over the hill and far away
the mother duck said, quack quack quack quack
but only two little ducks came back
i thought this song was the saddest song EVAH, when i was a kid... with one exception:
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby,
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys,
Go to six-a white horses,
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleepy little baby...
for no particular reason, this lullaby made me cry EVERY TIME I HEARD IT!!! but i still liked hearing it. we'd sing "when you wake, you shall have..." though on the net the line is "when you wake, you'll have cake..." and where i hear "go to six-a" the lyric is "coach and six-a". excuse me while i kiss this guy.
there is another verse i never knew until i googled it just then:
Way down yonder, down in the meadow,
There's a poor wee little lamby.
The bees and the butterflies pickin' at its eyes,
The poor wee thing cried for her mammy.
NO WONDER I CRIED!!! what an eeevil nursery rhyme!
however... i was just going to say something like: why is they all be overseas? erin and michelle and julia and rachel and ross. all overseas.
but enough of this whining (is that the correct spelling?). dan and i will be in ingerland in october for 3-4 weeks, and we have started looking/booking accommodation for our walk along the thames. we decided long ago that we wanted it to be a bit special, and we wantedt o stay in B&Bs so we didn't have to carry tent and/or sleeping bags. and also, there aren't many other options in the area. and we love B&Bs. so it will be expensive accommodation, but we will be doing lots of free stuff during the day, so it will be LOVELY!
night one: kemble
night two: cricklade
night three: lechlade
night four: tadpole bridge
night five: northmoor
night six: oxford (haven't chosen a place yet)
we will arrive in london on the friday, and train over to kemble on the monday, do a bit of a walk - up to the thames head (source) and have a poke around the area, and generally enjoy being relaxed. we'll leave oxford and go back t london on the sunday. we also have a day-long walk (approk 10mi) planned for one of london's green belts - hopefully we can convince some of dan's family to come along.
ok, off to do some actual work, and a load of washing (got to wash our new quilt cover before putting it on our new doona and sleeping under it and on top of our new sheet on our new bed! so much new stuff!).
31 July 2006
19 July 2006
FUTUREME
this has to be my website of the day
send an email to your future self!
it's actually a strange thing to do - it sent me into a fit of melancholy and made me realise just how chaotic life is. i chose to send to january 2009, when i should be almost finished with my PhD...
send an email to your future self!
it's actually a strange thing to do - it sent me into a fit of melancholy and made me realise just how chaotic life is. i chose to send to january 2009, when i should be almost finished with my PhD...
17 July 2006
INVITATION TO OUR HOUSEWARMING
You are cordially invited to join us in our new home
From 2pm on Sunday 23rd July
For an afternoon tea of various consumable treats (all vegetarian: vegans and coeliacs also catered for)
There will be socialising and merrymaking throughout the afternoon and into the early evening
Please feel free to bring yourselves, your partner/friend, your drink of choice (tea, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages provided), and a happy disposition!
For more information (address, dress code, and secret password) email, text and/or give us a call.
*
In very recent news (two updates on our thrilling lives in one day!) Julia just called us from the train station in Firenze (wanker!Florence), where she was waiting to board a train to a place without the euro – Slovenia! It was great to hear from her, and we are envious-o-rama of her time being a WOOFer in Tuscany!
From 2pm on Sunday 23rd July
For an afternoon tea of various consumable treats (all vegetarian: vegans and coeliacs also catered for)
There will be socialising and merrymaking throughout the afternoon and into the early evening
Please feel free to bring yourselves, your partner/friend, your drink of choice (tea, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages provided), and a happy disposition!
For more information (address, dress code, and secret password) email, text and/or give us a call.
*
In very recent news (two updates on our thrilling lives in one day!) Julia just called us from the train station in Firenze (wanker!Florence), where she was waiting to board a train to a place without the euro – Slovenia! It was great to hear from her, and we are envious-o-rama of her time being a WOOFer in Tuscany!
