one down....

yep, one week of my holidays is over already - only one more week to go...

it has been a nice relaxing week though with lots of walking the streets of st kilda and surrounds with my wee louie - i've done stuff-all reading so far, but did manage to finish the third season of true blood... now to wait for the fourth season!!!

i had visitors yesterday - finally i got to catch up with steph and pete who came around for a late lunch - we did have the 'pretend' grand final on in the background but as it was so very woeful we just glanced (winced) at it every so often - and steph is far more entertaining than the television!!!

as pete and i are both saints supporters we decided that we'd just treat the re-match with the contempt it deserved - the grand final was a draw and that's all there is to it - had there been time-on (like there is throughout the season) the saints would have won because they had come back with a vengeance and were starting to get on top... there's also the point that a draw during the season is worth 2 premiership points for each team - so what's wrong with a drawn grand final then - why does there have to be a winner and a loser (not a good message to send to youngsters!!) why can't the 2 best teams of the year end with a draw - what's the problem (and it does only happen 'once in a blue moon')!! so, in true saints supporter style, we chanted the mantra - "there's always next year" - and then continued to enjoy the company, the conversation, the yummy stuffed peppers and roasted garlic and potatoes i had made!!!

and wasn't i the lucky one... it was almost like having a second birthday when they arrived because they came  'bearing gifts'... i was given a lovely pair of earrings from malta - this is the first time i've really caught up with them since they returned from their last (but no longer so recent) trip overseas... i also got a small bottle of meletti - an aniseed-based liquor - a tasty wee drop similar to white sambuca!!! they brought a couple of bottles of howling wolves wine too - so it was a very pleasant afternoon (which turned into evening all too quickly!!)

i'll be sad to see him go, but my wee lou-dude goes back to malmsbury tomorrow - it's been lovely having him stay for the week, but it's just such a small space for the boy - no room here for him to run around in such a small courtyard - he's used to a big backyard and playmates these days... even the leash-free park isn't the same for him without his pack! but we've been on some lovely long, ambling walks around the streets though... there are so many magnificent houses in the area... and it's so green, lush and lovely at the moment... so many trees in bloom - it's just spectacular...

i've got a few things to do this week - have been thinking about getting my hair cut for ages now... so that's definitely on the agenda... the only thing with that is finding a decent hairdresser - i hate going to the hairdressers... they never listen to what you say - consequently i don't go to the same one twice usually - fuck up once and that's me not returning... and i hate all of those bright, glaring lights - and the music, and the small talk, and they're so very expensive, why??? and blah, blah, blah...

on that note it's time to go and make a cuppa and perhaps i'll do some blogging later in the week...

leisurely livin'....

yay - i'm on holidays for 2 weeks... i tell you what, last friday the working day seemed to take forever to end - it seems like i applied for these holidays so very long ago and they didn't feel like they were ever going to get here... but finally it was time to forget about work and think about relaxing and enjoying the next couple of weeks... leading up to the holidays though i did catch up with larry the librarian on my day off last monday - we spent a lovely couple of hours chatting, smoking, sharing food and a bottle of vino... a very enjoyable time...

saturday i had irene and the malmsbury mob down for a visit - they had to come down to drop off my wee louie who's staying with me for 10 days, so there'll be a lot of strolling the streets in the next week and a bit... i had thought about getting up to malmsbury for a few days but it's just not going to happen - my brother would come and stay with allie and shadow, but it's way too much to expect someone else to clean up after my old incontinent girl - and he just doesn't get the idea of getting her outside as soon as she starts moving about - he's not 'attuned' to her and forgets she's blind and deaf too - and there is a lot of picking up and carrying involved in living with a blind, deaf and incontinent dog - it's just too hard for someone else to deal with (and for me 'kids' to deal with someone else!)... so home is very much my 'holiday destination' for the next fortnight...

having visitors meant i missed the grand final though - having grown up in st kilda i can't help but have a soft spot for the sainters - me mum, me brother and me, we all followed the saints - me dad was the odd one out, with north melbourne being his team...

