School Holidays - Day 1 and really hoping that it won't be Disaster 1

Today is the beginning of the school holidays. yay. Or in 'Salina's view - YAY!!!

Today marks the beginning of hours and days of endless nothing having to be done and taking your time doing it - in 'Salina's world.

Unfortunately, it doesn't mean hours and days of endless nothing for me to fit in some special time with her - it is juggling my schedule so that V doesn't end up with too much quality time with a passel of various children eroding his serenity and 'Salina doesn't end up with too much being dumped on other people.

Luckily, I have a family (hi BB) who fall into a whole category of their own, where they manage to turn the concept of "being dumped on" into "enhanced opportunities" and often get to fill quite a bit of the holiday dance card with taking advantage of dumping the opportunities presented.

Tonight falls into yet another category, other people hitting the "help, I have discovered I have a social engagement when family of our own are not available for dumping assistance" wall and remembering a throwaway line many moons ago from older child's best friend's parent concerning enhanced opportunities - or maybe even a sleepover.

L (the friend and older sister) and F (younger brother) will be staying with us THE WHOLE NIGHT - something that hasn't happened with any of 'Salina's friends since we discovered mould in the blow-up mattress (and therefore since the adventure of tear in the blow-up mattress while trying to get rid of the mould) and while the concept is thrilling in anticipation (especially as the repair kit seems to be holding on the mattress), there is also a little bit of terror involved.

Terror Alert Level 1 - L has had issues with us in the past. She is a delightful child, don't get me wrong - just delightful in a "Straight A Report Card, Champion in Every Sport, School Captain" way, which is very freaking confronting when you figure that on a good day you can scrape a B on being a friend's parent. The issue was when she called us on it (not really - she told us about the straight A (and ancilllary comment of "Delightful") while we were waiting for Parent/Teacher to discuss other letters of the alphabet and ancillary comment of "enigma").

Terror Alert Level 2 - F is a 9 year old boy. I remember 9 - 9 was okay when 'Salina was there. But the boy bit? While I know some children in that category (hi there Dash), I don't really do boys all that well. Something about them scares me. Like spiders. They appear unpredictable. Like spiders. I am sure he will be fine. If I say it often and confidently, I will overcome the fear, won't I?

Terror Alert Level 3 - Dinner. I told 'Salina to workshop what they wanted and get back to me. They all love Enchiladas. Yay!!! I love Enchiladas (as can be ascertained by our Wedding Night Feast here) I can do enchiladas. My MIL (hi there Gramberta) even told me how to do it San Diego style. San Diego is really close to Mexico (much closer than Paradise), so its really nearly authentic. Well, as really nearly authentic as you can get IF you have the ingredients. Here in Paradise, the true ingredients are a myriad of substitutes*, and I hope that I can get as close to San Diego as I can, so I can be really almost nearly authentic.

Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum A - Really almost nearly authentic may not wash, as their mother is Brazilian. Now, I know you are all (well both) thinking "So" (or even " Não percebo!"), but there is no doubt a hierarchy of Mexican authenticity, and I am sure that Paradise enchiladas interpreted through Brazilian influences probably rates higher than Paradise enchiladas interpreted through San Diego via Central Queensland gringo (and I am pretty sure that those last three words bear the greatest impact in the slide).

Terror Alert Level 3 - Addendum B - I turned to Google to see if I could reconstruct what Gramberta told me what to do without having to rely too heavily on my memory, due to the fact that my memory at the time was tinged with "living with a 4 month old" and there are bits I rock at, and bits where I bite. They all mention ingredients I don't have. Most mention ingredients I can't get. Some mention stuff that makes me think "why doesn't Paradise have a decent Deli?". A few mention preparation that should have taken place a few hours ago.

Terror Alert Level 4 - Bed time. With strange children. Strange as in not usual in our home, rather than the truly unusual. Judging from what I think I know of the parents, I would assume similar strictness to the regime in operation here - but it is holidays, it is a sleepover AND there is a Football Semi-Final on tonight that F has been trained to be an avid watcher of (as is V)... Add 2 11/12 year old girls watching movies in the next room and a nearly 21 month old baby young lady, and it may be terrifyingly flexible.

Terror Alert Level 5 - the above-mentioned Football Semi-Final. Maybe perhaps the last game for the Broncos (and the soon to be immortal Darren Lockyer) - and I can assure you, I haven't done everything I could have to help them over the line which is scary. (As is the fact that I should have, whether it be for a football game or not.) (Or even visitors or not).

---

The above was written hours ago.

Before dinner time. They all ate - to varying degrees. It was deemed "yummy" although apparently they don't really like spices (hard to dodge in Mexican food), rice or vegetables that have been messed with too much (luckily I had an unmessed tomato to offer - visitors can verify we can be quite terrifying ourselves in our obsession that those under the age of 13 are required to eat a quota of vegetables or berries/fruit/herbs/plantlike things that imitate them).

Before bedtime. Which went amazingly smoothly. Still firmly planting one limb on wood about that one.

Before football. The Broncos made it. Just. Lockyer may not have.

