Small World of the Madcow

Christchurch

2011-03-02T23:18:00.000-08:00

There were many who have died in Christchurch who came from other homes and all I keep thinking about is this, that we in New Zealand quote at ANZAC ceremonies. In 1934 Atatürk wrote a tribute to the ANZACs killed at Gallipoli and I believe it is relevant to us now. If your children died with us, we will care for them as if they were our own. Kia Kaha. Be Strong And the print? Jonno Meech is a very clever boy and I love his tribute which is linked to the Mimic Design facebook page:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.

Makem and Clancy, Get Drunk, Ar Fol La Lo

2010-08-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this poem (and this rendition) many, many years ago. Ok, so the song doesn't do it for me but ... "Get Drunk!"

Things That Make Your Day.

2010-07-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Or should I say things that make my day!

I've started reading "The Happiness Project" following a recommendation from Joanne (and now, with the idea that a group of us will use this as our "starter" for a project next year). I'm only a little way into it but already I'm finding it thought provoking.

What does make me happy? I've never thought about it before. I just am happy. Oh, of course, I haven't always been. Quite the opposite. I could write a thesis on "not happy" and god knows there are enough little quizzes around wanting you to determine how unhappy / depressed you are to niggle at your psyche.

Still I wonder if I would be so happy now if I hadn't been in the past? It's a bit like what nana would say - "you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die". I suppose that could have been the nana version of "the three second rule". You know, when you drop food on the floor and scoop it up really quickly and state "three second rule, it's still safe!" Well it could be. It could also be you have to eat a bit of shit in your life to know how good you've got it now. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?? Whatever the version I think you need to know and have lived some crap in your life to build up that immunity.

So happy. What brings a smile to your day?

My nine-to-five smile is the Dominion Post Trivia Quiz. Around morning tea time each weekday morning Sweetie-Darling-Lawyer rings me and says "Are you ready?". Of course being the saint that I am I would never use the internet during work hours for such frivolous matters but he being self employed can. What follows is a five minute break in the day as himself reads out the questions and we try for the perfect score (never going to happen!). Of course the "photo" questions are a challenge - more so for himself as he has to describe the visuals! But there you are, five minutes in a day where we laugh, forget the file we have just read and end every phone call with "I love you!". Ok, sometimes it's "I love you you useless bastard" or "I love you you skanky old bitch" but still ...

Another smile is Wotif. An international site I believe but at the moment I use the NZ version and this weekend I get to look forward to a "Weekend in Auckland" courtesy of a very cheap room rate in the central city. I love to travel. Really love! Just work commitments & finances decree that I cannot become the perpetual tourist that I would like to be. This way though I get to take a break from the mundane day to day and get to be a tourist in my adopted home town. We have dinner reservations. We have things to see, places to be. For two nights I get to pretend that I have never been in this city before and that makes me happy. To see the place I live in from a different perspective and to recapture some of that wonderful feeling of travelling /being a traveller. Bliss. (And taking notes perhaps for some tourists who might just like to come visit me??? Just saying.)

What else? Friends of course. That family that we choose rather than are born into. Some are near and call in for coffee and to vent/gossip/just be. Some are at a distance and phone, email or message and text and for exactly the same reasons. Webcam is of course the delight of my life. Saturday mornings / Friday evenings with Jules - who could wish for more. Well we could wish that our clocks were rather more evenly balanced. If one is sipping wine the other is sipping coffee. Still we can put up with that because the joy in being able to have each other in our lounge / study is worth it. And getting to do the same with Maria and admire Miss Maggie's artwork ... bliss. To the rest of you my message is clear ... invest in a camera! Maria will tell you it's worth it if for nothing else than inspecting the contents of my fridge! LOL

Family that you like. Yes, there are some of those! The family that you don't have to explain the back stories to, who have known you all your life and still want to be around you, the ones you want to know for the rest of your life.

Cooking on Sundays. Believe me, I am no cook but still I enjoy that whole thing of finding recipes & planning, the smell of garlic cooking, those little pots in the freezer ready for each work day morning ... and every day enjoying a "real" meal at work at lunchtime.

OCD Wardrobe Organisation. Oh you laugh now but it's true. Opening those wardrobe doors and revealing lines of clothes .... shirts short sleeved, long sleeved, in colour groups, skirts, dresses, knitwear, trousers ..... ok, so it's nearly all black and not so hard to organise into "colour" groups but still .. in the morning it makes my heart sing! One less decision to make and sometimes, but only sometimes, shoes that match.

Babysitting. It really does make me happy. The children in my life are absolute treasures. Naughty, obnoxious, fearless treasures but treasures nonetheless. And I get to play such good games like Junior Scrabble, Strip Jack Naked, Snap. We get to make toast & peanut butter for supper (even though we've eaten all our dinner five minutes ago). We get to play with paper & stickers and glue and make a mess. I get to feel relieved when they have all gone to bed or go home. Children are just good for the heart.

Then there is wine, watching the AB's do the haka (yeah Jules, the funny dance), Sunday papers, a bus stop outside my gate, listening to the birds singing in the trees in the reserve next door, finding the exact change for the bus home, seeing your child happy & loved, a new season of your favourite show starting on tv, spotting my passport in my purse all valid & ready for adventure.

They are not the things I expected to make me happy when I was 25. That wish list was a very different thing. They are however some of things that make me happy now. And I wouldn't swap them. Funny how the older you get the simpler it gets!

I Like Winter

2010-06-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

There I've said it. I know I should love summer given I live in a little tropical paradise but it just doesn't do it for me. Who needs heat when you can generate your own menopausal hot stuff? Sunbathing with a hole in the ozone layer as big as a country ... I don't think so. Flies, sandflies (why do they always fall in my wine glass??), mosquitoes. Yeah right, bliss.

Give me winter anytime. It has all my favourite things.

Boots. I love boots and in winter nobody cares I wear them every day. Not such a good look in the summer I'm thinking. This year has been a bonus boots year with some gorgeous Clark's ones and then the little slutty ankle boots ...

Flannelette Sheets. Now who doesn't just love them? Cosy, cosy, cosy! Especially when you can hear the rain on the roof and you're snuggled in your bed with flannelette sheets wearing your flannelette jamies.

Big Fluffy Socks. Especially good when worn with boots. (see above). Or with flannelette jamies in your flannelette sheets (see above).

Wet Wild Sundays. Nobody minds if you stay home in the warm when it's raining outside. In fact it's almost compulsory. Nobody insists "it's a lovely day for the beach" or "shall we spend the day in the garden?". No, the only expected activity is the dash out to the mailbox to get the Sunday paper and then it's a fast track to the couch with a crap movie on tv, coffee in hand and a cosy throw rug ... and Big Fluffy Socks. (see above).

Rugby. Considering I know absolutely nothing about the rules (apart from head high tackles are a no-no) I still love this game especially internationals. Dinner with Leonie & Les, wine, Big Fluffy Socks (see above), big screen tv, the haka, 30 men running around a field with small shorts on and if you're lucky the occasional fight .... bliss. And you get to yell and swear at the tv as much as you want to and nobody minds one little bit.

Vegetables. Winter vegetables yum! I know, I know, with the world the way it is you can pretty much get anything any time of the year but silverbeet, pumpkin, potatoes, leeks, broccoli etc, well they're winter food! So there.

Soup. Ok so on a Wet Wild Sunday (see above), wearing your Big Fluffy Socks (see above) what could be better than a big bowl of Vegetable (see above) soup with some Vogels toast?

Speaking of which, off to the kitchen I go to put a pot of soup on and perhaps a Hunza Pie? A winter Sunday ... I'm in heaven. Wish you were here!

PS. Hunza Pie Recipe - Barb, Katie might like this especially with all the gorgeous veges at PrairiErth Farm

HUNZA PIE

3 sheets shortcrust pastry

1 cup long grain rice

½ tsp salt

2 bunches silverbeet

1kg pumpkin, roughly chopped

Pinch nutmeg

Salt & pepper

3 cups grated tasty cheese

1tsp mixed herbs

3 tomatoes, sliced

1/. Preheat oven 160C. Line dish & bake pastry blind for 10 minutes.

2/. Cook rice in boiled salted water. Drain well.

3/. Discard tough stems from silverbeet. Chop & lightly steam over a medium heat in covered

saucepan.

4/. Cook pumpkin in saucepan with a little water until tender. Drain & then puree with nutmeg, salt

and pepper.

5/. Sprinkle one third of cheese & ½ tsp herbs over pastry. Cover with half the rice.

6/. Place all silverbeet on the rice & then another 1/3 of the cheese.

7/. Cover with pureed pumpkin & then the remaining rice.

8/. Top with sliced tomatoes & remaining chees & herbs.

9/. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

Happy Birthday Queenie!

2010-06-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today is the day I ignore all my Republican leanings (no, not what you are thinking my little USA friends) and swear allegiance to the Queen. Who wouldn't when she gives you the day off work!

A friend pointed out that it's not going to have such a ring to it when old Chucky-Big-Ears gets the throne. "Kings Birthday" just doesn't have the same ring. All things considered though, even if he does get the throne ("My arse he will" says Queenie) it will probably still be called Queen's Birthday Weekend given his proclivity to wearing big frocks & tiaras ... ok so they are really robes & crowns but they are all frocks when you get down to it...

Whatever the reason it is a great weekend. It's not that I don't like working or my job - I feel fortunate to both have employment and at a job that makes me think every day - but I do value the time to be with friends, family, myself and not have to rush. If I want to share a glass of wine with a darling friend on webcam then I can. If I want to cook for my oldest friend and watch crap tv together, I can. If I want to have a late night phone call with my cousin-who-should-be-my-sister, I can do that too and all the while not worry that the alarm clock will be ringing in just a few hours ...

Yesterday Joolz was telling me how someone told her that "50" is the new "teens" and the more we talked about it the more it made sense. It's like being 18 again but with a back story and a bit more information. We are still asking the questions we asked at 18 - "who am I?", "where am I going", "what shall I do with the rest of my life" - but now we are confident that the risks we take won't hurt us. We've been hurt. We have been broken. We survived and we know that no matter how bad it gets we will keep on surviving. In spirit at least.

Yes, we face mortality now but with a real handle on it. Our friends have died or faced life threatening illness or injury. We know with certainty now that we will too one day. It's no longer that we think of life having a "Best By Date" rather it is now an "Expiry Date".

The difference is at 18 I could push it to the back of my mind and ramble through my life waiting to see what happens next. Now I want more and I refuse to wait for "one day." Yes the priorities differ. At 18 the most important thing was where we were going on Friday night, what would I wear & who would I go with. At 51 I am suddenly preoccupied with losing weight, eating well, exercising more. Anything to make my life right now the experience I want it to be. Life is just far too much fun to be in the passenger seat, or sitting at home waiting for the big idea to arrive in the mailbox.

I'm sure there is much more to say on the subject but for now there are things to do, places to be, things to see. Go have some fun too!

PS. See Sheila, you are world famous in NZ!!

So much for blogging regularly!

2010-04-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here we are Easter and not a post since Christmas. I was busy ok! What with I can't quite remember but I'm sure it involved a lot of busy type behaviour, probably some wine and doubtless a lot of gossip. I am, if nothing else, shallow. I discovered some years ago that "deep" involved reading far too many books, sitting through some tedious movies and drowning myself and everyone around me in self indulgent ranting ... and very little wine ... so I gave it up. Perhaps it was for Lent? Whatever, it took and "shallow" it is.

The Sunday papers are usually deep enough for me these days. No real news just magazines printed on newsprint. With strong coffee in hand and the day ahead of me what more do you need. Well some toasted crumpet would be nice. Toasted crumpet with my mother's strange topping of lashings of butter and salt & pepper. I have no idea where she got this strange concoction as she was not a woman given to eccentricity. The story of her aunt having her pudding BEFORE her main course was often told (and in tones of pure astonishment) and seemed to have scarred her psyche irrevocably, so how or when she decided to experiment with food in this way is a mystery. Mind you, now I think of it, I think it was her that introduced my brother to the joy of a teaspoon of sugar in a lettuce leaf ..... strange woman.

A shame really that I can't ask her about my current culinary dilemma. Gene has asked me to cook a "typical Kiwi dinner" when I visit in January and quite frankly I'm grateful he has given me this much warning. Obviously it gives me several months to learn to cook (damn John Key for taking away the Night School funding - now where am I meant to go??) but more importantly he's given me time to investigate this enormous question. What is a typical Kiwi meal?

Everyone I ask seems to stare blankly for a while, "um" and "ahh" for a bit longer and then helpfully suggest I make a pavlova. With kiwi fruit sliced on top. Now I'm sure that some would say that pavlova could be a meal in itself but I suspect they are the same people that have just gone off to see what a teaspoon of sugar in a lettuce leaf is like. Pavlova is a dessert and I must say a rather revolting one, and I wonder what it says about us as a nation that the best we can come up with is egg whites & sugar ... and slices of kiwi fruit on top.

Desmond suggested a boil up but I'm uncertain as to the availability of pork bones & puha in Tarpon Springs and no, I am not putting down a hangi. Far too many 'nakes to be out there digging holes. Martin suggested roast lamb which is a possibility if we win Lotto and I can spend most of the money on buying cuts to experiment on. I've never cooked a roast in my life so I suspect I will need to make several burnt offerings to the gods before I can master that one and at $48.99 per kilo for a lamb rack I think it may be a rather expensive hobby.

(Actually I lied. I did once cook a roast. I remember it was meat of some sort. Red meat not chicken. It was very chewy. My mother was polite and ate some but later in the day mentioned she may need new dentures soon.)

So what else? When we went around the table in the office saying what "kiwi" meal we had had the night before at home we came up with an assortment of curries, pasta dishes, sushi and Thai. Is that who we are? "Pacific Fusion" really exists and we are it? Or should that be Global Fusion"? Our diet is a glorious mixture of all the cultures who live here or is it that we just can't make up our minds?

Chew on that.

For A Laugh

2009-12-28T23:22:00.000-08:00

More from Neru & Gary's. This one New Zealanders will understand .... Gary calls this "The Basin Reserve"! LOL
And this photo of Hunter may explain why there are never any birds in Neru's birdbath!!

Some Christmas Photos

2009-12-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

If I was a good girl and if I was clever, I would work out a fancy schmancy way of putting up these photos ... but today I am neither good nor clever. Just a woman that has to go back to work tomorrow and with still a weeks worth of chores to do in 24 hours!!

Despite the work thing hanging over me it has been a really good Christmas. As usual I forgot to take any photos on Christmas Day although He Who Shall Not Be Named might say that is a good thing. With not a bit of tinsel in sight and a cooked breakfast instead of Christmas Dinner it was hardly glamorous but it was nice. We made a concerted effort to make sure that not one chocolate had the chance to go stale and the couch got a lot of attention. I know I said I wanted to watch crap tv all day but I didn't think SKY TV would take me so seriously. Either the dish or the little boxy thing are giving out and the only channels we could get all day were showing stuff like the Chelsea Flower Show or ... oh that's right, that's all we could get!

The highlights of course were time spent with friends. The Christmas Eve Cocktail Party at Gina & Ambrose's

the Boxing Day BBQ at Leonie & Les's
and the Happy the Day After Dinner at Neru & Gary's. Who could wish for more?

A KIWI JINGLE BELLS

2009-12-24T11:22:00.000-08:00

I went with Kath & the kids the other night to look at the Christmas lights around here - three little munchkins sitting in the back seat of the car in their jamies with blankies & pillows. We couldn't leave until about 9.30pm though - with daylight saving it takes forever to get dark enough to enjoy them all. They really are such good kids and as we drove around Ben, Xanthe & Siobhan sang me their favourite carol from school. (Let me know if you need a translation!! LOL)

A Kiwi Jingle Bells

Dashing to the bay, in a Kombi campervan
Christmas at the beach, the family's master plan,
Dad is at the wheel, and mum is by his side
We kids are squabbling in the back as we go for a ride.

