Shop 'til you drop!

Caitlin needed new clothes.... wait, sorry, Caitlin needed a total overhaul of her wardrobe for winter, so we arranged to go serious clothes shopping.

Hamilton just doesn't have the available stores, so Michael suggested we go to Warrnambool, it supports a larger population than Mt Gambier. As Michael doesn't "do" clothes shopping, he stayed home with a very disappointed Mim whilst Caitlin and I went.

As clothes shopping with Caitlin ALWAYS degenerates into an insane desire to sell her on the blackmarket within an hour of hitting the shops, I wisely enlisted the help of her friend, Ebony, as a 'fashion consultant'. The Eb-meister stayed the night to make for a quick getaway this morning.

So, after a delayed start (having to round up an escaped Jess not once but TWICE before 8.30am), we hit the roads. Only took 1hr 45mins to W'bool, a better run than expected.

We trailed through Best & Less, Kmart, Cotton On, Target, Payless Shoes and a few other stores. Caitlin is always a hesitant buyer, it took her some time to get warmed up. Was getting sick of the "there's nothing here that I like/would wear..." so I started pulling out garments and making her try them on. Ebony was egging her on as well "That looks good on you... I like that top/jacket... I wish my mum wanted to spend spend spend on me!"

By the end of our time there, Caitlin had amassed two pairs of jeans, a few long sleeve shirts/jackets, a warm jacket (which she swears she doesn't like and won't wear, but I've seen a few of the teens wearing them and it'll keep her warm on those chilly mornings), some underwear, a pair of gladiator sandals (don't ask) and some tanktops. She couldn't find a pair of joggers that "felt comfortable" so we'll have to try in Mt Gambier next week. All in all, a good shop. I also picked up some clothing for myself and Mim. Hate to think how much today cost us (we love you Visa).

Ebony with her gold gladiators (which she bought) and her striped socks

Lunch was at a food court. Eb-meister and Caitlin opted for the super healthy Egg and Bacon sandwich, toasted (and smeared with tomato sauce in Eb-meister's case), whilst I chose a Chicken Caesar salad wrap, toasted. Not a difficult option, I thought, as they had one waiting in the cabinet. But no, they brought me out a salad wrap, untoasted. I took it back to the sulky teenager serving and told her it was not what I'd ordered. "I didn't hear you say you wanted it toasted" she whined at me accusingly. "Well, I did!" was my response. So she said "we can toast it if you want." (Well that's what I'd asked for first time round!!) I went back to my seat and five minutes later (yep, that long) the nice boy brought over my toasted wrap. Sans chicken. By this stage, we only had limited time left in W'bool, I was very hungry and frankly, couldn't be bothered complaining yet again - so I ate it and will never purchase from there again. i think it was called Rio@Gateway, it's in Centro Warrnambool for any of you who may live/visit the area. Avoid it!

Caitlin and Ebony in the food court, Caitlin about to spit Coke everywhere
We were slightly late in leaving W'bool, I'd planned to be on the road again by 2.45pm (it's approx an hour fifteen back to Hamilton and I had to start work at 4). So the pedal hit the metal and we flew back (maybe slightly over the speed limit). Was only a little bit late for work, despite dropping Caitlin and Eb-meister off at her house.

I'm very exhausted and I think my feet are as bruised as my credit card! But Caitlin looks good - and tomorrow morning I'm going through her old wardrobe and op-shopping a lot of it.

Some random piccies

There's sheep in the yard!

Must watch chook house!

I don't look like a braincell!

Ever alert

Some parrots in the tree near the house (for you, Eliza)

I wuv you, Sarwah

And you too, Jess

A beautiful foggy sunrise

A Big Girl Dinner for Mim

Last Saturday night, Caitlin volunteered to help serve at the Presentation Ball. Why they bother calling it "Presentation" ball I don't know, it's a bloody Debutante ball! The girls are 'expected' to wear big white dresses (or marriage dresses, as Mim calls them). It's held in Year 11, so it doesn't interfere with VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) in Yr 12 - however do the Qlders cope with their Yr 12 Formal.

Annnyyyyway, because she was helping out, Michael, Mim and I decided to eat out in Hamilton. Mim's first choice of restaurant was vetoed (no McCrappy burgers tonight!). We decided to try The Strand, where the wonderful billboard was displayed on Friday.

