The Nikonian and I attended a 33rd birthday party tonight.
We didn't take our cameras.
We didn't drink too much.
The food was divine, although not all GF.
The live music was great, and the star of the show had a lovely night in her beautiful new dress and shiny red shoes.
I think a good time was had by all.
We have an early start tomorrow morning for some bird photography, so I am off to get some sleep.
Fingers crossed we have a successful day with the birds!
Nite all.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Until next time
I'm missing my little Chicklet very much.
It was difficult saying goodbye this morning and then it was difficult talking to The Nikonian about how wonderful Chicklet is. I don't like the welling of emotions that the conversation triggered!
Not at all.
We'll see each other again soon.
I've had a really lovely day with The Nikonian. We did some shopping at the Plaza and had a delicious lunch in Cotton Tree and she even dragged me into Bunnings .. of all places!
We tried our luck for a sunset at Sunrise Beach this evening, to no avail, and then also had a failed attempt at steel wool spinning.
We wanted something along the lines of this ...
... but what we got was this ...
and this ...
I can almost hear The Nikonian giggling to herself as she reads this.
We have both made better attempts in the past.
So we came to the conclusion that we need better planning for these outings.
A checklist might be a good idea:
It doesn't matter .. for every failed attempt, it makes us better prepared for the next successful attempt.
I'm now 'done' for the day.
Nite all.
It was difficult saying goodbye this morning and then it was difficult talking to The Nikonian about how wonderful Chicklet is. I don't like the welling of emotions that the conversation triggered!
Not at all.
We'll see each other again soon.
I've had a really lovely day with The Nikonian. We did some shopping at the Plaza and had a delicious lunch in Cotton Tree and she even dragged me into Bunnings .. of all places!
We tried our luck for a sunset at Sunrise Beach this evening, to no avail, and then also had a failed attempt at steel wool spinning.
We wanted something along the lines of this ...
... but what we got was this ...
and this ...
I can almost hear The Nikonian giggling to herself as she reads this.
We have both made better attempts in the past.
So we came to the conclusion that we need better planning for these outings.
A checklist might be a good idea:
- wearing clothes that are NOT flammable
- wearing a hat to protect our hair
- choosing a still night instead of gale force conditions
- buying the right sized steel wool
- remembering to bring the torch from the car
It doesn't matter .. for every failed attempt, it makes us better prepared for the next successful attempt.
I'm now 'done' for the day.
Nite all.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Birthday Number Three
It's been a full, happy, and tiring day!
Starting bright and early when the birthday girl climbed out of bed to find her surprise Sea Creature lounge room awaiting her arrival.
She loved all the balloons, and it didn't take long to figure out that it was easier to wade through them, rather than step over them!
Finding all the hidden little sea creatures was definitely a highlight.
Adding to her collection of Octonauts also brought a big smile to her face.
Phone calls from special friends and family was fun too.
The traditional breakfast rainbow platter went down a treat.
Then it was full-on private party time! Not a 'still' moment to be had. So much to do. So much to see. So many things to play with. So many new friends to talk to. Delicious food and cake.
At the end of the day, a relaxing shower and some story time with Bozzy Wozzy, then off to bed.
Another very special birthday done and dusted. I have loved every minute of this week, even with all of it's ups and downs .. a bit of a roller coaster .. but the love is ALWAYS there.
Oh! Another highlight of the day was taking possession of a new car!!
Chicklet has named it GUP D (for those of you ignorant of important information - a GUP is what Octonauts use for transportation).
It's now time for me to collapse into a deep sleep.
Nite all.
Starting bright and early when the birthday girl climbed out of bed to find her surprise Sea Creature lounge room awaiting her arrival.
She loved all the balloons, and it didn't take long to figure out that it was easier to wade through them, rather than step over them!
Finding all the hidden little sea creatures was definitely a highlight.
Adding to her collection of Octonauts also brought a big smile to her face.
Phone calls from special friends and family was fun too.
The traditional breakfast rainbow platter went down a treat.
Then it was full-on private party time! Not a 'still' moment to be had. So much to do. So much to see. So many things to play with. So many new friends to talk to. Delicious food and cake.
At the end of the day, a relaxing shower and some story time with Bozzy Wozzy, then off to bed.
Another very special birthday done and dusted. I have loved every minute of this week, even with all of it's ups and downs .. a bit of a roller coaster .. but the love is ALWAYS there.
Oh! Another highlight of the day was taking possession of a new car!!
Chicklet has named it GUP D (for those of you ignorant of important information - a GUP is what Octonauts use for transportation).
It's now time for me to collapse into a deep sleep.
Nite all.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Deep Slumber
I slept solidly last night for 8 hours.
It has been about 7 years since I slept for 8 straight hours without waking during the night! It was amazing!
Today has been a good day.
Tomorrow is Chicklet's third birthday and tonight we spent a couple of hours decorating the living room and stairway.
