My Morning in Heaven

I've just had the most wonderful morning in heaven (aka the lifeline bookfest). I had such a lovely time just walking around and getting some cheap books and supporting a good cause at the same time. Win Win situation right?!.

I wasn't overly smart though and only took in one 'green' bag, so I had to buy a calico bag before my arms dropped off .Note to self 20 books in a calico bag hurts one's shoulder. I think next year I might invest in a 'nanna-push-a-long' trolley so I can drag my books around, not cart them around on my shoulders.

It was so lovely seeing people of all age and race walking along the tables and looking for a good book to read. It made me smile when I saw little kids with books in their arms, ready to take them home and cherish them forever. I'm so pleased that children still love reading and aren't just interested in the television, or computer.

So what did I purchase?? Well I bought:

• 9 of the 'Dr Scarpetta books' (To complete my series) - Patricia Cornwell
• Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
• Harvesting the Heart - Jodi Picoult
• The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
• The Wedding - Nicholas Sparks
• PS, I Love You - Cecilia Ahern
• Sundowners - Lesley Lokko
• A Walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks
• The Choice - Nicholas Sparks
• The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
• The Naked Husband - Mark D'Arbanville
• The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler

Now despite what my husband might say, 20 odd books is not unreasonable. Especially when I've wanted all these books for forever. AND all 20 books only cost me $95. Bargain I say. There's no way you could buy 20 books in a retail store for that price.

Aaahhh bliss! Now I just need to find room on my bookcase for the new additions.

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Well we are home from our wonderful trip to New Zealand and I must say, that is one beautiful country. We drove around the south island and it was just spectacular. It wasn't too cold, it was green, there was still snow on the mountains. It was just super to get away to a beautiful place, even for just 2 weeks.

The start to the holiday didn't go so well as the airline we flew with had some issues with their electronic check in machine thingo... so the air hostess's were counting everyone on the plane, then recounting, then recounting, then counting some more. We ended up being delayed by two hours. Definetly not the best start to the holiday. That coupled with the fact that poor husband was sitting RIGHT near the toilet the entire flight.... well let's just say he wasn't a happy chappy when we landed in Christchurch.

We didn't do any of the adventure type thrill seeking tours while we were there. We did a glacier landing (so beautiful) a lake cruise at Franz Josef, the gondola tour at Queenstown, the Milford Sound cruise and so much more.
We actually pre booked and paid for everything before we left Australia and the night before the Milford sound cruise husband and I both got food poisoning (YUCK) and we so weren't in the mood to drive two hours on an awful snow covered road. But because we had already paid for it we didn't want to miss out. But let's just say 90 minutes on a cruise boat while battling food poisoning probably isn't the best idea. The boat took us out to the Tasman sea and wholey moley I nearly puked again it was so damn choppy!!!

But we're home safe and warm (well kind of, the weather in Canberra is pretty awful today) and have most definetly caught the travel bug. Husband is putting his CV on some European job sites and we're hoping that we will be able to work and travel around Europe next year some time. And maybe even fit in a trip to Japan.

On the TTC front all is not going so well. The not temping thing is doing my head in and we'll most definetly go back to temping next cycle. I just hate not knowing where about's I'm up to in the cycle. We definetly didn't BD at the right times so I think we won't see that BFP this cycle. Oh well I guess it's not over until the red witch arrives, but I definetly don't have high hopes this cycle.
Well off to buy my sister a pressie for her birthday. Stay warm!!

Blog This Challenge

If you could choose a day, a week, a moment in time to re-live - what would it be?

Just a quick one from me as I should really be tidying the house before we drive to Sydney.
I just read Zoey's response to this week's blog this challenge and it got me thinking... what moment would I relive?

Well of course my wedding day was fantastic & such a beautiful day in my life. The matchbox twenty concert I went to was pretty frickin' awesome as well.... but the one moment I would like to relive would probably be the last time I saw my Nan.

