Tuesday, May 14, 2019
The 'Mrs Hind' Story - for Nerys, Mrs Hind and Troy.
The
Mrs Hind Story.
Troy and Nerys.
Pennie and Mrs Hind sitting surrounded by some of the many parents we met at Turramurra North Public School.
Back in the Eighties, yes way back then… all four of our children
attended Turramurra North Primary School where for a few years I served as
President of the P&C as well as many other voluntary jobs up there. I really enjoyed it, those were fun days and I
made many long time friends.
One of these friends was ‘Mrs Hind’ she and I did a lot of P&C,
Canteen, Fete and all sorts of things which meant we saw and spoke to each
other a fair bit.
With four children in our local schools from preschools to high schools
one does meet many parents when not at these schools. One might run into one of them at the Local
Shops where I also got to know many of the shop keepers or at the local Service
Station and even as far a field as St Ives or Hornsby. It was always lovely to have a bit of a chat
and catch up with what our children were up to.
Now as Nerys grew older and a little more independent one of these people
might mention that it was lovely to see her out and about with her friends…
this is where ‘Mrs Hind’ comes into the story.
It was quiet often after speaking to Mrs Hind on the phone that I would
say something to Nerys such as… did you enjoy shopping at St Ives or similar. Nerys would look shocked that I knew where
she had been and quickly came to the conclusion that ‘Mrs Hind’ had seen her
and told me. Now in honest truth I don’t
think it was ever Mrs Hind, it could have been one of so many friends but I
never denied it then if I tried to Nerys didn’t believe me.
So let’s move forward more than 30 years. Nerys and Tim’s boys both attend Ku-ring-gai
High School, both boys play Cricket and Soccer for Hornsby Heights where Nerys
co-Managers Charlie’s team and Troy also an ex Ku-ring-gai student and one of
the Coaches knows Mrs Hind and her daughter.
The Coaches and Managers are in regular touch these days via their
mobile phones and emails.
Soooo… a few times Nerys has been
out and about shopping and so on and she’s seen Troy’s daughter with her
friends. Nerys has then texted to Troy
saying she just saw his daughter with her friends at the shops or cafe, then
Troy has texted his daughter asking her if she is having fun with her friends
at such and such place! Then Nerys
noticed the daughter read her text and look around wondering who had told her
Dad where she was.
Does this mean that Nerys has become ‘Mrs Hind’ herself!
Labels: Stories
Saturday, April 14, 2018
So naughty I am!
Here is our Family story for these strict rules!
The year was 1955 when Mama, my lovely grandmother Eileen, took down the families Christmas decorations before the 6th of January, while doing this... she fell off the ladder and broke her arm! Then on the 22nd of January Poppa, my beautiful Grandfather Harrie died of a heart attack.
I did follow Rosie's rules for many years... then after a few years I got so fed up with the decorations I would take them down as soon as I could.
But only last week... I saw this in the corner of our sitting room! it's April now and these Christmas Decorations haven't been put away. I have to admit to noticing them before but thought I'd put them away later... 'later' took a long time to happen.
Labels: Christmas 2017, Home, Stories
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Here's a story about a Lady who was...
Many moons ago the Lady of this Home bought a plastic Rice Cooker for the Microwave, it was only a cheap item but it's worked very well for many years until... last week when the Man of this Home put some already cooked but frozen rice into this cooker then into the Microwave for what he thought was one minute... but he programmed in TEN Minutes!!! Then the Man about this Home went off to play in his Garage!
The Lady of this house was working in the Office and eventually smelled some burning... she went into the kitchen just as the Microwave beeped... inside was one very smelly burnt hot container of rice which she grabbed and took outside to her Man! The brown coloured rice was a hard thick circle and the container had a melted hole!
The worst result of his little incident was the SMELL!! Yuck!
Anyway... The Lady of this Home said she would look online for another, she doesn't like going to shops.
So while the Man headed back to the Garage the Lady headed to the Office and ordered a new Rice Cooker.
Later that evening this Lady received a forwarded email from the Man which told her that he had bought a new rice cooker from the same place the Lady had bought one several hours ago!
So now we have 2 Rice Cookers in our Home... aren't we lucky!!!???
The Lady of this house was working in the Office and eventually smelled some burning... she went into the kitchen just as the Microwave beeped... inside was one very smelly burnt hot container of rice which she grabbed and took outside to her Man! The brown coloured rice was a hard thick circle and the container had a melted hole!
The worst result of his little incident was the SMELL!! Yuck!
Anyway... The Lady of this Home said she would look online for another, she doesn't like going to shops.
So while the Man headed back to the Garage the Lady headed to the Office and ordered a new Rice Cooker.
Later that evening this Lady received a forwarded email from the Man which told her that he had bought a new rice cooker from the same place the Lady had bought one several hours ago!
So now we have 2 Rice Cookers in our Home... aren't we lucky!!!???
Labels: Stories
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Phew! Double PHEW!
At the end of the day I realized it was missing!
So I searched the house - kitchen, office, downstairs loo, sewing room, chairs, floors and on and on I searched! I even searched the rubbish bins, I searched the dishwasher, I searched where I'd been outside for almost two weeks... nothing.
But! Today I was looking for something in the sewing room and just glanced at these baskets of fabric...
AND... there was my ring just sitting quietly on this old fabric below, sitting there for more than two weeks.
Wednesday, August 09, 2017
Lovely finish to one very happy, exciting and sad story...
Last week in May 1968.
I am about to fly out of Australia to marry my best friend in England, haven't seen him for 7 months and we've never been girlfriend / boyfriend, just gotten to know each other through letters... so I'm feeling very excited as well as very nervous about flying so far but also... What the heck am I doing!!
I'm farewell-ing the Rello's and friends. I go to Killara to visit David's favourite Grandmother Dudu whom I had met before David flew to the UK, we chat and enjoy some afternoon tea, then just as I'm about to leave Dudu takes her wedding ring off her finger and gives it to me. I am totally overwhelmed, this has really taken me by surprise and the love I'm feeling makes me feel a little more comfortable about my upcoming flight and adventure.
