i bought a newspaper the other day.
living without a telly and seldom listening to the radio i quite often miss out on news events. unless they're big and somebody tells me about it. by which stage it is usually an international event.
but not this time.
i went to the supermarket early the other day, thinking i could beat the crowds. unfortunately, the supermarket was having a cheapas tuesday and so there were nearly 100000 people there. (ok, i exaggerate, slightly. there were lots)
subjected to sneaky subliminal ploys of merchandising and stuff, i bought a newspaper cos it was on special.
"swine flu reaches south"
reads the headline. a quick glance at the article and words like global and pandemic pop up.
now, don't call me sceptical but don't you think this is just a little suspicious? the world's economy is in strife and what better way to force it to recover than threatening us with more doom and gloom. quick, go out and buy lots of stuff before it's too late....
anyway, i bought a coupla extra vege plants, some seeds, and extra wine and loo paper.
cos you never know.
xx
mama b
25.4.09
tricot
we're at it again.
with the impending cold of winter almost upon us thoughts move to wrappingupwarm and great big knitted jerseys. and being as we have nannie (knitter of extraordinary woollen winter items) staying with us, what better way to pass our evenings than to attach ourselves to a set of needles and a ball of wool.
except, you may recall, suffering a severe case of déja vu, i seem to be once again, knitting in foreign languages.
take two idiots (ok, we're not idiots- we do know one end of a knitting needle from the other)
one expert
and a knitting magazine in english....
you see, despite the fact that p is a master translater, fluent in both english and french, this whole knitting business is entirely foreign. and although i know a little about knitting, my knitting experiences are somewhat international. having been taught by my english nanna when i was younger and reprogrammed by an argentinian collegue whilst reading a knitting book in france it is no wonder i have, basically, no bleeding idea.
keep it simple: don't be taking on elaborate aran jumpers or anything.
buy big needles- big progress- big mistakes.
anyway, we do hope, that some time before the end of the winter, we will have knitted ourselves something slightly more significant than a rectangle. (or, un rectangle if you like).
xx
mama b
with the impending cold of winter almost upon us thoughts move to wrappingupwarm and great big knitted jerseys. and being as we have nannie (knitter of extraordinary woollen winter items) staying with us, what better way to pass our evenings than to attach ourselves to a set of needles and a ball of wool.
except, you may recall, suffering a severe case of déja vu, i seem to be once again, knitting in foreign languages.
take two idiots (ok, we're not idiots- we do know one end of a knitting needle from the other)
one expert
and a knitting magazine in english....
you see, despite the fact that p is a master translater, fluent in both english and french, this whole knitting business is entirely foreign. and although i know a little about knitting, my knitting experiences are somewhat international. having been taught by my english nanna when i was younger and reprogrammed by an argentinian collegue whilst reading a knitting book in france it is no wonder i have, basically, no bleeding idea.
keep it simple: don't be taking on elaborate aran jumpers or anything.
buy big needles- big progress- big mistakes.
anyway, we do hope, that some time before the end of the winter, we will have knitted ourselves something slightly more significant than a rectangle. (or, un rectangle if you like).
xx
mama b
17.4.09
with nannie
nannie is on holiday. she came by plane from paris; it took a whole day.
nannie and me have been very busy. we've fed the chickens, played, eaten chocolate, been to the beach and chased a dog and planted a tree.
here's me and nannie. we're watering our cerisier- cherry tree. it's our favourite fruit and it's planted outside my bedroom window. nannie also planted a hedge while mama planted a small forest. the pirate and papa mostly watched.
then, yesterday, while papa was working, we went for a drive over the hill to lyttleton. we visited a cafe. mama had a mocca, nannie un thé and i had a fluffy. they are the best- warm fluffy milk in a grown up cup.
today we're going to the river to collect some rocks.
xx
c
nannie and me have been very busy. we've fed the chickens, played, eaten chocolate, been to the beach and chased a dog and planted a tree.
here's me and nannie. we're watering our cerisier- cherry tree. it's our favourite fruit and it's planted outside my bedroom window. nannie also planted a hedge while mama planted a small forest. the pirate and papa mostly watched.
then, yesterday, while papa was working, we went for a drive over the hill to lyttleton. we visited a cafe. mama had a mocca, nannie un thé and i had a fluffy. they are the best- warm fluffy milk in a grown up cup.
today we're going to the river to collect some rocks.
xx
c
11.4.09
le sport
men the world over are united by balls.
round balls, oval balls, dimpled balls. of all sizes.
our little man has passed over previous obsessions of vacuum cleaner plugs and hammers and progressed to the more manly ball. his collection consists of a round, green, rubber ball; a small spongy 'basket' ball; a tennis ball; and of course, a rugby ball (- we're not raising our son to be sport biased).
his throws are becoming increasingly coordinated.
can you imagine his glee when he discovered that the pirate also has a penchant for chasing balls?
