Helping

Rain has devestated a lot of Australia lately. There have been numerous deaths in Queensland and the recent rain in Victoria brought the concept home for Alexander. The papers and the TV has been full of it and as an adult it is overwhelming, not to mention the effect it has on a 7 year old.

He was having nightmares and was constantly worried about rain and flooding, and unhappy to be without me. Initially I was trying to shield him from the coverage, but when this wasn't helping I decided we needed to talk about it.

We talked about how he was feeling - but he is a boy and I think they all struggle putting that into words, so we started to talk about what had happened. What people did and what they were doing now. We talked about it from his perspective. No bedroom, no toys, no books, clothes. All wet, muddied or literally washed away. It was only when we spoke like this did he really get it. The fear was subsiding and he really wanted to help.

We brainstormed different ways to help. We are not nearby so cant physically help- people were charging mobiles, putting people up, etc. We internet surfed- we had clothes we could donate but due to a number of reasons they are not wanted. We could donate money, but we wanted to do more than throw money at the government. He wanted to really help. As the school year had just begun there were sites where you could sponsor a family and pay for their school books etc. They were also taking donations of stationery and the like. We liked this option but had already missed out.

Alexander has now set aside some money to donate to the Premiers Flood Appeal, but he is also looking to rally his classmates together to see if they can do something together. His teacher is on board with this as they are currently learning area is community.

I am just so proud to have an opportunity to see this little boy in action and pure good coming from him. It seems to have helped the nightmares as he has something positive to focus on.

Dress ups

Naomi had a picture of a dress which she had seen on 13 Mimosa which she wanted to make. I said it was easy and would help her. In order to know what on earth I was doing, I had a bit of a go myself.

It turned out Ok. The fabric I used was grey cotton voile which was on special at Lincraft. I made two panels which were cut at length and gathered. I did twice my size which I found to be too poofy- we decided 1.5 times was much better.

The fabric is quite sheer and seems to grip to everything I think to put under it - bit of a bummer and as a rule it is not a style that particularly suits me.

Having said all that- I was really happy with the neckline (on my see through, fattening and unnaturally clingy dress) I simply cut circles and ovals out of four different shapes and stacked them in decreasing size on top of each other. Then I did a bit of a catch here and a pucker there to give them some texture, adding pearls and red coral beads as I went.

Who knows what is to become of this dress. Maybe it will be a top. I could possibly cut off the bottom and add it into a straighter skirt or as I have presently done hang it unworn (except for this fashion parade) in the wardrobe.

It served its purpose and Naomi's version looked great and even got an outing!!

Gifted

When we have a birthday invitation, my biggest concern is always the gift. I was working on the bracelet for my girlfriend, but it didn't seem right. Then I made this convertible leather and pearl necklace that can wrap around the neck 3 times with random largish pearls , or six times around the wrist. When I put the two together, it made them both look cheap (which they were not) Mum always says too much dilutes the effect. So the party was today and this morning I thought I would whip her up a dress. (groan I know)

Karma came to bite me because nothing would go right. It is a jersey dress with two seams and binding around the neck and arms. Fairly straightforward but the machine would not sew it. I changed machines and stitches kept skipping. Then the overlocker came unthreaded and I got a shine on it as I was pressing it. Not to mention all the trouble with the dress, I was stretching the necklace and the stupid thing snapped. Didn't put me in optimal party mode. Must remember this feeling. I did manage a gift in the box and off to the party at a reasonable time.

The card is a download from 74 Lime Lane. I wrote the insides on the way.

Lunch was lovely and she loved the gift.

Forecast

A lot more rain. On a hill the rain isn't so much of a problem - but it is all headed at speed down to the bottom - which has a large and I am sure very full drain. Hope you are dry where ever you are.

Back to normality

The little posers got packed off into the car today off to their school and kinder. For the first time in about 7 weeks there is peace in the house. The feeling of the morning rush came flooding back making the holidays seem like a distant memory. They were all ready to go back and as you can see, quite happy about it. (so was I)

Happy (chinese) new year

We celebrated Chinese new year tonight with some yum cha style dinner finished off with fortune cookies. Sadly the fortunes were not as funny as this one - they were really just weird. Alexander got the same one twice which made him nervous.

Reminder to self - next year make own fortunes next year

Put a cork in it!

Does anyone know where to get a cork to plug a big financial drain? We are literally haemorrhaging! I know these things go in cycles, but this has gone on for too long and is too heavy and it HAS TO STOP!

First - the big squirrels car. It has spontaneously sprung a leak. Just sitting in the driveway a hole appears and water is squirting out of it. This spontaneous event is on top of the month where it has barely been driven, had 3 trips to various mechanics involving long stays and a rest in the car graveyard over christmas. The cooling systems was all replaced, then the head gasket and not another hose is squirting! I am no mechanic, but if we've had the car a week - shouldn't someone have seen this coming......

Then there was Benji's accident. I made a choice to go to a private hospital. I could have gone to the public ones, but on a hot Saturday afternoon with the two other kids in tow I made the choice to pay a bit and get seen quicker. It was the plastic surgeon who stung me - in the theatre prep, all of us all gowned up and getting final consent for the operations - he says to me, "Your health fund will cover my fee and I will send the bill directly to them" (Me in my head - YEAH!!) "but....(here it comes) there is a gap of $500, is that OK?" (WTF!!!- What a &*%$ time to tell me this. Like I can say no now!) Me- "Yes"

Again - no medical expert, but surely rather than holding a gun to my head, someone could have explained this earlier. Granted, I would not have changed anything, but we talked money at the front desk when we checked in, it wouldn't have left such a bad taste in my mouth if this had been mentioned then too.

Finally - and really lets hope this is the third and FINAL thing. I have gas..... Yes I know it is hard for me to actually admit it, but I do. Very expensive gas at that too. Our gas supply is being replaced - outside our property, in the street. So we had no gas while they did this work to the service. After two days of no cooker or hot water I was a bit over it, but it was done (and at no visible cost to me) The following day I was out watering my veggies and smelt....GAS. Since the work was only day the preceding day, I rang them and they came straight out. There is a gas leak and the gas needs to be turned off. Alright. The issue is it is on MY side so I need to get a plumber and get is sorted. UGH! (An aside, I don't understand how I had to find this leak when THEY were testing it the day before- anywho) Ring plumber who comes out on a hot Friday afternoon. Good News - there's not one gas leak. Bad News - there are lots and your system is corroded and it all needs to be replaced! The lack of hot water seems minor compared to the risk of the HOUSE BLOWING UP! The following day - all the gas pipes were replaced and we now have hot water.