There were three in the bed and the little one said, "Roll over, roll over" so they all rolled over...
My brother Steve and his whole family came to stay last night on the way to Cairns for a week long holiday. D and I slept in Kate's bed, and the grownups slept in our bed with the kids crashing on the sofas. Kate wasn't used to so many people in her bed and got quite discombobulated during the night, first rolling across onto one of us, and then the other.
Then at the lovely time of 5am, we got up and I drove them into the airport to catch their plane at 7am. I'm hoping they made it. They seemed a little bit uncoordinated when I dropped them off. I let Kate stay at a friend's place this morning as I had to do some stuff for uni. Then we had lunch with the lovely Wanda and Ian and we had a simply lovely time. Kate has just had a muffin for afternoon tea and all is good with the world.
I'm back in the computer room getting some more work done and Kate is suspiciously quiet in the lounge. I wonder what she's up to...
30/04/2007
28/04/2007
Will the rain ever stop?
I swear, it's been raining so much this week that I'm finding it hard to believe that I've left the UK. Will it ever stop?
Today was miserable,we're cooped up again. Maximum of 20 degrees, so it's cooling down now ready for Winter. We bought a new rug for the lounge room, the Berber picked it, and it's ace. We tidied the loungeroom as celebration so it's looking very spic and span.
Kate of course was intent on messing everything up as soon as we'd finished, it's been rather like a seesaw. She mess, me tidy. Ug.
Not much else to report. Signing off...
Today was miserable,we're cooped up again. Maximum of 20 degrees, so it's cooling down now ready for Winter. We bought a new rug for the lounge room, the Berber picked it, and it's ace. We tidied the loungeroom as celebration so it's looking very spic and span.
Kate of course was intent on messing everything up as soon as we'd finished, it's been rather like a seesaw. She mess, me tidy. Ug.
Not much else to report. Signing off...
24/04/2007
Done and done
So I've finished my ethics application and have given it to my supervisor. It's now up to him to look at it and give me some feedback. D let me go into Uni today so I managed to get it all finished. That gives me tonight and tomorrow to get some work done too.
It's Anzac Day tomorrow so of course as usual I'll be in tears. I don't think people overseas realise how emotional we aussies get on Anzac Day. We've spent two world wars and numerous other conflicts fighting other people's battles. Or so it seems.
Kate's gone and drawn over her bedroom wall, so I'll be spending some time later on scrubbing it off. Sigh. She's getting better at leaving me alone and not screaming at me all the time when I'm on the computer, so that's a relief.
Start screen titling on Thursday and Photoshop class on Friday. So that should be fun. Photoshop should be a hoot. Might learn stuff too, so it's all good.
Ok must go and make Kate's dinner. Methinks spaghetti tonight. Yummmm.
It's Anzac Day tomorrow so of course as usual I'll be in tears. I don't think people overseas realise how emotional we aussies get on Anzac Day. We've spent two world wars and numerous other conflicts fighting other people's battles. Or so it seems.
Kate's gone and drawn over her bedroom wall, so I'll be spending some time later on scrubbing it off. Sigh. She's getting better at leaving me alone and not screaming at me all the time when I'm on the computer, so that's a relief.
Start screen titling on Thursday and Photoshop class on Friday. So that should be fun. Photoshop should be a hoot. Might learn stuff too, so it's all good.
Ok must go and make Kate's dinner. Methinks spaghetti tonight. Yummmm.
23/04/2007
Cinnamon Pinwheels
Kate and I went to visit our friend Ian and Wanda today. We had cinnamon pinwheel scones and blueberry muffins. I swear, the infant must have eaten a whole pinwheel and muffin herself. Hungry baby. They are treasures, that pair.
That on top of the fact that she slept in till 7.40 this morning, giving her mum a nice sleep. Ray!
It's raining today. A nice soaking rain. The sort of rain they'd love to get inland, but we seem to be getting it all in the city at the moment. I'm attempting to do some study and D's gone off to find a DVD for this evening.
Some lady rang earlier to sell me something, but K did such a good job of chucking a tantrum, we had to give up. Oh well.
It's all gone suspiciously quiet. Little one is watching TV, standing too close as usual. What is it with babies and getting up nice and personal with electronic equipment.
So, deep breath, back into ethics application for PhD. Bye!
