Linda and her Twaddle

Chivalry

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:14:00 +0000

Today when I got to work I had to open up everything.

As I was unlocking the padlocked gate a guy came up to speak to me about something he had organised with my boss. It involved a shipping container being delivered and having to be unloaded and he had to wait around until it appeared.

I unlocked the office, turned off the alarm and did all the things that needed doing, one of which included unloading groceries from my car.

At that stage, this nice man offered to help but by then I had finished.

Now, my car is filthy at the moment and I had it parked in the baking hot sun. I am a bit embarrassed actually as it looks very, very dirty and I feel that is a reflection on me, being the driver and all.

After I had been in the office for about half an hour, the guy comes in and asks me if I could get a small bucket of water and a cloth for him as he would like to clean the bird droppings (of which there are a few) from off my car.

"They will leave damage on the paintwork", he informed me.

"Really, that is very kind of you, but you don't have to. In fact, when I bought my car I paid $1500 extra for paint protection in anticipation of my laziness", I said.

But he insisted and I gave him the water and cloth and he cleaned everything off my car.

In return I directed him into the kitchen where he later made himself lunch.

Later on I told my husband about how the nice man cleaned birdy doo from my car.

"It must be just great being a female. I mean, I can tell you now, if it had have been my car there is no way known he would have offered to clean bird crap off it", my husband said.

Ah, yep, it sure is great now and then.

Ciao
LC

900 Posts

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:31:00 +0000

This is post number nine hundred.

Fancy that. So much twaddle going on.

Today was a lovely day.

Went into the studio and looked out the door at the lovely blue sky and trees that were whispering when the breeze went through the leaves.
Fiddled around with some funny things I am doing with my son's primary school photos before I put them into a frame.

Almost finished off a painting that has been sitting here for ages. Until today it was just a painting of the sun. It's okay but will end up in a box somewhere soon. But for now, I am happy that I did something with it.

First thing this morning I went for a walk in the hot sun, down the hot streets and enjoyed the silence.

A nice day was had.

How about you?

What did you do?

Ciao

Welcome To Hot Days

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:26:00 +0000

I love hot days.

I don't want every day to be hot, so living in a hot country would not be my ideal, but I love getting a hot day in between the not so hot days.

The almost noiseless air on a hot day appeals to me. The heat seems to dull the sound of things while at the same time leaving the sound to hang in the air.

The sound of insects in the evening have the same effect on me as a song from my youth. I hear the cicadas or crickets and am reminded of being small and playing outside in the evening warmth. It makes me feel nostalgic.

Today I went for another swimming lesson. All went well until we had to float on our back and do a frog kick. I did not get it, and I was tired and had twice sniffed water up my nose which bothered me. On top of it all, one of my ears blocked and I also forgot my swimming cap and had my hair plastered to my face every time I put my head out of the water.

On the way home I drove with the windows of the car open and the air conditioner on. I love the hot and cold air mixing together. My Ipod was plugged in and I played one song over a few times. It was Black Eyed Peas with Sergio Mendes singing Mas Que Nada. It was loud and as I turned into the driveway at home my husband later on said to me "was that you coming down the street playing loud music, I thought it was a teenager".

By the time I got home, my wet hair had all but dried into a wonderful big frizz and smelt of chlorine.

Once I had made myself presentable I decided to beat the heat and get some grocery shopping done. Unfortunately the entire local population had decided to do the same thing and I had to park ages away from the store. This meant that I had to then push the wayward trolley back to the car in the stinking heat.

Hot weather to me is for sitting around in, under the shade of a tree in a deck chair. Admiring the blue sky and perhaps reading a book. Drinking a nice cold drink. It is not for pushing a trolley full of food through a sun scorched car park, unloading it and then climbing into a very hot car.

My husband and son hate hot weather. The complain about it. The cooler in the house goes on as soon as the hint of warm wind finds it's way into the rooms. I would not turn it on unless the house were unbearably hot.

I thought it would be nice to go out for a long bike ride and a picnic tomorrow but neither of them would like it because it will be so hot. I could go on my own but, being a bit of a loner, sometimes if I do too much on my own I enjoy it a bit more than I care to confess.

Instead I think I may go for a long walk in the morning, listen to music as I go and enjoy the solitude. Maybe stop off at the local trash and treasure market and see if there is anything to buy. Have a coffee at a nearby cafe.

It doesn't matter what I end up doing, as long as I get to enjoy the warm sunshine as it starts to rise high in the sky and leave a bite on bare skin.

It is like infusing the soul with something quite inexplicable.

And very, very nice.

Ciao
LC

Turned A Corner

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:04:00 +0000

About two weeks ago I did this post that had a bit of a moan about some problems I was having.

After that post I implemented a swag of strategies to help me avoid a trip to the Land Of Sad Faces and I can say that I feel I have turned the corner.

It was a big effort. I actually wrote down a list of what I needed to do to put some structure into it.

Writing down things helps me greatly for it is too noisy in my head to filter out the good from the bad. I suppose it is how I am wired.

The two main factors for me in scrabbling out of the hole I had slipped into were exercise and sleep. If these two activities can be kept on track it allows me to manage the ups and downs well enough to stay at ease.

