Home Alone

My Nanny has been living with us for six months after splitting up with her husband at the grand old age of 80. This was her third marriage and she's definitely a card to say the least.

Recently Nan (or Great Nan to the boys) had an operation and just after she moved into her own Department of Housing Flat about 3 mins drive from us.

Unfortunately, she really wasn't ready to be on her own again and I've been spending a LOT of time moving her and checking on her. She is quite capable of living on her own and looking after herself, but yet here I am worrying about her as if she were my child. I guess it kinda is like she is my child. While she lived here I cooked and washed for her. She did the washing up for me (god love her that was wonderful).

But now I am here on my own with the kids most of the time as DH is at work. I miss her terribly. There is no one here to watch kids for 5 mins while I go and buy milk/bread/etc at the shop round the corner. No one to wash up and wipe the benches for me. I didn't realise how much she did contribute here and how much I would miss her.

Or the kids for that fact. Henry asked this morning if Great Nan still loved us cause she didn't want to live with us anymore. He had tears in his eyes and was genuinely heartbroken. How do you explain that everyone needs their own space and as much as Great Nan loved him, sometimes he was just too noisey and rambunctious for an 80 year old woman.

I guess it'll take a while to get used to it, and a while to get used to the new routine of visiting Nan around school times and taking her to get her errands done.

Until then, I feel like I am very much home alone with no one to talk to other than the kids (and that isn't fufilling me right now)

Cooking links

My friends have been pestering me for my recipes for stuff. Apparently my cooking isn't too bad. (Pete keeps telling me that things I make are not safe for the children to eat and proceeds to make off with the container to demolish them himself)

Any ways this is my rough recipe for my white christmas rocky road. Don't skimp on the ingredients, especially if you plan on feeding it to me, as I can tell homebrand marshmellows and crappy white choc.



Packet of white choc melts
Packet of white and pink Pascalls Marshmellows
packet of red and or green glace cherries
roughly 1/2 to cup coconut
packet of softish lollies - i like fruit rings with the sugar on them
If you feel like it - some rice bubbles

Melt the choc till really runny, chop up all the other bits - you need to roll the marshmellows with the knife to cut them the easiest way. Combine it all and place it into a tin that has been lined with alfoil (make sure that this is crease and bubble free other wise you'll be picking it out of your rocky road). Press gently down and chuck it into the fridge till set. Remove from tin and chop it up as you please.

And make yourself sick eating it ;)

Some knitting of late

I've been doing a little bit of knitting lately. Mainly because I found I was getting very worked up and unable to unwind. I have always used my knitting as a kind of therapy and since I have picked it up again, I am having trouble putting it down again. The house is suffering to some degree as a result.


This is a blankie for the lovely little Rainbow Beetle Junior AKA Phoenix John (PJ). I did a swap with Mel for some woolies and stuff in return for one of her wonderful carriers. I have picked the fabric and Mel's been busy getting it done. In return she asked for a beautiful blanket to be held as a treasure. So this was what I made her. This is the photo sans edging and blocking. It did end up a big bigger once washed as that yarn tends to relax - like a LOT!!

PATTERN: Ten Stitch Blanket
SIZE: Babyish
YARN: Patons vintage hues - I think I used about 10 balls maybe in a number of colourways - bascially what I could still get my hands on after my stash balls
NEEDLES: 5.5mm Bamboo DPNS - I found these light and easily turned as you do a LOT of turning with this project.
EDGEING: Two rounds of single crochet with 6mm hook.



THis is my me sized version of a wonderful pattern called Bloom by tiKKi - or the wonderful Georgie. I loved knitting this and it's super comfy. I have not yet found anyone to take a decent photo of me in it - so I am not sharing. I did include short row bust shaping that is not normally in the pattern, as I am rather well endowed and I needed to fit them in.

PATTERN: Bloom
YARN: Bendigo Woolen Mills Rustic 12ply
NEEDLES: 6mm circs
MODS: short row bust shaping in the front - I think from memory I added 8 short rows. I didnt write it down as it was super late when I was doing them.




I think I am getting a bit of my knitting mojo back again. I lost it and at the time I was struggling mentally. Very much struggling. But a little bit of yarn zen seems to help and I enjoys it too
I've been doing a little bit of knitting lately.

Man its bloody hot

Its currently 42 degrees and with a nearly 40km'hr wind. My poor trees are drooping. I have barely ventured outside.

Thank the heavens for A/C cause no one is out in the heat today. Most workers have knocked off.

I know I like summer but right now, I can't wait for winter.

And I've barely done any knitting cause it's just too darn hot to have yarn on you. This is something that rarely happens to me.

I am just praying that today is not another black day with fires and people loosing their lives, cause it very much has the potential to be like that here

As Usual - long time no post

Things have been hectic in the household here of late. Many of you know of the issues that have been going on. Those who do I thank you for your support and those that don't know - trust me, you probably don't really want to know.

My lovely friend Bec, is moving away and she has gone crook on me, as has Lesley to update my blog a bit more. I will try. I WILL (sneaks away maybe)

But anyways an update on the little monsters - Henry is going to be starting Kindy in 2010 at Turvey Park Primary. He is super excited. I just have to make his shorts for school as currently he looks like one of those malnourished ethopian children with a podgey belly and bones sticking out everywhere. I promise I have been feeding him. Actually we can't keep up with the food to either of them. Henry has off course grown about 3 inches in the past three months accounting for most of the food energy expenditure.

Bodhi has started talking since he had his tonsils out in October. The surgeon commented on how large and scarred they were for a 3 year old (and he was only just 3). It wasn't an issue to have them taken out at all - but it only happened after I said enough is enough. He is always talking and unlike Henry, he has been singing. Galump went the little green frog took some interpreting but its super cute when he does sing.

Me, I'm struggling. I mean really struggling. Each day is dealt with as a day no looking forward. Some days I deal hour by hour. Like today. I would love for the ground to swallow me. Other days I am my normal self. Other days I barely recognise me, let alone my poor husband.

I have won one battle though, I have a diagnosis and the insurance has accepted liablility. One monkey off my back. But I must admit at the time it seemed like it was a big monkey but I think it wasn't really. I feel no better for the monkey being gone. Some days I am probably feeling worse.

Thanks for reading and thanks for those who have been an ear and a shoulder of recent times. I have no doubt at some point in the future you will be a great source of comfort to me again.

Sorry to those who posted comments

I accidently hit the wrong button and rejected them on moderation. Rhoda and Lindy I apologise. Could you please post again and I'll make sure my night shift sleep deprived brain checks the button I click first.

BumNRound garage sale

Mini Wondersoaker in Muted clownfish - $40 + P&H

Mini Wonder soaker - Brown
$35 + P&H





XS soaker - best suited to a small NB $20 + P&H




Small 12 ply longies - legs are longish coffee dyed
$30 + P&H



Crochet Shorties in Purple People Eater
L - XL has extra in the rise for night nappies. $40 + P&H







L Green with Envy Soaker in 4BF merino (not lanolised)
$40 + P&H




2nd hand longies - best suited for non nappy as the rise isn't very big or used as extra long longies - about size 2 non nappy - M if using a nappy. Made from Vintage Hues yarn $10 + P&H



If you are interested, please post comment or email. Be aware I am on shift work and I may be slow to email, but I will respond.

All except the vintage hues longies are brand new and knitted from my own pattern or a pattern I have been licenced for. This is the last of the stock from my cupboard so get in and get one of the last BumNRound knits



Ali