A review of sorts

Like lots of people I love books, and the kids and I go to the library at least once a week. We borrow books, magazines, DVD's and Music CD's. It so satisfies my love of reading / sitting on the couch starring at the TV and the el cheapo in me.
This week I borrowed the newest Jamie Oliver Cookbook. The Loovely Jubbly Mr Oliver holds a special place in my heart because when David and I were first married I cooked almost exclusively from his cookbooks.
The new cook book is "Jamie's America" and it didn't float my boat just quietly. I think he has done better work and I sort of gathered from reading his notes in the book that he thought the US would be full of stupid, fat people... Nice! Also having at least 3 recipes that have Alligator as the main ingredient annoyed me as much as people thinking all Australians have kangaroos in our back yards*.

Jamie's Ministry of Food on the other hand is great and David got it for his last Birthday from his beautiful wife...

Ok on to Music CD's. Mostly I get what I expect from artists. I expect Rob Thomas to be good and I expect to like lots of songs on his albums. I expect to be able to relate and enjoy his music only after a few times hearing the songs. Cradlesong doesn't disappoint - its fab.

This CD on the other hand completely floored me
Wes Carr was last years Australian Idol winner... I don't even watch AI as I find it lame and usually won by hot boys and girls who appeal to texting 15 year olds. I'm going to do a Molly and say "do yourself a favour" and grab this CD. It has some really gorgeous songs as well as some fast rocking ones.... and I even cried when I listen to it the first time (look it could have been pms or stress or lack of medication.. but still the CD is good) .

Lastly this DVD find - Gavin & Stacey. It is a British television series and its comedy gold, but definitely for grown ups. I hadn't even heard of it before (but we don't have cable/Austar) so maybe it plays there.

Happy viewing, reading and listening

E

* I actually do have Wallabies & Kangaroos in my "back yard"... and they are eating my veggie patch and I'm most cranky with them... that is probably a post for another day.

It's Raining!

This deserves a post because a. we live in the driest country on earth and b. we have to buy ALL our water and c. 'cos it's my blog ;-)

So we love it when it rains and precious drops fall into our water tanks.

And I WONT have to water this sucker tomorrow... yeah baby.

Visit to Dad's

We recently visited my Dad and Step Mum, we had a really nice time even though we sort of interrupted their football watching activities as it was Grand Final weekend. My darling Dad's team lost too! We stayed the night and David took this photo of me in their guest room... I think I was telling him off so he whipped the camera out and I sort of cheesed it up! (what else do you do when someone points a camera at you?)

This next pic is an attempt at a nice family photo(minus Dave).. everyone looks kind of stressed and or vague Except my Step Mum who looks lovely and smiley.

and then there is this shot, wherein I attempt to stop the children from arguing or pinching one another and smile nicely for the bloody camera!

Finally we end with this one with David probably yelling "OK everyone say sex" or something just as inappropriate! It's a pretty nice picture all the same.

Holiday Pics

The following pics are reason no 256 why I wish I was a better photographer, or any kind of photo taker or had the patience/desire/capacity to read the instruction booklet that comes with any camera Ive owned. I read/lurk on blogs that have the most beautiful photos of gorgeous children and every day life and every time I sit down to Scrapbook I wish I had better photos to use. But in real life this is what I have and it is still a great reminder of our recent camping trip.
I didn't even take most of these pics from our camping trip... David did and I would like to say thanks Dave for taking a shot of my backside!

My SIL and I discovered this look out on our daily walks and decided it would be a great idea to drag everyone up (including esky's, chairs, Nanna & Poppie, Drinks and Nibbles ) to this spot to watch the sunset. Of course after all that I then didn't get a pic of the sunset...

Anyway this is Bear eating breakie on the beach

and this is David doing what he and Bear did for most of the trip - beach fishing.

And this is what I tried to do for most of the trip...

Lulu was actually on this trip , but she spent her days building sandcastles, riding her bike around the camp site, eating spaghetti jaffles and generally having a blast... I have video of her but no pics!

I just wasn't that into it

Actually I loathed it.

I eventually got around to renting this DVD (which is unusual for me 'cos I like to get my DVD's from the local library) ('cos I'm cheap) and I was so disappointed. I read the Non Fiction book a few years ago and I loved it as I thought it was such a commonsense approach to relationships and I wished I had read the book or had someone point out to me things like "if he likes you he will find a way to see you" etc.
My niece watched this DVD and loved it , she thought it was funny so perhaps its a perspective thing, because my stomach was actually churning watching some of the scenes (especially with the married couple).

I also thought some themes of the story were pretty sad and not that true... and because I'm shallow I thought Ben's face looked way too skinny and Jennifer's hair was stunning as always.

The big stuff in Life

So last year I completed a degree that I studied for 6 years part time and spent a chunk of change to get.

I always thought I would go out and get a job that would "set the world on fire" and that working long hours at my very important & well paying job would see David cutting back his hours to be the "at home" person.

Fast forward to now.... I have no desire to get that job ... there Ive said it (actually I wrote it).

But I do struggle with feeling like a loser for not using the Degree to get a full time job, even though I think the whole family esp me and the kids are benefiting from me being around.

I hope other people feel this way and I hope I eventually make peace with this choice, 'cos surely I cant be a loser ;)

That is my last random thought post for the day.

Ex

Camping

So we went camping and it was great and relaxing. But it was alot of work so I'm trying to work out if I'm super Lazy or camping is just not my thing. It took me more than a week to organise, wash, clean, cook and pack all the gear we had to take.... and then a day of driving and setting up "camp". This was then followed by three amazing, relaxing days of eating, talking to my beautiful MIL and SIL , watching the kids play and fish and generally sitting on my butt in a banana lounge. Then came the drive home (which was a nightmare of headache (me) and car sickness (kids) ) and then another week of cleaning, washing and packing away. When I got back to work I was still trying to figure out if I had HAD the break or if it was all a dream...

Rereading this post I think I am just lazy.... but if you are reading this post and you have any ideas to make camping easier jump in the waters great!

Ex

My to Do List

I hate news years resolutions because a) I hate New Year and b) because I do. But I have this list floating in my head and I reckon if I put it out there I might have more chance of sticking to it (its an ego thing).

My To Do List
1. Run/walk/cough up a lung in next years Bridge to Brisbane or maybe the 5km version. My running speed at present is "turtle slow" but I do have about a year to prepare.
2. Get David to do the above with me.
3. Spring clean my house (maybe I should get off the computer and pick up the spray and wipe....)
4. Be a better Mum to my kids... or maybe just a more in proportion Mum... like don't freak out over the little stuff but be firmer with the big stuff.
5. Sort out my head before we go North for holidays (I don't do well on holidays ... its the lack of control i reckon).
6. Read more to lulu.
7. Try not to be so scared of blogging...


Okay so when I revisit this list in the future I will marvel at how much I have achieved... or not. But for the moment its "out there"

Ex