August 2007

Hey guys, what a month this has been. At this point the boys have just played their last game of soccer for the season; number one son is out of the finals, and number two son is playing at a joyful 8am in Wodonga next Sunday. What a fantastic start for Father's Day, dad will be rapt... Perhaps a special Father's Day breakfast in Wodonga, or an extended "Brunch" for Brody's 8th birthday at Brown's Block! We'll make the best of it.

Good to see that both boys have come out of their first season here in Myrtleford with a goal under their belt! Certainly made their day, with number one son just missing out on the 2nd goal with an offside call. ($10 spared eh dad??) It was also announced today that the coach of both the boys teams will be moving to Albury next season, they will lose not only a fantastic coach, but both his children who play with the boys. I'm sure that everyone at SSA is going to miss them.

Well, the month started out with an alert to the local fire brigade on the lighting of Mum's birthday candles!! One must be prepared :) Morning kisses and birtday wishes on the breakfast bench saw a sparkling start to the day. It helped that the boys decided to ride their bikes to school, and mum got to have a sleep in!

August also saw the Old Fart given a reprieve from Treatment so that he could overcome his boredom. A one week break turned into three weeks, and Blokey Man shuddered at the mere thought of resumed co-habitation with said Old Fart and Little "yipping" Fart. Relief was soon restored as Old Fart was reunited with his beloved Ford and independence reinforced with the collection of the Little Fart and a quick exit to the nether regions of "home" for a few days. The task at hand for the Old Fart was to do home seeking for when he has finished his treatment.

Given the status of Leo in the universe now in line with the sun, it was due time for another visit to the desert to see Sal. This was totally necessary for all Leo's to experience the coming together of fire and passion (in the form of Sal's Stampin' Up party). Needless to say their was much love and passion brought to the table of creativity, and Sal's cup did runneth over with universal gifts of quotas... I'm so glad we share!! The party was a hoot, and i found much enjoyment putting together the 50th Birthday card for the Bird Woman, who's tin shed party we were to attend shortly.

Alas, desert travel can be a lonely thing and therefore one felt it only appropriate to bring the Water Dog to renew lost friendships with Coba. "What is the longest trip you ever made?" i once heard someone say; one with sick kids or farting dogs!! the kids didn't come right............... Well you've never seen a dog so excited to find a bit of grass! Why else would i be standing outside the car door clapping "good boy!!".

Friendships were soon renewed with canine companions, and unfortunately i may have overlooked the matter of the extra five yippers still remaining... Now this may not have been a problem except for the fact that they yipped and yapped every time they saw the Water Dog. Hmmmmmm if Coba didn't hate the Water Dog it probably would have been a lot quieter in Desert Paradise.......... NOT! duh?? (had to be there..) Bottom line was every time Coba ran after the Water Dog, the yippers ran after the Water Dog yipping and yapping... this may have been a bit of a strain for some people as Coba shadowed the Water Dog, like, all day...

There was occasion to banish the Water Dog to the Studio, where the poor thing had to sit on his blanket in front of the self administered warmth ejector... yes, i did bring my own heater! Whilst this did still the yippers, the universal balance of the Water Dog assuming prime position of the warmth ejector, and thus consuming Studio comfort, was far outweighed by the need for him to experience the crispness of the desert air, and deal with the yippers!.. Ah it's a dog's life!

Mind you, i did submit to a duty of care to the sleeping quarters of the Water Dog, and after removing head butting bleater from the Water Dogs bedding, all was stilled and retired. I did have a quiet chuckle as i removed the blanket to the pew, and the bleater jumped up and sat on it next to the Water Dog......... These desert creatures are a bit territorial!

Life in the desert is never dull, and i was overwhelmed to hear that once the yippers were all relocated to new abodes, the feline drunken bum (Puddin) would be returned home! Six little yippers were a little too much to contend with, so Puddin relocated next door to try her luck with six little toddlers....... they share their food and most don't bite!