st kilda formed in 1873 and was originally a  victorian football association team... with widespread player dissatisfaction with the association, they shifted support to the newly formed victorian football league, becoming one of the foundation clubs of the vfl in 1897 (which became the afl in 1990)...

footy was the be-all end-all where sport was concerned for working class folk here in victoria in the 50s and 60s - it definitely took precedence at school - we (the whole school) were all packed off on footy days to watch the boys play - basketball, the 'girls' school sport, came a very poor second (just the teams went to these matches - no cheering fan club for us!) - and NO, it wasn't called netball then - i was a goalie and we played basketball (and it was still basketball up until i left school in 1970!!!) so the name-change didn't happen in victoria (centre of my universe, but i'm not sure about the rest of australia) until some time during the 70s when american national league basketball became popular in 'the colonies' after showcasing the talents of the harlem globetrotters  in exhibition games - i was lucky enough to see them a couple of times - they were amazing - totally mesmerising!!!

in 1911 footy made the move from amateur status to a 'professional sport' with the league setting a limit of 30 'bob' per week to be paid to some players (but few teams actually introduced this remuneration until years later) - this had risen (for some) to around 3 'quid' by the 50s... there was plenty of loyalty and a lot of action on the field - for many there was nothing more exciting than watching a melee (okay, all in brawl - of course that often 'provoked' more brawling amongst the more 'exuberant' spectators) - there was no such thing as the blood rule then (nor any oh&s)!!!!... it's definitely changed over the years - it's better for player health and conditions these days but there's way too much money involved... the culture is really fucked with many players seeing themselves (as do some fans) as demi-gods with entitlement to do as they like, to get away with atrocious - often criminal and often sexually abusive - behaviour... it's a sport for fuck sake - unfortunately really big money became involved and that changes everything...

i'm not a big footy fan now, but i will watch the saints playing when they're on telly - it's a sentimental thing - and because i didn't get to see the game on saturday i don't mind that it was a draw, because now  i'll be able to watch the grand final next weekend - and having won only one grand final in over a century of playing (that win over collingwood in 1966 by 1 point - that's barry breen about to kick the winning point - i was 11 and remember it vividly!) - what would be sweeter than another grand final victory over the much hated 'pies'??? GO SAINTERS!!!!

i've brought heaps of books and dvds home for the holidays - so i've got plenty of leisure activities to fill in my 'leisure time'... i made a start today - me and the gang (louie and allie on either side of me with shadow on the knee!!) watched 4 episodes of the 3rd season of true blood - now that's not a series you can just watch 1 episode of i've found - i'll probably finish that in the next couple of days - and i've got some interesting books to read and talking books to listen to - so my next couple of weeks are looking good - really relaxing...

oooh, i might even get some blogging done...

changing the world - one small step at a time...

you know, as a palestinian sympathiser / supporter I never thought I’d have reason to say “go israel”!!!! unfortunately for the palestinian people it’s not in relation to their struggle or plight – but fortunately for animals israel may be proving itself to be a leading voice against the brutal fur trade…

according to unleashed australia “israel is on the verge of becoming the first country to completely ban fur. on 2nd september israel will vote on whether to ban the production, import and export of fur.”

sickeningly the 'price of fashion' for humans is paid by non-human animals - did you know millions of minks, raccoons, foxes, rabbits, dogs, cats and other animals are skinned alive, anally electrocuted, poisoned, beaten to death or drowned for their fur?!

how many animals are horrifically slain for one fur coat?

disturbing isn't it!!! why not add your voice and urge israel to 'help make fur history'?  change has to start somewhere - and hopefully spread rapidly...

concerned people do have a voice by way of petitions and protests - as evidenced in Catalonia on 28th July, when it became the first major region in mainland Spain to ban bullfighting!!!! yay for caring, compassionate people!!!!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ... Margaret Mead

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on an up note for me and my weekend... i had the 'malmsbury mob' come to visit so i got to see my wee loudie-dude, irene and the rest of the gang... we walked, talked, ate and mellowed out with a relaxing smoke... it's always a lovely time when the 'country clan' comes down...