That on top of the fact that she slept in till 7.40 this morning, giving her mum a nice sleep. Ray!
It's raining today. A nice soaking rain. The sort of rain they'd love to get inland, but we seem to be getting it all in the city at the moment. I'm attempting to do some study and D's gone off to find a DVD for this evening.
Some lady rang earlier to sell me something, but K did such a good job of chucking a tantrum, we had to give up. Oh well.
It's all gone suspiciously quiet. Little one is watching TV, standing too close as usual. What is it with babies and getting up nice and personal with electronic equipment.
So, deep breath, back into ethics application for PhD. Bye!
21/04/2007
Sleep!
Oh my god! Got an hour's nap this afternoon. That's the second day in a row. My thank goodness for small mercies. Otherwise it's only about 5 hours sleep a night for me.
I don't think I'm very healthy at the moment, I'm feeling rather fat and unfit and blogging out (excuse the pun).
Took Kate on her new tricycle to the park this afternoon. I think she enjoyed it. Then we went out to the garden, and guess what? She headed straight to Linda's place (lady from mother's group who lives a stone's throw away). The child has a memory, that's for sure.
Did a bit of study this afternoon, and Kate and I watched Monster's Inc. which was fun. I think Kate appreciated it more this time around.
I'm just chatting to my friend Emily who is in Thailand. She's been there a year working for a charity. Bless her.
Nothing much to report today. It was a lovely sunny afternoon after a cloudy start. The newspapers are warning that we'll pay more for our fruit and veg due to the drought later in the year. More doom and gloom on the nightly sad report.
I don't think I'm very healthy at the moment, I'm feeling rather fat and unfit and blogging out (excuse the pun).
Took Kate on her new tricycle to the park this afternoon. I think she enjoyed it. Then we went out to the garden, and guess what? She headed straight to Linda's place (lady from mother's group who lives a stone's throw away). The child has a memory, that's for sure.
Did a bit of study this afternoon, and Kate and I watched Monster's Inc. which was fun. I think Kate appreciated it more this time around.
I'm just chatting to my friend Emily who is in Thailand. She's been there a year working for a charity. Bless her.
Nothing much to report today. It was a lovely sunny afternoon after a cloudy start. The newspapers are warning that we'll pay more for our fruit and veg due to the drought later in the year. More doom and gloom on the nightly sad report.
20/04/2007
Tricycle!
Yesterday was one of those lovely days where a family spends time together. We went to MacQuarie Centre and D purchased a lovely tricycle for Baby K. It's one of those ones that has a handle on it so you can push baby around when they're little, then take it off when they're older and they can steer themselves.
We took it down to Balmoral and K loved it! We took it over on the boardwalk and lost a part from it, though. Then went to our favourite supermarket (why can we never spend less than $150 there?)and got a video and other great stuff that you can't buy anywhere else for love or money.
Came home and D cooked us a lovely dinner. I don't know it was such a lovely day.
On a down note, K has started tantrums in earnest. Naughty girl. Throws herself on the floor and screams. Humph. Not impressed. We left MacQuarie early because despite having 4 goes on a kiddie ride there, she chucked an tantrum when taken off it. Shame.
Today is sunny and fine. D is on a double shift and I've been doing housework all morning, about to do some study. K is sleeping but is due to wake soon. All's good.
Sad news from the USA this weeks where some maniac student popped off 32 of his colleagues at some US college of higher education. Usual media frenzy, but little real analysis or insights into helping like mentally disturbed people. Sigh.
We took it down to Balmoral and K loved it! We took it over on the boardwalk and lost a part from it, though. Then went to our favourite supermarket (why can we never spend less than $150 there?)and got a video and other great stuff that you can't buy anywhere else for love or money.
Came home and D cooked us a lovely dinner. I don't know it was such a lovely day.
On a down note, K has started tantrums in earnest. Naughty girl. Throws herself on the floor and screams. Humph. Not impressed. We left MacQuarie early because despite having 4 goes on a kiddie ride there, she chucked an tantrum when taken off it. Shame.
Today is sunny and fine. D is on a double shift and I've been doing housework all morning, about to do some study. K is sleeping but is due to wake soon. All's good.