Nan passed away when I was just 8, and I didn't know it at the time that she was dying of Leukemia. I remember driving to her house, a 4 hour drive from where I grew up. I remember my aunt filming me just sitting on Nan's lap and I remember the card game 'clocks' that my Nan taught me to play.

We had a family reunion, and Nan let me hammer a hole in a bottle of softdrink and I remember walking around the yard on the night of the reunion just swigging out of my bottle. My cousin was there too and I remember we played that 'clappy' game, you know.... 'you're mother, my mother lived down the street, 18 19 Marble Street....'

I remember singing songs with my sister as we sat on the stairs that lead to her front door. I remember when it was time to say goodbye I bawled my eyes out because I didn't want to leave Nan. Like I said, I didn't know it at the time that it would be the last time I would see her. But a part of me thinks that perhaps my 8 year old self knew something wasn't quite right and didn;t want the moment to end.

So why do I want to relive this particular moment,out of all the moment's in my life? Because Nan truly was the most beautiful wonderful person in my life. I would love to go back there and hug her one last time. To take in her smell and to get one last photo of us together.
I miss my Nan so much & would love to see her again, even for just one day.

Here is the beautiful song 'Nan' by Robbie William's that sums up how I feel about my Nan.



Well I'm outta here for two weeks. Take care & stay safe

I've Been Living Under a Rock

Honestly, I have. I've been so busy with work and everyday life stuff that I didn't realise that Mr Paul Dempsey from Something For Kate has released a solo album entitled 'Everything is True'
I LOVE LOVE LOVE his voice and will rush out tomorrow to buy the album just in time to load it onto my ipod for the trip.... but incase you've never heard of said musical genius I'll leave you with this clip...



Now to hope and pray he makes his way down to Canberra on his tour.... fingers crossed :)

It's Tuesday & I Can't Wait.....

It's Tuesday And I Can't Wait........ for my suitcase to miraculously pack itself. Okay, so I know that will never happen but one can dream right??

So we're leaving for NZ on Thursday (very early!!) and my suitcase still isn't packed. I sat down to do it yesterday before the boy got home and it was a disaster. I need to pack warm things (obviously) that are both comfortable, and practical but also things I wouldn't be ashamed to wear in public.
Having said that though, I have not been able to find a cute rainjacket, so if it rains in NZ I'm going to have to wear the boys raincoat which is about 4 sizes too big for me. I told him I'd rather wear a ladybug poncho than be seen dead in some of the female raincoats that are around at the moment. Please God no rain when we're in NZ, please!!

So I bought some new jeans (bargain mind you for $30 a pair at Big W, and they are oh so comfy) and I'm also going to pack these comfy black pants I bought from Rivers. But apparently 3 pairs of jeans is excessive. I didn't think so, but the boy did. I decided to pack some jumpers for everyday wear and some nicer ones for if/when we go to a nice place to eat. That's fine, I think I have that sorted out, but the boy thinks two pairs of pj's is excessive!!!!

I nearly fell over when he told me I'm only allowed one pair of pj's (my cute sheep one's since we're going to NZ, I thought that was appropriate!!). So I tried bargaining with him.... it went a little like this.....

ME: One pair of pj's.... I'm only allowed one pair of pj's???

HIM: Well of course we will be washing our clothes at some point during the trip, besides, look at how much room flannelette pj's take up.

ME: Well I guess they are quite bulky. How about I trade you? I'll leave one pair of pj's behind but I get to pack extra jumpers!

HIM: Extra jumpers? You've already packed 6 jumpers, 8 long sleeve shirts and 3 scarves I think you've got enough packed for this 13 day trip. If anything you need a raincoat. How did the shopping for a rainjacket go today?

So after that comment I quit.... I tipped all my clothes back into my suitcase (not folded or anything) and told him he could pack for me!!!

Then I woke up this morning to a lovely note saying:
"Don't do too much packing without me... it's just soooo much fun packing together!!"

Oh boy, it's going to be a long 13 day driving holiday!!