I could have kissed her except...

The dog and I went for a walk this morning.  We didn't go yesterday.  I was weak and feeling sorry for myself after a late night.  So we definitely had to go this morning. Definitely. Because, despite walking a little bit later in the day with friends.....

They led me into temptation to a very good gelato shop where self-control took a rapid dive into self-indulge....

No I didn't eat both tubs, silly, but I did eat the larger tub. So we definitely had to walk.

Only thing was that, from the minute we stepped out the front door, with me desperately trying to shush an over-excited 6 year old dog, yelping for all her worth like I was belting her instead of taking her for a walk, I was set upon by some very enthusiastic bush flies.

"Shoo" I cried, waving my arms around my head.  

And then I kept waving my arms around my head for the next 2.8 kilometres.  

After 1k I found a handy branch of leaves which had fallen on the footpath so I fanned myself with that.  "Shoo!".  To no avail.  They were stuck to me like glue.  

I was beginning to feel a lot like Pig Pen in the Charlie Brown cartoon.  How embarrassing.  Did I really smell that bad?  What on earth was attracting them?  

"I should never have let the dog lick me this morning."  I thought to myself  "Or maybe it was the last dregs of the sample pack eye makeup remover that I used to remove my owl eyes after wearing mascara the night before."  

"Oh well" I thought "At least my arms are getting a workout too."

But then I started to get really cross.  I don't know about you, but when I get going on my morning walk, I do tend to breathe through my mouth, rather than my nose.  But this morning I had to keep my lips firmly shut.  Aussie bush flies enjoy buzzing right past your ear or landing on your nose or....no!...lips firmly shut.

The dog, and I slogged on.  Arwen seemed to be going faster and faster.  Perhaps the flies were annoying her too or was it the promise of the descent down Mukurta Street where sometimes, foolishly, I joined her in a run downhill.  As we hesitated to cross the street, a woman came up the hill towards us.

"Are the bush flies really bad this morning?" she shouted at us.

Honestly, I could have kissed her except....we don't know each other at all...and those wretched bush flies would have got in on the act too.

"C'mon Arwen" I said "Let's out-run them." 

P.S. And we're over-run with butterflies too apparently. 

Distractions

Grand Design by Prints Charming

One has not blogged for yonks and misses it dreadfully.  

One is swamped with Uni (two subjects this semester) and full-time work.

But one is not whingeing...just observing.

Of course one gets distracted by all sorts of thing...one develops a keen interest in embroidery as per the picture above...

Then one decides to try and lose weight...again...and goes for the odd walk and sees odd trees such as in Picture Number Two.  Anyone got any idea what tree it is??

Or this one?

 

And then there are so many yummy books ... particularly now that the Booker shortlist has been announced....not just one stack but two....

And then there are friends who fly in from interstate and force one to go to art galleries....

It's a tough life I tell you....

I am, in a word, content.

What about you?

Trifles

The wattle is out in our suburb and it smells divine.  No doubt this is causing angst for some fellow hayfever sufferers but I love it.

I went for a walk this morning.  It was a bit nippy in the foothills of Mt Coot-tha and I was rather sorry I wasn't wearing my mitts.

I ran into the cheerful wandering weeders near the Hut on my way back from the coffee shop.

And spotted this luminous beauty on the path.  What is it?  Can anyone identify it for me?  Is it boronia?

I'm glad I walked.  It's been a while and I needed to walk off the trifle I had made on the weekend in honour of the international guest who came to dinner on Saturday night.

I tried out the recipe for Lime Curd Trifle here .  Of course Woolies and Coles only had lemon curd didn't they?  Then I foolishly tried to make creme anglaise - twice.  Eight eggs later, I chucked both efforts down the garbage muncher - such a waste I know - I could have cried.  I jumped into the car for the 3rd time that day and went and bought custard in a carton.  If I had been watching Masterchef this week apparently I would have picked up tips.

I really should have made the trifle the previous day.  It is always better after a good long soak.  It was the first time I had made a gluten free cake so that was interesting.   I don't fancy this trifle as much as Aunt Jane's tipsy trifle in Babette Haye's 200 Years of Australian Cooking though.  

And the quantity is ENORMOUS!!  Please note this recipe would be marvellous for a function of say 30 people!! 

Can you make custard?  Or Creme Anglaise?  What's your secret? 

Frustrated

It's pouring with rain outside but we're all warm and toasty inside.  The kids have gone out for a drive in this weather as only teenagers can....let's hope they return safely.

I'm a bit frustrated.

I've started knitting my owl jumper but I didn't have any 6.5mm circular needles....so I went to the shop to buy some (spent quite a bit on them actually) and now I find one of them keeps catching the wool....so I'll have to take them back. Drat.

 I think I'm so cranky because the wool is really lovely and springy and produces results quickly...it's Cascade Ecological.  The Owl pattern is very popular and from this wonderful woman here.  She is really very special....takes beautiful photos...is very clever and, well...I hope you like her work as much as I do.

In good news, I finally made it to the American Yarns shop on Saturday.  I had a good old mooch around and ended up walking out with stuff I never expected to buy.

The minute I touched the blue yarn on the left I was sold...it is the softest stuff you have ever felt....I think it is a mix of casmere and silk...sigh.  The big red ball on the right, Moonnight is a mix of lambswool and cashmere.  Think I'll try my hand at shawls with these ones.  The owner was very patient with me (I think I was there for probably at least an hour).  I was delighted when she gave me a loyalty card.  It's a little thing but honestly I spend so much on this hobby, it's nice to be rewarded for good custom. 

That's all to report really.  It's been a tidying kind of day today while my wonderful mechanic fixed my car - broken engine mount and a timing belt that needed replacing.  I read a bit of the Guardian and am stuck on the Quick Crossword AGAIN!!

Did you know that (according to page 31 of the Guardian) "walking may protect the brain against shrinking and preserve memory in the elderly, according to research by US neurologists who monitored 300 volunteers over 13 years......The study suggests that about 14km a week is the optimum distance for "neurological exercise".  The paper, published in Neurology, the online medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found no discernible bonus in going further."

Right that does it....got to get back into walking.  Apart from anything else....my jeans are too uncomfortable.

By the way, the kids did return safely :)

Saviour!

Phew! My Scottish saviour has rung and walking is back on! Jessie will be pleased. Franny has been phoned and alerted to the cause. Walking and talking begins next week. Just when I was getting to my lowest; knowing what the solution was, but too lazy to take it upon myself. Thank goodness for exercise buddies. Robbie recorded Lateline for me and is showing me David Hale - Global Economist. He is a television director's nightmare - moving around in the frame like a flapping spinnaker. But I like the cut of the man's cloth. Bugger the supers I say. The mailbox was chokka today - registration renewal, QBE insurance, newsletters from Ascham and Terrace and the Qld Cancer Fund. Mr Jones arrives tomorrow to service the car. And then it's the weekend. Hooray! Frabjous day. Caloo. Calay. There's a world Thriller challenge on this weekend and the Zombies are getting into it at 4am on Sunday morning. I used to love dancing to Michael Jackson at Jazz Ballet classes in my youth. I fear I would slip a disc now and cause calamity, shame and embarrassment to my nearest and dearest.