What’s top of my mind: Only 2 more sleeps until Tom30 moves into his first place!

Here’s a little snap of the Man Cave, with all of Tom30’s packing in it. Melbourne had a 4 day weekend recently and he spent that time putting all his belongings into boxes. He’s been here since the end of February and it’ll seem weird to finally get the Man Cave back to the way it was.

When it started, his 90-day settlement seemed so far into the future. Now, it’s here. He gets the keys tomorrow and he’s taking the day off on Friday to move. He’s hired a truck to get all of the big things moved, as well as picking up a fridge a friend has promised him. I’ll be ferrying lots of little boxes over in my car.

Naturally, the weather forecast is for rain all day.

Where I’ve been: meeting my cousin for the third time ever.

Ahhh love! Who can tell where it strikes? Five decades ago, my aunt fell in love with a guy from Indiana and moved over there. A couple of decades later, she moved back. This means I have a couple of cousins in the states – one in LA and one in Brooklyn.

My aunt and her family came out to Australia and stayed with us once when we were kids. Since then, my younger cousin has come out twice to see his Mum.

He’s a really nice guy. It’s a shame that we live so far apart.

Where I’m going: Underwire.

Jenna and Evan26 are performing in this cabaret show that Jenna has written, all about her experiences growing up with enormous jugs from a very young age. They’ve both worked really hard on it and I can’t wait to see it. Tom30, David29 and Izzy went to see it on opening night and they came back raving about it.

REVIEW HERE.

I’m going on Friday and Saturday. I’m SO looking forward to it. Jenna is a talented woman. (Evan26 isn’t so bad either.)

What I’m reading: ‘Coronado’ by Dennis Lehane.

Freddy Smidlap recommended this collection of short stories (and a play script) in a comment a week or two ago. I jumped onto my local library and reserved it. So far, I’ve read all the short stories and I’m hoping to finish the play script before the end of today.

These stories are really good, but kind of sad. Life is hard for these characters and the unvarnished writing clearly depicts their situations with absolutely no sentimentality. I’m enjoying this collection.

What I’m watching: The Block.

For those who aren’t from here, The Block is a renovation show where 4 or 5 couples completely renovate properties in 12 weeks. I love it.

Every year the task gets bigger and bigger. I remember the first season was just getting couples to gently renovate 4 tiny apartments in Bondi. Now, 18 seasons later, they’re renovating and landscaping 500 square metre houses on 10 acres of land.

Every season, you wonder if they’re asking too much of the contestants and this year is no exception. THE MUD!!!! That alone would be enough to do my head in.

What I’m listening to: Shandee’s Legacy.

This is season 2 of the podcast ‘Shandee;s Story.’ This season they’re picking apart the court case that has the only forensic lab in Queensland being investigated for massive incompetence and possible corruption.

It’s incredible how badly this lab has performed over at least the last ten years. How many criminals have walked free because the lab didn’t detect their DNA? Also, there are possibly innocent people in jail because of similar DNA bungles. It’s horrifying.

What I’m eating: Roast lamb for dinner.

I promised Tom30 that I’d make a roast dinner for his last dinner home.

What I’m planning: My luggage to Antarctica.

I’m seriously thinking about only taking carry-on luggage to Antarctica. My American cousin showed me the carry-on bag that he’s been using for years and I think that with some super strategic packing (and wearing bulky fleece clothes on the plane) I might be able to do it.

‘Might’ is the operative word. I have essential ‘cold weather’ things that might make it impossible. Mum and Dad have a hand-held lugguge weighing thing that I’ll be borrowing, just to see if it’s possible.

I was at the travel agents yesterday to sort out my visa to Chile and we checked the weight requirements for carry-on. It seems that 10kg is what most airlines have as their limit. The actual bag I’d buy retails for around $600. This is why I’m typing this in front of a year 9 English class. Yes, two days of CRT work and I’ll have paid for it.

Ah well. It’s supposed to rain this afternoon so I may as well be in a classroom.

Who needs a good slap: Me, for buying a petrol lawn mower.

