When I was in the US earlier this year, staying with Dr and Mrs Seegud in the bucolic surrounds of Three Rivers, it came to pass that one day Mrs Seegud dragged me off to the local nursery for a browse and possibly even a fossick.
The nursery stocks many Australian plants because they're hardy and water wise, which is exactly the sort of flora required where they live. Mrs Seegud had her mind set on a bottlebrush. To our delight, we not only found many bottlebrushes, but one that is specific to here: a Perth Pink! We snatched it up (and paid for it, naturally) and took it home for planting.
When she'd found the ideal spot for the sapling, Mrs S looked at me and the good Dr with great satisfaction and announced, "I'm going to name this the 'hazelblackberry Memorial Bottlebrush'!"
Dr Seegud gave me a look.
"Er," I said, "memorial? Just exactly what do you think is going to happen to me?"
Showing posts with label Lancelot Links. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lancelot Links. Show all posts
02 November 2010
15 January 2010
International roaming
During the pre-movie ads New Girl confessed that the Qantas ad always gets her a bit choked up.
She just loves corporations!
[I prefer this one.]
She just loves corporations!
[I prefer this one.]
07 October 2009
05 October 2009
He's hung up on a clown from the 60s.
RobertPlant got all excited months ago when he found out that The Stems were doing three final - last chance to see - shows in Perth, so he promptly went out and bought tickets to all three. I went along with him to Mojo's on Saturday night for that performance. It was a pretty good night. The place was, naturally enough, packed to the rafters with Perth Guys - little wonder, The Stems themselves being died-in-the-wool Perth Guys. RobertPlant seemed happy. I could tell he was happy: he kept handing over money without complaint so I could toddle over to the bar and get myself another drink. I wish I was good at reviews so I could give you a review, but I'm not. Just take my word for it, it was a fun night. You totally missed out. RobertPlant ran into people he knew from the old days, just hanging on the scene, the way he did. For one, brief moment he was re-immersed in his glory days.
For me the highlight of the evening was earlier, when we were browsing for books in Elizabeth's. A couple in their late 30s/early 40s came wandering in, looking like first-few-dates material. The guy took a look around, hitched up his pants and loudly declared, "I'm not really into books." RobertPlant and I shared a meaningful look; a look I also shared with an older, immaculately dressed woman a little further along the aisle. I wanted to sidle up to the female half of the couple and urge her to flee while she still could. Then I glanced in her direction and from the expression on her face I think that's exactly what she was planning to do anyway.
For me the highlight of the evening was earlier, when we were browsing for books in Elizabeth's. A couple in their late 30s/early 40s came wandering in, looking like first-few-dates material. The guy took a look around, hitched up his pants and loudly declared, "I'm not really into books." RobertPlant and I shared a meaningful look; a look I also shared with an older, immaculately dressed woman a little further along the aisle. I wanted to sidle up to the female half of the couple and urge her to flee while she still could. Then I glanced in her direction and from the expression on her face I think that's exactly what she was planning to do anyway.
27 May 2009
07 April 2009
Wax On, Wax Off
I was enjoying my uneventful evening at home when the phone rang. I pounced on it - like a cat - looking forward to a good old chat with whoever it was. To my surpreez, it was Hong Kong Fooey - not someone I tend to expect to find calling me up.
He's arranged for me to act as a kind of mentor - a master to her grasshopper, if you will - to a young girl who loves readin' and writin', and he was calling me to arrange a time when he could take me to introduce me to the girl and her mother. I commented on the loveliness of the girl's name.
"It means little lotus blossom, or something like that," said HKF.
"Oh how pretty!"
"Yeah, I said to [her mother] 'Lotus, huh? Imagine if she marries a man called Mr Position!'"
"You did not say that."
"I did."
"How'd she react?"
"It didn't seem to register. But you can try it. There you go - I'm giving my joke to you and you can take all the credit."
"Thanks. That should go down well."
Our first meeting is next week. The Kama Sutra will not be on my list of recommended reading.