It's only a small plain gold ring but the story is solid gold! I will keep it on now, except when I take it off when David and I get married in Australia next year, only to have it put back on by my Husband.
I am about to fly out of Australia to marry my best friend in England, haven't seen him for 7 months and we've never been girlfriend / boyfriend, just gotten to know each other through letters... so I'm feeling very excited as well as very nervous about flying so far but also... What the heck am I doing!!
I'm farewell-ing the Rello's and friends. I go to Killara to visit David's favourite Grandmother Dudu whom I had met before David flew to the UK, we chat and enjoy some afternoon tea, then just as I'm about to leave Dudu takes her wedding ring off her finger and gives it to me. I am totally overwhelmed, this has really taken me by surprise and the love I'm feeling makes me feel a little more comfortable about my upcoming flight and adventure.
Dudu in San Francisco 1920's
David and Pennie married in Guildford Register Office with Terry on left and Peter on right.
(Unknown to us we should have registered our marriage when we returned in late 1970, so our English marriage doesn't count in the country we were born in and live in.)
So lets move on 48 years and 7 months... it's December 2016, my wedding ring hurts my finger in summer, my fingers swell a little in the heat so, I take my Wedding Ring off and put it in a safe place! Or so I think!
Day after day I search for my wedding ring... that used to be Dudu's... for weeks and weeks, for months I search to no avail.
I feel so bad, so guilty, so sad...
Then yesterday Niall was doing the gardening and GUESS WHAT!! He found my Wedding Ring in the dirt near the clothes line! Neill not only got a big hug from me, he also got a big hug from David!
Labels: David and Pennie, Stories
Saturday, June 10, 2017
How does one celebrate the Queens Birthday weekend... Mmmmm...
On the second weekend in June NSW celebrates the Queens Birthday with a public holiday and a long weekend. Different States celebrate at different times during the year.
Who's Birthday is this we are celebrating?
Not QE 2's, her birthday is on the 21st of April and not even the British have a long weekend or a public holiday for their Queen.
It's not Queen Victoria's birthday, she was born on the 24th of May 1819.
QE 1, was born on 7th September 1533...
Soooo... No British Queen has been born in June in the last 500 years!
So is this a 'fake' Queens Birthday Public Holiday!!
Anyway! Aussies all love a long weekend don't we :-) So what have I been up to today... David was up before me this morning, this is the second time this year... dressed in bus uniform and off to the City to drive his Big Red Bus around the city for people also enjoying a ride on a Steam Train.
I took off to our local shops early, shops just opening up barely a person about and I head to my favourite Butcher for a stock up of red meat... Hello Pennie, Hello Pennie and a lovely chat with both Jason and Stewart while I decide what to buy. Jason carries my shopping out to my car for me and I head to the IGA.
HELLO Pennie I hear shouted from the check out... it's Ralph Calvi finishing his shopping and about to head home, always a happy and cheery person to meet. Ralph isn't well though, he's been in hospital with bowel problems, I tell him about my BIL who has broken both his wrists and Ralph almost faints with the thought of having his wife Betty wiping his bum for him! He heads off happily... then another...
Hello Pennie, it's Julia Caldersmith with her 2 yo daughter Amelia. I've known Julia since she was about her DD's age, now she's married with two children and just bought a home in our area and loving it, Amelia is such a little sweetie chewing on a lolly pop...
I continue my shopping, the fridge door I'm opening bumps the bending down sticking out bum of another customer... one I don't know!! He tells me I should have said... 'move dumbo' I said I would have, I just didn't know his name was 'dumbo'.
Oh YES! I do love living where I live!
!!!!!!! Poopootoshirley... I just remembered the real reason I went up to the shops! We are out of Oranges! I completely forgot!
Since returning from my shopping I've been concentrating on being a Domestic Goddess, David is in for a couple of treats when he comes home that's for sure!!
And... Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffins... using the over ripe bananas that have been thrown into the bottom of the freezer over the last few months!!
Who's Birthday is this we are celebrating?
Not QE 2's, her birthday is on the 21st of April and not even the British have a long weekend or a public holiday for their Queen.
It's not Queen Victoria's birthday, she was born on the 24th of May 1819.
QE 1, was born on 7th September 1533...
Soooo... No British Queen has been born in June in the last 500 years!
So is this a 'fake' Queens Birthday Public Holiday!!
Anyway! Aussies all love a long weekend don't we :-) So what have I been up to today... David was up before me this morning, this is the second time this year... dressed in bus uniform and off to the City to drive his Big Red Bus around the city for people also enjoying a ride on a Steam Train.
I took off to our local shops early, shops just opening up barely a person about and I head to my favourite Butcher for a stock up of red meat... Hello Pennie, Hello Pennie and a lovely chat with both Jason and Stewart while I decide what to buy. Jason carries my shopping out to my car for me and I head to the IGA.
HELLO Pennie I hear shouted from the check out... it's Ralph Calvi finishing his shopping and about to head home, always a happy and cheery person to meet. Ralph isn't well though, he's been in hospital with bowel problems, I tell him about my BIL who has broken both his wrists and Ralph almost faints with the thought of having his wife Betty wiping his bum for him! He heads off happily... then another...
Hello Pennie, it's Julia Caldersmith with her 2 yo daughter Amelia. I've known Julia since she was about her DD's age, now she's married with two children and just bought a home in our area and loving it, Amelia is such a little sweetie chewing on a lolly pop...
I continue my shopping, the fridge door I'm opening bumps the bending down sticking out bum of another customer... one I don't know!! He tells me I should have said... 'move dumbo' I said I would have, I just didn't know his name was 'dumbo'.
Oh YES! I do love living where I live!
!!!!!!! Poopootoshirley... I just remembered the real reason I went up to the shops! We are out of Oranges! I completely forgot!
Since returning from my shopping I've been concentrating on being a Domestic Goddess, David is in for a couple of treats when he comes home that's for sure!!
Leftover Vegetable and
Larder Surprise.
Vegetables - Broccoli,
Carrots, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Mushroom, Green Beans, Corn, Ginger,
Garlic, Coriander.