When we moved here to The Best House in Melbourne over 6 years ago, I wanted to buy an electric lawn mower. I’d had one before at the old place and it was so easy to use. But I stupidly had Ryan21 (as he was then) with me at the time and his testosterone made a petrol lawn mower an imperative. He was the one who was going to use it, so I capitulated and bought one.

Now, when Tom30 moves away, I’ll be alone in the house. Being Spring, the lawn is practically leaping out of the ground. The petrol lawn mower is a bugger to start and a PIA to keep supplied with petrol.

I’ve decided to give my mower to Tom30 – he has a big nature strip out the front of his house to mow and he has absolutely no spare money to buy a mower for himself – and I’ll zip off to Bunnings and buy the mower that I should have bought in the first place.

What has made me smile: Seeing Tom30 accomplish his goal.

Sometimes people wonder how second-generation FIRE kids grow up to handle their money. When Tom30 unexpectedly moved back home in February, his goal was to have enough saved for a deposit on a 2 BR unit/townhouse/apartment by the end of next year.

When he realised the opportunity he had to save by living with the delightful Frogdancer Jones, Ryan27 and the little woofs, he knuckled down and got the job done in 10 months.

Along the way, he discussed all his plans with me and we talked over possible strategies and ways to swing things to get to the amount of money he needed. Being an accountant who works with a lot of mortgage brokers, he was very good at the high-end financial stuff. I, on the other hand, am very good at the day-to-day strategies to make money stretch further.

I prefer to believe that the reason he achieved his goal so quickly was by being motivated by the chance to live rent-free and stack his money away, rather than being motivated by wanting to get the hell away from living with his Mum. As I said in the paragraph above…

I’m delightful…

Dad joke of the day:

I swallowed a book about synonyms.

It gave me thesaurus throat I’ve ever had.

What’s top of my mind: Finishing the dishcloths for Tom30.

There’s a week to go before Tom30 gets the keys to his first place. Ages ago he asked if I’d knit him some dishcloths for his kitchen, so all this week I’ve been knitting bamboo squares for him. I haven’t touched knitting needles for 2 years or so and ny hands are feeling it. Still, I want him to have at least 5 to take with him.

When your child actually asks you to make somethuing for them, you deliver! He’s also asked for a couch quilt too, but that’ll have to be a summer job.

Where I’ve been: sitting around waiting for my car to be fixed.

It’s been an expensive month for my little VW Golf. I bought her brand new 8 years ago and this is the first year I’ve had any problems. More on the saga below.

Where I’m going: out to lunch.

I’ve known Gill for as long as I’ve been working at my old school. She is an English teacher like me and so we’ve been friends and colleagues for 20 years or so.

She’s taking a term of long service leave, and unlike Frogdancer Jones, she has no desire to make a big farewell speech at the end-of-year staff function, so she’ll simply never return to her desk.

A group of us are gathering today to have lunch and to celebrate Gill’s magnificence.

What I’m reading: The Cabin at the End of the World.

I saw this one talked about on Twitter. M Night Shayamalan is making a movie based on this, called ‘Knock at the Cabin’, and people were raving about how good this novel is. I’m two chapters in and I’m liking it a lot. The author’s use of tension is very good.

What I’m watching: Spring come to the garden.

My back garden is pretty much all about the veggies, but my front garden is full of fruit trees and flowers. Every year it’s so lovely to see my old friends come back with colour. First thing in the morning, after I put the coffee on, I go outside to pick up after the little woofs. I can always tell when Spring has turned. One morning the air lacks the chill of winter and from then on it’s all happening.

I was planning to do lots with the garden this year but working so much has prevented that. Still, there’s always next year!

What I’m listening to: Jeff’s snoring.

When you choose to shre your life with cavaliers, the snoring is almost inevitable, Poppy’s not too bad, but Jeff’s a snuffly boy. I still remember Laura – she used to snore so loudly that I would wake in the middle of the night and hear her in her kennel al the way from the back yard.

What I’m eating: Potato chips.

I had everyone over for dinner last Saturday to celebrate our 3 September birthdays – mine, David29’s and Evan26’s – and we didn’t eat a couple of bags of potato chips. Well, it’d be a sin to let them go to waste, wouldn’t it?

What I’m planning: Two baby quilts.

