I asked H if Aussies celebrate halloween. And he said "Yeah, you could say that." But I think it all depends if you do or you don't. We have been lucky that P hasn't asked for a costume or any sort. Whew! But never the less, HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone.

 

P.S.

 

Don't you just love the photo of the jack-o-lanterns?

 

Earth laughs in flowers- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

H, P and I went to Victoria Park and to Fancutts this arvo. I was worn out when we got home, but it was a good day out.

 

If you ask anyone about West End they will tell you that it's the ethnic centre of Brisbane. I do agree! There's a different vibe to West End, more laid back. Cafe's abound Vulture and Boundary Streets. Three Monkeys Cafe is quaint and cosy. My fave Vietnamese resto can be found on Hardgrave Road near the Rialto. Its 1.5 km from the CBD. Nearby suburbs are Highgate Hill, South Brisbane, City, Milton, Auchenflower, Toowong, Taringa and St. Lucia

The Green Flea Community Market has a different crowd as compared to Jan Power's Farmers Market at New Farm. I was not disappointed when I came this morning. Heaps of produce abound. Parking is not a problem even if you come in late in the morning. Although I suggest that you get there early so you can have pick of the freshest goods.

It's not just a produce market. As the name aptly suggest it's flea market. The guy who sells crepes at Riverside Markets @ Eagle Street was there. I even bought a decanter and a glass dish. Both I thought were good for giving away as gift for christmas, but I changed my mind... There's PJ's for kids, second hand books, bric-a-bracs, jewellries, and a whole lot more. This was certainly a lovely way of spending the morning alone at my own leisure.

 

Allthough last weekend was busy, I still managed to make this beauty for P's birthday at Lady Gowrie. At the start of the year we were all invited to attend the orientation. One of the parents asked 'What to bring if the childs birthday falls on a kindy day?" Miss L replied. just bring cupcakes to share for the kids, that way it would be easily distributed to the kids. Lolly bags are not necessary, but if you would like to give some, it's ok.  So, armed with this knowledge I did as I was told.  Coordinating kids birthday parties involves a lot of work, unless you'd like to get a party coordinator, then it's pretty easy. But if your'e like eveyone else, you make do with what you have. All the hard work is worth it when you see your child sharing his bounty with his classmates.

• 60 grams butter, softened
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 tsp almond essence
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour, sifted
• 1/4 butter milk or milk
• 1 packet of timtam balls

Preheat oven to 180 C. Line a 12-hole 2-tablespoon capacity patty pan with paper cases. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add vanilla and egg. Beat until well combined. Fold in half the flour, followed by half the buttermilk. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk. Three-quarters fill each paper case with batter. Gingerly insert timtam balls. Smooth surface.  Bake for 15-20 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand cakes in pan for 10 mins. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our house was burglarised thursday early morning. The thief took my bag, in it was my wallet with credit cards, atm cards, pictures, drivers licence (QLD and Philippine), health insurance cards, etc.  He also took my one and only digital camera which was H's gift a few years back, H's mobile phone. Lastly 2 tins of money. We have tins were we put or silver and gold coins. The weather has been getting warmer so I decided to leave the balcony door ajar, jut so the air would come in, but I left my blinds shut. I should have just left the door closed!!!

I heared the incident happen, H was sleeping on the couch, He didn't wake up, which was lucky, what if the bloody mongrel had a knife???! He could have stabbed H!!!! Normally P would wake up in the middle of the night, and I would hear rustling noises. That night I was gonna come out of my room and go to P's, but I waited it out, I was about to scream for P to go back to bed, but I hesitated. Sometimes P would lie down on the couch, he could have woken up and got hurt?!  I thought it was insanely unusual that my blinds were too noisy, P never wanders outside the house at that of time. So I got up, went to see what it was, I didn't see anybody, H was still sleeping, then I went to the balcony. I saw the thief standing on the wall next to the train line. I screamed oi, then he jumped. He was wearing dark coloured shirt and shorts. He was definitely not caucasian. Because it was dark, I couldn't figure out his skin colour. He did have short hair, wasn't wearing any hat.  It didn't occur to me why I saw a faint figure of bag when I saw the bastard.