Sad news from the USA this weeks where some maniac student popped off 32 of his colleagues at some US college of higher education. Usual media frenzy, but little real analysis or insights into helping like mentally disturbed people. Sigh.
17/04/2007
Doing my head in...
So I'm trying to train Baby K not to bug me when I'm on the computer, and in general not to be so demanding of attention.
So I've just spent the past hour and a half listening to the baby grizzling, screaming and crying at me. But I think it's worked (for now) and she's stopped crying, is toddling off to do her own thing and seems ok. Thank goodness, she was doing my head in.
I suspect this process is going to get worse before it gets better, but I must persist. Or else I have to give up doing what's important to me. The next test is to use the laptop in front of her (gulp).
I'm actually a bit of a soft touch really, the Berber is much more strict with her. My reputation as a miss vinegar tits is going all to god.
Oh dear, she's back and whingeing again. *silent scream*
Forgot to mention that I put Baileys, one of my VJ creations on youtube:
you can see it here. An oldy but a goodie, me thinks.
So I've just spent the past hour and a half listening to the baby grizzling, screaming and crying at me. But I think it's worked (for now) and she's stopped crying, is toddling off to do her own thing and seems ok. Thank goodness, she was doing my head in.
I suspect this process is going to get worse before it gets better, but I must persist. Or else I have to give up doing what's important to me. The next test is to use the laptop in front of her (gulp).
I'm actually a bit of a soft touch really, the Berber is much more strict with her. My reputation as a miss vinegar tits is going all to god.
Oh dear, she's back and whingeing again. *silent scream*
Forgot to mention that I put Baileys, one of my VJ creations on youtube:
you can see it here. An oldy but a goodie, me thinks.
14/04/2007
Oooh Purdy
It's Saturday, and my aren't we chilled out?
We just went shopping and D bought K some lovely little clothes. We got size 1 so she can grow into them, mind she's still a size 0 but her tops are starting to get a little bit small. Some purdy jeans with butterfiles on them and a matching top and a white jumper. Yes I know white is impractical with babies, but it looks so cute!
I was going to get some new jeans but all the ones I could see looked second hand. I know that's the trend, but I want something that looks smart.
It's a truly lovely day today, the sun is shining, not too hot, about 25 degrees. Quiet and calm.
D is watching TV and K is sleeping. The house is tidy all is quiet, only ironing to do.
[edit] It's now nearly 10pm and true to form her ladyship woke up seconds after I started doing some study. I'm going to start being more strict with her, she's a nightmare if I'm not paying her attention 100% of the time. So I did some controlled crying with her tonight, because I want to be able to put her to bed and for her to go to sleep rather than me having to be with her for an hour or so each time. It will make for more time for me if I do this.
Of course it breaks my heart, but she did get the message and go to sleep without me in the end.
Used Skype for the first time today. Spoke to my friend Mo in London, which was fab.
We just went shopping and D bought K some lovely little clothes. We got size 1 so she can grow into them, mind she's still a size 0 but her tops are starting to get a little bit small. Some purdy jeans with butterfiles on them and a matching top and a white jumper. Yes I know white is impractical with babies, but it looks so cute!
I was going to get some new jeans but all the ones I could see looked second hand. I know that's the trend, but I want something that looks smart.
It's a truly lovely day today, the sun is shining, not too hot, about 25 degrees. Quiet and calm.
D is watching TV and K is sleeping. The house is tidy all is quiet, only ironing to do.
[edit] It's now nearly 10pm and true to form her ladyship woke up seconds after I started doing some study. I'm going to start being more strict with her, she's a nightmare if I'm not paying her attention 100% of the time. So I did some controlled crying with her tonight, because I want to be able to put her to bed and for her to go to sleep rather than me having to be with her for an hour or so each time. It will make for more time for me if I do this.
Of course it breaks my heart, but she did get the message and go to sleep without me in the end.
Used Skype for the first time today. Spoke to my friend Mo in London, which was fab.
13/04/2007
Sleepy
The infant is sleeping after a horrible night. Not that she's sick or anything, just being a naughty girl. I'm also trying to get her not to scream at me when I'm on the computer, which resulted in me loosing my patience (but not my temper, thankfully) and placing said infant in her room till she calmed down. Of course she fell asleep after some time screaming and is now catching up on her zzzzz's. Her temper must have been caused by lack of sleep. (Says she, in a mode of wishful thinking).
