Chillin' Chrimble

It’s Christmas day and I’m home alone. Hubby has flown to the UK to see his Grandmother who is in hospital after hip surgery. My plan to relax, do nothing and watch telly with the cats by my side.

And that I did once I had dragged my backside from my pit. I showered and went for a walk into Chinatown, had sushi for lunch then sauntered home to watch Only Fools and Horses.

UKTV on Foxtel were having a special all day of OF&H so being English it was my duty...no, my honour, to sit and observe the traditional Christmas episode after Christmas Lunch.

I find it bewildering that the one day of the year that we are allowed, neigh, expected to sit and do nothing, most choose to have one of the busiest days of the year. I have a girlfriend who is having neighbours over for a champagne breakfast, followed lunch with her Dad then dinner with her in-laws. Another friend has chosen to visit someone she hasn’t seen for several years.

For me, it was relaxing. I spoke to those I wanted to speak to (mostly the cats), I ate what I wanted to (grilled haloumi with oregano and lemon) and watched what I wanted to watch (the world go by and OF&H). I know this isn’t everybody’s idea of ideal, but for me, just this year it was.

I hope you all had a wonderful day and that 2007 brings you all that you hope and wish for.


(253 words)

ANTM 7-11 & 7-12

Once again I’ve got a little behind in my America’s Next Top Model watching, it may be because I’ve been busy having a life! Christmas silly season has been well and truly good to me but not to my liver.

Episode 7-11

Caridee made out with one of the Spanish male models from the previous episodes, after dinner when they came around for dinner one night. The next day Tyra asked what they thought was the toughest criticism during judging. The girls all made stuff up, but Melrose, of course, kissed arse.

The challenge this week was the go-see. This is a casting test were the girls have to rush round and see as many of the 10 designers expecting them in the allowed time (in this case 4 hours). They are marked on, 1.Appearance, 2. Runway Walk, 3. Personality and 4. Portfolio. Once again Melrose won the challenge with 5 go-sees and being back on time. The twins were late and were disqualified. She picked Caridee as her companion to share her prize of a personal chef for the evening.

The Only active bullring in Barcelona was the location of the photo shoot with Nigel Barker (judge and fashion photographer) in charge. During the preparations while Nigel was waving a rod at the bull, Caridee asked ‘Did you just remove that from your ass from the last panel?’ Later she was chewed out by Mr. J in front of the other girls for showing lack of respect.

Michelle got a great review for her shoot, Melrose stuffed it up by being wooden and Caridee apologised but still screwed up the shoot.

The judging panel was a toughy. Each girl had to say who they thought had the most potential and who had the least. Melrose picked herself and Eugena. Eugena picked herself and Amanda. Caridee picked herself and Amanda. Amanda picked Eugena as having the most potential and Caridee as the least. Michelle picked Caridee and herself.

The Twins were the bottom two and Michelle went home after sacrificing herself for her sister who wants it more.

Episode 7-12

Flamenco lessons saw the paired up with four professional dancers. Eugena got the thumbs up from the teacher for picking up the steps so quickly. Amanda had two left feet. Miss J. joined them all for dinner and Melrose sucked up big time.

The next day they had to dance in full flamenco costume. Eugena did well and even managed to smile while dancing, proving finally that she can do more than one thing at a time. Melrose who ‘have my steps mastered’ forgot her steps. Eugena won the challenge and picked Amanda as her companion. Melrose pouted and then cried ‘cause she takes dancing very seriously and din’t like being judged. Then again, I would have cried too if I’d been made to wear a baby blue polka dot dress!
The girls where paired up to be water-nymphs for the photo shoot with Tyra coaching them. The water in the swimming pool was so cool all the girls had chatter teeth, but Caridee was treated for hypothermia.

With only four girls left, the bitchy comments have stepped up a notch with Eugena calling Amanda gangly and Melrose even shooting nasty looks during judging.

Judging panel saw Caridee and Amanda in the bottom two. Despite Michelle’s efforts last week, Amanda went home.

In next weeks season final Caridee, Melrose and Eugena fight it out for the title of America’s Next Top Model. And, you dear readers can breathe a sigh of relief at it all being over!

Merry Christmas!