Early nights were the first thing. I hate early nights. By that I mean into bed before 10.30 pm. I don't like to lie in bed waiting for sleep which can be up to an hour and a half. But I made the effort to be in between the covers by 10.00 pm.

The sleeping tablets the doctor prescribed to me were great for a few of the nights, but I figured I had to retrain my brain rather than depending on medication. Sleeping tablets have a reputation for being a bit addictive.

I increased my exercise regime as much as I could without wearing myself out. Not running, but walking more.

I made a list of all the things I wanted to do but had not. Just small things. Then ticked them off as I forced myself to do them.

I have a theory about my mind. It wants to go down a path of old thinking patterns and will naturally slip back there when my life is not in balance physically and mentally. So I have to make it focus on other things. Whether that be mowing the lawn, pulling out weeds or reading books. By keeping my mind focused it seems to get back on track.

I was so close to going back on medication for depression but for me there are aspects to them that I dislike. They flatline my mind to the point where I feel like I am inside a glass jar looking out but not connecting. I would rather struggle day by day than have that sensation of disengagement with my surroundings.

There were a couple of times when I picked up my mobile phone during the day and said to my husband "I am really struggling here" and he said it was okay and we talked about it. I never do that as a rule so he knew I was working hard at it and I owe him a big thank you for just being there.

I also want to say a big thank you for everyone who left an encouraging comment for me on my post. It does make a difference. Despite the silly things I post on my blog, I am not a particularly open person when it comes to articulating what turmoil I may be going through at a given time. I may talk about it later when I have worked it all out, but not at the time. If I say to my husband, or anyone for that matter, that I have a problem you can bet I have been trying to work through it for a long time leading up to the confession.

Sometimes just acknowledging is part of the getting through it.

So this week I felt happy more often. That small thrill of joy that fills my chest when I look at the blue sky or hear music.

The anxiety is still around but not so constant. The bouts of feeling emotionally inert are not as prevalent.

With that in mind I think I can confidentially say I am back on a kind of steady path, steady enough to feel more settled and able to cope with day to day things.

And, my handbag is tidy.

Which is strangely important to me.

So, there you go.

A good thing.

Ciao
LC

Days Off

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:41:00 +0000

I recently had five days off work.

Friday was taken off to go to the hairdressers. Then along came the weekend and because we had a public holiday on the Tuesday it was a given that everyone would take the Monday off and allow a long weekend.

The public holiday was in celebration of the Melbourne Cup - a horse race, of all things.

Australia is a country of long weekends.

It is the first time in ages that I have had five lovely days off in a row and I enjoyed every second of them. Well, except for those last couple of hours right at the end when you realise the work is coming up the next day.

I cleaned the house, a heavy duty clean which involved having to pull an accumulation of hair out from the plug hole in the shower.

I have to say, it is all well and good to use "mung bean" and "eco friendly" bathroom cleaners but if you had a look at what the inside of the drain looked like after months of shampoo and hair going down there you would not hesitate to tip heavy duty bleach down there once a week. Stinky, slimy and foul. No amount of baking soda and lemon juice is going to keep that bug free.

Moved furniture as I vacuumed. Dusted high and low. Brushed away some cobwebs.

Did some gardening. Pulled weeds out from the soft, warm and damp earth. Dug over the soil in preparation for some planting. We had heavy rain one night followed by a warm day which make gardening easier because the soil is lets the weeds go a bit more willingly.

Went to the shopping centre and meandered around for a couple of hours then came home.

I made time to do some things in the studio.

I even emptied out my handbag. This is a job I normally do weekly but as I have been in a rather inert frame of mind I had let it go for at least three months. It was jam packed with rubbish, receipts, tissues, pens, notebooks and change rattling around the bottom.

The huge excitement of the weekend was the end of the road for my trusty hair dryer. As I turned it on it belched smoke at me. I had to go and buy a lovely new one. Along with some very luscious shampoo.

All I can say is that it was lucky it did not expire today, on a work day or I would have had to have had six days off!

Even though having Tuesday off to celebrate a horse race is perfectly acceptable.

Taking another day off because there was no hairdryer in the house would not pass muster.

Ciao
LC

Girls Only?

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Tonight I went to exercise class.

There were six girls and the personal trainer. We were sitting on the fit balls getting ready for the class when the personal trainer suddenly had something very important to say.

"Oh, oh, Linda, I was reading the paper on the weekend and I came across an article that reminded me of you", she told me.

"Really? I am intrigued", I said.

"Well, there I was reading away and I saw a small article about a car that you can get in Japan. The interior is designed to absorb all smells and bad odours from inside of the car. I thought of you straight away", she went on.

There was a round of hysterical laughter from the girls.

"Gee, thanks for thinking of me. I have to say though, you would not want to buy that car second hand now would you", I responded.

"Especially if you were the previous owner", one of the girls added in and more silly laughter followed (mine included).

I am not sure whether to be offended or not.

I went home and relayed the episode to my husband.

His response was not one of shared amusement.

"Are you telling me that you tell people you farted in your car? Do you talk like that if a guy is in the class?" he asked me in a semi shocked way.

