October 2 to do list

Because it may not get written otherwise.

• Write list
• Stuff around
• Sort washing, put first load of washing on
• Breakfast
• Make 'Salina's lunchbox
• Do household budget
• Find cat, violin and sadly overdue library books
• Stuff cat into catbox and put it, 'Salina, her lunchbox and other items into car
• Deposit cat at Garfield's Purrfect Cat Motel, get violin tuned, drop books into library, find mechanic to give me a screw (in the mounting around the front passenger side tyre), drop 'Salina at vacation care
• Do other seventy-six million (okay, 3) loads of washing, peg them out in a timely manner
• Colour hair
• Water gardens
• Do work budget and any outstanding worky tasks
• Shower
• Work out details for the weekend
• Pack
• Vacuum
• Sweep
• Clean kitchen
• Contemplate cleaning bathroom
• Collapse
• Pack car
• Collect 'Salina from Vacation Care
• Hit the road
• Drive for 4-7 hours

oh, and

• Blog

What does yours look like?

October?

How the heck did that happen? Hang on, 2009, you are getting waaay ahead of yourself.

I vote for it still being August - anyone with me?

Thank you all for your comments about the moments made special. On Monday, there ended up being many of them.

'Salina decided she wanted to make a picnic for visiting cousins and so there were chicken and egg (separate) sandwiches, banana muffins, fruit and cordial packed up for feasting and adventures.

We met up with my brother and SIL and stole their three children for our entertainment (and gave them leave to have a few child-free hours - they looked quite lost at the concept)

We went to a new playground. New playgrounds are fantastic - no graffiti, the bits of tree are still soft fill and not hardened torture, all the pieces of equipment still work (and aren't vandalised) - and so exciting to explore.

(note to playground designers - you know those useless ladies and/or gents following your target audience around - a request for a bit more shade for them to loiter in please)

After dropping off one cousin to an appointment with her dad, we went to the Botanic Gardens ('Salina and I are still arguing the toss on it being "Botanic" or "Botanical" - signs were contradictory supporting both arguments) for the main drawcard we offer visitors - the little train that circles the gardens on random days during the holidays.

(As an aside to shake a stick at bureaucracy gone mad, apparently the State Government were making noises that the small voluntary group of train enthusiasts who lovingly restore old diesels and steam trains for this circuit of no more than 3km at a top speed of around 5 km/h and who have NEVER had an accident should adhere to the same standards as their soon-to-be-sold-off public network which would cost them about $1 million in upgrades - that is a heck of a lot of $1 train rides to flog to little children, isn't it?)

Unfortunately, we had not gambled on the day we chose being one of the random days they weren't running the trains during the holidays so we elected instead to use our legs and explore.

Note to the wise - if you are going to ramble through lush trees and look at ducks and lizards and splash in puddles and marvel at disappearing turtles, do it with a 3 year old in tow. Increases joy all around.

Of course, one of the problems with dragging children around in the tamed wilderness is the sudden of toilet needs (not to mention pregnant lady requirements) - but one of the attributes of tamed wilderness is that it is never too far to another building that might have toilets.

The best, best, BEST thing about the gardens, however, was the bit of lawn in front of the cafe when three children could run wild round and round and round for about 1.5 hours while I sat and watched!

Today, however, our special moments have consisted of "do I have to go to Vacation Care" and grumbles, as someone has seen fit to request me to type all day in their meeting.

Still, tomorrow is another day - and it is one where we aim to venture down to the Big Smoke for a very speedy catchup with an unofficial school reunion, 'Salina's dad's family, old friends and fit in the footy grand final before returning to the real world on Monday.

How's your mother?

My head is clear, the coughs are receding into the background and oh my goodness, doesn't it make a difference feeling okay?

A friend of mine yesterday mentioned that this will be the last school holidays where 'Salina will be the only child, and was I doing anything special 1 on 1 with her.

Eeek - I hadn't even thought!!

Where am I going to find such moments? In the 8 days ahead we have cousins in town today, a playdate and softball training tomorrow, I am working Wednesday-Friday, we (including V) anticipate a flying visit to Brisbane over the weekend and the pupil-free day next Monday will be travelling back or recovery!!

I mean, last week we had some real quality mother/daughter times - there was the drive to and from Granite Glen (always fun - except when she is sleeping, which is generally the case on the return because generally she has well and truly worn out the batteries on horses and cousins) and I picked her up from Vacation Care early on Friday.

Right now I am on the computer and she is watching a kids show she NEVER gets to watch the whole way through because the bus arrives - as they say in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, it is about the definition of quality.

Well, okay, Z&TAOMM probably wasn't alluding to domestic excuses AND it has been a few years since I dived into that tome, but I am going to have to work on how to harness quality M/D time from the aspect of definition - because time/money/opportunity isn't as free flowing in this second week of the holidays as is required for the zenith of such experiences.

