Just Nicky

Most People I Know Think That I’m Crazeeeee February 28, 2007

Billy Thorpe & Lobby Loyde by Aria Awards

It was a bit of a surprise to see this morning that Billy Thorpe has died at age 60 of a heart attack.

Aside from the fact that he was well known, it seems pretty rare these days for someone to die at the relatively ‘young’ age of 60 from something like a heart attack.

I’m too young (way too young) to have been a fan. He really was a baby boomer phenomenon. But growing up with boomer siblings I was hearing his music from an early age.

My favourite song is his most well known one. It took me years to realise that it was religious.

The Age has done quite a nice tribute slideshow using it here.

Done My Dash

I got a bit carried away with cleaning up Finn’s toys this morning (he was ‘helping’ for what that’s worth) and then crawled around on the floor building a huge Thomas track for him to play with. It was not the best idea on a day as steamy as this.

Now I am absolutely knackered and Finn wants me to play with him. He’s taking my refusals well, but he just might be out of his mind with boredom by the time Mark gets home.

Hopefully in an hour or so I’ll be recovered enough to take him outside for a bit. It’s quite damp and a bit yukky out there, but I want to play with our new grey water pump and see if it really was as good an idea as it seemed.

Dogs go nuts for packing peanuts February 27, 2007

Sticky Rice? by Mista Yuck

I bought a grey water pump on ebay which arrived today well packed in a box full of packing peanuts. Thinking I might be able to reuse the packing peanuts down the track I left the box sitting on the floor in the study.

After Finn went to bed I let the dogs in and went back to whatever it was I was doing. Then I heard a snuffling, snarfing kind of noise…

I went to investigate and found two dogs with their head buried in the box full of packing peanuts, snarfing up as many as they could. Indiana backed off as soon as I appeared, but I had to pull Emmylou away and scoop a lot of peanuts out of her mouth. I put the box up on top of the book shelves where it’s out of reach.

Mark assured me that the peanuts would do the dogs no damage, but I was a little nervous so I Googled. There are 2 types of packing peanuts - those made out of polystyrene and those made out of starch. The ones the dogs were eating are the latter kind and they break down immediately in water. We may have some interesting poo, but there’s no chance of a bowel obstruction, which is a relief.

People are funny creatures February 23, 2007

I Heart Ebay by Mikros.

Earlier this month I sold an old knitting book on Ebay. It was one from the eighties that I decided I was probably never going to knit any of the patterns from and it sold for the princely sum of $2, plus $5 postage.

I ask for payment within 7 days of an auction ending and most people pay within a couple of days. The rest dribble in over the next few days and then there is always the odd one who needs to be reminded. The buyer of this book was one of the 3rd group. After a couple of reminders from me and bleating responses from them the payment arrived on the 15th, almost 2 weeks after the auction ended. I posted the book straight away, being glad to get it over and done with.

This morning I was greeted by the following email:

Hi I have not received this still. what are you going to do about it.
Will you send me another, as I have no proof that you sent it to me.
I am rather disappointed that this has happened. Thanks

There were many things I wanted to say, but I decided to be a bit restrained, albeit with a dig included:

Hi, The book was posted on 15th February and, yes, you have only my word on that, as I have only yours that it has not arrived. I’m unable to replace the book. Please send me your bank details and I’ll happily refund your money. Regards,

All in all, I’ve been very lucky with my ebaying. This is only, I think, the second time this has happened. Bearing that in mind, I can’t help but be both annoyed and amused at the attitude from a tardy payer.

Update - This was waiting for me this afternoon:

Hi Just a quick email to say the book has just arrived. Sorry about
the upsets, but better late than never in arriving. again thanks so
much. Cheers

People really are very strange … And she’s left positive feedback for me. I shan’t be leaving any for her.

Back Where He Belongs February 21, 2007

Mark getting cosy in Finn’s bed by Nicky P

Mark is back home tonight and not before time. He’s obviously tired, but it’s equally obvious that he had a blast and in three days he’s even managed to get a bit of a tan (bastard!).

Finn has been difficult today (he’s better but only better enough to be whiney and argumentative, rather than limp and compliant) and it’s been a great relief to have someone else here to back me up in the little battles that accompany every request, instruction or suggestion. But that’s not the only, or even the main, reason why it’s good to have Mark home.