"Well, yeah. Is that bad? It's not like I actually do the deed in front of anyone. I just happened to admit I did it in the car once or twice. It was a JOKE okay," I answered (feeling like I may have behaved in a rather unladylike manner).

"No, no, well, I am just surprised that you would talk like that in front of a guy," he said.

"I have no shame," I answered back.

Just as well he does not read my blog.

The online confessional.

Read by people who have never actually met me.

And not just gals.

Ciao
LC

Halloween

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:55:00 +0000

Yesterday I decorated the house a little bit for Halloween. My son really wanted to do it and I said okay.

Now, in Australia Halloween is not a big thing but every year a few more children want to get involved in the fun of it.

However, there is a horrible attitude towards it from so many people. When my son went trick or treating last year he had a lot of people say to him that they don't believe in that "American Crap". What a mean spirited lot people are.

But we made sure S knew the history behind it all before he went out and about as we anticipated this reaction. Every time someone gave him the old "we don't subscribe to this American thing" or asked him if he knew what Halloween was all about, he gave them the historical low down on it and made them think twice.

Halloween is Celtic. My husband, in his childhood in Scotland, used to go out "guising". He dressed up and went from house to house, sang a song and got a treat. It was fun. You did not need a lot of money to do it and you still don't these days. You just need some imagination to join in the fun.

Unlike Christmas, which is an emotional minefield, costly and a reminder of how things used to be, Halloween is just good, old fashioned fun and we should recognise that and enjoy it.

To me, Halloween is the one time kids and teenagers can be just that. Kids and teenagers. They can dress up, have fun, scare each other, get treats and let themselves be full of great silliness.

Why are people here so negative about it? Some of the children who visited us said that some houses they went to told them to get away and that Halloween was not part of the Australian way.

Well, duh!

How ignorant. Considering that Australia was populated in the early years by Irish and English then would it not be true to say that Halloween is, in fact, a bigger part of their culture if they had a good long think about it's roots?

And considering a fair slice of the Irish and English ended up on the shores of America, does it not make sense for them to also embrace the whole tradition? And if they choose to do it in a fantastic way, then all the better. Australians should lighten up.

Although we only did a little thing with decorating the front of the house, it was great to do it and the half a dozen groups that came and knocked on our front door were really, really appreciative of it.

So, I want to say thanks to the American way of doing Halloween. I want to say thank you for making it a HUGE thing and hopefully it will become a big event here in the next few years.

Because if I can do something that makes kids feel happy and welcome and part of something then I am going to do that.

I cannot wait until next year. Our house is going to be the SPOOKIEST in town.

Plus I am going to bake Halloween treats - especially as I have a tonne of lollies left over and have had to hide them from my son and husband to avoid an overdose of sugar.

So, Happy Halloween, or whatever it is you say at this time of year.

Ciao
LC

Health Food And Going Grey

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:25:00 +0000

I went to the hairdressers today.

It has been six weeks since I last went. Normally I have gone every four weeks but as I am embarking on going lighter (say maybe all grey or pale blonde) with my hair I am stretching out the visits to allow for more regrowth.

Going grey is not for the faint hearted I can tell you. There have been a few days when I have looked at the grey and just groaned to myself. The next visit is in seven weeks and I am sure to have some seriously bad hair days coming up then.

But if I want to have hair like this:

The divine Emmy Lou Harris who does it so well, or, like this woman somewhere in Spain (how lovely is that hair) - I am just going to have to suffer the trauma of looking at the grey coming through.

Someone said to me that once I go grey I won't have to go to the hairdressers any more. Ah, well, if I want to go the glamorous grey, I will still be going to the hairdressers every six weeks or so.

After the hairdressers I went to have some lunch.

Ages ago I did this post about health food and must have forgotten about how disgusting health food is because I went again to the SAME shop and had lunch.

I ordered pumpkin salad, green tea and some sweet and healthy nut ball thinking how healthy I was being.

As a rule I LOVE pumpkin. It is my favorite vegetable. But this dish, all mixed in with coconut and green stuff, well, a bit too healthy for me.

There is a certain sensation that happens when I am eating this type of food. The first few mouthfuls are fine and then suddenly the gag reflex comes into effect. It is not the taste as much as the healthiness of it. Maybe the texture. I cannot explain it but at a certain point I just know that another mouthful will induce a vomit.

As for that nut, seedy, coconut sickly sweet thing on the plate that I bought instead of the vegan carob chocolate brownie, well, let me say that the $3.50 I paid for it was bit stiff. It was pretty horrible, but I ate it anyway despite it looking very unappetizing.

When I came home I opened the tin of lollies that we filled in anticipation of Halloween coming up and scoffed a few unhealthy, sugary treats.

Mmmmmm, didn't they hit the spot.

I fell so much healthier now.

Ciao

Skirt

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:48:00 +0000

Last week I finished sewing my skirt.

I modified it quite a bit from the pattern. Added the pocket and put a border on the hem.

All in all I was pleased. Today was so warm it was great to wear it.

Now I am going to make another one.

Aline skirts are so easy.

I even managed to put the zip in all by myself.

