Inspiration

I visited the woman that I am helping with her sewing on Monday. I took a couple of books of patterns for her to look at, while we were going through them, I realised that they were too advanced for her just yet so I brought them home again. There is a pattern in one that I think would be suitable for her eight year old granddaughter and so I will draft the pattern first.

The book show clothes and then there is the pattern but as there are about 20 pattern in each book, the patterns run over each other and at first it is daunting to know how to draft a pattern from it.

I was having a more in depth on Tuesday and one pattern really appealed to me, I have not looked at these patterns in years and had de-cluttered the rest of them, I did have about a dozen or more but now only two and I don't really know why I held on to these. I thought I could make that and it would be

suitable for Lindsay, our only grand daughter. The flowers and leaves also featured in the pattern and as I had some felt from another project a few years ago, it was quite easy to do while watching TV. then I made a second one in drill, the first one is black corduroy and good for winter over a jumper or a long sleeved shivvie.

I added the frill as by spring, she will probably need the extra length and hte green was a piece that I had in my stash. I did go and buy the black and the drill and I got another couple of pieces as well so i should get four items for under $20. Ryan will be  twelve in June and I will send the black dress down for Lindsay with his birthday present.

Chocolate slice

I was asked to make something chocolatey (is that even a word?) for dessert on the weekend. Combined mothers day and grandson's seventh birthday lunch/party. Oh boy, I don't cook much these days and didn't want to just make a packet cake. I racked my brain and remembered a chocolate slice that my Uncle used to make, probably 40 odd years ago. He had a real sweet tooth and always had lollies and often this chocolate for when we visited. I didn't know the recipe but could remember some of the things in it.

It had rice bubbles in it and mixed fruit so I went shopping as I had none of those things in my cupboard. My version was a large block of plain chocolate and copha, I melted these together and added to three cups of rice bubble, half a packet of mixed fruit and a packet of small marshmallows. Mixed together and set in the fridge. It worked a treat. Did cost a bit though, I left the rest down at son's place as I figured that we didn't need the extra calories (the above was much fuller than this). We had the last two pieces each for an after lunch treat yesterday and the scales told a sorry tale this morning!

Wishing for a camera

Warren came home the other day and he came in the garage door and said "Gee there's times when you just wish that you had a camera" he went on to say that he then remembered that he had his phone with him and of course it has a camera, problem solved!

He had gone out to the archery range which is only four or five kms from home for a practise shoot. The range is kept locked but members are given a key so they can go and practise.

He has shoot a few arrows and was actually looking at the grouping when he saw something entering the range a little further down.

A koala was crossing about 30 metres away, this is the closest he had been to one in the wild. I guess as it was quiet, he (the koala) thought he was on his own. Warren told me that he had watched him casually walk across then he went into the bush, later he followed and then got this photo.

Driving with Ambos

I had to go into Brisbane (probably only the edge) the other day and I was waiting to turn right at lights, I was the second car back, in the far side. Alongside of me was a huge truck and a small car in front which was a learning to drive car.

We are all waiting for the lights to change when I heard a siren and in the side mirror, I see an ambulance coming down the hill, lights flashing and siren blaring. There is nowhere for the cars at the front to go so I move over as close to the truck as I can and then we get a green arrow and I thought good the Learner car can go around the corner and therefore the ambo can fit thru. Did he move? No of course not, it seemed to be a couple of minutes before he did move, then the ambulance could go thru and everyone got back to normal.

I followed the learner driver up the hill, thinking that the instructor should have taken over the controls or at least talked the learner though what to do in that case, an excellent lesson to be learnt. The learner driver turned left at the next corner  and then I realised that there is no learner, (only one person in the car) it is only the instructor and I thought "What a jerk!" he's an instructor in a learn to drive car and he held up an ambulance! even if it was only for a few seconds. I was not impressed!

House Rules!

This is a program that was advertised on TV and Warren and I thought that it was be interesting to watch. First night we sat down to be entertained. I think there are five or six couples and they renovate each others houses in a week. The first week was in Western Sydney and the house was owned by a young couple who said that the mortgage took most of their money and the house did need a lot of work (and that was an understatement).