the little boy and the grown-up cat spent a good half hour in pursuit of the fluffy round tennis ball. c was in charge of throwing and laughing (great, round, belly laughs) while the pirate was in charge of launching elaborate attacks from under the table, giving it a left and a right hook that i think even maradona would have been pleased with the results of.
and after a couple of lessons from his number 1 french nannie (currently taking her vacances with us in the republic) c progressed to kicking the ball about!! given a little encouragement he was pleased to mimick mama on the sideline yelling 'goal' (with his hands up in the air).
you can see where my saturdays are going to end up now, can't you.
xx
mama b
(footballer's mama?)
round balls, oval balls, dimpled balls. of all sizes.
our little man has passed over previous obsessions of vacuum cleaner plugs and hammers and progressed to the more manly ball. his collection consists of a round, green, rubber ball; a small spongy 'basket' ball; a tennis ball; and of course, a rugby ball (- we're not raising our son to be sport biased).
his throws are becoming increasingly coordinated.
can you imagine his glee when he discovered that the pirate also has a penchant for chasing balls?
the little boy and the grown-up cat spent a good half hour in pursuit of the fluffy round tennis ball. c was in charge of throwing and laughing (great, round, belly laughs) while the pirate was in charge of launching elaborate attacks from under the table, giving it a left and a right hook that i think even maradona would have been pleased with the results of.
and after a couple of lessons from his number 1 french nannie (currently taking her vacances with us in the republic) c progressed to kicking the ball about!! given a little encouragement he was pleased to mimick mama on the sideline yelling 'goal' (with his hands up in the air).
you can see where my saturdays are going to end up now, can't you.
xx
mama b
(footballer's mama?)
4.4.09
the post
i'm not a gambler, me. apart from the occasional splurge on lottery tickets (i would make such a great millionaire!) i don't like to throw my money away on something so intangible. but sometimes you just have to.
i'm talking about like when you post stuff.
when you post stuff it's like buying a lotto ticket. will the item make it to the other end? in one piece? unopened? un-messed with?
it's the only service in the world where it is acceptable to receive a disservice. the prize you win, not millions, is your packet arriving at the other end, unscathed.
we've had several packets recently not turn up. a painting sent to nannie in france, a letter from france and a couple of parcels from germany. the french post, la poste, are notoriously bad. it is accepted in france that if la poste goes on strike while your parcel or letter is 'in circulation', well, that's it. it'll go on a pile untill the grievance is settled and the postal servants get a spare moment to catch up. -get in the queue at the lotto shop, you're just as likely... deutschpost don't really have a reputation, except for the fact that they're german, known for efficiency & like volkswagens, i expect they'll be working forever regardless.
new zealand post, (no longer the post office) well, i don't know. when my parcels didn't arrive from germany. i asked- what has happened to my post? the post office chick replies (with special post office chick accent) -is it track n trace?
-well, no; does that make a difference?
-if it was track n trace we'd be able to trace it. without that we can't do anything.
-so it's lost?
-we don't know that. you may have to make a claim on your insurance.
so how is this? you pay your money to post your stuff, and it's not cheap, and off your parcel goes. you cross your fingers and you never know, it may turn up within the week, or maybe, if you're lucky, within the year.
my girlfriend made me a gift for my bday, back in september she posted it with plenty of time. it didn't arrive. she confessed that there were chocolates inside and maybe the customs folk got it... we waited, and after an acceptable period of time (like mourning), we gave up waiting.
my girlfriend made me another gift. she packed the chocolate and cheekily left a note in the packet for the customs guy "dear customs, if you need to take the chocolate: feel free. but PLEASE forward the box to my dear friend!".
she posted it.
and we waited
and waited
and waited some more for good measure. and then we gave up.
until last week i read an article in the press about a fat lazy arsed post man who hadn't been delivering his post, who had been hording it at his house for months on end.
my girlfriend said -perhaps he scored the swiss chocolate and now he's addicted and searches all packages on the off chance, growing fat.
his post mountain growing like his girth.
but this morning
in my letterbox
was a parcel from germany.
:)
a beautifully made box filled with swiss chocolates and love.
xxx
mama b
(diet starting tomorrow)
ps, there were loads of postfolk about today delivering parcels left and right. and me, woo hoo, i'm off to buy a lotto ticket. just after i finish this chocolate...
i'm talking about like when you post stuff.
when you post stuff it's like buying a lotto ticket. will the item make it to the other end? in one piece? unopened? un-messed with?
it's the only service in the world where it is acceptable to receive a disservice. the prize you win, not millions, is your packet arriving at the other end, unscathed.
we've had several packets recently not turn up. a painting sent to nannie in france, a letter from france and a couple of parcels from germany. the french post, la poste, are notoriously bad. it is accepted in france that if la poste goes on strike while your parcel or letter is 'in circulation', well, that's it. it'll go on a pile untill the grievance is settled and the postal servants get a spare moment to catch up. -get in the queue at the lotto shop, you're just as likely... deutschpost don't really have a reputation, except for the fact that they're german, known for efficiency & like volkswagens, i expect they'll be working forever regardless.
new zealand post, (no longer the post office) well, i don't know. when my parcels didn't arrive from germany. i asked- what has happened to my post? the post office chick replies (with special post office chick accent) -is it track n trace?