Two young women from work are expecting babies next year. I like these girls very much, so they’re both getting a quilt before I leave for Antarctica. I was planning on finishing the Seaglass quilt top by then, but now it might have to wait until I get back.

Who needs a good slap: Whoever designed the cabin pressure valves in the boot of my car.

A while ago I mentioned on one of the blogs that my car boot was flooding. Turns out that the rubber on the cabin pressure valves had completely perished and so there were two holes on either side of my car that was letting water pour straight in. Not a quick job to find and fix – my car was there for 2 days.

A thousand dollars later, she’s back with me. Then, a day later, I bought some new tyres ($500) and found out that the rear brake pads and rotors are rusted. She’s going back to them on Monday to get them replaced… ($600. )

The picture at the top of this post is the rear left rotor thingy and brake pad. Apparently, they’re not meant to look like this.

Naturally September is rego ($900) and insurance ($700) month too. Of course it is!

What has made me smile: My son values my feedback.

Being a drama teacher, having a son who’s a performer is very satisfying. Listening to his podcast and going to see him and his partner perform their shows is joyous. Also, because I’m a drama teacher, I can’t turn off the critic… if something’s good, I say so. If something needs improvement or clarification, I’ll mention it too. It won’t help them in the long run if I try to polish any turds.

Thankfully, both Jenna and Evan26 are good at their craft, so the positive feedback far outweighs the constructive criticism. (I just knocked on wood whe I typed that. Jenna has a caberet show on next week that she wrote herself. I don’t want to jinx her.)

Yesterday, we were talking and he asked if I’d listened to the latest podcast. I said that I saw that one had dropped, but I was listening to a ‘Casefile’ episode that had awful child abuse on it and I had to keep going with it to find out if the police caught the people responsible. (Turns out, they did. Phew.) I said I’d listen to his podcast tomorrow.

He said that he’d be interested to hear what I thought as they were trying an idea he’d had. We briefly talked about what it was and I’ll be calling him tomorrow after I’ve heard it to let him know what I thought of it.

I don’t know… it’s a small thing, but I couldn’t help but smile when I hung up the phone. It feels special when your adult son cares enough about your opinion that he actually asks for feedback.

Dad joke of the day:

What’s top of my mind: How lovely it is to have my days back.

Oof. Term is done.

The first day of the holidays I took the little woofs for a walk, then I sat and binged the last 11 episodes of ‘Better Call Saul.’ I’d already watched the first 2 eps and I THOUGHT that there were 10 episodes in the season. By the time I realised that there were actually 13, it was too late. My hand was set on the plough so I decided to see it through.

The next morning I had an intensely gripping time playing hours of Tetris. My high score is 95,000+.

Do you know what the good thing is? I can waste my time like this and I don’t feel the slightest bit guilty.

Where I’ve been: in bed, napping.

It hasn’t taken me long to rediscover the pleasures of the nanna nap. (In fact, I’m lying in bed right now, writing this.)

Where I’m going: out to the garden.

On Saturday I have the whole fambam coming over to celebrate the three September birthdays we have. I have a washing machine under a tarp and 3 bags of sugar cane mulch cluttering up the front verandah. I can’t do much about the washing machine – Tom30 doesn’t leave here for another 3 weeks – but at least I can spread out the mulch on the orchard and make the place look like someone cares for it.

What I’m reading: Two Nights in Lisbon.

I saw this on Twitter when Stephen King recommended it. I’m only 50 pages in, but I think I’m going to like it.

What I’m watching: The Orville Season 3.

HOW I love this show! I waited until the season finished before starting to watch it, so I can binge it if I want to. For Aussie readers, it’s on SBS catch-up, along with The Handmaid’s Tale. (Now there’s another excellent show!)

What I’m listening to: Argh!

I’m wrestling with the decision of whether to wait until the new book in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ becomes available to me at the library, or whether to jump in and listen to it on Audiobook instead.

The hard copy is my preference, but I accidentally reserved the audio version, thinking that it was an eBook. I’ve read the first two in regular book format… I don’t know that I want to have someone reading the third one to me.