Ciao
LC

Big Sister

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:46:00 +0000

My sister in law has discovered a way to get her husband (my brother) to do things is to say to him;

I'll tell Linda!

Apparently I am more able to convince him to do things than her.

Today she rang me and asked if I could do a big sister thing for her.

She had made an appointment for him to go to the doctor's and get a referral for the sleep clinic.

He snores and probably has sleep apnoea.

He refused point blank to go when she told him about the appointment. They argued about it when I was there on Sunday doing bookwork.

So, she rings me today and asks if I could ring him up and tell him to go.

"Well, I will try but I doubt he is going to listen to me," I said (thinking she was really over estimating my big sister power).

I called him up, chatted away and brought up the appointment issue.

"Nope, not interested, forget it, got better things to do," he said.

"Okay, fair enough. But you know, J loves you and is just concerned about your health. It is not a big thing is it? I can see that you could not be bothered, but it is going to give her peace of mind I guess. Besides, if it shows your snoring is no big deal you can say "I told you so" for a long, long time," I said and reminded him that I also cared for him and his health.

We changed the subject and talked about other stuff.

Then, as we ended the phone call he said he would go the the "stupid" doctor's.

I was astonished.

Now my sister in law is going to think I have the almighty power.

I will get phone calls like;

Can you get him to hang out the washing?

Tell him to clean the toilet.

Get him to clean the kitchen!

Er, no good.

I cannot even get myself to do that sort of stuff.

Ciao
LC

Sometimes

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Sometimes I am not very lovable.

Or maybe I just feel I am not.

When I get angry I think I am a bad, mean and ungrateful shit.

But I don't actually act unlovable, I just feel it.

Then feel guilty for having mean spirited thoughts.

When in reality, I am probably just having an off day or perhaps other people are.

Which is fine.

And does not mean I have failed somewhere along the line.

I am going to be right now.

Before my brain sighs loudly.

Ciao
LC

Doomed

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:55:00 +0000

After reading this article in the Daily Mail today I realise that there is no hope for me morally or otherwise.

So, the fact I actually read the Daily Mail online suggests just how totally amoral I am.

I have a confession to make. Not that you actually need to hear it, but I am going to put it on record anyway.

I had to break the no farting rule in my car.

You see, that is all well and good if you are only in the car for around ten minutes, but a long drive can be, you know, a bit restrictive.

Naturally I have not actually informed my son and husband of the broken rule as the last thing I want is for THEM to fart in my car.

However, this morning as I opened the door of my car I realised that if I am going to fart in the car at night after exercise class I do run the risk of being caught out if someone other than me opens it the next morning.

If you know what I mean.

Oink

Ciao
LC

Blow Fly

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:23:00 +0000

In warmer weather we get more flies here.

They hang around your face if you are outside without insect repellent. If the door opens only slightly they will dart in and annoy the crap out of you.

We have the little boring old black fly that just hangs out everywhere. You just have to keep the bench tops clean and free of food or you can bet one will be on your sandwich very quickly. Once inside they will hover around lights, your face and other random places. Picnics and BBQ's are bad news in summer.

Once, when I went to Alice Springs, I ate some by accident. I thought the pikelet had sultanas in it but alas, it was just some black flies that had found their way into my mouth as I opened it to insert the food. Oh, I can still recall biting them thinking it was a juicy sultana. When I realised what it was I spat everything out in front of strange people.

You would not believe, but in the middle of nowhere - and I mean nowhere - you can get out of a car and hundreds of flies will zoom down upon you. Which results in some serious hand waving. This activity is known as the Great Australian Salute.

But, worse than the little black fly is the big, fat, brown blow fly.

Apart from the size of the horrible thing (about one centimetre) is the NOISE of it and the fact it lays maggots the moment it dies.

They buzz, buzz and buzz. A horrible drone. The sound of a lazy summer's day.

Or, the sound of a hot night in your bedroom if you left the window open and don't have fly wire (my house). Then you have the mosquito and the blow fly keeping you awake.

Now and then they have some sort of psycho attack and buzz madly around and bang off the window and your head if it is in the way of their flying.

In my office we get so many of them. Four or five a day turn up and hang out near my corner. Crawl on the window and the buzz like a crazy kook fly. They are disgusting.

If you spray them they go berserk. Their death throes are long and drawn out. They end up dead somewhere on the window sill or floor.

My mother used fly paper. Don't do it. It is disgusting on a hot day as they slide down the sticky surface and collect at the bottom of it all.

Sometimes I like to use a ruler to hit a blowfly across the room and maybe near someone's desk.

However, if you upset the fly, it then does the crazy buzzing thing and you end up wishing you had just left it alone.

Last week I whacked one with a clear plastic envelope thing. A big hard whack against the window where it then disemboweled itself on the thing I was holding. Needless to say I almost vomited.

Unfortunately, despite global warming and the demise of many forms of insect life, the blow fly appears to be made of the same stuff as cockroaches.

More of them.

The sound of summer.

Bzzzzzzzz.

Ciao
LC

Note To Waist

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:14:00 +0000

Stop getting thicker.

Stop getting jiggly.

