My mother has turned out to be the worst invalid ever. Those who follow me on twitter will know that on Saturday morning, she tripped over on her morning walk and fell on her shoulder. She now has a fine break in her humerous, just below the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
The doctor has put her right arm in a cuff-and-collar sling and said not to move it for two weeks. So far she had abided by this advice (it's been two days) but we still can't stop her doing things around the house. Things that should be far to difficult for her with only one arm.
For example, she's still washing up when we're not looking. And last night she snuck off and had a shower by herself. She's constantly picking up things around the house and tidying and I've yet to see her sit down for more than ten minutes together.
I submit that there is a worse patient that the male down with Man Flu: the Mummy Invalid. Because she just won't act the part, no matter how hard you try to do things for her!
I just hope she isn't over-doing things, but who is the best judge if not her?
I love aviators. I've never owned a pair and I'm not convinced I can carry them off, but I started this challenge with some and built the look around them.
The dress is meant for an afternoon out, and I couldn't resist the cream shoes. I don't usually wear gold, but this Hermes bracelet is just too lovely not to fantasize about wearing with this outfit!
It's Easter time and this year we have a special treat – a five-day weekend. This anomaly is due to ANZAC day falling on the Easter Monday. So some bright spark said – let's have an extra day off! And all about him saw that it was good.
Easter in Queensland means family holidays. People want to take advantage of the last warmth of the autumn sun, and so many people head to those Meccas of sand and waves – the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Since I became an adult I have never had an Easter weekend holiday. And since I've become part of a couple, I've only been away for the weekend twice – both times to the Sunshine Coast for one or two nights.
Truth be told, I haven't had what I consider a “real” holiday since 2006. That was the year I went to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The year after that I met my fiance and well, it seems the life of a person with a partner is not as conducive to saving money as that of a singleton with no commitments!
Now, the grind of mortgage repayments, electricity bills and grocery shopping really prohibits the kind of holiday I'd like to take. One where the currency is different, you don't really speak the language and everything is old or new or beautiful.
Where you immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and generally forget that you have a boring office job back home, and can drink three cocktails because you don't have to get up early in the morning.
I think my next Real Holiday is going to be our honeymoon. C is happy to go where I want to, and as to that I only have 2 criteria – that there is ocean, and plenty of cocktails.
When I first heard that the film of The Hobbit was going ahead, I was very excited. To see another Tolkien classic brought to life! I have followed the ups and downs of the greenlighting and pre-production with bated breath. And when Peter Jackson (affectionately known by all his fans as PJ) was finally announced to be taking the reins again, I breathed a very big sigh of relief, then cheered!
But it was not until yesterday that I felt the first REAL stirrings of breathless, wriggling excitement. That was when PJ posted the first set video on his Facebook page. I raced home from work to watch all ten delicious minutes of it. From the opening words, I was entranced. I couldn't believe it when PJ said that they had first started building the Bag End set 12 years ago. Has it really been that long? But then I heard it: the hobbit theme music. Followed closely by the Rivendell music, as shots of the rebuilt sets were proudly shown. I got goosebumps. I actually teared up a little because I wasn't prepared for the emotions that it stirred in me. Howard Shore's score combined with the reality of the rebuilt world which I had loved so much – it was just amazingly beautiful.
Perhaps it is not hard for you to guess that I love The Lord of the Rings. Not in a squealing fangirly OMG-isn't-Legolas-cute kind of way (though I have been known to express similar sentiments). But in a deep, abiding, adoring way. I have loved Tolkien since I was in primary school, and my teacher set us The Hobbit as a study one term. We did activities each week. I remember very clearly getting a perfect score on a test of how many Dwarf names we could list from the book. We drew pictures of scenes like the trolls arguing in the forest, or Bard the Bowman's heroics. Only a little later was I to discover the richer, more dense, dark and wonderful journey of Frodo in Lord of the Rings.
I was a child that always asked questions. One day I asked my dad what the longest book in the world was. He said “Well, The Lord of the Rings is pretty long.”. And that was that. Of course I had to read it then. Imagine my joy when I found out it was about Bilbo's nephew! My love for Tolkien's writing grew, and I fell in love with Strider, Aragorn, Elendil's heir. I made myself a vow to read the book every year from then on, a promise I kept up until university.