(608 words)

Tarmac to Robbie Vol 3 (long, but the final part :-)

Monday morning passed us all (Edna, Hubby and I) by in a rapid movement of the eye. After the excesses of the previous evening and early hours of the morning, by the time we got out of the hotel it was lunchtime.

So we made our way out to Richmond and a place called Pearl on the recommendation of a friend of Edna’s. We were armed with a business card and nothing else except the comment of ‘it’s rather nice.’ So we walk through the door, dressed in jeans and t-shirts and the man at the desk says ‘How may I help you?’
‘Are you here for the restaurant?’
I have been told I looked at him blankly, but I was thinking - No, we’re here for the monkeys on bicycles -
He asked again, but this time hubby jumped in with the sensible answer to his questions ‘Yes, lunch, bar menu outside, fine. Thank you.’ Before steering me out to the table and away from the full-on three course extravaganza that was happening inside. While we waited to order we watched a very tall man in a grey suit park his black Mercedes in a No-parking zone and walk in. Our waiter informed us that he was the head of Village Cinemas and always gets a parking ticket with his lunch. The extremely lovely light lunch of Steak sandwiches and noodles (see picture) was delivered but our happy waiter, wine was drunk, but when wind started to impair our enjoyment we moved into the bar area for dessert and more wine to match. Orange Blossom ice cream and an obscene almond milk jelly was consumed by Edna, Turkish Delight with Rose ice cream saw its way slowly into my tummy and hubby had dumplings with three chocolates. It was all divine until we got the bill, but then we should have known we weren’t going to be having a $15 dollar lunch when we saw the Mother-of-Pearl walls.

A quick trip to Prahran saw Edna and Hubby relaxing in a pub drinking cider, while I nipped to the local Antique book store. They had a copy of an out of print book I have been eyeing for a while and now they don’t. It’s mine! ;-) A walk along Chapel Street revealed many treasures including this gem of a Greengrocers shop called Rocky's/

Back across town a couple of hours later, we had finally found somewhere to eat near the Telstra Dome. Trixy was there, Bob and Mick, so a table of six in the corner. Very nice food but it was all over too soon. We were off the concert. We left T,B and M to finish their food while we made out way to our seats high in the clouds and million miles from the stage. To be fair to the ‘special Inner Sanctum seats’ we had a really good view of the overall show.

Robbie Williams was fantastic! He looked wired, or maybe it was just knackered as this was his last tour of a world tour that has been going since the start of the year. I know he’s released another album in the time and had some time off, but he must be exhausted, poor baby. He danced, sweated, strutted, and sat his way through two hours of pure entertainment. He sang ‘Me and my Shadow’ with Jonny Wilkes and Kids with his back up singers. He put on his special Addidas white hoodie when he encored with Rudebox.

About halfway through the evening (about 10.15, he came on a 9pm) he was talking about the concert he did in Brisbane and how he’d been told off for smoking in the Non-Smoking venue. He said ‘I know this is a non-smoking venue too but let’s face it sometime I just fancy a fag’ then took a really long drag from his cigarette. He went on o say ‘This is for all the impressionable kiddies out there, I am NOT a role model!’ That’s Shane Warne’s job.’ The audience cheered and then chanted Warney for about thirty seconds.
He broke the record for a performance at the Telstra Dome with 66,500 people. The previous record is about 57,000.

GO ROBBIE!

The following morning we were a little worse for wear, but didn’t care too much. The concert had been fantastic and any dramas from the previous night were not quite forgotten but certainly not being dwelled upon except by the drama creator. Eggs Benedict (salmon and spinach) set us up for ta day of doing the rest of the things we wanted to do while in Melbourne. A trip to the Philatelic Centre, a picture of Purple Trees (jacaranda) a Christmas pressie purchase and a trip to Crown Casino. Edna lost $10 at Roulette, then I won $20 at Roulette, then I cashed in my chips (‘cause I couldn’t find a $5 Blackjack table) and gave hubby and Edna $2 each for the pokies. He won $18 and Edna won $12. So all in all we came out, up. A great end to an overall great long weekend.