Stop making my jeans feel all wrong.

Stop doing that thing when I sit down. You know, where you kind of make yourself known by just, I don't know, blobbing around or something.

Even though I eat carefully, exercise thoughtfully and do all good things that middle aged women are meant to do to avoid weight gain you just keep hanging around like an unwanted smell.

In fact, worse than hanging around, you hang on. Hang on like a man trying not to fall out of an open aeroplane door without a parachute. Desperately.

Not only that, I want to ask you "what are you eating when I am not eating?" because I know that based on my BMI and my BMR and my calorie intake versus energy output you should not even be there. I have done the figures you sneak. I know the facts!

Yes, yes, give me the old oestrogen is running out and therefore the body increases fat content to hang on the to bits of oestrogen still around. But, quite frankly, I am happy to head into middle age sans oestrogen if it means I have a flat stomach.

Really, truly, I do not need to embrace peri menopause with a thick waist. It's not healthy to stay with me so why not do me a favour and go away.

Of course, it did not help that I saw a video of me from 2007 and you were not there quite as much.

You were in hiding or something.

Go away and hide again.

Ciao
LC

Photos

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Here is a photo of the mantle clock I bought on Ebay. It has the most beautiful ticking sound.

I am reminded of a friend's place I used to stay at when I was very little. They had a ticking mantle clock in the dining room and I could hear it when I woke up in the night. It chimed every fifteen minutes (which perhaps explains why I woke up in the middle of the night). But it was very comforting to listen to.

Last night, however, I had to turn off the chime and shut the door to the room as my son could hear it and complained. When we got up we turned the chimes back on. He looked into the interior of it, fascinated by the simple mechanics of it.

Here is the little desk I bought.

The drawers have little ink stains inside them. Each drawer has hand made dovetail joins at the front and back. Very finely done which shows the skill and pride of the person who made it. All the fittings are original. I wish I knew more about it.

I have not actually put anything into the drawers and cupboards yet. The last thing I want is for it to become a dumping spot.

This is me on my day bed. Although not that comfortable to actually sit on, it is great for lounging across to read or watch television. We had to compromise on having a spare bed if needed without actually having a bedroom set up.

Looking at the photo I realise the mirror is not clean. Actually, I cannot recall the last time I bothered to clean it. Perhaps if I leave it to be hazy it will be like a filter over a camera and make me look younger!

I just want to say how much I hate taking a photo of myself. I took a few, then a few more, then deleted each one and finally said "oh, this will do". I am not exactly sure what constitutes a good photo - but in my mind any photo of me will never be good enough. I think I speak for everyone when I say that. It is like listening to your own voice. Just cringeworthy.

This afternoon I am in here on and off through the day whilst my son and his friend play Xbox and watch silly dvd's. I think they are eating things they should not (biscuits etc.) but I am not going to get in a bother about it today.

I have already been for a walk up the street to do the weekly grocery shopping - dragging behind me my shopping trolley. It was a bit overcast and the wind was fresh. I felt invigorated by it all, even walking up the hill and pulling all the groceries behind me.

I feel a bit better today. Which is a relief for me.

I felt very encouraged by everyone's comments on my blog the other day. Sometimes objective words from those who care but don't live in your pocket, make a difference.

Now off to have a cup of tea.

Then some reading.

Ciao
LC

Today Was Saturday

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:01:00 +0000

I woke up this morning feeling at ease. My nights sleep was quite good thanks to a sleeping tablet. As much as I hate to take one, it does help greatly to get a solid and deep sleep.

Decided that as I had a swimming lesson in the middle of the day I would not wash my hair or put on make up. There is a sense of freedom about not having to do those two activities now and then.

My son had to have a hair cut as he looked like a womble. There are some things my son hates doing. Putting on shoes on the weekend because he hates tying shoelaces. Having a shower. Getting his hair cut. By the time he agrees to getting one he really looks like a goof. He wants to grow it long but refuses to use hair product and ends up looking like a giant three year old with bad bed hair.

This morning he woke up with a face like fizz. Mopey, complaining and mournful. He sat in the barber's chair with not a hint of a smile on his face as the woman cut his hair. It was almost embarrassing. We had breakfast in a little cafe and he cheered up a bit. Nothing like food to fill a little boy with some joy. Especially if there is a chocolate milk shake involved.

Later on my poor husband had to go on yet another journey with me to pick up something I had bought on Ebay. A small mantle clock and a captain's desk from the same place. The man who owned them was moving to Bali to live and was selling his wares.

The house was in a down suburb. When we got there it was open for inspection and only the real estate agent was there. He let us in and we looked around the rooms whilst we waited for the daughter to arrive. The house smelt of smoke and all the walls were yellow from smoke stain.

It was sad really. Shabby and filthy kitchen, tired bathroom with two worn towels hanging on pegs. His bedroom was messy, clothes strewn across the floor and spilling out of a wardrobe. The bed was untidly made and because it had no bedhead there was the mark of someones head on the wall behind. He must have sat in bed reading and smoking.

In the bedroom was the desk. It had been lovingly restored and was of a beautiful, glossy cedar. It had been made in the early 1900's and built specificially to fit in the confines of a ships cabin. He must have treasured it and as I looked at it I wondered how he could let it go.