Chorus
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way
Christmas in New Zealand on a sunny summer day
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to have a kiwi holiday!

We stop off at the shop, to load the chilly bin
Hokey-pokey ice cream, soon dribbles down my chin
We jump into the van, heading for the shore
Dad fiddles with the radio, to hear the cricket score.

Chorus

Soon we're at the beach, our rellies shout "G'day"
We swap our Christmas pressies, a boogie board - hooray
We change into our togs, and to the sea we run
What a joy to splash & swim, summer's so much fun!

Chorus

The grown-ups call us in, they've laid us out a spread
Lunch is fish'n'chips, and cheerios in bread
L & P to drink, pavlova, pud & pie
Anzac bikkies, choccy fish, it's cracker kiwi kai!

Chorus

The kids are keen to play, but the dads all want a nap
The sunscreen starts to fly, as mums go slip-slop-slap
We race out to the sand, to play a game of touch
But all the cuzzies are too slow, because they ate too much.

Chorus

The barbeque heats up, the sun begins to sink
Our tea's as good as gold, we've scoffed it in a wink
It's nearly time for bed, we've had an awesome day
Celebrating Christmas time, the real New Zealand way!

Chorus

Differences

2009-12-21T01:12:00.000-08:00

"Long black

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A long black is a style of coffee, most commonly found in New Zealand and Australia, but now becoming available in the UK, predominantly in London. It is made by pulling a double-shot of espresso over hot water (usually the water is also heated by the espresso machine). A long black is similar to an Americano, which is made by adding hot water to espresso shots, but it retains the crema and is less voluminous, therefore more strongly flavoured.

A long black is considered by the emerging palettes to be a true espresso experience rather than what the major coffee chains have produced up to date, specifically the Americano. The order in which a long black is made (water first, espresso second) is important; reversing the steps will destroy the crema from the espresso shots."

Coffee. How can a cup of coffee be different? It comes from beans. There's water involved. It comes in a cup. Try asking for a Long Black in Canada & the US and you find out (if you don't get your face slapped first).

At Blenz in Vancouver, as I was trying to explain what I wanted for about the third time (Kiwi English apparently doesn't translate well and involves a lot of miming) a young woman came from out the back of the shop and announced:

"You a Kiwi? You wanna Long Black?"

"You're an Aussie? And yes, a Long Black"

"Nah, they don't know how. Try the Americano but it doesn't really do it"

Never a truer word said! I mean it's not awful. It's just not a Long Black. More especially, it's not a Long Black from Cesars made by John, barista extraordinaire.

For literally years I've been heading over the road every work day to Cesars, if not for lunch then at the very least for a Long Black to go. So predictable that often by the time I get to the counter John already has it made and has sometimes even decided where I'll sit and who I'll share a table with. I'd asked John if he would come with me on the trip fearing I would be lost without my morning "fix" and while he appeared amused at the suggestion he felt his wife & children may not be so keen on the idea.

Naturally my first stop on the way to work the first day back was to see John. Here he is and here is a cup of gold.

Thank You Pat!!

2009-12-19T19:39:00.000-08:00

That bloody squirrel!! I spent two months stalking the little ... critter. By the time I'd grabbed my camera, got close enough & focussed it had run across the road or scurried up the tree into the foliage never to be seen again. Now I have my own and he ain't going nowhere!! He can sit on that log and play with his nuts all day as far as I'm concerned ... yeah, it's a tough life for Mr Squirrel.

He is of course as close as I've got to decorating for Christmas. I'm sure I saw a box of decorations somewhere but of course now the house has been overtaken by car parts and boy mess. Even if I knew where the box was there's no room to put anything unless of course you fancy hanging tinsel on the clutch in the corner ....

Instead I rely on the Pohutukawa blossoming everywhere around us. This one at the cafe in Whitford this morning. Aren't we lucky having our very own Christmas Tree!

Aunt Peggy

2009-12-15T08:26:00.001-08:00

Isn't she just the most darling woman!! Here with her nieces Lynnie & Jude in their best Christmas hats. Not only is she the aunty that everyone wants in their lives but she also makes the BEST bean salad I have ever eaten! I just love her. Sharp as a tack and funny with it. Nothing gets by her - she could give a few politicians a run for their money - and still taking care of herself quite nicely thank you!

Her doctor suggested now that she was a lady of a certain age she might like some home help. She considered this for a moment and then told him the only thing she had been having difficulty with was leaning over to clean the bath but had solved that by buying an extra toilet brush with a long handle and now she could clean the bath quite well. Go Aunty Peg! I don't think the doctor has mentioned home help to her again.

I am just grateful that Lynnie & Jude are willing to share her with us all so nicely because a visit with her is like coming home again! You know, the home you like to remember ... not always the real one! LOL

That being said home right now is not a bad one. Five thirty in the morning, tucked up under the snuggly blankets and Wifi is my friend. Who could ask for more?

STATEMENT OF INTENT

2009-12-13T20:49:00.000-08:00

Well it's only been about two years since I last really blogged as some of you have kindly reminded me (I hesitate to use the word "nag" here! LOL). In the great scheme of things a mere "blip" on the radar!! I have bras in the drawer older than that! Still the reminders did make me think about why I paused in my ramblings.

I started to blog to give a small window to those of you far away, into my world down at this side of the planet. Of course I realised before even visiting some of you that our worlds are very much the same ... and very, very different. The big things really are universal - people everywhere are good & kind, flakey & crazy, bitchy & pissy, generous, spiritual, silly & fun and to quote Roger McGough " and a host of other golden etceteras". The little things of course will always remain as the things that denote our differences ... "Potato, po-tah-to, tomato, to-mah-to" blah, blah ...

Good intention and often attained. At least for the most part. Then I found myself attracted, in a perverse kind of way, into a blog world of sniping and bitching, innuendo, and the latest purchase to "show off". Now don't get me wrong. Those of you who know me well know that I'm not in the least big averse to a good "verbal kicking" when the mood takes me. I'm no soft & fluffy Aunty BundleJoy Cosy Sweet (How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen) that endears herself to small children. I love "Things" - I would sleep with my MacBook Pro & IPhone if only they would make them with fluffy soft coverings. But! (And yes, Sister Michelle, I remember you shouldn't ever start a sentence with "But" or "And" ) But! I found myself leaning towards the dark side and that's not a place I particularly wanted to live. So I stopped blogging.

Now however, I have been welcomed into your lives, literally, with no hesitation on your part. I have lived in your homes, met those who are near & dear to you, and partaken in your lives "warts & all". It would be churlish now to shut you out of my life. Mean spirited even. What's more I want to show you this part of the world (in the hope you will actually come here and experience the joy I did in your world!) and again, warts and all. We are friends and friendship involves all those nooks & crannies that need to be there although we are sometimes shy to show them.

So the Madcow lives again! This time though, with a Statement of Intent.

This blog will not deal in (negative) innuendo. If I have something to say to you or a problem with you, I will talk, write or email you directly. I will not make little "in jokes" or bitchy snips aimed at you under the cover of innuendo and publish them publicly here or in the likes of Facebook etc. If you are looking for cowardly and passive agressive bitching about someone you don't like ... go to some other blog.

I will try to be sensitive to the world you are living in right now and the life you are living. I acknowledge that we don't all have the luxury of choice as to if we work. We sometimes have to work at jobs we don't enjoy because that's what pays the bills and keeps our family together. Sometimes we can't just do those "fun" things - we have other responsibilities. Sometimes life is just not a page from a glossy magazine. It's hard. Shitty even. We love our families but would we pick them as friends always? I think not ... sometimes. For those of you who get up every morning and just keep on going ... you have my total respect.

In the past two years there are relationships that I have chosen to end. Some have just reached their "use by" date. Some because of difference of opinion, values, whatever. My choice. I will not keep bringing those relationships "back to the table". Time to, as a wise woman once said to me, "build a bridge and get over it." I made a decision somewhere along the line and I need to take responsibility for it and live with it. You don't need to know about it.

What I do want to do is to pull the blinds on that window to the Small World of the Madcow. Come visit and enjoy. Perhaps we could have some fun? Whatever, welcome back to my world.

To leave you for now I am re-posting a blog post from 2005. Some things just don't change do they!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2005

Musings over the chardonnay

Given all the furore over at CKMB I've spent many hours thinking about the nature of bullying etc. Every time there has been one of these incidents (and lately it seems to be on a weekly basis) there is a whole trail of comments of the "I say what I think and if people don't like it, well tough" ilk.
For some reason that kind of statement just rankles with me and I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. I seem to remember conversations with psychologist friends on this very subject but I suspect it may have been over copious amounts of wine and now my memory lets me down when I try to recall the conclusions we came to! LOL Still I'm sure we enjoyed the wine!
I did recall though some of the courses all us "70's Chicks" did on Assertiveness Training and did some searching. The text on the difference between Assertive and Agressive behaviour struck a chord.
Here are some highlights that I got from of all places www.arthritis.ca

Assertive Behaviour:
Characteristics - Choose for self. Appropriately honest. Direct, self-respecting, self-expressing, straight-forward. Convert win-lose to win-win.
Your Own Feelings on the Exchange - Confident, self-respecting, goal-oriented, valued. Later: Accomplished.
Others' Feelings in the Exchange - Valued, respected.
Others' View of You in the Exchange - Respect, trust. Know where you stand.
Outcome - Outcome determined by above-board negotiation. Your and others' rights respected.
Underlying Belief System - I have a responsibility to protect my own rights: I respect others but not necessarily their behaviour.

Aggressive Behaviour:
Characteristics - Choose for others. Inappropriately honest (tactless). Direct, self- enhancing. Self-expressive, derogatory. Win-lose situation that you win.
Your Own Feelings on the Exchange - Righteous, superior,deprecatory, controlling. Later: possibly guilt.
Others' Feelings in the Exchange - Humiliated, defensive, resentful, hurt.
Others' View of You in the Exchange - Vengeful, angry, distrustful, fearful.
Outcome - You achieve your goal at others' expense. Your rights upheld; others' are violated.
Underlying Belief System - I have to put others down to protect myself.

Interesting isn't it! I could immediately visualise several of the trolls right down to the "guilt" later (how many times have we had to read how "god" told them they had been hasty and should apologise?).

Anyway, time to find where I hid the chardy and pour another glass. I still have a lot more thinking to do on the question of "do I go or do I stay". For now though love & hugs to all.

Oh Maria!!! .....

2009-11-01T19:29:00.001-08:00

Sunday, Sunday ...

2008-02-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Talking to Martin this morning and he sent me a link for a radio interview he did for the book yesterday on "Beyond 50 Radio Show" in the States. Good interview Marty and yes, I thought the host was quite perceptive with many of his questions. Daniel Davis? Actually a lot of the other episodes looked rather interesting too ..

Here's the link - just scroll down to "EPISODE13 - Everything He Hasn't Told You Yet/Little Known Black History" and hit listen.

Love to hear some feedback! Love to hear you've bought the book on the strength of it!! LOL

Sometimes a girl just has to have fun ....

2008-02-11T00:41:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas on the Wellington harbour ... when they offered me a biscuit this wasn't exactly what I thought they had in mind!

A couple more for the Billy Fury Fans!

2008-02-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

Sending a big wave to you all in the UK!!

Bye Bye January & Hello February!

2008-02-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

The weeks are not exactly flying by, in fact I think this is the longest January ever! Work is over whelming, the weather is stinky hot and at home there just seems to be too much to do and not enough inspiration to just get on with it. A hangover from the holidays perhaps?
L & I did the "door" at the latest Billy Fury fundraiser (for Starship Children's Hospital) the other week. Some really good acts during the night. My favourite of course was Johnny Cash - the guy was no double looks wise but he sure could sing!

Then of course Freddy Mercury was divine! This guy just was a fantastic entertainer - very funny (without being gross), had the voice & oh yes, he had the moves even though as he put it, he was "Freddy before Jenny Craig"!

Leonie got to meet Shane Cortese - here she is with Moya & the "boy". Can't say I ever watched Dancing With The Stars but he came across as a very genuine guy and let's face it, he deserves points for trundling out to do a fundraiser in South Auckland on a Friday night. He says he's committed to fundraising for Starship so hats off to him

Wouldn't be a night out without Elvis would it! Leonie & I being angelic as usual.

Roy Orbison & Frank Sinatra also made appearances but we left (dare I say this!) before Billy Fury. Good night and Moya certainly raises a fair bit of dosh for some worthy causes. Still she would raise a lot more if she would only put belly dancers in her shows. Oh look. Here's three who could be available!!

BYE BYE ROBERT!

2008-01-15T02:02:00.000-08:00

Robert is flying home to Norway tomorrow. He shears with Blaire in Norway & this Christmas came out to NZ to visit and get a taste of kiwi shearing sheds.
Not only is he a shearer but also a professional glass blower - the Madcow Brother did comment one evening that it was a good thing that Robert never got the two jobs confused!
Here is a sample of his (glass) work ...

Sunday

2008-01-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

No matter that I knew Jools had brought Eva down from the top paddock so she could keep an eye on her injured fetlock, I still got a little surprise to see her wander past the window ...

I couldn't help thinking I was living in some sort of Pippi Longstocking parallel universe! What was her horse called? Old Man? Of course this led to the long discussion about the reasons the 1969 TV version was the BEST and how Jools & I had both fantasised that we lived in Pippi's house and we too were the "Strongest Girl in the World" ... well, we were a little younger in those days and there are much worse things for young girls to aspire to.

It was a happy moment today when surfing for photos to find that you can still buy the original series on DVD. Now all I have to do is find it in the right zone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-01-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Just one pic to whet your appetite! Even before I got to the Wairarapa people kept saying "Wait until you see the paddock of onions growing outside of Greytown!" Are they not just beautiful!

Christmas in the Antipodes!

2007-12-25T00:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve and what more is there to do but soak in the kiddies paddling pool or lounge in the shade of the trees and sip on a lager or two?

Well if you're a real woman you can go to a cocktail party and have a ball! Gina & Leonie reinacting the great Party Popper Explosion!

Meet Ambrose. The man is a genius with a blender and oh now I'm hooked on Margaritas ...

Surprisingly I managed to control myself - the thought of cooking Christmas lunch hungover was not an inviting prospect and at 6.30am this morning I must say I congratulated myself on a wise decision. Don't get me wrong though - sobriety did not equate to a whirl of activity. Instead there was a great deal of dithering, phaffing and generally slobbing around. So much so that when Les & Leonie pulled up in the driveway I had to sprint to the bedroom to change out of my jamies. Not a Martha moment for sure! Still I had baked the crostini, made the Christmas Crackers and put the chickens on to roast inbetween sitting out in the courtyard drinking coffee and talking with Marty. Perhaps though that's the way Christmas morning should be?
Fast forward to the arrival of the troops, Rose Bubbles with strawberries and the carnage of gift opening. Joe (formerly known as He Who Shall Not Be Named) bought me a new garden bench in what I tell him was a pitiful attempt to avoid fixing the old ones - he is a good boy really and I do love it. What follows is an extremely rare & poignant moment ....
a man reading the instructions!

Of course there was food and of course there was far too much of it - not sure which groaned more, the table or our tums!

Leonie out did herself making sweets to die for!

Then the Battle of the Desserts. Leonie's Pavlova vs Martin's Persian Stained Glass Cake ...

