully bond.
I know, I know - I need to return to only watch ABC and SBS as they know how to engender some loyalty and have some values - and I know how good for me their programming can be, but its like junk food - you don't watch commercial television for nutritional content but the mindlessness on offer.
Sigh - oh well, maybe Outrageous Fortune will just have to remain the programme I hook up with as long as I am able, either flash new version on Channel 10 or naive young version on Win/9, but that I never allow myself to love too deeply, because I do know how those b*st*rds operate.
But there is nothing so pathetic as steeling your heart against a holiday fling.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
You have to feel sorry for V
Poor old V...
Eddie attempted the 5am wake up on me this morning and for the first time in a long time failed.
I slept in until 6.45am - woo hoo.
Of course, Eddie just moved on to the next person in the pecking order to waken, so 'Salina was up at 5.10am. Which dominoed into V being up by 5.15 - but the darlings allowed me to sleep until 6.45. I am truly blessed.
Well, I got my tea and made noises about washing clothes, washing dishes, attacking gardens, convoluted trailer strategies, 'Salina's social engagements - the day has just started and my to-do list immediately sprang to the fore - so I came in to the computer to commune withnature my addictive id for a moment or two.
V came in to discuss something with me.
I responded with some comments that are not repeatable here, but just imagine breathy tones, knowledge of child-free hours soon and fill in the gaps - he got the message anyway to be on alert.
Both 'Salina and he intermittently yelled topics of discussion through to my not-yet-fully-caffienated-internet-soaked mind - about things, I wasn't really paying enough attention.
Then V mentioned that it might be time for me to "switch off the TV" (a comment often directed at 'Salina's lack of interaction) - which I did.
Then V mentioned that Outrageous Fortune (see previous rant) was scheduled for a Sunday night appearance at 11.10pm.
Then V started getting breakfast ready and I began cleaning and planning and doing and vibrating with the "to-dos". As I went to the freezer to retrieve frozen offerings for dinner tonight, V took an opportunity to mention - non-verbally - about the breathy tone scenario I had raised earlier. I snarled...
He was confused - "but 10 minutes ago" - "10 minutes is a long time, baby - especially this week" I mentioned to him.
The good news is he laughed about it. The good news is it is a few hours later and 'Salina is at a friend's house until 2pm. The other news is that V has crashed out - an avoidance of the quixotic nature of a pre-menstrual woman technique, perhaps.
So I blog in lieu of better things to do.
Eddie attempted the 5am wake up on me this morning and for the first time in a long time failed.
I slept in until 6.45am - woo hoo.
Of course, Eddie just moved on to the next person in the pecking order to waken, so 'Salina was up at 5.10am. Which dominoed into V being up by 5.15 - but the darlings allowed me to sleep until 6.45. I am truly blessed.
Well, I got my tea and made noises about washing clothes, washing dishes, attacking gardens, convoluted trailer strategies, 'Salina's social engagements - the day has just started and my to-do list immediately sprang to the fore - so I came in to the computer to commune with
V came in to discuss something with me.
I responded with some comments that are not repeatable here, but just imagine breathy tones, knowledge of child-free hours soon and fill in the gaps - he got the message anyway to be on alert.
Both 'Salina and he intermittently yelled topics of discussion through to my not-yet-fully-caffienated-internet-soaked mind - about things, I wasn't really paying enough attention.
Then V mentioned that it might be time for me to "switch off the TV" (a comment often directed at 'Salina's lack of interaction) - which I did.
Then V mentioned that Outrageous Fortune (see previous rant) was scheduled for a Sunday night appearance at 11.10pm.
Then V started getting breakfast ready and I began cleaning and planning and doing and vibrating with the "to-dos". As I went to the freezer to retrieve frozen offerings for dinner tonight, V took an opportunity to mention - non-verbally - about the breathy tone scenario I had raised earlier. I snarled...
He was confused - "but 10 minutes ago" - "10 minutes is a long time, baby - especially this week" I mentioned to him.
The good news is he laughed about it. The good news is it is a few hours later and 'Salina is at a friend's house until 2pm. The other news is that V has crashed out - an avoidance of the quixotic nature of a pre-menstrual woman technique, perhaps.
So I blog in lieu of better things to do.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
I blame Network Ten - Seriously
Dear Programming Maestros at Channel Ten,
Forgive me, but I hold you responsible for not having had enough sleep last night.
You see, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, your Network bought an excellent New Zealand program called
Outrageous Fortune, and then proceeded to give it absolutely no support. I applauded you for showing more than 1/2 of an episode as the sods at Channel Nine reportedly did last year.
However, in subsequent weeks it appears that you have attempted to bury it at 10.30 at night, and then kept switching nights to fling off any viewers.
But I am far more savvy - I have lost programs before - I read the TV guide to see where they are going to dig it in this week. I applaud the fact you have moved it back to Friday nights, after trying to ruin my week by making me stay up late on Sundays - but can I make a few suggestions, Channel Ten (and I do hope someone in programming has a google alert on it)?
