Entries from November 2007 ↓

It’s not often I read newspaper articles all the way through – I’m often too late to a news story to play catch-up trying to understand what has gone on before, or there’s far too many words to get the gist of what’s going on or you have to get dirty newsprinted hands man-handling the paper into a position where you can read it … however this morning the Mister showed me an article about my favourite author Patricia Cornwell. She’s just recently released her latest Kay Scarpetta novel and has spoken in public about her same-sex marriage. I’ve never really thought too deeply about the politics of same-sex marriage other than to be angry that governments or religious groups get to dictate what’s right and wrong in terms of how other people live their lives in terms of the choices they make. I understand the need for rules and laws to stop people beating and killing and stealing but not who they choose to live with. But then you know me, I probably got distracted by something orange and never gave it another thought. And then I read this interview and learned (unless it’s journalism liberties) how ‘rules’ in the States prevent same-sex couples from just getting on with their own lives. It’s also hard to understand the concept of ’states’ with us being such a small country. Amazing to think that you can do certain things in one part of a country yet not (and be treated differently) in another part. Hmmmm, pretty eye-opening stuff for a Saturday morning!

“If we were outside of Massachusetts and Staci were in a horrible car wreck, a hospital could forbid me from seeing her. The federal government does not honour same-sex marriage, so couples can’t file joint tax returns and, in terms of death benefits, people have to go to extraordinary lengths with lawyers to try to make sure that their partner isn’t evicted from the home.”

From the Telegraph

Definitely something going on in the street.

Last night they blocked off the car parks and today when I came home there was a container with electricity, more cones, cables across the street with a mobile judder bar thing over them AND a Ruth Pretty catering van. What could it be?

Update Saturday afternoon – 6pmish:

We think it’s something to do with David Beckham being in town … more things have arrived … golden posts with black velvet ropes to guide a queue, big security guards, a strobe light, traffic barrier fences, red carpet and red cellophane over the building lights. Who knew something like that would go on in the building down the road … it’s just a bakery with a few offices above it …

We’re checking every once in a while to see what happens next!

Update Saturday night 10.30pm onwards …

Stretch limos, crowds behind barriers, tuxes, tiny dresses, flashing bulbs, tour buses aaaaaaaand David Beckham! Didn’t actually see him but heard the ’DAVID’ screams and saw the crowd push forward waving and thrusting phones, cameras and marker pens in his general direction.

I’m sure there are allowed to be Mac fan girls just like the Mac fan boys’ club … not that I’m a convert, own one or am using one right now … BUT. I am on my mouseless, powerless Sony right now and I have to say, based on my limited use of the Mister’s Mac what I am missing currently is the little thingy that says how much life the battery has left in hours and minutes (I mean how does 53% help me? Seriously! About half the amount of battery that I had when I started? When was that? 20 mins ago? 30? 10?) and 2-fingered scrolling (it’s bleeping 2-HANDED scrolling on this machine!)

P.S…10 seconds later …

AND the built in app-regardless spell chekr

Have been wandering around the place whistling ‘Winter Wonderland’ for all the bits of the carol that don’t go “walking in a winter wonder land” i.e. most of it … then low and behold yesterday I saw the new Kirkcaldie’s Christmas window display featuring a winter wonderland scene and the words to the song printed on the window! (Can’t remember them though so am back to whistling …)

P.S. perhaps I need a new category on my blog … ‘Xmas’. Am a bit of a nut for it – but not too wild and crazy that I have a flashing reindeer jersy or Christmas earrings or anything.

Hmmm, no flannelette Christmas fabric in Arthur Toye’s … will have to make do with last year’s Santa pjs. Might have to go on a fabric reccy at the weekend.

It’s that time of the year again! Our second ever Thanksgiving Dinner for our urban family – this year for 10 people. We’ve been up and busy since 7.30am! The menu is much the same as last year:

Thanksgiving Dinner 2007 

Toasted Le Moulin baguette with:
Pate, caramelised onions & hot roast beef
Chargrilled capsicum hummus

Roast turkey with wild rice & cranberry stuffing
Homemade cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes
Coleslaw

Apple pie & cream
Christmas fruit mince pies

I’m just having a mid-afternoon rest. Here’s what we’ve been up to today:

Up early for the Moore Wilson’s supplies

Lunch break at Superfino

Turked stuffed, bagged and now in the oven

Christmas tree up

Apple pies resting on the window sill

Me, just now, blogging with coffee and Christmas mince pie

Brand colours have changed (no pink) so the second Xero jumper is going to look quite different from the first. But it certainly looks like a Xero jumper (even 3 days in (arm warmers finished and winging their way to the States!)) … will probably put the orange stripe on the sleeve again.

Was dusting the other night and saw that my peace lily is having another batch of flowers. Without fail, every year, it has 3. Which got me thinking about how long I’ve had the plant. Aaaaages – my sister gave it to me about 18 years ago. Scary stuff … a) that my sister was old enough 18 years ago to give me something so grown up as a pot plant for a grown up place I must’ve been living in (because obviously pot plant = moved out of home) and b) it’s survived many flats, sabbaticals to other people’s houses when I’ve lived overseas, house sitters and a 2 cats!

Spathiphyllum floribundum

Got married at City Hall at 10.20am two years ago today Just met up for our annual 10.20 coffee and discussion of who got the better deal! Went to the new Mojo on Bond Street – actually it wasn’t bad – the pastry and coffee were definitely palatable – but the rattan screen pinching at my hair all the time and the woman cleaning the plates and cups the minute you put them down empty was fairly annoying.

Happy anniversary Mr & Mrs!

Hopefully my friends will keep me busy enough with orders (have just finished the arm-warmers and now have 2 Xero jerseys and an orange jersey to do by April!) so that I don’t become an old crazy knitting woman and end up making apple jerseys! It *is* very cute though … (& US$12!)