Yesterday I blitzed the housework. Did about 3 hours ironing, cleaned bathroom, did washing, cleaned kitchen, made beds. The lounge is still a wreck but the rest of it is in good shape.
I also removed some boxes from the kitchen which had become nothing more than roach habitats. Yes, dear people in England who may be reading this, Sydney is cockroach captial. It's something the folk in the UK can't cope with, our plethora of insect life here. It doesn't mean you're dirty, or a bad housekeeper, you just have to share your habitat with some unwelcome guests. Either that or cover every surface with insecticide, which is decidedly NOT good for baby.
Either that or get a lizard. Which remindes me, we have a large bluetongue lizard living underneath our front balcony. He's very shy, and also very large, about 30cm long and about 10cm wide. The local cats sit outside his burrow but I don't think they've got him yet.
Our house, which was supposed to be settling on Wednesday is settling today, (I hope). Then it's up to the lovely Lyn who is our agent to get us a tenant, and Bob's our uncle. Or something.
The Berber is upset today due to the horrible bombings in Algiers yesterday. Absolutely horrific. Something like 30 dead. Omar is going to see his family there next week, and they're both a bit worried about safety at the moment. Hope it doesn't kick off like it did a few years ago. That would be terrible.
D still insists he's going but definitely doesn't want us to go. He says it's miserable there at the moment. I suspect it's reprisals for the government offensive they've been pursuing over the past couple of months.
Yesterday I blitzed the housework. Did about 3 hours ironing, cleaned bathroom, did washing, cleaned kitchen, made beds. The lounge is still a wreck but the rest of it is in good shape.
I also removed some boxes from the kitchen which had become nothing more than roach habitats. Yes, dear people in England who may be reading this, Sydney is cockroach captial. It's something the folk in the UK can't cope with, our plethora of insect life here. It doesn't mean you're dirty, or a bad housekeeper, you just have to share your habitat with some unwelcome guests. Either that or cover every surface with insecticide, which is decidedly NOT good for baby.
Either that or get a lizard. Which remindes me, we have a large bluetongue lizard living underneath our front balcony. He's very shy, and also very large, about 30cm long and about 10cm wide. The local cats sit outside his burrow but I don't think they've got him yet.
Our house, which was supposed to be settling on Wednesday is settling today, (I hope). Then it's up to the lovely Lyn who is our agent to get us a tenant, and Bob's our uncle. Or something.
The Berber is upset today due to the horrible bombings in Algiers yesterday. Absolutely horrific. Something like 30 dead. Omar is going to see his family there next week, and they're both a bit worried about safety at the moment. Hope it doesn't kick off like it did a few years ago. That would be terrible.
D still insists he's going but definitely doesn't want us to go. He says it's miserable there at the moment. I suspect it's reprisals for the government offensive they've been pursuing over the past couple of months.
11/04/2007
Flowcharts and beans
Went into uni today to give Lucilla a hand in getting her flowchart and storyboard together. Took a while to clarify what it actually was that she wanted. Getting there towards the end. She's got to do a bit more thinking on what she wants but it's starting to take form.
Spent the rest of the time downloading papers and rewriting my lit review. Did a little of the ethics application during the week. D drove me in, bless him, and took K shopping to the Broadway Centre. He gave her fish for lunch (two days in a row, lucky her!) while I dined on an egg sandwich.
Meeting with Andy went well. Not that I've done much, what with Easter et al.
Came home and D went swimming while I gave K her dinner. Then he came home armed with lamb and beans and made some chuk chuka for dinner. Delicious - I want to have it again, super yummy.
Mmmmm.
Spent the rest of the time downloading papers and rewriting my lit review. Did a little of the ethics application during the week. D drove me in, bless him, and took K shopping to the Broadway Centre. He gave her fish for lunch (two days in a row, lucky her!) while I dined on an egg sandwich.
Meeting with Andy went well. Not that I've done much, what with Easter et al.
Came home and D went swimming while I gave K her dinner. Then he came home armed with lamb and beans and made some chuk chuka for dinner. Delicious - I want to have it again, super yummy.
Mmmmm.