White Sauce - Butter,
Flour, Milk, Salt & Pepper.
Topping - Mixed Nuts, Breadcrumbs,
Mixed spice Pappadums, Grated Parmesan Cheese.
And... Banana and Chocolate Chip Muffins... using the over ripe bananas that have been thrown into the bottom of the freezer over the last few months!!
Thursday, April 13, 2017
I want everybody to know... There are many many many good honest people out there!!
Yesterday I was up bright and early and off with things to do, jumped into the car before 8am and as soon as I turned the key my Baby Pug reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that she had little or no petrol in her! Red flashing lights and loud beeping are a sure sign. No worries my Service Station is only a few houses away so in a flash she was full, at the cost of $71 I might add, that tells you just how empty she was feeling.
So I get an easy park right at the door and I'm in St Ives IGA and shopping almost by myself which makes a big shop so much easier, then to the Seafood Shop and finally Bakers Delight... who can resist their Chocolate Hot Cross Buns eh!
Shopping in boot of car, trolley put away and home again, home again jiggerty jig, admiring myself for having done all this shopping in just under one hour!
Heading along my street feeling pretty cool and groovy when... I pull up!!! Oh deary deary me... did I leave my handbag on the trolley back at St Ives? Jump out of car and check boot... SHIT! I have, oh no how could I do that, I've left my beautiful red leather handbag, given to me by my dear darling husband-to-be a couple of years ago and full of all my important cards and phone and and and everything!
Big Uuey and I'm racing back to to St Ives, round the corner 70 mph in a 60 mph zone hoping double demerit points for this Easter weekend haven't started yet and I zoom into a parking spot allocated for parents with prams, park and once again check my boot... shit shit shit... no handbag.
The Concierge is right at the entrance and looks up as I approach, I breathlessly say... "'I've left my handbag on the trolley...' but before I can finish he is reaching for my precious bag and saying... 'A customer saw you drive off and bought it straight in, I opened it to check your details and I've been trying to contact you.'
Phew! I am ever so grateful to that honest person and the Concierge as well and I've just written to say how thankful I am.
Here is my beautiful handbag relaxing in it's usual place :-)
Then I want to see my cousin Sue... but that's another story.
So I get an easy park right at the door and I'm in St Ives IGA and shopping almost by myself which makes a big shop so much easier, then to the Seafood Shop and finally Bakers Delight... who can resist their Chocolate Hot Cross Buns eh!
Shopping in boot of car, trolley put away and home again, home again jiggerty jig, admiring myself for having done all this shopping in just under one hour!
Heading along my street feeling pretty cool and groovy when... I pull up!!! Oh deary deary me... did I leave my handbag on the trolley back at St Ives? Jump out of car and check boot... SHIT! I have, oh no how could I do that, I've left my beautiful red leather handbag, given to me by my dear darling husband-to-be a couple of years ago and full of all my important cards and phone and and and everything!
Big Uuey and I'm racing back to to St Ives, round the corner 70 mph in a 60 mph zone hoping double demerit points for this Easter weekend haven't started yet and I zoom into a parking spot allocated for parents with prams, park and once again check my boot... shit shit shit... no handbag.
The Concierge is right at the entrance and looks up as I approach, I breathlessly say... "'I've left my handbag on the trolley...' but before I can finish he is reaching for my precious bag and saying... 'A customer saw you drive off and bought it straight in, I opened it to check your details and I've been trying to contact you.'
Phew! I am ever so grateful to that honest person and the Concierge as well and I've just written to say how thankful I am.
Here is my beautiful handbag relaxing in it's usual place :-)
Labels: Stories
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Pennie's Marijuana Story.
1970 found Pennie and David living in California for 4
months, we'd been living and
working in the UK for a couple of years seeing Europe as much as we could in
our old London Taxi, then after sending the Taxi home to Australia we sailed
from England to Denmark then spent a couple of months travelling by train
through Denmark, East Germany, Poland into the USSR across Siberia to
Vladivostok, by sea to Japan then by sea again to San Francisco on board the
'President Cleveland'.
David's Uncle Keith and Aunt Virginia lived in Carmel and
very generously rented a little home for us near them, Keith born in Australia
loved and was very proud of his adopted home and wanted us to see some of it
for ourselves, he also wanted us to meet young people our own age so introduced
us to many of their friends children.
So here's the story…
We are at the home of Doug and Sandy Meyrose in Monterey enjoying dinner
and getting to know each other, after our meal Doug bought out this smelly
stuff rolling it into a cigarette looking thing, lit it, took a couple of puffs
and handed it to Sandy who puffed a bit then handed it to David who did the
same, he then handed it to me.
Now I've never been a smoker so didn’t know what I was supposed to do
with this thing, I saw people put these things to their mouths and make a lot
of smoke… so was I supposed to blow into it or suck it? I was very slowly about to put it to my
lips but at the same time I heard a very loud noise which sounded as though a
big truck was rumbling down a hill and … then the cat screamed and jumped off
it's chair racing outside, the trucks rumbling got louder and closer and I
thought it might crash into the house, the crockery all started to rattle and I
became very scared… Doug and Sandy
just shrugged and smiled at us saying… Oh that's just an earthquake!
I never did get to suck or blow on that thing I had in my
hand I gave it straight back to Doug!
When Jack and Charlie were sleeping over one night and asked
me to tell them one of my 'Stories' I asked if I'd told them my Marijuana
Story, Jack sat up in bed looking straight at me and said… 'Does Mum know this
story?'
I wasn't sure, so when I asked her and our other children
later, no I hadn't told any of them!!
Jackson has shared this story with some of his High School mates,
telling them to be careful because Marijuana can start Earthquakes!!
Doug and Sandy with Pennie at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.
Doug and Sandy with Pennie at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.
Labels: Stories
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
The 'Mackey Incident'!
The
other day Ruth A, one of my online friends from Albany W.A. asked me where my
passion for Babushkas came from. I remember as if it was only yesterday so I wrote this little story below.