While you were reading this, I checked the queue on the hold at the library for the book version. I’m 44th in line. I guess my decision’s made!

What I’m eating: Pumpkin Soup.

Remember all of those pumpkin-y things I grew that took over the whole front yard? I discovered that I still have two chopped-up bags of them in the freezer. There’s enough in each bag to make a batch of the Skinnymixers Curried Pumpkin Soup. Seeing as the weather is warming up, I thought I’d better get onto it.

Lunch is served for the next few days!

What I’m planning: to organise my visas.

I need visas for Chile and Argentina, but for some reason I’m dragging my feet to get this done. Maybe I’ll get to it tomorrow.

Who needs a good slap: Me.

I really need to get those visas done and dusted.

What has made me smile: Seeing the blossoms appearing in the garden.

Spring is definitely here.

I have two maple trees in front of my house. One has bright red leaves all year round, which are just now starting to appear. My plum trees are covered in white blossoms and my iris clump is beginning to flower. The kangaroo paws are sprouting way more flowers than last year.

All’s right with the world.

Dad joke of the day:

What’s top of my mind: Jeffrey waking up earlier than the alarm.

When I retired back in 2020, it took the little woofs around 8 months to stop waking up early. We were all sleeping in until 8… sometimes even 8:30. It was bliss.

Now, he’s waking up at 6:20 on the dot. Every morning. EVERY morning.

Where I’ve been: Carlton North for a dance performance.

One of the guys who does integration is married to the new Theatre Studies teacher. I didn’t realise that he’s also a dancer. A few of us from work went to see his latest performance. It was an interesting idea – a series of 4 shows that are all totally improvised. Basically, you could go to all 4 shows and see a different performance each night.

It was mainly performed in silence, with only minimal music being used.

Where I’m going: To school for two more days.

I have 2 sets of tests to mark and then a couple more days to get through and then I’ll have my life back. The holidays are so close I can almost smell them…

What I’m watching: ‘The Serpent Queen’ on Stan.

When I was a teenager I discovered Jean Plaidy, the author. She was the first writer I found who wrote detailed historical fiction, which is a genre I still hold dear to my heart today. I absolutely LOVE history, and learning about it in novel form is a great way to learn.

She wrote a trilogy about Catherine de Medici, the young Italian girl from a wealthy but lowly family who ended up becoming the Queen of France and the mother of many kings.

Madame Serpent, The Italian Woman, and Queen Jezebel detail the life of one of the most unpleasant women in history. Catherine de Medici wasn’t a woman you’d want to get on the wrong side of – people who opposed her seemed to die in the strangest of ways. These books don’t sugar-coat anything but still make her sympathetic to the reader… we see the people and forces who moulded her to be the woman she became.

I used to own these books but over the years they’ve disappeared. I’d love to read them again. But at least I can watch the tv show in the meantime.

What I’m reading: An Adrian McKinty book.

I’m working my way through his novels, but this current one is an early one. It’s not really grabbing me.

What I’m listening to: Kids whispering to each other.

Next period we’re having a test. The kids are having a period of revision, but they’ve clearly moved on to other things. They’re all very quiet, but the level of whispering has risen in the last 5 minutes. I can’t say I blame them. We’re all just hanging out for the term to end.

What I’m eating: Lentil Bolognese.

I should have halved the recipe. This’ll be the third night I’ll be eating it and I’m sure it won’t all be used up.

What I’m planning: NOTHING.

I’m just going to stay at home and chill for a while. Only 2 days to go…

Who needs a good slap: Tom30.

For some weird reason, Tom30 enjoys eating a tin of mackerel with brown rice. Last night he made some for dinner and then left the tin, filled with water, in the sink instead of taking it out to the recycling. This morning when I went to the kitchen to make my morning coffee, I could smell the faint aroma of fish. He left for work without taking the tin out.

Not happy Jan.

What has made me smile: The prospect of FREEDOM.

Not long to go now!

Dad joke of the day:

What do you call a guy who is in debt?

Owen.

What’s top of my mind: Only 6 days to go!

Just one more week before the school holidays. I still have a mountain of marking, but it’s the marking of the Antarctica projects, so I’m expecting that I’ll enjoy it. After all, it’s the reason I took this contract to begin with!