And we made it a good meal.

For starters, we had bread (a crusty soda bread) with oil, olive tapenade and sheep milk fetta.
Mim had snapper and roast potatoes for her main, Michael and I chose entrees as well as mains (him - quail, me- rabbit in a creamy red onion sauce on gnocchi). Mains were a big lump of steak for him and backstrap of lamb for me. And then we even had dessert - creme brulee for him and chocolate panacotta for me (well the few bites I got, I was sharing with Mim). I was so full at the end, but it'd been a long while since I'd actually eaten somewhere (besides home) that used linen napkins! Mim enjoyed herself, being the only child and having a waitress give her a menu and ask her what she would like.

Picked up Caitlin at 10pm, as was requested, only to find that the Presentation part of the night had just finished and they were about to serve supper. Caitlin was quite peeved that the only thing she'd done all night was serve 5 drinks. Only 5!!!

Next year, she can arrange to stay later.

Well done Caitlin

Caitlin studied hard for her French test last week - and did a good job on it too.



We got her report on Monday, her best subject was French (the one she hates the most). Her worst subject, yet still with good grades, was IT (sorry, Poppy, not sure why, maybe because we won't let her have her own Facebook page).

She's doing really well at school, despite a few hiccups with undone homework. Now she just has to work at relationships with peers.

One of the girls in her class was told off by Michael for some infraction, so young Mikayla told Caitlin that "your dad is a bitch". When Caitlin ignored that remark, Mikayla said "I guess it runs in the family".

Michael wants to speak with the child involved, however I believe Caitlin needs to learn to deal with these b*tches in her own way (with emotional support from us of course).

Tatiana Gregoriava-Bitches

We need to rename Lulu and Ethel - to Tatiana Gregoriava-Bitches!

They've destroyed the house yard, pruned all the reasonable plants to nothingness, destroyed the chook yard fence, caused considerable damage to the chook house and drive the dogs nuts by jumping into the yard and staying just out of reach of the chained dogs!

So, Michael had a bright idea. By using the existing material down the eastern paddock, we could make a pen for them, keep them there for a few weeks and see if that would curb their jumping instincts.

Sunday morning, Michael spent an hour preparing this pen. The fencing material was already there, it was just a case of hooking up a chain to close the fence, bending the fence to ensure that it could support the weight of two pissed off sheep bumping into it. One side of the pen consists of the external fencing between our property and the neighbours. The other three sides was thick gauge wiring standing a metre tall (higher than the sheep).

When the pen was ready, I collected some oats in a green bucket and showed it to Ethel and Lulu ... and ran like the wind. They followed (of course). Penning them was easy, I walked inside, they followed. Michael shut the gate. Done. That was easy!!

Wrong!!!

Ethel jumped out within a minute, and Lulu followed less than 30seconds later. They cleared the fence with no problem!! Just like a pole vaulter.

As Michael pointed out, he will not be happy if we spend thousands on a decent house yard fence ... only to have it ruined by these two walking Lamb Roasts!! So, we may have to get rid of them. Whilst I don't think I could condemn them to the mobile butcher, I think I could be happy giving them away to someone as pets. If they don't associate a houseyard with food (like they do ours), they'd have no reason to jump the fence.

The decision to get rid of them was strengthened this morning when I discovered what they'd done to my vegie patch!



And the pen that Michael made - it makes a wonderful training off-leash area for the dogs.

New boots!

At long last I have purchased myself some round-the-yard work boots.

Michael dragged me down to McDonalds on Saturday (the rural store not McCrap burgers) and we looked at Rossi vs Blunstone vs another brand. The Rossi won out, they were more comfortable than Blunnies. They have an 'air cushioned sole', which is sort of like wearing bootlike joggers.

Wore them all day Saturday whilst wandering around the yard and paddocks.

Hell hath no fury ...

like a woman who's discovered her husband has been cheating on her!



Saw this blackboard in the grounds of a restaurant, The Hamilton Strand, on Friday afternoon as I walked by. When I walked back 10 mins later, it'd been scrubbed off.

I guess someone's been a naughty boy!