During the making of the films, I enjoyed a significant and happy time as a LOTR fangirl. I frequented a messageboard, wrote fanfiction, parodies and role-plays, make wallpapers and icons, and even ended up setting up a breakaway messageboard with a couple of my fangirl buddies. It was an amazing time, when set pics would leak out at unexpected moments, but we also enjoyed some marvellous transparency from Weta Workshop and New Line. The official LOTR.net website often featured conceptual art, and would release the most beautiful desktop wallpapers and themes on a regular basis. I read everything I could about the production, and attended every Boxing Day opening of the three films with my dear fangirling friend, Nawl. It was at this time I discovered the amazing illustrations of Alan Lee and John Howe. Their amazing work on the production of the films did so much to bring Middle Earth to life, and I thank the gods that PJ was able to get them to work on the films with him. I also fell head over heels in love with Howard Shore's score - there are just no words here folks. The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack is still my hands-down favourite score of all time.
Such was the depth of my passion, I even holidayed in New Zealand with a fangirl friend I met online, and we coincided our visit with the world premiere of Return of the King in Wellington. We went to the Theonering.net Ringer party and met John Noble (Denethor). We saw Ian McKellan and Sean Astin in the flesh. We watched the big LOTR parade filled with marching Men of Rohan, Elves, Nazgul and Orcs. And waved madly at the stars as they cruised past in convertible cars like astronauts returned to earth, receiving the adoration of their enthusiastic public.
That was in December 2003. Can you believe it? It doesn't seem so long ago to me. I haven't been an active part of Tolkien fandom for many years but the love has been re-kindled and I can now officially say I am a fangirl again. And I will be dipping my toe back into fandom life again soon – perhaps I will see you there?
This week was a blur of work and then a quiet weekend, but I had some lovely moments...
1. Starting a Battlestar Galactica re-watch with my fiancee. I was so overjoyed he wanted to do this with me, as watching shows with someone else who loves them is approximately 175 x better than on your own. This series re-watch was inspired by meeting Katee Sackhoff and glimpsing Tahmoh Penikett at Supanova last weekend.
2. I finally bought some conditioner for the new water bed. Not only did I remember, I went to the right shop! Hurray!
3. Putting together The Plan. It's on my fridge now and is kicking off TONIGHT.
4. Cleaning off the kitchen bench. It was a nightmarish pile of junk mail, keys, coins, bills, paper-clips, books and magazines. It's so satisfying to look at it now and see CLEAN SURFACES.
5. Trying out our new popcorn maker. I chose it as an engagement gift from my brother and his girlfriend, and it didn't disappoint. 1/3 of a cup of popcorn kernels makes a bowl big enough to satisfy us!
When I hear the word trench - I think Burberry. For me, there is no other. I went to Polyvore with the intent of picking a gorgeous long traditional beige Burberry trenchcoat, but then I stumbled across this navy piece of loveliness... And then I had to punk it up a bit with ankle booties. I would wear this on an overcast afternoon if I was headed to the city. Add the Hermes scarf and hey presto! I'm continental!
This afternoon my other half and I were driving home from a spontaneous hot-chip lunch at Redcliffe. It being PM, and me being me, my thoughts were already turning towards what we would be having for dinner.
I moaned about how I never know what we're going to be eating more than a day in advance and secondly how I never seem to be able to keep the fridge, freezer and pantry stocked with appropriate ingredients.
I wondered aloud if there was some app that could turn me into a meal planning diva. I have already tried kikki.K's lovely paper planner with limited success.
C suggested we do what his parents used to do: every night gets designated a meal. Seven days, seven meals and we always know what we're having. He pointed out Friday night was already Pizza Night, so that meant just six other evening meals to pick and assign.
I had concerns this would get a bit boring, but he pointed out that The Plan isn't set in stone. He also pointed out if I write it down and pin up The Plan behind the pantry door, he'll know if he has to get meat out of the freezer in the afternoon before I get home.
So, having no other good suggestions or ideas myself, I agreed. The Plan starts on Sunday, which gives me a night and a day to put it together. To keep it varied, I'm going to try to keep it generic, eg. Monday night is Pasta Night. This could entail simple pasta sauce dumped on penne, a pasta bake or even spag bog.
I'm really looking forward to seeing if this works. Wish us luck!
Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm 33 and searching for my passion.
Until then, I slog away in a cubicle working full-time and focus on enjoying my downtime with things like TV (my old friend), movies, twitter, (trying to) cook, reading and hanging out with my hubby. My head is turned by things like vintage homewares, stationery, chocolate and scrapbooking. I blog about whatever takes my fancy.
Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm 33 and searching for my passion.
Until then, I slog away in a cubicle working full-time and focus on enjoying my downtime with things like TV (my old friend), movies, twitter, (trying to) cook, reading and hanging out with my hubby. My head is turned by things like vintage homewares, stationery, chocolate and scrapbooking. I blog about whatever takes my fancy.