So her making scrambled eggs for me and only having one slight mishap involving balance, beaters, gravity and yolks fits in to the category of "great Mother/Daughter moments". As does 'Salina spreading mulch while I weeded and pruned. I think the moments of tidying together are priceless, and we did do the groceries together yesterday.

Then I think back to last week - one night she went to other cousins and I stayed with my parents, and then I spent most of the next day with my own mother.

Of course, I was on the computer for the majority of it (real work, not just fluffing around) and she was pottering - but we got to wash up together and the comfort of just being around each other - its nice.

So I wonder - what are great mother/daughter moments for all of you? Is it the moments crafted, the moments stolen, the moments of excess or the moments of mundane?

I would like to announce my return to the real world

However the dust storm on Wednesday started it all off again, and therefore we have interminable coughing from this neck of the woods.

To compound the joy of the moment, 'Salina has her own special variation of it going, a lovely hybrid of what she has had lingering for months and what Mummy has brought to the table.

Oh, and not to miss out on the action, V has just started his version, and we can have the full symphony at some points of the evening.

Vitamin Cs in high demand and a fun September school holidays being enjoyed by all.

Prior to Wednesday, however, things were brighter - we were visiting relatives which meant a great deal of horsely and cousinly activity for 'Salina.

There was a slight amount of hair pulling for me with diminished internet connectivity (not just for my social life - I actually had some work that required a bit of internet - I have the WORST boss in the world, she won't even let me enjoy a holiday. Of course, I could just thumb my nose and resign but as I work for myself I do this regularly and no notice is taken)

Next week I have plans of actually having some school holidays with 'Salina, and then bundle her into care for a few days while I work and prepare for a lightening trip to Brisbane (already overbooked with relatives, friends, school reunions and buying stuff for baby).

Collapsing is on the cards in October.

I hope the world is treating my internet friends well, and I promise to pop by at some point soon.

News from a sn0thead

Apologies for the language folks, but it is me to a T this week - sore throat on Saturday night blown into a fully-fledged lurgy-filled ball of sunshine.

I am sorry I haven't been around others places or even on here to update you - it would have just been part 3 (and maybe 4, 5 and 6) of the previous laments and as I am chronically sick of my own whining, didn't really see the point of extending my personal cloud of doom over the net. Especially when there are others who have far more important things to contemplate right now.

Monday I had a Glucose Tolerance Test in the morning so I could get back in time for 'Salina's violin performance in the Talent Quest (and yes, we need violins for this ongoing saga)..

However, going in to have the Glucose Tolerance Test meant that I missed the school assembly - which would have told me of a change of times for 'Salina's violin performance to the earlier lunch - which of course I missed at I was having a (all sing with me) Glucose Tolerance Test.

Apparently she did quite well - got a 10/10 from one of the judges (and an 8 and a 7) but missed the final by 1 point. This is slightly disappointing, but a relief in one way as it is one less trip to school this week for me (I have been up there 5 times so far this week and will be up there for an hour this morning - where is the "hide from volunteering" door?).

A lot of people have a problem with the Glucose Tolerance Test. The drink has actually improved in the last 10 years, and the drinking the liquid was no problem (and hey, it is halal, kosher AND gluten free!).

The sitting for an hour in an overcrowded 1970s waiting room trying not to cough or sneeze too much, however, was excrutiating. The pathology lab at the hospital shares a waiting room with the dental clinic, and both have reputations for not running to schedule and grumpy patrons. When I say "1970s waiting room" I am not, by the way, referring to a funky retro feel, rather a funky never updated feel. I think the one magazine available to the masses was a little more recent.

As I give blood (when not pregnant) I have no problems being pinned by needles.

Tuesday 'Salina got her stitches removed without a whimper and now has a very neat scar that will no doubt add to her allure.

Wednesday I got the results, and it turns out I am amazingly tolerant - far moreso than the nurse who had the joy of administering an anti-D injection. I am not sure if she had a case of the hump-day blues or it was a bit of an inconvenience, but I got the feeling it was more painful for her to give than it was for me to receive.

Yesterday I was "kokos bez glave", working at home and at school with about equal amounts to show for it at the end of the day - and today I shall be a little the same.

It is break up day today, so the last ever day of Term 3 of Grade 5 for 'Salina. The holidays are 2 weeks long, and until Wednesday they were going to be a great deal of running around with work and family and trying to fit in a day or two of leisure for her, however one work thing changed and now it will be a slightly more relaxed amount of running around with family and work and trying to fit in a day or three of leisure for her.

I am hoping with the whole "holiday" thing, my health and disposition will improve and I will be back on form. Gotta reach for the stars.

There is an ad on here at the moment, advertising "Sleptember" - I am thinking they have a point!!

Have a great Friday, all!!