ANNIVERSARY GOODNESS
yesterday dan and i had our 4 year anniversary. it was spent drinking tea and having a leisurely stroll along the merri creek, in cool cloudy weather. walked to the fairfield boathouse with my parents, and ate scones with jam and cream. mmm. and then went to my grandparents' place for my aunt's 50th birthday (dad's side). played music with cousins, ate delicious food (oh, lovely, lovely cheese!), and chatted with family. in the evening we went to the cinema to see pirates of the carribean: dead man's chest with the parents, esther j and her housemates etc. yay for that!
one year ago, we celebrated our... ummm... three year anniversary (!) driving to wales via whitehorse, reading harry potter 6, eating delicious breakfasts at the b&b, walking the brecon beacons in the hot and sunshiney weather... wonder what next year will bring?!
one year ago, we celebrated our... ummm... three year anniversary (!) driving to wales via whitehorse, reading harry potter 6, eating delicious breakfasts at the b&b, walking the brecon beacons in the hot and sunshiney weather... wonder what next year will bring?!
11 July 2006
BEANIES AND BADDIES
so. over the last week, i have lost TWO BEANIES.
careless? yes. annoyed? yes.
one of them i have had for over 2 years - the blue stripey one with ear covers. hardcore. from an outdoors shop. went all the way around europe with me, through heat and cold, wind and rain, across many a border. only to be left on the tram last thursday.
the other was new. yes, new! i bought it from target, on special. grey and wool, with a peak. just like i've always wanted. left on tram this morning.
yeah, i know. i should pay more attention to where i put my belongings. my bad.
but what really pisses me off is that, in both instances, there were people sitting next to/opposite me, and not one person either noticed or told me i'd dropped it or left it behind. not one. i don't get it. if someone drops something, i always run after them and hand it back - a wallet, a scarf, their pants, their boyfriend, doesn't matter: i'm after them!
i guess i should get off my lazy bum and call yarra trams and see if either of them have been handed in. but if they weren't turned in, i would be even more pissed off with fellow tram-users. and if they were, well, i'd have to go and pick them up or something, which is far more boring than actually buying another one.
maybe someone on scroungey centrelink payments picked them up and now has a warm head. in that case, good. but really, all you people on the tram - I HOPE YOU DROP SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT ONE DAY AND NOBODY TELLS YOU! actually, i don't. i hope you leave something behind today, and I pick it up and give it to you, and you recognise me as the person who you didn't think was worth the effort of saying, "oh, you dropped this," or "excuse me, is this yours". and i hope you feel guilty! FOREVER!!!
careless? yes. annoyed? yes.
one of them i have had for over 2 years - the blue stripey one with ear covers. hardcore. from an outdoors shop. went all the way around europe with me, through heat and cold, wind and rain, across many a border. only to be left on the tram last thursday.
the other was new. yes, new! i bought it from target, on special. grey and wool, with a peak. just like i've always wanted. left on tram this morning.
yeah, i know. i should pay more attention to where i put my belongings. my bad.
but what really pisses me off is that, in both instances, there were people sitting next to/opposite me, and not one person either noticed or told me i'd dropped it or left it behind. not one. i don't get it. if someone drops something, i always run after them and hand it back - a wallet, a scarf, their pants, their boyfriend, doesn't matter: i'm after them!
i guess i should get off my lazy bum and call yarra trams and see if either of them have been handed in. but if they weren't turned in, i would be even more pissed off with fellow tram-users. and if they were, well, i'd have to go and pick them up or something, which is far more boring than actually buying another one.
maybe someone on scroungey centrelink payments picked them up and now has a warm head. in that case, good. but really, all you people on the tram - I HOPE YOU DROP SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT ONE DAY AND NOBODY TELLS YOU! actually, i don't. i hope you leave something behind today, and I pick it up and give it to you, and you recognise me as the person who you didn't think was worth the effort of saying, "oh, you dropped this," or "excuse me, is this yours". and i hope you feel guilty! FOREVER!!!
10 July 2006
I HAD A DREAM
no, really.
i had a dream that i was derrida, and that i/we was part of some spy/gambling network. my/our job was to get agents out of trouble, which they seemed to get into fairly frequently. it so happened that my/our good pal, wittgenstein was in deep waters - i think he stole a horse, or paid off a trainer or jockey for something - and was being pursued by some black-clad louts. as wittgenstein and i/we were (hush-hush) ex/lovers, the job of getting him out of danger was fraught not only with logistical, but emotional obstacles. luckily, we found a room (like the room of requirement) in the creative arts building (something like a mixture of levels 1 and 3, also with heavy velvet drapes and a 4 poster bed...)
i love dreams!
i LOVE wittgenstein!!!
i had a dream that i was derrida, and that i/we was part of some spy/gambling network. my/our job was to get agents out of trouble, which they seemed to get into fairly frequently. it so happened that my/our good pal, wittgenstein was in deep waters - i think he stole a horse, or paid off a trainer or jockey for something - and was being pursued by some black-clad louts. as wittgenstein and i/we were (hush-hush) ex/lovers, the job of getting him out of danger was fraught not only with logistical, but emotional obstacles. luckily, we found a room (like the room of requirement) in the creative arts building (something like a mixture of levels 1 and 3, also with heavy velvet drapes and a 4 poster bed...)
i love dreams!
i LOVE wittgenstein!!!
