Where have I been?

About 1992 - well thats what it feels like without a computer. I unwittingly let a virus into my laptop, one of those 'antivirus' ones and I couldn't get past it. I reduced my pc usage and started using the 'old' computer until that too began to show signs of bugs.
Off to the local computer man, who could fix the old one - but the main computer is still in computer hospital - awaiting a transplant. However what I thought was my "good" computer is actually pretty old and to date there doesn't seem to be a compatible donor so it may be off to computer heaven. Luckily the doctor managed to save its soul.
So I feel like I am on the LOST island and have been transported back to the early 90's. No computer and the fashion is eerily similar - I just have more wrinkles (& 3 kids!). I have been slogging away with my other work - and handwriting invoices with paper duplicates. (Of course now the carbon is in the paper, sooo modern)
It is amazing how much society relies on the internet. I felt lost without my daily internet fix, but also things like checking if a transaction has gone through, or a simple email. Not to mention the companies that assume you have internet. At the same time as computer meltdown, I was reorganising my connections and kept being redirected to websites. No one is able to talk to you anymore - even if they have the website infront of them!
As I come back to the naughties - on a computer from the last century - things are a little slower but I will try to up date you as we go.
I'vr missed you!

Cool Stuff - Cards

How cute are these cards? I am not normally big on cards, usually we make our own but I found this great little shop in Carnegie called "Little Shop Of" which is all handmade stuff from local artists and I couldn't go home without these.
You may not be able to see in the photo, but the faces and the boys ball and record are all badges. The cards are only little - 10.5x7.5cm but I really love the cool boys cards and they are blank inside. Here is the link for the makers etsy shop - Enjoy.

Slowly

A quiet Tuesday with carrot cake and wooden puzzles to avoid the rainy weather.

Progress

You know sometimes you have those pivitol moments where you can actuall see progress? Well I had one of those days today.
Firstly my diet. I am having a bit of a love hate relationship with that but sticking to it all the same. My hate is very clearly aimed at my scales which while they are going down, not really at the rate I would like - however I am loving my friend the tape measure! After 4 weeks I have only lost 3 kilos (the same three that came on with the new scales!) The diet promised 5 kilos in the first 11 days, but I know that is unrealistic. However the tape measure has been the real surprise. I am not as tempted to measure myself everyday as I am to weigh, but when I did measure I found I had lost over 4 cm on my waist, nearly 6 off my abdomen and 2cm of each thigh. Really I am happy that I don't walk around with one of those biggest loser tshirt announcing my weight but am happy that I actually measure thinner. That helps justify my loss of bread and overdosing on eggs and tuna! (but not together)
Aside from me there are two little boys who are also making progress. Benji and Spencer today showed how much they had grown. We had swimming lessons this morning and they sat poolside in their incredible bathers, complete with hat and goggles waiting for their turn. Then like little angels, they followed instructions even going under the water! Such a huge change from last term when Benji wouldn't even go near the water.
We followed that up with kinder duty. This is hard work, but also a great insight. It is great to mix with the kids who are their friends and to sit back and see how they interact with the group. They really did just get on with it and were a lot more individual and into it than I thought. Both were busy producing artwork and playing and interacting - it was what I needed to see.
I don't know if it is second children or twins or a combination of both - but they have had such a different infancy to Alexander and they are different as a result. It is hard not to compare the them to him, but also hard to compare them as it is really hard to remember exactly what Alexander could and couldn't do at the same age. At 3 I thought he was so big, but at the same age I think Benji and Spencer are still so little.
All in all a good day - time for the couch with a cuppa!

One rainbow...

We were very thankful to be invited to THE RAINBOW PARTY OF THE YEAR! I of course have absolutely zero photos to show you of the amazing job that Jo did setting up this party. Check them out here and here. Seriously that cake was a-mazing! (and yummy!)

I stayed in theme making this rainbow bag as wrapping for a little dress I bought (can't help myself, I love shopping in the little girls section)

One of 'rainbow's' gifts was a fantabulous bubble machine. This entertained and amused all of the kids for ages.
Jo thanks for a great day - we all really had a lovely time. ;-) and I forgot to tell you we saw a massive brilliant bright rainbow in the grey sky as we drove home.

Whirring

The embroidery machine was dusted off for a couple of baby blankets for clients. This is an alteration of a previous design and not my usual one, but I am really pleased with the outcome- and quietly pleased to have it done!)

Play Dough

Further along my quest for a quieter and calmer existance, we made play dough today and I also learned a great trick- you dont actually have to cook cooked play dough!

I know it sounds stupid, but instead of cooking it you use boiling water and that activates everything and it isn't sticky and seems to last well too.

Here is the recipe: (and you can reduce the proportions)

2 cups plain flour

4 tbls Cream of Tartar

2 tbls Cooking Oil

1 cup Salt

Food Colouring

2 Cups Boiling Water

I simply mixed the dry ingredients and found that the colour was better if I added it to the boiling water. Then you simply add the water to the dry ingredients and mix. I found it best to then flour the bench and kneed it until it was the right consistency.

I made 4 colours in 1 cup of flour batches which was a nice size and we all had fun....