I think the competition may be a draw but a final decision will not be made until they are both finished. Oh yes, we're still eating ....and eating....and eating. You have to admire our stamina and game plan. Eat. Drink. Lie on the couch. Watch tv. Eat. Drink. Lie on the couch ....
All in all it's been everything Christmas Day should be. Good friends, family, food, wine, pressies and enough laughs to keep us going for ages.
Where ever you are and however you celebrate your Christmas Day ... enjoy the magic!

Ok, so no posts for months then three in a row ...

2007-12-12T04:37:00.000-08:00

make the most of it. You neverknow when I'll make it back next!

Just to prove I've done something lately other than shopping here is Eiko, me and Leonie after our great Sushi Making School (but just before our great Sushi Eating School).

We took lots of photos like this while Eiko was working in the hope that one day we will be able to do it ourselves with just a few glances at our "notes". She made it look so easy that I suspect it isn't really!

More of the week that was!

2007-12-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the lights in Franklin Road this week I finally found 'a' Christmas decoration .. ok, so two. Still I suspect this may be as good as we get around here unless 'somebody' stirs himself enough to move 'somebody's car' out of the garage and lets me get to the boxes of decorations. Oh well. I guess it saves time having to pack them all back up again in the New Year. There! He's just thinking of me!

Shopping however is rather more successful. These are just the best ever Christmas stockings that I got for B & I.

These are the dishes I found for mum to give Surita, one of her caregivers. I could be tempted to keep them myself if it wasn't for that china shop stored in cupboards all round the house!

And last but my no means least, the best ever "Ladies Bring A Plate" idea for the silly season. Mallowpuffs with white chocolate, Jaffas & glace cherries. How easy is that!

Some of my favourite houses in Franklin Rd this year!

2007-12-12T04:21:00.000-08:00

Nearly the end of Movember!

2007-11-29T03:16:00.000-08:00

Here's "Team FX" in all their hairy glory! Joe, Jonno & Mark. Joe's fundraising total is now $428! He thinks the "mo" is worth that and more but seems to be rather eager about shaving it all off tomorrow night despite the campaign at work to "Save The Joe-Mo".

Many thanks to Viv, Robyn, Lesley, Les & Leonie, Wendy & Rosaline ... along with Lorna, Burton, Colleen, Lisa, Pam and Dennis.

I think summer really is on the way

2007-11-24T01:47:00.001-08:00

Now that's a "nearly summer" sunset isn't it! Tonight from Leonie & Les's deck looking out over the Manukau harbour.

This morning I cursed certain short judicial people as the alarm went off and I realised it was time to get up and go to work. On a Saturday! For goodness sake what kind of madness is that?

Still it was over and done with by 12.30 (she says through gritted teeth). Then to scrapbooking, on to Gina's for Jean's birthday celebrations, then a long walk next door to Leonie & Les to watch the sunset and finish off the wine. For a Saturday it could have been worse don't ya think!

Last night we went to End of the Rainbow at the Skycity Theatre. I have to admit that in the first five minutes of the play I did seriously wonder if I'd talked everyone into booking for an absolute lemon. Then there is that strange little moment where all of a sudden disbelief turns into adoration and let it be said publicly ... I adore Ellie Smith. What a voice and what a performance. If needing any testament to her talent I can swear that I heard a certain 80 year old gentleman sitting next to me whisper as she sang her first song, "Oh yes, that's it". He was then captivated for the rest of the show.'Tomorrow is "Ladies Who Take Tea" at Neru's so I must go find the best hat & gloves. Perhaps some lippy? Who knows.

More Movember

2007-11-20T02:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks today to Lorna & Rosaline. Updated total is now $350 for Movember.
(The mo is definately starting to look like it could be seen in public without disgrace. Haven't had the heart to ask Miss B how the pash-rash is going though!)

More Movember!

2007-11-13T00:19:00.000-08:00

Joey & Mark from "Team FX"
Thanks again to Lisa, Dennis, Pam, Les ...
here's an updated pic of Mo-Progress. Don't forget if you want to donate scroll down to see the details and don't forget Joey's Rego number is 116370
Another update - Movember Total for Joey now $240. Many thanks Colleen & Burton.

Just because these really made me laugh when I saw them on billboards ....

2007-11-13T00:14:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to enlarge ... now don't all the boys say that!

WELCOME TO MOVEMBER!

2007-11-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: MANY THANKS TO LISA, DENNIS & PAM - NEW MOVEMBER TOTAL $130
Movember (the month formally known as November) is a charity event held during November each year.At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible.

Never boys to back away from a challenge, Joey, Mark & Jonno have entered "Team FX" and while you or I might consider they are just sitting around drinking beer and watching DVD's they tell me they are in fact extremely busy growing their mo's!

That's right they're bringing the Mo back because they are passionate about men's health and the fight against prostate cancer. Why...
"Every year in New Zealand 2,656 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 600 die of the disease, making prostate cancer the second largest cause of male cancer deaths, after lung cancer. The average life expectancy of a man in New Zealand is 4 years less than a woman."

There are "Mo-Bros" and "Mo-Sista's" so I guess as I'm the Madcow-Mother-Sponsorship-Manager that makes me a "Mo-Mum"??? As "Mo-Mum" this is where I beg, wheedle, whine for you to sponsor Joe. If you want to sponsor his Mo-Mission online just click here and click on the "Sponsor a Mo Bro or Mo Sista" link. Joe's Rego Number is 116370. C'mon you know you want to and afterall the boys support our Pink Ribbon month in October for all our girlie bits - time for payback girls! We've got to look after the boy bits as well!

Here's Joey on Day 1 and at his clean shaven best
Week 1 ... mmm ... looking a little uncertain perhaps but still growing

but always he has his Mo-Hero to aspire to!

Only trouble is he tells me I have to provide the Ferrari & cigar to finish the image. Mmm. Does the toy Ferrari from the petrol station count? Magnum PI has a lot to answer for! Perhaps I should email Tom Selleck (yeah, like I have his email addy!) to pay his fair share?

There are of course rules.
"01
You don’t talk about Movember outside of the month.
02
Movember runs for 30 days. No more.
03
There is to be no joining of the Mo to side burns—That’s a beard.
04
There is to be no joining of the handlebars—That’s a goatie.
05
A small complimentary growth under the bottom lip is allowed (aka a tickler).
06
You must remain clean shaven apart from your Mo for the entire 30 days.
Failure to conform to any of those rules may, at the absolute discretion of the Movember Committee result in instant blacklisting from further participation in Movember and entry to the Gala Parté.
The Movember Committee accepts no responsibility for lost jobs, lost girlfriends/boyfriends, rashes to you or your partner or any other such mishaps caused by a Movember Mo."

I'll keep you posted!

Now Here's A Review... I really do want a good Xmas Pressie!

2007-10-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

A review from Library.Journal.Com

"Silver, Burton & Martin O’Connor. Everything He Hasn’t Told You Yet: A New Way To Get Men Talking About Stuff That Matters Ten Speed: Celestial Arts Oct. 2007. c.384p. ISBN 978-1-58008-886-2. pap. $14.95. SELF-HELP
Observing that men will communicate when they’re put in a scenario that’s moving, challenging, and unthreatening, New Zealand–based writers Silver (Why Cats Paint) and O’Connor (Golf Without Guilt) developed this book of icebreakers to help women get their men to reveal what makes them tick. Intended to be read by couples together, the 150 hypothetical situations offer exercises that suggest, among other things, to ask men to choose between architecture and acrobatics as a career choice and detail plans for escaping from an island on fire. A psychological key for understanding responses follows every situation. The scenarios are clever and fun and could be used as games for parties or family car rides. Hard to put down and highly recommended for all libraries."

Well there you go. Who knew!

Please make sure my brother buys me a good xmas present

2007-10-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

The "good" Madcow Brother has written a book along with his friend Burton ... or is that Burton has written a book along with the "good" Madcow Brother? Who cares. Go buy it. Buy it and the Madcow might just get an exceptionally good Christmas present this year.

In fact go buy it and you will see it before the Madcow. The "good" brother title is waning as he seems to have forgotten to send his sister a copy, and as it's only released at this stage in the States you have a better chance of seeing it than I do. Some sisters might take their revenge by releasing hitherto unpublished photographs of the brother ... can we say little prince charming Marty? ... but no. The Madcow will be kind for at least another week until her copy arrives.

This is Marty

And this may or may not be Burton

It is a very clever book and the tests are really fun. God knows I should know having been "tested" for what seems years. (Thought to self - does that mean I'm entitled to a cut of the profits?)

Soon there will be a website devoted to the book but for now you can go visit here and did I mention that you should buy a copy? Come to think of it I may even buy a copy myself if it will teach me how to talk to some of the dorks at work.

The phrase "english as a second language" takes on many meanings when applied to the Madcow workplace at the moment. I seriously wonder what other language certain men in the office hear when they are told things. Perhaps something akin to the teacher in Charlie Brown. I hear "your work hours are 8am to 5pm". Dorks hear "blah blah blah". Don't start me on urgent applications or answering phones. Putting my name forward to be considered for the working party on pay equity is suddenly sounding rather interesting.

Love the poster from the latest PSA journal ...

Happy Birthday to He Who Shall Not Be Named!

2007-10-03T03:55:00.001-07:00

Yes, 23 years ago today and he looked like a wee angel. Who knew!

Spring has Sprung!

2007-09-29T04:47:00.001-07:00

My first Tulip up and there are plenty more on the way. Now all say "aaaahh".
These are my other little gems - I just don't know what they are. The photo doesn't show how blue they really are and they are the kind of thing you can just divide over and over each year. Mum planted them a few years ago and now there are patches all over the place. Any ideas?

Shoes, shoes, shoes ...

2007-09-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

my name is Madcow and I am a shoe addict.

Well I was before I became a woman in my prime. Suddenly those little size 36 (US 6) suddenly wanted room to move, didn't like heels and discovered those unmentionable things ... bunions...ewwwwww! Then don't even go near that whole fat ankle situation.

Years, literally, sloping through all the malls trying to find the perfect shoe. By "perfect" we are talking anything that a woman in her prime can actually keep on her feet longer than 15 minutes without wondering outloud if the staple remover on the desk would be strong enough to amputate her toes. By "perfect" we mean something that might just, in a flattering light, look a little more elegant than her old Cherry Doc Martens in the closet. "Perfect" means anything you put on your foot that doesn't cause your foot, calve, thigh to suddenly collapse into spasms of cramp. Dream on.

Until of course today. Leonie heard an ad on the radio saying if you wanted comfortable shoes come to ... and then she kind of lost it. Radio ads are like that. Slippery bastards. But she persevered and finally caught the magic words "Royal Oak" and began sleuthing. Suddenly all roads led to "Aiden Footwear & Accessories". Nothing could stop us not even the police road blocks on Great South Road, a non-existant sense of direction or a road map that somehow didn't seem to include "Campbell Road". Well, ok so it did really but my thumb was on it at the time.

Needless to say we found paradise. Riekers, Viola, Stegmann, Vyn-tage ... and someone who actually wanted to sell us shoes! Not one "sigh" from our new best friend (who I am ashamed to say neither of us asked his name) as we spent over an hour trying on shoes. Instead someone who said "if you pick up shoes that will hurt your feet I'll just tell you to put them back down again". Someone who knew his product and how to sell it. Someone who sold six pairs of shoes between us ... and then referred us on to his wife's handbag shop downstairs! Oh we are in so much trouble!!

OMG! I just love Royal Oak Mall. Yes it's small. Yes it doesn't have all the whistles and stops of the big flash poncey malls ... but my, my, my does it have things I want to buy! I stopped at shoes but did do a bit of .. ok a big bit of ... shopping for the Madcow Mother. Found a little shop there called Black Pepper and spent about a weeks rent on some gorgeous summer outfits for her. More of that later when she's tried them all on but enough to say she has forgiven me for spending her money for her!

But just so you remember that Leonie & I aren't totally shoe snobs here are our best matching sloppers/slippers that she bought us last week
We're not really sure what it says on front .. probably "Sad Old Cows" but we don't mind really!

My Baby

2007-09-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

He Who Shall Not Be Named & Herself .. just for the "aunties"!

Christmas Time ... again

2007-09-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

OK, so 1 September is meant to be the first day of spring and winter solstice was two and half months ago but when have we ever been on time for anything? It had all the elements that make a "real" Christmas. Everyone cooking for a week, enough food to feed several armies, gifts that defy description, a guest list that grew by the day, fairy lights, enough "bubbles" to gas up the nation, a "big" table and a "childrens" table, neighbours having to loan chairs and dishes ... in the big scheme of things it was perfect!

Of course there always has to be a "Failed Fairy" resplendant with wings and best fluffy slippers.

And a fairy needs friends - what's Christmas without a cracker & a reindeer and a friendly Christmas Tree? A Christmas pooch helps too, hats of every description and don't forget the "Wise Woman". There was a "girls" table and of course the traditional "men standing around the fire" thing going on ...

Like every good Christmas there has to be a Boxing Day. Champagne & chocolate for breakfast wearing our best jamies. Yes just like Christmas.

For E & Jules

2007-08-19T01:31:00.000-07:00

Look! I might not be able to cook but I assemble beautifully!

We took dinner out to Nehru & Gary's tonight - Nehru was the birthday girl so she shouldn't have to cook right! I was on "starters" and Leonie took coq au vin, vege mash, tiramasu and fresh fruit salad. We are now five fat pigs who will probably not need to eat until next week.

And after all my bitching about having nowhere to store all my serving dishes would you just look at Nehru's butler pantry. Perfection! I want one!

Things to make you feel better

2007-08-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

Despite someone telling me that it wasn't cold enough for hyacinths to grow here I planted them anyway and ... ha! What's this honey? Scotch mist?

Then this morning, the total fashion statement in red parka and turquoise flowered gumboots, I was busy stomping through the garden in the rain swearing about ungrateful children still asleep in their beds while I hauled rubbish out to the kerb for the inorganic collection this week. As I slipped ever so gracefully into a waterfilled hole in the lawn I spied the pots under the tree with their first signs of colour. It may not be spring but at least it feels a little closer.

Rain & stuff

2007-07-29T03:12:00.001-07:00

Rain, rain and more rain. The joys of winter! Not much else to do but curl up on the couch with the Sunday papers and watch crap movies on tv.

Of course I could scrapbook. It's not like I don't have the supplies at the ready. My Paper Pesto kit arrived the other week full of goodies - it was actually far better than I expected.

Tomorrow ... more rain

The dangers of rain

2007-07-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

Rain, wet deck, slippery boots ....

my first black eye. Thanks to the medicinal Chivas Regal later that evening, I never felt a thing! In fact the eye came as a little surprise to me two days later when I looked in the mirror.

Weekend / Monday highlights - a Kevin Spacey fest. Saturday afternoon, slobbing on the couch and "Beyond the Sea" was playing on SKY. Tonight a repeat of an old Parkinson show with Spacey, Mel Brooks & that Bridget Jones chick whose name always escapes me (bored). I still don't care what they say Kip - I love Kevin Spacey!

Quote from the film "People hear what they see". Interesting after the work Customer Service course last week. One of the stats quoted in the info package was from American psychologist Mehrebian:

Communication can be broken down as 55% body language, 38% tone of voice and a mere 7% words.

Well there ya go. Bobby Darrin knew it first!!

Sneaking in before the end of June ...

2007-06-27T02:01:00.000-07:00

whew! Just made it! And yes Kip, I have been a very bad, bad blogger. I shall go sit on the naughty step just as soon as I've finished posting!