Long long ago in the land of Aus a little girl was celebrating her 5th birthday with a small party held at her Mama and Poppa's home in Strathfield, she was living there with her parents and her young brother along with her Aunt and her Uncle, one Great Uncle, one Great Grandmother and often two Great Aunts, this was a full and happy home... Until... the ‘Mackay Incident!’
It was a happy day for this little girl who was excited to be having her first party and to have three friends she'd known all her life come along to eat fairy bread and jelly and cake and to open presents. This little girl’s friends and her two year old brother were sitting around the birthday table in the sun room when... the ‘Mackey’s’ arrived, the ‘Mackey’s’ were late, very late. The ‘Mackey’s’ consisted of a mother and a father a big sister and a brother who was the same age as the Birthday Girl.
The ‘Mackey’s’ were loud people, very loud! They bounced into the party and bounded up to this little girls brother wishing him a happy birthday and giving him a present... The little girl was very surprised and the mother of the birthday girl was trying to tell the ‘Mackey’s’ that this was the little girls birthday not the little boys but the ‘Mackey’s’ just laughed and continued helping the little girl’s brother to open ’his’ present while the birthday girl looked on trying to hide her disappointment. When eventually the little girls brother managed to open ’his’ present he discovered it was a small nail brush which fascinated him. The little girl didn’t have a nail brush, she could have used a nail brush, she could have used this very nail brush but... Her brother wouldn't share, he thought it was his nail brush.
The little girl with her brother.
Three long time friends with the Little Girl and her brother.
I don't have a photo of the 'Mackey' Family.
The beautiful G.U.M. Store in Red Square Moscow.
The Little Girl's first set of Babushkas.
Some of the many wonderful Babushka's and things...
Long long ago in the land of Aus a little girl was celebrating her 5th birthday with a small party held at her Mama and Poppa's home in Strathfield, she was living there with her parents and her young brother along with her Aunt and her Uncle, one Great Uncle, one Great Grandmother and often two Great Aunts, this was a full and happy home... Until... the ‘Mackay Incident!’
It was a happy day for this little girl who was excited to be having her first party and to have three friends she'd known all her life come along to eat fairy bread and jelly and cake and to open presents. This little girl’s friends and her two year old brother were sitting around the birthday table in the sun room when... the ‘Mackey’s’ arrived, the ‘Mackey’s’ were late, very late. The ‘Mackey’s’ consisted of a mother and a father a big sister and a brother who was the same age as the Birthday Girl.
The ‘Mackey’s’ were loud people, very loud! They bounced into the party and bounded up to this little girls brother wishing him a happy birthday and giving him a present... The little girl was very surprised and the mother of the birthday girl was trying to tell the ‘Mackey’s’ that this was the little girls birthday not the little boys but the ‘Mackey’s’ just laughed and continued helping the little girl’s brother to open ’his’ present while the birthday girl looked on trying to hide her disappointment. When eventually the little girls brother managed to open ’his’ present he discovered it was a small nail brush which fascinated him. The little girl didn’t have a nail brush, she could have used a nail brush, she could have used this very nail brush but... Her brother wouldn't share, he thought it was his nail brush.
In the
meantime and as if this mix up wasn’t bad enough the ‘Mackey’ sister sat down
in a corner and opened her little bag... inside she had a Babushka Doll.
The birthday girl had never ever seen a Doll like this, the birthday girl
never liked dolls much but this Babushka Doll absolutely fascinated her, the
‘Mackey’ sister wouldn’t allowed the Birthday girl to play with this Babushka,
not once.
This little
girl grew up never seeing another Babushka but never forgetting them either.
So it wasn’t until... the 11th of June 1970, now aged 24 that this little girl happened to walk into the G.U.M. Store in Moscow, saw and bought her first Babushka or as they should be known Matroushka's.
So it wasn’t until... the 11th of June 1970, now aged 24 that this little girl happened to walk into the G.U.M. Store in Moscow, saw and bought her first Babushka or as they should be known Matroushka's.
Since then
this little girl, now grown up, bought Babushka's for own her children's
birthdays but when she discovered friends of her children being not as gentle as
they should be, this grown up mother placed all the Babushas out of the reach of
little uncaring hands and so her collection grew until it became general
knowledge and many of her wonderful friends would say when seeing Babushkas
somewhere in the world that they thought of her, and some of them even bought a
little something Babushka for that now grown up little girl.
Has there ever been a collector as luck as this little girl… I don't think so.
Has there ever been a collector as luck as this little girl… I don't think so.
As much as this little girl has enjoyed and loved
her collection of Matroushka’s over the years she has never forgotten the
‘Mackey Incident’!
P.S. My friend Ruth A. did say, after reading my story, that she is glad I took up collecting Babushkas because she didn't think collecting Nail Brushes would be at all interesting! :-)
P.S. My friend Ruth A. did say, after reading my story, that she is glad I took up collecting Babushkas because she didn't think collecting Nail Brushes would be at all interesting! :-)
I don't have a photo of the 'Mackey' Family.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
A couple of things gave me a smile today... and boy did I need it.
Girl on the radio talking about her parents moving here from the Sudan. One day they were invited to someone's home for dinner and were told... 'Bring a Plate' This worried them and they thought if their hosts were asking people to bring their own plates they must be very poor, so they went out and bought a dinner set as well as a cutlery set for their hosts :-)
This same girls mother was asked. 'Do you have the time?' the mother replied. 'Yes, how can I help you?' :-)
Which reminded me of a party my cousin was having many years ago, her male guests were asked to, 'Bring a Bird and a Bottle.' A young American chap turned up with a bottle of something and a BBQ Chicken! :-)
This same girls mother was asked. 'Do you have the time?' the mother replied. 'Yes, how can I help you?' :-)
Which reminded me of a party my cousin was having many years ago, her male guests were asked to, 'Bring a Bird and a Bottle.' A young American chap turned up with a bottle of something and a BBQ Chicken! :-)
Labels: Stories
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Have you ever taken your top off in the Pet Food Isle of a large Supermarket?
I don't mean to boast... but I have!