Tarmac to Robbie - Vol 2

Once Hubby and Edna got back from the Best Eggs Benedicts in Melbourne I was prised from my pit, showered and dressed, then we all took off on out walking tour of the City of Melbourne. After perusing some very fine stores, such as Leghorn, a custom made tie and suit shop that we can’t remember the name of, an equally yummy jewellery shop in a side alley and the Lord of the Fries (a cup of hand cut chips with mayo that prompted an ANTM style photo shoot once again, the mayo was better than the self proclaimed ‘best chips in Melbourne’) before getting on the City Circle tram.

After seeing the Eagle that guards Docklands we walked through the ‘wetlands’ park which was more of a puddle. Edna and I relived our youth with a swing on the ehh… swings before I behaved like a complete bogan and rolled down the hill like a five year old. I think I may have regressed a few years too many! ;-)

The walk around the dockland took us passed the ‘cow in a tree’, which apparently represents drought and famine, whatever! To the New Quay and many bars, restaurants and ice cream parlours. The Bar was first, were we topped up energy levels with Magners and wedges at the James Squire Brewhouse were I also happened to prove my age by spilling Sweet Chilli Sauce down the front of my white top. After some examination and flashing to other patrons we moved onto having cones at the Limoncetto. Handmade ice cream in the flavours of Caramel, cherry, strawberry, mango and the special, which happened to be Lemon sorbet. Very Yum!

A kerfuffle with trams and a bit of over sun exposure later we arrived at David Jones for a tad or retail therapy. Hubby was also a tad, exasperated that is! Edna ended up purchasing a rather fetching burnt orange belted dress, while I replaced my sweet Chilli stained white t-shirt with a rather nice green shirt.

Dinner took place after a brief stop over at The European Bier Café. Were I thought Edna was going to have a fit when the barmaid tried to pour her Erdinger Dunkel into a glass quickly! After a brief education the barmaid was aware, but unimpressed, that despite the Germans being efficient, an Erdinger is poured slowly until just before the end when you swill the last liquid to mix the yeast before pouring into the glass to produce the head. We downed our drinks rapidly before running to the ‘Best Sushi Train in Melbourne’ for dinner.

Tomodachi, the self proclaimed ‘best sushi train in Melbourne’ may be the best train, but it sure isn’t the best selection or the cheapest. Apart from the Smoked Salmon/Prawn/eel/caviar/cress do-dad on a gold plate ($7.50) everything was pretty ordinary, and better at Sushi Bus on Oxford Street in Sydney, and we would have earned over 50 points at Sushi Bus towards our next meal.

Back to the Euro Bier Café for after dinner drinks and plenty Erdingers consumed before adjourning to our hotel suite with Pink and Red (lovely jubbly bubbly) in tow. Dancing to ‘Floorfillers’ ended the evening with daft dancing and a cuppa tea!

(533 words)

Tarmac to Robbie - Vol 1

After a fun ‘Santa in leather chaps’ trip to Hellfire on Friday night with Edna, we got up four hours after leaving to commence the long drive to Melbourne. We were starting a weekend long exodus to see Robbie Williams in concert. In the car was Hubby driving, me in the front passenger seat and Edna lounging in the backseat like the superstar that she is. We had snacks, drink and music!

Just as we turned onto Flinders Street someone asked ‘Are we there yet?’

Two hours later we arrived in Goulburn to see the ‘Big Marina’. This is more commonly known as the Big Merino and is a forty metre high concrete sheep on the edge of town and the only tourist attraction within 50kms. We saw the good s for sale before climbing the stairs to the lookout point on top. At the top of six flights of stairs we were treated to spy holes looking out over housing estates and boards filled with such gems as ‘dress your children in wool’ along with a picture of a child dressed in nylon going up in flames.

Two hours later we arrived at the next tourist attraction. The stunning, awe inspiring and shockingly small ‘Dog on a Tucker Box’. The sign on the Hume Highway, which was the size of a house directed us with only 500m to go. So with urgency we indicated to the right and made the turn. After driving around the car park, we found it. A fountain with a bronze dog sitting on a god damn lunch box! After a photo shoot that would put Americas Next Tip Model to shame we were back on the road.

Two hours later and after a brief nap for the passengers we arrived in Holbrook. A small town that has the National Museum of Australian Pottery, a craft shop and a 90 metre submarine. Not bad for a town 400kms for the nearest ocean. A brief stop and climb and drink saw us refreshed for the next few hours in the car.

