Life, work mainly ...

... are doing my head in at the moment. Too tired to much more than peep out the occasional tweet. Fingers crossed this is not how things will be for the entire Summer season, especially since summer hasn't ever officially begun.

Yesterday was a terrible day …

… Actually, Saturday, which began so well, ended up being the terrible beginning to a terrible day.
I was feeling splendid, a bit of a chill in the air had perked me right up. The prospect of sleeping under covers more than a sheet, filled me with glee. And so to the wooden chest I went, to select from my collection of light-weight, pretty quilts.
Fuck. Really, there is no other word that fits. Mold and mildew had invaded my quilts. The smell was dismaying and the weather, well ... what I really needed was one of those red-hot days with a prevailing westerly. What I had was grey & sporadic rain. It was, at least, quite windy. I hoped it was enough.
Washing, washing, washing. Sven, not being an industrial fellow, merely domestic, it was one quilt per load. A few required more than one go, in order to make that smell go away.
Canesten came into play (and I’m not one of those anti-bacterial everything people but really, the strong stuff was required). They mostly dried, and did overnight in the house, draped over everything we own. Most of the staining seems to have come out, thanks to Orange Power.
All the luggage has been evicted from the airy wardrobe space and stuffed into the wooden box (after a mighty Lampe Berger treatment) so the quilts will have a new home. And the last quilt is drying as I type (the pale-yellow satin, antique, hand pierced one), in the strong breeze, but I am keeping a wary eye on that sky, I don’t trust it, not at all.
This has never happened before, where did I go wrong???

It's been a very busy week ...

... I've not got home before dusk or later, all week, for the most part.
So this morning (well, noon to be honest, it really has been a big week) my first garden visit was a bit of a shock. Although it's been promising to rain and storm for what seems like ages, it simply hasn't. And how the garden has suffered.
The poor, poor garden is all droopy and crispy. I'm a terrible guardian.
The soaker hose is doing its magical, wet thing, right now.

On armpits ...

Back when we moved to Sydney, eight or so years ago, February was always a very wet, warm and humid month. It would rain for days and days and the soupy humidity would make the whole house feels slightly sticky, tacky. The air was thick with moisture and rain storms were common. The TV news always had a filler story with footage of city workers fighting umbrellas and running through sheeting rain. The moisture factor led us to buying a heated towel rack, because it was the only way we could have dry towels for the morning ablutions. We really only ever used it in February. February was also the only time it was necessary to make the occasional trip to a launderette, to use a dryer and ensure a supply of knickers and socks!
Living through February was like living, crushed in the armpit of a big, sweaty, hairy beast. And so, I named February the armpit month.
For the last couple of years February hasn’t been particularly armpitty, hot, humid but not accompanied by unrelenting rain. The drought I guess.
This year, the armpit month is back, in all its dank glory. I’m waiting for the towel rail to work its magic right now, as I type and pootle round the interwebs.
Still, nice for ducks eh?

Watering the spiders ...

... I'm still doing it, it's so hot out there.
This lady lives on the underside of a windchime during the day. She comes out in the evening to spin a giant web, just where I come down the stairs should I be venturing out to pop something in the bins.

O noes, my head ...

... has exploded from all the cuteness. Look at all the Koala tongue action. Poor hot wee fellows. All the pics are from here, and there are MORE!You know I'd handle this heat, and Australia being the hottest place in the entire world, possibly the universe, IF I got a guaranteed wee koala come to sit in the shade of our garden. I'd look after him, promise!

A beautiful Australian poem about Summer ...

... It really spoke to me and I hope you enjoy as it's the best piece of English literature I've read in quite some time .... 'An Aussie Summer ' by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre.

Sent to me by the lovely Fiddles.

Pinch, Punch ...

... First day of February, aka the armpit month. Still, it's a short one at least.
It's going to be hot, humid and we have to clear out the end room and do the anti-ant thing. Little fuckers were all over the girl's leftover dinner this morning, swarming. Why of why won't they just stay outside with the little dish of honey?????

It's a lovely night ...

