HATS OFF TO MA

My Ma is soooo very, very clever just look at these awesome, funky hats she has handmade with her own hands.

Perfect to keep the at bay

They are 100% Australian wool which is hand knitted then felted, or "fulled" for you crafty types. Can be hand washed and come with a brooch or hatband for your wearing pleasure.
Each will be unique and the envy of all those poor saps without one.
The cloche (whatever that means) is $20 and the brimmed ones (sans cloche) are $25 + $6 P&H.
If keen let me know and we will talk, and i know you are keen.

REALLY...ME???

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's Your Inner European?

WOW. JUST. WOW

I left work today thinking "Maybe i don't want to leave this soul destroying, shiteful job" thats how much of a good mood I was in, and of those who know my feelings about work recently will gasp in utter disbelief. Its ok, the feeling has past and i'm back on track.
Work has gone to Hell In A Handbasket and I'm over it and its totally over me.
So in mutual disgust its adieu adieu.
I'm being very sensible and not just leaving and living on my savings and Rob's good graces till I find something else, but its a great fanasty and ohhh sooo very tempting.
Today i had a loverly lunch with two mates, i shall call them Mark and Dave, because that is thier name. They work with bugs, older than me and are both a hoot. I was chatting with Mark in the lab just before I left for the day, trying to talk him into writing me into his movie script as Alien Queen. I'm slowly convincing him, just because its about urban Australia there is no reason why it shouldn't have aliens in it. Dave comes in and says "Yay, Coz's here, we love it when you are here"...awwww. Much sillyness and laughs.
Another reason work is evil is I was being cross trained in the bug lab and really enjoying it, but that been crushed and thrown out of the airlock and i'm betting it won't be let back in.
You know that feeling after you have had a damn good laugh (or cry even), you feel all light and fluffy and unburdened well that what I was like. A great end to the week.
Even better was my phone rang as i got into the car and it was to give me a job interview next week, so thats cool. Its on the other side of town, which is a pain but at this point a interview is a interview.
I'm seriously considering getting my RCG- Responsible Conduct of Gambling and working in a pub, i have my RSA- Responsible Service of Alcohol already. I've proved my worth as tavern wench, would just have to rememeber not to drink myself stupid while serving patrons and DHT dosen't apply.

A Plug of Two

Listening to JJJ over the last year or so they would sometimes play nasaly, upbeat, folky songs though the more you listened to the lyrics they seemed a tad darker then you first thought.
I finally found out they were called The Mountain Goats, mainly one man John Darnielle, his lo-fi recordings and very personal stories.
If i could channel Amanda, I could better explain why I really like this stuff, but sadly the best I can do is say 'its honest, raw and damn it I just like it k!' There are many reviews if you want something more than 'good stuff'
I only have two albums but have a couple on back order.
'We Shall Be Healed' and the one I am listening to now 'The Sunset Tree' which is all about growing up with his abusive stepfather which is disturbing once you listen to the story behind it all, but its not obvious at first till you actually listen to what he is saying.
Dedicated to-
'Made possible by my stepfather, Mike Noonan (1940-2004): may the peace which eluded you in life be yours now.'

"I'm in the living room watching the watergate hearings
while my step father yells at my mother.
launches a glass across the room, straight at her head
and I dash upstairs to take cover.
lean in close to my little record player on the floor.
so this is what the volume knobs for.

I listen to dance music.
dance music."

Dance Music

"you are sleeping off your demons
when I come home.
spittle bubbling on your lips,
fine white foam

I am young and I am good.
it's a hot southern california day.
if I wake you up, there will be hell to pay."

Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod

The second plug is for Missing Link Records,
a music shop and mail order place in Melbourne. I was trying to find
more 'The Mountain Goats', as i had little success from stores around
here Rob recommended them so i ordered three albums. One turned up
yesterday with a hand written note saying the others will be along
shortly and to enjoy. They seem fast, efficient, friendly and the
postage is $1.50/CD, not like the times i've tried to use Chaos in the
past.

DARWIN- The Other Parte

Since we had only three short days in the sun, we were determined to make the most of it and tourist it up.
Spent a afternoon on the Adelaide River, having huge fangy things jump for us. The fact that these critters can lift most of their body out of the water is awesome if not a bit freaky and damned unfair, when you think about it.

Armour Plate- check
No Natural Predators- check
Stay Underwater for 2 Hours- check
Lighting Fast Reflexes- check
Run On Land- check
Jump Out of Water- check



If these buggers ever get opposable thumbs we are fucked.