After the submarine, we were convinced there could be nothing else to see in NSW, but we were proven wrong by the National Truck Drivers Memorial. Practically a Mecca for Edna, all we need is the Pretty Boys Memorial and we’ll be complete!

The NSW/Vic border came and went in the blink of an eye except the brief tourist photo shoot.

Suddenly Seymour was upon us. Actually it took 200kms, but every time we saw to the sign and shouted ‘Feed Me’. It was funny for about 100ks, then we played the Movie game which took us up to Glenrowan. A town known to be the place were Ned Kelly was finally caught, we managed to get a few good pictures of the Giant Ned before moving on! After all Ned and his blood soaked miniature pony auditioned for a 4th member of their gang here, so they were bound to be caught.
Just before dusk we finally rolled into Melbourne. Through the art lined highways and bad driving, we navigated our way to the hotel.

After dumping the bags we walked to the South Bank and consume sustenance. Edna tucked into Muscles in vodka and caviar. Hubby had Pan Fried Atlantic Salmon in ‘sauce’ and potatoes and I gnawed my way through the toughest Duck Breast in the south hemisphere. My advice would be that the Bistro Vite is anything but Quick!

(580 words)

Second Adolescence

It official, It seems I'm going through puberty AGAIN!

I went to see my ‘gal’ today for a spot of waxing before Christmas and we got to talking about the condition of my skin. Now, those of you that know, I’m 34, those of you that didn’t; now you do ;-). For the last couple of months my skin has been crazy spotty. Chin, nose, back, chest, even in my hair, it’s gross, trust me. It gets worse, twenty minutes after I’ve washed my face, cleansed, toned and applied a light moisturiser my face feels like I’ve got over zealous with the spray cooking oil.

It’s not even as if I’m eating crisps and greasy crap...I live on fresh fruit, rich rolls, veggies, sushi and meat (not a lot of chocolate although it does sneak in on occasion and I partial to jelly). And I drink getting on for two litres of water a day as well and green tea.

So, we were discussing my skin, what’s changed? New moisturiser? No. New shampoo? No. Are you having more sex? No more than usual.

Then I remembered, about three months ago I went off the pill due to my high blood pressure (the pill can increase bp), for the first time since I went on it when I was 14.

‘Well, that’s it then. You’re going through puberty, properly!’

I must make a Doctor’s appointment so she can put a stop to it.


(240 words)

I’m a Switcher

I switched to the new version of blogger. You need to have a Google account to sign in.

It takes a while to convert it, so I would suggest you don't press the 'convert' button at half past midnight just before a quick update.

Otherwise, I think it's the same so far.

An Accidental 4-Way over Lunch

Trixy is back in time for the Christmas party season having returned from a Stateside trip for Turkey Day and a family visit. The family part of the visit went well with his sister being pregnant with her second child, a brother that still loves him and a dad who spoke to him instead of watching the weather channel (see it’s not just me with a screwy family).

The rest of the trip went exceptionally well too. He went to Hugo Boss in George Town, San Francisco and got himself a couple of new suits and generally shopped up a storm, but then any girl would go shopping in San Fran. He also picked up a few other lovely young things. There was the bellboy who didn’t get cash as a tip and the three students who gave him a lift back to his exclusive hotel after a night out on the town, they asked what the room was like and he showed them. It must be a real bitch not being able to get a cab at 2am in Pennsylvania.

Over coffee we discussed the New Year, we’ve decided our Resolution for 2007 is to become Groupies!

I mentioned that I would like to see more pub bands and up and coming artists after looking at a copy of Drum Media, a free gig guide to Sydney, he told me what fun it is and how much fun he had when based in Melbourne. So, what with weight lose and exercise being so 2006, groupies for 2007 it is.

What's your New Years Resolution?

(260 words)

Drinking, Movies and Elephant Butts

My weekend started with a night out in Newtown with Edna and a few other from when I still worked at Statewide Speedy. We started in The Courthouse before moving to Zanzibar when we all got kicked out at closing. Quite a bit of alcohol was consumed, philosophies were debated, girls were pulled, girls were put in taxi’s and I was called a anthropologist by a cab driver. Got in at 4.30am.