He's arranged for me to act as a kind of mentor - a master to her grasshopper, if you will - to a young girl who loves readin' and writin', and he was calling me to arrange a time when he could take me to introduce me to the girl and her mother. I commented on the loveliness of the girl's name.
"It means little lotus blossom, or something like that," said HKF.
"Oh how pretty!"
"Yeah, I said to [her mother] 'Lotus, huh? Imagine if she marries a man called Mr Position!'"
"You did not say that."
"I did."
"How'd she react?"
"It didn't seem to register. But you can try it. There you go - I'm giving my joke to you and you can take all the credit."
"Thanks. That should go down well."
Our first meeting is next week. The Kama Sutra will not be on my list of recommended reading.
04 February 2009
01 February 2009
There's only two ways to have s-x with an orangutan...*
"I hate pets; people with pets. Having a pet is basically saying, 'I have tried to find love among my own species...'"
- Frankie Boyle
- Frankie Boyle
[My nobler instincts tell me I should warn you that clicking on this link takes you to potentially offensive material. Do you have the potential to be offended? Only you can answer that question...go on, give it a go.]
*Carefully; and every which way but loose.
06 November 2008
15 October 2008
The Room Where They Keep the Cezannes
Mona Lisa is here! She has come to visit me for a few days which is, you know, lovely.
I picked her up at the airport last night. On my way I dropped in on The Antiquer and watched him make shepherd's pie in a fashion k. would not approve of.
(Yeah, yeah: in a fashion of which k. would not approve. Whatevs.)
It was a yummy shepherd's pie though The Antiquer fretted that it was watery; he moaned several times that Tam O'Shanter would come home from her run and comment on the wateriness. I think he's feeling the pressure, don't you?
Anyway. Mona Lisa is here! This time, sadly, without DJ Pups and without Manni, the Dark Rider. But we will make do. She's already asked me to try to get her an appointment with my doctor. That's the kind of exciting fun we get up to around here. Tune in for more as the week goes on.
I picked her up at the airport last night. On my way I dropped in on The Antiquer and watched him make shepherd's pie in a fashion k. would not approve of.
(Yeah, yeah: in a fashion of which k. would not approve. Whatevs.)
It was a yummy shepherd's pie though The Antiquer fretted that it was watery; he moaned several times that Tam O'Shanter would come home from her run and comment on the wateriness. I think he's feeling the pressure, don't you?
Anyway. Mona Lisa is here! This time, sadly, without DJ Pups and without Manni, the Dark Rider. But we will make do. She's already asked me to try to get her an appointment with my doctor. That's the kind of exciting fun we get up to around here. Tune in for more as the week goes on.
01 October 2008
I Like My Old Stuff Better Than My New Stuff
Before I had my own blog, I used to write stuff on someone else's blog. For your browsing pleasure:
The Hyphenation
Matte Finish
Mama Don’t Want No Peas, No Rice, No Coconut Oil
Ex Marks the Spot
What I Like About You, Senior Cits
There Was One Thing We Weren’t Thinking Of
A Banquette Fit for a King
Not to Be Taken with Food
The Lion And the Unicorn
Crescent or Gibbous?
Choking Back the Tears
Tally Ho!
Sugar Mama
The Merry-Go-Round by the Sea
Mr Marbles Comes to Town
Don’t Perspirate the Minutia
We Are Still Good Friends
The Aeroguard: Don’t Forget It
Husker Du?
I’m (Bridget) Jonesin’
The Hyphenation
Matte Finish
Mama Don’t Want No Peas, No Rice, No Coconut Oil
Ex Marks the Spot
What I Like About You, Senior Cits
There Was One Thing We Weren’t Thinking Of
A Banquette Fit for a King
Not to Be Taken with Food
The Lion And the Unicorn
Crescent or Gibbous?
Choking Back the Tears
Tally Ho!
Sugar Mama
The Merry-Go-Round by the Sea
Mr Marbles Comes to Town
Don’t Perspirate the Minutia
We Are Still Good Friends
The Aeroguard: Don’t Forget It
Husker Du?