I blew up 160 balloons .. my mouth tastes very powdery and rubbery!
Here is what Chicklet will see when she wakes up tomorrow morning ...
She is having a Sea Creature party.
There are sea creatures stuck on the walls, hanging from the curtain rod, hanging from the ceiling fan and the rafter, on every step leading to the living room, on some of the balloons, sea creature confetti on the table around her gift bags, tiny sea creatures hiding all over the place for her to find during the day.
She has lots of Octonaut gifts to open, among other things.
I can't wait to see her face tomorrow morning. She will be so excited!
So I'm off to attempt another 8 hours sleep tonight. I don't fancy my chances, but I'll let you know.
Nite all.
It has been about 7 years since I slept for 8 straight hours without waking during the night! It was amazing!
Today has been a good day.
Tomorrow is Chicklet's third birthday and tonight we spent a couple of hours decorating the living room and stairway.
I blew up 160 balloons .. my mouth tastes very powdery and rubbery!
Here is what Chicklet will see when she wakes up tomorrow morning ...
She is having a Sea Creature party.
There are sea creatures stuck on the walls, hanging from the curtain rod, hanging from the ceiling fan and the rafter, on every step leading to the living room, on some of the balloons, sea creature confetti on the table around her gift bags, tiny sea creatures hiding all over the place for her to find during the day.
She has lots of Octonaut gifts to open, among other things.
I can't wait to see her face tomorrow morning. She will be so excited!
So I'm off to attempt another 8 hours sleep tonight. I don't fancy my chances, but I'll let you know.
Nite all.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
When it Rains, it Pours.
The Bare-chested Chef and Vegan Chickie have had a rough week.
Things that I can't, (and won't) go into here, have gone from bad to worse and they struggle on valiantly, trying always, to keep a positive outlook and an open mind.
Today has been a particularly bad day.
However, we are all in good health (touch wood), with a roof over our heads and food on the table and love in our hearts. We soldier on and hope that the bad energy disperses and life gets back on an even keel.
My day with Chicklet has been quite joyous with the continuous reading of a book all about SLIME.
Slime on amphibians, molluscs and fish/eels. Frogs, toads, snails, slugs, eels, newts, salamanders, worms etc etc. All of the things that little girls are renowned for loving!
We've kept it a quiet day.
I slept badly last night .. perhaps subconsciously knowing that something was in the air????
So tonight, I will try to make up for last night's 3 and a bit hours sleep, by attempting to sleep earlier.
Nite all.
Things that I can't, (and won't) go into here, have gone from bad to worse and they struggle on valiantly, trying always, to keep a positive outlook and an open mind.
Today has been a particularly bad day.
However, we are all in good health (touch wood), with a roof over our heads and food on the table and love in our hearts. We soldier on and hope that the bad energy disperses and life gets back on an even keel.
My day with Chicklet has been quite joyous with the continuous reading of a book all about SLIME.
Slime on amphibians, molluscs and fish/eels. Frogs, toads, snails, slugs, eels, newts, salamanders, worms etc etc. All of the things that little girls are renowned for loving!
We've kept it a quiet day.
I slept badly last night .. perhaps subconsciously knowing that something was in the air????
So tonight, I will try to make up for last night's 3 and a bit hours sleep, by attempting to sleep earlier.
Nite all.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Just a little hiccup
It all started out so well ... when Chicklet woke from her afternoon nap, she shouted "It's Palmersaur time!!"
We did Underwater World on Saturday and planned Palmersaurus Dinosaur Park today.
Just as we reached Coolum, where the attraction is situated (almost 30 minutes from home), the car told us, in no uncertain terms, to stop! It had suddenly overheated to 'smelly' stage and it was necessary to turn the engine off completely.
We were in a bad spot, but at least we were able to pull off the road to a 'reasonably' safe position.
The Bare-chested Chef lifted the bonnet and took a look. He's a great chef :)
After about 10 minutes, when the car still wouldn't start and didn't even sound like it would EVER start again, we decided to make a plan.
Vegan Chickie did a search online for the nearest mechanic or automotive place .. there was one very close!
We got out of the car and walked in the direction of said place.
We found it .. across a very busy road, which was the turnoff from the motorway, where there was also a large and busy roundabout. So rather than risk our lives attempting to cross the road, BCC phoned them.
They were too short staffed to send someone over to us but gave us a phone number for a tow truck and also suggested that if we waited a while and let the car cool down, it may start again.
So BCC walked back to the car, while VC, C and I sat on a nice shady grassy spot and waited.
Within 10 minutes, BCC appeared, in the car.
We all scrambled into the car and we drove on, towards home.
Within 10 minutes, the car began to heat up again, so we found the nearest, safest spot to stop and played the waiting game again.
The challenge was keeping Chicklet amused. She was already upset that we couldn't go to the Dinosaur Park and she was itching to get out of the car. I think VC and I did pretty well to keep her distracted. It was a recipe for the perfect meltdown, but we managed to avoid it.