Well, back in the humble abode preparations were made to depart for the tin shed 50th. A rainly night ensured, and people were content to sit and chat and catch up. As Bird Woman is a nurse, the Old Fart's DN was also there, along with an old basketball friend of mine. We sat and chatted and laughed most of the night away until everyone's attention was drawn to the heat around the outside fire. A rukus amongst the Brotherhood threatened to unsettle the night for the 50's nephew, but this was soon brought to order by the sobriety of the standing upright. Lack of local rumours can now be put aside as word of the rukus of the Brotherhood sweeps throughout the streets..

More later

Jay What Now

Half Year Holidays

Well, another two weeks of very long days, and very short nights!! The winter hollies are here, or rather just finished. I must admit, it's possibly the first time i haven't seen hand rails up the walls... The kiddies must be getting older, hardly any imploring the talk to the hand method that I keep zoning out!! The first pain free days were good, lots of riding bikes and play station and visiting cousins. Attempted efforts at evacuating the Myrtleford premises for interludes of attitudes meant relocation of the Old Fart and the Little Fart. Untimely loss of mental capacity saw the district nurse offer to take on the unlikely duo, whilst the disjointed family unite to explore the desert and dust of Finley.

I know you're going to ask, how did you get him to take time off?? Curiosity i think. What happens in the desert, what kind of trucks do they drive, and what can i pick up? The Blokey Man also needed to update the Chipper Man about all things BDouble, bogey bogey, poofter auto simulation manipulation procedures..... Oooooohhhhhhhhhhh and lets sit at the computer and look at all the digital photos of the American Rigs!!!!! Like dinner was tonight!!! The bit i liked most was "Boyd's driving not me"....... Like i was going to get the angle grinder out to separate them from the computer..............

Something still puzzles me though, with the unexpected revelation that Maggie was to be a mum, not one of the six new puppies is named Homer or Bart???? Let me elaborate, the lovers of all things Simpson had six little, well fat fluffy yippers, (more yipping than yapping you see...) and not a single Simpson replica arises.... What the?? Five little boys, and one little girl. I will just be sooooo amazed if even one of them has Mother Maggie's elegantly elongated hooter, once evolved past fat fluffy yippers to Kelpie-Collie cross, mean lean stalking machines. They look like little Rottweilers with their big boof heads, they have the most amazing blue eyes, and from chocolate brown to smoky grey to blazing Bethy's brazen Buster, they are just a fun loving bundle of ballistic blokes and a cheeky chocolate chicky. The sudden feeling of lethargy and stabbing pains around the ankles is just the weight of two lots of teeth and claws on one leg, and usually one on the other... Can i have one mum..................... When dad lets me have some chooks!!

Well what would a camp out in the desert be without a fire, snags and Sally's damper.. What a sight that was through the smoke.., Sal jacked up on a log cooking snags on a big stick (ok, a big long steel rotisserie pole from the bbq..) over the open fire.......... The little helpers were coming, and going, and coming, and now they're just doing one more lap around the house, over the jump and across the basketball court for a bit of skid action, all on the pushies in the sprinkling rain.... And if that wasn't entertainment enough there was the apprehension of Coba sneaking a snag out of the pan before Shady did!! And hey, if the damper wasn't like the one you made at Cubs you need more practise making it!!

Now, if this wasn't enough to pain the ribs Blokey Man was given the task to assist the flame bearers with the ceremonious lighting of the fire. Much ado was discussed about camping and such, when the professor of desert technologies confirms that, in several octaves lower than usual, he has done it all before on camp........ "We've used machete's to get the wood, and we even learnt to make a noose." Pratel, when did you do this? We did it on a church camp.... Nothing could be plainer in the desert than the look on Blokey Man's face; "what do you mean a church camp? When i went to school we went to church to learn how to pray"... Well, if this wasn't enough younger sibling chips in; "yeah well we're Mormons, and that's what Mormons do when they go camping!!".... Proud as punch, this enlightened 10 year old was about to give the Blokey Man a religious education that he clearly missed out on..... Now the ribs were really hurting!!!