This morning I got up at 7:30am, had a glass of water and a weetbix and honey, rushed my dressing, woke David up, jumped into my car and headed up to Hornsby at 7:45am.
Got the best possible parking spot, right next to the Disabled Parking closest to the Entrance of Westfield... How Cool am I eh!!
Hardly anyone about, most of the smaller shops were just getting ready for the day and not yet open but Woolies was open and in I went armed with my shopping list on my phone! Shopping, shopping, easy peasy, not packed but customers arriving in a steady stream. About half way through the isles I looked down at my chest and realized I had my blouse on inside out... how embarrassing! what should I do?
Rush out of the store and find a Ladies to change in?
Or be bold and brazen and if anyone notices I will just say that I choose to wear my blouse inside out today and it's how I like to wear my clothes every now and then!
I chose the latter.
I'm not feeling comfortable though, are people looking at me? Are they sniggering behind their shopping lists? Are they smirking to their partners? But what do I care I tell myself, everybody is different and I should revel in my individuality!
And what people think is none of my business... is it...
And then I think... is the label still on this Blouse?? OH NO... it is! That is a dead give away, a label hanging down my back! PoopootoShirley big time!
I turn into the Pet Food isle and it's absolutely completely empty! No customers, no packers nobody! Sooooo... I pull in behind a pillar, I look to my left and I look to my right and then to my left again...nobody... so then I do a quick Strip!
Off comes my blouse, I turn it in the correct way and put it back on quick as sticks! I look to my left, I look to my right and I look to my left again... Nobody!!
I get home and while unpacking my groceries I think... I wonder if there were any cameras in that isle!! Very Big Sigh... Well I didn't get accosted at the check out so if there were they probably weren't turned on were they!
This morning I got up at 7:30am, had a glass of water and a weetbix and honey, rushed my dressing, woke David up, jumped into my car and headed up to Hornsby at 7:45am.
Got the best possible parking spot, right next to the Disabled Parking closest to the Entrance of Westfield... How Cool am I eh!!
Hardly anyone about, most of the smaller shops were just getting ready for the day and not yet open but Woolies was open and in I went armed with my shopping list on my phone! Shopping, shopping, easy peasy, not packed but customers arriving in a steady stream. About half way through the isles I looked down at my chest and realized I had my blouse on inside out... how embarrassing! what should I do?
Rush out of the store and find a Ladies to change in?
Or be bold and brazen and if anyone notices I will just say that I choose to wear my blouse inside out today and it's how I like to wear my clothes every now and then!
I chose the latter.
I'm not feeling comfortable though, are people looking at me? Are they sniggering behind their shopping lists? Are they smirking to their partners? But what do I care I tell myself, everybody is different and I should revel in my individuality!
And what people think is none of my business... is it...
And then I think... is the label still on this Blouse?? OH NO... it is! That is a dead give away, a label hanging down my back! PoopootoShirley big time!
I turn into the Pet Food isle and it's absolutely completely empty! No customers, no packers nobody! Sooooo... I pull in behind a pillar, I look to my left and I look to my right and then to my left again...nobody... so then I do a quick Strip!
Off comes my blouse, I turn it in the correct way and put it back on quick as sticks! I look to my left, I look to my right and I look to my left again... Nobody!!
I get home and while unpacking my groceries I think... I wonder if there were any cameras in that isle!! Very Big Sigh... Well I didn't get accosted at the check out so if there were they probably weren't turned on were they!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Our Dear friend Francoise is coming for lunch and a good long chat tomorrow! which has me remembering the first time I met Francoise and Jean.
Okay, so picture this, it's 1972, David and I are home from three years of tripping around the world experiencing all the wonders of many countries including the foods! David meets Francoise at his work place, she is a little younger than I am and has just arrived in Australia with her partner Jean who was about 30 years older than her... they knew no one.
So David invited them to our home for Lunch, Nerys was just toddling and their son Stephan hadn't been born yet. What I remember most about our first meeting was my panic! Cooking lunch for a French couple!!!!!! Wow that was a big call and to this day I have no idea what I prepared but what I do remember is hearing the Aaaahhh's and the Yummm's and the compliments and seeing smiles! I was very relieved and it wasn't till much later that I discovered that Francoise and Jean couldn't cook, neither of them had ever tried! Which just shows how silly I was worrying... Oh yes I can laugh now.
Anyway Jean has long gone but Francoise is coming to lunch tomorrow. I know this is a bit of a show off but I saw a picture of one of these Stuffed Italian Cob's that I'd made a long time ago and it made me feel very hungry!
This is the first time I've made this loaf this way but I'm thrilled with the result! I can't wait for us to cut into our little bread rolls tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Why didn't I know this? Did you?
I am 70 years old so how come I never knew this interesting fact about me and you for that matter???
On Sunday I put a photo of my David up on Face Book wishing him Happy Birthday and one of my 'friends' a real Pedant! asked me if it really was his birth 'Day' as apposed to his Birth 'Date'.
Mmmm... I checked, David was born on a Sunday and his 73 Birthday fell on a Sunday... so to answer you correctly Brian... Yes! :-)
Now this got me thinking and I can't stand 'thinking' about silly things, I just have to work it out to get it over with... so I have!!
Did you know we have a pattern of 6-5-6-11-6-5-6-11 years (or similar) between celebrating our actual Birth Dates on our actual Birth Days.
Phew! I'm so glad I found that out before it was too late!!!
I was Born on a Monday in 1945
1951 = 6yo - 6 years Monday
1956 = 11yo - 5 after last Monday
1962 = 17yo - 6 "
1973 = 28yo - 11 "
1979 = 34yo - 6 "
1984 = 39yo - 5 "
1990 = 45yo - 6 "
2001 = 56yo - 11 "
2007 = 62yo - 6 "
2012 = 67yo - 5 "
2018 = 73yo - 6 "
2029 = 84yo - 11 "
So this is my pattern then of course I wondered if it was the same for all of us so I checked Gwilym's 'Days' against his .Dates'... yes the same! Why don't you check yours? HERE!