Fifteen minutes later, the car decided to start again, so we continued on.
Ten minutes later, another stop.
We finally made it home safe n sound. Whew.
I guess the Dinosaur Park will have to wait for another day. At least Chicklet has been there before, so it wasn't a failed first visit and there is hope for future visits!
Our adventures, in the near future, at least, will need to be closer to home.
We were just discussing this afternoon that there had been a few hiccups since my arrival. Things going wrong, receiving bad news, scheduling problems, breakages ... things just don't seem to be on an 'even keel' right now.
We may need to do some 'cleansing' of our space!
Here is a pic of Chicklet when we were sitting on our grassy area waiting for BCC to come back with the car. I think she's a bit excited about what Mama has in her bag for her.
Things look pretty calm hey?
Tomorrow will be a better day.
Nite all.
We did Underwater World on Saturday and planned Palmersaurus Dinosaur Park today.
Just as we reached Coolum, where the attraction is situated (almost 30 minutes from home), the car told us, in no uncertain terms, to stop! It had suddenly overheated to 'smelly' stage and it was necessary to turn the engine off completely.
We were in a bad spot, but at least we were able to pull off the road to a 'reasonably' safe position.
The Bare-chested Chef lifted the bonnet and took a look. He's a great chef :)
After about 10 minutes, when the car still wouldn't start and didn't even sound like it would EVER start again, we decided to make a plan.
Vegan Chickie did a search online for the nearest mechanic or automotive place .. there was one very close!
We got out of the car and walked in the direction of said place.
We found it .. across a very busy road, which was the turnoff from the motorway, where there was also a large and busy roundabout. So rather than risk our lives attempting to cross the road, BCC phoned them.
They were too short staffed to send someone over to us but gave us a phone number for a tow truck and also suggested that if we waited a while and let the car cool down, it may start again.
So BCC walked back to the car, while VC, C and I sat on a nice shady grassy spot and waited.
Within 10 minutes, BCC appeared, in the car.
We all scrambled into the car and we drove on, towards home.
Within 10 minutes, the car began to heat up again, so we found the nearest, safest spot to stop and played the waiting game again.
The challenge was keeping Chicklet amused. She was already upset that we couldn't go to the Dinosaur Park and she was itching to get out of the car. I think VC and I did pretty well to keep her distracted. It was a recipe for the perfect meltdown, but we managed to avoid it.
Fifteen minutes later, the car decided to start again, so we continued on.
Ten minutes later, another stop.
We finally made it home safe n sound. Whew.
I guess the Dinosaur Park will have to wait for another day. At least Chicklet has been there before, so it wasn't a failed first visit and there is hope for future visits!
Our adventures, in the near future, at least, will need to be closer to home.
We were just discussing this afternoon that there had been a few hiccups since my arrival. Things going wrong, receiving bad news, scheduling problems, breakages ... things just don't seem to be on an 'even keel' right now.
We may need to do some 'cleansing' of our space!
Here is a pic of Chicklet when we were sitting on our grassy area waiting for BCC to come back with the car. I think she's a bit excited about what Mama has in her bag for her.
Things look pretty calm hey?
Tomorrow will be a better day.
Nite all.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
A Big Day In
What a wonderfully sound sleep I had last night and then woke to the sound of steady rain on the roof. It was almost 8am when I opened my eyes!
I received a lovely happy greeting from my little Chicklet as I walked down the staircase as well, so it was a perfect start to the day.
The landlord will be doing one of his regular inspections here this Tuesday, so Vegan Chickie, The Bare-chested Chef and I chose which areas of the unit we wanted to clean and rolled up our sleeves for cleaning duty today.
After a few hours of cleaning and then a few hours of heavy duty playing, my joints and muscles are beginning to seize up, so hopefully I can sleep soundly again tonight and allow my poor old body to rejuvenate ready for another big day of Chicklet play tomorrow.
Here's one of the few front view photos I got of Chicklet yesterday .. mostly I got photos of her back as she raced off to see the next sea creature!!
Loving my time with her and the family :)
Nite all.
I received a lovely happy greeting from my little Chicklet as I walked down the staircase as well, so it was a perfect start to the day.
The landlord will be doing one of his regular inspections here this Tuesday, so Vegan Chickie, The Bare-chested Chef and I chose which areas of the unit we wanted to clean and rolled up our sleeves for cleaning duty today.
After a few hours of cleaning and then a few hours of heavy duty playing, my joints and muscles are beginning to seize up, so hopefully I can sleep soundly again tonight and allow my poor old body to rejuvenate ready for another big day of Chicklet play tomorrow.
Here's one of the few front view photos I got of Chicklet yesterday .. mostly I got photos of her back as she raced off to see the next sea creature!!
Loving my time with her and the family :)
Nite all.
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