Still absence makes the heart grow fonder ... yeah right ... worth a try though. I have not been out doing exciting things, having a life, going off the rails. No I've been working, sulking, snivelling and all approximately in that order.

There have of course been highlights and this wee collection from my best Mermaid Friend Jules certainly cheered up the letterbox. Just MadCowDelicious!! Thank you my friend!

Too I have even gone further than to just look at all my scrap supplies and have started a project! This one from the "Paper Pesto" June kit - a long way from finished but just something to show you that I haven't been completely idle. I am loving the Paper Pesto stuff and can't wait for next months kit. They sure do pack them with exciting stuff! Their site is here and their blog with little "tempters" for the July kit is here. It will eventually be our "girls own" cookbook. Recipes (and photos) from my great grandmother, grandmother, mother, me and my neice. Five generations and starting with a "Jessie" and ending with another "Jessie". What could be sweeter.

I just adore this girl!

2007-06-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

PS. WHAT HAPPENED TO MAY?????????

Payday

2007-04-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

OK, so another bit of nostalgia. Last payday splurge at the music store was George Benson & Al Jarreau "givin' it up".

In the late seventies, early eighties, (can't remember when) I went with Wayne & Sharon to see George Benson play at Athletic Park. I remember it being a fantastic concert, very hot, and I think the three of us ended up very drunk. (Those were the days when you could still drink & smoke at concerts openly).

Nearly thirty years later good old George is still going strong. Athletic Park has long gone as a concert venue. No idea about Sharon but Wayne is coming for a visit from Brunei this week & coming to stay inbetween business commitments. He has converted to Islam and I suspect he has worn as well as George over the years. As for the Madcow, well all I can say is I'm "well worn" now but shit, I've survived!

Another weekend

2007-03-11T01:47:00.000-08:00

The Madcow Mother (Les) came for the afternoon and we had our first "Ladies Card School". These are her first efforts

for St Patricks Day this week. They scanned a little wonky but you get the idea. I quite like her quirky little Kiwi St Patricks card that she made for my brother - the combination of shamrocks & Maori design fish hooks is just a little Irish don't you think!

This one is a friendship card - she got the idea from a book that Eva sent and I think she has done rather well.

She's taken some extra supplies back home with her and Eva's book. Hopefully the OT at the resthome will get the none too subtle hint that "this" is what she would like to be doing in the Craft Sessions rather than knitting peggy squares for no good reason! Next weekend I've promised we will start some Easter cards so I'd better dig out some ideas.

Must be a card kind of weekend - I got a lovely note from Kumi and along with some photos of our dinner the other night, was this gorgeous little bookmark she had made me. Isn't it beautiful!

The Perfect Gift

2007-03-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Chris took this photo when he was up north (near Ahipara I think?) and when he left work on Friday gave me a framed copy. Robyn got a different shot also framed and we just adore them. A couple of Madcow friends doing what we enjoy the most ... a quiet walk on the beach putting the world to rights! I'll wait to hear from Jools as to where exactly to hang it. Goodness knows I had better not get that wrong! But thank you Chris - not only for the perfect gift (for someone who didn't even know about the Madcow thing, your instinct is pretty dammed good), but also for the inspiration of the past few months. I'm really proud to be able to say "I knew him when he was just a law student". I have no doubt what so ever .... Judge M is a given!

And introducing my new friend Kumi!

Is this not the cutest little thing you've seen! I refuse to put up the photo of the four of us "girls" until I've had at least one more gin (thanks Chris again!). HOW can this gorgeous girl be 46??? She looks such a baby!

Kumi has been a much welcomed visitor - an exchange teacher from Japan at Leonie's school and it was just a delight to meet her the other evening. I do so hope she will come back and visit with us again soon.

OK, so I've had another gin ... here we are. The Madcow may not be as glamorous as the other three but the four of us do share in the love of a good time. Cheers!

Pay Day

2007-02-21T01:57:00.000-08:00

I don't make New Year Resolutions as such. Rather I discover a few months into the year that I have aquired a new "habit" and conveniently convert it into a Resolution for the year to save face. As in "I would have made this a resolution on NY's eve if I'd thought of it at the time".

Buying music seems to be this years belated little number after scanning my bank statements and noting that the local music store seems to get a "hit" every pay day. Before the budget advisor starts "tut tutting' at the extravagence I have managed to convince myself that I intended to buy a new cd every fortnight this year ... I just forgot to tell myself straight away ... or I did tell myself at the time and then it slipped my mind ...

Carole King was purely nostalgia. Van Morrison was a combination of nostalgia and getting sick of hunting through the stack of cd's looking for my favourite tracks. Cale & Clapton because it was playing in the store when I went in. Amy Winehouse because I love it, especially "Rehab". And Madeleine Peyroux - well actually the Madcow Brother bought that one, didn't like it and offered to trade for the latest Joanna Newsom.

Next payday I have in mind, and this is someone I NEVER thought I would ever even consider let alone spend good money on, Tom Jones. That is if I can find what I think I'm looking for. I saw him with Jools Holland on an old Frank Skinner Show and I'm sure they were promoting a cd. Does this mean I am now officially a "Nana"?

Tuesday

2007-02-20T02:19:00.000-08:00

My friend Ann gave me this at lunchtime & promised it was a quick read which it was. I read it after dinner tonight. She failed to mention it would probably be one of the more disturbing little books I've read in some years. I have a feeling I will be thinking about this one for some time to come.

Have you read it?

Monday

2007-02-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

Penelope comes once every six weeks or so to spray & prune the roses and give the garden a little tidy up. Given my total lack of skill (or inclination) for things horticultural it's money well spent. I can cope with my planters of flowers & veges in the courtyard but the "big outdoors" is just too much to even contemplate.

I got home today and spied this little vision from the kitchen window - Penelope had got a beer bottle from the recycling bin and left me a little bit of "pruning". The pink carpet rose out by the front door. Made the end of a work day that little bit brighter.

(To prove I'm not a completely hopeless case the rest of the photos are the planters in their glory.)

Another weekend nearly gone

2007-02-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

and a very lovely weekend it's been too. Beautiful weather so lots of time sitting out with my book in the sun in the courtyard. So much for doing lots of work at my desk but I just can't resist those rays. I've also been having a little "Jodi Picoult" marathon lately and I've never been any good at putting a book down before it's finished. That's not to say I finish every book I pick up - some people tell me they finish every book no matter how bad. Not me. Life's too short for crap writing. But when the writing is good say goodbye housework, sleep etc. I've even been known to prop my book behind the taps so I can keep reading while I do the dishes.

Must admit though that I think I'll give my friend "Jodi" a miss for a while. I've read three in very quick succession and I think that's quite enough for now. I loved "Perfect Match" and "My Sister's Keeper". Both of those were finished in a matter of days. "Harvesting The Heart" though was a bit more of a struggle - I certainly didn't want to flag it but it didn't quite grip me the way the other two did. Perhaps I just liked the courtroom dramas a little more in the others & the moral questions were thought provoking.

Apart from the sun-reading, the big event of the weekend was the delivery of the new computer desk. I took a risk and ordered it online from a Trade Me "store", Woodpia, relying on the picture and measurements. When my new best friend "Kenny" delivered it yesterday I was slightly relieved that it was even better than I thought it would be. Great service too with delivery within 2 days and beautiful quality & workmanship. After the nightmare of "real" retail lately I'm afraid I'm going to stick to online shopping.

So here are some pics of the lounge & kitchen. Not brilliant photos I'm afraid - I seem to have lost the plot a bit lately with the camera. Still better than nothing.

Dear Roz

2007-02-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

I am totally confident that you know everything and can answer any little question that tumbles out of a poor little Madcow's mind so,

who painted this picture and what's it called? (Never mind the problems of world peace, global warming and the national deficit. This is the question that will have me awake all night and god knows the Madcow needs more than her share of beauty sleep.)

Joolz & I think it could be a print of a Russell Clark picture ... mmm ... what do you think.

As always, bowing to your superior intelligence, hugs & kisses.

The Ladies Who Take Tea

2007-02-03T02:36:00.000-08:00

Aren't we beautiful! Leonie, Nehru, Gina & I played ladies today. Last year the Madcow Mother had given Leonie (her "other" daughter) the teaset her father had given her, and ever since we've been wanting to play ladies. Given the amount of laughing & naughtiness you'd think the cups were full of gin ... now there's an idea.

We've decided to try and make it a regular event. Afterall, we all seem to have inherited teasets that are just gathering dust in the china cabinets. Next time though we MUST remember to wear our hats & lippy. We are ladies afterall!

Now if only we could find a teapot that didn't dribble.

Last day of freedom

2007-01-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

Back to work tomorrow and so how do I spend my last hours of freedom? Dishes, laundry and contemplating the basketful of ironing. Could life get any better? Yeah, right.

I did spend a good part of the morning on the phone with Julie and for her, here is another shot of the courtyard out from the kitchen. (Just so that while you're clearing out your stuff darl, you can see if there is anything that would fit in. Some cuttings from your plants would be good especially those ones in the big front garden.....)

The other shot is especially for Blaire although it doesn't really do justice to the ENORMITY of my tomato plants. They are getting so big now that any day I expect to get a letter from the council telling me they have to be topped before they interfere with the power lines.

Actually writing the comment about cuttings from Jule's garden reminded me of an article in the Herald yesterday about the "Compact". From what I have read so far the gist of it is that a group of friends "worried about the impact of mass consumerism & today's disposable society" elected to see if they could give up shopping for a year. Well that's the short version according to the Madcow anyway. The real version is here. Also there's a Yahoo group over there.

It's been a bit of a hot topic around here lately with the onset of that strange holiday phenomenon ... cleaning out the pantry. Where other people choose to go to the beach or sit quietly reading books, apparently in this particular corner of Auckland a journey to the back of the pantry is "the" thing to do this summer. Robyn, Leonie, Lynnie & Jules have all made their own intrepid journeys to the dark place and the resulting obsession with "Use By" dates is comforting. I of course had been on my own adventure some months earlier when we shifted and had cleaned out the pantry here & at the old place, resulting in a supply of tinned fruit salad, that if it were ever released onto the open market, could tip the balance of the world economy. As for the supplies of tinned tuna ....

Still it is comforting to know that I'm not the only one with more food in the cupboard than one person could possibly eat but it's also disturbing. Why the apparent need to hoard? Why do we insist on almost daily trips to the supermarket when the cupboards are nowhere near bare? Is it just marketing and advertising? I can't believe we are all the gullible and yet it seems we are.

Then there's all the other "essentials" - the magazines, the books, the scrapbooking supplies, the computers, the cameras .... all rapidly cluttering my house. When I first left home many Cow Years ago, I packed all my worldly possession in two small suitcases and caught the train to Wellington. Now I need a large truck and several burly gentlemen to move it all.

This needs a bit more thought but it may well be a "Compact Cow Year". Of course easy to say at this end of the holidays where a great deal of time and a significant amount of cash has been spent shopping for "essentials" but still the politics of it all interests me. I'll let you know how this pans out.

PS. Wine IS an essential.

Happy Feet

2007-01-04T03:35:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie today. Aren't Leonie's jandals gorgeous!!

Chicken & Leek Pie

2007-01-03T02:30:00.000-08:00

Is there no end to this madness? Am I destined to channel Martha Stewart for the rest of my life?

Tonight the leftovers from the NY roast needed to be either cooked or disposed of. Strange enough that I thought I would cook them but to make matters worse Martha really took control and I "created"! Himself not only said the end result was very tasty but also gently suggested I may like to write myself a note on how exactly I did it. For the future you understand when Martha has left the building.

So one day when I ask just remind me to:

Chop up the leftover potatoes from the roast and saute with one large (and chopped) leek. Add the chopped up leftover chicken and stir in a jar of Chicken Tonight - Golden Honey Mustard sauce. Bung on a bit of pastry, stick it in the oven and take it out before it burns. Sigh. I am a goddess!

PS. Now E, take another look at the picture below. The orange thing with the seeds looks a lot like pumpkin because that's what it is. The white thing with the dirty purple skin is the kumera. I should have taken a photo of the kumera with the potatoes to compare it with - perhaps that would have made more sense but it's been a long time since I ever made sense so why change the habits of a lifetime?? xxxxx

A Kumera by any other name ....

2007-01-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

I had a bright idea last night when I was getting the veges ready for the roast - I seem to remember the cookbook I sent to E and Jules having recipes that used kumera so here for identification purposes is a kumera (and a bit of pumpkin!). Don't know what the equivalent would be. A sweet potato? Maybe not - I've always thought sweet potatoes were just another name for yams .... Anyway, this is the best kind of kumera with the purple skin but there is also a golden one. Himself doesn't mind the golden one but many people say they taste "muddy". Who knows? Not me - I'm not that keen on either variety although I have been known to be partial to kumera wedges with sour cream.

And here too is proof of the roast dinner and look, none of them look even slightly sick or poisoned! I had to post both shots - why is it you can never get three people to all smile at the same time?? Anyway, perhaps if Russell pops in for a visit he can see that mum & dad are doing fine! (Happy New Year Russ, Stephen & Charlotte!)

But wait, there's more!

2007-01-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

If I don't expire from boredom while they download, here are some pics of the new/old Madcow Palace or at least the outside...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2007-01-01T02:54:00.000-08:00

Well it only took ALL DAY to log into Blogger ... aaaaaaaaaaaargh! So much for the New Year resolution to blog more often!

The old pc, I fear, is dead as a dodo or at least heading that way. Now I need to make some decisions. Shall I call in the ever helpful Mr Fixit to rid the dammed thing of whatever is bothering it, buy a new monitor that doesn't decide at a moments notice that it's "tired" and wants to sleep ... or do I just go buy something sparkly and new with all the whistles and stops??

The whole thing just pisses me off a little. A couple of days ago I went out, with bankcard at the ready, to buy a new monitor and a new battery pack for this laptop.

The first shop, which advertises customer service second to none, was like the Marie Celeste... at least to those of us of a "certain age". The Madcow Brother & I tried, honest we did, to snare ourselves a little shop assistant but to no avail. Sweet young things in pretty little uniforms wafted around the store oblivious to all our arm waving, shrieking and trip wires. No, they were on important business that seemed to involve other pretty young things wearing a different kind of uniform (body piercings, belts pretending to be skirts and tops that could possibly have been fashioned out of two very small hankies). Apparently two grumpy old bastards throwing wads of cash on the floor in a feeble attempt to lure them to the IPod department where the Madcow Brother wished to PURCHASE WITH CASH was just too silly for words. Either that or we had suddenly become invisible and nobody had the heart to tell us. Needless to say I didn't bother even looking at the monitors etc...sigh.

Being the hopeless romantics we are we headed for the next "Super Store". Here we made progress. Mmm. Sort of. If you think having your last shred of self confidence ground into the carpet is progress well then this was the store for you.

After three attempts to engage with The Bright Young Thing In A Uniform I realised where I was going wrong. I apparently had forgotten to pin on my penis that morning. Silly me. As I jumped up and down in the aisle, waving my bankcard and wads of cash like a demented cheerleader and yelling "I want to buy something, I want to spend money", TBYTIAU approached every male in the store, the carpark, the nearby shopping mall all in a desperate attempt to avoid having to serve me. Silly boy. Did he really think a mother would give up that easily? I've made 20-somethings clean their rooms, eat their greens and pay their parking tickets and some of them weren't even MY 20-somethings. He didn't stand a chance.

I did what any woman with half a brain would do. I hid behind a man. Literally! As TBYTIAU closed in on his prey, a rather ample middle aged man, I hid behind the aforementioned gentleman. When he trotted out the usual "no I'm just looking" I took my chance, leapt out from deep cover and clinging to the sleeve of TBYTIAU shrieked "But I want to buy!!!!!!"