Born on a Friday 1980
1986 = 6yo - 6
1997 = 17yo - 11
2003 = 23yo - 6
2008 = 28yo - 5
2014 = 34yo - 6
2025 = 45yo - 11
2031 = 51yo - 6
2036 = 56yo - 5
2042 = 62yo - 6
2053 = 73yo - 11
See... the same except Gwil was born in a different cycle than I was... if that's what you call it!
On Sunday I put a photo of my David up on Face Book wishing him Happy Birthday and one of my 'friends' a real Pedant! asked me if it really was his birth 'Day' as apposed to his Birth 'Date'.
Mmmm... I checked, David was born on a Sunday and his 73 Birthday fell on a Sunday... so to answer you correctly Brian... Yes! :-)
Now this got me thinking and I can't stand 'thinking' about silly things, I just have to work it out to get it over with... so I have!!
Did you know we have a pattern of 6-5-6-11-6-5-6-11 years (or similar) between celebrating our actual Birth Dates on our actual Birth Days.
Phew! I'm so glad I found that out before it was too late!!!
I was Born on a Monday in 1945
1951 = 6yo - 6 years Monday
1956 = 11yo - 5 after last Monday
1962 = 17yo - 6 "
1973 = 28yo - 11 "
1979 = 34yo - 6 "
1984 = 39yo - 5 "
1990 = 45yo - 6 "
2001 = 56yo - 11 "
2007 = 62yo - 6 "
2012 = 67yo - 5 "
2018 = 73yo - 6 "
2029 = 84yo - 11 "
So this is my pattern then of course I wondered if it was the same for all of us so I checked Gwilym's 'Days' against his .Dates'... yes the same! Why don't you check yours? HERE!
Born on a Friday 1980
1986 = 6yo - 6
1997 = 17yo - 11
2003 = 23yo - 6
2008 = 28yo - 5
2014 = 34yo - 6
2025 = 45yo - 11
2031 = 51yo - 6
2036 = 56yo - 5
2042 = 62yo - 6
2053 = 73yo - 11
See... the same except Gwil was born in a different cycle than I was... if that's what you call it!
Monday, September 07, 2015
Now here's a story of a very weird lady... who hangs around the Pub each month...
I just put this on the Pub Blog but I thought I'd share with my readers here as well...
SCQuilters at the Blue Gum Pub - Story #241!
Now here's the story, I don't know quite how to take this tale but I'm taking it in good spirits... okay!
Well! I know that I am a very boring person, I don't drink Alcohol, I don't even drink Tea or Coffee and very rarely do I drink a Hot Chocolate... I do like Water, I do like Shape Milk and I do drink the odd Diet Coke but only out of a can or a bottle, never out of those machine things. So what do I drink when I go to the Pub for a fun day eh!
Well, I usually start off with half lemonade and half soda water - oh did I tell you... I don't like too sweet either. Then in the afternoon I usually have half a lemon squash and half soda water, I like to mix it up you know.
Well last Saturday afternoon at the Pub, Lissa kindly offered to buy me a drink so I asked her if she could get me Half Lemon Squash and Half Soda Water, off she went and ordered me a half lemonade, half soda water... the girl behind the bar, and there are many it's not the same girl every month... said... 'Is that for one of the group up in the quilting room?' 'Yes.' said Lissa, to which the Bar Girl said, 'She usually orders a half Lemon Squash half Soda Water.' Lissa had to agree with her, 'Yes that's what she asked for!' she said.
Now does this mean I'm so weird and boring that all the girls who work at the Blue Gum Pub know just how weird I am? But there again it's rather lovely that those young women remember me... the only thing is... I didn't realize that I always had the half lemonade in the morning and half lemon squash in the afternoon... I know I don't usually have two of one of these drinks on the same day, so maybe the Bar Girl remembered that I had already enjoyed the half Lemonade!
That's the Story, aren't you glad you scrolled all the way down here for it eh? LOL!
SCQuilters at the Blue Gum Pub - Story #241!
Now here's the story, I don't know quite how to take this tale but I'm taking it in good spirits... okay!
Well! I know that I am a very boring person, I don't drink Alcohol, I don't even drink Tea or Coffee and very rarely do I drink a Hot Chocolate... I do like Water, I do like Shape Milk and I do drink the odd Diet Coke but only out of a can or a bottle, never out of those machine things. So what do I drink when I go to the Pub for a fun day eh!
Well, I usually start off with half lemonade and half soda water - oh did I tell you... I don't like too sweet either. Then in the afternoon I usually have half a lemon squash and half soda water, I like to mix it up you know.
Well last Saturday afternoon at the Pub, Lissa kindly offered to buy me a drink so I asked her if she could get me Half Lemon Squash and Half Soda Water, off she went and ordered me a half lemonade, half soda water... the girl behind the bar, and there are many it's not the same girl every month... said... 'Is that for one of the group up in the quilting room?' 'Yes.' said Lissa, to which the Bar Girl said, 'She usually orders a half Lemon Squash half Soda Water.' Lissa had to agree with her, 'Yes that's what she asked for!' she said.
Now does this mean I'm so weird and boring that all the girls who work at the Blue Gum Pub know just how weird I am? But there again it's rather lovely that those young women remember me... the only thing is... I didn't realize that I always had the half lemonade in the morning and half lemon squash in the afternoon... I know I don't usually have two of one of these drinks on the same day, so maybe the Bar Girl remembered that I had already enjoyed the half Lemonade!
That's the Story, aren't you glad you scrolled all the way down here for it eh? LOL!
Labels: Stories
Sunday, August 23, 2015
A Story from way back in 1989!
Here's the story of a family Pugeot,
Who was driving around four very lovely kids,
All of them had smiles of gold just like their mother,
The youngest one stayed home.
Way back in 1989 Briony had to do a school project on 'The day in the life of......' We choose a Saturday and our family car which we called the 'Mother Pug'.
Pennie was the Chauffeur.
The children were all still at school, Year 3 to Year 12, it was August, the older three had given up Saturday Sport for other much more interesting activities and the youngest didn't have sport this day for some reason.