At 11am on Saturday I rolled out bed feeling tired and sorry for myself before consuming the classic morning after fodder of a chicken kebab with barbeque sauce. Feeling much better I went to the movies to catch up on some of the flicks I’ve missed. So I treated myself to a visual feast of Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in The Prestige. It was full of twists and turns and double crosses, making an unusual film in the current season of animation. On the way home we drove past Aussie Stadium and got a brief taste of Robbie.

Sunday started with a trip to Taronga Zoo. They opened a new exhibit about a month ago, five new Elephants arrived. We also saw chimps, spoonbills and silvery gibbons, crocodiles and ohh… yes elephants. Hubby caught me out with a dumb blond joke. We were walking along and he said ‘we can’t go there, ‘it’s sealed off!’ It took at least a few seconds before I realised we were walking past the seal tanks.

Sunday evening was rounded off with another trip to the movies to see Casino Royale. Were do I start without given you a plethora of spoilers, but I will say that why do Hollywood producers and directors insist of on f*cking with Bond. They’ve taken the girlie silhouettes away from the opening credits but replaced them with guys getting shot silhouettes being serenaded by an unknown singer. He’s blonde with the most piecing blue eyes, surely they aren’t real? No gadget collection point with bad jokes about lunch and he get injured! Bond doesn’t get injured! He does however, look very good in a dinner jacket as well as having a cute butt in trunks.

Why do they insist on treating Bond like a spy...he isn’t a spy, no spy would escape after a year in a Korean torture camp, swim across Hong Kong Harbour in his pj’s, walk into the Yacht Club soaking wet to be greeted by the manager with ‘Good Evening Mr. Bond, your usual suite?’

He’s a good darn super hero, do you see them dressing Superman in purple?!

(400 Words)

Jingle Balls

I was walking about the city last week and saw this -

I had to take a picture 'cause only in a country that celebrates Christmas when its hotter than the sun would you see a pair of baubles masquerading as testicles on a acupuncture points mannequin.

ANTM 7-9 & 7-10

I’m a bit behind, so you’ve got a double episode rundown.

Episode 7 - 9

Gabrielle Reece, model and volley ball player gave the girls a lesson in ‘Action Shots’ Melrose got stuck into Anchel right from the start about Achel’s unwillingness to get her kit off

James St James (Author and stylist) took the girls to the race track so they could take their own photos as they jumped/attacked their boyfriend for the day Stanton Barrett the Nascar Driver. Amanda won the challenge even though she stood on the bonnet of the car with 4 inch spike heels and scratched the paintwork.

Patrick Giardino was the photographer for the action photo shoot the was the first Cover Girl shoot. They were taken to a skydiving training facility, dressed as space girls and photographed for a composite foundation advert. Melrose mucked it up!

Judging saw Melrose not as confident as usual and Anchel wanting to go home.

Michelle and Anchel where in the bottom two, Anchel went home. Caridee cried.

6 to go

Episode 7 - 10

After a brief but shocking acting workshop Caridee won the challenge by appearing to be the best in a silent movie. As her prize she got to appear on One Tree Hill in a guest starring role.

All the girls traveled to the Barcelona for their exotic location. A succession of male models joined the bus before a traditional Catalan meal. During the meal the girls were given their first challenge which was to shot an advert in Spanish with the assistance of the male model they had been paired with. Over dinner Jaeda’s partner told her he didn’t like coloured girls and he was eating so didn’t want to practice.

Neither Amanda or Michelle struck a cord with Jay, Melrose strutted her stuff, but giggled her way through, Caridee sucked big time but made out with the male model, and Jaeda failed completely because the whole idea of kissing the nasty man made her feel sick.

During judging the girls let Melrose have it for being a kiss-arse and telling the panel that she studied for an extra two hours.

Caridee and Jaeda were in the bottom two. Jaeda flew home and seemed to be quite happy about it.

(363 words)

The Week that Was

Once again we are at Friday. My last post was on a Friday and I’ve just recovered from a mediocre weekend.

Hubbies Aunt and Uncle were in town and we spent the entire weekend with them. It started on Friday night, dinner at a steak house on Darling Harbour were we had the camera in our face, heard about the selling of the sheep and bullocks and how the pig farm doesn’t smell anymore. We also heard about their travels around Aus, before they got to Sydney.