It's always a good idea to meet the people when visiting another culture, so Blokey Man was introduced to Grandma and Grandpa, and promptly issued with a plastic bag and garden rake! The troops were assemble to collect leaf mulch, avoiding the odd pile of raked up yippers along the way. This was a whole new scene for me, as i was privy to recently observe testosterone Chipper Man using the blower to remove all the leaves from the grass area (we don't call it lawn yet..), and raking the dirt from under the trees. This was a somewhat tedious task, demanding much concentration and skill........ Wish i had the camera for that... Alas, Blokey Man continued to rake and pack the leaves, and i have to advise that only a few animals were raked, rolled or relocated in the process with minimal injuries...

Well, whilst Gus the sheep was being let out of the chook pen (the grain now all gone), the ducks waddling over to test the elasticity of the yippers skins, the chickens dodging the wake from the bike track pond and Maggie still sulking under the house due to the male canine bonding, the girls were in the Studio (that's a capital "S") in preparation of the evacuation of the testosterone mass. It was off to the Monster 4WD Derby in Shepp for the boys, and the only thing left bouncing off the walls was the vibes of inspiration!!

Now, whilst Sal played with workshop cards for retreat and defragging colour schemes, i turned my mind back to the family layout i have wanted to finish. Now aptly named "Family Time" and increased to a double layout (OMG - I've done another one!), the pain of incorporating "Tempus Fugit" into the hands of family was somewhat frustrating... I should ponder this thought as a 'Fugit Tangent', in terms of time, and bring the whole thing back home for completion... Almost there. Another pause as Sal struggles with the concept of dots from the coke can trying to find their way into her scrapbooking, it just wasn't going to happen...

An outward display of emotion was clearly visible in the Studio at the ensuing phone calls to advise of the cancellation of the Monster 4WD Derby in Shepp. Apparently it was too wet........ Alas, a redirection of testosterone was necessary to manage the disappointment, food was a start, and maybe a spot of bowling......

Well, whilst we were soaking up the desert lifestyle of Finley several miscommunications of texting affirmed the Agri-Man and his fHAMily were admiring the coastal views of impending matrimonial lifestyle........oh that's right, he didn't get the ring! The newly acquired Silver Bullet was making it's debut fHAMily holiday journey, and Agri-Man extremely content to relay to Blokey Man much of the weather conditions all the way to Adelaide whilst we were in Finley. One assumes the sea air had a rather adverse affect on the Agri-Man who was holidaying without his usual partner..............

With the end of our journey clearly visible, we cleared our bags and belongings from the solitude of the motel. Not often is it that you get to take your kids on holidays, then leave them somewhere else...... How lucky were we??? With the absence of a crowing rooster, now let me rephrase that, it was quieter... We had a really nice time there, and it was somewhat obvious that the only ring thing in Finley (Agri-Man) was on the coke can!! And it's funny that coke should come into it, as all time favourite liquid rot gut of Blokey Man is coke. And whilst embarking on purchasing consumables at the bottle shop for the motel it was discovered that the purchased item left little to the imagination in taste when discovered that the use by date was some two years prior! How could you not laugh when Blokey Man shook the bottle to show Sal the lack of froth, and thus continued to inform us on the comparisons...

After much discussion and a phone call, Blokey Man was sent back to the bottle shop to exchange the bottle for another out of date bottle, and hence came back with a refund..... Good thing we didn't buy any chicken.........

Much can be said for holidaying with boys who pack their own bags then proceed to show you all contained through a half closed zipper. "Mum, i don't have a clean jumper" says number one son. Off we go and borrow one from the stock on hand, only to see it ten minutes later on the bathroom floor. "What happened to this?" was mum's astonished query. I went for a ride on the bike, that's all......... Just after changing clothes and cleaning up he goes out riding in the rain again, and not only does one son run out of clothes, but number two son also falls short of something long and warm............... Boys eh?

Well, this was the first leg of our July Holiday journey, and a fun time for all... Will continue with our other adventures shortly...

cheers

Jaywhat

The Mexican Vacancy

During the month of June my dear friend Sally and her husband Boyd trotted off to Mexico to buy scrapbooking stuff, and attend her brother's wedding! With children bequested to family and friends, menagerie left in the hands of cyber doting Al, little fear of health and shelter could be ascertained to the kin... The chickens and ducks all cooped up, Gus bleating up a storm around the boundary, Puddin tucked up warm and cosy inside and Coba keeping a very close eye on Mother Maggie, about to drop what was suspected to be three little puppies, Sal and Boyd hit the road.