As I wandered around I looked at his small collection of belongings. A small bookshelf with an assortment of woodworking books and adventure novels. There was a framed black and white photo of him sitting on the filthy mantlepiece. Draped over the photo frame was a tie with a coat of arms embroidered on it. I wondered what it meant. A couple of packs of cards with semi naked women on them was stacked nearby. I wondered what he was doing moving to another country. Selling all his wordly goods, his house and going to live so far away.

It was strange. The whole place was surreal. There was the filth of the house, a tired lounge suite, yellowed curtains pulled shut, grimy carpet and messy rooms. And then there were a few particularly lovely things that he obviously cared for enough to look after.

I wondered about this man and what he was like. How he showed a sense of tenderness towards the beauty of a few bits and pieces and yet could sit in a house so dirty. Even the garden outside was overgrown and very, very scruffy. There was a sense of contradiction about it all. Or maybe I was reading something into the whole thing that was not there. Who knows.

On the way home we had to open the windows of the car as the smell of cigarette smoke had permeated the surface of the mantle clock and desk. The clock was on my lap and with the warm sunshine coming through the windscreen and onto the wood of the clock, the smell was vile. It may take a few days to settle.

So, now I have this little desk with a vague history in my possesion. It was cheaper than buying a flat pack desk from Ikea and so much more lasting and beautiful. The mantle clock is in the same room, ticking away quietly and chiming every fifteen minutes. Of course, the chime is going to be turned off at night.

When I got home I sent an email to his daughter and asked her to let him know that the desk and clock were going to a good home and would be greatly treasured. I though he may want to know.

That was my day.

I enjoyed it.

Ciao
LC

Being Anxious SUCKS

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:29:00 +0000

For a while now, even prior to the recent surgery, I have been mildly out of sorts.

It has escalated due to the chronic lack of sleep that has plagued me for longer than ideal. I had been to the doctors about two months ago to get full blood tests to work out why I was so fatigued.

The last two or three weeks have been particularly difficult as I have had severe anxiety which, as many people would know, is hard work to live with.

Thinking about it, I have been struggling a bit with the hovering sensation of depression for almost a year. Since having the hysterectomy actually.

Having had more than one experience of major depression, there is no way I want to go down that track and am very mindful of doing the right thing to avoid it.

It sniffs around like a dog waiting to bite and most of the time I can push through it. However, the one thing that can tip me over is a long period of poor sleep. If I sleep well, I can avoid having to go on anti depressants.

Anyway, this week I had to go to the doctors to talk about a plan of action as I can tell you I was in a pretty rotten frame of mind.

We worked out a plan of going on sleeping tablets to get the sleep pattern back on track.

If the depression was being triggered by bad sleep, then getting into a good sleep routine again would help a great deal to getting me back into a positive frame of mind.

However, if the poor sleep pattern was being triggered by the depression then I would have to go on anti depressants again as no amount of good sleep will help.

After two weeks I will go back to him for a review.

So I have had two nights with better sleep and feel a bit better, but still have chronic anxiety which is just a dreary pest.

Even if I get the anxiety down to a mild level, it takes something very small to flare it up again.

Then, today I get a phone call from my husband whilst I was at work that made my anxiety levels shoot through the roof.

A couple of years ago I did this post about an ex. Not just about him, but a place I lived in.

Well, this guy lives nearby and today knocked on my front door. My husband was home and answered it. This man wanted to know if I was alright. Then ranted on about all sorts of things. All of which are too disjointed to go into detail about. But it was ALL very weird.

The conversation went on for about five minutes before he just walked off.

My husband was pissed off. He rang me to tell me, not because he was jealous or anything, but he was concerned for me. I was concerned for me. Now I feel my personal space has been invaded because "Mr Creepy" came into my home space and I think that is not good.

He last knocked on my door almost ten years ago. Hopefully another ten years will pass before he does it again.

So, tomorrow my husband is getting a camera out at the front door because he does not want my son or me to open it if "Mr Creepy" is there. You can never tell what goes on in the minds of some people. I feel a bit unsafe actually and that is one feeling I don't like at all as it is out of my control.

If that wasn't bad enough, at about 8pm I get a phone call on my mobile from the Tax Office to ask some questions about work items.

What the FUCK!

I was very polite, told them what they wanted to know and then hung up.

Then spent the next half an hour deep breathing my anxiety attack away.

My husband said to try see the funny side of it all.

I am still looking.

Cannot see no "ha ha's" come to mind yet.

Sigh.

Ciao
LC

Keeping Warm

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:06:00 +0000

I have not had much interesting to add to blog world lately. Apart from some silly twaddle now and then.

I was on Ebay tonight looking for something to buy (or cheer me up) and came up with a fabulous article of clothing to wear when overseas in Wintry January.

I think the yellow version is on limited supply so I may not get one as blue is not my colour and the green is a bit drab. Are they not funny little outfits? Nice and warm and you can sleep in it at the close of each day.

In fact, you could wear it all the time.

I think they would pack down easily into a suitcase and weigh next to nothing.