After dinner I went to VICE the new fetish club in town, which was explained away as a night with the girls.

Saturday saw us in the car, boys in the front and girls in the back, driving to the Central Coast and lunch on the beach. They told us about their travels so far in Aus before reaching Sydney and how they’ve sold the sheep and bullock and that believe it of not, the pig farm is no longer a pig farm and doesn’t smell anymore. The weather left a lot to be desired but I took them Rock Pooling after lunch.

They did ask if I had enjoyed my ‘night out with the girls’ and what sort of club was it. I described VICE as ‘just a nightclub with acts on the half hour’. I should have left that bit out, as they asked ‘what sort of acts?’ There had been a Sword Swallower, so that was easy and the very sexy, but gay pole dancer became a tap dancer.

Sunday, we met them at Centre Point Tower after lunch. Shortly after the traumatic experience of helping hubby buy a new suit. They told us about lunch in the revolving restaurant and about selling the sheep, bullocks and how the smell of pigs has now left their home.

Monday, work! Tuesday, country. Wednesday, Work and Sushi with Edna. Thursday, country and relaxo, which bring us to today. Friday, work and the writing of my blog. It was only when I started that I realised I just recovered from the visit last weekend. So what do you think it’s going to be like when his parents are here for six weeks starting Feb17th!

(371 words)

My Good Friends Wedding

Yesterday morning my clubbing buddy Sam got married.

He married a lovely lady, Sara at the Sydney Registry office in front of his Dad, her Mum, a work colleagues, Hubby and I. They will have a traditional Indian ceremony next year in India some time. She worn a sari of gold silk and her palms were painted with henna, she looked beautiful. He had on a grey suit with a pink shirt and tie, very dashing.

It a very odd feeling to get up and dress to go to a wedding at 9 o’clock in the morning, then to go home straight after. There was no lunch or dinner. I was home by 10.30am.

The service was presided over by a gentleman with grey wirery hair and thick glasses and the soothing voice of a vicar. The Mother of the bride worn a burnt orange sari with black sashing and was a demon with a video camera. At one point it was thrust at me, and only taken back after it was all over. I didn’t mind, she had other things to be doing, like watching her daughter get hitched and signing the register. His Dad had on black slacks and white shirt, open at the collar, a biro in his breast pocket and a camera in his hand. The photographer kept telling him to take out the biro and had to dodge him for the good photo angles.

After it was over Mother in Law gave everyone present a Ferro Roche. The short ceremony was lovely and too the point.

Congratulations, Mate. I hope you will both be happy!’

(268 words)

Iceberg Ahead!

Yesterday, after I’d had my hair cut and whilst I was having all offending hair wax from my body I received a phone call for Hubby. He had been offered two free tickets to see Titanic – A New Musical at the Theatre Royal, did I want to go?

Being a big fan of musicals in general, the answer was a big YES!

Also, I was curious. How can you make a musical about such a tragic event? This is after all the story of the world’s largest moving object (at the time, 1912) that sank on her maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg.

Make it a comedy, probably best not too. Make it dead serious, not a big draw card. They went for something in between, mostly serious, but a few pieces of comic moments. This is not a remake of the movie on the stage. The title song, is very powerful and tugs the heartstrings at just the right moments. The staging even manages to sink the ship without even a single drop of water.

I did of course cry, as I always do whenever I think of this story. Perhaps it’s because my mum is from Southampton and I grew up on tales of the ‘unsinkable ship’ from my grandad, perhaps it’s because her great uncle was a pastry chef on board and was one of the survivors, I’m not sure, whatever the reason I’m glad I saw it.

If you get a chance, go see it.

Ohh… yeah, and the costumes are fabulous!

(256 words)

ANTM 7-8

The recap episode of who’s made it this far.

It showed how the girls got a fashion makeover at the start, stuff got throw out and then they got to got shopping.

The bitching started. Comments like ‘die bitch die’, ‘you smell so bad’, you ate my chips’, she’s a psycho’ and ‘grow a weave’.

The funniest thing ever though was the reaction to a sparrow that was inside the house. The screams and running…!