the following photo shows me, louie (it's a pity you can't see the detail in his little black face - it's very expressive) and the grey boy is old man lucky... mind you, there was a bit of a power struggle / territorial dispute going on - my lap was the desired prize and both were vying for more of it - looks like louie had the 'upper paw' when the photo was taken - he's spread out more!!!!

alas, that's it for now - it's time to do some 'domestics'...

malmsbury musings...

it's a pretty town is malmsbury... you may have passed through it on your way to bendigo or one of the other close by towns - daylesford or castlemaine perhaps - or you may even have missed it by blinking - or you may never even have heard of it - since the bypass was opened it's mostly 'local traffic' that passes through these days...

i visited overnight a fortnight ago and stayed at irene's - i figured i could trust darrell to watch the gang while i spent some time with my wee loudle boy... he does treat her well - he's actually awed at her ability to still get around being blind and deaf - she amazes him and he's very good to both her and the shadow lad...

it was a lovely (albeit very short) break from my day to day routine (especially the cleaning up wee part)... lovely once i arrived anyway - the trains only ran to sunbury this particular day and then we had to road coach it from there... now that takes a lot longer... usually a very commutable hour and a quarter trip became a two and a half hour ordeal - i really don't like coaches - a tad claustrophobic... so it was really good to arrive at the station and get off that bus!!!!

irene and i decided to go out for dinner, so we went to 'the stables' - it's only open friday and saturday evenings and they make yummy wood fired pizza - lots of vegie options... as the name suggests, it's an old renovated stables with a lovely rustic interior and a really comfortable and relaxed atmosphere - there's a welcoming treed courtyard with tables - unfortunately it was raining the evening we were there so outside wasn't the place to be... it was a very enjoyable evening though... we went home sated and just veg'd out with the poodles...

it's lovely sitting out on irene's back porch... it overlooks "the mill" - built in 1861 as a malt mill - now classified by the national trust, it houses a restaurant, gallery, studio and function centre - actually irene's getting ready to sell the back 1/4 acre of her property which faces on to this lovely landmark - a buyer's dream hopefully - it would be grouse to know that your view will always be beautiful because it can't be developed - i'd love to buy it but alas i have no assets or money - relationship crap years ago (yeah, what else - same old, same old!!!) left me with no alternative to bankruptcy - i lost everything that meant anything to me - my home, my dream (and soooo much more that i'm still unable to talk about without tears, regrets and depression so i won't go there)... you would have thought i'd have learnt then, but wisdom's a long time coming - anyway what's done is done so there's no point looking backwards...

... suffice to say an 'older persons retreat' will do me nicely in her lovely treed yard - there's a pretty spot earmarked for my cottage... once the land sells that is - hopefully it will get snapped up quickly... it has so much going for it... it's 5 minutes walk to the malmsbury station and just up the hill from the bakery, the general store, a winery, surrounded by amazing bluestone buildings... very well located actually... but there's more - arts and crafts stores, a hotel, antiques... fingers crossed...

ooh, did i mention that positioned between the shops and irene's place are the magnificent botanical gardens... i came across a blog with some grouse photos of the gardens right here.

all this within walking distance - and, if you know them, Mike & Linda are within 'cooee' as well - their 'country residence' is just down the road on the other side of the hill - just past the shops...

do you know anyone interested in a beautiful 1/4 acre block with a wonderful outlook??

but my poor louie's having a bit of a hard time at the moment... irene's been having a hard time with all the gang... three out of the four of them have had bad 'hot spots' (lucky boy managed to miss out - lucky in name, lucky in life!!) - they all got clipped by a 'new' person who did a wonderful clipping job - hopefully it's just coincidental - after all it's a bad flea time at the moment - allie and shadow haven't been immune here in the city either!! - but my poor wee loudie-dude has suffered the most - he already has sensitive skin and he's a real scratcher so it's taking longer for his to heal... and he is a sook - a wee neurotic boy really (but he's had a hard life - and he's had to adapt to a lot of change - he loved having me to himself the night i stayed - he didn't have to compete to share the human with 3 other dogs - mind you, the others enjoyed one less to share irene and their bed with too!!)... and it's not fair on irene either - when you've already got 3 dogs another one makes it so much harder - so many to deal with when it's bath time, flea-ing time, dinner time, medicine time, etc. etc. - even harder considering chronic ill health is part of her life, and she works, and has to cope with a 16 yo moody male teenager - the grandson!!!!

