Hormones

Once again this winter I have been woken in the early hours by my hormones.  Suddenly I'm feeling as if it's the middle of summer, rather than the depths of winter, and so off goes the bedding and, in some case, the clothing.

This is my second winter of hormonal discontent and I'm hoping it will be my last.  Early on I was able to snuggle down and bask in doona warmth all night long, but my hormones had another idea. I'm happy to be going through menopause (despite my youthful age) because having periods without being able to have children is the pits.

So I wake after another early morning bout of internal overheating, glad to get out bed away from the pesky bedding, into the shower where I can refresh, recharge and get on with the day.

Mah Jong

I've been scratching around for a hobby (other than reading) and when I saw that a local learning centre offered beginners Mah Jong I was there like a shot!  This week was (I think) week 5 and I got to play with the big girls! And I did OK. No Mah Jongs but I was *this* close to at least one!

The ladies I play with are a lovely bunch - our teacher is a wonderful lady who has played for many years.  Unfortunately her husband is seriously ill, on the mend, but still very ill.  Now that we all know we ask her how things are - the answer this week was good, last week was not so good.  It's creating a small community that appeals to me, as well as making some new friends and learning a new skill.

I lashed out and bought a (second hand, very cute) travelling Mah Jong set and have played a couple of games with myself (a bit dorky I know, but a good way to learn the different hands).  I'm hoping to possibly get together with a couple of ladies to play ad hoc games outside our normal times, but as the other newby I've met is about to head off overseas for 2 months this will have to wait.

Still, I'm really enjoying playing and hope to continue for many years.

Recently Read

"Odd Socks" by Ilsa Evans

I discovered Ilsa Evans via the discount bin at my local Dymocks.  There were three of her novels in the bin so I grabbed them all as they looked like easy reads and they are!  I've read all three now, with Odd Socks being the last, and have enjoyed each one immensely.  Track down any of her novels for a very enjoyable few hours of reading.

http://www.ilsaevans.com/

"Last Chance Cafe" by Liz Bryski

I really enjoyed this book, which was an unexpected pleasure.  Focussing on women in my age bracket (ahem, mid-forties), and their elder generation the novel covers a whole range of issues - adoption, love, bereavement, self worth, friendship, ageing - in an approachable believable way.  The author has made decisions in the novel that could have gone either way - creating an exciting, rewarding read.  This is a novel that can see myself reading again, something I rarely do.

http://lizbyrski.com/

Healing

Last week I bit the inside of my mouth really hard.  So hard I thought I was going to faint, or throw up. Luckily neither of those things happened but it bloody hurt.  Brushing my teeth on that injured side was a bit of challenge for the first few days.  6 days later the inside of my mouth is nearly healed - amazing. It's healing much quicker than other parts of me that that get scratched or bumped.  

Perhaps the scientists should look at the cells in our inner cheeks for the secret to eternal youth!

Yesterday

Waking up this morning I was so happy that I didn't have to redo yesterday.

The chronology of yesterday was:

• Decide to take the dogs for a walk in the morning (now the morning aren't quite so arctic and the sun is getting up a bit earlier) only to have Indi roll in someone's spew down at the local oval. Yuck. So we walked home and she received a bath whilst I dry retched all over her. Gross doesn't begin to describe it. Fortunately she'd just got the vom on her rump so I was able to lift her into the laundry trough without getting it on myself. I just hope the person who left the up chuck had had a good time and their hangover wasn't too bad.  So, no going to the oval until we've had a bit of rain.
• Organised flights, car, accommodation and flowers to be sent all relating to death of my uncle.  The flower people rang me to say that they don't deliver wreaths to private homes. WTF???  Anyhow they have delivered something and my cousin will photograph so I get to see what we eventually got for our money but I was not a happy camper.
• Then in the evening, just as I was contemplating a second glass of red, the phone rings to let me know my dad has been taken to hospital after having another (actually one of quite a few by the sounds of it) fall at the hostel where he is now living.  Off to Freo Hospital I head with my brother collecting Mum on the way from his place.  Mum & I saw him about 10pm and I thought he looked like it was a recurrence of the flu, and mum said he'd been coughing that afternoon.  After that we headed home.

On the upside I cooked a cracking casserole in my pressure cooker.  With polenta and savoy cabbage (which I have only just started cooking with and love). 

 

As I said, I'm very happy to have that particular Monday out of the way.

The Cartographer

I finished this book yesterday and enjoyed it immensely.  Set in Melbourne in 1959 and action packed, the book is narrated by an 11 year old who has a love of comics and views the world in those terms.  Contained within the story is an undercurrent of sadness, the main character has suffered a terrible loss in his life, as well as his parents marriage ending and having to work out how he is going to go on with his own life.  The cast includes likeable rogues mixed in with darker characters including crooked cops and murders.

http://www.thecartographer.com.au

Rating:

Weeding

Our front lawn and back garden are infested with weeds.  My excuses include it's been a cold winter, I'm tired after my week so lying on the couch or sleeping are more attractive options, and I'd rather read this book than weed.  Until a beautiful spring-like day arrives and then you will find me on my verge pulling out those pesky invaders.

It's extremely satisfying to look back and see the divots marking the places where weeds used to be.  People passing by also share in your success - commenting on the progress you've made, or, if they're glass half empty people, how much more there is to go.

Last spring my husband thought that weed killer was the way to go.  Multiple scorched patches later (and now home to weeds due to the poor soil condition) I think he's learnt his lesson and he was out there this afternoon pulling weeds as well.

We're planning to have another crack at the suckers tomorrow, leaving our front verge looking a lot less weedy.