Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Things you shouldn't try when you are tiered


I tatted my first flower this evening and found there are some things you just shouldn't try when you are very tiered. Needle tatting is most likely close to the top of the list, somewhere near trying to carry out a phone conversation while learning to needle tat.

Its a bit wonky and doesn't look as good as the one in the video (and my version was accompanied by the sounds of feral budgies pushing each other off the swing and Jack continuously farting- I am sure its all the vegetables Luke is feeding him, unlike the birdsong in the video), but I am pretty pleased with my efforts. I think I will try it again when I have had enough sleep and patience.


Monday, June 6, 2011

Reflector legs

I have been keeping busy helping out Luke with his irrigation work on the weekends (when I say helping out, I mean following him about and preventing rolls of pipe from rolling onto the road). In recognition of all my hard work last weekend (and the sun tan I am slowly developing since my skin is so white it reflects the sun's rays and was possibly a danger to oncoming traffic- I thought I have finally gotten rid of my iridescent white legs when it turned out I was just covered in dust. Hurumph!) Luke very generously splurged* a whole $1.40 on a packet of four upholstery needles so I could have a go at tatting. So here is the result of a few hours of cursing and lots of tiny bits of knotted string...


*I am being facetious here, I actually asked for these needles and had overestimated the price as $2, so was totally thrilled at the 60c saving (which I kept and refused to give back, even though you probably cant even buy a redskin with it any more...)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Just stand there and dribble

Its the corporate cup challenge time of year. Its like the adult version of PE. Thankfully I have managed to skip a couple of years by hiding in Gove (the adult version of a note from your mummy). After my earlier experience of the dangers of "friendly" games, much in the same way "friendly fire" isn't particularly friendly, I had renewed my vow to never ever, under any circumstances, play another social team sport again.

Thankfully I arrived in Jabiru after most of the teams had been assembled, which saved me from having to think of an excuse for why I couldn't join in on the fly. I am not particularly good at making things up on the spot and probably would have told them that since I was abducted by aliens if I jump around too much my head falls off. Then I would have realised what I said and tried to sidle unnoticed from the room (of course at this point I would kick over a bin, making a huge noise thereby resulting in even more people looking at me and be left seriously thinking about telling them I can't speak English).

Today in the car on the way home there was a discussion about the rules of basketball and how they differ from the rules of half-court basket ball. All I could contribute was 1) don't forget your playing basket ball and start hitting people in the shins with a hockey stick and 2) if you aren't sure what to do, just start whistling and twirling the ball on your finger- everyone will be so amazed they will stop to watch how amazing you are. I was told that this only works for the Harlem Globetrotters