Good morning, How are you? It's nice to see your face......

Well!

What a sleeping beauty I am! With no Prince Charming to wake me up (2 tried, but neither were very successful), I slept in this morning until 10.37am!!!

My, oh my.... I should be simply the most beautiful creature.

Alas.......

Oh well.

xoxoxoxoxo

It's a hazy shade of winter..........

Good Morning Bloggers!

It's a misty, damp, grey morning here in Walnut Grove. A good day to indoors watching "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", which is exaxctly how I'm spending my day today. As I suspected, I was only allowed to work on Monday, and told only to come back when I am better. The doc in Muswellbrook sent me home with antiobiotics, which may or may not work, but with 5 days off, which should help. So under sufferance, I am home. I will return to work on Sunday evening. Mind you, I slept away most of yesterday, so there must be something in what the doc advised.

There is so much that I could be doing, but I'm not going to do it. Just some washing, minor cleaning/primping of the hovel that is home, and I'm going to try and get started on my TAFE essays that are due on August 4. Rest is the order of the next few days, because I REALLY want to go to work on Sunday. Mind you, I may have had my fill after 6 straight days of it.

And I'm really bored with my hair and the ugly, dirty-grey/brown re-growth at the roots. Foils are only good at hiding impending old age for so long, so I bought a temporary "Castings" colour called "Terracotta" to put into it. I bet it won't look anywhere near as good as it does on the pack. It never does, does it?

I find it incredible that Orlando Bloom looks so hot as a blond elf. But as all around him become grimy and sweaty-looking, he remains clean and neat. But still hot. He doesn't impress me as himself, though, just Legolas. And Aragorn: dirty, grimy, stringy-haired Aragorn? Mmmmmmmmm... Definitely appealing. Frodo tends to annoy me as the movie series progresses. I think my favourite character is Samwise Gamgee. He is honourable, faithful, honest: a true friend. And brave to the end. A bit like a labrador or boxer dog. By the way, this is a compliment to Sam. We all need a Sam or two in our lives. Maybe not all encased in one individual, somebody or bodies who can support and encourage us. His positive spirit and sense of fun seem to brighten even the darkest moments within the films. And those mischevious hobbits, Merry and Pippin, keep the story interesting too. And poor, poor Smegol. A tortured soul to be sure. And Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White, his wavy grey locks giving way to straight white. Even his trusty steed, Shadowfax, lightens his colour! The goodies are always in white aren't they, which is why I find in a bit of a conundrum that the evil wizard. Saruman, wears white.... He should never have ascended before our brave and true Gandalf..... There's a favourite line in our house: "You have my axe... (AHHHXXE)"......... And how about those dwarf women with their beards? I reckon I could pass for one in a few years..... And there's David Wenham as Faramir. My goodness, that man's a chameleon.

I am thankful that , as a result of an online application and resultant interview, GG has been offerred a job at Broadmeadow Maccas. Not her dream job, and one that she has steadfastly avoided since she commenced work at 15, but one that may help her to find her feet and pay her some money whilst she sorts herself out. It's not out of her comfort zone, that's for sure. Maybe she'll stop walking in that shrinking circle..... And develop enough confidence to step outside the little world that she has created for herself enough to see the person that others see, and want to be with, rather than the poor imitation that she thinks that she is.

And the biggest new of the week; WE HAVE 2 NEW TOILETS IN THE HOUSE...... AND THEY FLUSH!!!!! YEE-HAH!!!!! The plumber only dug a hole in the water main (which he installed) and nearly drowned himself, and cut through the phone line out the front when he was digging the trench for the stormwater out to the front. At least it was an old one, we found out today..... Poor old Baz had a shocker!

Anyhoo, I've bored you long enough. Have a good day!

I'm here with all of my people.......

At least, I was until GG caught the train home this evening.

Back in lovely Walnut Grove, as Lisa calls it. For 7 weeks until the next block of TAFE. We've been told by the head teacher to be afraid; very afraid. OK, I'll wait until then. I've too much to do to worry about it right now.

The lurgy that kept me home from Clinical Placement on Wednesday degenerated into me having had virtually no voice by Thursday night. I can absolutely assure you that it is a concrete fact that participating in Karaoke at the Town Hall Hotel on a Thursday night when one has had a virus will result in this. Everyone thought that I was joking on Friday morning until I continued to I croak my way through the day. The boys at home here think it's a hoot, and keep making me laugh as my voice is so far down in my boots.

What isn't good, is that I'm supposed to start at Scone Hospital tomorrow. I get short of breath very easily, can't be heard and constantly have to repeat myself, and am running rather low on the energy front. And I have the most pathetic, useless cough that is constantly challenging my bladder................ I will go to work, and see what they think. If I'm lucky, I might get the sympathy vote.