So nothing really that exciting. We are left with Melrose, Eugena, Michelle, Amanda, Caridee, Anchel and Jaeda.

Beautiful Armidale (long with pictures)

I was lucky this weekend, it started on Thursday.

As volunteer editor of a newsletter about alpacas, I have recently put together and sent out a calendar of cute pictures and regional dates with the approval for committee and members (no easy feat as anyone involved with committees will tell you). So I spent Thursday in my car, driving from Sydney to Armidale (600+ kilometres) for a regional meeting and popping into Information Centre and little shops along the way, trying to sell the calendar. I got rid of 50 or so. I also stopped and interviewed a fleece testing owner for the newsletter.

I arrived at the little B&B I was staying in just after 6pm, order a take away and a bottle of red and chilled out ‘cause I was (quite frankly) knackered after a day in the car.


I awoke on Friday feeling good, and was looking forward to a day amongst the alpacas, blue fairy wrens and plovers, English cottage garden, writing up the interview and generally taking it easy in preparation for the Committee/OGM meetings to be attended on Sunday. At about 12.30/1 I decided to pick up my messages, what a mistake! The last one of five was from the regional president telling ‘we’ll sort out the Carnation* issue at the Committee meeting’.

Well, with a cryptic message like that I had to call her and find out what was happening. After all I didn’t have access to my email in the wilds of downtown Armidale.

It turns out that Carnation had once again been up to her trick of being vindictive, mean spirited and noxious self to the point of recruiting a Crony to attack me, the committee and the calendar by saying such things as the photos were poorly composed and taken on a cheap camera (my camera was not cheap, small, but not cheap), that 85% of the pictures had been taken in one spot (at least 10 different locations including overseas), the animals portrayed were miserable looking and genetically poor (10 of the 13 months are of broad ribbon winners), the advertisers should get their money back (it was sponsorship, not advertising), major events in the general alpaca calendar were missing (not available at time of publication, and still not available) and finally that the calendar as a whole was a ‘disaster’.

As you can image after hearing this and other tip bits that I have not included I was rather P*SSed Off! The President was also miffed as her animals were some that had been accused of being genetically inferior, including her Supreme Champion female. I can quite honestly say, if I had seen Carnation or Crony at that moment I would have nutted her. My leisurely day was out the window.

Many phone calls were made to the sponsors and all but one, were happy with what they got. Carnation and Crony had, btw, not been involved in production at all. Much discussion took place, with my hosts, (also alpaca breeders, who incidentally thought the tone of the emails were personal attacks), and I was calmed down. My weekend on a whole though had a taint on it. After dinner and a few glasses of red, things were looking better, but I still went to bed muttering ‘bastards’ under my cab sav breath.

Saturday, say hubby and I doing a rather long, delightful tourist drive to see the waterfalls of the New England Tablelands. Bakers Falls was rocky and dry. Wollomombi Falls, according to the postcard I purchased is supposed to be a rushing torrent forming the tallest waterfall in NSW, it was dry. The surrounding landscape was spectacular so that kinda made up for the lack of water. Lunch at the Wollomombi General store saw hubby eating the biggest burger on the planet and me selling the owner 5 calendars.

Further on up the road was Ebor Falls, now this one is perennial, so it had water. And boy, was it purdy! One waterfall made up on an upper and lower falls. The Upper falls was wide with lots of rocks for the water to divide and break over. The water then wound its way to the lower fall which is a sheer 100 metre drop to the bottom of the valley. The drive back to the B&B took us onto dirt roads, past sweeping plains and amongst many iddy bidy baby moo cows.

Saturday night we had dinner with the committee and discussed all sorts of things at length, including the calendar, and pretty much decide that Carnation and Crony could take a runny jump and that we were not going to let them get to us (mainly me ;-) Nice dinner/bbq, good company and a dash of good drink.

Sunday and the day of the Alpaca meeting, 32 mad keen people in attendance. Pretty much all of them said how much they liked the calendar; in fact I sold 40 at the meeting. So, in my general business of this blog entry I would like to say, 'get you’re your bloody facts right, Carnation and Crony!’

On the drive home, hubby and I were so engrossed in our discussion of volunteer organisations and need for people on the side lines to criticise and put down those that help, he got caught speeding by a nice policeman in a red car. The Copper gave us a ticket for going 123kms in a 100 limit, we gave him a calendar.