Ciao
LC

Groovy Dance

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:31:00 +0000

If there was ever a tune I would love to dance to, in public and wearing the right outfit it would be the theme to I Dream Of Jeannie.

Every time I hear it I want to get up and dance to it. A silly, bottom wiggling dance at that. Sometimes I do it and sometimes I don't.

You should try it.

Ciao
LC

Ask Any Question

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:47:00 +0000

I am not sure if you have noticed, but when you search for something on Google it will come up with a long list of suggestions that will finish off your query.

So, if I want to know how many beans in a cup of coffee, I only have to type in the words "how many beans" and a long list of suggestions for me to choose from will be below those three words. I can then either choose on of those questions or continue to finish my own version of it.

This shows me a two things.

Firstly, I am not the only person who has asked this same question. This proves that I am like everyone else. Totally unoriginal. Although, I did decide to type in "how many calories in tinea" and nobody had asked that one before.

And, whilst there is no suggestion that comes up with I type in "how many calories in poo" there was one coming up for "how many calories in urine".

Secondly, there are some really, really strange questions out there that are being asked.

My son will type in a few words just to see what results he can get from those few words.

He typed in "Can you poo" and up came a long list of previously asked questions one of which included "can you poop out of your mouth".

This mindless activity of searching for silly questions has us both laughing for ages.

I ask you, who on earth is asking some of these questions and why are there so many results available for those very questions.

Seriously, I might type in some strange things but nothing, nothing would ever match some of the results that come up.

Although, there was a good one that came up that made me laugh.

It was "how big should an engagement ring be".

I wonder who would ask that? The prospective husband wanting to make sure he gets it right. Or the prospective wife wanting to make sure she is not marrying a tight wad.

Ciao
LC

Shopping Again

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:47:00 +0000

Last week at work was a particularly crappity crap one. No one reason. Just one of them dreary weeks.

But I broke up the dreariness by spending money. I know that sounds awfully shallow and weak, but it helped. Some people eat a piece of pie when they are having a bad time, but I like to treat myself. It does not happen too often and I don't have to spend much so I figure it is okay.

What did I buy?

I bought a trolley thingy called a Hook And Go.

Here is a photo of it loaded up today. The accompanying leg belongs to my husband as he had to pull it up the steps.
I like to walk up to the street to do the shopping but I am limited in what I can carry back.

Over the years I have looked at various ways to carry my shopping. I am not so keen on the usual market trolleys, jeeps and similar modes of carrying for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the handles are always far too short and I have to stoop when I pull them behind me. Secondly, I do not like the thought that I have to load all the food on top of each itself then have to get home and unpack the semi squished contents.

So, after lots of searching the Internet I came up with this device.

Today I used it for the first time. Walked the almost 2kms down to the shops and loaded up the bags. I did almost a weeks shopping and then walked home dragging the goodies behind me. It was great exercise and very satisfying for me.

When I got home I just unloaded everything so easily. Next time I go to a Farmer's Market I will take it and just unload the bags into the car when I go home. The trolley itself folds up and goes into the car. It has a similar folding design as a golf cart.

So, there you go. That was my treat for the week.

Oh, and some make up online. But that does not qualify as a treat.

Make up is part of my maintenance regime.

Ciao
LC

Smooth Sales

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:40:00 +0000

I was inspired to do this post after reading Topiary Cow's experience when shopping at the mall.

When I go to the big shopping centres I do my very best to avoid being accosted by a sales person positioned right in the middle of the main walkway selling some sort of beauty product.

Usually it will be young women touting the virtues of changing my entire make up range over to minerals. Which, incidentally, I did. At great cost by the way.

But in the past eighteen months or so, these beauty stalls are run by handsome young men.

Usually of foreign descent and incredibly good looking and charming, they oil their way across the polished stone floors and manage to charm the dollars out of ones purse with promises of youthful skin and smooth hands.

In fact, one was so clever that when I tried to use the excuse that my son would be bored and I had to go, he entertained my son with some very fine card tricks. He worked it out, get to the woman via the child.

It has reached a point where I pretend to be talking on my mobile phone, complete with a frown on my face, in the vain hope that they will be scared off by my grumpy face. To no avail. Sure enough, as I enter their radius out they come, smiling and welcoming me with outstretched hands.

However, I finally have had enough.

Firstly, I walked past the very stall from which I purchased the very expensive minerals make up from and one of the girls started speaking to me. Allowing her to do her sales spiel for a while I decided to put an end to it nicely.

"So, do you think my make up would improve if I bought this range?" I asked her.

"Oh, yes. Your skin would be so much more smooth and youthful," she insisted.

"Well, that is interesting since it just happens to be your brand of make up that I am wearing right now as we speak," I replied.

Silence.

More silence followed by a shifting of eyes and then a drift back to the stall before I walked off.

Was that mean?

Then, last week, my walk was interrupted by one of them handsome men at the skin care stall. I let him go on and on about the eye cream, the anti wrinkle cream and also the primer which he guaranteed would make my skin look smooth and bright. Which is a crock of shit because I bought it last time and it did nothing of the sort.

He went on a bit longer and then paused smilingly, waiting for some positive reaction from me.

