Quitting an Addiction

I'm considering quitting books.

I think I am addicted to reading. Probably have been for years. Only it hasn't really presented a problem before. Reading or watching telly? Reading or going out? Reading or sleeping? Reading or... you get the idea. But now I am finding that I simply don't have the time to read. I mean I DO... when bub is asleep.

Here is a list of a few of the things that should happen whilst bub is asleep;

• shopping
• cooking
• eating 
• washing bottles
• tidying
• laundry
• general cleaning
• grooming such as nail-clipping, hair-combing etcetera

And eventually when we get home;

• house renovating
• gardening (oh dear Lord)
• yoga 

(and yes I know some of these things can be done with bub, but that is another post)

Thus leaving just enough time to get into a book. And then thinking about it for the entire time I am doing the above. Sometimes, even - sadly (please don't judge me) whilst playing with and caring for bub. The thought will arrive - "Gee that book is great, I wonder when I'll have a moment to read it?!"
Occasionally with more urgency than is comfortable.

Some people possibly feel this way about their smartphones... based on their interactions with phones in public, including when caring for children. I don't want to be a mother like that - only with a book instead of a phone.

So what to do?

I can see only one way out of this.

Quitting...

Farmwork...

Yeah. Just to the right of the gate.

Best friends.

My only job: paint the beehives! And watch other people work...

Harvest Festival, Brisbane

Maximum street-cred with Wacken poncho.

Evacuated for a brief storm just after dark - view from the hotelroom. Then back to festival - weather was actually good most of the day. Rain was warm, had some sun - and no wind at all.

Highlights; Mondo Cane, Cake, Beck.

What's the deal with Sigur Ros..? Bit too pretentious for me... Made some hilarious comments to hubby during their set (strangely he didn't find them funny). What's not funny about naming a song "the mosquito" if the singing solo goes for 5 minutes like this "zzeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"? (very hard to illustrate mozzie-sound in writing, but you know)

Small Victory

Redemption?







Yup.

Terrible Cook

Have for a few years now fancied myself as a bit of a genius in the kitchen, much like Nigella Lawson-style-Masterchef-contestant (if were ever to be on TV).

Readers of this blog may have noticed it.

Now, however, I think it is high time for me to revise this optimistic view of my cooking skills. The truth is: am really not all that great.

Attempted something new today. Something "easy" which, incidentally, had seen on Masterchef recently. French Toast. Too easy, for a whiz like myself!

Recipe??? Pfffffft!!! Not needed. On we go.

What eventually ended up on plate was not French Toast. Not sure what it was - but definitely not French Toast. Sadly. Was horrible soggy mess scented with cinnamon. Hubby was deeply disappointed.

Hubby "Why can't you just use a recipe?!"
Me "I never use a recipe, cooking is so easy!"
Hubby "I would enjoy eating more if you did."
Me "I would enjoy your company more if you shut up."

But. Most not be angry. He was right. Am terrible cook.

Terrible.

Banana Bread

Superior housewife-skills, once again, I tell ya... Hubby is lucky to have me.

Banana-bread.

Made once with auntie Mia in Bellingen. Instructions on piece of paper left a few details out, for instance note said "Approx 175 degrees, until it smells done."

Blues Fest Snaps

Done and dusted. Had amazing beautiful weather, 25 degrees and sunny - every day. This, I believe, is unheard of.

Hubby. A sincere smile.

With in-laws.

Easter Full Moon. So the witches may find their way to their yearly... big party. Don't all cultures believe this?

Seasick Steve - classic.

John Fogerty - one of my highlights. Surprisingly knew most songs, had no idea was a fan.

And standing up all day and night leads to backache. If you are, well, old. The sight of myself and hubby doing yoga in front of stages did not make anybody look twice. This, in Byron, is considered normal.

Flu-Like Symptoms ...

Struck down by awful case of flu. Do not remember last time felt this ill from a cold, fever and everything. Feel like I am 14 again. I used to be sick a lot. But have not been for atleast... dare I say 3 years? Not happy. Not happy at all. Bloody "fresh" air in Sydney...

Was also sick yesterday. That made yesterday a bit tough, as had concert to go to in evening. Hubby gifted me tickets to Kate Miller-Heidke for my birthday (hubby always gifts me tickets, these ones were a lovely surprise though - am huge fan of Kate Miller-Heidke).