The trip was not destined to be the honeymoon of years gone by; what with mum and dad coming with Bethy in tow, visits to long distance sisters Sharon and Jenny, and the injection of the wedded couple's new family, there was much ado about chatter of interpretation and Mexican signing to keep one busy for quite some time... Of course there were also the friends of days gone by to catch up with, and exploration of many a ruined abode. The richness in the history and the people was a joy for their journey.

Disneyland was quite the experience, although i know they felt for the kids not being there. More reason to have more rides and check out all the snacks right?? Onward bound and into Vegas, the trip never seemed too dull. Amid the hustle and bustle of touristy explorations, word of home brought unexpected excitement in the arrival of six new little puppies, although no-one quite knew there were six at this point as the birthing took place under the house!! "It sounds like three" came the response from cyber doting Al... A quick recon of the situation once home would send the retrieval squad in under the house to collect said puppies, five boys and one girl!

Now what would the trip be without the collection of treasured gifts for dear family and friends. Perhaps it would have been even better if the grim reaper of gifts was not echoing words of discouragement from the shadow of the shopping aisles. If only he had known that the special coffee mug of choice that was just perfect for special friends was really an alibi for Boyd's birthday when he got home. Well it could have been, and how would he ever know now??!! As if my present wrapped so carefully in love and affection would get broken on the way home!! Thanks Boyd.....

Alas, Boyd did surrender collection of super special scrapbooking gifts whilst distracted by his sisters, also in the States on holiday... Oh, lots of goodies were distributed and shared once home, and not one of these broke....

Amid frequent bursts of annoyance and distaste at Boyd actually going on my trip, yeah i was next up to get a seat, i awaited on a long and lonely month without the phone calls and visits of past. It seemed only natural to pick up the phone and give Al a call just to go through the motions, but i don't think he could stand the conversation........ Guess I'll just have to talk to the blokey man....... that should be good!

As the excitement grew with the imminent arrival of holiday trippers, i bundled Brayden up and headed over for a long awaited catchup. Four days without contact when home was a bit more than we were prepared to take, there was a stamp party to go to and a scrap day on the books!! Left to cuddle and pat the puppies, Brayden was warned of impending absence of the girls to an abode six doors up, and indebted to the watchful eyes of Boyd and Al. Much fun and snacking was endured, and back to tripper's abode for discovery of an array of gifts!! Oh what fun.... lots of goodies...

As a current member of the newly formed monthly Chunky Chicks Scrap Chat group, it was almost somewhat relieving to find that the member attendance for the evening had depleted, and we would have to sit, chat and read craft magazines! The only downfall was not being able (or game) to sleep in the Craft Chest (like chest freezer) because of the cold. I snuggled up with the doona, closely watched by Maggie and her six little rotund squeaky puppies! Barely a squeak, meow, crow, bark or bleat was heard all night!! :)

Alas, we are always saddened to hear that the time to depart has come and we must bundle up and head home. Sadder still is the fact that i felt the flu coming on and i had a scrap chat to get to!! Off we headed homeward bound to find blokey man hard at work screwing up an engine at "The Shed", and big sister ready to come over for a visit. Big change of plans, and headcold headache to sleep off. Maybe if i have a sleep i can still make the scrap chat.........

As my flu worsens, holidaying sister comes to visit, blokey man takes the boys to soccer and i dope up on panadol and rest. With the weekend coming to an end, an evening phone call also bring the news that the Old Fart and his Little Fart will set forth airborne later in the week for the return journey home . Ah, a trip to Melbourne to collect said farts imminent by weeks end. The timing coincidental with the commencement of the school holidays........... busy time.

Well big sister headed off home through Canberra to avoid flooding in Gippsland, which turned out to be a very good move.

Well, since this post is about the Mexicans in Finley, i should also say that i set myself a task of completing some work whilst Sal was gone. Cards were made and started, and my double on "Gettin' Air" was also done. I was a bit pleased to meet the task, but list still grows! More work to do out in the room, never enough time.....

until the next one

Jay What

As June flies by

What an interesting week we've had in the house of amazingly approachable open spaces. ... The mere distances one must travel in this vast tangent of little warrens, without meeting, greeting or retreating from any other beings is mere nano seconds. It's an interesting week when you've got to talk about the space in the house.............

