Washing & Ironing

Hi!!!

Have been on holidays from work for the past 2 weeks - it's been great not having to get up and go to work.
I haven't  done anything exciting at all, and have  kind of wasted my time off, if I'm being really honest with myself, however,  I did clean the bathroom though!!!!
I've read lots of books, watched lots of dvds (Game of Thrones, Touched by an Angel, Longmire, Continuum, and am currently watching 3rd season of my all time favourite - Battlestar Galactica), cooked some nice meals.

Woke up on the first day, with a sore and swollen eye - Conjunctivitis again.  My 3rd bout of it in 3 months so it was down to the Dr to get a prescription to clean it up. It took several days to heal and thankfully, it wasn't both eyes this time.   The Dr ordered blood tests and a glucose tolerance test - so it was back on Monday to get all those tests done and back Friday morning to get results.  I already knew that I was glucose intolerant and classed as having prediabetes - thankfully, I haven't yet developed diabetes 2, but I've been told it's important to get everything under under control -  eating properly, exercise, losing weight (again). etc.  Bummer.

I've had several expeditions to Spotlight whilst I've been off and have bought some lovely fabrics.  I bought a pretty daisy print - actually it was a curtaining fabric.  A length of blue suiting - which I bought on Tuesday, only to discover it went on Sale on Wednesday at nearly half price - aarrgghh.  Why did I not read the catalogue more carefully?  On Friday, I bought a lime green rayon.  Lime is not really a colour I've worn in the past - but  I was drawn to this. 

In the past, I used to wash and iron every piece of fabric I bought - as soon as I got it.  In recent years, I've gotten lazy and have just put them away. 
I had the brilliant idea of washing quite a few pieces - that was easy.  Now it's time for ironing - which I hate, and it's taking ages to do.  Most of my fabrics are between 2m - 5m, so lots of ironing to do.

I've had to retake Laura's measurements.  Since starting Uni in March, she has lost about 16kg (35lb) in weight - lots of walking and stair climbing.

I spent 3 days this week waiting for a plumber I called to show up - he was supposed to be out Monday afternoon.  Neale rang again Thursday morning and he finally  sent one of his men around.  to do all that I needed doing.  He discovered that we had a as lea happening as well - so that got fixed as well.  Now I'm pretty sure that I won't be waiting for very long until his bill arrives though!  I wonder if I can charge him for my time wasted??
Now I need a plasterer to come in and fix up a hole in the cornice and ceiling - we had a heater in the lounge room that was removed by the plumber.  I think I'll just tape up the hole and wait to Neale has leave at the end of the year before we get that fixed up.

The weather has been glorious of late.  I'm hoping that all the cold weather is now a thing of the past.  My hayfever hasn't kicked in as yet - but I've stocked up with Zyrtec for when it does.

We've had to buy Laura a new laptop computer this morning - her laptop has just died (power supply problem)  she went to use it yesterday for her design work - assignment due on Monday and no go.  She can't get the info from it and we've now got to send it away for a warranty repair which could take several weeks. We're hoping that she'll be able to get the programs she used downloaded to this one and will just have to redo all the work again with apologies to the lecturer that her assignment will be late.  She's only got about a month of uni before 1st year exams start.  Not a good time for a computer to cark it.

 Jen

Way To Go Neale ....

Home Alone

I'm home alone and trying to keep warm.

I'm currently off work on sick leave. I woke up early yesterday with a funny tummy and feeling very queasy. so thought I'd take a sick leave  day - normally I'd go to work .  Today I'm somewhat recovered but with a nagging headache so elected to stay home and rest/relax.  Probably a very mild dose of gastro - but not fun.  I've been reading and watching dvds.  I'm on a ''Lord of the Rings" marathon today.

Neale   flew to Adelaide yesterday to attend the funeral for one of his cousins - he's due home tomorrow night.
Neale finally completed his exergesis for his Master of Fine Arts - it's been a long 4 years studying part time.  He's been officially told he has passed.  He is now in the process of completing the paperwork to enrol in doing his Phd. - another 8 years of study coming up, although he hopes to complete it a little faster than that.