I’m (Bridget) Jonesin’
30 June 2008
PS
The crocheted blanket that was draped across Grumpy's knees is an old one made by maiden aunts many moons ago. You know the sort: made from a combo of different-coloured leftover wool (lavender, red, yellow and white). It is, therefore, choc-full of love but not as stylish as this.
Whereas I claim to love crafts and keep a sadly-neglected blog as testament to how little time I put into my various hobbies, Carol is among the legions of people who just get on and do it.
Whereas I claim to love crafts and keep a sadly-neglected blog as testament to how little time I put into my various hobbies, Carol is among the legions of people who just get on and do it.
20 March 2008
Linkola
Over at Rodney's blog there are three good things (that are not Baileys; mmm creamy, beige):
(1) A footy tipping competition. No cash prizes, just the rich feeling of being covered in glory at the end of the season.
(2) An awareness test.
(3) A great comments policy which I think I'll adapt for myself. Only, you know, it won't be anywhere near as nice as Rodney's.
(1) A footy tipping competition. No cash prizes, just the rich feeling of being covered in glory at the end of the season.
(2) An awareness test.
(3) A great comments policy which I think I'll adapt for myself. Only, you know, it won't be anywhere near as nice as Rodney's.
12 March 2008
Pay It Forward, Peeples
I am stealing this text directly from Karen:
Here's a chance to get something in the mail from me. My present is coming from Karen
Here are the rules:
1. Leave a comment that says you want to receive something from me and you want to Pay It Forward. The first THREE to agree to Pay It Forward in the comments and at their blogs will get a present from me. I need your mailing address, so email it to me at the address given in my Blogger profile.
2. The three winners must do the same thing on their blogs, so the Pay It Forward challenge will continue.
(Note: These are going to be pretty small presents. I plan on sending something that will fit inside a padded envelope for mailing. Still, it's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it?)
Oh, here's a third rule I just made up:
3. In playing this game you may learn my real name. I'd rather you didn't divulge it.
----------------------------------
Here's a chance to get something in the mail from me. My present is coming from Karen
Here are the rules:
1. Leave a comment that says you want to receive something from me and you want to Pay It Forward. The first THREE to agree to Pay It Forward in the comments and at their blogs will get a present from me. I need your mailing address, so email it to me at the address given in my Blogger profile.
2. The three winners must do the same thing on their blogs, so the Pay It Forward challenge will continue.
(Note: These are going to be pretty small presents. I plan on sending something that will fit inside a padded envelope for mailing. Still, it's always nice to have something to look forward to, isn't it?)
Oh, here's a third rule I just made up:
3. In playing this game you may learn my real name. I'd rather you didn't divulge it.
08 February 2008
24 November 2007
What I Like About Me
Carol has memed me. Here we go:
EIGHT....
...things I'm passionate about*
- Pouncey and Finny
- kayaking
- crafts
- cooking
- the north-west of WA
- birds
- books
- happiness
...things to do before I die
- reach 100 wiv me marbles
- be fluent in French
- finish my projects list for 2006-2007
- fly to the moon because see previous goal
- overcome my fear of spiders (or die trying)
- get to 50th wedding anniversary
- hold a tune
- learn to burp
...things I say often
- "You're my beautiful big girl." (to Pounce)
- "Hello, marmalade heart." (to Finny)
- "No, seriously..."
- "One cappuccino and one honeycomb espreski with cream, please."
- "I've forgotten what I was saying."
- "I'm so sorry, I've completely forgotten your name."
- "Explain!"
- "Sodom and Gomorrah? This is London, guv."
...books I've read recently
- The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
- Politeness for Boys by A Vincentian Father (given to The Fuehrer by his Uncle Alec, passed on to Bloody Ern, passed on to me)
- The English Eccentrics by Edith Sitwell
- Woman's World by Graham Rawle
- Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill
- The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney
- The Dangerous Summer by Ernest Hemingway
- Best American Short Stories of the Century - edited by John Updike and Katrina Kenison (am part way through reading)
...songs I could listen to over and over
I was going to go with Carol's idea of listing 64, because there are just so many, but I can't be bothered with that much typing so 8 it is.
