Stormy Weather

This is a pic Paul managed to catch of the storm as it came over yesterday afternoon. Within minutes we went from bright sunshine to a massive black cloud filled with electricity.
I love the wet season!

Fridays on my mind

Friday is my favourite day. Anyone that works in the public service would surely agree with me. Our pretty cushy week starts at 8.00am on a Monday and ends promptly at 4.21pm on a Friday. 4.22pm on a Friday arvo is a moment to relish...as I very often do.
I have had two delightful Friday evening over the last two weeks - and as I have been a lazy cow and not done any blog posts between, I will recount them both now.

Friday No 1(18th November) I had the fortune to attend the opening of an exhibition that neighbour Rob was involved in. "No Place Like Home" was showing at the Woods Street Gallery and included diverse works from four local artists. Neighbour Rob and various other friends have been encouraging us all year to attend one of these shows, but habit has dictated that when Friday afternoon comes around and I open my first bottle of white, all inclination to leave the safe and comfortable surrounds of Rapid Creek disentegrates. I like my garden and our central location usually provides us with all manner of friendly drop ins and spontaneous merriment ensues.
This time we conceded that we may well be sinking into a social vacuum and we needed to get out and about for once. The travelling crew met at my place (perhaps to ensure that we actually got off of our arses and went) I am very pleased that we did. The artworks were a delight to witness and the DVAA grounds are a gorgeous spot for a gathering. Much cheap champagne was consumed and I got to meet so many new people as well as catch up with alot I hadn't seen for a long time.
Our fill of champers, cheese and crackers sunk, a small posse of us - Fergal, Tash, Tracey, Roni , Paul and I headed back to my place, via the bottle shop, for more Friday frivolity. Tracey and Roni keeping it real



It was a typical wet season backyard evening. Overlapping conversations covering politics, religion, environmental issues, bicycle maintenance and who is currently shagging who.


Fergal and Tash making whoopee

Music, ritual boob flashing and Fergals irellevant puns (although I am loathe to admit - the puns are often quite funny) We whooped it up for as long as I could sustain - Having had an office Xmas Lunch earlier that day where a bottle of wine was drunk in a hasty social lubrication move, I followed this up with the champers at the opening and a bucket of bacardi upon return - it all hit me in a pretty spectacular fashion. I kicked everyone out just before midnight - and then retired, just after cutting a few moves and singing a few songs in the loungeroom for the disdainful audience of Kodak.


Friday No 2 (25th November) was just as fun. I have had a very quiet week. Still getting over both the flu and a weird stomach bug that wreaked havoc on my bowel, I have been feeling pretty fragile so spent the week looking after myself and Paul - taking it easy and steeling ourselves for the coming Festive season and all of the parties associated with it.
By Friday we were pretty antsy and ready to get out and do some socialising. A monsoonal downpour happened just after I arrived home from work - drenching everything and cooling us down , ready for a comfortable drizzly night ahead. There's something about an afternoon storm that energisises everybody. It is probably just the temperature drop, but whatever it is, it puts all in a good mood and creates an electric atmosphere (quite literally most times)
We headed over to Tracey and Matts for a dinner party at about 6.30. It was just great fun and the perfect setting for a friday evening relaxer.

Roni, Mikey,Mel, Paul and I joined the Shortus-Donehue clan on their gorgeous patio. We shared excellent wine, food (Matt cooked up some fab lamb with cous cous, this was accompanied by a salad Tracey concocted with ingredients all from the back yard) and very good company.

Had a brief visit from Matilda until she fell asleep soon after arrival -poor Kalinda was exhausted after her first night out with the energiser baby and Kalinda as the sole supervisor. We quickly plied her with a gorgeous Margaret River rose (Kalinda , not the baby) and she soon relaxed. We all got a bit silly , as to be expected , and then wandered home with Mikey and Mel at about 12ish , full of food, drink and good humour.

Theres nothing like a good boob flash to complete the evenings festivities. I was so pleased to be able to share this experience with my peeps.

At risk of sounding like a crazed god botherer - I love Fridays and I really love this time of year - so many parties ahead and so many chances to be grateful for both the fortunate life I lead up here and my beautiful family and friends.

I am so so slack - I know it . But I have a new job...and it's been raining...and I've got a headache...

So Sick

Soooo sickety sick sick.
Both Paul and I have been afflicted. I am on my second sick day in 5 days of my new job. Way to make a good impression! I certainly know how to climb that corporate ladder to success.
So I am currently in the loungeroom writing this post while Paul is secreting all sorts of nasal fluid in the bedroon re-watching the Matrix.

Which, by the way, I am finding incredibly corny and outdated. I am amazed in hindsight that I was so excited about it approx 10 years ago - 10 freaking years ago!! Now thats a frightening thought..I think it is actually closer to six years, which in itself is also pretty amazing... however I digress. It must be the drugs.

So Paul and I will mooch aimlessly around our home today feeling equally sorry for ourselves and each other.
Kodak is also feeling pretty crap (or so I am assuming, based on the disdainful gaze she is currently aiming at me from the end of this here table) - but for altogether different reasons. Because we have either been sick or drunk the last week, no shopping has been done and the cupboards are becoming increasingly bare. She finished offthe last tin of tuna last night. You may think "tuna! Lovely Sirena, dolphin free, not exactly cheap tuna. Wow what a lucky kitty", however after 3 days in a row of tuna she may not be in agreeance. So today ,unless I can drag my sorry booty up to the local shop it's just a couple of slices of cheese and a bowl of weet bix for her, and I think she knows it. I had better watch my back.

