Uncle Kev's stimulus package

Oh how wonderful, we childless pair have now received $1800 of our own money back and like the good citizens that we are, have spent a goodly proportion of it at local businesses. I bought myself a nice new black handbag for $55 from the bag shop in town, a bit of a splurge as my other one was a Vinnie's special. It is leather and made in Italy. Ciao $$$.

Next we bought 4 new tyres for the Ford Falcon from my mate Gordon at Emu Plains Tyres & More. They are Yokohama brand. Sionara $$$.

I have also acquired new bifocals (frames and lenses) from Paris Miki in Penrith. A good price and worth the trip from Cowra as the local eye people have a limited stock and sky high prices. I am told by staff that Paris Miki is Japanese. Once again Sionara $$$.

We also went on a road trip to Lismore this past week and clocked up over 2500km thus requiring several tanks of fuel. $$$ to the arabs. (I don't know the arabic for good bye)

The remaining $$$ are resting safely in our bank account in readiness for the next visa statement to arrive in the mail.

Thank you Uncle Kev for returning some of our hard earned and reluctantly paid tax money to us as this is the first time EVER that we have qualified for any Government handouts. Such a pity that pampered house dogs do not qualify as children or we would be in line for another $1800.

Take it easy friends and remember, if you spend your Government handout at garage sales, on prostitutes or getting a new tattoo, the money will definitely stay in Australia.

where haz I been?

I'm back. A gazillion things have been preventing me from blogging (she lied) truth be know I have just been uninspired to write due to a few pressing medical issues. Once you get over 50 the body seems to go into some sort of downturn and some of the various parts can give up working properly. Without going into too much detail dear reader, the exit system has been playing up requiring a couple of trips to Orange for various tests and scans, the last of which I had today. I never want to spend 3 days on liquid rations and a few dry crackers followed by a goodly dose of epsom salts cleverly disguised as pills. Ewww. I have to wait for the results which I am hoping will show nothing more than wear and tear and too much curry.

One thing I have decided to do is to grow out the blonde dye in my hair and I am pleased to say that the last of it was cut off 2 weeks ago. I am loving the copious silver streaks that have appeared and at this stage I will keep it like that and save myself some money on rubber gloves and hair dye. When I can coax my darling other half to take a photo of my new do, I will post it for all to see.

Till next time

Adois muchachos!

Elvis lives

Woo Hoo people! I went to the Parkes Elvis Festival on Saturday for the first time and what a great time I had. There were hundreds of Elvis's in all shapes, sizes, sexes, ages and nationalities. The festival is in its 17th year and just keeps getting bigger and better. There were over 8000 tourists in town and the place was rocking.

I have always been a big fan of Elvis and remember exactly where I was when he died. I was on hoiday in Portugal with my ex-husband (Mr Wrong) and we heard the announcement on Radio Luxemborg that evening. The DJ was in tears and we were shocked.

I never dreamed that the Elvis impersonator phenomenon would be as huge as it has become. There were some fantastic costumes and the amount of bling was dazzling. The street parade lasted over an hour. There were Elvis buskers, karaoke competitions, church services, bingo, weddings, cover bands and look-a-like competitions. Not to be forgotten, there was a Priscilla look-a-like comp as well. Hundreds of people walking around in bouffant black wigs and gold framed sunnies doing all the right moves.

I have decided that next year I will go and dress up too. I have already bought a wig and sunnies on ebay and all I need to do is make myself a costume - he he he. Shouldn't be too hard and I have the rest of the year to get it right.

Thankyouverymuch - I have now left the building *grin*

"Before Elvis there was nothing" - John Lennon

there goes another year

Blink and you missed it. 2008 has just zoomed by and it is now 2009. Amazing! So I am starting off the new year with all good intentions of getting myself healthier. I have been feeling crook for quite a while and have had enough. It is up to me to help myself because no-one else is gonna do it right? I will plan meals, eat better and do more exercise. In fact, I have already started.

This is my "before" picture taken in November at Chris's wedding. So I am determined to change so watch this space for updates.

Happy New Year one and all.

a blast from the past

Oh my wordy lordy, yes indeedy do, I is gettin' soooo old!!! I went to my high school reunion last weekend. 37 years since I did my HSC and 21 years since the last reunion. Crikey! It was great to see everyone and thank goodness someone had the good sense to supply us with name tags 'cause I would not have recognised several of the people.

Aahhh, memories came flooding back of the last day of school which was pretty tame by today's standards. Some of us girls swapped uniforms with some of the boys. What a hoot! I have photos of Ken Black, Darrell Houston and David Hamilton in short blue shift dresses with lacy witches breeches peeking out from the hem. And who could forget Susan Kinley's party where we got to play spin the bottle and I was lucky enough to score a kiss from a few of the boys that I was secretly keen on. I remember two in particular who were particularly gifted in the kissing department (you know who you are MU & DN). I remember the chess club, playing 500 on the old red rattler train to and from school, handball at recess and lunch time and having a fight in art class with Elizabeth Filewood. She won, I got a black eye and the nick name "slugger". How about the old high school song written by the music teacher Mr Klossing "Blaxland, Wentworth, Lawson, conquered mountain ridges, Lennox built the bridges, follow them ..... etc. " I have an enormous capacity for trivia - he he he.

It was a great reunion, well catered but the after dinner music was a tad too loud which made talking very difficult. I feel the DJ failed to realise the room was full of middle aged people. Full marks to Henry Lindemann for organising it and hopefully we can have another one in the near future.

My God how fast the years have gone. How gravity has taken hold of the old body and the hair has turned to grey or disappeared altogether in some of the guy's cases. I had a ball and have been feeling great ever since. Now I must remember to take care of myself so I can make it to the next reunion.

Over and out -

Linda

Showing Off

Here are some of my scrapbook pages. I started this hobby in 2000 and have become addicted I fear. I have a large stash of products and a whole room in the house to keep them in. I figured that is OK because Matt has his shed, right? Anyway, this is something I derive a great deal of pleasure from and it is good therapy for whatever ails you. That's it. Say no more.

Linda

How to freeze a whole sheep

How lucky are we? We have been given a whole sheep, already butchered and dressed by Matt's brother in law Bruce from Mudgee. Matt's parents arrived Friday with it all in bags and boxes. They are visiting us for 3 days and seeing the local sights.

My God I didn't realise how big a whole sheep was until you see it spread out on the bench top. Matt and I spent a couple of hours trimming off excess fat (2 shopping bags full), then bagging all 4 roasts (boned, stuffed and rolled), chops, mince and crummed cutlets up into portions for 2 and then we tackled the dog's bits. We got all the bones and offcuts too for our precious poochies. We bagged these into portions for 2 as well but there was no room in the freezer for them so Matt has taken them over to the club and put them in the big freezer he has in his work shed. I managed to cram our stuff into both of our fridge/freezers. You should have seen the faces of these 2 dogs of ours whilst we were bagging it all up. Priceless!

This is soooo good as the price of lamb these days is quite outrageous. I remember when I was a kid, Mum cooked lamb chops all the time because they were so cheap. We only had chicken on a Sunday as a treat. *sigh* How times change. It is great to have a sheep farmer in the family. I think we are going to be eating lamb for quite some time. Thanks heaps Bruce.