- 'Tear-Stained Letter' - Johnny Cash
- 'Hazel' - Bob Dylan
- 'Animal Song' - Warumpi Band
- 'Vincent Van Gogh' - Jonathan Richman
- 'Chemical Heart' - Grinspoon
- 'The Road Goes on Forever' - The Highwaymen
- 'Hungry Like the Wolf' - Duran Duran
- 'Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth' - The Dandy Warhols
...things that attract me to my friends
- I liked a lot of what was on Carol's list: complete fabulousness is a must
- not (overly) worried about their image
- like to gossip (oh, come on)
- enjoy a bit of bitchiness (")
- appreciate the ridiculous side of life
- tell me how great I am - because I do the same for them!
- plain-speaking
- kind-hearted
...people who should totally do this meme
- Ngaire
- TWIT
- Lady Strathconn
- Quirkie
- Redcap
- Gina
- Ianandan
- Alyson
And anyone else who wants to - leave a comment saying you've done it.
*Yeah, yeah; and Grumpy and all that.
EIGHT....
...things I'm passionate about*
- Pouncey and Finny
- kayaking
- crafts
- cooking
- the north-west of WA
- birds
- books
- happiness
...things to do before I die
- reach 100 wiv me marbles
- be fluent in French
- finish my projects list for 2006-2007
- fly to the moon because see previous goal
- overcome my fear of spiders (or die trying)
- get to 50th wedding anniversary
- hold a tune
- learn to burp
...things I say often
- "You're my beautiful big girl." (to Pounce)
- "Hello, marmalade heart." (to Finny)
- "No, seriously..."
- "One cappuccino and one honeycomb espreski with cream, please."
- "I've forgotten what I was saying."
- "I'm so sorry, I've completely forgotten your name."
- "Explain!"
- "Sodom and Gomorrah? This is London, guv."
...books I've read recently
- The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
- Politeness for Boys by A Vincentian Father (given to The Fuehrer by his Uncle Alec, passed on to Bloody Ern, passed on to me)
- The English Eccentrics by Edith Sitwell
- Woman's World by Graham Rawle
- Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill
- The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney
- The Dangerous Summer by Ernest Hemingway
- Best American Short Stories of the Century - edited by John Updike and Katrina Kenison (am part way through reading)
...songs I could listen to over and over
I was going to go with Carol's idea of listing 64, because there are just so many, but I can't be bothered with that much typing so 8 it is.
- 'Tear-Stained Letter' - Johnny Cash
- 'Hazel' - Bob Dylan
- 'Animal Song' - Warumpi Band
- 'Vincent Van Gogh' - Jonathan Richman
- 'Chemical Heart' - Grinspoon
- 'The Road Goes on Forever' - The Highwaymen
- 'Hungry Like the Wolf' - Duran Duran
- 'Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth' - The Dandy Warhols
...things that attract me to my friends
- I liked a lot of what was on Carol's list: complete fabulousness is a must
- not (overly) worried about their image
- like to gossip (oh, come on)
- enjoy a bit of bitchiness (")
- appreciate the ridiculous side of life
- tell me how great I am - because I do the same for them!
- plain-speaking
- kind-hearted
...people who should totally do this meme
- Ngaire
- TWIT
- Lady Strathconn
- Quirkie
- Redcap
- Gina
- Ianandan
- Alyson
And anyone else who wants to - leave a comment saying you've done it.
*Yeah, yeah; and Grumpy and all that.
21 June 2007
Queries
Check out this entry at Pseudostoops' site for the origins of this interview-meme. If you want me to interview you, leave a comment.
1. I always get a kick out of the pseudonyms you use in your blog (Grumpy, the Burp, etc.) Any method to the madness?
Why thank you.
