Last weekend we were down on the South Coast at Currarong, soaking in the sunshine, enjoying the sea breezes, splashing in the gentle waves and exploring shipwrecks at low tide. L. had a great time pretending the waves were chasing him and drinking the sea water and generally enjoying being sans nappy for a little while. We went with a few friends and stayed in a house near the water - I could've stayed another whole week. In the evenings we shared the cooking and the meals and chatted and played a crazy game called Cranium which was actually quite alot of fun once everybody convinced me to give it a go. Also had a great sing and dance-along to the Sound of Music soundtrack and made a complete fool of myself in the process!

I seem to be going for the record - how many more transparent substances can I spill on my car...? On Tuesday I visited the chemist with L. and bought a small bottle of eucalyptus oil to add to clothes washing and managed to drop it on my way to the car. We also nearly got run over by a suit in his car - in such a hurry that he reversed out of his spot without looking - and fast. I had to yell at him to make him stop. Anyway - now our car smells of eucalyptus which is rather pleasant (beats petrol) and has the added bonus of clearing the sinuses wonderfully!

We have been promised by our builder that the flat bed borer will be doing its work under the road next week. Cross your fingers for us. We have asked for quotes to remove a dead branch from the gum tree in the middle of a row of three just beyond the back verandah. It is a very large branch and is hanging threateningly over the back yard at the moment. Not planning on asking for council approval for that one. S. is also looking into getting the back yard fenced so we won't have to worry about straying chooks and children and so the builders won't dump any rubbish on the garden. We will be recycling the old pool fence for this purpose and will have to purchase just a few extra panels to complete the job.

It must be the season for preserving - at least it is in our kitchen. S. and I have been cooking up a storm (and creating mountains of scraps for the worm farm) making jams - pear and melon, lemon and melon, pear, apple and lemon, cumquat marmalade and now we are scheming up a pear and cumquat chutney. Haven't got an actual recipe yet - but I'm sure a trawl of the internet will bring something up from the depths.

One thing the driveway is good for is riding bikes! The other day I did a few laps with L. in the baby seat behind, as a rehearsal for venturing out onto the roads. He liked it so much that he didn't want to get down! I took him for a little ride around the corner to the local park and I could hear him chuckling behind me every now and then. He also had a go at lifting my t-shirt and snapping my waistband from behind. I've been reading 'Living the good life' by Linda Cockburn (all about living sustainably and with self-sufficiency) and have been inspired to do a bit of bike riding myself - instead of getting out the car everytime I have to go to the shops for example.

Another one of L's notable moments recently is deciding to take a whale to bed with him. I thought it was quite amusing when he started taking toy sharks and dinosaurs into the cot - but the whale takes the cake! I guess it's the same size as a largish teddy bear, only of a rubbery consistency...

We've been getting in quotes for the house building - for the house we hope to build... one day! Our current 'it's not as bad as you think' builders have come in with a respectable price. The ones we really wanted - they built a post and beam house in Ashfield and were reportedly very organised and motivated - came in at 3 times the price! Now my sister has told me of another builder who sounds like a dream. Apparently he turns up early every day at the building site and even rings the owners if they are running late! We are going to approach him with the possibility of becoming involved in our building project.

I've got a new pillow! Now, normally this would not be news of any great note, but this pillow is one of a kind. In fact it has my name on it! I ordered it over the internet from 'Pillows made to measure' - had to fill out a detailed questionnaire on my shoulder width and neck height, weight and mattress details. I am a side sleeper most of the time and have had neck problems on and off. The pillow is made from natural latex (rubber) and is hypo-allergenic and environmentally friendly. And I can report that it is working! I no longer wake up paralysed from the neck up. In fact it is alot better than that. Now I just have to work on my posture at the computer...

Here is a shot of the very small teapot I wrote about in my last blog...
Still waiting on the driveway work to start again... very dreary... In the meantime we've had a few dramas. Last week little R. (18 months old) took a running jump (literally) off the trampoline and fractured her wrist. She now has to put up with a full cast on her left arm and sling which she keeps sucking. She has already figured out that the cast has weight to it and has used it as a battering ram twice so far!
Mum woke up last Saturday and couldn't move because of acute back pain. A combination of lifting toddlers and worry about A. who is leaving home and going overseas I think. I went over and gave her a back rub and that helped a bit. The doctor prescribed panadeine forte and voltarin and more massages. Luckily she has a friend who is a professional masseuse!
On Sunday L. and I went to a friend's place in East Kurrajong - 17 acres or so of virgin bushland. They live in a fantastic converted shed, keep chickens and are beginning to plant an orchard. It was great to see the kids running around and enjoying the space and eachother. It ended up being a family reunion of sorts - three generations milling about - most of whom camped overnight - maybe next time we'll join them!
Yesterday I was on my way to the dentist for a checkup when I noticed the petrol light flashing. Our car is a hybrid electric/petrol Prius and there is a long time in between fuel stops. I decided to take a risk and keep going. Then the emergency petrol light came on - whoops! I managed to get the car close to a petrol station before it totally conked out. Then I had to figure out how to put the emergency lights on. I told the guy in the petrol station that I had never used a petrol can before. He sold me the can - and forgot to tell me that it had a pull-out spout. Puddles of petrol spilled down the side of the car and onto the ground. I went back and bought a funnel. More puddles on the ground. Someone walking past pointed the puddles out to me. (Thanks for that) I finally managed to get enough petrol into the car to drive into the petrol station. Then I filled up properly. Stinking of petrol - I trudged back into the petrol station shop and told the guy about all the spilled petrol. Maybe you didn't push the funnel in far enough - he tells me after the fact! I rang to cancel the dentist appointment. As soon as I got back home I got into the shower, then put my clothes in to soak and washed the car. My hands still smelt of petrol! P. told me I smelt like a mechanic - very ironic. I got out my nutrimetics hand scrub and balm and I have to say it works like a dream - no more petrol smell!