I have just had a call from Brother Brett as I sit here, and it seems I have infected not only my sniffly, shitty Matrix watching beloved, but also Brett and Kalinda. Poor little monkeys are also at home today, wiping their noses and hanging their heads in sinus blocked pain. I feel terrible to have been the perpertrator of this discomfort, I do however take slight pleasure in the knowledge that I'm not alone. Ha Ha.

Now I will join the boy in the bedroom. It looks like it might rain - which suits the mood in this house perfectly today. There is alot of rumbly rumble in the distance, and the air is currently in that eerie, still stage, just before the chilled pre rain winds pick up.
If we do indeed have a storm I will report back with a detailed account and photographic evidence. Cos goodness knows I really have nothing better to do. Other than possibly go and obtain some tucker for my long suffering, and increasing aggressive Kitty Kodak.

Feel free to send me any sympathy and love. Or to come over and make me a cup of tea.

Brett Birthday Bonanza

Today is Brother Brett's Birthday! Hurrah. 24 already and getting spunkier every day.
Everyone in the family went out for a delightful lunch except me, cos I had to work, and Danielle , for obvious reasons ( for those of you to which this is not obvious, it is because she lives out in the desert of WA, Kalgoorlie) Here are some Photos Paul took for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Birthday Bro!




!


Danielle, before you get the shits because Bretts Birthday post is longer than yours, it is simply because he lives here and I have pretty pics. I love you...and I promise I will soon send the beads.

Stuff

I am on my second day in a row of ZERO alcohol consumption.
Hooray for me! How long can I last.....

The parents have returned from the Great Western Adventure. I am so envious and also so happy for them. I don't think I have seen them this relaxed in a looong time. It seems they may have found their niche - the way to spend the next few years or so - travelling around Australia in a campervan. Another couple of grey nomads on our long and winding roads. I am most impressed , sounds like a gorgeous life to me.

My new job commences on Thursday and as it approaches I am actually developing some anxiety. This confuses me - I have the utmost confidence that I am capable of the duties the job requires so I can't put my finger on the issue that is irking me. I will attempt not to overthink it (as I usually would do) If it is something important I am sure it will blow up in a spectacular way when the time is most inappropriate.
Wish me luck anyway.

For those who haven't heard yet, Aaron M has finally crashed his motorbike in a fantastic display of STUPIDITY. Poor little dove is limping around like the cripple we all knew he was meant to be. Luckily he has no wounds that won't heal (except possibly his self respect) and he didn't hurt anyone else. So if you see him dragging his bad self around, give him a slightly too tight hug and let him know you love him.

Thanks for listening ...have a nice day

Love you mob...

Our feeble attempt at sobriety two days in a row was a dismal failure. Nonetheless we had a lovely evening. Now that Brett and Kalinda have moved into town , we took advantage of their new beachfront residence and rode up to their place last night for sunset bevvies. I had a delightful mixed white from Devils Lair Winery. (hot tip - Fifth Leg Mixed White - it's rocking my world)Matilda was in fine form , loving being outside. Gorgeous pink pre rain skies, high tide and so many crazy exercising people to watch and poke fun at.

We are so fortunate to live so close to the Nightcliff foreshore. It a unique and beautiful piece of coastline-and so accessible to little old us.

Time passed, the sun went down and Kalinda and Matilda retired for the evening. Paul and I got back on our tredleys, promising each other that we would stop in at Mikey and Mels "just for one more no more" (fateful freaking words) Any of you that know Mikey, know that it is impossible to enter his house and stick to a plan of just one. The varying flavours of vodka came out, a few more corks were popped and much hilarity ensued (at least we though it was hilarious at the time - I'm sure the neighbours weren't laughing that heartily) Roni arrived, freshly returned from his trip to Broome, complete with sunburned forehead and stories of Bungle Bungle adventures.

I have a mildly sore head today-but again am joyously grateful for the ace family and mates I have in my world.

Melbourne Cup Shenanigans

After spending about close to 2 hours discussing and rediscussing what we should do with our day off, Paul, Brother Brett and I finally decided to make ourselves a simple and delicious Ploughman's Lunch , blow up the inflatable pool and drink some bubbly. It was bloody hot out and having Matilda with us limited the sort of air conditioned venues we could visit (ie none of our favoured pubs) However the home front turned out to be a pretty good choice. Not being overly enthusiastic about the race itself, I was surprised to find myself watching the race with great anticipation. I was also touched with some form of sentiment when that Diva horse came in a winner. (still, that passed soon enough , there is no need for me to take back my earlier post about the constant and hideously boring media coverage of that racehorse) Stupid hats were donned, much sparkling wine was consumed and am feeling a bit seedy today as a result. Thats the point though isn't it?

Brett and Matilda enjoy the pool - that thing has become invaluable this build-up, Thanks Conan!

Happy Birthday Danielle

It is my lovely sister's Birthday today, November 1.
Happy Happy Day little one!