Grumpy and Bloody Ern were known by those names before I even had a blog, and I can’t really remember how those names got started, particularly since Grumpy is such a sociable, affable chap and old Ern was so mild-mannered and peace-lovin’. The Burp sells Plasticware™ so she started out life as The Patented Burp and transformed into The Burp. I refer to my grandfather as The Fuehrer but that isn’t original: that’s what Bloody Ern called him. And one of my uncles and I have been calling my grandmother Don Mary for years. Plug Chopper into Wikipedia for an explanation of that name.
Names of other people are either references to some aspect of their lives or plays on their real name or even a private joke that I’ve forgotten. You know, just like you’d expect.
New Girl has talked about having a cast of characters on her blog and maybe I should do the same.
2. You live in Australia. You have many readers (ahem, me) who have never been to Australia and in fact live in America, a place fond of making gross generalizations and wild mischaracterizations of other places (“throw another shrimp on the barby,” anyone?) What is your favorite thing about living where you live that is perhaps different from the impression an American might get by watching tv/movies/drinking Fosters?
With our references to whinging Poms and the like, I don’t think we’re immune from g.g.’s and w.m.’s of other places and their people. “Wrong!” cries Grumpy. “'Whinging Pom’ is based on empirical evidence!”
That Grumpy!
Well, we’re just like you, only different.
When Grumpy and I lived in Canberra and would take endless looping drives around the lake and out past Tidbinbilla, we would dream and dream of the day we’d be living back in Perth and we’d be near the beach and the river and the sunny openness and we promised each other that every day we’d love it. We’re here and we do. Really, I can say no more.
3. If you were forced to choose one, would you choose to give up forever: salty snacks (chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc), desserts, or coffee?
I don’t drink coffee, so that narrows it down to two. I’m partial to popcorn (particularly when it is pressed into a scoop of vanilla icecream), but I think to answer this I’ll let Kramer speak for me:
“Is it the salty snacks you crave? No no no no. Yours is a sweet tooth. Oh, you may stray, but you'll always return to your dark master – the cocoa bean!”
4. What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning?
Alive. That’s always a bonus. I wanted to say something about kayaking but that just sounded like bragging (so instead I’m trying to get away with mentioning it and not sound like I’m bragging). How did I do?
k, who is always lower cased to make up for the wretched lack of imagination I showed with her blog name, will be horrified but I do have to say that a breakfast at the Dome is always high on my list. Their poached eggs are so yummy and I’m utterly addicted to those Espreski drinks of theirs. And, might I add, that Michael Fitzsimmons just doesn’t seem like the barbecue type!
5. You have a crafty site too- peppermint crisp. Do you tend to fall in love with one kind of project and make it over and over for different people, or are you constantly wanting to try some new thing?
Thank you for the free plug! I always want to try some new thing, but if chocolate is my dark master then time is my cruel mistress. So that does mean a hell of a lot of repetition. But I don’t think I ever make anything (apart from invitations and Christmas cards) exactly the same. Each iteration involves something new so that the last version can look nothing like the first version, even though they’re the same thing in my mind. I made The Burp and her sister-in-law, Bette Midler, a necklace each. They were pretty much the same design but by the time I’d fiddled around with different-coloured and -sized beads they looked quite different.
Why thank you.
Grumpy and Bloody Ern were known by those names before I even had a blog, and I can’t really remember how those names got started, particularly since Grumpy is such a sociable, affable chap and old Ern was so mild-mannered and peace-lovin’. The Burp sells Plasticware™ so she started out life as The Patented Burp and transformed into The Burp. I refer to my grandfather as The Fuehrer but that isn’t original: that’s what Bloody Ern called him. And one of my uncles and I have been calling my grandmother Don Mary for years. Plug Chopper into Wikipedia for an explanation of that name.
Names of other people are either references to some aspect of their lives or plays on their real name or even a private joke that I’ve forgotten. You know, just like you’d expect.