Where I’ve been: Anaconda to buy Antarctica clothing.

Some of the kids clubbed together to give me $250 for my birthday to put towards warm clothing for my trip. This prompted me to get organised, so yesterday I drove to Frankston and threw myself on the mercy of the Anaconda salespeople.

Turns out the guy who served me has a nephew and niece who were students of mine back in the day. Small world.

Where I’m going: to the sewing room.

I haven’t touched my Seaglass quilt (aka ‘the 5,000+ piece quilt’) since the girls’ weekend. I think it’s time to start chipping away at it again.

What I’m watching: Better Call Saul.

Still plugging away…

What I’m reading: Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone.

I’m halfway through this book and I’m LOVING it. As soon as I saw the title I had to get stuck into it, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out that it’s set in Australia. It’s very original and I’m enjoying the ride.

What I’m listening to: Birds.

It’s a parent/teacher day so I’m not required at work. On a normal Thursday over the last term, I’d be walking towards class right now, mask firmly attached to my face, surrounded by hordes of teenagers. Instead, I have 3 little woofs snuggled up beside me. Jeff’s slightly snoring.

It’s nice.

What I’m eating: Wildberry Cheesecake for breakfast.

This was the dessert that David28 and Izzy brought around to my birthday dinner. There is so much left over and it’s too good to just throw out. Tomorrow I’ll be taking what’s left to work for everyone to enjoy.

What I’m planning: to send a stern email to my year 8s.

A fair few of them are late submitting their projects. Damned if I’m going to still have marking over the holidays!!!

Who needs a good slap: Me.

I knew yesterday was Wednesday. Did I remember to write a ‘Wednesday W’s’ blog post? It wasn’t until I woke up this morning that it dawned on me.

I also forgot that yesterday was a payday. Oops.

What has made me smile: Being able to use my Dad jokes at school again.

Word has gotten out and now I have kids from other classes crowding the doorways of my classes, wanting to see what the Dad joke of the day is.

Dad joke of the day:

What kind of factory makes ok products?

A Satisfactory.

What’s top of my mind: He was found guilty!

Over the course of these Wednesday W’s I’ve mentioned that I’ve been listening to ‘The Teacher’s Trial’, a podcast about the ongoing trial of Christopher Dawson, who was accused of murdering his first wife 40 years ago. He was only brought to justice when a podcast about Lynette Dawson’s disappearance, called ‘The Teacher’s Pet’, was made in 2018 and revived interest in this very cold case.

In the 1980’s Chris Dawson was a professional rugby player who was also a PE teacher. He groomed and had a sexual relationship with a student and clearly became obsessed with her. Three days after his wife inexplicably disappeared, leaving behind all her belongings (including her contact lenses), he moved this teenager into his home and bed, telling her, “Lyn’s not coming back.”

Supposedly Lyn, the devoted mother of two little girls aged 2 and 4, deserted everyone in her life to go and live in a commune somewhere. It sounds dodgy as, doesn’t it? Yet for forty years he was able to live his life, raise those little girls and tell the world that Lynette was a selfish person who deserted him.

He literally nearly got away with murder.

Where I’ve been: nowhere.

Where I’m going: my sister’s place for Fathers Day.

It’ll be nice to catch up. I think we’re having scones and jam and cream. Yum!

What I’m watching: Better Call Saul.

I’m midway through season 5. Not too long to go!

What I’m reading: Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly – McKinty.

This is the 6th and last Sean Duffy book. This series is really good and I’ve been enjoying them. I just picked up another Adrian McKinty book, ‘The Chain’, and I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into it once all my marking is done.

What I’m listening to: ‘I want to know that I will be Okay’ by Dierdre Sullivan.

This is a collection of short stories and they’re wonderful. I’m about a third of the way through and there’s a story about a little girl’s imaginary friend that had me riveted.

What I’m eating: My words.

I said I’d never do any marking again, yet here we are.

Surprisingly though, I’m quite enjoying it. I’m currently marking year 9 projects about food insecurity. Each student has been assigned a different country, so even though the tasks they’re doing are all the same, the material I’m reading is different, so it keeps it interesting.

