Dog's Breath

Wake-up Call

Something nudges
gently at her shoulder
wakes her from a dream.

Six inches
from her pillow
the grinning kelpie

pants warm dog breath
right into her nose.
It's the thick, rich brown

of packet gravy
and smells
of last night's bone.

By Robyn Mathison

I came across this poem today while decluttering some boxes that have been full of stuff since we had people over a few weeks back. I love it because it's so true!

"Unfortunately, (your name)"

Here's a fun thing to try. Google the phrase "Unfortunately, (your name)" and see what comes up. Here's what I get when I google "Unfortunately, Gillian".

1. Unfortunately Gillian is extremely busy trying to get her message out everywhere she possibly can.

2. Unfortunately, Gillian may not be able to cope with this.

3. Unfortunately, Gillian has attracted the attention of Jack the Ripper, and Jack intends to kill her no matter where she is.

4. Unfortunately, Gillian wasn’t around, so she goes home to an empty house once again.

5. Unfortunately Gillian lacks the ability to see beneath his good guy persona.

6. Unfortunately, Gillian was so busy chasing Sara Jane that she didn’t see the kick ball that had been left right in her path.

7. Unfortunately, Gillian has brought along her latest boyfriend. Even more unfortunately, Jimmy is "tall, dark, handsome and dead."

8. Unfortunately, Gillian is having trouble respecting the client-doctor boundary because, naturally, her patient is intolerably sexy.

9. Unfortunately, Gillian had to rush her meal because she had to get to work for 6pm (she’s a fire fighting professional).

10. Unfortunately, Gillian appears to have left the band, at least temporarily, in order to look after her and Morris' child.

11. Unfortunately, Gillian also falls in love with Antony and faces the loss of her magical powers.

12. Unfortunately, Gillian feels unfulfilled and eventually leaves the cave and protection of the upyr to explore the human world.

13. Unfortunately, Gillian is just not very interesting - some feat, considering she is a supernatural being.

14. Unfortunately Gillian only lasted for one dance in the show, but she certainly looks good for all the training.

15. Unfortunately, Gillian had an allergy to one of the drugs in the anaesthetic,and went into anaphalactic shock.

16. Unfortunately Gillian had a fall and broke her wrist in the 2nd quarter.

17. Unfortunately, Gillian ran off with a plumber when Ash was only 5 years old.

18. Unfortunately, Gillian wasn't able to put her thoughts on paper either.

19. Unfortunately, Gillian’s stomach wasn’t up to the special hot chocolate they do so well.

20. Unfortunately, Gillian must have been fried from the day before as she chose to spend the majority of the time in the parent's bed, with the covers pulled over her.


It's unfortunate I can't be all things to all people !

How to Keep a Koala Cool

If you're a koala trying to stay cool on a 40+ degree Celsius day in South Australia, what do you do? Why, you find the nearest friendly farmhouse and take a dip in a bucket of cold water!

How to Love a Dog

The dog on the left is Gypsy, who's nearly 5. The one on the right is Mozart, who passed away at the age of 16 in December 2007.

Gypsy can be very naughty and went through a period where she pee'd on the carpet when she was stressed. After one particularly bad day of it, I yelled at her and said she should give me one good reason why she shouldn't go live somewhere else. Laura got very upset and went away for a little while. She came back with the following hand-written list:

"Mum, here's 20 for you. Read them all!

1. She always has a way to make us smile.

2. Always fun.

3. Always happy.

4. Gets along with both cats extremely well.

5. You say she was a mistake; when you take her away then you'll realise taking her away was the worst mistake you'd ever done.

6. Was right for us from the very beginning.

7. Challenges us with races.

8. Comes lies with us when we're tired or sad.

9. Plays tricks with us.

10. Used to be friendly with Mozart and that would've been hard as Mozart was an angry dog.

11. She is very smart.

12. Doesn't bite.

13. Even though we need to take care of her very well, I know you love her much and if you loved her enough you would still be with her in bad times and good.

14. She knows us, she loves us. We know her, I love her.

15. She can smile.

16. In summer she will come swimming with us in the pool.

17. Remember, at Christmas and on our birthdays she'll always remember to give us some gifts.

18. Would explore everywhere.

19. If she wasn't desexed she would have a zillion pups with 10 different dogs because she is so lovable.

20. Just think... if we didn't have her, what would be left... a new dog - definately not the same."

And Gypsy remains with us to this day.

Fruit & Veg

Love this quilt by my St Ives Quilters friend Ann Marvell. Have spent some time this weekend adding the two borders and cutting binding for it.

Here's one of the blocks.

Doesn't it make you want to eat your fruit and vegies?!

Building a Home

Have just finished reading this book, Sandstone by Stephen Lacey, about the life of a troubled NSW family during the 1940s and 50s. Their dream is to build a new home to make things better. The latter part of the story revolves around the father, Jack, building the house (called "Sandstone") with the help of his sons and stepsons, and finishes with the arrival of the mother, Ruth's new furniture and appliances - all the latest mod-cons available to a 50s housewife in Australia.

It got me thinking about my Aunt Nancy and Uncle George, who were married in the 40s and built their own home at 149 Kissing Point Road in Turramurra. George was an architect who designed the home himself. Nancy was a stay-at-home mum who raised four boys and a girl in their single-storey three-bedroom home, yet still managed to find time to play tennis and golf, be active in school and church, and lead a busy social life.

When I first arrived back in Australia in June of 1985, full of dreams to get a job in television news here, they took me in for a little while, before I then moved a few doors down Kissing Point Road to the home of Aunty Joyce.

Here I am celebrating my 25th birthday at George and Nancy's. Sadly, George died a while back but Nancy is still going strong in her 80s. The family home was sold a few years ago but Nancy remains active, so much so that she's rarely home. She's one amazing aunt!

First step to becoming a rock star? Dye hair red and get a wild haircut.