Author: awmalloyadmin

Thanks to a birthday gift from Rae I’ve stated to drink tea. I’ve actually grown to look forward to an afternoon cuppa, something I never thought I’d say.

But it seems I’ve inherited a trait from my mother.

I never finish the cup. I always leave a mouthful or two in the bottom.

So, mum, here’s to you. And dad, I berate myself every time I realise what I’ve done, just for you.

Last night I got to meet an idol of mine.

In fourteen years of being together Rae and I had never been to a gig together. A One Day On The Green but never a good old fashioned pub gig. Last night we put that to rest and went to see Frank Turner at the Corner, Frank being one of the very few artists we both agree on.

We went out to dinner before hand wandered up to the Corner a little after doors were open, only they hadn’t yet so we walked around corner and joined the end of the queue. Right at the spot Frank Turner was standing having a smoke. All by himself. Two metres away from people lining up to see him. I wasn’t sure if was cool to whip out the phone and take a snap but someone else broke ranks and went up to him, and he was more than cool about that.

Now I’m normally an incredibly shy type but this opportunity was too good to miss so, as the queue suddenly moved forward, I grabbed Rae and went the other way.

He is a genuinely a nice guy. I got to shake his hand, have a quick chat and then told him about Rae’s new Freddy Mercury ink, knowing that Freddy is one of his idols. He loved the tattoo, told Rae it was ‘f***kn awesome’ and that he had been planning on getting one the same. He then reached out and gave her a hug!. Man, I’m still buzzing the next day.

The gig, of course, was amazing and I’m so happy I bought tickets for his Geelong show. He’s coming back next year, and we’ll be front and centre again.

 

We had new clothes lines put up today.

This will drive me mad for as long as we live here.

Kennedy spent the night at Nana’s last night, having a sleepover.

This morning Mr Henry came in to bed as he normally does and we were having a chat.

“I sort of miss Kennedy.” he said softly. “I even miss her arguments.”

And that’s how you melt a heart.

Rae and Moo went vintage clothes shopping today leaving the boys and I at home. I thought ‘Why should the girls have all the fun?’ so I took the boys shopping.

I bought them a Lego set each and I popped in to JB to check out a new mouse. On the way out there were two young ladies manning a stall. One looked at me, smiled and instead of the spiel she said ‘Being a super dad today?’

What an odd thing to say and it’s had me wondering what on earth I was doing that was so super?

I smiled back and said ‘Every day’.

Then we went for lunch.

We’ve been a one cat family for a few years and even though we’ve talked about getting another we’ve erred on the side of keeping the peace for Bella, who has been a lot happier since she was queen of the house.

Well, last Friday as we were having a glass of bubbles on the deck Rae read that the Lost Dog Home had too many cats and to they were waiving all fees on adoptions. Then she showed me pictures of poor cats wanting a family. She must have got me at exactly the right time ‘cause I said yes.

Saturday we all went in to the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne to meet the cats. There were so many but one lady met our criteria and caught our eye. We needed a calm cat, one who could cope with another cat, one that could cope with kids and ‘Kitty’ was it.  She came out of her little box and sat there, accepted pats from excited kids and didn’t bat an eyelid. She was it. What made us even happier was when we found out she had been waiting three months for a family. She’s six years old, or so the home thinks, and is so relaxed she must have come from another family.

She is the calmest cat you could wish to meet. When Bella made it very clear she wasn’t happy that there was another cat on the couch Frankie didn’t even flinch at the hissing or growling. She has spent the last two days sitting on Moo’s bed having decided this is her safe place until she’s happy to start exploring her new world. After months living in a tiny box it’s no wonder she is a bit overwhelmed at so much freedom.

Bella isn’t happy with us, refusing to sit on our laps now but the protest doesn’t reach as far as bed. Our bed is too comfortable to give up, principles or not. So we’re a two cat family again. Hopefully it won’t be long until Frankie is comfortable here and wants to explore more of the house and become one of us.

It’s so hard to get a natural photo of Bert. As soon as he sees the camera he stiffens up and stops smiling so when I managed to sneak this one of him the other day I was over the moon.

One of my guilty pleasures, especially over summer, is reading Stephen King novels. I know, I know – but I enjoy them, and it probably dates back to reading It as a 16 year old when on summer holidays. Scared the living daylights out of me that one.

I’ve read a few more over the next * cough * 28 years or so and always found them fun. I normally buy his latest on Boxing Day and it becomes my new year’s break read.

Now a while ago I worked through Ian Rankin’s detective Rebus stories on the Kindle, which was fun and I’ve been wondering what to do next. Just the other day I was having a Twitter conversation with a teacher and it turned out they are tackling all of Stephen King’s books in order, or as close to as they can muster.

I did a quick search. 56 novels. Hmmm. That’s a few, and at around $12.00 a pop on the Kindle a bit pricy. So I’ve modified it. Over the next couple, maybe few, years I’m going to do the Stephen King Op Shop Challenge. I’m going to try and find each of books, in order, in op shops and second hand book shops and work my way through them. Only as a last resort will I buy them on Kindle and I have to find them for under $10.

Of course I’m not going to read only Mr King’s books, but I think this will be fun.

Now I’m off to hunt down ‘Carrie’.

I can’t believe it. A couple of years ago I got to see Pulp and New Order in the same year and thought things couldn’t get much better than that.

Turns our I was wrong.

Next year I’m seeing four bands, five shows and all within the space of a couple of months.

First up in late February is Peter Hook and The Light performing two of the best New Order albums (mock me all you like but Technique is still my favourite). Having seen the rest of New Order this will nicely complete my set.

On the 10th March it’s Public Service Broadcasting at the Northcote Social Club – never been there before and three days later it’s Jesus Jones performing Doubt at the Corner.

Then the ones I think I’m looking forward to the most – two Frank Turner gigs. One at the Corner with Rae and then a few days laterI get to see him Geelong by myself. Rae and I have been to a Day On The Green and a couple of shows but in 14 years we’ve never been to an old fashioned gig together. Probably says a lot about our different musical tastes but we both like Frank Turner so it should be a great night.

So in the space of a month and a half I should have a few new cool t-shirts to add to the collection. Not sure who else is left that I’d run out see, Pet Shop Boys would be one but for now I think I’ve covered my British band invasion plans pretty well.

I’m ready for the day.

With thanks to Ren.