*name changed to protect the Cantankerous Old Bat.

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Duel

After my soul had been returned to me when I left the office today (my current job is very boring and each morning I surrender my soul at the door, only to have it returned as I leave) I went to a seminar at Uni about food writing. Or should I say Writing about food. It was a lecture given by a food critic/author/food lover about what not to do if you plan on a career as a person who writes about food. I’m not explaining this well! ;-) But I think you get the jist.

After, I had a meal of raw salmon wrapped in rice grains and seaweed, deep fried Tofu with teriyaki sauce washed down with nice, cold, not so fresh apple and blackcurrant juice. The company was fine, in the form of Edna and Hubby. The ambience of the Sushi Bus engendered lively conversation and much hilarity. Service as always was par excellent, even when the train derailed and spilt plates of food onto the counter in front of us. Plates are just $3 and $7 each, so none of that trying to figure out if the plate is pink, grey or bronze.

Anyway, I think you get the ideaJ

I drove Edna home, then drove to Bucketty. The traffic was a pain, despite being after 11 at night. I had to stop on the F3 so some loose rocks could be knocked off the rock walls just south of Berowra, then again, for tree trimming just north, added 20 minutes to the trip. After I got off the freeway (motorway to the POMS out there), I picked up a follower. Very odd really, I slowed, he didn’t overtake, but when I sped up he kept pace. I couldn’t shake him. All i could see was two bright white, glowing headlights. On the plus side, when I turned onto our dirt track, I lost him. No driving over cliffs to shake him required. Very Steven Spielberg!

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ANTM 7-7

Impromptu photo shoot with Tyra taking the pictures, saw the girls wearing cat contacts doing scary beautiful.

The lesson today was from Sutra and Dita Von Tease and how to be sexy. Caridee went over the top and showed her knickers, Dita told her to tone it down.. Brooke was horrified at having to pretend to strip. Later all the girls had to strut their stuff on the dinner table of the director of Seventeen Magazine, Cathy Gould. Melrose won the challenge and took Brooke, Amanda and Michelle along to the editorial photo shoot prize.

The bitching continued with Anchel being given advice on how not to be fat. Melrose being told she too old. Jadea continued to moan about having her hair cut, get over it already it’s been 6 weeks!

Fabio was the prop for the romance novel front cover photo shoot. Brooke accused him of being as thick as a tree (his thighs) and was sacred silly, Anchel nailed her impression of Cleopatra and Melrose played the perfect Madam.

In judgment, Brooke was accused of being beauty queen, but not a model.

Brooke and Eugena were in the bottom two. Brooke went home in time to go to graduation.

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The Crops are in

I picked the first of the peas from the plants on my balcony today. I think I may be a while away from self sufficiency!

Count them carefully!

Feasting On Flesh

I went to the Opera House tonight with my buddy Edna to see Feasting on Flesh. What a fantasic show! Circus for Adults as Edna put it.

There a little blonde guy who could be mistaken for the Energiser (Duracell if you’re in the UK) Bunny who bounds around the stage doing back flips and acrobatics wearing a tux, a pair of blank boxer or nothing. The dark, tall muscular guy who wears the same plus a lilac sequined G-string and does some amazing ariel acrobatics. The beautiful and luscious big girl with flawless skin who wears everything and nothing who sings, dances and does magic. Then the tall, dark, skinny girl who dances, get wrapped in cling film and pretends to be a severed head on a platter, ohh and squishes tomatoes with enthusiasm. The older guy who narrates, pushes cake into the little blonde guys arse and smokes with meaning.

Finally, you have the Musician, the delectable Gotye. Tall, dark, handsome, talents with percussion and piano, sensual music to delight the senses (I’ve been a fan for a while, you might notice), also, as I discovered tonight, a mighty fine Dutch accent and a surprising opinion on the taste of semen. Apparently you have no taste buds at the back of your throat! And ladies, when men dine out, it’s not the food that counts but the ambiance of the restaurant. Take Note!

Also, as Edna pointed out as he was standing on the stage in front of us, big shoes...

Big Feet!

If you haven’t booked a ticket to see this show, it’s on till the 18th November. Go Now!

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