How about putting it on INSTEAD of some of the putzy programs you call Summer Programming at an earlier timeslot?
How about pushing it as the fantastic NZ comedic drama that it is, maybe promote it a little in like programs and let the punters know? There is so little choice at the moment. (Oh, added bonus - there are meant to be a few thousand kiwis lodging in this land - maybe they will automatically back it if you told them about it?)
Alternatively, how about keeping it to one time slot so I can try and build my life around a constant?
Your other option is to give me a DVD recorder / video recorder that works / whizz bang new hard-drive recorder so I can record it, PMSL at a more convenient time and continue to spread the gospel...
Of course, my subsequent sleeplessness was caused by my lack of Christmas planning angst, and my really early morning was due to one Eddie monster - but if you fix this one problem, I will work on the rest.
Thanks in advance.
Jeanie InParadise
PS - Oh - and bring back Life
PPS - if you want me to contact you direct, I am a woman of technology. Therefore, an electronic contact would be appreciated on your website - and not just a complaint form. That sends out the wrong message that you only want complaints. I am not complaining - just trying to help.
PPPS - if you want feedback through your forums, it would help if you made registration available.
Forgive me, but I hold you responsible for not having had enough sleep last night.
You see, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, your Network bought an excellent New Zealand program called
Outrageous Fortune, and then proceeded to give it absolutely no support. I applauded you for showing more than 1/2 of an episode as the sods at Channel Nine reportedly did last year.
However, in subsequent weeks it appears that you have attempted to bury it at 10.30 at night, and then kept switching nights to fling off any viewers.
But I am far more savvy - I have lost programs before - I read the TV guide to see where they are going to dig it in this week. I applaud the fact you have moved it back to Friday nights, after trying to ruin my week by making me stay up late on Sundays - but can I make a few suggestions, Channel Ten (and I do hope someone in programming has a google alert on it)?
How about putting it on INSTEAD of some of the putzy programs you call Summer Programming at an earlier timeslot?
How about pushing it as the fantastic NZ comedic drama that it is, maybe promote it a little in like programs and let the punters know? There is so little choice at the moment. (Oh, added bonus - there are meant to be a few thousand kiwis lodging in this land - maybe they will automatically back it if you told them about it?)
Alternatively, how about keeping it to one time slot so I can try and build my life around a constant?
Your other option is to give me a DVD recorder / video recorder that works / whizz bang new hard-drive recorder so I can record it, PMSL at a more convenient time and continue to spread the gospel...
Of course, my subsequent sleeplessness was caused by my lack of Christmas planning angst, and my really early morning was due to one Eddie monster - but if you fix this one problem, I will work on the rest.
Thanks in advance.
Jeanie InParadise
PS - Oh - and bring back Life
PPS - if you want me to contact you direct, I am a woman of technology. Therefore, an electronic contact would be appreciated on your website - and not just a complaint form. That sends out the wrong message that you only want complaints. I am not complaining - just trying to help.
PPPS - if you want feedback through your forums, it would help if you made registration available.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Instead of whinging
I had a half written post whinging about other people's children, but I have had such a lovely afternoon and evening that I have just tossed it into the draft bin (and that feels so much better).
This afternoon, it loomed that I had several L-A-R-G-I-S-H jobs to face when I got out of my regular Friday tuckshop lady disguise.
While I crowned in my success in getting the front lawn mowed Monday Morning!, the back did not fare so well.
Monday afternoon I wasbuggered a little tired; Tuesday was Guides; Wednesday I ended up working; Thursday I also meetinged, worked and grocery shopped to arrive home just before 'Salina, and honestly no tears were shed when rain loomed large - but today I HAD to, as the mossies were getting way to friendly and were seriously casing the neighbourhood.
I attempted to fire 'Salina into action to get her big project done by Monday (document and build a boat), but she is set to learn a life lesson and I have too much on my plate to contemplate how to bubblewrap her on this one. Instead she chose to see what Boy-Next-Door was doing.
Well, he was cycling and mucking about, only too happy to have a playmate and easily persuaded to ask his Mum if they could have a swim in their pool.
So this-bad-mother then donned the workgear, sunscreened up, cleared the back yard and fired up the Rover.
Aside from the baling twine incident (makes a lovely sound in the rotors, doesn't it?), the fuel mix richness after I checked for the baling twine (makes a lovely cloud that happened to highlight the downside of mixing laundry and mowing day) and the injury one received when one drops the mower onto an unshod (I know, I know) toe upon ripping the starter (I did a compensatory hobble for about two sweeps of the yard - great self-pity session I ended up laughing at) it was a very fulfilling little job - my grass-clipping mountain range at the side of the house is now becoming Great Wall of China-ish, and I am contemplating applying for a government grant for artistic interpretation of the sub-tropical back yard.
