Monday 28th October

A fortnight of hell as warm up for Halloween.
While work has been crazy, uncontrolled mayhem thanks to the skills (or lack thereof) of management, a home event nailed the family hard.
Last weekend, my wifes father died.
While I knew his time was short, her (and my kids) last memory was of a tough old man, who used to be a tough young man in his time. For me, while I never knew his younger days, we have both built our own homes and we both have the same attitude and ethics and so with his passing our week has been hellish.

This week is a long weekend, but earlier in the week one of my neighbours left. I thought, as their house was trucking past ours just shy of midnight "is my mailbox in the way?" and I had to ask myself "how the heck did they miss the lamp post" as the roof top skinnied past.

Venturing out Saturday past the previous resting place of the house with my shovel and 2 cans of beer, I happen to notice my neighbor placing stones over the clay where the house used to sit. 2 hours later I had drunk my beer and moved 3 cubic meters of stones.

Sunday - Body sore from Saturday and no rest as I helped another friend with some rust removal and panel beating so his car can pass a Warrant of Fitness, nail polish ruined by glues, resin and acid.

Looking back this week, my sleep has been intermittent and my energies low.

Monday 8.00am, finally dressed correctly and relaxing at McDonalds having a coffee. With all the friends gone back to their respective homes, I hope to remain in girl mode for a few hours more and with summer nearly here, I must thank Miss 15 for her light summery tops that I like so much.
Lots of young families turning up here now and only a matter of time before on of my girls friends turn up.
Must remember to take Miss 11 out for a soccer game.


At last, an hour to escape and relax

Little after 7am

and I've finished my McCafe coffee, reading the new paper online, special interest America developing  an Iron Man suit composed of liquid armour, modernized exoskeleton and a few other additions. Still seams like a drone would do, but a human brain is probably better and much faster.

So now summer is around the corner, I'm down to my velvet dress, stockings and over the knee boots. Not having worn the boots for a while meant I had to re-learn how to walk as I waddled in to McDonalds.
"If a man waddles in the forest in high heel boots, does he make any sound?"
Feeling good though as my daughters have left their makeup out for me this morning, first time ever I've successfully applied eyeliner and I love the party shades of eye shadow.

Trying hard to dress like a late 40 year old, found a light green blouse at an old folks home where they place old stuff for others to take (hope it's not from deceased). It's a shocking pale green, but yet with the right skirt, it seams to work, wife and daughter agreed once I had it on, but feels like I'm off to an job interview.

This last few weeks, Miss 14 did a cat walk modeling course, I had to watch 11-18 year olds strut the cat walk, nearly fell asleep.
Wife and I drove up to Puhoi and had the most mind blowing ice cream from a cheese factory.
Insurance is looking at replacing my carpet after the water leak (the assessor loved my plumbing workmanship).
Had a little car trouble, but a minor tweak fixed it.
Re-surfaced my patio table and oiled the wood, looks like new, it was a $15 second hand filleting bench.


8.15am and changed to shiny black pants, boots and tight black top for a 9am brunch with Josie, but before then, a quick visit to Mitre 10 to find the resin that gives wooden furniture a glass like finish, glad the staff lady knew exactly what I was looking for - thinking of using some on my kitchen benches etc.

9am had brunch with Josie followed by a walk around the shops which was quite busy by 10am. We were not inspired to try anything on during this visit and by 10.30 we were walked out and ready for another coffee.