Thunder

A severe weather warning has been issued. I can hear the thunder, my washing has been hung up inside. It would be nice if the garden got a proper soaking. I do hope we don't get more than I bargained for......

Racing

I have had a couple of busy weeks, so that I almost feel the whirling Christmas season has begun early. Lots going on at work, very warm weather and frightful hay fever, a trip to Sydney, a funeral and two long days at the markets. The kids have exams looming and it is almost November!

On Thursday night we had the annual dinner with Groove Factorie (Andrew's band) members. We went to the Magpie's Nest, just across a paddock from our house, and it was so nice to sit with a glass of wine, delicious, eclecticly described food and great company, in a beautiful setting.

The markets. Not my favourite, to be honest. I don't really like selling things I have made, and I'm not all that comfortable looking at things other people have made, either. The hay fever is so extraordinary, that it makes two long days outside a real struggle, but I do enjoy spending time with Megan, and buying coffee. We are unlikely to do another one, so I can just look back on the market years fondly, without yearning.

David Bowie Is

I have loved David Bowie since I was in Year nine. That's almost thirty years! When I heard that a David Bowie exhibition was coming to Melbourne, I knew I had to make the trip. Thankfully, my friend Monique and her daughter Eleanor, were also keen. Road trip!

We left after Monique finished work at four on Saturday afternoon, and drove through an amazing light show that turned into steady rain, arriving at my brother's place around 9.30.

These lovely faces (two cheeky, one tolerant) were delightful company in the morning, and we all went to Chadstone for yum cha.

Monique, her Mum, Nelly and I caught the train into town and went into ACMI at Fed. Square for the exhibition, just us and hordes of others!

I don't use the word amazing very often. I find it has been dulled by over use, but the exhibition really was amazing. I could go again there was so much to take in; costumes, letters, interviews, movie snippets, film clips and writings. I stood in front of the costume from Ashes to Ashes for ages. It was so detailed and really beautiful. I would have liked to try some of the costumes on, but he was SO SKINNY. His waist, my thigh sort of skinny.

It's a shame that there is no photography allowed in the exhibition, or that there isn't just one thing you can have your photo with, you know, for blogging purposes, but the memories will last and now I feel like watching Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. He had my favourite hair in The Man Who Feel to Earth, but that is a seriously weird movie and there's throwing up in it, so I'll give that a miss. 

We got back to the car around five, in perfect sunshine and then drove into torrential rain; we even had to stop for a while because we couldn't see at all! 

I got home at 10.30, making it a pretty big weekend, but it was definitely worth it. We're keen to do it again!

A night out

It's Friday, late afternoon. Work is over for the week, the weather is warm and things are looking sunny.

I am escaping to Melbourne this weekend, with a friend, to see the David Bowie exhibition. I'll also get to stay with my brother and his family, so I am really looking forward to it. We aren't leaving until 4 tomorrow afternoon, so I have time to get organised. Win, win!

Last night my once colleague, now looong distance friend, Kristy, was in town. A bunch of us met at the Birdhouse, which is a kind of hipsterish bar, which has no food. We were going to go to a restaurant afterwards, but were rather settled, so ordered burgers and pizzas from the cafe next door. I didn't actually get to catch up with Kristy, you know how these gatherings go; pretty noisy and you mostly chat with the people right next to you, but it was fun, and I can recommend the lamb burger, sans bun.

As you can see, I really captured that fun in my photo. You can also see that the Birdhouse is not really set up for food. Where would you put a plate?!

That is Kristy's arm, though, so I'm saying I took a photo of her.

Holidays again

Yes, I have taken a whole term off blogging. Indeed, it is very selfish of me and half of my excuse is such a first world problem. I have no laptop, and the app on my phone will not accept any photos except those taken within Blogger itself. I do have an iPad, but I can hardly carry it around all day. The other reason, of course, is that I would rather read. Sorry!

It has been a good term, with a piano exam and eisteddfod for Toby (he got an A for the exam and three second places in the eisteddfod, plus a big trophy), lots of driving for Joss (it's going to take forever to get to 120 hours in 10 minute increments) and violin and speech eisteddfod performances for Bethany (I can't remember exactly how she did in all of them, there were lots, but she did get some places, including a first).

Although it is only Spring, we are having a summery long weekend; it may hit 33 degrees this afternoon! Bethany and Toby have only just come out their rooms at 10.30. The end of the school holidays and the beginning of daylight saving is going to make for a nasty shock tomorrow morning! I am looking forward to it being dark at 5.45am. I don't like running in the daylight, and I am scared of the birds! Magpies don't swoop in the dark. That is a fact I am deciding is real, and I'm not going to look it up because I want to believe it. 

Milo is shorn and ready, even if we are not! 

Holidays

Toby and Joss go back to school today after two fun filled weeks of holidays. Getting them up this morning was quite a task. Bethany has this week off as well, so we'll have another adjustment next week!

The very first Saturday of the holidays, our Leura cousins arrived to stay. It was like an Easter Convention reunion, with more free time. Bethany and Huw spent hours playing together and we marvelled at how much they enjoyed each other's company until Huw "stabbed Bethany in the heart" by saying he liked Toby better. It's hard to compete with a thirteen year old boy for the affections of a seven year old.

Andrew and I were still working, but we enjoyed evenings and afternoons, games, movies and meals. On the last afternoon I met everyone at the bowling alley after work and joined in for their second game. My first three woeful turns had me doubting past success, but then my game kicked in and I got 129! Bethany says I look like I'm hurting myself when I bowl - it may not be pretty, but it works!

We said goodbye to the cousins, looking forward to seeing them again next Easter, and then Le Tour de France started! Shep came over for the first night, and Steve joined us too, so it was a bit of a party. I don't think the individual time trial is the best way to start, but we have been loving the late nights, beautiful scenery and French cooking. It is totally worth the weariness.

Mum and Dad arrived last Monday and we had a lovely week with them. We celebrated Bethany's birthday on Wednesday, and she had the best day. I was working, but had coffee wirh them at Trail St in the morning, and lunch at the new sushi train - so good! Bethany's birthday dinner requests were macaroni cheese and chocolate ripple cake. She has a mother who can make any cake or dessert she could want, and she went for a packet of biscuits with cream!

I left work early on Friday so we could go out to Coolamon as I knew Mum would love Ajanta. On Saturday morning the farmers' markets were a bit of a wash out, but we did get coffee and a bacon and egg roll before soccer. On Sunday night, Mum and I went to the movies.

We saw Far From the Madding Crowd and I loved it. I haven't read the book (Mum has, so she was a bit more reserved in her feelings for the film) so now I have the pleasure of reading it and discovering so much more to the story. One thing that upset us both, was the trailer for Madame Bovery. We had been talking about it before we went into the cinema, wondering whether they would put on French accents (it is a French book, set in France). Horror of horrors, we discovered that they have gone for American accents! Thankfully the beautiful film that followed restored our good humour and we got home just in time for the Tour to start.

We said goodbye to Mum and Dad yesterday morning, and now Andrew and I are taking a couple of days off each to mind Bethany over this final week.

Tomorrow, our little girl turns sixteen.....

Almost twenty years

It was our anniversary last week. We have been married for nineteen years. We aren't ones for making a fuss over anniversaries; we don't give presents to each other. We did go out for dinner, though, to The Oak Room. I had salmon with sticky black rice and Andrew had the mixed grill with the best chips I have ever tasted. He shared because he loves me and I only ate a few because I love him. Sweet marriage.