And they're off!!!

Trying it on
Originally uploaded by zacsmum_theone.

Today I said goodbye to Mum and Dad as they head off overseas for a 3 month trip. This is their first time away from Australia. Their first stop is South America where they'll get to see my brother (2nd child) Zac for the first time in nearly 2 and a half years. Needless to say they're very excited and just a little bit nervous too!! Here they are trying their luggage on for size.

Mum's set up a blog - Hasta leugo! - where you can follow their adventures and I've made her promise to keep it updated regularly and this will be my main contact with them (as well as email and text messages)

Trams are an icon of Melbourne

I travel on them frequently to and from work and to get around Melbourne. For the most part I enjoy them - you know where they are going (no detours as they travel along a system of tracks) you can cram soooo many people into them (not always an enjoyable feature) and you get some interesting characters travelling on trams.

Yesterday however I had an altercation on a tram..... It's OK Mum, I am alright, but it was an experience I don't want to go through again.

I was on a tram to the train station, only 4 stops and yes I did consider walking - seems I should have after all! I was doing the right thing and validating my ticketing and trying to return it to my purse, whilst talking on the phone, when the driver slammed the brakes on and I dropped my purse - into the stair well. Now I should also mention that it was peak hour and the trams were nearly full and I didn't have a seat. As the tram slowed I stepped down to get it, but didn't manage to grab it in time before the driver opened the doors. I was still trying to grab my purse before it fell out and ended up on the road, as the driver continued to open the doors - again I didn't get it and ended up with my arm jammed between the door and the step. By this stage it was getting painfull and a number of people had called out to the driver to close the doors so I could free my arm but he didn't.

Eventually I pulled it free and he closed the door when everyone was on. Of course at this point my purse is still in the stair well. Twice more I tried to reach down and each time the driver went to open the doors (?? I can only assume that he thought I was getting off??) so I ended up having to wait till the tram was moving to get it - not an ideal time.

As I was struggling to pull my arm free I couldn't help but think of the time my younger brother Zac (check out his blog Zac of the Jungle) got his hand stuck down the drain of our bath. It didn't have the little grill thingy on because our youngest brother had earlier got his fingers stuck in it an dad had had to cut it away from his fingers. Anyway he'd chased the facewasher as it started to disappear down the drain and got his hand stuck. Dad came to the rescue and after a few minutes of pulling and adding soap with no luck, suggested that he let go of the facewasher. Needless to say the hand slipped out easily. I suddenly realised as my hand was stuck that if I let go I might get my hand back. It didn't slip out easily, but it did work!! Thanks Zac!!

I now have a slighly puffy and bruised arm. The moral - if you drop your purse in the stairwell... it's just not worth it!!

2 weeks to go...

We signed the lease on the new place this week so it's all official now! We pick the keys up in 2 weeks.

Now it's time to get serious about the packing, with only this weekend and next to get it done. I've also started on the lists - utilities to change over, carpet cleaners and lawn mowing to arrange, addresses to notify of change....

Jumping Jumping Jumping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I have good news!!!!!!!

We have a house!!. We took a chance and knocked back the house that we were offered first and managed to get one where we wanted within 2 days. It's a lovely house, in a nice place, and what's better is that I've met some new friends there already - who helped us to get the house by dropping hints to the real estate whenever possible.

Whe sign the lease next week and get the keys in the first week of May.

Thanks for you support throughout!!

Dilemma

B has just rung to tell me that we have been accepted for a house. I should be jumping for joy, but...

The thing is I don't know if this house is right? I know... it's a rental... but it will be home for at least the next 12 months, and I'm just not sure.

The first problem is, they won't hold it for us and we need to accept it asap if we are going to. The next problem is... what if we pass it up and nothing else comes along?...

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Felted neck-wear

Spitzmalve
Originally uploaded by Sandra Jasmin.

I found this artsists work on Flickr today. It is hand-felted using 100% Merino wool. The artsist is Sandra Jasmin, and she has a website. Neither her Flickr notes or her website are in English, but you don't need English to understand the photos.