here's some photos of my cute wee fella i took a few weeks ago...

i'm going to do some reading and domestic stuff now... but i've been listening to alice russell lately so i'll leave you with some of her music... enjoy...

what's your comfort???

I caught up with Sailor Lil' on Saturday... it was a lovely couple of hours... she was having some "Finn free" time so we ate Middle Eastern pastries Lil' bought from 'her side of town', we shared a bottle of wine, we talked and laughed and shared visions of semi-retirement...


Irene came down with Louie and the gang on Sunday so I got to spend a few hours with him... I miss that little boy - and it's always hard to say goodbye - a wee weep always follows his departure... I'd love to be living with him in the country - I'm not a 'flat-dweller' - I hate the closeness of so many people - the proximity of strangers - the 'surround sound' noise - the claustrophobic sensation - and the animals are used to more space... Shadow would love the country life... but as 'we've' got another 11 months on the lease here I guess I just get as much debt paid off as possible in that time, save anything that's left - and dream of peace and serenity....


i knew i was coming down with something on Monday, and i woke up this morning with that cotton wool wrapped head feeling, shivers and chills, aching body and knew i wasn't going to be able to go to work... knew it would happen soon - moved into the IT room when I went back to work the other week and both guys had the flu in varying stages - so i wrapped myself up in my doona and laid on the couch with allie most of the day - feeling sorry for myself of course...

I was a bit down by this time - well, downright depressed actually - and at times don't you just crave some good old fashioned comfort food??? I do, and I just had to make myself some cauliflower in cheese sauce, oven-baked with fresh cheesy breadcrumbs - even made the cheese sauce with pure cream - told you, I really was in need of comfort food...


i guess at least now i've got nice blinds to hide behind, to contemplate my future... yes, the horrible orange blinds have gone - replaced by an 'easier on the eyes and mind' colour... a more 'me' colour - another much needed sensory comfort...


and now i'm going to make a cuppa, stretch out on the couch and hope i feel better tomorrow...

feeling soooo old...

I tell ya, sleeping on a mattress on the floor these days is hard work... it's not as easy getting down that far, or up for that matter!!!! but at least when I sleep, I sleep more comfortably knowing me old girl hasn't got far to fall to the floor... I pretty much stayed awake at night before I dismantled the bed!!!!

I'm off for a couple of weeks now - I can spend some time with Allie and get to see what her quality of life is like now... she's still being cheeky - finding bones outside and trying to sneak them inside in her droopy old jowls!!! and having a wee dig in the garden... she's not as distressed now (nor am I!!!) and manages to find her way outside during the day... losing your sight (and not having sound to compensate) would be really freaky I would imagine... a really hard sense to learn to live without if you'd always had it...

anyway, here's some photos of 'the gang'...

I've been feeling really exhausted lately - mentally and physically - there's concern for me babe... and me mum (things to do on her 'illness front' next week)... work's been taking its toll on the mind and body - so much to do, so few who can 'perform all tasks', so those of us that can still 'do it all' (but for how long??? I have aches, pains and strains most of the time these days, and I'm pretty sure it's not all attributable to age!!!) - end up doing extra of the heavy shit and wear out quicker (I'm too old to wear out any quicker!!!!) - surely that proves we're understaffed - it at least means there needs to be a re-think about how 'incapacitated' workers duties are covered!!!

and of course there's still 'stuff' at home - the major impacting shit is the money... so now I'm going to do some recuperating myself... a bit of reading... maybe catch up with emails... have a choof... enjoy being with me gang and generally just relax.......