Work has been extremely busy up until last month.  I was unable to take my usual 2 week break in March.   The company I woke for was awarded the contract for 'çleaning of Morwell' after the mine fire, so that kept everyone hopping.  I think we organised cleaning of over 900 houses, all council buildings and streets throughout 4 towns.  We also had to start 2 very big contracts at the same time.
I've got 2 weeks annual leave booked in for September and so can't wait.
Was not feeling the love for work last week - the Manager and I really got reamed out by the 2IC of the company a week ago.  Apparently nothing I/we  do is done the company way and if I hear the phrase 'moving forward' one more time, I'm going to scream!  I really can't stand 'management speak'.

Laura has completed her 1st semester of University. She's been at home for the past 6 weeks on mid year break - but went back to Melbourne on Monday - Uni parties to attend!!  She texted me her results yesterday - 3 distinctions and a credit and she thought she wasn't doing well..  Very proud of her.

Morgan - son no 2, was in a car accident a month ago - not the phone call anyone wants to receive. I'd just walked in the door when Morgan rang to say he'd been in an accident.  He's okay, but wrote off his car.  He had to brake suddenly causing him to skid and veer into an embankment and ended up flipping his car onto the roof.  Thankfully he was unhurt and didn't hit anyone else.  Unfortunately, it has proved to be a very costly exercise as he had neglected to pay his car insurance and still has a sizable loan to pay off.  I'm just thankful he escaped uninjured.  Of course it was so dark,cold,wet and windy the night of the accident and I just can't get over that I was just 2 minutes ahead of him on the road.

My sewing room is in a mess - alas, not from my industries.  The family (Neale & Laura) have put some stuff in there for the time being- to get it out of their rooms etc!!  I'm redepositing it all back to them - well apart from the bed frame and mattress that managed to find it's way there instead of the shed.
I've been stalking the pattern websites for latest offerings.  I quite like M6995 and M6993 (skirt & Jacket) and also M6996 (cardigan)

M6996

                                                                 

M6995 & M6993

 Have just seen the Vogue have release their Autumn patterns - I've got 7 of the new ones added to my wish list - just waiting for a very good sale at BMV now.
I've bought some very nice fabrics from Spotlight - cotton sateen  and some knits.  I love corduroy - but managed to restrain myself as I have several (okay quite a few - maybe alot) pieces already in my collection.

Best wishes,
Jen

We're Empty Nesters

After 25 1/2 years, Neale and I are now empty nesters!!!

On Sunday, we took Laura to Melboune  - and left her there!!!  
Laura starts at RMIT in Melboune next week.  She's going to be doing a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design - she takes after Neale and is very artistic and is very into computer/console gaming etc. We've got her accommodation in a UniLodge about 5 mins walk  from the University.  We took down her stuff and helped her get settled.
She'll be coming back home this Friday/Saturday and I'll go back with her on Sunday -  we'll take some more of her clothes and things  for her then.
Laura was given a small scholarship also by the University which is a great help - we've applied for a Youth allowance for her and hopefully she/we will qualify for  - anything to help cover the accommodation fees.  If we don't qualify, I told Neale to get another job!!!!

Neale is busy this Sunday - setting up his art show at the  gallery here in Churchill at Federation Uni.  This is Neale's show for his Master of Fine Arts degree.  He had to hand in his exegesis in January (19000 words and 90 pages long).  he's got 15 of his artworks printed up for this show.  Opening night is on Tuesday 3/3 - the culmination of 4 years part-time study.
He's now mentioning do his doctorate - 8 years part-time and will most likely stat that next year.

Sewing wise for me - just some mending and reading lots of magazines. I got a phone call from the newsagents in Morwell requesting that I pick up my collection of Threads and Vogue magazines - 5 of them!  Gulp, very expensive to pick up all in one hit!

