Category: Diary

 

I have no idea why but the sort of weather we have right now is when I’m at my most productive. Low grey clouds, threatening storms, warm breeze – makes me a working demon. Maybe I should move to the tropics.

Things I want right now but can’t afford.

• Internet Radio
• A burr grinder for my coffee beans
• Wood table for the deck (saw one in Bunnings that was perfect, only $300).
• Seat for the front door.
• iPhone 3Gs
• Wireless Skype phone to replace the one that just stopped working for no reason
• Babysitter for another day a week.
• Microsoft Natural Laser Mouse to replace my broken one.

I know I don’t need any of them but it doesn’t stop me wanting them none the less.

Okay, for those who didn’t like the theme I switched to I’ve had a play around, is that better?

It’s been a great week, Rae has been home on annual leave and it’s been fantastic to spend so much time with her and the kids. It’s going to be a rude shock when she returns to 9-5 next week, not sure who will cope the least, me or the kids.

Yesterday in particular was everything a holiday day should be.

I took the day off work and we made the most of it. In the morning we went for breakfast at our old haunt, The Famous Blue Raincoat. They say you can never go back but that just ain’t true when it comes to breakfast at The Coat. Just as good as ever. The plan was then go and buy four plants from Bunnings, Dale had suggested lilly pillies, but at $45 a pop we re-evaluated. We trundled on down to the Newport Lakes Native Nursery to see what we could see. And we saw a lot. For the price of one lilly pilly we left with enough tubes to start our entire front yard and best of all, being natives suited to the area, we just have to plant them and forget about them. I would take a photo to show you but we woke this morning to find our front yard covered in polystyrene balls. Strange things happen in the burbs.

In the afternoon Rae decided on a much needed nap so I took off. After a couple of chores I headed to Yarraville for a good browse through The Sun Bookshop. I eventually picked up one of the new $9.95 Popular Penguins, John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. We were supposed to read this book in Year 10, or maybe it was 11 (Miss Marita, can you remember?). I have no idea why but I never finished the book back then so I figure I should make Mr Kemp happy and get around to it now. Thankfully the bug-person cover of my memory has been replaced by the cool original Penguin style. I wandered around to Try This, ordered a coffee and had a read in the front window.

And how do you finish a perfect day? Have the lovely (and currently internet-less) Ren over for a roast dinner, red wine and a movie. After some to-ing and fro-ing we ended up watching Sweeny Todd, which was fantastic. I also have some great news for anyone else sitting on a 1992 Brown Brothers King Valley Cab Sav, it has matured very very well.

You can’t top that sort of day easily so now it’s catch up with work for me and catch up with housework for Rae. All good things must come to an end, but every time I look at that garden in years to come I’ll remember yesterday.

Excuse me while i change things around a bit here. The old theme was getting a bit tired so I’ve switched to a new one. I’ve also added a ‘Now Reading’ list to the side and just for Daniel I’ve put the comment link at the bottom of the post.

You can’t deny you’re a geek family when you can offer a visitor their choice of a linux, mac or Windows (7 or Vista) laptop when they need to get on the net.

Ever since we moved in the front yard has been a pile of rubble, pretty much untouched since the builders moved on and and concrete drive was finished. We’ve wanted to make it presentable from day one but anybody who has had any work done knows just how horribly expensive landscaping can be, especially when you’ve just paid for a house.

Thankfully we have Dale, my sister’s hubby. Dale works for a landscaper and has both a great eye for garden design and boundless energy. The whole Janke clan came down this weekend and Dale set to work. The results below show what can be achieved in two days with energy, enthusiasm, a credit card and a Dingo.

Before

After

(Bigger photos on Flickr)

The grey bit in the middle is sandy loam and before long it will be lovely green grass. We have yet to put to any plants in (giving the credit card a breather) and you’ll notice the ‘bonus’ rock feature to the left– two massive boulders that couldn’t be moved, even by the guy with a bob cat who was working across the road. We’ll post some more pictures once it greens up and we clean up the dirt.

Thanks Dale (and Rob who pitched in to help). You’ve done an amazing job and now I won’t have to apologise for the mess whenever anyone visits. It finally feels like we have a proper home.

How do they pick ’em so well? On a day I have loads to get done the young ones decided to revert to six month olds overnight. I don’t think Rae or I got more than half an hours sleep at a stretch and now I’m walking around in a fog that no number of latte’s can lift. Of course they’re all narky and grumpy too because they didn’t sleep which just makes the day oh so more pleasent.

I think they’re all going for an early nap today and if I can clear some of the mountain of what I need to get done I may join them in the land of nod.

We build a new house, he has his own room, there a big comfy chairs or a floppy bean bag, but where was Bert happiest this morning?

Crammed in to a nappy box.

Two yeas ago these two beautiful children arrived. I can’t believe it’s been two years, it just seems like yesterday that I got the tap on the shoulder at 5:50am that things were on the way. Now they are fully fledged people. Loud, confident, talkative, outgoing Kennedy and our shy, considerate thinker Henry.

Happy birthday kids, you’ve made all of us happier than you could ever imagine.