Just Nicky

We are becoming a nocturnal family December 30, 2006

There are times when our little family seems to be more active after dark than during the daylight hours. And this is without Leila’s presence, although she does her best to contribute.

Last night Finn came to visit at about 2.30 am having seen a ‘whale’. We retrieved Blankie, dummy & pillow from his room and had a short cuddle in Mum & Dad’s bed, along with a chat about Pingu being afraid of shadows (in an episode Finn watched about 4 months ago) and how we aren’t scared of shadows. Then Finn announced he was ready to go back to his Thomas bed and I took him.

When I got back to our room I discovered that Mark was wide awake and, apparently, had not been to sleep at all in the preceding 4 hours. This was not a good sign. (more…)

So that was Christmas December 28, 2006

I started to write a post about Christmas yesterday but was just too tired to think and type at the same time. It was lovely - both days - but so, so tiring.

Watching Finn with his cousins was lovely on Christmas Day. Even though the cousins were all a bit tired and over it by the time they got to our place, they still generally behaved well for tired little munchkins and I think Finn really enjoyed having them there. He was a bit miffed that Danny didn’t sleep in his room, but there’ll be plenty of opportunities for that down the track, I’m sure.

Boxing Day with my family was nice too, although we were really too tired to be good company. Finn did well, despite a short night’s sleep and no daytime nap. And it was good, too, to see my sister who has been quite unwell.

I’m sure there’s more I could say about Christmas, but I think I’m still a bit too dazed by all the festiveness to process. I hope everyone’s Christmas was lovely and whatever you wanted it to be.

The difference a week can make December 25, 2006

Last week we were sweltering. This week - today particularly - we’re being chilled. Our little weather station says that it’s 14.8 degrees outside. The heater is keeping it at about 19 inside. It’s not really what we expect for Christmas here.

There is some good in this unseasonal weather, though. The cold snap has slowed the fires. It’s not enough to kill them off but it’s giving the firefighters and the people living in those areas a much needed break. We’ve had some rain. Not a lot, but more than we expected to get and it’s washed some of the dust away and given the garden a bit of help. And I can trundle around and do things without feeling like I’m going to turn into a big sweaty grease spot.

All those clouds out there have a silver lining.

Hot in the city December 22, 2006

There is a cool change on it’s way, but after our hottest night in 45 years, it’s still very hot and yucky outside and I am well and truly over it. We made a quick trip to Knifepoint this morning for a couple of last minute presents for people The Mavis insists I MUST have gifts for and it was horrible.

I’m not coping with the heat well at all. Or perhaps I should say that I am coping as long as I can remain largely motionless in reasonable proximity to the airconditioner. As soon as I need to move a bit or go away from the refrigerated air I am instantly tired, sweaty and irritable.

And I want to sleep. A lot. I’m reluctant to have too many naps during the day because that leads to not sleeping at night. Once I do go to bed I’m in no hurry at all to get up again. I seem to need anywhere from 8 to 10 hours sleep at night at the moment and I’m largely useless with any less.

When I woke to find Finn up at 5am today I entertained the thought of waking Mark so that he could deal with the Foozle and I could stay in bed, but that seemed unfair, given that Mark is generally up first these days. And, indeed, he did end up getting up at 6.30 when Finn came in to tell us about the ‘big mess’ he’d made. By the time I peeled myself off the mattress at 9am Mark had fed, clothed and despatched the boy to childcare, fed/released the critters and done some tidying in the loungeroom. The best I could manage was to peer around me blearily.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with me other than the combination of heat and pregnancy, but it is frustrating because it shortens my days. I miss the days when I could go to bed late and rise early all bright eyed and bushy tailed. At least, I’m sure there were days like that - they can’t be completely a figment of my imagination…

And it didn’t really improve December 20, 2006

It seems that Finn didn’t get whatever it was that made him sick out of his system as he continues to be unwell. I was thrown up on 3 times this afternoon. The fourth time I managed to get the bowl under his chin and the fifth neither Mark nor I were close by and Finn threw up all over his tshirt. Fortunately by then it was just cordial.

After all that vomit I’m not really interested in dinner tonight, although I know I’ll have to eat something at some point. I’m actually pleasantly surprised at how I handled being chucked on. It must be a ‘mum thing’. Once upon a time I’m sure I’d have joined in. My only real problem is that I’m rapidly running out of clothes, having changed 3 times, so there’ll need to be some washing done this evening. (more…)

Bad day

The smoke haze is back today and I think it’s the worst it’s been here. Being in the southwest of Melbourne we’re better off than most people in that, when the smoke is over the city, we are at the far edge of it. It does block out the sun, like in the photo I posted the other day, but we generally can’t smell it and don’t feel much effect from it.

Last night as we were going to bed I could smell the smoke in the air and today my eyes are stinging and my head is clogged. Just looking down the back yard we can see the haze. It’s like it all blew in last night and got trapped here as there’s no wind today.

I had a minor meltdown this morning and got all upset and teary. Mark missed going to his uni feedback session because he was looking after me. Finn was helping too by bringing me tissues. I can think of no reason for my upsettedness other than the weather so I’m going to stick with that as my excuse.

Finn has also been feeling out of sorts. Although we didn’t believe him when he initially told us he felt sick, we were suitably chastened when he threw up his lunch. He brightened up immediately after that and he’s now having a sleep, so I’m hoping it was just something he ate (although neither of us can imagine what) and it’s now out of his system.

Water, water everywhere December 13, 2006

We went off to wheelie bin world this morning and came home with, not one, but two second hand 240 litre wheelie bins. They cost us $35 each and we now have a storage capacity of nearly 500 litres, which is a little mind blowing.

Since seeing how far the water from a couple of washing machine loads can go (the back garden is very well watered after washing our bedroom curtains yesterday) and how clean the rinse water is I’ve had a couple of ideas for other ways we can make use of the water. (more…)

Hazy Grey

Hazy Grey by Nicky P

The skies have been clear here over the last couple of days so, although I hadn’t forgotten the fires, I’d forgotten just how wide-ranging their effect is (or should that be affect?). This is the sight that greeted me when I went to feed the chooks this morning.

I’m going to make a point of ringing my parents today to see how they’re coping. They’re both asthmatic so this is not good for them at all - but I bet Dad is still playing golf this morning…

Time for a cool change December 10, 2006

… and doesn’t that title age me?

The cool change is blowing it’s way through the house and it’s an entirely good thing. Two days cooped up inside under the airconditioner was starting to damange our collective calm. If it had been just Mark & I we’d have been quite happy parked in front of a succession of DVDs (we might even have caught up on our unwatched pile), but that doesn’t work so well for 3 year olds and Finn was starting to resemble a bee in a bottle, only more annoying. I’m not looking forward to more of this.

Here in my bubble December 9, 2006

I feel like I’ve had not much to say of late, which makes the blog a bit boring. But apart from that it’s not a bad thing, it’s actually probably a good thing. It means I don’t really have anything to whinge about.

I sometimes feel like I’m living in a bit of a bubble at the moment. I can go a couple of days without seeing anyone other than Mark & Finn, which is a bit of a change after spending day after day in an office with 100 other people. I don’t mind it at the moment, but I am aware there will come a time when I will have to start spending more time with the world. If only the world weren’t such an annoying place…

Although I’m not saying much there are things on my mind. I’m not turning into a complete vegetable here in my bubble … yet. (more…)