... there's a blissful sea breeze wafting through the house. This makes the snuggles the cats insist on administering tolerable.
Those furry cuddles can be a little trying at this time of the year.
Like yesterday. When I got home after walking in the heat, up a hill, and flopped down on the bed under the ceiling fan for a little light cooling down - within nano seconds, 2 furry beasts, elegantly draping their full-furred bodies across me.
Still, at least they don't try to join me in the cooling showers. They just watch, intently, from the basin top!

A southerly buster ...

... has just kicked in. The outside temp has dropped close to 10 degrees. The breeze (well, wind) is blissfully cooling. We may sleep tonight.

Too hot to type ...

... 38?? Faaaaaaaaaaark!!

Summer is over ...

... today is the first day of Autumn. It's warm, not hot, the sun is shining but not burning, I feel my mood lifting already.
And to celebrate goodbye to the Summer yellow, hello Autumn pinky-red.

Tight-arse Tuesday ...

... labeled such because it's cheap night at the cinema.
So, we finally caught the I am Legend movie tonight - probably not the best choice given my emotional state at the moment.
I was terrified twice, 1 - when the dog went into the dark & he had to go in after her, 2 - when she got bitten by the nasty mutant dogs. I wept copiously at that second bit too.
Emotionally wrung out by that stage I pretty much just sat through the last bit, wondering where all the puss cats were & who was looking after them. I mean lions survived so why not elegant tabby orientals?
Like I said, probably not the best choice in entertaining viewing.
Oh, and some insane parent brought her 3 kids in, a babe in arms, one about 6-7 and the other 4, possibly 5. It's an M movie, for 15 or up, what the fuck was she thinking??? A movie like that would have scarred me for life at that age. Bambi had me howling and messed up for weeks and The Wizard of Oz, well, let's just say I wouldn't walk up the hall to bed at night without a very large glass of water for ages, just in case. Hell, my parents wouldn't even let me watch the second half of the Sound of Music until I was over 15 (only I did, sneakily without them knowing, and of course, nightmareorama. And I I couldn't say anything because then they'd find out).

The whole ...

... Neville thing is back. I hope it's just the time of year and not a sign of total mental collapse or life in an asylum (do they even have those anymore?).

Feeling a little better ...

... Tis a full moon and this was on LOLCats ...

moar funny pictures
Captain Morgan IS the rum of choice in the Brown-Mouse house. Really, whatever else could it be?