Well much abounds in the absence of the Old Fart and his Little Fart. We have spread our (little) wings and relaxed a bit. The boys are back in their own rooms, although i suspect the constant complaints of nagging each other are merely signs of actually wanting the company...

Whilst the Farts are enjoying warm and sunny days we are freezing our butts off in air now turned icy instead of rain, and we're really feeling the chill. The frosts have been amazing, my little Mazda6 all iced up, and fogs thick enough to send a Bdouble scuttling past the Snow Road turn off!

It's never quite cold enough in the morning though for adolescent boys to wear their uniform to school without a jumper. Nothing a couple of good frosts and a ride to school on the bike won't fix anyway!! "This bomber jacket is really warm Mum, and cool!!" It might be two sized too big, but i figure that if number one son can tell everyone at school to get over it, then i should be able to! Just don't look, it matches his hair and i think he's growing into that too!.... It 's casual day tomorrow too, so that should be a hoot!

We did take time out of our Fart less days to go visit the Brown Block, bundled up with bangers and marshmallows. It may have been wet and wild, but what better atmosphere for four wild boys to tear down the drive, in the rain, on the pushy.. Ah the country air, refreshes the mind and soul and all those other body parts that scrape along the drive after air bound stints. Rarely does time allow for any departures without hint of pain and suffering of some kind......

And what of the rolling hills, such a fine opportunity to take a walk and collect many a fine kindling for all sorts of manifesting creations. Such acts of collection somewhat amaze and stun the blokey man as he looks into the back of the 4wd with raised eyebrows... "More crap" I hear him say, and just as quickly the look upon his smirky face is wiped clean with "I'm going to build a bridge so i can get over it, but i think I'll need more wood!!" Now that was priceless, rarely is it that we find the blokey man speechless but think clearly knocked the wind out of him!! .....wonder where i can get some twine........

As with all visitations the favour is returned, and much knowledge is passed around in regard to building industry specifications. Upon this point the now redundant gas heater is met with contemplation, and blokey man discusses future weekend pursuits of attempted removals with Jen Jen's man. "Just pull it off" he says. "Go on" replies blokey man, so he does. Two screws later and a little sawing from a very little saw and we've just freed up a weekend to go visiting my family!! Oh what, you have to work that weekend................ :)
Isn't it nice when visitations turn into on the spot working bees that takes months or years???? Happens a lot hey? Can't wait for the laundry to get done.....

Well, there has been lots of running and panting and sweating and skidding in the mud, and blokey man will not be happy with the dog on the lawn. In between all this the boys have been busy at soccer and had some great games. Riley went into keeper and took a terrific save, and Brayden just went berserk again... Two recent best on ground vouchers on the same day gave them both a real buzz. On we go into the second round now, brollies in hand, coffee mug and deck chair. And a bit of vocal support will usually see blokey man wander off to canteen for a minute or two....... Clears the lungs right?

Where has the time gone? The phone call finally came in; the Farts are coming back! A trip to Melbourne is in hand as the Old Fart gets airborne (unlike grandson), and little Fart gets caged up down below. A blustery trip saw a 40 minute delay outside Avenel when one of several trees had fallen across both south-bound lanes. The line of lights behind me seemed to be growing even further back with the knowledge that the school holidays had already started. Soon on the way again, my lovely accommodation hosts, MaryAnne and Tony, prepared their special spag, a very nice drop of red and topped up my daily caffeine limit . Whilst catching up on stuff I was delighted to see the eating habits of their male adolescent son, somewhat older that my own boys, engrossed in the consumption of creamed cheese and cracked pepper sangers. . Now this i had not seen before, and was so bemused in the preparations occurring that my obvious distraction did cause a blackout on one poor sanger... With all but raised eyebrow, the disarray of pepper was casually tidied up and consumption did occur. No wonder the boys plays a hot game of volleyball, all that pepper...!! Shortly after this, and much later than when Tony piked it to read the new car manual in bed......... i was merrily sent off to bed in the outer sanctions of the granny office... And what a lovely restful night too.