Loved it!! Was awesome, she is such a great talent.

Though did feel, especially towards the end, like crippled 85-year-old having to hold on to hubby in order to not fall down. Also become more sensitive to everything when am ill.
Observed that large crowds of people always, for unfathomable reason, start to smell like row of Portaloos in afternoon sun. Also dude in front of me had clearly bought tickets for the wrong concert. He hated it. He actually ended up leaving right before I geared up, leaned over, and asked him to close his yapper (in an unkind fashion). Lucky him.

So anyway, Kate is wonderful mixture of lovely voice, opera (!) and quirkiness.

Example...

Artwork and an Empty Screen

New Artwork for office (as you know I very much like art):

Lovely piece. Just have to hang it and it will be prefect.
Did not make it - no, have found that am nowhere near as arty and creative as had initially assumed - it was a gift.

Office pretty much complete.

Except for office chair and a desk-light, still need those. Other than that - is all ready to go. Get going. Get creative. Write.

Only - about what?

Always used to feel that had lots to say and had it in me to be a creative writer - if only it wasn't for... (insert: school, uni, work, too busy, nowhere to live, London not being a creative environment, Sydney not being a creative environment, no laptop and so on).

So here we are now. Just me and the lappie.

And an empty screen.

The Commodore

Loving the Commodore at the moment. We have become friends.

Back when was still terrified of driving, used to try to imagine that car was safezone - while remaining inside car nothing could possibly go wrong. This never worked, until NOW!

Am not saying that I would drive through Sydney. Or, for that matter, Brisbane. But am not getting bogged down with details. Am just pleased to be able to get round the Northern Rivers without needing psychotherapy afterwards.

Today for example. Had very important matters to attend to, so booked Commodore for the day (that is to say, I let hubby know that if he wished to go to work he would have to cycle).

Very Important Matter #1: Lunch with Louise in Causarina (north of Pottsville, so very far away).

Very Important Matter #2: Facial.

But enough about my day.

Close enough!

Art

Created this beautiful artwork for bedroom wall - it is Tallow Beach, you can see the Byron Bay Lighthouse on the hill in the middle one.

And by "created" I mean we sent a photo off to someone who made it cheaply for us and delivered it to our door.

Do you know what you would have to pay for almost any type of artwork that size..? Too much, is what.

Do not understand art, really. Never have.
Pretended to briefly - during arty-intelligent phase (after communist-rebel phase, prior to alco-partygirl phase).

I Bloody Hate Cricket!

Every so often, I attempt to take an interest in what Hubby is doing. This promotes a happy and harmonic relationship which can thrive as both partners share the same values and interests.

Have learnt to say things like:

"Was it a busy day at the Shop - was the swell up, what was the vis like?" This is scuba-diver-speak for "Were the waves too high, was the water clear?"

He thereby knows that I take an active interest in his day; and what he enjoys doing the most. Nevermind would rather wrestle a polar-bear than go diving.

Another great example: Rugby League. Know what team to like (the Tigers) and which teams to hate (all others), know the key players and and at which point during games to yell "Off-side!!!" or "That's a penalty!" or "They would have been even if such-and-such had converted the last two tries."

All this is very good for peace-keeping.

But one thing, every year the same - trips me up and ruins my every good intention.

Cricket.

I bloody hate cricket.

The minute cricket-term is spoken, cricket comes on TV or on Radio - even during evening news: Brain instantly switches off, tunes out, goes on holiday. Try as I might: CANNOT under ANY circumstances remember the tiniest bit of trivia concerning cricket. No phrases. No rules. No nothing.

Just did it again (tried). Said to Hubby whilst walking past TV during seemingly endless "game" -
"How is the cricket going?" Only to immediately realise my mistake adding "Don't answer, I am not listening."

Cricket would have to be, without a doubt, the dumbest and most boring sport known to man.

My personal hell would have nothing to do with fire. In my personal hell we watch cricket - all day every day for the rest of eternity.

Coincidentally, this is the actual length of a game.

An exciting moment in a cricket-game...

A Free Chair is a Free Chair

Am so handy, and stuff.

Found on street during council pick-up week (yes, in July):

Had decided that my new hobby was going to be restoring old furniture.

Unfortunately discovered that sanding down old chairs is terribly... well, boring. So it took me a few months to finish.

Woo!!!