Friday On My Mind

Two more days of work until I'm on holidays....

I'm holidaying in sunny Churchill - maybe not so sunny as I've seen the weather forecast for the next few days and it's going to be cutting up pretty rough. Oh well.

Those people at Club BMV got me again in their latest sale last week - I've got another 18 patterns winging their way to me.  They're not all for me though as I've bought a handful for my son Morgan's girlfriend Emma,  for her birthday in November.

Am planning to sew whilst I'm off - trying to work out what to sew first.  Decisions, Decisions! Am going to make Neale's day when I touch/move his school stuff on the kitchen table to give me some sewing room.

I've got some summer gear on layby - 2 pairs of coloured jeans, a pair of shorts, a knee length chino skirt and a cropped denim jacket.  I'm never ready to buy clothes until virtually the end of the season, so this year I'm preparing early.  The upside is they are all size 18, downsize is - I'm not!!!!  Have never done that before, so it's pretty much an incentive to re-lose the weight - again!   That 6 kg I lost at the start of the year, found me over winter when I turned slothful and gave up the daily walking.

Jen S.

Counting down to ...

I'm counting down to holidays!!!  Time off work and I can't wait.

I've put in for he first 2 weeks of September - 14 days of work to go!!
For the past 2 years I've only taken leave in 1 week blocks - being considerate of my fellow employees with them not having to deal with too much of my work (reception/administration/debt collection/payroll/laundry/goat feeding and wrangling - just to name a few duties!) Unfortunately, 1 week off is just not enough so I'm going for the 2 this time  - I'll still have about 8 days in reserve.
Haven't got anything planned as such - cleaning as usual, cooking some great meals - maybe a day trip to Melbourne. Sewing?  I say that every holiday and hopefully I'll get something done at last.
Neale had suggested that we go away for a week or so to Tasmania at the start of this year - but that's not happening now.  He's been offered a chance to study for 4 -5 weeks at the Monash campus in Italy about this time next year - in time for the Venice Biennale (sp?)  We won't know for some time if he's selected - but he'll need to save his holidays up for that if he's chosen - so he'll get paid as per normal whilst away.

Have been buying heaps of patterns - I had 3 parcels in July from BMV.  I see the word SALE and I'm theirs!  Look, there might be a pattern drought in years to come - so I'm preparing.  Yes, I know I could draft a pattern myself, but that's beside the point!
I have actually bought several lengths of material from Spotlight these past couple of weeks - more sales.  I bought 3 metres of a fur I've had my eye on for months and managed to get it for $50-00.  Bargain!

My oldest baby (Thomas) is turning 24 on Saturday - oh wow!  He's going to be in Melbourne for the weekend - "Manifest" (anime  convention?) is on and apparently it's very important.  He's coming around on the Monday after he gets back home

Janine from http://sewjanine.blogspot.com.au/ (Interrupted Sutures) has just let me know about a local sewing group which sounds really interesting - and motivating.

We have experienced a couple of decent sized earthquakes in the past 2 months.  The first one in June measured 5.3 on the Richter scale with the epicentre about 20 kms from us.  Lots of noise  and shaking etc - I first thought we had a huge truck going past the house - then a helicopter was landing on the roof!!.  There was another quake last month measuring about 4.3 with the epicentre at the same spot or so.  No damage to the house etc , but I do know that one of my workmates, her house in Traralgon was damaged and she is now having to deal with the insurance company - they're requesting proof that there was an earthquake!!

Jenny S

Totally Random Musings

More random musings from me  - in no particular order!

Still no sewing - this is the longest I've ever gone without sewing.

Phone call from Spotlight the other day that a pattern I wanted in April had come in - must be a Simplicity pattern (when it was on sale) as I buy all my other patterns from BMV.  No doubt I'll have to pay full price for this one!  I'll go in later today and pick it up.

I turned 46 in April - aarrgghh!  Had a lovely day and was thoroughly spoiled by Neale and the kids.

Weight loss/diet????  That all seems to have fallen by the wayside as soon as the weather turned yucky.
Although, this past week has been absolutely glorious - albeit cold.

Football is on today - I'm not a fan.  Why oh why did I buy a house directly opposite the local football oval???

It normally takes me approx 8 mins to drive to work.  Tuesday 2 weeks ago it took 1 hour.  Major flooding in the state after wild weather Monday night had cut off 2 roads from Churchill to Morwell.  Did I take it as a sign to stay home for the day???  No, I got out on the 4th back road I tried  - IDIOT!!!  Managed to make it home safely - left early though just to make sure.

No 3 son Hadden, turned 19 in may.  We all went out to tea at a Chinese Restaurant in Morwell and had a lovely meal.  Hadden is considering moving out - when he's saved some more money.  Neale and I have plans for the spare bedroom!  Hadden works full time (night shift) at Maccas.

Churchill Pizza make the best pizza - expensive, but the best!!  Actually, their pizza is reasonably priced - about $27 for 2 family pizzas - expensive comes into it for me as the pizza we had from 3 weeks ago has cost me $600-00.  I broke a tooth, which needed major restoration work.  Of course the dentist did a checkup, noticed a dark spot, whipped out an xray and said that that tooth needed repairing also.  Had the 2nd tooth done Thursday night after work - major restoration on that one too and Dr Caprara then says he hope that it lasts!  He hopes???  Apparently it's very close to needing a root canal.  So for not quite 2 hours work I'm $600 poorer - it takes me 38 hours to earn that kind of money !!!!

It's been a rotten long week at work - mind you that Monday was a public Holiday for the Queen's Birthday also - 4 days of problems!  Our Manager is on sick leave and will be until probably mid next month.  Melbourne head office, seems to think that 3 of us can run the whole office ourselves with no help at all.  I'm sure that none of them have looked at a map of Victoria and seen just  how big the Gippsland region actually is!

My Mum turned 70 last week.  We had a family celebration at a local restaurant  - 33of us!  It was great to catch up with all my brothers and sisters , their families and a couple of the aunts and uncles also. Mum had a good time.  One of my sister's had ordered a cake, so that was made short work of.

I bought myself a black 'boyfriend' style cardigan last night whilst out shopping - I have a thing for cardigans! (I've also got 3 on Layby!)  and also a grey boucle short jacket.   I'd just told Neale how I should have bought last week when I saw it a white/grey leopard fur coat when I saw it - and now the sizes they have left are too small. He said if you see something 'buy it straight away"  none of this dilly dallying etc.  So I did.  I've stil got the fur jacket on my mind and am now considering a drive to the next store down the raod - about 40 mins away, to see if they still have one in stock!

Neale and I celebrated our 26th Wedding Anniversary on 10th May.  We've been together as a couple for nearly 30 years.  Oh my!

Jen S.

ANZAC DAY 2012

They shall not grow old,

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them.

Lest we Forget.

R.I.P Shirley Dawn Stratford 2/1/1929 - 6/4/2012

STRATFORD, Shirley Dawn (Shirl). Passed away peacefully on 6 April, 2012, aged 83 years. Loved and loving wife of Alf for over 53 years. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Rod, Rosemarie (dec), Neale and Jenny. Adored Nanna to Thomas, Morgan, Hadden and Laura.
At Rest

 It's hard to believe that it's now been a week since my dear Mother-in-law passed away. We're all just so numb. The funeral was yesterday and was such a tough day and we're all so tired and feeling drained emotionally. I've had the last three days off work for which I'm grateful for.

Jen