 

Next thing I knew when I went back in the house my bag was gone, so was my camera. Lucky he didn't see H's wallet, it was placed near my camera. I woke up H and told him that we got burglarised. I went to the study table and saw that H's mobile was gone and our money tins as well.  I rang the police and they said that they would come over. So we waited....and waited.....waited for an hour for the police to arrive. In the midst of all this I had to ring our banks, several to be precise. And told them what had happened. While I was on the phone I was shaking like a leaf and almost went hysterical. One of the customer service operator even ranted at me to not go agro on her. Give me a freaking break I said, how the %$&* would you feel if somebody broke into to your house??? I calmed myself down, and she apologised.

 

The things that the thief took are all replaceable, it's the freaking hassle of having to cancel my cards that are annoying. It takes 4-7 working days to get a replacement, even longer for my medicare card, 12-14 days. The idea of somebody stealing my identity was unnerving. Or it could have been worse. We are still lucky.

 

The cops came an hour too late, took my statement. We were told that someone from their CSI unit would come in the morning to get some prints off.  Unfortunately he didn't get anything, not an iota.

 

The day has been busy with phone calls to family and friends. Trying to rush to the transport office for a new licence. Looking around for a replacement mobile phone for H. The incident could have been prevented if the bloody landlord agreed to install screen doors. You see we requested for one over a year ago when we found out that one of the tenants have been burglarised. We wrote our agent an letter requesting for screen doors. A tradesman came on and took measurements but it didn't push through. When I rang the agent about renewing our lease, the landlord would not agree on a month to month basis. She even suggested to just sign up for 6 months and break the lease if we need to. Which would cost us a week's rent and days where the unit would be unoccupied. I was getting shitty, and told them that we got broken in early this morning, I asked if there's anyway that they install the screen doors, apparently it's not part of the negotiation, but, she would inform the landlord about the incident. I also said that they need to make a request to the body corporate to install a barrier on the wall next to the train line. She apologised, but it was a half arsed apology.

 

Today I will have to type up a request and hand it over to our agent, that way it's a formal request. And as for renewing our lease, god, it's all up in the air now. CC is keen on us moving, we are leaning into moving as well. Safety of the family is important, I am fearful that it might happen again.

 

As you may have noticed I posted a new photo for my profile. I am growing my hair as per request by H. It has been 8 years since my hair was long. So we'll see how we go. If it were purely up to me I'll have it short, pixie cut to be exact. It's time for a change. Summer is creeping in and my stylist said I must be crazy growing my hair in summer, I thought so to.  Yesterday I had a my hair done, colour, hair treatment, trim and blowdry, and viola there is it! Ok the flicked out style was just to see if it suits me, I must say it felt odd, it took a while to get used to. I don't think I ever will. Maybe its time to purchase a ghd straightener.

 

There's something about getting older that makes me nostalgic. I think I'm going to cry soon.... hehehehehe
When I think about how far I've come and all the things that I've achieved in my lifetime, I am complete. But we humans are never contented, I must admit I am one of them. My flaw. Life just keeps moving along even when I don;t want it to. Happy beerday to me.

 

7 days and counting.... getting a year older! I had to re-sched our night out with the girls.

 

P is still on school holidays. Over the weekend we went to the driving range to vent out our frustrations. Next day the boys had a game of tennis. Note to self, must book the other tennis court so the boys can have a go on the wall. Today we went to J's birthday party, P's mate at school. They live about 20-30 mins away from the CBD. The house is perched on an acreage, tennis court, pool, a small pond, huge driveway. We all agreed that the area is condusive to a growing family. It is a toss up though when you need to travel towards the city especially with the petrol prices nowadays. Then there was a big discussion about how P's school might not have a pre-prep prgram for next school year. S has agreed to talk things out with J M of Lady Gowrie, I think it's a bit too late for them to back out on us. There will be no places for our kids to go to should they change their minds. The joke was, if they decide not to go ahead with the pre-prep group, we should just open a community based kindergarten at one of the parent's house. Let the kids run amok. LOL

I am up to date with my bookeeping which is good, same as with my chores in the house. Except for the laziness in cooking, I think I am on track. The prospect of moving is lurking around the corner, quite frankly I'm a bit over it. But if it was a move to, let's say overseas then maybe...