House Hunting and UFO's

I won't bore you with the details but for those who've asked, the house hunt continues. We had a slow week last week, with only 2 to look at. We've appplied for one and have an appointment for another, more promising prospect his week. I have my fingers crossed and have promised to think positively that all will work out - it just has to doesn't it!!

I have started packing so that when we do get the word we'll be ready to go. In the process I have been sorting through my things and getting the workroom in order. I am making a number of piles:

• Stuff that can be given away (to a good home) - Mostly fabric, this is stuff that I have moved twice over the past 4 years and still sits in the bottom of a cupboard, drawer, box taking up valuable storage space
• Stuff that I could do without but would prefer to sell at a garage sale or on ebay - this is stuff that I would happily return to the collection should nobody be interested
• Stuff that should go in the bin
• Projects in progress that I either need to finish or undo, cut-up, give-away or otherwise dispose of;

So far the rubbsih pile is still quite small, the give-away pile is growing and the UFO pile is getting rather large.

On the UFO front I've uncovered:

• a cross stitch started before I came to Melbourne, 5 years ago that is so very close to being finished. I've been working on this lately and now only have the beading to do
• 2 part knitted scarves. I finished one of these last night and have vowed to finish the other before starting another knitting project - which is hard cause I want to make some knitted-felted (fulled) bags...
• a quilt that I started more than 5 years ago (again before I came to Melbourne). There are 12 butterflies that need to be blanket/buttonhole stitched, before making up the quilt. I have picked these up on-and-off over the past 12 months in an effort to finish them, and still have 6 to go
• A small quilt top that I made last year - a kit that B's Aunty brought back from America for me. It's sooo close, just needs a back and to be quilted.
• My Japanese Kimono quilt that still needs to be quilted - I've started but think it needs to be pulled out and started over
• 3 T-shirts that I cut out and haven't yet sewed up - really simple, only a couple of seams but.....

This list will no doubt grow as I haven't yet made my way all the way through the room. Perhaps I'll put the list over there in the sidebar and cross them off as I go....

Introducing Trishalan Designs

I had a comment this week from Trish of Trishalan Designs. Trish is from Queensland - my home turf (although well south of where I grew up) - and is new to blogging. She definitely isn't new to textiles though and makes and sells hand-dyed threads, hand-dyed fabrics and treaches kumihimo (Japanese braiding). Do drop by and take a look at her blog.

Where I Live...

Today I went for a drive to St Leonards, a small seasideside town near Geelong in Victoria. Here are a couple of photos I took from the pier.

On my way home (the long way of course) I dropped into Queenscliff, another gorgeous seaside town. I have a couple of favourite spots in Queenscliff....

• Barwon Booksellers - a secondhand bookshop set in an old church.
• The Queenscliff Ice-Cream shop - mmmmm Yuuuuummmm!!!
• Seaview Gallery - a gallery of local and Australian artsists

and look what I scored today (sorry the ice-cream disappeared pretty quickly)...

Mixed Media Explorations

I have been eyeing this book off for a while but have shied away from the price. Second-hand prices made it look soooo much better!


Finally, here is some street art that I found in Melbourne on Friday and jus had to share.

I'm not ignoring you - It's just that...

I haven't had time nor been in the right frame of mind to blog lately. My thoughts and spare time have been wholely consumed by the hunt for a new home - a hunt which is set to continue until A) we find a place that suits our criteria AND B) our application is accepted ahead of the hundreds of others (well maybe not quite that many, but there are lots!!). We have given our notice though so a move is inevitable, it's just a question of where...

I haven't even been able to concentrate on my stitching lately and have lost my way with the joggles classes. Nevermind, I have printed them out and will work through them at my own pace (Soooo much material to get through in a short time anyway!).

I have been doing some planning for some pieces for a group exhibition which I'm starting to get excited about (the pieces that is). The exhibition is not until early 2008 but the way that time is flying I will need to plan ahead!!

This weekend is the Easter long weekend and whilst I hope to get some stitching done, I'm also planning to get some packing done too. I'll try and post something interesting over the weekend but don't hold your breath.