The Sunday morning we went to the Northern Territory Wildlife Park, which is pretty impressive, and i want to run away and work there. Loverly 6 km walk around the whole thing or you can catch a regular bus to each sections. Watched the Bird of Prey show, which never fails to excite and impress.
The Wedge Tail Eagle has a injured wing so could never survie on his own. One day he flew off and was gone for days despite frantic searching, and was later found walking up the road to come home. Sooo cool.

Love between a man and his killing machine is a beautiful thing.

Rufous Owl or Farscape character?

Then the reason we went up. Stephan and Marianne's wedding. It was beautiful and fun.
Stephan introduced me to Rob so the last 11 years (11 years omg) is his fault. Everyone was in fine spirits and only downer was having to go straight to the airport for a 1am flight home.

Happy Day with Rob and Snerg doing their best bodyguard impressions.

More shots on Flickr

DARWIN- Parte the First

Three days in Darwin was barely enough but it was totally worth it. What a perfect way to spend winter.
Flew into Darwin about 0130, its very wierd at that time the airport is full, cafes and shops open, everyone is far too awake. Step outside and you breathe in the warm salt air and it is good.
Caught up with Stephan and Marianne- the happy couple- and others for breakfast at Cullen Bay, then hooked up with Snerg and Megs in town afterward.

Cullen Bay

We wandered through the Botanical Gardens which popped us out in the middle of a Catholic Boarding School- what a great playground- and then off to the Museum. It has some great exhibits. Footage, photos and stories from Cyclone Tracy, you can stand in a dark room and listen to an actual recording, which is kinda spooky. Sounds like a 1000 waves crashing with corragated iron screeching past.

That Aussie spirit

Sweetheart, a 5meter, 780kg croc that chewed on one to many outboard motors in the '70's. He died while being caught for relocation to a croc farm so they stuffed him in more ways than one. He is huge, its hard to imagine seeing something that big alive and moving. Poor old fella.
My most favourite part of the whole place are the displays of local critters and in what fashion they will kill or at least horribly maim you. The usual suspects- Box jellyfish, Sea snakes, Blue Ring octopus, Stone fish....and Sponges, yes they have killer sponges of all things. "Very Toxic Sponge" and 'Purple Dye Sponge' has your number. Hehe, amuses me no end.

Ultimate Pickup Truck

After that hard afternoon absorbing information and giggling over Evil Sponges we wandered down to the very close and beered up WaterSki Club. I'm not sure how many skiers are out there since this sign is right next door, but was a popular place with a awesome sunset.

Hardy bunch, these Territorians

Had dinner on Saturday night at the Magic Wok, which is a great concept. Choose your own meat, veges and sause, give it to dude who cooks it in a mega turbo wok and eat. Brilliant!
My first course was Horse and Camel in Black Pepper Sause, followed my mixed Seafood and Coat of Arms (kangaroo and emu). All good.

Horse and Camel, together at last.

I'm slowly putting up photos on my Flickr so stay tuned for more exciting tales of jumping Crocs, Weddings and snuggly Wedge Tailed Eagles.

don't

STING LIKE A BUTTERFLY

My new toys

I have been very good lately. Exercising more, eating better and drinking less.
Except on weekends, but luckly Saturday and Sunday exist in the own Space Time Continuium so it doesn't count.
I've been going to the gym at least 4 times a week, doing a combination of cardio, weights and core training. I been enjoying the kick boxing classes in particular, I think I can say that I don't punch like a girl. The sport of boxing and the concept of being hit and hitting someone for real has no interest for me, but it is very satisfying to punch something and its damn hard work.
So i bought my own pads and gloves. The ones the gym supplies are ok but sooooo such hand sweat in such a small space.

Flying up to Darwin tonight for the weekend, as you do. For a friends wedding on Sunday. Sadly due to Rob being shackled to his computer, work would only let him have a couple of days off.
I had a bit of a think about staying up there longer on my own, but the state that my work is in at the moment i don't think i could get much time off either so we'll save our rec leave for Italy or somewhere.
Three years ago we went up for another wedding and spent nearly a month exploring the area.
5 day Jutbula Trail hike, 3 day Katherine Gorge canoe trip, 4 days in Kakadu...beautiful, stunning, inspiring just a few of the understated words i could use.
There are some good day tours which i'm keen to go on so i can't complain too much, except coming back to cold wintery Sydney will be a bitch.

Have a good weekend everyone, off to get some hot Croc action.