For something different, I have attempted to paint Beloved's grandparent's old sideboard in milk paint this weekend. It looks good so far, but it's certainly different stuff to work with: rather labour intensive, and will then need to be sealed (about 3-5 coats..yikes!) as it's going to be used as our bathroom vanity cupboard. We've had a new laminate top made that looks like granite, and it will have 2 sinks in it. The bathroom is all finished except for this and the lights, mirrors and towel rails and stuff, and I'm really happy with the result. Very swish!

Ah well, I get to have a bit of a lie-in in the morning: I don't have to leave until 7.30am...... Other mornings, I will have to be gone by 5.45am..... IT'S STILL DARK THEN PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

Goodnight all xoxoxo

Gotta feel for my automobile......

G'day.

I'm writing to you from the milky warmth of Nanadpops kitchen. I'm wapping TAFE clinical at placement at Singleton Hospital today. It's the last of 3, and I actually start real nursing at Scone Hospital next Monday. Actually, I've got a virus and feel pretty cruddy. GG shared it with me. A few others from TAFE did too, I think. I was sleeping on and off, but have given it up as a bad joke as the pups keep barking at everything that walks, floats, jogs, flies or flutters by........... At least if I let them in they're quiet some of the time. The little toads are peacefully sleeping in their bed at the moment....... I called into the RSPCA the other day ;0( . It now costs $50 to surrender a dog to them, and they will only accept a dog for re-homing after it is assessed for suitability. Other wise, they euthanase them..... There are some lovely little and not-so-little doggies and moggies there. Once they accept a beastie, it is kept until re-homed. There are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs... and others that I didn't see, I'll bet.

So I've put on a load of washing, and I'm going to wash and replace Mum's china into the cabinets that I packed away when we replaced the flooring in April. I just haven't had the time to do it since. It sounds really lame, but I've been busy..... TAFE finishes on Friday, until August anyway. PHEW!!! I did my last exam for this block yesterday, and I passed, so no posts for me. 4 girls haven't been so lucky; they have to sit an Anat & Phys exam tomorrow, and it's sudden death for them.... and all be will be good nurses.... Some who passed might not be as good, I think. I wish that they had asked for help..... It will only get harder from here on; a few of us might be looking for tutoring for the next block, I think.

It still seems rather surreal here without Mum. It's ten weeks since she passed away today. 10 weeks. She is in my head, somewhere, all of the time. So I guess in that sense, I haven't really missed her. I talk to her all the time; the dialogue is very one sided these days. I miss her sense of humour, her family chats, the interludes of quiet. Her. I miss her.

But not much that I can do about that. I am moved very easily these days. TV sees me a very soggy muggle, rather often. As does music (not heavy or death metal; it just makes my ears bleed). I'm not sure how Pop will manage when I'm not here for the next 8 weeks. He has steadfastly resisted the urge to cook for himself, and quite happily absorbs the food that I present to him each evening, not complaining about the time or quality of what I give him. I convinced him to put a few McCain meals in the freezer when they were on special a few weeks ago, but they won't last long. I have suggested to my Bro that I will despatch the slow cooker to his place for use every week or 10 days. Pop will quite happily eat out of it for 3 days...

I have also managed to convince Pop that his brand-new-in-1974 Passat station wagon (Wheels "Car of the Year"!) is a little long in the tooth; he's grudgingly replacing it with a 1999 Polo this afternoon. He's grumbling about the work that it needs; I keep telling him that if he would have spent another 7grand, then he could have had a brand new car with 5 years warranty, and no fixing at all..... he's coming up for 72! It's a big step for him, though, even buying this one....... Even if he likes the car, he Won't be happy....... that's Pop. He is insisting that he needs to re-register the Passat, just in case. Actually, he has another very unattractive brown Passat sedan that is registered until January... You just can't convince him that he doesn't need all those cars. Just in case......

I rewarded myself last night for a job well done with an excursion accompanied by GG to the movies to see "The Chronicles Narnia: Prince Caspian". A great film. I really enjoyed it, and watching GG: she was immersed in the action, emotional and literally sitting on the edge of her seat! She's passionate, my girl. And Prince Caspian? Suffice to say that he is very beautiful. mmmm.

Oh well, I'd best do something with the washing. It's getting a little murky around here. Things will never dry. They'll be soggy, like me.

I should find a nice picture of something to put here, just to relieve the tediom of my writing for you, but alas........

See you later!

Make the best of what you've got......

I'm feeling a little flat tonight, so here's a few things to ponder......

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

What is the speed of darkness?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours?

Are there specially reserved parking spaces for "normal" people at the Special Olympics?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze
these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's bum."

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their bum when they ask where the bathroom is?

Why does your Obstetrician, Gynaecologist leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs !

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Stop singing and read on.......

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

So there you go....

Nite. xoxox