Of course that was enough to piss off any self respecting BYTIAU - trapped by some demented virago - he immediately got an attack of "Eye Rolling & Terminal Sighing" which I believe is now a notifiable disease with the Health Department.

"NOBODY IN THE WORLD would ever want a monitor that wasn't a LCD Flatscreen, and OH MY GOD, you must have the oldest laptop in the world if thats the battery pack you want to replace ... oh it's only two years old?? You say that like it's a good thing. I don't OWN anything that's two years old."

He then dispatched me to "some other store" which sells "out of date" hardware. I didn't have the heart to even try and find it. God knows my pacemaker wouldn't have coped with the walk over there.

I think I'll buy a new pc online. At least I'll never have to talk to anyone.

PS. For your viewing pleasure (before the cataracts and glaucoma get ya!) The Madcow Xmas Decoration courtesy of Jules which is just divine.

For Gail!

2006-12-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

Just to prove I really am still here in the land of the blog-living!!

I'm so glad I got at least two shots of the roses on the fence before the "Summer" arrived here and battered them to hell. This yellow one (have no idea what it's called) isn't really a climber but rather a very willfull bush that decided to go wild one year and none of us had the heart to prune it back.

If it ever stops raining here I'll try and get some more shots tomorrow to prove that not only did I finally finish unpacking but I also occasionally clean the place.

Shifting House

2006-09-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my world! This morning I could avoid the joy of sorting through my mothers bedroom no longer. For the past three weeks or so I've been living in a state of perpetual avoidance, clearing a small path from the door to the bed and pretending that all those boxes of unsorted household memorabilia etc were just some bad dream.

Sorting through the kitchen, lounge, linen cupboard etc has been an adventure to say the least and necessary before I could unpack any of our stuff. If an item didn't quite "fit" into the three main categories (keep, toss or garage sale) then they have been assigned to the bedroom to be pondered on at a later date. The "later date" has sadly arrived and cleansak in hand with the promise of a chardy when I've finished, I have leapt into the unknown.

The boxes have been bad enough, the wardrobe a challenge but the "manrobe" ... now here we have reached the biggest battle. (The madcow's brother has raised the question this morning if "manrobe" is actually a word or is it just one of my mother's special little attempts to add to the Kiwi lexicon as in "hark-karks (sweeties) or cripsy chicken(chrispy chicken?)

Along with useful(?) boxes of typists carbon paper, Great Grandma Dryden's recipe book and the last edition of The Auckland Star newspaper, there was an envelope with the eulogies from my father's funeral.

This one was given by his long time work colleague & friend who read this letter he had received from my father some months before and which he felt best explained best their relationship and the man himself. Re-reading it now I can see so much of my brothers in it - my fathers legacy would appear to be a rather black sense of humour which always surfaces in times of stress. Anyway you may like to share it:

Dear Brian
I thought at this time of the year, being the festive season, I should try to relieve the tedium of a chartered accountant's year with some description of my own activites. You have been an accessory to the governments insatiable thirst for tax gathering for so long now you must need some cheering up.

Not long after I returned from Masterton my friendly GP informed me that I was free of Mediterranean Fruit Fly but I had bladder cancer.

So I was poked and prodded, underwent X-rays, a cardiograph and an ultra sound scan with little delay. I am surprised I have not been asked to go public. Perhaps the "Holmes" show? to tell New Zealand "This is how it is".

At any rate I was invited to take residence in the Urology ward at Auckland Hospital. I was told that they would examine me via the urethra. I was asked did I know what that was. I did. But I was tempted to ask if it had anything to do with that American singer Aretha Franklin.

The specialist told me, "We've found some small tumours and we will try to burn them out." I had a vision of some tiny Lilliputian task force creeping up the same old urethra with a bundle of old newspaper and a box of matches. But no. They send up some electronic device which when switched on must resemble those things called sparklers you give the littlies on Guy Fawkes night. Thank goodness sky rockets have now been banned. It must have been a gay old time inside my bladder that morning.

Back in the ward I found myself with a drip input via the wrist and an unattractive output via a catheter. My insensitive son suggested the devices might be interconnected and this was a new recycling programme courtesy of the health reforms. Nonsense of course, but I did have a quick look.

That was some months ago now. I was in hospital less than a week. However there were still problems and I was readmitted in September for a repitition of the same treatment. When I phoned for the appointment they put me on hold and I swear that the music playing was "Mack the Knife."

This time I experienced a lot of pain in the recovery room and I was quite disappointed with the morphine injections they gave me. Next time I want homebake - they say that's got much more kick.

Back in the ward one is reminded that in a urology department male dignity and modesty is summarily dispensed with. An adult male is accustomed to reserving access to more personal parts of his anatomy soley to himself , with of course certain carefully selected exceptions. But here it seems the whole staff can at any time make free with ones intimate equipment with the possible exception of the tea lady and I was never sure about her.

There comes a day of course when you are given the glad news - the catheter is to be removed. The nurse said kindly enough "this is going to hurt so I will do it quickly." Here I resist any temptation to make any embellisment to her remark other than to say she did so with deft tug which would have done credit to any wine waiter popping a cork.

And did it hurt? Oh my goodness yes. The sensation was what I imagine one would experience if one made water, ill advisedly, against a live electric fence.

Now it is December and the condition still persists. I am told it is not invasive and it is restricted to the bladder. I am to go next Wednesday for an assessment by a radio therapy doctor and I believe it is likely early in the new year I will have a 6 week ratio therapy treatment. Daily but not weekends. My medical condition obviously does not warrant penal time. (No pun intended). The aim I suppose is to reduce the tumours to the state of kettle fried chips. In spite of the foregoing I feel quite well and I am looking forward to the usual excesses at Christmas.

So there you are, I hope I've brought some Christmas cheer into the boring life of a poor old accountant.

Blessings from your old friend.
Maurice

He died some 14 months after this was written and I'm grateful that Brian chose to share it with us. I have very few letters from my father - an aversion to putting pen to paper is a genetic failing he appears to have passed on to his children - but there is one he sent when I first left home, written in crayon on a scrap of paper:

DEER CLARE
THEY LERNED ME TO RITE THIS WEAK, SO TO SELABRATE ME AND YORE MUM ARE GETTIN MARYED THIS WEAKEND, NOW I CAN SINE ME NAME INSTED OF A KROS.

DONT FERGET TO KUT YORE TONALES, SLEEPIN IN UTHER PEPLES SHEATS

LOV FROM YORE DAD

Home Again!

2006-08-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

So here's the map ....

Finally a perk to be an older woman in the workforce! Not only are we experienced (work wise at least!) but we are also free to travel at a moments notice. We don't care if there's nobody home to cook dinner, we don't have children to find sitters for or organise school runs. If the boss says "go to Whangarei" our bags are packed and we're on the road without a backward glance.

And being older women we appreciate it all so much more. We don't care if the hotel meals are less than exciting - did we have to cook them? No! Did we have to clean up after them? No! At home you try getting a 20-something year old to make you coffee or bring you wine without having to resort to bribery or threats of bloodshed. In Hotel-Land the pretty young things are falling over themselves to pander to your every whim.

As for those lovely ladies who make your bed, leave you fluffy towels and replenish all those stocks of toiletries & coffee without even a "tsk, tsk". I love those women. They are indeed goddesses. Of course I'm sure these lovely women just knew we were mothers. The way we folded our wet towels and left them in a neat pile to be disposed of, stacked our cups & glasses and made sure the rubbish was just left in one bin was probably a give away. They just knew we were nice girls who didn't get out much and left us extra goodies as a touch of solidarity.

Being older women we didn't stay in at night making endless phonecalls to find out how it was going at home. No siree Bob! There were restaurants to find, shopping trips to plan (ok, so virtually every shop in Whangarei closes at 5pm so we just had to drive around making a game plan for the next days lunch hour), coastal roads to explore. Then of course the spa pool was just begging us to turn ourselves into big old wrinkley prunes.

Whangarei has the most beautiful little viaduct area where there are restaurants galore and shops including Burning Issues Gallery which has the finest art glass - I just want it all. We went for dinner at Reva's on our second night in town. Fantastic food & I just love the feel of the place. On a cold night there's nothing quite like walking into a cafe with a fire blazing and good music on the sound system. It's warm, noisy & relaxed and from the windows you can watch the yachts bobbing in their moorings. Of course I warmed even more to the place when I found out the story how Reva's played a part in nailing those french bastards that bombed the Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior back in the 80's, murdering Fernando Pereira. The French agents from the yacht Ouvea had been stupid enough to sign the guest book at Reva's when they ate there and it proved to be a vital part of the investigation.

Another evening we headed out on the coast road towards the Whangarei Heads. We stopped when we got as far as Parua Bay hoping that when we got to work the next morning the locals wouldn't say "oh if you'd just gone 2 miles down the road you would have been at the Heads". Fortunately they didn't - we were apparently wise to turn back when we did - but we fell in love with the area. There's just something about the coastline, especially on a clear winter evening, that makes me very glad to live here.

We travelled back to Auckland Friday afternoon. On the way up we'd noted a couple of places we wanted to stop at on the way home and we were certainly in no hurry to go back to housework etc. I really wanted to see inside Cafe Eutopia but they put the "closed" sign out just as we pulled up. (I tried sulking but it didn't work.) The German Cheese Shop was too much for me - I love cheese but the smell!! Cheese in quantity is not pleasant. Across the road was Apple Basket Patchwork Shop which I've linked here to the "Block of the Month" page. If you scroll down to the Koru Beach Quilt you will know what to make me for Christmas! Let's face it, you can never really go wrong with a patchwork shop and this is one of the better ones.

Further south at Wellsford we had to stop to pick up some pumpkin seed bread (as you do!) and then take some photos of these llamas just to make sure that we hadn't imagined them on the way up. Still not sure what they're all about - Northland is not famous for it's llamas afterall - but who cares. They're gorgeous. We detoured to Warkworth just to make sure it's still there, spent rather longer than we should have at a petrol station trying to fill the car (the security camera film will probably appear on some "Dumbest People in the World" video show on a channel near you soon!) then home ... yeah ... laundry, cooking, vacuuming. Just what I wanted.

Oh, and we did work really hard during the days at the office!

PS. Blogger is being particularly unco-operative when it comes to downloading photos these days - this is the best I could do!

Well it made me laugh ...

2006-07-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

When the winter blues arrive a Madcow should always have a friend like Darling David. Just when you think that things couldn't get any worse an email arrives from that dear boy that has me choking on the chardy in no time .... lawyers really do send the best jokes! This was one of the cleaner ones he sent last week.

NAMING THE FATHER FOR CHILD SUPPORT IN AUSTRALIA

The following are all replies that Sydney Western Suburbs women have put on Child Support Agency forms in the section for listing father'sdetails:
These are genuine excerpts from the forms.
1. Regarding the identity of the father of my twins, child A was fathered by Trev Munson. I am unsure as to the identity of the father ofchild B, but I believe that he was conceived on the same night.
2. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my child as I was being sick out of a window when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can provide you with a list of names of men that I think were at the party if this helps.
3. I do not know the name of the father of my little girl. She was conceived at a party where I had unprotected sex with a man I met that night. I do remember that the sex was so good that I fainted. If you do manage to track down the father can you send me his phone number?Thanks.
4. I don't know the identity of the father of my daughter. He drives anExcel that now has a hole made by my stiletto in one of the door panels.Perhaps you can contact Excel dealers in this area and see if he's had it replaced.
5. I cannot tell you the name of child A's dad as he informs me that to do so would blow his cover and that would have cataclysmic implicationsfor the NSW economy. I am torn between doing right by you and right by the country. Please advise.
6. I do not know who the father of my child was as all soldiers look the same to me. I can confirm that he was an infantryman.
7. Bazza Smith is the father of child A. If you do catch up with him can you ask him what he did with my AC/DC CDs?
8. From the dates it seems that my daughter was conceived at Disneyworld
9. So much about that night is a blur. The only thing that I rememberfor sure is Jamie Oliver did a program about eggs earlier in the evening. If I'd have stayed in and watched more TV rather than going to the party at 146 Miller Drive, mine might have remained unfertilised.
10. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my baby, after all when you eat a can of beans you can't be sure which one made you fart.

The Hills Are Alive ...

2006-07-15T01:36:00.000-07:00

He Who Shall Not Be Named says that I should hang my head in shame for buying this but for goodness sake .... it's the Sing-Along version!! I can just see where our office Christmas Party is heading. Dress as your favourite character and sing along - I have old curtains, we could do this! Just think, if I came as the Baroness (she was a baroness wasn't she?) I could wear my tiara.
I couldn't stop laughing when I found it at the music store. It didn't help that the 12 year old stick insect serving at the counter gave me one of those "oh my god, who let the nana's into the store?" looks. The fact that I also bought a Janis Joplin cd didn't seem to help at all. Doesn't it just make you want to give those snotty little chicks the finger and yell at them "Oh just go eat something bitch!"

Questions for the afternoon ...

2006-07-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

I do not have a large nose - slightly crooked admitedly but certainly not one of your big honkers - so how does something this petite produce such vast quantities of snot? Mmmm? Answer me that! I'm also not a large person nor a very loud one. Well maybe I am a loud one after a few gins but that's another story entirely. Still somehow this little 32b chest can produce a cough so loud as to wake He Who Shall Not Be Named from a beer induced coma (or so he tells me as he grumbles on his way to the bathroom in the middle of the night). Yes the dreaded flu has struck the Madcow down (does that mean it's the Cowflu rather than the Birdflu? Or perhaps Bovine-itis? As long as it's not BSE I don't really mind)
Whatever it's called it has made for a very unproductive couple of weeks. The bedside table is littered with tissues, drugs, lemonade & chocolate wrappers, (chocolate really DOES fix everything!), and my bed is no longer my friend. We've spent far too long in each others company and now we're bored with each other. Likewise the tv. When a girl can't even muster up the enthusiasm to watch the latest Chip Foose creation on "Overhaulin" the world is in a very sad state. Actually the world is in a very sad state when I even know who Chip Foose is! But my oh my, that boy is a genius and so lovely with it. Not like that totally disfunctional Boyd Coddington ... eww. No Chip is my man!
OK. So my mind has finally turned to slush. Further evidence is the baby jersey I was knitting. Remarkable isn't it how it looks suspiciously like a pair of mittens now! Despite all my best efforts at creative knitting the bloody thing kept expanding at a rate of knots. Rather than just fit a one year old sumo wrestler it could have covered an entire small town including municipal buildings. It was time to pull the needles and start again. Good old reliable mittens - easy enough to knock out a pair in an evening and in this weather none of the girls at work have turned them down.
Food has been another challenge. Given my culinary skill you would think an absence of tastebuds would be an advantage but instead it makes for some rather nervous meals. Of course by now He Who Shall Not Be Named has aquired a head cold and last night as we picked at our pasta dish, we kept trying to reassure eachother that it really did taste alright. Who knows? Perhaps it did? Nevertheless I have marked the container of leftovers for the freezer "Flu Pasta" so that we remember to taste it before trying to offload it on any unsuspecting visitor. For all we know it could have had the aftertaste of dishwash liquid & dustbunnies, which would be ok because that's what all my cooking tastes like.
To rescue us this evening though Leonie (the best nursey ever) has just brought us "Meals On Wheels" - Shepherds Pie. The handover of the said pie was rather like a hostage handover at a border control - I mean it would have been just too mean to breathe on her and give her this germfest after an act of kindness wouldn't it.
To finish this epic post here are some of my favourite photos of my dear friend "mum" who died last Thursday. Robyn's mum & dad have been a part of my life for as long as Robyn has, and although I tried calling them Joan & Owen it just never stuck. They have been "mum & dad" ever since. I'm not the only one - the majority of the girls the three of us scrapbook with have only ever known her as mum which I think rather tickled her. If you were to go through Robyns family albums you wouldn't find many photos of her parents when they weren't laughing - perhaps the secret to their 53 year joyful marriage, and it will be that laughter I shall miss. Even when Robyn rang that night to say she had finally passed we both had to laugh that of course she would have to go on the same night as "Li Mei" (the character she most loathed on her favourite soap opera Shortland St) snuffed it. I can almost imagine her saying "Oh isn't that typical. That Li Mei woman is just the sort to try and steal my thunder! Hmpph!"
Yes, the silly laughs and looking up from the crop table to see her & Robyn scrapping and bickering away together. Miss you mum.

