Of stuff, and things

Of achievements; there have been many of them! I made it into town and went nuts on a shopping spree, stocking up on everything I had been lacking or that was running out. Mostly make up and stockings and things needed for work. All of which are expensive. 😦

Of holidays; ours are coming up and I bought a selection of Penguin Classics to take with me for reading material. For interested parties, the selection includes Cold Comfort Farm, The Witches of Eastwick, a Clockwork Orange, and Slaughterhouse Five. Read into that what you will. So to speak.

I intend on doing very little other than relaxing on this holiday. Possibly some knitting and brushing up on my water colour skills (see whut I did thar?).

Of local vegetation; I find it interesting that none of the magnolia trees around the Ranch have blossomed yet. Walk five blocks in that direction though *points*, and not only have they all blossomed (and I missed photographing them), but all the blossoms were damaged or destroyed in the heavy rains we had here last week. *has a sad*

Of the Day Job; I’m having some fun where I am placed at the moment. They seem to really like me and keep extending my placement! I have been updating their filing systems (filing documentation that hasn’t seen the light of day since 2008) and helping them organise some large scale events. It also helps that it’s been closer to home than the CBD and yet not in the CBD, so I’ve been saving money. Which I spent. See above.

Of organisation; I did something I’ve been threatening to do for a while now and as part of the general house clean up we made an excursion over to Howards Storage World. Oh boy do I have serious nesting instincts. I also want to organise ALL THE THINGS! Maybe one day …

Of anything else; here. Have a cat picture. The internet needs more of them.

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Oh My Goodness!

The plans and organisation have paid off! We have a back yard again, and can now get someone in to fix the decking! There was four cubic meters of stuff hauled away to the tip, and a trunk load of stuff (books, clothing, board games) went to the local Vinnies.

The cull feels so good! Next to pull down all the stuff in the roof and assess!

In other news, I received the most wonderful card from the recipient of the Purple Percy Shawl, and she loved it! I’m so relieved and happy that it made it safely to her, and that she likes it!

Have some more local sites taken on the phone. The handiest camera I own!

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Weekend walks

The Day Job has done it again and I’ve been run off my feet trying to get everything that I need to get done fit in to each day!

On the weekend when I called a halt to everything going on, we walked in a new direction. Have some pictures of the beautiful area in which we live!

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If anymore evidence was needed that we celebrate Yule at the wrong end of the year; the poinsettias were in bloom in profusion!

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Happy July!

Norton St

As is our habit, we enjoy trying lots of local businesses in an effort to both support them, and find a venue where we are comfortable spending hours (and sometime significant cash) at a stretch. There have only been a couple of places in the last seven-ish years that we’ve been on the search where things coalesced perfectly.. The first was Barzu on Norton St, which closed down. Then there was 2 Front Doors up the hill, which … closed down. We appear to have a new contender called Grind.

So far, on the plus sides they have amazing, friendly, prompt service. Good coffee (harder to find than you’d think in Leichhardt), and easily identifiable delicious food.

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I just don’t feel comfortable pulling out the knitting and relaxing into sitting there for a few hours. Though it’s obvious a few of the other patrons can, and do!

They also have awesome brownies! This is a major positive!

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I didn’t get a photo of the actual brownie, it disappeared too fast!

Next time we’ll sit upstairs and see what that’s like. Let’s hope it doesn’t close down!

Chicken Paella

Dinner time! Tends to be my favourite meal owing to how much time is able to be devoted to its preparation as opposed to other (slightly more rushed) meals. Today’s meal is all by Himself. He makes a mean Paella! He has also gotten extremely good with experimentation using this recipe as a base. The recipe is consistent in results, and therefore foolproof.

From this book.

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This recipe.

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The onlookers aren’t convinced. but what would they know?

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Surrounding yourself with ingredients, makes for no nasty surprises later!

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Cooking, cooking, cooking …

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And it went so well with knitting!!! 😀

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Bon Appétit!