Then V got home and was duly appreciative of my enthusiasm and determination lawn-wise (I had time-managed it so there was still enough of a "before" strip to show the sheer enormity of the task undertaken when he did arrive).
'Salina and Boy-Next-Door conspired with his mother to watch a movie and eat ice blocks and ham and cheese sandwiches, so there was an hour and a half of child-free time to have us some amazing passion - in the kitchen, with our preparations for a feast.
When 'Salina arrived home, we partook. It was delicious - under-appreciated by the middle one, but hey, I am long over pandering to her narrow taste definitions. So long as she eats some, eats some more of the healthy and doesn't make too much fuss we all get along just fine.
Then we got to see her full haul from visiting her father's family last week for their belated celebrations of her birthday - and she did really well!
She is in bed now. V noticed I had left my work gear on the bathroom floor - a habit we are attempting to break in 'Salina - my defence is that I wasn't sure whether I wanted to wash them before we headed off in the morning, but a point is a point is a point and V made it very well when he loudly chastised me for it, with 'Salina cheering on!
So, what do you think my punishment should be, huh? I suggested that maybe I should be forced to do all the laundry next week too...
I am off to the 'lations in the morning for the weekend. A weekend filled with cousins and horses for 'Salina, so her life is complete. V may or may not be working, so he may or may not travel over with us or he (the other) come over tomorrow afternoon. There is opportunity for some quality Central Queensland socialising, although I also do actually work when I get over there, so may concentrate on getting them squared away with that so I can do more family oriented things on Sunday.
See you then!
Edited to add:
Night was topped of by catching a new show on Channel 10 - Outrageous Fortune - a Kiwi show that had us cracking up! Apparently Channel 9 bought and buried it last year, but 10 will hopefully keep showing it, because we will definitely give it another viewing! We got the first episode of the 2006 series, so there is plenty ahead of us.
This afternoon, it loomed that I had several L-A-R-G-I-S-H jobs to face when I got out of my regular Friday tuckshop lady disguise.
While I crowned in my success in getting the front lawn mowed Monday Morning!, the back did not fare so well.
Monday afternoon I was
I attempted to fire 'Salina into action to get her big project done by Monday (document and build a boat), but she is set to learn a life lesson and I have too much on my plate to contemplate how to bubblewrap her on this one. Instead she chose to see what Boy-Next-Door was doing.
Well, he was cycling and mucking about, only too happy to have a playmate and easily persuaded to ask his Mum if they could have a swim in their pool.
So this-bad-mother then donned the workgear, sunscreened up, cleared the back yard and fired up the Rover.
Aside from the baling twine incident (makes a lovely sound in the rotors, doesn't it?), the fuel mix richness after I checked for the baling twine (makes a lovely cloud that happened to highlight the downside of mixing laundry and mowing day) and the injury one received when one drops the mower onto an unshod (I know, I know) toe upon ripping the starter (I did a compensatory hobble for about two sweeps of the yard - great self-pity session I ended up laughing at) it was a very fulfilling little job - my grass-clipping mountain range at the side of the house is now becoming Great Wall of China-ish, and I am contemplating applying for a government grant for artistic interpretation of the sub-tropical back yard.
Then V got home and was duly appreciative of my enthusiasm and determination lawn-wise (I had time-managed it so there was still enough of a "before" strip to show the sheer enormity of the task undertaken when he did arrive).
'Salina and Boy-Next-Door conspired with his mother to watch a movie and eat ice blocks and ham and cheese sandwiches, so there was an hour and a half of child-free time to have us some amazing passion - in the kitchen, with our preparations for a feast.
When 'Salina arrived home, we partook. It was delicious - under-appreciated by the middle one, but hey, I am long over pandering to her narrow taste definitions. So long as she eats some, eats some more of the healthy and doesn't make too much fuss we all get along just fine.
Then we got to see her full haul from visiting her father's family last week for their belated celebrations of her birthday - and she did really well!
She is in bed now. V noticed I had left my work gear on the bathroom floor - a habit we are attempting to break in 'Salina - my defence is that I wasn't sure whether I wanted to wash them before we headed off in the morning, but a point is a point is a point and V made it very well when he loudly chastised me for it, with 'Salina cheering on!
So, what do you think my punishment should be, huh? I suggested that maybe I should be forced to do all the laundry next week too...
I am off to the 'lations in the morning for the weekend. A weekend filled with cousins and horses for 'Salina, so her life is complete. V may or may not be working, so he may or may not travel over with us or he (the other) come over tomorrow afternoon. There is opportunity for some quality Central Queensland socialising, although I also do actually work when I get over there, so may concentrate on getting them squared away with that so I can do more family oriented things on Sunday.
See you then!
Edited to add:
Night was topped of by catching a new show on Channel 10 - Outrageous Fortune - a Kiwi show that had us cracking up! Apparently Channel 9 bought and buried it last year, but 10 will hopefully keep showing it, because we will definitely give it another viewing! We got the first episode of the 2006 series, so there is plenty ahead of us.
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