Before the morning. Which it still is. And which I must go forth and prepare for in my bed - because as sure as the sun rises in the east, so do my children (and, from the mouths of the visitors, they LOVE waking up early).

---

* Remind me to tell you one day how to do Smoked Paprika Chicken WITHOUT Smoked Paprika.

My me day (in list form)

1. Scrambled eggs for breakfast
2. Leftover sandwiches from the AGM last night for lunchboxes - choice!!
3. 'Salina's school photos today, so with Paris dressed in her photo suit from a few weeks ago took "sibling shots"

4. 'Salina off to school, Paris to daycare
5. Attempt to see School Secretary about After School Care report for P&C - she is too busy
6. Help in tuckshop
7. Go to Job 1 to give boss update on people I interviewed on Monday
8. While there, attempt to fix an error I made with a cheque deposit yesterday - I hate it when I stuff up!!
9. Collect empty platters from people who were at AGM the night before
10. See an old family friend in the middle of the street who is on for a chat
11. Collect more empty platters from other people who were at AGM the night before
12. Rearrange meeting rooms where the AGM was the night before on behalf of Job 2
13. Finalise a few compliance issues regard the AGM the night before for Job 2
14. Visit the Auditor re Job 2
15. Go to the Post Office re Job 2
    
16. Collect more empty platters from other people who were at AGM the night before
17. Deliver empty platters back to caterer
18. See School Secretary about After School Care report for P&C
19. Get home
20. Read a vacuous book for 20 determined minutes!!!
21. 'Salina gets home
22. Make super-yummy chocolate-chip biscuits
23. Shop for milk and veges
24. Collect Paris
25. Make bangers, mash, cauliflower cheese and steamed veg with my team (thanks V)
26. Get seriously entertained by the girls
27. Except when Paris and hard objects collide - happens more often of late and when hyped
28. Ate
29. Bathed
30. Got girls to sleep
31. Blogged
32. To bed
    

I love my days off!!

Pride, Pain and Pigtails

Look at that - 4.55am and Friday is off and running!!!

Friday is my day with Paris, so obviously it involves shopping (the grocery kind) which means doing the budget (I like to keep the keel upright) but then I remembered, just as I saddled the computer for a little number wrangling that my sister made a promise on my behalf - and it may be slightly more fun than trying to make the red go away.

I have been a very busy little indian over here and seriously need to sort out my Wednesday priorities, because we had another fail at the whole "me" time concept. Had I done that, perhaps we would have had this post a little earlier!

Still, Friday is Friday, and a whole day away from Saturday (heck, weeks away from September even).



The first part of my title - Pride - is truly for 'Salina though. On Monday she was presented with Student of the Week for her class - but the bit that really puffed my chest was why. Apparently, 'Salina is "always helpful and considerate of others!" I already knew that, but it is great that it is recognised by her teacher. She often gets daughter of the moment by being kind to her little sister, and letting her play in the Schleich pit!



I have always been a fairly big fan, of course, but since being a big sister she has truly blossomed. I do fear the teen years, but as I have always said, she is pretty good clay.



She has little fans too!

Our celebration of her prize was rather muted by being in the emergency department of the local hospital. V did have a rather sore leg when we left (for our weekend to the abovementioned sister's place) but, rather than being on the mend it was worse when we returned - and a day of toddler wrangling had brought him to his knees (figuratively - the one in question wasn't up to bending that well) and he had visions of a possible transition to mono-leggedness - and anticipating the relief that would bring.

Luckily, it turns out that he had aggravated a Baker's Cyst, and when you google there are whole websites dedicated to this little curiosity (and many panaceas) - and he had a classic case. Unfortunately, when you google the symptoms, there are far more onerous things than Baker's Cyst on the first few pages, so a great deal of relief here.

And pigtails?

Well...



Ta da!!! Of course, we have now broken the pigtail charm, and all I have received is "noooo" to the suggestion of pigtails since this photo shoot!!

Trawling through the past...

I have jigged around my work days - crammed all of my official "work" hours into 3 days. This means instead of me being out of the house for 4 full days (I always ended up running around and not getting home ever before 4.30pm) I am home after 5.30pm on those 3 days, but on one day of the week - Wednesday - I can do "me" stuff.

I know. What a horrible mother. Making my day for "me" a childcare day... Still, I have a 100% Paris-friendly Friday (used to be Monday), and the real bonus is a one (or two) on one afternoon a week for 'Salina.

I find sometimes I miss her the most.

The first week that I undertook such a Wednesday was last week. I had plans. The sewing machine my mother had bought for my birthday (I know - spoilt AS!!! Thanks Mum!) had not been removed from the box and taken for a spin, and that is exactly what a (relatively) child-free "me" day calls for.

Unfortunately, one of my jobs is a small role with a community group - and trying to get input and information from a committee of volunteers (and extremely busy people in real life) can be a juggling act, and half of my Wednesday - and most importantly the afternoon section starring 'Salina - was stripped away.