Self-diagnosis …

... via the interweb.
I’ve worked it out, this summer ennui, it’s got to be Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder. Pretty much all the symptoms apply, except for the only one that I’d like, weight loss. Bah.
In an attempt to “jolly” myself out of it, I’ve done a meme. It didn’t work. Double BAH. Roll on lovely autumn.
1. Do you still talk to the person you last had a thing with?
The last person I had a “thing” with was Mr Brown. I was speaking to him this very morning. I said, “see you tonight poppet”.
2. Have you ever seen your best friend cry? Yep.
3. What kind of vitamins did you take as a kid? Orange & Lemon flavoured ones, they were so tasty I used to sneak them. Also some sort of vitamin tonic I only know as “giraffe medicine”, because of the giraffe on the box.
4. What is the last thing you ate? Delicious leftovers, spinach lasagne.
5. Did you get any compliments today? Oooh, yes, a co-worker returning from holidays said nice things about my new short haircut.
6. Have you ever gone to court? I used to work at one, so yes, but not for being naughty. I did jury duty once, that was fun.
7. What does the seventh text message in your inbox say? I delete so there aren’t any.
8. Are you friends with your neighbours? Not friends, but not enemies either - well, except for loud talking show-off lady, but I keep it nice.
9. Do you have any regrets? Wrong time of the year to be asking me this question.
10. Do you remember your first kiss? Oh yes, I also remember what I said afterwards, “ick, that was very wet”.
11. What towns have you lived in? Sydney, Canberra, Ballarat, Ryde (NY), hellish Goulburn for six months.
12. What's the last piercing you got? My nose, when I was 29. After Mr Brown refused to replace the 3rd lost diamond stud, I let it close over.
13. When was the last time you drove more than 15 minutes? Personally, actually me driving? I cannot for the life of me remember. But I was a passenger on Saturday when we got stuck in traffic on Norton St.
14. Have you ever thrown up from drinking? Yes but not for years and years.
15. Do you get jealous easily? No, but if severely provoked, watch out (you know who I mean dwarf lady).
16. Have you ever played Spin the Bottle? Once and when it looked like I was going to have to kiss creepy boy, I walked away.
17. Toilet papered someone’s house? No, but I once arranged for the house of a particularly irritating fellow to be egged – cost me a case of beer.
18. Have you ever had a crush on your brother or sister's friends? Good grief NO.
19. Have you ever gone to a beach? Ok, yes, I grew up in Australia, we spent summers at the beach. I haven’t been to one lately, not for years. I don’t do tanning or swimming with waves and things that want to bite or sting you. Also, sand, ick.
20. Do you remember your teacher's names from primary school? Two from primary school, Mr Osmotherly(sp?) and Mrs Garret. I loved Mrs Garret and invited her to my 5th birthday party.
21. How good is your eyesight? Up close, brilliant, long distance, all fuzzy.
22. Would you ever want to swim with the sharks? Shit no – see question 19.
23. What would you say if I told you I was in love with your brother? I’d remind you he’s happily married to a very nice young woman.
24. Have you ever been out of your country? Several times.
25. Have you seen your best friend naked? Well it depends on best friend, if I was to get all mush and said Mr Brown was my best friend, then yes. Otherwise, no.
26. What's the best wedding you've been to? Mine (oh just call me Pollyanna and KILL me now)
27. Would your parents be mad if you got arrested for fighting? I think disappointed - but I’d probably not tell – no longer living at home nor requiring mummy to pay the bail money.
28. Where are your siblings right now? Queensland, the lunatics.
30. Do you have a Honda, Toyota or Nissan? No.
31. What's the last dream you can remember? Last night’s, dogs were involved somehow, and I had a rather lovely red frock, but that’s all I remember.
32. Who was the last person to call you? Mr Brown.
33. What time did you wake up this morning? 4am.
34. What are you doing this weekend? Flopping about limply complaining about the heat, poking things into the dirt, NOT celebrating Australia Day in any way shape or form (other than taking advantage of the public holiday, obvy).
35. What does the 5th text message on your phone say? See question 7.
36. Do you drunk dial/txt? No.
37. What's in your back pocket? I’m wearing a skirt, no back pocket.

Met the male half ...

... of the new neighbours today.
We didn't get what we wished for, bugger it.
Nope we got yet another "young couple" with bebe, sigh, and planning "a big renovation" in April. Double sigh.
Still, seems friendly enough, we can only hope they aren't into getting boozed up and shrieking obscenities at each other in the middle of the night.

Long hair ...

... I've lost the knack for it.
I just can't get used to it, dealing with it, keeping it clean, shiny and tangle free. The water that's used in the washing of it is mind-boggling.
A few months ago I tried out that conditioner only washing. The idea is you don't use shampoo, just conditioner, and that after a few weeks (about 6) the hair & scalp "rebalances" and looks all lovely and clean and gleaming. Rather than lank and clumpy. I started on a Sunday. I was washing with shampoo again by Wednesday morning.
And the heat of it. Summer's only going to get hotter from now and already I'm getting all hot, bothered and itchy under the weight of it. I recall the last time I cut off all my hair was in the summer, after I got a heat rash on the back of my neck.
So, tomorrow, at 10:45am, I'm getting it all cut off again. Two-and-a-half-years worth. I think this will make me much happier.

Weather porn ...

... Lee over at Pink Granite posted a picture of her temperature gauge the other day. I thought I'd reciprocate with one of my own.Lee's was an image clearly illustrating how nice it was to be inside round her way. Mine, well it pretty much shows that it doesn't matter either way, inside, outside, you're going to be warm & sticky.

Hot ...

... it was so hot while I was out at lunchtime that I was compelled to buy some Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, to hydrate & refresh my poor hot face. This does not bode well for the summer.