I finally found pininterest and some time to have a look at it.  Have been pinning clothes that I like and what I think that Laura would/might like. 

Happy Wednesday

Jen xx

So over it!!

Hello from the very smoky Latrobe Valley!!

Fires begun on Friday 7th between Morwell and Moe - The freeway between the 2 towns was cut and so was the rail line - didn't get reopened to Monday morning.
It was a very hot day feb 9th with gusting winds nearly all day with a very high fire threat - which of course happened and the fire started on Friday were helped along by an arsonist (s) on Sunday.  
I spent most of the day trying to keep cool and following all the fire reports.   Parts of Morwell were threatened and many people were evacuated, and it came so very close to the paper mill at Maryvale (I think it's is/was the largest paper mill in the southern hemisphere!)
It's been over two weeks since 2 very large grass fires joined  -  and unfortunately, straight to the Hazelwood Open Cut coal mine. A fire did get into the Yallourn open cut mine, but that was brought under control last week.
So many fireys, from around the Victoria and interstate have been battling to put out the blaze.  It is burning in a  disused part of the mine along a 6km front and about 1km down and several metres into the coal face, and although they have managed to control about 1/2 of it now, it is still going to take many more weeks until it is totally managed.  As you can imagine, we are bathed in heavy plumes of  choking smoke, lots of very fine ash.  Totally horrific.  Many people are experiencing side effects and the air quality readings have been abysmal - but apparently there is no long term danger according to the experts???
We evacuated our office last Wednesday as the smoke was so bad and very nearly did again today-only the wind changed and blew the smoke away - rats, I really wanted to go home. My office is about 500m away
 from the mine.



I took this photo nearly 2 weeks ago - in the carpark of my office - the mine is up the end of the street and
 around the corner
   






 The photo below is one Neale too tonight at approx 5.30pm.  He took it at the end of our street here in Churchill - You can hardly see the 8 chimneys of the power station - the smoke kicked up again at about 4.00pm with fire spreading to a coal bunker  and conveyer storage area. An incredible amount of smoke and there were 3 huge helicopters flying over and dousing the fire.  They were filling up with water from the Hazelwood pondage - which  is a cooling lake for the power station.  A little while later the roads to Churchill were blocked off in case the fire spread - it was a very warm day and the winds really kicked up - I had hopes that I wouldn't be able to make it to work tomorrow - but the threat passed and I'm sure the roads are open again! (drats) 

Regards,
Jen

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year 2014 to Everyone!

I've had a relaxing day today and totally enjoyed the fact that I did not have to go to work.
I managed to sleep in - bliss.  Have read several books also.  Neale and I went to the cinema this afternoon and we saw the latest Hobbit movie, which I loved.
I planned to go for  walk this afternoon, but it has rained all day and I'm not keen on walking in heavy rain  - I even prepared and downloaded a pile of audible books to listen to whilst walking.

Christmas was a quiet one just spent with my family.  I made it home from work a little earlier than normal, and then Neale and I cleaned up the lounge room and kitchen - everything got thrown/placed in my sewing room.  I've nearly managed to get it all cleaned up again!

Laura went camping at Seaspray the weekend before Christmas with a group of friends - Neale and I worried.  Even more so when we received a text from her to say that she had hurt her arm, but she'd live.  Anyway, she arrived home on Sunday afternoon - her arm was very sore and swollen and  Neale took her to the hospital and it turns out that she's fractured her wrist and is now in a 1/2 cast.  It's her right arm as well!  We'd hope to take her out for driving lessons to build up her required hours, but that has been put on hold until she's now out of the cast.  She's a trifle annoyed that she can't do her art and that she can't play the playstation she got for Christmas!
I can't believe that with our 3 boys - all they managed to break between them was a little finger, and this broken arm no. 3 for Laura!

I made a trip to Spotlight last Sunday and managed to pick up 6 patterns and some lengths of material.  The patterns were 3 for $10-00 and the material was 40% off.

Jen