I looked him straight in the face and said;

"No thanks, I think I look absolutely great just the way I am"

He laughed.

Nothing else he could do really was there?

I have been thinking of other responses I could come up with next time.

"Are you saying I look old?"

"What are you saying? That I am ugly?"

Do you know, if every woman woke up tomorrow morning and said to herself "Hey, I look great without make up" that would be the end of the beauty industry.

What a thought.

However, those words will never come out of my mouth.

I would hate to be responsible for job losses.

Ciao
LC

Cup Chat

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:56:00 +0000

Last year I did a post about my 17th wedding anniversary in which I mentioned a story about a set of cups we had.

Below is a paragraph from the post;

When we were first married we had a set of six blue and white striped mugs (Cornish Ware). Over the years five have been demolished by me in various temper tantrums. The fifth one was broken years and years ago. We made a joke that when cup number six breaks we have to get a divorce. Cup number six has a cracked handle which looks a bit fragile. I have found where to get six more mugs just in case.

Unfortunately that last mug broke into pieces not long ago and we made a joke about organising a divorce. But I could not get the same style of mug anymore as they had sold from the place I had seen them.

Anyway, today I went to the shops to find my husband a birthday present as I was a bit upset I had not been able to give him one yesterday.

Lo' and behold, there were the same Cornish Blue mugs for sale that we had had for years.

So of course I bought two of them. I would have bought six, but they were $29.95 each.

I got home and gave them to my husband who unwrapped them and said.....

"Oh, wow, great........now I am stuck with you for another ten years"

Tomorrow I am going to buy another FIFTY of the mugs.

He will really feel the years roll on then.

Ciao
LC

Award Time

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:07:00 +0000

Presious over at Tru Thots has given me an award for comments I have left on her blog from time to time. In fact, the description given is that I am tactful with the truth. My motto is to do ones best to deliver truth in the nicest possible way.

I love that Presious is always working towards making life better for those around her and also rising above some significant difficulties - not the least being a single parent to four children.

It is blogs from people like Presious and others that make me realise how people face difficult situations in the best possible light. And, better than that, just how many lovely people there are in the world (pity so far away).

Being grateful and thankful for what we have but still allowing a genuine moan about it now and then.

I am going to pass this award onto Karen who leaves great comments on my blog. I can almost imagine what it would be like to have a face to face conversation with her over. Unfortunately she lives in Melbourne, Florida and I live in Melbourne, Australia.

That's why blogging is great.

Puts me in contact with people I think I would really love to know in person.

Ciao
LC

A Birthday

lindasphere@gmail.com (Linda and her Twaddle) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:38:00 +0000

Today was my husband's birthday.

He turned fifty six.

I asked him what it was like being 56 and he said it was like being 46, just older. People think we are the same age, which kind of shits me but pleases him no end.

For the first time ever, I had not bought him a birthday present. Not intentionally, but forces were against my plans to buy him the boxed set of The Beatles that has just been released. When I got to the music shop late yesterday the girl said that the first shipment was sold, the second and third shipment was on it's way but also sold.

She asked me if I wanted to pre-order and I said that in a few months the boxed set would be on the shelves in large quantities and I could wait until then.

So, no birthday present but we walked up the street for lunch. My son whined all the way about the heat (20 Celsius). He then whined about his sausage roll as it was not that nice. But he kept eating it, whining in between bites. He whined that I wanted to have a little walk through the local trash and treasure market.

Eventually he ran out of things to whine about and started to enjoy himself. Possibly because we were almost home.

On the way home we passed a block of council owned units that were being fenced off for demolition. There is a new development going up and there was a guy putting up temporary fencing in preparation.

I crossed over the road and spoke to him about all the established plants that were there and asked if I could take some. They were going to be thrown out and I could not stand the thought of those lovely plants being destroyed. The guy was more than happy to let me take what I could in the fifteen minutes left he was going to be there.

The three of us headed back home and K and I came back with the car and a spade. Poor, poor husband had to dig up a few geraniums and a giant rose bush which we wedged in the back of my car. He then had to dig the holes in which to plant the bushes. And, he then had to vacuum out the interior of my car as I am still not allowed to do such strenuous activities.

What a birthday present!

Anyway, when I got home my son and husband had great delight in telling me how the guy was so chatty and friendly to me as I spoke to him. How he had puffed out his chest and pulled back his shoulders and a big happy smile.

"What are you on about?" I said, completely bemused by what they meant.

"Linda, if I had have gone up to him asking the same thing, you can bet he would not have been as happy to see me as he was to see you. In fact, he would have said no had I asked him for plants," my husband said. My son was laughing about it.

"Don't be silly, all guys are like that," I dismissed.

Later on, when my brother and his wife were visiting, K brought up the whole scenario again. My brother was very amused.

"Oh, I just realised something. As we were leaving the guy said he would be happy to get the workers to put aside some plants for me. I almost gave him my phone number but then got distracted. Do you think he was being polite or something else?" I queried.

My husband and brother fell about laughing.

"Oh, you are so naive Linda," my brother told me.

Well, there you go.

I am learning....

Ciao
LC