Before dawn Nerys had to be driven to a Nursing Home in Wahroonga where she was working part time, she was doing her HSC this year as well.
An hour or so later Tomos needed to be in the City for singing lessons.
Sun is now well and truly up and Briony needs to get to the church hall in Turramurra for about 5 hours of Ballet.
Gwilym needed some pocket money so he offered to clean our Mother Pub.
Gwil's friend James came around and helped with the washing.
Beautiful job boys! The 'Mother Pub' looks wonderful.
It's about 4pm now and I can do a run combining two... Picking Tom up from the Station and Briony has finished Ballet.
Tomos needs to go back to the Station for the show he's performing in at the Sydney Opera House.
David takes a break from his bus restoration to check the Pugs engine.
Late in the afternoon now and Pennie and the 'Mother Pug' need to head back to Wahroonga to pick up a very tired looking Nerys after her nursing shift.
Hey! I didn't take a photo of picking up Tomos at the Opera House at 10:30pm! Dang!
Who was driving around four very lovely kids,
All of them had smiles of gold just like their mother,
The youngest one stayed home.
Way back in 1989 Briony had to do a school project on 'The day in the life of......' We choose a Saturday and our family car which we called the 'Mother Pug'.
Pennie was the Chauffeur.
The children were all still at school, Year 3 to Year 12, it was August, the older three had given up Saturday Sport for other much more interesting activities and the youngest didn't have sport this day for some reason.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Who has the best Hairdresser in town??
Susie gave me these flowers today, after she'd played with my hair... I wonder why? :-)
Susie was telling me about her oldest daughter who had just been in Canberra for a few days on her first school excursion from home and her parents. The teacher rang during the trip assuring Susie that everything was okay but her daughter had just lost a tooth and what should the teacher do about the Tooth Fairy. Susie told the teacher that the tooth fairy usually gave $2.00 a tooth but not to worry about it the tooth fairy would probably arrive the night the child returned home.
But... guess what! That Tooth Fairy knew that little girl was in Canberra and it duly delivered the going rate of $2.00 per tooth. The teacher later told Susie that even those children too grown up and no longer believing in the tooth fairy were very surprised and started doubting themselves.
How lovely is that teacher! Lets hear it for Teachers! Hurray, Hurray, Hurray!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Some words come from weird places and can have different meanings.
Punch!
When preparing for a party just after Christmas, you should have seen my darling Grandchildren's faces when I asked them if they would like a ‘Punch’, poor things thought the worst of me until I explained it was to drink what they were helping me prepare... So off to Wiki I had to go.
(The word ‘punch’ is from Sanskrit ‘panc’ (I can’t do the squiggly lines that go on top of letters... sorry) which means ‘five’. The drink was originally made with five ingredients, alcohol, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spices. The drink was bought to England by employees of the British East India Company in the early 17th century. From there it was introduced into European countries.)
Penniedarling’s Punch is nothing like the original... Penniedarlings Punch is one box of Fruit Punch, one bottle each of Soda Water, Ginger Ale and Lemonade with some berries floating on top. Delicious and refreshing on a hot day... and the Grandchildren just love it.
Do-si-do!
This is one of the new exercises that Chris has come up with at Aqua aerobics... I know what a Do-si-do is, it's a move you do in a Country Barn Dance... But where does this strange word come from? so off to Wiki once again.
(Do-si-do or Do-se-Do is the French term corrupted from ‘Dos-a-dos’, which means back to back as apposed to ‘vis-à-vis’, face to face. Mmm... I’m glad I know that now.)
Hooker
A young Swiss girl was visiting the other day and she told me that she was teaching herself to Crochet, so I told her about some of my Blue Gum friends who sit in one corner of our room at the Pub and have really taken to Crochet and that they are making the most amazing things from rugs to scarfs to clothes to hats and so on and I told her that they jokingly say they in 'Hookers Corner'.
She smiled and said... 'Oh I get it, there is a little hook on the end of the crochet needle'... explaining this is not what it meant to her... was a little embarrassing but she saw the humor in the end.
When preparing for a party just after Christmas, you should have seen my darling Grandchildren's faces when I asked them if they would like a ‘Punch’, poor things thought the worst of me until I explained it was to drink what they were helping me prepare... So off to Wiki I had to go.
(The word ‘punch’ is from Sanskrit ‘panc’ (I can’t do the squiggly lines that go on top of letters... sorry) which means ‘five’. The drink was originally made with five ingredients, alcohol, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spices. The drink was bought to England by employees of the British East India Company in the early 17th century. From there it was introduced into European countries.)
Penniedarling’s Punch is nothing like the original... Penniedarlings Punch is one box of Fruit Punch, one bottle each of Soda Water, Ginger Ale and Lemonade with some berries floating on top. Delicious and refreshing on a hot day... and the Grandchildren just love it.
Do-si-do!
This is one of the new exercises that Chris has come up with at Aqua aerobics... I know what a Do-si-do is, it's a move you do in a Country Barn Dance... But where does this strange word come from? so off to Wiki once again.
(Do-si-do or Do-se-Do is the French term corrupted from ‘Dos-a-dos’, which means back to back as apposed to ‘vis-à-vis’, face to face. Mmm... I’m glad I know that now.)
Hooker
A young Swiss girl was visiting the other day and she told me that she was teaching herself to Crochet, so I told her about some of my Blue Gum friends who sit in one corner of our room at the Pub and have really taken to Crochet and that they are making the most amazing things from rugs to scarfs to clothes to hats and so on and I told her that they jokingly say they in 'Hookers Corner'.
She smiled and said... 'Oh I get it, there is a little hook on the end of the crochet needle'... explaining this is not what it meant to her... was a little embarrassing but she saw the humor in the end.
Labels: Stories
Friday, September 12, 2014
When I woke up this morninnnnnngggg... I felt rotten! Cold, cough, runny nose, headache... just plain YUCK! But.....
My Mum Rosie took cuttings of Ella's Camellia long before Aunt Ella died, Rosie grew a big bush at Newport where we lived for many years. When Mum and Dad moved up north they took the same bush and planted it right at the gate of the entrance to their Villa. When we had to move everything out of this Villa, Gwilym dug Ella's Camellia out and transplanted it in our garden... where the poor thing has struggled... until now!!