4 July 2006
NERDLICIOUS
i'm just amused that there are so many options... i thought there were only geeks, jocks and smokers. must be from a small town, huh?
 | You scored as Drama nerd.
What's Your High School Stereotype? created with QuizFarm.com |
29 June 2006
RANDOM SQUEE
so, look at THESE!
i may be currently obsessed. HOW CUTE ARE THEY?
in other news, otters are also cute, and there was a frost ont he grass and the fence today. i hope my plants are ok.
i may be currently obsessed. HOW CUTE ARE THEY?
in other news, otters are also cute, and there was a frost ont he grass and the fence today. i hope my plants are ok.
28 June 2006
FLAMING GALAHS!
We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties.
Just come from rallying against the IR laws. Fun. Big! People gathered at parliament and at both ends of Swanston (Esther J and I hooked up with the teachers at Feddo) and marched to the corner of Bourke and Swanston, making a giant Eureka flag. Songs were sung, chants were chanted, and we all said the Eureka Oath, fists in the air. (Kim Beasley and Steve Bracks were there buying votes too...)
*
At the end of our street, there is a tree with pointy red and gold leaves (now mostly fallen) and prickly seedpods. Yesterday and today the tree was also adorned with galahs! Yay for their pinkness! And their uncoordinated attmpts at holding onto the seedpods!
*
Last night Dan and I had our first of (most probably, and hopefully) many Indian take-away nights. We were all out of red wine, however (ALARM!)... Luckily, in this time of dire need, a CAN OF WINE (yes, you heard) - bequeathed by Erin and Julia when they were Erin-and-Julia - made an appearance. At first we were afraid, we were petrified... but the thought of dining sans wine was too hard to bear and so we cracked it open. It was suprisingly nice. Thanks guys!
Just come from rallying against the IR laws. Fun. Big! People gathered at parliament and at both ends of Swanston (Esther J and I hooked up with the teachers at Feddo) and marched to the corner of Bourke and Swanston, making a giant Eureka flag. Songs were sung, chants were chanted, and we all said the Eureka Oath, fists in the air. (Kim Beasley and Steve Bracks were there buying votes too...)
*
At the end of our street, there is a tree with pointy red and gold leaves (now mostly fallen) and prickly seedpods. Yesterday and today the tree was also adorned with galahs! Yay for their pinkness! And their uncoordinated attmpts at holding onto the seedpods!
*
Last night Dan and I had our first of (most probably, and hopefully) many Indian take-away nights. We were all out of red wine, however (ALARM!)... Luckily, in this time of dire need, a CAN OF WINE (yes, you heard) - bequeathed by Erin and Julia when they were Erin-and-Julia - made an appearance. At first we were afraid, we were petrified... but the thought of dining sans wine was too hard to bear and so we cracked it open. It was suprisingly nice. Thanks guys!
15 June 2006
NOW IT REALLY IS OURS
so, at 2:30 on tuesday we got the call...
... saying that settlement couldn't go through.
because we gave them TOO MUCH MONEY. that's right. too much.
so i was pretty annoyed. because we'd done EVERYTHING right, but someone somewhere hadn't calculated the first homeowners grant into/out of the amount we owed. so we'd given them $10k too much, and they wouldn't give us the keys.
then our lawyer did a lot of phone-calling around to the vendor's conveyancer etc, and eventually they came up with the idea of getting us to sign a contract saying that we could only have the keys to the house that day if (among other things) we used the property only for residential purposes. so, there went our plan for an opium den, brothel etc. never mind. another day.
so we signed things and faxed them (the grumpy post office man was even nice to us! whacko!) and taxied to the estate agent for the keys. picture this: us on one side of the desk, agent on the other side of the desk, keys in envelope on top of desk... we considered doing the proverbial runner with the envelope, but decided we should try to make it all legal. eventually, at 5:10, the agent gets the call from the vendor's lawyer saying it's all good.