Should be a good show but no, it seemed all the other couple argued about their "space" in the house, they were given an area to do and a few guidelines from the owners. The couples were also given a vehicle to use and two of the women couldn't drive a manual so that meant the men had to either go with them to do any shopping or pick ups. Of course it didn't finish that night, the ads had the "Final reveal" for the next show so again we watched it and there were more arguments/fights and back stabbing. We have not watched any further episodes. I would still like to see the end results but not worth watching ninety minutes of crap for a very quick final look.

Last night while watching footy, it was an exciting game, the adverts that came up for House Rules was annoying, apparently one guy had "stolen' another teams skirting boards which were painted and they had put them up as their own. I think we must have seen the ad about ten times in a two hour game, so so annoying!

It must be cheaper to put on reality shows as there is so many of them on TV now, Master Chef has just started again, The Block has just finished along with Biggest Loser. Farmer wants a wife is about to start plus "The Voice", Australian Idol and "You think you can dance". Of course the one I am really looking forward to is "Bogan Hunters" the ads are enough to put one off for life.

We do enjoy watching the Amazing Race though and that is getting to the end with only four couple left, i know that I would not have been able to do many of the things that they have to do to get through, the scenery is stunning as well.

A Reccie!

Now there's a word I haven't used for awhile or done but yesterday we went on a reccie. I am organizing a bus trip to a couple of historical buildings in Brisbane in a couple of months and as I don't know the area, I wanted to go and check out the very important things such as toilets and lunch venues.

Four of us went and as we were heading into Brisbane, where else would we have lunch but at the Top Nosh Cafe as I have written about before. The others had pretty big meals but I wanted to sample one of their ice coffees (three scoops of ice cream and hot coffee to pour over) I opted just for a sandwich, over all, didnt want to indulge too much.

Appetite satisfied, we drove into a very old part of Brisbane, Bowen Hills. The house is called Mieguyah House and apparently was built in 1826.

The house is only open on weekends and Wednesdays, they supply devonshire teas and a tour of the house, both for a cost, $6 each.

It is not far from the Brisbane River and possibly could see it (the river) from the verandah. Next was off to Newstead house, it is only a short drive and that is right on the river. On the bus trip, this is the chosen venue to have lunch and there is a cafe and a Chinese Take away only a few minutes walk along the river. Hopefully the weather will be nice, there is a rotunda with seats high above the water where we have lunch before heading back home.

Please don't knock.

In the mail/post a few weeks ago,we received a sticker that can be placed on/near the front door which we used, as per photo.

Now that we are home most of the times, it is rather amazing how many people do come to the door, salespeople, people wanting surveys etc so it was good to put it on the door and avoid these types of call. 

Yesterday around 5pm, I was looking at the computer when there was a rattle at the front door, no car outside so I assumed it was our neighbour (after all, who would disregard the sign!) It was a young bubbly girl, early twenties and the first thing she said was, I'm not selling anything nor do I want any cash, without drawing breathe, she went on to ask if I knew about Para Olympians, when I said yes, she very gushingly said, oh its so nice that you have heard about them and then explained why she was there. It was their donation month next month and they were trying to raise awareness for a program that involved schools. There was about a five minute (seemed longer) spiel about the program and she gave me a disc to look at later. 

She then asked for ID, when I asked why, she said that she needed it so that the company would know that she did actually speak to people, ok, I could relate to that. She filled in a form with my name and address, using my pension card, she then asked for my credit details, again I asked why and she said for the donation, I said what donation and she said that was what it was about. I reminded her that she had said she didn't want any money and she said that was the way it was done by direct deposit only $9 a week which I could stop at any time just by sending an email. 

I told her that I would have been quite happy to make a one off donation but no way was I going to commit to a regular donation. Again she pressed the point of stopping at any time and I said no, she was still smiling but did do a bit of the guilt's and took back the disc.

Next time I will point to the sign and shut the door. Dont like to be rude but sometimes I think there is a need as its so easy to be rushed or talked into some thing that you don't really want to do. I donate to causes and I think the Para Olympians do get overlooked for funding but I want it to be my choice where my charity dollars go.I