That meant that last week, I spent a few quality hours going through all of my sewing stuff (over 10 years of "what I used to be" thrust into boxes for when I got the time) and a short half-hour fixing 3 skirts and expanding (at least the bottom half) of my wardrobe 100%.

This week, I was really REALLY determined to have a "me" day. Well, I was determined to a point - because I realise that the concept of "me" must include all of the paperwork detrius that has started to weigh upon my psyche (at least that part that is counting on a decent tax return to tick a few things off the list) and so today - I tidied the office (with nary a football team to prosper by it).

As V is using the spare room/office for his study at the moment (even as I type), I brought all of the boxes that my office had been stuffed into about 2 years ago, when we rearranged the house for the advent of a baby in our lives...

I took photos of that - you'll see them if I have time to download them (I am all about time and motion today).

I threw out whole swathes of "why the heck did I keep that". Do you know that I finally bit the bullet and binned 69 floppy disks. I don't have access to a computer that would take them, and even if that were possible, I finally erred on the side of "no" when I asked myself if I really NEEDED 7 boot and 4 rescue disks for operating systems that were obsolete. I even agreed that is was possible that neither I nor anyone else would really want to look back upon assignments and notes from Tafe courses I studied a few years ago.

(Okay, I did keep 7 - but they have important stuff like my poetry on them).

I also put together all of the "I can't part with this due to sentimentality" into only a few boxes and put them up into that cupboard that has room. I know, a little bit moving the deckchairs, but it takes a while for me to let go of stuff - just ask V.

By lunchtime, I realised that the job I had undertaken was a 2-parter, and it would be better to succeed at the first (which I had, thank you very much) and fill the remaining hours with

• pegging clothes,
• printing a few photos for a few frames found and deserving of being used - a task I never REALLY seem to get around to (obviously, its not genetic),
• transfer all the information from an dead computer's hard drive to a new external drive in case I need any of the files, and
• blog

Sure beats going through the paperwork that precipitated the original task!! Oh well, there is always next week...

Finally, I will leave you with 2 things - a question: - what do you do on "me" days? - and a rant - from 13.5 years ago. I was so arty, it really did start mid-sentence.

---

Diary entry –

Saturday 28th (February, 1998)
… ex-wife don’t get on, and now I know WHY” scene most often ends this merry-go-round.

I believe in being upfront and honest when entering new Love’s domain. This includes “I’ve got a kid”, “I’m only in town for another month” (and “I am not married”), “Let’s see what happens and…” (sorry about harping on about the state – recurring nightmare).

But, hey, there comes a point when a girl can dream – share a bed; breakfast together – alone; the next twenty years; matching plots – okay, I never go that far. But the fertile plains of the imagination are never dormant – unless blighted.

Even the most simple girl like me has her fantasies.

To be allowed to wallow in those fields is the most forbidden luxury… unless
I’m talking about a certain commitment, men. A sort of right here, right now – a decision. Shall we cut the safety ropes together and push offshore?

And then, the stupid bastards run, don’t they? Dust. Cut out impressions on the door. Maybe it’s the delivery?

Boom. Back to the caves and rocks, and I go back to the mill. Churn out another bastard poem.

That would make this The July Post

Ah yes, over another month and what to show for it?

Well, nothing really, because I just dyed away all visible evidence of the month that was!!

Oh, I slay myself.

Anyway, update from us is not much to blog about.

We went on holidays (and actually was PAID during that time for the first time in 18 years - the joy of being a permanent rather than casual employee). Of course,I did ensure I got approval for holidays by promising to be back at work for one day in the middle to pay everyone. So my 2 weeks holidays was actually 2 blocks of 6 days...

For our first block of 6, we had to wait a day for 'Salina to finish school, so with the day travel there and the day travel back, we had 3 days in Brisbane. In the intial planning stages there was an original intent of running around like mad things trying to catch up with everyone. Luckily (?!) I was not organised as I would have wished, and therefore we had a leisurely catch up with only a few very special people.

The second break saw us travel to visit various members of my family (including my sister). It was great to spend a longer time with them rather than a weekend, as it allowed Paris time to actually thaw and interact (with most).

Paris is a rather shy creature, startled by sudden movements and overt displays of tomfoolery. In fact, even the catching of the eye will result in her defensive posture - assume the invisibility cloak and melt into the shoulder of whoever she is being held by (or has been begged to hold her).

It was actually a relief that both our Brisbane "family" and those related by blood got time to witness that she does indeed make sound (and some of it is very intelligible) and is an interactive - if extremely wary - toddler.

Since being back, I have been immersed in work and the garden - since the very wet Summer we had when our vegetable gardens slid into what we referred to as "Lake Paradise", the yard has been a wasteland of neglect. Many hours and a few sore muscles later, it is now a wasteland of attention, with piles of dirt awaiting redistribution once we work out where a vegetable patch or two may be most viable. We do have some rather grand plans, just awaiting a few grand resources to plant them.

I don't talk a great deal about work on here - and that is because long diatribes get edited. And then edited a bit more.



All in all, its a bit of a see-saw.