Of Cottonwool Fog and Abs of Steel...

I'm feeling a little miserable at the moment.  

Healthwise that is.  Two weekends ago I came down with a flu-cold-virus thing and it feels like I'm getting better so slowly, sooo slowly.  

All that I have left now is a cough that sucks the life out of me, takes my breath away and deprives my vital organs of oxygen.  Always nice (not).  I do hope all of this coughing results in a tightening of the abs and not just bruised ribs and a back in need of chiropractic care.

I feel like I've lost this month so far - all of a sudden it's not just July, it's mid-July.  Sheesh.

The weather isn't helping my mood either.  

This morning the fog on the way to work was thick like cotton wool.  It sure was pretty to look, and I would have enjoyed it much more had I been sitting in front of a fire looking out a window at it.  

But instead I was dodging potholes in the road, trying not to run up the rear end of vehicles that seemed to jump out in front of me suddenly and fighting the urge to peer off into the edges rather than watching where I was going.  

It felt like I was flying through the clouds instead of driving to work.  Eerie.  Very eerie.  But pretty.

I sure would like to see the sun again soon.

I think I jinxed it

That's the risk with doing a post about the wonderful-ness of the recent weather.  There then exists the major potential for said wonderful weather to be immediately choked, kicked, punched and pushed out of the way by the bad guy weather you've been glad hasn't been around.

And so it happened.  

I think it began the moment I hit 'publish'.

Cold, blustery, artic like winds blowing through all layers of clothing dug from the depths of the wardrobe to be worn at one time joined by miserable, not-heavy-enough-to-drench-you-immediately-but-it-will-get-you-in-the-end rain and fog thick enough to drown out your hope and happiness.  Enough rain/mist to make my hair go frizzy and lank in varying degrees and at the same time (not a pretty look) and to make the whole house feel damp and musty.

I'm thinking of moving to the desert.

(haha I just typed dessert.  yep that's where I'm gonna move - dessert!)

Good weather for ducks

So outside it's raining again.  

Which is fair enough I guess because raining inside wouldn't be cool at all.  Though it is as good as raining inside my house given all the leaks and drips making their way under the roofing iron, along the rafters and through the ceiling.  Grrrr.

One day, in the not too distant future (I could be kidding myself on that one) I solemnly pledge and vow that I will live in a house that doesn't leak.  Or have holes in the window panes patched up with an old cardboard box taped into place.  Or make use of a recycled cardboard box and newspaper to plug the drafts around door jams.   And that house will also have a kitchen stove that can have all the hotplates, and the oven, turned on at the same time. One day.

One day I will live in a house that doesn't require this sort of make-do-man-ship....

And when that day comes, I will be extremely and eternally grateful for what I have because I've lived through this.   Been there, done that and all.

Take now for example.  Sure I have a leaky ceiling, but at least it is a ceiling.  Not all that long ago I came home from work to a house with absolutely no internal walls, doors or ceilings.  That was a bit of a shock, let me tell you.  I knew it was on the cards but not the time scale.  I was quite calm about it too.  I think they were all replaced in a relatively quick fashion.  If you call a good three weeks in winter quick.

example A: no internal walls

That was also around the time when the LOML and I spent winter without a bathroom.  The same winter with no walls and ceilings.  That was cold.  There ain't nothing colder than a wet shower curtain hanging from a few nails in the roof touching your butt as you madly try to starve off hypothermia with the camping shower hose thingy.  Brrrrr.  I was very grateful at that time that the hot water system hadn't packed it in too.  That would have done me in for sure!

So there you have it.  It's raining outside and I have the most perfect, prime occasion to grumble but I've managed to (quite unlike me) look at the bright side.  Haven't I?

My contribution to the Monster Zucchini Club

So it seems my garden, in particular my zucchini plant, caught wind of the fact that other zucchini plants out there in the big wide world (eg Fiona's and Ali's) were producing some better-than-decent sized fruits and decided to one-up them all.

Ladies and gentlemen of the panel I give you......

....the All Litten Up Monster Zucchini Contender!!!!  [round of applause please]

Thank you.  Thank you very much.  I couldn't have done it without much ignorance, neglect and a few days rain.   Thanks.

As gloriously large as it is, I have serious doubts as to its palatability (is that even a word?).  I think it may just find its way straight into the scrap bucket.  Pity.  It does look nice though.  

Is that an Ark I see before me?

It's raining
It's poring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed
And bumped his head
And couldn't get up in the morning.


It's currently raining.  Big, fat drops coming down with the gusto of a hungry puppy attacking a bone.  Three minutes ago, it wasn't raining.  In three minutes it will have stopped.  It's been like that all day.  And all yesterday.  And the day before that.

We have had so much rain there is major flooding all over the state.  With more to come.

Luckily, our house is on top of a hill.  In a town on top of a hill. 

Unless there really is a man out there building a big boat and shepherding the animals on in pairs, I think we'll be right.

Sending warm, sunny, non-wet thoughts to all the folks out there filling sandbags and building weirs around their houses or raising their life possessions off floor level. 

Be strong.

won-won-zoll

Dear 2011,

Let me introduce myself.  I'm Shelley and I'm going to be your bestest bestie for a WHOLE 12 months!!!  But....for me to be your bestest bestie there's a few little things you need to do for me, you know, quid pro quo....

For starters, right now I'd like summer to happen.  I have a range of new dresses I'd like to wear but the rain is making it too cool to go out without some form of sleeve on....so some regular, consistent sun would be greatly appreciated.  Also, winter this year - yeah not so much on the cold this year if you could.  I think my feet have only just now thawed and 2010's winter 'ended' about 5 months ago....  I don't mind having to rug up and getting to wear scarves and jackets and boots but not in December....

It would also be great if you could keep up my travel to foreign climes as per 2010.  I'm a bit accustomed to it now and would hate to break the tradition (yes, two years in a row does make a tradition!).  I really love meeting new people and seeing new parts of the world, and the food, oh the food - this year I'm totally fanging for some more of that delish penang curry from skala in Bangkok, and some fatoush at Norma's house in Lebanon, and I really want to try some legit Vietnamese spring rolls....mmmmmm.  It doesn't have to cost much to happen either - I'll be happy with 3 star - though I must draw the line and insist on hot and cold water, air con and a swimming pool! lol

I'd LOVE to win lotto this year too.  A number of years (every year) have gone by now without me winning a cent.  I know, I know, you have to be in it to win it.  Well, I will make more of an effort if you will.

Also, I would like world peace and an end to famine and drought (cos you know, not everything should be about me....).

In return, as your bestest bestie in the WHOLE wide world, I will always talk you up to all and sundry (you know, how wonderful you are, the start of a NEW decade, the promise of the future right here in your hands...do you have hands?), I'll always compare you favourably to past years (that 2010, that one was whack), I won't complain (much) when you go by so quickly, and I won't take you for granted and wish you away.  I will also do my absolute utmost (UTMOST) to remember to write your date right and not call you 09 or 10 (or 00!!!), and I will get the most awesome picture record of you in the form of a funky calendar so that I can look at your awesome-ness every day!

So how's that?  Have we got ourselves a deal?  Let me know ASAP because, you know, 2012 is waiting in the wings and, I'm not 100% sure, but from here it's looking dang hot!

Love always,

your (potential) bestest bestie EVER

me xxx