Great Aunt Ella was the only daughter of Clements Tremayne and Sarah Janet Rodd, the youngest of their five sons was my Grandfather Clements Ripley.
Dad would play tennis with his friends quite often charging his friends for use of the court and giving the money to Ella.
By now Ella had a Lodger called Miss Dodd (This always amused us, Miss Rodd and Miss Dodd)
Each time we visited Ella she would put on a 'Tea' for us which consisted of a cordial she had made and some cake she had also made. We soon learned to ask could we take our cake and cordial out into the garden... where we buried the cake because it was always very very old, stale and had mould on it! So I reckon we did our bit to fertilize that beautiful garden.
After Ella passed away the last of 'Carinya' was sold and of course Flats built!
And Flats built.
Sad in many ways but I do have lovely memories... and here's hoping that soon my 'Great Aunt Ella' Camellia will look something like this in the old photo below. The flowers should be much bigger than this little one.
Monday, September 01, 2014
I witnessed a scene today that I will never forget...
I didn't have my camera so there are no photos of this scene but there are times in ones life when one doesn't need a camera to take a photo to be able to remember a scene... a long ago picture of Nerys aged about 18 months standing face to face with a great big cow on a friends farm with no fence between them is one such picture. I don't have this scene on paper but is in my head... it was a beautiful picture and they both stared at each other totally unafraid of the other one.
But today's scene was one very loud one and involved Kookaburras.
I was about to hang out another load of washing when among other things I could hear the loud... what we call laughter... from Kookaburras. This so called laughter went on and on, then when I glanced up I could see two birds high in one of our lemon scented gums. The noise was quite deafening and went longer than I remember ever hearing a Kooka before. I stood still and watched.
There were two birds sitting close together on one branch... one may have been younger than the other as the colouring on it's chest was clean white not a mottled white and the two of them were looking at each other while they made this deafening noise. Another Kooka joined them on a branch nearby so the first two Kooka's looked at it while they laughed, then the older Kooka attacked the third Kooka which ended upside down on it's branch before flying away.
If I thought the noise was deafening before this incident... it was worse now as both Kooka's turned around to see where that third one had gone and they laughed on and on occasionally glancing at each other during the racket.
Then the Third Kooka flew right at these two on the branch and all three flew off together to absolute silence... and I haven't heard a laugh since.
I have just remembered another 'picture' that I don't have on paper but is in my head. It's of Gwilym a few years ago, just sitting on the veranda reading the paper while he ate his sandwich when a Kookaburra came from nowhere and took the sandwich right out of his hand!
Ain't wildlife beautiful.
But today's scene was one very loud one and involved Kookaburras.
I was about to hang out another load of washing when among other things I could hear the loud... what we call laughter... from Kookaburras. This so called laughter went on and on, then when I glanced up I could see two birds high in one of our lemon scented gums. The noise was quite deafening and went longer than I remember ever hearing a Kooka before. I stood still and watched.
There were two birds sitting close together on one branch... one may have been younger than the other as the colouring on it's chest was clean white not a mottled white and the two of them were looking at each other while they made this deafening noise. Another Kooka joined them on a branch nearby so the first two Kooka's looked at it while they laughed, then the older Kooka attacked the third Kooka which ended upside down on it's branch before flying away.
If I thought the noise was deafening before this incident... it was worse now as both Kooka's turned around to see where that third one had gone and they laughed on and on occasionally glancing at each other during the racket.
Then the Third Kooka flew right at these two on the branch and all three flew off together to absolute silence... and I haven't heard a laugh since.
I have just remembered another 'picture' that I don't have on paper but is in my head. It's of Gwilym a few years ago, just sitting on the veranda reading the paper while he ate his sandwich when a Kookaburra came from nowhere and took the sandwich right out of his hand!
Ain't wildlife beautiful.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Much Maligned... what tosh!
Someone, who shall remain nameless… was recently heard to
say that they thought David was 'much maligned', I thought this hilarious,
David of course agreed with them.
I do still love him, 99% of his ideas are a
great success and I'll tell you about some of them another day :-)
I was telling Nerys I was going to write this story and she said... if I needed a Witness she is free :-)
(From Wiki : past tense: maligned; past participle: maligned speak about
(someone) in a spitefully critical manner.)
They them sure are fightin' words my friend!!
Now here's a story to beat all stories… lets go way back to the early
1990's. David had his own Appliance Repair business, all four
children were still at school and we were living where we live now.
David and I decided to go for a short morning walk as the children got
ready for school, had their breakfast and packed their lunches… we were almost
home from our walk when Gwilym, aged about 11, could be heard screaming and
running up the driveway…
Unknown to me, before we left for our walk… David had put a Spray can of
fast-drying enamel paint with a little water into one of my Le Creuset
casseroles on the stove with the lid on and the heat on.
The Can Exploded.
Gwilym was closest to the explosion and thankfully, had his back to the
stove while he was busy putting his lunch together, his hair, his back, his
school uniform, his legs and his shoes were all covered in white fast-drying
enamel paint, the kitchen was covered in white fast-drying enamel paint, the
slate floor was covered in white fast-drying enamel paint, the stove was
covered in white fast-drying enamel paint, the hanging rack and all hanging on
it was covered in white fast-drying enamel paint, the exhaust over the stove
was covered in white fast-drying enamel paint and smashed by the lid of my Le
Creuset Casserole which was broken on the floor.
And… the children were in shock!
David said… 'The paint goes on smoother if it's warm.'
David had a day packed with service calls so left me some stuff that
would clean our black slate floor, clean our open kitchen shelves, clean our
stove, the walls and the ceiling and left me to it!!!!! It took me two full days!
Today I did manage to find a couple of splatters of white fast-drying enamel
paint on a picture frame which is a fair way from the stove :-)
Yesterday David put his breakfast plate on an open gas jet to warm it up
for his breakfast, when a loud crack was heard he said…'but it was on low'.