For Gail

2006-06-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that soccer isn't more popular in the States when they have little hotties like this playing!! So Gail, when you get sad about your boys coming home too soon, feast your eyes on "Landon"!

Me - well I have Argentina v All Blacks from Buenos Aires to look forward to, although without Sky Sport I have a feeling I'll have to wait until 3.30pm Sunday to see the replay. Now that's a long time to avoid seeing the score. Must remember to go change my homepage so that Xtra doesn't spoil it for me with their nasty little news updates.

Today though, the sun is shining and the birds are cheeping. How sad my life is when getting all the towels dry out on the line is the most exciting thing about Saturday. Oh well, there's always Landon to look at.

Yadda, yadda ...

2006-06-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night and I've got "Bathe in the River"(by The Mt Raskil Preservation Society featuring Hollie Smith) stuck in my head. The radio station the girls have on in the office has been thrashing it and I'm not complaining. Just love that voice.
Kip & Cat - you must try & find it to play on your little do-dacky music thingies! It's written by Don McGlashan for the film "No 2". Ahhh... Don McGlashan. Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn and then The Muttonbirds ... love that man (although it's a little disconcerting that the girls at work consider him a new find and I've been listening to this man for over 26 years!)
Now that winter is officially here, it being the shortest day and all, the winter sport of knitting has taken over again. Considering I made something like 30 scarves last year it was a little disturbing to find that I didn't actually have one for myself - I seem to have a bad habit of giving them away to whoever admires them first. I've got a gorgeous pattern courtesy of Cat that I want to start but as a quick fix I whipped up this one with some fluffy stuff from the $2 Shop.
Then for something to do at lunchtime I've started this little cardigan with more $2 Shop yarn. Despite close inspection we can't decide whether its really wool or just "plastic" and the label is no help. Says "Made in China" and nothing else - not even what ply so I've decided to go for "Adventure Knitting" and throw caution to the wind, not letting little details like that or techie stuff like "tension" and needle size get in the way of a good time. I'm also ignoring comments that it's starting to look a little large for a one year old and explain to the doubters that it's for a one year old sumo wrestler. Ha! Have no idea what I'll do with it once it's finished so if you happen to know a one year old sumo wrestler, let me know!

Galub Jamun & Soan Papdi

2006-06-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Blogging is a funny old thing & the funniest part is who or why people come to visit.

The entry about Tana's Handbag not surprisingly got a lot of hits via Google searches from rugby playing nations - big wave out to all of you who visited from Aussie, Ireland, UK, South Africa, Argentina & Singapore (Singapore??).

Via Google searches again Galub Jamun & Soan Papdi provide an equally large amount of hits. Far be it from me to deny anybody the pleasure of these taste sensations so I've inserted a link over to the right for Haldirams where I'm sure all my visitors from USA & Canada can sate their appetite for yummy Indian treats.

So who are the rest? Of course there are those who are near & dear to me who visit and sometimes leave a comment (for which I am always grateful) but who are all of you others? It's not a matter of life and death but just piques my curiosity and amuses me that out there in huge pockets of USA & Canada etc are people now quite conversant with the ups & downs of the All Blacks, shopping in South Auckland and life in NZ generally. People who visit sometimes several times a day. C'mon. Put your hand up. I'd love for you to leave a comment.

Blog Freeze

2006-06-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

You know those days where you wish you had something profound to blog, or at the least something marginally interesting, but there just ain't nothing there? Today it's one of those. Doesn't help that I've been visiting over at Anne's blog where she has written the most thought provoking/touching post I've read in a long time that several hours later I am still mulling over. Marigolds will forever now be "Anne" to me.

No, here at Madcow, we're into shallow & inane and in that spirit I give you the Lamington. I was going to say it was a little bit of Kiwi-ana but of course these came from Australia so perhaps we'll have to compromise and say they are Antipodean as I'm sure our consumption of these delights matches our Oz cuzzies.

This from Wikipedia: "Lamingtons are a type of sponge cake (or more traditionally, butter cake) squares, coated in a layer of flavoured gelatin (or traditionally chocolate icing or strawberry jam), then desiccated coconut. They are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream between them, and are commonly found in Australian and New Zealand bakeries. The strawberry variety is more common in New Zealand, while sightings of a lemon variety have occurred in Australia.
The gelatin is a thin mixture, into which squares of sponge (one cookbook states 4 cm per side) are dipped, and the gelatin is absorbed into the outermost layers of the sponge where it sets. (Similarly, the strawberry jam or chocolate icing is absorbed into the sponge.) The squares are then dipped into the coconut and left to dry."

And this from He Who Shall Not Be Named: "Leave my Lamington alone! I've only had eight!"

(Holy Cross School had a Pizza Drive this week but bugger the pizza when you can buy a tray of these beauties. Of course I have eaten none of them ... wiping coconut from the mouth...)

Wednesday - the slippery slope towards the weekend!

2006-06-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

My aunty in Christchurch sent me these photos of her backyard today. Sometimes I have to be grateful to be living in "tropical" Auckland (although I can hear from here Lisa snorting that we don't know what "real" snow is!) Here there's been nothing so dramatic. A bit of rain, a bit of wind and no power for a day. Not that I'm complaining about that especially as they sent most of us home from work yesterday. Out here in Rewa the power was surging away quite happily so it was a real bonus. I watched movies, scrapped a little and even cooked! Well perhaps "assembled" would be a more accurate description but there was boiling on the big white hot thing involved so I think it counts. (When I told himself I'd been sent home from work his first comment was "Why, what did you do this time?" Charming)

Must remember my shiny new red raincoat in the morning though - I want to get to the sale at Meric at lunchtime. Geeta tells me the skirts we were looking at last week have been marked down and it's not really a payday if you haven't spent it all by 2pm is it? This skirt thing has rather taken on a life of its own although I'd forgotten after all these years of trouser wearing how bloody drafty they can get in the winter. Makes me crave the good old days of Witches Britches. Now whatever happened to them? You'd think in these days of retro clothing some bright spark would re-invent them. Back in the dark ages mine were green (for school) and red for the rest - both of course with masses of white lace & black ribbon. I used to think I was Christmas although perhaps Halloween may have been a more appropriate. Warm, yes. Glamorous, no!

All Blacks 34 Ireland 23

2006-06-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Old news now but still a smile. Couldn't find a pic of Luke McAlister for Anne so you will just have to make do with our boy Dan. He didn't play last night but we can look forward to some mmmm...mmmm moments later in the month when they play Argentina. Start searching those cable channels now! (Now tell me rugby isn't a good girlie sport!)

Our other bit of Ireland was Friday night at The Bog - the new local Irish bar. Good beer, good music, fantastic food & I love the outdoor fireplace (& bigscreen tv). Happy Birthday Jimmy and congratulations on gaining a year!

It looks out over the Telstra Events Centre - this is not a good pic I know but it's a little "hi there" wave for Russell.

Then just for mindless trivia ... did you know that the purple bits in this engine cost the Madcow $234. I'm sure they're very important and after all they are purple. He Who Shall Not Be Named would sleep with this engine if he could. Me, I'm not so keen but I do admit it's looking very pretty these days. Now if only it would GO.

A Big Biscuit Day!

2006-06-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

Isn't it a hoot the way some some little family foible becomes part of our lexicon! My Auntie Ena gave me "har-karks" - lollies or candy to the rest of the world but if someone in our family says "I could do with a har-kark" we know exactly what they mean. I have called crocodiles "crocadogs" and pipe bands "bom-sticks" for probably all my life and now thanks to Kip I have "Big Biscuit Days"! Today was certainly one of those.

Yesterday was crappy - one of those days at work & home that could so easily NOT have been crappy if someone, somewhere had said those two magic words. "Thank you". Mmmm...not to be.

Today though I couldn't sulk about it. When I arrived at work this morning, there tucked behind my computer nearly out of sight were these little gems. My darling Esitamaki is leaving us soon to live in Wellington and today she left me these gifts on my desk from her last trip to Tonga - I think part of her leaving process, making sure that we have little reminders of her. (As if we could ever forget her!) This sweetie darling understands my passion for handbags so well and I just adore this one with the matching wallet. Perfection. And earings! Bliss.

So there I am purring (or should that me moo-ing being a Madcow?) and little Sonya delivers these over the counter. Before she left for her trip to Canada we had talked about how much I wished I was going with her so I could visit Pam, and about our "perfectly normal girl passion" for the chocolate of the world. Ta-Da! Maple Chocolates!

Could it get any better? Aaah yes. Geeta's Butter Chicken freshly made this morning for me to take home for my dinner. I'd love to show you a better shot but somehow it disappeared out of the pot. Don't know where. All I can say is that He Who Shall Not Be Named was last seen searching my address book for Geeta's address so that he could move in there. Nothing like a bit of cupboard love is there!

A Big Biscuit Day - makes the crappy ones that much more worthwhile doesn't it.

Happy Birthday Betty!

2006-06-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

well actually queenies birthday was ages ago but today is the day she lets me have the day off work, so cheers!

After reading Anne's blog I went searching for a queenie pic to out do hers. How strange - not one to be found. Instead I realised how rather over the top my card buying obsession has become - boxes of the things! I just can't resist. If they make me laugh I have to have them. To justify the huge amount of money I must have spent over the years I'll have to start posting some of them here.

This one is especially for Cat - I know she'll love it!

And this was from Lisa who shares my obsession and got me totally hooked on "the interesting thoughts of Edward Monkton"

6am rambling

2006-06-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

With nothing better to do (well, nothing I wanted to do) I've been surfing SKY looking for a movie and I have to tell you there's not a lot on at this time of the morning. My choices appear to be "Guns for San Sebastian" in all it's faded glory with Anthony Quinn dressed as a monk, a documentary on the Holocaust which is probably good but seems a rather bleak way to start the day, or having to endure Tom Hanks (ugh) playing Tom Hanks (ugh) in The Green Mile.

Still none of these could be any worse than "De-Lovely" that I saw the other night. De-Lovely? More like De-Crap. I should have known better. It starred Kevin Kline afterall.

Mr K is not a man blessed with a huge acting talent is he?

His emotional range appears to be
angry, sad, happy.

Oh yeah he runs the gamut doesn't he. I think what really tipped me over the edge though was an interview with him I saw recently where he added sneering condecension to his range. What a guy.

Still it WAS Cole Porter and so I tried but oh deary me. If I was looking for any insight into the mans life I should have read a book, phoned a friend or perhaps we could have all joined hands and tried to contact the living. What a poor excuse for a script, a film, a reason to eat popcorn.

The only saving grace was the soundtrack but then with Cole Porter how could you lose? I ended up going out to the kitchen to do the dishes & just came back into the room when I heard the music start up again. With Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Mick Hucknell (yes, even Mick was good) amongst others it was a feast. The big surprise to me was Let's Do It, (Let's Fall In Love) by Alanis Morisette - I think I might have liked it!

Of course nothing ever compares to my old bit of vinyl "Red, Hot & Blue", the Cole Porter tribute album in support of AIDS research. When you hear Annie Lennox sing "Everytime we say Goodbye" can you ever get her version out of your head? Oh shit. Now I'm either going to have to find this album on CD or invest in a new turntable. (Given the amount of vinyl now laying waste in the bookshelf here perhaps that would be a good idea).

It's gone 6.30 now and the next lot of movies are beginning. Off to see what I can find or (perish the thought) I could actually go get dressed and do some work .... mmm ... nah.

Sunday morning 4am

2006-06-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of sleeping going on here so may as well have a quick update. The Trade Me auction finally closed at $22,800 for Tana's handbag after a number of suspect bids were removed. I really hope they front up with the money - she seemed a very pleasant young woman and good on her for seizing the moment. No doubt, like every other young woman in NZ, she's got a crippling student loan and could do with a break!

Tana and his handbag

2006-06-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

He Who Shall Not Be Named was checking out the blog last night (ever vigilant that boy in fear his mother will try to advertise him as marriage prospect), and wondered why I hadn't mentioned the Trade Me auction for the infamous handbag. How remiss of me! Especially as the Madcow blog is getting so many hits doing a "Tana's Handbag" search. This is indeed big news in the rugby world with hits here from United Kingdom, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and Thailand (Thailand? Rugby in Thailand - now there's a thought!).

The purse owner in a moment of pure genius, listed the now-infamous handbag used by Tana Umaga to hit a team-mate on the NZ online auction site Trade Me and last time I looked it had hit $1,000,0100 although on www.stuff.co.nz they report the total as $100,000 after Trade Me removed some rather suspect bids.

Either way Nicole - good on ya! The auction comments are worth that much for entertainment value alone. Check it out here for a laugh. Hopefully the link works but if not search on Trade Me under "Hurricanes Handbag & Cellphone"

Continuing on the rugby theme the following quotes struck a chord. After your "turtlesque" comment the other day Gail I thought you'd enjoy more confirmation that sports commentators etc are indeed eejits!

"You guys line up alphabetically by height." and "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Colin Cooper - Hurricanes head coach
Chris Masoe (Hurricanes) on whether he had visited the Pyramids during his visit to Egypt: "I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to."
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." - Colin Cooper on Paul Tito
Kevin Senio (Auckland),On Night Rugby vs Day Games - "It's basically the same, just darker."
David Nosafora (Auckland) talking about Troy Flavell "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'David, I don't know and I don't care.'
David Holwell (Hurricanes) when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to reach for 150 or 200 points this season, whichever comes first."
"Andy Ellis - the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few weeks ago"(Murray Mexted)
"Colin has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a calculator." (Ma Nonu)
"He scored that try after only 22 seconds - totally against the run of play." (Murray Mexted)
"We actually got the winning try three minutes from the end but then they scored." (Phil Waugh Warratah)
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body." (Jerry Collins)
"That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one before it which was identical." (Tony Brown)
"I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father." (Tana Umaga)
"Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby - but none of them serious." (Doc Mayhew)
"If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again."(Anton Oliver)
"I would not say he (Rico Gear) is the best left winger in the Super 14, but there are none better." (Murray Mexted)
"I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat." (Ewan McKenzie)
Murray Deaker: "Have you ever thought of writing your autobiography?"Tana Umaga: "On what ?"
"Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw."(Murray Mexted)
"Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer."(Murray Mexted)

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig!

2006-06-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

It was just a day in Hamilton but it felt like a week. He Who Shall Not Be Named had to go attend to his traffic charge down there and there were many, many moments during the day that I regretted ever saying I'd go with him - the day will go down in Madcow history as one of the more frustrating and pointless experiences only to be matched by close encounters of the WINZ, IRD or (insert name of any other government agency here) kind.

By midday, and after things had gone horribly wrong, I finally lost my cool and accosted an innocent official (as only a Madcow Mother can) and by 2.30pm things were close to where they should have been in the first place, but it really made me wonder. If you don't have a white, middle-class mother who is prepared to stamp her dainty feet what happens to you? Little wonder we have so many angry young men out there feeling disempowered.