WE HAD THE KEYS! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?!
actually, surprisingly, nothing!
we went to the apartment (OUR apartment) did the rounds with candles and incense, opened and closed the cupboards, laughed at the heater (it is attached to the wall, and the cord is about 15cm too short to plug into the power point!), peeled an enormous sheet of wallpaper off the wall (whoops!)... erin, rachel and esther came over for pizza and cheese and wine (thanks ej!) and champagne (thanks erin!). managed to spill champagne on the carpet, and IT DOESN'T MATTER because the carpet is OURS!
dan and i slept over on the floor on tuesday night. cold, uncomfortable, etc. but an adventure!
yesterday may and sara-jane helped us move a heap of boxes (thanks guys!), drink tea, eat huge luncheons at sugardough on lygon st, etc. we all went for a constitutional walk along the creek (so close!), and at about 2:50 we got the call...
... saying IT'S OURS!!!
it felt different after that!
the agents gave us a hamper with wine and chocolates. free stuff! we should buy a house more often!
yay! house! ours!
... saying that settlement couldn't go through.
because we gave them TOO MUCH MONEY. that's right. too much.
so i was pretty annoyed. because we'd done EVERYTHING right, but someone somewhere hadn't calculated the first homeowners grant into/out of the amount we owed. so we'd given them $10k too much, and they wouldn't give us the keys.
then our lawyer did a lot of phone-calling around to the vendor's conveyancer etc, and eventually they came up with the idea of getting us to sign a contract saying that we could only have the keys to the house that day if (among other things) we used the property only for residential purposes. so, there went our plan for an opium den, brothel etc. never mind. another day.
so we signed things and faxed them (the grumpy post office man was even nice to us! whacko!) and taxied to the estate agent for the keys. picture this: us on one side of the desk, agent on the other side of the desk, keys in envelope on top of desk... we considered doing the proverbial runner with the envelope, but decided we should try to make it all legal. eventually, at 5:10, the agent gets the call from the vendor's lawyer saying it's all good.
WE HAD THE KEYS! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?!
actually, surprisingly, nothing!
we went to the apartment (OUR apartment) did the rounds with candles and incense, opened and closed the cupboards, laughed at the heater (it is attached to the wall, and the cord is about 15cm too short to plug into the power point!), peeled an enormous sheet of wallpaper off the wall (whoops!)... erin, rachel and esther came over for pizza and cheese and wine (thanks ej!) and champagne (thanks erin!). managed to spill champagne on the carpet, and IT DOESN'T MATTER because the carpet is OURS!
dan and i slept over on the floor on tuesday night. cold, uncomfortable, etc. but an adventure!
yesterday may and sara-jane helped us move a heap of boxes (thanks guys!), drink tea, eat huge luncheons at sugardough on lygon st, etc. we all went for a constitutional walk along the creek (so close!), and at about 2:50 we got the call...
... saying IT'S OURS!!!
it felt different after that!
the agents gave us a hamper with wine and chocolates. free stuff! we should buy a house more often!
yay! house! ours!
13 June 2006
SETTLEMENT DAY
so here it is. the big day has arrived - settlement goes through at 2.30 this afternoon, we get our keys and take possesion of our NEW HOME!!! we shall be spending our first night there tonight, camping it up in sleeping bags. yay!
as you can imagine, there is lots to do and we are sort of running around like headless chooks. so this is the end of this post.
as you can imagine, there is lots to do and we are sort of running around like headless chooks. so this is the end of this post.
8 June 2006
MOVING
settlement is in FIVE DAYS! woohoo!!!
we are wondering if anyone would like to spend a part of wednesday or thursday next week driving boxes from one place to another... i know, i know, a pretty fun sounding day!!! we can go out for lunch or dinner to make up for it!
(seriously, if you can, please text, call or email!)
we are wondering if anyone would like to spend a part of wednesday or thursday next week driving boxes from one place to another... i know, i know, a pretty fun sounding day!!! we can go out for lunch or dinner to make up for it!
(seriously, if you can, please text, call or email!)
5 June 2006
Uncles
This weekend, we became uncles! Orly and Adam have given us a nephew - nice work, guys! We shall duly play our appointed roles as the hip and cool uncles who live in Australia.
So, as of Saturday morning (Australian time - Sunday night UK time) we am an Uncle!
My parents are GRANDPARENTS!
My baby brother is a FATHER!!!
Aaaargh! What is the world coming to?
So congratulations and mazel tovs to Orly and Adam on the birth of their first born.
So, as of Saturday morning (Australian time - Sunday night UK time) we am an Uncle!