How nice it was to see Cat's use of the papers and craft stuff i gave her being used in her homework projects. Looked really great. One day soon we are going to get together and have some fun making crafty stuff, just got to sort it out with mum and dad....

On the road again, 10 minutes out and I'm at the airport and wouldn't you know it, I'm early and so is the plane. There goes my coffee......... Wandering Old Fart was intercepted along the arrivals corridor, and almost walked right past me. I was tempted to give him the familiar "Hey Head" greeting, but feared it may have to be called out too loud and attract unwelcome attention... so i just stood there and looked at him. I think he may have been overcome with all the "variety", he seemed a little dazed. Maybe it was just the altitude........... Anyway, off we trot to pick up the car and collect the little Fart and she wasn't even there!! A somewhat worried look passed over the Old Farts face as he was asked if he travelled with the animal....... oh great, she's on another flight and we're gonna have to stay down here for another three hours and go shopping.... Oh, tangent.. The good man went and did collect and deliver very squeaky jumping Little Fart, and we hit the McCafe!! Yeah, what a road trip without a good coffee right? Anyway, Little Fart needed to remove of bit of retained excitement, and I'd rather she did it all on the grass!! Good Girl!!

So how was Poppy's trip? "Gee it was cold up there...." yep, circulation's shot! Lucky i brought his big coat down, but i didn't expect him to wear it all the way home in the car! Ah well, at least the trip was a bit more pleasant than the night before. So now we're home and yet another saga begins; school holidays start tomorrow and treatments start the following week. Lots of things going on. Keep you posted!

Jay What

Gettin' Air - latest double layout

This is the latest layout that i have just finished. The photos were taken at Brown's Block, and the boys were busy riding the boundries of the block, and jumping the dam. With little water around the dust was pretty full on, and there wasn't much to call water in the dam. After the huge run-up it was along the top of the dam bank, around the right and up the hill a bit, veering back around to then cut across the bottom of the dam and "launch" off the side, Gettin' Air! The two Yamaha's were making quite a worn track across and around the dam. I had to be quick to try and snap the photos before the bikes shot past, running from one side to the next with the camera. On this particular occasssion, on page two, I tried to snap Brayden going over the edge (I guess that's a trait he gets from his mother!) but managed to chop the top of the helmet off. . . Gotta be quicker than that. Although there were two boys riding this day, I focused this layout on Brayden for his very focus and determination in his love of motorbikes. It was shortly after this photo was taken that I had turned my focus to the stallion being ridden in, that I heard Brayden crash over the side of the dam. Just like in the ad, mum goes bolting over the edge of the dam to find wounded son bowed on bended knee, bike sprawled on it's side, and a furore of expletives coming from one of the dirt clumps that the front wheel hit, throwing rider into an overhead airborne fling! I did manage to turn my head from side to side as I was running to see where all the commotin was coming from, surely there was an audience of Crusty Demon fams out there amongst the fence posts somewhere, right???..........because my son surely wouldn't be using those words....... Righty Oh, any blood, any pain, move your fingers, move your toes....... ok you're good! I think the look of shock in his eyes was for the Crusty Demons yelling like that in front of his mum....... A couple more laps then it was time for a gathering around the fire and a licking of the wounds. How quickly they move on, it's all fun and fantasy and excitement.

Needless to say, putting this layout together was fun. It was bright, with action and punch. The papers, stickers and chip were fun to use and decorate. I sanded, mounting on chip, adding paint and stickers and then using the dimentional magic to add gloss and depth. The brightness of the bazzil was heightened with the decision to cut and juggle them around, the papers were a brillance of mixture and colour, and packed into the action of the energy of the bikes.

My son was rapt with the layout, and beady eyes giggled as the simply but hugely meaningful "..it's all in the wrist!" was spotted written on a line down below. Not much gets past dad!! The 'in family' joke with father and son and featuring a super auto poofter truck, would bring many a belly laugh to all in the know. Just gotta' add that bit extra right?!

Until the next one...

cheers

Jaywhat