10/04/2007
Chocolates, mansions and cousins
We went to Canberra this weekend, as my big brother decided (or was shamed into) visiting the family for the first time in 8 years(!!!). It was evident that I saw more of him in London than I did in the previous 5 years in Oz. Anyway, for better or for worse, most of his family made the trip, with the exception of Adam, who has purchased his first car and was doubtless intent on playing with his new toy.
They appear to be well, both he and Jen have lost weight, which is good.
We stayed at my sister's mansion, a huge 4 bedroom house with a pool room (for playing pool, not swimmng) and not one but two family rooms. K ran around like a mad thing and was plum tuckered out. She slept more than she usually does, which I put down to excitement with the cousins, and running around a house which is probably 5 times bigger than our little space.
My sister's kids are lovely. James is particularly fond of little K and did a brilliant job being on "baby duty". I got a wee bit of a break, thank goodness, but to be honest, not much. I did manage to play an hour of WOW with my sister, which was great fun and actually felt like a holiday, in between K screaming at me to be picked up.
Who said motherhood was easy?
Regardless, I think we had a lovely break from it all, but it was also nice to come home to the quiet. I probably think my sister appreciated the calm after the storm also, not that she would ever say so.
D spends time after each family encounter analysing the different relationships between people. It's quite interesting to hear his impressions.
They appear to be well, both he and Jen have lost weight, which is good.
We stayed at my sister's mansion, a huge 4 bedroom house with a pool room (for playing pool, not swimmng) and not one but two family rooms. K ran around like a mad thing and was plum tuckered out. She slept more than she usually does, which I put down to excitement with the cousins, and running around a house which is probably 5 times bigger than our little space.
My sister's kids are lovely. James is particularly fond of little K and did a brilliant job being on "baby duty". I got a wee bit of a break, thank goodness, but to be honest, not much. I did manage to play an hour of WOW with my sister, which was great fun and actually felt like a holiday, in between K screaming at me to be picked up.
Who said motherhood was easy?
Regardless, I think we had a lovely break from it all, but it was also nice to come home to the quiet. I probably think my sister appreciated the calm after the storm also, not that she would ever say so.
D spends time after each family encounter analysing the different relationships between people. It's quite interesting to hear his impressions.
04/04/2007
Fair sailing
Things are good. I mean really good.
My work is going well, the students are learning nicely. Uni meeting was good today, supervisor appears happy. I've done a bit of work on it this week, so I'm happy.
K has a new pair of shoes courtesy of her lovely father, who is happy because he's got the next 6 days off.
Even my nephew is happy. I've been chatting to him online, he's just bought himself his first car.
K is eating for England at the moment. I mean I can actually feel the difference when I pick her up daily now, she's really stacking on the weight. Which is good because she went for a bit where she didn't appear to be doing much about 6 weeks ago.
D went swimming today and has crashed out on the couch. I'm pretending to be doing study, which I assure you I shall start in a bit.
I actually cooked a really good steak tonight. I mean I think it's about the second best I've ever done - the best being an unusually tender cut I did some 10 years ago purely by accident. So even our tummies are happy.
Our house settles next week, so I spent some time on the phone hassling people to find out what needs doing. I shall expect a phone call tomorrow - I shall call them if it doesn't eventuate, they appear to be leaving things very late. Gulp.
So all in all, fair sailing with some choppy water ahead.
My work is going well, the students are learning nicely. Uni meeting was good today, supervisor appears happy. I've done a bit of work on it this week, so I'm happy.
K has a new pair of shoes courtesy of her lovely father, who is happy because he's got the next 6 days off.
Even my nephew is happy. I've been chatting to him online, he's just bought himself his first car.
K is eating for England at the moment. I mean I can actually feel the difference when I pick her up daily now, she's really stacking on the weight. Which is good because she went for a bit where she didn't appear to be doing much about 6 weeks ago.
D went swimming today and has crashed out on the couch. I'm pretending to be doing study, which I assure you I shall start in a bit.
I actually cooked a really good steak tonight. I mean I think it's about the second best I've ever done - the best being an unusually tender cut I did some 10 years ago purely by accident. So even our tummies are happy.
Our house settles next week, so I spent some time on the phone hassling people to find out what needs doing. I shall expect a phone call tomorrow - I shall call them if it doesn't eventuate, they appear to be leaving things very late. Gulp.
So all in all, fair sailing with some choppy water ahead.
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