That Mark-shaped void has been filled. The house feels occupied again. It’s funny how the absence of one household member out of 8 (3 human, 2 canine, 2 feline & 1 avian), albeit the largest one, can make such a difference. For the last couple of days there’s been a hole. Now it’s a whole.

Oh, What a Night… February 20, 2007

I think last night might be the worst night’s sleep I’ve had for a long time, possibly ever.

First of all I couldn’t sleep because of the oddness of Mark not being here. So I got up for an hour or so and went back to bed when I thought I was tired enough not to be bothered any more. I think I slept for an hour or so.

I woke up itching all over. My stomach was the worst, as usual, but I was itching everywhere. This happens when it’s humid and it must have been particularly humid last night. I tossed and turned. I slathered bits of myself with various lotions and potions - QV cream, olive oil mist, aloe vera gel. None of it work. Finally I hopped in the shower and stood under the luke warm water for a while. A bath would have been better, but I didn’t want to wake Finn. I washed all the lotions and potions off, then hopped out and reapplied them to the areas where they work the best. This time I got the desired result. I hopped back into bed and slept for about half an hour.

Finn got up at about 4.30 and wanted a drink. I gave him some water. He gulped it down and wanted more, so I gave him that and offered him a sandwich as well (he hadn’t had much dinner). After he’d inhaled his second cup of water I took him to the toilet which showed that he still has a bit of an explosive bum. Then I was able to convince him to hop back into bed and go to sleep.

At 6.30 the dogs went out. I finally got up at 8.30. Finn was awake but still in bed so he hopped up too. And we’ve been wandering around being bleary ever since.

I’ve kept The Foozle home from childcare today because I’m not sure of the state of his tummy, he’s been refusing to eat and he’s obviously still very tired. I have some errands to run which I’ll try to get out of the way this morning and then I think we’ll both be ready for a sleep.

And Mark’s missed out on all the fun…

The Things You Find …

Irving Berlin by glaaamtastic

I’ve always had a vague memory of The Mavis singing a song to me that I really liked, although it had sad lyrics. All I could remember of it was “All alone by the telephone”, which wasn’t enough to jog her memory so she’s always denied all knowledge of the song in question.

While I was writing the previous blog entry I thought of it again and Googled the line. I was absolutely gobsmacked to find it!

It’s an Irving Berlin song, which was recorded by Frank Sinatra in the early 60s - which explains why The Mavis would have been singing it to me in the late 60s.

Irving Berlin - All Alone Lyrics

All alone, I’m so all alone
There is no one else but you
All alone by the telephone
Waiting for a ring, a ting-a-ling

I’m all alone every evening
All alone, feeling blue
Wond’ring where you are and how you are
And if you are all alone too

I wonder where you are (remember me) and how you are (remember me)
And if you are (I love you) all alone (I love you) too

Calling All Engines

Proper British Telephone Box by vicirabi

Mark did call Finn & I this evening from camp and, although we had a crappy connection, I could tell that he’d had a ball today.

He’d been horseriding, swimming and done some archery (he got a bullseye). He wasn’t expecting to get much sleep tonight, since kids don’t go on camps to sleep, but still seemed to be looking forward to tomorrow’s activities.

Who knew teachers got to have this much fun?

The Space You Occupy February 19, 2007

For Sale: Victorian Armchair by Tara & Mike

I wasn’t really aware of Mark’s absence until I went to bed.

It’s probably because most of our evenings are spent with me on the couch in the front room, while he bustles about putting Finn to bed repeatedly, doing dishes and phaffing/working/playing on the computer.

Once I lay in down in the big bed, though, I was very aware of the vast emptiness on the other side and the cavernous silence in the house underscoring the fact that he’s not here.

I’m pretty sure that the last time I slept in this house without him was when he was travelling to Sydney regularly for work about 4 years ago.

I’m not worried or scared about being here without Mark. It’s impossible for a cat to fart in this street without our dogs barking, so nobody’s going to sneak in here while I’m asleep. It’s just an odd feeling.

There’s a huge Mark-shaped absence, which doesn’t seem right.

The Camper February 18, 2007

The feet he took to work by Nicky P

Tomorrow morning Mark (and his feet) will be going off on Camp with the Year 8s. For the first time Finn and I will be on our own for 3 days and 2 nights. It will be odd, but I’m sure it will be fine.

And the best part is that he gets to come on Wednesday evening so we’ll have him back nice and quickly.