It was the icing on the cake really for the week (or is that still to come? There are afterall still three days to go.) The Madcow Mother has spent a couple of days in hospital when the doctor suspected a blot clot. Fortunately her chest is clear but there it is, in her lower leg, doing its worst and she's home now, receiving the "rat poison" as she so delicately puts it. You'd think by now I would have received a customer loyalty card or something after the hours I've put in sitting on their nasty little plastic chairs - surely by now I must be entitled to a free cup of coffee or perhaps a complimentary frontal lobotomy?

You've got to laugh though don't you? David Darlings gift of Tana & his handbag yesterday certainly took the edge off yesterdays head banging moments. Today Lina did the honours with this little treasure (which sounds uncomfortably familiar to me).

New Company Regulations, approved by Fair Employment Act 2005

Dress Code - It is advised that you come to work dressed accordingly to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore do not need a raise. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore do not need a raise.
Sick Days -We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
Personal Days -Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday and Sunday.
Toilet Use - Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of the three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the "Chronic Offenders category". Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy!
Lunch Break -Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a slim fast.
Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations,insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.
The Management.

PS. Just watched an item on "Sugar Shack" about the underground sport of Purse Fighting. Oh dear Tana, this is just not going to go away is it!

More rugby ...

2006-05-31T00:32:00.000-07:00

Following the weekend news that former All Black captain Tana Umaga had been in a wee spot of bother with the Rugby Union after hitting Hurricanes team-mate Chris Masoe with a handbag during a pub fight, Darling David sent me these pics. Aren't they gorgeous!

The NZ Herald reported "Umaga twice struck Masoe over the head with a woman's handbag after Masoe got into a dispute with another drinker in the bar. The blows were sufficient to break a cellphone in the handbag and reduce Masoe to tears." Masoe was fined $3000 for fighting. Tana just has to live with the handbag jokes.

OK ... so rugby season is here

2006-05-29T01:19:00.000-07:00

I am a rugby slut. I admit it. I couldn't tell you anything about the rules of the game or anything else but when those boys get out on the field for an international I'm there. Who couldn't be with those thighs??

This is the new captain of the All Blacks and what a nice boy he is. Must admit I've always liked Tana but if we have to have a new captain ... well Richie doesn't seem to have any mud that's stuck, I'm sure he's good to his mum and he don't look too bad does he?

And just so you know when I'm not available (or perhaps you may like to search you cable channels for the games - trust me, you won't be disappointed) here's the wee timetable I'll be sticking to.

Rāhoroi! Saturday!

2006-05-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Ka tīmata te pō whakangāhau i te Rāhoroi! (The party will start on Saturday!) Well if you call doing the washing & dishes a party, yes it does.

And before anyone starts thinking that I've become fluent in Te Reo Maori overnight, think again. Nah, it's a dinky new link I stumbled upon the other day for Cultureflow When you sign up they email you a new kupu (word) of the day along with a short sentance to put it in context. I'm liking this a lot more than some of the other online learning sites - a word a day I can cope with where some of them are so overwhelming with information my brain freezes. The Madcows manager at work is keen too and we're hoping to sign up everyone in the office as part of the Nga Take Maori competency in our performance plans.

The other link that I am totally addicted to is The Sartorialist It's not like I'm a fashion freak but my week is just not complete without a scroll through what people on the street in New York are wearing. It's like an online glossy magazine - you know the kind you never find on the shelves at the bookstore but somehow are always at the hairdressers. Now what's that about - do hairdressers have some secret magazine supplier?

I love magazines. Any magazine. I've been known to graze through copies of "Hot4's" & "NZ Performance Cars" when I can't find anything else in the house - just got to have those glossies! I blame my grandmother. She shared the addiction (or perhaps started mine) and always had a huge pile of English mags next to her chair and the two of would devour every word & picture about people who may have been very famous in the UK but who were totally unknown down our side of the planet. It didn't matter though. They were magazines for goodness sake. We needed them! She also used to buy some rather tacky "tits and bums" type mags which she assured us all were "just for the crosswords" which might have been convincing if we didn't all know about her predilection for some rather raunchy novels. Have to wonder about Bess sometimes!

Now of course I judge professionals by the quality of reading material in their waiting rooms. For several years I went to a GP in Wellington not for his medical skills (minimal) but rather for his subscription to "The New Yorker". I also had to find a new therapist several years ago when obviously the man had finished rennovating his house (House & Garden, Home Beautiful) and was now spending my outrageously expensive appointment fee on a new boat (Sea Spray).

The downside to this habit is the difficulty in storing this great quantity of paper. Grandad Shaw to the rescue and now to match the gorgeous scrapping desk he built me, the lounge is now home to these "just what I wanted" bookshelves. They arrived last week but it's taken all this time to finally get them filled and tidy. You know what it's like when you start unpacking books - so many you've forgotten all about that you just have to sit down and read. More about that little trip down memory lane later.

For now it's back to the couch. "He Who Shall Not Be Named" is out at work and with control of the tv remote I've got "Easter Parade" booked. Fred Astaire AND Judy Garland. Aaah that's class.

Today we visit Tonga

2006-05-16T01:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Esitamaki!

Good Morning... Malo etau toe ma'u e pongpongi ni

Good Afternoon... Malo etau toe ma'u he hoata ni

Good night...Po'uli a

How are you? ... Fefe hake

My name is .... Ko ...................hoku hingoa.

Are you alright... Oku ke sai pe?

Have a great day...Ofa keke ma'u ha 'aho lelei.

I have to say too that the total in the swear box has increased to $16 today - does that tell you what our day was like?

PS. Kia Ora ra Jo. Kia Ora mo te tutaki i ahau.

Belated happy birthdays, mothers day...yeah,yeah,yeah

2006-05-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

At the Madcow office we have two little challenges going.

The first is the "No Swear" challenge (but given one of our roles is to "swear" affidavits that's a little silly isn't it!). I must admit I am one of the worst offenders - Little Miss Potty Mouth that's me. We all agreed to clean up our act and now it's 50cents per profanity into the jar, which given what usually comes out of my mouth & that of the managers should pay for our Christmas "do"! In the space of two minutes we both owed the jar a total of $6 and that was when we were both in good moods! What does surprise me (not) how many more words I know than those young things floating around me. While trying to determine whether "shite" and other derivatives should be included I was surprised, no shocked, that the young things could only come up with four words that would be chargeable. I meanwhile had a list that went on for pages. They're obviously not angry enough. I'll post my weekly balance - I'd like to think that with effort I will be paying less than my pay cheque.

Our second language challenge is to celebrate and acknowledge the many ethnicities both in our office and at our counter. Day One is your very own lesson in Te Reo Maori thanks to Terewaho.

Good Morning... Atamarie

Good Afternoon... Ahiahi marie

Good night...Pomarie

How are you? ..... Kei te pehea koe?

My name is .... Ko ...................toku ingoa

Are you alright... Kei te pai koe?

And if you're looking for how to actually say these words you may like to check out the link over to the right of this for Korero Maori

Tomorrow we are going to visit "Tonga" together but right now I'm off to watch one of my favourite, favourite films - "Shaun of the Dead". A must see, trust me!

Happy Wednesday/Thursday Anne!

2006-05-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

Knowing Anne's delight with wee kids, (of the goat variety in this instance but also of the child kind), I post a picture of Sooty for her amusement & also as a warning. Cute little kids (rather like children in this respect) grow up to be perfect idiots who decide that standing on their houses in the rain is a really, really good idea!

Mind you, Sooty is probably a little more intelligent than some of the classy acts I've dealt with this week. Not for the first time as someone showed me their drivers licence as proof of identity I have had moments of huge self doubt - if this idiot can drive what does it say about me who has never EVER come even close to being able to drive a car??

Another huge reality check for me is talk shows. As I was doing chores the other day I glanced at the tv and wondered who that 60 something man was. When he started singing I thought to myself (as I did the dishes) "my, he does a good impersonation of Georgie Fame" ... duh! I remember Georgie Fame, I remember Bonnie & Clyde. Who said he could age along with the rest of us? How dare he!

Tonights sobering moment is Diana Rigg on Parkinson. For goodness sake I SO wanted to be Emma Peel (and yes, there are still moments where in my own mind at least I AM). So what is she doing looking all 60-ish and not a bit of leather in sight?

Last night Thora Hird was on and she said in her mind she was still 30 - considering she must be about a 150 thats not bad. Still it seems unfair this age thing. Perhaps if I actually owned a mirror I might not come as such a big surprise when I catch sight of some old woman in the reflection from shop windows who appears to have exactly the same wardrobe as I do. Don't know who she is but goodness me she could do with a bit of work! Not so much "nip & tuck" but more "chomp & multiple pleats".

And now, and not because I'm bitter, some little pearls David sent me the other day.
(and yeah, yeah, not all men deserve these & yes I know lots of really lovely men .....)

Q. ! What should you do if you see your ex-husband rolling around inpain on the ground?
A. Shoot him again.
Q. How can you tell when a man is well-hung?
A. When you can just barely slip your finger in between his neck and thenoose.
Q. Why do little boys whine?
A. Because they're practicing to be men.
Q. How many men does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A. One - he just holds it up there and waits for the world to revolve !around him. OR...... Three - one to screw in the bulb, and two to listento him brag about the screwing part.
Q. What do you call a handcuffed man?
A. Trust worthy.
Q. What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath andcalling your name?
A. You didn't hold the pillow down long enough.
Q. Why does it take 100,000,000 sperm to fertilize one egg?
A. Because not one will stop and ask directions.
Q. Why do female black widow spiders kill their males after mating?
A. To stop the snoring before it starts.
Q: Why do men whistle when they're sitting on the toilet?
A: Because it helps them remember which end they need to wipe.
Q: What is the difference between men and women?
A: A woman wants one man to satisfy her every need. A man wants everywoman to satisfy his one need.
Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?
A: Rename the mail folder: "Instruction Manuals"

The weekend ... finally!

2006-05-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

The trouble with going on holiday is that you eventually have to go back to work, and this has been just the longest week. Seems so unfair. It's not the work itself so much - my desk seemed pretty much under control by Friday - but more the rapid descent back into all the politics and that feeling of being vaguely pissed off all the time.

Not that it's something I can claim as my own. I think it's a universal truth that where ever you work there will be a gazillion hidden agendas that have very little to do with the job you are meant to be doing and a lot to do with some peoples perverse sense of ego, but just give me a break. I just know that one day I'm going to lose it and stand up and scream "OK, so I'm a white, middleclass, middleaged woman - nothing I can do will ever change that fact so GET OVER IT!"

I try not to remind myself that there are still 17 years to go before I can get a pension (working on the idea that there actually will still be a government superannuation scheme in 2023!) and instead focus on the achievable time frames like, only 3 more hours until 5pm, or only 2 more days until the weekend ... there must be a better way!

Of course there are the "pearl" moments in my day that make up for the crap & Geeta is one of those pearls. We went for dinner last night at her new home and I'm happy to say that "Weight Watchers" is not a phrase that has ever made its way into her recipe book. She tells me that chinese food is very popular in India but with a minute Chinese population it is mostly cooked by Indians which could explain the (deliciously) spicy noodles etc. After devouring my all time favourite pre-dinner snacks of samosas & Star Gatthia with dipping sauces, then a feast of noodles, rice & chicken, we were cemented to the couch like a couple of stuck pigs. But no! There's more!

Galub Jamun (deep fried milkballs with sweet sauce) & Soan Papdi .... oh my god & goddesses. We thought we had died and gone to some sort of sugar heaven. Run RUN to the supermarket and find these! Now my sister Geeta recommends the Haldirum brand and I believe everything my sister Geeta tells me especially after shoving enough of these two little wonders down my gob to put me into a coma. Here's a link especially for you Gail (and everyone else but I know Gail is my fellow Indian cuisine addict!) because you just have to try these . (The Galub Jamun comes in a can and you just warm them a little in the microwave)

We finally managed to extricate ourselves from the sofa and make our way home & to bed, where I dreamt sweet sugary dreams. I love you Geeta (and I am not eating another thing all weekend I promise!!)

Gail - I checked the shipping charges on the site & it says free shipping in the US with only a $3 surcharge on orders under $30!! Could be the answer!

Wednesday

2006-05-03T00:45:00.000-07:00

It rained at lunchtime so what's a girl to do but go shopping.

Are these Madcow socks not just the greatest things!!

Then of course the delicious Monkey jamies!

Slightly more practical these desk files from K Mart for only $8 - I've been searching for something like this to organise a lot of my scrap supplies for months now. Finally something that is wide enough to take the longest lengths!

I also found a really great bright red parka on sale ... then realised it was actually in the children's section of the store ... and it fitted me. Oh well. There are benefits obviously to being a short Cow.

And before I am put on Kip's hitlist here are my answers to her "tag". (I'm really not scared of Kip ... really!)

Name 5 things that:

Make you smile:
Spending time with my friends, my new Madcow socks, waking up and realizing it’s the weekend, watching Dylan Moran doing standup on an Amnesty show on tv this weekend

You can see on your desk right now:
glass of chardonnay, digital camera, Passionfruit & Echinacea handcream, tv remote, my little bathing beauty that Kip sent me.

Kept you busy this weekend:
laundry, scrapping, taking the Madcow Mother out to visit a resthome, watching old movies

You will be doing this week:
work (ugh), laundry (more ugh), helping in the kitchen at the Madcow Mothers church, dinner at Geeta’s.

You said to make someone smile:
“You have learnt well little Grasshopper” to one of the girls in the office who had done her first scrapbook layouts,
“I’m only coming to see you in your little skirt” when one of the (male) lawyers asked if I was coming to watch him play netball
A mutual smile with Jules when we planned our ‘Over 40’s Scrapbook Magazine’
“You’ll lose your desk by the window if you don’t take better care of the weather!” to Hardev when it poured with rain today
and
“It’s 5 o’clock – home time family!” to the office tonight!

Okay, I tag:
Pam

Southside Sunday - Happy Birthday Russell!!

2006-04-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

When we went to pick up the Madcow Mother this morning she was still in her dressing gown - the gall of the woman! The Madcow of course never lounges around all day in HER jamies! While we waited we thought we may as well cross the road and go to the Sunday Market - one of our favourite places. It's always crowded & always has the best veges in town. I must go back when I have more time and get more shots (especially for Russell!) but today here is a little taste.

Today I got a big bag of mandarins, a bag of fresh onions & five avacados for the huge sum of $5. Can't beat that! We were very restrained and didn't dawdle over the clothing stalls or the bone carvings but just enjoyed all the music and savoured the smell of all the food cooking. I am sorry though that I didn't stop at the flower man and buy some of those gorgeous lillies, irises & stocks ... next weekend.

Instead we took the Madcow Mother to have a look at Selwyn Oaks, a nearby resthome. Just in case. Nothing like facing the enemy head on and I did manage to get a "Well if I had to ... it is very nice" out of her afterwards. Something for her to think about, there's no hurry, but I'm just glad she now knows that it doesn't have to be (as Dame Edna would say) a "High Security Home for the Terminally Bewildered". Instead it is a warm, welcoming place with staff who seem more interested in sharing a laugh than patronising, and after seeing the dinner menu I may just shift in there myself.

As a reward for being a good girl we went for coffee at the local hardware store (sounds silly but it works - hardware, garden centre & a very good cafe!). Not bad really for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning!

Now though, to find He Who Shall Not Be Named, who went to a party on Friday night and hasn't been heard of since, and to chant some mantra's about how I love my job and can't wait to get back to work tomorrow. Yeah, right.