New Girl has talked about having a cast of characters on her blog and maybe I should do the same.
2. You live in Australia. You have many readers (ahem, me) who have never been to Australia and in fact live in America, a place fond of making gross generalizations and wild mischaracterizations of other places (“throw another shrimp on the barby,” anyone?) What is your favorite thing about living where you live that is perhaps different from the impression an American might get by watching tv/movies/drinking Fosters?
With our references to whinging Poms and the like, I don’t think we’re immune from g.g.’s and w.m.’s of other places and their people. “Wrong!” cries Grumpy. “'Whinging Pom’ is based on empirical evidence!”
That Grumpy!
Well, we’re just like you, only different.
When Grumpy and I lived in Canberra and would take endless looping drives around the lake and out past Tidbinbilla, we would dream and dream of the day we’d be living back in Perth and we’d be near the beach and the river and the sunny openness and we promised each other that every day we’d love it. We’re here and we do. Really, I can say no more.
3. If you were forced to choose one, would you choose to give up forever: salty snacks (chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc), desserts, or coffee?
I don’t drink coffee, so that narrows it down to two. I’m partial to popcorn (particularly when it is pressed into a scoop of vanilla icecream), but I think to answer this I’ll let Kramer speak for me:
“Is it the salty snacks you crave? No no no no. Yours is a sweet tooth. Oh, you may stray, but you'll always return to your dark master – the cocoa bean!”
4. What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning?
Alive. That’s always a bonus. I wanted to say something about kayaking but that just sounded like bragging (so instead I’m trying to get away with mentioning it and not sound like I’m bragging). How did I do?
k, who is always lower cased to make up for the wretched lack of imagination I showed with her blog name, will be horrified but I do have to say that a breakfast at the Dome is always high on my list. Their poached eggs are so yummy and I’m utterly addicted to those Espreski drinks of theirs. And, might I add, that Michael Fitzsimmons just doesn’t seem like the barbecue type!
5. You have a crafty site too- peppermint crisp. Do you tend to fall in love with one kind of project and make it over and over for different people, or are you constantly wanting to try some new thing?
Thank you for the free plug! I always want to try some new thing, but if chocolate is my dark master then time is my cruel mistress. So that does mean a hell of a lot of repetition. But I don’t think I ever make anything (apart from invitations and Christmas cards) exactly the same. Each iteration involves something new so that the last version can look nothing like the first version, even though they’re the same thing in my mind. I made The Burp and her sister-in-law, Bette Midler, a necklace each. They were pretty much the same design but by the time I’d fiddled around with different-coloured and -sized beads they looked quite different.
24 May 2007
Return Fire
The blogger-formerly-known-as-Mrs-Hardly tagged me. So I assume I have to come up with five reasons as to why I blog. Hmmm, never having given it much thought before, let's see...
(1) Because it's there.
(2) Because Nick got me hooked on it with his original blog, where I made my first ever blog entry.
((3) Because I love that little link tool.)
(4) Because life is full of funny and stupid stuff and when I'm feeling grim this blog reminds me of that.
(5) Because, like so many bloggers, beneath my humble and modest exterior lurks a raging egoist. It's exciting when someone new comments on your blog and you get to check out their blog.
Okay, five reasons, so I'm going to tag five others: Incognito, Karen, Rodney, Lonie Polony, Half-Hearted Hack.
So come on, chaps, play up! Play up and play the game!
(1) Because it's there.
(2) Because Nick got me hooked on it with his original blog, where I made my first ever blog entry.
((3) Because I love that little link tool.)
(4) Because life is full of funny and stupid stuff and when I'm feeling grim this blog reminds me of that.
(5) Because, like so many bloggers, beneath my humble and modest exterior lurks a raging egoist. It's exciting when someone new comments on your blog and you get to check out their blog.
Okay, five reasons, so I'm going to tag five others: Incognito, Karen, Rodney, Lonie Polony, Half-Hearted Hack.
So come on, chaps, play up! Play up and play the game!
03 May 2007
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