My parents are GRANDPARENTS!
My baby brother is a FATHER!!!
Aaaargh! What is the world coming to?
So congratulations and mazel tovs to Orly and Adam on the birth of their first born.
1 June 2006
RUCKSACKS, SACKS OF RUCK. WHAT?
we gots hiking packs from kathmandu. yay summit club with 25% off full price packs!
mine can is the conquest rucksack v2. it is red. that makes me go fast.
dan's is a slightly older version, and 5 or 10L bigger (mine's 40L) and less than half price. the two for $350, which i think is good, since we got pretty much exactly what we wanted!
also looked at expensive hiking boots. mmm, leather.
mine can is the conquest rucksack v2. it is red. that makes me go fast.
dan's is a slightly older version, and 5 or 10L bigger (mine's 40L) and less than half price. the two for $350, which i think is good, since we got pretty much exactly what we wanted!
also looked at expensive hiking boots. mmm, leather.
28 May 2006
BIRTHDAY
it's me berfdai!
come along to crooners (43-49 lygon st brunswick) this saturday 5th june at about 8:30-9pm. have a drink and a chat! we'll probably be there until 11pm-ish - and who knows, we might end up at cafe romantica later in the evening!!! (oh, the joy!)
* drinks are fairly average price (not cheap, but ok as far as i remember).
* light snacks are available (i recommend the eggplant chips!), though i'm not sure if they have vegan- or coeliac-friendly food.
* they have a 70s and 80s night on saturday, so i'm hoping for a mullet or two, and perhaps some stirrup-pant action!
* toilets are segregated (M and F only/exclusive)
please don't be offended if you didn't receive a text or an email. i've tried to contact everyone, but some emails have bounced, and i don't have everyone's phone number/s...
cheers, mateys!
come along to crooners (43-49 lygon st brunswick) this saturday 5th june at about 8:30-9pm. have a drink and a chat! we'll probably be there until 11pm-ish - and who knows, we might end up at cafe romantica later in the evening!!! (oh, the joy!)
* drinks are fairly average price (not cheap, but ok as far as i remember).
* light snacks are available (i recommend the eggplant chips!), though i'm not sure if they have vegan- or coeliac-friendly food.
* they have a 70s and 80s night on saturday, so i'm hoping for a mullet or two, and perhaps some stirrup-pant action!
* toilets are segregated (M and F only/exclusive)
please don't be offended if you didn't receive a text or an email. i've tried to contact everyone, but some emails have bounced, and i don't have everyone's phone number/s...
cheers, mateys!
24 May 2006
BOOKED
our flights to and from the uk later this year have been booked! we leave melb on october 12th, and london on november 7th. in our time there we will catch up with dan's fam and friends (there is overlap!), and do a wonderful walk - probably this walk along the thames path. we will probably do 5 days for walking, from the source to oxford. we will hopefully go all out, and stay in b&bs at kemble (night before), cricklade, lechlade, ummm, tadpole bridge (i think), and northmoor... maybe in oxford, but maybe hostels, as we could be broke by then.
we were also planning on visiting erin and julia in scotland, but sadly erin-and-julia (or julia-and-erin) is no more. we aren't sure if michelle and/or charlie will be there...? at any rate, this gives us more time for exploring other things, maybe even doing a second walk?
still haven't booked birthday things, but please get in contact with me - we'll probably go to crooners on lygon st (where we had our going away drinks last year), because it's easy. and yum yum yum eggplant chips.
we were also planning on visiting erin and julia in scotland, but sadly erin-and-julia (or julia-and-erin) is no more. we aren't sure if michelle and/or charlie will be there...? at any rate, this gives us more time for exploring other things, maybe even doing a second walk?
still haven't booked birthday things, but please get in contact with me - we'll probably go to crooners on lygon st (where we had our going away drinks last year), because it's easy. and yum yum yum eggplant chips.
14 May 2006
YOU KNOW IT
Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti
is this because i answered: "What annoys you the most?"
with: "Stupid people"???
(what? if you worked in customer service, you would answer the same...)
13 May 2006
KEEP IT FREE
call out to all youse wot will be in melbs on 3rd june (saturday)
keep the evening free for my birthday party! no plans more solid than that - there'll probably be some sort of consumption of food followed by consumption of liquid.
keep the evening free for my birthday party! no plans more solid than that - there'll probably be some sort of consumption of food followed by consumption of liquid.
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