PS. The Madcow Mother is wearing one her new jackets from our trip to Pokeno - I love her in that colour!

Good Moo-ning

2006-04-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

I am so terrified that Kip will put me on the Bad-Blogger List that I had to find something for you all. Don't you just adore Partycow! I believe she may be Madcows alter ego. And yes that is a purple fluffy tiara!

ANZAC Day

2006-04-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

Col. Malone's last letter to his wife - 5th August 1915. He died on Chunuk Bair 8 August 1915.

"My SweetheartIn less than two hours we move off to a valley, where we will be up all night and tomorrow in readiness for a big attack which will start from tomorrow night. Everything promises well and victory should rest with us. God grant it so and that our casualties will not be too heavy. I expect to go through all right but my dear wife if anything untoward happens to me there are our dear children to be brought up. You know how I love and have loved you, and we have had many years of great happiness together. If at anytime in the past I seemed absorbed in "affairs", it was that I might make proper provision for you and the children.
That was due from me. It is true perhaps that I overdid it somewhat. I believe now that I did, but did not see it at the time. I regret very much now that it was so and that I lost more happiness that I need have done. You must forgive me; forgive also anything unkindly or hard that I may have said or done in the past. I have made a will and it is in the office in Stratford. I think it was justly drawn. Anyway I intended it to so to be. I hope and think that the provision for you and the children will keep you and them in ease and comfort.
"I know you will never forget or let the dear children do so. I am prepared for death and hope that God will have forgiven me all my sins. My desire for life - so that I may see and be with you again - could not be greater but I have only done what every man was bound to do in our country's need. It has been a great consolation to me that you approved my action; the sacrifice was really yours. May you be consoled and rewarded by our dear Lord." Your loving husband, Wm G Malone."

Patamahoe

2006-04-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, we did it again. The list said "Do the Laundry!" but like two naughty school girls we made a break for it while "The List" had its back turned and took another little drive out of town.

You see we'd heard that there was a toyboy living in Patamahoe that other women we knew were raving about. We like toyboys. We like toyboys who give the best cuddles & kisses and this toyboy was by all accounts the BEST! Who could resist?

So meet Anthony. He was rather obliging on the cuddle & kiss front I must say, and as a further sign of affection even showed us his bottom. We like Anthony.

And yes, we were two very happy aunties!

Starjam!

2006-04-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

This is just the crappiest photo I know but...it's about the best we could get tonight and it does afterall prove I met Austin!

Leonie & I were on door sales for the Billy Fury Fan Club fundraiser tonight for "Starjam" which you can find out more about at
http://www.starjam.org/_about_starjam.htm
Such a great organisation and such fantastic young people who we were lucky enough to meet tonight.

Austin & his friends (Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, Abba, Freddy Mercury) all gave their time for free and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Hopefully lots of money raised ... of course feel free to make a donation yourselves! Trust me, you would be in awe of these young people.

Devonport

2006-04-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Our options today were (a) clean the bathrooms in our respective homes or (b) go to Devonport. Being the Domestic Diva's we are it was a painful decision - the smell of bleach vs the sea air? In the end we decided we owed it to you all to go afterall there are not that many mood shots you can get of a toilet bowl. Just remember though, if anyone in our homes develops any kind of foot fungus or slime it's all down to you and your wanting ways!
To save all the motorway & parking hassles we caught the train into the city. The Britomart transport centre is right at the bottom of Queen Street & you just have to walk straight across the road to the ferry terminal. The only obstacles in our path were all the Poppy Sellers - Tuesday is ANZAC day & the volunteers are out in droves. Cute though that these days kids are so eager to buy their poppy & wear it with pride. Quite a change from the 70's when it was all a little out of fashion and more an occasion for protest than anything else. Different times.
We couldn't have picked a better day - just when I think autumn is finally here we get another day out of the bag. Just sun & more sun and hardly a breath of wind. It takes about 15 minutes to get across the harbour and what with school holidays the ferry was crowded so this was the best view I could get of the ferry buildings although there are better ones on the other camera.
We wandered up one side of the village & back down the other in search of a sandwhich or roll but it's all cafe's, a single lettuce leaf on a 16inch white plate that they call a salad, flat whites & white wine. Not for these Southside girls - we want real food! You don't make cellulite by just thinking about it ya know! And wine at midday? Yeah right, we'd still be asleep under some tree by the beach waiting for someone to come collect us! We know our limits.
Instead after discovering the joys of the patchwork shop, the wool shop, ferreting contentedly through the secondhand bookstores and lusting after all the DIVINE shoes we took our peasant food (ok, Subway) to the waterfront and communed with the seagulls. A really popular little park & just the best fun people watching & harbour gazing.
Home again on the ferry & train and now shoes kicked off & wine poured ... bliss. The things I'm prepared to do for all of you!
PS. Don't forget you can click on the pic's to see 'em bigger

Pokeno

2006-04-20T02:52:00.000-07:00

There's not a lot to show you in Pokeno. There's the cafe. The petrol station. The butcher. The dress shop. The antique shop. The icecream shop and that's pretty much it! Oops. I forgot the vege shop around the corner. Still, there's a lot to be said for small and a lot to be said for Pokeno. It's like they've decided on a few things and they do those things well whether it's the Pokeno Bacon, the gigantic icecreams, the old fashioned burgers or the clothes.
The little dress shop "Country Fashions" caters for a lady of a certain age and they know their market well. In the hour or so we were in the settlement we must have counted about 20 or 30 women of mums age going through the doors, and remember this is a tiny place way off the beaten track and for most it would have been a days outing to get there. The Madcow Mother is not a shopper and yet within 15 minutes she'd picked out two jackets & two blouses (and is muttering still that she might ring and order some trousers). The women who own the shop are just delightful going out of their way to find the right fit etc. They make the clothes on the premises and so when we couldn't find the jacket in the right size they soon found a near completed one on their rack and finished it while we went to the cafe next door for lunch. Now there are some good saleswomen!
Lunch out is a bit of a treat for her too - cheese & onion toasted sandwhiches with a long black were the order of the day and good old fashioned sandwhiches they were too. Then of course you can't go to Pokeno and not buy an icecream. We settled on the "kids size" which was 2 scoops - I think the 6 scoop cone might even be beyond himself!
All in all, a good day out - the sun shone & the paddocks out that way are just lush at the moment. Even a few trees in the distance showing their autumn colours which is something I really miss up north here. Tomorrow perhaps another girls day out but this time just Leonie & I. Or perhaps a bit of scrapping & dribbling on the couch. I could be convinced either way!

Rain

2006-04-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

Walked up to the shops this morning & took my camera thinking I'd get some shots of "my town" while I did some errands for mum. Well these two are all I got before the heavens opened and down came the rain. No pleasant little autumn shower either. Torrential rain - drain covers in the middle of the footpath "popped" and spewed like geysers, the gutters on the verandahs flowed like waterfalls & as I waded through the puddles I had to wonder where all the good karma had disappeared to. Afterall, there am I being the dutiful daughter & what do I get - wet to the bone. And what do I get from her as I turn up at her door like a drowned rat? "Seeing as you're wet already could you check the letterbox & don't sit on the couch until you put a towel down." She's a charmer!!
Still, with this view out the window & SKY giving the perpetual "rain fade" message, it was a good excuse to stay in for the afternoon & scrap. I've been playing with the BG Blitzen papers & experimenting with my stamps & embossing powders. Mostly just making a mess but still preferable to actually using the kitchen to cook in!

Tomorrow will be a better day, tomorrow will be a better day ... hopefully a ladies day out down to Pokeno to take mum shopping ... if the road hasn't washed out!

Happy Easter Egg!

2006-04-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you I was on holiday?? Seventeen glorious days ... what a shame that I'm up to Day 4 already. So far lots of scrapping, lots of laundry and lots of Hot Cross Buns. All just as it should be.
I had considered going down to the farm but faced with Easter & School Holidays airfares I thought better of that idea. Instead I've decided to be a tourist in Auckland and go visit all the places that we usually just drive by on our way to somewhere else. So far the list includes the museum which I don't think I've been to since I was five, the Wintergardens, Highwic House. Perhaps catch the ferry to Devonport for breakfast and a fish around the second-hand bookshops. Too, theres the luxery of time to go meet with friends working in the city for lunch. The shops in High Street, the art galleries ... watch this space!
Todays picture is of the little flax crosses that mums friend (and our special aunty) Kath sends every Easter.

Cos I said I would ...

2006-04-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

pics of the De La Salle Gala.
The best gala day I've been to in years - food to die for, fresh vegetables at rock bottom prices
and all our favourites like the raffles
& sausage sizzles.
If He Who Shall Not Be Named hadn't got the scholarship to Dilworth he would have gone to De La Salle and it was kind of comforting today to realise that he would have gone to a really great community. We met lots of friends there and I was pleasantly surprised how many people I know have connections to DLS.
(Note to self: never wear those jeans until I've lost the next 10kgs!!!)

Of course one of the highlights was to have Nana & Aunty time with Maia - it's hard to believe the battles this little princess has already been through.

We spent the rest of the day on a little "tiki tour" heading down to Pokeno, Mercer & Ramarama, and yes Tony, there is only one road in NZ!

The only thing to slightly, and it is only slightly, annoy me is excema. The past few months have not been good and finally I had to admit defeat and visit the chemist. Bless his heart, he gave me hydrocortisone, aqueous cream & Evening Primrose (nobody ever told me that was good for excema!). But then today I talked with Lynnie and she told me how by stopping colouring in her hair relieved hers. Mmm...makes me think. I only started colouring my hair last October - could it be the toxins from the dyes that are causing this latest outbreak? I hadn't dyed my hair for well over a year before that and I am starting to wonder if it's a build up. I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has had similar problems. Perhaps the Madcow is destined to a life of grey & dull!

Hello Lisa & Tony!!

2006-04-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

Just for you, a pic of Khyler-Che, Joolz & Blaires first grandbaby (and the most beautiful baby IN THE WORLD!), just so you can say "awwwww".
And Tony, I believe we may have done you (and your phone discount) proud - I checked the time before I rang and it was about 12.15pm your time & just now it was 1.12!! We managed the one hour!! LOL
PS. Cat! Mum made the little baby beanie & if you'd like the pattern let me know - too cute!

Wednesday

2006-04-04T23:47:00.000-07:00

I went home sick from work yesterday - a bad case of malingering I feel - and stayed home again today. One of those days where you don't feel great so you may as well waste an hour of your life finally downloading some (or should I say "a") layouts onto the Madcow Scrapbooking blog. Dial up internet is starting to get real old, real fast. Anyway, the link is over to the left I you want to looky-see.
Back to work tomorrow I suppose. A lot I could say about that but I don't need to be "Dooced" right now. Let's just say it is little wonder I have excema, insomnia and keep picking up every little virus that visits the AC at work. Ho hum. I think I may have been down this road before.
One highlight of my day on the couch was watching "Funny Bones" on SKY this morning. I've seen it before but it never fails to stun me. The cast includes Oliver Platt, Jerry Lewis, Lee Evans, Leslie Caron, Richard Griffiths, Oliver Reed, Freddie Davies ....
There's a review here
Seriously, run as fast as you can and find a copy of this. You won't regret it. And if you do, well, you can just blame me. (Did I mention the soundtrack is magnificent?)

It's raining ...

2006-04-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

and I'm just loving the sound of that wet stuff on the roof. I like rain. I like the feel of it, the sound of it on the roof. I like puddles. I don't even mind being out in it. (Have you ever noticed that funny little time inbetween being slightly uncomfortable getting wet and being soaked & cold ... that brief little time when the rain actually warms you? Or is that just me?)

Tonight it's been bucketing down with a bit of thunder & lightening thrown in for good measure, and the annoying little "rain fade" message from SKY TV as reception gives up just on the last minute or so of the drama I've been watching for the past hour. Oh well, no doubt it will be repeated within the next day or so and I will finally be able to rest easy in my bed knowing Judge John Deed is safe to fight another battle and live another day! (Gail - the pic is of the man himself - Martin Shaw - who plays the lead role. If someone could arrange for him to be in my Christmas stocking I would be grateful! Click on the underlined link and it takes you to the show site. I keep forgetting we are not all getting the same tv shows!! )

Instead I went for a little expedition into the back of the wardrobe to
recover my new gumboots, a birthday present from Leonie. Aren't they just the most gorgeous things! And won't Blaire be so impressed with them when I wear them down on the farm. I bet he'll be wishing he had a pair just like them. In fact I think I'll go see if I can get him a pair to take to England with him. Now won't the other boys in the shearing gang be jealous!

Born to Shop

2006-04-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

To my shame it's true. Money can go through my hands like water, no matter how many stern lectures I give myself. When I'm in a forgiving mood I tell myself it's just a reaction to all the years of budgeting when He Who Shall Not Be Named was small and seemingly unwilling to get himself a job. Some fool told him about child labour laws at a very early age and he seemed to think it was his given right to go to school and play with Lego in his spare time. You'd think a five year old would have had more ambition.
Now of course he can fund his own lager lifestyle and I, for the first time in 21 years, find curious little bits of paper in my purse that retailers seem keen to relieve me of. They in turn give me little packages of "important and necessary things" and I'm so grateful to them. Heaven forbid those little bits of paper should gather dust and interest!

Shoes of course are necessary & extremely important. I love these cute little "flatties" for work (although so far they haven't enjoyed being on my feet too much, leaving little blisters and ouchy parts. Seems a summer of wearing jandals & slip-ons will do that!)

Then of course there was the near fatal attack of the "girly-girls" when these two pink tops followed me home. Yes Gail. PINK! I feel like I'm channelling Barbie. What next? A skirt??

Yesterday of course was the Stitch & Craft Expo at Greenlane and yet another shopping opportunity. There was one little package which I'm dying to show you but as it's a special little something for Patty I guess I should maintain the element of surprise for her sake ... but its divine!! What I can show you is this wallhanging pattern which Robyn & I are going to attempt. The stall had one already made hanging and it was gorgeous and the pattern does say its for Beginners. Mmm, having read the instructions I feel there may be "beginners" and "beginners". Oh well, we're nothing if not daring and if all else fails there can never be enough dusters in the world!
The rest of the purchases were from the stamping stands - more inkpads and these cute little wooden flowers. There were some wooden maori-ish design alphabets too but I really couldn't decide whether they were elegant or kitch. Sometimes its a fine line isn't it! In the meantime they remain on the shelf.
We met up with our old friend Shelley too - she has started
her own business selling hand dyed fabrics here and had a couple of quilts up that were staggeringly beautiful. It's beyond me where she finds the time to do it all but then, when we all worked together, she was like a whirling dervish in the office. Faster than a speeding bullet - that was our Shel!
As we were leaving we met Mr Concrete the busker & I was left explaining to Robyn why he amused me so much. I'd been watching Merrick & Rosso (The B Team) the other night as they did their rant on the buskers the hated the most. To prove their point that the "statue buskers" were the biggest waste of space & energy they covered a store mannequin in concrete, propped it up on the street with a collection box in front and then filmed. Several hours later they collected their own Concrete Man & took him the pub to drink the $20 or so dollars he'd made proving their point that you didn't even have to be there to busk. I wonder if my particular Concrete Man considered he could have been at home watching tv & drinking a beer and still have made as much money? Too, he wouldn't have had to look like such a complete & utter prat. Well, it amused me.
Have a good one! I'm off to find the chardy.

April!

2006-04-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

This months calendar courtesy of Kiwiscaps NZ & Christina Buckley. Mmm...not sure about this one, but perhaps one of you will like it. Lets face it, I have enough of a struggle putting photos on the page let alone decorating the garden!