Leg Makeover
All the painful, ugly veins are out.
But I have not been able to see the results yet. And won't til Wednesday when the bandages come off.

Guess who is having sponge baths this week!!

Excuse me, I have to go and lie down again...

Hostipal
Tomorrow I am going to have an operation in hostipal (as pronounced by my children as they grew up - so now part of our vocab).
+ve: 36 hours of peace (relative), time to lie around and read, no more ugly legs, 2 new novels to read.
-ve: I miss the girl's dance concert, terribly ugly stockings need to be worn for 6 weeks, need to organise people to take kids to 'end of year' events, I will miss the last weeks of learning/teaching in my classroom. :(

Glogster

Have you tried Glogster?

It is fun!!

I created my first glog tonight.

Hover over each bird to get the link...

If you begin to glog, and want to be friend, here is my profile.

Thanks for the tip Angie.

A Giveaway
Sophie is having a giveaway for Christmas.

Leave her a comment to be in the draw.

When I was one I was just begun
When I was two I was nearly new
When I was three I was nearly me
When I was four I was that much more
When I was five I was just alive
Now that I'm six I'm as clever as clever
I think I'll stay six for ever and ever.
A.A. Milne

But this is just not so I regret.

My baby has turned 7.

We visited Coney Island, at Luna Park, to celebrate.

There were giant slides.

A spinning disc.

A mirror maze.

Turning barrels.

Moving walkways.

And inappropriate sideshow features. I'm glad I wasn't asked to explain this one!

Warning - book snob

Borders recently (well, 3 months ago - I just have not got around to looking at it closely) their top 100 books. I always become competitive, and slightly anxious, when I see these lists.

Have I been reading the right books?

What have I been missing out on?

Should I be reading something else?



Read all of these. Tick.

Have not read Magician. Mmmmmm.

Have not read Shantaram or Gone with the Wind (but have seen the movie).

Oh dear, have not read Da Vinci Code, Angles and Demons, or the Alchemist. Have seen the latter many times on the stand and thought I really should. Cloudstreet one of my favourites of all time.

Phewwww... tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

Have recently purchased Eat, Pray, Love. Tick. Life of Pi and A Fortunate Life also favourites.

Not read Cross Stitch, Fine Balance or A Child Called It. Oh dear!

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. (Catcher in the Rye was hard work, not sure I ever finished it.)

Great Gatsby, One Hundred Year of Solitude, Pillars of the Earth and Perfume have all escaped my reading eye.

Becoming depressing... Have not read Shadow of the Wind or Briefer History of Time.

Ahhhh.... tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

If the Little Prince is the French one, tick.

I watched a Lion Called Christian on YouTube. Does that count? Have not read a Really Short History of Everything.

I have missed out on A Suitable Boy and the Count of Monte Cristo too.

And American Gods, Road and In Turkey I Am Beautiful. (Obviously I need to request some of these for Christmas.)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Seven Ancient Wonders need to be read. I will not read A New Earth.

It may be easier to check the books I have read here: Looking for Alibrandy tick, Thorn Birds tick, Chocolat tick.

In total, 56 of them.

Are any I have missed of the highest priority?

Monstera Deliciosa
My delicious monsters have begun to flower this year.
I have never seen them so so before.
Maybe it is the extra bit of rain we have had this year.
Maybe they have matured.
Maybe they are just happy!

I've just been to the Hunter Valley...


to celebrate Sean's 40th birthday.
It was a great weekend with friends (and no children!!)

We stayed on a vineyard estate.

There was lots of wine tasting.

And eating.

And shopping.

And great photographic moments.

More photos here.

Happy birthday Sean!!