I was in the zone yesterday, so I stayed back until 4:30 to knock over the second class. I’ll have all 3 classes done by the end of the week.

Next week the Antarctica projects are due from the year 8s – the very reason I took on this contract!

What I’m planning: To enjoy next week.

I have 3 days where I’m not working next week – 2 parent/teacher days and a professional development day – and I’m looking forward to it. Who knows how I’ll spend those days? That’s the beauty of it.

Who needs a good slap: Cheating students.

I don’t need this hassle!

What has made me smile: watching ‘Better Call Saul’ with Ryan27.

He’s leaving on the weekend to house sit with a friend for a couple of months, after only getting back a few days ago from another house sit. It’s nice spending time with him.

Dad joke of the day:

(And yes, I know it’s Thursday. As I said, I was in the zone with the marking yesterday and I’ve learned that when I’m in that mind space, I need to keep going! I’m writing this before school.)

What’s top of my mind: It’s HUMP DAY!

Today is the midpoint of my 7-week stint of working full time AND it’s also a payday, which sweetens the deal even more. It’s all a sweet slide downhill from here, baby!

I’ll probably write a full post on how I’m finding it all, seeing as I’m at this point of the contract. It’s been interesting in a few different ways.

Where I’ve been: Out to dinner.

I have a friend that I met when Evan25 was a tiny little Evan2. Every now and then we catch up, usually for lunch or dinner. Over the last couple of years, I’ve hosted dinner at mine to avoid being around lots of people in a crowded restaurant. Seems a bit silly to wear a mask everywhere I go and then court covid by eating a meal that I can just as easily make at home.

However, we went to eat at an Indian/Nepalese restaurant in Mordialloc. When we first arrived there were only 3 other couples there and I was relieved. But then, of course, half of Melbourne stampeded in and the place was packed.

It was noisy, so I didn’t wear a mask because I knew my friend wouldn’t be able to hear me if I did. The food was good – although the Butter Chicken was way too sweet – but being around lots of people without masks, all projecting their voices in a confined space started to worry me. I was pleased to catch up with my friend, but I was glad when we decided to go.

Where I’m going: Jenna’s play.

Evan25’s girlfriend is acting, directing and producing a play written by one of her friends. I’m taking myself along to see it on Friday night. Selfishly, I wish that it was closer, but it’s in North Melbourne. *sigh*

What I’m watching: The Block.

I don’t watch a lot of free-to-air shows but The Block is one of the few shows I’m prepared to sit through ads to see.

What I’m reading: The Sean Duffy novels.

I’m really enjoying this series. They’re set in Belfast, Ireland, during the Troubles in the 1980’s, which up until now was a time I knew very little about. I remember seeing riots and bombings on the news sometimes, but it was all so far away on the other side of the world.

Sean Duffy is a Catholic policeman, working in the predominantly Protestant police force of Belfast. The author is clearly a music lover, as the novels are chock-full of music references, which as a person living through their 20’s in the 1980’s, brings back many memories. The plots are suspenseful and I’m reaching the ends desperate to see how they turn out.

I’m onto the third book, with 3 more to go. Would recommend.

What I’m listening to: The little woofs.

At first, they used to start barking when they heard the gate opening, but now they’re waiting until I walk onto the front verandah. As I’m putting my key to the door I can hear the girls start going nuts, describing how they’ve been left alone all day like animals, while Jeffrey just chills and waits on the couch for me to come to him.

I’m sure the whole street can hear when I’m home.

What I’m eating: Biccies and cheese.

Every now and then we have morning tea provided for us. Fruit, sweet biscuits and biccies and cheese. It’s a nice little treat and it sets you up for the rest of the day. 🙂

What I’m planning: Nothing.

I’m just living my life, one day at a time.

Who needs a good slap: ME.

Well, not so much now, but if I ever sign up for such a long stint of work again, then yes. Definitely slap me.

What has made me smile: Today.

I’m chuffed that I’ve reached the halfway point. For a while there I was feeling like I wasn’t making progress at all…

Dad joke of the day:

Genie: So what is your final wish?

Me: I wish I was you.

Genie: Weurd, but alrught.