-well, no; does that make a difference?
-if it was track n trace we'd be able to trace it. without that we can't do anything.
-so it's lost?
-we don't know that. you may have to make a claim on your insurance.
so how is this? you pay your money to post your stuff, and it's not cheap, and off your parcel goes. you cross your fingers and you never know, it may turn up within the week, or maybe, if you're lucky, within the year.
my girlfriend made me a gift for my bday, back in september she posted it with plenty of time. it didn't arrive. she confessed that there were chocolates inside and maybe the customs folk got it... we waited, and after an acceptable period of time (like mourning), we gave up waiting.
my girlfriend made me another gift. she packed the chocolate and cheekily left a note in the packet for the customs guy "dear customs, if you need to take the chocolate: feel free. but PLEASE forward the box to my dear friend!".
she posted it.
and we waited
and waited
and waited some more for good measure. and then we gave up.
until last week i read an article in the press about a fat lazy arsed post man who hadn't been delivering his post, who had been hording it at his house for months on end.
my girlfriend said -perhaps he scored the swiss chocolate and now he's addicted and searches all packages on the off chance, growing fat.
his post mountain growing like his girth.
but this morning
in my letterbox
was a parcel from germany.
:)
a beautifully made box filled with swiss chocolates and love.
xxx
mama b
(diet starting tomorrow)
ps, there were loads of postfolk about today delivering parcels left and right. and me, woo hoo, i'm off to buy a lotto ticket. just after i finish this chocolate...
2.4.09
....autumn...
over the fence the gardeners said- there might be a frost tonight. and so the whole city held their breath in anticipation. i fretted for my courgettes, not yet ready to hand them over to the autumn.
but it's a bit of a relief really, autumn. theoretically it means that i won't be watering my garden any more; that maybe, one day soon, my grass will stop growing for an instant.
do you know the other thing i like about autumn?
big jerseys.
after months of shoefree and lightcardis i donned, yesterday. for the first time since november, my boots. i wrapped up in a rollnecked jersey. oh so toasty.
and then spent the whole day sweating.
it was minus2 out at the airport this morning. but here in the republic, between the river and the deep blue sea, it was a bit nippy outdoors this morning. but no frosticles for us!
but just in case i was busying myself this arvo in the garden, bringing in the last of the tomatoes and salads. tut-tutting over the how poor a tomato season it was. the gardeners say- it wasn't a particularly warm february. i didn't notice. the gardeners say- it was a bad year for caterpillars. that i did notice!
so i sorted out the good from the bad, the green from the red while calix, my apprentice gardener sorted the rest- he took individual bites out of individual tomatoes that the caterpillars had spared, he thinned the carrots that weren't quite ready to be thinned, that were thin enough already, he picked up pots and transported them to other parts of the garden and overwatered them and himself while he was at it....
readying ourselves for the wintery wonders, i sewed some silverbeet with the hope of keeping our soups and stews all topped up with iron for the winter.
it's still sunny out, the doors and windows are all open and really, being as i've still got to bring in the corn and the chillies i better pull my finger out.
xx
gardener b
but it's a bit of a relief really, autumn. theoretically it means that i won't be watering my garden any more; that maybe, one day soon, my grass will stop growing for an instant.
do you know the other thing i like about autumn?
big jerseys.
after months of shoefree and lightcardis i donned, yesterday. for the first time since november, my boots. i wrapped up in a rollnecked jersey. oh so toasty.
and then spent the whole day sweating.
it was minus2 out at the airport this morning. but here in the republic, between the river and the deep blue sea, it was a bit nippy outdoors this morning. but no frosticles for us!
but just in case i was busying myself this arvo in the garden, bringing in the last of the tomatoes and salads. tut-tutting over the how poor a tomato season it was. the gardeners say- it wasn't a particularly warm february. i didn't notice. the gardeners say- it was a bad year for caterpillars. that i did notice!
so i sorted out the good from the bad, the green from the red while calix, my apprentice gardener sorted the rest- he took individual bites out of individual tomatoes that the caterpillars had spared, he thinned the carrots that weren't quite ready to be thinned, that were thin enough already, he picked up pots and transported them to other parts of the garden and overwatered them and himself while he was at it....
readying ourselves for the wintery wonders, i sewed some silverbeet with the hope of keeping our soups and stews all topped up with iron for the winter.
it's still sunny out, the doors and windows are all open and really, being as i've still got to bring in the corn and the chillies i better pull my finger out.
xx
gardener b
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